Chapter 63 The True Martial Body

“I didn’t say I was going to steal the divine art; I just wanted to exchange for it earlier,” the Black-clothed Woman said faintly, her gaze fixed on the Old Man in Gray Robes, but he remained unmoved.

She took a deep breath, her tone softening as she said, “Uncle Gu, please accompany me one last time. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll accept my fate and go back to being a pawn for the Family to exchange interests. This time, I won’t let you clash with anyone. If I fail, it means it’s my destiny.”

The Old Man in Gray Robes, called Uncle Gu, sighed along with her. He said helplessly, “Young Miss, I used to have a name in the Jianghu. Twenty years ago, if you mentioned Gu Dubao, who wouldn’t tremble in fear? But new people always emerge in the Jianghu, and fame is only temporary. Families can be passed down for generations not by temporary fame, but by their foundation. Even if you Master a divine art and make your Family see you differently, how much benefit can your martial arts bring to the Family?”

There was one thing he didn’t say: even if you’re as strong as I am, you still have to be a dog for your Family.

The Black-clothed Woman fell silent.

Her name was Chai Yunshang, and she came from the Chai Family of Jiangzhou. She was well aware of the Chai Family’s foundation, which had been passed down for three hundred years. After coming to the new dynasty, the Family declined. The Chai Family had always wanted to enter Zhongtian Prefecture, and for this, they had befriended various forces. The women of the Chai Family could not escape the fate of arranged marriages. Previously, her father even wanted to marry her to Lü Taidou of the Seven Peaks Alliance. He valued the Seven Peaks Alliance’s Jianghu influence, which was why she had gone to the Seven Peaks Alliance alone.

“What if I were as powerful as a martial arts myth?” Chai Yunshang asked, staring at Gu Dubao.

Gu Dubao gave a bitter smile. How could a martial arts myth be achieved so easily?

Chai Yunshang continued, “My elder sister has already married a Sima in Jiangzhou, and my father is still looking for a suitable marriage candidate for my younger sister to complete his network of connections. I am not resigned to this; please help me one last time, Uncle Gu.”

Gu Dubao said helplessly, “Alright, it’s agreed, one last time. Don’t be too pessimistic; what if you marry your ideal husband?”

Ideal husband?

Chai Yunshang scoffed, not believing it at all… Two months after the great battle, the Qingxiao Sect finally saw an explosion in its reputation. Every day, people came to join the School.

In the afternoon, Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun sat in the house, discussing the School’s development.

Zhang Yuchun had already entrusted the task of recruiting Disciples to Zhang Yu, who had officially joined the Qingxiao Sect this morning.

Li Qingqiu listened to Zhang Yuchun’s report while checking Zhang Yu’s panel.

His Cultivation Aptitude and Comprehension Ability were quite good, reaching the ‘average’ Rank.

In Li Qingqiu’s eyes, an average Aptitude was actually considered Genius, as there were still ‘unranked’ and ‘extremely low’ Ranks below it.

Li Qingqiu had invited Zhang Yu to join the School many times before, but Zhang Yu only wanted to make money. He said he wouldn’t stay in the Qingxiao Sect for long.

Until today, when Zhang Yuchun invited Zhang Yu again, he finally agreed.

Li Qingqiu was quite satisfied with Zhang Yu; although the fellow received a considerable salary each month, he worked very diligently.

It was just a pity that Zhang Yu did not have a special fate.

“Starting next month, the number of Disciples coming up the mountain to become Disciples will experience explosive growth. Fortunately, when Third Junior Brother fought the Qing Cult, he confiscated a lot of money, but we still need to find ways to open up a few more revenue streams,” Zhang Yuchun said excitedly.

Jiang Zhaoxia and Thirteen Sword厉 not only plundered numerous valuables from the Qing Cult but also packed up and took away the martial arts Secret Manuals from the Qing Cult’s main headquarters. For this, Li Qingqiu directly rewarded the other twelve members of Thirteen Sword厉 with the opportunity to Cultivate the Hunyuan Scripture.

Currently, the Qingxiao Sect has begun constructing a Scripture Pavilion, expected to be completed next month.

The Scripture Pavilion is crucial to the School’s foundation and must be built well without carelessness. At the same time, Li Qingqiu was also considering who would guard the Scripture Pavilion.

