Chapter 161: Control, Explosive Power, and Endurance
Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Control, Explosive Power, and Endurance
’I’m going to die?!’
At first, the Sword and Axe Mantis was worried Zhu Ge might get hurt. It even considered faking an injury to curry favor.
Then it thought it might get off with a minor injury, then a major one, and now it was facing a life-and-death crisis.
This entire mental journey took place with incredible speed, all in a matter of minutes.
Right now, the Sword and Axe Mantis could feel that if it didn’t use its full strength, it would undoubtedly die from a single punch from Zhu Ge.
"BUZZZZ!!!!"
The Sword and Axe Mantis vibrated its wings, spreading all its arms and legs wide. Its demon heart pounded, and its Demon Qi boiled.
At its demon heart, a phantom image of a mantis brandishing its arms flickered in and out of existence.
This was the intent it had condensed when it broke through from the Second Realm to the Third Realm, but it had never been able to evolve it into a true killing move that could be used in combat.
Now, under the pressure of this life-and-death crisis, the phantom image was on the verge of solidifying.
However, it was too late.
The Sword and Axe Mantis’s first thought wasn’t to dodge. Zhu Ge was too fast. All it could do was try to block and then brace for death.
Its first thought, however, was simply, ’How absurd.’
’To think I’ve come all this way from an ordinary Bloodthirsty Mantis, overcoming countless hardships and dangers...’
’In the past, I was the type to use my full strength even to hunt a rabbit.’
’And now?’
’Facing my own Great Master, a prodigy of the Human Race, I treated him with such disdain?’
A flood of thoughts washed over the Sword and Axe Mantis; it felt as if its entire life was flashing before its eyes.
Then, it felt a terrifying tearing sensation rip through its body.
From its twin arms to its heart, from its muscles and organs to its very consciousness and soul, everything felt like it was about to be ripped in two.
However, at the critical moment, the Sword and Axe Mantis felt the force applied to its body suddenly lighten.
"BOOM!!!"
A tremendous crash erupted beside it, sending dirt and dust flying.
The Sword and Axe Mantis was unable to close its eyes, so its compound eyes clearly registered Zhu Ge’s form.
At the most critical moment, Zhu Ge had shifted most of the force to the empty ground beside the Sword and Axe Mantis.
The remaining fraction of power only managed to inflict minor injuries on the Sword and Axe Mantis.
However, after transferring all that destructive power into the ground, Zhu Ge himself also suffered considerable injuries.
"Pfft..."
Zhu Ge stood up from the dusty ground and couldn’t help but spit out a mouthful of blood.
"This..." The Sword and Axe Mantis saw this and hurried over, its voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you for sparing my life, Great Master!"
Just now, if Zhu Ge hadn’t shifted the force at the cost of being heavily injured himself, the Sword and Axe Mantis would have likely died on the spot.
"You..."
Zhu Ge raised a trembling right hand and pointed weakly at the Sword and Axe Mantis. "If I hadn’t realized your predicament at the last moment," he said with a sigh, "wouldn’t I have killed you?"
"I was arrogant," the Sword and Axe Mantis said, full of remorse.
Indeed, if it hadn’t been so arrogant just now, Zhu Ge wouldn’t have needed to redirect his attack at all.
In a head-on clash, at worst, both sides would have only suffered minor injuries.
"Alright, go help Liu Jianjian and the others first." Zhu Ge shook his head, not blaming the Sword and Axe Mantis. He then sat down cross-legged and began to regulate his breathing.
After all, in a normal spar, a Second Realm practitioner should be no match for someone in the Third Realm.
"Yes." The Sword and Axe Mantis immediately vibrated its wings and flew towards the Six Paths Valley.
Meanwhile, back in the Six Paths Valley, numerous gasps of astonishment had erupted.
"T-Too strong, right?"
"He can kill a Third Realm expert in one blow? This is the Lord of our Six Paths Palace?"
