Li Qingqiu had always believed that the Transmission Voice Technique was something every cultivator should master. So, he spent time studying it carefully—and finally succeeded.
Now, he was using his own vital energy to send his words directly into Jiang Zhaoxia's mind, allowing only him to hear.
Seeing the shock and amazement spread across Jiang Zhaoxia's face, Li Qingqiu felt an undeniable sense of accomplishment.
After the group dispersed, Jiang Zhaoxia followed him into the room, pressing for an explanation. Li Qingqiu didn't hide anything and taught him the method behind the technique. Jiang Zhaoxia immediately wanted to learn.
The Transmission Voice Technique itself wasn't hard—it was inventing it that was difficult. Jiang Zhaoxia, however, grasped it after just one stick of incense worth of time. Once satisfied, he left happily.
The next morning, Li Sifeng, Wu Man'er, and Zhang Yu departed with Qin Ye and his two companions. As they descended the mountain path, many disciples saw them and wondered why they were leaving the sect. Ever boastful, Li Sifeng loudly declared that they were heading to Martial God Pass to slay a demon general.
The news spread quickly throughout Qingxiao Sect, filling disciples with excitement and pride.
That afternoon, Li Qingqiu went to the Spiritual Mine to meet Qin Ye's son, Qin Jue.
Qin Ye wanted his son to come down the mountain and bring honor to their family. Li Qingqiu was simply there to deliver the message—it was up to Qin Jue to decide.
Since his defeat to Ji Ya, Qin Jue had gone into seclusion at the Spiritual Mine, devoting himself to cultivation. Now, he had already reached the fourth layer of the Nurturing Essence Realm, an impressive improvement, though most of it was thanks to the mine's dense spiritual energy.
Qin Jue knew this clearly. His loyalty toward Li Qingqiu had already reached 97 points.
"Master, I want to fight on the battlefield," Qin Jue said firmly. "I want to make Senior Wu's Ten Thousand Armies Demon-Subduing Staff famous across the land!"
Li Qingqiu wasn't surprised and smiled. "Then leave the mountain tomorrow. Go to the prefecture first—your family has already moved there. Your father's even prepared a divine weapon that suits you perfectly."
Qin Jue nodded, then hesitated before asking, "Master… will I still be considered a disciple of Qingxiao Sect afterward?"
Li Qingqiu gave him a sidelong glance. "Did I ever say I was expelling you from the sect?"
Hearing that, Qin Jue broke into a wide grin. It was the first genuine smile he'd shown in two years.
Li Qingqiu raised his hand and revealed a black token. "This is the Qingxiao Sword Sect Order," he said seriously. "If you ever stray from the right path and use the Qingxiao Sect's martial arts to harm innocent people, the Sword Sect will come for you with this order. You'll receive the punishment you deserve—even death."
Qin Jue stared at the sword-shaped black token, momentarily dazed.
In the following days, the Qingxiao Sword Sect Order appeared before all the disciples. It was Li Qingqiu's intention to make sure everyone recognized it.
It was a clear sign—the Sword Sect could be activated at any time.
…
In the main hall of the Spirit Management Hall stood rows of antique wooden cabinets, each containing name scrolls of disciples. In front of the wall opposite the doors sat a table for handling official duties.
Zhang Ping sat at the table, holding an odd-looking book filled with strange stories and rumors from the martial world.
It was his turn on duty today. Usually, as long as nothing special happened, the hall wasn't too busy.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor. Zhang Ping looked up and saw Zhang Yuchun entering.
"Hall Master Zhang, do you know why Senior Brother Chu Jing hasn't returned yet?" Zhang Ping asked quickly.
Because Zhang Yuchun had always treated him kindly, he felt comfortable asking about Chu Jing's whereabouts.
Chu Jing had been gone for several months, and Zhang Ping couldn't stop worrying. He hadn't been able to focus on his reading for days.
Zhang Yuchun stopped in front of him. If anyone else had asked, he wouldn't have said a word—but this disciple was someone the Sect Master valued highly. A few words of warning wouldn't hurt.
