The Training Hall moved swiftly. After Xue Jin obtained all the intelligence regarding the Xuanji Sect from Zhang Yuchun, he immediately dispatched twelve members of the Thirteen Swords of Qingxiao's Might along with thirty-six disciples down the mountain.
The lowest cultivation among these disciples was Nurturing Essence Realm, third layer. Placed within the secular martial world, such strength was enough to contend for the title of number one in an entire province.
The Training Hall disciples descended the mountain in great numbers. Although this drew the attention of disciples along the way, it did not cause any disturbance. After all, Qingxiao Sect had too many affairs to handle—every day, batches of disciples were going up and down the mountain.
With the arrival of the new year, the cultivation drive among Qingxiao Mountain's disciples surged.
No one knew who started it, but once the next Fighting Technique Assembly was mentioned, the disciples began eagerly anticipating it.
The first Fighting Technique Assembly had been a great success. There were rumors that the rewards for the next one would be even more generous, possibly even involving pills and magical artifacts.
By February, Li Qingqiu quietly reached Awakening Spirit Realm, second layer, without anyone knowing.
Each layer of the Awakening Spirit Realm brought far greater improvement than the Nurturing Essence Realm. The substantial increase in vital energy and the enhancement of his divine sense left Li Qingqiu in an excellent mood.
He exited his cave dwelling, preparing to head down the mountain.
This time, he brought Jin Lang with him.
Jin Lang cultivated the Supreme Purity and Primordial Harmony Sutra. Coupled with its century-long foundation of absorbing qi, it rapidly reached Nurturing Essence Realm, fourth layer. However, its body showed no change in size whatsoever.
Li Qingqiu brought it along because he wanted it to integrate into Qingxiao Sect, rather than spending every day cultivating in isolation.
The other two demons under Baizhi—Yue Shan and Hei Li—were already thriving in the Beast-Taming Hall, their reputations widely known.
...
Within a dim underground passage, Hua Daozang, the Sword-Holding Elder of Tianxuan Mountain, walked forward carrying an oil lamp. The lamplight illuminated the lower half of his face, while his forehead remained shrouded in darkness.
He advanced unhurriedly. The sound of dripping water echoed through the passage, eerie and deathly quiet.
After a long while.
Hua Daozang arrived at a cavern chamber. He hung the oil lamp on the wall, then turned to face a figure standing before the cave wall.
It was an emaciated old man, skin and bones visible. His hair hung loose like withered grass, his robes torn into long strips. His fingernails and toenails were pitch-black and overgrown, making him look like a vicious ghost.
"Are you certain the people from Qingxiao Sect have left?" Hua Daozang asked.
For several months, he had not come here, because this old ancestor had told him that someone had infiltrated Tianxuan Mountain and warned him not to act rashly.
"They have temporarily gone down the mountain. There's no guarantee they won't return. The people of Qingxiao Sect are very persistent…"
The gaunt old man spoke, his hoarse voice sending chills down the spine.
Hua Daozang frowned and cursed, "Those people from Qingxiao Sect are truly sinister and cunning. My useless senior brother went to Qingxiao Sect, and they still refuse to let the matter go."
"If your senior brother had not joined Qingxiao Sect, this seat would have already been exposed. Without that layer of connection, do you think Qingxiao Sect would limit themselves to covertly investigating Tianxuan Mountain?"
The gaunt old man's words left Hua Daozang silent.
He understood the logic. But whenever he thought of Yan Daozong, his anger flared. That senior brother of his was too lazy, unwilling to wield authority. If he had handed over the sect master position earlier, how could Tianxuan Mountain have fallen to this state?
"This seat's time is running out. I can no longer wait. We must find a way to lure Zhao Zhen out…" the gaunt old man continued.
Hua Daozang's brow furrowed even tighter as he clenched his teeth. "My senior brother has already defected. How am I supposed to lure him out?"
"I heard your subordinates mention the Xuanji Sect. Has the Xuanji Sect moved south again?"
"Not yet, but the news has already spread. Cangzhou is on the verge of being completely occupied by the Northern Barbarians. What—do you intend to use the Xuanji Sect?"
