The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 448 You You You You (6k)

As Xuanyuan Hao's physical body exploded, a seven-colored light suddenly emerged from the blood mist.

He stared at the enormous seal before him, unable to believe that his physical body had been destroyed.

Zhou Qing's cold eyes narrowed, and with a slight lift of his fingertips, several purple-gold lightning arcs instantly intertwined into a net, tightly imprisoning the seven-colored primordial spirit.

Amidst flashes of lightning, the primordial spirit let out a shrill scream, yet no matter how hard it struggled, it could not break free.

Finally, Zhou Qing clenched his five fingers, and the purple-gold lightning net suddenly contracted, forcibly pulling the primordial spirit right in front of him.

Amidst the seven-colored light, Xuanyuan Hao's primordial spirit's face was distorted, his eyes filled with resentment and fear, yet he was powerless to resist any longer.

"You're not at the early stage of the Spirit Severing Realm, you're at the middle stage?" Xuan Yuanhao asked in a hoarse voice.

Zhou Qing remained silent, then suddenly pointed his sword at the center of Zhou Qing's brow.

"How dare you! I am..." Xuan Yuanhao's fierce shout came to an abrupt halt, his primordial spirit trembling violently and emitting a pale, flowing light.

As the Soul Searching Technique was activated, his primordial spirit immediately began to spasm violently.

Its face was twisted into a horrifying shape, its mouth twitching uncontrollably, emitting suffocating sobs.

Countless fragments of memory surged within the sea of ​​consciousness—

Zhou Qing's tightly closed eyes suddenly trembled, and his brows furrowed deeply.

He witnessed Consort Chen being cruelly tortured and killed by the Fifth Ancestor Yan Wuming, and he also saw Xuan Yuanhao kneeling and begging for his life in a disgusting manner.

So this is why you harbor such resentment towards me?
It's nothing more than using one's own cowardice and greed as an excuse to vent one's anger on others.

If you don't covet those so-called secret techniques to enhance your cultivation.

If you do not trespass on my Taiqing Sect territory.

How could the Yan family have targeted them?
The law of heaven is clear, and retribution will not be satisfactory.

All of this is your own fault.

Fortunately, the disappearance of Taiqing Sect had nothing to do with the Yan family, which finally eased his tense nerves a little.

But this relief was fleeting, and a deeper doubt welled up in his mind:

Where did the enormous Taiqing Gate go?
If it was a massacre of an entire family, how could there not even be a trace of a fight left behind?

This effortless approach seems almost like...
"Is it that golden palm that blots out the sky, or that innate spirit from the forbidden zone of the cave?"

Zhou Qing's pupils contracted sharply, a cold glint flashing within them.

Aside from the Yan family, only a few unspeakable entities could make an entire sect disappear silently in the blink of an eye.

"No, I still need to go back and take another look. At the very least, I should use the [Daily Appraisal] to assess it; perhaps I'll get some unexpected results!"

Zhou Qing's mind raced, and the force in his fingertips unconsciously increased.

When he came to his senses, Xuanyuan Hao's primordial spirit was already flickering and about to be extinguished, like a candle in the wind.

His expression hardened, and he immediately formed a sword shape with his fingers.

Then, layers of seals were placed on his primordial spirit, and then sealed in a jade box.

Just then, from the depths of the nine-tiered palace above the dome, a mournful cry of a golden dragon of destiny suddenly echoed, each sound like a lamentation of blood.

"Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor." He looked toward the imperial city, his eyes dark and unfathomable.

The reason for choosing to spare Xuanyuan Hao's life was firstly to avoid arousing the suspicion of the old fox, Xuanyuan Chong.

Although he had already killed two early-stage Spirit Severing Realm cultivators, his own spiritual power had been greatly depleted, and he urgently needed to recuperate.

The more important reason, however, is that his deep-seated hatred for the Xuanyuan family should not involve the common people of the world.

The fall of the emperor will inevitably cause upheaval in the court and among the people, leading to widespread war and ultimately, it is the ordinary people who will suffer.

