CHAPTER 152: CHAPTER 152: ENCOUNTER IN A DEADLY LAND

SWIPE!

A horizontal blade energy burst out, astonishingly powerful and swift as lightning, carving a semicircular black rift between heaven and earth!

SPLAT! SPLAT!

Two Black Scale Tigers now each had an additional bloody gash across their heads. Half of their heads dropped to the ground with a thud. Their massive bodies charged forward a few steps before collapsing.

The most formidable aspect of the Black Scale Tiger was its scale armor. These scales were symbiotic with their Demon Qi, making them harder than steel.

Any Martial Artist below the Seventh Level, the Essence Storage Realm, would undoubtedly die if they encountered a Black Scale Tiger!

Luo Feng wasn’t surprised to have slain two Black Scale Tigers with a single slash.

Now that his cultivation had broken through, his internal Yuan Qi was several times more abundant than before, surpassing that of an average martial artist in the late stage of the Essence Storage Realm.

With the ferocity of the Sky Slayer Saber Technique, it would be strange if he *couldn’t* kill the Black Scale Tigers.

Walking over to the two Demon Beasts, Luo Feng saw two dark Demon Cores within the Black Scale Tigers’ skulls, and his eyes lit up with joy.

Demon Cores from early Third-Rank Demon Beasts, worth nearly 100,000 silver. My luck is good.

Luo Feng smiled faintly, placed the Demon Cores into his Storage Ring, and looked towards the south of the forest.

Another Baili to the south lay the Smelting Mountain Range, one of the most dangerous areas in the Red Chain Mountain Range!

It’s time to pay a visit to the Purple Flame Python.

With his cultivation breakthrough, Luo Feng didn’t want to delay any longer. With the Tiger Soul Saber slung across his back, his figure flashed, leaping onto a giant tree tens of meters high. After a few more flickers, he vanished without a trace. He didn’t use the Teng Dragon’s Step, instead moving stealthily through the treetops.

This was already deep within the Red Chain Mountain Range, a place teeming with danger. If he were too conspicuous, he might attract powerful Demon Beasts.

WHOOSH!

Moments after Luo Feng departed, a figure burst out from the trees.

The figure wore a black cloak, revealing only a pair of chillingly cold eyes. Seeing the corpses of the two Black Scale Tigers on the slope, he cursed under his breath.

This kid, he runs really fast!

This was Housekeeper Li from the Duanmu Family, who had started tailing Luo Feng four days prior when he left the Purple Sun School.

He had followed Luo Feng from the Purple Sun School, intending to kill him once they reached a remote area.

However, fate had other plans. As soon as Luo Feng left the Purple Sun School, he immediately utilized a light movement technique and hastily set off.

Housekeeper Li’s movement technique, the Spirit Cloud Steps, was merely a Yellow Grade High-Rank martial art. Luo Feng had left him in the dust in an instant.

If not for his tracking skills, he would have lost Luo Feng’s trail long ago.

Upon entering the Red Chain Mountain Range, Housekeeper Li had pursued at full speed. Yet, for four whole days, he hadn’t seen so much as Luo Feng’s shadow, only a trail of fresh Demon Beast corpses.

Damn brat! When I catch you, I’ll tear you to pieces!

Killing intent flared in Housekeeper Li’s eyes. The wounds on the Black Scale Tiger corpses were fresh; they must have died recently. Luo Feng couldn’t be far.

ROAR!

Just then, a roar suddenly echoed through the forest. A vast and powerful aura swept out in all directions, accompanied by fierce gusts of wind that set the entire forest rustling violently.

Such a strong aura! That must be a mid-Third-Rank Demon Beast!

Housekeeper Li gasped, his eyes filled with terror. He hastily activated his movement technique and darted toward the denser part of the forest.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The moment he turned, a black shadow suddenly charged from the distance.

The earth trembled, giant trees toppled one after another, and a wide trench tore through the forest, heading straight for him.

"Black Blood Iron Rhino!"

Housekeeper Li’s eyes nearly bulged from their sockets as he saw the black shadow rushing from the forest.

The black shadow stood over six meters tall, its entire body a dark red, resembling a small mountain. A meter-long black horn, like a scimitar, protruded from its forehead, gleaming with a cold light.

Even at a distance, its ferocious aura made Housekeeper Li’s scalp tingle.

The Black Blood Iron Rhino was a powerful Demon Beast, equivalent to a Martial Artist of the Eighth Level of the Hell Realm. It could externally release Gang Qi, and ten cultivators like Housekeeper Li would be no match for it.

Escape!

A chill shot through Housekeeper Li’s heart, and he fled desperately into the forest.

The Black Blood Iron Rhino had spotted Housekeeper Li. Its crimson eyes flashed with a terrifyingly cold light. It snorted a wave of hot air, and a bloody ray of light shot from its nostrils towards Housekeeper Li.

The bloody ray was incredibly fast; Housekeeper Li had no time to dodge before it struck him.

In his haste, Housekeeper Li roared, and Gang Qi erupted from his body to form a protective shield.

BANG!

With a thunderous crash, the Gang Qi shield around Housekeeper Li shattered. He was flung back a hundred meters like a broken sack, crashing through more than a dozen trees before finally stopping.

Currently, his clothes were in tatters, his face was covered in blood, and he looked utterly wretched.

Cursing under his breath, he ignored his injuries, scrambled to his feet, and ran for his life deeper into the forest.

The Black Blood Iron Rhino glanced at Housekeeper Li and lost interest, then lumbered with heavy steps towards the corpses of the two Black Scale Tigers on the ground.

Housekeeper Li sprinted for over five miles before daring to look back.

Seeing that the Black Blood Iron Rhino hadn’t pursued him, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, leaning against a large tree and panting heavily.

Damn brat! You almost got me killed! When I catch you, I’ll make you pay!

He took out a medicinal pill and swallowed it, his eyes bloodshot as he cursed.

He had only just arrived in the vicinity; that Black Blood Iron Rhino certainly hadn’t been targeting him.

The most logical explanation was that the Black Blood Iron Rhino had been drawn by the commotion of Luo Feng’s battle with the Black Scale Tigers, and he had unfortunately become the scapegoat!

Luo Feng was oblivious to the events unfolding behind him. After a full day’s trek, he finally arrived at the periphery of the Smelting Mountain Range.

Before him stretched a continuous mountain range devoid of any greenery, composed only of bare, reddish-brown rock that resembled chunks of blood-soaked, cooling iron.

The ground was riddled with spiderweb-like cracks from which gray mist billowed.

The temperature is so high. It’s said that deep within the Smelting Mountain Range lies an Earth Core Fire Vein. I wonder if it’s true...

Luo Feng licked his somewhat dry lips, his gaze fixed on the depths of the mountain range.

The forest had been somewhat cool, but the temperature here was many times hotter than summer at the Purple Sun School!

No wonder this place is one of the six major perilous grounds of the Red Chain Mountain Range. An ordinary person probably couldn’t even last two hours here.

Luo Feng took a deep breath. Just as he was preparing to enter the mountain range to find the Purple Flame Python, his ears suddenly twitched.

Someone is here...

Frowning, Luo Feng darted behind a large boulder.

WHOOSH!

A sound of rushing wind announced a figure bursting out from the forest. It was Housekeeper Li, still tracking him.

One of the six major perilous grounds, the Smelting Mountain Range. I didn’t think the kid would actually come here.

Housekeeper Li frowned, squatting down to carefully examine the ground for tracks.

Suddenly, a look of startled suspicion flashed in his eyes.

Hmm, these footprints are fresh. He must have arrived recently. So where is he?

Before he could finish his thought, a sharp whistling sound suddenly cut through the air beside his ear.

Housekeeper Li’s expression turned grim as he drew his sword and thrust.

CHINK!

The sword tip split the incoming pebble in two.

"Who dares to ambush me? Show yourself!"

Housekeeper Li’s sharp gaze swept towards a nearby pile of rubble.

The sound of footsteps followed as Luo Feng emerged from his hiding place.

After sizing up Housekeeper Li, Luo Feng’s gaze turned cold. "I don’t know you. Why are you following me?"

From his words and actions, it’s clear he tracked me here.

Seeing Luo Feng, a delighted expression appeared on Housekeeper Li’s face. A sneer touched the corner of his lips as he scoffed, "Luo Feng, you’re about to die and you don’t even know it! You might not know me, but you surely recognize the name Duanmu! You injured two of our young masters; did you really think you could get away unscathed?"

This man’s aura is stronger than Zi Yuan’s. He’s a peak Seventh Level Essence Storage Realm expert, likely an important figure in the Duanmu Family.

If I had encountered a peak Seventh Level Essence Storage Realm expert yesterday, I would have had some reservations.

But now that my cultivation has advanced to the mid-stage of the Seventh Level Essence Storage Realm, I have no reason to fear him.

Raising an eyebrow, Luo Feng said with a faint smile, "So, you’re from the Duanmu Family. Are you here to seek revenge for your two young masters? However, I’m afraid you lack the strength for that."

Housekeeper Li’s face stiffened, then twisted into a sinister sneer.

"Still spouting such arrogance! Luo Feng, I watched your match with Zi Yuan. Your strength is nothing special! Die!"

SWISH!

Before his words faded, Housekeeper Li flicked his sword. Purple-red Gang Qi gathered at the tip of his sword, and in an instant, he thrust towards Luo Feng.

HISS!

The sword light condensed into a single line, searing a trajectory through the air as if igniting it.

Luo Feng’s gaze remained calm. The Tiger Soul Saber appeared silently in his hand. With a flash of its dark blade, he slashed horizontally, perfectly intercepting the sword light.

BOOM!

A deafening blast erupted as the sword light and saber gleam shattered simultaneously, unleashing a torrent of energy that rippled outwards.

"Flaming Cloud Swordsmanship!"

Housekeeper Li hadn’t expected to defeat Luo Feng in a single move. After all, Luo Feng possessed strength comparable to the Four New Stars; he was no ordinary opponent.

SWISH!

The instant the sword light shattered, he lunged forward, his sword transforming into a purple-red afterimage as it slashed down at Luo Feng’s head.

The blade hissed as it cut through the air, which seemed on the verge of igniting. The oppressive sword momentum locked Luo Feng within a ten-meter radius.

Luo Feng felt the hairs on his body prickle as if they were about to ignite. His gaze sharpened, and the dark gleam of his saber surged upwards to meet the descending sword.

Housekeeper Li sneered inwardly.

The Flaming Cloud Swordsmanship he cultivated was a Yellow Grade Supreme-Rank martial art!

With my peak Seventh Level Essence Storage Realm cultivation, even Martial Artists of the same level would struggle to block this!

Luo Feng only just entered the early stage of the Seventh Level Essence Storage Realm; he definitely can’t take this blow!

However, what happened next was completely beyond his expectations.

The instant the saber and sword collided, an intense shockwave surged through Housekeeper Li’s weapon, nearly wrenching it from his grasp!

How is this possible?!

Housekeeper Li’s eyes widened in disbelief.

My peak Seventh Level Essence Storage Realm cultivation, combined with the Supreme-Rank Flaming Cloud Swordsmanship, was so easily blocked by him!

"Thunder Rush Shock Cloud Step!"

Having parried the sword, Luo Feng didn’t pause. The Yuan Qi beneath his feet surged, and powerful shockwaves spread out.

HUM!

Housekeeper Li snapped to his senses and hastily condensed Gang Qi for defense.

BOOM!

The latent energy exploded beneath Housekeeper Li’s feet. The powerful impact instantly shredded his Gang Qi shield, sending him staggering back several dozen steps!