Chapter 243 – Li Qingqiu Takes a Disciple

The year drew to a close, and the festival season arrived.

In a quiet courtyard, fourteen-year-old Hu Yan stepped out of his room. He wore an oversized blue sect robe, his hair tied back in a careless knot. Sunlight spilled over him as he lifted his face—pale, delicate, almost pretty.

He wasn’t the only one; the other Disciples in the courtyard emerged one after another.

Qingxiao Sect had changed. New Disciples no longer bunked together—each had a house of their own.

Soft quilts, steaming water, fresh fruit and pastries on the table. Last night Hu Yan had slept the deepest sleep of his life; it still felt like a dream he couldn’t trust.

“Hu Yan, what are you doing today?”

A girl the same age, Duan Xiaojuan, bounced over. They’d passed the entrance trial yesterday and become Named Disciples. Both were from Dongling Province, so they’d naturally gravitated toward each other.

Eight new Disciples shared this courtyard.

Hu Yan considered. “I’ll wander around first—get to know the sect.”

“Mind if I tag along?”

Duan Xiaojuan grinned, unabashed. Her skin was sun-dark, her features plain, but her wide eyes and mouth made her smile infectious.

Maybe it was because the others gave him a bad feeling, but Hu Yan felt oddly drawn to her.

He nodded without refusing.

They left the courtyard together. Nearby stood the main refectory; they headed there for breakfast. Every building along the way was strung with lanterns and colored cloth, festive and bright.

“Worthy of the number one under heaven—utterly untouched by the chaos outside,” Duan Xiaojuan marveled.

The word “chaos” darkened Hu Yan’s eyes.

Because of the chaos he’d lost his parents. His early life had been bitter; to stand here he’d stumbled and crawled, covered in wounds. Even now it felt unreal.

He still remembered kneeling before that Qingxiao Sect Disciples, begging for rescue.

The sun had been blinding; at first he hadn’t seen the Disciple’s face.

“Don’t be afraid. With me here, no one will hurt you.”

After saying it, the Disciple drove off the thugs who’d been chasing him.

Later, the Disciple had pressed dried rations into his hands and told him: if he had nowhere to go, travel south to Qingxiao Sect—they would take him in.

The Disciple had seemed to have urgent business; Hu Yan hadn’t even time to ask his name before he vanished.

But he’d memorized that face. Days would pass, and one day he would repay the debt.

Lost in memory, Hu Yan and Duan Xiaojuan queued for food, then found an empty table.

They ate while listening to older Disciples talk about festival customs; everything about Qingxiao Sect fascinated them.

“There are so many people here,” Duan Xiaojuan suddenly sighed. She’d never seen such a crowd, all clean-robed, warm-voiced, no brawls or quarrels. The life of Cultivation they described sounded like a dream.

Hu Yan nodded, already mapping his own future.

Above Named Disciple stood Outer Sect Disciple, Inner Sect Disciple, and True Disciple. Only as a True Disciple could one truly seek the Dao of immortality.

The road was long, but he would walk it to the end.

After breakfast they heard some Disciples were heading to the Martial Arts Stage to watch Spell duels; intrigued, they followed.

Along the mountain path they saw countless Disciples ride Flying Swords toward neighboring Qingxiao Mountain. Hu Yan glanced over—Qingxiao Mountain was far livelier than Ziyang Peak, a veritable Immortal realm whose grandeur even swirling snow could not hide.

One day, he would set foot on that mountain.

With that thought he straightened his shoulders and marched on, ready to greet his own life of Cultivation…

Inside his Immortal Cave, Li Qingqiu sat on a stone bed, feeling the Vast Righteousness Qi that now belonged to him.

Yes—he had copied Hu Yan’s 【Vast Righteousness Qi】 onto himself.

He coveted its ability to ward off curses; instinct told him that, given time, someone would eventually try to hex him. Cultivation methods were endless and hard to guard against.

Vast Righteousness Qi could also protect the body on its own, shielding him from sneak attacks.

After inheriting the destiny and memories, Li Qingqiu found a unique Aura circling him. The world looked sharper, his body lighter—an elusive, exhilarating state.

So this was 【Vast Righteousness Qi】?

Just this sensation satisfied him: clear-minded, spirited, every thought transparent.

He rose and said to Gold Lad, “Attack me.”

Gold Lad turned, head cocked in puzzlement.

“Don’t worry, I only want to test the Spell I just learned,” Li Qingqiu said gently.

Understanding, Gold Lad nodded, sprang up like a bolt of green light, and slashed its arm-blade toward his chest.

Bang!

Gold Lad slammed into an invisible wall of Qi and was flung backward, crashing into the wall so hard stars burst behind its eyes.

Li Qingqiu raised an eyebrow. Formidable Vast Righteousness Qi—stronger than expected.

He could command it at will, yet in danger it defended on its own. A curious sensation, almost instinctive.

“Master, what kind of Spell is that?”

Nangong E asked cautiously from a short distance away.

She wasn’t the only one; Lin Chuan was also shaken with fear. The Vast Righteousness Qi felt so dangerous they didn’t dare approach.

“Calling it a Spell isn’t quite right. It’s a power of heaven and earth I’ve recently grasped; it still needs refinement.”

