Chapter 333 : Li Qingqiu’s Eyes
Chapter 333: Li Qingqiu’s Eyes
Yun Cai listened to the conversation between Li Qingqiu and Jian Yungui, her heart filled with confusion.
To go to war with other immortal cultivation sects—they needed that kid?
More importantly, that kid seemed full of confidence!
After obtaining Jian Yungui’s assurance, Li Qingqiu encouraged him a few more words. Finally, he took out five jade slips from his Storage Pouch and had him bring them back for comprehension.
After receiving the jade slips, Jian Yungui stood up, bowed to Li Qingqiu, then bowed to Yun Cai, and turned to leave.
Li Qingqiu watched his departing figure, his eyes filled with admiration.
Only after Jian Yungui’s aura had completely faded into the distance did Yun Cai ask, “Could it be that he has some kind of talent I can’t see through?”
Li Qingqiu glanced at her and said, “You can’t only look at cultivation aptitude. A person can possess other talents as well.”
“Other talents? What talent could he possibly have that would help the sect deal with other immortal cultivation sects?” Yun Cai asked in confusion.
“Why ask so much? Do you want to be the Sect Master?”
“I could be the Deputy Sect Master. If you have to go out, I can help you manage the sect.”
“You really know how to dream.”
Li Qingqiu shook his head and laughed. This fellow truly dared to think anything.
Deputy Sect Master?
Too many people were eyeing that position—Yun Cai wasn’t qualified.
He stood up and looked at Yun Cai with a hint of provocation. “Since there’s nothing to do, let’s spar. I won’t use Vital Energy.”
Hearing this, Yun Cai’s interest was instantly piqued. She stared at Li Qingqiu and said, “If I force you to use Vital Energy, what then?”
She could see that Li Qingqiu possessed terrifying physical strength, but she knew he wouldn’t be too serious. This was her opportunity.
“I can agree to one request from you—anything you want,” Li Qingqiu replied without hesitation.
Hearing such a promise, Yun Cai became even more excited. The two exchanged a glance, then leapt up and headed toward the mountaintop to spar.
……
Starting from February, a large number of disciples went out. They formed teams and headed west or south, exploring resource lands beyond the Nine Provinces for the sect.
All disciples understood that this was a signal of the sect’s expansion, so they were extremely proactive. There was no limit to the number of exploration missions, and disciples could take on other tasks simultaneously.
On this day, Li Qingqiu finally received news from Xu Ning.
She reported that Wei Tianxiong had already set up a teleportation formation at a high-grade spirit vein and was now heading toward Clear Sky Mountain.
This news further lifted Li Qingqiu’s mood. According to Xu Ning, the high-grade spirit vein contained an enormous quantity of Spirit Stones, and there were no cultivators from other sects nearby.
Once Wei Tianxiong returned to construct another teleportation formation, the Clear Sky Sect would be able to go and mine the Spirit Stones.
The Spirit Stones had to be transported to the Ancient Great Mountain Range before Li Qingqiu would feel at ease.
To store the Spirit Stones, Li Qingqiu summoned Zhu Yan and had the Heavenly Works Hall construct an underground palace. Zhu Yan naturally had no objections and began making arrangements that very day.
Early the next morning, Bai Ning’er arrived at Lingxiao Courtyard, extremely excited. The Sect Master was taking him on a mission. Though he didn’t know what the mission was, as long as he followed the Sect Master, he had no fear of danger.
When Li Qingqiu arrived in the courtyard, Bai Ning’er first bowed, then said, “Sect Master, should we bring Zhang Ping along?”
He knew Zhang Ping had a good relationship with Li Qingqiu, which was why he brought it up.
Li Qingqiu shook his head. “He’s cautious by nature. Better not take him into danger—let him stay in the sect.”
“This might not be dangerous at all. With you here, there’s no danger. He might even gain an opportunity from it,” Bai Ning’er persuaded.
Li Qingqiu suddenly recalled that Zhang Ping’s fate trait, “Defying Fate Against the Heavens,” still had two chances left to alter fate.
“Then I’ll call him over and ask.”
Li Qingqiu nodded, then took out the Sect Master Token to contact Zhang Ping.
His token didn’t cover all disciples, but aside from the sect’s upper ranks, he had also included disciples he paid attention to.
Before long, Zhang Ping arrived at Lingxiao Courtyard. Bai Ning’er eagerly told him about the mission.
Zhang Ping fell silent and cast a resentful glance at Bai Ning’er.
Li Qingqiu looked at Zhang Ping and smiled. “If you follow me, I’m confident I can protect you. Of course, if you truly don’t wish to go, I won’t force you.”
Faced with the Sect Master, Zhang Ping couldn’t refuse and immediately said, “Zhang Ping is willing.”
But inwardly, he thought that the Sect Master was too confident—he would have to keep an eye on things.
He knew his own strength was insufficient, but he was good at observation. Perhaps he could help the Sect Master.
“What mission? I want to go too!”
A voice rang out as Yun Cai quickly walked into Lingxiao Courtyard.
At the sight of her, Li Qingqiu felt a headache coming on.
Ever since he had teased her using the All-Law Spiritual Eyes, she had been pestering him, insisting on sparring again and again.
“What are you going for? The sect needs you to stay and guard it,” Li Qingqiu said helplessly.
Yun Cai widened her eyes. “With the Small Zhou Heavenly Net Formation now in place, and so many Spirit Perception Realm disciples in the sect, nothing will happen. Besides, I haven’t gone down the mountain in a long time.”
Seeing the pleading look in her eyes, Li Qingqiu’s heart softened. “Fine. Go prepare. We depart at noon.”
