Chapter 231: Another Mutation of Spirit Skull Mountain (6k)

Facing Zhou Qing's sudden remark, Lu Yuanzhi stopped in her tracks and turned around in confusion.

The Zhou Qing before her had not only apprenticed under a Soul Severance realm senior but also possessed extraordinary talent in the way of formations, deeply valued by Lin Shi Daochen.

Moreover, she had witnessed with her own eyes that fierce battle at the border.

Added to the fact that both were in the Divine Transformation realm, they could, to a certain extent, basically address each other as fellow Daoists.

Therefore, facing Zhou Qing's words, Lu Yuanzhi straightened her expression and said earnestly, "Speak your mind."

Zhou Qing said slowly, "To be honest, I once accidentally saw a secret recipe in an ancient book that could treat the backlash after a failed Soul Severance, but it only targets certain special groups."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuanzhi's originally calm eyes instantly widened, and she asked urgently with a trembling voice, "What secret recipe?"

Zhou Qing said, "I wonder if Master Lu has ever heard of the Nine-Leaf Soul-Condensing Flower?"

Lu Yuanzhi immediately frowned, lost in thought, and after a long while, she nodded, "I seem to have heard of it; it appears to grow in certain misty swamps."

Zhou Qing nodded, then took out Zhang Wan Bao's jade slip and projected an image of this spiritual herb to help Master Lu remember it.

"If you can find this item and refine it, I believe you could recover within half a year, but I am not certain of its authenticity!" Zhou Qing said.

After hearing this, Lu Yuanzhi was instantly overwhelmed with excitement; her hands could not help but tremble slightly, and she repeated incoherently, "That's great, that's great..."

After regaining her composure, she looked at Zhou Qing again, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"Zhou Qing, regardless of whether it is effective, I, Lu Yuanzhi, will remember this favor. If you have any needs in the future, just speak up!"

Zhou Qing cupped his hands and said, "Senior is too kind."

Only after Lu Yuanzhi's figure completely disappeared from sight did Zhou Qing let out a long sigh of relief.

The reason he did not say this in front of Lin Shi was mainly for fear of causing him trouble.

After all, there have been countless Divine Transformation Great Perfection cultivators who failed their Soul Severance over the years; the light cases, like the eight-tailed Lu Yuanjiu, struggle in endless pain, wishing for death.

The heavy cases simply have their souls scattered, disappearing completely between heaven and earth.

If this news were to spread, one could imagine what kind of bloody storm it would stir up.

But the final result is that it requires an extremely powerful demon clan physical body and superhuman perseverance to have a chance at success.

If they fail and die, wouldn't they hold this grudge against Lin Shi?

At the very least, the Misty Miasma Salamander tribe might end up extinct because of his one sentence.

Taking a step back, even if it is found, whether Lu Yuanjiu can endure it is another matter.

After returning to the cave dwelling, Yan Xiaohu rushed over excitedly, "Old Four, isn't it strange? Ever since that Imperial Consort chased the white-clothed person that night, he hasn't appeared at all in the two days you were gone."

It was clear that Yan Xiaohu was still a bit disappointed.

After all, having finally gotten some gossip, he was prepared to find an opportunity to mock him.

He didn't expect the guy to just stop coming.

"Perhaps, this guy is really named Lin Jin!" Yan Xiaohu speculated while rubbing his chin, acting as if it were true.

Zhou Qing looked at him, straightened his expression, and exhorted, "Don't worry about this matter. During the few days you went out with Li Hanshan, I pursued him. Roughly estimating, he should be in the late or Great Perfection stage of Divine Transformation."

"And it concerns the dignity of the Imperial family; be careful not to invite disaster upon yourself."

Upon hearing this, Yan Xiaohu nodded hurriedly and replied, "Got it, I'm just joking with you; I know the gravity of the situation. It's also thanks to your quick reaction that night that no one discovered we had gone out."

Zhou Qing nodded slightly, then changed the subject, "That's good, but Third Shixiong, I've noticed that since you broke through to the mid-stage of Nascent Soul, you've become much more slack."

"Look at Lu Shimei; she is sprinting with all her might toward the late stage of Nascent Soul."

Upon hearing this, a flash of embarrassment crossed Yan Xiaohu's face, and he laughed sheepishly, "Actually, when you aren't looking, I am working hard on my cultivation."

