Chapter 379 The Turning Point of Lin Xunfeng’s Life

When Zhou Linghuan saw Lin Xunfeng kneeling before her, she showed neither surprise nor displeasure.

Her expression remained calm.

“What grievance do you have?” Zhou Linghuan asked indifferently.

She had already lived for fifty-five years.

There was nothing she had not seen before.

People like Lin Xunfeng, who knelt and begged her for help, were far from uncommon.

Pretending not to notice Fang Shuang’s gaze, Lin Xunfeng quickly recounted the grievances between himself and the Yuan Clan.

He especially emphasized the girl named Wei Rong and described how miserable her current situation was.

Although Wei Rong was merely a miscellaneous disciple of the Heavenly Clear Immortal Sect, she could barely eat her fill or stay warm.

The disciples of the Yuan Clan frequently beat and kicked her.

Any disciple who tried helping her would also be taught a lesson by the Yuan Clan.

Over time, no one dared help her anymore.

Two days ago, Lin Xunfeng happened to pass by the place where Wei Rong lived and saw her being trampled beneath someone’s feet.

Thus, he stepped forward to stop them.

Unexpectedly, the other party immediately attacked him.

After Lin Xunfeng taught them a lesson, trouble followed shortly afterward.

That person was a member of the Yuan Clan.

He brought a large group to seek trouble with Lin Xunfeng.

Without even listening to his explanation, they directly surrounded and attacked him.

Lin Xunfeng, who was only at the Ninth Layer of the Nourishing Origin Realm, was beaten until he had absolutely no ability to resist.

In the end, he was even hung from a tree and mocked by passing disciples.

Originally, Lin Xunfeng did not wish to trouble Fang Shuang.

However, after recovering a small portion of his Vital Energy, he saw the Yuan Clan disciples dragging Wei Rong away while kicking her repeatedly.

Fearing something might happen to her, he finally sought out Fang Shuang.

After hearing Lin Xunfeng’s explanation, Zhou Linghuan looked at him and said, “Since that is the case, you need not seek out the Yuan Clan anymore. Return and continue cultivating.”

Lin Xunfeng did not reveal joy.

Instead, he cautiously asked, “Then… Wei Rong…”

“I shall investigate personally.”

Zhou Linghuan replied casually.

Lin Xunfeng immediately bowed repeatedly in thanks before also saluting Fang Shuang and quickly leaving.

After he descended the mountain, Fang Shuang looked toward Zhou Linghuan and said helplessly, “You’ve seen a joke today.”

Zhou Linghuan smiled.

“This matter brings him no benefits whatsoever. It clearly could have been resolved peacefully, yet he still insisted on acting. That is rather rare.”

Fang Shuang nodded.

“His character truly is quite good. That is also why I value him. Originally, I merely saved him casually, but the feelings he showed toward his disciples left a deep impression on me. If one nurtures such a person, at the very least, he will not forget kindness or betray benefactors.”

“What about his disciple? With disciples under him, he still dares to act so recklessly?”

“His disciple possesses no Spiritual Root and has already been sent away by him.”

“I see.”

Zhou Linghuan nodded.

She was only mildly curious about Lin Xunfeng and did not place him too heavily in her heart.

The Yuan Clan was indeed powerful, but within the Heavenly Clear Immortal Sect, no aristocratic family could threaten her.

The two women sat side by side upon the cliff and began discussing other matters.

“I’ve realized that I still cannot let him go.”

Zhou Linghuan sighed softly.

Fang Shuang revealed a smile.

“I truly never imagined that our fearless Fairy Linghuan would also fall for a man. I’m becoming more and more curious about that Li Bai.”

As Zhou Linghuan recalled the moments she had spent together with Li Qingqiu, she said softly,

“He’s different from other men. There’s a kind of temperament about him that I cannot describe. I just feel that he’s different from everyone else. I clearly warned myself not to become entangled with emotions, yet I always end up thinking about him. Especially whenever someone tries approaching me, I instinctively compare that person to him.”

Seeing the melancholic expression on Zhou Linghuan’s face, Fang Shuang’s expression became increasingly strange.

The two of them had grown up together since childhood.

Zhou Linghuan had always possessed a stronger personality than her.

This was the very first time Fang Shuang had ever seen Zhou Linghuan reveal such a feminine side.

