After chatting with Yun Cai for a while, Li Qingqiu continued up the mountain. Along the way, he ran into Yuan Li again.
Ever since Yuan Li opened up the path of body cultivation, he had focused entirely on developing Gang Yuan. Although his cultivation realm had not increased, his strength was steadily growing.
When Yuan Li saw Li Qingqiu, he was just as excited. He was also very curious about what kind of transformation Li Qingqiu had undergone after the tribulation.
Toward this treasured disciple, Li Qingqiu did not hide anything. Whatever Yuan Li asked, he answered, doing his best to satisfy Yuan Li's curiosity.
In the end, Li Qingqiu gave Yuan Li strong encouragement, saying that he believed Yuan Li could become the strongest disciple in the sect in the future. Even the usually steady and composed Yuan Li was stirred into excitement.
After returning to the cave dwelling, Li Qingqiu sat down on the stone bed and stretched his body.
Nangong E emerged and asked curiously, "Master, in your heart, who exactly do you think will become the strongest disciple of the sect in the future?"
Lin Chuan and Chu Jing floated over as well, equally curious.
They followed Li Qingqiu and had heard him praise many disciples. They could no longer tell which words were sincere and which were not.
However, they had to admit that Qingxiao Sect truly had many geniuses. Once those geniuses fully matured, how powerful Qingxiao Sect would become was something they could not even imagine.
"All of them are. Being the strongest isn't eternal. Even if it's only for a time, they are still the strongest," Li Qingqiu replied.
After hearing this, the three ghosts looked at each other. They found that they had no way to refute him.
Li Qingqiu stopped paying attention to them. He brought up the Dao Lineage panel and activated the divine ability inheritance.
[Receive Divine Ability Inheritance Reward]
[Opening Dao Lineage Divine Ability Inheritance]
[You have obtained the divine ability — Moving Mountains to Suppress the Divine]
[Accept inheritance?]
Moving Mountains to Suppress the Divine?
It sounded incredibly powerful.
Inheritance!
With anticipation in his heart, Li Qingqiu accepted the inheritance.
…
The news that the Sect Master of Qingxiao Sect had undergone tribulation and used his physical body to withstand heavenly lightning quickly spread down the mountain and throughout the surrounding regions of the Taikun Mountain Range.
For mortals, tribulation was far too mysterious. Not to mention common folk, even Qingxiao Sect disciples were shocked. The Sect Master constantly produced earth-shaking events. After the shock came excitement and pride.
In such a world, Li Qingqiu's tribulation was bound to ferment for many years. For years to come, this matter would be mentioned by people across the land, just like when Li Qingqiu killed Zhao Zhi. Even now, some people were only just hearing about it and marveling in astonishment.
Early the next morning, Li Qingqiu, having just finished inheriting the divine ability [Moving Mountains to Suppress the Divine], went down the mountain in a cheerful mood.
He had worked hard for so long and finally broken through. Naturally, he needed to take some time to look over the state of the sect.
As Sect Master, staying in seclusion for too long would cause major problems.
Once a sect grew large, dark matters would inevitably arise. He liked to wander through the sect from time to time, giving disciples a chance to see him.
However, just as he stepped out of Lingxiao Courtyard, he saw three people waiting outside the courtyard below the stone steps.
Xu Hong from the Chanding Temple, along with Madam Xu and her son.
They were pacing back and forth. When they saw Li Qingqiu, their eyes immediately lit up.
Madam Xu held her child, stepped forward, and knelt directly on the ground.
Li Qingqiu strolled down and asked, "What are you doing?"
Madam Xu gritted her teeth and said, "Sect Master Li, ever since my son was abducted by the Huangquan Army, he has contracted an incurable illness. No matter what we do, it won't heal. I heard that Sect Master Li is skilled in medicine, so I had no choice but to come to you."
"Qingxiao Sect has medical halls. Why didn't you go there?" Li Qingqiu asked.
"I went. They were also at a loss," Madam Xu replied.
Her eyes were red as tears streamed down her face.