Zhang Yuchun continued, “Senior Brother, I want to build a town at the foot of the mountain. It can make money, collect Jianghu intelligence, and even serve as a buffer zone for war. However, this matter will definitely not be completed in one or two years.”

Li Qingqiu thought of Qiyue Town at the foot of the Seven Peaks Alliance mountain and felt that such a town was indeed necessary.

“Why not go to Huangshan’s village, help the villagers build their hometown, and incidentally repay them for their help over the years,” Li Qingqiu suggested.

Zhang Yuchun frowned and said, “If so, to whom will that village belong in the future?”

Li Qingqiu replied, “Naturally, to us. We must hold absolute power. This will be very difficult in the early stages. You must persuade the villagers. This will also temper your abilities. You will eventually face conflicts between the School’s interests and emotions. You must learn how to handle such problems.”

After hearing this, Zhang Yuchun nodded, feeling that Senior Brother’s words made sense.

Li Qingqiu told Zhang Yuchun to observe the Disciples more often and report any promising individuals to him.

Having a spiritual mine, Li Qingqiu didn’t want to just guard the Treasure Trove; he wanted to vigorously Cultivate Immortal Disciples.

The spiritual mine was over three hundred li away from the Qingxiao Sect. Even with Jiang Zhaoxia stationed there, he feared unforeseen circumstances, so he planned to start using it directly. Perhaps by the time half of the spiritual mine was used, the Qingxiao Sect would be strong enough to protect it.

The two continued chatting until someone knocked on the door, at which point they stopped.

“Sect Leader, Second Senior Martial Uncle, someone claiming to be from the Chai Family of Jiangzhou wishes to visit the Sect Leader.”

The person outside the door was Liu Yan, Li Dongyue’s Disciple.

Zhang Yuchun raised an eyebrow and said, “The Chai Family of Jiangzhou is not simple. Jiangzhou is right next to Guzhou Prefecture. I often hear about the Chai Family of Jiangzhou; this Family is very active in both the righteous and unrighteous paths. Senior Brother, I’ll go see them. You are not someone anyone can just meet now.”

Ever since Li Qingqiu killed the Seven Fiends of the Demonic Sect that day, Zhang Yuchun and the Disciples’ mentality began to change.

They truly believed that Li Qingqiu had received a dream from an Immortal and was no ordinary mortal. The entire School, except for the new Disciples who had joined in the past two months, all developed a fanatical devotion to Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu nodded and watched Zhang Yuchun leave the room.

He thought for a moment. Since he still had to wait for Zhang Yuchun to return, he got up, went to the desk, picked up a brush and ink, and began to write.

About half an hour later, Zhang Yuchun finally returned.

“Was it that difficult to deal with?” Li Qingqiu returned to the guest table and asked in surprise.

Zhang Yuchun sat down and smiled helplessly, “Senior Brother, you would never guess, the Chai Family of Jiangzhou actually wants to marry into our Qingxiao Sect, and their target is you.”

Li Qingqiu chuckled, shaking his head with a laugh, “I don’t want to marry. You didn’t agree on my behalf, did you?”

“Of course not. Not only you, but I can’t decide on the marriages of Junior Brother and Junior Sister for you either. However, their attitude is too firm, and they will certainly bother me for the next few days.”

“Haha, there will only be more such things in the future.”

“Let’s talk about the treatment of Disciples of various Ranks. This matter cannot be taken lightly.”

“Hmm.”

…Spring passed and summer came. The mountain paths of Qingxiao Mountain were filled with people going up and down. In less than half a year, the influence of the battle at the end of last year began to bring continuous benefits to the Qingxiao Sect.

Family investments, official and merchant connections, and a continuous stream of people coming up the mountain to become Disciples. Even Li Dongyue and her Disciples became busy; every day, people came up the mountain seeking medical treatment.

Under Li Qingqiu’s strong insistence, Li Dongyue had to curb her compassion and allocate a large amount of time to continue Cultivating, while those who came up the mountain for medical treatment, unless they were critically ill, had to wait a few days.

Facing the Qingxiao Sect’s current prestige, even if those patients were dissatisfied, they dared not act out.

On this day, when Li Qingqiu returned to Lingxiao Courtyard, Yuan Qi found him and said that someone from the Imperial City wanted to deliver a letter to him. Hearing this, he immediately asked Yuan Qi to bring the person in.

The messenger was a young man dressed as a knight-errant, carrying a sword on his back and wearing a bamboo hat, with a serious expression. Li Qingqiu led him into the house to talk.

