Meeting Dongfang Again

Sword Soul (Sword Intent Upgrade Skill): Transforms the soul into Sword Intent, shattering the Void and delusions. After activation, the attack power of Sword Moves Skill increases by 150%, and it grants immunity to soul-targeting damage such as Heart Demon, soul shock, and ** techniques. It consumes 1% of MP per second.

Zhuge Xiang's eyes widened at the Sword Soul's ability; he could hardly believe it. The Weapon Intent was still the Weapon Intent, capable of unleashing Sword Intent, but the Sword Intent could activate the Sword Soul's state.

A 150% power increase—how terrifying is that? It goes without saying. Moreover, it grants immunity to all illusion-based attacks on the soul and spirit. This ability is truly terrifying. The only drawback is the excessive energy consumption. However, powerful moves always have their drawbacks, and it's not surprising that powerful abilities consume a lot of energy.

This enhancement of Sword Intent, granting him the ability of Sword Soul, was indeed an unexpected delight for Zhuge Xiang. Having successfully acquired Sword Soul, the Sword Intent tempering within the Sword Tomb was no longer effective for Zhuge Xiang.

After leaving the Sword Tomb, Zhuge Xiang thanked Liu Rufang and, once the matters of the Azure Sword Sect were nearly settled, immediately set off towards the Heavenly Sword Sect.

The Heavenly Sword Sect is one of the Nine Great Sects of the Great Qin Empire and a leader among Sword Cultivator. The Dragon Phoenix Ranking in Canghai Commandery was organized by the Heavenly Sword Sect. Although it was already late, Zhuge Xiang, with his Flying Sword Immortal speed, quickly arrived at the Heavenly Sword Sect's registration place.

The Dragon Phoenix Ranking is a major event in any prefecture, so the registration area was naturally bustling with activity. The registration location was atop a high mountain, and from this vantage point, the thousand-meter-high mountain appeared as if it had been sliced open, leaving a vast flat surface several thousand meters in diameter. The registration process took place right at this summit.

From the foot of the mountain to the summit, there are three checkpoints along the way. Yanling Commandery eliminates mediocre people by Three Trials, while the Heavenly Sword Sect of Canghai Commandery has these three checkpoints.

First, there is Restriction Barrier. Cultivator who register for the mountain assessment must pass through this Restriction Barrier. The Restriction Barrier is designed so that only Cultivator with a cultivation level of at least the Innate Realm can pass through it; otherwise, they will be stopped.

The second challenge is a path filled with Mechanical Puppet. The purpose is obvious: only by passing through this path of Mechanical Puppet can one prove their strength. After all, strength cannot be determined simply by looking at one's cultivation level.

The final, Third Trial, placed atop the large platform, was a massive mirror. This mirror seemed to be a special Treasure Artifact; the age of any Cultivator standing before it would appear before them. Even if one had passed the first two challenges, if they were over thirty years old, they would be disqualified from participating in the Third Trial.

The first two trials were naturally designed to test those Qi Refining Stage Cultivator. Zhuge Xiang, having flown to the mountaintop on his sword and possessing the cultivation of the Deity Transformation stage, naturally did not need to be tested. On the mountaintop, young talents from various sects and even cultivation families gathered in twos and threes. Zhuge Xiang's arrival on his sword naturally attracted the attention of many people.

Age: 19 years old

Zhuge Xiang stood before the enormous mirror, and the age reflected on it caused many who were watching him to gasp in astonishment. A Nascent Deity Transformation? Only nineteen years old? Just who was this person? Judging from his appearance as a Zhuge Xiang Sword Cultivator, could he be a hidden Genius Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect?

"May I ask which sect you belong to? And your name?" The disciple registering for the Heavenly Sword Sect asked, needless to say, that the Deity Transformation stage cultivation was beyond question, and the age was also perfectly matched. He secretly wondered if the disciple was perhaps True Disciple of one of the Sect's elders.

"Zhuge Xiang is from the Azure Sword Sect."

Zhuge Xiang spoke calmly, and his words made the disciple in charge of recording tremble so much that he almost dropped his pen.

"Are you sure? You're a disciple of that Small Sect, the Azure Sword Sect?" Instead of rushing to take notes, the Heavenly Sword Sect member stared intently at Zhuge Xiang, asking again to confirm. A small sect like the Azure Sword Sect could produce such a genius? Please, at less than twenty years old, to have reached the Deity Transformation stage—only Medium Sect would have such a foundation?

"To be precise, I am not a disciple of the Azure Sword Sect, but currently serve as the Azure Sword Sect's Great Elder," Zhuge Xiang Righteous Path.

The Great Elder is the Great Elder. It's not strange for someone with the cultivation of the Deity Transformation stage to hold an elder position in the Small Sect. He quickly composed himself, and the disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect recorded Zhuge Xiang's name and sect information.

"The Azure Sword Sect? They can produce such a young Deity Transformation Stage Cultivator? I've never heard of them before."

"Isn't that the weakest of the Small Sect? How could such a young genius appear there? I don't believe it."

"Perhaps the Azure Sword Sect wanted to gain fame, so they spent a lot of money to invite such a genius, hoping to use his name to make their Sect famous. Yes, that must be it..."

"Zhuge Xiang? I've never heard of that name before. He's not from the Azure Sword Sect, so what is his identity?"

