Chapter 152: All-Spells Spiritual Eyes, Tempered a Thousand Times
World-Class Mortal Sect!
Divine Art Legacy?
Li Qingqiuâs attention was immediately caught by the prompt that suddenly appeared before his eyes.
He remembered that when he first opened the Dao Lineage Panel, he had already evaluated the Clear Sky Sect back thenâand its rank had been Unranked.
Now, it had risen to World-Class Mortal Sect, which meant that although the Clear Sky Sect had grown strong, it still had not transcended the mortal realm.
Li Qingqiu called up the Dao Lineage Panel and found new text appearing at the bottom: ăAvailable Divine Art Legacy Attempts: 0ă.
So merely unlocking the mechanism didnât grant him a direct Divine Art reward?
Li Qingqiu felt slightly regretful at that, but he was already used to the Dao Lineage Panelâs rulesâhaving something to look forward to wasnât so bad either.
Most importantly, he now possessed two Fate Trait Selection opportunities; it was time to use one.
The earlier it was used, the earlier it could be enjoyed.
He only needed to reserve one more opportunity for the future.
Seeing Yuan Li and Ji Ya already beginning their cultivation practice, Li Qingqiu walked aside and sat cross-legged at the cliffâs edge, back facing his three disciples.
He summoned the Dao Lineage Panel again and began reviewing the disciplesâ personal panels, searching for a suitable Fate Trait.
âŠâŠ
As the yearâs end approached, more and more disciples returned from the mortal world, all preparing to celebrate the New Year.
Li Qingqiu sat meditating within his cave dwelling, once again flipping through the panels of new disciples.
Unfortunately, none of them particularly satisfied him.
His standards had already been raised by traits like ăHuman Ghost-Godă and ăTempered Demon Bodyă.
Even Fate Traits such as Li Yangâs Dragon Soul Protection or Yang Xuanâs Heart of Heaven and Earth didnât particularly tempt him.
Just then, Yuan Qiâs voice came from outside the cave.
âSect Master, a group has arrived at the mountain, saying you summoned them. They come from Pan City, and their leader is named Bo Zhao.â
Li Qingqiu immediately responded, âBring them to Lingxiao Courtyard.â
âYes, sir!â
When Yuan Qiâs footsteps faded away, Li Qingqiu regretfully closed the Dao Lineage Panel and stood up.
Todayâs new disciples still had no special Fate Traits.
To hold two Fate Trait opportunities but be unable to use themâit left him rather anxious.
He shifted his focus to Bo Zhao while walking out of the cave, recalling his past memories.
Back when he had traveled to Martial God Pass, he had stayed for a while in Pan City, where he wiped out the wicked Cui Residence.
Before leaving, he had promised a young constable that if the children captured by the Cui Family had nowhere to go, they could be sent to the Clear Sky Sect.
That constableâs name was Bo Zhao.
Two years had passed since thenâhe had nearly forgotten about it, never expecting Bo Zhao to actually come.
It seemed they must have encountered trouble; otherwise, they wouldnât have arrived only now.
Li Qingqiu went straight to Lingxiao Courtyard and waited.
The courtyard was empty except for himself.
Picking up a broom, he began sweeping the snow.
Though he could have cleared it away using Vital Energy, he preferred sweeping slowlyâit calmed his heart.
After a stick of incenseâs time, Yuan Qi finally arrived, leading a group.
Li Qingqiu turned to look.
He saw Bo Zhaoâtaller than before, his frame sturdier, though stubble shadowed his face, adding a trace of weariness.
Beside Bo Zhao stood a female disciple of the Clear Sky Sect, followed by two constables from Pan City in worn uniforms.
Behind them were eight young girls, their clothing dirty and tattered, faces tense with fear.
Upon seeing Li Qingqiu, Bo Zhaoâs eyes instantly reddened, and the two constables also grew visibly excited upon recognizing him.
âSect Master Li, Iâve brought them here to seek refuge under you.â Bo Zhao walked up to Li Qingqiu and knelt heavily, speaking in a low voice.
âWhat are you doing?â Li Qingqiu looked at him, puzzled.
Bo Zhao clenched his teeth.
âI failed in my duty. Four of the girls died on the roadâŠâ
At those words, the two constables hung their heads in shame, and the eight girlsâ faces dimmed with grief.
Li Qingqiu turned his gaze toward the accompanying female disciple.
âYour name is Ding Xuan, correct? Since you came with them, do you know what they went through?â
The woman named Ding Xuan looked about twenty, with fair skin, her long hair pinned up behind her head by a hairpin, revealing a delicate, pretty face.
Her brows were cool, her chin slightly pointed, giving her an impression of detached indifference.
When she heard the Sect Master call her by name, her expression flickered with emotion, and she immediately bowed deeply.
âI met them in Eastern Tomb Province. They were stopped by a group of mountain bandits, so I stepped in to help. Bo Zhao saw my skill and asked which sect I belonged to. I didnât hide it, and when he learned I was from the Clear Sky Sect, he told me about his promise with you. I then escorted them all the way back. Before meeting me, theyâd already suffered much hardship. The lands below the mountain are in chaos nowâthey came all the way from Zhongtian Provinceâs border. It was no easy journey.â
Ding Xuan spoke swiftly, her tone calm and controlled, without much emotion.
After listening, Li Qingqiu looked toward Bo Zhao.
âSince youâve come to the Clear Sky Sect, then stay. From now on, youâre all disciples of the Clear Sky Sect. Along the way, did you make any enemies?â
Bo Zhao bit his lip, uncertain whether he should answer.
One of the tall constables stepped forward.
âWe ran into too much trouble along the road. The worst of them was the Fang Residence in Zhu Lu County, Eastern Tomb Province. They pretended to pity us and took us in, but the second young master of the Fang Family, drunk one night, defiled one of our girls. She threw herself into a well in despair. When we went to confront them, we were thrown out of the estate. Bo Zhao was nearly beaten to death. We had to kneel and beg before theyâd let us goâŠâ
As he recounted it, fury twisted the constablesâ faces, and hatred burned in the eyes of the eight girls.
Li Qingqiu said quietly, âI understand. The Fang Family will pay for their blood debt in blood. Back then, when I didnât bring you all myself, did you resent me?â
At that, the two constables and eight girls hastily replied,
âHow could we resent you? Without you, weâd have died at the Cui Residence!â
âThatâs right, Sect Master Li. Weâve heard your deedsâyou struck down the Emperor himself to rid the world of evil. Following you would only have hindered your great cause.â
âYou are our savior. How could we dare to hope for more? Before leaving Pan City, we were ready for anything. Better to seek you than rot away there.â
âWhy would we hate you? If thereâs blame, itâs on us three for lacking martial skillâŠâ
Hearing them, Li Qingqiu sighed softly.
Indeed, he had been capable of bringing the girls back then, but he had been preoccupied with Wu Manâerâand besides, he had found it troublesome, believing he was not obligated to do so.
Now, hearing what they had endured, guilt stirred faintly within him.
With his strength, he could have saved countless peopleâbut doing so would have taken time from his cultivation.
He had long since adjusted his mindset; he would not burden himself too heavily.
âQiâer, take them down to settle in. All of them will become Outer Disciples.â Li Qingqiu ordered calmly.
Yuan Qi immediately acknowledged the order and led Bo Zhao and the others down the mountain.
Since kneeling, Bo Zhao had said little else, his mood visibly heavy.
Ding Xuan turned to follow them, but Li Qingqiu called out for her to stay.
He expressed his approval of Ding Xuanâs chivalrous spirit, praised her, and permitted her to go to the fourth floor of the Scripture Repository to choose one Secret ManualâYuan Qi would personally escort her there.
âSect Master, you really donât have to do this. Before I joined the mountain, I wandered with my parents. Once, a local tyrant tried to abduct meâit was Elder Li Sifeng who led people to save us. I only acted according to the chivalrous spirit of the Clear Sky Sect. Itâs what I should have done.â
Ding Xuan spoke earnestly, her gaze firm.
Though a woman, she carried a heroic aura no less than a manâs.
Li Qingqiu smiled.
âJust go. The stronger you become, the more people youâll be able to save.â
Ding Xuan wanted to reply, but Li Qingqiu had already turned and walked toward the cave dwelling.
Seeing this, she drew a deep breath, bowed respectfully, and departed.
Returning to his cave, Li Qingqiu began cultivating once again.
After sitting a short while, he couldnât help wonderingâmight someone among Bo Zhaoâs group possess a special Fate Trait?
As the saying went: Those who survive great tribulations are destined for great fortune.
Their journey from Pan City to Clear Sky Mountain had been like a pilgrimage through peril.
Perhaps one among them was blessed by destiny.
He waited for Bo Zhao and the others to be formally entered into the sect.
Yuan Qi was efficientâas expected, within half an hour, Bo Zhao and the rest appeared in the Dao Lineage Panel.
Bo Zhaoâs cultivation aptitude was Average, comprehension Unranked, and his Fate Trait was merely ăCourageousăâof little help to cultivation.
Li Qingqiu felt a twinge of disappointment and looked further down the list.
The other two constables had nothing special either.
Then came the eight girls.
At first glanceânone with special Fate Traits; even their aptitude and comprehension barely reached Average.
But when Li Qingqiu reached the seventh girlâs profile, his eyes suddenly lit up.
ăName: Yun Caiă
ăGender: Femaleă
ăAge: 16ă
ăLoyalty (to Sect Master/Sect): 92/65 (Max 100)ă
ăCultivation Aptitude: Excellentă
ăComprehension: Averageă
ăFate Traits: All-Spells Spiritual Eyes, Tempered a Thousand Timesă
ăAll-Spells Spiritual Eyes: An ancient mystical eye capable of perceiving the bones, meridians, and soul of cultivators. It can discern flaws in opponentsâ spells, and upon reaching a certain cultivation level, may nurture a unique innate Divine Art.ă
ăTempered a Thousand Times: Whatever spell, Divine Art, or secret technique is cultivated, perseverance will lead to full mastery and even greater realms of proficiency.ă
âŠâŠ
Dual special Fate Traits!
And both were cultivation and combat-oriented!
A true prodigy!
Li Qingqiuâs expectations for Yun Cai soared.
He believed both Fate Traits were worth copyingâăAll-Spells Spiritual Eyesă could enhance combat, while ăTempered a Thousand Timesă could strengthen his mastery of spells.
So far, the only technique Li Qingqiu had fully mastered was the Supreme Sword Controlling Technique.
But he wasnât the only oneâJiang Zhaoxia also knew it, and her attainment was no lesser than his.
If he obtained the ăTempered a Thousand Timesă Fate Trait, wouldnât that allow him to refine any spell to its highest levelâto become a true grandmaster?
He decided to use one of his Fate Trait Selections on Yun Cai.
As for which oneâhe would think more on it.
Yun Caiâs cultivation aptitude was Excellent, making her a disciple worth special attention.
Which Hall should she be assigned to?
Forget itâbetter to keep her by his side.
With such a prodigy, she would surely dazzle in the next Grand Dao Tournament, perhaps even take first place and astonish the entire sect.
Yes, that would do!
He would nurture her quietlyâand when she finally emerged, it would display both his teaching skill and his discerning vision!