The Sect Leader Has Taken in a New Female Disciple

Chapter 1148 - 348: Senior, When Did My Taiqing Sect Offend You?

"Xiao Qing, where have you been these past two years!""Exactly, you disappeared as soon as we opened our eyes, you really worried us!"

After Zhou Qing confirmed the safety of First Senior Brother and Second Senior Sister using the Communication Jade Scroll, he circled around the outer city mountains before returning to the cave mansion.

Just as he stepped into the stone gate, two figures hurriedly came to greet him.

Luo Lingling grabbed his arm, spiritual power flowing at her fingertips, carefully examining his internal condition: "Are you hurt? Did you encounter any danger?"

"No problem, I just went out for a stroll."

Feeling upbeat, Zhou Qing spun in a circle, his robe fluttering lightly in the wind, a rare light-hearted smile on his face.

Over these two years, almost all the time was spent on the road.

It took eight months on the way there, and without the Spirit Severing Realm’s spatial travel means on the return journey, it actually took a full year and five months.

Along the way, he injected all his wood attribute spirit stones into the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree.

Since he could only comprehend for one hour at a time at most, combined with the travel, his insights were thus intermittent.

Now, nine thousand eight hundred spirit seals had condensed within his body, just one step away from becoming a fourth-level array master.

"In three months at most, I’ll be able to break through!" Zhou Qing shared a rough outline of the situation with the two, eyes full of anticipation.

The two were pleasantly surprised to hear this.

They didn’t expect that he had gone to Yaoguang Mansion with Sikong Yan, no wonder it took so long.

But it was still too risky.

However, after confirming that Zhou Qing was indeed safe and sound, Ghost Mastiff and Luo Lingling finally sighed in relief.

But soon, they started feeling anxious again.

They wanted to support their little junior brother but were also afraid of implicating him once more.

After all, because of them, Zhou Qing had already fallen into danger twice, and now none of the three dared to venture out, lest suspicions arise.

Yet, if they didn’t help and let the little junior brother face the perilous Imperial City on his own, as his senior brother and sister, they would indeed feel regretful.

"By the way, where’s the old hen? Why didn’t you bring it back?" Luo Lingling suddenly remembered something and her gaze swept over Zhou Qing’s empty shoulder.

Zhou Qing was taken aback and immediately looked around the cave mansion: "I didn’t bring it."

The cave mansion instantly became so quiet that a pin could be heard.

The three of them looked at each other, simultaneously realizing something.

"When did it disappear?" Zhou Qing hurriedly asked, his voice unconsciously raised a few degrees.

Luo Lingling frowned as she recalled: "When we woke up, it was already gone. We thought you took it away."

The three quickly checked the time and their expressions gradually turned serious, finally confirming that the old hen had been missing for a full two years and more than three months!

Meaning it disappeared shortly after Zhou Qing left.

Zhou Qing furrowed his brows tightly.

The reason for taking the old hen away instead of leaving it to Lu Yaoyao or Third Senior Brother for care was that during a simulated entry into the Grotto Heaven Forbidden Area, he found the old hen swimming in the Blood River.

Its body engulfed in ghostly blue flames, leisurely pecking at the floating dead crows, and even casually swimming toward the depths of the Blood River.

He wanted to follow and explore, but was constantly attacked by two Corpse Wax Crows.

Not long after exiting the simulated environment, it unexpectedly appeared right outside the courtyard, feathers still stained with undried Blood River water...

There’s just no knowing how it got in there? Or how it came out?

Although those three Corpse Wax Crows ignored it, who could ensure it wasn’t just luck?

If left on its own, what if one day it truly perishes in the Blood River...

"It’s our fault for not watching it," Second Senior Sister said remorsefully.

Zhou Qing shook his head: "I bear responsibility too."

"This mountain range is far from the three major danger zones," First Senior Brother calmly analyzed, "maybe it’s just trapped in some gorge."

Luo Lingling also nodded repeatedly: "You know its digestive power, didn’t you say last time that when you were away for several months, you came back to find even the roof beam was gnawed half off, and several floor tiles were missing."

"With all the grass, wood, and rocks in this mountain, it won’t starve."

Zhou Qing too felt somewhat relieved in his heart and then nodded: "Alright, let’s split up and search."

Without delay, the three exchanged glances and tacitly split into three directions.

Zhou Qing’s figure flashed, transforming into a cyan light streak heading east.

He slightly closed his eyes, divine sense spreading like a tide, leaving no inch from towering ancient wood to underground insects untouched...

...

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Domain of Lingyun Mansion!

Before dawn, Taiqing Mountain Range was shrouded in faint purple mist, and Nangong Xiongba’s figure stood quietly on a thousand-year-old pine ten miles from the mountain gate.

His aura was completely restrained, even his robe seemed solidified by some power, without any movement.

"Three-Color Restriction..."

Nangong Xiongba squinted his eyes, staring at the tightly enshrouding three-colored light screen, "Xuanyuan Yichen didn’t lie to me."

A day ago upon arriving in the Eastern Domain, he specially investigated the current situation of Taiqing Sect.

This sect, which he hadn’t heard of at all, had now already swallowed the Cyan Feather Immortal Sect, Golden Thunder Sect, and Phecda Sect, and encroached on nearly half the territory of Cangyan Daoist Palace.

At this rate, it would unify the Eastern Domain within half a year.

Not only that, he indeed confirmed the name of Ghost Mastiff, and the portrait matched those pointed out by others perfectly.

And the claim "Mr. Ji is Zhou Qing" by Xuanyuan Yichen was now undoubtedly verified.

The deeds of this Zhou Qing were truly astonishing: In the war of Five Sects, he slayed numerous prodigies, fought across realms, and made his name in one battle.

The battle at Canglan Mountain further turned the tide, saving tens of thousands of disciples from several sects.

Moreover, he apprenticed under third-level Array Master Lin Daochen, receiving the true teachings...

With such a remarkable list of achievements, he had already become a legend among the young cultivators in the Eastern Domain, eagerly admired.