Chapter 9: Better a Daoist Friend Dead Than a Poor Daoist

Zhou Qing ignored Lu Yaoyao and Li Daoxuan, found a spot out of their sight, sat down, and opened his panel.

【Name: Zhou Qing】

【Age: Nineteen】

【Cultivation Base: Foundation Establishment, Early Stage】

【Cultivation Technique: Taiqing Xuanqi Jue】

【Talent Skill: Heart Mirror Vision — LV1 (36/100),】

【Reduced Presence — LV2 (39/100)】

【Skill Fragment: 1/3 (Unobtainable)】

He hadn’t expected that even with only three people bound, the point gains came quickly.

His presence level had already reached 39, giving him a slight chance of being overlooked by Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Worth it!

Yan Xiao Hu spoke for only a short while before declaring the session over.

His little brother had been crushed like this—how could he still have the heart to lecture? You don’t respect him, yet you expect me to answer your questions?

Dream on!

As the outer disciples murmured and dispersed, Yan Xiao Hu hurried to Zhou Qing’s side and asked anxiously: “Are you alright?”

Zhou Qing waved his hand; aside from the sudden intrusion of that guest, he was now thrilled.

After all, he’d earned so many points.

“I’m fine, Senior Brother,” Zhou Qing said, watching the crowd leave with obvious disappointment. “But you ended too quickly.”

Yan Xiao Hu said nothing, but he saw the forced smile on Zhou Qing’s face—he knew his little brother was putting on a brave front to ease his worry.

“Senior Brother Zhou—”

Lu Yaoyao ran over, her face filled with concern.

Zhou Qing instinctively stepped back, afraid she might touch him and cause misunderstandings.

Though her note read 【Heartbroken】, with no signs of revenge, for some reason, a voice in his heart kept warning him to keep his distance from Lu Yaoyao.

“Why are you here?” Zhou Qing asked Lu Yaoyao.

Seeing Zhou Qing didn’t seem crushed, Lu Yaoyao quietly exhaled in relief, then said: “Of course we came to hear the lecture at Xiao Ling Peak—this time we came specially, but we didn’t expect—”

Li Daoxuan, whose note above his head read 【Pervert Who Likes to Peek at Baths】, crossed his arms and said coldly: “Lectures in the Lecture Hall are always part of the True Disciples’ point tasks. If an Elder or Core Disciple appears, it’s naturally excellent.”

“Status matters, but reputation and cultivation base are equally essential. If you improved your reputation, far more people would come to listen!”

Hearing Li Daoxuan’s advice, Zhou Qing couldn’t help but smile.

He’s just saying I’m a pervert who peeks at baths—a big lecher giving a lecture? Which woman would come?

If women won’t come, their partners or admirers certainly won’t either. Add to that my low cultivation base and my own confusion about cultivation—how could I possibly teach them?

This guy’s got good character, but he’s just jealous.

“Thank you, Senior Brother Li, I understand!” Zhou Qing bowed.

Li Daoxuan gave a slight nod and said no more.

Seeing Lu Yaoyao about to speak again, Zhou Qing immediately slapped his forehead: “Oh no! I just remembered something extremely important—you two chat first!”

After speaking, he quickly hurried away.

Yan Xiao Hu watched Zhou Qing’s retreating back, then glanced at Lu Yaoyao, blinked, and looked equally frustrated.

“Oh no, that important thing was half mine too! Senior Brother Li, Junior Sister Lu, sorry for the poor hospitality—I must go now! Little Fourth, wait for me!”

Yan Xiao Hu hurriedly finished and chased after him.

The vast square was left with the two of them staring at each other.

【Heart Mirror Points +3】

【Sensible Pervert】

Li Daoxuan’s mood improved considerably; then he seemed to sense something and quickly pulled out his identity token.

A series of characters floated into view.

“Junior Sister, Master has ordered us to return immediately—he has something to say!” Li Daoxuan told Lu Yaoyao.

Lu Yaoyao kept gazing at the spot where Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao Hu had vanished, then pouted and murmured “Mm,” before both of them left.

…………

“You two, come to the Council Hall at once!”

Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao Hu crouched secretly halfway up the mountain, watching them leave before exhaling in relief.

But at that moment, their master Mo Xingjian’s voice echoed in their ears.

They exchanged glances, confused, and hurried over.

When they reached the Council Hall, they saw Mo Xingjian sitting above, frowning.

Looking at his two rowdy disciples, Mo Xingjian sighed.

The eldest was steady, decisive, and had a ruthless edge.

The second daughter was gentle, yes—but too timid, and always away from home.

Only the third and fourth had stayed by his side, yet they always acted carefree and clueless.

Whatever. As long as they got along, it was better than other brothers turning against each other.

