CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48: THE SECOND YOUNG MASTER OF THE LI FAMILY

EDITOR: ENDLESSFANTASY TRANSLATION

Sacred land of martial arts...

A look of longing appeared in Luo Feng’s eyes, but he immediately shook his head with a bitter smile.

Entering the sacred land of martial arts was not so simple.

Take Purple Sun School as an example. The school had thousands of students, and each year, not more than a hundred were able to pass the exam to enter the Golden Palace.

Out of these hundred, it would be considered very good if even one could enter the sacred land of martial arts.

Not even one in a hundred thousand Martial Artists might gain entry! This reflected its cruelty.

With a sigh, Luo Feng stopped thinking about the sacred land of martial arts.

His current goal was to enter the inner courtyard and then strive for the Golden Palace.

As for the sacred land of martial arts, that would be a matter to consider in the future.

Luo Feng looked around and whispered, "I need to get out of here first."

This place wasn’t far from Qingfeng Town. If other Martial Artists were to see Su Laohu’s corpse, it would inevitably attract greedy eyes.

After putting away the silk bag, Luo Feng also took the money bags from the other two black-robed Martial Artists, mounted his black mane horse, and galloped away, leaving a trail of dust.

「Half a day later.」

In a sparsely populated wilderness, Luo Feng dismounted for a break. He took out the money bags and poured their contents onto the ground.

A small hill of gold notes and silver notes piled up, glinting brightly.

Luo Feng counted carefully. The silver notes from the three men alone totaled 1,120,000 liang!

Luo Feng was slightly thrilled.

He was now impoverished. This sum of over a million liang of silver was undoubtedly a true fortune!

Besides the gold notes, silver notes, and loose silver, there were also some other miscellaneous items on the ground, including two secret manuals.

Luo Feng’s heart stirred. He picked up the secret manuals to examine them.

Flying on Grass: a Yellow Grade High-Rank Light Martial Arts technique! Once mastered, one can dash over grass and tree leaves, covering a thousand li in a day.

Crescent Claw Technique: a Yellow Grade High-Rank Claw Technique! Used with the exclusive weapon ’Moon Claw,’ it prioritizes speed. Once mastered, the claw wind is like a blade, capable of shredding anything that comes close!

Both are Yellow Grade High-Rank Martial Arts!

Luo Feng raised his eyebrows, a glimmer of joy in his gaze.

Although Yellow Grade Martial Arts were relatively common, in the secular world, a Yellow Grade High-Rank Martial Art was very rare.

Although the Luo Family was one of the Four Great Families of Panlong City, the family possessed only one Yellow Grade High-Rank Martial Art.

Such a Yellow Grade High-Rank Martial Arts secret manual was worth a million liang of silver! And it was the kind of treasure that had a price but no market.

Luo Feng shook his head, his gaze falling on the two Martial Arts secret manuals in his hand. No wonder that Su Laohu could act so unscrupulously for over ten years. The fellow possessed two Yellow Grade High-Rank Martial Arts! If he hadn’t run into me, who knows how many more people he would have harmed.

It’s a pity these Martial Arts aren’t very useful to me.

Both the Crescent Claw Technique and Flying on Grass were quite good. However, Luo Feng now had the Sky Slayer Saber Technique and Teng Dragon’s Step, so they wouldn’t be of much benefit to him.

Luo Feng decided to bring the secret manuals back to the family for his father and elder brother to cultivate.

This way, the family’s strength would surely undergo a qualitative leap. It wouldn’t be impossible to even surpass the higher-ranked Li Family.

After storing away the secret manuals and silver notes, Luo Feng took the Tiger Soul Saber from his back and practiced the first three stages of the Sky Slayer Saber Technique.

Performing the Sky Slayer Saber Technique, Luo Feng immediately noticed a significant difference.

The Saber Technique flowed like moving clouds and flowing water, seeming more perfected than before.

Luo Feng exclaimed happily, "It’s indeed good! After the battle with Su Laohu, my Sky Slayer Saber Technique has improved significantly. At this rate, it shouldn’t take long for me to cultivate the Sky Slayer Saber Technique to the fourth stage. Then I’ll be able to form Saber Gang, and my strength will rise to another level!"

Compared to the million liang of silver and two Yellow Grade High-Rank Martial Arts, the improvement in his Sky Slayer Saber Technique excited Luo Feng even more.

Once he cultivated the Sky Slayer Saber Technique to the fifth stage, he would be able to injure people from a distance. By then, his strength would increase severalfold!

After resting for a moment, Luo Feng mounted his horse and continued galloping south.

He knew his father Luotian well. Unless it was a very urgent situation, Luotian would never write a letter asking him to return.

The death of Han Yulong, the City Lord of Panlong City, was no small matter.

The Han Clan was the foremost prominent family in Panlong City. Han Yulong’s Cultivation had reached the peak of the Eighth Stage Hell Realm, making him the hegemon of Panlong City.

Unfortunately, the Han Clan was experiencing a gap in talent between generations. Han Ji, the young master of the Han Clan, had ordinary Cultivation talent. The entire Han Clan had been supported by Han Yulong. Now that Han Yulong was dead, one could imagine what a mess Panlong City would become.

Riding on his horse, Luo Feng muttered to himself, "I’m afraid the positions of the Four Great Families will change this time..."

For the next few days, Luo Feng focused entirely on traveling. When he rested, he would cultivate the Sky Slayer Saber Technique and Teng Dragon’s Step.

「Ten days later.」

Luo Feng, riding his horse, saw an inn in the distance, situated in the wilderness. Beside it, a crooked wooden sign read ’Coming Dragon Inn.’

Luo Feng dismounted. Finally arrived... He led his horse over, had the attendant tie it up, and then found a seat in the main hall.

There were many Martial Artists in the inn, all looking travel-worn.

Everyone was discussing the news of Han Yulong’s death. Luo Feng listened attentively.

"City Lord Han Yulong is dead, and that boy Han Ji is useless. His second uncle has been coveting the position of Family Head for a long time. Now the entire Han Clan is in utter chaos. It looks like Panlong City is about to undergo a major upheaval," a Martial Artist lamented.

"Exactly! I think the Han Clan’s position as the foremost family is unlikely to be maintained."

"I heard a rumor that Dayang City has already decided to organize a Hunting Tournament to determine the next foremost family. If this news is true, who among the Four Great Families do you think will win?"

"Among the Han, Li, Luo, and Feng, the Four Great Families, the Han Clan is currently like a clay Bodhisattva crossing a river—unable to even protect itself. As for the Feng Family, their Family Head only has a daughter, Feng Lingyue, and the Feng Family doesn’t seem interested in competing for the position of the foremost family. It looks like the only ones who will compete for it are the Li Family and the Luo Family."

"Correct. However, in my opinion, the position of the foremost family is bound to go to the Li Family. Both young masters of the Li Family are exceptionally talented! Both are renowned Cultivation geniuses in the outer courtyard of Wanluo School. Li Tianyao, the eldest son of the Li Family, has already been admitted to the inner courtyard of Wanluo School and has made quite a name for himself there!"

A Martial Artist smacked his lips and said with a sneer, "Contrast that with the Luo Family’s two young masters. The eldest, Luo Xiao, is seventeen and at the mid-stage of the Fifth Stage Iron Bone Realm, which is fairly average. As for the second young master, Luo Feng... hehe, I wonder if he has even broken through to the Second Stage Strong Body Realm yet..."

A wave of disdainful laughter rose in the inn.

The news that Luo Feng hadn’t advanced his Cultivation at all during his three years at Purple Sun School was no longer fresh in Panlong City.

Everyone began discussing the strengths of the Luo and Li families, with most supporting the currently ascendant Li Family.

Luo Feng sneered inwardly. Seeing no more valuable information, he paid no further attention.

"Young Master, are you heading to Panlong City?" the attendant asked after serving the wine and dishes. He glanced at the nearly man-high Tiger Soul Saber beside Luo Feng and swallowed nervously.

Luo Feng, dressed in blue robes, looked like a suave young gentleman, making a good impression on people.

"Yes. I’ve not been home for two years. I’m planning on going home for a visit," Luo Feng nodded.

"Young Master, Panlong City hasn’t been peaceful lately. You’d best be careful."

"Oh? What do you mean?" Luo Feng wanted to learn more about Panlong City, so he took out a silver ingot from his robes and tossed it to the attendant.

The attendant caught the silver, stunned for a moment, amazed by Luo Feng’s generosity. Then, with a mix of envy and gratitude, he said, "Thank you, Young Master."

After pocketing the silver, the attendant looked left and right, then lowered his voice and said with a hint of pride, "Young Master, don’t judge a book by its cover. My maternal uncle works in the Han Clan’s kitchen! So I know a few things. My uncle said that Panlong City is definitely in for a massive storm soon! When that happens, the Four Great Families might cease to exist!"

What! Luo Feng’s heart pounded. He narrowed his eyes and stared at the attendant. "Is that true?"

After more than ten days of Cultivation, plus the medicinal pills from Su Laohu, Luo Feng’s Cultivation had smoothly advanced to the mid-stage of the Sixth Stage God Bravery Realm. Although he deliberately concealed his Cultivation, appearing to be only a Martial Artist at the mid-stage of the Fifth Stage Iron Bone Realm, this casual glance still made the attendant’s hair stand on end.

"Absolutely true! My uncle told me himself! Also, Panlong City’s Hunting Tournament has been confirmed. It’s at the end of this month..." The attendant’s face was pale, and he blurted it all out like beans pouring from a bamboo tube.

So that’s why Father was so anxious for me to return. Luo Feng nodded inwardly.

The Hunting Tournament of Panlong City was held once every ten years.

All families in Panlong City would be invited to participate, allowing the younger generation of the families to enter the hunting grounds to hunt.

The results of the Hunting Tournament would determine the family’s status. The higher a family ranked, the more privileges it would obtain.

The Clan Leader of the foremost family would even become the City Lord!

The ten-year period since the last Hunting Tournament had not yet passed. It seemed that due to Han Yulong’s death, the Hunting Tournament had been moved up.

Unable to glean any more information from the attendant, Luo Feng dismissed him with a few pieces of loose silver.

The Four Great Families will cease to exist... I wonder what that means... Luo Feng recalled the attendant’s words, feeling that what was happening in Panlong City this time wouldn’t be simple.

"Attendant, get our horses! Prepare your best wine and dishes for us!" A burst of laughter suddenly drifted in from outside the inn. Luo Feng, hearing the voice, was momentarily stunned. Looking at the wine cup in his hand, he gave a cold smile. Talk about enemies crossing paths...

At that moment, two youths walked in from the entrance.

The one in the lead, dressed in purple martial attire, wore a precious sword at his waist and had thick eyebrows and large eyes. The youth following him, dressed in white martial attire, was a head taller and bore some resemblance to the one in front.

"Hahahaha... This time, all the young disciples from Panlong City have returned. It’s truly lively!" The youth in purple walked into the inn, his gaze sweeping arrogantly across the patrons as he laughed heartily.

"I wonder if that good-for-nothing Luo Feng will return this year."

"Why are you thinking about that good-for-nothing?" the youth in white said indifferently. His words were dismissive, and his expression was aloof, as if nothing was worthy of his attention.

The youth in purple laughed loudly. "Big Brother, aren’t you curious to see if he’s broken through to the Second Stage Strong Body Realm?"

"Heh, just a good-for-nothing. I have no interest in him. This time I’ve returned, I only have two opponents: Han Lie of the Han Clan, and that girl Feng Lingyue from the Feng Clan!" the youth in white said coolly, holding up two fingers.

Everyone’s attention was drawn to them. Seeing the two, many people’s expressions changed slightly.

The two were indeed the young masters of the Li Family, one of Panlong City’s Four Great Families.

The youth in purple was the second son, Li Tianyang, while the one in white was the elder son, Li Tianyao!

"Young Masters, your presence truly brightens our humble establishment!" The inn’s Shopkeeper, his face wreathed in smiles, hurried over to greet Li Tianyang and his brother.

If the rumors were true, the Li Family would soon become the foremost family of Panlong City. Li Tianyang and Li Tianyao would then be the sons of the City Lord, their status revered. No one would dare to disrespect them.

"My elder brother and I have been traveling for days. Prepare a private room for us, get a couple of women, and serve your best wine and food. Also..." Li Tianyang was saying, then suddenly paused. His gaze shifted to a table in the corner of the inn, a faint, mocking smile appearing on his lips.

"Hahaha... Look who I’ve found! Isn’t this the Second Young Master of the Luo Family?"