Chapter 32: The Martial Champion’s Challenge
Seeing Feng Dai kneeling before him, Li Qingqiu remained unmoved.
He casually asked, “What do you mean by that? Has the county magistrate already uncovered the truth?”
In his eyes, Feng Dai and the others’ actions were meaningless—merely attempts to ease their own guilt.
Even if Wu Baoyu truly harbored the intent to slay the emperor, without Feng Dai’s report, he would have lived a while longer.
Zhang Yuchun taking Wu Baoyu up the mountain merely changed his fate; what truly forced Wu Baoyu toward the imperial capital was Feng Dai.
Of course, Feng Dai was not wrong either—officials catching criminals was only natural and righteous.
If one had to blame someone, it would be that emperor.
He founded the Demonic Sect, erased Wu Baoyu’s merits, and even slandered him as a man of countless evils.
But in this world, the emperor was the heavens themselves, and mortals had no right to rebel against heaven.
“I investigated according to Senior Xiao’s words. The second son of the Xiao family was indeed named Xiao Ji. He was chosen as an imperial guard in his youth and served under the previous Crown Prince. After the Xiao family’s massacre, all records of him ceased—he vanished without a trace. Moreover, I discovered that in the past, the Crown Prince had indeed dispatched a group of imperial guards to infiltrate the Demonic Sect, but there are no further records.”
Feng Dai’s teeth clenched as he spoke, his face full of remorse.
The nine constables beside him looked equally grim.
After learning of Wu Baoyu’s past, knowing such a hero died with infamy crushed their fighting spirit.
They no longer knew whether the imperial court they served was just, nor whether justice even existed in this world.
If even the emperor himself was the greatest evil—what could mere lowly constables like them do?
Li Qingqiu stared at him and asked, “And with just this, you believe him?”
“After Senior Xiao died in the palace, all records concerning Xiao Ji were destroyed. I questioned the inspector-general, but he told me not to inquire further. How could there be such a coincidence?”
Feng Dai’s voice trembled with anger; his heart could not calm.
Li Qingqiu sighed softly and said, “After Senior Wu came up the mountain, he rarely spoke. I didn’t interact much with him, so I can’t tell what’s true or false. I only know one thing—he’s gone. Let’s just act as if he never came. Regret now holds no meaning.”
Having said this, he turned and began walking up the mountain.
“Wait—Sect Master, do you think the matter should end like this?” Feng Dai called out hastily.
“I’m merely the Sect Master of one sect.
I only wish to protect my disciples. Wu Baoyu never belonged to the Clear Sky Sect, so to me, yes—it should end like this.”
Li Qingqiu did not stop nor look back.
Feng Dai’s face shifted between gloom and hesitation, yet he could no longer speak.
When Li Qingqiu vanished at the mountain path’s end, the constables rose one after another, helping Feng Dai to his feet.
“My lord, this concerns imperial power. We can’t interfere, and neither can the Clear Sky Sect,” one older constable said gravely.
He had served the longest and his heart was already weary and pessimistic.
Feng Dai took a deep breath and turned to face the nine constables.
His gaze was different now—firm and unwavering.
“Precisely because no one dares to interfere, I must! I admit this path leads to certain death, but I will not force you to follow me. Even if I’m shattered to dust, I’ll vindicate Senior Xiao and reveal the truth of this evil to the world!”
He turned and left, his left hand gripping the hilt at his waist so tightly that veins bulged from his knuckles.
The nine constables fell silent.
None looked at the others, but before long, each began to follow in his footsteps.
High above, Little Eight circled in the sky, gazing down.
To it, Feng Dai and the others were as small as ants.
——
After the New Year, the Clear Sky Sect’s expansion continued.
Zhang Yuchun became the busiest man, often taking Huang Shan and Yu Lin down the mountain.
This made the two increasingly mature—their speech and demeanor clearly different from the other disciples.
Li Qingqiu only handled major decisions and supervised the overall progress of construction.
As spring neared its end, Wu Man’er and Li Sifeng both broke through to the Second Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, much to Li Qingqiu’s delight.
A cultivator at the Second Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm was enough to rival top martial experts in the Jianghu—perhaps even the very best among them.
After reaching that realm, Li Sifeng could no longer suppress his eagerness.
He sought out Li Qingqiu and requested to accompany Zhang Yuchun on his next trip down the mountain.
Li Qingqiu hesitated but eventually agreed.
Though Li Sifeng was not yet fourteen, his skill already far surpassed Zhang Yuchun and the others.
Moreover, having him accompany Zhang Yuchun would serve as a living banner for the sect when recruiting disciples.
With Li Qingqiu’s permission, Li Sifeng was overjoyed.
He immediately went to tell Zhang Yuchun, who was equally pleased—he knew full well how formidable Li Sifeng was.
The next day, Zhang Yuchun led Li Sifeng, Huang Shan, and Yu Lin down the mountain.
——
After noon, Li Qingqiu was in the courtyard with over ten disciples, his gaze focused on Yang Jueding and Wu Man’er.
The two were sparring.
Wu Man’er had once trained under Jiang Zhaoxia, but when Jiang became too busy, Yang Jueding took over as his instructor.
Since then, Yang had poured his all into teaching Wu Man’er—more diligently than even with Li Sifeng.
