Chapter 143: Heavens, I'm actually not as good as a chicken (6k)

Soon, Zhou Qing helped Shi Zhen up, Yan Xiaohu brought the puppet, and the few of them left the cavern.

Just as they flew into the sky, they saw many people curiously surrounding the villa, and then a sky-shaking roar came from the cavern.

The few of them didn't hesitate and left rapidly.

Fortunately, they were careful all the way and didn't delay much. After five days, they finally returned to the sect safely.

"Shi Zhen—" Tong Min, the Peak Master of Jade Purity Peak, saw Shi Zhen returning from afar and was immediately anxious, hurriedly running down quickly.

Coming along was Pei Yan, the Chief Senior Sister of Jade Purity Peak.

It turned out that after Shi Zhen assisted Pei Yan in successfully completing the mission, she learned about the war between the five sects and thought of taking this opportunity to accumulate some points to exchange for spirit stones.

After all, she couldn't use the Soul-Forming Pill from Zhou Qing Shidi in vain.

It was just unexpected that not long after separating from Pei Yan Dajie, she encountered Elder Xuegu and was unfortunately captured by him.

And Pei Yan, who returned to the sect not long after, received news from Elder Jiang Pu of the Soul Lamp Tower, saying that Shi Zhen's soul lamp was in an extremely weak state.

Pei Yan was immediately anxious and prepared to pack up and go out to search immediately, but she didn't expect Shi Zhen to return safely at this time, so how could she not be happy.

"It was Zhou Shidi and Yan Shidi who saved me!" Shi Zhen said.

Zhou Qing smiled slightly, while Yan Xiaohu immediately straightened his chest, his face full of pride.

"Thank you both," Tong Min said sincerely, her gaze looking specifically at Zhou Qing, unable to help sighing in her heart that this child could always bring unexpected surprises.

The last time she was deeply impressed was when Zhou Qing had sleepwalking and wandered into her Jade Purity Peak in a daze, and in the end, she had to send him back personally.

"We're all family, Shishu need not be polite!" Yan Xiaohu responded with a grin.

Zhou Qing also nodded, then looked at Shi Zhen and said: "Shijie, then we'll go first, there are still important things to discuss with Master."

Shi Zhen responded gently with an "Hmm."

Previously, Senior Brother Gui Ao had saved her once, and when she went out to look for the missing Azure Feather Qingshu Qingshu Xian Zong disciples, it was Zhou Qing who recognized her first.

Afterward, he generously gifted the Soul-Forming Pill, and now these two brothers had risked their lives to save her again. This kindness, Shi Zhen felt she could never repay in her life.

Not long after, Mo Xingjian finished reading the image stone in his hand and also showed a solemn expression.

It turned out that these puppets were refined using such an inhuman method.

If that magic array could be refined continuously, wouldn't it mean that the Blazing Flame Dao Palace could soon build a puppet army that could fight one against three?

For other sects, this was simply a disaster.

"This is that Song Yuan's Soul Formation?" Upon hearing the second piece of news, Mo Xingjian's face was full of disbelief.

The sect had previously collected some intelligence about the five great prodigies. This Song Yuan had reached the late Soul Formation realm at a young age and had even killed Perfection-level powerhouses across ranks; he could be said to be gifted.

It was just that his cultivation path over the past few decades had been too smooth, causing his personality to be somewhat arrogant and unruly.

But now, looking at the Soul Formation Zhou Qing took out, Mo Xingjian still felt like he was dreaming.

Zhou Qing just nodded lightly and said: "Just lucky."

Mo Xingjian listened, his face twitching slightly. You call this lucky?

Didn't you see Song Yuan's Soul Formation was so angry its eyes were rolling back, seemingly still cursing something.

But soon, a look of gratification and pride appeared on his face.

This disciple of his, who had the Four Flowers Gathering at the Crown, was meticulous in thought and fierce in combat, and now he had begun to emerge on the road of the strong. How could this not make him feel proud?

"Well done!" Mo Xingjian couldn't help but praise.

Yan Xiaohu heard this and said hurriedly: "There's also me."

"What combat record do you have?" Mo Xingjian asked.

Yan Xiaohu immediately straightened his chest and said: "Those small fries were all handled by me alone..."

Just as he said this, he suddenly seemed to realize something and couldn't help but frown.

