Ever since Yan Xiaohu had taken those two Reverse Scales from the Ice Soul Dark Scale Fish, he had remained in seclusion, and no one knew what he was tinkering with.
Faced with Zhou Qing's question, Yan Xiaohu looked somewhat bedraggled. He craned his neck and peeked around as he asked, "Did Old Mo scold me again?"
Zhou Qing: "..."
The moment he saw Zhou Qing's expression, Yan Xiaohu understood.
That Old Mo was always using him as a negative example for teaching.
It was also because he had failed to live up to expectations. His attempt at refining that thing had failed again this time, and he had been laughed at mercilessly.
But—
Yan Xiaohu quickly looked Zhou Qing up and down, his face filling with surprise.
"No, were the energies of two Ice Soul Dark Scale Fish really that powerful? They directly blasted you into the Foundation Establishment Realm?"
Zhou Qing had no idea how to explain the jade pillar Spirit Hidden Worm to him. Two measly fish could not possibly help him leap three stages in a row.
But before Zhou Qing could speak, Yan Xiaohu slapped his forehead.
"Damn it, I nearly forgot the important matter. Eldest Brother asked me to bring some things in for him!"
As Yan Xiaohu spoke, he turned to leave.
Zhou Qing's eyes immediately lit up. "Eldest Brother is coming out of seclusion?"
Yan Xiaohu shook his head. "Still far too early. Heaven knows how long he'll need this time."
"Alright. Then, is there any news about Second Senior Sister lately?" Zhou Qing asked again.
Ever since he had transmigrated into this world and fortunately entered the Taiqing Sect, Second Senior Sister Luo Lingling had truly cared for him as though he were her own little brother.
Yet two years ago, she had suddenly said she needed to go out to handle some private business, and she had yet to return.
He wondered how she was doing now.
Yan Xiaohu shook his head again. "No, but don't worry. Second Senior Sister is insanely strong. Even Eldest Brother is sometimes wary of her. With her cautious personality, probably no one can hurt her."
Zhou Qing very much agreed with that.
When it came to playing the sixth man in the shadows, the three martial brothers combined probably could not match Second Senior Sister's scheming mind.
Then, looking at the question mark above Third Senior Brother's head, he immediately bound it.
If he wanted to farm Heart Insight Points more effectively, Third Senior Brother was undoubtedly the best choice. When there was nothing going on, the two of them often spent time together.
Very soon, seven large golden words slowly appeared above Yan Xiaohu's head as he hurriedly turned and left—A Good Junior Brother for Life.
Zhou Qing suddenly smiled at the sight.
"You're also my good senior brother for life!"
After returning to his residence, Zhou Qing began planning what to do next.
That was to continue farming Ignorance Points and Heart Insight Points. It would be even better if the two could complement each other.
He then took out the handbook and flipped through it. For the next month, none of the peaks would have Core Disciples teaching.
If he wanted more Ignorance Points, he would have to find a way himself.
Unless—
Zhou Qing's eyes immediately brightened.
He must not forget that he was also a Core Disciple and had the qualifications to teach.
He still remembered that his last lecture had been three years ago. Back then, he was only at the fifth level of Qi Condensation, so no one had come to listen. After all, some Outer Sect disciples had cultivations higher than his.
He had been afraid that his shallow knowledge would lead them all into a ditch.
"What if I borrowed Third Senior Brother's name?" Zhou Qing chuckled, immediately forming an idea.
But first, he still needed to give Third Senior Brother a heads-up.
The next day, upon hearing the news, Yan Xiaohu patted Zhou Qing's shoulder and said with some pity, "What's the big deal? I just need to show my face then. Besides, you're already in the Foundation Establishment Realm. You've long had your own understanding of cultivation. It's just teaching a class—easy as lifting a hand."
Only after hearing Third Senior Brother say this did Zhou Qing gain a little confidence.
When word spread that Core Disciple Yan Xiaohu would be teaching in the Lecture Hall two days later, the Outer Sect disciples of Little Spirit Peak immediately erupted into excitement.
Some people even came to line up that very day, afraid they would be late.
There was no helping it. Little Spirit Peak had only four Core Disciples in total. One remained in seclusion year-round, one often went out, and the youngest one understood absolutely nothing.
Only Yan Xiaohu's strength was considered decent. Thus, after finally catching such an opportunity, everyone came swarming in like a tide.
Zhou Qing could only smile bitterly at the sight.
In the end, his own strength was still too weak. He simply did not inspire confidence.
However, because so many disciples had come this time, with even Inner Sect disciples and True Transmission Disciples arriving to join the fun, an ordinary Lecture Hall could not accommodate them at all.
Therefore, at Zhou Qing's suggestion, the location of this lecture was changed to Blue Stone Plaza.
"Are you sure you can keep them under control? You really don't need my help?" Yan Xiaohu asked worriedly.
After all, when Little Junior Brother had taught several years ago, only a little over two hundred people had come. By the time it ended, only around thirty remained at the venue.
The scene had been as awkward as it could possibly be. Fortunately, Little Junior Brother's temperament had been fairly good, and he had stubbornly endured the pressure in his heart and finished the lecture.
