[Name: Ji Ya]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 12 years]
[Loyalty (to Sect Master / to Sect): 91 / 12 (Full Value: 100)]
[Cultivation Aptitude: Excellent]
[Comprehension: Excellent]
[Fate: Clear in Gratitude and Grudge, Hundred-Refined Demon Body]
[Clear in Gratitude and Grudge: For those who show him kindness, he will repay them with all his strength. For his enemies, he will stop at nothing for revenge.]
[Hundred-Refined Demon Body: After stepping into cultivation, every type of strength he can bear will be one hundred times that of others in the same realm.]
…
As expected, a unique Fate!
This Hundred-Refined Demon Body—was it a result of the Demonic Sect's experiments, or something he was born with?
Li Qingqiu studied the entry closely, fascinated. Could "all forms of strength" include vital energy as well?
If someone with the Hundred-Refined Demon Body cultivated immortality and their vital energy truly multiplied a hundredfold, that would be astounding—definitely worth replicating.
Once they returned, Li Qingqiu decided that Ji Ya must begin cultivation immediately. With the Clear in Gratitude and Grudge Fate, he could trust this child completely.
He gently set Ji Ya down and began performing the Rejuvenation Ghost-Immortal Needles, restoring the boy's internal balance.
Ji Ya's body contained an immense force—not vital energy, but something close to it. As long as that energy was guided properly, his strength would return quickly.
After a while, Ji Ya's eyes fluttered open, his pale face regaining color.
"Try standing up," Li Qingqiu said quietly, lowering him to the ground.
Supported by Li Qingqiu, Ji Ya's trembling legs finally steadied, and after a moment, he was able to stand on his own.
"Thank you, big brother…" Ji Ya whispered timidly, gazing up at him.
He didn't know who Li Qingqiu was, but he could feel it—this man had saved his life.
"Follow me," Li Qingqiu said as he turned forward. "There are still people waiting for us to rescue them."
Ji Ya nodded and followed carefully behind.
As they went deeper, Li Qingqiu found more surviving children. One by one, he lifted them out of the vats, placing them together and healing them in turn.
There were over 200 vats in the underground chamber—but only 6 children still breathed.
The other 5 didn't possess the immense internal energy Ji Ya had, likely because they hadn't been soaked for long enough to die.
After they awoke, Li Qingqiu accepted all six as disciples of Qingxiao Sect. Unfortunately, none of the others bore special Fates.
On the way back, he reassured them gently. "If you find your parents later, you may return home first. Once things settle, come to Qingxiao Sect in a few years to learn martial arts."
Back in the main courtyard, Li Qingqiu told the six to rest and went to find Zhang Yuchun, asking him to bring six sets of clothes.
The weaker disciples of Qingxiao Sect carried supplies, so spare garments were plentiful. Zhang Yuchun quickly returned, still puzzled why his senior brother would ask for such a thing.
When Li Qingqiu came back with the six children, now clothed and standing beside him, the disciples immediately gathered around.
After Li Qingqiu explained what he had found, outrage rippled through the crowd.
The disciples cursed the Demonic Sect's cruelty, their eyes burning with fury. "They'll get what they deserve!" someone shouted.
"Let's move," Li Qingqiu said calmly. "There may be more tunnels like this across the city."
The disciples rose at once, following him out.
Lin Chuan once again sank into the earth to scout ahead—and as expected, he soon uncovered more hidden tunnels beneath other mansions.
In one of these underground chambers, they found dozens of imprisoned townsfolk. Every one of them had been beaten bloody and left scarred, but none were near death.
The disciples of Qingxiao Sect quickly noticed something remarkable: the Sect Master's perception was uncanny.
Every time he paused and glanced around, he would find another hidden chamber or captive.
One of the true disciples explained quietly, "The Sect's secret techniques can heighten the senses. The Sect Master must have reached extraordinary mastery in them."
Zhang Yuchun stepped closer and spoke in a low voice. "Senior Brother, the Demonic Sect has only occupied the prefecture for about a month. It's impossible for them to have built so many tunnels and chambers in that time. I suspect these places were constructed years ago. Perhaps that's why they chose Guzhou in the first place."
Cheng Canghai added, "Now that you mention it, I remember something. Before ascending the throne, the current emperor lived in Guzhou for two years."
Li Qingqiu's eyes narrowed. "If that's true, then the emperor has been planning this for a long time."
He thought of the late Prefectural Governor—the one he never had a chance to meet.
If the governor was dead, then perhaps even Crown Prince Yan Lan, far away in Zhenyang City, would soon find himself in danger.
They pressed onward, encountering no more Demonic Sect warriors. With Lin Chuan's guidance, they rescued more and more citizens along the way.
Not every mansion held a hidden dungeon, but those that did were all large estates—sumptuously decorated, with lush gardens and intricate halls. Clearly, these were once imperial residences.
As more people were saved, the crowd trailing behind Qingxiao Sect grew larger and larger.
Yet Li Qingqiu never found another child like Ji Ya, preserved in the strange vats. Perhaps the concoction used was rare—too valuable to waste.
By the time the sky began to darken and the light turned golden, evening had arrived.
Li Qingqiu stopped and turned around. Behind him stretched a vast crowd—so many people that even the disciples of Qingxiao Sect were taken aback when they saw him pause and glance back.
When had they rescued so many already?
"Let's stop here for now," Li Qingqiu said calmly. "We'll send these people out of the city first. Tomorrow, we'll return to search again."
Zhang Yuchun and Jiang Zhaoxia both nodded. Neither objected.
The closer night drew, the more uneasy they all felt. Something about this prefectural city was wrong—as though the Demonic Sect was planning something sinister.
Just then, a strong gust swept through the streets, making everyone turn instinctively.
Li Qingqiu's gaze shifted toward the main road ahead. No living soul remained, only bodies lying scattered along the street. At the far end stood the city gate, and beyond it rose shadowy mountains. The wind howled from outside the walls, echoing through the empty streets.
"The wind comes!"
A loud, eerie voice thundered from the direction of the city gate. It came so suddenly that goosebumps rippled across everyone's arms. Heads turned one after another toward the sound.
There, atop the city gate, stood a Daoist priest.
He held a wooden sword with a lantern dangling from its tip, while his other hand clutched a crimson banner. His posture was twisted, unnerving, and his face bore an unsettling grin that made the skin crawl.
"Demon… demon warlock!"
A middle-aged man pointed toward the gate, his voice trembling. The citizens behind him froze in terror, none daring to move another step.
"Sect Master," Cheng Canghai whispered as he stepped beside Li Qingqiu. "That's him—Wei Daozhang. He's every bit as strange as the rumors say."
Li Qingqiu said nothing, only fixed his gaze upon the Daoist atop the gate.
Wei Daozhang shifted into a new stance, his movements bizarre. Then, in a booming voice, he shouted, "Thunder—come forth!"
Rumble—
Thunder cracked across the heavens, making the townsfolk drop to their knees in fright. Even the disciples of Qingxiao Sect were shaken—could this demonic Daoist truly command lightning?
Jiang Zhaoxia and Xu Ning frowned, glancing upward. Clouds were indeed gathering in the night sky, thick and dark, flickering faintly with lightning.
"Not enough! Not enough!" Wei Daozhang cried wildly. "Heavens above, answer this poor Daoist once more!"
The thunder grew louder, rolling like a collapsing sky. The roar was so deafening that even the bravest disciples flinched.
Every eye turned toward Wei Daozhang in disbelief.
"There really exists such a sorcerer in this world…"
Li Yang murmured from the edge of the crowd, his voice full of awe and fear. Zhao Linglong stood just behind him, equally shaken by the impossible sight.
Su Xiling recalled the scene she once witnessed in Zhenyang City—her face turned pale.
Wei Daozhang swung his crimson flag, pointing it down the main street. The crowd immediately recoiled in terror, retreating like waves crashing backward.
"You mere mortals dare resist the wrath of heaven?" he shouted. "Kneel and bow to the will of the heavens! Otherwise, divine lightning shall strike you down—body and soul destroyed, condemned to eternal torment!"
His voice boomed like thunder itself. Combined with the roaring sky above, it crushed everyone's courage.
More and more townsfolk dropped to their knees, bowing toward the gate. Even the disciples of Qingxiao Sect gazed nervously upward, afraid that real lightning might descend upon them.
Then—Li Qingqiu began to walk forward. Alone.
"Senior Brother!"
Li Dongyue called out, unable to stop herself.
Li Qingqiu paused, tilting his head slightly toward her. A faint, confident smile tugged at his lips.
"It's true," he said clearly, his voice steady. "Cultivation of immortality exists in this world. But do you really think such vile, scheming men could grasp it? I don't believe the heavens stand with him."
He turned back toward the gate. "When I take his head, we'll see if he can still summon wind and thunder."
With that, he strode forward once more.
On his shoulder, Lin Chuan clung tightly, utterly unafraid. The little spirit's glowing eyes fixed upon Wei Daozhang, fangs bared in a silent snarl.
The wind whipped violently, making Li Qingqiu's robes billow. Everyone watched his back as he walked into the storm, and somehow—their fear began to fade. The disciples of Qingxiao Sect straightened, their hearts filling with courage and expectation.
Jiang Zhaoxia lowered his head slightly, ashamed that he had been frightened moments ago.
Li Yang stared at Li Qingqiu from afar. After all they had been through, respect for this man had taken deep root in his heart. But now, watching him walk alone toward the demon warlock, he couldn't help but feel a pang of worry.
Atop the gate, Wei Daozhang's face twisted in fury. Hearing Li Qingqiu's bold words and seeing him approach, rage consumed him.
"You ignorant child!" he bellowed. "If you insist on defying heavenly wrath, then this poor Daoist will grant you your wish!"
He swung his crimson banner sharply.
A blinding bolt of lightning tore down from the heavens and struck Li Qingqiu squarely.
The sudden flash made the entire crowd flinch, screams echoing through the street. Jiang Zhaoxia, Li Dongyue, and the others froze, their hearts pounding.
But then—they saw him.
Li Qingqiu kept walking. Step by steady step.
Their eyes widened.
"What… how?" someone muttered.
"Is it fake lightning?" another whispered.
Xu Ning looked skyward, squinting at the storm clouds. The thunder seemed real enough. Her brow furrowed in thought.
Wei Daozhang stared in disbelief. Refusing to accept it, he swung his banner again.
Another bolt split the sky—crack!—and struck Li Qingqiu once more.
Yet his body didn't tremble. Not a thread of his clothing was singed.
Wei Daozhang froze. His voice shook. "Impossible… this can't be…"
He waved his flag frantically, summoning bolt after bolt. Lightning cascaded endlessly, turning the night into a sea of flickering light.
Still, Li Qingqiu advanced through it all, step by step—untouched, unshaken, unstoppable.
To the townsfolk, it was as though a god walked among them. Awe replaced fear. One by one, they rose to their feet, their eyes following the unyielding figure striding through the storm.