"But who told me I'm a Earth Vein Foundation Establishment, and I don't have such a good master to teach me? This crappy academy, not one person has any vision."

Seeing this, Zhou Qing shook his head helplessly.

Over the next half month, Zhou Qing finally thoroughly mastered the insights and notes of the three formation masters.

His understanding of formations deepened significantly, and many areas that were previously only half-understood now became clear and distinct.

Just as he was preparing to take out the jade slip of heavenly treasures given by Zhang Wan Bao to study it properly, Lu Yaoyao, who had been in seclusion for a long time, finally came out.

Arriving with her was Lu Yuanzhi.

"I'm planning to go to the Qingming Prefecture side to try my luck; they have several mountain ranges there, and there are more misty swamps."

"However, because Yaoyao was still in trial, I was a bit worried, which is why I delayed until today!" Lu Yuanzhi said.

Zhou Qing nodded and reminded her to pay more attention to safety.

If Senior Lu Yuanjiu could truly recover with the help of the Nine-Leaf Soul-Condensing Flower, then Master Lu would likely have no more worries and could completely sever her soul.

And once she ascends to Soul Severance, her strength and status will have supreme authority, and like Er Daye, she will not be constrained by the Imperial Dynasty side.

By then, rescuing her imprisoned relatives might truly be an easy task for her.

After Lu Yuanzhi left, Lu Yaoyao and Yan Xiaohu looked at Zhou Qing curiously.

What riddles were you two speaking just now? How come we didn't understand a word?

Zhou Qing just smiled without a word and did not explain too much.

"Junior Brother Zhou!" Just at this moment, Li Daoxuan arrived.

Upon seeing that the little Shimei had also come out of seclusion, he was even more overjoyed, "I didn't expect everyone to be here; that's good too. I plan to return to the Taiqingmen to go into seclusion!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yaoyao's eyes instantly lit up, and she said excitedly, "Da Shixiong, are you going to break through to Divine Transformation?"

Li Daoxuan nodded with a smile and said, "Yes, some time ago with Yan Shidi's help, my realm of understanding was mostly compensated, and now I'm just one step away."

"Li Hanshan is mighty!" Zhou Qing congratulated him.

Li Daoxuan smiled bitterly, "Zhou Shidi, don't mock me. Although I didn't go to the border, Yan Shidi told me everything about your affairs. Your Little Spirit Peak has a total of four people, and now three are in Divine Transformation..."

Just as Li Daoxuan said this, he felt it was inappropriate and immediately looked at Yan Xiaohu.

Sure enough, Yan Xiaohu hung his head and feigned anger, "Li Hanshan, having helped you so much, is this how you 'repay' me? Touching a sore spot."

Li Daoxuan apologized repeatedly, causing the few to burst into laughter.

Come to think of it, the four of them had been in the Vast Prefecture for less than ten years, and all had gained something.

At the very least, Lu Yaoyao and Yan Xiaohu had both broken through to the mid-stage of Nascent Soul; Zhou Qing didn't even need to be mentioned, leaping three stages, his progress was simply shocking.

Even more terrifying was that he hadn't delayed his research into the way of formations at all.

At this moment, Zhou Qing showed hesitation.

He had originally wanted to wait until Er Daye's affairs were handled before everyone returned together; this way, not only would the journey be fast, but safety could also be guaranteed.

After all, ever since the overall strength of the entire Eastern Region declined, people from countless sects in the other three regions were wandering there, coveting it.

Added to the fact that a Soul Severance realm expert had fallen, there were no shortage of people from other prefectures; if they returned alone, they would inevitably encounter many dangers.

But thinking carefully, if Li Daoxuan knew that Er Daye would be accompanying them back, wouldn't everyone in the Taiqingmen know?

And Er Daye planned to enter the Cave Heaven next; if the various uncles and aunts couldn't keep an eye on a Soul Severance realm expert, could they keep an eye on him?

By then, wouldn't the passage at Lu Yaoyao's residence be exposed?

Of course, exposure didn't matter; Er Daye had long since left clues for the various Supreme Elders inside.

But the key was that Er Daye seemed not to want to get involved in the karma of the Taiqingmen, or even go to see those Shixiong and Shidi with whom he had once shared wine and joy.

To him, of the many sects he had stayed in, he was just a passerby.

After he faked his death and escaped, he would no longer be involved in the entanglements within.

But suddenly, he seemed to have sensed something and subconsciously looked to one side.

