Blood Sucking Vine

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"Oh? I'm up in the first match?" Zhuge Xiang opened his eyes and rose to his feet. After the several duels of the Later Top Eight, the Qi Energy within him had recovered sixty to seventy percent. Raising a hand to stop Niu Geng beside him, who looked worried and wanted to speak, Zhuge Xiang walked straight onto the stage.

"Haha, I wonder whether I should say your luck is bad, or mine is too good. You were no match for me to begin with, yet you've had even less time to rest than I did," Lei Potian laughed loudly, his face full of confident smugness.

Clearly, Lei Potian had fought the first match of the top eight, while Zhuge Xiang had fought the last. Though both had rested, the little time Zhuge Xiang had been given was nowhere near enough for his Qi Energy to fully recover.

"Are you done talking nonsense? I'm in a hurry." Slowly drawing the Blood Refinement Saber from his back, Zhuge Xiang stared intently at Lei Potian, neither sad nor pleased.

As he spoke, scarlet Qi Energy emerged around Zhuge Xiang. Ghostly shadows overlapped, and his entire body radiated an intense pressure. The moment he stepped onto the stage, Zhuge Xiang had activated the Bloodthirsty Technique.

"Oh? Activating the Bloodthirsty Technique as soon as you step up? Looks like I can't hold back either." Lei Potian wore a smile as he slightly raised the Great Axe in his hand. Scarlet Qi Energy radiated from his body as well, and the terrifying pressure it emitted was a notch stronger than Zhuge Xiang's. He had activated the Bloodthirsty Technique too.

Bloodthirsty Technique against Bloodthirsty Technique. Before the battle had even begun, the two had each unleashed their greatest strength, stirring the spectators below into even greater excitement. The atmosphere instantly exploded. Both possessed a Proficient Level Bloodthirsty Technique, and the savage, evil Ghost Faces they conjured were chillingly terrifying.

"Their strengths are evenly matched. It'll be difficult to decide victory or defeat in a short time," Lu Yuling said calmly in a low voice as she watched Zhuge Xiang and Lei Potian activate the Bloodthirsty Technique.

Zhuge Xiang had activated the Bloodthirsty Technique because he felt the pressure from Lei Potian and knew he would have difficulty winning without it. Lei Potian, meanwhile, clearly acknowledged Zhuge Xiang's strength. Though he was at the Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer, if he did not activate the Bloodthirsty Technique, he might capsize in a gutter. After all, Zhuge Xiang's strange methods could reduce an opponent's speed, and Lei Potian was deeply wary of that.

"Senior Brother Ling Wufeng, who do you think will win?" Beneath the Duel Platform, a disciple who was fairly close to Ling Wufeng asked. His eyes remained fixed on the two figures atop the platform.

"If Zhuge Xiang has other methods, that's another matter. If not, Lei Potian should win. Zhuge Xiang is only at the Qi Cultivation Realm Second Layer, and his Qi Energy hasn't fully recovered. He should run out of Qi Energy before Lei Potian does," Ling Wufeng said evenly, his gaze fixed seriously on the Duel Platform.

"Senior Sister Lu, do you think Zhuge Xiang can win?" On the other side, Niu Geng came to Lu Yuling's side and asked. The worry on his face could not have been more obvious.

Turning her head to look at Niu Geng, Lu Yuling remained as cool and detached as ever. "There's nothing wrong with caring about a friend. You've done well in that regard. But you haven't learned to trust your friends. I don't know what other methods Zhuge Xiang has, but I'm looking forward to his victory."

"Do I need to learn to trust my friends?" Lowering his head, Niu Geng mulled over Lu Yuling's words, then nodded as though he had gained some insight.

Some said Lei Potian would win, while others said Zhuge Xiang would win. But no matter how the crowd below discussed it, victory and defeat had to be decided through action. Both Zhuge Xiang and Lei Potian were aggressive fighters, and their outright clash of strength against strength set everyone's blood boiling.

Though Lu Yuling's Clear Wave Palm and Ling Wufeng's Flying Dagger were both powerful, to the disciples of the Asura Sect, a man's duel like the one between Zhuge Xiang and Lei Potian was what truly made their blood surge.

Lei Potian was at the Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer. With his fierce axe techniques, his combat strength was exceptionally formidable, carrying the force to split Mount Hua in two. What about Zhuge Xiang? Though he was only at the Qi Cultivation Realm Second Layer, even with the Bloodthirsty Technique activated, he still fell a notch short of Lei Potian. Yet Lei Potian had only one artifact—his weapon—while Zhuge Xiang still had three artifacts, even if the Blade of Blockade could not be used now.

The Blood Refinement Saber, Frost Headband, and Star Chasing Boots. In particular, the Star Chasing Boots increased movement speed by 30%, making Zhuge Xiang at least slightly faster than Lei Potian.

Both the Star Chasing Boots and Frost Headband provided additional defense. Together with the Blood Refinement Saber's blood-sucking effect, although both Zhuge Xiang and Lei Potian were injured in their head-on battle, Zhuge Xiang's injuries were comparatively lighter.

Zhuge Xiang's troublesome nature left Lei Potian helpless, though it also seemed within his expectations. With both of them maintaining the Bloodthirsty Technique, defeating Zhuge Xiang in a short time was simply impossible. Moreover, he needed to conserve his strength; he still had one final duel ahead of him. So, following Ji Wuxue and Yuan Kai's example, Lei Potian said, "Zhuge Xiang, neither of us can decide victory or defeat quickly. How about we settle it in three moves as well?"

Settle it in three moves? No one had expected Lei Potian and Zhuge Xiang's duel to bring up the same proposal. Quite a few people turned to look at Zhuge Xiang.

