Chapter 45: Heavenly Treasures of Heaven and Earth
“It’s fine. I think he’s quite clever—perhaps he simply doesn’t wish to speak.”
Li Qingqiu looked at Yuan Li and smiled softly.
He beckoned him over, and Yuan Li immediately circled around the table, came to his side, and lay his head on Li Qingqiu’s thigh.
He wasn’t worried about Yuan Li’s growth—after all, Yuan Li possessed the Heart of a Grandmaster fate trait, which meant he was bound to be intelligent.
He casually chatted with Zhang Yuchun and Li Dongyue while waiting for the disciples to serve the dishes, though his mind had long since drifted to matters of fortuitous fate.
As night fell and the dishes had just been served, Yang Jueding and the others finally returned.
Yang Jueding walked in front, his expression strange.
Behind him followed Xu Ning and Qin Ye, while the other disciples had gathered at the new courtyard beneath the mountain gate, enthusiastically discussing that afternoon’s battle.
Zhang Yuchun rose and asked, “Elder Yang, how did it go?”
Everyone else turned toward Yang Jueding, their expressions somewhat tense.
This was the first time the Clear Sky Sect had been provoked so openly.
If they had lost, endless trouble would surely follow.
Yang Jueding replied, “We drove them off—thanks to Xu Ning’s intervention.”
The entire courtyard collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
“Xu Ning took action? And what about you—couldn’t you defeat those people from the Absolute Saint Sect?” Li Sifeng seized upon the key point and immediately asked.
Yang Jueding’s face showed some embarrassment.
He coughed lightly and said, “That Absolute Saint Sect is not simple. They’re supported by the Tang Family of Linchuan, and their Sect Master himself is an exceptional expert—even Zhu Wuliang, the number one in Cangzhou’s martial world, was defeated by him. I truly wasn’t his match.”
“Zhu Wuliang? The Scarlet Flame Divine Palm, Zhu Wuliang?” Cheng Canghai’s eyes widened as he trembled and looked at Xu Ning as though he were seeing a ghost.
Seeing his reaction, Yang Jueding’s tone softened.
“That’s right—the Scarlet Flame Divine Palm Zhu Wuliang. The Sect Master of the Absolute Saint Sect is named Yan Wujin. He was previously unknown, but it won’t be long before his name shakes the entire martial world.”
Hearing this, Li Qingqiu lost interest.
He said, “Sit down—talk while eating.”
Yang Jueding and his two companions immediately sat down, and the others began pressing Xu Ning for details about her battle with Yan Wujin.
“That Yan Wujin’s cultivation was truly formidable. I’ve never seen someone with such thick inner energy—he could even make a whole lake boil! But Xu Ning’s sword was stronger. Her sword qi carried lightning—it pierced through Yan Wujin’s inner energy. You didn’t see his face—his eyes were wide as saucers…”
Yang Jueding grew increasingly animated as he spoke, and everyone gained a deeper understanding of Xu Ning’s strength.
Was Xu Ning even stronger than Jiang Zhaoxia?
They turned to look at Xu Ning again and saw her sitting quietly beside Li Dongyue, eating meekly—no one could reconcile that gentle figure with the mighty warrior who had just defeated Yan Wujin.
The meal was lively.
Xu Ning’s victory over the Absolute Saint Sect had greatly boosted the Clear Sky Sect’s morale.
In another guest room, Su Xiling was recounting the battle to Zhu Yan.
Her shock far exceeded Yang Jueding’s, for she knew all too well how strong Yan Wujin was.
“To think a realm-entering expert could be defeated by a young girl—it’s unbelievable! Could it be that the Clear Sky Sect truly has the blessing of an immortal? I didn’t expect there to be someone in their sect even stronger and younger than Jiang Zhaoxia. How on earth did she cultivate such power?”
As Su Xiling spoke, her hand trembled while holding the teacup.
Zhu Yan, however, remained calm.
She said softly, “There are always people beyond people, heavens beyond heavens. The world is full of countless fortunes and opportunities beyond our reach. Xu Ning being so powerful only proves her master, Li Qingqiu, is even stronger.”
Su Xiling came back to herself.
“Could it really be as the disciples of the Clear Sky Sect say—that Li Qingqiu received a divine dream and was taught by an immortal?”
Zhu Yan did not answer, for even she could not tell if that claim was true or false.
That night, many found it difficult to sleep.
After dinner, Xu Ning followed Li Qingqiu back to his room and gave a detailed account of Yan Wujin’s abilities.
“Master, though I defeated him, I couldn’t kill him. His martial arts are indeed formidable. If Elder Yang had faced him, he would’ve been seriously injured within three moves.”
Xu Ning spoke in frustration.
After reaching the Fifth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, her confidence had soared—after all, it was a realm even Jiang Zhaoxia had yet to touch.
She had pulled far ahead of the other disciples, yet her first battle after the breakthrough had still ended in a setback.
Sitting on a stool, Li Qingqiu looked at her dissatisfied expression and couldn’t help pinching her cheek with a smile.
“What more do you want? You just said it yourself—Yan Wujin is formidable. Without you, he and his Absolute Saint Sect might’ve become the overlords of Guzhou’s martial world. He’s probably devastated right now.”
“Master, I feel my comprehension of sword techniques isn’t that great. My inner energy’s attribute, though, gives me many ideas. I’d like to focus on developing techniques that suit my energy. May I?” Xu Ning didn’t avoid her master’s hand; she looked at him seriously as she asked.
Li Qingqiu said warmly, “Of course. Finding your own path—that’s the true sign of becoming independent.”
“I’m not leaving you, Master. I’ll stay with you forever—stay in the Clear Sky Sect for life.”
“Haha, if that’s what you want, I’ll naturally be happy. But if, one day, you fall in love and wish to descend the mountain, I won’t stop you either.”
“Tch, I’m not that shallow.”
Candlelight cast their shadows slanted on the wall.
Looking at Xu Ning, Li Qingqiu thought back to when she had first joined the mountain—dirty, frail, and thin.
Now she had completely transformed, exuding the bearing of a true cultivator.
He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—time truly flew.
After chatting for a while longer, Li Qingqiu sent Xu Ning off.
Once she closed the door, he waited a dozen breaths, then summoned the Dao Lineage panel and opened the Fortuitous Fate.
【Claiming Fortuitous Fate Reward】
【Activating Fortuitous Fate】
【Detecting Fortuitous Fate】
【Fortuitous Fate detected—Heavenly Treasure of Heaven and Earth discovered. Accept guidance?】
Heavenly Treasure of Heaven and Earth?
Li Qingqiu grew intrigued and immediately chose to accept.
Instantly, his consciousness was drawn into a dream.
In that dream, he couldn’t control his body—he could only watch as he traversed forests, hurrying toward some unknown place.
The Ancient Great Mountain Range was vast, lying in the southeastern region of the Great Li Dynasty.
To the east stretched hundreds of miles of deep mountains, shrouded in miasma and rarely trodden by men.
It was said that beyond those mountains lay a boundless ocean, yet none had ever crossed them.
Lin Xunfeng had once warned them not to venture eastward—and if they ever encountered thick fog, they must retreat immediately.
The mountain where the Clear Sky Sect was located already lay dozens of miles from that deep region.
To common folk, the sect was already hidden deep within the wilderness—finding it was no easy task.
As for the endless mountain ranges beyond—it was enough to inspire awe and dread.
In his dream, Li Qingqiu passed through layers of miasma.
He didn’t know how far he’d gone when he saw a giant tree—one that towered over a hundred zhang tall.
Countless branches and vines hung from it, and the surrounding forest seemed like its worshipful subjects.
The image, however, was blurred—he couldn’t see the tree’s true form.
