Chapter 52: Proclamations Spread, The Medicine King Valley's True Successor Assembly, Arrival at the Morning Glow Sect

Not long after, an official notice from the Li family appeared within Yucheng. The residents of the city were still buzzing about how the two saints had been instantly killed by the sacred beast kept by the Li family's ancestor.

Soon enough, they witnessed a battered figure being thrown out through the gates of the Li family estate. The person was a bloody mess, with even their eyes gouged out, before being carried away by a woman.

Puzzled by the spectacle, the crowd only came to understand the situation once the notice was posted and the Li family's guests began to take their leave.

The whole affair concerning Zhao Qingqing spread like wildfire.

"What? Is this true? How could Fairy Qingqing be so foolish? In what way did the Li family ever wrong her? How could she subject the Li family to such humiliation?"

"If my clan had a traitor like that, killing her would be the least we could do to uphold the family's honor!"

"The Li family was simply being too kind."

"Kindness is an understatement! I genuinely cannot fathom what goes through Zhao Qingqing's mind. To nurture her, the Li family gave her everything—the Reincarnation Eyes, the supreme-grade physique—everything! And yet she still chose to leave and betray the Li family! Truly disgusting! What a despicable wretch!"

"What kind of so-called fairy is she? Without the Li family, who would even know her name?"

"Good grief, Zhao Qingqing is brainless to the extreme. That was a supreme-grade bloodline, the kind that even saints would fight tooth and nail to possess!"

Waves of discussion erupted throughout the city, quickly spreading to the surrounding regions.

With hollowed-out eye sockets, Zhao Qingqing had her vision concealed by a black bandage tied tightly by Bai Zhixi.

The two of them were currently staying in a nearby town. Zhao Qingqing’s body was withered and emaciated, and Bai Zhixi had brought her there to make a temporary stop and administer some basic medical treatment.

The harsh words of discussion drifted straight into their ears.

Zhao Qingqing’s fingers clenched fiercely. As she listened to the piercing remarks, a trail of fresh blood trickled down the corner of her lips.

Bai Zhixi wore an ugly expression. She had already heard Zhao Qingqing’s account of what transpired, and to her, the Li family was unequivocally in the wrong; Zhao Qingqing had simply desired to pursue a brighter future.

Could the Li family truly have nurtured Zhao Qingqing properly?

Bai Zhixi didn't believe it for a second!

The Li family simply lacked the necessary power and resources!

As for the Li family stripping Zhao Qingqing of her Reincarnation Eyes and Pixiu bloodline, she, Bai Zhixi, would undoubtedly seek justice for her!

That’s right—she had swallowed Zhao Qingqing’s narrative whole, firmly believing that the Li family had plundered Zhao Qingqing’s Reincarnation Eyes and Pixiu bloodline!

"Shut your mouths, what nonsense are you spewing?! It is undeniably the Li family that is in the wrong! Without Qingqing, the Li family will do nothing but wither and fall into decline! Qingqing possesses the primordial yin physique, something that elders from countless sacred grounds and sects fight over! It is the Li family that is blind, losing such a treasure as Qingqing. They will live to regret this!"

Watching the onlookers gossip, Bai Zhixi grew more incensed the more she listened. She could not help but voice her scorn. Possessing a fiery temper, she would have long since stormed back into the Li family estate had Zhao Qingqing not held her back at the gates.

The people nearby drinking tea and chatting were momentarily stunned. Instead of rebutting, one of them cupped his fists and said, "Yes, yes, yes, this fairy is entirely right."

Bai Zhixi felt a lingering sense of grievance. "What do you people know?! You understand nothing at all! Qingqing is our friend! She is a companion of the Medicine King Nie Mie—which sect or sacred ground is she not welcomed in?"

The surrounding crowd was taken aback. Was one of them actually Zhao Qingqing herself? They cast looks of astonishment toward the other woman.

