Because there were no extra meditation cushions, Zhou Qing had no choice but to find a corner to sit in and wait quietly.
Looking around, he saw nothing but white robes.
It seemed that everything Senior Sister Shi Zhen would be teaching this time concerned Qi Condensation. Otherwise, Inner Sect disciples and True Transmission Disciples might have come as well.
Before long, a woman in a sky-blue robe appeared at the front. Her brows were like distant mountains, and her expression was cool and aloof.
Everyone hurriedly rose to bow.
Shi Zhen nodded, then sat down. Without any unnecessary words, she went straight to the point.
"Today, I'll be teaching the Azure Wood Spirit Shield. It is a defensive technique based on Wood Attribute spiritual energy, and it is something everyone in the Taiqing Sect must learn, from Core Disciples down to Outer Sect disciples. After all, no matter when it is, only by staying alive do you have the chance to speak of anything else."
After Shi Zhen finished speaking, a thought stirred in her mind, and dense Wood Attribute spiritual energy suddenly surged in from all directions. As though answering a summons, it instantly gathered around her.
In the blink of an eye, a solid shield took shape. Its surface patterns were clear, radiating an unshakable sense of sturdiness.
The sight left everyone in awe. Even if they could barely execute the technique, they still needed all sorts of incantations and hand seals.
How could they be like Senior Sister Shi Zhen, for whom it was simply a matter of a single thought?
Zhou Qing sighed in admiration as well. He could not do it so effortlessly. If he faced a powerful enemy, he would have to widen the distance and give himself time to cast it.
Otherwise, before it even took shape, the other person would already be right in front of him.
Shi Zhen dispersed the wooden shield and began explaining. "The wood's charm lingered, spiritual breath flowed; qi coursed through heaven and earth, spirit drew in all four directions. If we approached this incantation from another angle, we could understand it as..."
Zhou Qing listened very carefully below the stage. Everyone had their own unique understanding of the same technique.
Ignorance Points +1 Ignorance Points +1
Over the next three days, Zhou Qing constantly traveled between the Lecture Halls of various peaks, farming points. It was slower, but every little bit added up.
And today, his talent skill Reduce Presence had finally reached full level and advanced to LV2.
Not only that, he was delighted to discover that while he had fallen asleep during a lecture, another Skill Shard had somehow appeared.
Skill Shard: 3/3 (Available)
"Acquire."
Overcome with excitement, Zhou Qing hurriedly fused them.
The Skill Shards instantly reset to zero, and Available changed to Unavailable.
Soon, a message appeared in his mind.
Talent Skill—Mind Mirror Vision: Can see other people's notes about the host in their hearts. At the current level, three people can be bound. As the level rises, the number of people that can be bound will increase accordingly. Changing a bound target's opinion of the host can earn varying amounts of Heart Insight Points.
Zhou Qing blinked. At last, he understood the new talent skill. It seemed quite interesting.
With a thought, the panel appeared.
Name: Zhou Qing Age: Nineteen Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivation Art: Taiqing Mysterious Qi Art Talent Skills: Mind Mirror Vision—LV1 (0/100), Reduce Presence—LV2 (1/100) Skill Shards: 0/3 (Unavailable)
It looked like he would have to start accumulating new Skill Shards all over again.
However, he soon noticed something unusual.
Above the head of a Core Disciple teaching on the platform ahead, three question marks had appeared at some point—???.
The other thousand or so Outer Sect disciples attending the lecture around him showed no changes.
"Since this new talent skill, Mind Mirror Vision, can see what others truly think of me, the first condition must naturally be that they know me. Here, only this teaching senior brother, who is also a Core Disciple, is somewhat familiar with me. The others have most likely never seen me before."
In an instant, Zhou Qing understood the skill a little better.
But at his current level, he could only bind three people, so he had to choose carefully.
Just then, someone lightly patted his back.
When he turned around and saw who it was, his expression immediately changed.
That grinning figure was none other than Lu Yaoyao.
However, she was dressed as a man today and, like him, wore the white robes of the Outer Sect.
