Chapter 162: Four Flowers Gather at the Crown? Impossible. Absolutely Impossible

At this moment, Yan Xiao Hu was also somewhat surprised—why had he never seen this flag array before?

Seeing that the trap had been successfully set, Zhou Qing finally relaxed.

He then turned to Lei Luo and pointed toward the distance: "Go outside. Do not enter without my permission."

Lei Luo was puzzled, but didn't think much of it—it was just a simulation anyway.

"Shi Zhen, stand over there!" Zhou Qing pointed to Shi Zhen.

Then Zhou Qing turned to Yan Xiao Hu.

Yan Xiao Hu seemed to sense something in Zhou Qing's gaze and immediately laughed: "I'll just stand wherever—I'm sure you've got it covered."

"What about me?" Pei Yan asked.

Zhou Qing grinned slyly and hurried over. "Pei Sister, you're the most cultivated among us—your position must be critical. When I fought Sima Yaoji, I kept circling her!"

Zhou Qing pointed to the center of the array.

Pei Yan's eyes flickered as she moved into position, but Zhou Qing suddenly leaned close, glancing left and right, whispering mysteriously: "Do you remember what I told you before?"

Pei Yan frowned. "What did you say? I don't recall."

Puch—

Po Shang Feng pierced through her abdomen again, and Zhou Qing's feet flashed silver as he snapped backward.

This sudden turn shocked everyone.

"Young Master Zhou—you—" Shi Zhen gasped in alarm.

Zhou Qing suddenly shouted: "Third Brother!"

After a brief pause, Yan Xiao Hu, though confused, immediately activated his Jinglan Spirit Jade and the message talisman.

Outside, Lei Luo stood stunned—but soon, golden light flared across the ground, countless runes interweaving and forming a golden prison array in an instant, echoing with sacred chants.

Lei Luo smacked his thigh. "I knew something was up!"

"Zhou, Zhou Brother—you've gone mad!"

Pei Yan clutched her abdomen in disbelief, her vision swimming—this scene felt eerily familiar, yet she couldn't place it.

"Don't move!"

Zhou Qing snapped his head up—in that instant, his eyes flashed with lightning, piercing straight into Shi Zhen's anxious face.

Shi Zhen's body trembled violently, her feet rooted to the spot, unable to move an inch.

Her urgent expression froze, replaced by an instinctive reverence for Zhou Qing's overwhelming authority.

Especially with that cold, unyielding pressure pressing upon her—she opened her mouth, but found no words.

Yan Xiao Hu said nothing, drew his great blade, and stood ready.

Though he didn't understand what was happening, he unhesitatingly stood beside his fourth brother.

At this moment, Zhou Qing's hair streamed wildly, his robes snapping in the surging spiritual energy, and behind him, a towering pagoda shadow materialized.

Ancient and heavy, shimmering with countless mysterious runes.

This—was the true array core.

"I told you this just a year ago—how could you have forgotten so quickly?"

As Zhou Qing stepped forward, the golden array around him hummed with deep, resonant chants, as if reciting ancient scriptures.

"Since you've forgotten, I'll help you remember!"

His aura surged, a tangible pressure rolling toward Pei Yan like a tidal wave.

"I, Zhou Qing, slew Sima Yaoji once—I can do it twice, thrice. What do I fear?"

As his words ended, phantom figures materialized from all directions.

Dressed in ancient cassocks, their faces solemn, wielding various magical artifacts, they chanted incantations that inspired awe.

Upon hearing the name "Sima Yaoji," Pei Yan's pupils shrank—she stared in utter disbelief.

Yan Xiao Hu and Shi Zhen stared at Pei Yan in shock.

Shi Zhen stammered: "Zhou, Zhou Brother—is there some mistake…?"

"How did you find out?"

Before Shi Zhen could finish, Pei Yan's voice—now unfamiliar—spoke from her lips, despite her earlier pain.

Shi Zhen froze in place.

Hearing that familiar voice, Yan Xiao Hu shuddered violently, immediately activating his Nascent Soul enhancement, boosting his cultivation to Nascent Soul Mid-Stage.

Zhou Qing whispered rapidly, transmitting Pei Yan's condition and his concerns about possible ambushes to Yan Xiao Hu.

Yan Xiao Hu felt his throat dry—he had to end this quickly.

Luo Xue had been brutally murdered by this vile creature—Pei Yan must not suffer the same fate.

Facing Pei Yan's sudden change, Zhou Qing smirked: "I have a question too. You've planned this long—why not wait until we were fully trapped before revealing yourself?"

"Then you could just soul-search us—why go through all this trouble?"

Sima Yaoji's face twisted in rage, her eyes burning with hatred, fixed on Zhou Qing as if trying to incinerate him.

"Because I can't wait—I want to chop you into pieces, one by one, so you can't die, can't live. You destroyed everything—I'll make you pay a hundredfold, a thousandfold!"

