Cyclebreaker: Rise of the Martial Emperor

Chapter 34 – Light and dark sensing

"Clang!"

Sparks flew as a powerful counterforce pushed Luo Xiu back several steps.

The opponent's internal cultivation was at least at the fifth grade level, and with the suppression of his cultivation, Luo Xiu was completely outmatched.

Moreover, the sword technique of the young man in the white robe was quite advanced, nearly reaching perfection, leaving Luo Xiu with no chance to injure him.

"Prepare to die! Moon-Howling Heavenly Wolf!"

A piercing howl escaped from the white-robed youth's mouth, and a dazzling sword light slashed towards Luo Xiu, making him feel as if a heavenly wolf was howling at the sky.

Clearly, the white-robed youth was using a sword technique above the fifth grade!

"Thunderclap Nine Swords!"

Luo Xiu defended with all his might, his sword moving at the limit of its speed, causing ripples in the air.

As the two swords collided, Luo Xiu's body retreated rapidly, the webbing between his thumb and forefinger tearing open, blood flowing out.

"Hmm? You can actually withstand my Moon-Howling Heavenly Wolf?" The white-robed youth frowned, dissatisfied that his sword only managed to tear Luo Xiu's hand.

He was a Qi Sea Realm, seventh layer martial artist, with True Qi nearly solidified, and Moon-Howling Heavenly Wolf was a fifth-grade martial technique, making him a formidable opponent even among those of the same realm.

"If you don't die, you might secure a place in the Free Spirit Sect someday. Unfortunately, you must die by my hand, for you've offended someone you shouldn't have!" The white-robed youth raised his sword again, ready to strike.

"Boom!"

Luo Xiu circulated his True Qi to the extreme, the Heaven's Life and Death Cycle spinning rapidly in his dantian, black flames rising on his body.

"Flame power? How is this possible?" The white-robed youth's face changed dramatically upon seeing the black flames on Luo Xiu.

"Thunderclap Nine Swords!"

At that moment, Luo Xiu used the Deathly Black Flame to enhance his sword technique, the sword energy howling, spreading a chilling aura of death.

"Clang!"

Their swords clashed once more, but this time Luo Xiu was not pushed back, using the power of the Deathly Black Flame to withstand the opponent's True Qi.

The white-robed youth was shocked, "A Qi Sea Realm martial artist mastering elemental power..."

However, he quickly regained his composure, a cold smile appearing on his lips, "Even if you've mastered elemental power, your cultivation is too low. You'll still die by my hand."

"Dragon-Tiger Fist!"

Luo Xiu's left hand formed a fist, unleashing the Tiger Stance of the Dragon-Tiger Fist, the Deathly Black Flame condensing as it struck towards the white-robed youth's face.

"Mountain-Splitting Palm!"

The white-robed youth sneered, casually using a Grade-Four Palm Technique, True Qi gathering to shatter Luo Xiu's fist.

"Bang!"

As fist met palm, Luo Xiu's body shook, retreating repeatedly, but inwardly he sneered, having already damaged the life meridians in the opponent's left hand.

"Ah!"

The white-robed youth screamed, his face turning pale with pain, intense agony radiating from his left hand, with bones breaking and a scorching heat burning his flesh, the pain unbearable.

"How is this possible? Even if he has elemental power, his True Qi isn't stronger than mine. I clearly pushed him back, so why am I injured?" The white-robed youth couldn't understand what was happening.

But Luo Xiu wouldn't give him any time to think, the Shadow Sword like a black lightning bolt, striking towards his opponent.

The white-robed youth hurriedly raised his sword to block, but with his left hand injured, he couldn't use it, his strength affected. Though he wasn't suppressed by Luo Xiu, killing him was nearly impossible.

"Soaring Dragon Stance!"

Luo Xiu seized a slight opening, his left hand again condensing the Deathly Black Flame, striking towards the white-robed youth.

"Damn bastard!"

The white-robed youth was furious, his injured left hand unable to block, his sword entangled by Luo Xiu, forcing him to retreat to avoid the punch.

But in retreating, he gave Luo Xiu the upper hand.

"It's over!"

Luo Xiu's eyes flashed with a cold gleam, the black Shadow Sword slicing through, slashing the white-robed youth's wrist, blood splattering.

"Ah!"

The white-robed youth screamed again, his sword falling from his hand, a sharp sword light pressing against his forehead.

At that moment, the white-robed youth felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.

To think that he, a Qi Sea Realm, seventh layer martial artist, would be defeated by someone who had just entered the Qi Sea Realm, filled him with shock and anger.

Yet with death looming, he dared not make any rash moves.

"Who sent you to kill me?" Luo Xiu asked coldly.

"If I tell you, will you let me go?" The white-robed youth stared at Luo Xiu, "If you promise not to kill me, I'll tell you."

"You have no right to negotiate with me." Luo Xiu snapped, the sword tip moving half an inch forward, piercing the skin on the white-robed youth's forehead, blood seeping out.

The pain in his forehead made the white-robed youth's face change drastically. If he didn't speak, he was certain Luo Xiu would kill him.

Taking a deep breath, he said, "The three of us brothers were ordered by our master to come to Qingyun City to kill you. Our master is Zhang Lüliang, an Outer Sect Steward of the Free Spirit Sect."

"Zhang Lüliang?" Luo Xiu's eyes flashed with a sharp light, "The Zhang Clan Ancestor is Zhang Lüliang, an Outer Sect Steward of the Free Spirit Sect."

Clearly, Zhang Lüliang held a grudge against him because of the death of Zhang Shaoxiong, the head of the Zhang Clan. Unable to offend the Master of Qingyun Hall, he sent his disciples to Qingyun City to find an opportunity to eliminate him.