"Heavens, aren’t fights between Third Realm experts usually a back-and-forth where victory is decided by timing, like between the Jianshui City Lord and the Sword and Axe Mantis?"
"But the Great Master just used a single strike!"
"I don’t know if you guys noticed, but the Great Master is only at the Early-Second Realm..."
"Is this a prodigy of the Human Race? Suppressing the Sword and Axe Mantis with his own power, without any external help."
"I heard the Great Master also has an indestructible silver-and-red staff."
The Demon Beasts started discussing amongst themselves. And while the few mortals from the Human Race couldn’t make sense of the details, they pieced together the gist of it from the Demon Beasts’ conversation.
A prodigy!
For a prodigy, killing enemies in a higher realm is the most basic of feats!
It was just that in this remote Barbaric Land, they had never even seen a genius, let alone a prodigy.
In their eyes, the Third Realm was the level of a City Lord.
Yet Zhu Ge had nearly killed a Third Realm expert with a single punch. This left them utterly shocked.
"Jianjian, you go handle the arrangements. I’ll go stand guard for Zhu Ge." Hua Liusha turned into a red mist and whistled away to protect Zhu Ge.
Zhu Ge was heavily injured and didn’t even have time to return to his wooden cabin. He had to start meditating on the spot, so Hua Liusha had to protect him.
"Okay!" Liu Jianjian wasn’t worried. She knew Zhu Ge was tough and resilient.
Right now, the Six Paths Valley wasn’t finished yet, and she was still busy with that matter.
You see, hedgehogs have a tendency to hoard food. They’re also timid and cautious, always wanting to protect themselves.
As Liu Jianjian looked at the construction, she felt like it was her own home.
Of course, one’s own home had to be built better and better, safer and safer.
Therefore, Liu Jianjian was tireless in her efforts.
As for Zhu Ge, he was in a bad state.
If he weren’t a Body Refining Martial Artist with a formidable Martial Arts Heart, the backlash from that attack could have pulverized his internal organs.
Fortunately, his Blood Qi now suffused his entire body, and the trembling and searing heat inside him gradually subsided.
However, this incident turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Zhu Ge, as he discovered a new direction for his improvement.
Control!
Explosive power!
Endurance!
When he had used his full strength just now, he’d instantly realized he was completely unable to properly control such immense power.
This was not a good thing.
Therefore, he should focus his training on these three areas: control, explosive power, and endurance.
If he could perfectly control even one percent of his full strength, and imbue that small fraction with both explosive power and endurance, only then would his combat strength truly increase.
It just so happened that the Six Paths Palace was now established, so for the foreseeable future, Zhu Ge would have no shortage of fights and life-or-death battles.
He had to train through practice. That was the only way to hone the abilities he desired.
Thinking of this, Zhu Ge let out a long breath and opened his eyes.
「By now, it was late at night.」
He got up and walked towards the valley. The rings of red mist around him merged into his body one after another.
"Brother, are you all recovered?" Hua Liusha sounded a little surprised. "I sensed you were heavily injured just now."
"It’s nothing. A Martial Artist’s recovery speed is very fast," Zhu Ge said with a smile. "By the way, have the disciples all been settled in?"
"They’re settled," Hua Liusha replied. "I’ve already gone over some important points with them. We’re just waiting for you to address them and impart the Cultivation Technique tomorrow."
"Good." Zhu Ge nodded slightly.
Previously, he had Hua Liusha use the Fungus God Destruction Array to cast an illusion, trapping all of them in a dream-like state.
This illusion was a test of their character.
Were they ingrates?
Did they have perseverant hearts?
These two points were the most fundamental and the most important.
As for the rest?
Aptitude, morals, etiquette, the reason for seeking a master—none of that was as important.
What he needed was a group of like-minded friends with unwavering determination, who dared to sacrifice and dedicate themselves, to fight alongside him.
"Let’s go back and rest. All that’s left is to wait for tomorrow!"