Half an hour after parting with Yan Wujin and Tang Ziqi, Li Qingqiu finally arrived at the Fortune Opportunity location. Standing in the forest, gazing at the colossal tree before him that resembled a mountain peak, his eyes took on an extraordinary light.
Sunlight streamed down, transforming into thousands of rainbow-hued beams piercing through the gaps in the leaves, lending an almost dreamlike quality to this grassy clearing.
Following Li Qingqiu's gaze, the hundred-zhang giant tree before him cast a shadow over a clearing more than two hundred zhang in diameter. Just as in his dream, the tree's branches were draped with countless vines. Looking carefully, one could see fiery red fruits growing on these vines, each the size of an adult's fist.
The grass beneath the tree was verdant green, swaying gently in the wind like waves upon the sea.
Standing here, Li Qingqiu could feel spiritual energy no less abundant than at the underground spirit lake. This greatly excited him.
This place could also serve as a cultivation site!
The spiritual energy emanated from the giant tree itself, meaning this tree could continuously generate spiritual energy. No wonder it was called a heavenly treasure.
Li Qingqiu stepped forward. Though this was a Fortune Opportunity, he remained vigilant. Getting injured here would be unfortunate.
Arriving beneath the tree, his sense of awe deepened. It felt as if he were facing a cliff face. He placed his hand on the trunk, gently stroking it.
Suddenly, his eyes widened, his expression shifting to one of surprise.
He could sense life force from within the tree—even a power similar to spiritual energy flowing through it.
Has this tree become sentient?
Li Qingqiu instinctively stepped back. He noticed a vine slowly approaching him, yet somehow, he felt no malice from it. This sensation was strange, yet genuine.
He stopped, raising his right hand to touch the vine with his fingers. Though called a vine, it was nearly as thick as his waist.
Sunlight bathed Li Qingqiu as he looked at the vine before him, a smile gradually spreading across his face.
...
Approaching noon, Li Qingqiu ambled into the courtyard. He saw Zhang Yuchun and Zhang Yu sitting together, Zhang Yuchun speaking while Zhang Yu recorded with brush in hand.
Passing by their table, he tossed out a manual.
"I won't be eating lunch. Don't wait for me."
Without stopping, Li Qingqiu headed straight for the forest behind the mountain.
Zhang Yu looked closely and read aloud, "The Great Solar Yang Skill?"
Zhang Yuchun picked up the manual, flipped through a few pages, then turned to look at Li Qingqiu. "Where did this manual come from?"
"Found it on the mountain."
As his words fell, Li Qingqiu's figure disappeared into the path leading into the woods.
Zhang Yu seemed thoughtful, murmuring to himself, "I feel like I've heard of this manual somewhere. Strange, why can't I remember?"
Zhang Yuchun didn't pay much attention either. He set the manual aside and continued recording the current yields of various grains at Azure Firmament Sect with Zhang Yu.
Elsewhere.
Li Qingqiu made his way to Jiang Zhaoxia. Today, Jiang Zhaoxia hadn't gone to the underground spirit lake. After teaching the Thirteen Sword Ferocities, he had, as usual, hidden himself away to practice.
"Third Junior Brother, come with me tomorrow."
Li Qingqiu spoke as he walked, eventually sitting down before an old tree, maintaining a distance of about three zhang from Jiang Zhaoxia.
Jiang Zhaoxia opened his eyes and looked at Li Qingqiu. "Are we going to hunt down the Juesheng Sect?"
Li Qingqiu's mouth twitched. He shot Jiang Zhaoxia a look of disdain. "Does your senior brother seem that bloodthirsty to you?"
"Doesn't he?"
"I think your skin is itching. Tomorrow, there's something good, and your senior brother thought of you first. Don't be so moved you cry."
"Heh, I never cry."
"Is that so? When you were little and I spanked you, you cried pretty loudly. Yuchun and Dongyue probably still remember."
"Senior Brother, that's going too far!"
