C2 Exultation!

As sunlight pierced through the windows, Luo Xiu opened his eyes. He had spent the entire night cultivating. Yet, instead of feeling limp and achy, he felt like he could jump to the moon. Energy pulsed through his veins as he stood up. "Interesting."

His body was making up for the last three years of stagnancy. At this point, his cells were just devouring every bit of Vital Energy of Heaven and Earth. It would not be long now till he'd be able to break through Level Three of Body Refining. He took a deep breath and moved closer to the edge of the bed.

The sunlight shone over his body, and his eyes widened. His body appeared toned. It wasn't all skin and bones like what it had been yesterday. Did he grow these muscles overnight? He ran his hands through his hair. Not only did he felt different, but he also looked different.

Luo Xiu pushed open the door and strode out to the Training Field of Martial Hall.

He wasn't the only one who had woken up early. Other students decided to grace the hall with their presence, yearning to improve their craft. After all, no one wanted to be left behind. However, as soon as they saw the familiar man entering the hallway, they stopped and stared.

Their eyebrows immediately furrowed over as whispers bounced off the walls. "Didn't he faint after getting beaten up by Zhang Hao and his gang?"

"I heard Luo Xiu stepped in because he liked Lau Yuxin! Maybe he's trying to win her over."

"That guy? Win her over? They're from two different worlds."

"She's the beloved daughter of the Lau Family." One person from the crowd scoffed as the others stifled their laughter. "How could she fall for a failure like him? He needs to know his place."

Luo Xiu gritted his teeth. This wasn't the first time these people had taunted him, and this certainly wouldn't be on the list. His fingers dug into his palm, but he restrained himself. Despite advancing to a new level, he still could not compare to most of them.

He still needed to improve. However, while he had practiced Qi circulation all night, he needed other ways to apply what he had learned—like martial arts.

He retreated to a remote corner of the Training Field, and Luo Xiu took a deep breath. Then, he opened his eyes and began.

His entire body moved as if he was dancing to a song. His hands were quick as they curled into fists, piercing through the breeze. The winds followed, howling in unison with his footwork. His eyes were narrowed, and his breathing was still.

This was the Mighty Bull Fist - a first-grade martial skill. It was the only skill he had managed to cultivate.

The Martial Hall of Azure Cloud City was extremely selective. They would not teach martial arts for "free". For one to inherit the powers of martial arts, he had two options.

The first option was to "buy" the scrolls behind the martial arts movements he wanted to learn. The higher the grade, the more expensive it was. In fact, the lowest martial arts would cost him a hundred taels of silver. The second option was to improve his cultivation skills, for this would allow him entry to the "Library of Cultivation" of the Martial Arts Hall.

He had bought this skill with his own money, using up almost all of his family's savings.

Not everyone had the privilege to practice martial arts. However, it was the only way to go up in this world. Power, after all, tells a tale of winners—never of the average. The second he had entered the Martial Hall at age ten, he knew this was his goal. And he was the shining hope of his family.

As he was practicing the Mighty Bull Fist, he could see the familiar lines flickering over his veins. His eyes widened momentarily. Luo Xiu watched as his fist moved with the wind. The Life Vein Diagram shone even brighter.

"So, it really can improve my Qi circulation!"

The corners of his lips inched upward.

Luo Xiu settled his gaze on the dummy at the center of the field. Then, he took a step forward and brought his fist down.

A loud explosion clacked around them. The dummy's chest split open as the frayed threads broke apart. Wooden shavings flew in different directions and he had to block his eyes from any flying shrapnel.

The dummy was made of cloth and iron. If a person didn't have the strength of Body Refining Level Three and above, his attack wouldn't have been able to land a scratch on this dummy, much less obliterate it!

Yet, he was still at Level Two!

Even if he really did level up, a Level Three student wouldn't have been able to destroy this dummy. One could have only done this level of damage if he was at Level Four. Was he?

His eyes lit up. Did that mean he could defeat anyone who'd come his way?

"I can't believe it," he whispered to himself. "I can't believe I'm this strong."

"Get lost! Are all of you blind? Didn't you see Young Master Zhang coming?"

An arrogant voice echoed across the field. Luo Xiu finally looked up, only to see a few men swaggering their way down the training field. The people they had walked past could only swallow their anger and back away.

Amongst the ratty subordinates stood a tall man decked in the most expensive training gear here. His eyes immediately narrowed at the familiar man.

"It's you." Zhang Hao cocked up his eyebrow. "Looking for another beating?"

"Ha!" Everyone burst into laughter. "Good one!"

More students stood behind him, regarding him with bright eyes with their tails tucked in between their legs. Even if they were irritated with the young man, they dared not show it.

Zhang Hao had promised that he'd beat him up. However, upon seeing this young man with no traces of bruises and scars, he felt rage and embarrassment bubbling in his chest. How could he have appeared unscathed?

"Still want to fight me for the woman?" Zhang Hao pointed at the other man. "Who do you even think you are showing up here like you own the place? Kneel down and crawl like the dog you are, and I may even show you mercy by licking my shoelaces."

However, Luo Xiu didn't say a word.

That didn't mean he wasn't affected. His clenched fists were shoved in his pockets as he resisted the urge to shudder. Although he was used to being mediocre, there was no way he'd allow himself to be humiliated like this.

"You mute? We're talking to you!" A follower behind Zhang Hao pushed him aside.

They all regarded themselves as the kings of this world.

Especially this tall man Lee Hai. He was the man who had beaten him up when Zhang Hao ordered him to. Despite coming from an ordinary family, he knew who to suck up to.

"Can't speak? Are you that stupid?" Lee Hai sneered. "Young Master Zhang has already granted you mercy, yet you still wouldn't kneel? Maybe you need to be taught a lesson again."

He raised his hand. However, before his hand could even touch Luo Xiu's face, he felt his entire body go cold as if he had been sucker-punched by ice.

Luo Xiu had grabbed him!

Dark thoughts were racing in Luo Xiu's mind as his dark gaze fell on the hesitant man. Why couldn't they just leave him alone?

Why did he have to ask for their mercy?

Why would he humiliate himself?

He was no longer the Luo Xiu of the past!

"You think you can hold me down?" Lee Hai roared, yanking back his fist, and tried to kick him in the chest. "Let's see how arrogant you'd be with broken ribs."

"My ribs? Or yours?" Luo Xiu dodged his leg and grabbed Lee Hai's arm. With a twist of his hand, a loud sound crackled across the air.

Gasps of shock were soon followed by a roar of pain. He sounded like a pig being slaughtered!

"You're too rude."

Lee Hai held his dislocated arm and pulled it close to his chest. Sweat trickled down his forehead.

Everyone froze. Their gazes landed on Luo Xiu as if they were looking at a puppy about to be led to his death.

They all knew Zhang Hao very well. If there was something as big as his head, it was his ego. He wouldn't let anyone go, especially if they resisted his control. While Luo Xiu was lucky in this round, that didn't mean he was safe from their collective wrath.

"Little bastard!" Zhang Hao's face darkened. "You dare to hit him?"

"Not only do I want to beat them, but I also want to beat you!" His nostrils flared.

Was he crazy? Where did he get the confidence to say such words?

They had all entered the Martial Hall at age 10 and had been cultivating for three years now. However, all of them knew that they knew much about Zhang Hao. The man had all the money and power in the world, being the heir to the Zhang Family. Not only has he reached Level Four in Body Refining, but he was also able to achieve Level Two cultivation method and Level Three in Martial Skill.

Despite the audience's confidence in his skill, Zhang Hao couldn't help but feel a little nervous. There was something about the way the other man was staring at him...it was as if he knew all the world's mysteries. How could he have changed overnight?

In the past, Lee Hai would've easily beaten him up...but now...

As he was lost in his thoughts, Luo Xiu moved. This time, he took the initiative and rushed toward the arrogant and unforgiving man.

"Then find out what it means to be defeated by this trash!" Luo Xiu snarled.

A couple of Zhang Hao's men stepped back. While they didn't believe that Luo Xiu had gotten strong overnight, there was something about his aura that intimidated them.

"You useless trash! How could an idiot compare to me?"

His heart pounded, and his cheeks turned red. It didn't take long as a series of curse words left Zhang Hao's lips before he bent his fingers—creating a sign of a claw.

He was using the Iron Eagle Claw – a Level Three Martial Skill! The force from his palm was much stronger than that of Lee Hai.

Luo Xiu's fist collided with his curved palm. It was a Level One Martial Skill against a Level Three Martial Skill. In the eyes of everyone around them, they already knew who the winner was going to be.

Everyone stopped as cracking bones echoed around them.

"Ah!"