Though he was hurried away by the person whose life he'd saved with great effort, Shen Qingqiu was very satisfied.
The Liu Qingge who died by his hands in the original work was accidentally saved by him instead.
If he could have good relations with this person, Shen Qingqiu wouldn't be afraid of anyone even if all his enemies showed up together at his front door!
Even if he took it a step back and his plan to develop his good disciple Luo Binghe was unsuccessful, Liu Qingge as the Bai Zhan Peak Lord at least had the strength to fight against the protagonist for a round!
Why didn't the system have a [Strategy] or an [Intelligence] value? He could have used those points.
System: [...] The system expressed its unwillingness to communicate with this person.
In the caves, there was neither sun nor moon. Shen Qingqiu didn't feel like he'd done much before the day came for him to exit the spirit caves.
His eyes closed, Shen Qingqiu sat cross-legged on the stone platform. He waited until the last of the spirit power circulated through his limbs and bones before he opened them.
He had devoted himself to cultivating for several months and was now able to freely use the spirit power in his body, even improving his cultivation foundation by another level.
This state increased the amount of control he had over his body to one hundred percent, even solving his awkwardness. The brilliance of his eyes was greatly different. Shen Qingqiu jumped down from the stone table, feeling that his body was very light and easy. It was just as though his four limbs were like a light breeze, his body positively old and awkward in the past.
Of course, this could also just be his own subjective feelings. The time he was in seclusion had felt like pressing fast-forward on a video. If it were in a novel, it would be finished in a chapter.
Before leaving, he felt that he should greet the big brother next door. He pried open the stone door.
Shen Qingqiu cleared his throat and said: "Apprentice-brother, you are aware of the situation? This senior brother has already finished advancing in cultivation and is going to go up."
His voice wasn't very loud but was definitely enough for a cultivator like Liu Qingge to hear, echoing in the empty cave.
Since there wasn't any response from that end, Shen Qingqiu didn't care. Expressing his good intentions (?) was enough. In accordance to his will, a strong wind under his feet carried him out of the spirit caves into the upcoming storm.
That was right. Storm. Calculating the days, it was about time for this incident. The scene to follow was very important and could be considered one of the foremost little □□ in "Proud Immortal Demon Way."
Demon evildoers had managed to infiltrate into Cang Qiong sect, triggering a chaotic commotion between humans and demons.
And the book's two important female leads would also appear in this commotion and start to notice Luo Binghe.
The spirit caves were separated from the outside world. Inside the caves was peace and quiet; once he exited the caves, he was met with Qiong Ding Peak set aflame. All around were disciples in a messy confusion, alarms ringing everywhere.
Shen Qingqiu understood that the demon realm's evildoers had already advanced on the mountain.
He really arrived at such a coincidental time. Just when he got this idea, he got caught up with this riot.
Some disciples under who knows what master saw him and immediately piled over: "Martial Uncle Shen! Martial Uncle Shen, you've finally come out! There's big trouble, the Demon Realm's people have gone up Qiong Ding Peak and hurt many of our apprentice-brothers!"
Shen Qingqiu touched one with his hand and unperturbed said: "Calm. Where is the sect head?"
Disciple A cried: "The sect head went down the mountain outside to do something. If it wasn't for this, the Demon Realm's people wouldn't take the opportunity to attack us!"
Disciple B angrily said: "Demon Realm people are really despicable! Not only did they swoop in, they even want to break the Rainbow Bridge linking the Twelve Peaks. Qiong Ding Peak completely has no way to get support from other Peaks!"
Shen Qingqiu already knew and was only asking. Right now he was genuinely real goods at a fair price,1 his body full of power and energy. With a heroic air that seemed to break through the skies, he said: "No need to panic. My Cang Qiong Peak is a strong and large division. If we deal with them, I'm afraid not even a remnant will be left of these Demon Realm people." Once he finished speaking, he rushed towards the path.
The disciples suddenly felt like they'd found their backbones and followed behind Shen Qingqiu like a train. Along the way, the headless flies buzzing around also followed them. They didn't know what happened but followed along anyway. In the end, the line grew longer and longer until they arrived in front of Qiong Ding's audience hall.
At the entrance of Qiong Ding Peak's gate, Cang Qiong sect guards encircled and suppressed the invading Demons. Because of the scene, all of Qing Jing Peak's disciples 'coincidentally' all gathered on Qiong Ding Peak and met the Shen Qingqiu who had recently left seclusion. Shen Qingqiu's first glance was to look for Luo Binghe's figure. As expected, he was standing in the middle of the crowd, looking solemn.
Having not seen him for a while, he'd grown a lot taller. His young man's stature was like bamboo, giving off a fresh and elegant feeling, very eye-catching.
Seeing that the protagonist had arrived, Shen Qingqiu could calm down and turn his attention towards the enemy.
In front of the resplendent and magnificent Qiong Ding hall, more than a hundred clusters of demonic energy were emitted.
The leader of the demon invasion this time is clearly only a fifteen-year-old girl.
In his heart, Shen Qingqiu laughed excitedly: 'She's come out! She's finally come out!'
Even though the demonic style of dress is bizarre and exotic, this young girl's style is exceptionally unusual. She had a full head of black hair combed into tiny braids, a white complexion, rich and bold eye makeup, and bright crimson lips. Though her age was small, it was easy to see hints of her future glamorous and compelling beauty. Because the day was hot, she wore light clothes that were practically just a few bolts of red veils wrapped around her body. Around her wrists and ankles were silver rings, every movement giving rise to the jingling of small bells.
