As evening descended, Li Qingqiu returned to Lingxiao Courtyard with Zhao Zhen by his side. The boy chattered nonstop, proudly recounting how smoothly he had taught Li Yang the Divine Dragon Transformation that day. Zhao Zhen was clearly pleased with himself.
To Li Qingqiu, however, the credit did not belong to Zhao Zhen's teaching—it was because Li Yang's comprehension was exceptionally high. Perhaps due to the influence of his Dragon Soul, Li Yang was naturally suited for this technique.
Inside the courtyard, Zhang Yuchun was already waiting. When Zhao Zhen saw him, he quickly stepped aside, giving them privacy.
"Today, some disciples were ambushed at the foot of the mountain," Zhang Yuchun reported, frowning. "Five disciples were injured. Fortunately, the assailant was captured—but he secretly took poison on the way up and died. The trail went cold."
Li Qingqiu nodded calmly. "Bring the body here. Let me take a look."
Zhang Yuchun bowed and hurried off.
Li Qingqiu walked to the long table and sat down. By habit, he opened the Dao Lineage panel to check on the sect's status. New disciples joined every day, and he always reviewed their records, noting whether any disciple portraits had disappeared—a sign of death.
A short while later, Zhang Yuchun returned with two Spirit Management Hall disciples carrying a stretcher covered by a white cloth.
Li Qingqiu turned his head slightly. He could already see the faintly flickering soul hovering above the corpse.
After death, a soul lingers for seven days before entering reincarnation.
When the stretcher was set down, Li Qingqiu rose to his feet. Standing before the body, he extended a hand and began casting the Soul-Binding Curse. His eyes instantly turned a deep, glowing purple.
The two disciples gasped, startled, and even Zhang Yuchun froze in shock.
Li Qingqiu had done this intentionally—he wanted them to see it. In the past, he'd hidden this ability, believing Qingxiao Sect lacked the strength to bear such revelations. Moreover, this had once been the only spiritual curse he knew.
But things were different now. The sect was growing stronger by the day, and Li Qingqiu himself had obtained the Mortal God and Ghost Fate. During moments of rest, he had even begun creating new soul arts of his own.
It was time to start shifting his disciples' perception—slowly and carefully.
He wanted them to realize a truth: Qingxiao Sect was not a martial sect, but a cultivation sect.
He would guide their hearts away from chasing fame and fortune, toward pursuing immortality and longevity. Only then would their loyalty remain eternal.
But he couldn't reveal it all at once. It had to be gradual—step by step.
He began by revealing this to his most loyal disciples, those whose loyalty levels exceeded 90.
Zhang Yuchun stared at his senior brother's violet eyes in stunned silence. He had always believed that Li Qingqiu was guided by divine visions from immortals—but this sight still filled him with awe and fear.
It was the instinctive terror one feels before the unknown.
The two Spirit Management disciples, however, quickly recovered from their shock. Now their gazes burned with fervent reverence.
Rumors of the Sect Master's "divine dreams" had already spread across the sect. Many doubted them—but Li Qingqiu's extraordinary feats and unshakable presence only strengthened those whispers.
Now, seeing this miracle with their own eyes, they knew one thing for certain—this was no mere martial technique!
A moment later, the purple light faded from Li Qingqiu's eyes. His expression returned to normal as he said, "This man was from the Taiwu Sect. He came here for our Supreme Purity and Primordial Harmony Sutra."
At that name, Zhang Yuchun's brows furrowed deeply.
Taiwu Sect—one of the Three Great Founding Sects of the Empire, a true giant of the martial world. They stood leagues above the seven former major sects of Guzhou.
One of the disciples couldn't help but ask, "Sect Master, how did you know his background and purpose? Just now—your eyes…"
Li Qingqiu smiled faintly. "My eyes can see through all things. It's an arcane art. One day, I'll pass this art on to you—and to others. But until then, can you keep this secret for me?"
The two disciples were visibly moved. They bowed low, promising solemnly never to speak a word.
Zhang Yuchun, however, quietly pondered his senior brother's intent. Since the day Li Qingqiu had become Sect Master, everything he did had purpose behind it. Zhang had tried to learn from him, but he could never fully see through his plans.
"Alright," Li Qingqiu said, waving a hand. "Take the body away and bury it somewhere discreet."
The two disciples bowed again and carried the stretcher away.
Once they were gone, Zhang Yuchun asked, "Senior Brother, you're not thinking of sending people to destroy Taiwu Sect, are you?"
Li Qingqiu shot him a glare. "What do you take me for, a bloodthirsty demon? Incidents like this will keep happening. There will always be those who covet the Primordial Harmony Sutra. Figuring out how to protect it—that's your problem to solve."
With that, he sat back down.
At present, Qingxiao Sect faced countless troubles—some open, some hidden. Every major power now kept a wary eye on them. As long as none posed an immediate threat to the sect's survival, Li Qingqiu didn't bother to intervene. These challenges were perfect tests for his subordinates' growth.
Zhang Yuchun smiled softly. This time, he understood his brother's intent. He felt both honored by the trust and eager to prove himself worthy of it.
"Oh, and one more thing," Li Qingqiu added, glancing up. "The six disciples who subdued that thief—they deserve a reward. You decide how to handle it."
Zhang Yuchun frowned slightly. Rewarding them wouldn't be easy—because one of those six was Chu Jing.
…
The flames of rebellion spread like wildfire across the land. With Prince Zhao Qi of Wei leading the charge, uprisings erupted throughout the Nine Provinces. Commoners raised banners, noble families fought for power, and chaos swept the realm.
By late September, drastic changes came to Guzhou Prefecture.
Inside the Governor's Residence, Governor Fan Xi sat silently in the great hall, his expression dark and heavy. The teacup in his trembling hand rattled faintly against the table.
Clang—
A loud crash echoed through the courtyard as the main gate was kicked open. In the next instant, a deafening clap of thunder rolled across the sky, startling Fan Xi so badly that he jolted in his chair. He turned his head just in time to see a group of men in black, all armed with blades, pouring into the courtyard and surrounding the main hall.
Then, an old man in a yellow robe strode in with a domineering presence, his movements sharp and powerful like a tiger descending the mountain. The moment Fan Xi saw him, his expression hardened. "Qin Meng," he spat, clenching his jaw. "It's you. You bought off Jiang Yan, didn't you?"
The yellow-robed elder, Qin Meng, grinned. "Governor Fan, you're a righteous man. You don't love money—but others do. Some are smarter than you too. They know chaos is coming and want to build up their nest egg. You, on the other hand, came here empty-handed—no foundation, no wealth, no army. Tell me, how long did you really think you could keep that seat?"
Fan Xi drew in a deep breath. "You people are too sure of yourselves. What makes you so certain the age of chaos will come? If His Majesty suppresses the uprisings, your Qin clan will have no future left."
Qin Meng raised a hand. A black-clad man carrying a long sword stepped forward, approaching Fan Xi.
"I'm not certain," Qin Meng said coldly, "but I know one thing—opportunity doesn't come twice. If you want to rise, you need courage. Looks like you've got no last words, Governor Fan. Then die."
His eyes were filled with murderous intent.
Fan Xi felt despair flood his heart. He knew no martial arts—there was no way he could escape from the Governor's Residence alive.
"Oh, right," Qin Meng added, almost as an afterthought, a mocking smile curling on his lips. "Hall Master Zhang Yuchun of Qingxiao Sect asked me to tell you—your little plot to assassinate the Sect Master is now officially settled."
Fan Xi's eyes widened in horror, but before he could speak, the black-clad assassin lunged forward.
Puchi!
Blood splattered across the painting hanging on the wall. Outside, the lightning flared and dimmed again, thunder echoing endlessly.
Qin Meng never noticed that, far away on a rooftop, a figure in a black cloak and a fearsome demon mask was silently watching him.
It was Xuan Gong.
