Chapter 83

Tightly gripping the Blood Refining Blade in his hand, Zhuge Xiang's gaze was more serious than ever. The Blood Refining Blade, a mere one-star magical weapon, had an attack power of only about 10 points, which was indeed nothing compared to the Overkill Sword's over 100 attack power. However, the fusion of the Slashing Blade and the Overkill Sword required a full five minutes. Zhuge Xiang had no choice but to tough it out, keeping the Qi Shield skill active and using the Ghostly Flash step technique to create several illusions to help him draw the attention of the demonic wolves.

The Ghostly Flash technique could create four illusions. With thirty-two demonic wolves, each illusion had to withstand the attacks of eight wolves. Fortunately, with the powerful Ghostly Flash step technique, otherwise, if the thirty-two wolves attacked all at once, Zhuge Xiang would have been overwhelmed and killed instantly.

The Ghostly Flash technique became increasingly urgent, and Zhuge Xiang swallowed one Blood Recovery Pill after another. The defensive effect of the Qi Shield and the Blood Recovery Pills put unprecedented pressure on Zhuge Xiang.

Although the Ghostly Flash technique helped distribute the attacks, and the Blood Recovery Pills and the Blood Refining Blade's blood-sucking effect helped to recover some health, facing the attacks of thirty-two demonic wolves, each with the strength of a first-layer Body Tempering realm, Zhuge Xiang's injuries grew increasingly severe. Even with the Blood Recovery Pills and the Blood Refining Blade's blood-sucking effect, he couldn't keep up with the damage.

As his injuries worsened, Zhuge Xiang's health points in the character interface dropped lower and lower. This was bad enough, but what weighed on him most was that his Blood Recovery Pills were almost depleted, with only two left. However, the five minutes required for the fusion had barely passed two minutes. Zhuge Xiang had never felt time pass so slowly, it was like an eternity.

His injuries worsened, and Zhuge Xiang's movements began to be affected. After swallowing the last two Blood Recovery Pills, Zhuge Xiang realized he couldn't continue like this. If his injuries significantly impacted his movements, he wouldn't be able to hold on any longer.

Bloodlust Technique!!!

With no other choice, despite the remaining three minutes, Zhuge Xiang activated the Bloodlust Technique. A blood-red aura emerged, and with the Bloodlust Technique at the Fusion Realm, all his attributes increased by 75%, making Zhuge Xiang feel like a superhuman. With the Blood Refining Blade in hand, he managed to slay two demonic wolves.

Wolves are cunning animals. Although the term "cunning" isn't very flattering, it's undeniable that wolves are quite intelligent among animals. Seeing Zhuge Xiang suddenly burst with power, the remaining thirty wolves immediately tightened their formation, clustering together in a circular defensive circle to face Zhuge Xiang and resist his fierce and rapid attacks.

The Bloodlust Technique was very powerful, increasing all attributes by 75%, but the shift from offense to defense made it difficult for Zhuge Xiang to make a move against the thirty wolves.

The one-minute effect of the Bloodlust Technique was neither too short nor too long. Soon, the effect would wear off, but Zhuge Xiang had only managed to slay five demonic wolves, including the two he had surprised earlier.

With twenty-seven wolves left, once the Bloodlust Technique's effect wore off and he entered a weakened state, Zhuge Xiang would have no chance of turning the tide.

"Nothing else to do, I have to use this," seeing the one-minute Bloodlust Technique effect about to end, Zhuge Xiang opened his inventory and focused on a small blue-and-white porcelain bottle.

The Minor Recovery Pills were a reward from Lu Yuling six months ago, with a total of nine pills, each providing 20,000 experience points. Zhuge Xiang needed only 18,000 more points to reach the second layer of the Body Tempering realm.

These nine Minor Recovery Pills were originally saved by Zhuge Xiang for when he was about to break through, to restore his health and status. Now, it was time to use them.

Taking out a Minor Recovery Pill and swallowing it, it dissolved in his mouth and transformed into a warm and surging medicinal force in his abdomen. Under the influence of this force, the Qi in his body seemed to be catalyzed, becoming exceptionally active and spreading throughout his limbs. The medicinal effects were absorbed, converting into pure and concentrated Qi.

"System notification: Gained 20,000 experience points, level up, gained 1 skill point, current level: second layer of the Body Tempering realm."

The system notification sounded in Zhuge Xiang's mind. With his cultivation breaking through to the second layer of the Body Tempering realm, not only did his health and MP points surge, but his physical defense also increased by 100 points, and his attack power rose accordingly. Most importantly, Zhuge Xiang no longer had to worry about the weakened state after the Bloodlust Technique.