That's not right, why do I feel like I didn't do anything this time, but instead suffered heavy injuries?

Seeing this, Zhou Qing smiled, hurriedly putting his arm around Yan Xiaohu's shoulder, and explained to Mo Xingjian: "Song Yuan's death, thanks to Third Shixiong covering for me, otherwise I couldn't have killed him by surprise. Afterward, Third Shixiong also risked his life to hold back Xuegu, winning time for me."

Yan Xiaohu listened to Zhou Qing's words and was immediately moved to tears, the look in his eyes toward Zhou Qing filled with gratitude.

I just said I must have contributed, it's just that I didn't react to what I specifically did just now.

"There's also Meng Xing of the five great prodigies, who was also killed by us!" Soon, Yan Xiaohu, who had just straightened his chest, seemed to suddenly remember something and said hurriedly.

Mo Xingjian heard this and was stunned, then reacted, asking in shock: "Meng Xing was also killed by you?"

Previously, it was only heard that Meng Xing died in the Azure Feather Qingshu Qingshu Xian Zong, but it was unknown who did it specifically.

"You did it?" Mo Xingjian asked again in shock.

Calculating the time, it seemed to be the time they ran to the Azure Feather Qingshu Qingshu Xian Zong without permission last time.

Yan Xiaohu hurriedly shook his head: "Not me, it was Fourth who did it, I was responsible for dealing with those small fries..."

Just as he said this, Yan Xiaohu suddenly seemed to realize something and silently turned around to wipe his tears.

Has my brain been injured recently?

Why make myself so awkward?

Seeing this situation, Zhou Qing hurriedly helped him out: "If Third Shixiong hadn't held back the others that time, I wouldn't have been able to kill Meng Xing smoothly..."

Mo Xingjian waved his hand: "Understand, I understand everything. Shixiong and Shidi should cooperate with each other like this. Alright, you two hurry up and rest. I have to hurry and send this image stone and puppet to the Sect Master. This matter cannot be delayed."

After speaking, Mo Xingjian left hurriedly.

Yan Xiaohu sniffed, and a strong sense of frustration suddenly surged in his heart.

Two times of taking the initiative, exchanged for a lifetime of introversion!

Zhou Qing didn't know how to comfort him for a while, thought about it and said: "Aren't there three people left among the five great prodigies? I'll leave them all to you when the time comes."

"Forget it, they are all Soul Formation Great Perfection," Yan Xiaohu said with a depressed face, and then left without looking back.

Zhou Qing had to shake his head with a bitter smile, and then took the old hen back to his residence...

A few days later, the image stone footage left by Zhou Qing spread crazily among countless sects in the Eastern Region.

Everyone who saw the content in the image stone felt hair-raising and chill-inducing.

For such conscience-less people, once they controlled the other major sects in the future, wouldn't they become lambs waiting to be slaughtered?

After all, even if they submitted again, there were no puppets that didn't need to ask for any benefits that were obedient.

For a time, many people began to contact the three major sects in secret, expressing their willingness to surrender and provide help at the appropriate time.

Of course, some people were scared by the content in the image stone and were even more afraid to take sides easily.

Some even began to prepare to withdraw from the Eastern Region, leaning toward the Lingyun Prefecture, not for anything else, just for peace.

And the Blazing Flame Dao Palace, facing various doubts and condemnations from the outside world, had never explained a word to outsiders from beginning to end.

That appearance was as if they didn't care about others' opinions at all. Such an attitude made other sects even more wary of them.

At the same time, the Azure Feather Qingshu Qingshu Xian Zong and the Jin Lei Zong, in order to deal with possible dangerous situations, spent a great price to get three sets of small teleportation arrays from the Wan Xiang Auction in Lingyun Prefecture.

This kind of small teleportation array was not like the large teleportation arrays in Lingyun Prefecture that could carry out large-scale teleportation to other prefectures or counties; it could only teleport five or six people at a time.

After the two sects communicated with the Taiqing Sect, they established these three sets of small teleportation arrays.

The three sects were connected to each other through this teleportation array, presenting a state of three-legged stability. In this way, once a situation occurred, they could support each other at any time, and it was also good to deal with the huge pressure brought by those puppets of the Blazing Flame Dao Palace.

And the person responsible for delivering the goods and installing these three sets of small teleportation arrays was the old acquaintance Fu Kui.

