Martial Arts Overlord-Chapter 556 - 554: A Temper Like a Blade—Unyielding and Unbreakable
The duel had ended, but hardly anyone rose to leave. The audience remained immersed in the thrilling confrontation, discussing it amongst themselves.
In one corner of the spectator stands, Wei Kuang watched the direction Luo Feng had departed, his expression gloomy.
He had just seen Luo Feng break through to the Spiritual Rotation Realm, but he wasn’t particularly worried.
Even if they were both Martial Artists at the First Level of the Spiritual Rotation Realm, there were still differences in their strength. He was confident that Luo Feng was no match for him.
However, with Xue Fei’s crushing defeat, this confidence began to waver. Luo Feng’s strength made him feel threatened.
"Luo Feng, it seems I underestimated you. Your potential is truly astounding. Given more time, I probably wouldn’t be your opponent. Unfortunately, you should never have crossed me, Wei Kuang!"
With a cold smirk, Wei Kuang’s eyes turned incredibly sinister. He stood up and commanded, "Let’s go!"
A few Long Wind School students sensed the chilling aura emanating from Wei Kuang. Though puzzled, they dared not inquire and simply followed behind him, leaving the square.
At the top tier of the southern spectator stands, Yi Tian, the Princely Heir of Qingyun Mansion, watched the injured Xue Fei, tapping a jade fan, a smile on his lips.
"Luo Feng from Purple Sun School, quite interesting."
Rising from his seat, Yi Tian instructed the small-eyed Martial Artist waiting nearby, "Prepare yourself; I wish to meet this person tonight."
The small-eyed Martial Artist lowered his gaze respectfully and nodded. "Yes, Young Master."
「In a tower three hundred meters from the dueling arena.」
"Liu Changfeng, what do you think?"
Ye Siyi withdrew her gaze and looked at the silent Liu Changfeng beside her. Her long eyelashes fluttered, and a smile graced her pretty face.
Being young at heart, Ye Siyi couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement seeing Luo Feng win just as she had predicted—and so cleanly and decisively.
Liu Changfeng’s expression stiffened, but he managed to force a smile.
"Hehe, it was merely an insignificant skirmish, not worth mentioning."
After his dismissive remark, Liu Changfeng said, "I still need to guide a few junior sisters in their cultivation. I shall take my leave."
With that, he turned and walked towards the lower floors of the tower.
As he descended from the tower, he glanced sideways at Ye Siyi. Seeing her gazing thoughtfully towards the dueling platform, a muscle in the corner of his eye twitched fiercely.
"Hmph!"
He snorted coldly. With a flick of his sleeve, a sharp aura burst forth. SHINK! SHINK! Several sword scars were instantly gouged into the wall before him.
Ye Siyi paid no attention to Liu Changfeng’s departure. Her beautiful eyes, bright and lively as water, remained fixed on the dueling platform. A lazy voice mused,
Defeating Xue Fei, the Stone Man, in two moves... Luo Feng, you truly are remarkable...
Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan left the dueling square, walking along the stone-paved path of Sky Cloud Valley.
To their left lay a shimmering lake, its banks adorned with various blooming flowers and exotic plants. A gentle breeze swept over, carrying a refreshing, heart-soothing fragrance in the moist air, bringing a pleasant coolness.
With the improvement in his cultivation, Luo Feng exuded a striking confidence in his speech and actions. He had also grown considerably taller, his figure now quite imposing. Bing Ruolan, a natural beauty, walking beside him, created a picturesque scene that drew many envious glances.
"Luo Feng, I didn’t expect your strength to progress so quickly! You should have seen the shocked expressions on those young talents earlier."
Bing Ruolan studied Luo Feng, her limpid eyes filled with a playful smile. Witnessing Luo Feng’s growth brought her even more joy than her own breakthroughs.
Luo Feng simply smiled without speaking. With his current strength, defeating Xue Fei was truly nothing remarkable.
"With your current strength, you should be confident in competing for the Martial Champion Rankings, right?"
Bing Ruolan blinked, asking curiously.