"Senior Brother Zhou, you really made me search hard. I went over the place five whole times before I found you."
Lu Yaoyao grinned and sat down beside him.
Zhou Qing's cheek twitched. He hurriedly looked around and soon spotted Li Daoxuan standing at the entrance to the Lecture Hall, staring at him with an unfriendly expression.
Zhou Qing was utterly speechless. "No, miss, why do you keep looking for me?"
Lu Yaoyao said, "I didn't come here specifically to find you. I came to attend the lecture too, but I heard you were here, so I came over while I was at it."
Zhou Qing gave a dry laugh.
As if I'd believe that.
A Core Disciple wearing Outer Sect robes?
With a flower-protecting escort at her side?
She knew I was here, so she deliberately dressed like this, then came to make an enemy for me.
She might look young, but she was pretty good at playing the beauty trap.
Then, looking at the question marks above Lu Yaoyao's head, he thought, Let's see what the note in your heart about me actually is.
Am I your first target for revenge?
"Bind Lu Yaoyao!" Zhou Qing fixed his gaze on Lu Yaoyao and spoke inwardly.
The next moment, the question marks above Lu Yaoyao's head gradually turned into three golden words—So Cute!
Zhou Qing sharply sucked in a breath. In that instant, his mind buzzed.
No, what was this?
How had it become So Cute!? Shouldn't it be something like Enemy's Disciple or Play Him to Death?
Could it really be because he was handsome and dashing, and she had fallen for him at first sight?
There was simply no way to explain it. It was far too absurd.
"There's a problem. A huge problem!"
Zhou Qing furrowed his brows, feeling that this was not so simple.
Then he looked toward Li Daoxuan at the doorway. Gritting his teeth, he bound him as well.
He wanted to see whether the system had malfunctioned.
Very quickly, the question marks above Li Daoxuan's head became seven large golden words—Jealous Rival in Love.
There, that was normal.
Which meant—
Zhou Qing looked once more at the dazzling words So Cute! He found them utterly ridiculous, yet he felt far more relieved, even a little smug.
As long as she was not here to take revenge, it was fine. If she had truly come to settle scores as he had thought, who knew how many traps would be waiting for him in the future?
Who would have thought that in the Core Disciple circle, I was actually the prettiest boy around? He truly had not expected that.
Then, looking at Lu Yaoyao listening attentively to the lecture, he blinked and said, "Junior Sister Lu."
"What is it, Senior Brother Zhou?" Lu Yaoyao immediately turned her head.
Zhou Qing gave a light cough. "Actually, there's someone I like."
To his surprise, Lu Yaoyao's eyes immediately lit up. She quickly asked, "Really? Which peak is she from? Is she pretty? What's her name? Is she the green-haired girl you mentioned before?"
Lu Yaoyao asked impatiently.
Faced with Lu Yaoyao's excitement, Zhou Qing was even more confused.
Why did she look more excited than he was?
Was she not sad?
Not jealous?
After all, the handsome young man she secretly loved liked someone else. She had no chance now, and she might even have to become the second wife.
Zhou Qing hurriedly looked at the note above her head. The three words So Cute! were slowly fading away.
This made him secretly delighted. After all, he had said those words right in front of Lu Yaoyao precisely to change her opinion of him.
Only then could he earn Heart Insight Points.
Women really were born actresses. She looked casually curious in front of me, but it turns out she was already scared inside.
But very soon, the upward curve at the corner of Zhou Qing's lips froze.
Because So Cute! had directly changed into So Impressive!
Looking again at Lu Yaoyao's curious, questioning gaze, Zhou Qing's cheek twitched.
No, was there something wrong with her brain? How was this impressive?
Even a love-addled fool should not be like this.
At that moment, a story Zhou Qing had once heard surfaced in his mind.
A woman was abused by her husband. Everyone urged her to leave early, saying that man no longer loved her.
Yet she desperately shook her head and righteously retorted, "If he didn't love me, why does he only beat me and not other people?"
Look at that. You're exactly like that woman right now.
