Pretentious

Sacred Heart Forest, atop the tree at the periphery of the woods, was a youth clad in a black hunting outfit.

Every time he jumped, the sound he make was equal to the needle fall onto the floor. As the leaf whispering into his ears, Lu Zhou take his bow and knocked an arrow to the bowstring.

Shoosh——

The target was the Blood-Eyed Maned Lion, slumbering below the shade of the rocks.

Puk!

Without any sound, the Blood-Eyed Maned Lion reached his fate as the cluster of its energy dispersing.

With a wave of his hand, the body of the lion vanished from the spot.

This routine of killing and store the material inside his inventory have become his new regulation.

" Status "

[Lu Zhou]

[Lifespan: 13/100]

[Cultivation: True Martial Artist / Novice Mage]

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

[Physical Body: Lower State Level 6]

[Spells: Tier 1 Explosive Salvo Level 19]

[Spirit Energy: - - -]

[Inventory: 20/20]

Upon utilizing the spirit energy as the main energy to tempering his organs, Lu Zhou's body has been tempered countless times. Now that his physical state can hold both energies of the internal and spiritually, his perception over the past few days had given him a greater result than the average Martial Artists.

" All my martial arts and breathing technique were deemed unnecessary by the system, well, nothing new." Lu Zhou summoned half of the lion's body and cut it apart.

Finishing the task, Lu Zhou activated the spell and roast the lion's thighs as he waited and flipping the pages of the new martial arts.

When the spell has reached the level cap, his control over the flame had reached an unspeakable level. The smooth like water-like fire was flowing from the top bottom of the feet up to the top.

" Hmm, this was the Yun disciples martial arts? It sucks " Throwing the book inside the backpack instead of his inventory, Lu Zhou stopped channeling the spirit energy as the smell from the meat bothering his nose.

Day passed. The time for the family sparring contest became closer and closer.

...

Twenty days before the family sparring contests started there was already an estimated ranking list. And the person who ranked first was an inner disciple who was the genius of the Lu sect, Lu Long!

Lu Long had reached the fourth rank of the Martial Path two years ago. He was ranked second in the last contest. At that time he wasn't even fifteen years old.

Now, he was one of the four geniuses of the Snowy Leaf City. There was no doubt that he was the strongest!

Second place was Lu Han, third place Lu Hong, fourth place Lu Shen....fifteen place Lu Jialin! Lu Jialin, who was first amongst the outer disciples, did not even reach the top ten of the inner disciples.

Lu Yijian and Lu Yu Yin we're respectively ranked thirty-five and thirty-seven.

As for Lu Fen and Lu Yang who were both ranked in the top five amongst the outer disciples, they were ranked overall as forty-two and forty-six. The ranking had a total of one hundred people. Lu Zhou flips to the next pages.

" Worthless..."

At the fifty-five place name on the list, Lu Zhou found his name.

Lu Zhou's lips curled up into a smile.

Those that could rank in the top one hundred were all considered talented in the sect.

After all, there were over thousands of youths between the ages of twelve and eighteen in the sect. And at least six hundred of them had entered the competition.

If Lu Zhou did not reach the third rank beforehand and beating the fourth-best of the outer disciples, he would not even have the right to enter.

Throwing the book beside him, Lu Zhou meditated and continue to temper his body.

The time of the family sparring contest was coming closer.

All of the Lu sect youths were under a tense atmosphere. Many disciples even broke through under this pressure.

This was the result that the Lu sect's higher up wanted to see.

After Lu Zhou returned from his hunting, apart from training the spirit energy and rising his body strength, he kept on training the Flipping the River.

Although the system would not show his progress over the skills he was using, Lu Zhou did not care at the slightest. As he knew his progress.

There was still half a month left till the contest.

Lu Zhou put even more energy into cultivating. His key focus was the Reversal Breathing Technique as it helped with Inner Strength. To further improve his cultivation, Lu Zhou even continuously spare no effort in utilizing spirit energy.

.....

Hu~~

Lu Zhou let out a long breath. He had trained his body to its maximum potential.

" Status "

[Lu Zhou]

[Lifespan: 13/200]

[Cultivation: 6th Rank Martial Artist / Intermediate Mage]

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

[Physical Body: Lower State Level 9]

[Spells: Tier 2 Supernova Level 1]

[Spirit Energy: - - -]

[Inventory: 30/30]

Since he had already known the difference between the spirit energy and inner strength, his cultivation had increased at an insane speed and easily broke through to the peak of the sixth rank. He was only half step away from entering the seventh rank.

