I'm in Yellow Maple Valley, and I have one equipment slot!

"What is it?"

Several stewards from the Six Halls immediately tensed up and called the man into a side hall.

Ouyang Gong naturally followed along to discuss the matter.

Only Zhou Yuan and Ouyang Qing remained in the hall.

Zhou Yuan's gaze fell on the girl beside him, and he carefully sensed her.

Suddenly, I noticed something unusual.

The girl Ouyang Qing's spiritual sense seemed to be exceptionally strong.

Despite having only the cultivation level of the early Foundation Establishment stage, his spiritual sense was comparable to that of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and even faintly approached the level of the late Foundation Establishment stage.

This gap cannot be bridged by ordinary techniques.

"Qing'er, have you ever practiced any techniques to strengthen your divine sense?"

Zhou Yuan didn't beat around the bush and asked directly.

Ouyang Qing was slightly taken aback, then shook her head seriously: "No."

She blinked her bright eyes, a hint of surprise flashing within them:

"Uncle Zhou is indeed very perceptive... In fact, I seem to have been like this since the beginning of my cultivation, my spiritual sense is far stronger than that of other cultivators of the same level."

"Born this way?"

Zhou Yuan was genuinely surprised.

He was born with a powerful spiritual sense, which is an extremely rare talent.

With proper guidance, they may be able to grow to a considerable level in the future.

An idea popped into his mind.

To be honest, Zhou Yuan had his own selfish motives at that moment.

Firstly, Biling Island needs trustworthy people to help mine spirit stones.

Mining spirit stones requires a sufficiently powerful divine sense to control multiple puppets simultaneously.

Yuan Yao and Yan Li were trustworthy, but the two of them were under immense pressure, having to operate hundreds of puppets day and night.

Secondly, if one could take on an apprentice, it would not only alleviate the pressure of mining but also cultivate a reliable assistant, achieving two goals at once.

The woman before him, Ouyang Qing, possessed a naturally powerful spiritual sense and was the daughter of an old friend, making her an excellent candidate.

"I'd like to take you as my disciple," Zhou Yuan said with a slight smile. "I wonder if you're interested in becoming my apprentice?"

"To become an apprentice..."

Ouyang Qing's face lit up with surprise, her eyes sparkling, clearly she was tempted.

However, she then glanced hesitantly towards the side hall.

Her father was still inside discussing matters, so she didn't dare to make a decision right away.

Just then, the door to the side hall opened, and Ouyang Gong and his group came out.

Zhou Yuan went up to him and asked, "Brother Ouyang, what's wrong?"

Ouyang Gong's expression was grave. He whispered, "Brother Zhou, something terrible has happened. Something has occurred on Dengxing Island. A few days ago, Elder Qi Yuan suddenly betrayed us and sent men to attack the Hall Master and Elder Feng. Now, the Hall Master and Elder Feng... their fate is unknown."

Zhou Yuan frowned.

Qi Yuan betrayed us?

It seems that the Reverse Star Alliance is desperate and has resorted to desperate measures because the Six Palaces are gradually moving to Tianxing City, and they are worried that this pawn will get out of their control.

"Then Brother Ouyang, you go ahead and take care of your business. I'll come and bother you again next time."

Zhou Yuan cupped his hands in farewell and left.

Instead of returning to Wuyai Cave, he left Tianxing City directly and flew towards Dengxing Island, which was marked on the sea chart.

Of course, he changed into a loose black robe and even covered his face with a black mask.

Dengxing Island is about ten days' journey from Tianxing City.

Zhou Yuan traveled at breakneck speed, his escape light piercing the sky.

Ten days later.

Suddenly, a violent surge of magical energy emanated from the sea ahead!

Zhou Yuan swept his divine sense and instantly detected several auras. One was fleeing in panic ahead, while four were chasing closely behind!

He increased his speed and soon saw the scene ahead clearly.

The fleeing man was covered in wounds, his clothes were stained with blood, and his breathing was disordered. He was none other than the Lord of Snow Night Palace!

Following behind her were four Core Formation cultivators.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a sinister face, whose aura indicated he was in the late stage of Core Formation!

The other three are a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator and two early-stage Core Formation cultivators.

Zhou Yuan recognized the two early-stage Core Formation cultivators at a glance; they were Elder Miao and Elder Gu, whom he had dealt with twice on Kui Xing Island back then!

