After the Grand Elder left, everyone finally let out a long breath.
That senior had truly put far too much pressure on them.
Hadn't they heard what she said just now? Even the Sect Leader of their Taiqing Sect was called Little Cao by her.
But at this moment, what they cared about even more was who had caught the other two Ice Soul Dark Scale Fish.
Everyone looked at one another, and everyone seemed suspicious.
"Go, go, go! We're leaving right now!" Yan Xiaohu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and turned to leave.
This matter had long become an indelible shadow in his heart. What if she came back for a second strike...
Of course Zhou Qing agreed.
He did not dare stay any longer either, because Lu Yaoyao was currently hugging that Ice Soul Dark Scale Fish and looking at him.
With so many people watching, if she gave me that fish, what do you think the consequences would be?
The two turned and left, walking faster and faster until they finally broke into a jog.
Watching the two abruptly depart, the Core Disciples all smiled in unspoken agreement.
After all, that Grand Elder had been one of the people the two had once secretly watched bathing.
To be fair, setting aside her status as an elder, the two really had unusually heavy tastes.
Under the night sky, when the two returned to the foot of Little Spirit Peak, they finally panted heavily and collapsed onto the ground.
"That scared me to death!" Yan Xiaohu touched his clothes, only to find that they had somehow already been soaked through.
Zhou Qing also felt parched, but at least they had escaped disaster.
After recovering his senses, he sprang to his feet. Once he made sure no one was around, he hurriedly sneakily took out the Fish Basket.
"Third Senior Brother, one fish each!" Zhou Qing pointed at the fish.
Yan Xiaohu casually glanced over, then quickly scrambled up in shock, his face full of disbelief.
"Holy shit, how did you do that?"
By the moonlight, he hurriedly examined them carefully.
That was right, that was right. They really were Ice Soul Dark Scale Fish, exactly the same as the one Lu Yaoyao held in her arms.
Zhou Qing could only scratch his head. His luck had exploded, that was all.
Who could have imagined that the spot everyone looked down on would actually let him catch them?
But only he knew that this might be related to his innate skill. After all, Reduce Presence had caused the Ice Soul Dark Scale Fish to overlook him on the shore, while it also saw the delicious bait. Didn't that make everything perfectly clear?
Yan Xiaohu looked at Zhou Qing, opened his mouth, and for a moment did not know what to say. In the end, he gave him a thumbs-up.
"Amazing, truly amazing. Especially at a time like this, you still thought of your senior brother. I really haven't doted on you for nothing all these years. But I won't take the fish. Right now, you need them more than I do. Still, the two Reverse Scales on them are very important to me. If you don't mind..."
Yan Xiaohu excitedly rubbed his hands together.
Of course Zhou Qing did not mind.
"Good, good, truly good. Here, take this!"
Yan Xiaohu carefully plucked them off, then took out a jar of fermented wine.
"Use this wine to make fish soup. It will bring out the value of these Ice Soul Dark Scale Fish to the fullest. Good luck!"
After speaking, Yan Xiaohu specifically reminded him of a few details before leaving excitedly.
Zhou Qing also returned to his residence and, without another word, hurriedly began simmering the soup.
In the middle of the night, he looked at the large basin of snow-white fish meat before him. The fragrant aroma tinged with wine rushed into his nose, making him swallow involuntarily.
Then he began devouring it with great relish.
When the final mouthful of soup entered his stomach, he immediately shuddered. Cold energy rose from his entire body, while vast spiritual energy coursed and crashed through the meridians within him.
Delight appeared on his face as he hurriedly circulated the Taiqing Mysterious Qi Art, rapidly sending it through cycle after cycle.
By the time the sky gradually brightened, Zhou Qing, who had been sitting cross-legged, had become even more flushed. A boundless force continued expanding within his body.
"I really underestimated these Ice Soul Dark Scale Fish. After strengthening my foundation and nourishing my vitality, there's still so much spiritual power left. Since that's the case, I might as well give it a try!"
Zhou Qing rapidly formed hand seals. The tyrannical power within him surged like a raging flood, rushing toward his limbs and bones.
Zhou Qing endured the agonizing pain and guided it bit by bit toward his dantian. The vortex of spiritual power there, originally like gaseous mist, began spinning at high speed, absorbing the surging power.
"There's hope!"
Seeing this, Zhou Qing was overjoyed. Perhaps this time, he really could step into Foundation Establishment in a single stride.
At that moment, the spiritual energy vortex spun faster and faster, gradually forming a stable and powerful Spiritual Power Storm.
As time passed, a dazzling Spirit Core slowly condensed at the center of the storm.
With the appearance of the Foundation Establishment Spirit Core, an indescribably vast surge of spiritual power violently spread out in that instant. Its momentum was so powerful that even the surrounding air trembled.
