CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: WITHIN THREE MOVES

EDITOR: ENDLESSFANTASY TRANSLATION

"Hmph! Not a bad stance. But you better not be all show and no substance."

Lu Han sneered at Luo Feng, letting out a shrill laugh.

SWISH!

With a single slap on the sheath behind him, a sharp, gleaming sword flew into his hand.

HUMMM!

With a slight flick of his wrist, the sword blade hummed incessantly. The cold light reflecting from it made the surrounding Purple Sun Academy students feel the air grow colder.

Sword in hand, Lu Han slowly advanced toward Luo Feng.

With each step, his aura intensified. A daunting presence emanated from him, like a towering mountain, accompanied by immense oppressive force.

"Ah!"

A cultivator with low cultivation shrieked and stumbled back in terror, nearly falling to the ground.

Nearby, the faces of Bing Ruolan and Qin Luoxue also darkened.

A cultivator at the Sixth Level of the God Bravery Realm could condense their aura to suppress opponents. Martial Artists below the Sixth Level of the God Bravery Realm would feel immense pressure from such an aura, hindering their movements. Once cultivation reached a certain height, a mere glance could render someone an imbecile.

"Luo Feng, be careful. This man is the top expert of Wanluo School’s outer courtyard. He cultivates the high-grade Yellow Rank martial art, Wind Swordsmanship. His sword skills are terrifying!" Bing Ruolan quietly warned from the side.

Luo Feng nodded, his expression unchanged.

His Soul Power was formidable. Even the aura pressure from Li Yuanhao, a cultivator at the Seventh Level of the Essence Storage Realm, had no effect on him, let alone Lu Han, who was merely at the Sixth Level of the God Bravery Realm.

However, his opponent’s cultivation was indeed substantial; the oppressive feeling was at least ten times stronger than Chen Xin’s!

Interesting. Lu Han licked his lips, finding Luo Feng’s indifference to his aura noteworthy.

Luo Feng stopped three meters in front of Lu Han, twirled his Tiger Soul Saber with a flourish, and said calmly, "Let’s begin."

Lu Han snickered, pointed a finger disdainfully at Luo Feng, and said, "Luo Feng, don’t think I’m bullying you. I’ll defeat you within ten strikes. If not, I’ll admit defeat!"

Lu Han’s voice carried an initial arrogance, as if everything was under his control. The imposing manner in his words made hearts tremble.

To the onlookers, Lu Han, standing there confidently, didn’t seem arrogant; rather, it felt natural. After all, Lu Han’s cultivation was at the Sixth Level of the God Bravery Realm, a level above Luo Feng. Ten strikes were more than enough to decide the victor.

Ten strikes...

Luo Feng touched his nose, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes as he looked at Lu Han and shook his head. "Ten strikes are too many."

Hm?

Hearing Luo Feng’s words, Lu Han was taken aback. Ten strikes are too many? Is this kid planning to surrender?

"HAHA... this kid must know he’s no match for Senior Brother Lu Han, so he’s trying to find a way to back down gracefully!"

"Of course, how could he possibly be a match for Senior Brother Lu Han? The Dean himself said that Senior Brother Lu Han has a high chance of becoming one of the next Four Great New Talents! I think it’ll be a miracle if Luo Feng can last five strikes against Senior Brother Lu Han."

"Five strikes? You’re overestimating him. I say he’ll be defeated within three strikes at most, no doubt about it!"

A burst of derisive laughter erupted from the side.

Those Wanluo School students, still resentful over Chen Xin’s loss to Luo Feng, now stared at him with mocking eyes, their words dripping with ridicule.

Luo Feng looked at Lu Han calmly, held up three fingers, and smiled. "I, Luo, believe that three strikes are more than enough to defeat you."

What?!!

The laughter died abruptly. All eyes, wide as saucers, stared at Luo Feng as if he were a monster.

Luo Feng actually claimed he would defeat Lu Han within three strikes!

"He must be joking! If not, he’s insane! He actually dares to think he can defeat Senior Brother Lu Han in three strikes!"

"He’s definitely lost his mind!"

The Wanluo School students glared angrily at Luo Feng.

"Defeat me in three strikes?"

Lu Han almost choked. He had expected his own claim of defeating Luo Feng in ten strikes to intimidate him.

But that wasn’t the case at all. Luo Feng didn’t even seem to register him as a worthy opponent.

"Fine! I’d like to see how you defeat me in three strikes!" Lu Han snorted and, without another word, shot toward Luo Feng.

He cultivated Graceful Step, a mid-grade Yellow Rank light martial art. His movements were as elusive and agile as the wind, making them difficult to predict.

The numerous students present could only see Lu Han’s figure flickering as he rapidly approached Luo Feng.

Stirring Cloud Three Swords!

Lu Han’s gaze sharpened. The longsword in his hand, like a Jiao Dragon piercing the clouds, focused on a single point and thrust toward Luo Feng.

SHRIIIP! SHRIIIP! SHRIIIP!

In the span of half a breath, Lu Han’s longsword thrust out three times. The sword gleams were as swift as a gale, tearing through the air with the sound of ripping silk—incredibly fast.

Luo Feng stood his ground, unmoving as a mountain. As Lu Han drew near, his eyes suddenly narrowed.

In that instant, an aura as steady and solid as a mountain emanated from Luo Feng. In everyone’s eyes, he seemed like a majestic mountain peak, too imposing to look at directly, inspiring awe!

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

The Tiger Soul Saber, wielded by Luo Feng, stirred up a wave of air, its imposing aura matching its speed as it slashed out three times.

CLANG!

Sword light and sword shadows obscured their figures. Coupled with their swift movements, it was difficult to see them clearly. However, the sheer, immense power erupting from the clash of their blades mildly shocked the students from both academies.

THUD, THUD, THUD...

A figure retreated continuously.

How could this be?!

The surrounding Wanluo School students stared, eyes wide with disbelief.

Because the one retreating in disarray was Lu Han!

"What happened? How could Senior Brother Lu Han be pushed back by Luo Feng?!"

"Just now, Senior Brother Lu Han executed Floating Cloud Sword Technique, a mid-grade Yellow Rank martial art. What kind of martial art did Luo Feng use to repel him?!"

"Uh... It looks like Luo Feng didn’t use any martial art technique," a voice suddenly piped up.

HISS!

A collective gasp went through the crowd. He repelled Lu Han, a powerhouse at the Sixth Level of the God Bravery Realm, without using any martial art technique! How terrifying!

"Senior Brother Lu Han must have let him win on purpose! It’s a tactic: retreat to advance! Just you watch, Senior Brother will teach that brat a harsh lesson soon!"

Someone declared this defiantly, looking at Luo Feng, and the others immediately nodded in agreement.

"One strike."

Luo Feng glanced at Lu Han indifferently. He had indeed not used any martial art technique; or rather, there had been no need to.

Ever since his Reheavy Saber Technique had advanced to a higher realm, the power of Luo Feng’s casual slashes already surpassed that of the technique at its original state of perfection.

In other words, the power of one of his casual slashes was now comparable to an ordinary mid-grade Yellow Rank saber technique!

Lu Han’s face was grim. His earlier relaxed expression was gone, replaced by one of extreme gravity.

His right arm, which held the sword, was somewhat numb, and the webbing between his thumb and forefinger ached slightly.

Chen Xin said this guy’s strength is extraordinary. I didn’t take it to heart before, but now it seems he’s a monster. This simply isn’t the power someone at the Fifth Level of the Iron Bone Realm should possess!

"Second strike!"

Luo Feng grinned at Lu Han. Six transparent Qi Dragons rose from beneath his feet, coiling restlessly around him.

WHOOSH!

Pushing his Teng Dragon’s Step to its limits, Luo Feng’s figure became a blur of motion. The spectators only registered a flicker before Luo Feng appeared in front of Lu Han.

Lu Han’s heart leaped. Luo Feng’s speed was demonic!

"You’ve lost!" Lu Han quickly recovered, a fierce glint in his eyes as he thrust his sword at Luo Feng’s throat.

Cloud-Piercing Sword!

"Too early to say!" Luo Feng sneered. Biding his time and prepared, he used his Tiger Soul Saber to redirect Lu Han’s force with his own, slashing upwards from below.

KLANG!

Sparks flew as the Tiger Soul Saber parried Lu Han’s fine steel longsword.

Luo Feng had anticipated this. Looking at Lu Han, he grinned. "Fierce Tiger Scorching the Plains!"

His left fist clenched, unleashing a sky full of fist shadows that, like a wildfire sweeping across the plains, bombarded Lu Han with lightning speed.

Lu Han was aghast.

Only then did he realize Luo Feng’s rush had been a ploy to get close to him!

Damn it!

Lu Han cursed inwardly, hastily throwing a punch to counter. It was also a mid-grade Yellow Rank martial art: Iron Rock Fist!

Although both were mid-grade Yellow Rank martial arts, Luo Feng had cultivated his Tiger Roar Fist to near Great Accomplishment, while Lu Han’s Iron Rock Fist was merely at Small Success...

BOOM! They clashed head-on again. Unsurprisingly, Lu Han was sent flying back nearly ten meters. His Wanluo School uniform was also ripped open, leaving him looking utterly disheveled.

Fortunately, his cultivation was deep and his physique formidable, so he wasn’t injured, merely feeling his Qi and blood roil slightly.

"Third strike!"

Luo Feng didn’t pause. He executed Teng Dragon’s Step again, crossing over ten meters in a single stride. The Tiger Roar Knife, carrying boundless Evil Qi, chopped down toward Lu Han’s head.

Sky Slayer Saber!

Luo Feng’s eyes flashed like lightning. The Tiger Soul Saber transformed into a dark red streak of light, slashing at Lu Han. Its blade vibrated, faintly emitting a tiger’s roar.

This strike was the culmination of the first three stages of the Sky Slayer Saber Technique. Though it seemed casual, it exuded a terrifying, boundless demonic aura. In that instant, Luo Feng was like a god of slaughter, and nothing could impede his path!

GULP...

A chorus of swallowing sounds came from the academy entrance. Everyone stared at Luo Feng with terrified eyes.

"What kind of saber technique is that! To possess such might!"

Bing Ruolan exclaimed in surprise, watching Luo Feng from the side.

"This should be the academy’s peak-grade Yellow Rank martial art, Sky Slayer Saber Technique. It was likely Luo Feng’s reward for becoming the first Challenge King."

"Unexpectedly, in just over ten days, his Sky Slayer Saber Technique had already reached such a level of power. He has likely cultivated it to the third stage! With such talent, even Senior Sister Zi Yuan, one of the Four Prodigies, might not be his equal!" Qin Luoxue explained, her face a mask of shock.

To cultivate a peak-grade Yellow Rank martial art to the Small Success stage in just over ten days—such talent was simply monstrous!

"Kid, don’t get cocky! You want to defeat me? You’re still years too early!"

Lu Han’s eyes burned with furious anger. Shamed into a rage, he roared, "Wild Wind Scattering!"

SWISH SWISH SWISH...

Lu Han gripped his sword hilt with both hands. A frenzied intent erupted from him as he unleashed dozens of sword strikes in an instant! The chilling sword wind sent shivers down the spines of those watching. It was Lu Han’s signature martial art, Wind Swordsmanship!

Facing the layers of sword light, Luo Feng’s eyes suddenly narrowed. His clear voice boomed like thunder at the academy entrance.

"Break!"

SWOOSH! The Tiger Soul Saber slashed forward relentlessly, striking down like a thunderbolt!