Chapter 183: Void-Soaring Demon Heart, Innate Blade Cultivator

With external threats gone, internal troubles arose. The struggle between the Aristocratic Families within the Qingxiao Sect had already begun. Li Qingqiu didn’t care much about this; the current power of the families wasn’t enough to influence the sect, and their help was indeed needed for the sect’s development.

Besides practicing his skills, Li Qingqiu mostly wandered around the Demon Taming Hall and Tiangong Hall after leaving his Immortal Cave, making the Disciples feel his emphasis on these two halls.

Ming Guang was responsible for researching Formations, with dozens of Disciples under him. Wu Xingyue also had many Disciples assisting her. Li Qingqiu had her study communication Magical Artifacts first. He agreed to almost all of their requests.

Unfortunately, Formations and Magical Artifacts were not so easy to research.

However, the results from the Cultivation Hall saw a sudden explosion.

Li Sijin had created many more Talismans. Those Talisman papers imprinted with Spells had already begun selling within the sect, with good results.

Chen Huilan had also finally refined Spiritual Qi Pills. Spiritual Qi Pills could be used for Cultivation or to quickly replenish Origin Qi.

These treasures were only sold at the Cultivation Hall, making it a hot commodity and the most bustling hall currently. The status of the Cultivation Hall’s Disciples also rose significantly, being sought after wherever they went. After all, Spiritual Qi Pills and Talisman papers were still scarce items. With these two things on hand, one could have more confidence when traveling the Jianghu.

Even though the Qingxiao Sect was a Cultivation sect, Disciples traveling the Jianghu would still go missing or die; the Jianghu remained just as dangerous.

The Qingxiao Sect and the rest of the world had already become two completely different worlds.

Summer arrived.

Amidst the mountains, Li Sifeng, having removed his armor, sat in meditation on a giant rock by the river. The di xuan sword floated around him, bobbing slightly as if surrounded by some kind of flame.

The Prison Qilin was drinking water nearby, while Pei Miao sat across the river, one hand supporting herself on the ground and the other touching her lower abdomen. She looked at Li Sifeng, her eyes full of infatuation.

“Husband, since you want to do something great, why not bring those soldiers with you? They’ve been through life and death with you for so many years; they should be trustworthy.”

Pei Miao asked. Even if she followed Li Sifeng to the ends of the earth, she would feel happy.

Li Sifeng kept his eyes closed and said, “If I take the troops with me, what will the people of the world say about me? That I betrayed the Pei Clan?”

“But without the troops, it will be too difficult for you to rise. We have no money and no people. How many years will it take to compete for the world?” Pei Miao asked. She wasn’t worried, just wanted to understand Li Sifeng’s thoughts.

Li Sifeng replied, “How can there be none? You’ll see. Soon, people will come to give us men and money. Even if I don’t use the power of the Qingxiao Sect, many people will help me because of it. Whether this succeeds or not, their efforts won’t be in vain.”

Hearing this, Pei Miao couldn’t help but recall her father’s words.

“Let him go. As long as you can have children, the Pei Clan will have a way out.”

Pei Miao felt that Li Sifeng and her father hadn’t truly fallen out; the two had a tacit understanding and were deliberately putting on a show.

Li Sifeng wanted to compete for the world legitimately, and her father needed to set up an alternative path for the Pei Clan.

Although she didn’t participate in war discussions, she could sense the Pei Clan’s troubles. After occupying two provinces, two other Feudal Lord wanted to suppress the Pei Clan.

This world was very close to the Pei Clan, yet also very far.

Pei Miao looked at Li Sifeng and said, “Husband, if you truly have that ambition and are willing to use your identity to get things done, then I hope you can pacify the world soon. The longer these chaotic times drag on, the more people will die.”

She had always disliked chaotic times, but her dislike couldn’t change anything.

“Don’t worry. Once my momentum is built, I will end these chaotic times as quickly as possible,” Li Sifeng replied.

Just as he finished speaking, the grass by the river vibrated, causing him to open his eyes.

The Prison Qilin, who was drinking water, and Pei Miao also looked up toward the distance. They saw a group of people approaching on horseback, followed by carriages, swaying and kicking up clouds of dust.

The leader held a large banner high, with the character ‘Li’ printed on it.

Pei Miao frowned and asked in surprise, “Which Li Clan could it be?”

Li Sifeng watched the large Li Clan group approaching. Although he couldn’t see exactly how many people there were, he didn’t panic.

He had now completely mastered the di xuan sword, and his strength was nothing like before. He even dared to let the Prison Qilin appear in public, which was enough to prove his immense confidence… In the scorching summer, the world welcomed high temperatures.

Early this morning, Li Qingqiu came to the seaside harbor alone. He came by sword, the heavenly rainbow sword leading the way as it carried him over the mountaintops. He saw a huge pavilion at the junction of the forest and the ocean, with many people building other structures around it.

This was the first harbor built by the Qingxiao Sect. Although it was meant to cover up that mysterious vortex, Li Qingqiu still decided to take this opportunity to develop it.

In the future, more Disciples could be dispatched here to deal with any dangers the mysterious vortex might bring.

Li Qingqiu only glanced at the construction progress from the air and didn’t land. He traced an arc in the sky and flew toward the west.

Crossing a hundred miles, he arrived above a dense forest.

The trees here were dense, and the forest was pitch black. Even looking down from high above, it was daunting, making one worry that fierce creatures might be hiding inside.

In fact, something terrifying was indeed hidden here.

Li Qingqiu descended from the sky and landed on a treetop. The heavenly rainbow sword slid into the scabbard at his waist with a crisp sound.

A section of the forest below began to shake, as if some massive creature was moving within.

Soon, the leaves in front of Li Qingqiu were pushed aside, and a giant snake head poked out—it was Angelica.

Angelica looked at Li Qingqiu, constantly flicking its tongue.

“It seems you’ve made a decision?” Li Qingqiu asked with a smile.

Angelica said respectfully, “Since the Immortal thinks highly of me, how could this little demon be so ungrateful?”

Hearing its words, Li Qingqiu couldn’t help but wonder what kind of temperaments those two Cultivators had to make Angelica learn to be so humble.

Li Qingqiu continued, “Bring those three little demons to see me.”

Angelica nodded and then made a strange sound. It was clearly a snake, yet its voice sounded like some kind of bird.

“Gu-gu—”

As Angelica’s voice continued to spread, Li Qingqiu soon sensed a faint trace of Demonic Qi.

Immediately after, two more traces of Demonic Qi approached from different directions.

Li Qingqiu made an estimate and felt that the strength of these three little demons was about the same as Xiao Jiu’s, comparable to a cultivation at the Nourishing Origin Realm, Third Layer.

This was already very strong. In the secular Martial Forest, few people would probably be able to do anything to them.

Before long, the three little demons arrived around Angelica one after another, climbing to the treetops and revealing themselves.

A Golden Monkey, a black panther, and a mantis.

Li Qingqiu’s gaze was drawn to the mantis, which was about the size of a house cat.

A Mantis Spirit!

This fellow was green all over, as if it had two blades. Under the sunlight, it even reflected a metallic luster.

“Are you willing to join my Qingxiao Sect?” Li Qingqiu asked.

“We are!”

The three demons actually spoke in unison. Their voices belonged to two males and one female; that black panther was actually a female demon.

Before Li Qingqiu arrived, Angelica had already explained the situation to them, so they didn’t hesitate when faced with his invitation.

Li Qingqiu hadn’t expected them to be able to speak human language as well; they truly were hundred-year-old demons.

He immediately brought up the dao lineage panel and found the avatars of the three demons.

The Aptitude of the Golden Monkey and the black panther was not particularly outstanding, and they didn’t have any special destiny. However, the Mantis Spirit was not simple.

【Name: Gold Lad】

【Gender: Male】

【Age: 132 years old】

【Loyalty (Sect Leader/Sect): 71/44 (Max 100)】

【Cultivation Aptitude: Relatively Good】

【Comprehension Ability: Excellent】

【destiny: Void-Soaring Demon Heart, Innate Blade Cultivator】

【Void-Soaring Demon Heart: Reaction and speed are extremely fast. As the cultivation Realm increases, the advantages in these two aspects will continue to multiply. Has extraordinary Comprehension Ability for movement techniques, dodging-type Spells, Divine Abilities, and secret methods.】

【Innate Blade Cultivator: Born with the ability to comprehend blade techniques, possesses extraordinary Comprehension Ability for the Dao of the Blade, and is destined to become a Blade Cultivator.】

…This 【Void-Soaring Demon Heart】 made Li Qingqiu want to copy it.

In the world of martial arts, only speed is invincible; this was no exaggeration when applied to Cultivation either.

And this 【Innate Blade Cultivator】 destiny appearing on a mantis was just too ridiculous.

Being destined to become a Blade Cultivator, didn’t that mean even if it hadn’t met Angelica, it could have stepped onto the Demonic Daoist path through its own talent?

The more Li Qingqiu looked, the more he liked it, feeling that Gold Lad was a promising talent.

He looked at Gold Lad again. This Mantis Spirit was tilting its head, looking quite dazed, but in his eyes, it had already become a decisive blade-wielding warrior.

Li Qingqiu asked, “Angelica, I want to take the three of them back to the Qingxiao Sect first. What do you think?”

Hearing this, Angelica immediately became nervous and asked, “What about me?”

“Once the seaside harbor is built, I’ll take you back to the Qingxiao Sect. At most a year. Stay here; if the harbor runs into trouble, I’ll need your help.”

Li Qingqiu’s arrangement made Angelica breathe a sigh of relief, and it immediately nodded in agreement.

“It’s just… if I show myself, will the people of the Qingxiao Sect treat me as an enemy too?” Angelica still had concerns.

“I’ll take you to meet them right now. Do you need to bring anything else?”

“There’s nothing we need to bring.”

“Then let’s go.”

And so, Li Qingqiu flew toward the harbor with Angelica and the other three demons.

He flew forward on his sword, observing below as the four demons moved through the forest, each one agile.

Especially Gold Lad, who was faintly even faster than Angelica.

A long time passed.

Li Qingqiu landed on the beach in front of the harbor. His appearance immediately drew the Disciples’ attention, but when they tried to gather around, they were frightened by Angelica behind him.

“A snake! What a huge snake!”

“A snake demon! Sect Leader, watch out!”

“Sect Leader, watch out behind you!”

“My god, how can there be such a big snake?”

The Disciples cried out in alarm, and several instinctively drew their swords and rushed toward Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu raised his hand and said loudly, “Don’t panic. These four demons have already submitted to me.”

Hearing this, the Disciples stopped one after another, looking at him in shock.

At that moment, Jiang Zhaoxia flew over on his sword and landed beside Li Qingqiu. He had also heard Li Qingqiu’s words. His heart was full of curiosity as his gaze fixed on Angelica, putting immense pressure on her.

Next, Li Qingqiu introduced Angelica and the three demons to all the Disciples. When Gold Lad appeared, the Disciples, just like him, looked at Gold Lad with strange expressions.

Even a mantis can become a spirit?

Sorry, I was refining the settings just now and lost track of time. This chapter counts as the third update for the 14th. Today’s updates haven’t started yet QAQ.