Healing the sick and treating the ill!
Many disciples knew that the Sect Master and Elder Li were proficient in medicine, but this was the first time Azure Firmament Sect had earned money through medical skills. Quite a few disciples were interested and gathered at the new courtyard to watch the excitement.
In the end, Li Dongyue used the Resurrection Ghost Immortal Needle and cured the merchant's daughter with just three needles. The merchant was astonished. He immediately took a piece of green jade from his bosom as thanks, claiming it could sell for a thousand strings of cash. Yang Jueding examined it and confirmed that the jade was indeed valuable.
This merchant's surname was Liu, given name Fanzhou. He wasn't from Guzhou but conducted business there. He was stout and had been wiping sweat continuously since coming up the mountain. Besides his daughter, he had brought two guards, who held treasured blades and helped carry their baggage.
Liu Fanzhou's daughter's illness was indeed strange, but it was merely a blockage in certain hidden acupoints by impurities—nothing life-threatening. The Resurrection Ghost Immortal Needle cleared the blockages, and she was cured. The girl immediately felt full of energy and began hopping around inside the room, moving Liu Fanzhou to tears of excitement.
For such a generous patron, Li Qingqiu personally received him, not neglecting any courtesy.
"Sect Master Li, I've observed that Azure Firmament Sect has quite a Daoist atmosphere. May I ask if you know any arts for dispelling evil? I know someone plagued by an evil spirit. If you could help him resolve it, he would surely reward you handsomely. He's far wealthier than I am," Liu Fanzhou suddenly said while drinking tea with Li Qingqiu.
Besides Li Qingqiu, Zhang Yuchun was also present, quite interested in this wealthy merchant.
When he'd gone down the mountain before, Zhang Yuchun had heard of Liu Fanzhou's name. This was no ordinary market trader—a true magnate.
"Wealthier than you? Just how wealthy would that be?" Zhang Yuchun couldn't help asking.
Li Qingqiu shot Zhang Yuchun a look. This kid was being far too mercenary—most unseemly. Couldn't he have asked later?
Liu Fanzhou laughed. "My assets don't even reach a tenth of his. But he has a special status—he walks the white path."
Ah, an official.
Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun understood. In these times, officials were all wealthy.
"Plagued by an evil spirit—can you elaborate?" Li Qingqiu asked.
As a cultivator, hearing about evil spirits didn't frighten him; rather, it piqued his interest.
Liu Fanzhou's smile faded as he recalled. "At the witching hour every night, his residence is haunted. Apart from humans, no living thing in the house survives the night. He's had the place searched thoroughly several times, but found nothing. He even invited experts from White Emperor Hall to keep vigil—to no avail. Whenever he puts non-human creatures inside, even with experts on watch, they die inexplicably."
"Did he have people watching the creatures?" Li Qingqiu pressed.
"Of course! Four first-rate experts, watching the chicken coop. At the witching hour, all the chickens dropped dead on the spot. Even those experts were terrified."
Mentioning this, Liu Fanzhou couldn't help shivering, sweat beading more heavily on his forehead.
"That's uncanny?" Zhang Yuchun asked in surprise. He immediately felt a desire to back away—he didn't want to get involved.
Liu Fanzhou confirmed, "Yes, it's too strange. If not evil spirits causing trouble, how else could it be explained? So many experts have tried and failed. His residence is an official one, and since no humans have died, it can't be demolished. He has no choice but to endure, trembling in fear night after night."
After hearing this, Li Qingqiu felt it didn't seem like an evil spirit. If it were truly haunted, could people still live there?
But this matter wasn't worth his personal involvement. Sending other disciples risked getting them drawn into unknown trouble. He decided not to take it on.
"Arts for dispelling evil are methods of immortals. Though Azure Firmament Sect aspires to the Dao of Immortals, for now we're still within the realm of martial arts. This matter is beyond us," Li Qingqiu stated.
Liu Fanzhou wasn't disappointed—he'd only mentioned it casually. After all, it was someone else's problem.
He was very interested in Azure Firmament Sect. Li Dongyue curing his daughter with three needles was truly miraculous. He requested to stay on the mountain for three days. Li Qingqiu didn't refuse—there were quite a few buildings below the mountain gate, some specially for receiving guests.
After chatting a while longer, Li Qingqiu rose and left, letting Zhang Yuchun continue hosting.
Zhang Yuchun was quite interested in mercantile affairs and began consulting Liu Fanzhou. Over the following three days, he frequently interacted with him.
Three days later, Liu Fanzhou's daughter Liu Yan insisted on becoming Li Dongyue's disciple, refusing to go down the mountain. Liu Fanzhou could only request Li Qingqiu's approval. Li Qingqiu ultimately agreed.
After Liu Yan formally became Li Dongyue's disciple, Li Qingqiu immediately opened the Daoist Legacy panel to check her attributes.
Unfortunately, Liu Yan, cured of her serious illness, had no special Destiny. Her aptitude and comprehension were both mediocre.
After a while, Li Qingqiu had come to feel that "mediocre" counted as genius, after all this referred to cultivation aptitude. How many people were rated extremely low or unranked?
With his daughter successfully apprenticed, Liu Fanzhou was overjoyed. He immediately wanted to go down the mountain, saying he would send someone back with a generous gift.
This was an unexpected bonus.
Night fell.
Li Qingqiu came alone to the underground spirit lake. With his current cultivation, it didn't take long to travel from the mountain peak down here.
He took out the small dagger Jiang Kuotian had given him and once again infused it with spiritual energy.
When he was at the fourth layer of the Nourishing Origin stage, though he failed, he had clearly felt that the restriction's recoil force wasn't as strong. He was confident he could succeed upon reaching the fifth layer.
The underground spirit lake glowed faintly. The spirit stones embedded in the cave walls sparkled like glittering gems. A faint wind whispered through this underground space, making the atmosphere even more secluded and quiet.
Li Qingqiu sat cross-legged by the lake, his robes gently stirring. As he infused spiritual energy into the dagger, spiritual energy gradually gathered, swirling around him.
After a while.
The small dagger in his hand began to gleam with silver light. He opened his eyes and looked, delight on his face.
Success!
He had successfully broken through the restriction within the small dagger and left his spiritual energy imprint. He began to establish a certain mental connection with the dagger, while also receiving some information.
This small dagger was called the Flying Fish Dagger. It carried an inherent spell, capable of severing spiritual energy, and was extremely sharp.
*As expected of a cultivation magic treasure—truly infinitely profound and marvelous.*
Li Qingqiu was captivated by the restriction within the magic treasure. These restrictions were imprinted with spiritual energy, yet they could carry information, transforming mechanisms into intangible states. This surpassed the scope of martial arts.
Understanding restrictions might lead to comprehending the method of forging magic treasures.
In the future, Azure Firmament Sect must have a magic treasure for every member. Otherwise, how could it be considered a cultivation sect?
Li Qingqiu began practicing controlling the Flying Fish Dagger. Once it recognized him as its master, manipulating it was like directing his own arm—the more he played with it, the more he liked it.
Subsequently, he left the underground spirit lake and went into the mountain forest. He hurled the Flying Fish Dagger, wanting to see the maximum distance he could control it.
After the Flying Fish Dagger left his field of vision, he could still sense its direction and distance. This feeling was extremely marvelous.
The farther the distance, the weaker his control over the Flying Fish Dagger.
After it flew roughly three hundred yards, Li Qingqiu's connection with the Flying Fish Dagger was severed. He walked forward a few steps, sensed it again, and raised his hand to recall it.
Three hundred yards was no small distance!
In modern terms, its speed and range were equivalent to a sniper rifle.
Accompanied by a piercing sound, Li Qingqiu raised his hand and caught the swiftly returning Flying Fish Dagger. As it entered his hand, its force dissipated, allowing him to catch it smoothly without any jarring impact.
