8 Niu Geng's True Colors

"Ding! Discovered skill book "Bloodthirst Technique". Requires Level 1 Qi Nourishing Realm. Requires one skill point. Do you want to learn it?"

The mechanical notification from the system resonated in Zhuge Xiang's mind. With his decision firmly made, Zhuge Xiang chose to learn the skill.

No abnormal phenomena occurred, but suddenly, Zhuge Xiang felt a profound sense of enlightenment deep within his heart. It was an instinctual feeling. Zhuge Xiang realized that he had successfully learned the Bloodthirst Technique. Although he had only acquired its initial stage, he had truly mastered it.

Without batting an eyelid, Zhuge Xiang set aside the secret manual of the Bloodthirst Technique and contemplated for a moment. Then, he picked up the secret manual of the Blood Lightning Slash and utilized his skill points to instantly acquire the Bloodthirst Technique. Apart from Zhuge Xiang himself, nobody else was aware of this development. Therefore, in accordance with the Asura Sect's rules, Zhuge Xiang could continue learning another martial art. His chosen path was the Blood Lightning Slash.

The Blood Lightning Slash was one of the martial arts that was favored in the Hidden Martial Arts Pavilion. Despite consisting of only one move, it possessed the highest attack power among the available martial arts. Furthermore, due to its simplicity, cultivation of the Blood Lightning Slash was relatively easier compared to other techniques. With the augmentation provided by the Bloodthirst Technique, Zhuge Xiang anticipated that the power of the Blood Lightning Slash would undoubtedly become even more formidable upon successful cultivation.

Seeing that Zhuge Xiang had decided to set aside the Bloodthirst Technique, Lu Yuling did not say anything. She turned around and left. Zhuge Xiang did not pay attention to her departure. His attention was all on the secret manual of the Blood Lightning Slash.

There was only one move, and the secret manual of the Blood Lightning Slash consisted of merely two to three pages. Zhuge Xiang effortlessly memorized the flow of Qi, the cultivation method, and the necessary precautions. Regarding the Qi cultivation method, Zhuge Xiang skimmed through it briefly before leaving the martial arts library, ready to commence his cultivation of the Blood Lightning Slash.

Despite already comprehending Qi Force, all disciples who had achieved this milestone would partake in a major competition during the assessment, with everyone watching. On one hand, it aimed to select outstanding disciples for focused nurturing. On the other hand, it served as motivation for the subsequent disciples to cultivate diligently.

If Zhuge Xiang could attain a high ranking in the competition, the sect would reward him generously. Hence, he wished to cultivate the Blood Lightning Slash diligently before the competition, knowing that time was limited. The reason he chose the Blood Lightning Slash, which consisted of only one move, was due to its relative ease of cultivation.

While en route, Zhuge Xiang composed himself and examined his Bloodthirst Technique skill. In the skill tree, the icon representing the Bloodthirst Technique skill gleamed brightly. As Zhuge Xiang immersed himself in it, information about the Bloodthirst Technique flooded his mind.

Bloodthirst Technique (Beginner): Increases attack, defense, speed, and attack speed by 30%. Duration: 1 minute. However, afterward, you will enter a weakened state, the severity of which is dependent on the intensity of the Bloodthirst Technique. Effective during the Qi refinement and transformation phase.

Zhuge Xiang found the information about the Bloodthirst Technique highly satisfying. Although the initial increase was only 30%, it was understandable considering it was at the beginner level. As the technique advanced to higher levels, it would achieve mastery and possibly even perfection, significantly enhancing its effects.

Furthermore, the crucial point was that the 30% increase applied to all of his attributes. This comprehensive boost in strength was quite significant.

"Effective during the Qi refinement and transformation period?" Zhuge Xiang grasped the concept behind this condition. After spending a year in the Asura Sect, he had gained some understanding of cultivation.

In the path of cultivation, there were three major realms. The Bloodthirst Technique served the purpose of forcefully absorbing the essence, blood, and Qi of the body to enhance various attributes. Naturally, it would only be effective during the Qi refinement and transformation period. In the Qi Refinement realm, the power of blood and Qi within the body was insufficient to augment one's strength. Furthermore, if the Bloodthirst Technique were always effective, it would be considered a divine skill.

The Qi Nurturing Phase consisted of six stages: Qi Nourishing, Body Tempering, Meridian Opening, Air Splitting, Innate, and Reverting. Zhuge Xiang currently resided at the first stage, Qi Nourishing. Thus, his cultivation journey had just begun, and he remained unaware of the subsequent stages.

Although the Bloodthirst Technique primarily served to convert essence into Qi, Zhuge Xiang was only at the first level of the Qi Nurturing Realm. The process of converting essence into Qi alone would require a considerable amount of time. Nonetheless, Zhuge Xiang found great satisfaction in having the Bloodthirst Technique at his disposal.

"Hmm? That's Li Bin and Niu Geng?" Just as Zhuge Xiang calmed himself down and studied the Bloodthirst Technique, two figures suddenly caught his attention. Not far away, Niu Geng supported Li Bin and the two of them walked towards the back mountain of the Asura Sect.

"The two of them?" Looking at their backs, Zhuge Xiang's mind instinctively recalled what Li Bin had said in the martial arts arena. Why was he fine after consuming the Gut Cutting Powder's Spiritual Fruit Pulp? Curious, Zhuge Xiang secretly followed them.

With 100,000 disciples in the Asura Sect, the buildings were numerous and scattered. As Li Bin and Niu Geng walked deeper into the mountain, the number of people around gradually dwindled. Curiosity getting the better of him, Zhuge Xiang continued to trail the two. He could not comprehend their purpose or why Li Bin, with his severe injuries, was venturing out instead of recuperating.

After more than an hour of walking, they arrived at an isolated location in the back mountain. Li Bin, bearing the weight of his heavily injured body, appeared even more fatigued. Clearly growing impatient, he questioned Niu Geng, "Didn't you claim to have found a hundred-year-old ginseng in the back mountain? Where is it? Hurry and find it so that I can recover from my injuries."

After looking around and confirming that there were few people in the back mountain, Niu Geng suddenly smiled at Li Bin, revealing a newfound sharpness in his eyes behind his honest face.

"Ah!" A scream was heard. Li Bin was obviously frightened by Niu Geng's sharp gaze. He took a few steps back and fell to the ground. After a year of interaction, Li Bin believed he understood Niu Geng's temperament quite well. However, that piercing gaze just now made him feel as though Niu Geng had become a stranger.

Just as Li Bin fell to the ground, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. A black aura emerged from his body and his body felt numb. It was as if thousands of poisonous bugs were gnawing at him. In agonizing pain, Li Bin came to the realization that he had been poisoned.

"Niu Geng, why? Why are you doing this?" Clutching his stomach, Li Bin's face turned pallid. He gazed up at Niu Geng in disbelief.

Unthinkable as it was, the person he had been toying with, Niu Geng, had actually turned on him and intended to kill him. Li Bin had never anticipated this moment, and now he understood that the so-called hundred-year-old ginseng was merely an excuse to deceive him.

"Why? Hehe…" Li Bin's question elicited a sense of amusement from Niu Geng. A mocking smile appeared on his honest face. "I happen to be an expert in poisons myself. Didn't you realize that Zhuge Xiang was unharmed in the martial arts arena today?"

"It's you!" Niu Geng's words made Li Bin react instantly. No wonder Zhuge Xiang, who drank the Spiritual Fruit Pulp in front of him, was fine. At that moment, everything became clear to Li Bin.

"That's right, it's me. When you offered me the Spiritual Fruit Pulp, I could tell that there was Gut Cutting Powder in it just by its scent. I have no involvement in your conflict with Zhuge Xiang or your attempt to poison him. However, do you remember how you responded when I suggested that I would give the Spiritual Fruit Pulp to Zhuge Xiang alone?"

At this moment, Niu Geng's expression became complex, blending pity, sarcasm, and anger from feeling betrayed. His tone grew sharper. "You clearly intended to trap me in one fell swoop. For a year, I treated you and Zhuge Xiang as rare friends. Even though you constantly bossed me around and treated me like a servant, I never felt resentful. But how did you repay me? By trying to kill me!"

Hiding in the dark, Zhuge Xiang also widened his eyes. The Niu Geng before him seemed unfamiliar. Like Li Bin, he was also deceived by Niu Geng's honest appearance. He did not expect that under his honest appearance, there was actually such a ruthless heart.

At the same time, Zhuge Xiang silently thanked his luck that Niu Geng had no intention of dealing with him. Otherwise, that gourd of Spiritual Fruit Pulp laced with Gut Cutting Powder would have been sufficient to end his life.

When his life was in danger, Li Bin's poison intensified. His face was filled with black smoke as he pleaded desperately. He even mentioned that they were all friends in the past and tried to use emotions. However, Niu Geng's heart had turned to stone by this point. In fact, he was utterly disillusioned by Li Bin's attempt to poison him to death.

From begging to cursing to despair, Li Bin ultimately succumbed to the poison.Throughout the entire ordeal, Zhuge Xiang remained hidden in the shadows, silently witnessing the entire process.

Li Bin had died from the poison. No one knew what Niu Geng was thinking. He stared at Li Bin's corpse in a daze for a moment before turning around. His tone carried a deep sense of fatigue as he said to Zhuge Xiang's hiding place, "Zhuge Xiang, come out. I know you've been there."

After being discovered by Niu Geng, Zhuge Xiang had no intention of hiding anything. He walked out calmly and looked at Niu Geng. He sighed and said, "I really didn't expect that among the three of us in the room, you're actually the one with the greatest endurance. It seems that Li Bin and I were mistaken."