Chapter 144: I, Yan Xiao Hu, would rather starve to death outside than eat your Yushan Hall

"Order whatever you like—your master has money!"

Upon entering the private room, Mo Xingjian was in high spirits and waved his hand grandly.

Yan Xiao heard this and immediately perked up, snatching the menu and about to order—when the manager of Yushan Hall walked in with a smile.

"Greetings, Brother Mo. Oh my, you're incredibly lucky—you're the thousandth group of customers Yushan Hall has received today, so this meal is on the house. Order freely, don't hold back!"

The manager of Yushan Hall beamed as he spoke.

The three of them froze for a moment, then their faces lit up with ecstatic joy—could such a thing really happen?

"Then I won't be polite!" Yan Xiao exclaimed excitedly. He had long craved several dishes from Yushan Hall but could never afford them—now, at last, he could feast to his heart's content.

At that moment, the manager of Yushan Hall strolled over to Zhou Qing, patted his storage bag, and pulled out a massive banner, his face full of anticipation: "Young Master Zhou, could you do me a favor and sign your name here?"

Zhou Qing looked closely—the banner bore four bold, swirling characters: 【Too Delicious】.

He wanted me to advertise for Yushan Hall.

He sighed helplessly, but after all, one's tongue is bound by what one eats and one's hand by what one receives—and Yushan Hall's food truly was delicious—so he signed his name in the lower right corner.

Yan Xiao, watching this, froze in shock, then slumped back in his chair, utterly dejected.

What thousand customers? What free meal?

How could you even think of that?

I, Yan Xiao Hu, would rather starve to death outside than eat your Yushan Hall's charity scraps.

…………

"So delicious! Master, you've got to try this braised spirit trout—it's absolutely incredible!"

Yan Xiao devoured his food enthusiastically, urging Mo Xingjian to taste it, his mouth stuffed full, his words muffled.

"Fourth Brother, these crystal shrimp balls—I ordered them specially. Just one of these costs a mid-grade spirit stone."

"Whoa, so this is the Jade Dew Soup of Spiritual Origin—so fragrant! Let me taste it first—what's in it that makes it so expensive?"

"Manager Uncle, another plate of emerald spirit-cloud glutinous rice—no, three plates! Add extra honey!"

…………

Inside the room, one dish after another of exquisitely colored, fragrant, and flavorful spirit cuisine was brought in; Yan Xiao feasted with unrestrained delight, his mouth never stopping, his round face now swollen with food.

Even Mo Xingjian was thoroughly satisfied, a contented smile never leaving his face—he'd finally benefited from Zhou Qing's luck and enjoyed a proper meal.

"Third Brother, didn't we order too much? This meal alone must cost at least four or five top-grade spirit stones," Zhou Qing asked, eating while looking concerned.

Even though it was free, it was still Manager Uncle paying out of his own pocket—eating too much felt ungrateful.

Yan Xiao waved it off carelessly: "Don't worry—Yushan Hall's got plenty of wealth. And if you can't finish, just pack it up. Such delicious food would be a crime to waste. Rare chance like this? Eat as much as you can!"

Soon, the three were full to bursting, lounging lazily in their chairs, patting their bellies contentedly, letting out long, satisfied belches—utterly blissful.

So full! The spirit-infused medicinal dishes were now surging through their bodies, flooding their limbs and bones with spiritual energy, even causing their entire bodies to emit a peculiar fragrance.

Mo Xingjian picked his teeth, then said slowly: "Though I'm proud of you two, now that the Kill List is out, many will target you. Some want the bounty, but most seek fame by taking you down—be careful from now on."

Zhou Qing nodded—he knew this well. The list was like a slab of meat, drawing countless hungry eyes. His future would require constant vigilance.

Now that he was full, Yan Xiao had changed his mind and belched again: "That's right—I've counted nine dangers."

The two turned to look at him.

Yan Xiao lazily listed: "First, I can't run around recklessly anymore. Second, as Master said, many are watching us to get rich or gain fame. Third, no one dares team up with us—or even stay near us—everyone fears being caught in the crossfire."

"Fourth, everywhere we go, we're under constant surveillance—countless spies report our movements; no privacy at all. Fifth, every move we make, even our hidden cards, will be exposed and analyzed—like how Blood Bone Elder returned and claimed you use poison, that you're cunning and treacherous."

"Sixth."

Mo Xingjian: "…"

Zhou Qing: "…"

Qingyu Immortal Sect!

