Many sects have fallen victim to the Longevity Sect's treachery.
Even sects like Zhanhe Residence have been annihilated.
Xue Qianbai parted ways with Li Changqing halfway, claiming he had something important to do.
When Li Changqing returned to the North Cold Country, he discovered that trouble had already struck there as well.
Zhao Beiming was dead.
Murdered.
This news shocked Zhang Yuanzi upon his return.
Li Changqing was equally stunned; he hadn't expected someone as powerful as Zhao Beiming to fall at the hands of the Longevity Sect.
The Longevity Sect members were like sewer rats—always present but impossible to catch, emerging only to disgust you. This time, their actions were even more ruthless, wiping out numerous factions.
Countless lives were lost.
Zhao Beiming's death was a severe blow to the North Cold Country.
Zhao Beiming was considered the nation's guardian war god, and his death at the hands of the Longevity Sect plunged the entire country into mourning.
Upon Li Changqing's return, Yin Changli ran towards him with tears in his eyes, throwing himself into Li Changqing's arms.
"Mr. Changqing!"
Yin Changli's eyes were red.
"You're still alive?" Li Changqing asked, puzzled. If he remembered correctly, Yin Changli was also on the key list. If even Zhao Beiming was dead, how was Yin Changli still alive?
"Mr. Changqing… why do you look so surprised to see me alive?" Yin Changli said, feeling a bit dejected.
"Sir, you're back." At this moment, Zhang Fuguang also stepped out, respectfully addressing Li Changqing.
Seeing Zhang Fuguang, Li Changqing understood and asked, "Did you protect Yin Changli?"
"Yes," Zhang Fuguang admitted.
"Mr. Changqing, many experts came to kill me these days. If it weren't for Senior Zhang Fuguang's protection, I would have been dead by now."
Yin Changli still felt a lingering fear.
"How many did you kill?" Li Changqing couldn't help but ask.
"Seven," Zhang Fuguang replied calmly.
Initially, the attackers were easier to handle, but later even Grandmaster-level experts came. Ultimately, a master whose strength nearly reached the threshold of the Great Martial Sect appeared. However, with the help of Li Changqing's Buddha Lamp Painting Treasure, Zhang Fuguang managed to kill the intruder.
"If you think I shouldn't have killed those seven, we can disregard them," Zhang Fuguang said honestly. "After all, I acted without your permission."
"Of course, they count. You protected Yin Changli," Li Changqing said with a smile.
But he also pondered internally. Zhang Fuguang had previously helped him kill four people, and now seven more. This meant he had one more chance to ask for Zhang Fuguang's help.
Li Changqing felt a bit regretful, but Yin Changli's safety was the best outcome.
Yin Changli also inquired about Mu Qingge, but Li Changqing only mentioned that Mu Qingge was temporarily occupied.
The chaos in the Cangyuan Realm made Li Changqing feel disoriented, so he decided to ignore their issues for now.
However, the actions of the Longevity Sect infuriated Li Changqing.
The Longevity Sect's methods were extremely cunning. After such a large-scale operation, they would undoubtedly go into hiding again.
Moreover, the Longevity Sect was collecting life spans and souls, likely to create something sinister.
To find the Longevity Sect's trail, Mu Hengsheng was a good lead. But since Mu Hengsheng was Mu Qingge's father, Li Changqing didn't want to act against him out of respect for Mu Qingge.
On the White Snake Path.
Li Hengsheng also received news.
Li Xuanxi was defeated.
This news only stunned Li Hengsheng for a moment before he lost interest.
Neither Lu Qiaoqiao nor Li Xuanxi held much importance in Li Hengsheng's heart anymore.
However, the performance of Qinglian Sword Sovereign and Qianxue Sword Sovereign in Wan Jie City amazed Li Hengsheng. The two Sword Sovereigns had jointly repelled a terrestrial immortal.
Such an event was truly remarkable.