Sima Yaoji's voice cracked and rasped, her murderous intent chilling the air, plunging the surroundings into icy dread.

Zhou Qing sneered: "My Master said that over the past year, your silence meant only two possibilities: one, you achieved enlightenment in despair and reached the brink of Soul Transformation."

"The other, you were consumed by hatred—like a venomous scorpion, lurking in the dark, waiting to strike a fatal blow."

"Honestly, seeing you now, I must admit—I overestimated you. And you're too impatient…"

Sima Yaoji suddenly burst into sharp, piercing laughter: "Enough talk! If you won't speak, I'll take it myself!"

As she spoke, two crimson star wheels appeared in her hands, gleaming with cold, lethal light.

As they spun rapidly, a bottomless black hole opened at their centers.

Zhou Qing snorted: "You'll never know how I found you."

With a thought, the pagoda shadow behind him began to spin rapidly.

Each rotation released a wave of powerful spiritual energy, rippling outward like water, flooding into the phantom figures.

Instantly, the Buddha phantoms opened their eyes—golden light shot from them like solidified arrows, blasting toward Sima Yaoji.

Sima Yaoji didn't dare underestimate—her star wheels shot out, slicing directly into the oncoming light.

But strangely—every Buddha she cut down immediately reappeared from the surroundings, rejoining the battle.

This was the true, fully realized One-Color Array.

Sixty high-grade spirit stones powered it, enough to sustain each Buddha's resurrection at least five times.

Seeing this, Sima Yaoji's face changed—she slammed her chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The blood instantly solidified into twisted runes, reeking of foul stench, clawing toward the golden Buddha light.

As they clashed, a deafening boom erupted, sparks flying everywhere.

Yan Xiao Hu didn't stand idle—he'd missed his chance last time; now he'd avenge Luo Xue.

"Vile woman—Old Tiger's here!"

Yan Xiao Hu charged forward like a mad tiger, his great blade swinging with crushing force, cleaving through the air.

Sima Yaoji was overwhelmed—she had no choice but to split her attention.

Shi Zhen finally snapped out of her shock, fury burning in her heart—she lightly tapped the ground, her sword flashing with icy light as she joined the fray.

"What did you do to my sister? Give me back my sister!"

Watching this, behind Zhou Qing, a much larger Suanni phantom slowly formed.

Massive thunderballs, like falling meteorites, rained from the sky, surging with violent power toward Sima Yaoji…

Outside, Lei Luo was frantic—his experience told him instantly what this One-Color Array was.

And everyone inside was from Taiqingmen—he clearly realized Zhou Qing had deliberately excluded him.

"Is there an internal conflict?" Lei Luo had no choice but to hide to the side, on guard.

Time passed—now with Yan Xiao Hu and Shi Zhen aiding him, and Po Shang Feng's bleeding wound, Sima Yaoji began to falter.

"I remember—I remember—you did this before—" Sima Yaoji staggered as she fought, cursing Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing darted swiftly among them, striking her with continuous thunderous sword qi.

Last time, it hadn't been this easy.

Over the past year, he had perfected the Jin Wu Art and the Suanni Art, and advanced one level as an array master.

But she had remained stagnant, obsessed only with revenge.

And last time, she'd used only the hastily assembled Lei Yan Shi Ling Array—barely even reached the threshold of mastery.

Its power paled beside this Pagoda Array.

"What a waste of talent," Zhou Qing shook his head.

The next moment, as Sima Yaoji grew weak, Yan Xiao Hu—who had been hiding nearby—crept up silently, then seized his chance, lunging from behind to wrap his arms around her.

A sudden surge of softness made his heart race—he muttered "sinful, sinful" under his breath, yet his arms locked around her like iron clamps.

"Hurry!" Yan Xiao Hu shouted to Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing rushed over—amid Sima Yaoji's furious struggles—he pressed one finger to the back of her skull, flooding her mind with immense spiritual force.

Thanks to Po Shang Feng's wound and his verbal provocation, her reactions were sluggish, her spiritual power in disarray.

Shi Zhen hurried over, grabbing her legs.

Quickly, in the mind sea, Zhou Qing saw a horrifying scene.

Sima Yaoji's Nascent Soul was devouring another Nascent Soul—Pei Yan's Nascent Soul writhed in agony, bound by unknown runes.

"Ha! Too late—you'll never get out. Even if I die, I'll take another with me. One Luo Xue, one Pei Yan—worth it, truly worth it!"

Sima Yaoji's eyes filled with madness and ferocity as she accelerated her consumption.

Zhou Qing's killing intent surged, wanting to forcibly separate them, but found it impossible.

The worst outcome had finally come to pass.

Seeing Zhou Qing's furious frustration, Sima Yaoji grew even more excited and deranged.

