Soul Seizing Curse

At night, the moon was bright and the stars were few.

Li Qingqiu returned to his room and found it clean, with bedding and pillows on the bed. It seemed that the Qin family's investment had arrived, and the Qingxiao Sect's days were getting better.

He handed over the financial power to Zhang Yuchun. In his opinion, wealth was a worldly possession, and he only needed to control the spirit stones in the underground Spirit Lake.

Spirit stones could aid cultivation and were definitely the hard currency of the immortal cultivation world, just like oil in his previous life. That was the true foundation of the Qingxiao Sect.

Li Qingqiu sat cross-legged on the bed and summoned the Legacy System. The inheritance reward from escaping the Seven Peaks Alliance had not yet been opened. He dared not act rashly in the wild; only when he was home and felt at ease would he dare to open it.

[Claim Inheritance Reward]

[Open Dao Lineage Inheritance]

[You have obtained the spell - Soul Seizing Curse]

[Accept Inheritance?]

Soul Seizing Curse?

The name didn't sound like it belonged to the righteous path!

It seemed the Legacy System didn't define whether he should be righteous or demonic.

Good, I like it!

Li Qingqiu didn't want to be bound by too many rules and regulations. He was willing to explore such unorthodox methods.

With that thought, he immediately began to inherit the Soul Seizing Curse.

The familiar feeling surged again, and he quickly immersed himself in the inheritance memories.

After a long time.

He opened his eyes. As it wasn't his first time inheriting a spell, he naturally wasn't surprised. This time, however, he frowned.

This Soul Seizing Curse is so vicious!

The Soul Seizing Curse could seize a person's soul. Even if the target was still alive, the victim would suffer indescribable pain during the process. Afterward, their soul would be forever controlled by the caster of the Soul Seizing Curse until the caster died.

Once the Soul Seizing Curse was successfully cast, the victim would become a ghost, unable to defy the caster. This was a suppression from the soul.

However, this curse also carried risks. If cast across realms, challenging a superior, it was highly likely to result in a backlash.

After memorizing the Soul Seizing Curse, Li Qingqiu did not begin cultivating it immediately.

He still had to cultivate the Spring Return Ghost Immortal Needle and practice it to a certain stage first.

He adjusted his state and soon entered the Qi absorption cultivation.

The moon set and the sun rose. One night passed.

The next morning, all disciples woke up. Those who practiced martial arts went to train, while those who cultivated sat in meditation together to absorb the essence of sun and moon.

Li Qingqiu had Yuan Qi follow Yang Jueding to practice martial arts, as did the six sons of the Qin family.

From now on, not everyone could cultivate the Taiqing Primordial Scripture, unless they had outstanding aptitude or made significant contributions.

After the prime cultivation hours passed, Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun returned to the room and began to discuss future development.

"First, organize a group of disciples to start building houses in the forest below the mountain gate. You can ask Yang Jueding to help, as he's an adult. Second, recruit ten more disciples. Their age should not exceed twenty years old; we can't always be looking for children."

Li Qingqiu said as he drank tea. This tea was also sent by the Qin family, its aroma filling the air. He had liked it after drinking a cup last night.

Zhang Yuchun smiled and said, "I've wanted to do this for a long time. Now that we have money, it's time to expand. By the way, should we hire a teacher? Dongyue mentioned that you had such plans."

"Hire one. Leave these matters to you to arrange. You don't have to do everything yourself; you can choose disciples to train who can assist you later. As the Qingxiao Sect grows larger, responsibilities will also be divided more specifically," Li Qingqiu nodded.

Zhang Yuchun replied, "Huang Shan and Yu Lin are good. They are rough but meticulous and consider things comprehensively. I will cultivate them well."

"From now on, only true disciples can cultivate the Primordial Scripture. For now, the only true disciple is Xu Ning. Huang Shan and the other seven can also enjoy the title of true disciple, but they will focus on martial arts."

Li Qingqiu continued, and Zhang Yuchun took notes.

Li Qingqiu had many ideas regarding disciple ranks, but they were not suitable for implementation yet, especially since disciple benefits could not be detailed. After all, the Qingxiao Sect had not yet formed its own system.

To this day, the Qingxiao Sect still had no fixed source of income.

Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun focused on discussing this matter. They could not rely solely on the Qin family. The insights Jiang Zhaoxia gained when he went down the mountain could be considered.

Escorting distinguished guests or valuable items, accepting government bounties, etc. These tasks could be done by disciples in the future for training, earning money, and increasing the fame of the Qingxiao Sect.

Without fame, it would be difficult to recruit disciples. They could only recruit from villages.

Such disciples, not to mention their aptitude, couldn't even read. Even teaching them martial arts would require more investment.

Of course, Li Qingqiu would ensure the Qingxiao Sect had its own curriculum. He just didn't want the Qingxiao Sect's recruitment channels to be limited to the countryside.

The two chatted for a full hour. After they finished, the highly motivated Zhang Yuchun immediately took action.

Li Qingqiu stayed a little longer, then walked out of the room and called Li Dongyue to go to the forest behind the mountain together to cultivate the Spring Return Ghost Immortal Needle.

They cultivated until nearly noon, then got up and headed towards the sect.

"Senior brother, don't forget to choose one of the Qin family disciples to take as your own disciple. You promised the Qin family, and those children are waiting," Li Dongyue said softly as she walked beside Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu nodded and smiled, "Don't worry, I won't forget. Yuchun also mentioned it to me."

Qin Jue had already designated his son to be Li Qingqiu's disciple, so Li Qingqiu didn't have to think about it. He just needed to make a decision soon so that the six disciples of the Qin family could rest assured.

After lunch at noon, Li Qingqiu called Qin Ye over and asked him to follow him.

