Benefits of Fame

Although Jiang Zhaoxia returned injured, he didn't scare the Qingxiao Sect disciples. Li Sifeng's vivid retelling of his exploits quickly spread the news to everyone.

Defeated five alliance leaders of the Seven Peaks Alliance in five moves!

Defeated True Person Xuan Dang in seven moves!

Defeated the eminent monk of Zen Meditation Temple in twenty-three moves!

Defeated the enforcement elder of Iron Peak in twenty-five moves!

Narrowly lost to Yu Zhiyi, the number one in the martial world, in two hundred moves!

Each of these achievements made the Qingxiao Sect disciples' blood boil. Jiang Zhaoxia's prestige within the Qingxiao Sect reached its peak. All disciples, except Xu Ning, admired him.

Li Sifeng even boldly declared Jiang Zhaoxia the second strongest in the world.

"The martial world is perilous; it's never just an empty saying. Even in pursuing scholarly success, one encounters treacherous hearts."

In the new courtyard, Zhang Yu held a bamboo fan and spoke leisurely.

Nearly thirty disciples sat in the courtyard, listening to his lecture. This was Li Qingqiu's instruction; otherwise, Zhang Yu alone couldn't have gathered so many people. Even Li Sifeng was kept here by Li Qingqiu.

The Qingxiao Sect was far from the secular world, with a relaxed sect atmosphere and no power struggles for the time being. Therefore, the disciples were very simple. Li Qingqiu felt it was necessary to give them some ideological education.

"The deceased Xi Niang is full of suspicious points. Elder Li was too young and overlooked many things. Today, let's review."

"One, as an ordinary innkeeper, how could she be so sure she wouldn't poison the wrong person? Facing two martial arts experts, she would inevitably be nervous during her first attempt at poisoning, yet she left no flaws."

"Two, Elder Jiang has profound internal energy cultivation and exceptional hearing. Even through walls, he can hear people whispering. Yet, this woman didn't reveal the slightest hint beforehand."

"Three, as soon as she arrived on the mountain, she wanted to take her own life. What was her intention? If she truly wanted to die, why didn't she go down the mountain to do it? Why die in front of us? Is it possible she was certain we would save her?"

Zhang Yu posed one question after another. Li Sifeng, who had been somewhat impatient, fell into thought after hearing them.

The more he thought, the more he felt something was off about Xi Niang.

Afterward, Zhang Yu began to recount martial world stories he had heard.

Many martial arts experts died from ambushes, from villains. Experts who died in direct confrontations were actually a minority.

Being too strong in martial arts could sometimes be a weakness.

The disciples listened intently because even the powerful Jiang Zhaoxia, second only to the strongest, had nearly died, which deeply affected them.

Li Qingqiu also came to listen for a while. After confirming that Zhang Yu wasn't injecting his own agenda and that his lecture was indeed good, he left.

The benefits of Jiang Zhaoxia's fame at the martial arts tournament exceeded Li Qingqiu's expectations. A month after Jiang Zhaoxia and his companion returned, Zhang Yuchun went down the mountain to recruit. For the first time, he recruited sixteen people at once. These disciples were all drawn by Jiang Zhaoxia's reputation.

Among them was one person with rather good cultivation aptitude, whom Li Qingqiu secretly noted for further observation.

The transmission of the Taiqing Primordial Scripture depended on aptitude and contribution. Li Qingqiu would also give those with poor aptitude a chance, as he firmly believed that hard work could change one's destiny.

As autumn arrived, other martial world sects came to visit, purely seeking friendship, with no threats or exchanges of benefits. Li Qingqiu received them, and they got along well.

This sect was called the White Crane Sect, a second-rate sect in the Guzhou region. Its Sect Master had also attended the martial arts gathering and befriended Jiang Zhaoxia and his companion. He visited with five disciples and departed after staying at the Qingxiao Sect for two days. Li Qingqiu, Jiang Zhaoxia, and Zhang Yuchun personally saw them off.

"Sect Master Li, you must visit my White Crane Sect in the future. I will not neglect you," said the White Crane Sect Master, a man nearing fifty, smiling kindly. He held Li Qingqiu's hand and spoke for a while before letting go.

