Chapter 233

Sikong Yan’s cold expression flickered with surprise: “Soul Transformation?”

Wu Sha hurriedly replied: “Yes, confirmed multiple times.”

Sikong Yan nodded slightly, murmuring softly: “That’s interesting. No wonder he’s the one who killed five of our sect’s top prodigies.”

“Lord, this man is far too dangerous, and his growth rate is terrifying. Should we…?” Wu Sha raised his head, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

Sikong Yan’s eyes instantly narrowed, a flash of icy light cutting through the air, his face darkening with displeasure.

Seeing this, Wu Sha’s face turned ashen, and he immediately cried out in panic: “I apologize, my lord!”

“I’ve told you many times already—I dislike being told what to do, no matter who you are!”

Sikong Yan spoke coldly, sending a chill through the air.

Wu Sha bowed his head repeatedly, his body trembling uncontrollably.

“Leave!”

“Yes, I take my leave!” Wu Sha, as if granted a reprieve, scrambled away in haste.

Sikong Yan gazed deeply at the water’s surface, silent for a long while, lost in thought.

Suddenly, his fishing rod trembled slightly.

His previously calm expression instantly brightened with delight; he gripped the rod firmly, his movements fluid and seamless, yanking upward sharply.

The fishing line burst from the water, the hook dangling a small fish that thrashed violently, splashing droplets everywhere.

“Too small—can’t even fill a stomach. Useless!”

Looking at the fish, Sikong Yan sighed regretfully, gently unhooked it, and tossed it back into the water.

Then he turned his gaze toward the weeping willows across the stream.

There, a white-robed figure stood silently atop the tree canopy, back turned to him, robes fluttering, cold and solitary—as if utterly alien to the world’s clamor.

Sikong Yan cast his line again, then asked: “When did you return?”

“Not long ago—just got back,” the white-robed figure replied, voice cool.

Sikong Yan frowned: “That can’t be soon enough. Did you finish it?”

“No—I ran into Lu Yuanchen. But—” the white-robed figure paused.

Sikong Yan looked surprised, frowning: “Didn’t she change her name to Yue Chen? Isn’t she now the honored Imperial Consort? Are you still attached? Is that why you’re avoiding her?”

“You don’t understand—you never inherited these memories. As for me, I’m severing my past with her, right now.” The white-robed figure spoke calmly.

Sikong Yan nodded slightly. “I see. Fine. Do as you see fit.”

“Uncle, who are you talking to?” At that moment, a little girl skipped over, eyes wide with curiosity, scanning everywhere.

But all she saw were the two of them.

Sikong Yan smiled gently, pinching the girl’s nose lightly. “I was talking to you. Come on—we’re done fishing. Let’s go home.”

“Alright, let’s go home!”

The girl danced with joy—but on the hillside where she had once played, thousands of black-robed figures suddenly appeared, their eyes hollow, like puppets under control, silently following behind.

…

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

The courtyard remained unchanged, yet in Zhou Qing’s eyes, though he had only been gone a few years, it felt as if centuries had passed.

After using two Pure Dust Talismans to clean, Zhou Qing glanced at the old hen, utterly ignoring the courtyard’s protective barrier, and shook his head with a smile.

According to Second Uncle’s instructions, he needed to bring the hen into the coffin.

Though it had undergone another transformation under the nourishment of spirit stones, would it still obey?

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

“Hen, go get that for me!” Zhou Qing pointed at the jade slip, patting the hen’s back with hopeful anticipation.

The old hen drooped its eyes, slowly strolled through the courtyard’s barrier, then wandered to the other side and began pecking aimlessly at the ground.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing simply covered his eyes in utter disbelief.

“Done for!”

…

In the following days, Zhou Qing devoted himself entirely to memorizing the jade slip given to him by Zhang Wanbao.

Missing out on a true treasure due to ignorance would be enough to drive a man to rage.

Compared to Zhang Wanbao’s Golden Core realm, Zhou Qing’s spiritual force was incomparably greater.

Combined with the Four Flowers at the Crown’s amplification, his speed in memorizing these complex contents far exceeded normal limits.

In less than half a month, he had fully memorized every detail of the jade slip.

Such a valuable resource couldn’t be kept to himself—especially since his own sect desperately needed this kind of aid.

Zhou Qing immediately made several copies and sent them to his Third Senior Brother, his Master, Lu Yaoyao, and even the Sect Master and Elder Bai Yu.

“So comprehensive? Excellent!” Cao Zhengyang beamed upon seeing the jade slip.

He still remembered how, last time Zhou Qing returned from the academy, he had gifted him several Level-One arrays—this time, even better.

Zhou Qing smiled slightly, then asked seriously: “Uncle, how’s the matter of the Nine You Lotus Seeds progressing?”

