The top 32 had already been determined. In the center of the arena, Zhuge Xiang and the other top 32 stood together. After a morning of intense battles, these disciples who were not even in the Qi Nourishing stage had expended a significant amount of energy.
As the top 32 were announced, a man around 30 years old walked onto the stage and declared that the morning duels would conclude at this point. The remaining battles would be held one after another, not simultaneously. It was getting late, and after lunch, the major battles would resume.
For Zhuge Xiang and the others, having two hours of rest was more than they could ask for. Of course, the nearly two hundred thousand disciples below were also hungry. A high-quality duel was what everyone desired to witness, especially the preparatory disciples who had recently arrived at the Asura Sect and were about to participate in the special training. They were filled with anticipation and hoped to stand out in this competition within a year's time. However, with only thirty-two disciples out of a hundred thousand, the odds were one in a million. Most of these individuals were destined to be disappointed.
"Zhuge Xiang, are you alright?" Niu Geng approached Zhuge Xiang with concern as he walked off the stage. Although he couldn't see any visible issues with Zhuge Xiang during the subsequent battle, the fact that Ji Wuxue's sword had pierced through his chest earlier indicated that such a severe injury wasn't easy to treat.
"I'm fine," Zhuge Xiang replied, holding his chest with his hand. There was a hint of pain between his brows, but it vanished in an instant. He shook his head and reassured Niu Geng.
Niu Geng noticed the fleeting pain between Zhuge Xiang's brows. He grabbed Zhuge Xiang and said, "No, you have such serious injuries. As a friend, I won't let you participate in the afternoon competition. None of the top 32 are average. It's too dangerous for you to compete with such severe injuries. Let's go and treat your wounds."
"Come on, Niu Geng, trust me. I'm really fine." Zhuge Xiang was being pulled by Niu Geng, but he shook his head firmly, wearing a determined expression. It was evident that he was determined to participate in the afternoon competition. Niu Geng and Zhuge Xiang's exchange attracted the attention of many onlookers. Several candidates in the top 32 smirked, as they were well aware of Zhuge Xiang's injuries. No matter how hard he tried to hold on, in their opinion, the threat posed by the seriously injured Zhuge Xiang had significantly diminished.
These individuals were observing Zhuge Xiang, just as Zhuge Xiang, as part of the top 32, was also observing them. The top 32 were indeed extraordinary individuals. Among them, twelve were at the third level of the Qi Nourishing stage. As for the others, even if they were at the second level of the Qi Nourishing stage, their combat prowess could not be underestimated. They possessed their own unique techniques.
It went without saying that the twelve disciples at the third level of the Qi Nourishing stage were all geniuses who had comprehended Qi Force within half a year of joining the Asura Sect. Not only did they possess abundant Qi Force, but due to their early comprehension of Qi Force, their martial arts realm was also very advanced. Most importantly, nobody knew if they had any other hidden trump cards.
"Zhuge Xiang, congratulations on gaining fame after today's battle…" On their way to the dining hall, while Zhuge Xiang and Niu Geng were playfully pulling each other, a gentle female voice interrupted. They turned their heads and saw Lu Yuling approaching.
"Thank you, Senior Lu. Who wouldn't know about your talent? Moreover, you're also beautiful, making you the ideal woman in the eyes of many senior brothers." Zhuge Xiang responded with a smile to Lu Yuling's praise. As his strength grew, Zhuge Xiang was now on par with Lu Yuling and could even joke with her.
"Oh? Including you?" Lu Yuling did not dislike Zhuge Xiang's teasing and asked instead.
"As a normal boy, I, Zhuge Xiang, am no exception. But for me right now, strength is the most important thing." Zhuge Xiang's generous personality shone through. When it came to matters of love, he did not hesitate to speak his mind.
Lu Yuling smiled. She was quite satisfied with Zhuge Xiang's answer.
For her, cultivation was her top priority at the moment. It was too early for love. If Zhuge Xiang expressed his interest in pursuing her, Lu Yuling would keep a respectful distance. Did he like her? It was not a surprising answer. Lu Yuling was well aware of her charm. If Zhuge Xiang claimed not to like her, it would be insincere.
Looking into Zhuge Xiang's clear eyes, Lu Yuling suddenly beamed with a bright smile. "If all men in the world were as honest and straightforward as you, it wouldn't be so bad to be liked by others."
Suddenly, Zhuge Xiang's keen senses detected a few hostile gazes directed at him. He discreetly turned his head to take a glance. They were the gifted disciples of this batch, also ranked among the top 32. Observing Lu Yuling's helpless expression, Zhuge Xiang understood that her hidden message was that these individuals liked her, but they were not open or direct enough. Their actions only served to annoy her.
"You're not doing this on purpose, are you? Inciting their hostility towards me? So that you'll have one less competitor? They say a woman's heart is the most treacherous. The ancients didn't deceive me. You've schemed against an injured person like me," Zhuge Xiang said, looking at Lu Yuling helplessly.