Li Hengsheng was elated.
Qinglian Sword Sovereign was his idol, and seeing him shine brought Li Hengsheng more joy than his own breakthroughs.
Reading the intelligence report, Li Hengsheng couldn't help but laugh with Lin Qizhu, "Hahaha, the Zu Xuan family has always been so arrogant. Their so-called prodigy has been pampered all her life."
"Did she really think Wan Jie City was her backyard? Did she think Qinglian Sword Sovereign would hand over the Heavenly Maiden Sword just because a terrestrial immortal sent a palm strike from afar? What a joke!"
"Qizhu, I'm telling you, if that terrestrial immortal had dared to come in person, Qinglian Sword Sovereign would have taught him a lesson!"
Li Hengsheng spoke passionately.
"Sir, you're so excited," Lin Qizhu laughed.
"I'm just happy," Li Hengsheng said with a smile. "If only Qinglian Sword Sovereign could reach the realm of great freedom soon, truly comparable to a terrestrial immortal!"
"That's difficult," Lin Qizhu shook his head. "There are many Painting Sages in the Cangyuan Realm, but few have ever reached the realm of great freedom."
"I believe the senior can do it," Li Hengsheng sighed.
"But sir, the battle between the Cangyuan Realm Master and Li Xuanxi ended with the Cangyuan Realm Master winning. It seems the older, the wiser!" Lin Qizhu analyzed.
"Mm," Li Hengsheng responded, then said no more.
He stood up and went to the backyard to train.
Recently, Li Hengsheng felt he was close to a breakthrough.
Breaking through from the Great Perfection of the Postnatal stage to the Pinnacle of the postnatal realm was not a challenge for Li Hengsheng, but as his strength grew, he felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
He wasn't sure why he felt this way, so he wrote to Li Changqing.
But Li Changqing only told him to focus on his training and not to worry, assuring him that everything would be fine.
This comforted Li Hengsheng.
***
A few days later.
In the Southern Wilderness.
A caravan slowly made its way into the capital of the Qingyang Dynasty.
A young man in white stepped out of the caravan and headed towards the royal court.
It was Xue Qianbai.
After so many years, Xue Qianbai had reached the Great Martial Sect's level. Today, he came to the Qingyang Dynasty to confess his feelings to Princess Qingyang.
At the palace gates, Xue Qianbai presented a token to the guards.
The guards were surprised to see it was the token of the eldest princess and quickly let him through.
Xue Qianbai was excited, thinking about how he would confess to Qingyang.
In the court.
Princess Qingyang was reviewing memorials. The situation in the capital had changed drastically recently. Although the emperor's health had improved, internal strife continued. As the eldest princess, Qingyang had taken strong action and now held significant power, temporarily managing court affairs.
Moreover, she had allied with the Ming Shen Palace of the Southern Wilderness, stabilizing the Qingyang Dynasty's situation.
"Eldest Princess."
A maid approached and whispered in Qingyang's ear.
Although Qingyang was over thirty, she showed no signs of aging, still looking as youthful as a maiden.
Her lively eyes made people feel as if they were bathed in spring sunlight.
"Ah Xue is here?"
Qingyang's face lit up with joy. "It's been so long since Ah Xue came. I missed him."
"Let's go see him."
Just as Qingyang was about to meet Xue Qianbai, a guard reported, "Your Highness, the Young Master of Ming Shen Palace, Mo Jingxin, requests an audience to discuss matters."
"Why is he here again?" Qingyang frowned, clearly displeased with Mo Jingxin's visit.
Mo Jingxin had always shown interest in her, subtly and overtly. If it weren't for the need for Ming Shen Palace's support, Qingyang wouldn't have bothered with him.
He was known to be a playboy with a bad reputation.
"Let him wait," Qingyang said, not wanting to see him now. He had come several times with no serious matters, only inviting her to outings, which she disliked.
"Yes."
