The Training Hall moved quickly. After Xue Jin received all the intelligence on the Xuanji Sect from Zhang Yuchun, he dispatched twelve members of the Thirteen Sword Li, along with thirty-six disciples, down the mountain.
The lowest cultivation among these disciples was the Third Layer of the Nourishing Yuan Realm. In the secular martial world, they were strong enough to contend for the title of the foremost martial artist in an entire prefecture.
The Training Hall disciples descended the mountain in a grand procession. Though they caught the attention of disciples along the way, they caused no stir. After all, Qingxiao Sect had too many things to take care of; every day, batches of disciples went up and down the mountain.
A new year began, and Qingxiao Mountain's disciples grew more driven in their cultivation.
Someone brought up the next Daoist Convention, and soon the disciples were looking forward to it.
The first Daoist Convention had been a great success. Word had it that the next one would offer even richer rewards, possibly including pills and magical artifacts.
February came, and Li Qingqiu reached the Second Layer of the Spiritual Sense Realm without anyone knowing.
The increase at each layer of the Spiritual Sense Realm was naturally greater than in the Nourishing Yuan Realm. The substantial increase in Origin Energy and the strengthening of his spiritual sense lifted Li Qingqiu's spirits.
He left his Cave Mansion, intending to descend the mountain.
This time, he brought Jinlang with him.
After cultivating the Primordial Scripture and drawing on a century's foundation of absorbing energy, Jinlang quickly reached the Fourth Layer of the Nourishing Yuan Realm. Its size, however, had not changed in the slightest.
Li Qingqiu brought Jinlang because he wanted it to become part of Qingxiao Sect instead of spending every