After breaking through to the eighth layer of the Nurturing Essence Realm, Li Qingqiu began his routine inspection around Qingxiao Mountain. He spent nearly three hours circling the peaks before returning to Lingxiao Courtyard.
There, Zhang Yuchun was already waiting.
"Senior Brother, Lingxiao Courtyard really needs renovation," Zhang Yuchun said as he approached.
Lingxiao Courtyard was the residence of Qingxiao Sect's upper ranks and the place where major sect affairs were discussed. However, compared to the newer pavilions and halls, its design and furnishings looked outdated.
Li Qingqiu personally didn't mind, but the elders and disciples below felt pressured.
If even the Sect Master's residence wasn't grand enough, how could the Hall Masters, Elders, and True Disciples feel comfortable enjoying their own privileges?
Thus, several people had already approached Zhang Yuchun, urging him to bring it up. He, too, thought it was time for an upgrade.
"Then renovate it," Li Qingqiu replied casually. "I'll stay at Sijin's herb garden for the time being."
Qingxiao Sect had not only grown in numbers but also in wealth. Still, Li Qingqiu never cared much for money. As long as the sect's operations and cultivation supplies were well-funded, that was enough.
What mattered to him was the disciples' cultivation progress and the number of spirit stones the sect possessed.
Lately, he planned to have disciples of the Heavenly Works Hall calculate the total amount of spirit stones produced from the mines and record everything clearly for allocation purposes.
Every True Disciple in the sect received spirit stones to assist their cultivation. Spirit stones didn't just serve as a source of energy—they also helped quickly replenish depleted vital energy.
Relying on natural absorption alone, it would take at least seven days to condense enough qi from heaven and earth to equal a single stone. And in regions where the spiritual energy was thin, it took even longer.
After discussing a few other matters, Zhang Yuchun finally took his leave.
Li Qingqiu returned to his room, took up brush and paper, and began recording his insights from the recent breakthrough.
He intended to document every step of his cultivation—his methods, realizations, and techniques—so that future disciples could reference them and find their own paths to advancement.
His breakthrough to the eighth layer was a milestone for Qingxiao Sect, yet no one else knew.
For him, fame didn't matter. What mattered was seeing his disciples' names spread throughout the martial world, while he himself quietly remained the foundation that supported them all.
…
The next day dawned bright and clear. The Sword Discussion Platform was crowded with Qingxiao Sect disciples and visiting pilgrims, all cheering and shouting encouragement.
On the platform, Li Sifeng was dueling a wandering swordsman. The challenger wasn't part of Qingxiao Sect but a renowned martial expert who had come to claim the Emperor Xuan Sword. Li Sifeng had chosen to personally accept the challenge.
"Hall Master Li's swordsmanship is impressive—sharp yet full of flow."
"They say he often trains in the Sword Sect, and the Sword God himself once taught him a legendary technique."
"Oh? Which sword technique?"
"That man's ranked in the top three of the Heaven Ranking of Dongling Prefecture, but he's no match for Hall Master Li at all!"
"Hah, if that's top-three strength, then maybe the martial world isn't as terrifying as I thought!"
The disciples laughed and whispered among themselves. Most of them had joined the martial world through Qingxiao Sect and thus had a skewed perception of it.
To them, martial experts outside the sect must surely be stronger than their seniors. But as more challengers came up the mountain, they realized that true prodigies like the Sword God were exceedingly rare. The so-called famous masters weren't nearly as frightening as legends claimed.
Just like now—Li Sifeng wasn't even using sword qi, only sword forms, yet his opponent was being toyed with.
In the crowd, Li Sijin stood watching her brother perform, her lips curling in mild annoyance.
She had only come out of concern, afraid her brother might lose, but it turned out she had worried for nothing.
Perhaps she, too, like the others, had misunderstood what the so-called "martial world" truly was.
"Thirty years ago, there was a swordsman who wielded the Dominant Sword and swept through every sword sect under heaven," a voice beside her said suddenly. "In the end, he lost to the Sword God and disappeared without a trace. They called him the Second Sword Master of the Age. I didn't expect the Dominant Sword style to resurface today."
Li Sijin turned her head and saw Chu Jing, the disciple who had first brought her into the sect, standing beside her.
She smiled faintly. "When did you get back? I heard you went down the mountain to train. The world's in chaos right now—you should stay close to the sect."
Chu Jing chuckled. "Training, yes—but really, I just went home to visit my family. Still, I did finish my assigned task."
Li Sijin nodded, curious. "And you know of the Dominant Sword?"
"I once met a wandering hero who discussed it with my father," Chu Jing said. "He told us it was the technique of the Second Sword Master. It's unforgettable once you've seen it. The hallmark of the Dominant Sword is weight—any sword held in the practitioner's hand feels like a heavy weapon. Yet the moves remain fast and unyielding."
Li Sijin turned back to the platform and saw it clearly now.
Li Sifeng's Emperor Xuan Sword looked deceptively light, yet the way he swung it carried a sense of crushing power, as though every strike weighed tons.
Chu Jing's eyes glinted. He suddenly lowered his voice. "I have a sword manual. I couldn't comprehend it myself—it's beyond my comprehension level. Do you want to try learning it?"
Li Sijin hesitated. "That doesn't seem right. I'm a Hall Master now; I can't just take a disciple's manual."
Chu Jing didn't seem concerned about the onlookers. He reached into his robe and pulled out a thin booklet, handing it to her discreetly.
Li Sijin accepted it and glanced at the cover. "Xuan Yin…" she began to read aloud.
"Don't say it out loud!" Chu Jing interrupted quickly. "This manual has a… dangerous origin."
Li Sijin hesitated, half suspicious, but finally nodded. "Alright, I'll give it a try when I get back. I'll remember your kindness. If you ever need help, come find me."
