Chapter 246: For Taiqingmen, Fight! Fight! Fight! (6k)

Then, Cao Zhengyang’s eyes hardened with resolve, and he rose to his feet.

His formerly refined aura instantly turned sharp, his deep gaze radiating an air of unmatched dominance.

“Fight!” Cao Zhengyang declared.

Taiqingmen may not seek war, but it fears no challenge.

This matter must be settled once and for all!

Upon hearing this, the others’ battle lust ignited instantly; Ling Yuexiao, peak master of Bai Zhan Peak, even clenched his fists in excitement.

Whoever injured our young sect master must pay with blood.

Zhou Qing, however, hesitated—he had weighed the pros and cons, and if they could delay three or four more years, their chances of success would rise.

After all, he didn’t want his own affairs to cause his senior uncles and aunts to be wounded.

And the Cangyan Dao Palace still watched from the sidelines.

“Who dares harm my fourth disciple!”

Just as Zhou Qing was about to speak, a deep, thunderous voice filled with boundless fury erupted within the council hall.

In the next instant, a figure surged forward, wrapped in surging spiritual energy, smashing through the hall doors and charging straight in.

“M-Master—” When Zhou Qing saw Mo Xingjian’s wild hair and beard, his furious expression, he froze for a moment, then his eyes lit up with wild joy.

The others, sensing Mo Xingjian’s immense, overwhelming aura, were filled with astonishment and delight.

“Younger Brother Mo, you’ve broken through!” Cao Zhengyang and the others exclaimed, hurrying forward in excitement.

They had never expected that in barely over a year, Mo Xingjian would be the first to reach Soul Transformation’s peak.

Good, good, truly excellent!

Zhou Qing was equally thrilled—he remembered that even when he had reached the Four Flowers Summit, his master had already prepared five-element supreme spirit stones, solely to ensure sufficient spiritual energy for his breakthrough.

And the Soul-Breath Immortal Herb he and his third senior brother had brought back had completely healed his master’s damaged spiritual sea.

Coupled with the superior yin spirit stones acquired this time, his master had smoothly reached the peak realm.

Outside the hall, Yan Xiaohu, Lu Yaoyao, and other core disciples, unable to contain their curiosity, peered through the open doors.

But without orders from their elders, they stood rigidly in place, unwilling to enter rashly.

Mo Xingjian had only just broken through, and his aura was still difficult to fully contain.

He did not answer their greetings; instead, his gaze immediately fixed on Zhou Qing, brimming with concern.

“Are you alright?” Mo Xingjian asked.

Zhou Qing shook his head gently. “Master, I’m fine—but it was close.”

After all, they’d even given him a dual-cultivation jade slip, planning to force themselves on him tonight.

“Truly deserving of death!” Mo Xingjian’s killing intent surged, his robes snapping violently.

Others might not understand Zhou Qing’s uniqueness—he knew perfectly well.

Because Zhou Qing was not truly a Four Flowers Summit cultivator, yet he was the very one who had shaken the entire fourth-tier spiritual realm and neighboring nations, drawing countless powerful figures to investigate and hunt for him.

If a wrinkled old woman from Qingyu Immortal Sect stole his primordial yang, he’d die of rage himself.

“Senior Brother, I, Old Mo, beg to lead the first strike—this battle must be mine!” Mo Xingjian immediately bowed to Cao Zhengyang.

Cao Zhengyang nodded without hesitation.

A master defending his disciple is only natural—especially since Younger Brother Mo’s power has surged so greatly; he is the perfect choice to lead the charge.

“Approved!” Cao Zhengyang said, short and firm.

Mo Xingjian’s gaze toward Cao Zhengyang filled with gratitude.

“Leave the rest to us old ones!” Another voice drifted in calmly.

Turning, everyone saw eight figures descending from the sky.

Cao Zhengyang and the others froze, then immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully: “Greetings, Senior Uncles!”

Duanmu Shu and the others nodded slightly.

At that moment, an elderly man with snow-white hair but sharp eyes stepped forward, his face filled with shame.

“My breakthrough failed—I’m seething with rage, and Qingyu Immortal Sect has come to exterminate our Taiqingmen lineage. They must be destroyed!”

