The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 274 How is this possible! Impossible! (6k)

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Zhou Qing was overjoyed at the decision made by the Lu sisters.

That's amazing!
If two experts at the Spirit Severing Realm could join the Taiqing Sect, it would be an incredible opportunity!
At that time, even the headmaster and other senior disciples would have to treat them as honored guests.

With such strong support, many of our previous concerns about doing things will disappear.

"Are you sure?" Zhou Qing, regaining his senses, excitedly asked again to confirm.

Lu Yuanzhi nodded and said, "Of course. You saved my elder sister's life, which is a life-saving grace to me, and I will definitely repay this kindness."

Zhou Qing was taken aback, but quickly calmed down and shook his head with a wry smile: "Although I hope you can come to Taiqing Sect, if it's to repay a debt of gratitude, there's no need for that."

“Senior Jiu previously gifted me the Xuanbing Marrow, and you also diligently taught Junior Sister Yaoyao. This debt of gratitude has long been settled. If I were to submit to the Taiqing Sect simply because of this favor, I would find it difficult to be at peace with myself.”

Lu Yuanzhi smiled knowingly, his eyes full of sincerity: "We are not doing this reluctantly, but because we truly yearn for it. For us, Taiqing Sect is a home, not a burden."

Zhou Qing pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and said with a solemn expression, "What about Consort Chen? Once you reach the Spirit Severing Realm, the capital will definitely try its best to win you over. At that time, helping her regain her freedom shouldn't be difficult, right?"

Lu Yuanzhi's expression suddenly darkened, as if he had already made up his mind.

Then, in a heavy tone, he said, "Within the Holy Martial Dynasty, almost all cultivators at the Spirit Severing Realm have received the favor of the old emperor's breakthrough formula."

"Or rather, they all went there and made some kind of deal before they were able to advance."

"My eldest sister and I have never received any favors from them, nor do we owe them anything. What do you think would happen if we wanted our third sister to be free?"

Zhou Qing frowned, then suddenly realized, and said, "Consort Chen is a bargaining chip to keep you in check!"

Lu Yuanzhi nodded: "That's right, so this matter can't be rushed. Besides, even if Third Sister doesn't like the current Emperor Xuanyuan Hao, Xuanyuan Muqian is, after all, her own flesh and blood, and the hope she has placed in her heart for many years."

"If we rashly take Third Sister away, the Xuanyuan family will definitely use Mu Qianxiang as leverage. At that time, Third Sister will be in a dilemma again."

Zhou Qing sighed softly.

Today I'm sick, tomorrow I'm in danger, and the day after tomorrow I'll be forced to marry someone I don't like.

If Consort Chen were to return because of her attachments, she would become another "Xuanyuan Muqian".

"Although she is currently not in control of her own destiny, at least she has enough to eat and wear and has a certain degree of freedom. Therefore, in the short term, we will neither take her in nor reveal our cultivation level."

Lu Yuanzhi paused for a moment, then continued, "Moreover, the dean has also said that this academy will be disbanded not long from now."

Zhou Qing was stunned, and asked in shock, "Disband?"

Lu Yuanzhi sighed softly: "The dean once said that he created this academy on a whim, and his roots are not here after all."

Zhou Qing's heart stirred, recalling what his second uncle had said: Dean Weng Yunqi was not a member of the Holy Martial Dynasty and seemed to have come here for treatment.

Could it be that he is going back to his own cultivation kingdom?

Lu Yuanzhi looked earnestly at Zhou Qing again: "Therefore, our choice of Taiqing Sect is not simply to repay a debt of gratitude, but also because we have nowhere else to go."

"At Taiqing Sect, we can not only teach Yao Yao, but also share our experience in slaying spirits with the elders."

"Furthermore, we will conceal our whereabouts, never reveal our identities, and will not cause any trouble for your clan. Is that acceptable to you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing was already interested. He then took a step back, bowed respectfully, and said, "I, Zhou Qing, on behalf of the Taiqing Sect, warmly welcome the two of you to join us!"

Lu Yuanzhi's face immediately lit up with a smile, and she took a step back, returning the greeting solemnly: "Thank you! It is an honor for us sisters to join the Taiqing Sect. We hope you will take good care of us in the future."

……

After a brief stay at the academy, Zhou Qing bid farewell to Lin Daochen and Lu Yuanzhi and boarded the flying boat heading to the border once more.

As the college buildings receded into the distance, Zhou Qing pondered for a moment.

If the academy were to disband one day, Taiqing Sect might become a place for Lin Shixin to stay.

