CHAPTER 161: CHAPTER 161: SWORD FLIGHT!

"A treasured sword sheathed..."

Upon hearing Bing Ruolan’s words, a faint smile touched Luo Feng’s lips.

Having grasped the Grand Momentum, the Yuan Qi in his body had fused with the Yuan Qi of heaven and earth. Although he had concealed his aura, his temperament had surely undergone a transformation.

Most people wouldn’t notice it, yet surprisingly, Bing Ruolan did.

"It must be your imagination. How could I be as mysterious as you say?" Luo Feng touched his nose and smiled faintly.

"Really?"

Bing Ruolan was skeptical.

At this time, the discussions in the square gradually subsided. Dean Zi Hongyuan and the academy instructors successively appeared.

"The Dean is out! It seems the powerful expert is about to arrive."

"I wonder who the visitor is. I’ve never encountered a Spiritual Rotation Realm expert before."

"I’ve had the good fortune to see one. Though it was just a fleeting glimpse, I’ll never forget that powerful aura as long as I live," said a student.

"You’ve seen a Spiritual Rotation Realm expert? What was it like? How did they compare to our Dean?"

The student who claimed to have seen a Spiritual Rotation Realm expert calmly uttered a few words: "A firefly compared to the bright moon!"

HISS...

The surrounding students couldn’t help but gasp.

Dean Zi Hongyuan was a Ninth Level Heavenly Court Realm expert, his strength unfathomable.

Such a powerful expert, in the presence of a Spiritual Rotation Realm expert, was merely a firefly!

How incredibly strong must a Spiritual Rotation Realm expert be!

Luo Feng wasn’t surprised at all upon hearing this.

Steward Li, who was merely at the half-step Spiritual Rotation Realm, already possessed strength far exceeding the Ninth Level Heavenly Court Realm, let alone a true Spiritual Rotation Realm expert.

The square was abuzz with excited chatter; everyone wanted to witness the rumored grandeur of the Spiritual Rotation Realm expert.

Suddenly, Zi Hongyuan, who was seated on the high platform in the square, rose from his seat. His sharp gaze turned toward the east of the academy.

All sounds instantly vanished, and all eyes turned towards the eastern sky.

"Hey, what’s that!"

The square was in an uproar, exclamations rising and falling.

Luo Feng also squinted, looking east. A glint flashed in his eyes as he muttered, "They’re here!"

In the southeast, a golden halo tore through the clouds. From a distance, a streak of red light could be seen rushing toward them, piercing the clouds and the sun—a terrifying spectacle.

Though the red light was a kilometer distant, in the blink of an eye, it arrived above the academy square.

A brilliantly shining red sword could now be seen clearly. Upon it stood a peerlessly beautiful woman with a graceful figure.

"Sword flight!"

A commotion erupted across the entire square; everyone’s eyes were filled with excitement.

The dazzling red light gradually subsided, and the sword descended onto the high platform. A woman in plain clothes disembarked.

The woman appeared to be in her early twenties. She had a curvaceous figure, skin as fair and smooth as jade, eyebrows like crescent moons, and a beauty that seemed ethereal, as pure as ice and jade. Stepping off the flying sword, she looked like a celestial fairy.

All sounds died down; everyone was so awestruck by this beautiful and dreamlike scene that they were rendered speechless.

Riding a sword, how elegant! Luo Feng watched the woman, his eyes filled with longing. When will I be able to roam freely between heaven and earth like her?

"Sister South Moon!" Zi Yuan cried, rushing excitedly toward the woman in plain clothes.

The woman in plain clothes hugged Zi Yuan and gently tousled her two small pigtails, smiling. "Little Yuan, you’ve grown so much. Let Sister see your Cultivation progress over these years."

The woman in plain clothes appraised Zi Yuan and said with a smile, "Late-stage Seventh Level Essence Storage Realm. It seems you haven’t slacked off in your Cultivation these past few years."

Zi Yuan lifted her small face and giggled. "I knew Sister would come, so how could I dare to slack off?"

