Chapter 48

Through the aura of life's veins, Luo Xiu felt that this outer sect elder was slightly weaker than Lu Feichen and Zhao Qiyuan, probably at the early stage of the Spirit Refinement realm, but he could not determine the exact level.

The nine levels of a major realm are finely divided: levels one to three are the early stage, levels four to six are the middle stage, and levels seven to nine are the late stage, followed by the peak of the ninth level.

The transitions from level three to four, level six to seven, and level nine to the peak of the ninth level are significant, with a considerable gap in strength.

For the Qi Sea realm, levels one to three are all in the misty true qi state, but the true qi is more robust. Once one reaches level four of the Qi Sea realm, the misty true qi transforms into a liquid state, marking a qualitative leap!

Therefore, level four of the Qi Sea realm is the middle stage, while level three can only be the peak of the early stage.

Martial arts grandmasters in Yunlong County are rare, but in the outer sect of Yunlong County's Free and Easy Sect, they are not uncommon. Any outer sect elder is a martial arts grandmaster at the Spirit Refinement realm.

A peak ninth-level Spirit Refinement realm expert like Sect Leader Lu Feichen is known as a great martial arts grandmaster!

As for the inner sect of the Free and Easy Sect, Luo Xiu had occasionally heard Lu Mengyao mention that all inner sect disciples are at the Innate realm, with guardians at the Spirit Refinement realm. Only those who are martial arts kings can become elders.

The lectures given by the teaching elders are about various martial techniques, cultivation secrets, and various taboos.

As a martial arts grandmaster at the Spirit Refinement realm, the elder has extensive experience and also teaches defensive techniques and escape skills when fighting beasts.

Most outer sect disciples are relatively young, and these basic techniques are very practical. If they can understand them, they can better protect their lives during future trials and tempering.

After the teaching elder finished his lecture and left, Lu Mengyao also prepared to return.

"Four years ago, I reached the Qi Sea realm, but due to the Fire Yang Absolute Pulse, I could not continue to cultivate and improve. Now that the Fire Yang Absolute Pulse is gone, I should work hard to cultivate," Lu Mengyao said with a smile, winking at Luo Xiu playfully, "I'm older than you, so my cultivation can't be lower than yours."

Lu Mengyao had never revealed her cultivation to Luo Xiu, but for Luo Xiu, who could see the aura of life's veins, her cultivation was no secret.

Level five of the Qi Sea realm!

This is Lu Mengyao's cultivation.

She is now twenty-one years old. According to the rules of the Free and Easy Sect, if she cannot break through to the Innate realm before the age of twenty-five, she will never have the chance to enter the inner sect and cultivate more advanced martial arts.

However, her father is the head of the outer sect, so as long as her cultivation reaches a certain level, she can enter the Free and Easy Pavilion and choose any martial arts.

Luo Xiu had also heard some stories about Lu Mengyao's past in the outer sect. It seems that she reached the Qi Sea realm at the age of ten, level seven of the Qi Sea realm at thirteen, and level nine of the Qi Sea realm at eighteen!

Such a cultivation speed is truly that of a prodigy!

However, the appearance of the Fire Yang Absolute Pulse caused her to plummet, her cultivation not only failing to improve but also regressing to level two of the Qi Sea realm.

For some reason, she left Yunlong County and lived in the Green Cloud Martial Hall for four years.

As for the reason behind this, Lu Mengyao never mentioned it, and Luo Xiu never asked.

On the way back, two young men blocked Ye Feng, both around twenty years old, with unfriendly expressions.

"Are you Luo Xiu? The first place in the entrance examination?" The black-clothed young man spoke, although his words were polite, his voice was full of disdain and provocation.

Luo Xiu frowned, "Do you have something to say to me?"

Not far away, there was a white-clothed young man with an air of arrogance, not even looking at Luo Xiu, as if he were above everyone else.

"There's nothing much, just a special notice to you not to get too close to Miss Lu," the black-clothed young man said with a smile.

Hearing these words, Luo Xiu's expression was indifferent, just as he had expected. Because of Mengyao, he would inevitably become a target in the outer sect.

After a period of seclusion, he had just come out, and immediately someone came to confront him.

"My affairs are none of your business," Luo Xiu said expressionlessly.

Like the Martial Hall, the outer sect of the Free and Easy Sect does not prohibit disciples from fighting. The strong bullying the weak is a common occurrence.

If there is a deep-seated grudge, one can apply to the Death Duel Platform, where the outer sect enforcers act as arbiters, and the two can fight to the death. Even if one kills the other, there is no responsibility.

"You're quite arrogant, kid," the black-clothed young man's smile disappeared, his face cold, "Don't think that being first in the entrance examination is a big deal. With just level two of the Qi Sea realm, you're at the bottom of the Free and Easy outer sect."

Luo Xiu's face was cold, and he retorted, "You're just level six of the Qi Sea realm, which is nothing special in the Free and Easy outer sect."

Through the aura of life's veins, Luo Xiu could easily see that the black-clothed young man was at level six of the Qi Sea realm.

For other early-stage Qi Sea realm martial artists, level six of the Qi Sea realm is unattainable, but Luo Xiu did not take it seriously. When he first broke through to the Qi Sea realm, he had already killed a level seven Qi Sea realm expert from the Free and Easy outer sect.

Moreover, his cultivation has now improved to level three of the Qi Sea realm, and his martial techniques and body techniques have also significantly improved, so he naturally would not take a level six Qi Sea realm expert seriously.

"Do you want to die?" The black-clothed young man's face darkened, "A level two Qi Sea realm expert dares to look down on a level six Qi Sea realm expert. Do you believe I can easily cripple you?"

"Jiang Dongqing, there's no need to waste words with this guy. Cripple him first," the white-clothed young man, known as 'Young Master Yun,' suddenly said.

