Volume One: The Celestial Hall of Misty Clouds Chapter 100: Mind Reading

Chapter 100: Mind Reading

In the starry sky, above a lush green planet, several figures lingered.

Beside Zhou Hao, Ouyang Qi, an elder of the Nangong Immortal Palace dressed in yellow robes, lay motionless on his back. A lump the size of a fist had swollen on the back of his head—a masterpiece by Zhou Hao, who had no intention of letting the man get in his way.

In front of Zhou Hao, two figures about a meter tall looked at each other, neither speaking for a moment. It went without saying that the green snake and the turtle were still deadlocked over their previous conflict. Their so-called "great war" was actually nothing more than a lovers' quarrel; at the end of the day, the green snake simply did not want the turtle to abandon her and leave on his own.

"Ahem... you two, since neither of you is willing to speak, let me say a few words first!" Zhou Hao found the situation both infuriating and amusing, so he cleared his throat to break the awkward silence.

"I have a rough understanding of your situation. First, I want to talk to you, Turtle. It’s one thing to run away that day, but why, after escaping the grotto-heaven, did you lie to the poor girl and tell her you were being hunted? Were you actually being hunted?"

The turtle was immediately displeased. While its entire body was immobilized by a restrictive spell, leaving only its mouth free, it didn't hesitate to retort.

"Master Turtle was just looking for a reasonable excuse, alright? Think about it—if I left, you’d be worried about food, drink, and clothing. I had to go find a new provider! Besides, my original intention was that you might come out of the Immortal’s grotto soon, and I was waiting for you on the only path you could take so we could reunite. Look, the facts prove my intention was correct; you came, didn't you? Now, hurry up and take me away from this place."

"I don't have the patience for your nonsense!" Zhou Hao had long since become immune to the turtle's rambling.

"Moving on to your business. Since you and Lady Green Snake have become a husband and wife in both name and deed, it is only natural that you stay together until you grow old, right?" Zhou Hao winked at the green snake as he spoke, and she nodded in agreement.

"Agree on what? A woman's short-sightedness!" The turtle glared at the green snake with annoyance.

"You told me back then that we would grow old together! But look at you now, heartless and fickle, turning your back to abandon me. You jerk!" The green snake flicked her bright red tongue.

"You little bastard, I’m warning you: I’m on Lady Green Snake’s side. I am your master, and you must obey me. You must stay with her and take her wherever you go. If you don’t agree, I have a hundred ways to make you!" Zhou Hao raised his right hand, which erupted with golden light, a scorching and terrifying power radiating from his palm.

"Hmph, Master Turtle wasn't raised on fear. I will never yield to your tyranny!" the turtle declared righteously.

"Good, you're a real man!" Zhou Hao nodded, giving the turtle a thumbs-up with his left hand.

"However, I’m curious to see what roasted turtle tastes like!" Suddenly, Zhou Hao’s left hand shot out to grab the turtle, while his golden right palm gripped the turtle's small tail.

"AHHH!!!"

The scream that erupted in the starry sky sounded like a pig being slaughtered—a shriek no less piercing than a hundred fattened hogs wailing in unison, because the turtle's tail was already cooked.

"I yield, I yield, I yield... Help! Murder, they’re roasting a turtle, help!" The turtle felt as if its tail had been thrust into the heart of the sun; the searing heat made it feel as though its very soul were about to fly away.

"That’s more like it. You wouldn’t have had to suffer if you’d just agreed earlier. You really are a glutton for punishment!" Zhou Hao withdrew his "divine power" and lifted the immobilization spell only after hearing the turtle’s plea.

"You heaven-slaying... The birds in the sky fly in pairs, the green waters and blue mountains smile..." Once the turtle could move, it immediately retreated into its shell, muttering curses from within. But upon hearing Zhou Hao grunt coldly, it quickly switched to singing a song.

"Enough, enough. Since you’ve agreed, there’s no backing out. I don't have much time; I must reach the Nangong Immortal Palace immediately. I think you and Lady Green Snake should come with me. You are both at the Golden Immortal level, so you’ll be able to help."

"Nangong Immortal Palace?" the turtle asked, poking its black head out.

"I'll explain the details on the road. We’re going to pull off something big this time, and I promise you’ll be rewarded. Don't worry."

At that moment, a red light flew out from Zhou Hao’s robes, condensing into a humanoid shape in mid-air. In an instant, a young girl in fiery red robes appeared before them.

"Wow, what a beautiful girl!" The turtle gulped, its round, beady eyes filled with hearts.

"Huohuo, why did you come out?" Zhou Hao asked, puzzled.

"Hmph, I’m bored to death sleeping in your arms all day! I won’t have it. I want to come out and play, and we’re going to do something big together!" Huohuo waved her delicate fists, looking haughty and adorable.

"What?" the turtle shrieked. "Are you a beast? You actually let such a beautiful young lady sleep in your arms? Miss, don't be afraid, I’ll teach him a lesson for you! How shameless, how despicable, how filthy!" The turtle looked indignant, standing up for Huohuo.

"Oh? Really? You’ll help me teach Zhou Hao a lesson?" Huohuo suddenly turned her gaze to the turtle, putting on a pitiful, innocent expression that was truly heart-wrenching.

"Too beautiful!" the turtle screamed internally.

"Of course! Leave it to me. Watch me beat this jerk Zhou Hao into a human-headed dog!" To win a smile from Huohuo, the turtle pounded its chest, looking utterly ridiculous.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

However, no sooner had the turtle finished speaking than Zhou Hao gave it a brutal thrashing. It was left black and blue, and even hiding in its shell didn't help, as the terrifying heat from the golden palm scorched it until it cried for its mother.

