Chapter 1: The Ancestor of the Qi Refinement Stage
A white figure fell from the clouds, crashing onto the great bell in front of the mountain gate, producing a thunderous sound.
In a state of utmost urgency, he had no time to observe formalities, walking up the mountain along the path, and instead landed directly in the small courtyard near the summit.
Yet, as they engaged in their conversations, a shadowy cloud silently obscured the Qingming Sword Sect, shrouding the bright moonlight that had hung high for a thousand years
The giant claw, undiminished in its ferocity, struck with a thunderous sound before the mountain gate, reducing both the Qingming Mountain gate and the entire mountain path to ruins
Crimson Flame—Slash
What first struck them was an overwhelming sense of oppression, akin to the stifling heat before a spring thunderstorm, which almost instantly alerted the disciples guarding the mountain gate to a sense of unease and abnormality
The thunder beast pointed at Bai Qiuran with its front hoof, laughing so hard that tears, mucus, and saliva all came out.
The thunder beast was caught off guard, kicked out and flew backward, landing on a small hill outside Qingming Mountain, collapsing the entire hill.
The young man with white hair approached the disciple in red and asked him
The dark clouds rolled incessantly, seemingly brewing with anger
My name is Bai Qiuran
The thunder beast was unwilling to answer this boring question. Upon seeing Bai Qiuran, it did not hold back, and thus opened its mouth, unleashing a bolt of lightning, intending to crush both Bai Qiuran and Jue Yunzi.
What are your thoughts on the Qi Refining Stage
The Thunder Beast, accompanied by lightning, soared through the clouds and arrived in mid-air, gazing down at the Absolute Cloud Child on the ground with the posture of a victor
Perhaps it is due to the protection of this Cactus Sect that, despite experiencing several calamities over the course of thousands of years, this sect remains standing and its legacy continues to thrive
Old man Qingming! I have come to seek revenge!
However, the uninvited guest outside the mountain gate clearly lacked the patience to wait for the sect leader and elders to arrive. Seeing that the thunder spear had not broken through, the rolling dark clouds, under its control, suddenly transformed into a massive beast's claw that obscured the sky, crashing down towards the protective formation of the Qingming Sword Sect. With a crisp sound, the protective formation, which had stood for a thousand years, was shattered like a soap bubble by the giant claw of the dark clouds.
That's all, that's all
The scene unfolds in two parts: as the leader Qingming, Master Jueyunzi, confronts the Thunder Demon Lord, the disciple in red swiftly rides his flying sword and arrives at the summit of Seven Stars Peak.
A disciple in red, wielding a flying sword and darting through the ranks of elders, heard the words of the sect leader. He promptly accepted the order and transformed into a streak of light, flying towards the most remote peak among the Qingming Mountains.
On this night, amidst the towering azure mountains, two third-generation disciples of the Qingyi sect near the mountain gate were yawning in boredom, discussing recent trivial matters of the sect and the beautiful senior and junior sisters. They also indulged in daydreams about whether among the newcomers who would join the sect through the initiation ceremony the next day, there might be the one destined to be their soulmate in this lifetime.
The disciple in red seemed to have fallen into a state akin to some kind of obsession, murmuring strange words.
At that moment, a figure descended from the sky with a thunderous crash, kicking the thunder beast away.
Ignorant junior! You have never heard of the renowned name of Lord Thunder Demon
At the entrance of the Qingming Sword Sect, the disciples and elders looked up at the sky, where their sect leader was engaged in a battle of magic with the visitor.
Hahaha, a thousand years later, the successor of the old man of Qingming possesses strength no greater than this
I understand
What shocked the disciples even more was the cultivation level of this legendary "Master Uncle"
The sound echoed, resonating throughout the entire mountain peak. Moments later, a door in one of the rooms in the courtyard was pushed open, and a languid voice emerged.
However, on that night, a calamity quietly descended upon the Qingming Sword Sect without their knowledge
The primary target of this lightning strike is still on the body of Jue Yunzi, a mere Qi Refinement stage cultivator; even a single sneeze from it could annihilate countless beings, and it does not possess the qualifications to warrant its attention
As the smoke dissipated, Jue Yunzi, with blood at the corner of his mouth, leaned on his life-bound flying sword and slowly rose from the ground. He looked up at the sky, his expression solemn.