However, such an invitation is too abrupt. If it is brought up rashly, it will seem deliberate. It would be better to wait for the right opportunity.

On the flying boat, Shen Yunzhou caught a glimpse of the smile that Zhou Qing couldn't hide in his eyes and immediately moved closer.

Raising an eyebrow, he teased, "Oh, what good news is this? You're smiling so happily, did you find a clue?"

Zhou Qing's expression turned serious, and he shook his head, saying, "Don't make wild guesses, I was just thinking of some interesting things."

"You're really strange. You haven't even found your senior sister yet, and you're still in the mood to be happy." Shen Yunzhou clicked his tongue. "But this mentality is admirable."

Zhou Qing looked embarrassed, glanced at Jiang Pojun who was in charge of the ship, shook his head silently, and swallowed back the words that were about to come out.

He then stood up, gazing at the mountains and rivers rushing past beneath the clouds, and secretly made plans.

"Five years. If we just wait five years, Taiqing Sect will be able to welcome two guest elders at the Spirit Severing Realm. At that time, if we encounter difficulties again, we will not have to be as restrained as we are now."

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing felt a surge of joy in his heart.

Of course, one must be strong oneself to succeed.

I need to work harder and strive to break through to the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm as soon as possible.

However, every step in the Nascent Soul Realm is like walking on thin ice, requiring not only a massive accumulation of spiritual power but also constant refinement and perfection of one's artistic conception.

"The Four Flowers Gathering at the Top physique means that I need several times more spiritual energy to break through each time than other cultivators of the same level. Spirit stones and rare treasures alone are simply not enough to meet my needs."

Zhou Qing frowned. "Once the absorption reaches saturation, you must wait for the spiritual energy to be completely refined before you can continue cultivating."

After a moment's thought, Zhou Qing's eyes sharpened: "It seems we still have to rely on the [Blood Phoenix Tribulation Crystal] recorded in the inscription-level divine power to directly refine the essence and spiritual power of others."

"Not only does it have no side effects, but it is also the fastest way to break through."

"To unleash the complete Bloodwing Phantom, at least five Phoenix Dao Patterns need to be condensed, and we are still three short."

"In other words, I need at least thirty more top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones."

Zhou Qing glanced at the Enlightenment Ancient Tea and five wood-attribute spirit stones in his storage bag, and let out a soft breath.

"I've made half the profit by helping Xuanyuan Shuo this time. Perhaps we can use this opportunity to find a way to get the rest from those demon emperors!"

Fortune favors the bold, so why not take a gamble!

Thinking of this, a fierce glint flashed in Zhou Qing's eyes, and a look of madness surged within them.

After a month of traveling day and night, the three of them changed teleportation arrays in multiple prefectures and finally arrived at the border.

From afar, Xuan Yuanshuo came out laughing, the dark patterns on his robes shimmering in the sunlight: "Young friend Zhou, we've been waiting for you!"

Zhou Qing bowed and said, "Greetings, Senior Xuanyuan!"

"We're all family, so let's skip the formalities!" Xuan Yuanshuo helped him up. "A welcome feast has been prepared, come in quickly!"

As he spoke, he glanced at Shen Yunzhou inadvertently.

Zhou Qing quickly introduced, "This is my good friend Shen Yunzhou. He wanted to come to the border to broaden his horizons."

Shen Yunzhou then paid his respects.

Xuanyuan Shuo nodded slightly and warmly led the two inside.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Xuanyuan Shuo invited Zhou Qing to his study alone. He first inquired about the Second Uncle's recent situation with concern, and then talked in detail about the border situation.

It was largely the same as what Jiang Pojun said, but with a greater degree of secrecy and planning.

After careful consideration, Zhou Qing nodded in agreement.

"Without further ado, we shall set off for Taiyao Mountain in three days!" Xuan Yuanshuo finalized the plan and turned to leave.

Strangely, from beginning to end, the two tacitly avoided the matter of soul searching and spirit stones, as if those unpleasant things had never happened.

The next day, unable to contain his curiosity, Shen Yunzhou pulled Zhou Qing aside and pressed him for help: "I think this Senior Xuanyuan Shuo is quite generous. What exactly did he ask you to do this time?"

Zhou Qing shook his head.

After all, only he, Xuanyuan Shuo, and his second uncle knew about his impersonation of the Peng Emperor.

This is a confidential matter; it was agreed beforehand that it should not be easily disclosed.

