Chapter 54

In the arena, a man and a woman were engaged in a deadly battle, each move potentially fatal. However, upon closer inspection, it was clear that the man was actually more powerful, having reached the tenth level of the Qi Cultivation stage, while the woman was only at the ninth level.

However, the woman was equipped with more refined magical artifacts, and the man seemed to be poisoned. This imbalance led to him being heavily suppressed. Although he still had the strength to fight back, it was evident that he could not hold on for much longer and would soon be killed.

"Hellfire Sword, Zi Xiang, could it be that you even killed Lu Ren?" the man shouted angrily, his eyes fixed on the dark green long sword in the girl's hand.

Occasionally struck by the dark green sword, not only were his wounds slashed open, but they also turned black and charred, as if burned by fire. Clearly, the magical sword had special effects attached to its attacks.

"The three of us who set out this time, the other two lusted after my beauty and have already died at my hands. You are the last one," the girl said.

As the saying goes, the most venomous are women. This girl indeed had a beautiful appearance, slightly inferior to Lu Yu Ling but still one in a hundred. The delicate and vulnerable look on her face could easily arouse a protective instinct, but at this moment, when this venomous beauty revealed her fangs, she was truly terrifying...

Without any surprise, the male disciple was killed by the female disciple named Zi Xiang. In his dying moments, he shouted in deep regret, cursing himself for being too foolish and deceived by her gentle appearance.

"You are not the first," Zi Xiang said softly, bending down to collect the magical artifacts and equipment from the man's body. She then made several cuts on the corpse, causing blood to flow and a strong smell of blood to spread.

"These few magical artifacts are of no use to me. I'll have to sell them in the trading area," she said, examining her loot. She then turned and left. As for the male disciple's body, the smell of blood would soon attract fierce beasts to clean it up in this endless mountain range.

Throughout the entire time, Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yu Ling remained hidden, watching the scene of their fellow disciples killing each other. The girl was indeed venomous, with a pitiful appearance that had deceived many passionate disciples. Her skill in killing and looting was so proficient that it was clear she had plundered many magical artifacts, keeping the useful ones and selling the useless ones for spirit stones to gain resources and quickly improve her cultivation...

"This is the true nature of disciples from a demonic sect," Zhuge Xiang sighed as he watched Zi Xiang leave.

Having grown up as a beggar, Zhuge Xiang had experienced the coldness and warmth of the world and had seen many dirty and dark things. Therefore, he was not particularly moved by such events. Lu Yu Ling's expression also showed no particular reaction, but there was a hint of disgust, clearly uncomfortable with the act of killing fellow disciples for magical artifacts.

This encounter with fellow disciples killing each other was just a small episode for Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yu Ling. Apart from making Zhuge Xiang more acutely aware of the cruel competition in the demonic sect, it did not evoke any other feelings.

Lu Yu Ling's Lingbo Weibu (Graceful Steps) had become increasingly proficient, her steps light and fluid, moving like a cloud and a flowing stream, silent and natural. With the Breath Concealment Jade in hand, Zhuge Xiang was also careful not to be easily discovered. After slaying dozens of one-star demonic beasts, they finally reached their destination.

This was a secluded small canyon, hidden in a remote corner of the mountains, hard to detect. Inside the canyon, the wind howled like ghosts, and an unsettling aura permeated the air.

Standing at the entrance of the canyon, despite not sensing any immediate danger, a deep-seated sense of crisis instinctively arose. This sense of crisis was inexplicable but felt like a lamb trapped in a pack of wolves, making one want to leave as soon as possible.

"Inside this canyon, a massive killing array is inscribed, gathering the killing aura from the heavens and earth. This killing aura can affect one's divine sense, but it does not cause any real harm. As long as one has not reached the Soul Transformation stage, they will feel very uneasy, which prevents ordinary people and demonic beasts from entering," Lu Yu Ling explained, her confident demeanor indicating her familiarity with the Ice Maiden's Cave.

"So, this unease is just to scare people, right?" Zhuge Xiang smiled, about to step into the canyon.

"Wait, entering now is useless. The Ice Maiden's Cave will only appear at midnight when the moonlight is bright," Lu Yu Ling stopped him.

"Alright, since we can't enter now, let's hunt a few more demonic beasts," Zhuge Xiang said, not wanting to waste time.

"During our journey, I've collected a lot of demonic beast heart blood. I want to spend some time inscribing more useful magical arrays on my mechanical puppet to strengthen it," Zhuge Xiang invited, but Lu Yu Ling shook her head.

They had slain over a hundred demonic beasts, and Zhuge Xiang had gained experience while Lu Yu Ling had collected many demonic beast heart blood. With the help of spirit stones, she had created a stronger mechanical puppet, which was almost complete.

"Alright, the canyon is filled with killing aura, so it should be safe. You stay here to perfect your puppet, and I'll go hunt a few more demonic beasts. I'll return at midnight," Zhuge Xiang said, though he was disappointed that Lu Yu Ling wouldn't accompany him, he understood that she was also working to improve her strength.

"How about it? Are you really so放心 to leave a weak woman in this dangerous place?" Seeing Zhuge Xiang about to leave without hesitation, Lu Yu Ling looked on the verge of tears, a look that could soften even the hardest heart.

However, Zhuge Xiang showed no signs of being moved. "You're staying to strengthen your own power, and I'm going to do the same. Besides, I don't think you're a weak woman. So far, you're the only one who has put me in a tough fight."

With that, Zhuge Xiang left without hesitation. Lu Yu Ling occasionally liked to tease him, but Zhuge Xiang knew that if he took her seriously, thinking she had feelings for him, their friendship would end.

Zhuge Xiang understood that he and Lu Yu Ling were of the same kind. If he were to disturb her cultivation, their friendship would end, and the same would apply if she disturbed his. Both were focused on their cultivation and strength, and perhaps this was why Lu Yu Ling treated him differently, even daring to tease him, as others would likely have improper thoughts about her.

"This guy is truly a cultivation fanatic. I wonder if he will ever find a partner in the future. It's hard to imagine," Lu Yu Ling smiled as she watched Zhuge Xiang leave, then turned and entered the valley.

With the Breath Concealment Jade on his chest, Zhuge Xiang carefully moved around the valley, using all his senses to avoid powerful demonic beasts.

Although he was alone without Lu Yu Ling's assistance, with the Hundred-Refined Bow and Wolf Tooth Arrows, Zhuge Xiang's long-range killing ability was much stronger than his close combat. Like a hunter, but hunting powerful demonic beasts instead of ordinary animals, he chose high ground to find suitable targets. With a 120-meter effective range, his striking power was considerable.

Although they were already 800 miles away from the Asura Sect's headquarters, with 200,000 official disciples and countless others training in the endless mountains, Zhuge Xiang occasionally saw Asura Sect disciples, either alone or in small groups. He did not disturb them, focusing instead on his own prey.

Soon, the sky grew dark, greatly affecting his vision. Looking up, Zhuge Xiang frowned as dark clouds gathered, indicating an impending rain. The Ice Maiden's Cave required moonlight at midnight to open, so it seemed he would have to wait until the next night.

Putting away the Piercing Arrow, Zhuge Xiang switched to the Slashing Blade and descended from his high vantage point. With his vision impaired, long-range attacks were no longer effective, so he had to engage in close combat.

However, soon a graceful figure appeared before Zhuge Xiang, familiar and approaching him, stumbling and looking very disheveled...

This was a young girl, about sixteen or seventeen years old, in the prime of her youth, with a delicate appearance. However, her face had a vulnerable look, and her clothes were torn in several places, revealing her fair skin. Her walk had a certain allure, and her eyes showed a hint of fear, arousing a strong protective instinct.

"Senior Brother, please save me..." The girl's eyes lit up when she saw Zhuge Xiang, and she called for help.

"Is it her?" Zhuge Xiang became alert.

This girl was none other than the one he had encountered a few days ago, who had killed her fellow disciples to steal magical artifacts. Zhuge Xiang remembered her name was Zi Xiang. The way her eyes lit up when she saw him was not out of hope but out of seeing a target. She had her eyes on his magical artifacts, didn't she?