Level Up in Martial World

"You fools, attack! I said attack!"

The Alchemist barked, spits flying from his mouth. The old man, hunched and with an ugly face, was a truly disgusting sight to behold.

The ship's cannon turned toward Lu Zhen, a bright flash igniting in the air.

Lu Zhen didn't even flinch. He used lightning as a shield and his mental power to cover his body, tanking the attack through sheer defense alone.

"Hahaha," he laughed, tilting his head toward the sky.

"The heavens have become my playground, and even the world itself won't be able to stop me from killing you all!"

His words shook the entire city, and some people began to venture out of their houses.

"Didn't the city lord order a complete curfew, forbidding anyone from leaving their houses?"

"But in the sky, there seems to be… uncertainty…"

The common people and martial artists murmured in confusion. How could they know what was going on? Though the voice sounded familiar, they didn't dare make assumptions.

In this world, the weak were not allowed to speculate, especially out loud. Who knew if their words would reach the wrong ears, leading to disastrous consequences?

However, for the forces stationed in the city, their expressions turned strange. They knew that voice all too well. It belonged to the arrogant youth who had killed someone right in the middle of the Alchemist competition—and he was still as rampant as ever.

They had come to a silent agreement: they would not intervene tonight. In return, they would be granted countless benefits. If their competitor perished, they would only be happier, without getting their own hands dirty.

"Could it be that the youth and the city lord are fighting?" one certain ancestor from a certain powerful family wondered as he gazed upward.

"Then let them fight," he chuckled, choosing not to intervene.

Below, the thunderstorm raged wildly, and Lu Zhen stood like the god of lightning itself, suspended in the air.

Yes, he was standing on the void—without using Intent!

This feat was possible due to the sheer lightning he had "manipulated" with his mental power, a mastery that defied the limits of normal perception.

As time passed, Lu Zhen's mental power grew exponentially with the use of his skill: *Heart of the Cheapskate*. At first, the effect was barely noticeable, but now his mental power was off the charts.

After feeling that the accumulated lightning was enough, Lu Zhen laughed, pointing his palm at the ship.

"Die."

In the blink of an eye, thunderstruck the ship. The barrier trembled, and a small hole appeared at the point of impact.

Lu Zhen stared at the small opening, then leaped into it without hesitation, his body crackling with lightning.

"You... You, how could you..." The Alchemist's eyes widened in shock, then his lips twisted into a mocking smile.

"Are you laughing because you want to die?"

Lu Zhen tilted his head, lightning arcs crackling around him.

"Haha, brat, you are too arrogant."

The Alchemist's voice turned cold as a giant compass materialized above his head, radiating bright light.

The lightning from outside ceased flowing toward Lu Zhen, halting in its tracks.

"Hmm?" Lu Zhen paused, a stunned expression crossing his face.

"Go!"

The Alchemist threw a pill toward him, and Kong Jiang acted simultaneously, launching their attacks together.

But Lu Zhen remained calm and collected.

If this had been before his mental power had expanded so greatly, he might have been wary of facing a high First-stage Martial Artist. But now? Even he didn't know the extent of his own limits!

Mental power surged around Lu Zhen's body, combining with lightning as he struck back with a palm.

*Bang!*

It felt like only a moment, but it happened in the blink of an eye—too fast, almost impossible to follow.

For the onlookers who were gazing at the sky, all they saw was a flash of lightning streaking through the air.

The entire ship was nearly obliterated, held together only by its barrier.

Even then, it trembled violently, as though it might shatter at any moment.

"Old man, you're dead."

Lu Zhen's voice was cold as ice. Blood splattered in the surrounding area, and Kong Jiang lay on the floor, his arms destroyed, staring at him in disbelief.

A small cut appeared on Lu Zhen's cheek, but it was instantly healed the next moment.

"A high First-stage Martial Artist?" Lu Zhen's mouth curled into a disdainful smile. "Is that all you've got?"

"You…!?" Kong Jiang roared in anger. He stood up, waving his hand, and thin strings shot out toward Lu Zhen.

Lu Zhen, unfazed and surrounded by crackling lightning, effortlessly sliced through the strings.

"Are you a spider bug?" Lu Zhen mocked, his figure vanishing in an instant.

Kong Jiang's eyes widened violently. Before he could react, a streak of lightning flashed past, and searing pain erupted from his chest.

When he looked down, a bloodied palm had already pierced his chest, and the fingers were squirming around his still-beating heart.

Kong Jiang looked up at Lu Zhen's stone-cold face, a shiver running down his spine. His life flashed before his eyes, and he realized... it was true!

"Die."

Lu Zhen's words were simple, but they carried a chilling finality.

With a swift motion, he ripped Kong Jiang's heart from his chest, blood splattering everywhere.

Kong Jiang's eyes rolled back, not from the loss of his heart, but from the mental power attack—Lu Zhen used his Mental Power to nearly disable his mind completely.

Kong Jiang collapsed to the ground with a sickening thud, motionless. Just like that, a High First-stage Martial Artist met a miserable end.

Lu Zhen didn't even flinch, his expression as cold as ever. In the background, a streak of lightning illuminated the scene, casting a stark light on the tragedy that had just unfolded.

The Alchemist and everyone aboard the ship were left in stunned silence, their minds struggling to process the sight before them.

We're talking about a High First-stage Martial Artist here!

A being capable of establishing a sect and ruling over an entire region without opposition. Even with their heart ripped out, they could still fight for an hour, defying all odds. But now, this situation was completely beyond anything they could have ever imagined!

The sheer disparity in strength was mind-boggling. Kong Jiang, someone who was supposed to be a nearly invincible powerhouse, had been slaughtered in a matter of seconds—his heart torn out without hesitation.

Their world view collapsed!