The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 264 Even a hero can't withstand three bouts of diarrhea, a flight to the heavens in the realm of excrement! (6k)

"Never mind, they're pitiful people too!"

The senior monk's gaze fell on the tomb keepers who were constantly yelling at them, and a trace of pity flashed in his eyes.

These tomb guardians have long lost their minds, trapped by their obsessions, and have become puppets guarding this abyss.

As soon as he had a thought, a soft golden light suddenly appeared on his body, enveloping him and the little monk.

Then, the two resolutely went down.

Upon seeing this, some of the tomb keepers' previously dull eyes flashed with madness, their roars grew even more shrill, and they charged down with bared teeth and claws.

Finally, someone couldn't contain their curiosity any longer, so they brought out their magic weapon and cautiously followed them down.

Upon reaching the bottom of the abyss, they found two monks sitting quietly cross-legged, muttering the Rebirth Mantra.

The senior monk looked serene, while the junior monk's face was full of piety.

In front of them, a group of tomb keepers were kneeling neatly on the ground, heads bowed, their originally distorted and ferocious faces now showing a hint of peace.

Upon seeing this, the investigator bowed respectfully and then quietly left.

Soon, news spread that two monks were converting the tomb keeper, which drew admiration from some and skepticism from others.

After all, this is the place where those who have fallen in the Spirit Severing Realm will fall. Who knows how many arrogant people will come to try their luck here in the future, and in the end they will just become the new guardians of the tomb.

Zhou Qing seemed to be deep in thought before quietly leaving.

……

Upon returning to the sect, they were surprised to hear that Cao Zhengyang had emerged from seclusion ahead of schedule—a truly joyous occasion.

No wonder he became the current leader of the Taiqing Sect.

Upon hearing that Zhou Qing had returned, Cao Zhengyang rushed over to check on him immediately.

After seeing that Zhou Qing was alright, he said "thank you" several times!
Now, the eldest disciple Li Daoxuan has successfully advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, Zhou Qing has quietly broken through to the mid-stage, and the sixth disciple Lu Yaoyao is also striving towards the late-stage Nascent Soul stage.

The entire sect is showing a vigorous and thriving development trend.

Mo Xingjian, who had handed over the position of acting sect leader, could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

These past two years have been filled with countless tasks and complexities. Every day, I have to handle all kinds of affairs within the sect and coordinate relationships with various parties.

This job is inhuman, it's exhausting.

"I still think you should never take the position of sect leader in the future. I've learned that lesson the hard way these past few months," Mo Xingjian couldn't help but advise.

Zhou Qing smiled and nodded, saying, "Master, I have my own plans, don't worry."

Seeing the light in his apprentice's eyes, Mo Xingjian knew that he had his own ideas, and that was good.

Back at his residence, Zhou Qing fed the old hen before finally having time to check Ma Cheng's storage bag.

In the past, a war broke out between various sects in the southwest of the Vast Expanse Prefecture. The Hunyuan Sect quelled the conflict in just one year with swift and decisive measures.

Then, for some unknown reason, they directly began a war with the seven major sects of the Southern Region.

To put it simply, Zhang Wanbao was able to open the Treasure Pavilion in Haomiao Prefecture because he was acting on the orders of his father, Zhang Yifu, to make a fortune from the war.

Therefore, he still had to be cautious about matters concerning the Hunyuan Sect.

Upon opening the storage bag, the first thing that catches the eye is the two-colored array plate.

He's not used to this thing, and the sect can't use it for the time being. Besides, it could easily lead to some troublesome things later on.

The Fifth Elder perished in the Eastern Region, and the Taiqing Sect started using this array plate. Can you explain that?
"It seems we still have to go to Lingyun Prefecture. The Wanxiang Auction House is quite adept at handling these 'stolen goods'."

After thinking it through, Zhou Qing checked again. There was a huge pile of spirit stones of various grades in the storage bag, which was dazzling. There were even fifteen top-grade spirit stones.

This was an unexpected bonus. As for the pills, magic weapons, and the like, Zhou Qing checked them one by one, selected the usable ones, and packed the rest together, preparing to dispose of them at a suitable time.

After all, some of these items were not compatible with his cultivation path, while others were of average quality and not very useful to him.

