Chapter 11 : The Highest Loyalty

Chapter 11: The Highest Loyalty

After the lively New Year celebration, life in the Clear Sky Sect returned to its usual calm.

Those cultivating immortality continued their cultivation, while those training in martial arts resumed their practice.

A month later, Li Qingqiu finally broke through to the second layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm within the Subterranean Spiritual Lake.

Feeling the vital energy in his body multiply several times compared to before, he couldn’t help but sigh at the difference in aptitude between himself and Jiang Zhaoxia.

Although the disciples took turns coming to the Subterranean Spiritual Lake, in truth, he came the most often.

The other disciples had no objections—Jiang Zhaoxia even hoped he would come daily, since he himself had little to do.

The junior brothers and sisters were all brought up under Li Qingqiu’s care.

Now that he was enjoying some fortune, they didn’t find it unfair.

On the contrary, they felt he truly deserved it.

Moreover, the stronger the Sect Master, the farther the Clear Sky Sect could go.

“Senior Brother, did you just have a breakthrough?”

Across the lake, Li Dongyue, who had been meditating, looked curiously at Li Qingqiu.

She had clearly sensed the spiritual energy in the area rushing toward Li Qingqiu earlier, even affecting her own absorption of energy.

Li Qingqiu opened his eyes and smiled. “Mm, I did break through. Next, I can begin cultivating the second layer of the Primordial Unity Scripture.”

Li Dongyue showed a trace of envy and then asked, “By the way, Senior Brother, Senior Yang once mentioned that in the martial world, martial artists’ strength is divided into ranks. Would you say the second layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm counts as a first-class expert—or beyond first-class?”

The scene of Jiang Zhaoxia killing Luo Lie was still vivid in her mind.

Although it had been a sneak attack, Yang Jueding had said that Luo Lie was a first-class expert.

Even if it was a surprise strike, anyone capable of killing him could not be far from that realm.

“That, I wouldn’t know. Besides, we cultivate to strengthen ourselves, not to compare with others,” Li Qingqiu said earnestly.

For cultivators, what mattered was cultivating one’s heart. It was not about one day or one night—but about the years and ages to come.

Li Dongyue nodded. “I understand, I was just curious.”

The two chatted idly as they cultivated, but after a few sentences, both fell silent again.

Two hours later, they left together and returned to the Clear Sky Sect.

By the time they arrived, it was near dusk.

Most of the disciples had gathered in the courtyard where they usually stayed—it was also where they ate.

Li Qingqiu saw Xu Ning standing alone outside the kitchen, waiting to serve dishes, while the other disciples had already gathered around the tables, discussing what they had learned that day.

Aside from cultivating the Primordial Unity Scripture, most disciples spent their days practicing martial arts under Yang Jueding’s instruction.

Though their progress wasn’t as rapid as Li Sifeng’s, their bodies had become significantly stronger.

Xu Ning had not yet begun cultivating the Primordial Unity Scripture.

Without Li Qingqiu’s direct permission, neither Li Dongyue nor Zhang Yuchun dared to teach it to any disciple—not even Yang Jueding had cultivated it.

Of course, Yang Jueding wasn’t interested in the sect’s internal cultivation method anyway.

For martial artists, changing their inner energy technique was a grave taboo unless the new art far surpassed the old one.

Changing techniques meant starting over from scratch in cultivating inner energy—a process that couldn’t be completed in a mere month or two.

Li Qingqiu walked up behind Xu Ning and asked, “Do you wish to cultivate?”

Xu Ning was startled, turning her head toward him and asking cautiously, “You mean inner cultivation?”

She was already studying martial techniques and was far more diligent than the other disciples—often earning Yang Jueding’s praise.

However, Yang Jueding clearly favored male disciples. His focus was on Li Sifeng, while the techniques he taught others were rather ordinary.