Li Qingqiu readily agreed to the earnest invitation, though whether he would actually go was another matter.

Watching the backs of the six people from the White Crane Sect depart, Li Qingqiu remarked, "Third Junior Brother, you've truly become famous overnight."

In this world where information transmission was not convenient, Li Qingqiu had always felt that fame was ephemeral and required many years of accumulation. He never expected Jiang Zhaoxia to gain such rapid fame from just one trip to the martial arts tournament.

Jiang Zhaoxia said expressionlessly, "Don't mention it. I returned seriously injured again. In my opinion, this trip to the martial arts tournament was a failure."

Mentioning this, his hands in his sleeves clenched into fists. He truly felt the Heavenly Saber Sect's scheme was a great humiliation.

Li Qingqiu patted his shoulder and laughed, "Don't overthink it. The martial world is perilous. No matter how much you anticipate, martial world experience must be accumulated through personal encounters."

Even the veteran Dragon Subduing Great Hero Yang Jueding had been poisoned before.

Poisoning was difficult for martial artists to guard against; they were bound to encounter it.

Zhang Yuchun chuckled, "Indeed. Who else in the Guzhou martial world could escape from the Heavenly Saber Sect's encirclement and scheme?"

Jiang Zhaoxia's mood improved as they comforted him, but he secretly vowed that this matter was not over.

Once he reached the Fourth Layer of the Yangyuan Realm, he would seek revenge!

With his Third Layer cultivation, he could defeat the Heavenly Saber Sect Master Lu Fuhu. When he reached the Fourth Layer, he believed he could storm the Heavenly Saber Sect and make Lu Fuhu suffer the same fate as Lü Taidou of the Seven Peaks Alliance!

The three martial brothers chatted for a while before parting ways. Jiang Zhaoxia went to cultivate, while Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun needed to discuss the Qingxiao Sect's future path to prosperity.

First, they needed to erect a monument at the foot of the mountain to guide people to the Qingxiao Sect.

If possible, they also needed to build a simple mountain path.

It was not easy for ordinary people to find the Qingxiao Sect; even farmers and hunters from the nearby villages often got lost.

Li Dongyue wanted to contribute to the Qingxiao Sect, so she asked Zhang Yuchun to spread the word that she could treat difficult and complicated illnesses among the common people.

A group of disciples was also preparing to go hunting and sell wild game in the future.

Regarding the disciples' contributions, Li Qingqiu felt it must be recorded. In the future, he would reward them with spirit stones and spirit plants.

The autumn scenery was rich, and the time had reached the end of October.

Xu Ning took the lead, breaking through to the Nourishing Yuan Realm Fourth Layer, becoming the second person in the Qingxiao Sect to reach this level.

Within the underground Spirit Lake, Li Qingqiu personally witnessed her breakthrough. Possessing the Heavenly Thunder Spirit Root himself, he knew just how formidable it was.

Not only that, but Xu Ning's cultivation aptitude was outstanding, the highest among all disciples of the Qingxiao Sect. Coupled with her infrequent visits down the mountain, dedicating all her time to cultivation, she had managed to surpass Jiang Zhaoxia.

Even though Li Qingqiu understood why she cultivated so quickly, he couldn't help but be amazed.

She was only eleven years old!

Eleven years old and at the Nourishing Yuan Realm Fourth Layer!

Li Sijin, Li Dongyue, and Yang Jueding were still at the Yangyuan Realm Second Layer, showcasing the vast difference in cultivation aptitude.

After consolidating her cultivation, Xu Ning stood up and quickly moved to Li Qingqiu's side. She bowed to him and said softly, "Master, I've broken through to the fourth layer."

Although she appeared calm, Li Qingqiu could feel her suppressing her excitement.

Li Qingqiu took her wrist and pulled her closer, saying with emotion, "Ning'er, you are truly amazing. If you continue like this, you'll surpass me sooner or later."

He only said this because he himself was already close to the threshold of the Nourishing Yuan Realm Fifth Layer.

