Li Qingqiu walked up to Jia Yi, his gaze calm and steady as he stared at him. That look instilled fear and despair in Jia Yi's heart.
Acupoint sealing?
How could it be so fast?
Jia Yi knew acupoint-sealing techniques and had even seen martial arts that could seal acupoints from a distance. But Li Qingqiu's reaction and striking speed far exceeded any expert he had ever encountered.
He had already pressed his blade against Feng Dai's throat, yet he was still suppressed in a single exchange.
Jia Yi could no longer feel anger. The absolute gap in strength filled his heart with terror. He only wanted to escape this place—thoughts of revenge had completely vanished from his mind.
Li Qingqiu raised his hand, gripping Jia Yi's neck and slowly lifting him upward. Soon, Jia Yi's feet left the ground. Panic filled his eyes, but he could only tremble, powerless to struggle.
The runners watched as the overbearing Jia Yi was held aloft by Li Qingqiu like a chicken. This scene dealt a tremendous blow to their minds.
Li Qingqiu glanced at Feng Dai and said quietly, "If you want to climb higher, and fear no danger, follow me. You alone."
With that, he carried Jia Yi single-handedly into the nearby forest.
Feng Dai's expression shifted between uncertainty and determination. Soon, he made his decision. He turned to the other runners. "Wait for me here!"
He turned and followed Li Qingqiu's footsteps, though severely injured, walking unsteadily as if he might collapse at any moment.
...
Thump!
Jia Yi was thrown onto the grass. Lying there, he looked up at Li Qingqiu with tension and terror, unsure what would happen next.
Now Jia Yi wanted to beg for mercy but couldn't speak. He could only plead with his eyes for Li Qingqiu to show leniency. At this moment, he had lost all the pride of the Imperial Protective Guard—only the desperate will to survive remained.
Li Qingqiu stared at Jia Yi, raising his right hand before his chest, index and middle fingers extended. His lips moved slightly.
Jia Yi's pupils trembled. His heartbeat accelerated, his breathing grew rapid.
What was he doing?
As a member of the Imperial Protective Guard, Jia Yi had investigated many strange cases in Zhongtian Prefecture and witnessed extraordinary events. Li Qingqiu's actions reminded him of those unfathomable practitioners of esoteric arts.
His Sagehood himself kept several such practitioners, who played at being gods and spirits. Initially, Jia Yi had dismissed them, but after encountering things he couldn't explain, he had begun to regard them with awe.
Li Qingqiu ignored Jia Yi's gaze and began to apply the Soul-Capturing Curse.
This was his first time actually using the Soul-Capturing Curse.
The Soul-Capturing Curse was extremely difficult to cultivate. Even now, he hadn't fully mastered it. But using it to shatter Jia Yi's mind was still easily achievable.
As Li Qingqiu began chanting, purple energy seemed to swirl in his pupils, giving him an eerie appearance. Jia Yi, meeting his gaze, felt dizzy.
Jia Yi's vision blurred. Just as he thought he was about to die, suddenly, an excruciating pain erupted from within his body. Then, his internal organs ached, his limbs began to hurt, and within three breaths, even his head was throbbing with agony.
Pain unlike anything he had ever experienced caused all his internal energy to disperse, blasting the silver needle from his brow.
"AAAAHHHH—"
Jia Yi screamed heartbreakingly. He curled into a ball, convulsing violently, his eyes rolling back, his face flushed red, the veins in his neck bulging hideously.
Feng Dai, struggling to endure his own pain, was startled by Jia Yi's condition. Fear arose in his heart as well.
Li Qingqiu hadn't even touched Jia Yi—he had merely assumed the posture of a Daoist chanting incantations—yet it caused Jia Yi such agony!
Could Li Qingqiu truly possess immortal arts?
A chill ran down Feng Dai's spine. At this moment, he didn't know what to do.
For several li around, there was no human presence. Li Qingqiu let Jia Yi scream. He needed Jia Yi to understand pain before proceeding with his next arrangements.
The Soul-Capturing Curse was a vile spell targeting the soul. During its application, it established a connection between the souls of both parties, allowing one side to absolutely suppress the other's soul, thereby achieving control.
Li Qingqiu couldn't yet extract Jia Yi's soul and turn it into his own ghost, but during the cursing process, through the soul connection, he caught glimpses of some of Jia Yi's recent memories.
So Jia Yi had come to Azure Firmament Sect not only carrying the Emperor's oral decree but with other purposes as well.
After a while, seeing that Jia Yi was about to die from the pain, Li Qingqiu finally stopped the curse. He flicked two silver needles toward Jia Yi, who lay on the ground like mud, alleviating his suffering and leaving behind some special measures.
Seeing Jia Yi's trembling subside, Feng Dai secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had truly feared Li Qingqiu would torture Jia Yi to death.
Jia Yi's whereabouts weren't unknown—at least many in Blackstone County knew he had come to Azure Firmament Sect.
If Jia Yi disappeared, the imperial court would surely dispatch many Imperial Protective Guard to investigate.
Feng Dai had originally intended to kill Jia Yi and then somehow deal with the aftermath. He didn't want a chivalrous sect like Azure Firmament Sect to be harmed by evil men.
Over the past year, he had often heard of Azure Firmament Sect's deeds, which also made him understand why they had dared to shelter Wu Baoyu.
Even at the cost of his own life, he wanted to protect Azure Firmament Sect.
He had once dreamed of changing the world through his own efforts, of clearing Wu Baoyu's name. But the truth was, without connections, he couldn't even leave Blackstone County—ambition was out of the question.
Azure Firmament Sect was different. They would cultivate powerful martial artists, capable of exerting far greater influence than he ever could.
