CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: AN UNEXPECTED CHALLENGE

EDITOR: ENDLESSFANTASY TRANSLATION

Uncle Li looked serious as he explained, "Li Yuanhao once had a fortuitous encounter and obtained a Yellow-tier, top-quality secret manual of the Cloud Piercing Swordsmanship from an archaeological site! This swordsmanship allows a Martial Artist at the Essence Storage Realm of the seventh-level Meridian Wheel to condense Sword Qi."

Luo Feng nodded, then suddenly clasped his fist and bowed to Uncle Li. "Thank you, Uncle Li, for your guidance today." Without Uncle Li, he would not have known so much.

Uncle Li laughed satisfyingly. "Ji Wuyue is my student; I accept your gratitude."

The two descended from the third floor. Uncle Li registered the Sky Slayer Saber Technique and, as if remembering something, looked up and said, "By the way, I almost forgot to tell you. The Dean instructed that you don’t have to return the Teng Dragon’s Step secret manual, but you do need to submit a Yellow-tier, mid-level martial arts secret manual in exchange."

"Why?" Luo Feng was a bit surprised.

Uncle Li chuckled. "You don’t need to be surprised. The Teng Dragon’s Step has been in the Martial Arts Hall for more than ten years without a single student successfully cultivating it. Rather than let it continue to gather dust in the Martial Arts Hall, it’s better to exchange it for a more practical secret manual. The Dean probably thinks that the secret manual still has some use for you."

Luo Feng nodded; he also felt the Teng Dragon’s Step wasn’t that simple and was considering whether to return the secret manual to the Martial Arts Hall. He took out the Floating Cloud Sword Technique, then handed the manual to Uncle Li. "Uncle Li, I obtained this martial arts manual by chance. I will use it to exchange for the Teng Dragon’s Step."

"The Floating Cloud Sword Technique. The power of this swordsmanship is outstanding among Yellow-tier, mid-level manuals. Not bad." After a glance, Uncle Li promptly nodded.

With the assurance that he could keep the Teng Dragon’s Step secret manual, Luo Feng breathed a sigh of relief. After saying goodbye to Uncle Li, he left the Martial Arts Hall.

Back in his small courtyard, Luo Feng did not immediately start cultivating the Sky Slayer Saber Technique; he first cultivated the Teng Dragon’s Step. To increase his strength enough to confront Li Yuanhao within a short period was unrealistic. However, if he reached a high realm in Light Martial Arts, even if he couldn’t beat his opponent, self-preservation wouldn’t be an issue.

Luo Feng’s cultivation had now reached the mid-level of the Iron Bone Realm, and he could start to cultivate the third level of the Teng Dragon’s Step. Each level of the Teng Dragon’s Step was harder to cultivate than the last. This time, it took Luo Feng a full ten days to transform the Meridian Wheel in his kidneys into a coiling dragon.

Although a lot of time was spent, the results were very significant. Luo Feng could now leap up to sixty meters at full strength, reaching six times his normal speed. He was faster than a galloping horse, each step spanning several meters.

"Even Li Yuanhao wouldn’t be able to best me in lightness skills now." Luo Feng’s lips curled into a confident smile. The Teng Dragon’s Step was truly mysterious. Just the third level alone had already surpassed the speed of ordinary Yellow-tier, high-quality Light Martial Arts!

After successfully cultivating the third level of the Teng Dragon’s Step, Luo Feng immediately began to cultivate the Sky Slayer Saber Technique. This saber technique was infinitely close to Profound Level martial arts. Its cultivation difficulty was far beyond what Tiger Roar Fist could compare to, perhaps even surpassing that of the Teng Dragon’s Step.

In the small courtyard, Luo Feng held the Tiger Soul Saber, his figure moving like a coiling dragon. The saber light scattered everywhere, twisting the air in the courtyard and even forming cyclones.

WHISH, WHISH, WHISH... As the saber light flickered, the cyclones spun more fiercely, tearing at everything around. The trees in the courtyard swayed from side to side, rustling loudly...

