Chapter 224 – Shen Yue Overtakes Them All

Guarding the Tianshan Spirit Pool is no trouble; you simply keep watch at its edge.

The Tianshan Spirit Pool brims with Spiritual Qi, turning the post into a coveted prize. Before the assignment was even settled, word leaked out and Disciples began to pull every string.

That’s what happens when a School grows large. As long as Li Qingqiu doesn’t decide something outright, any delay breeds this sort of jockeying, and Li Qingqiu takes it in stride, allowing such gray spaces to exist.

Spring yielded to summer, and fresh scenery blanketed Qingxiao Mountain once more.

As the main peak of the Qingxiao Sect, Qingxiao Mountain was constantly being improved. The main road was broad and imposing, and many hillside buildings had been converted into palace courtyards. Xuanxin Hall in particular had grown larger and taller—its outline could now be seen halfway up the slope.

More and more pilgrims came to burn incense. Li Qingqiu’s five primal essences were spreading among the common folk, drawing worshippers from across the Nine Provinces Land. Their incense money had become a major source of income for the Qingxiao Sect.

At the summit, Li Qingqiu sat facing the blazing sun, palms turned upward.

He was meditating on the Immortal Absolute Three Swords Jiang Zhaoxia had taught him.

The Immortal Absolute Three Swords possessed devastating area power—exactly the offensive method Li Qingqiu needed—so he devoted time to Cultivate them.

Thanks to Innate Sword Obsessive and Thousand Refinements, Li Qingqiu couldn’t instantly master them as Jiang Zhaoxia could, yet his Comprehension speed was astonishing, far beyond Xu Ning or Shen Yue.

Nowadays he spent most of his time absorbing Qi and a portion practicing Divine Abilities, leaving sect affairs aside.

He had created the framework of Eight Halls, Sword Sect, Dark Hall, Immortal Guard, and more, precisely to check one another and propel the School through rules. For now, it worked, letting him Cultivate in peace.

Of course, no power’s rules and systems stay fixed forever; they can only evolve as problems arise.

A figure soared up from the cliff ahead and landed beside Li Qingqiu—Li Sijin.

With the distribution of qingxiao swords, sword flight had become a common Spell for Qingxiao Sect Disciples. Now people in Jianghu could see them streaking across the sky, a sight that shook the Martial Forest to its core.

Going to Qingxiao Sect to seek immortality became the dream of every Jianghu youth.

To that end, Spirit Control Hall had set up a recruitment post in Xunxian Town; Qingxiao Mountain itself no longer tested new Disciples.

“Senior Brother, why hasn’t my request been approved? Just tell me yes or no.”

Li Sijin spoke with aggrieved charm, like a little tiger—fierce yet adorable.

Li Qingqiu kept his eyes closed. “What request?”

“I want to send a group of Disciples across the Nine Provinces Land to search for Heaven And Earth Treasure. Didn’t Lord Jing tell you?”

“Something like this needs my approval?”

“They’ll be gone a long time. I need to supply them with Spiritual Qi Pills and Spirit Stones. They’re contributing to the sect; surely Cultivation Hall shouldn’t foot the bill?”

Li Qingqiu opened his eyes at that, looking at her in surprise.

Li Sijin’s confidence wilted under his gaze. She avoided his eyes and mustered her courage. “Am I wrong?”

Li Qingqiu smiled. “Not at all. Looks like you have clever advisors. Granted—go discuss it with your Fourth Martial Sister.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother!”

Li Sijin hugged him, thumped his back in delight, and hurried off.

Li Qingqiu watched in amusement, feeling gratified.

Seeing her fight for Cultivation Hall’s interests, he knew she had truly grown up—her thoughts were no longer simple.

He didn’t mind; after all, other Halls asked him or Lord Jing for the same treatment every time they went down the mountain, whereas Cultivation Hall caused the fewest headaches.

Yet he was puzzled. Chu Jing got on well with Li Sijin. Since taking power, Chu Jing had quietly favored Cultivation Hall. He said he owed Li Sijin for guiding him when he first entered Qingxiao Sect and was fond of her.

Most importantly, Li Sijin resembled his late daughter, and every time he saw her he couldn’t help wanting to make it up to her.

So why had Chu Jing refused her this time?

Li Qingqiu decided to ask him that evening.

Sunset, moonrise.

After half a day’s practice of Divine Abilities, Li Qingqiu returned to Lingxiao Courtyard in high spirits. Chu Jing was there with Yuan Qi and Xiao Wuqing discussing matters.

The three were leaders under Li Qingqiu, each with his own authority, occasionally meeting to coordinate.

When Li Qingqiu arrived, they rose and bowed at once.

He sat and asked directly, “Lord Jing, why didn’t you approve Sijin’s request—and why didn’t you tell me?”

Yuan Qi and Xiao Wuqing looked at Chu Jing in surprise.

Chu Jing was rigorous, a man they admired and emulated. They hadn’t expected him to slip up on something like this.

Everyone knew Li Qingqiu doted on Li Sijin; she was virtually the pearl of his palm.

Chu Jing answered helplessly, “I only wanted to delay the matter and keep her Disciples in the mountain a while longer. Demand for Spiritual Qi Pills is rising. If she sends a group out, I fear we’ll run short.”

That caught Li Qingqiu off guard. Astonished, he asked, “Doesn’t the Cultivation Hall produce a high volume of Spiritual Qi Pills?”

“Someone is buying them up in bulk.”

“Who has that kind of pull?”

Li Qingqiu asked curiously; Spiritual Qi Pills couldn’t be bought with mere money—dao affinity was also required.

Chu Jing looked at Li Qingqiu and said, “The Zhu Clan.”

Hearing that, Li Qingqiu’s confusion vanished.

Thanks to Zhu Yan, the Zhu Clan had become the top power within the School; they could indeed rally a large number of Disciples to purchase Spiritual Qi Pills. After all, while dao affinity itself couldn’t be transferred, it could be bartered privately to achieve the same end.

Li Qingqiu hadn’t expected the Zhu Clan to have already reached the point where they could sway the School in certain areas.

“According to my investigation, the Zhu Clan has run into trouble in the secular world and needs Spiritual Qi Pills to prepare for war. Besides, I figure the real problem is that the Cultivation Hall simply doesn’t have enough Disciples, so I haven’t cracked down on them.”

Chu Jing spoke seriously. Only then did Li Qingqiu understand.

So this was the trap waiting for him!

Li Qingqiu rolled his eyes. “If you want to help Li Sijin expand her roster of Disciples, just say so—why beat around the bush?”

Chu Jing sighed. “Sect Leader, I’m not scheming. Each Hall may only increase its numbers when there’s genuine need. Without the Zhu Clan’s move, the Cultivation Hall wouldn’t need to recruit more Disciples.”

Yuan Qi and Xiao Wuqing exchanged glances, both stunned.

They could play it like that?

They’d thought Chu Jing had erred, but clearly he’d acted for Li Sijin’s sake—something sure to please Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu mused, “Have the Cultivation Hall recruit fifty more Disciples.”

“Sect Leader, wise decision!”

Chu Jing answered at once; in official matters he addressed Li Qingqiu as Sect Leader.

Li Qingqiu had indeed been looking for a chance to promote Li Sijin, and this opportunity was perfect. The other Halls wouldn’t dare object to the Cultivation Hall’s expansion; at most they’d resent the Zhu Clan.

Resenting the Zhu Clan was fine—it would place more checks on them.

“The Zhu Clan overstepped; they still need a warning. Lord Jing, if you fail to handle such matters promptly in the future, no matter how good your reasons, I will punish you severely.”

Li Qingqiu spoke gravely. Chu Jing immediately gave his assurance.

This was meant for Yuan Qi and Xiao Wuqing to hear, and through them the entire School.

In private, of course, Li Qingqiu and Chu Jing had no such maneuvering.

Chu Jing was already his sword soul; with a single thought Li Qingqiu could obliterate him, and the dao lineage panel showed absolute loyalty—he had no fear of betrayal.

Afterward Li Qingqiu rose and left, letting the three continue discussing School affairs… In June, Zhao Zhen and Shen Yue successively broke through to Nourishing Origin Realm Eighth Layer. When news reached Li Qingqiu, he had Yuan Qi post a notice so every Disciple would know.

As expected, the cultivation atmosphere within the School was ignited once more.

Zhao Zhen reaching Nourishing Origin Realm Eighth Layer didn’t surprise Li Qingqiu; nowadays Zhao Zhen cultivated frantically and never left his Immortal Cave unless summoned.

Shen Yue, however, left Li Qingqiu baffled.

Shen Yue possessed merely excellent Aptitude, yet his cultivation speed was outrageous—keeping pace with the exceptional Zhao Zhen.

Unable to resist, Li Qingqiu summoned Shen Yue to ask the reason.

“It’s related to my sword soul and Sword Intent. I infuse my Sword Intent into the sword soul, so when I Cultivate, the sword soul Cultivates as well. The Qi it absorbs converts into Origin Qi that flows into my body.”

Sitting before Li Qingqiu, Shen Yue lifted his hot tea and spoke with breezy calm.

Well, well!

Wasn’t that outright cheating?

A private cultivation cheat just for himself?

Was this the bonus of being Sword Dao Grandmaster and number one under heaven? Shen Yue’s Comprehension Ability in sword Dao truly had no equal; others couldn’t even imagine doing this, let alone accomplish it.

Li Qingqiu checked Shen Yue’s panel again.

【number one under heaven: Having earned the title among mortal martial arts, you gain Heaven-and-Earth insight; your Sword Intent transforms, becoming the genuine number one under heaven. Should you become number one under heaven in the Immortal Realm, your Sword Intent and sword Dao Comprehension Ability will transform once more.】

Already, the mortal title had pushed Shen Yue’s Sword Intent to this level. Once he became number one under heaven in the Immortal Realm, how formidable would his Sword Intent and Comprehension Ability become?

The old man’s potential hadn’t been squeezed dry yet—astonishing!

Li Qingqiu’s opinion of Shen Yue shifted, and interest sparked: “Teach me?”

“Sure!”

Shen Yue agreed at once, the corners of his mouth lifting.

Finally, it was his turn to instruct Li Qingqiu!

He was elated; had Li Qingqiu not been present, he’d have punched the air and laughed aloud.

And so Shen Yue began imparting the sword soul cultivation method.

Yet Li Qingqiu, who possessed Innate Sword Obsessive, couldn’t understand a word.

Why would infusing Sword Intent into the sword soul allow it to Cultivate on its own?

Had he not known Shen Yue’s character, he’d have suspected deliberate misdirection.

He had to admit that in sword Dao, a gap existed between him and Shen Yue.

No matter—he still had Thousand Refinements!

Li Qingqiu dragged Shen Yue into giving him hands-on instruction.

Thanks to A Hanxueyeyue N for the 300 Qidian coins tip~