A siege on Azure Firmament Sect?
Li Sifeng and Cheng Canghai exchanged glances, their expressions unchanged. Though the other disciples were alarmed, they didn't show it—they simply looked toward Li Sifeng and Cheng Canghai.
Wu Man'er was busy eating meat, not bothering to look up.
Cheng Canghai turned and asked with a smile, "Fellow brothers, why besiege Azure Firmament Sect? Is there some reason?"
The crowd of martial artists found tables and sat down. One of them turned back and laughed. "What else could it be? For the divine technique! The Dragon Subduing Hero brought the divine technique of a martial arts legend from days past to Azure Firmament Sect. That fellow called Second in the martial world, Jiang Zhaoxia, is so powerful precisely because he learned that technique."
Li Sifeng also turned his head, curious. "Martial arts legend? What divine technique?"
Another martial artist from the Iron Bone Faction chuckled. "A martial arts legend from a hundred years ago. How would we know exactly what technique it was? But the Dragon Subduing Hero definitely went to Fuyang Lake. At the bottom of that lake lies a palace built by that legend. Experts from the Azure Cult witnessed him obtaining the divine technique manual. They just didn't dare seize it forcibly, given the Dragon Subduing Hero's reputation. Now the Azure Cult, the Seven Peaks Alliance, and Iron Moon Peak—three major sects—are leading dozens of minor factions toward Azure Firmament Sect. Our Iron Bone Faction isn't subordinate to them, but we want to join the fun."
The middle-aged man who had first entered the inn turned his head to look at Li Sifeng and the others, asking coldly, "What sect are you from?"
His gaze couldn't help but linger on Wu Man'er. Wu Man'er's physique was simply too imposing to ignore.
Cheng Canghai spoke first, answering, "Just a minor sect—you definitely haven't heard of it. We're trying to earn some money, responding to the government's call to go eliminate bandits."
"What money is there in eliminating bandits? In the martial world, skill is what matters. With enough skill, you'll never lack money. Why not come with us to Azure Firmament Sect and take a gamble? Besides the legend's divine technique, you might even grab the Azure Firmament True Lord's legacy."
A tall, young man with a full beard laughed. A waiter came to their table, pretending not to hear their conversation, merely focused on taking orders and wiping tables.
Li Sifeng looked at him, curious. "When Lin Xunfeng retired from the martial world, why didn't anyone go to Azure Firmament Sect looking for trouble?"
A one-eyed elder from the Iron Bone Faction snorted. "Back then, Azure Firmament Sect was just Lin Xunfeng alone. The sect had nothing—certainly no divine technique from a martial arts legend. Tell me, who doesn't want to be as powerful as Jiang Zhaoxia?"
The other martial artists chimed in agreement. The conversation inevitably circled back to the legend, and they even began discussing the tales.
Li Sifeng asked no more. He turned back and continued drinking.
This place was still several hundred li from Azure Firmament Sect. The Iron Bone Faction never considered that they might be from Azure Firmament Sect. They were all immersed in beautiful fantasies, hoping to fish in troubled waters, obtain that world-shaking divine technique, and revive their faction.
Cheng Canghai shook his head slightly, finding this group laughable. They took the martial world far too simply.
After a while.
Li Sifeng set down his wine bowl and looked at the Azure Firmament Sect disciple across from him. "Are you full?"
This disciple nodded. His expression was unpleasant. The Iron Bone Faction's talk grew increasingly offensive, treating Azure Firmament Sect like a lamb to the slaughter. They even mentioned the female disciples of Azure Firmament Sect in terms too vulgar to repeat.
"Go close the door."
Li Sifeng ordered. At these words, the disciples' eyes lit up. The one sitting across from him immediately rose and walked toward the inn's entrance.
...
Yan Lan and his two companions temporarily stayed at Azure Firmament Sect. Li Qingqiu and Qin Ye hadn't spread their identities, letting them stay as ordinary guests. Qin Ye, uneasy, frequently visited Yan Lan's courtyard.
