Chao Tianjiao was exasperated. She originally thought he had died. She really had been slightly saddened by it.
Yet in the blink of an eye, he appeared before her again, alive and kicking. She immediately understood that he practised some kind of cultivation method where he would not perish with his Yin Soul. In other words, the “last words” he told her were all a joke. Since when did she ever suffer such great humiliation?
She radiated with a harsh coldness that almost seemed tangible. The direct disciples could still withstand it, but the inner disciples were already trembling in the cold with chattering teeth.
Li Fengyuan shivered and stifled his voice. “First father, who is this woman? She seems kind of powerful!”
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She was much more than kind of powerful!
The corner of Li Qingshan’s lips twitched. Even in the past, Chao Tianjiao had been very fierce and tough. Now that she had become a Human Immortal, climbing up to the Nine Heavens, who knew how many times more powerful she was now. If they actually fought, he had no confidence at all. Most importantly, he felt a little guilty too. Although he had basically assisted her in achieving her objective back then, he still had taken advantage of her precarious situation after all.
With that, everyone could tell that the “original first senior sister” and the “new first senior brother” probably had a feud. She did not come with good intentions today. No one dared to interfere, so they all watched on like they were watching a show.
Shen Yushu immediately recovered. He was delighted inside. Li Qingshan, oh Li Qingshan, if you offend me, so be it, but you’ve actually offended a Human Immortal. Senior sister Chao’s status is now equal to the two sect masters—no, it is even slightly higher. She’s the leader of the Six Ding now, a favourite of the Zhenwu Emperor! Not only will you lose your position as first senior brother, but you’ll even be expelled from the sect!
Ruan Yaozhu furrowed her brows. She was just about to speak up, but she glanced at Chao Tianjiao and then Li Qingshan first. She seemed to realise something, letting out a gentle snort.
“Alright, then let’s hear what you have to say.” Chao Tianjiao smiled in a cold and charming way, such that it was impossible to stare at her.
Under the fine thought of burying the hatchet, Li Qingshan immediately recited a poem, “A day as husband and wife, a hundred days of devotion. A hundred days as husband and wife, their love as deep as the ocean.” Oh no, the Ape Demon Transformation has progressed again recently. It’s close to breaking through!
Everyone was dumbfounded. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Before he could even finish, the blade was brought up to his neck. Chao Tianjiao laughed out of anger. “You sure know how to talk!”
The hairs on Li Qingshan’s neck immediately stood on end, but it instead roused his pride. “Senior sister Chao Tianjiao, I personally believe I’ve done nothing to wrong you. If you’re not happy with it, then kill me and slice me to pieces. Do whatever you want with me. I’m at your whim!” He secretly clenched his fist. Hmph, why would I put my fate in the hands of others? If I really run out of options, let’s go then. So what if you’re a Human Immortal?
Chao Tianjiao said, “I’m not going to kill you, nor am I going to slice you to pieces. I’m just going to chop you once!”
Li Qingshan thought, That’s quite a good deal. He had the Phoenix’s Nirvā?a protecting him. No matter what, it was impossible for Chao Tianjiao to kill him with a single chop, so he might as well just let her chop him and settle this grievance.
“Alright, then chop away! If I even bat an eye, I’ll take your surname.”
As a result, the blade in Chao Tianjiao’s hands slid down slowly until it extended between Li Qingshan’s legs.
Li Qingshan shrank backwards. “Hold on, what are you trying to do?”
Chao Tianjiao mocked him. “What, you afraid?”
The Direct Disciple hall was silent. Everyone stared on with their eyes glued. The developments were a little too intriguing!
“I remember now. We have a bet where we’ll fight each other to the death in thirty years’ time. You can’t touch a hair on me before that.”
Even if Li Qingshan lost his head, he would not bat an eye. However, if he ended up chopped, he would not be called the crawling general anymore, but the eunuch first senior brother. Fucking hell, the words first senior brother sure are unlucky!
“Did we?” Chao Tianjiao sank into her thoughts. When Li Qingshan relaxed slightly, she suddenly struck, sending blood splattering.
Hiss! The men all could not help but gasp as if they had been chopped instead.
Meanwhile, Li Qingshan gripped the blade firmly as blood flowed down the edge. If it were not for his speedy responses, that really would have landed. His face darkened, and his veins popped. “You!”
“Sorry about that, my hand slipped!” Chao Tianjiao drew back her blade and sheathed it with composure. “Since we have a bet, then I’ll just spare you today.” She grabbed Li Qingshan by the collar and pulled him in, announcing proudly, “But from today onwards, you’re my man! You better watch your behaviour and not whore around in the future, or it’ll be much more than a chop.”
“What?’ Li Qingshan was taken aback. That did not seem to be something bad, but something sounded off.
“Be good and wait for my visits!”
Chao Tianjiao laughed loudly. Her laughter was cold like a river of ice, yet it was also extremely delightful. She soon turned into a streak of silver light and flew off.
Everyone was dumbfounded, gazing at Li Qingshan with various different expressions like they were looking at a living monster.
Li Fengyuan widened his eyes in disbelief. Even this works? First father, your powers are unfathomable! I can only look up to the heights where you stand!
