Chapter 231: Three Heads and Six Arms |
As summer arrived, the weather on Clear Sky Mountain became cool and pleasant.
In the forest, the eight-year-old Li Huaizhen led the three-year-old Li Shouzheng and Li Shoumin as they played among the trees. Several other children accompanied them, the oldest being about the same age as Li Huaizhen.
Ever since they had been brought to Clear Sky Sect by their mother of the Xu clan for treatment, the mother and her sons had remained within Clear Sky Sect. Li Huaizhen had also successfully entered Clear Sky Sect and became a true Clear Sky Sect disciple.
Not far away.
Yuan Qi watched them listlessly, feeling that accompanying a bunch of children was far too boring. However, Li Shouzheng and Li Shoumin were extremely important, so he dared not let the two little ones leave his sight.
His gaze involuntarily shifted to Li Huaizhen. This boy’s aptitude was anything but ordinary, and it was unknown whether he might become the sect’s next genius in the future.
But even if he were a genius, it did not matter much. Yuan Qi had already seen far too many geniuses.
Clear Sky Sect dominated the lands of the Nine Provinces and accepted talents from all under heaven. Nowadays, many menial disciples would have been directly registered ten years ago. The entry threshold continued to rise, with new standards almost every year—enough to prove how rapidly Clear Sky Sect was developing.
Just then, a disciple descended from the sky, landing beside Yuan Qi amid drifting fallen leaves.
After listening, Yuan Qi frowned and said, “Continue watching. Remember that person’s appearance clearly.”
“Yes!”
The disciple responded and leapt away, disappearing above the forest canopy.
The person who could make Yuan Qi so concerned was naturally his younger brother, Yuan Li.
Yuan Li was seventeen years old this year. As the Sect Master’s disciple, he naturally attracted much attention. Sure enough, starting this year, people had successively come to propose marriages to Yuan Li.
Yuan Qi absolutely did not allow Yuan Li to start a family too early. Yuan Li was different from him—Yuan Li was someone who could pursue longevity. Yuan Qi did not want his younger brother to be bound by mundane romantic entanglements.
Of course, he had already asked Yuan Li about this, and this was also Yuan Li’s own intention. As an elder brother, he naturally had to help his younger brother clear away these troubles.
On the other side.
Within Lingxiao Courtyard.
Li Qingqiu sipped tea while listening to Zhang Yuchun describe the plan for Clear Sky Sect’s external stronghold.
Zhang Yuchun planned to build a city in Zhongtian Province, specifically for sect disciples to rest, cultivate, and purchase various cultivation resources.
The reason for choosing Zhongtian Province was to make it a hub of the Nine Provinces, and in the future it could also conveniently supervise the imperial court.
To establish such a city, the branch halls of each hall would have to be stationed within it, forming a power structure similar to the sect itself, restraining one another and perfecting order.
Li Qingqiu did not object to this. Clear Sky Sect had indeed reached this stage.
Even with branch halls in place, a city still needed a master, someone who could decide matters when great events arose.
Who could become this City Lord?
“Senior Brother, we can select from the hall masters and deputy hall masters. That way, it will 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 choose from among them. This city must stay far away from the mundane world—do not treat it as a trading city.”
“Remember, Clear Sky Sect must gradually detach from the secular world. Some matters can be delegated downward.”
Zhang Yuchun had many secular aristocratic families and martial world figures working under him. Other hall masters, deputy hall masters, and elders were the same.
Li Qingqiu felt that in the future, secular industries could be transferred to menial disciples. As immortal cultivators, discussing money and competing for profit all day damaged Clear Sky Sect’s image.
Moreover, the current Clear Sky Sect had already completed its accumulation of foundations and should gradually move toward becoming a true immortal cultivation sect.
Zhang Yuchun nodded and said, “I will take the lead in doing so.”
The two chatted a bit more, and Zhang Yuchun then rose and took his leave.
A few days later, news spread that Clear Sky Sect was going to build a city outside. Many disciples expressed support. When they trained down the mountain, if they traveled too far, the spiritual energy pills and spirit stones they carried were easily exhausted. If a city were built in Zhongtian Province, they could replenish supplies much earlier.
Some sharp-minded disciples, however, realized this was an opportunity.
Cultivating immortality in Clear Sky Sect relied not only on talent. Advancement in status also brought more resources. With a branch city came branch halls—numerous positions of authority waiting for disciples to occupy.
After spending a few years outside and accumulating seniority, they might one day return to Clear Sky Mountain to hold power. Their status and treatment would then be entirely different.
Cities like this would surely increase in number in the future, and the status of the very first immortal cultivation city would naturally become extraordinary.
Thus, the hall masters began to suffer headaches, as too many disciples came to inquire about news—including their own confidants.
How to select people became a dilemma for the hall masters. If the choice failed to convince the masses, hidden troubles might be left behind.
Several days later, Yuan Qi went to Li Qingqiu to complain.
It turned out that some aristocratic families had been incessantly harassing Yuan Li, disturbing his cultivation.
Although Yuan Qi worked for the Sect Master, he did not dare to directly offend those aristocratic families.
Aristocratic families active within the sect almost all had descendants cultivating within it. They were no longer secular clans that begged Clear Sky Sect as in the past, and Yuan Qi also felt the pressure from these families.
“Help me release word that no one is allowed to bypass me and speak of marriage with my disciple.”
Li Qingqiu spoke. These words made Yuan Qi extremely excited. With this backing, his confidence was secured. He immediately bowed in thanks to Li Qingqiu and then took his leave.
To Li Qingqiu, this matter was merely a small issue.
Those he valued, even without being assigned specific positions of authority, could still attract numerous disciples and aristocratic families seeking connections. This was something that simply could not be stopped.
