Top Grade Cleaving Blade

Ghost Step had been trained to the Perfection Level, and there was even an Advanced Martial Art called Ghostly Shadow Step. Not only was it faster to execute, but it also had a certain effect of concealing one's figure—this was something Zhuge Xiang was seeing for the first time, and Hua Nongying in the crowd widened her eyes even more.

The Blood Refinement Saber slanted toward the ground, Zhuge Xiang's entire body relaxed. His posture didn't seem like he was in battle; rather, it resembled someone atop a mountain peak, enjoying the view of a sunrise.

However, this very demeanor made Zhang Ying, hidden in the shadows, feel an even greater unease. He dared not act rashly. This New Disciple at the Qi Cultivation Realm Fourth Layer—for some reason, Zhang Ying could sense waves of heavy pressure emanating from him.

Ghostly Shadow Step activated, Zhang Ying circled Zhuge Xiang for a full half-minute but still couldn't find the best moment to strike. Zhuge Xiang appeared completely relaxed and unguarded, seemingly full of openings, yet an instinct in his mind told him that no matter what angle he attacked from, the other party would instantly react and counter.

"No good. He's standing still to counter my moves, but using Ghostly Shadow Step consumes a lot of Qi Energy," Zhang Ying thought, having circled for half a minute and sensing his Qi Energy had already depleted by nearly a third. He knew he couldn't keep this up. His Ghostly Shadow Step had only just reached Entry Level, and the Qi Energy drain was heavy. If he continued like this, the other party wouldn't even have to make a move before his own Qi Energy ran out.

Making up his mind, Zhang Ying used Ghostly Shadow Step to appear behind Zhuge Xiang, a Short Sword appearing in his hand.

Ghost Fang!

Asura Sect disciples who broke through to the Qi Cultivation Realm Fifth Layer were all qualified to choose their Second Martial Art. Besides Ghostly Shadow Step, which was an upgrade from Ghost Step, Zhang Ying's Second Martial Art was this move, Ghost Fang. Its attack power might not be strong, but its attack speed was the fastest. Paired with his Ghostly Shadow Step, it was the ultimate assassination technique.

A fierce killing intent locked onto his back, a dreadful murderous aura enveloping him. Zhuge Xiang knew the other party had finally grown impatient and launched an attack.

Almost at the same moment, Zhuge Xiang spun around quickly, activating the effect of the Frost Headband. The speed of Ghostly Shadow Step suddenly dropped by 20%, and the Blood Refinement Saber transformed into a streak of bloody light as it slashed forward.

His speed suddenly suppressed, Zhang Ying's face changed as he saw the blade light coming at him. But at the same time, his speed didn't decrease—instead, it instantly increased. Instead of advancing, he retreated, pulling himself out of Zhuge Xiang's attack range.

"He has a way to instantly boost his speed too?" Not only had the Frost Headband's suppression effect been countered, but his speed had actually increased. Zhuge Xiang frowned inwardly.

Explosive Steps was powerful, but its movement range was only effective within five meters. Ghostly Shadow Step had already carried the opponent more than five meters away in the blink of an eye. Even if he used Explosive Steps, it wouldn't serve as a surprise attack.

But just because Explosive Steps was ineffective didn't mean Zhuge Xiang had no other tricks. He stabbed the Blood Refinement Saber into the ground, swept his hand across his waist, drew the Hundred Refinements Bow to full, and locked onto the opponent with the sharp tip of a Wolf Fang Arrow. The Piercing Arrow skill activated instantly.

Although the opponent was more than five meters away, it wasn't too far. With the Hundred Refinements Bow's range of one hundred twenty meters, the speed of this arrow was no less than Zhuge Xiang's Explosive Steps.

Ignoring 55 points of defense, combined with the Courage Medal's effect doubling his attack at this moment, even though Zhang Ying twisted his body in a hurry at the critical moment to avoid a vital spot, Zhuge Xiang's arrow still pierced straight through his shoulder, leaving a hole the size of a baby's fist. It went clean through, blood gushing out. With a scream of pain, Zhang Ying collapsed to the ground, no longer able to fight.

"Tsk, his ranged attack is even stronger than his close combat?" Watching Zhuge Xiang's arrow pierce through Zhang Ying's shoulder, even the One-Star Defense Leather Armor on him, the surrounding crowd was shocked again. They had thought his close combat ability was fierce, but his ranged attack was far stronger.

"Such a powerful attack, it seems to have armor-piercing effects. Even a Body Tempering Realm disciple wouldn't come out unscathed from that arrow," several watching Body Tempering Realm disciples said, unable to hide their astonishment.

With the Hundred Refinements Bow's effect, even under the Bloodthirsty Technique, Zhuge Xiang believed his Piercing Arrow could break the defense of a Two-Star Demonic Moth, let alone now with the Courage Medal's boost making him even stronger.

Although Body Tempering Realm disciples had strong physical defenses, if one possessed a powerful Magic Artifact, breaking through their defenses wasn't impossible. Clearly, the Three-Star Magic Artifact Hundred Refinements Bow, with its defense-ignoring effect, was enough to threaten some Body Tempering Realm cultivators.

"Ding, Over-Level Victory against Qi Cultivation Realm Seventh Layer disciple. Gained 320 experience. Gained Cleaving Blade."

