After thinking it over, Li Qingqiu finally decided to copy the Mortal God and Ghost Fate.
Just its ability to grant extraordinary comprehension in all soul-related techniques, spells, and divine arts was worth it. That alone was equivalent to boosting his natural talent.
Not to mention, the Fate came with its own innate skill—it protected against possession and all soul-targeting attacks.
Since other cultivators existed in this world, he couldn't afford to take chances. If some high-level cultivator suddenly tried to seize his body one day, it would spell disaster.
He took a deep breath and steadied himself, continuing to stroll with his two junior sisters, but his thoughts never truly left Chu Jing.
At the same time, he pondered the man's true purpose for joining Qingxiao Sect.
Was it really just to learn martial arts?
Li Qingqiu wasn't worried about the Supreme Purity and Primordial Harmony Sutra leaking out—there was no copy in the Scripture Pavilion anyway. Even if Chu Jing wanted to find it, he'd have to work through layers of disciples to get anywhere close. That was no simple task.
Still, the Treacherous Minister Fate made Li Qingqiu hesitate to act rashly.
Keeping someone like that alive could prove useful—after all, a man born to sow chaos might one day bring trouble to the Emperor himself.
Of course, if Chu Jing showed even the slightest sign of disobedience, Li Qingqiu wouldn't hesitate to strike him down.
The mountain was lively with New Year celebrations. Smiles filled every face, and laughter echoed through the snowy peaks.
By midday, Li Qingqiu had been dragged around by the hall leaders for drink after drink. The celebration stretched well into the evening before he managed to escape.
It wasn't until deep into the night that he quietly slipped away to the grove behind Lingxiao Courtyard.
He listened for a long while to make sure no one was nearby, then began the Fate selection process.
He only had one Fate Selection Opportunity left. Originally, he had planned to save it for Yuan Li's Indestructible Tyrant Body, but since that ability still hadn't awakened, he was out of patience.
If Chu Jing acted up tomorrow, he'd have to kill him immediately—and in that case, there'd be no time to copy anything.
Besides, he wasn't sure if killing a disciple mid-rebellion would still count as copying from a Qingxiao Sect member. That kind of edge case hadn't happened before.
Within Lingxiao Courtyard, Wu Man'er, Li Dongyue, and others were nearby. Jiang Zhaoxia was staying in the lower compound. Li Qingqiu had no fear of being attacked in the middle of the night.
Once he confirmed his selection, a flood of foreign memories surged into his mind.
Just like before, it felt like a vivid dream.
In the dream, countless ghosts and monsters tried to approach him, only to burn away to ashes. He saw vast, eerie scenes—mountains of bones, a gloomy underworld, a realm that could only be described as the Nine Nether Lands.
When the transmission ended, Li Qingqiu opened his eyes. Dawn had yet to come, and no one was nearby. He exhaled in relief.
He stood, stretched his limbs, and noticed no physical change—but something within him had shifted.
He recalled the Soul-Binding Curse, and instantly, everything that had once puzzled him became clear. His understanding of the technique had deepened to an entirely new level.
When he cast it again, the flow was effortless—smooth beyond belief. He'd never felt such precision before.
Even more astonishing, new ideas began forming in his mind.
He could now create derivative variations of the Soul-Binding Curse himself. The realization thrilled him.
Now, he possessed four Fates—each one powerful, each one shaping him into something greater.
Even he couldn't help but feel awe at his own strength.
He didn't linger long in the woods. With a light heart, he descended the mountain.
Over the next few days, Li Qingqiu used the Hundred-Refined Demon Body to conceal his aura while keeping a close eye on Chu Jing.
The man behaved impeccably. Since becoming a registered disciple, Chu Jing hadn't shown any signs of abnormality. He never approached the Scripture Pavilion or sought secret texts. He trained, worked, and even made a few friends among the other disciples.
He occasionally asked about Qingxiao Mountain's structure and customs, but that was nothing unusual—every newcomer did the same.
After observing for ten days, Li Qingqiu stopped watching.