Zhao Qingqing was indeed no ordinary person. They had also heard of the moniker of the Junior Medicine King, who possessed vast connections and a store of matured, rare medicinal herbs. It wasn't as though no one had ever harbored designs on Junior Medicine King Nie Mie.

Yet, all of them had met a tragic end.

They hadn't expected Zhao Qingqing to have ties to the Junior Medicine King. Although Nie Mie’s cultivation was merely at the Void-Returning stage, his network was extensive, and he was moreover a personal disciple of the Seven-Grade Sacred Ground, the Medicine King Valley.

Harboring bitter resentment in her heart, Zhao Qingqing tugged at Bai Zhixi, and the two of them hurried out of the inn.

"Qingqing, are you alright?" Bai Zhixi supported Zhao Qingqing as she asked, "There's no need to listen to their idle babble. I support you. What good is any notice from the Li family?"

"Could the Li family possibly think their influence is so vast that they can leave us with nowhere to turn?"

Bai Zhixi did not believe it for an instant. Zhao Qingqing’s expression eased slightly. "I understand, Sister Zhixi. Let us head straight to the Morning Dawn Sect to find Brother Kui Xing."

Bai Zhixi nodded. Her cultivation was at the first realm of the Void-Returning stage, and she was also a true disciple of a sect known as the Inviting Moon Sect. As for Kui Xing, he was a true disciple of the Morning Dawn Sect.

There were several others in their circle, brought together entirely thanks to Nie Mie. Because Nie Mie periodically procured matured rare herbs, he would trade them with the others for various resources.

This time, Nie Mie had not come in person because he had tracked down a matured third-grade rare herb and was personally staying behind to ensure it reached full maturity.

Nie Mie had already been informed of Zhao Qingqing’s plight, declaring that he would intervene personally to force the Li family and their ancestor to kneel before Zhao Qingqing and beg for forgiveness.

"You don't need to worry, Qingqing," Bai Zhixi supported Zhao Qingqing, treading upon a rainbow beam of light as she comforted her. "Nie Mie is a disciple of the Medicine King Valley; he will certainly heal you. Once you recover, we will exact justice for you!"

Zhao Qingqing murmured an assent, feeling a warmth in her heart. Her expression flickered slightly, and she wanted to mention that the Li family ancestor was terrifyingly powerful and might well be a saint.

Though she had not witnessed the scene where the Мо family of the saint clan came to pay respects to Li Xuan, she had indeed heard the voices of two saints fighting over her supreme-grade bloodline.

No, Zhao Qingqing refused to believe it. She refused to believe that Li Xuan, the ancestor of the Li family, was a saint.

The notion of two saints fighting over her bloodline—it must all have been a fabrication!

...

Back at the Li family estate, Li Xuan's courtyard had a visitor. After reporting in, Li Zhan wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling that the Li family banquets were somehow cursed.

Otherwise, why did disasters keep striking during them?

Last time it was the ancestor's wedding banquet, and this time it was their relocation banquet.

"Ancestor, the family affairs have all been handled. We are ready to depart for the new territory," Li Zhan said respectfully. Li Xuan gave a hum of acknowledgment. "Then let us relocate."

Li Zhan answered in the affirmative. Today, they would pack up and leave their ancestral grounds, leaving behind only a skeleton crew while the rest of the clan moved wholesale into the former territory of the Great Dragon Sect.

A surge of elation rose in Li Zhan's heart. From this day forward, their Li family would officially step into the ranks of third-tier clans. Yet with the ancestor watching over them, he was confident the Li family would grow ever stronger, eventually rising to become a faction on par with a first-tier clan. Li Zhan indulged in a brief moment of pleasant reverie.

Even now, the Li family was taking over the territories and resources previously belonging to the Great Dragon Sect—such as mineral veins, spiritual fields, and spiritual veins. The minor factions nearby, which had formerly depended on the Great Dragon Sect, were also being systematically absorbed by the Li family one by one.

