Refining the True from the False: Becoming a God Starting with Devouring a True Dragon

Chapter 99 A Moment's Difference, Immortal and Demonic [Berserk Blood Ring] Third Level of the Demon Locking Cave!

Chu Yutang had just stepped out of the gate of Wupinzhai.

Then they saw an uninvited guest, dressed in a long robe and with a burly build, walking towards them.

This is Zhang Zi'ang, the eldest disciple of Xiong Ying Lou, who also runs a martial arts school on Xiaoshi Street.

"Junior brother."

Zhang Zi'ang smiled and nodded at Chu Yutang.

"Senior brother."

Chu Yutang politely returned the greeting.

"Is my senior brother here?" Zhang Zi'ang asked politely.

"exist."

Chu Yutang nodded, and then the two brushed past each other.

Zhang Zi'ang carried a delicate little box and strode into the hall, where he met the fifth-rank master of the hermitage, who was shrouded in ethereal mist.

Wupinzhai and Xiongyinglou share the same lineage.

They were all disciples of the Divine Eagle Sect, and had become disciples of Elder Winter Eagle.

However, as he grew older, he returned to his hometown in glory.

He opened a martial arts school, becoming a "sub-sect" of the Divine Eagle Sect, responsible for recruiting talents for the sect and expanding its branches.

This is quite common in large quantities.

However, Yang Xiuchen of the Fifth Rank Hall embarked on the path of Qi Martial Arts.

The Eagle Tower remains the same old design.

The old Wulu Road is solid and authentic.

The two families often cut each other's food, so it's inevitable that there will be some verbal conflicts.

As time went on, the disciples began to get along somewhat.

Things were starting to look wrong.

Yang Xiuchen took the initiative to lead several disciples from the Eagle Tower down to the Demon Lock Cave for training, in order to demonstrate the demeanor of an elder.

Set a good example for your fellow students.

It's just bad luck...

They encountered an accident that they couldn't tell anyone else.

"What are you doing here?"

Yang Xiuchen frowned slightly as she looked at her junior brother's eldest disciple.

The man in front of me was thirty-five years old.

The level of blood transfer achieved three times was neither high nor low, neither good nor bad.

He married his junior brother's only daughter. It was agreed before that once Zhang Ziang broke through to the Skin Refining Realm, his junior brother would step down and let this son-in-law take over the Eagle Tower.

It stands to reason,

Zhang Ziang was able to reach this point before he was forty-five years old.

I'll get the title of "Lord" then, and get to know the deacon in charge of the lower sects of the Divine Eagle Sect.

Even in the martial arts world of Dushui County, he could be considered a "Senior Zhang".

They are influential and respected.

Zhang Ziang was originally like that, doing things step by step, neither doing too much nor too little, and being conscientious and dutiful.

It wasn't until after returning from the Demon-Locking Cave and receiving the great demon's benefits that this continued.

He completely changed.

He is usually very active and often goes to various drinking parties.

The daily cultivation of the disciples in the building was also managed more strictly.

Setting standards and quantities has caused many people to complain bitterly.

This was originally a good thing.

In just two months, the disciples in the building have made significant progress.

It's just that Zhang Ziang seems to be genuinely working for the underground demon race, which Yang Xiuchen can't stand.

Unfortunately, several attempts to persuade him were ineffective.

Zhang Zi'ang slowly said, "A message came from the mountains, instructing us to lure Wang Qi into a pre-prepared trap."

Or it could lead to the fourth level.

"I can't do it."

Yang Xiuchen decisively refused.

"Now that we've left the Demon-Sealing Cave, why should we listen to the demon's instructions?"

"Wouldn't it be better to just let this matter go?"

Zhang Zi'ang laughed and said, "Uncle-Master, you've misunderstood."

"I'm just using those demons, exchanging a small favor for a hefty reward. Isn't that a perfect deal?"

"A trivial matter?" Yang Xiuchen's face showed anger.

"That Wang Qi, at the tender age of sixteen or seventeen, was able to slay a fourth-tier great demon. How terrifying is that?"

