Martial Arts Overlord-Chapter 454 - 452: A Man’s True Nature

"I... I’ll go over there and have a look..."

In response to Luo Xiao’s inquiry, Bing Ruolan recalled the recent scene. Her crystal-clear eyes brimmed with embarrassment, and she lowered her head, quickly walking off to the side.

Seeing Bing Ruolan leave, Luo Xiao’s smile deepened. He clapped Luo Feng on the shoulder and winked. "Second Brother, don’t tell me last night you two..."

Luo Feng shoved Luo Xiao away, annoyed. "Don’t get any ideas. I was just accompanying her cultivation."

"Hahaha... Okay, I won’t tease you anymore." Luo Xiao chuckled, looking Luo Feng up and down. "Second Brother, I can’t see through your cultivation. What realm are you in now?"

"Late Ninefold Heavenly Court Realm. It shouldn’t be long before I break through," Luo Feng replied honestly.

"Late Ninefold Heavenly Court Realm!" Luo Xiao was startled, then patted Luo Feng’s shoulder excitedly. "Good! Good! Second Brother, as long as you become a Spiritual Rotation Realm powerhouse, our family will definitely become as powerful as the six major families."

Luo Xiao’s hands were trembling slightly with excitement. The Luo Family had gained a large fortune by defeating the Duanmu Family this time, but they were still somewhat weaker than the six major families, mainly because there were too few experts in the family, lacking foundational strength.

But once Luo Feng became a Spiritual Rotation Realm powerhouse, the situation would change completely. A single Spiritual Rotation Realm powerhouse could support a large family on their own!

Just as Luo Feng was about to speak, Luo Xiao suddenly pushed him toward the side. "Second Brother, let’s go. We seized quite a few good things from the Duanmu Family this time. I’ll show you."

Luo Feng nodded, and the two walked toward the other side of the square.

"Greetings, Young Master, Second Young Master."

The nearby Luo Family Martial Artists bowed respectfully when they saw the two of them.

Luo Feng nodded in acknowledgment. "Carry on with your tasks. I’m just looking around."

With that, Luo Feng waved his hand and walked away.

On the square, a Luo Family Martial Artist watched Luo Feng’s retreating figure and sighed. "Young Master Luo Feng defeated the experts of the Duanmu Family single-handedly. Even now, it feels like I’m dreaming."

"Yes. Half a year ago, the Young Master was rumored to be a cultivation waste, unable to break through the Second Level Strong Body Realm, and now he is already a Ninefold Heavenly Court Realm expert. The young talents of Panlong City are far behind him."

"Hmph, compared to our Young Master, those so-called young talents are the real wastes!"

The Luo Family Martial Artists on the square discussed passionately. After this great battle, the Luo Family’s name would definitely resound far and wide, and they could walk around outside with their chests held high.

Luo Feng and Luo Xiao crossed the square and arrived near the main gate, where Luotian and some experts from Floating Snow School were also present.

"Feng Er, I was just about to send someone to find you. Where were you last night?" Luotian was inventorying their spoils when he looked up and saw Luo Feng.

Luo Feng said, "I was on the back mountain cultivating with Ruolan."

A light flashed in Luotian’s eyes. He moved closer and said, "Feng Er, do you like that girl?"

Luo Feng felt awkward and scratched his head.

"Hahaha... There’s no need to be embarrassed. Your mother and I met when we weren’t even fifteen years old." Luotian laughed heartily and patted Luo Feng on the shoulder. "Ruolan is a good girl; she’s been running around for your sake this time. Her family... where do they live? I should discuss it with your mother. We can arrange a marriage proposal and finalize this. It’ll also stop your mother from trying to arrange other matches for you everywhere."

Thinking of his mother, Luo Feng felt a shiver run down his spine. He exhaled deeply and looked up at Luotian. "Father, right now, I only want to concentrate on preparing for the Twelve Golden Palace assessment. Other matters can wait."