Qin Ye excitedly got up immediately, his face flushed. The other five disciples from the Qin family were also excited, as they had come with the expectations of their family.

After Li Qingqiu officially accepted Qin Ye as a disciple, he sent him to Yang Jueding. Qin Ye's aptitude was too poor, making it difficult for him to achieve anything in cultivation. However, if he performed well in the future, Li Qingqiu might help him with his cultivation.

The existence of the underground Spirit Lake could compensate for some deficiencies in cultivation aptitude.

Yang Jueding thus gained his own title: the Martial Arts Elder of Qingxiao Sect.

Half a month passed quickly. Because Li Qingqiu had concealed his actions at the Seven Peaks Alliance, Jiang Zhaoxia still went to the mountainside to practice. Li Qingqiu didn't stop him, as besides the Seven Peaks Alliance, there was also the Azure Cult as a potential threat.

Until one day, Zhang Yuchun brought news.

Jiang Zhaoxia, Li Dongyue, Wu Man'er, Li Sifeng, and Li Sijin were summoned by him to Li Qingqiu's room.

"Something big has happened at the Seven Peaks Alliance! The first alliance leader, Lü Taidou, is dead, and the Seven Peaks Alliance is in chaos now. No wonder they haven't come to bother us!" Zhang Yuchun said excitedly.

Li Qingqiu asked curiously, "Where did you hear that news?"

This was the third time Zhang Yuchun had descended the mountain in the past half month, and Li Qingqiu hadn't expected him to be able to gather intelligence from the martial world.

Zhang Yuchun chuckled, "This time, on my way down the mountain, I ran into some bandits who were robbing people. So, I took Huang Shan and Yu Lin and dealt with them. Because of that, I made some friends, and from them, I learned about this major event that shocked the martial world of Guzhou."

Li Sifeng's eyes widened as he looked at Li Qingqiu and said, "Eldest Senior Brother, you didn't do it, did you?"

The other junior brothers and junior sisters also looked at Li Qingqiu nervously and expectantly, as Li Qingqiu had gone down the mountain for half a month not long ago.

Li Qingqiu rolled his eyes and said irritably, "I don't have that kind of ability. Ask Third Junior Brother, is the Seven Peaks Alliance that easy to deal with?"

Jiang Zhaoxia nodded and said, "It is indeed very difficult to kill the strongest person in the Seven Peaks Alliance's headquarters. Fighting one-on-one is not the same as fighting a hundred or a thousand people."

Thinking of Jiang Zhaoxia's previous injuries, everyone understood.

Li Sifeng started babbling excitedly, gesturing wildly as he described how powerful the experts of the Seven Peaks Alliance were.

However, Jiang Zhaoxia stared at Li Qingqiu with a complex gaze, making him feel uneasy.

Li Qingqiu couldn't stand his gaze any longer. He faked a cough, interrupted Li Sifeng's performance, and said, "Regardless, the Seven Peaks Alliance shouldn't be bothering us for a while. But we can't be careless. From now on, no slacking off. Either practice or help build the sect."

The sect expansion plan had already begun, and the second-generation disciples, especially the boys, were contributing the most.

Except for Li Sijin, Li Qingqiu had assigned tasks to all his junior brothers and junior sisters.

After the meeting dispersed, Zhang Yuchun didn't leave. He pulled Li Qingqiu aside and said, "Senior Brother, I've invited a tutor from down the mountain. He claims to be proficient in physiognomy and divination. He insists on meeting you."

"You didn't spend any money?"

"I did. But he said he would decide how much effort to put in based on your facial features."

"Alright, I want to see what tricks he's up to."

Li Qingqiu agreed, and then the two of them left the room together.

As soon as they stepped out, he saw a scholar in white standing behind two disciples who were doing carpentry.

This scholar in white looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties, carrying a book box, and possessed a very refined demeanor. He was clearly an educated person.

"Mr. Zhang, my Eldest Senior Brother is here."

Zhang Yuchun called out. Upon hearing this, the scholar in white named Zhang Yu immediately turned around and walked towards Li Qingqiu and the other.

Zhang Yu's gaze fell directly on Li Qingqiu. As they approached each other, his eyes lit up. Before Li Qingqiu could speak, he stepped forward and grasped Li Qingqiu's hand.

Li Qingqiu wanted to dodge, but after sensing that Zhang Yu had no inner energy, he let him hold his hand.

"Sect Master Li, your facial features are extraordinary. You were born into a family of emperors and generals, and your childhood was difficult, but your Destiny is extraordinary. With the Ziwei star shining brightly upon you, you will surely become a true dragon in the future," Zhang Yu said excitedly, looking as if he was about to kneel before Li Qingqiu.

Swindler! Silver-tongued!

Li Qingqiu immediately assigned him two Destiny terms. It was utter nonsense.

His biological father was not that impressive.

Li Qingqiu subtly withdrew his hand and asked, "Thank you for your kind words, sir. May I ask where you learned the art of physiognomy?"

Zhang Yu composed himself, took a step back, and saluted him, saying, "I am a disciple of the Nine Veins Old Man. You may not have heard of his name. He lives in seclusion and has lived for 130 years. He is preparing to enjoy his final few years of leisure."

Li Qingqiu did not doubt him. Instead, he smiled and asked, "Sir, do you feel any pressure teaching my sect's disciples alone?"

"No pressure. Although your sect is small, it is full of hidden talents, both scholarly and martial. It has the makings of a great ascent. Zhang Yu is willing to contribute to Qingxiao Sect. Of course, if the Sect Master could add thirty copper coins per month, that would be even better."

Zhang Yu said with a smile, his words clear and his voice sonorous, giving the impression of a talented scholar.