"From what you described, even someone at the fifth layer of the Nurturing Essence realm might not be a match for Yan Daozong. Are you certain he isn't a cultivator?"
Li Qingqiu asked thoughtfully. It seemed that the Dao-entering expert Shen Yue had mentioned earlier was most likely this Yan Daozong.
Mo Jiuhong replied, "I didn't sense any vital energy from him. He should not be a cultivator."
It was precisely because Yan Daozong was not a cultivator that Mo Jiuhong felt so stifled. Because of this, he had even delayed for several days, going to a city to find a place to adjust his mindset.
"Go and recover from your injuries. Set this matter aside for now."
Li Qingqiu instructed. Mo Jiuhong immediately bowed and withdrew.
After he left, Li Qingqiu continued teasing the two little ones in his arms while pondering Yan Daozong's situation.
Qingxiao Sect had no grudge against Tianxuan Mountain, so there was no reason for Li Qingqiu to level someone else's territory without cause.
However, Tianxuan Mountain keeping its gates tightly shut was indeed strange. With a powerhouse like Yan Daozong present, aside from Qingxiao Sect, there were likely very few forces in the world capable of threatening them.
Not long after Mo Jiuhong departed, Yuan Qi hurried into the courtyard.
"Sect Master, Hall Master Li Sifeng and Zhao Zhen are fighting!"
Yuan Qi rushed to Li Qingqiu's side and reported rapidly.
Li Qingqiu frowned and asked, "Where are they fighting?"
"The Martial Arena!"
Hearing this, Li Qingqiu shot him a glare and said irritably, "You make it sound like they had a conflict. That's called sparring."
Yuan Qi scratched his head and said, "It's mainly because I feel that no matter who wins or loses, it won't end well. Their temperaments aren't like Elder Jiang's or Senior Sister Xu's—they don't know how to hold back."
He knew Zhao Zhen well. This kid never held back in sparring and took victory and defeat very seriously.
His impression of Li Sifeng was similar. He even felt that Li Sifeng couldn't afford to lose and was prone to losing his temper.
"It's fine. Let them fight."
Li Qingqiu withdrew his gaze and said casually, then shifted his attention back to the babies in his arms.
Yuan Qi hesitated for a moment but could only give up. He bowed and withdrew, quickly heading down the mountain—he didn't want to miss this clash.
The news of Zhao Zhen sparring with Li Sifeng swept through the entire sect like a whirlwind.
The former was the representative figure among Qingxiao Sect's geniuses, possessing cultivation at the sixth layer of the Nurturing Essence realm.
The latter was a Hall Master who rarely returned, a legendary figure wielding the greatest sword of all ages, accompanied by a qilin.
Their confrontation was filled with spectacle.
Li Sifeng's reputation over the past few years was no small matter. Although his power was not as formidable as the three great warlords, his battlefield exploits frequently reached the sect, bringing pride to Qingxiao Sect's disciples. Many of them admired him.
This battle attracted a large crowd of spectators. The two deliberately waited until enough people had gathered before beginning.
After a fierce exchange lasting five hundred moves, Li Sifeng ultimately won the spar.
However, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that Zhao Zhen was stronger. Throughout the fight, he suppressed Li Sifeng. If not for the Emperor Xuan Sword in Li Sifeng's hand suddenly erupting with terrifying power and knocking Zhao Zhen off the arena, Li Sifeng would have completely lost face.
This battle became the topic of discussion throughout the sect.
Jiang Zhaoxia sought out Li Sifeng and harshly criticized him.
Unconvinced, Li Sifeng fought Jiang Zhaoxia again atop the mountain. Even when he unleashed the Emperor Xuan Sword, he was still no match for Jiang Zhaoxia.
Looking at the sword pressed against his throat, Li Sifeng said indignantly, "Third Senior Brother, this is public duty masking private revenge. On the surface, you're seeking justice for Zhao Zhen, but in reality, you're using this chance to retaliate against me."
