True Essence Realm (Part 3)
The Heart Blood Demonic Flame engulfed Qiao Buliang. Its powerful aura left no doubt about its strength. Watching Qiao Buliang being swallowed by the Heart Blood Demonic Flame, the elders at the Void Returning Stage nodded in agreement. It wasn't that Qiao Buliang's cultivation at the Third Layer of the Gathering Origin Stage was too weak, but rather that Zhuge Xiang's methods were too powerful, with one astonishing move after another appearing one after another.
"Hmm?" Watching Qiao Buliang being devoured by the rebounding Heart Blood Demonic Flame, Zhuge Xiang showed no sign of relaxing. Instead, he raised an eyebrow slightly because he had not received any notification of gaining experience.
Call out!
Just then, when everyone thought the Heart Blood Demonic Flame had rebounded and engulfed Qiao Buliang, and almost everyone believed Zhuge Xiang had won, a sudden change occurred. From within the raging demon Demonic Flame, a sharp Sword Light shot out, and the Heart Blood Demonic Flame that had been rebounded actually shot back again...
The long sword pierced through Zhuge Xiang's chest, emerging from his back. Qiao Buliang disheveled and miserable, but his eyes were filled with a fierce and manic look. "Although I don't know what method you used to reflect my Heart Blood Demonic Flame back, the Heart Blood Demonic Flame is powered by my own heart blood. You want to use it to kill me? Do you think it's that easy?"
"I see..." Zhuge Xiang suddenly understood after hearing Qiao Buliang's words.
Such a powerful Flame Qiao Buliang, but it couldn't. Zhuge Xiang was puzzled, but now he understood. The Demonic Flame, fueled by Qiao Buliang's blood and sweat, weakened the damage to him to some extent, and could even be controlled by him again.
"Haha, die..." Although the intensity of this battle was completely unexpected by Qiao Buliang, he had finally killed Zhuge Xiang. Qiao Buliang shouted with a look of utter madness on his face.
Zhuge Xiang stood expressionless, like a statue, as if he weren't the one whose body had been pierced by the longsword. In the Great Hall, the expressions of the elders all changed. They hadn't expected such an ending at the last moment. Zhuge Xiang had actually been killed just like that?
"Zhuge Xiang..." Lu Yuling's expression changed drastically. He had always valued Zhuge Xiang Lu Yuling. In his opinion, although Qiao Buliang strong, Zhuge Xiang would not die at his hands. But now, he watched as Zhuge Xiang was pierced through the chest by Qiao Buliang's longsword. This was something Lu Yuling had not expected.
Bang...
But is Zhuge Xiang really dead? His body, pierced by the longsword, suddenly exploded at this moment, turning into shattered straw. It was as if, without anyone noticing, Zhuge Xiang, who had been pierced Qiao Buliang Buring's longsword, had become a Scarecrow. This was Zhuge Xiang's Skill Decoy Straw Man.
"So that's how it is. Your Heart Blood Demonic Flame can't kill you? Then try mine!" Zhuge Xiang's figure appeared on the other side almost simultaneously, his eyes fixed on Qiao Buliang.
His right eye was as black as ink, but his left eye was now glowing with an eerie Purple-Gold. As he spoke, Zhuge Xiang raised his hand, and a blood-red Flame danced in Zhuge Xiang palm.
"Heart Blood Demonic Flame!? This is impossible!" Qiao Buliang shocked to see Zhuge Xiang easily unleash the Demon Realm Flame that he needed to summon with his heart's blood. However, the familiar aura emanating from the Scarlet Flame in Zhuge Xiang's palm made Qiao Buliang realize that it was definitely the Heart Blood Demonic Flame, without a doubt.
Looking at the Heart Blood Demonic Flame in Zhuge Xiang's palm, the other elders in the Great Hall exchanged glances. The Heart Blood Demonic Flame Secret Technique a well-known Skill in the Asura Sect, requiring the use of one's own heart blood to perform.
However, Zhuge Xiang was able to replicate this move using the power of his Purple Gold Demonic Eye without expending any of his own energy, which explains why the elders were all surprised.
Although the Heart Blood Demonic Flame that had previously bounced back had failed to Qiao Buliang, his HP had already dropped by about 70%. At this moment, although the Heart Blood Demonic Flame that Zhuge Xiang was activating was not as powerful as Qiao Buliang's due to his cultivation level, the Flame that came down were Qiao Buliang's blood, and their destructive power was no less than that of the one that had bounced back before.
Amidst screams, Qiao Buliang was once again engulfed by the Heart Blood Demonic Flame. This time, however, it was Zhuge Xiang's Blood Heart Blood Demonic Flame. How could he possibly survive being consumed by it this time?
"Ding! You have killed Cultivator at the Third Layer level of the Gathering Origin Stage, gaining 3.8 million experience points and obtaining Melting Jade."
The system notification finally rang in Zhuge Xiang's mind: he had won the challenge against a higher level, gaining not only 3.8 million Experience Points but also a Melting Jade Dao Item.
Zhuge Xiang Memory this Dao Item vividly; it could perfectly fuse two pieces of equipment of the same type.
Melting Jade (Special Consumable): Allows you to fuse two pieces of equipment of the same type to improve the quality of the equipment. The success rate is inversely proportional to the quality of the equipment. If the fusion fails, both pieces of equipment will disappear.
