Before sunset, Li Qingqiu gathered all the disciples and announced that Jiang Zhaoxia would be forming the Thirteen Swords of Qingxiao's Might. The moment those words left his mouth, excitement surged through the courtyard. Every disciple's eyes lit up, all looking toward Jiang Zhaoxia with admiration and longing.
He was, after all, Qingxiao Sect's strongest cultivator—known throughout the martial world as the second under heaven. To be personally trained by him was every disciple's dream.
And that name—Thirteen Swords of Qingxiao's Might—it sounded glorious. Until now, Qingxiao Sect was known only for its Seven Sons of Qingxiao, but now a second elite group would rise. The disciples could hardly contain their anticipation.
Li Qingqiu stood by, silently watching Jiang Zhaoxia make his selections. When Jiang had chosen twelve people, Li Qingqiu suddenly spoke up and pointed toward one particular disciple. "Third Junior Brother, let the last spot go to him."
The one he pointed to was a youth named Xue Jin, sixteen years old. His face was plain, his build unremarkable, and standing in the crowd, he was the kind of person one's eyes would easily pass over.
When Li Qingqiu's finger landed on him, Xue Jin froze in place. He even looked around, thinking the Sect Master must've meant someone else nearby.
Jiang Zhaoxia glanced at the boy and frowned slightly. He had no recollection of this disciple and, judging by his appearance, he didn't seem like any sort of prodigy.
Li Qingqiu caught the hint of doubt in his expression and smiled. "I can sense boundless potential in him. He'll be a great help to you in the future."
Among the newly recruited disciples, Xue Jin was the only one whose Cultivation Aptitude and Comprehension were both rated as Fair. After joining the sect, his loyalty had risen swiftly—enough for Li Qingqiu to feel confident about recommending him.
"Fair" might sound modest compared to Xu Ning's or Jiang Zhaoxia's levels of talent, but within Qingxiao Sect, that was already considered gifted.
In fact, even the twelve disciples Jiang Zhaoxia had handpicked weren't necessarily better than Xue Jin.
Upon hearing Li Qingqiu's words, Xue Jin's heart swelled with excitement. Emotion welled in his chest, and he had to fight the urge to tear up.
The Sect Master noticed me…?
Nearby, Yang Jueding, Cheng Canghai, and Li Sifeng all turned to look at him curiously. Li Qingqiu rarely praised disciples so openly. With Xu Ning's example before them, everyone couldn't help but wonder—could this unassuming boy truly be special?
Could this Xue Jin really be different?
Jiang Zhaoxia finally nodded. "Very well. Since Senior Brother says so, I'll trust his judgment."
He beckoned to Xue Jin with one finger, motioning for him to step out from the line. Then, leading his newly chosen Thirteen Swords, Jiang Zhaoxia left with calm determination.
The disciples who weren't chosen looked disappointed, though not resentful. Instead, they were eager to see what kind of greatness the Thirteen Swords would achieve in the future.
When the crowd began to disperse, Li Sifeng trotted over to Li Qingqiu, grinning. "Second Brother's got his Seven Sons, Third Brother now has Thirteen Swords. Do you think I can make a group of my own too?"
Li Qingqiu raised an eyebrow. "What kind of group?"
Li Sifeng puffed his chest proudly. "How about… The Nine Ghosts of Qingxiao?"
Li Qingqiu's mouth twitched. "That sounds awful. Try again."
He rolled his eyes and started walking toward the mountain gate, but Li Sifeng chased after him, pestering him all the way down the path.
Though he didn't entertain Li Sifeng's idea, it did spark a thought in Li Qingqiu's mind. If each of his junior brothers and sisters led their own group of disciples, passing down knowledge generation by generation, wouldn't that eventually form a stable inner hierarchy within the sect?
But not everyone was suited for teaching. Wu Man'er, for instance, wasn't a good fit. Li Sifeng was far too mischievous to be trusted with students.
Instead, Li Qingqiu decided to let Li Dongyue and Li Sijin each take on disciples of their own.
Li Dongyue practiced the Secret Technique — Rejuvenation Ghost-Immortal Needles, which naturally incorporated medical skill. Even without cultivating vital energy, her art deepened understanding of meridians and qi-blood circulation. In time, she could treat both sect members and patients from the outside world.
As for Li Sijin, she could teach talisman crafting. Even if the talismans weren't true immortal-grade symbols, they could still be sold to the superstitious commoners for income—especially once Qingxiao Sect's name grew well-known.
Having made his decision, Li Qingqiu summoned Li Dongyue that very evening to discuss the plan.
To his relief, she was delighted. She had wanted to take disciples for some time but had hesitated, unsure if Li Qingqiu would permit her to share her healing arts.
…
The next morning, Li Dongyue began selecting her disciples. The commotion was far quieter than Jiang Zhaoxia's event, but it still stirred whispers across the sect.
By the end, she had chosen nine disciples—seven girls and two boys.
Li Sijin, on the other hand, decided to wait another two years before taking any disciples of her own. Li Qingqiu didn't object; as long as she had a plan in mind, he was content to support her in whatever she chose.
That same day, Zhang Yuchun led a team down the mountain. This time, he didn't just take Huang Shan and Yu Lin with him—he brought along all of the Seven Sons of Qingxiao to experience the world together.
Still, Li Qingqiu couldn't help worrying. Zhang Yuchun's martial strength wasn't especially high, and with the world in its current state, danger lurked everywhere. So he ordered Li Sifeng to accompany them for extra security.
Half a month later, Zhang Yuchun and the others returned—bringing with them twenty-three new disciples.
With that, Qingxiao Sect's population surpassed eighty for the first time.
Li Qingqiu personally met the new recruits, gave them a few words of encouragement, and then asked Li Dongyue to arrange housing for them.
Over the past year, several new courtyards had been built near the lower compound. Though still simple, they were enough to house all the newcomers.
Later, Li Qingqiu opened the Dao Lineage Interface and scanned the list of new names. None had exceptional Cultivation Aptitude or Comprehension—but one caught his eye because of its unusual Fate.
[ Lucky One: Always prone to good fortune, luck follows throughout life. ]
This boy's name was Bai Ning'er, thirteen years old, short and thin, with dark skin. Standing among the crowd, he was easy to overlook.
Still, the title of Lucky One was intriguing. It was vague—open to endless interpretation. Maybe it was something truly extraordinary… or maybe it meant nothing at all.
After all, Bai Ning'er's Cultivation Aptitude and Comprehension were both merely Mediocre.
He still needed to observe for a while longer.
Li Qingqiu only gave Bai Ning'er a single glance. He made no special arrangements for him, nor did he ask Zhang Yuchun for any further details.
With twenty-three new disciples joining, the Qingxiao Sect's labor burden in construction and production areas finally eased under Zhang Yuchun's management.
Heavy snow blanketed the mountains, turning the entire range into a white ocean.
On a mountaintop, Li Qingqiu sat cross-legged beside Qin Ye. The howling wind and swirling snow were pushed aside by the spiritual energy surrounding their bodies.
Qin Ye slowly opened his eyes and said with admiration, "Master, this Supreme Purity and Primordial Harmony Sutra is truly profound. It matches perfectly with my Ten Thousand Armies Demon-Subduing Staff. Even by running through it in my mind, I've already gained a lot of insight."
It was a rare moment for him to cultivate alongside his master, and the joy in his heart was clear. He could sense that Li Qingqiu was growing closer to him.
"You're still only at the first layer," Li Qingqiu said calmly, eyes closed. "Once you reach the second layer, you'll be able to unleash the true power of your staff technique."
Qin Ye nodded, though inwardly he felt the second layer was a distant goal—one that might take him years to reach.
After a moment of silence, Li Qingqiu asked, "You still wish to avenge Wu Baoyu, don't you?"
Qin Ye froze. His face darkened, and his grip tightened around his knees. "Senior Wu's death was too cruel. I must clear his name and avenge him."
"To clear his name is fine," Li Qingqiu said in an even tone. "But to avenge him—aren't you being a little too sentimental?"
