After his meal.
Luo Tian arrived at Qingchang City's sole Martial Arts Academy, Cyan Peak Academy.
Established for nearly a century, Cyan Peak Academy was divided into Basic, Middle, and Advanced Classes.
At the age of ten, Luo Tian's Sixth Layer of Body Tempering cultivation allowed him to enter the Middle Class directly.
By the age of twelve, at the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering, he had already entered the Advanced Class.
The students of the Advanced Class were either geniuses with great potential or had already broken through to the Meridian Opening Realm. It was the gathering place for all the young talents in Qingchang City.
Along the way.
Some of the younger students shot Luo Tian odd looks, their faces a mixture of ridicule and pity.
"This piece of trash is actually still in the Advanced Class?"
"Did you hear? This kid gave Liu Yuanhu a savage beating yesterday."
"He injured Liu Yuanhu? Tsk, tsk, now we've got a good show to watch! Even if this kid doesn't die, he's going to lose a layer of skin."
...
Luo Tian's brow furrowed slightly as he entered the Advanced Class classroom.
Just then, he felt more gazes on him from inside the classroom—some filled with pity, others with schadenfreude.
'Something's wrong!'
Luo Tian extended his Spiritual Sense, his senses sharpening as he began to "eavesdrop" on the nearby discussions.
"That kid Luo Tian actually injured Liu Yuanhu?"
"Heh heh, but Liu Yuanhu's brother, Liu Yuanba, is a Martial Artist in the Meridian Opening Realm. He just doesn't usually attend class."
'Liu Yuanba?'
'A Martial Artist in the Meridian Opening Realm?'
Luo Tian was startled; he hadn't expected Liu Yuanhu to have a brother like that.
Luo Tian couldn't be blamed for this.
The Advanced Class had over a hundred students. He had always been ostracized and bullied, a marginal figure who wasn't familiar with many of his classmates.
This was especially true for the geniuses in the Meridian Opening Realm, who were allowed to skip classes.
Geniuses like Liu Yuanba were guided by their clan elders, cultivating the Liu Clan's Entry Grade Martial Arts.
"Luo Tian, get the hell out here!"
A resonant, ear-splitting voice boomed from outside the classroom.
Inside the classroom.
Some students' qi and blood surged, and they nearly lost their footing.
"It's Liu Yuanba!"
"Liu Yuanba's power is terrifying! His voice is infused with True Qi; it shakes your very soul and makes your blood churn."
The students were all shaken and terrified.
Luo Tian sat in his spot, unaffected.
He had activated his Divine Vein, causing his physical constitution and strength to increase dramatically. Moreover, his Spiritual Power was several times greater than that of others at his rank.
THUD! THUD!
A burly youth clad in Battle Armor strode in, his face etched with a murderous aura.
"Liu Yuanba!"
Many of the students, terrified, couldn't help but tremble.
"So you're that Wasted Vein, Luo Tian. I recognize you!"
Liu Yuanba's gaze was sinister and ice-cold.
"What can I do for you?"
Luo Tian remained seated, in no hurry.
The Academy's rules stated that sparring was allowed in the Martial Arts Arena and other such places, but fighting was strictly forbidden in the classroom.
"You. Come outside with me!"
Liu Yuanba's tone was forceful, carrying an authority that could not be defied.
With that, he turned and walked out of the classroom.
'Does he take me for an idiot?'
'He tells me to go outside, and I'm just supposed to obey?'
Luo Tian sneered and ignored him completely.
Liu Yuanba was a Martial Artist of the Meridian Opening Realm. He had opened a Qi Vein within his body and possessed True Qi. For someone like him, dealing with a cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering was no more difficult than crushing an insect.
After all, the Body Tempering Realm was just the gateway to the Martial Arts; its practitioners were known as Martial Disciples.
A Martial Disciple versus a true Martial Artist?
The chasm between the two had been considered insurmountable since ancient times. Only a few peerless, once-in-a-generation geniuses recorded in ancient texts had ever managed to overcome it.
And even those peerless geniuses could, at most, hold their own against a higher-realm opponent; winning was nearly impossible.
"Luo Tian, do you think you can escape your fate by cowering like a turtle in its shell?"
"Hurry up and go out with Brother Ba. If you get on your knees and apologize, you might get off with just a bit of physical pain."
Some nearby students gloated.
"What's all this noise!"
A powerful male voice cut through the noise.
"Teacher Lin."
"Greetings, Teacher..."
The students in the classroom respectfully cleared a path.
The newcomer was a square-faced, middle-aged man named Lin Xiaofeng. He was the Advanced Class teacher, responsible for theory lessons.
"Whatever grudges you have, don't cause trouble in the classroom,"
Lin Xiaofeng said in a deep voice.
His gaze swept over Liu Yuanba with a hint of a warning, then he glanced at Luo Tian, his brow furrowed.
Clearly.
Lin Xiaofeng saw the conflict between Liu Yuanba and Luo Tian, but he had no intention of getting involved.
Lin Xiaofeng had never liked a Veinless like Luo Tian.
Hmph!
Liu Yuanba gave Luo Tian a cold look, then turned and left.
As a Martial Artist in the Meridian Opening Realm, he could skip regular classes and only needed to show up for examinations.
"Class is starting."
Lin Xiaofeng mainly taught theory class.
