The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 403 Shen Hanyi's Sudden Nausea (6k views, requesting monthly votes)

Sikong Yan suddenly remembered that there seemed to be an unusual relationship between Number One and Number Six.

Prior to this, Number Six often addressed Number One as a senior, speaking with great respect, and repeatedly invited Number One to enter his restricted area for assistance.

Now that he has personally arrived in Nanhuang Prefecture, he finally understands that Number Six was actually a cultivator from this place.

"So that's how it is!" The purple sphere shone brightly, and Sikong Yan suddenly understood.

The second scene that Number One is showing now is most likely a memory left over from the simulation he did with Number Six back then.

The reason why his scene was the same as that of Number Six was because they were both scenes from their first encounter with the Forbidden Wasteland.

This discovery made Sikong Yan even more curious about Number One's identity.

The purple sphere trembled slightly, and he continued to speculate: It seems that Number One only recently truly arrived at the Desolate Forbidden Zone.

Of course, we cannot rule out another possibility—perhaps he had already come into contact with the forbidden wilderness a long time ago.

However, due to certain special reasons, it has been unable to enter the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace until today when it finally went online and manifested.

"Where are you now?" Zhou Qing spoke again as Si Kongyan's mind raced, the surface of the red ball gleaming with a cold light.

The purple ball shook dramatically, and Sikong Yan's feigned panicked voice rang out: "Oh dear, you're not planning to kill me to silence me, are you?"

"Don't worry, when I manifested the second image back then, Number Four and Number Five went to great lengths to find out what was going on, but I didn't reveal a single word."

"Especially that old bastard Number Four, I gave him a good beating again, and now he probably wants to tear me to pieces."

Zhou Qing snorted coldly: "If I really wanted to harm you, or even seize your token, why would I have waited until today?"

"Yes, yes, yes," Sikong Yan quickly agreed, the purple ball tilting forward slightly in a respectful posture.

“Even if you are not from my Eastern Region, you must have a deep connection with the forbidden area of ​​that sect.”

Sikong Yan's purple sphere flickered slightly, his tone carrying a hint of probing.

But he quickly added, "I'm not in the wilderness right now, I'm... Oh dear, someone's here, I have to leave quickly, I'll go now, we'll talk again next time."

As soon as the words were spoken, the purple sphere vanished like a bubble, leaving only a wisp of purple smoke slowly drifting away in the chaotic space.

The way they left in such a hurry suggested that they had really encountered some kind of emergency.

Zhou Qing frowned slightly, and a slight ripple appeared on the surface of the red ball.

Sikong Yan's reaction was too quick, clearly indicating that he had done in-depth research on both Nanhuang Prefecture and the Wilderness Forbidden Zone.

The moment he mentioned Nanhuang Prefecture, he immediately recognized it.

This guy has probably been here for more than a year or two, otherwise how could he be so familiar with it?

"Fortunately," Zhou Qing's gaze swept over the forbidden zone scene he had conjured up—the unique mine landscape was completely different from No. 6 and No. 7.

As long as they don't actively expose themselves, Number Four and Number Five shouldn't connect the three.

……

Meanwhile, in an unnamed town not far from the desolate area.

This small town is ungoverned and is a gathering place spontaneously formed by monks.

It is mainly used to treat the wounded who have been released from the wilderness, or to conduct some shady transactions.

Inside a simple wooden house on the edge of town, a middle-aged man slowly opened his eyes, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"So Number One is here too. Things won't be boring from now on!" Sikong Yan muttered to himself, a playful smile playing on his lips.

"Knock knock knock—" Suddenly, there was a rapid knocking sound at the door.

Sikong Yan calmly put away the purple token in his hand and said indifferently, "Come in."

The door was pushed open, and Wu Sha strode in, quickly closing the door behind him.

He respectfully took out a storage bag, tapped it gently, and more than a dozen jade slips floated out.

"Boss, these are the latest data we've collected on the Forbidden Zone, including images of the core area where the divine beasts fell," Wu Sha said in a low voice.

Sikong Yan nodded in satisfaction, and with a wave of his hand, the jade slips flew to him and were neatly arranged in front of him.

“Well done.” He casually flipped through the jade slip. “Now go and wander around the outer perimeter of the Forbidden Zone and see if you see any ‘acquaintances’.”

"An acquaintance?" Wu Sha was taken aback, his face showing doubt. "We're in a foreign land, where would we get an acquaintance?"

