Arrival at the Seven Peaks Alliance

The sun blazed high overhead as a horse-drawn carriage sped along the official road.

The driver, a man in his early fifties dressed in plain cloth, had a sturdy build. Though his hair had turned white, he still seemed in his prime. Wiping sweat from his brow with one hand, he looked ahead and asked, "Young master, on such a scorching day, do we really have to rush to Seven Peaks Town at top speed?"

Li Qingqiu sat inside the carriage, cross-legged with eyes closed, resting in stillness. The road was so bumpy that he couldn't cultivate at all, so he did his best to conserve his strength and Origin Energy. Seven Peaks Town, a settlement near the Seven Peaks Alliance, was well-known—many escort agencies and official convoys stopped there. Once he reached Seven Peaks Town, it would be easy to inquire about the Seven Peaks Alliance. This was the route Yang Jueding had told him. After dealing with Yue Zhenchuan and the others, Li Qingqiu no longer needed to rush, but he still wanted to go and return early to avoid worrying his junior brothers and junior sisters.

"I've made an appointment with my family," Li Qingqiu replied. "I'm afraid they'll worry if I miss the time."

"That makes sense. You look so young—younger than my own son. If my son were out alone, I wouldn't feel at ease either. Now the world's about to fall into chaos again. The prefectures can't suppress the local strongmen, people are displaced, and that means more bandits and mountain thieves. Honestly, I didn't want to take this trip, but my old lady's sick, and we need the money..."

The driver rambled on, and Li Qingqiu answered occasionally. Two days had passed since he left the Qingxiao Sect, but the Seven Peaks Alliance was still far away. Li Qingqiu didn't find the driver annoying; he occasionally asked about worldly affairs to learn what was happening in Guzhou. After cultivating immortality, he no longer feared the heat. The Taiqing Primordial Scripture circulated within him, keeping his whole body cool and his mind calm, without consuming much Origin Energy—it was an inherent effect of the scripture.

In the blink of an eye, an hour passed quickly. The driver had stopped talking, his mouth dry and parched, wanting only to reach the next post station.

Suddenly, the driver reined in the horses and cursed, "What's blocking the way? Want to die under the hooves?"

"Uncle, could you give me a ride?"

"Oh? A woman? Why are you dressed like that?"

"I have money. Would you let me ride with you, uncle?"

"Where are you headed?"

"Seven Peaks Town."

"Huh?"

The driver let out a surprised grunt, then turned his head and lowered his voice. "Young master, there's a woman up ahead who also wants to go to Seven Peaks Town. Should we take her? If we do, I'll knock thirty percent off your fare."

Li Qingqiu couldn't be bothered with his petty schemes and replied, "Take her. Let's get moving."

"Got it! Get on, miss. And remember to thank this young master—he originally chartered the whole carriage."

"Thank you!"

Footsteps approached, and then the carriage curtain was lifted. A black-clothed woman wearing a bamboo hat and carrying a bundle stepped inside. She sat by the window, raised her hand, and clasped her fists toward Li Qingqiu. "I'm sorry to trouble you, young master. Thank you for your generosity."

Even as she spoke, her hand never left her sword scabbard. Li Qingqiu glanced at her, gave a slight nod, and closed his eyes again. The black-clothed woman didn't dwell on it and fell silent.

With the woman on board, the driver found his energy again and started chattering nonstop. The black-clothed woman replied a few times, but when he wouldn't stop, she stopped responding, leaving the driver frustrated.

The rest of the journey passed in silence. When they reached the post station, the black-clothed woman and Li Qingqiu sat at separate tables, only getting back into the carriage together when it was time to leave. This continued for five days until they finally arrived at Seven Peaks Town. Li Qingqiu handed the prepared silver to the driver and stepped into the town.

Seven Peaks Town sat at the foot of a mountain. Many carriages were parked in front the town's stone marker, and most people carried weapons, clearly dressed as martial artists. Li Qingqiu wasted no time. He found a random person and asked, "Brother, could you tell me how to get to the Seven Peaks Alliance?"

The man was short and stocky, carrying a bamboo basket on his back, looking like a local. He glanced at Li Qingqiu and asked, "The Seven Peaks Alliance? See those big mountains behind us? They all belong to the Seven Peaks Alliance. You're already here."

Li Qingqiu patiently pressed on. "Where is their sect's residence? I want to go up and pay a visit."

"Visit the Seven Peaks Alliance? Forget it. They'll break your legs if you're not careful. Don't ask me—I don't know!"

The stocky man turned and left. Li Qingqiu tried asking others, but the responses were all the same. Whenever the Seven Peaks Alliance was mentioned, everyone was afraid of getting into trouble and refused to reveal its location. Li Qingqiu hadn't expected the Seven Peaks Alliance to have such a fearsome reputation. It seemed he would have to use forceful methods.

Just as he was about to find a target, the black-clothed woman walked over and said, "Asking about the Seven Peaks Alliance like that will get you into trouble. I happen to be heading there myself. Is there something you need?"

Li Qingqiu turned to look at her. They stood on the street, less than five paces apart. The black-clothed woman lifted her head, and beneath her bamboo hat, a cold, beautiful face was revealed. This was the first time Li Qingqiu had taken a good look at her face. She was very pretty, with a sharp, murderous look in her eyes that was typical of martial artists. She was tall, about the same height as Li Qingqiu, who was still growing but already around one meter seventy-five.

"My master sent me to deliver a letter," Li Qingqiu replied calmly. "He was held up by other matters, so he had to send me instead." His face betrayed nothing, and the black-clothed woman could read no hint of deception from his expression.

