Peak Master, Retreating Whole

Li Qingqiu never expected that this revenge mission would yield such a priceless treasure. As he fled, he had already set the century-spanning plan for Qingxiao Sect in his heart.

That was to focus on cultivating Yuan Li!

Find a way to awaken his constitution, let him learn whatever he wished—the Master's Heart would surely enable him to create many martial arts and spells for Qingxiao Sect.

"Heaven truly has eyes; good deeds bring rewards. If I hadn't softened my heart earlier, I would have missed this boy. And if he had grown up within the Seven Peaks Alliance, he would have been an unpredictable and massive headache."

Li Qingqiu thought silently, his mood lifting.

Yuan Qi, held under one arm, was thinking how amazing this big brother was—carrying his younger brother in his arms, holding him with one hand and a sword with the other, so cool.

He wanted to become someone like this in the future!

The Seven Peaks Alliance was perched atop a mountain summit, surrounded by cliffs on all sides. No matter how superb one's lightness skill, they couldn't fly to the opposite peak; the only way down was through the front mountain gate from which he had come.

Li Qingqiu landed on a rooftop with Yuan Qi and Yuan Li, stopping in his tracks.

Yuan Qi turned his head to look, his dirty little face visibly shifting, panic uncontrollably rising in his eyes.

Following his gaze, a hundred zhang away, down the stone steps, training grounds gathered one after another with disciples of the Seven Peaks Alliance, their numbers still growing. The sea of heads and flickering torchlight created an oppressive scene.

Yuan Qi felt despair at the sight. With so many people, how could they escape?

Were he and his brother destined never to leave this demonic den of the Seven Peaks Alliance?

Li Qingqiu also felt the pressure. He hadn't expected the Seven Peaks Alliance to move so swiftly, gathering so many disciples before the mountain gate.

It wasn't that he lacked confidence in his own strength, but he feared that forcing his way through would harm Yuan Qi and Yuan Li.

Standing still, he began to circulate his energy, absorbing the Spirit Stone hidden in his robes and converting its spiritual energy into Origin Energy. He wanted to break through the encirclement in peak condition.

Yuan Qi turned to look at Li Qingqiu, unable to read his thoughts. Thinking Li Qingqiu was hesitating, he whispered, "Big brother, put us down and escape alone. No matter what, you've killed the Alliance Leader of the Seven Peaks Alliance—whichever one it was, we are grateful."

Li Qingqiu glanced at him and said, "It seems you carry a blood feud. Once we're down the mountain, I'll hear your story."

Hearing this, Yuan Qi was both moved and confused.

With so many people, how could they escape down the mountain?

He dared not disturb Li Qingqiu further and waited patiently.

Li Qingqiu didn't wait long. After adjusting his state, he held Yuan Qi and charged forward.

His footsteps on the rooftop made no sound at all, which amazed Yuan Qi. The wind whistled past his ears as he watched the distant crowd draw closer, his heart rising to his throat.

Was big brother really going to charge straight through?

Li Qingqiu reached the edge of the last rooftop, leaped down to the ground, and walked toward the stone steps.

His appearance drew the attention of many Seven Peaks Alliance disciples, but seeing him in their sect's robes, they didn't grow wary—only curious why he was carrying two children.

Among the crowd, two Alliance Leaders were conversing: the Second Alliance Leader, Guang Lantian, and the Fourth Alliance Leader, Xu Ziheng.

Xu Ziheng was gaunt, with messy hair. Yawning, he asked, "What's all this commotion about?"

Guang Lantian, who looked about sixty, slightly plump with a thick beard, frowned at Xu Ziheng's question. "I'm not sure, but it must be serious. Might be related to the Azure Cult."

"The Azure Cult again. Those madmen are utterly lawless. Ever since they set their sights on our sect's ultimate techniques, they've been harassing us endlessly."

Xu Ziheng cursed, his anger flaring at the mention of the Azure Cult.

Guang Lantian shook his head. "The Azure Cult has curried favor with high-ranking officials of the Imperial Court, so they're riding high. We must be cautious."

Xu Ziheng was about to speak when he overheard murmurs from other disciples. Turning his head, he saw a disciple on the top steps coming down with two children in his arms.

At that sight, his fury ignited. He bellowed, "How dare you! Who told you to touch them?"

Before his words faded, Xu Ziheng leaped up, stepping on the shoulders of disciples, and with a final powerful bound, flew toward Li Qingqiu.

His voice was like thunder, his momentum like a tiger's, making Yuan Qi tremble in fear.

Xu Ziheng's body was wreathed in inner energy, his speed abruptly increasing as he descended. His palm thrust forward, a fierce energy wave rushing at Li Qingqiu and the two children.

Li Qingqiu drew his sword with his right hand and slashed upward. A Sword Qi shot out, its light flashing across the faces of many Seven Peaks Alliance disciples.

Xu Ziheng, midair, had no time to dodge. His palm force was directly dispersed by Li Qingqiu's Sword Qi, which struck him head-on.

"Pfft—"

Xu Ziheng, as if hit by a massive force, reeled backward, spitting a jet of blood, and flew back even faster than he had come.

The disciples below were caught off guard but instinctively raised their hands to catch him, only to be knocked over in a heap.

Guang Lantian's eyes widened at the sight. The other disciples were equally stunned. Xu Ziheng was an Alliance Leader, ranked fourth on the Guzhou Martial Arts World's Heavenly Ranking. Unless a supreme expert above that ranking appeared, no one could defeat him.

And what had they just witnessed?

Such a powerful Xu Ziheng had been severely wounded by a single sword strike!

Staring at Li Qingqiu, who still held his sword aloft, everyone's eyes filled with fear.

Dark clouds rolled in the night sky, the moon half-hidden. Standing at the top of the steps, Li Qingqiu held a child in one arm and a sword in the other, his posture upright, his robes billowing violently in the wind. The aura he exuded intimidated the hundreds of Seven Peaks Alliance disciples below.

A supreme expert!

That was Guang Lantian's immediate thought.

Reacting swiftly, he ordered, "Form a formation! Don't let him escape!"

After speaking, he took out a wooden whistle and blew hard; the piercing sound echoed through the night sky and clouds.

Li Qingqiu moved, charging swiftly toward the steps. In his hand was not the Heavenly Rainbow Sword, but Chen Ye's blade.

Though the Seven Peaks Alliance disciples were startled, their numbers emboldened them. At their Alliance Leader's command, they drew their blades and charged at Li Qingqiu, a surging tide of bodies flooding up the steps.

Li Qingqiu plunged into the crowd, his sword flashing fast. Blood splattered as he moved with nimble steps, his form like a ghost, dodging every blade aimed at him. His own sword always found its mark—neatly slicing through an enemy's throat.

Yuan Qi shut his eyes in terror, clinging to Li Qingqiu's shoulder. Yuan Li, cradled in Li Qingqiu's arms, furrowed his brow weakly, unable to open his eyes.

Li Qingqiu killed one man per step. No matter how many enemies pressed ahead, he refused to retreat. From above, the torrent of Seven Peaks Alliance disciples was being pushed back by his lone force.

Guang Lantian did not shy from battle. His feet traced some mysterious footwork, like a swimming dragon weaving through the crowd, and he quickly closed in behind Li Qingqiu.

Yuan Qi, lying on Li Qingqiu's shoulder, felt a gust of fierce wind. He instinctively opened his eyes and saw Guang Lantian charging like an evil flood dragon from a deep pool, his right palm swinging forward, reeking of blood and gore.

Yuan Qi instantly recalled the scene of his father's heart being torn out by Guang Lantian. His pupils trembled, and boundless fear gripped his heart.

Just then, as if Li Qingqiu had eyes in the back of his head, he spun around and slashed with his sword.

That strike was supremely fierce. Lightning even flickered along the blade, dispelling the darkness from Yuan Qi's sight.

Guang Lantian was startled by Li Qingqiu's sudden turn. He hastily leaned back to dodge the sword, but before he could make his next move, Li Qingqiu planted a foot on his chest and kicked him away.

That kick sent Guang Lantian tumbling several rolls across the ground, knocking down many people.

Li Qingqiu withdrew his leg and found it somewhat numb.

His physical constitution had been enhanced, but against Guang Lantian charging at full speed with inner energy, this kick had taken considerable effort.

Li Qingqiu turned and continued his slaughter.

What he needed to do now was break out of the encirclement, not massacre.

The moment he turned, another wave of Seven Peaks Alliance disciples rushed down from above.

Meanwhile.

In the distance, on a mountaintop, the black-clothed woman stood at the cliff's edge. She saw the thick fog between the two mountains dissipate, and pinpricks of firelight appeared within the Seven Peaks Alliance, spreading rapidly.

She had been sleeping but was awakened by the invasion horn of the Seven Peaks Alliance.

"He actually made such a commotion..."

The black-clothed woman thought of Li Qingqiu's face, shock stirring in her heart.

After a moment's hesitation, she turned and descended the mountain, unwilling to be caught up in the trouble.

Li Qingqiu tossed aside the sword he had hacked to pieces, drew the Heavenly Rainbow Sword from his waist, and continued fighting.

Behind him lay dozens of bodies. He was surrounded on all sides, packed in by hundreds of people with no gap in sight.

Though he had shown formidable strength, it had not broken the courage of the Seven Peaks Alliance disciples.

Li Qingqiu stared ahead, his gaze sharpening. His right hand actually let go of the sword sheath, yet even so, the Heavenly Rainbow Sword still floated before him.

The Heavenly Rainbow Sword trembled as it turned, its tip pointing forward. This sight made the front-row Seven Peaks Alliance disciples stare wide-eyed.

Boom—

With the air-splitting sound of a sonic boom, the Heavenly Rainbow Sword shot forward. Origin Energy formed Sword Qi, ravaging everything in its path, and Li Qingqiu followed close behind.

The sounds of blades cutting flesh and grinding against bone rang out without pause. Li Qingqiu, using the Supreme Sword Control Technique, forcibly carved a bloody path.

Guang Lantian pressed his chest and had just stood up when he saw this horrifying scene. He coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth. His eyes bulged, filled with terror.

Under his gaze, Li Qingqiu successfully broke through and vanished into the night.

The Seven Peaks Alliance disciples dared not give blind chase. Given the speed Li Qingqiu had shown, they could never catch him. They all turned to look at Guang Lantian, fear written on every face.

Guang Lantian gave no order, because he too dared not pursue.

"Disaster! The Grand Alliance Leader has been killed by the villain!"

A voice came from behind. A disciple stumbled up the steps, shouting loudly. To the hundreds of Seven Peaks Alliance disciples who had just endured a brutal battle, these words were an immense shock.

Guang Lantian felt as if the sky had fallen. He turned his head and looked at Xu Ziheng. Xu Ziheng had already breathed his last, lying in a pool of blood.

On the other side.

Li Qingqiu, carrying the two children, hurried down the mountain. Anxiety gnawed at him—he had already consumed over half his Origin Energy and could not afford a prolonged fight.

A line of text suddenly appeared before his eyes:

[For your first decapitation of an enemy sect, escaping unscathed and upholding the prestige of the Qingxiao Sect, you have received one inheritance reward opportunity.]

Thank you, Star Spirit Blood, for the 5000 Qidian coins tip~