To reach the third layer of the Body Tempering realm, he needed 250,000 experience points. Even if he swallowed the remaining eight Minor Recovery Pills, it wouldn't be enough. Zhuge Xiang waved the Blood Refining Blade, with only two minutes left, he had to hold on.

With higher defense, higher attack, higher health, and more robust Qi, the benefits of a level-up were evident. Originally, Zhuge Xiang was being heavily suppressed by the thirty-two demonic wolves, but now, with five wolves already slain, the gap between them had significantly narrowed. Although he was still at a disadvantage, it was much better than before.

With twenty-seven wolves left, the four illusions sharing the load, and the occasional use of the Burst Step technique, although Zhuge Xiang's health continued to drop and his injuries worsened, the wolves also had various injuries. Relying on the Blood Refining Blade's blood-sucking effect, Zhuge Xiang's health was relatively safe.

Surrounded by wolf shadows, with fangs and claws in his vision, Zhuge Xiang was fully focused, as if he had forgotten everything else, only dodging the wolves' attacks. His injuries worsened, but he didn't dare to check.

Every second seemed so long, and Zhuge Xiang's body was completely drenched in blood, looking like a blood-soaked Asura. A timid person would probably be scared to death by his appearance.

"System notification: Fusion successful."

After an unknown amount of time, a system notification sounded in Zhuge Xiang's mind, making him feel a surge of energy. Reaching out, the space in front of him distorted, and a long sword appeared in his hand.

The green sword, like a pool of autumn water, had no crossguard. It looked almost identical to the Overkill Sword but was more slender. The edges of the blade were lined with fine serrations, and mysterious and profound patterns emerged on the blade, exuding a cold and formidable aura. As Zhuge Xiang's gaze fell on the sword, the data information naturally appeared.

Slashing Overkill Sword (six-star magical weapon): Requires second layer of Body Tempering realm, attack 138-156, passive: causes slashing and bleeding effects on targets below the Body Tempering realm, reducing their health by 1% per second for 20 seconds, active: can store one attack skill and use it without depletion, durability 42/42, weight 16.

Sucking in a breath, Zhuge Xiang was taken aback by the data of the sword in his hand. A six-star magical weapon? The quality was higher after fusion? The attack power exceeded 150 points? Most importantly, the special abilities of the Slashing Blade and the Overkill Sword were both inherited, especially the slashing effect. A six-star magical weapon was indeed formidable, even effective against Body Tempering realm cultivators.

Zhuge Xiang had only been in combat for half a year and had already broken through to the Body Tempering realm, largely thanks to the Slashing Blade's effect. If this effect hadn't been useless against two-star and above demonic beasts, even with lower attack power, Zhuge Xiang would have kept the Slashing Blade instead of choosing the Overkill Sword.

Now, with the fusion, the information and effects of the Slashing Overkill Sword made Zhuge Xiang overjoyed. Even a seven-star or eight-star magical weapon wouldn't make him consider exchanging it. At least until he broke through to the Meridian Opening realm, he wouldn't exchange it.

"Ha ha ha, you beasts, all of you die..." With the Slashing Overkill Sword in hand, Zhuge Xiang was in high spirits. Two-star and below demonic beasts were now easy prey.

The sword flashed, with an attack power of 156, Zhuge Xiang's attacks increased significantly. Combined with the bleeding effect, after three to five strikes, these demonic wolves would either die or be severely injured. Large wounds appeared on the wolves' bodies, and one by one, the remaining twenty-seven wolves fell. As their numbers decreased, Zhuge Xiang's advantage became more apparent.

The battle continued for another half an hour, and the last demonic wolf was finally slain by Zhuge Xiang.

"System notification: Slayed a low-grade two-star demonic wolf, gained 380 experience points, obtained 'Weapon Intent'."

After breaking through to the second layer of the Body Tempering realm, the experience points from slaying these wolves were lower, but in the end, a skill book was dropped.

However, before Zhuge Xiang could examine the skill book, the gray and chaotic space suddenly appeared with countless dense cracks, then shattered like a broken mirror. Breaking through the six layers of the Illusionary Realm, Zhuge Xiang returned to the altar.

"This is!?" When Zhuge Xiang opened his eyes, his face suddenly showed a look of shock, his eyes wide as if he had seen something incredible.

[End of Page AD]

[Start of Page AD]