As the Supreme Elder left, everyone finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
After all, the pressure this elder gave them was too immense.
Didn't you hear earlier? Even our Taiqing Sect Leader was called "Little Cao" by her.
However, at this moment, they were more concerned about who had caught the other two Ice Soul Ghost Scale Fish?
Everyone looked at each other, feeling suspicious of everyone else.
"Let's go, let's go, we need to leave now!" Yan Xiaohu wiped the cold sweat off his head and turned to leave.
This matter had long become an indelible shadow in his heart. What if the other party turned back...
Zhou Qing naturally agreed.
He didn't dare stay any longer either, as Lu Yaoyao was currently holding that Ice Soul Ghost Scale Fish and looking at him.
In front of so many people, if she gave the fish to me, can you imagine the consequences?
The two of them turned and started walking away, even speeding up to a small run at the end.
Watching the two leave abruptly, the core disciples all laughed simultaneously.
After all, the Supreme Elder was someone they had once spied on while she was bathing.
It has to be said, disregarding her elder status, these two sure have a peculiar taste.
Under the night sky, when they finally reached the foot of Little Spirit Peak, they started panting heavily and lay down on the ground.
"Scared me to death!" Yan Xiaohu patted his clothes, realizing at some point they had become drenched.
Zhou Qing also felt parched, but they finally managed to evade that disaster.
After catching his breath, he quickly got up, ensured no one was around, and sneakily took out the fish basket.
"Third Senior Brother, one fish each!" Zhou Qing pointed to the fish.
Yan Xiaohu glanced casually, quickly climbing up in shock, his face full of disbelief.
"Damn, how did you do it?"
Under the moonlight, he carefully looked.
No mistake, it's indeed an Ice Soul Ghost Scale Fish, identical to the one Lu Yaoyao was holding.
Zhou Qing scratched his head and said, must be a stroke of luck.
Who would have thought, the secluded spot despised by everyone would actually let him catch one?
But only he knew in his heart, this might have something to do with his talent skill. After all, the "Lowering Presence" made the Ice Soul Ghost Scale Fish ignore him on the shore, and upon seeing the delicious bait, everything made sense.
Yan Xiaohu looked at Zhou Qing, opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. He finally extended his thumb.
"Amazing, truly amazing. And you even thought of your senior brother at this moment. I haven't doted on you all these years for nothing. But I don't need the fish, you need it more now. However, these two Reverse Scales on them are important to me, if you don't mind..."
Yan Xiaohu rubbed his hands excitedly.
Zhou Qing naturally didn't mind.
"Good, good, really good, here, take it!"
Yan Xiaohu carefully plucked it off, then took out a jug of wine.
"Using this wine to make fish soup can maximize the value of the Ice Soul Ghost Scale Fish. Good luck!"
After Yan Xiaohu said this and gave a few more important tips, he left excitedly.
Zhou Qing also returned to his place and immediately started making the soup.
At midnight, looking at the big bowl of snowy white fish meat in front of him, with the aroma of wine wafting, he couldn't help but swallow.
Soon after, he started devouring it.
When the last mouthful of soup went down his throat, he shivered, his whole body emanating cold air, and a vast amount of spiritual qi surged and collided in his meridians.
With a surprised expression, he quickly began operating the 'Taiqing Profound Qi Skills' and started circulating the qi rapidly.
Until dawn, Zhou Qing, who was sitting cross-legged, looked even more flushed. An immense power was continuously expanding inside him.
"I really underestimated this Ice Soul Ghost Scale Fish. After strengthening the foundation and nourishing the essence, there's still so much spiritual power left. Since that's the case, I might as well try!"
Zhou Qing's hands moved quickly, sealing, while the domineering power within him surged like a flood, rushing through his entire body.
Zhou Qing endured the intense pain, guiding the power bit by bit to his dantian, where the previously misty vortex of spiritual qi began to spin rapidly, absorbing the surging power.
"There's hope!"
Seeing this, Zhou Qing was elated. Perhaps this time, he might really take a step into Foundation Establishment.
At this moment, the vortex of spiritual qi spun faster and faster, gradually forming a stable and strong whirlpool of spiritual power.
As time passed, at the center of the whirlpool, a brilliant spirit core slowly condensed.
With the appearance of his Foundation Establishment spirit core, an overwhelming and indescribable spiritual power spread out suddenly, so powerful that even the surrounding air shook.
