Summer passed and autumn arrived. After more than two months, the rumors had finally settled into truth—the Son of Heaven was truly dead.
Across the land, the governors of every province began raising troops. Royal clans and great families reemerged, each staking their claim. Scholars took to the streets, rallying the people with fiery words. Everyone could feel it—the unstoppable tide of chaos was coming.
Qingxiao Sect, riding upon Li Qingqiu's unmatched achievements, entered an era unlike any before. The sect gates were filled with endless visitors, and the threshold of the Spirit Management Hall was nearly worn away from constant footsteps.
Li Qingqiu no longer appeared in public. He devoted himself entirely to breaking through to the ninth layer of the Nurturing Essence Realm. Even Zhang Yuchun agreed—it was time for their Sect Master to act like one, to let prestige elevate Qingxiao Sect's position in the martial world.
During this time, True Person Qingxiao, Feng Dai, and Ma Yu returned to the sect.
True Person Qingxiao was stunned by the transformation of Qingxiao Sect. He almost thought he had gone to the wrong mountain.
Li Qingqiu gathered Zhang Yuchun, Wu Man'er, Li Sifeng, and Li Sijin, introducing True Person Qingxiao to them and asking his junior brothers and sisters to keep him company.
Then he went to meet Feng Dai and Ma Yu. After exchanging polite greetings, he had Yuan Qi arrange quarters for them to rest.
That same day, deep within the Underground Spiritual Lake—
Chu Jing opened his eyes and looked at Li Qingqiu, who was cultivating in silence. He couldn't help but ask, "You're already invincible under heaven. Neither I, Zhao Zhi, nor Immortal Master Jiang could withstand even one of your sword strikes. Why do you still cultivate so relentlessly?"
Despite Li Qingqiu's immense strength, Chu Jing had noticed something strange. In the past, even he would rest between training sessions. But ever since following Li Qingqiu, he realized that apart from instructing disciples, eating, and discussing sect affairs, Li Qingqiu spent every other moment cultivating.
Now he understood why Li Qingqiu was so strong. But what he couldn't understand was—why Li Qingqiu still pushed himself so hard.
Without opening his eyes, Li Qingqiu said simply, "Because I like it."
"Like it?"
"Mm. Don't you think the feeling of constantly becoming stronger is wonderful? Besides, I'm the same as Zhao Zhi—I also seek immortality. But unlike him, I wish to attain it through my own effort. I want to truly transform into an undying being."
Chu Jing fell silent, lost in thought.
At that moment, a voice echoed from the nearby tunnel.
"Master, may I come in?"
It was Zhao Zhen.
Li Qingqiu opened his eyes. "Come in."
Hearing this, Zhao Zhen dashed in and hurried toward him.
Chu Jing turned his gaze toward the boy. He had seen Zhao Zhen before when visiting Qingxiao Sect, and even then, the child had left him astonished. Zhao Zhen was the son of Zhao Lan and the grandson of Zhao Zhi—a prodigy among prodigies.
"Master, I've made some improvements to the Great Sun Pure Yang Art!" Zhao Zhen said excitedly as he came before Li Qingqiu.
He had already transformed the Great Sun Pure Yang Art into a cultivation method suitable for immortals, but he could still sense its inferiority compared to the Supreme Purity and Primordial Harmony Sutra, so he continued refining it.
Before Li Qingqiu could even respond, Zhao Zhen began circulating his energy.
As his hands moved according to the technique, the entire Underground Spiritual Lake trembled. The spiritual energy in the air surged toward him, and the temperature around his body began to climb rapidly.
"The Great Sun Pure Yang Art? Impossible…"
Chu Jing's pupils widened in disbelief.
He knew that art well—it was the Zhao royal family's core technique. Even Zhao Zhi had practiced it before abandoning it when Immortal Master Jiang gifted him an evil art.
Chu Jing himself had secretly studied it in the past, so he knew how difficult it was. And this boy—barely nine years old—had already refined it to this level?
At that instant, Chu Jing felt it—the force of fate itself.
Even without Li Qingqiu's intervention, with such a monstrous talent, both he and Zhao Zhi would have been doomed eventually.
He had never sent anyone to kill Zhao Zhen, partly because he respected Zhao Zhen's father, Zhao Lan. If Zhao Lan had been born as one of his own family, Chu Jing would've died laughing in his sleep.
As Zhao Zhen's energy intensified, a blazing sun of pure yang vital energy formed behind him, swelling larger and larger. The air in the Underground Spiritual Lake grew scorching hot.
Lin Chuan and Nangong E retreated in alarm, while Chu Jing stared in shock.
This technique… it could make even spirits feel pain?
This child…
Chu Jing's expression turned complicated.
Since stepping onto the immortal path, he had discovered that his talent far surpassed what it had been in the martial world. He had even grown proud, thinking he was born for cultivation.
But today, seeing Zhao Zhen's self-created method, he suddenly realized—his own aptitude and comprehension were nothing in comparison.
Even Li Qingqiu was surprised. He hadn't expected Zhao Zhen to improve the Great Sun Pure Yang Art to such a level.
Not only was the boy's vital energy stronger, but he could also draw upon the surrounding spiritual energy to enhance it even further.
Remarkable. Truly remarkable.
When the blazing sun behind Zhao Zhen grew dangerously large, Li Qingqiu finally said, "Alright, that's enough. Stop."
Zhao Zhen immediately ceased and looked at his master with eager eyes.
"Excellent, Zhen'er. You're the most gifted genius I've ever seen—no one else even comes close. This improved Great Sun Pure Yang Art deserves to be recorded in the history of Qingxiao Sect. It's worthy of having a monument erected in your honor. Would you be willing to let it be stored in the Scripture Pavilion and have your name carved in stone?" Li Qingqiu said seriously.
Zhao Zhen's face lit up with joy. "Of course I'm willing! Every technique and martial art I create can go into the Scripture Pavilion! After all, everything I've learned comes from you, Master—you're the source of it all!"
Li Qingqiu smiled faintly, amused by how mature Zhao Zhen sounded for someone so young.
Zhao Zhen's drive to create new techniques was, at its core, because he wanted to have a monument in his honor. Within Qingxiao Sect, there were many disciples who dreamed of following in Mingguang's footsteps—making great contributions and leaving their names in history.
Because of that stone monument, Mingguang shone brighter than even the most talented geniuses in the sect.
Zhao Zhen leaned in closer to Li Qingqiu, enthusiastically explaining his other ideas. Li Qingqiu listened intently, nodding at times, the faint curve of a teacher's pride on his lips.
Chu Jing sat silently at the side, watching the scene in a daze.
He was reminded of long ago—when he too had been young, proudly displaying his martial prowess before Emperor Wen of Great Wei. The emperor had looked at him then with the same kind and patient smile that Li Qingqiu now wore.
"By the way, Zhen'er," Li Qingqiu suddenly asked with a smile, "what do you plan to do in the future?"
Zhao Zhen tilted his head. "What do I plan to do? Of course, to cultivate hard and keep creating new techniques for Qingxiao Sect. My greatest enemy is already gone, thanks to you, Master. What else could I possibly plan for?"
Li Qingqiu followed up softly, "Do you resent your master for that?"
Zhao Zhen widened his eyes. "Resent you? Why would I? Without you, Master, I'd have had to kill my own grandfather with my own hands. And when that time came, I wouldn't even know how I'd feel. So no—I'll always be grateful to you, never resentful."
He meant every word. And more than anything, he admired his master's unmatched courage—the kind of man who could stride alone into an imperial city and face down an army of thousands.
Li Qingqiu's gaze softened. He thought of Zhao Zhen's fate—Fragile Destiny. Both Zhao Zhi and Xuan Gong had perished. Would Zhao Zhen too face some future calamity?
Thinking it through, neither Zhao Zhi nor Xuan Gong had ever truly threatened Zhao Zhen's life, and Li Qingqiu hadn't slain them for Zhao Zhen's sake.
But still, he worried that greater trials might await the boy.
"The world is in chaos," Li Qingqiu said lightly. "As one born of royal blood, have you ever thought about becoming emperor yourself?"
Zhao Zhen immediately shook his head. "No, I'm not suited to be an emperor. I just want to train in martial arts. Besides, I don't ever want to fight against my own descendants over a throne."
Li Qingqiu didn't expect him to see things so clearly at such a young age.
