From a Martial Arts Sect to an Immortal Cultivation Sect

Chapter 223 : Stimulation from the Spirit Perception Realm

The news of Xu Ning achieving the Spirit Perception Realm quickly spread throughout the sect. This was the first time Li Qingqiu had formally revealed the existence of the Spirit Perception Realm to the sect’s disciples.Above the ninth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm lay the Spirit Perception Realm!

This shocked the disciples greatly. They finally realized the gap between themselves and the sect’s top experts, and also realized that the path of immortal cultivation was far longer than they had imagined.

Jiang Zhaoxia and Shen Yue were deeply stimulated and began secluded cultivation.

Especially Shen Yue. Because Xu Ning had deliberately gone to find him, although the two had not exchanged blows, the oppressive feeling Xu Ning brought made it hard for him to accept.

Let alone the Spirit Perception Realm—he had not even reached the eighth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm yet.

An unprecedented anxiety appeared in Shen Yue’s state of mind. He did not want to be left far behind by Xu Ning.

The news of Xu Ning achieving the Spirit Perception Realm also stimulated other disciples in the sect.

More and more disciples began to put aside the cultivation of spells and focused on their cultivation realm instead, causing the Martial Arena to lose much of its former liveliness.

Inside a courtyard.

Zhang Ping watched Yuan Qi leave. He looked at the storage pouch in his hand, and his heart was filled with emotion.

This was what Li Qingqiu had instructed Yuan Qi to bring him. Inside were spell manuals, pills, and spirit stones. He felt the sect master’s regard, which made him feel great pressure—he feared disappointing the sect master.

However, when he thought of his recent cultivation results, his fighting spirit surged once more.

He had already reached the fifth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm!

The effect of the Vermilion Bird Blood surprised him. His cultivation speed had greatly increased, his blood essence was also strengthening, and he even suspected that he could cultivate the Body Cultivation Path concurrently.

He clenched the storage pouch and took a deep breath.

“Perhaps, in the next Grand Dao Tournament, I can also participate……”

Zhang Ping was cautious by nature, but that did not mean he lacked ambition. Precisely because his ambition was great—greater than anyone else’s—he was so cautious.

He decided to charge for the Top Ten of the next Grand Dao Tournament, obtain the resources, and then lose the match.

He did not want fame. He wanted to become as strong as possible, so that he could do more things for the sect master in the future.

Just as he was about to turn around and return to the room, a figure walked in through the courtyard gate.

“Zhang Ping!”

Zhang Ping turned his head to look. His eyes widened as he saw a purple-robed woman smiling brightly at him.

He was first pleasantly surprised, then immediately felt panic.

The visitor was none other than Murong Xi.

……

One month later, the impact brought by Xu Ning’s breakthrough finally eased, and new matters attracted the sect disciples’ attention.

Inside the Tempering Hall.

Xue Jin sat on a chair, holding a letter in his hand, his brows tightly furrowed.

Standing before the desk was the second of the Thirteen Sword Fiends, Zheng Yunqiao.

Zheng Yunqiao did not look well. He said in a deep voice, “The Xuanji Sect is not easy to deal with. Relying only on the Tempering Hall will likely be difficult. Should we ask the sect master to send people to assist?”

Xue Jin did not answer. The letter in his hand recorded casualties. This time, in dealing with the Xuanji Sect, disciples had actually died, which made his mood very poor.

After a while, Xue Jin took a deep breath and said, “No need. I will personally go down the mountain.”

“That won’t do. You must stay and hold the fort in the Tempering Hall, and your arm……” Zheng Yunqiao stopped halfway through, afraid of hurting Xue Jin’s feelings.

Xue Jin looked at him and said, “The inconvenience of one arm does not affect my killing.”

Just as Zheng Yunqiao was about to continue persuading him, a voice came from behind:

“One arm indeed does not affect you, but you should not go down the mountain either. Your strength has already begun to be caught up to by other disciples. Do not delay your cultivation any further.”

Xue Jin and Zheng Yunqiao’s expressions changed drastically, because they recognized the owner of this voice.

Xue Jin immediately stood up, while Zheng Yunqiao turned around and bowed.

Jiang Zhaoxia stepped into the room. Only a figure of his stature could barge in without any announcement.

“Greetings, Master!”

The two spoke in unison.

Jiang Zhaoxia walked to the desk and placed a storage pouch on it, saying, “Xue Jin, there is a cultivation method for divine arts inside. Practice it when you have time. As for the trouble your Tempering Hall has encountered, there is no need for you to personally go down the mountain. I have already written a letter—it is inside the storage pouch. Have your people deliver it to Li Sifeng. It is time to let that brat contribute to the sect.”

Divine arts?

Xue Jin was startled and subconsciously looked at the storage pouch on the desk.

He was naturally delighted with his master’s arrangement, but he was worried about troubling Li Sifeng.

“Would this be inappropriate? After all, Sixth Martial Uncle is busy campaigning across the world,” Xue Jin asked hesitantly.

Jiang Zhaoxia said in an unquestionable tone, “This matter is settled. You hurry and cultivate, maintain your strength and status within the sect, and do not disgrace me.”

After speaking, he turned and left. The two immediately saluted him.

After his aura had faded away, Zheng Yunqiao looked at Xue Jin and said, “It feels like Master is very angry?”

Xue Jin replied, “It is probably because one of the sect master’s disciples has broken through again.”

Zheng Yunqiao smiled helplessly and said, “Master is really something. His competitiveness is so strong. Who can compare with the sect master’s disciples? Even if it’s him……”

Xue Jin shot him a glance, and he immediately came to his senses, not daring to speak further.

Afterward, Xue Jin sat down again. He looked at the storage pouch on the desk, but he was not very happy. In his view, once they sought help from Li Sifeng, it meant that this matter had been botched by the Tempering Hall—at least, botched in his hands.