After the guard left, Qingyang adjusted her makeup in the mirror and went to see Xue Qianbai.
At Piaoyu Pavilion.
This was where Xue Qianbai used to perform sword dances for Qingyang.
"Ah Xue."
Footsteps approached, accompanied by a familiar voice, the voice that haunted Xue Qianbai's dreams.
Xue Qianbai turned to see Princess Qingyang smiling as she walked towards him.
The sunlight illuminated her, and at that moment, Xue Qianbai's eyes softened, his gaze becoming tender.
"Princess Qingyang," Xue Qianbai greeted.
"Long time no see." Qingyang was momentarily stunned, surprised. "Ah Xue, you look different."
The maid behind her was also surprised by Xue Qianbai's appearance.
Previously, Xue Qianbai had looked like a frail scholar with long hair. Today, he exuded a heroic aura, like an unparalleled sword immortal.
His transcendent and ethereal presence was intoxicating.
"Yes, I've changed a bit," Xue Qianbai took a deep breath and said seriously, "Qingyang, I have something to tell you."
"Sure, I also have something to tell you," Qingyang said happily, clearly excited.
"You go first," Xue Qianbai said.
"Alright," Qingyang said without hesitation. "I was just looking for someone to share this with. It's great that you're here, Ah Xue. I want to tell you first."
However, at that moment, a commotion arose downstairs. "You can't go up."
"Get out of my way. Why can't I go up?"
A cold voice followed, and two people pushed past the guards and came up.
Leading them was a young man in blue, with a water-blue sword at his waist, followed by a silver-haired elder who exuded a heavy aura, making people afraid to look him in the eye.
"Princess Qingyang."
Mo Jingxin walked up with a smile.
"Young Master Mo, you're being rude. I'm entertaining a guest here. Who allowed you to come up?" Qingyang's face darkened.
"Entertaining a guest?"
Mo Jingxin glanced at Xue Qianbai and sneered, "This pretty boy? Qingyang, I didn't expect your taste to be so poor."
"Don't you dare insult Ah Xue. He's my friend," Qingyang said angrily. "Leave now."
"The eldest princess of the Qingyang Dynasty is indeed imposing!" Mo Jingxin didn't speak, but the elder behind him said coldly, "If it weren't for our Ming Shen Palace's support, do you think you could have gained power so easily? Do you think the Qingyang Dynasty would still exist? Now you think you can discard us because your wings have grown strong?"
"And you are?" Qingyang asked, clearly not recognizing him.
"Elder Hong, Qingyang didn't mean it that way," Mo Jingxin said indifferently.
"Mo Hong?" Qingyang was surprised. This man was one of the three Grandmasters of Ming Shen Palace, rumored to be the most likely to reach the Great Martial Sect within ten years. He held great authority in Ming Shen Palace.
Qingyang took a deep breath and said, "Elder Mo Hong, you misunderstand. I didn't mean it that way."
"Princess Qingyang, you should know that we can help you rise to power, but we can also bring you down. Remember, we are also in contact with other princes. We can choose them and gain more benefits. It's only because Jingxin is infatuated with you that we insist on helping you."
Mo Hong glanced at Xue Qianbai, frowning. He couldn't sense any aura from Xue Qianbai, but he felt he had seen him somewhere before, though the memory was vague.
Mo Hong's words made Qingyang's face turn pale. She understood the implications.
"Is Ming Shen Palace really that powerful?"
At this moment, Xue Qianbai stepped forward, staring at Mo Hong and Mo Jingxin. "Leave now, and continue supporting Qingyang. If you switch sides or have any improper thoughts…"
"Then Ming Shen Palace will no longer need to exist."
Xue Qianbai's tone was icy.
"Who do you think you are!" Mo Jingxin was enraged. How dare this pretty boy threaten Ming Shen Palace?
"Ah Xue?" Qingyang was also shocked. The usually quiet Ah Xue had said such bold words.
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas