Chapter 177

"Enough!" Hou Shan stepped forward, tugging at the massive man, and said to the five sects' members: "My brother is crude—please forgive him. We now entrust this to you!"

Cao Zhengyang and the others nodded. Though displeased with the two demon kings' attitudes, they refrained from reacting, and each led their disciples back onto the flying vessel before departing.

After boarding, no one dared delay; they immediately retrieved their image stones and began viewing the footage.

He turned it over and over again, yet still found not the slightest clue.

After a brief pause, Cao Zhengyang suggested: "First, disperse the teams and conduct a preliminary survey centered on Canglan Mountain!"

Since the five sects had ceased fighting and Hou Shan had ordered the mountain's beasts not to interfere, the danger on Canglan Mountain had greatly diminished.

Start with the most basic method of systematic reconnaissance, then summon more personnel from the sects to thoroughly search the cities and sects for similar figures with bloated bellies—there may be some breakthroughs.

Lei Wují and Lady Xuan You had no objections to Cao Zhengyang's decision.

Puff—

The next moment, Lady Xuan You suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, startling both men.

"What happened?" Cao Zhengyang asked anxiously.

Had they been secretly attacked by Si Kong Yan?

Seeing their concern, Lady Xuan You waved her hands frantically: "I'm fine—perhaps I made a mistake in my recent cultivation. I just need a little rest."

As she spoke, she forced a faint smile.

Then she wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and added: "Let's follow Brother Cao's plan—I'll arrange the teams right away."

With that, Lady Xuan You turned and hurried away.

The two exchanged uneasy glances—could it be that her old wounds from the Cangyan Dao Palace's previous siege had never fully healed?

Soon after, Zhou Qing and the others received orders to pair up and investigate the eastern side of Canglan Mountain.

"Senior Brother Zhou, can I go with you?" Lu Yaoyao rushed over immediately, her eyes wide with anticipation as she gazed at Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing glanced at Yan Xiaohu, who was chatting amiably with Lei Luo, so he smiled and nodded.

"Sure, wait a moment!" Zhou Qing said, then went to find Cao Zhengyang to copy a segment of the footage, planning to analyze it tomorrow for possible clues.

After bidding farewell to Yan Xiaohu, Zhou Qing led Lu Yaoyao off in a certain direction.

"Senior Brother Zhou, where are we headed next?"

"You've seen the footage—do you already have a plan?"

"I knew you're the smartest! I'm so clueless—I found no leads at all. Just give me a hint!"

………

Barely a few steps away, Lu Yaoyao's mouth never stopped chattering.

Zhou Qing was speechless—she really did resemble that silver-haired woman in personality.

To outsiders, you, a core disciple, are aloof and silent, even with Li Daoxuan and others.

Since breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage, your elegance has only deepened.

Especially after studying the "Ice Purity Scripture," a translucent chill seems to surround you, intensifying your cold, distant aura.

Every movement radiates icy grace—you've become the secret crush of countless disciples in Taiqing Sect; even many True Disciples and Inner Sect members grow nervous and tongue-tied around you.

But why, whenever you're with me, do you become so talkative?

"It's all the same—we saw nothing. Now I'm actually worried about something else!" Zhou Qing gazed ahead, his expression turning grim.

Lu Yaoyao looked puzzled.

Zhou Qing analyzed: "The Fusang Spirit Sunflower is missing and hasn't been refined yet—I can't believe the other demon kings aren't tempted?"

Lu Yaoyao listened, then seemed to understand.

"You mean those two demon kings who appeared today might try to exploit the chaos?"

Zhou Qing nodded.

The two Nascent Soul beast kings' treatment of the others seemed meant to avenge Hou Shan, but their true purpose was likely to investigate whether the sacred herb had truly been lost.

Of course, he did not doubt that if they truly could not find the spirit herb, they would unite as one—after all, launching a beast tide against the Five Sects would bring them immense benefits.

They simply lack a legitimate excuse!

If they truly find the sacred herb, they'll face three potential dangers.

First: the demon kings who have secretly arrived and are watching them constantly.

Kill them, seize the treasure, flee back to their domains, and refine it to boost their cultivation.

Whether human or beast, strength ultimately reigns supreme.

Such an opportunity to enhance their power is one the demon kings would never let slip away.

Second: Cangyan Dao Palace and Tianji Sect—especially Xuanji Zi's divination arts, which can be eerily accurate.

Everyone wants to court Hou Shan and the other demon kings, avoiding the risk of aiding their enemies.

Third: Hou Shan himself.

He searched for a year and found nothing—how could you find it the moment you help? That's suspicious.

Was it intentional—not refining it at all—to drag their beast race into the Five Sects' great war?

But if they truly can't find it, though they prove their innocence, a furious demon king might still do something reckless.

So it's a dead end—maybe I'm just overthinking.

Regardless, Hou Shan's desperate need to recover his thousand-year-cultivated sacred herb is undeniable.

"We'll just take it one step at a time," Zhou Qing sighed.

Beside him, Lu Yaoyao noticed his furrowed brow and opened her mouth to ask again, when a distant howl suddenly echoed.

Both instantly halted, seeing Li Hanshan approaching with his massive halberd, radiating hostile intent.

Lu Yaoyao quietly retrieved her image stone—if he dared attack, she'd record it and have her elders eliminate him.

Seeing their wariness, Li Hanshan snorted coldly but made no move to attack—only glared at them briefly before turning away.

"So this six-month truce really does have deterrent power!" Zhou Qing murmured, watching Li Hanshan's retreating back, his nerves relaxing slightly.

Of course, he wasn't afraid—his elders were currently on Canglan Mountain; he could call for help anytime.

Let's see who ends up embarrassed!

"Let's find a place to rest," Zhou Qing said, scanning the surroundings.

Canglan Mountain is vast, with countless people entering and exiting daily—especially after the Abyss incident a year ago, so many came, and now so much time has passed.

Even for a rough survey, we can't just wander aimlessly.

Watching the swarm of low-level beasts roaring past below, Lu Yaoyao nodded.

The two found a large, leafy tree and landed on a flat branch.

"I brought some snacks, Senior Brother Zhou—try some!"

Lu Yaoyao immediately pulled out pastries from her storage pouch and eagerly offered them; Zhou Qing thanked her profusely.

He took a bite—it was delicious.

"Did you make these?" Zhou Qing asked curiously.

Lu Yaoyao shook her head: "I'm not skilled enough. There's a senior sister in the sect who makes pastries that are absolutely divine."

Then she looked at Zhou Qing, hesitated a moment, and couldn't help saying: "Senior Brother Zhou, I have a little snack recipe book—it's all my favorite treats."

As she spoke, she handed him a small manual, her eyes filled with quiet hope.

Zhou Qing took it, puzzled.

What does this mean?

Are you asking me to buy them for you?

He opened the first page—and his eyes narrowed in surprise as he stared at Lu Yaoyao, who was about to speak but hesitated: "Is this… Lady Xuan You?"

Lu Yaoyao froze, snatched the book back, her ears turning bright red: "I—I grabbed the wrong one! What did you just see?"

What could he have seen? Just a lifelike portrait, with annotations beside it—among them, one clearly read "Auntie."

He hadn't even had time to look further before she snatched it away.

Seeing Lu Yaoyao's nervousness, Zhou Qing's heart skipped a beat.

When Lady Xuan You first visited Taiqing Sect, Lu Yaoyao was the first to befriend her, even inviting him to breakfast and playfully pairing him with Lady Xuan You.

After everything that happened, he guessed Lu Yaoyao saw him as a stand-in for her deceased brother, seeking emotional security.

A sect leader, an imperial princess, a Cutting Spirit cultivator.

But that "Auntie" note felt strangely different.

Could she be starved for maternal affection?

Yes—that must be it. That's why she clings so tightly to the silver-haired woman.

And last time we went out, she even wanted to call me "Dad."

Realizing this, Zhou Qing suddenly felt a pang of sympathy—he'd previously thought she had some odd romantic preference.

It seems her entire family has passed away, leaving her desperate for these bonds.

Now, facing her question, Zhou Qing immediately replied: "I didn't see anything."

Lu Yaoyao exhaled softly, her expression easing: "I was just doodling—not just Lady Xuan You, but also Senior Brother One, Senior Brother Two…"

As if fearing he wouldn't believe her, she immediately pulled out another notebook from her storage pouch.

He opened it and found, as expected, many figures drawn on it—familiar senior brothers and sisters, each with their expressions rendered vividly.

Zhou Qing nodded enthusiastically, studying it carefully—she really was talented.

"By the way, take this!" This time, she carefully reviewed her own snack recipe book and handed it to Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing opened it—inside were names like Lotus Pastry, Steamed Sweet Milk Custard, Glutinous Rice Balls in Wine, Mung Bean Cake, each accompanied by charming illustrations.

Lu Yaoyao said earnestly: "What I mean is, if you ever meet that silver-haired sister again, you could treat her to these."

Zhou Qing paused in surprise. "Why?"

"Because I love all these things!" Lu Yaoyao said, as if it were obvious.

