Chapter 1060: Qing Mo’s Identity
Wan Huayu got straight to the point, saying, “The two Realm Sons have sent word from Yingsha City, hoping that we can cooperate and go all out to seize the Saint Source Spirit Spring.”
“When the Saint Source Spirit Spring emerges, they will lead the human experts in the city to hold back the Devouring Demon Dragon and the vast majority of beast kings, creating an opportunity for us.”
The crowd murmured among themselves, exchanging thoughts.
If human cultivators could truly unite and coordinate from within and without, the chances of seizing the Saint Source Spirit Spring would greatly increase.
Feng Wanli immediately asked, “Once we get the Saint Source Spirit Spring, how will it be divided?”
Wan Huayu replied, “According to the two Realm Sons, they will take seventy percent of it, distributing it among the major forces participating in the battle within the city. Our five forces outside can take the remaining thirty percent. When competing for the Saint Source Spirit Spring, the more effort one puts in, the larger the share. What does everyone think?”
Inside Yingsha City, there were not only thousands of large and small sects and clans but also countless wandering martial artists and Ruins Realm warriors.
For them to split seventy percent evenly was not unreasonable.
When the Saint Source Spirit Spring appeared, it would be in vast quantities. Even if only thirty percent remained, it would still be a considerable amount.
No one could seize the Saint Source Spirit Spring alone, so cooperation was the natural choice.
Everyone present had no objections.
Next came assigning tasks to each party and making meticulous arrangements to ensure nothing went wrong.
“The Feng family specializes in ghost-raising techniques. When the Saint Source Spirit Spring emerges, you can release undead ghosts and fiends to create chaos among the barbarian tribes.”
“The Mysterious Sword Sect is responsible for holding back the barbarian beasts in the north, and the Black Market First Class Hall will handle those in the south. I will lead the Wan family’s troops in a frontal assault.”
…
Wan Huayu had long followed Wan Zhaoyi on campaigns, experiencing hundreds of battles large and small. She was highly skilled in troop deployment and coordination, bearing the demeanor of a commander.
Feng Wanli’s gaze fixed on the sand table as he asked, “While we all fight the barbarian beasts, who will retrieve the Saint Source Spirit Spring?”
Wan Huayu’s starry eyes turned to Zhang Ruochen, and she revealed a smile, saying, “This task is more than enough for Young Master Gu.”
She continued, “Under Young Master Gu’s command, there are at least four experts capable of matching a beast king in combat. Among them, Grand Minister of Works and Second Minister of Works are top-tier experts. As long as no accidents occur, they can secure the Saint Source Spirit Spring. What do you think, Young Master Gu?”
From start to finish, Zhang Ruochen had not spoken a word, remaining silent. Only now did he smile and say, “I have no objections.”
“I have objections.”
Feng Wanli stepped forward and said, “Gu Linfeng indeed has many experts around him, but what if he takes the Saint Source Spirit Spring and keeps it for himself?”
The other cultivators shared the same concern.
Among the representatives of the Mysterious Sword Sect, a woman in her thirties with a graceful demeanor showed a serious expression and said, “Feng Wanli’s concern is valid. Seizing the Saint Source Spirit Spring is a critical matter that cannot afford any mishap. I suggest that our four major forces each send a top expert to fight alongside the Blood God Sect’s Divine Son.”
The woman’s name was “Jingyi Half-Saint,” the wife of the Mysterious Sword Sect’s leader, holding a high position in the sect.
At the same time, Jingyi Half-Saint’s cultivation was extremely powerful, having already passed one quasi-saint tribulation.
At that moment, an old man from the Northern Domain Black Market First Class Hall also stepped forward, echoing Jingyi Half-Saint’s opinion.
“The Black Market First Class Hall must have one person personally involved in securing the Saint Source Spirit Spring.”
That old man, named Huoyuan Ancestor, had also passed one quasi-saint tribulation, matching Jingyi Half-Saint in strength.
Above the ninth-rank Half-Saint lay the “Three Quasi-Saint Tribulations.”
The three quasi-saint tribulations were: the Forty-Nine Tribulation, the Sixty-Four Tribulation, and the Life-and-Death Tribulation.
Becoming a saint was no easy feat; each tribulation was extremely perilous, and a single misstep could lead to divine form annihilation.
Of course, after each tribulation, a cultivator’s saint soul and physical body underwent a tremendous transformation, greatly boosting their cultivation.
Only by passing all three tribulations and undergoing three transformations could one shed mortality and become a saint.
Most of the top-tier figures present had passed two or three quasi-saint tribulations.
Only those with extraordinary talent could be exceptions.
For example, several of the human Realm Sons were still at the ninth-rank Half-Saint realm but had already climbed the rankings and were near the top.
Similarly, the Devouring Demon Dragon among the barbarian beasts had not yet entered the quasi-saint realm.
Among the twelve barbarian beast clans, most beast kings had passed two quasi-saint tribulations.
Of course, a few beast kings had only passed one tribulation but possessed divine beast bloodlines, allowing their combat power to rival those who had passed two.
It was ultimately decided that Wan Huayu, Jingyi Half-Saint, Huoyuan Ancestor, and Feng Wanli would join Zhang Ruochen in seizing the Saint Source Spirit Spring.
Afterward, the group made further arrangements and discussions before departing.
When Zhang Ruochen and Sun Dadi returned to the concealment formation, Qing Mo was cooking. On an iron rack, a twenty-meter-long Fire Golden Crow was roasting, already golden and exuding a rich meaty aroma.
Nearby, two large iron pots were set up—one for stewing soup and one for stir-frying dishes.
