In response to Zhu Yan's question, Yan Lan shifted his gaze to Qin Ye, who was practicing his staff technique. He said softly, his gaze profound and unfathomable, "Since ancient times, before every great calamity befalls the mortal world, auspicious omens appear to warn the people. This qilin appeared in Dongling Prefecture, but vanished quickly, its trail impossible to follow. Those families and sects in Zhongtian want to find it because they covet its blood treasures."
"The qilin is one of the ancient auspicious beasts, and also one of the few that have been hunted and eaten by mortals. Its flesh and blood can multiply a martial artist's qi and blood, enabling them to shed their mortal frame and exchange their bones. Its hide can be made into divine weapons. It is said to contain an inner core, a treasure that sorcerers seek their entire lives."
Zhu Yan wasn't interested in the qilin's blood treasures. She asked, surprised, "Your Highness says auspicious omens appear before great calamities befall the mortal world. But haven't the rebel forces across the land already been suppressed?"
Yan Lan's gaze grew profound, as deep and unfathomable as a secluded well. In an inexplicable tone, he said, "This suggests the true calamity has yet to begin."
Zhu Yan fell silent. In ordinary times, she delighted in qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and didn't want to involve herself in worldly affairs. From Yan Lan's words, the so-called mortal calamity wasn't natural disaster, but man-made catastrophe.
For something to affect the entire realm, the perpetrator must be immensely powerful. She didn't want to pry further.
The two fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts.
Elsewhere.
Li Qingqiu arrived at the highest Lingxiao Courtyard. He had intended to find Li Sijin, but instead saw her sitting at a table with Zhang Yuchun, discussing something. The two of them were alone in the courtyard.
As Li Qingqiu approached, Zhang Yuchun turned his head and spoke first. "Senior Brother, perfect timing. I need to discuss something with you."
Li Qingqiu sat down and noticed Li Sijin's displeased expression. He couldn't help smiling. "What's wrong? Have you two been arguing?"
Li Sijin glared. "Senior Brother, you need to control Second Senior Brother! I want my disciple to become a true successor disciple, and he absolutely refuses."
She had brought seven disciples, originally focused on studying talismans and planting methods. Later, she accepted one female disciple as her personal disciple and, with Li Qingqiu's permission, transmitted the first layer of the Chaos Genesis Scripture to her.
Li Qingqiu asked, "Has she reached the first layer of the Nourishing Origin stage?"
The Daoist Legacy panel allowed him to see disciples' aptitude, comprehension, Destinies, and loyalty, but not each disciple's cultivation level. He didn't regret this—in fact, it added an element of anticipation, waiting for disciples to surprise him.
"She has!" Li Sijin's voice was loud. After speaking, she shot Zhang Yuchun another glare.
Zhang Yuchun smiled helplessly. He looked at Li Qingqiu. "Senior Brother, I feel we need to raise the threshold for true successor disciples. The first layer of the Nourishing Origin stage is indeed difficult to achieve, but with effort, anyone can reach it within a year or two at most. The title of true successor disciple carries too much weight—they must also be entrusted with important responsibilities. We need to impose some limits."
"Why raise the threshold just when it comes to me?" Li Sijin fumed.
Currently, Azure Firmament Sect hadn't yet differentiated treatment for disciples, but true successor disciples would eventually be able to cultivate at the Thousand Spirit Blessed Land. Li Sijin wanted to fight for her disciple's chance.
Zhang Yuchun had the Seven Sons of Azure Firmament. Jiang Zhaoxia had the Thirteen Sword Ferocities. Li Dongyue had Liu Yan. Though Li Sifeng had no personal disciples, he frequently led disciples down the mountain. Naturally, Li Sijin didn't want to fall behind—she too wanted to cultivate a disciple who could make significant contributions to the sect.
