Chapter 203 : The Authority of a Thousand Years

Chapter 203: The Authority of a Thousand Years

In mid-July, the Heavenly Works Hall began selling storage pouches.

The first batch consisted of only ten pouches.

There was no prior announcement and no auction.

Once they were put on the shelves, they sold out almost immediately, and news about the storage pouches spread rapidly.

To stuff an entire bundle into a pouch the size of a palm—what kind of treasure was that? Who would not want it?

For a time, the Heavenly Works Hall became bustling with activity, even overshadowing the Cultivation Hall.

There were even Hall Masters who came to Li Qingqiu, wanting to order a batch for their respective halls.

Yang Jueding proposed designating the storage pouches as strategic materials, to be given only to disciples who had made outstanding contributions to the sect, but Li Qingqiu rejected the suggestion.

The material of the storage pouches mainly relied on Spirit Copper.

Spirit Copper was abundant—there was no need to hoard it.

Only by rapidly developing the Clear Sky Sect could they go on to explore more cultivation resources.

The world was vast, and Li Qingqiu’s gaze had never been limited to the Nine Provinces alone.

No matter how the upper ranks tried to persuade him, Li Qingqiu remained resolute, insisting on opening the storage pouches to sect disciples.

As long as one had enough Dao Affinity, one could purchase them, and large quantities would be put on sale afterward.

This news spread without wings, causing many disciples to clap their hands in delight.

If distribution were based on outstanding contributions, the vast majority of disciples would never even touch a storage pouch.

As the number of sect disciples increased, the bottom line of fairness grew ever more blurred.

Sometimes, connections were more important than aptitude or contribution.

Most importantly, the price of the storage pouch was not high—temporarily set at two hundred Dao Affinity plus two hundred strings of coins.

Such a price was not expensive, and could even be considered cheap.

For the current sect disciples, whether Dao Affinity or worldly wealth, there were always channels to earn them.

After the Heavenly Works Hall announced the price, Zhang Yuchun brought Chai Yunshang and Han Lang to find Li Qingqiu.

Han Lang was already acting on behalf of the Sword Sect in managing major and minor affairs.

At twenty-one years old, he was already at the fifth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, capable of standing on his own.

His aptitude could not be considered top-tier, only good, but he could not withstand the relentless pouring of resources from Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Qingqiu in turn—especially Jiang Zhaoxia, who spared no effort in cultivating him.

“Senior Brother, if storage pouches flow into the hands of outsiders, or are sold by disciples to people outside the sect, how should we deal with it?” Zhang Yuchun asked.

Bringing Chai Yunshang and Han Lang this time was precisely to formulate new sect rules.

As he spoke, he could not help but glance at the person standing behind Li Qingqiu.

It was Chu Jing.

The name Lord Jing had gradually spread, and many people knew that there was such a masked individual acting on behalf of the Sect Master.

As more and more people acted for the Sect Master, many realized that, outside the Eight Halls and the Sword Sect, another faction would soon emerge.

Yuan Qi, Yun Cai, the Three Xiao Brothers, and Lord Jing—among these four, all possessed top-tier potential.

In another ten years, the sect’s structure would change.

Li Qingqiu pondered briefly and said, “If outsiders obtain a storage pouch, investigate first. If it was not acquired through plunder, allow them to return it. If they refuse, deal with them severely. If it was acquired through plunder, kill them directly.”

“As for our sect disciples, if they lose a storage pouch, punishment will depend on the circumstances. Light cases will result in the deduction of part of their Dao Affinity; severe cases will require serving as menial disciples for a fixed period. If any disciple sells one to outsiders, punish them harshly without leniency—light cases will result in the abolition of cultivation and expulsion from the sect; severe cases will result in lifelong enslavement, permanently confined within the sect. Those with especially malicious intent may be sentenced to death.”

Wu Xingyue carved the two characters ‘Clear Sky’ into the restrictions of the storage pouch.

When immortal cultivators probed it with their Vital Energy, they could see the words ‘Clear Sky’.

Attempting to erase these two characters would easily damage the pouch’s overall restriction.

Chai Yunshang and Han Lang nodded.

Seeing that the Sect Master was still decisive and ruthless, they were reassured.

