71: Chapter 71 Foundation Establishment Great Perfection? No, it's "Perfect" Great Perfection.

Darkness fell, and moonlight leaked through the gaps in the loosely fitting window of Dormitory 404, casting mottled shadows on the floor.

Gu Fan lay on his bed, tossing and turning for half an hour.

He wasn't nervous because he was about to fight; it was purely because of the damn bedsheet beneath him.

This bedsheet, passed down through who knows how many generations of seniors, was pilling to an outrageous degree. Every lint ball felt like a small pebble, poking right into the itchy spots on his back.

"What a sin."

Gu Fan sighed, folded his pillow to make it higher, and tried to find a comfortable position. "Is this what they call 'toughening the spirit and wearying the muscles'? But I just want my skin to feel what it's like to touch a cloud."

He thought back to the "Cloud Brocade Heavenly Silkworm Silk Flag" hanging in the Club Management Center.

That silkiness, that luster, that feeling of being warm in winter and cool in summer—it was absolute perfection.

"I have to get my hands on it."

Gu Fan clenched his fist, his knuckles letting out a sharp crack, and he grinned. "Anyone who dares stop me from changing my bedsheets will get a taste of a societal beatdown."

With his motivation set, Gu Fan decided to check how his preparations were going.

With a thought, his consciousness sank into his Dantian.

In that Qi Sea, the liquid spiritual energy was incredibly thick, almost overflowing, viscous and dense, emitting a faint golden light.

This was the sign of the Foundation Establishment Stage Great Perfection.

And it was the kind of Great Perfection that couldn't possibly be any more "perfectly rounded."

"System, isn't this a bit too full?"

Gu Fan looked at the precarious Realm barrier. "I feel like even a sneeze could blast me into the Golden Core stage. Why is it stuck at 99.9% and not moving?"

[Ding! Replying to host: Your Foundation is too thick, and you are practicing a Cultivation Technique like the "Great Dao Returns to One Art." To cross from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core, you need a massive "external stimulus" to puncture that membrane.]

"External stimulus?"

Gu Fan raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

[For example, encountering a life-and-death crisis, being struck by heavenly lightning, or getting pummeled by someone. In short, you need sufficiently strong external pressure.]

Gu Fan curled his lip.

Getting pummeled?

That would hurt way too much.

A life-and-death crisis?

That would be way too exhausting.

As for heavenly lightning... Gu Fan glanced out the window. The moon was bright, there were few stars, and not a single dark cloud in sight.

"Looks like I'll have to take a shortcut."

Gu Fan stroked his chin, his gaze falling on another progress bar on the System panel—[Current Malice Progress: 95%].

Only 5% more, and he could open a Malice Blind Box.

Given the System's usual nature, whatever came out of that blind box would definitely provide him with an unexpected "stimulus."

"Although I don't like to actively cause trouble, for the sake of my Golden Core Dao and my new bedsheets, I'll just have to wrong my fellow students a bit."

Gu Fan skillfully pulled out his phone and opened the official forum of Tianqiong War God Academy.

Even though it was the middle of the night, the forum was quite lively.

The discussion thread about "Is Gu Fan actually triplets or does he have split personality?" was trending high. Some people had even formed a "Gu Fan Research Society" specifically to analyze his behavior patterns at different times.

Gu Fan chuckled and used his already infamous ID, "Lying Flat President," to post a new thread.

The title was simple but filled with the scent of gunpowder: "Regarding the upcoming Hundred Clubs Battle, I have a few words from the heart for everyone." The content was even simpler—just one image.

The image was that famous meme: Senior Brother Duan Shui Liu pointing at everyone present.

The caption read:

"I'm not targeting anyone specifically; I'm saying that everyone participating in the Hundred Clubs Battle is just organic waste that wastes air in front of the Lying Flat Society."

"Send."

With a tap of Gu Fan's finger, it was like tossing a bundle of dynamite into a calm fish pond.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

The forum, which had been discussing gossip, suddenly exploded.

"Holy crap! This ID... is it Gu Fan himself?!"

"Too arrogant! Too wild! Organic waste? Who does he think he is?!"

"I thought he was interesting before, but now he just seems like a clown seeking attention! The Hundred Clubs Battle is real combat! There will be blood!"

"Brothers! Form a team! Target: Lying Flat Society! Whoever can beat the crap out of Gu Fan, I'll pay five hundred points!"

"Count me in! I'll put up a thousand! I can't take this insult!"

Seeing the notification messages in the background and hearing the [malice points +1], [malice points +5], [malice points +10] sounds in his head...

Gu Fan's grin widened even further. Finally, he laughed silently, his shoulders shaking.

"Yes, that's it."

"Be angry, tremble, and then contribute all your malice."

Gu Fan hummed a little tune. Feeling like he hadn't drawn enough aggro yet, he picked a few of the angriest-looking replies in the comments section and engaged in some "cordial and friendly" interactions.

Reply to [Mad Blade President]: Stop barking. If you're so tough, come to 404 and hit me. Oh, right, you can't even get through the door.

Oh, right, you can't even get through the door.

Reply to [Magical Girl Burly Man]: Give it a rest. Your magic doesn't even make as much noise as one of my farts.

Reply to [Passerby A]: Get your points ready. Don't be a sore loser and start crying when the time comes.

