The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 273 Don't misunderstand, it's really not what you think (6k)

One month later, at Taiqing Gate!
Jiang Pojun arrived again in his flying boat.

"Please inform Jiang Pojun, Right Lieutenant General of the Longxiang Army, that he needs to see Zhou Qing!"

Elder Wuzhu recognized the young man and asked him to wait a moment before leaving.

Meanwhile, in the quiet room, Zhou Qing held the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree in his arms, and a faint layer of blood-red light appeared around him.

Miniature phantoms of a golden crow and a golden roc floated on either side, their faces filled with awe.

Meanwhile, within Zhou Qing's sea of ​​consciousness, the enormous Blood Phoenix roared to the sky amidst the raging flames of blood.

On its chest, where there was originally only one abnormally red feather, there are now two.

Inside was a space woven from countless Dao patterns, containing a vast power that chilled one to the bone.

"Finally, I've comprehended the second Phoenix Dao Pattern!" Zhou Qing slowly opened his eyes, his eyes filled with excitement.

Since obtaining the inscription-level divine power "Nine Tribulations Thunder Talisman Scripture," the Second Uncle has collected a total of thirty-six thunder inscriptions, but so far he has only condensed thirteen of them.

He has already condensed two strands, and if he has enough top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones, his progress will be even faster!
The next moment, he sensed something, took out his identity token, and saw that the message was from Yan Xiaohu.

Upon seeing the content, Zhou Qing couldn't help but reveal a meaningful smile.

"Since you're here, Xuanyuan Shuo must have made some concessions, but I wonder how much!"

Zhou Qing put away the token, stretched his body which was slightly stiff from sitting for a long time, and then pushed open the door and went out.

I, Zhou Qing, am not the kind of person who likes to suffer in silence!

……

Outside the mountain gate, Lu Yaoyao stood with her eyebrows raised, hands on her hips, her eyes filled with anger.

Yan Xiaohu crossed his arms, looking ready to make a move at any moment.

Shen Yunzhou had his hands behind his back, with a faint flow of spiritual energy around him.

The three formed a triangle, firmly trapping Jiang Pojun in the middle.

On the other hand, Jiang Pojun was nervously rubbing his hands together, looking embarrassed, and was anxiously explaining something while his face turned red.

In fact, even though this was his second visit, he still didn't know what had happened between Zhou Qing and the prince.

He had complete faith in Zhou Qing's character, but he also respected the prince's integrity.

Behind the mountain gate's protective barrier, Sect Leader Cao Zhengyang stood with his hands behind his back, his brows furrowed, radiating a chilling aura.

Mo Xingjian crossed his arms, his eyes filled with vigilance and dissatisfaction.

The two men stared at Jiang Pojun with grim expressions.

They knew that with Xuanyuan Shuo's strength at the Spirit Severing Realm, he wouldn't visit twice without a reason.

They had repeatedly warned Zhou Qing to keep his distance from the royal family.

What the royal family values ​​is the vast territory of the Holy Martial Dynasty, the livelihood of hundreds of millions of people, and the complex interests of all parties.

For the sake of the dynasty's stability, they could weigh the pros and cons in the court, plan and strategize on the borders, and even sacrifice local interests for the greater good.

Sects are different. Taiqing Sect is just a small world where disciples can focus on their cultivation.

What they pursue is the Great Way, a realm beyond worldly concerns; what they value is the continuation of the lineage and the growth of their disciples.

In their eyes, the dignity and heritage of a sect cannot be trampled on in the slightest, which is completely different from the grand vision of the royal family that focuses on the world.

Although they didn't know how much injustice Zhou Qing had suffered without their knowledge.

However, based on Lu Yaoyao and Yan Xiaohu's general descriptions, it definitely crossed Zhou Qing's bottom line, and was even humiliating.

Just then, Zhou Qing arrived from Xiaoling Peak. Upon seeing the two, he was slightly taken aback: "Master, Senior Uncle, what are you doing here?"

Cao Zhengyang's eyes were sharp as he looked at Zhou Qing with concern: "I didn't expect Xuan Yuanshuo to be so tough. You clearly refused, yet they still sent people over."

He paused, a ruthless glint in his eyes, "Don't worry, we still have the forbidden zone cave, and an ancestor to oversee things. We can risk everything!"

Mo Xingjian nudged Cao Zhengyang with his elbow and rolled his eyes in annoyance: "I don't want the fourth brother to be wronged either, but we can't just fight to the death right now. We need to think things through carefully."

