The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 312 Don't be afraid, little girl, Daddy's here (6k views, please vote)

"Senior actually knew about this?" Shen Hanyi's blue light sphere trembled violently, clearly shocked.

Zhou Qing calmly replied, "I merely overheard the news of the Yan family uncle and nephew's demise by chance, but I do not know the specific reasons. What, is this matter related to you?"

Shen Hanyi remained silent for a moment, as if deep in thought.

To know such secrets, it seems that Senior Number One is currently within the territory of the Heavenly Fortune Holy Dynasty.

After all, this matter was extremely confidential, and even she only learned the details from Yunzhou.
"It is indeed related to the younger generation." After thinking for a moment, Shen Hanyi decided to tell him frankly.

"The deaths of Yan Sen and his nephew Yan Weiyi are somewhat related to two people I met by chance. I am just worried about their safety."

Zhou Qing feigned sudden realization: "So, the Yan family has already found those two destined people you mentioned? Are you going to protect them?"

"No, not at all," Shen Hanyi replied.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing finally felt relieved.

He immediately said seriously, "Everyone knows that Yan Sen wanted you to be his Daoist partner, but you ignored him. Now that he has suddenly passed away, aren't you a suspect?"

"Going to take care of an old friend at this time, I think you're trying to give the Yan family clues."

Upon hearing Zhou Qing's words, Shen Hanyi was immediately taken aback.

He immediately realized what was happening and looked full of regret.

What's wrong with me? How could I make such a basic mistake?
Cultivating this inscription-level divine ability was too mentally taxing and almost harmed them.

She immediately expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, senior. It was my oversight."

Zhou Qing secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

With his current strength, including the entire Taiqing Sect, no one can withstand the retaliation of a behemoth like the Yan family.

"Oh, right, senior, there's something else I need to ask of you." Shen Hanyi suddenly remembered something, and her tone became serious.

Zhou Qing nodded: "Speak freely, I will help if I can."

"May I ask you to move to the restricted area for a detailed discussion, senior?" Shen Hanyi pointed to the screen in her restricted area.

The two then entered Shen Hanyi's restricted area.

In the blink of an eye, I found myself under that familiar crooked jujube tree.

In the distance, the massive black ship continued to cruise slowly.

Zhou Qing couldn't help but recall the scene when he and Shen Hanyi ventured deep into the forbidden area last time, and he used the [Eight Times Post] to glimpse the scene of his second uncle fawningly massaging the back of that terrifying divine beast.

I wonder how Uncle Erda, who has now latched onto a powerful figure, is doing now?

While she was pondering, Shen Hanyi took out a pitch-black bone box from her storage bag. The box was covered with dark red blood patterns.

It appears ordinary, yet it exudes a chilling aura that sends shivers down your spine.

"What is this?" Zhou Qing frowned slightly.

Shen Hanyi explained, "This item was unexpectedly obtained by Yunzhou on his return journey from a fourth-level cultivation country. I have tried many methods, but I have been unable to activate it."

"If we use brute force, we may damage the contents. Since you are knowledgeable and experienced, I would like to ask you for your help."

Zhou Qing was startled upon hearing this.

A box that even Shen Hanyi, a late-stage Spirit Severing Realm cultivator, couldn't open?
Could it be that this item, like an inscription-level divine ability, requires an ultimate weapon to unlock?

He reached out and took the bone box; it was icy cold to the touch.

etc--

Why does this touch feel so familiar to him?

Zhou Qing examined it carefully, turning it over and over, but couldn't figure it out.

Unfortunately, due to limited knowledge, I had no choice but to conduct an appraisal.

Soon, a message was fed back.

[The Netherworld Bone Box: Forged primarily from a skull at the Great Perfection of the Spirit Severing Realm, mixed with various rare materials. Originally contained the advanced divine power "Nine Netherworld Soul Guiding Record," but it was destroyed by fire after being forcibly opened multiple times.]

Upon seeing the introduction, Zhou Qing was shocked, but more than that, he felt a sense of regret.

Advanced supernatural powers?
The fact that it could be sealed in a box made of a skull at the Great Perfection of the Spirit Severing Realm shows that its rarity is no less than that of the "Emperor's Scripture" and the "Demon Subduing Golden Bone".

wrong-

This familiar feeling, this object crafted from the body parts of a Spirit Severing Realm cultivator.
As mentioned earlier, this was brought back by Shen Yunzhou from a level four cultivation country.

