Asura Warship

"142 experience points? So even though they're both at the Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer, Yuan Kai is somewhat weaker than Ji Wuxue?" Hearing the system's mechanical prompt in his mind, Zhuge Xiang mused to himself. On honest reflection, that was indeed the case.

Although a large part of Zhuge Xiang's victory had come from his act, making his opponent lower his guard—there had been quite a bit of trickery involved—Yuan Kai had still fought his way into the Former Top Eight. He was undeniably strong, yet compared to Ji Wuxue, he did seem a little weaker.

In Zhuge Xiang's heart, Ji Wuxue's strength had vaguely reached the top tier occupied by Lu Yuling and the others. Since the tournament began, he was the only one who had truly inflicted heavy injuries on Zhuge Xiang.

"He... he won... He actually defeated Yuan Kai... and advanced into the top four?" Another sudden burst had defeated Yuan Kai, leaving the audience below the stage utterly stunned. Once again, there had been a promise of three moves; once again, a sudden eruption that turned an impossible situation completely around.

"Th-this is a combat genius? He's only comprehended Qi Energy for half a month..." The other genius disciples stared wide-eyed at Zhuge Xiang, shock filling their faces.

That abrupt explosion of power, that unknown method which had reduced Yuan Kai's speed, and the dagger that had effortlessly blocked Yuan Kai's powerful Mountain Breaking Strike—every bit of it deeply shook them. If, when Zhuge Xiang had entered the Former Top Eight, some had claimed he was simply lucky to have encountered only Qi Cultivation Realm Second Layer disciples, then no one said such things now. Zhuge Xiang had proven himself with his own strength. He fully deserved his place among the top four.

"He... he wasn't injured at all..." After Zhuge Xiang erupted and defeated Yuan Kai, his complexion was still rosy and full of vitality. If they still did not realize that he had been putting on an act before, they would be complete fools. He had not been injured? They had been fooled by him?

"He wasn't injured? So that's how it is." Ji Wuxue, beneath the stage, nodded in understanding. Yet he was in a very good mood. Zhuge Xiang's advance into the top four proved his strength; losing to him was not an injustice.

"Not injured?" Looking at Zhuge Xiang, who had won a sweeping victory on the stage, Lei Potian and Ling Wufeng both showed a trace of wariness in their eyes. They too had been deceived by his act all along. If they had faced Zhuge Xiang in the Former Top Eight battles, would they have underestimated him because he seemed injured? And if they had lowered their guard, would they have been defeated?

"It seems Zhuge Xiang had some means of healing his own injuries." Ji Wuxue's sword had pierced through his chest; severe injury had been inevitable. Yet now, his wounds had fully healed. The sect could not possibly have treated him, so the answer was obvious: he had a way to heal himself.

No matter how shocked everyone was, Zhuge Xiang's expression remained calm, carrying the composure of one unruffled by favor or disgrace. With the Blood Refinement Saber on his back, he stepped down from the Duel Platform after the host announced his victory. At the same time, he lowered his head to examine the Experience Scroll in his hand, and a stream of information naturally surfaced in his mind.

Experience Scroll (Special Consumable): Can increase experience by 100 points. No requirements for use.

It could add 100 experience points? Seeing the information on the Experience Scroll in his hand, Zhuge Xiang froze slightly before being overwhelmed with joy. Having just gained 142 experience points, he needed only 60 more to raise his cultivation to the Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer. Yet this Experience Scroll could directly grant 100 experience points? Didn't that mean he could break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer?

At the Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer, Zhuge Xiang felt even more confident in taking first place in the Grand Tournament. However, he forcibly held himself back from using the Experience Scroll.

Zhuge Xiang clearly remembered the day he encountered the Fox Demon. When he broke through, not only were all his injuries completely restored, but every negative condition was cleared as well. Breaking through in the midst of a duel would be far more valuable than breaking through now.

The top four had been decided, and the battles for the bottom four began as well. After several consecutive matches, the rankings for the last six places of the Grand Tournament were settled. Finally, it was time for the top four battles.

"The top four: Lei Potian, Ling Wufeng, Lu Yuling, and Zhuge Xiang. Which of them will become the strongest?" As the host announced the start of the top four matches, the Grand Tournament was nearing its end, yet the atmosphere grew even more fervent. Anticipation and excitement filled every face.

"I can't take it anymore. The top four battles are too exciting—I'm trembling all over." Some were so excited that their bodies shook faintly. In this clash between the four strongest disciples of this tournament, who was stronger and who was weaker? No one could say.

