The missing Xiao Yue (Part one)
Zhuge Xiang hovered in mid-air, a pair of wings slowly flapping behind him. A cold aura emanated from the Phoenix Feather Wings. Looking down at the Mysterious Expert, Zhuge Xiang's gaze was fixed on him, and killing intent burst forth from his eyes.
"Flying Magic Artifact? No wonder you managed to escape from Senior Brother Hao's clutches," the Mysterious Expert said, looking at Zhuge Xiang. He clearly recognized him and then, upon seeing the Phoenix Feather Wings, he exclaimed in realization.
"That's great, Zhuge Xiang, I knew you were alright." Su Huayu and the others were overjoyed to see Zhuge Xiang appear. They looked at the Phoenix Feather Wings with envy. Flying Magic Artifact were special Magic Artifact whose value generally surpassed that of other Magic Artifact. They never expected that Zhuge Xiang would even have Flying Magic Artifact.
"Escape? Sorry, your so-called Senior Brother Hao has already been killed by me..." With a slight brow twitching, Zhuge Xiang retracted his Phoenix Feather Wings and landed.
"Such arrogance! Senior Brother Hao's strength is the strongest below the Deity Transformation stage. You think you can kill him with only the First Layer of Innate Realm?" The Mysterious Expert curled his lip, clearly not believing Zhuge Xiang's words.
"First Layer of Innate Realm? He broke through to the Innate Realm?" The Mysterious Expert's words startled Mo Wuyan. They looked at Zhuge Xiang in surprise, not expecting that Zhuge Xiang would actually break through to the Innate Realm tonight. Niu Geng and Zi Xiang sighed inwardly, not expecting that Zhuge Xiang would have reached this point after more than a year.
"Whether it's bragging or not, you'll know once you try it yourself," Zhuge Xiang said coldly, looking at the Mysterious Expert. With a slight wave of his hand, a Spear appeared in his grasp.
The Poisonous Flood Dragon Spear is a Damaged Treasure Artifact Spear. It was obtained from Dugu Jue's Storage Ring after he was killed in the Spear of Land of Death. This surviving Treasure Artifact's attack power far surpasses that of the Sword of Slaughter. With Zhuge Xiang's breakthrough to the Innate Realm, the Poisonous Flood Dragon Spear finally met the conditions for use.
Poisonous Flood Dragon Spear (Damaged Treasure Artifact): Requires First Layer of Innate Realm, Attack 820-900, Unique Passive: Reduces damage taken by 30%, Description: The Artifact Spirit within the Treasure Artifact has collapsed. Only a lingering obsession remains. Although it is Treasure Artifact, it is merely an inanimate object. Durability 55200, Weight 10.
After the previous battle, Zhuge Xiang had used his Sword Intent, Bloodthirsty Technique, and even the Vast Sword Qi, plus the drain on his Phoenix Feather Wings, which had taken a toll on him. Moreover, the short-term use of the Bloodthirsty Technique had even left Zhuge Xiang in a slightly weakened state. Judging from his current condition, Zhuge Xiang was indeed not suited for combat.
However, the newly revealed Night Emblem has boosted Zhuge Xiang's overall attributes by 50%. Overall, Zhuge Xiang's strength has not decreased but has actually increased.
With the Poisonous Flood Dragon Spear in hand, Zhuge Xiang's attack power was nearly 1,000 points, almost double that of the Sword of Slaughter. The Weapon Intent added four times the damage. As the Spear Intent was unleashed, Zhuge Xiang's attack power with the Poisonous Flood Dragon Spear alone exceeded 3,000 points.
The Poisonous Flood Dragon Spear rang out, Zhuge Xiang pushed off with his feet, activating his Explosive Steps and Eagle Eye Technique. The sound of Wind and Thunder arose, and the Poisonous Flood Dragon Spear danced in a circle, transforming into a blood-red arc, the Blood Thunder Slash.
