With the arrival of summer, the weather on Qingxiao Mountain turned cool and pleasant.
In the forest, 8-year-old Li Huaizhen was playing among the trees with 3-year-old Li Shouzheng and Li Shoumin. Several other children were with them, the oldest about the same age as Li Huaizhen.
Ever since their mother, Madam Xu, had brought them to Qingxiao Sect for treatment, the mother and sons had remained within the sect. Li Huaizhen had successfully entered Qingxiao Sect and become a true disciple of the sect.
Not far away, Yuan Qi watched them listlessly. He found it unbearably dull to accompany a group of children, yet Li Shouzheng and Li Shoumin were important. He did not dare let the two little boys leave his sight.
His gaze could not help drifting to Li Huaizhen. The boy's Cultivation Aptitude was far from simple. He wondered whether the child might one day become the sect's next genius.
But even if he did become a genius, it would not be anything extraordinary. Yuan Qi had already seen too many geniuses.
Qingxiao Sect stood dominant across Jiuzhou, widely recruiting talents from all under heaven. Many of the current menial disciples, had they been placed 10 years ago, could have been directly entered into the True Disciple Record. The threshold for entering the sect was rising higher and higher, with new standards introduced almost every year. This alone was enough to demonstrate how rapidly Qingxiao Sect was developing.
At that moment, a disciple descended from the sky, bringing with him a flurry of falling leaves as he landed beside Yuan Qi.
The disciple leaned close to Yuan Qi's ear and spoke in a low voice.
After listening, Yuan Qi frowned and said, "Keep watching. Memorize that person's appearance clearly."
"Yes!"
The disciple responded and leapt up again, disappearing above the forest canopy.
The person who could make Yuan Qi so concerned was naturally his younger brother, Yuan Li.
Yuan Li was 17 years old this year. As a disciple of the Sect Master, he naturally attracted much attention. Beginning this year, people had continuously come to propose marriage alliances for him.
Yuan Qi would not allow Yuan Li to start a family so early. Yuan Li was different from him—Yuan Li had the potential to pursue longevity. He did not wish for his younger brother to be entangled in worldly romantic affairs.
Of course, he had asked Yuan Li about it. This was also Yuan Li's own intention. As an elder brother, it was only natural for him to clear away such troubles on his behalf.
Elsewhere, within Lingxiao Courtyard, Li Qingqiu sipped tea while listening to Zhang Yuchun describe the plan for establishing Qingxiao Sect's external stronghold.
Zhang Yuchun intended to build a city in Zhongtian Prefecture, exclusively for sect disciples to rest, cultivate, and purchase various cultivation resources.
The reason for choosing Zhongtian Prefecture was to make it the hub of Jiuzhou. In the future, it could also conveniently supervise the imperial court.
To establish such a city, branch halls from each hall would need to be installed within it, forming a power structure similar to that of the sect itself—mutually restraining one another and perfecting order.
Li Qingqiu did not oppose this. Qingxiao Sect had indeed reached this stage.
Even if branch halls existed, a city must have its own master in order to make decisive judgments during major events.
Who could serve as the City Lord?
"Senior Brother, we can select from among the Hall Masters and Deputy Hall Masters. That would also conveniently free up positions," Zhang Yuchun offered his suggestion.
Li Qingqiu nodded and said, "Release the news and see if anyone volunteers. I will then make the selection. This city must remain far from the secular world—do not treat it as a place of trade."
"Remember, Qingxiao Sect must gradually detach from the secular realm. Some matters can be transferred downward."
Under Zhang Yuchun were many secular aristocratic families and martial figures serving him. The other Hall Masters, Deputy Hall Masters, and elders were the same.
Li Qingqiu felt that in the future, secular industries could be transferred to the menial disciples. As cultivators, constantly talking about money and competing for profit damaged Qingxiao Sect's image.
