Chapter 360 ·The Pinnacle of Sword Qi

From ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍a Martial Arts Sect to an Immortal Cultivation Sect

Song ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Qianxiang looked at Yan Qing above her. She did not even frown—against such a weakling, even if he provoked her, her heart would not stir in the slightest.

She ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍directly ignored Yan Qing, stepped forward, and walked past him toward the mountain.

Although ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Clear Sky Mountain was the main peak, pilgrims came year-round to worship the Innate Five Tais. Even without wearing the sect’s robe, Song Qianxiang did not arouse suspicion.

Those ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍who could enter had already passed inspection—at least, most disciples believed so.

Seeing ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍himself ignored, Yan Qing could not help but think of Yun Cai.

Ever since he was defeated by Yun Cai, that woman had never looked at him directly again. Every time they met, she ignored him.

He had often thought about regaining his honor, but whenever he saw Yun Cai, he could not muster the courage.

Losing to one woman was already humiliating—how could he tolerate being disregarded by another?

“Stop!”

Yan Qing roared, turning and pointing at Song Qianxiang’s back.

She stopped, slightly tilting her head and glancing at him from the corner of her eye.

In that instant, an overwhelmingly terrifying pressure descended upon Yan Qing. His face changed drastically, his entire body turning ice-cold as if trapped in a frozen abyss.

An unprecedented fear surged from the depths of his heart. He could not move. It felt as though countless swords had sealed his soul, freezing even his spirit sense.

Yan Qing thought of the Sword Demon’s Dharma Manifestation Domain, and despair appeared on his face.

……

Li Qingqiu sat within the Lingxiao Courtyard, waiting for Yin Jingxing to appear on the Dao Lineage Panel.

Once he saw Yin Jingxing’s portrait, he opened it and confirmed that the personal panel matched what he had seen during the Great Destiny Physique Search. Only then did he feel fully reassured.

Even if the names matched, there was always the fear of a mistake.

Fortunately, Shen Yue was reliable.

Having been away for four to five years, Shen Yue and Jiang Zhaoxia would not be dispatched again for the time being—Li Qingqiu wanted them to focus on cultivation.

Strength was the most crucial factor. He did not want them to fall out of the sect’s top tier.

He then began planning Yin Jingxing’s cultivation.

First, the Extreme Yang True Body must be awakened. The earlier, the better—only then could Yin Jingxing’s aptitude improve dramatically. At present, his talent and comprehension were both extremely poor. Pouring resources into him now would be pure waste.

Li Qingqiu did not want to wait until Yin Jingxing grew older. He wanted him to surpass Yuan Li, which would also stimulate Yuan Li further.

Ever since Yuan Li awakened, Xu Ning, Zhao Zhen, Ji Ya, and Hu Yan had all become more diligent, their strength rising rapidly. Healthy internal competition was clearly necessary.

Yin Jingxing was still too young. Li Qingqiu did not want to pressure him too much, but neither would he delay too long.

Before that, he needed to guide Yin Jingxing psychologically—he had to make him look forward to awakening.

Li Qingqiu only feared that Yin Jingxing might resist. That would make things difficult.

If so, he would not force him. At worst, he would replicate the Extreme Yang True Body and jump into the flames himself.

Only at night did Li Qingqiu return to his cave dwelling.

The return of Shen Yue and the others put him in an excellent mood—he even chatted for a long time with Lin Chuan and Nangong E.

……

After the war, Wei Tianxiong handled the aftermath, while Chu Jing, who had returned early, began reorganizing the sect’s internal affairs.

During the past year, the sect’s attention had been focused outward, leading to many internal issues. Chu Jing was now settling accounts.

Near noon, Li Qingqiu arrived at the Lingxiao Courtyard, where Chu Jing, who had been waiting, began his report.

Many clans had taken advantage of the war to bribe those in power within various halls, inserting their own descendants. Others had used their authority for personal gain, even extending their reach into the Scripture Pavilion.

Li Qingqiu frowned as he read the compiled charges.

Individually, the amounts they embezzled were not large—but combined, it was a staggering sum.

He had been within the sect the entire time—yet they still dared to act so recklessly?

What surprised him was that no members of the Zhu clan were implicated. It seemed his earlier warning had been effective.

“Sect Master, should we expand the Immortal Guard?” Chu Jing suddenly asked.

The Immortal Guard currently had only fifty members, directly under Chu Jing, responsible for internal investigations. Their loyalty to Li Qingqiu was extremely high, and the resources invested in them had paid off—half had already reached the Spirit Sense Realm, while the weakest were at the ninth level of the Nourishing Origin Realm.

“The Immortal Guard values strength, not numbers,” Li Qingqiu replied, giving Chu Jing a meaningful glance.

Chu Jing lowered his head and said no more.

After finishing the report, Li Qingqiu said, “Handle them according to sect rules. Show no mercy.”

“Yes!”

Chu Jing accepted the order and departed.

After he left, Li Qingqiu muttered, “They’ve taken more than I ever dared to…”

As the sect grew stronger, so did the constraints on him. The upper ranks did not force him directly, but used morality and sentiment to pressure him, making it difficult for him to claim resources freely.

This also limited how much he could nurture the disciples he favored.

He understood that corruption could never be fully eradicated—removing one group would only lead to another. This was the burden of leadership: constantly adjusting the structure based on circumstances.

Stretching, he stood up to cultivate.

To face endless internal and external troubles, he had to remain the strongest. Only then could he avoid being devoured by competing forces.

Li Qingqiu was always clear-headed—loyalty could wane. He could not cling to sentiment and must recognize reality.

That day, the Sword Demon returned. He briefly reported the situation and tossed two storage pouches from the Nine Ying Elder onto the table, which surprised Li Qingqiu.

Without giving Li Qingqiu a chance to praise him, the Sword Demon left.

Watching his back, Li Qingqiu suddenly felt that sword cultivators were quite useful.

Each one was capable and efficient.

Among all halls, the Sword Sect had the fewest internal issues—proof of this.

Li Qingqiu took out the Sect Master Token, intending to summon Zhang Yuchun to inventory the pouches, but hesitated and put it away.

He could not always be so generous.

Picking up the storage pouches, he headed to his cave dwelling, intending to have Nangong E help him sort them.

……

Meanwhile, the Sword Demon returned to the Sword Sect and entered his courtyard.

The moment he stepped in, he stopped and turned his head.

Standing atop the courtyard wall was a woman in white—Song Qianxiang.

Seeing her, the Sword Demon frowned. “Why are you here?”

Looking down at him, she smiled. “I didn’t expect the renowned Sword Demon of the Azure Dragon Domain to serve a small sect. Li Qingqiu… Li Bai… could they be the same person?”

The Sword Demon replied calmly, “You’d best leave now. Don’t bring trouble upon yourself.”

“What? You think I’m not his match?”

“I’m standing here. What do you think?”

Song Qianxiang fell silent.

They had faced each other before, even fought multiple times, with no clear victor. Though she believed she was now stronger, she knew she could not subdue him.

“I’m already here. I plan to spar with him. Will you watch?” she asked.

Raising a brow, the Sword Demon said, “Has your Thousand-Aspect Sword Qi Scripture reached completion?”

She smiled confidently, saying nothing.

Silence fell again.

After a while, the Sword Demon asked, “Shall I deliver your challenge?”

“Of course. Otherwise, it would seem I came with ill intent. This battle can remain private.”

“Fine.”

Without further words, he turned and left.

……

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn—

Inside the Lingxiao Courtyard, Li Qingqiu poured tea for Song Qianxiang while observing her carefully, feeling uneasy.

She had infiltrated the Clear Sky Sect without him noticing at all.

Now that she stood before him, he could clearly perceive her.

Her aura was nearly nonexistent, yet the sword qi within her was terrifying—far surpassing even the Sword Demon at the ninth level of the Heaven-Connecting Radiance Realm.

In terms of sword qi alone, even Li Qingqiu was inferior.

He had never seen such pure, overwhelming sword qi. If it were unleashed, it could likely flatten the entire Taikun Mountain Range in moments.

Her presence served as a warning—he had relied too much on the Small Zhou Heavenly Net Formation. Yet Wei Tianxiong was not among the strongest at this level.

“Should I call you Li Qingqiu… or Li Bai?” Song Qianxiang asked with interest.

“Li Bai? How do you know that name?” Li Qingqiu asked in surprise.

She smiled. “You saved the treasured daughter of the Heavenly Clear Immortal Sect’s master and subdued the Sword Demon. These matters have spread throughout the Azure Dragon Domain. I’ve heard of you—just didn’t expect you to also be a sword cultivator.”

Li Qingqiu was surprised at how quickly news had spread. He suspected Zhou Linghuan had something to do with it.

“Enough talk. Spar with me. Regardless of the outcome, it will not be a grudge. I will not reveal your identity. I know only Li Qingqiu—not Li Bai,” she said.

Li Qingqiu did not answer immediately. Instead, he asked casually, “If I lose on my own territory, the cost is great. If you lose, you can return to the Azure Dragon Domain, forgotten. Does that seem fair?”

At this, the Sword Demon quietly lifted his tea and drank.

Song Qianxiang looked at Li Qingqiu. “What do you want? Sword techniques, artifacts—name your price.”

Li Qingqiu did not think it realistic to recruit her outright, but he sensed she possessed an extraordinary destiny.

“If you lose, you will join the Clear Sky Sect as a disciple for ten years and teach the Sword Sect. If you win, I will bring Shen Yue and Jiang Zhaoxia to join the Heavenly Sword Sect.”

As he spoke, the Sword Demon’s expression changed, and even Song Qianxiang showed surprise.

Such a massive wager!

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