Chapter 300: Was it this person who gave you the image stone? (6k)

Lu Yaoyao's mind again surfaced with Shen Hanyi and Xuan Yuan Muqian.

She was really curious, which one of them would daddy eventually produce a love child with?

No, maybe there's also that female Bodhisattva from Jiyuan Temple.

Sometimes, she really wanted to confide the secrets in her heart to daddy, but do you think he would believe it?

Should she have her soul searched to prove the truth?

Taking a step back, even if he believed it, knowing that she would have such a miserable life in the future, would he change anything in advance?

Changing it doesn't matter; she would rather she herself disappear than let daddy live a miserable life.

But what if the other path chosen later is even more bitter?

Even, in a certain sense, she didn't know how she came here?

That day, daddy went out as usual to lure the Demon Emperor that was chasing them, and didn't come back for several days.

Without a foundation for cultivation, she hid in that cold and damp cave, and was really too hungry to bear it, so she carefully came out to find food.

She walked for a long, long time in that ancient forest, and was already lost; finally, she didn't know what she stepped on, and as the light flickered, she lost consciousness.

When she opened her eyes again, she was falling from a height of tens of thousands of meters, and the wind was howling in her ears.

Until she smashed into the sea and met her master who happened to be on a mission in that area, only then was she brought back to the Taiqing Sect.

Subsequently, she officially began cultivation and met this young daddy before her.

"Even if we recognize each other, what help can I be to him?" Lu Yaoyao muttered in her heart.

Although the days ahead were bitter, at least daddy was already in the Soul Severance realm and could handily kill Demon Emperors.

What if she rashly changed his life trajectory and he couldn't reach that realm?

Moreover, since she had come to an earlier point in time, she still wanted to know who her mother actually was?

Why did daddy never mention it?

Why was he chased by so many Demon Emperors?

And since she could remember, she had never seen her mother.

And the Taiqing Sect, such a good big family, why didn't daddy foster her there at that time?

After all, in a certain sense, little her was like a drag, unable to help daddy with anything.

"Here, these spirit stones are fine; remember in the future, don't show off your wealth, don't show off your riches, and don't travel alone if you are noble!"

Just then, Zhou Qing's voice suddenly sounded, pulling her back from her thoughts.

"That Shen Huangmao is a typical example; you must never learn from him!" Zhou Qing instructed sternly again.

Lu Yaoyao laughed out loud, nodding her head, responding crisply: "Don't worry, how could I become a person like him!"

After speaking, she collected the spirit stones.

Soon she thought of something and hurriedly took out her portable sketchbook, dipping the tip of her pen in pine soot ink, and began to outline the various adventures of the two in recent days.

Perhaps this would be of great help to her comprehension of the realm of understanding.

Just like that, until five days later, Zhou Qing unexpectedly discovered that Lu Yaoyao, who had been fully immersed in her own world of painting, actually had a faint prototype of a realm of understanding appear around her.

This made his pupils flash with brilliance.

He didn't expect that Junior Sister Lu's path had actually been walked through by her.

For a moment, he didn't know whether to be happy or worried.

If it was really as she said, the future realm of understanding was to summon him out to fight the enemy, this situation felt strange just thinking about it.

Swish!

Just at this moment, a sound of breaking through the air suddenly came from the front, so fast that it whistled past them directly.

Zhou Qing looked at that earthy yellow flying boat and scratched his head; why did it feel so familiar?

Just as he was thinking, that flying boat hurriedly turned its bow 360 degrees and came over.

"May I ask Fellow Daoist, have you seen... Brother Zhou? My goodness, you are actually here? You really made me look hard!"

On the flying boat, a familiar raspy voice suddenly came.

Immediately after, Shen Yunzhou was full of surprise, hurriedly jumping over from his flying boat while howling.

But the next moment, he was bounced off by the spiritual power shield on Zhou Qing's flying boat that hadn't had time to be withdrawn.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing sighed helplessly, turned his head to Lu Yaoyao, who had just put away her sketchbook, and said: "Remember, you must never learn from him at any time!"

Soon, Shen Yunzhou climbed up from below and knocked on the shield excitedly.

After Zhou Qing unlocked it, he immediately rolled in, opened his arms, and wanted to give Zhou Qing a bear hug.

But he was hurriedly blocked by Zhou Qing's hand.

You still have that disgusting corpse stench on you right now, don't you dare infect me.