Cao Zhengyang snorted coldly and said nothing more.

Mo Xingjian turned to look at Zhou Qing, his tone much gentler: "A person can be as free as a fish in the sea and as free as a bird in the sky. If all else fails, you can go out and gain experience."

"With your talent, find a secluded place to cultivate diligently, and even if they wanted to find you, they wouldn't be able to. As for the sect, you don't need to worry about it; we'll take care of it."

Upon seeing this, Zhou Qing knew they had misunderstood, but she still felt a surge of warmth in her heart.

He smiled and said, "Master, Uncle-Master, don't worry, it hasn't reached that tense point yet. I can handle it."

After saying that, Zhou Qing gave them a reassuring look and then left.

"Brother Zhou!" Upon seeing Zhou Qing emerge, Jiang Pojun bowed respectfully from afar, his expression tinged with trepidation.

Seeing that Lu Yaoyao and the others wanted to say something, Zhou Qing shook his head slightly and stepped forward.

He then gestured for Jiang Pojun to come to the front to discuss the matter.

Only after the two had moved away from the crowd did Jiang Pojun look at Zhou Qing somewhat embarrassedly.

Then he said seriously, "The prince said that although you hold grudges, he appreciates your straightforwardness. It's much better than those villains who lurk in the shadows and suddenly deliver a fatal blow."

He paused, his expression becoming serious. "However, ten top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones are far too many, and it's difficult to gather them all in a short time. The Prince said five. I wonder if Brother Zhou would be willing to accept that?"

As he spoke, he took out a storage bag and handed it over.

Zhou Qing's eyes lit up, his heart filled with surprise.

He had thought that Xuanyuan Shuo would give at most two spirit stones, but he didn't expect him to give up half so readily.

"I guess there's also the influence of Second Uncle involved!" Zhou Qing thought to himself.

He probably didn't know that his second uncle had left, and since his second uncle hadn't shown up to cause trouble for him, Zhou Qing guessed that he might have some concerns.

By demanding compensation, Xuanyuan Shuo was likely using this as an excuse to back down, giving himself a way out while also maintaining the cooperative relationship between the two parties.

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing smiled and then, under Jiang Pojun's uneasy gaze, took the storage bag.

Jiang Pojun breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Thank you, Brother Zhou!"

Zhou Qing was a little embarrassed: "It's kind of you to have made two trips."

Even using a teleportation array, it would take a month just to get from Taiqing Gate to Lingyun Prefecture, not to mention the more distant border regions.

However, the fact that Jiang Pojun traveled back and forth in such a short time shows that the urgency of the situation far exceeded expectations.

"It's alright, the imperial court has a dedicated teleportation channel, and I only sent the message back!"

Seemingly understanding Zhou Qing's thoughts, Jiang Pojun quickly explained.

Zhou Qing nodded and asked, "When do we depart?"

Jiang Pojun's eyes lit up with joy, and he said, "The sooner the better!"

"Okay, give me some time to prepare. We'll leave this afternoon!" Zhou Qing said.

Jiang Pojun bowed excitedly: "Thank you for your understanding, Brother Zhou!"

"It's still early, let's go inside and talk!" Zhou Qing invited, stepping aside.

Jiang Pojun looked at Lu Yaoyao and her two companions, who were frowning and glaring at each other not far away, and at Cao Zhengyang and the others, whose faces were gloomy, at the mountain gate barrier. He felt embarrassed.

"No, no need. There are some things that need to be taken care of on the flying boat. I'll wait for Brother Zhou there."

After Zhou Qing repeatedly invited him, he had no choice but to give up and turn back.

"I want to go with you!" Lu Yaoyao saw Zhou Qing put away the storage bag. Although she didn't know what it was, she understood that her father had agreed to let Xuan Yuanshuo go and help.

Helping those in the Spirit Severing Realm is no easy task. Last time, Third Mother took them to the Kunpeng Palace Secret Realm, and the level of danger involved goes without saying.

Just as Zhou Qing was about to shake his head, Lu Yaoyao said, "Third... When Sister Shen killed the Spider King, the Flood Dragon King saw us with his own eyes. At the crucial moment, with me by your side, we can still borrow the tiger's might."

Zhou Qing thought about it carefully and realized it was indeed a good idea, but he still shook his head.

After all, he would be going deep into the demon territory as the Peng Emperor, so it wouldn't be appropriate for Lu Yaoyao to go with him.

More importantly, what if Xuanyuan Shuo gets the wrong idea again and tries to search her soul?

