The Imprisoned Qing Mingzi
The voice of the Purgatory Elder emanated from within the Great Hall, but it felt ethereal and indistinct. The voice had no discernible location, as if it had existed there since time immemorial, filled with a sense of nature.
Upon hearing Purgatory Elder speak, Zhuge Xiang led Su Huayu into Purgatory Elder's Great Hall. Two years later, Zhuge Xiang once again stood before Purgatory Elder.
Two years had not left any marks on Purgatory Elder, but Zhuge Xiang looked more mature than he had two years ago. The features on his face were more defined, and he had lost some of his childishness. Of course, the main reason was his cultivation level. He had reached the Reversal of the Return to Simplicity Realm, which was a sign that he could completely control his own Qi Energy. There was no Qi Energy leakage from his body, so naturally, he gave people a different feeling from ordinary people.
In the Great Hall, perhaps because it was already late, the True Disciple of the Purgatory Elder were not seen. Only the Purgatory Elder sat in the head seat, and standing next to him was the True Disciple Gu Feng.
With Purgatory Elder's cultivation level, he could clearly see how strong Zhuge Xiang was. Upon seeing Zhuge Xiang walk in, even Purgatory Elder, Void Realm Great Expert, had a slight change in expression. In just two years, his strength had actually reached the Return to Simplicity Realm Fifth Layer. Such a cultivation speed surprised Purgatory Elder.
"Reaching the Deity Transformation stage within three to five years? Given your current situation, it is indeed possible. However, I hope you can also overcome the real bottleneck. Only then will I admit that I am not qualified to be your master," Purgatory Elder Lianyu said to Zhuge Xiang, his eyes flashing.
Purgatory Elder's words make a lot of sense. Although his cultivation speed in the early stages is astonishing, throughout history, how many disciples with extraordinary talent have cultivated rapidly in the early stages, only to be stuck at the Return to Simplicity Realm Peak for their entire lives, unable to break through? Although Zhuge Xiang's current cultivation speed is amazing, he still needs to reach the Deity Transformation stage to truly prove himself.
The conversation between Zhuge Xiang and Purgatory Elder left Su Huayu staring at Zhuge Xiang in shock. Judging from the current situation, it seemed that Purgatory Elder had expressed his willingness to take Zhuge Xiang as a disciple two years ago. But he had actually refused? It was common knowledge that all the elders of the Asura Sect Void Returning Stage. How could Zhuge Xiang have rejected such a good opportunity?
"I will certainly remember the elder's words," Zhuge Xiang replied, ignoring Su Huayu's thoughts and bowing to the Purgatory Elder.
"Alright. Just tell me what you need, kid," Purgatory Elder said, seeing Zhuge Xiang's polite demeanor. Even though he was displeased, he had nowhere to vent his anger. He waved his hand and said to Zhuge Xiang rather rudely, since Zhuge Xiang hadn't come to him to change his mind, he obviously had something else to say.
Seeing Purgatory Elder's impolite manner, Zhuge Xiang smiled. Although Purgatory Elder's appearance indicated his displeasure, and he was a powerful cultivator at the Void Returning Stage, he did not inspire fear but rather a sense of gentle warmth.
"Elder, it's nothing serious, but I heard that you unfolded the Asura Purgatory Diagram and captured a man inside. Forgive my bluntness, but could you tell me the man's identity?" Zhuge Xiang asked cautiously, looking at the Purgatory Elder. Hearing Zhuge Xiang's question, Su Huayu became a little nervous.
"Why are you asking about this, kid? Did that old bastard Wanhua send you here?" Zhuge Xiang's question made Purgatory Elder's displeasure lessen considerably, and something new appeared in his usually calm eyes.
"It has nothing to do with Myriad Flowers Elder," Zhuge Xiang shook his head, then pointed to Su Huayu beside him and said, "This is also Asura Sect Disciple. His father seems to have come to headquarters recently. He heard that you, Elder, have taken in a man, so he came to inquire."
"Oh?" Zhuge Xiang's words drew Purgatory Elder's attention to Su Huayu. After scrutinizing her for a moment, Purgatory Elder suddenly burst into laughter, laughing so hard that he leaned back as if he was about to fall off his seat. His laughter filled the entire Great Hall.
Zhuge Xiang and Su Huayu looked at each other, clearly not understanding why the Purgatory Elder was laughing.
Not to mention them, even Gu Feng looked at his Master with surprise, his eyes full of confusion.
Just as Zhuge Xiang couldn't help but ask, Purgatory Elder slowly stopped smiling. With a gentle wave of his hand, a precious light flashed, and a scroll of Asura Purgatory Diagram appeared and unfolded on its own, revealing the scene of Asura Purgatory at a glance.
However, what attracts the most attention is the Asura Purgatory Diagram, in which a man is suppressed by a mountain peak and unable to escape.
The Asura Purgatory Diagram, though described as a picture, is not static. Rather, it is a diagram created by a great Divine Ability that captures a portion of the Asura Path and seals it within the picture. Everything in the Purgatory Diagram is alive. The man suppressed under the mountain is shouting to the sky, his expression vivid. However, no matter how much he struggles or shouts, the mountain pressing down on him cannot move an inch.