Seeing that Zhou Qing was unwilling to talk, Shen Yunzhou wisely stopped asking, but still said sincerely, "If he threatens you, just tell your brother, and I have my own way of dealing with him."

Looking at the burning concern in Shen Yunzhou's eyes, Zhou Qing felt a warm current rise in her heart.

Although this guy always causes trouble for Number Six, he's impeccable when it comes to dealing with people.

"Thank you, I know what I'm doing!" Zhou Qing patted his shoulder and said.

Upon hearing that Zhou Qing had arrived, his subordinates, including Lu Jinghong, who had previously fought against him, soon followed.

As they reminisced, a burst of hearty laughter and banter soon filled the room.

Some even wanted to have another match, but Zhou Qing refused, since they were about to take action and couldn't afford to make a mistake at this crucial moment.

Three days later, Xuanyuan Shuo quietly left the border defense area with Zhou Qing and headed straight for Taiyao Mountain.

Shen Yunzhou, crouching low, peeked out from behind the broken wall, furtively rubbed his nose, and muttered, "Let me see what you're taking Brother Zhou for?"

After saying that, he quietly followed after them.

……

A few days later, the two quietly slipped into Taiyao Mountain.

Compared to last time, the defenses of this demonic mountain are now much more stringent.

There are all kinds of monsters stationed in almost every part of the sky and on the ground.

It is evident that the old ape, who was a strategist, managed the entire demon territory flawlessly during the years that "Peng Huang was in seclusion".

As the two approached Black Feather Peak in the central area, where clouds and mist swirled, two more demon kings, still bearing the distinctive feature of wings, stood there.

"Besides the old monkey, the Roc Emperor has five direct subordinates: Xuanhu, Chixiao Falcon, Guiyuan, Lieyun Que, and Guya. You should recognize them."

Xuanyuan Shuo lowered his voice.

Zhou Qing nodded, his gaze fixed on the cave entrance.

Guarding that spot were the Xuanhu, exuding a chilling aura, and the Chixiao Falcon, its body wreathed in flames.

When they were plundering the cave, Second Uncle and Xuanyuan Shuo joined forces to capture these demon kings, erased their memories, and implanted some false perceptions.

"Here you go. This is a wooden puppet I asked Brother Daye for before I left. In case of any need, it can be transformed into the appearance of Peng Huang Feng Xuanling for convenience!"

Xuanyuan Shuo took out a wooden puppet with intricate carvings from his storage bag.

Feeling the familiar atmosphere above, Zhou Qing suddenly missed his second uncle.

To compensate for his own artistic conception, his second uncle gave him countless puppets over three years, which then transformed into the likeness of Li Hanshan to challenge the leaders and elders of various sects.

Imprinting one's own Nascent Soul amplification onto this is no easy feat, but when he recalled what he had witnessed in Shen Hanyi's forbidden zone some time ago, he couldn't help but laugh.

However—since there are puppets, Xuanyuan Shuo could easily impersonate one himself; there's no need for him to come, right?
Unless, he has other plans!

"Take this Demonic Token too. It will allow you to enter the five-colored magic array smoothly. I will lure them away later, and you can go in with them!"

Xuanyuan Shuo then handed over a token engraved with demonic script.

Zhou Qing had just taken the token when Xuan Yuanshuo's expression suddenly turned serious: "Also, just like last time, keep it with you."

"It can unleash a mid-stage Spirit Severing Realm strike at crucial moments, but I will avoid using it if possible. I have truly expended a great deal of effort to condense it."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly pointed to his brow, and then a miniature version of Xuan Yuan Shuo's figure slowly peeled away from it.

Xuanyuan Shuo's face also turned pale suddenly.

Zhou Qing accepted it without the slightest hesitation.

Now is not the time for politeness; he is now facing several demon emperors who have lived for countless years.

Any slight oversight will lead to his utter ruin.

"I've already told you about the plan. Just in case, I'll guide you from the shadows and will also show myself when necessary!"

Xuan Yuanshuo patted Zhou Qing's shoulder with great effort, his eyes filled with solemnity.

"Don't worry, I know what to do!" Zhou Qing said with a slight smile.

Xuanyuan Shuo nodded and quietly left.

Not long after, Xuanhu and Chixiao Falcon, who had been chatting idly at the entrance of the cave, suddenly tensed up and warily scanned the area to their right.

After exchanging a glance, they almost simultaneously grabbed their weapons and shot away, leaving two afterimages in the air.

Zhou Qing seized the opportunity, his feet flashing with silver light, and quickly approached the cave.

The moment he took out the Demon Token, he quickly infused it with spiritual power to activate it.

The token shone brightly, and the five-colored restrictions rippled. He pushed open the stone door and disappeared into the cave in a flash.

Within a few breaths, Xuanhu and Chixiaojun returned with puzzled expressions and resumed their posts.

Inside the cave, Zhou Qing leaned against the stone door, his chest heaving violently, feeling an intense thrill.

He slowly pressed his ear against the stone door, held his breath, and only after confirming that he hadn't been discovered did his tense body relax and he let out a long sigh of relief.

Looking at the empty cave in front of him, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.

When the three of them came last time, they really took everything away.

Now only bare stone walls remain, nothing else is left.

After all, even Master Situ Jiuyao's corpse in the secret chamber was taken away by Xuanyuan Shuo.

Then, he took out a jade slip, which was given to him by Xuanyuan Shuo and contained all the information that the other party had collected over the years.

For example, the two demon kings standing outside are usually called "Ahu" and "Ajun" by Penghuang.

The old ape was a red-bearded ape, and even though he was old and his hair was thinning, in the words of the Roc King, he was always the "red-haired one" with a touch of affection.

"Luckily, I didn't have too much contact with these demon kings when I was impersonating the Roc King last time, otherwise I would have been easily exposed!"

Zhou Qing looked at the jade slip, and the relevant information inside had already been thoroughly memorized in the past three days.

After thinking it through, Zhou Qing stared at the puppet again, pondered for a moment, and decided not to use it for the time being.

He then carefully inspected every corner of the cave, making sure nothing was missed, before finally letting out a long sigh of relief.

In an instant, Zhou Qing's body shone with golden light, transforming directly into the first form of the Golden Roc's true form.

Under his deliberate control, his body size has shrunk considerably compared to his prime, but he still exudes a majestic aura.

As for the second humanoid form, apart from its golden body and a pair of wings, it is basically the same as his appearance, making it easy to give away the disguise.

Then, with the help of the "Virtual Realm Dharma Image", he completely concealed his aura to the level of an ordinary person.

This kind of mix of truth and falsehood is the most deceptive.

Once everything was ready, Zhou Qingqing cleared his throat, imitated the Peng Emperor's weathered voice and murmured a few times, then took out the Taiyao Token again.

The two demon kings, Xuanhu and Chixiaojun, who were talking quietly outside, turned their heads subconsciously after hearing the scraping sound of the stone door, and their gazes froze instantly.

A golden-winged roc stood proudly at the cave entrance, its feathers seemingly cast from the purest gold, shimmering with dazzling runes.

Its eagle eyes were like two purple lightning bolts, and with a single glance, they all trembled, and between its wings, there was a faint rumble of wind and thunder.

An aura of nobility and majesty emanates from it, making one want to bow down and worship.

The two demon kings were taken aback at first, then their faces lit up with joy, and they quickly bowed.

"Your Majesty, you have finally emerged from seclusion!"

Faced with their worship, Zhou Qing nodded slightly, and his two sharp claws covered with golden scales slowly stepped out.

Each step felt like shattering the void, creating ripples in the air.

He lowered his voice and said in a weathered tone, "Ahu, Ajun, you've worked hard these past few days!"

"Protecting our Emperor is our honor!" The two demon kings shouted excitedly, their faces flushed, their eyes gleaming with fanaticism.

Zhou Qing nodded in satisfaction, then casually muttered to himself, "I didn't expect this transformation to make me seem a little younger. It's quite a surprise."

Upon hearing Zhou Qing's words, the two demon kings offered their congratulations once again.

No wonder the sound was a bit strange; now I understand. It's a sign of returning to simplicity!

"Where are Red Hair and the others?" Zhou Qing asked in a deep voice, his eyes sharpening.

Xuanhu quickly replied, "Your Majesty, the strategist has been calming down the other restless demon kings. I will go and call them now."

After saying this, he immediately transformed into a streak of light and quickly disappeared into the horizon.

Zhou Qing frowned slightly, a puzzled look on his face, and turned to look at Chixiao Falcon: "Appease them? Are they planning another rebellion recently?"

Chixiao Falcon hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, you've misunderstood. But things have indeed been a bit chaotic lately. The Spider King has fallen... The Bell and Gong Beast King said it was you who had someone do it... The Flood Dragon King is asking for your help..."

In the shadows not far away, Xuan Yuanshuo watched Zhou Qing listening intently to Chi Xiaojun's report and couldn't help but smile.

