novelraw Chapter 51 – Luo Xiu's achievements
Chapter 51 – Luo Xiu's achievements
Fifteen Snowfield Demon Wolves, Luo Xiu had already slain seven.
With his True Qi nearly exhausted, Luo Xiu wasn't confident about passing the third level of the Flying Dragon Tower with the remaining eight Snowfield Demon Wolves.
"Buzz!"
The Shadow Sword trembled, emitting a crisp sword hum.
"Life-Reaping Sword!"
This sword move was the strongest technique Luo Xiu could currently perform, the second form of the Aurora Sword Art.
A Snowfield Demon Wolf swung its claw towards him, and with a splatter of blood, the wolf let out a painful howl as one of its claws was severed, blood gushing out.
"Kill!"
Luo Xiu shouted fiercely, his aura suddenly erupting. A wave of overwhelming killing intent surged forth, intimidating the eight Snowfield Demon Wolves into hesitating to advance.
"Snap!"
With a swift movement technique, leaving no trace on the snow, seven afterimages appeared in succession. Luo Xiu's body, like a rainbow light, appeared near the previously injured wolf.
"Howl!"
The Snowfield Demon Wolves roared, baring their fangs and claws. Their claws were as sharp as Human-Grade Low-Tier War Armaments, and their indestructible teeth would not let go once they bit down.
Puff! Puff! Puff!...
The seven afterimages left by his movement technique were torn apart by the other seven Snowfield Demon Wolves.
A sweep of black sword light, Luo Xiu landed on the ground, half-kneeling, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath.
The corpse of the Snowfield Demon Wolf fell to the ground, its head rolling away, hot blood spraying.
"Seven left!"
With a flick of his long sword, shaking off the bloodstains, Luo Xiu squinted his eyes, his movement technique flickering as he charged forward to kill.
The seven Snowfield Demon Wolves roared in unison.
...
"Why hasn't Luo Xiu come out yet after so long?"
"Could he be hiding inside, not wanting to come out? It's almost noon, and I heard Lin Jingyun is already waiting at the Life-and-Death Battle Platform."
"Do you think he might have died in there?"
"That's impossible! The formations in the Flying Dragon Tower will instantly transport a martial artist out if their life is threatened. No one has ever died in there for over a thousand years!"
As the Outer Sect disciples outside the Flying Dragon Tower discussed, a sudden flash of white light appeared, emerging from the tower.
"He's out, he's out!"
The scene before him changed, and Luo Xiu appeared outside the Flying Dragon Tower, with no Snowfield Demon Wolves in sight.
His face was slightly pale, his clothes were damaged in several places, but his eyes were sharp and bright. The fierce killing aura from the slaughter in the Flying Dragon Tower still lingered around him.
He ultimately couldn't pass the third level of the Flying Dragon Tower with its fifteen Snowfield Demon Wolves. After slaying thirteen, his True Qi was completely exhausted, unable to perform martial techniques or movement techniques. Just as he was about to be torn apart by the last two Snowfield Demon Wolves, he was transported out.
This trial of slaughter gave Luo Xiu a deeper understanding of his own strength.
"Quick, see what rank Luo Xiu achieved!"
"Judging by his exhausted True Qi, he should be able to rank in the top 500, right?"
Many present turned their attention to the ranking stone tablet beside the Flying Dragon Tower, searching for Luo Xiu's name among the densely packed names.
But after searching for a long time, no one could find Luo Xiu's name.
"This... how is this possible?"
At that moment, someone pointed to the most prominent top 200 names.
Seeing this gesture, everyone's heart skipped a beat. Could it be...
There it was, at the 130th rank, Luo Xiu's name was listed!
The original 200th rank was pushed down among the densely packed names below.
Luo Xiu! 130th rank!
"My god, how is this possible? He's only at the third layer of the Qi Sea Realm!"
Everyone couldn't help but gasp, as such an occurrence had never happened in the Free Spirit Outer Sect.
Typically, those who could enter the top 150 were at least at the seventh layer of the Qi Sea Realm. The highest record ever held was by a genius with a fifth layer Qi Sea Realm cultivation!
