Top Ten of the Heavenly Ranking

The morning sun had just risen when Li Qingqiu left his room early, then roused his junior brothers and junior sisters for their morning practice.

After a single night, thick snow had piled up in the courtyard. Zhang Yuchun and Li Dongyue had risen early and were already clearing it with shovels.

Li Qingqiu told them to put down their tools and train first.

The seven master-and-brother disciples climbed onto the roof ridge, sitting side by side in meditation as they absorbed the purple mist together. Gradually, wisps of steam began to rise from the tops of their heads.

Li Qingqiu cracked one eye open to glance at his junior brothers and sisters, secretly satisfied.

Though they were still young, their obedience made teaching them effortless, which filled him with hope for the future of the Qingxiao Sect.

This was the foundation of his enterprise!

An hour later, the disciples jumped down from the eaves to attend to their various tasks. Li Qingqiu called Zhang Yuchun over and told him to come along for a trip.

Zhang Yuchun had no objection, but when he saw Li Qingqiu bring the Heavenly Rainbow Sword, he raised an eyebrow slightly.

The two master-and-brother disciples walked through the mountain forest, chatting idly about trivial matters within the sect.

The terrain of the Tai Kun Mountain Range was steep and treacherous. Even Li Qingqiu and his companion had to tread carefully, especially now with snow everywhere, prone to collapsing underfoot.

After traveling ten li, Zhang Yuchun couldn't hold back and asked, "Senior Brother, where exactly are we going?"

Li Qingqiu, walking ahead, didn't turn his head as he replied, "Last night, I dreamed of guidance from an immortal, saying that treasures are hidden in these mountains. The dream was so vivid that I wanted to come and try my luck."

The Fortune Inheritance had seared the route into his memory. It was an illusion, yet he had truly walked it once, and now he remembered it clearly—quite miraculous.

"Guidance from an immortal?"

Hearing this, Zhang Yuchun nearly lost it. He wanted to ask his senior brother, Do you take me for a fool?

But he never dared to defy Li Qingqiu, so he swallowed his words and continued to indulge his senior brother's antics.

Heavy snow blanketed the Tai Kun Mountain Range. No matter how far they walked, it felt as if they were trudging in place. Fortunately, both Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun had already stepped into the Yangyuan Realm, their stamina greatly increased, so they didn't feel tired.

After another dozen li, Li Qingqiu finally stopped. Ahead, there was no path—only a rock face, flanked by snow on both sides, making the space feel narrow.

Zhang Yuchun breathed warm air onto his palms while looking around in surprise. "Senior Brother, this place doesn't look like it holds any treasure. Seems the immortal isn't reliable. Should we call it quits?"

Li Qingqiu didn't answer. He walked up to the rock face and began feeling around.

Soon, he seemed to find something. He started pounding a spot on the rock face with all his strength. After just three strikes, the rock face actually cracked open. Zhang Yuchun blinked, stunned, then hurried over.

After about ten breaths, Li Qingqiu determined he couldn't break through any further and stopped. Staring at the hole before him—barely the size of a dog's crawlspace—he fell silent.

The dream had only guided him this far. In the dream, the opening had been much larger.

Zhang Yuchun bent down to peer inside. It was pitch black, but he could feel warm air rushing out.

"Let's go."

Li Qingqiu was the first to crawl into the hole. Zhang Yuchun wanted to advise against it, but his senior brother moved too fast. Gritting his teeth, Zhang Yuchun quickly followed.

The tunnel was pitch black, sloping downward, with warm air flowing through it. This made the two much more comfortable, and the deeper they went, the wider the tunnel grew, easing their tension in the confined space.

After advancing roughly five zhang, they finally reached the end.

Zhang Yuchun crawled out after Li Qingqiu. The drop wasn't high, and he landed easily. Lifting his head, his eyes went wide, and his mouth fell open unconsciously.

Before them was a vast underground space. Countless blue-silver ore crystals were embedded in the rock walls, varying in size with sharp, angular edges. Below lay a lake nearly ten zhang wide, its surface a shimmering blue tinged with silver light—fantastical and beautiful.

For some reason, after arriving here, Zhang Yuchun felt his mind clear and his spirits lift, as if he had become entirely refreshed.

"Senior Brother, this place seems filled with the same heaven-and-earth spiritual energy we breathe during our daily practice. If we train here, will our inner qi grow faster?" Zhang Yuchun asked as he gazed around, unable to hide the excitement in his voice.

"Exactly. This is indeed an excellent place for cultivation. It seems heaven favors our Qingxiao Sect."

Li Qingqiu revealed a smile, forcing calm into his tone.

In truth, ever since unlocking the Fortune Inheritance, he had been envisioning this moment. His emotions were already settled.

The two began to explore, observing and discussing as they went.

"Senior Brother, be careful. What if venomous insects or fierce beasts are hiding here? That wouldn't be good."

"Senior Brother, did an immortal really send you that dream? Could it be something Master told you before?"

"Too bad this place is so far from the Qingxiao Sect. A round trip takes nearly half a day on foot."

"Senior Brother, do you think if we train here for ten years, we could become martial arts masters who shake the world?"

Faced with Zhang Yuchun's endless questions, Li Qingqiu gave offhand answers, brushing him off, but Zhang Yuchun didn't mind.

Though Zhang Yuchun was usually steady, he was still a fifteen-year-old youth. Before Li Qingqiu, he could let down his guard.