Zhang Yuchun then asked, “Senior Brother, by the end of the year, you will also release the Clear Sky Sword. Isn’t this too fast?”

Li Qingqiu could see the loyalty of the sect disciples, which allowed him to control the direction of the sect, so he did not feel it was fast.

“It will only get faster in the future. That’s why you need to set aside time to cultivate. Cultivation is the top priority. Our Clear Sky Sect is an immortal cultivation sect, not a worldly martial sect, let alone a court. Governing the sect is important, but it cannot compare to one’s own cultivation.”

Li Qingqiu spoke earnestly.

As the sect grew larger, it could continue to operate without any single individual.

The Free Spirit Hall, in particular, was brimming with talent.

As long as Zhang Yuchun distributed the affairs in his hands among different disciples, he could free up more time to cultivate.

After hearing this, Zhang Yuchun’s expression changed slightly, thinking that his senior brother was admonishing him.

“What we are contending for is longevity. If you cultivate diligently, you can hold authority for hundreds, even thousands of years. If you set cultivation aside, you can only enjoy a few decades of life.” As Li Qingqiu said this, he also looked at Chai Yunshang and Han Lang.

A thousand years?

The hearts of the three all trembled.

Li Qingqiu no longer tried to persuade them, stood up, and returned to his cave dwelling.

Lord Jing then walked up to Zhang Yuchun and said, “I will go with you. The Sect Master has already told me the specific sect rules. I will help you refine them.”

Zhang Yuchun noticed the Tianhong Sword hanging at his waist, and was secretly startled, instantly guessing Lord Jing’s true identity.

He stood up and nodded toward Lord Jing, then turned and left, with Lord Jing following closely behind.

Chai Yunshang and Han Lang were extremely curious about Lord Jing’s true identity.

For someone to be so trusted by the Sect Master, his background must be extraordinary—yet why did he wear a mask?

The moon set and the sun rose.

Early the next morning, the sect rules regarding storage pouches were posted in every peak and courtyard.

The disciples were not frightened by the new rules—on the contrary, they were excited.

This meant that storage pouches would be released on a large scale.

How could they not be happy?

At noon, Yuan Qi’s voice entered Li Qingqiu’s cave dwelling: “Reporting to the Sect Master, Elder Shen Yue has returned with people.”

“Good. Have them wait in the courtyard.”

“Yes!”

Li Qingqiu opened his eyes.

He had already sensed a not-weak Inner Energy.

Amid the Vital Energy filling the mountains, this Inner Energy stood out conspicuously.

This was the first time he had sensed such powerful Inner Energy.

Even Shen Yue’s Inner Energy back then had not been this strong.

Could it be that Shen Yue had really brought Yan Daozong back?

Reliable!

He had previously worried that Shen Yue might fail, but reality proved that Number One Under Heaven was indeed Number One Under Heaven, and had not weakened at all after submitting to him.

Li Qingqiu’s lips curled upward as he stood up and walked out of the cave dwelling.

Inside Lingxiao Courtyard.

Shen Yue, Li Yang, Yan Daozong, and Yuan Qi stood in front of a long table, with Yuan Qi curiously observing Yan Daozong.

Yan Daozong was still dressed in pure white robes, a sword at his waist, white hair coiled beneath a crown, handsome and elegant.

From the moment he went up the mountain, everyone who passed him could not help but look at him.

His temperament was simply too outstanding.

Along the way, Yan Daozong’s mood was also filled with emotion.

The Clear Sky Sect was far more prosperous than he had imagined.

He felt that if Tianxuan Mountain were to oppose the Clear Sky Sect, it would surely be reduced to ashes.

At the same time, he strengthened his belief that the Clear Sky Sect truly would not deliberately suppress Tianxuan Mountain—the gap between them was simply too large.

An hour earlier, he had watched a battle at the Martial Arena halfway up the mountain, witnessing two Clear Sky Sect disciples in a duel, leaving him silent.

Experts like Li Yang and Yang Dong—there were actually two more like them in the Clear Sky Sect.

Moreover, after some understanding, there were still two peerless experts not weaker than Shen Yue, and that was without even counting the Sect Master.