Today, Luo Xiu broke and refreshed this record, matching those at the seventh layer of the Qi Sea Realm with his third layer cultivation!
Moreover, ranking at 130th, even among the seventh layer Qi Sea Realm, he was considered a top expert!
"His cultivation is at the third layer of the Qi Sea Realm, there's no mistake about that."
"But cultivation doesn't fully define a martial artist's strength."
"Luo Xiu's Martial Dao level must be very high. I heard his movement technique is exquisite, especially his sword, as fast as lightning!"
"However, he probably didn't clear the third level, otherwise his rank would be even higher."
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Almost everyone looked at Luo Xiu with shock. A newcomer to the Free Spirit Outer Sect, with only a third layer Qi Sea Realm cultivation, achieving such results on his first entry into the Flying Dragon Tower.
It was truly terrifying!
Compared to the Flying Dragon Tower, the most lively place in the Free Spirit Outer Sect at this moment was the Life-and-Death Battle Platform.
Yesterday, the news of Luo Xiu's life-and-death duel with Lin Jingyun had already spread widely among the Outer Sect disciples.
For a newcomer to challenge a somewhat renowned senior, it was an uncommon event in the thousand-year history of the Free Spirit Outer Sect.
The Life-and-Death Battle Platform was located at the center of the Martial Practice Field.
It was two meters high and ten meters in length and width for ordinary dueling platforms.
The Life-and-Death Battle Platform, however, was five meters high, with both length and width also being five meters.
Standing tall in the center of the Martial Practice Field, it stood out like a crane among chickens, or a lone peak, highlighting its special status.
The five-meter square space wasn't large, and once on it, it was a close-quarters fight, life and death decided instantly!
As time passed, the scorching sun hung high in the sky, gradually approaching noon.
"Why hasn't Luo Xiu come over yet? Could he be too scared to come?"
"Once a life-and-death duel is officially requested, it must be fought. If he's too afraid to come, his cultivation will be abolished, and he'll be expelled from the Outer Sect."
"Coming means death, not coming also means death, hehe."
"Luo Xiu must be out of his mind, challenging the seventh layer with his third layer. Does he think he can defy the heavens?"
Though many gathered to watch at the Life-and-Death Battle Platform, no one believed in Luo Xiu, as this was clearly a duel with a huge disparity in strength.
In truth, so many came to watch because Luo Xiu, as a new disciple, had quite a reputation.
Being first in the Entry Assessment wasn't much, but rumors in the Outer Sect said he was close to the Sect Master's daughter, Lu Mengyao. During the assessment, he was troubled by Steward Zhang Lüliang, prompting Sect Master Lu Feichen to personally intervene. Not only did he protect Luo Xiu, but he also imprisoned Zhang Lüliang in the water prison. Without connections in the Inner Sect, Zhang Lüliang would have been doomed.
Not far from the Life-and-Death Battle Platform, a white-bearded elder sat at the top of a pavilion, a cold smile on his old face.
"Young people are so impulsive, too inexperienced."
The white-bearded elder sipped his tea, his cold smile growing.
This white-bearded elder was the Outer Sect Steward responsible for officiating this duel, and he was none other than Zhang Lüliang!
In fact, Lin Jingyun and Jiang Dongqing's trouble with Luo Xiu was secretly instigated by Zhang Lüliang.
Having learned from the past, Zhang Lüliang didn't dare act openly, so he had Lin Jingyun and Jiang Dongqing use Lu Mengyao as an excuse to target Luo Xiu.
The situation escalating to a life-and-death duel was exactly what Zhang Lüliang wanted.
"Do you think having the Sect Master protect you means you can rest easy? In this Outer Sect, I have plenty of ways to kill you!"
Zhang Lüliang sipped his tea, hoping Luo Xiu wouldn't dare come. That way, he could have an excuse to personally abolish that brat's cultivation and decide his fate.
"He's here!"
Under the scorching sun, a black-clad youth approached with a sword on his back, drawing everyone's attention.
"He actually dared to come?" Many were surprised.
