The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 441 The Yan Family's Secret Techniques—How Could They All Be His! (6k)

Inside the room, the candlelight flickered gently.

Zhou Qing carefully removed his mask, gazing at the sleeping Yao Yao with eyes full of tenderness.

He gently lifted the swaddled baby, his nose lightly touching the infant's pink cheek, the sweet milky scent making his brows relax.

Swift watched this scene and said softly, "The previous breast milk ran out, so I asked someone to find some new milk."

Zhou Qing's gaze never left the sleeping baby, and her voice was very soft: "Thank you."

"This is what I should do." Swift looked up, her eyes filled with concern. "What are your plans for the future?"

"Let's go back to Taiqing Sect first." Zhou Qing finally raised his head, his eyes resolute. "Let her have a safe place to stay."

The swift nodded knowingly: "That's certainly how it should be."

She sighed softly, "Now the entire Southern Phoenix Prefecture is searching for you. Even with a blood feud, you must temporarily avoid the limelight."

She hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Zhou Qing took out a yellowed piece of paper from his pocket: "There is indeed something I need your help with. Could you find these materials for me?"

Yu Yan took the items and examined them carefully, raising an eyebrow slightly: "Mysterious Yin Sand and Fire Spirit Crystal—these are rare materials for setting up high-level magic arrays?"

She looked at Zhou Qing thoughtfully.

Zhou Qing simply nodded slightly and said nothing more.

Swift didn't press further, carefully putting away the list: "Don't worry, I'll take care of this. You rarely come back, so spend more time with little Yao Yao; the little one hardly recognizes her dad anymore."

After saying that, she turned to leave, but Zhou Qing quickly took out a bulging storage bag from his pocket: "Please accept these spirit stones; the materials you purchased cost a lot."

"No need." Swift waved her hand without turning her head. "You saved my life, after all. What's a little money?"

Before he could finish speaking, he had already disappeared outside the door.

Zhou Qing looked at the closed door and sighed softly.

Then he lowered his head and gently kissed the sleeping baby in his arms, his voice so tender it could melt your heart: "Little Yao Yao, did you miss Daddy?"

……

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and that morning, the swift quietly returned.

However, instead of going back to her room, she went straight to Zhao Muye's room and banged on the door so hard that the door frame shook.

Zhao Muyi was jolted awake from his cultivation and hurriedly opened the door: "When did you get back? Where did your usual quiet demeanor go? You practically smashed the door to pieces."

The swift frowned and asked, "How did you know I went out?"

"Well..." Zhao Muyi stammered, scratching his head, "I guessed."

Yu Yan didn't press further and went straight to the point: "Cousin, do you still have the Nine Netherworld Iron, Heavenly Star Sand, and Profound Yang Red Copper you have?"

Zhao Muyi asked, puzzled, "It's still here, what do you want?"

"Give them all to me." Swift reached out her hand directly.

Zhao Muyi waved his hands repeatedly: "That won't do. These are all rare items. I'm keeping them for body tempering."

"Stop arguing, I need it urgently!" Swift said firmly.

Seeing her acting out of character, Zhao Muye hesitated for a moment, then took out the materials from his storage bag and handed them over.

A look of joy flashed across Swift's face, and she turned to leave.

Zhao Muye grabbed her arm: "Wait, Yanzi, you haven't been scammed, have you?"

"What?" Swift was stunned.

Zhao Muyi said seriously, "I mean, you've always been smart, so don't be fooled."

“I don’t know what you’ve been doing these past three days, but the materials I just gave you are worth at least five hundred top-grade spirit stones, and they’re not even available on the market.”

"Don't worry, I'll repay you double when I get back to the Rain Clan." After saying this hastily, Yu Yan turned and left.

Zhao Muyi stood at the door, watching Yu Yan's retreating figure as she went back into her room, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

"That old man is really cunning. Not only does he eat young grass, but he also lives off women! He coaxed my cousin into having his baby while he himself disappeared without a trace."

"Now that she's sneaking back, she's been sent out to collect so many rare and precious herbs."

Zhao Muyi couldn't help but spit out a curse, but the cursing actually piqued his interest.

……

Inside the room, the baby lay quietly in the embroidered quilt, its big, dark eyes following Zhou Qing's teasing fingers.

When Zhou Qing gently pinched her little nose, the baby suddenly giggled, revealing two sweet dimples.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door.

Swift slipped inside and gently closed the door behind her.

Her face beamed with undisguised joy: "Brother Zhou, I have fulfilled my mission! All the materials on the list are complete!"

He then handed over a storage bag embroidered with cloud patterns.

