The Sect Leader Has Taken in a New Female Disciple

"That’s more like it." Zhou Qing suddenly changed the subject, seemingly casually saying, "Well... don’t think I’m too nosy, but the child’s father is..."

Shen Hanyi abruptly lowered her hand from her abdomen, her voice turning cold: "Senior, this is a private matter of mine. Although I know your divine techniques are vast, I must ask you to leave some room."

[Did he really die just like that?]

Almost simultaneously, her inner voice resonated in Zhou Qing’s mind.

His heart raced—this "he" must undoubtedly be himself!

Only his disappearance would match those words.

More importantly, there was no resentment in her words, but rather a tone full of concern.

Which means, this child is really mine, wonderful.

Zhou Qing almost let out a laugh.

Luckily, in the hazy state, the other party couldn’t see his ecstatic expression.

[Heart Mirror Points +7]

The next moment, another notification sound rang out.

Immediately, the original [Truly a destined person] tag above Shen Hanyi’s head turned into [Bastard]!

Zhou Qing: "..."

Alright, it seems she still holds some resentment towards me.

He completely understood—a proud daughter of the heavens, at a time when her cultivation was advancing rapidly, suddenly found herself pregnant due to an accident.

The man who had skin contact with her was merely an acquaintance, seen a few times.

It was only because of a few instances of help that she considered him a destined person encountered by chance.

For one hundred and sixty years, no news came from that man, leaving her to bear it all alone.

When the child came into the world, it was destined to be a child without a father.

The truly irresponsible one was Zhou Qing himself.

Thinking of this, a pang of pain arose in his heart, and more so, remorse.

Now that it is confirmed the child is his, Zhou Qing had a clear goal in his heart.

He wanted to protect this mother and child (daughter), to spend the rest of his life making up for these years of neglect.

As for the identity of "number one," it absolutely must not be exposed.

To her, it would be nothing less than a meticulously woven deception, making her see him even less clearly, let alone believe.

Moreover, some things simply cannot be explained, such as inscription-level divine techniques, the duet of love songs beneath the jujube tree, the Human Emperor’s Shroud, Eightfold Sticker...

"Haha~" Zhou Qing let out two dry laughs, pretending to be relaxed: "What kind of person do you take me for?"

"It was purely an accident to know you were number seven back then, I’m not the kind of freak who loves to pry into personal matters, you can rest assured."

Shen Hanyi bowed again, "Thank you, senior."

[Hope you keep your word. But as long as Yunzhou doesn’t let slip, I don’t think you’ll trace it back to him.]

[Unfortunately... that "Hundred Tribulations Blood Curtain" you only taught two people, both of whom have failed to cultivate it now.]

Listening to this inner voice, Zhou Qing’s lips curved slightly.

Rather than losing an inscription-level divine technique, I would prefer you and the child!

The two accelerated forward, carefully avoiding the mine pits along the way.

Almost all these caves harbored terrifying taboos, although they did not attack actively, they considered those who trespass as prey.

Fortunately, Shen Hanyi had simulated for years, and had already figured out a safe path to perfectly avoid the perception of these existences.

Zhou Qing quietly followed, memorizing the route.

Meanwhile, various taboo entities continually emerged from several mines below.

Black clouds rolled like ink, dense moths with human faces buzzed with wings, hordes of corpses climbed out, wailing...

These terrifying existences were frenziedly besieging the cultivators who recklessly invaded.

The two even witnessed an elder at the early-stage Spirit Severing Realm, being tightly entangled by a scarlet tentacle suddenly extending from a mine.

The tentacle bristling with suction cups, the elder desperately struggled but to no avail, finally choosing self-detonation in terror.

A seven-colored primordial spirit hastily fled, while the body had long been dragged into the abyssal mine.

Luckily, the two were in a different dimensional space, and the terrors within those mines hadn’t noticed them.

But this scene was enough to prove the peril of the ten thousand mines in the second stage.

"Wonder where Elder Weng is now..." Zhou Qing frowned, "And Second Uncle, the game he’s leading, what is the purpose?"

As they delved further, fewer and fewer cultivators reached here.

In the end, no human shadows were visible around.

"Huh, that is—"

Suddenly, a gigantic Dharma aspect of a Buddha manifested on the distant horizon, Sanskrit sounds resounded, Buddha Light illuminating everywhere.

Zhou Qing’s heart stirred, as if realizing something, he immediately accelerated, with Shen Hanyi following closely.

Upon arrival, they saw below an ancient temple in ruins.

Among the crumbling walls, weeds grew rampant, the mottled pagodas tilted, seemingly on the verge of collapse, only a few incomplete Buddha statues stubbornly stood.

In the air, five monks draped in robes were collectively unleashing Buddhist divine techniques.

Golden Sanskrit, like chains, entwined, tightly binding a corpse below.

The corpse robed in gold-threaded cassock, neck adorned with eighteen relic Buddhist beads radiating a faint glow, holding a precepts knife with a chilling glint, was struggling and howling frantically:

"Buddha beads... cannot leave the temple... cannot..."

"It’s Jue Chen, Jue Jing, Jue Ming, Jue Yuan, and Jue Zhen, the five venerables from Jiyuan Temple!" Shen Hanyi exclaimed.

"Looks like they’ve been searching for so many years, and finally found Master Kudi!"

Zhou Qing nodded slightly.

Previously, he went to Celestial Wave City to fetch Lu Yaoyao, causing a delay of half a year, thinking Venerable Jue Ming and others had already set off in search.

Unexpectedly, till today, they only barely found the hiding place of Master Kudi.

Indeed, at the time, he and Shen Hanyi had inadvertently stumbled upon this place purely by chance.

And consistently circled in place, eventually accidentally encountering Kudi’s corpse.

Later, several times passing through here, they could no longer trace the ancient temple.