He saw a paper person standing behind a rock outside the cave dwelling, waving at him gently.

Zhou Qing's face lit up with joy, and he immediately looked at the others, saying, "You guys wait for me for a moment; I'll be back soon."

Saying this, he flew back to the cave dwelling.

With a wave, the paper person came over.

"Kid, in order to get some good supplements for the ten-thousand-year blood ginseng, your granddaddy is still being hunted, and I estimate I won't be able to return for a while."

"How about this, if you want to go back and see your master, you can go first; once I shake them off, I'll come find you!"

After finishing, the paper person lost its spiritual power just like last time and fell down lightly.

Zhou Qing was speechless.

What exactly did he get that made a Soul Severance realm expert so wretched?

Could it be that he attracted the joint pursuit of several Soul Severance realm experts?

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing couldn't help but gasp.

After a brief thought, Zhou Qing made a decision and walked out, looking at Li Daoxuan, "Li Hanshan, when do you plan to set off?"

Li Daoxuan answered truthfully, "Tomorrow!"

Zhou Qing nodded and said, "Good, everyone pack up, we're going home tomorrow!"

"Going home!" The few said in unison, their eyes instantly igniting with excited light.

However, before leaving, the few specially bought some local specialties to bring back.

Otherwise, like Zhou Qing and Yan Xiaohu last time, forgetting them and having to buy them at the shop they opened in Lingyun Prefecture to bring back to Mo Xingjian, that would be so embarrassing.

After a day of preparation, the four bid farewell to Lin Shi and headed to the teleportation array.

However, before leaving, Zhou Qing specially visited the Principal.

Regarding the fact that he and Lin Shi were able to repair the four-color array, Principal Weng was still a bit surprised.

Of course, although Zhou Qing comprehended the realm of understanding and promoted to Divine Transformation under his nose, he didn't think much about the formation matter.

He only felt that Lin Daochen had a deep foundation and extraordinary attainments.

Zhou Qing didn't explain too much, and after coming out, he and Lu Yaoyao and the others headed toward the location of the teleportation array.

"Yo, Young Master Zhou, it's you guys!"

When the few arrived at the central square, it was still bustling with people and extremely lively.

What they didn't expect was that even after several years, there were still people from other prefectures and regions heading to Lingyun Prefecture to seek the opportunities left after the fall of the Soul Severance realm.

Just as they were queuing, a familiar voice suddenly sounded from the front.

Following that, they saw a graceful figure coming over.

"Ke Shu?" Upon seeing this person, Lu Yaoyao couldn't help but curl her lips, a flash of disdain in her eyes.

That's right, the person who came was none other than the only son of the Vast Prefecture's governor—Ke Shu.

Last time the Seventh Prince and the Ninth Princess came to the academy together, it was he who accompanied them at their side, running errands and being extremely attentive.

When the few were chatting and reminiscing, he even took the initiative to pour tea and add water on the side, keeping his posture extremely low, fearing to neglect anyone.

However, when this guy first came to the Taiqingmen, the impression he left on the four was not very good.

At that time, he brought several protectors, looking arrogant and unyielding.

He called Zhou Qing and Yan Xiaohu and the others over, ordering them around to ask if they had seen something like a red token in the Ghost City, and that arrogant attitude made people very disgusted.

However, given his status, the few still nodded reluctantly, considering it a response.

"Young Master Ke!" Zhou Qing's expression was calm, and he greeted him politely.

Ke Shu was full of enthusiasm, "Are the four of you planning to return to the Taiqingmen?"

Zhou Qing nodded and said, "Yes, planning to go back and see the elders."

Ke Shu immediately looked admiring and immediately offered a series of flattery.

About how filial piety is commendable, respecting teachers and the Dao, and being a role model, etc.

The few smiled politely.

After all, Ke Shu's flattery was nothing more than because they were relatively familiar with the Seventh Prince and the Ninth Prince.

In the entire Shengwu Imperial Dynasty, with its eighty-one counties and seventy-two prefectures, as part of the Imperial capital system, being able to climb into a relationship with the princes and princesses was absolutely of great benefit to their future selves.

The few were all tacitly aware and didn't point it out.

"There are many people queuing now, but this is my territory, four of you wait a moment!"

After Ke Shu finished speaking, he flew quickly inside.

"This is a true villain, but much better than those hypocrites; better to make friends than to make enemies!"

