All Eyes Turn to the Opening of the Dragon Phoenix Ranking (Part One)

Yanling Commandery has been very lively these days. On the one hand, the opening day of the Dragon Phoenix Ranking is approaching day by day, and many merchants in the Cultivation World have long been eager to make a fortune from this opportunity. On the other hand, many young Cultivator have been making high-profile appearances in order to bolster their own prestige.

Of course, in recent days, a wave of sweeping away Zombie has swept through Yanling Commandery. Led by the Asura Sect, the entire Yanling Commandery has begun to eliminate all Zombie strongholds. They have actually found strongholds controlled by Zombie. For those Cultivators who want to make a name for themselves on the Dragon Phoenix Ranking and increase their fame, this is an even more rare opportunity.

One by one, strongholds like Clear Spring Village were uprooted, and the Golden Winged Corpse King's conspiracy was spread through the means of the Asura Sect. The fervor of eliminating Zombie strongholds slowly began to spread to other surrounding counties.

Led by the Asura Sect, they even fought a major battle with several Corpse Kings. In the end, the Corpse King were defeated and forced to retreat. Subsequently, the Golden Winged Corpse King's hidden forces became even more concealed, and even with the Asura Sect's intelligence capabilities, it was difficult to find them easily.

Regarding the Zombie stronghold, some people investigated and traced it back to Zhuge Xiang. The source was actually him; he was the one who first discovered it. Naturally, Zhuge Xiang, who was already famous throughout Yanling Commandery, became even more sought after.

However, amidst the fervor surrounding the elimination of the Zombie, the once-popular Zhuge Xiang has been keeping a low profile lately, preferring to sit alone on the mountaintop in deep thought each day, and even speaking very little to Qin Qing.

Qin Qing saw everything about Zhuge Xiang, but she learned to be tolerant of her man and didn't bother him too much. She just quietly took care of him from behind, attending to his every need, from his diet to his lifestyle. Qin Qing believed that Zhuge Xiang would definitely feel her silent dedication.

Sitting upright on the edge of the cliff, watching the clouds and mountains churning, Zhuge Xiang's face was serene. A long sword lay across his knees, his hands resting on the blade. Zhuge Xiang could clearly feel the spiritual fluctuations of the sword's Artifact Spirit.

The longsword resting on his lap was crimson and white, like a bolt of silk, over four feet long. At its hilt was the shape of a Jade Seal. A serene and authoritative aura emanated from the sword, giving the impression of facing an iron-faced judge.

The Sword of Judgment was Treasure Artifact dropped by Zhuge Xiang when he killed the Two-Star Hairy Zombie. It was the only Treasure Artifact that dropped, but its effect was extremely powerful. However, with Zhuge Xiang's current cultivation level, he was not yet capable of using the Sword of Judgment.

Sword of Judgment (Two-star treasure artifact): Requires cultivation Divine Ability Stage First Layer, Attack 2200, Attack Speed 10%. Passive: Reduces the Attack Speed of surrounding enemy targets by 20%. Active: Can make the target's HP equal to the user's HP. Cooldown: 1 day. Duration: 320/320. Weight: 15.

The Sword of Judgment is undeniably powerful, and it is believed to be among the top-tier Two-star treasure artifact. With an attack power bonus of 2200, in addition to a useful passive effect, it also has a powerful active Skill, Super Scoundrel.

The active effect of making the target's HP equal to your own has many uses. For example, if the enemy's HP is much higher than yours, using this active Skill can instantly inflict severe damage. Of course, if your own HP is low and you are severely injured, this Skill can also be used as a healing ability.

However, although the Sword of Judgment is powerful, Zhuge Xiang cannot use it now. It requires the Divine Ability Stage First Layer Realm to use. Apart from temporarily using it when performing the Devourer's Treasure, Zhuge Xiang has no way to use it. Most of the time, he still uses the Azure Nether Blade.

Zhuge Xiang sheathed the Sword of Judgment, then reached to the side and grasped an urn containing ashes.

Standing up, looking at the churning sea of clouds below, Zhuge Xiang slowly scattered the ashes from the urn. The ashes drifted with the wind, scattering throughout the Heaven and Earth...

"Grandpa, I've cremated your remains so that no one can disturb your peace any longer. I hope you can be reincarnated soon. Don't worry, your grandson will definitely become Dragon Among Men, and no one will dare to bully me. I will certainly not let you down," Zhuge Xiang said softly as he watched the ashes scatter in the wind.

After all the ashes had been scattered, Zhuge Xiang even tossed the urn into the sea of clouds without turning back, and said, "You've come. Thank you for taking care of me these past few days."

A graceful figure appeared behind Zhuge Xiang, carrying a food box. She had been standing behind him for a long time, watching silently as Zhuge Xiang ashes were scattered. Who else could it be but Qin Qing?

"Welcome back. You've finally become the Zhuge Xiang I know. As for thanks? I'm your woman, so taking care of you is only natural," Qin Qing said gently, her voice as soft as water and Human Heart as the sound of a zither, gazing affectionately at Zhuge Xiang's retreating figure.

These days, because of the old Beggar's death, Zhuge Xiang is depressed and always sits on the edge of the cliff in deep thought and despair, while Qin Qing takes care of him carefully and attentively every day.

"My woman?" Zhuge Xiang gazed at the churning sea of clouds, his eyes gleaming with the wisdom of a sage who had seen through the world. He spoke, "Actually, you don't need to force yourself like this, nor do you need to force yourself to love me. I can feel your kindness towards me, but your love for me is still not very strong..."

"..." Zhuge Xiang's words left Qin Qing speechless for a moment, her head bowed in silence.

These past few days, Qin Qing has been gently and tenderly fulfilling all the responsibilities of a woman, and has tried her best to love Zhuge Xiang. However, as Zhuge Xiang said, despite her efforts and having become his woman, Qin Qing 'Zhuge Xiang love for Zhuge Xiang is not, in essence, profound.

It should be said that love comes from the heart and is born unconsciously, rather than something that can be truly achieved by trying to love someone, as Qin Qing did.

"But I'm destined to be your woman for the rest of my life. I've tried so hard to love you, but what else can I do?" Qin Qing said in a low voice, her head bowed.

"You've done very well, but feelings aren't something you can force," Zhuge Xiang said softly, opening his arms to pull Qin Qing into his embrace. "Perhaps, sometimes, it's not something you can achieve through effort. Perhaps you should leave me for a while to calm your mind."

"What you said might make sense. I should try a different approach," Qin Qing said, leaning gently against Zhuge Xiang's chest.

"Alright, it's time for me, Zhuge Xiang, to set off. The Dragon Phoenix Ranking is open, and it's my stage." Releasing Qin Qing, Zhuge Xiang was in high spirits, sweeping away his recent dejection. He spoke up, having already reached the seventh level of the Returning to Zhuge Xiang Seventh Layer of Return to Simplicity Realm with the more than 10 million experience points from that Two-Star Hairy Zombie.

ps:

I guess I really made a stupid mistake. I actually said at 8:30 that I'd finish a chapter before 9:00...