Chapter 92

Zhou Qing immediately reacted, hurriedly saying, “Nothing.”

“Still saying nothing? I heard it all—you get five middle-grade spirit stones just for entering the cavern and turning that key?”

Zhou Qing felt a bit embarrassed: “Not really—last time it was two, this time five. Didn’t you say you’ve been in before? You know how exhausting it is, let alone the wandering souls now.”

Yan Xiao Hu covered his face, then downed a gulp of liquor.

“I’ve slaved for days just to scrape together ten middle-grade spirit stones, and you go in for less than two or three hours and walk out with five? You even used the gravity to solidify your cultivation base—how the hell do you expect me to take you along to make money?”

Yan Xiao Hu grabbed Zhou Qing’s hand: “Young brother, next time take me in too—I don’t need five, three’s fine.”

“Sure,” Zhou Qing said with a faint smirk. “But every time the Grand Elder comes, you run off—faster than a startled rabbit.”

Yan Xiao Hu’s hand trembled slightly.

He’d been so focused on making money he’d forgotten the people who’d given him psychological trauma.

“Never mind,” Yan Xiao Hu gave up on the spot.

Then, seeing Zhou Qing’s curious gaze, he added: “If we want to make money, we need benefactors. Take me, for instance—I made this much only because of the Seventh Imperial Prince’s contest with the peaks.”

“You’re the same—you’re profiting off Elder Duanmu Shu’s needs. So you’ve got to find benefactors.”

As he spoke, Yan Xiao Hu’s eyes lit up.

“But come to think of it, there are actually two decent ways to make money right now.”

Zhou Qing immediately asked for details.

Yan Xiao Hu said: “First, still the Seventh Imperial Prince, Xuan Yuan Yichen—he’s recently brought out some old artifacts, asking if anyone here recognizes them. Whoever identifies their origin gets a generous reward.”

“At first I thought he was openly mocking our ignorance—until several Peak Masters examined them and couldn’t identify them either. Only then did we learn he’d stumbled upon them and wanted to know their purpose.”

Zhou Qing fell into thought, his heart stirring.

Don’t forget—he had the [Daily One-View].

Yan Xiao Hu continued: “The second is the Mystic Daoist of Qingyu Immortal Sect, Xuan You. She’s old, sure, but she’s still a woman. If you gift her one or two things, she might reward you—easily convertible to spirit stones.”

“Didn’t Sikong Yan from Cangyan Dao Palace court her with countless gifts? She refused them all, so he finally converted them into spirit stones and sent them back. Qingyu Immortal Sect is actually quite wealthy.”

“I’ve got a whisper: Xuan You will visit Taiqingmen in a few days. Who knows why this old hag’s been so fond of coming here lately? Just bring her something—she’ll accept it and reward you.”

“After all, she won’t insult our juniors, right? Besides, we saved Cui Yingying and the others.”

After hearing Yan Xiao Hu, Zhou Qing felt internal resistance.

This was moral coercion.

The first money-making opportunity was better.

“I’ll go to Shen Yue Peak—I want to see what kind of treasures this Seventh Prince has,” Zhou Qing rose and said.

Yan Xiao Hu chuckled: “The Peak Masters with wide experience, and even your learned senior brother—I couldn’t identify them. What could you possibly know? I bet even the Holy Wu Empire’s people have seen these things.”

Zhou Qing smiled faintly: “Not necessarily. Didn’t you say the capital’s factions are tangled? The competition among princes is fierce—maybe these items are too dangerous to reveal, and he’s barely ever shown them.”

Yan Xiao Hu thought it over and found the logic sound—no wonder the Seventh Prince had come to this remote Taiqingmen to test his luck.

“Fine then—I’ll see if you can guess your way into money from that guy!”

Yan Xiao Hu grew excited and led Zhou Qing straight toward Shen Yue Peak.

………

Shen Yue Peak!

When Zhou Qing arrived at Xuan Yuan Yichen’s residence, he saw Du Kui and Luo Xue standing outside, whispering to each other.