"Injured? Are you really injured? When I mentioned dealing with the Demon Fox, you were hesitant until you knew the strength of the Demon Fox and me. Someone like you, who values your life so much, would you really be impulsive enough to participate in the top 32 matches with such severe injuries?"
Lu Yuling shook her head in response to Zhuge Xiang's words. It was clear that she didn't believe him. What she meant was that the conflict between him and Niu Geng might deceive others, but not her.
"Don't you know that no one ever married a woman who is too smart?" Zhuge Xiang wasn't surprised that Lu Yuling saw through his act. After spending half a month together, Lu Yuling had gained some understanding of his personality. Similarly, Zhuge Xiang also had some understanding of her. In Lu Yuling's eyes, Zhuge Xiang was a formidable competitor, and the feeling was mutual.
The three of them chatted casually and arrived at the dining hall. They picked some food and settled down in a secluded spot. Due to Lu Yuling and Zhuge Xiang's reputation, others refrained from disturbing them.
In front of Zhuge Xiang, Lu Yuling felt that she did not have to be as guarded as she was with other male disciples. That was because male disciples who were closer to him often had inappropriate thoughts, leading to romantic entanglements that hindered their cultivation.
Regarding Zhuge Xiang's personality, he was honest and straightforward. Lu Yuling could feel at ease when interacting or conversing with him. Perhaps they were similar in that their primary focus was cultivation. Lu Yuling wasn't afraid that Zhuge Xiang would neglect his cultivation due to what he referred to as improper thoughts.
In the eyes of everyone, Lu Yuling was like a solitary figure in the sky—arrogant, elegant, and untouchable. No one dared to offend her. Many who believed they were talented and worthy of pursuing Lu Yuling had encountered numerous obstacles. However, today, Lu Yuling was chatting and laughing with Zhuge Xiang. This made those who had ulterior motives toward Lu Yuling hostile toward Zhuge Xiang.
Sensing the hostility around him, Zhuge Xiang wasn't afraid. Instead, he felt secretly delighted. With the Super Game System, Zhuge Xiang was afraid there wouldn't be any challenges. It was a good thing that others showed hostility. Winning the battles would make him stronger. As for the possibility of failure? Zhuge Xiang had never considered it.
Although many people harbored hostility towards Zhuge Xiang, no one dared to provoke him openly. After all, Zhuge Xiang was not weak, and wasting Qi Force before the big battle was unwise. However, at that moment, a familiar male voice suddenly called out from behind Zhuge Xiang, grabbing his attention.
"What's the matter? Are you still not satisfied? Do you still want to fight me?" Zhuge Xiang narrowed his eyes as he looked at the person standing behind him. Niu Geng nervously stood up, clearly hoping to prevent any disturbance.
It turned out that the person standing behind Zhuge Xiang was Ji Wuxue, who had been carried away earlier for treatment. Although Ji Wuxue's face was still pale and he hadn't fully recovered, it seemed that his injuries had stabilized.
"Today, I lost. I'll seek revenge in the future, but now is not the time," Ji Wuxue shook his head and produced a blood-red pill. "This is a Blood Ginseng Pill, a healing medicine from the sect. The wound from my sword should be quite serious, right? This pill should help you heal."
"Ah?" Zhuge Xiang's eyes widened when he saw the pill Ji Wuxue handed to him. He hadn't expected Ji Wuxue to approach him, not seeking revenge, but instead offering to help heal his injuries. Apparently, this pill was intended for the sect's use in healing Ji Wuxue's own injuries, but he kept it and gave it to Zhuge Xiang.
Ji Wuxue understood the shock in Zhuge Xiang's expression and spoke frankly, "Although I lost to you, I hope that you can achieve a higher ranking in the competition and prove that my defeat wasn't unjust. If you were to be defeated by someone else immediately, it would tarnish my reputation."
Shaking his head, Zhuge Xiang declined Ji Wuxue's kind gesture. "I can promise you that I will definitely secure first place in this competition. As for the pills, I don't need them. My injuries are already fine."
Zhuge Xiang paused for a moment before adding, "Furthermore, I want to say that individuals like you are not truly suited for a demonic sect like the Asura Sect."
Since Zhuge Xiang expressed his confidence, Ji Wuxue didn't say anything else. He turned around and left without commenting on Zhuge Xiang's evaluation of him.
After sitting back down, Niu Geng remarked, "Although Ji Wuxue is ruthless, he's still a righteous person. He's worth befriending."
"He's a true swordsman, but such a personality is not suitable in the demonic sects." Niu Geng's words made Zhuge Xiang shake his head. Then, he looked at Niu Geng. Actually, with his honest and straightforward personality, he was not suitable either.
The incident in the dining hall served as a minor interlude. After lunch, they rested and regained their peak condition. Zhuge Xiang and the others headed to the dueling platform where the remaining competitors had already gathered. The afternoon competition for the top 32 officially began.