At the new courtyard, the number of gathered disciples had significantly decreased. Seeing the craftsmen still busy, Zhang Yuchun pulled Li Qingqiu aside.
"Senior Brother, should we ask Third Junior Brother to make the trip? I have a feeling this Juesheng Sect is no ordinary bunch. They're deliberately provoking us." Zhang Yuchun frowned as he spoke.
Since Azure Firmament Sect's development had reached over a hundred disciples—a considerable scale—he had come to cherish everything more. When considering problems, he now had more concerns than before.
Li Qingqiu smiled. "No need. Yang Jueding is not what he used to be. Though he hasn't reached the second layer, his strength far exceeds before. Besides, Ning'er went as well."
What did the fifth layer of the Nourishing Origin stage represent?
Li Qingqiu wouldn't dare claim it made one number one in the world, but handling Guzhou's martial world should be well within reach.
Moreover, if even Xu Ning couldn't defeat an opponent, Jiang Zhaoxia would also find it difficult to prevail. Better to preserve Jiang Zhaoxia's reputation.
"Are you sure?"
Zhang Yuchun still had some concerns. Li Qingqiu patted his shoulder, said no more, and continued walking over to supervise the craftsmen.
Since they were going to establish incense offerings, they might as well seriously create a complete mythological system. The Five Primordials would be the pinnacle of Azure Firmament Sect's mythology—not to be treated lightly.
He had already decided to build Daoist temples for the Five Primordials in the future, create more deities, and construct temples all the way down the mountain.
He wanted to build a Path of Seeking the Dao, from the mountain's base straight to the summit. It could serve not only for pilgrims to pay homage but also in the future to test new disciples.
Of course, these were still just plans buried in his heart.
As Sect Master, Li Qingqiu had the authority to realize everything he desired.
...
By the time Yang Jueding and the others arrived at the waterfall where the Juesheng Sect was established, the time had already passed from morning to afternoon. For martial artists like them, covering a distance of a hundred li still took time.
The closer they got to the Juesheng Sect, the more Yang Jueding's anger grew. He didn't even notice that Su Xiling keeping up was quite remarkable.
The disciples he had selected had all been with the sect for over a year. Though the long journey had them sweating profusely, none were bent over with hands on knees, panting heavily.
Yang Jueding and his group's arrival drew the attention of the Juesheng Sect disciples. These disciples put down their tools and turned to gaze at the Azure Firmament side.
"Who's in charge? Get out here!"
Yang Jueding bellowed. Though he appeared angry, he was actually excited.
Since cultivating the Chaos Genesis Scripture, he hadn't had a chance to truly stretch his limbs. He wanted to verify just how strong he had become.
His roar was like a lion's, echoing through the mountains—even the sound of the waterfall couldn't conceal it.
Su Xiling, following behind the group, was secretly startled. *This fellow's inner power is this formidable?*
She had heard of the Dragon Subduing Hero's name, but in her eyes, the so-called Heavenly Roll was a joke. Now it seemed, a famous reputation had substance behind it.
Of course, Yang Jueding merely surprised her; he didn't make her feel dangerous.
She had already sensed a fearsome aura nearby. Her gaze swept left and right, but she couldn't locate where that person was hiding.
"Are you people from Azure Firmament Sect?" A Juesheng Sect disciple jumped down from a building platform, pointing his blade at Yang Jueding, his expression disdainful.
The other Juesheng Sect disciples also showed malicious smiles, looking at Yang Jueding and the others as if they were prey.
"Rubbish! Are you in charge?"
Yang Jueding roared, stepping forward. His robes billowed as he moved like a stalking tiger, his aura fierce.
"You seek this master?"
A resonant voice rang through the mountains, causing the Azure Firmament group to look up. Aside from Yang Jueding, Xu Ning, and Su Xiling, the other disciples' eyes widened.
Their gazes fell upon the top of the great waterfall. There stood Yan Wujin, atop the waterfall, with water droplets splashing around him. He looked down upon the Azure Firmament side from his elevated position.
