Profound Heart Hall, the first assembly hall built by the Qingxiao Sect, could hold over a hundred people. It stood beneath New Spring Courtyard, and the Qingxiao Sect would continue building more structures below it.
The assembly hall had taken months to build, yet it was neither grand nor imposing—in fact, it was somewhat crude. Only two craftsmen had been hired, and most of the labor had fallen to the disciples.
Li Qingqiu's only requirement had been that it not collapse and that it keep out the wind and rain.
After New Spring, Zhang Yuchun went down the mountain again and brought back a new batch of disciples. Including Li Qingqiu, the sect now had ninety-three people in all.
Today, Li Qingqiu summoned every disciple to the hall for the first time.
The hall held little furniture. Li Qingqiu, Zhang Yuchun, Jiang Zhaoxia, Wu Man'er, Li Dongyue, Li Sifeng, and Li Sijin stood shoulder to shoulder atop the steps, with Li Qingqiu at the center.
Yang Jueding, Cheng Canghai, Xu Ning, and Qin Ye stood before all the disciples. The rest lined up in six rows, gazing at the sect's leaders with excitement.
It was the disciples' first time attending such a solemn meeting, so they couldn't help finding it novel. They could also sense that the Qingxiao Sect was moving toward greater order. Even the youngest disciples could feel the changes taking place.
Standing atop the steps, Li Qingqiu looked down over the disciples in the hall, taking in every face. It was the first time he had looked at them all this way, and he felt something he couldn't quite put into words.
This must be a sense of responsibility.
He had once regarded the Qingxiao Sect as a means to grow stronger. Though he had treated the disciples kindly, on reflection, he had never truly asked what they wanted.
"Everyone, this is the Qingxiao Sect's first full-sect assembly. It will surely go down in the sect's annals, because our sect will carry on for a thousand years, ten thousand years, and beyond. Perhaps you, too, will become legendary forebears whom later generations of disciples look up to."
Li Qingqiu spoke. His voice wasn't loud, yet every disciple could hear him clearly.
The disciples were all young. Hearing Li Qingqiu make such a bold claim didn't embarrass them; instead, it set their blood surging.
The Qingxiao Sect was indeed still growing, but Jiang Zhaoxia was already the second-ranked martial artist in the world. The sect also had renowned masters like Dragon Subduing Great Hero and Thief King, while Xu Ning, Li Sifeng, and Wu Man'er were also highly skilled—they simply hadn't made a name for themselves yet.
By any measure, the Qingxiao Sect had a boundless future.
Yang Jueding curled his lip slightly, thinking, A thousand years, ten thousand years? How presumptuous.
Li Qingqiu continued, "I have named this hall Profound Heart, in the hope that we will hold fast to our original aspirations. The Profound School is the Daoist school, and the profound heart is the Daoist heart. I will have Mr. Zhang Yu write up the Qingxiao Sect's rules and Daoist precepts. From now on, everyone must study them carefully and commit them to memory."
Zhang Yu was the only one who hadn't entered the hall, because he had yet to join the Qingxiao Sect. At that moment, he paced outside, feeling thoroughly miserable.
The disciples naturally answered in unison, "Yes!"
Afterward, Li Qingqiu had Zhang Yuchun report on the sect's current businesses and finances.
"After more than two years of accumulation, the Qingxiao Sect now has a thousand mu of fertile fields, two horse ranches with a hundred and two horses, and two fish ponds with over a thousand fry..."
Zhang Yuchun went through the details. The disciples exchanged bewildered looks as they listened. Each was responsible for a different part of the sect, and after a day's work, they had to hurry off to practice martial arts. None of them knew the true scale of the sect's assets.
They hadn't known until they heard it—and now they were stunned.
Once their shock passed, they were all thrilled. Apart from the Qin family's disciples, the others came from impoverished households. To them, having enough to eat had once been a distant dream. Now they ate meat every day. How fortunate they were!
Yang Jueding's feelings were the most complicated. When he had first come up the mountain, the Qingxiao Sect had been utterly destitute. Looking back now, he could hardly believe how far it had come.