The disciples nearby pretended not to hear a word. Li Sijin's position within the sect was special—she was one of the most favored by both the Sect Master and the Hall Masters. Even if she accepted a gift from a fellow disciple, no one dared to report her.
That same night, Li Sijin went straight to Li Qingqiu and handed him the Xuan Yin Technique manual, explaining how it had come into her hands.
Li Qingqiu carefully examined the manual. There were no missing sections or flaws; its inner workings were sound, structured with clear logic and order.
He recalled that Zhu Yan had once mentioned this technique—it was the core art of the Liyin Cult, one of the Three Great Sects of the Early Dynasties. Not only was its inner cultivation method exquisite, but it also possessed the rare ability to transfer power from one cultivator to another.
'Who exactly is this Chu Jing?' Li Qingqiu wondered. 'And why would he hand such a technique to Li Sijin?'
It was strange—since joining Qingxiao Sect, Chu Jing's loyalty toward both Li Qingqiu and the sect had been steadily increasing. By now, it had surpassed 60 points.
"This Chu Jing… is not simple," Li Qingqiu murmured.
He spoke seriously to Li Sijin, revealing Chu Jing's true age and cultivation level—the same way he had once done when discussing such matters with Zhang Yuchun.
Li Sijin's eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't doubt him. "That explains it! No wonder I always felt something off about him. So he's just… older than he looks."
"Senior Brother, has he done anything suspicious since joining the sect?" she asked.
Li Qingqiu shook his head. "Not yet."
"Then let's keep watching him. I don't think he's a bad person. At least, he's never shown any ill intent toward me or the disciples," she said firmly. "But if you're really worried, Senior Brother, we can summon him right now."
She remembered Chu Jing vividly—not only because she'd met him the same day she successfully cultivated her first spirit plant, but because he had never treated her with the stiff formality most disciples did. Talking to him had felt… normal, almost like speaking with a friend.
As Qingxiao Sect grew stronger, her status had risen with it. Even though she was young, few dared to approach her casually. Chu Jing's ease around her had felt refreshing.
Li Qingqiu thought for a moment. "We'll observe for now. Keep his secret—pretend you don't know his true age or strength."
"Of course. Don't worry, I'll handle this better than Second Senior Brother would!" she said excitedly, a playful grin on her face.
"Make sure you don't neglect your cultivation while managing your hall," Li Qingqiu reminded.
"I know, Senior Brother!"
She shrugged and turned back toward her quarters, still smiling.
Li Qingqiu looked down at the manual on his desk, his curiosity deepening.
'Who exactly is Chu Jing?'
If he had gone down the mountain to leak information, the sect would've been in trouble by now. But instead, his loyalty had continued to grow. That meant his bond to the sect was genuine.
'Could he just be hiding something from his past?' Li Qingqiu thought.
Yet his Fate of the Treacherous Minister made it hard for Li Qingqiu to trust him completely.
At the very least, Chu Jing must have some connection to the imperial court. And if he was an official—why would a court official seek to study martial arts in a sect?
Li Qingqiu decided to have Lin Chuan shadow him. The Mortal God and Ghost Fate granted Li Qingqiu's spirits a natural advantage over other souls, allowing them to intimidate lesser entities. Lin Chuan wouldn't need to get close—just keep track of Chu Jing's movements and report back.
…
After the Crown Prince's death, the Nine Provinces were in uproar. Scholars stirred the hearts of the people, local officials filed petitions, yet the Emperor issued no decrees—ignoring the will of the nation.
Every month, more noble families were executed in purges. Some had their nine generations wiped out.
Each massacre shocked the realm. The Emperor seemed determined to pit himself against the entire world—the more the people cursed him, the more cruel he became.
By April, chaos gripped the martial world. The Demonic Sect resurfaced, slaughtering clans and sects. One massacre left over a thousand dead, yet the court did nothing.
In May, six major martial sects were exterminated in a single night. Around the same time, prison wagons entered the Imperial City, causing an uproar among the commoners. The rumors grew—more and more believed the Demonic Sect was merely the Emperor's blade.
By June, the Northern Barbarians invaded Cangzhou, crushing the Great Li border army and pillaging villages. News of their invasion spread quickly to the other eight provinces.
Internal strife, foreign invasion—the entire land felt the approach of an age of chaos.
By early July, the air itself seemed to boil.
The newly rebuilt Lingxiao Courtyard stood complete—three grand pavilions connected by corridors, elegantly furnished and filled with treasures. Its appearance now reflected the growing might of Qingxiao Sect.
In the courtyard, Li Qingqiu sat at a long table he had personally chosen to keep from the old courtyard, reviewing the status panels of newly accepted disciples.
Zhang Yuchun entered briskly. "Senior Brother, someone from the Cai Clan of Linchuan has arrived. His name is Cai Liang, the direct heir of the Cai family. He requests an audience with you."
Li Qingqiu frowned slightly.
Linchuan's Four Great Families—the Li, Tang, Cui, and Cai—were among the most powerful noble houses in the Great Li Dynasty. Their influence spread through every government bureau; their wealth and heritage ran deep.
Even compared to the Pei Clan, which once opposed Qingxiao Sect, these families were on another level.
"Let him in," Li Qingqiu said calmly.
Zhang Yuchun nodded and went to fetch the visitor.
Moments later, he returned, leading a man in his early thirties. Cai Liang came alone, dressed in blue robes. His refined demeanor and composed expression radiated the air of an educated nobleman.
He approached Li Qingqiu, cupped his hands in greeting—and his very first words froze both Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun in place.
"I am Cai Liang of the Cai Clan," he said steadily. "May I ask—Sect Master, are you willing to rebel?"