*Completely unscientific—only the mysteries of cultivation.*
Li Qingqiu remarked softly. He raised his other hand and brushed it along the blade of the Flying Fish Dagger. The spiritual energy within dispersed, becoming like an ordinary weapon. Only then did he feel at ease.
Even if he encountered another cultivator in the future, it would be difficult to detect the Flying Fish Dagger's extraordinariness.
*I need to craft a suitable sheath for the Flying Fish Dagger and hang it at my waist.*
Thinking this, Li Qingqiu made his way up the mountain.
His pace wasn't too fast. He habitually kept his steps light and soundless.
Passing through a forest, Li Qingqiu turned his head. He heard someone practicing swordsmanship in the distance.
He drew closer to observe and saw a youth practicing swordplay among the trees. Looking carefully, he recognized Xue Jin, who had joined the Thirteen Sword Ferocities.
Xue Jin was one of the few in Azure Firmament Sect with cultivation aptitude and comprehension reaching the "good" level—the one Li Qingqiu had personally recommended to the Thirteen Sword Ferocities. He remembered him well.
So late at night, why was he practicing swordsmanship alone?
This place was two or three li from the courtyard where the Thirteen Sword Ferocities lodged. Was he afraid of being discovered?
Li Qingqiu observed quietly. He noticed that Xue Jin's swordsmanship was unfamiliar. He had previously observed Jiang Zhaoxia teaching the Thirteen Sword Ferocities and hadn't seen Jiang Zhaoxia impart this set of sword techniques.
It seemed this Xue Jin had secrets.
Li Qingqiu called up the Daoist Legacy panel and confirmed that Xue Jin's loyalty hadn't decreased. He then put it aside and continued up the mountain.
Everyone had secrets—as long as they didn't threaten Azure Firmament Sect.
...
Winter snow melted; spring winds arrived.
A month after Liu Fanzhou left, he returned with people—quite a few, a full hundred, a bustling crowd. He was actually going to build a mountain path for Azure Firmament Sect.
"Everything about your Azure Firmament Sect is good, except the difficulty of getting up the mountain. Sedan chairs can't manage—I have to climb. It's truly inconvenient. My daughter has already joined Azure Firmament Sect, so I'll certainly visit often. Not building a road would simply shorten my life."
Liu Fanzhou wiped sweat as he smiled at Li Qingqiu.
With such enthusiasm, Li Qingqiu naturally thanked him repeatedly, not daring to refuse.
First, Azure Firmament Sect needed it. Second, since he'd brought so many people, refusing would cause irreparable loss—and might even turn gratitude into enmity.
Liu Fanzhou also said that wherever he went, he would promote Azure Firmament Sect, letting more people with needs come up the mountain seeking medical treatment.
"Patron Liu, I'm very grateful for your kindness. But when you speak of this matter outside, don't exaggerate too much. If my junior sister can't cure someone, it won't just damage our reputation—it would also reflect poorly on you," Li Qingqiu said with a smile.
"Understood, understood! You can trust me to handle things!"
Liu Fanzhou waved his sleeve, very magnanimous.
Li Qingqiu grew fonder of him by the moment. He decided to look after Liu Yan in the future and, once her loyalty reached a certain level, impart the first layer heart method of the Supreme Purity Chaos Genesis Scripture.
They hadn't chatted long before Zhang Yuchun pulled Liu Fanzhou away. Though twenty-three years apart in age, they seemed like fast friends, sharing interests and having endless things to talk about.
Building a road wasn't a one-day task, especially with the continuous mountains. Liu Fanzhou left a servant to supervise the craftsmen, while he himself had business to attend to and went down the mountain with his two guards.
Li Qingqiu stood on the mountain peak, overlooking the ranges. With his eyesight, he could faintly make out figures of craftsmen busy at the distant mountain base.
*To get rich, first build roads. Everything is developing in the right direction.*