The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 338 Young friend, I wonder if you like this gift? (6k)

Faced with Gao Xianzong's counter-threat, Granny Su's withered fingers tightened on her cane, her knuckles turning bluish-white.

Then, she raised her cloudy eyes and stared intently at him.

"That's enough!" Sensing her dying breath, Gao Xianzong suddenly turned away with a flick of his sleeve.

"Since you enjoy staying in this shabby place so much, then we won't clean it. Anyway..."

He turned around and gave a meaningful smile, "Your Majesty will never set foot here in your entire life."

He walked slowly toward the palace gate, but stopped at the threshold, and said without turning his head:

"For the sake of our many years of acquaintance, on the day you breathe your last, our family will reward you with a fine coffin made of dark wood."

After saying that, he strode away, leaving behind only headless corpses scattered on the ground and a hunched figure standing in a pool of blood, leaning on a cracked cane.

Zhou Qing, hidden in the shadows, saw everything.

He never expected that such an old woman would be hiding in this abandoned palace.

It seems that she already knew about it when her senior brother and the others took refuge last time, but she didn't pay any attention to it.

But it must be said that this Grand Eunuch's methods were truly ruthless.

Just because the old woman uttered a taboo word, the other party mercilessly slaughtered all of her companions.

However, judging from their words, there seems to be another hidden story behind the death of this former crown prince.

“Late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, lifespan is about to end.” Zhou Qing secretly confirmed the old woman’s cultivation level.

At this moment, Granny Su looked in the direction Gao Xianzong had left, then looked down at the corpses scattered on the ground, and let out a sigh of old age, her figure becoming even more hunched.

She then turned slightly to look at the palace not far away and said, "My two young friends, my body is no longer fit for this. Please take these corpses with you when you leave. Thank you."

After saying that, he leaned on his cane, slowly turned around, and stepped into the darkness.

Before long, Gui'ao and Luo Lingling walked out from the direction she was looking at. The two looked at each other and solemnly bowed to her departing figure.

With a wave of his hand, he collected all the corpses scattered on the ground into his storage bag.

Zhou Qing emerged from the shadows, his brows furrowed beneath his mask, his gaze fixed intently on the dimly lit palace.

Upon seeing Zhou Qing appear, the two immediately stepped forward.

Zhou Qing nodded slightly, and the three of them quickly left in tacit agreement.

……

"That was close!" Ghost Hound was still shaken after leaving the Jintian Palace. "Last time we hid here for three months and didn't even notice her presence."

Zhou Qing said in a low voice, "This Granny Su must have deliberately hidden herself and was guarding this abandoned palace. It's really fortunate that you didn't damage this place."

Ghost Hound nodded: "That's right, we were just hiding. Is your affair with Xuan Yuan Yichen over?"

“Well, I plan to visit the Duobao Chamber of Commerce first, and then find a secluded place to cultivate in seclusion,” Zhou Qing said to the two of them.

He already has twelve top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones, but it's probably not safe enough to condense six thousand spirit seals. He needs to prepare some more.

The two looked slightly surprised upon hearing this, and Luo Lingling couldn't help but say, "Didn't you say the other day that there was no rush? Now there are quite a few people in the Chamber of Commerce who are looking for news about 'Chicken Prince'."

Zhou Qing smiled and said, "Plans can't keep up with changes, don't worry, it's fine."

The two naturally had no doubt about Zhou Qing's abilities.

After a brief discussion, Ghost Mastiff nodded and said, "Alright, we just need to dispose of these corpses anyway. However, three people traveling together would be too conspicuous, so we won't go with you."

Zhou Qing understood, and the three headed straight for the Duobao Chamber of Commerce, but separated when they were close to it.

When Zhou Qing changed into a dark brocade robe and stepped into the Chamber of Commerce wearing a brand-new silver-patterned mask, he immediately heard a chorus of discussions around him.

Many cultivators were still gathered in the main hall, chattering about the details of "Young Master Chicken" killing the Robbery Cloud Bandits.

"Distinguished guest, what do you need?" A quick-witted servant stepped forward and bowed.

Zhou Qing lowered his voice and deliberately changed his tone: "I want to find Manager Jin."

The servant smiled wryly and pointed to the noisy crowd outside: "They've all come to ask Manager Jin about the Robbery of the Clouds..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhou Qing had already slipped a high-grade spirit stone into the other person's sleeve without making a sound.

The waiter's eyes widened in surprise. In all his years in the business, this was the first time he had ever encountered such a generous customer.

