Advancing to Foundation Establishment!

With the departure of that Grand Elder, everyone finally let out a long breath of relief.

The pressure that senior had placed on them was truly too great.

Hadn't they just heard? Even the Sect Leader of their own Taiqing Sect was called "Xiao Cao" by her.

But right now, they were more concerned about who had fished up the other two Ice Soul Dark Scale Fish.

Everyone looked at each other, suspecting everyone.

"Let's go, let's go right now!" Yan Xiaohu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and turned to leave.

This matter had already become an indelible shadow in his heart. What if that senior pulled a surprise return...

Zhou Qing naturally agreed.

He didn't dare stay any longer either, because at this moment Lu Yaoyao was holding that Ice Soul Dark Scale Fish and looking at him.

With so many people watching, if she gave the fish to him, what do you think the consequences would be?

The two turned and left, even picking up speed until they were practically jogging.

Watching the two abruptly leave, the Core Disciples all laughed in unison.

After all, that Grand Elder just now was one of the people they had once peeked at while bathing.

Say what you will, setting aside her elder status, those two really had some unusual tastes.

Under the night sky, when the two reached the foot of Little Spirit Peak, they finally gasped for breath and collapsed directly onto the ground.

"Scared me to death!" Yan Xiaohu touched his clothes, somehow already soaked through.

Zhou Qing also felt parched, but at least they had dodged a bullet.

After recovering his senses, he scrambled up, made sure no one was around, and then furtively took out the Fish Basket.

"Third Senior Brother, one for each of us!" Zhou Qing pointed at the fish.

Yan Xiaohu glanced casually, then quickly scrambled up in shock, his face full of disbelief.

"Holy shit, how did you manage that?"

By the moonlight, he took a closer look.

No mistake, no mistake, it really was an Ice Soul Dark Scale Fish, identical to the one Lu Yaoyao was holding.

Zhou Qing could only scratch his head. He'd just gotten incredibly lucky.

Who would have thought that the nest everyone looked down on would actually yield a catch for him?

But only he knew that this might be related to his talent skill. After all, [Reduce Presence] had made the Ice Soul Dark Scale Fish ignore him on the shore and see only the delicious bait. Everything made sense.

Yan Xiaohu looked at Zhou Qing, opened his mouth, and for a moment didn't know what to say. Finally, he gave a thumbs up.

"Impressive, truly impressive. Especially that you still thought of your senior brother at a time like this. I haven't spoiled you for nothing all these years. But I won't take the fish. Right now, you need it more than I do. However, these two Reverse Scales on it are very important to me. If you don't mind..."

Yan Xiaohu rubbed his hands excitedly.

Zhou Qing naturally didn't mind.

"Good, good, truly good. Here, take this!" Yan Xiaohu carefully plucked them off, then took out a jar of wine.

"Use this wine to make fish soup. It will maximize the value of this Ice Soul Dark Scale Fish. Good luck!"

After Yan Xiaohu finished speaking and gave some extra details, he left excitedly.

Zhou Qing also returned to his dwelling and, without a word, immediately started boiling the soup.

In the dead of night, looking at the large basin of snow-white fish meat, especially the fragrant aroma mixed with wine that hit his nose, he couldn't help swallowing.

Then he began to feast.

When the last mouthful of soup entered his stomach, he suddenly shuddered, cold air radiating from his body, and vast spiritual power surged and collided through his meridians.

His face lit up with surprise. He quickly activated the "Taiqing Mysterious Qi Art" and rapidly cycled it through his meridians.

By the time the sky began to lighten, Zhou Qing, who had been sitting cross-legged, had an even rosier complexion. A vast and mighty force continuously expanded within him.

"I really underestimated this Ice Soul Dark Scale Fish. After strengthening my foundation and nourishing my essence, there's still this much spiritual power left. In that case, I might as well give it a try!"

Zhou Qing's hands swiftly formed seals. The domineering power inside him surged like a raging torrent, rushing toward his limbs and bones.

Enduring the intense pain, he gradually guided it toward his Dantian. The spiritual power vortex there, which had been a misty swirl, began to spin rapidly, absorbing the surging force.

"It's working!"

Seeing this, Zhou Qing was overjoyed. Perhaps this time he might actually step into Foundation Establishment.

The spiritual power vortex spun faster and faster, gradually forming a stable and powerful Spiritual Power Storm.

As time passed, at the center of the storm, a radiant Spirit Core slowly condensed into being.

With the appearance of the Foundation Establishment Spirit Core, a vast, indescribable force burst outward in an instant. Its intensity was such that even the surrounding air trembled.

And at that moment, Zhou Qing's eyes suddenly snapped open.

A cyan light burst from his pupils. With a thought, everything within a hundred zhang was instantly reflected in his mind.

The Sea of Consciousness—standard equipment for the Foundation Establishment Realm.

The Spirit Core—the power source of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

"Foundation Establishment Early Stage..." Zhou Qing spoke slowly, feeling the power within his body, an excited expression lighting up his face.

From this day forward, his lifespan would expand to two hundred years, and he could also sustain Sword Flight for extended periods.

Then, he opened his panel.

[Name: Zhou Qing]

[Age: Nineteen]

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Early Stage]

[Art: Taiqing Mysterious Qi Art]

[Talent Skill: Reduce Presence]

[Level: LV1 (87/100)]

[Skill Shards: 2/3 (Unobtainable)]

The talent skill [Reduce Presence] went without saying—without it, he wouldn't have hooked two Ice Soul Dark Scale Fish in a row this time, let alone stepped straight into the Foundation Establishment Realm in a single night.

"According to the earlier prompt, once it reaches 100%, Qi Condensation Realm disciples will have a 90% chance of completely ignoring me. It's not maxed out yet, but it's close. Now that my cultivation has risen to Foundation Establishment Early Stage, I need to get to LV2 as soon as possible."

Zhou Qing muttered to himself. Once he reached LV2, depending on the progress, there would be varying probabilities of being ignored by Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Then, Zhou Qing pulled out a handbook, checked the date, and his eyes lit up.

"Today is the day Senior Sister Shi Zhen of Jade Clarity Peak gives us a lecture. A lot of people should be going to listen—it's the perfect opportunity!"

Zhou Qing quickly got up and deliberately changed into a White Robe of an Outer Sect disciple.

There was no helping it. On Little Spirit Peak, there were only four of them as Core Disciples, him and his senior brothers. No matter what clothes you changed into, everyone recognized you.

Only by going to other peaks could he have a chance to blend in.

If he sat among a group of Outer Sect disciples listening to a lecture and no one noticed him for a long time, Ignorance Points would be generated. They just weren't as plentiful as in tense, exciting situations, and it took a lot of time.

Still, he was close now, and the probability of being ignored by Qi Condensation disciples had greatly increased. It was still worth a shot.

After changing clothes, Zhou Qing headed straight for Jade Clarity Peak.

Jade Clarity Peak wasn't far from Little Spirit Peak; the two were practically neighbors.

Especially now that Zhou Qing had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and could use Sword Flight, that distance was even less of an issue.

But even so, when he arrived and registered to enter the [Lecture Hall], there were no empty seats left.

After all, the massive [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 had a natural advantage over them.

"Don't bother looking. The slots are full. Come earlier next time!"

Just as Zhou Qing was peering around, two Inner Sect disciples in yellow robes, originally guarding the entrance, walked over and directly told Zhou Qing to leave.

Among the Thirteen Peaks of the Taiqing Sect, disciples were divided into four tiers: Outer Sect, Inner Sect, True Transmission, and Core.

Their clothes were the main indicator of status: Outer Sect wore White Robes, Inner Sect wore yellow, True Transmission wore purple, and Core Disciples wore whatever they liked.

To lower his presence, Zhou Qing had deliberately put on a White Robe, and sure enough, he was mistaken for an Outer Sect disciple.

He looked back. Behind him, many who hadn't made it in time wore expressions of regret.

He quietly took out his Identity Token and flashed it.

Seeing this, the two Inner Sect disciples' expressions changed instantly, and they were about to bow. Zhou Qing quickly stopped them.

"It's fine, it's fine. I just came to see Senior Sister Shi Zhen. You two go ahead!"

Zhou Qing finished speaking, cleared his throat, and walked right in.

The two Inner Sect disciples of Jade Clarity Peak exchanged glances. Which peak's Core Disciple was this?

Even if you could wear whatever clothes you liked, did you have to just throw on an Outer Sect uniform? Weren't you just asking them to offend you?

"Senior Brothers, what's going on? Weren't the slots full? Why does he get to go in?"

"Yeah, yeah! I got here earlier than him. This isn't fair!"

"Everyone saw it. Please be fair, Senior Brothers!"

Seeing Zhou Qing go in, the crowd of Outer Sect disciples outside immediately kicked up a fuss.

One of the yellow-robed Inner Sect disciples couldn't be bothered to explain. He furrowed his brow, and the oppressive pressure of the Foundation Establishment Realm bore down.

"Scram!!!"