After all, these three things were worth a lot, requiring a full one hundred and fifty supreme-grade spirit stones, already reaching the escort conditions of the auction, so he didn't dare to be careless.

After Fu Kui helped install the teleportation array, he wanted to see Zhou Qing, but learned that he was injured and in seclusion.

He had no choice but to pass the message to Yan Xiaohu, saying that Zhang Wan Bao was very happy to learn that Zhou Qing's cultivation had recovered. After all, since the last time he went back, this child had been looking for medicinal materials that could repair the Jin Dan.

"Senior Fu, thank Wan Bao brother for me. When there is time, Fourth and I will definitely go see him!" Yan Xiaohu said.

Fu Kui nodded, and when he left, he looked at Cao Zhengyang again and couldn't help but say: "You five sects' affairs, just keep fighting like this, try not to end it too quickly."

Cao Zhengyang's pupils shrank, and he immediately thought of the three paintings sent by the Seventh Prince Xuan Yuan Yichen before.

Afterward, he saluted respectfully: "Thank you, Senior!"

After Fu Kui left, Zhou Qing dared to come out.

After all, facing such a super powerhouse suspected of being in the Soul Severance realm, he couldn't guarantee that the "Void Realm Dharma Image" could hide from the other party's probing.

"Zhang Wan Bao, this brother, was worth making!" Zhou Qing said with gratification.

Yan Xiaohu nodded in agreement: "It's just that I don't know if the 'retreat to advance' trick you gave him is still useful now? But after they came for the Four Flowers Gathering last time, Xiao Cancan looked at that little fatty with resentment."

Thinking of this, the two burst into laughter.

Afterward, Zhou Qing showed a solemn expression.

What did Senior Fu's final admonition mean? What did he know?

For the next few days, Zhou Qing continued to study the "Golden Crow Burning Sky Canon." It was only at the minor completion stage now, but when he confronted Song Yuan this time, it brought him unexpected surprises.

If he could practice it to the major completion stage like "Silver Dragon Hand," "Silver Dragon Step," and "Azure Thunder Sword Art," the power would definitely be extraordinary.

And the best experimental subjects were the simulated wandering souls in the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace.

As for Lu Yaoyao, it was said that she went out with Second Shixiong He Han, and now she also had brilliant combat records and had truly grown up.

And just today, Yan Xiaohu suddenly came outside Zhou Qing's residence, let out a loud cry, and startled Zhou Qing who had just gotten up to walk the chicken.

Afterward, he opened the courtyard door and saw Yan Xiaohu staring at him with resentment.

"Why, why—" Yan Xiaohu grabbed Zhou Qing's arm, shaking it hard, full of grievance and unwillingness.

The old hen under his feet looked at the big boots in front of it and started pecking at them directly.

"No, what's wrong again?" Zhou Qing asked suspiciously, not knowing what kind of trouble Third Shixiong was making this time.

Yan Xiaohu angrily handed over a jade slip, full of indignation, and said: "This is the latest must-kill list released by the Blazing Flame Dao Palace. Take a look, you actually ranked in the top ten. Good guy, there are only one hundred names in total, and they didn't even mention me. This is looking down on me, Blade Overlord Yan Xiaohu, too much."

Zhou Qing hurriedly took it and probed his spiritual sense into it to check.

Immediately, his eyes lit up, his face full of surprise.

Because the first name on that must-kill list was none other than Senior Brother Gui Ao.

【Gui Ao: Chief of the Little Spirit Peak of the Taiqing Sect, Soul Formation Great Perfection, skilled in using a black long spear, decisive in killing, has initially comprehended a certain realm of understanding. Currently, at least forty-seven Soul Formation realm people have died at his hands.】

【Bounty amount: fifteen supreme-grade spirit stones, plus one Five Elements spirit stone.】

"Senior Brother is actually still in the Eastern Region. I thought he had already left Lingyun Prefecture." Looking at the explanation above, Zhou Qing said with surprise.

And he had killed so many Soul Formation realm people, it was truly unbelievable.

"Second Shijie!"

And the person ranked second was none other than Second Shijie Luo Lingling.

