From martial arts sects to immortality sects

Chapter 124 A Thousand Years of Man-Made Calamity
The army of seven states broke through the Martial God Pass. Wu Man'er of the Qingxiao Sect killed the demon general Chang Wu in three moves and broke through the city gate. This news spread throughout the world, and the people of the nine states saw the dawn.

However, after breaking through Wushen Pass, the army of the seven states did not advance unimpeded. They encountered obstacles from the imperial army and were embroiled in fierce battles. But their advance never stopped, and they approached Zhenyang Imperial City every day.

At the same time, the martial arts world was shaken. The three major sects of the dynasty actually joined forces with the imperial guards to attack the Qingxiao Sect. This incident shocked all the sects in the martial arts world. Many people felt that the three major sects of the dynasty had fallen into depravity, which also symbolized that the imperial court intended to take over the martial arts world. Before the storm caused by this incident had subsided, the news that the Taiwu Sect and the Liyin Sect had been wiped out by Xu Ning of the Qingxiao Sect was like an earthquake that swept through the martial arts world.

The world is undergoing tremendous changes, and the martial arts world is also facing an unprecedented upheaval.

The Taiwu Sect and the Liyin Sect are definitely among the top five sects in the world. Apart from the two holy lands in the north and south, the three sects of the dynasty are backed by the imperial court and dominate the martial arts world.

With just thirty-one people, they were able to destroy two powerful sects, which made people in the martial arts world curious about just how strong the Qingxiao Sect was.
Before Xu Ning and the others returned, the news of the destruction of Taiwu Sect and Liyin Sect had already reached Qingxiao Mountain, which excited all the disciples. Xu Ning's name overshadowed all the current most promising disciples.

On Qingxiao Mountain, in the construction area of ​​the Demon Control Hall, Li Qingqiu and Li Sijin stood side by side, watching their disciples busy at work.

“If my third senior brother hears about this, he’ll definitely be angry. He’ll think that he should be the one taking the spotlight,” Li Sijin said excitedly.

She had an excellent relationship with Xu Ning, like sisters, and had long been aware of the power struggle between Xu Ning and Jiang Zhaoxia.

Li Qingqiu rolled her eyes at her and said irritably, "Don't think of your third senior brother like that. He's not that petty."

Li Sijin didn't believe it and began to recount all of Jiang Zhaoxia's stingy behavior from childhood to adulthood.

"By the way, Senior Brother, I'm very curious about how the news of the Three Sects of the Dynasty attacking us spread. I heard from those pilgrims that the whole world knows about it," Li Sijin asked curiously.

Looking at Cheng Xiu and Cheng San who were busy, Li Qingqiu replied, "Naturally, someone is pushing things from behind the scenes. It's all thanks to your second senior brother and Hall Master Zhu."

"Is this the power of aristocratic families?"

Li Sijin seemed to be deep in thought. As the head of the cultivation hall, she was naturally approached by many people, but she found it annoying and was too lazy to communicate with them. However, now, she was beginning to change her mind.

Of the seven halls, her cultivation hall is the slowest to develop. If it weren't for their control over the sect's martial arts and the scripture pavilion, she herself would feel that the cultivation hall is useless. Her spiritual plants are still being tested and cannot be put into use for the time being.

Li Qingqiu glanced at her and said, "You don't need to think too much. Your spiritual plants are the most important thing for the development of the sect. As for interpersonal relationships, you don't need to do it. Not every hall needs to establish its own family network."

Upon hearing this, Li Sijin felt relieved. She sighed and said, "I finally managed to cultivate a spiritual plant, but later I found out that it was just a weed containing spiritual energy and was completely useless."

"Take your time. I've already given you a batch of herbs. If you can turn them into spiritual plants, and then have Chen Huilan refine them into pills, once you succeed, it will surely bring unimaginable benefits to the Qingxiao Sect. At that time, your contribution will be recorded on a monument."

Li Qingqiu comforted her, saying that Li Sijin's work was not just about cultivating spiritual plants; she also controlled the Earth Talisman Manual, and the Spirit Eagle Talisman she created had significant strategic value. Many disciples in the Cultivation Hall were studying the Spirit Eagle Talisman and were making considerable progress.

If Zhang Yuchun is a management talent, then Li Sijin is a technical talent. Even if she doesn't know how to deal with aristocratic families, it doesn't affect Li Qingqiu's expectations of her.

Moreover, in Li Qingqiu's view, it was actually a good thing that she did not associate with aristocratic families.

Li Qingqiu's praise for Li Sijin made her so excited that she couldn't wait to go back to the fields.

Just then, Li Qingqiu suddenly turned his head, looked into the distance, and frowned.

He sensed a very strange aura, one that he couldn't describe. It was a complex mix of evil, blood, and cold, reminding him of the legendary Netherworld, as if the gates of the Netherworld had opened.

"This direction leads to the True Yang Imperial City..."

Li Qingqiu's eyes changed.

Could something have happened to Zhenyang Imperial City?
Judging by the time, it has been almost two months since Xu Ning and the others came down the mountain, and they should already be on their way back.

He was a little worried, so he decided to send Xiao Ba to find Xu Ning, Li Sifeng, and Wu Man'er and find out about their situation.

Xiao Ba is not only fast, its eyesight is far superior to that of ordinary cultivators, and it can also detect auras, allowing it to find people much faster than Li Qingqiu.

"Alright, go back to work."

Li Qingqiu turned and left after saying those words. Li Sijin was still immersed in the future he described and did not notice his unusual behavior.

……

As dusk approached, beside a large river, the Qingxiao Sect disciples, led by Xu Ning, were advancing. Li Sifeng, Wu Man'er, and Zhang Yu were also there. Most of them looked dejected and dazed.

