Chapter 50 : Full Support

Chapter 50: Full Support

“Assigning official ranks to martial sects? Is this pacification—or a trap?”

Zhang Yuchun frowned as he spoke.

Because of the incident with Wu Baoyu, he was filled with suspicion toward the current emperor.

He did not believe that this emperor was benevolent.

The emperor had only quelled the chaos across the land because that turmoil had threatened his imperial power.

Otherwise, how could such disorder have lasted for so many years?

Li Qingqiu also felt that this matter was far from a good sign.

Liu Fanzhou, unaware of the emperor’s pursuit of immortality and the deeds committed in that pursuit, waved his hand and said, “He is the emperor. If he truly wanted to scheme against the martial sects, would he need to go through all this trouble? He could simply dispatch the army under the pretext of exterminating bandits. After all, who in the martial world hasn’t killed before? If he judged by the law, most would be condemned to death. Moreover, summoning so many martial masters to the imperial palace—His Majesty would be taking quite the risk.”

Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun exchanged a glance, both realizing that it was pointless to argue further with Liu Fanzhou on this matter.

“Is it a forced summons, or voluntary attendance?” Zhang Yuchun continued to ask.

Liu Fanzhou laughed.

“Naturally voluntary. If it were compulsory, that would indeed be suspicious. But since the imperial city is so far away, the competition for such an official position depends on who hears the news first—and who departs first.”

Li Qingqiu nodded.

“Regardless, thank you, Merchant Liu, for sharing this information with us.”

“Think nothing of it, we’re all one family.”

Liu Fanzhou waved his hand dismissively.

Being a shrewd man, he could tell that Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun were both resistant to the idea, so he did not press further.

He began chatting about other matters in the martial world and even brought up the Absolute Saint Sect.

“Yan Wujin stormed through Iron Mountain Peak, defeating all eighteen Peak Masters and gaining instant fame. He is indeed one of the greatest experts of this generation. He has now founded a sect on the border of Guzhou, called the Absolute Saint Sect. It’s said that he has received the support of the Tang Family of Linchuan—one of the four great surnames of Linchuan. Even in Zhongtian Province, the Tang Family is a top-tier clan. With their backing, and with Yan Wujin’s martial prowess, Guzhou’s Seven Great Sects may soon become Eight.”

Liu Fanzhou sighed in admiration, clearly holding great respect for Yan Wujin.

Liu Yan looked at her father, wanting to speak but stopping herself.

Everyone in their sect knew about the Absolute Saint Sect’s previous attack.

The sect master of the Absolute Saint Sect had been defeated by Xu Ning.

That battle had instantly elevated Xu Ning’s prestige within the sect, putting her on equal standing with Jiang Zhaoxia.

The question of who was stronger between the two had become a frequent topic of private discussion among the disciples.

Liu Fanzhou then looked at Li Qingqiu and said with a smile, “Sect Master Li, in my opinion, Guzhou should have nine great sects. The ninth should be your Clear Sky Sect. Why not seize this opportunity to make your mark? If you need assistance, I, Liu Fanzhou, will give you my full support!”

This visit to the Clear Sky Sect had deeply surprised him.

The changes were tremendous—many more disciples, stronger foundations—everything suggested that the Clear Sky Sect was rising once again.

Li Qingqiu smiled and asked, “And what does your ‘full support’ entail?”

Liu Fanzhou patted his chest boldly.

“I’ll dedicate all my wealth to support the Clear Sky Sect! My connections, my debts of favor—all shall serve the sect.”

“You trust the Clear Sky Sect that much?”

“Heh, of course. The Clear Sky Sect has a deep heritage, and Sect Master Li—second only to the number one in the martial world—is a young genius with a kind and righteous heart. How could I not trust the Clear Sky Sect?”

“And what is it that you want in return?”

“What could I possibly want? What I’ve wanted has already been realized. I love my daughter dearly, and now that she has joined the Clear Sky Sect, by helping the sect, I am helping her.”

Liu Fanzhou spoke with heartfelt sincerity, his gaze filled with fatherly affection as he looked toward Liu Yan.

Seeing this, Li Qingqiu couldn’t help but feel moved by their bond as father and daughter.

An incense stick’s time later, Liu Fanzhou left with Liu Yan, the two of them needing some time alone to talk in private.

Li Qingqiu lifted his teacup and asked, “Second Brother, what do you think of his proposal?”

Zhang Yuchun pondered for a moment.

“We can’t accept it. First, we don’t know much about Liu Fanzhou’s background. I doubt Liu Yan is his only child. Second, we’re not short on money right now. We’re a martial sect—wealth matters, but it’s not the most important thing. The Qin Family is a good example. Recently, Qin Jue sent me a letter requesting that we take in more Qin disciples. If we let Liu Fanzhou get involved, it’ll only bring endless trouble later.”

“Indeed. I thought you and he were close—you’ve reassured me.” Li Qingqiu smiled.

Zhang Yuchun’s level-headedness made him even more confident in entrusting him with authority.

Zhang Yuchun shook his head.

“Liu Fanzhou is a businessman through and through. He treats all who are beneficial to him with the same warmth. I’d be a fool to think we’re truly like sworn brothers.”

Li Qingqiu nodded in satisfaction, while Li Dongyue couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Zhang Yuchun turned to her, puzzled.

“Fourth Sister, why are you laughing?”

Li Dongyue stifled her laughter, coughed lightly, and said, “I just remembered our childhood. Senior Brother hasn’t changed—but you, Second Brother, you used to be so easily tricked by him. Who would’ve thought you’d become so shrewd now?”

At her teasing, Zhang Yuchun’s face turned slightly red as he hurried to defend himself.

Watching them, Li Qingqiu suddenly realized that his younger brother and sister had grown up.

He was about to turn twenty this year.

Zhang Yuchun would soon be nineteen, and Li Dongyue eighteen.

They were no longer children—they had all become capable of standing on their own.

For some reason, Li Qingqiu suddenly felt a sense of urgency.

If they couldn’t advance their cultivation to the Spirit Perception Realm, Zhang Yuchun and Li Dongyue would at most live for another century or so.

Li Qingqiu’s pursuit of immortality was not only for himself—he wanted his siblings to walk further alongside him.

But the cultivation methods he currently possessed were insufficient to alter their fates.

He needed to strengthen the Clear Sky Sect swiftly and learn more spells and secret arts.

…

This time, Liu Fanzhou did not hurry down the mountain as before.

He claimed he was tired from his trading journeys and wanted to rest for a while.

In the following days, he frequently visited Zhu Yan’s courtyard.

Unfortunately for him, no matter how he tried to curry favor, Su Xiling would never allow him in.

And so, Liu Fanzhou stayed for half a year.

During that half year, Li Sifeng went down the mountain twice.

Each time he returned, aside from Cheng Canghai and Bai Ning’er, he would bring back a new group of disciples.

His leadership during these training trips greatly enhanced his reputation.

He was no longer the mischievous youth of the past but a respected elder among the disciples.

Not only Li Sifeng—Li Dongyue’s disciples also multiplied, increasing the number of healers in the Clear Sky Sect.

Li Sijin, having made great progress in the Earth Talisman Codex, began teaching disciples to craft talismans and cultivate spiritual plants.

The disciples, however, didn’t yet understand the true significance of their work—they merely thought it was a way for the sect to make money.

As autumn arrived—

Li Qingqiu stood atop the mountain, hands behind his back, gazing down at the newly built courtyard below, where Zhang Yuchun was personally interviewing those who sought to become disciples.

Li Sifeng and the others were traveling through the lands, upholding justice.

Everywhere they went, they helped the poor and gave to those in need.

Within half a year, the Clear Sky Sect’s name for heroism and benevolence had spread far and wide.

It was a good omen indeed—what renowned sect ever needed to personally descend the mountain to recruit disciples?

Yet, Li Qingqiu felt no joy.