Moreover, the current Qingxiao Sect had already completed its accumulation of foundation. It was time to gradually move toward becoming a true immortal cultivation sect.
Zhang Yuchun nodded and said, "I will take the lead in doing so."
After chatting a few more sentences, Zhang Yuchun rose and took his leave.
Within a few days, news that Qingxiao Sect intended to build a city outside spread. Many disciples expressed support. When they trained in the mountains below, if they ventured too far, the spiritual energy pills and spirit stones they carried would easily run out. If a city were built in Zhongtian Prefecture, they could replenish their supplies much earlier.
Some more perceptive disciples realized that this was an opportunity.
In Qingxiao Sect, aside from relying on talent, rising in status also brought greater resources. With a branch city would come branch halls—many positions of authority waiting to be occupied.
If they spent several years outside building up seniority, perhaps one day they could return to Qingxiao Mountain and take power. Their status and privileges would be completely different.
In the future, cities like this would certainly increase in number, and the first immortal cultivation city would hold an especially distinguished position.
Thus, the Hall Masters began to suffer headaches, for too many disciples were coming to them to inquire about information—including their own confidants.
How to select people became a difficult matter for the Hall Masters. If they could not win the people's support, hidden troubles might remain.
A few days later, Yuan Qi came to Li Qingqiu to complain.
It turned out that certain aristocratic families were constantly harassing Yuan Li, disturbing his cultivation.
Although Yuan Qi worked for the Sect Master, he did not dare directly offend those families.
The families active within the sect almost all had descendants cultivating within Qingxiao Sect. They were no longer the secular factions that once had to beg Qingxiao Sect for favor. Yuan Qi could also feel the pressure exerted by these families.
"Pass along my words—no one is allowed to bypass me and speak to my disciple about marriage," Li Qingqiu said.
These words stirred Yuan Qi greatly. With such backing, his confidence was restored. He immediately bowed in thanks to Li Qingqiu and then took his leave.
To Li Qingqiu, this matter was merely trivial.
Those he valued—even without being assigned specific positions of authority—would attract many disciples and aristocratic families seeking connections. This was something impossible to prevent.
He summoned the Dao Lineage panel and checked the panels of the new disciples.
He was still searching for a suitable special Fate and had yet to make a decision.
Not long after, Xiao Wuqing strode quickly into the courtyard. Coming to Li Qingqiu's side, he cupped his hands in salute and said, "Sect Master, a disciple from the Training Hall requests to see you. Hall Master Li Sifeng has encountered trouble."
As soon as these words were spoken, Li Qingqiu's expression changed instantly. He immediately said, "Let him in."
"Yes!"
Xiao Wuqing turned and left at once.
Li Qingqiu frowned deeply. He swiftly searched for Li Sifeng's portrait within the Dao Lineage panel. When he saw that the portrait was still there, he let out a breath of relief.
What could have happened to Li Sifeng?
Even if the Xuanji Sect had a Dao-Entry expert, they should not have been able to stop him.
Could it be related to the Demon and Monster Lands in the north?
That boy never gave anyone peace of mind!
At the thought of the Demon and Monster Lands, Li Qingqiu immediately felt pressure.
The main problem was that he did not know how powerful the demons and monsters there truly were.
Soon, Xiao Wuqing brought a Training Hall disciple into the courtyard. Li Qingqiu looked up. The disciple's robe had not been changed; it was stained with patches of blood. His vital energy was unstable, and Li Qingqiu could see that he had suffered severe internal injuries.
The Training Hall disciple knelt beside the long table. Xiao Wuqing intended to withdraw, but Li Qingqiu stopped him.
"Wuqing, help him up."
Xiao Wuqing immediately complied.
Li Qingqiu looked at the disciple and said, "Sit and speak. What exactly happened? Do not rush. Tell it slowly."
The Training Hall disciple took a deep breath and shifted to sit down.
At Li Qingqiu's gesture, Xiao Wuqing also sat down, his gaze fixed on the disciple.
"Under Hall Master Li's leadership, we pursued the Xuanji Sect northward, destroying many of their strongholds. But the northern border is far too vast. It is extremely difficult to uproot the Xuanji Sect completely. One night, Hall Master Li decided we would return. Yet that very night, we were attacked…"
Recalling that night's experience, the disciple began trembling uncontrollably. His face turned deathly pale, and his eyes were filled with terror.
"Something attacked us. The night was too dark—we could not see what it was. Senior Brother Zheng Yunqiao was cut in half at the waist. Hall Master Li told us to flee first. He and the Prison Qilin stayed behind to hold that terrifying existence back. We could only escape southward…"
Zheng Yunqiao was dead?
Li Qingqiu immediately summoned the Dao Lineage panel again, yet no matter how he searched, he could not find Zheng Yunqiao's portrait.
With his Awakening Spirit cultivation, flipping through tens of thousands of portraits was no difficult task. He could do so quickly. He would not be mistaken.
His mood instantly grew heavy. Zheng Yunqiao had been ranked second among the Thirteen Swords of Qingxiao's Might. He possessed deep seniority. In Li Qingqiu's mind, he had been prepared to let Zheng Yunqiao become a branch hall master in the future.
He had never expected Zheng Yunqiao to die in the northern border.
Xiao Wuqing also knew Zheng Yunqiao. Upon hearing of his death, his expression changed slightly.
The Training Hall disciple continued, "On the second night after we separated from Hall Master Li, that thing caught up with us again. Just like Senior Brother Zheng Yunqiao, a female disciple was suddenly cut in half at the waist. She lay on the ground screaming in agony. We tried to save her, but someone else was cut in half as well. We were so frightened that we could only flee…"
"From the northern border all the way south, that thing would catch up to us from time to time. By the time we reached the border of Cangzhou, I was the only one left…"
At this point, he could not help but weep, his voice filled with terror.
Hearing this, Li Qingqiu suddenly thought of something and summoned the Dao Lineage panel once more.
After several breaths, his gaze turned dangerous.
He could not find the portrait of the disciple sitting before him.
In other words, this disciple was already dead.
Then who was the one sitting in front of him?
Seeing him crying so bitterly, Xiao Wuqing could not help but comfort him. "You have already returned to Qingxiao Sect. Do not be afraid. That thing will not chase you here. But you must explain clearly—did you truly not see it at all?"
Upon hearing this, the Training Hall disciple raised his head. He wiped away his tears and, while recalling the scene, said nervously, "I only saw a blurry human figure. It was only when my junior brother's blood splashed onto him that his outline became visible. He seemed to have three heads and six arms…"
Before he could finish speaking—
With a sharp slicing sound,
Li Qingqiu used his finger as a sword and slashed out a stream of sword qi, severing his head. Blood gushed from his neck in a violent spray.
Xiao Wuqing's eyes widened. He froze in shock.
He had never expected Li Qingqiu to strike directly and kill the man.
As Xiao Wuqing watched the disciple's head fall to the ground, he saw that the expression on its face had not frozen in death. Instead, a strange smile appeared.
The severed head lay on the ground, its eyes slanting toward Li Qingqiu as it grinned viciously. "I didn't expect you to see through it. As expected of a cultivator. And your cultivation is not low either. Wonderful. Compared to eating ordinary mortals, I much prefer eating cultivators. Your flesh and blood, filled with spiritual energy, are simply too delicious. Just thinking about it excites me."
It laughed wildly and wickedly, sending goosebumps across Xiao Wuqing's entire body.
Li Qingqiu slowly stood and looked down at it. "What is your purpose?" he asked.
"Purpose? My purpose is, of course, to devour every last one of you in this sect!"
As it laughed, the head began dissolving into blood. Even the skull melted away.
Not only the head, but the corpse as well melted into a pool of dark red blood, emitting a pungent, foul stench.