The Sect Leader Has Taken in a New Female Disciple

Shen Hanyi once explained it this way, the process is like boiling a frog in warm water, unexpectedly unavoidable.

To save time, Shen Hanyi gently tapped the oasis with her jade finger.

All the water soared into the air, forming a crystal-clear ice bridge leading directly to the ghost ship lit by candlelight.

[Who knows what realm Number One truly possesses, always hiding without revealing...]

The thought once again echoed, and Zhou Qing’s mouth curled into a bitter smile.

What kind of cultivation could it be?

Far inferior to you!

I followed to give advice, you want me to expose my strength?

No way!

Last time, due to the mummified incident, I had to hastily use the Inscription-level Divine Technique "Hundred Tribulations Blood Curtain."

Afterwards, to cover my identity, I had to teach her this technique, even fabricating a story that someone else could also perform it.

Fortunately, that lie was later patched, but he would never make such a mistake again.

The two stepped onto the ice bridge—space traversal was impossible in the Desolate Forbidden, this was the maximum allowed by the forbidden zone.

Soon, they arrived at the ancient ship lit with ghostly blue candlelight.

On the table inside the cabin, a quaint token lay quietly.

Amidst the flickering candlelight, eerie rustling sounds continuously emanated from the surrounding darkness.

Zhou Qing was actually quite curious, wanting to venture into the darkness to see what those things were.

It’s worth noting that when there was no shortcut, Shen Hanyi could only randomly board the ship and fight her way here.

It was precisely these eerie creatures that frequently injured her, even as a Spirit Severing Realm cultivator, forcing her to retreat to the jujube tree for healing.

At this moment, Shen Hanyi was already familiar with this trial.

She gracefully raised her jade hand, from which a layer of ice crystals spread like mist, eventually condensing into a chilling ice hand that securely grasped the token.

As spiritual power was infused, the token suddenly radiated brilliant light, and the surrounding scenery spun wildly—

In an instant, the ancient ship and darkness completely vanished, replaced by a vast and boundless ancient mine.

Dense Spiritual Qi assaulted their senses, yet it was laced with a bloody and decaying scent, sending chills down one’s spine.

Looking around, the crisscrossed mine tunnels resembled a beehive, exceeding hundreds of thousands in number.

The "Ice Glaze Lingque Mushroom" transforming divine medicine and the Inscription-level Divine Technique were obtained from one of these mine tunnels.

The sky here was oppressively gloomy and suffocating, venturing deeper led to the scene of the second forbidden zone.

"Senior, do you still remember the mine tunnel you helped me access to obtain the transforming divine medicine?" Shen Hanyi suddenly asked.

Zhou Qingxin was slightly moved and nodded: "Of course I remember."

"That mine tunnel has long been fully explored by others, I accidentally obtained a Blood Phoenix Bone, which revealed that it harbored a pocket world." Shen Hanyi said deeply.

"Thanks to your assistance, I was able to obtain that divine medicine to heal my brother, and with your suggestion, I used some scraps to refine the ’Ice Glaze Spirit Ascension Pill’, helping me break through to the late-stage Spirit Severing."

Zhou Qing sighed internally, years had passed in a blink.

"Do you remember the blood-colored scroll next to the divine medicine?" Shen Hanyi suddenly shifted the topic.

Zhou Qing’s heart skipped a beat—could she have sensed something?

Shen Hanyi gazed at him directly: "As it happens, my Blood Phoenix Bone just happens to unlock that hidden place."

"And outside that scroll, there’s actually a miniature Blood Phoenix shadow guarding it... Unfortunately, the shroud is too powerful, so far I’ve been helpless against it, repeatedly slain by it."

"What are you trying to say?" Zhou Qing asked in a deep voice.

Shen Hanyi softly said: "Senior, please don’t misunderstand."

"Since you imparted the Blood Phoenix Race’s Inscription-level Divine Technique to me, I speculate that the blood-colored scroll might also contain some kind of bloodline legacy from the Blood Phoenix Race."

"You want it?" Zhou Qing raised an eyebrow.

Shen Hanyi solemnly nodded: "You know my situation, I can no longer practice the ’Hundred Tribulations Blood Curtain’, but I still yearn for Inscription-level Divine Techniques."

"So I want to try my luck, and I hope you can assist me."

Saying this, she respectfully bowed.

Zhou Qing sighed internally.

How could he help?

Because what’s recorded in that blood-colored scroll is precisely the ’Hundred Tribulations Blood Curtain’, there’s no point in fussing over it.

Even if you obtained it, without an Extreme Dao Weapon you can’t open it.

Moreover, there’s a shroud there that once wrapped around an ancient Human Emperor, and it has already developed its own Divine Sense.

Didn’t you just say as much, that even as someone with Spirit Slash Realm Perfection, you’re still being killed by it, I surely can’t do it either.

[You must help me, you must help me!]

Shen Hanyi’s inner voice resounded in Zhou Qing’s mind, the chattering tone starkly contrasting with her usual cold image.

Zhou Qing couldn’t help but smile.

Perhaps due to the circumstances, and since he himself had now stepped into the Spirit Severing Realm, the Spirit Seal he condensed even surpassed hers.

The once unattainable Spirit Severing senior now seemed somewhat endearingly cute.

"I remember many humanoid cocoons hanging from the ceiling of that cave," Zhou Qing pretended to ponder, "have they hatched yet?"

Shen Hanyi gently shook her head: "Not yet."

"Then it won’t do!" Zhou Qing said firmly.

"Why not?" Shen Hanyi furrowed her brows in confusion.

"Those cocoons are all the offspring the Human Emperor’s Shroud is nurturing for itself," Zhou Qing said meaningfully, "the principle of a mother’s toughness, do you understand?"

Upon hearing Zhou Qing’s words, Han Yi involuntarily placed a hand on her abdomen.

This subtle gesture warmed Zhou Qing’s heart—she indeed cared about this child.

"Now that the transforming divine medicine is long gone, and the scroll is in a self-protective state," Zhou Qing advised patiently.

"Once those cocoons break open, the Human Emperor’s Shroud will surely leave with them, and by then, the cave mansion will be vacant, making it easy to take the scroll."

Seeing Shen Hanyi fall silent, Zhou Qing added fuel to the fire: "As a fellow mother, you should be able to relate."

Shen Hanyi’s gaze flickered, ultimately nodding slowly: "Alright."