Under the churning storm clouds, the demon mask reflected a sharp, icy gleam. Xuan Gong's eyes were utterly cold, devoid of emotion. Just as Qin Meng turned to leave the hall, Xuan Gong's figure vanished soundlessly from the roof.
…
At Lingxiao Courtyard, Li Qingqiu sat at the long table, calmly pouring tea.
Yuan Qi entered with Ma Yu and Jia Yi.
The moment Jia Yi saw Li Qingqiu, he rushed forward, fell to his knees, and cried out, "Sect Master! Please, you must save me! The Martial Enforcement Guard is hunting me down! I have nowhere else to go—only you can protect me!"
Li Qingqiu didn't look at Jia Yi. Instead, his eyes shifted to Ma Yu.
Ma Yu understood and stepped forward, presenting a sealed letter.
Yuan Qi glanced briefly at Jia Yi. The man looked oddly familiar, but Yuan Qi didn't linger—he bowed silently and withdrew from the courtyard.
Jia Yi remained kneeling, his forehead pressed to the floor.
Li Qingqiu read through the letter written by Feng Dai. Upon finishing, a faint smile appeared on his face. Feng Dai was safe—and that made Li Qingqiu all the more satisfied with him.
The man still had skill.
The letter also contained reports from Zhenyang City. After the Emperor retook control of the royal capital, the Martial Enforcement Guard had been patrolling every night. Rumors spread that many children had vanished, and even unmarried young women had disappeared from their chambers. Fear gripped the capital. Feng Dai suspected the Emperor himself was involved, and he planned to find a way into the court to investigate further.
When he had sheltered Jia Yi, he discovered the Martial Enforcement Guard was circulating Jia Yi's portrait. With no other choice, Feng Dai secretly arranged for Jia Yi to escape.
After reading the letter, Li Qingqiu gestured for Ma Yu to sit. "Have some tea."
Ma Yu hesitated for a moment but eventually obeyed, taking the cup respectfully.
Li Qingqiu turned to the man kneeling before him. "Tell me—have you had children these past few years?"
After losing his position in the Heaven-Guardian Division, Jia Yi's only remaining worth was his Ancestor of the Immortal Emperor Fate.
Jia Yi raised his head cautiously. "These years, I've lived in hiding, always on edge. I haven't dared to marry or have children."
"If you don't marry or have children, your heart will never find peace. And if your heart is restless, how can I trust you?" Li Qingqiu said casually.
Jia Yi panicked. "Sect Master, I have a fiancée back in my hometown. I was just planning to fetch my parents and bring them here, before the Martial Enforcement Guard finds them. Once I do, I'll marry her—and then bring my wife back to Qingxiao Sect. Please, grant me this chance."
Ever since witnessing the brutal methods of the Martial Enforcement Guard, Jia Yi had been living in constant fear. To him, Qingxiao Sect was the only truly safe place left in the world. Besides, he carried a curse placed on him by the Sect Master himself—one that required regular treatment from Li Qingqiu. No matter where he ran, he couldn't escape.
"Alright. Go."
Li Qingqiu waved his hand. As he spoke, two silver needles shot from his fingers, piercing Jia Yi's forehead. The man froze in terror, but then a cool wave of energy surged through his body.
He thought Li Qingqiu was relieving him of the curse's pain. Overjoyed, he kowtowed repeatedly when the needles withdrew from his forehead as if drawn by an invisible thread.
"Sect Master Li," Jia Yi said, bowing low. "Wait for me. In half a year at most, I'll return with my family."
He bowed again and hurried out of the courtyard.
Ma Yu watched, puzzled. He had no idea why Li Qingqiu had treated Jia Yi with acupuncture, but the sight of those floating silver needles had left him stunned—and deeply intrigued.
Li Qingqiu looked at him and said, "Feng Dai asked me in his letter to look after you. Will you stay in Qingxiao Sect?"
At those words, Ma Yu's face changed. He immediately rose to his feet. "My lord saved my life—how could I abandon him? But I thank Sect Master Li for his kindness. Farewell!"
He clasped his hands, bowed, and turned to leave—running even faster than Jia Yi.