Chapter 93

Zhuge Xiang's mood was very good. This trip to the Winged People's tribe was truly eventful but safe, and he had gained a lot. Although the mission he accepted was not yet known when it could be completed, fortunately, there was no time limit, and there was no penalty for failure. The reward was sufficiently generous. For the same mission, the Winged People also promised him a powerful magical treasure, though it could only be obtained in the future. However, at least the threat of Zixiang's life-bound insect was now eliminated, which was a fact.

Zixiang's life-bound insect had always been a thorn in Zhuge Xiang's side. Whether the Shadow Clone Scroll could shake off the threat of the life-bound insect, Zhuge Xiang had no confidence at all. Zixiang, a person who risked her life for gains, might one day make a mistake and die an unnatural death. Although the threat to his arm was always present, removing the life-bound insect today meant Zhuge Xiang had removed the thorn from his heart.

Two months, not long but not short. Together with Xiaoyue, he hunted demon beasts of three-star medium grade and below while heading towards the Asura Sect. Timing it well, he finally returned to the Asura Sect headquarters after two months.

In these two months, Zhuge Xiang's cultivation had advanced further, from the first layer of the Meridian Passage Realm to the second layer. The qi in his body had become more robust, and he had also unblocked several more meridians, making the circulation of qi smoother and more fluid. Even the Blood Thunder Slash now required only a single breath to gather qi.

"More than a year, finally back," standing at the entrance of the Asura Sect, Zhuge Xiang took a deep breath, then lifted his leg and stepped in.

As usual, after returning, Zhuge Xiang first found Niu Geng. After more than a year, Niu Geng was still in his courtyard cultivating insects. Sensing his cultivation, Zhuge Xiang was secretly surprised. Eighth layer of the Body Tempering Realm—Niu Geng's cultivation had reached the terrifying eighth layer of the Body Tempering Realm in just over a year. This cultivation speed was not much slower than his own, and with the effect of the Nine Apertures Mystic Pill, which quadrupled his cultivation speed, it was indeed heaven-defying.

Niu Geng's improvement in cultivation made Zhuge Xiang secretly satisfied, but then he frowned, as Zixiang was by Niu Geng's side. From their appearance, it seemed their relationship had grown even closer over the past year.

"Niu Geng," Zhuge Xiang greeted, pushing open the door to Niu Geng's courtyard and walking in, with Xiaoyue still perched on his shoulder.

"Zhuge Xiang, you're back?" Niu Geng, abandoning the insect he was cultivating, called out joyfully, walking forward to give Zhuge Xiang a warm hug. But looking at Xiaoyue on Zhuge Xiang's shoulder, Niu Geng asked curiously, "When did you start keeping pets? That's not like you."

"This is my partner, don't say anything bad about it. It's very intelligent," after more than a year, Zhuge Xiang no longer needed Xiaoyue to hide its form with divine consciousness. The crescent moon-shaped pattern on its forehead was tied with a band.

Xiaoyue, perched on Zhuge Xiang's shoulder, rolled its eyes at Niu Geng's comment, then turned its head away, ignoring him. Niu Geng was stunned, thinking, "Intelligent? That's too high, isn't it? Its wisdom is almost like a human, and it can even make such a disdainful expression."

"Zhuge Xiang, you're back," Zixiang also stepped forward a few steps to greet him.

Although Zhuge Xiang had a strong prejudice against Zixiang, he had also taken some advantage of her with the 108 spirit stones. He nodded in greeting, acknowledging her. After more than a year, Zixiang's cultivation had also improved to the fifth layer of the Body Tempering Realm, which was a very good cultivation speed.

"The inner sect selection exam is in three days. Are you back for this?" After a few pleasantries, the three of them and the dog entered Niu Geng's house, sat down, and Niu Geng asked Zhuge Xiang. Zixiang, standing beside him, looked at Zhuge Xiang seriously, knowing the cultivation required for the inner sect selection exam.

"Exactly, I have recently broken through to the second layer of the Meridian Passage Realm, and I'm here for the inner sect selection exam," Zhuge Xiang nodded and answered. Then, thinking of what Lu Yuling had said to him, he asked, "What level has Lu Yuling's cultivation reached in the past year?"