No matter which prefecture, the Deity Transformation Stage Cultivator appear on the Dragon Phoenix Ranking are all rare geniuses. Zhuge Xiang's arrival on his sword naturally attracted a lot of attention. Upon hearing that Zhuge Xiang came from the Azure Sword Sect, these people discussed it even more. No matter what, they did not believe that such a small place as the Azure Sword Sect could produce such a young Deity Transformation stage genius.

Zhuge Xiang paid no attention to these people's discussions, nor did he care to. It wasn't that Zhuge Xiang; in his view, fame and such things were fleeting. What truly mattered to Zhuge Xiang was his own strength, genuine strength...

"I never expected that there would be someone like you in my Canghai Commandery. It truly is a place where dragons and tigers hide." Zhuge Xiang had no interest in paying attention to others, but that didn't mean that others weren't paying attention to him. Just as Zhuge Xiang finished registering, a cheerful voice rang out.

Turning his head, he saw a tall, slender man standing beside Zhuge Xiang, his hands clasped in a fist. He looked to be only twenty-three or twenty-four years old, but a sharp Sword Intent emanated from him. As he moved, he was like a peerless sword, even the wind seemed to cut through him. He also exuded Distant Resonance and distant aura.

"Xiao Buming, Divine Ability Realm Third Layer."

Looking at this man, Zhuge Xiang raised an eyebrow slightly. He was only in his early twenties, yet he had the cultivation of the Divine Ability Realm Third Layer. He was truly not weak.

As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face, and besides, Zhuge Xiang wasn't an arrogant person. He returned the greeting with clasped hands and said, "Brother, your cultivation is not weak either, at the Divine Ability Realm Third Layer, you can be considered one of the few geniuses."

"Brother, you flatter me. I don't know your cultivation level, but you can see through it at a glance. This shows that your strength is above mine, but you are also younger than me. How dare I call myself a genius in front of you?" Upon hearing Zhuge Xiang see through his cultivation level at a glance, a glint flashed in Xiao Buming's eyes, and then he smiled bitterly at Zhuge Xiang.

"My fellow disciples from the Heavenly Sword Sect, along with several other outstanding young men from Canghai Commandery, are at the lakeside pavilion not far away. Would you do me the honor of coming over for a chat? I'm sure they would be delighted to meet Brother Zhuge," Xiao Buming said, changing the subject before Zhuge Xiang could speak.

"Alright," Zhuge Xiang nodded upon hearing Xiao Buming's invitation. It was always a good thing to get to know more talented Cultivator, and it would be even better if these so-called geniuses could actually fight.

Although the mountain peak appears to have been Sword Slash, it is not entirely composed of stone; it is smooth as a mirror. From the summit, rocks, trees, and even streams can be seen. Not far away, there is a Small Lake with a pavilion in its Heart of the Lake, a truly picturesque scene. Inside the pavilion, there are seven or eight figures, all young men and women. These individuals are clearly among the most outstanding geniuses in Canghai Commandery.

"Gentlemen, I apologize for keeping you waiting," Xiao Buming greeted the people in the pavilion, walking like a sharp sword.

Following beside Xiao Buming, Zhuge Xiang's eyes swept over the people one by one. Good heavens, all four men and three women in this pavilion were at the Divine Ability Stage. The strongest one was a woman dressed in black with a veil on her face. Her cultivation had actually broken through to the first level of the Spell Control Stage.

"Junior Brother Xiao, who is this?" One of the women, carrying a long sword, was clearly also Cultivator from the Heavenly Sword Sect. Seeing Xiao Buming bring Zhuge Xiang over, she glanced at Zhuge Xiang sideways and asked.

The others also focused their attention on Zhuge Xiang. Those qualified to enter this small pavilion were all well-known experts in Canghai Commandery. Since Xiao Buming had brought an outsider here, his strength should not be weak either.

"Zhuge Xiang? What brings you to Canghai Commandery?" However, before Xiao Buming could answer, a soft, surprised voice suddenly rang out.

"Brother Dongfang?" Zhuge Xiang was slightly taken aback when he saw the person who spoke.

Indeed, Zhuge Xiang recognized the person who spoke; it was none other than the Young Master Yin, Dongfang Yan. Born a man, he lacked the masculine vigor expected of a man, instead displaying a feminine softness. Zhuge Xiang and Dongfang Yan were quite close friends.

"Dongfang Yan, Tenth Layer of the Divine Ability Stage." Zhuge Xiang was slightly taken aback when he saw Dongfang Yan's cultivation level. When he first met Dongfang Yan, his cultivation level was only at the Qi Refining Stage. He never expected that after several years, Dongfang Yan had already reached the Tenth Layer of the Divine Ability Stage. His progress was truly rapid.

"It seems that Young Master Dongfang and Zhuge Xiong are old acquaintances. Why don't you introduce them?" Seeing that Dongfang Yan actually knew Zhuge Xiang, Xiao Buming said. Although he had brought Zhuge Xiang with him, Xiao Buming was not really clear about his identity and other details.

"Everyone, this is Zhuge Xiang. His cultivation is no weaker than mine, and he is Genius Disciple of the Asura Sect in Yanling Commandery," Dongfang Yan introduced, nodding. (To be continued...)