Fang Shuang became interested in this Li Bai and began asking how exactly the two had met.

Zhou Linghuan did not hide anything.

The reason she came here today was precisely because she wanted to talk about these matters.

Otherwise, keeping everything bottled up for too long truly felt unbearable.

During the following days, Lin Xunfeng found himself unable to calm his mind.

Whenever he cultivated, thoughts of Wei Rong constantly surfaced.

How could he not understand that his actions would offend Fang Shuang and might even displease Zhou Linghuan?

It was simply that he could not care about those things.

If he had truly known how to assess situations and weigh benefits against losses, then he would never have rescued so many orphans in the first place, nor would he have left sorrowfully for the western regions.

From the very first day he entered the Heavenly Clear Immortal Sect, he had sworn to himself that he would no longer meddle in others’ affairs like before.

With such thoughts in mind, he deliberately avoided befriending others and rarely went outside.

But now…

Lin Xunfeng sighed.

He felt disappointed in himself.

Yet whenever he recalled Wei Rong’s eyes, he simply could not bear it.

He thought of the seven disciples he had left behind within the Nine Provinces.

Even the youngest, Li Sijin, was already forty-eight years old.

He wondered how they were doing now.

As Lin Xunfeng imagined meeting them again, he suddenly became somewhat afraid.

Afraid that by the time he saw his disciples again, they would already be old.

After all, within his memories, his disciples were forever young.

Five days later—

Lin Xunfeng could no longer endure it and finally decided to personally check whether Wei Rong had returned home.

Unless he saw the child’s safety with his own eyes, he simply could not rest at ease.

Yet this journey—

Would once again alter the trajectory of his life.

……

At the end of May, reports arrived from the Heavenly Nether Sea.

Wei Tianxiong had once again seized another island cluster belonging to Ziyang Island.

That island cluster was a trade center spanning ten thousand li and could bring the Clear Sky Sect a very impressive income.

Li Qingqiu remained highly confident in Wei Tianxiong.

Although there had been casualties throughout these years, everything overall had progressed smoothly.

He had already captured many resource strongholds belonging to Ziyang Island.

Li Qingqiu did not intend to directly annex all of Ziyang Island’s territory.

The Clear Sky Sect could not digest such vast lands for the time being.

However, they needed to occupy advantageous positions and establish Teleportation Formations so the Clear Sky Sect could officially root itself within the Heavenly Nether Sea.

Wei Tianxiong and the sect aristocratic families had already gradually begun contacting other immortal cultivation forces.

This was an unavoidable process.

Between immortal cultivation forces, relationships were not solely hostile.

Mutually beneficial cooperation was what the overwhelming majority of factions desired.

Up until today, the number of sects friendly toward the Clear Sky Sect had already reached four.

Of course, whether they were sincere still remained to be verified.

“My cultivation speed is faster than before, yet I’m still unsatisfied.”

Inside his cave dwelling, Li Qingqiu opened his eyes and thought silently.

He was already at the Third Layer of the Heaven-Connecting Radiance Realm, while the Fourth Layer also drew increasingly closer.

Yet every time he thought about the great demon at the Three Souls Converging into the Sea Realm that he had encountered before, his heart became restless with desire.

He urgently wished to reach even higher realms.

At the same time, he also understood that cultivation could not be rushed recklessly.

Thus, he relied upon Vast Righteous Qi to calm his mental state.

After his state of mind stabilized, he summoned the Dao Lineage Panel once more and again activated the search opportunity for a Great Destiny Physique.

Unfortunately, he still failed to discover one.

He did not feel disappointed.

If he himself did not possess one, that meant others probably did not either.

Only around dusk did Li Qingqiu finally leave his cave dwelling and walk toward the Lingxiao Courtyard.

Someone had already been waiting there for him.

It was Song Qianxiang.

Song Qianxiang stood atop the courtyard wall, gazing toward the setting sun.

Her white robes fluttered lightly, giving her an ethereal temperament completely detached from the mortal world.

Li Qingqiu walked into the Lingxiao Courtyard from the rear mountain and smiled as he asked while looking at her back,

“Miss Song, it’s rare for you to come looking for me. Why not come down and sit so we may speak properly?”

Song Qianxiang vanished from atop the wall instantly before appearing beside one of the long tables.

She pulled back a chair and sat down, her gaze fixed directly upon Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu sensed that her gaze was different from before.