In the evening, Luo Feng finally stopped, expelling a turbid breath. Looking at the leaves scattered all over the ground, a gleam flashed in his eyes. "Having cultivated the Sky Slayer Saber Technique to the first level in just half a day, my perception is truly phenomenal!" Luo Feng was satisfied with his cultivation speed and couldn’t help feeling a little proud.

However, this was just the beginning. The Sky Slayer Saber Technique had six levels in total, each more difficult than the last. The final three levels, especially, could not be cultivated through ordinary means; they had to be comprehended through slaughter, grasping the profound intent realm hidden within the Saber Technique.

Next, Luo Feng continued to cultivate the second level of the Sky Slayer Saber Technique. Luo Feng originally thought it would take him five or six days to successfully cultivate the second level, but he had underestimated his own potential. Just three days later, he successfully cultivated the second level of the Sky Slayer Saber Technique.

The power of the second level of the Sky Slayer Saber Technique was slightly superior to Yellow-tier, mid-level martial arts. This meant Luo Feng’s second-level Sky Slayer Saber Technique could already contend with Li Heshan’s Chasing Wind Sword Technique!

After breaking through to the second level, his cultivation speed gradually slowed. By the eighth day, Luo Feng’s Sky Slayer Saber Technique had reached the third level. The power of the Saber Technique climbed once more, far surpassing Yellow-tier, mid-level martial arts, and was comparable to Yellow-tier, high-quality martial arts.

It was just the third level, yet it possessed such power. If cultivated to the sixth level, it would likely be no inferior to Profound Level martial arts! However, the more powerful the martial art, the harder it was to cultivate. Luo Feng’s comprehension ability was monstrous, but his training speed also slowed after breaking through the third level.

Feeling like he had hit a bottleneck, Luo Feng decided to stop cultivating.

During the nearly half-month of secluded training, his cultivation level had rapidly improved; he had now reached the peak of the Iron Bone Realm! There were reasons for this rapid breakthrough. He possessed eighteen Meridian Wheels, an extraordinary talent. Additionally, the Sky Slayer Saber Technique was infinitely close to the Profound Level, which greatly benefited a Martial Artist’s cultivation. Thus, he was able to break through consecutively in such a short time.

"Now that I have achieved Great Accomplishment in Tiger Roar Fist, and both the Teng Dragon’s Step and Sky Slayer Saber Technique are at the third level, I’m confident I can easily defeat Li Heshan. I might even have a chance against Duanmu Yu, though I’m not yet certain of victory."

Luo Feng looked at the Tiger Soul Saber, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. Duanmu Yu was also a genius. He entered the inner courtyard at the age of fifteen, and his cultivation had now reached the sixth-level God Bravery Realm. Furthermore, he had also cultivated a Yellow-tier, top-quality martial art, making him a formidable opponent.

After tidying up, Luo Feng decided to first obtain the status of an inner courtyard student. With that status, Li Yuanhao wouldn’t dare to act against him rashly. Once he cultivated the Sky Slayer Saber Technique to the fifth level, he would no longer need to fear his adversary.

"Luo Feng!"

Luo Feng had just stepped out of his courtyard gate and hadn’t gone far when a sudden exclamation sounded nearby. Turning, Luo Feng saw Li Yuan and several JinYang class students running towards him, their expressions fraught with panic.

"Li Yuan, what happened?"

"Those bastards from Wanluo School are causing trouble! There’s a guy among them named Chen Xin, and he’s specifically challenging you! The class leader, Qin Luoxue, and several others were all defeated by them!" Li Yuan said, his face flushed. The other JinYang students beside him nodded, looking at Luo Feng with reverence. Now that Luo Feng had claimed the title of this year’s first Challenge King, no outer courtyard student dared to belittle him.

Chen Xin? Luo Feng’s eyebrows raised. The name sounded somewhat familiar, but he couldn’t immediately recall where he’d heard it.

"Take me there!"

Wanluo School and Purple Sun School had always been rivals. Considering this relationship, Luo Feng felt compelled to fight. Moreover, since they had specifically challenged him, he certainly couldn’t evade the battle. Besides, he had just finished his retreat and was eager to test his skills.