Li Qingqiu, meanwhile, had Xu Ning secretly keep watch over Yan Lan and the others. He found Zhang Yuchun, Li Dongyue, and Yang Jueding and informed them that some sects were planning to move against Azure Firmament Sect.
"This must be the Azure Cult's doing. Now that news has spread, quite a few sects will probably come looking for trouble. The allure of a legendary divine technique is too strong. If it were me, I'd want to join the excitement too. I'll take some disciples and stay at the foot of the mountain. If anything happens, we won't be caught off guard."
Yang Jueding spoke gravely. Having spent time with Li Qingqiu, his temperament had also shifted. He didn't dwell on regret but immediately considered countermeasures.
Li Qingqiu smiled. "Don't put too much pressure on yourselves. Azure Firmament Sect today is not what it once was. We can't contend with the dynasty, true, but we're not at the mercy of any random martial sect. You all know the power of the Chaos Genesis Scripture well."
Hearing this news from Yan Lan, Li Qingqiu felt no pressure at all.
Xu Ning at the fifth layer of the Nourishing Origin stage, plus Zhang Yuchun, Li Dongyue, and Li Sijin at the second layer, plus Yang Jueding, Qin Ye, and Liu Yan at the first layer—this force was more than enough to handle any expert in Guzhou.
And that wasn't even counting Li Qingqiu himself, guarding Azure Firmament Sect, about to reach the sixth layer of the Nourishing Origin stage.
If he went to the Seven Peaks Alliance now, he was confident he could stay and make them all kneel and beg for mercy.
When he reached the sixth layer, his strength would be even more terrifying.
Not only that, Xiao Ba and Xiao Jiu could also serve as combat power. Two black eagles that had already entered the demonic stage—frankly, enough to give any ordinary sect a headache.
Though Zhang Yuchun and Li Dongyue were somewhat tense, they weren't scared out of their wits. The so-called martial world, no matter how strong, was ultimately composed of civilian factions that couldn't compare to true armies.
After Yang Jueding left, Li Qingqiu continued discussing sect construction with Zhang Yuchun.
According to current trends, next year's disciple numbers would grow substantially. The sect's image was also being established. Zhang Yuchun wanted to build several imposing structures, including a Sutra Depository where martial arts texts could be stored in written form to motivate the disciples.
Li Qingqiu listened to his plans, offering only minor suggestions. He didn't obstruct Zhang Yuchun's ideas and gave him considerable support.
Early the next morning, Zhang Yuchun selected a group of older, more experienced disciples and put them in charge of mountain patrols.
Li Qingqiu, meanwhile, took Yuan Qi and Yuan Li down the mountain.
In the forest, twelve-year-old Yuan Qi held his four-year-old brother Yuan Li's hand. Looking at Li Qingqiu, he asked, "Sect Master, where are you taking us?"
He had been rescued by Li Qingqiu from the Seven Peaks Alliance. He had always respected Li Qingqiu. Even though Li Qingqiu hadn't taken him as a disciple, his loyalty toward Li Qingqiu had still reached 91 points. So he wasn't afraid now—only curious.
"Somewhere to teach you the Chaos Genesis Scripture."
Li Qingqiu walked ahead, answering casually.
"Ah? Am I qualified to learn it?" Yuan Qi immediately grew nervous. Joy welled up inside him, but he dared not show it.
Not really, but you're riding on your little brother's coattails.
Li Qingqiu thought this, but said aloud, "Though you're young, you never slack off. I've noticed your efforts. Though I treat all disciples equally, as the sect grows, we need people to help manage it. I hope you'll grow stronger and share some of my burdens in the future."
These words deeply moved Yuan Qi. He immediately vowed to work hard and not disappoint Li Qingqiu.
Li Qingqiu smiled in response, but his mind was on Yuan Li's Indestructible Body.
