The three Xiao brothers landed on the ground. Xiao Wuqing personally treated Zhang Ping's injuries. He had cultivated the Secret Technique — Rejuvenation Ghost-Immortal Needles because he felt that his combat talent was inferior to that of his eldest brother and third brother, so he wanted to learn something different and play a better role in the future.
Murong Xi's third uncle was thrown onto the ground by Xiao Wudi. All four of his limbs had been broken, leaving him completely unable to crawl back up.
"Who… who exactly are you people?"
He asked in a trembling voice, his tone filled with fear. Facing the terrifying Xiao Wudi and Xiao Wuming, he did not even dare to announce his own background. He felt that if Murong Manor offended these three, it would likely invite a catastrophic annihilation.
Xiao Wudi looked at Zhang Ping and asked, "Can we kill them?"
We've already killed so many people, and you're asking me whether to leave two alive?
Zhang Ping could not quite grasp Xiao Wudi's thinking, but he still said, "Kill them. Eliminate future trouble. If you're afraid of dirtying your hands, I can do it."
He was not afraid of offending Murong Manor at all. These people were simply too vile—chasing down even their own niece, utterly devoid of humanity.
After hearing this, Xiao Wudi stepped down on Murong Xi's third uncle's chest. The sound of bones breaking rang out. Xiao Wuming also crushed the Murong martial artist at his feet.
Their movements were casual, like stepping on two insects. Not to mention Murong Xi—even Zhang Ping felt his eyelids twitch at the sight.
While applying the needles, Xiao Wuqing asked, "Is your mission complete?"
Zhang Ping snapped back to his senses and replied, "It's complete."
"Mm. Then come back with us."
Hearing this, Zhang Ping hesitated. He glanced at Murong Xi and cautiously asked, "Could you help me send her back first?"
At this, Xiao Wudi immediately grew impatient. They had already delayed a lot of cultivation time just to find Zhang Ping.
Just as he was about to speak, Xiao Wuqing stepped in first and said with a smile, "Of course we can."
Zhang Ping immediately raised his hands in salute, thanking the three of them.
Although Xiao Wudi did not quite understand, he still chose to trust his second brother.
Standing to the side, Murong Xi grew even more curious about the origins of the four of them.
…
Snow fell thickly in winter. Li Qingqiu stood on a hillside, watching Zhao Zhen, Yuan Li, Li Yang, Yun Cai, and Ji Ya train among the mountains.
This was not Qingxiao Mountain. It lay to the north of Qingxiao Mountain, with terrain that was not especially steep and a wide, open view.
Seeing that all five of them had already entered meditation, Li Qingqiu thought of Zhang Ping. He wondered how that boy was doing and immediately summoned the Dao Lineage Interface, locating Zhang Ping's portrait.
The portrait was still there, which meant he was alive. Li Qingqiu was particularly interested in Zhang Ping's Defier of Fate Fate. Ever since seeing him change his destiny, Li Qingqiu would check his panel from time to time whenever he had nothing else to do.
This time, Li Qingqiu discovered that Zhang Ping's panel had changed again.
Zhang Ping's Cultivation Aptitude had actually risen from Fair to Excellent.
Most importantly, his 'Defier of Fate' Fate still had 2 opportunities remaining, which meant that this transformation of aptitude was related to the previous destiny change.
What kind of fortune could allow Zhang Ping's aptitude to leap from Mediocre up two entire levels to reach Excellent?
Li Qingqiu found himself increasingly eager to see Zhang Ping.
At present, Li Qingqiu had already delegated most of the sect's administrative authority. In his daily life, he could devote most of his time to cultivation, which also gave him the energy to pay attention to the growth of his disciples.
Not only had Zhang Ping's Cultivation Aptitude increased—his personal loyalty toward Li Qingqiu had also risen, jumping straight to 95. This was what delighted Li Qingqiu the most.
This also meant that the Xiao brothers had already found Zhang Ping. Zhang Ping must have been in dire straits at the time, and the Xiao brothers had appeared just in time.
While Li Qingqiu was thinking about Zhang Ping, in the distance, Yuan Li—who had been sitting cross-legged on a rock—stood up. He did not move from the spot, but began practicing punches atop the rock.
