The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 392 I'm just here to find chickens, what exactly do you want? (6k)

At this moment, the burly man at the Supreme Realm wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and cautiously asked, "I wonder if there's anything you need me to arrange for your arrival, sir?"

Su Minghe simply waved his hand casually: "No need."

After saying that, he simply lifted his foot and disappeared from the spot in an instant.

Only when that oppressive aura completely dissipated did both the stationed cultivators and their companions breathe a sigh of relief.

The majesty of the Heavenly Sovereign is truly invisible yet as heavy as a thousand pounds.

"Yama, if you've got the guts... damn it—"

During the past six months of teleportation, Zhao Muyi has fully recovered and is about to issue a challenge.

Yama merely chuckled and casually tore through space to escape.

Enraged, Zhao Muyi immediately mounted the white jade elephant and gave chase.

Yu Yan shook her head helplessly, glanced meaningfully at Zhou Qing and the other person still on the platform, and then left.

……

Zhou Qing breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Lu Yaoyao: "Are you feeling better now?"

The girl rubbed her sore neck and mumbled an "Mmm": "Senior Brother Zhou, is this Nanhuang Prefecture?"

Zhou Qing took out the route map left by Shen Yunzhou and shook his head, saying, "This place is located at the junction of four states: Yunmeng State, Taiyin State, Nanhuang State and Hanyue State. To get to Nanhuang State, we need to transfer to a special teleportation array."

"Huh? We have to use a teleportation array!" Lu Yaoyao's face immediately fell.

It's important to understand that any single state here is comparable to the entire Holy Martial Dynasty, so the time required to traverse it is unimaginable.

Zhou Qing reassured him gently, "Don't worry, the teleportation array here is more advanced; it should only take a short time."

"What are you muttering about? Get out of here right now!" the middle-aged man suddenly shouted.

Lu Yaoyao playfully stuck out her tongue, and Zhou Qing quickly apologized.

After all, the person in front of him was a "highway toll collector" at the same Supreme Realm as that old man with the gourd.

"No rush, let's go to Tianlan City, the closest city to us." Zhou Qing summoned his flying boat. "There are teleportation arrays there that connect to various places, so we can take a break."

Lu Yaoyao nodded, but then suddenly remembered something: "But we're out of money."

Zhou Qing was taken aback.

Yes, daily expenses are manageable, but the cost of transportation is a real struggle.

"You don't have any on you either?" Zhou Qing asked.

Lu Yaoyao shook her head repeatedly.

Zhou Qing sighed, his gaze falling on the old hen on his shoulder. "You've been raising an army for a thousand days to use it for one. You've consumed so many high-grade spirit stones. Why don't you lay a few top-grade spirit eggs?"

The old hen stared wide-eyed, tilting her head and pretending to be stupid.

Zhou Qing shook his head helplessly: "Forget it, all you know is how to eat and not poop. Let's go to Tianlan first and earn some travel expenses."

The two then boarded the flying boat and sped off towards Tianlan City.

However, after crossing a few mountain ranges, Zhou Qing suddenly brought the flying boat to a sharp stop, looking back with a solemn expression.

"You've been following me for so long, aren't you going to show yourself?" Zhou Qing said coldly.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yaoyao's expression changed drastically. With a flick of her wrist, a long sword gleaming coldly appeared in her hand, and she stood back to back with Zhou Qing in perfect harmony.

Suddenly, a crack appeared in the void behind them, and a familiar figure slowly walked out.

"It's you?" Zhou Qing looked surprised when he saw who it was.

Lu Yaoyao also breathed a sigh of relief and subconsciously put away her weapon.

Seeing how easily Lu Yaoyao lowered her guard, Yu Yan became even more certain of her guess.

She bowed solemnly to the two of them: "This bow is to apologize for the misunderstanding I made about you two back in the Jiuli Dynasty."

Zhou Qing narrowed his eyes slightly and remained silent.

"This bow is to express my gratitude to Brother Zhou for saving my cousin's life." Yu Yan bowed deeply again.

Zhou Qing said calmly, "Fellow Daoist, what are you saying? I don't understand."

Swift straightened up: "The White Jade Elephant, which is my cousin's life-and-death partner, has the ability to penetrate the void, but its most powerful feature is its sense of smell. It can remember any scent it comes into contact with for up to ten years."

Lu Yaoyao transmitted her voice in surprise: "Senior Brother Zhou, that elephant's trunk is almost as big as yours."

Seeing that Zhou Qing remained silent, Yu Yan continued, "That's why, no matter where Yama escapes to, Lao Bai can track him down by his scent."

"During the six months of teleportation, Lao Bai initially only had suspicions, but finally confirmed it—you are Zhou Qing of the Holy Martial Dynasty."

"He said that when Shen Hanyi was fighting the Blood Pact Pavilion assassins, you used a secret technique to raise your cultivation to the Great Perfection of the Spirit Severing Realm. At that time, my cousin wanted to spar with you, but you politely declined."

Having said that, Zhou Qing no longer concealed his true intentions and frankly said, "But it seems that Brother Zhao is unaware of this."

Upon hearing Zhou Qing's admission, Yu Yan's lips curled up slightly: "Ever since Lao Bai had his Void Crystal Core stolen when he was at the Demon King Realm, he has become increasingly calm and reserved. That carefree demeanor is just an appearance."

"After confirming your identity, he didn't tell my cousin, but discussed it with me first. After all, Yama is nearby, and he doesn't want you to get into trouble."

Zhou Qing was quite surprised to hear this: "Then how are you so sure that I am the one who saved your cousin?"

Swift smiled and said, "The past six months of teleportation have indeed been a long time. Old Bai mentioned that you are already a renowned array master in a fourth-level cultivation country at such a young age, so I was naturally curious."

"After he conjured your appearance with his divine sense, I recognized you at a glance as the person from the Jiuli Dynasty Inn."

"Afterwards, my cousin was attacked by four elders and then ambushed by Yama. After thinking it over, I realized that only you have the ability and are willing to help him."

"What's even more remarkable is that you risked your life to save us but then quietly left, presumably out of concern for the Yan family's power."

Zhou Qing was secretly amazed by the woman's meticulousness; she had managed to disguise herself flawlessly the entire way.

"Thank you," Zhou Qing said, cupping his hands in thanks.

"I'm the one who should thank you," Swift quickly returned the greeting.

She looked at Zhou Qing and said solemnly, "Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Yu Yan, a swallow from the Yu Clan. If you come to Nanhuang Prefecture, you can come to the Yu Clan to find me if you need anything."

Zhou Qing nodded in agreement.

Yu Yan glanced at Lu Yaoyao again. Although she was curious about how Lu Yaoyao knew her name, this was not the time to ask.

"Then I'll go find my cousin first. He's impulsive, and I don't want him to fall into Yama's trap again." With that, Swift tore through space and disappeared.

Zhou Qing breathed a long sigh of relief.

These cultivators, who have overcome numerous hardships, severed all their obsessions, and broken through to the Spirit Severing Realm, are extraordinary in both character and strength.

We must be more cautious in our future actions.

"Let's go." Zhou Qing turned around and continued piloting the flying boat towards Tianlan City.
……

Five days later, a dazzling curtain of light suddenly appeared on the horizon.

The light curtain stretched to the heavens and covered the entire city like an inverted glass bowl.

The surface of the light curtain was shimmering with four-colored rays of light, and dazzling sparks of spiritual energy occasionally burst forth where it met the sky.

"Is this the protective formation of Tianlan City?" Lu Yaoyao's eyes widened.

Within the light screen, seven giant teleportation arrays floated in mid-air, each measuring a hundred feet in diameter.

It is made entirely of void crystal and its surface is engraved with intricate array patterns.

The platform was surrounded by twelve towering jade pillars, each radiating a terrifying pressure.

The spirit beast statues perched on the pillars were not inanimate objects, but rather contained the true spirit beast essences, occasionally emitting low roars that caused the surrounding space to tremble slightly.

Zhou Qing's pupils contracted slightly, and his face showed undisguised shock.

A city using a four-color magic array as its protective formation—such a feat is simply astonishing!
It should be noted that in the Holy Martial Dynasty, magic arrays of this caliber are used to guard the borders.

Zhou Qing's Adam's apple bobbed, and he was momentarily speechless.

The sheer scale and exquisite layout of this city far surpass any other city in the Holy Martial Dynasty.

The magnificent palaces suspended in mid-air, the shops made entirely of void crystals, and the spiritual springs gushing everywhere on the streets all demonstrate the profound heritage of a fifth-level cultivation kingdom.

Zhou Qing, a level four array master, was now feeling a bit awkward, like a country cultivator entering a big city for the first time.

He subconsciously touched the storage bag at his waist, wondering if the food here was expensive.
Zhou Qing took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart.

They then landed the flying boat and paid two high-grade spirit stones at the city gate as an entrance fee.

The city was guarded by a team of cultivators dressed in spirit armor, each with a jade pendant engraved with the words "Tianlan" hanging from their waist, indicating that they were all at the Nascent Soul stage.

The moment you pass through the light curtain, a rich spiritual energy rushes towards you.

