The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 402 Sikong Yan, what are you doing in Nanhuang Prefecture? (6k)

But Zhou Qing had to make this trip no matter what, otherwise that girl would be heartbroken.

She has lost all her loved ones, perhaps because she resembles her father in some ways.

She even grasped the meaning of filial piety through this similarity and once referred to herself as "Dad".

It would be too cruel to make her experience loss again.

Zhou Qing's gaze fell on the map again.

The vast area between the eight tail feathers and the four ancient clans—the Medicine Clan, the Flame Clan, the Ink Clan, and the Rain Clan—is the most forbidden area in the Southern Phoenix Continent—the Wilderness Forbidden Zone.

The second uncle and that mythical beast are now lying in wait.

Moreover, when Su Minghe, the inspector at the Heavenly Sovereign realm, took the ancient teleportation array back in the Nine Li Dynasty, he seemed to have shown unusual interest in that divine beast.

Meanwhile, several venerable masters, including Master Jueming of Jiyuan Temple, are about to travel to the desolate wilderness to search for the remains of Master Kudi.

Currently, their own forbidden zone is blocked by the roots of the ancient tree, making it impossible to enter the coffin for exploration.

The most urgent task is to absorb new forbidden zones into the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace.

"Let's go!" Having made up his mind, Zhou Qing didn't delay any longer. He summoned his flying boat and transformed into a streak of light, speeding southward.

……

And so, a year passed in the blink of an eye, and Zhou Qing finally stumbled and staggered into the territory of the four ancient clans.

Separated from the desolate wilderness by a river lies the territory of the Eight-Tailed Clan.

It would take at least another year to take a detour.

After all, no matter which direction they came from, no one dared to cross this terrifying forbidden zone that struck fear into the hearts of the entire Southern Phoenix Prefecture.

At this moment, Zhou Qing was taking a short rest in Qingyun City and was thinking of taking this forbidden area into the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace ahead of schedule when the whispers around him caught his attention.

"Have you heard? Someone found a strange mummified corpse in the wilderness."

"It's just a dried-up corpse, what's the big deal? The Forbidden Zone is full of these kinds of things."

“This time it’s different,” the speaker said in a low voice, “the mummified corpse is connected to a moving tree stump.”

"Oh?" The people around immediately became interested. "Tell me more."

"The news has spread," the man continued. "The mummy had no head; instead, it was a tricolor flower."

"A three-colored flower? Perhaps it was the seed of some exotic flower or plant that fell there and grew by absorbing nutrients."

“No,” the speaker shook his head. “Rumor has it that he was a Three Flowers Gathering at the Top who failed to break through to the Supreme Realm.”

"What? Three flowers gather at the top? Are you sure?" the crowd exclaimed, then realized they had lost their composure and fell silent.

Zhou Qing's eyes flickered slightly.

Although he had already achieved the Four Flowers at the Top, if it weren't for the change in the Yin-Yang Qi within the third coffin, he would now be at the Three Flowers level.

This circle is already sparsely populated, and hearing that a fellow enthusiast has ended up like this, one can't help but feel a pang of sorrow.

It seems that even with the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, one's chances of winning against the Supreme Tribulation are only one or two percent higher than that of ordinary people.

If one cannot overcome this obstacle, one will ultimately be no different from any other person.

He listened intently.

"So the legendary Three Flowers Gathering at the Top is nothing more than this. I thought I could easily step into the Supreme Realm."

"How rare it is for the Three Flowers to gather at the top of the head! What secrets lie within, and what kind of convenience bestowed by Heaven? How could outsiders possibly know?"

"I've only heard that when we form our Nascent Soul, we receive a Nascent Soul amplification based on the quality of our Foundation Establishment, while those who gather the Three Flowers at the Top have two kinds of amplification. I don't know if it's true or not."

“Most likely,” the man interrupted, “quite a few people have already risked entering the desolate wilderness to search for him.”

