Chapter 233: Senior Master Sikong Yan, White-clothed Person, Nannan (6k)

After Senior Master Sikong Yan heard this, a trace of surprise flashed across his originally cold face: "Reached Divine Transformation?"

Wu Sha hurriedly replied: "Yes, it has been confirmed repeatedly."

Senior Master Sikong Yan nodded slightly and muttered in a low voice: "This is interesting; worthy of being a figure who could kill the five great geniuses of my sect."

"Palace Master, this person is too dangerous, and his growth speed is too fast, should we..." Wu Sha raised his head, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes.

Senior Master Sikong Yan's eyes instantly narrowed, and a cold light flashed, showing displeasure.

Upon seeing this, Wu Sha's face instantly turned pale, and he immediately said in panic: "Subordinate knows his mistake!"

"I seem to have told you many times, I don't like others teaching me how to do things, no matter who it is!"

Senior Master Sikong Yan said coldly, making people shudder.

Wu Sha kowtowed repeatedly, his body trembling uncontrollably.

"Get lost!"

"Yes, subordinate takes his leave!" Wu Sha, as if granted amnesty, scrambled away quickly.

Senior Master Sikong Yan's gaze was deep, staring at the water surface for a long time without speaking, not knowing what he was thinking.

Suddenly, the fishing rod in his hand trembled slightly.

And a flash of surprise instantly crossed his originally calm face; following that, his hands held the fishing rod steadily, his movements flowing like water, and he pulled the rod sharply.

He saw the fishing line break out of the water, and a small fish was hooked on the hook, struggling violently, splashing water droplets everywhere.

"Too small, can't even fill a stomach, really can't help at all!"

Looking at the small fish, Senior Master Sikong Yan shook his head with some regret and gently removed it from the hook, throwing it into the water.

Subsequently, he looked toward the weeping willow on the opposite bank of the stream.

At this time, a white-clothed figure was standing quietly on the tree crown with his back to him, his sleeves fluttering, cold and lonely, as if incompatible with the hustle and bustle of this world.

Senior Master Sikong Yan cast the hook again and asked: "When did you return?"

"Not long ago, just returned!" The white-clothed person said in a cold voice.

Senior Master Sikong Yan frowned and said: "Shouldn't be that fast, right? Did you finish severing?"

"No, ran into Lu Yuanchen, just!" The white-clothed person paused and said.

Senior Master Sikong Yan was a bit surprised, frowned and said: "Isn't she renamed Yue Chen, now the dignified Imperial Consort? Why, you still have feelings for her, are you hiding?"

"You don't understand, because you didn't inherit this memory, and I, the past related to her, am currently severing it." The white-clothed person said calmly.

Senior Master Sikong Yan nodded slightly and said: "So that's how it is, fine, you handle it yourself."

"Uncle, who are you talking to?" Just at this moment, the little girl jumped over, her eyes wide open, looking around full of curiosity.

But looking around, there were only the two of them here.

Senior Master Sikong Yan smiled slightly, used his hand to gently scrape the little girl's nose, and said: "Uncle, I'm talking to you, let's go, not fishing today, let's go home."

"Alright, going home!"

The little girl was instantly overjoyed and danced with joy; following that, on the hillside where she had played, thousands of black-clothed figures appeared densely, their eyes empty, like puppets being manipulated, following silently.

After the banquet ended, Zhou Qing also returned to the courtyard he had been away from for a long time.

The courtyard remained the same, but in Zhou Qing's eyes, although he had only been away for a few years, he actually felt like a lifetime had passed.

After using two dust-cleaning talismans to clean up, Zhou Qing looked at the old hen that completely ignored the courtyard barrier and couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.

According to what Er Daye said, he needs to bring it along when entering the coffin next.

Although it underwent another transformation under the nourishment of spirit stones, he didn't know if it would be obedient.

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing immediately took out a jade slip and placed it in the center of the courtyard, then hugged the old hen and went outside.

"Little Chicken, help me get it back!" Zhou Qing pointed to the jade slip and patted the old hen's back with full anticipation.

The old hen drooped its eyes, slowly passed through the courtyard barrier, and then ran to the other side to peck at the ground blindly.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing covered his eyes speechlessly.

