When Li Qingqiu heard that Ling Tian Sect planned to exterminate the Li clan, his expression turned cold.
He didn't particularly care about the Li family itself, but he deeply despised such despicable methods. If they want to deal with Qingxiao Sect, they can come for me directly. Dragging innocent people into it—what kind of cowardice is that?
Zhang Yuchun spoke beside him, "Ling Tian Sect wouldn't dare do this without something to rely on. Still, they don't seem fully confident either."
Li Qingqiu said calmly, "Go find Shen Yue. Tell him to take Third Junior Brother's place."
Zhang Yuchun nodded and immediately leapt off the cliff, flying away on his sword.
Li Qingqiu closed his eyes again and resumed cultivating the Soul-Stealing Flying Sword.
By the next morning, Jiang Zhaoxia had returned early. Sensing his aura, Li Qingqiu stepped out from his cultivation chamber into the Lingxiao Courtyard and instructed Yuan Qi to summon Li Yang and Xu Ning.
"Senior Brother, what's the hurry?" Jiang Zhaoxia asked, puzzled.
Li Qingqiu motioned for him to sit, then recounted what Ling Tian Sect had done. Jiang Zhaoxia's face remained completely still, as if the Jiang clan meant nothing to him at all.
Li Qingqiu sighed. "You don't have to pretend with me. I know your pride—you've long severed ties with your clan. But don't tell me that hearing of their annihilation doesn't stir anything in you."
Jiang Zhaoxia's expression darkened gradually. "I'll go down the mountain," he said flatly. "I can't let them run rampant any longer."
"Good. You'll leave tomorrow," Li Qingqiu replied, "but you won't be going alone."
"Who else?" Jiang Zhaoxia asked.
"Li Yang will go too. Ling Tian Sect's threat against the Li clan means he must defend his family. Xu Ning will accompany you both—she's already reached the eighth layer of the Nurturing Essence Realm. Bring fifty True Transmission disciples as well."
His tone was calm, but his intent was absolute. This time, Ling Tian Sect would be wiped from existence.
When Jiang Zhaoxia heard that Xu Ning had reached the eighth layer, his face flickered slightly, though he said nothing.
He didn't object to Li Qingqiu's orders. He understood the difference between going alone and leading a force of elite disciples.
This time, Li Qingqiu wasn't just retaliating—he was making a statement to the entire martial world.
"The survivor, Jiang Nian, has arrived," Li Qingqiu continued. "Do you want to see him? You're leaving tomorrow anyway. Whatever your stance toward your clan, he's still your younger brother."
Jiang Zhaoxia instinctively wanted to refuse, but when he met his senior brother's gaze, he swallowed his words.
"…Alright."
He rose and left without asking where Jiang Nian was. Li Qingqiu didn't stop him—he knew Jiang Zhaoxia would find the boy himself.
A stick of incense's time later, Xu Ning descended into Lingxiao Courtyard, arriving before Yuan Qi could return. She must have rushed over from Ziyang Peak as soon as she received the message.
"Master, what's the matter?" she asked eagerly. Her tone carried a hint of excitement—she hadn't been on a mission for a long time, and her hands were itching for action.
"We'll wait for everyone first," Li Qingqiu said.
Hearing that, she nodded and quietly sat down beside him. The two waited in silence.
After about half an hour, Yuan Qi finally returned, bringing Li Yang with him. The trip between peaks had left Yuan Qi slightly winded, but Li Qingqiu hadn't rushed him—if anything, he wanted the boy to feel the strain and use it as motivation to train harder later.
"Master, what's happened?" Li Yang asked curiously. He hadn't gone to the Blessed Land recently, choosing instead to remain on Qingxiao Mountain to study spells.
Li Qingqiu once again described everything that Ling Tian Sect had done. Both Li Yang and Xu Ning's faces turned grim, and even Yuan Qi's expression froze in shock.
There are still sects bold enough to provoke Qingxiao Sect?
And to massacre families in such a brutal fashion—it was clearly a fight to the death.
When Li Yang heard that the Ling Tian Sect had threatened his family, his anger flared immediately. But he was no longer the reckless martial champion he once was. He restrained his temper and waited for Li Qingqiu's command.
"Prepare yourselves," Li Qingqiu said. "At dawn tomorrow, gather at the Spirit Management Hall. Hall Master Zhang will hand you all of Ling Tian Sect's intelligence."
Both Xu Ning and Li Yang nodded. They rose, bowed respectfully, and departed.
After they left, Li Qingqiu reached into his storage bag and retrieved several sheets of paper—the names of fifty True Transmission disciples neatly written across them.
"Deliver these to the listed disciples," he instructed Yuan Qi. "Tell them to prepare for a mission and assemble at the Spirit Management Hall at sunrise."
Yuan Qi accepted the documents and bowed deeply before leaving.
Li Qingqiu looked up at the peach tree in the courtyard, murmuring softly to himself, "Martial world legends, huh? I hope you really are as tough as your reputation claims."
…
Another day passed quietly.
By dawn, Jiang Zhaoxia, Xu Ning, and Li Yang led fifty True Transmission disciples down the mountain. So many top disciples leaving together immediately stirred curiosity among the onlookers.
By midday, Yuan Qi escorted the three Xiao brothers into the courtyard.
After Yuan Qi withdrew, Xiao Wudi asked curiously, "Sect Master, why did so many True Transmission disciples leave the mountain this morning?"
"Big Brother, don't ask about things we shouldn't," Xiao Wuqing said, frowning.
Li Qingqiu didn't hide anything. He explained the entire situation—every cause and consequence of the current conflict. As he spoke, the three Xiao brothers grew furious, their faces burning with anger. They almost wanted to charge down the mountain themselves.
"There's one thing I must tell you," Li Qingqiu said seriously, his gaze sharp as he looked at them.
"What is it?" Xiao Wuqing asked cautiously. Suddenly, he realized that the Sect Master wouldn't summon them at such a time for anything trivial.
Li Qingqiu's expression stayed calm as he spoke softly, "The Second Guardian of Ling Tian Sect… is named Xiao Wuhui."
The moment those words left his mouth, the faces of all three brothers changed instantly.
"Master," Xiao Wuqing said quickly, "we have nothing to do with Ling Tian Sect!"
Xiao Wudi clenched his fists, furious. "That beast Xiao Wuhui—so he really turned to evil! I can't believe he'd join such a vile sect!"
Xiao Wuming didn't speak. He just stared at Li Qingqiu with a cold, intense gaze. If Li Qingqiu hadn't already known his Fate and loyalty level, he might have mistaken that stare for resentment.
"I know this has nothing to do with you," Li Qingqiu said steadily. "But the feud between Qingxiao Sect and Ling Tian Sect has reached the point of no return. If your father manages to survive this war, I'll let it go. But if he dies by Qingxiao Sect's hand, don't blame me."
He preferred to speak plainly—better to clear things up now than let resentment grow later.
Xiao Wudi gritted his teeth. "Our grandfather changed our generation names to 'Wu' precisely because he didn't want to acknowledge that man as his son. Sect Master, if this was all his doing, even if the sect hunts him down, we'll have no complaints!"
In their memories, Xiao Wuhui's face was already faint and distant. If he hadn't abandoned them so long ago, their grandfather might never have fallen ill and passed away.
If not for True Person Qingxiao taking them in, they'd still be living as nobodies in a backwater village, wasting their lives away.
"If the Sect Master doesn't trust us," Xiao Wuming suddenly said, "we three are willing to abolish our cultivation and leave the mountain ourselves."
Li Qingqiu rolled his eyes and said impatiently, "Do you really think I'm that petty? I told you this only to avoid future misunderstandings. You three may not have formally taken me as your master, but in my heart, you're no different from disciples. I just want you to understand—and not hate me later."
The three brothers let out a breath of relief at once.
They weren't worried about punishment—what they feared was losing their place in Qingxiao Sect. After all, Ling Tian Sect had provoked Qingxiao Sect first, and what they did was unforgivable. There was no way to defend Xiao Wuhui's crimes, and none of them wanted to.
"Alright," Li Qingqiu said, waving his hand, "go back and train."
"Yes, Sect Master!"
The three brothers bowed deeply, then turned and left together.
Yuan Qi watched their backs fade into the distance, his eyes filled with thought.
When they disappeared beyond the courtyard, he turned to Li Qingqiu and asked quietly, "Sect Master, should I assign someone to keep an eye on them?"
Li Qingqiu shot him a glare. "You think I'm that small-minded too?"
Yuan Qi scratched his head with an awkward smile. "It's not about that, Master. It's just… family ties can be tricky."
"This is the martial world," Li Qingqiu said, shaking his head. "Conflict between loyalty and emotion is unavoidable. On the path of cultivation, such tests come to everyone. This is their trial."
If the Xiao brothers ever turned against him, he wouldn't hesitate. He would cut them down without regret.
He didn't strive to be a saint or leave a perfect legacy. He only wanted to live without betraying his conscience.
Yuan Qi fell silent, reflecting on those words.
For some reason, a thought flashed in his mind—what if one day, he and his own brother stood on opposite sides of the sect? If that really happened, what choice would he make?
The thought unsettled him, and he quickly shook his head to drive it away. What am I even thinking…
Meanwhile—
After leaving the Lingxiao Courtyard, the three Xiao brothers walked in silence for a long time.
When they reached a quiet stretch of forest, Xiao Wuqing stopped and said, "I don't know what you two think, but I'm standing with Qingxiao Sect. Not just because I believe Ling Tian Sect is doomed, but because I love this sect. Everything here gives me purpose—and I won't betray the Sect Master's trust."
Xiao Wudi turned, glaring. "Second Brother, what kind of talk is that? You think we'd betray the sect for that bastard? Not a chance! He's taken lives—he'll pay for them. That's how the world works!"
He called his father a "bastard" without hesitation. Their grandfather had cursed Xiao Wuhui the same way countless times.
Xiao Wuming added coldly, "He's been a Guardian for years. If he truly cared about us, he would've come long ago. He didn't. There's nothing left of 'fatherly affection.'"
Xiao Wuqing smiled faintly. "Maybe he had his reasons. But remember—no matter what excuse anyone gives, even if he himself comes to us someday with some tragic story, we can't waver. From this moment, we might become weapons for Ling Tian Sect to use against Qingxiao Sect."
Both Xiao Wudi and Xiao Wuming nodded firmly.
Even so, unease lingered in their hearts. None of them knew how their Sect Master truly viewed them now.
But in the days that followed, Li Qingqiu treated them no differently than before. He still guided their training, taught them spells, and corrected their mistakes just as he always had—never once bringing up Xiao Wuhui's name again.
That alone eased their hearts. Their gratitude toward Li Qingqiu deepened.
If they were in his place, they doubted they could have done the same.
…
Late at night, deep in the mountain forest, a campfire flickered under the dark sky.
Xue Jin sat cross-legged beside the fire, his sword sheathed and planted into the ground beside him. His face was pale—he was clearly healing from wounds through meditation.
Across from him sat a young boy, no more than twelve or thirteen years old. He clutched a piece of dry flatbread in his small hands, sneaking anxious glances at Xue Jin every few moments.
Finally, the boy whispered, "Senior, maybe you should leave without me. I'll only slow you down."
Without opening his eyes, Xue Jin replied evenly, "I didn't save you just because I pitied you. I saved you because you're useful. Our Sect Master might find a purpose for you yet."