Of course, once he settles things with Xuanyuan Hao in another place, this matter will likely not be kept secret for long.

But we can keep it a secret for as long as possible, just to give this world a few more days of peace.

Moreover, the change of dynasties is simply the cycle of nature.

The old dynasty's fate has run its course, and a new destiny will eventually rise.

This chaotic world must be opened by someone.

He was merely following the will of Heaven and became the fuse that set things off.

Then, Zhou Qing held a top-grade wood-attribute spirit stone in his hand, removed the four-colored restrictions on the place, and quietly left...

……

Duobao Chamber of Commerce!

More than 170 years have passed, and Mo Tianheng's brows have been etched with the marks of time, and a few fine lines have appeared at the corners of his eyes.

At this moment, he was carefully examining each jade slip, his brows slightly furrowed.

The business of the Duobao Chamber of Commerce, with its thirty-five branches in the Holy Martial Dynasty, has been declining in recent years, which has caused him considerable concern.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, he abruptly looked up to the side.

Suddenly, a figure appeared beside the tea table, leisurely pouring tea and drinking it himself.

The man wore a silver-white mask and exuded composure.

Mo Tianheng's gaze sharpened, and he immediately straightened his clothes, cupped his hands, and smiled, "This fellow Daoist's visit so late at night must be more than just asking for a cup of tea, right? May I ask what brings you here?"

Zhou Qing slowly raised his eyes, his voice filled with emotion: "So many years have passed, and you are still stuck in the early stage of the Spirit Severing Realm."

Mo Tianheng's pupils contracted slightly.

The man spoke with familiarity, clearly knowing him very well.

To appear so silently, one's cultivation must be above his.

He immediately stood up and bowed solemnly: "Hearing what you say, fellow Daoist, could it be that we have met an old friend again?"

Zhou Qing reached out and removed his mask, revealing a smiling face: "Elder Mo, how have you been?"

Upon recognizing that familiar face and that full head of white hair, Mo Tianheng's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he stepped forward in one swift motion: "Zhou Qing! How could it be you?"

Zhou Qing nodded with a smile.

The person in front of him was one of his few close friends in the capital.

When he first entered the Nascent Soul Realm, Elder Mo provided him with tremendous help.

They were also presented with a VIP token symbolizing their prestige, and only seventeen of those tokens were ever given away in a thousand years.

That's because at that time, the Holy Martial Dynasty only had seventeen people at the Spirit Severing Realm.

Unable to contain his excitement, Mo Tianheng grabbed Zhou Qing's arm: "Where have you been all these years? Why have we been so completely out of touch?"

Zhou Qing sighed softly, "It's a long story. I've come here to fulfill an unfinished promise from years ago."

Back then, Mo Tianheng had placed his bet on the fourth prince, Xuan Yuanhe—the prince whose eyebrows were comically like caterpillars and who had renamed himself "White Crane."

He had hoped that after the other party ascended to the throne of the Human Emperor, he could find a secret medicine to break through the shackles of his cultivation realm.

After all, all cultivators who advanced to the Spirit Severing Realm by taking the Xuanyuan family's secret medicine were forever imprisoned at the initial stage.

Even as the head of the Duobao Chamber of Commerce, possessing endless rare and precious materials, Mo Tianheng still found it difficult to make any progress.

Therefore, he guessed that the Xuanyuan family had left a secret for everyone.

Unfortunately, Bai He had no interest in the throne and his ambitions lay elsewhere.

It wasn't until Zhou Qing appeared that Mo Tianheng regained hope and began to place his bets on him.

Zhou Qing also promised to do his best to help.

Upon hearing the word "agreement," Mo Tianheng's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "You've found a way to break it?"

Zhou Qing shook his head: "Not for now. But—"

He patted the storage bag lightly, and a jade box appeared in his palm. "He might know."

The moment the box was opened, upon seeing the miniature primordial spirit sealed within, Mo Tianheng was struck dumb and staggered back several steps.

His face changed drastically, and his voice trembled: "You...you...you..."

