I proved immortality with thunder magic.

Leihe Peak, Mountain Stream Frog Pond.

Boom boom boom!

Suddenly, streaks of blue and white lightning descended from the sky, instantly transforming the entire frog pond into a pool of lightning, with nothing but blue and white lightning leaping about.

After six bolts of lightning struck in succession, the boiling frog pond gradually returned to calm.

At this moment, the thunder frogs that had previously hidden on the shore took advantage of the lingering power of the lightning in the water and jumped into the mountain stream like dumplings, eager to enjoy the nourishment of the lightning.

Watching this scene from the shore, Qiao Huan couldn't hide his shock and exclaimed sincerely, "As expected of the Chain Lightning Strike Technique, hailed as the strongest spell in the Qi Refining stage, its power is truly awe-inspiring!"

After speaking, he looked at the person who cast the spell with a complicated expression, namely Zhou Tai.

At this moment, Zhou Tai's cultivation level had already reached the eighth level of the Qi Refining stage, which was one level higher than Qiao Huan's.

When he left Leihe Peak, he was only at the fifth level of the Qi Refining stage.

In the past, when Zhou Tai called him Senior Brother Qiao, he took it for granted and felt it was only natural.

Even after Zhou Tai was promoted to an outer disciple, he still didn't feel that he was unworthy of the position.

But now, looking at Zhou Tai, whose cultivation level was the same as his own, and recalling the destructive scene of the lightning strikes just now, he suddenly lost all confidence.

He couldn't help but say, "Senior Brother Zhou, if you were to fight someone now, once you unleash this Chain Lightning Strike Technique, I reckon there wouldn't be many Qi Refining stage cultivators who could match you!"

When he heard Qiao Huan suddenly call him "senior brother," Zhou Tai was slightly taken aback. After hearing what she said next, he immediately smiled knowingly.

He naturally understood why Qiao Huan would say that.

Qiao Huan is currently a menial disciple, and for him, the outer sect competition is the only way for him to be promoted to an outer sect disciple.

Therefore, after seeing how powerful Zhou Tai's chain lightning strikes were, it was easy to think of this aspect.

Zhou Tai shook his head slightly and said, "If we could use it, the chances of winning would certainly be quite high. However, as you just saw, Junior Brother Qiao, it takes me at least seven or eight breaths to cast this spell. Our opponents and enemies won't be foolish enough to let me cast it slowly!"

In fact, he had only learned this chain lightning strike technique not long ago, and today was the first time he had used it in front of outsiders.

"That's true."

Qiao Huan nodded, but her eyes showed a thoughtful look, as if she was thinking about something.

After verifying the power of the spell, Zhou Tai had no intention of lingering any longer. He quickly left the mountain stream frog pond and rode the black-feathered eagle back to Yuanfu Peak.

His Clawed Wind Owl is still in its growth stage. Although it is already a first-tier low-grade demon beast, it cannot carry people and will need to be nurtured for at least another two years.

When Zhou Tai returned to Yuanfu Peak, he was surprised to find that Hu Qianqian had come to wait for him outside his residence without his notice.

Several years have passed, and Hu Qianqian has made a small fortune by reselling thunder talismans. Now her cultivation has also broken through to the fifth level of the Qi Refining stage.

This female cultivator was clearly ambitious. Even though she could have reached the ninth level of the Qi Refining stage before the age of sixty through hard work alone, she still spent spirit stones to buy pills to improve her cultivation.

"Junior Sister Hu, why did you suddenly come without prior notice? Is there something important?"

Zhou Tai looked at Hu Qianqian, who was clearly waiting for him, and spoke first, asking a question.

If he remembered correctly, this was the first time the other party had done this since they reunited, so he guessed that the matter must be quite serious.

Hu Qianqian seemed hesitant, only shaking her head slightly and saying softly, "Senior Brother Zhou, could we talk inside?"

Seeing her preoccupied look, Zhou Tai became even more curious and immediately nodded, saying, "Alright, let's go inside and talk about it."

His courtyard is protected by an array and is open year-round, making it more convenient to talk inside than outside.

After the two entered the courtyard one after the other, Zhou Tai led Hu Qianqian to sit down in the main building's living room, and then took the initiative to speak again, saying, "Now, Junior Sister Hu, you can speak, right?"

Hu Qianqian took a deep breath, then looked up at him and said, "I dare not hide it from you, Senior Brother Zhou. I came here unannounced today because there is something extremely important that I cannot make up my mind about, and I would like to ask for your opinion!"

