Chapter 308: The Sect Master’s Granddisciple
“Ghost Ship?”
After hearing this, Li Qingqiu grew interested. Since so many people had seen it, it had to be real.
He had always been wary of the Heavenly Nether Sea, so he had dispatched many more True Transmission Disciples to Source Iron Harbor Town. The number of disciples stationed there had already exceeded a thousand. In terms of strength, it was second only to Zhongtian Immortal City, even surpassing the Heavenly Mountain Spirit Pool.
Xiao Wuqing nodded and, lowering his voice, relayed further intelligence regarding the Ghost Ship.
After finishing, seeing that Li Qingqiu gave no further instructions, he bowed and withdrew.
Zhang Yuchun stood nearby. After hearing the report, he felt they could not be careless, though there was no need to make arrangements today.
After a while,
Yang Jueding entered, carrying a wine jug, and sat down. Curious, he asked, “Where’s that brat Jiang Zhaoxia? Why haven’t I seen him?”
The others all shook their heads, indicating they did not know.
Li Sifeng smiled. “He went to challenge Yuan Li. He lost and is hiding in his Cave Dwelling in self-isolation.”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone’s gaze fell on him.
They all knew Yuan Li was no longer the same as before, but just how strong he had become—no one truly knew.
Defeating Jiang Zhaoxia was no simple matter.
Could it be that Yuan Li had already become the sect’s second strongest?
Li Sifeng showed Jiang Zhaoxia no mercy and recounted the situation at the time. “Yuan Li’s fist was too fast. One punch landed right in front of my Third Junior Brother’s face, and he didn’t even have time to react. One punch decided victory. Although Third Junior Brother wasn’t injured, the blow to his pride was obvious. I was standing behind him. Even though I didn’t directly feel that punch, I was still shaken to the core. That kid Yuan Li is truly different now. No wonder he was able to end the calamity of demons and devils. Right now, he’s probably stronger than Elder Shen and Xu Ning. Within the sect, perhaps only Senior Brother can suppress him.”
Recalling that punch, he could not help but shiver.
Yuan Li was not only powerful—his aura had shaken him profoundly.
He had never seen such an aura before—an aura of Supreme Self-Sovereignty, an aura of Invincibility With Me Present. Not even Li Qingqiu or Shen Yue had displayed such presence.
Seated at the corner of the long table, Shen Yue drank a bowl of tea without changing his expression.
Zhang Yu tilted his head toward Shen Yue and asked curiously, “Elder Shen, when will you go challenge Yuan Li?”
The others all looked at Shen Yue, eager for trouble. Shen Yue was usually too good at posturing—they all wanted to see him suffer a setback.
Shen Yue’s expression remained calm. “How could I challenge a junior?”
He did not know exactly how strong Yuan Li was, but he vividly remembered the aura Yuan Li had displayed at the moment of his Awakening.
After that day, Shen Yue had been deeply affected. He had entered seclusion to study the Sword Dao.
He hoped his own Sword Dao could one day possess that same overwhelmingly fierce aura.
He had yet to achieve any results in his comprehension, so naturally, he would not challenge Yuan Li.
“Then what about you challenging Ning’er?” Li Sijin raised an eyebrow and asked.
Shen Yue and Xu Ning sparred most frequently. Toward the end, however, the outcome of their battles was no longer made public.
“That’s a different matter. Who dares treat Xu Ning as a junior?” Shen Yue shot Li Sijin a glance and replied righteously.
These siblings were truly wicked. It was fine to praise Yuan Li—but why drag him down?
It wasn’t as if he had lost to Yuan Li!
No one could refute Shen Yue’s words. Xu Ning was Li Qingqiu’s eldest disciple, holding a special status. Even the Hall Masters treated her with respect—some even with awe. She indeed could not be regarded as a junior.
This was not only because of her strength, but also because of her temperament and presence.
Li Qingqiu watched them banter with a smile, finding it far more enjoyable this way. If everyone was too harmonious, it would feel overly polite and distant.
The topic shifted to just how strong Yuan Li truly was. Cheng Canghai even suggested instigating the sect’s geniuses to challenge Yuan Li. It would both allow the disciples to recognize his strength—enhancing his prestige—and stimulate the geniuses to cultivate even more diligently.
The proposal received unanimous approval.
Just then,
Yuan Li entered Lingxiao Courtyard. The moment he arrived, everyone fell silent.
Seeing his head of white hair—even though his physique was stronger than before—made the upper ranks feel a pang of sorrow.
They all knew Yuan Qi and understood the depth of the brothers’ bond.
Even Yuan Qi had died. Would any of them face unexpected misfortune in the future?
No matter how powerful the Clear Sky Sect became, accidents could still happen. They might encounter enemies beyond their ability to resist.
At that thought, the mood among the upper ranks dimmed.
Yuan Li seemed not to notice. He came to stand behind Li Qingqiu, bowed respectfully, and said, “Master, I wish to take on disciples. May I?”
The moment these words were spoken, everyone perked up.
Though Li Qingqiu’s disciples guided other members of the sect, none had yet taken on disciples of their own.
If Yuan Li took the lead, then the Sect Master’s lineage would truly be passed on. More importantly, they could place people into that lineage!
Li Qingqiu turned his head to look at Yuan Li. Yuan Li appeared open and earnest as he looked at his Master.
“Do you already have someone in mind?”
“No. I simply wish to contribute more to the sect.”
“Very well. But you must distinguish between a personal disciple and an ordinary disciple. Your personal disciple must be brought to see me. They must also meet your Senior Sister and Junior Brother. Understood?”
Li Qingqiu spoke sternly. Yuan Li immediately assured him.
Upon hearing that Yuan Li merely intended to begin taking disciples, the upper ranks became even more interested.
Li Qingqiu had Yuan Li sit down and join the conversation. This was equivalent to allowing him into the circle of upper ranks. Everyone present knew that in the future, Li Qingqiu would entrust him with important responsibilities.
They continued chatting.
It was not until dusk approached that they dispersed. Li Qingqiu instructed Yuan Li to head to Source Iron Harbor Town the next day to investigate the Ghost Ship, but not to venture deep into the sea.
Early the next morning, as soon as Yuan Li descended the mountain, news of his intention to take disciples spread wildly throughout the sect. Many disciples were excited. The aristocratic clans began discussing countermeasures—how to send their descendants to kneel beneath Yuan Li’s tutelage.
What they valued was not Yuan Li’s strength, but the identity of being the Sect Master’s granddisciple.
Once one joined the Sect Master’s lineage, there would be a chance to compete for the position of Sect Master in the future!
Meanwhile, Li Qingqiu arrived at the Dark Hall.
The number of Dark Hall disciples had already surpassed two hundred, with more than half still undergoing training. Their missions were long-term and secretive, making them more difficult to cultivate.
The Hall Master, Mo Jiuhong, personally received Li Qingqiu. The two entered the Hall Master’s Cave Chamber to speak privately.
“The Nine Immortals Sect has close ties with the Land of Demons and Devils. This must be thoroughly investigated. What is the situation?”
Li Qingqiu sat in Mo Jiuhong’s seat and asked.
The Nine Immortals Sect had bewitched hearts throughout the Nine Provinces. After All Demons Stir Under Heaven subsided, they too vanished without a trace. But Li Qingqiu would not let them go.
Mo Jiuhong replied, “We have identified several suspicious individuals and are closely observing them. One of them is named Shi Yixian, the master of Asking Immortal Temple. He is currently heading north. A Dark Hall disciple remains by his side, and intelligence is continuously being sent back.”
Li Qingqiu nodded. “Do not push the Dark Hall disciples too hard. Avoid exposure.”
“I will measure the situation carefully.”
“There is another matter. I need someone to go to the Heavenly Nether Sea, infiltrate those Immortal Cultivation Sects, and serve as eyes for the Clear Sky Sect.”
“Rest assured. I have long been preparing for this. Three promising candidates have already been selected. They are trustworthy. However, since they must go out to sea, I hope their cultivation can improve further. I have poured Dark Hall resources into them.”
Mo Jiuhong spoke seriously. Though the Dark Hall operated in secrecy, possessing the Fate Traits Able to Bend and Stretch and Path of Infiltration, he greatly enjoyed his current life.
Li Qingqiu nodded. “The sect is growing larger. I can no longer allocate resources to the Dark Hall as freely as before. But your merits will be recorded and resources distributed accordingly. You will not be treated unfairly.”
He felt this more deeply now. Even he could not arbitrarily secure resources for himself anymore—the sect’s construction required them.
If he monopolized benefits for himself, it would inevitably affect the operations of the various halls.
Zhang Yuchun and Li Dongyue had even suggested formalizing the Sect Master’s treatment, so that everything could proceed properly and allow better planning of sect resources.
Li Qingqiu finally understood the mindset of foolish emperors.
The realm belonged to the emperor—but its wealth did not necessarily.
Mo Jiuhong also understood Li Qingqiu’s difficulties. In truth, Li Qingqiu had already treated them generously. Every Dark Hall disciple received better treatment than those in other halls, and they could even secure Immortal Cultivation opportunities for their relatives. That was their greatest motivation.
Now, the Clear Sky Sect’s threshold for recruiting disciples was extremely high. For ordinary people to directly become registered disciples was as difficult as ascending to the heavens—they all had to begin as menial disciples.
Li Qingqiu remained in the Dark Hall for an hour, speaking with each disciple before departing.
The effect was remarkable—the Dark Hall disciples were as exhilarated as if injected with stimulants.
Li Qingqiu could recite each of their names. This proved they were truly remembered in the Sect Master’s heart. How could they not be moved?
……
After the beginning of spring, the influence of the demonic chaos began to wane. The Clear Sky Sect advanced toward the future, and the world returned to the busyness of daily life.
During this period, the sect gave birth to two new Spirit Perception Realm disciples: Li Yang and Lu Qing.
Lu Qing was the most representative genius of the Enforcement Hall, a Top Ten participant in two consecutive Grand Dao Tournaments. Secretly nurtured by Li Qingqiu, his breakthrough into the Spirit Perception Realm was only natural.
Li Qingqiu directly dispatched Li Yang to the Northern Border to guard the new city.
Li Yang raised no objections.
This new city was named Demon-Repelling Immortal City by Li Qingqiu. The Northern Court Heavenly Son also sent a large number of soldiers to assist the Clear Sky Sect in its construction. For the Northern Court, this was a great boon. With the Clear Sky Sect helping to resist threats from the north, they would face far fewer dangers.
The matter had already spread throughout the Northern Border. More and more of its citizens began placing their faith in the Clear Sky Sect.
The legend of the Innate Five Supreme and Li Qingqiu’s name spread widely across the Northern Border.
After settling the matter of Demon-Repelling Immortal City, Li Qingqiu focused on his own cultivation.
One month after Yuan Li departed, he finally returned.
Li Qingqiu met him alone in Lingxiao Courtyard.
“Master, that Ghost Ship drifts unpredictably. I could not track it. I suspect it may be some kind of illusion. The only certainty is that it will not harm Source Iron Harbor Town. But whether it may bring greater threats—I cannot be sure.”
As Yuan Li spoke, his brows furrowed.
The confidence brought by the Awakening of the Undying Overlord Body had diminished somewhat—he was not omnipotent after all.
Li Qingqiu nodded. “It’s fine. Confirming that is enough. Later, I will arrange for Wei Tianxiong to make a trip.”
Yuan Li nodded. This matter made him realize he was better suited for battle than investigation.
Then Li Qingqiu took out a register from his sleeve, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Yuan Li.
“These are all new disciples who have entered the sect within the past half year. Their aptitudes are all decent. You may examine them. Whether to accept disciples is entirely your decision.”
If you encounter unfamiliar Fate Trait entries, you may search in the upper-right corner to find explanations~