The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 262 Greetings, fellow Daoists! (6k)

Looking at the little girl in the picture, Zhou Qing was full of doubt.

"For Senior Uncle Gao Xuan? To a five or six-year-old girl? Could it be—"

Zhou Qing suddenly realized something, his gaze sharpening instantly as he stared directly at Mo Xingjian.

After all, he had told his master about Gao Xuan's past experiences almost without reservation, and his master should know the key details.

But that doesn't make sense. According to Master Gao Xuan, Nannan was likely caught in the crossfire of Master Gao Xuan's battle and tragically died.

Moreover, many years have passed since this incident, yet the little girl in the picture is so vivid and lively, as if she were still living in the present.

But normally, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the person in the video should be Nannan.

"There is no one else in the image, so it must have been taken a long time ago. What does Sikong Yan want to tell Senior Brother Gao Xuan by sending this image stone at this time?"

Mo Xingjian frowned and muttered to himself in a low voice.
"Could it be that he has already heard something and is trying to disrupt Senior Brother Gao Xuan's mind and prevent him from breaking through?"

Mo Xingjian speculated, but as soon as he said it, he immediately denied his own idea.

“But that doesn’t make sense either. Even if the Taiqing Sect is temporarily missing a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator at the Great Perfection stage, in the long run, the impact on the rise of the entire sect will be negligible. There’s no need for him to go through all this trouble.”

Zhou Qing also looked thoughtful, and after a moment of contemplation, asked, "Master, is everything going smoothly for Senior Uncle and the others in their seclusion?"

Mo Xingjian raised his eyes, his expression softening slightly, and replied, "There are basically no major problems. It is estimated that they will all be able to emerge from seclusion in about a year."

"However, since your Senior Uncle Gao Xuan is a possessed person, he will be somewhat affected during his cultivation."

Mo Xingjian paused slightly before continuing, "But it only means he emerged from seclusion about half a year later than others. Qi Sheng was worried that receiving this would delay important matters, so he hurriedly sent it over."

Zhou Qing nodded slightly.

Since the unfortunate deaths of the chief senior brother Du Kui, Luo Xue, and the fifth brother Tan Qiang, only the third brother Qi Sheng and the fourth brother Meng Hexiu are left to manage affairs on Jin Yang Peak.

Given that Senior Uncle Gao Xuan was in seclusion and Master was temporarily assuming the position of sect leader, their actions were quite reasonable.

"Although Sikong Yan's behavior is often unpredictable and his mind sometimes seems a bit off, the fact that he specially sent this item must mean something else!"

Zhou Qing said with a determined expression.

He remembered that his senior uncle Gao Xuan had said that he was only at the Nascent Soul stage at the time, while his senior uncle Gao Xuan had already reached the Divine Transformation stage.

So when Nannan was seriously injured in the battle, he was filled with grief and indignation, but due to the disparity in strength, he was powerless to seek justice for Nannan.

He could only struggle alone in his desperate situation, trying every possible way to save his daughter.

But the final outcome was cruel. He tried his best, even suffering injuries all over his body, but Nannan could not be saved.

Just as he was feeling disheartened and contemplating self-harm to follow his daughter in death, Sikong Yan suddenly appeared and posed the question that had changed Gao Xuan's fate: Are you willing to take revenge?

Afterwards, Gao Xuan was brought over bound hand and foot. After he had vented his anger, in order to repay the debt of gratitude, he voluntarily gave up his physical body and, with the help of the other party, completed the possession and transformed into the current peak master of Jin Yang Peak.

However, Zhou Qing still has a question: what if Sikong Yan thinks that his previous senior brother Gao Xuan was greedy and difficult to control?

Since he has already made up his mind to find someone to replace him, given his ability and power, why doesn't he choose one of his own trusted confidants?

Why did they choose a completely unfamiliar Nascent Soul cultivator? Aren't they worried about their plan being exposed?

Aren't you afraid that the people you find won't do their best?

It should be noted that the person who possessed the body was the peak master of Taiqing Sect, one of the five major sects, and also a senior brother of many fellow disciples, including Mo Xingjian.

What exactly gave Sikong Yan such confidence that everything could proceed smoothly?
unless--

Zhou Qing's gaze fell once again on the image stone in his hand, and a bold guess flashed through his mind.

