Chapter 5

"Ha ha, you’ve got some nerve, actually daring to fight back. I, Lu Feng, will make you understand just how big the gap is between the fifth and fourth levels of Body Tempering!"

This Lu Feng, like Wang Hui, was a mid-level class student who followed Zhang Hai, hoping to rely on the Zhang family as a powerful backer.

There were many people like them, who knew their martial arts aptitude was not outstanding, and the mid-level class was their limit. It was impossible for them to advance to the advanced class. By the time they graduated from the mid-level class with the cultivation of the fifth or sixth level of Body Tempering, they could still enter the Zhang family and receive good treatment.

Therefore, these two were so eager, trying every means to create obstacles for Luo Xiu in front of the library.

The commotion also attracted the attention of some students who intended to enter the library. Many were worried for Luo Xiu, as Lu Feng, a mid-level class student at the fifth level of Body Tempering, was not someone a junior class student could resist.

"Bang!"

The fist and palm collided, producing a dull sound. Lu Feng's body suddenly stiffened, his lips trembling, and his face turning pale.

"Ah!..."

A painful scream came from Lu Feng's mouth, sharp and piercing. He retreated with a pale face, his right arm hanging limply, and the bones in his right hand were completely shattered.

"Lu Feng!" Wang Hui's expression changed, never expecting his fifth-level Body Tempering companion to be injured by Luo Xiu in one move.

Lu Feng howled in pain, the agony of broken bones making his whole body tremble uncontrollably.

Luo Xiu's face was expressionless, "Breaking the rules of the Martial Hall and blocking my entry to the library, you brought this upon yourself!"

As he spoke, Luo Xiu's gaze turned cold as he looked at Wang Hui, "Do you still want to block me?"

Although these two were one level higher in cultivation than him, due to his cultivation of the Life and Death Dual Qi and his ability to directly damage life meridians, Luo Xiu did not take these two mid-level class fifth-level Body Tempering students seriously.

Under Luo Xiu's gaze, Wang Hui involuntarily shivered, finding Luo Xiu so unfamiliar, as if he had become a different person.

But remembering that he had Zhang Hai's backing, Wang Hui immediately calmed down and shouted angrily, "Luo Xiu, you have some nerve! Not only do you want to enter the library without permission, but you also injured the guard. I will cripple your cultivation!"

These words were said with righteous indignation, and his inner qi circulated.

"I've seen shameless people, but never one as shameless as you. Everyone here can testify that it was you who broke the rules first, yet you turn around and blame me?" Luo Xiu sneered.

"Good, Luo Xiu!" Wang Hui's chest tightened, not knowing how to refute. He noticed many Martial Hall students watching from a distance.

"That's right, just because you're in the mid-level class, you think you're so great. Luo Xiu is already at the fourth level of Body Tempering and should be allowed to enter the library to select martial arts according to the rules, but they won't let him in."

"But Luo Xiu is really impressive. A mid-level class fifth-level Body Tempering martial artist couldn't even withstand one of his punches."

The surrounding comments made Wang Hui's face even uglier. He knew he didn't have a just cause, but if he crippled Luo Xiu, the Martial Hall wouldn't do much to him, especially since he had Zhang Hai as a backer.

With this thought, he became more determined and said fiercely, "Luo Xiu, you still dare to argue. Today, I will completely cripple you!"

He flashed forward, rushing at Luo Xiu, and threw a punch, the wind whistling. Lu Feng's injury made Wang Hui cautious, so he immediately used his signature martial technique.

"Second-grade martial technique? How will Luo Xiu resist this?"

"Lu Feng probably lost because he was careless. Wang Hui won't make the same mistake."

"A fifth-level Body Tempering martial artist, with strong tendons and bones, and the power of a second-grade martial technique, if a fourth-level Body Tempering martial artist is hit, they will either die or be crippled!"

"Get out of my way!"

Luo Xiu roared, still using the Bull Fist to clash with the opponent.

To everyone, Luo Xiu's attack seemed much weaker than Wang Hui's.

"Bang!"

The moment the two fists collided, Wang Hui suddenly let out a sharp scream.

"Ah, my hand!"

He staggered back, the sound of bone cracking, the pain piercing his heart, making Wang Hui unable to bear it.

"What's going on?"

Everyone was stunned again. Both Lu Feng and Wang Hui were at the fifth level of Body Tempering, much stronger than the fourth level, yet they both suffered at Luo Xiu's hands in one move.

"Is Luo Xiu's fist made of iron? There must be something wrong."

"The Bull Fist is only a first-grade martial technique. When did it become so powerful?"

Everyone was shocked, and with the Martial Hall students' keen eyes, they couldn't see the hidden reason.

"Now I will enter the library. Do you still want to block me?"

Luo Xiu coldly snorted and stepped forward. Lu Feng and Wang Hui, both covering their right hands, retreated in fear.

"Luo Xiu, don't be too arrogant. Offending Young Master Zhang will not end well for you!" Wang Hui gritted his teeth, his voice stern.

Arrogant? It seems the arrogant ones have always been you.

Luo Xiu looked at the two with disdain, not bothering to waste words, "Get out of my way, or I won't hesitate to cripple your other hand!"

"You... Luo Xiu, don't be ungrateful!"

"Shut up!"

Luo Xiu's face turned cold, and he swiftly kicked at the two blocking his path.

Wang Hui and Lu Feng dared not resist and quickly dodged. By this time, Luo Xiu had already reached the library entrance.

At the library entrance, Luo Xiu saw an old man with white hair and beard sitting cross-legged. The old man had kept his eyes closed throughout the conflict between Luo Xiu, Wang Hui, and Lu Feng, seemingly ignoring it.

