Chapter 9

For the praise of Zhuge Xiang, Niu Geng did not show the slightest hint of happiness. Instead, he sat down on the grass nearby, his face bearing deep fatigue, and asked an irrelevant question: "Zhuge Xiang, why did you come to the Asura Sect?"

Without waiting for Zhuge Xiang to answer, Niu Geng spoke to himself, his eyes tinged with a hint of reminiscence: "I was originally a servant in the Sichuan Tang Clan. The Tang Clan has always been known for its mechanisms and poison techniques. Although I was just a servant, I had some knowledge of mechanisms and poisons through osmosis. However, because I was just a lowly servant, no one looked up to me, so I had no friends. Fortunately, Miss did not look down on me, this servant..."

His low and somber voice clearly belonged to someone with a story to tell. Sitting next to Niu Geng, Zhuge Xiang was a good listener.

Niu Geng's story was simple but touching. It turned out that he had no friends in the Sichuan Tang Clan, so he was naturally introverted. However, the Ninth Miss of the Tang Clan was outgoing and treated Niu Geng, the servant, with respect. As a result, the young Niu Geng, though only thirteen or fourteen years old, fell in love, unable to distinguish whether it was romantic love or simply because he had only one friend. His heart was entirely set on her.

However, about a year ago, the Sichuan Tang Clan arranged a marriage for the Ninth Miss, who strongly opposed it. Niu Geng naturally stepped forward as well.

Niu Geng was just a servant, yet he dared to step forward without regard for his life, which naturally caused controversy. To silence the gossip, the Tang family sentenced Niu Geng to death. But at the last moment, the Ninth Miss secretly let Niu Geng go, advising him to be more outgoing and to make more friends before he left.

"The Ninth Miss told me to make more friends, and I wanted to gain powerful strength to return, so I joined the Asura Sect. I treated both you and Li Bin as friends, and no matter how much I suffered, I didn't get angry. But in the end, Li Bin wanted to kill me..." His voice was low and trembling, filled with deep helplessness, partly due to the heavy memories of the Tang Clan and partly due to Li Bin's betrayal.

Niu Geng's sacrifices over the past year were evident to Zhuge Xiang. If Niu Geng were truly a loyal fool, it wouldn't matter, but today, the true nature of this seemingly simple and loyal Niu Geng was revealed. Zhuge Xiang knew that Niu Geng had made many concessions for Li Bin, his so-called friend, but in the end, Li Bin wanted to kill him. No wonder this had a significant impact on Niu Geng.

"I just wanted a few friends. I never did anything to wrong him, and I even served him tea and water without complaint. Why does he want to kill me..." Niu Geng's voice trembled as he lowered his head.

"Friends should help each other. Someone like Li Bin, who only demands your one-sided efforts and ultimately betrays you without hesitation, is not a true friend. Don't I still have you? Haven't we always been friends?" Zhuge Xiang gently patted Niu Geng's shoulder and said.

Niu Geng's ruthlessness had also startled Zhuge Xiang, but at this moment, Zhuge Xiang found Niu Geng to be a pitiable person.

Zhuge Xiang did not doubt his words. After all, with Niu Geng's poisoning skills, if he wanted to, neither Zhuge Xiang nor Li Bin would dare to provoke him. Yet, for over a year, he willingly endured being ordered around, which was enough to prove the authenticity of Niu Geng's words.

"Someone who only demands your one-sided efforts and ultimately betrays you without hesitation is not a true friend." Niu Geng carefully chewed on these words, his honest and straightforward face showing a hint of contemplation, clearly deeply moved by them.

Sitting down next to Niu Geng, Zhuge Xiang's tone also became somber as he said, "Didn't you ask me why I came to the Asura Sect? In fact, I was just a little beggar, always following an old beggar to beg..."

Zhuge Xiang's story also caught Niu Geng's attention. When he heard that the old beggar was killed by dogs, Niu Geng felt sympathy for Zhuge Xiang's plight. When he heard that Zhuge Xiang secretly killed the thirteen people of a wealthy family at night, Niu Geng was both amazed by Zhuge Xiang's ruthlessness and felt a sense of righteous indignation.

"So, my purpose for coming to the Asura Sect is simple: to gain powerful strength, become a superior person, and to have meat to eat and no worries about food and clothing here."

This was Zhuge Xiang's reason for coming to the Asura Sect, simple but heavy. His initial goal was just to have food and clothing without worry, and to be able to eat meat. No wonder Zhuge Xiang's desire for cultivation was unmatched.

"You're still better off, you've already grasped the Qi Technique, but I haven't yet," After such a heartfelt conversation, the distance between them had unconsciously narrowed. Niu Geng sighed, clearly feeling the pressure of the upcoming testing conference in just a few days.

"Don't worry about that. Have you forgotten the Blood Spirit Fruit? I'll help you get it. Li Bin's Danchang Powder was your help to me, and now it's my turn to help you. We are friends, and friends should help each other." Hearing Niu Geng's sigh, Zhuge Xiang stood up, showing a bright smile and looking at Niu Geng sincerely.

"Help each other? Friends?" Looking at Zhuge Xiang's sincere eyes and bright smile, Niu Geng was momentarily speechless.

With Li Bin, it was always Niu Geng who paid, and in the end, he received betrayal. Zhuge Xiang's efforts for him were a first. Touching his chest, a warm current flowed through his heart. At this moment, Niu Geng vaguely understood the true meaning of friendship...

As the sun set in the west and the moon rose in the east, in the central area of the Asura Sect's buildings, in Zhao Feiyun's courtyard, Zhao Feiyun's face was ashen. In the center of the courtyard, Li Bin, who was carried on a stretcher, had a blackened face, clearly having died from poisoning. A few disciples who had not yet grasped the Qi Technique stood nearby, heads bowed, not daring to speak.

"Zhuge Xiang! I will kill you!" Zhao Feiyun's face was ashen, his expression so dark it seemed to drip with water. Looking at the poisoned Li Bin, he shouted fiercely, his intense hatred and killing intent making the disciples who had carried the stretcher tremble.

"Hmph, did that guy grasp the Qi Technique today? That's even better. I'll make him beg for his life in front of everyone." After roaring, Zhao Feiyun's eyes glinted with a fierce light, and he said cruelly. He then looked at the few disciples who had not yet grasped the Qi Technique and said, "Go and inform Zhuge Xiang. In twelve days, at the grand competition, I will challenge him to a life-or-death duel in front of everyone."

Watching the disciples hurriedly leave, Zhao Feiyun had Li Bin's body buried and returned to his room alone. "There are still twelve days. I need to break through again before the grand competition and advance to the second level of the Qi Cultivation stage to secure a better ranking."

Zhuge Xiang, whom Zhao Feiyun hated, did not seem to pose any threat to him. After all, someone who had just grasped the Qi Technique had no chance against him, who was about to break through to the second level of the Qi Cultivation stage. Moreover, twelve days were not enough for Zhuge Xiang to master any martial arts, while his Ghost Step was already at the initial stage.

"Life-or-death duel? Fine, but we need to add some stakes. Tell him to prepare the Blood Spirit Fruit." On Zhuge Xiang's side, he paused his Blood Thunder Slash cultivation and, upon hearing Zhao Feiyun's challenge, showed no surprise. Instead, he told Zhao Feiyun to prepare the Blood Spirit Fruit and not to use it up.

"Don't worry, I won't lose." Seeing the worried look on Niu Geng's face, Zhuge Xiang preemptively interrupted him before he could speak.

No matter what, over the past year, Li Bin had always boasted about Zhao Feiyun, and Zhao Feiyun's strength had become deeply ingrained in Niu Geng's mind. However, Zhuge Xiang had confidence in himself.

He was cultivating the Blood Thunder Slash, and he had the Steel Secret Medicine, which he had never used. Zhao Feiyun was preparing for the grand competition, and so was Zhuge Xiang.

---

The sun set in the west, and the moon rose in the east. In the central area of the Asura Sect's buildings, in Zhao Feiyun's courtyard, Zhao Feiyun's face was ashen. In the center of the courtyard, Li Bin, who was carried on a stretcher, had a blackened face, clearly having died from poisoning. A few disciples who had not yet grasped the Qi Technique stood nearby, heads bowed, not daring to speak.

"Zhuge Xiang! I will kill you!" Zhao Feiyun's face was ashen, his expression so dark it seemed to drip with water. Looking at the poisoned Li Bin, he shouted fiercely, his intense hatred and killing intent making the disciples who had carried the stretcher tremble.

"Hmph, did that guy grasp the Qi Technique today? That's even better. I'll make him beg for his life in front of everyone." After roaring, Zhao Feiyun's eyes glinted with a fierce light, and he said cruelly. He then looked at the few disciples who had not yet grasped the Qi Technique and said, "Go and inform Zhuge Xiang. In twelve days, at the grand competition, I will challenge him to a life-or-death duel in front of everyone."

Watching the disciples hurriedly leave, Zhao Feiyun had Li Bin's body buried and returned to his room alone. "There are still twelve days. I need to break through again before the grand competition and advance to the second level of the Qi Cultivation stage to secure a better ranking."

Zhuge Xiang, whom Zhao Feiyun hated, did not seem to pose any threat to him. After all, someone who had just grasped the Qi Technique had no chance against him, who was about to break through to the second level of the Qi Cultivation stage. Moreover, twelve days were not enough for Zhuge Xiang to master any martial arts, while his Ghost Step was already at the initial stage.

"Life-or-death duel? Fine, but we need to add some stakes. Tell him to prepare the Blood Spirit Fruit." On Zhuge Xiang's side, he paused his Blood Thunder Slash cultivation and, upon hearing Zhao Feiyun's challenge, showed no surprise. Instead, he told Zhao Feiyun to prepare the Blood Spirit Fruit and not to use it up.

"Don't worry, I won't lose." Seeing the worried look on Niu Geng's face, Zhuge Xiang preemptively interrupted him before he could speak.

No matter what, over the past year, Li Bin had always boasted about Zhao Feiyun, and Zhao Feiyun's strength had become deeply ingrained in Niu Geng's mind. However, Zhuge Xiang had confidence in himself.

He was cultivating the Blood Thunder Slash, and he had the Steel Secret Medicine, which he had never used. Zhao Feiyun was preparing for the grand competition, and so was Zhuge Xiang.