The Sect Leader Has Taken in a New Female Disciple

Zhou Qing felt something was amiss as he watched the scene, but he couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was.

"Is it over?" Jue Ming still waited outside the courtyard and greeted Zhou Qing as he came out.

Zhou Qing nodded.

"Why not stay in the monastery for a few days?" Jue Ming suggested, "With your understanding of Buddhist teachings and your relationship with the Buddha Son, you might encounter some opportunities."

"No, I have matters to attend to." Zhou Qing rejected him directly.

He knew nothing of Buddhist teachings, relying entirely on the Corpse-Touching Sticker to learn the "Demon-Suppressing Golden Bone".

Seeing Zhou Qing’s resolute attitude, Jue Ming no longer pressed him to stay and instead said, "Do you remember Master Kudi I mentioned to you?"

Zhou Qing’s heart stirred: "What’s the matter?"

"Someone found him in the Desolate Forbidden zone, but he has already turned into a dried corpse. We, a few Venerables, plan to visit there in a few days," Jue Ming said.

Zhou Qing was secretly astonished, feeling more inexplicably confused.

Isn’t this a secret from your Jiyuan Temple? Why tell me this?

But speaking of it, back when he encountered Master Kudi in simulated form in the Desolate Forbidden.

Although the corpse had no awareness and limited movement, it was repelled by its own Inscription Level Divine Technique, "Hundred Tribulations Blood Curtain".

Yet, it kept murmuring those strange words: "Buddha beads... cannot leave the monastery... cannot..."

"Then I wish you success," Zhou Qing said casually.

"I’ll take care of the Cao family mother and child," Jue Ming suddenly smiled, "It’s funny, every time I see you, you always send a mother and child to the monastery."

Zhou Qing laughed heartily: "But the people I send have never disappointed you! I’m off!"

Saying this, he summoned a Flying Ship, jumped aboard, and waved to Jue Ming before flying away.

The Flying Ship cut through clouds and mist, speeding tens of miles in no time.

Zhou Qing stood at the bow, unable to resist glancing back.

Through the surging sea of clouds, the golden roof of Jiyuan Temple could be faintly seen shining in the sunset.

He frowned slightly, feeling more perplexed—Gui Cang seemed intentional in steering him away.

"Forget it." Zhou Qing shook his head, unable to figure out the reason, he decided not to dwell on it.

He changed the Flying Ship’s direction, driving Spiritual Power, and sped toward the central part of Nanhuang State.

The vast sea of clouds quickly left that majestic temple far behind.

...

A year later, Zhou Qing had lost count of how many large and small Teleportation Arrays he had taken.

Combined with the travels on Flying Ship and overcoming the fear of tearing through space, he finally reached the central part of Nanhuang State at Wind Breath City.

This city, like Celestial Wave City, had seven four-color Teleportation Arrays leading to other major states.

After confirming that the Teleportation Array to Celestial Wave City had been operating normally for over 150 years, Zhou Qing breathed a sigh of relief.

Looks like it was indeed repaired back then.

He cheerfully paid over a dozen top-grade Spirit Stones and stepped onto the Teleportation Array to Celestial Wave City with others.

...

Three months later, a flash of light appeared on the Transmission Array Platform of Celestial Wave City, and Zhou Qing’s figure emerged on the platform.

Seeing the familiar surroundings, he immediately took out a tri-colored Communication Jade Scroll to contact Lu Yaoyao.

Back when he decided to bring her to the Celestial Fate Sacred Dynasty, he specifically crafted her a Communication Jade Scroll like the senior brother and second senior sister, for easy contact.

But after waiting awhile without a reply, it indicated she wasn’t nearby.

"Hopefully nothing’s happened!" Zhou Qing quickly put away the Jade Scroll and headed straight for the City Lord’s mansion.

At the moment, in the City Lord’s mansion, City Lord Li Changhong was meditating in cultivation.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and he disappeared from the room, appearing in the sky above.

"Since you’ve arrived, why not come out to see me?"

As soon as the words fell, the space opposite abruptly tore open, and Zhou Qing stepped out.

Li Changhong looked at this unfamiliar face but felt strangely familiar.

"What brings you here suddenly?" Li Changhong inquired.

Zhou Qing respectfully gave a bow, as the person before him was truly a Spirit Slash Realm Perfection.

He took out a mask and put it on his face: "Does City Lord Li recognize me?"

Seeing the mask, Li Changhong was initially taken aback, then full of shock: "Master Zhou?"

Zhou Qing slowly removed the mask and nodded.

Back when he was repairing the Teleportation Array, he and Lu Yaoyao always wore masks.

Later when trapped in the space passage by the Void Beast with its tongue, the mask was pulled off outside.

"You’re still alive? How is this possible!" Confirming it was Zhou Qing, Li Changhong could hardly believe his eyes, and he stepped forward excitedly.

"Luckily survived." Zhou Qing didn’t dare say much, fearing another incident like that with Li Wusheng.

He quickly asked, "City Lord Li, when I was repairing the Teleportation Array, where is the silver-haired girl waiting outside for me?"

Li Changhong seemed to still be recovering from his shock, only reacting when he heard the question: "Are you referring to Lu Yaoyao?"

Zhou Qing nodded, it appears he already knows Lu’s name.

Li Changhong sighed: "Since you were pulled into the void, Master Ji and I tried our best to maintain the entrance, hoping to help you escape, but..."

"Later, Lu Yaoyao waited outside for you for several months."

"Until one day, from the Southern State’s teleportation array, emerged a woman with silver hair like hers."

"Lu Yaoyao called her ’Sister Shen’, and this lady, like me, was a Spirit Slash Realm Perfection."

"She wouldn’t reveal her name but accompanied Lu Yaoyao here waiting for you for ten years. Finally, she took her on the teleportation array back to Nanhuang State."

Zhou Qing was stunned.

Taken away by Shen Hanyi?

It seems he inadvertently saved Shen Hanyi once again.

If he had known, he wouldn’t have run this errand.

To be honest, during the 150 years trapped in the void, he had often considered opening the Divine Ruins Celestial Palace to seek advice from Four, Five, or Six on escaping.