Chapter 310: Crushing Like Rotten Wood
The young Li Shoumin revealed his grand ambitions before Li Qingqiu for the first time. He spoke at length, clearly not acting on impulse, but according to plans he had long prepared.
He had even thought through how he would win people’s hearts in unfamiliar lands. He would rely on the family’s financial strength, and he had already gathered a foundation of civil and military talents—though those within that foundation were as young as he was.
Li Qingqiu did not resist his ideas.
The Land of the Nine Provinces was not small; in fact, it was vast—so vast that even the Xuan Dynasty struggled to fully control it.
If Li Shoumin and Li Shouzheng established a dynasty in the west, it could also serve as an exploration of the Azure Dragon Domain and even become a buffer region.
This matter would also benefit the Clear Sky Sect.
In Li Qingqiu’s vision, immortal cultivation dynasties did exist. However, the Clear Sky Sect had yet to fully develop itself—how could it speak of supporting an immortal cultivation dynasty?
Moreover, the existence of such a dynasty would inevitably drain the Clear Sky Sect’s cultivation resources.
“Founding a dynasty is not as simple as you think. And heading west does not necessarily mean there will be many willing to become your subjects,” Li Qingqiu said with a smile.
Li Shoumin replied, “Beyond the western perilous lands, there must be many people. Perhaps there are even numerous dynasties standing side by side. After all, in the Land of the Nine Provinces, the Land of Demons and Devils poses a constant threat. According to Senior Wei, we are considered backward and desolate. Other places can only be better than ours.”
Wei Tianxiong was involved in this as well?
Li Qingqiu shook his head. “I hope it is as you wish. But before that, you must first raise your cultivation.”
“Rest assured, Grand Martial Uncle. Before descending the mountain, I will seize the throne of first place in the Grand Dao Tournament!”
Li Shoumin laughed proudly, hands on his hips, full of swagger.
Li Qingqiu suddenly realized how quickly time had passed. Four years remained until the next Grand Dao Tournament. By then, Li Shouzheng and Li Shoumin would both be eligible to participate—and they would be strong contenders for first place.
He would restrict disciples in the Spirit Perception Realm from participating in the Grand Dao Tournament. Four years from now, Li Shouzheng and Li Shoumin would likely have already reached the Ninth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
From the perspective of the sect’s development, time moved slowly. But from the perspective of an individual, it flew by.
Once again, Li Qingqiu felt the distinction between immortal and mortal.
It seemed like only yesterday that he had held Li Shouzheng in his arms, teasing him playfully.
The two spoke for a while longer. Having achieved his wish, Li Shoumin departed in high spirits.
Li Qingqiu smiled faintly and resumed his cultivation.
……
After the great calamity passed, Li Qingqiu’s days became leisurely. Even when matters arose, he only needed to dispatch others—there was no need to go personally.
Each day, he used his Great Fortune Physique to search for opportunities, hoping to discover another genius like Yuan Li at the earliest possible moment.
Unfortunately, heaven did not grant his wish.
As July approached, Wei Tianxiong and the others returned. They had completed their mission successfully, and Wei Tianxiong reported to Li Qingqiu alone.
“That ghost ship was indeed extraordinary. It was likely a high-grade Dharma Ship belonging to some great sect. The interior contained spatial restrictions—it could easily hold over a thousand people at once. The ship was also layered with numerous restrictions; it could even be used to attack an island. While investigating it, we discovered a cave dwelling on a solitary island. There was an inheritance inside. Yuan Li, Yun Cai, and Xiao Wudi each obtained their own fortuitous opportunity.”
Even Li Qingqiu was startled by the report.
Such a great harvest?
Could it be the Great Fortune of the Undying Overlord Body taking effect?
No—that ghost ship had appeared before.
“Tell me about the process,” Li Qingqiu urged.
Wei Tianxiong sighed in admiration. “The Human Sacred Body truly is extraordinary. With Yuan Li present, our adventure was like crushing rotten wood. The demonic beasts along the way were torn apart by his bare hands. The obstacles were blasted through with a single punch. Everything went smoothly—there is hardly anything worth recounting.”
“If there was anything unusual… ah, yes. Yun Cai was personally cultivated by you. Do you understand her eyes?”
Li Qingqiu did not answer immediately. Instead, he calmly poured himself tea.
Seeing his attitude, Wei Tianxiong felt inwardly shaken.
So many geniuses had gathered within the Clear Sky Sect—could this all be Li Qingqiu’s doing?
He had long wondered how there could be so many talents. Was it truly heaven’s favor?
Now it seemed more likely that Li Qingqiu had gathered these geniuses together, creating the illusion that the Clear Sky Sect was blessed by heaven.
Li Qingqiu himself was a genius, capable of suppressing him while only in the Spirit Perception Realm…
Wei Tianxiong’s gaze toward him subtly changed.
“As for Yun Cai’s eyes—pretend you noticed nothing unusual. In my eyes, her importance is no less than Li’er’s,” Li Qingqiu said softly.
Wei Tianxiong drew in a deep breath. “On our return journey, we encountered an immortal cultivator. He had quite a temper and was subdued by Yuan Li. I have imprisoned him in the Suppressing Evil Tower. After torturing him for a while, we can probe for information.”
Li Qingqiu frowned. “Will this expose the Clear Sky Sect’s existence?”
“Rest assured. After the previous demonic disturbance, I reforged the restrictions of the Suppressing Evil Tower. He cannot transmit any information. Isn’t the Black Fiend Demon Monkey behaving quite obediently now?” Wei Tianxiong waved dismissively.
