Chapter 95: Women at Thirty Are Wolves, at Forty Are Tigers (6k)

Then, Second Uncle glanced at Zhou Qing’s courtyard and said, “It’s late. I’ll spend the night here with you.”

Before Zhou Qing could invite him, Second Uncle walked straight through the barrier and stepped into the courtyard.

Second Uncle casually flopped onto Zhou Qing’s bed, while Zhou Qing immediately scooped up his old hen.

Fortunately, the old hen had just laid eggs two days ago, so she wouldn’t attract Second Uncle’s attention anytime soon.

He just feared this old fossil might suddenly cry out hungry in the night—that’d be the end of him.

The fact that the old hen could refine anything was a secret he’d never told even his Master or Third Senior Brother—it was his little secret.

“Ah, so comfortable. By the way, I didn’t expect you to be so sentimental. I remember at the Five Sects Exchange Gathering, you brought this dumb old hen to my stall to gamble on blind boxes, then even went to sneak a peek at those girls bathing just to find it.”

Second Uncle couldn’t help teasing.

Zhou Qing smiled awkwardly and replied, “That was purely an accident—I entered that villa solely to find the hen. Besides, who could’ve guessed they’d be so bold as to bathe outdoors without even setting up a barrier? They’re just too unrestrained.”

Second Uncle merely smiled faintly, his expression clearly saying, “Do you think I believe that?”

“Finding the hen was just an excuse. You and your Third Senior Brother must’ve scoped the place out long ago.”

Zhou Qing didn’t care whether Second Uncle believed him or not; he sat on the chair, hugging the hen with a grin, and said, “Second Uncle, last time you said if I could recognize you next time, you’d give me another opportunity. Is that offer still valid?”

Second Uncle yawned loudly, eyeing him suspiciously. “Did I say that?”

“Absolutely!” Zhou Qing said with full confidence.

“When you get old, you forget things easily—I…”

Seeing Second Uncle about to weasel out, Zhou Qing quickly interrupted: “Uncle, back in Qingmu City, I already smelled your scent from afar. It was the scent of vigor in old age, wisdom and composure.”

“Those two fools actually thought they could chase after you—they were dreaming in broad daylight.” Zhou Qing grinned and laid on the flattery thick.

Second Uncle was thoroughly pleased, lying on the bed with one leg crossed over the other. “Didn’t expect you to recognize me back then.”

“Who else’s uncle could be so imposing? I couldn’t help but recognize you. By the way, Second Uncle, how about giving me that Blood Tai Sui as the opportunity? My Third Senior Brother loves studying such things, and his birthday’s coming up—I want to surprise him.”

Better than nothing. This Second Uncle clearly plans to pretend he forgot. I don’t ask for more—just give me the Blood Tai Sui you stole from my Master.

Then let the old hen eat it, refine it into a Blood Egg—it’ll help my cultivation too.

Second Uncle waved his hand. “That thing’s worth studying? I already used it up.”

Zhou Qing: “...”

“Don’t look so stingy. Your Uncle has always kept his word. Don’t worry—I remember. This opportunity? Consider it tailored to your tastes!”

As he spoke, Second Uncle raised an eyebrow at Zhou Qing.

Recalling the note beneath Second Uncle’s head: 【A kid with the spirit of my younger days】—and seeing his sly gaze—Zhou Qing felt a chill.

“I don’t want it anymore...”

Before Zhou Qing finished speaking, Second Uncle was already before him, grabbing his arm.

“If you don’t want it, won’t I be breaking my word? That’d ruin my image. Come on!”

The next instant, Zhou Qing felt the surroundings blur backward—just like when Second Uncle had teleported him far beyond Yanzhou City to teach him Silver Dragon Step.

When his feet touched solid ground, Zhou Qing looked around—and recognized the place.

The two were crouched before a window, and Second Uncle waved his hand—the glass turned transparent.

“It’s this late, and she hasn’t undressed? Looks like your luck’s bad,” Second Uncle whispered slyly.

Zhou Qing instinctively looked—and saw Xuan You Immortal, seated in meditation.

But now she looked agonized, her delicate brows tightly furrowed—completely unlike the cheerful Sect Master who’d chatted with everyone just hours ago. Her condition was dire.

“Uncle, let’s go. I’ve worked hard to clear my reputation.”

Zhou Qing whispered, crouching to slip away—but Second Uncle grabbed him.

“Do you know why she’s been coming to Taiqingmen lately?” Second Uncle asked.

Zhou Qing shook his head and covered his ears. “I don’t want to know, Uncle. Please spare me.”

“I left her a message: Taiqingmen holds the person she’s waited for all these years. But I didn’t tell her who. After all, whether you’ll ever achieve the Three Flowers Convergence is still uncertain. So really, she’s here looking for you.”

