Chapter 316: Illusionary Arts Genius

In a dim room, Li Qingqiu sat in a chair, looking at a floating ball of light on the table. Inside, it reflected the scene of the Masked Disciple talking with Yan Qing, while Chu Jing, Wei Tianxiong, and a female Disciple stood to the side, watching together.

This female Disciple was named Yu Lan, the eldest Disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall Master, Chai Yunshang. She currently presided over the Demon Suppression Pagoda.

Wei Tianxiong clicked his tongue in wonder and said, “This Disciple is not bad; he’s acting just like the real thing. I heard the Sect Leader has a Dark Hall under him. Is this Disciple a member of the Dark Hall?”

Li Qingqiu did not deny it, but instead asked, “Can this illusion Spell of yours be infused with a mind-bewitching effect?”

Today, they had gathered here not to plot against Yan Qing, but to inspect the Spell Chu Jing had created.

Before his death, Chu Jing possessed dual outstanding talents. After becoming a Ghost Cultivator, he continued to Cultivate. He was already at the second layer of the Spiritual Consciousness Realm, but he rarely showed his strength in daily life. The School’s Disciples feared him for his status and methods.

Inviting Wei Tianxiong to watch was in the hope that Wei Tianxiong could provide corrections.

Facing Li Qingqiu’s inquiry, Chu Jing pondered and said, “I can try that later.”

Wei Tianxiong spoke bluntly, “This Spell of yours has too many flaws. If this person could move or leave the cell, the illusion would be broken the moment he encountered another living being. For now, it’s at most a means for interrogation and is not yet suitable for combat.”

He was telling the truth, which was why Yan Qing only saw the Masked Disciple and no other figures.

In reality, the Black Fiend Demon Monkey was still incessantly cursing Yan Qing, while Yan Qing leaned against the wall, appearing to be asleep.

Yu Lan did not interject. She already found this Spell inconceivable and could see no flaws, though she was most curious about how Chu Jing managed to project the illusion Yan Qing was trapped in into this Spirit Stone.

Chu Jing looked at Wei Tianxiong and said, “I will have to ask Senior Wei for guidance in the future.”

“We’ll see if I’m free.”

Wei Tianxiong replied perfunctorily. He treated everyone except Li Qingqiu and Yuan Li with this attitude; after all, he was once an Elder of the Shenyuan Cult.

Li Qingqiu continued to watch, quite interested in the conversation within the illusion.

He looked at the Masked Disciple in the illusion, his eyes full of appreciation.

This Disciple was a Genius Disciple with dual excellent talents. Having been in the Dark Hall for only five years, he already possessed his own flair.

Within the Dark Hall, only this boy had quickly mastered Chu Jing’s Spell.

Although Li Qingqiu no longer specifically promoted Disciples with excellent Aptitude, he always kept an eye on them. After all, as long as they didn’t die young, they would be the backbone of the School in the future.

Thinking of this, Li Qingqiu pulled up the dao lineage panel, found a Disciple’s avatar, and clicked on it.

【Name: Xie Shu】

【Gender: Male】

【Age: 34】

【Loyalty (Sect Leader/Sect): 99/96 (Max 100)】

【Cultivation Aptitude: Excellent】

【Comprehension Ability: Excellent】

【destiny: Illusionary Arts Genius, Repaying Kindness】

【Illusionary Arts Genius: Possesses extraordinary comprehension and creativity in the Dao of Illusions.】

【Repaying Kindness: Will do everything in one’s power to repay those who have been kind to them.】

Xie Shu was already an adult when he joined the sect, so he didn’t stand out in the entry examination. He only rose to prominence after Cultivating the Hunyuan Scripture.

His background was not actually that complex. He was also someone rescued by the Qingxiao Sect. His entire family had died during the dark years of Zhao Zhi’s rule. He had traveled thousands of miles to reach the Qingxiao Sect and finally achieved his wish.

Precisely because of this 【Illusionary Arts Genius】 destiny, Li Qingqiu had him practice Chu Jing’s new Spell.

