Within the branch of the Shura Sect where Zhuge Xiang and the others are located on the outskirts of the Endless Mountains, they frequently encounter ferocious beasts such as wolves during their travels. Nevertheless, though these beasts pose a significant threat to ordinary people, Zhuge Xiang, who has spent a year in rigorous training and has mastered Qi, dispatches them effortlessly. There's a significant gap between those who comprehend Qi and those who don't.
Although these ferocious beasts only yield Zhuge Xiang a mere five or six experience points, every bit counts, no matter how small the gain.
It's worth noting that after Zhuge Xiang mastered Qi, he needed 800 experience points to advance to the second level of the Qi Cultivation Realm. In pursuit of leveling up, Zhuge Xiang eagerly takes on the responsibility of dealing with ferocious beasts whenever they come across them.
Shura Sect disciples, like Lu Yuling, frequently venture deep into the Endless Mountains to train by hunting ferocious beasts. However, seeing Zhuge Xiang's enthusiasm, Lu Yuling is naturally delighted. Furthermore, at her current third level of Qi Cultivation, these beasts no longer provide any significant experience.
Their encounters with ferocious beasts along the way are many, yet there are no unexpected dangers. After walking for a considerable time, they take a break to prepare some barbecue. In the evening, they finally spot the hundred-year-old Ganoderma lucidum. After dispatching over a dozen ferocious beasts, Zhuge Xiang gains hundreds of experience points.
In the dense forest, a small hill, no taller than a few tens of feet, stands. On a clearing at the mountain's base, nestled against a boulder, is a gray-white Ganoderma lucidum, nearly the same color as the stone. Paying no attention to anything else and lurking in the shadows, both Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yuling spot the fully matured Ganoderma lucidum.
However, beside the Ganoderma lucidum, there's a small cave in the hill's stone wall. At the cave entrance lies a fox with yellow fur, lying on its stomach and dozing. Its slender body appears to be lacking in vitality and blood, yet this fox is unusually large. If it stood up, it could easily reach an adult's waist. The defining characteristic of monsters is that their body size transcends typical racial limits.
"Strange, this fox seems injured. Its aura has declined compared to a few months ago," Lu Yuling remarks, her voice barely above a whisper, while hidden in the shadows, gazing at the injured demon fox at the cave's entrance.
"Isn't it better if its aura has dropped? The Ganoderma lucidum is ripe; let's hurry and collect it. We don't have much time to spare," Zhuge Xiang dismisses Lu Yuling's concerns with a shake of his head. These questions cannot be resolved easily, and their time is better spent collecting the Ganoderma lucidum.
"Agreed," after pondering briefly, Lu Yuling fails to find a satisfactory explanation. She nods and disregards the issue, revealing herself and making her way toward the demon fox.
Wild beasts are usually more cautious than humans. Even though Lu Yuling approaches without making a sound, the demon fox awakens as she draws near. In the light of the setting sun, the fox's claws and fangs glisten ominously.
Initially, Lu Yuling could match a monster beast nearing middle-rank one-star status, or perhaps even be slightly inferior. But for some reason, this demon fox appears to have been injured long ago, resulting in a decrease in strength. From a glance, Zhuge Xiang can tell that the demon fox's strength is slightly inferior to Lu Yuling's.
However, Lu Yuling's Qingbo Palm primarily emphasizes "entanglement," with relatively modest offensive power. Although she possesses a slight strength advantage, defeating this agile demon fox quickly will prove challenging.
To avoid attracting unwanted attention, while Lu Yuling keeps the demon fox in check, Zhuge Xiang takes the opportunity to collect the hundred-year-old Ganoderma lucidum.
However, as Zhuge Xiang picks the Ganoderma lucidum, a hint of disappointment lingers in his heart. The weakened demon fox can't contribute much, and his role is minimal. He's only focused on gathering the Ganoderma, earning just 30% of the benefits, which leaves him feeling somewhat dissatisfied.
Seeing Zhuge Xiang collecting the Ganoderma lucidum, the demon fox becomes increasingly agitated, launching fiercer attacks with bared fangs and slashing claws. Yet, Lu Yuling's superior strength and recent breakthrough in power allow her to maintain control.
