Chu Jing's words could persuade Zhang Yuchun, but they could not persuade Li Qingqiu.
Li Qingqiu glanced at Chu Jing and said, "If the outcome is that Sifeng becomes emperor, then it would indeed benefit Qingxiao Sect. But can you truly assert that Zhu Xian becoming emperor would have been harmful to us?"
Chu Jing immediately understood Li Qingqiu's meaning and dared not speak further.
Li Qingqiu shifted his gaze to Zhang Yuchun and said, "If Zhu Xian had died before you supported him, then we could have let events take their course. But he died after you declared support. No matter the motives of those behind the scenes, you represented Qingxiao Sect. This act is a slap in the face to Qingxiao Sect."
Zhang Yuchun hesitated. "Even so, we cannot simply purge the people behind this. After all, Zhu Xian was not a member of Qingxiao Sect."
"It is not I who must reason things out," Li Qingqiu said domineeringly, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "They must prove their intentions to me."
"Investigate thoroughly why Zhu Xian died. If it is related to the Li clan, bring Li Da back," Li Qingqiu ordered directly.
Zhang Yuchun fell silent for a moment before accepting the command.
"And if it truly turns out that way, should Sixth Junior Brother still take the throne?" Zhang Yuchun thought for a moment and asked.
"If he is willing, then let him have it. If he is unwilling, select another warlord of virtue and benevolence and spare no effort to help him pacify the realm. This chaotic era should come to an end."
Li Qingqiu's answer made Chu Jing inwardly alarmed.
How overbearing. He would accept the benefits the Li clan had created, yet still reprimand them.
It was a pity he was not an emperor.
The two immediately rose, bowed, and withdrew.
Li Qingqiu returned to his stone bed and continued cultivating.
…
The death of Zhu Xian shook the realm. In the three provinces under his command, people were thrown into panic, uncertain of what the future would bring.
Yet the other warlords did not seize the opportunity to cause chaos. The realm fell into a strange kind of peace. There were no large-scale wars, though after years of turmoil, bandits still ravaged various regions, and the common people remained far from tranquil.
Guzhou was considered the most peaceful land under heaven. As Qingxiao Sect grew ever stronger, Dongling Prefecture and Southern Chu Prefecture began accepting its protection as well. Increasing numbers of commoners fled toward these three provinces, and they gradually began to flourish, as though they existed in a different world from the chaos beyond.
In December, heavy snow blanketed the Taikun Mountain Range, and heaven and earth were swallowed by vast whiteness.
On one winter morning, a young male disciple carried a coffin up the mountain. Because he wore the robes of Qingxiao Sect, the disciples along the way did not stop him, though they watched and whispered among themselves.
The disciple made his way steadily toward the summit of Qingxiao Mountain. His expression was calm, his back slightly hunched, careful not to let the edges of the coffin strike the stone steps.
"Junior Brother, do you need help?" a disciple from the Law Enforcement Hall stopped him and asked with concern.
The coffin-bearing disciple ignored him, walked around him, and continued up the mountain.
There was no rule in the sect forbidding someone from carrying a coffin up the mountain, so the Law Enforcement Hall disciple could not forcibly stop him.
Many curious onlookers followed behind, eager to see whom this coffin-bearing disciple intended to find.
Could it be that someone within the sect had murdered a fellow disciple?
If so, it would be a grave matter.
Within Qingxiao Sect, harming a fellow disciple was the greatest of crimes, regardless of the circumstances.
Yet the coffin-bearing disciple passed courtyard after courtyard, even walking by the Law Enforcement Hall itself without entering. This only heightened everyone's curiosity.
From the foot of the mountain to the Mystic Heart Hall, he spent 2 hours ascending. News of his actions had already spread throughout the sect. Some disciples even rode their swords to other peaks to spread the word.
After passing the Mystic Heart Hall, he still did not stop. At this point, many disciples halted in place.
They understood now.
He was going to seek the Sect Master?
How great must the grievance be to warrant an audience with the Sect Master?
