The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 383 Is this the Supreme Tribulation? How is this possible! (6k)

Meanwhile, above this endless mountain range.

Shen Hanyi stood in mid-air, her white clothes fluttering in the wind, her silver hair dancing wildly in the fierce gale.

Her gaze sharpened, and with a gentle wave of her hand, fifty-six four-colored array flags emerged from her storage bag, forming an array that floated in the void.

"rise!"

With a clear shout, the array flags immediately transformed into streams of four colors and flew towards the four directions of the mountain range.

The mountains, forests, rocks, pools, cliffs, and so on all contained battle flags.

"Four Spirits Combined Formation!"

Shen Hanyi's fingers moved rapidly, forming dozens of complex hand seals.

The scattered array flags immediately burst forth with soaring spiritual light, and converged in the center of the mountain range, transforming into a dazzling pillar of light that shot straight into the sky.

"Everyone, take your positions." Shen Hanyi's sleeves fluttered, and six beams of spiritual light precisely entered the foreheads of the six people.

Mo Xingjian and the others immediately sensed something and flew towards the location of the array's core.

The moment the six people took their positions, Shen Hanyi's hand gestures suddenly changed.

The towering pillar of light suddenly collapsed into countless fine light patterns, covering the entire sky like a spider web.

"The formation is complete!"

As the final hand seal was completed, the strange phenomena in the sky instantly subsided.

The mountain breeze still blew gently, and the clouds and mist continued to swirl as usual, as if everything just now was an illusion.

Only those within the formation can feel the immense, yet hidden, pressure.

"Next, we'll rely on him!" Shen Hanyi walked to the middle seat and sat down, murmuring softly.

Then, a terrifying divine sense was quietly released to ensure that there would be no external interference.

Inside the cave, Zhou Qing sat cross-legged, his gaze calm.

He raised his hand and waved, and nine array flags flew out of his storage bag, hovering around him.

These banners are entirely dark gold, with intricate spiritual patterns engraved on their surfaces, and a faint spiritual light emanates from them.

"Nine Revolutions Spirit Condensation Array, activate!"

He made a hand seal with his fingertips, and the nine array flags responded and fell into the ground one by one according to specific positions.

The array flags were set in place, the spiritual patterns connected, and a pale golden light curtain slowly rose, enveloping the entire cave dwelling.

Then, Zhou Qing took out dozens of top-grade spirit stones, each one crystal clear and containing immense spiritual power.

With a flick of his finger, the spirit stone was precisely embedded into the array's core.

Instantly, the entire formation hummed and trembled, its spiritual light surged, and dense spiritual energy poured out wildly, forming layers of spiritual energy vortexes within the formation.

Then, he took out a jade basin containing a small ancient tea tree that had attained enlightenment.

The tea tree is a vibrant green, exuding an ethereal aura.

As early as when Taiqing Sect was adjusting his state of mind, he had already incorporated several wood-attribute spirit stones into it.

However, he did not immediately comprehend it at this moment—after all, this thing can only be comprehended for a maximum of one hour at a time, otherwise the physical body and sea of ​​consciousness will be covered with moss.

After arranging all the top-grade spirit stones and five-element spirit stones he had on him around him, Zhou Qing took out three Blood Phoenix Tribulation Crystals.

These crystals are entirely crimson red, obtained from refining Nangong Xiongba, and contain extremely pure blood energy and spiritual power.

After checking that the golden flower contained sufficient spiritual energy, he looked around at the dazzling array of rare and precious materials and couldn't help but chuckle.

"After all, it's the Four Flowers Gathering at the Top, and we've studied so many Spirit Slaying Techniques in advance. This kind of preparation is a bit too cautious."

Even so, he took a deep breath, adjusted himself to his best state, and slowly closed his eyes.

Inside Taiqing Gate!

Upon discovering that Mo Xingjian and the others had suddenly disappeared, Sect Leader Cao Zhengyang immediately understood what had happened.