Zhuge Xiang used a spear instead of a staff to unleash this Skill. His strength had broken through to the Innate Realm, and the internal Qi Energy within Zhuge Xiang had changed from Acquired to Xiantian, making him even stronger. This Blood Thunder Slash, with its rolling wind and Wind and Thunder sounds, gave people a feeling of being unable to defeat him.
"Qi Sword Finger!" Seeing Zhuge Xiang's astonishingly powerful attack, the Mysterious Expert's expression changed drastically. He poured his Qi Energy into his fingertips and flicked his fingers repeatedly, sending out sharp finger energies like Sword Qi.
"Spear Intent!?" Seeing Zhuge Xiang make his move, Zi Xiang, Mo Wuyan, and Su Huayu behind him were all slightly taken aback.
In their eyes, Zhuge Xiang had always been a master swordsman, even having grasped the Sword Intent. However, they never expected that Zhuge Xiang would take out a Spear, which also possessed a terrifying Spear Intent. Moreover, it seemed that his Spear Arts were even stronger than his Swordsmanship skills.
"Could it be that Zhuge Xiang's greatest skill is actually Spear Arts?" With surprise in their hearts, the three of them turned their gazes to Niu Geng and asked.
Ordinary people who specialize in just one weapon often find themselves lacking in skill, yet Zhuge Xiang has mastered both Swordsmanship and Spear Arts simultaneously? What's even more terrifying is that he's incredibly formidable in both?
"As far as I know, Zhuge Xiang doesn't have anything particularly outstanding. Along the way, I've only seen him use a knife, a sword, a bow, and now, a spear..." Niu Geng answered, watching intently as he watched Zhuge Xiang's battle with the Mysterious Expert, in response to the astonishment of Zi Xiang and the other two.
"...".
Niu Geng's answer left the group speechless. The fact that he had simultaneously mastered Swordsmanship and Spear Arts was already astonishing, but Niu Geng's words left them even more dumbfounded. He also knew Saber Art and archery? What else couldn't he do?
"Does he really want to become an all-rounder? In the past year, his Forging have already improved to the level of the Beginner Twelve Grade..." Mo Wuyan closed his mouth with some difficulty. At this moment, he was truly speechless and did not know how to comment on Zhuge Xiang.
The word "genius" is far from enough to describe him. If one had to describe Zhuge Xiang, Mo Wuyan felt that the word "monster" would be more appropriate.
With his Innate Realm cultivation, the damaged Poison Treasure Artifact Poisonous Flood Dragon Spear, and the Weapon Intent's four-fold attack power effect, the gap widened even further. Add to that the effect of Zhuge Xiang's Night Emblem's Effect, and at this moment, Zhuge Xiang's strength was absurdly high.
This Mysterious Expert, although also at the Return to Simplicity Realm, was somewhat weaker than the previous one. Zhuge Xiang, despite going all out, was actually able to suppress him.
"Let's help," Niu Geng said, seeing that although Zhuge Xiang was suppressing his opponent, he was finding it difficult to kill him in a short time. The four nodded and began to help.
Although the Mysterious Man was highly skilled, he was no match for Zhuge Xiang and the others when they attacked him together. Finally, an enormous sword Sword Qi cleaved a gap in Zi Xiang's body, and blood gushed out. The Mysterious Expert's speed suddenly increased dramatically, and he shot away into the distance.
The Blood Escape Technique consumes one-third of the user's vital Essence Blood, temporarily increasing Movement Speed by 200%. Knowing that continuing the fight would inevitably lead to his demise, the Mysterious Expert gritted his teeth and activated the Blood Escape Technique, seeking only to escape.
"Damn it, he still escaped..." Seeing the Mysterious Expert's terrifying Movement Speed, Niu Geng and the others' expressions changed. His incredibly fast speed clearly meant they couldn't catch up.