When Zhuge Xiang first arrived at the Asura Sect Headquarters, there was a Melting Jade that fused the Cleaving Blade and the Attack Sword together, creating the Cleaving Sword of Attack and Kill. Now, this Melting Jade should be able to fuse the two weapons together again?
"Ding! Level up, gained 1 Skill Point, current level: True Essence Realm Level 1".
After Zhuge Xiang gained 3.8 million Experience Points, the system notification sounded again, allowing Zhuge Xiang to directly enter the True Essence Realm. With the advancement of this minor realm, the Qi Energy within Zhuge Xiang's body seemed to reach saturation at this moment, undergoing a qualitative change.
Qi Energy so-called "Qi Energy" is simply a powerful flow of qi. However, as Zhuge Xiang entered the True Essence Realm, Zhuge Xiang essence, qi, Essence, Qi, and Spirit suddenly merged together, and the incomparably powerful Qi Energy began to compress at that moment...
By completely compressing and fusing the gaseous Qi Energy into liquid True Essence, this change in aura caused the energy emanating from Zhuge Xiang's body to become less unrestrained and more restrained. However, the subtle aura it still exuded was even more Human Heart...
"He broke through? To the True Essence Realm?" The Great Hall was filled with powerful experts at the Void Returning Stage. How could Zhuge Xiang's breakthrough and the change in his aura escape their notice?
Sensing Zhuge Xiang's breakthrough, the elders exchanged glances and nodded inwardly. This type of genius, who breaks through in battle and sustains himself through combat, is exactly the type of genius that the Asura Sect likes the most.
First came his Demonic True Body, then the divine beast, the Fire Phoenix, followed by his mysterious method of imbuing himself with the Fire Phoenix's divine Innate Ability. Next, he used another mysterious method to deflect the Heart Blood Heart Blood Demonic Flame, allowing him to unleash its Secret Technique without expending his own heart blood. Finally, after a fierce battle, he broke through to the True Essence Realm...
Inside the Great Hall, a fierce battle raged. Zhuge Xiang's strength, skills, and talent were so impressive that almost all the elders in the Great Hall were impressed, except for Myriad Flowers Elder.
Zhuge Xiang is a well-known name in Yanling Commandery and even throughout the entire Great Qin Empire. Most of the Void Realm elders present had heard of this Genius Disciple of the Asura Sect. Today, they summoned these elders to act as witnesses, taking advantage of the feud between him and Myriad Flowers Elder. Another purpose was to see what kind of genius this so-called Zhuge Xiang really was.
After a fierce battle with Qiao Buliang, Zhuge Xiang's strength impressed all the elders present. With his cultivation at the Spell Control Stage, he defeated Cultivator at the Gathering Origin Stage, and even broke through to the True Essence Realm after the battle. Coupled with the methods Zhuge Xiang displayed and the Fire Phoenix, such a genius is truly inspiring.
"I don't recall Zhuge Xiang having Master yet?" Among the elders, one of the elders, who was clearly of considerable cultivation, spoke up, looking at Zhuge Xiang with gleaming eyes, clearly considering taking Zhuge Xiang as his disciple.
"Elder Liufeng, you have countless disciples and many powerful figures under your tutelage. How can you possibly have the time and energy to teach other disciples? I find Zhuge Xiang's decisive actions quite to my liking..." Elder Liufeng, had barely finished speaking when a robust, middle-aged elder beside him spoke up.
"No, no, I think Zhuge Xiang is extremely proficient in fire Spell. He would be the best disciple for me, the Heavenly Fire Elder..."
Zhuge Xiang had never officially left the Asura Sect. This time, he killed Qiao Buliang and settled his grudge with Myriad Flowers Elder in front of everyone. Considering that Zhuge Xiang had no Master, the elders all rushed to speak, clearly having the idea of taking Zhuge Xiang into their fold.
"Alright, elders, you are all elders of the Asura Sect. What kind of decorum is this, making such a racket?" Looking at the elders, who were talking one after another, completely lacking the demeanor of Void Realm Great Expert, the Asura Sect Master spoke calmly.
Once the Sect Master spoke, the elders naturally fell silent, but their sharp, back-and-forth eye contact clearly transformed from a verbal battle into a contest of wits.
After the elders stopped arguing with his calm words, the Sect Master turned to Zhuge Xiang and asked, "Zhuge Xiang, among those present, is there anyone you wish to become a disciple of?"
The sect Sect Master's words, without mentioning selecting from among these elders, clearly included himself. How could Zhuge Xiang not understand his meaning?
But taking on a master? Such a major decision was not something Zhuge Xiang could make lightly. Besides, for Zhuge Xiang, the best way to grow was to gain Experience Points through combat. Zhuge Xiang knew that simply cultivating would be of no use to him.
"Don't choose me. I only have a few disciples, and they all have heavy responsibilities. Other elders will give you a formal apprenticeship gift, but if you become my disciple, not only will you not receive one, but I might even send you to suppress those demons of the Asura Path," Sect Master Luo Ba interjected before Zhuge Xiang could even make his choice, seemingly trying to prevent Zhuge Xiang from choosing him. (To be continued...)