The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 280 Zhou Qing is completely enraged, let's start the war! (6k views, please vote)

At this moment, coffins were neatly arranged in the cabins and on the deck, and a strong stench hit us as if it were a real thing.

It was the stench of rotting flesh, blood, and corpse poison, a nauseating smell.

The scene before them weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.

As one of the coffins slowly opened, the corpse of the Golden Core Realm disciple inside was identical to that in the image stone.

The flesh was turned inside out, all the internal organs were missing, and the death was a gruesome sight.

An even more pungent stench suddenly erupted, causing everyone to frown.

Just then, a dung beetle the size of a fist suddenly flew over and landed directly on the corpse of the Golden Core disciple.

Cao Zhengyang's expression turned cold, and he raised his hand to kill him, but Zhou Qing stopped him.

Then he turned to look at Shen Yunzhou.

Shen Yunzhou, who had just jogged over, took a deep breath and said, "That's right, the taste is almost exactly the same."

"Brother Zhou, do you remember when I was waiting for you in Yanlong City, I encountered someone who had picked up a rotting corpse and was selling it?"

Zhou Qing didn't show much surprise on his face. After all, when he learned from his senior uncle that all the disciples who died tragically were only half-dead and were emitting a foul odor, he had a vague idea of ​​what was going on.

Add to that the ugly mummified corpse in the image stone, and the fact that the incident occurred after returning from the Gobi Desert mines, and these clues all point to certain possibilities.

The reason for sending Shen Yunzhou here was simply to confirm this once again.

"So you knew all along!" Seeing Zhou Qing's calm reaction, Shen Yunzhou immediately understood.

Indeed, with Brother Zhou's intelligence, how could he not have guessed?

Cao Zhengyang and the others immediately understood the key points.

After all, the reason they went to the Gobi mine was because Shen Yunzhou followed the half-rotten monster corpse and saw Lei Wuji in a very strange state in the cave.

"I remember there were fifteen octagonal altars in that cave, each of which should have eight coffins on it. Could it be that Lei Wuji mishandled the situation and allowed a corpse from the Corpse Yin Sect to escape?"

Cao Zhengyang speculated with a solemn expression.

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines when they thought of the horrifying mummified corpse inside the photo stone; it might actually be true.

"That mummified corpse has probably existed for longer than the lifespan of a Spirit Severing Realm cultivator, and judging from the images in the image stone, it doesn't seem to have any consciousness at all!"

Mo Xingjian pondered for a moment before speaking.

Zhou Qing nodded: "Master is right. Then there is only one explanation. Regardless of whether that mummified corpse escaped from the Corpse Yin Sect's corpse-raising ground, someone is definitely controlling it."

“It’s the Golden Thunder Sect!” the peak master of Purple Cloud Peak blurted out.

This is specifically targeted at the Taiqing Sect. Other smaller sects wouldn't dare to be so bold. As for outside sects, there's no enmity between them, so there's no need to go through with it.

That leaves only the five major sects, which are also dominant forces in the Eastern Region.

Moreover, all the coffins and mummies in that cave were taken away by the Golden Thunder Sect.

The others nodded in agreement.

"Sect Master, we request permission to go to the Golden Thunder Sect to investigate!" The Hundred Battles Peak Master clasped his hands in a gesture of request, his spiritual energy surging faintly around him.

"I'll go too! Killing so many of my Taiqing Sect members is truly outrageous!" The Dragon Ridge Peak Master's eyes widened in anger, and the sword behind him hummed.

The peak master of Yunmeng Peak sneered, "The Golden Thunder Sect only has five Supreme Elders now. With so many of us at the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul Realm, how could we be afraid of them?"

Cao Zhengyang raised his hand to signal everyone to calm down, and after a moment of contemplation, he looked at Zhou Qing: "What do you think?"

Zhou Qing looked around at his fellow disciples, his expression grave: "Even if we go, can we really accuse the mummified corpse of being related to them based on mere speculation? Where is the evidence?"

"To take it a step further, Lei Wuji is currently in seclusion, and all matters have been entrusted to Lei Lie. What should we do if he shirks responsibility and tries to pass the buck?"

Yan Xiaohu strode forward, veins bulging on his neck: "What are you talking about! What evidence do you need? Let's just do it!"

Zhou Qing shook his head. Like the Azure Feather Immortal Sect, the Golden Thunder Sect had declined, but its historical foundation remained.

Some things cannot be sustained by the number of Nascent Soul Realm cultivators at the Great Perfection stage in a sect.

Just that conspiracies they've created in the open, once detonated, believe me, half of the Taiqing Sect would be razed to the ground.

The former level nine array master, Senior Xuan Qingzi, once used the natural thunder pool at Lingku Mountain to heal his injuries.

Even the late-stage Spirit Severing Realm, semi-pure-blooded Suanni was taken over and used for cultivation.

Even if it is artificially created, its power should not be underestimated.

If someone could be turned to use them, they could probably take seven others with them when they perish together.

"Uncle-Master, how many mines do we still have?" Zhou Qing suddenly asked.

Cao Zhengyang frowned slightly: "About three hundred places. I understand you want to wait for the rabbit to come to you, but the mummified corpse's attacks are completely unpredictable."

"Moreover, we don't have more than three hundred Nascent Soul Realm cultivators to guard it. Besides, if our strength is too dispersed, there's no guarantee that someone else won't take advantage of the situation and then frame the dried corpse."

Zhou Qing understood the concerns of the headmaster, but if things continued like this, wouldn't the other mine garrison members be filled with anxiety?

After a brief moment of contemplation, Zhou Qing said, "Actually, we don't need to just focus on that dried corpse. Let's change our perspective and see where the people from the four sects who aren't here have gone."

"Now that this dried corpse can kill a Nascent Soul cultivator, to be on the safe side, the people who drive it away and lead it must be at least at the Divine Transformation realm, and no fewer than three, or even more."

"After the war between the five sects, each sect only had a few people left at the Nascent Soul stage."

Upon hearing Zhou Qing's words, everyone's eyes lit up instantly, and Mo Xingjian looked at Zhou Qing with an even more proud expression.

Cao Zhengyang stroked his beard with a smile as well. Zhou Qing's words had truly been a wake-up call.

As expected of the young sect leader chosen by me.

At this moment, Yan Xiaohu also glanced at Zhou Qing without leaving a trace.

We all have the same brain, so how did yours get shaped like this?

"As you say, I'll make the arrangements immediately!" Cao Zhengyang said with approval, which meant he agreed to Zhou Qing's method.

Just then, Elder Wuzhu sent a message saying that a disciple of the Golden Thunder Sect had come to join them and had brought a pledge of allegiance.

“That’s interesting. Bring him in!” Cao Zhengyang replied.

Subsequently, these disciples were buried together, and the person who had come to seek refuge was also brought in.

This was a middle-aged man with graying hair, at the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul Realm.

Upon entering, he immediately knelt down on both knees: "Junior Tian Hong greets Sect Leader Cao and all Peak Masters."

"You want to join my Taiqing Sect?" Cao Zhengyang's eyes were sharp as he looked the person in front of him up and down.

Tian Hong kowtowed three times, his tone sincere: "I am just an ordinary person, but I can see the situation clearly. After the Five Sects War, the Golden Thunder Sect is declining and on the decline, while our Taiqing Sect is thriving."

"So, I've actually wanted to come to Taiqing Sect for a long time, but unfortunately I don't have anything to offer, so I've been waiting for the right opportunity."

"These two image stones are my pledge of allegiance, Sect Master. Please take a look!"

As he spoke, Tian Hong took out two image stones from his storage bag and then respectfully presented them with both hands.

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. The peak master of Feixue Peak was the first to take a look at the two image stones, as she was an expert in various poisons.