"Seventh Prince, Xuanyuan Yichen—" Zhou Qing couldn't help but think of Xuanyuan Yichen.

Weren't the items that Xuanyuan Yichen brought for appraisal just as sinister and eerie?

Moreover, they all come from a level-five cultivation country that has long since perished.

To avoid trouble, he politely declined any other gifts that Xuan Yuan Yichen brought later.

After all—the more you know, the faster you die.

"Where did your brother obtain this item?" Zhou Qing asked in a deep voice.

Shen Hanyi truthfully reported: "When the cloud boat passed through a level four cultivation country called the Holy Martial Dynasty, it heard strange noises below."

"During the investigation, a group of men in black were discovered breaking the seal, so I casually took this item, which resulted in me being frantically chased."

After hearing this, Zhou Qing was speechless.

When Shen Huangmao left, he looked guilty and anxious, but in the blink of an eye, he had the leisure to steal something.
That's so unreliable!

However, those men in black are most likely the Seventh Prince's faction.

"Senior, is there any explanation for this item?" Shen Hanyi couldn't help but ask when she noticed Zhou Qing's unusual expression.

“It’s nothing,” Zhou Qing handed the bone box back. “The contents are already destroyed, so you can open it as you please.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Hanyi looked regretful.

Just as the handover was about to begin, Zhou Qing suddenly sensed something and quickly said, "I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."

After saying that, he immediately left the Divine Ruins.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he heard Mo Xingjian's urgent knocking on the door outside the courtyard.

Zhou Qing quickly put away the token, got up and opened the door.

"Master, what's wrong?" Zhou Qing asked, puzzled.

Mo Xingjian's expression turned serious: "I was careless! I've been busy with the affairs of the Golden Thunder Sect lately, and Sikong Yan took advantage of the situation to send an image stone to your Uncle-Master Gao Xuan."

Zhou Qing's expression immediately changed: "Is it about Nannan?"

Mo Xingjian nodded heavily: "That's right. Originally, the Golden Thunder Sect was a mixed bag after it was divided between the two families. It was precisely because of this concern that your Uncle-Master Gao Xuan was sent to the Tianji Sect to handle affairs."

"But this morning, your Martial Uncle Tong Min saw him suddenly burst into tears after taking the image stone, and rush towards the direction of the Azure Flame Dao Palace like a madman."

"By the time we got there through the teleportation array, he had already been gone for quite some time."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing frowned.

I couldn't help but recall the words Sikong Yan spoke to Nannan when I was at the edge of the abyss in Canglan Mountain with Shen Yunzhou.

It was a game of choices between family and friendship.

"What did Master Uncle say?" Zhou Qing asked anxiously.

Mo Xingjian smiled wryly: "What else can I say? He's already gone ahead alone. Originally, I didn't want you involved in this matter, and I even used the excuse of refining the three-colored magic array to have you go into seclusion to avoid it."

"But I'm really afraid that you, Senior Uncle Gao Xuan, might do something drastic. And so far, the other peak masters don't know that the former Gao Xuan has been possessed by the current Gao Xuan."

He looked up at Zhou Qing: "You... should know what I mean, right?"

Zhou Qing nodded heavily.

Gao Xuan's past collusion with the Cangyan Dao Palace was something the other senior uncles and elders could not accept.

Now, Gao Xuan has not only replaced his former fellow apprentices, but has also served Sikong Yan for a long time.

Some things, even if you can understand them rationally, are still hard to let go of emotionally.

Otherwise, why is it that only Master Uncle is chasing after them at this moment?
“Master, don’t worry too much. Let’s go and see what’s going on,” Zhou Qing said softly to comfort him.

Mo Xingjian looked at the disciple in front of him who was already capable of handling things on his own and slowly nodded.

Zhou Qing's composure in various events over the years has made his mentor both gratified and moved.

In a daze, he suddenly realized that he might really be getting old.

Perhaps, sometimes letting young people take on responsibilities and experience things is the best way to nurture them.

Just like how our master treated us back then...

……

By the time Zhou Qing and Mo Xingjian arrived at the Cangyan Dao Palace, it was already two days later.

From afar, the mountain gate of the Azure Flame Palace stands majestically.

The crimson mountain-protecting array slowly swirled like flowing fire, enveloping the entire mountain in a blood-red halo.