Li Qingqiu smiled. "Second Junior Brother, you're overthinking this. The threshold for true successor disciples will indeed keep rising, but we can't change it arbitrarily. We need to set intervals. Even if future disciples surpass these current true successor disciples, their existence proves the sect remembers old ties. We don't purely divide by aptitude alone. Moreover, true successor disciples won't be the highest rank forever."
He had already envisioned a hierarchy in his mind. Disciples' ranks wouldn't only extend downward—they would also increase upward.
And Zhang Yuchun overlooked his own aptitude. He thought himself untalented, assuming that if he could reach the second layer, others could too. He didn't realize that compared to most people, his cultivation aptitude already counted as genius—just not as exceptional as his junior brothers and sisters.
"Since Senior Brother already has a plan, let Sanfeng become a true successor disciple. I'll record her name in the true successor register." Zhang Yuchun nodded.
Li Sijin was immediately delighted. She let out a cheer and, bypassing the table, threw herself into Li Qingqiu's arms.
Zhang Yuchun smiled at the scene. He wasn't upset by Li Sijin's emotions. No matter how important the sect's development, it couldn't compare to the bond between them as senior and junior brothers and sisters.
Li Sijin didn't linger. She couldn't wait to tell her disciple the news.
After she left, Li Qingqiu shared his plan regarding spirit stones.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuchun's expression turned serious. "The underground spirit lake seems to have many spirit stones, but once we start distributing them to disciples, the consumption rate will definitely exceed our expectations. Senior Brother, we need to set specifications and cut the spirit stones into uniform sizes—both for fairness and to avoid waste."
Li Qingqiu nodded, and the two began discussing how large to cut the spirit stones.
As they talked, a line of text suddenly appeared before Li Qingqiu's eyes.
[Because Azure Firmament Sect has, for the first time, obtained an auspicious omen, its luck ascendant, you have received one Inheritance reward opportunity.]
An auspicious omen?
Could it be the qilin Yan Lan mentioned?
Li Qingqiu was puzzled, curious who had obtained this auspicious omen.
Was it a disciple away from the sect, or one within the sect?
His mind was drawn to this auspicious omen. He quickly finalized the spirit stone matters with Zhang Yuchun, then rose and left.
...
The vast snow blanketed the continuous mountains, making green difficult to spot.
On a broad snow-covered road between two mountains, a massive procession of martial artists advanced. Looking out, there were at least ten thousand people.
At the very front, people on horseback led the way, carrying large banners embroidered with the names of three major factions.
Seven Peaks, Iron Moon, Azure.
Each of the three sects had four to five hundred people. Behind them came other factions, forming over a dozen columns. Carts were interspersed among the groups. The vast majority walked on foot, gripping their weapons as they marched against the flying snow. Their momentum was grand, like an army advancing.
Guang Lantian, the Alliance Master of the Seven Peaks Alliance, rode a horse. Since Lü Dou's death, after months of internal struggle, he had climbed from Second Alliance Master to First Alliance Master. He had come for the legendary divine technique.
Gazing ahead, his mind was on how to seize it.
With so many factions united, even if Jiang Zhaoxia were still at Azure Firmament Sect, he surely couldn't stop them. For the Seven Peaks Alliance to obtain the divine technique, their true rivals were the Azure Cult and Iron Moon Peak.
Leading the Azure Cult was Vice Leader Bai He. He wore black robes, a treasured sword at his waist, with brows like blades and eagle-like eyes that suggested deep cunning.
Leading Iron Moon Peak was a peak master named Zhang Songjing. His build was imposing, and despite his white hair, he was like a fierce tiger, his blue robe stretched taut.
All three were long-established experts in Guzhou's martial world and had attended the previous Martial Arts Tournament. They had some understanding of Jiang Zhaoxia's strength.
At this moment, all three were silent, each harboring their own schemes.
"Someone up ahead!"
A mounted Azure Cult disciple suddenly called out loudly, drawing everyone's attention forward.
Wind and snow rushed toward them, and the distant snow-mist was thick. They could barely make out a single figure, motionless, as if waiting specifically for them.
