Chapter 154 : The Sect Master’s Fortuitous Fate
Chapter 154: The Sect Master’s Fortuitous Fate
Li Qingqiu turned around to look at Yun Cai, surprise written across his face as he asked, “Truly?”
He had actually noticed long ago that Yun Cai had cultivated Vital Energy, but as soon as she produced it, she stopped immediately, as if afraid of being discovered.
Only now did Yun Cai finally speak up.
She stood, gathered her breath, then opened her mouth and exhaled.
A stream of white vapor shot forth like an arrow, piercing through the snow on the ground.
Yuan Qi’s eyes widened in astonishment.
These women had only come up the mountain yesterday, personally brought to him by the Sect Master.
It was not that the Sect Master had discovered Yun Cai’s exceptional talent beforehand and called for them.
What was this then?
Fortuitous fate?
Yuan Qi recalled their origins — these women had been rescued by the Sect Master and had come to seek refuge under him.
Perhaps the reason the Sect Master’s fortune was so great was because he always performed good deeds.
He had saved so many lives — if Heaven truly had eyes, it would naturally favor him.
The more Yuan Qi thought about it, the more admiration he felt for Li Qingqiu.
In his eyes, the Clear Sky Sect’s prevailing spirit of chivalry stemmed entirely from Li Qingqiu.
The character of a sect always reflected that of its master.
The other seven young women were equally stunned when they saw Yun Cai exhale Vital Energy.
They had seen Ding Xuan use Vital Energy before and knew how powerful it was.
After training all morning, none of them had sensed even the slightest trace of Vital Energy — yet Yun Cai had succeeded?
Among them, Yun Cai had always been the quietest and least fastidious, the one most easily overlooked.
They rarely asked for her opinion on anything.
Who would have thought that Yun Cai’s talent for martial cultivation was the highest among them?
Yuan Li did not rise.
He gazed at Yun Cai with calm eyes, loosening the fist hidden within his sleeve.
Li Qingqiu, while watching Yun Cai, was also observing Yuan Li through his Spiritual Sense.
Was this still not enough of a stimulus?
“Not bad. To have refined Vital Energy within half a day — you are a once-in-a-century genius,” Li Qingqiu praised.
Hearing this, Yun Cai felt a heavy weight lifted from her heart.
Previously, she had concealed her Vital Energy for fear of standing out too much.
Now she could no longer hold back — she was afraid of seeming too mediocre and missing her chance to grow closer to Li Qingqiu.
The serving disciples standing behind Yuan Qi did not know how long Yun Cai had been cultivating.
Upon hearing Li Qingqiu say it had taken her only half a day, they all widened their eyes, looking as if they had just seen a ghost.
Yun Cai was not good at flattery.
Faced with Li Qingqiu’s praise, she could only smile, gazing at him fixedly.
Li Qingqiu looked at her and chuckled.
“Let’s eat first. I’ll speak with you alone this afternoon.”
Yun Cai was instantly overjoyed, her eyes glowing with excitement.
Li Qingqiu noticed that her pupils faintly shimmered with a silvery-blue light.
Could it be that the All-Seeing Spirit Eyes were awakening?
The other seven girls snapped out of their astonishment and surrounded Yun Cai, excitedly asking how she had done it.
Having shared the same journey, they were not jealous — at most, envious — but genuinely happy for her.
Yuan Qi motioned for the disciples to place down the lunch boxes, then bowed and took his leave.
Li Qingqiu picked one up and went to sit beside Yuan Li to eat together.
The eight girls, still brimming with excitement, eventually settled down to eat as well.
While eating, a mischievous-looking girl glanced at Li Qingqiu and mustered her courage to ask, “Sect Master, with Yun Cai’s talent, how far could she go in the next Grand Dao Tournament?”
At this, everyone turned their eyes toward Li Qingqiu, even Yun Cai looked a bit nervous.
“In the entire sect, there are no more than three whose aptitude surpasses hers,” Li Qingqiu said with a gentle smile.
He was not exaggerating.
Above the ‘excellent’ grade was the level of ‘outstanding,’ and there were only three in the sect who reached that level — Xu Ning, Zhao Zhen, and Chu Jing.
Of course, this was speaking strictly of innate aptitude; cultivation speed also depended on one’s Fate Traits, comprehension, and resources.
Hearing Li Qingqiu’s assessment of Yun Cai, the seven girls gasped once more.
They began peppering Li Qingqiu with questions, which he answered patiently and without the slightest sign of annoyance.
Yuan Li silently watched all of this.
He knew that within a year at most, that slightly dirty-looking girl would surpass him.
If their Master chose to focus on training her, it might take less than a year.
“The more geniuses our sect has, the better.”
Thinking this, Yuan Li smiled sincerely, genuinely happy for both Yun Cai and his Master.
An hour later, Li Qingqiu took Yun Cai to a secluded part of the forest for a private conversation.
Turning to face her, he said earnestly, “Your talent is extraordinary. I would feel more at ease teaching you personally. Would you be willing to take me as your Master?”
But instead of surprise or joy, Yun Cai bit her lip and hesitantly replied, “Sect Master, could I not take a Master? I can serve you like Senior Brother Yuan Qi does.”
Li Qingqiu was puzzled.
“Why don’t you wish to become my disciple?”
The last person to refuse his tutelage had been Chai Yunshang.
At first, he had thought she harbored improper feelings toward him, but later realized she was simply strict with herself, believing she was unworthy.
That she never granted her disciples special treatment proved her integrity.
So what was Yun Cai’s reason?
Yun Cai lowered her head and said softly, “I… just don’t want to be your disciple. It wouldn’t be right…”
Not right?
Li Qingqiu looked at the not-yet-sixteen-year-old girl, feeling somewhat confused.
Still, he figured she might have her own difficulties, being new to the sect.
“In that case, I won’t force you. Don’t be nervous — refusing me isn’t a big matter.” Li Qingqiu smiled gently, easing her tension.
He truly meant it.
So long as she did not betray the Clear Sky Sect, whether she became his disciple or not was of little consequence.
Yun Cai breathed a sigh of relief.
She looked up at him and asked, “Then can I still train under your guidance?”
“Of course. You can come to me anytime. With your aptitude, the sooner you’re nurtured, the better for the sect. If you wish, I’ll even allow you to move out of the outer disciples’ quarters,” Li Qingqiu replied.
“That won’t be necessary. I’d better stay with the others,” Yun Cai quickly said.
Li Qingqiu smiled approvingly.
“No matter what fortune you gain, never neglect those around you. Within the Clear Sky Sect, talent may affect resources and status, but no matter how powerful a disciple becomes, they must never look down on their peers.”
Yun Cai nodded seriously.
She was genuinely happy that Li Qingqiu respected her choice.
This Li Qingqiu was even better than she had imagined.
Li Qingqiu continued, “When you return tonight, make sure to clean yourself up a bit. Here in the Clear Sky Sect, you need not worry that your looks will bring you trouble.”
Yun Cai’s cheeks flushed pink, and she nodded slightly.
Afterward, Li Qingqiu led her back.
As dusk approached, they left the forest.
On the way back, the seven girls eagerly asked Yun Cai what the Sect Master had spoken to her about.
Yun Cai did not reveal that she had declined to become his disciple, fearing it might embarrass the Sect Master.
She only said that he had high hopes for her and reminded her not to neglect those around her.
Her words deeply moved the seven girls, easing whatever envy they had felt.
In such a sect, even if their talents were inferior, life would still be good.
——
After the year’s end came the New Year Festival, and the Clear Sky Sect once again grew lively.
That year, the number of registered disciples exceeded six thousand eight hundred.
Counting servants, craftsmen, and patrons, there were over ten thousand people on the mountain — more than enough to enliven the atmosphere.
From the summit of Clear Sky Mountain down to its base, even the neighboring Ziyang Peak was hung with lanterns and streamers.
Li Qingqiu set aside a day to inspect the various halls.
When he arrived at the Enforcement Hall, Chai Yunshang personally came to receive him.
Sitting in the chair where Chai Yunshang usually sat, Li Qingqiu smiled and asked, “How are the three I assigned you?”
He referred to Bo Zhao and the other two — the trio who had escorted Yun Cai and her companions to the Clear Sky Sect, making great sacrifices and proving their righteousness and loyalty.
Such people were worth cultivating, so he had arranged for them to serve in the Enforcement Hall.
Although Chai Yunshang had been reluctant, she was not bold enough to refuse the Sect Master directly.
At the mention of the three, Chai Yunshang smiled and said, “They’re quite good.
Though their strength is lacking, their temperaments and sense of duty suit the Enforcement Hall well.
Once they reach the Second Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, I’ll officially have them registered.”
She truly admired Li Qingqiu — his judgment was as keen as the rumors claimed.
Li Qingqiu enjoyed the look in her eyes and asked, “Have you encountered any troublesome matters recently?”
Chai Yunshang immediately replied, “Indeed I have, and I’m still hesitating on how severely to punish the offender.”
“Oh? Who dares trouble you so much that you’d hesitate?”
“The personal disciple of the Free Spirit Hall’s Hall Master — Qin Yue. He’s been pestering several female disciples, who came to file complaints with me. He hasn’t committed any physical offense yet, but because he’s Hall Master Zhang’s disciple and the younger brother of your second disciple Qin Ye, the elders of the Enforcement Hall urged me to reconsider before taking action.”
As she spoke, her gaze stayed fixed on Li Qingqiu.
Without hesitation, Li Qingqiu said, “What is there to hesitate about? Do what must be done. Must we wait until he harms someone before acting? Go ahead — even if the sky falls, I’ll bear it for you.”
Chai Yunshang’s smile bloomed like a flower.
“His actions don’t quite merit harsh punishment, but I intend to post his misconduct publicly to warn all disciples. Doing so, however, will inevitably offend Hall Master Zhang and Qin Ye.”
“I approve.”
Li Qingqiu agreed at once.
To him, the sect’s disciples were like his children.
Even if a female disciple he barely knew was threatened, he would protect her as if she were his own daughter.
Not just the female disciples — even the male ones would receive the same treatment.
The Clear Sky Sect had not yet seen any disciple commit truly heinous crimes, but as their numbers grew, some troubling tendencies were emerging — and he had to curb them.
He might offend many people, but he did not care.
Seeing Li Qingqiu’s decisiveness, Chai Yunshang immediately bowed deeply to him.
Afterward, Li Qingqiu had her report on other matters.
She recounted those she found most difficult to handle.
Li Qingqiu was not blindly indulgent — he cautioned her that some matters need not be handled too rigidly.
Between law and emotion, there was room for balance; one could not always rely solely on sect rules or the Enforcement Hall’s decrees.