"Master, I'm going to Lingyun Prefecture. I'll be back in a few months!" Zhou Qing said respectfully to Mo Xingjian.

Although he has now broken through to the Nascent Soul stage and his strength has greatly increased, Lingyun Prefecture is still a long way away. Even if he travels at full speed, it will take four months to make a round trip.

However, compared to before the breakthrough, this has saved a great deal of time.

“You’re all grown up now, and you have your own things to do. I won’t interfere, but this is for you. It was given to you by your headmaster this morning!”

As Mo Xingjian spoke, he took out a palm-sized flying boat from his pocket and handed it to Zhou Qing.

The flying boat was exquisitely designed, its entire body shimmering with silver light, and covered with intricate runes.

“This is—” Zhou Qing’s eyes lit up as he looked at the mini boat.

Mo Xingjian explained with a smile, "Thanks to the Yin Spirit Stone you brought out from the first coffin, your Uncle Wang of Wanqi Peak has successfully entered the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul Realm."

"So, to express his gratitude to you, he has been in seclusion for the past two years, almost emptying the entire warehouse, and finally tailored this flying boat to your specifications."

"Its speed is much faster than that of ordinary spaceships, and it saves a lot of driving spirit stones. Even if we go to Lingyun Prefecture, a round trip will only take two months!"

Hearing this, Zhou Qing was overjoyed.

This is simply a timely help!
"I'll go thank Uncle Wang right away!" Zhou Qing said, carefully taking the flying boat and heading straight for Wanqi Peak.

……

Two days later!
A silver flying boat pierced the sky and sped towards Lingyun Mansion.

Zhou Qing, sitting on the deck, gently stroked the railing of the flying boat, his eyes filled with amazement and admiration.

He truly hadn't expected that Uncle Wang from Wanqi Peak possessed such skills.

In this way, they will no longer have to fly on swords and suffer from the turbulence.

"Huh, it's them!" Not long after, Zhou Qing spotted the flying boat belonging to the Grand Eunuch Gao Xianzong on a vast plain.

Around the ship, a large number of Blood Forbidden Army soldiers stood guard with vigilant expressions.

More than three months have passed, and they still haven't left?

He had heard from his master that after leaving Taiqing Sect, this group of people went to Cangyan Dao Palace, and then traveled to the other three sects, searching for clues everywhere.

But now it seems they have absolutely no clue who killed the Fifth Prince, Xuanyuan Fengtai.

Sikong Yan's handling of the traces was truly clean, efficient, and watertight!
I just don't know what that guy was thinking. He cooperated with others, stirred up the war between the five sects, and then suddenly killed his employer after it was all over.

Zhou Qing shook his head helplessly.

It's said that a flurry of punches can kill a master. People who make moves without any rhyme or reason, and whose thoughts and actions you can never guess, are actually the most terrifying.

At that moment, a figure dressed in brocade robes, with a pale face and a black whisk in his hand, stepped out from the deck of the flying boat.

Almost simultaneously, their eyes met in mid-air, then flashed past each other.

"Is this the Grand Eunuch?" Zhou Qing frowned slightly.

This person has a sinister air about him. He is no ordinary person, as he is a favorite minister of the current emperor and also in charge of the Heavenly Prison.

It's best to avoid getting involved with people like that.

Gao Xianzong looked gloomy and appeared to be in a very bad mood.

Gazing at the distant flying ship gradually disappearing into the distance, he couldn't help but sneer, "The people of the Eastern Region are truly wealthy!"

Zhong Yao and Xiao Ji, who followed closely behind out of the cabin, could only smile awkwardly upon hearing this, momentarily at a loss for words.

"His Majesty has only given me one year. If I still cannot find the murderer by then, don't blame me for submitting a reckless memorial."

After giving his advice, Gao Xianzhong flicked his whisk and turned to re-enter the cabin.

Zhong Yao and Xiao Ji exchanged a glance and both sighed, their faces full of helplessness.

……

One month later!
Zhou Qing finally stepped back into the bustling Lingyun Mansion.

The place remains bustling and noisy, with people coming and going in an endless stream.

He then headed straight for the Vientiane Auction House, seemingly familiar with the route.

Stepping into the auction hall, one is greeted by a dazzling array of exquisite display cases, showcasing a plethora of rare and precious treasures.