His mind lingered on Jiang Zhaoxia.

By reason, someone at the Fifth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm should have easily surpassed the Heavenly Blade Sect.

But the martial world was treacherous, and hearts unpredictable—he couldn’t help but worry.

Jiang Zhaoxia, though strong, always seemed to be injured.

As Li Qingqiu’s thoughts drifted, his gaze shifted.

Down the mountain path, he saw a group of constables walking toward the sect gate.

Leading them were two figures—one was the County Magistrate of Blackstone County, Feng Dai, and the other was a man in brocade robes with a sword at his waist.

The man’s appearance was dignified, his presence far superior to Feng Dai’s.

The county magistrate glanced back at him from time to time, clearly uneasy.

Seeing this, Li Qingqiu turned and calmly walked down the mountain.

…

The new courtyard was bustling with people.

Besides over a dozen Clear Sky Sect disciples who had come to watch, there were also many commoners who had brought their children to apprentice.

Ten young candidates in total awaited the ceremony.

“Elder Zhang, the imperial envoys are here!”

Yuan Qi hurried into the courtyard and whispered beside Zhang Yuchun.

Since Zhang Yuchun was in charge of sect affairs, the disciples naturally turned to him whenever something arose.

Hearing this, he did not panic but instructed calmly, “Yuan Qi, take them to rest for now and register them as provisional disciples.”

“Yes!”

Yuan Qi immediately turned and led the crowd out of the courtyard—only to encounter Feng Dai and his entourage coming up the path.

The townsfolk loved a spectacle.

Seeing officials approach, they stopped to watch.

If the Clear Sky Sect had committed some offense, they would certainly not dare send their children to become disciples.

Zhang Yuchun rose, stepped around the table, and greeted the incoming officials with a polite bow.

“I am Zhang Yuchun, Administrative Elder of the Clear Sky Sect. May I ask what brings the honored officials here?” he asked, neither humble nor overbearing.

Feng Dai smiled and gestured toward the brocade-robed man.

“This is Lord Jia from the Imperial Guardian Army of the capital. He has come to deliver His Majesty’s decree.”

A royal decree?

Zhang Yuchun was taken aback.

Around him, the disciples whispered in curiosity.

What matter could alarm the emperor himself?

The man—Jia Yi—rested one hand on his sword and the other behind his back.

He swept his gaze across Zhang Yuchun and asked, “Where is your Sect Master?”

“My Senior Brother is in secluded cultivation. Even I do not know his precise location,” Zhang Yuchun replied.

Jia Yi snorted coldly.

“Your sect is quite amusing. The Sect Master cultivates while leaving authority to someone this young. Enough talk—His Majesty decrees that the masters of all martial sects are to enter Zhongtian to present themselves before the throne. Those who perform exceptionally will be granted rank and title. The Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect must arrive in the capital before next spring.”

Feng Dai noted that Jia Yi didn’t even bother to produce the imperial edict and understood immediately—the man clearly looked down on the Clear Sky Sect.

That was precisely why he had insisted on accompanying him, fearing conflict like what had happened with Wu Baoyu.

Zhang Yuchun frowned slightly.

“Must we go? I’ve heard that participation was voluntary.”

Jia Yi’s eyes hardened.

“And who told you that?”

“A friend from the martial world—who heard it from someone else.”

“I’m telling you now, directly. Do you not understand me?”

Jia Yi barked coldly, suddenly raising his hand toward Zhang Yuchun.

A powerful suction force erupted from his palm—the surge of inner energy forming a vortex that dragged Zhang Yuchun forward.

Caught off guard, Zhang Yuchun stumbled two steps before steadying himself.

The fierce pull made his robe billow and his hair whip in the wind.

He frowned at Jia Yi as dust swirled violently around them.

The Clear Sky Sect disciples quickly scattered, blocking the entrance to the courtyard.

Jia Yi’s expression shifted slightly—he hadn’t expected Zhang Yuchun to withstand his Demon-Seizing Technique.