Zhou Qing let out a long breath and said, "Don't worry, Senior Brother. I have faith in myself."
Yan Xiaohu could not help feeling gratified when he saw Zhou Qing's determined gaze.
Heart Insight Points +6
"Hm?"
Hearing the notification, Zhou Qing looked doubtfully toward Third Senior Brother beside him.
Sure enough, the note above his head, which had originally read A Good Junior Brother for Life, changed almost in the blink of an eye to Strong Little Junior Brother.
For a moment, Zhou Qing did not know what to say. What was so strong about this? He merely wanted to use this to farm some points.
Heart Insight Points +7
Before Zhou Qing could tease him about anything, the notification sounded again.
He hurriedly looked over. The note above Third Senior Brother's head had not changed further.
What did that mean?
Was it Lu Yaoyao or Eldest Brother Li Daoxuan?
Heart Insight Points +9
The next moment, the notification rang again, directly leaving Zhou Qing dumbfounded.
What were those two thinking?
Why had they suddenly formed some opinion of him for no reason?
"Why do you keep staring at the top of my head? Have I been losing hair lately?"
Seeing Zhou Qing look at the top of his head three times in a row, Yan Xiaohu was startled. He hurriedly reached up to touch it, then lowered his head for Zhou Qing to inspect.
Zhou Qing realized there had been a misunderstanding and hastily said, "No, no. It's just that I never noticed before—Senior Brother, your head is quite round."
"You gave me a scare. But there's something wrong with what you said. My face is round, so of course my head is round. Find me someone with a round face and a flat head, then."
After Yan Xiaohu finished speaking, the two of them involuntarily imagined it at the same time. Then they looked at each other and immediately burst into helpless laughter.
When the time for the lecture arrived, Yan Xiaohu began teaching before nearly three thousand Outer Sect disciples in the plaza.
Yet not long after, he suddenly clutched his stomach, looking as though he were in great discomfort.
With an apologetic expression, he asked Zhou Qing to come up and lecture in his place for a while, then hurriedly departed.
Everyone watched Yan Xiaohu leave with eager eyes and could only stretch their necks in anticipation as they waited. As for Zhou Qing on the platform, they merely listened perfunctorily.
For some reason, as they listened, everyone gradually ignored Zhou Qing's endless stream of words. Instead, they began chatting among themselves, and some even started snoring soundly right there.
Watching more and more people ignore him, Zhou Qing could not help curling his lips into a smile.
It worked!
Thus, he gradually slowed the pace of his lecture.
Ignorance Points +1 Ignorance Points +1 Ignorance Points +1 Skill Shard +1
As time slowly passed, some people seemed unable to wait for Yan Xiaohu any longer. They completely ignored the inconspicuous Zhou Qing and simply chose to leave.
Zhou Qing did not stop them. Instead, seeing new Skill Shards being farmed, he could not help feeling excited.
As though sensing something, he immediately sat upright and looked around. He soon saw Lu Yaoyao and Li Daoxuan standing at the edge of the plaza at some unknown point, watching him with complicated expressions.
And the So Impressive above Lu Yaoyao's head had somehow changed back to So Cute!
Meanwhile, the Jealous Rival in Love above Li Daoxuan's head had become Perverted Ruffian Who Likes Peeping at Baths.
Oh, so that was why sixteen Heart Insight Points had suddenly appeared yesterday.
No, there was just one thing he did not understand. Senior Brother Li, why was every note you gave him so long?
Were they never going to get past the peeping-at-baths matter?
Heart Insight Points +5
Seemingly noticing Zhou Qing's gaze, Lu Yaoyao forced a smile and made a cheering gesture.
But the So Cute! above her head changed into So Heartbreaking at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Heart Insight Points +6
Zhou Qing immediately looked toward Li Daoxuan. The note above his head had not changed. Looking around, Zhou Qing quickly spotted Third Senior Brother in the corner.
The note above his head had changed to Sorrowful Little Junior Brother.
At that very moment, Yan Xiaohu looked at Zhou Qing's lost and helpless appearance on the platform, his heart aching terribly.
So many people simply did not take Little Junior Brother seriously at all.
They could at least put on an act. Why was every one of them behaving as though they could not see him? At the very least, they should respect the status of a Core Disciple.
What, was someone with low cultivation unworthy of imparting the Dao to them?
Would he lead them astray?
How heartbroken must Little Junior Brother be right now?
Seeing more and more people leave, Zhou Qing let out a long sigh and could only wave toward Third Senior Brother in the distance.
After all, with Lu Yaoyao and Li Daoxuan watching him now, he could no longer farm Ignorance Points.
Besides, according to the original plan, Third Senior Brother was supposed to take the platform and continue teaching once the timing was about right. He could not truly be selfish for his own sake and ruin Third Senior Brother's reputation and prestige.
Seeing this, Yan Xiaohu could only leap onto the platform. Everyone's eyes immediately lit up, and they grew wildly excited.
The many Outer Sect disciples who had originally intended to leave also immediately sat back down upon hearing Yan Xiaohu's voice, listening joyfully to his lecture...
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