Chapter 266

As the youth finished shouting, a thick, sickly yellow torrent surging with endless filth suddenly erupted from the sky, roaring like a primordial beast enraged as it charged toward the black-robed man.

Seeing this, the black-robed man turned pale, spat violently, then immediately retreated, quickly forming a protective shield with the other five.

When the two sides collided, the explosion was too grotesque to describe—Zhou Qing felt another wave of nausea.

He immediately steered his flying vessel aside to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

This was a brand-new flying vessel; if it got stained with that sickly yellow gunk, he’d be sick to his stomach.

By the way, didn’t Shen Hanyi come too?

She said the next time we met, she’d give me some gifts as thanks.

I don’t want anything else—just a hundred or so wood-element spirit stones would be fine.

“You’re a Soul Transformation cultivator—why are you throwing shit at us?”

“Damn it, how the hell did this guy master such a grotesque realm?”

“Are you all okay? This was a total disaster… puke~ what’s this in my mouth? Enoki mushrooms?”

…

The group cursed bitterly, faces filled with resentment and frustration, hastily using spiritual power to purge the sticky filth clinging to them.

Then, eyes blazing with malice, they once again closed in Moqi ly, trapping the youth at the center, determined to take him down at all costs.

Yet the youth showed no fear; his gaze swept over the stubborn opponents, lips curling into a mocking smirk.

He coldly said, “You’ve all been practicing Grain Grain Bigu for so long—you really thought I had no tricks left? Hmph, utterly foolish!”

With that, he let out a derisive laugh: “This time, let you taste my ultimate technique—Shit From Nothing.”

As he spoke, the youth reeled backward, merging himself into the earth-yellow realm behind him.

Hearing the name of this technique, the five instantly turned ghastly pale, flashes of panic crossing their eyes.

After all, their earlier battle had already been nausea incarnate—nausea on top of nausea, nausea to the extreme.

Now this so-called ultimate technique—just the name alone reeked of indescribable revulsion.

And with Zhou Qing watching them like a predator nearby, their confidence crumbled further.

Forget it. This guy’s got real power—even five against one, they couldn’t beat him. His origins must be extraordinary.

No need to get covered in filth—no, in stench.

Still, it was hard to let go.

After a brief silence, one black-robed man gritted his teeth and muttered, “This guy’s too tough—retreat!”

The others agreed instantly, leaping onto the nearby black flying vessel and speeding away.

Meanwhile, the youth cautiously poked his head out from the earth-yellow realm.

He scanned the surroundings warily, confirmed the five black-robed men were truly gone, then smirked.

He murmured softly, “That’s it? You thought you could ambush me? Don’t you know your own worth?”

Then he turned to Zhou Qing, his expression instantly brightening. He dismissed his realm and bowed with both hands across the distance.

“I’m Shen Yunzhou. Thank you today—I don’t know your name, sir?”

Zhou Qing nodded slightly in return, smiling warmly. “You’re too kind, Brother Shen. I’m just a lone cultivator.”

“Since you’re now safe, I have urgent matters to attend to—I’ll take my leave.”

Zhou Qing still didn’t know the youth’s true purpose, so he felt it best to avoid further contact.

With that, he turned to activate his flying vessel and continue his journey.

Shen Yunzhou immediately pulled out ten supreme spirit stones.

“Brother, if you won’t reveal your name, please take these ten spirit stones—it was the agreed-upon reward.”

As he spoke, he channeled spiritual power and gently pushed the stones toward Zhou Qing’s vessel—they floated gently through the air.

Zhou Qing looked at the ten spirit stones, expression calm.

“Brother Shen, I never truly helped you. I appreciate your kindness, but our meeting is fate—I’d like to give you one piece of advice.”

“Those men targeted you because you’re too lavish with your spending.”

“When traveling, never flaunt your wealth. The world is full of treachery—don’t invite disaster through carelessness.”

He was indeed short on funds, but he knew what to take and what not to take.

This fool must’ve been coddled his whole life—his behavior mirrors Zhang Wanbao’s, pure-hearted.

That’s why he had the leisure to cultivate such a revolting realm.

In this fourth-tier cultivation country, resources are far scarcer than in fifth-tier ones—caution and humility are essential.

“Keep your spirit stones,” Zhou Qing added. “Save them for your cultivation—they’ll serve you well.”

Seeing Zhou Qing’s firm refusal, Shen Yunzhou’s admiration deepened.

A lone cultivator, unmoved by the offer of supreme spirit stones—holding fast to his principles.

Such unshakable resolve and noble character were exceedingly rare.

“Meeting by fate—that’s beautifully said! My sister always speaks of ‘fate.’ Brother, your righteousness leaves me in awe!”

Shen Yunzhou exclaimed.

Zhou Qing nodded, said no more, channeled spiritual power, and activated his flying vessel to depart.

“Could Shen Hanyi have come specifically to repay a debt—and brought her brother along?”

Zhou Qing mused inwardly.

If so, he didn’t need anything else—just a large quantity of supreme wood-element spirit stones.

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing immediately sped up.

About half a day later, a piercing whistle suddenly pierced the silent clouds.

Zhou Qing opened his eyes slowly, gazing toward the sound—and froze.

“Hey, brother! We meet again! Looks like we’re headed the same way!” On the deck of the flying vessel, Shen Yunzhou waved enthusiastically, beaming.

Zhou Qing’s eyes flickered with suspicion.

Could this guy also be heading to Taiqingmen?

But maybe not—countless paths lay ahead, countless destinations. Maybe it was just coincidence.

Zhou Qing nodded politely in response to Shen Yunzhou’s greeting.

“Then I’ll take my leave—fate will bring us together again!”

Shen Yunzhou sensed Zhou Qing’s distance. To avoid awkwardness, he instantly accelerated his vessel.

In an instant, the flying vessel shrank into a tiny black dot and vanished into the boundless sea of clouds ahead.

Zhou Qing watched Shen Yunzhou’s retreating form, shook his head slightly, and smiled faintly.

This scene reminded him of the flying vessel from No. 6—identical in material and performance, both top-tier masterpieces.

Back when Shen Hanyi was injured, he had piloted that vessel all the way from Haidao into the human frontier—he knew its capabilities well.

“But—”

Zhou Qing gently stroked the deck beneath his feet, smiling softly.

“No gold nest, no silver nest—better than your own dog’s den. You’re quite good too. This was forged by my master’s uncle himself.”

…

Ten days later!

A flying vessel landed steadily before the gates of Mount Taiqingmen. Elder Wu Zhu immediately led a group out to greet them.

Seeing people approach, Shen Yunzhou swiftly tucked away his jade map of the route, bowed respectfully, and asked, “May I ask, friend, is this Taiqingmen?”

Elder Wu Zhu’s gaze was sharp, his expression grave as he studied the young man before him.

He was young, his face still youthful, yet possessed the astonishing cultivation base of late Soul Transformation.

Though he deliberately suppressed his aura, the invisible pressure he exuded made Elder Wu Zhu feel a faint tremor in his heart.

Elder Wu Zhu inwardly marveled, but his face remained impassive.

He raised a hand and pointed to the ancient, massive stone at the mountain gate. “Correct. This is Taiqingmen. May I ask who you are?”

Shen Yunzhou followed his gesture and noticed the three ancient characters carved into the stone—“Taiqingmen.” His face lit up with delight.

“I’m Shen Yunzhou. I’ve traveled thousands of miles to visit an benefactor—his name is Zhou Qing. Is he training here?”

Elder Wu Zhu frowned slightly, puzzled.

Benefactor?

That boy Zhou Qing has more enemies than allies—when did he become a benefactor?

“The Young Master is not currently at the mountain gate—he’s out on a cultivation journey.”

Elder Wu Zhu studied Shen Yunzhou cautiously. “May I ask what this ‘benefit’ you speak of entails?”

Hearing Zhou Qing was away, Shen Yunzhou’s eyes dimmed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

Young Master?

So his benefactor holds a high position.

He replied, “It’s nothing major—only he himself knows the details. When will he return?”

Elder Wu Zhu shook his head. “The Young Master never reports his whereabouts. I cannot estimate his return.”

Shen Yunzhou fell silent, brow furrowing.

Then he looked again at Elder Wu Zhu, suspicion rising in his mind.

Put himself in the elder’s place: if a stranger suddenly appeared, claiming to be the Young Master’s benefactor with no known origin, wouldn’t he be cautious too?

Perhaps Zhou Qing wasn’t truly on a journey—perhaps the sect was simply hiding his location for security.

Gathering his thoughts, Shen Yunzhou spoke again: “Just now, as I came up, I noticed a city at the foot of your mountain.”

"Since Brother Zhou has not yet returned from his trials, I would not dare to disturb your sect’s quiet cultivation. I plan to stay first in the city at the foot of the mountain, awaiting Brother Zhou’s return."

He paused briefly, his gaze sincere as he looked at Elder Wu Zhu, then continued: "When he returns, please tell him the four words: 'Silver-Haired Ugly Woman.' He will immediately understand my identity and purpose."

Elder Wu Zhu nodded.

This man spoke with courtesy and acted thoughtfully—he did not seem to harbor ill intent.

But the matter is too grave to overlook.

I should inform Master Mo Feng at once, for greater safety.

"Rest assured, if the Young Master returns, I will surely deliver the message," said Elder Wu Zhu.

"The city at the foot of the mountain is called Yanlong City. Our Taiqingmen owns many enterprises and informants there."

"If you encounter any difficulties in the city, go to the Qingfeng Tower, show this Taiqing Token, and someone will assist you."

As he spoke, Elder Wu Zhu withdrew a token engraved with the Taiqingmen emblem and handed it to Shen Yunzhou.

The Young Master has been away for over a month now; I truly cannot guess when he will return.

If Shen Yunzhou’s words are true and he truly came to repay a debt, as host, Taiqingmen must not fail in propriety or slight our guest.

After all, in the cultivation world, broad connections are vital; forming one more good bond means one more source of aid.

More importantly, Shen Yunzhou is so young—and yet already at the late Nascent Soul realm.

In the cultivation world, strength is always tied to resources and background.

To reach this realm at such an age, his family or sect must possess profound depth—far from ordinary.

Though Taiqingmen is a notable sect, in this age of countless experts, befriending such a power brings only benefits, no harm.

Shen Yunzhou quickly accepted with both hands and thanked: "Thank you, Elder! Yunzhou will not bring trouble to your sect."

After Shen Yunzhou took his leave, Elder Wu Zhu watched his retreating figure, then withdrew his identity token and reported the incident to Cao Zhengyang and Mo Xingjian.

Both were puzzled, but Elder Wu Zhu’s actions were not inappropriate.

After all, several Peak Masters are currently in critical seclusion for breakthroughs—any outside interference must be avoided.

Moreover, the death of the Fifth Imperial Prince has drawn the attention of the Prefect and the Lord of the Prefecture, plunging the entire situation into chaos.

At this critical moment, it is indeed unwise to allow an unknown stranger into the sect—better to avoid complications.

Still, given that Zhou Qing now has a flying vessel forged with the sect’s finest resources, barring unforeseen mishaps, he should return within these few days.

Then we will know for certain.

…

Twenty days later, Zhou Qing finally returned successfully.

The flying vessel landed steadily; Zhou Qing’s figure flashed forward, hurrying toward Elder Wu Zhu, who had come to greet him.

His eyes brimmed with urgency as he asked at once: "Elder, has someone come to the sect?"

Elder Wu Zhu froze for a moment, then his eyes flickered with understanding. He nodded immediately: "Yes. It seems he did not lie."

Zhou Qing’s excitement surged instantly; his voice rose involuntarily as he pressed: "Silver hair?"

Elder Wu Zhu hurried to reply: "Yes, yes—he also said…"

Before Elder Wu Zhu could finish, Zhou Qing could no longer contain his excitement—he spun around and sprinted up the mountain.

Soon after, upon hearing the full story from Mo Xingjian, Zhou Qing let out a hollow laugh.

It was all for nothing—he had thought it was Number Six.

Helplessly, Zhou Qing calmed himself and returned to the mountain gate.

He asked whether the young man had arrived riding a dull yellow flying vessel.

Upon receiving Elder Wu Zhu’s confirmation, Zhou Qing finally knew the visitor was indeed Shen Yunzhou.

"Silver-Haired Ugly Woman? Do all younger brothers think their sisters are ugly?" Zhou Qing chuckled softly to himself.

His mind instantly conjured Shen Hanyi’s cold, noble appearance—her silver hair cascading like a waterfall, her aura ethereal and detached.

She bore no resemblance whatsoever to an "ugly woman."

Of course, Number Six had always worn a veil—he had never seen her true face.

But judging by half the characters, it was probably close enough.

"Thank you, Elder Wu Zhu!" Zhou Qing then turned and headed toward Yanlong City.

Perhaps,

When he reached Yanlong City, the streets teemed with crowds, noisy and bustling.

Standing among them, Zhou Qing gazed at the vibrant scene before him—and for a moment, felt disoriented.

It felt as if the Five Sects’ Treasure Exchange Fair had only just ended.

After inquiring, Zhou Qing quickly found Shen Yunzhou’s current lodging.

"What? He’s already left?" Zhou Qing’s face showed astonishment.

The shopkeeper nodded: "He left five days ago."

Zhou Qing paused, then asked: "Did he leave any message or item behind?"

The shopkeeper shook his head: "No. That day, someone dragged a rotting beast corpse past the door—terribly foul-smelling."

"He heard the commotion and rushed out immediately. He paid a high price to buy the corpse and carefully inquired about where it was found. After that, he never returned."

Zhou Qing stared, stunned.

Helplessly, he returned to Taiqingmen, half-laughing, half-sighing.

He came seeking me—and mentioned Number Six’s appearance. He must have heard something from her.

