Accompanied every day by the qin music of a renowned luminary, the Azure Firmament Sect disciples found their moods improving as they practiced martial arts and worked. This made Li Qingqiu change his impression of Zhu Yan and her companion.
He had to admit, a luminary was a luminary. Having lived two lives, Li Qingqiu was accustomed to popular music. Listening to this ancient qin music, he found it remarkably beautiful—after hearing it, he wanted to hear more.
The qin's melody echoed through the mountains, entering the heart like a clear breeze, calming people and stilling restlessness.
It was worth mentioning that Li Qingqiu noticed Bai Ning'er growing close to Su Xiling. Su Xiling seemed to have thoughts of guiding Bai Ning'er.
Is this what it means to be a Lucky Dog?
Impressive!
The addition of a renowned luminary did not affect Azure Firmament Sect's development.
As the mountain path gradually took shape, people began coming up the mountain seeking medical treatment. Li Dongyue was kind-hearted. For wealthy patrons, she directly accepted payment. For poor families, she had them contribute what they could, or do some work within Azure Firmament Sect to offset the cost of treatment.
Such conduct, within just a few months, earned a good reputation at the foot of the mountain.
Autumn arrived.
Xu Ning achieved the fifth layer of the Nourishing Origin stage. She immediately came to tell Li Qingqiu, who was resting in his room. He was very pleased.
While master and disciple were chatting, Zhang Yuchun came looking for them. Xu Ning bowed and took her leave.
"Senior Brother, we should begin the incense offering matter. I've already hired the craftsmen."
Zhang Yuchun smiled, his expression eager.
They had discussed this before. Zhang Yuchun had sought advice from Liu Fanzhou, who suggested that since Azure Firmament Sect had a Daoist atmosphere, why not erect deity statues to attract pilgrims and earn some incense money? This suited Zhang Yuchun's intentions perfectly.
Li Qingqiu said softly, "This can be done, but we must not promote it widely. Just let fate bring those who are destined, and fulfill their wishes."
"I'll be measured. But we need you to decide on the deities—we'll have to imagine them ourselves, to avoid offending other Daoist temples or monasteries. You name them, and I'll have Zhang Yu compose their stories. Let's think of a few names for now." Zhang Yuchun nodded.
Li Qingqiu rose and walked to the desk. He picked up a brush and wrote five names on a sheet of white paper.
"Taiyi, Taichu, Taishi, Taisu, Taiji..."
Zhang Yuchun looked at the five names on the paper and read them softly.
Li Qingqiu spoke, "These five are all Daoist Venerables. Their features need not be carved too distinctly."
These were the Five Great Primordials, the five stages recorded in the ancient text Liezi from his previous life's China—the progression from nothing to something, the five stages before the universe's formation. His Daoist Legacy had just been established and had not yet truly attained the Dao. By commemorating this, each time he saw the Five Great Primordials, he could recall the present circumstances.
Zhang Yuchun recited the names of the Five Great Primordials several times. The more he repeated them, the more satisfied he became. He immediately carefully put away the paper and hurriedly left.
Li Qingqiu didn't remain in the room either. Xu Ning's breakthrough to the fifth layer of the Nourishing Origin stage made him happy. He decided to inspect the other disciples.
It was still early before evening. There weren't many disciples in the courtyard. He walked out along the path from the mountain gate and continued downward.
Standing on the steps, looking down, Li Qingqiu could see courtyards appearing and disappearing among the trees. On the mountain path, disciples were leading horses hauling goods, and others were chasing chickens and ducks. Everywhere was full of life. He watched, a smile on his face.
After passing three courtyards, Li Qingqiu stopped. His gaze fell on a woman meditating under a tree not far away.
This woman was Liu Fanzhou's daughter, Liu Yan.
Ever since her loyalty had risen to 90 points, Li Qingqiu had transmitted to her the first layer heart method of the Supreme Purity Chaos Genesis Scripture. She had been cultivating for ten days but still hadn't reached the first layer of the Nourishing Origin stage.
