Chapter 122: The Heaven-Mending Plan

Li Qingqiu spent a day selecting thirty True Disciples at the Nourishing Origin Realm, Third Layer, to follow Xu Ning to Zhongtian Province.

The next day, he selected thirty more Disciples with high loyalty and a cultivation level at the Nourishing Origin Realm, Second Layer, to follow Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Dongyue to Tianji Mountain.

For the Qingxiao Sect today, the loss of sixty-three Disciples did not affect the overall atmosphere, as new Disciples joined the Qingxiao Sect every day. Some descended the mountain, and some ascended it, just as in the world, there are always newcomers who dominate the situation.

In the days that followed, Li Qingqiu stopped running around and devoted most of his time to cultivation.

The Nourishing Origin Realm Eighth Layer was far from enough for him; he not only intended to assault the Ninth Layer but also to explore the higher Spiritual Consciousness Realm.

While the outside world was in chaos, Qingxiao Mountain had its own stories unfolding, with new Geniuses constantly emerging. The stories of these Geniuses also motivated the Disciples to work hard on their practice.

Midsummer arrived, and the weather became hot.

Cheng San, drenched in sweat, returned to the small courtyard. Having just turned fifteen this year, his physique was much sturdier than before he ascended the mountain; previously, he had looked frailer than his peers.

“Sis, I’m back,” Cheng San called out loudly.

Clang.

A door swung open, and a fair-faced, delicate woman walked out—it was Cheng Xiu.

Back when Li Sifeng descended the mountain to fight for the di xuan sword, he saved this pair of siblings. During the subsequent escape, he was severely injured, but the siblings did not abandon him. Later, they were caught by the Pei Clan, but fortunately, the Prison Qilin arrived in time, allowing the three of them to escape with their lives. Afterward, Li Sifeng brought them back to Qingxiao Mountain, and they became Disciples of the Qingxiao Sect.

After arriving at Qingxiao Mountain, their relationship with Li Sifeng grew distant, mainly because of the vast difference in status. They rarely saw Li Sifeng on normal days. However, through their own efforts, they still managed to become Inner Sect Disciples and learned the First Layer Mind-Cultivation Technique of the Hunyuan Scripture.

Seeing Cheng San drenched in sweat, Cheng Xiu couldn’t help but ask, “What were you doing?”

“The Martial Arts Stage is being rebuilt, and I lent a hand. Sis, the Sword God is going to challenge the Sect Leader again! Let’s go watch it together when the time comes,” Cheng San said excitedly.

Cheng Xiu’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. “We definitely have to see that.”

Since she began cultivating immortality, her temperament started to change. The resilience in her bones was amplifying, and she had found a goal in life: to become a True Disciple of the Qingxiao Sect.

Previously, she lacked confidence and a sense of accomplishment in everything she did. But ever since she started practicing the Hunyuan Scripture, people often praised her high talent, and she could feel the daily increase of Origin Qi within her body. This gave her an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and kept her highly motivated every day.

Cheng San walked toward the well in the courtyard, drawing water while chatting about what he had heard.

“The Law Enforcement Hall has another Genius named Lu Qing. He joined only three years ago and reached the Nourishing Origin Realm Fourth Layer today! Sis, you didn’t see how glorious he was; wherever he went, a crowd of Disciples surrounded him. Even Aristocratic Families from down the mountain wanted to recruit him and marry their daughters to him.”

Cheng San spoke with an envious tone. After coming to the Qingxiao Sect, his eyes were opened, and he deeply understood his own mediocrity.

He used to complain about his poor background, but within the Qingxiao Sect, everyone had a chance. Yet, the gap between individuals became obvious due to the Hunyuan Scripture, forcing people to admit their own mediocrity.

Cheng Xiu sighed emotionally, “The Nourishing Origin Realm Fourth Layer, is truly unattainable.”

“Sis, you’ve already reached the Nourishing Origin Realm, Second Layer. You’ll definitely reach the Fourth Layer eventually; it’s just a matter of time. But speaking of which, Sis, are you really not going to express your feelings to Big Brother Li? Although there are rumors he has an engagement with Young Miss Pei Clan, nothing is set in stone, so you still have a chance.”

