Chapter 39

Luo Xiu swept the treasures from the stone chamber and looked at the massive corpse of the two-headed tiger.

According to the records left by King Wucheng, the two-headed tiger was a fifth-stage demon beast, comparable to a martial arts king, with formidable strength.

Such a high-level demon beast had treasures of immeasurable value. Luo Xiu immediately waved his hand and stored the massive corpse in his storage ring.

"There is still nearly a month before the entrance examination. I might as well cultivate here and improve my strength during this period."

The entrance to this canyon was shrouded in white mist formed by an array, so there was no need to worry about being disturbed. Moreover, the heaven and earth energy here was quite dense, suitable for cultivation.

There were many pills in the storage ring, but Luo Xiu did not dare to use them recklessly because these pills were at least fourth-grade, and the medicinal power contained in any one of them was not something a Qi Sea martial artist could withstand.

"A fifth-stage spirit-gathering array and a mid-grade essence stone, with just these two things, my cultivation can soar."

Turning around and entering the stone chamber, Luo Xiu embedded a mid-grade essence stone into the fifth-stage spirit-gathering device. The heaven and earth energy from all directions rapidly gathered, forming a dense mist around him.

The dense heaven and earth energy provided excellent cultivation effects. In just half a day, Luo Xiu felt his cultivation reached the peak of the first level of the Qi Sea, almost touching the second level.

The transition from the first level to the second level of the Qi Sea was a matter of accumulating true qi. As long as the absorbed essence was sufficient, there was no bottleneck to breakthrough.

Taking out a mid-grade essence stone from the storage ring, Luo Xiu activated his cultivation technique to absorb the pure essence inside.

That night, a powerful aura rose from Luo Xiu's body. As his true qi continuously grew, the space in his dantian also expanded, and the mist-like true qi increased.

When the dantian reached a saturated state, Luo Xiu could no longer absorb more essence, and his cultivation advanced to the second level of the Qi Sea.

"The first diagram of the Law of Life and Death..."

The improvement in cultivation did not make Luo Xiu particularly happy because the Law of Life and Death was too difficult, and he had not even grasped a fraction of it.

According to the Spirit of the Cycle, there were nine diagrams in the Law of Life and Death. Just the first diagram was so profound and complex, and the difficulty of comprehending the subsequent eight diagrams could be imagined.

For the next month, Luo Xiu diligently cultivated in the canyon.

Compared to martial arts cultivation, he focused more on comprehending the Fast Sword Technique and the Law of Life and Death.

...

Qingyun Martial Hall.

"Luo Xiu hasn't returned yet?" The hall master of Qingyun, sitting in the main seat, frowned. "There are only seven days left until the entrance examination. What should we do?"

"Hall Master, according to the information we have, Luo Xiu left the city two months ago to train in the Eight-Headed Mountain. Could he have encountered some danger in the mountains?" Elder Zhuang said with concern.

"It shouldn't be. I don't think Luo Xiu is rash and impulsive. There must be another reason for his delay," the hall master of Qingyun said solemnly. "What I'm most worried about is that Zhang Luliang might have taken action against Luo Xiu."

"Should we send someone to search for him in the Eight-Headed Mountain?" Zhuang Nantian suggested.

The hall master of Qingyun shook his head. "If he's fine, he will return on his own. If something really happened, searching won't help."

"Ha ha, I heard that your genius, Luo Xiu, from Qingyun City, has disappeared?"

At this moment, a loud laugh came from outside the hall, and it was the hall master of Xinshi City, who had recently led people to challenge Qingyun City.

Behind the Xinshi hall master, Nie Xiaodie, dressed in red, followed, her bright eyes looking around as if searching for Luo Xiu's trace.

"Hall Master of Xinshi, what brings you here uninvited?" the hall master of Qingyun said coldly.

"Hehe, the entrance examination is about to start, so I thought I'd come along and join you on the journey to Yunlong County City," the Xinshi hall master said with a smile.

Every year, the entrance examination was held in Yunlong County City, where the top geniuses from all the city martial halls in Yunlong County would gather.

"Hall Master of Qingyun, when Xiaodie lost to Luo Xiu, she returned and trained hard. She has now reached the second level of the Qi Sea and plans to challenge him in the entrance examination. Where is he?" the Xinshi hall master stroked his beard, smiling.

"You, Hall Master of Xinshi, are well-informed. You know the answer already," the hall master of Qingyun said with a dark face.

Qingyun City and Xinshi City were neighbors, and the two martial halls had always been in competition. As the hall masters, they had been rivals for years.

Seeing the hall master of Qingyun's unfriendly expression, the Xinshi hall master decided to back off, saying, "It seems Luo Xiu will miss this year's examination. Since that's the case, I won't disturb you further."

"Not necessary!" The hall master of Qingyun waved his sleeve, feeling very annoyed.

Time passed quietly, and three days soon went by.

The hall masters of various cities brought their geniuses to Yunlong County City. Additionally, other young geniuses from Yunlong County who were not from martial halls also came to participate in the entrance examination of the Xianyao Sect.

"Go!"

When Luo Xiu rode into Qingyun City, the hall master of the martial hall quickly received the news.

"This kid, if he had returned one day later, he would have missed the examination," the hall master of Qingyun sighed in relief and ordered, "Have Luo Xiu come to see me immediately!"

A short while later, Luo Xiu arrived at the martial hall and met the hall master of Qingyun.

Luo Xiu had already prepared his story for the recent events, claiming that he had been ambushed in the Eight-Headed Mountain and was severely injured, which was why he returned so late.

