Chapter 44: The Second Fortuitous Fate
Inside the new courtyard, there were far fewer disciples gathered than before.
Seeing that the craftsmen were still busy, Zhang Yuchun pulled Li Qingqiu aside.
“Senior Brother, should we ask Junior Brother Jiang to make a trip? I can’t shake the feeling that this Absolute Saint Sect isn’t some ordinary force. It seems they’re deliberately provoking us,” Zhang Yuchun said, frowning.
The Clear Sky Sect had grown to over a hundred disciples—an impressive scale.
Because of this, he cherished everything they had all the more, and his considerations became much more cautious than before.
Li Qingqiu smiled and said, “It’s fine. Yang Jueding is no longer the same as before. Though he hasn’t reached the Second Layer, his strength far surpasses what it once was. Besides, Ning’er went with them.”
What did the Fifth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm represent?
Li Qingqiu dared not claim to be Number One Under Heaven, but when it came to the martial world of Guzhou, it should be no problem.
And if even Xu Ning couldn’t defeat the opponent, it would be even harder for Jiang Zhaoxia.
It would be better to preserve Jiang Zhaoxia’s reputation.
“Is that so?”
Zhang Yuchun was still uneasy.
Li Qingqiu patted his shoulder and said no more, then returned to supervise the craftsmen.
Since they were establishing incense offerings, they needed to create a proper mythological system.
The Five Innate Great Primes would be the pinnacle of the Clear Sky Sect’s mythology—no room for carelessness.
He had already decided to build temples for the Five Innate Great Primes in the future and then create more deities, constructing temples step by step.
He would build a Path-Seeking Stairway from the foot of the mountain to the summit.
Not only could pilgrims climb it for worship, but in the future, it could also be used to test new disciples.
Of course, these were only plans for now, buried deep in his heart.
As Sect Master, Li Qingqiu had the power to realize all that he desired.
……
By the time Yang Jueding and the others reached the waterfall where the Absolute Saint Sect resided, the morning had already turned into afternoon.
Even for martial artists like them, covering a distance of a hundred li took time.
The closer they got to the Absolute Saint Sect, the more Yang Jueding’s anger surged.
He didn’t even notice how strange it was that Su Xiling had been able to keep up with them.
All the disciples he had chosen had been in the sect for over a year.
Though they were sweating profusely after the long trek, none were so exhausted that they had to bend over to catch their breath.
Their arrival quickly drew the attention of the Absolute Saint Sect’s disciples.
They all stopped their work and turned to look toward the group from the Clear Sky Sect.
“Who’s in charge here? Get out here!”
Yang Jueding roared, his voice booming—not just in anger, but in excitement.
Ever since he had begun cultivating the Primordial Unity Scripture, he hadn’t had the chance to fully unleash his power.
He wanted to test just how strong he had become.
His shout was like a lion’s roar, echoing between the mountains so powerfully that even the sound of the waterfall couldn’t drown it out.
In the rear of the group, Su Xiling was secretly startled—This man’s inner energy is this strong?
She had heard of the Dragon-Subduing Hero, but in her eyes, the so-called Heaven Ranking had always been a joke.
Now, it seemed that under the great fame, there was indeed substance.
Of course, Yang Jueding merely surprised her—he didn’t make her feel in danger.
She could sense a terrifying aura nearby, and her eyes scanned around, but she couldn’t find where that person was hiding.
“You’re from the Clear Sky Sect?” one Absolute Saint Sect disciple leapt down from a terrace, pointing his blade toward Yang Jueding with a mocking expression.
The other Absolute Saint Sect disciples also revealed malicious grins, looking at Yang Jueding’s group as though they were prey.
“Nonsense! Are you the leader here?”
Yang Jueding shouted again, stepping forward as his robe billowed, like a fierce tiger striding forth, his momentum intimidating.
“You’re looking for me?”
A thunderous voice resounded through the mountains, drawing the Clear Sky Sect disciples’ gazes upward.
Apart from Yang Jueding, Xu Ning, and Su Xiling, every other disciple widened their eyes.
