CHAPTER 160: CHAPTER 160: GRAND MOMENTUM BEGINS TO FORM

Upon seeing the Red Flame Golden Crystal in Luo Feng’s hands, the expressions on Zi Hongyuan’s and Zi Yuan’s faces changed.

Noticing their strange reactions, a somewhat uncertain Luo Feng asked, "Is something wrong?"

Zi Yuan looked at Luo Feng with a peculiar gleam in her eyes.

"Luo Feng, did you find this Red Flame Golden Crystal in the Smelting Mountain Range?"

"Yes," Luo Feng nodded.

At this, Zi Yuan could no longer hide the astonishment in her eyes. She gasped and said, "Luo Feng, do you know that ordinarily Red Flame Golden Crystals are only about two fingers in size? But this one of yours is as big as a fist! If I’m not mistaken, this Purple Flame Python must have been cultivating for decades, and its cultivation level is probably no less than the mid-stage of the Eighth Level of the Hell Realm!"

Luo Feng now understood why they were so surprised. His knowledge of Demon Beasts was far inferior to Zi Yuan’s, so he could only chuckle and say, "I encountered this Purple Flame Python by chance. It seemed to have been severely wounded after fighting with other Demon Beasts. I guess I just got lucky."

His words, a mix of truth and lies, raised no suspicion.

Zi Yuan nodded, her expression gradually relaxing. If this Purple Flame Python had really been slain by Luo Feng alone, that would be incredible!

"Dean, could this Red Flame Golden Crystal perhaps be offered to that senior to guide Bing Ruolan?" Luo Feng asked, looking at Zi Hongyuan.

Zi Hongyuan took the Red Flame Golden Crystal, nodded, and chuckled. "The gallbladder of a Purple Flame Python that has cultivated for decades—this is quite rare. I’m sure she will be more than satisfied. Don’t worry about it; leave it to me."

"That’s good. I hope no one else learns of this. I must take my leave now." Hearing this, Luo Feng finally felt relieved and bid them farewell.

Zi Yuan remembered being caught eavesdropping last time. Her cheeks flushed at the thought, but she was easy-going. Quickly recovering, she smiled and offered, "I’ll see you out."

Luo Feng, noticing Zi Yuan seemed to have something to say, didn’t refuse.

They strolled side by side along an academy path. Beneath the elegant moonlight, their shadows stretched long.

"Luo Feng, have you heard that He Qin from Tianlan School, known as the ’Heavenly Fragrant Woman,’ has broken through to the Eighth Level of the Hell Realm?"

Zi Yuan’s usual playful and carefree demeanor shifted. With her delicate feet seeming to tread on the moonlight, her beautiful face revealed a touch of solemnity as she asked.

Luo Feng nodded. "I heard some talk on my way back to the academy. Apparently, Ji Wufa, the ’Traceless Young Master’ from Floating Snow School, has comprehended Sword Intent."

"Hmm," Zi Yuan replied, somewhat dispirited.

Luo Feng noticed something was bothering Zi Yuan. However, he decided not to press her. If she wanted to talk, she would naturally tell him.

"Luo Feng, I’m worried that our Purple Sun School will end up at the bottom again in this year’s New Giants Tournament." After a moment of silence, Zi Yuan bit her lip and admitted, her fingers fidgeting.

Without a second thought, Luo Feng replied, "That won’t happen."

Zi Yuan paused, taken aback. Looking at the ever-determined young man before her, for the first time, she felt she couldn’t quite fathom him.

"What makes you so confident?" When she heard about He Qin breaking through to the Eighth Level of the Hell Realm and Ji Wufa comprehending Sword Intent, Zi Yuan had felt a deep sense of powerlessness. These past few days, she had been dejected, worried their academy would fail again.

Luo Feng smiled faintly, his tone firm. "I said I would secure a place in the top three of the New Giants Tournament. No matter what obstacles arise, they won’t shake my conviction. The path of Martial Arts is perilous. If one doesn’t even believe in oneself, how can one achieve anything in it?"

The moment his words resonated, Luo Feng’s aura suddenly turned sharp, like an unstoppable blade.

Zi Yuan’s expression turned solemn. In that instant, she felt as if Luo Feng’s aura had merged with heaven and earth, making him seem immeasurably vast!

A Martial Artist’s true heart, unshakeable... Mulling over Luo Feng’s words, Zi Yuan felt enlightened. Her eyes gradually brightened, a sense of sudden understanding dawning on her. The unease that had troubled her for days vanished, and her mind became clear and tranquil.

"I feel much better after talking with you. Luo Feng, thank you," Zi Yuan said with a genuine, sweet smile.

Luo Feng simply shook his head.

Zi Yuan wanted to seize the clarity she felt and return to her cultivation. After exchanging a few more words with Luo Feng, she bid him farewell and departed.

Luo Feng also returned directly to his small courtyard.

After freshening up, he went out into the courtyard. He had already touched the threshold of the Grand Momentum and was just one step away from truly comprehending it. He prepared to make an all-out effort to break through.

The vast night sky was dotted with stars, and a bright, round moon hung high in the center, its light pure and brilliant.

A gentle breeze rustled, sending ripples across the surface of the pond.

The Tiger Soul Saber was embedded in a rock beside him. Luo Feng sat cross-legged in the courtyard, his entire being entering a profound and ethereal state of meditative emptiness.

Silence ensued for a moment.

Suddenly, with Luo Feng at the center, the Yuan Qi within a hundred-meter radius began to churn violently, as if a storm was brewing and waves were surging.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! The sound of raging torrents echoed in the courtyard; it was the fierce wind formed by the frenzied eruption of Yuan Qi.

Sand and stones swirled throughout the courtyard, and trees swayed violently.

Luo Feng sat with his eyes closed, the Yuan Qi within his body gradually merging with the Yuan Qi of heaven and earth.

Eventually, each breath he took drew in the Yuan Qi from the surrounding hundred-meter radius. His exhalations were like gusts of wind, and his inhalations formed swirling vortexes.

Luo Feng’s mind was completely immersed in comprehending the Grand Momentum of heaven and earth, gradually losing all track of time.

Suddenly, tangible ripples of energy pulsed outwards, expanding in all directions.

BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ... The Tiger Soul Saber, embedded in the ground, began to tremble slightly. As if drawn by an invisible force, it levitated and landed in Luo Feng’s hand.

The moment the saber hilt settled into his hand, Luo Feng suddenly opened his eyes. Illusory flashes of lightning sparked within his pupils, illuminating the courtyard.

In that instant, his entire demeanor changed.

It was as if he himself had transformed into an incomparably sharp treasured blade. Accompanied by a piercing whistle, countless slashes appeared on the ground within a ten-step radius around him, sending stone fragments flying.

If an ordinary person were present at this moment, they would likely feel an irresistible urge to kowtow to Luo Feng.

At this moment, he was completely merged with heaven and earth!

A vast and majestic aura erupted from his seemingly slender frame.

It was as if he himself *was* the heavens!

His eyes flashed, and Luo Feng slashed out towards the sky.

Drawing the saber, striking, and sheathing it—the entire sequence was a single, fluid motion, as smooth as drifting clouds and flowing water. It possessed an indescribable rhythm, perfectly natural and unconstrained.

SWISH! An immense, pitch-black saber light shot straight towards the highest heavens, as if intending to cleave the sky itself!

The vast expanse of silver moonlight was instantly split in two!

The terrifying aura swept out in all directions.

CLANG... CLATTER... Throughout Purple Spirit Peak, the sound of countless weapons clattering to the ground could be heard.

Many students who were cultivating showed expressions of terror.

In that brief moment, they had faintly sensed a tyrannical killing intent locking onto them! It felt as if their lives would be extinguished in the very next instant.

A profound sense of terror arose in everyone’s heart. Fortunately, the killing intent merely flashed past and vanished without a trace, making them wonder if it had only been an illusion.

Zi Hongyuan was meditating and regulating his breath. He subconsciously glanced at the sky but found no sign of any anomaly.

An aura like a mountain of blades... such a sharp sensation... Could it be that someone has comprehended the Grand Momentum? Could it be Luo Feng? Zi Hongyuan mused for a moment, then shook his head.

It seems I’m becoming overly anxious with the New Giants Tournament approaching. The Grand Momentum is ethereal and elusive. How could a mere student at the Seventh Level of the Essence Storage Realm possibly comprehend it?

With a wry smile, Zi Hongyuan dismissed it as a figment of his imagination. He exhaled a breath of turbid Qi and resumed his cultivation, as tranquil as an old monk in deep meditation.

「...」

I’ve finally taken the initial step in comprehending the Grand Momentum. Luo Feng sheathed the Tiger Soul Saber, a smile on his face. His aura gradually receded until he appeared no different from any other martial artist at the mid-Seventh Level of the Essence Storage Realm.

After that period of cultivation, he had gained an initial understanding of the Grand Momentum, reaching the state of ’Qi Like Mountain’.

That last saber strike had given Luo Feng a preliminary understanding of the Grand Momentum’s power.

Although it was only an initial achievement, his strength had already increased severalfold.

He was certain that even Zi Yuan would not have been able to withstand that last strike.

Looking at the Tiger Soul Saber in his hand, Luo Feng muttered to himself, "Now that I’ve begun to comprehend the Grand Momentum, my strength can truly be compared to that of the Four New Giants. However, the Grand Momentum is ethereal and elusive. My future cultivation will become progressively more difficult. I wonder how long it will take to fully comprehend it..."

He exhaled a breath of turbid Qi and sat cross-legged to continue his cultivation.

The Four Great Academies were teeming with geniuses; it wouldn’t be easy to stand out in the New Giants Tournament.

Even though he had begun to comprehend the Grand Momentum, Luo Feng dared not relax his vigilance.

Cultivation in Martial Arts is like sailing against the current; if you don’t advance, you fall back. Those who don’t strive can only become mediocre, eventually forgotten by time.

「...」

One night passed.

The next morning, Purple Sun School, which had been quiet for several days, was suddenly bustling with noise and excitement.

Today was the day the Spiritual Rotation Realm expert was scheduled to arrive, and all the students were eagerly anticipating it.

Hearing the commotion, Luo Feng opened his eyes. He looked towards the academy, his pupils glinting slightly.

A Spiritual Rotation Realm expert... I wonder what they’ll be like...

Back in Panlong City, Steward Li’s power had left a deep impression on Luo Feng.

Steward Li was merely an expert at the half-step to the Spiritual Rotation Realm, but the person arriving today was a true Spiritual Rotation Realm expert! They were on a completely different level of existence!

The thought of soon being able to cultivate under the guidance of a Spiritual Rotation Realm expert made Luo Feng feel a surge of excitement. He stood up, quickly freshened up, and headed towards the academy.

Although it was still early morning, the academy square was already thronged with students, creating a lively scene.

Yang Hong, the ’Twin Sword Guest’; Xu Mei, the ’Flower Picking Hand’; Zhou Tong, ’Ruthless’; Bing Ruolan; and other students from the Hidden Dragon List were all present.

Bing Ruolan stood within the crowd, tall and graceful, her beauty seemingly refined and otherworldly. Her long, slender, perfect legs and striking short, light-blue hair made her exceptionally eye-catching.

She stood alone in a corner, her demeanor cool and aloof. As her beautiful eyes scanned her surroundings, she appeared somewhat forlorn.

Luo Feng walked straight towards her.

Seeing Luo Feng, Bing Ruolan’s beautiful eyes lit up as if spring snow were beginning to thaw. A smile graced her face. "Luo Feng, where have you been these past few days? I looked for you several times, but you weren’t around. Li Heshan didn’t know either."

"I took on a mission and went out to earn some academy credits," Luo Feng casually excused himself.

Bing Ruolan scrutinized Luo Feng, a hint of surprised inquiry in her star-like eyes. "Luo Feng, you’ve changed!"

Luo Feng paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "A few days ago, I broke through to the mid-Seventh Level of the Essence Storage Realm."

Bing Ruolan shook her head. "I’m not talking about your cultivation level, but your aura! Before, you were like a sharp sword, powerful with its edge fully exposed. Now, you’re like a treasured saber returned to its sheath. Though still immensely powerful, there’s an unfathomable quality to you."

"In short, you’ve become more mysterious!" Bing Ruolan concluded with a slight intake of breath.