There were far fewer disciples gathered in the new courtyard. Seeing the craftsmen still hard at work, Zhang Yuchun pulled Li Qingqiu aside.
"Senior Brother, should we ask Junior Brother Jiang to make a trip? I have a feeling this Juesheng Sect is no ordinary sect. They're deliberately provoking us," Zhang Yuchun said with a frown.
Qingxiao Sect had grown to more than a hundred disciples, a considerable size. He treasured all of it more and more, and worried over things far more than he used to.
Li Qingqiu smiled. "It's fine. Yang Jueding is no longer what he used to be. Though he hasn't reached the second layer, he's far stronger than before. Besides, Ninger went too."
What did the fifth layer of the Nourishing Yuan Realm represent?
Li Qingqiu wouldn't claim to be Number One Under Heaven, but he was sure he could handle the Guzhou Martial Arts World.
And if even Xu Ning couldn't beat their opponent, Jiang Zhaoxia would have little chance of winning either. Better to preserve Jiang Zhaoxia's reputation.
"Is that so?"
Zhang Yuchun was still somewhat worried. Li Qingqiu patted his shoulder and said no more, returning to keep an eye on the craftsmen.
If they were going to establish a line of incense offerings, then they would create a proper mythological system. The Five Primordials would stand at the pinnacle of Qingxiao Sect's mythology; there could be no carelessness.
He had already decided to build temples for the Five Primordials in the future, then create more deities and build temples for them all the way down the line.
He would build a path to seek the Dao, stretching from the foot of the mountain to its peak. It could serve not only as a route for worshippers, but also as a test for new disciples.
Of course, all of this was still just a plan, buried in his heart.
As sect master, Li Qingqiu had the right to make anything he wanted a reality.
By the time Yang Jueding and the others reached the waterfall where Juesheng Sect was based, morning had given way to afternoon. Even for martial artists, the hundred-mile journey took time.
The closer they got to Juesheng Sect, the angrier Yang Jueding became. He didn't even notice how strange it was that Su Xiling could keep up with them.
The disciples he had selected had all been in the sect for over a year. Though the long journey had left them drenched in sweat, they weren't doubled over, hands braced on their knees as they gasped for breath.
The arrival of Yang Jueding and his group caught the attention of Juesheng Sect's disciples. They put down their tools and turned to look toward the Qingxiao Sect party.
"Who's in charge? Get out here!"
Yang Jueding bellowed. He seemed angry, but in truth, he was excited.
Since cultivating the Primordial Scripture, he hadn't had a chance to really flex his muscles. He wanted to see just how strong he was.
His shout rang out like a lion's roar, echoing through the mountains. Even the waterfall couldn't drown it out.
Su Xiling, at the back of the group, was secretly astonished. This man's cultivation was so powerful?
She had heard of the Dragon Subduing Great Hero, but in her eyes, the so-called Heavenly Ranking was a joke. Now, it seemed that fame had not been bestowed undeservedly.
Of course, Yang Jueding had only surprised her. He hadn't made her feel threatened.
She had already sensed a terrifying presence nearby. Her gaze swept from side to side, but she couldn't see where that person was hiding.
"You're from Qingxiao Sect?" A Juesheng Sect disciple jumped down from a platform, pointed his saber at Yang Jueding, and asked with a scornful look.
The other Juesheng Sect disciples wore malicious grins as they stared at Yang Jueding and the others, as if they were looking at a pack of prey.
"Obviously! Are you in charge?"
Yang Jueding bellowed and strode forward, his robe billowing as he advanced like a fierce tiger.
"You're looking for me?"
A booming voice rang through the mountains, drawing the Qingxiao Sect disciples' eyes upward. Apart from Yang Jueding, Xu Ning, and Su Xiling, every one of them stared wide-eyed.
Their gazes fell on the top of the great waterfall, where they saw Yan Wujin standing above the water. Spray splashed around him as he looked down at the Qingxiao Sect party.