"This little guy, he's really good at acting!"

When Zhou Qing first transformed into the Roc Emperor, he tricked the Spider Emperor and the Flood Dragon Emperor into giving him thirty top-grade spirit stones each. He was truly audacious!
Soon, the old ape, leaning on his cane, arrived hastily with his four direct descendant demon kings—Ghost Kite, Sky-Splitting Sparrow, and Bone Crow—his eyes filled with excitement and awe.

"Red Hair, you've had a tough few years!" Zhou Qing looked at the old ape and sighed.

The old ape's sparse, messy fur hung down on its hunched body like withered grass, and its cloudy eyes welled up with tears.

It shook its head vigorously, its voice hoarse, and said, "This is my duty. It is an honor for this old minister to share the burden for Your Majesty!"

Zhou Qing nodded slightly, his expression solemn, and said, "I've heard everything from Ah Jun. This is both an opportunity and a challenge for us."

"Pass on my order: any demon king who wishes to go to the abandoned territory of the Jiao Emperor may lead their people there to plunder."

"But you have to be at least at the level of a demon general, and your mental strength has to meet the requirements. Otherwise, you won't get any benefits and you'll end up becoming someone else's tomb guardian."

Upon hearing this, the demon kings, including the Cloud Sparrow, were immediately filled with excitement and shouted in unison.

"Yes! We'll go and deliver the message right away! Your Majesty, you may not know this, but everyone has been eagerly awaiting this day, just waiting for your command!"

After giving his instructions, Zhou Qing turned his gaze to the old ape: "Most of the Spider King's territory is now occupied by the Flood Dragon King, and it is also in a standoff with the two Demon Kings, the Weilun Demon and the Qingluo Beast, right?"

The old ape leaned on his cane and said solemnly, "That's right. Besides them, the Tiger King from deep in the mountains has also gotten involved, and there are also actions on the human border."

Zhou Qing pondered for a moment, then said calmly, "Alright, I understand the general situation. Leave the rest to me. You just need to guard Taiyao Mountain."

"Yes!" The demon kings bowed in unison.

With the king's return from the pass, their pillar of support has finally returned.

Then, Zhou Qing glanced discreetly into the distance, and then suddenly seemed to remember something, asking, "Does anyone have any extra top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones?"

The demon kings looked at each other and shook their heads, and Zhou Qing couldn't help but feel disappointed.

Just then, the old ape suddenly spoke up: "I heard that the Spider King's Thousand Illusion Cave once yielded a mineral vein, which contained many top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones."

"But I wonder how much has been consumed over the years? Is there anything left? And with four demon emperors now entrenched there, I'm afraid—"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing's eyes lit up.

"Understood. You all stay here and await orders. I am going to the Thousand Illusions Cave!"

After giving his instructions, Zhou Qing took a step forward, and his body burst into golden light, instantly transforming into a giant roc ten thousand feet tall.

Its enormous wings spread out, blotting out the sky, and with a gentle flap, they directly stirred up a powerful hurricane.

Several demon kings gazed at this magnificent scene, their eyes filled with excitement and admiration.

Not far away, Xuanyuan Shuo, who had witnessed this scene, quietly followed.

……

When Zhou Qing's enormous figure appeared in the Thousand Illusions Cave, the scene before them was shocking.

The entire labyrinth was filled with smoke and dust, and the air was thick with a strong stench of decay.

The ground was littered with the corpses of various monsters, and broken remains were scattered everywhere.

The former territory of the Spider Queen has now become like this after her fall.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing shook her head slightly. After all, it was her own fault for trying to get herself killed by attempting to control Number Six.

They don't even consider the gap between the two sides.

Then, he looked up and let out a roar that echoed like thunder throughout the Thousand Illusions Cave.

Soon, a dark cloud rolled in, and a black dragon covered in bluish-black scales emerged.

The dragon emperor Xuanqiu excitedly exclaimed, "Brother Feng, you've finally arrived!"

Zhou Qing nodded slightly, but before he could speak, mist rose from the distance, and a colossal beast, as large as a hill, came flying through the air.

Its limbs are thick and powerful, resembling a tortoise but not quite. Its azure scales gleam coldly in the sunlight, especially now that water is flowing between the gaps in its scales.

It was the same gong-shaped beast that Zhou Qing had seen on the island.

"Brother Feng, we meet again!" Although the bell-shaped beast spoke warmly, it could not hide the awe in its eyes when it looked at Zhou Qing.

(End of this chapter)