“Search for his soul.” Zhou Qing’s tone was terrifyingly calm. “After it is done, there will be no more Xuanyuan Hao in this world.”

Mo Tianheng stared intently at the familiar yet unfamiliar old friend before him, feeling a tightness in his throat.

The other party's nonchalant manner made it seem as if they had only done a trivial matter.
“Xuanyuan Sha is dead,” Zhou Qing continued. “Next are Xuanyuan Chong and Xuanyuan Shuo. You should make the necessary preparations as soon as possible!”

These words were like a thunderclap from the heavens, leaving Mo Tianheng's mind reeling.

It was as if he was seeing Zhou Qing for the first time—at this moment, a tangible aura of malevolence emanated from the other party, making him seem like a demon god who had returned from hell.

"You did it all by yourself?" Mo Tianheng's voice was dry.

Zhou Qing chuckled: "Could there be someone else?"

Mo Tianheng's Adam's apple bobbed, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.

He realized that he had greatly underestimated Zhou Qing's growth rate.

This junior, who once needed his care, now dares to treat even the old emperor in the late stage of the Spirit Severing Realm as nothing.

A chill ran down his spine, and Mo Tianheng felt his scalp tingle.

"Time is of the essence." Zhou Qing pushed the jade box forward again. "Perhaps Xuanyuan Chong has already started looking for his son."

Mo Tianheng stared at the jade box that sealed the Human Emperor's primordial spirit, his teeth clenched.

After a brief hesitation, he suddenly pointed a finger at the withered primordial spirit in the box. Xuan Yuanhao's primordial spirit immediately began to convulse violently.

After a few breaths, Mo Tianheng withdrew his finger, and the look in his eyes as he looked at Zhou Qing completely changed.

He saw some memories he shouldn't have seen, and finally understood why Zhou Qing wanted to take action against the current emperor.

"Did you find it?" Zhou Qing asked.

Mo Tianheng shook his head: "No one else knows the secret techniques that the old emperor possessed, including the current emperor."

"However, it also confirms my guess—the secret medicine refined by the Xuanyuan family was indeed tampered with, just to imprison us forever at the early stage of the Spirit Severing Realm."

Zhou Qing nodded and stood up: "Alright, then I'll kill Xuan Yuanchong first and then come back."

Just as Zhou Qing was about to leave after putting away the jade box, Mo Tianheng suddenly stepped forward: "Zhou Qing, no, Brother Zhou! Since you are already at odds with the Xuanyuan family, why don't we form an alliance and work together on this matter?"

Zhou Qing turned around, a slight smile playing on his lips beneath the mask: "I thought we were allies all along."

Mo Tianheng was taken aback, then clapped his hands and laughed: "Absolutely right! Look at my memory."

"No need to worry," Zhou Qing waved his hand. "I'm enough on my own. By the way, does the Chamber of Commerce still have any wood-attribute spirit stones?"

"Yes! Yes!" Mo Tianheng quickly replied, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. "I've saved all the top-grade wood spirit stones I've accumulated over the years for you!"

"Very good. I will take it after I have killed Xuanyuan Chong." Before he finished speaking, Zhou Qing lightly lifted his foot and disappeared from the spot in the blink of an eye.

Only then did Mo Tianheng realize that his back was soaked with cold sweat.

He looked at the spot where Zhou Qing had just stood, and for a moment he could still feel the suffocating pressure.

"Indeed." He couldn't help but swallow. "Providing help in times of need... is far more popular than adding flowers to brocade."

At this moment, he was incredibly grateful for that seemingly casual decision he made back then.

……

Meanwhile, after finding nothing in the cave, Xuanyuan Chong returned to the palace with a gloomy face.

However, he waited for a long time, but Xuanyuan Hao did not return.

"What's going on?" He frowned, took out a communication jade slip, and sent several messages, but they disappeared without a trace, like a stone thrown into the sea. "Hmph, he's only been threatened by the Yan family a few times, and he's become distracted ever since he came back."

