Building a Martial Dao Celestial Family by Laying Low

Chapter 492: Chapter 416: Identity 2

"The Elders of the Sect hold a grand competition every twenty years. The winners, ranked by their performance, are given command of one of the Celestial Sword Seven Peaks.

"The losers receive only the benefits of an ordinary Elder. Master Mu is a peerless talent. She reached the Guiyuan Realm at a young age, and during the last Seven Peaks tournament, she overpowered all her rivals to claim sixth place, taking command of the Sixth Peak."

Chen Li was surprised. He hadn’t imagined that the Celestial Sword Sect, which appeared so orthodox and respectable with its emphasis on rules and etiquette, was in reality a place where strength was blatantly all that mattered.

But on second thought, it made sense.

A Sect’s Cultivation Resources are ultimately limited. To maintain top-tier combat strength and cultivate enough powerful experts, it must optimize its resources.

If they simply assigned positions based on seniority, allowing the mediocre to occupy high ranks and consume resources, the Sect would likely suffer from the rot and complacency that plagues large organizations. After a few generations, it would inevitably decline.

’They’re certainly pragmatic.’

Chen Li mused inwardly, his eyes narrowing. He pressed on, "How many experts at the Grandmaster Realm or higher does the Celestial Sword Sect have? And what about the Sect Leader’s strength?"

Feng Qingxuan’s eyes shifted slightly.

Seeing Chen Li press for details about the Celestial Sword Sect, she guessed he was afraid of the Sect’s power. Her voice turned cold. "The Sect Leader commands Sword First Peak. His strength is naturally unfathomable."

"As for the other Grandmasters... The Celestial Sword Sect was founded over six hundred years ago. We have countless powerful experts."

She looked Chen Li straight in the eye, her voice laced with a probing tone. "What’s the matter? Scared?"

"I can make a deal with you. Let us go, and I’ll act as if today never happened. I won’t even ask who you are. What do you say?"

"Scared?"

Chen Li gave a faint smile and shook his head. "A deal... I suppose that’s possible. But we’ll have to change the terms."

"What terms?"

"Submit to me and work for me."

"In your dreams!"

Feng Qingxuan’s eyes flashed with anger, humiliation and fury surging through her once more. "I would never submit to the likes of you—"

Chen Li, however, remained calm and unhurried. His gaze swept over her. "You were too hasty when you tried to break through to the Divine Hall Realm, weren’t you? You not only damaged your meridians, but your Divine Soul as well."

Feng Qingxuan’s body trembled, and a look of shock flashed in her eyes.

Chen Li continued, "Submit, and I can heal your injuries. I can even help you reach the Divine Hall Realm. The price is merely to work for me. It’s nothing significant."

He paused, his voice turning cold. "Of course, you can also refuse."

"However, the consequences of refusing are... rather tragic."

"You and your dear master here might not live to see another day. And before you die, you might even be subjected to some torture."

"All those nasty tortures from the Jianghu and the Court... I’m not fond of using them, but I wouldn’t mind trying them out on you and your master."

"In short, I won’t be letting you die a quick and painless death."

After Chen Li finished speaking, he said no more, just quietly looked at her.

"Take your time to consider. I’ll give you one hour."

Feng Qingxuan’s delicate body trembled slightly.

Chen Li’s words were like a douse of ice water, yet they were also a tempting poison. He had undoubtedly struck her weakest point.

And the threat of torture sent a chill deep into her heart.

She closed her eyes and turned her head away, refusing to look at Chen Li. She didn’t retort fiercely as she had before.

Her lips were pressed into a thin line, her chest gently rising and falling.

When Chen Li saw that she didn’t immediately reject his offer, he knew her resolve was wavering. She had, in a way, already consented.

He didn’t press her further. He simply stood with his hands clasped behind his back and waited in silence.

After a moment, he changed the subject as if making small talk. "That Flying Sword Skill you traded me... what’s its origin?"

Feng Qingxuan kept her head turned, not looking at Chen Li. But after a few moments of silence, she answered dutifully, "I don’t know the specifics. I only heard Master Mu mention that it was the Cultivation Technique practiced by our Celestial Sword Sect’s fourth patriarch."

"Long ago, the patriarch used this Flying Sword Skill while in service to the Court. He took an enemy general’s head from amidst an army a million strong with the ease of reaching into his own pocket, establishing a legendary military record."

Chen Li nodded. That account sounded far more credible than the Secret Manual’s fantastical claim of taking a head from a thousand miles away.

He took out the green Jade Sword and asked, "And what is this? Do you know how to use it?"

Feng Qingxuan turned her head, glanced at the green Jade Sword, then turned away again. "That... I don’t know. I only heard Master Mu mention once that it’s a legacy item of the Sixth Peak."

Chen Li’s brow furrowed slightly.

Although her status was high, she was still only a True Disciple. It seemed her knowledge of the Sect’s core inheritances and Secret Treasures was indeed limited.

’I suppose I’ll have to wait for this Supreme Elder to awaken to learn the rest of the secrets.’

But Mu Wanqiu’s Primordial Spirit was on the verge of collapse. Even with his help, it would be difficult and time-consuming for her to recover and awaken.

’It looks like there’s no way for me to cultivate the Second Layer of the Flying Sword Skill for the time being.’

After all, the origin and use of this green Flying Sword were unknown. Moreover, the memory of Mu Wanqiu losing control of her Primordial Spirit—to the point that it nearly shattered—while using it was still fresh in his mind.

He didn’t dare to refine and use it carelessly.

After pondering for a moment, Chen Li took out a light green Elixir from his robes, pinched her jaw open, and stuffed it into Feng Qingxuan’s mouth.

"You—"

Feng Qingxuan was startled and tried to spit it out, but the Elixir melted the moment it entered her mouth and flowed down her throat.

Chen Li placed his right hand on her Dantian, and a stream of Primordial Qi entered her, unsealing her blocked Acupoints and meridians one by one.

"Keep up."

He said the words flatly, then picked up the unconscious Mu Wanqiu under his arm, turned, and left the deserted temple.

Feng Qingxuan got to her feet, feeling the Inner Qi flowing through her body once more. She looked at Chen Li’s departing back, a complex mix of struggle, humiliation, and helplessness flashing in her eyes.

Biting her lip, she stamped her foot, but in the end, she followed him.