There are also dedicated staff members on hand to provide detailed explanations and facilitate transactions for customers.

Zhou Qing was watching with great interest when suddenly someone gently patted him on the shoulder.

He turned around subconsciously, and was slightly taken aback when he saw the familiar old man in front of him.

“Senior Fu—” Zhou Qing hurriedly bowed.

Fu Kui smiled slightly and said, "I thought I was seeing things, but it really is you. When did you arrive at Lingyun Prefecture?"

Zhou Qing replied respectfully, "I have only been here for a short time."

Fu Kui nodded and continued, "Wanbao still talks about you often and is planning to go to the Eastern Region to visit you in a few days."

Zhou Qing looked at Elder Fu, and combining his words with his understanding, he instantly realized what was going on and asked, "Wanbao has returned from Haomiao Prefecture?"

Fu Kui said, "It has been half a month since he returned. He is currently in the inner hall. I will go and inform him now."

Not long after, Zhang Wanbao came running out with a look of surprise on his face. As soon as he saw Zhou Qing, he immediately went up to him and gave him a big hug.

"Come on, let's go inside and talk!" Zhang Wanbao said happily, pulling Zhou Qing inside.

The two stepped into the inner hall, which was decorated in an extremely elegant and grand manner, with a timeless and ancient charm.

With a face full of enthusiasm, Zhang Wanbao quickly picked up the teapot on the table and poured Zhou Qing a steaming cup of spiritual tea.

The aroma of tea filled the air, instantly permeating the entire inner hall.

Zhou Qing took a sip of spiritual tea and asked with a smile, "Why did you suddenly come back? I saw that business over there was quite good."

A hint of helplessness flashed across Zhang Wanbao's face as he sighed, "Business is indeed good, but after a while, it inevitably gets boring."

"Furthermore, for some unknown reason, the two southwestern regions of the Vast Expanse Prefecture have suddenly made peace." "No more fighting?" Zhou Qing raised an eyebrow slightly, looking somewhat surprised.

Zhang Wanbao nodded heavily, then furtively looked around and said in a low voice, "I heard that the royal family is behind this war in the southwest."

"To be more precise, it was the Fifth Prince, Xuanyuan Fengtai, who was secretly manipulating things, and now, he's dead!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing's eyes flashed with a cold light, and his pupils narrowed slightly.

Just as Zhang Wanbao was about to continue speaking, Fu Kui suddenly coughed deliberately from outside.

Zhang Wanbao paused for a moment, then chuckled awkwardly, touched his nose, and explained, "Anyway, once the fighting stops over there, there's not much profit to be made. Besides, since you and Brother Yan have both left the academy, I figured I'd come back here."

Zhou Qing glanced outside discreetly.

He clearly remembered that at the beginning of the Five Sects War, the Azure Feather Immortal Sect and the Golden Thunder Sect specially purchased short-distance teleportation arrays from the Myriad Phenomena Auction House. The person in charge of escorting and installing them was none other than Elder Fu Kui.

Before leaving, this powerful figure, who was suspected to be at the Spirit Severing Realm, subtly reminded his senior uncle and the others out of consideration for his friendship with Zhang Wanbao.

This war should not be allowed to end prematurely; it should be prolonged as much as possible.

Now it seems they must know some secrets, but for various reasons they cannot tell you directly.

Zhou Qing nodded slightly and said, "I have heard about the Fifth Prince's matter. Several months ago, a Grand Eunuch named Gao Xianzong, along with the Prefect and the Lord of the Prefecture, came to my Taiqing Gate and stayed for some time."

Zhang Wanbao's eyes suddenly lit up, and he said with great interest, "I've heard about it too, but I've never seen it."

"You must be very careful. I've heard that this person is extremely ruthless and has made many enemies in the court, yet he remains in a high position. He must have some extraordinary abilities."

Zhou Qing took another sip of tea to show that he understood.

After all, the Fifth Prince's affairs had nothing to do with them, so there was no need for them to worry.

"My fat old man just set off this morning, heading to the Eastern Region in person. After all, he and Uncle Xiao are not only longtime friends, but their families are also about to become in-laws."

"I heard that the dead eunuch pushed all the responsibility of catching the murderer onto the two of them. Uncle Xiao had no choice but to ask my father for help."