He had even taught him his modified Nine Heavens Divine Palm.
The two stood ten paces apart, each taking their stance.
Wu Man’er, now fifteen, stood nine feet tall—nearly two meters in the Great Li Dynasty.
His burly figure strained even the largest robes.
Despite his intimidating frame, his face was simple and honest, often wearing a foolish grin—just as it did now.
Yet facing him, Yang Jueding could not smile.
Only when directly facing Wu Man’er did he feel that pressure.
The Second Layer of Nourishing Vital Energy Realm grants such power?
Yang Jueding was secretly stunned.
To his eyes, Wu Man’er had no openings—attacking from any angle would invite disaster.
Li Dongyue cradled little Yuan Li, nearly two years old, who tilted his head curiously with wide eyes.
Cheng Canghai stood at the edge, equally eager to see the outcome.
He had no doubt of Yang Jueding’s skill—he was just curious how strong Wu Man’er truly was.
He had once seen Wu Man’er carry a two-thousand-jin log up the mountain, which had terrified him.
“Man’er, I’m making my move,” Yang Jueding warned, before lunging forward like an arrow, palms striking as swift as wind.
Though bulky, Wu Man’er dodged effortlessly.
His footwork turned smoothly in place—neither advancing nor retreating.
He evaded the twin palms and blocked Yang Jueding’s leg strike with his hand, stopping it cold.
The disciples of the Clear Sky Sect could barely see their movements—it seemed Yang Jueding had grown extra arms and legs, blurring before their eyes.
Even if they couldn’t follow the moves, they could see who had the upper hand.
“Uncle Wu is amazing!”
“Yeah! I didn’t expect his skill to be this good—I thought he only relied on strength.”
“The wind from their blows is hitting my face!”
“Is that inner energy?”
“That’s just a fraction of it! Real inner energy can be devastating—they’re not even serious yet.”
The disciples murmured in awe, eyes glued to the two combatants.
Qin Ye gripped his staff, gaze fixed on them.
Since learning the Ten Directions Demon-Subduing Staff from Wu Baoyu, he hadn’t sparred much, but everyone could see his transformation—his body sturdier, his eyes sharper, his aura steeped in killing intent.
Few dared joke with him anymore.
Yang Jueding’s momentum suddenly surged, inner force swirling around him.
His attacks grew fiercer, kicking up dust and stones.
Wu Man’er no longer defended—he countered head-on.
Fists and palms collided again and again, the sound of flesh striking flesh echoing through the courtyard, tightening every onlooker’s nerves.
Wu Man’er, serious now, no longer smiled.
His expression turned grim, and his aura, coupled with his towering physique, was utterly oppressive.
Even if Yang Jueding held his ground, he seemed weaker in comparison.
Cheng Canghai swallowed hard, waves surging in his heart.
To generate such pressure with just fists and feet… these two have already surpassed top-tier martial masters!
Though small in number, the Clear Sky Sect truly hid dragons and tigers within!
Li Qingqiu nodded slightly.
In sheer presence, these two had already surpassed Lü Taidou.
Even if the Seven Peaks Alliance launched a full-scale invasion now, the sect would have the strength to stand firm.
After a moment of surprise, Yang Jueding grew exhilarated.
It had been a long time since he faced such an evenly matched opponent.
Despite his injuries, the fight thrilled him.
This was far more satisfying than fighting the Sword Saint of the Boundless Sea!
Neither used the Nine Heavens Divine Palm; they fought purely with fists and feet, igniting the disciples’ blood.
“Stop.”
Li Qingqiu’s calm voice rang out.
The two froze mid-strike—Wu Man’er’s fist descending like a tiger from the mountain, Yang Jueding’s palm rising from the waist like a dragon from the depths.
Their expressions shifted; Wu Man’er’s face returned to its naive grin as he turned toward Li Qingqiu.
“We were just getting to the good part. Why stop us?” Yang Jueding complained, glancing at Li Qingqiu in protest.
The other disciples also looked on in confusion—it had barely begun!
Li Qingqiu lifted his cup of tea and said softly, “A guest is approaching. Don’t frighten him.”
A guest?
The group exchanged puzzled looks and instinctively turned toward the courtyard gate—but saw no one.
Yang Jueding withdrew his palm, about to speak, when a voice echoed from the direction of the mountain gate:
“I am Li Yang, the Imperial Martial Champion! I seek to challenge the foremost expert of every martial sect—to exchange in the way of martial arts! May I ask, does the Clear Sky Sect have anyone worthy to face me?”
Everyone was stunned—someone had truly come!
And the Sect Master had sensed it beforehand?
Li Qingqiu looked toward Yang Jueding and Wu Man’er with a faint smile.
“You two go welcome our guest. Either of you may fight—but don’t kill him. After all, he’s the Imperial Martial Champion. His background is no small matter.”
Yang Jueding nodded and immediately turned to leave, with Wu Man’er and the other disciples following.
Soon, only Li Qingqiu, Li Dongyue, and Yuan Li remained in the courtyard.
The smile faded from Li Qingqiu’s face.
His brows furrowed as he fell into thought.
The name Li Yang… he had heard it before.
Sharing the same surname, he must be from that family.