In a flash of lightning and sparks, the white-haired elder's right foot stamped down. His internal energy exploded outward, forcibly breaking free from Li Sifeng's grip. His body stumbled backward, but even so, Li Sifeng's dagger still pierced his chest, sending blood spraying into the air.
The white-haired elder stumbled back more than a dozen paces before finally regaining his balance. He looked down at his chest and touched the wound with his right hand. It wasn't deep. He breathed a sigh of relief.
He looked at his right hand. His sleeve was torn, and three bloody scratches marked his wrist. A chill ran through him as he stared at Li Sifeng, his eyes filled with fear.
This kid's strength was immense!
And his speed was terrifying!
Jiang Nian stood frozen, his face covered in dust, but he didn't even notice.
What had he just witnessed?
Du Ye—the man he considered the most skilled martial artist he knew—had been wounded by a boy his own age?
He had seen it clearly. Li Sifeng hadn't ambushed Du Xuanfeng; Du Xuanfeng had struck first. Li Sifeng was simply faster.
The white-haired elder, Du Xuanfeng, took a deep breath and studied Li Sifeng. His voice was low. "Impressive skill. Who trained you?"
Li Sifeng clenched his jaw. "Get down the mountain now. Don't make me kill you!"
He had always admired Jiang Zhaoxia's killing posture, but now that it was his turn, his heart pounded with tension.
He wasn't usually this bloodthirsty. But when it came to the Azure Firmament Sect, his killing intent flared uncontrollably.
Jiang Zhaoxia was the strongest in the Azure Firmament Sect. If he left, and the Seven Peaks Alliance or the Azure Cult launched a full-scale invasion, it would be over.
Hearing Li Sifeng's words, Du Xuanfeng smiled coldly. Killing intent blazed in his eyes. He began channeling his energy. His robes and stray hairs fluttered. His entire aura grew increasingly terrifying.
"I've walked the martial world for many years. I've heard those words before. No one has ever made good on them!"
Du Xuanfeng's tone shifted. He now referred to himself as "this old man." His expression became oppressive, a completely different person from the kindly elder moments ago.
Li Sifeng was intimidated. But the moment he mobilized the spiritual energy within him, his courage skyrocketed. His own expression turned savage.
If Du Xuanfeng was an aged, ferocious tiger, then Li Sifeng was a cunning, fierce lone wolf. The two faced off, and Jiang Nian retreated in terror.
"Sifeng, what are you doing?"
A voice rang out, and Li Sifeng's expression changed drastically. Panic flashed across his face as he turned to look.
Jiang Zhaoxia stood atop a large tree not far away, perched on a slender branch. His worn cloth robes somehow gave him an ethereal, otherworldly air—like an immortal.
Jiang Zhaoxia's face was expressionless. His gaze wasn't on Li Sifeng but fixed on Du Xuanfeng.
For some reason, being stared at by Jiang Zhaoxia made Du Xuanfeng inexplicably uneasy.
In all his years roaming the martial world, the only people who made him uneasy at first glance were the absolute peak experts renowned throughout the land. But this young man seemed... young. It baffled him.
When did the Azure Firmament Sect acquire two prodigies?
It was unbelievable!
Li Sifeng had already made him feel endangered. The youth who just arrived made him feel utterly outmatched.
Instinct told him: if he fought, he would die horribly.
"Third Senior Brother, I..." Knowing he couldn't hide it any longer, Li Sifeng started to explain.
Third Senior Brother?
Du Xuanfeng was stunned. "You are Jiang Zhaoxia?"
"Big Brother!"
Jiang Nian cried out joyfully. Jiang Zhaoxia's bearing filled him with admiration. His big brother was even more impressive than he'd imagined.
But Jiang Zhaoxia paid no attention to the address. He kept his eyes locked on Du Xuanfeng. "Sifeng, I asked you a question. Is your third senior brother's authority meaningless now?"
Li Sifeng trembled violently, terrified. He quickly recounted the conflict.
This was bad!
Third Senior Brother was definitely going to beat me!
Li Sifeng wailed internally. Attacking his third senior brother's clan members was no small matter.
After listening, Jiang Zhaoxia's expression remained unchanged. He snorted coldly. "You did well. But not well enough. You should have just killed them."
At these words, Du Xuanfeng and Jiang Nian were shocked. Even Li Sifeng hadn't expected this.
"But they came for you. That kid is your brother..." Li Sifeng swallowed nervously, venturing cautiously.
Jiang Zhaoxia's face was blank. "I only have two younger brothers: you and Man'er."
Li Sifeng fell silent, deeply moved. Yet a faint, inexplicable sadness stirred within him. Young as he was, he couldn't identify its source.
Du Xuanfeng spoke up immediately. "Jiang Zhaoxia, things weren't as you imagine back then. Your father asked Xunfeng to take you up the mountain because he had no choice."
Jiang Zhaoxia's voice was ice. "I don't care what he thought. I only trust what I saw and what I remember."
He drew his sword from his waist and pointed it at Du Xuanfeng from a distance. "I'll give you one last chance."
Du Xuanfeng's face twisted. He could only grit his teeth and say, "Young master, let's go!"
Jiang Nian hurried to his side. Master and servant wasted no time and swiftly departed.
Jiang Zhaoxia sheathed his sword and leaped down, landing gracefully before Li Sifeng. Li Sifeng noticed the wind wrapping around him as he descended.
"Gale Skill?"
Li Sifeng asked curiously.
Jiang Zhaoxia reached out and smacked him on the head. "Your cultivation is shallow, and your body hasn't matured yet. Next time you face a strong enemy, aim for a killing blow immediately. Don't drag it out."