As Zhuge Xiang's arrow defeated Zhang Ying, the system's mechanical prompt arrived as expected. Compared to the previous disciples he had beaten, this time it actually dropped a piece of equipment, which delighted Zhuge Xiang.

His decision had been right. By taking advantage of the Courage Medal's effect to fight over-level battles here on Green Willow Peak, the more he did it, the more experience he'd get. And with the over-level drop rate, he was bound to get a piece of equipment or two, right?

He swept his hand across his waist, and a weapon that was neither quite a sword nor quite a saber appeared in Zhuge Xiang's hand. Call it a sword, but it was only sharpened on one side. Call it a saber, but the blade was long and slender, lacking the heavy feel of a saber, instead carrying the lightness of a sword. Moreover, the blade edge wasn't completely smooth; it was covered in fine serrations.

Cleaving Blade (Two-Star Magic Artifact): Attack 32-40, Attack Speed +15, Passive: Cuts the opponent's skin, can cleave wounds, causing a bleeding effect. Reduces the target's current HP by 1% per second for 20 seconds. Ineffective against cultivators above the Body Tempering Realm. Stackable. Durability 38/40. Weight 13.

Top Grade!!! Looking at the data for the Cleaving Blade, Zhuge Xiang's eyes widened. The attack might not be particularly high, but it added 15 points of attack speed and had a cleaving effect. Just imagine—one attack could make the opponent bleed for 20% of their HP. What if he landed several hits? Combined with the damage from the attack itself, under the Cleaving Blade's assault, as long as the opponent hadn't reached the Body Tempering Realm, no one could withstand more than three of his strikes.

The Courage Medal's duration was a full 300 seconds. Defeating two Qi Cultivation Realm Seventh Layer disciples had taken Zhuge Xiang only about 60 seconds. He still had over 200 seconds left.

With the Cleaving Blade in hand, a strange light flickered in Zhuge Xiang's eyes as he stared intently at the Green Willow Peak disciples before him. In his eyes, they had completely become synonymous with experience and equipment.

"You... what do you want..." Stared at by Zhuge Xiang, the disciples standing at the front of Green Willow Peak recoiled a few steps in fear. What kind of look was that? It was like a bandit spotting a fat sheep, a perverted uncle spotting a little girl, a starving wolf spotting prey. That look, combined with the terrifying strength Zhuge Xiang had just displayed, made them instinctively afraid.

"I want to challenge you all to a duel. Is there no one brave enough to step forward?" Putting away the Hundred Refinements Bow and Blood Refinement Saber, Zhuge Xiang pointed the Cleaving Blade at the thousand-plus disciples and spoke.

Duels were considered sacred in the Asura Sect. Generally, disciples of higher cultivation wouldn't challenge those of lower cultivation—it was dishonorable to win that way. But if a lower-cultivation disciple challenged a higher one, no one could refuse. The Asura Sect, as a battle-oriented sect, despised cowards above all.

Now, a newcomer who had just joined the Asura Sect, a mere Qi Cultivation Realm Fourth Layer disciple, was challenging them, the previous session's disciples. Could they refuse?

If they refused, they'd never be able to hold their heads up in the Asura Sect again. But accept? Are you kidding? Two Qi Cultivation Realm Seventh Layer disciples had been easily beaten by him. Who dared to step up?

"So strong, this newcomer is no ordinary one," several Body Tempering Realm disciples in the crowd muttered, looking at Zhuge Xiang with strange expressions. A Qi Cultivation Realm Fourth Layer cultivator daring to block the mountain peak where the senior disciples lived and openly issuing challenges—such boldness was admirable. And more importantly, no one doubted his strength.

On Green Willow Peak, over a thousand disciples stood outside, the weakest at Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer. They exchanged glances, but no one dared to step forward. Especially those at Qi Cultivation Realm Sixth Layer, hailed as geniuses, lowered their heads. They knew well that if anyone was to answer the challenge, it would have to be those of higher cultivation.

"Haha, how absurd. With behavior like yours, you still want to collect twenty Spirit Stone Coins from each of us on Green Bamboo Peak? You lot can only bully those weaker than yourselves. You're all scum," Zhuge Xiang sneered loudly, watching the thousands of disciples too afraid to step forward. His words were filled with anger.

Zhuge Xiang's identity was that of a beggar. Because of his humble origins, he understood the sorrow of the weak all too well. Just like the old beggar, who could be killed for no reason by someone setting a dog on him. That was why Zhuge Xiang despised those who bullied the weak. What kind of skill was it to pick on the weak? What kind of achievement was it to find superiority over the weak? If you had real skill, go pick on someone stronger than you. That was why he loathed this so-called unwritten rule of the Asura Sect.

"Heh, a bunch of cowards who only bully the weak. That's all you're good for," Zhuge Xiang said with biting sarcasm, waving the Cleaving Blade in his hand. Looking at the angry yet helpless expressions of the two thousand-plus Green Willow Peak disciples, he sneered and dropped another bombshell: "Since none of you are coming out, I won't hold back. All of you at Qi Cultivation Realm Fifth Layer and above, step forward. Today, I challenge every single one of you above Qi Cultivation Realm Fifth Layer."

(PS: I can only say that after two days without asking for votes, I've been overtaken by the second place. Brothers and sisters, please vote to keep our first place in the new book category. Others have four or five hundred recommendation votes, so why do we only have a hundred? At least we have two thousand collections!)