Chapter 0: Familiarity Breeds Skill
Before Qishou’s expression could change, her exclamation of “Ah” died in her throat. Qin Gou, understanding her unspoken thoughts, quickly realized he had made a fatal mistake. He had likely mistaken her for someone else.
According to Ao Banwei, Qingyu had leaped over the Dragon Gate long ago, abandoning her old form as a small green fish. Her current true body was that of a dragon. Seeing the woman before him in a green dress, Qin Gou instinctively assumed she was trying to reminisce about the past, an assumption that almost led him to make a grave error.
In an instant, Qin Gou’s gaze swept past Qishou, looking into the distance. He spoke casually to the air, “At this very moment, you must be watching me, right? Qingyu.”
Qishou’s expression eased slightly. After appraising Qin Gou, she said coldly, “You are mistaken, Ancestor has fallen into a deep slumber, entering a state of ‘time sleep.’ You are merely saluting the air.”
“I know that, of course,” Qin Gou agreed with a nod.
Ao Banwei’s dark eyebrows furrowed. “Manager Qishou, how could Ancestor have entered time sleep so soon? I met with her just a few days ago! Has Ancestor been entering slumber more and more frequently?”
Qishou shook her head helplessly. “The after-effects of frequently divining the heavenly secrets cause Ancestor to occasionally suffer memory confusion. Only by entering time sleep can she slowly recover. Is it not all because of a certain person?”
However, Qishou’s tone suddenly shifted as she swept a cold gaze towards Qin Gou. “But all of this has nothing to do with this imposter Celestial Master.”
“What do you mean by that, Manager Qishou?” Qin Gou frowned, having barely extricated himself from the embarrassing situation of mistaking someone. What new trouble was this woman stirring up?
Qishou’s eyes were sharp, as if she had seen through the imposter before her. She scoffed, “Even if Ancestor Qingyu has entered a five-year period of time sleep, the moment someone whose cultivation realm surpasses the early stage of Dharma Aspect Realm steps onto Dragon God Island, no, even if they linger with ill intentions around Dragon God Island, Ancestor will awaken instantly!”
“Before coming here, I specifically met with Ancestor. She was still peacefully slumbering. Although you claim to be Qin Gou of Arc-Moon Mountain and are skilled in shape-shifting, you must be strong in your own right. Your cultivation realm cannot be faked. You are in no way comparable to the true Celestial Master of Arc-Moon Mountain, that heartless, merciless, and unsentimental man.”
Saying this, Qishou glanced at Ao Banwei. “Silly girl, you have been deceived.”
“That’s impossible!” Ao Banwei stated firmly. “Manager Qishou, you must be mistaken. Master is merely intentionally hiding her astonishing cultivation.”
Having personally witnessed Qin Gou’s actions at Arc-Moon Mountain and been shaken by that indescribable aura of terror, Ao Banwei considered herself the most knowledgeable about Qin Gou’s terrifying strength. She had also had the honor of seeing Ancestor Qingyu engage in spellcasting battles. After much thought and comparison, she still felt that her Master was more unfathomable.
“You truly have been deceived profoundly, silly girl,” Qishou said with a wry smile. “Hiding one’s cultivation can fool us, but can it fool Ancestor Qingyu? She reached the limit of the Dharma Aspect Realm long ago, on par with that person from Arc-Moon Mountain!” Qishou then glared at Qin Gou. “Unless, he has now completely surpassed the Dharma Aspect Realm and become a Human God Realm Lord. Unfortunately, if that were possible, he would have likely achieved it hundreds of years ago.”
“Master! You have already become a Human God Realm Lord? When did this happen? Banwei congratulates Master!” Ao Banwei exclaimed with great joy and excitement.
“Cough! Cough!”
Qishou nearly choked, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at Ao Banwei. This silly girl was more willing to believe that the man in the green shirt before her was a supreme Realm Lord than to see the truth and expose this imposter’s ugly facade. She was truly beyond saving!
“Regarding cultivation realms, I cannot explain myself to Manager Qishou, but both the Spirit Oath and the Lie Detector Stone can prove my identity,” Qin Gou said, waving his hand, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and gesturing for Little White Dragon to calm down.
“Since you speak with such confidence, you must be prepared?” A hint of vigilance flashed in Qishou’s eyes. “I have a better method. If you can answer one question, I will immediately pay respects to the Master of Arc-Moon Mountain. If you cannot answer, it’s no matter; you will immediately get out of my sight. You are lucky that during the trial, Dragon God Island has gathered talents from all races. To avoid unnecessary disputes, Ancestor Qingyu has strictly forbidden me from attacking anyone.”
“Ask away,” Qin Gou nodded confidently. As the genuine Celestial Master of Arc-Moon Mountain, what question could possibly stump him?
“Then listen carefully!” Qishou stared intently at Qin Gou. “Steamed, braised, or… tell me, what should be the next phrase?”
