Chapter 67: Cold Abyss Blade, Divine Dragon Transformation
Hearing the mysterious voice echoing through the forest, Yuan Li and Zhao Zhen did not tense up.
Instead, they looked a bit expectant—after all, Master had said he would teach them how to deal with bad people.
Zhao Zhen suddenly raised his hand and pointed in one direction.
“Look, someone’s there!”
Following his indication, Yuan Li looked over and saw three figures standing on distant tree branches.
Two stood upright while one crouched low.
All wore bamboo hats, their robes dark like wandering swordsmen of the martial world.
Each carried a different weapon, and all wore ghastly masks that concealed their faces, revealing only cold eyes.
The one in the middle crossed his arms over his chest and glared coldly at Li Qingqiu.
“The Seven Fiends of the Demonic Cult died in the Clear Sky Sect. I’m quite curious—rumor has it that it was your doing?”
Li Qingqiu’s expression remained unchanged.
He could feel that these three were stronger than the Seven Fiends, though not by much.
Zhang Yuchun had already sealed the news of the Seven Fiends’ deaths within the Clear Sky Sect.
For these three to know meant they must have sent spies to investigate beforehand.
“Since you already know they died by my hand, what gives you the courage to come here?”
Li Qingqiu’s tone was calm, without the slightest ripple of emotion.
In the distance, Gu Duba, hiding behind a tree, trembled in fear.
The Seven Fiends of the Demonic Cult died under the Clear Sky Sect Master’s hand?
Before joining the Chai Family, he had wandered the martial world during the height of the Demonic Cult’s power.
He knew full well how terrifying their experts were.
The Seven Fiends were names that had made even the mightiest of the martial world tremble.
This Clear Sky Sect Master was far more powerful than he had imagined!
But what frightened him even more was—was the Demonic Cult preparing to reemerge?
The man in the middle continued coldly, “We dare to come because we are stronger than they were.”
As he spoke, he drew the blade from his back.
A flash of chilling light illuminated the forest.
Yuan Li and Zhao Zhen shuddered involuntarily, feeling the air turn frigid.
Li Qingqiu narrowed his eyes and examined the weapon.
It was a blade radiating cold air, a meter long and as wide as a palm, with a razor-sharp edge and a stark, icy beauty.
The frost emanated from fine holes along the back of the blade.
This blade was not simple.
It resembled a magical artifact, yet not entirely so.
Li Qingqiu could sense an immense power sealed within it.
No wonder these three dared to come.
“Kill!”
The man wielding the cold blade roared.
The three leapt forward, their movements ghostly and swift as they charged toward Li Qingqiu and the others.
Li Qingqiu did not move aside, nor did he push Yuan Li and Zhao Zhen away.
He stood calmly in place.
When the distance between them was less than three zhang, the cold-bladed attacker raised his weapon high to strike.
Whoosh—
A silver needle shot through the air, piercing his forehead.
The other two Demonic Cult experts also had their foreheads pierced.
Their expressions froze, bodies convulsing as if struck by a mighty force, and they were flung backward even faster than they had come.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The three crashed into tree trunks and died instantly.
Li Qingqiu maintained his needle-throwing posture, his expression indifferent, as if he had merely swatted three insects.
He raised his hand slightly, and the three silver needles flew back into his grasp.
Vital energy coiled around them, unstained by blood or flesh.
These silver needles had been purchased by Zhang Yuchun’s men at Li Qingqiu’s order—eighteen in total.
After being tempered long-term by his Vital Energy, they were nearly equivalent to artifacts.
Though they lacked artifact power, they were attuned to him and could be recalled through the air.
Gu Duba watched the scene in stunned disbelief.
The aura and movement of those three Demonic Cult experts were fearsome—yet they had been slain effortlessly by the Clear Sky Sect Master…
Li Qingqiu turned toward Yuan Li and Zhao Zhen.
“Do you understand now?”
Zhao Zhen blinked.
“Understand what?”
Yuan Li replied, “When facing an enemy, one must kill as swiftly as possible, right?”
Even at five years old, he spoke little, except when with Li Qingqiu, Li Dongyue, Yuan Qi, or Zhao Zhen.
He was quiet, yet Li Qingqiu had always found him perceptive—just like now.
Li Qingqiu nodded approvingly.
“Li’er is still the sharp one. Zhen’er, you’ll face more trouble in the future than Li’er will. You must understand this even better.”
Zhao Zhen appeared thoughtful.
Li Qingqiu looked into the distance.
“You’ve followed us long enough. Won’t you come out?”
Startled, Gu Duba froze.
After a moment of hesitation, he stepped from behind the tree, raising both hands as he approached.
“I mean no harm. I just wanted to confirm if you truly are the Clear Sky Sect Master.”
Li Qingqiu regarded him calmly.
“Precisely because of that, I didn’t kill you. Come identify these three for me.”
Gu Duba sighed in relief and hurried forward.
He passed the three calmly standing figures and crouched beside the corpses.
Removing their masks, he studied them carefully.
Then his face changed dramatically.
Turning toward Li Qingqiu, he said in a trembling voice, “I only recognize one of them. He’s one of the Demonic Cult Protectors, named Xu Polu. His martial skill is unfathomable—he once singlehandedly defeated a cavalry unit of hundreds. The blade in his hand is the Cold Abyss Blade, one of the Three Great Demonic Blades under Heaven. It’s said this blade has a demonic nature—holding it too long feeds one’s killing intent.”
Li Qingqiu smiled faintly.
“To recognize such an expert, may I ask who you are, sir?”
Gu Duba clasped his fists respectfully.
“This old man is named Gu Duba. I have been retired from the martial world for twenty years. I now serve the Chai Family of Jiangzhou.”
“The Chai Family of Jiangzhou? Didn’t your people already visit once?”
“Someone came before? Sect Master misunderstands—I didn’t come on the Chai Family’s behalf. I accompanied my young lady. She admires the martial arts of the Clear Sky Sect and wishes to become your disciple.”
“What is your young lady’s name?”
“Chai Yunshang.”
Li Qingqiu’s expression turned subtle.
The marriage proposal brought by the Chai Family had also been for Chai Yunshang—why had they come in two groups?
He sensed something strange about it but didn’t care much.
He had no intention of taking a wife or fathering children—it would only bring unnecessary weakness.
Li Qingqiu’s eyes narrowed.
“Senior Gu, since you’ve identified members of the Demonic Cult, perhaps I can’t let you leave. If word spreads, it might bring more trouble to the Clear Sky Sect.”
His tone was mild, but the faint smile on his face sent chills down Gu Duba’s spine.
“I swear I won’t tell a soul! And judging from what those three said, the Demonic Cult already knows you slew the Seven Fiends. This feud won’t end here.” Sweat beaded on Gu Duba’s forehead as he spoke quickly.
This Clear Sky Sect Master was far too dangerous!
Li Qingqiu took a step forward, with Yuan Li and Zhao Zhen following close behind.
Seeing them approach, Gu Duba’s heart pounded.
He knew that if he tried to flee, he would share Xu Polu’s fate in the next instant.
He had no choice but to gamble.
As Li Qingqiu drew near, his fear reached its peak.
With a thud, he dropped to one knee and pulled a manual from his robes, presenting it with both hands.
“This manual was something I obtained in my youth. I’ve never given it to anyone. I wish to offer it to the Clear Sky Sect in exchange for your taking my young lady as a disciple!”
Li Qingqiu took the manual.
The cover bore three characters—Divine Dragon Transformation.
As he flipped through it, he asked, “If this manual is so powerful, why doesn’t your young lady learn it herself? Why come here to train?”
Gu Duba smiled bitterly.
“This is not an internal cultivation technique. It requires immense internal strength to perform. Even I failed to master it, let alone my young lady. But once perfected, it’s truly formidable. The elder who gave it to me displayed its power before his death—I will never forget it…”
As he spoke, his eyes glimmered with reverence.
Li Qingqiu tucked the manual into his robes and said, “Don’t touch these corpses. Go up the mountain and find Zhang Yuchun—tell him to send people down to collect them.”
Having said that, he walked past Gu Duba.
Yuan Li gave Gu Duba a polite bow before following his master.
Zhao Zhen, less restrained, merely shot him a curious look.
Gu Duba let out a long breath of relief and turned to see Li Qingqiu pick up the Cold Abyss Blade from the ground and continue down the mountain.
He did not leave immediately.
Instead, he hid Xu Polu and the others’ bodies among the trees before heading uphill.
Li Qingqiu, meanwhile, led Yuan Li and Zhao Zhen to the Subterranean Spiritual Lake to cultivate.
For him, killing Xu Polu and his companions was merely a small episode.
He was already preparing to face all the enemies that would come for Zhao Zhen.
…
By dusk, Gu Duba returned and found Chai Yunshang in her room.
He told her that she could now formally become a disciple.
However, instead of rejoicing, Chai Yunshang appeared uneasy, her expression conflicted.
“Miss, what’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re changing your mind again?” Gu Duba asked, frowning.
Chai Yunshang snapped out of her thoughts and said, “No, thank you for your effort—it must not have been easy. I won’t let you down.”
Gu Duba finally sighed in relief.
“The Clear Sky Sect Master is truly extraordinary. I can’t tell if he’s truly that young or just skilled in maintaining his appearance. His martial strength is among the finest in the world. Under his tutelage, you might indeed change your fate.”
He did not mention the Demonic Cult’s attack, nor did it make him fear befriending the Clear Sky Sect.
To him, the Demonic Cult was a waning force, while the Clear Sky Sect flourished upon the righteous path.
The two could not compare.
Of course, what mattered most was that the Clear Sky Sect Master was strong enough.
Elsewhere—
Li Qingqiu brought his two disciples back to Lingxiao Courtyard.
Zhang Yuchun, who had been waiting, immediately greeted him, and the two went inside to discuss the matter of the Demonic Cult.
Zhao Zhen sat at a corner of the long table, holding the manual.
Li Sijin leaned over curiously.
“Little Zhao Zhen, what are you reading? Do you even understand it? Divine Dragon Transformation—sounds powerful.”
Zhao Zhen stared intently at the pages.
“Of course I understand. Master has already taught me this art. Once I master it, I’ll show you.”
Li Sijin laughed, rubbing his head before turning to chat with Yuan Li.
The matter of the Demonic Cult’s attack did not spread within the Clear Sky Sect, and life continued peacefully.
After giving Divine Dragon Transformation to Zhao Zhen, Li Qingqiu focused entirely on cultivation.
In the blink of an eye, a month passed.
It was the most diligent period of his training yet, and he successfully advanced to the Seventh Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm—giving him greater confidence in facing the Demonic Cult.
Just as he returned to the sect intending to find Gu Duba, Zhao Zhen ran up to him.
“Master! Divine Dragon Transformation! I’ve mastered it! It’s amazing!” Zhao Zhen exclaimed excitedly, even bouncing twice in joy.