Martial Arts Overlord-Chapter 540 - 538: They Are Not Human

Luo Feng hadn’t expected this matter to involve the Azure Cloud Marquis, one of the six King Marquises of the dynasty. He couldn’t help but ask, "Why did they attack you?"

"My father and the Azure Cloud Marquis don’t really get along."

Yue Haitang glanced at the scar-faced man’s corpse beside him, frowning slightly. "However, their target this time seems to be not me, but the Sword Heart Heaven Jade."

Yue Haitang took out the Jade Pendant that Luo Feng had snatched back earlier from his personal belongings.

Under the sun, the Jade Pendant was crystal clear and transparent. The sword-shaped hollow pattern in its center emitted faint, seven-colored hues, unlike any ordinary object.

"What’s special about this Jade Pendant?"

Luo Feng asked casually, then shook his head. "I was prying. It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me."

This Jade Pendant, capable of attracting the attention of people from the Qingyun Mansion—one of the six major Marquis’s Mansions—is definitely no ordinary object. It’s highly inappropriate to inquire about it so rashly.

Yue Haitang, however, didn’t seem to mind. He looked up and said, "This Jade Pendant was left by my mother when she departed. She once mentioned that it hides a great secret and asked me to keep it safe. But as for what secret, I have no idea."

Luo Feng shook his head. "You shouldn’t have told me something this important. If the news leaks, it could lead to your death."

"Since it’s you, it doesn’t matter."

Yue Haitang looked at Luo Feng with a smile.

He knew very well that if Luo Feng hadn’t stepped forward today, with his own strength, he wouldn’t have been able to escape safely.

Luo Feng raised his eyebrows, surprised by Yue Haitang’s trust in him.

Seeing the blood on the corner of Luo Feng’s mouth, Yue Haitang frowned. "Are you hurt?"

Luo Feng shook his head. "I was just a little shaken by the force of the punch. I’m fine now."

"Don’t move."

Yue Haitang stepped closer, pinched the corner of his own clothing, stood on tiptoe, and carefully wiped the blood from Luo Feng’s mouth.

They were so close. Luo Feng, looking at Yue Haitang’s focused gaze, felt a bit unnatural. Luckily, Yue Haitang quickly finished.

"All done."

Yue Haitang took a step back, his complexion a little redder than before. Seeing Luo Feng’s stiff posture, he couldn’t help but laugh. "Why are you so nervous?"

"Nothing... It’s just a bit strange."

Luo Feng shook his head with a bitter smile; he couldn’t possibly say it was because Yue Haitang resembled a woman.

Yue Haitang chuckled. Looking at the ravaged woods nearby, he remarked, "I didn’t expect you to be able to kill a martial artist in the Two-Stage Spiritual Rotation Realm. No wonder even the arrogant Azure Cloud Flying Dragon, Su Xiaokang, views you in a new light."

"The same could be said for you. If you’d had a bit more time just now, I suppose you would have won too."

"Maybe."

Yue Haitang didn’t commit, but he knew in his heart that the lean martial artist’s strength was far below the scar-faced warrior’s. Yet, Luo Feng had defeated his opponent first.

"There may be other people from the Yi Family nearby. We’d better leave," Luo Feng said.

"Mm."

Yue Haitang nodded.

They had managed to escape unharmed this time, but it didn’t guarantee their safety next time. Reaching Sky Mountain as soon as possible was the best course of action.

The Black Cloud Horse had been spooked and bolted at the start of the battle. The two searched everywhere but only found Yue Haitang’s Dark Cloud Treasure Horse. The other horse was covered in sword gashes and was already dead.

Looking at the Black Cloud Horse’s corpse, Yue Haitang looked awkward. Judging by the sword marks, it seemed he had inadvertently killed the horse.

"Get on."

Luo Feng mounted the horse, patted the spot in front of him, and looked at Yue Haitang.

Yue Haitang bit his lip, then nodded and smiled faintly. "Alright."

With a leap, Yue Haitang landed in front of Luo Feng.

"Hold tight. Giddyap!"

Luo Feng tugged the reins. The Black Cloud Horse reared, neighed loudly, and dashed off.

The Black Cloud Horse was incredibly strong; even with two people on its back, its speed didn’t decrease at all. It quickly reached the bank of the Cangyuan River.

Luo Feng didn’t slow down. He drew his Rage Flame Knife and, with a tug of the reins, urged the Black Cloud Horse into the Cangyuan River.

SPLASH! SPLASH! SPLASH!

The Black Cloud Horse had long fins on its hooves, allowing it to run on water. It churned up waves on the river’s surface, galloping toward the opposite bank as if on solid ground.

After galloping for a kilometer, they reached the center of the river. A large shadow appeared beneath the water, and a huge whirlpool churned the surface, surging toward the Black Cloud Horse.

"Slash!"

Luo Feng was prepared. Aiming at the shadow, his Rage Flame Knife flashed three times in the air.

SHHICK! SHHICK! SHHICK!

Streaks of saber light appeared, transforming into white lines that vanished beneath the water.

In the next moment, a large wave erupted on the river surface tens of meters away. The surging water was red, and a mass of strange fish corpses floated to the surface, emitting a strong smell of blood.

CHURN! CHURN! CHURN!

The surrounding river surface suddenly roiled with countless white-capped waves. The fish corpses were dragged underwater, and bloody water spread. In the blink of an eye, only white, skeletal fish bones floated to the surface.

Yue Haitang felt a surge of tension, while Luo Feng calmly sheathed his Rage Flame Knife and squeezed the horse’s belly with his legs.

"Giddyap!"

The Black Cloud Horse, possessing only a faint Demon Beast bloodline, was terrified. Upon hearing Luo Feng’s command, it bolted wildly, covering several thousand meters in a few breaths. It reached the bank and continued to gallop onward without stopping.

「...」

「Wutie Town, Wuyun Pub.」

"Useless fools!"

In a superior guest room, an angry shout echoed. A young man with a sinister gaze paced back and forth heavily, his handsome face filled with a murderous aura.

CRASH!

With one palm strike, he smashed a teacup on the table to pieces. The young man looked at the person kneeling in the room and said coldly, "Two Spiritual Rotation Realm martial artists sent to deal with two wet-behind-the-ears brats, and not only did you fail to bring back the Sword Heart Heaven Jade, but one was even killed? You still have the gall to come back and see me!"

Facing the young man’s sinister gaze, the emaciated martial artist broke out in a cold sweat, his body trembling violently.

"Young Master, that young man is Luo Feng, the top new talent from the four academies in the Flowing Cloud Region. Not only has he entered the Spiritual Rotation Realm, but he has also comprehended the Grand Momentum. His power is extraordinary. If it weren’t for him..."

"Enough!"

With a swish of his sleeve, the young man cut off the emaciated martial artist. He snorted, "I only want results, not excuses!"

The emaciated martial artist fell silent, not daring to even breathe too loudly.

The young man walked over and sat down, his sharp eyes glinting like daggers. After a moment, he suddenly said, "Prepare yourselves. We’re heading to Sky Mountain."

"Young Master, you want to go to Sky Mountain? But if we act there, and it’s investigated, I’m afraid even the Marquis won’t be able to protect us."

The emaciated martial artist was startled by the young man’s words.

The Twelve Golden Palaces held authority even above imperial power. As the assessment site for the Twelve Golden Palaces, Sky Mountain’s status was extraordinary. Even as a member of the Azure Cloud Marquis’s Mansion, he wouldn’t dare cause trouble there.

The sinister-eyed young man glanced contemptuously at the emaciated martial artist. "I don’t need you to teach me about such things."

He took a sip of tea, set down the cup, and said with a cold smirk, "Money makes the world go round. There’s nothing in this world that I, Yi Tian, cannot achieve."

"Young Master is brilliant!"

The emaciated martial artist understood and quickly offered his flattery.