"Father!" Su Huayu cried out in alarm as she looked at the man suppressed by the mountain in the Asura Purgatory Diagram. She reached out her hand, but she couldn't enter the Asura Purgatory Diagram at all. That's right, the man suppressed in the Asura Purgatory Diagram was none other than Qing Mingzi.
Zhuge Xiang looked at the Purgatory Elder with a questioning gaze, not understanding why he had suppressed Qing Mingzi in this Asura Purgatory Diagram.
"This kid has some blood in him, but unfortunately he followed that old bastard Wanhua. He has some connection with that girl Ice Maiden. It just so happens that I Fire Poison back then and owed her a favor, so I don't want to see the kid die. Let him calm down in there first," Purgatory Elder said calmly, waving his hand. The Asura Purgatory Diagram automatically rolled up and disappeared into the Void.
The Purgatory Elder's words made sense, Zhuge Xiang understood. The reason the Purgatory Elder suppressed Qing Mingzi in this Asura Purgatory Diagram was to save Qing Mingzi's life. Nodding, Zhuge Xiang said nothing more. However, Su Huayu felt very distressed seeing Qing Mingzi suppressed.
"Alright, let's go back. Letting him stay there isn't a bad thing," Zhuge Xiang said, patting Su Huayu on the back.
Regarding the mission, as long as Qing Mingzi and Su Huayu's family are safe, the mission won't be considered a failure, and I can continue to wait.
"No, I won't leave. My father is being suppressed, he's in so much pain, I can't leave him alone inside," Su Huayu shook her head, tears streaming down her face like broken pearls. Through her tearful eyes, she said to the Purgatory Elder, "Elder, please, please take me into the painting too, so I can stay with my father, okay?"
"That boy is quite lucky to have such a filial daughter like you," Purgatory Elder Su Huayu said with a faint smile. He then unfolded the Asura Purgatory Diagram again and suspended it in front of Su Huayu.
"Senior Brother Zhuge, thank you for taking care of me these past few days. I'm going to be with my father now. Once he's calmed down, we'll return to Rakshasa City. We'll meet again sometime." Turning around, Su Huayu bid farewell to Zhuge Xiang before turning and entering the Asura Purgatory Diagram.
"We'll definitely meet again if we have the chance," Zhuge Xiang thought, remembering the seemingly impossible task on his task list that was finally coming to an end. After bidding farewell to the Purgatory Elder, he spread his Phoenix Feather Wings and left Purgatory Peak.
"That kid, if it weren't for the heavens being jealous of his talent, he would definitely become a pillar of our Asura Sect in the future." Looking at Zhuge Xiang's departing figure, Purgatory Elder had a smile on his lips, clearly admiring Zhuge Xiang very much.
At Su Huayu's home, the task of investigating the Truth behind her parents' departure has been completed, but an impossible task has been triggered: to kill Void Realm Great Expert. Fortunately, this task is not urgent and can be put aside for now.
After returning to Ink Martial City, Zhuge Xiang focused all his energy on his Life Profession as an Appraisal and Pill Alchemist.
Although it took Zhuge Xiang a full year to raise his Artifact Forger to the twelfth rank, now, thanks to the reputation he has built, he receives countless requests to refine Pill and Appraisal items.
Some people come simply because of Zhuge Xiang's reputation, wanting to see the True Appearance of Mount Lu of this God of Slaughter. It's purely a matter of fame. Others come with ulterior motives from other sects.
How could a genius from the prestigious Asura Sect be "neglecting his duties" by dabbling in Pill Refining Technique and even Appraisal Technique? To the other Sect in Yanling Commandery, it was as if they could see a dazzling star slowly falling into ruin, and all they could do was secretly intervene.
They were hoping Zhuge Xiang would forget about cultivation, so with the covert influence of these Sect, commissions for refining Pill and Appraisal them poured in like snowflakes, keeping Zhuge Xiang so busy that he barely had time to rest.
Refining Pill, Appraisal items, and cultivating in the Six Layered Illusory Destruction Realm — Zhuge Xiang was busy day and night for the next few days. Naturally, his Pill Refining Technique and Appraisal proficiency also soared. In just over a month, he actually raised both of these Life Profession to the Beginner Grade Ten.
Of course, thanks to the effects of the two Six Layered Illusory Destruction Realm, Zhuge Xiang's cultivation level did not fall too far behind, and he even advanced to the Return to Simplicity Realm Sixth Layer.
Return to Simplicity Realm Sixth Layer means that Zhuge Xiang can now learn the two Skills, "Green Blood Evergreen" and "Ice Barrier," which are only available at the Divine Ability Stage First Layer Power Realm, thanks to the effect of the Skill Orb.
Seeing that he was running out of Skill Point, Zhuge Xiang took out the Skill Eraser that had been sitting unused in his Bag Space for a long time and erased the Sky-Splitting Void Splitting Slash at the Perfection Level, freeing up four Skill Point.
Green Blood Evergreen (Proficient Level): Status Skill. When locking onto one target, you are immune to any damage from other enemies for 20 seconds. Costs 800 MP.
Ice Barrier (Mastery Level): Can be used to target any enemy, applying the Ice Barrier effect. The target is immune to all damage but cannot move. Duration: 9 seconds. Cost: 800 MP. (To be continued...)