Luo Feng touched his nose and smiled. "My goal is the top five of the Martial Champion Rankings."
"Top five..."
Bing Ruolan’s bright eyes flickered slightly, a hint of surprise in them.
Although she hadn’t met all the top ten young experts of the Six Southern Domains, their fame was widespread, and she had naturally heard of them.
Among the top ten young experts, the top four were all Martial Artists at the Second Level of the Spiritual Rotation Realm. Since Luo Feng aimed for the top five of the Martial Champion Rankings, he would naturally have to contend with these geniuses.
Bing Ruolan pursed her rosy lips. She casually plucked a willow leaf and twirled it on her slender fingertip. It seems I’ve fallen behind again. I must also cultivate diligently and strive to enter the Spiritual Rotation Realm as soon as possible...
Thinking this, Bing Ruolan suddenly stopped and said, "Luo Feng, I’m going back to cultivate."
With that, Bing Ruolan immediately turned and left.
"Ruolan..."
Luo Feng watched Bing Ruolan’s retreating figure, a helpless smile on his face. This girl, her competitive spirit hasn’t changed a bit.
Shaking his head, Luo Feng decided that after the Twelve Golden Palaces assessment concluded, he would find an opportunity to cultivate with Bing Ruolan, which would benefit them both.
Exhaling slowly, Luo Feng turned and headed towards the Bamboo Shadow Courtyard.
Tomorrow was the day of the first round of the assessment, ’Storming the Heaven Gate Road.’ Luo Feng decided to use this final night to consolidate his cultivation further.
Night descended. The Yuehua was like water, and the stars glittered brilliantly.
The bright Yuehua filtered through the Sky Mountain, scattering down upon Sky Cloud Valley. The valley’s myriad lakes, large and small, each reflected a crescent moon, creating a scene of cold, silent serenity.
In the Bamboo Shadow Courtyard, beneath the swaying bamboo shadows, Luo Feng sat cross-legged. He held a rank-two Yuan Stone in each hand, resting them on his abdomen. Wisps of white vapor rose from the top of his head.
Now, each of his breaths was deep and powerful, causing the nearby bamboo leaves to tremble and RUSTLE.
Having advanced to the Second Level of the Spiritual Rotation Realm, Luo Feng had awakened four Spirit Rotations within his body. He could now withstand a greater impact from the world’s Yuan Qi and wanted to attempt cultivating with two rank-two Yuan Stones simultaneously.
As the Yuan Qi from the Yuan Stones flowed through the meridians in his arms and into his body, the four Spirit Rotations awakened in Luo Feng’s Dantian and Yuan Guan Acupoint suddenly spun faster. They were like four bottomless pits, frantically absorbing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi and slowly refining the impurities within.
Two hours passed, and then four.
When the crescent moon ascended to hang directly above Luo Feng’s head, two distinct CRACKING sounds echoed in the courtyard.
Luo Feng slowly exhaled a long breath and opened his eyes; his meridians throbbed with a faint ache—a sign that the Yuan Qi impact had been too intense.
Despite this, Luo Feng was not alarmed; instead, he was pleased. Looking at the two shattered rank-two Yuan Stones in his hands, a confident smile spread across his face.
I knew it! I can indeed withstand the Yuan Qi impact from two rank-two Yuan Stones simultaneously!
The Yuan Qi contained within a rank-two Yuan Stone was considerable. Generally, only Martial Artists at the Fourth Level of the Spiritual Rotation Realm would attempt to cultivate using two rank-two Yuan Stones at once.
Otherwise, their meridians would be unable to bear the strain, leading to fainting in mild cases, or severe damage to the meridians in serious ones.
The fact that Luo Feng, at only the Second Level of the Spiritual Rotation Realm, could handle cultivating with two rank-two Yuan Stones was entirely due to his special constitution.
He possessed eighteen Meridian Wheels in his body, double the usual number, which allowed him to endure a much greater Yuan Qi impact.
At this rate, I’ll eventually catch up to those geniuses and far surpass them...
His innate talent was second to none; he only lacked time.