The woman in plain clothes revealed a breathtaking smile and tapped Zi Yuan’s forehead. "You sweet-talker!"

"Senior Sister, you must be weary from your long journey. Please, come inside and rest," Zi Hongyuan said, stepping forward with a respectful expression.

The surrounding students stared with wide eyes.

None of them had expected their usually dignified Dean to be so respectful before this young woman.

The woman in plain clothes showed a wry smile. "Zi Hongyuan, you’re still as stubborn as ever. How many times have I told you not to call me Senior Sister?"

Zi Hongyuan shook his head. "When we cultivated together in the Purple Extreme Palace, your Cultivation was higher than mine. It is only right that I call you Senior Sister."

"Suit yourself."

Cang Nanyue rubbed her forehead. Her gaze swept over the square, passing over Xu Mei and Yang Hong before finally resting on Luo Feng.

In an instant, I had a feeling of being seen through.

Luo Feng thought. But I knew it was just an illusion. The Teng Dragon’s Step could hide my aura, and now that I’ve grasped the Grand Momentum, my aura blends with heaven and earth. Even if she’s a Spiritual Rotation Realm expert, it’s impossible for her to see through me.

As expected...

Cang Nanyue stared at Luo Feng, let out a soft "Oh?" of surprise, and then smiled. "Robust Qi and blood, condensed internal organs, and you’ve also cultivated some formidable aura-concealing technique. Even I can’t see through you. Not bad!"

Hearing her praise, Zi Hongyuan was inwardly pleased. He knew her standards were extremely high, and she rarely praised anyone.

"Senior Sister, he is the Luo Feng I mentioned to you, the one who successfully cultivated the Teng Dragon’s Step and the Sky Slayer Saber Technique. Moreover, he was the one who obtained the Black Dark Claw Secret Manual."

"Oh?"

Cang Nanyue’s beautiful eyes lit up. She took a deep look at Luo Feng and said, "Interesting."

"Senior Sister, let’s go inside first," Zi Hongyuan said, leading the way.

Cang Nanyue retracted her gaze, nodded, and gestured with her finger.

"Red Moon!"

WHOOSH!

The sword hovering beside her retracted its red light and emitted a soft whistle. As if possessing Spirituality, it shot back into the sheath at her waist.

"What a fine sword!" Luo Feng couldn’t help but exclaim.

Bing Ruolan nodded. "That’s a Spirit Weapon. It has been refined with a beast soul and possesses its own Spirituality."

"A Spirit Weapon..." Luo Feng murmured, his gaze unconsciously drifting to the Tiger Soul Saber on his back.

Although his Tiger Soul Saber was a half-step Spirit Weapon, it was far inferior to a true Spirit Weapon and lacked Spirituality.

"Luo Feng, Xu Mei, Yang Hong, go and prepare. We’ll be departing shortly," Zi Hongyuan instructed after walking a few steps and turning around.

Once the woman in plain clothes and Zi Hongyuan left the square, the previously silenced discussions gradually resumed.

"South Moon... Could she be Cang Nanyue?"

"Chen Feng, you know her?"

"Yes. I’m almost certain. She should be ’Fallen Sunset Sword’ Cang Nanyue. She cultivated with our Dean in the Purple Extreme Palace back then. Now, she’s the Dean of Changxin Academy in the Red Maple Lead!"

"The Dean of Changxin Academy!"

Gasps rippled through the nearby crowd.

The Red Maple Lead was one of the twelve Leads of the Canglang Dynasty, ranking even above the Flowing Cloud Region.

And Changxin Academy was one of the two dominant powers in the Red Maple Lead, its status comparable to the combined four great academies of the Flowing Cloud Region, perhaps even greater!

"And that’s not all!"

The student named Chen Feng, who seemed to know a great deal about Cang Nanyue, continued, "Cang Nanyue became a Spiritual Rotation Realm Martial Artist at eighteen. She is a renowned martial arts prodigy. Back then, she had a high chance of entering a Martial Arts Holy Land, but for some reason, she ended up at Changxin Academy instead."

"A Martial Arts Holy Land!" Another wave of astonished cries went up.

Those qualified to enter a Martial Arts Holy Land were, without exception, prodigies of exceptional talent!

Chen Feng glanced at Luo Feng, Xu Mei, and the others with envy. "I really envy Luo Feng and the others, getting to cultivate under such a powerful expert..."

Luo Feng listened to the surrounding discussions, his expression calm. He turned to Bing Ruolan and said, "Ruolan, I’m heading back first."

Thinking that Luo Feng would soon be leaving with Cang Nanyue, Bing Ruolan’s spirits dampened a little. She forced a smile. "I’ll go back with you."

Luo Feng shook his head, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. "No need. Your face has a healthy glow; perhaps you’ll have good luck today."

Bing Ruolan assumed Luo Feng was just trying to comfort her and replied with a charming smile, "Alright then, I’ll stay here."

Luo Feng nodded and walked away from the square.

「Guest Reception Hall of Purple Sun School.」

Zi Hongyuan and Cang Nanyue took their respective seats as host and guest. No one else was present in the hall.

"Senior Sister, this is the Black Dark Claw Secret Manual you requested," Zi Hongyuan said, handing a pitch-black manual to Cang Nanyue.

Cang Nanyue took the manual, glanced at it, and nodded. "Indeed, this is the Black Dark Claw of the Demon Sect."

Zi Hongyuan put down his teacup, his brow gradually furrowing. "Senior Sister, you mentioned in your letter that the Demon Sect has recently become active again. Is this true?"

Cang Nanyue put away the manual, her expression serious. "How could I deceive you about such a grave matter? I came to the Flowing Cloud Region this time for two reasons: first, to acquire this Black Dark Claw manual, and second, to investigate the Demon Sect’s whereabouts. I’ve received intelligence suggesting the Demon Sect is planning another invasion of the Hundred Kingdoms. They have already begun to infiltrate the Canglang Dynasty, and the Flowing Cloud Region is no exception."

Zi Hongyuan’s right hand trembled imperceptibly. He heaved a sigh. "To think that after less than ten years of peace, turmoil is brewing once more."

His gaze shifted. Zi Hongyuan looked at Cang Nanyue and chuckled. "I was quite surprised when I heard you were coming. I’d wondered when you had become so agreeable, but now I understand the reason."

Cang Nanyue smiled, a smile of peerless grace.

"Let’s set aside the Demon Sect’s affairs for now. Even if they have plans, they can’t stir up much trouble in the short term. Tell me about the students you want me to guide. The New Talent Conference is fast approaching, and I don’t want to hear about your Purple Sun School lagging behind again."

Zi Hongyuan’s old face flushed, and he laughed awkwardly. "You’ll know about the four of them once you meet them later."

As if remembering something, Zi Hongyuan frowned. "Speaking of them, something comes to mind. Last night, while I was cultivating, I suddenly felt a mountain-like Saber Intent roar past. Even I felt an inability to resist it."

Cang Nanyue, with her profound Cultivation, immediately understood what Zi Hongyuan was implying. "You believe one of the students has grasped the Grand Momentum?"

Zi Hongyuan nodded. "Luo Feng is the most likely candidate."

Cang Nanyue pondered for a moment then gently shook her head. "The Grand Momentum is elusive. Anyone who can comprehend even a hint of it before eighteen is already a top-tier genius, one in a million."

"There are only a few such individuals in the entire Canglang Dynasty, most of whom are from wealthy or noble backgrounds. Only with guidance from a Spiritual Rotation Realm Martial Artist from a young age can they hope to glimpse the Grand Momentum of heaven and earth. Luo Feng is indeed promising material, but given his age and Cultivation, for him to comprehend the Grand Momentum..."

Cang Nanyue did not continue, but her meaning was perfectly clear.

It was impossible for Luo Feng to comprehend the Grand Momentum.

Zi Hongyuan also found it somewhat incredible. He laughed and nodded. "It seems I was overthinking things. There’s another matter I need to trouble you with, also related to Luo Feng."

Zi Hongyuan stood up and took out the Red Flame Golden Crystal that Luo Feng had given him...