"Help them? Why should we help?"
Li Qingqiu asked calmly, his gaze falling on Xiao Wudi with clear satisfaction.
Among the three Xiao brothers, the one with the best cultivation aptitude and comprehension was Xiao Wuqing. Both were excellent, much like Li Yang and Ji Ya. But Xiao Wudi possessed the Fate of Born Body Cultivator, and when cultivating the body-refining method created by Zhao Zhen, he left the other two far behind. His strength clearly surpassed both Xiao Wuqing and Xiao Wuming.
Zhang Yuchun asked in surprise, "Senior Brother, since we won't help either side, then what did you mean earlier by 'the Emperor's Mandate of Immortal Authority'?"
Had he misunderstood?
Li Qingqiu replied, "It means exactly what you think. The mandate of kingship will be decided by us—but how do we decide it? Naturally, by seeing who can truly bring peace to this world and whose heart aligns with Qingxiao Sect."
Zhang Yuchun thought for a moment and said, "So, Senior Brother means we should let them fight for a while first, to see who proves to be a wise ruler?"
"A chaotic age will always claim many lives," Li Qingqiu said evenly. "But if we choose a tyrant or an incapable king, even more will die—and the living will suffer a fate worse than death."
His tone was calm, almost cold.
Zhang Yuchun nodded in agreement. When Zhao Zhi ruled, the people lived in constant fear—those days truly were worse than death for many.
"From now on," Li Qingqiu instructed, "for any matter involving the conflicts of the mortal realm, no matter who approaches Qingxiao Sect, refuse them. And make sure the Training Hall does not accept any missions related to battlefields."
Although Li Sifeng possessed the heart of an emperor, Li Qingqiu had no intention of helping him forcefully.
If Li Sifeng lacked the strength to bear such a fate, it was better for him to give up early and return to Qingxiao Sect to cultivate immortality. Li Qingqiu would even prefer that outcome.
As for Pei Miao'er's Fate of Twin Dragon Empress, it held little significance in Li Qingqiu's eyes. He never intended to follow her destiny's script.
Li Qingqiu disliked being led by the strings of another's fate.
If something didn't affect him, he would let it be. But if it did, he wouldn't hesitate to rewrite fate itself.
Zhang Yuchun pondered his words, already weighing his own plans in his mind.
The two talked for a while longer before Zhang Yuchun took his leave.
After the Xiao brothers exhausted their vital energy, Li Qingqiu allowed them to rest.
He then began pointing out their weaknesses and laid out each of their future cultivation paths. When he finished, he told Xiao Wuqing to spend more time around the mountain and interact with the other disciples.
"Among you three," Li Qingqiu said, "Wudi has a firm, unyielding temperament, while Wuming likes to keep things bottled up inside. So, Wuqing, I want you to take on more responsibility. Not only should you lead the three of you, but also maintain harmony between you and the rest of the sect's disciples."
"Remember—no matter how strong you become, you will always be disciples of Qingxiao Sect. Never act arrogantly toward your fellow disciples. When you meet juniors, help them more, just as I have treated you. Do you understand?"
Li Qingqiu's tone was serious. The three brothers bowed deeply and nodded in unison.
He not only taught them cultivation but also instilled in them a sense of right and wrong—to prevent them from straying down a dark path.
Of course, there was another reason for his arrangements—he wanted Xiao Wuqing to fully utilize his Fate of Insightful Eye for Talent.
Through him, Li Qingqiu hoped to discover more gifted disciples within the sect.
...
Across the land, chaos raged through the provinces.
Qingxiao Sect's annihilation of the Golden Serpent Cult had shocked the entire martial world. Many martial artists accused the sect of being too domineering in its actions.
Yet Qingxiao Sect did not restrain itself. One after another, they issued missions to exterminate martial sects across the land.
By late autumn, a new piece of news sent shockwaves through the realm—not only among the martial world but also among the ruling princes.
The new governor of Yuzhou, Jiang Yu, was slain by a disciple of Qingxiao Sect right inside the provincial mansion. And it wasn't through assassination—it was done openly, by force.
The one who killed Jiang Yu was Gu Changping, one of the top ten disciples from the Dao Combat Tournament. That single battle made him famous overnight.
He carried Jiang Yu's severed head out of the mansion without anyone able to stop him, showing the same fearlessness that once defined Li Qingqiu, the Sect Master of Qingxiao Sect.
Covered in dust, Gu Changping returned to Qingxiao Mountain with Jiang Yu's head. His robe was stained with blood, and he carried a blood-soaked bundle in his hand, drawing the attention of every disciple along the path.
Those who knew him well asked curiously, "Senior Brother Gu, what's in the bag?"
He smiled faintly and said, "The head of Jiang Yu, Governor of Yuzhou."
His words left everyone nearby stunned.
Gu Changping walked up the mountain openly and entered the Training Hall. Without hesitation, he placed Jiang Yu's head on the counter, leaving the attending disciple wide-eyed and speechless.
The news spread rapidly throughout Qingxiao Sect. Even before the rumors reached the outside world, Gu Changping's name had already shaken the entire sect.
During the Dao Combat Tournament, his fighting style had not stood out much. He was balanced in all aspects, lacking Zhao Zhen's multitude of divine techniques or Xue Jin's killing sword aura. Because of that, he had been one of the least noticeable among the top ten disciples.
But this single act of battle changed everything—his reputation now rivaled Xue Jin's.
That same afternoon, Li Qingqiu summoned Chai Yunshang and Gu Changping to Lingxiao Pavilion.
The usually composed Gu Changping looked nervous for once. When the Sect Master praised him, his ears turned red, and he could only respond modestly again and again.
