Chapter 13

Bound by Qing Bo's palm and the resilient threads, the fox demon found it difficult to break free in the short term. Taking advantage of this moment, with the Blood Refinement Blade and the Bloodlust Technique activated, Zhuge Xiang launched his Blood Thunder Slash. A crimson blade of light, driven by his rapid thrust, slashed toward the neck of the one-star mid-grade demon beast.

A shrill scream echoed as blood blossomed. Zhuge Xiang's Blood Refinement Blade ruthlessly slashed into the fox demon's neck. The sensation in his hands told him that the fox demon's cervical vertebrae had been completely severed, leaving only a layer of flesh connecting the neck.

Falling to the ground, the fox demon let out a few whimpers and convulsed a few times before it lay still. As the fox demon died, Lu Yuling quickly took out a small jade bottle, used a dagger to cut open the fox demon's chest, and collected a small half-bottle of still warm essence blood, carefully preserving it. Only then did she let out a sigh of relief and carefully gathered the resilient threads that had entangled the fox demon.

Zhuge Xiang did not pay attention to Lu Yuling's actions, for with the fox demon slain, it also meant that it was time for him to reap the rewards. The system's upgrade notification came as expected.

"Ding, for slaying a one-star mid-grade fox demon, you have gained 450 experience points, a skill book 'Burst Step,' and a Super Spirit Essence Pill."

The system's notification surprised Lin Xi. This one-star mid-grade fox demon had actually given him 450 experience points? This confirmed Zhuge Xiang's guess that slaying a higher-level monster would significantly increase the experience gained.

A fox demon equivalent to the third level of the Qi Cultivation Realm would only give about 100 experience points, while a fox demon equivalent to the fifth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm would give nearly 400. However, it made sense, considering that with Lu Yuling's full assistance and his own Bloodlust Technique, Blood Refinement Blade, and Iron Secret Medicine, they had barely managed to slay it. The 450 experience points were well-deserved.

Tearing his rough cloth shirt, he made a band to tie the Blood Refinement Blade to his back. Only then did Zhuge Xiang have the time to look at the skill book and the pill in his hand. The items dropped by a fox demon equivalent to the fifth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm were clearly better.

The skill book 'Burst Step' was a pity, as it required the third level of the Qi Cultivation Realm to learn. Zhuge Xiang put it in his pocket. However, seeing the Super Spirit Essence Pill, he was both amused and frustrated.

Super Spirit Essence Pill: Requires the first level of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Consuming it grants immense power, with all system skills having no cooldown and no consumption, lasting for 30 seconds.

From the description, this pill was very powerful. Skills with no cooldown and no consumption meant they could be used continuously without worrying about consumption, but it was limited to system skills. Skills like Blood Thunder Slash and Bloodlust Technique were from the Martial Arts Pavilion, and he had no system skills yet. 'Burst Step' also required the third level of the Qi Cultivation Realm to learn.

Putting away the 'Burst Step' and the Super Spirit Essence Pill, Zhuge Xiang felt an unprecedented sense of weakness wash over him, making him want to lie down and rest immediately. The side effects of the Bloodlust Technique had set in, leaving his body in a weakened state...

"Your strength is impressive. I believe you will make a stunning debut in the grand competition in five days," Lu Yuling said, her eyes fixed on Zhuge Xiang, her clear voice speaking the truth. Breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Realm in battle, and with his combat power bursting forth in the grand competition in less than half a month, he would surely astonish everyone.

"Don't flatter me. The Bloodlust Technique is my trump card. As for the physical defense just now, it was due to a pill I obtained by chance. I only have one of them," Zhuge Xiang shook his head and then took out a hundred-year-old ginseng, tearing off about a third for himself and tossing the rest to Lu Yuling.

Taking the ginseng from Zhuge Xiang, Lu Yuling tore off some more and handed it back to Zhuge Xiang. The hundred-year-old ginseng was now roughly split between them. Seeing Zhuge Xiang's questioning gaze, Lu Yuling said naturally, "You contributed as much as I did. Let's split it evenly. No need to refuse."

"Alright," Zhuge Xiang was a straightforward person and found Lu Yuling's reasoning reasonable. He took it without hesitation and looked at the information of the ginseng.

Hundred-Year Ginseng (Partial): A relatively rare medicinal herb. Can be used to make pills. Direct consumption grants 500 experience points, effective for those at the first level of the Qi Cultivation Realm and above.

Half of a hundred-year-old ginseng could grant 500 experience points? Zhuge Xiang was quite satisfied with this. Unfortunately, it was only effective for those at the first level of the Qi Cultivation Realm and above. Otherwise, giving some to Niu Geng might help him understand the concept of qi.

Although keeping it for future use or using it to refine pills might be more valuable, for Zhuge Xiang, 500 experience points were what he needed now. Without hesitation, he opened his mouth and swallowed the ginseng.

Zhuge Xiang had already gained 100 experience points from the beasts he had slain on his way, 100 from the one-star low-grade fox demon, and 450 from the one-star mid-grade fox demon. Adding the 500 experience points from the ginseng, his total experience was now 1200. The experience required to level up was 800, so without a doubt, as the ginseng's effects took hold, Zhuge Xiang felt the qi in his body suddenly surge, as if breaking through a layer of paper, becoming several times thicker. The system's notification confirmed that he had broken through to the second level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, with nearly 400 experience points left over.

Zhuge Xiang, male, 14 years old, second level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, 1 remaining skill point, health 120/120, current experience 380/2000.

Looking at his character panel, he saw that leveling up to the third level of the Qi Cultivation Realm required 2000 experience points, which left him feeling helpless. With only five days left, he wasn't sure if he could successfully level up to the third level. However, with the level-up, the weakness from the Bloodlust Technique had completely disappeared.

"Broken through?" Lu Yuling clearly sensed the fluctuation of qi from Zhuge Xiang's breakthrough. Although he had used half a hundred-year-old ginseng, he had only understood qi ten days ago and had already broken through again. This growth rate was quite astonishing.

It seemed that the intense battle was the true catalyst for his breakthrough. The legend was correct: a battle genius, though not blessed with good cultivation aptitude, could grow stronger through constant battles, surpassing other geniuses by leveraging the intense moments of life and death. This was what Lu Yuling thought about Zhuge Xiang's breakthrough.

"Alright, let's head back," with their situation settled, the loot collected, and the weakness from the level-up gone, Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yuling had no intention of staying and turned to leave.

After such a long battle, it was already dark. Although a crescent moon hung in the night sky, the forest was still quite dim.

However, at this moment, a few weak cries sounded. Following the sound, they saw a small fox, wobbly and adorable, crawling out of the den where the low-grade fox demon had been lying. Its wobbly steps and cute appearance were quite endearing.

"Is this a baby fox?" Seeing the little fox cub emerge from the cave, Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yuling finally understood why the low-grade fox demon's strength had decreased. It must have been due to giving birth. If left alone, this little fox would surely become prey to other beasts.

"Senior Lu, do you want to take this little fox and raise it? Being born from a demon beast, its aptitude must be quite good," not wanting to see the cute little fox be eaten by other beasts but not having the time or inclination to raise it, Zhuge Xiang turned to Lu Yuling and asked.

"Sure, that's not a bad idea," looking at the adorable little fox, Lu Yuling clearly liked it. She nodded, walked over, and picked up the little fox. Under the moonlight, the two of them left gracefully. As for the bodies of the two fox demons, they would soon be feasted upon by other beasts in the endless mountain forest.