Chapter 273: Sect Master’s Wife
“Not bad. I will send people to that Mountain Valley. The disciples you brought there still remember the route, right?”
Li Qingqiu withdrew his Spiritual Sense from the Storage Pouch and looked at Jiang Zhaoxia, smiling softly.
As the number of sect disciples continued to grow, the pressure on Blessed Land quotas increased accordingly. Now, the Heavenly Mountain Spirit Pool had already become the primary Cultivation Holy Land.
“They remember. I will arrange this matter myself. It is about time I took on some responsibilities.” Jiang Zhaoxia nodded.
Li Qingqiu revealed a gratified smile. Jiang Zhaoxia’s willingness to shoulder some affairs was naturally a good thing.
Even though Li Qingqiu had already established a power structure, there were still many matters that required his final decision. There were also numerous minor issues that needed his attention. It was difficult for him to truly find peace and quiet.
Afterward, the two senior brothers began discussing the Grand Dao Tournament.
Jiang Zhaoxia was very confident in Sword Solitary. He believed that entering the top three was secure. As for whether he could compete for first place, he could not say for certain.
“Senior Brother, who do you think will win first place this time?” Jiang Zhaoxia could not help but ask. He trusted Li Qingqiu’s judgment.
“Yun Cai.”
Li Qingqiu answered directly, without the slightest hesitation.
“Yun Cai?”
Jiang Zhaoxia was stunned. He had long heard of Yun Cai’s talent and comprehension, but he had rarely interacted with her. He had not expected her to be even stronger than Li Qingqiu’s own disciples.
“Ji Ya, Sword Solitary, Xue Jin—they are all inferior to Yun Cai?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting.”
Jiang Zhaoxia suddenly realized that his understanding of the sect had fallen behind. He was either descending the mountain to carry out missions or entering seclusion. He had indeed neglected to observe the younger disciples.
Li Qingqiu smiled and said, “Perhaps in a few years, it will not just be you, Ning’er, and Shen Yue competing. The strength of the younger generation must not be underestimated.”
Jiang Zhaoxia frowned and asked, “You mean I might be surpassed?”
“Not at all. I am only reminding you not to underestimate the younger generation. In the future, you may also assign them some responsibilities appropriately and cultivate them. You are not only an elder of the Sword Sect, but also a pillar of the sect. Did you not say before that you are the Deputy Sect Master?” Li Qingqiu said seriously.
After reaching the Spirit Perception Realm, breaking through to the next major realm would require a very long time. Therefore, Li Qingqiu hoped Jiang Zhaoxia could play other roles.
Jiang Zhaoxia fell into thought.
Li Qingqiu continued, “For the sect to produce a powerhouse beyond the Spirit Perception Realm will take time. So in the next ten years, I hope the sect can give rise to more Spirit Perception Realm cultivators.”
Jiang Zhaoxia nodded and said, “I understand. I know what to do. I will pay attention to this Grand Dao Tournament.”
Li Qingqiu smiled, then brought up Lin Xunfeng.
“Master descended the mountain to seek immortals. If he were to return and see what the Clear Sky Sect has become, what would he think?”
This topic piqued Jiang Zhaoxia’s interest. He snorted and said, “He would definitely regret it. So many years have passed, and there is still no news of him. Could it be that he truly found an Immortal Cultivation Sect?”
“Perhaps that is indeed possible.” Li Qingqiu said meaningfully.
…
Time advanced toward June, and the Grand Dao Tournament grew increasingly intense. The Top Sixty-Four had to be decided in June, which meant many geniuses would be eliminated.
Mid-May.
Han Lang, the senior disciple of the Sword Sect and one of the top ten from the previous Grand Dao Tournament, was defeated by Yun Cai. It became the biggest upset since the tournament began, shocking the entire sect.
Han Lang was Jiang Zhaoxia’s disciple. His cultivation had reached the Eighth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm. Before facing Yun Cai, he had even been a strong contender for first place.
Most crucially, throughout the entire duel, Yun Cai had completely suppressed him.
At twenty-five years old, Yun Cai was also at the Eighth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm. As her fame continued to rise, some began compiling records of her past.
More and more people realized that Yun Cai’s cultivation speed was astonishing—unparalleled within the sect. Coupled with her battle talent, from a comprehensive perspective, she possessed a bearing comparable to Xu Ning’s—perhaps even greater.
Yun Cai’s background also became a topic of discussion among many disciples.
Another typical genius of the Sect Master’s faction.
Before entering the sect, she had been saved by the Sect Master. Carrying gratitude, she joined the sect. Later, her talent was discovered by the Sect Master, and she received focused cultivation.
As Yun Cai’s reputation soared, Li Qingqiu’s chivalry and discernment once again became frequent topics among the disciples.
In a certain courtyard.
Ji Ya was drinking with his five close friends. They were discussing Han Lang’s defeat.
This incident had dealt Han Lang a severe blow. He no longer led the Sword Sect disciples in sword practice and instead sat in meditation on a cliff all day, refusing to see anyone.
Yang Lin looked at Ji Ya and asked, “Ji Ya, you have interacted with Yun Cai many times. What is she like in private?”
Because of Ji Ya’s relationship, the five of them had been arranged into the Sword Sect by Li Qingqiu. They had cultivated diligently for years without falling behind in cultivation. In their eyes, Yun Cai was a junior, after all, she had entered the sect later than they had.
Yun Cai’s victory over Han Lang had greatly shocked them.
They could not imagine how someone who had cultivated for a shorter time than they had could defeat Han Lang.
Among Sword Sect disciples, they knew best how strong Han Lang was.
Ji Ya pondered and said, “In private, she is the same as on the Dao Duel Platform—cold in temperament. She is a true cultivation maniac, almost spending all her time on cultivation.”
Yun Cai’s victory over Han Lang had also greatly stimulated him.
He realized that he truly might not be able to compete with her.
“She is personally guided by the Sect Master. Why does she not formally acknowledge him as her Master?” one male disciple asked. His question aroused the curiosity of the other four.
It was also a question many disciples in the sect were curious about.
A strange smile appeared on Ji Ya’s face. He lowered his voice and said, “I can tell you, but you must not spread it.”
“You still don’t trust us?”
“Exactly! Hurry up and tell us.”
Urged by Yang Lin and the others, Ji Ya mysteriously said, “Because she does not want to be Master’s disciple. She wants another identity.”
Another identity?
The others were puzzled, but Yang Lin seemed to think of something, her expression slightly changing.
Ji Ya raised his brows and said, “You still cannot guess? What other identity could it be? She wants to be the Sect Master’s wife. Every time Hu Yan calls her Senior Sister, it annoys her!”
Everyone was greatly shocked. They had not expected that Yun Cai, who appeared as cold and aloof as a fairy on the Dao Duel Platform, had such a side.
They immediately grew excited and began pressing him for more details, wanting to know Li Qingqiu’s attitude.
“My Master can naturally see through her thoughts. He simply does not agree.” Ji Ya shrugged. These words, however, caused Yang Lin’s eyes to brighten.
Once a person became famous, rumors would inevitably arise one after another.
Yun Cai was no exception.
It had not even been five days since she defeated Han Lang, yet news that she wanted to become the Sect Master’s wife spread through the sect like wildfire, stirring even greater excitement among the disciples.
This also led to Li Qingqiu becoming a topic of discussion.
The disciples discovered that the Sect Master had virtually no flaws and met all the conditions to be admired by female disciples. Yet to this day, he had never been romantically involved with anyone.
Gradually, the discussions shifted from Yun Cai to curiosity about what kind of woman the Sect Master actually liked.