Chapter 15: Breakthrough, Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage!

Facing Zhou Qing's question, Mo Xingjian turned around, his expression solemn as he said, "It is a secret, a supreme secret concerning our Taiqingmen. Let me put it this way: it was precisely because that place was discovered that the Taiqingmen of today exists."

Upon hearing this, the two were even more shocked.

In other words, Taiqingmen was established on the foundation of that place and had relied on it to grow and prosper to this day.

So those things didn't belong to Taiqingmen; no wonder such a figure could be trapped until now.

Zhou Qing suddenly understood.

Mo Xingjian continued, "The Grand Elder's breakthrough in cultivation this time was an attempt to see if anything could be retrieved from within. Fortunately, you didn't go in. Of course, you couldn't have gone in anyway; otherwise, even if they didn't silence you, they would have had to erase the relevant memories."

Zhou Qing felt a sudden jolt in his heart.

Fortunately, after repeated deliberation, he had concealed some of the circumstances.

He had only reported to the Grand Elders that after the broken bowl shouted "Second Grandpa," it had crawled out through the tunnel, without mentioning that the other party would remain in Taiqingmen for a while longer.

If everyone searched with all their might and later discovered that he was the one who brought it out, what would he do?

Moreover, the other party had said it would "stay for a while longer," which meant it would leave before long.

In any case, he had already experienced all the secrets the sect had to offer, and he had nearly become the Sect Master of Taiqingmen back then, so it shouldn't be coveting anything else.

"By the way, regarding the Cave Heaven, remember not to spread it around. Not to mention within the sect, there are no shortage of people outside who covet it. If they hear anything, it will be a great disaster for you!" Mo Xingjian warned solemnly once more.

Zhou Qing nodded repeatedly.

Yan Xiao muttered in a low voice, "You talked for so long, but you didn't make it clear what secrets are actually inside the Cave Heaven. I've just added a danger to myself for no reason."

Mo Xingjian couldn't be bothered to say more to him, then rose and left, instructing Zhou Qing to get some good rest.

After both had left, Zhou Qing first took out the supreme-grade water-attribute spirit stone to examine it, unable to put it down.

"I'd better wait until tomorrow to soak in the No. 3 Flame Spirit Blood Pool before absorbing it; the effect will be even better that way!"

After putting away the spirit stone, he took out the secret technique "Silver Dragon Hand" rewarded by the Grand Elder and began to read it carefully.

Early the next morning, Zhou Qing headed toward Shenyue Peak alone. He had originally wanted to ask his Third Senior Brother to accompany him, but that guy refused point-blank.

"Zhou Shixiong!"

Just as he reached the mountain, a beautiful figure ran over. Who else could it be but Lu Yaoyao?

Seeing Li Daoxuan also walking over from not far away, with a face that looked as if someone owed him money, Zhou Qing felt another headache.

"Were you two waiting for me here on purpose?" Zhou Qing asked after bowing to Li Daoxuan.

Lu Yaoyao nodded and then said with a smile, "I wanted to congratulate you on winning first place yesterday, but the Grand Elders kept pulling you aside to ask questions, and I couldn't find a suitable opportunity."

Zhou Qing said, "Thank you."

【Heart-Mirror Point +4】

Soon, the original 【So Kind and Loving】 note above the smiling Lu Yaoyao's head changed to 【So Amazing】 in the blink of an eye.

Zhou Qing sighed softly. You only have these few adjectives to rotate through, don't you?

At this moment, Li Daoxuan also stepped forward, his face stiff as he said, "I heard that in the gravity zone this time, you gave your Yang Fire Talisman to the Junior Shimei, causing yourself to fall into a dangerous situation. Thank you!"

After Li Daoxuan finished speaking, he bowed directly.

Zhou Qing was flattered.

"Li Shixiong, you are too kind to this Shidi. The Junior Shimei is new here, so as her Shixiong, it is only right that we help where we can!" Zhou Qing said hurriedly.

Li Daoxuan stood up, his heart full of gratitude.

【Heart-Mirror Point +5】

Soon, under Zhou Qing's gaze, the original 【A bit of a worldly-wise lecher】 above the other party's head quickly changed to 【Starting to look like a pleasing lecher】.

Zhou Qing opened his mouth, swallowing the insults that were on the tip of his tongue.

He then took a step back and said, "Alright then, the Grand Elders are waiting for me, so I shall take my leave."

After saying this, he hurried away.

Afterward, he familiarly arrived at a place in the back mountain. This was where several reclusive Grand Elders lived, and the Flame Spirit Blood Pool was located inside one of the peaks.

"You've arrived?"

Just as Zhou Qing was looking around, a voice came from behind him without warning.

Zhou Qing was startled and hurriedly turned around to bow, saying, "Greetings, Grand Elder."

The old woman nodded slightly, said nothing more, and led Zhou Qing straight toward the No. 3 pool.

Not long after, he saw what the real Flame Spirit Blood Pool was like.

The entire pool radiated an eerie and scorching light, and the liquid in the pool appeared a strange, dark red, as if refined from endless flames.

The air was filled with a refreshing medicinal fragrance.

One had to know that this was merely a diluted sub-pool; one could imagine how powerful the medicinal strength of the main pool must be.

"Alright, this is the No. 3 Blood Pool. You did very well this time. The original reward was for one day, but I will extend it by half a day for you. By the way, this is my old self's insights on practicing the 'Silver Dragon Hand' from back in the day; you can refer to it as well!"

After the old woman finished speaking, she handed over a manual.

Zhou Qing was incredibly excited.

"Thank you, Grand Elder!"

After the old woman nodded, she left.

Zhou Qing hurriedly put away the manual, and after confirming there was no one else around, he took off his clothes and slowly stepped into the Flame Spirit Blood Pool.

As soon as he touched the boiling liquid, he felt a violent wave of heat rush through his pores and into his body.

Zhou Qing couldn't help but hiss, but fortunately, it was still within his tolerance. Gritting his teeth against the excruciating pain that threatened to burn him, he slowly submerged his entire body into the blood pool.

As he submerged, the spiritual energy in the blood pool surged toward him like a raging torrent.

The liquid was filled with intense fire essence, scorching and domineering.

Zhou Qing hurriedly circulated the "Taiqing Xuanqi Jue," guiding this medicinal power to circulate within his body. To neutralize the pain, he even took out the supreme-grade water-attribute spirit stone and held it in his hand, beginning to absorb it.

Time passed slowly. Zhou Qing, who had originally kept his eyes tightly shut with veins bulging on his forehead, seemed to gradually adapt to the pain, and a look of enjoyment even appeared on his face.

"Truly good stuff!"

Zhou Qing could clearly feel every wisp of medicinal power flowing through his meridians, like countless tiny, scorching knives scraping against the inner walls of his meridians. Although it was incredibly painful, his meridians were becoming increasingly tough and wide under this stimulation.

Even the Foundation Establishment spirit core within his dantian was growing stronger. Furthermore, a faint red light gradually covered the surface of his physical body, as if he were a divine weapon forged in flames, radiating a powerful aura.

A night passed quickly. Suddenly, a burst of intense light erupted from Zhou Qing's dantian.

The spirit core, which had originally been the size of a pigeon egg, began to expand slowly. It was like a greedy child, desperately absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy.

The surface of the spirit core flashed with dazzling firelight, and each streak of firelight was like a nimble fire snake, winding and slithering over the spirit core.

Zhou Qing was ecstatic, increasing the speed at which he absorbed the supreme-grade spirit stone, and the liquid in the blood pool began to swirl crazily around him.

The surrounding spiritual energy seemed to be under some kind of massive pull, forming a huge vortex of spiritual power that poured continuously into Zhou Qing's dantian.

Not long after, the spirit core finally stopped growing and rested steadily in the dantian, having more than doubled in size compared to before.

As Zhou Qing slowly opened his eyes, two balls of flame seemed to be burning fiercely within them.

"Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 16 =====