Conflicts and fights among Martial Hall students were part of the survival of the fittest, and as long as no one died, the Martial Hall would not intervene.

This old man was a Martial Hall elder responsible for guarding the library. In Luo Xiu's eyes, the life meridians of this elder emitted a strong green light.

"A先天境武师级高手!" Luo Xiu's gaze sharpened. Through the life meridians, he could sense the powerful force within the elder, far surpassing the Qi Sea realm martial artist, Teacher Lu.

"Junior class student Luo Xiu pays respects to the elder." Luo Xiu bowed and said, "My cultivation has reached the fourth level of Body Tempering, and I wish to enter the library to select a second-grade martial art."

The Martial Hall elder slowly opened his eyes, his gaze falling on Luo Xiu, and nodded, "Go ahead."

"Thank you, elder." Luo Xiu responded and then turned to enter the library.

The conflict between Luo Xiu, Lu Feng, and Wang Hui had been seen by the elder, but defeating a fifth-level Body Tempering martial artist with a fourth-level Body Tempering was not uncommon, so he did not pay much attention. For a先天境martial artist, the Body Tempering realm was too low to warrant his concern.

The Martial Hall library contained numerous martial arts. It was said that the highest-grade martial arts reached the fourth grade, and only the most outstanding Martial Hall students had the qualifications to practice them.

Fourth-grade martial arts were of great value. If one wanted to buy them, the highest grade available in the Martial Hall was the third grade. Fourth-grade martial arts could not be measured by the silver coins of the secular world.

For Luo Xiu, fourth-grade martial arts were still far away. In the past, second-grade martial arts were what he had always dreamed of.

The library had three floors. The first floor contained first and second-grade martial arts, the second floor contained third-grade martial arts, and the highest fourth floor contained fourth-grade martial arts.

With Luo Xiu's fourth-level Body Tempering cultivation, he could select one martial art, one internal skill, one martial technique, and one movement technique from the first floor.

On the first floor, Luo Xiu saw some Martial Hall students, all there to select martial arts.

"Wind Splitting Palm, Fierce Tiger Fist, Willow Fluff Movement, Windward Step..."

The martial arts manuals were varied and numerous, making one's eyes dazzle.

All the martial arts manuals were categorized into sections: cultivation methods, martial techniques, and movement techniques.

Luo Xiu first looked at the cultivation methods section, where most were first-grade methods, with only a few second-grade methods.

Low-grade cultivation methods were generally similar. Luo Xiu chose a popular second-grade internal skill, the Muscle and Bone Forging Technique.

This cultivation method was most suitable for martial artists in the tendon and bone tempering stage, allowing cultivation up to the sixth level of Body Tempering.

The meridians and acupoints involved were more malleable and had greater potential for improvement compared to the first-grade basic internal skill Luo Xiu had practiced before.

Next, Luo Xiu went to the martial techniques section. First and second-grade martial techniques were mostly hand, foot, and palm techniques, while weapon techniques were generally third-grade and above.

Martial arts cultivation emphasized gradual progression. Since Luo Xiu had a foundation in the Bull Fist, he chose a second-grade martial technique, the Dragon Tiger Fist.

This fist technique followed a powerful and fierce path, with immense power and explosive force, ranking among the top in second-grade martial techniques. Many Martial Hall students practiced it, but few could reach a high level of mastery.

Martial arts cultivation had two classifications: cultivation and realm.

Cultivation was straightforward, from Body Tempering to Qi Sea, and then to先天realm.

Realm, on the other hand, was a mysterious concept, also known as martial arts intent, requiring high talent to comprehend and master.

For movement techniques, Luo Xiu chose the Inch Step, a technique for rapid movement within a small space. It was easy to practice but difficult to master at a high level.

After selecting three second-grade martial arts, Luo Xiu was relatively satisfied.

"Luo Xiu?"

At this moment, a gentle and light voice suddenly sounded. Luo Xiu looked in the direction of the voice and saw a girl in a blue dress looking at him.

"Miss Liu." Luo Xiu smiled and nodded in greeting.

This girl in the blue dress was Liu Yuxin, whom Luo Xiu had once secretly admired. In the past, he was a junior class student at the second level of Body Tempering, while she was a mid-level class student at the sixth level of Body Tempering.

It was because of her that Luo Xiu had offended Zhang Hao, leading to various conflicts.

In the past, seeing her would have made Luo Xiu feel timid and inferior, but the fusion of the Life and Death Pearl had given him great confidence. His attitude towards Liu Yuxin was now different from before.

Liu Yuxin also looked at Luo Xiu in surprise, "I didn't expect you to already be at the fourth level of Body Tempering. I remember you were still at the second level a few days ago."

"Hehe, just a lucky breakthrough." Luo Xiu smiled.

"But the assessment is in three months. If you can't reach the fifth level of Body Tempering, what are your plans?" Liu Yuxin smiled lightly, "If you don't have a good place to go, you can come to the Liu family. I can arrange for you to be a guard."

"Liu family's guard?"

Luo Xiu's expression was slightly strange. Looking at Liu Yuxin, he suddenly understood her meaning.

It was probably because Zhang Hao had harassed her, and he had stood up for her, leading to his injury. Liu Yuxin thought he wouldn't pass the assessment in three months, so she was trying to find him a way out.

If it were in the past, Luo Xiu might have seriously considered her suggestion, but now, he didn't take the assessment in three months seriously at all.

"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Liu. I will pass the assessment in three months." Luo Xiu smiled.

His expression was filled with a confidence that couldn't be described in words, which made Liu Yuxin slightly surprised.

"You ungrateful thing, do you think you can reach the fifth level of Body Tempering in three months?"

A cold and indifferent voice sounded, and a young man in white walked over, standing beside Liu Yuxin.