His eyes were closed as his fists continuously struck forward. His sleeves billowed with each motion. His punches had no discernible form, yet the wind of his fists grew stronger and stronger, the sound growing louder by the moment.
Very quickly, Zhao Zhen, Ji Ya, Li Yang, and Yun Cai all opened their eyes and looked toward him.
Ever since the creation of the body cultivation path, no one dared underestimate Yuan Li anymore. However, his cultivation had still advanced very slowly, causing the sect's disciples to gradually overlook him once again.
Fifteen-year-old Yuan Li was a body cultivator, yet his build was still somewhat lean. But as the speed of his punches increased, everyone could clearly feel the aura emanating from him.
"This is…" Li Yang's eyes widened, waves of shock surging through his heart.
In the past, he had believed that among Li Qingqiu's disciples, only Zhao Zhen could firmly suppress him. Later, the appearance of the Xiao brothers and Yun Cai made him feel a sense of crisis. After that, Ji Ya reined himself in and began cultivating diligently, his ferocious momentum forcing Li Yang to acknowledge the gap between them.
Now… was Yuan Li also about to rise?
Yuan Li had already entered a state of self-forgetfulness. The wind of his punches grew stronger and stronger, forming waves of force that swept forward. He had not even used his Gang Yuan.
Li Qingqiu was also drawn by the sound of Yuan Li's punching. He focused his gaze, and a subtle change appeared on his expression.
"This kid…"
Li Qingqiu clearly felt the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathering toward Yuan Li.
He had just been paying attention to Zhang Ping, and now Yuan Li was giving him an even greater surprise.
Yuan Li's Cultivation Aptitude was Extremely Low, yet his Comprehension was Transcendent. To this day, no second disciple's panel had ever displayed the words "Transcendent."
As time passed, the force of Yuan Li's punches continued to strengthen. The snow filling the sky was blasted into a vast white mist, retreating continuously toward the mountains ahead.
At first glance, Yuan Li seemed to be blasting out a vast expanse of space with his bare fists. The scene was extraordinarily spectacular.
Zhao Zhen and the others actually felt that if Yuan Li kept punching like this, he could shatter the mountain opposite through empty air. The thought itself was absurd, yet they unmistakably sensed that kind of momentum.
Yun Cai had long heard that Yuan Li was anything but simple, but in ordinary times, Yuan Li's cultivation advanced far too slowly, making it difficult for her not to overlook him.
At this moment, watching Yuan Li enter Dao-Entry through his punching, Yun Cai could no longer understand him.
This set of punches was not exquisite at all—extremely simple, and constantly changing. Yuan Li seemed as if he were sleepwalking, punching wildly without order. Yet it was precisely this chaotic punching that caused his punching might to grow stronger and stronger.
At the third layer of the Nurturing Essence realm, he was actually unleashing the momentum of the fifth layer of the Nurturing Essence realm, even approaching the sixth layer.
Zhao Zhen had previously only marveled at Yuan Li's Comprehension. Now, he suddenly realized that Yuan Li might be harboring extraordinary Cultivation Aptitude as well—he had merely lacked the right way to unlock it.
No wonder Master had always encouraged Yuan Li.
If Yuan Li were in the same realm as him, could he defeat him?
Zhao Zhen found that he truly had no confidence.
Far away in the Martial Hall, Yan Daozong opened his eyes, an inexplicable sense of unease stirring in his heart.
"Someone has entered Dao-Entry through martial arts?" Yan Daozong was shocked.
He was not the only one. Shen Yue of the Sword Sect and Su Xiling of the Heavenly Works Hall sensed it as well.
…
Night fell, and snow continued to drift down from the sky.
Within Lingxiao Courtyard, Li Qingqiu and Yuan Li sat at a long table, while Yuan Qi excitedly poured tea for the two of them.
Listening to Yuan Li describe his feelings upon entering Dao-Entry, Yuan Qi could not understand the details, but he understood one thing clearly—his younger brother had become even more formidable.
Yuan Qi knew his own talent well. He had already done everything he could. If he wished to climb any higher in the future, he could only rely on his younger brother's talent to move the Sect Master.
"Master, I feel…" Yuan Li frowned as he spoke, but halfway through, he hesitated.
Li Qingqiu looked at him and asked with a smile, "Feel what?"
Yuan Li took a deep breath and said, "I might need to die once."
Die once?
Li Qingqiu's smile vanished. He was secretly astonished—had Yuan Li already sensed the existence of the Indestructible Tyrant Body?
"How would you die?" Li Qingqiu continued.
Yuan Li said, "Perhaps a true death state, not some false illusion or the like."
There were already disciples in the sect who had learned illusion techniques, and they had once stirred up a commotion on the Martial Platform.
What he meant was that this matter could only be resolved by himself.
Li Qingqiu looked at him deeply and said, "You're still young. There's no need to think so far ahead. As your master, I can indeed sense that you're still hiding even greater talent, but compared to your achievements, what I hope for more right now is that you live a healthy life."
These were truly Li Qingqiu's heartfelt words.
He both looked forward to Yuan Li's Indestructible Tyrant Body and did not wish for Yuan Li to take risks.
After all, Yuan Li was someone he had watched grow up. Without exaggeration, in his heart, Yuan Li ranked second among his disciples. Zhao Zhen and Ji Ya could not compare, and Yun Cai and the Xiao brothers were even less comparable.
Yuan Li nodded and said, "Master, rest assured. I know what I'm doing."
He not only possessed the Indestructible Tyrant Body, but also Tenacity and the Heart of a Grandmaster. Li Qingqiu was indeed very at ease with him, believing that he would not act behind his back like Zhao Zhen.
In the days that followed, the news of Yuan Li entering Dao-Entry spread rapidly.
As the rumors circulated, they became more and more exaggerated. By the time the end of the year approached, it had already turned into a tale that Yuan Li had nearly blasted apart an entire mountain.
On this day—
Zhang Ping finally returned. He was carried back on Xiao Wudi's back.
"Sect Master, his leg has been broken for too long. My medical skills aren't enough to heal it," Xiao Wuqing said with shame.
Zhang Ping, lying prone on Xiao Wudi's back, glanced at Li Qingqiu, then hurriedly withdrew his gaze, not daring to meet his eyes.
Li Qingqiu spoke, "Lay him on the table. You may all go back and rest."
"Yes!"
After placing Zhang Ping down, the three brothers saluted Li Qingqiu together and then took their leave.
Li Qingqiu raised his hand to touch Zhang Ping's broken leg. Zhang Ping felt extremely awkward—alone with the Sect Master, he did not know what to say.
"Tell me—how did you end up in such a state?" Li Qingqiu asked.
Zhang Ping let out a breath of relief. As long as there was something to talk about, it was fine. He recounted his experiences in detail.
After completing his mission, on the way back he encountered Murong Xi. Upholding Qingxiao Sect's principles, he intervened when he saw injustice, drawing his blade to help and driving off Murong Xi's enemies. However, those people pursued him relentlessly and even poisoned him. Because of his carelessness, he was poisoned, and afterward he could no longer hold them off, ultimately ending up like this.
After finishing, he said excitedly, "Thank you, Sect Master, for sending people to save me. I truly feel ashamed of the sect's cultivation and trust."
Li Qingqiu smiled and said, "In my view, even without the Xiao brothers, you would still have made it back alive."
"That's hard to say. I don't have that much confidence in myself," Zhang Ping said with a bitter smile.
He suddenly remembered something and quickly added, "Right—Sect Master, during this escort of Murong Xi back to Murong Manor, I learned something. Murong Manor has captured a white tiger. That white tiger is as large as an elephant. I suspect Murong Manor has some sinister plot."
Li Qingqiu grew interested and said, "You consumed Vermilion Bird blood, which means Murong Manor must also have someone who consumed Vermilion Bird blood. Now they've captured a white tiger—are they planning to capture the Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise as well?"
Legends of the Four Sacred Beasts also existed across the Jiuzhou lands. Even before Qingxiao Sect rose to prominence, many martial sects and powerful nobles had captured auspicious beasts and sacred creatures.
These so-called auspicious beasts and sacred creatures were not as powerful as Li Qingqiu had imagined—of course, it was also possible that he simply had not encountered many of them.