Yuan Ya stared at the Kill List—Zhou Qing's name, followed by Meng Xing's—and her eyes widened in disbelief.

Wasn't Meng Xing, that monster, killed by Li Si? How did it get credited to Young Brother Zhou?

Soon, Yuan Ya recalled the events of that day—and began to understand.

No wonder Zhou Qing initially approached Meng Xing, using ambush tactics to severely wound him first, then used a secret technique to boost his cultivation and pursue him—he had no choice, given their obvious cultivation gap.

And I was so stupid—I used that rusty broken sword to ambush Meng Xing, and later saw Zhou Qing wielding it against Song Yuan and Blood Bone—why didn't I realize it then?

"He's alive—Li Si didn't die," Yuan Ya beamed. She'd truly believed he'd been killed by Song Yuan.

Then Yan Xiao and Zhou Qing chased him all the way to Youhuang City for revenge.

"Yuan Ya!" At that moment, Xuan You Immortal suddenly appeared.

Yuan Ya immediately rose and bowed respectfully: "Greetings, Sect Master."

If Zhou Qing were here, he'd instantly recognize that Xuan You Immortal's head tag, once 【Bringer of Good News】, had now changed to 【Very Good】.

"Regarding the events in Youhuang City, you must recount them again to several Supreme Elders!" Xuan You Immortal said solemnly.

Yuan Ya immediately accepted the order without delay and followed Xuan You Immortal away.

…………

"Zhou Qing!"

Shortly after the three left Yushan Hall, a voice called out behind them.

Zhou Qing turned and saw Gao Xian walking toward them with a smile.

And Gao Xian's head tag, once 【Blessed with Fortune】, had now been replaced by six golden characters: 【Cunning Little Fox】.

Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao had no choice but to bow.

Did he think I was cunning because I hid my restored cultivation—or because I killed Song Yuan and Meng Xing?

Zhou Qing felt suspicious.

"Senior Brother Gao, what do you want?" Mo Xingjian wiped his mouth and asked, puzzled.

Gao Xian smiled faintly, his gaze fixed on Zhou Qing: "I need to speak with Zhou Qing."

He handed over a memory stone. "Your battle with Song Yuan in Youhuang City was recorded. I must say—you've grasped the Azure Thunder Sword Art well."

Zhou Qing immediately felt embarrassed.

So that's what the "cunning little fox" meant—he groaned inwardly.

Earlier, Senior Brother Gao had mentioned that Jin Leizong had an old acquaintance guarding the Thunder Pool, and offered to help arrange access so Zhou Qing could use its power to forge a Thunder Sword Core—far better than using Lightning-Calling Talismans.

But Zhou Qing had distrusted him and refused on the spot.

He even lied, claiming the Azure Thunder Sword Art was too difficult to master, that his talent was insufficient, and he had abandoned it entirely.

Yet during his fight with Song Yuan, he'd used it repeatedly—first, second, and third forms in succession—how embarrassing was this now?

Zhou Qing reluctantly took the memory stone, feigned a glance, then smiled awkwardly and stammered: "Well, since it was gifted by a Supreme Elder, discarding it seemed wasteful… so I picked it up and practiced again…"

Gao Xian watched Zhou Qing's discomfort, a knowing smile curling his lips. "From the recorded footage, I can see you have three primary killing techniques: poison, fire spiritual art, and Thunder Sword Art."

Zhou Qing frowned.

Gao Xian continued calmly: "As a name on the Kill List, those chasing the bounty—or seeking fame—only need to counter these three techniques to kill you easily, especially since you're still at Golden Core."

Mo Xingjian, listening nearby, stayed silent—he knew Gao Xian spoke truth, and it was exactly what he feared.

Moreover, the fire spiritual art Zhou Qing used, though devastating, was clearly extremely draining—likely gifted by Second Uncle.

Earlier in Yushan Hall, Yan Xiao had already analyzed: anyone on the Kill List would have their every ability dissected, and countermeasures devised.

And the world held countless treasures capable of resisting fire and thunder sword qi.

Seeing Zhou Qing lost in thought, Gao Xian paused, then said: "So you must learn to conceal your strengths—don't expose all your cards—and prepare more hidden techniques, to guard against the unexpected."

Zhou Qing looked up at Gao Xian, unsure what he truly meant.

Then Gao Xian extended his hand—and a worn, black jade slip appeared in his palm.

Zhou Qing glanced at it once—and the spiritual energy of the Azure Thunder Sword Art within him began to move involuntarily.

