Chapter 290: Nine Immortals Sect
The matter of the Asking Immortals Temple was not taken to heart by Li Qingqiu. He did not even inquire further about that Spirit Mine, for there were far too many matters worthy of his contemplation.
Only if the disciples under his command were unable to resolve it would he personally turn his attention to it.
After drinking a pot of wine in Lingxiao Courtyard, Li Qingqiu finally departed.
He prepared to cultivate Divine Arts. Recently, aside from seated meditation and absorbing Inner Energy, he had spent the rest of his cultivation time studying the Extreme Movement Technique and the Immortal Severing Three Swords.
Defeating the Sword Champion remained his personal goal. He did not even look forward to the inheritance of the Supreme Sword Sect—he simply wished to defeat the Sword Champion.
……
Time flew.
The years passed like arrows.
In the blink of an eye, a year had gone by.
It was once again early autumn.
Li Qingqiu sat once more at the long table in Lingxiao Courtyard. As he drank, he listened to Chu Jing and Xiao Wuqing report on the sect’s affairs.
Now, Li Qingqiu rarely interfered personally in sect matters. Chu Jing and Xiao Wuqing had become his eyes, acting on his behalf. Yet every so often, he would still personally stroll through the various peaks to reassure the disciples.
He had already reached the Sixth Layer of the Spirit Perception Realm, yet early this morning he had still been defeated by the Sword Champion. It left him somewhat vexed.
However, with Righteous Qi of Vast Integrity within him, his state of mind did not sink too low. He merely could not quite understand it.
“Now Spirit Mines exist across the entire land of the Nine Provinces. Altogether, they exceed forty in number. A continuous stream of Spirit Stones is being sent toward the Ancient Great Mountain Range. However, the process has recently become somewhat troublesome. Someone actually dared to attack our transporting disciples. This is not a good omen.”
When Chu Jing spoke of this matter, the eyes beneath his mask turned cold and sharp.
Xiao Wuqing sighed. “Our sect is so powerful, yet there are still those who dare to take such risks. The human heart is truly unfathomable. This matter must indeed be investigated thoroughly—whether it was the doing of another sect or our own disciples.”
Li Qingqiu did not respond.
As the number of disciples increased, so too did the number with low loyalty. Currently, more than ten thousand disciples had loyalty below fifty, and a thousand had loyalty below thirty.
It was impossible to treat all thousand as potential traitors.
After serving twenty-five years as Sect Master, Li Qingqiu had realized one thing: nothing would remain smooth forever. Even without external enemies, the Clear Sky Sect would develop internal troubles. That was his responsibility—to adjust the sect’s direction of development.
“West Yu Immortal City has already been completed. Gu Changping hopes to send more True Transmission Disciples there for long-term residence. He says there are more demonic creatures than expected,” Chu Jing said, bringing up another matter.
West Yu Immortal City was a newly constructed branch city of the Clear Sky Sect. It lay in the western border of Yu Province, already beyond the territory of the Xuan Dynasty, deep within endless mountains where human traces were scarce.
Gu Changping had been appointed City Lord by Li Qingqiu. As an elite of the Enforcement Hall, one of the Top Ten in the first Grand Dao Tournament, and at the Ninth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, he was worthy of heavy responsibility.
After thinking for a moment, Li Qingqiu said, “Then dispatch another hundred True Transmission Disciples for long-term stationing. Select from those at the Sixth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm and above. Additionally, choose six each from the Qin Clan, Zhu Clan, Ning Clan, Yang Clan, and Gu Clan.”
Chu Jing nodded.
Xiao Wuqing added, “Recently, there have been hauntings in the imperial palace. The Heavenly Son wishes to invite us to send someone to eliminate the evil entities.”
“Hauntings?” Li Qingqiu asked in surprise.
The Zhu Clan had intermarried with Liu Jing. There were two female disciples of the Clear Sky Sect within the palace. How could such a thing occur?
Though their cultivation was not high, they had already begun to grasp the ability to distinguish evil entities.
“Yes. That is what he wrote in the letter.” Xiao Wuqing’s expression was also rather strange.
“Then let Ji Ya make the trip.”
Upon hearing that Ji Ya was being dispatched, Xiao Wuqing raised his brows.
Ji Ya was a newly advanced Spirit Perception Realm disciple, representing first-rate combat strength within the sect. It seemed Liu Jing still held considerable weight in the Sect Master’s heart.
Li Qingqiu raised his gaze toward the old tree behind the pavilion. An autumn leaf drifted down, swaying in the air.
“Demonic creatures and hauntings… It seems the world will not remain peaceful for long.”
Li Qingqiu murmured. The words caused subtle changes in Chu Jing and Xiao Wuqing’s expressions.
Even seated high within the Clear Sky Sect, overlooking the Nine Provinces, to the two of them the world remained shrouded in much fog.
After the time of one incense stick—
Chu Jing and Xiao Wuqing departed. Zhang Yuchun entered the courtyard and sat beside Li Qingqiu.
“According to the intelligence I’ve received, the Nine Immortals Sect has already spread among the noble and powerful circles throughout the Nine Provinces. They revere nine Immortal Deities. Although suppressed by the Heavenly Son, many nobles still worship them in secret. It is said that belief in the Nine Immortals Sect can cure illness and prolong life.”
Zhang Yuchun spoke gravely. He was extremely wary of the Nine Immortals Sect.
Li Qingqiu lifted his wine bowl and drank without immediately expressing his stance.
Zhang Yuchun continued, “Over the past two years, the Nine Immortals Sect’s momentum has grown rapidly, and its movements are secretive. It will certainly become a great enemy of our sect.”
Li Qingqiu glanced at him and asked, “What do you think its origins might be?”
