Chapter 7

This winter, after the cold air blew from the boundless ice-covered land to the north, it turned most of the empire white.

The heavy snow fell like blankets, covering the wide training ground in front of the Luo family's gate with thick layers of snow.

On the day of the clan training, the Luo family's servants and slaves cleared the snow from the training ground. Twelve teams of Luo family's young members stood in neat rows, waiting for the elders to inspect them.

The Luo family originally had thirteen branches, but now only twelve teams were present, as the eldest branch had ceased to exist two years ago.

To encourage the Luo family's young members to practice diligently, the clan training day was held annually. For both the Luo family's young members and the human targets, this day was significant.

Based on the performance of the Luo family's young members on the clan training day, their resource allocation for the next year would be decided. Those who performed well would receive more resources, such as body-strengthening pills that could enhance cultivation speed and rejuvenating holy medicines that could quickly heal injuries.

For the human targets, this day could determine their life or death and freedom.

Luo Zheng and the other human targets also entered the training ground in a line. Today, the expressions on the human targets' faces were very serious, as if they were ready to give everything. This day was crucial for them.

In the death match, the human targets had only two choices: win and gain freedom, or lose and face death.

However, for the Luo family's young members, the death match was merely a test. Winning would earn them the family's rewards and support, while losing would only be a bit embarrassing.

Many young members of noble families were quite powerful, both in terms of techniques and strength. However, due to a lack of practical combat experience, they often failed at critical moments, and it was common for them to lose to those weaker than themselves.

The original intention of setting the rules for the death match was to force the human targets into a desperate situation, maximizing their potential, and then have them fight to the death with the Luo family's young members. Only in this way could the Luo family's young members receive genuine combat training.

Soon, a middle-aged man in a green robe walked out onto the high platform. He had a long beard and a face like a jade crown. He was Luo Zheng's third uncle, Luo Junyi.

Seeing this man, Luo Zheng's eyes flashed with a cold light. This man was one of the killers who had murdered his father. Despite his appearance of a gentleman, he had used treacherous means to harm his own brother, making him a hypocrite.

If Luo Zheng had the strength, he would have skinned this man alive, but unfortunately, Luo Junyi was a master at the Viscera Refinement stage, with his five organs and six viscera fully trained, and his strength reaching the level of three cauldrons, capable of tearing tigers and leopards with his bare hands and smashing city walls with his fists!

After Luo Junyi stood on the high platform, he took a deep breath and said softly, "Today, I have some good news to share. Our family's young master, my nephew Luo Peiran, has been exceptionally admitted to the Qingyun Sect as an inner disciple."

Luo Junyi's voice was not loud, but everyone heard him clearly. After reaching the Viscera Refinement stage, one's breath becomes very long.

Upon hearing his words, all the Luo family's young members showed envious expressions.

In fact, it was almost expected that Luo Peiran would be admitted to the Qingyun Sect, but the disciples of the Qingyun Sect were divided into many levels. Many people went through multiple rounds of exams, competing with numerous others, just to secure a position as an outer disciple.

However, Luo Peiran had managed to leap to the inner disciple position, which was beyond everyone's expectations, and it was no wonder they were envious.

Luo Zheng's body also trembled. The Heaven-Earth Creation Pill was so miraculous, directly sending Luo Peiran to the inner disciple position of the Qingyun Sect. He clenched his fists tightly, feeling anxious.

His second and third uncles did not eliminate him because they thought he posed no threat to the Luo family, but they would not let Luo Yan off. Previously, Luo Yan had escaped a disaster by being in the Qingyun Sect, but now that Luo Peiran had become an inner disciple of the Qingyun Sect, he would certainly pose a threat to her. I must go to the Qingyun Sect immediately!

"Pei Ran is the pride of our family. Everyone should take him as a role model. Today is the clan training day, and the Luo family's young members will each choose a human target for a death match. If you win the human target in the death match, the 'Cultivation Pill' allocation for next year will be doubled, the monthly allowance will also be doubled, and you will receive a Purple Orchid Pill..."

This reward was very attractive to many collateral descendants, so when it was announced, many Luo family's young members immediately began to discuss it enthusiastically...

The human targets' expressions became even more solemn. The richer the reward, the more ruthless the Luo family's young members would be, and the fewer chances the human targets would have to survive.

After Luo Junyi finished speaking, he sat down on the chair on the high platform. At this moment, the chief steward Huang Ge jumped onto the high platform, his gaze sweeping over the human targets and locking onto Luo Zheng. A malicious light flashed in his eyes, thinking, "Boy, you won't live through today!"

Huang Ge then said in a shrill voice, "Now, the Luo family's young members will choose their targets. The first to step up is the eldest son of the third branch, Luo Chengyun!"