"I've told you, now you..." The white-robed youth hoped Luo Xiu would spare his life.

However, before he could finish pleading, the Shadow Sword pierced his forehead, his breath ceasing as he fell to the ground.

Luo Xiu's expression was icy. These three brothers came to kill him, and failing to do so, they hoped he would spare them. How could such a thing be possible?

For Luo Xiu, he had his own principles. He didn't provoke others, nor did he kill the innocent indiscriminately, but if someone tried to kill him, he would show no mercy, regardless of their identity.

Sheathing his sword, Luo Xiu began collecting the treasures from the three bodies. As disciples of Zhang Lüliang, an Outer Sect Steward, they were clearly outer sect disciples of the Free Spirit Sect.

Every year, the major Martial Halls in Yunlong Prefecture would produce a group of Qi Sea Martial Artists under eighteen, but only three could gain entry into the outer sect, proving that those accepted by the Free Spirit Sect were one in a million geniuses.

However, even among geniuses, there were differences in strength. The two Qi Sea, fifth layer martial artists Luo Xiu had killed earlier were quite ordinary, while the white-robed youth, if not for Luo Xiu's ability to damage life meridians and use the Deathly Black Flame, would have been unbeatable for him.

On the three bodies, Luo Xiu found three identity tokens of outer sect disciples, as well as storage devices: two bracers and a ring, containing numerous Yuan Qi Stones and pills.

The storage ring was obtained from the white-robed youth, its space much larger than Luo Xiu's own storage bracer, likely a treasure crafted by a third-tier Formation Master.

As for their weapons, the two Qi Sea, fifth layer martial artists used Human-Grade Low-Tier War Armaments, while the white-robed youth's Battle Sword was Human-Grade Mid-Tier, worth at least a thousand Yuan Qi Stones.

"Roar!"

Suddenly, a deafening beast roar echoed through the forest, making Luo Xiu's eardrums buzz and his vital blood churn.

"Just a beast roar with such power, it must be at least a third-tier demonic beast!"

Luo Xiu's expression changed slightly. This was the perilous Yaqi Mountain, and the scent of blood could easily attract nearby powerful demonic beasts.

He dared not linger, sensing a strong demonic beast aura within his Life Perception range, and quickly used his movement technique to leave the area.

After a long while, Luo Xiu appeared by a small stream, cupping his hands to drink some water and washing his face.

Thinking of the three he had killed, Luo Xiu's expression turned icy.

"Zhang Lüliang sent three disciples to kill me. If they don't return, he'll surely suspect something. When I join the Free Spirit Sect, trouble will be inevitable."

Regarding the Zhang Clan Ancestor, the Master of Qingyun Hall had mentioned him to Luo Xiu, a formidable Innate Realm, ninth layer Martial Master, capable of crushing someone like him, a Qi Sea, first layer martial artist, with a single finger.

Luo Xiu knew that even if he could damage life meridians to challenge stronger opponents, if the opponent's strength was too overwhelming, this ability would be ineffective, as the stronger the martial artist, the more resilient their life meridians, making them harder to damage.

Furrowing his brow, Luo Xiu considered not participating in the entry assessment, but without the identity of a Free Spirit Sect disciple, he would have no status in Yunlong Prefecture, making it easier for the Zhang Clan Ancestor to act against him without restraint.

"Knowing there's a tiger in the mountain, yet still heading towards it." After careful consideration, Luo Xiu decided to participate in the entry assessment.

The Master of Qingyun Hall had said that as long as he became an outer sect disciple, the Zhang Clan Ancestor, despite his authority, wouldn't dare act recklessly against him. If he performed well and received focused training, his status might even surpass that of the Zhang Clan Ancestor.

As for his parents, the Master of Qingyun Hall had promised to protect them in Qingyun City, allowing Luo Xiu to have no worries.

"Buzz!"

At that moment, Luo Xiu felt a slight tremor from the Shadow Sword on his back.

"What's going on?"

Luo Xiu was slightly startled, drawing the Shadow Sword with a clang, noticing the 'Shadow' character engraved at the hilt emitting a dark glow, the sword vibrating slightly, as if a call was coming from afar.

"A summoning sensation?"

Luo Xiu furrowed his brow, looking towards the distant direction, sensing the source of the Shadow Sword's tremor coming from there.

When he bought the Shadow Sword at the weapon shop, the shopkeeper had claimed it was found by a hunter in ancient ruins.

Luo Xiu had always thought the shopkeeper made up the story to sell the sword at a higher price.

However, the Shadow Sword was indeed made of special material, its power only equivalent to a Human-Grade Low-Tier War Armament, yet even a Human-Grade High-Tier War Armament couldn't leave a mark on it.

"Could this sword really have a history? What is this summoning sensation?" Luo Xiu was puzzled and curious.

Sheathing the sword, Luo Xiu leaped forward, following the faint summoning sensation of the Shadow Sword, swiftly traversing through the forest of Yaqi Mountain.

Meanwhile, a dark-skinned youth was walking through the forest, the scabbard on his back vibrating slightly.

"The Lightsaber is trembling, could it be sensing the Shadow Blade nearby?" The youth's eyes gleamed, then he leaped forward, heading towards the direction indicated by the Lightsaber's sensation.

"The power of the Twin Swords of Light and Shadow is only equivalent to Human-Grade Low-Tier. An Innate Martial Master would at least use a Human-Grade Mid-Tier war armament. The one holding the Shadow Blade shouldn't be very strong, I should be able to seize it!"

The youth's skin was dark and shiny, his body strong and agile, moving like a fierce tiger, his aura fierce and intimidating.