Chapter 179

At this moment, Tong Min unusually did not ask how Zhou Qing had uncovered this information or its authenticity, but chose to believe unconditionally.

This action also indirectly reflected Zhou Qing's current weight in Tong Min's eyes.

Without notice, Zhou Qing's status within the entire Taiqingmen had quietly changed.

Of course, if the news of Li Hanshan's execution spread, Zhou Qing would likely become the top figure under Soul Transformation across the entire Eastern Region.

After all, both Li Hanshan and Yu Ziqi were Nascent Soul peak cultivators who had barely grasped the realm of intent.

Yet Zhou Qing, compared to them, was far weaker in cultivation base and much younger.

Still, they were dead.

"You two stay here and protect Zhou Qing—I'm returning to the sect first!" Tong Min ordered, then swiftly departed.

The two exchanged glances, then nodded.

Several days later, the Three Sect Alliance, led by Cao Zhengyang, arrived at Hou Shan in fury, carrying the memory stone.

We worked tirelessly to help you find your herbs, yet the Cangyan Dao Palace and Tianji Gate stabbed us in the back.

What are we supposed to do now?

Should we search or not?

If we search, we'll have to go to remote places—but are those places hiding your lost herbs, or are they ambush sites?

Zhou Qing got lucky this time, but that doesn't mean others will be so fortunate.

What if next time it's a Soul Transformation cultivator who strikes, then quietly erases all traces?

Watching the recorded scene on the memory stone, Hou Shan and the other three demon kings were furious, especially since the assassination occurred at Canglan Mountain, just three days after the ceasefire agreement.

Clearly, these two sects had a twisted way of repaying their debt to him.

Instantly, Hou Shan and the others went straight to Sikong Yan demanding an explanation.

The outcome was obvious: the guilty parties apologized profusely, paid heavy compensation in spirit stones, and swore repeatedly that such incidents would never happen again.

The matter was finally settled; Hou Shan didn't press further, since finding their sacred herb still depended on Tianji Gate's divination.

Overall, the Cangyan Dao Palace had truly lost both wife and soldiers.

Moreover, Zhou Qing's feat of single-handedly killing Li Hanshan despite an ambush spread rapidly across the entire Eastern Region.

With this one battle, Zhou Qing became famous overnight!

He had firmly earned the title of the top cultivator under Soul Transformation.

Such terrifying combat power led everyone to speculate: what kind of heavenly dao qi had his master, Mo Xingjian, granted him during his Foundation Establishment?

"Achoo! Achoo—"

In his secluded retreat at the back of Xiao Ling Peak, Mo Xingjian, whose spiritual power surged around him, sneezed repeatedly.

He slowly opened his eyes, rubbed his nose, and frowned in confusion.

"Could someone be cursing me? Or did those two troublemakers cause more trouble again—and now others are blaming me?"

Mo Xingjian immediately took out his token to send them a message, but received no reply from either.

He sighed deeply: they'd promised not to leave during his cultivation, yet not one obeyed.

But now he was at a critical stage; after calming his emotions, he formed hand seals and re-entered cultivation.

…………

"Fourth Brother! Fourth Brother—"

Yan Xiao, also in Lin'an City, heard the news and rushed over immediately.

Zhou Qing had fully recovered; upon seeing Yan Xiao, he beamed with joy.

"Third Brother, what brings you here?" Zhou Qing asked.

Yan Xiao stared at Zhou Qing, utterly speechless.

Five heavenly prodigies—all became stepping stones to your fame. I knew you had the Four Flowers Summit, that your future was limitless, but this pace of growth is too fast.

"Your name is nearly echoing across the entire Eastern Region—I heard nothing but talk of you on my way here."

What you don't want is exactly what I can't get—what kind of world is this?

Lei Luo, following behind Yan Xiao, felt the same.

With such terrifying strength, even his elder brother Lei Lie would have to yield.

Zhou Qing shook his head helplessly: what choice did he have? It was all forced upon him.

Several days later, Cao Zhengyang arrived in person; now he looked at Zhou Qing and thought the boy was strikingly handsome.

"Well done! This sack is compensation from the Cangyan Dao Palace; this one is the sect's reward for you!" Cao Zhengyang handed over two storage bags.

Zhou Qing was stunned; when he opened them, his pupils dilated.

"So much?" Zhou Qing couldn't believe it.

Cao Zhengyang smiled faintly: "This is barely a drop in the ocean—keep working hard!"

Zhou Qing couldn't refuse, so he accepted; clearly, for a long time, he wouldn't have to worry about spirit stones again.

Plus, as an array master, he now needed vast funds to buy materials and maintain operations.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Zhou Qing expressed his gratitude.

Then Cao Zhengyang quietly whispered: "Have you told anyone else about the lead regarding Li Niang?"

Zhou Qing shook his head.

Cao Zhengyang nodded: "Good. Don't involve yourself further."

Seeing Cao Zhengyang's expression, Zhou Qing's heart stirred: "Senior Brother, do you know Li Niang?"

Cao Zhengyang glanced around the room at the others, then said nothing—instead, he called He Han, Lu Yaoyao, and Pei Yan outside and gave them solemn instructions.

After all, they had overheard Zhou Qing mention Li Niang's lead that day.

Though confused, the three swore they'd keep the matter buried in their hearts and never reveal it.

At this moment, Yan Xiao stared at the two storage bags in Zhou Qing's hands, his eyes gleaming green.

He didn't want them—he was just curious.

As he edged closer, Cao Zhengyang entered and dismissed everyone else.

With a wave of his hand, a soundproofing barrier appeared.

Seeing Zhou Qing's puzzled expression, Cao Zhengyang sighed: "I know Li Niang—but only from a chance encounter years ago."

As Cao Zhengyang recounted bit by bit, Zhou Qing slowly began to understand.

Several years ago, during his trip to take Lu Yaoyao as his disciple, he passed through a mountain range and was chased by Li Niang—she was pregnant then, just like this.

Of course, it was a misunderstanding: she mistook Cao Zhengyang for her husband.

The woman was talkative; after apologizing, she beamed with happiness as she told him about her husband.

They met in Lin'an City, then jointly joined a small sect, becoming senior and junior siblings.

The story was long, and since Cao Zhengyang had urgent business, he only heard a few sentences before hastily taking leave.

But roughly, her husband had left to find a spirit herb to purify her unborn child's meridians and bones.

Since Li Niang was then at late-stage Soul Transformation, Cao Zhengyang assumed her husband was similar in strength, and wished her a swift reunion.

But according to Zhou Qing's findings, Li Niang had been pregnant for over a thousand years, suppressing the child's birth with spirit herbs.

It seemed her husband had long since died—but she refused to believe it, still waiting, dreaming he'd return with the herb.

"She's a tragic woman," Cao Zhengyang sighed.

Zhou Qing deeply agreed.

"So, do you know where Li Niang is?" Zhou Qing asked after a pause.

Cao Zhengyang nodded slowly: "Likely either in that mountain range, or at the sect they joined—the Qixing Sect."

Zhou Qing looked at Cao Zhengyang: "Then, Senior Brother, what are your plans now?"

Cao Zhengyang shook his head, his expression sorrowful: "Though I only met Li Niang once, her devotion that carried her to late-stage Soul Transformation—I truly admire and respect her."

"A thousand years of unwavering faith—this perseverance and depth of feeling are truly moving."

"If Hou Shan learns she's behind this—or if any other demon king discovers the Fusang Spirit Sunflower is in her possession—she'll be dead for sure!"

Cao Zhengyang frowned, his face filled with worry.

Zhou Qing also frowned: "Our five sects are making such a massive effort to find the sacred herb—the Qixing Sect will inevitably learn of it eventually. No one wants to draw trouble or be implicated."

Cao Zhengyang nodded: "Yes, exposure is only a matter of time. Zhou Qing, the Qixing Sect lies a thousand li east of Lin'an City—half a day's travel. What do you think we should do now?"

Cao Zhengyang suddenly shifted tone, fixing his gaze on Zhou Qing; Zhou Qing's recent conduct had earned his full trust, and he wanted to hear his thoughts.

Zhou Qing paused, then, seeing Cao Zhengyang's probing look, fell into deep thought.

Then he said: "Senior Brother fears we'll find the sacred herb too quickly, making Hou Shan suspect we deliberately orchestrated this to win his favor?"

Hearing this, Cao Zhengyang was surprised, then his face lit up with approval.

He smiled: "You think exactly as I do. Yes—Hou Shan searched for a year and found nothing; we've pinpointed the target in mere days. Even I think it's too coincidental."

"If Hou Shan finds out, he'll suspect us—and then we'll have a hard time explaining."

Cao Zhengyang chuckled bitterly.

Zhou Qing continued: "The surrounding cities near Canglan Mountain will be fully searched in less than two days. Since the Qixing Sect is so close, it will inevitably be the first target—we can't truly hand this opportunity over to the Cangyan Dao Palace."

Cao Zhengyang said: "Of course not. We must use Hou Shan's favor wisely. If you were in my position now, what would you do?"

Cao Zhengyang threw the question back to Zhou Qing again.

Zhou Qing shook his head: "I don't know. Acting would raise suspicion; not acting would hand the opportunity to others—and Li Niang…"

Seeing Zhou Qing's dilemma, Cao Zhengyang said: "I have two ideas—help me weigh them."

Zhou Qing stared at him in shock.

No wonder he's Sect Master—I couldn't think of even one, yet he already has two. Truly, the old are wiser—he looked at Cao Zhengyang with eager anticipation.

Cao Zhengyang clasped his hands behind his back, stepped to the window, and gazed silently at the dense buildings and bustling crowds before him. "First option: let Jin Leizong or Qingyu Immortal Sect discover it. That way, no one will suspect Taiqingmen, and we'll earn Hou Shan's favor."

Zhou Qing froze, staring at his sect master's back, a chill crawling up his spine.

This method might solve the problem, but isn't it just pushing Jin Leizong and Qingyu Immortal Sect into the fire?

And this is under the Three Sect Alliance—doesn't this seem terribly unscrupulous?

Especially since both houses look to Taiqingmen as their leader. Though, truth be told, the favor Hou Shan owes is the same no matter which of the three sects he repays.

But—

Seeing Zhou Qing remain silent, Cao Zhengyang turned to face him, studying him quietly. "Do you think I'm despicable? After all, this amounts to stabbing someone in the back, in another sense."

Zhou Qing stayed silent, offering no reply.

Cao Zhengyang let out a light laugh. "There's no alliance that's truly unbreakable—only ties bound by interest. You're now one of the brightest young stars in the entire Eastern Region. Do you believe them? Their desire to kill you rivals that of Cangyan Dao Palace and Tianji Gate."

In any place, interest always reigns supreme. Many seemingly solid relationships are built solely on this foundation.

Hearing this, Zhou Qing's expression changed instantly.

Cao Zhengyang continued: "We've saved both sects, yes—that's a debt. But no matter how great the debt, when faced with greater interest, it vanishes in an instant."

Over the years, he'd witnessed too many shifts in human loyalty, too many cold realities. Before absolute interest, so-called debts were utterly fragile.

"Right now, we're bound together because we face a common enemy. But what happens after Cangyan Dao Palace and Tianji Gate are destroyed?"

At this, Cao Zhengyang fixed Zhou Qing with a gaze full of hidden meaning.

Zhou Qing frowned slightly.

Cao Zhengyang pressed on: "When five sects become three, which of the three will be the strongest?"

"The Jin Leizong, which has already suffered internal rebellion? Or the Qingyu Immortal Sect, which has lost nearly half its strength?" Cao Zhengyang added.

Zhou Qing's expression turned grave. He didn't need to answer—it would be Taiqingmen.

Taiqingmen's overall strength had barely been diminished. Especially with his eldest brother becoming the first among the younger generation to reach Soul Transformation.

Next came his second sister, and then… himself, the rising young prodigy constantly revealing his edge.

At that time, to Jin Leizong and Qingyu Immortal Sect, Taiqingmen would be their greatest threat.

One could even say—Taiqingmen would become the second Cangyan Dao Palace!

Seeing Zhou Qing seemed to grasp it, Cao Zhengyang said: "This is the balance of survival—and of human nature. Even family will draw blades over interest. How much less will a small favor matter?"

Cao Zhengyang sighed, filled with emotion. After decades of struggling in the cultivation world, he'd seen too many friendships turn to hatred over interest. He knew how fragile human nature was before interest.

In that moment, Zhou Qing suddenly felt naive—and strangely heartbroken.

All the beautiful beliefs he'd clung to were shattered by this cruel reality.

Cao Zhengyang sighed softly: "You've always focused only on cultivation or battle. You probably haven't noticed—many times, when Jin Leizong and Qingyu Immortal Sect saw our people surrounded and slaughtered, they quietly withdrew, even when outnumbering us."

"Because some balances require sacrifice to remain in relative fairness."

Cao Zhengyang wanted Zhou Qing to understand: among these major sects, all were secretly maintaining a delicate balance—sometimes even sacrificing others, just to prevent any one side from growing too strong.

"If I told you that when Luo Xue was brutally killed at Linggu Mountain, Lei Lie of Jin Leizong and Zhu He of Qingyu Immortal Sect were secretly watching, would you believe me?"

Cao Zhengyang gazed at Zhou Qing, speaking slowly.

Zhou Qing snapped his head up, eyes wide with disbelief.

Cao Zhengyang said: "You see human nature too simply. Both men are Nascent Soul peak, having barely grasped their spiritual realms. Before Cangyan Dao Palace's assassination list, they ranked third and fourth. Had they moved, they could have crushed Sima Yaoji."

"But they didn't. They watched Luo Xue die and Du Kui nearly killed. Why do you think they did that?"

Zhou Qing's fists clenched, bones cracking loudly.

Cao Zhengyang stepped forward, placing a hand on Zhou Qing's shoulder. "I want you to see the world's beauty too. But some truths—I don't teach you, doesn't mean they don't exist."

