Along with Zhang Ergou's fame came the dozens of inner disciples sent into the Beast Forest. Among them, Jiang Tian, Zhuge Wen, and Zuo Tian were particularly notable. Despite their Golden Core early stage cultivation, they were made to run circles around a Foundation Establishment cultivator and became the laughingstock of the entire inner sect.
The annual Beast Forest trial for the inner sect was not only a test for outer disciples but also a validation of the strength of some disciples who had recently entered the inner sect. The outcome of this particular trial had, in fact, overturned the understanding of many inner sect elders and disciples. This was also the first time in the history of the Misty Sect that all participating inner disciples in the Beast Forest trial were wiped out.
"Zhang Ergou, you wait. I will make you pay a heavy price in the future to avenge today's humiliation." Zhuge Wen had already returned to his cultivation peak, but whenever he recalled his experience in the Beast Forest, he felt an unyielding resentment. However, these were mere interludes, and no one cared about their feelings. People would only spread them as jokes over tea and meals.
After the Beast Forest trial ended, Zhang Ergou officially became an inner disciple. Naturally, he no longer needed to be chosen by other elders. Chi Yu had already decided to take him as her disciple.
The following period was relatively peaceful. Apart from cultivating the Heaven and Earth Chaos Art and the Sky Phoenix Body Refining technique, Zhang Ergou spent his days practicing various magical skills. With the experience from the Beast Forest, he felt the gap between himself and the inner disciples and became even more diligent and serious in his cultivation. Seeing this, Chi Yu nodded in approval, secretly praising herself for not misjudging and taking on such a hardworking disciple.
A steep mountain peak, enveloped in dense spiritual energy, was adorned with exotic flowers and plants exuding rich fragrance. A single breath of air here was enough to soothe one's mind and spirit.
Unbeknownst to him, Zhang Ergou had been here for a month. During this entire month, he hadn't taken a single step out of Lingyu Peak. It wasn't that Zhang Ergou didn't want to leave; it was that in this past month, he had truly witnessed Chi Yu's terrifying methods. Unlike Chunyang Sanren and Qiao Yanyun, who acted like hands-off managers, Chi Yu was clearly a first-time master and doted on her disciple exceptionally. Every day, after Zhang Ergou finished his cultivation, Chi Yu would personally beat him, ostensibly to improve his resilience. Zhang Ergou, though angry, dared not speak out and could only bury this kindness deep in his heart.
Perched on a crooked tree branch, Zhang Ergou clutched his swollen eyes and face. He had been beaten by Chi Yu quite a bit over the past month.
"You brat, how do you feel? The elders have been coming to my Lingyu Peak less often these past few days. Don't blame your master; I'm just putting on a show for them." Unseen, Chi Yu suddenly appeared beneath the crooked tree, looking up at Zhang Ergou.
Zhang Ergou's mouth twitched, and his heart burned with anger. While other masters went to great lengths to stand up for their disciples, coming to Lingyu Peak to argue with Chi Yu, his peculiar master was the opposite. Not only did she not look out for him, but she also beat him to within an inch of his life, claiming it was a charade. Was it really just a charade? If he weren't so tough, he might have lost his life long ago.
Zhang Ergou, daring not to speak, could only glare at Chi Yu with his panda-like eyes, filled with resentment. He was truly terrified. In the few instances he had tried to reason with her, he had been beaten even more severely.
"Oh, you brat, you dare to glare at me? Do you think your master is wrong?" Chi Yu's beautiful eyes widened. If Zhang Ergou dared to utter a single word of disagreement, he would suffer dearly.
Zhang Ergou quickly turned his head away, ignoring Chi Yu. A wise man knows when to retreat. Zhang Ergou had endured enough torment these days. However, after each beating, Chi Yu would make him soak in an unknown crimson medicinal liquid. At first, Zhang Ergou found the pain unbearable. But after a month, the unbearable sensation slowly subsided. Zhang Ergou was surprised to find that the strength of his bones and the thickness of his meridians had improved. This was the only benefit he had gained in his month at the inner sect.
"You brat, you look so reluctant. If others saw this, they would think I'm abusing you." Chi Yu gave Zhang Ergou a reproachful glance and sat down beneath the tree without any pretense.
"If you're not abusing me, then what are you? What kind of master beats their disciple like this?" Zhang Ergou's eyes welled up, looking as though he were about to cry.
"Oh, oh, you really think you've been wronged, don't you!" Seeing Zhang Ergou's simpering expression, Chi Yu burst into laughter, unable to catch her breath.
"To be honest, I'm truly doing this for your own good. Haven't you noticed how much your resilience has improved these past few days?"
"Hmph! That's just because I'm tough-skinned," Zhang Ergou said, lifting his chin with a comical, defiant air.
"Nonsense! For the past month, you think I've been letting you soak in that medicinal liquid for fun? It contains not only various precious medicinal ingredients but also a drop of essence blood from a Golden Core stage demonic beast!" Hearing Zhang Ergou's complete lack of gratitude, Chi Yu immediately swore. "How could you, a brat, understand its value? You've truly wasted all my painstaking efforts."
"Master, you mean that medicinal liquid was specially made for me by you?" Zhang Ergou quickly leaped down from the tree and crouched beside Chi Yu.
"Of course. Did you think I would truly make things difficult for you? If it weren't for Senior Brother Tiandao discovering during the Outer Sect Grand Competition that you are also a body refiner, I wouldn't have been this concerned." Chi Yu stared at Zhang Ergou with a serious expression. "You're a reckless kid. In such a critical situation last time, you dared to cultivate that body refining technique of yours at the crucial moment." Even now, the memory of that scene made Chi Yu's scalp tingle.
She was naturally very satisfied with Zhang Ergou as her disciple. He was good in every aspect, except that he was too much of a worry. He was also diligent and hardworking in his cultivation, showing no slackening due to his talent. However, this kid was also too mischievous, and his ability to cause trouble was second to none. That's why, for the past month, Chi Yu had confined Zhang Ergou to Lingyu Peak, not allowing him to step out. She feared that if he were to go out, he would stir up the inner sect in unimaginable ways. Chi Yu did not want to be bothered by those elders coming to her door every few days. The aftereffects of the Beast Forest had only just begun to dissipate, and she was thoroughly tired of their nagging.
"Brat, in two months, it will be the grand competition between our sect and the Liuhai Sect. You'd better not embarrass me then." Suddenly, Chi Yu changed the subject.
Zhang Ergou was taken aback. He had completely forgotten about it until Chi Yu mentioned it.
"During this time, I have designed a complete cultivation plan tailor-made for you. It's guaranteed to make you feel heavenly pleasure." Seeing the mischievous smile on Chi Yu's face, Zhang Ergou had a bad feeling...