Chapter 43

"Headmaster!"

"Pay your respects to the Headmaster!"

Seeing the middle-aged man in blue who had suddenly appeared, Zhang Luliang and the master of the Eighteen City Martial Hall all stood up, bowing respectfully to him in mid-air.

The many martial artists who had come to take the entrance examination were also shocked and amazed.

To them, the Outer Sect Headmaster was undoubtedly a legendary figure!

At this moment, everyone's gaze towards Luo Xiu on the sparring platform was filled with envy and jealousy.

Because the Headmaster seemed to have a very high opinion of him.

Being at the Second Level of Qi Sea at fourteen might not be much, but if you add the Pure Yang Technique and the Fourth Rank Martial Art at its peak, it was indeed impressive.

"Father."

Lu Mengyao also stood up and bowed to the figure in the air.

"No need for formalities, please stand up," said the Headmaster as he landed from the air, smiling gently.

"I will personally oversee this year's entrance examination," the Headmaster announced, surprising everyone.

In previous years, the entrance examination was always overseen by the Outer Sect Steward, and there had never been a precedent of the Headmaster personally overseeing it.

This news greatly excited the martial artists who had come to take the examination, all of them preparing to give their all to impress the Headmaster.

"Is this the Luo Xiu you mentioned?" Lu Mengyao suddenly heard her father's voice in her ear.

When he spoke, the Headmaster used a secret transmission technique, so no one else could hear.

Lu Mengyao nodded, understanding her father's intention for coming personally.

"I know about his feud with Zhang Luliang. Since he saved your life, I will ensure his safety within the Outer Sect," the Headmaster said.

At this moment, Zhang Luliang, feeling a surge of frustration in his chest, loudly announced, "Luo Xiu, Fourth Rank Martial Art at its peak, 10 points!"

Despite feeling it was unlikely, Zhang Luliang instinctively felt that the Headmaster had come specifically for Luo Xiu.

How could this brat have such good luck to attract the attention of the Outer Sect Headmaster?

On the sparring platform, Luo Xiu smiled slightly, and his smile only made Zhang Luliang grind his teeth even more.

...

The second martial skill examination proceeded much faster than the cultivation test, and it was completed before sunset.

In the end, apart from Luo Xiu who scored a perfect 10, most people scored 6 or 7, with a few getting 8, and only Xu Ping and Wang Can achieving 9.

As for Mo Chuan, who had scored a perfect 10 in the first test, he performed averagely, only reaching the minor accomplishment stage of a Fifth Rank Martial Art.

This was quite normal, clearly indicating that Mo Chuan had spent most of his time improving his cultivation and had not focused much on martial arts.

The remaining two tests would be held the next day. Based on the scores from the first two tests, only the top fifty out of hundreds of participants would qualify for the next two tests, and the rest would be eliminated!

The three spots for entering the Outer Sect would be decided the next day!

Back at their residence in Yunlong County, among the seventeen geniuses from the Eighteen City Martial Hall who lived with Luo Xiu, only Luo Xiu and Nie Xiaodie qualified to continue the next day's tests, while the other twenty-odd people had been eliminated.

Although they were all at the Second Level of Qi Sea, some of them were older, and their scores in the first test were not high. As for martial skills, they required even higher talent and insight, making it extremely difficult to rank in the top fifty.

Many people in the courtyard were dejected.

"Xu Qiusheng has also broken through to the Qi Sea realm, but unfortunately, he missed this entrance examination," the Qingyun Hall Master sighed.

Xu Qiusheng had extremely high talent in martial skills, reaching the peak of the Ninth Level of Body Refinement and mastering his spear technique. However, his cultivation talent was slightly lacking, and he only broke through to the Qi Sea realm at eighteen.

Luo Xiu also felt a bit regretful. Whether one could join the Outer Sect before eighteen was a crucial opportunity to change one's fate. Once missed, it would be very difficult to achieve anything without sufficient resources and lineage.

If Xu Qiusheng could not enter the Outer Sect, he would become a member of the Green Armor Guard, at least securing a position in Qingyun City.

The night was cool, and Luo Xiu sat cross-legged in his room, taking out martial arts manuals from his storage ring.

These manuals were obtained from the treasure vault left by Wu Wang Bu Chen, and Luo Xiu had not had the time to study them.

He picked up the only Seventh Rank martial art first.

"Vajra Body Technique, a Seventh Rank Body Refinement Technique, condensing true qi to temper the body like a war soldier, capable of tempering the body to the level of a lower-grade Earth-Class war soldier!"

Luo Xiu glanced at the technique, surprised to find it was a rare Body Refinement Technique.

Previously, Luo Xiu had only heard of Body Refinement Techniques but had never seen one. However, he knew they were much more valuable than other martial arts of the same rank.

"If I can master the Vajra Body Technique, my body will be comparable to a lower-grade Earth-Class war soldier, giving me a significant advantage in both attack and defense."

Luo Xiu shook his head, "Unfortunately, the minimum requirement for this technique is to be at the Third Level of the Innate Realm."

Putting the technique away, Luo Xiu then looked at other Sixth Rank martial arts.

"Phantom Blossom Fist, a fist technique that leaves afterimages, swift and unpredictable, containing three layers of hidden force, capable of instantly destroying an opponent's meridians and internal organs, both vicious and powerful!"

