True Essence Realm (Part One)

"Qiao Buliang, Third Layer of the Gathering Origin Stage."

Looking at Myriad Flowers Elder's prized disciple, Zhuge Xiang felt a sense of unease. Although the Third Layer of the Gathering Origin Stage had not reached the terrifying level of the Void Core Stage and Golden Core Stage, he was not so easy to deal with. This was a full two minor realms higher than Zhuge Xiang.

"No, this battle is entrusted to you. Do not disappoint your master," Myriad Flowers Elder said as he looked at the man who walked in.

Luo Ba Myriad Flowers Elder was secretly alarmed by Luo Ba's promise to Zhuge Xiang. However, it was fortunate that as long as Zhuge Xiang was killed on the spot, there would be no further trouble. Therefore, this battle could only be won, not lost. Otherwise, with Luo Ba's promise, even Myriad Flowers Elder would not dare to do anything to Zhuge Xiang in the future.

"Rest assured, Master, I will not fail you." After glancing at Zhuge Xiang, who hadn't even reached the True Essence Realm, how could he possibly be a match for me, who was only at the Gathering Origin Stage? Qiao Buliang nodded confidently.

Upon seeing Qiao Buliang enter, the elders in the Great Hall frowned slightly. As they were all Void Realm Great Expert, they could easily tell that Qiao Buliang was at the Third Layer of the Gathering Origin Stage, while Zhuge Xiang had not even reached the True Essence Realm. However, since this was a decision made personally by Sect Master Luo Ba, the elders could not speak out about this battle with such a disparity in strength.

"Alright, now you can make your move. Let me see how the younger generation of Cultivator are doing," Luo Ba said to Zhuge Xiang and Qiao Buliang with a slight nod. His face was expressionless, as if he did not see the difference in cultivation levels between Zhuge Xiang and Qiao Buliang.

A cultivation level of the Third Layer of the Gathering Origin Stage is not weak; in fact, it should be said to be very strong. Facing Qiao Buliang, Zhuge Xiang could clearly feel the Human Heart aura emanating from the other party. Although it was not as powerful as the Ascending Heaven Divine Tree of the past, Zhuge Xiang did not currently possess the Heaven and Earth Dharma Aspect Scroll.

Qiao Buliang, as the Direct Lineage disciple of the Myriad Flowers Elder, naturally had no good feelings towards Zhuge Xiang. As the Sect Master finished speaking, he flipped his hand, and a long sword appeared in his palm.

His figure flashed, transforming into Heavenly Fire, and slashed towards Zhuge Xiang. Seeing that Zhuge Xiang was carrying the Crystal Dragon Bow, Qiao Buliang knew that Zhuge Xiang was Cultivator specialized in archery, and close combat was the best way to deal with someone like him.

However, Zhuge Xiang carried the Crystal Dragon Bow primarily for cultivation. Facing Qiao Buliang's attack, Zhuge Xiang summoned the Mad Dragon Sword in his palm and met the attack with a Blood Thunder Slash.

Swords clashed. Although Zhuge Xiang was slightly better in Sword Intent, Zhuge Xiang Qiao Buliang far superior in cultivation. With Sword Slash, even with the power of the Mad Dragon Sword, Zhuge Xiang felt a terrifying force and was forced back a great distance.

"Three Fire Kills!" Seeing Zhuge Xiang being knocked back, Qiao Buliang continued his pursuit, his longsword unleashing a dense, almost tangible Flame, accompanied by rolling heat waves.

Three thick, Flame Sword Qi slashed towards Zhuge Xiang. The Sword Qi were mixed with the Flame, and their power surpassed that of ordinary Spell attacks.

The six minor realms of the Deity Transformation stage are as follows: the Divine Ability Stage Cultivator merely have a superficial understanding of how to manipulate the primordial Heaven and Earth Vital Energy and earth, while the Spell Control Stage Cultivator can manipulate primordial Vital Energy of various attributes to form powerful Spell attacks. As for the True Essence Realm Cultivator, their Essence, Qi, and Spirit, energy, and spirit are integrated into one. The energy flowing within their bodies is no longer just simple Qi Energy, but True Essence power formed by the fusion of essence, Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and spirit. The moves driven by True Essence power are far more powerful than Qi Energy.

The True Essence Gathering Origin Stage in the body begins to condense and compress in the Dantian. The highly concentrated and compressed True Essence has a destructive power several times stronger. It only needs to successfully condense to form a liquid-state False Core.

At the Gathering Origin Stage, the True Essence energy within the body is condensed, and its power is naturally extraordinary. These are just a few simple Flame Sword Qi, yet their power far exceeds that of ordinary Spell attacks.

The three Sword Qi completely blocked all of Zhuge Xiang's escape routes and evasive space. None of them were ones that Zhuge Xiang could easily withstand.

"Gathering Origin Stage and Spell Control Stage? A difference of two whole realms, how can it be crossed? In this battle, Zhuge Xiang's chances of winning are less than one in ten." Before the battle even started, Zhuge Xiang was already being suppressed by Qiao Buliang Buling. The elders began to whisper among themselves, but no matter who they were, they all felt that it was almost impossible for Zhuge Xiang to win.

"No need for further words, just watch carefully. The Sect Master has his reasons for doing this." However, some elders remained calm and watched the battle between Zhuge Xiang and Qiao Buliang with great attention.

Outside the Great Hall, hearing the sounds of battle inside, and knowing that Elder Wanhua Qiao Buliang Myriad Flowers Elder, a cultivator at the Gathering Origin Stage, Lu Yuling hesitated for a moment before pushing open the Great Hall door and entering.