Zheng Yunqiao saw through his concern and said irritably, “Senior Brother, what are you thinking? Sixth Martial Uncle is the Hall Master of the Tempering Hall. If he takes action, it is still our Tempering Hall’s achievement. What are you thinking? Do you really think you’re the hall master?”

These words awakened Xue Jin, and he could not help but smile bitterly.

That’s right!

He had almost forgotten this matter.

Zheng Yunqiao looked at the storage pouch on the desk and asked curiously, “What are divine arts? Senior Brother, after you practice them, can you let me take a look too?”

Xue Jin glared at him and said, “Your thoughts are getting bolder and bolder. Without Master’s permission, how could I privately pass them on?”

Zheng Yunqiao curled his lips. He felt that Xue Jin was good in every way except that he was too rigid.

At the same time, he also felt envy in his heart.

The Thirteen Sword Fiends shared life and death, but Jiang Zhaoxia’s attitude toward Xue Jin and toward them was completely different. Although the difference in aptitude objectively existed, how could they truly remain unmoved?

……

Night fell.

Inside the cave dwelling, Li Qingqiu sat cross-legged on a stone bed cultivating. Chu Jing stood before him, reporting intelligence.

“According to news from Dark Hall disciples, Murong Manor is indeed hunting auspicious signs. That White Tiger is already dead. It is said that its blood was completely drained. All of this was ordered by the manor lord of Murong Manor, Murong Zhilong.”

“Sect Master, according to what Shen Yue said previously, this Murong Zhilong is a peerless genius with a chance to enter the Dao. Now that he is collecting the essence blood of auspicious signs, could he become a great enemy of the Clear Sky Sect? My suggestion is to directly wipe out Murong Manor. I can arrange people to do it. You can treat it as if you know nothing.”

Chu Jing’s tone was fierce, as if the ferocious Xuan Gong of the past had returned.

Li Qingqiu opened his eyes and glared at him, saying irritably, “Restrain your scheming. Do not use your old thinking to work for the Clear Sky Sect. I had the Dark Hall investigate Murong Manor not to deal with them, but to investigate the refinement method of Vermilion Bird Blood.”

Zhang Ping’s aptitude had improved, which proved that Vermilion Bird Blood could also improve others’ aptitudes. This made Li Qingqiu think of his junior brothers and junior sisters.

Only by improving their aptitudes could his junior brothers and sisters walk farther on the path of immortal cultivation and live longer.

Chu Jing replied, “It is still being investigated. Murong Zhilong’s martial arts are not to be underestimated. The cultivation of the Dark Hall disciples is not very high. I was afraid of alerting the enemy, so I had them be cautious.”

“Mm. Do this matter slowly. I will give you two years. You must find the refinement method of Vermilion Bird Blood,” Li Qingqiu instructed.

Vermilion Bird Blood was not as simple as ordinary auspicious sign blood. According to Zhang Ping, the Vermilion Bird Blood Murong Xi had given him was a piece of red jade. From what Murong Xi said, rare treasures had been added inside.

“Understood.”

Chu Jing accepted the order and left.

After he left, Li Qingqiu pondered for a while before continuing his cultivation.

……

At dusk.

Bo Zhao and two yamen runners who had come together from Pan City advanced along the mountain path, returning to the Enforcement Hall. The three were exhausted. Over the past few days, they had been responsible for patrolling the Ancient Great Mountain Range, which had worn them out badly.

However, next they would have ten days of cultivation time. Just thinking about it filled them with motivation.

“That Xunxian Town is really prosperous. From afar, it looks just like the long streets of a state capital.”

“Yeah. We should find time to stroll around there later.”

“Bo Zhao, will you go?”

“He definitely won’t. He’s a cultivation fanatic. His aptitude is stronger than ours. We should not delay him.”

Listening to his two companions, Bo Zhao did not pay attention. He was recalling spells in his mind.

At the beginning of the month, he had exchanged his own Dao affinity for a spell manual. Now his mind was filled with cultivation related to spells.

At this moment, one companion pulled Bo Zhao and had him look ahead.

They saw Yun Cai and seven women playing in the forest ahead, mainly surrounding two children.

Bo Zhao and the others had escorted Yun Cai and the eight women to the Clear Sky Sect. As Yun Cai was given key cultivation by Li Qingqiu and became famous within the sect, the relationship between the two groups gradually grew distant.

It was not that Yun Cai deliberately distanced herself from them, but they felt embarrassed to burden Yun Cai. Yun Cai had repeatedly given them spirit pills and spirit stones, making them feel unworthy.

They had worked hard escorting them all the way, but Li Qingqiu had already repaid them by letting them become Clear Sky Sect disciples and pursue the immortal Dao of longevity. They were already satisfied and did not want to trouble Yun Cai further.

“Pretend we didn’t see them. Let’s go,”

Bo Zhao said in a low voice, and the three immediately quickened their pace.

The mountain path was winding. They could detour around the forest where Yun Cai and the others were.

However, they had not gone far when Yun Cai suddenly appeared in front of them, startling them badly.

“What are you hiding for?”

Yun Cai frowned as she spoke. Her tone was cold, making the three somewhat afraid.

They all muttered inwardly—back when they were fleeing together, how had they not felt that she was so fierce?

Bo Zhao hesitated to speak, but Yun Cai directly said, “Recently, there is another batch of slots to go to the Heavenly Mountain Spirit Pool. I applied for them for the three of you. Someone will speak to your hall master. Go back and prepare well. You will set out in five days.”

After speaking, she turned and walked toward the forest.

Bo Zhao and the other two stood there stunned, their gazes following her retreating figure, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.

It’s coming, it’s coming!