Supreme Elder Deng Wu declared, his face flushed with fury.

Cao Zhengyang’s expression flickered with disappointment.

Thus, both senior uncles who had attempted to refine the Nine You Lotus Seeds had failed.

The Break-Spirit realm truly isn’t easy.

I hope the other sects have suffered the same—otherwise, Taiqingmen will be at a severe disadvantage in future competition.

“Now, Taiqingmen will have nine Soul Transformation peak cultivators, while Qingyu Immortal Sect has only four left—one of whom Zhou Qing destroyed the body of!”

Tong Min of Jade Qing Peak’s eyes gleamed with excitement as she quickly calculated the power disparity and spoke.

Beyond that, Taiqingmen’s Soul Transformation cultivators outnumber Qingyu Immortal Sect by more than threefold—let alone the gap in junior disciples’ strength.

“Previously, our sect absorbed many cultivators from small and large sects across the Eastern Region—some seeking protection, others genuinely joining. This war will be a true test of their loyalty.”

Gao Xian spoke calmly, his gaze deep as he analyzed the current situation.

These new members will reveal their true intentions and strength in battle—something that, for Taiqingmen, is an opportunity.

Cao Zhengyang nodded, his expression grave. “Fine. Qingyu Immortal Sect provoked us first—don’t blame Taiqingmen for retaliating.”

Gao Xian added: “Since we’ve decided to go to war, we must strike with full force. But to prevent being stabbed in the back, I propose we first deploy Zhou Qing’s dual-colored sect-protection array.”

Cao Zhengyang paused briefly, then nodded in agreement: “Agreed. If Cangyan Dao Palace or the other two sects take advantage of our distraction, this array can buy us time to retreat.”

Gao Xian added: “Also, dismantle the ancient teleportation arrays left behind from the old three-sect alliance—prevent them from breaching us from within.”

Cao Zhengyang slapped his forehead. “Right! I nearly forgot. We must also station several senior uncles to protect the other five peak masters as they enter seclusion.”

Gao Xian continued: “This war won’t end quickly—be wary of the Linggu Ku Mountain people as well…”

Watching Cao Zhengyang and Gao Xian meticulously plan, Zhou Qing’s lips curled slightly upward.

Perhaps, compared to himself as young sect master, Gao Xian was far better suited to be the next Sect Master—his grasp of strategy and overall command was superior.

…

“Senior Brother Zhou, are you really alright?” Lu Yaoyao followed Zhou Qing back to Xiao Ling Peak, asking this question more than ten times already.

Zhou Qing laughed helplessly. “I’m truly fine, Lu Sister—stop worrying.”

After confirming he was unharmed, Lu Yaoyao’s eyes burned with fury. “I hate that woman—whether she’s real or not!”

She immediately pulled out a manual from her storage pouch, flipped to the first page, tore it off without hesitation, then crushed it into powder.

“W-what?” Zhou Qing didn’t understand.

“Nothing. I’m going back. I’m joining this battle too!” Lu Yaoyao’s eyes held firm resolve as she turned and left.

Yan Xiaohu, standing nearby, carefully closed the door, his face tinged with awe. “I never thought that old woman would stumble onto the right target by accident.”

Zhou Qing smiled bitterly, sighing softly.

Yan Xiaohu crept closer, curiosity burning in his eyes. “Wait—when did he return to Lingyun Mansion? Why was he in Qingyu Immortal Sect? Why did he help you?”

Zhou Qing frowned.

Ever since his actions at Baiyu Tai Xu Academy, this man had been impossible to read—and he still was.

Though he’d helped, caution was still necessary.

After seeing Yan Xiaohu off, Zhou Qing heard the urgent preparations outside. He first watered the Wudao Ancient Tea Tree with Flame Spirit Fluid, then began his own preparations.

Some things must be reclaimed by one’s own hands!

…

Linggu Ku Mountain!

Though the secret realm had shown no sign of opening in over a year, many still waited.

After all, a year meant nothing to Nascent Soul or Soul Transformation cultivators—it was but a drop in a thousand-year lifespan.

“Have you heard? Taiqingmen has a Four Flowers Summit cultivator here!”

“Four Flowers Summit? Really? Are you lying?”

“Why would I lie? It’s Zhou Qing. Can you believe it? He’s under forty and already at Soul Transformation!”

“Forty-year-old Soul Transformation? My god—I’ve spent a thousand years barely scraping into Soul Transformation! This is unbelievable!”

…

Soon, such whispers spread across countless corners of Linggu Ku Mountain, drawing attention from numerous Soul Transformation cultivators—and even the patriarchs of some sects.

“Four Flowers Summit? His future is guaranteed to reach Break-Spirit. How enviable.”

“Lingyun Mansion really is blessed with talent and spirit—years ago, there was a heavenly omen for a Five Flowers Summit, and now a Four Flowers Summit. I’d love to meet this fate-blessed one.”

“Actually, I heard there’s a mountain range called Canglan Mountain, where the legacy of an Ancient Peng King once appeared, drawing several Break-Spirit cultivators—including Prince Xuan Yuan Shuo from the imperial capital.”

“I know that—so what?”

“The Ancient Peng King’s secret technique was taken by Zhou Qing—the forbidden art of a Break-Spirit peak master!”

“Besides that, he also possesses the Jin Wu technique and the Su Ni technique—both rare divine arts.”

“My god—this kind of fortune is enough to make us all envious!”

…

Soon, many Soul Transformation cultivators stared at the silent, dark abyss before them, paused in thought, then quietly departed.

Those who had been speaking, seeing this, exchanged glances, then moved to a crowded spot and began loudly discussing again.

Taiqingmen!

With eight Supreme Elders now joining, Zhou Qing’s dual-colored sect-protection array was finally completed after three days.

Coupled with vast quantities of supreme and superior spirit stones as energy sources, even a combined assault by multiple Soul Transformation cultivators couldn’t crack it for a long time.

“Report to the Sect Master, all peak warships have been inspected!”

“All disciples have assembled and are ready to depart at any moment!”

“Some disciples recruited in recent years, upon hearing of war, have secretly fled. As per your orders, we’ve opened the mountain gates—currently over thirty thousand have left!”

“The watchers monitoring Qingyu Immortal Sect report they’ve sealed their mountain gates; internal conditions remain unknown.”

“The Jin Leizong Sect Master expressed profound outrage over Qingyu Immortal Sect’s malicious framing and has sent word: they will offer no aid.”

“Cangyan Dao Palace and Tianji Gate remain silent for now.”

……

One message after another converged; Cao Zhengyang and Gao Xian worked in perfect harmony, methodically handling all pre-battle preparations.

After careful deliberation, they decided to leave three Supreme Elders and forty percent of the disciples at Taiqingmen to guard the sect and oversee the cultivation seclusion of the remaining five Peak Masters.

The rest would all march out and head straight for Qingyu Immortal Sect.

Once, Cangyan Dao Palace shattered Qingyu Immortal Sect’s mountain gates in a single night; this time, Taiqingmen, even in direct confrontation, would not yield to Cangyan Dao Palace.

They must pay a terrible price for this.

At the Taiqingmen plaza, Cao Zhengyang stood in midair, clad in a black robe, his sleeves snapping in the wind.

Opposite him stood a dense array of warships, disciplined rows of disciples, and beasts—flying in circles overhead, roaring from the ground—serving as mounts.

These warships were forged entirely of refined steel, their surfaces inscribed with defensive and offensive talismans, now poised like iron behemoths ready to strike.

Their sails billowed high; the massive Taiqingmen banner flapped violently in the wind, emitting a loud “whoosh-whoosh.”

Cao Zhengyang drew a deep breath, his voice booming like a great bell: “Disciples of Taiqingmen! Qingyu Immortal Sect murdered our Granary Department Chief, Li Bin, and sought to exterminate our next Sect Master, Zhou Qing!”

“They don’t just want to starve us—they aim to obliterate our sect’s lineage and future. Such evil cannot be tolerated!”

“Damn it, they really think we’re easy prey? If we don’t seek justice now, how will we ever stand in the Eastern Region again?”

As he spoke, Cao Zhengyang drew his longsword from his waist and pointed it skyward.