Zhou Qing took it, scanned it with his divine sense, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

These materials are enough for him to refine a four-color magic array, at which point the ultimate weapon will be able to unleash some of its power.

Even when facing a Supreme Realm expert, he has the strength to fight.

However, for safety's sake, it is necessary to comprehend the second seal of the Great Luo Demon Sealing Seal, namely the Heaven Sealing Seal, as soon as possible.

This seal can not only slow down the opponent's thinking, but also seal off a certain area, preventing the enemy from tearing through space to escape.

With the combination of two inscribed divine abilities and an ultimate weapon, killing a Supreme Realm expert is practically a certainty.

The thousand top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones in the storage bag, plus the millstone-sized raw stone obtained from the void space, should be enough for the ancient tea tree to absorb what it needs.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, you will soon be able to comprehend the second seal.

That will be the time for him to truly settle accounts.

Thinking of this, a sharp killing intent flashed in Zhou Qing's eyes.

"Thank you." He put away his storage bag and reached for spirit stones, but Yu Yan grabbed his wrist.

"If we're really going to be this calculating, when you saved me, shouldn't I have cut my life open to repay you?"

Her wide eyes were filled with stubbornness. Zhou Qing was speechless for a moment, then said after a brief pause, "Fine!"

"That's more like it!" Swift's face lit up instantly.

Just then, little Yao Yao on the bed suddenly reached out to her with a "ee-yah" sound, her chubby little hands opening and closing as if she wanted a hug.

"Oh dear, our little glutton is awake?" Swift rushed over in three steps.

As soon as she picked him up, the little one kept snuggling into her arms, sniffing the familiar, light fragrance, and rubbing against her clothes with a sense of security.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing couldn't help but smile. It seemed that over the past three months, the little guy had memorized the swift's scent.

But soon, this heartwarming scene became like a blunt knife, stabbing deeply into Zhou Qing's heart.

Han Yi should be the one holding the child.
"When do we leave?" After a short while, Yu Yan gently patted the baby and asked in a slightly tense voice.

"We'll leave when it gets dark." Zhou Qing looked away.

Swift swayed noticeably, and the baby in her arms seemed to sense something and began to squirm restlessly.

“I’ll go with you.” Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

"No need," Zhou Qing shook his head. "It's more convenient for me to do things alone."

Silence fell over the room, broken only by the rustling of clothes as the swift gently rocked the baby.

After a long pause, she finally spoke: "When are you coming back?"

Zhou Qing pondered for a moment, then his gaze fell on Xiao Yao Yao: "I'll come back after I've settled things in the sect and found Yao Yao a safe place."

He paused, then said, "Not long."

“I know your temperament.” Yu Yan hugged Yao Yao tighter, her voice soft but firm, “You must avenge Sister Han Yi.”

"Would you mind taking me with you then? I should be able to help out in some way now."

Zhou Qing's gaze lingered on her face for a moment before he finally nodded: "Okay, I'll come find you when I'm ready."

The swift lowered its eyes, a faint smile appearing on its lips.

That "okay" was said too hastily, sounding more like a perfunctory response.

She didn't speak again, but gently pressed her cheek against Yao Yao's little head, a hint of almost obsessive determination flashing in her eyes.

……

As the night deepened and the dew grew heavy, a figure carrying a bamboo basket quietly departed.

The swift leaned against the window, watching the figure rapidly turn into a black dot, its hands gripping the window frame tightly.

"Brother Zhou, have a safe journey, but I'm sure we'll meet again soon."

But she didn't notice that a door nearby opened slightly, and Zhao Muyi's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He immediately followed silently.

As night deepened and they were far from the city, Zhou Qing summoned his flying boat and lightly leaped onto the deck.

He dared not tear through space to travel, as this would save time, but Yao Yao was too small to withstand the impact of spatial turbulence.

Even for experts at the Spirit Severing Realm, traversing the void during peacetime is a major taboo, as a slight misstep could lead to falling into endless nothingness.

It's really not worth taking this risk to save a day or two of travel time, especially since he has a psychological trauma spanning 150 years.

However, the flying boat had only been three zhang off the ground when Zhou Qing suddenly stopped in mid-air: "Aren't you tired after following me for so long?"

As he finished speaking, the space behind him rippled like water, and Zhao Muye laughed as he stepped out into the air.

"Haha, fellow Daoist, please! I am Zhao Muyi, I presume," he deliberately drew out the last syllable, "that you recognize me?"

Zhou Qing slowly turned around, his expression calm and composed: "Of course I recognize you."