Li Qingqiu hesitated for a moment, then walked toward Liu Yan.
Though Liu Fanzhou was stout and not handsome, Liu Yan was delicately beautiful. Added to her long-standing illness and slender frame, she always reminded Li Qingqiu of Lin Daiyu from Dream of the Red Chamber.
He came before Liu Yan, reached into his bosom, and took out a thumb-sized blue crystal.
"Take this."
Li Qingqiu spoke, startling Liu Yan. She trembled and opened her eyes. Seeing it was him, she relaxed.
She cast him a reproachful glance, quickly rose, bowed to him, and then asked, "Sect Master, what is this?"
Li Qingqiu said mysteriously, "This is a rare treasure of the world. It can help you practice cultivation. Though it's just this small piece, it was condensed by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth over thousands or tens of thousands of years. When you cultivate, just hold it in your palm. Remember, don't tell anyone else, lest they accuse me of unfairness. I don't have many such treasures to distribute."
Hearing this, Liu Yan took the spirit stone. Li Qingqiu turned and left.
She looked up at him and asked, "Sect Master, why are you so good to me?"
Li Qingqiu waved his hand without looking back. "Because you have a good father."
...
The moon set, the sun rose. As the disciples finished their morning exercises and were about to disperse, a disciple suddenly mentioned that the sect was planning to erect deity statues, sparking curiosity among the others.
News spread quickly. More and more disciples gathered at the first new courtyard below the mountain gate, watching the craftsmen carve the stone statues.
"The Five Primordials established in the heart, incense offered from all directions. Azure Firmament rises like the sun, the universe floating upon it."
Zhang Yu sat on a millstone, holding a bamboo fan, speaking leisurely. He was in a good mood, having participated in designing the statues—it gave him a great sense of accomplishment.
He swept his gaze across the crowd and suddenly spotted two figures. He quickly straightened up, no longer daring to be nonchalant.
Zhu Yan and Su Xiling walked into the courtyard. Zhu Yan still wore her veil, gentle and mysterious. Zhang Yu was captivated by the sight.
Su Xiling tugged at Bai Ning'er, who had been standing on tiptoe trying to see inside, and asked curiously, "What gods and immortals does your Azure Firmament Sect worship?"
Bai Ning'er turned his head, saw it was her, and said smugly, "The Five Primordials. Ever heard of them?"
Su Xiling shook her head. "Never heard of them. Your Sect Master just made them up, didn't he?"
"Impossible! Our Sect Master is incredibly powerful. He can dream of immortals."
"Lies meant to deceive children. Only a child like you would believe them."
"Heh heh."
Bai Ning'er smiled, too lazy to argue with her.
Zhu Yan's gaze passed through the crowd and settled on Li Qingqiu, who stood beside the statues. Li Qingqiu was instructing the craftsmen on how to carve the images of the Five Primordials.
"Bad news! Terrible news!"
A disciple ran quickly into the courtyard, sweating profusely. Upon entering, he couldn't help bending over, hands on his knees, panting heavily.
The disciples turned around and made way so Li Qingqiu could see the disciple.
Zhang Yuchun and Yang Jueding were also there. Seeing the disciple's urgency, they were puzzled. This disciple wasn't usually so rash.
"What's wrong? Speak slowly." Zhang Yuchun frowned.
After catching his breath, the disciple looked up and said, "A... a sect has come to the Taikun Mountain Range. They want to establish their sect a hundred li from here. They sent me to deliver a message: from now on, Azure Firmament Sect must not cross the Xi River."
The Xi River was the long river running through the Taikun Mountain Range. The mountain where Azure Firmament Sect stood was at the river's source. Azure Firmament Sect wasn't at the very center of the Taikun Mountain Range. Such a division would reduce their territory to a corner of the range.
"Preposterous! What sect dares to be so arrogant?" Yang Jueding erupted in anger.
The messenger disciple quickly replied, "They call themselves the Juesheng Sect."
