After the New Year's festivities, life at the Azure Firmament Sect returned to its usual quiet rhythm. Some cultivated immortality; some practiced martial arts.
A month later, Li Qingqiu finally broke through to the second layer of the Nourishing Origin stage within the underground spirit lake. Feeling the spiritual energy within him, now several times more abundant than before, he couldn't help but sigh at the gap in natural talent between himself and Jiang Zhaoxia.
Though the disciples took turns visiting the spirit lake, in truth, Li Qingqiu went most often. None of the others objected. Jiang Zhaoxia even hoped he would go every day, since he had nothing better to do anyway.
The junior brothers and sisters had all been raised by Li Qingqiu. Now that he was reaping the benefits, they didn't see it as unfair. On the contrary, they felt he deserved it.
And the stronger the Sect Master, the further the Azure Firmament Sect could go.
"Senior Brother, did you just break through?"
Li Dongyue, sitting in meditation across the lake, watched Li Qingqiu with curiosity.
She had clearly felt the spiritual energy in this place surge toward him moments ago, even disrupting her own absorption.
Li Qingqiu opened his eyes and smiled. "Mm. I've finally broken through. Now I can begin cultivating the second layer of the Chaos Genesis Scripture."
Li Dongyue's expression turned envious. She pressed further, "Senior Brother, I heard Senior Yang say that in the martial world, there are levels to distinguish experts. Do you think the second layer of the Nourishing Origin stage counts as a first-rate expert? Or maybe even beyond that?"
The scene of Jiang Zhaoxia one-shotting Luo Lie was still fresh in her memory. Though it was a sneak attack, Yang Jueding had said Luo Lie was a first-rate expert. Anyone capable of killing him, even by ambush, couldn't be far from that level themselves.
"I'm not sure about that. Besides, we train to strengthen ourselves. We shouldn't always compare ourselves to others." Li Qingqiu spoke with sincerity.
For those on the path of immortality, cultivating the heart was paramount. The comparison wasn't about who was ahead today or tomorrow, but over the long years.
Li Dongyue nodded. "I understand. I'm just curious."
They continued training and chatting for a while before each fell silent.
Two hours later, they left together and returned to the Azure Firmament Sect.
When they arrived back, dusk was falling. Most of the disciples had already gathered in the usual courtyard, where they also ate their meals.
Li Qingqiu spotted Xu Ning standing alone outside the kitchen, waiting to carry dishes. The other disciples were already gathered around the table, discussing what they'd learned that day.
Besides cultivating the Chaos Genesis Scripture, the disciples spent most of their time training in martial arts under Yang Jueding's guidance. Though their skills hadn't advanced as dramatically as Li Sifeng's, their physiques had clearly strengthened considerably.
Xu Ning hadn't yet begun cultivating the Chaos Genesis Scripture. Without Li Qingqiu's explicit instruction, Li Dongyue and Zhang Yuchun wouldn't presume to teach it to any disciple. Even Yang Jueding hadn't received the method.
Not that Yang Jueding was particularly interested in the sect's internal energy technique. For martial artists, casually switching internal arts was taboo, unless the new technique far surpassed the old.
Changing one's foundational art meant starting over from scratch with internal energy cultivation—not something accomplished in a month or two.
Li Qingqiu walked up behind Xu Ning. "Do you want to learn cultivation?"
Startled, she turned to look at him, asking cautiously, "Internal energy?"
She was already learning unarmed combat techniques, training harder than the other disciples and often earning Yang Jueding's praise.
But Yang Jueding clearly favored boys. His focus was on Li Sifeng; the techniques he taught the others were quite ordinary.
"Of course. And it's the Azure Firmament Sect's unique internal art."
Li Qingqiu smiled, projecting an air of profound mystery. His words thrilled Xu Ning. She had seen Yang Jueding unleash his internal energy and been deeply awed. She had long wanted to learn.
"I do! I really do!" Xu Ning nodded frantically, her eyes practically glowing. This was the first time she had shown such excitement.
Li Qingqiu grinned. "If I teach you this internal art, what will you call me?"
"Sect Master?"
"Mm?"
"Master?"
Xu Ning ventured nervously. She understood what the master-disciple relationship meant. In the martial world, such bonds could be even more important than those between parent and child.
Li Qingqiu's smile widened. "Kowtow to me three times. From today onward, you are my first personal disciple."
Zhang Yuchun, busy stir-frying, couldn't help but glance over curiously.
"Senior Brother, your first disciple can't be a girl!"
Jiang Zhaoxia's voice rang out as he approached, carrying a sword.
Ever since he'd acquired a real steel blade, he radiated confidence and sharpness. Sometimes, from dozens of yards away, you could hear the whistle of his sword practice in the forest.
By now, everyone in the Azure Firmament Sect acknowledged Jiang Zhaoxia as their strongest.
At his words, the other disciples turned to look, including Yang Jueding.
Under the weight of so many eyes, Xu Ning's small face flushed crimson. The look she shot Jiang Zhaoxia was anything but friendly.
"So what if she's a girl? She might even surpass you someday."
Li Qingqiu dismissed Jiang Zhaoxia's objection casually. His words moved Xu Ning deeply; tears began to well in her eyes.
Then Li Qingqiu looked at Xu Ning and gestured—hurry up and kowtow.
Xu Ning immediately knelt and pressed her forehead to the ground three times.
And just like that, Li Qingqiu accepted his first personal disciple.
He breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Such talent—he couldn't bear to wait any longer to nurture it.
But he also feared that once Xu Ning grew strong, she might threaten his position as Sect Master. A little strategic maneuvering was necessary.
Now, with her Obsessive nature, Xu Ning should be bound to him for life. Betrayal was unlikely.
As for Jiang Zhaoxia's arrogant remark, even if Xu Ning resented it, it wouldn't escalate to hatred. After all, Jiang Zhaoxia had saved her life.
"Alright. Let's eat first."
Li Qingqiu pulled Xu Ning to her feet and gently brushed off her knees, smiling warmly.
The way he treated ordinary disciples versus his personal disciple was naturally different. Li Qingqiu almost felt like he was raising a daughter, even though he was only seven years older than her.
The Sect Master accepting a personal disciple was a significant event. At dinner, everyone discussed it.
Some of the bolder, more mischievous disciples asked to become Li Qingqiu's disciples too. He refused them all directly. Zhang Yuchun and Li Dongyue, however, each ended up accepting one disciple of their own.
As for Jiang Zhaoxia, he showed no interest in any of the disciples. His cold expression kept them all from daring to approach.
Yang Jueding set down his wine bowl and sighed. "Sect Master, the position of senior disciple is important in any sect. Are you sure she's up to it?"
Xu Ning's jaw tightened at these words.
She couldn't help it—she was young and thin. No matter how Yang Jueding looked at her, she seemed unlikely to amount to much. Certainly not as promising as his prized Li Sifeng.
Too bad Li Sifeng was Li Qingqiu's generation. Yang Jueding couldn't take him as a disciple.
"Even if she isn't, it doesn't matter. The Azure Firmament Sect may be a martial sect, but we're not walking the path of striving to outdo others at all costs. Compared to martial skill, I care more about her character and sense of responsibility. I believe this child will satisfy me."
Li Qingqiu spoke eloquently, continuing to win Xu Ning over.
He nearly applauded Yang Jueding. Had he secretly bribed the man? Why was he so helpful?
Li Dongyue couldn't help interjecting, "Alright, Xiao Ning is now Senior Brother's personal disciple. That makes her our martial niece. Let's look to the future."
"Martial niece! Xiao Ning, you're my martial niece now!"
Young Li Sijin clapped happily. She was actually a year older than Xu Ning, but standing together, anyone would think she was the younger sister. Li Sijin was still innocent and childish, while the quiet Xu Ning seemed more mature.
Xu Ning's small face finally relaxed into a smile. She liked Li Sijin's liveliness, so she couldn't resist adding more food to her bowl again.
Li Qingqiu summoned the Daoist Legacy panel and checked Xu Ning's loyalty.
99/99!
Good heavens, maxed out!
In Li Qingqiu's view, this was the highest possible loyalty. One hundred loyalty—could any normal person even achieve that?
Safe to invest in!
...
Three days later, Li Qingqiu took Xu Ning and Li Sijin to the underground spirit lake to train. Today, he would teach Xu Ning the Chaos Genesis Scripture for the first time. Xu Ning was eager.
The two little girls chattered together constantly, but Xu Ning, impatient to begin training, soon got the restless Li Sijin focused.
Just as expected, Xu Ning's speed in cultivating spiritual energy was astonishing.
With the spirit lake's enhancement, she formed her first thread of spiritual energy in just one hour. Li Sijin was shocked.
Not just Li Sijin—even Li Qingqiu, prepared as he was, found it startling.
Li Qingqiu turned to Li Sijin. "Don't tell anyone about this. If anyone asks, say it took her a full day to cultivate internal energy."
"Why?" Li Sijin asked blankly.
"I'm afraid it'll upset your third senior brother."
Hearing this, Li Sijin thought of Jiang Zhaoxia's perpetually sour face and nodded with deep understanding.
She also felt her third senior brother was petty and easily angered.
Despite Li Qingqiu's instructions, Xu Ning's achievement—cultivating spiritual energy within a single day—still shocked Zhang Yuchun and the others.
Cultivators had an exceptionally keen perception of spiritual energy. Yang Jueding and the other disciples didn't notice, but Li Qingqiu's junior brothers and sisters sensed it the moment they saw Xu Ning.
Their opinion of her began to change. Even Jiang Zhaoxia's did.
But Jiang Zhaoxia's shift was minimal. In his view, Xu Ning's success owed everything to the spirit lake. If she trained outside, she definitely wouldn't be faster than him.
Xu Ning's success made Li Qingqiu even more hopeful for the Azure Firmament Sect's future.
In the following period, the seven disciples recruited from the village still couldn't cultivate spiritual energy. Li Qingqiu could only have them focus on martial arts.
The underground spirit lake couldn't be exposed casually. And with more people, it would affect the training of Li Qingqiu and his core siblings.
Days passed.
Spring gave way to summer. Li Qingqiu had just passed his seventeenth birthday. His junior siblings all thought his birthday was in autumn, and he never corrected them. He didn't like making a big fuss over celebrating himself.
One afternoon.
Li Qingqiu sat on the grass before the mountain gate. Nine swords were laid out before him. He was establishing connections with them to begin practicing the Supreme Sword Control Art.
Suddenly.
He looked up. Down the mountain path, a figure emerged from the forest. The man wore a yellow, belted robe, carried a sword on his back, and had a tall, sturdy build—clearly a martial artist.
The yellow-robed man looked up, spotted Li Qingqiu at the mountain gate, and broke into a brilliant smile. He climbed the stone steps and asked, "Might I ask if this is the Azure Firmament Sect?"
Li Qingqiu replied impatiently, "Can't you see the characters above my head?"
The words "Azure Firmament Sect" were carved right on the mountain gate. Such obvious blindness was intolerable.
The yellow-robed man didn't take offense. Still smiling, he said, "I saw them, but I needed to hear you confirm it. Allow me to introduce myself: I am your new Sect Master of the Azure Firmament Sect. My name is Mo Jiujiao."