Cheng Xiu glared at him and snapped, “Who do you take your sister for? Your sister isn’t so shameless as to pester him when I clearly don’t deserve him? Besides, I’m older than him; it would be a joke if word got out. Don’t mention this matter again. We owe the life we have today entirely to him, and we shouldn’t hope for anything more, understand?”

“Fine, I won’t mention it.”

Cheng San reluctantly agreed, then muttered a couple of phrases under his breath.

Actually, he was just joking. They couldn’t even get close to Li Sifeng nowadays, and Li Sifeng’s marriage certainly wasn’t something he could decide on his own.

He heard that the person Li Sifeng feared most was the Sect Leader. The Sect Leader was gentle toward Disciples, but extremely strict with this Sixth Junior Brother—he would hit him without hesitation.

“Third Child, stop running around all day. Practice more; that is the most important thing,” Cheng Xiu reminded him.

“I know.”

Cheng San responded casually, his tone calm.

Cheng Xiu opened her mouth, wanting to persuade him further, but couldn’t bring herself to do it.

The two siblings joined the Qingxiao Sect together; she was already at the Nourishing Origin Realm, Second Layer, while Cheng San remained at the Nourishing Origin Realm, First Layer.

She knew very well that it wasn’t that Cheng San wasn’t working hard enough, but that there was a gap in their natural talent.

Although they were born of the same parents, before their family met disaster, Cheng Xiu had always been taught by her parents to look after her younger brothers. She was like a foil to her brothers, but after coming to the Qingxiao Sect, their roles had reversed.

Just as the two fell silent, Yuan Qi walked into the courtyard.

Seeing Yuan Qi, Cheng Xiu quickly raised her hand in greeting, simultaneously reminding him, “Third Child, someone is here.”

Cheng San, who was drawing water, turned his head to look. When he clearly saw Yuan Qi’s face, his expression changed drastically. He quickly put down the wooden bucket and turned to greet Yuan Qi.

Although Yuan Qi was only seventeen, who in the entire sect didn’t know that he worked for the Sect Leader? His prestige rivaled that of a Hall Master, and no one dared to offend him.

Yuan Qi looked at Cheng Xiu and Cheng San and said, “The Sect Leader wants to invite you to help establish the Demon Taming Hall. Once the Demon Taming Hall is officially founded, you will directly become Disciples of the Demon Taming Hall. Are you willing?”

Hearing this, both Cheng Xiu and Cheng San were stunned.

The Sect Leader?

The Demon Taming Hall?

The huge surprise made their heads spin slightly.

Cheng Xiu couldn’t help but ask, “Why us?”

Yuan Qi placed one hand behind his back, maintaining a poised posture. He smiled airily, “The Sect Leader said that you saved Hall Master Li Sifeng, and he has always remembered this favor. However, considering that your time in the sect was too short, promoting you directly might have caused dissatisfaction among other Disciples, so he waited until now.”

Cheng Xiu and Cheng San exchanged glances, both seeing the excitement in the other’s eyes. They quickly agreed to the matter.

Yuan Qi told them to first go to the Spirit Control Hall to register on the new roster. After speaking, Yuan Qi turned and left.

After Yuan Qi left, Cheng San couldn’t help but cheer, extremely excited.

Cheng Xiu was also happy. Although she already had the cultivation of the Nourishing Origin Realm, Second Layer, becoming a Hall Disciple was not easy, let alone bringing her younger brother along.

Afterward, Yuan Qi went to the courtyards of other Disciples, and excited reactions like those of Cheng Xiu and Cheng San occurred one after another.

The news about the imminent establishment of the Demon Taming Hall quickly spread.

The two words “Demon Taming” sparked intense discussion among the Disciples, and even the pilgrims on the mountain knew about it.

What exactly was the Qingxiao Sect trying to pull?

Where did demons even come from in this world?

…Inside the Ganwu Hall, Imperial Palace, Zhengyang Imperial City.

The Son of Heaven, Zhao Zhi, sat cross-legged on the Dragon Throne. He was still disheveled, wearing sleeping robes, completely lacking the dignified image of an emperor.

A figure walked into the Ganwu Hall; it was Mysterious Duke.

