Nourishing Yuan Realm Fourth Layer

The severe winter was cold, ice and snow covered the Qingxiao Sect's courtyard, and today's chill struck directly at the heart.

After hearing the news from Qin Jue, Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun's expressions also changed; they never expected Wu Baoyu to die like this.

Although Wu Baoyu hadn't stayed at the Qingxiao Sect for long, they had spent time together day and night. Wu Baoyu's death had a certain impact on their hearts.

Especially Zhang Yuchun. Wu Baoyu was the one he had invited up the mountain, and he had communicated with Wu Baoyu the most. Hearing of Wu Baoyu's tragic death, his whole body trembled slightly.

The fastest to react was Yang Jueding. He deliberately raised an eyebrow and asked in surprise, "A Guardian of the Demonic Sect? That's a top expert. How could he be so foolish as to storm the imperial palace alone?"

He attracted Qin Jue's attention. Qin Jue shifted his gaze from Qin Ye to Yang Jueding and replied, "Yes, I was also puzzled when I heard the news. I heard some say he might have gone mad from qi deviation. After all, after the current Emperor ascended the throne, he ordered the eradication of the Demonic Sect. For the remnants of the Demonic Sect, they must hate the Emperor very much."

"I have to say, those renowned old martial arts masters of the martial world are indeed formidable. The imperial palace is heavily guarded, yet he was able to force his way in through the main gate and kill his way to the Emperor's sleeping quarters. It's truly incredible. It's said that even the Imperial Guards were alerted that night, and even the Heaven Protection Guards took great effort to capture him. He truly possessed the might of an unrivaled warrior. If such a person could be used on the battlefield, it would be a blessing for our Great Li Dynasty. Unfortunately, he fell into the Demonic Dao."

"Wu Baoyu committed many evils and deserved to die. I just fear that the Emperor, being startled, will initiate another great purge of the martial world."

As he spoke the last sentence, a look of worry appeared on Qin Jue's face.

Seeing Zhang Yuchun's unsettled expression, Li Qingqiu couldn't help but ask, "Besides this, are there any other major events in the martial world?"

Qin Jue turned to Li Qingqiu and smiled, "Of course. This martial world never lacks new happenings. I heard the Azure Cult and the Seven Peaks Alliance are about to go to war. This Azure Cult is ambitious; I fear it could become the second Demonic Sect."

Qin Ye noticed Yang Jueding signaling him. He quickly picked up the broom, turned his back to Li Qingqiu and the others, and continued sweeping snow, but tears streamed down his face.

His tears dripped onto the snow, leaving no trace, just like Wu Baoyu's death.

After chatting for a while, Li Qingqiu took the opportunity to leave with Zhang Yuchun, leaving Yang Jueding to accompany them.

Back inside the house, as soon as Li Qingqiu closed the door, Zhang Yuchun couldn't help but slap himself.

Li Qingqiu turned to him, frowning and asking, "What are you doing?"

Zhang Yuchun gritted his teeth, "If I hadn't brought him to the Qingxiao Sect, he wouldn't have been discovered by the County Magistrate, and he wouldn't have stormed the imperial palace. Senior Brother, he went to his death to clear our suspicion. With him dead, no one will care who he associated with in life."

Li Qingqiu shook his head, "How could you have foreseen all this? Moreover, I don't think he would have gone to the imperial palace even if he hadn't come to the Qingxiao Sect; it would have just been a matter of time. Have you forgotten why he accepted others' challenges? He wasn't seeking defeat; he just wanted to pass down his ultimate skills. And during his time here, haven't you noticed he seemed devoid of spirit, very dejected, as if nothing could surprise or please him?"

Zhang Yuchun's expression softened after hearing this, but his mood remained heavy.

This was the first time he had encountered the death of someone he knew, and such a tragic death at that. A fire burned within him, unsure of how to vent it.

Li Qingqiu said earnestly, "Second Junior Brother, the Qingxiao Sect is still too weak. There are many things we are powerless to do. What we can do is strive to become stronger and avoid repeating the tragedies of others."