The first three ranks of the Martial Path talked about a solid foundation. If the foundation was not solid, it would affect the realms later on.

With his attitude changed completely, Lu Zhou lazily look at the raging sun without any problems. As he swept the surrounding Lu sect ground with his eyes, he saw many experts resting and training.

Above the sky, was the stars.

Shook his head, Lu Zhou closed his eyes and continue training.

.....

At the luxurious house.

" The family sparring contest will start tomorrow!" Lu Jialin took a deep breath and a faint red glow appeared as he opened his palm. Having inner strength, he could instantly kill a cultivator of the third rank. Now, her strength was not that of a quasi martial artist anymore. It was that of a true Martial Artist!

A quasi martial artist could easily defeat a normal third rank in one or two moves and would even cause a certain amount of threat towards savage beasts such as the Red Horned Tiger King. However, once one reached the point of Inner Strength Martial Artists, one's strength exceeded that of quasi martial artists...

In a certain garden in the Lu sect.

Swoosh—

A sword was drawn from its sheath and created an illusion in the air. The sword's owner was a youth clothed in purple. His's sword power had reached a frightening level.

His casual strikes could be compared with Yun Fei's Cracking Wind Sword, which could kill cultivators of the third rank in one move.

" Yijian'er not bad! You have already trained the upper-rank skill Heartless Shattering Sword to the high level. Out of the outer disciples, it is probably only you who have trained an upper-rank martial art to the high level." A middle-aged man said smiling.

The purple-clothed youth was Lu Yijian who was ranked second amongst the outer disciples.

" Yes father, looks like the first place of the outer disciples would be changing soon. And that trash will be crushed under my feet!" Lu Yijian said coldly.

When he mentioned Lu Zhou, his sword suddenly fired five different blows. The strength he used would even shock true martial artists. Moreover, his new power was tripled from the previous defeat he had to carry.

" Yijian'er, your eyesight is limited. Do not just think about the outer disciples." The middle-aged man shook his head, " Your true opponents are inner disciples! With your strength, you can easily make it into the top ten, but if you could make it to the top five, I would reward you."

" Don't worry further, I am sure the top ten places were opened for me!" Lu Yijian was very confident as he said this.

He never tells his father about the humiliation of defeat he received from Lu Zhou as he swear to himself to kill him before the events were known to others.

.....

In another building in the Lu sect.

" Yu Yin, the preliminaries are starting tomorrow. How confident are you?" An old man said as he smiled.

" Do not worry grandfather, I have complete confidence that no one amongst the outer disciples is my match." Lu Yu Yin's face gave a warm glow as she smiled.

" You need to worry about Lu Jialin. As for Lu Yijian, his sword mastery is low so he should not be able to threaten you." The old man's face frowns as he analyzed.

" Lu Jialin?" Lu Yu Yin felt incredible. Then she shook her head," I understand grandpa." There was a glimmer in her eyes as he thoughts something.

Hmm?

Looking at Lu Yu Yin's expression, the old man smile.

Being one of the sect's geniuses, no one could enter her eyes. However, she did not know why that youth kept appearing in her mind...

That person was not even ranked in the top ten amongst the outer disciples...

" If your manage to enter the finals and meet Lu Long, do not be stubborn. After all, he is the most powerful one amongst the Lu sect's youths." As he raise his voice a little, the old man's face was full of worry.

At the same time, in a magnificent structure.

" Fen'er, Peng'er, both of you have to perform well in this year's contest. Especially you Peng'er. Your strength has declined after your battle with that side branch. If not because of me, your strength would not have reached a quasi martial artist. Be grateful and show the worth of the precious herb I gave you." An arrogant voice sounded.

" Yes, father! Even Lu Jialin, who is ranked first amongst the outer disciples, is not my match." Lu Fen said casually. Both of his arms were perfectly fine as he full of vigor.

Lu Peng, who was next to him said," That trash was not worthy of our time! Don't worry father, I Lu Peng would cripple that bug!"

" Haha, good!" The duo's father nodded his head in an extremely arrogant manner. As he look at his sons, the thoughts of the pill he had to buy was not a waste.

Even some of the elders were anticipating this contest.

Countless Lu sect disciples were rubbing their crotch together for relaxing the tension for tomorrow's fight. Everyone was waiting for the chance to change their destiny....