Luo Tian lowered his head and eyes, silently cultivating the Celestial Destiny Creation Technique.
In the Beginner's Guide, the main focus is on condensing Spiritual Power, nurturing the Soul, and enhancing one's own Spiritual Sense.
Seeing Luo Tian not paying attention, Lin Xiaofeng was filled with disgust. 'I have to find a way to get rid of a student like this,' he thought, 'before he ruins the reputation of the Advanced Class.'
...
That afternoon, the practical combat class began.
The class covered nothing more than some basic Fist Techniques and Step Techniques.
Luo Tian focused on his practice, determined to build a solid foundation. Many of the more advanced Martial Skills and Cultivation Techniques required one to be in the Meridian Opening Realm to cultivate them.
「Just as class was about to end.」
Luo Tian suddenly felt a prickling sensation on his back, as if he were being watched. He noticed several Liu Clan students secretly staring at him.
This was a result of cultivating the Creation Technique, which had greatly enhanced his Spiritual Sense.
'I'm being watched!'
Luo Tian's expression turned grim. 'It looks like Liu Yuanba is determined to make a move against me.'
'Celestial Book.'
His consciousness reached out and touched the Creation Celestial Book.
WHOOSH!
The Celestial Book slowly opened. Its first page had only recovered a faint glimmer of light.
'With my current strength, what are my chances of winning against someone in the Meridian Opening Realm?'
Luo Tian had just asked his question.
WHOOSH!
A ball of black mist once again materialized on the Celestial Book, blocking his view.
"Hmph, you need to ask the Celestial Book a question like this?"
"You're a Divine Vein Master! Even though your power isn't fully unlocked, what's there to fear from a mere First Layer of the Meridian Opening Realm?"
The Celestial Book God said, its voice laced with disdain.
'It's this thing again!'
Luo Tian grew cautious, ready to bolt at a moment's notice.
"Young man, hold on, don't be in such a hurry to leave!"
The Celestial Book God's arrogance instantly vanished.
"What is it now?"
Luo Tian's expression was cold.
"Heh heh, this god has a method that can help you in your fight. It has a hundred benefits and not a single drawback..."
The Celestial Book God gave a sinister laugh.
"Oh?"
After hearing the Celestial Book God's method, Luo Tian's eyes lit up.
'This plan is brilliant!'
"But you must first let this god leave the Celestial Book!"
the Celestial Book God said with a laugh.
"No. What if your method is fake? I have to test it out first."
There was no way Luo Tian would let the Celestial Book God out so easily.
"You..."
The Celestial Book God was exasperated.
Finally, it said helplessly, "Young man, you can't deceive the Celestial Book God! If you do, you'll be struck by lightning!"
For some reason, when it mentioned being struck by lightning, the Celestial Book God's tone became incredibly grave, and was even tinged with a powerful hatred.
"I will never deceive the Celestial Book God!"
Luo Tian declared with a righteous expression.
'In his heart, he was certain this black mist wasn't the Celestial Book God, just a troublesome cloud of smoke.'
The sun was setting in the west.
Cyan Peak Academy finally let out for the day.
Luo Tian swaggered toward the Academy exit.
"You little bastard, where do you think you're going!"
An angry shout rang out.
An injured youth covered in bandages approached, flanked by several other youths from the Liu Clan.
Luo Tian found him somewhat familiar.
'Taking a closer look, wasn't this Liu Yuanhu, the one he'd beaten savagely just yesterday?'
"Just the few of you?"
Luo Tian couldn't help but shake his head.
"Luo Tian, you can't escape. My brother is waiting for you at the back of the mountain."
Liu Yuanhu's voice was threateningly Yin Cold.
His venomous, intimidating gaze was so intense that no one dared to meet his eyes.
"Hmph, it seems you haven't learned your lesson!"
Luo Tian's expression turned cold, and his figure blurred.
SLAP!
With the sound of a slap, the bandaged Liu Yuanhu was sent flying.
AH!
The few nearby Liu Clan youths gasped in unison.
For Luo Tian to dare to make a move under these circumstances... he was far too bold.
Wasn't he afraid of retaliation from Liu Yuanba?
"If Liu Yuanba is looking for me, tell him to drag his own ass over here! And stop with these pointless games."
Luo Tian left as if no one else was there.
Liu Yuanhu, who had been slapped to the ground, was momentarily stunned.
His face was filled with resentment, but when he saw Luo Tian's cold, merciless expression, he swallowed the harsh words he was about to say.
"You little bastard! How dare you harm my brother!"
Just then, from near the back of the mountain, an angry roar grew louder as it approached.
SWOOSH!
A powerfully built youth in a battle robe rushed over—it was Liu Yuanba of the Meridian Opening Realm!
"Heh, that was fast."
Luo Tian stopped, looking slightly surprised.
"Luo Tian! Today, I'll show you the difference between a Martial Disciple and a Martial Artist of the Meridian Opening Realm! It'll be useless even if you get on your knees and beg for mercy!"
Liu Yuanba's eyes were like torches, blazing with anger.
WHOOSH!
A faint red stream of air erupted from his body as his aura surged, like a fierce tiger about to go berserk. Even the other Liu Clan youths trembled in fear.
"Brother, I want him crippled!"
Standing to the side, Liu Yuanhu clutched his swollen face, his expression full of venomous hatred.