“If it came from the Heavenly Nether Sea, there would be no need for such secrecy. Once Sun Moxing returns, we may get an answer. He should return in about a month. I suspect it is very likely related to the north. Previously, when Yun Cai slew Zhuyin, did he not say that other demonic creatures were heading south?”
Zhang Yuchun spoke in a low voice. If it was connected to the northern demons, then the threat of the Land of Demons and Devils could not be ignored.
Li Qingqiu nodded. “Have Zhao Zhen and Elder Shen each descend the mountain to investigate the Nine Immortals Sect. This is a secret mission—no one else must know.”
Hearing that these two were being dispatched, Zhang Yuchun smiled. It meant Li Qingqiu had taken the matter seriously.
“Elder Shen is reliable, but Zhao Zhen… will he…” Zhang Yuchun hesitated, feeling Zhao Zhen lacked experience.
Li Qingqiu said calmly, “People must grow. And he is no longer who he once was.”
Zhang Yuchun opened his mouth, but seeing Li Qingqiu’s firm attitude, he let it go.
After speaking with him, Li Qingqiu returned to his Cave Dwelling.
He sat cross-legged on the bed and began comprehending the Supreme Purity Primordial Unity Scripture.
Yun Cai had given him inspiration. He had learned the scripture through Dao Lineage inheritance and cultivated it step by step. Though it went smoothly, this might not be the scripture’s limit.
Moreover, while comprehending it, he could create a Sword Soul to absorb Inner Energy for cultivation.
As he closed his eyes, strands of Sword Energy overflowed, forming a body of Sword Energy seated beside him—identical in form.
It had to be said, Shen Yue’s method of cultivating Sword Souls was remarkably useful, allowing Li Qingqiu more time to research techniques and Divine Arts.
The Cave Dwelling fell into silence.
Nangong E, Lin Chuan, and Jin Lang were also cultivating in their own quarters. They hoped that in future battles they could shoulder more responsibility, rather than merely gathering intelligence.
The moon set and the sun rose.
A new day arrived.
Li Qingqiu opened his eyes and began absorbing the Vital Energy of the Sword Soul.
[In light of the Clear Sky Sect’s first encounter with a full-scale invasion by demonic forces, proving that the Dao Lineage’s development has entered an entirely new competitive environment, you have obtained one Fortuitous Fate Chance.]
The sudden prompt caused Li Qingqiu to frown.
Demonic forces?
Full-scale invasion?
His first thought was the Nine Immortals Sect. It had already spread throughout the Nine Provinces, effectively infiltrating the Clear Sky Sect’s entire territory.
Demonic forces—this meant a demon was leading.
According to Zhuyin’s memories, although there were many demons in the north, there was no true Demon King.
In other words, this Demon King had either come from the west or escaped from the Land of Demons and Devils, gathering power in just a few short years.
It seemed he had still underestimated the threat of the Nine Immortals Sect.
While absorbing the Sword Soul’s Vital Energy, he pondered.
After finishing, he did not leave the Cave Dwelling, but chose to activate the Fortuitous Fate.
[Claim Fortuitous Fate Reward]
[Activate Fortuitous Fate]
[Detecting Fortuitous Fate]
[Fortuitous Fate detected. Demon Sovereign Immortal Palace discovered. Accept guidance?]
Demon Sovereign Immortal Palace?
Such a coincidence?
Could it be related to the demonic invasion?
Numerous speculations flashed through Li Qingqiu’s mind before he chose to accept.
His consciousness swiftly plunged into a dream.
……
Zhao Zhen and Shen Yue quietly descended the mountain without alarming anyone.
After learning of the demonic invasion, Li Qingqiu had not immediately summoned the sect’s upper ranks to deliberate.
Instead, he called Xu Ning and Jiang Zhaoxia.
Jiang Zhaoxia was already at the Second Layer of the Spirit Perception Realm, while Xu Ning had reached the Third Layer.
When they entered the courtyard and did not see Li Qingqiu, they sat down without speaking, the atmosphere somewhat awkward.
After a while, Jiang Zhaoxia could not help asking, “If Senior Brother assigns us another mission, what should we do?”
Xu Ning’s expression turned unnatural. “We’ve already reached the Spirit Perception Realm. It shouldn’t be like before, always failing.”
With the rise of Zhao Zhen and Yun Cai, the two of them were rarely dispatched and had been in secluded cultivation.
Being summoned this time, they had already guessed something important awaited them.
“I’m full of confidence now. Whatever is entrusted to me, I won’t fail,” Jiang Zhaoxia said with spirited pride.
Xu Ning raised her brows but did not refute him.
She had long heard that Jiang Zhaoxia had mastered a Divine Art, and she had once felt pressure. But her competitive spirit would not allow her to fall behind. Over the years, she had not wasted time and was equally confident.
Even if she were to face Jiang Zhaoxia now, despite his Divine Art, she believed she could win.
At that moment, Li Qingqiu walked into Lingxiao Courtyard from the back mountain.
Seeing him approach, the two immediately stood.
“It’s just the three of us. No need for formalities. Sit,” Li Qingqiu said as he came over.
He took his seat and produced two jade slips, placing them on the table and pushing one toward each.
This was the restriction technique brought by Wei Tianxiong. It allowed one to use Spiritual Sense to draw maps within the jade slip, extremely convenient. However, the threshold was high—only those in the Spirit Perception Realm could use it.
Jiang Zhaoxia and Xu Ning took the jade slips, looking at him in confusion.
“I need you to search for an underground palace called the Demon Sovereign Immortal Palace, located in the western Perilous Land. Each of you select ten reliable disciples to accompany you. After finding it, investigate the situation within and send someone back to report to me.”
Li Qingqiu’s expression was solemn. He paused, then added, “On the way, you may encounter powerful demonic creatures. Prepare yourselves mentally.”