Lei Potian was one of the most dazzling geniuses. His Bloodthirsty Technique had reached the Proficient Level, and his Great Axe made him arguably the most offensively powerful of all the disciples.

Ling Wufeng's unfathomable flying daggers were impossible for anyone to withstand. Since the Grand Tournament began, a single flying dagger had always forced back his opponent. No one knew where his limits lay; he was so powerful that his depths could not be fathomed.

Lu Yuling was the most dazzling female genius disciple. Thus far, she had appeared steady and unremarkable, wielding a set of Clear Wave Palm techniques at the Proficient Level, aided only by several tough silk threads. She possessed no special martial technique and no powerful magical artifact, but precisely because of this, she might be the one hiding the most. Moreover, the fact that she could reach the top four with only these proved her strength.

Finally, there was Zhuge Xiang. He had the least seniority and had comprehended Qi Energy for only half a month, yet after all these battles, no one doubted his strength. He was the greatest dark horse of this Grand Tournament—a dark horse that gleamed brilliantly black.

Though he was only at the Qi Cultivation Realm Second Layer, he possessed that bizarre ability to weaken his opponent's attacks, a method that could easily block their strikes, the Bloodthirsty Technique at the Proficient Level, and the Blood Thunder Slash—seemingly useless in duels, yet ferociously powerful in attack. No one dared claim that this disciple of merely the Qi Cultivation Realm Second Layer would certainly lose.

Among the top four disciples, who was stronger and who was weaker? No one knew. But that was exactly what made everyone all the more expectant and curious.

There were also those who asked about Zhuge Xiang: wasn't one only allowed to learn a single Martial Art? Why had he cultivated both the Bloodthirsty Technique and Blood Thunder Slash? Sect staff stepped forward to clarify that Zhuge Xiang had indeed selected only Blood Thunder Slash from the Martial Arts Pavilion. As for where he had learned the Bloodthirsty Technique, they did not know. Perhaps he had obtained it by chance elsewhere while training.

When some still persisted, the sect simply threw out one statement: the reason everyone's cultivation of Martial Arts was restricted was to keep them from neglecting the cultivation of their own Qi Energy, thereby suffering a loss that outweighed the gain. As for Zhuge Xiang, he had reached the Qi Cultivation Realm Second Layer in half a month after comprehending Qi Energy. If you could do that too, you would also be permitted to learn the Bloodthirsty Technique. The moment this reasoning was presented, everyone fell silent.

What a joke. Reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm Second Layer in half a month from being a disciple who had not even comprehended Qi Energy? Even Lei Potian and the others could not manage that, could they?

And the Bloodthirsty Technique? At that thought, everyone's hearts turned ice-cold. They knew full well how dangerous the Bloodthirsty Technique was. Of the hundreds of disciples who had dared cultivate it, they had surely all been people of great wisdom and courage, yet the vast majority had died. Only Lei Potian, Ji Wuxue, and now Zhuge Xiang—just three people—had successfully cultivated it. How many dared lay a finger on the Bloodthirsty Technique?

Returning to the main matter, after the bottom four battles concluded, they saw that it was already growing late. At the same time, a black speck in the sky rapidly expanded, drawing cries of alarm from many people. What was that? Something was approaching?

The black speck swiftly grew larger and soon appeared above the Martial Arts Arena, leaving everyone dumbfounded and slack-jawed.

A massive black ship, roughly a hundred zhang long, hovered above the Martial Arts Arena. Its hundred-zhang body gave off a weighty, oppressive feeling. The great vessel suspended overhead resembled a colossal aerial beast crouching in wait. Enormous cannon barrels covered the warship's sides, while profound formations covered its surface. Looking up at it, its sheer size alone gave people an overwhelming pressure of something impossible to contend against.

"The Asura Warship... Even though this isn't my first time seeing it, it's still so shocking," Zhuge Xiang muttered inwardly as he watched the warship in the sky, like a gigantic savage beast.

The first time Zhuge Xiang had seen the Asura Warship was naturally when he had first arrived at the Asura Sect. Its purpose here was simple: to transport disciples. Once the Grand Tournament was over, every disciple who had successfully comprehended Qi Energy would be carried by the Asura Warship to the Asura Sect headquarters deeper within the Endless Mountain Range.

Just as everyone was awestruck by the Asura Warship, the host on the Duel Platform spoke, drawing their attention back. "All right. This is the Asura Warship of our Asura Sect. It has come to transport disciples who have successfully comprehended Qi Energy back to headquarters. The Grand Tournament has now reached its most thrilling finale. I now announce that the top four battles officially begin: Lei Potian versus Zhuge Xiang."