He widened his eyes in utter disbelief.

Gao Xian, watching Zhou Qing's reaction, smiled more deeply, still speaking calmly: "The Azure Thunder Sword Art isn't just three forms—it has four. Do you want it?"

Hearing Gao Xian's words, Zhou Qing's heart pounded uncontrollably.

Four forms? How could that be?

Yet his body's response was undeniable.

He knew better than anyone how powerful the first three forms were—and how difficult they were to master, even the Supreme Elder hadn't fully grasped them.

Mo Xingjian and Yan Xiao stared at Gao Xian and the ancient jade slip, their faces filled with shock and curiosity.

Their eyes brimmed with astonishment.

Zhou Qing swallowed hard, throat bobbing, tense yet hopeful.

Gao Xian simply handed him the jade slip, smiling: "You mastered the first three forms in such a short time—your talent rivals a prodigy. But to master the fourth form, you truly need the Thunder Pool's aid."

Zhou Qing took the jade slip. After the initial excitement faded, complex emotions rose within him. He bowed deeply to Gao Xian: "Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Gao Xian still wore his gentle smile, waving his hand: "No need to thank me—I only came across this by chance. Perhaps it's fate—you're one of the few who can even reach the third form."

"As for the Thunder Pool, I'm sure your master will handle it. Well, I'll leave you now—I've matters to attend to."

Gao Xian turned and walked away.

Watching Gao Xian's retreating back, Zhou Qing instinctively glanced at his master—he truly couldn't fathom this fake Gao Xian.

Mo Xingjian sighed softly: "Perhaps he truly sees you as a nephew. Especially with the talent you've shown—he's taken a liking to you."

Yan Xiao couldn't resist teasing: "At this moment, I'm even starting to doubt whether you smelled wrong back then!"

Zhou Qing said nothing.

He hadn't been wrong.

Don't forget—he has a daughter, Nannan, whom I identified through that rattle.

But the real High Xian Senior Brother has never taken a spiritual partner.

The next moment, Mo Xingjian suddenly spoke: "Luo Xue is dead."

"What?" Both of them stared, faces filled with disbelief—they never expected to hear such devastating news.

Mo Xingjian sighed heavily again, his tone brimming with regret and helplessness: "A month ago, she was slain by Sima Yaoji, one of the Five Prodigies of Cangyan Dao Palace. Du Kui was also severely wounded and barely managed to save his life."

"But since then, Du Kui has completely lost his Dao heart, spending his days drunk and numb."

"Ah, perhaps because he learned you slew two of the Five Prodigies, High Xian Senior Brother was stirred, and so he gifted you the fourth form of the Cang Lei Sword Art."

Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao exchanged a glance, a sudden sorrow over life's impermanence rising in their hearts.

Senior Brother Du Kui and Senior Sister Luo Xue once saved my life; I've seen Senior Sister Luo Xue many times before, on Shen Yue Peak and Jin Yang Peak.

She was so gentle and kind, with high cultivation, and had grown up with Du Kui since childhood—their bond was deep. How could she suddenly…

For a moment, neither could accept this cruel truth.

Mo Xingjian looked at their sorrowful faces and said calmly: "This is war."

He offered no further explanation, yet those five simple words made their hearts grow heavier.

Yes, this is war—cruel and devoid of reason.

How could it be fair that only you may wield your blade to slay enemies, while they cannot strike back and harm you?

I wonder if Senior Brother Du Kui can ever recover from this crushing blow?

When Zhou Qing returned to his quarters, his mood remained heavy; Luo Xue's voice, smile, and Du Kui's desolate figure kept flashing in his mind, filled with grief.

In the end, he could only sigh helplessly, forcing himself to set these emotions aside for now, then turned his gaze to the jade slip in his hand.

He placed the jade slip against his brow and slowly poured his spiritual sense into it, expecting to see the detailed cultivation method of the fourth form of the Cang Lei Sword Art—but instead, all he saw was an endless sea of thunder, churning and roaring.

Nothing else appeared—this single, awe-inspiring yet baffling image seemed to be all the jade slip contained.

"What's going on?" Zhou Qing frowned, studying it again—but the result was the same.

Still only that violent thunder sea. No tangible cultivation information could be found.

Then it struck him: High Xian Senior Brother had said earlier that the fourth form required a Thunder Pool to cultivate.

Could it be that without the Thunder Pool's aid, the actual cultivation method simply wouldn't appear?

