Sect Rescue: Aurora Asura Tower

880 experience points left Zhuge Xiang stunned, and the Hundred Refinements Bow that dropped filled him with anticipation. He wiped his hand across his waist, and the bow appeared in his grip. Lowering his head to examine it, its information naturally surfaced.

Hundred Refinements Bow (Two-Star Artifact): Requires Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer, Attack 28-36, Attack Range 100 meters, Unique Passive: Ignores 30 Defense, Durability 20/33, Weight 10.

Along with the Hundred Refinements Bow, there were also 100 ordinary iron arrows stacked together in his storage space—arrows with only +3 Attack. This satisfied Zhuge Xiang; though they were just basic arrows, having them was better than nothing, right? Moreover, a Two-Star Artifact was indeed different, with over double the attack power of the Blood Refinement Saber. Ignoring 30 points of Defense made the Hundred Refinements Bow's offense even more ferocious. In short, it was a killing tool that also filled the gap in Zhuge Xiang's ranged combat capabilities.

"This longbow looks quite impressive," Lu Yuling remarked, examining it as she stood nearby.

"Mm, but my archery isn't great yet—I'll need to practice," Zhuge Xiang nodded, stowing the Hundred Refinements Bow as he spoke. Archery wasn't his forte, and he had no skill books for it either. For now, the bow would have to sit idle until he found time to hone his marksmanship.

As the sky darkened, Zhuge Xiang and his group quickly found a small cave in the forest. It housed only an ordinary One-Star Mid-Grade monster beast. After slaying it, they naturally claimed the cave. Niu Geng then scattered some of the Two-Star Demon Bear's excrement around the entrance, hoping it would deter most monster beasts below One-Star.

"The Aurora Asura Tower has bloomed! Within five days, all Asura Sect disciples are to assemble here!!!"

Just as Zhuge Xiang and the others settled into the cave to rest, a deep, thunderous voice rolled through the air, clear to everyone. The sound was so profound it seemed to pierce through hundreds of li of space. As it rang out, Zhuge Xiang felt the very air tremble.

The sudden, unannounced voice left them stunned for a moment. Then Zhuge Xiang and the others exchanged glances, their faces lighting up with joy. Clearly, the sect's rescue had finally arrived. Overjoyed, they rushed out of the cave, only to be struck with awe.

A pillar of light, like a giant tower, stood between heaven and earth, radiating intense brilliance as if linking the sky to the ground. The deep voice just now had clearly come from the direction of that light tower. The pillar soared into the clouds, visible from anywhere. Zhuge Xiang estimated it was about a hundred li away, yet the voice had carried so clearly.

"The Aurora Asura Tower is the signal for Asura Sect disciples to gather. It seems searching for individual disciples across the Endless Mountain Range is impossible. We'll have to make our way to that light tower ourselves," Lu Yuling said, gazing at the colossal structure.

"Five days? A mere hundred li or so—that's plenty of time," Zhuge Xiang replied, looking at the giant tower.

The sect's rescue had finally come. Though they had to travel to the Aurora Asura Tower themselves, it was understandable. The sect couldn't possibly conduct a thorough, dragnet search for over five thousand disciples across the Endless Mountain Range. A hundred li with a clear target was far better than stumbling around blindly like headless flies.

With five thousand disciples fleeing for their lives, even if they scattered, it hadn't been more than a day. They couldn't have gone far. The Aurora Asura Tower stood there for all to see. If anyone was still alive, five days would be enough to reach it. Those who hadn't arrived by then were likely lost to the Endless Mountain Range, and waiting further would be pointless.

Despite the glimmer of hope, the Endless Mountain Range was far too dangerous at night. Traveling in the dark wasn't wise. Zhuge Xiang and the others returned to the cave to rest. A journey of about a hundred li, barring any powerful monster beasts, should take a day. Even with rough terrain and detours, two days would suffice.

Though night had fallen and the Two-Star Demon Bear's excrement served as a warning to other beasts, they couldn't let their guard down. While the bear's presence could deter beasts below One-Star, those at Two-Star or above were unaffected. If a monster beast appeared, it would at least be stronger than the bear.

Fortunately, the group of six split into pairs for night watches, each shift lasting one and a half shichen. This way, everyone could enjoy three full shichen of undisturbed sleep—a luxury for those fleeing through the Endless Mountain Range.

The night passed without incident. Thanks to the Two-Star Demon Bear's excrement as a deterrent, no monster beasts came to bother them. Everyone got their three shichen of rest. After a simple meal of roasted meat, they set off toward the Aurora Asura Tower.

The roasted meat came from the Two-Star Demon Bear. For cultivators at the Refining Essence to Qi Stage, who convert bodily essence into Qi Energy, monster beast flesh was a nourishing supplement. Conversely, human flesh was equally nourishing for monster beasts.

They moved cautiously along the way, avoiding high-starred beasts while Zhuge Xiang took down any low-starred ones. As long as their strength didn't reach Two-Star, he spared none. He was especially keen on One-Star Mid-Grade and One-Star High-Grade beasts. Rarely did he have such a well-composed team during their escape—not seizing the chance to grind experience would be a waste of himself. Watching his experience soar, Zhuge Xiang even toyed with the idea of lingering here for a few more days.

To advance to Qi Cultivation Realm Fourth Layer required 4,600 experience points. So far, from the Five-Colored Poisonous Python, the duel with Lu Yuling, the Two-Star Demon Bear, and various other scattered beasts, Zhuge Xiang had accumulated 2,000 points. He needed just 2,600 more to break through.

2,600 points seemed like a lot, but teamed with Lu Yuling and the others—even with the experience penalty from the larger group—it only meant slaying about a dozen One-Star High-Grade beasts.

Zhuge Xiang's idea was sound, but he didn't voice it. The depths of the Endless Mountain Range were too perilous. Along the way, they'd encountered five or six Two-Star beasts and even a Three-Star one. If not for their vigilance, they'd have been wiped out.

For everyone else, the priority was reaching the Aurora Asura Tower and gaining the sect's protection. Zhuge Xiang could kill beasts for experience, but they couldn't. If he suggested staying, only Niu Geng would agree. No one else would risk their lives lingering in the heart of the Endless Mountain Range for no reason.

Rustle, rustle...

As Zhuge Xiang and the others crept cautiously through the forest, they suddenly heard sounds from the bushes ahead, as if something was approaching. They tensed, ready for action. But when the figure emerged, they were taken aback—it was none other than Lei Potian.

Seeing their group, Lei Potian was equally surprised, then his face lit up with joy. "It's great to run into you! I stumbled upon a mysterious cave—seems like a fallen expert's resting place. But there's a One-Star High-Grade beast guarding it. With all of you here, that beast is no problem."

A One-Star High-Grade beast? A fallen expert's resting place? Many eyes lit up at Lei Potian's words. For people like Ling Wufeng, the artifacts and martial arts they'd obtained came from chance discoveries at other disciples' death sites during their own training.

Countless Asura Sect disciples trained in the Endless Mountain Range. Finding where another disciple had fallen meant gaining their martial arts or artifacts. Lei Potian's offer was tempting. Besides, with so many people, a single One-Star High-Grade beast was hardly an obstacle.

They exchanged glances, all somewhat interested. But what surprised Lu Yuling and the others was Zhuge Xiang. Normally, hearing about a One-Star High-Grade beast, he'd be the first to jump at it. Whenever a beast appeared, Zhuge Xiang was always the first to charge in. His battle frenzy was something they'd all witnessed along the way.

Yet now, Zhuge Xiang was frowning in thought. But before anyone could ask his opinion, he nodded on his own. "Alright, let's go take a look."