It was overly serious.

He walked over and sat down opposite her, curiously looking at her.

“Although there is still time before the ten-year agreement expires, there are certain matters I must explain clearly to avoid misunderstandings.”

Song Qianxiang spoke seriously.

Li Qingqiu also became serious and quietly waited for her to continue.

“I come from the Heavenly Sword Sect. My grandfather is the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect. It is impossible for me to join the Clear Sky Sect.”

Song Qianxiang’s very first sentence caused disappointment to appear upon Li Qingqiu’s face.

Every month, he would take advantage of the opportunities during Song Qianxiang’s lectures to chat with her.

Her personal loyalty toward him had continuously risen.

Although it remained far from absolute loyalty, Li Qingqiu felt the two of them had already become friends.

After years of effort, hearing such an answer naturally stirred emotions within him.

Still, he was willing to respect Song Qianxiang’s choice.

After all, Song Qianxiang had contributed enormously toward the Sword Sect.

The Sword Sect’s overall strength was currently increasing rapidly.

Perhaps in the future, the Sword Sect would become the strongest hall within the Clear Sky Sect.

“The Famous Sword Heavenly Manor forged nine Divine Swords. One of them is currently within the Heavenly Sword Sect. I will return and compete for that Divine Sword. As for your Supreme Sword, you must protect it carefully. Once exposed, it will invite fatal disaster upon you.”

“You are indeed very powerful, but no matter how powerful you become, you must never grow careless. Countless peerless geniuses could only display their glory within the legends of history.”

Song Qianxiang stared at Li Qingqiu and spoke earnestly.

Hearing that the Heavenly Sword Sect also possessed a Divine Sword, Li Qingqiu was not surprised.

After all, he had once observed the look in Song Qianxiang’s eyes whenever she looked at the Supreme Sword.

There had been shock.

Realization.

And even a trace of envy.

The only thing absent was jealousy.

Li Qingqiu asked, “Miss Song, will we still meet again in the future?”

The corners of Song Qianxiang’s lips rose.

“With the aptitudes you and I possess, there will naturally be many opportunities for us to cross paths again in the future. I very much look forward to the day you storm into the Azure Dragon Domain.”

Although it was a pity that Li Qingqiu refused to head toward the Azure Dragon Domain now, she firmly believed that one day he would lead the Clear Sky Sect into the Azure Dragon Domain.

And when that day arrived—

It would surely stir storms and shake the heavens.

Li Qingqiu sighed emotionally.

“If that day truly comes, who knows how many centuries will already have passed? I only hope that when the time comes, Miss Song will not forget the friendship we currently share. Discussing the Sword Dao with you has been one of the rare joyful periods of my life.”

He spoke sincerely.

He himself also cultivated the sword.

Song Qianxiang’s understanding of the Sword Dao had given him many inspirations.

He even felt as though he had met a true confidant.

Song Qianxiang looked deeply at him and said,

“I only know Li Qingqiu. I do not know Li Bai.”

Before coming to the Clear Sky Sect, she had already heard rumors about a wandering cultivator named Li Bai subduing the Sword Demon.

She knew that if Li Qingqiu’s hidden identity were exposed, it would inevitably invite endless trouble.

Li Qingqiu smiled and nodded.

Soon afterward, he once again began discussing his confusion regarding the Sword Dao, hoping Song Qianxiang could enlighten him.

Song Qianxiang herself was also a sword fanatic.

The moment he brought up the Sword Dao, her attention was instantly seized.

Their discussion continued for two full hours.

Even when Zhang Yuchun, Li Sijin, and the others arrived at the courtyard late at night, none of them dared disturb the two.

After finishing their discussion of the Sword Dao, Li Qingqiu looked at Song Qianxiang and said,

“Miss Song, descend the mountain tomorrow.”

“The ten-year agreement has not yet ended. Don’t you think that’s a loss for you?” Song Qianxiang asked in surprise.

Li Qingqiu smiled freely and said,

“I’ve already gained a great deal. How could it be a loss?”

Song Qianxiang stood up, her gaze fixed upon him.

“Li Qingqiu, you are the first true friend I have ever made. In the future, I will give you a great gift.”

“Just wait.”

After speaking, she turned around and departed.

Moonlight spilled across her body, stretching her shadow long behind her.