First glimpse of a sharp edge (Part one)

P. S.: We're way off our goal of 400 subscribers in 24 hours. Sigh, this result is truly appalling...

A group of observant Asura Sect Disciples began to investigate, both openly and secretly, to find out who had rushed into the lake when the strange activity occurred.

The Asura Purgatory Diagram is so large, and the second assessment has been underway for over twenty days. Most disciples' enthusiasm for observing has waned. Compared to the beginning, only a handful of people are looking at the Purgatory Map. In addition, Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yuling entered the lake bottom long before the anomaly, so there is even less people looking at it. After some investigation, only a few disciples who rushed in because of the anomaly were found.

Unfortunately, all of these disciples perished in the riot of Yaomo Ghosts and Monsters. Purgatory Elder, sitting upright in the Great Hall, frowned slightly. He had investigated for an entire night but had not found a single clue. All the disciples he knew who had gone in had died inside. The trail seemed to have gone cold.

These investigations, both overt and covert, were part of the assessment of the disciples, so Zhuge Xiang was naturally questioned as well. However, Zhuge Xiang claimed that he knew nothing about it, not even about the unusual activity at the bottom of the lake—a classic case of being completely ignorant.

After a night of commotion, the Inner Sect District Three became even more lively the next morning. The third and final exam for the Inner Sect Selection Trial was about to begin.

"As is customary, the third assessment will be a free-for-all," the examiner announced from the enormous Tournament Platform. "The first assessment was to prove that you possess strength surpassing that of disciples at the same level. The second assessment was to teach you how to survive in the unknown. However, life is fraught with danger. This third assessment, the free-for-all, will test whether you can survive in the chaos of battle."

After a slight pause, the examiner announced, "Although the second assessment resulted in more disciples participating due to unforeseen circumstances, the conditions for the third assessment remain unchanged: in this chaotic battle, the ten disciples standing at the end will pass and be promoted to Inner Core Disciple."

"Ten!? Only ten spots?" The examiner's words caused the expressions of the hundreds of disciples participating in the assessment to change slightly. With only ten spots available, standing out would not be easy.

"Heh heh, ten spots. Just what I wanted," he said, brandishing his Spear. His Zhang Kuang face remained full of belligerence.

After traversing the Asura Purgatory Diagram, Zhang Kuang's body was covered in several scars, including a huge scar on his face that stretched from his forehead to his cheek. It seemed that he had truly experienced a high-intensity battle during the Asura Purgatory Diagram's assessment, and his cultivation level had even been raised to the Meridian Opening Realm Second Layer.

"Be careful," said Niu Geng, Zi Xiang, and Hua Nongying, a few close friends from below the stage, offering their blessings to Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yuling. This time, even Ling Wufeng and Ji Wuxue, whom they hadn't seen in a long time, had come.

"I may not be strong in combat, but I should be able to protect myself without much trouble," Lu Yuling smiled. Although she was only at the Meridian Opening Realm Second Layer, she possessed the Soaring Wave Steps (a martial arts technique) and the Clear Mind State. If it was just about protecting herself, she was indeed confident in that ability.

"Let's go," Zhuge Xiang said without a word, carrying the Sword of Slaughter on his back, and walked towards the stage. The Identity Jade Token that was flashing with light was his qualification certificate for the third assessment.

Nearly a hundred disciples walked onto the Tournament Platform one after another. They formed small groups of two or three, with a few disciples who were on good terms with each other. They were wary of each other. There were only ten spots available, but there were a hundred people here. It goes without saying how fierce the competition was.

Below the stage, thousands of spectators held their breath. After the first two rounds of assessment, the nearly one hundred disciples on the stage were all top performers in the Meridian Opening Realm. Their final melee Duel had them all fired up. However, the tense and solemn atmosphere emanating from the huge Tournament Platform was like a mountain, making those below the stage dare not make a sound to disturb them.