"Sect Master Li, you..."
Feng Dai began through gritted teeth, but before he could finish, he saw Li Qingqiu turn. He caught sight of the eerie purple light in Li Qingqiu's pupils and froze.
This eerie purple light was a lingering trace of the Soul-Capturing Curse. As soon as Li Qingqiu turned, the purple light vanished.
Li Qingqiu looked at Feng Dai and asked, "Magistrate Feng, would you like to go to the capital?"
Feng Dai snapped back to reality, surprised. "I would, naturally, but what could I do there?"
"With the connections of the Imperial Protective Guard, establishing yourself there shouldn't be difficult. But I can't guarantee how high you'll climb. I'll send you to the capital. Every six months, send someone with a letter informing me of major events there. If there's an urgent situation, you can write earlier. I don't need you to take risks—just be my eyes."
Li Qingqiu's tone hadn't changed at all, yet Feng Dai felt immense pressure.
Feng Dai understood that even being mere eyes wouldn't be easy. This was the capital, after all—heavily guarded.
And he knew what kind of news Li Qingqiu wanted to monitor.
This journey would completely alter the course of his life.
Thinking of his fruitless days in Blackstone County, Feng Dai felt this was an opportunity.
Though unclear how Li Qingqiu would subdue Jia Yi, he was willing to gamble. At worst, he would die!
"I accept!" Feng Dai said firmly.
Li Qingqiu smiled and asked, "Would you be willing to become my disciple? If you join my tutelage, should you ever face danger in the future, I won't stand idly by."
Feng Dai was stunned again. He had prepared to be Li Qingqiu's pawn. He hadn't expected Li Qingqiu to want to take him as a disciple. Warmth filled his heart.
As expected of Azure Firmament Sect—even when scheming, they try to protect their pieces?
Feng Dai was willing to trust Li Qingqiu, even if Li Qingqiu might not be able to fulfill such promises.
"Disciple Feng Dai pays respects to Sect Master!"
Feng Dai knelt on one knee, clasping his hands in salute. Li Qingqiu silently called up the Daoist Legacy panel and opened the disciple details, finding Feng Dai's portrait.
[Name: Feng Dai]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 30]
[Loyalty (Sect Master/Sect): 75/86 (Max 100)]
[Cultivation Aptitude: Mediocre]
[Comprehension: Mediocre]
[Destinies: Late Bloomer, Chivalrous and Upright]
[Late Bloomer: Starting from age sixty, as age increases, comprehension continuously improves.]
[Chivalrous and Upright: Born righteous, fears no powerful opposition, willing to die for the justice he pursues.]
...
Mm?
He has a special Destiny!
Holy shit!
This "Late Bloomer" looks incredibly significant!
Comprehension continuously improving—is there an upper limit?
And what's the degree of improvement each year?
Li Qingqiu suddenly wanted to go back on his word and keep Feng Dai at Azure Firmament Sect. Of course, he was only thinking about it. He would have to observe just how effective the Late Bloomer Destiny truly was.
"Rise."
Li Qingqiu personally helped Feng Dai to his feet. Whether it was Feng Dai's imagination, he felt Li Qingqiu was very pleased after accepting him as a disciple.
Then, Li Qingqiu inserted three needles into Feng Dai to treat his injuries, before turning back to Jia Yi.
After receiving the Resurrection Ghost Immortal Needle treatment, Jia Yi hadn't lost consciousness, but his awareness remained sluggish. The agony originating from his soul left him dazed, feeling as though he had already died.
"I've placed a curse on you that no one can undo. Every three years, you must come to me to alleviate it. Otherwise, your head will split with pain, and within seven days, you'll die in agony just like that. Understood?"
Li Qingqiu looked down at Jia Yi, his tone icy, his expression blank.
Jia Yi looked up at Li Qingqiu, his whole body trembling. He never wanted to experience that pain again. "I... I understand..."
Li Qingqiu continued, "While applying the curse, I saw your memories. I'll write down your dealings with the Azure Cult. Think carefully before you act. Working for me might let you live to a hundred. Opposing me will not only bring you suffering but also have the Emperor exterminate your entire clan."
Jia Yi's eyes widened in disbelief.
He didn't think Li Qingqiu was bluffing. The moment Li Qingqiu mentioned "Azure Cult," he believed Li Qingqiu had truly seen his memories.
"Rest assured, Immortal Master... Jia Yi will never defy you..." Jia Yi's voice trembled.
"From now on, you too will join Azure Firmament Sect, becoming a hidden agent outside, atoning for your crimes through merit. How about it?"
"Whatever the Immortal Master arranges..."
Hearing this, Li Qingqiu again called up the Daoist Legacy panel. He actually found Jia Yi's portrait. It seemed Jia Yi had been scared out of his wits.
[Name: Jia Yi]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 32]
[Loyalty (Sect Master/Sect): 89/2 (Max 100)]
[Cultivation Aptitude: Mediocre]
[Comprehension: Unranked]
[Destinies: Villainous Sycophant, Progenitor of an Immortal Emperor]
[Villainous Sycophant: Selfish and greedy, arrogant, willing to betray anyone for personal gain.]
[Progenitor of an Immortal Emperor: Among his descendants, one will cultivate to become an Immortal Emperor, transcending the mortal world.]
...
When Li Qingqiu saw "Villainous Sycophant," he felt it perfectly described Jia Yi. But when he saw "Progenitor of an Immortal Emperor," he froze.
What the hell?
A scumbag like this could produce an Immortal Emperor?
That's too bizarre!
Li Qingqiu hadn't expected both men to possess special Destinies. He had accepted them into Azure Firmament Sect simply to monitor their loyalty at all times, so he could respond appropriately if either betrayed him.