The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 370 The Taiqing Sect must possess its own Spirit Severing Realm! (6k)

[The Blood Cauldron of Myriad Spirits: This is a cauldron forged with special power. After being improved by the old emperor using royal secret techniques, it has its own blood refining space within.]

[The "Heaven-Seizing Creation" formation is currently in operation, forcibly extracting the essence from the corpses of two thousand four hundred cultivators at the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul Realm.]

These corpses had all consumed the Spirit-Slaying Elixir before their deaths. Although they failed to break through, precious medicinal essence still remained within their bodies.

[After refining, three "Blood Spirit Severing Pills" can be condensed. Each pill contains the life essence of two thousand prodigies; consuming it guarantees a 40% success rate in breaking through to the Spirit Severing Realm, with no risk of the body exploding.]

Upon seeing this information, Zhou Qing froze on the spot.

“Forty percent.” He silently repeated the number, his heart churning with shock.

what does this mean?
This means the Xuanyuan royal family has found a way to mass-produce Spirit Severing Realm cultivators! Although the price is the lives of countless geniuses.
Zhou Qing's gaze slowly swept over the densely packed corpses in the underground palace; each one had once been a person of extraordinary talent and brilliance.

They took the secret medicine with high hopes, but after failing to break through, even their corpses were squeezed for their last bit of value.

“What a formidable old emperor.” A bitter smile appeared on Zhou Qing’s lips. “He truly had a flawless plan.”

He stared at the Myriad Spirits Blood Cauldron, which gleamed with an eerie light, and a complex emotion welled up in his heart.

He muttered to himself, "This should be considered the third version of that secret medicine, right?"

Zhou Qing remembered that Sikong Yan had told him that the old emperor had obtained the first-generation secret medicine from that alchemy master and had only a 10% success rate in breaking through to the Spirit Severing stage.

In order to monopolize this opportunity, they did not hesitate to kill.

Then, by exhausting the accumulated resources of the dynasty, the success rate was increased to 30%, creating the current powerful figures at the Spirit Severing Realm.

“And now,” Zhou Qing’s gaze swept over the blood-red patterns flowing on the cauldron, “it has actually increased the success rate to forty percent.”

Forty percent!

If the outside world were to learn of this elixir's existence, it could trigger a bloodbath.

What's even more frightening is this recycling mechanism.

With enough Nine Netherworld Demon Lotus as the main ingredient, supplemented by other rare and precious materials, one can refine forty to fifty secret medicines.

Even if 70% of the first batch of cultivators failed after taking the medicine, their corpses could be used to extract a more refined third version of the secret medicine.

These improved elixirs could be reserved for the most trusted confidants.
"What a wonderful phrase, 'life never ends'..."

Zhou Qing unconsciously clenched his fists.

Countless prodigies flocked to the grand scheme laid out by the Xuanyuan family, paving a bloody path to the Spirit Severing Realm for those who followed with their lives.

Those who succeed reach the summit, while those who fail become nourishment in the pool, nurturing the next batch of seekers.

“This isn’t a breakthrough,” Zhou Qing couldn’t help but swallow hard. “This is paving a road to heaven with human lives!”

Suddenly, something occurred to him, and his pupils contracted sharply: "Wait, what if we continue to improve it?"

The thought sent a chill down his spine.

Fifty percent?

Sixty percent?

even
No, no, it took so many corpses of geniuses who had taken the second version of the secret medicine to barely condense three "Blood Spirit Dao-Slaying Pills".

If further improvements are desired, the required base number would likely reach an astronomical figure.

"call--"

Zhou Qing let out a long sigh, his heart filled with intense struggle.

He now knows all of the old emperor's secret recipes. Although he is not a saint, he is by no means a ruthless person.

It would be extremely difficult for him to emulate this method and use countless lives to create pills with a 30% chance of breakthrough for his elders.

But the three "Blood Spirit Dao-Slaying Pills" in the cauldron before him made his heart race.

Although the refining method is still inadequate, after a second refining, the breakthrough probability can be increased to 40%!
“Although the Taiqing Sect has three Spirit Severing Realm experts in charge,” Zhou Qing thought to himself, “heaven knows what price my master paid for his inhuman and ghostly appearance.”

"The Lu sisters were merely repaying a debt of gratitude to him. After Nangong Xiong Ba's invasion, it seems the score will be even."

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing couldn't help but feel a little lost.

Moreover, those at the Spirit Severing Realm have long lifespans; how could the small Taiqing Sect become their final destination?

One day, the sisters will leave this tiny place to pursue a wider world.