Zhou Qing sighed. What right did a Zhan Ling cultivator have to eat these things with him?

Besides, she's probably already back in her own cultivation nation by now. I'm a top-tier figure—if we actually met, I'd rather hide my identity. Why would I invite her to dinner?

What are you thinking about all day?

But because of what just happened, Zhou Qing had no choice but to accept. "We'll see if we ever meet again."

Lu Yaoyao beamed. "If she really likes these snacks by then, you must tell me."

Zhou Qing nodded reluctantly. "Fine. I'll tell her these snacks were your recommendation."

Lu Yaoyao's face lit up with a radiant smile.

Thus, the two rested until late night, when Zhou Qing finally took out the Image Stone and activated it, immediately performing an appraisal.

【Secret of Spying: This image captures Li Ni's nest-building behavior. As a mother, she is resolute—having strived for over a thousand years to delay her child's birth. Tragic and pitiful!】

Seeing the feedback, Zhou Qing's eyes brightened, then quickly furrowed in frown.

Li Ni?

So her name was Li Ni. Female. Pregnant. Not pretending. This alone drastically narrowed the search range.

But what did "delaying the child's birth" mean?

And she'd been doing it for over a thousand years?

Even Nezha didn't gestate like this.

A Nascent Soul cultivator breaks the Golden Core and lives a thousand years.

A Soul Transformation cultivator transitions from Nascent Soul to Primordial Spirit, with a lifespan exceeding two thousand years.

From the image, she ignored those Nascent Soul beasts. Combined with the system's description, Li Ni was at least a Soul Transformation cultivator.

That made things difficult. If found, he'd have to involve his elders.

Lu Yaoyao blinked sleepily, watching Zhou Qing intensely analyze the Image Stone. She yawned softly, turned over, and went back to sleep.

Having a young father around meant she didn't have to think. How nice!

In the night sky, occasional howls passed overhead. Zhou Qing and Lu Yaoyao continued resting.

The next day, Lu Yaoyao stretched and asked, "Senior Brother Zhou, where are we going next?"

Zhou Qing pulled out a map and studied it.

The stronger a cultivator, the harder pregnancy becomes. As you cultivate, your body is eroded by spiritual energy, especially damaging the gentle environment needed to nurture life, gradually altering your constitution.

Add to that the side effects and backlash of cultivation techniques, mental obstacles, and karmic entanglements—all these factors make it even harder.

A Soul Transformation female cultivator, pregnant for a thousand years, wandering alone to find medicinal herbs—could it mean her husband was gone?

Pregnant for a thousand years without giving birth, yet going to great lengths to prevent the child's birth—this reveals two clues.

First, Li Ni likely became pregnant while still a Nascent Soul cultivator, and carried the child through her ascent to Soul Transformation. That's terrifying.

Second, she's either a pervert or mentally unstable.

Assuming all this is correct, as a pregnant mother, her subconscious would crave bustle, not isolation.

After all, during such a critical time, one naturally yearns for warmth and companionship.

At least in the image, when she plucked the Fusang Spirit Sunflower, she was calm and composed—her emotions seemed stable.

That suggests her mental state wasn't too bad. Perhaps she chose to live somewhere lively.

Besides, Lord Hou Shan had spent the past year turning Canglan Mountain upside down and found no trace of her.

So Li Ni likely lived in one of the cities surrounding Canglan Mountain—probability higher there.

Zhou Qing examined closely: no other sects surrounded Canglan Mountain, but nine cities encircled it in different directions.

But which one exactly? Hard to say. He'd need more clues.

Wait until after midnight tonight, then appraise again. After all, the 【Daily Appraisal】 sometimes yields different information on the same object—it's mostly luck.

"Senior Brother Zhou?" Lu Yaoyao, seeing no response, softly called again.

Zhou Qing snapped back, smiling faintly. "Rest some more."

"Huh?" Lu Yaoyao blinked in surprise.

After midnight, Zhou Qing reopened the Image Stone for a second appraisal.

【Secret of Spying: To ensure her child sees its father the moment it's born, Li Ni has delayed its birth. To do so, she needs vast quantities of medicinal herbs for nourishment and suppression. This Image Stone secretly recorded her sneaking into a Beast King's lair to harvest them.】

Unexpectedly, a completely new description appeared.

It revealed Li Ni's true motive.

"A thousand-year delay… just so the child can see its father first?" Zhou Qing was stunned.

Then where was the father?

Dead? Or had he abandoned her?

If dead, how could she still hold on this long?

For a moment, Zhou Qing didn't know whether to call her foolish or praise her devotion to love.

The child is innocent. After all this nurturing and suppression, what kind of monster would be born?

