Chapter 143 : The Vanished Immortal Cultivators
Chapter 143: The Vanished Immortal Cultivators
Looking at the Soul-Seizing Flying Sword before him, Shen Yue’s heart sank into an endless abyss.
He had never felt so powerless before.
The joy of achieving the path of a Sword Cultivator had completely vanished, replaced by confusion.
When Li Qingqiu retrieved the Soul-Seizing Flying Sword, Shen Yue was still standing there in a daze.
Zhao Zhen and Ji Ya were beside themselves with excitement.
They rushed over to Li Qingqiu’s side, eagerly asking about the secret behind the sword technique.
Yuan Li, however, looked toward Shen Yue with concern, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Li Qingqiu glared at Zhao Zhen and Ji Ya, scaring the two into immediately retreating to the side.
Seeing Shen Yue’s defeated look, Li Qingqiu said impatiently, “What’s with that expression? You’re not the only one working hard in cultivation. I’ve never been slacking off. If you could easily surpass me, then what would that make of all those times you lost to me before?”
Hearing this, Shen Yue suddenly came to his senses.
Indeed.
If Li Qingqiu were that easy to defeat, would he have pushed himself this hard?
Li Qingqiu looked at him and continued, “Your talent and comprehension are exceptional. The Mortal Martial Path has delayed your potential. As long as you persist in cultivation, your future achievements will be limitless. I even believe you might be the one in our sect most likely to ascend to immortality.”
Ascend to immortality!
Ever since Li Qingqiu had slain the Emperor and the Tianhong Sword floated around him at all times, there had been rumors in the sect that the Primordial Unity Scripture was actually an immortal technique.
As the Number One Under Heaven, Shen Yue was deeply aware that the Mortal Martial Path and the Primordial Unity Scripture were fundamentally different, though he had never obtained a definitive answer.
Now, upon hearing Li Qingqiu’s words, a rush of hot blood surged through his body straight to his crown.
It was both the thrill of being recognized and the burning anticipation of pursuing the Immortal Dao.
Who in this world didn’t wish to cultivate immortality? Especially those who practiced martial arts — most martial practitioners desired to strengthen their bodies and transcend the mundane.
Shen Yue was no exception.
The mention of “ascending to immortality” stunned Yuan Li and the others as well, though none of them felt it as deeply as Shen Yue.
Shen Yue looked at Li Qingqiu, excitement swelling in his chest, but countless words stuck in his throat.
“Do you want to learn that move from before?” Li Qingqiu asked with a smile.
Shen Yue returned to his senses and asked, “Can I?”
He had to admit, the sword move Li Qingqiu had performed earlier was incredibly powerful.
He had never seen anything like it.
When facing that sword shadow, he had been immobilized.
That wasn’t fear — it was as if the sword shadow itself carried a suppressive force that made him feel as though his soul and body were about to separate.
An incredibly fast sword strike!
An unbelievably sharp edge!
And an unfathomable pressure!
Shen Yue thought that move was utterly perfect.
He truly wanted to learn it.
Li Qingqiu, seeing his response, beckoned him over.
While Shen Yue hesitated, Yuan Li stepped forward, grabbed his arm, and led him toward Li Qingqiu.
Looking at the ten-year-old Yuan Li, something in Shen Yue’s heart was stirred.
He smiled faintly, a trace of self-mockery flashing across his face.
“Eighty-one years old, and I still care so much about saving face? A loss is a loss — what’s there to be ashamed of?”
Having thought it through, Shen Yue let go of his burdens and walked toward Li Qingqiu with anticipation.
After that, Li Qingqiu taught Shen Yue the Soul-Seizing Flying Sword.
Yet, despite Shen Yue’s profound understanding of swordsmanship, he couldn’t comprehend it.
The move involved the true essence of soul-related arts, something Shen Yue had never encountered before.
His confusion even left Li Qingqiu puzzled.
“You don’t understand the laws of the soul, yet you managed to create a Sword Soul?” Li Qingqiu exclaimed.
Feeling displeased, Shen Yue glared back.
“So what if I did?”
