Cyclebreaker: Rise of the Martial Emperor

Chapter 61 – Luo Xiu's Wealth

"What's the standard for determining the level of a genius?" Luo Xiu couldn't help but ask.

"In the guild, genius levels are divided into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Each grade is further divided into lower, middle, and upper sub-levels."

For the full version, visit [ pawread.com ].

"For someone your age, at fourteen, reaching the seventh layer of the Qi Sea Realm and achieving major achievement in fifth-grade martial arts would qualify you for a lower Yellow grade. The reason you can be assessed at this level with only the third layer of the Qi Sea Realm is due to your combat performance, which is equivalent to having the strength of someone at the seventh layer with major achievement in fifth-grade martial arts. That's why you barely qualify for the lower Yellow grade."

Hearing this, Luo Xiu couldn't help but gasp. The standards for admitting geniuses into the Hunter Guild were exceedingly high.

As far as he knew, a fourteen-year-old at the seventh layer of the Qi Sea Realm hadn't even appeared among the core disciples of the Free Spirit Inner Sect, let alone requiring major achievement in fifth-grade martial arts. The requirements for both cultivation and martial talent were extremely high.

"A year from now, when you turn fifteen, you must have reached the Innate Realm and achieved major achievement in sixth-grade martial arts. If your cultivation doesn't meet the requirements, your strength must."

"And this is just the requirement for the lower Yellow grade. The higher the genius level, the higher the requirements, but the benefits are also greater."

"Also using fourteen as the standard, the requirement for middle Yellow grade is the ninth layer of the Qi Sea Realm and perfection in fifth-grade martial arts. The requirement for upper Yellow grade is the early Innate stage and major achievement in sixth-grade martial arts. As for the higher Profound, Earth, and Heaven grades, even I haven't heard of them."

As he spoke, Ye Xiangdou took out the Earth-Grade Low Tier Battle Sword and said, "If you're willing to become a member of the Hunter Guild, according to the rules, the guild will protect your family's safety without charge, so this sword can be returned to you."

Many Martial King-level experts might not even own an Earth-Grade Low Tier War Armament. Especially in Yunlong Prefecture, Earth-Grade War Armaments are rare because forging them requires not only precious minerals and materials but also a fifth-tier forging master!

Only the branch of the Forging Master Guild in Yunlong Prefecture has a fifth-tier forging master stationed there, a person of high status, and many Martial King experts find it difficult to request a weapon from them.

Luo Xiu could see the reluctance in Ye Xiangdou's eyes, so he smiled and said, "Since this sword has already been given to you, how could I take it back?"

"If it weren't for your help, I wouldn't have been able to rescue my family from the Martial Hall. This kindness is worth far more than a sword."

"Moreover, with my low cultivation, flaunting this sword would only make me a target and be akin to seeking death. Rather than keeping something useless, it's better to give it to you. In the future, my family in Qingyun City will still need your care."

Luo Xiu's words were reasonable, and Ye Xiangdou, being experienced, understood his meaning immediately.

"Alright, as long as your family is in Qingyun City, I won't allow anyone to harm them in the slightest!" Ye Xiangdou agreed directly. With this Earth-Grade Low Tier Battle Sword, his strength would increase significantly.

Coupled with the sixth-grade Qingyuan Technique he obtained from Luo Xiu, he hoped to advance his cultivation within the next ten years.

Luo Xiu knew he couldn't always protect his family, so joining the Hunter Guild to eliminate future worries was undoubtedly the best choice.

Ye Xiangdou handed Luo Xiu a booklet, only three simple pages, outlining the rights and obligations of genius members.

According to the booklet, genius members, aside from their family, do not receive unconditional protection from the Hunter Guild.

Because the growth of a genius requires experiencing numerous trials and life-and-death challenges, the Hunter Guild will not interfere in Luo Xiu's personal affairs.

However, he could use his privileges to access various intelligence collected by the Hunter Guild. A lower Yellow grade genius equates to the privileges of an external Spirit Refining Realm Martial Grandmaster.

This meant that Luo Xiu's privileges and status in the Hunter Guild were equivalent to someone like Ye Xiangdou!

This was why Ye Xiangdou's attitude towards him had been somewhat different.

Luo Xiu composed himself, glanced at Ye Xiangdou sitting opposite him, and said, "I would like to ask you for a favor."

"Go ahead," Ye Xiangdou nodded. Having accepted Luo Xiu's Earth-Grade Battle Sword, he owed him a favor, and would help as long as it was within his capability.

...

The next morning, Luo Xiu used the teleportation formation to travel from Qingyun City to Yunlong Prefecture Capital.

At the Hunter Guild branch in Yunlong Prefecture Capital, Luo Xiu met the legendary branch president.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Wen Qianhong, the president of the Yunlong Prefecture branch of the Tianwu Kingdom."

The president wore a white scholar's robe, smiling gently, without any martial aura emanating from him.

Yet, this very person held a significant position in Yunlong Prefecture.

"President," Luo Xiu stepped forward and greeted respectfully.

Wen Qianhong smiled and nodded, "Please, have a seat."

Luo Xiu thanked him and sat down. Initially, he intended to ask Ye Xiangdou to intervene, but he hadn't expected to alarm the branch president.

"I am aware of your situation. Do you know why Lu Feichen targeted you?" Wen Qianhong got straight to the point.