He suppressed his excitement and urgently summoned the peak masters of each peak, leading everyone to burn incense and pray at the ancestral hall for Zhou Qing's well-being.

"Issue my decree," Cao Zhengyang said solemnly, "During this period, all disciples must be careful in their words and deeds. Anyone who commits any crimes will be severely punished!"

The disciples were puzzled, but they all agreed in unison.

……

And just like that, two months have passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Zhou Qing finally touched the threshold of the Spirit Severing Realm for the third time since his advancement to the fourth-level array master and his relationship with Shen Hanyi.

With a calm mind and resolute gaze, he took that step without hesitation.

But the moment he touched it, something unexpected happened!

The once clear sky suddenly darkened, and thick, ominous clouds gathered at a visible speed.

Lightning flashed in the clouds, and deafening thunder resounded through the sky.

"Is this the Supreme Tribulation?!" Shen Hanyi abruptly stood up, her silver eyes filled with shock. "No, its power has weakened considerably, but how is this possible?"

She suddenly turned her head to look at the cave where Zhou Qing was, her eyes flashing with a sharp light.

Shen Yunzhou was equally shocked: "Sister! Only breaking through to the Supreme Realm after the Spirit Severing stage will trigger a Heavenly Tribulation. You don't mean to..."

"Shut up! Guard your core!" Shen Hanyi interrupted sharply.

Shen Yunzhou immediately fell silent, but still looked worriedly at the horizon.

He had seen this familiar scene once before in the Heavenly Fortune Holy Dynasty—when that senior, who had reached the Great Perfection of the Spirit Slaying Realm, broke through to the Supreme Realm, there was a similar extraordinary phenomenon in the heavens and earth.

Unfortunately, the opponent only withstood half of the heavenly tribulation before being reduced to ashes by the tribulation lightning, without even having the chance to possess another body.

Upon hearing Shen Yunzhou's words, Mo Xingjian, Lu Yaoyao, and the others couldn't help but look nervously at Jieyun.

Inside the cave, Zhou Qingyi pulled the ancient tree of enlightenment to his chest, its shimmering green light reflecting on his face.

His eyes were closed, golden light flowed around him, and a phantom image of a Buddha appeared from behind him, standing solemnly, with chanting hymns filling the air.

It seemed as if thousands of Buddhist disciples were chanting softly, cleansing their minds and spirits.

Beneath him, four more flowers of different colors appeared, slowly rotating and emitting a mysterious Daoist charm.

In a daze, he found himself in a mountain range that was both familiar and unfamiliar.

"Pfft-"

A sudden, tearing pain shot through my abdomen!

Zhou Qing looked down and saw a pair of eagle-claw-like hands piercing through his dantian. In the blood-soaked hands, a golden pill that was still warm was being clutched.

On its shoulder, a hideous head slowly peeked out.

"Qian Dafu!" Zhou Qing glared at him through gritted teeth.

Qian Dafu's eyes were filled with jealousy and hatred as he sneered, "We're all just here to make our way in this world. Why should you become core disciples and enjoy all the resources, while I have to work hard outside and be your slave?"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly clenched his fist—

"Crack!"

The excruciating pain of his golden core shattering instantly swept through his entire body. His spiritual power dissipated, his cultivation collapsed, and Zhou Qing felt as if he had fallen into an abyss, utterly despondent.

"No..." His soul trembled violently, almost being devoured by this obsession.

But the next moment, a strong pounding sound came from my heart!
"Boom! Boom!"

A brand new golden elixir emerged from the heart, fell into the dantian, and then rapidly condensed, shining with golden light, becoming even more solid than before.

Zhou Qing's eyes suddenly turned cold, and he suddenly remembered something. He turned around and grabbed Qian Dafu's throat with his five fingers like iron clamps.

The other person's eyes bulged, and veins on their face twisted in pain: "No, impossible. Your golden core is clearly..."