He wasn't particularly handsome, but his posture was straight, and his spirit was vigorous—qualities Li Qingqiu appreciated greatly.
After offering his praise for some time, Li Qingqiu finally dismissed him.
When Gu Changping left, Li Qingqiu turned to Chai Yunshang with a faint smile. "Well then, this disciple didn't disappoint you, did he?"
Gu Changping's cultivation aptitude was Excellent, but his comprehension was only Mediocre. Li Qingqiu assigned geniuses evenly among the seven halls to maintain balance.
Chai Yunshang, now the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, had grown noticeably colder since her early days in the sect. Her gaze was sharp and composed. Hearing Li Qingqiu's question, a faint smile appeared on her lips as she replied, "He's indeed quite good—better than I expected. Thank you, Sect Master, for assigning him to the Law Enforcement Hall."
"From now on, the Law Enforcement Hall will expand to 200 disciples," Li Qingqiu said with a smile. "Gu Changping may recommend two of his own. The rest of the slots—you'll decide."
To his surprise, Chai Yunshang frowned. "Sect Master, we can't reward him like that," she said firmly. "It'll cause problems. The disciple quota must be determined through fair competition. I can't control how other halls do it, but the Law Enforcement Hall must follow this rule."
Her tone carried some steel.
Li Qingqiu didn't take offense—on the contrary, he felt pleased.
"Alright, then we'll do it your way," he said, chuckling.
Seeing his smile, Chai Yunshang suddenly felt a twinge of regret. She realized she might have overstepped. But even so, she couldn't bring herself to apologize, because deep down, she believed she was right—it was only her tone that was wrong.
Li Qingqiu, of course, didn't hold it against her. He agreed she had done nothing wrong.
He waved his hand lightly, signaling her to leave. She immediately bowed and turned to go. But when she reached the courtyard gate, hesitation filled her heart. She glanced back, wanting to apologize after all—yet Li Qingqiu was already gone.
...
Snowflakes drifted down, blanketing the mountains and the earth in white.
That morning, Li Qingqiu found some time to personally instruct Yuan Li and Ji Ya. Zhao Zhen no longer needed guidance; he was sitting cross-legged under a tree nearby, deep in thought and meditation.
"Master!"
A cheerful voice rang out. Li Yang emerged from the swirling snow mist below the cliff, stepping lightly upon his silver spear. He landed before Li Qingqiu, lifting his right hand to hand the spear over.
"Sect Master, I've reached the fifth layer of the Nurturing Essence Realm!" Li Yang said excitedly.
At his words, Yuan Li and Ji Ya both turned to look at him, their eyes full of envy. Yuan Li, especially, clenched his fists inside his sleeves.
Li Qingqiu turned toward Li Yang with a look of approval and smiled. "Not bad—you haven't disappointed my teaching."
He treated Li Yang almost like a true disciple—personally instructing him and providing many cultivation resources. Li Yang hadn't let him down either. He devoted every moment to cultivation and had now reached the top ranks among Qingxiao Sect disciples.
"It's all thanks to your guidance and favor, Sect Master!" Li Yang said gratefully.
Although he was a year older than Li Qingqiu and even shared the same surname, and had once met Li Qingqiu's birth father, his respect for Li Qingqiu came from the heart. He saw him as his teacher.
"Since your cultivation has improved, I have something for you to do," Li Qingqiu said, his tone turning serious.
"Please give your order. I'll do my best!"
Li Yang's face turned solemn as he looked straight at Li Qingqiu.
"A disciple discovered a mountain forest in South Chu Province that's rich in spiritual energy," Li Qingqiu said. "But his cultivation wasn't high enough, so he didn't dare explore deeper. You'll go investigate. The details are at the Training Hall—ask Zheng Yunqiao for them. Tell him I'm sending you to Immortal Trace Forest."
"Understood. I'll leave right away!"
Li Yang saluted, then leapt off the cliff, disappearing into the rolling sea of snow below.
A faint smile tugged at Li Qingqiu's lips. He enjoyed this feeling—the ease of commanding disciples to act without lifting a finger himself.
Already, disciples training outside the sect were finding Treasures of Heaven and Earth and bringing them back to Qingxiao Sect.
These treasures, known as innate spiritual plants, inspired Li Sijin to expand the plan for cultivating spirit flora within the sect.
And it wasn't only that—disciples often returned with other valuable items: secret manuals, rare materials, ores, and more. The sect evaluated their worth and rewarded the contributors with money or Dao Fate according to their wishes.
Qingxiao Sect had finally stepped onto the very path Li Qingqiu envisioned.
Now, even if Li Qingqiu secluded himself for several months, the sect would run smoothly—perhaps even grow stronger.
That was how a true great sect should be—able to continue functioning even if any one person were gone.
Li Qingqiu looked at Yuan Li and Ji Ya. "Keep training," he said. "Don't just stand there watching. In time, I'll assign you tasks as well—so you can prove yourselves."
Ji Ya smiled brightly, full of anticipation.
Yuan Li's gaze, however, dimmed slightly.
Seeing this, Li Qingqiu said nothing. He had offered comfort too many times before, and even he was tired of repeating the same words.
As for Yuan Li's Indestructible Tyrant Body, Li Qingqiu still couldn't predict when it would awaken. The boy was too young yet, and using soul-based spells to force it might do more harm than good.
Just then, several glowing lines suddenly appeared before Li Qingqiu's eyes:
[You have been the master of your Dao Lineage for 10 years. Beginning evaluation of Qingxiao Sect.]
[Evaluation complete. Rank: First-Class Mortal Sect.]
[Due to the significant progress of your Dao Lineage in its first decade, you have gained 1 Fate Selection Opportunity and unlocked Divine Ability Inheritance.]