Luo Xiu shook his head. It was precisely because he didn't understand that he wanted to find out. He originally planned to ask Ye Xiangdou to arrange a meeting with Lu Feichen to clarify matters.

Later, Ye Xiangdou informed the branch president, leading to the current situation.

"Recently, the Sect Master of the Free Spirit Sect was severely injured in the Nine Phoenix Mountain Range. He won't survive more than half a month."

Wen Qianhong explained. Although this news was tightly sealed by the Free Spirit Sect, the Hunter Guild's capabilities allowed them to know everything clearly.

"With such an incident, there will naturally be a struggle for the Sect Master position within the Free Spirit Sect. Among the contenders, two Inner Sect Elders, Di Sigu and Kong Qingyu, have the highest support. Lu Feichen is Kong Qingyu's favored disciple."

Hearing this, Luo Xiu frowned. This was evidently an internal power struggle within the Free Spirit Sect, with Lu Feichen deeply involved. But what did it have to do with a small Qi Sea Martial Artist like him?

At this moment, Wen Qianhong continued, "Compared to Di Sigu, Kong Qingyu has fewer supporters. If nothing unexpected happens, the Sect Master position will fall to Di Sigu. Once he becomes Sect Master, he will undoubtedly try to eliminate Kong Qingyu's faction to consolidate his power and prestige."

"Within the Inner Sect, there are three elders—Gou Hongyi, Quan Yongchen, and Deng Zhihui—who are sworn siblings and always act together. Gou Hongyi is the eldest and has a grandson named Gou Jinchuan, who was a suitor of Lu Feichen's daughter, Lu Mengyao, a few years ago."

Wen Qianhong laid out the background, and Luo Xiu finally understood.

He was drawn into this power struggle and nearly became a sacrificial pawn because of his closeness to Lu Mengyao.

Lu Feichen wanted to kill him to make Lu Mengyao give up completely, allowing her to marry Gou Jinchuan and secure the support of the three Inner Sect Elders for Kong Qingyu.

"Now that you understand the situation, there's no need to risk seeking out Lu Feichen."

Wen Qianhong said slowly, "Technically, this is your personal matter, so according to the rules, the guild won't directly intervene, only provide you with relevant intelligence."

Wen Qianhong clearly adhered to official protocol, not breaking the rules just because Luo Xiu was an internal genius member.

These rules were the foundation of the Hunter Guild, and breaking them could lead to significant issues.

"Can I issue a bounty task to seek protection from a Martial King expert in the guild?"

Luo Xiu's sudden question caught Wen Qianhong off guard.

Issuing a bounty task was a legitimate method, not restricted by the rules.

However, seeking help from a Martial King expert required a price far beyond that of a Martial Grandmaster!

Wen Qianhong chuckled, "I know you can produce sixth-grade cultivation methods and Earth-Grade Low Tier War Armaments, so you must have some fortuitous encounters. But do you know what kind of compensation is required to enlist the help of a Martial King expert?"

Luo Xiu didn't know the specifics, but he believed that with the treasures left by Martial King Buchen, he had enough to enlist a Martial King expert.

"Items below fifth-tier hold no value for Martial King experts. As I understand, you gave your Earth-Grade War Armament to Ye Xiangdou, correct?" Wen Qianhong said, not expecting Luo Xiu to have other fifth-tier treasures.

Fifth-tier treasures were priceless in Yunlong Prefecture. Many Martial King experts considered themselves wealthy if they possessed one or two such treasures.

Wen Qianhong didn't explain further and handed Luo Xiu a list.

For protection bounty tasks, hiring a Martial King from the first to third level required one to two fifth-tier treasures.

For the fourth to sixth level, three to five fifth-tier treasures were needed.

For the seventh level, six fifth-tier treasures were required.

For the eighth level, seven fifth-tier treasures were needed.

For the ninth level, ten fifth-tier treasures were required!

As for peak ninth-level Martial King experts, fifth-tier treasures held little value. Only sixth-tier treasures could entice them.

The list Wen Qianhong provided would make any Qi Sea Martial Artist gasp.

But Luo Xiu remained calm, knowing he had many fifth-tier treasures in his storage ring, including twenty Earth-Grade Low Tier Battle Swords, even after giving one to Ye Xiangdou!

He even had two Earth-Grade Mid-Tier Battle Swords, which were sixth-tier treasures!

The classification of treasures was based on the corresponding cultivation level required. For example, Innate Martial Masters required third-tier treasures, Spirit Refining Martial Grandmasters required fourth-tier treasures, and Martial King experts required fifth-tier treasures.

Third-tier treasures were useless to Spirit Refining Martial Sects, unable to enhance their strength, and fourth-tier treasures were similarly ineffective for Martial King experts.

Martial arts and cultivation methods could also be classified as treasures. For instance, Luo Xiu offered Ye Xiangdou the mid-level sixth-grade Xuan Guang True Art, equivalent in value to a top-tier fourth-tier treasure.

A high-level sixth-grade martial art was equivalent to a fifth-tier treasure.

As for seventh-grade martial arts, only a few powerful Kings of Martial Dao had the opportunity to learn them.

Luo Xiu now realized the immense wealth left by Martial King Buchen!

Even the accumulated wealth of many Martial King experts might not match his own, as Martial King Buchen was a fifth-tier forging master!

Compared to ordinary martial artists, forging masters, formation masters, and alchemists who reached high levels were undoubtedly the wealthiest individuals.