From martial arts sects to immortality sects

Chapter 204 The Power of a Thousand Years
In mid-July, Tiangongtang began selling storage bags. The first batch consisted of only ten bags, without any prior notice or auction. They sold out quickly as soon as they were put on the shelves, and news about the storage bags spread rapidly.

Who wouldn't want a treasure that can fit a bundle into a palm-sized bag?
Suddenly, the Tiangong Hall became lively, even overshadowing the Xiuxing Hall.

Some hall masters even approached Li Qingqiu, wanting to order a batch for their respective halls.

Yang Jueding proposed setting the storage bags as strategic resources, which could only be obtained by disciples who made outstanding contributions to the sect, but Li Qingqiu rejected the proposal.

The storage bags are mainly made of spirit copper, and there is plenty of spirit copper available, so there is no need to hoard it.

The Qingxiao Sect needs to develop rapidly so that they can explore more cultivation resources. The world is vast, and Li Qingqiu's vision has never been limited to the Nine Provinces.

Despite the persuasion of the higher-ups, Li Qingqiu insisted on opening the storage bags to the sect's disciples. As long as they had enough affinity, they could buy them, and a large number of them would be put on the shelves for sale in the future.

The news spread like wildfire, much to the delight of many disciples.

If the distribution were based on outstanding contributions, the vast majority of disciples would not be able to access the storage bags.

As the number of disciples in a sect increases, the bottom line of fairness becomes increasingly blurred, and relationships sometimes become more important than qualifications or contributions.

Most importantly, the price of the storage bag is not high; it is tentatively set at two hundred Dao Yuan plus two hundred Guan.

Such a price is not expensive, and is even somewhat cheap. For disciples of the sect today, there are ways to earn both spiritual affinity and worldly wealth.

After Tiangongtang announced the price, Zhang Yuchun, along with Chai Yunshang and Han Lang, went to find Li Qingqiu.

Han Lang has taken over the management of all matters of the Sword Sect. At the age of twenty-one, he has already reached the fifth level of the Nourishing Yuan Realm and can stand on his own.

His talent wasn't top-notch, just good, but Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Qingqiu kept showering him with resources, especially Jiang Zhaoxia, who spared no effort in cultivating him.

"Senior brother, what should we do if the storage bag falls into the hands of outsiders, or is sold by a disciple to someone outside the sect?" Zhang Yuchun asked. He brought Chai Yunshang and Han Lang with him to formulate new sect rules.

As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance at the person behind Li Qingqiu.

It was Chu Jing.

As Duke Jing's name gradually spread, many people came to know that there was such a masked man who acted as the sect leader.

More and more people are acting on behalf of the sect leader, and many realize that a new faction will emerge in addition to the Eight Halls and the Sword Sect.

Yuan Qi, Yun Cai, the three Xiao brothers, and Jing Gong—four of them are exceptional talents. In ten years, the landscape of the sect will change.

Li Qingqiu pondered for a moment and said, "If an outsider obtains the storage bag, investigate first. If they did not obtain it by looting, allow them to return it. If they refuse, then deal with them seriously. If they did obtain it by looting, kill them on the spot."

"If any disciple of our sect loses their storage bag, they will be punished according to the specific circumstances. At the very least, a portion of their cultivation merit will be deducted, and at worst, they will be made a menial disciple for a certain period of time. If any disciple sells it to an outsider, they will be severely punished without exception. At the very least, their cultivation will be abolished and they will be expelled from the sect, and at worst, they will be enslaved for life and permanently banned from the sect. Those with malicious motives may be sentenced to death."

Wu Xingyue inscribed the two characters "Qingxiao" within the storage bag's enchantment. When cultivators probed into it with their vital energy, they could see the two characters "Qingxiao." Trying to erase these two characters would easily damage the overall enchantment of the storage bag.

Chai Yunshang and Han Lang nodded, relieved to see that their sect leader remained as decisive and ruthless as ever.

Zhang Yuchun then asked, "Senior brother, you're going to release the Qingxiao Sword at the end of the year. Isn't that too fast?"

Li Qingqiu could see the loyalty of the sect's disciples, which allowed him to control the sect's direction, so he didn't feel it was too fast.

"It will only get faster in the future, so you need to make time to cultivate. Cultivation is the most important thing. Our Qingxiao Sect is a cultivation sect, not a secular martial arts sect, much less a court. Governing the sect is important, but it is not as important as your own cultivation."

Li Qingqiu said earnestly, "With a large sect, it can continue to function even without any one person. The Yuling Hall is full of talented people. As long as Zhang Yuchun distributes his affairs to different disciples, he can have more time to cultivate."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuchun's expression changed slightly, thinking that his senior brother was giving him a warning.

"What we are fighting for is immortality. If you cultivate diligently, you can wield power for hundreds or even thousands of years. If you give up cultivation, you can only enjoy a few decades of life." As Li Qingqiu said this, he also looked at Chai Yunshang and Han Lang.

millennium?

All three felt a tremor in their hearts.

Li Qingqiu stopped trying to persuade him and got up to return to his cave.

Jing Gongze walked up to Zhang Yuchun and said, "I will go with you. The sect leader has already told me the specific sect rules. I will help you revise the sect rules."

Zhang Yuchun noticed the Tianhong Sword hanging at his waist and was secretly surprised. He immediately guessed the true identity of Duke Jing.

He stood up, nodded to Duke Jing, and then turned and left, with Duke Jing following closely behind.

Chai Yunshang and Han Lang were very curious about Jing Gong's true identity. This person must have considerable experience to be valued by the sect leader, so why was he wearing a mask?

The moon sets and the sun rises.

The next morning, the new rules about storage bags were posted in each peak and courtyard. The disciples were not frightened by the new rules; on the contrary, they were excited. This meant that storage bags would be available on a large scale. How could the disciples not be happy?
At noon, Yuan Qi's voice entered Li Qingqiu's cave: "Reporting to the sect leader, Elder Shen Yue has returned with his men."

"Okay, tell them to wait in the yard."

"Yes!" Li Qingqiu opened his eyes. He could already sense a powerful internal energy. In the midst of the mountain's abundant spiritual energy, this internal energy stood out conspicuously.

This was the first time he had ever felt such powerful internal energy; even Shen Yue's internal energy back then wasn't this strong.

Could it be that Shen Yue really brought the Yandao Sect back?
Reliable!

He had been worried that Shen Yue would fail, but as it turns out, the number one in the world is still the number one in the world, and he was not weakened just because he submitted to him.

Li Qingqiu smiled and then got up and walked out of the cave.

Inside Lingxiao Courtyard.

Shen Yue, Li Yang, Yan Daozong, and Yuan Qi stood in front of the long table, with Yuan Qi curiously examining Yan Daozong.

Yan Daozong was still dressed in a pure white robe, with a sword at his waist, and his white hair was tied up under a hair crown, making him look handsome and dashing.

From the moment he started climbing the mountain, everyone who passed by couldn't help but look at him; his demeanor was truly outstanding.

Along the way, Yandao Sect was filled with mixed emotions.

The Qingxiao Sect was far stronger than he had imagined. He felt that if Tianxuan Mountain were to oppose the Qingxiao Sect, it would surely be annihilated. At the same time, he also became certain of his idea that the Qingxiao Sect would not deliberately suppress Tianxuan Mountain because the gap between the two sides was too great.

An hour earlier, he had been watching the duel on the martial arts arena halfway up the mountain, witnessing the battle between two disciples of the Qingxiao Sect, which left him speechless.

The Qingxiao Sect actually has two more powerful figures like Li Yang and Yang Dong. Moreover, after some investigation, there are two more peerless masters who are no weaker than Shen Yue, not even counting the sect leader.

By the time they arrived at Lingxiao Academy, Yandao Sect had already adjusted their mindset.

Yan Daozong paid no attention to Yuan Qi's gaze. He was prepared to be humiliated, after all, he had lost.
Even now, when he recalls Shen Yue's sword strike, he still finds it exquisite.

However, Shen Yue told him that the sword strike was merely an imitation of the sect leader's Soul-Snatching Flying Sword, which made him curious about the true nature of the Qingxiao Sect leader's Soul-Snatching Flying Sword.

Just as Yan Daozong was lost in thought, he caught a glimpse of Li Qingqiu walking from the backyard path. Immediately afterward, he saw Yuan Qi, Shen Yue, and Li Yang bowing to Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu was younger than Yandaozong had imagined, and he had a smile on his face that made people feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze.

Upon first seeing Li Qingqiu, the Yandao Sect inexplicably felt a sense of goodwill, sensing that he was not an overbearing person.

"Why are you all standing? Sit down and talk. Yuan Qi, why aren't you pouring tea? Isn't this neglecting our guests?"

Li Qingqiu asked with a smile, and Yuan Qi hurriedly went to the kitchen to brew tea.

After Li Qingqiu sat down, Shen Yue and the other two sat down as well.

"Sect Master, this is the Sect Master of Tianxuan Mountain, Yan Daozong. We made a bet, and if he lost, he would join Qingxiao Sect, so he came."

Shen Yue took the lead in introducing them. Upon hearing this, Yan Daozong smiled helplessly and then raised his hand to clasp his fists towards Li Qingqiu.

So good at pretending!
Li Qingqiu sighed inwardly, and praised him generously, "As expected of the Sword God, you have not disappointed me. If you were to act alone, your mission completion rate would be 100%."

Hearing the first half of the sentence, Shen Yue felt very pleased, but Li Qingqiu's second half of the sentence made his smile freeze. Xue Jin's severed arm was still hard for him to get over.

Li Qingqiu looked at the Yandao Sect and said, "I wonder if Sect Master Yan is truly committed to joining the Qingxiao Sect, or if he intends to stay for a few years and then return?"

The Yandao Sect was surprised and asked in astonishment, "I still have a choice?"

Li Qingqiu smiled and said, "Tianxuan Mountain is one of the two saints of the martial arts world, and Qingxiao Sect should respect them."

Shen Yue was displeased by these words: "What? Respecting Tianxuan Mountain means disrespecting me, the Sword God? When you made the bet with me, why didn't you give me a choice?"

“You made your choice, isn’t this your choice now?” Li Qingqiu shrugged.

Shen Yue opened his mouth, but was unable to refute it.

Seeing them bickering, Yan Daozong became even more curious. In Tianxuan Mountain, they wouldn't joke around like this. Even he and his junior brother couldn't bicker like this. They could argue even when they were talking seriously, let alone tease each other.

Yan Daozong took a deep breath and said, "I am willing to accept defeat. As long as Qingxiao Sect needs me, I will stay. However, I must make one thing clear, Sect Master: I only practice martial arts, not immortality cultivation."

After hearing this, Li Yang laughed and said, "Perhaps you will change your mind once you cultivate immortality."

The Yandao Sect remained unmoved, their eyes fixed on Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu was not angry, but smiled and said, "Of course, our Qingxiao Sect also has martial arts. My disciple Zhao Zhen is seeking to combine martial arts and immortality. You can exchange ideas more in the future. How about this, I will establish a Martial Sect for you, and you will be the elder of the Martial Sect. Although the Martial Sect cannot be on par with the Eight Halls, it can still contribute its own strength to the sect."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yue and Li Yang were both surprised, while Yan Daozong raised an eyebrow, quite taken aback.

Li Qingqiu continued, "The path of cultivation is a path of fighting against the heavens. Not all disciples have the aptitude for cultivation. I also want to find more ways and hopes for them. If they cannot cultivate, then they can learn martial arts. Qingxiao Sect cannot abandon its disciples who have made contributions because of their aptitude."

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(End of this chapter)