Chapter 201: Today, Zhou Qing will kill a Zhan Ling for you to see!

Zhou Qing's expression turned solemn beyond anything before, silent as stone.

What else can we do? Accept our fate.

Who could have guessed that such a desolate, uninhabited wasteland would harbor a wounded Zhan Ling cultivator waiting for them?

This is the worst stroke of bad luck in eight generations!

But judging from the portrait of Xuan Yuan Shuo the opponent revealed, he must be a killer sent by Xuan Yuan Shuo—though no one knows what exactly transpired between them.

Xuan Yuan Shuo is truly formidable—he managed to severely wound a Demon Emperor.

And regardless of whether he recognizes the opponent or can procure him vast quantities of supreme spirit stones, both of them will inevitably die.

He doesn't believe a Zhan Ling Demon Emperor would bother to cure them of poison afterward out of kindness.

Or care that two mere human nobodies witnessed his wounded, pitiful state.

So they must save themselves.

But the unknown elixir administered by a Zhan Ling cultivator, along with the spiritual sense implanted in both of them, makes self-rescue seem impossible.

Even if they somehow encountered Xuan Yuan Shuo, they'd likely be silenced before they could open their mouths.

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing felt a wave of despair crash over his heart, crushing him until he could barely breathe.

The vast Eastern Region held not a single soul who could aid them.

"No, stay calm—must stay calm!" Zhou Qing kept urging himself.

He was not the kind to give up easily.

"Perhaps… there's still one person!" Soon, Zhou Qing seemed to recall something.

That was Number Six.

In seven days, with a Zhan Ling cultivation base and certain terrifying speed techniques, he should be able to reach here.

But that also means the complete exposure of my Number One identity.

Expose it? Fine. Better than dying.

But evading the surveillance mark implanted in both of them, and secretly retrieving the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace token, would be troublesome.

Then again, is the Demon Emperor brain-damaged? He didn't even check their storage bags.

Does he look down on Nascent Soul cultivators?

Yet they themselves had supreme spirit stones—several of them, even.

【Today's posts are refreshing…】

【A new post has been added to the Odd Post Archive—please check promptly.】

Just as Zhou Qing was frantically at a loss, the system's alert chimed suddenly.

He instinctively glanced at the Odd Post Archive—and his eyes widened sharply.

A flicker of disbelief and joy flashed across his face, but instantly he forced calm, his expression returning to stillness, as if nothing had happened.

【Antidote Post: Can be used on oneself or others. Under normal circumstances, it can neutralize nearly all poisons in the world, duration: three breaths.】

And this time, it wasn't one—it was two, stacked together.

Zhou Qing's heart surged with excitement—just as described, the trigger was random, the quantity random, the content random, the duration random.

Meaning, once used, within three breaths, the poison inside their bodies would vanish.

Perfect. No need to go through the trouble of seeking Number Six's help.

After the Bad Luck Post, Good Luck Post, and Sudden Enlightenment Post, he had absolute faith in the system's posted items.

At this moment, he longed to use the Antidote Post immediately, to shake off the threat.

But after thinking it over, Zhou Qing abandoned the idea.

Even if the poison was gone, the spiritual sense embedded in them remained—if the opponent flew into a rage and tracked them all the way to Taiqingmen, the entire sect would be doomed.

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing's gaze grew icy.

Since no matter what he did, the opponent would never let them live, he might as well be ruthless.

At this moment, a fierce killing intent surged within Zhou Qing.

Even an ant can shake an elephant.

Today, Zhou Qing will kill a Zhan Ling!

And once the opponent dies, the spiritual sense lingering in him and Yan Xiao Hu will vanish automatically.

Even if we go further—right now, his body fuses Jin Wu blood and Su Ni blood, and he cultivates the Emperor's Radiance Scripture.

He witnessed the battle in the Cang Lan Mountain Abyss—the old man Wind also carried Jin Chida blood, and so did the disciples he brought, which was precisely why they could trace the old Peng King's burial site.

Right now, the old man is wounded and may not have noticed—but once he recovers, through bloodline resonance, he will surely sense Zhou Qing's unusual nature.

After all, even the mindless Corpse Peng had sensed the uniqueness within him and tried to possess him.

Quickly, Zhou Qing thought of a place and immediately turned direction, heading toward Linggu Mountain.

"Uncle Two, forgive me—I must borrow it to save myself!" Zhou Qing thought.

Watching Zhou Qing's speed increase, Yan Xiao Hu remained silent behind him.

He was filled with guilt and regret, wishing he could turn back immediately and die alongside that beast.

