Cyclebreaker: Rise of the Martial Emperor

Chapter 58 – Slaughter

The president of the Hunter Guild in Qingyun City was an elder with white hair and beard, dressed in a loose black robe.

Though he appeared aged, his eyes were sharp and commanding, exuding a natural authority.

Zhuang Nantian and the Master of Qingyun Hall quickly stood up and respectfully saluted, then retreated from the room to avoid intruding.

Luo Xiu also stood up and respectfully said, "Junior Luo Xiu greets the President."

"I am Ye Xiangdou!"

The president's voice bore no trace of age, instead, it was deep and powerful.

His gaze fell on Luo Xiu, and he said calmly, "I am already aware of your situation."

"I can help you rescue your family from the Martial Hall, but this involves many complications, so have you prepared what I require?" Ye Xiangdou asked directly.

Luo Xiu didn't say much, he simply took out a martial arts manual and placed it on the table.

"A mid-tier sixth-grade internal cultivation method, Qingyuan Technique."

In truth, Luo Xiu was somewhat uncertain. What if the president took the cultivation method and did nothing in return?

Ultimately, it was because his own strength was insufficient. Otherwise, why would he need to entrust his fate to others?

At this moment, Luo Xiu longed for powerful strength more than ever!

Ye Xiangdou's gaze seemed to penetrate Luo Xiu's heart. He picked up the Qingyuan Technique from the table and said, "Young man, don't worry. Since our Hunter Guild accepts such tasks, our reputation is paramount. If I take your item, I will naturally help you."

"Of course, junior trusts senior," Luo Xiu replied.

Ye Xiangdou nodded, then set the Qingyuan Technique down, saying, "It is indeed a mid-tier sixth-grade cultivation method. Besides rescuing your family, what else do you need me to do?"

At this point, Ye Xiangdou stared at Luo Xiu and said, "Apart from matters related to the task, I will not intervene in anything else."

The Hunter Guild values its reputation and has rules. Accepting such tasks inevitably offends many powerful individuals and factions, so the guild's experts have a defined scope when undertaking tasks.

For instance, if Luo Xiu's task involved killing important figures from major sects, the Hunter Guild would not accept it. Otherwise, no matter how powerful the guild is, it couldn't survive in this world.

"If someone wants to kill me, I hope senior can ensure the safety of me and my family!" Luo Xiu stated his first request.

"That can be arranged," Ye Xiangdou agreed.

"After rescuing my family, I also hope senior can escort us out of Yunlong Prefecture," Luo Xiu added.

Ye Xiangdou frowned, "I cannot agree to that request. If it's just you, you could use the teleportation formation to reach other guild branches in different prefectures, but the minimum requirement for using the formation is a Qi Sea Realm cultivation."

Hearing this, Luo Xiu's expression changed slightly.

He knew that even if he rescued his parents and sister, if they couldn't leave Yunlong Prefecture, they would still be within the Free Spirit Sect's sphere of influence. Both Lu Feichen and Zhang Lüliang could easily kill him.

"However, I can promise you that as long as they are in Qingyun City, I will protect them under the name of the Hunter Guild, but this condition is not part of the task, and you will need to pay additional compensation."

After a brief pause, Ye Xiangdou said, "To protect your family for a year, you need to pay one thousand low-grade Yuan Qi Stones."

Luo Xiu was taken aback; one thousand low-grade Yuan Qi Stones were equivalent to the value of a mid-tier human-grade war armament.

However, for Luo Xiu, his family's safety was priceless, so no matter how expensive, he had to agree.

"I need senior to protect my family for ten years!" Luo Xiu declared.

Ten years would cost ten thousand low-grade Yuan Qi Stones. When Luo Xiu said this, even Ye Xiangdou, a Martial Grandmaster, was moved, as he himself only had a little over three thousand low-grade Yuan Qi Stones in savings.

However, he wasn't tempted by the wealth. In this world, there are countless martial artists, some unscrupulous and others who are gentlemen who earn wealth righteously.

Lu Feichen belonged to the former, while Ye Xiangdou was undoubtedly the latter.

Meeting people like the Master of Qingyun Hall, Zhuang Nantian, and Ye Xiangdou was fortunate for Luo Xiu. Otherwise, with so much wealth, if he encountered the former type, he would be devoured without a trace.

