Chapter 1365 - 402: Shen Hanyi’s Sudden Gagging
Watching a Spirit Slash Realm Perfection cultivator bowing to him, Zhou Qing felt an inexplicable joy.
He coughed lightly, "No worries. It’s been a long time, how is your cultivation of the inscription-level divine technique ’Hundred Tribulations Blood Curtain’? I remember last time I pointed out five Phoenix Dao Patterns for you."
"It’s been over a hundred years now, with your talent, I suppose you’ve gathered hundreds of them? Show it to me, I’ll give you some pointers."
Zhou Qing intentionally brought up the topic.
Although he didn’t want to delve into the past, sometimes these topics could diminish others’ suspicion towards him, obscuring the truth.
Moreover, he wanted to see, after all these years, if Shen Hanyi still harbored resentment towards him for that matter.
Indeed, upon hearing these words, Shen Hanyi’s body stiffened instantly.
Zhou Qing quickly glanced at her drooped hands, and although he couldn’t see clearly, they didn’t clench into fists.
Seeing this, Zhou Qing finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, I did save you.
And because you couldn’t hold on, I now can’t cultivate the only inscription-level divine technique.
Thinking about it, I’m the one who suffered the most.
"What’s the matter? If it’s well condensed, I was planning to gift you another inscription-level divine technique!" Zhou Qing said earnestly.
Shen Hanyi bowed again respectfully, "I’m sorry, Senior, I’ve let you down."
"All these years consumed by family affairs, and focusing on gathering Spirit Seals, after condensing three Phoenix Dao Patterns in ’Hundred Tribulations Blood Curtain’, I haven’t cultivated it further."
Zhou Qing’s lips curled slightly upon hearing this.
She didn’t mention that matter at all.
Indeed, as a woman, such a matter is truly difficult to speak of.
"Forget it, if you haven’t cultivated it, then so be it." Zhou Qing feigned a sigh, "How many Spirit Seals have you gathered now?"
"Seventeen thousand," Shen Hanyi replied truthfully.
Zhou Qing was taken aback.
Indeed, a genius of the fifth-level cultivation country!
To know, I’ve reached thirty thousand, only through the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree and a vast amount of wood attribute Spirit Stones, and merely copying the Spirit Seals from Master Xuanqing’s legacy.
That’s taking shortcuts upon shortcuts.
While she relies solely on her talent.
"Fairly decent," Zhou Qing feigned indifference, "Given that, I understand you."
"When you gather more Phoenix Dao Patterns, I’ll grant you other inscription-level divine techniques."
"Thank you, Senior!" Shen Hanyi seemed disinclined to further discuss this topic, expressing gratitude.
She took a step forward, shifting the topic, "Senior, did you see the new forbidden area scene on number seven when you came in?"
Zhou Qing nodded, "Yes, it’s the Desolate Forbidden. I spoke with him briefly, rest assured, he won’t expose you."
"Senior knows him?" Shen Hanyi’s eyes lit up, hastily inquiring.
"I do, but I won’t tell you," Zhou Qing said resolutely, "Finding the key to the Divine Ruins Celestial Palace and becoming one of them is each person’s destiny, a kind of fate."
Truth be told, if he revealed Sikong Yan’s identity to Shen Hanyi, with her strength, silencing him would be effortless.
Even with my current strength, combined with inscription-level divine techniques and extreme dao weapons, the probability of erasing Sikong Yan is well over eighty percent.
This way, the Taiqing Sect Grotto Heaven Forbidden Area matter would remain forever hidden, preserving myself.
But he didn’t want to do it.
Sikong Yan is complex; I’ve gained much from him.
Moreover, we have the same origin, as he puts it, we are genuine compatriots.
Knowing one’s roots, Zhou Qing didn’t want to act against Sikong Yan.
There are other reasons, some he couldn’t quite articulate why; overall, he didn’t want to move against Sikong Yan.
Upon hearing Zhou Qing’s words, Shen Hanyi nodded.
After all, with the assurance of number one Senior, she felt more at ease.
Moreover, over the past decade, he indeed hadn’t disclosed any information about the Celestial Fate Sacred Dynasty to numbers four and five.
Even if they knew, so what?
The matter of Desolate Forbidden, too many have witnessed it, uncountable are the cultivators seeking fortune within.
Among such vast crowds, who could ensure it was her?
"By the way, when did number seven reveal the forbidden area?" Zhou Qing suddenly asked.
Shen Hanyi pondered briefly, "About ten years ago."
Zhou Qing furrowed his brows, thoughts already forming.
Feigning ignorance, he glanced around, "Has something happened in Desolate Forbidden lately? Why so many people? Did the Divine Beast appear?"
Shen Hanyi took out an imaging stone, "Senior, please look, someone discovered this object in Desolate Forbidden recently."
Zhou Qing accepted the imaging stone, tapped it lightly with spiritual power, projecting an image.
A dark swamp stretched out in the void, its murky surface floating with rotten vegetation, occasionally bubbling.
In the center, a bizarre dried corpse sprinted at an astonishing speed.
Its upper half was a desiccated humanoid figure, skin cracked like tree bark, lacking a head, replaced by a variegated three-colored flower.
Petals manifested in sinister black, red, and purple hues, emitting eerie light under dim conditions.
Even more terrifying, its lower body merged with a decayed stump.
The stump’s surface crawled with dark moss, roots twisted and morphed into the likeness of human legs, sprinting bizarrely through the marsh.
Those "legs" retained a barkish texture, unnaturally articulated at the joints, agile as real human legs.