All the cultivators were gathered around Qing Mo, staring intently at the Fire Golden Crow meat and the two pots.
Xiao Hei, like a little white dog, crouched beneath the Fire Golden Crow meat, his eyes as wide as fists, licking his lips repeatedly, and asked, “Is it done yet?”
“Not yet,” Qing Mo replied.
“This emperor can’t wait any longer. Even if it’s not done, can’t I just take a bite?”
Unable to hold back any longer, Xiao Hei leaped toward the Fire Golden Crow meat. His mouth grew larger and larger, eventually stretching over twenty meters long, quite alarming.
However, just as Xiao Hei’s tongue was about to touch the meat, Grand Minister of Works grabbed his tail and pulled him back.
“Amitabha! Benefactor Hei, you truly are dark-hearted! Do you intend to swallow the entire Fire Golden Crow in one gulp?” Grand Minister of Works said.
Second Minister of Works also stepped forward, saying, “Benefactor Qing Mo mentioned earlier that this Fire Golden Crow has reached the ninth-rank Half-Saint realm, already containing immense vital energy.”
“Now, using some special secret techniques and adding sixteen types of spiritual herbs, she has made the vital energy in the Fire Golden Crow meat even richer. It must not be eaten before it’s done; doing so could have adverse effects.”
Xiao Hei’s eyes were bloodshot as he struggled fiercely, lunging forward and roaring, “Who are you trying to scare? This emperor has eaten everything!”
Even with Grand Minister of Works’ cultivation, he struggled to restrain him.
Left with no choice, Second Minister of Works also acted, forming a hand seal and pressing it down on Xiao Hei’s head.
Together, they finally subdued him.
Xiao Hei cursed loudly, “You two bald donkeys, don’t think this emperor doesn’t know what you’re thinking. You want to eat too, right? Monks should stick to vegetarian food. Eating meat breaks the precepts and ruins your cultivation.”
Grand Minister of Works chanted a Buddhist phrase, looking very serious, and said, “Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but the Buddha remains in the heart. Breaking the meat precept is also a form of mental training.”
“Do you believe this emperor will tell your master, the old monk Yintuo, about this?” Xiao Hei said.
Grand Minister of Works and Second Minister of Works were both startled, slightly easing their grip.
Taking advantage of this, Xiao Hei’s body rapidly shrank to the size of a mosquito, slipped free, and lunged again at the Fire Golden Crow meat on the iron rack.
“Slap!”
Qing Mo held a silver-white kitchen knife in her hand and lightly swung it, sending Xiao Hei flying.
Qing Mo pursed her lips and scolded, “I told you it’s not done yet, you can’t eat it. Xiao Hei, why won’t you listen?”
Zhang Ruochen naturally witnessed this scene, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Xiao Hei’s speed was astonishing; even Sun Dadi couldn’t catch him. Yet Qing Mo had merely flicked her knife and sent him flying.
Was it just a coincidence?
Seeing Zhang Ruochen return, everyone calmed down, no longer as noisy as before.
“What the heck, what’s that smell?”
Sun Dadi caught the aroma and became completely excited.
With a clang, the iron rod in his hand fell to the ground as he strode toward the Fire Golden Crow meat.
However, just a few zhang away from the meat, Grand Minister of Works tripped him, sending him sprawling face-first.
Zhang Ruochen also smelled the strong aroma from the food, stirring his appetite.
That appetite even surpassed lust and greed.
Even if a completely naked peerless beauty or a mountain of gold and silver were placed before him, their allure would likely be less than that of a piece of roasted meat.
Zhang Ruochen used his strong will to suppress his desires as much as possible, remaining quite calm as he walked toward Qing Mo, observing her closely.
Qing Mo looked up, meeting Zhang Ruochen’s gaze, showing a timid expression before immediately looking away.
Huang Yanchen approached, appearing beside Zhang Ruochen, and asked, “Chen Ge, how did your discussion with Wan Huayu go?”
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes remained fixed on Qing Mo as he said, “Qing Mo’s cultivation must be quite formidable, right?”
Huang Yanchen was slightly taken aback before saying, “As expected, I couldn’t hide it from you. In truth, Qing Mo’s cultivation is extremely profound, but she has always grown up in the inner world of the Heavenly Wheel Seal, never interacting with the outside world, so she is very timid and exceptionally innocent.”
“Grown up? What does that mean?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Huang Yanchen said, “Qing Mo is not human but a Qing Mo Sacred Vine, which has grown in the inner world of the Heavenly Wheel Seal for over forty thousand years. Sixteen years ago, she finally cultivated into human form.”
Zhang Ruochen was very puzzled and asked, “If her cultivation is so high, how could she enter the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm?”
Huang Yanchen hesitated slightly before saying, “When I brought Qing Mo out of the Heavenly Wheel Seal, the Empress also learned of this matter. She believed that a sacred medicine, especially one that had grown for over forty thousand years, would inevitably attract many covetous eyes.”
“Therefore, the Empress used a heaven-defying method to conceal Qing Mo’s aura and power. As long as Qing Mo does not actively use saint-level power, the space of the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm will not shatter.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “So, Qing Mo was never a maid arranged for you by the Chen family?”
Huang Yanchen was silent for a long moment, meeting Zhang Ruochen’s eyes, and said, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have lied to you.”
“I’m just very curious—which of your words should I believe?”
Zhang Ruochen gave Huang Yanchen a deep look, feeling that she was both familiar and unfamiliar, utterly unfathomable.
…
Wishing all readers a Merry Christmas. Besides the extra chapter, may everything go as you wish.