Seeing Jiang Zhaoxia get angry, Li Qingqiu's mood instantly lifted. He hadn't bantered with his junior brother like this in a while—he'd missed it.
Not wanting to dwell on this topic, Jiang Zhaoxia pressed Li Qingqiu about what this "good thing" actually was. Unfortunately, Li Qingqiu refused to say, leaving him no choice but to drop it.
...
Early morning, the moment Li Qingqiu stepped out, he saw Jiang Zhaoxia waiting.
"Why so slow? With your level of cultivation, you still need to sleep in?" Jiang Zhaoxia complained.
Li Qingqiu walked up to him and tapped him on the head. "In front of the disciples, address me as Sect Master."
Jiang Zhaoxia curled his lip, causing the other disciples in the courtyard to reflect privately that the cold and ruthless Jiang Zhaoxia only acted like this before the Sect Master.
Then Li Qingqiu led Jiang Zhaoxia down the mountain.
An hour later.
They passed through the thick fog and arrived at the giant tree. Jiang Zhaoxia gazed at it, unable to keep his eyes from widening or maintain his usual cold composure.
"This..."
Jiang Zhaoxia was deeply shaken. He hadn't imagined that deep in the mountains behind Azure Firmament Sect lay such a massive tree. And the spiritual energy here was incredibly abundant—completely on par with that underground spirit lake.
Li Qingqiu smiled. "I've named this tree the Thousand Spirit Tree. From now on, this place will be called the Thousand Spirit Blessed Land—one of Azure Firmament Sect's secrets. Any disciple wishing to cultivate here must obtain my permission. You'll cultivate here first, and not leave until you've broken through to the fifth layer of the Nourishing Origin stage."
Jiang Zhaoxia took a deep breath. He looked at Li Qingqiu and asked, "Why not let Xu Ning come first? Her natural talent surpasses mine."
Li Qingqiu shot him a glare. "What kind of talk is that? Just because a disciple appears with better talent than you, should all the good things in the sect go to them first? The most important purpose of developing Azure Firmament Sect is for the seven of us to reach greater heights. No matter what, the ones who benefit most in this sect will always be us seven first, then the other disciples."
Jiang Zhaoxia was deeply moved, but he kept his expression stern. "That's not how a Sect Master should be."
"Stop talking nonsense and get to cultivating. My disciple is still young, and a girl besides. When it comes to fighting, we'll still rely on you in the future."
"Understood."
Jiang Zhaoxia glanced back at the Thousand Spirit Tree once more, then found a spot and began to meditate.
Li Qingqiu, meanwhile, climbed the Thousand Spirit Tree and began observing it. There was still much he wanted to understand about this tree.
Though it was autumn, the Thousand Spirit Tree showed no signs of withering. The surrounding forest remained equally green and vibrant.
What Li Qingqiu was most curious about was the effect of the Thousand Spirit Tree's fruits.
There were at least a thousand fruits on the tree, and even quite a few rotten ones on the ground. He decided he would find a livestock animal to test the Thousand Spirit Fruit's effects.
Jiang Zhaoxia hadn't been far from the fifth layer of the Nourishing Origin stage to begin with. Arriving at the Thousand Spirit Blessed Land, he broke through successfully in just six days, cultivating without rest.
By the time Li Qingqiu next came to the Thousand Spirit Blessed Land, Jiang Zhaoxia told him the news. This pleased him greatly.
However, Jiang Zhaoxia raised his sword, pointing it at Li Qingqiu, and smiled with exuberance. "Senior Brother, it's been a while since we've sparred. How about a match?"
The Li Qingqiu of the past might have avoided the fight, but now he too felt an itch, wanting to experience the thrill of battle.
Clang—
Li Qingqiu drew the Flying Fish Dagger from his waist. The corners of his mouth lifted. "Junior Brother, don't cry if you lose."
"Senior Brother, I've never lost!"
Jiang Zhaoxia shot toward Li Qingqiu like an arrow, and Li Qingqiu met him likewise.
Their blades clashed. The two locked eyes, sparks flying between them. Both wore excited smiles.