By the time he arrived at Lingxiao Courtyard, Yan Daozong had already adjusted his mindset.

He paid no attention to Yuan Qi’s gaze.

He was already prepared to be humiliated—after all, he had lost.

Even now, recalling Shen Yue’s sword strike, he still found it exquisite.

However, Shen Yue told him that that sword strike was merely created by imitating the Sect Master’s Soul-Seizing Flying Sword, which made him curious as to what kind of elegance the Clear Sky Sect Master’s Soul-Seizing Flying Sword possessed.

Just as Yan Daozong was lost in thought, he caught sight of Li Qingqiu approaching from the small path in the rear courtyard.

Immediately after, he saw Yuan Qi, Shen Yue, and Li Yang bow toward Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu was younger than Yan Daozong had imagined.

He wore a smile on his face, making others feel as though they were bathed in a spring breeze.

At the first sight of Li Qingqiu, Yan Daozong inexplicably felt goodwill, thinking that the other party was not an overbearing person.

“Why are you all standing? Sit down and talk. Yuan Qi, why haven’t you poured tea? Is this how you treat a guest?”

Li Qingqiu asked with a smile, and Yuan Qi hurried to the kitchen to brew tea.

Only after Li Qingqiu sat down did Shen Yue and the others take their seats.

“Sect Master, this is Yan Daozong, the Sect Master of Tianxuan Mountain. We made a bet—after he lost, he would join the Clear Sky Sect, so he came.”

Shen Yue introduced him first.

Upon hearing this, Yan Daozong smiled helplessly and then clasped his fists toward Li Qingqiu.

What an actor!

Li Qingqiu sighed inwardly, then very considerately praised him, saying, “Worthy of the Sword God—you did not disappoint me. If you act alone, the task completion rate could be said to be one hundred percent.”

Hearing the first half, Shen Yue felt extremely pleased, but the latter half of Li Qingqiu’s words froze his smile.

Xue Jin’s severed arm was still something he could not let go of.

Li Qingqiu looked at Yan Daozong and said, “I wonder whether Sect Master Yan truly intends to join the Clear Sky Sect, or whether you plan to stay for a few years before returning?”

Yan Daozong was surprised and asked in astonishment, “I still have a choice?”

Li Qingqiu smiled and said, “Tianxuan Mountain is, after all, one of the two martial sages. The Clear Sky Sect should show respect.”

These words made Shen Yue unhappy.

“What? Respect Tianxuan Mountain but not respect me, the Sword God? When you made a bet with me back then, why didn’t you give me a choice?”

“You chose already, didn’t you? Isn’t this your choice now?” Li Qingqiu shrugged.

Shen Yue opened his mouth but found himself unable to refute it.

Seeing them bicker, Yan Daozong grew even more curious.

In Tianxuan Mountain, such joking would never happen.

Even between him and his junior brother, they could not bicker like this—serious conversations could already turn into arguments, let alone mutual teasing.

Yan Daozong took a deep breath and said, “A bet is a bet, and I accept the loss. As long as the Clear Sky Sect can make use of me, I will stay. However, I must make one thing clear, Sect Master—I only practice martial arts, not immortal cultivation.”

Li Yang laughed upon hearing this and said, “Once you cultivate immortality, you might change your mind.”

Yan Daozong remained unmoved, his gaze fixed tightly on Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu was not angry, but instead smiled and said, “Of course that is fine. Our Clear Sky Sect also has martial arts. My disciple Zhao Zhen is even seeking a fusion of the Martial Path and the Immortal Path. You can exchange ideas more in the future. How about this—I will establish a Martial Sect for you. You will serve as an elder of the Martial Sect. Although the Martial Sect cannot stand on equal footing with the Eight Halls, it can still contribute its share of strength to the sect.”

As soon as these words were spoken, both Shen Yue and Li Yang were surprised, while Yan Daozong raised his brows, greatly astonished.

Li Qingqiu continued, “The path of immortal cultivation is a path of contending with the heavens. Not all disciples possess the aptitude for immortal cultivation. I also wish to seek more paths and hope for them. If one cannot cultivate immortality, then practice martial arts. The Clear Sky Sect cannot abandon disciples who have contributed, merely because of aptitude issues.”