“This battle is for Taiqingmen’s honor—and to make it known to all: any disciple of Taiqingmen is not to be bullied at will, not even by the other Four Great Sects!”

Cao Zhengyang’s voice echoed across the heavens, igniting fierce passion in every disciple.

“For Taiqingmen!”

“Blood for blood!”

The disciples, eyes blazing with battle lust, roared in unison—their collective cry thundered like a million lightning strikes, shaking the very air around them.

Zhou Qing watched it all in silence, his heart filled with emotion.

These were the family he vowed to protect.

“Li Bin—he—” Yan Xiaohu approached Zhou Qing, hesitating, words caught in his throat.

Zhou Qing shook his head. “At his final moment, he protected me. And over these years, he never once withheld rations from any disciple of our sect. Dust to dust, earth to earth—let him rest as Du Kui did.”

Hearing this, Lu Yaoyao beside him could only gaze in pure admiration.

See—this is true magnanimity!

“Then let us depart!”

Cao Zhengyang roared, leaping onto the flagship. The entire fleet, like a great iron dragon, rumbled to life and moved toward the mountain gates.

“Sect Master—something’s wrong!”

At that moment, Elder Wu Zhu rushed over, face pale with alarm.

Cao Zhengyang frowned. “What is it?”

Wu Zhu swallowed hard. “T-the mountain gates—there are hundreds of strangers outside!”

Cao Zhengyang, puzzled, exchanged glances with the others, then led the group out in full force.

……

Outside the mountain gates, over three hundred Soul Transformation cultivators had gathered, with countless Nascent Soul and Jin Dan cultivators among them.

Since Lingku Mountain yielded no results, they’d come here for the spectacle.

Besides, they all wanted to see for themselves: what did the legendary Three Flowers Converging on the Crown really look like?

The instigators, Ji Xuan and Yun Jing, had quietly hidden among the crowd, eager to observe how their gift to Taiqingmen would unfold.

If even this fails to stop them, Qingyu Immortal Sect is truly doomed.

But then, Taiqingmen’s barrier suddenly flared with emerald and crimson light—every face turned pale.

“A two-color formation? Taiqingmen truly lives up to its status as one of the Eastern Region’s dominant powers—how extravagant.”

“Didn’t you hear the rumors? Zhou Qing, under Lin Daochen’s tutelage, became the ninth Level-Two Array Master of the Sacred Martial Empire in less than five years.”

“You mean this formation was crafted by Zhou Qing?”

“Very likely. Even if not, it was surely gifted by Lin Daochen—he’s now a Level-Three Array Master.”

……

As the crowd buzzed, massive warships began slowly emerging from the mountain gates.

Especially the disciples aboard—each radiating fierce battle intent, exuding an aura of invincibility.

The crowd’s expressions darkened; they instinctively stepped back.

Come on—it’s just a spectacle! Are you really preparing for war?

You’re one of the Five Great Powers of the Eastern Region—do you really resort to life-or-death conflict over a single word?

Ji Xuan and Yun Jing, hidden in the crowd, felt their hearts sink—their faces turned grim.

Clearly, Taiqingmen was preparing to attack Qingyu Immortal Sect.

As more warships emerged, several overwhelming Soul Transformation Peak auras swept through the crowd.

Soon, a figure leapt onto a warship, knelt, and reported everything.

Cao Zhengyang’s face turned icy.

No need to ask—it was obvious Qingyu Immortal Sect was behind this.

This was an open, brazen scheme.

The Three Flowers Converging on the Crown—its future potential was at least Zhan Ling Realm, limitless.

You thought these people came to make alliances?

Wrong—terribly wrong!!!

How many spend their entire lives chasing Soul Transformation, enduring unimaginable suffering, only to die with no hope in sight, reduced to dust.

Then suddenly, a young man emerges—during Foundation Establishment, he absorbs the top-ranked Yin-Yang Qi from Heaven’s Qi.

During Nascent Soul formation, he successfully crystallizes the top-ranked Heavenly-grade Nascent Soul: Three Flowers Converging on the Crown.

His path ahead is smooth—he effortlessly crosses the very abyss they could only dream of.

Will you rejoice for him?

Even close kin feel resentment when faced with such vast talent disparity.

Why must I fade silently into oblivion, dying in bitterness, while he walks farther, sees worlds we could never imagine?

Why must I vanish in silence, dying with bitter resentment, while you go further, seeing worlds they could never even imagine?

And if the Three Flowers Converging on the Crown never grows strong, he’ll be just like us.

Hunting prodigies can sometimes be quite entertaining.

Watching Qingyu Immortal Sect deploy such a vile scheme, Cao Zhengyang clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked. He turned to Zhou Qing and Mo Xingjian on the deck.

Seeing the Qingyu Immortal Sect employ such a vile scheme, Cao Zhengyang clenched his fists until they cracked, then turned to look at Zhou Qing and Mo Xingjian beside the deck.

Without a word, Cao Zhengyang stepped forward, scanning the crowd, his voice thunderous:

“All of you! Just days ago, Qingyu Immortal Sect murdered our Granary Department Chief, Li Bin, and attempted to assassinate our next Sect Master, Zhou Qing!”

“Such evil defies Heaven’s justice!”

“Therefore, our sect has resolved to launch a genocidal war. And I’ve only just learned Zhou Qing is the so-called Three Flowers Converging on the Crown.”

Here, Cao Zhengyang paused, his cold gaze sweeping the crowd, laced with mockery and disdain.

“You’ve all lived for over a thousand years. You’ve seen enough scheming and deceit. Surely you’re not blind to such a transparent trick?”

“We’ve all lived for over a thousand years; we’ve seen plenty of deceit and treachery in daily life. At a moment like this, you can’t possibly fail to see through such a simple trick.”

No wonder Taiqingmen’s warships poured out so massively—it was war they were preparing for!

The struggle in Haomiao Prefecture still raged; they’d thought Lingyun Prefecture had settled, only for new turmoil to erupt.

Some sharp-minded cultivators suddenly understood: the so-called Three Flowers Converging on the Crown was clearly a lie.

Qingyu Immortal Sect merely sought to sow chaos, confuse the situation, and obstruct Taiqingmen’s advance.

But some still harbored doubt. A few Soul Transformation Peak elders opened their mouths to question—when suddenly, a young figure stepped onto the deck.

Zhou Qing stood tall, his face resolute. After scanning the crowd, he clasped his fists and spoke clearly:

“I am Zhou Qing—the one rumored to be the Three Flowers Converging on the Crown. But we have urgent war to attend to; I will not elaborate further.”

With that, under the crowd’s bewildered stares, he raised his hand decisively.

“I, Zhou Qing, swear by the Dao of Heaven: if I am truly the Three Flowers Converging on the Crown, my cultivation shall never advance again—I shall forever sever my path of cultivation!”

The crowd’s expressions shifted.

Youngsters are so impulsive—we just came to look, and now you’re swearing oaths?

Zhou Qing had no desire to waste words with them—but he feared this rumor would bring unnecessary trouble to his sect.

After weighing his options, he chose this desperate measure.

Because he was never the Three Flowers Converging on the Crown—he was the Four Flowers!

And now, this was an opportunity: even if his cultivation advanced at breakneck speed in the future, no one would ever suspect him again.

Moreover, this is now an opportunity; even if his cultivation advances rapidly in the future, no one will suspect him of this.

The next moment, Mo Xingjian stepped forward and stood firmly beside Zhou Qing.

His aura surged violently, and in an instant he unleashed the full power of a Soul Transformation realm, creating an invisible pressure.

“I am Zhou Qing’s master, peak lord of Xiao Ling Peak of Taiqingmen. I swear here and now: if my disciple Zhou Qing is anything like the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, may I die a wretched death!”

Hearing this, Zhou Qing immediately turned to look at his master, his eyes filled with emotion and worry.

The others were equally stunned; no wonder such a hot-headed disciple had emerged—his master was fiercely protective and decisive.

Forget it, there’s nothing left to watch—it’s obvious now.

All of them had been tricked by the Qingyu Immortal Sect of this place.

Ji Xuan and Yun Jing in the crowd also widened their eyes in shock, unable to believe what they were seeing.

Had they been wrong all along?

(End of Chapter)