Xie Shu had a quiet personality and didn’t like to show off. He hadn’t even participated in the Dharma Battle Assembly, so he had no fame. After being assigned to the Dark Hall by Li Qingqiu, his loyalty actually increased, making Li Qingqiu lament that people are truly different.

Under the gaze of the four, Yan Qing was clearly moved by Xie Shu’s words and began to put on airs, negotiating terms with him.

“I suddenly feel that we can go with the flow on this matter,” Chu Jing said suddenly.

He could see that Xie Shu was not simple. No wonder the Sect Leader had him test the Spell and chose this location.

Chu Jing realized he still didn’t know enough about the School’s Disciples; Geniuses who surprised him would always pop up.

——

At the same time, he admired Li Qingqiu to the extreme. As the Sect Leader, Li Qingqiu’s insight was inconceivable to him. Working for Li Qingqiu, he knew that Li Qingqiu would occasionally promote some Disciples in secret, and these Disciples would later prove themselves, not letting down Li Qingqiu’s secret care.

“Eh? The illusion has changed. This kid is not simple!”

Wei Tianxiong suddenly said in surprise. Hearing this, Chu Jing’s expression changed, his eyes fixed on Xie Shu in the illusion.

Yu Lan, on the other hand, couldn’t understand it at all. In any case, she didn’t see any changes within the illusion.

Li Qingqiu, however, saw some clues. Xie Shu’s illusion began to bewitch the target’s mind as he had just mentioned. Yan Qing’s emotional state was clearly off, becoming somewhat excited.

“To be able to bewitch the mind of a Spirit Sensing Realm Cultivator at the Ninth Layer of the Nourishing Origin Realm… once he develops his Spiritual Sense, his illusions will only become stronger,” Wei Tianxiong praised.

Illusion-type Spells existed in every sect, but not many people practiced them. This was mainly because there were too many ways to break them and they lacked lethality. Wei Tianxiong had only dabbled in them and was not proficient.

This Qingxiao Sect was truly strange; it had all kinds of Geniuses.

Li Qingqiu said nothing and continued watching.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed, and Xie Shu turned to leave. Once he disappeared into the darkness, the illusion finally ended.

Yan Qing felt as if he had had a groggy dream. When he opened his eyes and heard the annoying voice of the Black Fiend Demon Monkey, a smile appeared on his face.

A Qingxiao Sect Disciple walked over, tapped the Black Fiend Demon Monkey’s cell door with a scabbard, and scolded, “Behave yourself!”

“Hmph!”

The Black Fiend Demon Monkey snorted coldly, too lazy to curse anymore.

Seeing that neither it nor the Qingxiao Sect Disciple had noticed he had just entered some kind of illusion, Yan Qing began to have expectations of Xie Shu.

With such means, perhaps he really could be helped to escape.

On the mountain path, Li Qingqiu and Xie Shu walked up the mountain one after the other. Xie Shu had already removed his Opera Mask, revealing a clean and young face.

Xie Shu was not exceptionally handsome, but his appearance easily garnered goodwill. He looked gentle and even a bit introverted.

Watching Li Qingqiu occasionally nod and greet Disciples along the way, Xie Shu’s eyes were filled with yearning.

He worshipped Li Qingqiu too much; he wanted to dedicate everything to him.

He could not forget his youth when his whole family was slaughtered. In his moment of despair, Li Qingqiu appeared, killed all the bandits, and told him to go south to Qingxiao Mountain to find a home.

At that time, Li Qingqiu was in a hurry, seemingly having other matters. Later, he learned that Li Qingqiu was going to rid the world of evils.

Before enemies, Li Qingqiu was powerful and cold; before Disciples, he was kind and generous. Such a person was incredibly charismatic in Xie Shu’s eyes.

Xie Shu knew his own nature. He could never become a person like the Sect Leader, so he only thought of doing things for the Sect Leader, so that the Sect Leader—

—could live longer. That way, the Qingxiao Sect would exist forever, and the people of the world would benefit.