Although not just anyone can enter the Sect Master's Great Hall, Lu Yuling, as the Sect Master's True Disciple, has an extraordinary status. The elders only glanced at Lu Yuling as she pushed open the door before focusing their attention on the battle inside. As for Luo Ba, the Asura Sect Master, his gaze didn't even change.

"As expected?" Looking at Zhuge Xiang, who was being suppressed by Qiao Buliang in the center of the Great Hall, Lu Yuling's expression changed slightly. Zhuge Xiang's cultivation at the Gathering Origin Stage was considered quite good among the Asura Sect Disciple. A newcomer like Zhuge Xiang would not be so easy to deal with.

It has to be said that even a difference of one minor realm is a chasm, let alone a difference of two minor realms. Under Qiao Buliang's suppression, Zhuge Xiang felt as if he were being suppressed by a Volcano, unable to turn the tide.

With his profound cultivation at the Gathering Origin Stage, Zhuge Xiang could hardly withstand any of his moves. Moreover, his attacks, which were even stronger than Spell, were launched instantly, without any preparation time, and were done with ease.

The scorching Flame were even stronger than fire-based Spell. For cultivators at the Gathering Origin Stage, Spell attacks were merely a matter of course. Moreover, the Spell that Cultivator at the Gathering Origin Stage could comprehend were far beyond what cultivators at the Spell Control Stage Character Interface achieve. After fighting for about half the time it takes to drink Half a Tea Interval of tea, Zhuge Xiang was already injured, and his HP had dropped by about a third.

"Zhuge Xiang, your cultivation is nothing more than this..." In the midst of the battle, in order to vent the anger of Myriad Flowers Elder, Qiao Buliang's words were full of sarcasm. He knocked Zhuge Xiang back with each sword strike while taunting him.

"Hmph, a mere Spell Control Stage Realm cultivator dares to fight with my disciple, Qiao Bu Ling? He's only asking for humiliation..." Although he couldn't fight personally, seeing Zhuge Xiang being completely suppressed by Qiao Buliang Ling, and Qiao Buliang Ling's sarcastic words, Myriad Flowers Elder's face still showed a strong sense of joy. What could be more Human Heart than seeing Zhuge Xiang in such a sorry state?

"Is that all? I think I should be the one saying that!" Hearing Qiao Buliang's sarcastic words, Zhuge Xiang raised an eyebrow slightly. He used his Mad Dragon Sword to block the opponent's Sword Qi and, after being forced back, said, "A dignified cultivator at the Third Layer of the Gathering Origin Stage, you haven't been able to defeat a disciple like me who hasn't even reached the True Essence Realm for so long. How can you still be so smug?"

Indeed, in the battle, Zhuge Xiang was suppressed by Qiao Buliang. However, Zhuge Xiang's words also made a lot of sense. The difference between two minor realms was a huge chasm. He couldn't defeat Qiao Buling in the time it takes to drink Half a Tea Interval of tea. How could Qiao Buliang still have the face to be so smug?

At this moment, Zhuge Xiang should be the one feeling proud, having withstood the attack of a Gathering Origin Stage Cultivator for the time it takes to Half a Tea Interval with his cultivation at the Spell Control Stage.

Zhuge Xiang's words caused Qiao Buliang's expression to change slightly, leaving him speechless. The reason he had spoken sarcastically was only to vent his anger for his Master, but he couldn't refute Zhuge Xiang's words. Indeed, with his cultivation at the Gathering Origin Stage, he still hadn't been able to defeat him, so what right did he have to be so smug?

"Myriad Flowers Elder, you're Qiao Buliang. Even your disciples are like this. You're so proud of suppressing my cultivation of the Spell Control Stage with your dignified cultivation of the Gathering Origin Stage. You're truly a short-sighted person." Seeing Qiao Buling's changing expression, Zhuge Xiang also showed no politeness and spoke sarcastically.

"You bastard! How dare you insult me, insult my Master! I'll kill you!" Upon hearing Zhuge Xiang's words, Qiao Buliang enraged and shouted fiercely. As he spoke, his cultivation at the Gathering Origin Stage became even more violent.

"The Gathering Origin Stage is nothing more than this..." However, upon sensing the aura emanating from Qiao Buliang Buling, Zhuge Xiang merely curled his lips in disdain. His body transformed, instantly changing from a seven-foot-tall man into Demonic True Body.

The Demonic True Body, already over ten feet tall, grew even larger, looking down at Qiao Buliang with a condescending gaze. Moreover, as the Demonic True Body unfolded, Zhuge Xiang opened the Pet Interface and summoned the Little Fire Phoenix...

Although Little Fire Phoenix is only One-Star Fairy, its Innate Ability is to control Flame in the world. This ability can be used to counter Qiao Buliang's fire-type Spell.

"Father, who is this bad guy? Should we burn him to ashes?" The Ancient Divine Beast, a born Deity, the Little Fire Phoenix that appeared could naturally sense Qiao Buliang's killing intent and anger, and asked Zhuge Xiang in a crisp voice, as Flame flickered on its body as it spoke.

"Fire Phoenix..." Upon seeing the Little Fire Phoenix summoned by Zhuge Xiang, the elders in the Great Hall all changed their expressions and looked at each other in dismay.

Once these Ancient Divine Beast mature, their power is no less than that of the Gods and Buddhas of all Heavens. Unexpectedly, Zhuge Xiang not only possesses formidable strength himself, but also owns an Ancient Divine Beast like the Fire Phoenix.

"It's just a weak, Juvenile Stage Fire Phoenix after all. What can it do to me?" Although Qiao Buliang shocked by the appearance of the Fire Phoenix, seeing that the Little Fire Phoenix's cultivation was only at the One-Star Fairy, it was clearly a newly born Little Fire Phoenix. Qiao Buliang his shock and pounced towards Zhuge Xiang. (To be continued...)