The Gun Shoots the Bird That Sticks Its Head Out-Second Senior Sister Truly Didn't Deceive Me!

When Zhou Qing arrived at the square, eight people were already waiting there. Needless to say, Lu Yaoyao, who had only recently joined the sect, was among them.

As her Sect Leader master and also her teacher, he naturally had to make proper arrangements for a place containing such opportunities.

Besides that, the old woman Zhou Qing had seen previously at Divine Peak had also arrived early and was meditating cross-legged in a pavilion some distance away.

"Little Spirit Peak is still too far away. Watch your safety!"

After saying this, Mo Xingjian bowed toward the old woman from afar and left.

"Senior Brother Zhou, I didn't expect us to meet again so soon!"

Everyone had originally been gathered around Lu Yaoyao, chatting with her. After all, not only was their little junior sister beautiful, but she also made people feel at ease with the way she handled things.

They had all been invited to fish at the back mountain, where they ate and drank their fill and even received gifts.

Unfortunately, Zhou Qing of Little Spirit Peak and his Third Senior Brother had been so frightened by the suddenly appearing Grand Elder that they had fled early.

When Lu Yaoyao saw that Zhou Qing had come as well, she immediately hurried over in high spirits.

The others stopped talking one after another and looked at Zhou Qing with displeasure.

There were especially three senior sisters at the late Foundation Establishment Realm among them, all wearing guarded expressions.

He liked peeping at people bathing?

He really could drag the name of core disciples through the mud.

Zhou Qing merely smiled politely and nodded in greeting.

He did not care how others saw him. It was enough for him to conduct himself properly!

It had to be said that every one of them was in the Foundation Establishment Realm. The strongest had even reached Great Perfection; there was not a single one at the middle stage.

By that measure, Lu Yaoyao and he were actually the weakest.

One was in Qi Condensation, while the other had only recently broken through to the Foundation Establishment Early Stage!

Faced with Lu Yaoyao's enthusiastic greeting, Zhou Qing could only smile.

Heart Insight Points +3

The next moment, the "So Heartbroken" floating above her head turned into "so happy" in the blink of an eye.

For a moment, Zhou Qing did not know whether he should be happy or worried.

Soon after, the Grand Elder strode over, and everyone saluted her.

"Alright, since everyone is here, let us set off. I trust your masters have already explained the particulars to you!"

After the old woman spoke, a Three-Legged Small Cauldron suddenly appeared in the air.

The small cauldron spun rapidly, then abruptly expanded. With no ability to resist, everyone was sucked directly inside.

"You will remain inside for now. Once we reach the Grotto-Heaven, I will release you!"

The old woman's voice came from outside.

Looking at the chaos all around him, Zhou Qing could not help feeling speechless.

This Grotto-Heaven was protected far too mysteriously. They would not even let core disciples know its true location.

"Senior Brother Zhou?" Lu Yaoyao suddenly felt her way over, her face pale.

Zhou Qing was helpless.

Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly sensed that something seemed wrong with her.

Lu Yaoyao grabbed his arm, squeezed her eyes shut, and trembled all over.

"What's wrong with you?"

This time, Zhou Qing did not dodge. Instead, he asked in confusion.

Lu Yaoyao only shook her head repeatedly. She even pressed herself tightly against Zhou Qing while trembling, and only then did she seem to feel somewhat better.

Zhou Qing looked around, then looked at her.

Could this girl have claustrophobia?

Otherwise, she had been perfectly fine just moments ago. How had she suddenly become like this?

Symptoms like these were generally either congenital or the result of something experienced in childhood that had left behind a psychological shadow.

For a while, Zhou Qing did not know how to comfort her.

Fortunately, they were all released after only a short while.

When they looked again, a stretch of green waters and lush mountains lay before them. Even the sky was incomparably blue, with white clouds drifting overhead.

Interesting. When they had entered, it had already been night outside.

Lu Yaoyao also came to her senses at that moment. She immediately released Zhou Qing's arm and began observing their surroundings with a calm face and steady heartbeat.

The old woman stepped forward and took out her token. As she struck one complex seal after another into it, the ancient mountain range before them suddenly began to tremble violently.

Then, an enormous Bronze Gate hidden within the mountains slowly emerged, and a crack opened down its middle.

In an instant, an ancient aura that seemed to have been sealed away for countless years rushed toward them. An oppressive feeling crashed down upon them as well, causing everyone's expressions to turn solemn.

It was as though some unknown powerhouse had fallen within, and even now, their lingering might remained, making the spiritual energy flowing within their bodies slightly sluggish.

The old woman put away her token and formed a millstone-shaped object in the air with spiritual energy.

"Children, once you enter the Bronze Gate, there will be a Yuan Magnetic Long Path stretching for a thousand meters. Your task is to pass through it safely, find this object, and turn it counterclockwise."

The old woman addressed the group.

"This Yuan Magnetic Long Path contains natural pressure and will greatly benefit your cultivation. After one journey through it, it will strengthen your foundation, nourish your origin, and solidify your base. Perhaps only after walking it yourselves will you truly understand its benefits."

Everyone's eyes immediately lit up upon hearing this.

The old woman continued, "Because the passage is special, once you enter, I will be unable to transmit my voice and guide you further. Still, there should be no major issue; at most, you will suffer some exhaustion. Remember, after passing through, immediately activate the key and dispel the Yuan Magnetic Force. Do not recklessly push ahead."