That answer pleased him deeply. In truth, he preferred to keep Zhao Zhen within Qingxiao Sect forever. With his natural talent and unique fate, being emperor would be a waste.
"Today," Li Qingqiu said with a gentle smile, rising to his feet, "I'll teach you another ultimate technique."
Zhao Zhen's eyes brightened instantly, excitement sparking across his young face.
Chu Jing's emotions, however, grew even more conflicted.
The royal authority he had once clung to so desperately was now something Zhao Zhen had casually discarded. He truly believed that if Li Qingqiu supported Zhao Zhen's claim to the throne, the boy would easily become emperor.
Yet he couldn't help wondering—what would it matter even if the Great Wei Dynasty were restored?
The Emperor Wen he had once served would never return.
…
At the Spirit Management Hall—
It was Zhang Ping's turn on duty that day. After finishing a pile of tasks, he finally leaned back in his chair and exhaled deeply.
"How long will this workload last?" he muttered to himself. "Hopefully I can reach the third layer of the Nurturing Essence Realm before the entrance threshold for True Disciples gets raised again."
He rested his head on the desk, sighing in frustration.
Ever since the Sect Master had slain the emperor and gained worldwide fame, the Spirit Management Hall had become unbearably busy. Zhang Ping's cultivation time had shrunk drastically. Even though his monthly allowance had been increased, he wasn't satisfied.
Wealth didn't matter much to him—only strength did.
These days, everyone said that what Qingxiao Sect taught wasn't martial arts, but immortal techniques. Having personally cultivated the Supreme Purity and Primordial Harmony Sutra, Zhang Ping firmly believed it.
And if it was truly the path of immortality, then he would pursue it fully—to seek eternal life and the strength of his Sect Master.
"Hey there, young man, could you do me a favor?"
An old, raspy voice spoke. Zhang Ping looked up to see a gray-robed elder entering the hall.
Without much interest, he replied, "I don't do favors—only official business. What do you want?"
He had seen too many people trying to curry favor. Even as an ordinary disciple of the Spirit Management Hall, he often dealt with nobles and inner disciples looking to bribe or manipulate him.
The gray-robed man was none other than True Person Qingxiao.
Approaching the desk, True Person Qingxiao spoke politely, "I'd like to recommend three people to join Qingxiao Sect."
"If you want to join the sect," Zhang Ping said flatly, "head out the door and turn left. The next courtyard is the Recruitment Hall. They handle the disciple evaluations."
He didn't even glance up as he spoke, his expression completely indifferent.
True Person Qingxiao cleared his throat. "My Daoist title is True Person Qingxiao. I am the founding ancestor of this sect. Could you perhaps give me a bit of respect?"
Zhang Ping finally looked up, blinking in surprise. Seeing the old man's proud expression, he lifted his chin slightly.
"I've never heard of any 'founding ancestor,'" Zhang Ping said calmly. "And even if one did exist, the old Qingxiao Sect isn't the same as the one today. To me, our Sect Master is the true founder. If you're trying to sneak people in, find someone else—I can't take responsibility for that."
He had heard that the Sect Master and the Hall Masters once had a teacher named Lin Xunfeng. That man had abandoned his seven young disciples in pursuit of immortality, yet those same seven had gone on to rebuild Qingxiao Sect in just a few short years.
If that Lin Xunfeng ever came back and saw that Qingxiao Sect now possessed immortal techniques—how would he feel?
The thought only made Zhang Ping's loyalty to Qingxiao Sect even stronger.
True Person Qingxiao didn't get angry. Instead, he leaned forward and lowered his voice. "These three are not ordinary people. They're rare geniuses with special backgrounds. They'll definitely be of great use to the sect."
"Then why not speak to one of the Hall Masters?"
"Zhang Yuchun is too slick," the old man grumbled. "I don't trust his scheming nature."
"What about the Sect Master?"
"Don't even mention that brat! Since I returned, I've only seen him once! I can't even get into the Lingxiao Courtyard anymore!"
At the mention of Li Qingqiu, True Person Qingxiao's face turned red with anger. His nose flared, and he glared like an indignant elder scolding an unfilial child.
Zhang Ping shrugged. "Old senior, I can't help you there. The most I can do is pass a message to the Hall Master."