Li Sifeng rubbed his head, confused. "Third Senior Brother, you really wanted me to kill them?"
So ruthless!
For the first time, Li Sifeng felt admiration for Jiang Zhaoxia. He wanted to become someone like that too.
"Of course."
Jiang Zhaoxia turned and walked away. Li Sifeng quickly followed.
In the distance, Jiang Nian, being pulled along by Du Xuanfeng, looked back. He couldn't help feeling that Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sifeng seemed more like true brothers. The blazing sun filtered through the trees, and soon, the two figures vanished from sight.
...
In the courtyard, Li Qingqiu sat at a table, brush in hand, writing characters. Li Dongyue stood beside him, fanning him to drive away the heat. She was drenched in sweat but seemed oblivious to her own exhaustion, her gaze never leaving him.
From the corner of his eye, Li Qingqiu noticed Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sifeng returning. He paid them little attention, focused on transcribing the Chaos Genesis Scripture.
Jiang Zhaoxia walked straight over and recounted what had happened.
After listening, Li Qingqiu glared at Li Sifeng and snapped, "Impressive, kid! You've got some nerve, acting first and reporting later!"
Li Dongyue also looked at Li Sifeng with new eyes. She'd never expected their youngest junior brother to be so ruthless. He usually showed no signs of it.
Li Sifeng said pitifully, "I was afraid Third Senior Brother would leave with them."
Jiang Zhaoxia snorted. "There's no misunderstanding about what happened back then. That father of mine, in order to marry the daughter of some powerful official, drove my mother to her death and tried to abandon me. If Master hadn't appeared when he did, one of his servants would have disposed of me. I'm never going back. Senior Brother, rest assured, I'll support you forever."
The Jiang family was a martial arts clan, but like many sects in the martial world, they sought to legitimize themselves and climb the social ladder.
When Lin Xunfeng first brought Jiang Zhaoxia up the mountain, Li Qingqiu had overheard him discussing it with a traveling companion. It was exactly as Jiang Zhaoxia said.
Li Qingqiu nodded, then glared at Li Sifeng again. "Remember: anything you do, you ask me first. Whether I agree or not, you let me know beforehand. I am the Sect Master of the Azure Firmament Sect, not just your senior brother."
This kid was already showing signs of his Destiny tags. He'd need to be watched.
Li Qingqiu wasn't afraid of Li Sifeng betraying him—his loyalty score was solid. He was afraid Li Sifeng would mean well but mess things up and get himself killed in the process.
He wasn't just cultivating immortality for himself. He was bringing his junior brothers and sisters along with him. Not one left behind.
Every single one of these junior siblings, he had raised. He had changed every one of their diapers, sung every one of them to sleep. In his heart, they were family.
"I understand." Li Sifeng mumbled, looking like a meek kitten before his senior siblings, utterly harmless.
"Go play."
Li Qingqiu waved him off. Just looking at Li Sifeng right now irritated him. He was afraid he might lose his temper.
Li Sifeng sensed his senior brother's genuine anger and immediately turned and ran off.
Jiang Zhaoxia looked at Li Qingqiu, frowning. "Senior Brother, the Jiang family showing up—I don't think it's just about me. They're probably after the Azure Firmament Sect too."
The Azure Firmament Sect might be small, but its territory was vast. It was indeed easy to covet.
"Mm. I'm aware. We'll deal with whatever comes." Li Qingqiu nodded, then shifted the topic. "Tomorrow, take Huang Shan and Yu Lin down the mountain. Go to the nearest town and buy some cloth. And find a tailor to bring back up. I want to design sect robes for the Azure Firmament Sect. Don't be stingy with the money."
Everyone in the Azure Firmament Sect wore old, patched clothes. They looked less like sect disciples and more like peasant farmers.
Jiang Zhaoxia nodded. "I'll see if I can find some other ways to make money while I'm at it."
"Take care of those two kids. Let them get some experience, but make sure they come back with all their limbs." Li Qingqiu cautioned.
Huang Shan and Yu Lin were the oldest among the second-generation disciples. Li Qingqiu had high hopes for their future and wanted them to start gaining experience early.
"I'll be careful."
Jiang Zhaoxia said this and left.
Li Qingqiu turned to Li Dongyue. "Take a break. Your senior brother isn't that hot."
Li Dongyue smiled. "I'm not tired. Senior Brother, will the sect robes all be the same? Will there be a difference between the male and female disciples' robes?"
As she spoke, large beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks, her hair sticking to her face.
Li Qingqiu felt helpless with her but let her continue. "There will be differences, but overall, they'll clearly belong to the same sect."
"That's wonderful! Senior Brother, tomorrow Second Senior Brother plans to take me to the village to trade for grain seeds. Can I bring Sijin and Ning'er along?"
"Of course. If there's heavy work, let Yuchun handle it. You girls can help carry small things at most."
"Mm-hmm, I'll remember."
They chatted casually as the sun lengthened their shadows.
The sun set, the moon rose. Night gave way to day.
With Zhang Yuchun and Jiang Zhaoxia each leading teams down the mountain, the Azure Firmament Sect grew noticeably quieter.
Li Qingqiu didn't go to the underground spirit lake. He needed to stay and guard the sect, just in case.
At noon, after eating, Li Qingqiu came alone to the mountain gate to sit in meditation and cultivate, while also waiting for Zhang Yuchun and the others to return.
A breeze blew, stirring the hair at his temples. Li Qingqiu's mind sank into tranquility. He had finally found the feeling of cultivating immortality.
Peace. Freedom. A heart without worry.