Chapter 239: Zhou Qing, Could He Be the One with San Hua Ju Ding? (6k)

Facing their worried questions, Zhou Qing turned with a smile and said, “Nothing’s wrong, I just came by on a whim.”

There really wasn’t any major issue—he’d originally thought something had happened at Taiyao Mountain and that he’d be asked to impersonate Jin Peng again.

After all, it was Xuan Yuan Shuo who first severely wounded Jin Peng.

Now that border powers have reestablished mutual deterrence, and with the Mysterious Realm appearing at Linggu Mountain, Xuan Yuan Shuo wanted to come and join the commotion.

He didn’t expect to arrive too late—and luckily, he didn’t go in.

But according to those who survived and emerged, the place held an extraordinary number of treasure chambers, all protected by seals, and plagued by wandering spirits; very few actually managed to bring out any treasures.

“I heard you’ve been studying sealing arts under Master Lin at Baiyu Taixu Academy, but I never imagined you two were this close!” Cao Zhengyang exclaimed excitedly.

To be fair, Zhou Qing now has a powerful endorsement; from now on, even if he uses sealing arts, no one will doubt him.

“I heard Master Lin has become the third Level-Three Array Master of the Shengwu Empire—is that true?” Mo Xingjian asked.

Zhou Qing nodded. “True. His character is incomparably better than Wu Tiangang and Su Lishan.”

Since there were no outsiders here, Zhou Qing briefly explained the border situation, to prevent his uncle and others from stepping on landmines later.

Array Masters may seem distant, but this time, one has come right to their doorstep.

It’s better for them to know more.

After hearing this, the two sighed deeply.

“So how are you doing in your studies?” Cao Zhengyang suddenly asked.

Zhou Qing smiled faintly, and with a flick of his spirit, a thousand spirit seals instantly appeared around him.

“Not bad—I’m now the ninth Level-Two Array Master in the cultivation realm,” Zhou Qing said, feigning indifference.

Watching the flickering spirit seals, Cao Zhengyang and Mo Xingjian froze in place, stunned, unable to recover for a long while.

“By the way, Uncle, I’ve got some materials for you—can you help gather them? I’ve got some free time lately and plan to forge a dual-color protective sect array for our sect, just in case!”

Soon, Zhou Qing seemed to remember something and pulled out a jade slip, handing it over.

He remembered his third senior brother saying that Cangyan Dao Palace covered its entire sect with a single-color array; now that he’d mastered the art and returned, how could he let his own sect fall behind others?

Cao Zhengyang took the jade slip numbly, his hands trembling slightly.

He looked at Zhou Qing again, eyes filled with excitement and pride.

Good heavens, their Taiqingmen had produced a Level-Two Array Master—who could believe it?

Once, to break the black puppet seals of Cangyan Dao Palace, he had exhausted every connection just to meet Lin Daochen.

At that time, Master Lin was already a Level-Two Array Master, yet even so, he couldn’t devise any countermeasures.

He only said these puppets must have a mother-like origin; to destroy them, one must destroy their source.

Now, Zhou Qing had become a Level-Two Array Master—this surprise came far too suddenly.

Mo Xingjian, having regained his composure, looked at Zhou Qing with deep satisfaction and pride.

This was his disciple!

Cao Zhengyang, barely holding back his emotion, kept saying, “Good, good! I’ll arrange it right away—I’ll get every material you need.”

Using a dual-color array as the sect’s protective barrier—how extravagant! But at the same time, the sect’s safety would gain unprecedented protection.

…

“Sect Master, quick—the entrance is about to close!”

“I’ll hold them off—how many wandering spirits are there!”

“Bad! What’s that? Ghost Emperor—it’s the Ghost Emperor’s aura!”

“Master Minghao, no—”

Qingyu Immortal Sect!

Xuan You Immortal suddenly sat upright on her bed, gasping for breath, sweat beading on her forehead, her hair clinging messily to her cheeks.

