Hearing Shen Yue's words, Zhang Yuchun frowned, Li Dongyue looked curious, and Li Qingqiu simply smiled calmly.
"Alright, I'll wait for you to recover."
Li Qingqiu agreed without hesitation. At that moment, Shen Yue opened his eyes, and a fierce battle spirit burst within them.
Shen Yue said, "It's just a friendly spar. I've lost interest in the Emperor Xuan Sword. I also won't leave Qingxiao Sect, so you don't have to feel pressured."
Li Qingqiu couldn't help laughing. "I'm not feeling any pressure. What about you? Don't go into hiding again if you lose."
Shen Yue wanted to say, There's no way I'll lose this time, but when he saw Li Qingqiu's teasing smile, he swallowed the words.
Though Jiang Zhaoxia and Xu Ning's talent wasn't inferior to his, his comprehension in the Dao of Sword far surpassed theirs. Looking across Qingxiao Sect—no, across the entire world—Li Qingqiu was the only person he couldn't see through. That uncertainty alone unsettled him.
"I've already lost once. What's there to be afraid of?" Shen Yue said stubbornly.
He thought, Just wait until I shock you with my Ten Thousand Swords Return to One!
Li Qingqiu chuckled and said, "Since you're fine, I won't treat you with needles. I'll have a disciple write down your contribution and post it on the notice boards so everyone in the sect knows."
Shen Yue didn't reply. His thoughts had already drifted toward their upcoming duel.
Afterward, Li Qingqiu left the Sword Sect courtyard with Zhang Yuchun and Li Dongyue. Once they stepped outside, he said, "You'll handle the announcement. Don't exaggerate—just write the truth."
"Understood."
"And send someone to invite Li Yang and Zhao Linglong to Lingxiao Pavilion."
"Got it."
At the crossroads, the three parted ways. Li Dongyue didn't plan to rest—she went straight to the Spiritual Treasury Hall. Li Qingqiu, meanwhile, returned alone to Lingxiao Pavilion.
He sat in the rocking chair before the long table and closed his eyes to rest.
After the time it took for one stick of incense to burn, Li Yang and Zhao Linglong arrived, walking quickly to the long table and saluting him.
Li Yang's demeanor was calm and composed, showing no sign of nervousness. Zhao Linglong, on the other hand, was a bit tense—this was her first time being summoned by Li Qingqiu.
She had witnessed his strength many times before and knew that even with her two hundred years of cultivation, she couldn't stand against him.
Li Qingqiu opened his eyes and looked at her. "Miss Zhao, what's your relationship with the Liyin Sect?"
Hearing this, Zhao Linglong hesitated before replying, "Although I've practiced the Mystic Yin Art, I'm not a disciple of the Liyin Sect. My master was one of their elders."
Li Yang followed up, "I can vouch for that. She's been by my side since childhood. Altogether, she hasn't left me for even three months. I've always wondered when she learned such powerful martial arts."
Although he was confident he could defeat Zhao Linglong now, he still couldn't let go of her deception.
Li Qingqiu said calmly, "The Three Imperial Sects and the Bureau of Martial Prohibition joined forces to crush Qingxiao Sect but were repelled by Sword God alone. This matter isn't over. I plan to destroy the Three Sects and uproot the Bureau of Martial Prohibition."
His tone was casual, as if he were discussing something trivial.
Zhao Linglong's face changed instantly.
Li Yang was just as shocked. He hadn't expected the Three Sects to join hands with the court to invade Qingxiao Sect. His fury flared. "Those sects actually act as the court's lapdogs?"
Li Qingqiu said, "Miss Zhao, you've been in Qingxiao Sect for years. Though you haven't formally joined, you've taught disciples and fought alongside us. You're already one of us. Tell me—do you have anyone in the Liyin Sect you wish to protect?"
Zhao Linglong hadn't expected him to give her such a chance. After a brief hesitation, she said, "No. I never chose that master willingly. My family forced me to become her disciple."
She trusted Li Qingqiu's words—if he said it, he meant it. Still, she didn't want further ties to the Liyin Sect.
Even without Qingxiao Sect's intervention, the Liyin Sect's closeness with the imperial court would eventually bring ruin upon them.
Li Qingqiu nodded. "That's all. You may both go."
The two saluted and left. Li Qingqiu rose and headed toward the forest behind the mountain—he was preparing to cultivate in the Thousand Spirits Blessed Land.
After leaving Lingxiao Pavilion, Li Yang turned to Zhao Linglong and said, "Why don't you join Qingxiao Sect? Zhao Zhi's cruelty has angered the heavens and the people. Sooner or later, he'll lose the throne. The families and sects serving him will all be doomed. My Li clan has already begun resisting him. We've paid dearly, but we've stabilized our position now. King Wei's surname is also Zhao. Supporting him isn't treason."
Zhao Linglong was tempted. What truly drew her interest was the Supreme Purity and Primordial Harmony Sutra. Ever since Li Yang began cultivating it, his power had grown at a terrifying rate—it shocked even her.
Still...
She asked softly, "Are you certain that when the Emperor falls, King Wei can take the throne?"
Li Yang looked at her in surprise, not understanding why she would ask such a question. Who else, besides King Wei, had the strength or the claim to seize the throne?
Zhao Linglong said nothing more and quickened her pace, walking ahead of him.
...
As night fell, all the Hall Masters gathered in Lingxiao Pavilion. Shen Yue didn't attend—he was still recovering.
