The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 360 The Blind Date Event at Azure Lake! (6k)

Inside the Jintian Palace!

Sikong Yan could not hide his excitement, his eyes gleaming with ecstatic light.

He had expected the business to be fraught with difficulties, but it went much more smoothly than he had imagined.

He then turned to Zhou Qing, a smug smile playing on his lips, and said in a light tone, "How about that? I haven't caused a single problem. Shouldn't you look at me with new respect?"

Zhou Qing was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."

"Wait!" Sikong Yan hurriedly reached out to stop him, his expression becoming more serious. "At most, it will take me a year to prepare everything."

He paused, his tone unusually sincere, "I hope we can continue to cooperate. After all... you wouldn't want to just watch your master and the others run out of lifespan and pass away, would you?"

Zhou Qing suddenly stopped, slowly turned around, and said with a sharp look in his eyes: "You've been planning this for so long, I'm really curious—where exactly is the secret formula you think is hidden?"

Sikong Yan smiled mysteriously and lowered his voice, saying, "I can only tell you that the place is sealed off by multiple restrictions, and even a Spirit Severing Realm expert would find it difficult to force his way in."

A sly glint flashed in his eyes. "Otherwise, why would I wait until you've condensed five thousand spirit seals before daring to ask for your help?"

Zhou Qing gave him a deep look, and finally nodded and said, "Okay, see you in a year."

After saying that, he turned and left, his figure quickly disappearing into the shadows of the Jintian Palace.

He had to help Sikong Yan.

After all, he had already expressed his intention to cooperate. If he suddenly changed his mind, given Sikong Yan's suspicious nature, he might suspect that he had discovered something on the sixth floor, which would explain his change of attitude.

Moreover, the other party possesses the token for the [Hidden Dragon Path] teleportation array, along with the cultivation level of the Spirit Severing Realm and the ability to tear space. If they become suspicious, they could return to the Royal Treasury at any time to investigate.

Furthermore, only by helping Sikong Yan complete this task can a [Friend's Request] slot be used, paving the way for subsequent refreshes.

As for the predicament faced by Shen Hanyi, with her late-stage Spirit Severing Realm cultivation, she probably wouldn't even bother to discuss it with me.

After leaving the area where the princes resided, Zhou Qing stopped and gazed into the distance.

At the edge of the sky, the nine-tiered palace hangs like an ink dot in the air, appearing and disappearing among the clouds.

His brows were furrowed, and his mind was in turmoil.

The old emperor Xuanyuan Chong actually left a note in the hidden compartment. Was it because no one had noticed it for three thousand years that he became bored, or was he too confident in his own plan?

"Just how many Spirit Severing Realm experts has the imperial dynasty secretly cultivated?"

It should be noted that this was the most recent time when Consort Chen brought the Nine Netherworld Demon Lotus, which her elder sister Lu Yuanjiu had been guarding, into the capital.

Afterwards, Zhou Qing contacted his second senior sister and senior brother, asking them to stop looking for Lu Yaoyao.

Now that Xuanyuan Shuo has returned from the border, Shen Hanyi, number six, should be arriving soon. He will find that girl and protect her.

"Although we now have two hundred wood-attribute spirit stones, it will take far more than a year to either continue copying new spirit seals or to comprehend the sixth phoenix Dao pattern."

Zhou Qing's gaze was serious as he secretly made his calculations.

"Sikong Yan will be ready in a year at most. If you help him, there is at least a chance that you will get fifty top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones and one hundred ordinary top-grade spirit stones."

Since advancing to the fourth level of array master, he has vaguely touched that threshold, but has always fallen just short—

artistic conception!

Zhou Qing breathed a long sigh of relief.

He still needs some enhancement and refinement of the artistic conception, especially the life-and-death struggle, so that he can better understand it.

However, the capital city was clearly not a suitable place for trials.

The slightest rustling of wind here could send several powerful experts at the Spirit Severing Realm arriving in an instant.

Moreover, without any grudge or enmity, who would fight him to the death?
So, there's only one place left!

A glint flashed in Zhou Qing's eyes—the border!
Since Xuanyuan Yichen has not returned and Xuanyuan Shuo has left, this is the best time to completely resolve this hidden danger.

From Xuan Yuan Yichen's leak of secrets to Xuan Yuan Shuo's waiting outside Taiqing Gate, and then to the various actions of the royal family, all of this indicates that these three generations had long been secretly colluding to plot this scheme!

Once Xuanyuan Yichen returns to the capital and doesn't go out for a while, the chances of killing him will be slim.

But if I let it go, will it become a new obsession that affects my ability to sever the spirit?
Right now is the best opportunity!

