Chapter 147: The Overbearing Path

The Dharma Battle Assembly concluded successfully, but the excitement within the Qingxiao Sect continued.

The Spirit Control Hall posted a notice announcing the rewards for the top 64, top 10, and top 3. There were rewards of money, Spirit Stones, and dao affinity, and surprisingly, the top three even received Immortal Caves.

What is an Immortal Cave?

This became a hot topic among many Disciples. That day, news about the Immortal Caves spread: an Immortal Cave was a personal Cultivation place, suitable for living and practicing Cultivation Techniques, and its Spiritual Qi level was comparable to the Thousand Spirit Blessed Land.

As soon as this news broke, the entire School was shaken.

The top ten Disciples were filled with regret, wondering if they had Cultivated harder, would they have had a chance to break into the top three?

It was foreseeable that Xu Ning, Xue Jin, and Zhao Zhen would continue to widen the gap with other Disciples thanks to their Immortal Caves.

Wouldn’t it be difficult to surpass them in the next Dharma Battle Assembly?

Early the next morning, more news spread: the Dharma Battle Assembly would be held every ten years, and starting from the next one, the top ten would all receive Immortal Caves. Not only that, but the top three from each assembly would no longer be allowed to participate in the next Dharma Battle Assembly.

This news greatly encouraged many Disciples. Although ten years was a long time, for the vast majority of Disciples, it was precisely an opportunity for them to practice their Cultivation Techniques and grow, as it was difficult to catch up with those Geniuses in just a year or two.

Especially the rule that the top three could not participate in the next Dharma Battle Assembly gave them more hope.

While the Disciples were still immersed in anticipation for the next Dharma Battle Assembly, the high-level meeting of the Qingxiao Sect resumed.

This time, they were no longer meeting in Lingxiao Courtyard, but in Xuanxin Hall.

Not only the Hall Masters, but also the Deputy Hall Masters and Elders of each hall gathered here. Dozens of people stood before the steps, still chatting about the Dharma Battle Assembly and congratulating each other.

When Li Qingqiu entered the hall with Yuan Qi and The Three Xiao Brothers, they all quieted down and made way.

The Three Xiao Brothers were participating in such a meeting for the first time. Their hearts were very excited. Although they were eliminated early in the Dharma Battle Assembly, it now seemed that they had surpassed most Disciples, which made them even more grateful to Li Qingqiu.

Not just them, other high-ranking officials of the School were also quite surprised to see Li Qingqiu bringing them.

It seemed the Sect Leader was truly preparing to Cultivate them, and to develop them towards positions of power, as even Zhao Zhen and Ji Ya had not entered such a deliberative occasion.

Li Qingqiu walked to the front, stepped onto the platform, and looked down at the crowd. The Three Xiao Brothers, at Yuan Qi’s signal, stood opposite the Hall Masters.

As the Qingxiao Sect’s primary main hall, Xuanxin Hall had been continuously renovated, and its furnishings became increasingly grand. The floor gleamed, and Li Qingqiu’s mood brightened as he stood on the steps, observing it all.

Tiangong Hall was not eating for free!

Li Qingqiu said, “Everyone, trouble has come to the Qingxiao Sect again!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall instantly erupted. The high-ranking officials were furious, believing that the Sect Leader would not speak falsehoods.

“Who dares to cause trouble for our Qingxiao Sect?”

“Our Qingxiao Sect focuses on its own development and doesn’t seek dominance, yet someone still causes us trouble. How abominable.”

“This is the Jianghu. As long as the Qingxiao Sect exists, trouble will never cease.”

“Who is so audacious? Sect Leader, this time, please do not act personally. Give us a chance to earn merit.”

“Yes, the current Qingxiao Sect is strong enough. Even if the Sect Leader doesn’t act, we can sweep away all troubles.”

After four months of the Dharma Battle Assembly, the high-ranking officials had a comprehensive understanding of the Qingxiao Sect’s strength, and every one of them was filled with confidence.

Not just them, the mindset of Disciples at all levels also changed.

Without a comparison, one truly wouldn’t know that the Qingxiao Sect had so many Geniuses.

Any True Disciple alone would be enough to make a name for themselves in the Jianghu!

Upon hearing Li Qingqiu’s words, the high-ranking officials’ first reaction was anger, followed by excitement. They felt their opportunity had arrived.

After the establishment of dao affinity, the Cultivation Techniques and Secret Manuals in the Scripture Pavilion gained clear value. Ordinary Martial arts were easy to exchange, but the Secret Manuals on the fourth floor of the Scripture Pavilion were not. The most expensive ones even reached tens of thousands of dao affinity, which made the high-ranking officials very curious about how powerful those Secret Manuals truly were.

With Shen Yue, Jiang Zhaoxia, Zhao Zhen, and others present, new Secret Manuals appeared in the Scripture Pavilion every few days, and Li Qingqiu was already planning to build a fifth floor.

Li Qingqiu raised his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down, then gave Zhang Yuchun a look.

Zhang Yuchun stepped forward and recounted the matter of the refugees and the rumors circulating in the Jianghu and the mundane world. A few high-ranking officials knew about this, but most did not. When they heard the rumors in the Jianghu, they all found it absurd.

“If the Sect Leader hadn’t acted, wouldn’t this world be a living hell? How could anyone use this to slander the Sect Leader? They’re simply insane.”

An Elder who was also a Hall Master couldn’t help but say, his face filled with disbelief. His words resonated with other high-ranking officials. In their eyes, Li Qingqiu’s execution of the emperor was the Qingxiao Sect’s most glorious act of chivalry.

Yang Jueding was furious and volunteered to lead people into the Martial Forest to silence those rumor-mongers.

After letting everyone vent their emotions, Li Qingqiu slowly spoke, “Next, the Experience Hall will continuously increase School missions. The Qingxiao Sect does not wish to participate in Martial Forest disputes, but it will not sit idly by. Everyone, we are about to embark on a great slaughter. Please be prepared.”

Upon hearing this, everyone’s hearts tightened.

They had almost forgotten that the Sect Leader was the one with the strongest killing intent in the School.

After discussing this matter, Li Qingqiu began to consult with the high-ranking officials about constructing other mountain peaks, allowing each hall to establish branch halls on them. This indicated that the Seven Halls would continue to recruit Disciples, and their power would also grow, which was good news for everyone in the hall.

Of course, the most important thing was the Qingxiao Sect’s development prospects.

The Sect Leader’s goal seemed grand, which also filled them with anticipation.

This high-level meeting lasted for nearly an hour. Afterwards, rumors targeting the Qingxiao Sect spread throughout the Martial Forest and the mundane world within the School. All Disciples who heard about this were enraged.

For a time, the attention of the entire Qingxiao Sect shifted from the Dharma Battle Assembly to the mundane world. Facing threats from all sides, the Qingxiao Sect Disciples eagerly prepared, and many had already gone to the Experience Hall, awaiting the release of School missions.

Night fell.

In Lingxiao Courtyard, Li Qingqiu sat at a long table, writing names, while Yuan Qi and The Three Xiao Brothers stood behind him, observing.

Li Qingqiu not only wrote names but also drew the faces of these Disciples. With his current control over his Physical Body, he could perfectly reproduce the avatars from the dao lineage panel without error.

They were curious why Li Qingqiu was doing this. They had seen the faces of some Disciples and had a fairly good impression of them.

Li Qingqiu drew the faces of twenty-three people in one sitting, saying, “Yuan Qi, tomorrow, take these portraits to the Law Enforcement Hall and have them interrogate these Disciples.”

The loyalty of these twenty-three people to Li Qingqiu and the Qingxiao Sect had all dropped to 0. Nine times out of ten, they were spies.

Li Qingqiu would regularly clear out Disciples with 0 loyalty. The Law Enforcement Hall was initially confused, but after repeated investigations, they became filled with admiration for Li Qingqiu, believing that the Sect Leader was truly an Immortal.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Qi immediately put away the portraits without asking any questions.

The Three Xiao Brothers were curious about this, but they did not voice any doubts. They had absolute trust in Li Qingqiu, believing that the Sect Leader must have a reason for doing so.

Li Qingqiu gestured for Yuan Qi to withdraw, then had The Three Xiao Brothers sit opposite him.

They had been together for more than half a year, and The Three Xiao Brothers were no longer nervous around Li Qingqiu. They were now curious about what Li Qingqiu would say next.

“In the next Dharma Battle Assembly, you must break into the top ten. For this, I will spare no effort in cultivating you.”

Li Qingqiu’s first words invigorated them. After the failure in this Dharma Battle Assembly, they were full of fighting spirit for the next one, determined to achieve a good ranking. They would work hard even without the Sect Leader’s words, but receiving the Sect Leader’s full cultivation effort still greatly excited them.

“However, if I show such favoritism towards you, over time, the Disciples will surely have opinions. Therefore, from now on, I will assign dangerous missions to you every year. Be mentally prepared,” Li Qingqiu said solemnly.

Invincible Xiao was the first to answer, “Sect Leader, just give the orders! We are not afraid at all and will definitely complete the missions!”

Xiao Wuqing nodded, “Since we receive so many resources, we should undertake more dangerous missions. That’s only fair.”

Xiao Wuming did not speak, his expression dark, making him seem deeply cunning. In reality, he hadn’t thought that much; he didn’t care what missions the Sect Leader would assign, he only looked forward to when they could begin.

Li Qingqiu was very satisfied with their attitude. After a few more words of encouragement, he dismissed them.

After they left, Li Dongyue walked out of the room. She came before Li Qingqiu and said, “Senior Brother, will you be free tomorrow to guide me on my Rejuvenating Ghost Immortal Needle?”

The Dharma Battle Assembly had also greatly stimulated her. She had reached Nourishing Origin Realm, Fifth Layer, but she felt she had no confidence against any of the top ten Disciples, which gave her a sense of crisis.

Li Qingqiu nodded, “Alright, come to my Immortal Cave tomorrow morning.”

Li Dongyue smiled. She didn’t bother Li Qingqiu further, simply exchanged a few words, and then left… After August ended, to the eager anticipation of the Disciples, the Experience Hall finally posted a School mission targeting the mundane world.

Annihilate the Golden Serpent Cult in Jiangzhou. Twenty-five Disciples were required, with a minimum Cultivation of Nourishing Origin Realm, Third Layer. The mission rewards ranged from fifty to two hundred dao affinity, and five hundred to three thousand strings of cash, depending on performance.

As soon as this mission was released, it was taken down by the Experience Hall in less than an incense stick’s time, because the number of participants was full.

This made many Disciples pound their chests in frustration. At the same time, the name of the Golden Serpent Cult also spread. Many Disciples heard this name for the first time and were curious how the Golden Serpent Cult had provoked their Qingxiao Sect.

In a forest, Li Qingqiu was guiding Zhao Zhen, Yuan Li, Ji Ya, Li Yang, and The Three Xiao Brothers in their Cultivation, when Zhang Yuchun came to Li Qingqiu’s side.

“Senior Brother, won’t posting the mission like this be too ostentatious?” Zhang Yuchun asked worriedly.

Li Qingqiu calmly said, “I want to be ostentatious. The Qingxiao Sect will walk the overbearing path. If they can get the news in advance, then they are formidable. It also serves to test the execution speed of our Disciples.”