The four Supreme Elders, who had been guarding nearby, immediately gathered around, faces filled with relief.

“Sect Master, you’re awake—are you alright?” Supreme Elder Yun Jing spoke first, eyes brimming with concern.

Xuan You Immortal looked around frantically, then quickly grabbed Yun Jing’s hand, anxiously asking, “Auntie, where’s Master Minghao?”

At this, their expressions froze, eyes heavy with sorrow.

“Minghao—he stayed behind alone to fight the Ghost Emperor, to buy us time to escape…”

Yun Jing’s throat tightened as if choked, tears filling her eyes.

Supreme Elders Ji Xuan, Chong Po, and Lei Zhen turned away, shoulders trembling with suppressed sobs.

Hearing this, Xuan You Immortal’s eyes went hollow, her body swayed, then she spat out a mouthful of blood.

“It’s my fault, my fault—if it weren’t for me, Master wouldn’t have perished in that place…”

Xuan You Immortal murmured softly, her voice fading until tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

Ji Xuan quickly wiped her eyes and turned to comfort her. “Sect Master, this isn’t your fault—don’t blame yourself.”

“When Qing Ming had you practice the forbidden technique, though it saved your life and boosted your cultivation, it trapped you permanently in the late Soul Transformation realm.”

“Watching you suffer daily, he’s always blamed himself.”

Yun Jing added, “Yes, when the Mysterious Realm appeared at Linggu Mountain, he discussed with us that perhaps something there could break this forbidden technique, so he wanted to take a chance.”

“Who could have guessed there’d be a Ghost Emperor inside? Qing Ming, like us old ones, had few years left anyway; now resting there, it’s actually a release for him.”

Another Supreme Elder, Lei Zhen, nodded vigorously. “Sect Master, don’t blame yourself—it has nothing to do with you. For us old ones, dying after doing something meaningful is truly a joy.”

But Xuan You Immortal only sat on the bed, hugging her knees, silent, tears flowing endlessly.

Seeing this, the four comforted her again, even using subtle methods, until she finally fell asleep again, then tiptoed out.

They exchanged glances, then hurried to another hall, activated a soundproofing seal, and looked at each other with grave expressions.

“Sister Yin Liu failed to refine the Jiuyou Lotus Seed, so we had no choice but to risk the Mysterious Realm—if we could find another medicinal herb to treat Xuan You’s injury, or even another Jiuyou Demon Lotus, that would be best!”

Chong Po, whose face bore a scar, spoke.

Yun Jing nodded. “But the result? Master Qing Ming perished inside, and our Sect Master lost so much lifespan to that strange evil.”

Lei Zhen said, “That same night we returned, Sister Xing Ao also failed to refine the seed and perished—we didn’t tell the Sect Master. Now, Qingyu Immortal Sect rests solely on the four of us.”

Their faces darkened with grief.

“While the Sect Master was unconscious, we all checked her—her meridians are already withering, deathly qi clinging to her. If this continues, she won’t last ten years!” Ji Xuan said.

Their brows knitted tightly.

The Five Sects War and the battle at Canglan Mountain had devastated Qingyu Immortal Sect, decimating its high-level strength.

It was now less than twenty percent of its peak.

To make matters worse, two senior siblings who tried refining the Jiuyou Lotus Seeds perished, and the Sect Master had less than ten years left.

The four of them also had little time remaining.

Among the younger generation, Zhu He, though she had broken through to Soul Transformation, had many flaws in character and ability—unsuitable as a future Sect Master to be heavily cultivated.

Qingyu Immortal Sect had truly begun its decline.

It had even suffered a catastrophic generational collapse.

“No—we must extend the Sect Master’s life, buy time for the sect’s survival!” Yun Jing said firmly after a moment.

The other three instantly turned their gazes to her.

“The only thing that can save the Sect Master’s life is San Hua Ju Ding!” Ji Xuan said gravely.

Yun Jing nodded slightly. “Someone, out of old ties, once hinted to the Sect Master that Taiqingmen has a San Hua Ju Ding practitioner.”

“We’ve spent tremendous effort investigating Taiqingmen’s disciples, but only one person matched the signs.”

“You mean the chief senior brother of Xiao Ling Peak, Gui Ao? But our latest intel says he isn’t—he refined Zhen Yue, the thirteenth-ranked Heavenly Dao Qi!”

Chong Po frowned.

Yun Jing’s gaze grew deep, her eyes half-lidded. “I know—but haven’t you noticed another person with many suspicious traits, very likely the San Hua Ju Ding user?”

The three froze, then Ji Xuan spoke first: “You mean Zhou Qing—the one who just returned from Haomiao Mansion?”

Yun Jing’s lips curled into a subtle, knowing smile.

“Exactly him. Don’t forget—this child’s Golden Core was once ripped out. You and I know: a damaged Golden Core is nearly the end of cultivation.”

“Yet afterward, he inexplicably recovered—not only re-forming his Golden Core, but his cultivation surged forward.”

According to his master, Mo Xingjian, he found a miraculous medicinal herb in a Mysterious Realm that helped him re-form his core.”

“But let’s think differently—what miraculous pill exists that can fully restore a shattered Golden Core with no side effects?”

Ji Xuan suddenly realized something: “The dual cores from Yin-Yang Qi?”

The others’ eyes flashed with sudden understanding.

If true, everything suddenly made sense.

From Golden Core shattering to re-forming, to breaking through to Nascent Soul, then returning now as Soul Transformation—all in under twenty years.

Such terrifying advancement speed was extremely rare across the cultivation world; only someone with extraordinary fortune could achieve it.

“You’ve heard of this child’s actions in the Five Sects War—he and his third senior brother even sneaked into our sect to rescue Yuan Ya, warning us reinforcements were coming!” Yun Jing continued.

The other three’s hearts pounded.

The more they thought, the more certain it became.

They’d focused all attention on Gui Ao and completely overlooked him.

“I’ll go to Haomiao Mansion to investigate his detailed history over the past few years. A person’s past often reveals their true identity and fortune.”

Yun Jing declared after careful thought.

The other three exchanged glances and nodded in agreement—but this must be handled with extreme caution.

“Too bad last time, when the Sect Master pretended to arrange a marriage with Zhu He, we never met that boy,” Ji Xuan sighed.

Chong Po and Lei Zhen exchanged glances, equally helpless.

We can only wait for an opportunity slowly.

……

What Zhou Qing didn’t expect was that before his uncle had even gathered all the materials, Second Uncle had quietly returned that night.

Perched on his shoulder was a child no bigger than a radish, dressed in a red belly band, with a face so adorable it seemed to glow with dew.

“Well? Envious?” Second Uncle beamed with pride.

Zhou Qing immediately showered him with flattery.

But don’t forget, a third of this belongs to me.

I only said I didn’t want it back then to coordinate with you.

Now, up close, Zhou Qing could clearly feel the vast vitality and spiritual power contained within the ten-thousand-year blood ginseng.

If he could take even one bite, he might directly break through to the mid-stage of Soul Transformation.

Sensing Zhou Qing’s slightly fiery gaze, the ten-thousand-year blood ginseng panicked and quickly hid behind Second Uncle.

Then it cautiously poked out its large head, eyes darting as it observed Zhou Qing, waving a tiny pink fist in a threatening gesture—its expression utterly endearing.

Seeing this, Second Uncle burst into laughter, waved his hand lightly, and sealed it away.

Immediately afterward, his expression turned grave. He fixed Zhou Qing with a piercing gaze and said, “Tell me everything you know about the Spirit Skull Mountain mystery realm!”

Zhou Qing nodded and detailed every aspect of the realm’s appearance, as well as how the Supreme Elders had guarded the passage.

