Chapter 98

The Inner Gate selection examination, although open to all Pulse Channel Realm disciples, requires that one demonstrate far superior strength to their peers in order to join the Inner Gate, where the cultivation level is at least at the Sky Splitting Realm. The first round of the examination is more about eliminating those who are not qualified, while the second round is the true test, as the examiners themselves have said.

Everyone dispersed, making minor adjustments, and there was much discussion. Those who passed the examination were naturally overjoyed, while those who did not were not too disheartened, eagerly awaiting the second, true examination to see what it would entail.

According to the rules of the Asura Headquarters, the Inner Gate selection examination should be public. This serves both to encourage the disciples and to help those who fail understand why they were eliminated.

Zhuge Xiang did not waste the half day, staying in his courtyard to practice with Xiaoyue, continuously firing Moonlight Arrows. He used the Eagle Eye Technique to adapt his body to the dynamic vision it provided. Although the Eagle Eye Technique enhanced his dynamic vision, it did not increase his speed, so this training was necessary.

He practiced during the day and meditated at night to adjust his state. The night passed quietly until the next morning, when Zhuge Xiang got up early and went to the main gate of the headquarters with Lu Yuling. The disciples of Cui Zhu Peak looked at the two with varying degrees of envy. In just two short years, the two had reached the Pulse Channel Realm, standing out so much that they seemed to belong to a different world.

"Zhuge Xiang, whether you succeed or not is not important. No matter what, come back safely," some of the disciples who had a relationship with Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yuling gathered around. Niu Geng, with bloodshot eyes and a pale face, handed Zhuge Xiang a white jade box and said.

There was no need for formalities among friends. Zhuge Xiang curiously opened the white jade box, but Niu Geng stopped him, shaking his head and saying, "The nine Golden Thread Seven-Step Snakes inside are not yet fully refined. They have no distinction between friend and foe. If you encounter a formidable opponent, I believe they can save your life."

"These Golden Thread Seven-Step Snakes took Niu Geng over half a year to cultivate. To help you, he used his own blood to forcibly raise them last night, catalyzing their toxicity to the extreme," Zi Xiang, with a pained expression, said to Zhuge Xiang.

Seeing the bloodshot eyes and pale face of Niu Geng, and sensing that his aura was weaker, as if his cultivation had dropped from the seventh layer of the Body Tempering Realm to the sixth due to the loss of blood, a warm current flowed through Zhuge Xiang's heart. He said nothing, but gave Niu Geng a tight hug, everything unspoken.

"Be careful yourself. The Golden Thread Seven-Step Snakes are already highly toxic, and after being refined, they are even more terrifying. I don't know how strong they are," Niu Geng reminded Zhuge Xiang solemnly.

Zhuge Xiang nodded heavily and carefully placed the jade box containing the Golden Thread Seven-Step Snakes in his bosom.

At the main gate of the Asura Headquarters, it was already crowded with people, whether they had passed the examination, failed, or were just there for the spectacle. The crowd was noisy, waiting for the examiners to arrive.

At the hour of Chen, three figures descended from the sky, flying on their instruments. For the second round of the examination, all the disciples who passed were gathered here, so only three Spirit Transformation Realm experts were needed to oversee it.

"The Inner Gate selection examination, the second round, now begins. Please welcome Elder Lingbao of the Hellfire," the leading Spirit Transformation Realm examiner said loudly, bowing to one of the 108 floating mountains.

A brilliant black light suddenly appeared, a long stick-like object. As it approached, it became clear that it was a long scroll, which unfurled in the wind, instantly appearing high above the crowd.

The entire scroll was a hundred zhang long. As it unfurled, it blocked out the sky. Despite hanging high in the sky, everyone could clearly see the huge scroll, which depicted a scene of the Asura Hellfire.

At the top of the scroll, five ancient characters read "Asura Hellfire Scroll." The scroll showed fierce beasts with grotesque faces, beautiful yet seductive Rakshasas, ghostly and sinister spirits and zombies, erupting volcanoes, massive tsunamis, and extremely poisonous insects. The creatures in the huge scroll were not static but dynamic.

Zhuge Xiang clearly saw a beast being poisoned and swallowed by a giant python, only to be killed and dropped into a nest by a huge three-eyed bird to feed its young. The vivid and perilous scenes made one's heart tremble, perfectly illustrating the concept of the survival of the fittest.

"The Asura Hellfire Scroll was created by a senior of our Asura Sect, who delved deep into the Asura Realm and used supreme divine power to capture eight thousand li of the Asura Realm, sealing it within the scroll. It is filled with dangers, and even disciples at the Innate Realm could die if they are careless. Your task is to find one hundred medium-grade spirit stones scattered throughout the scroll. The examination will end in one month, and those who possess the spirit stones will pass."

The leading examiner paused, then continued, "Two hundred and eighty-eight disciples will enter the scroll, meaning at least two-thirds will be eliminated. The only advice I can give is to try to stay alive for one month. The time has come; all disciples, enter the scroll."

With a wave of his hand, the three Spirit Transformation Realm examiners infused their true essence into the Asura Hellfire Scroll, which emitted a dense light. The identity jade tokens of the disciples who passed the first round lit up, and a suction force appeared, drawing nearly three hundred disciples into the scroll.

The Asura Hellfire Scroll, a huge ink painting, unfolded like a cloud in the sky. Nearly three hundred disciples entered the scroll, each appearing on a grassland, with an ink figure identical to the disciple appearing on the grassland, vivid and lifelike...

The huge scroll, about a hundred zhang tall, unfolded like a cloud in the sky. The nearly three hundred disciples were scattered randomly within the scroll, each a mere speck in the vast expanse.

The scene shifted, and Zhuge Xiang found himself inside the Asura Hellfire Scroll. There was no one around, and the sky above the land was gray and hazy, making it impossible to see anything clearly. Below his feet was a scorching volcano, seemingly ready to erupt at any moment. Zhuge Xiang stood on the volcano's slope, the air filled with a fiery and toxic aura.

"Wang, wang, wang..."

Xiaoyue, perched on Zhuge Xiang's shoulder, barked a few times. As a poison disciple's pet, it was allowed to bring one's pet into the examination, so Xiaoyue, a rare assistant, naturally followed Zhuge Xiang into the Asura Hellfire Scroll.

Standing on the volcano, looking down, Zhuge Xiang was secretly alarmed. The eight thousand li of land in the Asura Hellfire Scroll were taken from the Asura Realm, meaning the land here was originally from the Asura Realm. It was no wonder the examiners' first task was to survive for one month.

Here, beasts, poisons, ghosts, and even Rakshasas and spirits were endless, with countless dangers. The beasts here were all at least three-star level, and there were even four-star, five-star, and possibly six-star beasts...

With a detoxification pill in his mouth, Zhuge Xiang's face showed a deep smile. One month? The Asura Hellfire Scroll was indeed extremely dangerous, ten times more dangerous than the Endless Mountains. However, Zhuge Xiang was very excited. Here, there were countless prey, and his Slaughter Sword would become even stronger. He was eager to see how powerful his Slaughter Sword, which had increased by 500 points of additional attack power, would be...

At the Pulse Channel Realm second layer, Zhuge Xiang's achievements in just two years were not the result of routine cultivation or secluded practice. They were the result of slaughter. One could say that every bit of qi in Zhuge Xiang's body carried a strong scent of blood. His cultivation was built on a path of blood and corpses. Although the Asura Hellfire was dangerous, it also had more powerful opponents than the Endless Mountains.

"Be careful..." Xiaoyue suddenly transmitted a warning through his divine sense, and at the same time, opened his mouth, firing a Moonlight Arrow.

The Slaughter Sword appeared in his hand, and Zhuge Xiang turned to see a withered zombie charging directly at him, its eyes filled with a bloodthirsty look, and its mouth making unconscious sounds. Xiaoyue's Moonlight Arrow shattered upon impact, having no effect.

Zombies, like cultivators, are divided into three realms: zombies, hair zombies, and zombie kings. They are neither living nor dead, existing between life and death, not belonging to the five elements or the six paths. They have naturally powerful physical bodies, and even the weakest zombie has a physical defense comparable to a Body Tempering Realm cultivator.

This zombie emitted a thick, rolling zombie aura, with a cultivation level comparable to a fifth-layer Pulse Channel Realm disciple. Its physical defense was even more terrifying. Xiaoyue's Moonlight Arrow, which was as powerful as Zhuge Xiang's full-strength attack, shattered completely, having no effect. The zombie's physical body was like a powerful defensive magical tool.