Cyclebreaker: Rise of the Martial Emperor

Chapter 32 – Nie Xiaodie

"Amazing..."

Luo Xiu couldn't help but exclaim in wonder. The appearance of Heaven's Life and Death Cycle had comprehensively enhanced his strength.

Firstly, in terms of cultivation, by activating Heaven's Life and Death Cycle, Luo Xiu could more efficiently absorb the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi and the essence of all things, achieving an effect comparable to a second-tier Spirit Gathering Formation Device.

If combined with the amplification of a second-tier Spirit Gathering Formation Device, his cultivation speed could increase fourfold on top of the existing fourfold, reaching an astounding sixteen times!

With such a cultivation speed, even if he practiced a mediocre cultivation method, his cultivation level would surely rise rapidly. Moreover, the Pure Yang Technique he practiced was far from mediocre.

Next were martial techniques and movement techniques. He could now clearly perceive their essential mysteries. He believed he could achieve major achievement in any fourth-grade martial art in the shortest time, and with a bit more effort, reaching the Perfection Realm wouldn't be a problem.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!..."

At this moment, a series of knocks came from outside the door, pulling Luo Xiu out of his cultivation state, and he frowned, as being disturbed during cultivation was a martial artist's greatest taboo.

With a flick of his finger, a burst of energy shot out, opening the door. An old man stood respectfully outside.

"Young Master Luo, the Hall Master requests your presence at the Martial Hall," the old man said.

Luo Xiu was not unfamiliar with this old man; he was the old servant by the side of the Master of the Martial Hall.

Hearing that the Hall Master was looking for him, Luo Xiu slowly stood up, "I wonder what the Hall Master wants with me?"

Luo Xiu held a certain respect for the Master of the Martial Hall.

"To answer Young Master, the Master of the Martial Hall from New Stone City has come to Qingyun City to visit our Hall Master. He brought a genius girl who has challenged several elite experts in our hall, and several have already been defeated by her. The Hall Master wants you to go over, likely because of this matter," the old servant explained.

Upon hearing this, Luo Xiu frowned. New Stone City was another city adjacent to Qingyun City.

In Yunlong Prefecture, every city had a Martial Hall established by the Free Spirit Sect. Although they were all meant to select and cultivate talents for the Free Spirit Sect, there was actually a competitive relationship between them, and mutual visits and challenges were common occurrences.

Currently, Luo Xiu ranked first among all the students in Qingyun Martial Hall, so he naturally had the obligation to accept challenges from experts of other cities' Martial Halls to uphold the reputation of Qingyun Martial Hall.

At the Martial Practice Field of Qingyun Martial Hall, many people were gathered. In the spectator seats of the pavilion, the Master of Qingyun Hall sat with a slightly plump middle-aged man, who was the Master of New Stone Hall.

On the dueling platform, two young people were engaged in combat. One was Feng Xuanzhu from Qingyun Martial Hall, and his opponent was a beautiful girl in red.

"Hehe, Master of Qingyun Hall, I heard that your Qingyun Martial Hall has produced a genius who has mastered the Pure Yang Technique. Do you dare to make a bet with me?" the Master of New Stone Hall suddenly said with a smile.

There were eighteen cities in Yunlong Prefecture, and the Masters of the Martial Halls in each city often brought outstanding talents to challenge each other, sometimes placing bets, which was quite normal.

"What does the Master of New Stone Hall want to bet on?" the Master of Qingyun Hall asked with a smile.

"How about betting on the Blue Crystal Bracelet you won from me three years ago?" the Master of New Stone Hall said with a squinting smile.

"Slap!"

At this moment, a loud slap sounded from the dueling platform. Feng Xuanzhu fell from the platform, a palm print on his face, his eyes filled with anger and shock.

The students watching from below were in an uproar, instantly filled with indignation.

"That's too much. You don't hit someone in the face. If you've won, why humiliate others like this?"

"Such a pretty girl, yet so ruthless and heartless. Does she think there's no one in Qingyun Martial Hall?"

Many people shouted angrily from below the platform.

On the dueling platform, the girl in red stood proudly, her eyes sweeping over the crowd with disdain, and she sneered, "Does Qingyun Martial Hall have no experts? Can't even beat a little girl like me, what a bunch of losers!"

Her words incited anger among the Martial Hall students, but they were left speechless.