The child in her arms slowly turned his head. His face was pale, his breathing weak. When he looked toward Li Qingqiu, he could not even fully open his eyes.
Li Qingqiu walked over and raised his hand, applying three needles, piercing them into the back of Li Huaizhen's small hand.
Seeing this, Madam Xu quickly looked up at Li Qingqiu.
"Don't move these three needles. Take him down to rest. After he recovers a bit, then leave the mountain."
Li Qingqiu brushed past Madam Xu. His words echoed by her ear, leaving her stunned.
She had not expected Li Qingqiu to be so easygoing. Before coming, she had already heard about Li Qingqiu's relationship with her husband. She had even heard that Li Qingqiu knew about it and harbored resentment.
Yet…
Li Qingqiu turned to look at Xu Hong and smiled. "Since you're here, you can properly interact with the disciples of my sect. I've spoken with your abbot before. Qingxiao Sect and Chanding Temple are on friendly terms. Don't be too restrained."
Xu Hong was both honored and flustered. He quickly bowed to Li Qingqiu.
Li Qingqiu continued down the mountain.
He did not say this to curry favor with Xu Hong or Chanding Temple. He genuinely respected Chanding Temple.
Back when the Demonic Sect wreaked havoc, Chanding Temple had dared to oppose them even at the risk of total annihilation. That alone was worthy of Li Qingqiu's admiration. Xu Hong especially so. Even now, Li Qingqiu still remembered the sight of Xu Hong wielding a wooden staff and fighting to the death without retreat.
When Li Qingqiu judged people, he did not look at the level of their strength, but at their actions and their character.
Xu Hong watched Li Qingqiu head down the mountain, then walked over to Madam Xu and said, "Benefactor Xu, I told you long ago that Sect Master Li's breadth of mind is not as narrow as you feared. No matter what kind of past there is between your Li clan and him, he would never stand by and watch someone die. Your request ends here. I will stay for a few days, then return."
After speaking, Xu Hong raised his hand in salute, turned around, and left.
Madam Xu stood up while holding Li Huaizhen. She saw her son's complexion recovering at a visible speed, and a smile finally appeared on her face.
Li Huaizhen slowly opened his eyes and softly asked, "Mother… I feel a bit… better… was that person just now the… uncle they talked about…?"
Madam Xu lowered her voice and said, "You will get better. He is indeed your uncle, but you cannot tell anyone about this. This is a secret, understand?"
Confusion filled Li Huaizhen's weak little face. At three years old, he did not understand the affairs of adults, but he still obediently nodded.
On the other side.
Li Qingqiu continued down the mountain. Along the way, disciples constantly greeted him with excitement, which slowed his pace.
Xu Hong caught up with him. Seeing how beloved Li Qingqiu was among the disciples, his heart was filled with emotion.
He realized that although Qingxiao Sect had strict hierarchy, people of different statuses did not have unbridgeable gaps. In the Chanding Temple, ordinary disciples absolutely could not casually speak with the abbot.
He grew more and more curious about Li Qingqiu, feeling that this person was truly extraordinary. It was not just that his strength was absurdly high, but that his thinking and conduct were also different from most people.
…
Before anyone realized it, time had reached October, and Li Qingqiu's tribulation was still frequently discussed by many disciples.
On a cliff, Zhao Zhen faced Ziyang Peak, sitting cross-legged and cultivating the Heavenly Gang Golden Body Art.
Ku Yi and Ku Er stood behind Zhao Zhen. Over the years, the two had benefited from Zhao Zhen and also stepped onto the path of cultivation. However, their cultivation aptitude was mediocre, and to this day they were only at Nurturing Essence Realm second layer.
"Your Highness, there's a letter from down the mountain," Ku Yi said softly.
Zhao Zhen kept his eyes closed and replied, "How many times have I said this? Don't call me 'Your Highness' anymore. I am no longer a member of the imperial family. I am now a disciple of Qingxiao Sect. My past has nothing to do with me."