"Trying to escape? How could you possibly escape?" However, Zhuge Xiang's face was filled with a chilling killing intent. He planted the Poisonous Flood Dragon Spear in the ground, flipped his hand, and a huge bow appeared in his hand. With Wolf Fang Arrow in hand, he drew the bowstring taut, and an incomparably terrifying Qi Energy gathered on the Wolf Fang Arrow, locking onto the Blood-Colored Figure that was gradually disappearing into the distance.
Piercing Arrow!
A crimson light, the magical Magic Artifact of the Wild Bow, the doubled effect of the Frenzied Strike, the quadruple attack of the Arrow Intent, the Piercing Arrow and the Wolf Fang Arrow's ability to ignore defense—this crimson arrow beam, like a shooting star from the night sky, seemed to suck in one's consciousness as soon as it was fired, leaving the mind blank, with only this arrow remaining...
A crimson arrow flashed and disappeared in an instant. Immediately afterward, a scream came from a crimson figure in the distance. Due to inertia, the figure still ran seven or eight steps before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
"Ding! You have killed Cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Return to Simplicity Realm, gaining 220,000 experience points and obtaining the Sun Water Recipe," the system notification rang in Zhuge Xiang 'Zhuge Xiang mind, confirming that the opponent was indeed dead.
"Only 220,000 experience points, just one level lower. The gap between Elite and ordinary targets is just too big." Hearing the system notification, Zhuge Xiang shook his head inwardly. He had 1 million experience points before, but now he only had 220,000. However, the fact that a recipe had dropped was an unexpected surprise.
Sun Water Recipe (Potion Recipe): Requires a beginner rank 8 Pill Alchemist. Required materials: 1 Thousand Year Ginseng, 1 Heavenly Dragon Water, 2 Heavenly Immortal Herb, 1 Spirit Fat. Effects: Instantly increases HP and MP by 500 points. Cooldown time: 60 seconds.
Zhuge Xiang frowned slightly upon seeing the ingredients in the Sun Water Recipe. These were all relatively rare materials. However, upon seeing the medicinal effects of the Sun Water, Zhuge Xiang's slightly furrowed brows relaxed. Compared to these precious materials, the medicinal effects of the Sun Water were indeed powerful.
At the same time, it restores 500 HP and MP. This is the first time Zhuge Xiang has seen a medicine that can Healing and restore Qi Energy at the same time. More importantly, this Sun Water restores Qi instantly, not slowly. The effect of this medicine is truly powerful.
"Phew, the Li Family is truly formidable," Niu Geng said with a sigh of relief as he watched the Mysterious Expert being killed by Zhuge Xiang's arrow. "If Zhuge Xiang hadn't arrived early, I would have been dead here today."
"The Li Family? Don't the Li Family incorporate poison into their martial arts? You saw poison in his martial arts?" Zhuge Xiang turned around and said to Niu Geng after hearing his words.
Niu Geng's expression changed slightly, then he shook his head. "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have really overlooked it. Indeed, from the moment he made his move until now, I haven't seen him use any poison. If he's not Li Family, then who is he?"
"If I'm not mistaken, it should be the Qingxu Sword Sect."
The guy at the Tenth Layer of Return to Simplicity Realm was a master swordsman. This Mysterious Man, although he didn't have a sword, had Sword Qi Energy in his fingertips. In Yanling Commandery, the only place Zhuge Xiang could think of that could train such a disciple was the Qingxu Sword Sect.
"Qingxu Sword Sect? Could it be that the Li Family destroyed Tang Family Fort, and the Qingxu Sword Sect was the mastermind behind it?" Zhuge Xiang's words caused Niu Geng's expression to change drastically.
"If it were just the Qingxu Sword Sect, it wouldn't be so bad, but I'm afraid it's not just the Qingxu Sword Sect..." Thinking of the secret meeting between the Qingxu Sword Sect, Weituo Temple, and Tiandao Sect disciples in Ink Martial City, Zhuge Xiang's expression turned grave. (To be continued...)