Chapter 86: Becoming Famous in One Battle

Xue Jin was at the Nourishing Origin Realm Fourth Layer; back when Li Qingqiu went to the Seven Peaks Alliance, he was only at the Nourishing Origin Realm, Third Layer.

This was also a test for Xue Jin from Li Qingqiu. He could see that Xue Jin was ambitious and did not want to merely be Jiang Zhaoxia’s Disciple.

Although the others felt Li Qingqiu was too overbearing, they could not refute him. They realized upon reflection that if a Qingxiao Sect Disciples died at the foot of Qingxiao Mountain, it would be difficult to handle both internally and externally.

“Sect Leader, if you don’t mind, I can spread some news. We can say that the Sect Leader of the Nine Absolutes Sect sent assassins to assassinate you for no reason. Even without evidence, many people in this Jianghu will be interested. With more news circulating, the people of the Martial Forest won’t be as resistant to the Qingxiao Sect’s actions; they will only feel awe.”

Zhu Yan spoke up, her words causing everyone present to look at her in a new light.

In truth, everyone had some reservations about this Famous Scholar becoming the Deputy Hall Master, feeling that being a Famous Scholar wasn’t that big of a deal. However, during tonight’s meeting, Zhu Yan actively planned for the Qingxiao Sect’s interests, and her suggestions were indeed excellent. Everyone began to accept her from the bottom of their hearts.

“If Hall Master Zhu is willing to take action, then that is for the best.”

Li Qingqiu showed a smile. Although he was overbearing, he was not stupid. Having someone help him muddy the waters would not harm the Qingxiao Sect.

This was the kind of Qingxiao Sect he wanted. He only needed to decide the general direction, and as for the specific execution, his subordinates would divide the work and each fulfill their responsibilities. Even when facing an enemy, it shouldn’t be as simple as just a head-on clash.

Subsequently, Li Qingqiu discussed a few other matters. Once a consensus was reached, he dismissed everyone.

Returning to Qingxiao Mountain once again, Bai Ninger was full of curiosity about everything. Ever since being transferred to the Spirit Mine, he hadn’t returned for a long time.

He had no complaints about the Sect Leader’s arrangements and was even full of gratitude. After all, not just anyone could go to the Spirit Mine to Cultivate. He had already been the one to stay at the Spirit Mine the longest; the Disciples guarding the Spirit Mine with him were all rotating, except for him.

Other Disciples had also noticed this and speculated privately that the Sect Leader valued Bai Ninger very much.

The current Bai Ninger was already at the Nourishing Origin Realm, Third Layer. The increase in his cultivation made him full of confidence, making him look like a completely different person compared to two years ago.

Early this morning, a Disciple came to deliver a message saying the Sect Leader had summoned him to the Lingxiao Courtyard. He was both happy and apprehensive, unsure of why the Sect Leader was looking for him.

On his way up the mountain, he passed the guest courtyard of Zhu Yan and Su Xiling. After a moment’s hesitation, he went to knock on the door, but he didn’t recognize the person who opened it.

“May I ask if Senior Zhu Yan is here?” Bai Ninger asked after raising his hands in a salute.

The person who opened the door was a maidservant. She widened her eyes and asked, “Are you referring to the Famous Scholar Zhu Yan?”

“Yes.”

“She has become the Deputy Hall Master of the Tiangong Hall and moved up there. You didn’t know?”

“So that’s how it is. I haven’t been up the mountain for a year, so I truly didn’t know. My apologies for the intrusion.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Ninger hurriedly took his leave.

Hearing that Zhu Yan had already joined the Qingxiao Sect made him even happier. Su Xiling used to guide him frequently, and he had long since regarded her as his Master. Su Xiling would definitely follow Zhu Yan in joining the Qingxiao Sect; they would truly be on the same side from now on.

Arriving at the Lingxiao Courtyard, Bai Ninger found other Disciples in the courtyard. These were Disciples who had also gone to the Spirit Mine to Cultivate; he had seen them before.

Standing in the very center was Xue Jin. At twenty years old, he was at his most high-spirited. Currently, he was a Genius Disciple renowned throughout the sect, arguably the top person below Xu Ning. Naturally, the other Disciples gravitated around him.

