Chapter 26

The martial hall's sparring matches were conducted through a lottery system, which also involved a bit of luck.

Some matches where the participants had similar strength featured intense exchanges of sword and spear, with the audience cheering loudly.

In matches where the skill levels were vastly different, the outcome was usually decided in one move. A young man named Hu Gang, holding a sheathed knife, defeated his opponent with a single palm strike, without even drawing his weapon.

Those who had the courage to participate in the sparring matches were at least Seventh Rank Body Tempering martial disciples, with excellent talent and the ability to practice Third Rank martial arts, making them much stronger than ordinary martial hall students.

The area below the sparring platform was filled with noise, as many martial hall students cheered and encouraged their favorite contestants.

The first round of elimination matches progressed quickly, and before long, it was Luo Xiu's turn to step up.

"Sparring Platform No. 3, Contestant 98!"

*Slap!*

A young man suddenly stomped his feet, his body spinning in mid-air before landing lightly on the sparring platform.

The audience cheered, and those with keen eyes could tell that this person had likely practiced Third Rank movement techniques, with excellent lightness skills.

Compared to his opponent's impressive display of movement and lightness, Luo Xiu's entrance was much more understated, as he lightly leaped onto the platform.

"Are you the Luo Xiu who recently advanced to the Intermediate Class and disabled Zhang Hai?" The young man on the opposite side was slender, and when he saw his opponent was Luo Xiu, a hint of wariness appeared in his eyes.

Luo Xiu nodded indifferently, saying nothing.

However, Luo Xiu's calm demeanor was seen as a form of disrespect by his opponent, who snorted coldly and sneered inwardly.

"This Luo Xiu thinks he's invincible just because he defeated Zhang Hai. We're both Seventh Rank Body Tempering, I don't believe I'll lose to you!"

Confident in his movement skills, he immediately charged at Luo Xiu, raising his hand and flicking it, sending a cold glint flying towards Luo Xiu.

That cold glint turned out to be a small flying knife, indicating that this young man specialized in hidden weapons.

Luo Xiu was unperturbed, lightly sidestepping as the flying knife narrowly missed his chest by a hair's breadth!

To the audience, this might not have seemed significant, but to the elders and the martial hall's master watching from the balcony, it was a different story.

"Advanced movement technique, precise to the millimeter?" Zhuang Nantian's face showed surprise.

The "precise to the millimeter" technique is a movement skill that aims to avoid attacks in the most effective way, but it requires a high level of skill, and any mistake could result in being hit by the opponent's attack.

On the sparring platform, as Luo Xiu dodged the flying knife, he suddenly stepped forward, his body moving like the wind, appearing directly in front of the young man.

*Peng!*

With a dull thud, a figure fell from the sparring platform.

"Luo Xiu wins!"

The referee for Sparring Platform No. 3 announced loudly.

"Damn it, this Luo Xiu is just lucky. My flying knife almost hit him!" The young man who was knocked off the platform looked gloomy, his eyes filled with resentment.

"Zhang Hai, who was Eighth Rank Body Tempering, was disabled. You don't have to be ashamed of losing to him," a companion consoled him.

Luo Xiu walked off the sparring platform. His Seventh Rank Body Tempering opponent was too weak, not even giving him the chance to draw his sword.

Although there were over a hundred matches, they progressed quickly, as the participants were all Body Tempering martial disciples, and the matches usually ended within a dozen moves.

The second round began, and the qualifiers drew lots again. Luo Xiu drew "Thirteen" and quickly stepped up again.

Luo Xiu's second opponent was also a Seventh Rank Body Tempering martial disciple.

As soon as the match started, Luo Xiu didn't waste any time, flashing forward and striking his opponent with a palm before the opponent could react, sending him flying off the platform.

Like the first match, Luo Xiu didn't use any martial techniques, relying solely on his advanced movement skills to defeat his opponent in one move.

"This kid is too arrogant, does he really think his movement skills make him invincible?"

"I guess this guy is just good at movement skills. His martial techniques and internal energy cultivation must be lacking. He can handle weaker opponents, but once he faces a strong one, his movement skills won't save him."

Many other martial hall students who noticed Luo Xiu's performance categorized him as someone with good movement skills but average overall strength.

After the second round, only about seventy people advanced to the third round.

The third round of the competition began, and Luo Xiu's match was relatively early. His opponent was a young man wearing a green martial uniform, carrying a black iron spear, and looking arrogant.

"Hehe, this Luo Xiu's luck is really bad, he actually drew Lin Jie!"

Below the sparring platform, near Liu Yuxin, Xu Fei, who always played the role of a protector, said with a gloating tone.

Liu Yuxin frowned, her bright eyes showing a hint of disgust, "At least Luo Xiu dared to participate in the competition and has already won two matches. Even if he loses to Lin Jie, it's not a disgrace."

"He's just lucky, and the two opponents he faced were weak," Xu Fei said with a sour expression, clearly hearing the sarcasm in Liu Yuxin's words, as she was mocking him for not daring to participate in the competition.

But thinking that this woman would eventually be his, he suppressed his anger, inwardly vowing to play with her once she married into the Xu family!

"Lin Jie?"

On the balcony, Zhuang Nantian frowned slightly. He knew that Luo Xiu had reached Eighth Rank Body Tempering two months ago and, due to mastering the Pure Yang Technique, could rival Ninth Rank Body Tempering.

However, Lin Jie was no ordinary opponent, being at the peak of Ninth Rank Body Tempering and ranked fifth on the leaderboard!

As one of the four geniuses in eight hundred years to master the Pure Yang Technique, Zhuang Nantian had high hopes for Luo Xiu and planned to take him as a disciple after the competition. However, if Luo Xiu didn't achieve a good ranking, it would cause others to talk.

