Cyclebreaker: Rise of the Martial Emperor

Chapter 21 – Slash Qi Sea!

"Damn it, the heavens are really against me, raining at a time like this."

Chen Hu's clothes and hair were completely soaked, and his mood grew increasingly irritable.

He had thought this job would be easy, with the target being just a novice at the seventh layer of the Body Refining Realm. He even set a trap using Yuan Dashan as bait, yet the target still managed to escape.

"That Yuan Dashan was only at the eighth layer of the Body Refining Realm. How could such trash be worthy of joining my team?" Chen Hu's face was cold as he recalled Yuan Dashan, who had been shot dead with an arrow.

Even if he hadn't used him as bait this time, he would have assigned the most dangerous tasks to him during demonic beast hunts. Chen Hu had always intended to use Yuan Dashan when he let him join the team.

"Twang!"

The sound of a bowstring vibrating was barely noticeable in the pouring rain, but as a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist, Chen Hu's senses were sharp. Instinctively, he shifted half a step to the side.

"Thud!"

A silver-white arrow pierced into the mud beside him, its fletching quivering violently.

"This is... a Silver-Iron Arrow!"

Chen Hu's eyes narrowed as he looked in the direction the arrow had come from. On the branch of a large tree stood a black-clad figure wearing a straw hat, holding a longbow.

"It's you? Did you kill Chen Ping?"

Chen Hu's gaze was icy, filled with murderous intent, because the archer in his team, Chen Ping, used Silver-Iron Arrows.

"Snap!"

Luo Xiu leaped down from the tree, rain splashing underfoot, and sneered, "Not just Chen Ping, I killed the others too. You're the only one left."

Hearing this, a trace of shock appeared in Chen Hu's eyes. Each of his brothers was at the ninth layer of the Body Refining Realm. How could a mere seventh-layer kid manage that? And without even giving them a chance to send a signal?

However, Chen Hu quickly calmed down, sneering, "Kid, you've got guts, daring to boast in front of me, a mere Martial Apprentice! Do you really think you could have killed them? Hahaha! What a joke!"

"Even if what you say is true and you killed the others, do you think you can be my match?"

Luo Xiu stepped forward, raindrops pattering on his straw hat, a slight smile on his lips. "I'm eager to see the strength of a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist. I hope you won't disappoint me."

"Haha... A mere Body Refining Martial Apprentice challenging a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist like me?" Chen Hu laughed loudly, his eyes flashing with killing intent. "You little brat, I'll make sure you die a horrible death!"

Chen Hu, indifferent to the death of his companions, wasn't worried. With his Qi Sea Realm strength, he could easily form another team.

Holding his iron spear, Chen Hu's aura was filled with killing intent, a cold chill exuding an oppressive force.

Luo Xiu drew his Azure Edge Sword, fully alert and ready for battle. The Qi Sea Realm and Body Refining Realm were entirely different levels.

In the Body Refining Realm, inner qi is refined into the body, while a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist gathers inner qi in the dantian, opening a Qi Sea and condensing it into true qi.

The power of true qi far surpasses that of inner qi!

"Take this spear!"

Chen Hu suddenly charged, his iron spear slicing through the air with a whistling sound, glowing dimly under the infusion of true qi.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!..."

The spear moved with incredible speed, scattering raindrops, its shadow like a serpent, cold light flashing.

Luo Xiu stepped out with his movement technique, spinning his body and slashing with his Azure Edge Sword.

"Clang!"

The Azure Edge Sword clashed with the iron spear, a massive force transmitted through, causing Luo Xiu's sword to tremble, his hands aching. He retreated five or six meters to dissipate the impact.

"As expected of a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist, his strength completely suppresses mine," Luo Xiu thought to himself.

"Kid, your movement technique is decent, but my cultivation far surpasses yours. Strength conquers all! You're doomed!"

Chen Hu sneered, his spear dancing like a venomous snake, casting shadows and light, enveloping Luo Xiu.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!..."

Facing Chen Hu's fierce assault, Luo Xiu was entirely on the defensive.

If not for his major achievement in movement technique, any ninth-layer Body Refining Martial Apprentice would have already perished.

"Crack!"

The Azure Edge Sword clashed again with the iron spear, a barely visible spark flickering. Luo Xiu quickly retreated to dissipate the impact, but his Azure Edge Sword had already broken.

"Haha, my Windpiercing Spear is a Human-Grade Low Tier War Armament. Prepare to die, kid!"

Chen Hu swept Luo Xiu back with a powerful move, his spear thrusting forward with great speed.

Though the Azure Edge Sword broke, Luo Xiu remained calm, shifting slightly. The Windpiercing Spear grazed past him, tearing a wound on his chest, blood spurting out.

"Tiger Stance!"

In a split second, Luo Xiu punched towards Chen Hu's chest, leaving Chen Hu no time to retract his move.

"You think a mere seventh-layer Body Refining can hurt me?" Chen Hu's face was full of disdain. Qi Sea Realm Martial Artists protect themselves with true qi, and inner qi can't break through, especially with his Human-Grade Low Tier Light Armor.

"Bang!"

A dull sound echoed, and Chen Hu's confident expression changed instantly.

"Ugh!"

He spat out a mouthful of blood, retreating quickly, eyes filled with fear.

"How is this possible? This kid is only at the seventh layer of Body Refining, how can he have such strength? This can't be!"

Luo Xiu pushed the Windpiercing Spear aside with a horizontal palm, using his Inch Step Movement Technique to pursue, his fists changing form, inner qi glowing.

"Soaring Dragon Stance!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A series of punches landed on Chen Hu's chest. True qi and light armor could protect the body, but not the vital meridians.

"Thud!"