"We go up the mountain now. By dawn tomorrow, we should arrive. Do you dare to make the journey?" the black-clothed woman asked.

Li Qingqiu had a refined face, his bearing like that of a scholar. Though a sword hung at his waist, the black-clothed woman sensed no threat from him.

"Then I ask the young lady to lead the way." Li Qingqiu revealed a smile and nodded.

The black-clothed woman said nothing more, brushing past him. He turned and followed her steps.

The two walked through the main street of Seven Peaks Town. He had to admit, Seven Peaks Town was quite large and bustling. Li Qingqiu even spotted someone holding a martial contest to choose a spouse.

In the future, Qingxiao Sect could recruit disciples here.

Li Qingqiu thought this as they left Seven Peaks Town, stepping into the forest and beginning their ascent.

They did not take the usual path, which gave Li Qingqiu a feeling of returning to the Tai Kun Mountain Range—no road beneath his feet, only overgrown weeds.

Night fell, and the forest turned pitch-black, visibility extremely low. The black-clothed woman had brought a torch, and after lighting the way ahead, her pace quickened again.

Li Qingqiu had no need for a torch, yet he still followed her closely.

Several hours later.

The two reached the top of a slope. From here, the mountains ahead stretched endlessly, the night mist making each peak seem terrifying, like ancient giants looming over them.

The black-clothed woman stopped and said, "After dawn, you'll see the mountain gate of the Seven Peaks Alliance."

Li Qingqiu nodded and asked the black-clothed woman, "Thank you, miss. May I ask what your relationship is with the Seven Peaks Alliance?"

"Why do you ask?"

"If the young lady doesn't wish to say, then forget it."

Li Qingqiu turned his gaze to the oppressive mountain scenery ahead and spoke softly.

If she wouldn't say, so be it. Even if it meant making an enemy, he didn't care.

The black-clothed woman tilted her head to look at Li Qingqiu, curiosity in her voice. "Aren't you curious why we haven't run into anyone from the Seven Peaks Alliance along the way?"

"We're taking an untrodden mountain path, so naturally we won't meet anyone." Li Qingqiu replied casually.

He could tell this black-clothed woman had an unusual background, but he simply couldn't be bothered to probe.

The black-clothed woman fell silent for a moment, then suddenly drew her sword. With the sound of the blade leaving its sheath, her sword hovered an inch from Li Qingqiu's throat.

"Speak. Who is your master, and what is your relationship with the Seven Peaks Alliance?" the black-clothed woman said in a low voice.

Li Qingqiu glanced at her, then quickly raised his hand. With a flick of his right middle finger, he sent her sword flying.

Everything happened too fast. The black-clothed woman had no time to react. She stumbled back two steps, and her sword landed on the grass behind her, the blade sinking into the earth, the hilt trembling.

She stared at Li Qingqiu in disbelief, never expecting his martial skill to be so formidable.

That single flick had carried an unstoppable force.

"Those words were a lie. Your offense against me cancels out the favor of leading the way. Go down the mountain."

Li Qingqiu spoke these words expressionlessly, then turned and walked down the slope.

Wait for dawn?

He didn't want to wait any longer!

Seeing Li Qingqiu heading up the mountain, the black-clothed woman couldn't help asking, "Who exactly are you? What do you want?"

"An enemy of the Seven Peaks Alliance. I want to kill people."

Li Qingqiu replied without turning his head, and his words shocked the black-clothed woman.

Kill people?

This man intended to charge into the Seven Peaks Alliance alone?

Before she could think further, she suddenly saw Li Qingqiu leap into the air, his figure like a wild goose plunging into the vast, dense mist, vanishing from sight.

The mountain where the Seven Peaks Alliance stood was very tall. Just climbing it took Li Qingqiu some time.

He arrived at the mountain gate and looked up at the gate, a full three zhang high. He couldn't help but sigh at its grandeur. Compared to the mountain gate of the Seven Peaks Alliance, Qingxiao Sect's gate was utterly unremarkable.

Two disciples of the Seven Peaks Alliance were leaning against the gate pillars, fast asleep. They didn't hear Li Qingqiu's footsteps.

Li Qingqiu approached one of them, swung his sword, and slit his throat. Blood splattered, staining the pillar.

The other Seven Peaks Alliance disciple was roused from sleep. Blinking groggily, he opened his eyes. When he saw Li Qingqiu and his junior brother's corpse, his eyes went wide. Just as he was about to cry out, Li Qingqiu lunged forward, covering his mouth with his left hand while holding the Heavenly Rainbow Sword horizontally against his neck with his right.

"If you don't want to die, cooperate. If you understand, blink." Li Qingqiu stared at this Seven Peaks Alliance disciple, his voice cold.

Hearing this, the disciple blinked rapidly, terrified that Li Qingqiu's hand might slip.

Li Qingqiu pulled him up. "Lead the way ahead. Take me to where your Alliance Leader resides. If you try any tricks, I guarantee my sword will be faster."

The Seven Peaks Alliance disciple was shoved forward by Li Qingqiu, stumbling ahead. As soon as he steadied himself, he felt a sharp point pressing against his lower back, sending cold sweat streaming down his spine.

He began to lead the way. They encountered no other disciples along the path, as it was now the dead of night.

The roads built by the Seven Peaks Alliance were wide, with training grounds scattered about, every detail showcasing the grandeur of a major martial sect. After walking for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they arrived at the courtyard of the First Alliance Leader.

The guiding disciple pointed tremblingly at a house. Li Qingqiu suddenly swung his hand, striking the back of his neck and knocking him unconscious. Then, sword in hand, he walked toward that house.

I went to the hospital in the afternoon, so the update is late. Sorry, QAQ.