Even the realm of understanding they comprehended was related to poison. No sooner had they begun to suspect the Golden Thunder Sect than someone came to surrender, so they had to be on guard.

After confirming that there were no hidden toxins, she directly injected spiritual energy to activate it.

Soon, an image was projected, showing Lei Wuji and others leading a group to carry coffins out of a cave in the Gobi Desert that night.

The group exchanged glances, seemingly unsurprised.

If it weren't for Shen Yunzhou's unique artistic conception, he really wouldn't have discovered the secret of the Golden Thunder Sect.

Since they were caught red-handed, it's understandable that the other party moved out overnight as a precaution.

However, when the second image stone was activated, everyone's expression changed drastically upon seeing the scene depicted on it.

It was also nighttime, but under the moonlight, a person stood on the top of a cliff, contorting his body in a way that defied common sense.

His limbs were bent strangely like dead wood, and his joints made a teeth-grinding "crackling" sound.

Arcs of lightning surged around him, directly illuminating his face. Who else could it be but Lei Wuji, the sect master of the Golden Thunder Sect?

But his condition was clearly wrong; his once dignified Taoist robe was now tattered and torn, with large patches of skin exposed, covered in bluish-gray lividity.

The stench seemed to waft through the image stone.

It emitted inhuman roars from its throat, its eyeballs almost bulging out of their sockets, the whites of its eyes bloodshot, and its pupils contracted to the size of pinpoints, filled with bloodthirsty madness.

He appeared to be in extreme pain, with silver arcs of electricity surging around him, weaving a terrifying electric grid.

Saliva dripped from the corners of his mouth, and his hands frantically scratched his body.

Wherever his claws passed, flesh tore open and blood splattered, but he seemed oblivious, instead becoming increasingly frenzied.

Until the next moment, his aura seemed to rise continuously, and he soon broke through to the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul Realm.

Then, using all four limbs, he ran towards the place where the light kept flashing in the distance.

That place is the location of the Thunder Pool of the Golden Thunder Sect.

Tian Hong hurriedly explained, "This is a scene that I recorded at the risk of my life. Now that the Golden Thunder Sect's fate is sealed, I really have no reason to stay."

"If the Taiqing Sect is interested, now is the perfect opportunity to take over the Jinlei Sect. This junior is willing to act as an inside agent... um~"

Before Tian Hong could finish speaking, the Hundred Battles Peak Master had quietly circled behind him and, at Cao Zhengyang's signal, pointed a finger at the back of his head.

Directly perform the Soul Searching Technique.

After a while, as Ling Yuexiao released his fingers, Tian Hong fell straight down with his eyes rolled back.

“He didn’t lie; these images are indeed photos he took!” Ling Yuexiao confirmed.

Zhou Qing stared at the screen, a wave of sorrow washing over him.

The dignified leader of the five major sects has fallen from the state Shen Yunzhou initially recorded to such a terrifying state in just a few months.

It seems that the relics left behind by the Corpse Yin Sect indeed harbor hidden dangers.

but--

When Zhou Qing turned his gaze to Tian Hong's convulsing corpse, he felt that something was wrong.

When I met Sikong Yan at the edge of the Canglan Mountain abyss last time, he accurately described the details of Shen Yunzhou's escape from the Gobi Desert cave, indicating that the Cangyan Dao Palace had long been aware of that place but had never taken action.

Now that they've just been discussing the mummified corpse, Tian Hong has surrendered with the image stone, making all the evidence pointing to the Golden Thunder Sect seem all too logical.

It seemed as if someone was deliberately stirring things up, trying to provoke a conflict between the Taiqing Sect and the Jinlei Sect.

With doubts in mind, Zhou Qing simply proceeded with the identification process.

[Image Stone: This is an image stone imprinted from Yu Hengzi, containing the scene of Lei Wuji leading his men to move the Corpse Yin Sect's coffin in the middle of the night.]