"I wonder if the things my father brought this time will come in handy. This whole thing is really going to be a hassle."

Zhang Wanbao rambled on and on.

Zhou Qing's heart stirred, and he wanted to ask a few questions, but after glancing at Fu Kui waiting outside, he held back.

Furthermore, asking too many questions will inevitably arouse suspicion.

Zhou Qing had no choice but to nod and say, "I came here today hoping to purchase some top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones. You..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wanbao looked puzzled and asked, "Brother Zhou, why do you need so many wood-attribute spirit stones?"

Zhou Qing replied calmly, "In order to cultivate this technique, it requires a great deal of wood-attribute spiritual energy."

Zhang Wanbao suddenly realized and said, "I see. Then the cultivation technique you're practicing must really consume a lot of resources."

“The Five Elements Spirit Stones are already scarce and rare, especially the Wood Attribute Spirit Stone, which contains immense vitality. It is extremely valuable and highly sought after on the market.”

"Do we still need ten this time? Never mind, let me check with the warehouse about the inventory first!"

After Zhang Wanbao finished speaking, he immediately summoned a man, whispered a few words of advice to him, and then the man hurriedly left.

Zhou Qing was filled with gratitude. He then took out a storage bag, looking somewhat awkward, and said, "I also have some things I'd like to trade, but... these things aren't exactly from legitimate sources."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wanbao immediately understood and patted his chest to assure him, "Don't worry, Brother Zhou, I guarantee I'll handle it cleanly for you, leaving no trace."

Afterwards, the two talked about Xiao Cancan and Li Shitao, since they were both daughters of the Xiao family lord.

Xiao Ji has been gone for half a year, and there are still no clues. They are very worried.

Zhou Qing couldn't offer any help, and could only reassure her that everything would be alright.

Not long after, the person who went to the warehouse to inquire returned in a hurry and whispered a few words in Zhang Wanbao's ear.

Zhang Wanbao's expression changed slightly, revealing a hint of difficulty.

He looked at Zhou Qing and said apologetically, "Brother Zhou, I'm sorry. There are only five top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones left in the warehouse. I don't know how many you need."

Zhou Qingze's eyes lit up. What a coincidence!

"Five is more than enough. You might not believe it, but I'm only five short right now!" Zhou Qing said happily.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wanbao felt relieved, and his face returned to a smile. He said, "That's good, Brother Zhou. As long as it helps you, that's fine."

Then, he took Zhou Qing's storage bag and handed it to Old Fu outside. A short while later, the valuation came out.

In addition to receiving five wood-attribute spirit stones, there were thirteen extra top-grade spirit stones.

The most valuable part is the two-color array plate.

Zhou Qing was overjoyed, but after a brief moment of hesitation, he did not accept the money. Instead, he said, "Wanbao, to be honest, based on the progress of my cultivation technique, I estimate that I will need a large number of wood-attribute spirit stones later."

"Consider these extra spirit stones as a deposit. I'll need your help to keep an eye out for more in the future. I'll take as many as you have."

Zhou Qing said seriously.

In addition, he also handed over the top-grade spirit stones he had obtained from Ma Cheng's storage bag, as well as the two level-one magic arrays he had traded, to Zhang Wanbao.

Putting everything else aside, just comprehending even a wisp of that inscription-level divine power requires ten wood-attribute spirit stones as support.

The required number for the complete mastery of the Three Thousand Phoenix Dao Patterns is an astonishing figure—a full thirty thousand top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones.

Converted to ordinary top-grade spirit stones, that's a staggering 300,000.

What's even more troublesome is that top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones are already scarce and rare, and are in a state of being priced but not available on the market.

In addition, the array restrictions left by Senior Xuan Qingzi also require a huge amount of resources.

The thought of this astronomical figure filled Zhou Qing with bitterness. Even with his extraordinary composure, he felt immense pressure at this moment.

Moreover, if even the shortcut he took, which countless people yearn for, was so difficult, one can only imagine how arduous it must be for others who follow the proper path and cultivate normally.

Zhang Wanbao nodded vigorously, his chubby chest thumping loudly.

He then confidently said, "Brother Zhou, don't worry! With me here, I'll take care of this. I'll make the arrangements right away and mobilize the Wanxiang Auction House's spies in various places to search for wood-attribute spirit stones for you."

