CHAPTER 358: CHAPTER 232: 10 DAYS AND NIGHTS, BREAKTHROUGH IN SIGHT

The Underground Abyss knew neither sun nor moon; ordinary people here would completely lose their sense of time.

Mist layered thickly, and the sparse vegetation emitted a shimmering light.

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"

The Crimson Orb was unleashed, and Lu Qingling’s sword moved as if an iceberg had dropped out of thin air.

The other three female Outer Disciples had also gradually become familiar with fighting demonic creatures, completely shedding the inexperience of their first battle. They employed their Divine Skills, and the Treasures in their hands burst forth with a might never before seen from Detachment Realm Martial Artists.

One demonic creature after another was Suppressed and Killed under their Divine Skills, turning into strands of Evil Qi inside Lu Qingling’s gourd.

The servant female Disciples also reaped a considerable harvest. Their spiritual power grew more condensed, and ten days and nights of effort here were comparable to a month of arduous cultivation in the past.

But among the group, Jiang Shu had made the greatest progress. The spiritual threads condensing in his mind were like forged steel. His entire being—essence, energy, and spirit—had been honed to an even greater state of wholeness and smoothness in just these ten days and nights.

His mastery of the core Martial Arts manual, "Heavenly Intent True Self Fist," had even surpassed two hundred points.

His proficiency increased even faster from there. He estimated that after another three descents into the Abyss, he would Break Limit and step into the Furnace Fire Realm!

"Junior Brother Jiang, how exactly do you cultivate? How are you so formidable at only about twenty years old? Other servant disciples, even in their fifties or sixties, don’t possess half your combat strength. I’m afraid that in a few more years, even we will have to address you as Senior Brother Jiang," Luo Qing giggled. In those ten days, the three of them had also grown familiar with Jiang Shu. Watching his almost daily growth and progress left them inwardly shaken countless times. Such Talent, even in the genius-packed Outer Sect, was a rare sight.

"Definitely! With Junior Brother Jiang’s strength, stepping into the Furnace Fire Realm will be as easy as flipping his hand. We just don’t know what Divine Skills the Sect will reward him with. If he could obtain a true offensive Divine Skill to go with his Kunpeng Swallowing Technique, he’d truly be unstoppable in the Underground Abyss, a one-man slaughterhouse."

"I feel that even some newly-formed demonic creatures probably couldn’t trouble Junior Brother Jiang now. What’s most formidable about him isn’t his combat strength, but his mind. I really don’t know what you must have experienced, Junior Brother Jiang, for no illusion to be able to tempt you. You’re truly a born powerhouse!"

"Don’t even mention it. I nearly couldn’t resist several illusions myself. If it weren’t for my condensed True Fire continuously illuminating me, I probably would have fallen prey to the demonic creatures’ schemes long ago. But Junior Brother Jiang, despite being only in the Detachment Realm, can see through deceptions even better than I, who have condensed True Fire. His mind and spiritual power are such that it’s unimaginable how terrifying he’ll be once he also condenses True Fire!"

The other two senior sisters also chimed in, fostering their connection with Jiang Shu. They might ignore ordinary servant disciples, but someone like Jiang Shu—who in the future could even become a top talent among Outer Disciples, ranked on the Divine Skills list—was someone they naturally needed to befriend early.

Besides, what they said was all true.

In these ten days, Jiang Shu had fought and defeated as many as five demonic creatures. In the longest engagement, he single-handedly withstood a demonic creature’s attacks for a full quarter of an hour. Such combat prowess, even among the one hundred thousand servant disciples, was definitely top-tier.

"You sisters are too kind," Jiang Shu replied with a polite smile, returning the pleasantries. "The Six Martial Arts Realms are relatively straightforward to advance through, relying on nutritious food and Elixirs. But reaching the Furnace Fire Realm means cultivating Divine Skills, and that requires truly meticulous effort. You sisters each command two or three Divine Skills. Even if I enter the Outer Sect, it would take me several years to catch up. And by then, who knows how many more Divine Skills you’ll have learned."

Over these ten days, not only had his strength increased, but so had his understanding of the True Martial Sect.

From these three senior sisters, he had indeed learned a great deal about the Outer Disciples and even Inner Sect Disciples.

He had never forgotten the sharp sword hanging over his head.

Compared to this sword, what did Ye Huang or Ye Jiankong even matter?

Zhou Yan...

Amidst the envious gazes of the other servant female disciples, Jiang Shu chatted casually with the three female Outer Disciples. Information about Inner Sect Disciples kept flashing through his mind. Being cautious, he naturally wouldn’t directly ask about Zhou Yan or Master Ming Lei’s situations.

Compared to the Six Martial Arts Realms, the truly significant stages were the Furnace Fire Realm, Primordial Pill Realm, and Nirvana Realm. Each represented a heaven-defying leap, a new echelon within the Sect.

In the eyes of servant disciples, the immensely powerful Furnace Fire Realm didn’t even count as mid-tier strength within the Sect. Only by stepping into the Primordial Pill Realm could one, if exceptionally talented, become an Inner Sect Disciple. With slightly lesser Talent, one could still become a Sect Deacon.

Anyone in the Primordial Pill Realm could be revered as a True Man, their strength immense and influence widespread—truly astounding.

It could be said that only upon reaching the Primordial Pill Realm did one qualify to learn some of the Sect’s secrets, and possibly even participate in some of its decision-making.

Even though Zhou Yan hadn’t progressed in many years, his Primordial Pill Realm strength alone meant he could crush someone like me as easily as an ant.

Of course, the True Martial Sect had its own rules and systems.

Besides, Master Ming Lei himself was only an Inner Sect Disciple. Even if my true capabilities were exposed, my status would be that of an Outer Disciple on the Divine Skills ranking. As long as Zhou Yan doesn’t become a True Disciple, he won’t have the authority of life and death over me. He can only suppress me, not kill me.

As for suppression through resources, that might be extremely effective against an ordinary Outer Disciple.