And in that instant, Zhou Qing's eyes abruptly opened.
A green radiance burst from his eyes. With a single thought, everything within a hundred zhang instantly reflected in his heart.
Sea of Consciousness, the standard feature of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Spirit Core, the source of power for the Foundation Establishment Realm.
"Foundation Establishment Early Stage..." Zhou Qing spoke slowly. Feeling the power within him, excitement shone on his face.
From this day onward, his lifespan would increase to two hundred years, and he would also be able to maintain Sword Flight for long periods.
Afterward, he opened his panel.
Name: Zhou Qing Age: Nineteen Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivation Art: Taiqing Mysterious Qi Art Innate Skill: Reduce Presence Level: LV1 (87/100) Skill Shards: 2/3 (Cannot be obtained)
There was no need to mention the innate skill Reduce Presence. Without it, he would not have caught two Ice Soul Dark Scale Fish in succession this time, much less stepped directly into the Foundation Establishment Realm in a single night.
"According to the earlier prompt, once it reaches one hundred percent, Qi Condensation Realm disciples will have a 90% chance of completely overlooking me. Although it hasn't reached max level yet, it's not far off. Now that my cultivation has risen to Foundation Establishment Early Stage, I need to reach LV2 as soon as possible."
Zhou Qing muttered to himself. After obtaining LV2, depending on the progress, there would be different chances of being overlooked by those in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Then Zhou Qing took out a handbook and checked the date. His eyes soon lit up.
"Today happens to be the day Senior Sister Shi Zhen of Jade Clarity Peak gives us a lesson. There should be many people attending then. It's the perfect opportunity!"
Zhou Qing hurriedly got up and specifically changed into the white clothes of an Outer Sect disciple.
There was no helping it. Little Spirit Peak only had the four of them as Core Disciples. No matter what clothes he changed into, everyone would recognize him.
Only by going to another peak would he have a chance to fish in troubled waters.
If he attended class among a group of Outer Sect disciples and went unnoticed for a long time, Ignorance Points could also be generated. It was just that they came in smaller amounts than in tense and thrilling situations, and it took a great deal of time.
Fortunately, he was not far from the goal now, and the chance of being overlooked by Qi Condensation disciples had greatly increased. It was still quite promising.
After changing clothes, Zhou Qing headed straight for Jade Clarity Peak.
Jade Clarity Peak was not far from Little Spirit Peak. The two could be considered neighbors.
Especially now that Zhou Qing had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and could use Sword Flight, such a distance was even less worth mentioning.
Yet despite that, by the time he arrived, registered, and entered the Lecture Hall, there were already no empty seats left.
One had to know that the enormous Lecture Hall could hold at least a thousand people, and it was still early.
Sure enough, as a Core Disciple and a great beauty, she possessed an innate advantage over them.
"Stop looking. All the spots are full. Come earlier next time!"
Just as Zhou Qing was looking around, two Inner Sect disciples in yellow robes, who had originally been guarding the entrance, walked over and directly urged him to leave.
Among the Thirteen Peaks of the Taiqing Sect, disciples were divided into four ranks: Outer Sect, Inner Sect, True Transmission Disciples, and Core Disciples.
Their clothes were the primary standard marking their identities: white robes for the Outer Sect, yellow robes for the Inner Sect, purple robes for True Transmission Disciples, while Core Disciples could wear whatever they wanted.
To Reduce Presence, Zhou Qing had specifically chosen to wear white robes. Sure enough, he was mistaken for an Outer Sect disciple.
He looked back and saw many people behind him who had failed to arrive in time, their faces full of regret.
He quietly took out his Identity Token and gave it a little shake.
When the two Inner Sect disciples saw it, their expressions immediately changed, and they were about to bow when Zhou Qing hurriedly stopped them.
"It's fine, it's fine. I just came to see Senior Sister Shi Zhen. Carry on with your work!"
After speaking, Zhou Qing gave a dry cough and entered.
The two Inner Sect disciples of Jade Clarity Peak looked at each other. Which peak's Core Disciple was this?
Even if Core Disciples could wear whatever they liked, he could not just put on Outer Sect attire and come here, could he? Wasn't that baiting them into offending him?
"Senior Brothers, what's going on? Weren't all the spots full? Why does he get to go in?"
"Yeah, yeah! I clearly arrived earlier than he did. This isn't fair!"
"Everyone saw it. Please be fair, Senior Brothers!"
Seeing Zhou Qing enter, the many Outer Sect disciples outside immediately became dissatisfied.
One of the yellow-robed Inner Sect disciples could not be bothered to explain. His brows lowered, and the pressure of the Foundation Establishment Realm descended.
"Scram!!!"
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