I should’ve just told him my real name when we met on the road—saved all this trouble.

…

Back at the sect, Zhou Qing’s first act was to return to his quiet chamber and carefully retrieve the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree.

During the month-long journey, the ancient tree, nourished by the Spirit Gathering Array and abundant spirit stones, had fully restored to its peak state.

Now it stood silently in its pot, branches and leaves spread wide, exuding a rich, ethereal aura.

"Though I’ve only grasped a single thread of the Phoenix Dao Pattern, its power is evident."

"But it consumes too much spiritual power. At my current realm, I can only cast it once before being utterly drained."

"So whether I grasp one thread or two—there’s essentially no difference."

Zhou Qing murmured to himself, then fixed his gaze on the glowing green ancient tree—and made a decision.

"My primary goal now is to acquire wealth. If Brother Wanbao helps me obtain Wood-element spirit stones, but I lack the funds to exchange for them, I’ll have betrayed his kindness."

Zhou Qing frowned deeply, his expression grave.

"An array master is a money-consuming profession—but also a money-making one. Crafting powerful arrays not only saves your life in critical moments, but can also be sold, creating a virtuous cycle."

With this thought, Zhou Qing no longer hesitated. He sat cross-legged, adjusted his breath, and sank his spirit into his spiritual sense.

He also embraced the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree, beginning to comprehend the array heritage left by Master Xuanqingzi…

Time slipped by swiftly—a month passed.

In the quiet chamber, Zhou Qing was enveloped in a brilliant glow; over two thousand spirit seals orbited him, slowly rotating.

Each seal emitted a unique aura, interweaving and reflecting one another in breathtaking beauty.

But if counted precisely, there were exactly two thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine seals—just one short of the sacred number three thousand.

Three thousand spirit seals were the hallmark of a Level Three Array Master.

Yet in the next instant, Zhou Qing shuddered violently—a spiritual vortex suddenly formed at his third eye.

Another spirit seal was slowly coalescing within the vortex—and faintly, it glowed red.

Clearly, another rare seal had been painstakingly imitated and comprehended by Zhou Qing.

As time quietly passed, the three-thousandth spirit seal finally fully formed.

In an instant, an ancient, primordial aura erupted from Zhou Qing’s body—thick with the essence of array art, as if forged by an ancient Array Master of antiquity, inspiring awe.

Simultaneously, the newly formed seal resonated with the other two thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine, unleashing a deafening roar.

In that same moment, a blinding beam of light shot from the quiet chamber straight into the heavens.

It turned the entire sky into a radiant golden hue.

This extraordinary phenomenon immediately drew the attention of Mo Xingjian atop the peak.

His expression changed instantly; with a light toe-tap, he reappeared above Zhou Qing’s dwelling.

Before he could recover, Sect Master Cao Zhengyang and several Supreme Elders also arrived, hovering in midair, faces grim and puzzled.

After all, Taiqingmen was in a critical period—any disturbance could send nerves taut.

And Zhou Qing’s Xiao Ling Peak was the focal point, under intense scrutiny.

"Is that… array spirit seals?" Mu Du Shu stared at the glowing seals and gasped.

"Look—the number of seals—" one Peak Master’s voice trembled as he warned.

All stared closely, murmuring as they counted: "One… two… five hundred… one thousand… three… three thousand…"

When they confirmed the count reached three thousand, everyone froze—stunned, unable to believe it.

Three thousand spirit seals were the symbol of a Level Three Array Master!

When Zhou Qing returned from Baiyu Tai Xu Court, he had only one thousand seals. How in just a few years had he gathered three thousand?

The elders exchanged glances—first shock, then instant elation.

They never imagined Zhou Qing possessed such terrifying talent in array arts.

Wonderful! Wonderful! Taiqingmen’s ancestral graves must be smoking!

Mo Xingjian, standing aloft beside them, trembled with excitement, his eyes brimming with pride and satisfaction.

Others could not help cheering—but quickly hushed each other, signaling silence, lest they disturb Zhou Qing.

At this moment, more and more disciples from the Lesser Spirit Peaks were awakened by the sudden brilliant light, rushing out from their quarters and gazing upward toward the source of the glow.

Mu Xingshu saw this and immediately signaled to the other peak masters; several of them understood at once and turned away to prevent anyone from approaching rashly.

“Fall back! Do not disturb him!” Mu Xingshu whispered.

The crowd awoke as from a dream and scattered quickly, all the while remaining alert to their surroundings, guarding against any mishap.

At this moment, the other peak masters all looked at Mo Xingjian, their eyes filled with envy.

Mo brother (senior), you’ve truly taken on an excellent disciple!

(End of Chapter)