"Senior, I don't have that many Yuan Qi Stones on hand. Can I use treasures of equivalent value as collateral?" Luo Xiu asked.

Ten thousand low-grade Yuan Qi Stones are equivalent to one hundred mid-grade Yuan Qi Stones. Luo Xiu had them, but Yuan Qi Stones could aid in cultivation, so he naturally wanted to keep them for his future needs.

"That's acceptable," Ye Xiangdou agreed immediately. As long as the value was equivalent, whether in Yuan Qi Stones or other treasures, it was acceptable.

Luo Xiu took out a Battle Sword from his storage ring and placed it on the table, saying, "This is a low-tier earth-grade Battle Sword, definitely worth more than ten thousand low-grade Yuan Qi Stones!"

Ye Xiangdou nodded. Based on the items Luo Xiu presented, he guessed that this fourteen-year-old boy was likely very lucky to have acquired the wealth left by a Martial Grandmaster. Moreover, a Martial Grandmaster possessing a low-tier earth-grade war armament was certainly not an ordinary Martial Grandmaster.

As Ye Xiangdou himself was a Martial Grandmaster, yet he only used a top-tier human-grade war armament, a low-tier earth-grade war armament was too expensive for him.

As for the possibility of a treasure trove left by a Martial King, Ye Xiangdou didn't consider it, as Martial Kings were exceedingly rare in Yunlong Prefecture.

Having reached an agreement with Ye Xiangdou, the elder and the youth exited the room.

Zhuang Nantian and the Master of Qingyun Hall were waiting outside. Seeing Ye Xiangdou walking behind Luo Xiu like a guard, they exchanged glances, knowing that the president had agreed to help Luo Xiu.

Back in the Hunter Guild hall, Luo Xiu did not wear his straw hat this time.

The beautiful receptionist, Jiang Shanshan, saw him and seemed to recall events from a few months ago, a shy blush appearing on her pretty face.

However, when she noticed the white-bearded elder behind Luo Xiu, her eyes widened in disbelief, and she covered her red lips with her small hand.

"Oh my, isn't that the president?" Jiang Shanshan's eyes were filled with incredulity.

She had been fortunate enough to meet the president before, which is why she could recognize him at a glance. However, the many hunters in the hall had never seen the president's true face, so they didn't know the esteemed identity of this white-bearded elder.

"The president is actually walking behind Luo Xiu. Who exactly is this young man?"

At that moment, Jiang Shanshan suddenly felt that this black-clad youth exuded an aura of mystery.

"Luo Xiu!"

Just then, a middle-aged man in an embroidered robe entered the Hunter Guild hall, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before landing on Luo Xiu.

Luo Xiu looked over, frowning slightly. He didn't recognize this middle-aged man, but he bore a resemblance to the former patriarch of the Zhang Clan, Zhang Shaoxiong.

"Are you from the Zhang Clan?" Luo Xiu asked.

The middle-aged man smiled as he approached, "Indeed, I am the current patriarch of the Zhang Clan, Zhang Shaohai!"

"Though my elder brother died because of you, if not for you, I wouldn't have become the patriarch."

Zhang Shaohai walked up to Luo Xiu and whispered, "To be honest, it wasn't my elder brother who ordered the capture of your parents and sister, it was me!"

"It was you?" Luo Xiu's eyes flashed with a murderous gleam.

Clearly, Zhang Shaohai was also someone who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, even framing his own brother to seize the position of patriarch.

Originally, Luo Xiu hadn't intended to kill Zhang Shaoxiong, but upon hearing that the Zhang Clan ordered the capture of his family, he naturally assumed it was Zhang Shaoxiong's doing and, in his anger, had the Master of the Martial Hall execute him.

If not for this, he wouldn't have become enemies with the Zhang Clan's elder, leading to several close calls.

"If I could kill Zhang Shaoxiong, aren't you afraid I'll kill you too?" Luo Xiu said coldly.

Zhang Shaohai laughed dismissively, "You're already at death's door, yet you still boast?"

He dared to say this to Luo Xiu because he was confident.