Qin Gou’s confident smile froze on his face. What kind of absurd question was this?
“How about changing the question? Even if Manager Qishou asked me how many hairs Arc-Moon Mountain’s Qin Gou has, or what color of undergarments he favors, I could recite it all by heart, item by item.”
“Preposterous!” Qishou scoffed with disdain, “Ancestor Qingyu herself said that ‘steamed,’ ‘braised,’ and a series of other mysterious phrases are the catchphrases of Arc-Moon Mountain’s Qin Gou. He often uttered them in front of her back then, and she would always smile brightly when mentioning them! You don’t even know this, and you dare to come here to deceive people and claim fame? Enough said, retreat swiftly!”
Qin Gou felt like crying but had no tears. “Why am I such a terrible person?!”
“Banwei, come with me. Don’t continue to be toyed with.”
“No, Banwei has decided to stay by Master’s side!” Ao Banwei declared and immediately ran back to Qin Gou.
“You child, you are truly stubborn!” Qishou stared at Ao Banwei, her tone filled with spoiled affection. She suddenly raised her hand, and a white light entered Ao Banwei’s body. It was a mysterious protective spirit art. “This spirit art will protect you from any harm within Dragon God Island, and I will swiftly inform your parents. Perhaps only they can make you, silly girl, truly come to your senses!”
With that, Qishou’s gaze like a sharp knife grazed Qin Gou. “This imposter Celestial Master, if you have the guts, stay. I can even allow you to continue participating in the Dragon God Island trial, as long as you dare to show yourself before me after the trial ends!”
“I will,” Qin Gou replied without hesitation.
Qishou was taken aback at first, then smiled faintly. “Interesting. It seems you are much braver than the real Qin Gou, that fickle man!”
***
After Qishou departed with a flick of her sleeve, Ao Banwei, filled with confusion, asked, “Master, what exactly is going on? Has your cultivation truly reached the legendary Realm Lord level, or is there some other reason?”
“It’s difficult to explain. You have personally witnessed my actions before, so you should have some idea of my true cultivation realm, right?”
“Yes,” Ao Banwei nodded vigorously. “Banwei has never doubted Master for a moment.”
Qin Gou smiled gently, giving Ao Banwei an appreciative look. “Good child, it seems that in the near future, you have a great chance of becoming my official disciple.”
Upon hearing this, Ao Banwei’s face lit up as if she had eaten honey. “Thank you, Master! Banwei will not disappoint your expectations!”
“By the way, I just heard that Qingyu has seemingly entered a mysterious state called ‘time sleep.’ Can you explain it to me?” Qin Gou asked curiously, his mind racing.
Ao Banwei replied obediently, “‘Time sleep’ is a special seclusion spirit art that Ancestor Qingyu comprehended from the Sacred Dragon Manual. During this slumber, she can perfectly recover from severe injuries and improve her cultivation. Ancestor usually sets a specific duration, and she will naturally awaken when it ends. During time sleep, apart from being awakened by Manager Qishou using a special spirit art, Ancestor will only naturally wake up when she is locked onto by killing intent, attacked by powerful offensive techniques, or senses the presence of a Dharma Aspect Realm expert.”
“And if it’s not a powerful offensive technique? For example, if a cultivator at the Hidden Weapon Realm, with a low level of strength, were to lightly pat Qingyu… would she wake up?” Qin Gou asked with a strange tone.
“Hidden Weapon Realm cultivator? Haha, a cultivator at that realm wouldn’t even be able to enter Ancestor’s Central Palace. Even if they somehow had the chance to appear before Ancestor, their full power attack would be as insignificant to Ancestor as a mosquito landing on her. Perhaps if Ancestor merely rolled over in her dream, she might accidentally slap them to death, which would be terribly unlucky,” Ao Banwei said with a smile.
“That would be perfect then.”
Qin Gou’s eyes gleamed. “Banwei, you and Li Yuanzhen go ahead. I am heading to the Central Palace now. I must see Qingyu.”
“Ah? Master, are you planning to force your way into the Central Palace? How can that be? All the Life-Slaying Formations of the Central Palace are controlled by Manager Qishou. On Dragon God Island, besides Ancestor Qingyu, the strongest person is Manager Qishou!” Ao Banwei exclaimed in alarm.
“She is very strong, isn’t she? So what? I can see with a single glance that the woman named ‘Qishou’ is an absolute lily! As long as I know this weakness, I have plenty of ways to deal with her.”
“Master, what is a lily?” Ao Banwei asked, confused.
“It means a woman who admires her own sex.”
Ao Banwei covered her mouth in surprise. “How is that possible? Master, how could you tell something like that with a single glance?”
Qin Gou’s gaze steady fell upon a ribbon tied to his arm, mismatched with his attire. He chuckled evilly, “Familiarity breeds skill.”
