Martial Arts Overlord-Chapter 549 - 547: Beauty in the Painting

The Sky Flying Mad Hawk plunged into the clouds, disappearing without a trace.

"Luo Feng, do you know Xie Xuantong?" After watching Xie Xuantong and his group leave, Yue Haitang turned to Luo Feng and asked.

"This is the first time we’ve met." Luo Feng shook his head.

Yue Haitang pursed her lips. "Then why did he suddenly attack you? Was it because you grasped the Grand Momentum? Chongyue School really is a bunch of unreasonable people..."

Hearing Yue Haitang’s whisper, Luo Feng gave a wry smile; he was still completely bewildered. Unable to figure out the reason, Luo Feng couldn’t be bothered to dwell on it. He would deal with problems as they arose. It would be best if Xie Xuantong didn’t bother him. If the other party refused to see reason, he wasn’t a pushover either.

"Yue Haitang, long time no see."

A gentle voice suddenly sounded. The speaker was Ye Siyi, known as Fragrance Without Shadow, who approached with grace.

Upon seeing Ye Siyi, Yue Haitang’s brows knitted slightly. She nodded without expression, not uttering a word.

Ye Siyi shifted her gaze—her vibrant, beautiful eyes focusing on Luo Feng—and introduced herself, "Jade Sword School, Ye Siyi."

Luo Feng, somewhat stunned as he hadn’t expected her to speak to him, clasped his hands in salute and replied, "Purple Sun School, Luo Feng."

This simple greeting attracted quite a few glances. Many talented students from Red Maple Ridge’s two major schools looked at Luo Feng with envy.

As the foremost young master and a devastating beauty, being able to converse so cordially with Ye Siyi was something many dreamed of.

"I didn’t expect to meet Flowing Cloud Region’s top newcomer here," Ye Siyi said, looking at Luo Feng with a smile.

Luo Feng rubbed his nose and smiled back at Ye Siyi. "Coming from the leader of the top ten young masters, your words truly flatter me."

Ye Siyi gently shook her head. "Mr. Luo Feng, you are too modest. One who can comprehend the Grand Momentum is no ordinary person. I look forward to crossing swords with you during the Twelve Golden Palaces’ assessment."

Even now, a hint of surprise lingered in Ye Siyi’s heart. She clearly understood Xie Xuantong’s strength; his murderous aura could condense into malevolent forms, and combined with his comprehension of the Grand Momentum, even she had to be extremely cautious when facing him. Yet, Luo Feng had faced Xie Xuantong without a change in expression, showing no sign of weakness. That courage alone was admirable.

"I’m looking forward to it too," Luo Feng nodded.

Just then, the sound of numerous hoofbeats echoed from the distance.

Dozens of riders soon appeared. All of them wore green uniforms with a jade sword emblem on their chests—they were students from the Jade Sword School.

Leading the group was Liu Changfeng, the one who had just left. Spotting Ye Siyi conversing with Luo Feng from afar, his brows furrowed, and he called out loudly, "Ye Siyi, let’s go."

Hearing his voice, Ye Siyi smiled at Luo Feng. "I’ll head off first. See you at Sky Mountain."

With that, she flicked her jade-like finger, and her treasured sword shot from its sheath. Her slender figure then landed lightly upon the sword itself.

"Be wary of Xie Xuantong. That man is ruthless and a vicious character."

"Yes, thank you!" Luo Feng nodded.

Ye Siyi said no more. Her sword emitted a green glow, and she rode it into the distance.

"Ye Siyi, he’s just some student from Flowing Cloud Region. Why do you bother with him?" As Ye Siyi approached, Liu Changfeng glanced dismissively at Luo Feng and spoke with indifference. Though his tone was calm, his expression was full of disdain.

Ye Siyi was somewhat displeased by Liu Changfeng’s arrogant attitude, which was one reason she disliked him. "Don’t underestimate him," she said. "He’s Luo Feng, the one from Flowing Cloud Region who recently caused a stir by comprehending the Grand Momentum."

