The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 449 Damn it, damn it, truly damn it! (6k)

At the same time, the jade slip in Xuanyuan Chong's hand suddenly trembled.

After reading the message from Zhou Qing, he suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.

He suddenly took out Hao'er's soul lamp, and the already dim lamp suddenly flickered violently before going out completely with a "snap" under his incredulous gaze.

"How dare he?!" Xuan Yuanchong roared to the sky, his late-stage Spirit Slaying Realm aura instantly shattering half of the furnishings in the hall.

The next moment, above the Nine Heavens Palace, the majestic golden dragon of fortune, perched on the clouds, suddenly let out a heart-wrenching wail.

Countless people looked up at the same time and saw the golden dragon writhing in agony among the clouds, with strands of golden blood seeping from its scales.

The crowd was puzzled; this was the second such phenomenon in just three days.

At this moment, the golden dragon's mournful cry and the violent convulsions of its body far surpassed those of the previous time.

"Damn it! Damn it!" Xuan Yuanchong's face was contorted with rage, veins bulging on his forehead, and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

The bloodlust in his eyes intensified, and his violent spiritual energy stirred up waves of energy within the hall.

"He's trying to corrupt my resolve! He's making me believe that Hao'er's death was entirely due to my hesitation—what a vicious tactic!"

The furnishings inside the hall shattered under the shock of spiritual energy, but Xuan Yuanchong suddenly suppressed his rage and took a deep breath.

His bloodshot eyes gradually regained their clarity, but the murderous intent in them grew even more intense.

"You have repeatedly mocked me, and now you have even killed my Holy Martial Emperor. No matter who you are, I swear I will make you vanish into thin air!"

He quickly grasped the jade slip in his hand and paced slowly: "Now that he has lost his bargaining chip, what will he use to blackmail us next?"

Xuanyuan Chong frowned. "Could it be that you're going to use my Xuanyuan family's good-for-nothing descendants as a scapegoat? Do you want to wipe out the Xuanyuan clan?"

He then shook his head and sneered, "Even the current Human Emperor cannot coerce me, so those juniors in the Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation stages are not worth mentioning."

The next moment, he seemed to realize something, and his whole body stiffened: "Could it be that I guessed wrong, that he wasn't after the secret recipe from the beginning, but... me!"

The thought sent chills down his spine, sending a shiver of coldness shooting up from his tailbone and instantly permeating his entire body.

"Who exactly is this person?" Xuan Yuanchong's pupils contracted sharply. "What does he want?"

"Could it be that the relatives of the Spirit Slaying Realm cultivator I killed at Wuxiang Mountain back then have come seeking revenge?" A bloodthirsty light flashed in Xuanyuan Chong's eyes.

He then let out a sinister laugh, "So you deliberately chose Wuxiang Mountain as the location, so that those wandering souls could witness my demise?"

He clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles cracking: "That should be it, and for now, that's the only explanation!"

He then gave a sinister laugh, "Trying to lure me into a trap? Wishful thinking! When the second brother returns, he'll see who you really are!"

……

Zhou Qing stared at the spot where Xuan Yuanhao's primordial spirit had dissipated, his expression gradually hardening.

Therefore, the previous plan would not work.

Because he still underestimated Xuanyuan Chong's ruthlessness.

"That's true. To elevate a level three cultivation kingdom to level four and still survive to this day, one would have died somewhere in the dark long ago if they didn't have a heart of stone!" He shook his head self-deprecatingly.

That old monster has not left the capital for thousands of years, regards all living beings as worthless, and has only the ethereal path to immortality in his heart, in addition to his overwhelming power.

“As a veteran late-stage Spirit Slayer, Xuan Yuanchong is blessed by the Golden Dragon of National Fortune and has thousands of years of combat experience. His combat power has probably reached the Great Perfection level.” Zhou Qing’s gaze sharpened.

"And that Prince Xuanyuan Shuo has been guarding the border for many years, dealing with the Demon Emperor. He is also at the mid-stage of the Spirit Severing Realm, and is by no means an ordinary person."

"What if other Spirit Severing Realm experts come to the rescue—"

Zhou Qing raised an eyebrow slightly, but in an instant, a fierce fighting spirit ignited in his eyes.

"Even if there are reinforcements, so what? Nangong Xiong Ba is dead, Elder Mo will not interfere, and there are still a few masters in the Vast Expanse who are still comprehending the mysteries of the Primordial Realm."

