Chapter 70: Heavenly Thunder Step, the Shocking Change in the State Prefecture
“‘New Five Great Sects’? Shouldn’t it be the Seven Great Sects?”
Li Dongyue asked in confusion. She noticed Yang Jueding’s gaze and could faintly guess something from it.
Li Sifeng grew anxious and pressed on, “And then? Isn’t that a good thing? Why are you looking like you’re constipated?”
Li Qingqiu immediately gave him a light slap on the head and glared. “Speak properly.”
“Brother, you’re too crude!” Li Sijin said with visible disgust.
Yang Jueding did not take offense. He lifted a bowl of wine, drained it in one gulp, and said, “At the banquet, the First Alliance Leader of the Seven Peaks Alliance, Guang Lantian, and the Peak Master of Iron Mountain Peak, Du Mian, insulted our Clear Sky Sect. They even demanded that we hand over the Martial Legend’s divine art to benefit the Guzhou martial world. Many martial artists at the banquet agreed with them. Even though I clarified that the Clear Sky Sect did not possess the Martial Legend’s divine art, they refused to let it go. In the end, Xu Ning challenged them to a duel to the death—if she lost, she would hand over the divine art…”
Hearing this, everyone finally understood why two sects had disappeared.
Li Sifeng turned to Xu Ning, his expression excited. “Xu Ning, you’re incredible! This is too fierce—Third Senior Brother destroyed one sect, and you wiped out two in one go!”
Xu Ning remained calm. “They spoke arrogantly, and naturally, I could not endure it. Master said before—when facing enemies, one must eradicate them completely and act decisively. I merely killed the two sect masters. The reason their sects perished afterward was mainly because of the Demonic Cult.”
“The Demonic Cult? Them again?” Li Sijin asked in surprise.
Yang Jueding continued, “Right after Guang Lantian and Du Mian were slain by Xu Ning, just as the experts of the Seven Peaks Alliance and Iron Mountain Peak were about to attack, members of the Demonic Cult suddenly appeared. They stood atop the roof and declared that both the Seven Peaks Alliance and Iron Mountain Peak were annihilated, and even proclaimed they would bathe the remaining Five Great Sects of Guzhou in blood. The White Emperor Manor immediately ordered the capture of those Demonic Cult members, but their lightness skills were too formidable—they escaped. In the following days, urgent reports came to the state prefecture—both the Seven Peaks Alliance and Iron Mountain Peak had suffered massacres. All their disciples were slaughtered… From then on, the state prefecture officially recognized only Five Great Sects.”
“Not only that,” Yang Jueding went on, “the state government issued an official decree, labeling the Demonic Cult a major threat. The Five Great Sects must unite with other martial sects to resist the Cult’s rampage.”
Upon hearing this, everyone began discussing the Demonic Cult.
All those present were high-ranking members of the Clear Sky Sect and already understood the Cult’s nature—the Seven Fiends of the Demonic Cult had visited before, which meant they were already sworn enemies.
Unfortunately, neither Yang Jueding nor Xu Ning knew just how powerful the Demonic Cult had become. But judging from those members’ words, the Cult seemed utterly confident in overturning the martial world.
Li Qingqiu suddenly asked, “What about the Absolute Saint Sect? Why isn’t it one of the Five Great Sects?”
Yan Wujin’s martial prowess was formidable, and with the Tang Family of Linchuan backing him, the Absolute Saint Sect should easily qualify.
Yang Jueding looked at Li Qingqiu and replied, “The Absolute Saint Sect has headed north. Their momentum is fierce. Its Sect Master, Yan Wujin, swept through the experts of Dongling Prefecture and gained tremendous fame. At the banquet in White Emperor Manor, many people mentioned him.”
Li Qingqiu nodded slightly. Yan Wujin was among the foremost sect masters opposing both the Emperor and the Demonic Cult. His rise would benefit the Clear Sky Sect.
