Chapter 1192: Chapter 359: Bibo Celestial Lake’s Matchmaking Festival!
Inside the Jintian Palace!
Sikong Yan could hardly contain his excitement, his eyes sparkling with wild joy.
He had expected this journey to be fraught with obstacles, yet it had gone smoothly beyond his expectations.
He then turned to Zhou Qing, a smug smile playing on his lips, and said in a breezy tone, "So? I didn’t cause any trouble at all, didn’t I deserve a bit of recognition from you?"
Zhou Qing was silent for a moment before he said lightly, "I have some matters to attend to, I’ll take my leave first."
"Wait!" Sikong Yan hurriedly reached out to stop him, his expression growing more serious. "In at most a year, I’ll be ready."
He paused, his tone unusually sincere, "I hope we can continue working together. After all... you wouldn’t want to just sit by and watch your master’s lifespan run out, would you?"
Zhou Qing suddenly halted in his steps, turning slowly with a piercing gaze, "I am indeed curious—where exactly do you think that secret recipe is hidden?"
Sikong Yan gave a mysterious smile and lowered his voice, "I can only tell you, that place is heavily sealed by restrictions, even Spirit Severing Realm experts would find it hard to force their way in."
A cunning glint flashed in his eyes, "Otherwise, why would I insist on waiting until you gather five thousand Spirit Seals before asking you for help?"
Zhou Qing gave him a long look and finally nodded, "Alright, see you in a year."
After speaking, he turned and left, his figure soon disappearing into the shadows of the Jintian Palace.
—He must help Sikong Yan.
After all, he had already shown an intent to cooperate earlier; if he suddenly changed his mind, with Sikong Yan’s suspicious nature, he might suspect that Zhou Qing discovered something on the sixth floor, causing his change in attitude.
Moreover, the other party held the token for the Hidden Dragon Path’s Teleportation Array and had the Spirit Severing Realm cultivation and the ability to tear space. If suspicions arose, he could return to the royal treasury to investigate at any time.
Additionally, only by helping Sikong Yan could he consume a spot from the Friendship Sticker, paving the way for future refreshes.
As for the predicament faced by number one, Shen Hanyi—given her late-stage Spirit Severing Realm cultivation, she might not even deign to discuss anything with him.
After leaving the area of the prince’s residence, Zhou Qing stood gazing into the distance.
At the end of the sky, nine layers of palaces hovered like ink dots, faintly discernible amidst the clouds.
He furrowed his brow, his mind swirling with thoughts.
How many Spirit Severing Realm experts had the dynasty secretly cultivated?
After all, in recent times, Consort Chen had brought her elder sister Lu Yuanjiu’s Nine Nether Demon Lotus into the Imperial City.
Subsequently, Zhou Qing contacted his second junior sister and eldest senior brother, telling them to stop searching for Lu Yaoyao.
Since Xuanyuan Shuo had returned from the border, number six, Shen Hanyi, should also be arriving soon. By then, she would find that girl and protect her.
"Currently, I have two hundred pieces of wood attribute spirit stones, but whether it’s continuing to copy new Spirit Seals or comprehending the sixth Phoenix Dao Pattern, the time required far exceeds a year."
Zhou Qing’s gaze was steady as he calculated silently.
"Sikong Yan will be ready at most in a year. By helping him, I can at least have a chance to obtain fifty top-grade wood attribute spirit stones and a hundred ordinary top-grade spirit stones."
After advancing to a fourth-level Array Master, he had vaguely touched that threshold, yet he was always one step short—
Realm!
Zhou Qing exhaled deeply.
He still needed some enhancement and refinement of his realm, especially fighting between life and death, which would allow him to better comprehend it.
However, the Imperial City was clearly not a suitable Land of Trial.
Any slight stir here could result in several Spirit Severing Realm experts arriving instantly.
Moreover, without resentments or grudges, who would engage in a life-or-death struggle with him?
Then, there was only one place left!
A sharp light flashed in Zhou Qing’s eyes—The Border!
Since Xuanyuan Yichen hadn’t returned and Xuanyuan Shuo had left, it was the best time to resolve this hidden threat once and for all.
From Nan Gonglu leaking secrets, to Xuanyuan Shuo lying in wait outside the Taiqing Sect, to the various moves of the Royal Family, it all pointed to—these three generations had long been secretly colluding, jointly plotting this scheme!
Once Xuanyuan Yichen returned to the Imperial City and stopped venturing out for a short time, the opportunity to kill him would likely be slim.
But if he let it go, would it become a new obsession, affecting his Spirit Slash?
—Right now, is the best opportunity!
Xuanyuan Yichen himself was at the Divinity Transformation Realm, and he was surrounded by a Guardian, the border corps leader, and other experts.
If he could use them to temper himself, he would surely be able to perfect his realm.
Besides, with the Hidden Dragon Path token, a round trip to the border takes just over three months, not delaying Sikong Yan’s matters in the least.
Having made up his mind, Zhou Qing immediately set off for the place agreed upon with his senior brother and sister.
...
Two days later, in a private room at a tavern.
"That Xiaoliu from Divine Peak can really run!" The Ghost Mastiff tore off his mask and took a swig of strong wine, "Searched the entire Imperial City and didn’t find a single hair!"
Luo Lingling sighed lightly, "Focused on searching for blonde-haired cultivators as per your clues, yet still found nothing."
Zhou Qing reassured, "It’s okay, since Junior Sister Lu has already broken through to Divinity Transformation, and Shen Yunzhou is accompanying her, they should be fine."
Being at the Divinity Transformation Realm in a fourth-level cultivation country already belongs to the second-tier of strong cultivators, sufficient for self-preservation.
The Ghost Mastiff suddenly put down the wine jug, transmitting excitedly, "Old Fourth, I used to think reaching the Spirit Severing Realm was far beyond reach, didn’t expect you’d be able to match them so soon!"
Zhou Qing quickly shook his head to deny, "Beneath Spirit Severing, all are ants. Even as a fourth-level Array Master, no exception."
Situ Jiuyao, as an Array Master of a fifth-level cultivation country, had condensed far more Spirit Seals than he had.
Yet when faced with an existence like the Peng Emperor, wasn’t elimination just a matter of course?
