Chapter 27

Descending from the arena, Luo Xiu felt the complex gazes of awe, admiration, jealousy, and envy. He remained calm and composed.

Without a doubt, after this battle, the grand martial competition would certainly bring him into the sight of the upper echelons of the Martial Hall. Perhaps he would even be exceptionally admitted into the advanced elite class, receiving various martial arts resources.

Some students from the Martial Hall, who usually had no interaction with him, began to flock over to curry favor and form connections.

"Luo Xiu, I didn't expect you to cultivate so quickly. In a couple of days, it will be my sixteenth birthday. Can you come to the celebration?"

Liu Yuxin also approached Luo Xiu, her smile like a spring breeze, her bright eyes sparkling, pure and captivating, stirring the heart.

Upon hearing this, Luo Xiu's brows slightly furrowed. "I still need to cultivate, I'm afraid I won't have the time. I'm sorry."

To be honest, he had once harbored a secret crush on this girl, and it was because of her that so many things happened later. However, this young lady from a noble family was very pragmatic, so Luo Xiu did not want to have any further interactions with her.

Hearing Luo Xiu's refusal, Liu Yuxin was taken aback, feeling somewhat embarrassed. With her beauty, countless people pursued and flattered her. She knew Luo Xiu liked her and thought she could win his favor with her beauty. But at this moment, she suddenly felt a sense of defeat.

Watching Liu Yuxin's embarrassed back as she left, Luo Xiu remained unmoved. He had already clearly understood that in this world, only powerful strength was eternal. If he could one day reach the pinnacle of martial arts, what kind of woman could he not obtain?

"Ungrateful thing, Yuxin personally invited you, that's a favor, a blessing from your ancestors. How dare you refuse?" Xu Fei couldn't help but step forward to stand up for Liu Yuxin.

Luo Xiu's face turned cold, and he looked at Xu Fei with a cold gaze. "You, a useless person who relies on your family's background to show off, had better watch your mouth!"

"Who are you calling useless?" Xu Fei was furious, his face turning red.

"Am I wrong? You've taken countless pills and spent countless silver coins on high-level martial arts, yet you're only at the seventh level of Body Tempering at seventeen. You didn't even dare to participate in the grand martial competition for fear of embarrassing yourself. What else could you be but useless?" Luo Xiu sneered.

Back in the library, this Xu Fei had always acted superior and even threatened Luo Xiu to stay away from Liu Yuxin.

Now, he could easily defeat Xu Fei with one hand. In the Martial Hall, where strength was the only language, he naturally didn't need to take him seriously.

"Luo Xiu, you're asking for death!"

Being called useless in front of so many people, Xu Fei was so angry that the veins on his forehead bulged.

"Want to fight?" Luo Xiu's lips curled into a cold smile. "You're not even qualified to take one of my moves."

"You... you wait, don't think that reaching the ninth level of Body Tempering is something great. Someone will deal with you!"

"I'll wait." Luo Xiu smiled disdainfully.

Xu Fei left in a rage, his teeth almost grinding to pieces. He quickly pushed through the crowd and came to a young man dressed in white, holding a saber.

"Cousin, that Luo Xiu actually dared to humiliate me. You must help me take revenge!" Xu Fei said to the young man.

This young man had a clear and handsome face, exuding a sharp aura. He was already eighteen and named Zhao Qishuang, ranking fourth in the strength rankings!

"Luo Xiu?" Zhao Qishuang raised an eyebrow. He looked down on this cousin, who had average martial talent and only reached the seventh level of Body Tempering through the use of a large amount of resources as the eldest son of the Xu family.

Zhao Qishuang's family was quite ordinary. Although he had good talent, without the support of the Xu family, he might not have achieved his current level. So when Xu Fei asked him to help teach Luo Xiu a lesson, he couldn't refuse.

"If I encounter him, I'll help you teach him a lesson." Zhao Qishuang said with a smile, though he didn't take Luo Xiu seriously despite his impressive display of strength.

"Thank you, Cousin. Be ruthless, and if you can cripple him, that would be best!" Xu Fei said maliciously. "If I become the head of the family in the future, I won't forget your kindness."

"Hehe, of course, of course." Zhao Qishuang laughed, but inwardly he was quite disdainful. Once he broke through to become a Qi Sea martial artist, even if he couldn't become an outer disciple of the Free and Easy Sect, he could join the Blue Armor Guard. A small Xu family would be nothing to him.

However, Zhao Qishuang also knew that to become a Qi Sea martial artist, he still needed the resources provided by the Xu family.

After defeating Lin Jie, the competition continued. The further the grand competition progressed, the more the winners and qualifiers were all from the advanced class, at the ninth level of Body Tempering.