No one will know if the memory is erased afterward, but wouldn't the secret of that island be exposed?

Knowing that he could break the six-colored restriction, Xuanyuan Shuo would probably have other ideas, which would only leave trouble for him.

"I'll go too!" Yan Xiaohu chimed in.

He went with them last time the four-color magic array was repaired, so at least he was familiar with the place and the people.

Zhou Qing looked at the two of them and refused outright. He then used a secret technique of telepathy to explain the pros and cons to them in detail.

Only then did the two realize that Xuan Yuan Shuo had actually searched Zhou Qing's soul.

That old guy really has no sense of martial ethics whatsoever.

Lu Yaoyao couldn't help but snort coldly. Although she was unwilling, she understood the danger involved and could only nod in agreement helplessly.

Yan Xiaohu broke out in a cold sweat. If he went with them, wouldn't they be able to find out about Lao Si Si Hua Ju Ding?

Isn't this a disservice?
Never mind, I'll go in and find Lao Mo later and ask him to lock up all my memories related to this.

“I’ll go with you. I don’t know anything and I don’t need to worry about anything.”

"Don't refuse yet. I'm not a member of your Taiqing Sect, so you can't control my decision. Besides, my flying boat is much faster than yours!"

At this moment, Shen Yunzhou spoke.

Zhou Qing thought about it and then agreed.

Then I entered the mountain gate and spoke with my master and the headmaster.

"Don't worry, he'll need my help for a long time to come, and with my second uncle's help, he'll definitely protect me!" Zhou Qing reassured him.

Having come this far, the two sighed and had no choice but to agree.

Zhou Qing returned to his residence, handed the old hen to his third senior brother, tidied up a bit, and then followed Shen Yunzhou out.

“Brother Shen, you’ve met him before. He’s never been to the border before, and he’s going to broaden his horizons this time!” Zhou Qing explained.

Jiang Pojun nodded and said, "It's alright, please board the ship!"

After Zhou Qing greeted the people seeing him off at the mountain gate, the flying boat headed straight for Lingyun Mansion.

……

Twenty days later, as everyone emerged from the central square of the Vast Expanse Palace, Zhou Qing planned to first visit the White Jade Taixu Academy.

After all, before leaving last time, I specifically asked Master Lin to use his connections to help me find my second senior sister.

I wonder how things are now. Faced with Zhou Qing's decision, Jiang Pojun could only agree, and it was something that could be done on the way, so it wouldn't take too long.

Soon, Zhou Qing met Lin Daochen.

Lin Daochen felt somewhat guilty and said, "The scope of the investigation is constantly narrowing down, but so far, we haven't found the two of them in any ruins or secret realms that could trap a Nascent Soul cultivator."

"Could it be that they've discovered a hidden place? Why don't you think about some of the details more carefully?"

Zhou Qing shook his head after hearing this, feeling somewhat worried.

Given Second Senior Sister's prudent nature, she probably wouldn't easily venture into extremely dangerous situations; at the very least, she would have a backup plan.

Could it be that they went somewhere else?
For example, finding the senior disciple?

"Don't worry, there are still a few places I'm trying to find through connections. If they see them inside, they'll definitely let me know!" Lin Daochen reassured him.

Zhou Qing nodded slightly and bowed respectfully, full of gratitude.

"I saw Jiang Pojun when I came in. Are you heading to the border?" Lin Daochen asked.

Zhou Qing nodded and explained, "Senior Xuanyuan has some small matters that require my assistance."

"But is it related to that four-colored magic array? Wasn't it already repaired last time?" Lin Daochen asked with a puzzled look.

If it weren't for Zhou Qing during that magic array repair, he wouldn't have the reputation he has today.

But the child insisted on giving all the credit to him.

Zhou Qing smiled slightly and said, "It's not about any magic array, just some other minor matters."

Lin Daochen nodded slightly and said, "That's good. If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future, please feel free to ask. By the way, Master Lu is back."

"When did she come back?" Zhou Qing's face lit up with joy, after all, she hadn't heard a word from her when she and Lu Yaoyao came last time.

Lin Daochen said, "Just half a month ago, she mentioned you to me, saying she was planning to..."

"Zhou Qing!" Just then, a joyful shout rang out from outside.

Immediately afterwards, a familiar figure rushed in.

After several years apart, Lu Yuanzhi still looked as elegant as ever, wearing a light blue ice-patterned robe, her long black hair flowing like a waterfall, casually tied up.