"The Taiqing Sect needs its own true Spirit Severing Realm," Zhou Qing murmured, a resolute glint in his eyes.

Only those who are born within a sect and become powerful cultivators capable of slaying spirits can truly share the fate of the sect and become the mainstay in protecting it.

Upon realizing this, his pupils split into blood-red double pupils once more, with three eerie rings spinning rapidly within them.

As the spiritual energy within his body surged wildly into his eyes, the restrictions on the surface of the bronze cauldron on the distant altar began to gradually become transparent.

The scene inside the cauldron gradually became clear—two blood-red pills floated silently, their surfaces adorned with perfect pill patterns, radiating a heart-palpitating spiritual energy fluctuation.

Beside them, the third pill appeared to be 99% complete, needing only the last bit of medicinal power to be perfect.

Zhou Qing's gaze was fixed on the pill that was about to take shape, and his breathing became rapid involuntarily.

"Let's do it!" He quickly made up his mind, a fierce glint in his eyes.

After withdrawing his double pupils, he looked around, wondering where Sikong Yan had gone.

Opportunities are fleeting; only by taking advantage of chaos can one profit from the chaos.

Zhou Qing flipped his hand and took out a three-colored array plate, quickly setting up a restriction at the entrance.

This array was obtained from Nangong Xiong Ba's storage bag—after the old monster failed to possess it, this item became his spoils of war.

The array plate's spiritual light was restrained, and the three-colored runes flowed around it, revealing profound mysteries, clearly indicating its considerable value.

He skillfully planted the array flags and then took out several top-grade spirit stones to embed in the array's core.

With a light tap of the fingertip, several key runes were subtly altered.

If real danger arises, a single thought can trigger an explosion.

After finishing the setup, Zhou Qing looked up at the ripples at the entrance that had not yet subsided.

When Sikong Yan entered, he preemptively left a divine sense imprint inside—sure enough, this guy seemed cooperative, but in reality, he was wary at every turn.

A cold smile crept across Zhou Qing's lips.

But I understand, since he's all alone now, nobody really believes him.

If he were in his shoes, he would probably have done even more ruthlessly.

Just as Zhou Qing finished setting up the three-colored array plate, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from the depths of the underground palace—

"Who dares to trespass on my ancestral land?!"

A thunderous roar erupted, shaking the entire underground palace violently, causing rubble to fall from the dome.

Zhou Qing suddenly looked up and saw a blood-red figure soaring into the sky in the distance, with a terrifying pressure sweeping over like a tidal wave. It was a true expert at the Spirit Severing Realm!
The man was dressed in a dark gold robe, his face was ashen like a corpse, and his skin was covered with strange blood-red patterns.

The most terrifying thing was those eyes—the whites of their eyes were completely stained with blood, filled with an unimaginable sense of eeriness.

"As expected, there is a Spirit Severing Realm expert stationed here. Sikong Yan's prediction was correct!" Zhou Qing's heart pounded, and he immediately hid.

Just then, a brilliant purple light suddenly shone in the darkness!

Sikong Yan's figure appeared, surrounded by suffocating spiritual energy fluctuations, and he also unleashed the terrifying aura of the Spirit Slaying Realm!
"Xuanyuan Sha?" Sikong Yan's voice was filled with undisguised shock. "Didn't you die in the Bone Nether Realm? How could you still be alive?"

Upon hearing this, the old man known as Xuanyuan Sha narrowed his eyes, which were burning with ghostly flames: "Oh? You actually recognize me? It seems we are old acquaintances."

A strange smile tugged at the corners of his dry lips. "No wonder you were able to head straight for that place. So, you got hold of my Xuanyuan clan's Spirit-Slaying Secret Formula?"

Sikong Yan's expression immediately turned ugly, and a shadow of gloom flashed in his eyes beneath the mask.

"It seems I've disappointed you." Xuan Yuan Sha slowly raised his withered arm. "In that case—"

Before he finished speaking, his fingers suddenly grew three feet long, transforming into a pitch-black ghost claw that aimed straight at Sikong Yan's face!
Wherever the claw-like wind passed, the space was torn apart like cloth, leaving black cracks.

"Let me see which family's rat you are!"

Sikong Yan's pupils contracted sharply, and as he retreated rapidly, his hands quickly formed hand seals.

A purple light barrier condensed in front of him, barely blocking the fatal blow.

With a deafening roar, the shockwave from the collision of the two forces sent all the surrounding corpses flying.

"Old man, after all these years, you're still as insidious as ever!" Sikong Yan said coldly, his voice filled with suppressed anger.