"You can't escape on a snowy night!"

The late-stage Core Formation cultivator sneered, "Your Six-Hall Linked Palaces now belong to me, Qi Yuan!"

Xueye's face was deathly pale, but he gritted his teeth and desperately fled.

Just then, she suddenly saw a black figure appear in front of her, blocking her way.

The figure's aura was unfathomable, which made her heart sink, thinking that it was an enemy intercepting her.

"It seems... I can't escape this fate after all." A wave of despair washed over Xueye.

She abruptly stopped her escape, turned around to face her pursuers, and a resolute look flashed in her eyes.

"You traitors! Even if I, Xueye, die today, I will not let you get away with this!"

Her magical power surged, preparing for a desperate battle!

The four people chasing her stopped at this moment, looking at Zhou Yuan with suspicion and uncertainty in their eyes.

They hadn't planned to have anyone intercept them here, and they didn't know whether the man in black was friend or foe.

"Fellow Daoist, are you also one of us?" Qi Yuan, who was in the lead, asked tentatively.

Zhou Yuan ignored him, instead looking at Xue Ye and speaking calmly:

"Can you tell me what happened in your Six-Linked Palace?"

Xue Ye was taken aback, then realized that this person might not be one of Qi Yuan's men.

She quickly said:

"Qi Yuan is a wolf in sheep's clothing, a traitor who betrayed his master! Elder Feng and Elder Li of my Sixth Hall have already died in battle while covering for me!"

"If you can help me, fellow Daoist, I will surely repay you handsomely tomorrow!"

"Dead..."

Zhou Yuan paused slightly.

Feng Sanniang... is dead?

The reason he came out this time was for this old friend.

Unexpectedly, we were still a step too late.

With the departure of his old friend, Zhou Yuan couldn't help but feel a pang of melancholy.

Xueye seemed to sense the faint melancholy in his voice and couldn't help but wonder—who was he feeling melancholy for?

"Then let's leave them all here."

Zhou Yuan's voice suddenly turned cold.

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly made a hand seal!

Golden Dragon Scissors Killing Technique!

Two golden dragons instantly materialized, each over ten feet long, with clearly defined scales and claws, and were incredibly lifelike!

They circled in the air, then crossed and descended, transforming into a giant pair of golden scissors that slashed down at Qi Yuan's head!

At the same time, the Twelve Assassins of the Divine Court were silently activated!

Twelve invisible divine spikes pierced into Qi Yuan's brow with lightning speed!

Qi Yuan didn't even have time to scream before he froze on the spot!

A flash of golden scissors!

"puff!"

Qi Yuan's body was cut in half at the waist!

Blood gushed out, internal organs spilled out, and he died on the spot!

Instant kill of a late-stage Core Formation cultivator!

The three people behind them trembled with fear, their faces turning deathly pale!

The ability to instantly kill a late-stage Core Formation cultivator—the newcomer is very likely a Nascent Soul ancestor!

Xueye stared in shock, her eyes wide. Who was this person?

Why would they help me?

"Senior, spare us! Senior, spare us!" Elder Miao, Elder Gu, and the mid-stage Core Formation cultivator begged for mercy repeatedly, their legs trembling.

However, Zhou Yuan's actions did not stop.

Another Golden Dragon Scissors Killing Technique!

Two golden dragons rushed straight towards the mid-stage Core Formation cultivator!

The cultivator hurriedly summoned a defensive magic treasure to block the attack.

However, Zhou Yuan's mana regenerates almost infinitely after equipping five high-level spirit stones!

One attack after another, relentlessly, giving the opponent no chance to breathe!

Seeing that things were not going well, Elder Miao and Elder Gu exchanged a glance, turned around and fled in different directions!

"Traitor, where do you think you're going!"

Although Xueye was seriously injured, the battle situation had turned around, and she was in high spirits. She immediately chased after Elder Miao!

Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan raised his hand and waved—

Two figures shot out from the spirit beast pouch at his waist!

A streak of purple light, moving as fast as lightning, was none other than the Purple Sky Beast!

As soon as it appeared, it chased after the direction in which Elder Gu had fled!

The other was a colossal creature, its entire body shrouded in a dense, gray-black aura of death.

It was that peak level seven beast demon!