From martial arts sects to immortality sects

Chapter 142 The Number One Sect Under Heaven
After reaching the ninth level of the Nourishing Essence Realm, Li Qingqiu's spiritual sense had been fully formed. Even with his eyes closed, he could see his surroundings with a comprehensive, all-around view. This view was quite magical, even clearer and more insightful than his naked eyes.

Spiritual awareness can also see through rocks, cave walls, and so on, distinguishing different beings, surpassing so-called X-ray vision.

With such spiritual awareness, Li Qingqiu felt even more strongly that he was a cultivator.

No matter how strong a martial artist becomes, they can only increase their physical strength; their physical essence will never transcend that of a mortal.

However, even with spiritual awareness, Li Qingqiu is still some distance from the Spiritual Awareness Realm. According to the Taiqing Hunyuan Scripture, the Spiritual Awareness Realm is the realm where one can develop spiritual awareness, which can give spiritual awareness combat power. Cultivators can then use both spiritual energy and spiritual awareness to cast spells, making the spells more powerful.

As Li Qingqiu began to consolidate his cultivation, his memories of the techniques for the Spiritual Consciousness Realm became richer and more detailed.

The Taiqing Hunyuan Scripture was too vast to be passed down to him all at once; rather, as his cultivation level increased, more detailed memories were continuously released.

This also makes the disciples of Qingxiao Sect feel that each level of the Hunyuan Scripture can be regarded as an independent skill, and this alone is something that secular martial arts internal energy cultivation methods cannot compare to.

Li Qingqiu, who possesses the Hundred Refined Demon Body, needs time to accumulate his internal energy to a full state, which is more troublesome than that of other cultivators at the same level. Of course, this is a happy trouble.

In the following period, Chu Jing, Nangong E, and Lin Chuan found it difficult to calm down and cultivate, because the spiritual energy of the underground spiritual lake was in a state of turmoil.

Lin Chuan and Nangong E slipped out to play, while Chu Jing stayed in the underground spirit lake to observe Li Qingqiu's state.

His intuition told him that Li Qingqiu's breakthrough was more than just a simple achievement.

This is terrifying!
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

Li Qingqiu opened his eyes, and a spiritual aura seemed to emanate from them, making him appear extremely imposing.

The Hundred Refinements Demon Body gives Li Qingqiu a hundred times the vital energy of someone at the same level; he is now essentially a walking underground spiritual lake.

He could clearly feel that the spiritual energy in the underground spiritual lake had become thinner, as if most of it had been drained away.

Li Qingqiu suddenly thought of a problem: as his disciples' cultivation level increases, there will inevitably be a shortage of spiritual energy. If he cannot find more blessed lands, relying solely on Taikun Mountain Range may not be enough to support his unbridled recruitment of disciples.

It seems that blindly recruiting disciples is not a wise approach.

Martial arts sects need to consider money, so they can't support too many disciples, at least not as many as the military.

Cultivation sects need to consider spiritual energy. Vital energy doesn't grow out of thin air; it's transformed from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Spiritual energy will become an important strategic resource.

The Heaven-Mending Array became a plan he had to implement, because it drew spiritual energy from the ground, which would greatly increase the spiritual energy within the Qingxiao Sect.

Li Qingqiu stood up and stretched his limbs.

Chu Jing floated over and asked curiously, "Master, what level of the Primordial Chaos Scripture have you reached now?"

"The ninth floor," Li Qingqiu said without hiding anything.

Chu Jing gasped.

After reaching the third level of the Nourishing Yuan Realm, Chu Jing began to feel the difficulty of the Hunyuan Scripture. His cultivation progress slowed down, and he could foresee that it would become more and more difficult to cultivate as he progressed. He could not imagine what it would feel like to stand on the ninth level.

After moving around for a while, Li Qingqiu left the underground spirit lake.

It was already night.

Chu Jing followed behind Li Qingqiu, manipulating the Rainbow Sword, while Nangong E and Lin Chuan quickly returned and lingered behind.

Stone pillars stand along the mountain path, with oil lamps hanging from their tops, making Qingxiao Mountain less gloomy than it was many years ago under the night sky.

Li Qingqiu continued along the mountain path and discovered that many disciples were practicing their skills in the mountains and forests, while others were having secret rendezvous in the woods.

Whether disciples falling in love is a good thing or a bad thing is a matter that Li Qingqiu often discusses with the various hall masters. The conclusion is that there are both advantages and disadvantages. As a result, Qingxiao Sect has also implemented a number of related sect rules, and so far, no trouble has arisen.

Li Qingqiu used his spiritual sense to observe everything along the way, as if he were walking in broad daylight, and his field of vision was so wide that he could see people and things a hundred feet away.

Upon reaching the upper section of the mountain path on Qingxiao Mountain, Li Qingqiu suddenly stopped.

He saw Zhang Ping practicing a sword technique about fifty feet away from the mountain path. This sword technique was created by Jiang Zhaoxia and was not particularly profound.

It seems Zhang Ping is also preparing for the Battle Technique Tournament.

Chu Jing floated out and asked, "Master, do you know this kid?"

He used to work at the Imperial Spirit Hall and had a good relationship with Zhang Ping, so he had a strong impression of Zhang Ping.

In his memory, Zhang Ping was mediocre and simple. He befriended Zhang Ping simply because he was used to making friends with people.

However, Zhang Ping was extremely enthusiastic towards him, and after leaving Qingxiao Mountain, Chu Jing would occasionally think of Zhang Ping.

He was unaware that Zhang Ping now regarded him as a demon and was terrified of seeing him again.

"Yes, I have a good impression of him. I feel he has potential," Li Qingqiu replied softly.

"A promising talent? Him?"

Chu Jing was taken aback, his tone filled with confusion. He dared not question Li Qingqiu's judgment, but was simply curious about what merits Zhang Ping possessed.

"His future achievements may surpass those of that descendant of the Nangong family." Li Qingqiu withdrew his gaze and said casually before continuing on his way.

Chu Jing hurriedly caught up and asked, "Master, when will you be willing to train Nangong Yu?"

Nangong E also looked at Li Qingqiu, her eyes filled with expectation.

"When he can appear before me," Li Qingqiu replied casually.

Upon hearing this, Chu Jing couldn't help but sigh.

Ultimately, it's because Nangong Yu's talent wasn't strong enough. If he could compare to the three Xiao brothers, Li Qingqiu would definitely have summoned him.

Chu Jing felt a mix of emotions when he thought of the three Xiao brothers.

After being defeated by Xiao Xuanzun, he always hoped to defeat Xiao Xuanzun, but he did not dare to confront Xiao Xuanzun. He only dared to roam the martial arts world after Xiao Xuanzun died. Unexpectedly, three more outstanding talents emerged from Xiao Xuanzun's descendants.

He even suspected that all three Xiao brothers could become formidable powerhouses like Xiao Xuanzun, because these three had already demonstrated extraordinary talent.

……

Li Qingqiu did not tell anyone about his breakthrough, including his junior brothers and sisters.

In March, Guangyuan Hall opened a registration point for the martial arts tournament, attracting disciples to flock there. Registering for the tournament required deducting one month's contribution points. Contribution points were calculated separately from the monthly salary. All disciples understood that the sect's contribution points were more valuable than the monthly salary, as they could be exchanged for cultivation techniques, martial arts, weapons, and even privately traded for money.

With registration costs in place, many disciples who just wanted to join in the fun were deterred. Even so, Guangyuan Hall became lively, with disciples coming to register every day.

News of the Qingxiao Sect's martial arts tournament also spread to the martial arts circles and elite circles of Guzhou.

As Li Qingqiu's fame spread throughout the land, the powerful and wealthy recognized the martial arts of the Qingxiao Sect. When hiring guards and martial arts instructors, they would first consider Qingxiao Sect disciples, and they even wanted to establish closer relationships with the geniuses of the Qingxiao Sect.

Currently, a group of disciples are teaching martial arts to the scions of aristocratic families at the foot of the mountain. This was commissioned by the aristocratic families through the training hall.

mid March.

A group of richly dressed people went up the mountain. The leader was none other than King Zhao Qi of Wei. Last year, he led the army of seven provinces to rebel against the imperial court. Although he ultimately failed, his reputation soared and he was deeply respected by the people of the world.

The person following Zhao Qi was Pei Zhangzhi, the patriarch of the Pei clan.

Behind the two were Zhao Qi and Pei Zhangzhi's family members and attendants.

They enjoyed the scenery along the way, seeing the laborers and disciples working, the outer and inner disciples practicing their skills, and even the disciples competing in the forest.

As Zhao Qi walked along, he could feel the immense vitality of Qingxiao Sect, a vitality that other martial arts sects lacked. Anyone could sense the profound foundation and power of Qingxiao Sect from the various scenes on the mountain.

"As expected of the number one sect in the world."

Zhao Qi sighed sincerely, and the crowd behind him echoed his sentiments. Even the highly skilled followers felt admiration, as they were astonished by the martial arts skills of many of the disciples.

These disciples, with their skills, would undoubtedly make a name for themselves in the martial arts world, but in the Qingxiao Sect, they are just ordinary disciples.

Most importantly, these disciples are all very young, which indicates that they were trained by the Qingxiao Sect, rather than joining the sect after they had already become famous.

Pei Zhangzhi smiled and said, "Qingxiao Sect does not participate in the struggle for supremacy in the martial arts world. It focuses on its own development. Just this kind of magnanimity is something that other martial arts sects cannot match."

Zhao Qi nodded and then asked, "Will I be able to see Sect Leader Li today?"

Although he was of royal blood and held a high position of power, he dared not put on airs when facing Li Qingqiu and kept a very humble attitude.

There was no other way; if Li Qingqiu could kill Zhao Zhi, he could certainly kill him too. No powerful figure in the world wanted to provoke such a being.

"It's hard to say, but Zhang Yuchun, the head of the Yuling Hall, will meet with us. Head Zhang is the second junior brother of Sect Master Li. Don't underestimate him just because he's only a head of a hall; he wields immense power, equivalent to the deputy sect master of the Qingxiao Sect," Pei Zhangzhi replied.

A look of regret flashed in Zhao Qi's eyes, but he didn't say it aloud.

The younger generation of the Zhao family behind him also dared not express their dissatisfaction. Even if they were, they could only keep it to themselves, after all, this was the Qingxiao Sect.

Unbeknownst to them, they arrived around the martial arts arena, where two disciples were sparring.

One of them was none other than Xiao Wudi.

After several months of cultivation, Xiao Wudi had reached the third level of the Nourishing Yuan Realm, while his opponent was a true disciple who also possessed the third level of the Nourishing Yuan Realm.

The two did not use weapons, but exchanged blows on the stage, each punch landing hard, which drew cheers from the disciples and worshippers below the stage.

Zhao Qi stopped in his tracks, his gaze drawn to the martial arts competition on the stage. Pei Zhangzhi also stopped to watch the battle.

The sight of Xiao Wudi and the true disciple's fists and feet made Zhao Qi and his companions behind them tremble with fear.

What a fast movement!
Those were really heavy punches and kicks!
Zhao Qi liked it more and more as he looked at it, and pointed at Xiao Wudi, asking, "What's that person's name? Does he have any background?"

Pei Zhangzhi shook his head, about to speak, when a disciple passing by behind him laughed and said, "His name is Xiao Wudi. He is a genius personally cultivated by the sect leader. He only joined the sect before the New Year, and he already has such skills. His talent is truly terrifying. By the way, he also has two younger brothers whose martial arts are no weaker than his. They also joined the sect before the New Year."

(End of this chapter)