Chapter 124: The Four-Flower Gatherer Must Have a Brain-Dead Master (6)

Cao Zheng nodded, glancing at Zhou Qing first, then immediately noticing Luo Lingling beside him, surprised: “When did you get back?”

Luo Lingling looked embarrassed, so Mo Xingjian sighed: “You think why I’m here? I was chased all the way here—how could I show my face back home after being such a terrible master? Might as well wander outside.”

Hearing this, Cao Zheng looked at Zhou Qing again and instantly understood what had happened.

Lu Yaoyao, having held back for a long time, finally burst out excitedly: “Senior Brother Zhou, you’ve come out of seclusion!”

Zhou Qing smiled at Lu Yaoyao: “Congratulations, you’ve entered the Golden Core realm. Let me introduce you—this is my second senior sister!”

Lu Yaoyao quickly bowed: “Greetings, Senior Sister!”

Luo Lingling walked over, took Lu Yaoyao’s hand, and smiled. She had already learned from Zhou Qing that this girl wasn’t just the new sixth disciple of the Sect Master, but also a Heaven-Approved Foundation Establishment cultivator with limitless future potential.

Especially when searching for the missing Qingyu Immortal Sect members, she returned at great risk to save Zhou Qing.

A fine young girl!

“It’s our first meeting, and I have nothing grand to offer—just a small gift, I hope you like it!” Luo Lingling said, pulling out a jade box and handing it to her.

Lu Yaoyao instinctively tried to refuse, but Luo Lingling was too insistent; she could only accept with grateful expression.

Cao Zheng pulled Mo Xingjian aside, glanced around, then exclaimed in shock: “I’ve run into several old acquaintances here. According to them, nearly everyone across the lands witnessed this phenomenon—I estimate our people will arrive within a day.”

Mo Xingjian froze: “E-Everyone?”

Cao Zheng nodded: “Exactly. Look over there.”

Mo Xingjian followed Cao Zheng’s gaze and saw, to his surprise, the Tianji Sect had already arrived and were investigating.

And the location? Exactly where Zhou Qing had broken through.

Cao Zheng said: “According to them, this desert has long been scorched by relentless sunlight and, due to its unique geography, frequently produces mirages. This time, the three flowers—no, four flowers gathering at the crown—happened to be projected outward.”

“And because the disturbance caused by this person was so immense, the local space became completely chaotic. Preliminary estimates suggest the entire Lingyun Prefecture likely saw it.”

Mo Xingjian: “...”

Luo Lingling: “...”

Zhou Qing: “...”

Cao Zheng laughed: “According to the first Shen Transformation experts who arrived, the person had just left when they got here, so they didn’t catch a clear look. But for someone who just broke through and is still adapting to their new realm, escaping their sight? Pure fantasy.”

“So the only explanation is: this four-flower gatherer has a brain-dead master who picked this exact spot.”

Mo Xingjian: “...”

“Of course, maybe not—maybe the person knew this place and just wanted to show off. Damn, I’m jealous!” Cao Zheng blurted out a curse.

Four flowers gathering at the crown? Unprecedented in history. If this were one of our Taiqingmen disciples, maybe we’d become the Taiqing Imperial Dynasty.

Mo Xingjian: “...”

“Has anyone found any clues?” Mo Xingjian felt awkward and quickly changed the subject.

He was now worried that their hasty retreat had left behind something incriminating.

Cao Zheng shook his head: “I really don’t know. When I arrived, there were already many people here—if anything had been left, it would’ve been taken already. So who is this person? Four flowers gathering at the crown? Wow, to witness this in my lifetime is already worth it!”

Cao Zheng’s face glowed with excitement as he pulled out a memory stone.

“I thought only I saw it, so I happily recorded it, planning to bring it back to show you. What did you see?” Cao Zheng asked curiously.

Mo Xingjian chuckled dryly.

I’ve got the HD live footage—want to see it?

“I saw the same thing as you,” Mo Xingjian evaded.

The two chatted a while longer, and more and more people kept arriving, all eager to see the birthplace of the four-flower gatherer.

Soon, Jin Leizong and Cangyan Dao Palace arrived, followed by Qingyu Immortal Sect and Taiqingmen.

Mo Xingjian glanced at Zhou Qing subtly.

Did you see that hungry-wolf look from Xuanyou Immortal?

She’s looking for you.

Scared?

“Sect Master!” Taiqingmen disciples rushed over, expressing their shock.

Cao Zheng ordered: “Spare no effort to find this person. I want to see what kind of god this is—how many eyes and arms does he have?”

Even without his order, the peak masters were intensely curious.

As long as it’s not one of the other four major sects, that’d be fine—no, wait, if it were, it’d be even better.

Then they’d become the target of everyone.

“Just a distant look is enough—do not approach!” Peak Master Gao Xian spoke up.

