novelraw Chapter 7 – You! Kneel down for me
Chapter 7 – You! Kneel down for me
A clear fist imprint appeared on the Blackstone Tablet, leaving everyone nearby, including Zhao Liang, in a state of shock, unable to believe their eyes.
A smile appeared on Luo Xiu's face, satisfied with the effect of his second punch.
A Martial Apprentice at the sixth level of Body Refining could leave a shallow mark on the Blackstone Tablet, but to achieve this effect, one would need to be at least at the seventh level of Body Refining.
This indicated that his strength was already comparable to that of the seventh level.
"Kid, what's the point of showing off with martial techniques here? If you have the guts, try it without using any techniques," Zhao Liang said with a frown, feeling that Luo Xiu was stealing his thunder.
"Why should I listen to you?" Luo Xiu glanced at him indifferently.
"Hmph, if you don't dare to try, it proves you don't have the skills. If you don't have the skills, don't embarrass yourself here," Zhao Liang said domineeringly.
"Exactly, exactly. Who knows where he learned some powerful martial technique, what's there to show off?"
"Martial techniques don't represent true strength. Some people have a bit of skill and think they can show off everywhere. It's really disgusting."
Many others nearby chimed in, looking at Luo Xiu with disdain.
Luo Xiu chuckled silently, finding the logic of these Martial Hall students utterly absurd.
"What are you laughing at, kid?" Zhao Liang snorted coldly.
"I'm laughing at how you guys think you're so superior, looking down on others because of your own lack of ability," Luo Xiu said disdainfully.
"How dare you!" Zhao Liang's face turned cold, especially seeing the disdain in Luo Xiu's eyes, which fueled his anger. The aura of a sixth-level Body Refining practitioner made some people nearby feel oppressed.
"I'm talking about you. What are you going to do about it?" Luo Xiu showed no fear of his opponent's aura, his own inner qi also emanating.
"Kid, you're quite arrogant. I heard last time Zhang Hai wanted to teach you a lesson, but Teacher Lu intervened. Otherwise, you would have been crippled by now."
Zhao Liang approached Luo Xiu with a sneer, "You just said I have no skills. Do you dare to bet with me?"
"What are we betting on?" Luo Xiu asked with a frown.
"Of course, it's about who can leave a deeper mark on the Blackstone Tablet. Weren't you acting all arrogant just now? Do you dare to compete?" Zhao Liang said arrogantly and confidently.
"That's right, if this trash from the beginner class dares to show off, he should have the guts to compete with Zhao Liang."
"If this guy, who shows off his little skills everywhere, can beat Zhao Liang, I'll eat the Blackstone Tablet!"
The crowd around them jeered, their words filled with undisguised mockery and contempt for Luo Xiu.
A cold smile appeared at the corner of Luo Xiu's mouth as he said, "And what are the stakes?"
Seeing Luo Xiu actually agree, Zhao Liang was momentarily stunned. He had thought Luo Xiu would back down out of fear.
"Considering you're just a poor kid, you probably can't afford much. How about this: the loser has to kowtow and admit their mistake to the winner!" Zhao Liang suggested, confident that Luo Xiu couldn't possibly match him.
After all, he was at the sixth level of Body Refining and had practiced a Grade-Three Martial Technique. If he went all out, he could definitely leave a clear mark.
But Luo Xiu was just a poor kid from a humble background, at most practicing a Grade-Two Martial Technique, with cultivation lower than his own. There was no reason he could win.
The commotion attracted a large crowd, spreading quickly, and more people came to see the competition with Zhao Liang.
"Fine, I accept!" Luo Xiu agreed immediately. With Zhao Liang being so aggressive, he had no intention of being polite. He wanted Zhao Liang to taste the consequences of provoking him!
At the same time, Luo Xiu intended to use this opportunity to establish his reputation. This way, fewer people would dare to trouble him, and the more outstanding he performed, the more attention he would attract from the Martial Hall teachers and elders.
"Haha, kid, you're dead!"
Zhao Liang laughed wildly, circulating his inner qi, and shouted, "Open your eyes wide and watch closely!"
"Luo Light Fist!"
A faint glow emanated from Zhao Liang's fist. Generally, only those at the seventh level of Body Refining could make their inner qi glow, indicating that the martial technique he used was undoubtedly advanced, and his cultivation method was at least Grade-Three.
"Boom!"
The Blackstone Tablet shook slightly, a dull sound echoing as Zhao Liang struck with full force, leaving a clear fist imprint on the tablet.
"Amazing!"
The crowd around exclaimed in awe.
"I just saw Zhao Liang's fist emit the Radiance of Inner Qi, showing that his attack is comparable to the seventh level of Body Refining."
"Yes, although it can't quite match a true seventh level, it's not far off. It seems Zhao Liang's cultivation is about to break through."
People were shocked, and many envied Zhao Liang's martial talent.
In martial cultivation, talent is crucial. With the same time and resources, some might train for ten years and still not match a genius who trains for one year.
Moreover, those with high talent can more easily grasp the essence of martial techniques, making their execution more powerful.
"Trash, it's your turn. Get ready to kowtow and admit your mistake!" Zhao Liang looked at Luo Xiu arrogantly.
On the Blackstone Tablet, two fist imprints were clearly visible: one from Luo Xiu's earlier punch and one from Zhao Liang's full-force strike. Zhao Liang's imprint was more distinct and deeper.
Luo Xiu couldn't be bothered to argue.
"Tiger Stance!"
With a light shout, his body moved suddenly, carrying the momentum of a descending tiger, and punched the Blackstone Tablet.
"Is that... the Dragon-Tiger Fist?"
"I heard that although the Dragon-Tiger Fist is a Grade-Two Martial Art, many who practice it only have the form without the essence. But Luo Xiu's stance seems to have grasped its essence."
"No way? Does this kid have such high martial talent?"
Luo Xiu's display drew many exclamations of surprise.
"Bang!"
The Tiger Stance struck the Blackstone Tablet, the fierce punch wind sweeping up dust, full of power.
Everyone focused their gaze, eager to see the impact of Luo Xiu's punch.
The next moment, silence fell over the crowd.
"How... how is this possible?"
Seeing the fist imprint on the Blackstone Tablet, Zhao Liang was dumbfounded, his mood sinking instantly.
"Look, Luo Xiu's imprint is shaped like a tiger's head!" someone exclaimed.
"Really?" Others stared curiously.
"Wow, it's actually shaped like a roaring tiger's mouth!"
"Oh my god, am I seeing this right?"
"I heard that only by grasping the essence of the Tiger Stance of the Dragon-Tiger Fist can one achieve this effect!"
"The Dragon-Tiger Fist has two stances, the other being the Soaring Dragon Stance. I wonder if he's mastered that too."
The crowd exclaimed in amazement, their previous disdain and mockery replaced by deep shock as they looked at Luo Xiu.
Zhao Liang was completely stunned. The mark he left on the Blackstone Tablet was incomparable to the tiger head imprint left by Luo Xiu's Tiger Stance of the Dragon-Tiger Fist.
"This is impossible! Even a seventh-level Body Refining practitioner couldn't make such a deep imprint!" Zhao Liang said in disbelief, his lips trembling.
At this moment, the Martial Hall students who had sided with Zhao Liang now looked at him with a hint of pity.
The outcome of this competition was clear.
"Senior Brother Zhao Liang, according to our bet, isn't it time for you to kowtow and admit your mistake?" Luo Xiu said with a cold smile.
From the start, Luo Xiu hadn't provoked Zhao Liang, but Zhao Liang felt his spotlight was stolen and aggressively challenged him, even suggesting a bet to make him kowtow and admit defeat, intending to keep him humiliated for life.
"Don't push it, kid!" Zhao Liang said with a dark expression.
"You proposed the bet. Are you going to back out? Everyone's watching you!" Luo Xiu sneered.
The saying goes, "He who humiliates others will be humiliated in return." Luo Xiu knew that even if he let Zhao Liang off today, Zhao Liang would not be grateful but would hold a grudge.
"Just because you're good at martial techniques doesn't mean you're strong. Don't push your luck!" Zhao Liang's eyes flashed with malice.
"Yeah, Luo Xiu, since you've won, why push it?"
"We're all Martial Hall students, seeing each other often. Forcing Zhao Liang to kowtow and admit his mistake is too much."
Some people in the crowd, usually close to Zhao Liang, spoke up.
Luo Xiu's gaze turned cold as he swept over those speaking, sneering, "If I were the one who lost, would you let me off?"
Those few people couldn't help but step back under Luo Xiu's gaze. In reality, no one present was foolish; they just didn't want to offend Zhao Liang.
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"I'll cripple you!"
While Luo Xiu was intimidating those few, Zhao Liang suddenly attacked from the opposite side, his face twisted. His arms moved like two intertwining pythons, inner qi flowing, combining strength with finesse.
This was another Grade-Three Martial Technique, the Twin Python Fist. Though not as powerful as the Luo Light Fist, it was extremely fast, catching opponents off guard.
He was determined not to kowtow and admit his mistake. As long as he crippled Luo Xiu, even if people despised him, it was better than living a life of humiliation.
"Soaring Dragon Stance!"
With a shout of anger, Luo Xiu pushed his inner qi to the limit, leaping up to avoid vital areas, his arms extending like a swimming dragon. His fists left afterimages as they fiercely struck Zhao Liang.
Zhao Liang's expression changed, not expecting Luo Xiu to dodge his attack at the last moment and even counterattack.
He quickly changed his move, faint light glowing between his hands, unleashing his strongest martial technique, the Luo Light Fist.
"Bang!"
Their fists collided, and the surrounding crowd felt the wind from the impact sting their cheeks.
Zhao Liang's body trembled, pain shooting through his fist, his vital blood churning, nearly causing him to vomit blood.
"You! Kneel before me!"
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan