Ch.18 A True Swordsman

The top thirty-two dueling contestants had been decided. They gathered on the central dueling stage, where Zhuge Xiang stood among them. After a morning of intense duels, these Qi Cultivation Realm disciples had expended a significant amount of energy.

As the thirty-two contestants were announced, a man in his thirties ascended the stage and declared that the morning duels were now concluded. The remaining battles would take place one by one, not simultaneously, with varying start times. It was getting late, and after a lunch break, the major competition would continue.

Having an hour of rest was a welcomed opportunity for Zhuge Xiang and the others. Of course, the nearly 200,000 spectators below were also hungry. High-quality duels were what everyone had come to watch, especially the preparatory disciples who aspired to participate in the special training. They hoped that a year later, they could also shine in this competition. However, out of a hundred thousand disciples, only thirty-two would emerge victorious, making it one of the most competitive arenas in the sect.

"Zhuge Xiang, how are your injuries?" Niu Geng approached Zhuge Xiang with concern as he stepped off the stage. A sword piercing through the chest was a grave injury that wouldn't heal easily.

"I'm fine," Zhuge Xiang reassured, placing his hand on his chest. A faint hint of pain briefly crossed his brow, but it vanished quickly as he shook his head.

Niu Geng noticed the pain that flickered across Zhuge Xiang's face and grabbed his arm. "No, with an injury this serious, as a friend, I can't let you participate in the afternoon competition. None of the top thirty-two are ordinary, and it's too dangerous for you in your condition. We should go and tend to your injury."

"Okay, Niu Geng, trust me, I'm really okay." Though Zhuge Xiang was being dragged by Niu Geng, he shook his head resolutely. There was a stubborn determination in his eyes, clearly showing his unwavering commitment to participating in the afternoon competition. The exchange between Niu Geng and Zhuge Xiang drew the attention of many spectators. Among the top thirty-two, some of them wore knowing smiles. They were aware of Zhuge Xiang's injuries and believed that, regardless of his determination, his threat had been significantly reduced due to his severe wounds.

These individuals began assessing Zhuge Xiang, and Zhuge Xiang, as part of the top thirty-two, was also sizing up his competition. As expected, none of them were ordinary. Even those at the second level of Qi Cultivation Realm should not be underestimated in terms of combat effectiveness. They all possessed unique skills.

Of course, the twelve disciples at the third level of Qi Cultivation Realm were the most remarkable. They had comprehended Qi around six months after joining the Shura Sect. Their strength was considerably high, and, importantly, their true capabilities remained a mystery.

"Zhuge Xiang, you made a name for yourself in today's first duel. Congratulations..." As they walked towards the dining hall, Lu Yuling's voice reached Zhuge Xiang's ears.

"Oh, who doesn't know about your talent, Senior Sister Lu? You're also beautiful, and in the eyes of many senior brothers, you're the perfect woman," Zhuge Xiang responded with a smile, teasing her lightly. Having achieved fame, Zhuge Xiang now had the qualifications to interact with Lu Yuling as equals and even joke with her.

"Really? Including you?" Lu Yuling asked, not showing any displeasure at Zhuge Xiang's playful banter.

"Even I, Zhuge Xiang, am just an ordinary guy. I'm no exception. But for me, strength is the top priority right now," Zhuge Xiang replied with a mischievous grin.

Lu Yuling smiled in response to Zhuge Xiang's words, seemingly satisfied with his answer.

For her, focusing on her cultivation was her top priority at the moment. It was too early for romantic entanglements. If Zhuge Xiang had expressed romantic interest in her, Lu Yuling would have respected his feelings and kept her distance. Did he like her? That wouldn't be a strange answer, as Lu Yuling was well aware of her own charm. If Zhuge Xiang had said he didn't like her, it would have come off as hypocritical.

Gazing into Zhuge Xiang's clear eyes, Lu Yuling suddenly flashed a bright smile. "If all men in the world were as straightforward as you, being liked by others wouldn't be a bad thing."

Suddenly, Zhuge Xiang keenly sensed several openly hostile gazes directed at him. He turned his head without showing any signs and saw that they were all genius disciples from their class who had made it to the top thirty-two. Observing Lu Yuling's helpless expression, Zhuge Xiang understood that her underlying message was that these individuals liked her but lacked the straightforwardness to express their feelings, which was only causing them to annoy her.

"You weren't doing this on purpose, were you? To stir up their hostility towards me and eliminate one of your competitors? They say the most treacherous heart belongs to women, and the ancients were not wrong. You're scheming against a wounded person like me," Zhuge Xiang teased, looking at Lu Yuling with mock helplessness.

"Injured? Are you really injured? When I suggested dealing with the demon fox that day, you insisted on knowing both the demon fox's strength and mine before you were willing to go. Someone who values their life like you wouldn't impulsively participate in the top thirty-two with a severe injury," Lu Yuling remarked. Her tone indicated she didn't believe him, and she implied that the conflict between Zhuge Xiang and Niu Geng might be able to fool others but not her.

"Such a clever woman, no one will be able to marry you, don't you know?" Zhuge Xiang quipped. He didn't find it strange that Lu Yuling could see through his act. Over the past half-month, Lu Yuling had gotten to know his personality to some extent, and Zhuge Xiang had done the same with her. In Lu Yuling's eyes, Zhuge Xiang was a strong competitor, and the same applied to Zhuge Xiang's perspective.

The two of them conversed while Niu Geng remained somewhat cautious in Lu Yuling's presence. The three of them entered the dining hall, grabbed some food, and found a secluded spot to sit down. Due to Lu Yuling and Zhuge Xiang's fame, others were unlikely to approach them.

In Zhuge Xiang's presence, Lu Yuling felt she didn't have to be as guarded as she was with other male disciples. Other male disciples tended to be closer to her and would often have inappropriate thoughts about her, which might lead to romantic distractions from their cultivation.

Zhuge Xiang, on the other hand, was straightforward and honest, which made Lu Yuling feel at ease in his company. Whether they were interacting or talking, Lu Yuling could relax. Perhaps it was because both of them prioritized cultivation above all else. Lu Yuling wasn't afraid that Zhuge Xiang, like other male disciples, would let unreasonable thoughts interfere with their cultivation.

Lu Yuling, in the eyes of others, was like the solitary moon in the night sky—proud and distant. No one dared to approach her disrespectfully. Those who thought themselves worthy of pursuing her had encountered numerous obstacles. However, today, Lu Yuling was chatting and laughing with Zhuge Xiang, making many who harbored feelings for her feel uncomfortable about Zhuge Xiang. They viewed him with hostility.

Feeling the animosity in the air, Zhuge Xiang not only wasn't intimidated but secretly welcomed it. With the assistance of the super game system, Zhuge Xiang was unafraid of confrontations. He saw hostility from others as an opportunity to grow stronger. Winning a battle would make him stronger, and as for losing? The thought hadn't even crossed his mind.

While many people harbored hostility towards Zhuge Xiang, none of them actively sought to provoke him. After all, Zhuge Xiang was not a weak opponent, and with the big competition on the horizon, conserving energy was a priority. However, at this moment, a familiar voice suddenly called out to Zhuge Xiang from behind, causing him to turn around.

"What? Are you still not satisfied? Do you want to fight me again?" Zhuge Xiang narrowed his eyes as he glanced at the person who had approached him. Niu Geng, sensing the tension, stood up, clearly not wanting this person to disturb Zhuge Xiang.

The person who had approached Zhuge Xiang was Ji Wuxue, the opponent he had defeated earlier. Although Ji Wuxue still looked pale and hadn't fully recovered from his injuries, it seemed that his condition had stabilized.

"I lost to you today, and I want to challenge you again, but not right now." Shaking his head, Ji Wuxue reached into his pocket and produced a blood-red pill. "This is a Blood Ginseng Pill, a healing medicine from our sect. Your injury from my previous sword strike must be quite serious. This pill should help you heal."

Zhuge Xiang's eyes widened in surprise when he saw the pill Ji Wuxue offered. He hadn't expected Ji Wuxue to seek him out not for revenge, but to offer him a healing pill. It seemed that this pill was intended for Zhongmen disciples to use for healing, but Ji Wuxue had kept it and given it to Zhuge Xiang.

Ji Wuxue understood the surprise in Zhuge Xiang's eyes and explained, "Although I lost to you, I hope you can achieve a higher ranking in the competition. That way, it won't be seen as a disgrace for me to lose to you. If you're defeated by someone else immediately, it would tarnish my reputation."

Zhuge Xiang declined Ji Wuxue's kindness, saying, "I can promise you that I will win first place in this competition. As for the pills, I don't need them for my injuries."

Zhuge Xiang paused for a moment before adding, "I also want to say that someone like you isn't truly suited for a demonic sect like the Shura Sect."

With that, Ji Wuxue didn't press the matter further and turned to leave. He didn't respond to Zhuge Xiang's assessment of him.

Sitting back down, Niu Geng commented, "Despite his ruthlessness, Ji Wuxue is an honorable person, deserving of friendship."

Zhuge Xiang shook his head and said, "He's a true swordsman, but a character like his isn't well-suited for the Demonic School." He then looked at Niu Geng and continued, "In fact, my own personality isn't ideal for this sect either. Real friendships are too risky."

The incident in the cafeteria was just a minor episode. After having lunch and taking some time to recover, Zhuge Xiang and the others headed to the dueling stage. The participants for the top twelve had already gathered, and the competition was about to begin in earnest.