No, are these "after-effects" so strong?

Afterward, Zhou Qing immediately sat cross-legged, took out the spirit egg laid by the Old Hen, and began to absorb and refine it with full concentration.

Under the cover of night, Zhou Qing, who had completely recovered, headed straight for Flame Dragon City.

With a thought, the panel quietly appeared.

[Name: Zhou Qing]

[Age: Nineteen]

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Middle Stage]

[Cultivation Method: Taiqing Mysterious Qi Art]

[Innate Skills: Daily Appraisal,

Mind Mirror Vision — LV2 (121/200),

Reduce Presence — LV3 (3/100)]

[Skill Fragments: 0/3 (Cannot obtain)]

It seemed that it wouldn't be long before the innate skill [Mind Mirror Vision] would also be upgraded to Level 3, allowing him to bind more people.

By then, no matter how Second Uncle changed his appearance, he would be able to see through it at a glance.

"Where have you been these past three days? I was just about to ask Old Mo for help."

Seeing Zhou Qing return safely, Yan Xiaohu finally let out a long sigh of relief.

For the past three days, he had been sending messages non-stop, but Zhou Qing never replied to a single one, which truly made him worry.

Zhou Qing said sheepishly, "Uh, I was delayed by something. Didn't I rush over as soon as I saw the message?"

"Where's that senior?" Yan Xiaohu looked around but didn't see the figure of the stall owner Old Man.

Zhou Qing said, "Stop looking, he's already left."

"Left? That's a shame. What did he want with you? Why did it take so long?" Yan Xiaohu asked curiously.

Zhou Qing thought for a moment, then said with a serious expression, "He wanted to take me as his disciple."

"Take you as his disciple?" Yan Xiaohu was stunned.

Zhou Qing nodded, "That's right, he just wanted to take me as his disciple. He said I was naturally gifted and lucky, so he wanted to pass on his legacy to me. Because of this, he begged me for three whole days, but how could I agree? After all, I am a person of the Taiqing Sect in life and a ghost of the Taiqing Sect in death."

Looking at the proud and imposing Zhou Qing in front of him, Yan Xiaohu didn't believe a word.

"There's no one from the Taiqing Sect here, you don't need to show your loyalty. If you don't want to say it, then don't. I'm not that curious. Let's hurry home. The Old Hen you were willing to spend three thousand spirit stones to find is probably starving to death!" Yan Xiaohu said.

Zhou Qing's expression suddenly changed. How could he have forgotten about this?

The two of them quickly rushed towards the Mountain Gate...

When Zhou Qing hurriedly opened the courtyard gate, he was immediately dumbfounded.

A pavilion in the courtyard had already collapsed, and the Old Hen was pecking at it with a "cluck cluck cluck".

No way, what kind of beak do you have? How is it so hard?

However, looking at it overall, the Old Hen's entire body had visibly thinned down significantly, and chicken feathers were scattered all over the courtyard.

"My little chicken!"

Zhou Qing's heart ached. He quickly went over, casually crushed two Spirit Stones, and held the Old Hen, letting it peck at them.

Afterward, as he gently stroked the Old Hen, he couldn't help but feel that this was actually quite good. At the very least, the Old Hen no longer looked as fat as it did on the surface, which would make it less likely to be targeted.

With everything back to normal, Zhou Qing looked at the black and white Spirit Core in his Dantian again, feeling as if he were dreaming.

He had achieved Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment just like that?

And was he already halfway to becoming a Heaven Grade, number one ranked Three Flowers Converging Nascent Soul in the future?

If he were to go out and announce this today, would he be assassinated tonight?

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing couldn't help but laugh.

However, this matter truly couldn't be known by anyone. While the sect would certainly cultivate and protect him with all their might, there were always times when things slipped through the cracks.

He didn't want to be supervised by many people just to go to the restroom, as he was used to freedom.

Afterward, he went to the Scripture Pavilion again to thoroughly consolidate his knowledge of cultivation.

Indeed, he found records about the number one ranked Yin Yang Qi among the Heavenly Dao Energy.

This Yin Yang Qi was an Innate Spirit, and its quantity was terrifyingly small.

Not only could it forge the strongest Foundation Establishment, but after advancing to Golden Core, it would strangely give birth to two Golden Cores.

One resided in the Dantian, and one resided in the heart.

