Chapter 52: Late Bloomer, Ancestor of the Immortal Emperor
Li Qingqiu walked up to Jia Yi, his gaze calm as he stared at him.
The look alone made Jia Yi’s heart fill with terror and despair.
Pressure point strike?
How could it be that fast?
Jia Yi himself knew the art of striking pressure points and had even witnessed martial arts that allowed one to strike from afar.
Yet Li Qingqiu’s speed and reaction surpassed all masters he had ever seen.
He had already pressed his blade against Feng Dai’s throat, yet in the blink of an eye, he was completely suppressed by the other party.
Jia Yi could no longer muster anger—absolute disparity left only fear in his heart.
All he wanted was to flee this place.
Revenge and resentment had no room left in his mind.
Li Qingqiu raised his hand, grasped Jia Yi’s throat, and slowly lifted him up.
Before long, Jia Yi’s feet left the ground.
His eyes revealed pure panic, yet all he could do was tremble helplessly, powerless to struggle.
The constables looked on as the domineering Jia Yi was lifted into the air like a chicken in Li Qingqiu’s grasp.
The sight struck them deeply.
Li Qingqiu glanced at Feng Dai and softly asked, “If you wish to climb higher and do not fear danger, then come with me. But only you alone may come.”
After saying this, he carried Jia Yi single-handedly toward the woods nearby.
Feng Dai’s expression flickered between hesitation and resolve before he finally made up his mind.
Turning to the others, he ordered, “Wait for me here!”
He then followed after Li Qingqiu, though his body was already seriously injured—each step was unsteady, as if he might collapse at any moment.
……
Thud!
Jia Yi was thrown onto the grass.
Lying on the ground, he stared up at Li Qingqiu with tension and fear, uncertain what he would do next.
At this point, Jia Yi couldn’t even beg for mercy—he could only plead silently with his eyes.
The arrogance of an Imperial Guardian was gone, leaving only the desperate will to survive.
Li Qingqiu stared at Jia Yi, raised his right hand to his chest, extended his index and middle fingers upright, and his lips began to move.
Jia Yi’s pupils quivered, his heartbeat quickened, and his breathing grew rapid.
What was he doing?
As a member of the Imperial Guardian Army, Jia Yi had investigated countless strange cases in Zhongtian Province and encountered many uncanny figures.
Li Qingqiu’s gestures now reminded him exactly of those mysterious spell-wielding eccentrics.
Even within the emperor’s court, there were several such mystics who dabbled in the supernatural.
At first, he had scoffed at them—until he personally faced things that defied reason.
Only then had he learned fear.
Li Qingqiu ignored Jia Yi’s expression and began to cast the Soul Restraining Curse.
This was his first time performing the spell.
The Soul Restraining Curse was notoriously difficult to cultivate; even now he had yet to master it fully.
But using it to crush Jia Yi’s mind was more than sufficient.
As he chanted, a faint violet gleam swirled within Li Qingqiu’s pupils—an eerie sight that made Jia Yi dizzy just from looking into them.
Jia Yi’s vision blurred.
Just as he thought death was near, an excruciating pain suddenly erupted within his body.
His internal organs throbbed in agony, then his limbs, and within three breaths, even his head felt as though it would burst.
The unprecedented torment forced all his inner energy to leak out, sending the iron needle in his brow flying.
“Ahhhh—!”
Jia Yi screamed in sheer agony, curling up as his body convulsed violently.
His eyes rolled white, face flushed crimson, and veins bulged across his neck in a horrifying sight.
Feng Dai, already enduring his own pain, was startled and terrified by Jia Yi’s condition.
Li Qingqiu hadn’t even touched Jia Yi—just stood there chanting like a Daoist priest—yet he had caused such unbearable suffering?
Could it be… Li Qingqiu truly knew immortal techniques?
A chill ran down Feng Dai’s spine, and he didn’t know what to do.
Within several miles there was no one else around.
Li Qingqiu allowed Jia Yi to wail; he needed him to taste pain before proceeding with the next step.
The Soul Restraining Curse was a malicious spell that targeted the soul.
During casting, it forged a connection between two souls, one side exerting complete suppression over the other—creating control.
Li Qingqiu could not yet extract Jia Yi’s soul to make him a ghost servant, but through the spiritual link, he saw fragments of Jia Yi’s recent memories.
So Jia Yi had come to the Clear Sky Sect not only with the emperor’s decree but also with another hidden purpose.
After a while, when Jia Yi was on the brink of dying from pain, Li Qingqiu stopped chanting and threw two iron needles into his body to ease the agony while embedding several hidden methods.
Feng Dai noticed the spasms lessen and quietly breathed a sigh of relief—he truly feared Li Qingqiu would torture Jia Yi to death.
Jia Yi’s movements were not secret; many in Blackstone County knew he had come to the Clear Sky Sect.
If he were to vanish, the court would surely dispatch countless Imperial Guardians to investigate.
Feng Dai had originally planned to kill Jia Yi and find a way to cover it up, unwilling to let a righteous sect like the Clear Sky Sect suffer from a traitor’s schemes.
Over the past year, he had often heard about the sect’s deeds, and he understood why they dared to shelter Wu Baoyu.
Even if he had to sacrifice himself, he would protect the Clear Sky Sect.
He had once dreamed of changing the world and clearing Wu Baoyu’s name, but reality had crushed that dream.
With no backing, he couldn’t even leave Blackstone County—talk of ambition was meaningless.
The Clear Sky Sect was different.
They could cultivate powerful warriors whose strength could truly influence the world.