Li Sifeng, carrying the Emperor Xuan Sword on his back, turned his head to look. The distant mountains rose and fell like a wall of heaven, blocking his view.

They had already left Zhongtian Prefecture, but the great battle two days ago still kept replaying in his mind.

"Stop looking. We can't save them. Besides, the emperor's men can't stop everyone. The vast majority of them will be able to escape."

Zhang Yu walked towards Li Sifeng, patted him on the shoulder, and sighed.

Li Sifeng turned around, and the two walked side by side.

After a while, Li Sifeng couldn't help but ask, "What will the world become?"

Zhang Yu's expression was complicated. He said, "I don't know either. Throughout history, there has never been such an emperor, nor such a thing. Let's go back and wait for the sect leader's instructions." Li Sifeng looked at Xu Ning, who was walking at the front. He was about to quicken his pace when he suddenly saw someone walking towards them.

Not only Li Sifeng, but others also saw that person.

He was a black-clad Taoist priest, holding a whisk and a sword at his waist. He wore a tall hat, had a long, willow-like beard, and had sharp, cold eyes. As he walked along the riverbank, the river breeze blew his robes, making him seem like a sharp sword about to be drawn, its edge hard to conceal.

Xu Ning looked at the black-clad Taoist priest with no change in her expression, but the other disciples could all sense that this person was extraordinary.

When the two sides were less than five zhang apart, the black-clad Taoist stopped and asked, "May I ask if you all come from Zhenyang?"

Xu Ning stopped and asked, "Hmm, you want to go to Zhenyang Imperial City?"

"I am a Taoist priest from Fengxia Mountain in Southern Chu, with the Taoist name Baishu. You may call me Taoist Baishu. Judging from your attire, you are probably martial artists, and perhaps even soldiers. Could you tell me the current situation of Zhenyang?"

After introducing himself, the Taoist priest in black asked with a serious expression.

Xu Ning looked him over but did not answer immediately.

At this moment, Zhang Yu strode up to Xu Ning and asked curiously, "Is Fengxia Mountain in Southern Chu one of the two martial arts saints?"

The other disciples stopped in their tracks and all looked at Daoist Bai Shu.

In response to Zhang Yu's question, Daoist Bai Shu humbly replied, "It's just an empty title given by the heroes of the martial world. Fengxia Mountain is a place for quiet cultivation, with few disciples, so it can hardly be called a holy land of the martial world."

Li Sifeng leaned closer and asked, "The Two Saints of the Martial World? Such a prestigious title?"

Zhang Yu sighed, “In today’s martial arts world, the names of the two saints are not well-known. However, forty years ago, before the imperial court established the three sects, only the two saints of the North and South were famous throughout the martial arts world. Fengxia Mountain has a thousand-year history. It has produced national teachers and generals who ended the chaos. They believe that human will can overcome nature and enter the Dao through martial arts. This is what my master told me. He highly praised Fengxia Mountain.”

Hearing Zhang Yu's flattery, Daoist Bai Shu did not become arrogant. He shook his head helplessly and asked again, "These are all empty titles. May I ask if you could tell me what the true Yang is really like?"

Zhang Yu's face turned ugly. He gritted his teeth and said, "Daoist, don't go to Zhenyang Imperial City. There are demons causing trouble there. The emperor still has countless demon soldiers under his command. They are capturing people everywhere. The Seven Provinces Allied Army has been defeated, and the generals are busy fleeing. If you go to Zhenyang Imperial City now, be careful not to be captured by the Imperial Guards and used as medicine."

The disciples, recalling what they had seen and heard two days prior, all looked grim.

Those ghostly figures on the battlefield still haunt their minds, sending chills down their spines.

Upon hearing this, Daoist Bai Shu did not frown or appear frightened. He said expressionlessly, "The man-made calamity of a thousand years has finally occurred. Thank you all."

After saying that, he bypassed Xu Ning and the other two and headed towards the Zhenyang Imperial City.

Xu Ning turned her head and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, saying, "Your martial arts are very strong, but not as good as Xuan Gong's, much less the Emperor's. He still has tens of thousands of demon soldiers under his command. If you go, it will be of no use. Your skills may even fuel the Emperor's ambitions."

The Taoist Master Bai did not answer, but continued forward resolutely.

The thirty true disciples looked at the departing figure of the White-Clothed Taoist, all feeling a sense that was hard to describe.

It is unclear whether this person simply did not believe or was determined to die.

"Is he the only one on Fengxia Mountain?" Li Sifeng asked Zhang Yu in a low voice.

Zhang Yu replied with a complicated expression, "There are definitely more than that, but those who can come down the mountain to save the world must be among the top martial arts masters in Fengxia Mountain."

Li Sifeng shook his head and said, "His martial arts skills are indeed good, but only good."

"Let's continue on our journey."

After saying this, Xu Ning took a step forward, and the others followed closely behind.

Chirp—

A screech came from the horizon. Xu Ning looked up and raised her eyebrows slightly.

A disciple exclaimed, "Isn't that the sect leader's divine eagle?"

All the disciples looked up and saw Xiao Ba's majestic figure circling high in the sky.

Bai Shu Daoist turned his head and saw the huge black eagle. At the same time, he also heard the voices of the true disciples of Qingxiao Sect.

"To be able to raise such a spirit eagle, their sect leader must be extraordinary. I never thought there was such a remarkable person in the world. It's a pity I couldn't befriend him while he was alive."

Thinking this, Daoist Bai Shu glanced around a few times, then turned back and went in the opposite direction from the Qingxiao Sect members.

The river waters lapped against the shore, and sandstorms swept across the wasteland. From Xiao Ba's perspective, the White Taoist was so small that he couldn't even leave a trace.

(End of this chapter)