Ever since Yuan Li opened the path of body cultivation, Zhao Zhen had sought him out for sparring. Calling it sparring was generous. In reality, it was Zhao Zhen unilaterally experiencing Gang Yuan.
After taking a single punch from Yuan Li, he had completely lost his combat ability. The shock from that experience ran deep.
If it had been a true life-and-death fight, he could have avoided Yuan Li's attacks. Even so, he could not convince himself.
He had to admit that deep down, he had always thought Yuan Li was inferior to him. Being surpassed by Yuan Li was something he could not accept.
It was not that he looked down on Yuan Li. He simply believed that the gap between them objectively existed. He was also afraid of giving Yuan Li pressure, so he usually spent time with Li Yang instead.
And yet…
"The path of body cultivation… I must open one as well!"
Zhao Zhen's heart was filled with fighting spirit. He was unwilling to accept this, yet he deeply admired Yuan Li. All those emotions ultimately fused into a single driving force. He wanted to surpass Yuan Li once again.
Ku Er followed up, "The message is from your mother."
Hearing this, Zhao Zhen abruptly opened his eyes. He turned his body and asked in shock, "My mother? She's still alive?"
Ku Yi answered, "She has always been alive. Back then, you noticed that His Majesty might harm both of you, so you arranged for your mother in advance and then sent yourself to Qingxiao Sect."
"Where is she?" Zhao Zhen asked nervously.
"She's at Tianxuan Mountain in Beiliang Province. She's living well now. Her second brother has already become the Sword-Wielding Elder of Tianxuan Mountain. She sent word, hoping you can go visit her," Ku Yi replied.
Go to Tianxuan Mountain?
Zhao Zhen frowned and said, "I'm still too young. I'm afraid my master won't agree."
"He definitely won't. You absolutely can't tell him about this. After much thought, we feel you're not suitable to go to Tianxuan Mountain right now. How about going in two years?" Ku Er added.
When Zhao Zhen heard that he could go in two years, he immediately agreed.
In two years, his cultivation would surely be stronger. By then, his master might allow him to leave the mountain.
He had almost forgotten what his mother looked like. Just thinking about being able to see her again made him extremely excited.
Ku Yi and Ku Er exchanged a glance and both let out a sigh of relief, especially Ku Er, whose eyes shone with excitement.
"Don't tell the Sect Master about this in advance. There are many noble families within the sect now, with factions standing side by side. Your identity is too sensitive. You can't bring trouble to your mother," Ku Yi reminded him.
After Zhao Zhi's death, imperial descendants across the land had died one after another. Zhao Zhen was already the most pure-blooded imperial heir left. Many people were still searching for him.
Over the years, some had already approached Zhao Zhen, hoping to help him reclaim the world, but he had rejected them all.
Compared to being emperor, he preferred cultivating.
"I understand. Let's talk about this again in two years," Zhao Zhen replied, then continued his cultivation.
Ku Yi and Ku Er did not disturb him further and turned to head down the mountain.
…
As night fell, Li Qingqiu returned to Lingxiao Courtyard and saw Zhang Yuchun pacing around inside. When he noticed Li Qingqiu approaching, Zhang Yuchun immediately went to meet him.
"We've discovered the whereabouts of the Ling Tian Sect," Zhang Yuchun said in a low voice.
Li Qingqiu asked, "Where?"
"Yuzhou. They're hiding in a city under assumed names. One of our disciples found out by chance. He didn't act rashly and brought the news back. Who do you think we should send to wipe out the Ling Tian Sect?" Zhang Yuchun asked.
What he meant was that he did not want Li Qingqiu to go personally.
As Sect Master, Li Qingqiu going down the mountain at every turn was not conducive to the sect's development. In Zhang Yuchun's view, more opportunities should be given to other disciples, even if there were casualties.
Li Qingqiu pondered for a moment, then said, "Let Shen Yue and Xue Jin lead a team. What do you think?"
Zhang Yuchun's eyes lit up, and he immediately agreed. "Of course. With the two of them leading, nothing can go wrong."