On the stage, Duanmu Yu’s middle and index fingers paused before his chest.
At this moment, his eyes were bloodshot, and red veins bulged on his forehead, throbbing visibly. His skin seemed to burn like charcoal, his clothes whipped about him, and he exuded a frenzied aura that was chilling to behold.
"Why is Duanmu Yu’s aura so strong? It’s already infinitely close to the mid-stage of the Seventh Layer of the Essence Storage Realm!"
"His eyes are terrifying; he hardly looks human!"
Seeing the change in Duanmu Yu, the other students in the training grounds looked on in shock, gasping in astonishment.
In an instant, Duanmu Yu’s aura surged dramatically, now nearly reaching the mid-stage of the Seventh Layer of the Essence Storage Realm!
A bizarre atmosphere enveloped the entire training grounds.
"This is the Duanmu Family’s secret technique, the Red Blood Technique! It can stimulate a practitioner’s potential in a short time. To think Duanmu Yu actually learned such a secret technique!"
The assessing elder watched the changes on the stage with a solemn expression.
"Red Blood Technique?"
Zi Yuan’s smile vanished from her small face. She raised her delicate eyebrows and said, "I’ve heard of this secret technique. It can indeed significantly increase one’s strength in a short period, but the side effects are also immense. After using it, one’s strength will decrease by half for a month! It’s a secret technique that should not be used unless absolutely necessary."
"Duanmu Yu’s cultivation is now approaching the mid-stage of the Seventh Layer of the Essence Storage Realm. Luo Feng is in danger now!" The assessing elder looked worried.
Luo Feng’s composed and resilient performance during the Inner Court promotion assessment had left an excellent impression on the assessing elder. He didn’t want to see Luo Feng perish here.
Zi Yuan bit her red lip lightly and shook her head slightly. "They agreed to duel on the stage; we have no right to stop them."
The rules of the Purple Sun School stated that anyone who dueled on the stage must bear the consequences themselves. Even if Principal Zi Hongyuan himself came, he would have no right to interfere.
"But..." the assessing elder began, looking at Luo Feng on the stage, his eyes shimmering. Suddenly, he stood up and said loudly, "Victory and defeat are common occurrences in a soldier’s life. Fortunes change; there’s no need to bet your life on it!"
The assessing elder’s voice was not loud, but it rang out like thunder, reverberating in everyone’s ears.
Is he advising me to admit defeat to Duanmu Yu?
Luo Feng turned back to look at the assessing elder, a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, and he shook his head slightly.
"Fortunes change, indeed. Alas, how many ’thirty years’ does one have in a lifetime?"
The Tiger Soul Saber emitted a tiger’s roar. Luo Feng’s dark hair stirred across his forehead as he stared intently at Duanmu Yu and declared, "Duanmu Yu, let’s end this!"
"Luo Feng still dares to challenge Duanmu Yu?"
"Can’t he sense Duanmu Yu’s strength at this moment?"
"Regardless of the outcome, Luo Feng’s courage in daring to challenge Duanmu Yu is admirable!"
Looking at the black-haired youth standing resolutely with his saber on the stage, astonishment flashed in the eyes of the audience.
No one had expected that, even now, Luo Feng would still have the courage to challenge Duanmu Yu.
Duanmu Yu’s blood-red pupils stared coldly at Luo Feng. The bulging veins on his face gave him a ferocious expression as he snarled, "Luo Feng, you were nothing more than an ant in my eyes before, and you always will be! You will never be my opponent! Three Thousand Raging Suns Sword!"
With a low shout, the sword in Duanmu Yu’s hand burst into brilliant golden light!
Wherever the blade passed, it left behind a golden sword shadow so substantial it seemed real!
Duanmu Yu’s figure suddenly blurred, and a faint breeze swept across the entire training grounds.
"Ah! What happened?!"
The entire training grounds suddenly erupted with exclamations, and many students were so shocked they leaped up from their seats.
On the stage, ten identical Duanmu Yus suddenly appeared, completely surrounding Luo Feng!
Each Duanmu Yu was identical in dress and expression, without the slightest flaw.
"’Walking Shadow, Golden Sword Dividing Yang... To think Duanmu Yu has cultivated both the Shadow Step and the Three Thousand Raging Suns Sword to the Great Achievement Realm! His talent is truly outstanding!’"
The assessing elder stared at the ten identical Duanmu Yus on the stage, a hint of astonishment in his eyes.
Shadow Step was a high-grade Yellow Tier martial art; Three Thousand Raging Suns Sword was a peak-grade Yellow Tier martial art.
For someone of Duanmu Yu’s age to cultivate two martial arts to Great Accomplishment was exceedingly rare!
Zi Yuan tapped her smooth, snow-white chin, her gaze fixed on the saber-wielding young man on the stage, as if anticipating something.
"It’s over. Duanmu Yu actually concealed such strength. His reputation as a genius is well-deserved..."
"With his current power, he’ll probably secure a firm place on the Hidden Dragon List soon!"
The students in the stands watched the situation on the stage, many shaking their heads.
Duanmu Yu’s momentum was overwhelming, while Luo Feng resembled a lone boat in a raging storm, on the verge of capsizing at any moment.
To everyone, the outcome seemed clear!
"Hahaha... Luo Feng, this is the Shadow Following Step of the Shadow Step. Real and illusory, can you tell which one is me?"
The ten Duanmu Yus stood with their swords, gazing coldly at Luo Feng. The smiles on their lips were somewhat ferocious as one said, "If you guess wrong, the next moment will be your death!"
