The trial begins: Sword of Slaughter
Sword of Slaughter (Seven-star magic tool): Requires Meridian Opening Realm Second Layer, Attack 10-20 (+189), Passive: For each target with a cultivation level higher than the user's, increase attack by 1 point, up to a maximum of 500 points, Durability 4545, Weight 10.
On that day in the territory of the Winged Human Race, after the Golden-Winged Great Peng that Zhuge Xiang had brought there was killed, the Sword of Slaughter was dropped. However, before he could take it out to examine it, the Winged Human Race took it to their territory. It wasn't until later, after they left, that he had time to take out the Sword of Slaughter to examine it.
When Zhuge Xiang saw that the attack only increased by a mere 20 points, he almost thought he was seeing things. A Seven-Star weapon only increased attack by 20 points? But after seeing the passive effects, Zhuge Xiang understood the power of the Sword of Slaughter. It truly lived up to its name of "slaughter." The more powerful opponents it slaughtered, the stronger it became.
Over the course of two months, Zhuge Xiang fought his way through. Initially, the sword only increased his attack by a mere 20 points, which was indeed a very difficult task for Zhuge Xiang. Fortunately, Xiao Yue was there to assist him. Later on, the effect of the Sword of Slaughter gradually became apparent. Although it only increased his attack by 189 points, in terms of attack power alone, the Sword of Slaughter finally surpassed the Cleaving Sword of Attack and Kill.
With his cultivation at the Meridian Opening Realm Second Layer, Zhuge Xiang was a notch stronger than Zhang Kuang. In addition, with the Sword of Slaughter, which increased his attack power by more than 200, Zhang Kuang, despite being a battle maniac with terrifying combat intuition, was finally defeated by Zhuge Xiang after a fierce battle and obediently contributed 600 experience points.
"You're a monster, I definitely won't lose to you," Zhang Kuang, showing no sign of dejection after his defeat. He looked at Zhuge Xiang seriously, uttered these words, and then left Green Bamboo Peak.
"You're welcome to challenge me anytime," Zhuge Xiang said with a smile, sheathing his Sword of Slaughter as well. He thought, "If I had a hundred or so Zhang Kuang people like Zhang Kuang challenging me every day, wouldn't my leveling speed be incredibly fast?"
Three days passed neither quickly nor slowly. Registration for the Inner Sect Selection Trial had already begun. Zhuge Xiang, Lu Yuling, and even Zhang Kuang had all registered. In the past few days, Zhuge Xiang and the others had been constantly adjusting their state. The content of the Inner Sect Selection Trial was different every year, but no matter what, improving one's strength and maintaining one's state was always the right thing to do.
Three days later, the Asura Sect was unusually lively. The Core Three District in the very center of the hundred peaks of the Asura Sect Headquarters were all open to the public today, allowing all outer disciples to enter. The area was bustling with people, whether they were disciples participating in the selection assessment or just watching, all eagerly awaiting the official start of the selection assessment.
"Five years! Five years ago, I was only at the Third Layer of the Meridian Opening Realm and didn't dare to participate in the selection. Now I have reached the Ninth Layer of the Meridian Opening Realm and I will definitely pass." Among the crowd, some disciples clenched their hands, full of confidence.
"Those who can pass the Inner Sect Selection Trial are all the best in the Meridian Opening Realm. I want to see just how strong these people really are." Of course, some disciples came with the intention of observing.
"Today is the start of the Inner Sect Selection Trial. With so many people, we're sure to make a fortune!" Of course, some people had different ideas, and immediately shouted, "Come, come, everyone, come and see! There are miraculous pills to restore injuries and magical Magic Artifact to increase Attack Speed. Don't miss out!"
"Having been in the Asura Sect for two years, this is the first time I've seen such a lively scene," Zhuge Xiang remarked, standing in the Core Three District and observing the bustling crowd.
"That's because you've been staying in the Endless Mountain Range for so long," Hua Nongying said to Zhuge Xiang, still with her lively and cheerful personality, giving him a disdainful glare.
In the two years that followed, Hua Nongying had grown even more beautiful. Dressed in a fiery red gown, she exuded youthful energy, and her cultivation had reached the Seventh Layer the Body Tempering Realm.
"Do you think I went sightseeing? I see you've been staying on the mountain, and your cultivation isn't that high. Look at Niu Geng, he's been researching Gu Poison, and his cultivation has already caught up with yours. As for me, you're even further behind," Zhuge Xiang retorted to Hua Nongying without any politeness.
"Do you think everyone is as twisted as you?" Hua Nongying replied, pouting.
"Thank you for the compliment," Zhuge Xiang said calmly, turning his head away and ignoring her.
"You..." Looking at Zhuge Xiang's appearance, Hua Nongying had no choice but to pout and ignore him. She then said to Lu Yuling beside her, "Senior Sister Lu, look at him, he only knows how to bully the weak."
"You know you can't win an argument with him, so why do you still provoke him?" Lu Yuling said to Hua Nongying with a light smile and a shake of her head. Niu Geng, who was standing next to her, couldn't help but chuckle when he saw Hua Nongying's expression.