The city's buildings stand side by side, all constructed of spiritually imbued azure jade.

The streets were bustling with cultivators, and every now and then a cultivator riding a flying magical artifact would fly overhead.

The most eye-catching feature is the seven teleportation arrays in operation in the central square. Each time they are activated, they emit dazzling four-colored beams of light that shoot straight into the sky.

Runes could be faintly seen flowing within the pillar of light, causing subtle ripples to spread throughout the space within a radius of a hundred feet.

"Let's go eat first. As for the money, we'll figure out a solution later."

Zhou Qing pointed to a suspended pavilion in the distance.

As the two stepped into the pavilion, a refreshing aroma of spiritual tea wafted towards them.

The waiter turned out to be a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Seeing that the two had an extraordinary demeanor, he quickly led them to a private seat by the window.

"What would you two like to eat, seniors? Our shop has some Ice Crystal Fish that just arrived from Cold Moon Prefecture today, and also..."

Zhou Qing glanced at the menu and secretly clicked his tongue in amazement.

The cheapest dish of spiritual vegetables costs three mid-grade spirit stones.

He casually ordered a few ordinary dishes and a pot of the cheapest spiritual tea.

"Senior brother," Lu Yaoyao whispered, "we..."

"Let's fill our stomachs first." Zhou Qing winked at her, his eyes full of embarrassment.

During his meal, Zhou Qing inquired about the teleportation array from the waiter.

It was learned that each person needed five top-grade spirit stones to travel to Nanhuang Prefecture, and the journey would take three months.

Including the old hen, we need to collect at least eleven top-grade spirit stones.

After eating and drinking their fill, the two found an ordinary inn to stay in.

Although the room was simple, at least I was able to get a good night's sleep.

This sleep lasted for two days and two nights; the six-month journey through the teleportation array was truly exhausting.

After they recovered, the two had the leisure to stroll around Tianlan City.

The streets are lined with shops, including "Tianfu Pavilion" which specializes in selling talismans, "Wanbaolou" which displays various rare materials, and "Shengongfang" which specializes in crafting magical artifacts.

At each place he passed, Zhou Qing could feel the powerful restrictive energy emanating from it.

The streets were teeming with people, with all sorts of cultivators moving about, and various hawkers' cries rising and falling.

"A thousand-year-old snow ginseng, just transported from Hanyue Prefecture!"

"Crimson Flame Gold Essence, a specialty of Nanhuang Prefecture, is an essential ingredient for weapon forging!"

"Only three of these array-breaking talismans were personally crafted by a level-three array master!"

...Lu Yaoyao skipped and hopped between the stalls with her hands behind her back, sometimes stopping to take a closer look, and sometimes shaking her head and leaving.

Every time a stall owner finished enthusiastically introducing the goods, she would wave her hand and turn to leave, causing the stall owners to frown and say, "What a poor wretch!"

Zhou Qing calmly surveyed both sides of the street, pondering ways to make money.

With his level four array mastery, it wouldn't be difficult for him to refine some single-color or two-color arrays, but the profit would be meager.

To refine three- or four-color formations would not only be time-consuming and labor-intensive, but the cost of materials alone would deter him.

It's true that even a skilled cook can't cook without rice.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out in the middle of the street.

"What are you doing?" A burly man with a face full of scars glared angrily and grabbed the collar of the tall, thin cultivator opposite him.

"What are you trying to do? You dare touch me!" The tall, thin cultivator retorted defiantly, his voice suddenly rising.

Passersby stopped to watch, their faces showing interest in the spectacle.

In Tianlan City, disputes among cultivators are commonplace.

"Ouch, I'm going to hit you anyway, what can you do about it? Want to have a go?" The burly man shoved him hard, the force of which caused the tall, thin cultivator to stagger back several steps.

"Let's practice then! Do you really think I'm afraid of you?" The tall, thin cultivator steadied himself, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

The two simultaneously made hand seals, and in an instant, the entire street was enveloped in a peculiar atmosphere.

The imagery of the burly man transforms into a vast expanse of yellow sand that blots out the sun, while the imagery of the tall, thin monk transforms into a turbulent, deep blue body of water.

The two moods intertwined and enveloped the onlookers.

Zhou Qing frowned slightly and subtly pulled Lu Yaoyao back half a step.

However, this kind of artistic conception is quite interesting.

He slowly closed his eyes, and wisps of golden aura emanated from his body, quietly seeping into the other person's state of mind to gain insight.

"Hmm?" Soon, his expression changed slightly, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

"Stop! Private fights are forbidden in Tianlan City!"

Just then, a cultivator dressed in law enforcement attire suddenly leaped into the battle, the jade pendant at his waist flashing a warning light.

Upon hearing this, the two reluctantly withdrew from their reverie, grumbling as they parted from the crowd and left.

The onlookers shook their heads and dispersed, their interest waning.

"Senior Brother Zhou, let's go take a look over there!" Lu Yaoyao said, pointing ahead.

Zhou Qing chuckled: "Didn't you notice anything amiss?"

"Something's not right?" Lu Yaoyao was taken aback at first, then looked around in surprise: "Where's the old hen?"

“Let’s go.” Zhou Qing’s gaze was deep. “I’ll take you to find it.”

After saying that, he led Lu Yaoyao in the direction where the burly man who had used the Yellow Sand Art had left.

……

At the same time, the three turned into a dark alley and, after confirming that no one was around, quickly gathered in a corner.

"Hehe, not bad for today." The burly cultivator grinned and poured out twelve storage bags from his sleeve, arranging them neatly on the bluestone ground.

"The usual, four for each person." The fake law enforcement officer lowered his voice, his eyes gleaming with greed.

Just as he was about to reach for it, he suddenly noticed a disheveled old hen hanging upside down from the burly man's waist.

"Wait, why did you also take a chicken?" the tall, thin monk asked, frowning.

The burly man chuckled smugly: "My 'Yellow Sand Scenery' looks like a sky full of flying sand on the surface, but it's actually a trick to fish in troubled waters. I was in a hurry just now, and I don't know how I ended up bringing it along."

He licked his lips. "Perfect timing for our celebration today, let's add some dishes."

The three exchanged a smile, about to continue dividing the spoils, when the fake law enforcement officer's expression suddenly changed, and he abruptly turned to look at the alley entrance—

Zhou Qing and Lu Yaoyao were already standing at the end of the alley.

Zhou Qing stood with his hands behind his back, wearing a mask, a half-smile playing on his lips.

Lu Yaoyao tilted her head, looking curious.

"The three of you," Zhou Qing spoke slowly, his voice exceptionally clear in the quiet alley, "Stealing chickens and dogs is one thing, but how dare you even steal other people's spirit pets?"

The old hen hanging upside down from the strong man's waist flapped violently upon hearing Zhou Qing's voice.

The flapping of its wings made a "slap slap" sound against the opponent's thigh.

The three men suddenly stood up, their eyes flashing with murderous intent.

The burly man drew his ghost-head saber from his waist, its blade gleaming coldly: "Fellow Daoist, have you ever heard of a powerful dragon being unable to suppress a local snake? How dare you..."

Before he could finish speaking, a terrifying spiritual pressure suddenly descended.

The three men's faces turned deathly pale instantly, and their knees buckled and they fell to their knees.

"Slay...Slay the Spirit Realm!" The tall, thin cultivator's voice trembled.

"Big brother, spare us! We know we were wrong!" The three immediately begged for mercy in unison, and skillfully slammed their foreheads heavily onto the bluestone slab.

Zhou Qing stepped forward slowly, raising his right hand slightly.

The burly man quickly untied the old hen from his waist and offered it to the man with both hands.

Lu Yaoyao quickly took it and tenderly stroked the old hen's ruffled feathers.

Zhou Qing's hand remained in place.

"Slap!" The tall, thin cultivator slapped the burly man on the back of the head: "What are you standing there for! Take out the senior's storage bag!"

The burly man snapped out of his daze and frantically pulled out twelve storage bags: "Senior, which one is yours?"

"Slap!" Another slap landed, and the tall, thin cultivator said obsequiously, "What nonsense are you talking about! These all belong to the senior!"

He then respectfully handed over all the storage bags.

The fake law enforcement officer repeatedly bowed and pleaded, "Senior, please understand. We are just trying to make a living. Please be magnanimous and let us go, just treat us like we're nothing."

Zhou Qing watched with great interest as the three of them changed their expressions as quickly as turning the pages of a book.

It's rare to see these bullies, who prey on the weak and fear the strong, all coming together.

In fact, he immediately noticed and locked onto the other party when they tried to steal his storage bag.

After all, the storage bag contained supreme treasures such as ultimate weapons and Enlightenment Ancient Tea, how could it be lost?

I just didn't expect the old hen to be stolen; that was quite unexpected.

"Are you locals?" Zhou Qing asked.

Just as the three were about to answer, the tall, thin cultivator's eyes suddenly lit up. He abruptly retrieved all his storage bags and retreated several feet.

The other two also instantly changed their expressions and quickly distanced themselves.

"What's so great about the Spirit Severing Realm?" The tall, thin cultivator stood with his hands on his hips, looking arrogant. "Like I said before, do you know what it means when even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake?"

This sudden change stunned Zhou Qing for a moment.

Zhou Qing shook his head at the three men's arrogant behavior, then slowly turned around.

At the end of the alley, blood-red ripples suddenly appeared on the bluestone slab.

A beautiful woman draped in a crimson gauze dress walked gracefully in, the nine-tailed fox patterns embroidered on the hem of her dress seeming to move as if they were alive.

She toyed with a jade pipe between her delicate fingers, the pipe shrouded in wisps of purple spiritual mist.

With each step, the bells hanging from her waist emitted a mesmerizing tinkling sound.

"So, these three are your underlings?" Zhou Qing's gaze narrowed slightly.

This beautiful woman appeared languid, yet nine fox shadows swirled around her, and judging from her aura, she had already reached the mid-stage of the Spirit Severing Realm.

Lu Yaoyao pouted, her eyes full of disdain.

The two elders of the Lu family were also from the nine-tailed fox clan, but they were dignified and elegant, unlike those who were so coquettish.

The beautiful woman parted her lips slightly, exhaling a breath of ethereal mist carrying a mesmerizing fragrance: "Young master, you have excellent eyesight~"

Her voice, seemingly both near and far, possessed a captivating allure. She lightly tapped the three men with her pipe, saying, "These three good-for-nothings are indeed under my command. After all..."

Her eyes flickered, and she glanced meaningfully at the storage bags. "The stolen storage bags all have the soul imprint of their owners. With their cultivation level, they can't break through them."

"Boss!" Upon seeing Yun Jiumei appear, the three of them immediately straightened their backs, their eyes gleaming with pride.

Yun Jiu Mei glanced at them indifferently, then turned her gaze to Zhou Qing.

She took a light puff from her pipe, and as her lips parted slightly, a cloud of smoke carrying fifty top-grade spirit stones drifted slowly over.

"Judging from your attire, young master, you don't seem to be a local." Her voice was sweet and seductive. "This little token is a token of my friendship, how about it?"

Lu Yaoyao stared wide-eyed at the spirit stone floating in the air in disbelief.

This sly fox is incredibly generous.
Fifty top-grade spirit stones in one go?

Zhou Qing remained motionless, a blood-red light flashing in his eyes, his pupils suddenly splitting into a pair of eerie, blood-red double pupils.

Under the power of the [Double Pupil] to dispel illusions, the seemingly crystal-clear spirit stones were actually entwined with wisps of black mist.

It wriggled like a living creature, and you could faintly hear its soft hissing.

"Humph!"

Zhou Qing snorted coldly, and lightning flashed in his right hand. Purple-gold lightning intertwined in his palm to form a fine net of lightning, which enveloped the spirit stones.

To his surprise, the power of thunder emitted a sizzling corrosive sound when it touched the black mist.

The black mist was not only not dispelled, but instead eroded in the opposite direction of the lightning.

This poison was actually tailor-made for those at the Spirit Severing Realm.

A cold light flashed in Zhou Qing's eyes, and he suddenly clenched his right fist.

A burst of violent lightning power erupted instantly, transforming into a purple-gold lightning dragon that devoured all fifty top-grade spirit stones.

In the blinding flash of lightning, the spirit stone, along with the black mist, turned to dust, and the air was filled with a scorching atmosphere.

A barely perceptible pang of heartache flashed in Yun Jiumei's eyes, but it vanished in an instant.

She gently shook her pipe, covered her mouth, and giggled, "Young master, you're really wasting such a precious thing! This is a top-grade spirit stone, how can you just destroy it like that?"

“The spirit stone is real,” Zhou Qing said coldly, a flash of blue light in his hand, and the rusty tetanus sword was already in front of him.

"But I wonder how much material you used to make this poisoned bait. I'm afraid I might have the life to take it, but not the life to enjoy it."

Upon hearing this, Yun Jiumei was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.

She leaned lazily against the alley wall, the nine-tailed fox pattern on her crimson gauze skirt seemingly coming to life, dancing among the hem.

"Hoo—" She took a deep drag on her pipe, and as she parted her lips slightly, she exhaled a string of smoke rings that slowly dissipated in the air, forming skull shapes. "It seems I underestimated the young master's discerning eye."

Her eyes flickered. "Fifty top-grade spirit stones should be a just-right number for someone at the Spirit Severing Realm. It's neither too little nor too much, and it won't arouse suspicion."

She suddenly straightened up, nine fox shadows appearing and disappearing behind her: "I'm truly curious~"

"How did you see through it?"

(End of this chapter)