Old Four was the only Four Flower Crowned cultivator in history—his future achievements were limitless—but because of his own greed, both now faced utter despair.

…

Fortunately, Linggu Mountain wasn't far—two days later, they arrived.

As far as the eye could see, the mountainside was littered with white bones, like a vast graveyard.

Zhou Qing gazed at the scene, exhaled slowly, then softly whispered to Yan Xiao Hu: "Third Brother, remember—run as far as you can from here, and never look back."

Yan Xiao Hu's heart clenched at those words—they sounded exactly like a dying man's last testament.

He opened his mouth to ask, but Zhou Qing suddenly turned to him, smiling with serene detachment.

Then, deliberately raising his voice as if nothing were amiss, he said: "Third Brother, I recall there's a bloodstone mine about half a day's walk from here—go look there."

Seeing Zhou Qing's calm demeanor, Yan Xiao Hu instantly understood—Old Four had a plan.

But—but…

"Go now—I'll find you later!" Zhou Qing urged again.

Yan Xiao Hu's eyes reddened slightly; he suppressed his emotions, turned silently, and walked away.

He dared not show any sign of unease—he feared one misstep might expose Old Four's plan.

After all, his own uselessness had already doomed Old Four once.

"Alright, hurry over!" Yan Xiao Hu suddenly stopped, turned, and shouted at Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing nodded, giving him a reassuring glance.

Only after watching his Third Brother's figure fade into the distance did he raise his head and study the sky.

It was already dusk—still hours until midnight. Let tonight be a full moon.

"Two days already—still no sign of one?" At that moment, the old man Wind's cold voice erupted inside him.

Zhou Qing quickly replied respectfully: "Master, you're here? I once stumbled upon a complete Su Ni skeleton here—its essence blood is even rarer than supreme spirit stones. I planned to present it to you."

The old man Wind was stunned. "You're telling the truth?"

Zhou Qing's face was earnest. "Truly, I'd never dare deceive you."

"Where?" The old man demanded urgently.

Zhou Qing remained calm. "Inside this mountain—but the entrance is hidden. It can only be opened on a full moon night."

"Then hurry! I want to see if it's truly Su Ni bone!" The old man's voice carried both suspicion and barely concealed excitement.

…

Zhou Qing's luck held—the moon hung bright and full tonight.

He immediately activated the Cang Lei Sword Art—the white bone pit below him erupted into a dazzling thunder barrier.

"Interesting!" The old man's voice rang again, laced with surprise and curiosity. "Hurry down!"

Zhou Qing nodded rapidly, feigning obedience, and leapt into the pit.

Inside the cavern's dim light, the massive Su Ni skeleton soon came into view.

"Su Ni—truly, it's Su Ni bone!"

At that moment, a dim, miniature Jin Peng-shaped light shot out from Zhou Qing's body—it was the old man Wind's spiritual sense.

His eyes blazed with excitement as he circled the skeleton, shouting loudly: "Only half-pure blood, but this aura is already late-stage Zhan Ling—excellent, excellent!"

Zhou Qing's lips curled into a strange smile. "Master, this Su Ni bone is sealed by a Soul Transformation restriction—I lack the strength to take it. I planned to wait until I reached Soul Transformation to retrieve it—but now, I offer it all to you."

As he spoke, he wore an expression of reluctant sacrifice.

The old man Wind's excitement intensified.

"Good boy! When I recover, I'll reward you handsomely!" His voice trembled with delight.

This wound from Xuan Yuan Shuo had seemed like misfortune—but now it turned into a heavenly fortune.

If he could refine this Su Ni bone and absorb its vast essence blood, his cultivation would surge higher—and then he'd make Xuan Yuan Shuo pay dearly.

Thinking of the old Peng King's corpse stolen and destroyed, the old man seethed—but surely no one would steal this Su Ni bone now?

Yet—

The old man Wind glanced casually at Zhou Qing, who was gratefully thanking him, and a cold killing intent flashed in his eyes—gone in an instant.

This place was far safer than the mine—perfect for undisturbed refinement.

Given this boy's generous gift, I'll spare him a whole corpse.

Zhou Qing kept his respectful expression, bowing slightly. "Master, over there is a natural thunder pool. When I entered, two drops of natural thunder essence remained—I absorbed them, which is why my cultivation surpassed my brother's."

Zhou Qing pointed ahead.

He mentioned this deliberately because he knew better than anyone that the more detailed and honest he was, the less likely the other would suspect anything.

Like dropping a stone into a lake—the ripples seem to disrupt the calm, but actually conceal deeper currents beneath.

