The Feeling of Cultivating Immortality

In a flash, the white-haired elder stomped his right foot, burst forth with inner energy, and forcibly wrenched free from Li Sifeng's grip, his body stumbling backward. Yet even so, Li Sifeng's dagger still pierced his chest, sending blood splattering into the air.

The white-haired elder retreated over a dozen steps before steadying himself. He looked down at his chest, touched it with his right hand—the wound was shallow—and let out a relieved breath.

He then looked at his right hand; his sleeve was torn to shreds, and three bloody scratches even marked his wrist. This left him shaken, and his gaze at Li Sifeng was filled with terror.

This kid has terrifying strength!

And his movements are so fast!

Jiang Nian was stunned, his face covered in dust, but he no longer cared.

What had he just witnessed?

The Grandpa Du he believed to be the most skilled in martial arts had been wounded by a boy his own age?

He had seen it clearly—Li Sifeng hadn't ambushed him; Grandpa Du had struck first, but Li Sifeng was simply faster.

The white-haired elder named Du Xuanfeng took a deep breath, fixed his eyes on Li Sifeng, and asked in a low voice, "Impressive skill. Who is your master?"

Li Sifeng gritted his teeth and said, "Get down the mountain now. Don't force me to kill you!"

Though he had admired Jiang Zhaoxia's killing stance, now that it was his turn, his heart was racing with nerves.

Ordinarily, he wasn't so bloodthirsty, but when it came to the Qingxiao Sect, his killing intent could not be restrained.

Jiang Zhaoxia was the strongest person in the Qingxiao Sect. If he left, and the Seven Peaks Alliance and Azure Cult invaded en masse, it would all be over.

Hearing Li Sifeng's words, Du Xuanfeng let out a cold laugh, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. He began to channel his energy; his robes and hair stirred, and his entire aura grew increasingly terrifying.

"I've walked the martial world for many years. I've heard those words countless times. No one has ever made good on them!"

Du Xuanfeng changed his self-address to "this old man," and his expression became oppressive, a far cry from the elder he had seemed moments before.

Li Sifeng was intimidated, but as he mobilized the Origin Energy within him, his courage surged, and his face twisted into a snarl.

If Du Xuanfeng was an aged, savage tiger, then Li Sifeng was a vicious, fierce lone wolf. The two clashed, and Jiang Nian stumbled backward in fear.

"Sifeng, what are you doing?"

A voice rang out, and Li Sifeng's face changed dramatically. Panic flooded his expression as he turned to look.

There stood Jiang Zhaoxia atop a large tree not far away, the slender branch beneath his feet making him, in his worn cloth robes, appear almost ethereal, like an immortal.

Jiang Zhaoxia's face was expressionless. His gaze wasn't on Li Sifeng but fixed on Du Xuanfeng.

For some reason, being stared at by Jiang Zhaoxia made Du Xuanfeng inexplicably uneasy.

In all his years roaming the martial world, the only people who could unsettle him with a single glance were peerless masters renowned across the land. Yet this man looked so young—it astonished him.

When had the Qingxiao Sect gained two prodigies?

Unbelievable!

Li Sifeng had already made him feel danger, but the youth now arriving made him feel utterly outmatched.

His instincts told him that if he made a move, he would die horribly.

"Third Senior Brother, I..." Li Sifeng, seeing he could no longer hide it, had to speak up.

Third Senior Brother?

Du Xuanfeng asked in shock, "Are you Jiang Zhaoxia?"

"Big Brother!"

Jiang Nian cried out in joy. Jiang Zhaoxia's bearing filled him with admiration; his big brother was even more formidable than he had imagined.

Yet Jiang Zhaoxia wasn't drawn by the address. He kept his eyes locked on Du Xuanfeng and said, "Sifeng, I asked you a question. Has Third Senior Brother's word lost its weight?"

Li Sifeng trembled all over, terrified. He quickly recounted the conflict just now.

It's over!

Third Senior Brother is definitely going to beat me!

Li Sifeng wailed inwardly. Striking a member of Third Senior Brother's clan was no small matter.

After hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxia's expression still didn't change. He snorted coldly, "You did well, but not well enough. You should have just killed them."

Hearing this, not only Du Xuanfeng but even Jiang Nian was shocked, and Li Sifeng hadn't expected it either.

"But they came looking for you, and that kid is your little brother..." Li Sifeng swallowed nervously and spoke cautiously.

Jiang Zhaoxia said flatly, "I only have two younger brothers: you and Man'er."

Li Sifeng fell silent, deeply moved, yet a faint, inexplicable sadness stirred within him—too young to understand why he felt that way.

Du Xuanfeng immediately spoke up, "Jiang Zhaoxia, what happened back then wasn't what you think. Your father sent Xunfeng to take you up the mountain because he had no choice."

Jiang Zhaoxia said coldly, "I don't want to know what he thought. I only believe what I saw and what I remember."

He drew his sword from his waist, pointed it at Du Xuanfeng, and continued, "I'll give you one last chance."

Du Xuanfeng's face turned ugly. He could only grit his teeth and say, "Young master, let's go!"

Jiang Nian hurried over to him, and the master and servant did not linger, quickly departing.

Jiang Zhaoxia sheathed his sword, leaped down, and landed lightly before Li Sifeng. As he descended, Li Sifeng saw the wind swirling around him.

"Gale Technique?"

Li Sifeng asked curiously.

Jiang Zhaoxia directly raised his hand and smacked him on the head, saying, "Your skill is shallow, and your body hasn't matured yet. Next time you face a strong enemy, you'd better kill them in one blow. No dragging it out."

Li Sifeng rubbed his head, confused. "Third Senior Brother, you actually wanted me to kill them?"

Such a ruthless Third Senior Brother!

For the first time, Li Sifeng felt a surge of admiration for Jiang Zhaoxia. He wanted to become that kind of person too.

"Of course."

Jiang Zhaoxia turned and walked away, and Li Sifeng quickly followed.

In the distance, Jiang Nian, pulled along by Du Xuanfeng, looked back. He felt that Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sifeng seemed more like real brothers. The scorching sunlight pierced through the forest, and the figures of Jiang Zhaoxia and the others soon vanished from his sight.

Inside the courtyard, Li Qingqiu was writing at a table, brush in hand. Li Dongyue stood beside him, fanning him to cool him down. She was drenched in sweat herself, yet she showed no sign of fatigue, her gaze never leaving him for a moment.

Li Qingqiu's peripheral vision caught Jiang Zhaoxia and the others returning, but he didn't pay much attention, busy writing the Primordial Scripture.

Jiang Zhaoxia walked straight over and recounted what had happened earlier.

After hearing it, Li Qingqiu shot Li Sifeng a glare and scolded, "Well done, you've got some nerve, acting first and reporting later!"

Li Dongyue also looked at Li Sifeng with new eyes. She hadn't expected the little junior brother to be so ruthless; it was completely invisible on normal days.

Li Sifeng said pitifully, "I was afraid Third Senior Brother would go with them."

Jiang Zhaoxia snorted. "There was no misunderstanding back then. That father of mine, to marry a woman from a powerful family, drove my mother to her death and tried to abandon me. If Master hadn't shown up in time, I'd probably have been disposed of by his disciples. I'm never going back. Eldest Senior Brother, rest assured, I will always support you."

The Jiang Family was also a martial arts clan, but like many sects in the martial world, they wanted to clean up their image.

Back when Lin Xunfeng first brought Jiang Zhaoxia up the mountain, Li Qingqiu had overheard Lin Xunfeng discussing it with a friend who was traveling with him. It was exactly as Jiang Zhaoxia had said.

Li Qingqiu nodded and glared at Li Sifeng again. "Remember, no matter what it is, you ask me first. Whether I support you doing it or not, you have to let me know. I am the Sect Master of Qingxiao Sect, not just your Eldest Senior Brother."

This kid Li Sifeng was already showing signs of his destiny. He'd need to keep an eye on him from now on.

Li Qingqiu wasn't afraid that Li Sifeng would betray him—after all, his loyalty was clear. He was afraid Li Sifeng would mean well but mess things up and get himself caught in the middle.

He wasn't just cultivating immortality himself; he was going to bring his junior brothers and sisters along too. Not one could be left behind.

Every one of these junior brothers and sisters, he had raised them. He had changed each of their diapers, put each of them to bed. In his heart, they were already family.

"I understand." Li Sifeng mumbled, facing his senior brother and sister, he acted like a docile little cat, looking completely harmless.

"Go play."

Li Qingqiu waved his hand. Just looking at Li Sifeng right now made him angry, and he was afraid he might lose his temper and hit him.

Li Sifeng could tell that Eldest Senior Brother was genuinely upset, so he turned and ran off.

Jiang Zhaoxia looked at Li Qingqiu, frowning. "Brother, the Jiang Family coming to our doorstep—I don't think it's just aimed at me. It's aimed at Qingxiao Sect too."

Qingxiao Sect might be small, but its territory was too large. It was easy for others to covet it.

"Mm, I have a handle on it. We'll deal with things as they come."

Li Qingqiu nodded, then shifted the topic. "Tomorrow, take Huang Shan and Yu Lin down the mountain to the nearest town to buy cloth. Also, hire a tailor to come up the mountain. I'm planning to have sect robes made for Qingxiao Sect. Don't be stingy with the money."

Everyone in Qingxiao Sect was wearing old clothes. They didn't look like sect disciples at all—more like a farming family.

Jiang Zhaoxia nodded. "I'll also see if I can find any other ways to make money."

"Take good care of those two boys. You can let them train appropriately, but don't let them lose any limbs." Li Qingqiu instructed.

Huang Shan and Yu Lin were the two oldest among the second-generation disciples. Li Qingqiu had high hopes for their future, so he wanted to start training them early.

"I'll be careful."

Jiang Zhaoxia finished speaking and turned to leave.

Li Qingqiu turned to look at Li Dongyue. "Take a rest. I'm not that hot, Brother."

Li Dongyue smiled. "I'm not tired, Brother. Will the sect robes all be the same? Is there a difference between the male and female disciples' robes?"

As she spoke, beads of hot sweat rolled down her cheeks, and her hair was sticking to the side of her face.

Li Qingqiu felt helpless with her and could only let her continue. He replied, "There will be differences, but overall, they'll look like they come from the same sect."

"That's great, Brother! Tomorrow, Second Senior Brother is also planning to take me to the village to exchange for grain seeds. I want to bring Sijin and Ninger along. Is that okay?"

"Of course. If there's any work to be done, let Yuchun do it. At most, you can help him carry a few things."

"Mm-hmm, I'll remember."

The two chatted casually. The sunlight poured down, stretching their shadows long.

The sun set, the moon rose. Day turned to night, and a new day arrived.

With Zhang Yuchun and Jiang Zhaoxia each leading their teams down the mountain, Qingxiao Sect became noticeably quieter.

Li Qingqiu didn't go to the underground Spirit Lake. He had to stay and guard Qingxiao Sect, in case anything unexpected happened.

At noon, after eating, Li Qingqiu came alone to the mountain gate to sit in meditation and practice, while also waiting for Zhang Yuchun and the others to return.

A clear breeze blew, stirring the hair at his temples. Li Qingqiu's mind settled into calm. He had finally found the feeling of cultivating immortality.

Tranquil, at ease, with no worries in his heart.

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