【Luo Lingling: Disciple of the Little Spirit Peak of the Taiqing Sect, Soul Formation Great Perfection. This woman acts extremely cautiously, and her weapons are even more strange and varied, making people unable to defend against them.】

【Suspected to have also initially comprehended a certain realm of understanding. Currently, at least forty-three Soul Formation realm people have died at her hands.】

【Bounty amount: thirteen supreme-grade spirit stones, plus one Five Elements spirit stone.】

It seems that this chaos of the five sects might truly be an opportunity for them, and they might even be able to step into the Divine Transformation realm ahead of time.

Continuing to look down, some prodigies of the Jin Lei Zong and Azure Feather Qingshu Qingshu Xian Zong appeared later, and at the ninth position, Zhou Qing even saw Li Daoxuan's name.

Back then, after he obtained a large amount of Flame Spirit Blood Paste and went into seclusion to sprint toward the Soul Formation realm, Li Daoxuan left alone to go out and comprehend his own realm of understanding, and there had been no news since.

He didn't expect that there were actually fifteen Soul Formation realm people who had died at his hands now. It seemed his harvest this time was not small.

Afterward, when Zhou Qing's gaze fell on the tenth position, he was stunned.

【Zhou Qing: Disciple of the Little Spirit Peak of the Taiqing Sect, suspected to be late Jin Dan realm, but with extraordinary combat power, at least has some kind of secret technique that can raise himself to the early Soul Formation realm in a short time, and is good at using poison, loves to walk the chicken, and has an extremely cunning personality.】

【Song Yuan and Meng Xing, two of the five great prodigies of the Blazing Flame Dao Palace, both died at his hands.】

【Bounty amount: two supreme-grade spirit stones.】

Looking at the introduction about himself, Zhou Qing's brows lifted slightly, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

They were both disciples of the Little Spirit Peak; Senior Brother could be decisive in killing, Second Shijie could act steadily, why did it become cunning when it came to him?

This distinction in personality traits was too distinct.

And good at using poison?

This was clearly reported by Xuegu who escaped from Youhuang City.

And, Song Yuan was killed by me, that was seen by many people, and even that guy, for the sake of face, had shouted his name in public, so it was normal for this matter to spread.

But how did they know that Meng Xing's death was caused by him?

You have to know, even Yuan Ya Shijie of the Azure Feather Qingshu Qingshu Xian Zong still thought it was done by the deceased Li Si.

This matter had only been told to Master on their side.

Yan Xiaohu was in a depressed state, complaining angrily there.

"See, you ranked tenth, with a bounty of two supreme-grade spirit stones. You, who will be able to become a Divine Transformation realm powerhouse in the future, killed two of the five great prodigies as a 'Jin Dan realm'. Our Little Spirit Peak has four core disciples in total, and we occupy three of the top ten."

"But what about me? Never mind the top ten, I'm not even in the top one hundred. Even the old hen is on the list, am I not as good as a chicken? That time we went out with Master, I also killed several Soul Formation realm people. It's unfair, it's not fair at all."

Yan Xiaohu protested in dissatisfaction.

"It seems they only count what they know. Third Shixiong, this is a must-kill list, it's for the thousands of sects in the entire Eastern Region to see. Do you think this is an honor?"

"If an old monster at the Divine Transformation realm comes out, sees this list, and secretly kills a few people on the list, they can easily get dozens of supreme-grade spirit stones."

Zhou Qing said with a worried expression.

Once this list is out, everyone on the list will have to be careful and cautious from now on.

But it also shows that the Blazing Flame Dao Palace is truly angry. After all, who among the top nine is not at the Soul Formation Perfection realm.

Including those behind him, they were all Soul Formation realm cultivators.

And he was only a Jin Dan realm in the eyes of outsiders, but he was like a conspicuous bag, placed in the tenth position, and the key was that the bounty amount was so generous.

Who do you think outsiders will prioritize when they get this list?

"I don't care, heroes emerge in troubled times. You are all famous now, and I, Blade Overlord Yan Xiaohu, also want to shake the Eastern Region." Yan Xiaohu was still full of unwillingness, sticking his neck out and saying.

Zhou Qing shook his head helplessly, joking: "That's simple. Aren't there three of the five great prodigies of the Blazing Flame Dao Palace left? I only killed two of the tail-enders and ranked tenth. If the remaining three all die at your hands, you will definitely be able to rush into the top three."

Yan Xiaohu: "..."

Truly touching on a sore spot.

Zhou Qing looked at the list again: "Even if the Blazing Flame Dao Palace joins forces with the Tianji Sect, they don't have so many Soul Formation realm people. It seems they have counted those human puppets together."