"Is it really that strange?" Zhou Qing muttered to himself, his curiosity about the fourth form growing stronger.

At that moment, Mo Xingjian's voice suddenly came to his ear: "Prepare yourself. We're going to Jin Leizong the day after tomorrow—to borrow their Thunder Pool."

Zhou Qing's eyes lit up instantly.

There's now a stable teleportation array between the three sects; reaching Jin Leizong takes only moments.

"Yes, Master!" Zhou Qing exclaimed excitedly.

…………

Jin Leizong!

Along a broad Thunder Crystal Avenue, countless Thunder Spirit Trees grew, their trunks and branches constantly shimmering with faint blue lightning.

Following the avenue led to a majestic main hall, its roof covered in golden lightning-glazed tiles that gleamed brilliantly under the sun.

At each corner of the eaves hung a string of Thunder Bells, each containing a small Thunder Spirit restriction to monitor the surroundings.

Inside the main hall, Jin Leizong's Sect Master, Lei Wuji, frowned deeply, his expression grave as he reviewed the latest reports pouring in.

The five sects have been at war for some time, yet only now did they realize they had never truly understood Cangyan Dao Palace.

Each layer of the veil lifted revealed powers and secrets that filled them with dread.

They say a biting dog doesn't bark—Tianji Men, silent and unseen, had already inflicted heavy losses on them during this period.

"Lei Lie, three guests from Taiqingmen will arrive tomorrow. You'll receive them."

Lei Wuji, while handling the reports, spoke to a man standing below.

Lei Lie—his eldest disciple, a Nascent Soul realm cultivator at peak, already beginning to comprehend a certain artistic essence; barring accidents, he would enter Soul Transformation within twenty years.

Lei Lie stepped forward and bowed: "Yes, Master!"

Lei Lie still felt deep gratitude toward Taiqingmen. Long ago, when Jin Leizong was torn by internal strife and on the brink of collapse, eighteen cultivators from Taiqingmen came to their aid, quelling the rebellion and stabilizing the sect.

Without Taiqingmen's intervention, Jin Leizong would surely have been destroyed and replaced long ago.

After leaving the main hall, Lei Lie immediately flew toward the back mountain on his sword.

Here, vast groves of Thunder Bamboo grew, guarded by three Supreme Elders.

The small teleportation array purchased from the Wanxiang Auction was installed here.

As Lei Lie entered the bamboo grove, several spiritual senses swiftly swept over him, confirming no anomalies before allowing passage.

About half an hour later, the central teleportation array flared with light, and three figures appeared.

Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao instinctively rubbed their eyes, adjusting to the surrounding light, then curiously scanned their surroundings.

Lei Lie hurried forward and bowed respectfully: "Disciple Lei Lie greets Elder Mo, Senior Brother Zhou, Senior Brother Yan!"

Mo Xingjian looked up, a faint smile on his face: "Ah, Lei Lie—it's been a long time."

Lei Lie responded humbly: "I'm honored you still remember me. My Master wished to greet you personally, but recent events within the sect have left him overwhelmed—he could not spare the time, so he sent me instead. I hope Elder will not be offended."

Mo Xingjian chuckled: "Wuji is far too courteous. We're the ones asking a favor—he's already done us a great kindness by lending us the Thunder Pool. How could we dare trouble him further?"

Zhou Qing, meanwhile, studied Lei Lie with quiet shock.

He sensed clearly: this man, like Senior Brother and Second Sister, now carried a subtle, mysterious aura—the precursor to entering Soul Transformation.

Moreover, Lei Lie ranked third on the Kill List, having slain forty-four Nascent Soul cultivators—only three fewer than Senior Brother. Truly terrifying.

Lei Lie bowed respectfully: "Elder Mo, please follow me."

He glanced at Zhou Qing once, then led the three toward the Thunder Pool…

Thunder Pools are divided into naturally formed and artificially created.

Naturally formed ones need no explanation—they are the wondrous creations of nature, rare opportunities sought by countless cultivators but nearly impossible to attain.

Artificially created ones are formed by selecting a suitable location, constructing an array, and over years of evolution, concentrating and condensing lightning energy until it becomes pure, potent Thunder Spirit Liquid.

In short, a Thunder Pool is the ideal place for all lightning cultivation methods, significantly reducing physical damage and offering a gentler environment.

Jin Leizong's Thunder Pool is one such artificially created pool—just as Taiqingmen's ancestors discovered a Heaven Cave and established their sect by leveraging its unique advantages.

(End of Chapter)