The two stared at each other, making Yuan Li and the others tense up, afraid they might start arguing — or worse, fighting.
What if their Master ended up killing the Sword God?
……
Two days later, a new stone stele was erected along the Forging Road in front of the Profound Heart Hall, recording Shen Yue’s enlightenment of the Sword Dao — the founding of the Sword Cultivator’s path in the Clear Sky Sect.
The event caused quite a stir within the sect.
Disciples were full of curiosity, wondering what exactly a “Sword Cultivator” was.
The most agitated among them was naturally Jiang Zhaoxia.
He sought out Li Qingqiu, demanding to know whether he had deliberately drawn Shen Yue over.
Li Qingqiu simply told him to ask Shen Yue himself.
He went at once.
Half an hour later, Jiang Zhaoxia returned to Li Qingqiu and said, “Senior Brother, you were right. My swordsmanship truly isn’t as good as his. But one day, I’ll make up for it. Just wait — I’ll become a Sword Cultivator too.”
Li Qingqiu said earnestly, “Senior Brother believes in you. Shen Yue may have achieved the Sword Cultivator’s path, but in my eyes, you are the one who can become a Sword Immortal.”
Jiang Zhaoxia’s gloom instantly lifted.
He grinned with brilliance and said, “When I become a Sword Immortal, Senior Brother, you must erect a monument for me too. I’ll leave behind the legacy of the Sword Immortal.”
“Of course. I’ve always looked forward to that day,” Li Qingqiu laughed, kicking Jiang Zhaoxia lightly as he spoke.
Jiang Zhaoxia couldn’t help recalling their childhood days, and his heart felt at ease once more.
Though more and more geniuses joined the Clear Sky Sect, his Senior Brother still had expectations for him.
To him, that alone was enough.
He soon took his leave to begin cultivating toward the Sword Cultivator’s path.
With the Grand Dao Tournament fast approaching, and with the Sword God opening the way of Sword Cultivation, the Clear Sky Sect grew even livelier.
Many disciples were discussing what it meant to be a Sword Cultivator.
Even the patrons and nobles wondered — what was the difference between a Sword Cultivator and a Swordsman?
At the end of March.
In a guest courtyard, King of Weizhou, Zhao Qi, sat before a stone table, drinking tea with a gloomy face.
This time, he had come to the Clear Sky Sect seeking their support.
He had even promised that, once he ascended the throne, he would make the Clear Sky Sect the sole imperial sect, governing the entire martial world.
However, Zhang Yuchun had not agreed.
Though Zhang Yuchun had declined politely, sparing him humiliation, Zhao Qi still felt belittled.
It was clear the Clear Sky Sect did not trust him.
A man in a fitted purple robe strode into the courtyard and leaned close to Zhao Qi, whispering something.
Upon hearing it, Zhao Qi’s expression changed drastically.
He crushed the teacup in his hand and snarled, “The Cui Clan dares to contest the world with me? Insolence! Treachery!”
His fury was uncontrollable, like that of a raging lion.
The purple-robed man said quietly, “My lord, we can’t remain here any longer. The affairs of the world cannot wait. Every day, new powers rise. Every day, new lords grow stronger. With Zhao Zhi dead, the imperial prestige has fallen. The Zhao name alone can no longer suppress the ambitions of men.”
Zhao Qi took a deep breath and stood up.
“Summon Pei Zhangzhi. We descend the mountain in one hour.”
“Yes!”
The purple-robed man quickly departed.
An hour later, Zhao Qi descended the mountain with his attendants and retainers.
Pei Zhangzhi, however, stayed behind.
He stood beside Zhang Yuchun atop a cliff, overlooking the departing figures below.
Pei Zhangzhi sighed.
“The matters of the world are urgent. I hope Hall Master Zhang will not hold it against him.”
Zhang Yuchun’s face remained calm.
“Lord Pei, do you truly believe the King of Weizhou can unify the realm? He’s already failed once.”
At that, Pei Zhangzhi showed no surprise.
His decision to stay had already revealed his stance.
Turning his head, Pei Zhangzhi said, “Since Hall Master Zhang has treated me with sincerity, I won’t beat around the bush. The King of Weizhou lacks the capability. May I ask — who does the Clear Sky Sect believe possesses the strength to shoulder the fate of the world?”
Zhang Yuchun turned toward him.
The ever-gentle Zhang Yuchun wore no smile now, and his aura was no weaker than Pei Zhangzhi’s.
“The Clear Sky Sect will not interfere in worldly struggles,” Zhang Yuchun said.
“But we will never allow acts that violate heaven’s laws or harm the innocent. Whoever ascends the throne — as long as they rule with the people’s will, the Clear Sky Sect will welcome them. We have never sought to dominate. Neither the martial world nor the dynasty has ever been our concern.”
His words left Pei Zhangzhi perplexed.
Pei Zhangzhi narrowed his eyes.
“If the Pei Clan were to seek dominion over the world, could the Clear Sky Sect, for the sake of Sifeng and Miao’er’s marriage, refrain from becoming our enemy?”
Zhang Yuchun replied, “The Clear Sky Sect never takes the initiative to form enmity.”
Pei Zhangzhi smiled.
“That is all I needed to hear.”
After chatting a while longer, Pei Zhangzhi took his leave.
Zhang Yuchun remained where he was, watching Pei Zhangzhi descend the mountain.
He murmured softly, “But the Clear Sky Sect will never let go of anyone who provokes us. Never.”
A flash of cold determination crossed his eyes.
……
At the beginning of April, the preliminary rounds of the Grand Dao Tournament officially began under the eager anticipation of thousands of Clear Sky Sect disciples.
The competition venue was set at the mountain’s foot, where ten Martial Platforms had been built for dueling.
The Hall of Vast Fate temporarily recruited a hundred Registered Disciples to maintain order.
The ten platforms were surrounded by crowds, and even the Hall Masters came to watch.
Li Qingqiu, however, did not.
He was in the Lingxiao Courtyard, tasting a fine wine gifted by an influential family — a potent brew.
He wasn’t cultivating or watching the tournament today.
He was waiting for someone.
With most disciples down the mountain, the Clear Sky Mountain felt strangely quiet.
Even that rascal Yuan Qi was nowhere to be seen.
As Li Qingqiu sipped his wine, a figure descended from the sky and landed in the courtyard.
It was Shen Yue.
He stood upon a Wooden Sword, hovering in midair, stirring up clouds of dust.
Li Qingqiu waved a hand irritably.
“Honestly, even as the Sword God, must you always fly in like that? Are you afraid people won’t know you can fly?”
Dressed in an Elder’s blue robe, Shen Yue looked ethereal and dignified, exuding the aura of a Sword Immortal.
At Li Qingqiu’s remark, he merely snorted without reply.
Leaping off the sword, he sat across from Li Qingqiu and spoke softly, “I followed the route you described. In the eastern coastal valley, there truly lies a Spirit Mine. It contains not only Spirit Stones but also a special ore — extremely hard, perfect for forging divine weapons.”
The place he spoke of was the Fortuitous Fate Li Qingqiu had opened previously.
It was the first time Li Qingqiu hadn’t personally explored such a site.
He had entrusted Shen Yue with it because, first, Shen Yue’s loyalty had reached ninety-five; and second, that Fortuitous Fate had been triggered by him.
“It seems the immortal in my dream didn’t lie to me,” Li Qingqiu said with a smile.
“That ore isn’t ordinary — it’s Ancient Geng Metal Source Iron, worth even more than Spirit Stones.”
He knew the ore’s name because, within the Fortuitous Fate memory, he had seen a stone stele inscribed with it.
Though that barren land had formed naturally, it had once been inhabited.
This confirmed for Li Qingqiu that an Immortal Cultivation sect had once existed there.
For reasons unknown, the cultivators had all vanished — some leaving behind caves, others various resources.
Judging by the traces, their departure had been hasty.
Had they not been in a rush, they could easily have taken everything away in storage bags or other magic implements.
“However, I felt danger there,” Shen Yue said with a frown.
“Before entering, I had the sense that something was watching me.”