Cyclebreaker: Rise of the Martial Emperor

Chapter 75 – Le Pengcheng

"We can leave now."

Luo Xiu stood up and said to Lu Mengyao beside him.

For the past ten days, he had been studying formations, with Lu Mengyao always by his side.

"You know formations too?" Lu Mengyao looked surprised.

As far as she knew, Luo Xiu had joined the Martial Hall at the age of ten and had never been exposed to formations. The fact that Luo Xiu had only started learning about formations more than half a month ago and had already reached the level of a fifth-tier Formation Master was something she couldn't believe.

Luo Xiu didn't mention that he had already reached the level of a fifth-tier Formation Master. After all, such a thing was too unbelievable. If it weren't for the insights he gained from the Origin Law Diagram of the Heaven's Life and Death Cycle, he wouldn't have been able to reach this level in such a short time.

Since it was hard to explain, Luo Xiu simply didn't say much. He was well aware that such a significant secret couldn't be casually shared with others, not even with his closest family.

"I found the circuit diagram of the formation in Ghostly Yin Valley in the mountain cave."

Luo Xiu casually made up a reason and said, "Follow me and don't take a wrong step."

Seeing Lu Mengyao nod, Luo Xiu began to move, sometimes advancing, sometimes retreating, occasionally stepping in place or turning in circles.

After a long time, the scenery in the valley suddenly changed. The originally lush landscape turned into a desolate wasteland, and the entrance and exit of the valley finally appeared.

Seeing this, Lu Mengyao realized that the previous scenery in the valley was just an illusion created by the formation. The barren wasteland was the true appearance of Ghostly Yin Valley.

Su Jingyun's primordial spirit had already been obliterated, and the Yin Stone had been taken by Luo Xiu. Apart from this sixth-tier trapping formation that only allowed entry but not exit, there was no other danger in Ghostly Yin Valley.

Since the discovery of Ghostly Yin Valley in the Guanlei Mountain Range, many martial artists had died. Without the level of a fifth-tier Formation Master, anyone entering the valley would be trapped inside.

Although there were fifth-tier Formation Masters in Yunlong Prefecture and Douhai Prefecture, they wouldn't be trapped if they came here, but they would find it difficult to resist the invasion of Yin energy. Those who had ventured into Ghostly Yin Valley before were likely devoured by Su Jingyun to restore his broken primordial spirit.

After being trapped in Ghostly Yin Valley for more than ten days, Luo Xiu estimated that he had almost avoided the pursuit of the Yan family from Zuoxing City.

However, he still didn't dare to take Lu Mengyao to Zuoxing City. Without the Transforming Bone Pill to change their appearance, if they were recognized, it would be troublesome.

The only way was to bypass Zuoxing City and head to other cities in Douhai Prefecture to find the Thunder Martial Sect's base.

The encounter in Ghostly Yin Valley and the reminder from the Spirit of Reincarnation made Luo Xiu very aware that his strength was still weak. If he encountered greater danger, he might not even be able to protect himself, let alone always keep Lu Mengyao safe.

If Su Jingyun had chosen to possess Lu Mengyao instead of him, she would likely have become someone else by now.

Therefore, the urgent task was to send Lu Mengyao to the Thunder Martial Sect.

But before they could leave the Guanlei Mountain Range, Luo Xiu sensed a powerful divine sense fall upon him and Lu Mengyao. Immediately after, a middle-aged man in purple appeared before them.

In Luo Xiu's perception, the aura of this middle-aged man in purple was very strong, at least above the level of a Spirit Refining Martial Sect expert.

The middle-aged man in purple glanced at Luo Xiu indifferently, then his gaze fell on Lu Mengyao. Despite their straw hats and veils, the divine sense rendered such disguises useless.

"Are you the girl with the Thunder Martial Token?" the middle-aged man in purple asked slowly.

Hearing this, Luo Xiu was shocked. Could it be that this middle-aged man in purple was also after the Thunder Martial Token?