Then there's only one possibility: Sikong Yan had been secretly observing Gao Xuan for a long time.

It is highly likely that this image stone was secretly taken and preserved by him before his daughter passed away.

So why did he go to such lengths and meticulously plan all of this?
What is so special about Senior Uncle Gao Xuan that makes Sikong Yan go to such lengths to find him?
The more Zhou Qing thought about the nickname "Fish" that the other person had given him, the more confused he became.

"Perhaps his seemingly erratic and chaotic behavior is merely a facade he deliberately creates. Everything is within his calculations," Zhou Qing said slowly.

Upon hearing this, Mo Xingjian also fell into deep thought.

Putting everything else aside, in the battle of Canglan Mountain, he was fully capable of leaving everyone there along with those demonic beasts.

But in the end, he actually gave everyone time to escape before finally detonating the mountain range.

“This person is cunning and ruthless. We must be extremely careful until we understand the specifics of the situation!” Mo Xingjian said solemnly.

Zhou Qing nodded, then looked at his master and said, "Then this image stone..."

Mo Xingjian sighed softly, a complex look flashing in his eyes, and said, "This scene will only reopen your senior uncle's wounds and serve no other purpose. I have never seen it, and neither have you...."

Zhou Qingxin understood and indicated that he complied.

Afterwards, Mo Xingjian chatted with Zhou Qing for a while about other matters within the sect. Once everything was settled, Zhou Qing took his leave.

……

I ran into Yan Xiaohu as soon as I went out, but he looked a little sullen.

"Third Senior Brother, what's wrong?" Zhou Qing asked, puzzled.

Upon seeing this, Yan Xiaohu sighed deeply.

“Lei Luo has been trying to contact me these past few days, but I’ve refused him every time. You know me, your senior brother; I’m loyal and righteous, and I’m also quite dashing. I shouldn’t be so heartless. But some things are better left unknown, and once you know them…”

Seeing his third senior brother's conflicted expression, Zhou Qing couldn't help but laugh and cry.

He could only patiently console him, saying, "The Golden Thunder Sect is the Golden Thunder Sect, and Lei Luo is Lei Luo. Some things are actually..."

"I know, never mind, you wouldn't understand anyway, I'm busy!" Yan Xiaohu interrupted Zhou Qing and left with a dejected look on his face.

This left Zhou Qing full of doubts.

When did Third Brother start getting stuck on trivial details?

Something is wrong!
Over the next few days, Zhou Qing continued to enter the cave and fight against the first ancestor. By using the energy refreshed after each death from exhaustion of spiritual power, he became more proficient in using the "Hundred Tribulations Blood Curtain".

Two days later, his master, Mo Xingjian, suddenly summoned him to the mountain gate, saying that a distinguished guest had arrived.

When Zhou Qing arrived, he discovered a uniquely shaped spaceship floating outside, surrounded by familiar Blood Forbidden Army soldiers standing vigilantly.

"Young Brother Zhou!" Just then, a hearty voice rang out.
Zhou Qing looked in the direction of the sound and saw Prefect Zhong Yao walking out with a big smile on his face.

Upon seeing the Blood Forbidden Army, Zhou Qing already guessed the identities of the people who had come, so he was not too surprised by Zhong Yao's appearance.

He stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "Senior Zhong, we meet again."

Zhong Yao smiled broadly, with a hint of appreciation in his eyes, and said, "Yes, since I sent you and Master Lin to the border last time, I have been busy with official business and left in a hurry."

"I later heard that you shone brightly on the border, fighting five generals single-handedly and winning easily. Truly, a hero emerges from among the young!"

Zhou Qing waved his hand modestly and said, "That's because they went easy on me because I was a guest. Besides, we just had a simple sparring session, so there's no question of winning or losing."

"Very well, I understand the mutual respect among you young people. By the way, we've come here hoping to stay for a few days. Would that be convenient?"

Zhong Yao narrowed his eyes slightly and asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing was slightly taken aback. He subconsciously looked at Xiao Ji, the prefect who was chatting happily with Mo Xingjian, and said, "Your Excellency Prefect is too kind. This matter is beyond my ability to decide; it must be decided by my master."

