Chapter 18

In the Azure Cloud City, at the Zhang Family Manor.

"Such a vicious heart, to actually sever all of Hai's meridians, damn it! Damn it!" A middle-aged man, dressed in luxurious brocade, angrily smashed a wooden table to pieces, his eyes filled with a fierce killing intent.

"Father, you must stand up for my brother!" Zhang Hao knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

"You damn brat, if you hadn't been so arrogant and provocative in the Martial Hall, causing trouble everywhere, would your brother have met this disaster?" The middle-aged man kicked Zhang Hao several meters away, his beard and hair flying, like a raging lion.

He was Zhang Shaoyong, the head of the Zhang Family in Azure Cloud City.

Zhang Hai was the most outstanding genius among the younger generation of the Zhang Family. The family had nurtured him with great care, and at the age of fifteen, he had already reached the eighth level of Body Tempering, with a promising future.

And now, the genius who was the family's hope had become a cripple. How could Zhang Shaoyong remain calm?

In the family, his brothers had been eyeing the position of head for years. They might use this incident to challenge his status, threatening his position.

...

According to the rules of the Martial Hall, those who reach the fifth level of Body Tempering can go to the Library to select three second-rank martial arts, corresponding to internal techniques, movement techniques, and combat techniques.

Those who reach the seventh level of Body Tempering can enter the Library to select one third-rank martial art. Those at the eighth and ninth levels of Body Tempering can each select one more.

The Muscle and Bone Strengthening Technique, which Luo Xiu had chosen from the Library last time, is a second-rank internal technique, but it is most suitable for the fourth to sixth levels of Body Tempering, which focus on tendon and bone refinement.

Now that his cultivation has reached the seventh level of Body Tempering, continuing to practice this internal technique would yield much less effect.

Therefore, after the duel with Zhang Hai, Luo Xiu went directly to the Library.

This time, he encountered no obstruction or harassment.

"Hmm? In just two months, you've already reached the seventh level of Body Tempering?" The elder in a blue robe, who guarded the Library, looked surprised.

Even some excellent martial arts geniuses find it difficult to achieve this in a year or half a year.

"Yes, Elder, I just passed the assessment," Luo Xiu said, releasing his aura.

"Hmm, indeed the seventh level of Body Tempering. You can go to the second floor to select three martial arts, but you can only choose one. Internal techniques, movement techniques, or combat techniques, you choose which one," the elder confirmed his cultivation and nodded.

Luo Xiu thanked him and stepped into the Library.

"I didn't expect our Azure Cloud City Martial Hall to produce such a fine genius. I wonder how far he can go," the elder mused, looking at Luo Xiu's back.

The Library has three floors. The first floor has the most martial arts manuals, mostly first-rank and a few second-rank.

The second floor contains third-rank martial arts, and the third floor contains fourth-rank martial arts, but the third floor is never open to the public, being a restricted area of the Library.

When Luo Xiu ascended to the second floor of the Library, he was surprised to find that there were only three rows of bookshelves, with only a few dozen martial arts manuals in total.

In comparison, the first floor contains hundreds of first-rank and second-rank martial arts combined!

"It seems that third-rank martial arts are much more precious," Luo Xiu thought.

"Mountain-Cleaving Palm, Clear Wind Sword Technique, Swift Wind Sword Technique, Willow Moon Saber Technique, Heaven and Earth Staff Technique..."

The three rows of bookshelves correspond to internal techniques, combat techniques, and movement techniques.

Luo Xiu, who carried a green saber on his back, had always aspired to become a martial artist, wielding a sword and wandering the world freely since he was young.

At the age of ten, he entered the Martial Hall to practice martial arts, always dreaming of becoming a swordsman one day.

However, sword techniques are at least third-rank martial arts. Unless one spends tens of thousands of silver taels to purchase them, one must reach the seventh level of Body Tempering to qualify for practice.

If it were before, Luo Xiu would never have dared to dream of breaking through to the fifth level of Body Tempering, which would be his limit.

But the appearance of the Life and Death Pearl changed everything.

"Wild Wind Sword Technique, with broad and sweeping movements, overwhelming the opponent with fierce attacks."

"Dragon Soaring Sword Technique, combining movement techniques to win by skill, focusing on the techniques."

"..."

On the bookshelf for combat techniques, there were only a few sword techniques, but Luo Xiu was still captivated, even though his improved Dragon Tiger Fist, at its peak, was far more powerful than ordinary third-rank martial arts. Deep down, he still yearned to become a swordsman.

Not just a swordsman, but a master of the sword, reaching the pinnacle of martial arts!

"Should I choose a sword technique or an internal technique?"

After a long time, Luo Xiu frowned. Rationally, he knew that what he needed most was not a sword technique but an internal technique.

Because internal techniques are the fundamental foundation. With a good internal technique, once he reaches the eighth level of Body Tempering, he will have another chance to select martial arts from the Library. At that time, he can choose a sword technique as well.

In the end, Luo Xiu had to painfully put back the few sword techniques he had in his hands, feeling reluctant.

As for movement techniques, for Luo Xiu at this stage, many top-tier third-rank movement techniques were not as good as his improved Great Step.

With his decision made, Luo Xiu walked to the row of internal techniques.

Even among third-rank martial arts, there are differences in quality: ordinary, medium, high, and top-tier.