This was a rather sinister martial art. When used, it looked like a Third Rank martial art, the Phantom Fist, but if someone dared to underestimate it, they would die instantly upon being hit.

However, Luo Xiu also noticed that this martial art had a minimum requirement of being at the Ninth Level of Qi Sea.

Martial arts are ranked from First to Ninth, with First to Third suitable for Body Refinement Practitioners, Fourth to Sixth for Qi Sea Practitioners, and Seventh to Ninth for Innate Practitioners.

The higher the rank of the martial art, the greater its power, and the higher the requirements for the practitioner.

For example, the Seventh Rank Vajra Body Technique, which normally requires only the First Level of the Innate Realm, actually requires the Third Level of the Innate Realm.

Luo Xiu, currently at the Second Level of Qi Sea, could practice Fourth Rank martial arts. To practice more powerful Fifth Rank martial arts, he would need to reach the Third Level of Qi Sea.

Luo Xiu picked up a Fifth Rank martial art, as expected, it required the Third Level of Qi Sea.

"So many high-level martial arts, but I can only look at them, not practice them."

Luo Xiu laughed wryly and reluctantly put away the martial arts manuals.

The next morning, he returned to the Outer Sect's location.

It was still crowded, and even those who had been eliminated came early to watch.

Currently, Luo Xiu, Xu Ping, and Wang Can were tied for first place.

The third test was to assess willpower, a concept that was intangible and closely related to a martial artist's soul and mental state.

It was said that after the Innate Realm, martial artists began to cultivate their soul and mental strength, and the mental state was crucial for breaking through the mental barriers in the future.

This was an extremely spacious area, allowing fifty people to take the test simultaneously. The ground was engraved with countless intricate patterns, forming a vast array, said to have been carved by three Fourth Rank Array Masters from the Array Master Guild, making it extremely valuable.

"Buzz!"

With a brilliant light rising, the array was activated, and the fifty martial artists inside immediately felt a surge of soul and willpower impact.

Luo Xiu did not know much about mental states, but since obtaining the Life and Death Pearl, his experiences had subtly transformed his mental state.

First, he had clearly defined his goal of reaching the peak of martial arts. Second, the trials of life and death had made him calm and unshaken by external influences, with a firm will.

During the willpower impact, various illusions would appear. Luo Xiu felt the scenes constantly changing, placing him in a world of knives and fire.

"Such a realistic illusion." Despite the blades and flames, Luo Xiu remained calm, feeling no pain.

However, a few people around him collapsed, screaming and sweating profusely.

These people had taken the knives and fire as real, feeling themselves being cut to pieces and burned to ashes, causing their mental states to collapse instantly.

Although these people ranked in the top fifty out of hundreds, their talent was still lacking in mental and willpower, lacking the trials of life and death.

In a short moment, the illusion of knives and fire disappeared, replaced by a strong smell of oil. The scene transformed into a large pot of boiling oil, with bodies sizzling inside.

This terrifying scene caused many who had just survived the knives and fire to collapse, fainting on the spot.

One illusion after another appeared, and before they knew it, the fifty participants had experienced nine different illusions!

"Dreamyao, this Luo Xiu is truly remarkable, managing to withstand nine layers of illusions," the Headmaster, stroking his beard, praised.

As the Outer Sect Headmaster and a Ninth Level Soul Cultivation Grandmaster, the Headmaster's standards were extremely high.

His special attention to Luo Xiu was largely due to the fact that he was the savior of his daughter.

The nine layers of illusions were just the first stage of the Fourth Rank array, and many in the Outer Sect could withstand them.

However, among the fifty, Luo Xiu's performance was outstanding. Half had already collapsed, and the remaining were gritting their teeth, trembling, or grimacing, struggling to hold on.

"I wonder if this kid can withstand the willpower impact after the nine layers of illusions," the Headmaster said with a smile.

"Father, you'll see," Lu Mengyao replied with a smile, confident in Luo Xiu.

The Headmaster's brows furrowed, noticing that his daughter seemed to have more than just a friendly relationship with Luo Xiu.

At this moment, Luo Xiu, having passed the nine layers of illusions, found himself in a desert.

"Boom!"

Luo Xiu instantly felt a surge of willpower impact, his head feeling as if struck by a hammer, causing dizziness and disorientation.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!..."

In that instant, everyone else in the array collapsed, including the geniuses Xu Ping and Wang Can, as the willpower impact was too strong, even for many Innate Practitioners.

However, in the arena, only Luo Xiu remained seated, his body trembling slightly but not collapsing.

This scene, even for the high-ranking and discerning Headmaster, was impressive. "This kid is only fourteen, yet his willpower is so strong. At the Second Level of Qi Sea, his mental state is comparable to an Innate Practitioner. If he grows up, he will surely achieve great things."

"Even I, at the Sixth Level of Qi Sea, could not withstand the willpower impact back then," the Headmaster's eyes narrowed. "No wonder Dreamyao is so concerned about him, but to match my daughter, he needs to be even more outstanding."

In the second stage, the willpower impact would continuously intensify, becoming stronger. Only a Ninth Level Soul Cultivation peak practitioner could withstand it all.