Xue Jin caught sight of Bai Ninger and nodded slightly toward him, which made Bai Ninger feel somewhat flattered.

Xue Jin didn’t greet Bai Ninger because he was favored by the Sect Leader, but because he could see that Bai Ninger had already reached the Nourishing Origin Realm, Third Layer. Such power was considered first-rate across the entire sect and was worthy of his respect.

“I wonder why the Sect Leader called us here?”

“I heard some news that the Sect Leader might want us to carry out a mission.”

“That’s nonsense. Could he have called us here just for a meal?”

“A mission personally assigned by the Sect Leader definitely won’t be simple. I’m already starting to look forward to it.”

“With Senior Brother Xue along, we will surely succeed.”

While the Disciples were discussing, Yuan Qi walked out of Li Qingqiu’s room. He did a head count and then shouted toward the room, “Sect Leader, everyone is here.”

Hearing this, the twelve True Disciples immediately grew tense. The Sect Leader was actually inside the room?

They didn’t dare say another word, fearing the Sect Leader would hear them.

Soon, Li Qingqiu walked out of the room and came before them. After scanning the group, Li Qingqiu directly revealed the matter of the Nine Absolutes Sect sending people to assassinate him.

Upon hearing this, the Disciples were all filled with rage.

“I order you to go to the Nine Absolutes Sect, kill their Sect Leader, and wipe out their sect. You don’t necessarily have to kill every last one, but you must kill enough to force their sect to disband. Complete this before the end of the year. This operation will be fully led by Xue Jin; the rest of you follow his commands. After you return, I will reward you handsomely!”

Li Qingqiu spoke solemnly, and the Disciples immediately accepted the order.

Xue Jin was extremely excited; he had finally waited for an opportunity.

If this mission was completed well, he would no longer just have the status of a Disciple.

Li Qingqiu waved his hand to signal that they could go and prepare. The twelve True Disciples immediately saluted and walked toward the mountain gate together.

The lowest cultivation among these twelve Disciples was the Nourishing Origin Realm, Second Layer. They could definitely be considered the elite of the Qingxiao Sect. Even if they encountered Masters from the Demonic Sects, they would have the ability to escape.

Li Qingqiu held high expectations for them. After all, the Nourishing Origin Realm, Second Layer was not that easy to reach; more than half of them had only reached the Second Layer Realm within the last six months.

Once they left, the number of Nourishing Origin Realm, Second Layer Disciples remaining in the sect could be counted on one hand.

Of course, Li Qingqiu did not include the cultivation levels of the sect’s high-ranking officials.

Li Qingqiu stood in the courtyard for a while, then strolled out. He prepared to go and teach Li Yang how to Cultivate.

With Li Yang’s talent, it would have been enough to just hand him the Cultivation Technique, but Li Qingqiu wanted to create a layer of identity to consolidate his persona.

With him personally teaching Li Yang, Li Yang would also be a Genius favored by the Sect Leader in the future. The higher Li Yang’s achievements, the higher Li Qingqiu’s prestige would be.

The news of assassins attempting to kill the Sect Leader suddenly spread within the Qingxiao Sect. Soon, rumors mentioned it was the work of the Nine Absolutes Sect from Dongling Province. This made the Disciples angry and made the pilgrims curious about how the two sects had formed a grudge and what the Qingxiao Sect would do.

After the rumors spread, the number of Law Enforcement Hall Disciples increased to twenty-five. Every day, five Disciples stood guard at the foot of the mountain, and ten Disciples patrolled the mountain.

This attitude confirmed the rumors that the Sect Leader had been assassinated.

Everyone was waiting to see Li Qingqiu’s attitude. However, no notices were posted, nor did he summon the Disciples to the Xuanxin Hall for a meeting.

As autumn deepened, because Li Qingqiu had not spoken out, the matter was gradually forgotten by the Disciples.

On this day, Feng Dai sent someone to deliver a letter; it was still that swordsman named Ma Yu.

Li Qingqiu received him and then opened the letter to read it.

Feng Dai was doing quite well in the Zhengyang Imperial City. Besides having Jia Yi to help him, he had also met a benefactor and officially became a registered official.

