Chapter 81

The area around Guan Lei Temple was filled with the aura of blades. The martial artists who came here chose a section to comprehend, not disturbing each other, maintaining a profound silence.

This sudden scream indeed attracted the attention of many, especially the numerous innate martial masters who were comprehending the blade aura in the outer areas.

For innate martial masters, a Spirit Refinement Martial Ancestor was undoubtedly a lofty existence, capable of dominating a city and intimidating a region.

In larger forces, they were also figures of the elder protector level, with esteemed status.

But here, a Spirit Refinement Martial Ancestor was instantly killed, dying on the spot.

The peak where Guan Lei Temple was located was already in the core area. From the foot of the mountain to the halfway point, it was all where Spirit Refinement Martial Ancestors comprehended the blade aura.

Compared to the many innate martial masters who didn't often come here, the Martial Kings and Martial Ancestors on the peak were much calmer, their expressions almost unchanged.

A middle-aged man walked over, collecting the body and belongings of the deceased Martial Ancestor.

This middle-aged man and the deceased Spirit Refinement Martial Ancestor were both strong figures from the Gongsun family of Duhai County.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, another scream echoed, this time coming from behind Luo Xiu, at the edge of this area.

An innate martial master fell backward, blood flowing from his seven orifices, unable to withstand the pressure of the blade aura, and died!

Luo Xiu slashed his sword, breaking several incoming blade auras, and turned his head to see a few somewhat familiar figures.

These few people were originally the martial artists from Yongchang Pavilion who had traveled with him. There were only seven or eight of them, and he didn't see the others.

If there were no accidents, those others had likely been devoured by the Purple-Scaled Golden Mane Beast.

One of them was one of the three leading Great Martial Masters in the hundred-person team, a middle-aged man in blue, whom Luo Xiu remembered was named Zhong Changping.

The belongings of the deceased innate martial master were also collected by someone. Many people were still shaken, but no one dared to make a loud noise, for fear of disturbing the strong figures comprehending the blade aura, which could bring about a fatal disaster.

Guan Lei Temple was marked as a deep purple dangerous area because, during the process of comprehending the blade aura, a slight mistake could lead to death.

To prevent disturbances during the comprehension of the blade aura, various forces had mutual agreements. If someone disturbed others' comprehension, they would be attacked collectively.

Luo Xiu was almost at the foot of the mountain. The blade aura here was so intense that even innate Great Martial Masters found it hard to resist. He could only withstand the blade auras formed by the blade aura with his perfected Fast Sword technique.

Here, cultivation level was not very significant, as the ability to resist the blade aura depended on martial realm, not cultivation level.

Luo Xiu's innate first-level martial master cultivation was evident. His ability to reach near the foot of the mountain also attracted the attention of many others.

"This young man is no more than twenty years old, yet his sword technique is already perfected."

"When I reached the perfected realm of fist techniques, I was already at the ninth level of innate cultivation, and it took me nearly forty years."

"The three major forces, Thunder Martial Gate, Gongsun Family, and Yongchang Pavilion, have never heard of such a genius."

At the foot and halfway up the mountain, many Spirit Refinement Martial Ancestors communicated with each other, looking at each other, curious about Luo Xiu's background.

Unconsciously, nearly half a month had passed. More and more martial artists came to Guan Lei Temple to comprehend the blade aura, including martial artists from Yunlong County in addition to those from Duhai County.

Among these martial artists, there were strong figures from independent cultivators, but most were from Thunder Martial Gate, Gongsun Family, Yongchang Pavilion, and Xianyao Gate.

On the peak of the mountain where Guan Lei Temple was located, each strong figure occupied a section to comprehend the blade aura, enhancing their martial realm.

Luo Xiu continuously swung his sword in the dense blade auras, his body drenched in sweat, the pressure of the blade aura making his breathing difficult.

It was too strong. The blade auras formed by the blade aura were continuous. If it weren't for his Fast Sword technique, he would have been pierced by countless swords and died on the spot.

The blade aura was endless, and its power was constantly increasing, making it increasingly difficult for him to resist.

Could it be that I can only stop here?

Luo Xiu knew that this was his limit. Reaching the perfected realm of sword techniques, he had reached the end.

If he continued forward, he would inevitably be unable to resist the stronger blade aura and would die.

But Luo Xiu did not retreat. He gritted his teeth and persisted, seeking the opportunity for a breakthrough under this intense pressure.

When Luo Xiu was exhausted, countless blade auras surged toward him. If he didn't retreat, he would die.

A profound enlightenment surged in his mind. Facing the blade auras filled with killing intent, a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

His wrist flicked, and his battle sword suddenly moved. One slash formed a circular arc, shattering all the blade auras that reached him.

His sword became even faster, surpassing the perfected realm and reaching a new level.

Fast Sword, perfected!

The sword, at its fastest, was invincible, capable of destroying anything.

The perfected realm could be considered the highest level of sword techniques. If he could take another step, he could enter the sword path and comprehend sword intent.

But Luo Xiu knew that to comprehend sword intent, he lacked the experience of the mind. The perfected realm of sword techniques was already his limit.

One should not be too greedy.

The surrounding blade auras no longer affected him. He could casually swing his sword to shatter the incoming blade auras.

He did not continue forward. Being able to bring his Fast Sword to the perfected realm here was a great harvest, and he was content.

Seeing Luo Xiu retreat, many innate martial masters in the outer area looked at him, and several Spirit Refinement Martial Ancestors at the foot of the mountain also looked puzzled.

No one noticed that his sword technique had reached the perfected realm. Everyone thought he was retreating because he couldn't withstand the pressure of the blade aura.

The reason for their puzzlement was that only under the pressure of the blade aura could one seize the opportunity to comprehend and enhance their realm. This young man had great talent and a promising future. Was he planning to give up like this?

Some Martial Kings on the mountain also had high hopes for Luo Xiu. Seeing him retreat, they shook their heads. Retreating when faced with danger, such a mindset would not lead to great achievements in martial arts.

"Friend, please stop."

Seeing Luo Xiu about to leave the area around Guan Lei Temple, a ninth-level innate Great Martial Master suddenly spoke, stopping Luo Xiu.

"Mr. Zhong, is there something you need?" Luo Xiu looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was Zhong Changping, a Great Martial Master from Yongchang Pavilion.

Zhong Changping bowed and smiled, "I see that your sword technique is at the perfected realm. I wonder which senior you learned from and if you belong to any sect?"

Clearly, Zhong Changping had noticed Luo Xiu's remarkable strength and had the intention to recruit him. If he could recruit a genius for Yongchang Pavilion, he would receive rewards from the higher-ups.

Out of the hundred-person team, fewer than ten people had escaped the pursuit of the Purple-Scaled Golden Mane Beast. This young man, with only innate first-level cultivation, had managed to escape and had a perfected sword technique at such a young age. Even with a great teacher, he must have extraordinary talent.

Luo Xiu naturally saw Zhong Changping's intention to recruit him, but he had no plans to join Yongchang Pavilion. He politely declined, "I have no intention of joining a sect."

Seeing Luo Xiu's straightforward refusal, Zhong Changping's face was slightly awkward, but he could tell from Luo Xiu's words that he was not a disciple of another sect.

"Brother, don't you want to consider it? With your talent, if you join Yongchang Pavilion, you will surely receive significant attention and cultivation. Whether it's elixirs, essence stones, or high-level martial techniques, we have everything."

"Ha, what benefits can your Yongchang Pavilion offer? Can you make such decisions, Zhong Changping?"

At this moment, a laugh echoed, and a young man walked over, looking Luo Xiu up and down. "You have great talent. If you join my Gongsun Family, I can promise you ten innate elixirs, a thousand essence stones, and a sixth-grade martial technique!"

This young man looked to be in his twenties, with seventh-level innate cultivation, and was full of pride.

Clearly, not only Yongchang Pavilion but also the Gongsun Family, one of the three major forces in Duhai County, had the intention to recruit Luo Xiu.

After all, a genius who could perfect his sword technique at the first level of innate cultivation was rare, and Luo Xiu looked to be under twenty. Achieving this at such a young age was truly remarkable.

"I can promise you to become a core disciple of Thunder Martial Gate. Once you reach the third level of innate cultivation, you will have the opportunity to learn a seventh-grade martial technique!" A middle-aged woman walked over from the foot of the mountain, a Spirit Refinement Martial Ancestor.

Upon hearing this, the young man from the Gongsun Family and Zhong Changping looked displeased. The opportunity to learn a seventh-grade martial technique was not something they could decide.

Moreover, Thunder Martial Gate was the largest force in Duhai County, with a much deeper martial tradition than the Gongsun Family and Yongchang Pavilion.

Thunder Martial Gate could easily offer seventh-grade martial techniques to core disciples, while the Gongsun Family and Yongchang Pavilion could not.

The Gongsun Family had seventh-grade martial techniques, but only the direct descendants of the family head could learn them. As for Yongchang Pavilion, they did not have seventh-grade martial techniques, only many sixth-grade ones.

Moreover, this middle-aged woman was a Spirit Refinement Martial Ancestor, and her personal recruitment showed how much Thunder Martial Gate valued Luo Xiu.

In terms of benefits and the status of the recruiters, Thunder Martial Gate had an absolute advantage.

Luo Xiu bowed, "Thank you for your kindness, but I have no intention of joining a sect."

To everyone's surprise, Luo Xiu still refused the middle-aged woman's offer.

The middle-aged woman frowned. It was rare for someone to refuse the temptation of a seventh-grade martial technique. Many Spirit Refinement Martial Ancestors only practiced sixth-grade martial techniques, and only some Martial Kings had the opportunity to learn seventh-grade martial techniques.

Those who could learn seventh-grade martial techniques at the innate level were the top geniuses of major forces.

"Who is your teacher?" the middle-aged woman asked. In her view, to perfect a sword technique at such a young age, besides talent, there must be a great teacher guiding him.

This young man's refusal of a seventh-grade martial technique suggested that his teacher was also a strong figure who could teach him seventh-grade martial techniques.

"My teacher is President Wen Huizhang," Luo Xiu said.

He knew that if he didn't reveal his background, it would raise suspicion and might even draw unwanted attention, like Le Pengcheng.

"President Wen Huizhang?" the middle-aged woman frowned. "The President Wen Huizhang from Yunlong County?"

"Exactly," Luo Xiu nodded. He knew that without a background, he would face trouble, so he had to mention President Wen Qianhong.

Seeing Luo Xiu's confirmation, the middle-aged woman suddenly smiled. "Since you are a disciple of President Wen Qianhong, you must be an internal genius member of the Hunter's Guild."

Upon hearing this, the young man from the Gongsun Family and Zhong Changping also looked surprised.

Even the many Martial Ancestors and Martial Kings comprehending the blade aura at the foot and halfway up the mountain turned their gazes toward him.

The internal members of the Hunter's Guild were divided into genius members and external recruits, which was not a secret.

The minimum requirement for external recruits was the Spirit Refinement Martial Ancestor level, like President Ye Xiangdou in Qingyun City. Although Zhuang Nantian held the position of elder in the Qingyun City branch, he was not an internal member of the Hunter's Guild, but rather an external member.

However, the recruitment of genius members by the Hunter's Guild was extremely strict. This young man, with first-level innate cultivation, would need to be at least sixteen years old to qualify, even for a lower Yellow-grade rating.