Qin Ye turned to him, eyes wide with disbelief. He couldn't understand why his master would say something so cold.
Li Qingqiu continued, "Did Senior Wu ever ask you to avenge him?"
"No," Qin Ye admitted, "but… he must have held back because he thought I wasn't strong enough."
"Then do you still remember what he told you when he passed on his martial arts?"
"He said many things. I remember them all."
"Then tell me," Li Qingqiu asked, "to him, what was more important—hatred or the stability of the nation?"
"This…"
Qin Ye fell silent. He remembered that Wu Baoyu had once urged him to join the army and protect the Great Li Dynasty.
Li Qingqiu's voice was calm, but his words cut deep. "If you kill the emperor, do you know what happens next?"
Qin Ye's expression shifted—first pale, then flushed. He might have been young, but he wasn't ignorant. If the emperor died, the empire would fall into chaos. Countless innocent people would suffer.
"I won't stop you from seeking revenge," Li Qingqiu said, still with eyes closed. "But think about this—what did Senior Wu truly pass on to you? His martial arts, or his spirit? There are many ways to avenge someone. What I hope is that you put the people of this world first. Only on that foundation should you speak of revenge."
His tone was calm yet heavy, like snow falling on stone—soft but unshakable.
Qin Ye sat in silence, lost in thought.
To Li Qingqiu, the title of master carried a heavy weight. It wasn't enough to teach techniques alone. Since Qin Ye was still young and unshaped by the world, it was his duty to correct his mindset—to keep him from falling into blind hatred.
After a while, Qin Ye lifted his gaze. "Master… does Qingxiao Sect practice martial arts to protect the world?"
He had always remembered what Li Qingqiu said when the innkeeper woman took her own life. His master's words had sounded so cold then that many disciples whispered about it in private. He had never truly understood.
"The world is vast," Li Qingqiu said slowly, "and such a goal is too distant to chase. But Qingxiao Sect will protect those who have supported us—like the villagers at the foot of the mountain. They helped us build the sect, till the fields, and deliver grain. Should we not shelter them in return? As Qingxiao Sect grows stronger, the number of those who help us will grow too. And if one day, the whole world stands by our side—then, yes, we will protect the world."
Qin Ye felt as though something had clicked within him. Suddenly, the path of Qingxiao Sect became clear in his mind.
To grow strong without losing righteousness. To value one's own strength but never forget gratitude.
The resentment in his heart slowly began to fade. Looking back, he realized how foolish he had been—blindly consumed by vengeance, misunderstanding the will of Senior Wu.
He also noticed how distant he had grown from his five fellow Qin clan disciples—and even from other sect members.
As the Sect Master's disciple, I shouldn't be like this, he thought.
While Li Qingqiu was teaching Qin Ye, Jiang Zhaoxia was doing the same in his own way.
He wasn't just teaching swordsmanship—he was shaping ideals. He was instilling in the Thirteen Swords of Qingxiao's Might a single doctrine: the interests of Qingxiao Sect came before all else, and any threat to the sect must be eradicated.
This winter was colder than any before, but the hearts of Qingxiao Sect's disciples burned hotter than ever—each filled with purpose and fire.
…
After the New Year, when the joy of the celebrations had barely faded, Li Qingqiu received joyous news of his own—he had successfully broken through to the fifth layer of the Nurturing Essence Realm!
Yet he told no one.
He planned to keep a low profile, stepping forward only in times of true danger. The sect's visible strength, he decided, should rest on others.
At the fifth layer, his vital energy had doubled, his strength surging like a rising tide. For the first time, he understood what martial experts meant when they spoke of "profound inner power."
Now, when he cast spells, he no longer needed to be frugal with his energy.
Shortly after the New Year, Li Dongyue's medical practice finally opened. A wealthy merchant came to the mountain, bringing his daughter to seek treatment.
The girl suffered from a strange illness. No renowned physician had been able to cure her, and her condition flared up unpredictably. Hearing rumors that Qingxiao Sect could treat rare and difficult ailments, the man had come in desperation—hoping that fate might grant him a miracle.