With simultaneous effort, they leaped backward. That single leap carried them past autumn, and suddenly heavy snow began falling from the heavens, blanketing the Thousand Spirit Blessed Land.
The two charged at each other again, their forms intertwining as they continuously swung their blades. Their sword techniques were exquisite, their movements agile—neither could gain the upper hand.
Since Jiang Zhaoxia's breakthrough to the fifth layer of the Nourishing Origin stage, they had frequently sparred here, practicing their swordsmanship. Two months had passed.
Li Dongyue and Li Sijin sat meditating beneath the tree, opening their eyes to watch them.
"Third Senior Brother, fight harder!"
Li Sijin called out. This encouragement didn't motivate Jiang Zhaoxia—instead, it irritated him.
He found that no matter what sword techniques he employed, Li Qingqiu could calmly respond, even countering with the same moves.
He almost felt he was sparring with another version of himself. How absurd.
He understood he wasn't fighting himself—his senior brother's swordsmanship simply surpassed his own, allowing him to easily discern his techniques.
A month ago, this would have frustrated him. Now, it only ignited fiercer fighting spirit.
Defeating his senior brother had become his goal!
Li Dongyue looked at Li Sijin. "Focus on cultivation. Don't think that reaching the second layer means you can relax."
Indeed, the two of them had reached the second layer of the Nourishing Origin stage. During these two months, they had spent most of their time here. Even Zhang Yuchun had been sent by Li Qingqiu to the underground spirit lake, breaking through to the second layer just yesterday.
As they devoted themselves to diligent cultivation, authority naturally shifted toward the disciples. Under Yang Jueding's guidance, the Seven Sons of Azure Firmament and Qin Ye also began taking on responsibilities, helping to share the burden for Zhang Yuchun and the others.
Zhang Yuchun and the rest didn't know why their senior brother was so eager for them to reach the second layer of the Nourishing Origin stage, but since he instructed them to do so, they could only obey.
Li Sijin, urged by Li Dongyue, could only close her eyes and focus on cultivation.
She and Li Dongyue had the closest relationship; she was willing to listen to her.
After sparring for about fifteen minutes, Li Qingqiu stopped. With one hand, he flicked his blade, smoothly sheathing it.
Jiang Zhaoxia panted heavily, looking at Li Qingqiu, whose breathing remained steady. He spoke, "Senior Brother, after the New Year, I'm taking the Thirteen Sword Ferocities down the mountain for training. We'll be back in three months at most."
Li Qingqiu understood why he wanted to train. Seeing the determination in Jiang Zhaoxia's eyes, he could only say, "I have only one requirement: not a single one of these thirteen disciples may be lost."
Jiang Zhaoxia smiled. "Naturally. They're my disciples. Even if I die, I won't let them die."
"Forget that. First, ensure your own safety. I forbid you to die."
Li Qingqiu shook his head. He wasn't too worried about Jiang Zhaoxia going down the mountain for revenge. Back when Jiang Zhaoxia was only at the third layer of the Nourishing Origin stage, he could defeat Lu Fuhu. Now that he'd reached the fifth layer, how could he lose?
It was worth mentioning that among the Thirteen Sword Ferocities, one had already received the cultivation method from Li Qingqiu in advance and reached the first layer of the Nourishing Origin stage.
That was Xue Jin, leader of the Thirteen Sword Ferocities.
Using the pretext of Xue Jin being struck in the face by Qin Ye, Li Qingqiu had found him and transmitted the Chaos Genesis Scripture as compensation.
In truth, Li Qingqiu wasn't compensating him—it was simply that Xue Jin possessed decent cultivation aptitude, and Li Qingqiu couldn't bear to see him waste time.
After chatting with Li Qingqiu for a while, Jiang Zhaoxia walked aside and began meditating to recover his strength.
Li Qingqiu, standing still, whistled. Soon, the forest on the eastern side rustled, and two black figures flew out from among the trees. After circling once in the air, they pounced toward him.