Zhong Yao seemed to have expected Zhou Qing's answer, and smiled lightly, saying, "I've heard that you are the future headmaster of the Taiqing Sect, so it's only right that I greet you first."

As he spoke, Zhong Yao subtly pulled Zhou Qing aside, then lowered his voice and said with a slightly grave expression, "It's like this, we don't know what evil spirits we've encountered recently, our luck has been extremely bad."

"Especially since there is a distinguished guest on the ship who has been injured and unlucky one after another. Now, in the eastern region of Lingyun Prefecture, the strongest sects are none other than your Taiqing Sect and Cangyan Dao Palace."

"But you and I are acquaintances, and Xiao Ji is an old friend of your sect leader Cao Zhengyang, so we thought we would come and bother you for a few days to improve our recent luck."

Upon hearing Zhong Yao's words, Zhou Qing's heart skipped a beat, as if he had thought of something.

He glanced instinctively at the spaceship and asked, "Distinguished guest?"

Zhong Yao nodded slightly, his expression becoming increasingly cautious, and said, "Well, don't ask too many questions, or you might get involved. We just want to rest and recuperate at your sect for a few days."

Looking at the numerous Blood Forbidden Army soldiers around him, Zhou Qing couldn't help but recall the words Sikong Yan had spoken in the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace.

Could it be that the Fifth Prince, Xuanyuan Fengtai, has really perished?
So these people are here to investigate this matter?
Judging from Zhong Yao's words, they've been having a lot of bad luck. Could it be that Lin Jin in white used that "Bad Luck Scroll"?
If that's the case, why would Lin Jin use the [Bad Luck Post] on these people?

Did he collaborate with Sikong Yan?
Or perhaps... the death of the Fifth Prince is also related to Lin Jin?

Moreover, as Zhong Yao said, the strongest forces in the Eastern Region right now are none other than the Taiqing Sect and the Cangyan Dao Palace.

These people came here not so much to rest and recuperate, but rather under the guise of rest to secretly conduct an investigation.

In a short moment, countless thoughts flooded Zhou Qing's mind.

At this moment, Mo Xingjian led Xiao Ji towards them with a perfectly timed smile on his face and a humble tone: "Lord Zhong, our sect is simple and humble. If you do not mind, please move inside the sect to rest for a while."

Upon seeing that Mo Xingjian agreed to accept him, Zhong Yao quickly returned the greeting, his face beaming with smiles.

"Master Mo, you are too kind. I have come here abruptly and have caused you much trouble. I hope you will forgive me."

As Elder Wuzhu slowly opened the barrier, everyone filed in.

However, the spaceship that was suspended in the air kept its hatches closed the entire time, and no one came out.

The people on the ship seemed to look down on the Taiqing Sect, exuding an air of superior arrogance.

Soon after, Mo Xingjian had arranged everything, and the other party also made it clear that they would not trespass on the host's property.

……

"Master, they—" Zhou Qing was about to say something when Mo Xingjian, who had just returned to Xiaoling Peak, immediately made a shushing sound, and his expression was extremely solemn.

"Lord Xiao Ji secretly informed me that the Fifth Prince, Xuan Yuan Fengtai, had been beheaded."

"And the one on the ship is Gao Xianzong, the Grand Eunuch sent by the Emperor to investigate. He is also the warden of the Heavenly Prison and is known as the Living Yama of our time."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing's expression changed slightly.

Just as he expected, this group of people had come to investigate the cause of the Fifth Prince's death. It seemed that Sikong Yan had not lied to him. He had actually taken action.

"Logically speaking, our sect has rarely had any dealings with the people of the imperial dynasty, especially now that your sect leader and his master are in the crucial period of their closed-door breakthrough. But as you've seen—"

Mo Xingjian sighed helplessly.

"Putting aside everything else, those three hundred Blood Forbidden Army soldiers at the Nascent Soul stage alone are beyond the capabilities of our small Taiqing Sect."

"Although the people of the imperial dynasty generally do not easily take action against sects, we have the Cultivation Alliance behind us to rely on."

"But if a conflict really breaks out, by the time the alliance's support arrives, the Taiqing Sect will probably have already suffered heavy losses. What use is justice delayed?"

Zhou Qing understood his master's difficulties and a relieved smile appeared on his face.

