Chapter 87: Heavenly Net Earth Punishment

In the Tiangong Hall courtyard, inside the Deputy Hall Master’s residence.

Su Xiling sat at the table, looking at Zhu Yan, and exclaimed, “Although I felt that Disciple Xue Jin was not simple before, I didn’t expect him to become famous in the Jianghu so quickly. After Jiang Zhaoxia and Xu Ning, the Qingxiao Sect has produced another peerless expert. It’s incredible, isn’t the Qingxiao Sect’s martial arts too exaggerated?”

A Disciple becoming famous might be due to their Aptitude. If Disciples continuously achieve fame, then the Qingxiao Sect’s martial arts Legacy must be extraordinary.

Zhu Yan said, “That Hunyuan Scripture is indeed incredibly powerful. Even I suspect that the Qingxiao Sect has obtained the true Legacy of a martial arts myth. However, Yang Jueding doesn’t seem that formidable. It can’t be that he’s so selfless that he doesn’t Cultivate it himself but lets others do so.”

“His martial arts are not weak. Perhaps he Cultivated it, but his Aptitude wasn’t good enough.”

“Perhaps.”

Zhu Yan responded. She wasn’t interested in martial arts. Recently, she had been studying the Basic Text Record of Formations that Li Qingqiu had given her, finding it very interesting.

She had also dabbled in Formations before, whether it was military Formations used on battlefields or martial arts Formations of Martial Forest Schools. They all focused on cooperation, with the emphasis on people.

However, Li Qingqiu’s Formations were completely different; the emphasis was on the Formation itself, not even requiring people. This greatly surprised and intrigued her.

Su Xiling asked, “Young Miss, what do you think of the Sect Leader?”

Zhu Yan put down the book in her hand and pondered, “He is both righteous and evil, difficult to judge. From the Qingxiao Sect’s attitude towards the common people, he can be considered benevolent. However, when it comes to power struggles, he is ruthless. I cannot evaluate whether what he does is right or wrong, but I have to admit that with him, the Qingxiao Sect can go further.”

Su Xiling sighed, “Indeed. I originally thought that after the Prefectural City battle, the Qingxiao Sect would be constrained by the so-called ‘number one School.’ I didn’t expect Sect Master Li to still use thunderous methods, completely unburdened by reputation, directly intending to destroy the opposing School without any mercy.”

The Qingxiao Sect’s domineering actions would naturally invite questioning, and possibly even condemnation, yet Li Qingqiu still did it. This was what Su Xiling admired most.

“That’s good. Jianghu is Jianghu, and the common folk are the common folk. Since ancient times, how many who chose to wander the Jianghu were absolutely clean?”

Zhu Yan said in an indifferent tone. She never regretted the deaths of Jianghu people.

Su Xiling’s eyes darted around, and she asked, “Young Miss, could you introduce me to Cultivating that Hunyuan Scripture?”

Zhu Yan looked up at her and asked, “Didn’t you say your martial arts had reached their limit for this life and couldn’t improve further?”

“That was before. I feel that the Qingxiao Sect’s ultimate techniques might help me advance to a higher level.”

“I’ll find an opportunity to ask the Sect Leader later. You just focus on your duties for now.”

“Thank you, Young Miss!”

…Su Xiling was just a microcosm. As Xue Jin and others became famous, more and more people realized that the Qingxiao Sect was not just about having Geniuses; its ultimate Legacy must be extraordinary.

More and more people came to seek tutelage, and the Disciples’ desire for the Hunyuan Scripture grew stronger.

Thus, the Qingxiao Sect officially introduced a new system, dividing those below True Disciples into three stages, from lowest to highest: Named Disciple, Outer Sect Disciple, and Inner Sect Disciple.

Those newly entering the Qingxiao Sect become Named Disciples, whose names can be registered in the roster. They can Cultivate basic external skills and accumulate contributions through labor. After a certain number of years, an assessment will be conducted. Those who fail to become Outer Sect Disciples will be asked to leave the mountain, severing all ties with the Qingxiao Sect.

Outer Sect Disciples can Cultivate the Qingxiao Sect’s Internal Skill and are protected by the Qingxiao Sect, able to use the Qingxiao Sect’s name when traveling the Jianghu.

Inner Sect Disciples can acknowledge True Disciples as their Masters and Cultivate the School’s ultimate technique, the Hunyuan Scripture. Even if they achieve nothing, they can stay in the Qingxiao Sect for life.

As soon as these three ranks were announced, the Qingxiao Sect was shaken. Disciples flocked to the Spirit Control Hall to re-evaluate their status. Except for new Disciples who joined this month, everyone else was at least an Outer Sect Disciple.

With lower-ranked Disciples as a foil and higher-ranked Disciples as a goal, the morale within the Qingxiao Sect soared once again.

With clearer stratification, the Seven Halls found it much easier to handle matters.

Twenty days later, the number of Qingxiao Sect Disciples exceeded six hundred. During this period, Li Qingqiu discovered several Disciples with decent immortal Cultivation Aptitude and Comprehension Ability. He wrote down their names and handed them to different Hall Masters, asking them to pay special attention.

On this day, Zhang Yuchun found Li Qingqiu again.

“Utility Disciple?” Li Qingqiu raised an eyebrow and asked.

At this moment, Li Qingqiu was in the forest guiding Xu Ning in Cultivating Spells. Seeing Zhang Yuchun arrive, Xu Ning walked to the side, playing with the Thunder-Guiding Banner in her hand, not disturbing them.

Zhang Yuchun nodded and said, “That’s right. They won’t be recorded in the roster, nor can they Cultivate any Qingxiao Sect martial arts. On weekdays, they’ll be responsible for various chores. Although it seems harsh, there will definitely be people who sign up. At least we can provide them with food, lodging, and a place to settle down. By staying within the Qingxiao Sect, they will have hope of climbing higher.”

Li Qingqiu naturally understood what a Utility Disciple was, he just felt it was a bit fast.

But on second thought, the Qingxiao Sect hired many craftsmen and laborers, which cost a lot of money. If Utility Disciples were established, it could save a lot of expenses, and these Disciples might work more diligently.

This move seemed exploitative, but in reality, it gave many people from the lower strata an opportunity.

“Alright, you handle it. Anyway, it just adds more tasks for your Spirit Control Hall,” Li Qingqiu replied.

After the Seven Halls were established, the burden on his shoulders lightened considerably. He didn’t even have to visit various industries, having more time for Cultivation.

Zhang Yuchun was immediately happy after getting Li Qingqiu’s approval. He didn’t linger and turned to leave.

Xu Ning walked over and asked, “Master, although I am the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, I don’t manage anything at all. Is this not good? Should I give my Hall Master position to someone else?”

Li Qingqiu smiled and said, “It’s fine. Even if you don’t do anything, you still have merit towards the Law Enforcement Hall.”

Among the Seven Halls, the Law Enforcement Hall was the most powerful, not only because of its authority but also because its Hall Master was Xu Ning.

Xu Ning was one of the top three experts in the School, and also the Sect Leader’s personal Disciple. Her prestige was simply too high. When Law Enforcement Hall Disciples went to other halls to investigate matters, the Disciples of those halls dared not offend them.

Upon hearing this, Xu Ning was thoughtful, understanding her Master’s meaning.

“Master, this Nourishing Origin Realm Seventh Layer is so difficult to reach. How long did it take you to go from the Yangyuan Realm Sixth Layer to the Seventh Level?” Xu Ning wasn’t interested in power struggles; she changed the subject and asked.

Li Qingqiu replied, “As long as you reach the Seventh Level within two years, you’ll be faster than me.”

“Okay!”

Xu Ning’s fighting spirit was ignited, unaware that Li Qingqiu had just blurted it out casually.

Afterward, Li Qingqiu asked Xu Ning to demonstrate the Spell she had created herself.

Xu Ning walked onto the snowy ground, holding Daoist Master Wei’s Thunder-Guiding Banner, and began to circulate her Internal Skill.

The Thunder-Guiding Banner was a special Magical Artifact. It could draw lightning without needing to break any Restrictions or inject Origin Qi.

Of course, without Origin Qi, it could only draw lightning during thunderstorms. Normally, when there was no lightning in the sky, summoning lightning required the conversion of Origin Qi.

Xu Ning possessed a Heavenly Thunder Spiritual Root, making the Thunder-Guiding Banner perfectly suited for her, enabling her to display even greater power.

Xu Ning raised the Thunder-Guiding Banner high with one hand, like a long blade on her wrist. Lightning surged along the banner. She waved it towards the distance, and the lightning spread out like an electric net, grand and sweeping across ten zhang, causing snow mist to rise in front of her, creating a fan-shaped clearing.

“I’ve named it the Heavenly Net Earth Punishment Art. Those struck by it will either die instantly if severe, or become numb all over and lose their combat ability if light, as if trapped by the earth and enveloped by a heavenly net.”

Xu Ning introduced, and Li Qingqiu nodded in satisfaction.

A very good Spell!

Li Qingqiu said, “Your Master is very satisfied. Find time to write it down, and it will be added to the Scripture Pavilion in the future.”

Xu Ning nodded. She hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Master, I named it in your style, but I really want to ask, are we truly practicing martial arts?”

Not to mention outsiders being shocked, even she, after Cultivating for so long, began to waver. The Hunyuan Scripture truly didn’t resemble a martial arts Cultivation Technique.

Li Qingqiu shook his head and chuckled, “If not practicing martial arts, then cultivating immortals?”

“I think it’s possible.”

“Then you’ll have to live for a few hundred years first.”

“That’s true. If longevity doesn’t increase, then it’s no different from martial arts.”

After a few more words, the Master and Disciple began to spar. Li Qingqiu told Xu Ning to use all the ultimate techniques she had mastered and attack with full force, which greatly excited her.

Initially, Li Qingqiu was relaxed, moving as if strolling in a garden, but later, he had to become serious.

This girl is not right.

She’s a bit too strong!

Without the Hundred Refinements Demonic Body, Li Qingqiu felt that his Sixth Layer of the Nourishing Origin Realm self might not be her match.

Is the clone inferior to the original?

As her Master, he couldn’t lose!

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Li Qingqiu took Xu Ning down the mountain.

Xu Ning, with disheveled hair, walked behind, looking dazed, her hand holding the Thunder-Guiding Banner trembling… As the end of the year approached, Xue Jin and the others finally returned, each carrying a large bundle. Li Qingqiu told the others to rest first, and he spoke with Xue Jin alone.

On this trip to the Nine Absolutes Sect, Xue Jin and his group successfully completed their mission, slaying the Nine Absolutes Sect Leader, driving the Nine Absolutes Sect members down the mountain. They collected the Nine Absolutes Sect’s martial arts, and burned down the Nine Absolutes Sect’s mountain gate and buildings.

During this period, they also encountered experts from other Schools in Dongling Prefecture, but fortunately, they were not defeated.

“Sect Leader, we found a letter written by the Prefect of Dongling Prefecture to the Nine Absolutes Sect. It turns out that the new Prefect of Guzhou Prefecture wanted to deal with us, so he asked the Prefect of Dongling Prefecture to help arrange it. The Dongling Prefect found the Nine Absolutes Sect Leader and made a deal using an official position.”

Xue Jin took a letter from his bosom and handed it to Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu opened the letter and read it, confirming that Xue Jin had not lied.

He looked up at Xue Jin and said, “Well done, I’m very satisfied. In addition to the Spirit Stone reward, I allow you to go to the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion to choose an ultimate technique to borrow for ten days.”

The third floor of the Scripture Pavilion contained all Spells.

The Qingxiao Sect’s Spells were not something Disciples could learn just by wanting to; they needed his permission.

Xue Jin showed no surprise; he remained composed. This experience had given him a bit more Killing Intent, completely shedding his youthful naivety.

He looked at Li Qingqiu, wanting to speak but hesitating.

“Is there anything else you want to say?” Li Qingqiu asked.

Xue Jin took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and said, “Yes, about Hall Master Li Sifeng!”

Thanks to Autumn Wind Sigh for the 1700 Qidian coins reward~

Third update!