Their gazes fell upon the top of the waterfall, where they saw Yan Wujin standing above it.
Water splashed around his body as he looked down upon the Clear Sky Sect’s group from on high.
The waterfall was ten zhang tall.
Before their eyes, Yan Wujin leapt gracefully, descending like a flying wild goose to land steadily by the lake.
Not a trace of tremor could be seen—his lightness skill left the Clear Sky Sect disciples dumbfounded.
Qin Ye clenched his iron staff tightly.
Just from that display of lightness skill, he knew this man was no simple opponent.
Yang Jueding’s expression grew serious.
For him to leap from such a height and land without unloading his force—his legs would’ve given out if he tried.
This person’s cultivation was deep and unfathomable!
Yan Wujin surveyed the group before him, soon frowning.
Just then, Tang Ziqi walked out from the nearby woods.
“Dragon-Subduing Hero, Yang Jueding. Since your duel with the Sword Saint of the Boundless Sea, you vanished without a trace. I never thought you’d join the Clear Sky Sect.”
Tang Ziqi fixed his eyes on Yang Jueding as he approached, speaking with a smile.
Yang Jueding frowned tightly, studying him for a moment before finally recalling something.
With a hint of surprise, he asked, “Tang Ziqi of the Tang Family of Linchuan?”
Tang Ziqi smiled.
“Indeed, we met in Xuandang five years ago. I didn’t expect Brother Yang to still remember me.”
Yang Jueding didn’t return the smile.
Instead, he asked warily, “You’re a scion of a noble family. Weren’t you traveling in Xuandang? How did you end up mixed in with the martial world? What is your position in the Absolute Saint Sect?”
The Clear Sky Sect disciples grew tense as Yang Jueding’s imposing aura faded.
The words noble family alone were enough to strike immense pressure into their hearts.
They were all from poor families, and since childhood, their parents had told them—noble families were not to be provoked.
If the Absolute Saint Sect had the support of a noble family, its foundation would be on an entirely different level.
The Clear Sky Sect had transformed drastically even with the help of the declining Qin Family—yet the Qin Family was still far from being a true noble house.
“I almost forgot to introduce myself,” Tang Ziqi said with a smile, gesturing toward Yan Wujin.
“I’m now the Vice Sect Master of the Absolute Saint Sect, and this is our Sect Master—Yan Wujin.”
“Yan Wujin?”
Yang Jueding muttered to himself.
He had roamed the martial world for many years but had never heard of such a name.
Tang Ziqi continued with a faint smile.
“It’s normal you haven’t heard of him. He has practiced martial arts since childhood and spent thirty years cultivating in seclusion. He founded the Absolute Saint Sect earlier this year. At that time, Zhu Wuliang, the Scarlet Flame Divine Palm, who was the number one martial artist in Cangzhou, was defeated by him. Does Brother Yang perhaps think himself stronger than Zhu Wuliang?”
At the mention of Zhu Wuliang, Yang Jueding’s expression darkened, and his eyes filled with apprehension as he looked at Yan Wujin.
From the moment Yan Wujin appeared, he had felt an overwhelming sense of unease.
Now, hearing his battle record, he knew things had turned bad.
Though the martial world called him the Dragon-Subduing Hero, what they admired most was his chivalrous spirit—not his martial prowess.
Compared to a supreme master like Zhu Wuliang, he was far inferior.
Seeing Yang Jueding’s composure falter, the Absolute Saint Sect disciples sneered with contempt, while the Clear Sky Sect disciples became as tense as if facing a mortal enemy.
Su Xiling also frowned.
She knew Zhu Wuliang—he was no ordinary martial artist.
For this man to have defeated him…
“The Clear Sky Sect truly has no luck…”
A trace of sympathy rose in Su Xiling’s heart.
Just then, she noticed someone stepping forward—a small figure, unassuming among the Clear Sky Sect disciples.
It was Xu Ning.
Xu Ning walked past Yang Jueding, who immediately snapped back to his senses.
What am I afraid of?
