Chapter 226 – Just How High Is the Sect Leader’s Realm?

When they saw Jiang Zhaoxia kneel, the faces of the hundreds of watching Disciples changed dramatically. The moment a bolt of Heavenly lightning struck and Jiang Zhaoxia still could not stand, fear took root in their hearts.

Was Jiang Zhaoxia about to die beneath the Heavenly Tribulation?

The next instant, a figure appeared out of thin air in front of Jiang Zhaoxia, lifting a sleeve and scattering the lightning falling from the sky.

Sect Leader!

Everyone exhaled in relief—especially Zhang Yuchun and Li Dongyue. They had known their Eldest Senior Brother would not simply watch.

Li Qingqiu’s intervention seemed to enrage the heavens. A golden thunderbolt, fiercer and larger than any before, crashed down with world-shaking force, as though the sky itself would collapse.

Then everyone saw a hundred-zhang-long Sword Qi rise from the Tribulation Platform, slash across the firmament, and sever the golden lightning.

Shen Yue’s pupils dilated as he watched.

“What is that…?”

He actually felt tremendous pressure from that Sword Qi; his own Sword Intent quailed in fear.

Cradled in Li Qingqiu’s arms, Jiang Zhaoxia watched his Eldest Senior Brother shape a sword with his finger and release the Sword Qi of the Immortal Absolute Three Swords, and a smile touched his lips.

“Eldest Senior Brother… I knew it… your comprehension of the sword Dao surpasses mine, surpasses everyone’s…”

Jiang Zhaoxia spoke weakly.

Li Qingqiu offered no reply; he could feel the overwhelming might of the heavens.

It appeared that rashly interfering in another Cultivator’s tribulation would make the Heavenly Tribulation even more terrifying.

But for Jiang Zhaoxia’s sake, he had to bear it.

Boom—

Another thunderbolt crashed, as though it meant to split Lixue Peak in two. Li Qingqiu thrust his palm skyward, and terrifying Origin Qi formed a vast silver dome more than twenty zhang across, covering the entire summit.

The sight drew gasps from every observer.

“Such boundless Origin Qi!”

“It hasn’t been many years since the Sect Leader underwent his own tribulation—how can his Origin Qi be this fearsome?”

“Even from so far away I can feel the Sect Leader’s mighty Origin Qi.”

“A mortal defying the heavens…”

While the Disciples talked, Xu Ning was also shaken.

She had already reached the first layer of the Spiritual Consciousness Realm, yet faced with such vast Origin Qi she could not muster the slightest will to resist.

“Just how high is Master’s cultivation Realm?”

The thought burst uncontrollably into Xu Ning’s mind: she had to know her Master’s Realm.

With the huge qi-shield Li Qingqiu took two thunderbolts head-on.

Neither blast pierced the shield; it did not even waver, appearing utterly unbreakable.

The heavenly might dispersed.

Jiang Zhaoxia’s tribulation ended; in the silence he gained a sudden insight, his agony eased, and he slowly sat up to meditate as Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi streamed toward him.

Li Qingqiu rose and looked upward.

The thunderclouds scattered; rays of sunlight fell, bathing the two Senior Brothers in light.

Li Qingqiu’s expression was grave.

He could not help every Disciple through tribulation in the future, nor could he allow the School’s experts to interfere at will—the horror of rashly meddling with Heavenly Tribulation even unnerved him.

He could bear Jiang Zhaoxia’s tribulation for him; others could not.

Still, what is done is done. Within ten years it would be hard to produce ten Spiritual Consciousness Realm Cultivators; helping this small number would not be troublesome.

Li Qingqiu glanced at Jiang Zhaoxia, then flashed away.

In the days that followed, the terror of the Heavenly Tribulation became a constant topic among the Disciples.

Not everyone could be as effortless as the Sect Leader or Xu Ning; even someone as strong as Jiang Zhaoxia had nearly perished.

At once the Disciples began discussing how to undergo tribulation.

Some said Magical Artifacts and Formations were essential, others advocated stockpiling Spiritual Qi Pills—better yet, more effective ones.

Their discussions made Li Qingqiu realize his own oversight.

The three of them had been freakishly powerful; normal Cultivators should prepare every means possible, not rely on Physical Body and Spells alone.

Yet this was good—it would give the Disciples a deeper respect for Heavenly Tribulation and spur them to innovate.

Jiang Zhaoxia spent five days consolidating his Realm and sought Li Qingqiu first thing to offer thanks.

“Thanks between you and me?” Li Qingqiu said irritably.

Jiang Zhaoxu grinned and nodded, though inwardly he was unwilling to accept defeat.

He had lost to Xu Ning!

And lost thoroughly!

Xu Ning’s tribulation had been effortless; his own had nearly killed him. The other Disciples would surely judge the gap between them.

This time Jiang Zhaoxia accepted the loss wholeheartedly, yet he would not stop—Xu Ning remained his target to surpass.

Only one person could be Qingxiao Sect’s second-in-command, and that would be him!

Li Qingqiu took the chance to voice his concerns.

To the west lay the Azure Dragon Domain, to the north the Demon Land, to the south the route fleeing Cultivators took; Qingxiao Sect would inevitably meet other Schools.

“We must prepare for the worst. If one day Qingxiao Sect is beset on all sides, I hope four within our ranks can stand and guard each direction. Xu Ning is one; you are another. I even hope you can do more—when every battlefield stalls, you will be the sword that tears the crisis apart.”

Li Qingqiu’s words set Jiang Zhaoxia’s blood on fire.

He had found renewed drive to Cultivate with all his might.

He would become the pillar of the School.

‘By the way, when Ancestor Su Xing tried to possess you, Chu Jing saw a flood-dragon coil around your Soul. Look into it—your Soul may hide even greater strength.’ Li Qingqiu recalled and spoke seriously.

In truth, he felt Jiang Zhaoxia might endure even without his help, but he dared not gamble.

He resolved to send Jiang Zhaoxia down-mountain once a year for experience, to see if the Luck True Dragon still held sway.

Jiang Zhaoxia nodded and committed it to memory.

The two chatted a while longer; then Jiang Zhaoxia took his leave—he needed proper rest.

Li Qingqiu continued to Cultivate. With one more Spiritual Consciousness Realm expert in the School, his mind grew steadier.

Facing the menace of the Demon Land, his confidence kept rising.

Qingxiao Sect lay south of the Nine Provinces Land, with several provinces as buffer; if the Demon Land grew too dire, they could withdraw swiftly.

Of course, unless left no choice, Li Qingqiu would not abandon Taikun Mountain Range, so he would ready for war with the demons… Jiang Zhaoxia’s tribulation had terrified the Disciples, yet its effect was wholly positive.

Secret Manuals on Formation inside the Scripture Pavilion began to multiply; contributing Spells and Cultivation Techniques earned dao affinity, so no Disciple hid knowledge.

Many spared time to share insights with friends and craft new Spells together. When pilgrims climbed the mountain they often saw Disciples debating in the woods; scholars even composed poems and painters set the scenes in ink.

The atmosphere of Qingxiao Sect fully displayed the bearing of the number one under heaven School.

November arrived in a flash.

Li Qingqiu felt the year pass faster than any before—perhaps because he had spent so long in seclusion, and nothing had given him a headache.

Yet the moment that thought formed, the headache came.

Zhang Yuchun and Chu Jing entered Li Qingqiu’s Immortal Cave with grave news.

‘Zhu Xian is dead?’ Li Qingqiu asked, brows knitting.

Zhu Xian had been Qingxiao Sect’s favored prince, destined to unite the Realm—how could he die?

Li Qingqiu first thought of Li Sifeng, yet even with wolfish ambition his Sixth Junior Brother would never be this ruthless; he knew him too well.

‘A general under his command stabbed him. The general is imprisoned; Li Da of the Li clan now holds Cangzhou’s power—Li Da is Li Yang’s second uncle,’ Zhang Yuchun said, frowning.

The matter enraged him; he felt someone had slapped his face.

Li Qingqiu studied him. ‘The Li clan? What do they want? Does Sifeng have any part in this?’

Zhang Yuchun drew a deep breath. ‘Sixth Junior Brother is among the Northern Barbarians; this can’t be his scheme. That general has no ties to Sixth Junior Brother and only loose links to the Li clan—at least openly. He claims he killed Zhu Xian because Zhu Xian murdered his father. Truth or lie, we can’t yet tell. Cangzhou is in panic, and one voice rings loud: only Sixth Junior Brother can inherit the throne.’

Li Qingqiu’s brows drew tight again.

He could not help thinking of Pei Miao’s 【Twin Dragon Empress】 destiny—was fate stirring once more?

‘Zhu Xian had no children?’ Li Qingqiu asked.

‘A son and daughter were poisoned two years ago. After that he vowed: until the Realm was united, he would father no more offspring.’

‘Poisoned by whom?’

‘A maidservant who also bore deep blood hatred against him…’

Zhang Yuchun himself found it fishy; every sign pointed to a long-laid trap paving the road for Li Sifeng.

Li Qingqiu’s face darkened while he pondered.

He did not oppose Li Sifeng vying for the throne, but not by such means. Once certain paths are taken, they are trodden again, and moral lines keep retreating.

Zhang Yuchun likewise wondered what role Li Sifeng truly played.

Chu Jing suddenly spoke: ‘This is clearly the Li clan’s work, unrelated to Li Sifeng. With his strength, if he wished to be emperor he needn’t have joined Zhu Xian. The Li clan acted cleverly, keeping their hands clean. They struck while Li Sifeng was away so he would bear no stain. Whatever the case, the outcome favors Li Sifeng and favors Qingxiao Sect.’

‘I believe they seek closer ties with our School; everyone knows Li Sifeng’s standing within these peaks.’

‘My view: feign ignorance. Pretend we neither know nor care, and let the current carry on. World affairs are settled by the world. To speak bluntly, once Li Sifeng left, Zhu Xian could not withstand the Li clan—that itself shows he lacked Heaven’s Mandate. If his throne could only come through Li Sifeng, then that throne was Li Sifeng’s to begin with.’

His reasoning loosened Zhang Yuchun’s frown; it rang true.