Her bare, snow-white feet touched the ground. Shen Qingqiu couldn't restrain himself from taking a second look at her.
It's not out of lecherous hoodlum behavior, but... traveling on bare feet all these tens of thousands of li from the Demon Realm over mountains and waters, young miss... don't your feet hurt?
Wrong. That's not the main point!
The main point was that this was the (number one) popular heroine in the novel "Proud Immortal Demon Way" – Demon Saint, Sha Hualing.2
Sha Hualing was a pure-blooded demon, cruel and ruthless, cunning and artful, but fell irrevocably for Luo Binghe. After getting together with Luo Binghe, don't even speak about killing for him; she even dared to do an outrageous thing like betraying the demons for him.
Although this brainlessly infatuated sister invited criticism, nothing could be done. Such a passionately devoted woman was difficult for a man to dislike.
Unfortunately, such a spicy hot sister is destined to fall into someone else's lap. Shen Qingqiu couldn't resist anymore and glanced towards Luo Binghe. Just then, Luo Binghe's eyes also swept over unintentionally and their gazes met. Their eyes suddenly widened. Luo Binghe seemed about to speak but hesitated, excited. Shen Qingqiu nodded his head at him.
At this moment, the Rainbow Bridge linking the Twelve Peaks was cut apart. All the other Peak Lords were not on the scene but Shen Qingqiu this Elder was here, his presence undoubtedly emboldening the disciples. Ming Fan shouted: "Demon girl! My Shifu is already here, see you if you dare to be arrogant anymore!"
People gathered more and more, many hundreds of angry disciples in uniform circling in formation and trapping the invaders in the hall. A few demons wanted to take the opportunity to break through, but Shen Qingqiu's two hands flashed, raising them up and throwing them back to Sha Hualing's feet.
Sha Hualing was very clever and resourceful. She was arrogant earlier and bullied Qiong Ding Peak disciples because there were no Elders on the scene. Now, the situation didn't seem good and she quickly changed her tune: "My purpose coming up the mountain this time originally isn't to fight. I only wanted to compete skill with Cang Qiong Mountain sect's many talents. My family was curious and wanted to come up the mountains to exchange pointers3 to see what would happen."
Shen Qingqiu waved his fan and said: "Well said, well said. Though you explain your manner as seeking to exchange pointers, why do you have to choose to do it while our sect head's away? Why must you cut apart our Rainbow Bridge? What need is there to wound so many of our sect's disciples? I've never seen such a way to seek pointers."
Sha Hualing bit her lips and pulled out her own young girl's weapon.
She lifted a stray hair from her cheek and slowly said: "This person must be that Elder 'Xiu Ya Sword' Shen Qingqiu who moved the world. Sure enough, seeing is believing. This Ling-er is young and has failed to control her subordinates. If she has offended you, may this immortal master be magnanimous and forgiving."
Though her language is soft, Shen Qingqiu is not one bit moved. He was more clear about the sequence of events than anyone.
The Demon Realm's invasion this time was because Sha Hualing had just been appointed as the demon race's Saint. Her ambition was as high as the skies but she couldn't ground herself in reality. She wanted to enter Cang Qiong Mountain sect's first peak in one fell swoop and seize Qiong Ding Peak's engraved sign, bringing it back to the Demon Realm as spoils of war and proof of her achievement. At the same time, she would use it as a demonstration to the Immortal Realm.
Shen Qingqiu said: "Can this young miss say her judgment now?"
Unwilling to submit, Sha Hualing said: "Although right now my family is weak, that is only because you have many people. That's why Ling-er doesn't dare make a judgment."
Shen Qingqiu put on the airs of an Elder as smoothly as a fish back in water and said: "Oh?"
With red lips and shining teeth, Sha Hualing offered a way that seemed fair and just.
"Why don't we each choose three representatives and hold three matches here right now?"
In the original work, this section was considered a small major plot point so Shen Qingqiu could remember it fairly clearly.
The first trial was Shen Qingqiu vs. the demons' single-armed elder. In order to highlight Shen Qingqiu's scum qualities, he used despicable methods to win. Comparing him to Luo Binghe's open and aboveboard behavior in the third match resulted in a strong contrast.
And here, Shen Qingqiu won't so easily discredit his own image!
The single-armed elder was a purple-black color all over his body, silent. He listened to Sha Hualing's direction and walked forward to a spot of open ground.
Shen Qingqiu's own division disciples at the outskirts cheered him on. He knows this single-armed elder had some weight. He gave a small smile: "You only have one arm. Even if I win like this, it is still not an honest victory."
"Oh? Then what do you want to do?"
Shen Qingqiu smiled slightly, spreading his fan open with a shake. He waved it twice: "I don't need even a single hand."
—End Chapter 10—
1Real goods at a fair price: A pretty self-evident saying meaning that something or someone's the real deal.
2Sha Hualing (紗華鈴): Hua ling means 'magnificent/splendid bell.'
3Compete skill…to exchange pointers: Going to explain this in case anyone's confused. In the Jianghu or martial arts world, it's common to ask for a fight and compare skills. It can also be called exchanging pointers (qie cuo or 切磋). If done right, it's a good learning opportunity for the participants and sometimes spectators as well. Of course, this is just BS Sha Hualing is spitting out. XD