After changing into a fresh set of clothes, Luo Feng went into the courtyard to appreciate the Yuehua. Recalling tomorrow’s assessment, he mused aloud,
Storming the Heaven Gate Road... A carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, ascending to Heaven in a single bound! An interesting name. I wonder what the assessment entails...
BANG! BANG! BANG...
At that moment, knocking sounded from outside the courtyard.
Thinking it was Bing Ruolan, Luo Feng called out loudly, "Coming!"
Opening the courtyard gate, he saw two figures standing in the moonlight.
In front was a youth dressed in fine brocade, and beside him stood a small-eyed Martial Artist.
"It’s you!"
Recognizing them, Luo Feng’s eyebrows shot up. The Yuan Qi within him surged, and he tensed, asking coldly, "What business brings you two here so late at night?"
The brocade-clad youth smiled faintly and walked into the courtyard as if he owned the place.
Luo Feng frowned. "If you have no business here, please leave."
"Insolent! How dare you speak to our Young Master like that!"
The small-eyed Martial Artist snorted, his voice cold.
Luo Feng’s eyes flashed. "Hmph?" His gaze, sharp as a knife, shot towards the small-eyed Martial Artist.
Facing Luo Feng’s gaze, the small-eyed Martial Artist felt a chilling pressure wash over him. He involuntarily drew his longsword and stammered,
"Y-You... What are you trying to do?"
Luo Feng sneered coldly and retracted his gaze.
The small-eyed Martial Artist, knowing he’d been bluffed by Luo Feng, flushed red then pale.
The brocade-clad youth frowned. "Useless."
The small-eyed Martial Artist was submissive and dared not retort.
Luo Feng sized them up, his vigilance unwavering; in fact, every nerve in his body was taut to the extreme. "If you have something to say, say it quickly."
The small-eyed Martial Artist was indeed the Qingyun Mansion martial artist who had attacked him and Yue Haitang. Luo Feng paid him little mind; it was the brocade-clad youth beside him that concerned him.
Although this person wore a smile, he constantly exuded a sharp, imposing aura.
Luo Feng could sense that this person’s cultivation was far above his own. Though perhaps not comparable to Azure Cloud Flying Dragon Su Xiaokang, he likely wasn’t far off, probably around the Fifth Level of the Spiritual Rotation Realm.
Although this was Sky Cloud Valley, a place of significance where ordinary people wouldn’t dare cause trouble, Luo Feng always acted cautiously. He was prepared to use his Teng Dragon’s Step at any moment to escape.
The brocade-clad youth seemed disinclined to speak, merely giving the small-eyed Martial Artist a look.
The small-eyed Martial Artist understood, stepped forward, and said,
"Luo Feng, this is Yi Tian, Princely Heir of the Azure Cloud Marquis. The Azure Cloud Marquis is one of the six great King Marquises of the dynasty. You should know of him..."
Luo Feng cut him off, his expression chilling. "I have no interest in his identity."
Hearing this, Yi Tian’s brow furrowed, and he let out a cold snort through his nose.
The small-eyed Martial Artist’s gaze wavered slightly. Looking at Luo Feng, he said directly,
"My Young Master watched your duel with Xue Fei and deems you a talent worth nurturing."
Luo Feng understood instantly and sneered. "So he wishes to recruit me, to have me follow his orders?"
The small-eyed Martial Artist nodded. "Precisely. As long as you pledge allegiance to my Young Master and serve Qingyun Mansion, beauties, power, pills, martial arts—you name it, it will be yours..."
Luo Feng sneered silently. He most despised those who bowed and scraped.
His character was like a blade: he would rather break than bend.
"What I want, I will obtain myself," Luo Feng said, shaking his head slightly.
"Luo Feng, I hope you consider this carefully. For my Young Master to take an interest in you is your good fortune. Don’t be ungrateful!" Seeing Yi Tian’s expression grow increasingly unsightly, the small-eyed Martial Artist’s words also turned cold.
"No need to consider. Please leave."
Luo Feng refused directly, without a second thought.