As for killing Zhang Luliang's three disciples and the treasure from the Wuwang treasure vault, he did not mention a word.

After all, Zhang Luliang's three disciples were at the fifth and seventh levels of the Qi Sea. According to common sense, Luo Xiu should not have been able to fight them. If he said he killed them, it would raise suspicions about his special abilities.

Concerning the secret of the Life and Death Pearl, Luo Xiu did not dare to be careless. The Spirit of the Cycle had said that if certain cultivators of the Law of Life and Death learned that he possessed the Life and Death Pearl, they would kill him to obtain the Law of Life and Death.

"It must be that old man, Zhang Luliang!" The hall master of Qingyun looked angry. "The three people you mentioned are likely his disciples. It's quite an achievement that you survived their ambush."

As he spoke, the hall master of Qingyun's gaze fell on Luo Xiu, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Your cultivation has reached the second level of the Qi Sea?"

Luo Xiu nodded. "In a life-and-death situation, I managed to break through by a stroke of luck."

"That makes sense. The disciples of Zhang Luliang are at least at the fifth level of the Qi Sea. Surviving such a deadly ambush and breaking through is reasonable."

As a half-step Spirit Refinement realm expert, the hall master of Qingyun knew very well that martial artists were most likely to break through their limits in life-and-death situations.

Therefore, many martial arts experts would travel and explore dangerous places, hoping to advance their cultivation on the brink of life and death.

"The entrance examination will start in three days. We can still make it if we leave now."

The hall master of Qingyun said slowly, stepping out of the hall and suddenly letting out a long whistle.

"Squawk!"

A sharp cry came from the sky, and Luo Xiu saw a black dot growing larger and quickly descending.

As it approached, he recognized it as a Black Cloud Hawk, a third-stage flying demon beast tamed by the hall master of Qingyun!

The Black Cloud Hawk had a wingspan of over twenty meters, a broad back suitable for riding.

The hall master of Qingyun stepped into the air and landed on the Black Cloud Hawk's back, looking at Luo Xiu and saying, "Get on. With the Black Cloud Hawk's speed, we can reach Yunlong County City in two days."

Luo Xiu responded and leaped onto the hall master's back, feeling excited. He thought to himself that when he became powerful in the future, he would also tame a powerful demon beast as a mount, which would be very impressive.

"Whoosh!"

The Black Cloud Hawk's wings flapped, sending a powerful wave of air sweeping around, stirring up dust and leaves.

The fierce wind howled, and the Black Cloud Hawk's speed was extremely fast, making the nearby clouds retreat rapidly.

Looking down, the earth appeared vast and boundless, and everything seemed so small.

Two days later, a majestic city appeared in the distance. The green city walls were dozens of meters high, stretching like a mountain range, covering a vast area.

This was Yunlong County City, which was five times larger and more magnificent than Qingyun City.

Yunlong County City was the base of the outer sect of the Xianyao Sect, with the outer sect master, a martial arts grandmaster who had reached the Spirit Refinement realm, personally overseeing it.

About ten miles from Yunlong County City, the hall master of Qingyun made the Black Cloud Hawk land, and they walked towards the city on foot.

The city gates were bustling with people. There were hunting teams preparing to go out, and various martial artists and merchants queuing to enter the city.

"Follow me."

The hall master of Qingyun did not queue but led Luo Xiu directly to a side gate at the city entrance.

The guard, a middle-aged man, saw the hall master of Qingyun's token and immediately bowed respectfully, opening the side gate.

As a half-step Spirit Refinement realm expert, the hall master of Qingyun, like the other city martial hall masters, had a certain status and privileges.

This was Luo Xiu's first visit to Yunlong County City, while the hall master of Qingyun was familiar with the place. He directly led Luo Xiu to a mansion in the city.

This mansion was a temporary residence for the geniuses from the martial halls preparing for the entrance examination.

"Hmm? The hall master of Qingyun has arrived. Wasn't Luo Xiu from Qingyun City reported missing?"

The other seventeen city hall masters were surprised upon hearing the news.

"Is that black-clothed boy Luo Xiu? I heard he has cultivated the Pure Yang Technique. Even among the outer sect disciples, there are no more than twenty who have cultivated it."

"The Qingyun Martial Hall has had good luck. This is the fourth person to cultivate the Pure Yang Technique in over eight hundred years, right?"

The seventeen city hall masters discussed among themselves, looking at the hall master of Qingyun and Luo Xiu walking towards them.

"Ha ha, everyone, I'm a bit late, but fortunately, I'm not too late."

The hall master of Qingyun laughed and walked over, greeting the other hall masters.

At the same time, an old servant came over, leading Luo Xiu to the temporary residence for the geniuses from the city martial halls, waiting for the entrance examination to begin.

This was a spacious courtyard, and each genius from the martial halls had their own room. When Luo Xiu arrived, the other geniuses from the city martial halls also looked at him curiously.

"You're Luo Xiu?"

In the courtyard, a young man in brocade clothes crossed his arms and blocked Luo Xiu's path.

"I heard you cultivated the Pure Yang Technique and defeated Xiaodie? What if it's true?" The young man in brocade clothes was very arrogant and stared at Luo Xiu with a hostile expression.

"So what if it's true?" Luo Xiu said indifferently.

On the way, the hall master of Qingyun had told him that the geniuses from the eighteen city martial halls often challenged each other before the entrance examination, advising him to be cautious.

However, Luo Xiu did not expect that he would be challenged immediately upon his arrival.