Xuanyuan Yichen himself is at the Nascent Soul stage, and he is surrounded by powerful figures such as protectors and border legion commanders.

If we can use them to hone our skills, we will surely be able to perfect our artistic conception.

Moreover, with the [Hidden Dragon Path] token, the journey to and from the border will only take a little over three months, which will not delay Sikong Yan's affairs at all.

Having made up his mind, Zhou Qing immediately set off for the place he had agreed upon with his senior brothers and sisters.

……

Two days later, in a private room of a restaurant.

"That sixth kid from Shenyue Peak is really good at running!" Ghost Hound ripped off his mask, tilted his head back, and gulped down a mouthful of strong liquor. "We searched the entire capital and couldn't find a single hair on him!"

Luo Lingling sighed softly, "Following the clues you gave us, we searched specifically for the blond-haired cultivator, but we still found nothing."

Zhou Qing reassured her, "It's alright. Since Junior Sister Lu has already broken through to the Nascent Soul stage and has Shen Yunzhou by her side, she should be fine."

In a fourth-level cultivation country, those at the Nascent Soul stage are already considered second-tier powerhouses, enough to protect themselves.

Ghost Hound suddenly put down his wine jug and excitedly transmitted his voice: "Fourth brother, I used to think that the Spirit Severing Realm was out of reach, but I never thought that you could be on par with them so quickly!"

Zhou Qing quickly shook his head in denial: "Below the level of the Spirit Slayer, all are mere ants. Even a fourth-level array master is no exception."

Situ Jiuyao, as a formation master of a fifth-level cultivation country, possessed a spiritual seal that far surpassed his own.

But when facing an existence like the Roc Emperor, wouldn't he be able to annihilate it at will?

Zhou Qing was well aware of his own limitations.

Ghost Hound lowered his voice and said, "I'm telling the truth, you probably don't know yet. There are already seven Spirit Severing Realm experts from various prefectures who have come to the capital, each bringing with them the most outstanding juniors of their clans."

He paused, "They are waiting for you at the Azure Lake, wishing to discuss the Dao with you for ten days, and are even willing to share their insights on breaking through to the Spirit Severing Realm free of charge."

"Seven Great Spirit Slayers? Azure Lake?" Zhou Qing was stunned.

Luo Lingling continued, "Doesn't the Holy Martial Dynasty officially only have seventeen Spirit Severing Realm experts?"

“Apart from the five who are still at the Taichu Dojo in the Vast Expanse Prefecture, plus Nangong Xiong Ba who only has a primordial spirit left, as well as President Mo and the three members of the royal family, the remaining seven have all come.”

She looked at Zhou Qing meaningfully, "Now, they have been waiting for you by the lake for three days. What do you think about this?"

Zhou Qing fell into deep thought.

For the past two months, he had been busy with Sikong Yan's affairs, unaware that the Seven Great Spirit Slayers had been waiting for him.

Ghost Hound reminded, "There are countless cultivators gathered around Azure Lake now."

"I not only want to witness the prowess of a level four array master, but I also hope to meet the elusive and powerful Spirit Slayer."

His expression was grave. "If you show yourself now, you will become the target of everyone's criticism."

Zhou Qing frowned.

If they don't keep their appointment and make the Seven Great Spirit Slayers wait for ten days, it would be far too arrogant.

This would not only damage their reputation, but could also affect their future interactions with the Taiqing Sect.

Moreover, if he could receive their guidance on the art of slaying spirits, it would be an immense opportunity for him.

Although these Spirit Severing Realm cultivators broke through using secret medicines, their ability to survive among so many veteran geniuses suggests they all possess extraordinary skills.

"I want to go!" Zhou Qing said decisively.

Just as Gui Ao was about to dissuade her, Luo Lingling gently waved her fan and said, "I support Xiao Aqing."

"Now that everyone knows 'Young Master Chicken', why hide anymore? We act with integrity and honesty; it's only by not going that we'll offend these important figures."

Zhou Qing nodded: "Senior sister is right. It's better to be upright and honest than to be timid and hesitant."

"Bullshit!" Ghost Hound slammed his fist on the table, the wine pot rattling loudly. "These old bastards are clearly putting up this kind of pressure! Seven Spirit Severing Realm cultivators putting on such a show is utterly shameless!"

Zhou Qing laughed nonchalantly: "That's precisely why we need to become stronger. Strong enough that no one will dare to pressure us like this again!"

The two were taken aback by what they heard, and their gazes toward Zhou Qing became more complicated.

As his seniors, they could only watch him shoulder such a heavy burden alone.
"Let's go. Since we're free, let's go meet them." Zhou Qing stood up with a flick of his sleeve, and the two followed closely behind.

