Chapter 214 : Divine Ability Wall, Jiang Zhaoxia’s Fortune

Chapter 214: Divine Ability Wall, Jiang Zhaoxia’s Fortune

Although it was unclear what effect “fortune like a dragon” had, this notification proved that Jiang Zhaoxia was not in danger for the time being.

For Jiang Zhaoxia to encounter a fated tribulation meant that this crisis was far from simple.

Moreover, Jiang Zhaoxia had gone to save Zhao Zhen—could it be that he had coincidentally collided with Zhao Zhen’s own tribulation?

Li Qingqiu’s heart was filled with confusion.

He did not know whether this tribulation belonged to Jiang Zhaoxia alone, or whether the two of them had happened to have their tribulations collide and were crossing it together.

He could only continue waiting.

Because of this notification, Li Qingqiu’s mood became cheerful.

He had always felt that whether the Clear Sky Sect was strong could not be judged solely by his own strength.

If he did not make a move, yet the sect’s disciples could still resolve crises on their own, only then could the Clear Sky Sect truly be considered strong.

That Jiang Zhaoxia could resolve this tribulation single-handedly was enough to prove that he was already worthy of trust.

Sure enough, he and Xu Ning should not be placed together to act.

Li Qingqiu set aside his burdens and began focusing on cultivating the divine ability Moving Mountains to Suppress Gods.

He had already mastered this divine ability; repeatedly cultivating it was merely to further refine it.

With the Fate Trait 【Tempered Through a Thousand Trials】, Li Qingqiu’s efforts would not be in vain.

……

Zhao Zhen had a nightmare.

He dreamed that Jiang Zhaoxia was brutally killed by Ancestor Su Xing, dreamed that his Master angrily rebuked him, and he was so frightened that he jolted awake.

He opened his eyes and gasped for breath.

What entered his sight was a dim cave wall, with firelight flickering nearby.

“Senior Brother Zhao Zhen, are you alright?”

Qiao Dingbei leaned over and asked nervously.

Zhao Zhen only felt his mouth dry, his tongue parched, and his head splitting with pain.

He asked with difficulty, “You are… who… where is this place…”

“My name is Qiao Dingbei. I am a disciple of the Free Spirit Hall. Earlier, my junior sister even went specifically to deliver a message to you. I have been following you all this time. This is a mountain cave. There is no danger for now. You lost too much blood and need to rest and recuperate for a period of time.”

Qiao Dingbei said softly, though his complexion looked somewhat unnatural.

“How is Martial Uncle Jiang?” Zhao Zhen recovered a bit of strength and continued asking.

“He is also recuperating. Both of you were severely injured. Don’t speak for now—focus on healing. You lost too much blood, and your body is covered in cracks. Speaking will easily aggravate your injuries,” Qiao Dingbei said seriously.

Upon hearing that Jiang Zhaoxia was recuperating, Zhao Zhen’s heart finally settled.

As long as he was not dead, there was still hope.

He very much wanted to ask about Ancestor Su Xing’s situation, but he could also see that Qiao Dingbei was very tired, so he could only hold it in.

He closed his eyes and endured the pain.

This endurance lasted a full three days.

Three days later, all the wounds on his body had scabbed over.

He had taken quite a few pills and had barely survived the ordeal.

On this day, he finally could not help but ask, “Didn’t my Master’s Divine Eagle come? Where is it?”

Qiao Dingbei, who was meditating, opened his eyes and replied, “We were originally planning to ride it back, but on the way, you kept bleeding nonstop. Senior Jing suggested that we first find a place to recuperate, so we came here.”

Upon hearing that Lord Jing was also present, Zhao Zhen was completely reassured.

Qiao Dingbei hesitated for a moment and said, “Senior Brother Zhao Zhen, there is something I must tell you. You should prepare yourself mentally.”

Zhao Zhen closed his eyes and asked, “Did something happen to my mother?”

During these three days, he had not heard his mother’s voice at all, so he already knew something had gone wrong.

He could not say how sad he felt; it was just that a strange sense of loneliness surged into his heart.

Although he had not been abandoned by his mother, he had not spent much time with her, and their bond was not deep.

Still, his mother was already his only family in this world—how could his heart not be stirred?

“After that demon died, your mother also died with it. I saw a large centipede crawl out of her mouth. When we buried her, we discovered that her corpse had become abnormally shriveled. I suspect that her bones may have…”

This fact was extremely cruel, but Qiao Dingbei felt it necessary to explain it clearly to Zhao Zhen.

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen’s expression did not change at all.

He said softly, “Thank you for burying her for me. My two attendants…”

“They were also buried by me. I did not erect tombstones for them, though. After all, Cangzhou has been thrown into chaos by the Northern Barbarians. I was thinking of erecting them later,” Qiao Dingbei replied.

“You did nothing wrong…”

Zhao Zhen closed his eyes.

He had previously found Ku Yi and Ku Er annoying, as they always used the Zhao Clan to pressure him, insisting that he become Emperor.

Yet after these two died, he unexpectedly felt some sorrow.

After all, they were the ones who had accompanied him the longest, staying by his side since he became aware of the world.