No—she might not even be carrying a normal infant right now.

"Wait one more night," Zhou Qing sighed.

Lu Yaoyao had no objections. The next day, she received a message from Cao Zhengyang.

After confirming their safety, he revealed they were preparing to return to the sect.

They'd mobilize all sect members to thoroughly investigate the cities around Canglan Mountain, then gradually expand to other sects across the Eastern Region, and warned the two to be careful.

Soon after, Zhou Qing received a message from Yan Xiaohu: he and Lei Luo had teamed up, scoured the area, found nothing, and were leaving to eat. He asked if Zhou Qing would join.

"Go ahead. I've got something to do," Zhou Qing replied.

On the third night, after another appraisal, the information no longer changed. Zhou Qing reluctantly pulled out the map and handed it to Lu Yaoyao.

"You're lucky—pick one of the nine cities," Zhou Qing said.

Lu Yaoyao seemed to recall something and immediately shook her head. "No. My luck's always terrible. You pick."

Seeing her sudden gloom, Zhou Qing didn't know what he'd said wrong. He opened his mouth to speak—then his expression froze.

At the same instant, Po Shang Feng flashed into his palm. His body tensed, alert as if facing a deadly foe.

The night around them seemed normal—the breeze still brushed gently, plants swayed as usual—but Zhou Qing sensed an inexplicable dread.

The hairs on his back stood rigid, as if shrouded in invisible cold. A powerful sense of mortal peril surged from his core.

"What's wrong?" Lu Yaoyao asked, puzzled.

Zhou Qing frowned, instantly unleashing his vast spiritual sense in all directions.

To his shock, his spiritual sense extended barely a thousand meters before vanishing—like mud swallowed by the sea—blocked by an invisible, dense barrier.

"Prepare for battle!" Zhou Qing whispered, voice heavy, scanning for the enemy's location.

Lu Yaoyao instantly drew her weapon. A chilling, icy aura radiated from her like ripples, her eyes sharp as she stood back-to-back with Zhou Qing.

Soon, a golden glint flashed in Zhou Qing's pupils. He locked onto a patch of empty air ahead, speaking calmly: "You've set everything up. Why hide? Isn't that right, Li—Han—Shan?"

"No wonder you're Taiqingmen's brightest star. How did you know it was me?"

As Zhou Qing spoke, the air before them rippled. Slowly, a figure emerged—backed by a great halberd gleaming with frost.

Who else could it be but Li Hanshan?

Dressed in black battle attire, his sleeves fluttered in the wind. A faint, mocking smile played on his lips as he stared at them.

Zhou Qing snorted. "Didn't expect you to be this eager. Clearly, the Five Sects' ceasefire means nothing to you. Aren't you afraid of punishment?"

Li Hanshan slowly drew his halberd from his back and shook his head. "Zhou Qing, I must admit—you've grown too fast. You've given me an unprecedented sense of urgency. So you must die."

Seeing the thick killing intent in Li Hanshan's eyes, Zhou Qing knew there was no negotiation. The man had prepared thoroughly.

Lu Yaoyao swiftly pulled out the Image Stone and activated recording.

He had broken the ceasefire. Under the agreement, Soul Transformation cultivators could now intervene to eliminate him.

Zhou Qing said nothing more. He turned his gaze to the side, eyes sharpening. "Bloodbone Old Ghost. At your age, still resorting to ambush? How disgraceful."

Lu Yaoyao's face paled.

The next moment, a familiar, booming laugh echoed above them.

The laugh was sinister, sending chills down the spine. Then Bloodbone Old Ghost stepped out calmly, hovering midair, grinning with a mouth full of yellow teeth.

"Impressive spiritual sense, Young Master Li. Had I not come today, you might not have defeated him!" Bloodbone Old Ghost sneered.

Zhou Qing's expression turned grave. A half-Soul Transformation, and a Nascent Soul peak. They were truly taking him seriously.

Zhou Qing stepped in front of Lu Yaoyao, then chuckled. "How did you end up teaming up with this guy? That old ghost brings disaster wherever he goes. Song Yuan died beside him in Youhuang City."

"At Beimang Mine, the courier Sima Yaoji died. Then she used the pretext of ambushing this old ghost to possess my Pei Yan sister, tricked us out, and ended up completely destroyed. This old ghost—wherever he goes, disaster follows."

"Now you're with him. Looks like today, all five prodigies will perish under my hands. Old Ghost—thank you!"

Zhou Qing laughed loudly.

Bloodbone Old Ghost's face darkened. He sneered. "Sharp-tongued brat. You'll be crying soon enough!"

(End of Chapter)