"The man is dead, what's the point of searching? Are you suggesting we collect his body?"

"You're so ignorant! It's said that his three-colored flower can withstand part of the Supreme Tribulation."

"Supreme Tribulation? Isn't it said that those powerful beings at the Spirit Severing Realm would collect all sorts of rare items to refine Tribulation Transformation Diagrams to resist it?"

"The Tribulation Transformation Diagram can only block 20-30% at most, but with the help of the Three Flowers, the chances can reach 50%. For a Great Perfection of the Spirit Severing Realm, this is a matter of life and death. Who wouldn't be tempted?"

"Now that you mention it, it seems to make sense. Even a genius at the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top has failed here. If an ordinary person doesn't have absolute confidence, who would dare to try it lightly?"

……

After a quick meal, Zhou Qing strolled to the long street, gazing southwards.

Although he was only at the early stage of the Spirit Severing Realm, his 150 years of wandering in the void had already allowed his spiritual power to accumulate to perfection, and there was even a faint tendency for it to overflow.

Now, the only thing that restrains him is artistic conception.

If he can receive enough nourishment from the artistic conception, perhaps in the next moment, he will be able to break through to the mid-stage of the Spirit Severing Realm.

At that time, no one of his rank will be able to defeat him.

Even when fighting someone of a higher level, even if one cannot kill the opponent, one can still escape unscathed.

In this way, even if he comes into contact with the Shen family in the future and encounters misfortune, he will have some ability to protect himself.

Moreover, when he advanced to the Spirit Severing Realm, he had already experienced a weakened version of the Supreme Tribulation.

This means that, due to the convergence of the four flowers at the top, his potential had already been perceived by the Heavenly Dao.

Along the way, whether it was the Golden Core entering the Nascent Soul stage or the Nascent Soul breaking through to the Divine Transformation stage, the energy he needed was several times greater than that of cultivators of the same level.

That is why, whenever he reaches a certain level, he can completely crush those of the same level.

In other words, if he were to ever reach the Supreme Realm, the Supreme Tribulation he would face would be terrifying beyond measure.

Once you get through it, the world is wide open and there are no more constraints.

If they cannot overcome this obstacle, they will likely end up like that person who gathered three flowers at the top of their head, becoming nothing more than a rare and precious opportunity in the eyes of others.

Therefore, he wanted to refine the Transformation Diagram, and he also wanted to obtain that Three-Flower Dried Corpse.

Regardless of whether the rumors are true or false, he must seize this opportunity to prepare for the future.

Having made up his mind, he went straight to the forbidden area without hesitation.

……

Half a month later, Zhou Qing finally arrived at this legendary forbidden land.

Before me lay a vast, desolate wasteland, the earth a dark red, as if stained with countless drops of blood, a stain that had endured for millennia.

The sky was overcast, with low-hanging, gray clouds that seemed ready to collapse at any moment, making it suffocating.

In the distance, twisted spatial rifts, like hideous wounds, stretched across the heavens and earth, exuding a chilling aura.

Many cultivators had already gathered on the outskirts of the desolate forbidden area.

Some people sat cross-legged, closed their eyes, and regulated their breathing.

Some people were in small groups, talking in hushed tones.

Some people had shifty eyes, constantly looking around, seemingly looking for the right opportunity to enter.

A tense and oppressive atmosphere filled the air. Everyone knew that once they stepped into the forbidden wilderness, their lives would be out of their own hands.

"There are so many Spirit Severing Realm cultivators?" Zhou Qing jumped off the flying boat, and after a brief sensing, he was slightly surprised.

There are at least thirteen auras of the Spirit Severing Realm emanating from this place alone.

This really gave him the feeling that those high-ranking Spirit Severing Realm cultivators in the fifth-level cultivation kingdom were actually similar to the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators in the fourth-level cultivation kingdom.

This is perfect; perhaps we can take this opportunity to refresh our points.