Sikong Yan smiled mysteriously: "Use the image stone to secretly record anything that looks familiar or that you feel you've seen before. Remember, don't get caught."

Although Wu Sha was puzzled, he nodded in agreement: "Understood, I'll take care of it right away."

After Wu Sha left, Sikong Yan took out the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace token again, his eyes gleaming as he looked at the four still-online dots on it.

"I thought you were the one," he murmured to himself.

“When you broke through to the Spirit Severing Realm last time, I even sent Wu Sha to deliver a congratulatory gift. Later, I went to the Taiqing Sect to find you and ask for your help, but I found that you were not there at all.”

"Afterwards, various signs indicated that you seemed to have left the Holy Martial Dynasty."

"Now it seems there are too many suspicious points. You don't seem to be the person I thought you were. So, who are you really?"

Shaking his head slightly, Sikong Yan put away his thoughts, picked up the jade slip again, infused it with spiritual power, placed it on his forehead, and began to examine it carefully.

……

Inside the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace.

Zhou Qing was not in a hurry to enter the forbidden wilderness.

This was his first real encounter with this restricted area. In contrast, Shen Hanyi, a local, had been in and out many times and knew the situation inside very well.

Her simulations and investigations saved him a lot of time and trouble.

Time passes slowly.

Suddenly, the green ball number four ended the simulation, and almost simultaneously, the blue ball number five also exited.

"Hey, Number One!" Green Ball Number Four shook dramatically. "Long time no see! I thought you'd perished in some remote corner!"

Zhou Qing's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately feigned a blank expression: "Where is this place? And who are you?"

The fourth green sphere was clearly taken aback, its surface glowing intermittently: "Aren't you the previous number one?"

"Number One?" Zhou Qing continued to play dumb. "I found this token on a corpse and somehow ended up here."

The number four green ball suddenly shone brightly, and was about to ask for the specific location when it was interrupted by the number five blue ball coughing.

Number Four suddenly realized something and turned to the image of the two red squares next to the vortex.

His eyes narrowed involuntarily.

Just like number seven, number one also appeared in two restricted areas.

The first scene is still a familiar sight: withered ancient trees, a blood-red river, and floating dead crows.

The second scene, however, is unfamiliar—beneath the endless mountains, deep, crisscrossing mines can be vaguely seen.

"Wait a minute." Number Four suddenly realized.

The first image hasn't changed, which means it's still the same person, number one.

If a new player is brought in, the screen in the penalty area should refresh.

He turned speechlessly to the red ball number one: "Is this funny? When did you become as annoying as number seven? Are you two actually from the same hometown?"

Zhou Qing responded calmly: "If you could change your habit of prying into other people's affairs, you might not be so disliked."

The light on the surface of the fourth green sphere flickered for a moment, then returned to normal. It said casually, "Ahem, then I guess it can't be changed."

"That's just my personality. I always like to take a gamble. If I succeed, I'll make a fortune."

He paused, the green ball tilting slightly forward, his tone tinged with provocation: "Besides, in this Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace, who can truly do anything to whom?"

A cold light gleamed on the surface of Zhou Qing's red ball: "You can give it a try."

Seeing this, number five, Qingqiu, quickly smoothed things over: "Why bother, you two? It's fate that we met here."

Number Four sheepishly stepped back a bit, but still muttered resentfully, "It was just a joke, why take it so seriously?"

Then, Number Five, the ever-friendly guy, chimed in at the opportune moment: "Number One, congratulations on discovering another new restricted area."

Zhou Qing looked at the two of them, pondered for a moment, and then said, "With your abilities, finding a new restricted area shouldn't be too difficult, right?"

Number Five laughed and said, "There are many restricted areas in various places, but very few are recognized by the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace."

The blue ball swayed slightly. "Besides, if I can't even fully understand one, how can I dare to be distracted and simulate others? I can't bite off more than I can chew."

Zhou Qing chuckled inwardly.

This is probably just an excuse; more likely, it's a fear that contact with too many restricted areas will expose their identity.

Just like when he saw the scene of Sikong Yan's second forbidden zone, he immediately knew that he was in Nanhuang Prefecture.

On my side, I'm sure I've aroused that guy's suspicion as well; this is the downside of having multiple restricted areas.

But if one's strength is formidable enough, what if one manifests ten or eight forbidden zones?

Even if his identity is completely exposed, who can do anything to him?

"Number one!"

Just then, a blue streak of light flew out from the restricted area, condensed into a blue sphere of light in the void, and gently spoke.

Zhou Qing nodded slightly: "If you don't mind, how about I come over to your place for a visit?"

Shen Hanyi's gaze swept over the two images beside the vortex, and a slight ripple appeared on the surface of the blue ball.

She nodded and said, "That's exactly what I need your help with."

As the two disappeared, Number Four and Number Five exchanged a glance, remained silent for a moment, and then each returned to their respective restricted areas to restart the simulation.

……

Within the forbidden wilderness!
When the two reappeared, they were back under the crooked tree.

Unlike in the past, this place is now packed with people.

The seriously injured were treated and recuperated in the area sheltered by the crooked-necked tree, while the lightly injured discussed things in hushed tones on the periphery.

From almost every one of the black ships sailing in the distance, the sounds of fierce fighting could be heard.

Since the two people are in different times and spaces, these people naturally cannot see them.

"It's been a long time. You've finally made it out of the Forbidden Zone!" Shen Hanyi said, her voice tinged with inquiry.

Number One has always known her far too well.

On several occasions when I asked him for help, the insights and solutions he demonstrated within the desolate wilderness were extraordinary.

This led her to always suspect that Number One was from Nanhuang Prefecture, but he had never shown any scenes of the desolate wilderness.

How could such a learned and powerful senior not have come into contact with the Wilderness Forbidden Zone?

This contradiction left her unable to figure out Number One's identity.

Now, we finally see him manifest the second forbidden zone scene, which is still the scene of the second level that the two of them went deep into together.

The information revealed in this was enough to make her think all sorts of things.

Zhou Qing slowly turned around, gazing at her blurry silhouette.

Since she has the leisure to simulate this and covet those three flowers, it means that Lu Yaoyao should be safe and sound.

According to City Lord Li Changhong, they waited for him in Tianlan City for ten years before leaving.

So much can happen in those 140 years.

Perhaps she has already resolved the issues with her third aunt and the Blood Pact Pavilion, and Lu Yaoyao may have already broken through to the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul Realm.

That girl's filial piety wasn't just directed at him, but also at Shen Hanyi. However, when Shen Hanyi asked him, Zhou Qing gently shook his head: "I am not currently in Nanhuang Prefecture, and I only came into contact with this desolate barrier a long time ago. It only manifested today after I entered."

Shen Hanyi nodded thoughtfully.

"Senior, it's been so many years since we last met. Have you been in seclusion all this time?" she asked after a moment's hesitation.

Zhou Qing looked her up and down: "My affairs don't need to be reported to you, do they?"

Shen Hanyi was taken aback, immediately took a step back, and bowed respectfully: "It was this junior who was presumptuous."

Seeing a Great Perfection of the Spirit Severing Realm bow to him, Zhou Qing felt a surge of inexplicable pleasure.

He coughed lightly: "It's alright. It's been a long time. How's your cultivation of the inscription-level divine ability 'Hundred Tribulations Blood Curtain' going? I remember the last time I guided you on the five strands of Phoenix Dao Pattern was last time."

"Now that more than a hundred years have passed, with your talent, you must have condensed several hundred strands by now, right? Show them to me, and perhaps offer some pointers."

Zhou Qing deliberately brought up this topic.

Although he didn't want to touch on the past, sometimes these topics could actually reduce others' suspicions about him and confuse the public.

Moreover, he also wanted to see if, after all these years, Shen Hanyi still held a grudge against him because of that incident.

Sure enough, Shen Hanyi's body stiffened immediately upon hearing this.

Zhou Qing quickly looked at her drooping hands. Although he couldn't see their exact shape, she didn't clench her fists.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing finally breathed a sigh of relief.

That's true, after all, I saved you.

Moreover, because you couldn't control yourself, I'm now unable to cultivate that one and only inscription-level divine power.

All things considered, I'm the one who suffered the most.

"What's wrong? If you refine it well, I was planning to give you another inscription-level divine ability!" Zhou Qing said seriously.

Shen Hanyi bowed respectfully again: "I'm sorry, senior, I've disappointed you."

"In recent years, due to family affairs and focusing on condensing the spiritual seal, I have not cultivated the Hundred Tribulations Blood Curtain since I condensed three strands of Phoenix Dao patterns."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing's lips curled up slightly.

She never mentioned that incident.

Indeed, as a woman, it's difficult to talk about such things.

"Fine, if you haven't cultivated, you haven't cultivated," Zhou Qing sighed deliberately. "So, how many spirit seals have you condensed yet?"

"Seventeen thousand," Shen Hanyi answered truthfully.

Zhou Qing was startled.

As expected of a genius from a fifth-level cultivation country!
It should be noted that although he had reached 30,000, it was only with the help of the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree and a large amount of wood-attribute spirit stones, plus the spirit seal inherited from Senior Xuan Qingzi, that he barely managed to achieve this.

This is simply taking a shortcut on a shortcut.

But they relied entirely on their own talent.

"So-so, it's alright," Zhou Qing commented casually. "If that's the case, then I understand."

"When you have condensed more Phoenix Dao patterns, I will bestow upon you other inscription-level divine abilities."

"Thank you, senior!" Shen Hanyi seemed unwilling to discuss this topic any further, her tone filled with gratitude.

She stepped forward, then changed the subject: "Senior, before you came in, did you see any footage of the new restricted area number seven?"

Zhou Qing nodded: "Yes, it's Huang Jin. I even chatted with him for a bit. Don't worry, he shouldn't expose you."

"Senior knows him?" Shen Hanyi's eyes lit up, and she quickly asked.

“I know, but I won’t tell you.” Zhou Qing’s tone was firm. “Finding the key to the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace and becoming a member is everyone’s opportunity, and it can be considered a destiny.”

To be honest, if he had told Shen Hanyi about Sikong Yan's identity, with her strength, killing him to silence her would have been a piece of cake.

Even with his current strength, along with his inscription-level divine abilities and ultimate weapons, the probability of finding and eliminating Sikong Yan is over 80% or 90%.

This way, they can forever conceal the matter of the forbidden area of ​​the Taiqing Sect's cave and protect themselves.

But he didn't want to do that.

Sikong Yan is a very complex person, and I have even gained a lot of benefits from him.

Moreover, everyone comes from the same place; in his words, they are true fellow villagers.

Knowing him well enough, Zhou Qing didn't want to kill him.

There were other reasons, which he couldn't quite put his finger on, but in short, he didn't want to touch Sikong Yan.

Hearing Zhou Qing's words, Shen Hanyi nodded.

With a senior figure vouching for her, she felt much more at ease.

Moreover, in the past ten years, the other party has indeed not revealed any information about the Heavenly Fortune Holy Dynasty to Number Four and Number Five.

Even if they find out, what can they do?

There are too many people who have seen the forbidden wilderness, and countless cultivators have entered it in search of opportunities.

With such a massive flow of people, who can be sure it's her?
"By the way, when did the forbidden zone manifest itself, number seven?" Zhou Qing suddenly asked.

Shen Hanyi thought for a moment: "About ten years ago."

Zhou Qing frowned slightly, already having made up his mind.

He feigned ignorance and looked around: "Has something happened in the Desolate Fortress lately? Why are there so many people? Has that divine beast appeared?"

Shen Hanyi took out an image stone: "Senior, please take a look. Someone discovered this in the Desolate Forbidden Zone some time ago."

Zhou Qing took the image stone, tapped it lightly with his fingertips, and an image was projected.

A dark swampy area stretched out in the void, with decaying vegetation floating on the murky water and bubbles rising from it from time to time.

In the center of the image, a bizarre mummified corpse is running at an astonishing speed.

Its upper body is a withered humanoid form with skin cracked like tree bark. It has no head, but instead a bewitching tricolor flower.

The petals displayed eerie black, red, and purple colors, gleaming with an unsettling glow in the dim light.

Even more chilling is that its lower body was fused with a rotten tree stump.

The tree stump was covered with bluish-black moss, and several thick roots twisted and deformed into the shape of human legs, running wildly through the swamp in a bizarre manner.

The "legs" still retained the texture of tree bark, yet they were strangely bent at the joints, as flexible as real human legs.

The mummified corpse's arms swung with the rhythm of its running, its withered fingers covered with sharp nails that slicing through the air as it ran.

The strangest thing is that whenever it passes by, the swamp plants will automatically avoid it, as if they are afraid of something.

In short, the whole scene exudes an indescribable eeriness.

Zhou Qing watched this scene with a sense of surprise.

Is this the three-flowered mummy that everyone is chasing after?