He said softly, "It's alright, Master. Let them rest for a few days. We'll just be more careful during that time."

"Let them investigate if they want. We've done nothing wrong, so we're not afraid of what they might do."

Mo Xingjian nodded slightly, his expression softening, and said, "Yes, we are upright and have nothing to fear. Let them investigate, but don't go too far."

"You must make sure to instruct your disciples to be vigilant, to continue their daily activities as usual, and not to show any signs of panic, lest they find a pretext to cause trouble."

"Don't worry, Master, I'll go arrange it right away," Zhou Qing replied, then turned and quickly left.

……

Unexpectedly, that very night, Prefect Zhong Yao and Lord Xiao Ji approached Mo Xingjian, their words evasive and their inquiries subtle regarding the whereabouts of Cao Zhengyang and the others in their seclusion.

Mo Xingjian looked at the two of them, understanding the situation, and said calmly, "I also roughly know the situation, but we really didn't do it."

"I know what you suspect. You think it was the headmaster and his brothers who did it, and then he got injured and went into seclusion to heal."

"But they have been in seclusion for a long time. You can ask any of my disciples how long I have been acting as the sect leader."

At this point, Mo Xingjian sighed helplessly.

"Even if we take a step back, when did the Fifth Prince arrive at Lingyun Prefecture? What was he doing here? We don't even know what he looks like, and what good would it do us to attack him?"

A series of questions made the two of them feel somewhat awkward.

Mo Xingjian continued, "The sects have always kept to themselves and the imperial court. For us, getting involved in the royal family's disputes would be of no benefit and would only cause more trouble."

Zhong Yao understood, of course, that his visit was merely a test.

Moreover, Mo Xingjian was right. Even he didn't know when the Fifth Prince arrived at Lingyun Mansion, let alone anyone else.

At this moment, he could only force a smile and said, "Peak Master Mo, we have absolutely no intention of doubting your sect. It's just that the matter of the Fifth Prince is too important, and we have to act cautiously due to pressure from above."

Xiao Ji quickly chimed in, "Yes, it's our duty. We hope you understand."

Upon seeing this, Mo Xingjian's attitude softened slightly.

Then, Zhong Yao inquired in detail whether the Taiqing Sect had heard any rumors or noticed any unusual activity recently.

The two talked until late into the night before being sent back under Mo Xingjian's arrangement.

To Zhou Qing's surprise, the prefect and his entourage left after only five days at Taiqing Gate.

Judging from the direction they're heading, it should be the Azure Flame Dao Palace.

This finally allowed everyone to breathe a sigh of relief, as the entire sect had been walking on thin ice these past few days, fearing any suspicion.

Mo Xingjian didn't even dare to show his face.

He wasn't afraid of Gao Xianzong's chief eunuch searching his soul; his main concern was that it would reveal Zhou Qing's secret of gathering four flowers on the top of his head.

Therefore, he completely sealed away this memory, and if anyone forcibly tried to search his soul, he would rather self-destruct.

Fortunately, we managed to get rid of these plague-ridden people.

Zhou Qing was relieved and began collecting materials the next day.

He's really short of money right now, and the feeling of being penniless constantly reminds him that he has to find a way to make money.

With money, the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree can operate normally, allowing him to continue comprehending inscription-level divine abilities or copying more profound array formations and spiritual seals.

After much thought, he decided to refine some magic arrays.

Given his current needs and abilities, the rank doesn't need to be too high; a single-color magic array is sufficient.

After all, the materials required for the dual-color magic array are not only ridiculously expensive and difficult to collect, but the refining process is also extremely time-consuming.

Take the protective formation he previously crafted for the sect, for example. It took him more than a year of hard work, during which he constantly tried and adjusted it. Only he himself knew the hardships he endured.

Using some connections and with his master pulling strings, Zhou Qing finally obtained the necessary materials and began his "entrepreneurial journey" in seclusion.

……

Three months later, inside the room!

Zhou Qing sat upright on the futon, his eyes closed, his spiritual power, belonging to the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, constantly emanating.

Around him floated a thousand different spiritual seals, which resonated with each other, forming strange vortexes of spiritual seals.

As he moved his hands rapidly, these spiritual seals continuously outlined crisscrossing lines of magic array, until they intertwined and gradually formed a complex prototype of a magic array.