Perhaps Chu Jing truly was just interested in Qingxiao Sect.
Since he couldn't use the Soul-Binding Curse on him anyway, he decided to wait and see. Maybe he could turn Chu Jing into a pawn instead.
When the New Year festivities ended, Qingxiao Sect's Seven Halls returned to their busy routines.
With more disciples traveling down the mountain for training, the sect's name spread rapidly. Nobles, clans, and officials began sending envoys up the mountain to request assistance, flooding the Training Hall with commissions.
Why not? It was a chance to roam the martial world and make money at the same time.
The number of servant disciples grew fast. With limited space, they were housed in newly built courtyards below the Martial Arena, taking care of daily labor.
Zhang Yuchun even proposed constructing an entire compound at the foot of the mountain so the servant disciples could live there permanently. In case of invasion, those compounds could serve as defensive outposts.
A month later, a delegation from the Qin family arrived at Qingxiao Sect—bringing Chen Huilan's father, Chen Yu, with them.
Li Qingqiu didn't meet him personally but glanced over his Dao Lineage panel.
His Cultivation Aptitude was Extremely Low, and his Comprehension was Mediocre. No unique Fates.
'No wonder the family declined,' Li Qingqiu thought. 'He couldn't even protect his own daughter.'
He did, however, meet with Qin Jue, the Qin family patriarch. The family sought to commission Qingxiao Sect for an escort task.
The Qin family had a young scholar who had passed the provincial exams and was headed to the Imperial Capital for the next round. The journey was long and dangerous—bandits infested the borders, and regional unrest was growing. They wanted two true disciples to protect him.
Over the years, the Qin family had donated increasingly generous sums to Qingxiao Sect and even provided crucial clues about Chen Huilan's lineage. Li Qingqiu's impression of them was favorable, so he agreed without hesitation.
It was also a good excuse to send his disciples to the Imperial Capital—to see firsthand what kind of state the empire was really in.
After a few cups of wine, Qin Jue leaned forward and asked, "Sect Master Li, do you think my son, Qin Ye, should join the army?"
Li Qingqiu considered for a moment before answering. "With his level of martial skill, he would surely stand out in the army. It depends on what he wants for himself."
After being defeated by Ji Ya, Qin Ye had taken the loss hard and spent all his time cultivating in the spiritual mines.
Li Qingqiu was worried he might lose his drive entirely.
If Qin Ye wished to venture out into the world again, Li Qingqiu certainly wouldn't stop him.
"Then may I meet him in person?" Qin Jue asked eagerly.
Although Qingxiao Sect was flourishing, no matter how prosperous a martial sect became, it was still just a sect. If Qin Ye could use the sect's martial arts to earn military merit on the battlefield, only then could the Qin family truly rise again.
He was deeply grateful for Li Qingqiu's open attitude. Before coming here, he had worried that the Sect Master might refuse to let his son leave.
But now he realized that Qingxiao Sect had countless talented disciples. Letting one Qin Ye go wouldn't make much difference to them.
"Tomorrow then," Li Qingqiu replied calmly. "He's a few hundred li away training. I'll send someone to summon him back."
"Many thanks, Sect Master!"
After chatting a little longer, Li Qingqiu found an excuse to take his leave.
Qin Jue stood at the gate of the guest courtyard, watching Li Qingqiu's figure fade into the mountain mist. His heart was filled with emotion.
When he had first come up this mountain years ago, he could never have imagined Qingxiao Sect would grow to such power and influence.
...
Night fell over Qingxiao Mountain. Zhang Yuchun returned to Lingxiao Courtyard, where he found Li Qingqiu and Jiang Zhaoxia sitting together, discussing sword techniques by lamplight.
"Senior Brother," Zhang Yuchun said as he entered, "the Prefectural Governor sent a messenger. He's holding a banquet to celebrate taking a concubine and has invited you to attend."
He sat beside Li Qingqiu and handed over an ornate invitation.
Li Qingqiu smiled faintly. "And what do you think?"