"I told you, I'm in a rush! Can you stop causing trouble for me?" Zhou Hao said after finishing his "lesson."

"By the way, Huohuo, can you control people's minds and hypnotize them?" Zhou Hao asked.

"I can, but... you mean you want me to hypnotize this old fellow lying here?" Huohuo pointed a slender finger at Ouyang Qi.

"Exactly!"

Huohuo shook her head. "I haven't even reached the Golden Immortal realm yet; how could I possibly hypnotize the mind of a mid-stage Golden Immortal expert? While hypnosis can allow the weak to overcome the strong, it requires a foundation of cultivation unless one has extremely high mastery of the art."

"I am a Golden Immortal; can I hypnotize him?" Zhou Hao pressed on.

"Not a chance!" Huohuo shook her head again. "Your cultivation is high, but you're a total layman when it comes to hypnosis. Furthermore, this old man’s cultivation is higher than yours; your hypnosis would not only be ineffective, it would injure your own immortal soul!"

"Nothing works... I guess I'll have to find another way." Zhou Hao sighed. He had hoped that hypnosis would allow him to probe Ouyang Qi’s consciousness and learn his memories, ensuring he could impersonate him perfectly without being discovered by Nangong Xun.

"Damn... that hurts! My life... I’ll die at your hands sooner or later." The turtle gritted its teeth, covered in bruises and panting heavily. "Your Great Radiant Sun Palm is too powerful. My shell fears no blades, spears, water, fire, thunder, or lightning, yet it was so pathetic under your palm today."

"Didn't you notice just now?" Zhou Hao smiled.

"Notice what?"

"When I was suppressing you earlier, do you know what the golden sun behind me was?"

"Golden sun? No idea!"

"You must have heard of the title 'The Sun of the Great Day' (Dairi Zhiyang), right?"

"The Sun of the Great Day? The manifestation of mastery over the Dao of the Sun! The sun behind you was the Sun of the Great Day!?" The turtle was struck with terror.

"Exactly!"

"Holy crap! That’s a power only the one-in-a-billion genius who cultivates the Dao of the Sun can possess! No wonder you're so strong. The Sun of the Great Day combined with the Great Radiant Sun Palm is a perfect match—a match made in heaven! It doubles the power output!" The turtle was beyond amazed; it looked at Zhou Hao as if he were a monster.

"What’s with that look?" Zhou Hao shot the turtle a glance.

"Don't be too surprised. Your master is a peerless genius; having this kind of talent is perfectly normal. There are more myths waiting for me to break and create. Just keep your eyes peeled; it will all become the norm!" Zhou Hao looked into the distance, standing with his hands behind his back, looking like a transcendental master.

"Hmph, you never miss a chance to show off!" The turtle pursed its lips. It had initially felt a bit of admiration for Zhou Hao, as such cultivation talent was truly shocking—neither the Sun of the Great Day nor the Great Radiant Sun Palm were things an ordinary genius could master. But seeing Zhou Hao being as shameless as ever, its admiration vanished instantly.

"Actually, your idea can work, and we happen to have a Golden Immortal expert here who can help." The turtle smiled confidently after hearing Zhou Hao’s brief explanation of their plan.

"Really? Who?" Zhou Hao and Huohuo asked in unison.

"My wife, Qingqing!" The turtle introduced the green snake for the first time.

Zhou Hao and Huohuo looked at the green snake, who had been watching them silently. She blinked gently when she saw their gaze.

"Qingqing?" Zhou Hao seemed sensitive to the name, his expression shifting as he looked at her.

"What’s wrong?" Huohuo nudged him.

"Oh, it's nothing... where were we? Continue!" Zhou Hao scratched his head, pushing back a flood of memories.

"Qingqing knows a Mind-Reading Art; she can use it to interpret others' memories!" the turtle said.

Zhou Hao and Huohuo were delighted. Mind reading was far more advanced than hypnosis. Generally, there were three ways to view a person's consciousness: first, the brutal "Soul-Searching Art," which used one's own soul to crush the opponent's and plunder memories, though this required a significant gap in cultivation; second, the "Mind-Reading Art," a profound technique that allowed one to know another's thoughts with a single glance, requiring immense natural talent; and third, hypnosis, which relied on technique and artifacts to turn someone into a puppet.

Qingqing nodded and slithered over to Ouyang Qi. She had the turtle pry open Ouyang Qi’s eyes.

*Hum!*

Qingqing’s purple snake pupils dilated, and two thin beams of purple light shot into Ouyang Qi’s eyes.

The scene froze! The two purple beams connected the two for six seconds.

"Now, I just need to transfer the read memories into Young Master Zhou’s consciousness using the same method, and it will be complete!" Qingqing smiled.

Zhou Hao nodded and stared into Qingqing’s purple pupils. When the purple light reappeared, they locked gazes for another six seconds.

"This is..."

In those six seconds, Zhou Hao caught glimpses that made his expression change: he saw a black-robed humanoid creature and a massive black turtle, with a giant green python coiled around its back. The black-robed figure reached into the turtle's shell and pulled out a primitive, mysterious dark-blue bead...

When Qingqing performed the Mind-Reading Art, the subject was entirely passive and couldn't see her memories. Moreover, the fragments Zhou Hao saw weren't even in Qingqing's own memory. The only explanation was his unique eyes—the Golden Heavy Pupils, a symbol of a forbidden race in the Immortal Domain, possessing mysterious origins and incredible power.

*"That turtle with the python coiled around it... what does it have to do with Qingqing? Could the python be her?"* Zhou Hao wondered.

"Qingqing, well done!" The turtle laughed heartily. The mind-reading had been a success.