Chapter 2

The next morning, after a night of cultivation, Luo Xiu slowly opened his eyes, not feeling any fatigue but instead feeling refreshed and invigorated.

Perhaps due to the slow cultivation speed over the past three years, his body was extremely hungry, almost greedily absorbing the essence of heaven and earth. The effects of a night’s cultivation were very evident, and it wouldn’t be long before he could break through to the third level of Body Tempering.

Moreover, after the unexpected fusion with the Life and Death Pearl, Luo Xiu found that his constitution had been influenced by the Life and Death Qi, and during the cultivation process, he would undergo a transformation akin to a rebirth.

Pushing open the door and walking out, Luo Xiu headed to the Martial Hall’s training ground.

Many students of the Martial Hall had already risen early to practice diligently on the training ground. Many of them looked at Luo Xiu with strange expressions when they saw him appear.

"Wasn’t he beaten unconscious by Zhang Hao and his gang yesterday?"

"Hehe, I heard this guy likes Liu Yuxin. Seeing Zhang Hao纠缠 Yuxin, he rushed in to play the hero."

"Just him? A poor boy from a lowly background, he should take a look at himself in the mirror. A toad dreaming of eating swan meat!"

"Liu Yuxin is the daughter of the Liu family. How could she possibly look at such a lowly person? He’s just overestimating himself!"

On the way, Luo Xiu heard many such mocking and derisive comments. It was impossible for him not to feel angry, but after being beaten yesterday, he clearly understood that without strength, he had no right to refute anything.

"Since cultivation techniques can be improved, martial skills, which are also a form of inner energy circulation, might also be enhanced."

In a secluded corner of the training ground, Luo Xiu took a deep breath to calm himself down.

"Bang!"

Suddenly, his figure moved, he assumed a stance, and began a set of boxing techniques. Each move was broad and powerful, his fists swinging and creating strong winds.

This set of boxing techniques, called the Wild Ox Fist, is a first-grade martial skill and the only martial skill he has cultivated.

The Green Cloud City Martial Hall does not teach martial arts for free. To obtain martial arts, there are only two ways: one is to buy them, and the higher the grade of the martial art, the more expensive it is. The lowest-grade first-grade martial art costs one hundred silver taels.

The other way is to reach a certain level of martial cultivation, which allows one to enter the Martial Hall’s library to choose higher-grade martial arts.

Luo Xiu’s first-grade cultivation technique and martial skill were bought with silver. For an ordinary family, buying cultivation techniques and martial skills used up almost all their savings.

Not everyone in the world can practice martial arts; more than half of the people lack the necessary talent. For commoners, practicing martial arts is the only way to rise in status. Therefore, from the day Luo Xiu entered the Martial Hall at the age of ten, he became the hope of his entire family.

While practicing the Wild Ox Fist, the Life Meridian Diagram appeared in Luo Xiu’s mind, and the entire route of inner energy circulation for the boxing technique was clearly visible.

"Indeed, martial skills can also be improved through the Life Meridian Diagram!"

After trying, Luo Xiu was pleasantly surprised to find that his idea was feasible, and he felt excited and elated.

"Hey!"

He took a step forward, his fists whistling through the air, like the horns of a bull, fiercely smashing into the wooden dummy in front of him.

"Bang!"

With a loud crack, the wooden dummy’s chest was shattered, and wood chips flew everywhere.

The wooden dummies on the Martial Hall’s training ground are made of black ironwood. Without the strength of the third level of Body Tempering, it is impossible to damage them.

Luo Xiu, however, was still at the second level of Body Tempering.

"Even though the third level of Body Tempering can damage the wooden dummy, it certainly cannot achieve this effect. At the very least, the fourth level of Body Tempering is required."

Satisfied with the effect he had caused, Luo Xiu’s eyes lit up. This meant that even against a fourth-level Body Tempering martial practitioner, he could still fight.

"After improving the cultivation technique and martial skill, my strength has increased so much!" Luo Xiu became even more confident in his future martial cultivation.

"Get out of the way, all of you blind fools, can’t you see that Young Master Zhang has arrived?"