In front of the mountain gate, Gao Xuan knelt on the ground with his upper body bare, while the robes that originally belonged to the Taiqing Sect were neatly folded aside.

Cao Zhengyang was leaning over him, his brows furrowed as he tried to persuade him.

Gao Xuan kept his head down and remained silent.

"Hurry up and go over there!" Mo Xingjian sighed, and the two of them rushed over.

Upon landing, the sight before them sent a shiver down their spines.

Go Hyun's forehead was a bloody mess, and the white bones were faintly visible under the dried scabs.

The mottled bloodstains on the ground were shocking, clearly indicating that he had been kneeling there for a long time.

He was still trembling all over, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the mountain gate in front of him, his gaze filled with a chilling obsession.

That was the madness of a father grasping at the last straw in the abyss of despair.

There was a mixture of ecstatic joy at regaining what was lost and fear of losing it again.

When you get close, you can even clearly hear the suppressed sobs in his throat.

Suddenly, Gao Xuan turned his head coldly, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Qing and Mo Xingjian like a knife: "You both know about Nannan's matter, but you've been keeping it from me all along."

The air froze instantly, and everyone was speechless for a moment.

It wasn't that they didn't want to tell him, but rather that they weren't ready to carry out a rescue.

Cao Zhengyang had actually offered many tempting conditions in exchange for Nannan.

However, there has been no response from Sikong Yan.

"Senior Uncle, actually, about this matter—"

"Shut up!" Gao Xuan pointed to the Taiqing Sect's attire beside him, his voice hoarse: "Look carefully, I am kneeling here as a traitor to the Cangyan Dao Palace, and it has nothing to do with your Taiqing Sect."

He paused, then his tone suddenly turned cold: "Get out before I lose my temper."

Mo Xingjian stepped forward: "Senior Brother Gao, please don't do this."

Gao Xuan suddenly took off the storage bag at his waist, took out his identity token, and took out his personal belongings one by one.

Finally, he simply slammed the entire storage bag hard into Cao Zhengyang's chest.

“From today onwards, I am no longer the peak master of Jinyang Peak, nor am I called Gao Xuan.”

He raised his head, his eyes flashing with determination: "My surname is Dong, and my name is Dong Lisheng. I have a daughter named Dong Ying, nicknamed Nannan."

Zhou Qing felt a pang of sadness as she watched Gao Xuan roar.

In the past, he might not have understood its meaning, but now he understood—Master Gao Xuan was drawing a line, unwilling to implicate them, and even less willing to implicate the Taiqing Sect.

Senior Uncle Gao Xuan really understands Sikong Yan too well.

Back in the White Jade Taixu Academy, he had made a special trip to remind him to be wary of Sikong Yan's clone.

As it turns out, although he didn't have any clones or anything like that, the white-robed Lin Jin was indeed related to Sikong Yan, and even assisted in killing the Fifth Prince and others.

But the more this was the case, the less they could leave. Zhou Qing stared at the tightly closed mountain gate, and suddenly made a decision, his aura surging upwards.

He took a step forward, his voice booming like thunder, and the bluestone beneath his feet cracked in response: "Zhou Qing of the Taiqing Sect has come to pay his respects to Brother Sikong!"

This address of "Brother Sikong" is no longer a humble way of addressing someone of lower status, but a declaration of friendship between equals.

Cao Zhengyang and Mo Xingjian stared in shock at the slender yet upright figure, and in a daze realized that this young man might really have grown up.

But Cao Zhengyang gently shook his head.

He had previously visited the other party multiple times in his capacity as the leader of the Taiqing Sect, but the other party consistently ignored him.

Clearly, Sikong Yan, that madman, is determined to torment Gao Xuan.

But at that moment, ripples appeared at the mountain gate.

Immediately afterwards, Wu Sha stepped out slowly and bowed to Zhou Qing, saying, "My Palace Master invites the Junior Sect Leader inside for a chat."

Zhou Qing's heart stirred slightly.

It seems the other party was waiting for him on purpose.

Just as he was about to take a step, Mo Xingjian hurriedly grabbed his sleeve, his eyes full of worry.

Zhou Qing smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry, Master, no one can hurt me now."

Cao Zhengyang said in a deep voice, "I will go with you."

"The Palace Master only invited the Junior Sect Leader," Wu Sha coldly refused.

Zhou Qing then looked at Gao Xuan kneeling on the ground and solemnly promised, "Don't worry, Uncle-Master, I'll take care of Nannan's matter."