The waterfall stood a full ten zhang high. Under the Qingxiao Sect disciples' watchful eyes, Yan Wujin leaped down like a wild goose taking flight and landed beside the lake. His body didn't waver; he landed steadily. His lightness skill left the Qingxiao Sect disciples dumbfounded.
Qin Ye gripped his iron staff tightly. From that lightness skill alone, he knew the man was no simple opponent.
Yang Jueding's expression turned grave as well. If he jumped down from ten zhang without dissipating the force, his legs wouldn't withstand the impact.
This man's cultivation was unfathomably deep!
Yan Wujin looked over the Qingxiao Sect party and soon furrowed his brow. Just then, Tang Ziqi emerged from the woods nearby.
"Dragon Subduing Great Hero, Yang Jueding. Ever since your duel with the Sea Sword Saint, you vanished without a trace. I didn't expect you to have joined Qingxiao Sect."
Tang Ziqi watched Yang Jueding as he walked closer and spoke.
Yang Jueding glanced at him, his brows drawing together. He thought for a moment before finally remembering. "Linchuan Tang Clan—Tang Ziqi?"
Tang Ziqi smiled. "We met in Xuandang. It's been five years, and I'm surprised you still remember me, Brother Yang."
Yang Jueding didn't look pleased. Instead, he asked warily, "You're a scion of an Aristocratic Clan. Didn't you travel to Xuandang back then? Why are you mixed up with people from the martial world now? What position do you hold in Juesheng Sect?"
The Qingxiao Sect disciples tensed when they saw Yang Jueding's imposing aura fade.
The words Aristocratic Clan alone were enough to weigh heavily on them.
They had all come from poor families. Ever since they were old enough to understand, their parents had told them never to provoke an Aristocratic Clan.
If Juesheng Sect had an Aristocratic Clan backing it, its foundations were on an entirely different level.
Qingxiao Sect had undergone a complete transformation just with the help of a fallen family like the Qin family, and the Qin family was nowhere near a true Aristocratic Clan.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm now Juesheng Sect's vice sect master, and this is the sect master, Yan Wujin." As Tang Ziqi spoke, he raised a hand toward Yan Wujin.
"Yan Wujin?"
Yang Jueding muttered under his breath. He had roamed the martial world for many years, but had never heard that name.
Tang Ziqi continued with a smile. "It's only natural that you haven't heard of him. He's practiced martial arts since childhood and cultivated diligently for thirty years. He founded Juesheng Sect at the beginning of this year. Back then, Zhu Wuliang, the Redflame Divine Palm and Number One in the Cangzhou Martial Arts World, lost to him. Brother Yang, do you think you're stronger than Zhu Wuliang?"
At the name Zhu Wuliang, Yang Jueding's expression darkened. He looked at Yan Wujin, his eyes full of wariness.
Ever since Yan Wujin appeared, Yang Jueding had felt a powerful sense of unease. Hearing of his record only made him think that things had gone badly.
Though he was known as the Dragon Subduing Great Hero, people in the martial world respected him more for his chivalry than his martial arts. Compared with an unparalleled expert like Zhu Wuliang, he was nothing.
Seeing Yang Jueding cowed, the Juesheng Sect disciples all wore scornful smiles, while the Qingxiao Sect disciples braced themselves as if facing a great enemy.
Su Xiling frowned too. She knew Zhu Wuliang. He wasn't some ordinary martial artist, yet he had lost to this man.
"Qingxiao Sect really is unlucky..."
Su Xiling felt a pang of sympathy.
Just then, she saw someone walk forward. The figure was petite, and her back was inconspicuous among the Qingxiao Sect disciples. It was Xu Ning.
Xu Ning passed by Yang Jueding. When he saw her, he immediately came to his senses.
What was he afraid of?
Clang—
As Xu Ning walked toward Yan Wujin and Tang Ziqi, she drew her sword, its tip angled toward the ground.
The Qingxiao Sect disciples' expressions shifted. They hadn't expected Xu Ning to dare to take the lead and challenge them.
Yan Wujin and Tang Ziqi were both confused. This little girl actually dared to draw her sword against them?
Xu Ning wasn't yet thirteen. Three years of cultivating the Dao had transformed her temperament. As she walked forward with sword in hand, she seemed to radiate the keen edge of a sword just drawn from its sheath.
"Little girl, who are you?" Tang Ziqi asked with a frown.
Why had Jiang Zhaoxia become famous throughout the martial world?
Wasn't it because he was so young that he had shocked everyone?
With Jiang Zhaoxia as an example, it wasn't impossible for Qingxiao Sect to have another peerless prodigy.
Xu Ning's face was expressionless as she softly replied, "Xu Ning, disciple of Li Qingqiu of Qingxiao Sect."
Her voice still carried a child's softness, but everyone could feel the murderous intent she exuded.
This child had killed before!
Yan Wujin and Tang Ziqi reached the same conclusion at once.
A little girl actually dared to challenge him!
Yan Wujin's gaze turned cold, and he strode toward Xu Ning.
Dusk fell. Li Qingqiu sat in the courtyard, waiting for dinner.
Li Dongyue walked over, with Yuan Li toddling unsteadily behind her. Li Qingqiu turned to look at the two-year-old Yuan Li, his eyes full of anticipation.
"Grow up quickly. Your master is getting impatient waiting."
Li Qingqiu thought to himself. Yuan Li's Indestructible Hegemon Body had yet to awaken, so he couldn't copy it yet.
He had no idea what effects the Indestructible Hegemon Body would have. While he waited, he could also see whether any other powerful Fate might appear.
Li Dongyue sat beside Li Qingqiu and asked, "Aren't you worried about them?"
Li Qingqiu smiled. "Don't worry. Nothing will happen."
"Do you trust Elder Yang, or your disciple?" Li Dongyue pressed.
"I trust them both. There aren't that many peerless experts around. It's just a long journey; they'll need time to get there and back," Li Qingqiu said casually.
In truth, he wasn't as carefree as he looked. Over the course of the day, he had lost count of how many times he'd checked the Legacy System. Only after confirming the number of disciples hadn't decreased could he relax.
Li Dongyue muttered, "I keep feeling that Juesheng Sect is no ordinary sect. After all, no sect has dared to come and take our territory in all these years."
Just then, a line of text appeared before Li Qingqiu:
[Since Qingxiao Sect has created a mythological statue for the first time and opened the path of incense inheritance, you have gained one Fortune Inheritance opportunity.]
Li Qingqiu froze. He had instinctively thought Xu Ning had triggered it, but it turned out to be the statue.
That could earn him a reward from the Legacy System too?
He suddenly realized that his understanding of the system had been too narrow.
After a brief sigh, anticipation for the Fortune Inheritance welled up in him.
The first Fortune Inheritance had led him to discover the underground Spirit Lake, helping his cultivation advance rapidly. What would the second one reveal?
Just then.
Zhang Yuchun hurried into the courtyard and jogged over to him with a smile. "Eldest Senior Brother, the statue of Grand Unity Dao Venerable is finished. Would you like to take a look after dinner?"
Li Qingqiu shook his head. "No need. You can supervise things from now on. Since we're establishing a line of incense offerings, we can't slack off. These five statues must be looked after. Don't let them get rained on or knocked about. Once their temples are built, move them inside."
Zhang Yuchun nodded. His gaze fell on Yuan Li, and he couldn't help asking, "What's going on with this little guy? He still can't talk?"
At that, Li Dongyue said helplessly, "That's right. I've checked him over, and there's nothing wrong with his meridians or acupoints. I've even been wondering whether I should take him down the mountain to find a renowned doctor."
Yuan Li stood by the table, looking up at Li Qingqiu and the others. His eyes were large, brimming with the innocence unique to children.
Before you continue