Jiang Qing differed from Qin Yi, and this difference extended beyond their cultivation levels to their very philosophies.
In the King's World, Qin Yi cared little for Mount Shu or the world at large. His priorities lay in personal advancement, spiritual purification, and the refinement of his strength.
Jiang Qing, however, remained deeply concerned for Mount Shu, burdened by countless considerations. Unlike Qin Yi, he wouldn't rashly confront others for Yue Rouxia's sake.
At this moment, Jiang Qing was still troubled by affairs within the martial world.
Meanwhile, after defeating the eight Elders, Qin Yi and An Yi roamed the lands hand in hand.
Like a pair of divine immortals, they paid no heed to worldly matters, lost in their own affections.
Half a year later, they returned to the Magnificent Qin Faction.
The Magnificent Qin Faction was no longer as deserted as when they had left. From the small Sect's martial arts practice stage, the rhythmic sounds of training echoed.
Li Yuanli stood at the front of the stage, hands clasped behind his back, his expression stern as he scrutinized each disciple.
Watching from a distance, Qin Yi's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
Even a king plotting rebellion dared not defy his words. Firstly, their interests aligned, and secondly, Qin Yi's overwhelming power ensured his authority.
The disciples on the stage wore fitted azure Daoist robes, their hair neatly styled in topknots secured with wooden hairpins, giving them a refined and handsome appearance. The group included individuals ranging from their early twenties to teenagers, representing a diverse age range.
What particularly amused Qin Yi was that the disciple with the highest cultivation level had already reached the seventh realm—a surprising feat that caught him off guard.
"This kid's Memories from the Past isn't just about tracing ancestry—it can also transmit legacies!"
By tracing lineage and combining it with bone structure analysis, Li Yuanli could likely identify true geniuses of the Cultivation's Way with remarkable accuracy. Qin Yi glanced around and immediately noticed that most of the disciples present were indeed talents of the Cultivation's Way.
Given another decade or so, experts at the eighth level would inevitably emerge.
"This is the Phantom Light Shadow Sword Art, taught by the Sect Leader himself. Practice it diligently!"
"If you wish to venture into the martial world in the future, you must cultivate both your inner energy and your sword skills!"
"Combining these two, advancing in tandem, is the true path!"
Standing on the high platform, Li Yuanli roared in a deep voice.
Below, every disciple practiced the sword techniques with focused expressions. In an instant, the Martial Arts Practice Stage erupted into a dazzling display of vibrant colors as sword light danced through the air, radiating an awe-inspiring aura.
"Yuanli!"
Qin Yi stood silently to the side, observing for a long while. Once he had grasped the situation, he called out.
Li Yuanli heard the voice and turned to see Qin Yi. His expression first froze in surprise, then visibly transformed into one of overwhelming joy.
"Headmaster!"
He practically flew to Qin Yi's side.
"It's wonderful! You've finally returned!"
To an outsider, their enthusiastic greeting might have suggested a close relationship.
"You've done well. This batch of disciples is exceptionally talented," Qin Yi said with a nod of approval.
He retrieved several Secret Manuals from his robes and tossed them to Li Yuanli, who eagerly caught them, knowing they were his reward for handling this matter.
Li Yuanli's cultivation talent was nowhere near Qin Yi's freakish level. After all these years, he had only reached the eighth realm of cultivation and remained dissatisfied with his progress in sword skills. Though he possessed some secret techniques of his own, they paled in comparison to the few powerful sword arts Qin Yi wielded.
"Wangshu Ice Dance!"
"Nine Serenity's Tempering Cold Sword!"
At a glance, Li Yuanli's face bloomed into a smile as radiant as a flower.
He knew these Sword Skills were the Magnificent Jasper Faction Sect Lord's most treasured techniques, the very foundation of their sect! Mastering them would undoubtedly elevate his own strength to new heights, granting him astonishing combat prowess.
"Sect Lord, now that you've returned, will you be leaving again soon?" Li Yuanli quickly gathered the Secret Manuals, cleared his throat twice, and asked with feigned seriousness.
"I'll stay for a while. You'll still be responsible for managing the sect's affairs," Qin Yi replied with a faint smile, glancing at him.
"Rest assured, Headmaster! Leave everything to me—I'll handle it perfectly!" Li Yuanli declared loudly.
"Then I'll leave it in your capable hands."
Qin Yi glanced indifferently at the curious disciples who were watching him, then turned and left.
Back in his room, Qin Yi wasn't idle.
He slowly withdrew a small booklet from his robes. He had carried this book with him for over a decade, yet he still couldn't decipher it.
The cover bore the crookedly written title: "Fei Peng Sword-Play," a gift from Jing Tian before his departure.
Over the years, Qin Yi had frequently consulted the booklet, always without success. Unlike other Secret Manuals, which he could easily comprehend given his cultivation realm, this thin volume proved utterly baffling. Even the characters themselves were a struggle to decipher.
Each character appeared to be composed of several, even dozens, of smaller characters, or perhaps hundreds of sword forms. It seemed deceptively simple, yet proved impossibly difficult. He couldn't even pronounce the syllables.
Profound, mysterious beyond comprehension.
Qin Yi meticulously studied each page, flipping through them one by one, as if grasping something yet understanding nothing at all.
It felt like a lifetime had passed, as if he had understood everything, yet also as if he had wasted his time, only for it to end.
Overwhelmed with emotion, he awoke from a grand dream, only to realize how hazy it had all been.
He neither clung to the past nor abandoned it. Each day, he continued to guide his disciples in their cultivation, sword practice, and Sword-Play, as the days slipped by.
In the blink of an eye, another half-year had passed.
One day, while Qin Yi was in deep meditation, he suddenly opened his eyes.
Outside his door, a young disciple in a green robe was rushing toward him, his face etched with urgency.
Clang!
The great doors swung open on their own, and the green-robed disciple immediately entered. Spotting Qin Yi sitting cross-legged, he quickly spoke.
"Headmaster, we have news about the matter you instructed us senior brothers to monitor closely."
"Jiang Qing rushed back to Mount Shu yesterday, his expression frantic."
"Furthermore, the Mount Shu Immortal Sword Sect has resolved to strike first, seeking to prevent the Venerable Devil from completing his demonic cultivation and igniting a full-scale war!"
Qin Yi's eyes sharpened, glowing with determination. He slowly floated up from his couch and landed firmly on the ground.
"Tell Yuanli I'm going out for a while."
Before the words had even finished echoing, Qin Yi took a single step and vanished from the room.
Moments later, a sword beam shot skyward, disappearing into the horizon in an instant.
A fierce wind whipped around Qin Yi as he rode his sword, his expression cold and resolute.
"Once, we sat together, discussing the Dao, and considered each other kindred spirits."
"Now that you're trapped in this predicament, how could I possibly turn a blind eye?"
"How could I simply watch you descend into hell, never to be reborn?"
The Jiang Qing incident had finally begun. Qin Yi knew all too well the tragic fate that awaited his friend: death within the Demon Prison Tower, his soul sealed, denied reincarnation. For a cultivator, this was a fate far worse than death itself.
He refused to let such an end come to pass.
"And Chang Hao! It's time we meet again!"
(End Of This Chapter)
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