"Shi Zhen, get out first!" After withdrawing his spiritual sense, Zhou Qing sharply turned to Shi Zhen, who was hugging her legs.

Shi Zhen blinked in surprise. "I need to stay here and help you…"

"Get out now!" Zhou Qing urged anxiously.

Shi Zhen gritted her teeth, dared not delay, and hurried out as Zhou Qing opened a portal.

"How's it going?" Yan Xiao Hu asked urgently.

Zhou Qing shook his head. "She's consuming Pei Yan's Nascent Soul. I can't separate them—I must risk it. Guard me!"

After speaking, Zhou Qing re-entered his spiritual sense. Soon, Yan Xiao Hu noticed a four-colored flower slowly rotating above Zhou Qing's head.

Seeing this, Yan Xiao Hu's eyes lit up, and he immediately scanned the surroundings, fearing others might see.

Meanwhile, Sima Yaoji, who had been frantically biting, turned her head again—just as she opened her mouth to mock, she froze upon seeing the spinning four-colored flower behind him.

Her eyes widened in shock. "Four Flowers Gathering at the Crown? It's you? How is this possible!"

"Nothing in this world is impossible!"

Looking at Pei Yan's frail, sleeping Nascent Soul, Zhou Qing's gaze hardened. He let out a cold snort, and with a thought, the light from the four-colored flower began to intertwine and coil.

Soon, it formed a tough spiritual power rope, swiftly wrapping around Sima Yaoji's Nascent Soul.

Sima Yaoji's eyes bulged in terror as she thrashed wildly—but under Four Flowers Gathering at the Crown, all resistance was futile.

The spiritual rope tightened, binding her tightly, slowly pulling her away.

"Why you? Why you?!"

Sima Yaoji stared blankly at the four-colored flower, still unable to believe it—Four Flowers Gathering at the Crown, once sought by countless fourth-tier cultivation nations, was Zhou Qing.

He had clearly been crushed into a commoner when his Golden Core was shattered years ago.

Liars! All of them liars!

At this moment, Sima Yaoji was utterly heartbroken.

She could already foresee the future of Cangyan Dao Palace.

All this struggle, all this fighting—it was merely sewing clothes for someone else.

"No, there's still a chance!" Soon, Sima Yaoji's eyes turned blood-red.

If she died, her elder and second brothers would surely avenge her—not just them, but her Master and the Palace Lord too.

No prodigy, no Four Flowers Gathering at the Crown—none of it matters if they haven't grown strong yet. So many possibilities remain.

"I must send word out!" Not for any other reason—because her second brother was already nearby.

He loved her. Even when she insisted on avenging herself personally, he couldn't bear to leave her, silently guarding her all along.

Then, Sima Yaoji looked at Zhou Qing—and suddenly grew calm. She spoke softly: "Zhou Qing, you will die without a grave."

Seeing her mad gaze, Zhou Qing felt a chill.

Instantly, Sima Yaoji's Nascent Soul erupted into violent chaos.

She abandoned the idea of dragging someone down with her—she chose self-destruction instead.

"How?!" But then she stared in disbelief at the ropes binding her.

The binding formed by the four-colored flower prevented her from even detonating.

Zhou Qing, who had been preparing to withdraw, froze—then burst into wild joy.

It seemed he had just discovered another heavenly function of Four Flowers Gathering at the Crown.

"Angry?" Zhou Qing laughed loudly, then focused his will and intensified the pulling force.

Within mere breaths, a gap appeared between the two Nascent Souls.

Zhou Qing thrilled—originally he'd only been testing. He hadn't expected it to actually work.

Sima Yaoji had now completely given up struggling, muttering only: "Why? Why is heaven unjust?"

Zhou Qing immediately peeled her away, then formed hand seals and yanked her out of Pei Yan's spiritual sea, sealing her instantly.

Of course, he could have crushed her now, eliminating all future threats—but he feared others in Cangyan Dao Palace might sense it.

She had plotted for so long. Even Pei Yan's body likely involved a Soul Transformation cultivator. Now that it's finally come to this, how could others not know?

"Incredible! Truly incredible!" Seeing Sima Yaoji's Nascent Soul extracted, Yan Xiao Hu sincerely admired.

Zhou Qing, however, looked exhausted.

The spiritual energy and blood qi stored in the golden flower had been entirely depleted in the battle—he was the main combatant and had to end it swiftly.

"Get everyone out fast!" Zhou Qing said.

Yan Xiao Hu nodded frantically. After Zhou Qing retrieved the battle flags, Shi Zhen and Lei Luo hurried over.

Seeing Pei Yan unconscious, Lei Luo was deeply confused.

After all, he had asked Shi Zhen repeatedly—but she refused to say a word.

"Return to the sect at maximum speed!" Yan Xiao Hu ordered.

He immediately picked up Pei Yan's body and supported Zhou Qing.

