Because there were no extra grass mats, Zhou Qing had to find a corner to sit and quietly wait.
Looking around, everyone was dressed in plain white robes.
It seemed that the lecture content this time by Senior Sister Shi Zhen was entirely related to Qi Condensation; otherwise, the Inner Sect and True Inheritors might have come as well.
Not long after, a woman in a sky-blue robe, with eyebrows like distant mountains and a cold expression, appeared at the front.
Everyone quickly stood up to salute.
Shi Zhen nodded and then sat down, getting straight to the point without any unnecessary words.
"Today, the topic will be the 'Cyan Wood Spirit Shield,' a defensive technique based on wood-attributed Spiritual Qi. It is a technique that must be learned by everyone from the core to the outer sect in Taiqing Sect. After all, you need to be alive to discuss anything else."
As Shi Zhen finished speaking, with a movement of her heart and spirit, a thick wood-attributed Spiritual Qi suddenly surged in from all directions, converging around her as if summoned.
In just the blink of an eye, a solid shield took shape, its surface distinct and full of a sense of sturdiness.
This scene left everyone in awe, as even if they were able to barely execute it, they would still need various mantras and seals.
It was nothing like Senior Sister Shi Zhen's performance, which was as easy as a single thought.
Zhou Qing was equally amazed. He couldn't manage to execute it so effortlessly and would need to create some distance between himself and a powerful enemy to buy time for casting.
Otherwise, it wouldn't even take shape before the enemy was upon him.
Shi Zhen dispersed the wood shield and began explaining, "Wooden Rhythm, Spiritual Breath Flow, Qi Piercing Heaven and Earth, Spiritual Guidance from All Directions. This mantra can actually be understood from a different perspective..."
Zhou Qing listened intently, as everyone had their own unique interpretation of the same technique.
[Ignore Points +1]
[Ignore Points +1]
......
In the following three days, Zhou Qing continuously attended the Preaching Halls of various peaks to accumulate points. Although it was slower, it added up over time.
And today, his talent skill [Lowering Presence] finally maxed out, advancing to LV2.
Not only that, he was pleasantly surprised to find that while he had fallen asleep during a lecture, another Skill Fragment had somehow appeared.
[Skill Fragments: 3/3 (can be obtained)]
"Acquire."
Excitedly, Zhou Qing quickly proceeded with the synthesis.
The Skill Fragments instantly reset to zero, and the status changed to "cannot be obtained."
Shortly, a piece of information appeared in his mind.
[Talent Skill—Heart Mirror Vision: Allows you to see others' notes about the host's true thoughts. At the current level, you can bind with three people.]
[As the level increases, the number of people that can be bound also increases accordingly.]
[Changing the bound person's perception of the host can earn different amounts of Heart Mirror Points.]
Zhou Qing blinked, finally understanding the new talent skill. It seemed quite amusing.
With another thought, the panel appeared.
[Name: Zhou Qing]
[Age: Nineteen]
[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Early Stage]
[Cultivation Technique: Taiqing Profound Qi Skills]
[Talent Skills: Heart Mirror Vision—LV1 (0/100),
Lowering Presence—LV2 (1/100)]
[Skill Fragments: 0/3 (cannot be obtained)]
It seemed he'd have to start collecting new Skill Fragments afresh.
However, he quickly noticed something peculiar.
The Core Senior Brother lecturing on the platform had three question marks— [???]—floating above his head.
Meanwhile, the thousand other outer sect disciples attending the lecture had no change.
"Since this new talent skill, Heart Mirror Vision, allows me to see others' real thoughts about me, the prerequisite is naturally to know them first. Only the Core Senior Brother lecturing and I have some acquaintance; it's likely that others haven't met me before."
Zhou Qing immediately had a partial understanding of the skill.
But at the current level, he could only bind three people, so he had to choose carefully.
Just then, someone tapped his back lightly.
He turned around to see who it was, and his face darkened.
