The Sect Leader Has Taken in a New Female Disciple

But no matter what, Zhou Qing must take this trip, otherwise, that girl might be heartbroken.

She has already lost all her family, perhaps because he bears some resemblance to her father.

She even used this resemblance to comprehend the Realm of Filial Piety and once called him "Old Dad."

To let her experience loss again is far too cruel.

Zhou Qing’s gaze once again fell on the map.

The vast area between the eight tail feathers and the Four Ancient Races—the Medicine Race, Flame Race, Ink Race, and Yu Race—is precisely the largest forbidden area in Nanhuang State—Desolate Forbidden.

The Second Uncle and that Divine Beast are now dormant within.

Moreover, when Zhou Qing took the ancient teleportation array in the Jiuli Dynasty, the Inspector Su Minghe, at Celestial Venerable Realm, seemed unusually interested in that Divine Beast.

And Master Jue Ming from Jiyuan Temple and several Venerables are also about to head to Desolate Forbidden to search for Master Kudi’s remains.

Currently, his Pocket World Forbidden Area is sealed by the roots of an Ancient Tree, preventing entry to explore the coffin.

The urgent matter now is to absorb new forbidden areas for the Divine Ruins Celestial Palace.

"Depart!" Determined, Zhou Qing no longer delayed, summoned the Flying Ship, and turned into a stream of light heading south in haste.

...

Just like that, as a year flew by, Zhou Qing finally stumbled and bumped his way to the territory of the Four Ancient Races.

Separated from Desolate Forbidden by a river is the land of the Eight-Tails.

To bypass it would take at least another year.

After all, from whichever direction, no one dares to cross this terrifying forbidden area that instills fear throughout Nanhuang State.

Currently, Zhou Qing is doing some restocking in Cyan Cloud City and pondering over assimilating this forbidden area into the Divine Ruins Celestial Palace when the surrounding whispers catch his attention.

"Have you heard? Someone found a strange corpse in Desolate Forbidden."

"Just a corpse, what’s there to be alarmed about, Desolate Forbidden is full of those things."

"This time it’s different," the speaker lowered his voice, "The corpse is connected to a moving stump."

"Oh?" The nearby people immediately grew interested, "Tell us the details."

"The news is out," the person continued, "The corpse had no head, replaced by a three-colored flower."

"A three-colored flower? Maybe it’s the seed of some rare plant absorbed nutrients and bloomed there."

"Not at all," the speaker shook his head, "It is rumored that it was a Three Flowers Gathered at the Top cultivator who failed to reach the Supreme Realm."

"What? Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown? Are you certain?" The crowd exclaimed, then realized their gaffe and fell silent.

Zhou Qing’s eyes slightly flickered.

Though he has achieved Four Flowers Gathering at the Crown, if not for the change in the Yin Yang Qi within the third coffin, he too would have been one of the three flowers.

This is a rare group, and hearing about someone meeting such an end brings a sense of sorrow.

Apparently, even Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown only has a slightly better chance against the Supreme Tribulation than ordinary people.

If one can’t overcome it, in the end, they are no different from ordinary people.

He focused and continued to listen.

"So, the legendary Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown is nothing special, I thought it would be easy to step into the Supreme Realm."

"Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown is incredibly rare, the mysteries it holds, the blessings from the Heavenly Dao, outsiders cannot comprehend."

"I’ve heard during Nascent Soul Formation, one gets an augment from the Foundation Establishment quality, and Three Flowers Gathered at the Top cultivators get two, who knows if it’s true."

"Probably true," the previous speaker interrupted, "Many have ventured into Desolate Forbidden searching for him."

"The person’s dead, what’s the search for? Are they planning to retrieve the body?"

"You’re clueless! It’s said that his three-colored flower seems to be able to resist part of the Supreme Tribulation."

"Supreme Tribulation? Isn’t it said that Spirit Severing Realm experts gather rare items to craft Tribulation Transformation Maps for resistance?"

"Tribulation Transformation Maps can resist two or three percent, but with three flowers, the success rate reaches fifty percent. For those at Spirit Slash Realm Perfection, it’s a matter of life or death, who wouldn’t be tempted?"

"So true, even the most talented Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown failed here, ordinary people without absolute certainty wouldn’t dare attempt it."

...

After a simple meal, Zhou Qing strolled down the long street, gazing towards the south.

Though only at Early-stage Spirit Severing Realm, the 150 years of wandering the void have already amassed his Spiritual Power to Perfection, nearly overflowing.

What restrains him now is the Realm.

If he can gain sufficient nourishment from the Realm, perhaps he could break through to Mid-stage Spirit Severing Realm in the next moment.

By then, no one within the same rank would match him.

Even in battles across ranks, though he might not slay the opponent, he’d surely be able to retreat safely.

Such preparation would provide some degree of self-preservation should unforeseen events occur in future encounters with the Shen Family.

Moreover, when elevating to the Spirit Severing Realm, he had already undergone a weakened version of the Supreme Tribulation.

This signifies that due to Four Flowers Gathering at the Crown, his potential has long been sensed by the Heavenly Dao.

Throughout his journey—in going from Golden Core to Nascent Soul, or from Nascent Soul to Divinity Transformation—the energy he requires far exceeds that of cultivators at the same rank.

It is because of this that each time he steps into a realm, he can completely overpower those in the same rank.

In other words, should he truly touch the Supreme Realm one day, the Supreme Tribulation he faces would be terrifying in the extreme.

If he overcomes it, boundless horizons await, no more shackles.

If not, he might end up as that Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, turning into a treasure in others’ eyes.

Thus, he must refine the Tribulation Transformation Map, and seize that Three-Flower Corpse.

Regardless of the truth of the rumors, he intends to seize this opportunity and prepare in advance.

With resolve, without hesitation, he heads straight for the location of Desolate Forbidden.

...

Half a month later, Zhou Qing finally arrives at this legendary forbidden place.