Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 40 Little Immortal

The mighty river flows on, its surface shimmering in the sunlight; it is the largest river in the world.

This is Qinghe, the Qinghe Sword Sect's Qinghe.

Many years ago, this river was originally called the White River. It got its name because the current was so rapid that it was rarely calm and the surface of the river was covered with white waves.

The Baihe River has nine bends and thirteen turns, and it breaches its banks almost every year, causing immense suffering to the people on both banks.

Later, an immortal came here, leveled the riverbed, eliminated the floods, and transformed the turbulent river into a clear and tranquil one, hence the name Qinghe (Clear River).

After controlling the floods, the immortal did not leave. Instead, he molded a city out of clay in the middle of the river and founded a sect.

Thus, the Qinghe Sword Sect was established and has been passed down to this day.

People on both sides of the strait are deeply grateful for the immortal's grace, and thus often burn incense and pray on both sides of the strait. The incense is most abundant during the first month of the lunar year, which can turn the Qinghe River into a black river.

Most cultivation sects choose locations deep in the mountains and forests, far from the hustle and bustle of the world.

However, the Qinghe Sword Sect is different. Only newly initiated disciples are sent to the deep mountain dojo for arduous training. Once they are recognized by their elders, they will move into the river city and become formal disciples of the Qinghe Sword Sect.

The reason is simple: once one's cultivation reaches a certain level, it is time to protect mortals.

Living deep in the mountains, how can one witness the suffering of the people? The disciples of the Qinghe Sword Sect not only have to cultivate diligently every day, but also regularly go out to train, helping the weak and punishing the strong, and slaying demons and monsters.

This is what makes the Qinghe Sword Sect unique. Others might fear that their cultivation would be delayed, but the Qinghe Sword Sect's cultivation is for the purpose of upholding justice and chivalry.

This is also the life motto of Zhang Qi, the head of the Qinghe Sect.

He was orphaned at a young age and lived with his adoptive mother. During his youth, he suffered a great tragedy when his adoptive mother was killed by a villain.

At that time, the demonic path was rampant, and there were many demons who killed people to practice their skills. Zhang Qi was lucky enough to escape with his life, and from then on, he hated the demons to the bone.

Later, by chance, he began to cultivate, and his cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds. His swordsmanship became divine, and he terrified both great and small demons.

Even with eighteen demon lords present, none dared to withstand Zhang Qi's sword strike alone.

Even after becoming the best in the world, Zhang Qi remained true to himself.

He cultivates not for immortality, but only to eliminate demons.

He had already attained enlightenment and should have ascended to the immortal realm at any time, but he preferred to waste his lifespan and stay in the mortal world, all for the sake of eradicating evil completely.

One man, one sword, and he dominated for a thousand years, forcing all the big and small demons to cower like turtles.

Many cultivators seek longevity, and it's already considered good if they can do some good deeds occasionally. How can they put the cart before the horse? The Qinghe Sword Sect's style has led to fewer and fewer disciples.

No one knows how many more years this number one in the world can last.

Anyway, the cultivation world is waiting. Whether Zhang Qi finally dies here or can't help but ascend, it's a huge deal for the entire cultivation world.

Those who are determined have already begun preparations, whether they follow the righteous path or the demonic path.

Su Chunyi returned to River City with the amber containing the cursed spirit child. He originally intended to leave behind the secret technique and the cursed spirit child before departing, as there were still unfinished matters in Cui County.

Researching secret techniques to rescue cursed spirits could be entirely delegated to elders within the sect.

However, Su Chunyi was summoned by the sect leader, Zhang Qi.

Su Chunyi was extremely surprised. Zhang Qi rarely concerned himself with sect affairs anymore, so why would he suddenly summon her, a fifth-generation disciple?

However, since the sect leader had summoned him, Su Chunyi dared not delay and hurriedly went to the main hall to pay his respects.

The Qinghe Sword Sect doesn't have many rules, and there's no need for worldly formalities like burning incense and bathing when paying respects to the sect leader. As soon as Su Chun arrived at the gate, a disciple naturally opened it for her and invited her inside.

The Qinghe Sword Sect doesn't care about pomp and circumstance or magnificence. The main hall is made of a single piece of stone, or even just ordinary stone, but the stone walls are covered with various incantations and sword moves.

All disciples of the Qinghe Sword Sect can leave their cultivation and swordsmanship insights on the stone wall, regardless of seniority.

However, if you dare to share your insights, you must be prepared for them to be learned or criticized.

Su Chun glanced at it and saw many new engravings. Some had been scraped off, presumably because they had been criticized, while others were densely packed with several different handwritings, suggesting that they had been carefully studied by the disciples and that someone might have come up with new insights.

