I Need Not Avoid Their Edge

The uproar from the battle at the Luo Family Forge Workshop on East Street of Qingyang Town had spread throughout the entire town in less than half a day.

It had become the talk of the town after meals, with nearly everyone discussing the suddenly risen young master of the Luo Family, Luo Heng.

This was a Body Tempering Fifth Level cultivator defeating someone at the Body Tempering Sixth Level. The difference between them was qualitative—the Sixth Level could form a Primal Energy Seed, while the Fifth Level could not!

Thus, under normal circumstances, the gap between the two was immense. It was not as though no one could challenge someone above their level, but no one had ever done it as effortlessly as Luo Heng.

"Have you heard? Luo Heng, the Luo Family's young master, crippled Lei Tao of the Lei Clan with a single punch despite only being at the Body Tempering Fifth Level!"

"That's not even the half of it! I saw it with my own eyes. Young Master Luo took on five people alone. His movement technique was like a ghost's shadow, and his punches were like thunder—unbelievably fierce!"

"Really? Lei Tao is at the Body Tempering Sixth Level!"

"Absolutely true! My third uncle's second nephew was there. He said Young Master Luo's final punch sent Lei Tao flying three zhang, and even broke his arm!"

Amid the endless discussions, some were amazed, some doubtful, while others began reassessing the younger generation of Qingyang Town. Some even wondered whether cultivation truly determined everything.

Yet Luo Heng, at the center of the storm, paid no attention whatsoever to the voices outside.

He sat cross-legged on his bed, circulating the Great Devouring Art at full force. A black vortex slowly spun within his dantian, continuously devouring the surrounding Primal Energy.

After the battle during the day, along with the ten Body Tempering Pills, he could feel that he was only one step away from the Earthen Yuan Stage.

"At most two days. I'll definitely break through to the Earthen Yuan Stage."

Luo Heng muttered to himself. There was no excitement in his tone, only certainty.

The Earthen Yuan Stage was the first major dividing line in the cultivation system of Tianxuan Continent.

The Body Tempering Realm merely laid the foundation by tempering the body. Only upon entering the Earthen Yuan Stage could one truly absorb Heaven and Earth Origin Energy into the body, causing the nature of one's Primal Energy to undergo a qualitative transformation.

More importantly, only after reaching the Earthen Yuan Stage could one begin cultivating Spiritual Power and walk the Path of the Talisman Master.

When Luo Heng had read novels in his previous life, he had been deeply interested in the profession of Talisman Master. They could refine Talisman Puppets, set up Talisman Arrays, and create all kinds of miraculous Talisman Runes. It was practically an all-purpose profession.

"Once I break through to the Earthen Yuan Stage, I'll visit the Symbol Master Tower in Flame City."

Luo Heng made his plans. Qingyang Town was ultimately too small. If he wanted to obtain more profound Talisman Master inheritances, he had to go to a larger city.

As an important city within Tiandu Prefecture, Flame City not only possessed a Symbol Master Tower, but also all kinds of cultivation resources. It was far beyond what Qingyang Town could compare to.

But before that, I need to settle the family's affairs first.

With that thought, Luo Heng rose and pushed open his door. Outside, the sun was already setting.

Just then, footsteps sounded beyond the courtyard. Luo Yun and Su Yi hurried over.

"Heng'er!"

His mother, Su Yi, rushed to Luo Heng's side and embraced him. She looked him over from head to toe before asking worriedly, "I heard you fought Lei Tao. Are you hurt?"

Luo Yun did not speak, but his eyes were also filled with concern, afraid that his son had suffered a loss.

"Father, Mother, I'm fine. The Lei Clan came looking for trouble, so I had no choice but to act." Luo Heng smiled and shook his head.

Hearing that, Luo Yun frowned and asked, "What exactly happened? Luo Zhong was very vague about it."

Luo Heng briefly recounted what had happened during the day. Naturally, he concealed the system and the Great Devouring Art, saying only that he had accidentally obtained a profound fist technique and had performed well in the heat of battle, allowing him to narrowly defeat Lei Tao.