Upon seeing the information relayed from the image stone, Zhou Qing's pupils contracted sharply. It turned out that the first image stone wasn't recorded by Tian Hong, but was copied from someone else!

"Uncle-Master, who is Yuhengzi?" Zhou Qing asked hurriedly.

Cao Zhengyang, who had been deep in thought with his brows furrowed, replied, "The Tianji Sect currently has three Supreme Elders: Yuhengzi, Lingxuzi, and Tianshuzi. Why are you suddenly asking about this?"

Zhou Qing did not answer, but instead slightly raised his hand and began to quickly sort through all the clues in his mind.

Seeing this, Cao Zhengyang immediately signaled everyone to be quiet.

In an instant, everyone present stopped talking and turned to look at Zhou Qing.

Shen Yunzhou stood aside, his heart filled with surprise.

It's clear that Zhou Qing holds a very high position in the Taiqing Sect, and no one feels the slightest bit jealous of him.

The way the many peak masters looked at Zhou Qing was filled with nothing but doting affection and respect.

What a wonderful family.

The stark contrast between his and his sister's experiences at the Shen family home stirred a pang of sorrow in his heart.

Standing to the side, Lu Yaoyao looked on with admiration, her eyes almost crinkling into crescent moons with laughter.

Sure enough, Dad is always so wise and brilliant, no matter what stage of life he's in.

At this moment, Zhou Qing was constantly piecing together various clues, gradually creating a complex and turbulent conspiracy.

The Corpse-Raising Ground of the Corpse Yin Sect in the Gobi Desert was originally the location of the Tianji Sect's mining vein, but it was quietly occupied by the Jinlei Sect, who secretly conducted research on it.

It wasn't until Shen Yunzhou discovered their presence that the Golden Thunder Sect hastily moved away.

Tian Hong, who voluntarily surrendered, may seem like a pawn abandoned by the Golden Thunder Sect, but in reality, he is a hidden pawn deeply buried by the Tianji Sect.

Even the crucial piece of evidence, the image stone, was a copy that Yu Hengzi had made beforehand and then used to throw it out.

The Tianji Sect has always been adept at concealing heavenly secrets, no wonder the Soul Searching Technique failed to detect the flaw.

In other words, the Tianji Sect couldn't have been completely unaware of the Corpse Yin Sect's territory.

Their inaction seemed more like a carefully laid bait, waiting for the Golden Thunder Sect to take the bait.

But how could Lei Wuji, as the leader of a sect, easily get involved?

The answer is obvious: the cave must contain something that would make even a Nascent Soul Realm expert take a risk.

For cultivators, the temptation to become stronger is like a leech, especially the opportunity to break through to the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul Realm and step into the Spirit Severing Realm, which is enough to make anyone greedy, and Lei Wuji is no exception.

Following this line of thought, let's flesh out this clue a bit more.

The weakest sect, Tianji Sect, quietly set such a huge trap for Jinlei Sect, dismantling it from the root.

Now, by sheer coincidence, a mummified corpse is constantly attacking the Taiqing Sect's mines, gradually enraging the sect.

Subsequently, images of the mummified corpse were exposed, and the Jinlei Sect Master was seen in that state again, making the two almost seamlessly connected.

Just then, two image stones were delivered here at just the right moment, pointing the finger at the Golden Thunder Sect.

If someone deliberately stirs things up again, a battle between the Taiqing Sect and the Jinlei Sect will likely be inevitable.

It would be even better if the war escalated, such as by a minefield explosion, causing both sides to suffer heavy losses after becoming mortal enemies.

The sect leader of Qingyu Immortal Sect is about to die, and the remaining Cangyan Dao Palace possesses the Heart's Blood, which can control Sikong Yan's thoughts and decisions.

If the Taiqing Sect and the Jinlei Sect fight to the death, the Tianji Sect will be able to reap the benefits.

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing felt a chill run down his spine.

They say a barking dog doesn't bite, but the setup of the Tianji Gate is truly terrifying.