Mysterious Duke came to the steps, knelt down halfway, and said solemnly, “I beg Your Majesty to punish me!”

Zhao Zhi opened his eyes and looked at Mysterious Duke. He asked in a hoarse voice, “What? You failed? Did only you return?”

Mysterious Duke replied, “We encountered an ambush by the Qingxiao Sect. Someone must have tipped them off. Only I managed to escape by chance. The martial arts of the Sect Master of Qingxiao Sect are unfathomable, and I could hardly resist. Coupled with the likes of Shen Yue, Jiang Zhaoxia, and Xu Ning, even with the enhancement of the martial god pill and the yin ghost pill, we were completely outmatched…”

Zhao Zhi frowned, his eyes flashing with a terrifying cold light.

The great hall fell into silence.

After a while, Zhao Zhi spoke up and asked, “Why did you return so late?”

Mysterious Duke took a deep breath and said, “I was severely injured and had to recuperate for a period, otherwise it would have been difficult for me to return alive.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhi closed his eyes again.

Mysterious Duke did not get up. He knew that Zhao Zhi’s heart was certainly not calm.

“The Qingxiao Sect… what a Qingxiao Sect…”

Zhao Zhi spoke faintly. Suddenly remembering something, he opened his eyes, looked at Mysterious Duke, and asked, “I remember someone in the Sky Prison. Is his name also Qingxiao?”

Mysterious Duke replied, “That’s right. True Man Qingxiao, the Founding Ancestral Master of the Qingxiao Sect, is in the lowest level of the Sky Prison. However, when he was imprisoned, the current Sect Leader of the Qingxiao Sect, Li Qingqiu, had not yet been born, and the Qingxiao Sect’s second Sect Leader, Lin Xunfeng, had already retired from the Jianghu. It would be difficult for us to use True Man Qingxiao to threaten the Qingxiao Sect, and it might even cause trouble.”

Zhao Zhi scoffed, “What? Does he, Li Qingqiu, dare to personally come and kill Us, even knowing this?”

“Your Majesty, this young man, Li Qingqiu, possesses such profound skill at such a young age. I fear that even the martial arts myth of yesteryear cannot compare to him. I hope Your Majesty can re-evaluate him.”

Mysterious Duke spoke in an extremely serious tone, causing Zhao Zhi to frown.

“What kind of joke are you making? Do you think that even We, as we are now, cannot deal with him?” Zhao Zhi stared intently at Mysterious Duke, his tone icy.

“Your Majesty has consumed numerous Medicinal Pills and obtained the Inner Pill of the martial arts myth. Your martial arts are naturally the highest in the current age. However, the trouble before Your Majesty is not just the Qingxiao Sect. I suggest Your Majesty first suppress the Seven Provinces Army, pacify the world, and then eradicate the Qingxiao Sect in one fell swoop. It won’t be long before the Prince of Wei attacks the Zhengyang Imperial City. He is the enemy we need to deal with first, not Li Qingqiu, who is a thousand miles away.”

Just then, a Jin Wu Guard rushed into the great hall, knelt beside Mysterious Duke, and urgently reported, “Reporting to Your Majesty, the Taiwu Sect and the Liyin Cult were attacked by the Qingxiao Sect! All the Disciples of both sects were slaughtered, and only a few guests managed to escape!”

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhao Zhi stood up. A terrifying aura surged from his body, his long hair and robes fluttering, making him look like a Vengeful Ghost standing in the darkness.

“The Qingxiao Sect dares to retaliate against Us? Did Li Qingqiu bring people here himself?” Zhao Zhi demanded sharply.

“No, it was Li Qingqiu’s Eldest Disciple, Xu Ning.”

“Good! Very good! A Major World-Class Sect, one of the Three Founding Sects, is actually no match for a single woman!”

Zhao Zhi laughed, his smile growing increasingly sinister.

Mysterious Duke spoke, “Your Majesty, although the Three Founding Sects are within Zhongtian Province, they are hundreds of miles away from Zhengyang City. It is difficult to deal with them for now. We must concentrate our efforts on dealing with the Seven Provinces Army outside the city first. This time, both Your Majesty and your servant must act. The Heaven-Mending Plan must be implemented; we cannot wait any longer!”