"Great!" Zhao Muye's expression suddenly changed, and he glared angrily. "But you're really dishonest! It's one thing for my cousin to get pregnant out of wedlock, but now you just give away the child like that, and take it away as you please. What do you take my Rain Clan daughter for?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing felt a throbbing sensation in his temples.

Has this guy turned his brain into muscle?
But after a moment's hesitation, he decided to be honest with the guy.

Firstly, we need to clear Yuyan's name—this young lady is not yet married, and if such rumors spread, how will she find a good match in the future?

Secondly, I was afraid that this reckless man was stubborn and valued loyalty above all else. If he really thought I was still in the wilderness and went to look for me rashly, wouldn't he be throwing his life away for nothing?

Thinking of this, he raised his hand and slowly removed his mask: "Brother Zhao."

Under the moonlight, Zhao Muyi was taken aback at first, but after seeing the face clearly, his eyes suddenly lit up with wild joy: "Brother Zhou?!"

He rushed forward, his voice trembling, "It really is you! Thank goodness, you're still alive!"

Before he could finish speaking, he stared intently at the head of gray hair, his Adam's apple bobbing several times, before finally uttering in a hoarse voice, "You..."

Zhou Qing forced a smile: "Brother Zhao, Miss Yuyan is only helping me out of our past relationship. There's nothing wrong between us, so please don't misunderstand."

"Hey!" Zhao Muye immediately snapped out of his daze and waved his hand. "It's nothing, it's nothing. If there's really something between you two, I'll go and play matchmaker for you right away!"

"The most beautiful girl in the Rain Clan is paired with my best brother, what a perfect match!"

Before he finished speaking, his expression suddenly turned solemn, he took three steps back, and solemnly performed a cultivator's salute.

"Brother Zhou, if it weren't for your life-risking rescue during the Nine Li Dynasty incident, I, Zhao Muyi, would have been killed by Yama long ago. Thank you!"

Seeing Zhao Muyi's deep bow, Zhou Qing gently raised his hand and used a gentle spiritual force to help him up: "Brother Zhao, don't overthink it. It was just something I did on a whim."

"No!" Zhao Muye suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with excitement. "You were only at the early stage of the Spirit Severing Realm back then, while Yama was already at the late stage of the Spirit Severing Realm. How could this be a simple matter?"

His voice trembled slightly, "That was risking his life to save someone!"

Zhou Qing looked at the straightforward man before him, remained silent for a moment, and finally said softly, "Between you and me, there's no need for such talk." Zhao Muyi wanted to say something, but Zhou Qing raised his hand to stop him: "Brother Zhao, I have something to attend to, so I'll be leaving now. We'll meet again someday!"

He had no desire to reminisce with Zhao Muyi any longer. He gave a perfunctory bow, then urged the flying boat straight into the sky and disappeared into the night in the blink of an eye.

Zhao Muyi stared at the receding light, his brow furrowed, muttering to himself, "Changed. So this is really how a person can change after experiencing certain things."

He shook his head and was about to leave when he suddenly froze—two figures had appeared silently behind him, seemingly standing in mid-air.

"Ouch!" Zhao Muyi was so startled he stumbled. "How come you two came without making a sound? Wait a minute!"

He suddenly widened his eyes and stared intently at Bai Xiang. "Old Bai, you knew about Brother Zhou's matter all along, didn't you?"

His nose is extremely sensitive; he was able to smell that Master Qingzhou was actually Zhou Qing in disguise back in the Shen family home.

Zhou Qing has been staying in the Swift's Room for three whole days now. To say that he was completely unaware of it would be unbelievable, even to a three-year-old child.

Faced with Zhao Muyi's almost fiery gaze, Bai Xiang turned his attention to Yu Yan beside him.

Yu Yan stepped forward and said, "Since Brother Zhou is willing to show you his true face, there are some things you should know. Do you remember when I was afraid that my cousin Yu Zhu would invite me last time?"

Zhao Muye's eyes narrowed instantly...

……

Southern Phoenix Prefecture, Third Tail Domain!
As the overlord who rules this place, and a behemoth ranking third among the eight great families, the Yan family's foundation is not built on the mountaintop, but rather on a bottomless abyss.

Three thousand six hundred floating palaces are arranged in a staggered pattern, with "spirit-binding locks" as thick as mountains hanging down beneath each palace.

The pitch-black chains pierced through the sea of ​​mist, as if drawing some kind of power from the depths of the netherworld.

The "Yanluo Heavenly Palace" standing in the center is no ordinary palace—it is an inverted black pyramid.

The sharp spire pierces the dark, misty sea, while the broad base supports the imposing main hall.