Zhao Qishuang also paid attention to Luo Xiu's matches, thinking to himself, "Luo Xiu's fist technique and body technique are very powerful, but I heard he has only been cultivating sword techniques for two months. He carries a sword but has never drawn it, so his sword technique must not be fully developed yet."

He found out that Luo Xiu had chosen the Thunderbolt Sword Technique, one of the most difficult to master among third-grade sword techniques. Even someone with good talent would take two to three months to just get started, and at least half a year to reach a minor level of mastery.

"Bang!"

Another figure fell from the arena, and Luo Xiu defeated his opponent, advancing to the next round.

"Luo Xiu's displayed strength is firmly in the top five. I wonder how he compares to Zhao Qishuang, who ranks fourth."

"I think Zhao Qishuang is probably stronger. Luo Xiu's Dragon Tiger Fist and Inch Step are only second-grade martial arts, with limited power."

In the crowd below the arena, people were discussing and comparing the strength of various participants.

Besides Luo Xiu, who stood out, the elite students from the advanced class who ranked high on the strength chart also advanced smoothly. Many of their opponents directly forfeited.

For example, Xu Qiusheng, who ranked first, was the most popular. It was said that he had once received guidance from the head of the Martial Hall and had the potential to become a Qi Sea martial artist before the age of nineteen.

Eighteen was a threshold. As long as one became a Qi Sea martial artist before the age of eighteen, they were eligible to take the examination. If they passed, they could become an outer disciple of the Free and Easy Sect.

The Free and Easy Sect was the true dominant force in Yunlong County, so powerful that it could be said to overshadow the sky. The minimum standard for outer disciples was the Qi Sea realm, and they must not exceed the age of eighteen.

It was rumored that to become an inner disciple of the Free and Easy Sect, one must be at the Innate realm and not exceed the age of twenty-five, with strength comparable to the elders of the Wu Hall in Qingyun City!

Above the inner disciples, there were core disciples, even more powerful.

Compared to the Wu Halls in the major cities of Yunlong County, the Free and Easy Sect was the true martial arts holy land. Outer disciples could freely choose to cultivate fourth-grade martial arts, and the top-tier martial arts of the core lineage were even the legendary seventh-grade martial arts!

The highest-level cultivation techniques in Qingyun City were only fourth-grade, and seventh-grade martial arts were indeed like legends to students of the Wu Hall like Luo Xiu.

Becoming a disciple of the Free and Easy Sect was also one of Luo Xiu's goals. At fourteen, he was already at the peak of the ninth level of Body Tempering. It wouldn't be long before he became a Qi Sea martial artist and could take the examination to become an outer disciple of the Free and Easy Sect.

"Bang!"

A figure landed on the arena, and Luo Xiu focused his gaze to see his opponent, the elite ranked fourth on the stone tablet, Zhao Qishuang.

"Luo Xiu, encountering me, you have no chance of advancing to the next round. Your proud fist technique and body technique will have no chance against my Seven Stars Saber Technique."

Zhao Qishuang stood proudly, looking down from a high vantage point, and smiled. "I heard you are cultivating the Thunderbolt Sword Technique. Do you dare to draw your sword and spar?"

His words were full of disdain, but in reality, Zhao Qishuang was wary of Luo Xiu's fully developed fist technique and body technique. However, he was certain that in just two months, Luo Xiu could not have mastered his sword technique to a high level.

So he planned to provoke Luo Xiu into using his sword, making it easier for him to win.

"Do you want me to draw my sword?" Luo Xiu's lips curled into a playful smile.

"Of course, if you feel your sword technique is embarrassing, you can carry it as a decoration." Zhao Qishuang narrowed his eyes and smiled.

With Luo Xiu's intelligence, how could he not see through Zhao Qishuang's intentions? But he didn't bother with such petty cleverness.

"Whether I draw my sword depends on your ability." Luo Xiu smiled.

Zhao Qishuang's smile froze, and his face turned dark. "You're really arrogant. Since that's the case, I'll make sure you don't even have the chance to draw your sword!"

He took a step forward, holding the saber in his left hand and gripping the hilt with his right. His eyes flashed with a sharp light as he suddenly drew the saber, a cold glow radiating from it.

"Drawing Saber Technique!"

This was the most basic saber technique but extremely powerful, emphasizing the buildup of momentum and a fatal strike. The moment the saber was drawn, its power was at its peak.

The saber moved incredibly fast, enhanced by internal energy, the blade glowing with a menacing pressure.

Luo Xiu remained calm, his body slightly shifting to the side. The saber blade narrowly missed his head, not even grazing him.

"Whoa!"

The crowd below the arena gasped in shock. No one expected Luo Xiu to be so confident, daring to dodge such a fierce and swift strike.

"Amazing body technique! Although it's a second-grade body technique, the precision and subtlety of its execution surpass even third-grade body techniques." Someone exclaimed in admiration.

"Hmph, do you think you can dodge like that?" Zhao Qishuang's lips curled into a cold smile. The saber light flashed, forming a line of seven stars, the air crackling with the pressure.

On the arena, the saber light flickered, and Luo Xiu relied on his body technique to dodge repeatedly, unable to counterattack.

"Hmm, this Zhao Qishuang is quite good. His Seven Stars Saber Technique is already at a minor level of mastery." An elder in the pavilion nodded in approval.

"Seven Stars Water-Cutting!"

On the arena, Zhao Qishuang roared, pouring all his internal energy into the saber, pushing the Seven Stars Saber Technique to its limit.

This was his strongest strike. With his saber technique at a minor level of mastery, he was confident Luo Xiu couldn't dodge it.

A saber strike was unforgiving. If Luo Xiu couldn't dodge, he would either die or be severely injured.

But Luo Xiu's expression remained calm. The days of training in the Eight-Branches Mountain had honed his composure through countless life-and-death battles.

"Bang!"

With a simple, subtle movement of his feet, the glowing saber blade narrowly missed his chest.

"This... he actually dodged?" The full force of his strike missing, Zhao Qishuang felt like he had punched the air.

"Rising Dragon Stance!"

At that moment, a loud shout rang out. Zhao Qishuang felt a sharp pain in his chest and was instantly sent flying, nearly falling off the arena.

He flipped and stood up, his face dark with shock and disbelief.

He thought he could easily defeat Luo Xiu, but he didn't expect this guy's body technique to be so powerful, leaving him invincible.

"Amazing body technique!"

"Not just the body technique, Luo Xiu's composure and calmness in the face of danger are truly remarkable, leaving him invincible!"

"Unless someone has mastered a third-grade martial art to a high level, they probably won't be able to defeat Luo Xiu."

The crowd below the arena was filled with admiration, making Zhao Qishuang's face turn almost black with anger.

"I don't believe you can dodge again. You must have been lucky just now..."

Zhao Qishuang roared and once again unleashed the Seven Stars Saber Technique, charging at Luo Xiu with reckless abandon.

Luo Xiu remained expressionless, seeing that Zhao Qishuang's mindset was off balance. In martial combat, mental state was crucial, and an unbalanced mind could easily lead to mistakes.

With a step, Luo Xiu easily dodged three strikes, keenly spotting a slight opening in Zhao Qishuang's defense.

"Bang!"

A powerful Tiger Stance strike hit Zhao Qishuang's shoulder, causing him to stagger and retreat several steps.

Since it was a competition and not a life-or-death battle, Luo Xiu didn't use excessive force.

"Haha, your internal energy is too weak, is that all you've got? Die! Die!"

Zhao Qishuang, acting like a madman, completely abandoned his defense, attacking recklessly.

Luo Xiu was taken aback by his laughter. Clearly, he had held back, and this guy actually thought it was because his internal energy was weak and couldn't hurt him?

There were actually people who were so ungrateful and pushy...

Luo Xiu shook his head, feeling that he was too kind.

In the pavilion, an elder watched the match intently and suddenly said, "Luo Xiu is only fourteen, yet his combat skills are already at a masterful level, like a seasoned warrior. His composure and calmness are remarkable. Such a talented seed, I want to take him as my disciple!"

"Hmph, Elder Li wants to take a disciple, but the person might not be willing. Luo Xiu, without any guidance and from a poor background, has already surpassed the major level of mastery in second-grade martial arts, reaching a divine and perfect realm. Can you do that?"

Zhuang Nantian sneered, "If you can't even do it yourself, what right do you have to be his master?"

"Zhuang, what do you mean by that?" Elder Li's face turned red with anger.

Although he was a先天武师 (Xiantian Martial Artist), it had taken him decades to achieve this. His talent wasn't particularly high, and reaching a divine and perfect realm in a martial art wasn't just a matter of cultivation level but required talent and insight.

"My meaning is clear. We all know what we're worth. Teaching such a genius would be a disservice. In Qingyun City, only the Hall Master can teach him." Zhuang Nantian said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at the Hall Master, who was smiling.

The Hall Master smiled faintly. "Luo Xiu is indeed a promising talent. Our Qingyun City Martial Hall is too small. The Free and Easy Sect is where he should go."

At that moment, there was a commotion near the arena. The match between Luo Xiu and Zhao Qishuang had come to an end.

Luo Xiu no longer held back, seizing the opportunity to land a punch on Zhao Qishuang's chest, sending him flying off the arena, his body tumbling to the ground.