CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53: LET ME TEACH YOU A FEW MOVES

EDITOR: ENDLESSFANTASY TRANSLATION

Feng Lingyue’s beautiful eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Luo Feng, her gaze somewhat dazed.

"I am really curious about what has happened to you over these past two years."

She herself was a renowned genius in Panlong City. At the age of ten, due to her outstanding talent, she was directly accepted by Tianlan School, the foremost of the four major academies.

Now, Feng Lingyue, who was less than sixteen years old, had a cultivation level approaching the peak of the sixth-tier God Bravery Realm. She was one of the top contenders to be among the new generation’s Four Great Talents at the Rising Stars Assembly.

What Feng Lingyue excelled at was Qinggong. The last time she saw Luo Feng use Qinggong in Panlong Town, she had initially believed her Qinggong mastery was roughly on par with his. Now, she realized she was gravely mistaken.

Luo Feng’s speed was far above hers, not to mention his Void Step technique.

Luo Feng just smiled and didn’t respond. Instead, he asked, "So, what’s your answer?"

Feng Lingyue thought for a moment and shook her head. "Your Qinggong mastery indeed surprised me, but with that alone, it’s impossible for you to surpass Li Tianyao. His strength is comparable to mine, and his Yellow Grade High-Rank martial art, the Tianluo Sword Art, has reached the Great Accomplishment stage, making his true capabilities unfathomable."

"Li Tianyao? He is indeed a bit troublesome, but he’s still not my opponent." Luo Feng tapped his fingers on the table, his gaze calm.

Huh?

Feng Lingyue’s eyes flickered slightly. Seeing Luo Feng’s confident gaze, her heart trembled.

He doesn’t even take Li Tianyao seriously... Could it be that he has hidden his cultivation?

A thought flashed through her mind. Feng Lingyue hesitated for a moment but didn’t press the issue, instead asking softly, "How sure are you?"

"One hundred percent!" Luo Feng answered without a moment’s hesitation.

Feng Lingyue seemed to have expected Luo Feng’s answer. She smiled faintly and stood up. "I can try to persuade my father to cooperate with the Luo Family. However, this matter is of great importance, and I can’t be entirely certain of success."

"Thank you." Luo Feng was startled, then stood up to express his gratitude.

He had initially intended to tell Feng Lingyue that he had been hiding his cultivation, but Feng Lingyue hadn’t asked and simply believed him.

"This can’t wait. I’ll go find my father now."

Feng Lingyue left. A short time later, she returned to the Moon Yard with a silk cloth in her hand, a smile on her face.

"This is the cooperation agreement between the Feng Family and your Luo Family. As long as your father signs it, it will take effect."

Feng Lingyue handed the silk cloth to Luo Feng.

Luo Feng took the silk cloth, and joy filled his eyes as he looked it over.

He initially considered it a good outcome if he could merely get a response from Feng Yutang. He hadn’t expected Feng Lingyue to act so quickly.

"What are you waiting for? Look at the time; the Luo Family’s assembly should be starting soon. You’d better hurry back," Feng Lingyue said, her eyes curving like crescents as she smiled charmingly.

Luo Feng looked up at the sky. It was almost noon, so he immediately stored the silk cloth.

"Xiao Yue, thank you. I’ll be going then."

"You won’t wait another five years to come to me, will you?" Feng Lingyue suddenly said quietly.

Luo Feng’s expression stiffened.

Back when his talent was tested and found to be extremely poor, Feng Lingyue had just been accepted by Tianlan School, the foremost of the four major academies. He was ridiculed as ’a toad lusting after swan meat.’ From that day on, he had never set foot in the Feng Family’s residence again.

"The level of your talent doesn’t matter at all; I don’t care. I’ve always considered you my best friend." Feng Lingyue bit her lip, looking away as she spoke in a very low voice.

Seeing Feng Lingyue on the verge of tears, Luo Feng felt a warmth spread through his heart. He smiled and said, "Of course not. As soon as the family matters are handled, I’ll come find you. Alright, stop crying, or you’ll look like a teary-eyed kitten."

Feng Lingyue’s cheeks flushed. She pouted and pushed Luo Feng out of the Moon Yard.

"You’d better leave now. If you’re late, don’t blame me!"

Luo Feng smiled and walked out of the Moon Yard.

Walking out of the Feng Family’s main gate, Luo Feng saw that the Li Family’s carriage was still parked there, making him frown.

Didn’t Xiao Yue already reject him? Why is this guy still lingering?

Luo Feng knew Feng Lingyue. She had always disliked Li Tianyang, so how could she agree to an arranged marriage with him?

Luo Feng shook his head, ready to leave.

"Wait, Young Master Luo."

At this moment, a petite figure darted out from the gate, pulling Luo Feng to the side.

"Ling Que, is something wrong?"

Luo Feng recognized her as Ling Que, Feng Lingyue’s personal maid.

Ling Que, her cheeks puffed out, glared at Luo Feng. "Humph! You’re asking me if there’s anything wrong? Do you know how much the Young Miss has sacrificed for you? I don’t care! If you don’t win this Hunting Tournament, I... I’ll fight you!"

With that, Ling Que swung her small fists at Luo Feng.

How could Luo Feng allow himself to be hit by a maid? He easily caught Ling Que’s fist and frowned, asking,

"Ling Que, what happened exactly? Tell me clearly."

"You’re being fierce... You should look at that agreement again! To help you, the Young Miss agreed to the Family Head’s condition. If your Luo Family can’t become the foremost family, the Young Miss will have to marry that scoundrel Li Tianyang!" Ling Que choked out, her eyes welling with tears.

Luo Feng was taken aback and quickly took out the silk cloth.

He had been so excited earlier that he had only glanced over the agreement without reading it carefully. Now, he saw a line of fine print in the bottom right corner: ’If the Luo Family fails to become the foremost family, this agreement is void, and Feng Lingyue shall marry Li Tianyang immediately!’

"That bastard!" Luo Feng roared, his face livid. He turned to Ling Que and demanded, "Who proposed this condition?"

Ling Que, startled by Luo Feng’s fury, pouted. "Who else could it be but that scoundrel Li Tianyang? I don’t know what kind of bewitching potion he fed the Family Head, but he actually agreed to Li Tianyang’s terms."

So it was him!

Luo Feng snorted coldly, his gaze fixed on Ling Que. "Ling Que, you can go back now. Don’t worry. In the Hunting Tournament ten days from now, I will definitely defeat the Li Family!"

Ling Que was intimidated by Luo Feng’s intense expression. She nodded, repeatedly urging him to win, before finally turning to leave.

Xiao Yue, I owe you for this. Rest assured, I will never let you marry Li Tianyang!

Luo Feng glanced back at the Feng Family residence, clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and then turned and hurried towards the Luo Family estate.

As he approached the Luo Family estate, Luo Feng saw a long line of carriages parked in front of the main entrance from a distance.

Has it already started...? Luo Feng recognized those carriages as belonging to the Luo Family’s various branch families and mumbled to himself.

"Young Master, you’re finally back! Zheng Hongzhi and his followers are arguing with the Family Head! The Eldest Young Master is in secluded cultivation, and the Master instructed that you go to the main hall immediately upon your return."

Zi Ling, who was waiting at the gate, ran hurriedly towards Luo Feng as she saw him.

So, you’re finally showing your true colors...

Luo Feng nodded, a cold sneer forming in his heart as he strolled towards the main hall. I’m curious to see what kind of trouble a few small fry like you can stir up.

Twenty to thirty people were already seated in the main hall, with some younger disciples standing to the side. All of them were from the Luo Family’s collateral branches.

Fortunately, the Luo Family’s main hall was very spacious; even with nearly a hundred people inside, it didn’t feel crowded.

Despite the crowd, the atmosphere was exceedingly oppressive, as if a huge rock were pressing down on everyone’s heart.

When Luo Feng entered the hall and walked behind Luotian, due to the crowd, only a few people noticed him.

Sweeping his glance across the hall, Luo Feng’s attention fixed on a middle-aged man in a gold-threaded silk robe. The man had a long face, narrow eyes, and a sinister gaze. Luo Feng’s own eyes narrowed slightly, a chill entering them.

So, this is Zheng Hongzhi.

"Zheng Hongzhi, I’ve already increased your branches’ profit share by thirty percent. Now you’re demanding it be raised by another fifty percent? Are you trying to make the family operate at a loss? Do you disregard the family’s survival?"

Luotian, the Family Head, sat at the head of the hall, gazing coldly at Zheng Hongzhi. As he spoke, a terrifying aura emanated from him, causing the temperature in the hall to drop noticeably.

Although Luotian’s cultivation was not as high as City Lord Han Yulong’s, he was still one of the top experts in Panlong City, his cultivation having reached the mid-stage of the eighth-tier Hell Realm!