Neither dared ask questions—they fled swiftly under cover of night.

About an hour later, a figure, seemingly impatient, quietly approached the site.

He glanced around, then landed beside the fire pit where the others had roasted meat. By moonlight, he appeared to be a man under thirty, tall and slender, radiating a chilling aura.

Behind his back was a broad sword case; its straps swayed gently with his movements, yet carried an eerie silence.

Yu Ziqi—the second-ranked prodigy of Cangyan Dao Palace, a Nascent Soul Great Completion cultivator who had begun to master a certain realm of understanding.

His brows furrowed as he stared at the dark forest ahead, then silently departed.

Soon, a furious roar shattered the silent night: "Yaoji—"

………

As dawn broke over the east, the group wasted no time, racing toward the nearest Qingyu Immortal Sect, planning to return via the teleportation array as before.

Once Zhou Qing had regained some strength, he revealed how he had uncovered the truth—and Pei Yan's current condition.

Mostly through scent and verbal probing.

Everyone immediately looked at Zhou Qing with shock and admiration.

【Heart Insight +7】

【Heart Insight +8】

【Heart Insight +9】

【Heart Insight +9】

Shi Zhen's note above her head—"Newcomer Zhou Brother"—instantly changed to "Cunning Zhou Brother."

Yan Xiao Hu's note changed from "Useless Little Brother" to "Wants to Pluck Your Nose Hairs Little Brother."

Zhou Qing's face twitched.

Third Senior Brother was becoming more and more deranged—he'd once wanted to pluck his own nose hairs and shove them into Zhou Qing's nose.

To see if it could somehow enhance his sense of smell.

Then he looked at the sealed Sima Yaoji in his hand—her tiny Nascent Soul's note was now crystal clear.

After hearing his fabricated story, her note had changed from "Cannibalistic Beast" to "Beast of Four Flowers Gathering at the Crown."

But only moments later, it changed again—to "Beast with a Bird's Nose."

Zhou Qing chuckled.

Fortunately, the group understood how dangerous their situation was—they raced back at top speed.

As Qingyu Immortal Sect's Shanmen came into view, Zhou Qing exhaled deeply.

"Wait! Let me record this historic moment!" As Zhou Qing prepared to crush Sima Yaoji's Nascent Soul, Yan Xiao Hu frantically pulled out a recording stone.

Since he'd seen the Four Flowers Gathering at the Crown, he absolutely couldn't be left alive.

Shi Zhen, however, worried—if another sect elder was kidnapped like last time, they could use her as leverage.

Zhou Qing stared coldly at the sealed Sima Yaoji and her hateful gaze. "Safe journey."

With those words, lightning sword qi pierced in, utterly shredding her into specks of spiritual energy.

Thus, three of the Five Prodigies now lay dead at Zhou Qing's hands.

"Let's return to the sect first. Pei Yan hasn't awakened yet—only Master Bai and the others might help. And you, Shi Zhen—you've been close to her for half a year. You might have hidden dangers too!"

Zhou Qing said to Shi Zhen.

Shi Zhen nodded. The group dared not delay. After reporting and verification, they used Qingyu Immortal Sect's teleportation array to return directly to Taiqingmen.

When Master Tong Min of Jade Clear Peak learned of this, she rushed over in shock.

Only with the aid of a Supreme Elder was Pei Yan's Nascent Soul gradually freed from the talisman seals.

Three days later, she began to slowly awaken.

She remembered nothing—not even when she'd been ambushed. She only felt she'd been dazed for a long time.

Her abdominal wound hurt terribly, and her body had lost nearly all its blood—she'd almost bled dry.

Especially after hearing the full story from Shi Zhen, she felt a chill crawl up her spine.

"To silently control Pei Yan and allow Sima Yaoji's Nascent Soul to nearly parasitize her body—this must have involved a Soul Transformation cultivator. If so, we must return the courtesy!"

Sect Master Cao Zhengyang was furious. He immediately dispatched three Peak Masters—including Tong Min—to launch a one-sided massacre.

Clearly, Cangyan Dao Palace felt guilty and did not intervene.

After venting, Tong Min and the others returned, knowing when to stop.

Similarly, the news that Zhou Qing had truly slain Sima Yaoji spread rapidly across the eastern region of Lingyun Prefecture.

Now, which sect, big or small, did not know Zhou Qing of Xiao Ling Peak, Taiqingmen—a rising prodigy?

Of course, he also had a senior brother, Yan Xiaohu, whose habits were deeply unsettling and who loved to dig up ancestral graves.

As senior and junior brothers, one relied on wit and strength, while the other walked the path of heretical arts.

Zhou Qing then received another wave of Heart Mirror points; judging by the quantity, they must have come from Lu Yaoyao, Li Daoxuan, and Xuanjizi.

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(End of Chapter)