Guzhou, White Emperor Mansion

[Fortune Inheritance: Within a certain range, it will seek out Fortune Inheritance suited to the development of your legacy.]

Li Qingqiu raised his brows at the prompt before him. Fortune Inheritance—just hearing those words, it sounded like a good thing.

Given Qingxiao Sect's current circumstances, developing it would be exceedingly difficult. To turn it into a true immortal cultivation sect, they would inevitably need vast resources.

Yet the benefits brought by Fortune Inheritance might also draw conflict. Could the seven of them withstand it?

Fortune Inheritance sounded like a good thing, so it probably would not lead to their entire army being wiped out. But even if a single junior brother or junior sister were injured, he would find it hard to bear. They were deep in the mountains, where finding a physician was extremely difficult.

After much deliberation, Li Qingqiu decided to wait. Once all his disciples had entered Nurturing Origin Realm Layer 1, he would activate Fortune Inheritance. There was no countdown on it anyway; at different times, there would be different Fortune Inheritances suited to them.

He stopped dwelling on it and picked up the wooden sword he had carved himself, continuing his sword practice.

This sword technique had been left behind by Lin Xunfeng. It was called the Nine Extremes Divine Sword. It sounded formidable, but it did not actually belong to the realm of immortal cultivation. Still, its moves were exquisitely subtle, and once mastered, it would be quite effective in battle.

Of course, that was on the condition that one's reactions were fast enough. Otherwise, the sword forms could easily be shattered with a single strike, much like traditional martial arts facing off against combat sports in his previous life.

It was worth mentioning that the Nine Extremes Divine Sword could draw upon Internal Energy. He wondered whether Origin Energy could replace it.

With the Fate of an Innate Sword Maniac, Li Qingqiu had grasped the Nine Extremes Divine Sword after practicing it just once. Every repetition refined his swordsmanship further. After only two days of practice, his sword moves were sharp as the wind, leaving Li Sifeng and Li Sijin, who watched from nearby, with their little mouths agape and worship in their eyes.

Jiang Zhaoxia emerged from the woods and saw this scene. His expression shifted slightly, and he silently turned around and went back into the forest.

Over the past two days, Li Qingqiu's comprehension of swordsmanship had profoundly shaken him.

He had always believed himself to be a genius who merely lacked opportunity. Yet Li Qingqiu had effortlessly mastered a sword technique the first time he practiced it. Jiang Zhaoxia could be certain that Li Qingqiu had never practiced swordsmanship in all these years.

He himself had mastered the Nine Extremes Divine Sword in one pass only because he had laid a solid foundation in swordsmanship within his clan as a child. Thus, he felt that Li Qingqiu's talent in the sword was greater than his own.

Li Qingqiu did not know what Jiang Zhaoxia was thinking, but Jiang Zhaoxia's loyalty toward him had risen by two points yesterday, so he was not worried.

The Legacy System was quite intelligent and could answer some of his questions, such as those about loyalty.

The highest possible loyalty was 100, while Jiang Zhaoxia's loyalty had already reached 98—practically unwavering devotion unto death.

Half an incense stick later, Zhang Yuchun eagerly came to find Li Qingqiu and told him of his results. Li Qingqiu was delighted and decided to add dishes for dinner that night, so everyone could have a little joy.

Zhang Yuchun was deeply moved, feeling that Eldest Senior Brother truly valued him.

But when he arrived in the kitchen to chop the meat, he sensed that something was off.

We're celebrating for me, so why am I still the one cooking?

Summer gave way to autumn. A fine, lingering rain fell over the Tai Kun Mountain Range where Qingxiao Sect was located, and mist coiled around the mountains.

Three months had passed since Lin Xunfeng's departure. By now, aside from Wu Man'er, all the other junior brothers and junior sister had cultivated Origin Energy, which left Li Qingqiu feeling quite content.

Near noon, Li Qingqiu lay on a long bench in the courtyard, his hands pillowing the back of his head as he admired the rain. A canopy was propped above him, while flowers and fruit sat on the table beside him. Life was exceedingly pleasant.