“Of course. And it’s the Clear Sky Sect’s own unique inner art,” Li Qingqiu said with a mysterious smile. His words made Xu Ning’s eyes light up in delight—she had witnessed Yang Jueding display inner energy before and had been deeply amazed by it.

She had longed to learn inner cultivation ever since.

“I want to! I really want to!” Xu Ning nodded fervently like a pecking chick, her eyes glowing. It was her first time showing such excitement.

Li Qingqiu smiled and asked, “If I teach you inner cultivation, what should you call me?”

“...Sect Master?”

“Hmm?”

“Master?”

Xu Ning tested nervously.

She understood what a master-disciple bond meant—within the martial world, that relationship often surpassed even parent and child.

Li Qingqiu’s lips curled slightly. “Kowtow to me three times. From now on, you shall be my first disciple.”

Zhang Yuchun, who was cooking nearby, couldn’t help glancing curiously at them when he heard this.

“Senior Brother, how can your first disciple be a woman?”

The voice came from Jiang Zhaoxia, who approached carrying a sword.

Ever since he picked up that iron sword, his entire demeanor had become sharp and spirited.

Sometimes, even from dozens of feet away, one could hear the whooshing of his sword practice through the forest.

At present, Jiang Zhaoxia was already recognized as the strongest person in the Clear Sky Sect.

Hearing his words, the other disciples turned their heads to look—Yang Jueding included.

Under everyone’s gaze, Xu Ning’s small face flushed red, though her eyes toward Jiang Zhaoxia were full of displeasure.

“What of it if she’s a woman? Perhaps she’ll surpass you one day,” Li Qingqiu said indifferently.

His words deeply moved Xu Ning—her eyes welled up with tears.

Then, Li Qingqiu looked at her and gestured for her to kneel.

Xu Ning immediately knelt and kowtowed three times to him.

Thus, Li Qingqiu took in his first disciple.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief. A talent like her—if not nurtured early, his heart would itch in regret.

Yet he was also wary—should Xu Ning grow strong too quickly, she might threaten his position as Sect Master. Hence, he employed a small measure of precaution.

With her Forbearance fate trait, Xu Ning would likely recognize him as her only master and never betray him.

As for Jiang Zhaoxia’s blunt remarks, even if Xu Ning was displeased, it wouldn’t grow into hatred—after all, Jiang Zhaoxia had once saved her.

“All right, let’s eat first.”

Li Qingqiu helped Xu Ning up, patted her knees, and smiled warmly.

The attitude toward an ordinary disciple and that toward a personal disciple were worlds apart.

Li Qingqiu even felt as though he were raising a daughter, though he was only seven years older than Xu Ning.

A Sect Master taking a disciple was no small matter.

Naturally, the topic dominated dinner discussions that night.

A few bold, mischievous disciples even asked to take Li Qingqiu as their master—but were promptly rejected.

Instead, Zhang Yuchun and Li Dongyue each ended up taking a disciple of their own.

As for Jiang Zhaoxia, he couldn’t care less. His cold expression alone kept others from getting close.

Yang Jueding set down his wine cup and said with emotion, “Sect Master, the position of first disciple is no trivial matter in any sect. Are you sure she’s up to it?”

Xu Ning clenched her back teeth when she heard that.

There was no helping it—she was young and frail.

In Yang Jueding’s eyes, she hardly seemed capable of great achievements—certainly not compared to his prized Li Sifeng.

Unfortunately, Li Sifeng was of the same generation as Li Qingqiu, and thus Yang Jueding could not take him as his own disciple.

“Even if she’s not, it doesn’t matter,” Li Qingqiu replied smoothly. “Though we are a martial sect, our path is not one of constant rivalry. Rather than strength alone, I value her character and sense of duty. I believe this child will make me proud.”

He spoke beautifully, continuing his subtle strategy to win Xu Ning’s heart.

He almost wanted to applaud Yang Jueding—I didn’t even bribe you, yet you’re helping me save face!

Li Dongyue interjected, “Enough. Now that Little Ning has become Senior Brother’s disciple, she’s our junior niece. Let’s look forward.”