"He most likely won't be coming back," Zhang Yuchun said quietly as he walked up to the table.
Zhang Ping's eyes widened. "Why? Did something happen to him?"
Zhang Yuchun glanced around, making sure no one else was nearby, before leaning in and whispering, "Actually, his identity was special. He joined Qingxiao Sect with ulterior motives. He's probably been gone so long because he's afraid of being exposed. I can only tell you this much."
"Chu Jing was connected to the Demonic Sect."
The words struck like lightning.
Zhang Ping's face went pale, his pupils trembling violently.
Zhang Yuchun knew the two had been close and worried the young man wouldn't believe him, so he added, "Chu Jing always acted friendly and kind, never angry with anyone. But you can never truly know a man's heart. Don't doubt me on this…"
"I believe you!" Zhang Ping cut him off, his voice shaking.
As he recalled Chu Jing's constant kindness, an icy fear crept over him. He had heard the stories about the Demonic Sect—every one of them monstrous and evil.
'Had Chu Jing already targeted me?'
'Very possible!'
He was just an ordinary disciple, yet Chu Jing had always been unusually friendly to him. Was he trying to recruit him as an informant?
Zhang Yuchun hadn't expected Zhang Ping to believe him so readily and was momentarily stunned. But then he noticed the young man's face growing even paler and suddenly remembered what his Senior Brother had said:
"This one's got a weak temperament. When trouble comes, he tends to run from it. Don't let him think about leaving Qingxiao Sect."
Zhang Yuchun didn't know why the Sect Master valued Zhang Ping so much, but since he'd been warned, he had to follow through.
"If Chu Jing really had his eyes on you," Zhang Yuchun said seriously, "then whatever you do, don't leave Qingxiao Sect. As long as you stay here, no one can harm you."
Zhang Ping froze. He had just been considering leaving the sect to find a small, unknown one where no one recognized him.
But after hearing Zhang Yuchun's warning, he didn't dare. The very thought of going down the mountain now filled him with fear.
Zhang Yuchun watched the shifting expressions on Zhang Ping's face with amusement. It was the first time he had ever seen someone's emotions change so vividly, and he almost burst out laughing.
"This matter must not be spoken of," Zhang Yuchun warned. "We can't alert the snake before striking it."
After giving that final reminder, he turned and left.
Zhang Ping sat frozen at the desk, dazed. The world suddenly felt full of hidden malice, as if danger lurked behind every shadow.
…
After his morning cultivation, Li Qingqiu changed into a travel-ready outfit, his long black robe replaced by a more agile martial style. He arrived at the cliffside behind the mountain and stood silently before the thick sea of mist that filled the valley.
After a while, a fierce gust of wind swept through the canyon, scattering the fog. A moment later, an enormous silhouette appeared—Xiao Ba had arrived.
The creature's head was already as large as Li Qingqiu's entire body. Its sharp golden eyes gleamed like gemstones as it let out a crisp, resonant cry.
Xiao Ba had now reached the fourth layer of the Nurturing Essence Realm. After years of guidance, it had mastered the energy absorption technique from the Supreme Purity and Primordial Harmony Sutra and truly set foot on the path of cultivation.
Not only that, but Xiao Ba and Li Qingqiu had formed a spiritual bond. Even though the eagle couldn't speak human language, Li Qingqiu could clearly sense its thoughts.
It was a strange and profound feeling—one that made him see Xiao Ba as something far beyond a mere beast. In his eyes, it had become like a person—perhaps a young boy of eight or nine.
Or rather, more accurately, Xiao Ba had already become a yao, a spirit creature.
"They should be almost there by now," Li Qingqiu murmured. "Let's go."
With a light step, he leapt onto Xiao Ba's back.
He had already informed Zhang Yuchun that he would be leaving the mountain for a few days and instructed not to disturb the sect in his absence. Zhang Yuchun hadn't questioned it—after all, with Li Qingqiu's strength, there was nowhere unsafe for him. Besides, the current Qingxiao Sect was no longer what it used to be. With Jiang Zhaoxia and Xu Ning guarding the sect, even the strongest enemies would hesitate to attack.
Xiao Ba flapped its massive wings, soaring forward through the wind. Li Qingqiu stood steadily on its back, his robes fluttering, his long hair whipping in the rush of air.
He didn't know the way north from Qingxiao Mountain to Zhongtian Prefecture, but Xiao Ba remembered. When Li Sifeng and the others had departed earlier, he had secretly instructed Xiao Ba to follow and memorize their route.
Li Qingqiu couldn't rest easy about Wu Man'er. Their opponent this time wasn't some back-alley bandit but a terrifying general who likely consumed the Martial God Pill.
He had always been deeply curious about the pill. He had already asked Chen Huilan to try refining one for research, but the rare ingredients had delayed progress.
The development of Qingxiao Sect had taught him something—money wasn't the most important resource. Some treasures could never be bought, no matter how much wealth one had.
As the flight continued, Li Qingqiu's thoughts drifted to the scenery below. He had often ridden Xiao Ba around the Taikun Mountain Range, but never this far. Now, as they soared over unfamiliar lands, his heart felt both vast and small.
From above, the world stretched endlessly. Mountains rippled like waves, rivers glimmered like silk threads, and even as a cultivator, he felt humbled before the immensity of heaven and earth.
He suddenly wondered—did Emperor Zhao Zhi, who ruled all this land, ever truly look upon his empire from such a height? Could a mortal emperor ever grasp the full grandeur of his own domain?
'No,' Li Qingqiu thought with a faint smile. 'Only those who cultivate can see the world as it truly is.'
…
Xiao Ba's speed was astonishing. The journey from Qingxiao Mountain to Zhongtian Prefecture took less than two hours, faster than the airplanes of Li Qingqiu's previous life.
Standing on the eagle's back, Li Qingqiu soon saw it—the legendary Martial God Pass.
The fortress stood wedged between two cliffs, stretching for hundreds of zhang, magnificent and imposing. Behind the pass lay the imperial army's vast encampments, endless rows of tents stretching toward the horizon. In front of it spread a barren wasteland, stained with splashes of dark red. From a closer look, those stains were pools of blood—battlefields soaked by countless fallen soldiers.
The allied army of seven provinces was stationed in the hills about ten li away from the pass. From the air, the surrounding mountains looked treacherous and sharp, while the canyon guarded by the Martial God Pass resembled a giant dragon coiled protectively across the land.
Li Qingqiu urged Xiao Ba to climb higher—he wanted a wider view of Zhongtian Prefecture.
Xiao Ba tilted its wings and ascended swiftly, cutting through layers of cloud until the world below lay completely revealed.
From this height, Li Qingqiu could see clearly why Zhongtian Prefecture had been chosen as the imperial heartland through the ages. Its mountain ranges formed a natural fortress along its borders, with the Martial God Pass serving as the single gate of entry.
Martial artists could cross the mountains freely, but armies with horses, chariots, and supplies would never make it past those jagged peaks.
Seeing that the allied forces were not yet moving, Li Qingqiu assumed no battle would occur today. He directed Xiao Ba toward the nearest city.
Though "nearest" was relative—it was still over one hundred li away.
As they approached the city, Li Qingqiu dismounted, choosing to enter on foot. After so many years in seclusion on the mountain, he wanted to walk among the world again, to see its colors and crowds.
The city was called Pancheng. It wasn't as prosperous as Zhongtian's capital, but it was a well-known large city nonetheless. Inns and shops lined the busy streets, while wandering martial artists passed by in groups.
Walking through the streets, Li Qingqiu could hear people talking everywhere about the ongoing war at Martial God Pass. The name "Chang Wu" came up often, spoken with both fear and hatred. Even here—so close to Zhongtian Prefecture—people still called him the Demon General. It showed just how little faith the people had in the imperial court.