Bing Ruolan’s identity was far from ordinary; it was connected to the North Sea Ice Palace. Moreover, the person she was betrothed to was already a Spiritual Rotation Realm expert at the age of sixteen. Luo Feng knew his current strength was far from enough.

"Good! That assertiveness, that’s a true man’s spirit! I like it! Feng Er, just remember, your mother and I will always support you," Luotian said with a satisfied smile.

Luo Feng nodded, a smile appearing on his face.

Having such parents was his blessing.

Nevertheless, when it came to Bing Ruolan, he still wanted to strive for her on his own.

"And me too," Luo Xiao patted Luo Feng’s shoulder and said with a smile. "Second Brother, although I’m not as strong as you, if anyone dares to bully you, I’ll be the first one to not let them off!"

"Mm," Luo Feng rubbed his nose.

"By the way, Second Brother, have a look at this." Luo Xiao handed a piece of animal hide to Luo Feng.

Luo Feng accepted it. The animal hide was green, with intense Yuan Qi fluctuations emanating from it, indicating it was the hide of a high-level Demon Beast.

"Qingling Pill... is this a pill formula?"

As Luo Feng unfolded the animal hide and looked, his heart stirred. He was completely captivated by the writing on it. This hide contained the pill formula for the Qingling Pill, a fifth-grade medicinal pill!

Fifth-grade medicinal pills were extremely precious, and a fifth-grade pill formula was even more so—truly priceless! In the hands of an Alchemist, this formula would be an unending source of wealth.

"That’s right. This is the pill formula for the Qingling Pill. I’d heard before that the Duanmu Family possessed a detoxifying Spirit Pill that could neutralize all poisons. I thought it was just a rumor, but it turns out to be true," Luotian nodded, looking at the formula, his expression filled with complex emotion.

"A detoxifying Spirit Pill?"

Upon hearing those words, Luo Feng looked stunned.

Luo Feng’s gaze flickered as he looked at Luotian. "Father, can this Qingling Pill cure Blood Yin Poison?"

"Blood Yin Poison?"

The moment those words were spoken, the expressions of everyone nearby changed, and they exclaimed in shock.

Blood Yin Poison was an exclusive venom concocted by one of the 108 Demonic Generals of the Blood Demon Sect—the Blood Poison Demonic General. It was extremely nefarious; its toxicity corroded a person’s foundational essence-blood, ultimately causing them to bleed from all seven orifices and their blood to turn to pus, leading to death. Even a Spiritual Rotation Realm powerhouse could not survive it.

"Luo Feng, could it be that you’ve been afflicted with Blood Yin Poison?" Hu Yitian asked nervously.

Luo Xiao and Luotian both fixed their gazes on Luo Feng.

Luo Feng shook his head. "It’s not me. It’s a friend." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Hearing this, Luotian breathed a sigh of relief and mused, "This Qingling Pill is a fifth-grade detoxifying Spirit Pill. It should be able to neutralize the toxicity of Blood Yin Poison. Even if it can’t completely eliminate the poison, it should be able to suppress its spread."

"That’s great!" Luo Feng’s eyes lit up with joy, his expression somewhat emotional.

Although his engagement to Yang Wanyi was just an act, Yang Dingtian, his father-in-law, had taken extraordinary care of him, not only guiding his cultivation but also gifting him the secret manual for the Eight Wildernesses Dominating Flame Fist. His kindness was as profound as a mountain.

Upon learning that Yang Dingtian had contracted Blood Yin Poison, Luo Feng had been constantly worried, trying to find an antidote. He never expected to stumble upon one here.

"Father, there’s something I need to do. I must return to the academy," Luo Feng said, looking at Luotian. He planned to take the Qingling Pill formula to the Medicine Ding Store and have Elder Zhuang concoct the pill to detoxify Yang Dingtian as soon as possible.

Luotian nodded. "Feng Er, you’ve grown up now. Whatever you want to do, you decide."

"Okay."

Luo Feng looked toward the square, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. The journey from Green Wood Peak to Panlong City was long and arduous. Escorting so much wealth would surely be extremely dangerous.

Hu Yitian noticed Luo Feng’s gaze and chuckled. "Luo Feng, no need to worry. I’ll have people escort your father to Panlong City."

Luo Feng was taken aback, then cupped his fists at Hu Yitian. "Many thanks!"

Hu Yitian waved his hand. "Why be so formal? Besides, our Hu Family benefited the most from the destruction of the Duanmu Family."

Luo Feng smiled and patted Hu Yitian on the shoulder. "Next time we meet, drinks are on me."

"That’s more like it!" Hu Yitian laughed heartily.

Luo Feng wanted to concoct the Qingling Pill as soon as possible to detoxify Yang Dingtian, so he decided to depart immediately. He had someone inform Bing Ruolan and prepared to return to the academy.

「At the foot of Green Wood Peak.」

Two fine steeds paced back and forth, nibbling at the tender grass on the ground. They snorted puffs of white air from their nostrils from time to time, seemingly protesting the early journey.

"Father, Big Brother, this is far enough."

Sitting on horseback, Luo Feng spoke to Luotian and Luo Xiao, who were standing beside him.

Luotian nodded, passing a storage ring to Luo Feng. "Feng Er, you’re already at the late Ninth Stage of the Heavenly Court Realm. Your cultivation requires a lot of Yuan Stones. Here are ten thousand Yuan Stones; take them."

"No need. I obtained plenty of Yuan Stones when I eradicated Black Wind Camp. That should be enough." Luo Feng shook his head. He didn’t want to take the family’s wealth.

Luotian, feeling a mix of helplessness and pride at Luo Feng’s growth, said, "Take care on your journey. Your mother and I will be there to cheer you on during the Twelve Golden Palace assessment."

"Mm."

Rubbing his nose, Luo Feng secretly resolved to achieve a good result in the Twelve Golden Palace assessment, so as not to disappoint his parents.

"Ruolan, come visit Panlong City when you have time," Luotian said, shifting his gaze to Bing Ruolan, who stood beside Luo Feng on her horse.

"Mm. Thank you, Uncle," Bing Ruolan replied softly, gently biting her red lip. Her shy yet charming expression was captivatingly beautiful.

"Father, we should get going now. Please take care," Luo Feng said, then cupped his fists toward Hu Yitian and the others. "See you all at the Twelve Golden Palace assessment!"

"Rest assured, when the time comes, I won’t let you steal all the limelight!" Hu Yitian patted the treasured saber on his back and laughed heartily.

"I’ll be waiting."

Luo Feng gave a slight smile, then turned his horse, waved to the group behind him, and rode off with Bing Ruolan, disappearing into the distance.

Luotian, Luo Xiao, and the others stood in place, watching the two depart.

After Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan had ridden for several li and Green Wood Peak was nearly out of sight, a rider galloped up from behind.

"Luo Feng!" the rider called out.

Luo Feng reined in his horse and looked back. An exceptionally beautiful young woman in a snow-white dress was riding swiftly toward them.

"He Qin, why did you follow us?" Luo Feng asked as she approached.

He Qin pulled her horse up beside them. "After our duel yesterday, I feel I’ve gained some understanding. I’m preparing to return to the academy for secluded cultivation."

Luo Feng was surprised. She gained enlightenment so quickly?

He didn’t know that Sword Intent was an extension of Grand Momentum. His Grand Momentum had already reached the stage of From Illusion to Reality, making him the best kind of teacher for He Qin.

"Alright, I’ll be going then." He Qin glanced at Luo Feng with a complex expression, urged her horse forward a few steps, then suddenly turned back. "Don’t get complacent! During the Twelve Golden Palace assessment, I intend to challenge you for victory!"

Luo Feng rubbed his nose and chuckled. "Then you’ll have to work very hard."

A faint smile touched the corners of He Qin’s lips. She spurred her horse and galloped away swiftly.