Chapter 72

"Back...," standing at the entrance of the headquarters of the Slaughter Sect, Zhuge Xiang took a deep breath.

Although he had only been at the headquarters of the Slaughter Sect for a little over half a year, and most of that time was spent training in the Endless Mountains, Zhuge Xiang truly felt a sense of belonging here. At least, he no longer had to wander aimlessly, not even knowing where his next meal would come from. Here, he could eat meat to his heart's content, and here, he could feel himself growing stronger every day.

After returning, Zhuge Xiang first went to the trading area, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, where he found Jin Bu Huan. He took out all the materials he had collected over the past two months and exchanged them for over two thousand spirit stones. After looking around and finding nothing better, Zhuge Xiang chatted with Jin Bu Huan for a few moments before leaving.

During this time, Jin Bu Huan was not stingy with his praise for Zhuge Xiang's breakthrough to the Body Tempering stage. In the headquarters of the Slaughter Sect, new disciples often needed three to four years to break through to the Body Tempering stage, but Zhuge Xiang had achieved it in just over half a year. Such a growth rate was rare in the history of the Slaughter Sect over the past few decades.

As he walked along, Zhuge Xiang keenly noticed that many disciples were gathered in small groups, talking. He vaguely heard words like "demon wolves" and "tasks," but he did not pay much attention. After a long absence, Zhuge Xiang just wanted to rest.

Cultivation did not allow for slackness. Having finally reached the Body Tempering stage and equipped with a five-star magical weapon, a killing sword, Zhuge Xiang needed to maintain his leveling speed. Although it now required 150,000 experience points to advance to the second level of the Qi Nourishing stage, it was precisely because of this that he could not afford to slack off.

"Zhuge Xiang is back..." It had to be said, Zhuge Xiang's reputation on Green Bamboo Peak was significant. As soon as he returned to Green Bamboo Peak, the disciples who saw him all moved aside, giving him a respectful look and whispering among themselves.

"It's been half a year since we last saw him. I wonder how strong he has become."

"Do you even need to ask? He reached the Body Tempering stage half a year ago, so he must be even stronger now. Can't you feel the killing intent emanating from him?"

"That killing intent is terrifying. How many demon beasts has he killed? At least eight hundred, if not a thousand. Otherwise, how could he have such terrifying killing intent? I'm getting goosebumps."

...

Indeed, over the past half year, Zhuge Xiang had relied on killing to enhance his strength. His training was a bloody path, and despite not deliberately controlling it, the intense killing intent naturally emanated from him, captivating and terrifying.

In the courtyard, Niu Geng's Yin Gu Hu (Poison Gourd) was placed in the center, emitting toxic mist. The poisonous creatures in the courtyard all crawled out and moved toward the Yin Gu Hu. Over the past half year, Niu Geng, with a cultivation speed five times that of an ordinary person, had also reached the seventh level of the Qi Nourishing stage. More importantly, he had not neglected his research on poisonous creatures.

Each time he went down the mountain to train, Niu Geng would use the Yin Gu Hu to train many poison insects, which he kept in his courtyard. He made them fight, devour, mutate, and evolve repeatedly. Although the number of poison insects decreased, they became stronger.

Niu Geng's Five Toxins Palm had reached a level of mastery, with his hands covered in potent toxins. He wore a pair of demon python skin gloves and carefully observed the poisonous creatures around the Yin Gu Hu. However, these insects, which were originally crawling frantically toward the Yin Gu Hu, suddenly became agitated and fled in panic, hiding away.

Looking up, Niu Geng saw Zhuge Xiang enter the courtyard, his body emitting a strong killing intent. Niu Geng extinguished the flame under the Yin Gu Hu and said, "Can you try to suppress your killing intent when you come here? My little treasures are all scared by you. Every time you come, your killing intent seems to grow stronger."

"Sorry, I didn't realize you were cultivating poison here," Zhuge Xiang said with a smile, but his expression did not show any real apology.

"Are you back again, only to leave in a hurry?" Niu Geng, who naturally would not be angry with Zhuge Xiang, welcomed him into his room and asked.

"Not this time. I need to go to the Task Hall to find some suitable tasks and to the Martial Arts Pavilion to choose a suitable martial art," Zhuge Xiang shook his head and replied.

Feeling the aura emanating from Niu Geng, who had reached the seventh level of the Qi Nourishing stage, Zhuge Xiang nodded in approval. The Nine Apertures Mystic Pill indeed had the power to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, but Niu Geng's hard work was the main reason for his current cultivation level.