On the way, Luo Feng learned from Li Yuan and the others that Li Heshan and Lin XiaoXiao had both entered the school’s inner courtyard a few days ago. Li Heshan’s cultivation had already reached the late stage of the fifth-level Iron Bone Realm, so his entry into the inner courtyard wasn’t surprising. However, Lin XiaoXiao’s swift entry into the inner courtyard startled Luo Feng somewhat. But he soon understood. Duanmu Yu held considerable prestige in the inner courtyard; it wouldn’t have been difficult for him to use some means to help Lin XiaoXiao gain entry.

The group moved swiftly, soon arriving at the school entrance.

Outside the school gate, an uproar echoed.

"Purple Sun School is getting worse and worse! Are these supposed to be their elite outer courtyard students? They’re completely vulnerable!"

"Haha... Soon it won’t be called the ’Four Great Academies,’ it will be the ’Three Great Academies’!"

"Exactly! These Purple Sun School guys are no match for Brother Xin..."

"Hey, you lot, hurry up and call Luo Feng out for a battle!"

Over a dozen students from Wanluo School were congregated at the school entrance, laughing loudly and speaking with contempt. Nearby, dozens of outer courtyard students from Purple Sun School stood, including Qin Luoxue, Bing Ruolan, and Nanfei. Several high-level JinYang class students bore injuries; Qin Luoxue and Bing Ruolan were no exception.

"Hmph! Don’t be so arrogant! If our class’s top expert, Li Heshan, hadn’t entered the inner courtyard just a few days ago, he could have dealt with all of you by himself!" Facing the taunts from the Wanluo School students, the Purple Sun School students were all indignant. One of the JinYang class students couldn’t help but retort.

"Hahaha... Li Heshan, huh? We fought before, and he couldn’t even withstand ten of my moves. He’s nothing worth mentioning." A dark-faced Wanluo student shook his head and laughed dismissively, his hands clasped behind his back.

Qin Luoxue and the others were unhappy with this Wanluo student’s arrogant attitude but were unable to rebut; they had all been defeated by the Wanluo students earlier.

At this point, Luo Feng emerged from the gate.

"It’s you!"

Luo Feng looked at the sword-wielding youth standing at the forefront of the Wanluo School group. It was Chen Xin, whom he had encountered in the Red Chain Mountain Range. Now, Chen Xin’s strength had also reached the peak of the fifth-level Iron Bone Realm. His body exuded an oppressive aura; it seemed he had been cultivating diligently during this time.

"Chen Xin, do you know him?" The dark-faced youth glanced at Luo Feng, then turned his gaze to Chen Xin.

Before Chen Xin could respond, a square-faced youth jumped out, pointed at Luo Feng, and angrily declared, "It’s this kid! He’s the one who stole our Red Flame Fruit in the Red Chain Mountain Range!"

In a flash, all eyes landed on Luo Feng.

"Luo Feng." Seeing Luo Feng appear, Bing Ruolan’s eyes sparkled with a hint of surprise and relief.

"Luo Feng, you..." Bing Ruolan noticed the change in Luo Feng’s aura, and her eyes widened in disbelief. "Late stage of the fifth-level Iron Bone Realm!"

Next to her, Qin Luoxue was also stunned. Looking at Luo Feng, her beautiful eyes glistened with astonishment. She remembered that during the Challenge King Contest, Luo Feng was only at the mid-stage of the fifth-level Iron Bone Realm. In just ten days, he had broken through to the peak of the fifth-level Iron Bone Realm! This cultivation speed was too fast!

"Luo Feng... So you’re the first Challenge King of this term’s Challenge King Contest." The dark-faced youth glanced at Luo Feng and shook his head uninterestedly. "Just a Martial Artist at the peak of the fifth-level Iron Bone Realm. You should call out the previous Challenge King, Duanmu Yu, instead."

Luo Feng assessed the dark-faced youth, his gaze hardening. This person’s aura was even stronger than Chen Xin’s; he was actually an expert at the early stage of the sixth-level God Bravery Realm!