"It seems they harbor resentment towards this old man," Xuan Yuan Sha chuckled sinisterly.

A hint of amusement appeared on his gaunt face. "I must say, you've really piqued my curiosity. Who could it be?"

Before he finished speaking, a powerful golden spiritual energy suddenly erupted from his body, swirling around him like dragon energy.

However, it was mixed with wisps of black malevolent energy, making the originally sacred aura strange and eerie.

"Xuanyuan Dragon Emperor Technique - Dragon Demon Soul Devouring!"

He clasped his hands together abruptly, and golden spiritual power intertwined with black baleful energy, transforming into a ferocious dark golden dragon shadow that roared as it charged toward Sikong Yan!
Wherever the dragon's shadow passed, space crumbled inch by inch, and the stone walls of the underground palace were swept by the aftershocks and instantly turned into dust!
Sikong Yan's pupils suddenly contracted, and instead of retreating, he advanced, his hands quickly forming a hand seal in front of his chest.

A surge of dark purple spiritual energy suddenly erupted, condensing into nine eerie purple lotuses in front of him, each lotus radiating a captivating light.

"Old man, try this!"

With a low shout, nine purple lotuses spun and swirled toward the dark golden dragon shadow.

The moment the lotus flower and the dragon shadow collided, they emitted a teeth-grinding "hissing" sound, as if they were corroding and devouring each other.

"Interesting!" Upon seeing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Xuan Yuan Sha's eyes, followed by a meaningful smile.

He slowly raised his right hand, palm facing upward, and strands of dark golden spiritual energy seeped out from between his fingers, outlining a complex rune in the void.

The rune was no bigger than the palm of a hand, yet it exuded a chilling aura.

Its surface is covered with ancient and obscure patterns, each pattern seemingly wriggling and changing as if it were alive.

Even more strangely, faint dragon roars emanated from the center of the rune. Although the sound was soft, it made people's souls tremble.

“Since you refuse to show your face,” Xuan Yuan Sha flicked his withered finger, and the rune immediately shone brightly, “then this old man will take it off and see for himself!”

"Xuanyuan Dragon Emperor Technique - Dragon Emperor Demon Suppression Seal!"

Before the words were finished, the rune suddenly expanded, transforming in the blink of an eye into a massive, dark gold seal that blotted out the sky.

The surface of the giant seal is adorned with nine lifelike dragon-shaped reliefs, each one baring its fangs and claws, its eyes gleaming with a deep black light.

Before the giant seal even landed, its terrifying pressure had already cracked the ground inch by inch, and some corpses whose life force had been drained were directly crushed into powder.

Do you think you're the only one who can do that?

Sikong Yan's voice, hidden behind his mask, suddenly became deep and authoritative.

He formed an ancient hand seal with his hands in front of his chest, his fingertips radiating a faint golden glow.

Xuan Yuan Sha's pupils suddenly contracted: "This is... the starting stance of the Dragon Emperor Seal?"

Sikong Yan did not answer, but a layer of hazy golden mist rose around him.

Within the mist, tiny dragon shapes could be vaguely seen moving about. Compared to Xuan Yuan Sha's dark golden dragon aura, this golden light was purer, yet deliberately concealed its sharpness, making it impossible to discern its true nature. "Playing tricks!" Xuan Yuan Sha sneered, his hand seals changing once more.

The colossal seal that blotted out the sky crashed down, and nine dark golden dragon shadows simultaneously let out deafening roars.

Just as the giant seal was about to touch Sikong Yan's head, he suddenly changed his move.

The golden mist suddenly contracted, condensing into a small golden dragon scale in the palm of the hand.

The dragon scales were only an inch or so in size, yet they exuded an ancient aura that sent chills down one's spine.

"break."

With this soft shout, the dragon scales rose against the sky and gently touched the giant seal that was pressing down.

"Ding--"

A clear dragon's roar echoed throughout the underground palace.

Those seemingly insignificant dragon scales actually caused the colossal seal that blotted out the sky to pause.

The nine dark golden dragon shadows simultaneously let out painful roars, and spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the surface of the giant seal.

Xuanyuan Sha's expression changed drastically: "The Dragon Emperor's Rebellious Scale?! How could you..."

The next moment——

"boom!!"

A violent golden spiritual tide exploded from the center of the collision, and the nine dark golden dragon shadows on the giant seal let out a mournful roar, three of which were actually shattered by the force of the impact!
The remaining six dragon shadows also twisted and deformed, and the cracks on the surface of the giant seal spread rapidly, as if it would collapse at any moment.

