Ink Martial City (Part Two)

P. S.: What a tragedy! What an old-fashioned custom! My Younger Sister is getting married, and I, as her older brother, have to carry her all the way there. I'm exhausted...

Nothing happened that night. The next day at noon, Zhuge Xiang and the others gathered at the main gate of the Asura Sect. There were also dozens of Inner Sect Disciples who were about to leave the Sect. The group of dozens of people boarded the Warships leaving the Asura Sect and flew towards Ink Martial City.

Standing on the ship's railing, watching the Asura Sect Headquarters grow smaller and smaller, Zhuge Xiang sighed inwardly. He was satisfied with his achievements in just two years, having managed to leave the Sect. However, he knew it wasn't enough. While Zhuge Xiang was confident, he must not be arrogant.

This time, the Asura Warship is smaller than the one that came before, but it is much faster. When it came to the Asura Headquarters before, the huge Asura Warship took three whole days to transport thousands of disciples. But this small Warships is more than ten times faster than that huge ship, so it only takes three or four hours to fly to Ink Martial City, the headquarters of the Inner Sect District Three.

On the Asura Warship, the Inner Sect Disciple all sat cross-legged, closing their eyes to rest. For Zhuge Xiang, meditation was too slow, so he sat alone in a corner, chatting with Xiao Yue for a few minutes while slowly organizing his information.

First, there's the equipment. Zhuge Xiang's equipment is all Four-Star or higher, with the highest grade being the eight-star True King Necklace, followed by the Seven-Star Sword of Slaughter. Although it's only Seven-Star, once the 500-point attack bonus is applied, the attack power of this Sword of Slaughter is believed to be comparable to a Ten-Star Grade weapon.

Secondly, in terms of Skill, compared to other disciples, Zhuge Xiang not only cultivates faster, but also has a wider range of Skill due to his Skill Point.

With eleven Skill at his disposal —Bloodthirsty Technique, Blood Thunder Slash, Piercing Arrow, Qi Energy Bodyguard, Weapon Intent, Knockback, Eagle Eye Technique Explosive Steps, Void Splitting Slash, Sky -Demon Subduing Sword Qi, and Ghostly Flash Steps —he possesses a comprehensive repertoire of ranged attacks, melee attacks, status Skill, and agility. If we also consider the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound and Demonic Path Dharma Body, his strength becomes even more terrifying.

After carefully summarizing his own strength, Zhuge Xiang had a general understanding of his abilities. Although the Weapon Intent Skill consumed a great deal of Qi Energy and could only be sustained for a dozen seconds, its effect was extremely powerful. If he activated this state, even though he was only at the Sixth Layer of the Void Splitting Realm, he could contend with any disciple of the Innate Realm. This was why Zhuge Xiang was confident in challenging Dugu Jue that day; his Sword Intent was precisely what countered Dugu Jue.

If Zhuge Xiang were to activate both the Weapon Intent and Bloodthirsty Technique simultaneously, the amplification effect would be even more terrifying. Below the Innate Realm, barring any special powerful abilities or Magic Artifacts, he would be able to sweep through any level.

Even as Cultivator at the Innate Realm, Zhuge Xiang believed he had the ability to protect himself. However, the one-minute effect of Bloodthirsty Technique Bloodlust Technique, along with the terrifying period of weakness, would not only increase with the Skill level of the Bloodthirsty Technique, but the period of weakness would also become longer. Zhuge Xiang would not touch it unless he was desperate.

After sorting out all the issues concerning his own strength, Zhuge Xiang looked at Xiao Yue beside him. Since yesterday, it had been listless and seemed to be in poor spirits. It spent most of its time in its room, and even during the small gathering last night and the trip to the Floating Mountain, it did not come along.

If it were an ordinary wild beast, Zhuge Xiang guessed it was probably sick, but how could the Ancient Moon Devouring Divine Dog fall ill for no reason? When he asked it, Xiao Yue itself said it didn't know either.

This time, the Warships did not encounter any Fairy attacks. After three or four hours, it arrived above Ink Martial City, slowed down, and descended slowly.

The Great Qin Empire was divided into thirteen prefectures. Ink Martial City was the Commandery City of Yanling Commandery in the northern part of the Great Qin Empire. It covered a Commandery City of 100 square miles and was large enough to accommodate a million subjects. The Asura Sect was based in Yanling Commandery. Although Yanling Commandery was nominally part of the Great Qin Empire, in reality, the Asura Sect was the one in power in Yanling Commandery.

Two thousand years ago, the Great Qin Empire was actually just a Small Kingdom. At that time, it was a situation of seven countries vying for supremacy. However, the great Qin Emperor Qin Ying Zheng, with the help of the Nine Great Sects, swept across the Six Nations and formed the unprecedented situation of the Great Qin Empire with its vast territory of hundreds of millions of miles. The thirteen prefectures were nominally Great Qin Empire, but the Nine Great Sects, due to their contributions to the founding of the country, each obtained the right to govern one prefecture and act as governors on behalf of the emperor. Yanling Commandery was precisely the territory controlled by the Asura Sect.

The northern part of Ink Martial City is a huge area that occupies almost one-twentieth of the entire Ink Martial City. There is a building every five steps and a pavilion every ten steps. The corridors are winding and the eaves are soaring. Its momentum is like an imperial Palace. After landing, the Asura Warship transforms into a palm-sized model. At this point, everyone has finally arrived at the Asura Sect Inner Sect.

The massive Inner Sect, covering an area of dozens of miles, stood about ten zhang tall. Looking up at it Human Heart pride. Stepping inside, one saw a huge stone tablet inscribed with two blood-red characters: Asura!