Gao Xuan's pupils contracted sharply, his chapped lips trembled, and he ultimately couldn't utter a word.

As Zhou Qing stepped into the mountain gate, the ripples gradually subsided.

After passing through the crimson barrier, Zhou Qing's vision suddenly opened up.

Inside the mountain gate, hundreds of Cangyan disciples stood on both sides, each pair of eyes burning with deep-seated hatred.

In the Five Sects War, it was this person who killed all five of their most outstanding talents.

Zhou Qing remained calm. To put it arrogantly, he wouldn't even give these people a second glance these days.

As my second uncle once said, when a person is weak, even when they are angry, they seem so adorable.

"Please follow me." Wu Sha led him up the blood-red stone steps in front of him.

This time, however, the two did not fly at all.

Everything seemed to be designed to let Zhou Qing understand what the Azure Flame Dao Palace looked like.

As Zhou Qing continued upwards, he arrived at a central square.

On these pillars, there are still those obscene words carved by the third senior brother and Lei Luo when they sneaked in.

"This is self-reflection!" Zhou Qing thought with a chill.

After an unknown amount of time, the two finally arrived at the summit of the main peak.

A pitch-black hall stood amidst the blood mist, its doors carved with nine ferocious demon heads, each with its gaping, blood-red mouth wide open.

"Please." Wu Sha stopped outside the hall and made a gesture.

Zhou Qing took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy palace door, but the scene that came into view made him freeze.

Inside the main hall, tens of thousands of black-clad puppets sat cross-legged in dense rows.

They formed a huge circular array, with a wisp of gray mist rising from the top of each puppet's head, converging into the central magic array like rivers flowing into the sea.

At the heart of the formation, a little girl floated silently; it was Nannan.

Her eyes were closed, her eyelashes trembled slightly, yet she was enveloped in a boundless vitality.

Zhou Qingqiang suppressed the urge to attack and carefully observed every corner of the main hall.

Everywhere were endless black-clad puppets, but Sikong Yan didn't seem to be there.

"Could this be the life-restoring technique he spoke of in the forbidden area of ​​the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace the day before yesterday?"

Zhou Qing muttered to himself.

One breath, two breaths.
Time passed quietly, and the only sound in the main hall was the hum of the magic array in operation, but Sikong Yan still did not emerge.

Zhou Qing gritted his teeth and decided to take this opportunity to see what tricks the other party was up to.

Since he couldn't assess people, he simply focused his attention on the magic array and began his "Daily Assessment".

Soon, a message came back.

[Nine Netherworld Soul Returning Array: A special array recorded in the Life-Repairing Technique. If a person without a foundation in cultivation dies, there is a certain probability that this array can help them return to life if it is performed within one hundred days of their death. Unfortunately, the spell is incomplete.]

Upon seeing this message, Zhou Qing was deeply shaken.

Sikong Yan wasn't lying; he really was saving people!

He immediately focused his senses and indeed found that spiritual energy was already flowing within Nannan's body.

In an instant, a bold guess gradually took shape in my mind—

Long ago, Sikong Yan accidentally entered that forbidden area and obtained treasures such as the Life-Replenishing Technique.

He subsequently ventured into dangerous situations multiple times, his life hanging by a thread several times.

Later, the real Go Hyun was caught in the crossfire, which led to Nannan's death.

Dong Lisheng, who was only at the Nascent Soul stage at the time, risked his life to save her, but ultimately could not turn the tide.

During this time, something happened that Sikong Yan obtained the token of the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace because of Nannan.

Perhaps he learned of its extraordinary nature from ancient texts in the forbidden zone.

To atone for his sins, he not only kept Nannan's body to perform magic to save her, but also killed the greedy Gao Xuan and made Nannan's biological father take his place.

However, the treatment did not go smoothly.

While studying the mysteries of the token, Sikong Yan continued his life-restoring techniques.

Until the Five Sects War, he took the opportunity to create a massive number of black-clad puppets, using quantitative change to trigger qualitative change, and finally saw initial results.

He later successfully activated the token and discovered the Rebirth Lotus deep within the forbidden zone during the simulation.

This item, when used in conjunction with the grand formation, may be able to completely revive the girl.
After figuring out the key points, Zhou Qing frowned deeply.

Therefore, he really couldn't just take Nannan away rashly.