Because the person smiling at him was none other than Lu Yaoyao.
Today, however, she was dressed as a man, wearing the same outer sect white robe as him.
"Senior Brother Zhou, it sure wasn't easy finding you. I scanned five times before finally spotting you."
Lu Yaoyao sat beside him, still smiling.
Forcing a smile, Zhou Qing quickly looked around and spotted Li Daoxuan at the Preaching Hall's entrance, staring at him with a hostile expression.
Zhou Qing felt exasperated: "Seriously, sis, why do you keep looking for me?"
Lu Yaoyao replied, "I'm not just here for you. I'm also here for the lecture. I heard you were here, so I decided to come over."
Zhou Qing sneered inwardly.
Do you think I believe that?
A core disciple, disguised in the outer sect's attire?
Accompanied by a Flower Guardian?
You knew I was here, so you specifically dressed up and dragged an enemy along.
Despite her young age, she skillfully applied the beauty trap.
He then looked at the question mark above Lu Yaoyao's head, intending to see what her real thoughts about him were.
Am I really your primary revenge target?
"Bind Lu Yaoyao!" Zhou Qing locked onto Lu Yaoyao, speaking internally.
The next moment, the question marks above her head gradually transformed into three golden words—[So adorable!]
Zhou Qing took a sharp breath, his mind buzzing as he struggled to comprehend.
No way, how could this be?
How did it turn into "so adorable"? Shouldn't it be "enemy's disciple" or "toy with him"?
Could it be that she was genuinely smitten with me at first sight?
It made no sense, far too absurd.
"Something's wrong, terribly wrong!"
Zhou Qing furrowed his brows deeply, feeling that things weren't that simple.
Then, he looked at Li Daoxuan at the entrance, gritted his teeth, and bound him too.
Let's see if there's a system error.
Soon, the question mark above Li Daoxuan's head turned into seven golden characters - [Rival Who Invokes Jealousy]
There, that's normal.
Which means -
Zhou Qing looked again at the dazzling words [So Cute] and felt it was so ridiculous, but more than that, he was relieved and even a bit smug.
As long as it's not an enemy seeking revenge, it's fine. If it was really the kind of vendetta he imagined, who knows how many traps would be waiting for him in the future.
Didn't expect to be the most dazzling guy in the core circle, truly unexpected.
Then he looked at Lu Yaoyao, who was listening attentively, and blinked, "Lu Shi-mei."
"What is it, Zhou Shi-xiong?" Lu Yaoyao immediately turned her head.
Zhou Qing cleared his throat and said, "Actually, I like someone."
Unexpectedly, Lu Yaoyao's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she hurriedly asked, "Really? From which peak? Is she pretty? What's her name? Is she the green-haired one you mentioned?"
Lu Yaoyao eagerly questioned.
Facing the somewhat excited Lu Yaoyao, Zhou Qing was even more confused.
Why do you seem more thrilled than I am?
Are you not sad?
Not jealous?
After all, the handsome boy you secretly adore likes someone else, you have no chance now, you might even end up as the second choice.
Zhou Qing quickly checked the note above his head. Originally the words [So Cute] were gradually fading.
This made him happy, after all, saying such things in front of Lu Yaoyao was to make her change her opinion of him.
Only then would he get Heart Mirror Points.
Women, truly born actresses, pretending to be nonchalantly curious in front of me, yet already feeling scared inside.
But soon, the smile that was forming on Zhou Qing's lips froze.
Because [So Cute] directly turned into [So Powerful].
Looking at Lu Yaoyao's curious gaze, Zhou Qing's face twitched.
Seriously, are you out of your mind, how is this powerful?
Even being lovestruck isn't like this.
At this moment, a story Zhou Qing once heard surfaced in his mind.
A woman was being domestically abused, and everyone advised her to leave early, saying that man no longer loves her.
But she stubbornly shook her head and retorted confidently, "If he doesn't love me, why does he only hit me and not others?"
Look, you are just like that woman now.
[Heart Mirror Points +3]
Seeing the newly appearing points, Zhou Qing felt slightly relieved and then said, "Yes, the green hair one, and she is very beautiful, I won't mention the name to avoid troubling her."
Lu Yaoyao thought seriously for a moment: "Strange, I had the Senior Brother specially investigate all the female disciples of Taiqing Sect, and there's no one with green hair, but there are two males..."
Lu Yaoyao was saying as she suspiciously looked at Zhou Qing.
Zhou Qing quickly stopped her, your self-talk is a bit too loud.
"I declare here and now, I am a real man!" Zhou Qing hurriedly said.
Lu Yaoyao immediately laughed: "Of course I know you are a real man, never mind, never mind, just like if you like her. Which boy in their youthful arrogance doesn't have a few confidants? It's understandable. But they are all temporary. I can foresee, you will surely like a beautiful silver-haired girl in the future."
Zhou Qing looked at the thin layer of silver hair beneath her black hair and felt amused.
You really are not just generally narcissistic and confident, are you?
"Ah——"
Suddenly, an outer disciple beside them shouted, startling both Zhou Qing and Lu Yaoyao.
"What are you doing!" Zhou Qing held his wildly beating heart and said.
The man was full of confusion, "No, I clearly remember nobody was beside me, when did you come?"
Zhou Qing just wanted to say something when he remembered his current Talent Skill [Lowering Presence], which could now reach 90% disregarded by Qi Condensation disciples.
And the shout of this outer disciple had also drawn the attention of everyone in the [Preaching Hall], even the Core Disciple giving the lecture on the platform stopped and looked over in confusion.
Feeling helpless, Zhou Qing could only apologize to everyone with a bow.
Anyway, the task was already completed, staying any longer, the person at the door might start eating people.
Zhou Qing simply left immediately.
Fortunately, Lu Yaoyao just opened her mouth and didn't choose to follow.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Li!" Zhou Qing greeted Li Daoxuan politely when he arrived by his side.
Li Daoxuan didn't look happy and just responded lightly, "Hmm."
Looking at the seven golden characters [Rival Who Invokes Jealousy] above Li Daoxuan's head, Zhou Qing couldn't help but want to laugh.
Seriously, considering our statuses, why are you jealous?
Because of a woman, damaging our brotherly bond, it's not worth it, even though we are not that close.
But then again, although they didn't interact much, as the Master's eldest disciple and the chief of Divine Peak, Li's reputation was always good.
He was also loyal and righteous, and Zhou's Senior Brother had praised him many times.
Having greeted, Zhou Qing couldn't think of how to change his opinion, so he left.
Just after returning to Little Spirit Peak by sword control, a figure appeared behind him.
"You broke through Foundation Establishment?" His master Mo Xingjian's voice suddenly sounded, giving Zhou Qing another scare.
Master, I know you're powerful and can appear and disappear unpredictably, but you don't need to scare me like this.
He had to bow, "This disciple was lucky to break through a few days ago."
Mo Xingjian stroked his beard with satisfaction, "Not bad, not bad. I heard you've been running around the various [Preaching Halls] recently. Keep up the good work and don't get led astray by your Third Senior Brother. Peeking at girls bathing will eventually be condemned."
"Master, that day I wasn't really peeking, it's just that they didn't see me..."
"Got it, got it, just reminding you. I still have things to do, I'll be leaving!"
Mo Xingjian waved his hand, directly interrupting Zhou Qing's explanation, and left.
This left Zhou Qing speechless. Looking at the question mark above his master's head, he really wanted to see what his note said.
But the last slot was already reserved for someone, considering that this was related to his future opportunity to get Heart Mirror Points.
"Psst, hey, Si-er, over here—"
Just as Zhou Qing was about to leave, a sneaky voice of Yan Xiaohu came from behind a fake mountain not far away.
Zhou Qing was puzzled and quickly went over.
"Third Senior Brother, you're out of seclusion?"