"It's over!"

Over the next few days, Zhou Qing began to memorize the jade slip given by Zhang Wan Bao with all his heart.

In case one day he misses a real good thing because he doesn't know the goods, that would really be enough to make one die of anger.

Compared to Zhang Wan Bao's Golden Core realm, Zhou Qing's spiritual power was countless times larger than his.

Added to the amplification of the Four Flowers Gathering at the Top, it made his speed in memorizing these complex contents exceptionally fast.

In less than half a month, he had thoroughly memorized the contents of the jade slip.

Such good things cannot be occupied alone, especially when his own sect needs such help.

Zhou Qing immediately made several rubbings and sent them to his Third Shixiong, Master, Lu Yaoyao, and even Sect Master Shibo and the others.

"Actually so complete? Not bad, not bad!" Upon seeing the jade slip, Cao Zhengyang was full of joy.

Remembering the last time Zhou Qing returned from the academy, he left him several first-level formations, and this time it was even better.

Zhou Qing smiled slightly and then asked earnestly: "Shibo, how is the matter of the Nine Nether Lotus Seeds?"

Cao Zhengyang put away his smile, his expression becoming solemn, and said: "One Supreme Elder has already failed. Fortunately, she was lucky and didn't suffer a serious backlash; on the contrary, her spiritual power increased significantly."

Zhou Qing felt a bit regretful after hearing this.

"What about the other sects?" Zhou Qing continued to ask.

Cao Zhengyang shook his head and said helplessly: "The matter of the Nine Nether Demon Lotus, the five sects are all keeping it extremely confidential. Who is the user? Where are they in seclusion? Did they succeed? These pieces of information cannot be investigated at all."

"I am even planning another matter, thinking of getting something to make our sect produce some special visions, etc.; the more confusing it is, the more it will make others feel fearful."

After hearing this, Zhou Qing shook his head slowly and reminded: "Shibo's idea is certainly good, but now, there are too many people gathered at Spirit Skull Mountain, in case..."

Zhou Qing stopped mid-sentence.

Cao Zhengyang looked at Zhou Qing's thoughtful consideration and couldn't help but flash a trace of appreciation in his eyes.

This is the first reaction a person in power should have when facing a problem.

He had discussed this idea with several peak masters, and didn't expect that several of them agreed on the spot, and even started to discuss it excitedly.

Now comparing it with Zhou Qing, the gap is clearly revealed.

Cao Zhengyang nodded and said: "Hmm, later I carefully searched for relevant information and found that the breakthroughs of all Soul Severance realm experts in our Shengwu Imperial Dynasty don't seem to have had any major visions."

"Of course, it is also possible that they chose to break through quietly."

"After all, for those strong enough to reach that level, there are countless people who are jealous of them, and their enemies are even more afraid of them breaking through, thereby bringing disaster upon themselves."

Zhou Qing listened to Cao Zhengyang's explanation, and only then felt relieved.

If the Taiqingmen really made a big commotion, I'm afraid the other few big sects would be the first to push the waves, which would be troublesome instead.

In the past, after his Three Flowers Gathering at the Top broke through to Nascent Soul, the Tianji Sect immediately created a formation disk to frame him.

It's just that for some reason, the formation disk manifested in front of their own gate later, which attracted many people to investigate, almost destroying the sect.

"By the way, how did you know about the Qingyu Qingshu Xian Zong sect master?" Soon, Cao Zhengyang seemed to have suddenly thought of something and couldn't help but ask curiously.

Zhou Qing couldn't help but raise his head in confusion.

Cao Zhengyang signaled Zhou Qing to sit down and then said slowly: "During the Five Sects War before, didn't our three families form an alliance?"

"During which there were several times when we were discussing important matters, and Immortal Xuanyou suddenly vomited blood without any warning."

"At first I didn't pay much attention, just thinking she was unwell."

"Until one time, Lei Wuji and I really couldn't watch anymore and wanted to help her treat it, but she refused decisively."

"Even several Qingyu Qingshu Xian Zong elders appeared immediately to stop us, and their expressions were panicked."

Cao Zhengyang said, picked up the teacup on the table, took a light sip, moistened his dry throat, and continued.