He would not feel guilt over Yu Mi’s death, but the deaths of Ku Yi and Ku Er filled him with self-blame.

The seventh layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm really was not strong enough…

Seeing Zhao Zhen close his eyes, Qiao Dingbei knew he was in great pain and did not dare disturb him.

Putting himself in Zhao Zhen’s shoes, if his own junior brothers or sisters had died, he would also feel miserable—perhaps even emotionally collapse.

“Qiao Dingbei, come in for a moment.”

A voice came from the darkness—it was Jiang Zhaoxia’s voice.

Hearing his voice, Zhao Zhen finally relaxed completely.

It seemed that Third Martial Uncle was already fine.

Qiao Dingbei stood up and walked toward the cave passage.

Passing through a winding tunnel, he arrived at a much wider cavern.

Spring water flowed down the cave wall ahead, like a water curtain covering a vast expanse of rock.

Jiang Zhaoxia stood before the mountain wall, with the Tianhong Sword floating beside him.

With Qiao Dingbei’s cultivation, he still could not see Chu Jing’s soul, but he knew Chu Jing was there.

He walked up to Jiang Zhaoxia, raised his hand in salute, and asked, “Elder Jiang, what are your instructions?”

Jiang Zhaoxia’s hair was disheveled, his upper body bare.

His right arm was wrapped in white cloth, already stained red with blood.

His face was pale, and his entire person looked extremely weak.

“My vital energy is exhausted, and my spiritual sense is weak. Inject your vital energy into this cave wall,” Jiang Zhaoxia said.

Chu Jing floated beside him, looking at the cave wall with anticipation and nervousness.

This cave wall actually possessed the effect of suppressing evil.

The moment he touched it, he felt his soul being scorched.

Precisely because of this, he was certain that the wall concealed a great secret.

That was why he had Jiang Zhaoxia summon Qiao Dingbei.

Upon hearing this, Qiao Dingbei immediately turned around, raised his hand, and struck his vital energy into the cave wall, causing a circle to part within the water curtain ahead.

Immediately after, Qiao Dingbei’s entire body trembled.

His eyes widened, and he froze in place.

Jiang Zhaoxia frowned and looked at Qiao Dingbei, somewhat hesitant.

However, he could sense that Qiao Dingbei’s blood essence had not fluctuated much; it was merely as if he had fallen into some kind of illusion.

After a while, Qiao Dingbei woke as if from a dream.

He took a deep breath, turned to look at Jiang Zhaoxia, and said, “Elder Jiang, this cave wall is mysterious. There are actually divine abilities recorded within. Those divine abilities are far too profound, seeming even more advanced than spells. I am unable to comprehend them.”

Divine abilities?

Both Jiang Zhaoxia and Chu Jing revealed looks of surprise.

“Tsk, tsk. Surviving a great calamity, then casually finding a mountain cave and running into a divine ability inheritance—Jiang Zhaoxia, isn’t your luck a bit too heaven-defying?” Chu Jing sighed.

This mountain cave was one Jiang Zhaoxia had guided them to, so the opportunity within it was essentially something Jiang Zhaoxia had discovered.

“On the way here, I noticed that this cave was very deep and might be hiding something, so I secretly remembered it. I never expected such an opportunity.

I myself did not expect it either,”

Jiang Zhaoxia said, his tone filled with emotion.

Qiao Dingbei could tell that he was speaking with Lord Jing, so he did not interrupt.

Jiang Zhaoxia turned to look at Qiao Dingbei and said, “You should return to the sect first and report this matter to the Sect Master alone. Have him send Xu Ning or Shen Yue over to provide support. When the time comes, you can also come along and comprehend the divine ability together.”

Qiao Dingbei was overjoyed.

He immediately agreed, bowed deeply to Jiang Zhaoxia, and then took his leave.

After he departed, Chu Jing asked curiously, “You are letting those two come—are you sure? Aren’t you competing with them, especially Xu Ning?”

The entire sect knew that these three did not acknowledge each other’s superiority, especially Jiang Zhaoxia and Xu Ning, whose cultivation levels were constantly chasing one another.

Jiang Zhaoxia said calmly, “I indeed do not wish to lose to them. However, Zhao Zhen and I are both severely injured and need time to heal. Moreover, letting them come to comprehend the divine ability is the fairest approach. Of course, most importantly, I hope they grow stronger and stronger. After all, we all belong to the Clear Sky Sect. No matter how we compete, the sect’s interests are paramount.”

Chu Jing nodded, a look of admiration appearing on his face.

Speaking of which, this was his first time being alone with Jiang Zhaoxia.

Previously, his understanding of Jiang Zhaoxia had not been deep.

Now, it seemed that Li Qingqiu had taught his junior brothers and sisters very well.

Not a single one was selfish; all of them possessed a broad view of the overall situation.

“There is something you might not know. Actually, I am the deputy sect master of the Clear Sky Sect. Mm, it was internally decided by Senior Brother. Naturally, I must consider matters from the perspective of the entire sect.”

Jiang Zhaoxia stared at the Divine Ability Wall and said expressionlessly.

Deputy sect master?