One must know that ordinary people only had one Golden Core in their lifetime, and any Golden Core condensed from a wisp of Heavenly Dao Energy afterward would be the same.

Once the Golden Core was shattered or dug out, that person would be completely crippled for life and could never cultivate again.

But the Yin Yang Dual Cores were the only exception.

All things carry Yin and embrace Yang, and through the blending of Qi, they achieve harmony. Yin and Yang wax and wane, harmonizing and unifying.

If either one was lost, as long as the other remained, given a certain amount of time, it would regenerate.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing was incredibly surprised.

As expected of the number one ranked Heavenly Dao Energy.

Moreover, just as Second Uncle had said, having two Golden Cores meant his combat power would far surpass those at the same realm.

In the future, there was even a 40% chance of condensing the strongest Three Flowers Converging Nascent Soul, and the path ahead was even more promising, forming a virtuous cycle.

"Second Uncle said this wisp of Heavenly Dao Energy was obtained from that place deep within the Grotto-Heaven. What were those things I saw? Why was someone as powerful as Second Uncle trapped for so long?"

"So, to what extent has the sect researched it now? After all, according to Master, the ancient Taiqing Sect first discovered the strangeness of this place before building here and setting up numerous restrictions."

Zhou Qing became increasingly curious.

Of course, he was also incredibly grateful to Second Uncle. Such a priceless treasure, worth who knows how many Top-Grade Spirit Stones, was just given to him.

He had to remember this kindness.

Returning to his courtyard, Zhou Qing suddenly stopped, feeling something amiss, and looked at the large tree outside the gate.

Or rather, at a clump of weeds beneath the tree.

Looking at the golden dewdrops on them and then at the sun in the sky, he felt something was off.

With a thought, he performed an appraisal.

[Ordinary Weed: Originally could have lived for several more years, but half an hour ago, Yan Xiaohu urinated on it, and its life was unfortunately cut short at the Postnatal stage.]

Zhou Qing: "..."

He took out his token and indeed saw a message from Third Senior Brother.

"Little Junior Brother, I waited for you for a long time but didn't see you, so I went down the mountain to attend the gathering first. If you want to come, send me a message then!"

Zhou Qing sighed softly. He didn't want to go down today, after all, he had just used the Daily Appraisal.

Moreover, since it was the later stage of the Treasure Exchange Gathering, there were fewer battles between the various sects, and he could barely get any ignore points.

He might as well cultivate properly today.

After replying to Third Senior Brother, Zhou Qing first checked the chicken coop, then began practicing the Silver Dragon Step that Second Uncle had taught him.

After only a short while, he opened his eyes, filled with disbelief.

"What's going on?"

He quickly tried again, confirming that it wasn't an illusion.

When he had just mastered it that day, it felt so obscure and difficult to understand, but why was it so easy to cultivate today?

His mind felt completely clear, almost reaching the point of being able to infer other things from one.

"Could it be—"

Zhou Qing quickly looked at the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment spiritual core in his Dantian, deep in thought.

Then he immediately changed his approach and began cultivating the Silver Dragon Hand. As expected, everything felt so natural.

He then, not believing in evil, circulated the Azure Wood Spirit Shield. The smooth feeling made him incredibly excited.

In just a short time, a rich wood-attribute spirit energy suddenly surged from all directions, as if summoned, instantly condensing around him.

In the blink of an eye, a solid shield formed, its surface texture clear and full of sturdiness.

Zhou Qing, standing within the shield, looked at it. Its solidity was no weaker than the one Senior Sister Shi Zhen had demonstrated during her lecture in the Lecture Hall.

"It's already perfected?"

Zhou Qing couldn't help but swallow. He had been cultivating the Azure Wood Spirit Shield for many years. Although he had already achieved minor success, it would have taken several more years to reach major success. Yet now, he had achieved it so easily.

"Is this the boost brought by the top-tier Heavenly Dao Energy? Have I truly been reborn? No, even my brain has changed!"

After repeated verification, Zhou Qing was overjoyed. After calming himself down, he quickly withdrew the shield, as it consumed a lot of spirit energy.

Then he quickly sat cross-legged and began absorbing the Top-Grade Spirit Stone in his hand, discovering with shock that the speed of absorption and refinement had also greatly increased.

"I'm really going to be rich!" Zhou Qing could no longer hold back his laughter.

Thanks to Shuyou20180114185916787 for the 100 reward. Thank you for your support.