"Send Zhao Zhen's mother to Cangzhou."
"You… she is my biological younger sister!"
"A gamble for a single thread of survival. Otherwise, both you and I will die. Send her there—she may not die. As long as Zhao Zhen leaves the mountain, this seat will personally take action."
Hua Daozang's expression shifted repeatedly as he fell into a difficult decision.
The gaunt old man continued, "Qingxiao Sect cultivates immortality. Only if this seat recovers its cultivation can their rule be overturned. When that time comes, Tianxuan Mountain will replace Qingxiao Sect. You will become sect master, and everything Qingxiao Sect possesses will belong to you. After this seat finishes transmitting the Dao, I will return to the western lands…"
Hua Daozang took a deep breath and said, "Fine. I will do it. But if Zhao Zhen reports this matter to Li Qingqiu, and Li Qingqiu follows him down the mountain, what then?"
"This seat has its own methods. At that time, you won't need to intervene. I do not fear Qingxiao Sect—it is only that this body is too weak and cannot sustain prolonged combat."
The gaunt old man's answer hardened Hua Daozang's gaze. He decided to gamble everything.
"Old Ancestor, don't disappoint me…"
"This seat is Ancestor Su Xing. On another land, I was an existence like immortals and gods. Why would I deceive you? Over these years, without my assistance, how could you have sat in the position of Sword-Holding Elder?"
By the end of his words, the gaunt old man began coughing violently, as if his internal injuries had been stirred.
Hua Daozang's eyes flickered as his hands clenched tightly within his sleeves.
...
The Northern Barbarians marched south, occupying Cangzhou. Several cities were massacred, rivers of blood flowing. The news spread wildly across the land, making the era of chaos even more severe.
Early April.
Li Sifeng, clad in armor, returned to the military tent. Several strategists and generals were already waiting inside—and among them was Qin Ye, Li Qingqiu's second disciple.
"How is the situation?" Li Da, Li Yang's second uncle, asked first.
Li Sifeng said irritably, "The lord has decided to declare a ceasefire with the Liu clan. He plans to reorganize the army and march north, joining the other lords to campaign against the Northern Barbarians."
"Foolish!" Li Da exploded in anger. "We're the farthest from Cangzhou. A northern expedition will cost us the most. Whether we succeed or fail, our losses will be devastating. How can he be so reckless?"
Li Da was furious, and the expressions of the others in the tent changed as well.
They had only just broken into Dongling Prefecture and were on the verge of taking the prefectural capital. Before they could even enjoy the fruits of victory, they were being ordered to head north?
Qin Ye, however, felt admiration for Zhu Xian. He believed Zhu Xian was doing the right thing—only such a person was worthy of becoming the ruler of the Nine Provinces.
"General, what should we do then?" a general asked.
Li Sifeng sat down in his chair and said in a low voice, "What else can we do? We obey the order. The realm is in crisis—we can't stand by and do nothing. This is righteous duty."
If Zhu Xian had ignored the matter, Li Sifeng might have been able to persuade himself that the situation was beyond his reach. But Zhu Xian had already issued the command. Coupled with Li Qingqiu's teachings, he could only grit his teeth and head north.
At this moment, his anger was burning—directed chiefly at the Northern Barbarians.
Since ancient times, the Northern Barbarians had invaded south countless times, plundering the people of the Nine Provinces. He hated them to the core.
Li Da looked at Li Sifeng, opened his mouth, then could only sigh in the end.
"Perhaps Zhu Xian is not truly the Heaven-Destined Emperor…"
Li Da gazed at Li Sifeng, his eyes flickering.
...
In the northern reaches of the Taikun Mountain Range, Ku Yi and Ku Er stood within a forest. Ku Yi leaned against a large tree, while Ku Er paced back and forth restlessly.
"That's enough. Stop pacing—you're making my head spin," Ku Yi said in a deep voice.
Ku Er turned to look at him and asked through clenched teeth, "Aren't we being too cautious? Sect Master Li may not be watching Zhao Zhen all the time. We only left a letter—what if Zhao Zhen never sees it? Or if he sees it and hands it to Sect Master Li? How would Sect Master Li view us then? Will we even be able to return to Qingxiao Sect afterward?"
After spending so many years in Qingxiao Sect, he had grown deeply attached to it. He felt that staying there for a lifetime wouldn't be bad at all. He also held Li Qingqiu in great respect. If this matter did not involve Zhao Zhen, he truly would not have wanted to leave the mountain.
"Sect Master Li has vast divine abilities, and he even has ghost servants by his side. If he sent ghost servants to watch us and we were discovered, he definitely wouldn't allow Zhao Zhen to leave the mountain," Ku Yi said grimly.
Ku Er asked, "What if this is a scheme by Tianxuan Mountain?"
Ku Yi took a deep breath and said, "Even if it costs our lives, we must protect Zhao Zhen. For the restoration of the Great Li Dynasty, this is our only chance. You know Qingxiao Sect's stance—Li Sifeng wants to be emperor, and the Beast-Taming Hall is supporting Zhu Xian. Whoever becomes emperor has a chance, except the Zhao clan. We can only forcibly push Zhao Zhen onto the imperial path and gamble on whether Sect Master Li will soften his heart."
"But this goes against what His Highness left behind back then…"
"When we reach the Nine Springs, I will personally beg His Highness for forgiveness. If this matter is exposed and discovered by Sect Master Li, you and I will commit suicide together. We'll take it as the two of us having deceived Zhao Zhen—he will bear no responsibility."
"..."
Seeing Ku Yi close his eyes and speak such words, Ku Er fell silent.
He and Ku Yi had relied on each other for survival and did not fear death. He harbored no resentment toward Ku Yi's plan—he only felt a sense of unease.
He always felt that things were not so simple.
Just as the two fell into silence, a sharp sound of air being torn rang out, startling them into turning around.
They saw Zhao Zhen, dressed in blue, riding his sword toward them, leaves being swept up along his path.
Upon seeing Zhao Zhen, Ku Yi and Ku Er were instantly overjoyed.
Zhao Zhen stopped before them and said, "This trip to the northern frontier serves two purposes. First, to save my mother. Second, to wipe out the Northern Barbarians and the Xuanji Sect. Prepare yourselves mentally."
Hearing this, both Ku Yi and Ku Er were invigorated. From Zhao Zhen, they felt an aura of dominance—an imperial presence that Zhao Lan had never possessed. It brought tears to their eyes, as if they were witnessing the imminent revival of the Great Li Dynasty.
...
Inside the cave dwelling, Li Qingqiu was seated in meditation.
He opened his eyes and said, "Lin Chuan, go check on Zhen'er's situation."
Every few days, he would have Lin Chuan check on Zhao Zhen. This had continued for more than half a year, to guard against unforeseen developments—especially since Lin Chuan had previously overheard conversations between Ku Yi, Ku Er, and Zhao Zhen.
Zhao Zhen's mother had been constantly calling out to him. Li Qingqiu feared that Zhao Zhen might be unable to resist familial bonds and secretly leave the mountain.
Hearing this, Lin Chuan, who had been practicing in the corner, immediately burrowed into the cave wall and vanished.
Li Qingqiu stood up and walked toward the spiritual pool beside him. Several spiritual plants were growing within it—planted by Li Sijin at his leisure.
After only a few months, these plants were already emitting faint spiritual energy.
Before long, Li Qingqiu heard Lin Chuan's thoughts. His expression changed drastically, and he immediately activated the Supreme Movement Art, flashing out of his cave dwelling.
He rushed to Zhao Zhen's cave dwelling and forcibly broke through the restriction, causing the stone door to shatter with a thunderous crash as he charged inside.
He reached the stone table within the cave. Lin Chuan was squatting atop it, pointing at a sheet of paper. Li Qingqiu immediately picked it up.
On the paper was Zhao Zhen's handwriting. He explained to Li Qingqiu why he had gone down the mountain and told him not to worry. He also mentioned that he intended to take the opportunity to resolve the chaos in the northern frontier and spread Qingxiao Sect's prestige.