From a Martial Arts Sect to an Immortal Cultivation Sect-Chapter 6 : Top Ten of the Heaven Ranking

Chapter 6: Top Ten of the Heaven Ranking
The morning sun rose, and Li Qingqiu came out early, then called his junior brothers and sisters to wake up for morning training.
After a night, the courtyard had already piled up with thick snow. Zhang Yuchun and Li Dongyue had gotten up early and were already sweeping the snow.
Li Qingqiu told them to put down the shovels and start their cultivation first.
The seven disciples climbed onto the roof eaves, sat cross-legged side by side, and together absorbed the purple qi.
Gradually, wisps of steam began to rise from the tops of their heads.
Li Qingqiu opened one eye and glanced at his junior brothers and sisters with quiet satisfaction.
Although they were still young, they were obedient and easy to teach, which made him full of expectations for the future of the Clear Sky Sect.
This was the foundation of his endeavor!
After an hour, the disciples jumped down from the eaves, ready to tend to their tasks.
Li Qingqiu called over Zhang Yuchun, asking him to come along for a trip.
Zhang Yuchun had no objection, though when he saw Li Qingqiu take the Tianhong Sword with him, his eyebrows twitched slightly.
The two walked through the mountain forest, chatting casually about the sect’s trivial matters.
The terrain of the Ancient Great Mountain Range was steep. Even for the two of them, traveling required caution—especially with snow covering everything, making it easy to step on a weak spot and collapse.
After walking ten miles, Zhang Yuchun could no longer hold back and asked, “Senior Brother, where exactly are we going?”
Walking ahead, Li Qingqiu replied without turning his head, “Last night, I dreamed of an immortal’s guidance. The immortal said that there is a treasure hidden somewhere in these mountains. The dream was so vivid that I decided to come and take a look.”
The Fortuitous Fate Inheritance had made him remember the route clearly. It had been a vision—he had truly walked through it once, and even now, he remembered it with perfect clarity.
“An immortal’s guidance?”
Hearing that, Zhang Yuchun nearly collapsed inwardly. He wanted to ask, Senior Brother, do you take me for a fool?
However, he never dared to defy Li Qingqiu, so he endured it and followed along in silence.
The Ancient Great Mountain Range was blanketed by snow. No matter how far they went, it felt as if they were walking in place.
Fortunately, both Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun had stepped into the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, their strength much improved, so they didn’t feel tired.
After traveling another dozen miles, Li Qingqiu finally stopped.
Ahead, there was no more path—only a rock wall, with snow piled on both sides, making it narrow and enclosed.
Blowing warm air into his hands, Zhang Yuchun looked around curiously and said, “Senior Brother, this doesn’t look like a place where treasures would be found. Seems that immortal wasn’t too reliable. Should we call it quits?”
Li Qingqiu didn’t answer him. He stepped up to the rock wall and began to search along its surface.
Soon, he seemed to have found something. He struck a specific spot on the wall forcefully.
After only three blows, the stone cracked open, leaving Zhang Yuchun stunned. He hurried forward.
After confirming that the rock could no longer be broken through, Li Qingqiu stopped. In front of him was a hole the size of a dog burrow. He fell silent.
The dream had only guided him to this point, but the cave in the dream had been much larger.
Zhang Yuchun bent down and peeked inside. It was pitch black, but he could feel warm air rushing out from within.
“Let’s go.”
Li Qingqiu crawled in first. Zhang Yuchun wanted to stop him, but Li Qingqiu moved too quickly. Gritting his teeth, he followed.
The tunnel sloped downward and was dark, yet the flowing warm air made it rather comfortable.
The deeper they went, the wider it became, easing their tension from the confined space.
After crawling for about five zhang, they reached the end.
Following Li Qingqiu out of the tunnel, Zhang Yuchun dropped down lightly.
The fall wasn’t far, and when he raised his head, his eyes widened, his mouth gaping open unconsciously.
Before them lay a vast underground chamber.
The stone walls were embedded with countless blue-silver crystals of varying sizes and sharp edges.
Below was a lake nearly ten zhang wide, its surface shimmering with blue and silver hues, fantastical and breathtaking.
For some reason, upon entering this place, Zhang Yuchun felt a refreshing calm fill his mind, his whole being invigorated.
“Senior Brother, it feels like this place is filled with the same spiritual energy we absorb during cultivation. If we train here, won’t our inner energy grow faster?” Zhang Yuchun asked, barely hiding his excitement.
“Indeed. This place is perfect for cultivation. Seems Heaven blesses our Clear Sky Sect,” Li Qingqiu replied with a composed smile.
In truth, ever since awakening his Fortuitous Fate, he had been anticipating this moment, his heart already well-prepared.
They began to explore, observing and discussing along the way.
“Senior Brother, be careful. If there are venomous beasts or insects hiding here, that could be trouble.”
“Senior Brother, did an immortal really give you that dream? Or was it something our Master once told you?”
“It’s a pity this place is so far from the sect. A round trip takes nearly half a day.”
“Senior Brother, do you think if we train here for ten years, we could become martial experts who shake the world?”
Li Qingqiu replied casually to Zhang Yuchun’s endless questions, clearly perfunctory, but Zhang Yuchun didn’t mind.
Though usually composed, Zhang Yuchun was still a fifteen-year-old boy. In front of Li Qingqiu, he could drop his guard.
After circling around a few times, confirming that there was only one entrance and no danger, they finally relaxed.
“What do you think? How should we arrange for the juniors to come here to cultivate?” Li Qingqiu asked, his eyes falling upon the spiritual lake.
Zhang Yuchun pondered. “Having everyone come at once won’t work. Someone must stay behind to guard the sect. And since I’ll soon be recruiting new disciples, this place must remain secret from all but the seven of us. I suggest we come in pairs to cultivate here for a day, taking turns. What do you think, Senior Brother?”
Li Qingqiu glanced at him approvingly and nodded. “Not bad. That’s a good plan. I’m pleased that you’ve thought of the possible risks.”
Zhang Yuchun scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. “Master used to tell stories of sects destroyed because of hidden treasures or martial arts techniques they couldn’t protect.”
“Indeed. The Clear Sky Sect only has us, and we’re still too young. We must act cautiously. If we lose even one of us, it would be a disaster,” Li Qingqiu sighed.
Lose one person?
Zhang Yuchun’s expression changed slightly. Just imagining Li Qingqiu and the others dying before his eyes filled him with dread.
No!
He absolutely couldn’t allow such a thing to happen!
Zhang Yuchun, too, was an orphan, abandoned at the age of six. He had grown up alone, without a sense of security.
He already regarded Li Qingqiu and the others as his family. It was that bond that made him willing to bear any hardship.
Li Qingqiu picked up a crystal by the lakeside and could feel it brimming with spiritual energy. He thought to take one with him, but then realized—even the spiritual energy from that small dagger before had been detectable by a beginner cultivator.
Carrying a crystal like this out could invite disaster.
Thus, he put it down again and warned Zhang Yuchun that no one was allowed to take any of the crystals out of this place.
They didn’t linger long. After confirming everything, they prepared to return and organize their arrangements.
Once out of the tunnel, Li Qingqiu covered the entrance with weeds and snow until it was completely hidden.
“Never mention this place outside. If a powerful expert happens to overhear, we’ll be in serious trouble.”
Li Qingqiu’s tone was serious.
Zhang Yuchun nodded—he understood the importance of this subterranean spiritual lake.
The two started back toward the Clear Sky Sect, chatting along the way.
Zhang Yuchun planned to descend the mountain to recruit disciples once the snow melted, but the snow had been worsening recently, and he worried about taking village children up the mountain in such conditions.
Li Qingqiu naturally agreed. He wasn’t in a hurry to expand the sect; strengthening their core members came first—better that than inviting unnecessary trouble when dealing with others.
The return journey was just as rough.
Their earlier footprints had long been buried beneath fresh snow.
Halfway back, Li Qingqiu suddenly stopped.
Behind him, Zhang Yuchun asked in surprise, “What’s wrong?”
“Listen carefully,” Li Qingqiu said softly.
Zhang Yuchun immediately held his breath, focusing his senses.
Soon, he heard a faint voice coming from the depths of the nearby forest.
“Help… me…”
Having reached the first layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, Zhang Yuchun sharpened his gaze.
Through the crisscrossing trees, he could just make out half a human face—someone lying behind a large tree, leaning against a rock, watching them weakly from afar.
Startled, Zhang Yuchun pointed and said, “Senior Brother, that man’s calling for help! Should we go check?”
Li Qingqiu had already noticed the person.
After a moment’s hesitation, he said quietly, “Let’s take a look—but carefully. Don’t let him trick us.”
Zhang Yuchun nodded.
The two pushed through the underbrush toward the stranger.
The barely conscious Yang Jueding saw the two youths approach, and an immense wave of relief washed over him.
When Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun had descended the mountain earlier, he had spotted them from afar, but he hadn’t been able to call out in time. So, he had waited, praying they would return.
Just as his strength was fading, he finally saw them again.
He used what little energy he had left to cry for help—his voice still weak.
Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun approached cautiously, keeping a safe distance as they observed.
The man was covered in snow, his robes filthy, his face smeared with frozen blood and stubble. His long hair was tied with a frayed headband that was about to fall off. Judging from his face, he seemed to be in his thirties. His abdomen had suffered a grave wound, and the blood had frozen stiff.
Zhang Yuchun asked, “Who are you? Why are you here?”
“Water… give me… water…”
Yang Jueding looked up at them weakly, his right hand twitching as he tried—and failed—to lift it.
Zhang Yuchun looked to Li Qingqiu.
Seeing him nod, he immediately pulled a water flask from his robes and tossed it to the man.
To their surprise, Yang Jueding suddenly sat up, snatching the flask with startling speed. He tore it open and gulped down the water.
Startled, Zhang Yuchun instinctively took a step back.
Li Qingqiu could sense a faint flow of energy within the man’s body, maintaining his body temperature—that was how he had survived so long.
A martial expert who had cultivated inner energy?
After draining the flask, Yang Jueding lay back down, visibly more relaxed. Smiling faintly, he said, “Many thanks to you two young lads for saving me… My name is Yang Jueding.”
Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun both stared at him intently.
Yang Jueding blinked, puzzled, and asked, “You mean you haven’t heard of me? I am the Dragon-Subduing Hero, ranked top ten on Guzhou’s Heaven Ranking!”