The next morning, after a night of cultivation, Luo Xiu slowly opened his eyes, feeling not the slightest bit tired but rather invigorated.
Perhaps his cultivation speed had been too slow over the past three years, leaving his body famished and greedily absorbing the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi. The effects of a night's cultivation were evident, and it wouldn't be long before he broke through to the third level of Body Refining.
Moreover, after the unexpected fusion with the Life and Death Pearl, Luo Xiu discovered that his physique had been influenced by the Life and Death Extremes Qi, undergoing a transformative change during cultivation.
Pushing open the door, Luo Xiu headed to the Martial Practice Field of the Martial Hall.
Many Martial Hall students were already up early, diligently practicing on the field. When they saw Luo Xiu appear, their expressions turned somewhat peculiar.
"Wasn't he knocked out cold by Zhang Hao and his gang yesterday?"
"Heh, I heard this kid has a thing for Liu Yuxin and tried to play the hero when he saw Zhang Hao pestering her."
"Him? Just a poor kid from a commoner background. He should take a good look at himself. A toad lusting after a swan!"
"Liu Yuxin is the daughter of the Liu Clan. How could she ever fancy such a commoner? He doesn't know his place!"
Along the way, Luo Xiu heard many such mocking and sarcastic remarks. It was impossible not to feel anger, but after being beaten yesterday, he understood that without strength, he had no right to retort.
"If cultivation methods can be improved, martial techniques are also a form of inner qi operation. I wonder if they can be enhanced as well."
***
In a secluded corner of the Martial Practice Field, Luo Xiu took a deep breath to calm his emotions.
"Pa!"
Suddenly, his figure moved, assuming a stance and executing a set of punches, each move powerful and sweeping, his fists creating gusts of wind.
This martial technique, called the Wild Ox Fist, was a Grade-One technique and the only one he practiced.
Since the Qingyun City Martial Hall didn't teach martial arts for free, there were only two ways to obtain martial arts inheritance: one was to buy it, with higher grades costing more, and even the lowest Grade-One martial arts cost a hundred taels of silver.
The other way was to reach a certain level of martial cultivation, allowing entry into the Library Pavilion of the Martial Hall to select higher-level martial arts.
The Grade-One cultivation method and martial technique Luo Xiu practiced were bought with silver, which for an ordinary commoner's family meant spending nearly all their savings.
Not everyone in this world could practice martial arts; more than half lacked the talent for it. For commoners, practicing martial arts was the only way to rise above their station, so from the day Luo Xiu entered the Martial Hall at ten, he became the hope of his entire family.
While practicing the Wild Ox Fist, the Vital Meridians Diagram appeared in Luo Xiu's mind, revealing the entire inner qi operation route of the technique.
"Indeed, martial techniques can also be improved through the deduction of the Vital Meridians Diagram!"
After some attempts, Luo Xiu was pleasantly surprised to find his idea feasible, his mood elated.
"Ha!"
He stepped forward, his fists whistling through the air, resembling the horns of an ox as they fiercely struck the wooden dummy before him.
"Boom!"
With a loud bang, the chest of the wooden dummy exploded under his punch, wood chips flying everywhere.
The wooden dummies in the Martial Practice Field were made of Black Ironwood, and without a strength above the third level of Body Refining, it was impossible to damage them.
Yet Luo Xiu's cultivation was still at the second level of Body Refining.
"Even though the third level of Body Refining can damage the wooden dummy, it definitely can't achieve this effect. At least the fourth level is needed."
Satisfied with the result, Luo Xiu's eyes shone brightly. Didn't this mean he could even fight a Martial Apprentice at the fourth level of Body Refining?
"With the improvement of cultivation methods and martial techniques, my strength has increased so much!" Luo Xiu was filled with confidence for his future martial cultivation.
"Get out of the way, are you all blind? Didn't you see Young Master Zhang coming?"
An arrogant voice echoed across the Martial Practice Field. Luo Xiu looked up to see a group of spoiled brats swaggering around, with many people swallowing their anger, not daring to resist.
Among these spoiled brats was a young man in embroidered finery, surrounded by others. Seeing him, Luo Xiu squinted his eyes.
"Hey, isn't this the lowly trash surnamed Luo? How dare he show up here? Didn't he get beaten enough yesterday?"
Suddenly, a loud, arrogant laugh came, full of mockery and disdain.
The words came from the mouth of the young man in embroidered finery. Meanwhile, some Martial Hall students practicing nearby also looked over.