Li Daoxuan, as the Da Shixiong, looked at Ke Shu's back and whispered to the few.

People like Ke Shu are nothing more than worldly, slick, and even a bit sycophantic, but at least their actions are relatively aboveboard, without the insidious cunning of those hypocrites.

And having one more friend is always better than having one more enemy.

The three nodded, expressing agreement.

Soon, this guy arranged the teleportation array for the few, and watched the teleportation light flash and disappear with a face full of smiles, only then leaving satisfied.

Three months later!

Four figures appeared at the former location of Spirit Skull Mountain, looking at the sea of people here and the sky covered by dark clouds, feeling a sigh.

In the eyes of Lu Yaoyao and Li Daoxuan, it was Zhou Qing and Er Daye who joined forces to kill the Peng Emperor, but Yan Xiaohu, who was a party involved, knew clearly that this was all done by Zhou Qing alone.

It was also his own fault for being greedy for small gains, insisting on running to that Beimang mine; who could have imagined that there would be a severely injured Soul Severance realm expert healing there.

"Yan Shidi and I went out during that time, and heard from the news at the border that the Peng Emperor did not fall; which one is true and which one is false?"

Li Daoxuan lowered his voice and asked Zhou Qing.

Yan Xiaohu got anxious, "What's wrong? Do you think Shidi is lying to you? At that time, the Peng Emperor..."

"Cough cough—" Zhou Qing coughed lightly, his eyes scanning the surroundings sharply.

You must know that Soul Severance realm experts are already few in the entire fourth-level cultivation country, and now that one has fallen here, it has attracted people from all eighty-one counties and seventy-two prefectures.

Among them, there are countless old monsters at the Divine Transformation Great Perfection.

If someone were to hear something, it would be troublesome.

Yan Xiaohu, who realized it later, immediately covered his mouth in fear; he was just wholeheartedly defending Zhou Qing and didn't want anyone to question Old Four.

Li Daoxuan also felt that asking questions here was indeed inappropriate and hurriedly looked at Zhou Qing with an apologetic face.

Zhou Qing shook his head slightly; besides, the few were staying on the periphery, so there shouldn't be any issues.

As for his impersonation of the Peng Emperor at the border, he had also guaranteed to Xuan Yuan Shuo that he would not tell anyone.

After all, this involved the subsequent deployment of this Imperial Prince.

Lu Yaoyao on the side spoke quietly, "Anyway, I believe it!"

Not to mention that she had seen the vision of the blood curse technique that the Peng Emperor left on her father, even without it, she would believe anything Zhou Qing said.

Looking at the extremely trusting appearance of his little sixth, Li Daoxuan sighed.

We are the real Shixiong and Shimei; your leaning toward the outsider is too obvious.

"Look at those, are they the tomb keepers?"

Just at this moment, Yan Xiaohu pointed to several figures suddenly climbing up from the huge abyss, his eyes full of curiosity, and he couldn't help but ask.

The few hurriedly rose on their swords, trying to see more clearly.

Sure enough, on the huge abyss cliff at this moment, there were densely packed figures, a full thousand climbing up using all four limbs.

They all had disheveled hair, twisted and ferocious faces, and their skin presented a sickly gray-black color.

Their eye sockets were sunken, covered with bloodshot eyes, emitting a sense of emptiness, like shells that had lost their souls.

They opened their mouths wide, revealing yellowed teeth, hissing at the onlookers around them like wild beasts.

Seeing this scene, everyone frowned slightly.

When a Soul Severance realm expert falls, for at least several hundred years, the area will be shrouded in a thick negative emotion, and it will not see the sun all year round.

People with weak willpower, if they get close, will be devoured by the unwilling obsessions that the Soul Severance realm expert once severed, and thus become "tomb keepers" like puppets, always protecting this place.

The power caused by the self-detonation of the two Soul Severance realm experts this time caused the entire Spirit Skull Mountain to collapse, and this abyss is even boundless, pitch black underneath, making people look at it with awe.

Now this is just the tomb keepers that can be seen on the periphery; I don't know what kind of scene it will be in the core area.

Because it is rumored that these tomb keepers will also devour and evolve among themselves.

"It's all because of greed!" Li Daoxuan looked at some people around who were prepared and were forming teams to dive into the abyss, and sighed heavily.

Regarding this, Zhou Qing quite agreed.

But cultivators of our generation are walking on the path of defying heaven and changing fate; crises and opportunities are born together.

