Five Sects Treasure Exchange Gathering

Feeling the surging power within his body, Zhou Qing was overjoyed.

With half a day still remaining, he hurried to consolidate his cultivation.

But before long, the liquid in the blood pool suddenly began to recede at a visible rate.

Zhou Qing froze. Before he could react, the entire cave shook violently.

At the same time, a vast, abyss-deep pressure came crashing down like a canopy of heaven.

"Damn little thief, where do you think you're running?!" The Grand Elder's furious roar rolled in like thunder. In an instant, incomparably sharp Sword Qi tore through the void.

When Zhou Qing hurriedly dressed and rushed out of the cave, he saw a brilliant golden radiance gathering in the sky into a great seal that seemed capable of suppressing the heavens of all ages, smashing down with world-destroying might.

High above, several Grand Elders darted and weaved like ghosts, battling the enemy fiercely.

Could some peerless enemy have broken in? Zhou Qing was startled. He quickly retreated into the cave, then cautiously poked his head out to watch, terrified that he might be caught in this earthshaking battle.

The mountains ahead boomed without end, deafeningly loud. In the sky, dazzling spheres of lightning flashed like the wrathful thunderbolts of gods.

A resplendent Starry Sky Map poured forth like an inverted Milky Way, countless rays of starlight shooting out like sharp swords.

Afterimages intertwined continuously, forming all kinds of runes before outlining a complex and profound formation. Boundless killing intent erupted from within it.

Golden Dao Lotus and purple gourds—the magnificent phenomena emitted by these treasures reflected across heaven and earth, leaving Zhou Qing utterly dumbfounded.

"Wasn't it just a little medicinal power? Look how stingy you all are. Hmph, if I can't afford to provoke you, can't I at least hide from you? I'm off!"

A leisurely voice drifted over, and the sounds of battle gradually faded into the distance.

Zhou Qing's face instantly turned pale as he muttered, "Second Uncle!"

At the foot of Divine Peak, Zhou Qing paced back and forth restlessly, his heart filled with unease.

After a while, a streak of light descended from the sky.

"Master, how did it go?" Zhou Qing asked, somewhat guiltily.

Mo Xingjian said, "That thief acted with extreme speed and seemed quite familiar with the Taiqing Sect. He must have scoped the place out in advance. Every peak is now conducting a full search."

Hearing this, Zhou Qing secretly let out a breath of relief.

"Did you get a clear look at his face?" Zhou Qing continued.

Mo Xingjian looked at Zhou Qing suspiciously. "Why does it feel like you're more concerned about this than we are?"

Zhou Qing's heart jolted. Then, with righteous indignation written all over his face, he said, "That hateful thief absorbed every drop of medicinal liquid that should have been mine! How could I not be angry? This was an opportunity I traded my life for!"

Mo Xingjian found that understandable.

"According to the Grand Elders, the thief wore black from head to toe. He was clearly prepared. Forget it, let's not discuss this further. Go back early, and don't run around with Third Child. There may be a full-scale search next," Mo Xingjian instructed.

Zhou Qing secretly breathed another sigh of relief and nodded.

Watching his master's departing back, he scratched his head.

"So what if they discover it was Second Uncle? Master and the others already know he's alive. What does it have to do with me whether he left or not? If he gets caught and exposes me, I'll just say I don't know anything. I was completely muddled at the time, and as for any Top-Grade Spirit Stones, I never saw them at all!"

Zhou Qing quickly came up with a response. In any case, he would deny it to the bitter end.

After returning to Little Spirit Peak, he willed it and opened the panel.

Name: Zhou Qing

Age: Nineteen

Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Middle Stage

Cultivation Art: Taiqing Mysterious Qi Art

Innate Skills: Mind Mirror Vision--LV1 (64/100),

Reduce Presence--LV2 (51/100)

Skill Shards: 1/3 (Cannot be obtained)

Seeing that both innate skill progress bars had passed the halfway mark, Zhou Qing was delighted.

At the Foundation Establishment Realm, there was now a fifty-percent chance people would overlook his presence. Once Mind Mirror Vision reached Level Two before long, he could bind even more people. He needed to start looking for suitable candidates in advance.

With nothing else to do, Zhou Qing took out the Grand Elder's notes on cultivating the "Silver Dragon Hand" and began studying them.

Over the next several days, every peak was turned upside down, leaving the sect in a state of utter chaos, yet nothing was found.