Xuanyuan Sha groaned, his withered body swaying slightly, and a trace of dark golden blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

He stared intently at Sikong Yan, his eyes filled with astonishment and doubt: "Dragon Emperor's Reverse Scale—this is a natal divine power that only the direct descendants of my Xuanyuan royal family can condense. Who exactly are you?!"

Sikong Yan did not answer; his eyes beneath the mask were as cold as frost.

He made a fist with his right hand, and the golden dragon scale spun back into his palm. Its surface luster was slightly dimmed, indicating that it had been used up quite a bit.

"You won't talk?" Xuan Yuan Sha laughed angrily. "Fine! Then I'll see for myself whether what's hidden behind that mask is a human or a ghost!"

He suddenly bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood into his palm, and quickly formed hand seals.

The giant seal, which was on the verge of collapse, suddenly shone with a bright blood-red light, and the cracks began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye!
"Xuanyuan Dragon Emperor Technique - Blood Sacrifice to the Dragon Soul!"

The six tattered dragon shadows on the giant seal roared to the sky, their bodies covered with dense, blood-red patterns, their aura even more violent and ferocious than before!
Sikong Yan frowned slightly beneath his mask, clearly not expecting Xuanyuan Sha to risk expending his life essence to forcefully continue his attack.

He dared not delay. He made a hand seal with his left hand, and the dragon scales on his right hand shone with golden light again. Then he rushed forward.

All those years of planning have come to nothing, which is truly disheartening.

The secret recipe that was originally within easy reach in the plan now seems to be nothing but a mirage.

A barely audible cold laugh came from beneath the mask.

Since that's the case, let them guess who this newly promoted Spirit Slayer really is.

If we can't find the secret recipe, then let's move on to the second step of the revenge plan.

It's time to activate all the backup plans that have been secretly laid out over the years.

"You old scoundrel, I'll start by collecting some interest from you today!"

With this roar, nine blood-red chain phantoms appeared around Sikong Yan, each chain covered with strange runes.

"This is..." Xuan Yuan Sha suddenly felt his hair stand on end.

But it's too late!
Sikong Yan charged forward with a roar, and the moment the dragon scales and the blood sacrifice dragon soul collided, the nine blood-red chains simultaneously emitted a piercing clang.

"boom--"

Amidst the earth-shattering explosion, the two figures were instantly engulfed by the violent energy.

……

"The opportunity has come!"

At this moment, Zhou Qing watched the fierce battle between the two sides and felt a surge of joy in his heart.

His blood-red double pupils spun rapidly, silver light flashed beneath his feet, and his figure moved like lightning, heading straight for the altar!

He was incredibly fast, almost a blur, and closed in on the bronze cauldron in the blink of an eye.

Inside the cauldron, the third "Blood Spirit Dao-Slaying Pill" was already 99% complete, needing only the last bit of medicinal power to be perfect!
But we can't worry about that now.

"Collect it from me!"

Without hesitation, Zhou Qing slapped the body of the cauldron with his palm, while simultaneously activating his storage bag, attempting to take the entire bronze cauldron into his possession!

however--

"Buzz!"

Suddenly, a blinding blood-red light burst forth from the cauldron, and a terrifying repulsive force forced Zhou Qing back several steps!

"A restriction?!" Zhou Qing's expression changed.

This cauldron was actually bound by a restriction that required it to recognize its owner. Unless Xuanyuan Sha removed it on his own initiative, it would be impossible to forcibly take it over in a short period of time!
"We have no choice but to take the elixir!"

Zhou Qing acted decisively, forming hand seals, and a stream of spiritual energy transformed into an invisible hand that directly reached into the cauldron and grabbed the three pills!

"You little thief! How dare you?!"

In the distance, Xuan Yuan Sha, who was locked in combat with Si Kong Yan, suddenly turned his head, his gaunt face instantly contorting in pain.

The murderous intent surged in those eyes burning with ghostly flames, and the dark golden dragon aura around him exploded, temporarily forcing Sikong Yan to retreat.

"Whoosh—" The speed of the Spirit Slayer Realm was beyond reason.

Xuan Yuan Sha's figure flickered and tore through space. His withered hand transformed into a pitch-black ghost claw, carrying a suffocating pressure as it aimed straight at Zhou Qing's head!
"Damn it!" Zhou Qing felt as if his blood was about to freeze. Before the ghostly claw even arrived, the sharp claw wind had already left three bloody marks on his forehead.

At the critical moment of life and death, the Yin-Yang Technique within his body surged wildly, and silver light erupted beneath his feet—

"Your opponent is me!"

Just as Zhou Qing was about to give up the pill and forcefully break free, Sikong Yan suddenly appeared in front of him.

His right palm surged with purple flames, precisely intercepting the ghostly claw.

The two forces collided, and the resulting shockwave shattered all the stone pillars surrounding the altar.

"Let's go! Xuanyuan Hao is probably coming!" Sikong Yan's voice transmission exploded in Zhou Qing's ears.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhou Qing did not hesitate and suddenly grabbed with his spiritual power, and three blood pills rose up.

It then shot towards the entrance at top speed.

"boom!"

As soon as they reached the entrance, an even more terrifying pressure than that of Xuanyuan Sha suddenly descended.

The entire underground palace trembled violently, the space shattered like a mirror, and a golden figure stepped through the air—

"presumptuous!"

Emperor Xuanyuan Hao roared like thunder, and the nine five-clawed golden dragons on his golden dragon robe seemed to come alive, tumbling and swimming on the robe.

Zhou Qing felt as if his bones were creaking under the strain, and his internal organs were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand.

"burst!"

A mad glint flashed in Zhou Qing's eyes. Before Xuan Yuanhao could fully step out of the spatial rift, he detonated the three-colored magic array without hesitation.

"boom--"

A deafening explosion resounded throughout the heavens and earth, as the three colors of spiritual energy intertwined to form a destructive energy storm.

The violent shockwave spread in a ring, blowing away the entire dome of the underground palace and turning countless stones into dust in an instant.

Xuanyuan Hao had just stepped out of the spatial rift when he was hit head-on by the sudden explosion.

His Nine Dragons Imperial Robe automatically protected him, and nine golden dragon phantoms emerged, but they let out painful howls under the impact of the three-colored energy.

The aftershocks of the explosion forced him back more than ten feet, and a trickle of golden blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

Zhou Qing seized this fleeting opportunity, his feet flashing with silver light as he pushed his speed to the limit, leaving behind afterimages in the void.

They sped directly toward the four-colored restriction rift that had been reserved beforehand.

"laugh!"

After he dove out, he began his desperate escape without looking back.

"Bastard!"

Xuanyuan Hao was furious, his eyes flashing with golden light. Just as he was about to give chase, Sikong Yan suddenly withdrew from the battle.

"Hey, old man, try this!" Sikong Yan grinned and took out a bright red crystal from his storage bag.

The crystal was no bigger than a fist, but its surface was covered with fine cracks, and it seemed as if magma was flowing inside, emitting a heart-palpitating aura.

"Burning Heaven Flame Marrow?!" Xuan Yuanhao's pupils shrank drastically. "This is the treasure of the seventh level of my royal treasury! So you were the thief that day!"

"Hahaha!" Sikong Yan laughed loudly, his eyes beneath the mask flashing with a crazed light. "That's right, it was me who did it! Come and bite me!"

Before he could finish speaking, Sikong Yan had already crushed the crystal.

"boom!"

A crimson beam of light shot into the sky, instantly transforming into a rain of fire.

This is no ordinary flame, but a Heaven-Burning Flame containing a special spiritual energy, which even scorches and distorts the space itself.

Wherever the fire rain passed, the void collapsed inch by inch, forming a fiery inferno.

Xuanyuan Hao had no choice but to stop and quickly formed hand seals, creating multiple golden barriers in front of him.

Nine golden dragon phantoms circled around him, emitting bursts of dragon roars as they fiercely clashed with the Burning Heaven Flame.

Taking advantage of the brief moment, Sikong Yan flashed and followed Zhou Qing into the closing crack.

At the very last moment before the rift closed, Xuanyuan Hao's furious roar shook the surrounding area: "I, the Emperor, will have your souls scattered!"

……

Zhou Qing felt his heart pounding wildly in his chest. The three "Blood Spirit Dao-Slaying Pills," which could increase the probability of breaking through to the Spirit Slaying Realm by 40%, were now radiating an alluring warmth in his hands.

If he weren't worried about his identity being exposed, he would have loved to immediately activate the "Emperor's Scripture," transform into the Golden Roc's true form, and travel thousands of miles in an instant.

But right now, he must escape the inner city as soon as possible and appear in the Wuxiang Mountain area where the old emperor and Yama are fighting, and show himself openly to clear himself of suspicion.

Hopefully, Sikong Yan can hold on a little longer.

But just then, the space in front of him suddenly twisted and folded, and then Sikong Yan walked out with a smile.

"Hey buddy, do you need any help?"

(End of this chapter)