Chapter 14: A Shrewd Inner Disciple! The Inner Sect Prodigy Ding Hao!

Author’s Note: (Sweatdrop) I missed something in the last chapter. The reason the protagonist isn’t immediately raising his cultivation level is because each major realm can only be boosted once. He wants to see if he can find some elixirs to enhance his innate talent and physique before doing so, this way, the gains will be even greater. Besides, his cultivation level can be raised at any time, and it can serve as a trump card.

“Thanks for the match. Hand over five low-grade spirit stones,” Gu Yang said, wiping the sweat from his brow and reaching a hand toward the inner disciple.

The inner disciple looked momentarily stunned.

He hadn’t expected to be this unlucky, pushed off the dueling platform by Gu Yang of all people and losing the match just like that.

His expression turned a bit sour.

Still, he didn’t dare break the rules.

Reluctantly, he pulled out five low-grade spirit stones from his robes and handed them over to Gu Yang.

Gu Yang had done this deliberately, to lure more disciples into duels and earn more spirit stones.

Naturally…

The inner sect disciples weren’t all fools.

“Clever kid! So you were pretending to be weak!”

“Not a drop of sweat on his forehead, yet he was panting and looking like he was struggling, clearly a trap for us to fall into!”

“The one who fought him just now was already one of the top disciples at the third level of the Qi Gathering Realm, and he still lost. Could this newcomer be that rumored Gu Yang from earlier?”

“Looks like Gu Yang has broken through the Qi Gathering Realm… and he’s strong. Five low-grade spirit stones? Forget it.”

Within moments, the inner disciples began to catch on.

Some even guessed Gu Yang’s identity.

Unlike earlier, none of them were eager to rush forward anymore. Instead, they seemed rather cautious.

After all…

Five low-grade spirit stones wasn’t a small amount!

That was five hundred contribution points!

The disciple who had just been defeated suddenly came to his senses and started beating his chest in regret.

He’d fallen for it!

He shouldn’t have been so eager to take the challenge!

And now, he had done the others a favor by stepping on the landmine first!

He was the only one who’d lost five low-grade spirit stones!

Seeing the suspicious looks from the surrounding inner disciples, Gu Yang couldn’t help but feel a little speechless.

Seriously…

Are all inner sect disciples this sharp?

Not one of them took the bait?

How am I supposed to earn more spirit stones like this?

Gu Yang began to feel a headache forming.

He’d only earned five low-grade spirit stones and was clearly unsatisfied.

Maybe… I should raise the stakes a bit? And loosen the entry requirements too?

As he pondered, Gu Yang stepped up to the side of the dueling platform under everyone’s watchful gaze and added a new line of text.

“Looks like everyone’s a bit hesitant, so let’s raise the bet, now it’s ten low-grade spirit stones.”

“And… brothers at the fourth level of the Qi Gathering Realm are welcome too.”

Earlier, Gu Yang had said “below the fourth level,” which excluded those at the fourth level.

So there had been some fourth-level disciples who were interested but unable to join.

Now, with the updated conditions,

Quite a few eligible inner disciples were clearly tempted.

At the same time…

In the crowd…

Ding Xuan tugged impatiently at the sleeve of the inner disciple beside him.

“Big Brother, this is the perfect chance!”

“That Gu Yang conned me out of five low-grade spirit stones back in the outer sect, you have to stand up for me!”

Ding Xuan hadn’t dared hope before.

After all, Gu Yang’s conditions had been quite strict.

He didn’t dare challenge him himself.

Gu Yang had already taught him a harsh lesson back in the outer sect.

Now that Gu Yang had broken through the Qi Gathering Realm, and even defeated a third-level inner disciple,

And he himself… hadn’t even broken through yet.

How could he possibly be a match for Gu Yang?

Challenging him would just be handing over spirit stones on a silver platter.

The inner disciple beside him was his biological older brother, Ding Hao

!

A recognized prodigy within the inner sect.

Exceptionally powerful.

Ding Xuan had originally wanted to ask his brother for help.

But Ding Hao was at the fourth level of the Qi Gathering Realm.

So he hadn’t been able to step in before.

Now…

Opportunity had come knocking.

Naturally, they weren’t going to let it go.

“Oh? He’s Gu Yang?” Ding Hao raised an eyebrow with interest.

He only had one younger brother in the family and doted on him immensely.

Ever since Ding Xuan had entered the inner sect, he’d been complaining about this Gu Yang.

At first, Ding Hao had been skeptical.

Someone in the outer sect strong enough to defeat my brother? Really?

But now, seeing it for himself,

Alright… this Gu Yang’s got some skill.

Still, that was all he had.

“Decent talent, sure, but a little too arrogant.”

“In that case, allow me to help you vent some of that anger,” Ding Hao said coolly.

He clearly didn’t like Gu Yang either.

With a cold snort, he stepped forward.

Seeing this, Ding Xuan’s face lit up with joy.

Big Brother’s stepping in. This is in the bag!

The moment Ding Hao moved,

The other inner disciples at the fourth level of the Qi Gathering Realm immediately backed off.

“Since you’re so confident, I’d like to test your skills.”

Ding Hao strode straight onto the dueling platform.

That one step caused a wave of commotion among the inner disciples nearby.

“Whoa… Ding Hao’s stepping up?”

“This newcomer actually got Ding Hao interested?!”

“No kidding, Ding Hao’s a true prodigy in the inner sect. Even though he’s only at the fourth level, he can fight above his level! Even a seventh-level cultivator might not beat him!”

“Haha, that kid is so screwed! He thought he could make a quick buck before leaving, but Ding Hao stepping in? He’s gonna lose everything!”

In the crowd, there were shocked expressions, astonished gasps, and plenty of schadenfreude.

But without exception, no one believed Gu Yang could win.

After all, Gu Yang was only at the first level of the Qi Gathering Realm.

Even if he managed to beat someone at the third level,

That was the limit!

His opponent now… was Ding Hao.

But Gu Yang didn’t know who Ding Hao was.

However, when he saw Ding Hao standing beside Ding Xuan, it all clicked.

So this guy… must be Ding Xuan’s older brother.

Looks like he’s here for revenge.

As for the people whispering around him, talking about how Ding Hao could beat seventh-level cultivators,

Gu Yang didn’t care.

He had only one goal now,

Snatch that last pot of spirit stones.

On the dueling platform, Gu Yang and Ding Hao stood face to face.

Ding Hao’s gaze was calm and dismissive.

He gave Gu Yang a glance and said from above, “I heard you scammed my little brother Ding Xuan out of five spirit stones during the inner sect trials?”

“Scam? He challenged me and lost. I never forced him to do anything,” Gu Yang replied casually.

“Hmph! I don’t care about that. Since you took five from Ding Xuan, these ten stones… will be compensation.”

“And I’ll give you a lesson while I’m at it. Not just anyone gets to mess with Ding Hao’s little brother.”

Ding Hao looked completely arrogant and disdainful.

Then he raised his fist, and struck toward Gu Yang with full force.

To him, once that punch landed,

The outcome was already decided.

Victory was his. No question.