Faced with Zhou Qing's question, Mo Xingjian turned around, his expression grave. "A secret—one concerning the Supreme Secret of our Taiqing Sect. Let me put it this way: it was precisely because that place was discovered that the Taiqing Sect of today came to exist."
The two of them were even more shocked upon hearing this.
In other words, the Taiqing Sect had been built upon that place, and had relied on it to grow powerful to this day.
So those things had not belonged to the Taiqing Sect. No wonder they had been able to trap such a person until now.
Zhou Qing suddenly understood.
Mo Xingjian continued, "The Grand Elder's breakthrough in cultivation this time was meant to test whether he could obtain something from within. Fortunately, you did not enter. Of course, you could not have entered anyway. Otherwise, even if we did not silence you, we would have had to erase the related memories."
Zhou Qing's heart jolted.
Fortunately, after thinking it over again and again, he had concealed some details.
He had only reported to the Grand Elders that the Broken Bowl had called out "Second Uncle" before crawling out through the Robber Hole. He had not mentioned that the other party would remain in the Taiqing Sect for a while longer.
If everyone searched with all their might and later discovered that he had brought it out, what then?
Moreover, the other party had said it would "stay a while longer," which meant it would not be long before it left.
In any case, he had already experienced all the secrets the sect was supposed to have. Back then, he had even nearly become the current Sect Leader of the Taiqing Sect, so it probably would not covet anything else.
"By the way, you must never spread word of the Grotto-Heaven. Not to mention within the sect, there are no shortage of people outside who covet it. If they hear anything, it will bring great disaster upon you!" Mo Xingjian solemnly warned them once more.
Zhou Qing nodded repeatedly.
Yan Xiaohu muttered under his breath, "After talking for so long, you still haven't explained what secrets are actually inside the Grotto-Heaven. And I somehow gained an extra danger for nothing."
Mo Xingjian could not be bothered to say more to him. He rose and left, reminding Zhou Qing to rest well.
After both of them had left, Zhou Qing first took out the Top-Grade Water Attribute Spirit Stone and examined it, unable to put it down.
"I'll wait until tomorrow, when I soak in the No. 3 Flame Spirit Blood Pool, before absorbing it. The effect will be better that way!"
After putting away the spirit stone, he took out the secret technique the Grand Elder had rewarded him with this time, Silver Dragon Hand, and carefully began reading it.
Early the next morning, Zhou Qing headed alone toward Divine Peak. He had originally wanted Third Senior Brother to accompany him, but that fellow refused no matter what.
"Senior Brother Zhou!"
The moment he reached the mountain, a beautiful figure came running over. Who else could it be but Lu Yaoyao?
When Zhou Qing saw Li Daoxuan approaching from nearby as well, his face pulled so long it looked as if someone owed him money, Zhou Qing's head began to ache even more.
"Were you specifically waiting here for me?" Zhou Qing asked after saluting Li Daoxuan.
Lu Yaoyao nodded, then said with a smile, "I wanted to congratulate you yesterday for taking first place this time, but the Grand Elders kept pulling you aside to question you, so I couldn't find a suitable chance."
"Thank you," Zhou Qing said.
Heart Insight Points +4
Very quickly, above the smiling Lu Yaoyao's head, the original remark, "So kind and loving," turned into "So amazing" in the blink of an eye.
Zhou Qing sighed softly. You really only have these few adjectives, going back and forth, huh?
At this moment, Li Daoxuan also stepped forward, his face stiff as he said, "I heard that in the Gravity Zone, you gave your Yang Fire Talisman to Junior Sister, putting yourself in danger. Thank you!"
After speaking, Li Daoxuan directly bowed.
Zhou Qing was flattered.
"Senior Brother Li, you are embarrassing this junior. Junior Sister has only just arrived; as her senior brothers, we should naturally help wherever we can!" Zhou Qing hurriedly said.
Li Daoxuan straightened up, his heart filled with gratitude.
Heart Insight Points +5
Soon, under Zhou Qing's gaze, the original remark above the other's head, "A lecherous rogue who knows the times a little," swiftly became "A lecherous rogue who is starting to look a little pleasing to the eye."