However, that aloof and unapproachable demeanor that used to keep people at arm's length now seemed more approachable.

Before Zhou Qing could react, Lu Yuanzhi, who had rushed in, was still unsteady on her feet when she lunged at him.

Zhou Qing felt a surge of power come over him, and he was tightly embraced by Lu Yuanzhi.

Lin Daochen, who was standing to the side, widened his eyes in shock.

Zhou Qing froze instantly, his mind going completely blank.

"Thank you so much!" After a moment, Lu Yuanzhi released Zhou Qing, her eyes red and glistening with tears.

Then, she suddenly grabbed Zhou Qing's hand and said urgently, "Come with me, I can't wait a moment longer."

After saying that, he pulled Zhou Qing and strode out, ignoring Lin Daochen completely.

Lin Daochen stared blankly at the scene for a long time before he came back to his senses.

No, what happened?

I'm a little confused.
"Master Lu, please wait a moment. We need to make things clear. Your actions could easily lead to misunderstandings!"

Zhou Qing hurriedly called out, and immediately looked at Lin Daochen, who had followed him out to watch the commotion.

Lu Yuanzhi then realized what was happening, apologized repeatedly, and looked at Lin Daochen, who was leaning against the gate of the courtyard, saying, "Master Lin, Zhou Qing and I are not what you think, please don't misunderstand."

Lin Daochen looked like he understood, and waved his hand with a smile, saying, "I didn't see anything, don't worry."

Zhou Qing: "..."

“Zhou Qing, that thing really works. My eldest sister has already fallen into a deep sleep. Come with me to take a look,” Lu Yuanzhi quickly lowered her voice.

After all, Zhou Qing had specifically instructed him not to let Lin Daochen know about the "Nine-Leaf Spirit-Concentrating Flower" so as not to implicate him.

Zhou Qing then understood, and also a little curious, so the two headed towards the academy's secret realm.

"You found the Nine-Leaf Spirit-Concentrating Flower?" Zhou Qing asked in surprise.

Lu Yuanzhi nodded and said, "Yes, there are many misty swamps in Qingming Mansion, but I never thought that finding a 'Nine-Leaf Spirit-Concentrating Flower' would be like finding a needle in a haystack."

"Fortunately, hard work pays off, or perhaps even God took pity on my older sister and finally helped me find one."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing's eyes flashed with surprise.

Since ancient times, breaking through to the Spirit Severing Realm has been a matter of life and death, with failures either turning the person into a cripple who is worse than dead or causing their soul to be scattered.

Those who are lucky will be fine, just like they've taken some tonic.

For example, the two Supreme Elders of the Taiqing Sect, but the probability of this is extremely low. Generally speaking, no one dares to try unless they are in a desperate situation.

Soon, they arrived at the academy's secret realm, passed through the four-colored magic array, and met Lu Yuanjiu again.

She was still in her enormous eight-tailed fox form, but she was in much better condition than when they last met.

The wounds that were constantly tearing and healing have now mostly disappeared.

Lu Yuanjiu was fast asleep with his eyes closed, looking completely at ease, and occasionally he would let out a satisfied snore.

At this moment, Lu Yuanzhi's eyes were red and her voice was slightly choked as she quietly transmitted her voice, "Speaking of which, it has been several years since I have seen my elder sister sleep so peacefully. Zhou Qing, thank you so much."

Zhou Qing felt gratified as he looked at the scene before him.

The innate skill [Daily Appraisal] can only appraise objects, not people, but it has a loophole.

Just like the eight-tailed Lu Yuanjiu in front of us, he is a demon beast and is currently in a demon race state. He is like an old hen and can be directly identified.

However, Lu Yuanzhi, who maintained his human form, could not be identified.

To ensure absolute certainty, Zhou Qing focused intently and conducted another appraisal.

[Eight-Tailed Fox: This is a fox who failed twice in her attempt to break through to the Spirit Severing Realm. Fortunately, she has consumed the Nine-Leaf Spirit-Concentrating Flower, and with her strong physical body and years of unwavering perseverance, she will recover in less than half a year.]

Upon seeing the feedback, Zhou Qing was completely relieved.

After all, the materials given by Lu Yuanjiu were indispensable in enabling me to successfully cultivate the Wudao Ancient Tea Tree back then.

"The Nine-Leaf Spirit-Concentrating Flower is not suitable for everyone. I hope Master Lu understands what I mean!" Zhou Qing solemnly reminded him via telepathy.