Zhang Yuchun took a deep breath and nodded slightly.

The two chatted briefly, and Zhang Yuchun left.

Li Qingqiu remained alone in the room. He sat cross-legged on the bed, his expression turning grim.

Wu Baoyu's death had truly shocked him. He knew that Jiang Zhaoxia had only been able to defeat Wu Baoyu after breaking through to the Nourishing Yuan Realm Third Layer, and that was just a sparring match. Wu Baoyu, with a death wish, would undoubtedly have been stronger.

Someone in the imperial palace was capable of killing a martial arts master comparable to the Nourishing Yuan Realm Third Layer!

He thought about it again and found it normal. As the most powerful person in the world, the Emperor must be able to gather the strongest experts in the Great Li Dynasty.

Not all experts were willing to live in seclusion.

Wasn't practicing martial arts to become stronger a pursuit of fame and fortune?

Li Qingqiu urgently desired to become stronger. The world was in chaos, and who knew when the imperial court's blade would fall upon the Qingxiao Sect.

After spending the time it takes for one incense stick to burn alone in his room, he went out to prepare for the New Year with the disciples.

This was the second New Year's festival the Qingxiao Sect had celebrated since he became Sect Master. He couldn't let his mood affect the disciples.

During the Spring Festival, Qin Jue seized an opportunity to ask Li Qingqiu if he wanted more disciples, as his Qin family could send another batch. Li Qingqiu politely declined.

After the festival, Qin Jue left the mountain with his servants, and the Qingxiao Sect returned to its usual rhythm of life.

That evening, Li Qingqiu took Qin Ye into the woods and taught him the first layer of the Primordial Scripture's cultivation method. During this time, Li Qingqiu did not mention Wu Baoyu.

Since learning of Wu Baoyu's death, Qin Ye had become withdrawn, lacking his usual liveliness. Li Qingqiu was also worried that he might not be able to cope, so he taught him the cultivation method as a way to comfort him.

Half a month later.

Li Qingqiu finally broke through to the Nourishing Yuan Realm Fourth Layer. With his Heavenly Thunder Spirit Root, he was now the fastest cultivator in the sect because he occupied the underground Spirit Lake for the longest time.

The improvement from the third to the fourth layer surpassed the gap of the first three layers, which also eased the unease in his heart.

Although Jiang Zhaoxia had not broken through to the Nourishing Yuan Realm Fourth Layer, he had created a sword technique.

Sword Control Technique!

That day in the woods, Li Qingqiu watched Jiang Zhaoxia standing on a long sword, suspended in mid-air, and was astonished for quite some time.

Although the Nine Heavens Divine Palm was cool, it didn't suit his style, so he didn't learn it. He truly wanted to learn the Sword Control Technique created by Jiang Zhaoxia.

Facing his senior brother's request to learn, Jiang Zhaoxia did not refuse. Instead, he was very happy, feeling that he had received recognition and had surpassed Yang Jueding's creation.

As the winter snow completely melted, the Tai Kun Mountain Range welcomed spring, and vibrant life spread across the land and mountains.

On this day, a gentle breeze blew into the mountains.

In a patch of barren land, Cheng Canghai leaned on his hoe with both hands. His gaze was fixed on a figure atop a nearby mountain peak. That person was Li Qingqiu, with an eagle circling above his head.

Having joined the Qingxiao Sect for some time, Cheng Canghai found his confusion about the sect growing.

Why did the lightness skills here feel like flying?

Why did the eagles here possess inner energy?

How are the children here so strong?

Especially the Sect Master, he's the hardest to figure out. I never see him practicing external martial arts; he's either nowhere to be seen or meditating, acting like an immortal.

"Thief King, stop slacking off!"

Yu Lin, not far away, urged him on. Hearing the name "Thief King" made Cheng Canghai's veins bulge. These brats loved to tease him with that nickname.