Clang—
As Xu Ning advanced toward Yan Wujin and Tang Ziqi, she drew her sword, its tip angled toward the ground.
This scene made the Clear Sky Sect disciples’ expressions shift.
None of them had expected Xu Ning to be the first to step forward.
Yan Wujin and Tang Ziqi both looked surprised—this young girl dared to draw her sword at them?
Xu Ning had not yet reached thirteen years of age.
Three years of immortal cultivation had transformed her temperament.
As she walked with her sword, there was a sharp, unsheathed brilliance about her.
“Young girl, who are you?” Tang Ziqi asked, frowning.
Why had Jiang Zhaoxia shaken the martial world?
Was it not because of his youth—that he was far too young, shocking everyone?
With Jiang Zhaoxia as precedent in the Clear Sky Sect, it was not impossible for another prodigy to appear.
Xu Ning’s face was expressionless as she said softly, “Disciple of Li Qingqiu of the Clear Sky Sect—Xu Ning.”
Her voice carried childish innocence, yet her killing intent could be felt by all present.
This one has killed before!
Yan Wujin and Tang Ziqi instantly reached the same conclusion.
A mere girl dared to challenge him!
Yan Wujin’s gaze turned icy as he stepped toward Xu Ning.
……
As dusk fell, Li Qingqiu sat in the courtyard waiting for dinner.
Li Dongyue approached with Yuan Li wobbling along behind her.
Li Qingqiu turned and looked at the two-year-old child, his eyes filled with anticipation.
“Grow quickly, little one. Master is getting impatient,” Li Qingqiu thought silently.
Yuan Li’s Undying Overlord Body had yet to awaken, so he couldn’t replicate it.
What exactly the Undying Overlord Body would do was still unknown.
While waiting, he could only hope that other powerful Fate Traits might appear.
Li Dongyue sat beside him and asked, “Aren’t you worried about them?”
Li Qingqiu smiled.
“Don’t worry, they’ll be fine.”
“Do you trust Elder Yang more, or your disciple?” Li Dongyue pressed.
“Both. There aren’t that many supreme masters in this world. They’re just far away—it’ll take time for them to make the round trip,” Li Qingqiu replied casually.
But in truth, he wasn’t as calm as he appeared.
Throughout the entire day, he had lost count of how many times he had checked the Dao Lineage panel.
Only after confirming that the number of disciples hadn’t decreased did he finally relax.
Li Dongyue muttered, “I still feel the Absolute Saint Sect isn’t simple. After all, for so many years, no other sect has dared to seize our territory.”
At that moment, a notification suddenly appeared before Li Qingqiu’s eyes:
【Since the Clear Sky Sect has established its first mythic stone statue, initiating the path of incense inheritance, you have gained one Fortuitous Fate Opportunity.】
Li Qingqiu froze for a moment.
At first, he had subconsciously thought Xu Ning had triggered it—but it turned out to be the statue.
This can also earn a Dao Lineage reward?
He suddenly realized his understanding of the Dao Lineage was far too shallow.
After a brief sigh, he grew excited with anticipation for the new fortune.
The first Fortuitous Fate had led him to discover the Subterranean Spiritual Lake, rapidly increasing his cultivation.
What would the second reveal?
Just then—
Zhang Yuchun jogged into the courtyard and came running to his side, smiling.
“Senior Brother, the statue of the Dao Venerable Taiyi is finished! Shall we go take a look after dinner?”
Li Qingqiu shook his head.
“No need. You’ll oversee it from now on. Since we’re establishing incense offerings, we can’t be careless. Guard the five statues well—don’t let them get rained on or damaged. Once their temples are completed, move them inside.”
Zhang Yuchun nodded, his gaze falling upon Yuan Li.
“What’s with the little one? He still can’t speak?” he asked.
At this, Li Dongyue sighed helplessly.
“Yes, I’ve examined him—his meridians and acupoints are all fine. I’m even considering taking him down the mountain to find a famous physician.”
Yuan Li stood by the table, looking up at the three of them.
His large eyes shimmered with the innocence unique to children.