Then, the only option is to team up.

Zhou Qing scanned his surroundings, preparing to find a suitable companion.

"What are you doing here?" Just then, an old voice suddenly entered his ears.

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Zhou Qing was immediately taken aback.

He looked around but couldn't find the other person, so he could only follow the traces of the telepathic communication and reply: "Old Weng?"

"It's me." The voice rang out again.

Zhou Qing's eyes lit up.

Weng Yunqi – Dean of Baiyu Taixu Academy in Haomiao Prefecture.

Back then, his second uncle left him in the marketplace of Haomiao Prefecture to gain experience and comprehend the essence of life amidst the mortal world.

In that ordinary alley, he met many people as an ordinary person, including Old Man Weng who ran a grocery store.

At that time, in his eyes, Mr. Weng was just an ordinary old man in his twilight years.

The shop was doing poor business, and he often felt sorry for him, so he would give him the fish he caught and occasionally buy him some pastries to help him out.

Old Master Weng would always subtly guide him, helping him to understand the ways of the world more quickly, and ultimately comprehend the domineering spirit he possesses today.

Later, when Master Lin broke through to the third level of array master, he took him and his second uncle to the general store, hoping that the dean would take care of them.

After all, although Master Lin broke through to the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul Realm, his lifespan was already running out.

It was then that he learned that this ordinary old man, with whom he had spent so much time, was actually the dean of Baiyu Taixu Academy.

The second uncle once told him privately that this dean had an extraordinary background and vaguely carried the aura of the five signs of decay.

He appeared to be seriously injured and was not from the Holy Martial Dynasty; he was merely recuperating here.

There's also the tragic state that Lu Yuanjiu, the Eight-Tailed One, ended up in after failing to break through to the Spirit Severing Realm.

It was also out of consideration for her second sister, Lu Yuanzhi, her mentor, that Elder Weng gifted her a four-colored protective barrier to alleviate her suffering.

Later, he and Master Lin went to repair the restriction, where they not only met each other but also unexpectedly obtained a rare material that could activate the ancient tea tree of enlightenment.

Later, Old Weng closed his grocery store, seemingly busy with something.

He took Lu Yaoyao to visit the shop several times, but all they saw was the dusty shop.

Not long after, Elder Weng announced the complete dissolution of Baiyu Taixu Academy.

Many mentors were recruited by sects in the southwest region, while the Lu sisters joined the Taiqing Sect out of gratitude.

As for Master Lin, who remained alone in the abandoned academy, so many years have passed, he must have exhausted his lifespan and passed away peacefully.

Zhou Qing had once guessed that Elder Weng might come from the Heavenly Fortune Holy Dynasty, and now it seems that this was indeed the case.

"Come here," Old Weng's voice came again.

Zhou Qing then realized the source of the sound and quickly locked his gaze on the cloaked figure on the rock not far away.

He stepped forward quickly, lowered his voice, and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Elder Weng."

Under the cloak, Old Man Weng slowly raised his head.

He still had that same thin appearance—sparse white hair casually draped over his shoulders, and his loose skin covered with age spots.

But unlike before, his energy was now contained, indicating that his injuries had improved considerably.

"It's only been a little over a hundred years, and you've already reached the Spirit Severing stage. It's truly unbelievable." Old Man Weng looked Zhou Qing up and down, his eyes flashing with amazement.

Zhou Qing smiled slightly: "Back then, my understanding of the Nascent Soul realm was largely thanks to your guidance, senior."

Old Weng smiled slightly, a look of reminiscence flashing in his eyes: "Back then, you comprehended your own unique artistic conception in just over nine months. I knew you were extraordinary then, but I still underestimated you."

He stroked his long beard and continued, "But it's good this way. This world is vast and boundless; it's time to venture out and explore."

"If one remains confined to a small, fourth-level cultivation kingdom, one will ultimately find it difficult to achieve great things."