It raised its head, and the spiral horn atop it emitted flashes of lightning, communicating with the storm clouds on the horizon, brewing an incredibly terrifying technique
Opinion
During the Qi Refinement stage, he is only at the Qi Refinement stage, how outrageous!
As the radiance converged, Bai Qiuran casually tossed aside the long sword whose blade had been melted into molten iron by the crimson flames. Then, with a cold snort, he remarked, "Could you please stop looking down on Qi Refining stage cultivators? I am quite strong!"
The "Master Uncle" of the Qi Refining stage approached the red-clad disciple, holding his iron sword, and furrowed his brow as he asked, "I am asking you a question. Where is Jueyunzi? Is he on the main peak?"
The sound of footsteps echoed, and then a figure appeared before the disciple in the red robe. Unable to contain his curiosity, the disciple looked up and saw a handsome young man standing in front of him. His complexion was as fair as that of an infant, yet he had white hair and white eyebrows, resembling a centenarian.
He appeared languid, not wearing any attire that represented the Qingming Sword Sect, but instead donned a set of loose-fitting, tight clothing. On his feet were a pair of cloud shoes, and at his waist hung an iron sword. He did not look like a cultivator; rather, he resembled a chivalrous hero.
A surge of true energy, as vast as the boiling sea, was drawn from Bai Qiuran's energy sea, igniting his sword blade. The flames blazed fiercely at the tip of the sword, representing the most commonly used foundational martial technique for every cultivator at the beginning of their qi refinement journey
The leader of the Qingming Sect, Jue Yunzi, dressed in white robes, frowned and said: "If you wish to seek him, you should go to the Immortal Realm, rather than disturb our Qingming Sword Sect"
Hmm? What are you talking about? Have you encountered your inner demons?
It roared angrily, charging out from the clouds of smoke, only to see a youth with white beard and hair standing before Jueyunzi, leisurely observing it.
The master is engaging in a duel of magic in front of the mountain gate
A figure gracefully descended from the highest peak of the azure mountains, transforming into a striking individual clad in white robes. With hands clasped behind his back, he stood in mid-air and coldly addressed the dark clouds, saying: "Who approaches?"
What kind of person?
The disciple in red was astonished and stared blankly at the book.
Oh!
That won't do
Upon this thought, Jue Yunzi's divine consciousness stirred, establishing a connection with one of his closing-door disciples.
... ...
Upon witnessing the lightning strike, the disciples in red robes in the sky exclaimed in alarm. However, Jue Yunzi remained calm and composed, for he saw that Bai Qiuran in front of him had already drawn his sword
In this vast and boundless world, the reputation of this sect is known to all. Within this sect, not only does a new batch of formidable cultivators, who have reached the stages of transformation and integration or even transcended tribulations, emerge every few hundred years, but over three thousand years ago, there was also a sect leader who broke through the shackles of heavenly tribulation and ascended to immortality in broad daylight
Go to Qixing Peak and ask Master Ancestor for assistance
A mere mortal in the Qi Refinement stage dares to claim to be a disciple of the old man Qingming! Haha, your insult to him far exceeds my imagination!
At this moment, a beam of azure sword light shot down from the clouds, transforming into an azure flying sword, which struck with a clang right in front of the giant claw of dark clouds
The disciple in red wore an expression of complete resignation, raising a hand to point in the direction of the mountain gate
Flames soared into the sky, splitting the lightning in two. Then, with unabated momentum, it sliced through the unsuspecting thunder beast and the mountains behind it as easily as a hot knife cuts through butter.
Hehe, hahahaha
Master!
The Qingming Patriarch attained enlightenment and ascended to immortality three thousand years ago
Do you wish to conquer the Qingming Sword Sect? Then you can only summon Jueyunzi to experience the unparalleled cultivation of the Thunder Demon senior!
The thunder roared louder, and the lightning cracked. The lightning snakes gathered within the dark clouds, transforming into a massive thunder spear, which struck with a resounding boom against the protective mountain formation of the Qingming Sword Sect, causing the azure array to shake violently.
This Thunder Beast possesses the bloodline of a celestial beast, originally having the strength equivalent to that of a Great Ascension stage cultivator. After falling into the demonic path, its power surged by a third, nearly rivaling that of the Celestial Immortals. As the peak leader of the Integration stage, he is confident, yet he knows he is no match for this Thunder Beast. However, the elder on the website wwwhetushu.com is currently in closed-door meditation. If disturbed, not to mention the potential impact on lifespan and cultivation, he would likely suffer a backlash of true essence, resulting in severe injuries. Even if help arrives at that time, it would be of no use.
