Unexpectedly, the one who screamed in pain in the arena wasn't Luo Xiu, but Zhang Hao!
Zhang Hao staggered back, screaming, with all five fingers of his right hand broken, his face filled with disbelief.
Everyone was dumbfounded, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Only Luo Xiu knew the truth.
In theory, his cultivation level was lower than Zhang Hao's, his inner qi was weaker, and his martial techniques were inferior. However, after improving his Grade-One cultivation method, it was equivalent to upgrading it to Grade-Two, or even stronger.
So even in a direct confrontation, his inner qi wasn't much weaker than Zhang Hao's.
Moreover, after merging with the Life and Death Pearl, Luo Xiu gained an ability that allowed his attacks to directly damage the opponent's vital meridians!
The Life and Death Extremes Qi could nourish and repair the vital meridians with the qi of life, while the qi of death could damage and destroy them.
Luo Xiu's inner qi could switch between the extremes of life and death.
This phenomenon was simply incredible, which is why Zhang Hao's seemingly powerful Iron Eagle Claw shattered upon colliding with Luo Xiu's fist, breaking all five fingers.
Injury leads to damage to the vital meridians, and conversely, if the vital meridians are directly damaged, it manifests as some form of injury within the body.
"Boom!"
Luo Xiu stomped the ground, raising a cloud of dust, and unleashed the Wild Ox Fist, charging forward like an enraged bull, unstoppable and fierce.
The broken fingers of his right hand left Zhang Hao, who was used to intimidating others, in a panic, retreating in shock and anger.
"Get lost!"
Luo Xiu kicked Zhang Hao in the chest, sending him flying like a kite with a broken string.
"Crack!"
Another sound of bones breaking echoed as two of Zhang Hao's ribs snapped. He fell to the ground, unable to believe how things had turned out this way.
Just yesterday, he had led a group to humiliate Luo Xiu, and today, everything had turned upside down.
"Ah!" "Ah!" "Ah!"
Screams echoed continuously in the Martial Practice Field, leaving the surrounding Martial Hall students speechless, the silence so profound that a pin drop could be heard.
"Oh my, am I seeing things?"
"Is this really Luo Xiu? Did he just defeat Li Hai and Zhang Hao?"
Suddenly, the Martial Practice Field erupted in astonishment, with everyone in disbelief, their expressions peculiar.
Li Hai's arm was twisted like a pretzel, with dislocated bones and damaged meridians.
Zhang Hao's injuries were even more severe, with all five fingers of his right hand broken, and two ribs fractured.
They had always been the ones beating others, but today, in front of the many Martial Hall students, they were the ones lying defeated on the ground.
What they found most unacceptable was that the one who defeated them, causing them to lose face and feel humiliated in front of the Martial Hall students, was the very "waste" they had beaten up just yesterday!
"You little bastard, how dare you hit me? You're dead!" Zhang Hao's face twisted with pain, his eyes filled with venom.
"Still talking tough? Looks like I didn't hit you hard enough!" Luo Xiu snorted coldly, stepping forward to deliver another kick.
"How dare a lowly commoner like you compare to me? I'll make you pay!" Zhang Hao spat venomously.
"Still threatening me?" Luo Xiu's eyes flashed coldly as he stepped on Zhang Hao's left wrist, another crack sounding as the wrist bone broke.
With this, combined with his previous injuries, Zhang Hao's vision went black, and he fainted on the spot.
"This Zhang Hao has always been arrogant because of his privileged background. After this beating, he's sure to seek revenge."
While venting his anger was satisfying, Luo Xiu was also aware of the consequences of his actions.
However, Luo Xiu wasn't afraid. As long as he quickly improved his cultivation and strength, the Martial Hall would undoubtedly take notice and nurture him. By then, even the Zhang Clan wouldn't dare to oppose the Martial Hall.
After all, everyone in Yunlong Prefecture knew that the Martial Halls in each city were backed by the Free Spirit Sect.
Among the Three Palaces, Six Sects, and Thirteen Gates, the Free Spirit Sect was one of the Thirteen Gates, an undisputed dominant force in Yunlong Prefecture!
After giving Zhang Hao a thorough beating, the eyes of the many Martial Hall students on the Martial Practice Field looked at Luo Xiu as if he were a monster.
"How is this possible? Zhang Hao is at the fourth level of Body Refining, strengthening tendons and bones, while Luo Xiu is only at the second level."
"It seems Luo Xiu defeated Zhang Hao in just two moves..."
Everyone was dumbfounded, unable to reconcile the "waste" Luo Xiu with the formidable fighter before them, and could only watch as Luo Xiu's figure gradually faded away.
***
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The Martial Hall was vast, with each student having their own residence. Luo Xiu returned to his room, his initial excitement gradually cooling down.