Speaking of the Black Fiend Demon Monkey, he asked curiously, “Why are you keeping that demon alive? Compared to Yuan Li, his demon body is far inferior. I have ways to eliminate him—and so should you.”
“Someone wishes to study his demon body. It is a good opportunity. There is no need to speak of morality when dealing with such a demon,” Li Qingqiu replied.
“That disciple named He Jinshu again?”
“Yes. Though he is called a madman, he has indeed made many contributions.”
Li Qingqiu still could not forget the Vermilion Bird Blood. A treasure capable of altering one’s aptitude was simply too important.
Even Wei Tianxiong had admitted that he had never heard of anything like the Vermilion Bird Blood in the Heavenly Nether Sea.
“A madman is often a genius,” Wei Tianxiong said meaningfully.
Li Qingqiu neither agreed nor disagreed. After chatting a while longer, Wei Tianxiong took his leave.
After he left, Li Qingqiu began considering what rewards to grant Yuan Li and the other four.
The announcement of the Ten True Lords was drawing near. Yun Cai and Yuan Li could occupy two seats—others would require further thought.
……
In the blink of an eye, two years passed.
At forty-four, Li Qingqiu had reached the Eighth Layer of the Spirit Perception Realm. Over these two years, more than sixteen disciples had advanced into the Spirit Perception Realm.
The numbers in other realms were also rising rapidly.
The demonic calamity two years prior had not caused the people’s hearts to turn away from the Clear Sky Sect. Instead, it earned the sect even greater reverence. Even from the Northern Border, people traveled thousands of miles to seek apprenticeship.
Though the Clear Sky Sect faced no great threats, competition within the sect was intense. The Tempering Hall had become the liveliest hall. For any given mission, disciples competed eagerly to take it.
Next year, the Sect Master would determine the Ten True Lords!
Though no one knew what authority the True Lords would hold, the title alone was enough to drive the geniuses to exert themselves fully.
Just past noon on this day.
Within the courtyard of the Tempering Hall, Zhang Ping and Bai Ning’er stood side by side, frowning at the light screen ahead.
The screen was a spell projection displaying the current missions within the Tempering Hall. Every ten breaths, it flipped pages and repeated.
“These missions are average. Give up—you won’t reach a True Lord seat. You might as well focus on breaking through to the Spirit Perception Realm,” Zhang Ping said.
Unlike Bai Ning’er, who remained stuck at the Ninth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, Zhang Ping, blessed with superior aptitude, had already reached the First Layer of the Spirit Perception Realm.
Both had some reputation, causing nearby disciples to avoid crowding them.
“I’m not concerned with the True Lord seat. I’m just looking for an interesting mission,” Bai Ning’er snorted.
Zhang Ping smiled but did not respond.
With age and the warming of his relationship with Murong Xi, as well as ties formed with Murong Manor, he no longer feared social interaction as before.
Of course, he remained low-key—so low-key that when people spoke of Spirit Perception Realm disciples, they seldom thought of him.
In recent years, he had not gone out on missions. Instead, he contributed by teaching junior disciples, so his reputation stemmed from mentoring rather than cultivation.
Suddenly, a line of red text appeared on the light screen.
“I’ll take it!”
“That mission is mine!”
“Have you even read it before shouting?”
“A ghost city? I’m not afraid!”
The courtyard erupted in excitement.
Zhang Ping narrowed his eyes and saw it was a mission to explore a ghost city located in the western perilous lands.
Even at a glance, it seemed dangerous.
Bai Ning’er’s eyes lit up. He turned and strode toward the hall.
“Silence! Silence!”
A voice rang out. The disciples at the front retreated like a tide.
A Tempering Hall disciple emerged and shouted, “The ghost city mission may only be accepted by disciples at the Ninth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm or above!”
Ninth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm!
Like cold water poured over their heads, most disciples fell silent.
Zhang Ping glanced at Bai Ning’er and knew immediately that he would go.
Though the mission seemed perilous, Zhang Ping believed Bai Ning’er’s fate was resilient.
This fellow’s luck was darker than ghosts and malignant specters!
Sure enough, Bai Ning’er swaggered through the crowd and entered the hall, eager for all to know he had reached the Ninth Layer.
Zhang Ping shook his head with a smile.
Turning to leave, he nearly collided with a cold-faced disciple.
It was the Sword Sect’s foremost genius—Sword Solitary!
Clad in white, sword at his waist, Sword Solitary brushed past him. Wherever he walked, disciples stepped aside.
Zhang Ping turned to watch his departing figure, feeling a trace of envy.
Sword Solitary had likewise entered the Spirit Perception Realm. As part of the earliest batch of Spirit Perception Realm disciples, they had formed a small circle. Zhang Ping had once seen him at a banquet, though they had never spoken.
Unlike the radiant Sword Solitary, Zhang Ping was far too low-key.
What he envied was not Sword Solitary’s fame, but his bold and unrestrained mentality.
Of course, it was only envy.
He turned and walked away, heading in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile—
In the forest behind Lingxiao Courtyard, Li Qingqiu stood at the edge of a cliff, stretching his body. Out of habit, he activated his Great Fortune Physique to search for opportunities.
[Beginning search with the Great Fortune Physique]
Even if it failed, it did not matter.
He was merely passing time.
[Great Fortune Physique search successful. Accept guidance?]
Thank you to “Only Seeking Peach Blossom Spring” for the reward of 2400 Qidian Coins~
A long-awaited third update, and none of the chapters were shortened in word count!