He then took out some mid-grade spirit stones and put them in, which made the magic array continuously improve and grow stronger.

Three days later, after countless infusions of spiritual energy and fine-tuning of the runes, accompanied by a soft buzzing sound, the originally illusory magic circle instantly solidified and radiated a dazzling light.

Zhou Qing slowly opened her eyes, feeling more exhausted than surprised.

But that wasn't enough. To make them easier to use and carry, he took out blank flags and once again mobilized his spiritual power to compress and condense the power of the magic array, integrating it into it.

"In three months, I successfully crafted two single-color magic arrays, which should be enough. According to the jade slip given by Zhang Wanbao, this thing can be exchanged for some spirit stones."

Zhou Qing's eyes were filled with excitement.

After a short rest, I said goodbye to my master and hurriedly left the mountain gate.

The third senior brother, along with Niu Guangmo and the others, have been making money for the past few years.

They sold rare herbs gathered from the mountains, as well as homemade low-level magical artifacts. They even organized small gatherings of cultivators, charging venue and service fees.

Although he has a small reputation and a decent word-of-mouth, his trading circle is always limited to the surrounding area. He operates on a small scale and earns only meager profits.

For the enormous amount of top-grade spirit stones he wanted to collect, it was just a drop in the ocean.

His destination was Spirit Skull Mountain.

Although most people have already left, some stubborn people are still waiting for the secret realm to reopen.

These people come from eight prefectures and seventy-two counties, spanning a vast region, and have complex and diverse backgrounds.

Since they dared to wait in a foreign land for so long, they must have carried a lot of money and were fully capable of taking down his carefully crafted magic array.

……

When Zhou Qing returned to this area, he looked around and found that the once bustling Lingku Mountain was now unusually deserted.

The number of people remaining was far fewer than expected, with only a few scattered campsites at the foot of the mountain and in the valleys.

It is estimated that in a few more years, these persistent people will be completely disheartened and disperse.

Then, Zhou Qing took a deep breath to calm himself down, and then took out a formation flag, circulated his spiritual power, and activated it.

In an instant, the runes on the array flags flickered, emitting a strong and unique spiritual energy fluctuation, forming a dazzling light that shot straight into the sky.

The green light emanating from the magic circle instantly attracted the attention of many people.

"It's actually a magic array of one color! This is a rare treasure!"

"Judging from the young man's appearance, it seems he's planning to make a deal."

"I think so, otherwise who would so blatantly reveal their treasure?"

……

The crowd discussed it animatedly, as a magic array that could be used to enter a hall was indeed a rare and valuable thing for many cultivators.

Compared to ordinary soundproof barriers, this type of formation can not only be used for defense and attack, but also turn the tide of battle at crucial moments.

A powerful magic array can even be a key factor in determining life and death.

However, some people in the late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm or the Great Perfection Realm disagreed.

A single magic array was indeed rather insignificant in their eyes.

If it's two-tone, then it's quite valuable.

Soon, cultivators from nearby camps gathered around Zhou Qing, their eyes filled with curiosity and greed.

Zhou Qing remained calm and waited until everyone gathered around before cupping his hands in greeting and saying loudly, "Greetings, fellow Daoists. The object in my hand is a single-color magic array called the 'Wind, Thunder, Fire, and Mountain Array,' which combines offense and defense and possesses extraordinary power."

"Of course, I don't need to say it; with your discerning eyes, you should be able to sense it as well."

As he spoke, Zhou Qing formed a hand seal and channeled a wisp of spiritual energy into it, causing the wind and clouds to change color instantly.

Inside the formation, thunder roared, sand and stones flew, and scorching magma gushed out from the ground.

Even those who were outside felt their skin burning, as if it were about to be set on fire.

They had no choice but to retreat repeatedly, their faces showing shock and awe.

"This...this magic array is so terrifyingly powerful!" someone in the crowd exclaimed.

The others began whispering and discussing amongst themselves.

Seeing that the time was right, Zhou Qing cleared his throat and said loudly, "I am in urgent need of spirit stones, so I plan to sell this carefully crafted 'Wind, Thunder, Fire and Mountain Formation'."

"Fellow Daoists, if you are interested, please name your price."

(End of this chapter)