Chapter 69: Repaying Grace, A Righteous and Prestigious Sect
Night descended.
Li Qingqiu walked out of the pit.
He looked up at the night sky—stars glittered brilliantly, the night was beautiful, and it brought a sense of calm to his heart.
He stepped forward, preparing to seek out the mysterious presence that Jiang Zhaoxia had mentioned.
This was, after all, a spiritual ore vein—the second most important site under the Clear Sky Sect, surpassed only by the Blessed Land of a Thousand Spirits.
There must not be even the slightest mishap.
Since the Sixth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm could not handle this matter, it naturally fell upon someone at the Seventh Layer to resolve it.
As he thought this, Li Qingqiu climbed the mountain wall as if walking on flat ground, reaching the cliff top before leaping into the forest.
Waiting idly was inefficient.
Li Qingqiu planned to conduct a thorough, carpet-like search within a hundred-mile radius.
According to Jiang Zhaoxia, that feeling of being watched only appeared at night—thus, he had waited until now.
The nighttime forest echoed with croaks and chirps; now and then came the shrieks of wild birds, lending the woods an eerie and sinister air.
At this moment, a faint violet glow flickered in his pupils.
After stepping onto the path of Immortal cultivation, he had gained night vision.
Not only could he see in the dark, but he could even discern tiny insects crawling on leaves and flower branches along the way.
The existence that had eluded Jiang Zhaoxia’s pursuit—Li Qingqiu felt it unlikely to be a martial artist.
It was either another cultivator or a ghost invisible to the human eye.
Cultivators were improbable.
Although he had already acquired two magical artifacts, proving that cultivators had once existed upon this land, they had long vanished.
If a cultivator truly remained, they would not have left this spirit mine untouched for so long—nor allowed the Clear Sky Sect to rise to its current strength.
If it were a ghost, yet it hadn’t attacked when Jiang Zhaoxia pursued it, that would suggest it wasn’t very powerful, perhaps even incapable of harming anyone.
However, after searching for two full hours, Li Qingqiu was close to giving up.
Then, he stopped at a small stream, turned his head—and his eyes narrowed.
Following the upstream, beside a patch of grass, crouched a naked boy.
His hair was messy, shoulder-length, and one hand stirred the stream water—but without raising the slightest ripple.
A ghost, indeed!
Ever since mastering the Soul Restraining Curse, Li Qingqiu had been able to see spirits.
The ghosts of those he had slain had once appeared before him—but they would linger near their corpses for seven days before dissipating without a trace.
Those ghosts seemed to retain no memory of their former lives.
Even when facing Li Qingqiu, their killer, their expressions remained blank, and they never approached him.
The divide between yin and yang was no mere saying.
The living could not see ghosts, and ordinary ghosts could not see the living.
But some ghosts were not ordinary.
The little ghost seemed to sense Li Qingqiu’s gaze.
He turned his head, and moonlight filtered through the trees, illuminating his face.
What a handsome child!
That was Li Qingqiu’s first impression.
He looked about the same age as Yuan Li or Zhao Zhen—delicate, with fine, almost exquisite features.
His large, watery eyes and fair skin stirred pity in the heart.
Man and ghost stared at each other for three breaths.
Suddenly, the little ghost’s face twisted hideously—his eyes turned blood-red, transforming from innocent to terrifying in an instant.
He lunged at Li Qingqiu, limbs crawling like a beast, moving with flashing speed—within a blink, he was upon him.
Li Qingqiu raised his hand and clutched the ghost’s throat, lifting him into the air—his stance utterly unmoved.
The moment he saw the ghost, Li Qingqiu had quietly activated the Soul Restraining Curse; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to touch a spirit.
Vital energy swirled in his right hand, glowing with silver-blue light.
The little ghost showed no fear, still ferocious, clawing wildly with sharp talons—but he couldn’t touch Li Qingqiu.
Even when his claws passed through Li Qingqiu’s arm, they merely slipped through harmlessly.
Li Qingqiu began chanting.
For such a wild spirit, he had no means of performing transcendence—only of subduing it into a ghost servant.
As the chant continued, the ghost emitted a piercing shriek that made him frown.
This was Li Qingqiu’s first time taming a ghost.
Lacking experience, he could only follow the spell and incantation methodically.
During the process, Li Qingqiu’s soul connected with the ghost’s, allowing him to glimpse its memories.
Soon, his brows furrowed.
No wonder this spirit was so violent—it had suffered inhuman torment before death.
But he didn’t stop the curse.
To the living, the Soul Restraining Curse was cruel, but to a wild ghost like this, perhaps it was liberation.
Leaving such a ghost to wander freely could one day bring calamity upon the Clear Sky Sect.
From the ghost’s memories—he had been imprisoned in a massive pit since childhood.
The pit connected to countless dungeons, filled with other orphans.
Every day, they were submerged in boiling vats of medicinal liquid, screaming in agony as masked wardens—wearing demonic masks—pressed them back in without mercy.
They were also beaten regularly, all under the guise of “tempering their bodies.”
This life went on for three to four years.
Until one day, someone broke into the dungeon and rescued the orphans.
That person grabbed each child’s right arm, inspecting them one by one—until finding this boy.
“Son, Father has come!”
That choked, trembling voice in the ghost’s memory struck Li Qingqiu like thunder—it was both familiar and distant.
The boy’s father carried him while fighting their way out.
Unable to save all the orphans, he left the rest in the forest, taking only his son as they fled.
Those masked men pursued them for an entire month, during which father and son were both wounded repeatedly.
When they finally reached the Ancient Great Mountain Range, the boy could no longer hold on.
“Chuan’er, hold on a little longer. Once we reach the Sect, Father will use the secret medicine left by your Grandmaster to heal you.”
“When you meet your senior brother, you’ll be happy. He’ll like you too, and he’ll take good care of you.”
“Chuan’er, what do you like to eat? Your senior brother’s favorite is roasted eggs—do you want to try some?”
“Chuan’er…”
At last, on a rainy night, the boy named Lin Chuan died in his father’s arms—his heart filled with hatred.
He hated the world.
Hated those who tortured him.
Hated his father for coming too late.
Even hated that “senior brother” his father spoke of—believing that brother had stolen his life away.
Li Qingqiu looked at the ghost in his grasp, eyes heavy with emotion.
That boy’s father—was none other than his own Master, Lin Xunfeng.
No wonder the spirit lingered here.
Lin Xunfeng had buried his son in this place, never bringing him back to the Clear Sky Sect.
Suddenly, Li Qingqiu understood—why his Master often descended the mountain.
It wasn’t simply to act heroically—it was to search for his lost son.
Perhaps, each time he brought his disciples up the mountain, he was reminded of that child he could never save.
He also recognized the faction behind Lin Chuan’s torment.
The Demonic Cult!
The Seven Fiends of the Demonic Cult, as well as the Demonic Cult Protector Xu Polu, had all worn similar masks.
The Emperor’s greed had brought suffering upon the children of the realm.
Li Qingqiu himself had been caught in that wave, and Lin Chuan had paid the cruelest price.
Surely, countless other children across the land were enduring the same misery.
Had his Master sought immortality out of despair for this world?
Li Qingqiu realized he had never truly understood his Master.
Lin Xunfeng might seem carefree on the surface, but the weight he bore and the pain he endured—only he himself could know.
Thinking thus, Li Qingqiu felt that he too should shoulder something—not for himself, but to repay the life-saving grace and nurturing kindness of his Master.
……
After settling the haunting of the spiritual mine, Li Qingqiu returned to Clear Sky Mountain.
Along the way, he pointed at the scenery and spoke softly to himself.
Some disciples who saw this found it strange—but none dared to question.
Unbeknownst to them, perched upon his shoulder sat a small ghost—Lin Chuan.
After becoming Li Qingqiu’s ghost servant, Lin Chuan’s murderous aura had dissipated, and his consciousness gradually returned.
He revered Li Qingqiu as his master.
Though bound in servitude, at least he was no longer a feral wraith.
Li Qingqiu did not conceal his identity.
Through his connection with Lin Xunfeng, he quickly bonded with Lin Chuan.
“From now on, you can roam the mountain as you wish—just don’t approach the living. Whatever you desire, tell me,” Li Qingqiu said with a smile.
He did not treat Lin Chuan as a servant, but truly as a younger martial brother.
Lin Chuan looked around curiously, his large eyes blinking non-stop, fascinated by everything.
Suddenly, he pointed toward figures on the Martial Platform and asked timidly, “Senior… Brother, what are they doing?”
Li Qingqiu replied, “They’re sparring—testing their skills, not fighting seriously. Through sparring, they find their shortcomings.”
“Senior Brother… I don’t want to play. I want to learn martial arts too…” Lin Chuan said shyly, though his tone carried firm resolve.
“Alright, Senior Brother will teach you,” Li Qingqiu said with a laugh.
He had already planned to guide Lin Chuan in cultivation.
If one day he could become a Ghostly Immortal, would that not be another path forward?
Hearing this, Lin Chuan broke into a bright, radiant smile.
As they neared the mountain gate, a line of text appeared before Li Qingqiu’s eyes:
【As your Dao Lineage has officially entered the ranks of the Five Great Sects within Guzhou and gained widespread renown, this signifies that the Clear Sky Sect has entered a new stage of growth. You have obtained a Legacy Reward.】
Li Qingqiu raised a brow.
The Five Great Sects?
Which two had fallen?
It seemed something must have happened during the White Emperor Manor visit.
He decided not to dwell on it—he would know when Xu Ning and Yang Jueding returned.
……
Half a month later, Yang Jueding, Xu Ning, and five disciples finally came back—none missing.
Inside the Lingxiao Courtyard, Li Qingqiu, Zhang Yuchun, Li Dongyue, Li Sifeng, Li Sijin, Yang Jueding, and Xu Ning sat around a long table, as Zhang Yuchun poured wine for each of them.
“Come on, tell us—was there any exciting story at the White Emperor Manor banquet?” Li Sifeng asked impatiently.
The rascal couldn’t stay put at the spiritual mine—he had sneaked back a few days ago and was punished by Li Qingqiu.
Now, he remained at Clear Sky Mountain for the time being.
Li Qingqiu glanced at Yang Jueding—something felt off.
The Clear Sky Sect had been recognized as one of the Five Great Sects, and none were injured.
By rights, Yang Jueding should have been thrilled, boasting the moment he returned.
Yet, Yang Jueding looked hesitant, especially after glancing at the cold-faced Xu Ning.
“Speak up! You mute or something? Don’t tell me you got beaten up outside?” Li Sifeng barked, standing and glaring.
Floating behind Li Qingqiu, Lin Chuan mimicked Li Sifeng’s movements perfectly, even copying his expression.
Yang Jueding took a deep breath and finally said, “The State Prefecture has already issued an announcement—declaring the Clear Sky Sect as one of the new Five Great Sects, recognized by the Imperial Court… a righteous and prestigious sect.”