This waterfall was fully ten zhang high. Under the Azure Firmament disciples' watch, Yan Wujin leaped down like a flying bird, landing gracefully by the lake without the slightest tremor—such lightness skill left the Azure Firmament disciples dumbfounded.
Qin Ye gripped his iron staff tightly. Just from this lightness skill alone, he knew this person was definitely not simple.
Yang Jueding's expression also grew solemn. If he jumped from ten zhang high without dispersing the force, his legs wouldn't withstand the pressure.
This person's inner power was unfathomably deep!
Yan Wujin surveyed the Azure Firmament crowd and quickly frowned. Just then, Tang Ziqi emerged from the nearby forest.
"Dragon Subduing Hero, Yang Jueding. After your duel with the Canghai Sword Saint, you disappeared without a trace. I never expected you to join Azure Firmament Sect."
Tang Ziqi stared at Yang Jueding as he approached, speaking.
Yang Jueding glanced at him, his frown deepening. After thinking for a moment, he finally remembered. He asked in surprise, "Linchuan Tang clan, Tang Ziqi?"
Tang Ziqi smiled. "At Xuandang, we conversed. Five years have passed, I didn't think Brother Yang would still remember me."
Yang Jueding showed no pleasure, instead asking warily, "You're from an ancient clan. Weren't you traveling at Xuandang back then? How have you now gotten mixed up with martial artists? What position do you hold in the Juesheng Sect?"
Seeing Yang Jueding's aura diminish, the Azure Firmament disciples all grew tense.
The words "ancient clan" were enough to impose tremendous pressure on the disciples.
They all came from poor backgrounds. Since they could remember, their parents had told them: ancient clans were not to be provoked.
The Juesheng Sect had the support of an ancient clan—that changed everything.
Azure Firmament Sect had only received help from a fallen family like the Qin clan, yet that had brought earth-shaking changes. And the Qin clan was far from being a true ancient clan.
"Forgive my poor introduction. I am now Vice Sect Master of the Juesheng Sect, and this is our Sect Master, Yan Wujin." Tang Ziqi said, raising his hand to indicate Yan Wujin.
"Yan Wujin?"
Yang Jueding murmured to himself. He had roamed the martial world for many years but had never heard the name Yan Wujin.
Tang Ziqi continued with a smile, "It's normal you haven't heard of him. He began practicing martial arts as a child, trained arduously for thirty years, and founded the Juesheng Sect only this year. At that time, Cangzhou's number one martial artist, the Crimson Flame Divine Palm Zhu Wuliang, was defeated by him. Does Brother Yang perhaps think himself stronger than Zhu Wuliang?"
Hearing the name Zhu Wuliang, Yang Jueding's expression turned ugly. His gaze toward Yan Wujin filled with apprehension.
From the moment Yan Wujin appeared, he had felt intense unease. Now, hearing of his achievements, inwardly he knew trouble was brewing.
Though he was called the Dragon Subduing Hero, the martial world recognized his chivalrous spirit more than his martial arts skill. Compared to a supreme expert like Zhu Wuliang, he was utterly insignificant.
Seeing Yang Jueding intimidated, the Juesheng Sect disciples all showed contemptuous smiles, while the Azure Firmament disciples felt as if they were facing a great enemy.
Su Xiling also frowned. She knew Zhu Wuliang—that man was no ordinary martial arts expert. To be defeated by this person...
*Azure Firmament Sect is truly unlucky...*
Sympathy arose in Su Xiling's heart.
Just then, she noticed someone walking forward. The figure was small, inconspicuous among the Azure Firmament disciples—it was Xu Ning.
Xu Ning walked past Yang Jueding. Seeing her, Yang Jueding suddenly snapped awake.
*What am I afraid of?*
Clang—
As Xu Ning walked toward Yan Wujin and Tang Ziqi, she drew her sword, its tip pointing diagonally at the ground.
