Chapter 349 ·The Strength of the Sect Master

From Martial Arts Sect to Immortal Cultivation Sect

Author: Ren Wo Xiao

Among the mountains stood a crude city. On the peaks in all four directions, disciples of the Clear Sky Sect kept watch over the distance.

Yuan Li and Zhao Zhen led their respective teams of disciples into the city gates. Their bodies were covered in blood—especially Yuan Li, who looked like a man soaked in it. Yet instead of frightening the other disciples along the way, they drew looks of admiration and fervent reverence.

Ever since the war between the Clear Sky Sect and the Myriad Yin Sect began, the number of enemies Yuan Li had slain far surpassed that of anyone else. Together with Zhao Zhen, their team had become the benchmark all others chased after.

Every time they went into battle, they returned with kills among the Myriad Yin Sect cultivators. Not only Yuan Li—even Zhao Zhen had entered the Myriad Yin Sect’s radar.

Hu Yan followed behind Zhao Zhen. After more than half a year of fighting, he had undergone a transformation. The immaturity he once had was gone, replaced by a steady and composed demeanor.

After entering the city, Yuan Li and Zhao Zhen gave instructions to their respective team members before heading together toward the pavilion at the city center.

Along the way, disciples greeted them enthusiastically.

“Third Senior Brother, your prestige is really high now,” Zhao Zhen remarked with a sigh.

Having grown up together, he had watched Yuan Li go from being doubted by many to reaching his current position. From the bottom of his heart, he admired him.

Ever since Yuan Li pioneered the Body Cultivation Path, Zhao Zhen had known his future achievements would not be ordinary—but he had never imagined it would be this exaggerated.

Yuan Li’s brilliance was simply too dazzling. In the battles over the past year, the strength he displayed had fully convinced Zhao Zhen—even ten of him combined would not be Yuan Li’s match.

Yet Zhao Zhen did not resign himself to this fact. Instead, he took Yuan Li as his goal, vowing to surpass him.

He had always believed he possessed the greatest talent. Having Yuan Li as a target only pushed him further.

“They’re just empty titles,” Yuan Li said, shaking his head.

The death of Yuan Qi had not drastically changed his temperament. He remained steady, only becoming more reliable. Even with strength surpassing all other disciples, he stayed humble, knowing he carried greater responsibility.

Zhao Zhen laughed. “You, you’re too modest. If I were as strong as you, I’d definitely be arrogant.”

Yuan Li chuckled. “You’re already quite arrogant. It’s just that your arrogance isn’t aggressive—it’s actually quite likable. I even envy your temperament a bit.”

As the two senior brothers chatted, they entered the residence at the city’s center.

This city was a temporary wartime stronghold. Everything was crude—including this residence that represented the center of authority. The courtyard walls were even riddled with cracks.

Upon entering the main hall, Zhao Zhen reported the situation to Wei Tianxiong, Chu Jing, and Gu Changping.

These three were the commanders of this conflict, with Wei Tianxiong as the leader. They worked harmoniously together. Though Wei Tianxiong was arrogant, his strength and insight surpassed the other two.

Chu Jing’s strategy and Gu Changping’s steadiness were also qualities Wei Tianxiong appreciated.

Wei Tianxiong’s mindset had also begun to change. He realized that aside from a heaven-favored genius like Yuan Li, the other disciples of the Clear Sky Sect were also worthy of expectation and cultivation.

Li Qingqiu was right—a sect that wanted to grow strong could not rely solely on combat geniuses like Yuan Li; it also needed talent in other areas.

After Zhao Zhen finished his report, Gu Changping sighed. “You two senior brothers are truly formidable. The number of Spirit Sense Realm cultivators you’ve killed exceeds the total number of Spirit Sense Realm disciples in the sect.”

Such a comparison highlighted Yuan Li’s terrifying strength even more.

In other words, if Yuan Li were an enemy, and without Li Qingqiu present, he alone could slaughter the entire Clear Sky Sect. Just thinking about it made Gu Changping shudder.

The Sect Master’s judgment was truly extraordinary. Even when Yuan Li had faced widespread doubt in his early years, Li Qingqiu had continued to cultivate him.

The stronger Yuan Li became, the more it proved Li Qingqiu’s vision.

Because of this, many people were now looking forward to Hu Yan’s performance. They believed he still hid even greater talent.

Not only Hu Yan—even Yin Jingxing, who had yet to join the sect, was highly anticipated. Many knew that Li Qingqiu had sent Shen Yue and Jiang Zhaoxia to bring back his youngest disciple. Such treatment alone proved how terrifying that disciple’s talent must be.

Zhao Zhen grinned. “Of course. With Third Senior Brother and me working together, no one from the Myriad Yin Sect can stop us.”

Wei Tianxiong snorted. “With Yuan Li teaming up with anyone, no one can stop him.”

Zhao Zhen didn’t mind and continued smiling proudly.

Yuan Li looked at Wei Tianxiong and said, “During today’s battle, I sensed a mysterious Spiritual Sense observing me, but I couldn’t locate it. They might be planning something against me.”

He was powerful now, but he did not take everything upon himself. He shared his concerns openly because he trusted Wei Tianxiong, trusted Chu Jing and Gu Changping, and trusted the Clear Sky Sect.

He had never fought alone, nor did he fight merely for killing.

