Chapter 364 Gazing Directly at Heavenly Might

With the New Year Festival approaching, the entire Ancient Great Mountain Range overflowed with a lively and celebratory atmosphere. Especially this year, the Clear Sky Sect had defeated the Myriad Yin Sect. This was the first time in their history that they had overcome an immortal cultivation sect.

This battle proved that the Clear Sky Sect was not merely capable of dominating the mortal world—even within the immortal cultivation world, it possessed formidable competitiveness.

Judging from the length of the battlefront alone, being able to crush the Myriad Yin Sect within a single year was unquestionably an extremely powerful achievement.

Li Qingqiu also became increasingly busy. Every day, each hall came looking for him with matters to discuss.

In his view, the hall that had improved the fastest was the Heavenly Works Hall. The reason the Clear Sky Sect had been able to push the battlefront so far was largely due to the Heavenly Works Hall’s speed in constructing Teleportation Formations.

At present, the Heavenly Works Hall possessed the greatest number of disciples among all halls. None of the other halls dared to voice objections because the stronger the Heavenly Works Hall became, the faster the Clear Sky Sect would develop.

The number of Heavenly Works Hall disciples had already reached eleven hundred.

The Heavenly Works Hall also enjoyed the best treatment.

Xiao Wuqing arrived within the courtyard. After bowing in salute, he said, “Reporting to the Sect Master, we still haven’t found Wan Feng.”

Li Qingqiu held the disciple roster provided by the Free Spirit Hall in his hands and replied, “If he can’t be found, then forget it. Everyone has their own aspirations.”

Ever since Li Qingqiu had acknowledged Lin Lingzhou, he had never seen Wan Feng again. Lin Lingzhou had come seeking him out, hoping he would send people to locate Wan Feng.

Li Qingqiu had sent people searching for several days, yet they still failed to find him. With the current influence of the Clear Sky Sect, the fact that they still could not locate Wan Feng could only mean one thing—

Wan Feng was deliberately avoiding the Clear Sky Sect.

Xiao Wuqing nodded before beginning to discuss other matters.

To him, Wan Feng was merely a minor character and not worth caring about.

Beginning next year, the Clear Sky Sect would fully explore the Western Region Perilous Land and the vast territories further west, annexing portions of the lands formerly belonging to the Myriad Yin Sect.

At the same time, Li Qingqiu would also dispatch personnel southward to establish an intelligence network within the Heavenly Nether Sea.

Intelligence was critically important.

As long as he did not carry out large-scale invasion campaigns, he would not form enmity with other immortal cultivation forces.

Li Qingqiu planned to place Xie Shu, who possessed the Illusion Technique Genius Fate Trait, in charge of this matter. Xie Shu’s strength was already formidable, and it was time for him to stand on his own.

As for disciples who had already made names for themselves and established merits, Li Qingqiu no longer paid excessive attention to them.

The ones he focused on were the disciples whose blades had yet to leave their sheaths.

What gratified him was that there were still many such disciples.

Generation after generation, the Clear Sky Sect was continuously spreading branches and leaves like a flourishing tree.

Of course, there were disadvantages as well.

Once these disciples became powerful, they would either be recruited into internal factions or form factions of their own. Once they gained influence, they would strive for greater benefits and authority, thereby impacting the sect’s internal structure.

More and more names began reaching Li Qingqiu’s ears.

These people had already begun causing Xiao Wuqing difficulties. Especially after the war ended and merits were rewarded, the number of troublesome individuals for Xiao Wuqing to handle only continued to grow.

Although the rewards had already been distributed, Li Qingqiu planned to hold a discussion assembly within the Profound Heart Hall after the New Year and publicly bestow honors upon the meritorious disciples one by one, allowing all sect disciples to understand that contributions would indeed be rewarded.

All these matters were considered happy troubles for Li Qingqiu.

Although they delayed his cultivation, he could genuinely feel the sect becoming stronger.

The number of newly added Spirit Perception Realm disciples this year was ten times greater than last year’s.

That alone was enough to prove the Clear Sky Sect was entering an explosive growth phase.

By the time Xiao Wuqing finished asking about various matters, nearly half an hour had already passed.

Li Qingqiu stretched lazily and stood up.

Rather than returning to his Cave Dwelling, he instead went to check on Yin Jingxing.