Second Uncle chuckled.

Zhou Qing’s face turned pale.

“They say a woman at thirty is a she-wolf, at forty a tiger. My little sister here? She’s a dragon-tiger in body. One misstep, and she’ll drain you dry,” Second Uncle said, eyeing Zhou Qing’s slight frame with mock sympathy.

Zhou Qing: “...”

“Don’t blame me. She’s my former sect’s little sister. And for you, this is a huge opportunity—you’ll understand later.”

“Besides, isn’t this fun? She’s quietly searching for her destined savior, yet foolishly fixates on Nascent Soul cultivators. Never imagined you’re just a Jin Dan cultivator. Wow, how thrilling.”

As he spoke, Second Uncle’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

At this moment, Zhou Qing was cursing inwardly—this old pervert.

Such talent, yet he stole techniques from countless sects, faked his death to escape, and loved playing twisted games. What a pervert.

“Shh. The main act’s coming.”

Zhou Qing tried to leave again, but Second Uncle pointed urgently, sighing.

Zhou Qing looked—and saw faint red patterns beginning to surface on Xuan You Immortal’s face, spreading rapidly.

The patterns writhed like flowing lava across her pale skin.

The Xuan You Sect Master bit her lower lip tightly, struggling to suppress her moans of pain. Sweat poured from her forehead, dripping onto the floor.

“This is the consequence of practicing the forbidden art, Seal Spirit Forbidden Method. She endures this every night. The pain she suffers is far worse than you imagine.”

Second Uncle clucked his tongue.

Zhou Qing had never seen this firsthand. The lofty Sect Master, who endured such torment every night?

A curse so severe that even a late-stage Soul Transformation cultivator couldn’t grow accustomed to it after years—its power was terrifying.

“Kid, push hard. If you win her, every woman in Qingyu Immortal Sect will be yours. Want to sneak a peek at someone bathing? Just ask her to arrange it...”

“Who’s there?”

Before Second Uncle finished, Xuan You Immortal trembled violently and snapped her head toward them.

Zhou Qing’s face changed—he spun around, silver light flashing under his feet, and bolted instinctively.

“Damn! How long has it been? Silver Dragon Step already this refined? Impressive talent!”

Second Uncle’s eyes shone with surprise and admiration.

Shh!

The next instant, Xuan You Immortal shot out, unleashing terrifying spiritual sense that instantly locked onto Zhou Qing.

“Done for!” That was Zhou Qing’s only thought.

This treacherous Second Uncle!

Suddenly, Zhou Qing’s body went rigid and plummeted straight down, foam spilling from his mouth—hoping this trick would work.

But before he hit the ground, a pair of ancient, powerful hands seized him.

“Foolish boy, that trick was taught to your Master by me. Never thought it’d be passed down. Do you think someone on the brink of death, burdened with her sect’s fate, would let anyone discover her secret? Better to kill a thousand than let one escape!”

Second Uncle spoke quickly—then both vanished.

The next second, Xuan You Immortal appeared in the space, hovering midair, her expression darker than ever, eyes brimming with killing intent, her spiritual sense sweeping relentlessly.

When Zhou Qing’s feet touched solid ground again, he was back in his own room.

He was pale, heart pounding, still trembling with fear.

Second Uncle, by contrast, pulled a wine gourd from his waist, lay on the bed, crossed his legs, and took a small sip.

“Boy, you didn’t trust me!” Second Uncle said.

Zhou Qing’s heart still hammered—he hadn’t recovered.

Could you expect me to trust you?

If I hadn’t escaped in time, I’d be branded as the man who spied on a Sect Master for life.

Then not just Master Kong Yan of Cangyan Dao Palace, who already hates me—but countless others in Qingyu Immortal Sect would never let me live.

But thankfully, Second Uncle still had a shred of conscience.

“Thank you, Elder. I was too narrow-minded,” Zhou Qing bowed.

Second Uncle waved his hand. “Go outside. I’m taking over this room today.”

After speaking, he rolled over and fell asleep.

Zhou Qing smiled sheepishly, hugged the old hen, and slipped quietly out the door. He sat alone in the courtyard, gazing at the bright moon above, lost in thought.

The next morning, when Zhou Qing cautiously pushed open the door, he found Second Uncle had already left.

“Boy, I’ve urgent business and must depart. Next time, I’ll alter my aura. If you still recognize me, I’ll give you a true opportunity.”

As the message echoed, Zhou Qing sighed and shook his head.

What a childish old man.

Afterwards, Zhou Qing stretched his stiff limbs, replaced his bedding entirely, and meticulously inspected every corner of the room before finally relaxing.

He had no intention of reporting Second Uncle’s visit to the sect—it was their secret.

After finishing, Zhou Qing was about to rest when a figure appeared outside the courtyard.