Zhang Yuchun asked, puzzled, "Don't they know we're Azure Firmament Sect? Don't they know Jiang Zhaoxia is one of us?"
"They know, but they didn't mention Elder Jiang," the messenger disciple answered cautiously.
Yang Jueding snorted, "Need you ask? They're probably targeting that Jiang kid, wanting to build their reputation by stepping on his."
He turned to look at Li Qingqiu. "We can't back down on this. The Taikun Mountain Range belonged to Azure Firmament Sect back in the Azure Firmament True Lord's time. We can't let anyone carve it up."
Li Qingqiu nodded. "Elder Yang, take my two disciples, and twenty other disciples to scout the situation. Don't rush to fight. First, find out clearly. If talking doesn't work, then fight them off."
Hearing this, Qin Ye immediately gripped his iron staff tighter. The other disciples itched to follow and watch the excitement.
Xu Ning, who had been watching the commotion, upon hearing this, immediately leaped over the courtyard wall to go get her weapon.
Her lightness skill made Su Xiling raise an eyebrow slightly. She had long heard this girl wasn't simple. Seeing this movement skill today, there was indeed something to it.
"And if we can't fight them off?" Yang Jueding looked at Li Qingqiu, pressing further.
Li Qingqiu shot him a glare. "Never killed anyone before?"
Yang Jueding choked, then turned and began selecting disciples.
Hearing talk of killing, the disciples grew nervous. But for martial artists, such occasions inevitably stirred anticipation.
Li Qingqiu's expression changed back to gentle as he said to the craftsmen, "Let's continue."
Su Xiling turned to look at Zhu Yan, her face pleading. "Miss, I want to go watch the excitement, may I?"
Zhu Yan's gaze didn't change. She said softly, "Mm. But don't interfere."
Her voice was very light, also very pleasant—soft and ethereal, sounding quite young.
Su Xiling smiled and nodded, then walked to her side and began waiting for Yang Jueding to finish selecting disciples.
"If Azure Firmament Sect falls into danger, you may also save people."
Su Xiling heard another very quiet sentence. She turned to look at Zhu Yan in surprise, not expecting her young lady to instruct her to help Azure Firmament Sect. She didn't ask further—after all, she also quite liked the atmosphere of Azure Firmament Sect.
Soon, Yang Jueding had chosen twenty disciples. They first went to select their weapons, then headed down the mountain together. When Su Xiling asked to follow, Yang Jueding didn't refuse. He laughed heartily, saying he would let her witness the heroic spirit of martial artists.
Meanwhile.
A hundred li away, in a mountain area beside a waterfall, dozens of people were constructing buildings.
Two figures stood by the lake—Yan Wujin, Sect Master of the Juesheng Sect, and Tang Ziqi, the Vice Sect Master.
Yan Wujin wore a wide black robe and a formal headpiece. His hair, streaked with gray, was long and untied. His eyes were cold and sharp, his beard also touched with white. Just standing by the lake without speaking, he exuded an extremely strong sense of pressure.
Tang Ziqi's aura was clearly inferior. He wore green robes, his bearing scholarly and refined, his features handsome—quite the image of a learned man.
"By our reckoning, the message should have reached Azure Firmament Sect by now. Big Brother, do you think Jiang Zhaoxia will come to accept the challenge?" Tang Ziqi asked softly.
Yan Wujin watched his disciples and said expressionlessly, "If he doesn't come, I'll ascend the mountain myself. The Juesheng Sect must build its reputation by stepping on Azure Firmament Sect. Though bullying a group of youths isn't honorable, for the sake of our great undertaking, we must sacrifice them."
Tang Ziqi remarked with emotion, "I hear Jiang Zhaoxia lasted two hundred moves against Yu Zhiyi. With such talent, given another ten years, his martial arts would reach unimaginable heights."
Yan Wujin snorted. "That was only because Yu Zhiyi held back. He always enjoys playing such childish games."