by EkkoTheDemon
In the blink of an eye, the white-haired old man kicked off with his right foot, his internal qi exploding as he forcibly broke free from Li Sifeng's grip. He fell backward, but even so, Li Sifeng’s dagger pierced his chest, causing blood to spray.
The old man stumbled a dozen steps before steadying himself. He looked down at his chest and touched the wound; it wasn't deep. He let out a sigh of relief.
Then he looked at his right hand; his sleeve had been torn, and there were three bloody scratches on his wrist. This left him with lingering fear, and the look he gave Li Sifeng was one of terror.
'This kid has such great strength!'
'And his strike was so fast!'
Jiang Nian was stunned. Even though his face was covered in dust, he didn't care.
What had he just seen?
Grandpa Du, the most powerful person in his heart, had actually been injured by a boy of the same age?
He had seen it clearly just now—it wasn't a sneak attack. Grandpa Du was the one who moved first, but Li Sifeng was faster.
The white-haired old man, whose name was Du Xuanfeng, took a deep breath. He looked at Li Sifeng and asked in a deep voice, "Good skills. What is your name?"
Li Sifeng gritted his teeth and said, "Get down the mountain now. Don't force me to kill you!"
Although he admired the way Jiang Zhaoxia killed enemies, when it was his turn, he was incredibly nervous.
Usually, he wasn't so bloodthirsty, but when it came to the Clear Firmament Sect, he couldn't suppress his killing intent.
Jiang Zhaoxia was the most powerful person in the Clear Firmament Sect. If he left, and the Seven Peaks Alliance or Azure Cult invaded in force, it would be over.
Du Xuanfeng laughed coldly at Li Sifeng’s words, a murderous intent appearing in his eyes. He began to circulate his power; his robes and hair began to flutter, and his presence became even more terrifying.
"I have traveled the martial world for many years. Those words—I've heard them many times. No one has ever managed to do it!"
Du Xuanfeng changed his tone, referring to himself as "Old Man." His expression became oppressive, making him look like a completely different person.
Li Sifeng was frightened by him, but as soon as he channeled the Spirit Essence in his body, his courage soared, and his expression also became predatory.
If Du Xuanfeng was an old and violent tiger, then Li Sifeng was a vicious and fierce lone wolf. The two of them facing off scared Jiang Nian into stepping back repeatedly.
"Sifeng, what are you doing?"
A voice came, causing Li Sifeng’s expression to change drastically. He looked terrified as he turned his head.
He saw Jiang Zhaoxia standing atop a nearby tree. The branch beneath his feet was thin, making him in his old plain clothes look as if he possessed an air of immortal grace.
Jiang Zhaoxia’s face was expressionless. He wasn't looking at Li Sifeng, but at Du Xuanfeng.
For some reason, being stared at by Jiang Zhaoxia made Du Xuanfeng feel an inexplicable sense of dread.
He had traveled the martial world for many years, and the only people who could make him feel dread with a single glance were the peerless experts whose names shook the world. But this person looked very young, which surprised him.
When had the Clear Firmament Sect come to possess two peerless geniuses?
It was unbelievable!
Li Sifeng had already made him feel in danger, but the youth who had just arrived made him feel as if he couldn't be fought.
His intuition told him that if he struck, he would die a miserable death.
"Third Brother, I..." Seeing that he could no longer hide it, Li Sifeng spoke up.
'Third Brother?'
Du Xuanfeng asked in surprise, "You are Jiang Zhaoxia?"
"Big Brother!"
Jiang Nian shouted in joy. Jiang Zhaoxia’s posture made him look up in worship; his big brother was even more powerful than he had imagined.
However, Jiang Zhaoxia was not drawn to the name. He continued to stare at Du Xuanfeng and said, "Sifeng, I'm talking to you. Have my words lost their weight?"
Li Sifeng was trembling with fear. He quickly explained the conflict that had just occurred.
'It's over!'
'Third Brother is definitely going to beat me!'
Li Sifeng wailed in his heart. Attacking Third Brother’s family was no small matter.
After hearing the story, Jiang Zhaoxia’s expression still hadn't changed. He snorted. "You did well, but not well enough. You should have just killed them."
At these words, not only were Du Xuanfeng and Jiang Nian shocked, but even Li Sifeng hadn't expected it.
"But they came for you, and that kid is your brother..." Li Sifeng swallowed and spoke cautiously.
Jiang Zhaoxia said expressionlessly, "I only have two brothers—you and Man’er."
Li Sifeng was silent and deeply moved. At the same time, he felt a faint, indescribable sadness; as a young child, he didn't know why he felt sad.
Du Xuanfeng immediately spoke up, "Jiang Zhaoxia, back then, things weren't as you think. Your father had Lin Xunfeng take you up the mountain as a last resort."
Jiang Zhaoxia said coldly, "I don't want to know what he was thinking. I only believe what I saw and what I remember."
He pulled his sword from his waist and pointed it at Du Xuanfeng. He continued, "I'll give you one last chance."
Du Xuanfeng’s face turned ugly. He could only grit his teeth and say, "Young master, let's go!"
Jiang Nian quickly walked toward him. The master and servant didn't stay and left immediately.
Jiang Zhaoxia sheathed his sword and leaped, his figure landing lightly in front of Li Sifeng. Li Sifeng noticed that as he landed, his body was wrapped in wind.
"Stormstride Art?" Li Sifeng asked curiously.
Jiang Zhaoxia immediately hit him on the head. "Your cultivation is shallow, and your body hasn't finished developing. Next time you encounter a strong enemy, it's best to kill them in one strike; you cannot delay."
Li Sifeng rubbed his head and asked in confusion, "Third Brother, you really wanted me to kill them?"
What a ruthless Third Brother!
Li Sifeng felt a sense of worship for Jiang Zhaoxia for the first time. He wanted to become like that too.
"Naturally."
Jiang Zhaoxia turned and walked away, and Li Sifeng quickly followed.
In the distance, Jiang Nian, who was being pulled along by Du Xuanfeng, looked back. He actually felt that Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sifeng looked more like biological brothers. The harsh sunlight filtered through the forest, and the figures of Jiang Zhaoxia and his brother soon disappeared from his sight.
...
In the courtyard, Li Qingqiu was writing with a brush at a table. Li Dongyue stood beside him, helping him fan away the heat. Even though she was sweating profusely, she was tireless, and her gaze hadn't left him for a second.
Li Qingqiu noticed Jiang Zhaoxia and his brother returning from the corner of his eye but didn't pay much attention; he was busy writing the Great Purity Primordial Scripture.
Jiang Zhaoxia walked straight to him and told him what had happened.
After hearing the story, Li Qingqiu glared at Li Sifeng and scolded, "Fine! You kid have quite a lot of nerve, actually daring to act first and report later!"
Li Dongyue also looked at Li Sifeng in a new light; she hadn't expected her youngest brother to be so ruthless. She usually couldn't tell at all.
Li Sifeng said aggrievedly, "I was afraid Third Brother would leave with them."
Jiang Zhaoxia snorted. "There was no misunderstanding about what happened back then. That father of mine, in order to marry a daughter of the nobility, forced my mother to her death and wanted to abandon me. If Master hadn't appeared in time, I'm afraid I would have been taken care of by his disciples. I will never go back. Eldest Brother, don't worry; I will always support you."
The Jiang family was also a martial arts family, but like many sects in the martial world, they wanted to go legitimate.
Back when Lin Xunfeng first brought Jiang Zhaoxia up the mountain, Li Qingqiu had heard him talking about this with a friend he was traveling with. It was indeed as Jiang Zhaoxia said.
Li Qingqiu nodded and glared at Li Sifeng again. "Remember, in anything, you must ask me first. Regardless of whether I support you doing it or not, you must let me know first. I am the Sect Leader of the Clear Firmament Sect, not just your Eldest Brother."
This kid Li Sifeng was already showing signs of his Fate Tokens; he had to be careful in the future.
Li Qingqiu wasn't afraid of Li Sifeng betraying him—after all, his loyalty was there. He was afraid Li Sifeng might do something bad with good intentions and get himself in trouble.
He was not only cultivating himself but also taking his siblings along with him; he wouldn't leave a single one behind.
These siblings—he had raised every one of them. He had changed every one of their diapers and coaxed every one of them to sleep. In his heart, they had long since become family.
"I understand," Li Sifeng muttered with a pout. In front of his brother and sister, he acted like a gentle kitten, looking completely non-threatening.
"Go play."
Li Qingqiu waved him away. He was actually angry with Li Sifeng right now and was afraid he might hit him.
Li Sifeng also felt that his Eldest Brother was truly angry, so he immediately turned and ran away.
Jiang Zhaoxia looked at Li Qingqiu and frowned. "Brother, the Jiang family coming for me—I don't think they're just coming for me. They're also coming for the Clear Firmament Sect."
The Clear Firmament Sect was small, but its territory was very large, making it easy for others to take an interest in it.
"Mhm. I have a sense of it. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
Li Qingqiu nodded and changed the subject. "Tomorrow, take Huang Shan and Yu Lin down the mountain. Go to the nearest town and buy some cloth. Also, invite a tailor to the mountain. I plan to have custom sect robes made for the Clear Firmament Sect. Don't be stingy with the money."
Everyone in the Clear Firmament Sect wore old clothes; they didn't look like sect disciples at all, more like farming families.
Jiang Zhaoxia nodded. "I'll also see if there are any other ways to make money."
"Take good care of those two boys. You can let them practice, but don't let them lose any limbs," Li Qingqiu instructed.
Huang Shan and Yu Lin were the oldest of the second generation of disciples, and Li Qingqiu valued their futures highly, so he wanted to start training them early.
"I'll be careful."
After saying that, Jiang Zhaoxia turned and left.
Li Qingqiu looked toward Li Dongyue and said, "Rest for a bit. I'm not that hot."
Li Dongyue smiled. "I'm not tired, Brother. Will all the robes be the same? Will there be a difference between the male and female disciples' robes?"
As she spoke, large drops of sweat ran down her face, and her hair was stuck to the side of her face.
Li Qingqiu felt helpless and could only let her continue. He answered, "There will be differences, but overall, they will make people feel they are from the same sect."
"That's great! Brother, tomorrow Second Brother is also going to take me to the village to exchange for grain seeds. I want to take Sijin and Ning’er along. Is that okay?"
"Naturally. If there's any heavy lifting to be done, let Yuchun do it. You girls should just help him carry a few things."
"Mhm! I'll remember."
The two chatted casually. The sunlight spilled down, lengthening their shadows.
The sun set and the moon rose, day and night exchanged, and a new day arrived.
As Zhang Yuchun and Jiang Zhaoxia each led their teams down the mountain, the Clear Firmament Sect became much quieter.
Li Qingqiu didn't go to the subterranean Spirit Lake; he had to stay and guard the sect in case of any changes.
At noon, after eating, Li Qingqiu came to the sect gate alone to sit and practice, while waiting for Zhang Yuchun and the others to return.
The breeze blew, fluttering his hair. Li Qingqiu’s heart entered a state of peace; he had already found the feeling of immortality.
Tranquility, freedom, and a heart without worries.