This spirit stone is worth three years' worth of his wages!
The servant's Adam's apple bobbed, and after glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he quickly put the spirit stone into his pocket.

He leaned closer to Zhou Qing and lowered his voice, saying, "Distinguished guest, I can pass on your message, but Manager Jin will most likely not see you."

"Why?" Zhou Qing frowned slightly.

The servant leaned closer mysteriously and said, "Manager Jin suffered a mental injury and is currently recuperating."

"His soul is injured?" Zhou Qing was shocked and immediately realized, "He was subjected to soul searching?"

When they parted ways that day, the other party went back with Manager Chen Xuan, who had come to their rescue.

As a cultivator at the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul Realm, and given that they were already quite close to the capital, with Chen the shopkeeper escorting them, there was practically no way anything could go wrong.

Considering recent events, there's only one possibility left.

The servant nodded, lowering his voice even further: "It was Manager Jin who requested it. In order to prove to the guild master that 'Young Master Chicken' had indeed killed the nine bandits of Jieyun, he voluntarily underwent a soul search."

"Think about it, as a powerful expert in the Spirit Severing Realm, if you don't have solid evidence to report to the Emperor that someone has avenged the Thirteenth Prince, you shouldn't be helping the Nangong family to capture him."

"What if these bandits were to rise from the dead? What would become of the royal family's reputation? What would become of the Duobao Merchant Guild's millennia-old credibility?"

Zhou Qingxin was shocked. He never expected that Jin Mantang would be so righteous as to risk damage to his soul to testify for him.

A warm feeling welled up in my heart, but it was mixed with a bit of guilt.

Seeing that the servant was about to leave, Zhou Qing quickly added, "Please also pass on a message: 'An old friend has come to visit, bringing two top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones.'"

The servant paused upon hearing this, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Two top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones?
Could it be that Manager Jin owes this distinguished guest such a heavy debt?
He clicked his tongue in surprise, but dared not ask any more questions. He simply nodded respectfully and hurried towards the inner courtyard.

Zhou Qing watched the servant leave, then turned and strolled towards the outer hall.

Several shopkeepers were surrounded by a large group of cultivators who patiently recounted the details of the Battle of the Sea of ​​No Light.

A dozen or so surviving guards also corroborated the story, gesturing to describe the harrowing scene.

The hall was bustling with noise, as new cultivators arrived every day requesting to confirm the matter with their own ears.

……

Meanwhile, in the quiet room of the inner courtyard.

Jin Mantang was half-reclining on the soft couch, his face still pale, with a soul-suppressing talisman still stuck to his forehead.

He had no regrets about voluntarily requesting the guild leader to perform a soul search.

If it weren't for the Chicken Prince's rescue, he probably would have died in the Sea of ​​No Light long ago.

Moreover, apart from the difference in combat strength, there is really no difference between the early stage of the Nascent Soul Realm and the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul Realm.

Their lifespans are all two thousand years. Moreover, as the manager, he doesn't need to fight or kill anyone. Their lives may not be as comfortable as his.

As for the realm of Spirit Severance? That is an even more unattainable dream.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and he barely opened his bloodshot eyes.

"Shopkeeper," the servant tiptoed in and whispered, "there's a distinguished guest outside wearing a silver-patterned mask. He says he's an old friend and mentioned two top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones. He says he wants to see you. What do you think—"

Upon hearing this, Jin Mantang subconsciously waved his hand.

Although the guild leader is at the Spirit Severing Realm, and the soul search he conducted was conducted using the gentlest methods possible, his sea of ​​consciousness is still violently shaking.

At this moment, he just wants to rest and doesn't want to see anyone.

Seeing that Manager Jin refused, the servant seemed to have expected it, and didn't say anything more before preparing to leave.

"Wait a minute!" Just as he was about to close the door, Jin Mantang suddenly jolted awake.

He suddenly propped himself up, but because he moved too quickly, his vision went black and he almost fell off the bed.

The servant rushed forward to help him up, but the man grabbed his wrist: "You, what did you just say? Two top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones?"

"Indeed." The servant was startled by the shopkeeper's unusual reaction. "That distinguished guest is currently in the outer hall."

Jin Mantang took a deep breath, then slapped his forehead hard.

After the soul search, my mind did indeed become slower.

You should know that when he was recruiting second-grade array masters in Yaoguang Prefecture, he promised the rooster a top-grade wood-attribute spirit stone.