"So I kept an eye on it and sent people to investigate privately."

"I found that at the beginning of the Five Sects War, that is, when the Cangyan Dao Palace raided the Qingyu Qingshu Xian Zong, she seemed to have been injured for no reason."

"So much so that all the Supreme Elders of the Qingyu Qingshu Xian Zong were busy treating her, and as a result, an elder controlled by the enemy took the opportunity to break in and self-detonate directly."

"Many elders including herself suffered serious backlash and were severely injured; the Qingyu Qingshu Xian Zong was leaderless for a time. Added to the fact that the mountain gate was opened by an inside agent, only then was it so easily broken by the Cangyan Dao Palace."

Cao Zhengyang said this, looked at Zhou Qing, and continued: "That time you and Yan Xiaohu also sneaked into the Qingyu Qingshu Xian Zong and successfully saved Yuan Ya, and also killed Meng Xing, one of the five great geniuses of the Cangyan Dao Palace, right."

Zhou Qing looked at Cao Zhengyang in shock after hearing this.

Worthy of being a person who can become a sect master.

From the beginning of not choosing to form an alliance with the Tianji Sect, but rather being hypocritical, and cleverly using the strategy of besieging Wei to save Zhao, Zhou Qing felt that Shibo was extremely extraordinary.

And now, he even keenly sensed Immortal Xuanyou's abnormality and investigated so deeply in secret.

Cao Zhengyang's expression was calm, his gaze sharp, and he continued to speak slowly.

"Your master seemed to have sensed what I was doing in secret and took the initiative to find me, advising me not to investigate anymore, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble, and revealed the specific situation about Immortal Xuanyou to me."

Cao Zhengyang said this, a trace of an imperceptible smile flashed in his eyes.

"However, he didn't mention that the source of the news was you, just saying he learned it accidentally."

"It's just that he forgot that I came from the same master as him and have been together for over a thousand years; how could those thoughts of his be hidden from me."

Zhou Qing heard this, smiled sheepishly, subconsciously scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed.

Cao Zhengyang looked at Zhou Qing gently and continued: "Actually, even if you didn't say it, I had guesses in my heart long ago."

"After all, that person had also stayed in the Qingyu Qingshu Xian Zong for a few years; knowing these secrets is not impossible."

After speaking, Cao Zhengyang stood up slowly, his expression solemn: "So, she is actually running out of time, and the only way to survive is for someone with Three Flowers Gathering at the Top to dual cultivate with her?"

Zhou Qing didn't make a sound after hearing this.

Cao Zhengyang saw this, a mocking smile appeared on his face, and he shook his head lightly.

"It's a pity, her vision is really not very good, actually wrongly identifying your Da Shixiong as Three Flowers Gathering at the Top."

"No wonder every time she came to our Taiqingmen, she behaved extremely attentively, and even repeatedly sent people to secretly inquire about Ghost Mastiff."

Cao Zhengyang said this, his tone carrying a trace of disdain: "Just because your Da Shixiong was the first among the younger generation to step into the Divine Transformation realm, she was so certain? It's truly absurd."

"You must know that when Ghost Mastiff refined the thirteenth-ranked Heavenly Dao Qi Zhenyue, I was the one who personally assisted on the side; how could I not know the details."

Subsequently, Cao Zhengyang turned around, looked at Zhou Qing playfully, and teased: "In my opinion, if she really has this intention, finding your Da Shixiong is not as good as finding you."

"After all, with your strength and talent, it is far above your Da Shixiong. If she thinks your Da Shixiong is Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, then you are the Four Flowers Gathering at the Top that shook the entire cultivation country many years ago."

"If you dual cultivate, not to mention whether you can break through to Divine Transformation Great Perfection to cure the illness, maybe you can help her step into the Soul Severance realm in one step."

Zhou Qing's face stiffened after hearing this.

Cao Zhengyang saw Zhou Qing's appearance and couldn't help laughing: "Look at how scared you are, just joking with you. A chat with you today really said a lot of heart-to-heart words; thank you for this thing."

Cao Zhengyang looked to be in a good mood and weighed the jade slip in his hand lightly.

Zhou Qing's face twitched slightly, just about to say something, but a report came from outside the door.

