The Sect Leader Has Taken in a New Female Disciple

"So the rumors credit it all to the Three Flowers, claiming that refining this thing can help one cross Tribulation. But in reality..."

Elder Weng shook his head. "No one has ever truly tried it. Hard to tell true from false."

Zhou Qing fell silent.

He still remembered that year in the Divine Ruins Celestial Palace, when Number Six had tentatively brought up the matter of Four Flowers Gathering at the Crown.

Back then, the green sphere of Number Four had said that as the foremost among all Heavenly Dao Qi, Yin Yang Qi was something you might not see a wisp of in ten thousand years.

Even if you were lucky enough to obtain it, the breakthrough process would be fraught with peril; to condense one or two flowers was already quite rare.

Number Five had even given an example: if a hundred people obtained Yin Yang Qi, in the end, those who could achieve Three Flowers would be no more than one or two.

The rest mostly stopped at one or two flowers—let alone Four Flowers.

Thus, those who had Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown and had cultivated to Spirit Slash Great Perfection were already as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

To avoid covetous eyes, these people all tried their best to hide themselves, just like he was doing now.

Those who were discovered and taken as experimental subjects were fewer still.

Of course, it was also after that conversation that he began to pay attention to Number Six’s identity, and kept probing, eventually confirming Shen Hanyi’s existence.

"You can give it a try." Elder Weng’s voice pulled him back to reality.

Zhou Qing had exactly this intention, and nodded immediately.

"Your talent is outstanding, and you managed to achieve Spirit Slash despite starting from nothing. That shows how firm your will is."

Elder Weng’s gaze was deep. "Since you rose from the wilds, you must all the more seize every single opportunity."

"Many thanks for your guidance, Senior." Zhou Qing offered a solemn thanks.

"However—" Elder Weng suddenly changed the topic, looking straight into Zhou Qing’s eyes. "Precisely because of that, I advise you not to enter. The dangers of the Desolate Forbidden far exceed your imagination."

"Even the current Emperor does not dare step into it lightly."

Elder Weng’s tone grew heavy. "Your cultivation has not come easily, and now you run into a time when heroes from all sides are vying for it. The chance of falling... is far too great."

At these words, Zhou Qing smiled, a hint of resolve flashing in his eyes. "Didn’t you say danger and opportunity coexist? I want to give it a shot."

"Senior, why not take me along? When the time comes, you take the tree stump, and I only want the Three Flowers."

Elder Weng shook his head with a wry smile. "An enemy of mine will most likely show himself this time as well. If you follow me, I’m afraid it will be even more dangerous than moving alone."

Zhou Qing sighed inwardly.

Looks like this big shot doesn’t want to bring me along.

Forget it. With Elder Weng’s unfathomable cultivation, if he followed, he’d probably end up being on the old man’s mind at all times, and wouldn’t be able to refresh Ignore Points either.

Just as he was pondering, Elder Weng suddenly got to his feet. "You’ve just arrived in Tianyun. This old man will give you a piece of advice."

His expression grew grave. "This Desolate Forbidden is divided into four layers. No matter where you enter from, you must start from the first trial."

"In other words, those vying for the Three Flowers this time aren’t just the Four Ancient Races on this side, but also the Eight Great Families on the other side. The intensity of the competition is far beyond what you imagine."

"Remember, at any time, your life comes first." Elder Weng gave him a meaningful look.

"Those who come here seeking a chance at Tribulation Crossing are not only at the Spirit Severing Realm—there are Supremes as well. You... take care of yourself."

Before his voice had even fallen completely, Elder Weng had already stepped forward.

Zhou Qing only felt his vision blur; that hunched figure twisted and dissipated like a reflection on the water.

Zhou Qing’s brows knitted tightly.

No wonder that back then, when he followed Number Six into the Forbidden zone, they had stayed under that crooked jujube tree the whole time.

He had thought it was just a matter of choosing a position, never imagining it was actually due to the rules.

Since even Supremes would appear, charging in rashly would be no different from courting death.

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Qing simply walked straight toward the entrance of the Forbidden zone.

The space before him rippled like water, and when he opened his eyes again, he was already standing on a crimson wasteland.

Looking as far as his eyes could see, he could vaguely make out many black dots moving about.

If he guessed correctly, they should be those black Flying Ships they had seen with Number Six back then, traveling through the desert.

This was the first trial of the Desolate Forbidden.

Zhou Qing glanced around, then turned and left without hesitation.

After returning to the outside world again, he mused, "Interesting. It’s as if it’s a Secret Realm wrapped within a special heaven-and-earth..."

Then, deliberately seeking out a secluded spot, Zhou Qing slipped underground and opened up a simple Cave Mansion.

When he took out the Divine Ruins Celestial Palace Token, he did not bother to shield it from the old hen in his arms—after all, this fellow had seen it many times already; trying to hide it on purpose would only look suspicious.

As expected, the old hen treated it as if it were invisible, pecking at the stones beside it on its own.

"Huh~" Zhou Qing quickly noticed that all four people were actually online this time.

This was a rare full gathering.

After that, he let out a long breath, placed a Wood Attribute Spirit Stone on the Token, and as Spiritual Power poured in, his Divine Sense was immediately drawn into it.

When he opened his eyes again, the familiar chaotic space appeared before him.

Number Four, Number Five, Number Six, and Number Seven were each immersed in their own Forbidden-zone simulations.

Zhou Qing’s gaze quietly fell on Number Six and Number Seven.

Shen Hanyi was already at Spirit Slash Realm Perfection, just one step away from the Supreme Realm.

Her simulating a Forbidden zone at this moment was most likely also for the sake of those tricolored petals; she was probably searching for their exact location.

As for the purple sphere of Number Seven—

"Hm?" Zhou Qing’s pupils abruptly contracted.

He hadn’t noticed earlier, but now, two images were actually appearing at the same time where Number Seven was.

One was still that frozen crimson scene that writhed like intestines as he had seen before, while the other was completely shrouded in purple qi.

"This guy found another Forbidden zone recognized by the Divine Ruins Celestial Palace?" Zhou Qing’s eyes narrowed slightly.

By rights, Sikong Yan should at this moment have just finished his mourning period for Nanny Su, and resumed his search for that Spirit Severing Realm secret formula hidden by the Xuanyuan Royal Family.

During the one hundred and fifty years he himself had been trapped in the void, a new Forbidden zone had actually appeared in the Holy Martial Dynasty?

Just as he was deep in thought, the slowly spinning chaotic vortex in front of him split off a wisp of airflow, which gently coiled around him.

"Buzz—"

As Spiritual Power intertwined, the seventh image within the space slowly unfolded.

—It was an endless mine, with towering mountain ranges crouching like giant dragons, and pitch-black clouds hanging low, as if about to crush the ridgelines at any moment.