"It's just Zhang Hao that I defeated. I can't afford to be arrogant. I think Zhang Hao has an older brother who's a student in the intermediate class, with a cultivation level of at least the fifth level of Body Refining."
The Martial Hall students were divided into three classes: the junior class for ages ten to thirteen, the intermediate class for ages fourteen to sixteen, and the senior class for ages seventeen to eighteen.
Junior class students were mostly at the first to fourth levels of Body Refining, while intermediate class students were at least at the fifth level. If they didn't reach the fifth level within the age limit, they wouldn't be held back but would be expelled from the Martial Hall.
As for senior class students, they had to meet the eighth level requirement, or they would also be expelled.
Luo Xiu was thirteen this year, and at his previous cultivation speed, he wouldn't have reached the fifth level by fourteen. Being expelled from the Martial Hall would not only invite ridicule but also disappoint his parents, who had sacrificed everything for his martial training!
"In three months, the annual assessment will begin. I must reach the fifth level of Body Refining to pass!"
***
Time passed unnoticed in cultivation, and during this period, Luo Xiu stayed indoors, focusing solely on his training.
Zhang Hao's brother, Zhang Hai, learned of the incident and wanted to cause trouble for Luo Xiu, but the Martial Hall had strict rules against trespassing in student residences, punishable by severe consequences.
No one dared to defy the Martial Hall's rules, not even students with notable backgrounds. Thus, with Luo Xiu staying inside, Zhang Hai had no way to get to him.
During his seclusion, Luo Xiu could clearly feel the changes in his body. By absorbing the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi to condense the Life and Death Extremes Qi, his physique was continuously improving, and his cultivation speed was many times faster than before.
His body seemed like a bottomless pit. On the second day of seclusion, he broke through to the third level of Body Refining, then began using the Life and Death Extremes Qi to refine tendons and bones, progressing rapidly!
Five days later, Luo Xiu's strength advanced again, reaching the fourth level of Body Refining as a Martial Apprentice.
Without the Life and Death Pearl, he couldn't have imagined such a rapid cultivation speed, and the pearl's heaven-defying nature was beyond words.
However, upon reaching the fourth level of Body Refining, Luo Xiu noticed that even the improved Grade-One cultivation method's effectiveness had diminished significantly, no longer advancing as swiftly as before.
Upon reflection, Luo Xiu understood that the foundation of a Grade-One cultivation method was too weak, with limited potential for growth.
"According to the Martial Hall's rules, reaching the fourth level of Body Refining as a Martial Apprentice qualifies me to enter the Library Pavilion to select a Grade-Two martial art!"
One day, Luo Xiu left his room, determined to enhance his cultivation with higher-quality methods.
"You wretch, you finally dared to come out!"
As soon as he stepped out, Luo Xiu was confronted by a young man in an embroidered robe, glaring at him menacingly.
"Where did this dog come from, barking around here?"
Luo Xiu didn't recognize the person, yet the young man immediately insulted him. But Luo Xiu was no longer someone to be trifled with.
"You dare insult me?" The young man's face darkened, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
"If you can call me a wretch, why can't I call you a beast? Do you think you're born superior?" Luo Xiu retorted with a cold smile.
The young man's murderous intent grew stronger. "You have guts, but the bolder a lowly wretch like you is, the quicker you'll die!"
Luo Xiu remained unfazed, scoffing, "Your brother was defeated by the 'waste' you mentioned, trampled underfoot. So what does that make your brother? And as his brother, what does that make you?"
"You court death!" The young man in the embroidered robe radiated a faint glow, a pressure rushing towards Luo Xiu.
Radiant Inner Qi, a sign of a Martial Apprentice at the seventh level of Body Refining, with pure and abundant inner qi.
As Luo Xiu had guessed, this young man was Zhang Hao's brother, Zhang Hai, a standout among the second-year students, now at the seventh level of Body Refining!
Luo Xiu's eyes narrowed. A Martial Apprentice at the seventh level was a tough opponent, but with his ability to directly damage vital meridians, he wasn't afraid.
The commotion attracted a crowd, who gathered nearby, pointing and whispering.
"That seems to be Zhang Hao's brother, Zhang Hai. He just showed the Radiance of Inner Qi, meaning he's a seventh-level Martial Apprentice!"
"I heard that seventh-level Martial Apprentices can enter the Library Pavilion to select Grade-Three martial arts. I'm so envious."
"A few days ago, Luo Xiu injured Zhang Hao, and now Zhang Hai is stepping in. Luo Xiu is in big trouble."
The crowd's discussions were filled with awe for Zhang Hai's strength. Although Luo Xiu had defeated Zhang Hao and others recently, those opponents were not on the same level as Zhang Hai.
"They're about to fight!"
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan