Chapter 263: Chapter 262: Sparring! Insect Moon Daoist

Zhu Ge was a little surprised.

He had just discovered that Fallen Scale actually had another effect: it gave him the ability to fly!

Normally, flight was an ability reserved for the Third Realm, and it was said to be related to one’s Divine Sense.

But now, he felt as if he could fly?

And this flight wasn’t about using Divine Sense to lift himself, nor was it like a bird flapping its wings. It was more like a kind of...

"Magnetism and repulsion?"

Zhu Ge was a bit dazed. The next moment, his body wobbled and lifted into the air.

He’d heard of magnetic levitation in his past life but never truly understood the principle behind it.

But right now, he had actually lifted off the ground.

"So this is what it feels like to fly..."

Zhu Ge hovered in the mid-air of his Self Realm, feeling that mysterious repulsive force surge from all over his body, holding him steadily aloft.

It wasn’t Divine Sense, nor was it wings. It was an instinctive reaction from the depths of his bloodline, as if he was always meant to fly.

He tried to move forward. Tilting his body slightly, the repulsive force pushed him into the distance.

He tried to ascend. With a thought, his body rose several feet.

He tried to descend. Relaxing his mind, his body slowly floated back to the ground.

Flying was much easier than he had imagined. It was like a baby learning to walk—once you mastered it, you never forgot.

’Perhaps this is how dragons are. They can fly instinctively?’

’If only I could have flown sooner,’ Zhu Ge thought to himself.

Back outside Mengzi City, he had been toyed with by that Third Realm giant python because he couldn’t fly. If Tongzhen hadn’t intervened, he might not have won so easily.

But it wasn’t too late now.

He was only in the Second Realm. In a crisis, suddenly leaping into the sky and flying could serve as a perfect trump card!

He even had a feeling that this magnetic and repulsive force had great potential.

’What is this, anyway? The Martial Dao? The Confucian Dao? It can’t be the Dao of Science, can it?’

Zhu Ge pondered this internally.

He didn’t rush to leave. Instead, he descended from the sky in his Self Realm and landed by the irrigation channel next to the Spirit Rice Field.

He looked at his reflection in the clear spring water of the channel. His face looked no different than before.

But he knew his body had changed.

Beneath his skin, faint golden patterns flowed, vaguely resembling the shape of dragon scales, appearing and disappearing from sight.

That was Dragon Transformation operating passively, without him needing to activate it intentionally.

Zhu Ge closed his eyes and reviewed the effects of Fallen Scale in his mind.

Accumulation: stores energy that would normally dissipate and releases it at a critical moment.

It was equivalent to having an extra life. Dragon Transformation: dragon scale patterns appear on the skin, enhancing defense, speed, and adaptability in water.

Flight: does not require Divine Sense, is not restricted by one’s Realm, and allows for free movement in the air.

Each of the three effects was a pleasant surprise, and they were all concentrated in a single, passively equipped, unique trait.

’Time to go.’ Zhu Ge gripped his Pass Token, and with a flash, his figure vanished from the Self Realm.

「...」

When Zhu Ge returned to the carriage, True Monarch Minmian was leaning back with his legs crossed, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth as he stared out the window, bored out of his mind.

Seeing him appear, he raised an eyebrow.

"Finished training?"

"Finished." Zhu Ge sat down, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.

"You seem... to have gained something." True Monarch Minmian stared at him for a moment, then pursed his lips. "Damn, brother, you’re something else. What did you comprehend this time?"

"Probably how to be a loach," Zhu Ge chuckled.

True Monarch Minmian paused for a second, then burst out laughing.

Zhu Ge smiled and turned to look out the window.

Liu Jianjian was riding her Mazhu alongside them, still humming that off-key tune.

Zhu Sisi, draped over her shoulder, rolled over and went back to sleep.

It felt less like they were rushing to Shengjing and more like they were on a little outing.

Just then, the sound of something tearing through the air came from the distance.

A figure on a sword flew over the forest at incredible speed, arriving in front of the carriage in the blink of an eye.

