Inner Sect Selection Trial
Stepping out the door, Lu Yuling, dressed in flowing white robes, stood in the Courtyard. The afterglow of the setting sun shone upon her, making her even more dazzling. Even Zhuge Xiang was momentarily stunned, but he quickly composed himself and gave a mischievous smile, "What did you have to tell me behind my back? You wouldn't be thinking that you've taken a liking to me, would you?"
Turning her head, Lu Yuling's eyes gleamed with a strange light, and she smiled brightly, "I thought I was hiding it very well, but I didn't expect you to find out. It saves me the trouble of saying it out loud."
"That's great. Where do you think we should start? How about a kiss?" Zhuge Xiang took a big step forward, stood in front of Lu Yuling, and leaned close to her face, making a move to kiss her.
A flicker of panic crossed Lu Yuling's eyes. She took a step back, a faint blush rising on her fair cheeks. She said seriously, "Alright, enough joking. I asked you out to talk about the Inner Sect selection."
"Inner Sect selection?" Zhuge Xiang looked at Lu Yuling in surprise and said, "Don't Inner Core Disciple only need to have a cultivation level of at least the Void Splitting Realm? What's going on with this selection?"
"You're not dead yet. If you stay in the Sect, Dugu Jue will naturally find out and won't let you go. If I'm not mistaken, you should be hiding in the Endless Mountain Range?" Lu Yuling continued, her bright eyes fixed on Zhuge Xiang, "The once-every-five-years Inner Sect selection will begin in one year and two months. All disciples at the Meridian Opening Realm can sign up. Once you pass the test, even if your cultivation hasn't reached the Void Splitting Realm, you can be promoted to an Inner Core Disciple. Your status will naturally rise accordingly, and even if Dugu Jue wants to deal with you, he'll have to think twice."
"One year and two months? The cultivation level of the Void Splitting Realm? I'm only at the Body Tempering Realm Second Layer right now. In just over a year, do you think I can reach the Meridian Opening Realm?" Zhuge Xiang asked.
"I've said what I needed to say. The choice is yours. I hope to meet you in the Inner Sect Selection Trial." With a faint smile, Lu Yuling left these words without saying goodbye to Hua Nongying and the others, and left Zhuge Xiang's Courtyard alone.
"One year and two months? Inner Sect Selection Trial?" His eyes shone brightly. It has to be said that Lu Yuling's news was indeed very timely for Zhuge Xiang.
Even if Inner Core Disciple is suspected of violating Sect rules, the Sect wouldn't punish Dugu Jue for killing him, especially since he's just an outer disciple. However, if he becomes Inner Core Disciple, things will be different. Under the spotlight, he can demonstrate his strength, gain the Sect's attention, and his safety will naturally increase significantly. Reaching the Meridian Opening Realm in one year and two months? Zhuge Xiang is quite confident in himself and hopes to meet him in the Inner Sect selection. It seems Lu Yuling is also very confident.
Zhuge Xiang received all 108 Spirit Stone. After Zhang Kuang and the others distributed the other Magic Artifact and the heart of the Demon Wolf, they all left Zhuge Xiang's room. During this time, Zhuge Xiang called Niu Geng and asked him to help him refine Toxins overnight, the more the better, and the stronger the toxins the better.
Seeing that it was getting late, Zhuge Xiang gave his Explosive Arrow formula to Master Old Tie. The formula was the same as the Wolf Fang Arrow formula. Master Old Tie said he would provide him with 100 Explosive Arrow every month and asked him to work through the night to make them for him, as he would be leaving early the next morning.
Back at his residence, Zhuge Xiang instructed the Moon Devouring Divine Dog to set up the Six Layered Illusory Destruction Realm for him. He believed that Dugu Jue soon learn of his return, and given Dugu Jue's personality, it was highly likely that he would ambush him that night. However, the Moon Devouring Divine Dog told Zhuge Xiang that the Six Layered Illusory Destruction Realm required the setting up of Spirit Gathering Formation to absorb sufficient spiritual energy before it could be used. Setting up the Spirit Gathering Formation now would require absorbing spiritual energy for at least three days.
Helpless, Zhuge Xiang could only have it use thirty-six Spirit Stone to set up a small Illusion Formation. He didn't expect to kill Dugu Jue, but at least he could hold him off. Besides, Dugu Jue was, after all, Inner Core Disciple. If he died, the Sect would definitely investigate the matter thoroughly.
At night, Niu Geng's courtyard was brightly lit, and the corpses of various poisonous creatures were piled up like a small mountain. Although these creatures were dead, the poisonous gas in the air still made people feel nauseous. The Divine Wood Cauldron, made of some unknown wood, was not destroyed by the flames. Niu Geng threw in all sorts of highly poisonous substances in specific proportions to refine them into a potent mixed poison.
"Are you still concocting poison so late?" Suddenly, a soft female voice rang out. Niu Geng looked up, and Zi Xiang's delicate figure looked even more beautiful in the Moonlight, making Niu Geng stare at her for a moment.
With a simple, honest smile and a scratch on his head, Niu Geng said, "Zhuge Xiang is leaving the Sect tomorrow, and it seems he'll be gone for a long time this time, so I want to refine some more poison for him tonight as a backup."