Everyone saluted. "Yes!"

Afterward, everyone eagerly rushed inside. Zhou Qing, however, lingered where he was, craning his neck and peering around.

"What is it?" the old woman asked in confusion.

Zhou Qing hurriedly replied, "N-Nothing. I'm just letting them show me how it's done first."

The old woman: "..."

"Little fellow, why do you look so familiar to me?"

The next moment, the old woman suddenly spoke.

Zhou Qing's body shuddered, and he immediately ran forward.

"Ah, there are ghosts!"

"What is this thing?"

"Careful! Everyone, be careful!"

Suddenly, miserable screams rang out from within the Bronze Gate. Zhou Qing, who had been jogging forward, immediately stopped and rapidly retreated.

The gun shoots the bird that sticks its head out—Second Senior Sister truly didn't deceive me! Zhou Qing rejoiced inwardly.

The old woman furrowed her brow. She wanted to step forward, yet seemed to be wary of something.

Then, the people who had entered earlier staggered out. White flames even burned on the bodies of two of them.

The flames spread without burning them, yet layers of ice crystals formed around them. Fortunately, the flames were extinguished in time.

Roar—

Several clusters of ghostfire rushed out after them, but when faced with the blazing sun, they let out another scream and rapidly retreated.

"Wandering Souls? When did such things appear here?"

The old woman immediately recognized the things that had retreated, her face full of disbelief.

Fortunately, their auras were weak. They were likely only at Qi Condensation, and judging by their appearance, they had not been born long ago.

After all, there had been no such things when she came here two hundred years ago.

How strange?

At the same time, everyone hurriedly withdrew and looked resentfully at the Grand Elder.

Was she seriously treating them like children?

Had she not said there would only be gravity? What had those things been just now?

Faced with everyone's stares, the old woman could not help feeling somewhat embarrassed. Then she said, "What exactly happened just now? Tell me in detail."

Hearing the old woman say that, everyone felt even less secure.

If she had wanted to trick them into going inside, they could understand that. But if even she did not know, what were they supposed to do?

The unknown was the most terrifying thing.

A senior brother from Dragon Spine Peak, at the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Realm, cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to Grand Elder, as soon as we entered, all the lamps above that passage lit up on their own. Then those things rushed out from the depths..."

The old woman fell into thought after hearing this.

She then took out a talisman and muttered a few words. Less than half an hour later, several whistling sounds came from the distance.

They were several old women with heads full of white hair as well. Seeing them, Zhou Qing immediately turned around guiltily, muttering nonstop, "They can't see me, they can't see me..."

Several Grand Elders discussed matters in the distance. Before long, they all came over.

Everyone hurriedly paid their respects.

One Grand Elder said, "It is nothing, merely a few Wandering Souls. I will put a Yang Fire Talisman on each of you. It should prevent them from coming close. If that still does not work, simply attack them or retreat."

After the old woman spoke, sheets of blazing talisman paper flew from her sleeves and burrowed directly into everyone's backs.

Zhou Qing only felt a warm sensation, but it quickly faded away.

At that moment, another old woman stepped forward with worry on her face. "If you see any coffins or anything similar, remember: do not make a sound under any circumstances. Withdraw immediately, at once."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at one another.

Had this not been supposed to be a cushy assignment filled with opportunities? Why did it sound so chilling?

Or had something inside slipped beyond their expectations?

But at this point, they were riding a tiger and could not get off. Even if they had to steel themselves, they had to continue.

Lu Yaoyao, meanwhile, occasionally glanced at Zhou Qing, who had slowly retreated behind the crowd, and remained silent.

"Go in. We are outside. If anyone can be the first to pass through and deactivate the key, I have three Secret Techniques here for them to choose one from. In addition, they will receive one day of bathing in the No. 3 Flame Spirit Blood Pool."

The third old woman stepped forward, her voice gentle. Three glowing jade slips floated in her hand, stirring everyone into excitement.

Never mind how powerful Secret Techniques from Grand Elders might be; the Flame Spirit Blood Pool alone was an extraordinary opportunity.

They had heard that beneath the pool lay a strange Natural Dao Pattern. Every time it was opened, vast quantities of rare medicinal ingredients and Demonic Beast blood essence had to be added and blended, then activated through a special method to brew a peculiar blood-red spiritual liquid.

Soaking one's body in this spiritual liquid would bring unimaginable benefits.

Then, everyone subconsciously looked toward Zhou Qing, who stood behind the crowd, their expressions strange.

Zhou Qing's face changed. He immediately scratched his head awkwardly and looked elsewhere.

For no other reason than that the Flame Spirit Blood Pool was divided into one main pool and three auxiliary pools according to the purity of the spiritual liquid within. The No. 3 pool the Grand Elder had just mentioned was one of the auxiliary pools.

A few years ago, when Yan Xiaohu heard that the Flame Spirit Blood Pool had finally gathered enough materials, he could not hold himself back and secretly brought Zhou Qing inside.

If they could sneak in and soak in it before anyone noticed, they would strike it rich.

There was no need to mention what happened next. A group of old women had already stripped naked and entered ahead of them.

Faced with such a reward, everyone finally cast aside all their misgivings and headed straight for the Bronze Gate...