"What are you laughing at? You and Zhuge Xiang are in cahoots, neither of you are good people," Niu Geng's laughter displeased Hua Nongying. She put one hand on her hip and pointed at Niu Geng with the other, acting like a tigress.
"Um... um..." Niu Geng was honest and simple by nature. Hua Nongying, he waved his hands in a fluster, wanting to explain but unable to find the words. Seeing Niu Geng's appearance, Zhuge Xiang smiled slightly and wanted to speak up to defuse the situation, but someone was faster than him.
"What? People have mouths, why do you care if they laugh or not? If I told you not to talk, wouldn't I have to sew your chattering mouth shut?" Seeing Niu Geng's helpless state, Zi Xiang couldn't stand it anymore and stepped forward. She also put her hands on her hips, and her gentle expression turned fierce. Her ample bosom instantly outshone Hua Nongying.
"You... you wicked woman... don't think that just because your breasts are big, I can..." Zi Xiang puffed out her chest, her magnificent breasts immediately making Hua Nongying shrink back in shame. She wanted to retort, but quickly stopped herself. It was indeed embarrassing to talk about this in public.
"What are you looking at? I'm much bigger than you, you little brat. You barely have any flesh on your chest, what are you pretending to be mature for?" Hua Nongying was too shy to say it, but Zi Xiang didn't care so much. She was always ready to make a big splash, and her bold words drew the attention of many people around her.
"You... you..." Her fair, slender fingers trembled. Hua Nongying was so angry that she was almost bursting into tears.
Although her chest couldn't compare to Zi Xiang's, at the tender age of sixteen, Hua Nongying was quite pretty, and her chest was already beginning to take shape. To say that her chest didn't even add up to two ounces of flesh was indeed very hurtful.
As the saying goes, three women make a drama, and the quarrel between these two women is no less serious. Zhuge Xiang can understand Zi Xiang's boldness, but why would she change her previous feigned weakness for Niu Geng? This surprised Zhuge Xiang. He could see that Zi Xiang and Niu Geng seemed to have an unusual relationship, but he didn't know what their relationship had been for over a year.
"Alright, stop fooling around, let's start," Lu Yuling said, shaking her head as she pulled back the still sulking Hua Nongying, diverting everyone's attention.
Sure enough, a middle-aged man descended from the sky, stepping on a gourd and Artifact Flight down. He was clearly a Deity Transformation stage cultivator. Looking up, in the Core Three District, on each mountain peak, there was a Deity Transformation stage expert descending from the One Hundred and Eight Floating Mountains.
Upon landing, the Deity Transformation stage expert merely stomped his foot, causing the earth to tremble slightly. A stone platform about twenty feet in diameter rose a meter high, forming a Tournament Platform. The use of Spell was breathtaking.
"I am the host of the first round of the Inner Sect Selection Trial Xiao Zhu Peak today. I am responsible for all the work of those participating in the Inner Sect assessment on Xiao Zhu Peak today," the middle-aged man said after landing. His Treasure Artifact, turned into a point of light and merged into his brow. He attracted everyone's attention. His calm words and soft voice rang clearly in the ears of all the disciples.
"Inner Core Disciple are the Sect's sharpest weapon. Their presence outside the sect is crucial to the Sect's reputation, therefore, relatively high standards are required of your strength. Originally, only disciples at the Void Splitting Realm or above were qualified to become Inner Core Disciple. However, to provide opportunities for a small number of exceptionally talented disciples at the Meridian Opening Realm, this selection and assessment system was established. You must prove through your actions that even without the Void Splitting Realm cultivation, you are absolutely among the best of your peers. Strive for the benefits that only Inner Sect Disciple enjoy."
The middle-aged man spoke in a loud voice, his calm words stirring the blood of those present.
Becoming a core disciple not only brings greater benefits but also allows one to travel outside the sect, which is a matter of the Sect's reputation. In addition, it allows one to prove their talent. With such a double reward of fame and fortune, who wouldn't be tempted? Even Zhuge Xiang clenched his fists. What did he come to the Asura Sect for? It was to stand out from the crowd, to become a superior person, and to avoid being bullied by others.
"Alright, enough with the small talk. The first stage of this Inner Sect Selection Trial is to fight six demonic Monster Beast with cultivation levels equal to your own. Only by killing them all can you pass. Who wants to go first?" The middle-aged man asked, glancing around at everyone present.
Hiss...
When the questions for the first assessment were announced, thousands of people on Xiao Zhu Peak gasped in unison, their initial enthusiasm instantly extinguished.
Although human Cultivator are generally stronger than Monster Beast of the same level due to their martial arts skills and equipment, their strength is limited. How could a single person kill six demonic Monster Beast of equal cultivation level? Upon hearing this, the entire Xiao Zhu Peak fell silent for a moment, and no one dared to speak.
There was no roll call; the examiner simply asked who wanted to go up. Although at least a hundred or so people on Xiao Zhu Peak had applied for the Inner Sect assessment, the prospect of this test would likely deter many from taking it, saving a lot of trouble.
"I'll go!" Before Zhuge Xiang could even speak, Zhang Kuang, standing beside him, brandished his Spear and leaped onto the Tournament Platform first.