Zhuge Xiang, Lu Yuling, and Zhang Kuang naturally stood together, forming a small group, warily watching all the disciples around them, who were all casting unfriendly glances their way.

Zhuge Xiang had the highest cultivation level, but he was only at the Meridian Opening Realm Sixth Layer. Zhang Kuang and Lu Yuling were both at the Meridian Opening Realm Second Layer. Such a small group was naturally seen as easy targets by others, who else would they target if not them?

As the examiner announced the start, the entire Martial Arts Arena instantly went from absolute stillness to utter chaos, filled with shouts, cries, and the sound of wind breaking...

The first to attack, just like Zhuge Xiang and his group, was another small group of four people standing nearby. They were all at the eighth level of the Meridian Opening Realm, and their fierce Qi Energy exerted heavy pressure on people. When they made their moves, their powerful Qi Energy surged, but they did not use any martial arts techniques. Obviously, in their opinion, they could easily defeat a group like Zhuge Xiang.

With a jolt of his Spear, Zhang Kuang, true to his frenzied fighting spirit and reckless attitude, showed no intention of defense or evasion. His Spear, imbued with intense Qi Burst, thrust straight at his opponent.

The opponent, who was being stared at by Zhang Kuang, couldn't help but change his expression slightly. Although Zhang Kuang, who was at the Spear level of the Meridian Opening Realm, would be seriously injured if he landed a single blow, he would not fare well either.

If it were Duel between two people, he could fight to the death. But in this Martial Arts Arena, only ten people could make it through. If he was seriously injured, the outcome was predictable. His mind raced. Unwilling to fight Zhang Kuang to the death, the disciple withdrew his attack and instead parried.

Having gained the upper hand, Zhang Kuang was far from being polite. Having originally switched to an attack-oriented path, Zhang Kuang's offensive became even more relentless after seizing the initiative, like a tsunami crashing down on the disciple at the eighth level of the Meridian Opening Realm. Although all his attacks were blocked, his desperate momentum managed to entangle one of his opponents.

With her Mind's Eye, Lu Yuling moved with Soaring Wave Steps, like a willow catkin drifting on the water. Another disciple at the eighth level of the Meridian Opening Realm rushed towards her, but all the attacks were dodged by her lithe movements, and even while dodging, Lu Yuling had time to Clear Wave Palm to distract her Zhang Kuang opponent.

"This is not a place for low-level guys like you. Get out." The other two disciples at the eighth level of the Meridian Opening Realm charged towards Zhuge Xiang, intending to crush him with their overwhelming strength before defeating Lu Yuling and Zhang Kuang one by one.

"This is my response to you," Zhuge Xiang said without the slightest fear. Despite only being at the Meridian Opening Realm Sixth Layer, he went straight to meet the two disciples at the eighth level of the Meridian Opening Realm, making Niu Geng and the others below the stage tense up.

Meridian Opening Realm Sixth Layer confronting two eighth-level disciples head-on? Shouldn't they be trying to dodge and deal with them more cautiously?

The Sword of Slaughter clashed with the greatsword of one of the disciples. Zhuge Xiang remained unmoved, but the disciple at the eighth level of the Meridian Opening Realm was sent flying by his sword, landing right in the midst of the battle of the Ninth Layer of the Meridian Opening Realm disciples next to him.

The two disciples at the Ninth Layer of the Meridian Opening Realm, locked in a fierce battle, showed no mercy to this uninvited guest. Each attacked, and within a few moves, he was splattered with blood five steps away.

"Impossible!" The disciple, a cultivator at the eighth level of the Meridian Opening Realm, was actually sent flying by a disciple at the Meridian Opening Realm Sixth Layer. The remaining disciple's expression changed drastically, unable to believe his eyes.

The Perfection Level Knockback Skill can knock back any opponent whose cultivation level is no higher than Zhuge Xiang's by four minor realms. Although this Skill has no offensive power, it is the best Skill for using someone else to do the dirty work in this Martial Arts Arena.

"Die! Falling Leaves Slash!" Startled, the remaining eighth-level disciple unleashed his Skill attack. His great axe transformed into a fierce burst of Qi Energy, slashing down fiercely at Zhuge Xiang. Overwhelmed by the effect of Zhuge Xiang's Knockback Skill, the disciple finally took Zhuge Xiang's strength seriously.

"Blood Thunder Slash!" Although there was a two-level difference, the Sword of Slaughter in Zhuge Xiang's hand had an attack power exceeding 400 points.

Zhuge Xiang revealed his arrogance. His cultivation had reached the Meridian Opening Realm Sixth Layer, and most of his meridians had been opened. Zhuge Xiang Qi Energy flowed like a rolling river, and he could now activate Skill like Blood Thunder Slash without even needing to accumulate Qi.

In Skill- on -Skill attack scenario, although Zhuge Xiang was two levels below in cultivation, the attack power of the Sword of Slaughter was more than enough to make up for that difference.

In the head-on clash, Zhuge Xiang staggered back three steps, while the disciple at the eighth level of the Meridian Opening Realm retreated six steps. It was clear who was stronger.

However, at that moment, a chill ran through him, and Zhuge Xiang felt his body become much stiffer. Both his Movement Speed and Attack Speed were affected to some extent, which was obviously due to the effect of the Magic Artifact on his opponent.

"You've been hit by my Frost Slow effect, die!" Seeing the Ice Shards appearing on Zhuge Xiang's body, this disciple at the eighth level of the Meridian Opening Realm seized the opportunity, leaping high into the air. The large Battleaxe in his hand once again revealed a sharp Qi Energy. Given Zhuge Xiang's current state, he would definitely have difficulty dodging it.

Explosive Steps!

However, how could Zhuge Xiang let him have his way? With a loud bang, rubble flew everywhere, and Zhuge Xiang's body transformed into a dark blue afterimage, passing by the disciple at the eighth level of the Meridian Opening Realm.

Blood splattered, screams erupted, and the situation took a sharp turn for the worse. The ecstatic look on the face of the disciple at the eighth level of the Meridian Opening Realm froze. A huge sword wound appeared on his chest, severing his ribs, and one could even vaguely see his beating heart inside.

At the eighth level of the Meridian Opening Realm, his physical defense, combined with the Spell Manipulation he wore, actually managed to block this deadly sword strike. However, that was all he could do; he could only block this one strike.

With a slight shift in his footing, Zhuge Xiang unleashed his Ghostly Flash Steps, appearing before the disciple like a phantom. His sharp Sword Light, like a shooting star from beyond the heavens, aimed directly at the massive sword wound...

"I surrender!" Threatened with death, the disciple at the eighth level of the Meridian Opening Realm shouted loudly, and at the same time leaped high into the air, jumping out of the Martial Arts Arena.

Since his opponent had already conceded defeat, Zhuge Xiang did not pursue him. Seeing his Zhang Kuang opponent slowly turning the tide, his eyes narrowed, and he swung his Sword of Slaughter fiercely...

Void Splitting Slash!!!

A fierce Sword Qi, shaped like a crescent moon, flew out with tremendous Sword Qi —a long-range strike!

Seeing that Zhuge Xiang was only at the Meridian Opening Realm Sixth Layer and was entangled with an eighth-level disciple, unable to break free, and with two other disciples secretly preparing to launch a sneak attack, their expressions changed drastically when they saw the flying Sword Qi. They moved away from Zhuge Xiang's side as if avoiding a snake or scorpion.

"Sword Qi!? The Void Splitting Realm!?"

Disciples at the Meridian Opening Realm all engage in close-quarters combat. Amidst the Duel of two or three, a sudden burst of Sword Qi naturally draws attention. The disciples in the Martial Arts Arena all paled in shock, and even many below the stage gasped in surprise. (To be continued...)