Chapter 24

"142 points of experience? That means although both are at the third level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, Yuan Kai is slightly weaker than Ji Wuxue?" Upon hearing the mechanical prompt in his mind, Zhuge Xiang thought to himself. If he were to be honest with himself, it was indeed the case.

Although Zhuge Xiang's victory was largely due to his acting, which made the opponent lower his guard, there was a significant element of trickery. However, Yuan Kai was still one of the top eight, and his strength was formidable. Compared to Ji Wuxue, he seemed to be a bit weaker.

In Zhuge Xiang's mind, Ji Wuxue's strength had already reached the top tier, like Lu Yuling and the others. From the start of the battle until now, he was the only one who had truly inflicted serious injuries on Zhuge Xiang.

"Victory... He actually defeated Yuan Kai... Advanced to the top four?" Another sudden burst of power, defeating Yuan Kai, left the audience below in shock. It was a three-move agreement, and then a sudden burst of power, achieving an impossible comeback.

"Is this... a combat genius? He has only comprehended Qi for half a month..." The other genius disciples stared at Zhuge Xiang with wide eyes, deeply shaken. The sudden burst of power, the unknown means that slowed Yuan Kai, and the ease with which a dagger blocked Yuan Kai's powerful Mountain-Crushing Strike—all of this deeply shocked them. If Zhuge Xiang's advancement to the top eight was attributed to luck and facing second-level Qi Cultivation disciples, no one would say that now. Zhuge Xiang had proven himself, and his position in the top four was well-deserved.

"He... He wasn't injured at all..." After Zhuge Xiang's burst of power and defeat of Yuan Kai, his complexion remained ruddy. At this point, anyone who still thought he was acting would be a fool. Not injured? Deceived by him?

"He wasn't injured? I see." Below the stage, Ji Wuxue nodded in understanding, but his mood was quite good. Being able to advance to the top four also proved Zhuge Xiang's strength. Losing to him was not a disgrace.

"Not injured?" Looking at the victorious Zhuge Xiang on the stage, Lei Potian and Ling Wufeng's eyes flashed with a hint of wariness. They had also been deceived by his acting. If they had faced Zhuge Xiang in the top eight, would they have underestimated him because he was injured? If they had underestimated him, would they have been defeated?

"It seems Zhuge Xiang has his own means to heal himself." Ji Wuxue's chest wound and severe injuries were inevitable, but his injuries had healed. The sect could not have helped him, so it was clear that he had his own means to heal himself.

Regardless of how shocked everyone was, Zhuge Xiang remained calm, showing a demeanor of indifference to praise or blame. He shouldered the Blood Refining Saber and, after the host announced his victory, walked down from the dueling platform. He then looked down at the experience scroll in his hand, and the information naturally appeared.

Experience Scroll (Special Consumable): Increases 100 points of experience, no requirements for use.

Increase 100 points of experience? Seeing the information on the experience scroll, Zhuge Xiang was slightly stunned, then overjoyed. After just gaining 142 points of experience, he was only 60 points away from advancing to the third level of the Qi Cultivation Realm. But this experience scroll could directly increase 100 points of experience? That meant he could break through to the third level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, right?

At the third level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, Zhuge Xiang felt more confident about winning the grand competition. However, he resisted the urge to use the experience scroll.

Zhuge Xiang clearly remembered that on the day he encountered the demon fox, when he broke through, all his injuries and negative states were completely cleared. Breaking through during a duel would be more valuable than breaking through now.

The top four had been decided, and the duels for the next four began. After several consecutive battles, the rankings for the last six were determined. Finally, it was time for the top four duels.

"The top four: Lei Potian, Ling Wufeng, Lu Yuling, and Zhuge Xiang. Who will become the strongest?" As the host announced the start of the top four duels, the grand competition was nearing its end, but the atmosphere was even more intense. Everyone's faces were filled with anticipation and excitement.