After circling the area a few times, they confirmed there was only one entrance and no danger, finally relaxing.

"What do you think? How should we arrange for our junior brothers and sisters to train here in the future?" Li Qingqiu asked, his gaze fixed on the Spirit Lake.

Zhang Yuchun pondered for a moment. "Bringing everyone at once definitely won't work. Someone has to guard the Qingxiao Sect. Besides, I'll be recruiting new disciples soon. Senior Brother, this place must not be known to anyone outside the seven of us. I suggest we send two people at a time to train here for one day, rotating in turns. What do you think?"

Li Qingqiu glanced at Zhang Yuchun and nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. That's a good suggestion. You've considered the potential risks. I'm pleased."

Zhang Yuchun scratched his head, smiling shyly. "In all those martial arts stories Master told, plenty of weak people and sects who possessed divine techniques or treasures ended up inviting disaster."

"Indeed. The Qingxiao Sect is just us. We're still too young. We must act cautiously. Losing even one person would be unbearable for us." Li Qingqiu sighed.

Losing one person?

Zhang Yuchun's expression shifted slightly. The moment he thought of Li Qingqiu and his junior brothers and sisters dying before his eyes, fear gripped him.

No!

He absolutely would not allow that to happen!

Zhang Yuchun was also an orphan, abandoned at six years old, lonely from childhood, lacking any sense of security. He had long come to see Li Qingqiu and the others as family. He treasured kinship dearly, and that was why he was willing to toil without complaint.

Li Qingqiu picked up a crystalline stone by the lake, sensing the dense spiritual energy within it. He thought about taking one out, but then reconsidered—if even a novice cultivator could detect the spiritual energy of that small blade, carrying such a Spirit Stone out might invite disaster.

So he set the stone back down and instructed Zhang Yuchun that no one else was to take any of these Spirit Stones out of here in the future.

They didn't linger. After confirming the location, they prepared to return and arrange for personnel.

Once they crawled out of the cave mouth, Li Qingqiu spread the surrounding weeds over it to conceal the entrance, then covered it with snow before finally leaving with peace of mind.

"Don't mention this outside either. If some expert happens to pass by and overhears from a distance, it'll be trouble."

Li Qingqiu said this seriously to Zhang Yuchun, who nodded, understanding the importance of that underground Spirit Lake.

The two walked toward the Qingxiao Sect, shifting to other topics. Zhang Yuchun planned to descend the mountain to recruit disciples only after the winter snow melted. The snow had been falling heavier lately, and he feared accidents might occur while leading village children up the mountain.

Li Qingqiu naturally had no objections. He wasn't in a rush to expand the Qingxiao Sect; first, he needed to raise the strength of their core members, lest they run into trouble dealing with others.

The return journey was still rough, their footprints already buried anew by the winter snow.

Halfway there, Li Qingqiu suddenly stopped.

Zhang Yuchun, following behind, asked in surprise, "What's wrong?"

"Listen carefully," Li Qingqiu said softly.

Zhang Yuchun immediately held his breath and focused, straining to hear. Soon, he caught a faint sound coming from deep within the nearby woods.

"Help... help me..."

Now at the Nurturing Origin Realm Layer 1, Zhang Yuchun fixed his gaze and peered through the tangled trees. He spotted half a face—a person lying behind a large tree, back against a rock, looking toward them from afar.

Zhang Yuchun startled, pointing at the man. "Senior Brother, that person is calling for help. Should we get involved?"

Li Qingqiu had already spotted him without needing the gesture.

After a moment's hesitation, Li Qingqiu said in a low voice, "Let's go take a look. Be careful—don't let him ambush us."

Zhang Yuchun nodded, and the two parted the bushes, walking toward the man.

Yang Jueding, his consciousness already fading, saw the two youths approaching and a surge of immense joy welled up inside him.

He had spotted Li Qingqiu and the other from afar when they descended the mountain, but he hadn't been able to call out for help in time, so he'd been waiting ever since for their return.

Just as he was about to collapse, he finally saw their figures again.

He used every ounce of strength to cry for help, yet it still came out faint.

Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun cautiously approached Yang Jueding, keeping a safe distance as they carefully observed him.

The man was covered in snow, his robes dirty, blood matting the stubble on his face, and the headband binding his long hair nearly falling off. Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be in his thirties. He had a severe wound on his abdomen, the blood frozen stiff.

Zhang Yuchun spoke up, "Who are you? Why are you here?"

"Water... give me water..."

Yang Jueding looked at them weakly, his voice feeble. He tried to raise his right hand but could barely manage it.

Zhang Yuchun glanced at Li Qingqiu. Seeing his nod, he took a water flask from his bosom and tossed it to Yang Jueding.

The previously feeble Yang Jueding suddenly sat up, snatched the flask roughly, tore it open, and poured the contents into his mouth.

Zhang Yuchun was startled and instinctively stepped back.

Li Qingqiu could sense a certain inner energy surging within this man, keeping his body surface at a steady temperature, which was how he had held on so long.

A martial arts expert who had cultivated inner qi?

Yang Jueding downed the hot water in one breath, then lay back down, visibly much more relaxed. He grinned at Li Qingqiu and the other, saying, "Thanks for saving me, little brothers... My name is Yang Jueding."

Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun stared at him intently.

Yang Jueding blinked, surprised. "You haven't heard of my name? I'm the Dragon Subduing Great Hero, ranked in the top ten of Guzhou's Jianghu Heavenly Ranking!"