In the pavilion, the face of the Master of Qingyun Hall darkened. The opponent's public humiliation on the dueling platform made it difficult for him to maintain his dignity as the Hall Master.

"Hehe, Master of Qingyun Hall, don't be angry. Kids are just being kids," the Master of New Stone Hall said, stroking his beard with a smile.

"Hmph!" The Master of Qingyun Hall snorted coldly, "You dare to bring someone to challenge my Qingyun City, relying on this so-called genius who became a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist at fifteen?"

The Master of Qingyun Hall was somewhat aware of the situation in New Stone City, knowing that a genius girl named Nie Xiaodie had emerged there, who was the girl in red on the dueling platform.

Since the end of the Grand Martial Tournament, both Xu Qiusheng and Han Shan had been in seclusion, fully focused on breaking through to the Qi Sea Realm. Currently, only Feng Xuanzhu was the strongest, yet he was no match for Nie Xiaodie.

"I wonder if Luo Xiu can be a match for this Nie Xiaodie."

The Master of Qingyun Hall frowned, unaware that Luo Xiu had already become a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist.

"Luo Xiu is here!"

"It's really Luo Xiu!"

"Luo Xiu is the top expert of our Qingyun Martial Hall, he can definitely defeat this girl!"

Suddenly, the crowd near the dueling platform erupted in excitement, and all eyes turned to a black-clad youth approaching with a sword on his back.

"Top expert? I wonder if he can withstand a single move from me?" the girl in red on the platform said with disdain.

Hearing her arrogant words, Luo Xiu frowned and looked up at the dueling platform, where the life meridians of the girl in red were fully visible to him.

"A Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist? No wonder she's so arrogant..."

Based on the aura of her life meridians, Luo Xiu judged that the girl in red was at the first level of the Qi Sea Realm, likely having just broken through like himself.

However, Luo Xiu ignored the girl in red and first saluted the Master of Qingyun Hall in the pavilion.

The Master of Qingyun Hall nodded and said in a deep voice, "Luo Xiu, the girl on the platform is the genius from New Stone City Martial Hall, Nie Xiaodie. She recently became a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist and has come to challenge us today. Do you have confidence?"

In an instant, all eyes focused on Luo Xiu again. The students of Qingyun Martial Hall knew well that Luo Xiu was the top-ranked expert, and if even he lost, unless Xu Qiusheng or Han Shan successfully broke through and came out of seclusion, Qingyun Martial Hall would face a loss of face today.

"I do!" Luo Xiu slowly raised his head, a confident smile on his face, and the True Qi fluctuations of a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist emanated from him, creating a sense of pressure felt by many Martial Hall students nearby.

"Luo Xiu has broken through to the Qi Sea Realm?"

"As expected of the top genius of the martial tournament, Luo Xiu will definitely defeat this Nie Xiaodie!"

"Luo Xiu! Luo Xiu! Luo Xiu!..."

The students of Qingyun Martial Hall erupted in excitement, hundreds of them chanting his name.

This battle, after all, concerned the reputation of Qingyun Martial Hall. Luo Xiu's breakthrough to the Qi Sea Realm undoubtedly filled everyone with hope, and his popularity soared to its peak.

Sensing the True Qi fluctuations from Luo Xiu, the Master of Qingyun Hall couldn't help but be slightly moved. He had thought it would take at least another month or two for Luo Xiu to break through to the Qi Sea Realm.

"Haha, Master of New Stone Hall, did you just say you wanted to bet with me?" the Master of Qingyun Hall looked at the Master of New Stone Hall beside him.

The slightly plump Master of New Stone Hall looked at Luo Xiu, thinking to himself, "Is this the genius who mastered the Pure Yang Technique? He's also broken through to the Qi Sea Realm..."

The Master of New Stone Hall hesitated slightly, clearly unsettled by Luo Xiu's breakthrough.

"What? Does the Master of New Stone Hall not dare to bet anymore?" the Master of Qingyun Hall said playfully.

"Hmph, even if they're both at the first level of the Qi Sea Realm, he may not be a match for Xiaodie," the Master of New Stone Hall said with a pout. "Of course, I'll bet. If Xiaodie wins, you'll give me the Blue Crystal Bracelet."

