Ch. 24 3rd-Level Qi Nourishment

"What did Zhuge Xiang just do?" People in the duel stage began to speculate as Zhuge Xiang tore the experience scroll, causing a faint light to envelop him. Clearly, they didn't anticipate that Zhuge Xiang would reveal his own hidden cards at this point.

"Really?" Lu Yuling's eyes twinkled, and a faint smile graced her lips, showing her curiosity. She was eager to discover what Zhuge Xiang had in store.

Lei Potian's expression grew darker, but he had no way to back down now. Regardless of Zhuge Xiang's cards or his current abilities, he had to defeat him. He gripped his massive axe tightly and controlled the blood-sucking vines to sweep toward Zhuge Xiang. All he needed was to entangle Zhuge Xiang; that would secure his victory.

At that very moment, Zhuge Xiang's aura underwent a sudden transformation, as if he had broken through a crucial barrier. His aura surged dramatically, and he now possessed the same level of energy as Lei Potian. Scarlet energy rippled intensely, meeting Lei Potian's force head-on.

"Breakthrough? He actually reached the third level of Qi Cultivation Realm?" Lei Potian's eyes widened in shock as he sensed the change in Zhuge Xiang's energy. It was inconceivable that someone who had only grasped Qi for half a month could achieve the third level of Qi Cultivation Realm.

"Am I imagining things? Zhuge Xiang seems to have truly reached the third level of Qi Cultivation Realm?" Even Niu Geng, who had lived under the same roof as Zhuge Xiang for a year, had his eyes widened, as if he were seeing Zhuge Xiang for the first time. Despite knowing Zhuge Xiang well and witnessing his diligent Qi comprehension, he still found this transformation unbelievable. Could this be what they referred to as a combat genius?

Even Lu Yuling couldn't hide her surprise, her clear and beautiful eyes revealing astonishment. While she had high expectations for Zhuge Xiang, the idea of directly advancing to the third level of Qi Cultivation seemed implausible. However, as Lu Yuling's expression settled, she speculated that whatever Zhuge Xiang had used earlier might have played a role in facilitating this breakthrough.

"Ding, you have gained 100 experience points."

"Ding, your level has increased. You are now at the third level of Qi Cultivation, and you have earned 1 skill point."

"Ding, you have successfully learned 'Rampage.'"

Amidst the battle, Zhuge Xiang remained focused and undistracted. With his promotion to the third level of Qi Cultivation, he had earned a skill point. Learning the skill "Rampage," which was available at a lower level, he felt an innate understanding and automatically comprehended it.

**Rampage (Initial Stage):** Movement speed +100%, covers a distance of five meters in all directions. This skill gathers energy beneath the feet and releases it in a burst, providing an instant and powerful speed boost. It consumes 10 MP and has a cooldown of 10 seconds.

Zhuge Xiang couldn't contain his joy as he read the details of the "Rampage" skill. A 100% instant movement speed increase with just a glimpse was a significant advantage. While it might not have the same endurance as "Ghost Step," being a momentary boost, its sudden burst of speed was still highly effective in combat.

Seeing the blood-sucking vines and Lei Potian sweeping towards him, Zhuge Xiang smiled with absolute confidence. He raised his blood-refining knife, locked onto his opponent's aura, shouted inwardly, and executed the "Rampage" skill with a powerful step forward.

Zhuge Xiang's speed at this moment was nothing short of astonishing. With the combination of his third-level Qi Cultivation Realm, the bloodthirsty technique, and the enhanced effect of the Star Chaser Boots, his instantaneous burst of speed reached incredible levels. The 100% speed increase from his "Rampage" skill, coupled with these factors, made him almost four times faster than a typical disciple who had reached the third level of Qi Cultivation.

The bluestone slab beneath his feet cracked under the immense force of his rapid acceleration, leaving an afterimage behind him. Even disciples who hadn't comprehended Qi couldn't track his movements as he appeared right in front of Lei Potian, giving the impression of teleportation.

Lei Potian, who had encountered numerous monsters in the Endless Mountains, reacted instinctively. He raised his arms quickly, using his massive axe like a shield to block Zhuge Xiang's lightning-fast attack. However, the impact from Zhuge Xiang's strike sent Lei Potian stumbling back several steps, despite both of them being at the third level of Qi Cultivation.

Zhuge Xiang's superior speed, combined with the acceleration of force from his attack, created a significant gap between the two, making it impossible for Lei Potian to resist effectively. As Lei Potian struggled to regain his footing, Zhuge Xiang lowered his stance like a poised cheetah, preparing to unleash the devastating Blood Thunder Slash.

But before Zhuge Xiang could execute his attack, Lei Potian, realizing the imminent danger, conceded defeat, shouting, "I admit defeat!"

The audience and disciples were left in shock, witnessing Zhuge Xiang's incredible speed and prowess. Zhuge Xiang, who had just reached the third level of Qi Cultivation, had defeated Lei Potian, one of the top talents of the Shura Sect. It was an astonishing upset, and the arena fell into stunned silence before erupting with cheers and applause, celebrating Zhuge Xiang's unexpected victory.

Zhuge Xiang's victory over Lei Potian left the entire arena in awe and disbelief. The duel had been nothing short of incredible, with Zhuge Xiang's newfound speed and power stunning the audience. Many spectators began to seriously consider the possibility of Zhuge Xiang winning the competition.

As discussions and speculations swirled around the arena, Zhuge Xiang, with a calm and composed expression, descended from the dueling ring. The tingling sensation in his feet gradually subsided, a side effect of the powerful "Rampage" skill.

The "Rampage" skill, with its energy concentrated in the soles of the feet and released in a burst of speed, put considerable strain on the foot's tendons and meridians, causing temporary discomfort. Fortunately, this discomfort typically subsided quickly, and it was evident that the 10-second cooldown of the skill was linked to this effect.

Zhuge Xiang had defeated Lei Potian, earning 70 experience points for the victory, although he hadn't received any bonus for a leapfrog battle or item drops. Despite this, he was now at the third level of Qi Cultivation Realm, needing a total of 4,600 experience points for the next level. His rapid progress had astounded everyone, and his potential seemed boundless.

With the top four now decided, Zhuge Xiang's remarkable victory had set the stage for an electrifying final battle to determine the tournament champion. The anticipation and excitement in the air were palpable as the audience eagerly awaited the epic showdown that was about to unfold.

With Niu Geng and Lu Yuling congratulating him on his victory, Zhuge Xiang felt a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. He had overcome tremendous odds to win this competition and had even managed to break through to the third level of the Qi Cultivation Realm in the process. His progress was nothing short of astonishing, and it left him feeling confident about his future challenges.

As Zhuge Xiang exchanged words with Lu Yuling about their potential matchup, the atmosphere was charged with excitement and anticipation. It was clear that both of them were confident in their abilities, and a potential showdown between the two was eagerly awaited.

The focus then shifted to the second duel of the top four, featuring Ling Wufeng and Lu Yuling. As the two skilled disciples entered the dueling stage, the audience's attention was once again captivated by the intense battle about to unfold.

The competition was nearing its thrilling conclusion, and the fate of the tournament champion remained uncertain. With each duel, the stakes grew higher, and the excitement among the spectators reached a fever pitch. The Shura Sect's grand tournament was truly living up to its reputation as a showcase of extraordinary martial talent.