Chapter 230 – Qilin Fear

Li Qingqiu glanced at Zhu Yan and said casually, “Your Zhu Clan isn’t swamped with trouble? You even monopolized a huge share of the School’s resources. How did you free yourself so quickly and find time for other things?”

Zhu Yan could clearly hear the mockery in his tone. Helpless, she said, “That was indeed my oversight. I’ve already warned them.

As the Hall Master of Tiangong Hall, she had her own duties; she couldn’t watch the Zhu Clan every moment.

When she learned the Cultivation Hall was expanding its intake of Disciples, she made some inquiries, only to discover the Zhu Clan’s doings. Furious, she sent a letter berating the clan elders and stopped the Zhu Clan Disciples from bulk-buying Spiritual Qi Pills.

The matter had left her feeling guilty, so she wanted a chance to apologize to the Sect Leader.

“Something like that will never happen again,” Zhu Yan said earnestly.

Li Qingqiu smiled. “Everyone has feelings; I understand. I’m not asking you to eliminate such things, but remember—you must keep them within bounds. If they threaten the School, I’ll see it as malice. Were it not for your years of diligence, I’d already have swung my sword at the Zhu Clan.

Zhu Yan quickly bowed in gratitude.

“Enough—it’s New Year’s; let’s not speak of this.” Li Qingqiu caught her arm, refusing to let her kneel.

“Then about the Zhu Clan helping Liu Jing…”

“Let them do as they please, but you’d best warn them not to harbor ambitions that don’t belong to them.”

“I understand.”

Zhu Yan nodded, a chill running through her. She truly feared the clan elders might try to control Liu Jing—that would never do.

She could see now that the Sect Leader genuinely supported Liu Jing. Anyone scheming against him was provoking the Sect Leader; the Sect Leader simply liked to watch from the mountain and wait for people to jump into the pit themselves.

Zhu Yan left Li Qingqiu in peace, rose, and walked around the long table to speak with Chai Yunshang.

Li Qingqiu was in excellent spirits, a smile lingering on his face.

Mainly because Zhao Zhen’s life tribulation had finally passed, and he had gained another destiny selection chance.

He now had two destiny selections. He would use one, keeping the other in reserve lest he miss a future peerless Genius.

At present Li Qingqiu was intrigued by Jiang Zhaoxia’s 【Mortal World True Dragon】 and Cloud Color’s 【Myriad Laws Spirit Eyes】, yet he hesitated—he felt something stronger might still appear.

That New Year, many noticed Li Qingqiu’s good mood.

After the New Year, Li Qingqiu began roaming the Taikun Mountain Range, touring various places, and even paid a visit to Xunxian Town.

Seeing it with his own eyes, he realized how prosperous the Qingxiao Sect had become.

By the end of the first month, Liu Jing reached the pinnacle of the Liu Group’s power; Liu Lin was forced to abdicate, the process naturally drenched in blood.

The rumor that Liu Jing had carried a coffin to beg the Qingxiao True Immortal spread quickly; his tale was deeply moving, his rise steeped in mystery. Li Qingqiu was already seen as a living immortal, and with the two of them in one story, Liu Jing’s fame soared.

More and more voices claimed Liu Jing was Heaven’s chosen.

Nanchu Prefecture, within the Prefectural City.

Liu Jing sat in the great hall, dazed as officials reported the money, grain, weapons, and horses sent by the Aristocratic Families.

“So the realm is this easy to obtain…”

His feelings were mixed—elated yet afraid.

Having gained it, he naturally feared to lose it, and worried he might not rule well.

He drew a deep breath, casting stray thoughts aside. What he had to do now was seize power swiftly and sweep the world, unifying it within three years.

No!

He had to do better!

Liu Jing’s gaze hardened; his whole bearing began to transform. Early in the second month, under Li Qingqiu’s arrangement, Jiang Zhaoxia descended the mountain to gain experience, bringing with him the Sword Sect’s top Genius, Sword Solitary.

Jiang Zhaoxia had been unwilling to leave, but Li Qingqiu insisted he spend six months out, claiming it was to scout the uninhabited regions of Nanchu and Yu Prefectures and, incidentally, to temper Sword Solitary’s temperament.

After creating a Divine Ability, Zhao Zhen entered closed-door Cultivation, aiming straight for the Ninth Layer of the Nourishing Origin Realm.

Qingxiao Sect Disciples began spreading across every peak of the Taikun Mountain Range; the great construction continued.

In early April, Li Qingqiu took Gold Lad to Yuantie Port Town and dropped by to see Angelica.

Angelica’s Aptitude was mediocre; its cultivation speed far lagged behind Gold Lad’s. It marveled at Gold Lad’s growth and was completely reassured.

Gold Lad’s cultivation proved Li Qingqiu treated them sincerely.

After visiting Angelica, Li Qingqiu entered Yuantie Port Town. The port stretched several li along the coast, pavilions lining the sandy shore and boats of every size moored at sea, a lively scene.

Besides Qingxiao Sect Disciples, Li Qingqiu saw Mortals and Martial Forest folk, evidence that Yuantie Port Town had begun trading with the secular world.

This was Li Qingqiu’s idea; after all, the Qingxiao Sect’s development needed vast wealth and resources. With over five hundred Disciples active here, no one dared cause trouble.

Yu Lin, in charge of Yuantie Port Town and the Source Iron Blessed Land, was thrilled to see Li Qingqiu and reported the situation excitedly.

Turns out a Disciple had tried diving to the seabed and discovered a mysterious Ore beneath the waves; the stone held unique Spiritual Qi and was as unyielding as primordial source-iron, so he reckoned it could be a vital resource.

Before long another Disciple carried a piece of that Ore straight to Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu lifted it for a closer look and sensed the stone was indeed extraordinary.

“I’ll take it back to Tiangong Hall for study. Yu Lin, well done—you haven’t disappointed me.”

Li Qingqiu praised him, and the words made Yu Lin even more excited; he hurried to give credit to the other Disciples, insisting it had nothing to do with him.

Afterward Li Qingqiu went to the mysterious vortex again and had Nangong E and Lin Chuan investigate, but once more they found nothing.

Yet finding nothing was the best news of all—it meant Yuantie Port Town faced no immediate danger… Northern Barbarians territory.

The night sky blazed with stars, bright as a painting, while the earth lay swallowed in darkness so thick you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

On a plateau Li Sifeng, Zheng Yunqiao, and more than a dozen Disciples of the Experience Hall sat around a campfire.

The Prison Qilin lay sleeping behind Li Sifeng; even sprawled on the ground it looked like a wall.

Li Sifeng was toying with his di xuan sword, his thoughts drifting.

Zheng Yunqiao, closest to him, turned and asked, “This land is vast and boundless; wiping out Xuanji Sect completely would be harder than climbing to heaven. Why don’t we head back?”

At those words the other Disciples all looked at Li Sifeng, hope shining in their eyes.

They had fought their way here from Cangzhou; none could calculate how far they now were from Qingxiao Mountain, and every one of them was weary, longing to return to the School and rest for months.

Li Sifeng came back to himself, swept his gaze across the Disciples, and after a moment’s silence said, “All right—we turn back at dawn!”

The moment the words left his mouth the Disciples cheered; some even leapt up and danced.

They began excitedly recounting their exploits, each trying to out-boast the others.

Li Sifeng watched them, his own heart full of feeling.

These Disciples were so formidable that most of the time he hadn’t needed to lift a finger, and that only made him more eager to see what Qingxiao Sect had become.

Just how strong was Qingxiao Sect now?

Listening to the Experience Hall Disciples talk, he felt the urge to return—because he could sense the pressure.

As Hall Master of the Experience Hall, how could he let himself fall behind in cultivation?

Of course, he also missed his wife and children.

Zheng Yunqiao laughed. “Once we’re back, it’ll be time to prepare for the Dharma Battle Assembly.”

At the mention of the Dharma Battle Assembly Li Sifeng grew interested and started discussing it with Zheng Yunqiao.

A meteor streaked across the night sky, unseen by anyone, but they had witnessed such sights many times and thought nothing of it.

A short while later.

The sleeping Prison Qilin suddenly opened its eyes and slowly lifted its head, staring into the distance.

Li Sifeng noticed the movement, turned to look, and seeing its fixed gaze he rose and followed its line of sight.

The horizon was pitch-black; beyond the rolling outline of hills nothing could be seen.

Zheng Yunqiao stood as well. “Enemies?”

He wasn’t nervous; they had marched unbeaten and grown supremely confident, fearing no challenge or danger in this land.

“I’m not sure, but the Prison Qilin’s senses are sharper than ours; it must have spotted something,” Li Sifeng answered quietly.

The other Disciples fell silent, stood up, and drew their weapons.

The Prison Qilin stepped forward, body tensed, emitting a low growl, puzzling everyone—including Li Sifeng.

In the past, when foes appeared, the Qilin would simply throw back its head and roar; it had never shown such an agitated, wary stance.

What was going on?

They all stared into the darkness ahead, but could see nothing and could only wait.

Li Sifeng could feel the unease in the Qilin’s heart, and it baffled him—could someone inside Xuanji Sect truly be stronger than the Prison Qilin?

“For an Auspicious Omen to be this tense, what it’s met probably isn’t human.”

An ancient voice sounded in Li Sifeng’s mind, making him frown.

“Not human? A ghost or monster?” he asked inwardly.

“I cannot say, but there are always evil things in this world. I urge you to withdraw at once.”

The ancient voice came from the thousand-year sword soul within the di xuan sword.

Hearing that judgment, Li Sifeng’s face changed; he immediately ordered, “Everyone pack up—retreat now!”

Startled though they were, the Disciples reacted instantly.

In less than five breaths they were running south behind Li Sifeng.

Li Sifeng whistled, and the Prison Qilin wheeled about and ran with them.

They ran faster and faster, glancing back repeatedly; so did the Qilin, its growls growing more urgent, tightening everyone’s nerves.

What could make a Qilin this anxious?

Every Disciple felt a chill down the spine; unknown danger is the most terrifying, and they could sense something chasing them though they heard nothing at all.