"You call betraying someone like that a trivial matter?"

Zhang Ziang shook his head, "Uncle-Master, to achieve great things, one must naturally know when to be patient and when to make choices."

"He can kill a fourth-tier great demon; once I break through to the Skin Refining Realm, I can do the same!"

"absurd!"

Yang Xiuchen interrupted Zhang Ziang's speech directly.

"Such geniuses are the future of our human race. Their future is limitless."

"Never kill him."

Seeing his senior uncle's impatient expression, Zhang Zi'ang sneered, "Senior Uncle, what kind of saint are you pretending to be now?"

"You often say that the Five-Rank Fast is about cultivating one's mind and character, and being upright and honest."

"But how come I remember you wagging your tail and begging for mercy from the great demon in the cave that day, just to save your life?"

"Is cultivating one's mind and body about kneeling before demons?"

"Stop saying that!"

Yang Xiuchen's expression changed drastically. "I won't help with this."

Zhang Ziang sneered, "Why pretend to be virtuous when you're already a prostitute? If you don't agree, tomorrow that great demon will print out thousands of copies of your shameful act and scatter them all over the city."

"When you're out in the game, isn't it all about saving face?"

"But by then, your lifelong reputation will be ruined."

Zhang Ziang pressed on relentlessly.

In his opinion,

Yang Xiuchen was unwilling to work for the demon race, yet she also refused to report him.

He was simply worried that once the incident was exposed, his disgraceful behavior in the Demon Locking Cave would be known to everyone.

Then everyone will know how utterly insignificant the Qi Refining masters of the Fifth Rank Hall are in the face of demons and life and death.

By using this as leverage, we can surely force them to comply.

but,

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiuchen simply closed her eyes and ignored him.

Seeing this, Zhang Zi'ang was puzzled, but continued with a sinister tone, "Senior Uncle, you wouldn't want your prized disciple to die in the Demon Locking Cave, would you?"

"You know, once he's in the Demon-Locking Cave—his life or death is no longer up to him."

This time, Yang Xiuchen indeed opened her eyes again.

He looked at the once well-behaved successor of the Eagle Tower with a complicated expression.

a long time,

Yang Xiuchen sighed.

"Life and death are preordained, wealth and honor are determined by Heaven."

"Hmph, stubborn as a mule!"

Upon seeing this, Zhang Ziang angrily picked up the box and stormed off.

In the hall,

Once again, only Yang Xiuchen, radiating an ethereal aura, remained.

He stared blankly at the white mist swirling around him.

"A single thought can separate two worlds: immortal or demon—"

The Demon-Locking Cave.

Peng Yunfan looked back at the formation of over a hundred people and couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

"In all my years, I've never seen such a grand spectacle at the Lower Demon Locking Cave."

"And they were all young people."

Lu Siqi chimed in, "I think Chu Yutang from the Fifth Rank Martial Arts School, Fu Xingwen from the Giant Tiger Martial Arts School, and Miss Bai from the Bai family—..."

"These are all among the top fifty on that bounty list."

"Seven or eight of them came."

Chai Juntao chimed in from the side, "Don't you even think about how popular Young Master Wang is these days?"

"The streets and alleys, teahouses and taverns are teeming with people."

"Now that he is at the height of his power, when Young Master Wang raises his arm and calls out, it will naturally be a scene of 'all heroes gathering'."

"If it weren't for Lord Tian blocking the way outside the cave, those who would have come to join the fun wouldn't have been kept out."

"We couldn't even defeat the three hundred men locked in the Demon Cave."

Nowadays, Chai Juntao addresses him as "Young Master Wang" very affectionately.

"I wonder who it was that just a few days ago, when they invited Young Master Wang, they looked down on him for being a country bumpkin," Lu Siqi joked.

Chai Juntao didn't blush at all, and said frankly, "Times have changed."

"Young Master Wang is, after all, my savior now."

"Junior sister, I have to say something about you!" Peng Yunfan interjected from the side, "People's perspectives are limited; they are born with prejudices."

"Therefore, people's personalities differ because of their background and experiences. Their choices and perspectives when faced with situations also differ."

While Chai Juntao was nodding, Peng Yunfan suddenly changed the subject, "Take our junior brother Chai for example. His family is a well-connected and wealthy second-generation heir. Since childhood, he has been greeted by either a seventh-rank county magistrate or a wealthy gentry with tens of thousands of taels of silver."

"Of course they look down on people like us who come from ordinary families."

"Hey, hey, hey~" Chai Juntao quickly called out, "Senior Brother, let's stop here."

The group walked along, chatting and laughing.

Perhaps because their presence was so overwhelming, they didn't even encounter a single demon on the first level of the Demon Locking Cave.

The group entered the second floor without any hindrance.

The hundred people selected by Tian Xingye were all at least strong internal warriors.

Their strength goes without saying.

He was young and had no hidden ailments.

He showed no fear as he entered the second floor.

The cave passage is rather narrow, and once inside, it can stretch a group of over a hundred people into a very long distance.

Wang Qi turned to look at the group.

The creatures that accompanied me down into the Demon-Locking Cave were not birds.

They're all seasoned veterans.

Those with higher levels of understanding would proactively gather a group of people, forming a 'small group'. Or perhaps they originally came from the same group—

Although the team is long, each section has a highly skilled player.

of course,

Wang Qi was also fully aware of those who harbored murderous intent towards him.

The ability to sense killing intent is incredibly useful.

The only thing that puzzled him was that these people didn't seem to know each other and were scattered among the various teams.

They each had their own small groups and there was no eye contact between them.

There are seven people in total.

Wang Qi secretly asked Peng Yunfan about the identities of these people.

The levels range from internal strength to three blood-transferring stages.

Moreover, two of them were on the list of twelve people that Peng Yunfan obtained.

This further convinced Wang Qi that,

There must have been something fishy about the 108 people who survived that day.

boom!

Wang Qi suddenly turned around and looked at the end of his field of vision.

Demons emerged, and there were quite a few of them.

"Everyone, you go first. I'll hold them off."

"And let's also take a look at your strengths."

Wang Qi drew his large bow, nocked an arrow, and drew the bowstring.

He shouted to the crowd behind him.

"good!"

Peng Yunfan was the first to shout, taking the initiative to support Wang Qi and liven up the atmosphere.

He then took the lead and charged out.

A hundred men behind him charged forward like a tidal wave.

The opponents were only a few dozen second-tier monsters.

Although most humans are slightly weaker in the same realm, they still have a numerical advantage. In addition, among these young people are young experts such as Chu Yutang, Bai Nuo, and Fu Xingwen.

"I suggest that you all form a battle formation, with warriors in front and qi masters behind."

"It will be easier if we adopt the shield-and-bow stance."

Wang Qi spoke from behind.

Immediately,

Several people then began to line up and act according to Wang Qi's instructions.

But most people still fight their own battles.

The fighting wasn't particularly intense.

Those martial artists at the Blood Transformation Realm used their attacks from above and below, sweeping away all the demons in the area with minimal effort.

Wang Qi rarely took action, only occasionally unleashing a few cunning arrows to save several lives.

He was mostly observing, watching the moves of those who had previously shown murderous intent towards him, who were most likely traitors, and observing their techniques and footwork.

Glug glug—··

After the battle, everyone immediately started cooking.

[The Miniature Meat Jar of Chaos: Drinking it will at least immediately boost your Qi and Blood. There's also a very small chance of receiving other pleasant surprises.]

Wang Qi once again held his jar of meat and began to devour it.

[Blood Ring: The essence of flesh and blood condenses into a ring, stored within the body. It can be actively released to heal injuries and restore some physical strength.]

Not surprisingly,

The reward this time is still the Blood Ring.

After eating and drinking their fill, the group continued their journey.

The construction of the second floor went very smoothly.

With Wang Qina's mastery of the White Arrow's superb archery skills, three waves of demons were defeated in succession.

This hundred-strong demon-slaying team swept through the enemy lines with zero casualties.

This achievement boosted everyone's confidence and fighting spirit.

"We've reached the third floor!"

"These demons don't seem like anything special."

"The heavy casualties we suffered earlier were perhaps because we fought separately."

"Our biggest weakness is our severe internal strife."

"If we had worked together, we probably would have leveled the Hundred Thousand Demon Mountain long ago."

A young martial artist, new to the Demon Locking Cave, spoke, using phrases that sounded familiar to many.

The elderly people didn't argue, they just smiled at each other.

Their eyes seemed to say, "They'll find out how terrifying the Demon Locking Cave is sooner or later."

However, Fu Xingwen, Bai Nuo, and other experts who had reached the Blood Transformation Realm three times all turned their attention to Wang Qi.

Those powerful individuals who could see in all directions and hear from all sides understood this.

The fact that everyone was able to achieve zero casualties is all thanks to this amazing archer.

The second floor leads further and further away.

Everyone's performance began to improve rapidly.

They then engaged in three consecutive battles against dozens of demons, including several third-tier monsters, and won each time with zero casualties.

"This went too smoothly."

Another break.

Peng Yunfan sat down next to Wang Qi and sighed.

"If we walk a little further, we'll really be going down to the third level."

"Should we go?"

He looked at Wang Qi.

Fu Xingwen and his group also came over.

They were all acquaintances, and also the group with the highest combat strength on this trip.

"Do you think we can get down to the third floor with our current setup?"

Wang Qifa asked.

"It's worth a try."

Chu Yutang spoke up, "But before that, I have something to say."

"Among these people, there is one I've seen on the list before."

"That's what I wanted to say too," Bai Nuo began. "Two people from my list are in this team."

The group did not turn around, but instead began to describe the faces of those people.

Upon hearing the description, Wang Qi immediately confirmed it.

All correct!

It was indeed those seven people who had shown murderous intent towards him.

"Then I ask you all to keep a close watch on the people on the list," Wang Qi said. "If there's any sign of trouble, eliminate them immediately!"

"But we must wait until they lash out, otherwise people's hearts will be thrown into chaos."

"Definitely!" Fu Xingwen patted his chest excitedly. "Are we really going to try and conquer the third level?"

"Give it a try."

Wang Qi said, "We also have the numbers and strength."

"If anything goes wrong, I'll cover your retreat."

"But these people haven't made a move yet. I think they're waiting for us to go down to the third level," Chu Yutang said, expressing his concerns.

"And our journey so far has been a little too smooth."

"While our superior numbers are one factor, I still feel like something's not quite right."

Upon hearing this, Wang Qi responded calmly.

"Let's see who's more capable."

Upon hearing this,

Chu Yutang immediately shut up.

He realized that Wang Qi also wanted to kill these people here.

The decision was made by everyone.

Then they began their final meal to replenish their energy.

[The Miniature Meat Jar of Chaos: Drinking it will at least immediately boost your Qi and Blood. There's also a very small chance of receiving other pleasant surprises.]

Wang Qi saw through it once again.

I'll eat another can, hoping to accumulate more 'Blood Rings'.

Suddenly, a strange, crisp sound rang in his ear.

Then,

A faint purple light came into view.

[Ring of Blood: A ring formed from the condensed essence of raging flesh and blood, stored within the body. It can be actively released, causing blood and energy to surge, increasing strength and mobility. It also temporarily removes negative effects.]

(Side effect: You will feel somewhat weak the next day.)

Oh?

This time, an advanced version has been released.

Wang Qi was delighted to see the change in the characters.

This is a good omen.

A moment later,

Wang Qi changed his posture from standing in the middle of the line and walked straight to the front of the line.

He took the lead and headed towards the third floor.

The instant you cross a certain boundary.

A terrifying chill ran up from the soles of my feet.

It was as if there was a layer of icy mist, which kept drifting on the third level.

The icy waves surged and crashed against my body.

Some of the physically weak but strong martial artists immediately trembled all over.

It took me half a day to get used to standing on that line.

After going a little further in.

Wang Qi suddenly noticed that his surroundings had changed.

In the pupil,

A dense, overwhelming killing intent emerged.

It's here...—·