Suddenly, a fox's roar echoes through the forest, coming closer from a distance. The fox's cry, initially shrill, now carries the resonance of a powerful beast, like the roar of a tiger deep within the forest.
The abrupt roar prompts alarmed expressions on both Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yuling's faces. Simultaneously, the demon fox pinned down by Lu Yuling raised its head and yelped a thin, echoing roar.
"Uh-oh! This demon fox has companions, and they seem stronger!" Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yuling exchange anxious glances, recognizing the gravity of the situation.
"Blood Thunder Slash!" Zhuge Xiang crouches slightly, his muscles bulging as his essence and blood surge. Energy courses through him as he turns his palms into blades and locks onto the demon fox restrained by Lu Yuling's Qingbo Palm.
Lu Yuling, aware of Zhuge Xiang's intentions, unleashes one Qingbo Palm after another, ensnaring the demon fox like a spider's web, gradually impeding its movements.
Prepared to act, after seven or eight breaths, Zhuge Xiang's face reveals veins throbbing like earthworms. Just as he's on the brink of exhaustion, he musters his remaining strength. His energy concentrates into a fiery burst, and he transforms into a blur, charging toward the demon fox ensnared by Lu Yuling's Qingbo Palm.
There's a faint sound of wind and thunder, as a blood-red light appears at the edge of Zhuge Xiang's palm. With a fierce palm strike, Zhuge Xiang slashes decisively at the fox's neck. A crisp sound follows, signifying the severed neck of the fox, ending its life with one swift blow.
Whether it's a cultivator or a one-star monster, both are still in the early stages of understanding Qi, having recently embarked on their cultivation journey. While their attacks have grown stronger under the influence of Qi, their physical bodies remain relatively vulnerable, resulting in high offensive capabilities but low defenses.
Zhuge Xiang's Blood Thunder Slash, the most potent offensive martial art from Cangwu Pavilion, consumed half of his strength. It delivered a direct, lethal blow to the demon fox's weak point—the neck, achieving a swift and decisive kill.
With a piercing shriek, the demon fox collapsed to the ground, its cervical vertebrae shattered, and its neck twisted at an unnatural angle. It exhaled more air than it inhaled, clearly incapable of further movement. A few low groans escaped its lips as its body convulsed, but soon after, it lay motionless.
"Ding! Kill a one-star low-grade demon fox. Gain 133 experience points, obtained Blood Refining Knife, and acquired a Blood Recovery Pill*1."
As Zhuge Xiang beheaded the demon fox, a mechanical system prompt rang in his mind. The 133 experience points he earned left Zhuge Xiang astonished. The high experience gain this time indicated that he had defeated an opponent of significantly higher rank.
Notably, besides the experience points, he had also acquired a pill and a weapon.
Following the system prompt, Zhuge Xiang found himself holding a Blood Refining Knife, and in his other hand, a reddish elixir. Information about the knife and elixir revealed itself:
Blood Refining Knife (One-Star Magical Artifact): Requires level 1 of Qi Nurturing Realm, attack power: 12-16, unique passive: bloodsucking 10%, weight 10, duration 12/16.
Blood Recovery Pill: No level requirements, continuous blood volume recovery, restores 10 HP per second for 10 seconds.
HP represented the character's health points. Before comprehending Qi, Zhuge Xiang had 100 HP in his character profile. After gaining mastery over Qi, his HP increased to 110 points. The Blood Recovery Pill, capable of replenishing 100 HP, proved to be quite effective.
From the demon fox's demise to the system revealing the equipment, and finally, to Zhuge Xiang examining the Blood Refining Knife and Blood Recovery Pill in his hands, it all transpired in a short span of time.
After dispatching the demon fox, Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yuling wasted no time, immediately turning to flee. They didn't need to glance back to confirm the pursuing demon fox's strength—it was undoubtedly formidable.
However, their escape was halted as soon as they moved. A massive, dark yellow fox emerged before Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yuling. This fox was as large as a calf, nearly matching the fourteen-year-old Zhuge Xiang's height.
"One-star mid-level, equivalent to the fifth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm," Lu Yuling calmly remarked, though her eyes revealed a newfound seriousness, as they met the thick and formidable aura emanating from the fox.