Heart Insight Points +3
Looking at the newly gained points, Zhou Qing finally felt a little better. Then he said, "That's right, she's the green-haired one. And she's very beautiful. I won't say her name, though, so I don't cause her trouble."
Lu Yaoyao pondered with a serious expression. "Strange. I had Eldest Brother specifically investigate every female disciple in the Taiqing Sect, but not one of them has green hair. There are two men who do, though..."
As she spoke, Lu Yaoyao looked at Zhou Qing suspiciously.
Zhou Qing hurriedly cut her off. Wasn't her muttering a little too loud?
"Let me make this clear in advance—I'm a real man!" Zhou Qing quickly said.
Lu Yaoyao immediately laughed. "Of course I know you're a real man. Fine, fine, like whoever you like. What young man hasn't had several beautiful confidantes in his reckless youth? I understand. But they're all just transitions. I can foresee that someday, you'll definitely like a beautiful silver-haired girl."
Zhou Qing looked at the thin layer of silver hair beneath her black hair and gave a dry laugh inwardly.
You really are unusually narcissistic and confident.
"Ah—"
Suddenly, an Outer Sect disciple beside them let out a sharp cry. Caught off guard, both Zhou Qing and Lu Yaoyao were badly startled.
"What are you doing?" Zhou Qing asked, clutching his pounding heart.
The man's eyes were filled with confusion. "No, I clearly remember there being no one beside me. When did you get here?"
Zhou Qing was about to say something when he remembered that his talent skill Reduce Presence could now make Qi Condensation disciples ignore him by ninety percent.
The Outer Sect disciple's shout drew the attention of everyone in the Lecture Hall. Even the Core Disciple teaching on the platform stopped and looked over in confusion.
Speechless, Zhou Qing could only cup his hands apologetically toward everyone.
In any case, his goal this time had been achieved. If he stayed any longer, the one by the door might start eating people.
Zhou Qing simply left.
Fortunately, Lu Yaoyao only opened her mouth and did not choose to follow him.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Li!" Zhou Qing bowed upon arriving beside Li Daoxuan.
Li Daoxuan's expression was very unpleasant. He merely gave a faint "Mm."
Looking at the seven golden words Jealous Rival in Love above Li Daoxuan's head, Zhou Qing somehow wanted to laugh.
What status did you have, and what status did I have? Why were you getting jealous over this?
It was too not worth it to hurt the brotherhood between them over a woman, even if they were not close.
But then again, although the two had not interacted much, Li Daoxuan was the Sect Master Martial Uncle's eldest disciple and the chief disciple of Divine Peak. His reputation had always been good.
He was also righteous and forthright. Eldest Brother had praised him more than once before.
After bowing, Zhou Qing could not think of how to change Li Daoxuan's opinion of him for the moment, so he left.
Just as he returned to Little Spirit Peak on his sword, a figure appeared behind him.
"You broke through to Foundation Establishment?" His master Mo Xingjian's voice suddenly rang out, startling Zhou Qing badly once again.
Master, I know you're powerful and able to appear and disappear like a ghost, but did you have to scare people this badly?
He could only bow. "This disciple is dull-witted. I only luckily broke through a few days ago."
Mo Xingjian stroked his beard, looking quite pleased. "Not bad, not bad. I heard that you've been running around the Lecture Halls of every peak recently. Then work hard. Don't let your Third Senior Brother lead you astray. Peeping at women bathing will eventually earn you criticism."
"Master, I really wasn't peeping that day. They just didn't see me..."
"Got it, got it. I'm only reminding you. Your master still has matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving first!"
Mo Xingjian waved his hand, directly cutting off Zhou Qing's explanation before leaving.
Zhou Qing was left utterly speechless. Looking at the question marks above his master's head, he truly wanted to see what sort of note he had in his master's heart.
But he already had someone in mind for the final slot. After all, this concerned his future opportunities to gain Heart Insight Points.
"Psst, psst, Fourth Brother, over here—"
Just as Zhou Qing was about to leave, Yan Xiaohu's furtive voice came from behind a rockery not far away.
Zhou Qing was puzzled and hurried over.
"Third Senior Brother, you're out of seclusion?"
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