"Yes, senior," Lu Mengyao answered truthfully.

The middle-aged man in purple nodded, then looked at Luo Xiu, "You've got guts, kid. Daring to kill someone from the Yan family with just the sixth layer of the Qi Sea Realm, that courage is commendable."

Seeing the wary expressions on Luo Xiu and Lu Mengyao's faces, the middle-aged man in purple said calmly, "You don't need to worry about me taking the Thunder Martial Token. I am Le Pengcheng, a Protector of the Thunder Martial Sect. I heard that someone with the Thunder Martial Token appeared here..."

Before Le Pengcheng could finish, Lu Mengyao exclaimed, "Are you Uncle Le?"

Lu Mengyao removed the veil from her face, "Uncle Le, it's me, Mengyao."

"Mengyao?" Le Pengcheng first looked puzzled, then seemed to remember something. In a flash, he appeared in front of Lu Mengyao, "Are you Mengyao, the daughter of Brother Lu?"

"I heard something happened to the Free Spirit Sect. How is Brother Lu now?"

"Father, he..."

From the conversation between Lu Mengyao and Le Pengcheng, Luo Xiu learned that Lu Feichen had once trained with Le Pengcheng in their youth and had a life-and-death friendship.

The Thunder Martial Token was an extremely important token of the Thunder Martial Sect. The holder of the Thunder Martial Token could make a request to the Thunder Martial Sect, and as long as the request wasn't too excessive, the sect would agree.

Le Pengcheng seemed to hold an unusual status in the Thunder Martial Sect and had given Lu Feichen such a Thunder Martial Token back then.

"Hmph, the Yan family and Duan family in Zuoxing City must be tired of living, daring to snatch my niece's Thunder Martial Token. They don't know what's good for them!"

After hearing Lu Mengyao recount the events, a fierce killing intent rose from Le Pengcheng, as if in his eyes, the two major families in Zuoxing City were insignificant.

Although Luo Xiu couldn't see through Le Pengcheng's cultivation, judging by his life aura, he estimated that Le Pengcheng was at the same level as Lu Feichen, a Martial Grandmaster.

"Since Brother Lu is gone, you should follow Uncle Le to the Thunder Martial Sect and train well. Strive to avenge your father one day," Le Pengcheng said.

"Thank you, Uncle Le. I will work hard to train and avenge my father," Lu Mengyao said, somewhat excited.

Luo Xiu had never heard Lu Mengyao mention revenge before, clearly indicating that she had buried this hatred deep in her heart. The person who severely injured Lu Feichen must be at the Martial King level.

"Uncle Le, this is Luo Xiu. He has great talent and can even kill experts at the Innate Martial Master level. If it weren't for him, I might not have been able to see you, Uncle."

Lu Mengyao introduced Luo Xiu to Le Pengcheng and recounted how Luo Xiu had killed Gou Jinchuan and the Songshan Brothers.

Luo Xiu thought to himself that this was bad. A martial artist at the sixth layer of the Qi Sea Realm capable of killing an Innate Martial Master would surely have had extraordinary encounters.

Moreover, Le Pengcheng was a Martial Grandmaster, and with his shrewdness, he would naturally suspect something.

Sure enough, after hearing Lu Mengyao's words, Le Pengcheng's gaze fell on Luo Xiu, a glint flashing in his eyes. He smiled and said, "With such talent, you could come with me to the Thunder Martial Sect. With proper training, becoming a core disciple would be no problem."

Lu Mengyao had little experience and lacked cunning, but Luo Xiu saw an unusual hint in Le Pengcheng's tone and eyes.

Luo Xiu immediately cupped his hands and said, "I am used to being free and don't like the constraints of a sect. I hope senior can understand."

Explore the extended edition on p𝑎wre𝑑d.com

He had already expressed his reluctance to join the Thunder Martial Sect in a very tactful way. If Le Pengcheng insisted on taking him, it would certainly be with ulterior motives.

However, Luo Xiu's words, though seemingly clever, were actually a bit naive. The more he resisted joining the Thunder Martial Sect, the more Le Pengcheng believed he had secrets, fearing exposure if he joined a sect.

"Hehe, if you don't want to join the Thunder Martial Sect, I won't force you. You protected my niece Mengyao all the way to Douhai Prefecture, and I should thank you properly. Here, take this little trinket."

As he spoke, Le Pengcheng took out a jade talisman, "This is a fourth-tier formation jade talisman. Once activated, it can unleash an attack comparable to that of a Spirit Refining Martial Sect expert."

Such a jade talisman was invaluable, and any Qi Sea martial artist would be tempted. Luo Xiu, though suspicious, pretended to be excited and thanked him as he accepted it.

Le Pengcheng nodded with a smile, "Now come back to the city with me. With me here, the Yan family and Duan family won't dare to touch you."

On the way back, Le Pengcheng casually inquired about Luo Xiu from Lu Mengyao.

Since Le Pengcheng was a life-and-death friend of her father, Lu Mengyao had no guard and shared everything she knew.

In less than a year, Luo Xiu had advanced from the second layer of Body Refining to the sixth layer of the Qi Sea Realm and possessed strength comparable to an Innate Martial Master of the fourth layer?

Luo Xiu was secretly anxious, regretting not telling Lu Mengyao earlier not to share his affairs with others.

"Mengyao, has your Severed Fire Yang Meridian been restored?" Le Pengcheng, being a life-and-death friend of Lu Feichen, naturally knew about Lu Mengyao's previous condition.

"Yes, thanks to Luo Xiu. He helped cure my Severed Fire Yang Meridian," Lu Mengyao replied with a smile, unaware that the more she spoke, the more dangerous it became for Luo Xiu.

She shared Luo Xiu's achievements with Le Pengcheng, hoping he would gain recognition from the Thunder Martial Sect. However, Luo Xiu seemed unwilling to join, which saddened her.

She understood that without the support of a sect, a martial artist would struggle to achieve anything significant. If she wanted to avenge her father, Lu Feichen, she had to join the Thunder Martial Sect.

She also knew that if she parted ways with Luo Xiu this time, they might truly go their separate ways.

Once again, it was a choice. The last time, she chose to leave Luo Xiu for her father and marry Gou Jinchuan. If not for unforeseen events, it would have been a done deal.

This time, she had to choose to join the Thunder Martial Sect, separating from Luo Xiu again.

Half a day later, the three of them arrived at Zuoxing City.

Before they even entered the city, the Yan family and Duan family had received the news but did not show themselves, clearly aware of Le Pengcheng's identity.

"The Yan family head's only son, Yan Qiu, was killed, but as long as you become a disciple of the Thunder Martial Sect, the Yan family won't dare touch you," Le Pengcheng said with a smile.

Luo Xiu detected the underlying meaning but, not wanting to join the Thunder Martial Sect, pretended not to understand.

"Luo Xiu, you should come with me to the Thunder Martial Sect. Without the support of a sect, it's hard to train," Lu Mengyao urged.

"No, I plan to travel and train," Luo Xiu replied with a smile.

He knew that Le Pengcheng hadn't acted yet because of Lu Mengyao's presence. Of course, he also didn't know what secrets Luo Xiu held. If he knew about the Life and Death Pearl, he would certainly act, even with Lu Mengyao there.

If he went to the Thunder Martial Sect, it would be like a lamb entering a tiger's den. He would have to reveal all his secrets and treasures, and might not even keep his life.

In this world, there are good people and bad people. The Master of Qingyun Hall, Elder Zhuang, and Ye Xiangdou were good people, but Luo Xiu instinctively felt that Le Pengcheng was not.

Perhaps he was kind to Lu Mengyao because of his life-and-death friendship with Lu Feichen, but to Luo Xiu, he was just an outsider.