"I've sold all my equipment, and I successfully exchanged the Demon Wolf Heart for Spirit Stone Coin and Contribution Points at the sect. I'm free anyway, so why don't I lend a hand? After all, Zhuge Xiang saved my life," Zi Xiang suddenly suggested after thinking for a moment.
"That would be a real hassle for you." After all, Zi Xiang was quite skilled in using poisons, so Niu Geng was naturally very happy to have her help. Under the Moonlight, the Fluorescent Jade emitted a soft glow, and the young man and woman worked together in the Courtyard to refine various terrifying Toxins.
Drink... Hah... Hoo...
On the other side, atop Green Willow Peak, in Zhang Kuang's Courtyard, he brandished Spear like a dragon, sweat pouring down his face. Zhang Kuang, who considered Zhuge Xiang his formidable Zhang Kuang, could sense that Zhuge Xiang's growth rate was terrifying. Back then, they were five realms apart in the Qi Cultivation Realm, but now, he was almost being caught up. Moreover, having grasped the Arrow Intent, Zhuge Xiang had far surpassed him. Zhang Kuang's pride made it hard to accept that he was so far inferior. If Zhuge Xiang could grasp the Arrow Intent, why couldn't he grasp the Spear Intent?
"What's gotten into Zhang Kuang, that madman? He was crazy enough before when he was cultivating, but now he's completely reckless!" "Shh, keep your voice down, is he courting death?" "Never mind, let's rest..."
On Green Willow Peak, many disciples discussed Zhang Kuang's almost self-destructive cultivation methods.
"What!? Zhuge Xiang is back? That's impossible!" On the other side, although a Deity Transformation stage disciple had stepped forward, Dugu Jue still kept an eye on Niu Geng and his group. But when he heard that Zhuge Xiang had actually returned alive, Dugu Jue suddenly stood up and exclaimed in surprise.
With his cultivation at the Void Splitting Realm, he showed no mercy in his attacks. Dugu Jue could hardly believe that someone who was merely at the Body Tempering Realm had been sent flying by his direct strike.
"Does that guy possess some kind of heaven-defying Spell Manipulation?" Dugu Jue's eyes flickered, and he became increasingly intrigued, his desire growing stronger with each passing thought.
Indeed, that disciple with the Deity Transformation stage cultivation only mentioned that some of Niu Geng's group had connections with him, but that didn't include Zhuge Xiang. Besides, he almost killed Zhuge Xiang back then, and that Deity Transformation Stage disciples didn't even question him.
"Alright, I understand. You may leave." After waving his hand to dismiss the spy, Dugu Jue stood up, changed into a set of Nightstalker Garb, and headed straight for Green Bamboo Peak.
What kind of treasure could allow a Body Tempering Realm disciple to block a full-force attack from someone at the Void Splitting Realm? Also, that guy Zhuge Xiang, Dugu Ming was after him back then, and he's the most likely suspect in Dugu Ming's death. No matter what, he can't live.
Standing by the window, bathed in Moonlight, watching Dugu Jue dressed as a night owl wander aimlessly through the Courtyard, circling around, I whispered to the Moon Devouring Divine Dog, "How long can your formation trap him?"
"If we use the gathered spiritual energy, we can only confuse him for half an hour. But if we use the Spiritual Energy of the Spirit Stone itself, we can confuse him for at least three days. If the Spiritual Energy is not exhausted, he won't be able to get out," the Moon Devouring Divine Dog replied, perched on the windowsill.
"It's not worth wasting Spiritual Energy on him. I'll break the Illusion Formation in half an hour. I believe he'll back down when he sees the difficulty. It won't be too late to kill him after I return from my training." Shaking his head, Zhuge Xiang left these words, turned around and went back to the bed, where he sat cross-legged.
Although the experience gained from meditation is far less than that from killing monsters, the time is still being wasted. Even a small amount is still something, and I need to reach the Meridian Opening Realm within a year.
Half an hour later, after the Illusion Formation was broken, Dugu Jue, panting heavily, glanced at Zhuge Xiang's house with some fear and, as expected, gave up.
The next morning, having taken the Wolf Fang Arrow and Explosive Arrow from Master Old Tie and prepared everything else, Zhuge Xiang returned to Green Bamboo Peak and received a large jar of Mixed Poisons that Niu Geng had spent an entire night refining.
Seeing Niu Geng's exhausted appearance made Zhuge Xiang feel a little guilty. However, looking at Zi Xiang beside him, Zhuge Xiang frowned slightly. Although Niu Geng was not stupid, he was too honest. He instinctively felt uneasy about Zi Xiang's interaction with Niu Geng.
"Niu Geng, you need to be careful with Zi Xiang," Zi Xiang Zhuge Xiang said behind her back after a few casual words and watching her leave.
Looking at Zhuge Xiang with some surprise, Niu Geng shook his head and said, "I think Miss Zi Xiang is a nice person. She even spent the whole night last night helping you refine poison. Otherwise, how could I have extracted so much Toxins in one night?"
Looking at the large jar of Mixed Poisons in his hand, Zhuge Xiang said, "Anyway, I'm just telling you to be careful. You can never be too careful."
After speaking, Zhuge Xiang turned and left the Sect. The Moon Devouring Divine Dog, still concealing itself, perched on Zhuge Xiang's shoulder. Niu Geng wasn't stupid; he had reminded him, and he believed Niu Geng would be more careful.