Chapter 305: Lin Xunfeng’s Ambition
Li Qingqiu chatted with Wei Tianxiong for quite a while before leaving.
Wei Tianxiong had said that Yuan Li was still unable to threaten the Tongtian Sunlight Realm, which filled Li Qingqiu with immense anticipation for that realm.
However, he felt that his current self was already capable of contending with cultivators of the Tongtian Sunlight Realm. His strength far surpassed Yuan Li’s—no matter how powerful that so-called Dharma Form was, it could not possibly be completely unshakable.
Of course, Li Qingqiu would not deliberately seek out a great cultivator of the Tongtian Sunlight Realm just to verify his strength.
He could instead spar with the Sword Champion and see whether he could pass the trial.
He returned to the Lingxiao Courtyard and began waiting for Yuan Li’s return.
He could sense Yuan Li’s aura heading toward the Clear Sky Sect. Such a scorching aura—without cultivating an aura-concealment method, it would easily expose him.
Fortunately, Wei Tianxiong was prepared to impart such a secret technique to Yuan Li.
Li Qingqiu sat before the long table, sipping tea while deep in thought.
This demonic calamity had caused the Clear Sky Sect to lose so many disciples. He had to learn from it, for this was certainly not the end—it was only the beginning of their conflict with the Land of Demons and Devils.
“If we wish to guard the Land of the Nine Provinces, we must establish outposts along its borders so that intelligence can be transmitted back to the sect at the earliest possible moment.”
Li Qingqiu tapped the tabletop lightly with his right hand as he pondered in silence.
The upgrading of the teleportation formations and the Clear Sky Token could not be delayed.
With Wei Tianxiong present, research and development posed no issue. The true difficulty lay in materials. It seemed the Clear Sky Sect would have to intensify its efforts and tighten its control over the fortuitous opportunities within the Land of the Nine Provinces.
That meant he would have to dispatch more disciples.
That in itself was not a problem—the Clear Sky Sect’s disciple reserves were already substantial. The key lay in how to mobilize them and how to structure the reward system.
Dao Fate was not a tangible object. Precisely because it was intangible, numerical allocation required careful consideration to avoid destabilizing the sect.
Time continued to pass.
By dusk, Yuan Li finally returned.
He had borrowed a sect robe from other disciples, fearing that his Blood Robe would attract too much attention. Yet even so, his head of white hair drew no small number of gazes after he entered the mountain.
He walked alone into the Lingxiao Courtyard, went straight to the long table, and dropped to one knee.
“Master, I have returned,” Yuan Li said, lowering his head, not daring to meet his master’s eyes.
Li Qingqiu glanced at him and asked, “Why do you kneel?”
“I injured Junior Brother Xiao and disobeyed your words. Please punish me, Master.”
Yuan Li’s voice was heavy. He truly believed he had erred and had not grown arrogant despite his dramatic surge in strength.
Li Qingqiu looked at him and sighed softly. “Stand up.”
Yuan Li raised his eyes toward his master. When he saw the look in his master’s gaze, his heart ached. After a moment’s hesitation, he chose to rise.
In his heart, Li Qingqiu was not merely his master—he was also like a father. Since he could remember, he had followed Li Qingqiu’s side and been raised under his care.
Yuan Qi’s death had deeply shaken him. This awakening had forced him to endure unimaginable suffering. Now, seeing his master again and facing that compassionate gaze, grievances surged uncontrollably within him, and his eyes quickly reddened.
“The vengeance for Yuan Qi is not yours alone to bear. The Clear Sky Sect seeks it as well. Remember this—do not let emotions control you again,” Li Qingqiu said solemnly.
Yuan Li took a deep breath and nodded firmly.
Li Qingqiu continued, “Your physique is special. Do not tell anyone. Simply claim that you have cultivated some body-refinement technique and made progress. Do you understand?”
Yuan Li was stunned, unsure of his master’s meaning.
Li Qingqiu looked at him and said, “Your physique is called the Undying Overlord Body. It is an ancient Sacred Body of the Mortal World, possessing Great Fortune of Heaven and Earth. Your awakening has already triggered heavenly phenomena. Other great immortal cultivation sects may attempt to divine it. There may be trouble ahead.”
Yuan Li opened his mouth to speak but swallowed his words.
Having obtained such tremendous power, he had wanted to fully display his abilities. He had not expected it to bring potential trouble upon the sect instead. The thought left him feeling stifled.
“Do not worry. In the future, you may freely display your talent and strength. Only your physique must remain a secret,” Li Qingqiu said with a smile, seeing through his thoughts.
At those words, Yuan Li broke into a grin.
He had paid too high a price for his current strength—if he could not display it, that would be unbearable.
“Tell me what happened. The demonic aura between heaven and earth has diminished considerably—it should be related to you, yes?” Though Li Qingqiu already knew the result, he needed to hear it from Yuan Li before reporting it to the sect.
Yuan Li immediately began recounting the battles he had encountered.
After slaying the Great Demons led by the Centipede Spirit, he had not encountered any more demon creatures on his return journey.
He also revealed what the Centipede Spirit had said about the Demon Teacher, hoping his master would pay special attention to it.
After speaking for nearly half an hour, Li Qingqiu finally dismissed him to rest and instructed him to visit Wei Tianxiong early the next morning.
Upon hearing that Wei Tianxiong would impart an aura-concealment secret technique, Yuan Li was intrigued and hurried off.
Night fell.
The Lingxiao Bell rang.