"Zhang Elder, don't worry. This Luo Xiu is not as simple as he seems," the martial hall's master smiled, lifting his teacup.

Behind the martial hall's master and the elders, the martial hall's instructors stood, except for one who sat with the elders, the beautiful teacher Lu Mengyao, known for her dual nature of ice and fire.

"I agree with the master. Luo Xiu should win," Lu Mengyao said.

Zhuang Nantian's face showed surprise, then he smiled, his eyes filled with curiosity as he looked at Luo Xiu on the sparring platform, wondering if this young man had secrets he couldn't see.

On the sparring platform, Luo Xiu and Lin Jie faced each other.

"You're not my match. If you don't want to get hurt, get off the platform," Lin Jie stood arrogantly in the center, giving Luo Xiu a disdainful look.

Luo Xiu shook his head speechlessly. Perhaps because of his past as a commoner, he particularly disliked arrogant and self-important people.

Seeing Luo Xiu shake his head, Lin Jie's brows furrowed, and a fierce light flashed in his eyes, "Looks like you won't learn until you see the coffin!"

As he spoke, he stepped forward, his body emitting a faint glow. His internal energy was not at its peak, yet it still produced a glow, something only peak Ninth Rank Body Tempering martial disciples could do.

"For a weakling like you, I don't need to use my spear. Take this, Mountain-Breaking Fist!"

Lin Jie rushed to Luo Xiu, punching towards his chest, the internal energy glow flickering, and the wind from his punch was fierce.

Facing this powerful punch, Luo Xiu remained calm, lightly stepping back half a step. Lin Jie's fist was less than half an inch from his chest.

Lin Jie's expression changed, but the momentum of his punch was just right, perfectly avoiding Luo Xiu.

Was it luck, or did this kid calculate that my punch would run out of force just before reaching him?

Lin Jie, ranked seventh on the leaderboard, was not a fool. He realized that Luo Xiu might not be as simple as he thought.

"Phantom Fist!"

Lin Jie changed his move, his fists flying like rain, creating a flurry of fist shadows, making it hard to see clearly.

Many of these moves were feints, and a moment's inattention could easily lead to defeat.

Luo Xiu's movement skills allowed him to move freely amidst the flurry of fist shadows, calmly and composed, no matter how fierce Lin Jie's attacks were.

"Advanced movement technique, precise to the millimeter. To reach this level with a Second Rank movement technique, not bad, not bad..."

On the balcony, the martial hall's master stroked his beard, nodding with a smile. At fourteen years old, mastering the Pure Yang Technique and understanding the "precise to the millimeter" movement technique, this talent was rare.

"But Lin Jie's specialty is the Moon-Embracing Spear Technique. I wonder how Luo Xiu's Thunderbolt Sword Technique is?"

The martial hall's master's keen eyes had already seen that Luo Xiu was hiding his cultivation, appearing as Eighth Rank Body Tempering but actually having Ninth Rank Body Tempering internal energy.

To most people, Lin Jie's body was glowing, his attacks fierce, completely overwhelming Luo Xiu and taking the upper hand.

Cheers and applause filled the air, but suddenly, a wave of internal energy spread from the sparring platform, and a brilliant light burst forth.

In the arena, Luo Xiu's aura rose, his body glowing with internal energy, clearly reaching Ninth Rank Body Tempering!

"What!?"

"Ninth Rank Body Tempering? How is that possible?"

The audience fell silent, all eyes fixed on the black-clad young man in the arena.

It was well-known that Luo Xiu was still Eighth Rank Body Tempering two months ago. How could he have advanced to Ninth Rank Body Tempering in such a short time?

More shockingly, five months ago, Luo Xiu was only Second Rank Body Tempering!

Five months! Seven ranks!

This absolutely broke the cultivation record of the Qingyun City Martial Hall in eight hundred years!

On the balcony, the four elders, including Zhuang Nantian, stood up in shock, their eyes fixed on the black-clad young man.

Is this Luo Xiu a monster? How could he cultivate so quickly?

Among all, only the martial hall's master and Lu Mengyao remained calm. For ordinary people, this cultivation speed was indeed a miracle, but in the broader context of Yunlong County or even the Xianyao Sect, such speed, while rare, was not unheard of.

*Whizz!*

Suddenly, a sharp sound broke the air. After failing to break through, Lin Jie used his spear technique. The black iron spear moved like the wind, the Moon-Embracing Spear Technique creating arcs as it attacked Luo Xiu.

Just as everyone expected Luo Xiu to draw his sword, he made no move, instead pushing his palm to deflect the spear. His movement skills were like a shadow, and he struck Lin Jie's chest with a powerful punch.

*Peng!*

The force of the punch sent Lin Jie flying, like a broken kite, landing off the platform.

*Whispers...*

Seeing Luo Xiu defeat Lin Jie, known for his spear technique, with just movement and fist techniques, the audience was in an uproar. Almost everyone was stunned, unable to believe that in less than half a year, the once unknown Luo Xiu had become so powerful.

The referee on the sparring platform was also shocked by Luo Xiu's strength, but quickly recovered and announced Luo Xiu's victory.

Undoubtedly, after this competition, Luo Xiu's name would become a legend in the Qingyun City Martial Hall!

Below the sparring platform, loud applause and cheers filled the air. If anyone still thought Luo Xiu was just lucky with good movement skills, his battle with Lin Jie proved that he had real strength.

Especially for those students from humble backgrounds, they were even more excited. If Luo Xiu could rise, why couldn't they?

On the sparring platform, Luo Xiu's tall and proud figure left a deep impression on many, inspiring them to work hard and strive to achieve what Luo Xiu had.