"Good. The Training Hall hasn't had enough long-term missions lately anyway."
Xue Jin nodded with a bright smile. Ever since the emperor had been slain by Li Qingqiu, the disciples' enthusiasm for going down the mountain to temper themselves had skyrocketed. At present, more than 300 disciples were out on training journeys.
Li Qingqiu asked Xue Jin to give a full report on the current state of the Training Hall.
Xue Jin carefully detailed everything.
He had long realized that Li Sifeng likely wouldn't remain Hall Master for much longer, so he had been taking his duties seriously, committing every detail of the hall's operations to memory.
Even with all the work, he hadn't neglected his cultivation and was currently working toward the sixth layer of the Nurturing Essence Realm.
The Training Hall was running smoothly overall. Xue Jin had done a fine job dividing disciples into smaller groups, ensuring that no one carried an excessive workload.
"In the future," Li Qingqiu said, "allow disciples to post missions through the Training Hall as well. That'll give others a chance to earn money and contribution points."
Xue Jin's eyes lit up. He had thought of doing that before but hesitated, worrying that such a system might let noble-born disciples exploit it to their advantage.
"Strictly review every mission," Li Qingqiu instructed. "If anyone tries to use a mission to harm a fellow disciple, show no mercy—no matter whose backing they have, even if it's from a noble clan or the upper ranks of the sect."
Xue Jin immediately nodded. "Please rest assured, Sect Master. I'll keep the review process tightly controlled."
"You've always been reliable," Li Qingqiu said with a faint smile. "Among the current disciples, you're the one who satisfies me the most."
Those words made Xue Jin's heart bloom with joy, though he tried to remain humble as he replied.
Li Qingqiu hadn't said it just to comfort him. Unlike the other talented disciples, Xue Jin wasn't remarkable only in cultivation—his work ethic and sense of responsibility were equally outstanding.
Qingxiao Sect didn't need only high-aptitude geniuses. It also needed capable hands to help build and maintain the sect, easing the burdens of leadership.
After spending about half an hour inspecting the hall, Li Qingqiu departed.
Feeling invigorated by the Sect Master's praise, Xue Jin immediately gathered the disciples under his charge for a meeting to discuss the new mission system.
Li Qingqiu continued his rounds, heading next to the Heavenly Works Hall. Today was his scheduled day to personally inspect all divisions.
While the Qingxiao Sect remained peaceful and stable, the outside world had grown increasingly chaotic. More and more local warlords were rising up and clashing with one another.
Even Guzhou had fallen into open warfare.
At the beginning of winter, Li Sifeng approached Li Qingqiu, asking to descend the mountain to pursue something big. Li Qingqiu agreed—but forbade him from using the Qingxiao Sect's name.
Soon after, Li Sifeng led a group of over ten disciples down the mountain. The event caused no disturbance within the sect.
When the first winter snow began to fall and the early morning sky was just turning pale, Li Qingqiu took the Xiao brothers and Cheng Canghai, riding atop Xiao Ba, toward Mount Tianji.
Though the Low-Rank Monster Realm there was under the management of Li Dongyue and the Spirit Treasury Hall, the Demon Subjugation Hall would also need to share responsibility for its protection in the future. Its purpose was to tame spirit beasts—and this Monster Realm would serve as their primary source.
They arrived at Yang Xuan's residence, where they happened to find Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Dongyue already present.
"Senior brother!"
Li Dongyue waved cheerfully from the courtyard, her face lighting up the moment she saw him.
Hearing her voice, Yang Xuan hurriedly ran out from inside the house.
Not far away, under a tree, Jiang Zhaoxia paused in his sword practice and looked over, a rare smile crossing his face. He knew at last that his mission was complete—and he could finally return to Qingxiao Sect.
After landing, Li Qingqiu spent some time talking with the three of them, asking about the situation during his absence. Li Dongyue reported everything in detail.
Several months ago, they had encountered a group of wandering martial artists, clearly members of some sect. The disciples had driven them off, and since then, there had been no more incidents.
Li Dongyue had already ordered all the spirit beasts within the Low-Rank Monster Realm to be sketched and catalogued, even assigning each a name and number.
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhaoxia had discovered a cave deep in Mount Tianji containing an inheritance. He had barred everyone from entering, waiting for Li Qingqiu to inspect it personally.
Upon hearing this, Li Qingqiu's eyes brightened immediately, and he asked Jiang Zhaoxia to lead the way.