After entering the house, the young man took out the letter and handed it to Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu began to read it. It was indeed a letter from Feng Dai, detailing his situation and important matters in the Imperial City.

Under Jia Yi’s arrangement, Feng Dai was working under the Imperial City County Magistrate, and everything was fine.

In the month he had been established in the Imperial City, many Sect Leaders and gang leaders of Martial Forest Schools had entered the city, making the Imperial City very lively. There were scenes of martial arts sparring everywhere. It was said that the Emperor was preparing to host a banquet to invite various Martial Forest Schools, which made the Martial Forest people feel extremely proud.

After reading the letter, Li Qingqiu looked up at the young man and asked, “What is your name, and what is your relationship with Feng Dai?”

The young man replied, “My name is Ma Yu. County Magistrate Feng saved my life; he redeemed me. I will serve him for the rest of my life.”

Li Qingqiu said, “Rest for a few days in the Qingxiao Sect before you set off. Go back and tell Feng Dai to take good care of himself.”

“No need. I must hurry back. The Imperial City is a mixed bag of people now, and I’m worried about County Magistrate Feng. Farewell!”

Ma Yu finished speaking, cupped his hands in a salute to Li Qingqiu, then turned and left, very decisively.

Li Qingqiu did not try to keep him. He walked out of the house and watched Ma Yu leave.

Li Sijin walked over from the side and asked curiously, “Senior Brother, what is that person’s background?”

“County Magistrate Feng’s man, he delivered a letter to me.”

Li Qingqiu briefly introduced him. After hearing this, Li Sijin was no longer curious. She grabbed his arm and said, “Senior Brother, I successfully made a talisman! Come on, I’ll show it to you in the forest.”

Upon hearing this, Li Qingqiu raised an eyebrow and asked, “Does it have an offensive effect?”

“Of course! Otherwise, why would I ask you to see it?”

Li Sijin said proudly. Li Qingqiu was delighted and was about to speak when Qin Ye ran in from outside the courtyard.

“Master, Senior Bitter One and Senior Bitter Two have arrived, and they brought a child.”

Qin Ye came before Li Qingqiu and quickly reported.

Upon hearing this, Li Qingqiu immediately said to Li Sijin, “You rest for a while; I’ll come find you after I’ve met them.”

Li Sijin pouted, somewhat displeased, but did not stop Li Qingqiu from attending to important matters.

Li Qingqiu asked Qin Ye to bring the people in, while he sat at the long table in the courtyard to wait.

Li Qingqiu had been looking forward to Yan Lan’s son for a long time.

“Don’t disappoint me.”

Li Qingqiu muttered to himself. His expectation stemmed from Yan Lan praising his son to the heavens.

Yan Lan was quite sincere and kept his word. The new Guzhou Prefecture Governor had sent his confidant a few days ago to convey the new Governor’s goodwill.

Soon, Qin Ye and the other three walked into the courtyard. Li Qingqiu’s gaze fell directly on the boy, who was only five or six years old.

Although the boy was young, he walked with considerable Aura.

Whether it was Li Qingqiu’s illusion or not, he felt that this child didn’t look like Yan Lan’s son. Yan Lan had a gentle face, but there was a hint of ruthlessness in this boy’s brows.

The boy was the first to come before Li Qingqiu and asked, “Are you my Master?”

He was shorter than Li Qingqiu even when Li Qingqiu was sitting, but his tone was very bold.

Li Qingqiu asked with a chuckle, “That’s right. Are you willing to take me as your Master?”

The boy immediately knelt down, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, “Disciple Zhao Zhen greets Master!”

Li Qingqiu immediately opened the dao lineage panel, eagerly searched for Zhao Zhen’s avatar, and then clicked on it.

【Name: Zhao Zhen】

【Gender: Male】

【Age: 5 years old】

【Loyalty (Sect Leader/School): 75 / 21 (Max 100)】

【Cultivation Aptitude: Outstanding】

【Comprehension Ability: Excellent】

【Fate: Fragile Heavenly Mandate, True Martial Body】

【Fragile Heavenly Mandate: A difficult destiny. Will continuously experience hardships before the age of sixteen. After the age of sixteen, this fate will dissipate, and his Comprehension Ability will increase by one Rank.】

【True Martial Body: Enters the Dao through martial arts, capable of creating Immortal methods from martial Dao.】