Lu Yuanzhi nodded repeatedly. Zhou Qing had already warned her about the risks back then, otherwise she wouldn't have kept it a secret from Master Lin until now.

"I should have gone to Taiqing Gate to thank you a long time ago, but I was still a little worried about my elder sister, so I was delayed."

"I ran into Jiang Pojun when I went out on business, and that's how I found out you were at the academy," Lu Yuanzhi said gratefully.

Zhou Qing smiled and waved his hand: "No need to thank me. Just keep an eye on Senior Jiu's condition. If nothing unexpected happens, she should recover within six months."

"Six months? Really?" Lu Yuanzhi's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Zhou Qing said confidently, "Yes, it can't be wrong."

"That's wonderful!" Lu Yuanzhi exclaimed excitedly. Then, as if she had thought of something, she looked at Zhou Qing with a serious expression and said, "I'm about to sever my spirit."

Zhou Qing stared wide-eyed in shock, his face filled with disbelief.

Lu Yuanzhi took a deep breath and slowly explained, "The 'Moon Worship Technique' that my sisters and I cultivate is an ancestral method, and our spiritual power can resonate with each other."

"Over the years, I have been injecting spiritual energy into my eldest sister's body every now and then to alleviate the pain she suffers from the backlash of breaking through."

"But if I break through to the Spirit Severing Realm, the nature of the spiritual energy I generate will change drastically, and I will no longer be able to maintain the original state of harmony."

"So, I've been suppressing it for so many years, but now that the knot in my heart has been untied, I can feel that in less than five years, I will be able to take that step."

Zhou Qing became even more excited after hearing this.

This was the first time he had witnessed someone break through from the Nascent Soul Realm to the Spirit Severing Realm.

"Then you don't need any auxiliary ingredients like the Nine Nether Lotus Seed? I mean, the complete recipe," Zhou Qing hurriedly asked.

Lu Yuanzhi shook his head, his expression solemn, and said, "No need. The so-called formula is actually the same as the Foundation Establishment Pill and the Nascent Soul Pill."

"While this thing can give you a push to cross that threshold, it also greatly hinders the foundation of your subsequent cultivation."

"The more pills one uses, the more one's foundation becomes like a dusty mirror, seemingly clear but actually covered in grime. It will be extremely difficult to advance further in the future."

Zhou Qing nodded in deep agreement.

In the cultivation world, there are many who rely on elixirs to break through, but many of them get stuck in bottlenecks and can't make progress in their entire lives because of this.

But for those at the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul Realm, facing the fear of their lifespan ending, they would rather risk damaging their foundation than give up.

All for the sake of entering the Spirit Severing Realm and obtaining that long lifespan and supreme cultivation.

After all, as long as you're alive, there are endless possibilities.

"Congratulations, Master Lu! Congratulations, Master Lu!" Zhou Qing said with a broad smile, bowing respectfully.

Lu Yuanzhi smiled and said, "There's more good news. Would you like to hear it?"

"What?" Zhou Qing asked curiously.

"After taking the Nine-Leaf Spirit-Concentrating Flower, the eldest sister excitedly said that she had a feeling that if she could recover this time, she might have the opportunity to sever her spirit again."

Lu Yuanzhi's tone was filled with barely concealed excitement.

"To survive two consecutive attempts to slay a spirit is a nightmare that others would never dare to touch again, but for the eldest sister, it might be a rebirth, and she already has two such experiences."

Zhou Qing was overjoyed upon hearing this.

This truly shows that those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortune.

"Congratulations again! You've finally overcome all your hardships!" Zhou Qing congratulated them.

"Yes, after hardship comes happiness, but the early stages were really tough."

Lu Yuanzhi sighed with emotion, then said seriously, "By the way, now that I have seen you, I don't plan to go to Taiqing Sect to look for you anymore."

“I will stay by my eldest sister’s side for six months until she is fully recovered. After that, my sister and I will go into seclusion here for five years to try to break through to the Spirit Realm.”

Zhou Qing looked around and nodded, saying, "This place is indeed a good place for seclusion, and the Dean himself is at the Spirit Severing Realm, so no one dares to offend him."

"The dean has been busy and hasn't been back for a long time. We don't know where he went."

Lu Yuanzhi paused, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes, "However, there is one more thing that may require your consent."

"What is it?" Zhou Qing asked, puzzled.

Lu Yuanzhi said earnestly, "If my sister and I can both enter the Spirit Slaying Realm this time, may we spend the rest of our lives in the Taiqing Sect?"

(End of this chapter)