Then Mo Xingjian said: “Recently, a Supreme Elder finally completed his divine art and plans to visit our Taiqingmen’s Cave Heaven to gather something.”

As he spoke, Mo Xingjian’s gaze unintentionally fell on Yan Xiao Hu.

The two were listening intently with wise eyes when suddenly they met their master’s gaze and froze.

Instantly, both recalled the wrinkled old woman at the back of Shen Yue Peak.

She had claimed her divine art was complete, and though she tried to suppress it, she accidentally destroyed the back mountain, forming a lake.

Yan Xiao Hu’s face turned pale, sweat poured down his forehead, he clutched his stomach, and rolled on the floor.

“Ow! Ow! I must’ve messed up my cultivation—I’m in unbearable abdominal pain, dizzy, blind! I can’t see! Little Fourth, where are you? Old Mo… I mean, Master, am I dying?”

Zhou Qing’s face changed; he quickly reacted, knelt down, grabbed Yan Xiao Hu’s hand, and looked frantic: “Senior Brother, don’t be afraid—I’m here, I’m here! Oh right, I have medicine in my room…”

Zhou Qing spoke and immediately helped Yan Xiao Hu up.

Yan Xiao Hu climbed onto Zhou Qing’s back with surprising speed.

“I’ll carry you,” Zhou Qing groaned as his body sank under the weight.

Yan Xiao Hu screamed in agony, his cries echoing through the hall.

“I can’t see—I’ll fall and hurt myself worse if you hold me!”

“Fine!”

Zhou Qing finished speaking and rushed out of the hall, carrying Yan Xiao Hu on his back.

Above, Mo Xingjian clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked, silently reminding himself these were his own two unruly disciples.

Anger harms the body—smile, smile, exhale, inhale, yes, just like that…

Slap!

Mo Xingjian slammed his palm on the chair, making both boys jump and freeze in place, too terrified to move.

“The Supreme Elder can only take a few people. Your Xiao Ling Peak is assigned Little Fourth—he’s the one going. Others may wish to go, but they won’t get the chance!” Mo Xingjian said softly.

Zhou Qing’s face turned white.

Yan Xiao Hu immediately jumped off Zhou Qing’s back—no longer in pain, no longer crying—his small eyes filled with pity as he stared at Zhou Qing.

Then he shook his head and patted his shoulder: “Take care.”

After speaking, he bolted off and vanished without a trace.

Zhou Qing wore a bitter expression, turned to Mo Xingjian, and said: “Master, can’t we send someone else? I heard the Cave Heaven is extremely dangerous…”

Mo Xingjian replied: “It’s our own territory, with a Supreme Elder present—how dangerous could it be? By the way, when did your second sister teach you her cowardly cultivation? Look at you—a grown man, acting like this.”

Mo Xingjian looked exasperated, but seeing Zhou Qing’s hesitation, he patiently explained:

“You think she specifically called for you because you once peeked at her and Third Brother bathing? What nonsense—you were just kids. They don’t even remember it—they’ve long forgotten.”

Zhou Qing scratched his head sheepishly.

In truth, he hadn’t seen anything that night—Third Brother had only stuck out his head before turning pale and dragging him away in panic.

Even if he wasn’t the main culprit, he was still an accomplice—his heart still trembled.

Mo Xingjian continued: “She chose you because one of the passages in the Cave Heaven was forged from a Magnetic Peak. The stronger the cultivator entering, the greater the pressure—and it may even awaken the terrifying guardian within. Once awakened, it attacks friend and foe alike.”

“The ideal candidates are Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators. Since the Cave Heaven holds Taiqingmen’s deepest secrets, only trusted disciples may enter. So this time, it’s not just you—Core Disciples from all peaks who fit the criteria will go.”

Hearing this, Zhou Qing finally understood.

So there are others—why didn’t you say so earlier? You scared me!

But he still had a question: “What are we supposed to do inside?”

Mo Xingjian said: “To shut down the Magnetic Peak—or rather, the key is hidden inside.”

Zhou Qing was even more confused. Why hide the key inside their own territory?

Isn’t that needlessly complicated?

As if sensing his confusion, Mo Xingjian rose and walked down, his expression grave: “As I said, the Cave Heaven hides Taiqingmen’s greatest secret—something no outsider may know.”

“We could send others in and kill them afterward—or erase their spiritual sense memories—but that violates the Dao. Besides, the Cave Heaven holds rare opportunities—why let them go to outsiders? After much thought, only you are suitable.”

With his master saying this, Zhou Qing had no grounds to refuse—after all, a Supreme Elder was backing it, and there were extraordinary opportunities involved.

“When do we leave?” Zhou Qing asked.

Mo Xingjian’s foot instantly formed a Bagua disc: “At Zi Shi tonight!”

…………

(End of Chapter)