At this moment, Zhou Qing's eyes suddenly opened.
A green glow burst from his eyes, and with a thought, everything within a hundred feet reflected in his mind.
Spiritual sea, the standard for Foundation Establishment Realm.
Spirit core, the power source of Foundation Establishment Realm.
"Foundation Establishment initial stage..." Zhou Qing slowly spoke, feeling the power inside his body, an excited glow appearing on his face.
Starting today, his lifespan would extend to two hundred years, and he could perform long-duration sword flight.
Then, he opened his personal panel.
[Name: Zhou Qing]
[Age: Nineteen]
[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment initial stage]
[Cultivation Technique: Taiqing Profound Qi Skills]
[Talent Skill: Lowering Presence]
[Level: LV1 (87/100)]
[Skill Fragments: 2/3 (Unobtainable)]
The talent skill [Lowering Presence] goes without saying. Without it, he wouldn't have consecutively caught two Ice Soul Ghost Scale Fish, let alone break into the Foundation Establishment Realm in one night.
"According to the previous hints, reaching one hundred percent, a Qi Condensation disciple will have a 90% probability of completely ignoring me. Now, although it's not maxed out, it's not far off. With cultivation now at the Foundation Establishment initial stage, I need to level up to LV2 as soon as possible."
Zhou Qing muttered to himself. Upon reaching LV2, based on different progress stages, there will be varying probabilities of being ignored by the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Then, Zhou Qing took out a booklet, glanced at the date, and his eyes quickly lit up.
"Today is the day Senior Sister Shi Zhen of Yuqing Peak is giving a lecture to us. There should be many people coming to listen, it's a perfect opportunity!"
Zhou Qing quickly got up and specifically changed into the white robe of an outer sect disciple.
No other way, on Little Spirit Peak, only his brothers and he are core disciples, no matter what clothes you change into, everyone will recognize you.
Only going to other peaks provides a chance to go unnoticed.
Blending in among a group of outer sect disciples to listen to lectures, if no one notices for a long time, it can generate ignore points, though not as much as in tense and exciting situations, and it's quite time-consuming.
The good thing is it's not far off now, and the probability of being ignored by Qi Condensation disciples has greatly increased. There's still hope.
After changing clothes, Zhou Qing headed straight to Yuqing Peak.
...
The distance between Yuqing Peak and Little Spirit Peak is not far, they are neighbors.
Especially now that Zhou Qing has broken into the Foundation Establishment Realm and can perform sword flight, this distance is nothing.
Despite this, when he arrived and registered at the Preaching Hall, there were no empty seats left.
It's known that the large Preaching Hall can accommodate at least a thousand people, and it was still quite early.
Sure enough, being a core disciple, and a beautiful one at that, naturally has its advantages over them.
"Stop looking, the quota is full, come earlier next time!"
Zhou Qing was looking around when two inner sect disciples, originally guarding the gate, wearing yellow robes, came over and directly urged Zhou Qing to leave.
In Taiqing Sect's Thirteen Peaks, disciples are divided into outer sect, inner sect, true inheritors, and core disciples.
Their robes are the main identity markers: outer sect in white, inner sect in yellow, true inheritors in purple, and core disciples can wear whatever.
To lower his presence, Zhou Qing specifically put on a white robe, and indeed was mistaken for an outer sect disciple.
He looked back and saw many people behind him who hadn't arrived in time, looking regretful.
He quietly took out his identity token and waved it.
The two inner sect disciples' faces immediately changed upon seeing it, preparing to salute, but Zhou Qing quickly stopped them.
"It's okay, it's okay, I'm just here to see Senior Sister Shi Zhen, you guys carry on!"
After Zhou Qing spoke, he cleared his throat and went in.
The two inner sect disciples from Yuqing Peak looked at each other, wondering which peak's core disciple he was from.
Even if core disciples can wear whatever they like, they can't just wear an outer sect robe and come, this would tempt us to offend you.
"Two Senior Brothers, what's the situation? Wasn't the quota full? Why could he enter?"
"Yes, yes, I clearly came before him, this is unfair!"
"We all saw it, please be fair, Senior Brothers!"
...
Seeing Zhou Qing go in, many outer sect disciples outside immediately complained.
One of the inner sect disciples in yellow, too tired to explain, furrowed his brows, and a pressure belonging to the Foundation Establishment Realm enveloped them.
"Get lost!!!"
...