Seemingly low-key, but actually meticulously planning every step, manipulating various forces at will, able to remain uninvolved while also using others to do his dirty work, truly a master of behind-the-scenes manipulation.

They used my Taiqing Sect as a pawn, injured so many of my disciples, and who knows what else they might do next, further deepening the conflict between the Taiqing Sect and the Jinlei Sect.

Adding to this, they even fabricated the image of the Four Flowers Gathering at the Top, intending to incite people from various prefectures and even neighboring dynasties to covet my forbidden cave. They are truly vicious and their intentions are despicable!

Isn't Tianji Sect trying to hide in the shadows, slowly boil the frog in water, and leisurely reap the benefits?
Alright, then let me show you what it's like to get burned!
Thinking of this, a ruthless glint flashed in Zhou Qing's eyes.

The Azure Feather Immortal Sect is now under the wing of the Taiqing Sect, and the Mysterious Nether Immortal is nearing her end; she is nothing to fear.

The Golden Thunder Sect is beset by internal and external troubles, and Lei Wuji is undergoing strange and unpredictable changes, leaving it unable to take care of itself.

Therefore, the only real threat left is the Azure Flame Dao Palace.

Sikong Yan couldn't possibly be unaware of the secret of the heart's blood. After all, as the number one, he had already given Xuanjizi the drop of heart's blood from his storage bag as a deterrent.

If the Taiqing Sect and the Tianji Sect go to war, the Cangyan Dao Palace will most likely remain on the sidelines, or even be happy to see it happen.

Therefore, now is actually the best time!

More importantly, after clearing his thoughts, Zhou Qing felt a chill run down his spine.

If Tianji Sect wants to completely ignite the flames of war, the real trigger might be the lives of a certain peak master or several others.

Only in this way can we thoroughly enrage Master Bo.

The secrets of the forbidden zone are known only to the thirteen peak masters, the Supreme Elder, Sikong Yan, and the Tianji Sect.

To ensure that Number One's identity is not exposed, this group must be eradicated completely!

"This man cannot be trusted!" Zhou Qing stared at Tian Hong's corpse, his killing intent chilling.

Ling Yuexiao, the peak master of Hundred Battles Peak, roared and grabbed Tian Hong by the back of the neck with his fan-like hand, lifting him into the air: "I also dislike this kind of rat who kicks someone when they're down!"

Before he finished speaking, the immense spiritual power transformed into an invisible hand, forcefully pulling the nascent soul out of Tian Hong's sea of ​​consciousness.

As Ling Yuexiao's spiritual energy surged in his palm, the nascent soul exploded into countless rays of light.

Tian Hong's body slumped to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut, his life force extinguished instantly, so he died without pain.

Zhou Qing was slightly taken aback, not expecting that Uncle Ling would act so decisively!
It seems everyone's been holding in a lot of anger lately.

After everyone broke through to the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul Realm, they originally thought that because of him, they could have a big battle with the Azure Feather Immortal Sect.

Unexpectedly, despite their burning desire to fight, they had to back down at the last minute due to the overall situation.

These past few months, the mines have been attacked frequently, resulting in heavy casualties among the disciples. Yet, they haven't even been able to track down the enemy. This frustration has been building up in the hearts of everyone in the sect for a long time.

"My fellow disciples, I roughly know who was responsible for the mummification of that corpse." Zhou Qing looked around at everyone, his eyes piercing.

Everyone was stunned and exchanged incredulous glances.

You figured it out after thinking about it for so short a time?
"Who is it?" Cao Zhengyang's expression suddenly tightened, and a sharp glint appeared in his eyes.

Zhou Qing scanned the crowd and said, "Tianji Sect!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned, clearly somewhat disbelieving.

Zhou Qing was not surprised by the expressions on everyone's faces. If it weren't for the "Daily Observation," he probably wouldn't have believed it either.

At this moment, he had no intention of explaining further, but simply said in a deep voice, "Senior Uncle, I have a plan that requires the full support of the entire sect!"