Zhang Yuchun looked toward Li Qingqiu and asked, “Senior Brother, the state prefecture has called on the Five Great Sects to send disciples to hunt down the Demonic Cult. Should we respond?”
Li Qingqiu replied, “There’s no need. If the Clear Sky Sect can protect the civilians around the Ancient Great Mountain Range, that will already be enough. These past few days, people have started coming to the mountain seeking our aid. Such things will only increase. Compared to the other Four Great Sects, we still lack disciples. We simply don’t have the manpower.”
Zhang Yuchun nodded. He had the same thought, though the final decision lay with Li Qingqiu.
“Everyone, the Demonic Cult’s reappearance in the martial world is no small matter. Whether or not they can threaten all of Jianghu, they already threaten our Clear Sky Sect. We cannot afford to be careless—the Cult may strike at any time.”
As Li Qingqiu’s gaze swept over them, everyone nodded. None showed fear—only a sense of urgency.
The Clear Sky Sect needed time to grow.
After another half-hour of discussion, everyone dispersed. Li Qingqiu took Xu Ning with him toward the forest behind the mountain.
Although Yang Jueding had finished recounting what happened at White Emperor Manor, as a master, Li Qingqiu still needed to speak to Xu Ning privately.
He knew she longed for his praise—especially after Zhao Zhen had become his disciple, this girl had felt a sense of crisis.
Li Qingqiu was genuinely proud of Xu Ning. Not only had she brought glory to the Clear Sky Sect, but she had also earned him another inheritance reward.
He had already activated the inheritance reward—he received a thunder-attribute spell called Heavenly Thunder Step, perfectly suited for Xu Ning. He decided to pass this art on to her.
Though Xu Ning used a sword, she did not walk the path of pure sword cultivation.
The Clear Sky Sect had too few spells, so her innate talent had not yet been fully realized.
Once alone, Xu Ning’s demeanor grew lively; her expressions rich as she eagerly recounted her journey and her thoughts during her battles.
Li Qingqiu listened patiently. Though he now had four disciples, the one he cherished most remained his first disciple—Xu Ning.
No matter how many future geniuses emerged, he hoped Xu Ning would always stand among the sect’s top ranks.
…
The news that the Clear Sky Sect had become one of Guzhou’s Five Great Sects spread rapidly throughout the region.
Zhang Yuchun posted public notices for all disciples, though most did not feel deeply about it.
Only half a month later, when wealthy families, merchants, minor sects, and even officials began visiting, did the disciples finally grasp the influence of being one of the Five Great Sects.
Summer gave way to autumn. The number of Clear Sky Sect disciples surpassed three hundred, even after strict selection.
One day, within the Lingxiao Courtyard, Zhang Yuchun approached Li Qingqiu to establish a disciplinary authority.
“For now, let’s call it the Enforcement Hall,” Li Qingqiu said after some thought. “Xu Ning will serve as the Hall Master. Recruit twenty disciples, and include Chai Yunshang among them.”
The name was simple—after all, the sect’s penal code was not yet complete.
Chai Yunshang often sparred on the Martial Platform and guided disciples in their skills. She already held some renown in the sect, and Zhang Yuchun knew of her.
Zhang Yuchun nodded. “Once the Enforcement Hall is established, other administrative divisions must also follow. My authority is getting too large—shouldn’t we create another hall to keep it in check?”
“Senior Brother, I’m not joking,” he added seriously. “After all, I have disciples of my own and my own connections. Without constraints on my power, I might one day be swayed by profit and unable to act impartially. Rules are the foundation of order.”
Li Qingqiu had already considered this. “Then we’ll also create the Free Spirit Hall. It’ll handle disciple rosters, departmental transfers, and records of contribution and labor. You’ll serve as Hall Master. Junior Sister Li Dongyue and Yang Jueding will be elders of the Free Spirit Hall. The hall may recruit fifteen disciples—you three can each select five.”
“Good!”
Zhang Yuchun agreed at once, even feeling relieved.