"Don't think hiding in the Hunter Guild will keep you safe. If you don't come out, I'll have your parents and sister brought here and killed. Let's see if you come out then!" Zhang Shaohai said with a vicious expression.

Hearing this, Luo Xiu's eyes narrowed, his heart surging with murderous intent.

A cold, sinister smile appeared on his face, "You want me to come out? Very well, I'll come out!"

Before he finished speaking, Luo Xiu strode towards the Hunter Guild's entrance, with Ye Xiangdou, the Martial Grandmaster, following closely behind, expressionless.

Luo Xiu's action surprised Zhang Shaohai, but then a cold smile appeared on his face, "Young people are impulsive. A little bluffing and he rushes out to his death."

Outside the Hunter Guild hall, a squad of Azure Guards stood imposingly, each wielding swords and exuding a murderous aura.

A crowd had gathered nearby, speculating why the Azure Guards were here and who could warrant the mobilization of thirty Azure Guards.

Suddenly, Luo Xiu emerged from the Hunter Guild branch.

"Azure Guards, seize Luo Xiu! If he resists, kill him!" Zhang Shaohai's voice, filled with killing intent, rang out.

The sound of swords being drawn echoed as thirty Azure Guards unleashed their auras, surrounding Luo Xiu from all sides.

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Zhang Shaohai personally blocked the entrance to the Hunter Guild, cutting off Luo Xiu's retreat, preventing him from escaping back inside.

Luo Xiu was unconcerned; with Ye Xiangdou, the Martial Grandmaster, behind him, if Zhang Shaohai attempted a sneak attack, it would be suicidal.

The intense killing intent surged in front of the Hunter Guild.

Each Azure Guard was at the Qi Sea Realm, but none were above the fifth layer, except for the captain, who was at the sixth layer.

An Azure Guard, wielding a long knife, charged at Luo Xiu with a cold, cruel smile.

However, as he approached, a black sword light flashed before his eyes, and before he realized what happened, his head flew off, rolling into the distance.

Blood gushed like a fountain, and Luo Xiu's hand, now holding a blood-stained black Battle Sword, seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

Standing behind Luo Xiu, Ye Xiangdou's eyes narrowed slightly. As a Martial Grandmaster, his discerning eyes could see that Luo Xiu's sword technique was extremely fast and precise, executed with decisiveness and ruthlessness, instantly killing a Qi Sea Martial Artist of similar cultivation.

Though such a feat was nothing to a Martial Grandmaster, for a fourteen-year-old at the third layer of the Qi Sea Realm, it was beyond ordinary talent.

After slaying the Azure Guard with one strike, Luo Xiu didn't stop. His chest was filled with pent-up killing intent, eager to be unleashed.

Every swing of his sword resulted in bloodshed, a body falling into a pool of blood.

These Azure Guards, none exceeding the seventh layer of the Qi Sea Realm, couldn't withstand a single move from him.

His sword was incredibly fast, like a flash of lightning, leaving ordinary martial artists with no chance to evade.

"Swish, swish, swish..."

Three Azure Guards retreated to a distance, drawing their longbows, arrows whistling towards Luo Xiu's head.

"Die!"

The other Azure Guards attacked simultaneously, leaving Luo Xiu with no room to dodge.

"Flash Sword!"

Luo Xiu shouted, executing a move from the Aurora Sword Art, the black sword light cutting through the air, slicing the incoming arrows.

Immediately, his form twisted, and the attacks from the Azure Guards struck only afterimages.

"Life-Reaping Sword!"

A cold voice echoed, like a death sentence whispered in the ear, as black sword energy flew from Luo Xiu's Shadow Sword.

The sound of slicing was incessant, and in an instant, four Azure Guards were slain, blood splattering.

In life-and-death battles, there is no room for mercy or kindness.

With his movement technique at full display, seven afterimages appeared as Luo Xiu immersed himself in the slaughter, unleashing the overwhelming killing intent within him!

With each step, he killed a man, every sword strike drew blood. In just a few moments, the ground in front of the Hunter Guild was stained crimson with blood, severed limbs scattered everywhere, like a scene from a hellish battlefield.

The crowd that had gathered to watch the spectacle now retreated to a distance, their faces etched with terror.