Jiang Zhaoxia sheathed his sword and said sternly, "I'm not. I just want to tell you that if you rely solely on external objects, you'll only be surpassed by more and more people. Once Zhao Zhen matures, you will definitely lose, and even the Emperor Xuan Sword won't be able to save you."
Li Sifeng fell silent, a trace of guilt rising in his heart.
In truth, when they crossed hands on the Martial Arena, he already knew he was no match for Zhao Zhen. It was just that the longer the fight dragged on, the more irritated he became, until he couldn't help but draw on the Emperor Xuan Sword's power.
Thinking back now, Zhao Zhen might have deliberately dragged out the fight to spare his dignity. At the time, however, he had mistaken it for humiliation.
"Once I've swept across the world, I'll return to cultivate properly and won't go down the mountain so easily again."
Li Sifeng looked at Jiang Zhaoxia and said seriously.
Jiang Zhaoxia nodded and added, "Although Xu Ning's cultivation is higher than mine, I might not necessarily lose to her."
With that, Jiang Zhaoxia leapt into the air, transforming into a streak of sword light that vanished beyond the cliff.
Li Sifeng froze for a moment, then ground his teeth.
He knew it—his Third Senior Brother was petty.
That very day, Li Sifeng went to visit Zhao Zhen to apologize, admitting that his victory had been dishonorable.
Zhao Zhen, however, didn't mind. In his view, since the Emperor Xuan Sword had acknowledged Li Sifeng as its master, its power belonged to Li Sifeng.
A loss was a loss. Zhao Zhen had no intention of making excuses.
However, Zhao Zhen proposed that when he returned next time, they should fight again. Li Sifeng readily agreed.
Early the next morning, Li Sifeng left the mountain with Pei Miao'er. Many disciples commented that the Hall Master of the Training Hall had gone down the mountain to train once more.
…
"Tianxuan Mountain really has someone that formidable?"
Zhang Yuchun sat opposite Li Qingqiu and asked with a frown.
Not only him—Li Dongyue was also very surprised. She hadn't expected that among the secular world there would still be such a powerful martial practitioner.
With Shen Yue as a precedent, neither of them doubted that Li Qingqiu's words were false.
Zhang Yuchun frowned and said, "Senior Brother, if that's the case, we need to investigate Tianxuan Mountain even more."
Li Qingqiu looked at him and asked, "Investigate how? We have no grudge with them, and when we offended them, Yan Daozong didn't strike with killing intent. That was already showing us courtesy."
"The fact that he didn't dare kill proves that he wants to delay for time. Tianxuan Mountain is very likely preparing something," Zhang Yuchun said seriously.
Li Qingqiu noticed that Zhang Yuchun's manner of doing things was becoming increasingly forceful, gradually shedding his former timid disposition.
Before Li Qingqiu could say more, Zhang Yuchun continued, "Senior Brother, let me handle this matter. You can treat it as if you don't know. I can guarantee that as long as Tianxuan Mountain has no malicious intent, I won't harm a single person there, nor will I force them to bow their heads."
Li Qingqiu nodded. He also felt that this matter was suspicious. Since Zhang Yuchun wanted to investigate, he might as well let him do so.
"Second Senior Brother, don't send disciples with low cultivation. We can't afford any mishaps," Li Dongyue reminded him.
Zhang Yuchun smiled and said, "Fourth Junior Sister, don't underestimate our Spirit Management Hall. Although we don't have a peerless genius like Yang Xuan, the hall still has quite a few disciples who can hold their own."
Yang Xuan's aptitude made him envious, but unfortunately, he couldn't poach him.
Li Qingqiu looked at Zhang Yuchun and said with a smile, "Second Junior Brother, you always complain that the Spirit Management Hall lacks geniuses comparable to Zhen'er or Li Yang. How about taking in these two little ones and cultivating them yourself? If they truly turn out to be the peerless geniuses you want, raised by you, they would surely follow your lead."