“Zhou Qing!” Duanmu Shu’s face showed rare embarrassment.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing felt a surge of excitement.

Finally!

The time to use the training has come!

“Greetings, Supreme Elder!” Zhou Qing bowed.

Duanmu Shu pulled out ten mid-grade spirit stones and handed them over.

“I’m afraid I’ll trouble you again!”

Zhou Qing accepted it with delight, though his expression remained impassive. “Elder, you’re too kind—it’s my duty as a disciple.”

“Stay safe!” Duanmu Shu said with approval, giving him a warning.

Soon after, when Zhou Qing reappeared in the Cave Heaven, he found not only Duanmu Shu but two other Supreme Elders present.

One of them was the very Supreme Elder who had first allowed him into the Cave Heaven when he achieved success with his initial technique.

So this time, it’s a trio working together.

Zhou Qing paid his respects to each of them in turn.

“Here are five Yang Fire Talismans—remember, proceed with caution!” another Elder instructed.

Zhou Qing nodded, then entered the gravity zone with the solemn air of a warrior crossing the Yi River, never to return.

“Are we this lucky this time?”

After Zhou Qing entered, he was pleasantly surprised to find no wandering souls emerged.

He had been looking forward to a good fight.

“Then I won’t be modest!” Zhou Qing began advancing slowly against the crushing pressure.

After sweating profusely through the gravity zone, the stone mill was indeed gone.

After traveling a short distance, he encountered the reopened tunnel again.

He shook his head and moved through the corridor with practiced ease.

Seeing the familiar scene before him, he exhaled deeply, then leapt into the Blood River at top speed, snatched up three dead crows, and secured them on his shoulders and head. Holding his breath against the stench of decay, he swam swiftly toward the opposite shore.

He leapt ashore, seized the scroll from within the green mist, and turned back without pause—just as the massive corpse-wax crow appeared—successfully returning.

Though he had executed it flawlessly and practiced it many times, now that he had lived through it and held the scroll in his hands, Zhou Qing was left trembling with lingering dread, his heart pounding violently from tension.

He quickly tossed the three crows into the river, then used spiritual power to rapidly cleanse the stench from his body and changed into fresh clothes.

After ensuring the odor was no longer overwhelming, he returned to the gravity zone, shut it down, then bolted out in panic.

“Supreme Elder! Something’s wrong—someone broke in and stole from us…”

…………

Back home, Zhou Qing didn’t retrieve the green scroll until deep into the night, after confirming everything was normal.

The scroll was deep in hue, its edges adorned with intricate golden-thread patterns, smooth and slightly cool to the touch.

At this moment, it resonated mysteriously with the Yin-Yang Golden Cores within his dantian.

Zhou Qing’s heart swelled with anticipation—what secrets did it contain?

But for safety, he first performed his [Daily Appraisal].

[Nameless Scroll: This scroll contains a cultivation technique specifically designed for Yin-Yang Qi, the number one Heavenly Qi. Its mastery of spiritual power—usage, absorption, refining, recovery, and optimal allocation of all techniques—is perfect.]

When he saw the appraisal’s feedback, Zhou Qing was stunned into silence, then his face lit up with ecstatic joy.

“It’s a cultivation technique!”

He knew well that the technique he currently practiced, the Supreme Taiqing Sect’s finest—the Taiqing Xuanyi Jue—was a top-tier scripture, reserved only for true and core disciples. Inner and outer disciples were given inferior versions.

His fingers trembled slightly as he gently unfurled the scroll.

Instantly, a brilliant radiance burst forth, accompanied by an ancient aura that washed over him.

Amid the light, three ancient characters appeared first: “Yin-Yang Jue.” The strokes were powerful and vigorous, as if Yin and Yang energies flowed between them, radiating an unfathomable mystery.

Following those three characters, other words emerged one by one like a river of stars.

These characters were archaic and obscure, as if distilled from an endless river of time, each glowing with strange luminescence.

Before Zhou Qing could make sense of them, a withered voice suddenly echoed in his mind—resonant as a great bronze bell.

“I am Zhong Li Bo. By chance, I passed through this place and discovered this nascent Yin-Yang Qi. My old friend once rose to greatness through such Heavenly Qi—but he perished on the Starry Battlefield, sacrificing himself to save me.”

“Seeing this, I was overcome with grief. I concealed it, hid it away, and left behind the Yin-Yang Jue he once created—for those worthy. If fate allows, we shall meet again on the Starry Battlefield. Though, if I am still alive by then.”

The voice seemed to traverse infinite time and space, heavy with the weight of ages, solemn and commanding, brimming with longing and sorrow.

“Zhong Li Bo? Starry Battlefield?”

