The Final Duel

(ps: The new book by a new author has climbed the charts, but it needs your support even more. Please collect and recommend. I didn't make it to the homepage new book list this week, but what about next week? I hope to build up momentum and get more votes and collections.)

With Ling Wufeng's voluntary surrender, the top four duels naturally ended. Lu Yuling went down to rest, and the next match was between Ling Wufeng and Lei Potian for third place.

Based on Lei Potian's strength, defeating Ling Wufeng should have been very possible. However, his battle with Zhuge Xiang had left him in a severe weakened state. The two only tangled for a short while before Lei Potian was quickly defeated by Ling Wufeng.

Lei Potian, originally the biggest favorite to win the championship, ended up not even making it into the top three. This outcome was undoubtedly unexpected for everyone. When he was finally defeated by Ling Wufeng, whether due to his injuries or the blow to his pride, Lei Potian fainted on the spot.

The final rankings of the top eight in the Grand Tournament had all been decided. Only the last final duel remained to bring everything to a close: Zhuge Xiang versus Lu Yuling. Who would win?

Earlier, when Zhuge Xiang defeated Lei Potian, the spectators thought he was sure to win. His strength seemed unstoppable. But Lu Yuling's performance in the previous match made the championship seat that Zhuge Xiang had firmly secured seem uncertain. For the final battle, everyone watched with wide eyes, knowing it would be the most exciting.

"To be honest, when I first saw you, you hadn't even grasped Qi Energy. Now, in such a short time, you've reached this point. Looking back, it seems you're the greatest genius of this tournament. I'm really looking forward to fighting you," Lu Yuling said, standing before Zhuge Xiang with a hint of emotion on her face, no longer as cold as usual. Because of Zhuge Xiang's straightforward and decisive personality, and their shared goal of cultivation, Lu Yuling felt relaxed and at ease around him. Their relationship could be considered friendly.

"To be honest, standing here and catching up to you geniuses gives me a great sense of accomplishment. It proves my progress," Zhuge Xiang said with a direct, genuine smile.

Lu Yuling smiled. Zhuge Xiang was just that straightforward and decisive. No matter how you looked at it, his words were true. Catching up to geniuses like them in half a month, matching half a year of her own hard training, he had every right to be proud.

Being proud when he deserved it, without hesitation—that was Zhuge Xiang's nature. Practical, decisive, and direct, it was also the character a disciple of a Demonic Sect should have.

The exchange between Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yuling showed that they weren't just acquaintances; their relationship was quite good. Lu Yuling's face even showed a smile, not the usual cold distance. This made the Asura Sect disciples below think, "As expected, Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yuling really have a deep friendship." But Zhuge Xiang had proven himself with his strength, extinguishing the hostility most of those who had opposed him felt.

"I'm also looking forward to fighting you. I wonder if your Ice Heart Art and Clear Mind State can withstand my attacks," Zhuge Xiang said, his fighting spirit blazing as he stared intently at Lu Yuling. As he spoke, he placed his Blood Refinement Saber in his hand and decisively activated his Bloodthirsty Technique. A bloody Qi Energy emerged, ghostly shadows flickered, and with a push of his foot, he charged at full speed, slashing down with the saber.

Bloodthirsty Technique, Star Chasing Boots, and his Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer cultivation made Zhuge Xiang incredibly fast, almost like lightning. The fierce Blood Refinement Saber carried a rolling wind pressure. It wasn't just speed; the attack was powerful too. This was Zhuge Xiang's strength—one slash was enough to prove that his place in the final duel was no accident.

However, Zhuge Xiang's slash was dodged by Lu Yuling. The moment he struck, her body had already moved. The Clear Mind State allowed her to perceive his attack path.

Although her speed wasn't particularly fast, she could anticipate the enemy's moves. After dodging Zhuge Xiang's attack, Lu Yuling raised her hand, and strands of silk spread from her Ice Silkworm Silk Gloves as she executed the Clear Wave Palm. Though Zhuge Xiang wasn't a moth but a sparrow, as long as the spider silk was tough enough, even a sparrow couldn't escape...

Seeing the silk threads aiding the Clear Wave Palm, Zhuge Xiang, who knew its power well, narrowed his eyes. The bluestone slab beneath him cracked sharply. With an explosive burst of speed, he moved as if teleporting, retreating several meters to escape the Clear Wave Palm's range. This was the Explosive Steps skill. Though he dodged, the meridians in his feet ached with a stabbing pain.

"So this is the Mind's Eye realm? Truly troublesome," Zhuge Xiang muttered to himself as he escaped Lu Yuling's attack range.