A domineering and arrogant voice echoed on the training ground. Luo Xiu looked up and saw several young masters swaggering around, with many people suppressing their anger and not daring to resist.

Among these young masters, a well-dressed young man was surrounded by a group of people. Seeing this person, Luo Xiu’s fists clenched involuntarily.

"Hey, isn’t this the lowly commoner surnamed Luo? He actually dares to show up here?"

Suddenly, a loud and arrogant laugh echoed, filled with mockery and disdain.

These words came from the well-dressed young man, and at the same time, many students practicing nearby also looked over.

This well-dressed young man was Zhang Hao, from a wealthy family, and one of the bullies among the Martial Hall students.

Yesterday, Luo Xiu saw him harassing Liu Yuxin, and in a fit of anger, he rushed over to reason with him, only to be beaten up by Zhang Hao and his gang, especially when Zhang Hao stepped on his ribs, breaking them. Luo Xiu still remembered this vividly!

At that time, Zhang Hao threatened that he would beat Luo Xiu every time he saw him, so when he saw Luo Xiu on the training ground, he immediately came over.

"You lowly commoner, how dare you even think about Liu Yuxin? If you’re afraid of being beaten, kneel down and beg for mercy, and maybe Young Master will spare you." Zhang Hao pointed at Luo Xiu’s nose, looking down on him.

Luo Xiu stared at Zhang Hao, saying nothing.

As far as he knew, Zhang Hao was a fourth-level Body Tempering martial practitioner. He wasn’t silent out of fear but was considering whether he could defeat this guy.

If he could... I’ll beat you so badly that even your mother won’t recognize you! Luo Xiu clenched his fists.

"Damn, you’re mute? Young Master Zhang is talking to you, didn’t you hear?" One of Zhang Hao’s followers stepped forward and slapped Luo Xiu’s left cheek.

These young masters were always so arrogant and domineering.

The person who attacked Luo Xiu was called Li Hai, from an average family but skilled at flattering and following Zhang Hao around. He also participated in beating up Luo Xiu yesterday.

"Commoners are just commoners, born with lowly bones. Young Master Zhang gave you a chance to kneel and beg for mercy, and since you don’t cherish this opportunity, we’ll beat you until you do!"

Just as the slap was about to hit Luo Xiu’s face, he suddenly grabbed the hand that was coming at him.

"You lowly commoner, you dare to resist? It seems we didn’t beat you hard enough last time!" Li Hai roared and kicked Luo Xiu in the chest.

Luo Xiu’s body moved, avoiding the kick, and he twisted the hand he was holding, almost twisting Li Hai’s arm into a pretzel.

"Ahh!" Li Hai screamed like a pig being slaughtered, tears streaming down his face.

"Seeing people and biting, spewing filth, calling you a lackey insults dogs!" Luo Xiu sneered and kicked Li Hai away.

Li Hai clutched his dislocated arm and howled in pain, sweat pouring down his forehead.

Seeing this, the surrounding Martial Hall students were shocked, but their gazes soon turned to pity.

Because they knew that when these young masters bullied someone, the more you resisted, the harder they would beat you.

"You little brat, it seems you’ve grown some backbone, daring to hit my people!" Zhang Hao’s face darkened. "I thought a good beating would teach you a lesson, but it seems I was too lenient. This time, you’ll be bedridden for half a month!"

"The one who ends up in bed might not be me." Luo Xiu sneered, speaking calmly.

The crowd was stunned, looking at Luo Xiu as if he were a fool, unable to understand where he got the confidence to say such things.

Both entered the Martial Hall at the age of ten and practiced martial arts for three years, but Zhang Hao, from a wealthy family, was already at the fourth level of Body Tempering, in the stage of tempering tendons and bones. He had also cultivated a second-grade cultivation technique and a third-grade martial skill, spending tens of thousands of silver taels.

"Young Master Zhang, don’t get angry. This lowly commoner who doesn’t know his place doesn’t deserve to dirty your hands. Let me handle him and make him kneel and lick your boots." A sycophantic follower of Zhang Hao said.

Zhang Hao nodded with a smile, "Alright, I’ll leave this lowly commoner to you, Wang Ping. Don’t be like Li Hai and embarrass me."