"There's definitely some scheme behind this," Zhang Yuchun said without hesitation. "And you're the Sect Master—how could you casually go down the mountain every time someone calls? I suggest letting Third Brother go in your place. With his strength, the Prefect won't be able to do a thing to him."
As he finished, his gaze turned to Jiang Zhaoxia.
Jiang Zhaoxia nodded. "Fine by me."
Li Qingqiu trusted Jiang Zhaoxia's abilities completely and agreed without hesitation. "Good. And the matter regarding the Prefect—how's that coming along?"
"I've already arranged for disciples to infiltrate his manor," Zhang Yuchun said. "Hall Master Zhu is also having her family investigate the Prefect's background. So far, all we've learned is that he came from Zhenyang Imperial City and once served as a court official."
"Hmm." Li Qingqiu nodded. "That's already a good start. Keep watching him. If he can't behave himself… then make him behave."
He spoke casually, as if the Prefect—Fan Xi—was nothing more than an annoying fly.
Zhang Yuchun didn't consider the man a real threat either. He just found the situation troublesome.
As the Spirit Management Hall Master, he knew all too well how powerful Qingxiao Sect had become.
Even if the state army came to attack, flattening Qingxiao Mountain wouldn't be so simple.
And without a legitimate reason, not even a Prefect had the authority to mobilize an army against a martial sect.
"Oh, Senior Brother," Zhang Yuchun added suddenly, "do you remember that registered disciple recommended by Sixth Junior Sister—Chu Jing? I think he's quite impressive. His aptitude is high, and he's got a sharp mind. I'd like to train him personally."
He smiled, clearly having spoken at length with Chu Jing already.
Li Qingqiu's tone was calm but pointed. "You may, but… do you actually know his background?"
Zhang Yuchun nodded confidently. "He was born in Zhenyang Imperial City, left with his father when he was young, and now wants to return someday. I believe he could serve as Qingxiao Sect's future contact within the capital. He's well educated—perhaps one day he'll even serve in the imperial court. When that time comes, he could be invaluable."
Jiang Zhaoxia snorted coldly. "If he wants to be an official, why bother joining a martial sect in the first place?"
He had no patience for disciples who clearly didn't plan to stay. What did they think Qingxiao Sect was—a stepping stone?
Zhang Yuchun chuckled. "He said the court is treacherous. The Great Li Dynasty now values martial prowess above all, and without strength, he fears he won't survive there. He's waiting for his father's arrangements before returning to the capital."
Li Qingqiu said evenly, "Do as you see fit, Junior Brother. But remember one thing—never underestimate anyone. And never trust anyone completely."
Zhang Yuchun nodded, though whether he truly took those words to heart, only he knew.
The three continued talking, and the topic turned to Li Sifeng.
That kid had yet to send back word—no letters, no news. They couldn't ignore him forever.
"Let Xue Jin handle it," Li Qingqiu decided after some thought. "This time, send him with the Thirteen Blades. Let them build their name further."
After the Nine Absolutes Sect mission, Xue Jin had completely proven himself. Li Qingqiu now considered him a commander on par with Jiang Zhaoxia—someone who could take charge alone.
Jiang Zhaoxia agreed. He no longer personally guided the Thirteen Blades; they'd outgrown the need for direct instruction.
When the moon set and the sun rose again, Jiang Zhaoxia departed with the officials sent by the Prefect to attend the banquet at the state capital.
By noon, the Thirteen Blades also descended the mountain, heading east toward Dongling Prefecture in search of Li Sifeng.
Standing at the peak, Li Qingqiu watched as disciples streamed down the mountain while visitors climbed up, the roads alive with constant motion. The sight filled him with a quiet pride.
Qingxiao Sect was no longer a name whispered among martial artists—it was becoming a force that shaped the world itself.
Turning from the view, Li Qingqiu stepped to the opposite edge of the cliff.
Then, without hesitation, he leapt.
Mist swallowed him whole as his Tianhong Sword unsheathed at his waist. Sword energy burst forth, wrapping around him as he glided effortlessly through the forest below.