The Hall Masters arrived one after another. Yuan Li’s earth-shaking aura had not gone unnoticed, and as they met, they could not help but discuss the matter among themselves.
Some inquired of Li Qingqiu, but he only said that he had sensed something and did not reveal the truth.
Once everyone had gathered, Li Qingqiu spoke directly.
“The demonic calamity has been resolved. Yuan Li slew the Demon King behind it. The demon creatures under his command have scattered and fled.”
At these words, everyone froze.
They had not expected the crisis to end so abruptly—and that the one responsible was Yuan Li.
Without giving them time to question him, Li Qingqiu continued, “This calamity involved a demon known as the Demon Teacher, likely from the northern Land of Demons and Devils. We must learn from this. From now on, the sect’s developmental focus will shift toward teleportation formations and the Clear Sky Token. I have decided to establish outposts north of the Northern Border…”
He laid out his plans one by one, though their thoughts remained on Yuan Li’s achievement.
Was the terrifying aura that had appeared today connected to him?
Upon hearing the name Demon Teacher, Wei Tianxiong frowned slightly. Clearly, he had heard of it before.
As for the construction of teleportation formations, Li Qingqiu opened the floor for discussion.
Winter’s falling snow gradually ceased. A bright moon rose in the night sky, shining into the Lingxiao Courtyard and stretching everyone’s shadows long.
…
At dawn, as the sun rose, Lin Xunfeng stepped out of his residence, neatly dressed.
He wore the white disciple’s robe of the Heavenly Clear Immortal Sect, a sword hanging at his waist and a Storage Pouch attached. He exuded an immortal bearing.
Lin Lingzhou was already awake, sweeping the courtyard.
Seeing his diligence, Lin Xunfeng said, “Lingzhou, you need not rise so early every day. In this courtyard, your master has the final say. You may live more freely and at ease.”
Holding the broom, Lin Lingzhou turned and smiled. “Master, I understand. But if I relax, I will have no immortal fate in this lifetime. I am disciplining myself, maintaining a positive attitude.”
Lin Xunfeng found himself unable to respond.
The longer he cultivated, the more he understood the cruelty of cultivation. Without a Spiritual Root, one truly could not cultivate. Yet he could not bring himself to crush Lin Lingzhou’s hopes.
After a long pause, Lin Xunfeng said, “Then do not exhaust yourself. I will be returning late today.”
“Understood.”
Lin Lingzhou responded and watched as Lin Xunfeng executed the art of sword-flight, vanishing into the mountains.
After his master left, he sighed.
He raised the broom in his hand, intending to slam it against the ground—but could not bring himself to do so.
How could he not know how slim his hopes were? He did not even know for whom he was persevering.
For his master?
Clearly, his master could not help him.
For the people of the Heavenly Clear Immortal Sect?
Aside from Miss Xun’er, who had ever truly looked at him?
The more he thought, the more depressed he felt.
Suddenly, an idea took root in his mind—to visit the Land of the Nine Provinces, where his master had come from. He wanted to see what his master’s other disciples were like and whether they truly wished to cultivate immortality.
Once born, the thought quickly grew and flourished.
Meanwhile—
Lin Xunfeng rode his flying sword through magnificent mountains and rivers.
The Heavenly Clear Immortal Sect was vast—larger even than the Land of the Nine Provinces. The sect could even assign entire mountains to disciples as their Dao fields.
The scenery along the way always captivated him. Even though he had seen it many times before, he remained entranced each time.
Only by witnessing such immortal landscapes could he truly feel that he was cultivating immortality.
Along the way, he encountered many disciples of the Heavenly Clear Immortal Sect. Compared to them, he seemed shabby. Some rode spirit beasts, others stood upon magic implements. Their clothing and adornments were far more splendid than his.
Since childhood, Lin Xunfeng had been a prodigy. His master, Clear Sky Daoist, had once praised him as one destined to become a Martial Legend. That pride had long been etched into his bones.
Now, within the Heavenly Clear Immortal Sect, he was insignificant. Few even recognized him.
But one day, he would become the most dazzling presence within the sect.
With fervent anticipation for the future, Lin Xunfeng flew faster and faster.
He was heading to Fang Shuang’s Dao field to attend her instruction.
Two hours later—
On a mountainside, Lin Xunfeng sat cross-legged upon a meditation cushion among dozens of disciples, male and female alike. He sat in the last row.
Fang Shuang sat at the front, facing them.
She had just finished explaining a spell. Lin Xunfeng pondered deeply, finding it exceedingly profound.
“Recently, the Azure Dragon Domain may become unstable. You are not to leave for tempering,” Fang Shuang said.
Her words drew everyone’s attention—including Lin Xunfeng’s.
He knew little of the Azure Dragon Domain, only that the Heavenly Clear Immortal Sect was but one of many immortal cultivation sects within it. That alone spoke of its vastness—far beyond the Land of the Nine Provinces.
Aside from cultivation itself, he was naturally curious about the conflicts of the cultivation world, just as he had once been fascinated by tales of the martial world.
“Senior Sister, in what way unstable?” a disciple in the front row asked.
All eyes turned toward Fang Shuang.
As cold and serene as a fairy, her gaze calm as a deep pool, she spoke softly:
“Recently, a Sacred Body of the Mortal World has emerged. Its location is unknown, but the ancestral masters of the immortal sects have divined its birth. Other sects within the Azure Dragon Domain will surely divine it as well. They will search for this Sacred Body. Once it reveals itself, great battles will be inevitable. If any of you were to encounter such a clash at your level of cultivation, escape would be impossible.”