He complained in a low voice, but halfway through his sentence, his pupils suddenly contracted, and a chill ran through him.

"not good!"

He suddenly stood up, his figure transforming into a golden rainbow, heading straight for the Hidden Dragon Path below the palace.

When he landed in the core area, the sight before him made his face turn ashen—

The giant teleportation array was still operating silently, but the entire plaza was completely unrecognizable.

The ground was cracked, the spiritual runes were shattered, and the air was filled with the lingering stench of blood.

Most shockingly, the scattered fragments of golden armor gleamed coldly in the twilight—the only traces left after the deaths of the 30,000 golden-armored guards.

"He's using a diversionary tactic," Xuan Yuanchong's voice was almost squeezed out from between his teeth. "He didn't leave at all; he's taking them down one by one!"

He bent down and touched the ground, his fingertips tracing a charred furrow. His eyes widened in shock: "This is a remnant of Hao'er's 'Nine Dragons Suppressing Heaven' divine power! They fought here!"

Xuanyuan Chong's expression grew increasingly grim.

The other party clearly had planned this in advance; otherwise, given the scale of a battle at the Spirit Severing Realm, it would have been impossible for not even a single distress signal to be transmitted.

Even more strangely, when he arrived, the guards in other areas of the palace were all acting normally, patrolling as usual.

"Array formation." He slammed his palm down on the ground, and golden ripples spread out like waves.

A moment later, he opened his eyes and said in a cold voice, "As expected! This place has been set up with an isolation array!"

He slowly rose, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings like a knife, and suddenly sneered: "Kill the third brother first, then use the same method to deal with Hao'er. It seems I was wrong before. This is not some foreign spirit-slaying incident of standing up for justice."

"The fact that Hao'er didn't die here means he was taken away by the other party, but killing the third brother on the spot is a blatant threat!"

Xuan Yuanchong's face was grim. "He's telling me—if I don't give in, Hao'er will be next to die!"

Having figured this out, Xuanyuan Chong calmed down.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering even without wind: "Then there is only one possibility: the other party wants the Spirit-Slaying Secret Formula, and Hao'er is a bargaining chip."

He suddenly chuckled, his eyes gleaming with golden light.

"For thousands of years, those who coveted the secret formula have all turned into withered bones on Mount Wuxiang. I never expected to encounter such a clever person today, who knows to use my son as a bargaining chip."

A cold glint flashed in Xuan Yuanchong's eyes. He muttered to himself, "Because of the dynasty's fortune, I can even briefly unleash the power of a Great Perfection of the Spirit Slaying Realm."

"The fact that this person resorts to such despicable means proves that he is not strong enough."

Xuanyuan Chong strolled through the dilapidated square, each step making a soft, clattering sound on the broken blue bricks.

His gaze sharpened as he carefully scanned the surrounding traces of battle: "Both attacks utilized formations."

He carefully sensed the residual spiritual energy fluctuations in the air. "If I'm not mistaken, this formation is no ordinary formation. It can both prevent spatial tearing and shield information transmission."

The next moment, he suddenly stopped, a cold glint in his eyes: "When the third brother fell, Hao'er immediately reported it. Afterwards, we went to the mountains together, and I ordered him to come here to send a message to recall the second brother."

He did some quick calculations and his expression changed drastically: "From then until now, when I noticed the abnormality, it has only been a short three hours!"

Xuanyuan Chong's sleeves fluttered without wind, and his spiritual energy subtly fluctuated: "He has slain two early-stage Spirit Transformation Realm experts in three hours and is still able to leave unscathed."

He snorted coldly, "Judging from this, the opponent's cultivation level is at most at the late stage of the Spirit Severing Realm!"

His gaze swept over the mess on the ground, and he continued his analysis: "It could have been one person, or it could have been multiple people working together."

At this point, a chilling glint suddenly flashed in his eyes: "But one thing is certain—this was a meticulously planned ambush!"

But soon, Xuanyuan Chong hesitated again.

Hao'er is still alive, so I believe they will send word soon.