Guang Lantian narrowed his eyes, unable to make out the person's identity. He whipped his horse's rump, as did Bai He and Zhang Songjing, accelerating forward.
Even if it were Jiang Zhaoxia himself, the three of them were confident they could tangle with him.
Seeing the three experts accelerate, the disciples of each faction quickened their pace as well. No one was nervous—after all, only one person blocked the way ahead. They felt only excitement.
Azure Firmament Sect was not far now. The peerless divine technique seemed within reach.
When Guang Lantian and the others drew closer, they could finally make out the person blocking their path.
"Yang Jueding! You really are at Azure Firmament Sect!"
Guang Lantian recognized the blocker's identity at a glance. He narrowed his eyes and spoke in a low voice, excitement stirring within him.
It seemed the rumors were true!
He had initially been somewhat skeptical of the rumors, thinking that even if he didn't obtain the divine technique on this trip, destroying Azure Firmament Sect would still be a good outcome.
After all, the Seven Peaks Alliance had lost quite a few disciples to Azure Firmament Sect. They just hadn't had the time to seek revenge.
Yang Jueding wore Azure Firmament Sect's robes. The blue fabric fluttered in the wind, his wide sleeves and pant legs rippling like flames. His cinched waist made him appear unshakeable.
Seeing the martial arts army before him, Yang Jueding was secretly shocked.
Though he had anticipated considerable trouble, actually seeing so many sects attacking was still startling.
Fortunately, he had already sent disciples back to report.
Though Yang Jueding remained at the first layer of the Nourishing Origin stage, he was not far from the second. And he had never neglected his martial arts. Even facing thousands upon thousands, he had some confidence.
"Azure Firmament Sect is merely a small sect in the martial world. What do you all intend by sending so many people?" Yang Jueding asked, his voice like thunder, drowning out the wind and snow.
Guang Lantian had some prior acquaintance with Yang Jueding. He spoke, "Yang Jueding, you're an old hand in the martial world. You can't protect that divine technique. Hand it over, and Azure Firmament Sect may yet have survivors."
Yang Jueding said disdainfully, "The Azure Cult claims I have a divine technique, and you believe them? So many people went down to Fuyang Lake back then—how can you be certain I was the only one who obtained it?"
Bai He, the Azure Cult's Vice Leader, his expression sinister, snorted. "Why waste words with him? Seize him, torture him harshly, and he'll spill the technique."
Zhang Songjing of Iron Moon Peak didn't speak, but he was the first to draw the blade at his waist, prompting the martial artists behind him to draw their weapons as well. A murderous atmosphere suddenly enveloped this snowy plain.
Yang Jueding stepped forward and laughed heartily. "Bai He of the Azure Cult, I've long wanted to test your mettle. A scumbag like you can climb to Vice Leader—clearly, the Azure Cult will soon fall."
Bai He's eyes flashed with ferocity. He immediately leaped from his horse, rushing toward Yang Jueding like a hunting eagle, drawing his sword mid-air.
Yang Jueding didn't retreat—he advanced, charging toward the ten-thousand-strong army, pressing forward without hesitation.
At the same time.
A dozen li away, two people were galloping on horseback, wind and snow constantly lashing their faces. They were none other than the Martial Arts Champion Li Yang and his cousin Zhao Linglong.
Zhao Linglong rode behind, tightly gripping her reins, her pretty face flushed red from the cold. She asked, "Cousin, must we really rush like this?"
Li Yang, carrying a long spear on his back, didn't turn his head. "The traces along the way are increasing—it means those sects are just ahead. Cousin, you don't have to follow so closely. I'll go ahead and take a look."
"Hi-ya—"
Li Yang whipped his horse, quickly pulling away from Zhao Linglong.
Zhao Linglong hastily called out, "Cousin, don't act impulsively!"
Unfortunately, she received no response from Li Yang as he disappeared from her sight.