"Only a handful of people can come, but what does it matter if they all come!"

"I possess the power of the Four Flowers Gathering at the Top, have cultivated the heaven-defying recovery technique of the 'Demon Subduing Golden Bone,' master two inscription-level cultivation methods, and wield a complete ultimate weapon!"

"At worst, we'll slaughter them until the world turns upside down! If we can't even handle these people, how can we talk about returning to Nanhuang Prefecture and crushing Tianhuang Palace, the Yan family, and the Liu family?"

Zhou Qing's gaze sharpened as he looked at the increasingly dense fog in Wuxiang Mountain. He said in a deep voice, "Now I am in the shadows, they are in the light. We can use this opportune moment and favorable terrain to set up a killing trap. This battle—"

"Consider this a warm-up battle for our return to Nanhuang Prefecture!"

Before he finished speaking, his figure had already disappeared into the thick fog, and he began to set up one killing formation after another...

……

More than two months have passed quietly.

On this day, the [Hidden Dragon Path] teleportation array suddenly lit up with a dazzling light, and a figure strode out from it, exuding a chilling aura.

Without pausing, the person transformed into a streak of light and headed straight for the Nine Heavens Palace.

"What?!" Upon hearing the news that Xuan Yuanhao and Xuan Yuansha had both perished, Xuan Yuanshuo suddenly stood up from his seat, his face filled with disbelief.

Immediately, a suffocating killing intent erupted from his body, and the temperature in the entire hall seemed to drop several degrees.

"Who did this? Where is that person now?" Xuan Yuanshuo's voice was as cold as ice from the deepest hell, every word carrying a chilling killing intent.

Xuanyuan Chong raised his hand to signal him to calm down: "Second brother, please don't get angry. This person's actions are unpredictable and there has been no contact since the last message. But after these two months of deduction, I am certain that he is still on Wuxiang Mountain."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Xuan Yuan Shuo laughed angrily, his spiritual power surging around him. "We brothers will charge over immediately and tear him to pieces!"

Xuanyuan Chong shook his head and said in a deep voice, "Don't be impatient."

He gazed intently out of the hall, "This matter is not as simple as it seems. I have been pondering it day and night for the past two months, and I have some guesses to share with you in detail."

After Xuan Yuanchong explained his speculations, Xuan Yuanshuo gradually calmed down.

He frowned and paced back and forth in the hall, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly.

"So, what Your Majesty means is," Xuan Yuanshuo stopped, his eyes flashing, "that the other party is likely at the late stage of the Spirit Severing realm, but the exact number is still unclear?"

Seeing Xuan Yuanchong nod in confirmation, Xuan Yuanshuo's eyes suddenly lit up: "We've been raising an army for a thousand days, but now is the time to use it. Over the years, we've supported many Spirit Severing Realm cultivators; now is the time to put them to use!"

"No way." Xuan Yuanchong immediately and decisively rejected the idea, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.

"Firstly, these people have other important uses; secondly..."

His voice suddenly dropped, "If they find out that Hao'er and Lao San are dead, it's hard to guarantee they won't have ulterior motives."

Silence fell over the hall for a moment.

After a long silence, Xuanyuan Shuo finally sighed, "Your Majesty's considerations are correct."

Xuan Yuanchong continued, "Which of these Spirit Severing Realm cultivators wasn't a ruthless character who fought his way out from the drug users back then? On the surface, they're grateful to us, but in reality, they harbor malicious intentions."

He sneered, "With your cultivation stagnating for so many years, they should have become suspicious long ago."

"But you and I, brothers, have managed to break through one after another. If they were to suddenly turn against us during a fierce battle, the consequences would be unimaginable."

Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Shuo's face immediately turned ashen.

He knew all too well the cruelty of the cultivation world—these people would do anything to break through their cultivation level.

With the enemy situation unclear, if the two brothers were to make any mishap, their so-called "allies" would likely immediately bare their fangs.

“And I have a feeling,” Xuan Yuanchong leaned forward, “that the other side may have already secretly turned some people against us, just waiting for us to gather our ‘helpers’.”

He made a backstabbing gesture, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

Xuan Yuanshuo was shocked; he had never considered this possibility.

Upon closer examination, this kind of scheming is exactly the kind of trick those old monsters usually use.

"So how should we deal with this now?" Xuan Yuanshuo asked in a deep voice.

Xuanyuan Chong sneered: "Just the two of us brothers will go. With the dynasty's fortune on our side, even if something unexpected happens, I am confident that I can escape unscathed."

Just as Xuanyuan Shuo was about to nod, he suddenly remembered something: "By the way, Your Majesty, a few days ago a demon emperor sprang out from the portal of the Primordial Secret Realm and was killed by our joint efforts."

As he spoke, he flipped his hand and took out a jade box covered with talismans. "This was obtained from him."

As Xuanyuan Shuo carefully opened the jade box, he saw a strangely eerie blood-red feather lying quietly inside, covered with obscure and incomprehensible dark patterns.

“This is—” Xuan Yuanchong’s pupils contracted slightly.

Xuanyuan Shuo said in a deep voice, "The origin of this item has not yet been determined, but that beast used it to increase its strength to the late stage of the Spirit Severing Realm in just three breaths!"

"What?" Xuan Yuanchong suddenly stood up, but then realized something and said urgently, "No! You mean a demon emperor at the mid-stage of the Spirit Severing Realm has already appeared in the Primordial Secret Realm?"

Xuanyuan Shuo nodded heavily: "I'm afraid we've seriously underestimated the danger of that secret realm. Over the years, we've killed seven demon emperors who came out of that secret realm."

His Adam's apple bobbed. "I always feel that something even more terrifying is awakening deep inside."

"Moreover, since Lin Daochen passed away after his lifespan was exhausted, we are even less able to open the portal to that secret realm."

Xuanyuan Shuo raised his head, his gaze fixed intently on Xuanyuan Chong, "If Your Majesty were to go personally..."

He swallowed his words, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

Xuanyuan Chong shook his head slightly and said, "Second brother, you should know that if anything happens to me, the entire Xuanyuan family's foundation will be destroyed."

Xuanyuan Shuo sighed, "It's a pity that we once invited Zhou Qing to help us, but he refused. Now he has been missing for so many years, and we don't know where he went."

"Have you checked with Taiqing Sect?" Xuan Yuanchong suddenly asked.

Xuan Yuanshuo replied with a hint of helplessness, "It hasn't been investigated in detail yet. Half a year ago, Hao'er came to me in a daze and told me about the disappearance of Taiqing Sect, but it was delayed because of the strange activity in the secret realm."

"A sect with hundreds of thousands of members—how could it have vanished so cleanly?" Xuan Yuanchong frowned.

He then changed the subject: "Alright, the most urgent thing is to solve the immediate problem. With this feather, you can temporarily possess late-stage combat power, and with me added to the mix, the chances of victory are not small."

“However,” Xuan Yuanshuo hesitated slightly, “the energy within is only enough for one use.”

"One time is enough!" Xuan Yuanchong said confidently. "Prepare immediately, we'll set off right away!"

“Okay!” Xuan Yuanshuo nodded solemnly.

……

[Name: Zhou Qing]

Age: 215 years old

[Cultivation Level: Mid-stage Spirit Severing Realm]

[Inner Strength Technique: Yin Yang Technique] [Talent Skill: Daily Review]

[Random Post] (If you're so capable, you post it)
[Mind's Vision——LV5 (217/500)]

[Reduced Presence——LV6 (2/100)]

[Skill Fragments: 0/3 (Unobtainable)]

Deep within Wuxiang Mountain, Zhou Qing stood with his hands behind his back, gazing silently at the illusory panel that only he could see.

A mountain breeze swept by, ruffling his full head of white hair.

“Two hundred and fifteen years old,” he murmured softly. “In the eyes of mortals, that would be several lifetimes.”

However, if we consider the loss of lifespan, it has only just reached the Golden Core stage.

After all, even those at the Nascent Soul stage have a lifespan of a thousand years.

At my age, I am merely a newcomer who has just embarked on the path to immortality.

As for the friend's post in the [Random Post], the system had already notified me that the task was completed several years ago after I helped Han Yi kill the second landlord, Shen Yunlan, and the corresponding reward had already been credited to my account.

No wonder she resolutely refused when I offered to help her back in the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace as the number one.

This involves family feuds and entanglements, and her own uncles and aunts, so it's really inconvenient for outsiders to interfere.

Currently, only the "You're good enough to post" option remains unused.

Encourage others to take risks, and you can get half of the profits if they succeed.

This post must be used with caution. At the very least, one should target an expert at the Supreme Realm or above to increase the chances of success.

You're encouraging someone to reach the Spirit Severing Realm, and they risk going up there only to get killed. Wouldn't that be a complete waste?

As for the talent skill [Mind's Eye], there is still one slot left, but it is still half a point away from upgrading it to level six.

But after so many years, very few people remain who have been bound to the group.

All things considered, now only four people can provide him with points: Yu Yan, Second Uncle, Bai He, and Sikong Yan.

I wonder if Second Uncle has escaped from the Heavenly Supreme's pursuit?
Bai He had gone to the prince's residence a few days ago to search for him, but had not found any trace of him.

I remember when he left a hundred years ago, he mentioned that he was going to Taiqing Sect to find his second senior sister. Could it be that he also disappeared along with Taiqing Sect?

As for Sikong Yan... let's forget about him.

So, now only Swift is left as a reliable source of experience points.

But relying solely on her limited accumulation, it's hard to say when she'll be able to advance to the next level.

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing saw the image of Lu Yaoyao, who always silently followed behind him and witnessed his growth.

Over the years, she has provided the most valuable experience—or rather, the most valuable emotional value.

Memories of their past time together flooded her mind, and a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on Zhou Qing's lips.

"I really hope to see her again!" he murmured softly, gazing into the distance.

Of course, nine years later, little Yao Yao should have grown back to her original appearance, but—

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing's eyes suddenly dimmed, and an indescribable dull pain rose in his chest.

As for the [Talent Skill] skill that reduces presence, that seems like a distant prospect.

To trigger this skill, one must be in a tense and exciting environment with multiple people, and these people must be cultivators at the Spirit Severing Realm. Among them, there must be someone who knows him but ignores him at a crucial moment.

Now the entire Southern Phoenix Prefecture regards him as a highly sought-after person, and the conditions are extremely demanding.

The only feasible solution is to bring Swift or that carefree Zhao Muye.

If everyone teams up to explore the forbidden land, they might be able to manage to gain some experience points.

New skill fragments will likely only be obtained as a byproduct of increasing proficiency with the "Reduce Presence" skill.

As Zhou Qing was pondering, his expression suddenly hardened, and his pupils abruptly split into blood-red double pupils.

Piercing through layers of obsessive clouds, two figures standing in mid-air immediately came into view.

Xuanyuan Chong!
Xuanyuan Shuo!
Zhou Qing's eyes narrowed dangerously, a murderous intent surging within them.

To his surprise, the other party did not bring any other helpers—if he had known this, wouldn't all his previous preparations have been in vain?
Without a moment's hesitation, he flashed and instantly disappeared into the billowing gray fog, vanishing without a trace.

At this moment, Xuan Yuanchong and Xuan Yuanshuo exchanged a glance and tacitly separated.

Their immense divine sense swept across the entire mountain range like a tidal wave, leaving no inch of land undetected.

Suddenly, Xuan Yuanchong's eyes sharpened, his gaze shooting like lightning in a certain direction.

Upon using divine sense to probe, a masked figure in black robes was clearly visible, sitting cross-legged on the open ground without any intention of concealing himself.

What's even more infuriating is that, noticing the divine sense sweeping over him, the man slowly raised his head and gave him a provocative middle finger.

"Second brother!" Xuan Yuanchong shouted sternly.

Upon hearing the sound, Xuan Yuanshuo arrived. The two of them moved in a flash, instantly appearing directly above Zhou Qing.

The two men stared intently at the figure in the clouds below.

Below, Zhou Qing slowly stood up and looked up to meet the gazes of the two men.

Beneath the mask, his gaze was calm as still water, yet it concealed a sharp edge.

Xuan Yuanchong carefully examined Zhou Qing's aura and couldn't help but show a look of surprise—he was only at the mid-stage of the Spirit Severing Realm!

He quickly scanned the entire Wuxiang Mountain to confirm that no one else was lying in ambush.

"Just you?" Xuan Yuanchong frowned.

"Just the two of you?" came a muffled question from behind the mask.

Xuan Yuanchong laughed in fury, his killing intent solidifying as if it were a tangible substance: "Did you kill Hao'er and the third brother?"

Zhou Qing calmly flipped his hand, tossing two storage bags up and down in his palm: "Are these the ones you're talking about?"

"You're courting death!" Xuan Yuanshuo's hair and beard stood on end, and his violent aura exploded, his spiritual power boiling like a raging sea.

Xuanyuan Chong grabbed him and then looked around warily: "You haven't run away for so long, it seems you've been waiting for us?"

