Chapter 45

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

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As the bloodthirsty technique of the Hall of Mastery was observed by Zhuge Xiang's crimson eyes, the seven senior disciples all felt a slight tremor in their hearts. They were well aware of the disciple who had been defeated in one move just now. Although his combat strength might not have been the strongest among the current disciples, his defensive ability was outstanding. With his defense, he was severely injured in one move, losing his combat ability. If they were to step up, they would likely fare no better, especially given the terrifying attack from the other side. If they were hit by the other party's terrifying arrows, it would be a matter of life and death.

"Is that it? Didn't you all boast about charging twenty spirit stones each? Is this all the strength you have?" Zhuge Xiang, drawing the Hundred-Refined Bow, stared at the seven senior disciples and said coldly. He was not afraid of battle. What if they were at the sixth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm? The stronger the strength, the more experience and items it meant.

Zhuge Xiang's resolute words left the seven senior disciples hesitant to respond. After all, the terrifying piercing arrow had frightened them. However, as senior disciples, being intimidated by a new disciple was too embarrassing to admit.

"Very well, I also want to test the strength of this year's talented disciples. I will spar with you," said Zhan Bing, who had been calm and trying to persuade everyone, after a moment of silence. As he spoke, he put on a pair of steel gloves.

Whoosh!!!

The bowstring tightened, and just as Zhan Bing spoke, Zhuge Xiang had already made his move. His fingers loosened, and the wolf-tooth arrow shot towards Zhan Bing with a sharp momentum, moving at an incredible speed.

However, in the face of Zhuge Xiang's wolf-tooth arrow, Zhan Bing merely shifted his body and dodged it. He stepped quickly, transforming into a ghostly shadow that lunged towards Zhuge Xiang. It was clearly the Phantom Step, and it had reached the realm of integration.

Although Hua Nong Ying's Phantom Step had also reached the realm of integration, the effect of the third level of Qi Cultivation was incomparable to the sixth level. No wonder Zhan Bing dared to make a move despite knowing the power of Zhuge Xiang's bow and arrow. He was confident that his Phantom Step could dodge Zhuge Xiang's attacks.

"You lose!" Zhan Bing, like a ghost, appeared beside Zhuge Xiang, his hands in steel gloves forming a familiar posture—the Clear Wave Palm.

The combination of the Phantom Step and the Clear Wave Palm, once Zhuge Xiang was entangled, would surely result in a decisive victory with his sixth-level Qi Cultivation. Besides, a marksman, once engaged in close combat, was already as good as defeated.

"Ding, movement speed decreased by 30%."

As Zhan Bing appeared before him, a mechanical system prompt sounded in Zhuge Xiang's mind, making him inwardly surprised. He hadn't expected the other party to have a magical artifact that reduced movement speed. It seemed the other party intended to suppress the speed enhancement effect of his bloodthirsty technique.

Although his speed was affected, which was unexpected, a smile appeared on Zhuge Xiang's face. "I lose? You're too confident. I forgot to tell you, my specialty is actually close combat!"

Seeing Zhuge Xiang's smile, Zhan Bing already felt uneasy, but it was too late. The Frost Headband activated, instantly suppressing the other party's speed by 20%. Then, with a loud bang, Zhuge Xiang's feet burst into action.

The Violent Step, like a blood-red shadow, moved at a speed that rivaled a powerful arrow. Putting away the Hundred-Refined Bow, Zhuge Xiang's Blood-Refined Blade appeared in his hand, and he slashed fiercely at Zhan Bing.

Blood splattered. Zhan Bing only saw a blur before him, followed by a sharp pain in his chest. A powerful force surged, and his body was thrown back. Two of his ribs were severed by the Blood-Refined Blade, and he fell to the ground, clearly unable to continue fighting.

Sigh...

Zhuge Xiang's decisiveness and ruthlessness left the remaining six senior disciples with looks of fear and shock. They exchanged glances. Was this a new disciple? Who was this guy? Despite only being at the fourth level of Qi Cultivation, he had almost instantly defeated two sixth-level disciples. Was he really a new disciple?

"He has become even stronger..." Lu Yuling's eyes glowed with a strange light as she muttered to herself. How much time had passed? Zhuge Xiang's growth speed left her amazed. No matter how brilliant a genius, compared to Zhuge Xiang, they all paled in comparison.

"Is there anyone else!?" After Zhan Bing hastily admitted defeat, Zhuge Xiang raised his Blood-Refined Blade, pointing it at the six sixth-level Qi Cultivation disciples, and said coldly. Blood-colored qi surged, and his battle intent was intense.

Pointed at by Zhuge Xiang's blade, these disciples all took a half-step back. Was this a new disciple? To instantly defeat a sixth-level Qi Cultivation disciple, even the few top geniuses of this year might not be able to do it. Whether in ranged attacks with a bow or close combat, he was so formidable. Were the geniuses of this year really that terrifying?

"We admit your strength is great. No one here today is your match, but we have trained for an extra year at the headquarters. The top few geniuses of our year have yet to appear. Wait for them; they will come for you. The unwritten rules of the Demon Sect are not something you can break alone," Zhan Bing, pointed at by Zhuge Xiang's blade, took out a pill, crushed it, and sprinkled it on his wound, then struggled to stand up and said to Zhuge Xiang.

"Right, once you face Zhang Kuang and the others, you will definitely lose," another disciple, holding a wolf-tooth club, also stood up. As a sixth-level Qi Cultivation disciple, he felt very frustrated for not even being able to get close to the other party. So, he could only place his hopes on the top geniuses. New disciples should be taught a lesson to keep them in line. This was an unwritten rule that had not changed in the Demon Sect for decades.

"Oh? Is that so? There are even stronger ones? That's great. I'll go challenge them right now," Zhuge Xiang turned off his bloodthirsty technique, put away his Blood-Refined Blade, and turned to leave. From start to finish, Zhuge Xiang stood on the suspension bridge.

"What... What... Did I hear that right?" Zhuge Xiang's decisive turn and his back left everyone, including the two thousand new disciples, wide-eyed. Zhuge Xiang's strength was even greater than what he had shown in the grand competition, but who knew how strong the top geniuses of the previous year were? He didn't even think twice before deciding to challenge them?

"Madman... This madman..." Zhan Bing and the others, with wide eyes, said in exasperation. They had hoped to pressure him by mentioning Zhang Kuang and the other top geniuses, but from his appearance, he didn't seem to feel any pressure. Instead, he seemed even more battle-ready. Such a person, who didn't know when to stop, was a complete madman!

Even Lu Yuling and Hua Nong Ying, who were relatively familiar with Zhuge Xiang, had wide eyes. Although during the escape in the Endless Mountains, everyone knew that Zhuge Xiang was a battle maniac and very strong, to start challenging the top geniuses of the previous year right after arriving at the headquarters was indeed a bit crazy.

"He had the courage to face a two-star demon beast, so this behavior is normal," Ji Wuxue's eyes were filled with admiration. Previously, he had felt不服气 (unconvinced) after being defeated by Zhuge Xiang, but now, Ji Wuxue truly admired him, not just for his combat strength, but for his courage to face anyone without fear.

"At the time, the two-star demon beast was defeated by everyone working together, and it was a matter of life and death. Now, he is going to challenge the top geniuses of the previous year alone. Can he really succeed?" Hearing Ji Wuxue's words, Hua Nong Ying shook her head, her expression filled with doubt.

"Alright, let's go and see what happens," Lu Yuling, with a cold expression, smiled faintly, her white dress fluttering as she followed.

Following Lu Yuling's lead, Hua Nong Ying and the others exchanged glances, including Niu Geng and the others, all nodding and following. Regardless of whether Zhuge Xiang would succeed, they should all go to cheer him on, not to tarnish the reputation of this year's disciples.

"Go! We all go..." Zhuge Xiang led the way, and the top geniuses, who were already angry about the so-called unwritten rules, also called out loudly. Except for a few who didn't want to cause trouble, about 1,500 out of the 2,000 disciples followed Zhuge Xiang across the suspension bridge of the Green Bamboo Peak.

"They're all mad... They're all mad..." Seeing 1,500 disciples walk out together, Zhan Bing and the others were stunned, only able to say mechanically.

1,500 disciples, shouting loudly, walked past. Anyone who wasn't blind could see them. As they passed, all the Demon Sect disciples were drawn to them.

"These people must be the new disciples who arrived today. What do they want to do?"

"From their appearance, they seem to be heading to the Green Willow Peak. Interesting, let's follow them and see."

"Just arrived at the headquarters, and they are already causing a big commotion? This year's disciples are interesting."

...

Regardless of what people thought about the 1,500 disciples walking past, at least this situation piqued the interest of almost all the disciples who saw it, including those at the eighth and ninth levels of Qi Cultivation, and even those at the Body Tempering Realm.

Zhuge Xiang led the way, directly walking to the Green Willow Peak where the senior disciples were. With 1,500 new disciples charging over, the Green Willow Peak disciples naturally knew. Most of them came out, with the lowest cultivation being the third level of Qi Cultivation. Although only about a thousand disciples came out, their momentum was stronger than the 1,500 new disciples.

"What are you new disciples doing here at the Green Willow Peak?" A senior disciple at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation stepped forward and shouted, his cultivation clearly placing him among the top of the previous year's disciples.

Zhuge Xiang ignored the other party's powerful aura, stepped forward, raised his Blood-Refined Blade, and pointed it at the other party, saying coldly, "Nothing much. We just arrived at the Demon Sect headquarters and felt that you senior disciples were a bit too arrogant, so we came to humble you."