"Choosing a martial art from the Martial Arts Pavilion? Have you already reached the Body Tempering stage?" Niu Geng's eyes widened at Zhuge Xiang's response.

Although there were rumors that Zhuge Xiang had reached the Body Tempering stage after his battle with Zhang Kuang half a year ago, as Zhuge Xiang's closest friend, Niu Geng knew the truth. Staring at Zhuge Xiang, Niu Geng shook his head, "I've been training like crazy over the past half year, thinking my growth rate was fast. Compared to you, I'm nothing. You're a freak."

"Don't belittle yourself. Reaching the seventh level of the Qi Nourishing stage in half a year while cultivating poison is already very impressive," Zhuge Xiang replied with a smile.

"The higher the cultivation, the harder it is to break through. It took me half a year to go from the first level of the Qi Nourishing stage to the seventh level. If I can break through to the Body Tempering stage in another half a year, I'll be satisfied."

If others heard that Niu Geng could break through to the Body Tempering stage in a year, they would call him a genius. However, in front of Zhuge Xiang, Niu Geng shook his head, feeling that his speed was far from enough.

"By the way, you haven't been back for a long time. Now that you've broken through to the Body Tempering stage, do you know about the major event that has happened in the sect recently?" Niu Geng suddenly asked, as if remembering something.

"Major event?" Zhuge Xiang looked at Niu Geng in confusion and shook his head, indicating that he did not know.

"A few days ago, many disciples who went down the mountain for training were killed by demon wolves. According to the sect's investigation, the number of demon wolves has increased dramatically, far exceeding the limit. Therefore, the sect has issued a large-scale task, calling on disciples at the Body Tempering stage and above to carry out a cleansing operation. There are high rewards in spirit stones and even sect contribution points," Niu Geng explained to Zhuge Xiang.

The Endless Mountains are filled with demon beasts. How could the Slaughter Sect, one of the nine major sects, sit idly by and let demon beasts run rampant at their doorstep? In fact, the existence of these demon beasts is intentionally maintained and even cultivated by the Slaughter Sect to provide a place for disciples to train.

However, if the number and strength of the demon beasts exceed a certain limit, the sect will inevitably carry out a cleansing operation. For example, half a year ago, when the demon spirits attacked the Slaughter Sect's warship carrying Zhuge Xiang and others, the sect quickly dispatched powerful true disciples to rescue them and later carried out a cleansing operation in the Endless Mountains, killing over a dozen demon spirits.

This time, it's not demon spirits but demon beasts, so the sect has issued a large-scale task to carry out a cleansing operation while also providing an opportunity for disciples to train.

"Sect contribution points? That's a good thing," Zhuge Xiang's eyes lit up at Niu Geng's words.

Whether it's a sect task or a task issued by other disciples, the common reward is spirit stones, the universal currency in the cultivation world. However, in sect tasks, there is a better reward: contribution points. Spirit stones can be used to purchase various magical weapons, materials, and pills in the sect's trading hall, but these are generally ordinary items. The truly good items require not only spirit stones but also a certain number of sect contribution points.

The truly good items that the sect puts up for sale are not just for those with money. A few months ago, when Zhuge Xiang was browsing in the trading hall, he had his eye on a pair of magical wings. Although they had no offensive power, for disciples who had not yet reached the Soul Transformation stage, the value of flying magical weapons far exceeded other magical weapons. Unfortunately, the pair of magical wings required 100,000 spirit stones and 10,000 contribution points.

"Will you take me on this task? Disciples who accept the sect task can bring one disciple below the Body Tempering stage as an additional member. When submitting the task, if they bring them back safely, there is even a bonus. I'm already at the seventh level of the Qi Nourishing stage, and with my poison, I can help you," Niu Geng said, seeing Zhuge Xiang's interest.

"Sure..." Over the past half year, Zhuge Xiang had never gone down the mountain to train with Niu Geng. This was a rare opportunity. It was not just for the bonus, but as Niu Geng said, his poison could indeed be helpful.

"By the way, it would be better to find a few trusted friends to go together. Lu Yuling announced a few days ago that she has broken through to the Body Tempering stage," Niu Geng said with a smile after Zhuge Xiang agreed.

"What? She has already broken through to the Body Tempering stage?" Zhuge Xiang's expression showed surprise.

Over the past half year, he had been coming and going in a hurry, only briefly interacting with Niu Geng. Therefore, he had almost never seen Lu Yuling. After fighting for half a year, he had finally broken through to the Body Tempering stage, but she had apparently done so a few days before him. It seemed that she had obtained something in the Ice Maiden's Legacy that allowed her to rapidly enhance her cultivation.

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