Unlike the dazzling five-colored magic array of the Shen family, the sky above the Yan family is shrouded in an invisible "heavenly net".

True strength doesn't require flashy external displays to demonstrate its power—this kind of understated strength is true confidence.

This seemingly simple Heavenly Net is actually a forbidden zone, where anyone who trespasses will be torn to pieces by an invisible force.

If they encounter external enemies, the three thousand floating palaces will instantly transform into a killing formation, annihilating everything in their path.

At this moment, deep within the inverted pyramid, the ancestor of the Yan family, Yan Wudao, whose form resembled a skeleton, sat cross-legged on the altar.

This terrifying being, who had reached the Great Perfection of the Supreme Realm, was only half a step away from becoming an Earthly Supreme—yet it seemed like an insurmountable chasm.

In the center of the altar, two extinguished soul lamps trembled slightly, and the struggling soul flames at the wicks clearly carried the aura of Yan Sen and Yan Luo, who had long since died.

Soul lamps are forged by cultivators using their essence and blood as oil and their divine soul as flame. They are both a mark of life and a secret treasure for preventing deception and fraud.

In times of crisis, it can serve as a lifesaver; in ordinary times, it is an impenetrable barrier against outsiders.

At this moment, Yan Wudao, the patriarch of the Yan family, suddenly opened his mouth, and a spurt of black blood gushed out. The viscous blood droplets solidified in mid-air, turning into hideous talismans.

"rise!"

With a sharp shout, seventy-two human-skin lanterns suddenly appeared beneath the altar, their eerie green flames bursting forth and pouring into the two remaining lanterns.

The soul lamp trembled violently, and the originally weak and extinguished soul fire suddenly surged and raged fiercely!
Beneath the altar, the three supreme ancestors of the Yan family—Yan Wuming (the fifth ancestor), Yan Wutian (the seventh ancestor), and Yan Wuxin (the ninth ancestor)—stood quietly.

Yan Sen and Yan Luo's parents stared intently at the scene, not daring to breathe.

After all, using such a life-defying secret technique is extremely dangerous, and the slightest carelessness could result in a terrifying backlash.

The ancestor would not have taken such a risk if he had not had no other choice.

However, the deaths of the two prodigies were suspicious, and the murderer remains at large.

This is clearly a trap aimed at the Yan family!

If the mastermind is not brought to justice, not only will more members of the clan suffer, but the entire Yan family will become a laughing stock in Nanhuang Prefecture.

Shen family?

They knew perfectly well that they had neither the courage nor the reason to do so.

The reason they initially allied with the Liu family was solely for that inscription-level divine power.

Although Shen Canghai escaped, he unexpectedly brought out Zhou Qing, a big fish.

After news of Yan Xiang's battle with Zhou Qing at the second level of the Desolate Fortress a month ago was sent back, all of Yan's elite forces were mobilized and launched a massive manhunt in the Desolate Fortress.

At this moment, they have gathered here not only to protect their ancestor, but also to use their bloodline as a guide to perform a secret technique.

This forbidden technique is called "Soul Retracing and Shadow Reflection," and it is as fleeting as a flash in the pan, only able to reflect the face of the last person the deceased saw before their death.

Whether it's the murderer or the witness, they will all be exposed!

"Yan Jue, Yin Jiu Niang, get ready!" Yan Wudao suddenly shouted.

Yan Sen's parents were shocked and immediately patted their chests without hesitation.

Two mouthfuls of blood gushed out, and their faces turned deathly pale instantly.

With a wave of his sleeve, Yan Wudao caused the two clumps of essence blood to merge in the air, transforming into a dazzling blood rainbow that instantly disappeared into the soul lamp.

"Om-"

The soul lamp trembled violently, and the eerie green flame suddenly surged three feet, with a blinding blood-red light bursting from the wick.

Countless fine, blood-red lines spread across the lamp body, writhing as if they were alive.

Ancestor Yan Wudao's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Prepare to take a picture! The last person Sen'er saw is about to manifest!"

The Fifth Ancestor Yan Wuming hurriedly took out a crystal-clear image stone and activated it by performing a hand seal.

In that split second, Yan Wudao suddenly formed a hand seal, his ten fingers flying, and condensed a blood-red talisman.

He suddenly pushed forward, and the talisman transformed into a stream of light that disappeared into the first soul lamp.

"laugh--"

The Soul Lamp suddenly spewed out thick black mist, which quickly condensed into a human face as it surged.

When the face was seen clearly, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.

"Zhou Qing?!"