The young man clearly enjoyed the compliment. He looked out the window and mused, "You said that Luo Feng, the top newcomer of the Flowing Cloud Region, entered the Spiritual Rotation Realm before turning sixteen and has even comprehended the Grand Momentum?"

"Yes. My elder brother, who is stronger than I am, still couldn’t defeat him. His Saber Technique is terrifying!"

The emaciated martial artist shuddered, as if recalling something terrifying.

"Useless trash."

The young man snorted, tapping his fingers on the table. "This person is quite talented. He could be useful to us."

With a sinister smile, the young man slapped the table, stood up, and walked out. "Let’s go. We depart for Sky Mountain immediately."

「...」

「The night was as black as ink, a crescent moon hung high, and thin clouds drifted slowly on the night wind, casting large shadows on the ground, deepening the darkness.」

CLIP-CLOP, CLIP-CLOP, CLIP-CLOP...

In the dark night, the hoofbeats sounded as crisp and clear as drumbeats.

"Yue Haitang, how far are we from Primordial Blue Mountain?" Luo Feng asked, riding on the Black Cloud Horse.

Yue Haitang sat in front of Luo Feng. Seemingly feeling Luo Feng’s breath as he spoke, he shifted slightly and answered, "We should be about a day’s ride from Primordial Blue Mountain. Once we cross it, Sky Mountain won’t be far."

Luo Feng nodded. Looking at the dim surroundings, he said, "We won’t reach Sky Mountain by tomorrow either. How about we find a place to rest for the night?"

"Alright."

After leaving the Cangyuan River, they worried that others from Qingyun Mansion might catch up, so they had ridden non-stop. Yue Haitang also wanted to rest a bit, so he readily agreed.

Luo Feng urged the Black Cloud Horse to speed up, searching for a place to stop.

After his last encounter with the scar-faced man, Luo Feng felt the Four Spirit Rotations and Yuan Qi in his Dantian were becoming increasingly full, almost overflowing. The sensation grew stronger and stronger. He wanted to find a place to attempt a breakthrough to the next realm.

As the Black Cloud Horse advanced, the scenery on both sides receded. The nearby area was desolate and mountainous, but they still hadn’t found a suitable place to rest.

Just as Luo Feng was about to settle for any random spot for the night, dark silhouettes suddenly entered his line of sight.

"There seems to be a village ahead," Yue Haitang said at that moment.

"Mm, let’s go check it out."

Luo Feng urged the Black Cloud Horse to quicken its pace.

After covering some more distance, Luo Feng suddenly pulled on the reins.

"Luo Feng, what’s wrong?" Yue Haitang asked, seeing him suddenly stop.

Luo Feng looked at the village ahead, his brow furrowed. "Something’s not right here. It’s just past dusk, yet there isn’t a single trace of lamplight."

Hearing this, Yue Haitang also sensed something was amiss. He looked at Luo Feng in surprise, admiring his keen observation.

SWOOSH!

Luo Feng leaped off his horse. "Hide the horse here. Let’s go take a look."

"Alright."

Yue Haitang also dismounted. They hid the Black Cloud Horse among a pile of boulders, then used Qinggong to quietly approach the village.

Once they were within a kilometer of the village, they both slowed their pace.

The cool air carried the faint scent of blood...

They exchanged a glance. Luo Feng and Yue Haitang’s figures flickered, and they entered the village together.

Standing on the village street, Luo Feng circulated Yuan Qi to his eyes and scanned his surroundings. He couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.

Many surrounding houses had collapsed. The ground was littered with corpses—countless, mutilated bodies. Blood flowed freely, forming puddles in low-lying areas.

"What happened here? Could it have been bandits? How cruel..." Yue Haitang’s expression turned grim. He gripped his Red Dragon Purple Gold Sword tightly, fury blazing in his bright eyes.

Luo Feng walked over to a corpse and examined it. His expression grew solemn as he said softly, "These villagers weren’t killed by bandits. I fear... what killed them wasn’t human!"