“That’s right.” Zhou Qing said calmly, “I’m always decisive and efficient in my work, never leaving myself any future troubles. Even if I can’t eliminate the problem completely, I will at least—”

He deliberately dragged out his words, "So that you will never forget it."

"A mere mid-stage Spirit Severing cultivator dares to be so arrogant." Xuan Yuanchong's eyes were sinister. "It seems he has made ample preparations."

Zhou Qing chuckled lightly: "You guessed right. The entire mountain is covered in killing formations, but I don't know—"

He suddenly lowered his voice, "Do either of you have the courage to come in and give it a try?"

"Why don't you dare!"

Xuanyuan Shuo took a step forward, and a bronze halberd suddenly appeared in his hand, its blade gleaming coldly, pointing directly at Zhou Qing.

The fierce weapon that had accompanied him in guarding the border for many years now exuded a murderous aura that seemed almost solid, as if even the air itself trembled.

Zhou Qing stared at him, her eyes subtle.

This border prince, who had cooperated with him many times, had severed all ties with him after that forced soul search and rescue of Nangong Xiong Ba.

"Second brother!" Xuan Yuanchong shouted again, but his eyes remained fixed on Zhou Qing, and he did not rush to make a move.

"Since we are now irreconcilable enemies, I only want to know—"

His voice was deep and thunderous, "Why?"

Zhou Qing pretended to ponder, then looked up, a slight smile playing on his lips beneath the mask: "As for why, I really need to think about it carefully. Ah, I remember now."

“Because—” he said slowly, “after I took a trip to your ancestral land, they chased after me.”

The air froze instantly upon hearing this.

Xuan Yuanchong's face turned ashen, and he immediately realized what had happened, his killing intent erupting completely: "You destroyed those three 'Blood Spirit Dao-Slaying Pills'?!"

Zhou Qing shrugged, his tone flippant: "Oh? You mean that thing in the cauldron that increases the probability of breaking through to the Spirit Severing stage by 40%? Yeah, I did it. How about it?"

Xuan Yuanchong's knuckles cracked with a piercing sound, and his previously calm face instantly twisted into a ferocious grimace.

Those three pills, nurtured with a thousand years of effort by the Xuanyuan family, could have added three more loyal Spirit Severing Realm experts, but they were ruined by the person in front of us.

With the deaths of Hao'er and Lao San, this person has already cost the Xuanyuan family five members at the Spirit Severing Realm!
Damn it! Absolutely damn it!
"No!" Xuan Yuan Shuo suddenly shouted, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. "Third Brother said that there were two people who broke into the ancestral land back then, and one of them even used a unique supernatural power of my Xuan Yuan family—was it you?"

Zhou Qing shook his head: "That wasn't me."

He said with a playful tone, "But that person... does indeed have a grudge against you."

"It's a pity he's not here." He chuckled softly. "But while I was away, he must have 'visited' your other secret locations, right?"

Xuanyuan Chong's expression changed drastically.

Indeed, after the ancestral land was invaded, several forbidden areas were infiltrated over the years, with the clear target being the secret formula for slaying spirits.

Unfortunately, the person seemed to have gained nothing in the end and disappeared without a trace.

"This person is likely a formation master, or carries a complete set of formation restrictions. Be careful!" Xuan Yuanchong warned in a low voice.

Xuanyuan Shuo nodded slightly, suppressing his anger and refraining from making any rash moves.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing sighed softly, "You two are indeed cautious. Since you don't intend to make a move..."

He raised his hand to activate the teleportation barrier beside him. "Then I'll take my leave."

Just as the spatial fluctuations began to distort, Zhou Qing suddenly stopped and turned his head slightly as if he had remembered something important.

Beneath the mask, a playful smile flickered: "Oh, right! Xuan Yuan Sha captured so many pregnant women to refine the [Seven Emotions Soul-Severing Grass], didn't he?"

"It ranks forty-sixth in your secret recipe, and there's also the forty-seventh, [Ten Thousand Souls Dew]."

The next moment, he slapped his forehead in feigned annoyance: "Oops, I said it in the wrong order. It should be Nine Netherworld Demon Lotus, Mysterious Heaven Green Vine, Heavenly Star Dew, and Nine Aperture Exquisite Ginseng."

With each name Zhou Qing uttered, Xuan Yuanchong's pupils contracted slightly.

On that usually impassive old face, a clear emotional fluctuation finally appeared—a distorted expression mixed with shock, anger, and fear.

(End of this chapter)