"Reporting to Sect Master, Little Sect Master, the Qingyu Qingshu Xian Zong sect master has come to visit!"

Both were stunned.

Just talking about her, and she's here?

"Why not see her together?" Cao Zhengyang looked at Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing shook his head repeatedly, hurriedly saying: "Better not, the disciple has something else to do, so I'll leave first!"

After bidding farewell to Cao Zhengyang, Zhou Qing fled.

All the way out, the people he saw, whether they were former Shixiong or Shidi, all respectfully addressed Zhou Qing as "Little Sect Master."

This made him helpless.

However, Lu Yaoyao sent a message at this time, saying that the passage behind the residence had collapsed a bit due to rain.

To avoid suspicion, she had already secretly repaired it, but she also remembered the previous exhortation and did not rashly go down to investigate.

Seeing this message, Zhou Qing really didn't know what to say about this girl.

She is truly obedient.

No, to be precise, she is obedient to him.

Thinking of this, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly unconsciously, and a warmth surged in his heart.

After a little thought, he sent a message of praise to Lu Yaoyao.

Just as he walked out of Shenyue Peak, he saw several figures in the air heading straight for the mountain top.

Besides the Taiqingmen people, Immortal Xuanyou, whom he hadn't seen for years, was among them, and even her first disciple Zhu He.

At this moment, the remark 【Taiqingmen's Little Sect Master】 on this Immortal Xuanyou's head, sure enough, had changed to 【Potential dangerous person】.

Looking at that flashing golden remark, Zhou Qing shook his head lightly, a flash of emotion on his face.

It seems that after he successfully reached Divine Transformation, he had actually made her feel such strong vigilance.

In her eyes, he had already become a dangerous person to the future of the Qingyu Qingshu Xian Zong.

Thinking carefully, from the original ordinary 【Taiqingmen disciple】, to 【Savior who brought good news】, and now 【Potential dangerous person】.

This process is really not ordinary ups and downs.

Sure enough, in this world where the weak are the prey of the strong, there are no eternal friends, nor eternal enemies, only the weighing of interests and the game of power.

"Doesn't matter!" Zhou Qing smiled indifferently, and just as he was about to return to Little Spirit Peak, a figure blocked him.

The person who came was a young man in black tight-fitting clothes, with mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation.

"Qi Sheng Shixiong!" Zhou Qing saluted.

Shibo Gao Xuan of Jinyang Peak had a total of five core disciples; the chief Da Shixiong Du Kui, Luo Xue, and the fifth Tan Qiang had all fallen.

Now only the third Qi Sheng and the fourth Meng Heshu remained.

Remembering when Du Kui was still alive, because he dreamed that his Shidi had an accident, he hurriedly planned to go to the Soul Lamp Tower to see the situation.

And he took this opportunity to go together, and bound Elder Jiang Pu, only feeling relieved after confirming that he had no malice toward him.

At this moment, hearing Zhou Qing call him Shixiong, Qi Sheng looked ashamed and hurriedly said: "Little Sect Master, you are now in the Divine Transformation realm, it wouldn't be an exaggeration for me to call you an elder, don't call me Shixiong anymore."

Remembering that not long after he broke through to Nascent Soul, Master Mo of Little Spirit Peak took Zhou Qing as a disciple.

But looking back now, everything had long since changed.

And, after the Da Shixiong was cruelly killed by an outsider, it was he who risked bringing back the corpse; the revenge for the second senior sister Luo Xue goes without saying.

Sima Yaoji died twice.

"Master invites you!" Qi Sheng hurriedly said.

Zhou Qing's heart moved, seeming not too surprised; after all, he had been back for so long, he thought Shibo should be looking for him.

"Sorry to trouble Qi Shixiong!" Zhou Qing said politely.

Qi Sheng waved his hand repeatedly and hurriedly led the way in front.

After several years, coming to this familiar hall again, an indescribable feeling surged in Zhou Qing's heart.

Last time he returned, it was here that he talked to Shibo Gao Xuan about Nannan, and learned about the true cause of the previous Gao Xuan's death. (Mentioned in chapter 200)

At that time, the Sect Master Shibo even came in from outside the door, proving to him that he hadn't revealed the matter of Nannan to him.