Shen Yunzhou looked extremely happy; after being rejected by Zhou Qing, he turned and pounced toward Lu Yaoyao.

Lu Yaoyao "swished" and hid behind Zhou Qing, pinching her nose and saying with disgust: "Don't come over! You stink to death!"

Shen Yunzhou was somewhat embarrassed, but still hurriedly said: "It's so good to see you're okay; you don't know how worried I've been during this time!"

He circled around the two, confirmed that their limbs were intact and unharmed, and suddenly glared, looking around with gritted teeth.

"Where is Yan Sen? Where is that beast Yan Sen?!"

Hearing this, Zhou Qing raised his brows, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "How do you know about Yan Sen?"

Shen Yunzhou had no choice but to explain quickly, especially about the border area; he had asked around for a long time before he knew that the territory of the Demon Emperor Qingluo Beast was a sea area.

But this sea area was too big, and the islands within were countless; he had been searching for several days and couldn't determine the location of the Kunpeng Palace.

But he didn't expect to run into them here.

Zhou Qing and Lu Yaoyao didn't expect that Shen Yunzhou's Soul Formation amplification was so strange.

It was almost equivalent to time backtracking.

If this were in the mortal world to solve cases, he would be a proper detective!

Promotion and salary increase would not be a dream at all!

"They should be dead!" Since Shen Yunzhou already knew that the two of them had been kidnapped, Zhou Qing simply told the truth.

Of course, it wasn't that he killed them, but that the other party didn't come out on time after entering the mystical realm.

Anyway, Number Six Shen Hanyi knew the special rules of the Kunpeng Mystical Realm.

As for the vision of the Soul Severance fall in the Demon Emperor Qingluo Beast's territory, who could believe it was Yan Weiyi's?

I think even the Qingluo Beast wouldn't look for trouble for itself.

After hearing Zhou Qing's words, Shen Yunzhou burst into laughter.

"They truly deserve it, letting you be greedy; back then they pitted me into that mystical realm, and I hadn't even settled the account with him, yet now they've folded inside themselves! It's truly the cycle of heaven!"

After Shen Yunzhou finished cursing, he frowned again.

"That Eighth Uncle you mentioned should be Yan Weiyi, a late-stage Soul Severance realm expert, a four-color array master; if both uncle and nephew fell here, then it's troublesome!"

Shen Yunzhou said this and immediately looked at Zhou Qing.

"In the Tianyun Holy Dynasty Nanhuang Prefecture, there are eight major super families, among which the Yan family ranks third, and my Shen family is only fifth; that Yan Sen... forget it, it seems I have to hurry back."

Looking at the usually frivolous Shen Yunzhou's solemn expression, Lu Yaoyao stepped forward somewhat worriedly and said: "Is it very serious?"

"More than serious!" Shen Yunzhou lowered his voice, "The Yan family has an ancestor who loves Yan Sen the most, and his father only has this one seedling; fortunately, he has been in seclusion for many years."

"Now I only hope that Yan Sen and Yan Weiyi, this uncle and nephew, didn't tell anyone else when they came here; otherwise, let alone you, I'm afraid my sister won't be able to stay out of it."

Subsequently, Shen Yunzhou looked at Zhou Qing and said solemnly: "Remember, you two have never seen them from beginning to end, and they have never kidnapped you."

"I have to go back and discuss it with my sister, and by the way, ask if those two left any clues when they came."

"If someone comes to investigate later, you must also pretend to be completely ignorant; if you can avoid contact, try to avoid contact."

Shen Yunzhou paused and added: "Of course, don't be nervous; this is just the worst-case scenario."

"Perhaps no one knows where these two went; Yan Sen and Yan Weiyi have always been selfish."

Facing Shen Yunzhou's kindness, Zhou Qing and the other nodded repeatedly, indicating they understood.

"No, I asked a few border soldiers about the Qingluo Beast sea area when I came; I have to go back and erase their memories."

"You two hurry back too, try not to let anyone discover you've been here!"

After Shen Yunzhou finished speaking, he drove the flying boat and left hurriedly.

Zhou Qing and Lu Yaoyao looked at each other; the relaxed mood from surviving the disaster was, after being messed up by this guy, replaced by a stone pressing on their hearts.

But soon, Shen Yunzhou turned back and stood on the deck, bowing apologetically to Zhou Qing and Lu Yaoyao.

"This matter was caused by us siblings dragging you into it; when there is a suitable opportunity in the future, we will definitely repay you!"