This sight startled the Azure Firmament disciples. They hadn't expected Xu Ning to dare step forward and fight.
Yan Wujin and Tang Ziqi were puzzled. *This little girl dares to draw her sword on us?*
Xu Ning was not yet thirteen. Three years of cultivation had transformed her temperament entirely. As she advanced with her sword, she exuded an aura as sharp as a blade unsheathing.
"Little girl, who are you?" Tang Ziqi frowned.
Why had Jiang Zhaoxia shaken the martial world?
Precisely because he was so young—it astonished everyone.
With Jiang Zhaoxia as a precedent, it wasn't impossible for Azure Firmament Sect to produce another unparalleled genius.
Xu Ning's expression remained blank. She said softly, "Xu Ning, disciple of Li Qingqiu of Azure Firmament Sect."
Her voice carried childishness, yet her killing intent was palpable to all.
*This child has killed before!*
Yan Wujin and Tang Ziqi immediately judged.
A little girl dared to challenge him!
Yan Wujin's gaze turned icy. He stepped forward toward Xu Ning.
...
Dusk arrived. Li Qingqiu sat in the courtyard, waiting for dinner to be served.
Li Dongyue approached, with Yuan Li toddling unsteadily behind her. Li Qingqiu turned his head to look at the two-year-old Yuan Li, his eyes full of anticipation.
*Grow up quickly. Your master is getting impatient waiting.*
Li Qingqiu thought silently. Yuan Li's Indestructible Body had not yet awakened, so he couldn't copy it yet.
What effects the Indestructible Body would have were temporarily unknown. While waiting, he could also see if any other powerful Destinies emerged.
Li Dongyue sat beside Li Qingqiu and asked, "Aren't you worried about them?"
Li Qingqiu smiled. "Don't worry. Nothing will happen."
"Do you trust Elder Yang, or do you trust your disciple?" Li Dongyue pressed.
"Both. There aren't that many supreme experts in the world. It's just that the journey is long—going and coming back takes time." Li Qingqiu said casually.
In truth, he wasn't as unconcerned as he appeared on the surface. Throughout the day, he had lost count of how many times he'd checked the Daoist Legacy panel, only able to relax after confirming the number of disciples hadn't decreased.
Li Dongyue muttered, "I have a feeling the Juesheng Sect isn't simple. After all these years, no sect has dared to seize our territory."
Just then, a line of text appeared before Li Qingqiu's eyes:
[Because Azure Firmament Sect has, for the first time, created mythological stone statues and embarked on the path of incense inheritance, you have obtained one Fortune Opportunity.]
Li Qingqiu was momentarily stunned. He had instinctively assumed Xu Ning had triggered this, but it was actually the statues.
*This can also earn Daoist Legacy rewards?*
He suddenly realized his understanding of the Daoist Legacy was too one-sided.
After a brief moment of wonder, he felt intense anticipation for this Fortune Opportunity.
The first Fortune Opportunity had led him to discover the underground spirit lake, helping his cultivation advance rapidly. What would the second Fortune Opportunity reveal?
Just then.
Zhang Yuchun walked briskly into the courtyard and trotted over to him, smiling. "Senior Brother, the stone statue of Primordial Taiyi has been carved. After dinner, will you come take a look?"
Li Qingqiu shook his head. "No need. You oversee things from now on. Since we're establishing incense offerings, we can't be negligent. These five statues must be well cared for—don't let them get rained on or damaged. Wait until their Daoist temples are built, then place them inside."
Zhang Yuchun nodded. His gaze fell on Yuan Li, and he couldn't help asking, "What's wrong with this little one? He still can't talk?"
Hearing this, Li Dongyue said helplessly, "I know. I've examined him—his meridians and acupoints have no issues. I'm hesitating whether to take him down the mountain to seek a famous physician."
Yuan Li stood by the table, looking up at Li Qingqiu and the others. His eyes were large, filled with the innocence unique to children.