"Having humble origins has never made you inferior!" Zhou Qing's voice was like ice, yet tinged with a hint of pity. "Do you know—"

With a sudden burst of force from his fingers, Qian Dafu's throat bones cracked under the strain.

“Growing hatred out of jealousy and plundering others will only trap you in a quagmire forever.”

"We cultivators defy the heavens, not by plundering, but by—"

"My true self will never die!"

"boom!"

Qian Dafu's body exploded with a bang, turning into a wisp of black smoke and dissipating.

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

He never expected that the first obsessive spirit he encountered would be Qian Dafu, the manager of the Taiqing Sect stationed in Lingyun Prefecture back then.

Back then, it was precisely because he and his third senior brother were inexperienced in society that they revealed the information about Chaos Profound Gold and Soul Breath Immortal Grass to Qian Dafu, which led to their deaths.

It is said that a hundred words from a person are useless, but a single act of teaching can truly touch one's heart.

Qian Dafu truly taught him a lesson, and it made him more cautious in his words and actions in the days that followed.

"The Realm of Spirit Severing is indeed dangerous..." Zhou Qing sighed inwardly.

The moment he saw Qian Dafu, he completely forgot that he was in the process of slaying a spirit, as if he had really returned to the past and experienced that nightmare again.

No wonder it's so difficult for a Nascent Soul cultivator at the Great Perfection stage to sever their spiritual essence.

This is not only a test of cultivation level, but also a test of will!

If one's Dao heart is unstable, even if one knows it is an illusion, one will still fall into it again, ultimately failing to sever the spirit, and dying and losing one's Dao.

Just as he was pondering, the scene before him changed once again.

This time, he stood amidst an endless sea of ​​flowers.

A gentle breeze blows, and the wildflowers covering the mountains sway gracefully, their rich fragrance refreshing and soothing, making people relax involuntarily.

In a daze, the matter of Qian Dafu just now vanished without a trace like morning dew, and he could hardly remember anything about it.

In the center of the sea of ​​flowers, two graves stand quietly.

On the left side of the stone tablet, the six characters "Tomb of Second Junior Sister Luo Xue" are written in a vigorous and powerful style; on the right side, opposite it, is "Tomb of Fifth Junior Brother Tan Qiang".

As the wind blew, a few petals fell in front of the monument, adding to the desolate atmosphere.

A dull pain suddenly welled up in Zhou Qing's heart, and memories of the two people's deaths rushed back.

"I will kill Sima Yaoji with my own hands, and that day will not be far off!"

A hoarse voice boomed in my ears.

Zhou Qing glanced to the side and saw Du Kui, with a full beard, standing beside him, his eyes burning with deep-seated hatred.

"Call me when the time comes," Zhou Qing blurted out without hesitation.

Upon hearing this, Du Kui's eyes darkened abruptly, and a half-smile appeared on his lips: "Alright."

He paused, his voice lowering, "But Sima Yaoji is one of the five great prodigies of the Cangyan Dao Palace, and it is said that she has already touched the threshold of the Intent Realm."

“No one has reached the Nascent Soul stage in the Five Sects War so far,” Zhou Qing said, his eyes gleaming. “This is our chance.”

“I understand.” Du Kui’s fists clenched so tightly they cracked. “But if we can grasp the essence of the meaning, our chances of winning will be greater.”

Zhou Qing pondered for a moment: "My senior brother, Ghost Hound, has already entered the Nascent Soul stage. Otherwise, I can ask him for you?"

“No need.” Du Kui interrupted decisively, a resolute glint in his eyes. “Everyone’s artistic conception is different. Copying others’ ideas will not go far. I want to create my own unique artistic conception.”

Looking at Du Kui's resolute profile, Zhou Qing said softly, "Then how can I help?"

Du Kui suddenly took a jade wine pot from his waist, shook it gently, and the amber wine rippled in the pot, emitting an intoxicating aroma.