He couldn't help looking toward Li Qingqiu. Zhang Yuchun had arranged many things, but Li Qingqiu was the one who had made the decisions.
He would never forget that rainy night, when Li Qingqiu hunted down the Seven Peaks Alliance's disciples.
After that night, he had understood that Li Qingqiu was the Qingxiao Sect's greatest source of strength. Jiang Zhaoxia was merely the sword the sect showed to the world.
Once Zhang Yuchun had finished, Li Qingqiu announced the tasks the Qingxiao Sect had to accomplish over the coming year.
First came the sect's development, with goals set for every aspect of its growth.
Then came the disciples' martial arts.
"Before the end of the year, Elder Yang will test each of your martial arts in turn. If you make progress while fulfilling your duties, you may inherit our sect's true art, the Primordial Scripture."
Li Qingqiu's final words roused the disciples.
Who didn't know that the Primordial Scripture was the Qingxiao Sect's most powerful art, capable of making one's martial skills advance by leaps and bounds? Anyone who wanted to become a young prodigy first had to inherit the Primordial Scripture.
The disciples raised their hands in salute and thanked Li Qingqiu.
Li Qingqiu said no more. With a sweep of his sleeve, he dismissed the assembly.
When the disciples had left Profound Heart Hall, Li Qingqiu turned to Yang Jueding and said, "Elder Yang, from now on, the Qingxiao Sect is on the right track. We'll need rules for how we speak and act. You'll have a heavy burden to bear. Thank you for all your hard work."
Yang Jueding understood what he meant. He immediately raised his hands in salute and smiled. "Sect Master, rest assured. I'll do everything in my power."
Li Qingqiu nodded. Yang Jueding tactfully took his leave, leaving Profound Heart Hall to Li Qingqiu and his junior brothers and sisters.
Li Qingqiu began assigning tasks to each of his junior brothers and sisters. Even Wu Man'er received one.
Though Wu Man'er wasn't yet mature of mind, he could already take care of himself and communicate with others, so Li Qingqiu put him in charge of patrolling the mountain. His daily martial arts practice would take place in a different spot, and he could kill the ferocious beasts in the hills along the way.
After the meeting in Profound Heart Hall, the entire Qingxiao Sect grew busy. When the lazier disciples saw everyone else working so hard, they felt too embarrassed to slack off.
Besides, who didn't dream of becoming a martial arts master?
Spring and summer passed in a flash. The mountain road had been paved for a hundred li, and all that remained was maintenance to prevent it from collapsing.
One day, just after noon, in the woods.
Qin Ye, clad in a blue sect robe, swung an iron staff with agile movements and crushing force.
Zhang Yuchun had forged it for him on his last trip down the mountain. It weighed thirty jin and measured about nine chi long—longer than Qin Ye was tall. Each swing sent gusts of force whipping through the air.
He had owned the iron staff for half a month. At first, it had been a struggle just to lift it. Now, he handled it with ease, and his physique had grown stronger as a result.
He had lost count of how many times he had practiced the Ten Thousand Army Demon Subduing Staff. Even now, he still felt he hadn't fully grasped the essence of the technique.
As Qin Ye immersed himself in practicing the Ten Thousand Army Demon Subduing Staff, he heard footsteps. He glanced over and saw someone approaching, so he lowered his staff and steadied his breath in his dantian.
The visitor was Xue Jin, the foremost among the Thirteen Sword Vanguards.
After becoming Jiang Zhaoxia's disciple, Xue Jin had quickly revealed his talent and become the fastest-improving of the thirteen. Word of it had spread, winning even more disciples over to the sect master's judgment.
Qin Ye had been impressed by this disciple his master favored. Once, he had happened to pass by the place where the Thirteen Sword Vanguards practiced. Xue Jin's swordplay had been fierce, and it was clear he stood on a completely different level from the others.
"Senior Brother Qin, your staff technique keeps getting more formidable. It's enough to make anyone tremble at the sight of it."
