novelraw Chapter 17 – Master of the Martial Hall
Chapter 17 – Master of the Martial Hall
"Body Refining level nine?" The assessment elder suddenly stood up, his face full of astonishment, but he quickly regained his composure. "It's not Body Refining level nine, it's Body Refining level seven!"
Seeing the elder's startled reaction, the crowd below the dueling platform fell into silence, everyone dumbfounded.
The elder looked at Luo Xiu, still with a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Such pure and robust inner Qi, Body Refining level seven almost rivals level nine. Even I almost made a mistake."
Among the crowd, Zhang Hai, Lu Feng, and others had even more spectacular expressions, their jaws nearly dropping to the ground in disbelief.
"This has to be fake, right? Three months ago, his cultivation was lower than mine, and now he's already at Body Refining level seven? And his inner Qi is so pure and robust, comparable to level nine?"
This evaluation was not without merit; it meant Luo Xiu almost possessed the strength to rival a Body Refining level nine Martial Apprentice!
After the dead silence, the entire venue erupted, with many gasping or swallowing hard, especially those who knew Luo Xiu, who were utterly shocked. Advancing from Body Refining level two to seven in three months, this cultivation speed was simply terrifying!
Raising five minor realms in three months, even in Qingyun City's Martial Hall, which had stood for over eight hundred years, such a feat had never been seen!
Liu Yuxin was also in the crowd, her gaze becoming incredibly complex. Recalling the time in the Library Pavilion when she had suggested he join the Liu Clan as a guard, no wonder Luo Xiu had been dismissive.
With such a terrifying cultivation speed, who would be willing to become a servant?
"Hmph, so what if you're at Body Refining level seven? I'll still cripple you today!" Zhang Hai's eyes flashed with a fierce light. Despite the elder's words that Luo Xiu's inner Qi rivaled level nine, he remained very confident.
Standing on the platform, Luo Xiu felt a wave of emotions. Once, he was just a commoner, a poor boy looked down upon by others.
Who would have thought he would have a day when he was the center of attention, full of spirit?
Amidst the envious, doubtful, and complex gazes, Luo Xiu stepped down from the dueling platform.
The assessment continued, and after Luo Xiu's assessment, more people took the stage, with an astonishing elimination rate.
In the beginner class, including Luo Xiu, only five people passed the assessment.
The assessment for the intermediate class to advance to the advanced class had an even higher elimination rate, with only one person passing.
Because the further one progressed, the harder it became to improve one's cultivation.
"The annual assessment is over!" The assessment elder announced loudly and then left the Martial Practice Field.
However, the surrounding crowd did not disperse, as almost everyone knew there was still a duel to come after this annual assessment!
"Luo Xiu!"
A cold shout echoed in the air, and a figure leaped onto the dueling platform, standing proudly with hands behind his back.
This person was Zhang Hai!
"The last time, Teacher Lu intervened. Now that we're both intermediate class students, do you dare to come up and fight?"
With this statement, all eyes once again focused on Luo Xiu.
"Heh, this Luo Xiu is just a poor boy from a commoner background. After making such a big splash, let's see what he does this time."
"Advancing five realms in three months, but high cultivation doesn't mean high strength, especially since Zhang Hai is at Body Refining level eight, higher than him!"
"Exactly, I also don't believe he can improve so quickly. I've heard there are methods to rapidly boost cultivation in a short time, but they damage the body and affect future Martial Dao progress."
Many people were discussing, and despite Luo Xiu's stunning performance in the annual assessment, no one believed he was a match for Zhang Hai.
Amidst the envious, jealous, and schadenfreude-filled gazes, Luo Xiu walked onto the dueling platform.
Those envious and jealous naturally admired his breakthrough of five realms in just three months, earning high praise from the assessment elder. Those filled with schadenfreude were eager to see this poor boy, who had made such a splash, get a harsh lesson from Zhang Hai, who was at Body Refining level eight.
Seeing Luo Xiu step onto the platform, Zhang Hai's eyes glinted with a cold light.
He always considered himself a genius, reaching Body Refining level eight at the age of fifteen, and was reputed to become a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist before eighteen.
"Luo Xiu, don't think reaching Body Refining level seven gives you the right to challenge me. I'll show you the gap between us!" Zhang Hai sneered.
"Even if you beg for mercy now, I won't spare you. You're destined to spend your life bedridden."
A cruel smile appeared on Zhang Hai's lips. He intended to cripple this boy's meridians and bones, making him a cripple who could never practice martial arts again!
"You want to cripple me? Say that again?" Luo Xiu coldly stared at Zhang Hai.
"I do want to cripple you. A worthless commoner like you, as long as I don't kill you, the Martial Hall won't punish me." Zhang Hai sneered, his eyes filled with malice, as he stepped forward, leaping towards Luo Xiu.
Luo Xiu's body shifted slightly to the left, and Zhang Hai's attack missed.
Zhang Hai quickly changed his move, attacking like a storm, one move after another, but Luo Xiu kept his hands behind his back, and no matter how fierce Zhang Hai's attacks were, they couldn't touch even a corner of his clothes.
For a moment, dust flew on the dueling platform.
"Luo Xiu's movement technique is so exquisite? Could it be at the Minor Achievement level?"