“Master Li, you…”
Feng Dai gritted his teeth to speak, but before he could finish, Li Qingqiu turned around.
He caught sight of the strange violet gleam lingering in Li Qingqiu’s eyes and froze.
That eerie glow was the residual mark of the Soul Restraining Curse.
As soon as Li Qingqiu turned, it vanished.
Li Qingqiu looked at him and asked, “County Magistrate Feng, do you wish to go to the imperial capital?”
Feng Dai snapped out of it and asked in surprise, “Of course I do—but what could I possibly do there?”
“With the Imperial Guardian’s connections, taking root won’t be difficult. I can’t promise how far you’ll climb, but I’ll send you there. Every half-year, have someone send me letters reporting major events in the capital. If something urgent happens, you may write sooner. You needn’t take risks—just be my eyes.”
His tone was calm as ever, yet it weighed heavily on Feng Dai’s heart.
Feng Dai understood—even being “eyes” in the capital would not be easy.
That place was tightly guarded.
And he knew exactly the kind of intelligence Li Qingqiu wanted.
This trip would forever change his fate.
Thinking of his wasted years in Blackstone County, Feng Dai realized this was his chance.
He didn’t know how Li Qingqiu planned to subdue Jia Yi, but he was willing to take the gamble—even if it cost his life.
“I am willing!” Feng Dai said solemnly.
Li Qingqiu smiled and asked, “Then, are you willing to join my sect? If you do, should you ever face danger, I will not stand idly by.”
Feng Dai froze.
He had prepared to serve as Li Qingqiu’s pawn, yet Li Qingqiu wanted to take him as a disciple instead.
Warmth welled in his heart.
As expected of the Clear Sky Sect—even in schemes, they protected their pawns.
Feng Dai chose to trust Li Qingqiu, even if the man might not live up to his words.
“Disciple Feng Dai greets the Sect Master!”
Feng Dai half-knelt and cupped his hands respectfully.
Li Qingqiu silently opened the Dao Lineage interface, tapped into the disciple details, and found Feng Dai’s portrait.
【Name: Feng Dai】
【Gender: Male】
【Age: 30】
【Loyalty (to Sect Master/Sect): 75/86 (Max 100)】
【Cultivation Aptitude: Average】
【Comprehension: Average】
【Fate Traits: Late Bloomer, Hatred of Evil】
【Late Bloomer: Starting from age sixty, one’s comprehension will continuously increase with age.】
【Hatred of Evil: Born righteous, unafraid of power, willing to die for justice.】
……
Hm?
A special Fate Trait!
Damn!
This Late Bloomer sounds extraordinary!
Continuous growth in comprehension—does it have a limit?
How much does it increase each year?
For a moment, Li Qingqiu almost wanted to keep Feng Dai within the Clear Sky Sect.
Of course, he was only thinking aloud.
He still had to observe what this Fate Trait would bring.
“Rise.”
Li Qingqiu personally helped Feng Dai to his feet.
Whether it was an illusion or not, Feng Dai felt that Li Qingqiu truly seemed pleased to have taken him in.
Then Li Qingqiu pierced three needles into Feng Dai to heal him, before turning back toward Jia Yi.
Under the Ghostly Immortal Needle of Rejuvenation, Jia Yi had not lost consciousness, though his mind was dull.
The lingering pain in his soul left him feeling as if he were already dead.
“I’ve cast a curse upon you—no one can undo it. Every three years, you must come to me to ease its effects. Otherwise, your head will split apart, and within seven days, you’ll die in agony. Do you understand?”
Li Qingqiu looked down coldly, his face emotionless.
Jia Yi trembled, remembering that unbearable pain.
“I—I understand…” he stammered.
Li Qingqiu continued, “While casting the curse, I saw your memories. Your dealings with the Azure Sect—I’ve written them down. Think carefully before you act. Serve me, and perhaps you’ll live long. Defy me, and not only will you suffer, your emperor will have your entire clan executed.”
Jia Yi’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He did not think Li Qingqiu was bluffing.
The moment Li Qingqiu mentioned the Azure Sect, he knew the man had truly seen his memories.
“Please rest assured, Immortal Master… Jia Yi will never defy you…” he said, his voice trembling.
“From now on, you are also part of the Clear Sky Sect—an undercover agent beyond its walls. Redeem your crimes through service. How about it?”
“I will follow your arrangements, Immortal Master…”
Hearing that, Li Qingqiu once again opened the Dao Lineage interface—and indeed, Jia Yi’s portrait appeared.
It seemed the man had been utterly terrified into submission.
【Name: Jia Yi】
【Gender: Male】
【Age: 32】
【Loyalty (to Sect Master/Sect): 89/2 (Max 100)】
【Cultivation Aptitude: Average】
【Comprehension: Inferior】
【Fate Traits: Treacherous Villain, Ancestor of the Immortal Emperor】
【Treacherous Villain: Selfish, greedy, and arrogant—will betray anyone for profit.】
【Ancestor of the Immortal Emperor: Among his descendants, one will cultivate immortality and ascend as an Immortal Emperor, transcending the mortal world.】
……
When Li Qingqiu saw “Treacherous Villain,” he thought it suited Jia Yi perfectly—but when he read “Ancestor of the Immortal Emperor,” he was stunned.
What the hell?
This kind of scoundrel could sire an Immortal Emperor?
Utterly bizarre!
He hadn’t expected both men to possess special Fate Traits.
Taking them into the Clear Sky Sect had merely been a way to monitor their loyalty.
If either betrayed him, he would be prepared to act.