The face that appeared at this moment was none other than Zhou Qing, the most coveted person in Nanhuang Prefecture, who possessed two inscription-level divine abilities!

The scene is fleeting.

Yan Wudao suddenly turned to look at Yan Wuming, who seemed to wake from a dream and hurriedly activated the image stone.

The projected image was crystal clear—it was Zhou Qing's appearance!

"Could it be that Zhou Qing killed Sen'er?" Yan Wudao's voice was icy.

Yan Wuming frowned and said, "Brother, Sen'er went out with Yan Weiyi back then."

"One of them is at the mid-stage of the Spirit Severing realm, and the other is at the late-stage. Even now, Zhou Qing is only at the mid-stage of the Spirit Severing realm. How could he possibly kill both of them in such a short time?"

"No matter what, this kid must know the inside story!" Yan Wudao's eyes flashed with murderous intent. "We'll dig three feet into the ground to find him!"

Everyone agreed.

Immediately afterwards, Yan Wudao turned to Yanluo's parents: "Yan Mie, Xue Luosha, prepare!"

The two were already impatient and immediately followed the former's example, releasing their essence and blood.

Yan Wudao followed the same method, and the second soul lamp immediately churned with black mist, which quickly condensed into a second image—

A stranger's face, around forty years old.

But everyone present instantly recognized the true identity of this face: Master Qingzhou, the enshrined master of the Shen family!

No, to be precise, it was Zhou Qing after he had disguised himself!

You could hear a pin drop inside the main hall.

Who would have thought that the deaths of the two prodigies of the Yan family were both related to Zhou Qing!
"Good! Very good!" Yan Wudao laughed in extreme anger.

He surveyed the crowd, his gaze lingering for a moment on the tearful eyes of Yan Sen and Yan Luo's parents, before coldly declaring, "Pass down the order: capture Zhou Qing alive at all costs!"

"We will obey the Ancestor's decree!" the crowd responded in unison, their killing intent soaring to the heavens!
Just then, Yan Wuming, the fifth ancestor of the Yan family, seemed to sense something. He suddenly took out a communication jade slip, and a moment later his eyes shone brightly!

"Brother!" He immediately clasped his hands in a salute, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "An old friend of mine sent me news—he personally saw Sen'er and Yan Weiyi in a certain place! In fact, the two of them even came forward to pay their respects!"

"what?!"

These words caused an uproar throughout the hall!

Yan Sen and Yan Luo's parents rushed forward instantly, their voices almost hoarse: "The Five Ancestors! Where are they? Where exactly have we seen them before?!"

Yan Wuming's gaze swept slowly across the crowd like lightning, and he said, word by word:

"A Level Four Cultivation Kingdom—"

"Holy! Martial! Dynasty!"

……

Three months later, in Tianlan City!
When Zhou Qing reappeared in this city, he was filled with mixed emotions.

He and Yao Yao arrived full of youthful vigor.

Now, he is all alone, carrying a bamboo basket and leading his sleeping little one on his journey home.

He looked back at the teleportation array he had personally repaired and let out a long sigh of relief.

He then turned around and sped off toward the ancient teleportation array that he could reach in three days.

"Yao Yao..."

As the flying boat soared through the air, Zhou Qing gently stroked the bamboo basket, a tender smile appearing on his lips.

"We're home."

Before the words were even finished, the flying boat suddenly accelerated, transforming into a streak of light and disappearing into the horizon...

……

Holy Martial Dynasty, Eastern Region, Taiqing Gate!
One hundred and seventy years have passed, and the sect leader Cao Zhengyang now has a head full of white hair.

Time has etched deep lines on his face, and his once sharp eyes are now clouded.

Not only him—all the thirteen peak masters are already very old.

They were originally at the late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, and their lifespans were already running out.

However, with the help of Zhou Qing and his master, the Azure Dragon True Man, he broke through to the Great Perfection with the help of the Yin Spirit Stone.

However, even with improved cultivation, the lifespan of the entire Nascent Soul stage cannot be extended.

Until more than half a year ago—

Elder Jiang Pu, who guarded the Soul Beacon, staggered into the main hall, his withered hands clutching a extinguished soul lamp tightly.

He was trembling all over, his lips were pale, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Because that lamp belongs to Lu Yaoyao.

The greatest pain on the path of spiritual practice is for the elderly to bury their children.

What exactly happened?

What about Zhou Qing?
Unfortunately, the sect did not possess Zhou Qing's soul lamp.

Where are he now, having traveled to the Heavenly Fortune Holy Dynasty with Yao Yao?

Is it life or death?

This is truly worrying!
(End of this chapter)