Chapter 16: Five Sects Exchange Fair

Feeling the vast power within his body, Zhou Qing was overjoyed.

With half a day remaining, he hurried to consolidate his gains.

But barely had he settled when the liquid in the blood pool began to drop at a visibly rapid rate.

Zhou Qing froze, still stunned, when the entire cave shook violently.

At the same time, a profound pressure, deep as an abyss, crashed down like a celestial curtain.

“Damned thief, where are you running to!” The Supreme Elder’s roar rolled like thunder, and in an instant, piercing sword qi tore through the void.

As Zhou Qing frantically pulled on his clothes and bolted from the cave, he saw a brilliant golden light in the sky coalescing into a massive seal, as if capable of suppressing all ancient heavens, plummeting with apocalyptic force.

High above, several Supreme Elders moved like ghosts, darting and dueling their foes.

“Could an ultimate enemy have breached the sect?” Zhou Qing’s heart leapt; he hastily retreated into the cave and cautiously poked his head out, terrified of being caught in the epic battle.

The mountains ahead roared with deafening booms, while brilliant spherical lightning flashed like divine wrath in the sky.

A dazzling star map spilled like an inverted galaxy, countless starlight beams shooting forth like swords.

Repeated afterimages wove together into intricate runes, then forming a complex and mysterious array, from which surged endless killing energy.

Golden Dao lotuses, purple gourds—these magical treasures cast radiant, wondrous scenes across heaven and earth, leaving Zhou Qing dumbfounded.

“I just absorbed some medicinal power—why are you all so stingy? Hmph, if I can’t fight you, I can at least run away! I’m out!”

A voice drifted faintly through the air, and soon the sounds of battle faded into the distance.

Zhou Qing’s face turned instantly pale as he muttered: “Second Uncle!”

…………

At the foot of Shenyue Peak, Zhou Qing paced anxiously, his heart unsettled.

After a while, a beam of light descended from the sky.

“Master, what’s the situation?” Zhou Qing asked, voice tinged with guilt.

Mo Xingjian said: “The thief acted swiftly and clearly knew Taiqingmen well—he must have scouted ahead. Now all peaks are conducting full-scale searches.”

Hearing this, Zhou Qing quietly exhaled in relief.

“Did you get a clear look at his face?” Zhou Qing asked next.

Mo Xingjian eyed him suspiciously: “Why do you seem more concerned than we are?”

Zhou Qing’s heart jolted, then he declared with righteous fury: “That vile thief drained all the medicinal fluid meant for me! How could I not be furious? That was the chance I risked my life for!”

Mo Xingjian, upon hearing this, nodded in understanding.

“According to the Supreme Elders, the thief wore black robes—he came prepared. Enough of this. Return to your quarters and don’t wander off with Lao San. A full-scale search is coming!” Mo Xingjian warned.

Zhou Qing quietly exhaled again, then nodded.

Watching his master’s retreating figure, he scratched his head.

“Even if they find out it was Second Uncle, what does it matter? Everyone already knows he’s still alive—whether he left or not has nothing to do with me. If he’s caught and implicates me, I’ll say I knew nothing—I was completely confused at the time, never saw any Jipin spirit stones, not even a glimpse!”

Soon, Zhou Qing devised his strategy: deny everything, no matter what.

When he returned to Xiao Ling Peak, he activated his panel with a thought.

【Name: Zhou Qing】

【Age: Nineteen】

【Cultivation Base: Foundation Establishment Mid-stage】

【Cultivation Technique: Taiqing Xuanyi Jue】

【Talent Skill: Heart Mirror Vision—LV1 (64/100),】

【Reduced Presence—LV2 (51/100)】

【Skill Fragments: 1/3 (Unobtainable)】

Seeing both talent skills past halfway, Zhou Qing felt elated.

Now, at Foundation Establishment, he had a fifty percent chance of being overlooked; once Heart Mirror Vision reached Level Two, he could bind more people—he should start scouting candidates early.

With nothing else to do, Zhou Qing took out the Supreme Elder’s notes on the Silver Dragon Hand and began studying them.

In the following days, every peak was turned upside down, chaos everywhere—but nothing was found.

The final conclusion: the thief had likely escaped the sect—or concealed himself with some advanced secret technique, considering even several Supreme Elders had missed him.

The sect issued orders: all disciples must remain vigilant and never grow careless.

If any suspicious individuals are spotted, report immediately.

If verified, capturing the thief would yield rewards equal to the Yanling Blood Pool Zhou Qing had used.

Upon hearing this, the disciples erupted in excitement, eyes gleaming, eyeing everyone around them as if each might be a thief worth turning in.

【Heart Mirror Points +3】

As Zhou Qing practiced the Silver Dragon Hand, a sudden alert chimed, followed by Yan Xiao’s voice outside.

“Fourth Brother, you in?”

Zhou Qing smiled faintly, then rose and opened the courtyard gate.

Sure enough, Yan Xiao’s original note above his head—【Sad Little Junior Brother】—had changed to 【Unlucky Little Junior Brother】.

Zhou Qing was speechless. Brother, it’s been ten days—why are you only now feeling sorry for me? Is your empathy that slow?

“Third Brother, what’s up?” Zhou Qing asked.

Yan Xiao sized him up, noting his healthy complexion, then sighed in relief.

“Why didn’t you tell me the thief stole your opportunity?” Yan Xiao looked genuinely pained.

No one listened during lessons, you barely survived the cave realm, barely earned one chance—and someone stole it.

Isn’t that infuriating?

【Heart Mirror Points +4】

【Heart Mirror Points +6】

Before he could speak, two more alerts chimed, leaving Zhou Qing stunned.

He glanced at Yan Xiao’s head tag—no further change.

Wait, did you just find out now?

In conversation, Zhou Qing learned everyone only knew the thief had been detected first by the Supreme Elders—they didn’t know he’d been discovered because he drained the Yanling Blood Pool’s medicinal energy.

What could Zhou Qing say? Strictly speaking, he’d already gained the advantage—the extra half-day was essentially free.

Besides, he’d used the Yanling Blood Pool to successfully break through to Foundation Establishment Mid-stage.

“Everyone has their fate—destiny decides. Don’t worry. By the way, Third Brother, take a look at this Silver Dragon Hand—it’ll benefit you greatly!”

Zhou Qing pulled out the jade slip and manual, but Yan Xiao refused.

“I already have a suitable divine art. Too many skills overwhelm you. Keep this one for yourself. Master said the Silver Dragon Hand is Elder Duanmu Shu’s signature technique—excellent in both offense and defense.” Yan Xiao said seriously.

Zhou Qing agreed wholeheartedly—he’d read the technique’s core principles and found them overly complex, giving him a headache.

Seeing Zhou Qing was fine, Yan Xiao didn’t want to dwell on the topic further, fearing it would upset his junior brother.

Then, as if remembering something, he beamed: “By the way, the Five Sects Exchange Fair will be held at the foot of our Taiqingmen mountain. We can go check it out together!”

“Five Sects Exchange Fair?” Zhou Qing looked puzzled.

Yan Xiao explained: “It’s a gathering where disciples from five sects exchange items and set up stalls to trade. It happens only once every twenty years. Don’t worry—I’ve been before. I’ll take you and show you around.”

“By the way, got any junk? We can share a stall—earn whatever we can.”

Zhou Qing finally understood, and curiosity stirred.

Unfortunately, he had nothing worth trading.

Yan Xiao shrugged: “No problem. Just bring money. Finding bargains is common—goods are mixed quality, vendors set prices randomly, Zhenjia hard to tell—it’s all about your eye.”

“When?” Zhou Qing asked.

Yan Xiao grinned: “In seven days!”

(End of Chapter)