"Lu Yuling broke through to the Meridian Passage Realm two months ago and has been in seclusion since then. I don't know what level he has reached now. As for Zhang Kuang, he has also been training intensively and broke through to the Meridian Passage Realm early. Are you all planning to participate in the inner sect selection exam? I think it's a bit too much for you," Niu Geng looked at Zhuge Xiang with a worried expression.

The inner sect selection exam is open to disciples of the Meridian Passage Realm, but most of the competitors are experts at the seventh or eighth layer of the Meridian Passage Realm. With their cultivation at the first or second layer of the Meridian Passage Realm, the gap is too large to be made up by a few magical treasures or martial arts skills.

"Don't worry, since I'm participating, I have confidence," Zhuge Xiang smiled and shook his head.

"Alright, I wish you success," Zhuge Xiang always turned the impossible into the possible. Since he was so confident, Niu Geng could only choose to believe him.

After a few more words, Zhuge Xiang left Niu Geng's house. Regarding Zixiang, Zhuge Xiang hesitated but said nothing.

He had already warned Niu Geng a year ago. Saying more would be meaningless. Besides, Niu Geng was not stupid, and his cultivation had surpassed Zixiang. He should be fine. With the life-bound insect in his hands, Zixiang was also aware of the cost of harming Niu Geng. She was not stupid either.

After leaving Niu Geng, Zhuge Xiang made his way to Lu Yuling's courtyard and found her.

"You're finally back. I was afraid you had died in the Endless Mountains," welcoming Zhuge Xiang into the living room, Lu Yuling sized him up, sensing his cultivation at the second layer of the Meridian Passage Realm, and nodded as if it was expected, though she didn't say anything nice.

"Can't help it, my talent is poor. Unlike you, who can quickly improve cultivation just by meditating. To catch up with geniuses like you, I can only make up for it with diligence," Zhuge Xiang sized up Lu Yuling, whose aura was not weaker than his. He pretended to be helpless and shrugged.

Lu Yuling looked at Zhuge Xiang as if she was meeting him for the first time, saying, "I didn't expect that in a year, you've not only grown taller, but your face has also thickened. To say you have poor talent, you must be joking."

"You've changed too, becoming even more graceful," Zhuge Xiang retorted.

This was the truth. At sixteen, Lu Yuling had grown even more graceful, losing some of her youthful innocence. Even Zhuge Xiang couldn't deny that he was momentarily captivated.

Not wanting to dwell on this, Lu Yuling suddenly turned her head to look out the window, saying, "I've been in the outer sect base for a year and in the headquarters for nearly two years. If I pass the inner sect selection exam this time, I can leave officially. It's been three years, and I should go home to visit."

"Home?" Zhuge Xiang also turned his head to look out the window, falling into deep thought.

Home? An orphan since childhood, Zhuge Xiang had never had a home and didn't know who his parents were. The old beggar's grave, which had been three years, was probably overgrown with weeds. He should go and pay his respects.

"What? That Zhuge Xiang brat is back? He has even broken through to the Meridian Passage Realm?" In the core area, Dugu Jue, who had been keeping an eye on the Green Bamboo Peak, received the news as soon as Zhuge Xiang returned. "Returning at this time and breaking through to the Meridian Passage Realm? It seems this brat wants to participate in the inner sect selection exam. Humph, killing someone from the Dugu family, how can I let it go so easily?"

In the past year, Dugu Jue had not been idle. A renowned genius in the inner sect, his cultivation had increased even more. Over the past year, Dugu Jue had also spent a lot of effort investigating the cause of Dugu Ming's death.

Dugu Ming had contacted several friends to ambush Zhuge Xiang and his group, but those people also disappeared. After returning, Zhuge Xiang and his group sold a large batch of magical treasures, including those belonging to Dugu Ming and others. This made Dugu Jue even more convinced that Dugu Ming had died at their hands.

Niu Geng and the others did not know who had connections with the mysterious powerful cultivator at the Soul Transformation stage, so Dugu Jue did not dare to act. But Zhuge Xiang? He had no such reservations, and since he was the main culprit, how could Dugu Jue let him off?

After a moment of silence, Dugu Jue said to his disciple, "How many people will participate in this selection exam? Who are the strong ones? Go and find out and give me a list. I need to visit them one by one."

(PS: This is the third update today, making up for yesterday's chapter. Please follow and recommend.)