Chapter 10 Consecutive Breakthroughs

The inner and outer disciples from all the peaks now rarely seclude themselves for solitary cultivation. Even those high-level disciples who used to train alone and were seldom seen during the day have emerged from their retreats. Everywhere, duels and brawls break out, and disciples from the Herb Pavilion, Artifact Pavilion, and Alchemy Pavilion roam the grounds. The once tranquil peaks of the Ethereal Sect are now bursting with energy, as if a new vitality has been breathed into them.

Of course, all of this can be attributed to our endlessly head-scratching Gu Fatty.

Disciples from across the peaks are now imitating Gu Fatty’s method of advancing through combat. Even when they know they can’t win, they seek out opponents to challenge one-on-one. Especially after a group led by Senior Brother Chai and Senior Brother Gai from the outer sect began attempting to challenge inner sect disciples at the early Foundation Establishment stage, this trend could no longer be contained.

“You lot?! Not even at Foundation Establishment, and you dare challenge me?! Where do you get your confidence?! Why not challenge other brothers—do you take me for an easy mark?”

“Ah, senior brother, you’re coughing blood. I have some excellent internal injury pills here. One mid-grade spirit stone or a stalk of profound-grade herb will get you a bottle…”

“Just a few days ago you were trading for low-grade spirit stones!…”

“Supply and demand, brother. My stock is running low. If I didn’t feel a kinship with you, I’d keep these for myself…”

“Senior brother, I have some fine swords and axes for sale…”

Bloodied heads and battered faces are everywhere, and there are plenty who have collapsed to the ground from sheer anger.

On the Fifth Peak, Gu Fatty is lounging on his usual cultivation stone platform, legs crossed, munching on the spiritual herbs and fruits left for him by Old Gu Fifth, while constantly scratching his head.

“Why am I always hungry lately? I eat a lot more than before.”

“Is my cultivation advancing too quickly? I wanted to improve fast, but this is too much—I feel like I’m about to reach the sixth tier already.”

“Isn’t expanding the meridians supposed to be really difficult? Why have mine more than doubled since I recovered from my illness?”

Gu Fatty has no idea that each time he asks a question, the stone pendant on his chest flashes with a gleam, as if responding: “It’s me, all the credit is mine!”

“I feel like I’m about to break through to Foundation Establishment, how about you?”

“I’m almost there too.”

“Come on, let’s petition the master for Foundation Establishment pills to ensure a steady advancement.”

“Congratulations, Sister Meng, on reaching mid-stage Foundation Establishment!”

“Qin Junior Sister, you—you—you’ve entered advanced Foundation Establishment?!”

At this moment, the Ethereal Sect isn’t quite at the point where breakthroughs are happening everywhere, but it’s close.

Even the female disciples, who used to engage in fewer duels, have recently participated in countless real battles. The image of gentle ladies in the minds of the male disciples has long been cast aside.

Elders and stewards of each peak are grinning from ear to ear every day.

“My disciple advanced another level this morning.”

“My precious granddaughter did too.”

“That’s nothing—my little treasure even dueled the inner sect’s chief disciple this morning. She lost, but it was an honorable defeat!”

From then on, the sect’s basic cultivation resources were continuously distributed downwards. Whoever could advance further would gain more resources than the others, making the outer sect’s cultivation atmosphere more fiery than ever.

“Master, all the alchemy rooms are occupied by other disciples. We have none left for ourselves!”

“Should’ve come earlier. No alchemy rooms? Then just set up on the plaza and refine there!”

“Master, the batch of swords I forged last time—the brothers and sisters who bought them said the quality was poor. Many were chipped or broken by others in combat.”

“Nonsense—ignore them. At a time like this, they ought to be grateful to have anything to use, and they still dare to nitpick!”

“Master, just now some disciples from other peaks sneaked into our medicine fields to steal herbs.”

“They’ve grown bold. Even Old Mu’s fiery urging doesn’t make me give up my herbs easily, and now someone dares to steal from me? Next time someone’s caught, tie them up and hand them over to me, then notify their peak master to exchange resources for their release!”

The whole Ethereal Sect is approaching a state of utter chaos.

In the forbidden area behind the main peak, the sect leader and grand elders all stroke their beards and nod, smiles on their faces.