Raise a sword!

Time stands still in the mountains.

During the first two years of the mountain closure, Jiang Peng didn't feel anything was wrong, but he vaguely sensed that his cultivation progress was a little slow.

He initially thought it was simply a natural consequence of high cultivation levels, but later he learned that this was true for everyone in the Cangshan Sect, from Golden Core cultivators to outer disciples who had just begun cultivating Qi.

The True Lord's seemingly casual remark about diminishing fortune only revealed its profound significance to the entire Cangshan Sect when it truly took effect.

Even so, those who excel will always be able to stand out.

Slow progress in cultivation does not mean no progress.

Jiang Peng was unaware of the situation on the other peaks of the sect, but the few members on Biwu Peak were doing quite well.

Mei Jinhe broke through to the eighth level of Qi Refining.

In her own words, if it weren't for the sect's good fortune, she, a Foundation Establishment seedling with a superior spiritual root, should have already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining and started preparing for Foundation Establishment.

Su Zhi was still a step behind, barely reaching the seventh level of Qi Refining shortly after Mei Jinhe's breakthrough.

As time went by, the two who were once neck and neck eventually developed a visible gap due to differences in their abilities.

However, Su Zhi took it all in stride.

It's no wonder he comes from a prestigious family; he probably already realized that he wasn't a valued member of his family when he was sent to join the Cangshan Sect.

Jiang Peng tried to comfort him, but he left her speechless with the words, "Do your best and leave the rest to fate."

As for Liu Linong, the only true junior disciple of Jiang Peng on Biwu Peak, Jiang Peng was truly worried about him.

This kid's cultivation progressed extremely slowly. Despite having the talent of a superior spiritual root, it took him ten years to break through from the third level of Qi Refining to the fifth level.

Jiang Peng was afraid that if word of this cultivation speed got back to the Liu family, the elders would think that he, Jiang Peng, was misleading the younger generation.

The reason why Liu Linong's cultivation progressed slowly was entirely because his energy was tied up in various arts.

It is not alchemy.

This kid has a good talent for alchemy. Jiang Peng taught him Danyangzi's alchemy techniques early on, but even now he's only at a mediocre level.

The reason, however, left Jiang Peng both amused and exasperated.

Compared to alchemy, this kid's talent in the art of spiritual cuisine is exceptional. After receiving cross-world culinary training from Jiang Peng, Liu Linong skillfully incorporated it into his spiritual cuisine notes.

Nowadays, whenever he has free time, he goes to Yingke Peak Ling Shan Fang to cook.

The Ling Shan Fang restaurant usually doesn't do much business, but whenever Liu Linong goes there, the news spreads and even Foundation Establishment elders from the sect will personally patronize it.

Not only that.

Now, whenever there's a banquet or something similar to be held on any of the peaks in the sect, Liu Linong is always the first choice to be the chef.

Liu Linong is now completely immersed in the art of cooking and cannot extricate himself from it. Because of this, Jiang Peng has experienced what it is like to have a disobedient junior.

During this period, Jiang Peng also wrote to Liu to explain the matter.

However, Liu seemed to have anticipated Liu Linong's nature, so he simply said to let nature take its course.

At this point, Jiang Peng had no way to deal with the increasingly chubby little boy and could only force him to cultivate for a few hours every day, so as not to delay the matter of absorbing qi.

As for the rest, Jiang Peng let him be.

...

Biwu Peak, in the forest behind the mountain.

Jiang Peng invited Elder Han from the Array Peak to set up a spirit-gathering array in the back mountain.

At this moment, the Spirit Gathering Array is constantly drawing upon the spiritual energy of the surrounding heaven and earth, causing gusts of wind to rise in the mountains and forests.

In the very center of the formation, a three-foot-long yellow rat was struggling in agony.

"I see that your demonic pet isn't progressing smoothly, which is also due to your oversight."

Elder Han frowned and said, "The difficulty of a demon pet advancing is no less than that of a cultivator breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage. How could you be in such a hurry? You only came to me to set up the formation when this little thing has already started to advance."

Jiang Peng sighed helplessly.

"It's not that I was careless, Junior Brother; it's just that before this, I had absolutely no idea that this little thing had unknowingly cultivated to the advanced stage!"

"Normally, I don't care about it. I just leave the monthly Beast Spirit Pill at the entrance of my little courtyard. This little thing is always clever. When the time comes, it comes to take it. After eating the pill, it goes back into the mountains to frolic."

"If I hadn't noticed the strange activity on the back mountain, I would have had no idea that it was so audacious."

squeak-

Even amidst the pain of advancing, Ah Huang, inside the formation, still managed to bark twice at Jiang Peng.

"What an intelligent and perceptive demon pet! It seems to want to tell you something," Elder Han remarked in amazement.

Jiang Peng's face darkened.

With the Beast Taming Talisman, he could easily understand Ah Huang's cries.

It was precisely because she understood that Jiang Peng's expression became even more unpleasant.

"This little thing must have eaten something in the mountains and forests that gave it an excessive boost. It didn't even expect to advance to the next level so suddenly."

Elder Han was speechless upon hearing this.

This advancement lasted for three days and three nights.

The commotion caused during this time attracted a large crowd from the sect.

Jiang Peng had no idea that Elder Han was such a blabbermouth, sharing the amusing stories he had heard with everyone.

Wei Zhilan laughed the loudest among them.

Later, even the Peak Master of Ni Chang Peak rushed over upon hearing the news.

Even now, as a Golden Core cultivator, Ni Chang still maintains the same carefree and unrestrained demeanor.

She first joined Wei Zhilan in mocking Jiang Peng, and then somehow managed to make Ah Huang's difficult advancement much smoother.

Finally, with Ah Huang's body expanding and contracting, it stood upright and grew to a height of four feet.

squeak-

First came a few squeaking sounds, but they sounded somewhat different from before.

But then, Ah Huang opened his mouth wide.

Ahhhhhh—

A deafening roar echoed through the peaks and valleys of Cangshan Sect.

"Hey ho, a mouse howling in the forest! Your spirit pet has quite a loud voice."

The Peak Master of Ni Chang found it amusing and with a slight wave of her hand, Ah Huang, who had just advanced to the second level and was comparable to the Foundation Establishment stage, fell into her hands.

Then you see Ni Chang kneading and flattening Ah Huang.

"It's alright. It seems to have a somewhat special bloodline, but I can't tell exactly how. You can go back and ask the people from the Beast Taming Sect."

After she finished speaking, Jiang Peng saw that the Peak Master of Ni Chang put Ah Huang down and then discussed the betting game and the commission with Wei Zhilan. The two smiled at each other and then left together.

Jiang Peng and Ah Huang looked at each other in bewilderment.

"I've heard that after a demon beast advances in rank, it gains wisdom and refines the transverse bone in its throat, thus becoming known as a demon... Say a few words to me?"

Ah Huang stood there, opening and closing his mouth for a long time, and finally, a slightly high-pitched voice came out.

"Boss, I'm hungry."

Jiang Peng raised her leg and kicked Ah Huang, who was still as fat as a ball even after advancing in rank, sending him flying.

all in all.

As the ten-year closure of the mountain neared its end, a second-tier demon rat appeared on Azure Mist Peak.