Hearing this, Zhang Yuchun looked at Li Shoumin in Li Qingqiu's arms, then at Li Shouzheng held by Li Dongyue, and couldn't help shaking his head.
"Sixth Junior Brother giving birth to peerless geniuses? I don't believe it. It'll already be good enough if they're not as mischievous as him. I don't want to raise kids for him," Zhang Yuchun refused.
From childhood to adulthood, Li Sifeng had often made him angry. The thought of raising two more Li Sifengs gave him a headache.
Li Qingqiu looked at Zhang Yuchun with a half-smile, already looking forward to Zhang Yuchun's attitude ten years later.
Zhang Yuchun was preoccupied with Tianxuan Mountain and didn't notice the deeper meaning in his senior brother's gaze. He quickly departed to arrange the investigation.
Li Dongyue looked at Li Qingqiu and asked curiously, "Senior Brother, do you really think Shouzheng and Shoumin have very high aptitude?"
Li Qingqiu said in a deliberately profound tone, "Staying by my side, even the most mediocre aptitude can turn into genius."
Li Dongyue felt that he was boasting, but given that Li Qingqiu hadn't misjudged anyone so far, she couldn't refute him and could only quietly watch him continue boasting.
…
By April, in the extreme northern reaches of Norther Liang Province.
Li Yang, Bai Ning'er, Zhang Ping, and over a dozen Qingxiao Sect disciples were traveling across the wilderness. In the distance, in every direction, stood majestic mountain ranges.
The mountains of Norther Liang Province were different from those of Guzhou. They lacked dense forests, many peaks appearing bare, yet they did not lose their beauty.
Everywhere in Norther Liang Province carried a desolate yet magnificent atmosphere. The vast heavens and open vistas easily calmed the heart.
The disciple walking at the front turned back and said, "Senior Brother Li, Senior Brother Bai, if we go a bit further, we'll see Tianxuan Mountain. Tianxuan Mountain and Fengxia Mountain are known together as the Two Saints of the Martial World. Do you think the auspicious beast might have gone to Tianxuan Mountain?"
Tianxuan Mountain.
The other disciples were unfamiliar with the name, but Li Yang raised his brows. Born into the Linchuan Li clan, he had read countless books since childhood and had seen Tianxuan Mountain mentioned in texts—it was a sacred place of the secular world.
Li Yang said, "Let's go take a look first. If the auspicious beast really hid in Tianxuan Mountain, we'll act according to the situation and must not force anything. Tianxuan Mountain has a long-standing holy reputation. Although it's not as strong as our Qingxiao Sect, we can't suppress them by force, lest we damage Qingxiao Sect's chivalrous name."
The disciples nodded. They all hoped that the auspicious beast was indeed at Tianxuan Mountain.
They had already been off the mountain for more than three months, following the traces of the auspicious beast all the way here. Both body and mind were exhausted, and more than half of them wanted to give up.
Zhang Ping walked at the back of the group, his presence faint. Most of the time, he didn't speak.
Looking into the distance, he saw a towering mountain that seemed to reach the heavens. For some reason, unease rose in his heart. He felt that Tianxuan Mountain was not a place of good fortune for them.
He opened his mouth, unsure how to persuade Li Yang and the others.
Bai Ning'er turned back to look at Zhang Ping and said with a smile, "Junior Brother Zhang, don't fall behind. If you're tired, tell me, and I'll have everyone wait for you."
Seeing his smile, Zhang Ping answered impulsively, "I'm not tired."
The moment he said it, he regretted it.
Bai Ning'er smiled in satisfaction, then turned back and walked alongside Li Yang. The two chatted amiably about Tianxuan Mountain's past. The other disciples, curious about the Two Saints of the Martial World, listened attentively. Only Zhang Ping grew increasingly uneasy.