Everyone turned to him, then immediately understood, their expressions turning grave.

Mo Xingjian said: “Understand this—don’t let anyone seize an opportunity to drag Taiqingmen into the abyss. This matter is critical; sometimes no evidence is needed. Prepare yourselves.”

Everyone nodded in understanding.

Mo Xingjian continued: “But we must still intensify the search—otherwise, others will think this burning hot potato is in our own courtyard.”

Soon after, over a dozen peak masters scattered, meticulously searching the surroundings for any trace.

Mo Xingjian led Zhou Qing and Luo Lingling in the same search.

“Did you clean up those lizard footprints?” Mo Xingjian whispered.

Luo Lingling replied: “You can trust my work. And keep quiet—don’t use spirit voice. Someone might overhear.”

Mo Xingjian: “...”

Soon after, Sect Master Cao Zheng greeted the other sects, then led everyone outward to begin their search.

After finding nothing, they regrouped and turned back.

For the coming days, no one doubted that Lingyun Prefecture would be turned upside down in search.

Five days later, everyone finally returned safely to Taiqingmen, and news began pouring back.

【The heavenly phenomenon caused by the four-flower gatherer spanned over fourteen hundred li.】

【Countless factions, including Lingyun Prefecture, witnessed the four-colored flowers in the sky.】

【The Prefect of Lingyun Prefecture led his people to appear in that desert.】

【Reports say three prefects and twenty-one prefectural lords from the Eight Commanderies and Seventy-Two Prefectures arrived in Lingyun Prefecture.】

【Several Imperial Princes and Princesses, protected by their guardians, appeared in the desert.】

【Two terrifying figures descended—likely Zhan Ling realm experts. They suspect the desert was merely a decoy; the true breakthrough location was elsewhere.】

【The Shengwu Imperial Dynasty issued a Dragon Edict, inviting the four-flower gatherer to the Imperial Capital, promising full imperial resources for cultivation.】

………

In his room, Zhou Qing stared at hundreds of messages daily, his head throbbing—he only wanted to lie low, yet how could he possibly stay hidden?

“As I predicted, the other four-tier spiritual nations have begun entering Shengwu Imperial territory,” Mo Xingjian said, sipping tea.

But seeing Zhou Qing’s gloomy face, he chuckled: “Relax—the scene was cleaned perfectly. No one will find anything. Besides, even if there were other projections, remember—we wore head coverings and Cangyan Dao Palace robes. What does this have to do with Taiqingmen?”

Zhou Qing couldn’t help but smile bitterly. He had to admit: his second senior sister had been cautious to a fault.

“Besides, Lingyun Prefecture’s territory is vast—finding one person is like searching for a needle in a sea. Now rumors are spreading: the reason the projection was so widespread is that someone deliberately wanted to stir up the waters of the Shengwu Empire. The four-flower gatherer must be from another imperial dynasty!”

Mo Xingjian added.

Zhou Qing’s eyes lit up: “Did the imperial family do this?”

Mo Xingjian nodded: “Likely. Besides, you’re just an ordinary person now—no one will suspect you.”

“I’ll focus on body refinement,” Zhou Qing decided.

As he spoke, Yan Xiao Hu cautiously poked his head through the door, eyes full of awe: “Hey hey hey, Fourth Brother, chatting?”

At this moment, Yan Xiao Hu’s head tag, previously 【Weird-Nosed Little Brother】, had changed to 【Divine Little Brother】 since Zhou Qing’s desert breakthrough.

Seeing Third Brother’s smug grin, Mo Xingjian sighed.

“Your gaze at Zhou Qing lately is suspicious. Watch yourself—don’t make me erase your memories!” Mo Xingjian threatened.

Yan Xiao Hu immediately rushed in with a food box, slamming the door shut.

“Don’t be like that—I’ve been restraining myself! But come on, four flowers gathering at the crown—who wouldn’t be excited? Fourth Brother, are you excited?”

Zhou Qing: “It’s nothing special.”

Yan Xiao Hu: “...”

“Is Bai He still down the mountain?” Mo Xingjian asked.

Yan Xiao Hu came closer, studying Zhou Qing as he spoke: “Yep. Brother-in-law’s been unwavering, but Second Senior Sister abandoned him—since you returned, she kicked him off the mountain. He’s now living in a makeshift tent down below.”

Mo Xingjian said: “Your second senior sister says she has no relation to Bai He. If you keep calling him that, I’ll slap you again.”

“But Master, he’s the Fourth Imperial Prince of Shengwu! He might become the next Emperor! How could Second Senior Sister be so foolish? I know exactly how they met and what happened between them—I swear, Brother-in-law is utterly devoted to her!” Yan Xiao Hu hurriedly said.

Zhou Qing hesitated, then spoke: “I think Senior Sister is thinking more broadly. Don’t forget the fragile balance between imperial house and sect.”