He summoned the Dao Lineage panel and checked the panels of the new disciples.
He was still searching for a suitable special fate trait and had been unable to make a decision for a long time.
Not long after, Xiao Wuqing hurried into the courtyard, came before Li Qingqiu, and saluted, saying, “Sect Master, a disciple from the Tempering Hall wishes to see you. Something has happened to Hall Master Li Sifeng.”
As soon as these words fell, Li Qingqiu’s expression changed drastically. He immediately said, “Let him in.”
“Yes!”
Xiao Wuqing immediately turned and left.
Li Qingqiu knitted his brows tightly. He quickly searched for Li Sifeng’s avatar within the Dao Lineage panel. Seeing that the avatar was still there, he let out a breath of relief.
What could have happened to Li Sifeng?
Even if Xuanji Sect had Dao-Entering experts, they should not have been able to stop him.
Could it be related to the northern Land of Demons and Devils?
This brat never let people have peace of mind!
The moment Li Qingqiu thought of the Land of Demons and Devils, he felt pressure.
The main issue was that he did not know how strong the demons and devils there were.
Soon, Xiao Wuqing brought a Tempering Hall disciple into the courtyard. Li Qingqiu raised his eyes and looked. This disciple’s robe had not yet been washed, and blotches of blood clung to his body. His blood essence was unstable—it was clear he had suffered extremely severe internal injuries.
The Tempering Hall disciple came beside the long table and knelt. Xiao Wuqing intended to leave, but Li Qingqiu called him to stay.
“Wuqing, help him up.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wuqing immediately complied.
Li Qingqiu looked at the Tempering Hall disciple and said, “Sit down and speak. What exactly happened? Don’t rush—tell it slowly.”
The Tempering Hall disciple took a deep breath, then shifted and sat down.
At Li Qingqiu’s signal, Xiao Wuqing also sat down, his gaze fixed on the disciple.
“Under Hall Master Li’s leadership, we pursued Xuanji Sect all the way north and flattened many of their strongholds. But the Northern Border was simply too vast. To uproot Xuanji Sect completely was very difficult. One night, Hall Master Li decided to lead us back. But that very night, we encountered an attack…”
Recalling that night’s experience, the disciple could not help trembling all over. His face turned deathly pale, his eyes filled with terror.
“Something attacked us. The night was too dark—we couldn’t see what it was at all. Senior Brother Zheng Yunqiao was cut in half at the waist. Hall Master Li told us to flee first, while he and Prison Qilin stayed behind to restrain that terrifying existence. We could only escape southward…”
Zheng Yunqiao was dead?
Li Qingqiu immediately summoned the Dao Lineage panel and could not find Zheng Yunqiao’s avatar no matter how he searched.
With his spiritual sense cultivation, flipping through tens of thousands of avatars was no difficult task. He could do it quickly. He would not be mistaken.
His mood immediately became heavy. Zheng Yunqiao was ranked second among the Thirteen Sword Fiends. His seniority was deep, and in Li Qingqiu’s heart, he had planned to let Zheng Yunqiao become a branch hall master in the future.
He had not expected Zheng Yunqiao to die in the Northern Border.
Xiao Wuqing also knew Zheng Yunqiao. Hearing of his death, his expression changed slightly.
The Tempering Hall disciple continued, “On the second night after separating 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 and lay on the ground screaming. We tried to save her, but then someone else was cut in half. We were so terrified that we could only flee…”
“From the Northern Border all the way south, that thing would catch up from time to time. By the time we reached the border of Cangzhou, only I was left…”
At this point, he could not help but cry, his tone filled with fear.
Hearing this, Li Qingqiu suddenly thought of something and once more summoned the Dao Lineage panel.
After several breaths, his gaze turned dangerous.
He could not find the avatar of the disciple before him. That meant this disciple was already dead.
Then who was the person sitting before him?
Seeing him cry so sorrowfully, Xiao Wuqing could not help but comfort him, saying, “You’ve already returned to Clear Sky Sect. Don’t be afraid. That thing won’t catch up again. But you must explain clearly—did you truly not see it at all?”
Hearing this, the Tempering Hall disciple raised his head. He wiped his tears, recalled the scene, and said nervously, “I only saw a blurry human figure. It was my junior brother’s blood that splashed onto him and revealed his form. He seemed to have three heads and six arms…”
Before he could finish speaking.
With a puchi sound!
Li Qingqiu formed a sword with his fingers and slashed out sword energy, severing his head. Fresh blood sprayed forth along his neck.
Xiao Wuqing widened his eyes, his entire body freezing in shock.
He had never expected Li Qingqiu to directly strike and kill this person.
Xiao Wuqing watched as the disciple’s head fell to the ground. His expression did not stiffen—instead, a strange smile appeared on his face.
The severed head lay on the ground, its eyes slanting toward Li Qingqiu as it grinned ferociously and said, “I didn’t expect to be seen through by you. As expected of an immortal cultivator—and your cultivation isn’t low either. This is wonderful. Compared to eating mortals, I prefer eating immortal cultivators. Your flesh and blood filled with spiritual energy are truly delicious. Just thinking about it excites me.”
His laughter was unrestrained and wicked, making goosebumps rise all over Xiao Wuqing’s body.
Li Qingqiu slowly stood up, looked down at him, and asked, “What is your purpose?”
“Purpose? Of course my purpose is to eat everyone in your entire sect!”
As the severed head laughed, it began to dissolve into blood. Even the skull melted away.
Not only his head—his corpse also melted into a puddle of black-red blood, emitting a pungent, nauseating stench.
Today there will only be two updates. A little laziness—it's too cold, this weather QAQ