After hearing this, Luo Yun's brows knitted tightly. "The Lei Clan is deliberately stirring up trouble. They want to swallow our Forge Workshop."

"Father, the Lei Clan suffered a loss this time. I'm afraid they won't let it go so easily," Luo Heng warned.

Luo Yun nodded with a grave expression. "Yes. That old fox Lei Bao is ruthless, and Lei Li is even more ambitious. They definitely won't leave things at that."

Su Yi said anxiously, "Should we avoid them for the time being? The Lei Clan is powerful. If we confront them head-on, I'm afraid..."

"Mother, we can avoid them for a while, but not forever."

Luo Heng interrupted her and continued, "Since the Lei Clan has set its sights on us, hiding is useless. Only by beating them until it hurts, until they fear us, will they restrain themselves."

I need to avoid their edge? What a joke.

Luo Yun looked at his son, his heart full of pride. This was his son—smart since childhood, with an extraordinary bearing. His cultivation had merely been a little low, but otherwise he had no faults at all.

"Heng'er is right."

Luo Yun drew a deep breath and said, "Though my Luo Family is not as powerful as the Lei Clan, we are not some soft persimmon for others to knead as they please. If the Lei Clan truly dares to come at us hard, then we'll fight them!"

"Father, there's no need to be so nervous."

Luo Heng smiled instead, speaking casually. "The Lei Clan won't dare to act openly. Qingyang Town still has the Xie Clan, the Lin Family, and the Raging Blade Martial Hall. If they dare make a major move against the Luo Family, the other three forces won't simply stand by."

Luo Yun froze, then suddenly understood. "You mean... borrowing their influence?"

"Exactly."

Luo Heng nodded with a smile. "The Lei Clan wants to dominate Qingyang Town alone, but the Xie Clan, the Lin Family, and the Raging Blade Martial Hall will never agree. Besides, Grandpa Lin of the Lin Family was Grandfather's sworn brother through life and death. As long as we show enough strength to make the Lei Clan hesitate before acting, they will have their misgivings."

Su Yi understood, but she was still worried. "But Lei Li is at the Body Tempering Eighth Level Peak. What if he personally comes looking for trouble..."

Without the slightest hint of fear, Luo Heng said, "Mother, don't worry. If Lei Li dares to come, I'll let him know that the Body Tempering Eighth Level is nothing special."

He said it lightly, yet Luo Yun and Su Yi saw absolute confidence in their son's eyes.

They did not know Luo Heng's true cultivation, believing only that he was fearless because of his youth. Even so, they were comforted by his courage.

"Good! That's my son!"

Luo Yun patted Luo Heng on the shoulder and laughed. "But you must still be careful in everything. That kid Lei Li is no simple opponent."

"I understand, Father."

Luo Heng nodded, though inwardly he thought that Lei Li truly was no simple opponent—but only compared to everyone else in Qingyang Town.

Before someone like him, who was at the Body Tempering Ninth Level Peak and possessed both the Great Devouring Art and a Ninth Grade Martial Art, Lei Li's little bit of strength was hardly worth mentioning.

The three chatted for a while longer before Luo Yun and Su Yi finally left.

Before leaving, Luo Yun handed Luo Heng a wooden box. "There are thirty Body Tempering Pills inside. Use them for cultivation and raise your strength as soon as possible. But remember, your foundation is equally important."

Luo Heng accepted the wooden box with both hands, warmth filling his heart. Thirty Body Tempering Pills were no small amount for the Luo Family. His father had given him nearly half of the family's cultivation resources.

"Thank you, Father."

Luo Heng did not refuse. He truly needed resources right now. Once he broke through to the Earthen Yuan Stage, he would repay the family tenfold, even a hundredfold.

After his parents left, Luo Heng returned to his room and opened the wooden box. Inside lay thirty neatly arranged pale-green pills.

"Adding the thirty from the system, that makes sixty Body Tempering Pills in total. That's enough for me to break through to the Earthen Yuan Stage."

Luo Heng sat cross-legged on the bed, took out five Body Tempering Pills, swallowed them, and circulated the Great Devouring Art at full force.

Now, it was time for his performance!