Could the murderer of the person inside the coffin be a high-ranking figure in the sect, requiring the Sect Master to uphold justice?
The coffin-bearing disciple arrived at the steps before Lingxiao Courtyard. He knelt directly down, the coffin still pressing against his back.
A disciple approached and asked with a frown, "What is your business?"
He worked under Yuan Qi and normally remained nearby, responsible for receiving those who sought an audience with the Sect Master.
The coffin-bearing disciple gritted his teeth and said, "Disciple Liu Jing requests to see the Sect Master!"
"And the coffin on your back is…"
"My mother's corpse."
The disciple's expression changed slightly upon hearing this. He told Liu Jing to wait and quickly ascended the steps.
Li Qingqiu had once instructed that if a disciple had a grievance, regardless of status, they could seek an audience with him.
Several zhang away, True Disciples and high-ranking members of various halls began gathering. Upon hearing that Liu Jing carried his mother's corpse, no one dared step forward, fearing involvement.
Chai Yunshang also arrived. She frowned as she looked at Liu Jing but did not speak.
He had bypassed the Law Enforcement Hall and directly requested an audience with Li Qingqiu. This was, in essence, a failure of the Law Enforcement Hall. But since he had chosen this path, she could not stop him.
She wanted to see who dared commit the evil act of murdering someone's mother right under her nose.
Soon, the messenger disciple hurried out of Lingxiao Courtyard and came to Liu Jing's side.
"The Sect Master has agreed to see you. Come, I'll help carry it."
Upon hearing that Liu Jing's mother had died, the messenger disciple instinctively felt sympathy.
"No need. Thank you."
Liu Jing gave him a faint smile, then carried the coffin up the steps. Watching his trembling figure, everyone felt a heaviness settle in their hearts.
The messenger disciple only escorted him to the gate of Lingxiao Courtyard and stopped there.
Liu Jing saw Li Qingqiu's back standing in the center of the courtyard. He took a deep breath, summoned his courage, and entered.
Walking behind Li Qingqiu, he knelt and bowed.
"Disciple Liu Jing greets the Sect Master."
Li Qingqiu turned around but did not remove the coffin from his back.
"Put your mother down. Do not let her suffer further jolting," Li Qingqiu said. His gaze was calm, giving no hint of what he was thinking.
Liu Jing immediately complied. As he lowered the coffin, both his arms trembled, afraid of letting it drop too heavily.
After setting the coffin down, Liu Jing looked up at Li Qingqiu. Facing his gaze, he felt uneasy, as though all his thoughts had been laid bare.
Though panic churned within him, he steeled himself and said, "Sect Master, please uphold justice for me—and for this realm!"
Li Qingqiu looked at him and asked, "What kind of justice?"
Liu Jing took a deep breath. "If the sect is unwilling to shoulder the realm, then choose a wise ruler and restore peace to the land as soon as possible. If one wise ruler is not enough, then appoint two—even three."
Li Qingqiu's interest was piqued. "You wish to divide the realm of Jiuzhou?"
"The Great Li Dynasty collapsed not only because of Zhao Zhi's tyranny, but also because the realm is too vast. Imperial authority's control over distant regions was never strong. The current Jiuzhou is not suited for unification—unless Qingxiao Sect's formations and magical artifacts advance to another level. Only then would the realm be fit to integrate. Precisely because the realm is too vast, warlords constantly contend, and this chaotic age refuses to end."
"Some say unifying the realm brings longer peace. But beyond Jiuzhou lie other dynasties. Under autocracy, there can also be darker years more agonizing than times of chaos. There is no absolutely perfect order—only an order suited to the times. The present realm is not suited for another Great Li Dynasty. Two coexisting dynasties, or even three rivaling each other, would be better. In that way, imperial authority could govern each region more effectively, while Qingxiao Sect maintains balance. The realm would still enjoy peace, and the dynasties could restrain one another."
Liu Jing's proposal genuinely intrigued Li Qingqiu.
Many people longed for grand unification, yet few dared to voice such thoughts.