The newcomer was a young man in his early twenties, dressed in an azure Daoist robe with a longsword hanging from his waist. His brow carried a hint of arrogance.

His aura was stable, and Spiritual Qi surged around his body. He was, shockingly, a cultivator of the Third Realm Immortal Dao Nascent Soul Realm.

"I am Insect Moon Daoist of the Mu Mansion. Having heard that Mr. Zhu Ge has created the New Confucian Dao, I have come seeking guidance!" The young man landed on the official road and clasped his fist in a salute, but his gaze was fixed directly on the carriage.

Zhu Ge lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out. "The Immortal Dao? How can one from the Immortal Dao seek guidance? Do you wish to cultivate the Confucian Dao as well?"

Insect Moon Daoist smiled faintly and cupped his fist. "Mr. Zhu Ge misunderstands."

"Although I cultivate the Immortal Dao, I greatly admire the New Confucian Dao. However, our paths are different, so I dare not rashly seek instruction."

"I have come today hoping to have a friendly spar. I have also heard of your accomplishments in the Martial Dao."

Zhu Ge nodded. "What’s your rank on the Sheji Chart?"

Insect Moon Daoist smiled. "I am ashamed to say, ninety-sixth."

"Ninety-sixth?" There was no trace of contempt on Zhu Ge’s face. "Alright. Be careful..."

A guest was a guest, especially one who had come to issue a formal challenge. He had no reason to refuse.

He took the Purgatory Star Rod from the Mazhu’s back.

Insect Moon Daoist also drew the longsword from his waist. The blade was long and narrow, glowing with a faint azure light. It was clearly no ordinary weapon. "You be careful as well, Mr. Zhu Ge."

As soon as Insect Moon Daoist finished speaking, his figure flashed, transforming into an azure streak of light that shot toward Zhu Ge.

His Swordsmanship was different from the fierce, powerful styles of the other prodigies he’d faced. It carried a strange aura.

The sound of insects faintly echoed within his Sword Qi, and as the tip of his sword vibrated, it was as if countless tiny flying insects were buzzing.

"What fine Swordsmanship!" Zhu Ge’s eyes narrowed.

He activated his Incense Lighting Body Technique, sidestepping the first strike while simultaneously sweeping the Purgatory Star Rod horizontally at Insect Moon Daoist’s waist.

"CLANG—"

Insect Moon Daoist blocked with a backhand swing of his sword. The clash of sword and rod sent sparks flying.

Zhu Ge felt a peculiar vibration travel up the rod. It wasn’t ordinary force, but a fine, high-frequency tremor that made the webbing between his thumb and forefinger go slightly numb.

"Interesting." Instead of retreating, Zhu Ge advanced. The Purgatory Star Rod spun in his hands, becoming a blur of silver and red that enveloped Insect Moon Daoist.

Insect Moon Daoist’s Body Technique was uncanny, at times as nimble as a flying insect, at others as vicious as a venomous bug.

His Swordsmanship was the same. A seemingly light and airy strike would hide fragmented Sword Qi, like countless ants gnawing away.

Although Zhu Ge’s staff techniques were powerful and direct, he found it difficult to gain the upper hand against such a bizarre style of Swordsmanship.

’Insect Moon Daoist’s Swordsmanship... Could it be a combination of the Gu Dao and the Sword Dao?’ Zhu Ge wondered.

The vibration from the Sword Qi didn’t feel like pure Immortal Dao Spiritual Power; it was mixed with the aura of some kind of living creature.

After several dozen exchanges, Insect Moon Daoist suddenly retracted his sword and retreated. He cupped his fist and said, "Your staff techniques are as exquisite as they say. I have learned much. However, it seems you have yet to use your New Confucian Dao?"

Zhu Ge smiled. "This is just a friendly spar. Why would I need to pull out my ace in the hole?"

Insect Moon Daoist was silent for a moment, then suddenly struck out again.

This time, he was no longer probing but attacking with his full strength.

The azure light on his longsword flared, the buzzing of insects suddenly grew shrill, and the Sword Qi transformed into an azure, insect-like shadow that lunged at Zhu Ge.

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