Li Qingqiu told Zhang Yuchun to explain Shen Yue's injury. In truth, there was no need—everyone already knew. Earlier that afternoon, the Spirit Management Hall had posted notices outside all the courtyards, exposing the crimes of the Three Imperial Sects and the Bureau of Martial Prohibition.
The entire Qingxiao Sect was furious, yet also full of admiration for Shen Yue's strength.
After this battle, Shen Yue's reputation among the disciples had nearly reached the level of Jiang Zhaoxia.
Without Shen Yue, those enemies would have stormed up Qingxiao Mountain, and many disciples would have died. Shen Yue had saved countless lives.
"I'll destroy the Three Imperial Sects and even slaughter every single member of the Bureau of Martial Prohibition in the palace," Jiang Zhaoxia said first, his expression icy and his eyes filled with killing intent.
Yang Jueding looked surprised. "Didn't expect you to care that much about Senior Shen?"
Li Sijin snorted. "He doesn't care about Senior Shen. He's just upset that someone else stole the spotlight."
Jiang Zhaoxia shot her a cold glance, and she stuck out her tongue, quickly falling silent.
Xu Ning then said, "You can leave it to me too."
The last time she went to rescue the Crown Prince, she had suffered a bitter defeat. This time, she was determined to confront Xuan Gong herself.
Li Qingqiu spoke calmly. "This time, make it big. Let the whole martial world know we're targeting the Three Imperial Sects. As for the Bureau of Martial Prohibition, deal with them secretly. Xu Ning, you'll lead the operation. I'll personally select thirty True Disciples to go with you."
He planned to rise by stepping over the crushed prestige of the Three Imperial Sects and make the entire martial world acknowledge Qingxiao Sect's supremacy.
He wanted to make it clear—the number one sect under heaven now had a true master.
"Master, I'll complete the mission without fail!" Xu Ning said loudly.
Jiang Zhaoxia looked like he wanted to speak but hesitated.
Li Qingqiu continued, "Recently, Fourth Junior Sister and I discovered a Blessed Land that will benefit the sect's development. Third Junior Brother, you'll accompany her. She'll need your help with many things."
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxia's expression softened a little, though he still looked unhappy—he wanted to fight, not explore.
Everyone else was curious about the Blessed Land Li Qingqiu mentioned. The two Blessed Lands Qingxiao Sect already possessed greatly enhanced cultivation. If there was a third, it would benefit everyone immensely.
"The world's in chaos, and no one knows how long it'll last. Qingxiao Sect needs more disciples who can stand on their own. All of you Hall Masters, I'm counting on your efforts."
Li Qingqiu's tone was serious. That was truly what he thought. With Jiang Zhaoxia and Xu Ning soon leaving, the sect's strength would thin out. In the end, the problem came down to this—there still weren't enough powerful disciples.
He hoped every hall could have at least two disciples as strong as Jiang Zhaoxia or Xu Ning. It wasn't possible yet, but it was a worthy goal.
The Hall Masters all responded with determination, promising to give their utmost effort.
...
Another evening fell.
A group of battered martial masters stopped beside the Xi River to rest and tend to their wounds.
Xuan Gong, hair disheveled, stood at the riverbank and looked down at his reflection. He still wore his ghost mask, but his crown was gone, and his black robe was torn in many places.
He recalled Shen Yue's swordsmanship and took a deep breath.
Liu Dai of the Taiwu Sect walked up beside him. "Xuan Gong, how are we supposed to explain this when we go back?"
Liu Dai was also badly wounded, his face pale and his robe filthy. The elegance he once had as the Taiwu Sect's Deputy Sect Master was gone.
Xuan Gong said, "Honestly, when I agreed to this mission, I already knew we would fail. I never wanted to fight Qingxiao Sect, but His Majesty insisted."
Liu Dai frowned, unsure what he meant.
"The Emperor believes he can control the world. He sees noble families and royal kin as ants, indulges their petty games, and plays along for amusement. But there's one thing he truly fears—Qingxiao Sect. Not just because of its strength, but because its techniques may not belong to the martial path at all."
"Not the martial path?"
"What do you mean?"
Liu Dai frowned deeper, feeling as though Xuan Gong had gone mad.
Xuan Gong turned to him and continued, "That battle with Sword God confirmed it. Do you really think sending a massive army to besiege Qingxiao Sect would work?"
"If a stalemate occurs, the Emperor's prestige will collapse. When that happens, the empire itself will face unprecedented turmoil."
Following his reasoning, Liu Dai's face darkened.
The Taiwu Sect served the Emperor—his gain was their gain, his loss their downfall. For the first time, Liu Dai felt that siding with the Emperor might have been a foolish move.
The Taiwu Sect had been too arrogant, too blind to the martial world's evolution, and had gravely underestimated Qingxiao Sect's strength.
"So what should we do now?" Liu Dai asked through clenched teeth.
Returning would mean punishment from the Emperor, and the sect itself might face annihilation. The thought filled him with despair.
"There's only one way," Xuan Gong said in a strange, almost calm tone.
"What way?" Liu Dai asked quickly, desperate for an answer.
Suddenly—
Xuan Gong struck Liu Dai's chest with his palm. Liu Dai's eyes widened in shock.
In the next instant, he felt his cultivation being drained away. His qi and blood churned violently as Xuan Gong absorbed his power. Terrified, he tried to resist, but his body wouldn't move.
"You…"
Liu Dai's voice trembled, filled with despair. His legs weakened, but Xuan Gong caught him before he could fall.
Leaning close to his ear, Xuan Gong whispered, "The only way is to let your power become mine. Then I will establish a new Emperor and rebuild the world's order."
"That's also why I fought Shen Yue—not to destroy him, but to protect all of you."