Li Qingqiu turned toward Yun Cai, his expression filled with surprise.
"Truly?" he asked.
In truth, he had already sensed that Yun Cai had formed vital energy, but she had suppressed it the moment it appeared, as if afraid someone might notice.
Only now did she finally gather the courage to speak up.
Yun Cai stood, drew a deep breath, and then opened her mouth. A stream of white qi shot out like an arrow, piercing cleanly through the snow-covered ground.
Yuan Qi's eyes went wide in shock.
These girls had only arrived yesterday—he had personally escorted them to meet the Sect Master. It wasn't as though the Sect Master had foreseen her potential in advance.
So what was this?
Luck? Fortune?
As the thought struck him, he recalled their origins—they had come from Panzhou, all rescued by the Sect Master himself.
'Maybe this is what they call karmic fortune,' he thought. 'The Sect Master saves people everywhere he goes. Heaven must surely favor him for his virtue.'
The more he thought about it, the more respect he felt for Li Qingqiu. In his eyes, the reason Qingxiao Sect flourished with such a strong sense of righteousness was because of its leader.
After all, the nature of a sect was shaped by the character of its Sect Master.
The seven other girls were equally stunned as they watched Yun Cai release her vital energy. They had seen Ding Xuan use vital energy before and knew how powerful it was.
Yet after an entire morning of trying, not one of them had felt even a trace of it—and Yun Cai had succeeded?
Among them, Yun Cai had always been the quiet one, the least talkative and even the least tidy, often ignored or overlooked by the group.
Who would have thought that she'd be the most gifted of them all?
Yuan Li remained seated, watching Yun Cai with calm eyes, though the hands hidden in his sleeves slowly relaxed.
While observing Yun Cai, Li Qingqiu also quietly extended his spiritual sense toward Yuan Li.
'Still not enough to trigger him, huh?'
"Not bad," Li Qingqiu said with a light smile. "To form vital energy in half a day—you're a rare genius seen once in a hundred years."
Yun Cai let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
She had hidden her progress earlier, afraid that standing out might make her seem arrogant. But now, she feared being too ordinary, afraid that Li Qingqiu might overlook her.
The disciples standing behind Yuan Qi, who had brought the lunch boxes, were dumbfounded.
They didn't know how long Yun Cai had been cultivating, but hearing Li Qingqiu say it took her only half a day made them look at her as if they were seeing a ghost.
Yun Cai didn't know how to flatter anyone. She just smiled softly, looking straight at Li Qingqiu.
He met her gaze and chuckled. "Eat first. We'll talk more this afternoon—just the two of us."
Yun Cai's eyes lit up instantly, excitement shining so bright it almost seemed to sparkle.
Li Qingqiu noticed, with a trace of surprise, that her pupils faintly glimmered with a silver-blue light.
'Could the Myriad-Law Spirit Eyes already be awakening?' he wondered.
The other seven girls snapped out of their shock and surrounded Yun Cai, asking eagerly how she had done it.
They had traveled together for so long that envy hadn't yet taken root. They felt genuine happiness for her, though a touch of admiration lingered in their eyes.
Yuan Qi gestured for the disciples to leave the food boxes and then dismissed them with a bow.
Li Qingqiu picked up one of the boxes and sat beside Yuan Li, eating with him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The eight girls chatted excitedly for a long while before finally sitting down to eat.
In the middle of the meal, a lively girl with a mischievous face glanced up at Li Qingqiu and asked boldly, "Sect Master, with Yun Cai's talent, how well do you think she could do in the next Dao Combat Tournament?"
Everyone froze, turning curious eyes toward Li Qingqiu. Even Yun Cai looked nervous.
Li Qingqiu smiled faintly. "In the entire sect, there are fewer than three disciples with higher aptitude than hers."
He wasn't exaggerating. Above Excellent aptitude came the Exceptional grade—and only three disciples had ever reached that level.
Xu Ning. Zhao Zhen. Chu Jing.
Of course, raw aptitude alone didn't determine success. Cultivation speed depended also on Fate, comprehension, and resources.
When the girls heard his answer, they couldn't contain their excitement and began firing questions one after another.
Li Qingqiu answered them patiently, one by one, without any sign of annoyance.
Yuan Li watched quietly from the side. He knew that within a year—perhaps even sooner—this girl, who still looked a bit dirty, would surpass him.
And if the Sect Master decided to personally nurture her… it might not even take a full year.
'More geniuses in the sect is a good thing,' he thought.
A sincere smile crossed his face as he felt a surge of pride—for Yun Cai, and for his master.
An hour later, Li Qingqiu brought Yun Cai into the quiet woods to speak alone.
He turned to face her seriously. "Your talent is extraordinary," he said. "Only by teaching you personally can I be at ease. Yun Cai, would you be willing to become my disciple?"
Yun Cai froze. Instead of delight or excitement, she bit her lip and lowered her gaze, her voice trembling slightly.
"Sect Master… could I not take you as my master? I'd rather serve you like Senior Brother Yuan Qi does."
Li Qingqiu blinked in surprise. "Why wouldn't you want to become my disciple?"
The last person who had refused him was Chai Yunshang. Back then, he had thought she had personal feelings for him—but later realized she simply held herself to the highest standards and felt unworthy of the title 'disciple.'
She had proven that through her fairness and strict discipline.
But what about Yun Cai?
Yun Cai lowered her head even further. "I… I just don't want to be your disciple. It wouldn't feel right…"
"Not good?"
Li Qingqiu looked at the not-yet-sixteen-year-old Yun Cai, puzzled. But after a moment's thought, he figured she might have her own reasons she couldn't speak of.
"In that case," he said gently, "I won't force you. Don't be nervous. Refusing me isn't a big deal."
His tone was calm and kind, easing the tension in her heart. He truly meant it. As long as she didn't betray Qingxiao Sect, it didn't matter whether she became his disciple or not.
Yun Cai exhaled in relief and looked up at him. "Then… can I still cultivate under your guidance in the future?"
"Of course," Li Qingqiu replied with a smile. "You can come find me anytime. With your talent, the sooner you're trained properly, the better for the sect. If you'd like, I can even allow you to move out of the Outer Disciples' quarters."
"That won't be necessary," Yun Cai said quickly. "I should stay with the others."
Li Qingqiu smiled approvingly. "Whatever fortune or chance you may receive, never abandon the people beside you. In Qingxiao Sect, yes, talent determines resources and status—but no matter how powerful a disciple becomes, they should never look down on others."
Yun Cai nodded earnestly. She was deeply moved that Li Qingqiu respected her decision.
'He's even kinder than I imagined,' she thought, her heart softening.
Li Qingqiu continued, "When you return tonight, clean yourself up. In Qingxiao Sect, you don't need to worry about your looks causing you trouble."
Yun Cai's cheeks turned red, and she nodded shyly.
Then, Li Qingqiu led her back toward the courtyard.
By the time they left the forest, the sun was already setting. On the way back, the seven other girls immediately surrounded Yun Cai, curious about what the Sect Master had wanted from her.
Yun Cai didn't mention that she had refused to become his disciple—she didn't want to damage the Sect Master's dignity. Instead, she only said that he valued her talent and told her not to forget her companions.
The girls were moved by her words. Their envy faded, replaced with respect and affection.
In a sect like Qingxiao, even if they lacked talent, life would still be good under such a leader.
...
When the year ended and the Spring Festival arrived, Qingxiao Sect once again burst into celebration.
That year, the number of registered disciples had reached over 6,800. Including laborers, craftsmen, and pilgrims, the population on the mountain exceeded 10,000. With that many people, the festive atmosphere easily filled the peaks.
From the summit of Qingxiao Mountain all the way down to its base, even neighboring Ziyang Peak was decked in lanterns and streamers.
Li Qingqiu took a full day to inspect the sect's halls.
When he arrived at the Law Enforcement Hall, Chai Yunshang personally came out to greet him.
Sitting in her usual seat, Li Qingqiu smiled and asked, "How are the three people I assigned to you?"
He was referring to Bo Zhao and his two companions—the trio who had escorted Yun Cai and the others to Qingxiao Sect, risking their lives and proving their righteousness and courage. Such people were worth cultivating, so he had arranged for them to join the Law Enforcement Hall.
Although Chai Yunshang hadn't been thrilled about it, she wasn't bold enough to refuse him.
At the mention of Bo Zhao and his group, her expression softened into a smile. "They're good. Their strength is lacking for now, but their temperament and values fit the Law Enforcement Hall well. Once their cultivation reaches the second layer of the Nurturing Essence stage, I'll officially register them as full members."
She truly admired Li Qingqiu—his vision was as sharp as the rumors claimed.
Li Qingqiu enjoyed the respect in her gaze, then asked, "Have you encountered any troublesome matters lately?"
Chai Yunshang's smile faded. "Actually, yes. And I'm hesitating on how to handle it."
"Oh?" Li Qingqiu raised a brow. "Who's capable of making you hesitate?"
She met his eyes and replied steadily, "Qin Yue, the direct disciple of the Spirit Management Hall Master. He's been harassing several female disciples, and they've reported him to me. But he hasn't done anything physically harmful yet. Since he's the personal disciple of Hall Master Zhang—and the younger brother of your second disciple, Qin Ye—the elders of the Law Enforcement Hall advised me to think carefully before acting."
As she spoke, her gaze stayed locked on him, as if testing his stance.
Li Qingqiu didn't hesitate for even a moment. "What's there to hesitate about? Do what needs to be done. Must you wait until he harms someone before acting? Handle it as you see fit. If the sky falls, I'll hold it up for you."
Chai Yunshang's lips curved into a bright smile. "Strict punishment would be difficult without clear evidence, but I want to post a public notice detailing his misconduct—to warn all disciples. Of course, that'll offend Hall Master Zhang and Qin Ye."
"I approve," Li Qingqiu said without pause.
In his eyes, the disciples of Qingxiao Sect were like his own children. Even if he barely knew a female disciple, if she was threatened, he would protect her—just as he would his own daughter.
And it wasn't just about female disciples. If a male disciple were bullied or wronged, he would do the same.
Until now, no Qingxiao disciple had committed any great evil, but as their numbers grew, troubling signs were starting to appear. He needed to suppress them early.
He knew it would offend many people—but he didn't care.
Seeing Li Qingqiu's decisive attitude, Chai Yunshang immediately stood and bowed deeply.
Afterward, Li Qingqiu had her report on other matters as well.
Chai Yunshang listed the cases she found most difficult. Li Qingqiu listened carefully, advising her where needed.
He wasn't the type to always side with her blindly. In some cases, he told her not to overextend the Law Enforcement Hall's authority—reminding her that justice must balance law and compassion. Rules alone weren't enough to govern people.