After Shen Yunzhou finished speaking, a smile appeared on his face.

"Brother Zhou, Sister Lu, see you later!"

Zhou Qing smiled and waved at him.

Only after watching Shen Yunzhou leave did the two let out a long breath and head toward the border.

……

Passing by the Blood Prison Mountain of the Jiao Emperor, this place was still shrouded in the heavy gloomy clouds left behind when the Spider Emperor fell, and a suffocating repressive aura permeated the world.

However, ever since he disguised himself as the Peng Emperor last time and, according to Xuan Yuan Shuo's instructions, designated this area as a place for border cultivators of the human race to train, it had become much livelier.

Looking from afar, one could see many human soldiers in uniform armor coming in and out.

"Let's go!" Zhou Qing didn't approach, just scanned it lightly, then took Lu Yaoyao to hide their auras and take a detour.

Haomiao Mansion!

Zhou Qing changed into a new outfit and went to visit Lin Daochen.

Lin Daochen was somewhat guilty now; it had been so long, and he still hadn't helped Zhou Qing find clues about his Second Yuan Shijie.

"It's okay, no rush, perhaps my Second Yuan Shijie found a place to go into seclusion!" Zhou Qing had no choice but to comfort him with a smile.

Subsequently, he went to see the two sisters, Lu Yuanzhi and Lu Yuanjiu.

Both were now in complete seclusion, and he couldn't enter the academy's mystical realm, so Zhou Qing had to give up and take Lu Yaoyao on the return journey.

……

By the time the two successfully returned to the Taiqing Sect, it was already more than two months later.

Mo Xingjian and the others hadn't noticed their disappearance at all, and even Shen Yunzhou's whereabouts were filled with confusion.

"Wasn't he investigating those six extermination cases with you? Why didn't he come back?"

Zhou Qing smiled and only said that Shen Yunzhou had left early due to matters, without saying much more.

As for the matters of Yan Sen and Yan Weiyi, the two naturally kept them in their hearts; informing the sect would only increase worry and be of no benefit to the situation.

"By the way, your Sect Master Uncle and Master Tong Min are back!" Mo Xingjian suddenly remembered something and reminded him.

Zhou Qing nodded.

Passing through Lingyun Mansion, he originally wanted to visit Zhang Wanbao.

After all, the two supreme-grade wood-attribute spirit stones sent by Fu Kui last time had solved a big emergency, but after thinking twice, he gave up, fearing complications.

He turned to visit the three shops of the Taiqing Sect in the area and learned that the Sect Master Uncle had returned.

He assumed that the materials for refining the three-color magic array had been purchased, so he wasn't surprised to hear this news.

"There is one more thing... it's a bit tricky." Mo Xingjian suddenly looked at Zhou Qing solemnly.

"What's wrong?"

"Your Senior Uncle Gao Xuan has come out of seclusion early."

Zhou Qing's expression changed slightly.

Sikong Yan had already sent two image stones regarding Nannan, and had bluntly stated that he wanted to play a game regarding family affection and sect friendship.

"Was the image stone given to him?" Zhou Qing asked urgently.

Mo Xingjian shook his head: "Naturally not. But how can this matter be hidden? Sikong Yan will definitely send new image stones, not to mention they already have other ways of contacting each other."

Zhou Qing frowned and pondered, then asked again: "Did he break through to the Divine Transformation Great Perfection?"

Mo Xingjian nodded lightly: "In the Taiqing Sect, he is everyone's Zhou Shixiong, Junior Brother, Master, and Peak Master; everyone treats him as a true relative."

"Especially the Yin Spirit Stone you brought out from the first coffin helped him break through the bottleneck and advance to perfection."

"But now, facing a daughter who has returned from the dead, coupled with Sikong Yan's twisted playful nature... even I can't guess what choice he will make."

Mo Xingjian's voice was low, his eyes full of worry.

Zhou Qing's eyes flashed with a hint of irritability; after a brief thought, he said: "I'll go talk to Sikong Yan!"

Mo Xingjian was anxious upon hearing this and hurriedly stopped him: "Are you crazy!"

"Master, I have already broken through to the late stage of the Divine Transformation realm." Zhou Qing smiled lightly, his fingertips releasing his aura quietly.

When feeling this pressure, Mo Xingjian was stunned for a moment, then showed wild joy.

As expected of the Four Flowers Gathering at the Top; those of them who had lived for nearly two thousand years had only broken through from the late stage to the perfection realm not long ago with the help of the Yin Spirit Stone.

But Zhou Qing, at less than forty years old, had reached the realm that so many people yearned for their whole lives.

Not to mention the future.

But the more this was the case, the more he couldn't let Zhou Qing take risks.

"That is a madman; even if you can fight across realms, two fists are ultimately no match for four hands!" Mo Xingjian said hurriedly.

If the Cangyan Dao Palace had a peerless genius who could bring danger to the sect in the future and came to break into the Taiqing Sect alone, he believed that with the Sect Master Zhou Shixiong's temperament, he might do something.

Not to mention Sikong Yan, who didn't play by the rules in the first place.

Don't forget, the Cangyan Dao Palace also has nearly ten Supreme Elders and many mid- and late-stage Divine Transformation elders.

"But—" Zhou Qing still wanted to argue.

"There are no buts!" Mo Xingjian interrupted decisively, "If we really have to choose, the Taiqing Sect would rather lose Gao Xuan, or even become his enemy, than let you take risks!"

Seeing that Zhou Qing still wouldn't give up, Mo Xingjian simply forced him to swear not to go to the Cangyan Dao Palace privately, only then barely setting his mind at ease.

After Zhou Qing left, he didn't dare to delay for a moment and hurried to find Cao Zhengyang to discuss countermeasures.

……

And just as Zhou Qing returned to his residence, Cao Zhengyang pushed the door open with a face full of spring breeze.

"These materials you want are not easy to find," he said with a smile, taking out a storage bag, "but fortunately, I didn't fail the commission and gathered them all for you."

"Thank you, Senior Uncle." Zhou Qing bowed respectfully.

"That's being too polite," Cao Zhengyang waved his hand, his eyes shining with excitement, "A three-color sect-protecting array! Which Sect Master through the ages could have such honor? Just thinking about it makes one's heart surge!"

Seeing Zhou Qing's embarrassed expression, he suddenly said solemnly: "Given the current treacherous situation in the Eastern Region, why not start refining immediately?"

"So urgent?" Zhou Qing was stunned.

"It concerns the safety of the sect; it's better early than late!" Cao Zhengyang said earnestly, and added with a hint of implication: "As for Gao Xuan and the Jin Leizong matter... we old bones will handle it."

Not waiting for Zhou Qing to decline, this Sect Master actually bowed solemnly.

Zhou Qing was shocked and hurriedly supported him: "Senior Uncle, you are shaming this disciple! This array was proposed by this disciple, so I will definitely do my best!"

Cao Zhengyang then smiled: "That's good, I have things to do, so I'll go first; you should start early too!"

After speaking, he gave a few more earnest instructions before leaving.

After closing the courtyard door, the smile on Cao Zhengyang's face turned solemn instantly.

He looked deeply at Mo Xingjian, who was peeking not far away, and the two tacitly hid in the shadows.

"How is it?" Mo Xingjian asked in a low voice.

Cao Zhengyang said in a deep voice: "He should settle down to refine, but I'm ultimately uneasy. I'll call Number Six over later; those two children have compatible temperaments and can play together."

Mo Xingjian nodded, his brows furrowed: "That's good; in the current situation, whether it's Gao Xuan, the Jin Leizong, or the Cangyan Dao Palace, none of them can allow him to be distracted and take risks."

Cao Zhengyang said: "Of course I know this; now that Zhou Qing has broken through to the late stage of the Divine Transformation realm and is himself a three-color array master, such a good seedling, as long as he doesn't die young, will definitely become a towering tree in the future."

"And you and I, and others..." Cao Zhengyang's voice grew lower, but it carried an unquestionable firmness.

"We are to be the bedrock that protects his roots; even if thunder and lightning strike, we must never let him break his foundation."

……

In the quiet room, Zhou Qing looked at the storage bag in front of him, worried.

But after thinking about it, he decided to start refining.

Now that he had stepped into the late stage of the Divine Transformation realm, both his spiritual power and mental power were far beyond before.

At most two years, he should be able to refine this "Zhou Tian Star Array."

Once the new array is completed, the original two-color sect-protecting array can be gifted to the Qingyu Qingshu Qingshu Xian Zong.

By then, the Taiqing Sect, the Tianji Sect, and the Qingyu Qingshu Qingshu Xian Zong will stand in a tripod formation, helping each other.

Even if there are changes, they can act as horns for each other, advancing and retreating with evidence.