Luo Chengyun leaped onto the center of the training ground, bowed to his father Luo Junyi, and then turned to choose a human target.

When Luo Chengyun's gaze fell on Luo Zheng, their eyes met. Luo Zheng's lips curled into a smile. A month ago, he had beaten Huang Ge, and he thought Luo Chengyun would immediately seek revenge. However, the past month had been calm, and it seemed that Luo Chengyun had been waiting for this day to choose him as his death match opponent and kill him on the platform.

However, Luo Chengyun did not choose Luo Zheng but instead picked a sturdy man standing behind Luo Zheng.

This was unexpected for Luo Zheng...

The sturdy middle-aged man was a recently purchased death row inmate, so he had not suffered serious internal injuries and was in good condition, reaching the Muscle Refinement stage.

After being chosen, the middle-aged man jumped onto the platform without a word, his eyes filled with a fierce light. As a human target, everyone knew that the death match was a fight to the death, and retreating meant certain death. It was better to fight with all one's might, perhaps finding a way to survive.

In a life-or-death struggle, there were no formalities.

The middle-aged man took the initiative, gathering all his strength and charging at Luo Chengyun. With his solid muscles, he charged like a bull, making the platform of black iron rock tremble with each step.

A faint smile appeared on Luo Chengyun's face. A purple light condensed in his hand, and he formed a bow with his fingers. When the middle-aged man charged close to Luo Chengyun, Luo Chengyun simply sidestepped and delivered a Purple Sandalwood Inch Force from the side.

"Poof!"

The Purple Sandalwood Inch Force was subtle, not showing its power. The middle-aged man stopped, not realizing he had been hit. He turned around, preparing to charge again, unaware that he had already been injured.

However, as he took a step, six muffled explosions sounded from his body, and six bloody holes instantly appeared on the middle-aged man's body.

His eyes widened like a bull's, his face filled with confusion and unwillingness. He made a gurgling sound but could not speak. His eyes gradually lost their light, and he fell to the ground with a thud.

One move, and he was dead...

The Luo family's young members burst into cheers, and many clapped their hands.

Some of the Luo family's young members, seeing this, seemed to understand something and looked indifferent.

As the eldest son of the third branch, Luo Chengyun's cultivation talent was considered excellent in the Luo family. He had been given various elixirs since childhood, and his cultivation progress was faster than that of most other Luo family's young members.

However, his progress could not have been so fast. The only explanation was that he had taken the second and last Heaven-Earth Creation Pill.

Luo Zheng, among the human targets, shook his head and smiled bitterly. His second and third uncles did not treat him as an outsider. The Heaven-Earth Creation Pill, which no one in the Luo family had dared to touch for generations, was divided between them after they came to power...

Well, well, the first time he saw Luo Peiran, he was extremely angry when he heard that he had taken the Heaven-Earth Creation Pill. Now, Luo Zheng felt very calm.

The Heaven-Earth Creation Pill, though miraculous, was only one pill, and once taken, it was gone.

However, Luo Zheng's special constitution could continuously cleanse his body, making the Heaven-Earth Creation Pill dispensable. Luo Zheng did not value it now, but the actions of his second and third uncles had deeply disappointed the Luo family's young members.

At this moment, Huang Ge's voice rang out, "The first death match, Young Master Chengyun, has won!"

Luo Chengyun flexed his wrists and said to Huang Ge on the high platform, "Chief Steward, that was just a warm-up. I want to challenge someone else."

Huang Ge's face lit up, thinking, "Finally, it's here," and said, "Young Master Chengyun, if you want to challenge someone else, you may choose your target."

Luo Chengyun turned his head on the platform, pointing at the human targets. The human targets' faces turned pale when they saw Luo Chengyun's finger. They had already seen his strength, and being chosen by him meant certain death. Luo Chengyun's finger was like the scythe of death, and whoever it pointed to would meet their end.

Finally, Luo Chengyun's gaze settled on Luo Zheng, and he hooked his finger with a smile, saying, "You, come up!"

Everyone followed Luo Chengyun's finger and saw that his target was Luo Zheng!

In the death match, there was no room for retreat; it was either win or die.

In previous years, the Luo family's young members, when choosing targets, would avoid Luo Zheng, either intentionally or unintentionally. Although Luo Zheng was branded a traitor, the family head had not ordered his execution, so the Luo family's young members did not dare to kill him.

However, today, Luo Chengyun had chosen Luo Zheng, and it was clear to everyone that Luo Zheng was likely to die today.

"Finally, it's here!"

Luo Zheng said nothing, walked out of the line of human targets, and climbed onto the platform with a blank expression. He bowed to Luo Chengyun and said, "Young Master Chengyun, please!"

"Big cousin, why be so formal?" Luo Chengyun said with a squint.