Since the Clear Sky Sect had become one of Guzhou’s Five Great Sects, many had approached him—trying to insert family members into the sect, secure higher positions, or even purchase martial techniques with heavy bribes. His resolve had nearly wavered.
Now, with divided power, he finally had an excuse to decline.
The two then discussed stipends for disciples of the two halls.
Since these duties would occupy their time, they could not practice martial arts as much—payment was necessary to maintain morale and prevent greed.
They settled on a monthly stipend of ten strings of coins for Enforcement Hall disciples and eight strings for Free Spirit Hall disciples.
Such pay even surpassed many low-level officials. After all, most disciples had families depending on them.
From that day onward, the Clear Sky Sect began refining its hierarchy and duties, establishing order throughout the ranks.
The formation of the Free Spirit Hall and Enforcement Hall stirred excitement among the disciples, who all tried to compete for the positions.
Guests residing on the mountain also hurried to visit Zhang Yuchun, Li Dongyue, and Yang Jueding—hoping to use the opportunity to curry favor.
Li Qingqiu paid no attention to these matters, leaving them to his juniors while he continued daily cultivation with Zhao Zhen and Yuan Li.
Zhao Zhen’s progress in the Great Sun Pure Yang Art was rapid, prompting Li Qingqiu to pass him the foundational heart formula of the Primordial Unity Scripture early—to see if he could refine the former art through it.
As for Yuan Li, despite frequently accompanying Li Qingqiu to the Subterranean Spiritual Lake, he had yet to step into the First Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm. His brother, Yuan Qi, without such privileges, had already reached that stage—leaving Yuan Li quite discouraged.
Fortunately, Li Qingqiu’s constant encouragement kept him from giving up.
It was worth mentioning that when Li Qingqiu inspected the Enforcement Hall, he saw Chai Yunshang—she had already reached the First Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
Only five days had passed since he taught her the first layer of the Primordial Unity Scripture’s heart formula—such cultivation speed was truly outstanding.
Chai Yunshang did not publicly thank him upon seeing him, behaving like any other disciple.
Before leaving, Li Qingqiu secretly instructed Xu Ning to teach Chai Yunshang the second layer of the Primordial Unity Scripture’s heart formula.
Later, Li Qingqiu entered the attic of the Free Spirit Hall, where he encouraged its fifteen disciples in his capacity as Sect Master. After they departed, Zhang Yuchun invited him into his room.
He retrieved a roster from the wooden cabinet and said, “This is the list of disciples who have reached the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm. There are forty-six in total—only two have reached the Second Layer.”
Li Qingqiu sat down, flipping through the roster with a faint smile. “Reaching the Second Layer isn’t easy. Having forty-six disciples step into the First Layer already shows great progress—it means they’ve been training diligently.”
Zhang Yuchun smiled. “Yes, I’m satisfied—but people always crave more.”
Stepping into the First Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm allowed one to rival second-rate martial experts, and those at the peak of that layer could contend with first-rate masters.
In most sects, a second-rate expert was already the backbone—sometimes even the sect’s pillar.
“From now on, only disciples who reach the Second Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm may become true disciples,” Li Qingqiu said seriously after finishing the roster.
Zhang Yuchun’s eyes brightened, and he immediately agreed.
After chatting a while longer, Li Qingqiu stood to leave, but Zhang Yuchun insisted on seeing him out.
The two walked downstairs from the Free Spirit Hall’s building—
“Sect Master Li, just in time! I have urgent news for you!”
A voice rang out. Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun turned to see the merchant Liu Fanzhou hurrying toward them, flanked by two guards.
His forehead was drenched with sweat.
As he reached them, he wiped his face and spoke in a low, trembling voice, “Terrible news—the Demonic Cult has invaded the state prefecture! The Inspector-General has been killed—his corpse hangs from the city gate! The garrisoned army has rebelled! The entire prefectural city is sealed off—no one inside can escape!”