Chapter 286: Standing on One’s Own
At dawn, Li Qingqiu arrived at a courtyard. Ten-year-old Li Shouzheng and Li Shoumin were reading.
The two boys were already at the fourth level of the Nourishing Origin Realm. In their daily routine, aside from cultivation, Li Qingqiu also required them to read extensively. They did not resist this; the stories within the books benefited them greatly.
“Grand Martial Uncle, the demon creatures in this book are truly formidable. Like this one, Candle Yin—legend has it that Candle Yin came from the north and liked to travel south in search of people with vigorous vitality and blood. Once it had eaten its fill, it would bring rainfall to the mortal world. So some call it a Calamity Beast, while others call it an Auspicious Omen.”
Li Shoumin held an ancient book in his hands, clicking his tongue in amazement.
He preferred reading ancient records of ghosts and strange creatures, while Li Shouzheng favored books documenting local customs and traditions from various regions.
Li Qingqiu picked up a wooden sword from the table. As he examined it carefully, he said, “What is considered an auspicious omen is merely judged by the world according to its own interests.”
Li Shoumin turned to look at him and asked, “Grand Martial Uncle, could Xiao Ba become an auspicious omen? It is so large now and can even speak human words. We could shape it into the divine beast of the Profound Dynasty and compose auspicious tales about it. In the future, it could leave its name in the annals of history.”
The more he spoke, the more excited he became, feeling that this would be an achievement of great accomplishment.
Li Qingqiu rolled his eyes at him and said irritably, “What are you trying to do?”
“Create a legend of an auspicious omen!”
“To become an auspicious omen should be determined by the hearts of the people, not fabricated to manipulate them.”
Li Qingqiu snorted. This boy had already begun to show signs of the Destiny Fate [Ambition to Dominate the World] and [Tyrant].
Hearing Li Qingqiu’s words, Li Shoumin scratched his head and laughed. After calming down, he also felt that he had been childish. That would have been toying with the people of the world.
He cast aside his stray thoughts and continued reading the next story.
Li Qingqiu accompanied them not to supervise, but because he enjoyed being with them. It made his state of mind incomparably peaceful.
After obtaining [Vast Righteous Qi], his heart was no longer restless. Once he had truly calmed down, he could consider the affairs of the Clear Sky Sect from a different perspective and contemplate his own path of cultivation. He liked this feeling of reflection.
A knock sounded at the courtyard gate. Without turning his head, Li Qingqiu said, “Enter.”
The visitor was his second disciple, Qin Ye.
He was now at the seventh level of the Nourishing Origin Realm. In the current Clear Sky Sect, that did not amount to much; after all, he had delayed many years while descending the mountain for worldly experience.
After the unification of the realm, he had laid down his armor and returned to the mountains, focusing on cultivation with peace of mind.
Qin Ye came to Li Qingqiu’s side, bowed respectfully, and said, “Master, our Qin Family is preparing to head south and set out to sea. May I ask if you approve?”
Li Qingqiu set down the wooden sword, turned to look at him, and asked, “Why go out to sea?”
Qin Ye replied, “Some in the family wish to explore the Sea Region, to chart maritime maps for the Clear Sky Sect. At the same time, they also hope to search for more cultivation resources.”
Although he had never participated in discussions at Lingxiao Courtyard, he had learned that the sect did not permit disciples to go to sea, so he had come specifically to ask.
Li Qingqiu pondered and said, “The ocean is vast and fraught with danger. Even with your cultivation, you may be buried beneath the sea. Consider it carefully. If you truly wish to go, then go. But remember—once you leave for the sea, do not mention the name of the Clear Sky Sect.”
He agreed because not long ago he had received news that secular Aristocratic Families had begun exploring the ocean. The Clear Sky Sect had no reason to stop them. Such matters could not be prevented, and the sect did not have enough manpower to blockade the continent’s coastlines.
Since that was the case, it was better to support the Aristocratic Families within the Clear Sky Sect in their exploration.
According to Wei Tianxiong, although Ziyang Island was the closest immortal cultivation sect to the Clear Sky Sect, the actual distance between them was extremely far—farther than crossing the lands of the Nine Provinces Continent. For secular mortals to cross the sea and find Ziyang Island would be harder than ascending to the heavens.
Within the vast Sea Region, there were always islands yet undiscovered. Whether they brought fortune or calamity depended entirely on one’s destiny.
“Thank you, Master, for granting permission.” Qin Ye immediately bowed in gratitude.
Li Qingqiu waved his hand, and Qin Ye bowed again before taking his leave.
To Li Qingqiu, this matter was merely a minor interlude, yet it symbolized the greater trend of the world.
The Nine Provinces were at peace. The people lived and worked in contentment, and all trades were flourishing. Yet Aristocratic Families with ambitions toward immortal cultivation began to leave the lands of the Nine Provinces in search of immortal opportunities.
After witnessing the power of immortal cultivators, most people found it difficult to resist the allure. Everyone wished to cultivate immortality. Against such a backdrop, one splendid story after another was unfolding.
…
As autumn passed and winter arrived, the Taikun Mountain Range was covered in thick white snow.
One early morning, Li Qingqiu stood at the cliff outside his cave dwelling practicing swordsmanship. Jin Lang practiced blade techniques beside him. Man and mantis appeared remarkably harmonious. Though their moves differed, each strike carried its own profound rhythm.
A figure passed through Lingxiao Courtyard and strode quickly toward Li Qingqiu.
It was Yun Cai, dressed in black, wearing a bamboo hat, her appearance travel-worn.
She stopped behind Li Qingqiu, raised her hand in salute, and said, “Sect Master, the mission has been completed. The demon wreaking havoc along the Northern Border was named Candle Yin. I have delivered its corpse to the Experience Hall. Its soul has been sealed by me within a Soul-Binding Pouch.”