The word "Asura" evokes a fierce killing intent and intense battle spirit, as if one could see countless Yaomo Ghosts and Monsters and monsters fighting each other.

As they continued forward, at the bottom of the main Great Hall, Zhuge Xiang and the others handed over their jade Identity Jade Token, registered their identities, and each chose the hall they wanted to join. Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yuling had already made their choices, and Zhang Kuang, just as Zhuge Xiang had said, joined the Blood Hall.

Staff members automatically led Zhuge Xiang into the Battle Hall. Since none of the disciples Inner Sect Selection Trial had reached the Void Splitting Realm, they all cautiously chose the Shadow Hall of the intelligence department, except for Zhuge Xiang and Zhang Kuang.

Upon entering the Battle Hall, Zhuge Xiang could clearly feel the intense fighting spirit and bloody killing intent emanating from it—the kind of killing intent that only those who have spent years in battle could possess.

The Battle Hall, the Quest Hall, was enormous. Even with thousands of Inner Sect Disciple inside, it still felt quite empty. Upon entering, Zhuge Xiang casually pulled aside a Battle Hall disciple and asked, "Excuse me, senior brother, do you know where the Hall Master is? I'm a new disciple who joined the Battle Hall through the Inner Sect Selection Trial."

This disciple, who appeared to be in his early thirties, looked at Zhuge Xiang, clearly surprised by his youth. However, sensing that Zhuge Xiang only possessed the cultivation of the Meridian Opening Realm Sixth Layer, he frowned imperceptibly and said somewhat coldly, "Come with me."

He walked straight to the very bottom of the Great Hall, knocked on one of the wooden doors, and said, "Hall Master, Inner Sect Selection Trial, one disciple has joined the Battle Hall."

The door opened, and a tall man, around forty years old, walked out. He was tall and strong, with a powerful stride and an imposing presence. The War Hall Master had actually come out in person.

Of course, how could the War Hall Master, who commands over 20,000 Inner Sect Disciple, personally come out to greet Zhuge Xiang?

The War Hall Master was followed by more than twenty inner disciples. These disciples gave off a very ordinary feeling, as if they were ordinary people who had never cultivated. Zhuge Xiang was slightly Returning to the Origin by these disciples. They were all at the Return to Simplicity Realm.

The Hall Master glanced at Zhuge Xiang, clearly having overheard the disciple's words and sensing Zhuge Xiang's cultivation level. His face showed deep displeasure. "What on earth is the Sect doing? Even Meridian Opening Realm Sixth Layer guy can pass the assessment? Kid, the Battle Hall isn't a place for children. You should go to the Shadow Hall and train for a few more years until you reach the Void Splitting Realm before coming back."

The following words were clearly addressed to Zhuge Xiang. After waving his hand and finishing speaking, the War Hall Master was about to leave with the twenty-odd disciples at the Return to Simplicity Realm, obviously on an important mission. Although Zhuge Xiang had chosen to join the Battle Hall, the Hall Master refused to accept him, so Zhuge Xiang could only return helplessly.

"Wait a minute," Zhuge Xiang said, stepping forward and activating his Ghostly Flash Steps, blocking the way for the War Hall Master. He said in a deep voice, "Is it too arbitrary to determine a person's combat strength solely based on their cultivation level? Although I am only at the Meridian Opening Realm Sixth Layer, I believe my strength is sufficient to undertake the tasks of the Battle Hall."

Ghostly Flash Steps? This is Cultivation Technique that requires Yin Spirit Jade to cultivate, something most of these Inner Sect Disciples are well aware of. To be able to use Ghostly Flash Steps? Doesn't that mean he possesses a Yin Spirit Jade?

"How dare you block the Hall Master's path! Do you think you can act so arrogantly with just a Ghostly Flash Steps Technique? This is the Inner Sect."

Before the War Hall Master could speak, a disciple at the Return to Simplicity Realm beside him frowned and shouted sharply. As he spoke, he raised his hand and sent a palm strike toward Zhuge Xiang. Black Qi Energy surged and gathered in his palm, turning his hand into the color of pitch-black steel. Martial Skill: Iron Hand Technique.

The fact that someone dared to block the Hall Master's path naturally attracted the attention of thousands of Inner Sect Disciples in the Great Hall.

Bite!

The sound of Metal clashing rang out. The Inner Sect Disciple who had made the move had his pupils shrink slightly. His Iron Hand Technique had actually been blocked. He was at the Return to Simplicity Realm, which was three minor realms away from the Meridian Opening Realm. Although he hadn't used his full strength in this casual strike, he still felt humiliated to have it blocked by a disciple at the Void Splitting Realm.

Return to Simplicity Realm made his move, everyone thought that Zhuge Xiang would be Knockback away and would retreat obediently back to the Shadow Hall. However, Zhuge Xiang's Blade of Blockade blocked the attack of the disciple of the Return to Simplicity Realm, which made everyone's eyes widen. Even the War Hall Master raised his eyebrows slightly.

"You bastard, you're too presumptuous! Let me teach you a lesson!" His attack was blocked, and the disciple in the Return to Simplicity Realm frowned. He attacked again, this time with even greater force.

Knockback!

However, when his attack landed, Zhuge Xiang's Knockback Skill was also activated. As long as the opponent's cultivation level was not higher than his own by four minor realms, he could knock them away.

The result was predictable: this Inner Sect Disciple, a highly sought-after expert in the Inner Sect and a cultivator at the Returning to the Return to Simplicity Realm, was sent flying by Zhuge Xiang's sword, causing an uproar among the thousands of Inner Sect Disciples in the Great Hall. (To be continued...)