"Rest assured, Young Master Zhang. I’m a third-level Body Tempering martial practitioner and have just mastered a second-grade martial skill. Taking down a lowly commoner is easy!" Wang Ping said confidently.

These guys calling Luo Xiu a lowly commoner made many Martial Hall students from commoner backgrounds feel a surge of anger, but they could only suppress it and dare not speak out.

"Kid, I can take you down in one move! Kneel!" Wang Ping stepped forward, his palm creating a fierce wind as it aimed for Luo Xiu’s head.

He was very confident, intending to force Luo Xiu to kneel and beg for mercy with one strike.

"Second-grade martial skill, Fierce Wind Palm!"

The crowd recognized the martial skill Wang Ping was using and gasped in surprise.

"A second-grade martial skill costs thousands of silver taels, and the cultivation technique is even more expensive, nearly ten thousand silver taels."

"Heaven, ten thousand silver taels, I’ve never seen so much money in my life."

Many Martial Hall students were amazed and envious. With a second-grade martial skill and third-level Body Tempering cultivation, no commoner of the same age could match Wang Ping.

If it were before, Luo Xiu would certainly not be a match for Wang Ping.

Now, in Luo Xiu’s eyes, Wang Ping’s life meridians were clearly visible, and he knew the route of inner energy circulation in his meridians.

In this profound insight into the essence of life, Luo Xiu felt as if his mind was in a state of calm, unaffected by any external disturbances.

"Bang!"

In an instant, Luo Xiu struck, his fist cutting through the air, whistling like a bull’s horn, and fiercely smashing into Wang Ping’s chest.

"Hehe, I’m at the third level of Body Tempering. Fighting me head-on is asking for trouble! My speed is faster than yours!" Wang Ping sneered, inner energy surging into his palm, intending to force Luo Xiu to kneel before his attack hit.

The Fierce Wind Palm is known for its speed and quickly reached Luo Xiu’s head.

But the next moment, he found that his palm was just a short distance from Luo Xiu’s head but couldn’t move any further.

"Bang!"

A dull sound echoed, and Wang Ping’s chest was hit by a powerful punch, causing him to scream and fly backward.

How is this possible?

The crowd watching nearby was shocked. Luo Xiu’s speed was far beyond what a second-level Body Tempering martial practitioner could achieve.

Zhang Hao’s face also changed slightly. Today’s Luo Xiu seemed different, no longer a lowly commoner he could bully at will.

Luo Xiu stood opposite him, expressionless, his eyes seemingly able to see through the essence of life, making Zhang Hao shiver, feeling that this guy was acting strangely today.

In the past, both Li Hai and Wang Ping could easily defeat him, but today, both had been defeated by him. If defeating Li Hai was due to his overconfidence, Wang Ping had used his full strength.

Suddenly, Luo Xiu’s figure moved, and he took the initiative, using the Wild Ox Fist to charge directly at Zhang Hao.

"Zhang, did you enjoy beating me yesterday? Today, I’ll beat you so badly that even your mother won’t recognize you!"

Seeing Luo Xiu charging at him, Zhang Hao’s followers involuntarily took a step back. Their strength was similar to Li Hai and Wang Ping.

"You lowly commoner, do you think I’m like those two idiots?"

Zhang Hao felt his authority among the Martial Hall students was being challenged and roared, his fingers curling into a claw.

The martial skill he used was called the Iron Eagle Claw, a third-grade martial skill, with a fierce claw wind, far more powerful than Wang Ping’s Fierce Wind Palm.

"Bang!"

Luo Xiu’s fist collided with the Iron Eagle Claw. To everyone, it seemed that a first-grade martial skill like the Wild Ox Fist would be no match for a third-grade martial skill like the Iron Eagle Claw, and Luo Xiu’s hand would surely be broken.

The sound of bones breaking confirmed this for everyone.

"Ahh!"

However, to everyone’s surprise, the one who screamed in pain was not Luo Xiu but Zhang Hao!

Zhang Hao screamed and retreated, his right hand’s five fingers broken, his face full of disbelief.

Everyone was stunned, unable to understand what had just happened.