Chu Jing’s expression turned strange.

He vaguely remembered Li Qingqiu praising Zhang Yuchun for handling matters efficiently, saying that Zhang Yuchun truly lived up to being the deputy sect master candidate he had chosen.

In his view, Li Qingqiu had never truly intended to establish a deputy sect master position.

He was merely coaxing those around him, much like how he treated his own disciples—praising each and every one as a future number one in the sect.

Could this kind of empty boasting also count as the art of managing subordinates?

Jiang Zhaoxia did not know what Chu Jing was thinking.

In any case, he felt somewhat guilty—who told him to speak without restraint just now?

He deliberately avoided looking at Chu Jing, fixing his gaze firmly on the Divine Ability Wall.

Suddenly.

Jiang Zhaoxia’s consciousness was violently pulled into a bright illusory world.

He stood upon a mountain ridge.

Before him stretched endless mountain ranges, and at the very end stood a sword even larger than the mountains themselves, like an ancient god’s divine weapon embedded in the earth, exuding a vast and desolate aura.

“That is…”

Jiang Zhaoxia’s eyes widened, his gaze flickering with strange light.

……

Not long after Qiao Dingbei left the mountain cave, he felt a powerful gust of wind approach.

He looked up and saw Little Eight circling high in the sky.

He immediately called out, “Elder Jiang sent me back to the sect. Could you give me a ride?”

He felt that this would be the fastest way.

Hearing this, Little Eight dove down toward him.

He immediately leapt up and landed on Little Eight’s claws—he did not dare stand on the eagle’s back.

Little Eight’s speed was astonishing.

By the time night had just fallen, Qiao Dingbei had already returned to the Clear Sky Sect.

He quickly arrived before Lingxiao Courtyard and said to the two disciples on duty, “By order of Elder Jiang Zhaoxia, I wish to see the Sect Master.”

One of the disciples immediately entered the courtyard to report to Li Qingqiu.

He had only taken a few steps when Li Qingqiu’s voice came, “Let him in.”

Upon hearing Li Qingqiu’s voice, Qiao Dingbei immediately hurried into Lingxiao Courtyard.

After the time it took for an incense stick to burn.

Xu Ning and Shen Yue arrived at Lingxiao Courtyard one after another.

Qiao Dingbei had not expected Li Qingqiu to summon both of them together.

“Jiang Zhaoxia and Zhao Zhen are both severely injured. You two should go provide support,” Li Qingqiu directly instructed.

Xu Ning and Shen Yue frowned but did not hesitate.

They both nodded, and Li Qingqiu had Little Eight once again send the three of them to that mountain cave.

Watching the direction Little Eight departed, the night sky was bright with sparse stars.

Li Qingqiu’s mood became calm.

After learning that both Jiang Zhaoxia and Zhao Zhen were safe, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

“So it really was possession. I want to see just what kind of background you have.”

Li Qingqiu muttered to himself.

Sending Chu Jing over had not only been to prevent someone from possessing Zhao Zhen, but also to have Chu Jing capture the opponent’s soul and bring it back for soul-searching.

Everything had gone very smoothly.

It was just a pity that Ku Yi and Ku Er had died.

Both of these people had loyalty ratings above 92.

Unfortunately, they harbored private intentions.

This also showed that no matter how high loyalty was, people might still act behind Li Qingqiu’s back—because in their view, they were not harming Li Qingqiu, merely trying to accomplish other matters.

Regarding this, Li Qingqiu only sighed lightly.

Everyone had their own fate.

This was Ku Yi and Ku Er’s own choice, and no one else could be blamed.

Compared to this matter, Li Qingqiu was more interested in Jiang Zhaoxia’s Fate Trait 【Red Dust True Dragon】.

Was it a coincidence, or was the Fate Trait exerting its power?

Fortune like a dragon—was that not a bit too exaggerated?

Could one even run into a divine ability inheritance like this?

He decided to observe further.

If Jiang Zhaoxia could continue to have such good fortune, then he would have to make a move.

“Junior Brother, you know it—your Fate Trait is Senior Brother’s favorite…”

Li Qingqiu chuckled inwardly.

The first Fate Trait he had copied was precisely Jiang Zhaoxia’s 【Innate Sword Maniac】.

After being happy for a while, he transmitted a message to Zhang Yuchun, asking him to come up for a chat.

The Free Spirit Hall was not far from Lingxiao Courtyard, so there was no need to send someone to summon him.

Very soon, Zhang Yuchun walked briskly into the courtyard.

Li Qingqiu sat on a chair and had him sit down to talk.

After he sat down, Li Qingqiu briefly explained Jiang Zhaoxia and Zhao Zhen’s situation.

Upon hearing that Jiang Zhaoxia had been severely injured and had nearly been possessed, Zhang Yuchun’s expression turned ugly.

“Yuchun, we may need to prepare for dealing with immortal cultivation forces. Even if the other party may not necessarily notice our Clear Sky Sect, we must still prepare in advance.”

Li Qingqiu said in a somewhat inexplicable tone.

Zhang Yuchun took a deep breath and said, “That’s right. We must take precautions before it is too late.”