"I can't take it. The top four duels are so exciting, my body is trembling." Some people were so excited that their bodies were trembling. The competition among the four strongest disciples of this session, who was the strongest? No one could say.

Lei Potian, one of the most brilliant geniuses, had reached the advanced stage of the Bloodthirsty Technique and wielded a large battle axe, making him the most aggressive among all the disciples.

Ling Wufeng, with his unpredictable flying knives, was unstoppable. From the start of the grand competition to now, he had always defeated his opponents with a single flying knife. No one knew his limits, and he was incredibly strong.

Lu Yuling, the most brilliant female genius, had always been steady and reliable. She wielded the advanced Clear Wave Palm and used only a few resilient threads as auxiliary tools, without any special martial techniques or powerful magical weapons. But precisely because of this, she might be the one hiding the most. Her ability to reach the top four with just these skills showed her strength.

Finally, Zhuge Xiang, the least experienced, had only comprehended Qi for half a month. But after a series of battles, no one doubted his strength. He was the biggest dark horse of this grand competition, shining brightly.

Although he was only at the second level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, his ability to mysteriously reduce the opponent's attack, easily block the opponent's attack, and his advanced Bloodthirsty Technique, as well as the Blood Thunder Slash, which was weak in duels but had formidable attack power, made no one dare to say that this second-level disciple would definitely lose.

Among the top four disciples, who was the strongest? No one knew, but precisely because of this, it made everyone more excited and curious.

Regarding Zhuge Xiang, some people asked, "Aren't you only allowed to learn one martial technique? Why is he practicing both the Bloodthirsty Technique and the Blood Thunder Slash?" The sect's staff clarified that Zhuge Xiang had indeed only chosen the Blood Thunder Slash in the Martial Arts Pavilion. As for where he learned the Bloodthirsty Technique, it was unclear. Perhaps he obtained it by chance during his training.

If anyone pressed further, the sect simply stated that the restriction on learning martial techniques was to prevent disciples from neglecting their Qi cultivation, which would be counterproductive. As for Zhuge Xiang, if you could reach the second level of the Qi Cultivation Realm in half a month, you would also be allowed to learn the Bloodthirsty Technique. This reason silenced everyone.

Come on, reaching the second level of the Qi Cultivation Realm in half a month from not comprehending Qi at all? Even Lei Potian and the others couldn't do that.

And the Bloodthirsty Technique? Thinking about this made everyone feel a chill. The danger of the Bloodthirsty Technique was well-known. Out of hundreds of disciples who had the courage to practice it, most were extremely wise and brave, but the majority died. Only Lei Potian, Ji Wuxue, and now Zhuge Xiang had successfully practiced it. How many people dared to touch the Bloodthirsty Technique?

Returning to the main topic, after the duels for the next four were completed, the sky was already dark. At the same time, a black dot in the sky rapidly grew larger, causing many to exclaim: "What is that? Something is approaching?"

The black dot quickly grew larger and soon appeared above the training ground, leaving everyone speechless and stunned.

A massive, black ship, about a hundred zhang long, hovered above the training ground. Its heavy and imposing presence made it seem like a giant beast in the sky. The warship was covered with huge cannons and intricate arrays, and just the sight of it gave people an overwhelming sense of pressure.

"The Asura Warship, even though I've seen it before, it's still so awe-inspiring," Zhuge Xiang muttered to himself.

The first time he saw the Asura Warship was when he first arrived at the Asura Sect. The purpose of the Asura Warship was simple: to transport disciples. After the grand competition, all disciples who had successfully comprehended Qi would be transported by the Asura Warship to the deeper parts of the Endless Mountains, to the headquarters of the Asura Sect.

As everyone was still in awe of the Asura Warship, the host on the dueling platform regained everyone's attention: "Alright, this is the Asura Warship of our Asura Sect, which has come to transport the disciples who have successfully comprehended Qi back to headquarters. The grand competition has reached its most exciting conclusion. I now announce that the top four duels will officially begin. Lei Potian versus Zhuge Xiang."

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