Cao Zhengyang’s smile faded, his expression turning grave. “One of our Supreme Elders has already failed. Fortunately, her luck held—she suffered no severe backlash, and her spiritual force actually increased significantly.”

Zhou Qing felt a pang of disappointment.

“What about the other sects?” he pressed.

Cao Zhengyang shook his head helplessly. “The Nine You Lotus affair is kept under tightest secrecy by all five sects. Who took it? Where are they in seclusion? Did they succeed? None of this information can be uncovered.”

“I’ve even been planning another scheme—to create some unusual phenomenon within our sect, something mysterious enough to make others wary.”

Zhou Qing slowly shook his head in warning: “Your idea is sound, Uncle, but right now, too many people are gathering at Spirit Skull Mountain. What if…?”

Zhou Qing trailed off.

Cao Zhengyang, seeing Zhou Qing’s thorough consideration, couldn’t help but flash a look of approval.

This was precisely how a true leader should respond to a problem.

He had once discussed this idea with several Peak Masters—only to find several of them immediately agreeing, even enthusiastically debating it.

Now, comparing them to Zhou Qing, the difference was glaring.

Cao Zhengyang nodded. “Afterward, I carefully reviewed the records and found that no one in our Shengwu Empire has ever displayed major phenomena upon breaking through to the Severing Spirit realm.”

“Of course, they may simply be choosing to break through in secret.”

“After all, those who reach that level have countless rivals coveting their power—and enemies terrified they’ll break through and bring about their own annihilation.”

Hearing Cao Zhengyang’s explanation, Zhou Qing finally relaxed.

If Taiqingmen truly made a grand spectacle, the other major sects would be the first to exploit it—creating nothing but trouble.

Years ago, when he broke through to Nascent Soul with his Three Flowers at the Crown, Tianji Sect immediately set up an array to frame him.

But somehow, the array manifested right outside their own gate, drawing crowds of investigators—and nearly led to their sect’s destruction.

“By the way, how did you learn about the Qingyu Immortal Sect’s Sect Master?” Cao Zhengyang suddenly asked, curiosity rising.

Zhou Qing looked up, puzzled.

Cao Zhengyang gestured for Zhou Qing to sit, then spoke slowly: “During the Five Sects War, didn’t our three sects form an alliance?”

“Several times, while we were discussing critical matters, Lady Xuanyou suddenly spat blood without warning.”

“At first, I paid it no mind—assumed she was unwell.”

“Until one time, Lei Wuji and I couldn’t stand it anymore and tried to help her heal—she refused outright.”

“Immediately, several Qingyu Immortal Sect Elders appeared, stopping us, their expressions panicked.”

Cao Zhengyang paused, lifted his teacup, took a sip to moisten his dry throat, then continued.

“So I kept my eyes open and sent someone to investigate privately.”

“I discovered that right at the start of the Five Sects War—when Cangyan Dao Palace launched its surprise attack on Qingyu Immortal Sect—she had already been wounded.”

“As a result, all of Qingyu’s Supreme Elders were occupied with healing her, allowing a traitor under enemy control to slip in and detonate himself.”

“Many Elders, including herself, suffered severe backlash and grave injuries. Qingyu was left leaderless. With their mountain gate opened by an insider, Cangyan Dao Palace easily breached them.”

Cao Zhengyang looked at Zhou Qing. “You and Yan Xiaohu sneaked into Qingyu Immortal Sect back then, rescued Yuan Ya, and killed Meng Xing—one of Cangyan Dao Palace’s five top prodigies, correct?”

Zhou Qing stared at Cao Zhengyang in shock.

No wonder he could become a Sect Master.

Ever since choosing not to ally with Tianji Sect but instead feigning cooperation, then cleverly using the strategy of besieging Wei to save Zhao, Zhou Qing had sensed his Uncle was extraordinary.

Now, he had even keenly sensed something amiss with Lady Xuanyou—and dug so deeply in secret.

Cao Zhengyang’s expression remained calm, his gaze sharp. He continued slowly:

“Your Master seemed to sense I was investigating secretly. He came to me himself, urged me to stop, warned me against stirring up unnecessary trouble—and revealed to me the true details about Lady Xuanyou.”

At this, Cao Zhengyang’s eyes flickered with a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

“But he didn’t mention the source was you—only that he’d learned it by chance.”

“Yet he forgot—I share the same master as he, and we’ve walked the same path for over a thousand years. His thoughts are no secret to me.”

Hearing this, Zhou Qing chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head, looking embarrassed.

Cao Zhengyang looked at Zhou Qing with gentle eyes. “Even if you hadn’t told me, I’d already suspected.”

“After all, that person once lived in Qingyu Immortal Sect for years. Knowing such secrets isn’t impossible.”

With that, Cao Zhengyang rose slowly, his expression grave. “So… she’s dying. The only way to save her is to cultivate with her in the Three Flowers at the Crown?”

Zhou Qing remained silent.

Seeing this, Cao Zhengyang gave a faint, mocking smile, shaking his head.

“What a pity—your judgment is truly poor. You mistook your Senior Brother as the one with Three Flowers at the Crown.”

No wonder every time you come to Taiqingmen, you’re overly eager, even repeatedly sending people to secretly inquire about the Ghost Hound’s whereabouts.

Cao Zhengyang paused here, his tone laced with disdain: “Just because your senior brother was the first among your generation to reach Soul Transformation, she’s so certain? Absurd beyond words.”

“You must know, when that child, the Ghost Hound, was refining the Thirteenth-ranked Heavenly Dao Qi, Zhen Yue, I was right beside him, assisting personally—how could I not know the details?”

Then Cao Zhengyang turned, his gaze teasing as he looked at Zhou Qing: “From what I see, if she truly intends this, she’d be better off coming to you than to your senior brother.”

“After all, your strength and talent far surpass your senior brother’s. If she thinks your senior brother has the Three Flowers Converging, then you’re the Four Flowers Converging who shook the entire cultivation realm years ago.”

“If she cultivates with you, not only might she break through Soul Transformation’s peak and cure her illness—she might even leap straight into the Cutting Spirit realm.”

Zhou Qing’s expression froze at once.

Seeing Zhou Qing’s reaction, Cao Zhengyang burst into laughter: “Look at you, scared stiff—I’m just joking. Talking with you today has let out a lot of pent-up thoughts. Thanks for this.”

Cao Zhengyang seemed in high spirits, lightly weighing the jade slip in his hand.

Zhou Qing’s face twitched slightly; he was about to speak when a voice came from outside the door.

“Report, Sect Master, Young Sect Master—the Sect Master of Qingyu Immortal Sect has come to pay a visit!”

Both froze.

Just talking about her, and now she shows up?

“Shall we meet together?” Cao Zhengyang asked Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing shook his head vigorously: “No, no—I’ve got things to attend to. I’ll take my leave!”

After bidding farewell to Cao Zhengyang, Zhou Qing fled as if escaping.

Along the way, everyone he passed—whether former senior or junior brothers—greeted him respectfully as “Young Sect Master.”

It left him exasperated.

But at that moment, Lu Yaoyao sent a message: the passage behind her residence had partially collapsed due to rain.

To avoid suspicion, she had quietly repaired it, but she remembered the earlier warning and dared not venture down to investigate.

Reading this message, Zhou Qing didn’t know what to say about the girl.

She truly listened.

No—more accurately, she listened to him.

Thinking of this, his lips curled slightly upward, warmth rising in his chest.

After a moment’s thought, he sent Lu Yaoyao a message of praise.

But as he stepped out of Shenyue Peak, he saw several figures flying straight toward the summit.

Among them, besides Taiqingmen disciples, was the mysterious Xuan You Immortal, long unseen—and even her eldest disciple, Zhu He.

Now, the Xuan You Immortal’s previous note, “Taiqingmen’s Young Sect Master,” had, unsurprisingly, changed to “Potential Threat.”

Seeing the fleeting golden annotation, Zhou Qing shook his head slightly, a wistful expression crossing his face.

It seemed that after successfully reaching Soul Transformation, he had already triggered such intense vigilance in her.

In her eyes, he had become a threat to Qingyu Immortal Sect’s future.

Think carefully: from the original “Taiqingmen Disciple,” to “Bearer of Good News,” to now “Potential Threat.”

What a turbulent journey it’s been.

Indeed, in this world of survival of the fittest, there are no eternal friends, no eternal enemies—only the weighing of interests and the struggle of power.

“It doesn’t matter!” Zhou Qing smiled lightly. Just as he turned to return to Xiaoling Peak, a figure blocked his path.

The man was a youth clad in black combat attire, at the mid-stage of Nascent Soul realm.

“Senior Brother Qi Sheng!” Zhou Qing bowed.

Senior Brother Gao Xian of Jinyang Peak had five core disciples: the eldest, Du Kui; Luo Xue; and the fifth, Tan Qiang—all now dead.

Only the third, Qi Sheng, and the fourth, Meng Xing, remain.

I still remember when Du Kui was alive—he dreamed his junior brothers were in danger and rushed to the Soul Lamp Tower to check.

I took that chance to go with him and bound myself to Elder Jiang Pu, only relaxing after confirming he bore me no ill intent.

Now, hearing Zhou Qing call him “senior brother,” Qi Sheng flushed with shame: “Young Sect Master, you’ve reached Soul Transformation—I’d be justified calling you Elder. Don’t call me senior brother anymore.”

I still recall that shortly after I broke through to Nascent Soul, Master Mo from Xiaoling Peak took Zhou Qing as his disciple.

Now, looking back, everything has changed beyond recognition.

And after your senior brother was brutally murdered by outsiders, it was he who risked his life to retrieve the body—let alone avenging your second senior sister, Luo Xue.

Sima Yaoji has died twice.

“Master is calling for you!” Qi Sheng hurriedly said.

Zhou Qing’s heart stirred—he wasn’t particularly surprised. After all, he’d been back long enough; his senior brother would surely want to see him.

“Thank you, Senior Brother Qi,” Zhou Qing said politely.

Qi Sheng waved his hand frantically and led the way ahead.

…

Years later, stepping into this familiar hall again, Zhou Qing felt an indescribable emotion rise within him.

The last time he returned, it was here he spoke with Senior Brother Gao Xian about Nannan—and learned the true cause of the original Gao Xian’s death. (Mentioned in Chapter 200)

At that time, the Sect Master himself had entered from outside, proving to Gao Xian he had not revealed Nannan’s secret.

From then on, Zhou Qing understood clearly: the Sect Master knew everything about Gao Xian—and trusted him utterly.

“Young Sect Master, I’ve got something to attend to—I’ll leave you to your master!” Qi Sheng bowed respectfully and turned away.

When Zhou Qing entered, Gao Xian was as always, absorbed in flipping through books among the shelves.

The annotation above his head—“True Young Sect Master”—glowed brightly.

“Greetings, Senior Brother!” Zhou Qing bowed.

Gao Xian looked up, his gaze gentle, and gestured toward the tea already steeped on the desk.

“Last time at Yushantang, I noticed you didn’t seem to like alcohol. I’ve prepared some spiritual tea—you might enjoy it.”

Zhou Qing thanked him and walked over.

But when he saw the rattle on the desk, a complex emotion surged within him.

At that moment, Gao Xian approached with several books, his eyes deep as he asked Zhou Qing: “It seems you have no plans to return to Baiyu Taixu Academy anytime soon?”

Zhou Qing nodded seriously: “No concrete plans yet. I intend to stay home a while longer.”

Gao Xian nodded slightly, a faint smile of satisfaction on his face: “Good. After all, home is always the most relaxing place.”

Zhou Qing hesitated briefly, then said: “Senior Brother, the words you spoke to me in Huangfeng Valley—I’ve never forgotten. During that time, I actually met someone.”

Then Zhou Qing recounted the entire story of the white-robed man.

Gao Xian listened, frowning slightly, then took a slow sip of tea.

After a moment, he spoke slowly: “He targets you and Yan Xiaohu specifically, and he favors inverted sentence structure—this man is indeed intriguing. But since you never saw his face, and only have these descriptions, I can’t yet determine his identity.”

Zhou Qing nodded, unsurprised, and asked: “Then, Senior Brother, how did you suddenly remember to warn me about Sikong Yan?”

Gao Xian sighed softly, then rose and gazed out the window, his eyes thoughtful: “It was only a hunch—I can’t quite explain it now. But he always felt mysterious, utterly inscrutable.”

“Just when you think you understand him, you realize he’s wearing a completely different face.”

“And his actions are utterly capricious—you can never predict what he’ll do next.”

Zhou Qing deeply agreed with Senior Brother Gao’s assessment.

He pursued Xuan You Immortal for years, yet chose Qingyu Immortal Sect as his first target.

After colluding with Tianji Sect to annihilate Taiqingmen failed, he released most of the captives at Canglan Mountain.

Even the Nine You Lotus Seeds, coveted by the imperial capital, he gave away freely—ten whole seeds, though he could have kept them all.

There are countless other such incidents.

He always gives the impression of being alternately mad, erratic, and utterly unpredictable.

Gao Xian’s gaze now slowly dimmed.

“As I told you before, the original Gao Xian long ago defected to Cangyan Dao Palace and served as an inside agent for years. He grew too greedy, angered him, so he had me replace him.”

Gao Xian’s voice trembled slightly, as if struggling to suppress deep inner pain.

Zhou Qing quietly rose.

“Nannan was gravely injured by the residual battle energy from the original Gao Xian. I exhausted every means to save her—but still failed to keep her alive.”

“And I, too, accumulated new wounds atop old ones. On the brink of death, I had already prepared to join Nannan—when he appeared.”

Gao Xian closed his eyes, silent for a long while before speaking again.

“He seemed to have thoroughly investigated my past. He asked me: ‘Do you wish for revenge?’”

“At that moment, consumed by hatred, I answered without hesitation. Days later, the original Gao Xian was dragged before me, bound hand and foot.”

Zhou Qing said nothing, his brow furrowed deeper.

If he found the original Gao Xian too greedy and uncontrollable, why not replace him with someone from his own circle? Why a stranger?

It made no sense.

(End of Chapter)