Chapter Six: Paper Airplanes Filling the Sky

"Have you heard? Fatty Gu, at the fourth level, knocked down several senior brothers at the eighth and ninth level!"

"Isn't that so? I watched every match myself. I thought Fatty Gu would get completely thrashed, but who would have imagined..."

"They say the technique he used was one from the Sutra Library, some beast martial art from the Leaping and Darting Diagram?"

"I can't wait—I have to hurry to the Sutra Library and check it out!"

"I'm going too. If we're late, then..."

For a time, the entire Outer Sect of the Seven Peaks was in an uproar. No matter where one went, groups of disciples were animatedly discussing this matter. Countless female disciples were even loudly declaring, "Fatty Gu is so handsome! I want to be his girlfriend..."

The usually quiet Sutra Library was now packed to the rafters, abuzz with excitement.

An anonymous martial art manual that no one had ever bothered with had overnight become the most sought-after treasure.

In the Main Hall on the central peak, all the peak masters and influential elders gathered. After discussing the sect’s grand competition scheduled for three months later, the meeting erupted into heated arguments about the current chaos in the Outer Sect of the Seven Peaks.

The Peak Master of the Fifth Peak, Gu Zai-zuo, and the three elders behind him became the direct targets of criticism. The cause of all this was, after all, the grandson of the Fifth Elder, especially since the grandsons of the other peak masters had all been beaten by Fatty Gu.

The Fifth Elder and his brothers engaged in a fierce verbal brawl, their spittle flying everywhere.

Only the sect leader, Nangong Kang, pressed his aching head and spoke up in defense of the Fifth Elder. After all, his own grandson had been among those bested, but as the sect leader, what else could he do? Especially with all the elders watching the show.

As always, the debate ended without resolution. Gu Zai-zuo stormed off in a huff, flying straight back to the Fifth Peak, while the three elders behind him struggled to suppress their laughter as they followed.

Meanwhile, the anonymous martial art manual was copied countless times overnight, even by disciples who had already entered the Inner Sect.

The next day, in the Alchemy Pavilion’s Apothecary Hall, Fatty Gu slowly awoke. His injuries were healed, but he still felt exhausted all over.

Senior Brother Gai, who was several levels higher in cultivation, had left early.

"Brat, if you’re awake, hurry up and get out! Or are you planning to stay for lunch?" Old Mu’s sudden outburst startled Fatty Gu from his self-pity; he sprang up reflexively.

Mu Wan’er, who had been worriedly tending to him, shot Old Mu a fierce glare and forced him out.

"Fatty... you’re not allowed to do that again..."

"Relax, don’t you trust me? Who am I? I’m the dashing Fatty Gu, your handsome Wan’er’s hero!"

Fatty Gu expertly soothed the misty-eyed, ever-worried Mu Wan’er before taking his leave.

Feeling refreshed, Fatty Gu swaggered past the training rooms, hands behind his back, when he noticed a noisy crowd gathered, chattering excitedly.

Curious, he approached and discovered that Senior Brother Bao, whom he’d dueled alone the previous day, had broken through to the eighth stage of Qi Refining that very morning. Bao was even publicly claiming that his fight with Fatty Gu was the reason for his advancement.

Fatty Gu curled his lip. What did that have to do with him? After offering a brief congratulation, he didn’t bother with further pleasantries and prepared to leave.

Just then, the doors to the other two training rooms swung open almost simultaneously.

"Hahaha, I’ve reached the ninth stage too!" Senior Brother Chai, brimming with joy, caught sight of Fatty Gu and, without a word, used the Misty Steps to catch up and slap his hands onto Fatty Gu’s shoulders before he could react.

"Fatty Gu, after fighting you yesterday... I’ve just advanced to the ninth stage!"

Feeling at a loss, Fatty Gu turned to see Senior Brother Gai, who was a step behind Chai, nodding at him.

"Little brother, I haven’t broken through yet, but after our duel, I feel I’m about to reach the peak of the ninth stage..."

As the saying goes, "The speaker may be unintentional, but the listener is attentive." There were at least a hundred Outer Sect disciples gathered outside the training room, with nearly a third being high-level Qi Refining seniors.

To them, the words of Bao, Chai, and Gai meant something huge.

In a flash, the eyes of several other high-level seniors gleamed with excitement. If fighting Fatty Gu meant a breakthrough, they all surged toward him.

Seeing the encirclement forming, Fatty Gu bolted in terror...

"Did you hear? All you need is a duel with Fatty Gu, and your cultivation will advance by a stage..."

At the foot of the Fifth Peak, the road down was tightly blocked, packed with people.

Most of the middle- and high-level Qi Refining disciples from all the peaks’ Outer Sects had arrived, all eager for a duel with Fatty Gu.

In the crowd, Fatty Gu felt more bitter than if he’d swallowed a whole pot of bitter herbs.

He knew that if this rumor became fact, his days of hardship would never end.

He wanted to explain, but didn’t dare show his face. Sweat poured down his forehead as he agonized over what to do.

"I’ve got it!"

Suddenly, inspiration struck. Fatty Gu dashed back to his room...

An hour later,

Paper airplanes rained down from the summit of the Fifth Peak, a breathtaking sight like a celestial maiden scattering flowers.

"...What’s this?"

Countless disciples at the foot of the peak, not knowing what these objects were, instinctively reached out to catch the paper airplanes.

To be precise, it seemed the airplanes flew into their hands of their own accord.

When everyone unfolded the paper airplanes, bold words jumped out at them.

On the front: "Any resemblance is purely coincidental."

On the back: "Dear seniors, please return to your peaks."