Zhou Qing nodded, glanced around, and then lowered his voice to ask, "Senior, did you also come here for the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top?"

Old Weng nodded first, then shook his head: "What I need is that half of the tree stump that can run away."

Zhou Qing was taken aback upon hearing this.

Wasn't that tree stump fused with the corpse of the one who had gathered three flowers at the top of his head?
Could there be another hidden meaning?

But he wisely refrained from asking further questions. "You want those three flowers?" Old Weng countered.

Zhou Qing nodded frankly, but then asked, "Is it true that this item can increase the chances of passing the tribulation?"

Upon hearing this, Elder Weng chuckled and said, "You are still far from the Supreme Tribulation, but it's always good to be prepared."

He pondered for a moment, his expression growing solemn: "People say that those who have gathered the three flowers at the top of their heads start at the Spirit Severing Realm, and it's easier for them to advance to the Supreme Realm than ordinary people. But all of this is based on the premise that they can live to reach that point."

"Therefore, rumors attribute the credit to the Three Flowers, believing that refining this item can help one overcome tribulation. But in reality..."

Old Weng shook his head, "No one has ever really tried it, so it's hard to tell if it's true or false."

Zhou Qing remained silent.

I still remember that back in the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace, Number Six tentatively brought up the matter of the Four Flowers Gathering at the Top.

At the time, the fourth green ball said that the Yin and Yang energies, as the first of the celestial energies, are extremely rare, even after ten thousand years.

Even if one is lucky enough to obtain it, the breakthrough is fraught with danger, and it is already rare to be able to condense one or two flowers.

Number Five went further, giving an example: If one hundred people obtain the Yin and Yang energies, only one or two will ultimately achieve the Three Flowers.

Most others stop at one or two flowers, let alone four.

Therefore, those who have achieved the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top and cultivated to the Great Perfection of Spirit Severing are extremely rare.

To avoid being coveted, these people, like him now, are doing their best to hide.

Even fewer are actually discovered and used as experimental subjects.

Of course, it was after that conversation that he began to pay attention to Number Six's identity and kept probing, eventually confirming Shen Hanyi's existence.

"You can give it a try." Old Weng's voice pulled him back to reality.

Zhou Qingzheng had the same idea and immediately nodded.

"Your talent is exceptional, and you were able to successfully slay a spirit despite your humble origins, which shows your strong will."

With a profound look in his eyes, Mr. Weng said, “Since we started from humble beginnings, we must seize every opportunity.”

"Thank you for your guidance, senior." Zhou Qing said solemnly.

"But—" Old Weng suddenly changed the subject, looking directly into Zhou Qing's eyes: "That's precisely why I advise you not to go in. The dangers of the desolate wilderness far exceed your imagination."

Even the current emperor wouldn't dare to venture into this place lightly.

Old Man Weng said solemnly, "Your cultivation has not been easy, and now you are facing a struggle among heroes. The possibility of your demise is too great."

Zhou Qing smiled upon hearing this, a determined glint in his eyes: "Isn't it said that danger and opportunity go hand in hand? I want to give it a try."

"Senior, why don't you take me with you? You can take the tree stump, and I'll just take the three flowers."

Old Weng shook his head and chuckled: "I have an enemy who will most likely show up this time. If you come with me, it will probably be more dangerous than if you act alone."

Zhou Qing sighed inwardly.

It seems this big shot doesn't want to include me.

Forget it. With Elder Weng's unfathomable cultivation, following him would only make me more likely to be constantly on his mind, and I wouldn't be able to refresh the points I've overlooked.

Just as he was pondering, Old Man Weng suddenly stood up: "You're new to Tianyun, so let me give you some advice."

His expression was solemn. "This forbidden area is divided into four levels. No matter where you enter from, you must start from the first level."

"In other words, this time, the competition for the Three Flowers is not only between the four ancient clans, but also between the eight great families on the other side. The intensity of the competition is far beyond your imagination."

"Remember, at any time, life comes first." Old Weng gave him a meaningful look.

"Those who come here seeking the opportunity to transcend tribulation are not only those at the Spirit Severing Realm, but also those at the Supreme Realm. You'd better watch yourself."

Before he finished speaking, Old Man Weng had already taken a step forward.

Zhou Qing felt a blur before his eyes, and the hunched figure twisted and disappeared like a reflection in water.

Zhou Qing frowned.

No wonder when he followed number six into the restricted area, he stayed under that crooked jujube tree the whole time.

He originally thought it was just a matter of choosing a location, but he didn't expect it to be due to the rules.

Since even a Supreme Realm expert would show up, rushing in would be tantamount to suicide.

After a moment's hesitation, Zhou Qing simply walked straight towards the entrance of the restricted area.

The space before me rippled like water, and when I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a crimson wasteland.

Looking into the distance, one can vaguely see many black dots moving around.

If I'm not mistaken, they should be those black flying boats that I saw traveling in the desert with Number Six.

This is the first barrier in the desolate wilderness.

Zhou Qing looked around and turned to leave without hesitation.

Upon returning to the outside world, he mused, "Interesting. It seems to be a secret realm enveloped by a special world."

Afterwards, Zhou Qing deliberately found a secluded place and went underground to create a simple cave dwelling.

When he took out the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace token, he did not guard against the old hen in his arms—after all, he had seen this guy many times, and deliberately concealing it would be suspicious.

The old hen ignored him completely and continued pecking at the stones beside her.

"Huh~" Zhou Qing soon discovered that all four of them were online this time.

This is a rare reunion.

Then, he let out a long sigh and placed a wood-attribute spirit stone on the token. As spiritual power was injected, his divine sense was immediately drawn in.

When I opened my eyes again, the familiar chaotic space appeared before me.

Numbers four, five, six, and seven were each immersed in their own penalty area simulations.

Zhou Qing's gaze quietly fell on numbers six and seven.

Shen Hanyi has already reached the Great Perfection of the Spirit Severing Realm, and is only one step away from the Supreme Realm.

She's simulating a restricted area right now, most likely because of those three-colored petals; she's probably searching for their exact location.

As for the number seven purple ball—

"Huh?" Zhou Qing's pupils suddenly contracted.

I hadn't noticed it before, but now two images are appearing at the same time where Number Seven is.

One image remains frozen in time, showing the same crimson hue that resembles the undulating intestines of the previous image, while the other is completely enveloped in purple mist.

"This guy has discovered another forbidden zone recognized by the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace?" Zhou Qing's eyes narrowed slightly.

Logically speaking, Sikong Yan should have just finished his mourning period for Granny Su and should be continuing his search for the secret formula for the Spirit Slaying Realm hidden by the Xuanyuan royal family.

During the 150 years that he was trapped in the void, a new forbidden zone appeared in the Holy Martial Dynasty?
Just as he was deep in thought, a wisp of air suddenly separated from the slowly rotating chaotic vortex in front of him and gently wrapped around him.

"Om-"

As spiritual energy intertwined, the seventh scene within the space slowly unfolded.

—It was an endless mine, with towering mountains lying like a giant dragon, and dark clouds hanging low, as if they were about to crush the mountain ridges at any moment.

The entire world was shrouded in a suffocating oppression, and even the sound of the wind echoed with a harsh, metallic scraping sound.

Zhou Qing was taken aback.

Why is the image projected onto me completely different from that of Number Six, even though we are both in the same forbidden area?
He looked at it more closely and immediately realized what was going on.

The scene in the picture seems to be the deepest point he and Number Six went to last time when they went in together!

And on one of the mountains, Number Six used the [Eight Times Scroll] to see the transformed divine beast and the Second Uncle's scene.

This place is also the closest to the core of the third level.

"Could the depth of the image be related to the depth of the image?" Zhou Qing wondered.

Just then, a burst of light suddenly appeared in the second image where Number Seven was located, and then condensed into a purple sphere of light engraved with the ancient character "seven".

When the image stabilized again, Zhou Qing's pupils suddenly contracted.

Because the still image showed rows of black ships sailing on the sand, almost identical to the image from number six.

"Sikong Yan, is he in Nanhuang Prefecture?!" This thought flashed through Zhou Qing's mind like lightning.

"Hey, fellow countryman! Long time no see!" Number Seven, who had reformed into a purple sphere, greeted the red sphere warmly upon discovering it.

Zhou Qing manipulated the red ball to slowly turn towards the opponent.

"Huh? You actually discovered the second restricted area too, impressive!"

When Sikong Yan saw that the red image representing Zhou Qing next to the vortex had also changed into two, his surprised voice, which couldn't distinguish between male and female, rang out.

Ripples spread across the surface of the purple sphere.

Zhou Qing remained silent, simply gazing at the other person.

"What? Don't you recognize me?" Sikong Yan said with a smile.

"Speaking of which, you know me very well. I've even invited you to visit my restricted area."

“But even now—” he suddenly lowered his voice, “I still know nothing about you.”

"Are you in Nanhuang Prefecture?" Zhou Qing asked directly.

The forbidden zone I've currently transformed into is only the second level of the Desolate Forbidden Zone.

Although things have already gone quite deep, given Sikong Yan's strategic thinking and ability to constantly simulate, he would inevitably witness this scene sooner or later.

Given their personality, they might even go looking for related image stones to learn about the forbidden wilderness.

After all, besides him and Number Six, other people throughout history have gone deep into the area and even reached the core.

Although everyone here is "acting," if you overdo it, you'll end up looking like a clown.

Sikong Yan was clearly taken aback by Zhou Qing's question.

"Why are you waiting? That's the second level of the Desolate Forbidden Zone? Are you in Nanhuang Prefecture now?"

Sikong Yan immediately examined Zhou Qing's second picture carefully, his tone filled with surprise.

"Did you just arrive at the Forbidden Zone? Before I went in, there was only one Forbidden Zone view here, but now there are suddenly two, which means it was just formed."

“No, no,” he muttered to himself, contradicting his own guess. “If you’ve just entered the Forbidden Wasteland, how could you possibly directly manifest the scene of the second level? You’ve actually gone deep into it!”

The light on the surface of the purple sphere flickered, clearly indicating that Sikong Yan was in a state of extreme shock.

"How strong are you to have reached that position in one go without even going through a simulation?" Sikong Yan's voice was filled with disbelief and shock.

Over the past decade, he has simulated the forbidden zone countless times in the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace, and each time he has gained a deeper understanding of the terror of this forbidden zone.

Not to mention cultivators at the Spirit Severing Realm, there are even rumors of those high-ranking Supreme Realm experts perishing in it.

But the scene that Number One was showing him left him completely baffled.

Based on his understanding of Number One, this person was by no means a reckless individual.

Judging from the subtle interactions they've had over the years, this person is cautious and plans things out carefully before acting.

If he had been exposed to the forbidden wilderness before, he should have been well aware of its dangers.

"Moreover," the purple sphere flickered slightly, "since you have a treasure like the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace, why did you just barge in without even doing a simulation?"

Sikong Yan found it increasingly strange. "What's even more unbelievable is that they actually fought their way to the second level."

This is completely unreasonable.

Any normal cultivator, when faced with a terrifying forbidden zone like the Desolate Forbidden Zone, would first repeatedly simulate it through the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace.

Only after thoroughly understanding the route and potential dangers, and making complete preparations, can one truly enter.

Moreover, I haven't seen him online for many years. What has he been doing all these years?
"Wait!" The purple sphere suddenly trembled violently. "It's number six!"

(End of this chapter)