Zhou Qing’s heart skipped—a moment of dread. Was Senior Gao Xian here today too?

“Young Brother Yan, Young Brother Zhou—what brings you here?”

Seeing them, the two greeted with smiles.

“Greetings, Senior Brother Du, Senior Sister Luo!” they bowed.

Before anything else, Du Kui and Luo Xue had saved his and Lu Yaoyao’s lives at the last moment.

Otherwise, they’d have been beaten to death by Sikong Yan of Cangyan Dao Palace.

So Zhou Qing deeply appreciated them.

“We came to try our luck—is Senior Gao inside?” Zhou Qing asked.

Du Kui nodded: “Yes—he’s been in a while. We couldn’t identify the items either, so we stepped out to catch some air.”

Hearing this, Zhou Qing grew even more curious.

Yan Xiao Hu glanced at Zhou Qing—he knew that even now, the fourth brother harbored suspicion and wariness toward Senior Gao Xian, so much so he’d even retrieved his soul lamp.

He cleared his throat: “Well, since Senior Gao’s here, maybe we should come another day—”

“Since you’ve come, come in!”

Before Yan Xiao Hu finished, Gao Xian’s voice echoed through the air.

After a brief hesitation, Zhou Qing nodded to Yan Xiao Hu.

Some things must be faced—hesitation would only invite suspicion.

Besides, when the Deputy Director of the Spirit Field Office attacked them, it was he who saved them.

Then the two stepped inside.

Inside the residence, they saw Gao Xian standing before a long table, gazing intently at something.

Opposite him stood the Seventh Prince, Xuan Yuan Yichen, and the Ninth Princess, Xuan Yuan Muxian.

Also present were Lu Yaoyao and Li Daoxuan.

“Senior Brother Zhou—you’re here too!”

Seeing Zhou Qing enter, Lu Yaoyao happily ran over.

Li Daoxuan glanced at them with a sour look, then fell silent, turning his attention to Senior Gao.

I wonder if he can identify them this time.

To this day, not a single person in Taiqingmen—no one, not even two Grand Elders—had recognized any of the three items the Seventh Prince brought out. It was truly embarrassing.

Of course, now two more overconfident newcomers had arrived.

The Seventh Prince and Ninth Princess politely nodded to them.

The entire room was heavy and solemn—but for some reason, Zhou Qing felt like laughing.

His talent skill [Heart-View Vision] had bound eight people total—and half of them were gathered here.

Four golden text tags floated prominently above their heads.

After a long silence, Gao Xian sighed and shook his head.

Clearly, he didn’t recognize them either.

Of course, that was normal—this world was vast. Most cultivators never left their own fourth-tier spiritual nation, let alone the countless other mysterious realms beyond the Holy Wu Empire.

Seeing this, Xuan Yuan Yichen looked slightly disappointed.

Then Gao Xian turned to Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao Hu, smiling: “Since you’re here, come take a look.”

Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao Hu stepped forward.

After bowing, they looked.

Three items lay on the table.

The first was a black portal, half a meter wide. Its material was neither metal nor wood, its surface etched with faint, elusive patterns.

At each of its four corners stood a differently shaped ghostly statue.

The first ghost was hunched, emaciated, as if starved and tormented for ages. Its face bore only one eye, glowing a ghastly green, its long nails like razor blades, gripping the corner as if ready to pounce on any living thing.

The second ghost was covered in black scales, like a beast risen from hell’s depths. Its mouth gaped wide, revealing sharp fangs, a low, rumbling growl seeming to echo from within. Its blood-red eyes blazed with violent, murderous hunger.

The third and fourth ghosts resembled each other, but one was faintly translucent, as if formed from smoke—strangely ethereal.

The other was a swirling, roiling mass of black mist, flickering with eerie light.

These were mere carvings, yet they radiated lifelike menace.

The second item was a sheet of yellow paper. Its color wasn’t plain yellow, but a deep gold, like the last glow of sunset.

Its edges were cut perfectly straight; each corner bore a tiny, intricate illustration of a hat—never seen before.

The third item was a black needle, as thick as a man’s index finger. Its body was an unnatural dark gray, as if left in shadow for centuries.

At its tail, faint crimson lines—like blood veins—wound and twisted, as if the needle pulsed with strange, seeping blood.

Soon, Zhou Qing rubbed his eyes—staring too long made him feel nauseous.

This object was ill-omened!

That was his first impression.

“Young Brother Zhou, what do you make of them?” Xuan Yuan Yichen asked politely.

After all, this was the younger brother of Gui Ao—but he held no real hope.

As for the round-eyed, chubby Yan Xiao Hu—he’d already been shown these items days ago.

Zhou Qing frowned, then fixed his gaze on the second yellow paper.

It resembled a talisman, but Senior Gao Xian was a master talisman-maker—he’d even crafted the Thunder-Calling Talisman—yet he didn’t recognize this. Clearly, it was no ordinary item.

Zhou Qing immediately activated [Daily One-View].

Instantly, information flowed back from the paper.

[Huang Guan Paper: Also called ‘Paper of Bought Life.’ If one writes another’s name on it with a Huang Guan Brush, then burns it together with any object the target has touched, it halves their lifespan. But if the writer’s fortune is weaker than the target’s, the backlash drains the writer’s own lifespan.]

Huangguan Paper: Huangguan Paper is also called Life-Buying Paper; if one writes another’s name on it with a Huangguan Brush and burns it together with any object the target has touched, it halves their lifespan—though if the writer’s fortune is weaker than the target’s, they risk backlash and lose their own lifespan instead.

Half a lifespan?

This was terrifying—how could such a bizarre artifact exist?

This is too terrifying—could such a bizarre thing really exist in the world?

It seems my knowledge is still too limited.

Then, Zhou Qing feigned deep thought, staring fixedly at the second yellow sheet.

“I don’t recognize the others, but this yellow paper—I think I’ve seen it before in some ancient text. Yes, definitely seen it. Let me think.”

As he spoke, Zhou Qing lightly tapped his forehead, trying to recall.

Upon hearing this, everyone stared at Zhou Qing in disbelief.

No one in Taiqingmen recognizes it, yet you have?

Is this real or not?

Xuan Yuan Yichen’s face instantly tightened with tension and anticipation; he dared not make a sound, afraid of disturbing Zhou Qing’s thoughts.

Gao Xian also stared at Zhou Qing in surprise, then broke into a smile.

After a moment, Zhou Qing turned to the Seventh Imperial Prince and asked curiously, “Brother Yichen, I have a question: if even you don’t recognize these items, and I name one at random, how could you tell if I’m right or wrong?”

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Yichen smiled faintly.

“You needn’t worry—we have our own way of verifying truth and falsehood.”

Seeing this, Zhou Qing said no more and continued his recollection.

“Where did I see it? It’s almost coming back to me.” Zhou Qing muttered, sneaking a glance at Yan Xiao Hu.

He formed a silent lip movement for him.

At this moment, Yan Xiao Hu was filled with regret.

He was simply too foolish—if no one recognized this object, with his vast learning and experience, he could’ve just made up a name, and the spirit stones would’ve been his for the taking.

What a waste of such a round head—why didn’t he think of that himself?

Old Four really knows how to handle things.

Now, seeing Zhou Qing’s lip movement, he instantly understood.

Don’t forget why they came here.

Then Yan Xiao Hu stepped forward and said, “By the way, Brother Yichen, if my Old Four can correctly name this object, then your side…” Yan Xiao Hu chuckled, rubbing his hands together.

Xuan Yuan Yichen immediately understood and said, “If you name it correctly, at least thirty middle-grade spirit stones.”

Upon hearing this reward, Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao Hu’s pupils shrank sharply.

My goodness, that much?

No wonder he’s rich.

