Li Qingqiu agreed to Zhang Yu's last-minute price hike. He decided to first assess Zhang Yu's teaching ability. If he proved unsatisfactory, he could always be dismissed later.
That evening at dinner, Li Qingqiu announced that from tomorrow onward, all disciples would begin their studies. They would attend Zhang Yu's classes in the newly cleared open ground below the mountain gate. No skipping class was permitted.
So, the next morning after training, everyone except Li Qingqiu went to class. Even Yang Jueding was curious whether this teacher had any real skill.
In his view, Zhang Yu's asking price was too high!
Since becoming Martial Arts Transmission Elder, Yang Jueding had started considering things from the Azure Firmament Sect's perspective.
At noon, Li Qingqiu returned to the courtyard and listened to his junior siblings' opinions. Their assessment of Zhang Yu was surprisingly high. They found his teaching engaging. Even Yang Jueding admitted Zhang Yu truly had some learning.
Hearing this, Li Qingqiu was reassured.
But unfortunately, no matter how good the teaching method, students eventually grow bored.
A month later.
Li Qingqiu took Xu Ning up the mountain. They had visited the underground spirit lake today, and Xu Ning had successfully reached the second layer of the Nourishing Origin stage. Her small face glowed, unable to hide her smile.
Arriving at the open ground below the mountain gate, Li Qingqiu saw Zhang Yu instructing five disciples.
"Your diligence pleases me. Don't you dare follow Li Sifeng's example. That boy will suffer for his temperament one day."
Zhang Yu's tone, when mentioning Li Sifeng, was thick with indignation.
Hearing this from a distance, Li Qingqiu knew Li Sifeng had pulled some prank on Zhang Yu again.
Once they'd grown familiar, Li Sifeng loved joking with Zhang Yu and teasing him for not practicing martial arts.
That's right—Zhang Yu didn't practice martial arts. He said his master, the Nine Veins Elder, had established this rule: one who learns the art of stealing from heaven cannot practice martial arts. He had always kept this injunction.
Li Qingqiu shot Xu Ning a glance. She understood. They lowered their footsteps and quietly crept up behind Zhang Yu.
Zhang Yu caught them in his peripheral vision and his eyes went wide. He waved hurriedly. "Sect Master! I have something to discuss with you!"
Li Qingqiu pretended not to hear, quickening his pace up the steps. Xu Ning followed close behind. Master and disciple entered the mountain gate one after the other.
Zhang Yu lowered his hand in frustration. Before the disciples, he had to maintain the dignity of a teacher and could not utter coarse words.
On the other side.
Li Qingqiu made his way to the courtyard. He spotted Li Dongyue sitting under a tree, holding little Yuan Li in her arms. Yuan Qi stood nearby, amusing his brother.
In another corner of the courtyard, two female disciples were weaving clothes. Seeing Li Qingqiu enter, they quickly stood and raised their hands in salute—a courtesy Zhang Yu had taught them.
Zhang Yu felt the Azure Firmament Sect's rules were insufficiently clear. Bowing might seem conventional, but it reinforced hierarchy. If juniors never saluted elders, over time they'd grow lax and even lose respect for their seniors.
Li Qingqiu didn't entirely agree, but since Zhang Yuchun, Jiang Zhaoxia, and Yang Jueding all approved, he let Zhang Yu teach the formalities.
Li Qingqiu nodded to the two female disciples, then started toward Li Dongyue. Zhang Yuchun emerged from a nearby room and hurried over.
"Senior Brother, I need to borrow someone!" Zhang Yuchun grabbed Li Qingqiu, his expression serious.
"Borrow who?"
"Third Senior Brother. I've had no luck recruiting down the mountain. I finally encountered a martial arts master who declared that if anyone can defeat him, he'll grant that person one request—even serve them as a slave for life. I want to ask Third Senior Brother to fight him, but he's worried about the Seven Peaks Alliance or the Azure Cult attacking and won't go down."
Zhang Yuchun looked helpless. He felt the Azure Firmament Sect would face no trouble for the next six months. Even if trouble came, they could handle it without Jiang Zhaoxia.
Li Qingqiu pressed, "Are you sure he's a master?"
"Yes. This expert has been living in a forest at the edge of the Taikun Mountain Range for several years, they say. He's eccentric. I went to see him a few days ago—he truly has skill. I couldn't defeat him, so I rushed back to request Third Senior Brother's help. I'm afraid he might leave, or someone else might get to him first."
Zhang Yuchun's face showed genuine anxiety.
He was truly worried about recruiting for the Azure Firmament Sect. Aside from the village at the mountain's foot, he couldn't attract disciples anywhere else. When people heard "Azure Firmament Sect," they assumed it had no future. Also, he was too young—he didn't seem reliable.
The Azure Firmament Sect had many tasks now, but the disciples were too young. Labor was scarce. He had to find a way to recruit experts into the sect.
Li Qingqiu considered. The fact that Zhang Yuchun had challenged that man and failed yet still returned alive meant the man wasn't bloodthirsty. Letting Jiang Zhaoxia go was acceptable. Zhang Yuchun had been run ragged lately; he deserved to have this wish fulfilled.
"Go ahead. Tell Third Senior Brother I agree." Li Qingqiu nodded.
Zhang Yuchun was overjoyed. He quickly thanked Li Qingqiu and hurried off.