In the end, they concluded that the thief might have already fled the sect—or perhaps he had hidden his tracks with some brilliant Secret Technique. After all, even several Grand Elders had been deceived by him at the time.

The sect issued an order requiring all disciples to remain vigilant and never let down their guard.

If they discovered anyone suspicious, they were to report it immediately.

If the report proved true and the thief was captured, the reward would be no less valuable than the Flame Spirit Blood Pool Zhou Qing had soaked in.

The moment this order was issued, the crowd erupted with excitement. Everyone's eyes gleamed as they looked at those around them, as though every person might be a thief who could be exchanged for a reward.

Heart Insight Points +3

Just as Zhou Qing was repeatedly practicing the "Silver Dragon Hand," the notification sounded abruptly. Immediately afterward, Yan Xiaohu's voice came from outside.

"Fourth Child, are you there?"

Zhou Qing smiled faintly, rose, and opened the courtyard gate.

Sure enough, the label above Yan Xiaohu's head had changed from Sorrowful Little Junior Brother to Unlucky Little Junior Brother.

Zhou Qing was speechless. Brother, it's been ten days already. Why are you only feeling sorry for me now? Isn't your reaction time a little too long?

"Third Senior Brother, do you need something?" Zhou Qing asked.

Yan Xiaohu looked Zhou Qing up and down. Only after seeing his rosy complexion did he quietly breathe a sigh of relief.

"Why didn't you tell me that the thief stole your opportunity too?" Yan Xiaohu's face was full of heartache.

No one listened during lessons, he encountered danger after making a trip to the Grotto-Heaven, and after finally winning himself an opportunity, it was stolen away by someone else.

Tell him, wasn't that infuriating?

Heart Insight Points +4

Heart Insight Points +6

Before Zhou Qing could speak, two more notifications rang out, leaving him bewildered.

He looked at the label above Third Senior Brother's head, but it did not change again.

Wait, did you all only just hear about this?

Only through their conversation did Zhou Qing learn that everyone merely knew the thief had first been detected by the Grand Elders. They did not know that he had been exposed because he drained all the medicinal power from the Flame Spirit Blood Pool.

What could Zhou Qing even say? Strictly speaking, he had already gotten the better end of the deal. The latter half-day had been given to him for free anyway.

Besides, with the help of the Flame Spirit Blood Pool, he had successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

"Everyone has their fate, decreed by heaven. It's fine. Oh, right, Senior Brother, you can take a look at this 'Silver Dragon Hand.' It should be of great benefit to you!"

As Zhou Qing spoke, he took out the jade slip and booklet, only for Yan Xiaohu to refuse them.

"I already have divine abilities suited to me. Trying to swallow too much only leaves one unable to digest it; you should keep this for cultivation. I heard Master say that this 'Silver Dragon Hand' is Elder Duanmu Shu's famous divine ability. It combines offense and defense, and it is extraordinarily formidable," Yan Xiaohu said seriously.

Zhou Qing agreed with that completely. He had read the cultivation art's key formulas, and they were so complicated they gave him a headache.

Seeing that Zhou Qing was fine, Yan Xiaohu did not wish to keep talking about the subject, lest it make his little junior brother feel worse.

Soon, he seemed to remember something and said excitedly, "Oh, right! This time, the Five Sects Treasure Exchange Gathering will be held at the foot of our Taiqing Sect's mountain. When the time comes, we brothers can wander around to our hearts' content."

"The Five Sects Treasure Exchange Gathering?" Zhou Qing looked confused.

Yan Xiaohu explained, "As the name suggests, the Five Sects Treasure Exchange Gathering is an event where disciples from the five great sects exchange items and set up Street Stalls to trade. It only takes place once every twenty years. Don't worry, I've attended several times already. When the time comes, I'll take you to broaden your horizons."

"Oh, right, do you have any junk? We can set up a stall together. If we can swindle... if we can earn even a little, that's still something."

Zhou Qing finally understood and could not help feeling curious.

Unfortunately, he did not have anything worth taking out for trade.

Yan Xiaohu could only say, "It's fine if you don't have anything. Just prepare some money. Finding overlooked treasures at Street Stalls is a common occurrence. All kinds of items are mixed together, good and bad alike, and stall owners name prices however they please. Real and fake are hard to distinguish—it all depends on your eye."

"When is it?" Zhou Qing asked.

Yan Xiaohu grinned. "Seven days from now!"