Yan Xiao Hu waved his hand, rubbing his hands excitedly: “Forget it, let’s not talk about that. Fourth Brother, let me see your Nascent Soul again...”

Before Yan Xiao Hu finished, Mo Xingjian grabbed his neck and dragged him out.

Yan Xiao Hu shouted: “The food! The box has my freshly made meals—cost me a fortune in spirit stones! Don’t forget to eat...”

Watching this, Zhou Qing smiled helplessly.

“Xuan Yuan He?” Zhou Qing murmured. He’d met this man the day after returning—looked like a simple, honest man, but after the Qian Dafu incident, he dared not judge by appearances.

Especially not with his imperial background.

Even if he changed his name, he still carried the blood of the Xuan Yuan clan—bone and sinew were still connected.

If the Shengwu Empire faced danger, he’d be the first to be targeted.

“This breakthrough was thanks to Master, but the five supreme elemental spirit stones—he’d saved them for countless years. Maybe he kept them for something vital. I must find a way to repay him.”

But now, he had only a few dozen low-grade spirit stones left—not enough to repay the debt, let alone fund his own cultivation.

I can’t just beg my Master or Senior Sister for more—that’d be disgraceful; even Third Brother knows how to support himself.

“It’d be perfect if someone just showed up and handed me money!”

Zhou Qing gave a self-deprecating smile, then pulled out the “Flame Yang Mighty Body Scripture” and the third technique of the “Azure Thunder Sword Art” that his Master had given him; after glancing left and right, he began cultivating body refinement…

Meanwhile, at the Taiqingmen barrier!

Elder Wu Zhu sat on a rock, snacking on sunflower seeds and sipping small amounts of liquor, watching the scene below with keen interest.

Bai He’s face was pleading; Luo Lingling’s was cold.

“Will you leave or not?”

“I can’t bear to leave you!”

“I told you, there’s no future between us. If you keep blabbing this nonsense to others, don’t blame me for being uncivil.”

“Ling’er, from the moment I saw you, I knew I’d never marry anyone but you. And if it weren’t for you back then, I’d have died trapped in that ruin.”

“So you see, never meddle—now I regret ever pulling you out.”

………

Hearing their exchange, Elder Wu Zhu couldn’t help but smile.

From his experience, even if Luo Er didn’t like this worm of a man, she wouldn’t truly despise him—there must’ve been other things between them.

Otherwise, given her temperament, she’d have kicked him off the mountain long ago; why would she let him follow her all the way here, wasting breath like this?

But then again, how did he even get in? And why did he stay over a month on Xiao Ling Peak? Did he sneak in while I was taking a piss?

That’s serious negligence. Luckily, the Sect Master and others are away—I must inspect the barrier again.

“Fourth Brother?”

Shortly after Elder Wu Zhu departed, several figures descended from the sky; one of them, the moment his feet touched ground, spotted Bai He and immediately called out.

Bai He turned instinctively, frowning slightly, eyes filled with confusion.

The instant Xuan Yuan Yichen saw Bai He, his face lit up with ecstatic joy—he lunged forward, face radiant with surprise, shouting: “Fourth Brother! It’s really you!”

Bai He stared calmly at the excited man before him; gradually, the face merged with a memory deep within him—he suddenly understood, astonished: “Little Seventh? You’ve grown so big?”

Xuan Yuan Yichen was beside himself with excitement, nodding frantically, babbling: “Fourth Brother, where have you been all these years? Why no word at all? The Emperor misses you terribly!”

Bai He merely shook his head slightly, offering no further explanation, and slowly turned his gaze to a girl standing nearby.

The girl’s long hair was jet black, streaked with a few striking strands of silver, gently swaying in the breeze, strikingly unique.

“Little Ninth?”

Xuan Yuan Muxian immediately bowed: “Fourth Imperial Brother.”

Bai He smiled: “You’ve grown into such an elegant young lady—truly, girls change beyond recognition.”

Xuan Yuan Muxian offered a polite smile; her memory of this Fourth Imperial Brother was faint—she’d only seen him once as a child.

“Why are you here?” Bai He asked.

Xuan Yuan Yichen said: “It’s because of the Four Flowers at the Summit—so many people from the Imperial Court have come. Since it spans the entire Lingyun Prefecture, the suspected breakthrough sites have now increased to thirteen. My sister and I happened to be passing through, so we came to visit someone and check something out.”

Bai He nodded, understanding.

“My Big Brother isn’t here!” Luo Lingling also recognized the Seventh Prince; she’d heard rumors about them.

Xuan Yuan Yichen now noticed Luo Lingling; from her tone, he immediately grasped her identity.

“So you’re Miss Luo—I apologize for the misunderstanding. I’m here to find Zhou Qing,” Xuan Yuan Yichen quickly explained.

