Chapter 12

Looking at the dead body of the fox demon beside him, this one-star mid-rank fox demon’s eyes were filled with intense killing intent, and a thick demonic aura spread out, making Zhuge Xiang feel as if his breathing was becoming difficult.

The previous fox demon was only a one-star low-rank, equivalent to the third level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, and it was already injured, requiring two people to work together to kill it. This one-star mid-rank fox demon, at its peak strength, was several times more terrifying. With its front legs slightly bent, it was poised to pounce, making Zhuge Xiang feel as if a blade was hanging over his head.

It was no wonder. Zhuge Xiang was only at the first level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, and the talented girl Lu Yuling had only recently broken through to the third level of the Qi Cultivation Realm. However, this fox demon’s strength was comparable to the fifth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm. The gap of two levels was not easy to bridge, even if the fox demon’s physical body was not particularly strong.

"Let’s make a move!" Although the demonic aura of the fifth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm made Zhuge Xiang feel as if his breathing was becoming difficult, he knew that the fox demon’s speed meant he couldn’t escape, at least not himself. So, he gathered his mind, raised the Blood Refining Saber in his hand, and prepared for battle.

Lu Yuling looked at Zhuge Xiang, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She hadn’t seen how Zhuge Xiang had taken out the Blood Refining Saber, and what surprised her most was that he, who had only comprehended Qi for a week and was at the first level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, dared to face a fox demon comparable to the fifth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm without fear.

"Senior Sister Lu, how long can you hold it off?" Holding the Blood Refining Saber tightly, Zhuge Xiang’s eyes were fixed on the fox demon as big as a calf, and he asked.

"Since you have such fighting spirit, I will accompany you and try. If I use my full strength, I can hold it off for about twenty breaths," she said with a calm smile, but her eyes were serious. Clearly, Lu Yuling had no intention of fleeing.

"Twenty breaths?" Zhuge Xiang looked at Lu Yuling with some surprise. Although she had broken through to the third level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, it seemed insufficient to hold off the fox demon for twenty breaths, right?

However, although he was surprised, Zhuge Xiang didn’t say much. Clearly, she had her own secrets. Although their relationship wasn’t very close, Zhuge Xiang knew that Lu Yuling wasn’t the type to joke about such matters.

"Twenty breaths, let’s give it a try!" Holding the Blood Refining Saber, he directly put the Steel Secret Medicine in his mouth, which he had been reluctant to use. As the medicine took effect, Zhuge Xiang could feel his body as if it were covered in armor, hard as iron, but his movements were not affected.

Steel Secret Medicine: Consuming it can increase physical defense by 150 points, lasting for 1 minute.

After consuming the Steel Secret Medicine, Zhuge Xiang’s defense was directly increased by 150 points. At the same time, his legs were slightly bent, and the essence blood Qi in his body suddenly boiled, visible blood-red Qi spreading from his skin. Due to the boiling blood, Zhuge Xiang’s eyes turned blood red, which was the Bloodthirsty Technique.

Bloodthirsty Technique: Temporarily increases all attributes by 30%. As the Bloodthirsty Technique activated, the essence blood Qi in his body boiled, and Zhuge Xiang’s spirit entered a state of excitement. He even let out a roar like a wild beast and rushed forward. The Blood Refining Saber, enveloped in blood-red Qi, turned into a red streak and slashed down at the fox demon...

"Bloodthirsty Technique!? He has mastered the Bloodthirsty Technique!?" Lu Yuling’s eyes widened as she looked at Zhuge Xiang.

Mastering the Bloodthirsty Technique in a week? When Zhuge Xiang was selecting martial arts in the Martial Arts Pavilion, Lu Yuling was also there. She knew that Zhuge Xiang definitely didn’t know the Bloodthirsty Technique a week ago. Moreover, he had only comprehended Qi for a week, and he wouldn’t have had the conditions to practice it even if he wanted to.

It was already impressive that he had barely mastered the Blood Lightning Slash in a week, but somehow, he had secretly mastered the most dangerous Bloodthirsty Technique in the Martial Arts Pavilion. Looking at Zhuge Xiang with surprise, Lu Yuling realized she didn’t know much about this junior brother she had been with for ten days. Although she was surprised, as a talented girl, she hesitated for only a moment before rushing forward.

To the fox demon, Zhuge Xiang’s threat was even greater than Lu Yuling’s. Without dodging, the fox demon raised its claw and directly swiped at Zhuge Xiang. The sharp claws, gleaming with cold light, were imbued with the demonic aura of the fifth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, capable of easily tearing through a steel plate.

"Slash!" The Blood Refining Saber slashed down, in a completely desperate manner. Zhuge Xiang didn’t dodge the fox demon’s attack, wanting to test the 150 points of defense from the Steel Secret Medicine, plus the 30% increase from the Bloodthirsty Technique, which was about 200 points of defense.

"Trouble, has his consciousness become blurred?" Seeing Zhuge Xiang fighting desperately without dodging attacks, Lu Yuling’s eyes narrowed, thinking that Zhuge Xiang’s consciousness had become blurred like most people who practiced the Bloodthirsty Technique.

If they continued to fight, although Zhuge Xiang could injure the fox demon, he would definitely end up dead. However, it was too late, and Lu Yuling couldn’t save him in time.

The fox demon’s gleaming claws struck Zhuge Xiang’s chest, and the sharp claws left several bloody marks on his chest, but the expected scene of being torn open did not happen. Zhuge Xiang’s coarse cloth shirt was torn, but only a few bloody marks were left on his chest, with fine blood droplets oozing out. This claw attack barely broke through his defense, clearly just a surface wound.

The fox demon’s attack made Zhuge Xiang feel a stinging pain in his chest, like being pricked by a few needles, but it wasn’t a serious injury, just a surface wound. On the character panel, his 110 points of health only dropped by 5 points, which was almost negligible. However, Zhuge Xiang’s Blood Refining Saber struck the fox demon’s front leg hard.

Although Zhuge Xiang was only at the first level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, the attack was very powerful under the Bloodthirsty Technique. The fox demon’s body, though much larger and stronger than an ordinary fox, was not as strong as a two-star demon beast, and its physical resistance to attacks was not very strong. With a howl, Zhuge Xiang’s slash left a deep, bone-deep wound on the fox demon’s front leg, and fresh blood stained its dark yellow fur, dripping to the ground.

With this slash, Zhuge Xiang could clearly feel a faint aura flowing into his body through the Blood Refining Saber. The 5 points of health lost on the character panel were instantly restored, thanks to the Blood Refining Saber’s passive effect, which provided 10% life drain from the damage dealt.

"Kill!" One desperate move, and the fox demon didn’t harm him much, but he had inflicted real damage on it, and the 10% life drain effect boosted his confidence. He completely ignored defense and dodging, and with a 30% increase in speed and attack speed, he slashed again.

One desperate move, and Zhuge Xiang’s fighting spirit soared. The fox demon, however, was deeply wary. Its claw could shatter even a stone, but it had no effect on this human. Zhuge Xiang’s body was harder than steel, and the fox demon couldn’t understand why.

"Clear Wave Palm..." Although Lu Yuling was also amazed by Zhuge Xiang’s physical defense, she knew she couldn’t be distracted during battle. She used the Clear Wave Palm, locking onto the fox demon with the third level of the Qi Cultivation Realm’s aura.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!!!" In an excited state and without worrying about his own injuries, Zhuge Xiang’s Blood Refining Saber slashed faster and faster. What could be more exhilarating than attacking without any concerns?

The Clear Wave Palm entangled the fox demon, and Zhuge Xiang’s body was enveloped in blood-red Qi, like a blood-soaked Asura. The Blood Refining Saber, with its dangerous aura, turned into a crimson streak under the 30% attack speed increase.

Fortunately, this fox demon was an agile demon beast. If it were a slow-moving beast like a bull or a bear, it would have been killed by now. Even so, the fox demon had several new wounds, bleeding profusely, looking more disheveled than ever. This fifth-level demon beast no longer looked as confident as when it first appeared.

As its injuries worsened, the fox demon, under the combined attack of Lu Yuling and Zhuge Xiang, found that its powerful demonic aura had no room to be unleashed. Especially Zhuge Xiang, who was like a piece of unbreakable steel, made the fox demon want to retreat after just a dozen breaths.

"Trouble!" Seeing the fox demon trying to escape, Zhuge Xiang’s heart tightened.

At this point, letting it escape would waste a huge amount of experience. Although they had suppressed the fox demon, it was very difficult to stop a fifth-level demon beast from escaping.

"Zhuge Xiang, Blood Lightning Slash!" Realizing the fox demon was trying to escape, Lu Yuling shouted urgently. At the same time, fine white threads appeared between her fingers, wrapping around the fox demon with the Clear Wave Palm, restricting its movements.

The threads, wrapped around the fox demon, were affected by its immense strength, even dragging Lu Yuling’s body. The Clear Wave Palm was also affected, but it seemed to be able to restrain the fox demon for a short time.

"So, her confidence was because of these threads?" Seeing the threads wrapped around the fox demon and Lu Yuling’s efforts to restrain it, Zhuge Xiang understood why she was confident she could hold off the fox demon for twenty breaths.

Not wasting any time, he channeled his blood Qi into the Blood Refining Saber, and the 30% attack speed increase made his Blood Lightning Slash charge faster.

Seeing that Lu Yuling was about to lose control and would be dragged away by the fox demon, Zhuge Xiang kicked off the ground, dirt flying, and turned into a blood-red shadow. The dazzling blade light directly slashed at the fox demon’s neck, the Blood Lightning Slash...