The bond between the senior brothers was genuine. If Zhang Yuchun said Li Qingqiu agreed, Jiang Zhaoxia would believe him. And of course, Zhang Yuchun wouldn't lie—before receiving Li Qingqiu's consent, he would never issue orders in Li Qingqiu's name.
Li Qingqiu approached Li Dongyue and smiled. "Dongyue, take good care of this little one. I feel he could become the Azure Firmament Sect's future pride."
Li Dongyue's smile was gentle. "Whether he excels or not, I'll take good care of him."
"Sect Master, if you truly believe that, will you accept my little brother as your disciple?" Yuan Qi asked hopefully.
Since arriving at the Azure Firmament Sect, his relationship with Li Qingqiu had grown more distant. He understood that earning Li Qingqiu's recognition wasn't easy. At the very least, he hadn't yet displayed exceptional martial talent. Some nights, he felt a quiet sadness.
Li Qingqiu grinned. "Alright. When he grows up and learns to read, I'll accept him as my disciple."
Yuan Qi was overjoyed. He immediately knelt and kowtowed in thanks.
Li Dongyue noticed Li Qingqiu hadn't stopped him. She marveled inwardly—could little Yuan Li truly possess extraordinary talent?
Xu Ning's cultivation achievements had proven Li Qingqiu's judgment. With so many disciples in the Azure Firmament Sect, Li Qingqiu rarely accepted disciples. This showed how strict his standards were.
"Rise, Yuan Qi. Don't focus solely on your brother. You must work hard at martial arts too. Aptitude is one thing, but acquired effort is equally important."
Li Qingqiu spoke earnestly. Yuan Qi rose and nodded solemnly.
After a brief chat with Li Dongyue, Li Qingqiu returned to his room. He felt somewhat fatigued today—likely from excessive spiritual energy consumption while practicing the Resurrection Ghost Immortal Needle.
Immortal cultivators could forgo sleep, but only when their spiritual energy wasn't depleted. For Li Qingqiu, an occasional dream wasn't bad.
He slept deeply, only waking to the sound of commotion outside.
He opened his eyes. Through the window, the sky was dark.
He wondered why no one had called him for dinner.
He sat up and immediately heard someone begging for mercy in the courtyard, along with other disciples angrily shouting.
"Hmm? An outsider?"
Li Qingqiu rose and walked toward the door.
Meanwhile, near the courtyard entrance, over a dozen disciples had gathered. In their midst knelt a young man in black robes. His face was a mess of bruises and swelling, tears streaming down. Hands clasped together, he begged pathetically for mercy.
Xu Ning stood before him, her small face stern.
Zhang Yuchun and Jiang Zhaoxia had already gone down the mountain with provisions. No one had dispersed the crowd of disciples, and with so many gathered, the noise level was high.
Yang Jueding vaulted over the courtyard wall and landed. Standing behind the disciples, he focused his gaze and exclaimed in surprise.
"Cheng Canghai? What are you doing here?" Yang Jueding asked.
The kneeling black-robed man looked at him. There was no joy in his expression—only shame. He hung his head, wishing he could crawl into a hole.
As Li Qingqiu emerged from his room, Li Dongyue approached with little Yuan Li in her arms. They exchanged glances. Li Dongyue shook her head—she didn't know what was happening either.
"What's all this racket?"
Li Qingqiu strode over and asked.
At the sound of his voice, the disciples quickly parted and saluted him.
Zhang Yu, standing at the edge, nodded with satisfaction at this scene.
Qin Ye spoke first. "Master, this man sneaked into our sect to steal. Senior Sister caught him."
The "Senior Sister" he referred to was, naturally, Xu Ning. Though Xu Ning was younger than him, she had become Li Qingqiu's disciple first, and her martial arts were formidable. He was thoroughly convinced.
Stealing?
Li Qingqiu didn't doubt it. The Azure Firmament Sect was different now; it had things worth stealing.
He walked up to Cheng Canghai and looked him over.
Cheng Canghai hurriedly explained, "I was just hungry... I wanted to take a little food..."
Xu Ning cut him off sharply. "A little food? You stole an entire roast chicken! And you took two jars of wine—which you smashed on the ground! This isn't over!"
Li Qingqiu's expression darkened upon hearing this.
Though the Azure Firmament Sect had money now, with so many mouths to feed, every expense had to be carefully budgeted. A whole roast chicken was a rare luxury. How dare this man steal it!
"I'll pay you back! Give me a chance—within five days, I'll definitely bring money to compensate you!"
Cheng Canghai spoke urgently, throwing caution to the wind. He turned to Yang Jueding. "Dragon Subduing Hero, you know the weight of my promises. Speak up for me!"
Hearing that two jars of wine were gone, Yang Jueding was furious. Now Cheng Canghai wanted him to plead for mercy? Yang Jueding snapped, "Speak up for you? I'm ashamed to know you! The great King of Thieves, instead of stealing from corrupt officials who oppress the people, you come up this mountain to steal chicken and wine? And on top of that, you get caught by a child? Aren't you embarrassed?"
At this, Cheng Canghai couldn't hold back. He burst into loud sobs. "Yang Jueding, you call this a child? She's practically a demon child! You wouldn't stand a chance against her either!"
Yang Jueding was incensed. How could he possibly not be a match for Xu Ning?
He had watched Xu Ning come up the mountain himself. How long had it been? Had she truly surpassed the power of his twenty years of bitter cultivation?
But when his gaze inadvertently swept across Xu Ning's profile, his heart inexplicably quivered.