Xue Jin approached and praised him, but the sword in his hand made Qin Ye suspect he hadn't come by chance.
Qin Ye smiled. "I've just been training hard. Junior Brother Xue, your talent is far greater than mine."
Xue Jin stopped ten paces away. With a cheerful smile, he asked, "Senior Brother Qin, I've recently had a breakthrough in my swordsmanship and would like to spar with someone. After thinking it over, I could only ask you. Would you grant my request?"
Just as he thought!
Qin Ye narrowed his eyes. "Of course. How far do you want to take the spar?"
"We're fellow disciples, so we shouldn't go too far. Whoever drops their weapon loses. How does that sound?" Xue Jin asked, his eyes shining.
Among the second-generation disciples, Xu Ning was widely considered the best, with Qin Ye in second place. There was no clear third. Xue Jin was ambitious, and he had set his sights on the top spot.
Qin Ye raised his iron staff and pointed it at Xue Jin, displaying the bearing of the sect master's disciple. He simply said, "Good!"
Xue Jin's eyes sharpened. He bent down, drew his sword, and darted toward Qin Ye, moving so swiftly that he slipped beneath the iron staff.
Qin Ye swung his staff instinctively, but it only swept over Xue Jin's head.
Swordlight flashed as Xue Jin slashed at Qin Ye's chest. His attack came fast and fierce. In a split second, Qin Ye stepped back, holding the staff in one hand like a dragon. His wrist flicked, and a burst of force surged from it.
Xue Jin's footwork was exquisite, and he dodged the staff. But just as he tried to close in again, a tremendous force struck his cheek, sending him tumbling off to the side.
Under the bright sunshine, Jiang Zhaoxia strolled down the mountain in high spirits. He had come up with a new idea for the Sword Control Technique that day and planned to try it after teaching his disciples.
He reached the cliff where the Thirteen Sword Vanguards usually practiced and saw the disciples gathered together.
"Master's here!" one of the female disciples called softly. The others hurriedly scattered into a line, afraid of being too slow. It was clear how much authority Jiang Zhaoxia commanded.
Jiang Zhaoxia came before them and swept his gaze over the group. Suddenly, he frowned. Looking at Xue Jin, who had turned his face slightly to the side, he asked, "What happened to your face? Why is it so swollen?"
One side of Xue Jin's face was red and swollen, making him impossible to miss. Faced with his master's question, he was so embarrassed he wanted the ground to swallow him up.
"I got hurt sparring with someone..."
Xue Jin stammered. At his answer, Jiang Zhaoxia's expression turned cold.
"Who did you spar with, Xu Ning?" Jiang Zhaoxia pressed.
"Senior Brother Qin Ye..."
At the name, Jiang Zhaoxia fell silent.
His good mood vanished in an instant. He could understand Xue Jin losing to Xu Ning, but how could he lose to Qin Ye?
Qin Ye had been taught by a peerless master, but his talent was mediocre. Li Qingqiu hadn't even considered teaching him before. How could someone like him defeat Jiang Zhaoxia's prized disciple?
Jiang Zhaoxia's gaze toward Xue Jin turned unfriendly, and Xue Jin didn't dare meet his eyes.
Elsewhere, Qin Ye arrived at the sect and went to find Li Qingqiu. He set the iron staff on the ground, then knelt before him.
At that moment, Li Qingqiu was reprimanding Li Sifeng. The fifteen-year-old Li Sifeng was standing at attention as punishment. When he saw Qin Ye kneel, curiosity crept into his eyes.
"Please punish me, Master!"
Qin Ye spoke gravely, pressing his forehead to the ground.
Li Qingqiu asked in confusion, "Why should I punish you?"
"I accidentally injured Junior Brother Xue Jin."
"What happened? Explain everything, from beginning to end."
Li Qingqiu frowned. Xue Jin was not only Jiang Zhaoxia's prized disciple, but also one of the future cultivation disciples he was counting on.
Li Sifeng looked at Qin Ye in surprise. He seemed to have guessed what happened, and a mischievous grin spread across his face.
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