"Oh?" Liu Changfeng’s eyes flickered for a moment, then he snorted coldly. "So what if he has comprehended the Grand Momentum? Apart from Lu Xiao Yun three years ago, everyone else from Flowing Cloud Region is a nobody. Could he possibly be better than Lu Xiao Yun? If he faced me, he probably couldn’t even block a single strike of my sword."

Ye Siyi shook her head slightly and said softly, "Let’s hope so."

The sound of hoofbeats gradually faded, and Ye Siyi’s group soon vanished from sight.

"They’ve all left, yet you’re still staring so intently. Is she that beautiful?" Yue Haitang, noticing Luo Feng still gazing in the direction Ye Siyi and the others had departed, curled her lip and said.

Luo Feng retracted his gaze and smiled at Yue Haitang. "Indeed, she is very beautiful."

In terms of beauty and temperament, among all the women Luo Feng had met, only Bing Ruolan and Yang Wanyi were comparable to Ye Siyi.

"I don’t think she’s anything special." Yue Haitang snorted, spurred her horse forward, a hint of inexplicable annoyance on her face.

Watching Yue Haitang, Luo Feng gave a wry inward smile. This girl is certainly capricious.

With the sun high in the sky, Feng Linshan and Zhu Huo had everyone rest briefly before setting off immediately, intending to reach Sky Mountain before dark.

Along the way, Luo Feng saw Yue Haitang riding alone at the edge of the group. He urged his horse over to her.

Yue Haitang was looking down, pursing her lips, her brow alternately smoothing and furrowing, as if pondering something deeply.

As Luo Feng drew near, he saw Yue Haitang holding a scroll. "Yue Haitang, what’s that in your hand?" he asked.

"Ah! It’s nothing!" Yue Haitang was startled and tried to put the scroll away, but in her haste, she fumbled, and it slipped from her grasp.

SNAP! Luo Feng reacted quickly and caught the scroll.

WHOOSH! The securing thread slipped, and the scroll unfurled in Luo Feng’s hands.

"This is..." Luo Feng looked at the painting, slightly taken aback.

A woman was depicted on the scroll. The woman in the painting wore a flower-patterned dress and stood before a bamboo grove. Her jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall. Her shapely eyebrows, more elegant than distant snow-capped peaks, framed eyes as clear and deep as autumn pools. She was captivatingly beautiful. The hazy bamboo forest shrouded in mist behind her lent an ethereal quality to her charm, possessing a beauty that stirred the heart.

"You... Give it back to me, quick!" Yue Haitang snatched the scroll and clutched it tightly to her chest, her face faintly flushed.

Luo Feng looked at Yue Haitang and asked, "Who is the woman in the painting?"

"None of your business!" Yue Haitang huffed, quickly rolling up the scroll.

A teasing smile played on Luo Feng’s lips. "You’re so flustered. Could this be your lover?" He stroked his chin, nodding thoughtfully. "I see. No wonder you weren’t moved by Ye Siyi at all. So you have such a beautiful lover..."

Even from that brief glimpse, Luo Feng had to admit that the woman in the painting was an incomparable beauty, her charm no less than Ye Siyi’s.

Yue Haitang looked thoroughly exasperated. She pouted and said, "She’s not my lover!"

"Then who is she? You keep her portrait so close to you. She can’t be a stranger, right?" Luo Feng pressed on.

Seeing Luo Feng’s persistence, as if he wouldn’t give up until he got an answer, Yue Haitang bit her lip and reluctantly said, "She’s my cousin, alright?!"

"Your cousin..." Realization dawned on Luo Feng. "No wonder I thought she looked a bit like you. So she’s your younger sister."

Hearing this, Yue Haitang pursed her lips. She seemed to heave a sigh of relief, yet there was also a hint of a wry smile.

Luo Feng said nonchalantly, "I didn’t realize you had such a beautiful younger sister. When will you introduce me?"

"Absolutely not!..." Yue Haitang refused flatly, a panicked look on her face.

Luo Feng had only asked casually. Yue Haitang’s cousin was indeed beautiful, but he wasn’t particularly interested. However, seeing Yue Haitang’s extreme nervousness now, his curiosity was piqued.

"Why not?"