Starting to cultivate at age four—could this help awaken Yuan Li's Indestructible Body sooner?
If it remained unawakened, he might first copy Feng Dai's Late Bloomer Destiny. He had a feeling there was something to that one.
...
Approaching year's end, Li Qingqiu successfully broke through to the sixth layer of the Nourishing Origin stage within the underground spirit lake. From the fifth to the sixth layer, his spiritual energy doubled, and his physical body strengthened. But the biggest change was in his spiritual energy itself.
He felt his spiritual energy had become more powerful, more penetrating. The Heavenly Thunder Spiritual Root made his spiritual energy naturally carry lightning, and with each breakthrough, the nature of the Heavenly Thunder Spiritual Root intensified—though he rarely revealed this.
Pleased with his breakthrough, and alone in the underground spirit lake, Li Qingqiu consolidated his cultivation before leaving. He strolled through the mountains, relaxing while observing the disciples at work.
Azure Firmament Sect now had one hundred and twenty-six disciples. Even with Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sifeng each leading teams down the mountain, there were still plenty of people on the mountain.
Near noon, though the mountains were covered in snow, the sun was still bright.
Li Qingqiu came to a forest and saw Huang Shan, leader of the Seven Sons of Azure Firmament, meditating beneath a tree.
"Oh? The first layer of the Nourishing Origin stage."
Looking from a distance, Li Qingqiu immediately discerned Huang Shan's cultivation level. This surprised him.
Several years ago, he had transmitted the Chaos Genesis Scripture to the Seven Sons of Azure Firmament. But their aptitudes were too poor—they couldn't master it. Later, they switched to practicing martial arts. He had assumed the Seven Sons had given up on cultivation. He never imagined Huang Shan had been secretly working hard and succeeded.
Naturally, Li Qingqiu was pleased. Each additional disciple at the first layer of the Nourishing Origin stage meant one more first-rate expert for Azure Firmament Sect.
First-layer spiritual energy, combined with external martial arts, could potentially kill first-rate martial artists. This illustrated the vast gap between cultivation and martial arts. The threshold of the first layer was a peak most martial artists could never reach in their lifetimes.
This kid... today truly brings double happiness.
The corners of Li Qingqiu's mouth lifted. He didn't disturb Huang Shan but silently changed direction and continued up the mountain.
Along the way up, he spotted several disciples quietly cultivating or practicing martial arts. Two of them were among those he had personally transmitted the technique to this year.
This year, Li Qingqiu had transmitted the Chaos Genesis Scripture to the nine most outstanding disciples from the previous year. Three had already cultivated spiritual energy and formally become true successor disciples. This greatly encouraged the other disciples' fighting spirit, so few slacked off now.
Li Qingqiu decided that starting next year, true successor disciples would be provided with spirit stones and access to cultivate at the Thousand Spirit Blessed Land. He would gradually transition Azure Firmament Sect from a martial arts sect to a cultivation sect.
True successor disciples were the foundation of Azure Firmament Sect as a cultivation sect.
Azure Firmament Sect's opponents were never the secular martial arts sects, but their own limits. They weren't striving for first in the martial world, but for the path to immortality.
Half an hour later, Li Qingqiu arrived at the guest courtyard below the new courtyard. He turned his head and saw Ku Yi actually instructing Qin Ye in the Ten Thousand Army Demon-Subduing Staff.
Yan Lan and Zhu Yan sat at a nearby table, chatting idly. Su Xiling and Ku Er stood guard behind them.
Zhu Yan spotted Li Qingqiu's figure. Wearing her veil, she hesitated whether to greet him, but Li Qingqiu continued up the mountain and left her sight.
Noticing her distraction, Yan Lan looked back but didn't see Li Qingqiu. He asked, "Miss Zhu, what were you looking at?"
Zhu Yan snapped back to attention. "Nothing. Your Highness, you mentioned a qilin earlier. Where is this qilin, and why is the Zhongtian World Sect seeking it?"