Ever since Li Qingqiu had led his junior brothers and junior sister to cultivate Origin Energy, his prestige had risen another level. Everyone obeyed his every word. Even Jiang Zhaoxia could at most resist with his mouth; his body was very honest.

Li Sifeng, clad in a straw rain cape, ran into the courtyard. His body was small and thin, and the hem of his clothes dragged along the ground, trailing through the mud.

He hurried over to Li Qingqiu and said, "Eldest Senior Brother, someone has come to the mountain gate. He says he's Master's old friend. You told me that if anyone asked about Master, I should say I didn't know. That's how I dealt with him just now, but he wants to come in and stay for the night."

Master's old friend?

Li Qingqiu frowned and slowly rose to his feet. "I'll go take a look. Don't run around in the rain. If you fall off the mountain, that would be far too stupid."

With that, he picked up the oiled-paper umbrella beside him and headed toward the courtyard gate.

Li Sifeng made a face at Li Qingqiu's retreating back. Once Li Qingqiu vanished around the corner outside the courtyard, he immediately stretched out his little mud-stained hands and began eating the flowers and fruit on the table.

Leaving the courtyard, one only needed to follow a winding path several dozen meters long to reach the mountain gate. The gate sat halfway up the mountain, where the view was broad enough to overlook the ranges below. Li Qingqiu came to stand before it every day.

From afar, he spotted a man in a straw rain cape standing before the mountain gate with his back to him. Judging by that build alone, he did not look like someone to be trifled with.

Though Li Qingqiu had already entered the Nurturing Origin Realm, he remained wary. He did not know what odds a Nurturing Origin Realm Layer 1 cultivator had against a martial arts expert.

Although he considered Lin Xunfeng's martial arts to be three-legged-cat kung fu, the stories Lin Xunfeng had told suggested that martial artists in this world were still quite formidable. Leaping over eaves and scaling walls, subduing tigers and taming bears—these were all things they could do. Combined with the existence of Internal Energy, they might be as powerful as the martial arts masters in the wuxia novels from his previous life.

Perhaps Lin Xunfeng was also very powerful; he simply had never demonstrated it before his disciples.

Without genuine skill, how could Lin Xunfeng travel down the mountain, occasionally bringing back orphaned children?

Though Li Qingqiu had not descended the mountain for sixteen years, he still retained memories from childhood. When he had still been swaddled in infancy, the world had seemed to be in chaos. He remembered Lin Xunfeng carrying him while fighting others. His view had been covered, and he could only hear hoofbeats and cries of battle around him. That must have been a battlefield.

Hearing footsteps behind him, the man in the straw rain cape turned around. Seeing a handsome youth in plain cloth holding an oiled-paper umbrella as he approached, a smile rose to his face.

Before Li Qingqiu could speak, he asked first, "Are you Li Qingqiu or Zhang Yuchun?"

When Li Qingqiu heard the other man speak both his own name and his second junior brother's, his guard eased considerably. It showed that the man must have been close to Master to know of them.

"This junior is Li Qingqiu. May I ask how Senior is addressed, and what relation you have to my Master?" Li Qingqiu stopped walking, raised his hand in salute, and maintained a distance of seven paces from the man.

The man in the straw rain cape looked unkempt and dressed like a wandering swordsman. Apart from the bundle on his back, a long flute hung at his waist. He smiled with bold generosity, giving the impression of a remarkably open-handed man.

"My name is Jiang Kuotian. Your Master and I have been brothers through life and death for sixteen years. I even held you when you were little!"

After Li Qingqiu identified himself, the gaze of the straw-caped man calling himself Jiang Kuotian grew even gentler.

Li Qingqiu did remember that name. Sixteen years ago, when Master had fled with him, they had encountered Jiang Kuotian. Jiang Kuotian had escorted the master and disciple all the way to the foot of Qingxiao Sect.

"So it's Martial Uncle Jiang. I often heard Master mention you!" Li Qingqiu immediately said warmly.

"Martial Uncle? Oh? So your Master did acknowledge me as his big brother in private?"

"That's only natural. He often mentioned you, saying there were few people in this martial world worthy of his admiration, and you were one of them. In many ways, he took you as his goal."