After thinking it through, he didn't delay too much and started the preparation work.

Unexpectedly, after a while, Lu Yaoyao actually came.

"Zhou Shixiong Zhou, don't worry, Yaoyao will definitely not disturb you; next, I will also focus on comprehending the realm of understanding!"

Lu Yaoyao said with a serious face.

Listening to Lu Yaoyao's words, Zhou Qing finally understood what the Senior Uncle meant.

He couldn't help but shake his head.

Fine, since you don't want me to manage it, then I won't manage it.

After turning on the soundproofing restriction, Zhou Qing began refining with all his heart...

……

Jinyang Peak!

Gao Xuan naturally knew that because of the possession, wanting to break through to the Divine Transformation Great Perfection was much harder than for others.

Ultimately, this body didn't belong to him.

Even after fitting for many years, there was always a slight sense of stagnation.

Fortunately, the quality of the Yin Spirit Stone brought out by Zhou Qing was extremely high, allowing him to complete the breakthrough without danger.

What he didn't expect even more was that in just a few years of seclusion, the outside world had turned upside down.

Because Zhou Qing's friend discovered that the Jin Leizong Sect Master, Lei Wuji, had become that ghostly appearance.

Because of Zhou Qing's sudden decision, the Tianji Sect, which had occupied the Eastern Region for thousands of years, had become an inconspicuous wave in the long river of history.

Because of Zhou Qing, the Sect Master of the Qingyu Qingshu Qingshu Xian Zong, Immortal Xuanyou, was able to be reborn, and the entire sect became loyal to the Taiqing Sect.

Looking at the news one by one, Gao Xuan still felt it was so unbelievable.

【Heart Appraisal Points +9】

The original 【Sect Master in Name Only】 on his head also turned into 【Taiqing Sect's Worthy Helmsman】 the moment Gao Xuan showed a gratified smile.

"Is there anything else?"

After digesting the news of the past few years, Gao Xuan looked at the two disciples in front of him and asked.

Ever since the Chief Zhou Shixiong Du Kui, Luo Xue, and the fifth, Tan Qiang, all fell during the Five Sects War, now only the third, Qi Sheng, and the fourth, Meng Hexiu, remained on Jinyang Peak.

Seeing the Master ask, the two hurriedly restrained their joy.

Qi Sheng thought for a moment and said: "There is nothing else. By the way, when the disciple went out a few years ago, someone entrusted me to pass on an image stone, saying it had to be handed to the Master personally."

"But at that time you were in seclusion, and the Sect Master Senior Uncle and the others had just taken the Tianji Sect, and the sect affairs were all handled by Senior Uncle Mo on your behalf..."

"The disciple didn't dare to act on his own, and didn't dare to view it privately, so I gave the image stone to Senior Uncle Mo."

Hearing Qi Sheng's words, Gao Xuan's brows furrowed slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

He had always lived in seclusion and rarely interacted with the outside world; how could someone accurately find Qi Sheng and specifically let him bring back an image stone?

What was even more suspicious was that when Mo Xingjian and the others came to congratulate him a few days ago, they didn't mention this matter at all.

"Could it be..." An ominous premonition suddenly surged in Gao Xuan's heart.

Spiritual power flowed through his fingertips, and he quickly outlined a lifelike portrait in the air.

"Was it this person who gave you the image stone?" Gao Xuan asked in a deep voice, his voice carrying a hint of solemnity.

Qi Sheng looked up carefully and nodded hurriedly: "It is exactly this person! I don't know who this is..."

Gao Xuan heard this, and his previously pleasant mood sank to the bottom instantly, his face becoming abnormally ugly.

Even the hands behind his back clenched unconsciously.

"Wu Sha, it really is him!" Cold light flashed in Gao Xuan's eyes.

Ever since he designed to get rid of those people back then, Wu Sha had become the only dark line in direct contact with him.

Over the past few years, Sikong Yan had never sent him any missions through Wu Sha.

He even once suspected that the Palace Master with a treacherous mind had already seen through something...

But now, why did Wu Sha suddenly appear?

And specifically let Qi Sheng bring back an image stone?

What was the image stone recording?

After a brief thought, just as he was about to prepare to go to Little Spirit Peak, Cao Zhengyang's voice came to his ears.

"Junior Brother Gao, come to Shenyue Peak!"

Gao Xuan heard this, didn't hesitate any longer, and headed straight for Shenyue Peak.

……

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 301 =====