The Sect Leader Has Taken in a New Female Disciple

Chapter 1290: Chapter 383: Secrets Deep Within the Grotto Heaven Forbidden Area

That said, with Second Granduncle’s strength, he could have completely slaughtered them back then, yet he always held back.

After all, though they had no intelligence, and now even in death showed no lingering obsession or emotion, they were still the final line of defense guarding the Taiqing Sect’s forbidden area.

"We’re even now."

After a brief adjustment of his breathing, Zhou Qing bowed solemnly toward the scorched marks remaining on the ground, then, with a heart full of curiosity, walked toward the depths of the Blood River.

The two banks of the Blood River were still jagged with strange rocks, interlocking like a beast’s fangs.

The air was thick with a rotten, iron‑rust stench that made one want to retch.

With the Corpse Wax Crows no longer disturbing him, Zhou Qing was able to investigate carefully, but unfortunately, the old hen was nowhere to be seen.

"Where exactly does this Blood River flow to?"

His curiosity grew stronger, and he began to go deeper along the riverbank.

The Blood River was bizarre; anyone who tried to cross it would have their Spiritual Power and Divine Sense instantly dissolved, becoming like a mortal.

Even when Second Granduncle brought him before, he could only place Dead Crows on his shoulders and head to delay the appearance and attacks of the Corpse Wax Crows, merely buying time to push open the coffin.

Which of the Taiqing Sect’s predecessors through the ages would dare rashly wade into the water?

They would likely become the targets of those three monsters before they even managed to climb ashore.

Therefore, before Second Granduncle discovered the method of the Dead Crows, all explorers could only do as he was doing now—advance cautiously along the riverbank.

They would preserve their cultivation while hoping to find some opportunity in the depths.

Just like the first time he entered the forbidden area, when he obtained the Gravity Zone key for Supreme Elder Duanmu Shu.

Unfortunately, over the millennia, most intruders returned covered in wounds; those who truly gained something were extremely few.

The blood mist grew thicker. Zhou Qing glanced around and discovered that the rock walls were covered in battle scars of varying depth.

Those crisscrossing sword marks, charred lightning imprints, and sunken fist prints all told of the brutal battles waged here by the predecessors of past generations against the Corpse Wax Crows.

Zhou Qing continued deeper, and mottled characters began to appear on the walls.

"The Taiqing Sect’s third Sect Leader, Xia Ming, came here—ashamed, ah!" The script was vigorous and forceful; though carved in haste, it carried a trace of unwillingness.

"The Taiqing Sect’s fourth Sect Leader, Ruan Liang, came here. Haha, I am indeed somewhat stronger than my master; the student surpasses the master, as the saying goes!"

This line of words was bold and flowing, brimming with a heroic air between the strokes.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing couldn’t help but show a knowing smile.

In a daze, he seemed to see scenes of one Taiqing predecessor after another hastily leaving messages here, competing with one another.

As he continued forward, more and more signatures carved hurriedly into the rock wall appeared:

"The Taiqing Sect’s Golden Sun Peak Peak Master, Yang Zipeng, came here!"

"The Taiqing Sect’s Hundred Battle Peak Peak Master, Ji Cheng, came here!"

"The Taiqing Sect’s Little Spirit Peak Peak Master, Baili Dongfeng, came here!"

...

Looking at these inscriptions that had endured the baptism of time, Zhou Qing’s blood boiled.

Each time he arrived before a message, he would give a respectful bow, as if communicating across time and space with the predecessors of past generations.

They might never have met, yet they converged here because of the same belief.

Deeper in, on a smooth rock wall, Zhou Qing saw the message left by the previous Sect Leader, Canglong Taoist:

"I, Canglong, have exhausted a lifetime of cultivation, and can go no further than this."

"In the depths of the Blood River there may be a world‑shaking secret. I hope those who come after will hold fast to their original hearts and press on. As people of the Taiqing Sect, we must take the revitalization of the sect as our personal duty; remember this, remember this!"

Zhou Qing exhaled lightly.

Then he turned around, his gaze deep as he looked toward the end of the Blood River.

He wondered how his Grandmaster was now, inside the first coffin.

When Nangong Xiongba attacked, he had appeared to help; according to the Lu Family sisters, the cultivation he displayed then was already at the Mid‑stage Spirit Severing Realm.

It must have been the improvement he gained after opening the entrance at Spirit Skull Mountain back then and devouring many Divinity Transformation Realm Cultivators.

After he finished exploring the Blood River, he planned to enter the coffin and take a look; if there was anything he could help with, he would certainly do his utmost.

Skirting around the mottled rock wall, Zhou Qing went deeper...