"Like Qian Dafu in Lingyun Mansion. When you see things too perfectly, you're struck by their fatal blow."

Seeing Zhou Qing's distress, Cao Zhengyang felt a pang of pity. But true strong ones? None walk through anything but mountains of corpses and deceit.

Especially… the designated heir of Taiqingmen!

"We may be forced to prolong this war due to interference from the Imperial Capital. But do you know? Jin Leizong and Qingyu Immortal Sect actually want this dragged on—until everyone's half-empty. That's the new balance."

After all, no one wants one sect to dominate!

Zhou Qing remained silent, not speaking. His heart felt heavier than ever, as if a boulder crushed his chest, making it hard to breathe.

Time passed slowly. Then, Zhou Qing suddenly looked up at Cao Zhengyang, forcing calm despite his inner turmoil. "What's the second method?"

Cao Zhengyang smiled with approval at Zhou Qing's steady gaze.

This was the mental resilience a true strong one should have. Though his words today leaned toward the dark side of human nature, for Zhou Qing, it was a transformation.

His strength was unquestionable. If his mind could keep pace, he would surely become a pillar of strength.

"Second method: within half a year, find another holy herb—and make sure Hou Shan knows clearly it's not the one he lost, but one we bought at great cost."

"That way, we solve the problem, avoid suspicion, and still earn his favor," Cao Zhengyang said slowly.

After a pause, Zhou Qing said: "So the second method means letting Li Ni escape?"

Cao Zhengyang nodded. "Yes. Only when no one can find her, and Hou Shan is on the brink of despair, do we offer this hope. Only then is it perfect."

Zhou Qing shook his head, frowning. "Master, the second method seems feasible, but it's too difficult. Even Lingyun Mansion might not have one. Finding a suitable replacement? How likely is that?"

"Besides, Li Ni has formed an obsession to wait. How could she easily change locations? A sect has tens of thousands of people—too many mouths. When the Seven Stars Sect finds out, someone will surely betray her."

Zhou Qing analyzed, his face filled with concern.

Cao Zhengyang said: "Your concerns are valid. But what if we forcibly take her away? Disappearing for half a year shouldn't matter. As for Seven Stars Sect betraying her…"

Cao Zhengyang smiled faintly. "According to you, she's been using spiritual herbs to delay her pregnancy since her Nascent Soul stage. The amount she's consumed must be enormous—not just Fusu Lingkui, right?"

Zhou Qing instantly understood.

"You mean… few in Seven Stars Sect even know about Li Ni? They'd probably want to cut ties with her as soon as possible?"

If Li Ni had been using all kinds of spiritual herbs—perhaps even illicit ones—Seven Stars Sect would dread being implicated. They might very well choose to conceal it.

Cao Zhengyang nodded. "From my investigation, Seven Stars Sect's strongest are only a few Nascent Soul cultivators. I've never heard of a Soul Transformation presence."

Zhou Qing fell silent, lost in thought.

If only a few high-ups knew, and the Five Sects came to investigate, they could easily deceive them. Why invite trouble?

Hou Shan recorded the theft with an image stone. But over a thousand years, how many minor sects' herbs have been stolen—and no thief ever found?

If this leaks, every accusation will point to Seven Stars Sect. Whether true or false, neighboring hostile sects will immediately fabricate claims for compensation. The aftermath? Unthinkable.

Based on this reasoning, the second method is indeed viable—but still carries risks and uncertainties.

Then Zhou Qing looked at Cao Zhengyang. "Master, I have another question. If Li Ni already obtained the holy herb, why hasn't she absorbed it in over a year? Why let its potency drain away?"

Cao Zhengyang shook his head at Zhou Qing's question.

"I don't know. Maybe her body suffered some anomaly? Or perhaps she hadn't finished consuming other herbs before Fusu Lingkui? After all—she's not normal," Cao Zhengyang said helplessly.

The exact reason—if we truly choose the second method—we'll find out when we act.

"Enough. You now know both methods. As I said before—if you were in my position, what would you choose now?" Cao Zhengyang looked at Zhou Qing again, his gaze deep.

Zhou Qing looked embarrassed.

Why do you keep forcing me to make this choice?

One option is betraying Jin Leizong and Qingyu Immortal Sect. The other, though perfect and protective of that poor woman, requires a holy herb—where would we even buy one?

After a brief pause, Zhou Qing shook his head. "I don't know. I don't want to choose. I have some matters to attend to—I need to get some air."

Zhou Qing bowed and hurried out.

Cao Zhengyang watched his back, smiling slightly—as if he'd expected this exact reaction.

Then he sighed deeply.

There's no perfect solution in this world—only weighing pros and cons, then choosing the relatively right path.

………

(End of Chapter)