“Junior niece—Little Ning, that means you’re my niece now!” said the young Li Sijin with a cheerful grin.

She was actually a year older than Xu Ning, but when the two stood together, she always looked younger—mostly because she was so innocent, while the quiet Xu Ning appeared more composed.

Xu Ning’s face finally relaxed into a smile.

She liked Li Sijin’s liveliness, and she picked up some food to place in her bowl.

Li Qingqiu opened the Dao Lineage panel and checked Xu Ning’s loyalty.

99/99!

Good heavens—maxed out instantly!

In his eyes, that was already the highest possible loyalty. A hundred? That was beyond ordinary human capacity.

She could now be safely nurtured!

…

Three days later, Li Qingqiu took Xu Ning and Li Sijin to the Subterranean Spiritual Lake to train.

Today, he would teach Xu Ning the Primordial Unity Scripture for the first time, and she was full of anticipation.

The two young girls chattered endlessly, but Xu Ning was eager to begin cultivating, quickly drawing the restless Li Sijin into focus as well.

Sure enough, Xu Ning’s speed in generating vital energy was astonishing.

With the lake’s spiritual blessing, she managed to produce a trace of vital energy within just one hour—leaving Li Sijin utterly shocked.

Not just her—even Li Qingqiu, who had mentally prepared himself, was stunned.

Turning to Li Sijin, Li Qingqiu said, “Don’t tell anyone about this. If someone asks, say she took an entire day to cultivate her inner energy.”

“Why?” Li Sijin asked blankly.

“I’m afraid your Third Senior Brother will be upset.”

At that, Li Sijin immediately pictured Jiang Zhaoxia’s grumpy face and nodded in agreement.

She also thought Third Senior Brother was petty—and quick to anger.

Even with Li Qingqiu’s warning, Xu Ning’s accomplishment of cultivating vital energy within a day still astonished Zhang Yuchun and the others.

Cultivators had sharp senses for vital energy.

Yang Jueding and the outer disciples didn’t notice, but Li Qingqiu’s junior siblings did the moment they saw her.

Their view of Xu Ning began to change—even Jiang Zhaoxia’s.

However, Jiang Zhaoxia’s attitude only softened slightly.

In his opinion, Xu Ning’s success was mostly due to the Subterranean Spiritual Lake—had she trained elsewhere, she would never have been faster than him.

Xu Ning’s success filled Li Qingqiu with greater hope for the Clear Sky Sect’s future.

In the days that followed, the seven disciples recruited from the nearby village still failed to cultivate any vital energy, so Li Qingqiu let them focus on martial training instead.

The Subterranean Spiritual Lake couldn’t be easily exposed—and too many people there would affect his and his juniors’ cultivation.

Days passed, and spring turned into summer.

Li Qingqiu had just passed his seventeenth birthday. His junior siblings all thought his birthday was in autumn—he never corrected them, as he didn’t like making a spectacle of his own celebration.

That afternoon—

Li Qingqiu sat on the grassy slope before the mountain gate.

Nine swords lay before him as he sought to form connections with them, cultivating the Supreme Sword Controlling Technique.

Suddenly—

He raised his head.

Down the mountain path, a man emerged from the forest.

The man wore a belted yellow robe, a sword on his back, his figure tall and strong—clearly a martial artist.

When the yellow-robed man saw Li Qingqiu at the gate, a bright smile appeared on his face. He strode up the stone steps and called out, “May I ask—is this the Clear Sky Sect?”

Li Qingqiu snapped irritably, “Can’t you see the characters above my head?”

The three large characters “Clear Sky Sect” were carved into the gate itself—such blindness was intolerable.

The yellow-robed man didn’t take offense. Smiling, he said cheerfully, “Oh, I saw them all right. But I wanted to hear it from you personally. Allow me to introduce myself—I am your Clear Sky Sect’s new Sect Master. My name is Mo Jiujiao.”