If, as he predicted, the secret formula for slaying spirits is the only condition for exchange...
Should he change it or not?

After pacing back and forth for a moment, a ruthless glint flashed in Xuan Yuanchong's eyes: "I won't trade!"

This secret recipe was something he obtained by betraying his sworn brothers back then.

It took thousands of years of painstaking research to perfect it to its current state.

All the current experts in the Holy Martial Dynasty who have reached the Spirit Severing Realm have broken through thanks to this secret formula, and they are all under his control.

As long as he lives, and as long as the secret formula remains in his hands, the Holy Martial Dynasty will never decline.

Even if a human emperor falls, we can simply train another one.

Of his seven sons, wasn't only Hao'er the one who successfully broke through to the Spirit Slaying Realm using the secret medicine?
With several grandchildren now under his care, and the fourth-generation formula he is currently developing, his chances of a successful breakthrough are only greater.

But Hao'er still had to be saved—the Xuanyuan family now only had four Spirit Severing Realm experts, and the third brother was already dead. If they lost Hao'er as well, it would be a fatal blow to the family.

"Perhaps... we can prepare a fake secret formula as an exchange." A glint flashed in Xuan Yuanchong's eyes.

But then he frowned, "What if they want me to make a heavenly oath to verify its authenticity?"

Just as he was lost in thought, a surge of spiritual energy suddenly came from his waist.

Xuan Yuanchong quickly took out the communication jade slip and saw that the jade slip belonging to Hao'er was flashing. A sharp light flashed in his eyes.

The jade slip was opened, and a line of small characters appeared:
[Xuanyuan Chong, the current Human Emperor is in my hands. Prepare ten thousand top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones to ransom him. I'll give you three days to prepare, and then I'll contact you again!]

Xuan Yuanchong was momentarily stunned: "Just top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones? It's that simple?"

He hurriedly used his divine sense to send a message to inquire about the other party's identity, but there was no response.

This unexpected request left even the shrewd and experienced Spirit Slayer Realm expert momentarily stunned.

Moreover, ten thousand top-grade wood-attribute spirit stones?
Isn't this nonsense?

Do you really think wood-attribute spirit stones are like cabbages on the street?
Back then, the royal treasury only had a total of one thousand Five Elements Spirit Stones, and only two hundred of them were Wood Attribute Spirit Stones.

However, they were all wiped out by an unknown thief, and the thief has not been caught to this day.

"Heh, I understand now." Xuan Yuanchong suddenly sneered, "They're playing mind games with me."

"Ten thousand wood-attribute spirit stones?" He crushed the rubble beneath his feet. "Even in a fifth-level cultivation country, no one could produce so many at once."

"First, throw out an impossible request, and when I'm in a difficult position, pretend to give in."

His eyes grew colder. "Let's settle for something else, but we still can't do it."

"If once doesn't work, try twice; if twice doesn't work, try three times. When it comes to the secret recipe in the end," Xuan Yuanchong sneered, "compared to those outrageous demands before, they seem quite reasonable."

"Brilliant, truly brilliant! What a pity." His aura suddenly changed, "You've met your match in this old man!"

"Fine, you want to play, huh?" Xuan Yuanchong turned and strode forward, cracking the ground with each step. "I'll play along to the end! Let's see who's outmaneuvering whom in the end!"

……

Meanwhile, atop Mount Wuxiang.

The obsession here is exceptionally strong. Over the years, every cultivator at the Spirit Severing Realm who coveted the royal family's secret formula has been lured here and killed without exception.

Zhou Qing still remembered that the last time he came, he could only watch Xuan Yuanchong and Yan Luo fight from afar.

Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, it was his turn to personally face this old monster.

“Yama is dead, now it’s your turn,” Zhou Qing said softly. “Just consider it as ridding the people of a scourge.”

He found a secluded spot and began to regulate his breathing and recover.

Three days is enough time for him to get back to peak condition.

Now that we've already alerted the enemy, this place has become the best battlefield.

……

Three days later, Zhou Qing had fully recovered.