Luo Lingling shook her head at once: “He has no time. If you have no other business, please leave soon.”

With that, Luo Lingling issued a blunt dismissal and turned to step into the barrier.

Xuan Yuan Yichen and his sister were stunned.

“Fourth Brother, did you upset her?” Xuan Yuan Yichen asked urgently.

Bai He said: “I didn’t. You touched her pain point.”

“Pain point?” Xuan Yuan Yichen was puzzled.

Bai He had to explain: “The Zhou Qing you’re looking for is her junior brother—but he was broken.”

Hearing the truth, Xuan Yuan Yichen and Muxian stared in disbelief.

That Zhou Qing, who seemed so learned and cultured, had his Golden Core crushed—turned into a cripple? This… this…

“Sigh…” Both sighed deeply, feeling the capriciousness of fate.

They now understood Luo Lingling’s coldness—he’d brought something to show Zhou Qing, but now, how could the man possibly care?

“Who did this? I’ll kill him!” Xuan Yuan Yichen roared with fury.

Bai He said: “I heard from my third brother-in-law that the perpetrator was reduced to ashes.”

“Third brother-in-law?” Xuan Yuan Yichen froze again.

Bai He felt embarrassed, about to speak—but looked up at the sky.

The two bodyguards behind Xuan Yuan Yichen reacted instantly, stepping forward to shield him and his sister.

At that moment, a lavishly decorated silver vessel drifted slowly down from the sky.

Elder Wu Zhu, who had been inspecting the barrier, dared not delay—he rushed out immediately.

His first glance revealed the familiar faces of the Seventh Prince and Ninth Princess—he was internally startled: When did these imperial nobles arrive?

Only then did he turn his gaze to the newly landed vessel.

The banner fluttering above bore a familiar emblem; after a moment’s scrutiny, Elder Wu Zhu’s heart stirred.

That was the insignia of the famed Wanxiang Auction House from Lingyun Prefecture.

Just as Elder Wu Zhu was puzzled, a plump figure leapt down from the vessel—his movements surprisingly agile.

Behind him followed an elderly steward, whose steps were steady, radiating an indescribable aura.

Zhang Wanbao’s face glowed with excitement; he briefly glanced at Bai He and the others, then turned respectfully to Elder Wu Zhu and bowed deeply.

“May I ask, Elder, is this Taiqingmen?” Zhang Wanbao’s voice rang clear and loud.

Elder Wu Zhu’s gaze was locked on the elderly steward; his spirit trembled slightly. Though the man emitted no cultivation aura, his entire being seemed wrapped in an inexplicable, oppressive field.

It felt like facing a colossal dragon—appearing to nap, yet ready to strike at any moment—terrifying beyond words.

Elder Wu Zhu dared not underestimate him; he quietly sent a message to the Sect Master, then forced calmness into his voice: “Correct. May I ask who you are?”

“Oh, we’re from Lingyun Prefecture. We came by to visit my two elder brothers. By the way, one is Zhou Qing, the other is Yan Xiaohu—could this be where they are?”

Zhang Wanbao spoke rapidly, his tone filled with urgency and anticipation.

Hearing he was looking for the two core disciples of Xiao Ling Peak, Elder Wu Zhu’s tightly clenched nerves finally eased.

After all, the world had grown chaotic lately; upon hearing the news of the Four Flowers at the Summit, powerful figures everywhere had rushed out, causing widespread panic among all factions.

“They’re here!” Elder Wu Zhu replied truthfully.

Zhang Wanbao’s face lit up with joy—he’d feared he’d come to the wrong place.

“They’ve arrived,” Fu Kui whispered.

Zhang Wanbao lifted his head slightly, glancing toward the horizon; his heart surged with excitement, but he forced calmness, speaking slowly: “Grandfather Fu, how effective do you think my ‘lure-and-catch’ strategy has been?”

Fu Kui sighed helplessly: “It’s worked perfectly. Look—Miss Can can hardly help but come find you now. But don’t grow too distant; you must master the exact balance.”

“But I can’t rush to her every time she comes—I’d be exposed by her sharp mind,” Zhang Wanbao frowned.

Fu Kui shook his head helplessly, saying no more.

At that moment, Zhang Wanbao stepped forward, bowed, and announced loudly: “Please inform your master that Zhang Wanbao of the Wanxiang Auction House has come to pay his respects.”

Before Elder Wu Zhu could respond, a hearty laugh echoed through the air—and the Sect Master, Cao Zhengyang, appeared slowly, stepping forward.

“I never expected the Wanxiang Auction House’s Young Master Zhang and Elder Fu to grace us with your presence! Cao has failed in my welcome—please forgive me!”

Cao Zhengyang beamed, bowing with utmost humility and courtesy.

(End of Chapter)