Cao Zhengyang's pupils contracted slightly.

To mobilize the entire clan?
Could it be that...

"You want to take action against the Tianji Sect?" he asked tentatively.

Zhou Qing nodded, his tone resolute: "A swift and decisive victory!"

"Why? Where is the evidence?" Cao Zhengyang frowned and pressed for an answer. The other peak masters also came to their senses, all of them shocked.

This change was so sudden that it caught everyone off guard.

Zhou Qing snorted coldly, his aura suddenly surging: "Just as Third Senior Brother said, what evidence do you need? In this cultivation world, the law of the jungle is an ironclad rule!"

The reason we didn't go to war with the Azure Feather Immortal Sect before was because we had too many concerns.

But things are different now. The Golden Thunder Sect is preoccupied with its own problems, while the Azure Flame Dao Palace is watching from the sidelines. This is the opportune moment.

The mummified corpse incident orchestrated by the Tianji Sect has caused widespread panic; this is an advantage of the situation.

Our disciples have been repeatedly ambushed, and their anger has transformed into a united front against a common enemy—this is the power of human harmony!
Moreover, the Tianji Sect has repeatedly used underhanded tricks to bully our Taiqing Sect. If we do not retaliate, the losses will only be greater.

He didn't want any of his relatives here to be slowly consumed by the other party, without them even realizing it.

Seeing the determination in Zhou Qing's eyes, Cao Zhengyang's fingers, which were stroking his beard, paused slightly. Mo Xingjian's palms, hidden in his sleeves, were already damp with sweat. The other peak masters exchanged bewildered glances.

Zhou Qing's words just now were particularly aggressive.

What on earth happened that could make the usually composed Zhou Qing lose his composure like this?
However, as the future junior sect leader of the Taiqing Sect, Zhou Qing usually avoids all matters, big and small, from the sect whenever possible.

Now that a decision has finally been reached, it would be inappropriate for him to reject it so directly.

But to start a war with a major corporation is indeed a bit too sudden.

Not to mention that everyone was completely unprepared for battle, the foundation of the Tianji Sect alone was far from as weak as it appeared.

Although Tianji Sect has consistently ranked at the bottom among the five major sects, the number of Nascent Soul Realm cultivators in the sect is far less than two or three tenths of that in Taiqing Sect.

The celestial arts they practice are unpredictable and can deduce celestial secrets, alter fate, and even use the power of celestial phenomena to set up traps for dragons.

The protective array of the Tianji Sect is based on a fallen star and has been refined by several generations of sect leaders. Its array patterns are connected to the star orbit in the sky, making it comparable to a three-color array.

As night falls, the countless stars become the core of the formation, with thousands of starlight within resembling an inverted Milky Way, combining offense and defense.

It can draw all invading forces into the vortex of the starry sea and grind them into dust.

What is even more frightening is the Tianji Sect's philosophy of "overcoming strength with gentleness" in dealing with the world.

Knowing that their fighting strength was no match for the four sects, they spread their connections widely, with their underlings and spies throughout the various forces in the Eastern Region.

Of the thousands of sects, large and small, in the Eastern Region, nearly 40% have some connection with it.

They may owe a debt of gratitude or have been used against them.

From large-scale resource allocation to small-scale intelligence transmission, it truly has a ripple effect.

This is their true strength that allows them to remain standing among the five major sects.

Of course, the sects in the Eastern Region have been weakened beyond recognition after the battle of Canglan Mountain.

Even so, the Tianji Sect, with its still-resilient foundation, remains a lurking ferocious beast.

Yan Xiaohu, standing to the side, swallowed hard, too shocked to utter a single word.

But looking at the fourth brother of Lingfeng, who had been timidly brought back by his master one day, now standing among a group of peak masters, exuding a chilling aura.

In the midst of conversation and laughter, they can even decide the life and death of a major sect that has been passed down for thousands of years.

This courage made him feel as if he were in another world.

(End of this chapter)