Wei Tianxiong nodded. “There are only two possibilities: either they’ll go all out to assassinate you, or they’ll find a way to bypass you.”

This was what Yuan Li admired most about Wei Tianxiong—his ability to simplify complex uncertainties.

“Starting tomorrow, aside from your two teams, Ji Ya’s team will join you. The three teams will act together. Even if you encounter heavy encirclement, you’ll be able to hold out until we arrive.”

Wei Tianxiong continued. He was not worried about Yuan Li at all. As long as no Heaven-Connecting Radiance Realm cultivator intervened, no one could stop him.

If such a great cultivator did intervene, it would certainly be to target this stronghold—not just to kill a Spirit Sense Realm cultivator.

Yuan Li asked with some concern, “If that’s the case, will the other fronts and the main base become weak points?”

Wei Tianxiong replied indifferently, “You can’t cover every front. War always involves death—so long as fewer die, it’s fine. As for the main base, I’m not being arrogant—even if the Myriad Yin Sect’s three great cultivators attack, I can hold out until the Sect Master arrives.”

The bold confidence he suddenly displayed stunned everyone present.

In truth, none of them fully understood how strong Wei Tianxiong was—but they could sense that his strength was unfathomable. Otherwise, the Sect Master would not have entrusted him with such responsibility.

“But those three great cultivators have been in the Heaven-Connecting Radiance Realm for many years. If you and the Sect Master face them, wouldn’t you be at a disadvantage?” Gu Changping asked hesitantly.

Wei Tianxiong let out a disdainful laugh, leaving Gu Changping puzzled.

Chu Jing, however, understood and asked, “Hall Master Wei believes those three are no match for the Sect Master?”

Wei Tianxiong snorted. “Yuan Li’s dominance in the Spirit Sense Realm is the same dominance your Sect Master has in the Heaven-Connecting Radiance Realm. Yuan Li can achieve this just after breaking through—your Sect Master can do the same, even more so. You have no idea how strong your Sect Master truly is.”

Those words stunned everyone present—including Yuan Li and Zhao Zhen.

They all knew Li Qingqiu was powerful—but the higher the realm, the harder it was to maintain such dominance. Did this mean Li Qingqiu’s talent was even more terrifying than Yuan Li’s?

“When no one believed in Yuan Li, why was the Sect Master so certain? Have you considered that he himself possesses the same strength as Yuan Li—or that Yuan Li’s strength may even stem from him?” Wei Tianxiong asked mockingly.

He knew Yuan Li’s Ancient Sacred Body had nothing to do with Li Qingqiu—but he believed that Yuan Li’s awakening was inseparable from him.

These words caused everyone’s expressions to change drastically. Following his reasoning, they felt as if a veil had been lifted.

Yuan Li, in particular, felt even more grateful toward Li Qingqiu. Reflecting on the past, it seemed his master had always known how strong he would become—perhaps even testing him, waiting for him to reach this level.

Wei Tianxiong looked at Yuan Li and said slowly, “Yuan Li, you are indeed very strong now. But your strength requires sacrifice to trigger it—that’s where you fall short of your master. He has never needed to sacrifice anyone. The Clear Sky Sect has developed remarkably well. Overseas, I’ve never seen a sect whose leader protects it so well.”

Those words struck Yuan Li like a blade, causing him to frown.

Zhao Zhen opened his mouth, wanting to defend Yuan Li—but thinking of his mother, Ku Yi, and Ku Er, he found himself unable to speak.

Wei Tianxiong continued, “In your eyes, the Sect Master seems carefree, as if he has never experienced hardship. But as far as I know, he was an orphan from childhood. His master was often away, and he raised his junior brothers and sisters alone. At sixteen, his master left, and he led them to build the Clear Sky Sect into what it is today. Not one of his junior brothers or sisters has been lost. Is that luck? No—it’s because he is strong enough to protect them. Yuan Li, you are strong now—but not enough. You must become as strong as your master, even stronger.”

“Do you know why you must surpass him? Because your master has endured for too long. If anything were to happen to his junior brothers or sisters, I cannot imagine what he would become. If that day comes, I hope you can uphold the Clear Sky Sect—and uphold your master’s belief. Your greatest responsibility has never been to protect the sect, but to protect the master who has treated you best!”

His words struck like thunder, shaking everyone deeply.

They had never thought of the Sect Master from this perspective—never even considered that he might need protection.

Yuan Li and Zhao Zhen were the most shaken. They had never thought about becoming strong to protect their master. In their eyes, their master was invincible—someone who could withstand even the collapse of the heavens. They believed that safeguarding the sect was the greatest way to repay him.

But following Wei Tianxiong’s reasoning, they realized that if anything happened to their martial uncles and aunts, they could not imagine what their master would become—or what would happen to the Clear Sky Sect.

After the shock came deep guilt and self-reproach.

They had both lost loved ones, yet they had only focused on their own suffering—ignoring everything their master had borne for them.

They had never considered what their master might face.

Wei Tianxiong stared at Yuan Li and said, “Of course, I’m not saying this to make you worry. On the contrary, I want you to trust your master—just as he once trusted you. Greater crises will come in the future, but this one will not bring him down. What you need to do is grow stronger as quickly as possible, stand shoulder to shoulder with your master, and share his burdens.”