Luo Feng looked at the ten Duanmu Yus around him, a flicker of surprise vanishing from his eyes, and he chuckled lightly, "When it comes to qinggong, I’ve never lost!"
With faint dragon roars, eight Qi Dragons manifested around Luo Feng. His figure abruptly vanished.
The next instant, ten Luo Fengs appeared before everyone’s eyes, each one intercepting a Duanmu Yu!
The entire training grounds erupted in an uproar; everyone stared, dumbfounded, at the scene unfolding on the stage.
"How can Luo Feng also perform the Shadow Following Step? Did he also cultivate the Shadow Step?"
"No! Luo Feng’s are not illusions! His speed is so incredible he can create ten afterimages simultaneously! This is a true Splitting Technique, far superior to Duanmu Yu’s Shadow Following Step!"
"Then isn’t Luo Feng’s mastery of Light Martial Arts terrifyingly high?!"
Everyone stared at the situation on the stage, eyes wide with shock.
"I never would have guessed Luo Feng’s Light Martial Arts had reached such a realm. In Light Martial Arts alone, I might not be his match," Zi Yuan looked at the stage, letting out a soft breath, a hint of surprise sparkling in her beautiful eyes.
The assessing elder nodded. "The Teng Dragon’s Step is indeed profound, completely overshadowing the Shadow Step. This martial art is incredibly enigmatic; your father has studied it for decades and still doesn’t know its origin..."
On the stage, Duanmu Yu was also taken aback by Luo Feng’s extraordinary realm in Light Martial Arts.
Instantly, intense jealousy flared in his blood-red eyes. The golden sword light grew even more brilliant as the ten Duanmu Yus roared in unison, "So what if your Light Martial Arts realm is high! Luo Feng, today you die!"
Ten figures simultaneously lunged at Luo Feng. Sword beams, over two meters long, swept through everything. The dazzling light was so bright that students in the surrounding stands couldn’t help but close their eyes.
With his increased strength, Duanmu Yu’s attack was far more powerful than before. The piercing sharpness from the sword edges sent a chill even through the spectators in the stands.
Facing Duanmu Yu’s formidable strike, Luo Feng’s eyes narrowed slightly. He didn’t retreat an inch, gripping his saber hilt tightly. His body tensed, like a crouching beast. After a silent pause, his blade flashed out.
"Heaven-Soaring Evil Qi!"
With an inner roar, Luo Feng’s Tiger Soul Saber, under the terrified gazes of the surrounding students, unleashed a three-meter-long blade of light that shot out, sweeping towards the attacking Duanmu Yus!
The blade of light tore through several of Duanmu Yu’s forms. Those illusions shattered instantly. The undiminished light then struck the stage, carving deep gashes, each about a foot deep, into it.
Only the Duanmu Yu to Luo Feng’s south remained, having blocked the blade of light with his sword.
"Externalized Gang Qi... Fifth level of the Sky Slayer Saber Technique..."
Having blocked the incoming blade of light, Duanmu Yu’s expression changed drastically. He stared at Luo Feng in terror.
Luo Feng turned, a chilling smile on his face. To Duanmu Yu, that smile was as terrifying as a Nine Heavens Fiend.
SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH...
Without giving Duanmu Yu any time to react, a torrential onslaught of dark saber light immediately engulfed him.
Duanmu Yu gritted his teeth, desperately deflecting the saber lights with his sword. The golden Gang Qi on his blade flickered violently under the assault, producing the clang of colliding metal.
Luo Feng seized the chance, leaping and slashing. His Gang Qi raged as he delivered dozens of strikes against Duanmu Yu in a single breath!
Each strike unleashed an astonishing Saber Gang, slicing through the air before him with sizzling sounds. A domineering, violent aura filled the entire stage.
"This... Is Luo Feng even human?!"
The students in the training grounds watched the scene on the stage, all swallowing hard in shock.
Luo Feng, a late-stage God Bravery Realm martial artist, was actually overwhelming Duanmu Yu, whose cultivation was approaching the mid-stage of the Essence Storage Realm!
This was simply unheard of!
Even seeing it with their own eyes, many found it hard to believe.
After enduring dozens of Luo Feng’s attacks in rapid succession, Duanmu Yu finally couldn’t hold on. The golden Gang Qi on his sword shattered, his right sword-arm was severed, and he vomited a mouthful of blood as he was sent flying. He crashed heavily outside the stage, groaning in pain.
"Senior Brother Luo Feng! Senior Brother Luo Feng!..."
The entire training grounds fell silent for a moment before a sudden shout erupted. Luo Feng looked up to see Chen Yan standing in the stands, yelling excitedly.
That single voice, like a boulder dropped into calm water, immediately stirred massive waves of sound.
All the Silver Moon Class students in the stands joined in.
Luo Feng’s victory filled these Silver Moon Class students with immense pride, drawing the admiration of many young men and women their age.
So what if he’s a genius? So what if he’s from a prominent family? He was still defeated!
Even the Golden Yang Class students and Inner Court students looked at Luo Feng with awe.
Luo Feng’s formidable strength had been witnessed by all; no one dared to underestimate him anymore.
As Luo Feng’s gaze swept over the stands, he too felt a surge of excitement.
Two months ago, he was just a poor student in the Silver Moon Class, despised by others.
In just two short months, earth-shattering changes had occurred.
At a certain moment, Luo Feng’s gaze fell upon the figure of a young woman.
Lin XiaoXiao’s eyes were dim, her face deathly pale. She bit her red lip tightly, her gaze an unreadable mix of regret and shock, and she dared not meet Luo Feng’s eyes.