Outsiders only know that the Qinghe Sword Technique is the best in the world, assuming it's all thanks to Zhang Qi's excellent teaching. Few people know that the Qinghe Sword Sect has such a rule: as long as one is formally accepted into the sect, they can learn all the sect's spells and sword techniques without any further restrictions.

What skills one can develop depends entirely on one's talent and effort.

There is no distinction of rank or status in the way of the sword. Even Zhang Qi often studies the way of the sword and leaves his insights on the stone wall. However, he never leaves his name, and others do not know which move was left by the sect leader.

Su Chunyi once saw a senior disciple leave behind his swordsmanship insights, only to be thoroughly refuted the next day. Unwilling to admit defeat, the disciple debated swordsmanship with the anonymous person for ten days before finally conceding defeat in defeat.

It was only later that he learned that the one who criticized him was none other than the sect leader, Zhang Qi.

If the Qinghe Sword Sect has anything of utmost importance, the sect leader is number one, and the Boundless Sword Wall is number two.

Su Chunyi also learned her swordsmanship from the stone wall. If the sect leader hadn't summoned her today, she would have really wanted to stop and observe.

Thinking of this, Su Chunyi couldn't help but wonder why the sect leader had summoned her. Was it because there was something wrong with the secret technique and the evil cursed spirit child? Or was he blaming her for wasting time and failing to find the mastermind behind the Cui County incident?

Thinking of this, Su Chunyi couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

This was her first time going out to gain experience, and she was really afraid that she would not do well and bring shame to the Qinghe Sword Sect.

After passing through the Boundless Sword Wall, Su Chunyi arrived at the main hall.

In the center, an elderly man with white hair sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, holding a book in his left hand and a chicken leg in his right. He ate and read at the same time, getting his beard and robe stained with oil.

This man is extremely rude and has absolutely no manners.

But this disheveled old man is none other than Zhang Qi, the number one person in the world today and the leader of the Qinghe Sword Sect.

Su Chunyi was not surprised at all; the Qinghe Sword Sect had never paid attention to such things.

"Disciple Su Chunyi greets Sect Leader."

Just as Su Chunyi was about to kneel down, Zhang Qi said impatiently, "No need, no need."

Su Chun got up and waited for Zhang Qi's question.

The old man put down his book, but not his chicken leg. He devoured it in a few bites, a faint light gleaming between his fingers, before the remaining bones disappeared.

This was sword energy of extreme precision, instantly slicing the bone into something smaller than dust, turning it directly into nothingness.

Only then did Zhang Qicai say to Su Chunyi, "Su girl, I remember this is your first time going out to train. Among the fifth-generation disciples, you have the best talent. You are also the first one to go out to train after reaching the Profound Realm."

Su Chun quickly replied, "Thank you for the compliment, Sect Leader."

Zhang Qi then asked, "Not to be a compliment, but you are indeed exceptionally talented. I just didn't expect you to have such a good fate. I remember before you left, your master cast a divination for you, and the result didn't seem too good?"

Su Chunyi replied truthfully: "Reporting to the sect leader, my master said that my journey is fraught with both fortune and misfortune, and I need to act with caution. I have indeed encountered many difficulties in the past few days, but I have gained something and should not fail the sect's trust."

Zhang Qi said, "Yes, yes, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. That's the problem. Your fortune has arrived, and misfortune is not far away."

Su Chun was puzzled and quickly asked for clarification.

"Please enlighten me, Sect Leader."

Zhang Qi pointed his index finger, and hundreds of sword lights materialized out of thin air, transforming into several lines of text, which were the opening lines of the Ksitigarbha Sutra.

"The secret technique you brought back is quite remarkable; it even alarmed my old friend who lives far away in Green Coffin Mountain. If you are willing to give this secret technique to the Incense Burning Sect, they are willing to give you a Soul Cleansing Flower."

“This…” Su Chun hesitated and said, “Sect Leader, this secret technique does not belong to me. He gave it to the Qinghe Sword Sect for free just to save people. I have no right to make a decision for such a noble person.”

Zhang Qi said, "Have you thought it through? The Soul Cleansing Flower is no ordinary treasure. You're already at the Profound Realm, and the next step is the Nascent Soul Realm. Do you know that there are only two reliable ways to advance to the Nascent Soul Realm? The Soul Cleansing Flower is the best choice."

Su Chun nodded. As a disciple of the Qinghe Sword Sect, how could she not know?

The Gang Sha Realm is about tempering the physical body and breaking through the limits of mortals; the Hua Shen Realm is about enlightening the divine soul, allowing it to transform and solidify into a physical form. Theoretically, a person in the Hua Shen Realm can possess another body countless times, and under normal circumstances, their divine soul will no longer be damaged.

Therefore, the Nascent Soul Realm is also known as "Minor Immortality".

(End of this chapter)