This young man in embroidered finery was Zhang Hao, who had beaten him yesterday and had vowed to beat Luo Xiu every time he saw him. So when he saw Luo Xiu on the Martial Practice Field, his face twisted with malice as he charged over.
"How many times do I have to break them? If you're smart, kneel down now, crawl around here like a stray dog three times, and then come back and lick my shoes clean, and I'll let you go today." Zhang Hao pointed at Luo Xiu's nose, his smile growing sinister.
Luo Xiu stared at Zhang Hao, saying nothing.
He had grown accustomed to mediocrity, to enduring the humiliation from these arrogant young masters, but the deep-seated resentment and anger within him surged uncontrollably, causing his whole body to tremble.
"Damn it, kid, are you mute? Young Master Zhang is talking to you, didn't you hear?" One of Zhang Hao's followers stepped forward, aiming a slap at Luo Xiu's left cheek.
These spoiled brats were always this arrogant and overbearing.
The one who struck at Luo Xiu was Li Hai, of average family background but skilled at currying favor, always hanging around Zhang Hao. He had also participated in beating Luo Xiu yesterday.
"Didn't expect you to be not only lowborn but also as dumb as a pig. Young Master Zhang gave you a chance to beg for mercy, and since you don't cherish it, we'll beat you until you do!" Li Hai said, raising his hand for another slap.
Just as the slap was about to land on Luo Xiu's face, Li Hai suddenly felt a chill all over, as if he were being watched by a fierce beast, and his movements slowed.
Pa! It turned out that Luo Xiu, his eyes red, had caught his hand.
Why couldn't he resist?
Why must he beg for mercy?
Why should he kneel after being humiliated?
I am no longer the old Luo Xiu!
"Oh, you lowly dog dare to fight back? Looks like I didn't break enough of your ribs last time! This time, I'll break them one by one!" Li Hai shouted angrily, kicking at Luo Xiu's chest.
Luo Xiu moved, dodging the kick, and with a twist, almost turned Li Hai's arm into a pretzel.
"Ah!..." Li Hai screamed like a slaughtered pig, tears of pain welling up.
"Biting everyone, spewing nonsense, calling you a lapdog is an insult to dogs!" Luo Xiu snorted coldly, then kicked Li Hai away.
Li Hai clutched his dislocated arm, howling in pain, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
Seeing this, the surrounding Martial Hall students were all shocked, but then their gazes toward Luo Xiu were filled with pity.
They knew Zhang Hao and his gang well; the more you resisted, the harsher they would beat you.
"You little bastard, you dare to hit my man!" Zhang Hao's face darkened. He hadn't expected Luo Xiu to fight back, which made him feel humiliated.
"I'll not only hit your man but also hit you!" Luo Xiu's nostrils flared with white smoke as he prepared to unleash his long-suppressed anger.
The crowd was stunned, looking at Luo Xiu as if he were an idiot, unable to comprehend where he got the nerve to say such things.
Both entering the Martial Hall at ten and practicing for three years, Zhang Hao, with his affluent background, had already reached the fourth level of Body Refining, entering the realm of tempering muscles and bones. Moreover, he practiced a Grade-Two cultivation method and a Grade-Three martial technique bought from the Martial Hall, costing tens of thousands of taels of silver.
But Zhang Hao, targeted by Luo Xiu, couldn't relax. He even had the illusion that Luo Xiu's eyes could penetrate the mysteries of the essence of life, making him shiver and feel that something was off with this kid today.
In the past, Li Hai alone could easily defeat him, but today he was crushed in one move.
As he pondered, Luo Xiu moved, taking the initiative to attack, launching the Wild Ox Fist directly at Zhang Hao.
"Always calling me trash and a lowly beast, today I'll let you taste what it's like to be crushed by trash!"
Seeing Luo Xiu charging at him, Zhang Hao's companions involuntarily took half a step back. Although Luo Xiu's strength wasn't great, his momentum was indeed intimidating.
"Foolish trash, do you think I'm as easy to deal with as that idiot just now?"
Zhang Hao felt his authority among the Martial Hall students was being challenged, and he shouted angrily, curling his fingers into claws.
The martial technique he used was called Iron Eagle Claw, a Grade-Three technique, with claw winds fierce and far stronger than Li Hai's. After displaying his ultimate move, Zhang Hao felt confident again.
"Boom!"
Luo Xiu's fist collided with the Iron Eagle Claw. To everyone, it seemed certain that Luo Xiu's hand would be crippled, as a Grade-One technique like the Wild Ox Fist was no match for the Grade-Three Iron Eagle Claw.
The sound of bones cracking confirmed this belief to the surrounding crowd.
"Ah!"
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan