Chapter 253: The Trap

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Once all the departing Disciples had gathered, Li Qingqiu did not give a speech to boost morale. In the preceding days, the School had already assigned leaders for the groups. There were ten in total, and they stepped forward one after another to report the arrival of the Disciples to Li Qingqiu.

After confirming everyone was present, Li Qingqiu declared, “Set off!”

As he spoke, the heavenly rainbow sword unsheathed itself. He leaped onto it, soaring into the sky, while the others took out their own qingxiao sword and followed, flying on their swords.

Over a thousand Disciples flying on swords was a magnificent sight, cutting through the snowy mist between the mountains with a grand Aura.

The Disciples standing on the cliffs along the way watched the figures passing through the Cloud Colors, every one of them filled with excitement.

“So fast! I heard that everyone participating in this operation is a True Disciple.”

“Since the School was established, this expedition has the greatest momentum.”

“Before I joined the Qingxiao Sect, I heard that the Sect Leader led Disciples down the mountain to eliminate demons. Now I’m seeing such a grand feat again. Unfortunately, my cultivation is insufficient. Had I known, I should have worked harder to Cultivate.”

“I wonder what kind of Evil Spirit it is that requires so many people to confront it.”

“Look, it’s Senior Brother Sword Solitary! He’s going too!”

…Flying through the wind and snow, Li Qingqiu’s speed was not too fast, mainly to consider the Disciples’ Origin Qi. The journey to Cangzhou was not short, and it was impossible to fly the whole way without stopping. They would certainly have to fly and rest intermittently. There were still fifteen days until the end of the year, which was enough time for them to arrive.

Jiang Zhaoxia and Shen Yue flew behind him. Though they appeared calm, their hearts were just as stirred.

It wasn’t that they hadn’t gone out on missions before, but it was the first time they had seen such a grand display.

The vast Origin Qi behind them gave them immense confidence. Previously, they always felt they were protecting the School’s Disciples, but now, with so many Disciples accompanying them on the mission, they didn’t feel burdened—only filled with boundless courage and anticipation.

They were already imagining the scene of leading so many Disciples into battle against the Ghost Army.

If they felt this way, the other Disciples felt it even more.

The Disciples had long known that the School had many members, was full of experts, and had countless Geniuses, but the experience of actually gathering a thousand True Disciples to fly on swords was entirely different.

Shock!

Excitement!

Figures flying on swords were everywhere, and the Origin Qi gathered together was incredibly vast. Even the most talented Disciples felt their own Origin Qi was insignificant in comparison. Under these circumstances, they felt a strong sense of anticipation and pride for the School.

Cloud Color flew among the crowd, gazing at Li Qingqiu at the very front with eyes full of admiration.

The powerful Qingxiao Sect was built single-handedly by Li Qingqiu. How could such a man not inspire awe and fanaticism in his Disciples?

Li Qingqiu could feel the gazes behind him. He spoke, “Have the ten Executive Discipless pass down the intelligence gathered on the evil ghosts and explain it to every Disciple.”

The Executive Discipless were a temporary position established by Li Qingqiu to be responsible for leading the groups in battle; a thousand Disciples couldn’t just charge forward blindly.

In Li Qingqiu’s vision, he would eventually create balanced teams based on the Disciples’ strengths.

Not every Disciple was skilled in Ghost Path Magic Arts or healing Spells. Gathering Disciples who mastered different Spells together would yield greater results.

“Yes!”

Xiao Wuqing immediately turned around and flew toward the ten Executive Discipless to convey the Sect Leader’s orders… On the snow-covered wilderness, a large number of troops were advancing through the wind and snow.

Qin Ye rode at the front, holding a golden staff that reflected the light amidst the flying snow, shining brightly. His expression was solemn, and his gaze was sharp.

Years of warfare had long ago stripped away his childishness, turning him into a man who could stand tall between heaven and earth.

At thirty, he was already the head of the generals under Liu Jing, commanding the three armies. This time, he led three hundred thousand troops north.

Beside him, half a horse’s head behind, was the young general Li Yuzhong.

Li Yuzhong held a Sky-Piercing Painted Halberd and had a handsome face. His heavy silver armor made him look even more eye-catching than Qin Ye.

Following on Qin Ye’s other side was a strategist named Jia Guang. Wearing ordinary armor, he looked ahead, stroked his beard, and smiled. “After traveling day and night for several months, we’ve finally reached Cangzhou. This northern scenery is truly desolate; I still prefer the mountains and waters of Southern Chu.”

Qin Ye replied, “We didn’t come to Cangzhou for sightseeing. Once we step into Cangzhou territory, we must stay alert and maintain a strict guard. Several months have passed; perhaps the Northern Barbarians’ Evil Spirits have already broken into Cangzhou.”

Upon hearing this, Jia Guang asked, “Great General, you are a Disciple of the Qingxiao Sect’s Sect Leader. You must have practiced methods to deal with ghosts and monsters, right?”

Hearing him mention the Qingxiao Sect, Li Yuzhong couldn’t help but prick up his ears to listen.

Li Yuzhong had already settled his wife and children at the Qingxiao Sect, both for his son’s future and to protect them.

In truth, he also longed for immortality in his heart and had thought about whether he should go to the Qingxiao Sect to Cultivate after the chaotic times ended.

“The Qingxiao Sect naturally has methods against ghosts and monsters, but I have not practiced them,” Qin Ye replied.

Having been away from the mountain for so many years, he truly missed his days at the School, yet he was also somewhat afraid to go back.

Over the years, he would occasionally encounter Qingxiao Sect Discipless. As the second Disciple of the Sect Leader, he naturally treated these Disciples well, and through them, he learned about the School’s development.

The rapid development of the Qingxiao Sect startled him. He even felt that what he was doing was meaningless—compared to his Master, it was too shallow, too much like child’s play. He also felt that he could no longer keep up with the School’s pace, as too many Disciples had surpassed him.

Qin Ye’s thoughts began to wander, and when Jia Guang heard that he didn’t know ghost-slaying techniques, he also fell into silence.

Intuition told Jia Guang that this northern journey would likely be fraught with more ill than good.

Li Yuzhong wanted to ask Qin Ye more about the Qingxiao Sect but didn’t know how to start.

The relationship between the two was not particularly good; they even competed secretly. However, they both held high opinions of each other privately. Their competition was open and fair, never involving underhanded schemes.

The three hundred thousand soldiers in the rear marched in silence. Years of constant warfare made them indifferent to where they were going; they only thought about surviving until tomorrow.

The wind and snow grew heavier, making the road ahead increasingly blurred.

As evening approached, Qin Ye suddenly saw a swaying figure ahead.

Li Yuzhong noticed it too and immediately tightened his grip on his Sky-Piercing Painted Halberd.

Although there were three hundred thousand troops behind him, he had to be careful when encountering a lone person in the middle of nowhere.

In these times, the human heart is unpredictable.

As the person drew closer, Jia Guang also sensed something was wrong.

“Who goes there?”

Jia Guang asked. Someone who dared to walk toward a large army was certainly not simple; they either sought something or were plotting something.

In a chaotic world, who would dare to seek out an army?

It was most likely the latter.

The person did not answer Jia Guang’s inquiry and continued walking toward them.

Qin Ye did not order a halt; how could three hundred thousand troops be scared off by one person?

But to prevent any accidents, he flicked his horsewhip, urging his horse to speed up and take the lead.

Li Yuzhong followed immediately, changing his grip on the Sky-Piercing Painted Halberd, ready for battle at any moment.

Once they got closer, Qin Ye and Li Yuzhong finally saw the person clearly.

It was a middle-aged man in rags with disheveled hair. His legs were in a bizarre posture, his hands were shaped like claws, and his head was tilted. His face was a sickly blue, his eyes were lifeless, and black blood dripped from his mouth.

Seeing the person’s strange appearance, how could Qin Ye and Li Yuzhong not understand that the other was no longer human?

The middle-aged man’s eyes met Qin Ye’s, and his face suddenly became distorted as he lunged directly at the two… Starting from Qingxiao Mountain, they flew on swords during the day and rested to absorb Qi at night. It took six days in total to finally reach Cangzhou.

After entering Cangzhou, Li Qingqiu slowed down and sent Jiang Zhaoxia ahead to scout for information.

Jiang Zhaoxia quickly picked up the movements of Liu Jing’s army, so Li Qingqiu followed them, maintaining a distance of several dozen miles.

Another four days passed.

As night fell, Li Qingqiu stopped with his Disciples on the snowy plain. The Disciples were not clustered tightly; Shen Yue, Zhao Zhen, Ji Ya, Li Yang, and Xue Jin were stationed at the edges in various directions.

Li Qingqiu sat cross-legged by the fire. Gold Lad was practicing with its blade beside him, while Cloud Color watched it while absorbing Qi.

Nangong E suddenly emerged from the ground, came to Li Qingqiu’s side, and whispered, “Master, two more bodies have been found, just like the previous Corpse Ghosts.”

After entering Cangzhou territory, they had seen Corpse Ghosts causing havoc. A single Corpse Ghost could ruin an entire village. Besides the Corpse Ghosts they had eliminated, they also encountered the remains of others, which Li Qingqiu guessed was Qin Ye’s doing.

Li Qingqiu replied, “You should rest.”

Nangong E nodded and then sank back into his body.

Cloud Color, at the Yangyuan Realm Sixth Layer, could already see ghosts. She had also heard Nangong E’s words. She looked at Li Qingqiu and asked, “Sect Leader, those Corpse Ghosts don’t seem very powerful—only at the level of first or second-rate experts in the Martial Forest. Surely the army can suppress them?”

Li Qingqiu answered, “What you saw were just transformed farmers and hunters. If it can give ordinary people the strength of ten or twenty years of martial arts practice, don’t you think the threat is enough?”

Cloud Color followed up, saying, “I saw a bizarre, poison-like power inside them surging from their hearts. Do you think that counts as the Corpse Ghost’s fatal weakness?”

Hearing this, Li Qingqiu opened his eyes. He hadn’t expected Cloud Color’s Myriad Laws Spirit Eyes to have such a miraculous effect.

“Not bad. If you discover anything else in the future, tell me anytime,” Li Qingqiu praised. He then beckoned to Xiao Wuqing and told him about this point.

“Tell the Executive Discipless that when they encounter Corpse Ghosts next, they can try piercing their hearts to see if it’s a weakness.”

“Yes!”

Xiao Wuqing immediately took the order and left.

Against ordinary Corpse Ghosts, hacking them into pieces would solve the problem, but if they encountered powerful ones, it wouldn’t be so easy.

Cloud Color was delighted to see that Li Qingqiu was willing to take her suggestion.

Although she was close to Li Qingqiu, she lacked seniority when facing such major matters and had been worried that her words would carry little weight.

Cloud Color stopped disturbing Li Qingqiu and continued her cultivation.

A moment later.

Jiang Zhaoxia descended from the sky, landed beside Li Qingqiu, and whispered, “The Prefectural City is not right. I’m afraid it’s a trap set for Liu Jing’s army.”