Chapter 52

As Zhuge Xiang returned to Cui Zhu Peak, he could see that every disciple's face was beaming with smiles. Clearly, the vastness of the headquarters of the Asura Sect had left them in awe. This was the sect of cultivators, the Asura Sect, boasting two hundred thousand disciples. Moreover, the incident where Zhuge Xiang had caused a commotion on Green Willow Peak the previous day had made them stand taller, for a new disciple who could single-handedly fight over a hundred disciples at the Fifth Stage of Qi Cultivation was a remarkable achievement, enough to make them proud. For decades, no one in the Asura Sect had accomplished such a feat.

As he walked along, the disciples on Cui Zhu Peak looked at Zhuge Xiang with a mix of reverence and admiration. However, Zhuge Xiang paid no attention to their gazes; his goals were greater and more distant.

The disciples of Green Willow Peak were still newcomers in the entire Asura Sect, having arrived only a year earlier. What about those who had been here for ten or twenty years? In the headquarters of the Asura Sect, there were countless disciples even stronger than those at the Body Tempering Stage.

Lifting his head, he gazed at the 108 floating mountains above. These mountains, suspended overhead, seemed to constantly urge Zhuge Xiang to grow stronger. His goal was to surpass them all, to transcend the Heavenly Tribulation, and become a True Disciple at the Soul Transformation Stage. Then, to reach the Void Reversion Stage and possess his own floating mountain.

So-called geniuses? The Asura Sect had a few every year. But how many could truly transcend the Heavenly Tribulation and break the shackles of mortals?

Returning to his room, Zhuge Xiang looked at the skill point in the character interface. He had failed to select a martial art from the Martial Arts Pavilion, and now he had to decide which skill to enhance. It was truly a headache. Currently, he possessed the Blood Thirst Technique, Blood Thunder Slash, Burst Step, and Piercing Arrow.

The Blood Thirst Technique, in the long run, was the most practical skill. However, its side effects meant it couldn't be used casually, especially in the Endless Mountains. If he entered a weakened state and encountered a powerful beast, the consequences would be dire. Given his current situation, adding a skill point to the Blood Thirst Technique wouldn't significantly boost his strength.

The Blood Thunder Slash was indeed powerful, but its energy requirement made it somewhat impractical in real combat.

Burst Step had a 10-second cooldown, which wasn't long, but in combat, it was still considerable. Adding a skill point could reduce the cooldown, increase speed, or extend the distance, but Zhuge Xiang couldn't predict which would be the best.

Finally, there was Piercing Arrow, which seemed the most practical. Adding a skill point would enhance his long-range assassination ability, but this would widen the gap between his close-combat and long-range combat skills. In his heart, Zhuge Xiang preferred to improve his close-combat skills, as until he reached the Body Tempering Stage, enhancing close-combat skills was a means of self-preservation.

With four martial arts and only one skill point, Zhuge Xiang found it difficult to decide. After some thought, he decided to hold off on this decision until he returned from his mission, depending on the situation. Perhaps he would get lucky and find a useful skill book.

Knock, knock, knock...

Suddenly, there was a rapid knocking on Zhuge Xiang's door, accompanied by an anxious voice from outside: "Is Zhuge Xiang there? Come out quickly, something's happened. Zhang Kuang from Green Willow Peak has brought over a dozen experts and is looking for you."

"Hmm? Are they here to reclaim their dignity?" Zhuge Xiang frowned at the news.

Without the Courage Medal or the Steel Secret Medicine, even with a semi-mystical weapon, Zhuge Xiang's overall combat strength was only equivalent to that of a Seventh Stage Qi Cultivation disciple. Over a dozen experts from Green Willow Peak?

However, though Zhuge Xiang found the situation challenging, he wasn't one to hide. Opening the door, he stepped out.

Almost all the disciples on Cui Zhu Peak had come out. By the suspension bridge, a dozen young men stood, all of whom Zhuge Xiang recognized as the Seventh Stage Qi Cultivation and Sixth Stage Qi Cultivation disciples from Green Willow Peak. However, the red-haired, red-eyed youth at the front was unfamiliar, clearly the so-called Zhang Kuang.

"What? Are you all still不服气 (unwilling to accept defeat) and want to try again?" Stepping forward, Zhuge Xiang said coldly, his eyes fixed on the red-haired, red-eyed Zhang Kuang. He was inwardly alarmed by the dense and powerful aura emanating from him, far stronger than a Seventh Stage Qi Cultivation disciple, likely at least at the Eighth Stage.

