Is Zou Xueqing you?

Ling Yao snorted coldly and landed slowly.

"You should know that very few people would know about your Ancestor Zou Xueqing nowadays, right?" Qin Yu said calmly.

Ling Yao didn't answer. Her expression and eyes beneath the veil betrayed her. She was extremely curious how Qin Yu had heard of Zou Xueqing. After all, she herself had only learned about her by poring over the Jade Pool Sect's secret histories.

"Because my ancestor knew your Ancestor Zou Xueqing. Not just your ancestor, but even the Blood Emperor and the founder of the Myriad Heavens Battle Sect, Wang Qing, knew him," Qin Yu said slowly. He had originally just wanted to inquire about Zou Xueqing's whereabouts, but he hadn't expected Ling Yao to know about her and even admire her so much. This gave Qin Yu an opening.

"Impossible!" Ling Yao blurted out without even thinking.

"What's impossible about it? Although my family's Dao has declined, my ancestors once produced top-tier experts," Qin Yu said.

Without waiting for Ling Yao's reply, he continued, "Have you heard of the Tian Qi Sect? My ancestor was a disciple of the Tian Qi Sect!"

"Tian Qi Sect?" Ling Yao frowned. The three words sounded vaguely familiar, but she couldn't recall where she had heard them.

"My ancestor was a fellow disciple of your Ancestor Zou Xueqing, the Blood Emperor, and Wang Qing. They were all disciples of the Tian Qi Sect," Qin Yu said, speaking eloquently. Sensing Ling Yao's skepticism, Qin Yu felt completely relieved.

"Impossible!! What proof do you have!" Ling Yao stared at Qin Yu and said sternly.

"Proof?" Qin Yu couldn't help but chuckle. Even if he spouted utter nonsense, could Ling Yao tell? Moreover, Qin Yu knew these people like the back of his hand. He slowly said, "The Celestial Dance should be a secret of your Jade Pool Sect, right? Why would I know about it? Also, you've heard of the portrait left by the founder, Wang Qing, in the Myriad Heavens Battle Sect's ancestral shrine, haven't you?"

"You… you mean the person in the portrait left by Ancestor Wang Qing is your ancestor??" Ling Yao was shocked. She had heard of this matter before, but no one knew who the person in the portrait was.

Qin Yu coughed a few times and nodded slightly.

"How is that possible? How is that possible?" Ling Yao muttered in disbelief. After a long pause, when she noticed the smile on Qin Yu's face, she suddenly realized and angrily exclaimed, "You're tricking me?"

"Why would I lie to you? My ancestor's handwritten notes clearly state it. Surely my ancestor wouldn't lie to his descendants?" Qin Yu rolled his eyes at Ling Yao.

"Then where are the notes? Hand them over, or I'll assume you're lying," Ling Yao demanded.

"How could I possibly carry something so important with me? I'll show it to you when I have the chance later," Qin Yu said slowly. He could always forge one himself. Besides, whether he would ever see her again after leaving this place was another matter entirely.

"I'll spare your life for now! If you don't produce the notes, I'll still kill you," Ling Yao snorted coldly. She wasn't entirely sure if Qin Yu was telling the truth or lying.

"Fine. Can you let me go now?" Qin Yu asked tentatively.

"Don't even think about it. Unless you hand over the notes and capture those two lecherous thieves, you're not going anywhere. Oh, and the Eternal Youth Pill!" Ling Yao said coldly. Although her tone was icy, it had softened considerably.

Qin Yu wanted to slap himself. Why had he brought up the handwritten notes? He then said, "I don't have the Eternal Youth Pill."

"You..." Ling Yao's eyebrows shot up, and killing intent flared in her eyes.

"I have the pill recipe," Qin Yu said slowly.

Ling Yao's expression stiffened, and her beautiful eyes widened. After regaining her composure, she raised her greatsword as if to attack. "You're asking for death!"

"Don't you believe me again? Fine, kill me then. If you don't believe anything I say, is there any point in continuing this conversation?" Qin Yu gritted his teeth and closed his eyes.

With her spirit sword hovering above his head, Ling Yao's chest heaved. Looking at Qin Yu's demeanor, her suspicion grew. She said, "The recipe for the Eternal Youth Pill was lost after the Immortal Martial World shattered. Are you still trying to trick me?"

"Did I say all that for nothing? My ancestor was a fellow disciple of Ancestor Zou Xueqing. Do you think my ancestor didn't pass down the Eternal Youth Pill recipe?" Qin Yu retorted coldly.

Ling Yao's breathing hitched. That was true. If his ancestor was Zou Xueqing's senior disciple brother, then he really might have the Eternal Youth Pill recipe? Thinking of this, Ling Yao felt an inexplicable surge of excitement. After all, what woman didn't want to be beautiful? What woman didn't want to stay young forever?

"As long as you let my two friends go, I'll give you the Eternal Youth Pill recipe," Qin Yu said. Seeing Ling Yao's reaction, he knew she believed him about eighty percent and became even more certain.

"This… impossible!" Ling Yao insisted.

"Don't answer so quickly. You can go back and discuss it with your junior sisters, ask for their opinions. If they can be compensated with one Eternal Youth Pill, they should agree. You can take your time to consider," Qin Yu said, then slowly walked forward, carrying the young wolf.

Xiong Tatian and Li Tianji were Qin Yu's true friends since his rebirth. He didn't want to see them hunted by the Jade Pool Sect because of this matter. Furthermore, Li Tianji would be of great use in the future; how could he let the Jade Pool Sect kill him?

"Chii!" The sound of a sharp weapon slicing through the air suddenly rang out.

Qin Yu's pores stood on end, and his heart was greatly alarmed. After saying all that, Ling Yao still attacked?

In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through Qin Yu's mind. He considered using the Six Transformations of the Mad Demon to fight back with all his might, and he also considered that Ling Yao might not intend to kill him but just wanted to teach him a lesson and vent her anger. But no matter which it was, Qin Yu wouldn't gamble his life.

Qin Yu tossed the young wolf aside, clenched his fists, turned, and punched out.

Heaven-Shattering Fist!!

But the moment he unleashed the punch, Qin Yu's pupils contracted sharply.

He saw that Ling Yao's spirit sword had somehow transformed into a golden whip.

Seeing this, Qin Yu wanted to forcefully retract his fist, but it was already too late.

Ling Yao, however, hadn't expected Qin Yu to react so quickly, nor had she expected him to counterattack. Since she hadn't intended to kill Qin Yu, she froze for a moment.

Qin Yu secretly cursed his misfortune. He could only forcefully twist his fist, and in doing so, he accidentally scraped against the veil Ling Yao was wearing, tearing it off.

Instantly.

Qin Yu's pupils contracted to the size of needles, and he felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

At this moment, Ling Yao also regained her senses, her anger flaring. She hadn't expected Qin Yu to dare to counterattack. The golden whip in her hand slashed through space and struck Qin Yu.

"Slap!"

After being whipped once, Qin Yu's body was sent flying. Ling Yao, still not satisfied, continued to swing her golden whip, furiously lashing at Qin Yu.

"Slap, slap!"

"Slap, slap!"

The crisp sounds of the whip cutting through the air echoed. In the distance, the Wolf King grew increasingly anxious, letting out mournful howls, fearing that its cub would be harmed.

After a quarter of an hour of whipping, Ling Yao seemed to have vented her anger and finally stopped. Her phoenix eyes stared at Qin Yu, who was ragged and covered in bloodstains from her beating, and she coldly said, "You were scheming against me from the very beginning? Hmph, you calculated that I wouldn't kill you, but did you calculate that I would teach you a lesson? If you dare to scheme against me again, see how I'll teach you next time."

Qin Yu was covered in blood. Ling Yao's blows were truly heavy. Although none of his bones were broken, the pain in his flesh made him tremble uncontrollably. However, he didn't utter a single word. Instead, he slowly got up, his gaze lost and complex as he looked at Ling Yao.

Ling Yao was startled, then quickly came to her senses. She suddenly touched her face and realized her veil was gone. Ling Yao froze. After a long pause, she cast a cold glance at Qin Yu, her eyes filled with disgust and mockery. She casually puffed out her ample chest and sneered, "Didn't you say you disliked my appearance? What are you looking at now?"

Ling Yao had seen gazes like Qin Yu's too many times, so many that they disgusted and repulsed her. But for some reason, when Qin Yu looked at her like this, Ling Yao felt an inexplicable sense of comfort and pleasure.

Qin Yu didn't speak. He didn't even seem to notice the intense pain in his body, just staring blankly at Ling Yao, at her exquisite, almost flawless face.

Her eyebrows were like silkworms, her complexion as clear as jade. She was like a new moon haloed, her crimson lips kissed by the sun. Her bright, clear eyes, sparkling like stars, were the finishing touch, making her beauty utterly captivating.

It wasn't Ling Yao's beauty that moved Qin Yu. Ling Yao's looks were on par with Zi Xun'er's, and Qin Yu hadn't lost his composure like this when he first saw Zi Xun'er. But this face brought back endless memories for Qin Yu.

In a daze, Qin Yu found himself back at the Tian Qi Sect, back to that bright, sunny afternoon.

The woman who resembled Ling Yao by seven parts, like a fairy, had silently entered Qin Yu's heart.

"Zou Xueqing, is... is that you?" Qin Yu murmured painfully.