Li Qingqiu spoke without missing a beat. Of course, he was making it all up—Lin Xunfeng had never mentioned Jiang Kuotian at all.

Jiang Kuotian threw back his head and laughed heartily. The more he looked at Li Qingqiu, the more pleasing the boy seemed, and the resentment in his heart toward Lin Xunfeng gradually faded.

The two exchanged pleasantries for quite a while before Li Qingqiu invited him into the courtyard to talk.

The moment Li Sifeng saw them arrive, he hurriedly grabbed two pieces of fruit and ran into his room.

Li Qingqiu had long grown used to his junior brother's behavior. Pretending not to see it, he invited Jiang Kuotian to sit beneath the tree and poured him some water.

As Jiang Kuotian drank, he surveyed the Qingxiao Sect.

The Qingxiao Sect was still as dilapidated as ever. That fellow Lin Xunfeng clearly had not put any effort into developing the sect.

Jiang Kuotian set down his bowl, looked at Li Qingqiu, and said directly, "I already know about your Master. A month ago, I met him at the Guzhou provincial capital. He said he was going to seek immortals and asked me to look after you all. Come back to White Emperor Mansion with me. White Emperor Mansion is one of the seven great sects of Guzhou's martial world, famed far and wide. It will certainly be better than staying on this mountain."

White Emperor Mansion!

Li Qingqiu had indeed heard Lin Xunfeng mention this sect before. White Emperor Mansion was one of the few martial sects with ties to the imperial court; the Mansion Lord's brother held high office there.

Joining White Emperor Mansion truly would have been a good thing for Li Qingqiu and the others.

Unfortunately, Li Qingqiu had already activated the Legacy System. He had to become Sect Master in order to keep selecting Fate and obtain inheritance rewards.

If he went to White Emperor Mansion, he could only do odd jobs. He certainly would not be as free as he was now, nor would his prospects be as great.

Li Qingqiu put on a hesitant expression. In the end, he seemed to make up his mind and said, "Uncle Jiang, thank you for your kind offer, but my junior brothers, junior sisters, and I do not wish to be swept into the grudges of the martial world again. Though life on the mountain is meager, it is peaceful and free. We will not be going down the mountain."

Jiang Kuotian looked at Li Qingqiu in surprise.

Lin Xunfeng had specifically told him that his eldest disciple, Li Qingqiu, had wanted since childhood to roam the world with a sword in hand. Once they reached White Emperor Mansion and Li Qingqiu grew up, Lin Xunfeng hoped Jiang Kuotian would grant him his freedom.

He had not expected Li Qingqiu to make such a choice.

A feeling of tenderness rose in Jiang Kuotian's heart toward Li Qingqiu.

Was this child giving up his own pursuit in life for the sake of his junior brothers and junior sisters?

"If you are worried about your junior brothers and junior sisters, there is no need. White Emperor Mansion will take good care of them. In the future, you may go wherever you wish," Jiang Kuotian said earnestly.

Just as Li Qingqiu was about to speak, he suddenly heard movement from the room beside them. Those little ones were pressed against the door, secretly listening.

He immediately changed his mind and said seriously, "Uncle Jiang, I prefer to hold my fate in my own hands. I will look after my junior brothers and junior sisters myself. Only then can I rest easy."

He did not speak loudly; his voice was even rather soft, as though afraid of being overheard. Yet he believed his junior brothers and junior sisters could hear him.

Thinking of the struggles within White Emperor Mansion, Jiang Kuotian felt that Li Qingqiu's choice was not necessarily a bad one.

After much consideration, Jiang Kuotian removed the bundle from his back and set it on the table. He opened it, revealing clothes, secret manuals, hidden weapons, and a few strange little objects scattered inside.

Jiang Kuotian picked up a secret manual and said, "Your Master entrusted you to my care. I cannot simply do nothing. I went through untold hardships to find this manual. Practice it in secret, and do not pass it on to others."

Li Qingqiu did not look at the secret manual in Jiang Kuotian's hand. Instead, his gaze fell upon a small knife inside the bundle. Its blade was shaped like a willow leaf and covered in rust, as though it had been buried in the earth for a thousand years.

He could actually sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from that little knife.