Xu Ning quickly replied, "Master is the most amazing. How could I possibly surpass you?"

Li Qingqiu smiled and asked, "I asked you to conceal your cultivation and refrain from sparring, to keep a low profile. Do you have any complaints?"

Xu Ning shook her head. "How could I? You were protecting me. Uncle-Master Jiang has become the overt strongest in the Qingxiao Sect, yet he has been injured repeatedly. Moreover, the Qingxiao Sect needs a trump card. I am willing to support the Qingxiao Sect alongside you, Master."

Many disciples knew Xu Ning was a genius, but only Li Qingqiu knew the true extent of her cultivation.

Even Li Sifeng, Yang Jueding, and the others only felt that Xu Ning was unfathomable and could not determine her cultivation level.

From this day forward, another person would feel that Xu Ning was unfathomable: Jiang Zhaoxia.

However, Li Qingqiu suspected that Jiang Zhaoxia would soon reach the Fourth Layer as well. This junior brother harbored a burning desire for revenge and was becoming impatient.

Li Qingqiu found Xu Ning increasingly endearing. Although young, this little girl was obedient and sensible, never becoming arrogant due to her cultivation. Her competitive spirit was directed inward, never outwardly displayed.

Furthermore, he had asked Xu Ning, and she had no prominent background. Her deceased father was merely a hunter, and there were no deep grudges waiting for her to avenge.

Looking across the Qingxiao Sect, he felt Xu Ning was the most like a cultivator, someone who could accompany him the longest.

Afterward, Li Qingqiu imparted the cultivation method for the fifth layer of the Taiqing Primordial Scripture to her.

The Taiqing Primordial Scripture was profound and vast, with different qi-gathering methods for each minor realm. He would only pass down the techniques layer by layer. Even Jiang Zhaoxia had to seek him out for the next layer's scripture each time he broke through.

They continued cultivating until dusk, and the master and disciple finally emerged from the underground Spirit Lake. They agreed to have a race to see who could reach the Qingxiao Sect first, with the condition that they couldn't be discovered by other disciples along the way.

Upon hearing that they could compete, Xu Ning became energetic, even if it was just a lightness skill competition. The two quickly vanished into the forest.

On the mountainside, Qin Ye was practicing the Ten Thousand Army Demon Subduing Staff, holding a wooden staff. His moves were sharp and his body stretched continuously, possessing a unique aesthetic, as if man and staff were one.

With every hundred repetitions, he gained new insights, and qi force had even begun to form within his body.

The power of the Ten Thousand Army Demon Subduing Staff gave him great confidence. He believed that as long as he cultivated diligently, he could avenge Wu Baoyu.

He hadn't told anyone, but a seed had been planted in his heart: the desire to slay the dog emperor.

Suddenly.

Qin Ye stopped his movements, frowning as he looked around. He had vaguely heard a rustling sound, as if something had run past him with great speed.

With his current martial arts, he didn't believe he was hallucinating.

Could it be a wild beast?

A while ago, he heard Yuan Qi mention seeing a black panther in the mountains; perhaps he was mistaken.

As Qin Ye was pondering, a man in simple clothes wearing a bamboo hat approached from not far away, a flute tucked into his waist.

The man looked up, revealing a weathered face beneath the hat. It was none other than Jiang Kuotian of the White Emperor Mansion.

Jiang Kuotian looked at Qin Ye and asked with a smile, "Young man, your staff technique has quite some momentum. I could hear the whistling wind from afar. Are you a disciple of the Qingxiao Sect?"

Qin Ye looked at him warily and replied, "This is the mountain of the Qingxiao Sect, so of course I am a disciple. May I ask which sect you belong to and why you are here?"

Jiang Kuotian's eyes lit up upon hearing this. He began to shake his wrists, approaching Qin Ye as he chuckled, "Two years have passed, and not only has that kid Jiang Zhaoxia gained considerable fame, but the Qingxiao Sect has also produced a genius like you. Interesting. Has the Qingxiao True Person returned? Young man, let us spar. I'll use only one hand to test your abilities."