Chapter 1611: The Dragon-Taming Maiden (Part 1)
"Our master had instructed us not to inform the young master about the Tai Chu Divine Fruit in advance, but I thought that this might slightly ease the young master's inner turmoil," Quhui said. As the head of the Arbiters, whose conduct was so strict it bordered on merciless, perhaps only before Zhou Qingchen would he occasionally reveal a hint of a smile.
"Thank you, Uncle Quhui, for telling me. However, regardless of the outcome regarding the Tai Chu Divine Fruit, I will certainly not let down the expectations of my father and all of you uncles and elders."
Zhou Qingchen smiled freely, then leaped downward, heading straight into the deeper parts of the Tai Chu Divine Realm.
From Zhou Qingchen's demeanor, Quhui Zunzhe sensed a strong fighting spirit and eagerness. Clearly, in this trial, he was determined to bring back results that would pleasantly surprise Zhou Tian Shen Di. He called out from a distance: "Young master, do not venture beyond three hundred thousand li. Near any unusual wood spirit treasures, there will surely be ancient profound beasts lurking. You must be careful."
Just as Quhui was giving his warning, within the gray ancient forest, a hundred-zhang giant shadow suddenly shot into the sky. Its wings stirred up thousands of wind blades, tearing directly at Zhou Qingchen.
It was actually a ferocious bird with a phoenix-like head!
Perhaps due to the different "world," the beasts of the Tai Chu Divine Realm rarely fought among themselves, but they were quite sensitive to foreign auras. Once encountered, they would often attack directly.
Faced with this scene, Quhui did not even move. Zhou Qingchen's cultivation at the sixth-level Divine Sovereign was sufficient to avoid any fatal danger in this area.
Zhou Qingchen's gaze shifted slightly. Facing the sudden assault of the ferocious bird, his eyes remained calm, showing no sign of striking back. To an outsider, it might seem as if he was too slow to react.
But at that moment, a loud roar rang out, accompanied by a violently howling storm.
Within the storm, countless ancient trees were uprooted and sent flying into the air. The trajectory of the ferocious bird charging at Zhou Qingchen abruptly changed, its body twisted. In the next instant, a figure shot into the sky, and the storm grew even more violent. With a heavy crash, the terrifying storm tore through one of the bird's wings.
The ferocious bird let out a mournful cry, struggling to break free from the storm. Instead of retaliating in fury, it desperately fled into the distance.
The wind vortex around the appearing figure gradually subsided. He did not give chase, but instead nodded to Zhou Qingchen and said: "Brother, this kind of ferocious bird blends its body color and aura with its surroundings, making it best at lurking and ambushing. Please be careful."
Zhou Qingchen returned the smile: "Thank you, brother, for your generous assistance."
Seeing Zhou Qingchen's calm and unhurried smile, the other person paused for a moment, then smiled back: "It seems I was meddling. Farewell."
As he spoke, a woman gracefully approached his side.
The woman had light golden hair that cascaded straight down to her hips like luxurious flowing gold. She wore a somewhat large phoenix-wing mask, pure ice-blue in color, yet the icy radiance it refracted seemed dull compared to her jade-like complexion.
"...!" Zhou Qingchen's gaze suddenly froze.
"Let's go." Yun Che prepared to leave with Qianye Ying'er.
"...Wait." Just as Yun Che turned around, Zhou Qingchen suddenly called out. Although barely noticeable, his voice had lost some of its earlier elegance, replaced by an unnatural urgency.
Yun Che turned his gaze back and said: "May I ask what advice you have?"
Zhou Qingchen took a step forward, then realized he was somewhat losing his composure. He forcibly restrained his gaze, bowed slightly to Yun Che, and said: "Meeting a brother by chance in this perilous place, yet receiving your generous aid, I am deeply moved. Brother seems quite familiar with this area, while I am stepping here for the first time, full of trepidation. If you do not mind, may I... travel together with you two, to look out for each other?"
In the distance, Quhui frowned slightly.
The profound aura of these two people was at the fourth-level Divine Sovereign. Even if they harbored ill intentions, they posed no threat to Zhou Qingchen. What surprised him was that, given Zhou Qingchen's status and temperament, along with his determination for this trial, why would he suddenly take the initiative to travel with two strangers of unknown origin?
Although the other party had offered help, the most complex thing in the world was the human heart. One could not judge them as good people based solely on that... Zhou Qingchen could not possibly be unaware of this.
At that moment, Quhui's gaze suddenly locked onto the golden-haired woman... Then he looked away and heaved a silent sigh.
So that's it... Ah.
"Well..." Yun Che showed hesitation.
"Rest assured, both of you," Zhou Qingchen said with a smile, releasing his profound aura. The surrounding space instantly transformed into a slowly rotating vortex: "Although I am unfamiliar with this place, I definitely will not hold the two of you back. As for any opportunities we encounter, I will take only one-third, and will not covet an extra half."
Zhou Qingchen was a person who easily evoked fondness in others. Yun Che had felt this deeply the first time he met him back then.
His gentleness, elegance, humility, and politeness made it hard to believe he was the son of a Divine Emperor... Or perhaps, among the royal realms of the Divine Regions, only the imperial son of Zhou Tian Divine Realm could possess such bearing.
Yun Che glanced at Qianye Ying'er, thought briefly, then said: "Alright, an extra companion means more strength and less risk. In that case, please guide us well."
Taking the initiative oneself, and having the other party take the initiative, were two entirely different concepts.
And to make the lofty Zhou Tian Crown Prince take the initiative to approach two randomly encountered Divine Sovereigns of unknown origin was almost an impossible feat.
Yet at this moment, it was realized with incredible ease before Yun Che.
The reason was simple: Qianye Ying'er... more precisely, the golden hair and celestial bearing that "resembled" Qianye Ying'er.
A fleeting glance, and it touched the very depths of his soul.
Although he was the universally known Zhou Tian Crown Prince, the future Zhou Tian Shen Di, with a status among the world's men that none of his peers could surpass.
Yet there was one person who could make this Zhou Tian Crown Prince admire her... and humble himself to the dust.
Across the three Divine Regions, those who admired Fandi Shennü were countless. But in terms of status and future, Zhou Qingchen was one of the most equal and matching to her.
However, due to the limitations of the Zhou Tian Divine Realm's inheritance method, although Zhou Qingchen was the crown prince, he could only complete the divine power inheritance after Zhou Xuzi abdicated. His personal talent, though outstanding, left him with the cultivation of a Divine Sovereign before Qianye Ying'er's cultivation, appearance, divine bearing, and renowned name... He always felt so inferior that even his breathing became chaotic.
As the Zhou Tian Crown Prince, he had more opportunities to see Qianye Ying'er. But he always only dared to look from afar, never to approach, let alone take the initiative to utter even half a word.
Perhaps no one would believe that the esteemed