Upon hearing this, Feng Lao immediately flew toward the direction Zhou Qing pointed.

Indeed, there was a dried-up trace of a thunder pool there.

Seeing this, he was instantly filled with rage—natural thunder fluid, a rare heavenly treasure, had been refined by some mere Nascent Soul cultivator.

It was sheer waste of heaven's bounty!

But perhaps something valuable lay beneath the thunder pool.

So he forced a calm expression, suppressed his fury, and forced a smile: "No wonder—still, this is your fortune."

Zhou Qing nodded mutely, looking embarrassed.

Feng Lao quickly said: "Stay right here. I'll be back soon."

Hearing this, Zhou Qing's tightly wound heart finally settled.

To be honest, he had truly feared the old man might impulsively touch the Su Ni bone—then even with the power of the Jin Peng's true body, he might not escape.

This scheme had been far too risky.

But how can one catch a cub without entering the tiger's den? All hinges on this one move.

Less than a stick of incense later, the Jin Peng phantom, still gazing at the Su Ni bone, spoke: "Boy, bring me in!"

Zhou Qing sneered inwardly.

Took you long enough—Mount Taiqingmen is seven or eight days' journey from Canglan Mountain, yet that Number Six merely sliced the void and sent him and Lu Yaoyao back.

Clearly, Lord Xuan Yuan Shuo wounded you badly!

But as a Zhan Ling cultivator, don't you know any thunder arts?

Yet Zhou Qing's face showed no sign—he bowed respectfully: "Yes, Elder!"

Then he stepped out.

Outside, he saw Feng Lao hidden in shadow, acting furtive—glancing left and right, as if afraid of being seen.

The former mightiness of a Zhan Ling elder was gone; now he looked like a stray dog.

Zhou Qing hurried forward to pay respects, then activated the Cang Lei Sword Art again to reopen the entrance.

Seeing this, Feng Lao's eyes gleamed—he rushed in without hesitation.

Watching Feng Lao's back, Zhou Qing longed to flee immediately—but the old man had left a spiritual sense mark on Third Brother.

If Feng Lao sensed anything amiss and decided to kill, one thought could end Third Brother's life.

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing forced down his urge to run and followed him down.

When Feng Lao finally saw the Su Ni bone, his breathing turned ragged, his chest heaved, his face flushed crimson, and his whole body trembled uncontrollably with excitement.

"A treasure! Truly a treasure!" Feng Lao's voice grew hoarse with ecstasy, his eyes wild with fervor.

His hands unconsciously released their grip on his wound—fresh blood seeped out again, but he felt nothing.

He stepped urgently closer, his eyes fixed solely on the mountain-sized relic.

Watching Feng Lao, driven by greed, inch ever closer to the Su Ni bone, Zhou Qing's heart pounded wildly—he was terrified.

The Su Ni, fearing Master Xuan Qing, had placed a bloodline death seal upon itself before death—a seal capable of instantly slaying ordinary Zhan Ling elders, let alone a wounded one like Feng Lao.

Touch even a single bone, and it would mean mutual annihilation.

"Gulps~"

Zhou Qing involuntarily swallowed, glanced furtively at the spiritual sense image hovering above, and lightly tapped his toe, retreating silently.

As Feng Lao drew within half a meter of the Su Ni bone, Zhou Qing's instincts screamed—he flashed silver light beneath his feet and exploded forward with the fastest speed he'd ever summoned, fleeing for his life.

Once outside, Zhou Qing's aura shifted instantly—he transformed into his Jin Peng true body, spread his wings, and shot away as a blinding golden streak.

Before he'd flown a thousand meters, a deafening, muffled boom erupted from beneath Spirit Skull Mountain, followed by a powerful shockwave radiating outward.

Where the shockwave passed, space warped, the ground shuddered, and deep fissures like canyons split open rapidly.

Countless boulders tumbled from the mountain, rolling in dust clouds, crashing into the abyss below with thunderous crashes.

Zhou Qing, racing forward, was instantly flung backward by the terrifying force.

His body spun uncontrollably through the air before slamming into the distant ground—dust and stones erupted, smoke billowed.

Zhou Qing felt every bone in his body ready to shatter, his organs churning violently, the agony nearly rendering him unconscious.

Yet he forced himself up, and saw a colossal mushroom cloud rising into the sky.

Then, rolling smoke surged like a waking ancient demon dragon, swirling violently with shattered rocks, soil, and debris from Spirit Skull Mountain.

Zhou Qing dared not linger—he pushed through his agony and ran again.