"Let's put these matters aside for now." A bitter smile played on his lips. "Your cultivation at the White Jade Void Academy has been arduous; it's rare for you to return."

He then handed the wine pot to Zhou Qing, saying, "Just this will help you cheer up your senior brother."

Seeing the wine jug being offered to him, Zhou Qing instinctively refused: "No, I've given up drinking."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly froze.

My gaze was fixed on the swaying liquid, and a strange sense of unease suddenly welled up in my heart.

He felt as if he had overlooked something important, and soon, a four-colored lotus mark flashed across his brow. A glimmer of clarity appeared in Zhou Qing's eyes, and he slowly raised his head. Du Kui's familiar face looked exceptionally pale in the sunlight.

"What happened? All the people from the Qingyu Immortal Sect disappeared after attending the Five Sects Treasure Exchange Gathering."

Du Kui looked at Zhou Qing, a hint of pain flashing in his eyes: "We went out to search together, but you and Junior Sister Lu were ambushed by the people of Cangyan Dao Palace."

"I saved you at a crucial moment, and now you won't even drink with me so I can drown my sorrows?"

Upon hearing this, a complex expression flashed across Zhou Qing's face.

“Senior Brother Du, actually I’ve already drunk with you, and it was because of that time that I quit drinking.”

Du Kui suddenly let out a piercing laugh: "Because I quit drinking? Are you drunk before you've even had a sip? Come on, have some more!"

As he spoke, he forcefully thrust the wine jug forward, causing the amber liquid inside to slosh violently.

Zhou Qing did not refuse this time.

He slowly took the wine pot, sniffed it lightly, and his gaze fell on Senior Sister Luo Xue's tombstone.

The bluestone is cold and sharp, and the inscriptions on the stele are like knives.

“I know you seek spiritual境界 (jingjie, a state of mind or spiritual realm),” Zhou Qing said softly. “You enter the Dao through pain, and you prove your mind through loss.”

"Back then, you watched helplessly as Senior Sister Luo Xue died before your eyes, yet you stood by and did nothing—this heart-wrenching pain truly helped you reach the threshold of artistic conception."

Du Kui's pupils suddenly contracted.

"But now that my senior sister is gone, even if you kill me to prove your Dao and help you break through to the Nascent Soul stage, what will happen after that?"

Zhou Qing turned around and looked at him sharply.

"The artistic conception needs constant refinement and improvement. Should we also take action against our fellow disciples, master, and senior masters later?"

Du Kui staggered backward, his eyes filled with terror.

"you you you……"

"Or perhaps—" Zhou Qing suddenly pressed closer, "to treat people sincerely first, and then destroy them with your own hands? This cycle repeats endlessly?"

"shut up!"

"Actually, there's something I've wanted to say for a long time: you're a complete hypocrite."

"Insolence!" Du Kui's face twisted in anger, and the sword energy in his sleeve surged.

Zhou Qing opened his palm, and the four-colored lotus blossomed suddenly, each petal as sharp as a blade.

"I just never imagined that after all this time, you would become my second obsession."

As the lotus flower turned, Zhou Qing sighed, "Dust to dust, ashes to ashes."

"I am the chief of Jin Yang Peak, what right do you have to criticize my path..."

"laugh--"

Before he could finish his roar, four-colored spiritual lights flashed down, and his voice came to an abrupt halt.

Du Kui looked down at the separated bodies, his rage suddenly turning into relief.

He gave a self-deprecating laugh, and his entire being slowly dissipated like smoke and dust.

In a daze, Zhou Qing seemed to hear Du Kui's dying whispers again:
"In my next life... I won't cultivate immortality."

"To live as an ordinary person, playing chess and drinking wine with two or three close friends, finding a good partner, strolling hand in hand through the world, and seeing the scenery of all four seasons."

"Even if we return to dust a hundred years later, it's better than this path of cultivation filled with scheming and suffering..."

Before the words had even faded, the four-colored flower in Zhou Qing's hand suddenly twisted and turned into a millstone, spinning rapidly.

"Come again!"

In an instant, the surrounding scenery receded like the tide, as if he were fleeing for his life.

"You little beast, let's see where you run this time—"

Zhou Qing suddenly turned around and saw that it was the Blood Bone Old Ghost from the Cangyan Dao Palace. He paused, and the four-colored flower between his eyebrows flickered slightly.

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips: "It's been a long time, old ghost..."

……

Outside the cave, raging clouds surged and roared incessantly, causing great anxiety among the crowd.

This is the ninth day since the appearance of the tribulation clouds, which means that Zhou Qing has already severed his spirit nine times.

"Senior, you are very knowledgeable. You must have seen the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top Severing Spirit in a fifth-level cultivation country."

Mo Xingjian couldn't help but ask telepathically, "Although my fourth son is a four-flowered child, he is still only one flower more than others. Logically speaking, how much longer will it take?"

In the center of the magic circle, the aloof figure remained silent.

Mo Xingjian felt a little disappointed and was about to regain his composure when Shen Hanyi's voice suddenly came:
"It varies from person to person, and the time and difficulty are also different."

"The difficulty in severing the spirit lies in the obsessions accumulated through cultivation to this point."

“Zhou Qing is still young and his obsession is limited. In addition, he has made sufficient preparations beforehand, so you don’t need to worry.”

Upon hearing this, Mo Xingjian felt somewhat relieved.

Shen Hanyi suddenly raised her eyes, her gaze as cold as frost: "It seems this place is no longer concealed; someone has been drawn here by the tribulation clouds. I'll go deal with it; you all just guard your respective array points!"

This time, Shen Hanyi spoke directly, then stood up, gently lifted her foot, and instantly disappeared.

Everyone's expressions tightened, and they looked around more warily.

But at that moment, no one noticed that the old hen, which was tightly bound to Yan Xiaohu's chest, had a human-like glint in its eyes.

The light flickered violently, as if struggling, but after a moment it returned to chaos, reverting to its dull and lifeless state.

About half an hour later, Shen Hanyi's figure reappeared, silently returning to the center of the magic array and standing there quietly.

Inside the cave, Zhou Qing trembled slightly, with Buddhist light surging behind him, flickering and changing, as if it were trying its best to suppress something.

The four-colored petals beneath him spun faster and faster, and the mountains of top-grade spirit stones around him, along with the three Blood Phoenix Tribulation Crystals, slowly melted away like ice and snow.

A wisp of pure energy emanated from him, seeping into his body through his pores...

Time flies, and nine days have passed in the blink of an eye.

This is the eighteenth day since Zhou Qing severed his spirit.

During this period, Shen Hanyi had already left the battle four times to make her move.

With her cultivation at the Great Perfection of the Spirit Severing Realm, she was practically invincible in this border region of a fourth-level cultivation kingdom.

"boom--"

Just then, the thick tribulation clouds that had been hovering above everyone's heads suddenly let out a deafening roar!
Immediately afterwards, a bolt of purple-gold lightning struck down like an angry dragon, instantly piercing through the cave's dome!

Zhou Qing remained seated with his eyes closed, as if isolated from the outside world.

However, the four-colored flowers beneath him suddenly bloomed, and the four-colored spiritual light intertwined to form a dazzling light screen, steadily catching the earth-shattering lightning.

"Fuck-"

The lightning flowed among the four-colored petals, but instead of harming Zhou Qing in the slightest, it was continuously refined by the strange flower.

The raging lightning gradually became gentle, eventually transforming into pure energy that softly showered down on Zhou Qing like spring rain.

Outside the mountains, Shen Hanyi frowned slightly as she watched the sudden thunder, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.

The others looked even more solemn and uneasy.

After all, no matter how far-fetched it is, the Supreme Tribulation shouldn't appear at the critical juncture of the Nascent Soul stage breaking through to the Spirit Severing stage.

The only explanation is that it was caused by the special four flowers gathering at the top.

Indeed, the starting point for the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top is the Spirit Severing Realm. As long as one does not perish along the way, it is possible to advance to the Supreme Realm in the future.

Not to mention that Zhou Qing's four flowers gathered at the top of his head was unprecedented.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three more bolts of lightning struck down in succession, each more ferocious than the last.

These lightning bolts were completely different from ordinary lightning tribulations; instead, they condensed into a tangible liquid lightning paste that flowed slowly in the air.

Wherever it passed, even space itself was distorted and deformed.

In particular, their colors are all pure purple-gold, containing a chilling aura of destruction.

"Sister Shen!" Upon seeing this scene, Lu Yaoyao could no longer contain herself and cried out.

Shen Hanyi hurriedly stopped him: "Don't move! If someone who isn't destined for this calamity enters the tribulation circle, not only will they not help him, but they will also harm him."

Before the words were finished, a four-colored lotus flower suddenly shot up from below, instantly expanding several times in size, transforming into a huge four-colored lotus platform.

All the lightning bolts that struck were absorbed and refined by the lotus platform, and then transformed into the purest lightning spirit power, which was continuously fed back to Zhou Qing.

Seeing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Lu Yaoyao and Shen Yunzhou stood there dumbfounded, staring down at the scene with disbelief on their faces.

"Four, Four Flowers Gather at the Top?" Lu Yaoyao murmured to herself.

How could she not recognize those familiar four-colored flowers?
In an instant, she realized what was happening, her breathing became more and more rapid, and her chest heaved violently.

It turns out that my father was the famous Four Flowers Gathering at the Top of the Palace who was renowned throughout the entire dynasty!
It really took a lot of effort to keep it from her.

Soon, an indescribable sense of pride welled up in his heart, and his eyes sparkled with admiration.

Shen Yunzhou swallowed hard.

Since arriving in the Holy Martial Dynasty, he had heard of the legend of the Four Flowers Gathering at the Top.

He had even mentioned this matter to Zhou Qing, and at the time he really thought that, as the rumors outside, it was a powerful figure from another cultivation country who deliberately came here to divert attention.

Unexpectedly, the person in question was right in front of me!
"Impressive. Truly impressive," Shen Yunzhou murmured.

No wonder he could crush his peers several times over with only the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul realm.

The signs of a strong person were already evident.

Then, he turned to look at his older sister, whose expression had also softened slightly, and was filled with doubt.

When did she find out?

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Several more bolts of lightning struck down, but the four-colored lotus flower easily caught them.

Inside the cave, Zhou Qing's body gradually floated into the air, bathed in lightning.

Every inch of his skin crackled with electricity, and purple-gold lightning arcs danced in his hair, making him seem as if he were one with the thunder.

The originally violent destructive power now flowed like a gentle spiritual spring along his meridians, tempering his flesh, bones, and even every wisp of his soul.

His aura was rising steadily, and ancient lightning patterns appeared all over his body, each pattern seemingly containing the will of thunder.

Fine electric sparks danced across his skin, and with every gesture, they caused the surrounding lightning energy to resonate and tremble.

At this moment, he was like a Thor awakening!

And so, an hour later, the thunderclouds in the sky finally dissipated slowly, revealing the long-awaited clear sky.

Seeing this, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The four-colored lotus platform shimmered with light, gradually shrinking until it transformed into a stream of light that entered Zhou Qing's brow and returned to his sea of ​​consciousness.

In that moment of utter silence—

"boom!"

Zhou Qing, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes flashing with lightning.

A terrifying pressure spread like a tide, and the rubble within a radius of a hundred feet suddenly rose into the air and turned into dust under the thunderous pressure.

He slowly rose to his feet, his body shimmering with lightning patterns. With each step he took, he left charred lightning marks on the ground.

The electric sparks dancing in his hair illuminated his face as if a god had descended to earth.

Spirit Severing Realm, achieved!
(End of this chapter)