Li Qingqiu himself felt that Jiuzhou was too vast. Guzhou alone was comparable to half of a great nation, yet Jiuzhou possessed no advanced technology. The transmission of information, transportation of supplies, mobilization of armies—these were all extremely troublesome for any dynasty ruling Jiuzhou.
Just as in the earlier campaign against the northern barbarians occupying Cang Province, the various warlords had failed largely due to exhausting travel. Their troops and horses were weary, unable to fight effectively. Only after resting for half a year did they unleash their true strength.
"The founding emperor of the Great Li Dynasty was indeed great. He unified Jiuzhou and laid a new cultural foundation. In the future, Jiuzhou will inevitably be unified again—but not now. At least not within the next 100 years. Otherwise, even if forcibly unified, oppression would arise in various provinces and commanderies. Even if the people wished to appeal to the throne, the throne would not hear them. And even though Qingxiao Sect stands above the world, how many could truly cross mountains and rivers to reach this transcendent Qingxiao Mountain?"
Liu Jing continued, grief and indignation etched across his face.
Li Qingqiu stared at him and asked, "What is your relationship to Liu Lin?"
"Liu Lin is my grandfather. But I have only met him once. My mother was not the principal wife. My father held no power in the household. I have spent years cultivating on Qingxiao Mountain. My mother was bullied into depression and died in sorrow, yet I knew nothing. My father sought to see my grandfather, but because he was unloved, he could not even gain an audience. There are many disciples from the Liu clan within the sect. My Cultivation Aptitude is not the best, so the Liu clan still pays me no heed. Sect Master, this realm is truly too vast for a single person—so vast that it breeds despair."
By the time Liu Jing finished, his eyes were red.
Seeing his frankness, the chill in Li Qingqiu's gaze diminished considerably.
Liu Lin was one of the three great warlords, capable of contending with Zhu Xian for the realm. However, Liu Lin's reputation was poor. He occupied the western territories and indulged primarily in pleasure.
Li Qingqiu actually had some impression of Liu Jing. When he heard his name earlier, he had already recalled him. He remembered that Liu Jing possessed talent suited for governance and administration. Of course, such fate traits were not uncommon within the current Qingxiao Sect.
As they spoke, Li Qingqiu had already summoned the Dao Lineage panel in his mind and searched for Liu Jing's portrait.
He found it.
[Name: Liu Jing]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 19]
[Loyalty (Sect Master/Sect): 91/89 (Maximum 100)]
[Cultivation Aptitude: Mediocre]
[Comprehension: Mediocre]
[Fate: Talent for Civil Governance, Sacred Heart of Civil Governance]
[Talent for Civil Governance: Possesses certain aptitude in politics and management; enjoys concerning himself with the affairs of the realm.]
[Sacred Heart of Civil Governance: Possesses great compassion for the people. Benevolent in character. Whether as ruler or minister, can perform excellently—tolerant above and below, regarding the safety of the common people as his own responsibility.]
…
[Talent for Civil Governance] was not rare. Quite a few disciples had similar fates. But [Sacred Heart of Civil Governance] was unique. Thus, Li Qingqiu had memorized his name, intending to promote him when the time was right.
He had not expected that today, Liu Jing would come bearing his mother's coffin.
After understanding Liu Jing's background and purpose, Li Qingqiu asked directly, "What do you want? What do you expect the sect to do for you?"
Liu Jing clenched his teeth. "I ask the sect to help me take control of the Liu clan and assist me in founding a state. I wish to become emperor. I will truly place the people first and will never betray the expectations of the sect or of you. My dynasty will forever be your sword. I will restrain the realm."
"In 100 years, my Liu clan will surely unify the realm and bring about a truly prosperous and peaceful age—accomplishing what the Great Li Dynasty never achieved!"
"If I become emperor, and if future descendants fail in their duties or lose the people's support, Qingxiao Sect and you may directly depose them. I will inscribe this into the founding policies of the dynasty—never to be changed!"
His voice rang with iron resolve. Yet his expression was not fanatical, but filled with earnest supplication.