"Since Luo Xiu dared to accept the challenge, maybe he has some special means." A few thought Luo Xiu wasn't so simple, daring to face a certain death duel, there must be something unusual.
"That's true, in a life-and-death duel, any means can be used. If Luo Xiu has a life-saving treasure or a one-time attack formation treasure, he might really be able to take down Lin Jingyun." Someone realized, making such a speculation.
As Luo Xiu approached, getting closer, everyone noticed his body was covered in bloodstains, his clothes damaged in several places, as if he had been through a brutal battle.
The scene fell silent, the crowd around the Life-and-Death Battle Platform making way.
Luo Xiu walked forward, his expression calm and composed.
On the Life-and-Death Battle Platform, Lin Jingyun stood with his sword, a proud look on his face.
Just when everyone thought the life-and-death duel was about to begin, Luo Xiu stepped onto the platform, sat cross-legged, and took out a pill to swallow.
What was he doing?
Everyone was bewildered, looking at each other in confusion.
But Luo Xiu was indifferent, directly starting to refine the pill's medicinal power, quickly recovering his depleted True Qi from the Flying Dragon Tower.
Lin Jingyun frowned, sensing Luo Xiu was restoring his depleted True Qi. What had he done to deplete his True Qi before a life-and-death duel with him?
He looked up at the sun in the sky, not yet noon.
In the nearby pavilion, Zhang Lüliang put down his tea, his gaze like a torch, staring at Luo Xiu in the arena, his killing intent undisguised.
Suddenly, the crowd below erupted, like water poured into a pot of oil.
"What? Luo Xiu went to the Flying Dragon Tower before coming to the Life-and-Death Battle Platform, ranking 130th?"
"My heavens, he's only fifteen, only at the third layer of the Qi Sea Realm, are you sure this isn't a joke?"
Voices of doubt rose, the events at the Flying Dragon Tower reaching here, leaving everyone who heard it in disbelief.
"It's absolutely true! If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it either, but it's really a fact. If you don't believe it, you can go check the ranking stone tablet at the Flying Dragon Tower!"
"Lin Jingyun is ranked 137th, Luo Xiu's rank is even higher!"
"This is simply monstrous, Lin Jingyun is in trouble this time..."
Standing on the Life-and-Death Battle Platform, Lin Jingyun heard such discussions, his eyes wide, unable to believe what he was hearing, just like everyone else.
He depleted his True Qi because he went to the Flying Dragon Tower?
Ranked 130th, higher than me?
I'm at the seventh layer of the Qi Sea Realm, and he's at the third layer!
Though hard to believe, Lin Jingyun knew this news couldn't be baseless.
After all, those who could enter the Free Spirit Outer Sect were all geniuses, and geniuses were proud, not prone to exaggerating others. The ranking stone tablet at the Flying Dragon Tower wouldn't lie.
In the Free Spirit Outer Sect, the Flying Dragon Tower's ranking was a testament to strength!
While various factors could influence a life-and-death duel, and a higher rank didn't guarantee victory over a lower rank, the gap couldn't be too large.
Lin Jingyun took a deep breath, touching the storage bracer on his left hand, looking at Luo Xiu who was restoring his True Qi, his killing intent growing.
Undoubtedly, this was a genius with great potential. Since they were already at odds, he had to do everything possible, without restraint, to kill him, preventing him from growing.
"Last night, Steward Zhang gave me two treasures, instructing me to kill Luo Xiu at all costs. Even if he's ranked 130th, I definitely won't lose!"
After weighing his options, Lin Jingyun calmed his mind. With his seventh layer Qi Sea Realm cultivation and the formation treasures given by Zhang Lüliang, he regained his confidence.
"The time has come!"
Suddenly, Zhang Lüliang stood up in the pavilion, his voice amplified by True Qi, announcing loudly, "Outer Sect disciples, the life-and-death duel between Luo Xiu and Lin Jingyun begins now!"
Instantly, all eyes focused on the Life-and-Death Battle Platform. Through sensing the True Qi fluctuations, everyone realized Luo Xiu's True Qi hadn't fully recovered.
And the time for the duel had arrived...