"With Zhang Hai's strength unable to touch even a corner of his clothes, I estimate Luo Xiu's movement technique is nearly at Major Achievement!"
"I didn't expect Luo Xiu to be so formidable. Maybe he can actually defeat Zhang Hai."
"Ridiculous, he's just dodging. If it were a frontal confrontation, Luo Xiu would definitely be sent flying!"
Many people gathered near the dueling platform, and their discussions reached Zhang Hai's ears, making him feel ashamed and angry.
"Damn it! Can you only dodge, you cowardly commoner?" Zhang Hai roared, sweeping his leg towards Luo Xiu's head.
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"Bang!"
This time, Luo Xiu didn't dodge but raised his hand to block the attack.
Seeing this, Zhang Hai was delighted and immediately changed his move, shouting, "Mountain-Splitting Palm!"
Luo Xiu looked disdainful, his aura suddenly changing as he punched out.
"Not good!"
Zhang Hai was shocked, feeling a fierce and violent aura rushing towards him from Luo Xiu, making him feel oppressed.
"Soaring Dragon Stance!"
"Bang!"
A powerful force struck, and Zhang Hai felt intense pain in his hand, his body flying backward.
"Wow!"
In mid-air, Zhang Hai spat out a mouthful of blood, falling five or six meters away, raising a cloud of dust, his eyes seeing stars.
"Is this how you planned to cripple me?" Luo Xiu sneered disdainfully on the dueling platform.
"This is impossible!" Zhang Hai staggered to his feet, blood in his mouth, his face twisted in rage. "How could I lose to a commoner like you?"
"Die!" Zhang Hai roared, stepping forward, his palms striking fiercely at Luo Xiu.
He couldn't tolerate losing to a low-born boy while considering himself a genius!
"Overestimating yourself." Luo Xiu didn't dodge, reaching out to grab Zhang Hai's wrist.
No matter how Zhang Hai tried to use his inner Qi to break free, his Qi was completely neutralized, and his wrist felt like it was clamped by iron, causing unbearable pain.
"How is this possible? Can his inner Qi really rival Body Refining level nine?" Zhang Hai's heart was in turmoil, feeling a surge of inner Qi impacting his meridians and bones.
"Crack!"
The sound of bones breaking echoed, and before Zhang Hai could scream, Luo Xiu kicked him hard in the chest.
"Bang!"
Zhang Hai's body flew five or six meters away, landing on the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
"I had no grudge with you Zhang brothers, but you kept provoking me like annoying flies. How does it feel to be trampled by the 'trash' you spoke of?"
Looking at Zhang Hai writhing in pain on the ground, Luo Xiu's eyes flashed with coldness.
"What... what are you going to do?" Zhang Hai sensed danger from Luo Xiu, panicking.
"What am I going to do? An eye for an eye, cripple your cultivation, and let you spend your life in bed," Luo Xiu sneered.
"You dare! My father is the Patriarch of the Zhang Clan. If you touch me, you'll die a horrible death!" Zhang Hai roared, his face twisted.
But Luo Xiu was unmoved. In Shuiwu Mountain, he dared to kill!
"Bang!"
He punched Zhang Hai, sending Life and Death Extremes Qi into his body, destroying his vital meridians. Zhang Hai screamed, his meridians shattering, his face pale, blood at his mouth.
"You look down on commoners, but now you're a cripple, worse than the 'trash' you despised. Enjoy being looked down upon!"
Luo Xiu's eyes were cold as he stepped down from the dueling platform.
At this moment, the crowd below was silent, especially seeing Luo Xiu's ruthlessness in crippling Zhang Hai. Everyone avoided him, their eyes filled with fear and dread.
"Brother!..."
Zhang Hao scrambled onto the platform, shouting for help, "Someone, help!"
But no matter how he shouted, no one came to help. Even those commoner kids who usually hung out with them were indifferent.
Now that Zhang Hai was a cripple, he wasn't worth their effort.
In the distance, on a pavilion, two figures stood side by side, watching the duel unfold.
One of them was the assessment elder, Zhuang Nantian, one of the few Innate Martial Masters in Qingyun City.
Beside Zhuang Nantian stood a middle-aged man with a kind face, wearing a loose white robe.
"Elder Zhuang, you said Luo Xiu is at Body Refining level seven, but his inner Qi rivals level nine?" the man in the white robe asked.
"Yes, Hall Master. According to our investigation, Luo Xiu was at Body Refining level two three months ago, and his cultivation has skyrocketed recently. Yet, he's only practicing ordinary Grade-Two martial arts," Zhuang Nantian replied respectfully.
For an Innate Martial Master like Elder Zhuang to be so respectful, addressing him as Hall Master, there was only one person in Qingyun City it could be—the Master of the Martial Hall!
Qingyun City was a place of complex forces, with the Hunter Guild, Formation Master Guild, Alchemist Guild, and Forging Master Guild. But the true master of Qingyun City was this Martial Hall Master!
Yunlong Prefecture was under the Free Spirit Sect's domain, the ruler of this land. Every city's Martial Hall was established by the Free Spirit Sect, and Qingyun City was just one of the hundreds of cities in Yunlong Prefecture!
"A child from a commoner background reaching such heights is indeed a rare talent, worthy of focused cultivation," the Martial Hall Master said with a smile.