From martial arts sects to immortality sects

Chapter 223 Xu Ning's Tribulation
"Then I don't know."

Zhang Ping shook his head and said that he suddenly felt some sensation return to his legs, which surprised and delighted him, and at the same time made him admire Li Qingqiu even more.

As expected of the sect leader!
"I will have someone investigate Murong Manor. I can sense that your physique has undergone a transformation. From now on, stay in the sect and cultivate diligently. Don't go down the mountain."

Li Qingqiu instructed him that he was very much looking forward to the Vermilion Bird blood in Zhang Ping's body, which should be more than just a change in aptitude.

Zhang Ping nodded, then hesitated for a moment before asking, "Sect Leader, how did you know I was in trouble? Why are you willing to help me?"

He'll have a hard time calming down until he gets to the bottom of this.

Li Qingqiu looked at him and smiled, "Because I felt a connection with you from the first moment I saw you. Later, I was even more satisfied with you because of your diligence in the Yuling Hall. Before, when Shen Yue went to Tianxuan Mountain, you reminded him that there was danger in Tianxuan Mountain. It is true that there is a demonic cultivator in Tianxuan Mountain who is beyond the ninth level of the Yangyuan Realm. He even tried to possess Zhao Zhen, but fortunately, Elder Jiang Zhaoxia stopped him."

Hearing this, Zhang Ping's eyes widened and he broke out in a cold sweat.

After his trip to Tianxuan Mountain, he hesitated, fearing that he might have sent the wrong message, causing him to be uneasy for a long time and unable to eat or sleep, and that he might delay the sect's affairs. However, no one contacted him, and he gradually let go of the matter.

Now, hearing Li Qingqiu mention it, he felt a lingering fear.

How terrifying must a demonic cultivator be if they surpass the ninth level of the Nourishing Essence Realm?
This world is indeed dangerous!
Li Qingqiu continued, "This matter is enough to prove your potential, so I pay more attention to you. When I learned that you had been down the mountain for two months, I always felt that something was wrong, so I sent people down the mountain to look for you. You have your intuition, and I have my premonition."

He winked at Zhang Ping, sensing Zhang Ping's nervousness, and deliberately tried to ease his tension.

Zhang Ping came to his senses and, putting aside the matter of the demonic cultivators, realized that the sect leader had been paying attention to him from the very beginning.

Thinking about it carefully, he entered the Imperial Spirit Hall too easily, and Hall Master Zhang Yuchun also took excessive care of him, always thinking of him when there were good things.

His ability to reach the fourth level of the Nourishing Essence Realm is enough to prove that he has obtained a lot of resources.

Then he thought about how Duke Jing had recruited him into the Immortal Guard. Who was Duke Jing? How could he be so stupid? Duke Jing was looking for him, wasn't that the sect leader looking for him?
All the confusion of the past was resolved, and the unease that had lasted for nearly ten years completely disappeared at this moment.

He never believed that others would be kind to him for no reason, but he was deeply moved by the sect leader's silent care for him over the years.

"Sect Master, I..."

Zhang Ping was so excited that he tried to get up, but Li Qingqiu held him down.

"I know you are cautious by nature, so I dare not go too far. I can only cultivate you in secret. I'm afraid you might think I have ill intentions towards you. You can rest assured that you don't have a distinguished background or unique talent. I have no need to scheme against you. In my eyes, you are just a disciple with potential. I hope that disciples like you can achieve better development in the sect."

Li Qingqiu looked at Zhang Ping and said seriously.

Zhang Ping's eyes reddened, and he quickly said, "Sect Leader, I believe you. I've always believed you. I just couldn't get close to you before, so I overthought things. Actually, I survived and joined the Qingxiao Sect because of you. Back then, my whole family was about to starve to death. It was the Qingxiao Sect's relief that saved us..."

He spoke of the hardships of the past with genuine emotion.

Li Qingqiu never expected that Zhang Ping had such a past.

He discovered that many geniuses had similar experiences, and the Qingxiao Sect, which had been doing good deeds for many years, had been reaping rewards.

It seems that doing good deeds brings good results.

Zhang Ping's broken leg was indeed severe, but Li Qingqiu discovered that his Vermilion Bird blood was silently repairing the broken leg. Even without Li Qingqiu's intervention, he could heal on his own over time.

The two chatted for half an hour, and then Li Qingqiu asked Yuan Qi to escort him back to his courtyard.

"If the first time you change your fate you can transform into an excellent talent, what will happen if you do it twice more?" Li Qingqiu sat in his chair, thinking silently.

He suddenly felt that Zhang Ping's future was immeasurable. As long as the chance to change his fate was still there, it would be difficult to define Zhang Ping's future potential. Perhaps Zhang Ping could even become the strongest disciple of Qingxiao Sect.

Li Qingqiu decided to begin focusing on cultivating Zhang Ping.

Zhang Ping's outstanding qualifications at least warrant more resources being invested in him.

……

As the year draws to a close, a new year begins.

After the festival, Li Qingqiu convened a meeting at Xuanxin Hall to summarize the achievements of the past year.

Putting aside the hardships of Zhao Zhen and Zhang Ping, Qingxiao Sect has developed smoothly in the past year, with each hall achieving remarkable results and the sect's resources steadily improving.

Winter snow melts, and spring arrives.

Not long after the start of spring, Master Qingxiao sent a letter saying that the Lingtong Mountain Range had been completely taken over by the Qingxiao Sect, and that the power structure had been established. He wanted to return.

After careful consideration, Li Qingqiu dispatched Yang Xuan of Lingcai Hall to take charge of the overall situation.

With the destiny of the "Ancestor of the Human Realm", Yang Xuan has reached the fifth level of the Nourishing Yuan Realm thanks to his two excellent aptitudes, which is enough for him to stand alone.

Yang Xuan's master, Li Dongyue, had no objection to this. She didn't care about the cultivation level of the Lingcai Hall, and in her opinion, it was also a good thing for Yang Xuan, as it would help him accumulate merits and seniority.

Therefore, Yang Xuan went to the Lingtong Mountains with Li Qingqiu's appointment.

Less than a month later, Master Qingxiao returned. It must be said that with the old man's return, Li Qingqiu felt that Qingxiao Sect became much more lively. Master Qingxiao wandered around the various halls, and from time to time he would take Li Shouzhen and Li Shoumin out to play. No matter which hall or courtyard he went to, he could make it lively and noisy. Who could blame him for having such a loud voice?
On this day, Jiang Zhaoxia found Li Qingqiu and said he wanted to pass on his supernatural powers to Li Qingqiu. Li Qingqiu was also very interested in this, so the two brothers went to a deserted mountain area far away from Qingxiao Mountain.

The supernatural power inherited by Jiang Zhaoxia is called the Immortal Three Swords, which consists of three swords, and he demonstrates them to Li Qingqiu in turn.

The Three Immortal Swords were even more powerful than Li Qingqiu had anticipated.

The first sword strike can create sword clones, which is quite ingenious, resembling a formation.

The second sword strike embodies the subtleties of maneuvering and weaving, and is extremely fierce.

The third sword strike was a domineering and powerful attack.

Based on this supernatural ability, Li Qingqiu concluded that Jiang Zhaoxia was already the second strongest person in the sect.

Supernatural powers are not so easy to learn. Shen Yue and Xu Ning also memorized the cultivation methods of the Three Immortal Swords, but they have not yet mastered them.

Jiang Zhaoxia's inheritance process was very similar to Li Qingqiu's supernatural power inheritance; it was directly imprinted on his soul, allowing him to master it quickly without needing a cultivation process.

"You're so skilled, why don't you go and spar with Ning'er and Shen Yue?" Li Qingqiu asked with a smile, looking at the spirited Jiang Zhaoxia.

Jiang Zhaoxia calmly said, "This inheritance came too easily. It's unfair to compare it with theirs. Besides, I am the deputy sect leader, so I need to have a broader perspective."

She's good at pretending, did she learn it from Shen Yue?
Li Qingqiu couldn't tell whether he was telling the truth or lying, but it was good that the three of them could stop fighting.

In fact, Li Qingqiu did not want the three of them to be ranked, so that the sect would have three second strongest members, which would give the disciples different levels of confidence.

"Then you'd better hurry up and try to become the second person to reach the Spiritual Consciousness Realm. The Tribulation Platform has been set up, it's just a matter of who gets there first."

Li Qingqiu raised an eyebrow and smiled, saying that the Tribulation Platform was newly built and made of spirit copper to prevent the platform from being shattered. Moreover, the platform was also protected by a restriction that could guide the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the platform.

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxia frowned. He wanted to ask Xu Ning about the progress, but he felt that asking would make him lack confidence.

His intuition told him that Xu Ning would overcome her tribulation earlier than him.

This is indeed the case.

In mid-March, Xu Ning found Li Qingqiu and said that she felt she had made a breakthrough. Li Qingqiu immediately took her to the Tribulation Platform.

The Tribulation Crossing Platform is located on Lixue Peak in the west. It is a thousand feet high, and the peak is as straight as a sword. It is almost impossible to walk to the top of the mountain.

After Xu Ning entered the Tribulation Platform, Li Qingqiu ordered his disciples to seal off Lixue Peak, forbidding any disciple from approaching it or even flying over it.

He stood on the nearby mountain peak, watching Xu Ning from afar.

Xu Ning sat cross-legged on the platform, concentrating on circulating her internal energy, and the tribulation lightning did not arrive immediately.

News of Xu Ning's impending tribulation spread quickly.

Jiang Zhaoxia and Shen Yue couldn't sit still any longer.

They did not go to see Xu Ning undergo her tribulation, but they instructed their disciples to keep a close eye on any news regarding her tribulation.

Seven days later, thunderclouds gathered above Lixue Peak, and the sound of thunder resounded throughout the heavens and earth, attracting the attention of many disciples.

Thanks to her [Heavenly Thunder Spiritual Root], Xu Ning easily overcame her tribulation.

However, Li Qingqiu discovered that Xu Ning had only endured twenty-seven bolts of heavenly lightning, a far smaller number compared to his ninety-nine bolts.

He was slightly depressed.

Is fate against him?
Or perhaps it's related to one's own background and strengths?
Li Qingqiu's foundation is definitely far stronger than Xu Ning's. He possesses five powerful destiny attributes: [Born Sword Maniac], [Heavenly Thunder Spiritual Root], [Hundred Refined Demonic Body], [Human Ghost God], and [Thousand Hammers and Hundred Refinements]. If the Heavenly Tribulation is determined based on a person's strength, then it becomes understandable.

After Xu Ning successfully broke through, she spent five days consolidating her cultivation, while Li Qingqiu stayed on the mountaintop next to her to guard her.

After consolidating her cultivation, she came to Li Qingqiu and said, "Master, this tribulation was rather easy for me, and the lightning attribute in my vital energy has become stronger. Is this the case for everyone, or am I special?"

Li Qingqiu laughed and said, "Of course it's because you have extraordinary talent. Just wait and see, when your third uncle, Shen Yue, and Zhao Zhen undergo their tribulations, they will definitely be on the verge of death and coming back to life."

Upon hearing this, Xu Ning's lips curled up. She was aloof by nature, but her competitive spirit wouldn't allow her to lose to anyone except her master. Hearing her master's praise made her the happiest, as she felt that her efforts had been rewarded.

She took her master's arm, just like when she was young.

“Master, you have more heavenly lightning than me, which means you are more powerful than me. I will take you as my role model from now on.” Xu Ning said with a smile. If other disciples saw her like this, they would definitely think that she had been possessed.

Li Qingqiu said irritably, "Don't think I don't know you. You've long regarded me as your target. Your growth rate puts a lot of pressure on your teacher."

"Really? I feel like the gap between me and you, Master, is widening."

"That was just me putting on a nonchalant act. Maybe in a few years, you'll be even more amazing than me."

(End of this chapter)