Toward this little disciple, Li Qingqiu held extremely high expectations.

The Undying Overlord Body had allowed Yuan Li to shine brilliantly and had even played a key role during the war against the Myriad Yin Sect.

How could Li Qingqiu not look forward to the Extreme Yang True Body?

Not only was Li Qingqiu busy—other upper-ranking sect members were equally occupied.

As the halls became increasingly divided and specialized, the pressure they faced had already become comparable to what Li Qingqiu experienced ten years ago.

Li Qingqiu was cultivating disciples.

They were doing the same.

As the Clear Sky Sect advanced, it continuously refined its power structure.

Within the Hall of Vast Fate—

Numerous disciples gathered outside a great hall, pointing and whispering toward the interior.

Inside stood Chu Jing, Lin Lingzhou, and three Immortal Protection Guards, while a male disciple was desperately trying to explain something to them.

Hall Master Yang Jueding, along with the deputy hall master and the elders, stood to one side with ugly expressions on their faces.

“That’s enough. Stop talking. If you are innocent, the sect will naturally clear your name. Go with them.”

Yang Jueding spoke in a heavy voice, interrupting the disciple’s words, causing the male disciple to reveal a bitter expression.

Once taken away by the Immortal Protection Guards, there would no longer be any room for reversal.

Chu Jing wasted no words. He flicked his sleeve and turned around. Two Immortal Protection Guards immediately stepped forward, seized the male disciple’s arms, and escorted him away.

Lin Lingzhou secretly sighed emotionally.

This Lord Jing was truly formidable.

He did not give the hall master any face at all.

Li Qingqiu had arranged for Lin Lingzhou to enter the Immortal Protection Guards. Initially, Lin Lingzhou had felt the Immortal Protection Guards possessed very few members, but after recently following them in their duties, he discovered that the Immortal Protection Guards wielded enormous authority.

This made him even more grateful toward Li Qingqiu.

He truly felt that Eldest Senior Brother treated him as a trusted confidant.

The cultivation levels of the Immortal Protection Guards disciples were all extremely high, yet none of them looked down upon Lin Lingzhou for only just beginning cultivation.

On the contrary, they liked Lin Lingzhou very much, leaving him somewhat overwhelmed by the kindness.

The Immortal Protection Guards possessed extremely high personal loyalty toward Li Qingqiu. Even the lowest among them had ninety-four points of loyalty, so naturally they extended their goodwill to those Li Qingqiu cared for.

Additionally, Lin Lingzhou’s story itself was deeply moving, so they held him in high regard.

They all knew that with Lin Lingzhou’s relationship to the Sect Master, his cultivation would sooner or later catch up.

After leaving the Hall of Vast Fate, Chu Jing suddenly turned his head toward Lin Lingzhou and said, “There are still many troublesome matters today. You should return and cultivate first. Cultivation is the most important thing for you.”

Lin Lingzhou nodded, then bowed respectfully toward Chu Jing and the three Immortal Protection Guards before heading back toward his courtyard.

Along the way back, he looked at the surrounding scenery and the disciples constantly passing by. Satisfaction filled his heart, and he even felt as though all of this were merely a dream.

Back at the Heavenly Clear Immortal Sect, his status had been even lower than that of the Clear Sky Sect’s menial disciples.

Yet now, Li Qingqiu had directly elevated him to the heavens.

How could he not feel emotional?

Before walking very far, he passed by a Martial Arena where several hundred people had gathered, creating a lively atmosphere.

He shifted his gaze toward the platform.

The two people fighting atop it were both very young.

They were none other than Xiao Wuming and Li Shoumin engaged in a Dao Duel.

The two continuously unleashed spells while their figures intertwined and crossed, dazzling the spectators.

Neither specialized in a single path. They were relatively orthodox immortal cultivators, and their battles were extremely entertaining to watch.

Lin Lingzhou arrived at the back of the crowd, observing the battle while listening to others introduce the two combatants.

Very quickly, he learned their identities.

Li Shoumin was actually his martial nephew.

Lin Lingzhou had quite a good impression of Li Sifeng because Li Sifeng had treated him warmly.

After learning that these two were disciples personally nurtured by Eldest Senior Brother, Lin Lingzhou admired Li Qingqiu even more.

Had he not known the backgrounds of Xiao Wuming and Li Shoumin, he would have assumed they were disciples of extremely high status within the sect because the two appeared extraordinarily powerful.

Clang! Clang! Clang……

Li Shoumin rapidly leaped about, dodging flying knives one after another as he retreated to the edge of the Dao Duel Platform.

Just as he was about to twist his body, Xiao Wuming suddenly appeared beside him like a venomous serpent, holding a small blade before his throat.

Li Shoumin’s body instantly stiffened.

Xiao Wuming expressionlessly said, “You lost.”

Hearing this, Li Shoumin took a deep breath before helplessly replying, “You won again.”

The corners of Xiao Wuming’s lips rose before he withdrew his hand.

The two shared an excellent relationship and often sparred together. Xiao Wuming was twenty years older than Li Shoumin, so he absolutely had to win. As for Li Shoumin, losing to Xiao Wuming did not discourage him.

Once the two had determined victory and defeat, enthusiastic cheers erupted beneath the platform.

Lin Lingzhou watched enviously, wondering when he himself would become that powerful.

Thinking about the rumors surrounding the Primordial Unity Scripture, his eyes became fiery.

He turned and left, his footsteps noticeably faster than before.

Several dozen zhang away, at the edge of a forest, two disciples stared at Lin Lingzhou’s departing figure.

“So he’s the Sect Master’s little junior brother?” one short and plump male disciple asked in a low voice.

The other disciple was a graceful female disciple. Expressionlessly, she replied, “That’s right. It’s him. Remember his appearance.”

The short and plump male disciple nodded.

Both looked at Lin Lingzhou with malicious intent in their eyes.

……

A new year arrived.

As the discussion assembly within the Profound Heart Hall commenced, over ten thousand True Transmission Disciples witnessed those disciples with outstanding merits receiving official honors.

Among them, Zhao Zhen was bestowed the title of True Lord, becoming the disciple who received the greatest promotion.

No one objected to his reward because during the war against the Myriad Yin Sect, Zhao Zhen’s performance had been exceptionally dazzling, second only to Yuan Li.

After the Profound Heart Hall assembly concluded, all disciples’ rewards were publicly posted, greatly boosting the morale of the entire sect.

As long as one contributed enough, inheritances, magic implements, Cave Dwellings, heavenly treasures, authority, and countless other rewards would all become available.

Even those without aristocratic family backgrounds could rise through their own efforts.

For the vast majority of disciples, this was an immensely inspiring matter.

Only in February did Li Qingqiu finally become somewhat free.

The tasks for each hall in the new year had already been issued, and he prepared to focus his energy upon his own cultivation and nurturing disciples.

On a cliffside—

Li Qingqiu sat cross-legged at the edge of the precipice, while Yin Jingxing meditated beside him.

Compared to Li Qingqiu’s immortal-like bearing, the small-bodied Yin Jingxing appeared utterly lacking in confidence.

He had already cultivated a trace of Vital Energy, yet he could sense that his aptitude was extremely poor. Especially after getting to know his senior brothers and sisters, he became increasingly lacking in confidence.

“You like looking at the sun, don’t you? If your heart feels confused, then simply raise your head, cast aside distracting thoughts, and continue cultivating.”

Li Qingqiu’s voice entered Yin Jingxing’s ears.

Yin Jingxing opened his eyes and looked toward him before unable to resist asking, “Master, don’t you think my habit is very strange?”

After arriving at the Clear Sky Sect, he realized nobody liked staring at the sun. Most people even found it blinding. This caused him to recall why Shen Yue and the others had always hesitated when speaking to him before.

“Not strange at all. On the contrary, this may actually be your talent. After all, ordinary people cannot stare directly at the sun for long periods. To all living things, the sun is akin to Heavenly Might. Since you can gaze directly upon Heavenly Might, you must possess extraordinary talent hidden within you.”

Li Qingqiu’s words caused Yin Jingxing’s expression to change.

It was the emotional look of someone who had finally been acknowledged.

“Master, do I really have talent?” Yin Jingxing asked joyfully, finally revealing the lively nature hidden deep within him.

Li Qingqiu opened his eyes and gazed toward the sun.

“Of course you do. I understand your potential better than anyone because I also enjoy gazing at the sun.”

Yin Jingxing’s eyes widened, filled with astonishment and delight.