"And if Luo Xiu wins?" the Master of Qingyun Hall smiled, "That Blue Crystal Bracelet is a third-tier formation treasure."

Upon hearing this, the Master of New Stone Hall's face twitched. That Blue Crystal Bracelet was originally his treasure, lost to the Master of Qingyun Hall three years ago.

"How could Xiaodie lose? If your Luo Xiu from Qingyun Martial Hall really wins, I'll give you a bottle of Innate Pills!"

Innate Pills were third-grade pills used by Innate Martial Masters to enhance their cultivation, with six pills in a bottle, comparable in value to a third-tier formation treasure.

"Deal!" The Master of Qingyun Hall laughed heartily, Luo Xiu's breakthrough to the Qi Sea Realm filled him with confidence.

"Luo Xiu, this battle concerns the reputation of our Qingyun Martial Hall. You must give it your all!" he said, looking at Luo Xiu.

"Yes!"

Luo Xiu nodded, leaping onto the dueling platform.

Nie Xiaodie, dressed in red, looked at Luo Xiu with arrogance and disdain, "I didn't expect there to be a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist among the trash of Qingyun Martial Hall."

Since entering New Stone Martial Hall at the age of ten, Nie Xiaodie had always been in the spotlight, held in high esteem, and even as a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist, she didn't regard Luo Xiu highly.

Luo Xiu remained expressionless. Although Nie Xiaodie was pretty, her attitude was the kind he disliked the most.

Nie Xiaodie extended her jade-like hand, and a long spear appeared in her grasp. She said proudly, "Not many can make me draw my spear. Even if you lose, you can take pride in that."

As she spoke, her figure moved, and the long spear thrust towards Luo Xiu, True Qi glimmering.

However, to everyone's surprise, Luo Xiu did not draw his sword. Instead, he stepped forward with a strange footwork, and everyone felt as if their vision blurred. Luo Xiu was already in front of Nie Xiaodie, striking with a palm.

"What speed!"

Nie Xiaodie's pretty face changed slightly, and she hurriedly raised her long spear to block Luo Xiu's palm.

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"Bang!"

A low sound echoed, and under the astonished gazes of all, Nie Xiaodie was forced back several steps by Luo Xiu's palm.

"With such little strength, you dare to cause trouble in my Qingyun Martial Hall? You're not even worthy of making me draw my sword!" Luo Xiu said with a cold smile.

The crowd below was stunned. No one expected the usually silent Luo Xiu to suddenly say such words.

However, everyone felt that Luo Xiu's words were satisfying, as Nie Xiaodie had repeatedly called them trash before he arrived, leaving everyone with a pent-up anger.

"Haha, well said! So what if she's a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist? What's so great about that?"

"Good job, Luo Xiu! Show this little girl the might of our Qingyun Martial Hall's top expert!"

"You... courting death!" Nie Xiaodie's pretty face flushed with anger. As a Proud Daughter of Heaven, no one had ever dared to look down on her like this.

"Wind-Chasing Spear!"

Her movement technique unfolded, her red attire like a fleeting illusion. The spear glimmered with True Qi, bringing a fierce gust of wind as it thrust towards Luo Xiu's vital points in rapid succession.

Her spear technique was fierce, but Luo Xiu's movement technique was elusive. True Qi gathered in his palm and fingers, and he suddenly punched out.

"Dragon-Tiger Fist!"

"Clang!"

Fist and spear collided, sparks flying.

A Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist, with True Qi enhancement, could already withstand blades with their body, something that made many Body Refining Realm students below envious.

"What powerful True Qi!"

The fierce energy transmitted through the spear made Nie Xiaodie's hands tingle, forcing her to retreat, nearly losing her grip on the spear.

Her pretty face turned cold. Nie Xiaodie hadn't expected to suffer losses in two consecutive rounds against Luo Xiu.

"This..." In the pavilion, the smile on the face of the Master of New Stone Hall froze, while the Master of Qingyun Hall smiled, his heart almost bursting with joy.

On the dueling platform, Nie Xiaodie attacked repeatedly, but no matter how exquisite her spear technique, she couldn't even touch Luo Xiu's clothes. Her True Qi was inferior to Luo Xiu's, and she was repeatedly forced back.

The face of the Master of New Stone Hall grew darker. Could it be that he would lose to the Master of Qingyun Hall again this time?