When Ji Wuxue and Yuan Kai had proposed settling it in three moves, both had lost to him. Would he agree to Lei Potian's request this time as well? He had agreed to Ji Wuxue and Yuan Kai's proposals, and Zhuge Xiang himself also needed to preserve his strength for the battles ahead. Surely he would not reject a suggestion that benefited both sides?

"I refuse..." Yet, to everyone's astonishment, Zhuge Xiang rejected it flatly without even thinking.

"Could it be that you know you'll definitely lose to me, so you don't dare settle it in three moves? You bastard, are you planning to drain my Qi Energy even if you lose?" Unable to think of any reason Zhuge Xiang would refuse, Lei Potian shouted in embarrassment and anger.

Zhuge Xiang's refusal naturally carried a different meaning. Lei Potian was right—Zhuge Xiang did intend to wear him down. But he had never considered that he would lose. With the Experience Scroll in hand, he could achieve a Breakthrough at any time. Then, not only would he be restored to full condition, he would become even stronger.

Thus, in order to defeat Lei Potian more easily after his Breakthrough, he had to deplete Lei Potian's Qi Energy as much as possible first. That was precisely why Zhuge Xiang had decisively refused Lei Potian's so-called proposal to settle victory in three moves.

Although Zhuge Xiang had refused in order to win the duel, Lei Potian saw it as Zhuge Xiang deliberately targeting him—the classic "even in death, I'll drag you down with me." It enraged and embarrassed him, yet there was nothing he could do. Both possessed Proficient Level Bloodthirsty Techniques. Though Zhuge Xiang's cultivation was a notch weaker than his, his speed was a notch greater. One had stronger attack power, the other greater speed. They were evenly matched, and even though Lei Potian held a faint upper hand, he still could not defeat Zhuge Xiang in a short time.

The Bloodthirsty Technique was indeed powerful, but it could not be sustained. At most, it lasted one minute, after which one would enter a terrifying period of weakness. If this continued, then even if he defeated Zhuge Xiang, it would be difficult to win the duels that followed. Whether it was Lu Yuling or Ling Wufeng, neither would be easy to defeat. That was not something Lei Potian wished to see.

"Zhuge Xiang, are you insane? You should know very well about the side effects of the Bloodthirsty Technique, and you should know that you can't possibly defeat me. Instead of this, why not preserve your strength and fight for third place?" Anxious, furious, and helpless, Lei Potian could not help shouting at Zhuge Xiang in exasperation.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Zhuge Xiang said not a word in response to Lei Potian's exasperated shouts. What answered him were one sharp attack after another. The saber in his hand gave Lei Potian a very clear answer.

"Bastard!!!" In his fury, he was actually grazed several times by the Blood Refinement Saber. Though the wounds were shallow, they completely enraged Lei Potian. "Fine, fine, fine. I was planning to save this trump card for the final duel, but since you don't know the difference between life and death, don't blame me."

After saying "fine" three times in succession, Lei Potian's eyes brimmed with killing intent. Clearly, Zhuge Xiang's failure to appreciate his goodwill had forced him to reveal his final trump card, and Lei Potian had now developed murderous intent. This was no longer merely a duel. In his rage, he wanted to kill Zhuge Xiang on the spot.

A trump card Lei Potian had kept hidden all this time? At those words, everyone present grew much more serious. Lei Potian was already this strong, yet he still had a trump card? What could it be? What else could serve as Lei Potian's trump card?

Burning with rage, Lei Potian reached into his robes, took out a seed, and tossed it directly onto the ground.

The Duel Platform had been paved with bluestone, yet the seed drilled straight into the stone. Then, more than a dozen violet vines as thick as a child's arm burst through the bluestone slabs and grew forth. The vines waved through the air like savage venomous snakes.

"This Blood Sucking Vine seed was something I happened to obtain while adventuring in the Endless Mountain Range. Though it can only last a few minutes before withering, it's more than enough to assist me in killing you."

Under the Bloodthirsty Technique, Lei Potian's scarlet eyes stared at Zhuge Xiang with killing intent as he shouted angrily. As he spoke, he raised his Great Axe, turning into a bloody shadow as he lunged at Zhuge Xiang. At the same time, the dozen or so vines swept rapidly toward Zhuge Xiang.

"Blood Sucking Vine? I didn't expect Lei Potian to obtain a Blood Sucking Vine seed." Lu Yuling's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she spoke in a low voice. In terms of binding ability, more than a dozen Blood Sucking Vines were no less formidable than her Clear Wave Palm, and they even possessed a blood-sucking function.

"Lei Potian has hidden himself deeply indeed. Fortunately, the Blood Sucking Vines will wither if they cannot consume the flesh and blood of more than ten people, and the sect would never let him plant Blood Sucking Vines in the Martial Arts Arena." Ling Wufeng's eyes also held a trace of gravity as he spoke softly.

"Zhuge Xiang is finished..." Once Lei Potian brought out the Blood Sucking Vine seed, the people below immediately declared their verdict.

With Lei Potian's attack power and the Blood Sucking Vine's assistance, even someone at the Qi Cultivation Realm Fourth Layer would lose, let alone Zhuge Xiang. Lei Potian's strength was already enough to sit firmly on the throne of Grand Tournament champion.

"Blood Sucking Vine? Looks like I can only achieve a Breakthrough early..." Zhuge Xiang frowned deeply as he watched the dozen nimble Blood Sucking Vines. Any other trump card would have been manageable, but if these Blood Sucking Vines bound him, then even if he achieved a Breakthrough afterward, it would be too late to save the situation.

Reaching into his robes, Zhuge Xiang took out the Experience Scroll and tore it open. A faint glow spread out, enveloping his entire body...