Chen Hu fell backward, blood gushing from his mouth, eyes wide open, chest bones shattered, internal organs damaged, meridians severed, dying with regret.

"I, a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist, actually died at the hands of a Body Refining kid?"

I'm not willing! I'm not willing!

Luo Xiu also coughed up blood, injured by the rebound of Chen Hu's protective true qi.

He could damage Chen Hu's vital meridians, but the true qi gap was still there, leaving him slightly injured. However, with the Life and Death Extremes Qi's healing ability, it wasn't a big deal.

In the pouring rain, water splashing everywhere, Luo Xiu finally breathed a sigh of relief, the Life and Death Extremes Qi circulating within, healing his chest's vital meridians, the torn flesh mending visibly.

Luo Xiu knew that without the ability to damage vital meridians, he wouldn't have been a match for Chen Hu. The gap between the Qi Sea Realm and Body Refining Realm was significant.

...

The heavy rain lasted for half a day before Luo Xiu emerged from Yaqi Mountain, having gained significantly.

Especially after killing Chen Hu, Luo Xiu not only obtained the Windpiercing Spear and Human-Grade Low Tier Light Armor but also a second-tier storage formation device!

On his left wrist was a bronze bracer, containing all his belongings.

This storage device allowed items to be stored and retrieved with the infusion of inner qi.

At the Yaqi Mountain Stronghold, many hunters complained about the rain, as such weather increased hunting difficulty and danger.

Luo Xiu sold materials from demonic beasts at the stronghold, exchanging the silver for Yuan Qi Stones, totaling over 180 pieces.

He then visited a weapon shop to sell the weapons from Chen Hu's group.

The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man with graying temples, was shocked when Luo Xiu presented the weapons.

"The Windpiercing Spear? Isn't this Chen Hu's weapon?" The shopkeeper couldn't help but exclaim upon seeing the spear.

Luo Xiu's expression changed, not expecting Chen Hu's weapon to be recognized, thinking this could be trouble.

After all, in terms of experience and meridians, he was still a novice.

"My apologies, sir, I lost my composure," the shopkeeper quickly apologized, realizing his mistake.

Luo Xiu's face darkened, "You won't spread this around, will you?"

"Of course not, sir. You can rest assured. People die in Yaqi Mountain every day, and I've done similar business before. Naturally, I keep my clients' secrets," the shopkeeper assured.

"You might not know, but Chen Hu was notorious around Yaqi Mountain, a ruthless killer. He avoided teams led by Qi Sea Realm Martial Artists, but many teams lacked such leaders."

The shopkeeper sighed, "Chen Hu killed in the forests, leaving no evidence, so no one could do anything about him. But evil met its end, and he was finally killed."

"You must have a powerful backer to obtain his weapon. I wouldn't dare provoke Chen Hu, let alone risk offending your backer by leaking information."

Hearing this, Luo Xiu relaxed slightly. If news of him killing Chen Hu spread, it could bring unnecessary trouble.

Besides the Windpiercing Spear, the Silver-Iron Bow and other weapons were ordinary, selling for over 700 Yuan Qi Stones.

Combined with the silver notes and Yuan Qi Stones taken from Chen Hu and his men, Luo Xiu now had over 1,300 Low-Grade Yuan Qi Stones!

Luo Xiu spent the following time cultivating on the outskirts of Yaqi Mountain.

In a secluded and safe spot in the forest, Luo Xiu sat cross-legged, activating a first-tier Spirit Gathering Formation device, drawing in Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi.

Along with absorbing the life essence of the forest and the medicinal power of Qi Nourishing Pills, he could feel his cultivation steadily rising.

The eighth layer of Body Refining involved refining vital blood. As his inner qi continued to refine, Luo Xiu could clearly feel the surging and strengthening of his vital blood.

The Pure Yang Technique lived up to its reputation as a top-tier third-grade internal cultivation, yielding excellent results. With his improvements from contemplating the Vital Meridians Diagram, the effects were even more pronounced.

Suddenly, Luo Xiu took out another Qi Nourishing Pill and swallowed it, the potent medicinal power spreading through his body, accelerating the refinement of inner qi.

"Rumble..."

In a trance, Luo Xiu seemed to hear his vital blood rushing like a river, his body emitting alternating black and white light, a faint pressure exuding.

Moments later, his aura retracted, and he opened his eyes, a gust of wind spreading from him, lifting nearby leaves and twigs.

"Eighth layer of Body Refining!"

Luo Xiu's eyes shone with excitement, his gaze sharp and bright.

Running his inner qi, he could feel the pure inner qi within his vital blood. Opening his palm, inner qi gathered into a ball of black and white light.

With a thought, the light in his palm turned white, full of vitality, then black, eerie with death.

This was the Life and Death Extremes Qi. Reaching the eighth layer of Body Refining, his cultivation was more profound and pure, allowing him to master his inner qi.

"At the seventh layer, my inner qi could rival the ninth layer. Now at the eighth layer, mastering the Life and Death Extremes Qi, no one below the Qi Sea Realm can compare with my inner qi!"

Luo Xiu felt a sense of accomplishment, confident that with his cultivation speed, becoming a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist was only a matter of time.

He even sensed that due to his abundant inner qi, some was gathering at his dantian.

Typically, only Martial Artists at the peak of the ninth layer of Body Refining would have inner qi gather at the dantian, ready to open a Qi Sea and transform inner qi into true qi, stepping into the Qi Sea Realm.

But Luo Xiu, at the eighth layer, already had inner qi gathering at his dantian, indicating his inner qi was at the peak of the ninth layer!

"I wonder how my strength compares to the elites of the advanced class in the Martial Hall?" Luo Xiu couldn't help but ponder.