Among the same rank, the higher the quality, the more difficult the cultivation. For example, the Dragon Tiger Fist and Great Step that Luo Xiu had previously practiced were top-tier among second-rank martial arts and movement techniques. Many students of the Martial Hall tried to practice them, but only a few could truly master them.

As for those who could cultivate them to their peak, besides himself, Luo Xiu had never heard of anyone else achieving it.

Therefore, while top-tier martial arts are good, if one's talent and insight are average, it is better to practice ordinary martial arts.

After screening, Luo Xiu chose one out of the dozen or so third-rank internal techniques, called the Pure Yang Technique.

The Pure Yang Technique is a top-tier third-rank internal technique. Even his improved Muscle and Bone Strengthening Technique is far inferior to it.

However, on the first page of the Pure Yang Technique, it is introduced that this internal technique is very difficult to cultivate, involving complex meridians and acupoints. In the eight hundred years since the founding of the Azure Cloud City Martial Hall, only three people have successfully cultivated this internal technique.

But once cultivated, it is said that the cultivation effect of the Pure Yang Technique can match that of ordinary fourth-rank internal techniques.

The advantage of the Pure Yang Technique lies in its faster and more refined and substantial cultivation of internal energy.

"After fusing with the Life and Death Pearl, my constitution has changed. As the assessment elder said, my seventh level of Body Tempering can match the ninth level in terms of internal energy. If I can cultivate this Pure Yang Technique, I will be invincible in terms of internal energy in the Body Tempering realm!"

So, upon seeing the Pure Yang Technique, Luo Xiu decided without hesitation to cultivate this internal technique.

A moment later, Luo Xiu descended from the second floor and came to the entrance of the Library.

"Pure Yang Technique? Are you sure you want to cultivate this internal technique?" The elder in the blue robe frowned.

"Yes," Luo Xiu nodded.

"Boy, I see that you have good talent, but you must be clear that this internal technique is extremely difficult to cultivate. In the history of the Martial Hall, only three people have succeeded. If you fail, you will waste this opportunity to select a third-rank martial art."

The elder shook his head, "If you listen to my advice, go back and choose another internal technique. With your talent, breaking through to the eighth level of Body Tempering in a year or half a year should not be a problem."

"Thank you for your advice, Elder, but I still plan to cultivate this internal technique. If I'm going to practice, I'll practice the best."

"Hmm?" The elder looked at him in surprise, especially when he saw the determined and confident look in Luo Xiu's eyes. He suddenly smiled, "Since you are determined, it's not wrong to give it a try."

Although he said this, the elder did not believe that Luo Xiu could succeed, as the three people who had cultivated the Pure Yang Technique in the past eight hundred years were top geniuses.

With the Pure Yang Technique in hand, Luo Xiu returned to his residence.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he closed his eyes and naturally visualized the map of his life meridians in his mind.

This way, he could clearly grasp every subtle meridian and acupoint in his body, as clear as day.

"Pure Yang Technique!"

According to the meridian circulation route recorded in the manual, Luo Xiu began to cultivate.

In less than half an incense stick's time, he opened his eyes, a smile on his lips.

"Only three people in eight hundred years have succeeded? It's nothing more than this!"

He laughed heartily, full of confidence. For a technique that others found difficult to master, he had succeeded in a short moment.

Of course, this was all thanks to his ability to visualize the map of his life meridians, clearly grasping every subtle change in his body.

According to the description in the Pure Yang Technique, it would take at least half a year to cultivate this technique, and the fastest would be over a month.

Luo Xiu did not consider himself a legendary cultivation genius; everything was thanks to the magical Life and Death Pearl that had fused with his soul.

In the past three months, he could clearly feel the Life and Death Qi continuously improving his constitution, undergoing a profound transformation and elevation.

During cultivation, his subtle connection with the Life and Death Pearl would become increasingly strong.

After half a day, Luo Xiu completed the initial cultivation of the Pure Yang Technique, and his internal energy became more refined and substantial than before.

If before, his internal energy could match that of an ordinary ninth level of Body Tempering, now it could match a mid-ninth level!

And his own cultivation had just reached the seventh level of Body Tempering, with even greater potential to be tapped.

"The peak Dragon Tiger Fist and Great Step can match those who cultivate top-tier third-rank martial arts. With the means of the life meridian map, I can challenge anyone below the Qi Sea realm!"

Opening the bag beside him, it contained a first-rank spirit-gathering array, a bottle of Qi Nourishing Pills, and eighteen pieces of low-grade Qi Stones.

The last time he cultivated and broke through to the seventh level of Body Tempering, he used two Qi Nourishing Pills, leaving three.

Luo Xiu estimated that with the special ability to absorb life essence, these items should be enough to help him cultivate to the eighth level of Body Tempering.

...

Since the day of the assessment, when he shocked the entire scene with his seventh level of Body Tempering, and then crippled Zhang Hai on the dueling platform, Luo Xiu could feel that the junior and intermediate class students of the Martial Hall no longer looked at him with the same ridicule and disdain as before. Instead, they now looked at him with respect and fear.

Luo Xiu knew very well that this was the world of martial arts cultivators, where only strong power could command respect, and when one is weak, others would bully them at will.

Tying the green saber to his back with a black cloth, Luo Xiu prepared his gear, planning to go to the deep mountains and marshes outside Azure Cloud City for training.

The Water Dock Mountain occasionally has first-rank beasts, but most are wild animals, so it is generally where weaker hunters go.

Now, with his greatly improved strength, the Water Dock Mountain could no longer satisfy his needs.