A flicker of gravity crossed Zheng Hongzhi’s eyes before vanishing. He replied nonchalantly, "Luotian, you must be aware that since City Lord Han Yulong’s death, sentiment throughout Panlong City has favored the Li Family becoming the leading family. Our branches are being marginalized by everyone and are struggling to operate. A fifty percent profit share is our absolute bottom line."

"Indeed, in such a situation, our branches can hardly operate."

"Humph! It’s all because the Family Head’s sons are incompetent and can’t compare to the Li Family’s, especially that piece of trash Luo Feng! After three years at the Purple Sun School, he’s supposedly still only at the second tier of the Strong Body Realm. What a disgrace to the family!" a young man standing behind Zheng Hongzhi sneered.

Luo Feng had only been back home for a day, so many in the main family were still unaware of his current cultivation level.

This was even more true for these members of branch families from other towns; they all assumed Luo Feng was still at the second tier of the Strong Body Realm and immediately seized the chance to make an issue of it.

CRACK! A resounding boom echoed, and the entire hall seemed to tremble.

"Who uttered the word ’waste’? If you have the guts, then get out here!"

Luo Feng stepped out from behind Luotian. His icy gaze swept across the hall, finally landing on a long-faced young man standing behind Zheng Hongzhi.

With his exceptional Soul Power and acute Divine Sense, Luo Feng had clearly heard every whisper in the hall. The one who had just called him a waste was indeed this long-faced young man—Zheng Hongzhi’s son, Zheng Yuan!

This long-faced young man, Zheng Yuan, was about eighteen years old. His cultivation had reached the late stage of the fifth-tier Iron Bone Realm, and his physique was robust and muscular, seemingly as hard as steel.

Zheng Yuan had always disdained Luo Feng. Hearing Luo Feng’s challenge, he immediately stepped forward, looking at Luo Feng with contempt.

"I said it. So what? I heard that after three years at the Purple Sun School, you’re still merely at the second tier of the Strong Body Realm. If that’s not a waste, what is?"

"You heard? Are you a dog, believing whatever anyone tells you?" Luo Feng retorted, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips as he stared at Zheng Yuan.

"Huh? Luo Feng’s cultivation is already at the mid-stage of the fifth-tier Iron Bone Realm!"

"I heard about it yesterday; I didn’t think it would be true."

"Reaching the mid-stage of the fifth-tier Iron Bone Realm at fifteen is quite remarkable. That Zheng Yuan is eighteen and only at the late stage of the same realm."

"Zheng Yuan has really shot himself in the foot this time. I wonder how he’ll get out of this."

Luo Feng cultivated the Teng Dragon’s Step, which had an innate aura-concealing effect. Without careful scrutiny, it was impossible to discern his true cultivation level.

Now, with everyone’s attention focused on Luo Feng, they immediately realized his cultivation was not at the rumored second tier of the Strong Body Realm, but at the mid-stage of the fifth-tier Iron Bone Realm!

Hearing the surrounding discussions, Zheng Yuan’s face alternated between red and white.

He hadn’t expected Luo Feng’s cultivation to be only slightly lower than his own. This was tantamount to offering his own face to be slapped.

"Heh heh, Yuan’er," Zheng Hongzhi said, still seated, his eyes fixed on Luo Feng, his tone indifferent. "Since Luo Feng has improved so rapidly, he must have his exceptional qualities. Why don’t you ask him for some pointers?"

Zheng Yuan’s eyes lit up, a cruel smile twisting his lips. He looked at Luo Feng and declared loudly, "Luo Feng, since you’re so confident, do you dare to spar with me?"

Despicable! Luo Feng cursed inwardly.

Zheng Yuan was three years older than him and, on the surface, possessed a higher cultivation level, yet he dared to issue such a challenge! This was utterly shameless!

"Feng Er, don’t be reckless," Luotian said, intending to stop Luo Feng.

"Luotian, it’s beneficial for the younger generation to spar and gain practical experience, isn’t it? As the Family Head, it’s best you don’t interfere," Zheng Hongzhi said slowly, after setting down his teacup.

"Father, I know what I’m doing."

Luo Feng nodded at Luotian and walked straight to the center of the hall. He crooked a finger at Zheng Yuan. "Zheng Yuan, weren’t you just begging for my guidance? Well, roll on out here. Your Young Master here is in a good mood today, so I’ll deign to instruct a waste like you!"