But midway through, he paused, hesitated, then said, “There’s something I’m not sure whether I should say.”

At this moment, Second Uncle’s brow furrowed tightly—he never imagined the Spirit Skull Mountain realm would be connected to the first coffin.

And Zhou Qing’s actions were undoubtedly correct; if anyone learned that object came from the Taiqingmen’s Heavenly Domain forbidden zone, the entire sect would be plunged into eternal turmoil.

It could even be besieged and attacked by countless factions, sinking into irrecoverable ruin.

“Spitting it out like that—are you treating me like an outsider? Spit it out now!”

Seeing Zhou Qing’s hesitation, Second Uncle urged him anxiously.

Zhou Qing had no choice but to lie: “That day, after following Master and the Elders down into the abyss, everyone waited for the entrance to fully solidify.”

“Because I was closer, I suddenly saw a fleeting shadow within the mist.”

As he spoke, Zhou Qing used spiritual power to sketch the Ghost Emperor’s form in midair.

When Second Uncle saw the figure, his pupils shrank sharply—he was utterly stunned.

“Are you certain?” Second Uncle asked again, his voice trembling slightly.

Zhou Qing nodded firmly, utterly confident: “I’m certain. I even went to the Ancestral Hall to carefully compare the portraits.”

After hearing this, Second Uncle paced back and forth, hands behind his back, muttering to himself: “Impossible. Master Canglong should have already passed away. How could he appear there?”

Zhou Qing remained silent. After all, Master Canglong had once intended to pass the Sect Master position to Second Uncle.

Second Uncle naturally refused, so he resorted to his old trick—faking his death and slipping away.

He then devoted himself entirely to exploring the Heavenly Domain, never expecting to become trapped.

By the time Zhou Qing brought him out, Master Canglong had been dead for many years.

“Though I only caught a glimpse, I have a strong feeling—the Ghost Emperor inside the first coffin might be our former Sect Master, Master Canglong!” Zhou Qing added.

Upon hearing this, Second Uncle immediately turned to face Zhou Qing, his gaze blazing.

“That idea… is bold, but absolutely impossible. No one even knew the method of the Blood River, let alone entered it.”

Second Uncle spoke with finality.

He clearly remembered that when he reached the third coffin, Master Canglong had still not passed away.

Zhou Qing hesitated, then said, “When faced with utter desperation, one often unlocks potential beyond themselves. Besides, how could you be sure he didn’t enter successfully while you were in the third coffin?”

Hearing Zhou Qing’s words, Second Uncle fell silent.

He suddenly recalled that last time he brought Zhou Qing in, he’d always felt someone watching them from the shadows.

That sensation only vanished completely after they emerged.

He’d assumed it might be the dominant spirit within, but he’d never considered it might be Master Canglong.

Could it be that because the spirit recognized him, it didn’t attack like the Flame-Scale Emperor in the third coffin?

No.

His current appearance was different from when he first joined Taiqingmen—he must have recognized Zhou Qing.

After all, this boy not only cultivated the Taiqing Mystical Qi Scripture, but had also repeatedly unlocked the keys for Duanmu Shu and others.

“The truth? Just go and see!” Second Uncle immediately stood up.

Zhou Qing hurriedly said, “Isn’t that too hasty? Master Gong might have indeed broken through to Severing Spirit, but he probably can’t control himself—if you go in…”

“It’s just Severing Spirit. There’s still an Emperor Beast in the third coffin—I’ve fought with him for centuries. Don’t worry!”

As he spoke, Second Uncle picked up the old hen snoring beside him.

“You come too. The seals inside are complex, and your array expertise now far surpasses mine!” Second Uncle said.

Zhou Qing still hesitated—in the simulation, the Ghost Emperor had warned him not to enter.

“I heard many Nascent Soul cultivators died inside. The storage bags were countless!” Second Uncle said casually.

Zhou Qing’s eyes lit up instantly. He stood up: “No time to waste—let’s go now. But Uncle, before we go, can you help me with something?”

Second Uncle shook his head in disbelief.

This guy won’t move an inch without a benefit.

“Fine, what are you scheming now?” Second Uncle asked.

Zhou Qing said, “I need two Flame Spirit Flowers. They seem to be in the third coffin.”

“Flame Spirit Flowers? What do you need them for?” Second Uncle frowned, puzzled.

He’d seen many during his years trapped in the third coffin.

Zhou Qing explained: “I have my own use for them.”

“No. That old crocodile goes berserk whenever he sees me!” Second Uncle waved him off.

Zhou Qing seemed to have anticipated this. He sighed: “Then forget it. The ten-thousand-year blood ginseng works about the same—I’ll take my third.”

Second Uncle froze, stunned by Zhou Qing’s move—then burst out laughing in exasperation.

“You’ve learned to be sneaky way too fast!” Second Uncle said, torn between laughter and annoyance.

Zhou Qing grinned sheepishly and began complaining: “Peng Huang’s residence—Xuanyuan Elder got the priceless Five-Color Array Plate. You got a ten-thousand-year blood ginseng that transformed into a human. All I got was a pile of junk!”

"You're pitiful? You burned three incense sticks for the corpse and gathered so many spiritual seals—you nearly made me jealous to death!"

Second Uncle rolled his eyes in retort.

Zhou Qing said, “I don’t care—it’s my own fortune. We agreed to split everything evenly, but now you both have gained something…”

“Stop, stop! I only agreed to pick the Flame Spirit Flowers—I won’t help you with anything else!”

Seeing Zhou Qing wouldn’t quit, Second Uncle quickly conceded.

Besides, at Peng Huang’s residence, the boy really hadn’t gotten anything valuable.

Zhou Qing grinned: “No other items, I swear.”

Second Uncle chuckled and shook his head. After some preparation, they appeared directly at Lu Yaoyao’s residence.

At that moment, Lu Yaoyao was propped up on the windowsill, chin in hands, staring at the passage, lost in thought.

She looked up and immediately saw the two emerging from space.

Of course she recognized Zhou Qing, but the old man beside him had snow-white hair.

After blinking briefly, she realized who he was, then yawned long and wide, rubbing her eyes.

Then she shut the window, pretending she hadn’t seen them at all, and went to sleep.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing quickly said, “I told her by accident once—she has nothing to do with it.”

Second Uncle smiled: “This girl’s interesting. Don’t worry—I won’t erase her memories. Master Lu holds her in high regard.”

With that, Second Uncle leapt down. Zhou Qing exhaled deeply and followed right after.

……

“This time it wasn’t blocked?” When the two emerged from the tunnel, Second Uncle exclaimed in surprise.

Zhou Qing smiled and explained: “One Supreme Elder suggested sealing the entrance, but others rejected it.”

“On one hand, we’ve blocked it so many times—each time, new entrances just appeared. Total waste.”

“On the other hand, if you hadn’t taken me to the first coffin, Taiqingmen might have been destroyed this time.”

Hearing this, Second Uncle stroked his beard, a smug smile on his face: “Good for them.”

Then Zhou Qing pushed the grinding stone to the passage entrance and set it down.

After removing the passage’s danger, the two moved with ease to the end, gazing at the ancient tree across the Blood River—and its still pulsing heart.

Zhou Qing couldn’t help but admire it.

Even the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace had recognized this as a forbidden zone, yet Taiqingmen’s successive Sect Masters had kept it secret until now.

Had it not been for Gao Xian’s betrayal, the secret would have been passed down generation after generation.

“Tomb Guardian, move out!” Second Uncle shouted, launching himself forward like an arrow released from a bow.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing didn’t dare delay—he instantly transformed into his Golden Wings Great Peng human form and followed closely behind.

(End of Chapter)