Le Tian spat out six words, “I have nothing left to say!”
Just who in the sect did not know what kind of personality Chao Tianjiao had? She practised such a harsh and resolute cultivation method like the Heavenly Tome of Xuanwu, so no matter what they thought, no one imagined she would actually become a cultivation partner with someone one day. It seemed a little warped, but the cultivation community always revered the strong. Being “visited” by a Human Immortal like that could not be regarded as something bad at the end of the day.
Shen Yushu was ashen. He was grief-stricken as if his parents had just died. “To think that something like this can actually happen…”
As Li Qingshan was still blanked out, Ruan Yaozhu walked over and said impassively, “Congratulations, first senior brother.”
“Yaozhu, you…”
Ruan Yaozhu raised her hand. “Please treat first senior sister well. You shouldn’t be unchaste anymore!” She turned around and left with that.
“Me? Unchaste?” Li Qingshan pointed at himself. He found it absolutely absurd. He murmured to himself, “But… I’m… clearly… a romantic…”
“Congratulations, first senor brother! Felicitations, first senior brother! It’s twice the blessings today! You and first senior sister really do go well together!”
The direct disciples all approached him to congratulate him. No matter what, the position of first senior brother was his, or in other words, he was now the temporary master of the Myriad sect. Even direct disciples had to obey him. He had even become the cultivation partner of a Human Immortal now, which was even more impressive. Coupled with the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance’s signs of support, he was probably the first senior brother with the greatest authority throughout the history of the Myriad sect.
As it directly impacted their interests, they naturally had to cotton up to him. On top of that, Li Qingshan had truly won everyone over with his performance in the battle within the Demon domain, so they did not feel like they were belittling themselves.
At this moment, bells and drums rang through the city as banners and decorations unfurled. They began the ceremony, celebrating the birth of a new first senior brother.
Li Qingshan had no idea how to respond. All around him were smiles filled with admiration from the bottom of his heart, yet he felt extremely pent-up inside.
Suddenly, he noticed Shen Yushu silently shrinking back in the crowd. He called out, “Stop right there!’
Shen Yushu shivered. He turned around. “F- first senior brother!”
“Heh, I even forgot about you. You stood there changing your expression like Chinese opera. You must love watching me make a fool out of myself!”
Shen Yushu knew he was done for, so he decided to be vicious and leave behind a few threats. It was not like Li Qingshan dared to kill him. However, when his words reached his mouth, it became, “I- I would never…”
Li Qingshan turned towards Dai Mengfan and asked, “Junior sister Dai, do I have the authority to punish him?”
“You’re the first senior brother. Everything you say counts.”
Dai Mengfan stuck with the same phrase, glancing at Shen Yushu indifferently. He was merely an inner disciple. He had the chance to become a direct disciple, but he clearly did not have that chance anymore. Who could help the fact that he had offended someone he could not afford to?
Li Qingshan waved his hand dramatically. “You’ve been fired. Gather your stuff and piss off!”
The direct disciples glanced at one another. Sure enough, Li Qingshan was resolute and meticulous. He had picked up all the tricks all by himself.
Even as the first senior brother, he could not just ignore the rule of killing fellow disciples. However, if they were not fellow disciples, then if they were killed, they were killed. The cultivation community had never been some nice wonderland.
The primary responsibility of the first senior brother was to wage war against the Demon domain. Many of the times, it would be military law, not sect rules. As long as he had a proper reason, he could even expel direct disciples. Coupled with his terrifying battle prowess, who stood a chance against him?
This was the true core to the Myriad sect. At the end of the day, it still came down to the strength to overwhelm everyone, not through elections and democracy.
Shen Yushu threw himself on the ground with tears strewn across his face. “I’ve been blind. Please spare my life, first senior brother!”
Li Qingshan was perplexed. “It’s not like I said I’d kill you, so what’s this sparing your life about? Oh, you’re afraid I’ll expell you first and then hunt you down? Heh, do you think I’m that kind of lowly scoundrel? If I wanted to kill you, I’d take your life with a punch right now. Junior sister Dai, do I have that kind of authority?”
“This…” Dai Mengfan was speechless. No matter what, it was difficult to play down the first senior brother killing an inner disciple in front of everyone.
“I know!” Li Qingshan raised his thumb. “I’m the first senior brother, everything I say counts!”
A confident smile stretched across his face, and all the direct disciples shivered inside. He was probably actually capable of something like that. It would be best if they did not butt against him openly in the future!
“Now piss off! Before I change my mind.”
Shen Yushu scurried away. He was actually unable to develop any thoughts of revenge.
Within the sea of cheers in the city, the Pavilion of Heavenly Tomes stood tall. The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the boundless ocean in the distance.
Chao Tianjiao stood on the eaves alone. Her eyes were cold like stars as she looked back and asked, “Spirit reverend, just what kind of person is he?”
With how great the temporal difference between beyond the Nine Heavens and the Human realm was, why had she come back now of all times, not earlier or later? Or was it because someone had arranged this? If someone had arranged this, then so be it, but if it really was just a coincidence, it would be far too unbelievable.
“The will of the heavens have always been perplexing.”