Under everyone’s gaze, Zhou Qing quickly feigned sudden enlightenment, then clapped his hands.

“I remember! Let me check again—yes, yes, it must be this.” Zhou Qing murmured to himself.

Xuan Yuan Yichen involuntarily swallowed, his face brimming with anticipation.

At last, Zhou Qing spoke: “This object is called Huang Guan Paper, also known as Soul-Buying Paper. One must write another’s name upon it using a corresponding Huang Guan Brush…”

After hearing Zhou Qing’s words, everyone looked stunned.

Such a sinister object—if two powerful, long-lived enemies possessed it, and one could withstand the backlash of fate, wouldn’t he effortlessly kill the other?

And the victim wouldn’t even know what killed him.

Xuan Yuan Yichen fell into deep thought, then glanced behind the screen, where a faint sound seemed to emerge.

At this moment, Gao Xian also stared intently at the yellow paper, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes.

[Heart Mirror Points +9]

Lu Yaoyao gazed at Zhou Qing with admiration; the note above her head, “So Bad Luck,” quickly changed to “So Amazing.”

[Heart Mirror Points +7]

Li Daoxuan eyed Zhou Qing skeptically, but what he said sounded convincing enough.

Damn it—he pulled this off again.

Still, at least someone named it; otherwise, the ancient Taiqingmen would’ve looked truly foolish today.

And the note above his head, “Womanizing Human Trafficker,” changed to “Womanizing Guy With Some Brains.”

[Heart Mirror Points +8]

Beside him, Yan Xiao Hu stared at Zhou Qing’s serious expression, his regret deepening.

He knew better than anyone how little knowledge Old Four actually had.

Regardless of truth or falsehood, at least his claim had salvaged the face of Old Mo, of Xiao Ling Peak, of the entire Taiqingmen.

At least Taiqingmen has someone who recognizes it.

Sigh—I’m just too shy to make things up on the spot.

Lucky I’ve always kept Old Four close, teaching him by example.

And the note above his head, “Little Disciple Who Follows the Red,” swiftly changed to “Little Disciple With Half My Brain.”

Seeing this new label, Zhou Qing’s face twitched.

Third Master, Third Master—you really are…

For a moment, he couldn’t find the right word to describe him.

[Heart Mirror Points +7]

The next moment, another prompt sounded.

Then Zhou Qing saw the note above Gao Xian’s head, “Child Who Missed the Opportunity,” change to “Little Kid Who’s Quite the Actor.”

Zhou Qing was stunned.

But he quickly understood.

Of course—how could anyone believe such a difficult problem, unsolvable by all of Taiqingmen, was solved by a mere boy?

They’d rather believe it was Xiao Ling Peak’s master, Mo Xingjian, who recognized the object—and gave the glory to his young disciple.

Yes, that was the most reasonable explanation.

Still, this way was fine.

As Xuan Yuan Mqian curiously studied Zhou Qing, her brother Xuan Yuan Yichen seemed to have received some news—he looked utterly incredulous.

He immediately picked up the yellow paper, examined it, then burst into excitement.

“Brother Zhou, thank you so much! A small token, nothing to speak of!”

With great excitement, Xuan Yuan Yichen pulled out thirty middle-grade spirit stones and handed them over.

Zhou Qing smiled as he took them. “Brother Yichen should still verify further—I might have remembered wrong.”

“No mistake, no mistake! But I’m curious—where did you see the description of this Huang Guan Paper?” Xuan Yuan Yichen asked quickly.

Zhou Qing shook his head. “I truly forgot. Before I joined Taiqingmen, I just happened to glance at it at some book stall.”

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Yichen was deeply disappointed.

“What about these two, then?” He quickly pointed to the other two items, his hope reigniting.

Zhou Qing shook his head. “I don’t remember. Let me think carefully when I return—I might recall tomorrow.”

Hearing there was still hope, Xuan Yuan Yichen’s eyes lit up again.

“Good, good. Think carefully when you return, no rush, no rush.” Clearly, Xuan Yuan Yichen was delighted.

Zhou Qing nodded. Since he’d taken the money, it was time to leave.

“Oh! I just remembered!” At that moment, Yan Xiao Hu suddenly yelled, startling everyone.

All eyes turned to him.

Yan Xiao Hu looked as if struck by sudden revelation, hurried to the first object, and stared at the small black door. “Ah, so it’s this! How dense of me.”

“Brother Yan, you know this?” Xuan Yuan Yichen perked up again, asking eagerly.

Yan Xiao Hu nodded, then said solemnly, “This object is called Hei Ling Gate. Legend says it was forged by a great cultivator, requiring a special incantation to activate. It’s said to seal something terrifying—but no one knows exactly what.”

Xuan Yuan Yichen glanced again at the screen behind him and asked, “Which great cultivator?”

“I can’t recall exactly—it was someone extremely powerful. The incantation is long lost. What a pity!”

Yan Xiao Hu’s tone was heavy with regret.

Everyone listened, half-believing, half-doubting—even Gao Xian couldn’t help but glance again at this boy with the round, sturdy face.

Zhou Qing, however, looked deeply impressed.

No wonder he’s my Third Master—he truly is learned and well-read.

I recognized it through cheating; he recognized it through years of accumulation.

How shameful!

“It must be true—I won’t be mistaken. Alright, my Old Four and I have something to attend to—your side…”

Then Yan Xiao Hu sheepishly extended his hand, signaling.

Xuan Yuan Yichen fell silent, then seemed to receive a whispered message from behind the screen—his eyes dimmed with disappointment.

He looked at Yan Xiao Hu with regret and said, “I’m sorry, we don’t have such an item.”

Yan Xiao Hu froze, then burst into an awkward laugh.

“Oh, then I must’ve remembered wrong. But this thing really does look just like the Hei Ling Gate. By the way, how do you know I’m lying?” Yan Xiao Hu asked curiously.

Xuan Yuan Yichen smiled faintly. “Secret.”

“Understood, understood. We’ve got things to do—we’ll be off!” Yan Xiao Hu said, gave Zhou Qing a meaningful glance, and hurried away.

Only Gao Xian shook his head slightly.

Last time he brought them to Jin Yang Peak, Du Kui said that after giving Zhou Qing the Lightning-Calling Talisman, this fellow claimed he’d also freely given them two Explosion Flame Talismans—and hadn’t charged for them.

Luckily, Du Kui kept his wits and asked Gao Xian to confirm—only then did this fellow hastily admit he’d misremembered.

How shamelessly bold.

Then he turned his gaze to the screen, his expression thoughtful.

…………

“What? Why can you make things up and I can’t? Is my face not big enough?”

Yan Xiao was furious, rubbing his round face.

Zhou Qing froze, finally realizing his third senior brother had just made it all up—he’d actually admired him just now.

“Uh, Third Senior Brother, how about we drop by the Jade Kitchen?” Zhou Qing suggested, seeing Yan Xiao’s sour expression.

After all, today’s windfall was thanks entirely to the information Third Senior Brother provided; otherwise, where would he have even heard of it?

Yan Xiao studied Zhou Qing closely, then suddenly seemed to remember something.

“No, I’ll skip this meal for now—I’ve got something else to do!” Yan Xiao said, then immediately took off on his sword.

Zhou Qing stared, baffled, at his hurriedly retreating back.

When Zhou Qing returned home, he first fed the old hen some powdered spirit stones; just as he was about to resume studying the “Cang Lei Sword Art,” the reminder tone sounded again in his mind.

【Heart Mirror Points +8】

Zhou Qing blinked.

Who was it?

…………

“Master, you must’ve recognized them all, right? Of course you’re my revered Master—the first spotlight went to Fourth Brother, so let me have the rest. Both palms are flesh; you can’t favor one over the other.”

At that moment, Yan Xiao trailed behind Mo Xingjian, muttering pleadingly.

Requesting monthly votes!

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(End of Chapter)