Chapter 1532 - 444: Heart Mirror Vision from Yu Yan (6k)_3

Zhou Qing gave her a long, deep look, then took out a communication jade scroll shimmering with three colors: "This time the commotion won’t be small. Remember, no matter what happens, stay in a safe place and wait for me."

Yu Yan gently took the jade scroll, and then gazed at the man in front of her, who had been holding back for so long, as if she could feel the raging anger surging inside him.

He needed a moment to unleash it all.

"I’ll wait for your return," she said softly.

Just as Zhou Qing nodded, ready to leave—

"Daddy..." a soft, sticky voice suddenly rang out.

Zhou Qing’s whole body trembled and he turned sharply.

He saw Little Yaoyao in Yu Yan’s arms stretching out her chubby little hand, her big dark eyes brimming with tears, and her little mouth puckering as she called again: "Daddy..."

In an instant, Zhou Qing felt as if the softest spot in his heart was fiercely struck.

He scooped up Yaoyao and gave her a heavy kiss on her rosy little face.

Hastily, he said, "Yaoyao... can you say it again?"

"Daddy~" the little girl tilted her head and softly called once more, extending her soft, pudgy hand to wipe away the tears that had somehow started to fall from his eyes.

Zhou Qing could no longer hold back, and embraced his daughter tightly.

He felt the warmth coming from this small body, planting kiss after gentle kiss on the crown of her head: "Daddy’s little Yaoyao... Daddy’s treasure..."

Yu Yan quietly wiped her tears at the side.

If only Sister Han Yi were still here, how wonderful that would be.

Subsequently, Zhou Qing’s voice choked with emotion: "Yaoyao be good, Daddy will be back soon. Wait here with Aunt Yan for Daddy, alright?"

Little Yaoyao held tightly onto Zhou Qing’s neck, burying her small face in his nape while rubbing it, continuing in her babyish voice: "Daddy..."

Zhou Qing’s eyes brimmed with tears; he hadn’t expected to hear his daughter speak for the first time before departing.

At this moment, he felt an unparalleled happiness.

Yet, with great reluctance, he handed the child back to Yu Yan and then resolutely left.

Yu Yan held the still murmuring "Daddy" Yaoyao, watching that figure gradually fade into the distance, silently praying in her heart: "You must be safe!"

...

The midnight moonlight cast a pale sheet over the unknown mountain range in the outer domain of the Imperial City.

The mountain here was perilous and shrouded in mist all year round, rarely visited by anyone.

At this moment, a massive black flying ship was tearing through the clouds, slowly descending.

The ship, about a hundred yards long, was covered in dark red, eerie patterns, reflecting a bloody sheen under the moonlight.

"Lower the banners!"

A hoarse order came from the deck.

Three black-robed elders stood shoulder to shoulder at the bow of the ship, and the pressure of Divinity Transformation Perfection silenced the insects within a ten-mile radius.

The elder on the far left raised his hand, resembling dried tree bark, with strands of dark red spiritual power entwined between his fingers.

"Old rules, I’ll go open the door first." One of the elders coughed twice, taking out a dark red token from his bosom.

Spiritual power surged at his fingertips, and the token immediately burst forth a beam of blood light, shooting straight towards the mountain wall ahead.

The next moment, the previously calm mountain surface suddenly rippled, as if the entire mountain was but an illusion.

Then, a crack slowly opened in the center of the ripples, revealing a deep and secluded entrance.

The edges of the entrance were carved with unknown patterns, and two pitch-black Profound Iron doors slowly opened, emitting a dull rumble.

Behind the door lay an abyssal darkness.

The three elders exchanged a smile, then waved towards the flying ship.

The side hatch of the flying ship opened gradually, and subsequently, squads of Nascent Soul Realm cultivators emerged one after another.

Each pair, working together, dragged a massive black iron cage.

The surface of the cage was covered with blood-red talismans, faintly illuminated by spirit patterns, clearly a form of sealing magic.

And inside each iron cage were seven to eight blood-stained, pregnant women.

Most were pale-faced and despairing, some so weakened they curled up in corners, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.

"Move!" The Nascent Soul cultivators commanded coldly, pulling the iron cages towards the mountain cave.

The three Divinity Transformation Realm Perfection elders followed behind, their indifferent gaze sweeping over these cages, seemingly accustomed to it.

The cave inside was vast, yet cold and dim, with only a few eerie blue spirit lamps hanging on the stone walls, barely lighting up the interior.

The ground was lined neatly with more than a hundred identical black iron cages, each imprisoning several pregnant women.

Some were on the brink of death, others still struggling, and the low sobs echoed in the cavern, especially piercing.

"Looks like ships fifteen and nineteen have returned."

One of the Divinity Transformation Realm Perfection elders glanced at the iron cages ahead, sneering: "They actually completed their task ahead of us."

Another sighed, saying: "No choice, the place we went was too far, the trip took up much time. Who knows where they are indulging themselves with the spirit stones they’ve earned right now."

The third elder, who had previously used the token to open the cave restriction, suddenly furrowed his brow, nostrils twitching slightly, as if sniffing something.

"What’s up, Old Song?" The other two, noticing his abnormality, turned to ask.

The elder called Old Song looked serious, speaking in a low voice: "Did none of you smell a bloody scent?"

The two paused in surprise, then sniffed carefully and snorted.

Then pointed to the cages, saying: "Would any of these Golden Core, Nascent Soul female cultivators surrender willingly?"

"If we hadn’t shown mercy to ensure their unborn children were unharmed, they’d be long dead. A bit of blood scent, isn’t that quite normal?"

Old Song shook his head, his voice gloomy: "Of course I know they’d resist, but this time the bloody scent seems... off, a bit too strong."