Zhou Qing was deeply moved. He raised his hand and patted Zhang Wanbao on the shoulder, saying, "Wanbao, thank you so much. I, Zhou Qing, will remember this kindness."

"If you ever need anything in the future, just let me know, and I will do my best to help you."

Zhang Wanbao laughed heartily, "Brother Zhou, what are you saying! There's no need for thanks between brothers."

"If I hadn't met you and Brother Yan back then, I'd probably still be living a life of idleness. I'm overjoyed to be able to help you now."

"Moreover, Wanbao has a good eye for talent. I always felt that you could achieve great things. In my father's words, this can also be considered an investment."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing burst into laughter.

……

In the afternoon, Xiao Cancan and Li Shitao arrived in a hurry after receiving the news. After a brief reunion, the two couldn't wait to inquire about the situation in the Eastern Region.

Zhou Qing only said that Lord Xiao was fine and told them not to worry.

After all, even if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up, and the death of the Fifth Prince has no direct connection with Lord Xiao.

The two women were relieved. They really wanted to go to the Eastern Region, but Xiao Ji had given them a strict order before leaving, forbidding them from going, so they had no choice but to give up.

After a two-day delay, with everything arranged, Zhou Qing embarked on his return journey.

On the flying boat, after he replanted ten wood-attribute spirit stones into the spirit-gathering array in the potted plant, the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree indeed began to gradually exude that ethereal aura once again.

Since it was still relatively weak at first, Zhou Qing didn't rush to absorb it, but carefully put it away.

Ten days later, while Zhou Qing was flying high in the sky, he suddenly caught a faint, almost imperceptible odor in his nostrils.

As the airship continued its journey, the stench grew stronger, like rotting flesh mixed with all sorts of excrement, making one almost want to vomit.

This made him frown. He immediately slowed down the speed of the flying boat and released his vast divine sense to carefully explore the source of the stench.

Keep in mind that he was currently in the clouds at an altitude of 10,000 meters, and ordinary filth could never float to such a height.

"Trying to kill and rob? How come there are such ignorant cowards like you everywhere? I'm the future Shit Emperor, and you've really messed with me this time!"

Soon, the sounds of fierce fighting came from not far ahead, and a familiar voice suddenly rang out.

Zhou Qing froze, his face filled with astonishment, thinking he had misheard: "The Emperor of Shit? Could he really be Number Six's brother?"

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing dared not delay and quickly steered the flying boat toward the direction from which the sound came.

Sure enough, two flying boats, one yellow and one black, were hovering in the air ahead.

Beside him, five black-robed men at the late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm surrounded a young man.

The two sides were using different artistic conceptions to fight each other. Although it was five against one, they were tormented by the young man's extremely disgusting feces artistic conception and were cursing.

"Why did this guy suddenly come to Lingyun Mansion? Didn't Shen Hanyi say she would lock him in a dark room?" Zhou Qing muttered to himself.

The group simultaneously noticed the arrival of uninvited guests. Immediately, one of the men in black robes shouted, "Fellow Daoist, this matter is none of your concern. Don't meddle in other people's business. Leave quickly, lest you endanger your own life!"

While shouting loudly, the man secretly gave his companion a wink.

The five people formed a fan shape, increasing the intensity of their attack. Their spiritual energy surged and roared with deafening sounds with each clash.

The powerful spiritual energy fluctuations caused ripples to spread outwards, stirring up the surrounding clouds.

The surrounded youth also looked up at Zhou Qing, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes.

Then, as if he had made up his mind, he said directly: "Fellow Daoist, as long as you don't help them, I will give you ten top-grade spirit stones as a reward afterward."

“These guys are scoundrels. They came to ambush me for no reason. If you get involved, they might target you too. It’s not worth getting into trouble for something that doesn’t concern you.”

After he finished speaking, the yellow canopy behind him suddenly expanded, and all sorts of filth churned inside, emitting a suffocating stench.

As he formed hand seals, he suddenly pointed fiercely at one of the men in black robes, a look of near madness appearing on his face.

He roared, "Even a hero can't withstand three bouts of diarrhea, soaring through the heavens in the realm of excrement!"

(End of this chapter)