CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: ROGUE

EDITOR: ENDLESSFANTASY TRANSLATION

Luo Feng threw hundreds of punches in a single breath. Li Tianyang was like a punching bag, utterly unable to resist. He was sent flying, spurting a large mouthful of fresh blood.

THUD!

He landed heavily on the ground, half dead. Li Tianyang, covered in blood, struggled to open his eyes and glared at Luo Feng. Before he could utter the word ’you,’ he fainted.

Three moves!

In just three moves, Li Tianyang, at the mid-stage of the fifth-level Iron Bone Realm, was beaten by Luo Feng until every inch of bone in his limbs was shattered, leaving him in a state worse than death!

How could this be...

Lin XiaoXiao stood aside, her pretty face pale. She staggered back a few steps, gazing at Luo Feng with a horrified expression. Her eyes, usually as proud as a peacock’s, were now dim, as if her very soul had been drained.

She had hoped Li Tianyang would teach Luo Feng a harsh lesson. She never imagined that the boy she once considered trash had unknowingly become so powerful! The sight of him now sent a chill deep into her heart.

Luo Feng glanced at the barely conscious Li Tianyang on the ground and didn’t strike again.

Li Tianyang’s limbs were completely shattered. Even if he recovered, his strength would be severely diminished.

A round of applause rang out. Li Heshan stood on the large rock, smiling at Luo Feng. "Defeating Li Tianyang as an initial-stage fifth-level Iron Bone Realm cultivator, not bad! Luo Feng, you are qualified to be my opponent!"

Luo Feng turned to see Li Heshan. His eyes narrowed slightly, and an intense fighting spirit surged from him.

Now that he had defeated Li Tianyang, among everyone in the Outer Court, only Li Heshan had the strength to fight him. If he could defeat Li Heshan, he would be the undisputed number one in the Outer Court!

Li Heshan sensed Luo Feng’s fighting spirit and paused, a smile touching his eyes. "Hahaha... What spirit! Truly worthy of someone who dares to challenge Duanmu Yu. I’d also love to spar with you, but unfortunately, now isn’t the time."

Li Heshan glanced in the direction of Giant Wood Valley.

During this delay, many more people had rushed out of Giant Wood Valley and were hurrying this way.

"Luo Feng, it seems our spar will have to be postponed," Li Heshan said loudly. "Your movement technique just now seemed quite good. Do you dare compete with me in Qinggong? Let’s see who can reach the First Challenge King’s Golden Seat!"

Luo Feng stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking at Li Heshan with cold eyes. "Why wouldn’t I dare? The First Challenge King’s Golden Seat is mine for the taking!"

Before the competition started, Luo Feng wouldn’t have dared to covet the First Challenge King’s Golden Seat. Li Heshan was already a late-stage fifth-level Iron Bone Realm cultivator, his strength far surpassing Li Tianyang’s. There was basically no hope for first place.

But now things were different. Having passed through the Demon Forest and Giant Wood Valley, only the Oblivion River, the last of the three great trials, remained. The next test was Qinggong cultivation!

With his Teng Dragon’s Step, Luo Feng was confident his Qinggong wouldn’t be inferior to Li Heshan’s!

Li Heshan had already witnessed Luo Feng’s audacity. Hearing his words now, he paused again, looking at Luo Feng with interest. "Good! Since you’re so confident in your Qinggong cultivation, I, Li, would like to witness it. I’ll go first!"

With a soft cry, Li Heshan executed his Daluo Step, one foot striking the large rock.

BOOM! The two-person-high boulder shattered, and Li Heshan shot towards the Oblivion River like an arrow released from its bow.

The Oblivion River was several hundred meters wide. Rows of wooden posts were set every twenty meters across its surface. Li Heshan bounded across these posts like a great Peng, disappearing into the dense mist over the Oblivion River in just a few leaps.

Once Li Heshan departed, Qin Luoxue’s gaze swept over Luo Feng, then settled on Bing Ruolan beside him. With a dimpled smile, her light, melodious voice sounded, "I won’t compete with you for first place, but I won’t give up the Third Challenge King’s Golden Seat."

Saying this, Qin Luoxue also departed gracefully. Reaching the riverbank, she leaped directly onto the water. Her lotus feet touched the surface without sinking, and she moved across the waves as if a dragonfly skimming water, gradually receding into the distance.

She cultivated the Cloud Smoke Step, a low-grade Yellow Rank Martial Art. When executed, it was like soaring through clouds and mist, exceptionally ethereal and nimble.

Lin XiaoXiao glanced at the barely conscious Li Tianyang on the ground, bit her red lip, then her gaze swept over Luo Feng, a flash of determination in her eyes.

As long as I can get into the top three and obtain a high-grade Yellow Rank Martial Art, I can break through to the fifth-level Iron Bone Realm! Then I’ll definitely surpass him!

WHOOSH!

Lin XiaoXiao executed her Light Martial Art and dashed towards the river.

Watching Lin XiaoXiao hasten away, Luo Feng’s gaze fell upon the barely conscious Li Tianyang on the ground. He shook his head slightly. Li Tianyang, you thought you were defending her. Now you’re gravely injured, yet she abandons you without a second thought. I wonder what you’d think if you knew.

He gave a few cold laughs, then looked up at Bing Ruolan. "Ruolan, give me your hand."

"Why?" Bing Ruolan looked at Luo Feng, her eyes somewhat dazed. She still hadn’t recovered from the shock of Luo Feng defeating Li Tianyang.

"Have you forgotten? I said I’d get you into the top three!" Luo Feng said with a faint smile.

Bing Ruolan was stunned. Remembering Ji Wuyue’s earlier instructions, she hesitated. "But... aren’t you competing with Li Heshan for the First Challenge King’s position? Carrying me... Ah! Luo Feng, what are you doing? Put me down! Quickly..."

Bing Ruolan wanted to tell Luo Feng not to mind her, but halfway through her sentence, she suddenly found herself airborne. Coming to her senses, she realized she was in Luo Feng’s arms! Both mortified and frantic, she pounded on Luo Feng’s shoulders, trying to get down.

"Don’t move!" Luo Feng warned, holding Bing Ruolan and feeling the surprising firmness in his arms as he sprinted towards the Oblivion River. "Or I’ll throw you into the Oblivion River!"

Bing Ruolan quieted down, pouting as she glared at Luo Feng. "Luo Feng, how dare you act so fiercely towards me! I’m the Monitor of the Silver Moon Class! Don’t think you can look down on me just because your cultivation is a tiny bit higher than mine!"

"Is that so?" Luo Feng’s eyes narrowed, a hint of coldness within them, his tone icy. "Monitor, do you know what I hate most in life? Being threatened."

Startled by Luo Feng’s gaze, Bing Ruolan asked timidly, "What... what do you want?"

SMACK!

Luo Feng suddenly raised his hand and landed a slap on Bing Ruolan’s perky bottom. He chuckled, "That’s the punishment!"

"You!" Bing Ruolan froze, her small mouth agape and eyes wide with shock, her pretty face flushing crimson. No one had ever hit her there before.

After a long moment of stunned silence, Bing Ruolan finally gritted her teeth. "You... pervert!"

By then, Luo Feng had reached the riverbank. Ignoring Bing Ruolan, he immediately executed his Teng Dragon’s Step, leaping nearly forty meters into the air.

AH! Bing Ruolan, utterly unprepared, cried out in terror, her face paling as she clung tightly to Luo Feng. Any rebuke she had been about to utter was swallowed back down.

Luo Feng chuckled inwardly as Bing Ruolan buried her head tightly in his chest. Sighting the wooden posts ahead, his figure flickered, soaring across the river like a roaming dragon.

Although Luo Feng’s Teng Dragon’s Step was only at the second stage, thanks to the eighteen Meridian Wheels within his body, its power was equivalent to the fourth stage. A single leap could span forty to fifty meters, four times his normal speed. Even carrying Bing Ruolan, his velocity was still incredible.

Lin XiaoXiao had started earlier. Seeing that Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan hadn’t caught up for a while, she had just begun to relax when a sharp whistling sound tore through the air above her.

Looking up, she saw Luo Feng carrying Bing Ruolan, speeding forward incredibly fast. With each leap and bound, they covered nearly fifty meters, as if they were truly flying. Lin XiaoXiao stared in a daze.

What kind of Light Martial Art is that? How can he be so fast...

Lin XiaoXiao watched blankly as Luo Feng carried Bing Ruolan out of sight, her fists clenched tightly, her teeth biting her lower lip.

Soon, Luo Feng, still carrying Bing Ruolan, crossed the Oblivion River. He continued to sprint for another quarter of an hour before stopping.

"If you don’t let go, I’m going to scream ’molester’!" Luo Feng said with a smile, stopping and looking at Bing Ruolan who was still clinging tightly to him.

Bing Ruolan cautiously opened her eyes and, like a startled rabbit, immediately leaped from Luo Feng’s embrace.

Remembering how she had just called Luo Feng a pervert, yet now found herself clinging to him so tightly, Bing Ruolan felt her cheeks burn. She didn’t dare lift her head to meet his gaze.

"Ruolan, I’ve put a good distance between us and Qin Luoxue. The rest of the competition is up to you," Luo Feng said, glancing back.

Luo Feng’s composed demeanor helped Bing Ruolan calm down considerably. She nodded, a flicker of determination in her eyes. "Mm, I’ll definitely get third place!"

"Good. I’ll head off then." Luo Feng nodded. Four transparent Qi Dragons immediately coiled and soared around him. With a single leap, he vanished into the dense forest.

Bing Ruolan touched the spot where Luo Feng had slapped her, a hint of shyness in her beautiful eyes. She glanced in the direction he had disappeared, pursed her lips, then executed her own Light Martial Art, hurrying towards the school.

「Purple Sun School.」

Half a day had passed since the competition began. Based on past experience, this should be the final stage. In the academy square, the crowd on the viewing stands all craned their necks, looking towards the west gate.

Why are they so slow... Dean Zi Hongyuan of the Purple Sun School sat on the highest platform, a look of surprise and doubt in his eyes.

Judging by the timing of previous Challenge King Competitions, someone should have returned by now. Yet, the west gate remained deserted, and the ten gleaming golden Challenge King Seats in the square stood empty and solitary.

On a lower stand, Li Yuanhao showed no sign of worry. He calmly sipped his tea, his gaze, tinged with coldness, occasionally flicking towards Ji Wuyue nearby.

He knew why no one had appeared after so long. Li Tianyang had told him before leaving that he would ’properly teach Luo Feng a lesson’ during the competition!

In contrast to Li Yuanhao’s composure, Ji Wuyue appeared extremely anxious.

Li Yuanhao’s vindictive nature—his tendency to repay every slight—was well known. She had a strong suspicion why no students had finished the competition yet.

If she, as an instructor, weren’t forbidden from entering the competition area, she would have rushed in to check on them by now.

"Ji Wuyue, you seem very concerned about the competition?" Li Yuanhao set down his teacup, looking at Ji Wuyue with a smirk. "The competition is the students’ own affair. As instructors, we shouldn’t worry too much. Besides, even if your Silver Moon Class students lose to ours, isn’t that perfectly normal?"

Ji Wuyue’s eyes turned cold. Suppressing her anger, she looked at Li Yuanhao with an icy smile. "My students are none of Instructor Li’s concern. However, I’d like to confirm something with you. I heard that half a month ago, your son, Li Tianyang, and Luo Feng from my class had a strength contest in Qingfeng Town over a saber. As a result, your son, a fifth-level Iron Bone Realm cultivator, lost to Luo Feng, who was merely at the late-stage fourth-level Rigid-Soft Realm. Is this true?"

Chuckles erupted from those nearby.

The incident had occurred in Qingfeng Town, so many were aware of it.

For a Martial Artist at the fifth-level Iron Bone Realm to lose a contest of strength to someone at the late-stage fourth-level Rigid-Soft Realm was utterly humiliating.

"Ji Wuyue, you!" Li Yuanhao’s face turned ashen. He shot up from his seat, but after glancing at the other instructors and elders present, he slowly sat back down.

"Hmph! Even the best horse stumbles sometimes. That Luo Feng was merely lucky. Such an arrogant brat who doesn’t know his place will get his due lesson sooner or later!" Li Yuanhao narrowed his eyes, his words laced with a deep, ominous meaning.