【Heart Appraisal Points +9】

【Heart Appraisal Points +9】

【Heart Appraisal Points +9】

Just in the next moment, the system's prompt sound kept ringing in Zhou Qing's ears, and it didn't stop until eight times in a row.

Zhou Qing was stunned for a moment, subconsciously looking at Third Shixiong, but the note on top of his head hadn't changed at all.

Afterward, looking at the list in his hand, he gave a bitter smile, seemingly understanding something.

It seems that except for Second Grandfather, everyone else he bound had seen this list.

As his heart moved, the personal panel appeared.

【Name: Zhou Qing】

【Age: 22】

【Cultivation: Early Soul Formation realm】

【Mental Method: Yin Yang Jue】

【Talent Skill: Daily Appraisal,

Heart Appraisal Vision—LV4 (211/400),

Lower Presence—LV4 (11/100)】

【Skill Fragment: 2/3 (Cannot be obtained)】

The talent skill 【Heart Appraisal Vision】 now had two slots not bound, he didn't expect it to reach half so quickly.

It seemed that new skill fragments could only be brushed out from 【Lower Presence】.

Just then, a figure arrived, and the person coming was none other than Master Mo Xingjian.

Sure enough, the entry on top of his head, 【The disciple with unparalleled intelligence】, had already changed to 【The disciple who is beginning to show his edge】.

"Go, go, go, today Yushan Hall is on me!" Mo Xingjian laughed loudly, his face full of smiles.

Three of the top ten on the must-kill list were his disciples, how could this not make him happy.

Now he just wanted to show off and let everyone see how outstanding his, Mo Xingjian's, disciples were.

"Not going!" Yan Xiaohu refused immediately.

Mo Xingjian glanced at him and said deliberately: "I didn't ask you."

Yan Xiaohu: "..."

"Oh, using reverse psychology on me, are you? You don't want me to go, so I'm going to go all the more, and I'm going to order the most expensive things too!" Yan Xiaohu said immediately.

Zhou Qing asked at this time: "Master, that matter about Meng Xing..."

Mo Xingjian felt a bit embarrassed: "Oh, I just casually mentioned it to your Sect Master Shibo, I didn't expect him to spread it out. It's all my fault..."

"But this doesn't match the time my cultivation recovered," Zhou Qing said hurriedly.

Mo Xingjian waved his hand, not caring at all: "It's fine, I've already explained it to the Sect Master, saying that the ruins were encountered in advance, and you have been keeping a low profile after your cultivation recovered, they didn't think much of it."

Alright, since Master said so, Zhou Qing couldn't say anything more.

Afterward, the three of them headed straight for Yushan Hall.

Sure enough, when many people saw Zhou Qing, the look in their eyes toward him was full of admiration and worship.

The five great prodigies of the Blazing Flame Dao Palace, those were all famous figures, and Zhou Qing was actually able to kill two of them with Jin Dan realm cultivation. Such a combat record was simply beyond ordinary people's imagination.

And it was described as cunning above?

Bah!

If not cunning, how to make up for the cultivation gap between the two?

Soul Formation realm killing Jin Dan realm is called crushing an ant, but conversely, Jin Dan realm using some clever methods to kill Soul Formation realm is called unscrupulous and cunning?

If you want to blame, you can only blame those so-called prodigies cultivated by the Blazing Flame Dao Palace, each one simple-minded, with developed limbs, and inferior skills.

"Zhou Shixiong, well done."

"Zhou Shidi, I'm leaving tomorrow, can you write me a blessing, a signature will do."

"The private room is full today, we just don't want to eat, please come in."

Everyone was full of enthusiasm and politeness.

Mo Xingjian walked in the front, his face glowing, that pride almost overflowing.

Zhou Qing, walking in the middle, looked embarrassed, even feeling awkward.

And Yan Xiaohu, walking in the back, hung his head, feeling depressed, feeling like he was the green leaf setting off the red flower, completely losing his presence.

Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, just wait and see. Before long, you will hear how I, Blade Overlord Yan Xiaohu, make those people of the Blazing Flame Dao Palace tremble with fear.

Thinking of this, a flash of crazy light couldn't help but cross Yan Xiaohu's eyes, and vaguely, he seemed to have a bold plan.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 144 =====