"Rest assured, Young Master Yun, I'll take care of it!" The black-clothed young man responded with a smile, and the white-clothed young man nodded in satisfaction.

"Thunder Burst Fist!"

In a flash, the black-clothed young man, Jiang Dongqing, moved, and a powerful explosive aura erupted from his body.

Jiang Dongqing was using a fifth-grade fist technique, with true qi condensing into lightning arcs, and the air crackled with the sound of explosions, exuding a mighty aura.

"Scram!"

Luo Xiu's hand moved instantly, the special force technique of the Fast Sword Formula making his speed extremely fast.

"Slap!"

A loud slap echoed, and Jiang Dongqing, still in the posture of throwing a punch, was slapped in the face by Luo Xiu and flew backward, spinning.

"Such fast reaction speed, he is indeed the first place in this year's entrance examination, Luo Xiu. He lives up to his reputation!"

Nearby, other outer sect disciples who had stopped to watch were whispering.

The white-clothed young man, known as 'Young Master Yun,' was also stunned, his face dark. He had thought that Luo Xiu, being a new level two Qi Sea realm disciple, would be easily dealt with by Jiang Dongqing, a level six Qi Sea realm expert, but he did not expect this to happen.

After slapping Jiang Dongqing away, Luo Xiu's expression did not change, and he continued walking forward.

"Stop right there!" The white-clothed young man shouted.

However, Luo Xiu ignored him and did not stop.

"Clang!"

A bright sword light appeared, and the white-clothed young man, enraged by Luo Xiu's disregard, attacked with true qi condensed into a sword beam, enveloping Luo Xiu.

"Rising Dragon Stance!"

Luo Xiu sidestepped, leaving a shadow in his original position, and then punched out with both fists, like a flying dragon ascending, with true qi light surging like rolling waves.

The white-clothed young man's eyebrows raised, not expecting Luo Xiu, a level two Qi Sea realm expert, to have such powerful body techniques and martial skills.

He struck a palm with true qi from his left hand, and after the fist and palm collided, the white-clothed young man was forced to take several steps back.

"Damn! Is this kid a prodigy? He actually forced Lin Jingyun to take several steps back?"

"I heard he was still at level two of the Qi Sea realm during the entrance examination, but the true qi fluctuation he just displayed is already at level three. Even at level three, he shouldn't be this strong, right?"

"Lin Jingyun is at level seven of the Qi Sea realm, and his Water Moon Continuous Sword Technique is at the great completion stage, perfectly refined!"

The surrounding crowd whispered, and anyone could see that Luo Xiu was at level three of the Qi Sea realm, while Lin Jingyun was at level seven. Logically, even a dozen level three Qi Sea realm experts combined would not be a match for Lin Jingyun, yet Luo Xiu had forced him back. If not for seeing it with their own eyes, it would be hard to believe.

Hearing the comments from the other outer sect disciples, Lin Jingyun's face was dark. In the Free and Easy outer sect, he was a well-known figure, and being forced back by Luo Xiu undoubtedly made him feel humiliated.

At this moment, Jiang Dongqing, who had been slapped away by Luo Xiu, walked over, his face extremely dark, filled with resentment.

The two had come to teach Luo Xiu a lesson, to prevent him from getting too close to Lu Mengyao, but they ended up losing face.

"What? One is not enough, so you need two to gang up?" Luo Xiu said with a cold smile.

"Kid, I'm going to kill you!" Jiang Dongqing roared and charged at Luo Xiu, his body glowing with true qi, his punch fierce like a dragon and tiger!

His eyes were fixed on Luo Xiu's hands, as he knew from the previous encounter that Luo Xiu's hands moved very fast, so he was prepared.

However, before he could reach Luo Xiu, a powerful impact hit his chest.

"This... I clearly saw he didn't move his hands..."

Jiang Dongqing's body flew out again, his eyes wide open, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and falling backward.

Only then did he notice that Luo Xiu had not moved his hands but had kicked him away.

"There is no invincible martial art in the world, only the fastest. Luo Xiu's strength not only lies in his fast reaction but also in his ability to spot his opponent's weaknesses and strike decisively!"

"This Jiang Dongqing, why did he have to provoke this Luo Xiu? A level six Qi Sea realm expert ending up like this is truly embarrassing."

Hearing the comments, Jiang Dongqing's face turned red, and he fainted on the spot.

"Boom!"

At this moment, Lin Jingyun's aura erupted, cold and fierce, "Luo, I will make you wish you were dead!"

Although the outer sect has rules against killing fellow disciples, if one cripples the other, the punishment is minimal.

Lin Jingyun was confident and truly had malicious intentions.

"You talk too much," Luo Xiu said indifferently.

"Do you dare to challenge me to the Death Duel Platform?"

Lin Jingyun was thoroughly enraged and shouted.

"Do you really want to go to the Death Duel Platform?" Luo Xiu's eyes narrowed.

The Death Duel Platform is where outer sect disciples resolve personal grudges. Once on the platform, unless the opponent lets you go, one side must fall!

Clearly, Lin Jingyun's words indicated his intention to kill Luo Xiu.

For someone who wants to kill him, Luo Xiu naturally had the same intention, as letting such a person go would be a future threat.

He knew that in this world where the strong rule, there could be no mercy.

"Do you dare?" Lin Jingyun's aura was intimidating.

"Why not..." Luo Xiu answered without hesitation.

Since Elder Zhao Qiyuan told him that he must become the top disciple in the outer sect by the age of eighteen to be worthy of Lu Mengyao, Luo Xiu knew that his days of cultivation in the outer sect would inevitably involve battles.

True strength is not achieved through seclusion and hard practice alone but is forged through battles!

This is the inescapable destiny of anyone who wants to become a true strong person...