Without waiting for Zhou Tai to ask further, he continued, "Recently, an inner sect master has taken a liking to Qianqian, saying he wants to take her as a concubine. He promised to help her with her Foundation Establishment in the future, and also promised that as long as Qianqian successfully establishes her Foundation, he will officially become her cultivation partner!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Tai looked at her with surprise and said, "If what you say is true, Junior Sister Hu, this is a good thing, isn't it?"

After saying that, she seemed to realize something and frowned, saying, "Junior Sister Hu, since you can't make up your mind about such a good thing, is there something else going on? Could it be because that senior uncle is too old? Or is he ugly?"

Unexpectedly, after hearing his words, Hu Qianqian smiled bitterly with a worried expression and said, "On the contrary, that martial uncle doesn't look very old, and his appearance is quite handsome!"

Upon hearing this and seeing her sorrowful, bitter smile, Zhou Tai immediately understood.

After thinking for a moment, he decided it was best to be direct, so he said, "So, Junior Sister Hu, you don't actually think this is a good thing, and you're worried that the other party's promises are all lies, and that they actually have ulterior motives towards you?"

Hu Qianqian nodded and said, "That's right. Otherwise, Qianqian really doesn't understand. With that senior uncle's age, appearance, and cultivation level, it shouldn't be difficult for him to find a cultivation partner at the Foundation Establishment stage. Why would he suddenly take a liking to an ordinary outer disciple like Qianqian, who isn't very young and has no background?"

After saying that, she looked troubled and said, "But no matter how hard I try, I can't figure out what's so special about myself that makes him value me!"

Then, with expectant eyes, she looked at Zhou Tai and pleaded, "Senior Brother Zhou, you are knowledgeable and resourceful. Could you please advise Qianqian and find out the reason behind this?"

Given Zhou Tai's personality, he would normally avoid matters involving other Foundation Establishment cultivators if possible.

However, Hu Qianqian had been with him for so many years and had always obeyed his orders without complaint. If he ignored her now, it would be too heartless.

Moreover, even if he succeeds in establishing his foundation in the future, he will still need an outer disciple like Hu Qianqian to run errands for him, so he can't easily disappoint her now.

After thinking for a moment, he said to Hu Qianqian, "I can help you with this matter, but it will take some time. You can try to delay that senior uncle as much as possible."

Upon hearing his words, Hu Qianqian's face immediately lit up with joy, and she quickly curtsied to him, saying, "Thank you very much, Senior Brother Zhou. No matter what the final outcome is, Qianqian will always be grateful for your help!"

"Then you should go back and wait for news."

Zhou Tai nodded slightly, accepting her bow with composure.

After watching Hu Qianqian leave, Zhou Tai remembered what she had asked for and quickly came up with an idea.

Lacking sufficient intelligence and information for reference, he couldn't actually guess the truth, but he could ask people who were more knowledgeable than himself.

Whether it's Li Hongzhi, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, or Aaron Kwok, who comes from a family of cultivators, they are both good people to consult.

By then, combining the conjectures and deductions of these two individuals, he should be able to give Hu Qianqian a suitable answer.

He now had enough Thunder Spear Talismans in his possession, so it was time to inform the two of the news and also ask about Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects.

By now, Zhou Tai had almost given up on the idea of ​​exchanging Foundation Establishment spiritual items from the sect.

Even now, he hasn't been able to steadily increase the success rate of the Thunder Spear Talisman to 10%.

Moreover, he had previously mentioned to Zeng Qiming the matter of asking the sect to make an exception for him, but Zeng Qiming advised him to give up on the idea.

The reason is simple: those who made the sect make exceptions in the past had performed merits that moved or benefited even the most powerful cultivators in the Purple Mansion realm.

It is because only those who have reached the Purple Mansion stage possess the energy to make an exception for their sect that such examples exist.

Even if Zhou Tai drew the Chain Lightning Strike Talisman, let alone the low success rate of the Thunder Spear Talisman, it would be difficult for the sect to make an exception for him!

So he has basically given up on this idea and can only look for solutions from the outside.

Considering that Li Hongzhi and Guo Fucheng were both in Bailong Market, Zhou Tai immediately decided to go to the market in person to discuss the distribution of the Thunder Spear Talisman with the two of them face to face, and also to talk about Hu Qianqian and the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object.