In a corner of the vast land of the ancient state in the mortal realm, lies one of the largest cultivation sects in this world, the Qingming Sword Sect
Oh, I understand
Well then, today I have come to settle accounts with the old man Qingming, tell him to come out
A muffled groan suddenly echoed from within the clouds a few minutes later
This year marks the once-in-twenty-years disciple selection event of the Qingming Sword Sect. Individuals from several nations within the ancient state, as well as those from other major states who yearn for immortal opportunities, have gathered in the town of Suspended Sword at the foot of Qingming Mountain.
You have already lost! The tricks of the Guizhou donkey are exhausted, and the mountain gate of the old man Qingming will be destroyed here today
The laughter gradually subsided, and the Thunder Beast said in a low voice: "Get lost, I can spare your life."
The array inscribed on the bell resonated throughout Qingming Mountain. At that moment, everyone in the Qingming Sword Sect heard this sound. The second-generation disciples quickly directed their junior brothers and sisters, as well as their younger generations, to seek refuge. Meanwhile, the first-generation direct disciples in red robes wielded their flying swords, soaring into the sky alongside the elders and the sect leader. In an instant, countless beams of sword light darted and danced across the summit of Qingming Mountain, a truly magnificent sight
Unable to restrain their emotions, the disciple in red murmured softly
With a thunderous roar, the entire Seven Star Peak trembled violently, the ground beneath shattered, causing the disciples in red to lose their footing and fall to the ground. Meanwhile, the figure of the grandmaster had already soared high into the clouds, leaping towards the direction of the mountain gate
Seeing his disciple leave after receiving the order, Jueyunzi felt a slight relaxation in his heart. He then brought his sword fingers together, and the azure flying sword beneath his feet transformed into a streak of flowing rainbow, circling around him.
Hahaha! What are you talking about? This is the funniest joke I have ever heard in my life
As soon as he landed, he immediately knelt on one knee, gathered the true essence of the Golden Core stage, and shouted: "The Qingming Sword Sect is under attack, and disciples from the Zhanghe and Tushumen sects have come. Please, Ancestor Master, come out of seclusion to provide assistance!"
Indeed, it is recorded in the classics that the Thunder Beast was sealed by the ancestral master three thousand years ago
Bang
... ...
This is almost the level that the martial artists from the foot of the mountain can achieve, and with the strength of that Thunder Demon, let alone a Qi Refinement stage practitioner, even an old monster in the Nascent Soul stage would merely be delivering food to it
Subsequently, outside the protective formation of the Qingming Mountain gate, dark clouds surged up without warning, within which lightning coiled and rolled, accompanied by the rumbling of thunder. Amidst this, a voice echoed with resonance.
The dark clouds dispersed, and amidst the thunderclouds appeared an enormous divine beast, with the head of a wolf and the body of a horse, possessing three long, hooked tails, all enveloped in black, oppressive thunder.
In the sky, the serpents of lightning and the glimmers of swords weave incessantly, surging with immense energy. Each burst of energy that escapes can easily blast away a small hill.
Alas, the deceased are like this, there is no banquet in the world that does not eventually disperse
The white-haired, white-browed "Master Uncle" nodded slightly, then crouched down a bit. The disciple in red suddenly felt a surge of true energy within him, akin to a tumultuous wave.
The thunder beast stared intently at the young boy for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter
Completed, today next year will mark the anniversary of the Qingming Sword Sect's tragedy
Quickly go and report to the sect leader
The young man smiled gently and said, "Today, I have come on behalf of my master, the Qingming Daoist, to meet with you."
Laughter echoed through the dark clouds: "Ridiculous, ridiculous! This old man Qingming actually ascends to heaven in broad daylight? Very well, since you are his disciples, I shall first destroy your mountain gate today, and then I will seek revenge in the celestial realm"
Bai Qiuran had a smile at the corner of his mouth, but there were veins bulging on his forehead
Where is Jueyunzi now
Upon seeing its true form, Jue Yunzi frowned
The disciples of Shoushan were knocked to the ground by the violent tremor. The leading second-generation disciple in green reacted quickly, getting up from the ground and shouting a command to the other disciples. He then rushed to the large bell near the mountain gate, gathered his true essence, and struck the bell with his fist, producing a resounding clang.