"Zhuge Xiang has come..." Seeing Zhuge Xiang step forward, the disciples on Cui Zhu Peak seemed to find their backbone. The disciples from Green Willow Peak, seeing Zhuge Xiang, couldn't hide their fear, clearly still haunted by the battle on Green Willow Peak the previous day.

"Zhuge Xiang?" Zhang Kuang, with his red hair and red eyes, had a rebellious look on his face. His red eyes fell on Zhuge Xiang, filled with a fanatical light: "I heard that yesterday, at the Fourth Stage of Qi Cultivation, you defeated over a hundred Fifth Stage Qi Cultivation disciples from Green Willow Peak. Now that you've broken through to the Fifth Stage, your strength must be even greater."

"What? Do you want to test it out?" Looking into Zhang Kuang's eyes, Zhuge Xiang showed no sign of backing down.

With the Slashing Blade in hand, the Blood Thirst Technique, and Burst Step, even if he got injured, Zhuge Xiang felt that he might not necessarily lose in a real fight. After all, he still had over a dozen healing pills, and the Slashing Blade's special effect was a powerful weapon against anyone below the Body Tempering Stage, even surpassing a three-star mystical weapon.

"Right, you bunch of bullies, suppressed by the senior disciples, now you want to suppress us?" Following Zhuge Xiang's words, the disciples behind him on Cui Zhu Peak also began to shout. The monthly tribute of twenty spirit stones was what truly angered them.

Looking at the disciples behind Zhuge Xiang, Zhang Kuang's gaze returned to Zhuge Xiang, who showed no sign of backing down. He smiled: "Actually, I'm here today for no other reason. Whether it's the spirit stones or Green Willow Peak's reputation, it has nothing to do with me. I just want to see how a Fourth Stage Qi Cultivation disciple could defeat those scoundrels from Green Willow Peak. I'm curious about you, and I think you're worth a few cuts."

"Zhang Kuang!?" The disciples behind Zhang Kuang's face changed, clearly not expecting him to say such things. "What are you talking about? The unwritten rules of the Asura Sect have been in place for decades. If they are broken today by us, won't you lose face?"

"Face? What is that? Rules? What are those? Suppressing newcomers is a rule?" Turning his head, he glanced at the speaking disciple, still with a rebellious look: "As long as I'm strong enough, and I can cut down those who talk nonsense, that's what gives me face. After staying in the Asura Sect for a year, bullying a few new disciples is face? You are indeed worthless."

Saying this, without paying attention to the disgruntled faces of the Green Willow Peak disciples, Zhang Kuang focused on Zhuge Xiang: "The matter of the spirit stones is between you and those worthless disciples from Green Willow Peak, it has nothing to do with me. I just want to cut you. Yesterday, you used the Blood Thirst Technique, and I believe you're still in a weakened state. You're not worth cutting now. I'll come back when your weakened state is over."

Smiling, despite the adversarial situation, Zhuge Xiang admired Zhang Kuang. His words made sense, and Zhuge Xiang agreed. Indeed, what is face? What are rules? As long as one is strong enough, why fear others' gossip? Rules and face are not built on bullying the weak.

"Zhuge Xiang, Fifth Stage Qi Cultivation, I challenge you to a duel. In half a month, after I return from my mission, we will fight in the training ground. Honestly, you are worth cutting." Given his higher cultivation, it was inappropriate for him to challenge, but Zhuge Xiang didn't want to avoid this fight, so he spoke up.

"Hehe..." Zhang Kuang smiled broadly, clearly pleased that Zhuge Xiang was so cooperative: "Zhang Kuang, Tenth Stage Qi Cultivation, in half a month, at the training ground, I'll be waiting for you."

"Whoa, Tenth Stage Qi Cultivation?" Zhang Kuang's words made the disciples on Cui Zhu Peak change their expressions. Although they knew Zhuge Xiang was strong, Tenth Stage Qi Cultivation was just one step away from the Body Tempering Stage. How had this guy trained? After a year in the Asura Sect headquarters, he had reached the Tenth Stage? Could Zhuge Xiang win?

"Tenth Stage!?" Even the disciples from Green Willow Peak were shocked by Zhang Kuang's words.

Zhang Kuang had always been strong, but they didn't know his exact cultivation level. They only knew that last night, he had returned with the corpse of a two-star beast, but they didn't expect him to be so close to the Body Tempering Stage. They had thought he had just encountered an injured two-star beast.

"Tenth Stage? High experience points," Zhuge Xiang's eyes also showed eagerness, but it was for the experience points and potential loot.

Although Zhuge Xiang was eager to fight him now, he knew that even with the Slashing Blade, it would only be a narrow victory. He needed to save his healing pills for his mission. This fight would have to wait until he returned.