“Xie Shu, how do you view that Cultivator named Yan Qing?”

When they reached a deserted area, Li Qingqiu suddenly asked.

Xie Shu came back to his senses, thought for a moment, and said, “He is already afraid in his heart and wants to bow to the Qingxiao Sect. I feel he is about to reach his limit. If the hope I gave him is shattered, he might collapse.”

Although Yan Qing put on the full airs of a Spirit Sea disciple in front of him, he could see through the fear and unease in Yan Qing’s heart.

“Actually, he doesn’t trust me, but he forces himself to trust me.”

Xie Shu added another sentence. He did not sympathize with Yan Qing. Even though he didn’t know Yan Qing’s past, in his view, this person must be heinous or have threatened the School to be suppressed at the bottom of the Demon Suppression Pagoda.

Before entering the Dark Hall, Xie Shu had already seen the wickedness of the human heart. He leaned toward kindness, but that didn’t mean he felt kindness was greater than everything.

He could accept that the Qingxiao Sect had a dark side, and was even willing to become the darkness of the Qingxiao Sect, as long as he could repay the Sect Leader.

“It’s not easy to kill him for now. His Soul is protected by a special Restriction. Once he dies, it will surely alarm the Spirit Sea,” Li Qingqiu said bluntly.

Hearing this, Xie Shu fell silent.

He didn’t understand the Restriction the Sect Leader mentioned, but he knew the Qingxiao Sect needed time to develop.

Just then, someone walked toward them from ahead.

Xie Shu looked up but did not recognize the person.

“Sect Leader!”

Bai Ninger quickly walked up to Li Qingqiu and raised his hand in a salute, his expression somewhat excited.

Although he considered himself part of the Sect Leader’s faction, he rarely saw Li Qingqiu in his daily life. Meeting him by chance while going down the mountain today, how could he not be excited?

“What are you going to do?” Li Qingqiu asked with a smile.

He didn’t spend much time with Bai Ninger, but Bai Ninger held a significant place in his heart. He liked this boy very much.

Bai Ninger was one of the very few people who frequently performed meritorious deeds but never claimed credit. He had never come to him with requests, nor had he heard anyone mention that he had any demands.

“I’m going to look for the Five-Colored Deer; I haven’t seen it for quite some time,” Bai Ninger replied.

The Five-Colored Deer was an Auspicious Omen brought back by Bai Ninger and had been living on Qingxiao Mountain. Although the Five-Colored Deer did not have strong combat power, it could make plants grow quickly and even enhance the Spiritual Qi within a certain range. Therefore, its status in the Qingxiao Sect was not low, and there were Disciples specifically responsible for looking after it as it went up and down the mountain.

Li Qingqiu nodded and said, “In a few years, accompany me on a mission. Be mentally prepared.”

The reason he said this was because Bai Ninger was stalling his Cultivation progress, wanting to continue participating in the Dharma Battle Assembly, which in his view was a complete waste of time.

Even if Bai Ninger maintained his Cultivation at the Ninth Layer of the Nourishing Origin Realm, he wouldn’t be able to achieve good results in the Dharma Battle Assembly.

Hearing this, Bai Ninger’s eyes immediately lit up. He hurriedly promised, “Sect Leader, rest assured, I will definitely not let you down!”

Li Qingqiu patted his shoulder and then continued up the mountain.

Xie Shu and Bai Ninger looked at each other. Both nodded without any communication.

As they brushed past each other, they were both curious about one thing.

“Who is he?”

“He seems to be very close to the Sect Leader?”

They silently memorized each other’s faces to avoid not recognizing one another if they met in the future.

On the journey after that, Li Qingqiu chatted casually with Xie Shu. He didn’t assign any specific tasks and only left after escorting Xie Shu to the entrance of the Dark Hall cave.

Xie Shu stood where he was, watching his retreating back. Even after he disappeared from sight, Xie Shu still did not turn around.