After all, Sikong Yan's forbidden zone is far beyond the Eastern Region, and he has yet to successfully obtain the Rebirth Lotus.

He himself could not search for this spiritual herb, otherwise he would be exposing his identity as Number One.

“This guy,” Zhou Qing sighed, “is clearly doing good, but he insists on playing the villain.”

Is it masochism? Or psychological distortion?

Just then, the girl in the center of the magic circle trembled slightly and slowly opened her eyes.

Those clear eyes were filled with the unique confusion of a child, as if they had just woken up from a long dream.

As she awoke, the tens of thousands of black-clad puppets in the hall transformed into shadows, just as they had done at the Canglan Mountain ruins last time.

It silently sank into the ground and disappeared without a trace in the blink of an eye.

In an instant, the entire hall became empty, leaving only the stone pillars engraved with runes standing silently.

Nannan's gaze wandered around the hall, and suddenly landed on Zhou Qing.

A delighted smile instantly bloomed on her little face: "You're Brother Zhou Qing! I remember you!"

Zhou Qing's heart skipped a beat. She quickly stepped forward, squatted down, and smiled, "We meet again, Nannan."

The little girl tilted her head, her big, dark eyes looking around: "Where's the blond older brother?"

“That brother,” Zhou Qing said in a low voice, his eyes darting around, “he went to take a dump.”

"puff--"

Nannan instinctively covered her nose, her little face scrunched up: "Stinky!"

She fanned herself exaggeratedly, which made Zhou Qing burst out laughing.

Soon, Nannan seemed to remember something, grabbed Zhou Qing's sleeve, and said with anticipation in her eyes, "Uncle said that Father is in Brother Zhou's sect."

Her little hands unconsciously tightened: "Why doesn't Daddy come to find me?"

This simple question left Zhou Qing feeling like he had a fishbone stuck in his throat.

He gazed at the innocent little face before him, at the hope shining in her eyes, and for a moment he was at a loss for words.

Her father was no longer the same as she remembered; the loving father she once knew was now residing in someone else's body.

Moreover, they were kneeling right outside the mountain gate!

Zhou Qing took a deep breath and gently stroked her little head.

"Your father," Zhou Qing's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice softening unconsciously, "He thinks about Nannan every day, he has lived his whole life for you."

"Then why didn't he come to pick me up?" Nannan asked stubbornly, her eyes already starting to redden. "Does Daddy not want Nannan anymore?"

"How could that be!" Zhou Qing quickly squatted down even lower to look her in the eye. "Your father loves Nannan the most. He was just held back by some things."

Nannan sniffled, her eyes blurry with tears, and asked, "Really?"

"Of course it's true." Zhou Qing reached out and gently wiped away her tears, suppressing the bitterness in his heart.

"Your father is working very hard every day so that he can see his daughter again."

Zhou Qing was at a loss for words.

"What are you working on?" Nannan asked, blinking her big, wet eyes.

"I'm trying," Zhou Qing took a deep breath and forced a smile. "I'm trying to prepare a surprise for Nannan."

"A surprise?" The little girl's eyes lit up instantly, her previous sadness vanishing. "What kind of surprise is it?"

Looking at her excited expression, Zhou Qing felt a mix of emotions.

He gently pinched her little cheek: "Well, if I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise."

The little girl pouted, about to protest, when suddenly her body swayed and she slumped forward.

Zhou Qing reacted quickly and pulled her into his arms.

"Nannan? Nannan!"

The little girl in my arms was breathing steadily, her face was rosy, as if she were just asleep.

Zhou Qing quickly checked her pulse and found that her vital signs were all normal.

"Don't worry!"

A hoarse voice came from the darkness.

Zhou Qing looked up abruptly and saw that Sikong Yan had been standing in the shadows in the corner of the hall at some point.

He was still wearing that bright red robe, with a half-smile on his face.

“Her time to wake up is limited.” Sikong Yan walked slowly closer: “At the very least, it will be like what just happened; at the very least, it may be two or three days.”

Zhou Qing gently placed Nannan in the center of the magic circle, watching her little face gradually return to calm.

"How on earth did you do that?"

Zhou Qing glanced at Nannan and asked, pretending to know nothing about the Life-Repairing Technique.

Sikong Yan did not answer immediately.

He stood at the edge of the magic circle, gently tracing the dark red patterns with his fingers, his eyes unfathomable.

"Before answering your question," he suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse, "could you first clear up my confusion?"

(End of this chapter)