At the end of September, the sultry summer heat still lingered, showing no signs of abating but instead growing more oppressive by the day. In this Southern Domain of the State of Zhao, it had always taken until November for the weather to turn cold, and only by January did it truly feel like winter.
Early in the morning, Meng Hao emerged from his cave dwelling. His eyes shone brightly, filled with anticipation for the future.
"My cultivation is just a step away from the peak of the third level of Qi Condensation. With this level of power in the Outer Sect, while I might not be considered a powerhouse, I'm certainly no longer a weakling anyone can bully!"
Meng Hao took a deep breath and gazed out at the distant horizon. A mountain breeze swept past, whipping his hair into a seemingly chaotic yet subtly elegant disarray.
He had originally been a destitute scholar who was brought into this Immortal sect. Looking back, it all felt like a fleeting dream, giving him a sense of unreality.
"It's a pity I don't have enough spirit stones, and the number of Spirit Condensation Pills is too few to be effective anymore..."
Meng Hao's brief moment of excitement quickly faded into a dull ache at the thought of his lack of spirit stones.
"Fatty, Wang Youcai, and that sturdy, bright youth... The four of us entered the Reliance Sect together. I wonder how they are doing now."
Meng Hao pondered for a moment, then his figure blurred as he leaped forward. Circulating the spiritual energy within his body, he shot up and made his way through the mountain forests toward the North Peak.
Surrounding the Reliance Sect were four massive peaks, each dotted with buildings. From a distance, they looked as if they were perched right on the mountaintops, with faint, shimmering lights radiating outward from the summits.
White clouds drifted lazily, shrouding the forested mountains in a hazy mist, giving the impression of an immortal mountain rising from a sea of fog.
To travel between the South Peak and the North Peak without taking the main path through the Outer Sect's gate, one had to detour around the eastern or western mountains. Meng Hao chose the eastern route. As he neared his destination, he held two wild pheasants in his hands.
"It's been nearly two months since I last saw Fatty. I wonder if he's lost any weight!"
The image of Fatty's round face popped into Meng Hao's mind, bringing a smile to his lips. But as he walked, he suddenly stiffened and came to a halt.
Ahead of him, a gentle breeze stirred, and a sudden mist materialized where there had been none before. Emerging from the fog was a young man dressed in luxurious robes.
The young man's attire was distinctly different from that of the Outer Sect disciples. He wore robes as white as snow, and his long hair fell over his shoulders. He was extraordinarily handsome, with features so striking they defied description. Both his appearance and his bearing exuded an air of absolute perfection, as if he were a masterpiece crafted by heaven and earth, a favored child of the world.
He wore an expression of cool indifference, as though nothing in the world could ever ruffle his composure—the sort of calm that would remain unshaken even if a mountain collapsed before him. At this moment, he glided through the swirling mist as if riding the wind and treading on clouds.
Behind him walked two other young men. Though handsome in their own right, they served as mere foils next to the youth in white.
"Senior Brother Wang, I hear the sect is going to hold the Inner Sect promotion trial soon. This junior brother offers his congratulations in advance."
"Indeed. Back when Senior Brother Wang joined the sect, his fame shook the eight directions, even causing a stir among the other three great sects. In the end, Senior Brother personally chose to stay in the Reliance Sect. With his extraordinary bearing, he didn't want to break the sect's rules, so he declined the invitation to directly enter the Inner Sect. Two years have passed, and Senior Brother's cultivation is already at the sixth level of Qi Condensation. I heard from my ancestor that this promotion trial was opened specifically for Senior Brother Wang."
"That's right. Once Senior Brother Wang enters the Inner Sect, it won't be long before he surpasses Sister Xu and Brother Chen to become the number one disciple of our Reliance Sect."
"Do not speak carelessly. Sister Xu is exquisitely beautiful, and Brother Chen is single-mindedly devoted to the Dao. They are both fellow disciples whom this Wang deeply respects!"
The white-robed youth walking in front spoke gently. His voice was soft and slow, yet carried a masculine quality that was very pleasant to the ear. This was none other than the number one person of the Reliance Sect's Outer Sect—Wang Tengfei!
"Senior Brother's guidance is correct. Your character is extraordinary, and despite such talent, you are so approachable. This Junior Brother has learned much!"
"Indeed, Senior Brother Wang is always gentle, even when facing a disciple at the first level of Qi Condensation. Not a single outer sect disciple is unaware of this. This Junior Brother truly admires you from the bottom of my heart!"
The three of them conversed as they walked slowly toward Meng Hao. Upon seeing Meng Hao, Senior Brother Wang nodded slightly and walked past him, while the other two didn't even spare Meng Hao a glance. As the three of them walked away, Meng Hao turned his head to look at their retreating figures. He suddenly noticed that the white-robed youth's feet did not touch the ground; his entire body floated seven inches above the earth. This sight left Meng Hao stunned.
His own appearance could not compare to the other party's. With a thin frame and dark skin, Meng Hao did not look very eye-catching at first glance, especially since he was also holding two wild pheasants in his hands.
"So he is Senior Brother Wang Tengfei. The magic that allows one's entire body to float while walking is the Wind Walking Art, which can only be cast at the fifth level of Qi Condensation."
Since entering the Outer Sect, Meng Hao had heard a lot about this Senior Brother Wang. He knew many stories about him, especially how his entry into the sect back then had even caused a sensation throughout the entire cultivation world of the State of Zhao. No one knew what price the Reliance Sect had ultimately paid, or why this person had deliberately chosen the Reliance Sect, but only then was the storm finally resolved.
"If I were born with those looks, even if I couldn't become the Top Scholar in the mortal world, I could at least become a Prince Consort!"
Meng Hao withdrew his envious gaze and quickly ran back toward the North Peak.
Without stopping along the way, Meng Hao arrived at a desolate mountain near the North Peak around noon. This was the place where he and the fatty chopped wood together. As soon as he arrived, Meng Hao heard the thumping sound of wood being chopped. With a smile, Meng Hao quickened his pace. As he drew closer, he saw the fatty swinging an axe to chop a tree.
He was about to call out, but Meng Hao immediately backed away without the slightest hesitation.
"You steal my mother, you steal my buns, I'll hack you to death, I'll bite you to death!"
The fatty hadn't lost any weight; on the contrary, he had grown even rounder, his body like a lump of meat!
At this moment, his eyes were tightly shut as he stood there roaring in a low voice. Quite a few trees had already been chopped down beside him. After chopping for a while, he leaned to the side, dropped his axe, and began to snore loudly.
The wooden handle of the axe was covered in dense rows of teeth marks.
Meng Hao was astonished. Having not seen him for nearly two months, he hadn't expected the fatty's sleepwalking to have worsened so much. It didn't just happen at night anymore; it even occurred during the day.
Just as he was hesitating over how to wake Fatty up, the fat youth's nose suddenly twitched. He rubbed his eyes, scrambled to his feet, and looked around. His eyes instantly lit up, and he began to drool.
"The scent of wild chicken! Oh, I smell two of them!"
He immediately sprang up and searched the forest, but Meng Hao was nowhere to be seen. However, when he noticed the chopped-down trees nearby, a look of gratitude immediately appeared on Fatty's face.