This wave of actions brought the entire forum's anger to a boiling point.

It was said that that night, countless roars echoed from the boys' dormitory building, followed by the sounds of tables being slapped and stools being smashed—it was quite the scene.

Inside Dormitory 404.

Xiao Fan, who was sleeping on the floor in the living room, suddenly snapped his eyes open.

He felt it.

A Killing Intent so thick it was almost tangible gathered from all directions, enveloping the entire dormitory building.

"Enemy attack?!"

Xiao Fan sprang up, his hand already gripping the hilt of his sword. "Such strong Killing Intent! This scale... has a beast tide attacked the city?"

"Calm down."

Gu Fan's lazy voice came from the top bunk. "It's not a beast tide; it's a human tide."

"Human tide?"

Xiao Fan looked confused.

"It's nothing. Everyone is just too enthusiastic and wants to have some deep Soul communication with us."

Gu Fan yawned, glanced at the malice progress bar which had reached 98%, and turned over contentedly. "Go to sleep. We have to go buy supplies tomorrow. We're people going on a spring outing... oh wait, going to war."

Xiao Fan gripped his sword, listening to the faint roars of "Gu Fan, you bastard!" coming from outside, and his lip twitched.

President, you call this enthusiasm?

This is clearly being the enemy of the entire people!

Meanwhile, in the next room.

Lin Xue was applying a face mask while looking at her phone screen, her hands shaking violently.

"Crazy... completely insane..."

Looking at the pinned, high-quality post with over ten thousand replies, she felt her career as a secret agent had hit its biggest snag.

Which of her previous mission targets hadn't kept a low profile, fearing discovery?

This guy was the opposite; he was afraid people didn't know where he was, afraid they didn't want to kill him.

"This suicidal taunting tactic..." Lin Xue took a breath, trying to use logic to analyze it. "Is it to disrupt the enemy's deployment? To make them lose their minds in anger? All warfare is based on deception; attacking the heart is the best strategy..."

"As expected of a monster with multiple personalities, even this kind of psychological warfare is used so smoothly."

Lin Xue looked at herself in the mirror, a hint of awe appearing in her eyes. "It seems I can't fall behind either."

She took out her treasured set of hidden weapon maintenance tools and began to wipe the cold, glinting throwing knives one by one.

This night, no one in Tianqiong War God Academy was destined to sleep well.

Only Gu Fan, at the center of the storm, slept soundly to the sound of curses from the school's teachers and students.

In his dream, he even saw himself lying on bedsheets made of Cloud Brocade Heavenly Silkworm Silk, surrounded by a group of "wealth-distributing children" lining up to give him malice points.

"It's so good... this damn popularity..."

Gu Fan mumbled in his sleep and rolled over to hug his slightly moldy quilt.

Inside him, the Qi Sea began to rotate slowly under the stimulation of this massive external mental force (even if it was malicious), letting out a low roar like the tide.

That solid Realm barrier finally showed a tiny crack.

He was only one last straw away from the Golden Core.

Or rather, just one last act of seeking death.

Early the next morning.

The sun was still bright, but the atmosphere on campus was exceptionally strange.

Everyone had dark circles under their eyes. They didn't greet acquaintances on the road, instead scanning around with predatory glares as if looking for a specific target.

Amidst this atmosphere of being the center of attention, Gu Fan led his two trusty sidekicks and swaggered toward the Academy Logistics Supply Center.

"President, do we really not need a disguise?"

Lin Xue wore sunglasses and a mask, pulling her hoodie cap down as low as possible, wishing she could shrink her head into her neck. "I feel like the rate of people turning their heads to look at us is terrifyingly high."

"Disguise for what?"

Gu Fan held a cup of soy milk, sipping it through a straw. "It's better to be open and aboveboard. Look at that student; his gaze toward me is so passionate, he's almost in tears."

Lin Xue followed his gaze.

A male student was staring death at Gu Fan, the Jianbing Guozi in his hand crushed, egg liquid dripping all over his hand, his eyes bloodshot.

Was that passion?

He clearly wanted to eat him alive!

"Let's go, time is of the essence."

Gu Fan tossed the empty soy milk cup into the trash and waved his hand. "Today's task is arduous. We must fully stock up on our strategic supplies. After all, we'll be staying there for several days."

"Yes! President!"

Xiao Fan was in high spirits, carrying his giant sword and walking with an arrogant, overbearing swagger.

Lin Xue sighed and followed resignedly.

She had a premonition that today's shopping trip would be anything but normal.

It turned out her premonitions were always accurate.

Gu Fan stood before the massive glass doors of the Academy Logistics Supply Center, looking at the wide variety of goods inside. He turned to the two behind him with a meaningful smile:

"Boys, are you ready? Today we're not looking at the price, only the effectiveness. Let's give those hicks who only buy knives and swords a little shock."

Xiao Fan thumped his chest loudly and roared:

"Always ready! President, my space ring has been emptied. Whether it's a five-thousand-pound Heavy Profound Iron Sword or a Thunder Fire Bomb that can level a hilltop, just give the word, and I'll haul it all away without blinking an eye!"

Lin Xue rolled her eyes and whispered:

"Are you stupid? The President isn't looking at the weapons section; he's drooling at the home living section over there. Believe it or not, he's probably going to buy a massage chair to take back."