He finally understood Ling Wufeng's frustration. His own close combat was manageable, but Ling Wufeng's Flying Daggers, though tricky and able to change direction through collisions, couldn't be controlled mid-flight. They were completely suppressed by Lu Yuling.

No matter who it was, even Zhuge Xiang, facing Ling Wufeng's Flying Daggers would be extremely difficult, with no guarantee of victory. But Lu Yuling's Clear Mind State perfectly countered them.

After a brief clash, Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yuling stood a few meters apart, staring each other down seriously. Both could sense the other's difficulty. For Zhuge Xiang, his attacks could be dodged, and getting close put him in danger from her Clear Wave Palm.

As for Lu Yuling, she knew that to win, she had to use the Clear Wave Palm to entangle Zhuge Xiang. Otherwise, with his speed, she could do nothing.

Explosive Steps had a 10-second cooldown. To be safe, Zhuge Xiang waited for the cooldown before his next two attacks, but both were easily dodged by Lu Yuling. If not for Explosive Steps, he would have been trapped and unable to escape.

Frowning, he had already wasted over twenty seconds on several Explosive Steps. Each use consumed 10 MP of Qi Energy, and his total was only 130. Three uses had already cost him nearly a quarter of his Qi Energy.

Although Explosive Steps was powerful, it had a 10-second cooldown and significant Qi Energy consumption. More importantly, his Bloodthirsty Technique only lasted one minute. A good chunk of time had already passed. If he delayed further, once the technique wore off, his strength would drop, and he'd suffer a terrible weakened state. By then, he'd have no chance to turn things around.

He stared seriously at Lu Yuling. Her Clear Mind State allowed her to perceive his attacks and paths, making her truly troublesome. She could even act after he did but still strike first. However, the Clear Mind State only let her perceive his attacks; it didn't enhance her own speed.

What if he launched a series of high-intensity, rapid attacks? Even if she could perceive his moves, her body wouldn't be able to keep up with his rhythm. Yes, to hit Lu Yuling, this was the only way...

"Both of them are stuck in a tough fight," many thought as they watched Zhuge Xiang constantly probing on the stage and Lu Yuling standing still, trying to counter motion with stillness. It certainly looked that way: Zhuge Xiang couldn't land a hit, and Lu Yuling couldn't catch up to him. It seemed like a stalemate.

But genius disciples like Ji Wuxue and Ling Wufeng knew that while it appeared evenly matched, Lu Yuling held the advantage.

Zhuge Xiang was fast, but he seemed to be consuming a lot of Qi Energy. That terrifying movement skill clearly drained a lot, and more importantly, the Bloodthirsty Technique couldn't be sustained for long. Lu Yuling only needed to wait for the technique to end to secure victory.

So, on the duel platform, despite the apparent stalemate, Lu Yuling looked relaxed and composed, while Zhuge Xiang's expression was grim. Both were clearly aware of this.

He couldn't delay; he had to end it quickly. With high-density attacks, he could make her body unable to keep up with his movements. Even if she perceived his attacks, it would be useless. Checking the remaining duration of his Bloodthirsty Technique—only about half a minute left—Zhuge Xiang's face grew serious. He reached into his robe and pulled out a pill about the size of a bodhi seed, radiating a dense, unusual aura. It was the Super Spirit Qi Secret Medicine.

Super Spirit Qi Secret Medicine: Requires Qi Cultivation Realm First Layer. Upon consumption, grants immense power. All system skills have no cooldown and no consumption for 30 seconds.

This Super Spirit Qi Secret Medicine had been dropped when he killed the One-Star Mid-Grade Fox Demon, along with Explosive Steps. He had never used it before, since system skills with no cooldown and no consumption were only useful for Bloodthirsty Technique and Blood Thunder Slash. But now that he had broken through to Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer, he finally had Explosive Steps as a system skill.

"Lu Yuling, your Clear Mind State is indeed strong. You can perceive all my attacks. But your own speed doesn't increase. Under my high-density attacks, I wonder if your body can keep up with my movements?" Zhuge Xiang said seriously, staring at Lu Yuling as he put the Super Spirit Qi Secret Medicine into his mouth.

A pill? Seeing Zhuge Xiang take a pill, Lu Yuling frowned slightly.

No one had ever forbidden using pills in battle. Whether it was artifacts, martial skills, or pills, they were all part of one's strength. Why would Zhuge Xiang take a pill now? Lu Yuling grew cautious. It was clearly a pill that would benefit him in this situation.

"Ding. Super Spirit Qi Secret Medicine consumed. Explosive Steps skill has no cooldown and no consumption for 30 seconds."