Chapter Sixteen: The Mountain Storm Approaches

At the Main Peak’s Pill Refining Pavilion, after solemnly accepting Gu Xiaopang’s formal bow of apprenticeship, Elder Mu Huo casually took out a crystal-clear pill bottle and handed it to him.

“Now that you have officially taken me as your master, there’s no need to rush into pill refining. The grand competition is fast approaching, and I won’t be stingy. Take this bottle of Spirit-Charging Pills with you,” he said. “During this competition, do not be arrogant. Previously, you may have been able to secure the position of top outer disciple, but this time many who went out to temper themselves have returned. Among them are some who could have formed their Foundation long ago, yet have deliberately held back. These are formidable opponents, with higher cultivation and sharper battle instincts than yours...”

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After taking his leave from Elder Mu Huo and returning to his residence on the Fifth Peak, Gu Xiaopang took out the pill bottle. Inside were three Spirit-Charging Pills, all of the highest grade—the best Elder Mu Huo could currently offer. Touched by this gesture, Gu Xiaopang swallowed one pill and immediately entered cultivation.

For those at the Foundation Establishment stage or above, these pills had little effect, but for those still in the Qi Refining stage, a single pill could unconditionally elevate one’s cultivation by an entire rank, with no adverse effects on future progress. The three pills from Elder Mu Huo were more than enough to propel Gu Xiaopang to the peak of the eighth rank.

In reality, after consuming just one pill, Gu Xiaopang felt his internal energy surge, several times stronger than before. His meridians were painfully expanded once again, and the earthy-yellow and fiery-red beads within his dantian both grew noticeably larger.

With a familiar “crack,” Gu Xiaopang knew he had successfully broken through to the eighth rank, and his strength continued to climb until it reached the peak of the eighth rank, halting just short of the ninth.

Elder Mu Huo had still underestimated Gu Xiaopang’s potential. What was originally expected to require three pills had been accomplished with just one, fulfilling the requirements of Gu Xiaopang’s cultivation plan.

Ninth rank, and then ninth rank completion—at this point, as far as cultivation was concerned, Gu Xiaopang was only two steps away from breaking into the Foundation Establishment stage and becoming, in the truest sense, a cultivator.

Of course, Gu Xiaopang was not the only one whose cultivation advanced this night.

Throughout the seven peaks, the outer disciples were all silently cultivating with great focus, and from time to time, excited shouts could be heard. Anyone who could not contain their joy at this moment had undoubtedly succeeded in advancing.

With the storm looming, under this rare state of high tension, the overall strength of the Misty Sect’s inner and outer disciples soared to new heights.

The peak masters, elders, and many stewards, ever since the night raid incident, had taken it upon themselves to patrol the sect nightly with their Golden Core and Nascent Soul spiritual senses. Though they could not claim to know every detail of both inner and outer sect matters, they were not far from it.

Watching the disciples’ continuous breakthroughs, the elders could not help but recall their own youthful days of cultivation, and behind every spiritual sense was a kindly, gratified old face.

Even those disciples who had reached the completion of the Qi Refining stage and were planning to request Foundation Establishment Pills from their peak elders or masters decided, for the sake of the upcoming competition, to hold back from taking that final step. They waited, hoping to shine brilliantly in the contest, securing their desired ranks and rewards before advancing further.

Likewise, for the final two days, no one caught sight of Gu Xiaopang, not even Elder Mu Huo.

Missing along with him was the Fifth Peak Master, Gu Zaizuo.

The Misty Sect, surrounded by mountains, sheer cliffs, and towering ancient trees, was often visited by fierce birds and mysterious beasts. On this night, however, an unexpected visitor arrived…

The cries of the beasts and birds were even more intense than usual!