Zhou Qing finally understood why the scroll had appeared in such a place. Heavenly Qi was primordial—it couldn’t naturally have a matching technique. This was the reason.

“Thank you, Elder!”

Zhou Qing bowed deeply in gratitude.

A strand of Heavenly Qi takes immense time to mature. Though he didn’t know where the Starry Battlefield was or what it was, he suspected Zhong Li Bo had long since perished in the river of time.

He immediately began practicing, word by word…

Dawn broke. The eastern sky gradually whitened, soft rays piercing the darkness like gauze, draping the endless peaks.

In his room, Zhou Qing sat cross-legged. The blue spiritual currents from the Taiqing Xuanyi Jue were gone—replaced by a denser, heavier Yin-Yang Qi.

The two energies intertwined, forming a wondrous field that enveloped him.

After an unknown duration, he slowly opened his eyes, filled with astonishment.

“Just one night of practice—and such rapid progress? The Taiqing Xuanyi Jue now feels like a mere beginner’s manual beside this!”

Zhou Qing was overjoyed.

He activated his personal panel with a thought.

[Name: Zhou Qing]

[Age: 19]

[Cultivation Base: Golden Core Realm, Early Stage]

[Technique: Yin-Yang Jue]

[Talent Skills: Daily Appraisal,]

[Heart-Appraisal Vision—LV3 (214/300),]

[Reduced Presence—LV3 (41/100)]

[Skill Fragments: 1/3 (Unobtainable)]

His talent skill, Heart-Appraisal Vision, had been steadily increasing lately—likely to reach Level 4 soon, allowing him to bind more people.

But the points were hard to earn; opportunities were too rare. To obtain new skill fragments, he’d have to rely on this.

Overall, Zhou Qing was satisfied—everything was moving in the right direction.

For one thing, his mid-grade spirit stones had risen again to thirty-eight—plenty for cultivation and entering the Divine Ruins Palace.

“Now that I have the Yin-Yang Jue, perhaps I can attempt a short-term breakthrough to Golden Core Mid-Stage!”

Zhou Qing stared at the spirit stones in his hand, eyes gleaming.

After a brief rest, he resumed cultivation.

…………

“Father, where are you? Don’t leave me—I’m so scared, Yao Yao.”

“Did you lure away the people chasing us again? Who is after us?”

“I promise you, I’ll build a solid foundation first—I won’t cultivate yet. Please come back, Father.”

“What is this? It makes Yao Yao dizzy.”

“Ah—!”

Suddenly, Lu Yaoyao jolted upright on her bed, chest heaving, beads of sweat coating her forehead, strands of hair clinging to her cheeks.

She instinctively hugged herself, waiting until her emotions steadied, then rose slowly and walked to the window, opening it to let the morning sun and breeze brush her face.

Her eyes now held terror and confusion.

“Which part was the dream? If only I’d listened to you and cultivated sooner—but now I’ve inexplicably come here. It’s not too late. With the Heavenly Qi Master gave me, and you beside me, I’ll find out what’s really happening!”

Lu Yaoyao’s unease slowly gave way to resolve.

…………

Jin Yang Peak!

In the dim room, Peak Master Gao Xian sat quietly at the table, gently polishing a spirit tablet with a soft cloth.

His eyes brimmed with sorrow and longing.

“You may begin,” a voice came from the darkness.

Gao Xian rose slowly and carefully placed the spirit tablet down.

“Rest easy, Nannan—they won’t escape a single one,” Gao Xian said, staring at the tablet, cold killing intent flaring in his eyes.

A sigh echoed from the corner. The shadow spoke again: “Need help?”

Gao Xian shook his head. “No. My matters, I handle myself.”

With that, he left directly, heading for Yu Qing Peak…

Yu Qing Peak!

“Master Gao, are you here to see Master?” Shi Zhen bowed upon seeing Gao Xian.

Gao Xian nodded with a smile. “Is she here?”

“Master is currently in the Zicheng Hall,” Shi Zhen replied.

Gao Xian said nothing more, making his way swiftly to the peak’s summit.

Soon, he met the Yu Qing Peak Master, Tong Min.

“Brother Gao, what brings you here so early?” Tong Min rose from meditation with a smile.

Gao Xian said, “I’ve come to borrow something from you.”

“Oh? What could possibly require you to come in person? Just send me a message—I’ll have someone deliver it.”

Gao Xian shook his head. “This item cannot be delivered. I must retrieve it myself.”

“What on earth is it?” Tong Min’s curiosity deepened.

Gao Xuan looked at him, a strange smile suddenly curving his lips.

Thank you, Master Yi Zhi Ben Zou De Ma, for the 500 reward—thank you for your support.

It’s the end of the month, so I’ll also ask for monthly votes; after all, they’ll all be reset otherwise.

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(End of Chapter)