In the life-or-death moment when they were attacked by bandits, in the core area of ​​the inner cabin, he distributed all the rewards in advance, allowing everyone to escape.
What was given to the young master was two top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones as compensation.

Although this matter was reported to the headquarters, since it needed to be reimbursed, outsiders were unaware of it.

Moreover, it was an old friend visiting; needless to say, Young Master Chicken had come to see him.

"Wait a minute!" After thinking it through, Jin Mantang quickly got up and hurriedly grabbed his outer robe and put it on.

"Shopkeeper, please slow down," the waiter quickly reminded him when he saw that he had even put his shoes on backwards.

But Jin Mantang had no time to care about any of that.

He had barely taken a step when he felt dizzy and saw stars before his eyes. Cold sweat instantly soaked through his clothes.

The servant stared dumbfounded at the shopkeeper's flustered appearance, wondering: Who on earth is this person who can make Shopkeeper Jin lose his composure like this?
"Quick! Help me over there!" Jin Mantang grabbed the servant's shoulder, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

The servant dared not delay and quickly took Jin Mantang's arm, carefully helping him walk towards the outer hall.

……

And so, the servant helped Jin Mantang through the winding corridor.

With each step, Jin Mantang could feel a tearing pain in his mind, but he gritted his teeth and walked faster and faster.

She even nearly broke free from the servant's support several times.

Until you turn past the last screen, the clamor from the outer hall rushes towards you.

Jin Mantang squinted his blurry eyes, anxiously searching for that familiar figure in the crowd.

"That's him!" The servant pointed to Zhou Qing in the corner.

At this moment, Zhou Qing also noticed something and slowly turned his head.

Upon seeing Jin Mantang's pale face, the man frowned deeply beneath his mask, sighed heavily, and strode over.

Jin Mantang recognized those deep yet sharp eyes at a glance, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

But then he remembered that the Nangong family was doing everything they could to hunt down the other party, so he quickly composed himself and waved to the servant, "Go ahead and get busy."

The servant understood and respectfully withdrew. "Why did you do this?" Zhou Qing stepped forward to help him up.

Jin Mantang said weakly, "You saved me, and I just want to do what I can."

Zhou Qing said no more, but steadily supported his swaying body.

"It's alright, it's alright," Jin Mantang waved his hands repeatedly, then lowered his voice: "Young Master, you've come to collect those top-grade spirit stones, haven't you?"

Seeing Zhou Qing nod, Jin Mantang continued, "I originally estimated the highest price to be around 530 coins, but after the chairman learned about it, he specifically mentioned 666 coins, implying that the young master will have a smooth journey under the pursuit of the Nangong family."

Zhou Qing chuckled upon hearing this: "Please thank the chairman for me."

Jin Mantang nodded, hesitated for a moment, and finally couldn't help but ask, "Young Master, are you really a Level 3 Array Master?"

Zhou Qing nodded calmly.

After all, it would be impossible for a level two formation master to repair the core of the formation that Zou Lun had damaged so quickly.

Upon seeing Zhou Qing's admission, Jin Mantang was overjoyed.

"The chairman anticipated that you would come to me and specifically instructed that if you are willing to become a retainer of our organization, your salary will be the highest, and any conditions can be discussed."

"Moreover, with the president's protection, even if the Nangong family has someone at the Spirit Severing Realm, they would never dare to touch you in the slightest."

Zhou Qing shook his head and chuckled: "Thank you for your kind offer, but I'm used to being free and easy and don't like being constrained."

"It's just a nominal position; there won't be any restrictions," Jin Mantang tried to persuade him further.

Zhou Qing shook his head, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more.

Besides, if I take off the mask, who will know that I am "Chicken Prince"?
Where will the Nangong family look for me now?
"Alright." Seeing Zhou Qing's firm attitude, Jin Mantang had no choice but to give up. "Then please wait a moment, young master, I will go and get the spirit stones."

Zhou Qing suddenly said, "By the way, Manager Jin, could you help me exchange them for wood-attribute spirit stones? A higher exchange rate would be fine."

Jin Mantang, who was about to turn around, paused, his face showing surprise: "Wood attribute?"

Zhou Qing nodded and said, "That's right, the more wood element, the better."

Jin Mantang didn't ask any more questions, but nodded solemnly: "Okay, I'll do my best!"

After saying that, he forced himself to stay upright and hurriedly left.

Zhou Qing watched his departing figure and breathed a long sigh of relief.

Among the five elements' top-grade spirit stones, the wood attribute is the rarest and most precious.

Its spiritual power is naturally endowed with the characteristic of nourishing all things, flowing like a gentle spring breeze and rain.

Whether it's healing wounds and prolonging life, assisting in alchemy, breaking through cultivation realms, or setting up formations to attract spiritual energy, its involvement can make all the difference.

Moreover, according to the records Zhou Qing consulted, the conditions for the formation of wood-attribute spirit stones are far more demanding than those for other attributes.

Typically, only deep within the roots of a spirit tree that has grown for ten thousand years, nurtured in a pure and vibrant land, can a wood-attribute spiritual vein possibly form.

They then mined a small number of wood-attribute spirit stones.

“Wudao Ancient Tea Tree, you have a really discerning palate.” Zhou Qing smiled wryly to himself.

"It's fortunate that you're not lightning-struck wood and didn't ask for the even rarer lightning-attribute spirit stone, otherwise I would have given up immediately!"

Zhou Qing shook his head, intending to find a quiet place to wait.

Suddenly, his expression hardened, and he turned around abruptly.

Not far behind him, in the corridor, another figure appeared out of nowhere.

He was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man, dressed in a plain white robe, with only a jade abacus hanging at his waist.

He stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly blending into the surrounding space. Although he was standing there, he gave people a sense of etherealness.

"The president of the Duobao Chamber of Commerce?"

Zhou Qing's heart trembled violently, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily beneath the mask, but he did not appear overly panicked.

In fact, he had anticipated this scene before even stepping into the Chamber of Commerce.

How could someone who could make the emperor retract his order not be interested in this "Chicken Prince" who killed the bandits?
Unless he is willing to give up those five hundred-plus top-grade spirit stones, he will have to face this powerful figure sooner or later.

However, since he dared to come, he must have been prepared for a meeting; otherwise, with the involvement of the royal family, it would have been really inconvenient for the three of them to act.

"I apologize for my presumption," Zhou Qing said, bowing respectfully. "I am truly flattered by the presence of the Chairman."

The president in white chuckled upon hearing this, his smile as gentle as a spring breeze.

"As expected of someone capable of slaying the Cloud Pirates, your mental strength is so sharp. You detected me the moment I arrived. With such vigilance, it's no wonder you were able to escape unscathed from the Sea of ​​No Light."

"President, you flatter me." Zhou Qing said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I was just a bit lucky."

The president gave Zhou Qing a meaningful look: "Luck? To be able to kill nine of the Great Bandits of the Calamity Cloud in the Sea of ​​No Light and cause the Nangong family to suffer heavy losses, such 'luck' is something I have never seen before in my thousands of years of life."

Before he finished speaking, he lightly flicked his wide sleeves.

Zhou Qing felt a blur before his eyes, and the surrounding scenery faded away like flowing water. When he came to his senses, he found himself in a magnificent golden palace.

Nine gilded palace lanterns hung from the ceiling, their wicks burning with spiritual fire, making the jade inlaid on the four walls shine brightly.

Even with Zhou Qing's resolute will, this extraordinary ability to shift positions and change locations caused a tremor in his heart.

"Is this the method of the Spirit Severing Realm?" Zhou Qing was shocked.

What he currently understands is that those at the Spirit Severing Realm can tear through space to travel, and a journey that takes seven or eight days is but a fleeting moment in the eyes of the other party.

Only now did he truly see what the chairman looked like—a plain white robe embroidered with dark gold copper coin patterns, and a face that appeared to be around forty years old.

His eyebrows were like distant mountains, his lips like painted vermilion, and he was playing with an ancient bronze coin between his left fingers, which kept flying around.

"I am Mo Tianheng. If you don't mind, young friend, you may call me Old Mo!" the guild leader said with a smile, his voice as gentle as jade.

Zhou Qing had long heard of the chairman's great reputation.

The fact that the Duobao Chamber of Commerce was able to establish 35 branches in 72 prefectures and eight counties demonstrates the immense power of the organization.

Anyone with a modicum of knowledge knows the formidable reputation of Chairman Mo.
The way he was addressed as "Old Mo" reminded him of how his senior sister used to call their master "Old Mo." Although it was just a homonym, it added a touch of warmth to the conversation.

“This junior dares not overstep his bounds!” Zhou Qing bowed respectfully.

Mo Tianheng waved his sleeve, gesturing, "Sit down, no need for formalities. I knew you would come, but I didn't expect it to be so soon."

Zhou Qing sat down as instructed, his expression remaining cautious.

Mo Tianheng's gaze was deep as he slowly said, "Among cultivators of the same realm, it is already difficult to fight one against one, but you were able to fight nine against one and kill your opponents."

"To be honest, this is the first time I've ever seen something like this in all my years of cultivation."

"It was just luck," Zhou Qing said, shaking his head modestly.

Mo Tianheng nodded slightly, then said seriously, "In that case, I will get straight to the point—I admire you and would like to invite you to become a retainer of my Duobao Merchant Guild."

Zhou Qing frowned slightly, about to politely decline, but Mo Tianheng handed over a jade slip and said with a smile, "Don't rush to refuse, let's see the terms first."

Zhou Qing pondered for a moment, then took the jade slip. He scanned it with his divine sense, and his pupils immediately contracted, a look of shock flashing in his eyes.

The benefits listed there were so generous they were almost shocking.

The spiritual materials, cultivation techniques, and resources are all top-notch, and they even have special privileges within the chamber of commerce...

He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and finally shook his head, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, senior, but..."

Mo Tianheng seemed to have expected this, and before he could finish speaking, he smiled and said, "I know what you're worried about."

"Don't worry, the Chamber of Commerce will not restrict you in the slightest. If you need help, you can help if you can, but it's fine if you don't want to."

He paused, then added, "As for those few people from the Nangong family, they are just minor troubles that can be settled with money. The Chamber of Commerce will take care of it for you."

"In addition, the Chamber of Commerce's intelligence network covers eight prefectures and seventy-two counties. You can get the information immediately whatever you want to investigate."

"And you can get all the resources within the Chamber of Commerce at half price."

Zhou Qing remained silent for a moment, then handed the jade slip back, saying solemnly, "I appreciate your kindness, senior."

"It's just that I'm used to being alone and don't want to be tied down by any force."

"Furthermore, the path of cultivation must ultimately be walked step by step by oneself. If one relies too much on external forces, it is easy to lose one's true self."

Upon hearing this, a hint of regret flashed in Mo Tianheng's eyes, but it quickly turned into deeper admiration.

He stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his voice booming: "Good! What a fine 'unwilling to lose one's true self'! I knew I hadn't misjudged you."

"Among us cultivators, only one in ten thousand can resist such temptation."

He gazed intently at Zhou Qing, saying, "Young friend, your resolve is truly rare. If you ever change your mind, the doors of the Duobao Chamber of Commerce will always be open for you."

Zhou Qing stood up and clasped his hands in a fist salute again: "Thank you for your understanding, senior."

Before the words were even finished, the palace doors were pushed open.

Jin Mantang walked in hurriedly, carrying an exquisite storage bag in his hands.

"Greetings, Chairman!" Jin Mantang bowed respectfully.

Mo Tianheng nodded slightly: "Have you brought everything?"

"Yes." Jin Mantang presented the storage bag with both hands. "All the top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones in the guild are here."

"At the internal exchange rate of 1:10, I obtained a total of 53 top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones, and I still have 136 top-grade spirit stones remaining."

At this point, Jin Mantang still couldn't hide his shock.

When he went to the exchange hall, the hall master had already prepared everything, which meant that the president had made arrangements in advance.

It seems that this "Chicken Prince" holds a much higher place in the president's heart than he imagined.

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Zhou Qing's eyes.

Fifty-three top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones! This number far exceeded his expectations.

As expected of a top-tier business association that can establish itself in the capital, its foundation is indeed profound.

Mo Tianheng took the storage bag, but did not immediately hand it to Zhou Qing. Instead, he took out a purple-gold token from his sleeve.

The token is shimmering with light, with the words "Duobao" engraved on the front and the marks of the thirty-five branch headquarters on the back.

“Since you do not wish to be bound by these rules, I will not force you.” Mo Tianheng handed over the token and storage bag together.

"This VIP token is a small gift. The holder of this token can mobilize the resources of the thirty-five branches of the Chamber of Commerce, enjoy priority in purchasing, and all items will be settled at internal prices."

His gaze was deep, and his tone suddenly became solemn: "And I have only given away seventeen such tokens."

“Because the Holy Martial Dynasty has exactly seventeen Spirit Severing Realm experts on the surface—” Mo Tianheng deliberately emphasized the words “on the surface”, “that is, exactly seventeen!”

(End of this chapter)