Everyone wants to hold onto a fluke mentality and fight for that heaven-shaking fortune.

"It's the people from the Jin Leizong; this guy Lei Luo actually came too!" Just at this moment, Yan Xiaohu glanced casually, his gaze instantly fixed in the distance, and he immediately called out in surprise.

But soon, when he saw Lei Lie also in the Jin Leizong team, his expression changed drastically, and he snorted coldly, his face full of disgust.

Last time when he and Old Four returned, halfway there, they were ambushed by Senior Du Kui joining forces with a Divine Transformation realm expert from another region, and he still has lingering fears.

Old Four has even quit drinking now.

When they returned again, while chatting with him, Old Four told him the truth about the fall of Senior Luo Xue at Spirit Skull Mountain.

Besides Du Kui deliberately running away, Lei Lie of the Jin Leizong and Zhu He of the Qingyu Qingshu Xian Zong were actually in the dark at that time.

They watched with their own eyes as Senior Luo Xue was cruelly killed by Sima Yaoji.

Everything was just to weaken the Taiqingmen, the strongest ally.

"And Zhu He too!" Li Daoxuan also wore a displeased expression, his eyes filled with cold intent.

In order to let them see the true intentions of these people, when the few gathered that time, the drunken Yan Xiaohu poured it all out.

However, when mentioning Du Kui of the Jinyang Peak, he was pulled by Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing then told him that Du Kui was unlucky and was killed by a Divine Transformation realm cultivator named Lin Jin who robbed him of his wealth.

But no matter which one, since the end of the Five Sects War, their previous alliance had long since broken, and the once side-by-side fighting had become the past; now there are more people with their own thoughts.

Zhou Qing also followed Li Daoxuan's gaze and found Zhu He, the first disciple of Immortal Xuanyou, in the camp of the Qingyu Qingshu Xian Zong.

That was a woman wearing a light cyan cloud-patterned long dress, with fair skin, a calm face, and carrying three long swords of different colors, standing quietly.

Remembering when he returned with Third Shixiong last time, Lei Luo and Yuan Ya heard about it and rushed over to gather.

During the period, they said these two left to compensate for their own realms of understanding.

Now several years have passed, and it looks like they have all stepped into the Divine Transformation realm.

"It's Er Shixiong!"

Lu Yaoyao stood on tiptoe, searching in the vast sea of people, and soon found the camp of the Taiqingmen.

There, Er Shixiong He Han was instructing the Taiqingmen disciples on something, his every gesture revealing a sense of stability and competence.

"Go!" Seeing the familiar figure, the haze in Li Daoxuan's heart was swept away, and he immediately flew toward the Taiqingmen camp on his sword.

The few hurriedly followed.

At this moment, He Han, who had a feeling, turned his head and saw Li Daoxuan and the others flying over on swords; after a brief moment of being stunned, he immediately showed surprise.

"Da Shixiong, Little Shimei, Zhou Shidi, Yan Shidi, why are you back?" He Han stepped forward excitedly and gave Li Daoxuan a big hug first.

As for the other Taiqingmen disciples, upon seeing the arrivals, they were also full of excitement.

Especially when looking at Zhou Qing, it was called worship and awe.

During the Five Sects War, it was he alone who killed the five great geniuses of the Cangyan Dao Palace, turning the tide.

In the battle of Canglan Mountain, he was even more prepared, early on guiding them out of the formation.

Later, ever since Senior Luo Lingling broke through to Divine Transformation, he leaped to become the number one existence on the must-kill list.

In the hearts of these people, Zhou Qing is simply a legend.

After the few landed, the disciples gathered around one after another, chatting and laughing.

During the period, He Han subconsciously looked at Zhou Qing; for some reason, seeing him again, he felt he couldn't see through him more and more.

Even for a moment, it seemed like he was facing an elder in the sect, making him feel an inexplicable sense of awe in his heart.

At this time, people from the other four sects in the Eastern Region also noticed the changes here, especially after seeing Zhou Qing appear, they couldn't help but be a bit surprised.

People from the Cangyan Dao Palace and the Tianji Sect snorted coldly.

As for Lei Lie and Zhu He, they also frowned slightly, but didn't come over to greet them.

"What are you doing here?" Li Daoxuan asked suddenly.

After all, when he returned to the sect alone last time, everything was fine; why are so many disciples gathered here now?

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(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 232 =====