Apart from being covered in dark green moss, the tree stump looked unremarkable. Why was Old Man Weng so concerned about it?

“This appears to be the corpse of a Three Flowers Gathering at the Top.” Zhou Qing pretended to be deep in thought. “What a pity.”

Shen Hanyi nodded and said, "Senior is wise. This is indeed the body of a Three Flowers Gathering at the Top."

"The reason we are gathered here is to pick the three flowers at the top of the wooden stake, to use as an aid in overcoming the Supreme Tribulation."

"Transcending the Supreme Tribulation?" Zhou Qing feigned surprise.

Shen Hanyi looked intently at Zhou Qing: "Senior, with your knowledge, is it true that these Three Flowers can increase the success rate of transcending the Supreme Tribulation, as rumored?"

Zhou Qing smiled bitterly in his heart.

Not long ago, I was asking Mr. Weng about this matter, and now it's someone else's turn to ask me.

It really is true that fortunes change.

He pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I really don't know, I've never tried it before."

"Did you rely solely on the Tribulation Transformation Diagram to get through it back then, senior?" Shen Hanyi pressed.

Just as Zhou Qing was about to answer, he suddenly paused and looked at her meaningfully: "You're trying to subtly probe my cultivation level."

Shen Hanyi quickly bowed and said, "This junior dares not, I am simply asking for your guidance. This junior has reached the Great Perfection of the Spirit Severing Realm, and is only one step away from the Supreme Realm. I would like to make some preparations in advance."

"You've reached the Great Perfection of the Spirit Severing Realm?" Zhou Qing continued to feign surprise. "Indeed, I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"

Shen Hanyi gave Zhou Qing a deep look.

It seems this senior has indeed been secretly watching me all along, and even knows my exact cultivation level.

But it seems that she hasn't been observed for quite some time now.

"You flatter me, senior. I am but a foolish junior," Shen Hanyi said humbly, bowing her head in greeting.

Zhou Qing chuckled inwardly.

If you are dull-witted, wouldn't everyone else in the world be a stupid pig?

Including myself.

He stared intently at the video feed once more.

The image kept shaking, and the person taking the picture seemed to be trying to catch up, but the wooden stake corpse was running extremely fast.

It can even use the surrounding wood-type plants to intercept it, and quickly disappear.

"Wait a minute." Zhou Qing suddenly narrowed his eyes and looked at it carefully again. "This photographic technique looks so familiar. Could it be..."

He suddenly remembered that his second uncle had given him a black image stone that he had treasured for many years, so that he could make up for the artistic conception more quickly.

Those image stones recorded the secrets of the various sects in the Vast Expanse.

His second uncle told him to use these things to provoke those people, forcing them to hunt him down with all their might, so as to hone his artistic skills.

Moreover, he would look at those image stones once to get a general understanding before handing them over to the other party.

"Second Uncle! This is Second Uncle's way of taking photos!"

After examining the image stone for the third time, Zhou Qing was completely certain.

The scene of the forbidden divine beast falling last time was also captured by Second Uncle.

"What exactly is he trying to do?" Zhou Qing frowned. "Was it intentional or accidental?"

"How did this video footage get leaked?" Zhou Qing asked Shen Hanyi.

Shen Hanyi shook her head: "I don't know the specifics either. It spread on a large scale almost overnight, and there were even rumors that obtaining the Three Flowers could increase the probability of passing the Supreme Tribulation."

Zhou Qing frowned even more deeply.

If he were the one who took the photo, he would have quietly searched that mountain range, or at the very least, asked a few friends to search in secret. How could he have made it known to everyone?

"What exactly is Second Uncle plotting? The last time the divine beast fell, it was probably a play he and that divine beast staged together."

After all, a long time ago, when he was working with Shen Hanyi, he saw through the [Eight Times Post] that Second Uncle and that divine beast got along extremely well, almost like best friends.

"If it really was Second Uncle's doing, obtaining that mummified corpse with the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top will be no easy task this time," Zhou Qing had already made up his mind.

Seeing Zhou Qing remain silent, Shen Hanyi spoke up: "Senior, I have already investigated many places, but there are a few that are really dangerous and difficult to pass through."

"I wonder if you could help me, senior?" she asked again, bowing respectfully.

Zhou Qing had been waiting for her invitation and was about to agree when he saw Shen Hanyi's expression suddenly change. She covered her lips with her hand and couldn't help but gag.

(End of this chapter)