From that time on, Zhou Qing clearly understood that everything about Gao Xuan was known to the Sect Master, and he trusted Shibo immensely.

"Little Sect Master, I have something to do, so I'll be busy; Master is waiting for you inside!" Qi Sheng said, saluted respectfully, and then turned and left.

When Zhou Qing went in, Gao Xuan was still the same, focused on flipping through something in rows of bookshelves.

The remark 【Little Sect Master in name and reality】 above his head was exceptionally bright.

"Greetings to Shibo!" Zhou Qing saluted.

Gao Xuan raised his head, looked at Zhou Qing gently, and pointed to the brewed tea on the desk.

"Last time celebrating at the Jade Dining Hall, I could see you don't seem to like wine anymore; I prepared some spiritual tea here, you can taste it."

Zhou Qing thanked him and went over.

But when he saw the rattle on the table, a complex emotion surged in his heart.

At this time, Gao Xuan walked over with a few books, looked at Zhou Qing with deep eyes, and asked: "It looks like you don't plan to return to the White Jade Tai Xu Academy for a short time?"

Zhou Qing nodded and said earnestly: "Currently there is no plan, preparing to stay at home for a few more days."

Gao Xuan nodded slightly, a trace of a gratified smile on his face, saying: "Very good, after all, home is always the most relaxing place."

Zhou Qing hesitated briefly and said: "Shibo, the words you said to me at Huang Fenggu, the disciple has always kept in mind; during that time, I really met a person."

Subsequently, Zhou Qing told the story of the white-clothed person.

Gao Xuan heard this, frowned slightly, and took a light sip of tea.

After a moment, he spoke slowly: "Targeting you and Yan Xiaohu like this, and also liking to speak in inverted sentences, this person is indeed interesting. But you haven't seen his face; just based on these descriptions, I find it difficult to determine his identity for a moment."

Zhou Qing nodded and didn't feel surprised, then continued to ask: "Then Shibo, how did you suddenly think of coming to the academy to remind me to pay attention to Senior Master Sikong Yan?"

Gao Xuan sighed lightly, then stood up, looked out the window, his eyes thoughtful, and said: "I only had a guess; I can't say for sure for a moment, I just feel he is very mysterious and gives people a feeling of being forever unfathomable."

"Whenever you think you know him well enough, you will be shocked to find he seems to have another completely different face."

"And he acts extremely casually; you simply can't guess what he is going to do next."

Regarding this evaluation from Shibo Gao Xuan, Zhou Qing felt the same.

Pursuing Immortal Xuanyou for many years, yet the first to strike was the Qingyu Qingshu Xian Zong.

Cooperating with the Tianji Sect, preparing to annihilate the Taiqingmen, but after failing, he released most of them at Canglan Mountain.

The Nine Nether Lotus Seeds that even the Imperial capital coveted were generously given away, a full ten; after all, he could have swallowed them all alone.

Many other things go without saying.

Always giving people a weird feeling of being sometimes crazy, sometimes nervous, and acting without any rules to follow.

Gao Xuan's gaze gradually dimmed.

"Just as I told you before, the former Gao Xuan had long since defected to the Cangyan Dao Palace and acted as an inside agent for many years; because he was too greedy and made him unhappy, he let me replace him."

Gao Xuan's voice suddenly trembled slightly, as if trying hard to suppress the pain in his heart.

Zhou Qing also stood up quietly.

"Nannan was severely injured by the battle aftermath of the former Gao Xuan. To save Nannan, I tried my best, but in the end, I couldn't keep her."

"And I, also had new injuries added to old ones; just as I was dying and ready to go accompany Nannan, he appeared."

Gao Xuan closed his eyes slightly, and only after a long while did he speak again.

"He seemed to have inquired about my past clearly, asking if I wanted revenge?"

"At that moment, full of hatred, I naturally agreed without hesitation; thus, not many days later, Gao Xuan was tied up and brought before me."

Zhou Qing didn't interrupt, just frowned deeper.

Since he felt the former Gao Xuan was greedy and even a bit uncontrollable, why not find his own family to replace him? Instead of finding a stranger?

This is too unreasonable.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 234 =====