……

The shores of the azure lake were teeming with people.

Millions of cultivators surrounded the shore of the largest inner lake in the imperial capital, making it impossible to move.

Some even piloted flying boats hovering on the edge of the sky, just to catch a glimpse of this once-in-a-millennium event.

Seven jade platforms floated in the air in the center of the lake, with the seven great Spirit Severing Realm experts sitting cross-legged.

The patriarch of the Zhuge family gently waved his Bagua feather fan, behind whom stood a woman in plain clothes holding a Jiaowei zither.

The patriarch of the Murong family held a glass cup in his hand, while the twin sisters beside him were graceful and charming.

A burly man with a bushy beard from the Tuoba family carried a bronze tripod on his shoulder, while three spirited young women dressed in hunting attire stood holding bows.

A pale-faced scholar from the Wang family was playing with a jade flute, while two fairies dressed in flowing robes were brewing tea.

An elderly man in a purple robe from the Sun family was playing chess, while a young girl with a cinnabar dot between her eyebrows sat opposite him on the chessboard.

The one-armed swordsman of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion stood with his sword in his arms, while seven white-clad women carrying sword boxes on their backs were secretly exchanging information.

The old woman from the Ji family, dressed in black, leaned on a dragon-headed cane, while nine Miao girls wearing silver bells sat cross-legged with their eyes closed.

The lake reflected the glow of the sunset, making the carefully prepared "matchmaking event" even more beautiful.

Whispers rose and fell among the crowds by the lake, and the eyes of a million cultivators were fixed on the stunning beauties brought by the seven great families.

"That zither-bearer from the Zhuge family—" A cultivator in a blue robe clicked his tongue, a look of infatuation flashing in his eyes. "I've heard that he possesses the 'Nine Heavens Pure Sound Body,' and when paired with that Jiao Wei Zither made of ten-thousand-year-old phoenix perch wood, a single piece he plays can help one achieve enlightenment, and during cultivation, it can calm the mind and spirit. It's practically a walking enlightenment pill!"

"Heh!" A purple-robed cultivator next to him spat disdainfully, but his eyes were fixed on the jade platform of the Murong family.

"What's so special about that? The twins from the Murong family are truly amazing. They've cultivated the Yin-Yang Harmony Technique to the eighth level, and it's said that they can activate the Yin-Yang Dao rhythm during dual cultivation."

His Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice became hoarse. "If I could win their favor even once, it would be worth at least ten years of hard work!"

"What do you know!" a tall, thin cultivator said in a low voice, his eyes gleaming with greed.

"The one from the Sun family with the cinnabar mark between her eyebrows is the real beauty! That 'virginity mark' of hers is actually left by an ancient secret technique, which is said to help people break through bottlenecks and even cleanse their foundation...hehe..."

"It seems these Spirit Slayer families have brought out all their most treasured possessions!"

A cultivator nearby clicked his tongue sourly, "They usually keep things to themselves, but now they're willing to go to great lengths to win over 'Chicken Prince' Zhou Qing!"

"Do you think Zhou Qing will come? It's been three days, and we haven't even seen a trace of him." Someone craned their neck to look. "If he does come, which one will he choose?"

"Choose?" A burly man with a face full of scars sneered. "Only children make choices!"

"If I were Zhou Qing, I would go to the Murong family today to help them refine a restriction, and while I'm at it, I would 'instruct' the twins on their cultivation techniques."

"I'll go visit the Ji family again tomorrow and have a 'discussion' with the nine Silver Bell female cultivators... Hehe, a different experience every day!"

"Stop talking!" His companion exclaimed, pounding his chest in frustration. "It's getting more and more upsetting! How come other people are so lucky?"

"With three Spirit Slayers guarding the sect, and myself being the only Level 4 Array Master in the Holy Martial Dynasty, I'm now being courted by all sides... This luck is simply heaven-defying!"

"Heh, that old ancestor of the Nangong family must be regretting it to the core right now, right?" someone gloated.

"Having been reduced to a mere wisp of primordial spirit by three Spirit Severing Realm experts, I no longer even have the right to seek revenge!"

……

Amidst the murmurs of countless people, no one noticed that a blond-haired young man in the crowd was standing on tiptoe, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets, staring intently at the stunning beauties in the center of the lake.

"Absolutely stunning! Every single one of them is top-notch!" Shen Yunzhou wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and turned to look at Lu Yaoyao beside him.

"Little Deer, you're so lucky! You might have a whole bunch of wives doting on you in the future!"

Lu Yaoyao snorted coldly, her little face tense: "Just pretty faces! My Senior Brother Zhou wouldn't even look at them! If he's going to find a Daoist partner, it has to be someone like Sister Hanyi!"

Shen Yunzhou rolled his eyes: "You women are so stubborn! What's so great about my sister? She always has such a cold face..."

He turned his head and gazed at the center of the lake with fascination, "Look at them, gentle as water, each with its own unique charm..."

Lu Yaoyao pursed her lips and stopped talking, silently taking out her sect identity token to send another message.

The light on the screen remained unresponsive, and she dejectedly put away the token, letting out a soft sigh.

It's been three days. I'm afraid my senior brother won't be coming.

"Has Sister Shen not come back yet?" she suddenly turned her head and asked.

Shen Yunzhou was gazing intently at the center of the lake when he heard this, and waved his hand, saying, "Don't mention anything that would spoil the mood on such a happy day. Don't worry, if my sister comes back, she'll definitely come looking for us right away."

But soon, his eyes darted around, as if he had thought of something. He quietly moved closer to examine Lu Yaoyao, "However—"

“Your silver hair is exactly like my older sister’s!” He mysteriously pulled a jade talisman from his pocket.

"Look, this is the 'Fox Borrowing the Tiger' talisman my sister gave me. It has three-colored restrictions engraved on it and can simulate the aura of the Spirit Severing Realm."

"Let's put on our masks and grab an empty platform. With my sister's reputation for severely injuring Xuan Yuan Shuo, I guarantee these people will have to stand up and bow!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, "Not only will I be able to discuss scriptures and doctrines with them, but I'll also be able to see these fairies up close."

"Are you crazy?!" Lu Yaoyao exclaimed, her eyes wide. "No wonder Sister Shen always says you're a troublemaker! I'm not going!"

"What's there to be afraid of!" Shen Yunzhou persisted. "You just play the aloof card, I'll handle the talking. Your brother Shen has seen plenty of Spirit Severing Realm cultivators; these few are no match for you."

Lu Yaoyao shook her head vigorously: "Then I might as well just use my inner power to summon Senior Brother Zhou."

Shen Yunzhou's eyes lit up immediately: "Wow! That's a brilliant idea!"

He rubbed his hands together excitedly, "We can be his spokespeople, then..."

"Get out!" Lu Yaoyao interrupted irritably. "Don't you deal with rotting corpses and bones all day long? Why are you suddenly so interested in pretty girls?"

Shen Yunzhou looked aggrieved: "Artistic conception is artistic conception, and orientation is orientation, okay! According to you, I have to go to the Burial Mound to find a Daoist partner in the future?"

"Pfft—" Lu Yaoyao couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Shen Yunzhou imagined the scene himself and couldn't help but shudder, then burst into laughter.

As the laughter subsided, Shen Yunzhou suddenly became serious and asked, "Do you really think my sister and Brother Zhou are a good match?"

Lu Yaoyao nodded seriously: "Don't you think so?"

Shen Yunzhou frowned slightly. "It's not that I'm against it. It's just..."

He hesitated for a moment, then finally sighed.

"You should know that my Shen family is one of the eight super families in Nanhuang Prefecture of the Heavenly Fortune Holy Dynasty. The Yan family ranks third, and we rank fifth."

He gazed at his reflection in the lake, his voice low and deep, "Don't underestimate this family; its complexity far surpasses that of your Holy Martial Imperial Palace."

"The forces behind each of the wives are deeply entrenched, and the open and covert struggles have never stopped."

He turned to look directly at Lu Yaoyao, "If my sister really becomes Brother Zhou's Daoist partner, the Taiqing Sect may not be able to withstand this storm."

Lu Yaoyao frowned, her face full of disbelief: "Is it really that scary?"

“Your Taiqing Sect is too friendly and clean.” Shen Yunzhou suddenly stopped joking and his eyes turned gloomy. “You must not understand this if you cultivate in such an environment. Let me give you a few simple examples.”

As he spoke, he began to count on his fingers, "framing someone, shifting blame, using someone else to do the dirty work, and betraying those who have helped you."

With each word he spoke, his voice rose a notch, drawing the attention of the surrounding cultivators.

Seeing Lu Yaoyao's blank expression, he became even more interested and continued listing off her favorite sayings: "Deceiving superiors and subordinates, distorting the truth, kicking someone when they're down, and being two-faced."

When he got excited, he even started gesturing wildly, saying things like, "They outwardly comply but inwardly defy, sow discord, and take advantage of others' misfortunes."

Lu Yaoyao's lips twitched. They both have the surname Shen, is it really necessary to be so ruthless?
No wonder you could grasp such a disgusting concept – it's a miracle you can survive in this kind of environment; whether you become psychologically abnormal is a minor matter.

……

Meanwhile, on the jade platform in the center of the lake, seven figures each occupied a different spot.

Ancestor Murong lightly tapped the jade table, his aged voice carrying a hint of amusement: "What do you all think? Do you believe that young friend Zhou will grace us with his presence today?"

Zhuge Laozu paused slightly as he stroked his beard, his eyes glancing at the woman in plain clothes standing silently behind him: "Young people value their reputation most. Since we have jointly extended this invitation, I presume..."

"What's the rush!" The burly man from the Tuoba family tilted his head back and gulped down a mouthful of strong liquor, the liquid dripping down his beard. "A Nascent Soul cultivator at the peak of his cultivation at less than fifty years old, and a level four array master at that—this kind of person is worth waiting a few more days for!"

The old patriarch of the Sun family chuckled and smoothed things over, saying, "It's alright if you don't come. It'll be a good opportunity for us old folks to catch up."

“Not bad,” the old woman of the Ji family tapped the jade platform lightly with her dragon-headed cane. “It’s a good opportunity to exchange information. Recently, several Spirit Slayers have emerged silently in the Holy Martial Dynasty, and we have not noticed them at all.”

The one-armed swordsman from the Heavenly Sword Pavilion suddenly opened his eyes: "The three masters of the Eastern Region's Taiqing Sect, the one who killed the Grand Eunuch in the street, and the one who broke into Old Ghost Nangong's treasury at night."

“You’ve forgotten one,” the Wang family patriarch said, gently stroking his jade flute, “that white-haired female spirit-slaying warrior who razed the array hall. Originally, our disciples could still practice array formations in the hall, but now, they’ve all gone home.”

Patriarch Murong stroked his long, snow-white beard and said slowly, "But she is ultimately not a member of my Holy Martial Dynasty. However..."

A glint of light flashed in his cloudy old eyes. "I'm quite curious about the outcome of her battle with the Peng Emperor."

"Although the demon kings on the border are constantly fighting amongst themselves, they unite against our human race."

"Hahaha!" The burly man with a bushy beard from the Tuoba family suddenly slammed his hand on the table and burst into laughter, causing the wine in the jar to splash out.

"It seems you've truly been out of touch with the world all these years! There's something you probably don't know—the Spider King Ye Luo is dead!"

"What?!" The six ancestors changed color at the same time, and the powerful fluctuations of their divine senses shook the entire lake.

Tuoba Dahan proudly shook the wine jar: "A few days ago, in order to find the 'Nine Netherworld Iron,' I made a special trip to the border and only then did I learn something about it."

He deliberately kept everyone in suspense, slowly wiping the wine stains from his beard. "Guess who did it?"

Seeing everyone holding their breath, he said, slowly and deliberately, "It is indeed that silver-haired, veiled woman! Moreover..."

He lowered his voice, "It was still on the territory of the Jiao Emperor Xuanqiu! Now, due to the lingering influence of his obsession, the Jiao Emperor Xuanqiu has no choice but to move to the Spider Emperor's lair."

He then took another big gulp of wine. "So, if Brother Xuanyuan isn't lying, Peng Huang is definitely going to die this time!"

The elders looked at each other, each lost in thought.

If Peng Huang cannot escape this calamity, then the border's Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range will only be guarded by the three demon emperors: Jiao Huang, Qingluo Beast, and Weilun Demon.

Even if the demon emperor at the deeper level wanted to take this opportunity to expand his territory, he would need time to mobilize his troops.
In that case, they could take some time to go over and have a look around; they might find some good, unclaimed items.

……

"I wonder if my Ghost Mastiff will ever have such a grand display someday!"

When Zhou Qing and his two companions arrived at Bibo Tianhu, they were amazed by the huge crowds thronging the lakeside. Ghost Mastiff couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

Luo Lingling covered her mouth and chuckled: "What's so difficult about that? Don't forget, you are Xiao Aqing's senior brother. On your wedding day, there will probably be several times more people coming to congratulate you than this."

Ghost Hound curled his lip: "Those people didn't come to congratulate me, they were clearly after my junior brother."

Zhou Qing shook his head and chuckled, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the crowd, when suddenly his eyes lit up.

Behind the crowd on the opposite shore of the lake, a woman had the golden nickname "Good Dad" floating above her head.

Although the crowd was surging, only a faint golden light could be seen appearing and disappearing in the crowd. Who else could it be but Lu Yaoyao?

"Senior Brother, Second Senior Sister," Zhou Qing lowered his voice, gave the two a wink, and then quietly retreated.

Then the three figures darted towards the opposite bank...

(End of this chapter)