Although Jiang Zhaoxia had returned injured, it did not frighten the Azure Firmament Sect disciples. Li Sifeng had vividly recounted his battle achievements, and soon everyone knew.
Battle against the Fifth Alliance Master of Seven Peaks—victory in five moves!
Battle against the True Person of Xuandang—victory in seven moves!
Battle against the Divine Monk of Channing Temple—victory in twenty-three moves!
Battle against the Enforcement Elder of Iron Moon Peak—victory in twenty-five moves!
Battle against Yu Zhiyi, the First in the Martial World—narrow defeat after two hundred moves!
These achievements made the Azure Firmament Sect disciples' blood boil with excitement. Jiang Zhaoxia's prestige within the sect reached its peak. Except for Xu Ning, all the disciples worshipped him.
Li Sifeng even brazenly declared Jiang Zhaoxia the Second in the World.
"The martial world is perilous—that's never been an empty saying. Even scholars studying for official examinations encounter treacherous hearts."
Within the new courtyard, Zhang Yu held a bamboo fan, speaking leisurely.
Fully thirty disciples sat in the courtyard, listening to his lecture. This was done at Li Qingqiu's direction; otherwise, relying solely on Zhang Yu, he could never have gathered such a crowd. Even Li Sifeng had been made to sit here by Li Qingqiu's orders.
Azure Firmament Sect was far removed from the secular world, its atmosphere relaxed. For now, there were no power struggles, so the disciples were quite innocent. Li Qingqiu felt it necessary to give them some ideological education.
"That deceased Xi Niang was full of suspicious points. Elder Li was too young and overlooked many things. Today, let's review the situation."
"One: As an ordinary innkeeper, how could she be certain she wouldn't poison the wrong person? Facing two martial arts experts, attempting poison for the first time would inevitably cause nervousness, yet she left no trace of flaw."
"Two: Elder Jiang's internal energy is profound, his hearing exceptional. Even through walls, he could overhear whispered conversations. Yet this woman never leaked the slightest hint beforehand."
"Three: The moment she arrived at the mountain, she tried to take her own life. What was her intention? If she truly wanted to die, why not go down the mountain and do it elsewhere? Why insist on dying right in front of us? Is it possible she was certain we would try to save her?"
Zhang Yu raised these questions one by one. Li Sifeng, who had initially been somewhat impatient, fell into deep thought after hearing them.
The more he considered it, the more he felt Xi Niang was suspicious.
Then Zhang Yu began recounting stories from the martial world he had heard.
How many martial arts experts had died from underhanded schemes, fallen at the hands of petty men? Those who perished in direct confrontations between equals were actually the minority.
Sometimes, having overwhelming martial arts skill was itself a vulnerability.
The disciples listened attentively. Even someone as strong as Jiang Zhaoxia, the Second in the World, had nearly died—this struck them deeply.
Li Qingqiu also came to listen for a while. After confirming that Zhang Yu wasn't inserting any hidden agenda and was indeed teaching well, he departed.
The benefits of Jiang Zhaoxia's fame from the Martial Arts Tournament exceeded Li Qingqiu's expectations. One month after Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sifeng returned, Zhang Yuchun went down the mountain to recruit and, for the first time, brought back sixteen people in one go. All these disciples had come because of Jiang Zhaoxia's reputation.
Among them was one person with relatively good aptitude for cultivation, whom Li Qingqiu secretly noted for focused evaluation.
Imparting the Supreme Purity Chaos Genesis Scripture depended on two things: first, aptitude, and second, contribution. Li Qingqiu was also willing to give those with poorer aptitude an opportunity. He always believed that diligent effort could also change one's fate.
After autumn began, other martial factions came to visit—purely seeking friendship, without threats or demands for exchanges of interest. Li Qingqiu received them and got along quite pleasantly.
This faction was called the White Crane Sect, a second-rate sect within Guzhou's borders. Its Sect Master had also participated in the Martial Arts Tournament and befriended Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sifeng there. He came visiting with five disciples, stayed at Azure Firmament Sect for two days, and then took his leave. Li Qingqiu, Jiang Zhaoxia, and Zhang Yuchun personally saw them off.
"Sect Master Li, you must come visit my White Crane Sect someday. I will certainly not be remiss in hosting you." The White Crane Sect Master, nearly fifty years old, smiled kindly. He held Li Qingqiu's hand and spoke for quite a while before releasing it.