When he awoke and recalled the tree’s silhouette, his heart trembled in awe.
It was the first time he had ever seen such a towering tree.
But since it appeared as part of his Fortuitous Fate, this tree surely held unimaginable benefits for him.
Li Qingqiu decided to set out before dawn.
……
Under the night sky, Tang Ziqi supported the disheveled Yan Wujin as they walked.
“Let’s stop here. I need to channel my energy to heal.”
Yan Wujin gritted his teeth as he spoke.
Tang Ziqi quickly helped him sit beneath a nearby tree.
Seeing him begin to meditate, Tang Ziqi’s thoughts remained restless.
Even now, recalling Xu Ning sent shivers down his spine—he couldn’t tell whether from fear or from the cold night air.
He sat down beside a tree, removed the water flask from his waist, and drank while forcing himself to think calmly.
All the disciples they had recruited under Zhu Wuliang had fled.
To rebuild their sect, they’d need to find another faction to use as a stepping stone.
Next time, they had to stay far away from the Ancient Great Mountain Range!
The forest was silent, save for the occasional gust of cold wind.
Having traveled nearly two hundred li, Tang Ziqi was utterly exhausted and soon fell asleep against the trunk.
He didn’t know how long he slept before a voice called to him.
He opened his eyes to see Yan Wujin sitting opposite him, alertly scanning their surroundings.
“What’s wrong?”
Tang Ziqi rubbed his eyes and asked weakly, instinctively glancing around—and quickly grew tense.
He didn’t need Yan Wujin to answer to know something was wrong.
Why was there fog everywhere?
Before he’d slept, there hadn’t been any mist at all.
“This place isn’t right. I think we went the wrong way,” Yan Wujin said in a low, steady voice.
After three hours of rest, his condition had somewhat recovered, and his tone carried power again.
Tang Ziqi’s brows furrowed tightly, his expression changing drastically.
“Rumor has it that deep within the Ancient Great Mountain Range lies a forbidden zone filled with miasma—any living thing that enters never returns. They say demons dwell there, and even beasts don’t dare approach.”
Yan Wujin slowly stood up.
“Seems the rumors were true. We must leave—I feel something’s wrong.”
Tang Ziqi immediately rose as well.
After circling around, the two decided to flee in the direction they came from.
By now, the Clear Sky Sect should have ceased their pursuit.
However, after fleeing several li, they still couldn’t escape the thick fog.
Anxiety crept in—the feeling that something unseen was watching them grew stronger.
“Wait!”
Yan Wujin suddenly halted Tang Ziqi, who froze and looked at him nervously.
“This is where we rested earlier,” Yan Wujin said grimly, pointing at a large tree.
Tang Ziqi looked and saw the mark they’d carved into its trunk.
He was utterly panicked now.
Though well-read, he had never encountered such peril.
Crack!
A branch snapped nearby, making them both whirl around.
From within the dense fog, a figure approached—instantly putting them on high alert.
Li Qingqiu emerged from the mist, his left hand resting casually on the scabbard of the Tianhong Sword.
He appeared relaxed as he walked up to Yan Wujin and Tang Ziqi, glancing over them both.
Recognizing the Clear Sky Sect robes he wore, the two exchanged wary looks but refrained from acting rashly.
“Who are you two, and how did you lose your way here?” Li Qingqiu asked calmly.
Tang Ziqi hurriedly cupped his hands.
“We were pursued by enemies and fled into these woods, only to become lost for days. This young brother, do you know the way out?”
Before Li Qingqiu could respond, Yan Wujin turned his head toward another direction.
“So lively here… no need to hide—come out.”
At his words, Li Qingqiu and Tang Ziqi both turned.
In the fog, a patch of grass stirred—and soon, a disheveled old man staggered out, his hair white and tangled, robes filthy and worn.
He held a gourd in one hand, swaying like a drunkard.
Li Qingqiu gazed at the ragged elder thoughtfully.