He first took out the communication jade slip and sent a message to Yu Yan: [How is Yao Yao?]

Soon, the jade slip lit up: 【She's fine, just keeps crying and wanting her father.】

A month ago, the image of Yao Yao calling him "Daddy" in her childish voice involuntarily appeared in Zhou Qing's mind, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

【Are you alright? Are you hurt?】Swift sent another message.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. Take good care of Yao Yao, and wait for me to come back," Zhou Qing replied.

The brief and concise reply put his mind at ease.

Then, he took out Xuan Yuanchong's communication jade slip and sent a message as his spiritual energy circulated.

On the nine-tiered palace, Xuanyuan Chong looked at the words that appeared on the jade slip: [Are the wood-attribute spirit stones ready?]

He snorted coldly and replied: "Oh dear, I'm truly sorry. Ten thousand wood-attribute spirit stones are simply too many. Let alone three days, even three hundred years wouldn't be enough for me."

Zhou Qing was not surprised by this answer at all.

After all, demanding 10,000 wood-attribute spirit stones was already asking too much of a person.

This outrageous demand was merely the first step in his plan—to first appease the other party with an exorbitant request, and then gradually close the net.

Back then, when the Buddhist disciple Guicang was thanking his godfather, he only gave him a thousand wood-attribute spirit stones.

As for the riches and treasures of the royal treasury, he knew them inside and out.

"Alright, how much can you come up with?" Zhou Qing asked again, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

Xuan Yuanchong looked at the message, a knowing smile appearing on his lips: [One hundred.]

"Alright, one hundred it is. Now take the goods to Wuxiang Mountain, cash on delivery!"

This reply caused Xuan Yuanchong's expression to freeze instantly.

He stared at the jade slip, his brows gradually furrowing—this bargaining was far too decisive!

From ten thousand to one hundred?
They even skipped the haggling process?
Aren't you afraid I'll lie?

"Something's not right," he muttered to himself. "Logically, they should have proceeded step by step, gradually lowering my expectations."

After a moment's hesitation, he picked up the jade slip again: "Fellow Daoist, you're looking down on my Xuanyuan family. The Emperor of a fourth-level cultivation nation is only worth a hundred wood-attribute spirit stones? That's far too cheap."

Seeing that the other party didn't reply immediately, he quickly added another message: "How about this, let me try to gather more. Even if I can't reach ten thousand, five hundred should be achievable."

Zhou Qing frowned slightly as he looked at the two messages that popped up one after another.

What's that old fox up to?
"How long will it take?" he replied briefly.

【At most two months!】Xuanyuan Chong’s reply came very quickly.

A cold glint flashed in Zhou Qing's eyes, and he immediately understood.

As expected, this old fox is as cautious as ever. After losing Xuan Yuan Sha and Xuan Yuan Hao in succession, he has probably become suspicious.

I no longer dare to venture out alone.

"Either you doubt my strength is above his, or you think I have a Spirit Severing Realm helper on my side," Zhou Qing sneered.

Two months?
This is clearly a delaying tactic!
It was enough to mobilize more than a dozen Spirit Slaying Realm experts from eight prefectures and seventy-two counties, and even more enough for Xuan Yuan Shuo, who was rushing back from the Vast Expanse Prefecture, to return in time to provide assistance.

“In that case—” Zhou Qing’s eyes flashed with a cold light, and he immediately replied.

Remember, you're the one who killed your son!

As soon as he finished speaking, he clenched his fingers, and the communication jade slip shattered.

He then took out a jade box, and the moment the seal was broken, Xuan Yuanhao's primordial spirit immediately wailed, "Spare me, spare my life!"

"They say the son pays for the father's debts." Zhou Qing stared coldly at the withered primordial spirit before him, lightning crackling in his palm.

“Every Spirit Severing Realm expert who has fallen here was killed by your father. They would probably be happy if you could accompany them.”

Before the words were even finished, a blinding flash of lightning exploded in Xuan Yuanhao's despairing gaze...

(End of this chapter)