Chapter 17 - Quasi Strength

In the morning.

" Could this be...." Lu Zhou felt burst with energy. All of his muscles and bones were full of power.

Peh!

He casually waved his fist and hit out with a force of two thousand pounds! Breaking through to the peak of the third rank was easier than Lu Zhou thought it will be.

" Using SE for the body's tempering was so good." Lu Zhou felt melancholy. He first thought that, with the help of the thousand-year-old blood plant, it would take him straight to the fourth rank of the martial path.

I guess my greed is unstoppable...

Sighed, he thinks for what reason he had this kind of speed.

If everyone had the same effect, then cultivators at the fourth rank or higher would be worth nothing. Furthermore, his father at the Cloud Step City would become a rank 4 easily. So do everyone else.

Soon he found the reason:

Firstly, he had the system. Although he doesn't know about everyone who has been cultivating to the next level. He had no idea how to look for that kind of information. Secondly, he had limitless energy of the world, called spiritual energy. As he know about what kind of energy this could do, he tested it at the Sacred Heart Forest and no one, even a bird could know.

Thirdly, he had never taken any herbs before therefore he could absorb the herb to a high degree. Of course, with the help from the SE and his body state, he literally could absorb thousand-year-old herbs.

Lu Zhou calmed down soon as he realized that many others in the Lu sect had already reached the third rank at his age. He could only be considered talented, not a genius.

Taking Lu Yu Yin, for example, she had reached the peak of the third rank two months ago and had already almost learned Inner Strength, which meant that she had the strength of a quasi martial artist.

Comparing himself with another, Lu Zhou smiles as he shook his head.

" I am stronger than Yun Fei and Li Yijian. However, I do not have a single chance against the true martial artists."

Ignoring the fact that his target of inferiority had learned upper-rank martial arts skills, and had at least trained from the moment they were starting to move, Lu Zhou clenched his fist.

For the next two days, Lu Zhou consolidated his cultivation.

" Status "

[Lu Zhou]

[Lifespan: 13/50]

[Cultivation: Quasi Martial Artist / Novice Mage]

[Technique: Origin of the Internal Energy(Novice)]

[Physical Body: Lower State Level 2]

[Spells: Tier 1 Explosive Salvo Level 1]

[Spirit Energy: - - -]

[Inventory: 10/10]

----

" Hmm "

The line of words brought a deep realization to him as he shakes his head.

" Still not good."

He has yet to understand the Inner Strength. Most had to be half-step martial artists, to reach this step. Even most peak third rankers could not do this.

And yet, after having the quasi martial artist's strength, Lu Zhou doesn't seem to have a certain glow forming between his blood and skin. And an epiphany to the next step.

" I need to get the breathing technique."

After he consolidated his foundation Lu Zhou left the inn and headed towards the Lu sect.

As soon as Lu Zhou left the inn, a beggar wearing torn clothes turned and ran not far away from him.

" Master, he has come out!" The beggar arrived at a restaurant and reported to a hooded man clad in black.

" Hmm, here."

As he handed a coin of silver, the side of his lips raised.

----

Someone following me?

Who.

As Lu Zhou turned into an alleyway, he channeled his SE to his hearing.

He heard footsteps thundering from behind.

Four shadows flipped over the wall and pursued him from behind.

" Who's there!?"

Lu Zhou immediately turned around. With his right hand behind his back, glowing in deep ebony.

" Kid! Leave all your belongings and we'll let you go." Three youths said as they surrounded Lu Zhou. As for the other one wearing a hood, Lu Zhou rise his brow.

Letting out the breath, Lu Zhou laugh and take something from his robe.

" Here ".

Tap!

A gold coin fall to the hooded man's feet.

" That's all I have, the blood plants and pills that I buy, was belonged to someone else," Lu Zhou said indifferently as he stood straight.

There is movement, as the hooded man look at his feet and saw only one gold coin. He trembling.

Meanwhile, the other three were excited, the shining metal on the ground incited their greed.

A hundred silver!

Their salary per month was only twenty silver. Looking at the casual attitudes from the youth before them, one of the robbers opens his mouth.

" Brother Yijian, you said the payment would be fifty silver. This kid has more than that!"

Hearing his name was exposed, the hooded man throw his hood away and glare at the youth who had said his name.

" You... the name was Lu Qi right? I remember you ". His word makes the youngster was on the brink of tears.

Turning his head, Lu Yijian looked at the expressionless youth.

" Stop your act, do not be too arrogant. Give all of the items you had!"

After the incident from one of the cronies, the other three were silent, but their gazes were full of disdain.

Do lowly side branch disciples dare to defy them?

Courting death!

" Take him."

Receiving the signal from Lu Yijian, the youth on the left kicked off towards Lu Zhou. Immediately after the two others followed suit.

Whoosh———

Looking at their snail-like movement, Lu Zhou takes a stance.

After his breakthrough to the quasi martial artist, his vision had improved, and his physical body state can sustain to a quarter of the SE he can hold previously.

As his right hand-stretched to his back, his right foot was already at the front of the smiling Lu Qi.

Boom!

" Ahhhh!...."

A bloodcurdling scream sounded as a person's body flew through the air and fall twenty meters away from the premises.

Not good!

Lu Yijian felt an unbearable pressure coming from his side.

Pah—

Lu Yijian, who was in mid-air, barely managed to block one punch.

Wah!

Although he blocked it, the force still made him smash into a stone wall which made him cough out blood.

" This kid's strength has probably reached the quasi fourth rank. I cannot even take one of his hits." Lu Yijian felt his eyes go black and immediately warned his peers: Lu Gang, Lu Yu watch out!" However, before he finished warning them there was a scream coming from his left.

" Ahhhh...." Another youth had his bones broken.

" Run!" The last Lu disciples were scared out of their wits and tried to run. However, before he could escape, a whistling sound came from behind.

Peh!

He felt his eyes turn black before he could even see the attack...

" It's a truth that the blood plants and pill were mean for others, if I had it, I would not fight senior of the same sect for such inconvenient ".

Cupping his fist at the coughing Lu Yijian, then like a bird, floated away.

" What incredible strength and speed...." Before Lu Yijian managed to spoke further, his eyes turned white, as he fall and passed out.