He, the dignified Thief King, had to dig and chop wood. It would be a laughingstock if word got out.

"Got it."

Cheng Canghai replied grumpily. He subconsciously looked back at the mountain peak, only to find that Li Qingqiu and the eagle were already gone.

He was used to it and just shook his head slightly before continuing his labor.

Meanwhile, Li Qingqiu and the eaglet he was nurturing with Origin Energy were speeding through the forest, chasing each other.

He had taken this eaglet to the underground Spirit Lake before, and ever since, its size had grown rapidly. Compared to its siblings, it was a staggering two times larger.

Even when flying through the forest, its body was agile, dodging the crisscrossing branches with speed like a startled swan.

Li Qingqiu used the Gale Technique but could only keep pace with it.

After traveling five li of mountain path, Li Qingqiu stopped and whistled. The eaglet changed direction, circled a large tree, and flew towards him, finally landing on his shoulder.

Its size was already comparable to Li Qingqiu's upper body, forcing him to tilt his head to look at it.

"Xiao Ba, can you eat a little less normally? You're too heavy, I can barely hold you."

Li Qingqiu stroked its head and asked with a smile.

Xiao Ba was the eagle's name. He hoped Xiao Ba would become like a younger brother to his junior brothers and sisters, protecting them in the future.

Xiao Ba shook its head, looking very amusing.

They continued onward. After about half an hour, they arrived at a mountain stream where Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sijin were waiting.

Jiang Zhaoxia sat cross-legged on a rock by the stream, while Li Sijin sat on the open ground beside him. Before her lay sheets of yellow paper and ink brushes. The ink, however, was blood-red.

At this moment, Li Sijin pouted, looking very annoyed.

"What's wrong? Encountered a problem?" Li Qingqiu's voice came. Li Sijin turned her head and saw her Eldest Senior Brother emerging from the woods. She didn't smile; instead, she glared.

"Eldest Senior Brother, this Earth Talisman Treasure Codex is too difficult. I can't even make the most basic spirit talismans."

Li Sijin complained, grabbing her hair with both hands and scratching vigorously, messing it up.

The Earth Talisman Treasure Codex she mentioned was a legacy reward Li Qingqiu had obtained earlier, unlocked by Yang Jueding's creation of spells.

A person's energy was limited; they couldn't learn different spells and ultimate techniques indefinitely.

The other junior brothers and sisters had already chosen their paths. Li Qingqiu thought about it and decided to let the youngest, Li Sijin, study the Earth Talisman Treasure Codex.

Since no one in the sect understood it, he would let Li Sijin study it slowly.

Li Qingqiu smiled and said, "Then think about it, isn't studying talismans easier than fighting?"

Li Sijin pouted, "I'm just complaining, I don't intend to give up."

Li Sifeng's injury back then had greatly impacted her. Her personality had changed significantly over the past year; she cultivated diligently and was no longer as playful.

Li Qingqiu squatted beside her and began discussing the Earth Talisman Treasure Codex with her. After asking a few questions, she found her groove.

She realized she wasn't without progress; at least, the questions her senior brother was asking seemed too basic to her.

Hearing Li Sijin mock Li Qingqiu, Jiang Zhaoxia, who had his back to them, couldn't help but curl his lips.

Li Qingqiu stayed with them for half an hour before continuing up the mountain.

Today, Li Dongyue and Li Sifeng were going to the underground Spirit Lake. He was enjoying a rare moment of relaxation, not cultivating.

He traveled all the way to the mountain where Qingxiao Sect was located. When he reached the mountainside, he saw a group of people – it was Feng Dai and his nine constables.

Feng Dai and his group seemed to be arguing and hadn't gone up the mountain.

They soon spotted Li Qingqiu. As Li Qingqiu approached, Feng Dai suddenly walked over and knelt before him. The nine constables also knelt halfway.

"I killed Senior Xiao, please punish me, Sect Master!" Feng Dai gritted out, his face filled with grief.