Zhou Qing opened his mouth, then forcibly swallowed the curse that had reached his lips.
He immediately took a step back and said, "All right then, the Grand Elder is still waiting for me, so I'll take my leave first."
With that, he hurried away.
Afterward, he made his way with practiced familiarity to a spot on the back mountain. This was where several Grand Elders who kept aloof from worldly affairs lived in seclusion, and the Flame Spirit Blood Pool lay inside one of the peaks.
"You're here?"
Just as Zhou Qing was looking around, a voice suddenly came from behind him without warning.
Zhou Qing jumped in fright and quickly turned around, cupping his hands in salute. "Greetings, Grand Elder."
The old woman nodded slightly without saying anything else, then led Zhou Qing straight toward the No. 3 pool.
Not long afterward, he finally saw what a true Flame Spirit Blood Pool looked like.
The entire pool emitted an eerie yet scorching radiance. The liquid inside was a demonic dark red, as though it had been refined by endless flames.
The air was also suffused with a medicinal fragrance that refreshed the heart and delighted the mind.
One had to know that this was merely a diluted secondary pool. From that alone, one could imagine just how potent the medicinal power of the true Main Pool had to be.
"Very well, this is No. 3 Blood Pool. You performed very well this time. Your original reward was one day, but I will extend it by another half day. Oh, and this is my own insight from cultivating Silver Dragon Hand in the past. You may use it as reference as well!"
After speaking, the old woman handed him another booklet.
Zhou Qing was overjoyed.
"Thank you, Grand Elder!"
The old woman nodded and left.
Zhou Qing hurriedly put away the booklet. Only after confirming that no one else was nearby did he remove his clothes and slowly step into the Flame Spirit Blood Pool.
The instant he touched the boiling liquid, he felt a violent heat wave rush through the pores of his skin and surge into his body.
Zhou Qing could not help but hiss, but fortunately it remained within the limits of what he could endure. Clenching his teeth against the agonizing pain that nearly scorched him, he slowly submerged his entire body into the blood pool.
As he sank in, the spiritual qi within the blood pool surged madly toward him like a raging flood.
The liquid was filled with dense fire essence, scorching and tyrannical.
Zhou Qing hurriedly circulated the Taiqing Mysterious Qi Art, guiding the medicinal power through his body. To counteract the pain, he even took out the Top-Grade Water Attribute Spirit Stone, held it in his hand, and began absorbing it.
Time slowly passed. Zhou Qing, whose eyes had originally been tightly shut and whose forehead veins had bulged, seemed to gradually adapt to the pain. A trace of enjoyment even appeared between his brows.
"This really is good stuff!"
Zhou Qing could clearly feel every thread of medicinal power flowing through his meridians, like countless scorching little blades scraping against their inner walls. The pain was unbearable, yet under this stimulation, his meridians became increasingly tough and broad.
Even the Foundation Establishment Spirit Core in his lower abdomen continued growing stronger. Beyond that, a faint crimson glow gradually covered the surface of his body, like a divine weapon forged in flames, radiating a powerful aura.
A night quickly passed. Suddenly, an intense light burst forth from within Zhou Qing's dantian.
The Spirit Core, originally only the size of a pigeon's egg, began to slowly expand. Like a greedy child, it desperately drew in the surrounding spiritual qi.
Dazzling firelight flickered across the Spirit Core's surface, every streak like a nimble fire serpent winding and slithering over it.
Zhou Qing was ecstatic. He increased the speed at which he absorbed the Top-Grade Spirit Stone, while the liquid in the blood pool began to whirl madly around him.
The spiritual qi all around seemed to be drawn by some immense force, forming a massive vortex of spiritual power that poured ceaselessly into Zhou Qing's dantian.
Not long afterward, the Spirit Core finally stopped growing and settled steadily within his dantian. Compared to before, it had expanded by more than twice its former size.
As Zhou Qing slowly opened his eyes, it seemed as though two blazing flames were burning within them.
"Foundation Establishment Middle Stage!"
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