Li Qingqiu answered evasively, since he couldn’t pass the Vast Righteousness Qi to anyone else.

The Vast Righteousness Qi would grow stronger with time, which was why he valued it. He liked that it could keep influencing his destiny.

“Gold Lad, are you all right?” Li Qingqiu asked, looking at Gold Lad.

Gold Lad had reached the Yangyuan Realm Sixth Layer, but the backlash of Vast Righteousness Qi just now had left it dizzy and seeing stars.

“Master, I’m fine.” Gold Lad replied in a muffled voice, shook its head, and stood back up.

Only then did Li Qingqiu feel relieved; he walked toward the stone gate of the Immortal Cave.

“I’m going out for a stroll.”

Nangong E and Lin Chuan were drawn into Li Qingqiu’s body.

Gold Lad chose to stay behind; it wanted to continue to Cultivate.

Those who didn’t know better might think it bore a blood feud; in truth, it simply loved pursuing Immortal cultivation.

After leaving the Immortal Cave, Li Qingqiu arrived at Lingxiao Courtyard. The place was lively; the senior figures, rarely free of duties, were sitting in the courtyard drinking and chatting, laughter and cheer unending.

“Senior Brother, where are you going?”

Li Sijin asked curiously when she saw Li Qingqiu pass them without stopping; everyone else turned to look as well.

“Taking a walk around the School. I’m in a good mood today and plan to take another Disciple—whoever catches my eye.”

Li Qingqiu said casually, and his words shocked everyone in the courtyard.

Take a Disciple?

It had been many years since Li Qingqiu last accepted a Disciple, ever since Ji Ya.

Even Geniuses like The Three Xiao Brothers hadn’t caught his Dharma Eye, yet now he was going to take one personally.

Shen Yue became interested and vanished from where he stood.

Yang Jueding looked at Zhang Yuchun and asked curiously, “Has the School produced any remarkable Geniuses lately?”

Zhang Yuchun said in puzzlement, “There are plenty of Geniuses, but they’re far behind his own Disciples.”

Li Dongyue laughed. “Don’t overthink it. The Senior Brother said it himself—he’s just in a good mood. It’s not necessarily about finding a Genius.”

“Impossible. He definitely foresaw something,” Zhang Yuchun shook his head.

Even Yuan Li, whose Aptitude was the worst, had opened the path of a Body Cultivator.

Whenever Zhang Yuchun saw Li Shouzheng and Li Shoumin, he felt deep malice; he thought the Senior Brother was toying with him, yet he had refused more than once and had no face to complain to the Senior Brother.

The others agreed, feeling the Sect Leader must have been attracted by some world-shaking Genius.

On the other side.

Shen Yue followed beside Li Qingqiu; he wanted to see how Li Qingqiu would choose.

“Did you get some inside information beforehand?” Shen Yue asked, full of suspicion.

“How could that be? If a truly peerless Genius appeared, do you think those guys would ask me? They’d snatch him up early.”

Li Qingqiu laughed helplessly, describing the current state of Qingxiao Sect: if a Disciple showed talent, every hall would fight over him, leaving no chance for Li Qingqiu.

He still didn’t know whether Hu Yan had been recruited by a hall, but even if so, he didn’t care. He was the Sect Leader, the highest authority; once he spoke, anyone with objections would be dealt with strictly.

“True. Then I’ll accompany you and see how you pick,” Shen Yue nodded, finding it reasonable.

Though he had no wish to take Disciples himself, he was extremely curious about Li Qingqiu’s eye for talent.

He wanted to know how Li Qingqiu spotted those peerless Geniuses.

The two chatted idly as they headed down the mountain.

Along the way, Disciples who spotted them bowed excitedly; Li Qingqiu returned their greetings with a smile, showing no airs of a Sect Leader.

Shen Yue only nodded at most; he couldn’t match Li Qingqiu’s warmth.

He suddenly realized that no matter how high Li Qingqiu’s cultivation or how powerful the School became, Li Qingqiu’s attitude toward others never changed.

Prestige tends to grow with authority; the senior figures in the School, Li Sijin included, had all developed their own Aura, making Disciples nervous in their presence.

When Li Qingqiu faced Disciples, he showed no Aura, giving a feeling like a gentle spring breeze.

Shen Yue only sighed inwardly; he had no intention of imitating it—he wasn’t the Sect Leader, after all.

From the mountaintop to the foot, Li Qingqiu still hadn’t chosen a Disciple. Along the way, Shen Yue noticed several clearly outstanding candidates, yet Li Qingqiu favored none of them.

Those Disciples had no idea they’d missed the chance to become the Sect Leader’s pupil, but simply speaking with him was enough to thrill them.

The two arrived at Ziyang Peak; as they climbed, fewer Disciples recognized them, and their ears finally enjoyed some peace.

“If they’re Geniuses, they’d be admitted directly to Qingxiao Mountain. Those left on Ziyang Peak are mostly mediocre in Aptitude. Are you planning to create a Genius?” Shen Yue asked curiously.

Li Qingqiu rolled his eyes. “How many times do I have to say it? I’m in a good mood and picking by eye—stop being so vulgar about it.”