Faced with such enthusiastic invitation, Li Qingqiu naturally agreed repeatedly—whether he would actually go was another matter.
Watching the six figures of White Crane Sect recede into the distance, Li Qingqiu remarked with feeling, "Third Junior Brother, you've truly become famous in one battle."
In this world where information transmission was far from convenient, Li Qingqiu had always felt that fame spread slowly, requiring many years of accumulation. He hadn't expected that Jiang Zhaoxia's single trip to the Martial Arts Tournament would spread his name so quickly.
Jiang Zhaoxia's expression remained impassive. "Don't mention it. Yet again, I return severely injured. In my view, this trip to the Martial Arts Tournament was a failure."
Speaking of this, his hands clenched into fists within his sleeves. He genuinely considered being schemed against by the Heavenly Knife Sect a tremendous humiliation.
Li Qingqiu patted his shoulder and smiled. "Don't overthink it. The martial world is treacherous. No matter how much you prepare in advance, experience in the world can only be accumulated through personal experience."
Even the seasoned veteran Yang Jueding, the Dragon Subduing Hero, had been poisoned before.
Poisoning was difficult for martial artists to guard against. Eventually, everyone encountered it.
Zhang Yuchun smiled as well. "Exactly. To escape alive from the Heavenly Knife Sect's encirclement and schemes—how many in the Guzhou martial world could manage that?"
Comforted by the two of them, Jiang Zhaoxia's mood improved, though he silently resolved that this matter was far from over.
Once he reached the fourth layer of the Nourishing Origin stage, he would go for revenge!
At the third layer, he could already defeat Heavenly Knife Sect Master Lu Fuhu. When he reached the fourth layer, he believed he could storm the Heavenly Knife Sect and make Lu Fuhu follow in the footsteps of Lü Dou of the Seven Peaks Alliance!
The three brothers chatted for a while before going their separate ways. Jiang Zhaoxia headed off to cultivate, while Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun needed to discuss the next steps for generating income for Azure Firmament Sect.
First, they needed to erect a stele at the foot of the mountain, providing directions so people could find Azure Firmament Sect.
If possible, they should also build a simple mountain path.
Ordinary commoners trying to go up the mountain would have difficulty locating Azure Firmament Sect. Even the farmers and hunters from the villages at the mountain's base easily got lost.
Li Dongyue wanted to contribute to Azure Firmament Sect, so she had Zhang Yuchun help spread the word that she could treat difficult illnesses among the common people.
Another group of disciples prepared to hunt and later sell the game.
Regarding the disciples' contributions, Li Qingqiu felt they must be recorded in a ledger. In the future, he would repay them with spirit stones and spirit plants.
...
The autumn colors were at their deepest; the time had reached late October.
Xu Ning took the lead, breaking through to the fourth layer of the Nourishing Origin stage, becoming the second person in Azure Firmament Sect to reach the fourth layer.
Within the underground spirit lake, Li Qingqiu witnessed her breakthrough firsthand. Having the same Heavenly Thunder Spiritual Root himself, he deeply understood how formidable this spiritual root was.
Moreover, Xu Ning's cultivation aptitude was of the outstanding grade—the highest among all current Azure Firmament Sect disciples. Coupled with the fact that she rarely went down the mountain and devoted all her time to cultivation, she had managed to surpass Jiang Zhaoxia.
Even though Li Qingqiu could understand why she cultivated so quickly, he still marveled.
She was only eleven years old!
Eleven years old, and already at the fourth layer of the Nourishing Origin stage!
Li Sijin, Li Dongyue, and Yang Jueding were still at the second layer of the Nourishing Origin stage—this showed the vast gap in cultivation aptitude.
After consolidating her cultivation base, Xu Ning stood up and swiftly approached Li Qingqiu. Bowing respectfully, she said softly, "Master, I've broken through to the fourth layer."
Though she appeared calm, Li Qingqiu could sense she was barely containing herself.
Li Qingqiu took her wrist and drew her closer, saying with emotion, "Ning'er, you are truly remarkable. At this rate, you'll surpass your master sooner or later."
He was only saying this; in truth, he was already close to touching the threshold of the fifth layer of the Nourishing Origin stage.