Meanwhile, the entire Eastern Region trembled from the cataclysm.

Disciples from countless sects poured out of their mountain gates, faces filled with alarm and confusion.

"Investigate immediately!" Orders flew from the Five Great Sects.

Without hesitation, Zhou Qing pulled out a 【Detoxifying Scroll】 and activated it.

The moment it touched him, a powerful suction surged forth.

The next instant, thick black vapors poured from his limbs and meridians.

These vapors coalesced into a single black pill, emitting a pungent, foul stench.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing finally exhaled—heavy relief settled in his chest.

"Old Four!" Yan Xiao Hu rushed over from afar, face flushed with worry.

Before he could ask what happened, Zhou Qing hurried to him, pulled out another 【Detoxifying Scroll】, and slapped it onto his body.

Soon, another foul-smelling poison pill was drawn from Yan Xiao Hu's body.

Seeing this bizarre sight, Yan Xiao Hu stood frozen in shock.

What the hell is this?

So awesome!

Did Second Uncle give it to you?

"Third Brother, is the spiritual sense mark the old man left on you still there?" Zhou Qing asked immediately.

Yan Xiao Hu didn't hesitate—he closed his eyes, probed quickly, and moments later, joyfully discovered the mark was gone.

"Gone! What happened?" Yan Xiao Hu asked excitedly.

Hearing this, Zhou Qing let out a long breath.

This truly was salvation from the jaws of death!

"Old Four, watch out!"

The next instant, Yan Xiao Hu, facing Zhou Qing, turned pale.

Without thinking, he instinctively shoved Zhou Qing aside.

But everything happened too fast—he was a fraction too late.

A blood-red mark, wreathed in thick stench of blood, shot out from the swirling smoke.

Like a crimson lightning bolt, brimming with murderous cold, it pierced straight into Zhou Qing's back.

Zhou Qing felt as if a sledgehammer had slammed into his spine—agony exploded through his body, hurling him forward, crashing him to the ground.

Then he spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with organ fragments.

Yan Xiao Hu's face turned ashen—he sprinted toward Zhou Qing in panic.

Reaching him, he dropped to his knees, trembling hands lifting Zhou Qing up, voice cracking with tears: "Old Four, are you alright? Don't scare me!"

Zhou Qing gasped for breath, chest heaving, waving his hands frantically—he could still hold on.

Then Feng Lao's venomous voice thundered through the air.

"Damned little thief! You tricked me! Even if you purged the poison, you won't escape! Before I die, I use my last Zhan Ling soul fragment to place upon you my clan's supreme blood curse."

The voice echoed from the depths of hell, thick with endless cold and hatred.

"All who carry my Jin Peng blood, upon entering a hundred meters of you, will sense this mark."

"They will know you killed me. As long as Jin Peng blood endures, they will pursue you relentlessly—until you spend your remaining days in terror and pursuit, suffering until death!"

Feng Lao roared in fury.

Zhou Qing's face darkened—he immediately channeled spiritual power to probe.

Quickly, he found it in his mind sea—a blood-red mark glowing with eerie radiance.

The mark seemed drawn by thick, blood-like threads, writhing and twisting, radiating ferocity.

The four-colored flower rooted in his mind sea remained motionless.

After all, this blood curse had not yet threatened Zhou Qing's life—unlike the scorching Jin Wu blood, the wild Su Ni blood, or the corpse spirit's possession attempt, when the Four Flowers Summit always activated to protect him.

This was merely a marker—the Four Flowers Summit gave no response.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing's face turned grim—the old bastard, dying and still pulling this stunt.

"Unwilling! I refuse to accept it! I was tricked by a mere ant!"

With boundless hatred and resentment, Feng Lao shouted his final words—then his voice vanished, his soul extinguished.

"Go!" Zhou Qing wiped blood from his lips, gritted his teeth, grabbed Yan Xiao Hu, and fled swiftly.

Less than a cup of tea later, a tear in space appeared above Spirit Skull Mountain.

Xuan Yuan Shuo stepped out, face grim, lips blackened.

His eyes held weariness, yet carried an innate, unshakable authority.

He gazed calmly at the vast abyss below, then closed his eyes, sensing the surrounding aura—his expression slowly turned to shock.

"Dead? Who killed him? Is there another Zhan Ling cultivator in the Eastern Region?" he murmured, then unleashed a terrifying spiritual sense to scan the area.

……

Inside a cave, Yan Xiao Hu stood at the entrance, eyes scanning warily, then hurried inside.

Soon, he grew panicked, pacing anxiously back and forth within the cave.

(End of Chapter)