Once all the departing disciples had gathered, Li Qingqiu didn't offer any words of encouragement. The sect had already assigned leaders to the groups a few days earlier. There were ten in all, and they came forward one by one to report that their disciples were present.
After confirming everyone had arrived, Li Qingqiu called out, "Let's go!"
As he spoke, the Heavenly Rainbow Sword leaped from its sheath. He sprang onto it and soared into the sky, while the others summoned their Qingxiao Swords and followed on theirs.
More than a thousand disciples flew on their swords—a magnificent sight. They cleaved through the snowy mist between the mountains, their imposing momentum sweeping across the sky.
The disciples standing along the cliffs watched one figure after another pass through the clouds, all of them stirred by the spectacle.
"So fast! I heard everyone taking part in this operation is a True Disciple."
"Since the founding of the sect, no expedition has ever been this grand."
"Before I joined the Qingxiao Sect, I'd heard that the sect master led disciples down the mountain to exterminate demons. Now I've witnessed such a remarkable feat myself. What a shame my cultivation isn't strong enough. If I'd known, I would've trained harder."
"I wonder what kind of evil could have drawn so many people out to fight it."
"Look, it's Senior Brother Sword Solitary! He's going too!"
Flying through wind and snow, Li Qingqiu didn't push his speed too high. His main concern was the disciples' Origin Energy. Cangzhou was a long way off; they couldn't fly there in one go and would certainly need to stop along the way. With half a month left before year's end, they had plenty of time to reach their destination.
Jiang Zhaoxia and Shen Yue flew