Lately, the Imperial City had not been peaceful. It was said that the Crown Prince and the Emperor were struggling for power. The conflict in the court had already affected the entire Imperial City. Every day, officials were being dismissed, and every day, new officials were taking office.

Between the lines of Feng Dai’s letter, there was an air of excitement. He thought highly of the Crown Prince and hoped the Crown Prince would ascend the throne so that the Great Li Dynasty could become better.

After finishing the letter, Li Qingqiu looked up at Ma Yu and asked with a smile, “How is it that you are the one delivering the letter again?”

“My lord does not trust others.”

“While in the Imperial City, did you hear anything about the matters of the Guzhou Prefecture?”

“I hadn’t heard anything there, but I learned some things on the road.”

Speaking of this, Ma Yu’s expression became unnatural. When he heard that the Guzhou Prefecture had been occupied by Demonic Sects and that countless commoners had been killed or injured, he was greatly shocked. Such a horrific event had not even a whisper of news in the Zhengyang Imperial City.

However, he was indifferent by nature. If Li Qingqiu didn’t bring it up, he didn’t intend to ask. He knew such matters were not something he could intervene in, nor even discuss.

Li Qingqiu nodded slightly and said, “Why don’t you rest in the sect for a night?”

“No need. I wonder if Sect Master Li has any letter for my lord?”

“No.”

“Then this humble one shall take his leave!”

Ma Yu raised his hands in salute, turned, and left. He was very decisive and didn’t linger at all.

Li Qingqiu quite admired Ma Yu; Feng Dai had quite a good eye.

Immediately, he stood up and prepared to go to the Underground Spirit Lake to practice.

Learning that the Emperor was struggling with the Crown Prince made him feel even more at ease. He would eventually have a battle with the Emperor, and the later that battle happened, the better.

Lately, he planned to work hard to charge toward the Nourishing Origin Realm Eighth Layer. The higher the Realm, the truly harder it was to Breakthrough. Even he, who possessed the Heavenly Thunder Spiritual Root, felt this way, let alone others.

Cultivating for immortality truly required sinking a lot of time into it. No wonder it’s said that an Immortal’s dream lasts a thousand autumns.

When the winter snow began to fall from the sky, a piece of news reached the Qingxiao Sect, shaking the entire sect.

Xue Jin, the head of the Thirteen Sword厉, led eleven True Disciples of the Qingxiao Sect to forcibly break into the Nine Absolutes Sect. They killed the Sect Leader of the Nine Absolutes Sect and caused the Disciples of the Nine Absolutes Sect to flee in a rout. They were still staying within the Nine Absolutes Sect and refused to leave.

This was news brought by pilgrims, and hearing it made the Qingxiao Sect Discipless extremely excited.

They had previously been frustrated about how the Sect Leader had endured it, but after their private discussions, they also felt the matter was hard to handle since the Nine Absolutes Sect could simply deny it.

Just when they all thought the Sect Leader intended to endure in silence, they didn’t expect such news to arrive.

For a time, Xue Jin’s name was widely discussed throughout Qingxiao Mountain.

Xue Jin became famous in one battle. According to a pilgrim, the entire Dongling Province Martial Forest was now discussing him. It had even sparked a trend of’saving the Nine Absolutes Sect.’ The martial artists of Dongling Province believed the Qingxiao Sect was provoking the entire Dongling Province Martial Forest.

Not only Xue Jin, but Bai Ninger and the other True Disciples also began to rise to fame, though they were not as dazzling as Xue Jin.

This battle truly allowed the Qingxiao Sect to step out of Guzhou Prefecture.

Unlike the anger of the Dongling Province Martial Forest, the Guzhou Martial Forest was invigorated by it. Some people even wanted to go and support the twelve True Disciples of the Qingxiao Sect, because during this time, they had already heard that the Nine Absolutes Sect had sent assassins to assassinate the Sect Master of the Qingxiao Sect.

Zhang Yuchun found Li Qingqiu and asked, “Eldest Senior Brother, should we send people to support them? Now that things have escalated, I’m afraid other sects might intervene.”

Li Qingqiu replied, “No need. Xue Jin will handle this matter properly. Moreover, a while ago, Sixth Junior Brother just happened to take on a mission in Dongling Province.”

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