"Ancestor, regarding the matter involving Zhao Qingqing, rumors outside claim that she is the dao companion of Nie Mie, the Junior Medicine King and personal disciple of the Medicine King Valley. Bai Zhixi and Zhao Qingqing have traveled together toward the Morning Dawn Sect, suspected to be seeking its spirit springs to treat Zhao Qingqing's injuries. Should we..."

Li Zhan made a throat-slitting gesture. He felt the ancestor was far too soft-hearted; facing a traitor like Zhao Qingqing, they ought to have subjected her to death by a thousand cuts and exterminated her utterly to prevent any future troubles!

It was a pity the ancestor was too lenient and had spared Zhao Qingqing's life. Of course, deep down, Li Zhan preferred to think the ancestor simply wanted to torture Zhao Qingqing a little longer.

Yet this thought merely flashed across Li Zhan's mind without leaving a trace.

How could the ancestor possibly be such a petty person?

Munching on an apple, Li Xuan chuckled. "There is no need to worry. I have my own plans for Zhao Qingqing. Since the clan is fully prepared, let us move."

Li Xuan had been keeping tabs on Bai Zhixi and Zhao Qingqing all along, as the two of them continued to contribute a steady stream of villain points.

"Understood. Ancestor, we have also discovered that the Junior Medicine King has extensive connections. Among them, his master is the mighty Su Ze of the Medicine King Valley. As for his other connections, please forgive us, Ancestor, for we were unable to investigate them thoroughly."

"The Medicine King Valley has recently been selecting its sequential true disciples, and rumors say Nie Mie will also participate to vie for the position of the ninth sequential true disciple."

Li Zhan spoke with a trace of shame, feeling they had failed the ancestor's cultivation by failing to uncover who Nie Mie had given his rare herbs to, let alone his broader network.

They had only managed to unearth these surface details.

True disciples of the Medicine King Valley were divided into sequential true disciples and regular true disciples, with vastly different treatment accorded to each.

Sequential true disciples stood a chance of becoming the Dao Child of the Medicine King Valley, and ultimately the Medicine King of the future. This selection for the ninth sequential true disciple was a major event for the valley, and they had naturally invited guests to observe the ceremony—a standard practice among the sects and sacred grounds of this world.

If you had the strength, you had to put it on display.

Li Xuan gave a slight nod. "No matter."

Filled with admiration, Li Zhan thought to himself how unflappably composed the ancestor always was, never betraying the slightest ripple of emotion. When would he ever possess such absolute poise?

With Li Zhan's departure, Li Xuan casually tossed away the apple core. Interesting—Nie Mie was actually going to participate in the Medicine King Valley's sequence trials. This presented an opportunity to set things in motion.

Night Qingcheng materialized out of the void, her mouth twitching into a delighted grin as she looked at Li Xuan and nodded. "Master, I have completed the task."

Li Xuan glanced at her sideways. Night Qingcheng had surrendered remarkably fast; she had accepted reality so quickly that she was already addressing him as master.

Night Qingcheng cared not a whit about Li Xuan's gaze. Instead, she puffed out her chest with an air of absolute pride. She was a being of longevity with plenty of years left to live; why bother bickering with a short-lived mortal like Li Xuan?

Once Li Xuan died, she would still be alive and kicking. When that day came, she would definitely go and sing a jubilant tune atop his grave.

Had Li Xuan known Night Qingcheng's inner thoughts, he would surely have given her quite a surprise, given that his lifespan was still actively growing.

Not long after, the former territory of the Great Dragon Sect had the characters for the Li family carved into its gates.

Inside a courtyard.

Li Xuan seated himself, casting his gaze toward the void. Night Qingcheng had accomplished her mission, and he was quite eager to see what Zhao Qingqing and Bai Zhixi would do next.

Whom would they beg for help?

Meanwhile.

In the vicinity of the Morning Dawn Sect, a streak of rainbow light flashed across the sky as Bai Zhixi and Zhao Qingqing arrived.