As they walked, he introduced the Xiao brothers to the others. Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Dongyue were both surprised—these three must be prodigies, otherwise their senior brother wouldn't have brought them personally, much less made formal introductions.
Still, they only kept their curiosity to themselves and didn't ask further.
Compared to the new faces, Jiang Zhaoxia's curiosity was drawn elsewhere.
"Senior brother," he asked, "why has your Tianhong Sword been floating all this time? I haven't sensed any sword intent or vital energy from it."
He wasn't the only one. Yang Xuan had wanted to ask the same question for days but didn't dare. He had even thought he was seeing things—after all, everyone else acted as if the sight was perfectly normal.
Finally, Cheng Canghai couldn't hold back and eagerly recounted the entire story of how Li Qingqiu had slain the emperor.
The three—Jiang Zhaoxia, Li Dongyue, and Yang Xuan—were stunned, while the Xiao brothers stood tall with pride. It wasn't their own achievement, of course, but their loyalty to Li Qingqiu made them feel as if his glory reflected upon them too.
Li Dongyue asked anxiously, "Senior brother, you weren't hurt, were you?"
Li Qingqiu smiled. "No injuries. That trip allowed me to form an even deeper connection with the Tianhong Sword. It has shed its mortal form—it's no longer just a sword but a spirit sword, one that carries its own will."
Jiang Zhaoxia blinked in awe. "Senior brother, Zhao Zhi and the Grand Duke Xuan were both powerful. If I had faced them instead of you, would I have survived?"
"They were strong," Li Qingqiu replied, "but they wouldn't have been your match either. You'd have returned unharmed. The only difference is that the Immortal Master Jiang was good at acting mysterious—you might have been spooked by his theatrics."
Jiang Zhaoxia lowered his head, thinking deeply about those words.
At that moment, Chu Jing emerged from within the Tianhong Sword, his ghostly figure flickering with surprise. "Master, is your Third Junior Brother really that strong?" he asked in disbelief.
Jiang Zhaoxia turned his head and locked eyes with Chu Jing.
In that instant, Chu Jing understood. Jiang Zhaoxia truly was as formidable as Li Qingqiu had described.
He couldn't help but feel astonished. Qingxiao Sect was far stronger than he had imagined—so strong, in fact, that he no longer felt any injustice about his past defeat.
Jiang Zhaoxia didn't ask who Chu Jing was, worried that such knowledge might frighten Li Dongyue, Yang Xuan, and the others.
Li Qingqiu didn't bother replying to Chu Jing's question. Instead, he turned to Li Dongyue, who was curiously pressing him about the so-called "Immortal Master Jiang" and his tricks. Li Qingqiu recounted everything that had happened during that encounter.
When they heard about the Soul-Refining Banner, everyone was stunned. It completely overturned their understanding of martial and spiritual arts.
"When your mastery of the Supreme Purity and Primordial Harmony Sutra deepens," Li Qingqiu said meaningfully, "you'll all eventually come into contact with spirits."
At that, Jiang Zhaoxia finally understood what a true spirit sword was.
He began wondering to himself—should he, too, cultivate a sword soul of his own?
With Cheng Canghai accompanying them, the road ahead wasn't lonely. They chatted casually as they walked through the mountains.
After about half an hour, they reached the cave Jiang Zhaoxia had discovered.
The cave was crude and unadorned. Inside, there was nothing but a single tattered meditation mat, three ancient books laid neatly on the ground, and a small cloth pouch.
Li Qingqiu picked up the pouch and examined it. Sure enough—it was a storage bag filled with a fair number of spirit stones. He nodded slightly to himself. No wonder Yang Xuan would one day become the Human Dao Patriarch.
"I'll take this bag," Li Qingqiu said. "As for these three manuals, copy them when we return and store the originals on the fourth floor of the Scripture Pavilion. The three of you may each transcribe a copy for yourselves."
Jiang Zhaoxia, Li Dongyue, and Yang Xuan all nodded without objection.
Yang Xuan couldn't help but ask, "Martial Uncle, does this mean you're taking us back to Qingxiao Sect now?"
Li Qingqiu looked at him and smiled. "Yes."
Yang Xuan's Cultivation Aptitude and Comprehension were both excellent—naturally, he was someone worth personally cultivating. Keeping him stationed here would have been a waste of potential. Today's trip had only been to formally assign Cheng Canghai to oversee this area. From now on, the Low-Rank Monster Realm would be guarded and managed by him, who would train disciples to tame spirit beasts and mountable creatures within it.
Afterward, they visited the Monster Realm itself. The independent pocket world stunned both Cheng Canghai and the Xiao brothers, leaving them wide-eyed in awe.
By evening that same day, Li Qingqiu led Jiang Zhaoxia, Li Dongyue, Yang Xuan, and the Xiao brothers back to the sect.
With thirty disciples stationed at Mount Tianji under Cheng Canghai's supervision, there was no risk of trouble breaking out.
Night fell, and morning soon followed.
At dawn, Li Qingqiu gathered all his junior brothers and sisters in the Lingxiao Courtyard.
Xiao Wuqing arrived together with True Person Qingxiao, whom Li Qingqiu introduced to Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Dongyue.
Upon learning that this man was their master's master, Li Dongyue bowed respectfully, full of admiration. Jiang Zhaoxia, though polite, merely offered a formal salute without saying much.
As True Person Qingxiao looked upon the six disciples trained by Lin Xunfeng—each with their own unique aura and style—his expression softened with pride. He began reminiscing, recounting how he had once taken Lin Xunfeng in as a disciple and the many adventures they had shared.
Everyone listened attentively. Li Qingqiu, knowing the old man's fondness for storytelling, let him speak without interruption.
Though Li Qingqiu seldom met with True Person Qingxiao, he often had Yuan Qi keep an eye on him.
This eccentric "grandmaster" was known throughout the sect for boasting about being the Sect Master's teacher's teacher. Even when others rolled their eyes or refused to humor him, he never tired of repeating it.
Li Qingqiu didn't mind. After all, it was the truth. And the old man spent most of his time guiding outer disciples and menial workers in their cultivation—something Li Qingqiu actually approved of.
When True Person Qingxiao finally finished his nostalgic tales, still unsatisfied but out of breath, Li Qingqiu smiled and said, "Grandmaster, you've been back in Qingxiao Sect for quite some time now, but I haven't yet assigned you an official position. Would you be willing to join the sect again under its current structure?"
True Person Qingxiao immediately understood the meaning behind those words—Li Qingqiu wanted him to formally re-enter the sect, acknowledging the new hierarchy.
Instead of taking offense, he smiled with genuine appreciation. The boy was sharp and clear-headed.
After all, in the current Qingxiao Sect, it wouldn't do to have someone with a higher seniority or rank than the Sect Master himself. And beyond that, he could tell that the sect's current martial inheritance was completely independent of his own teachings.
"Well, if you're personally inviting me, I suppose I can consider rejoining," True Person Qingxiao said, stroking his beard with exaggerated dignity.
Li Qingqiu chuckled. "Then allow me to extend the invitation—will you join Qingxiao Sect once more?"
"Since you've asked so sincerely, I'll reluctantly agree," True Person Qingxiao replied, feigning difficulty. "Now, what post are you assigning me?"
In truth, he was relieved—he had worried that Li Qingqiu might dismiss him outright.
Though he was technically Li Qingqiu's grandmaster, he would never forget the overwhelming dominance Li Qingqiu had shown that day against Immortal Master Jiang.
"You'll serve as the Vice Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall," Li Qingqiu said. "The Hall Master position is already taken. You can assist her and offer support when needed."
The current Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall was Chai Yunshang, who had already reached the fourth layer of the Nurturing Essence Realm. She was diligent and devoted to her cultivation—thanks in no small part to Li Qingqiu himself, who had quietly supplied her with many spirit stones.
A Hall Master of that rank needed sufficient strength to command authority.
"Vice Hall Master, hm?" True Person Qingxiao grumbled, pretending to be displeased. "A bit beneath my stature, but since you insist, I'll go lend the Hall Master my support."
Jiang Zhaoxia frowned, thinking the old man was being too boastful.
Li Dongyue and Li Sijin, on the other hand, found him quite amusing.
Zhang Yuchun remained silent, quietly considering what impact True Person Qingxiao's addition might have on the sect's future.
Meanwhile, Li Qingqiu instinctively summoned the Dao Lineage panel and located True Person Qingxiao's profile.
He couldn't shake the feeling that the eccentric elder possessed a rare fate—something extraordinary. After all, how else could one man have dominated the entire Taikun Mountain Range, keeping every martial faction at bay for so many years?