The Soul-Binding Pouch was a magical artifact forged by Wu Xingyue, specifically designed to suppress ghosts. It had been jointly researched and developed by Chu Jing and Wu Xingyue and had now become the most widespread ghost-path artifact within the Clear Sky Sect.
One sword and two pouches—that was the plan Li Qingqiu had promoted, ensuring every outer sect disciple possessed such equipment.
By now, the thresholds for outer and inner sect disciples had also risen. Only those who had cultivated a trace of vital energy could become outer sect disciples. Inner sect disciples had to reach the fourth level of the Nourishing Origin Realm, while true disciples now required the fifth level.
With his back to Yun Cai, Li Qingqiu asked, “What was the origin of this demon?”
He had already taught her the Soul-Seizing Curse. He believed she had thoroughly searched Candle Yin’s soul memories.
Among all his disciples, none were as comprehensive as Yun Cai. She was the true inheritor of his legacy. It was not favoritism—after all, she possessed the Destiny Fate [Tempered Through a Thousand Trials].
The same spell might hinder another disciple’s cultivation, but in her hands, it would surely yield results.
“It came from the north and was unrelated to the Demon Lands. However, it was aware of the Demon Lands. In its memories, I saw a mountain like a heavenly chasm standing at the edge of the earth. It is said that beyond that mountain lies the Demon Lands. Even demons like Candle Yin dared not cross it. The reason it traveled south was that its cultivation had reached a bottleneck and it needed vast quantities of vitality and blood to break through.”
As Yun Cai spoke, recalling that towering mountain, a trace of apprehension appeared in her eyes.
The mountain was simply too high. She had never seen one so tall—it inspired awe and fear. If such a mountain was required to isolate the Demon Lands, how terrifying must that place be?
Li Qingqiu was less concerned with Candle Yin and more with the Demon Lands.
He began questioning her further about the memories she had seen.
Beside them, Jin Lang remained fully focused on practicing his blade, his movements unceasing.
From Candle Yin’s memories, Yun Cai had also learned that many demons in the north were heading south or west, seeking to distance themselves from the Demon Lands. All signs indicated that the Demon Lands would bring calamity to the mortal world, just as described in ancient legends.
Legend said that every thousand years, the Demon Lands would unseal, and countless demons would surge forth, bathing the world in blood.
Even demons themselves spread such tales, proving that the Demon Lands indeed ravaged the world according to a certain temporal cycle.
As Yun Cai described it, the mountain separating the Demon Lands had no visible summit. It stretched for hundreds of miles on both sides, as if marking the end of heaven and earth. That was the northernmost boundary.
After roughly understanding the intelligence, Li Qingqiu felt reassured. He could respond to the Northern Court and prove that the Clear Sky Sect had not failed its trust and tributes.
“By the way, how strong was Candle Yin?” Li Qingqiu asked with concern.
Seeing that Yun Cai was uninjured, he had not asked immediately.
After thinking for a moment, Yun Cai said, “Compared to that Great Demon Luo, it was somewhat inferior. But it was stronger than the evil ghosts we encountered before.”
Li Qingqiu’s expression turned strange upon hearing this.
Since breaking through to the Spirit Recognition Realm, Yun Cai had no longer engaged in duels. No one knew her true strength, including Li Qingqiu himself.
Had this girl already nearly reached the level of the Great Demon Luo?
Once again, Li Qingqiu felt tempted by her Destiny Fate [Myriad Laws Spirit Eyes].
“You performed well this time. I will speak with Xue Jin and have the reward for this mission doubled,” Li Qingqiu said seriously.
“Thank you, Sect Master!”
A smile appeared on Yun Cai’s face. She waved lightly at him before turning and leaving.
Her departure left Li Qingqiu slightly unaccustomed.
In the past, whenever she had the chance, she would never leave his side easily.
“She has truly grown up.”
Li Qingqiu sighed, his mood bright. This mission proved that Yun Cai now possessed the ability to stand on her own. She had become a combat force comparable to Xu Ning, Jiang Zhaoxia, Shen Yue, and Zhao Zhen.
If greater troubles arose in the future, he would have more cards to play.
Li Qingqiu did not wish for the sect to rely solely on him acting alone.
He turned to Jin Lang and smiled. “You must work hard as well—become the number one demon in the Clear Sky Sect.”
Though Jin Lang had once served Bai Zhi, under Li Qingqiu’s guidance his innate talent had been fully unleashed. He was now at the eighth level of the Nourishing Origin Realm. With the Destiny Fate [Innate Blade Cultivator], his strength was already able to contend with those at the ninth level.
Li Qingqiu held equal expectations for him.
Using Jin Lang as an assassin would be extremely effective.
“I will,” Jin Lang replied in a slightly muffled tone, remaining focused on his blade practice.
…
With the arrival of a new month, the Experience Hall posted the Dao Fate Monthly Ranking. Yun Cai rose forcefully to the top, causing an uproar.
Since the conclusion of the Spell Fighting Assembly, Yun Cai had kept a low profile, so disciples rarely discussed her. No one expected that she would either remain silent or astonish the world with a single feat.
Many disciples were curious what mission she had undertaken to obtain such an immense amount of Dao Fate.
Later, news spread that Yun Cai had slain the legendary demon Candle Yin, resolving a calamity for the Nine Provinces Continent. Candle Yin’s strength had been terrifying, surpassing the ordinary Spirit Recognition Realm.
As soon as the news spread, Yun Cai’s prestige soared.
When Xiao Wuqing reported the matter to Li Qingqiu, he merely smiled, hiding his merit and fame.