"She... she already has someone she likes!" Yue Haitang thought for a moment, then suddenly said.

Luo Feng chuckled. "What does that matter? I just want to meet her."

Yue Haitang glanced at Luo Feng, bit her lip, then lowered her gaze and said softly, "If you make it to the Imperial City, I’ll introduce you."

"Alright, it’s a deal then." Luo Feng smiled faintly. He glanced at the group ahead and said, "Let’s go, we’re falling behind."

With that, Luo Feng urged his horse to a faster pace.

Yue Haitang watched Luo Feng’s retreating figure, tapped her forehead with a look of regret, and muttered to herself, What am I saying? What if he really goes to the Imperial City... I’ll just play it by ear for now. There’ll be a solution when the time comes... With pursed lips, Yue Haitang shook her head resignedly and rode to catch up with Luo Feng.

As the sun dipped low, casting a golden afterglow over the land, it was nearing dusk when Feng Linshan and Zhu Huo, leading at the front, suddenly slowed their pace.

"Luo Feng, Sky Mountain isn’t far ahead." Yue Haitang and Luo Feng were riding side-by-side. Looking ahead, she said.

Hearing this, Luo Feng looked up into the distance. The mountains and waters ahead filled his vision. This area was originally a plain. In the distance, however, countless mountain peaks rose abruptly from the ground, stretching endlessly as if the very world had been split in two by a blade. Under the setting sun, the peaks were bathed in a dazzling, multicolored light—an indescribably magnificent spectacle.

Gazing further, Luo Feng’s pupils contracted, a look of profound shock on his face. Several miles away, a colossal shadow hung suspended in mid-air. Swirling clouds and mist enshrouded the shadow, obscuring the sunlight. Yet, one could vaguely discern the ethereal silhouettes of towering, verdant green mountain peaks within—like the fabled abode of Immortals.

Looking at the peaks suspended in mid-air, Luo Feng inhaled sharply, his heart pounding with shock. So this is Sky Mountain!

It wasn’t just him; most of the students from Red Maple Lead were also dumbstruck, stunned by the breathtaking, seemingly supernatural artistry of the scenery before them.

Yue Haitang, seeing Luo Feng’s astonished expression, pressed her lips together to suppress a smile and said, "Sky Mountain isn’t a natural mountain range. Its interior has a Formation laid down by experts from the Twelve Golden Palaces, which allows the mountain to remain suspended in mid-air, never falling. This is the origin of Sky Mountain’s name, which means ’as ancient and high as the heavens.’"

Luo Feng nodded and exclaimed in awe, "What a magnificent ’as ancient and high as the heavens’!"

The group continued forward. As they drew closer, Luo Feng noticed that the ambient Yuan Qi was growing increasingly dense. The surrounding vegetation was vibrant and teeming with life. Luo Feng could even clearly feel that the Four Spirit Rotations he had awakened were absorbing Yuan Qi from heaven and earth at a noticeably faster rate.

"The Yuan Qi here is so dense!"

Jadeite Young Master Xin Wuyue rode up and said, "The Formation on Sky Mountain not only allows it to float forever but also gathers Yuan Qi from heaven and earth. It’s said that cultivating within this Formation is like cultivating in a Fake Spiritual Vein, allowing one’s Cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds."

"That’s right," Yue Haitang chimed in, gazing at the mountain’s silhouette in the sky, a hint of yearning in her eyes. "The great Formation within Sky Mountain opens once a year. The ten students who make it onto the Martial Champion list each year are allowed to enter the Formation to cultivate. The higher their ranking, the longer they can cultivate inside. That’s why all students participating in the assessment desperately try to get onto the Martial Champion list."

Fake Spiritual Vein... Luo Feng’s heart stirred. He had cultivated in a Fake Spiritual Vein before; it was precisely because of its help that he had smoothly entered the Spiritual Rotation Realm. A Fake Spiritual Vein is extraordinarily significant to a Martial Artist.

It seems I absolutely must fight for a place on that Martial Champion list, Luo Feng thought to himself.

(Thanks to my friend Ao Qing for the donation, becoming the second Hall Master of this book.)