“Yes!”
The three immediately responded and left to make preparations.
Bai Ning’er and Yun Cai were extremely excited, while Zhang Ping’s back appeared heavy with concern.
This time, Li Qingqiu was going to retrieve the Supreme Sword. Once he obtained that sword, his strength would become even greater.
Vast Vital Energy, boundless physical strength, combined with domineering Sword Energy—Li Qingqiu would have no weaknesses. Even if he had just stepped into the Heaven-Connecting Radiance Realm, he was confident he could sweep through that realm.
Before noon, the three gathered at the gate of Lingxiao Courtyard.
Li Qingqiu appeared, directly swept the three up with his Vital Energy, and flew toward the horizon.
Having reached the Heaven-Connecting Radiance Realm, he could fly with ease without relying on a sword. Even carrying three people with his Vital Energy was effortless.
Yun Cai was fine—she had long known how terrifying Li Qingqiu’s Vital Energy was.
But Bai Ning’er and Zhang Ping were greatly shocked. It was their first time being lifted into the sky by someone’s Vital Energy. Unable to break free, they could only be carried forward, buffeted by strong winds.
Li Qingqiu flew at incredible speed, following a route he still remembered.
Using the fastest speed the three could withstand, he reached the destination in less than one incense stick’s time.
He entered the underground through the tunnel previously opened by Shen Yue, Yan Daozong, and Bai Ning’er.
Bai Ning’er began explaining the situation along the way. Before long, they landed.
The underground space was dim. Ahead lay a wide tunnel—the very one Bai Ning’er and the others had used to escape before.
“Sect Master, you must be careful. There are traps everywhere here, and they move—it’s impossible to guard against them,” Bai Ning’er reminded.
Li Qingqiu stepped forward and instructed, “Yun Cai, guard the rear.”
Yun Cai had no objections. Only after Bai Ning’er and Zhang Ping moved ahead did she follow behind.
Both Bai Ning’er and Zhang Ping knew how terrifying Yun Cai’s strength was. With her guarding the rear, they felt much more at ease.
Looking at Li Qingqiu’s back, they felt an incomparable sense of security.
For the first time, Zhang Ping did not feel overwhelming pressure. The earlier flight had already made him completely believe that Li Qingqiu had the ability to protect them.
Li Qingqiu walked at the front, his pace not slow. In his All-Law Spiritual Eyes, the mechanisms and restrictions of this underground palace were as if nonexistent.
He could see the flowing restrictions and the remnant souls hidden in the shadows.
Upon arriving here, he had already sensed the Supreme Sword calling to him.
The feeling was wondrous. Having merely passed the trial of the Sword Champion, he had somehow established a direct connection with the Supreme Sword.
His steps grew faster, forcing Bai Ning’er and the others to quicken their pace.
They soon arrived in a massive palace. The place was brightly lit, with towering stone pillars stretching endlessly into the distance.
Seeing that Li Qingqiu still had no intention of slowing down, Zhang Ping couldn’t help but remind him, “Sect Master, we must not be careless.”
Without turning his head, Li Qingqiu replied, “It’s fine. I’ve already seen through the restrictions here. The thing I seek is already within my sight.”
His words left Zhang Ping and Bai Ning’er stunned.
Yun Cai, however, frowned. She had activated her All-Law Spiritual Eyes and realized that Li Qingqiu had indeed avoided every trap along the way.
When sparring with him before, she had already felt that her All-Law Spiritual Eyes couldn’t keep up with his speed. Even when she saw his openings, they would vanish instantly.
“Could it be that his eyes see more clearly than mine?”
Yun Cai thought in astonishment. She didn’t find it absurd. The fact that Li Qingqiu had recognized her extraordinary talent even before she began cultivation proved that his eyes were far from ordinary.
The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
Li Qingqiu could always discover hidden geniuses—could it be because his eyes were truly special?
Just as Yun Cai’s thoughts wandered, Li Qingqiu suddenly raised his fist.
With one punch, his strength surged like a dragon. The violent wind shattered the palace floor ahead, smashed countless stone pillars, and rampaged toward the end.
The punch came so suddenly that Bai Ning’er and the others trembled. Then they saw a pitch-black figure appear ahead, resembling a massive demonic python—only to be instantly torn apart by Li Qingqiu’s fist wind.
Immediately after, a wall appeared ahead, giving the seemingly endless palace a boundary.
“So it was an illusion.”
Zhang Ping thought silently, while also being shocked by the Sect Master’s punch.
What a terrifying fist!
That punch had given him the feeling of heaven collapsing and earth shattering. Even standing behind Li Qingqiu, his heart pounded with fear.
Li Qingqiu led them across the shattered path and quickly arrived before the palace wall.
This time, instead of attacking forcefully, he raised his hand and pressed a spot on the wall.
The wall began to tremble. A seam appeared at its center and slowly opened.
As the wall parted, what came into view was a hidden paradise.
It was as if they stood inside a cave, while outside lay a dense forest, a great river, and a distant azure sky.
“This is…”
Zhang Ping’s eyes widened. He had never seen such a scene before when he came here previously.
Li Qingqiu stepped forward, and the others quickly followed, unable to suppress their shock.
“They actually created a small world. The restrictions here are truly exquisite.”
Li Qingqiu marveled inwardly. The sky ahead was merely an illusion formed by restrictions—they had not entered another world, but were still underground.
The Supreme Sword was hidden within the forest ahead, guarded by an ancient and powerful soul.
That soul carried the same aura as the Sword Champion.
Li Qingqiu guessed that it was a split soul of the Sword Champion.