Xu Ning quickly replied, "Master is the most remarkable. How could I possibly surpass you?"
Li Qingqiu smiled and asked, "I've asked you to conceal your cultivation, not to spar with others, and let you avoid the limelight. Do you have any complaints about that?"
Xu Ning shook her head. "How could I complain? You're protecting me. Uncle-Master Jiang has become Azure Firmament Sect's strongest on the surface, yet he's been injured repeatedly. Besides, Azure Firmament Sect needs a hidden card. I'm willing to be the foundation together with Master, supporting Azure Firmament Sect from the shadows."
Many disciples knew Xu Ning was a genius, but only Li Qingqiu knew exactly how high her cultivation had reached.
Even Li Sifeng, Yang Jueding, and the others only sensed that Xu Ning was profoundly unfathomable—none could accurately gauge her cultivation level.
From now on, the number of people who found Xu Ning unfathomable would increase by one: Jiang Zhaoxia.
However, Li Qingqiu felt that Jiang Zhaoxia would soon reach the fourth layer as well. This junior brother harbored a fire for revenge within him, barely restrained.
The more Li Qingqiu looked at Xu Ning, the more he liked her. Though young, she was well-behaved and sensible, never becoming arrogant about her cultivation. Her competitiveness was directed inward, never displayed outwardly.
Moreover, he had asked Xu Ning about her background. She had no illustrious origins—her long-deceased father had merely been a hunter. There were no deep grudges waiting for her to avenge.
Looking across Azure Firmament Sect, he felt that Xu Ning was the one who most resembled a cultivator, the one who could accompany him the longest.
Subsequently, Li Qingqiu imparted to her the cultivation method for the fifth layer of the Nourishing Origin stage of the Supreme Purity Chaos Genesis Scripture.
The Supreme Purity Chaos Genesis Scripture was broad and profound. Each minor realm had different methods for absorbing spiritual energy. He would only pass down this technique layer by layer. Even Jiang Zhaoxia had to come to him each time he broke through, seeking the next layer's heart method.
They cultivated until nearly evening before the master and disciple finally emerged from the underground spirit lake. The two agreed to race, seeing who could reach Azure Firmament Sect first without being discovered by the disciples along the way.
Upon hearing they could compete—even if only in lightness skill—Xu Ning became highly motivated. The two quickly vanished into the mountain forest.
...
Halfway up the mountain, Qin Ye gripped a wooden staff, practicing the Ten Thousand Army Demon-Subduing Staff. His movements were sharp and fierce, his body continuously stretching and contracting, creating a unique aesthetic as if man and staff had become one.
Every hundred repetitions, he gained new insights. He had even refined internal energy within his body.
The power of the Ten Thousand Army Demon-Subduing Staff gave him great confidence. He felt that if he cultivated diligently, he could help avenge Wu Baoyu.
He hadn't told anyone, but a seed had been planted in his heart: to slay the dog emperor.
Suddenly.
Qin Ye stopped moving, frowning. He had vaguely heard a rushing sound just now, as if something had swiftly passed by nearby.
With his current martial arts skill, he didn't think he was experiencing auditory hallucinations.
Could it be a wild beast?
Some time ago, he had heard Yuan Qi mention seeing a black panther in the mountains. He didn't know if Yuan Qi's eyes had been playing tricks on him.
Just as Qin Ye was puzzling over this, a man in simple clothing wearing a bamboo hat walked over from not far away. A long flute hung at his waist.
The man looked up, revealing a weathered face beneath the hat. It was none other than Jiang Kuotian of White Emperor Hall.
Jiang Kuotian looked at Qin Ye and asked with a smile, "Young friend, that staff technique of yours has quite some momentum. I could hear the wind whooshing from far away. Are you a disciple of Azure Firmament Sect?"
Qin Ye regarded him warily and replied, "This is Azure Firmament Sect's mountain, so naturally I'm an Azure Firmament Sect disciple. May I ask which sect you come from, and why have you come up the mountain?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Kuotian's eyes lit up. He began flexing his wrist as he approached Qin Ye, smiling. "Two years不见, and not only has that Jiang Zhaoxia kid made a name for himself, but Azure Firmament Sect has also produced a talent like you. Interesting. Could it be that the Azure Firmament True Lord has returned? Young friend, how about we spar a bit? I'll use just one hand and test your capabilities."