The moment the voice echoed, it signaled the official beginning of the second round of the competition.
The clamor in the training field died down. The ten students in each team were grouped together, and their battle order was decided by lot.
Luo Feng stood next to Li Heshan, his gaze sweeping over all the students in their group. He recognized a familiar face—it was Zhou Jian.
"I can’t believe Zhou Jian is also in our group," Li Heshan muttered, his expression turning a bit unsightly as he also caught sight of Zhou Jian.
Luo Feng nodded. He paid no attention to Zhou Jian, his gaze falling on a teenager standing beside him.
This young man was tall and slender, his eyes slightly closed as if he regarded no one. The aura of the early peak of the Seventh Stage Essence Storage Realm made some nearby students look on with apprehension.
"Huh? It’s ’Cloud Eagle’ Li Yun, number one on the Winged Tiger List! He’s actually in our group too!" Li Heshan exclaimed in surprise to Luo Feng.
"Luo Feng, if you encounter him, be very careful. His Ling Falcon Step has already reached the Great Achievement Realm; he’s very difficult to deal with. I once saw him fight a Wanluo School student who had a Seventh Stage Essence Storage Realm cultivation. Li Yun defeated him in only three moves!"
Luo Feng nodded. Anyone ranked first on the Winged Tiger List must certainly possess extraordinary capabilities.
At this moment, Zhou Jian was chatting with Li Yun. When he turned his head and saw Luo Feng and Li Heshan, his small eyes instantly sharpened.
"Luo Feng, I’m surprised you still dare to show your face at the competition today." Zhou Jian raised an eyebrow, a cold smirk on his face.
Luo Feng glanced at him nonchalantly. "Why wouldn’t I dare?"
"Hmph! Why?" Zhou Jian snorted coldly and said sternly, "Did you think you could just get away with disrespecting Senior Brother Lin Yun in the dining hall yesterday?"
Luo Feng sneered and waved his hand dismissively. "If Lin Yun wants to hold me accountable, tell him to come himself. You’re not qualified."
"You’ll regret saying that soon enough!" Zhou Jian, his face pale with fury, spat out the vicious threat before turning away.
Luo Feng didn’t bother to argue and withdrew his gaze.
Seeing Luo Feng’s contempt, Zhou Jian’s face turned ashen. He clenched his fists and said to Li Yun beside him, "Li Yun, later you must teach these two a good lesson! Beat them so badly they’ll be bedridden for months."
’Cloud Eagle’ Li Yun barely lifted his eyelids, glanced at Luo Feng, and nodded. "Don’t worry. Since Senior Brother Lin Yun ordered it, I’ll naturally take care of them."
Zhou Jian, somewhat placated, sneered at Luo Feng.
He knew Li Yun’s strength very well.
Even though Li Yun was still on the Winged Tiger List, his true strength was enough to rank him on the Hidden Dragon List!
Zhou Jian had fought Li Yun before and was defeated before he even saw him clearly.
If Luo Feng encountered Li Yun, defeat would be instant!
In front of the arena, the instructors began drawing lots to decide the match order for each group.
"Group One: Number Five versus Number Seven!"
"Group Two: Number Eleven versus Number Nineteen!"
"Group Three: Number Twenty-three versus Number Twenty-six!"
Hearing the announcements, students stepped onto the arenas one after another and began their fights.
Number five, so I’m up first. I wonder who my opponent is... Li Heshan licked his lips, his gaze sweeping over the students in Group One.
A figure flickered and landed steadily on Arena Number One. It was Li Yun!
This... I’m really having some rotten luck today! Seeing his opponent was Li Yun, Li Heshan shook his head and laughed helplessly.
Luo Feng glanced at Li Yun, frowned slightly, and said, "You’re no match for him."
"I know. But I don’t want to surrender without a fight! This is also a chance to gain combat experience." Li Heshan laughed heartily, then stomped fiercely on the ground, his body launching into the air and landing on the arena.
Seeing his opponent was Li Heshan, a cold glint flashed deep in Li Yun’s eyes.
As the instructor’s voice faded, Li Heshan roared. His body rushed towards Li Yun with a sharp whistling sound as it cut through the air. His fist, imbued with Gang Qi, shot out.
Li Yun barely lifted his eyelids and casually struck out with a palm.
Energy exploded outwards. Li Yun wobbled slightly, while Li Heshan was forced back several steps.
The difference in their strength was clear after just one exchange.
However, there wasn’t a hint of retreat in Li Heshan’s eyes as he lunged at Li Yun again.
"Mountain Breaking Fist!"
Executing the Yellow-Rank Advanced martial art, Mountain Breaking Fist, to its limit, Li Heshan’s fist left a dazzling white trail in the air as it once again shot towards Li Yun.
Seeing this, Luo Feng couldn’t help but nod.
The path of Martial Arts is fraught with hardship. Only those with great perseverance and courage can continue to advance.
Li Heshan, though defeated, shows no discouragement. With such an unyielding spirit, he will surely achieve something given time.
A sudden cold shout echoed on the arena. Li Yun, who had been holding back, finally made his move.
"Cloud-Flipping Palm!"
Amidst the cold shout, a giant, foot-long palm made of Gang Qi formed in front of Li Yun’s right hand and ruthlessly slammed towards Li Heshan.
The sound of exploding Gang Qi reverberated. Li Heshan staggered back several steps, his face flushed red, and with a sound like "WAH!" he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Li Heshan knew his cultivation wasn’t a match for Li Yun’s. Now that his existing injuries were aggravated, he had no choice but to concede.
Li Yun’s arrogant expression remained unchanged. He flashed next to Li Heshan, a vicious glint in the depths of his dark eyes.
"Shocking Wave Leg Technique!"
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
A flurry of leg shadows merged, and the sound of surging tides echoed on the arena as powerful energy blasted out. Li Yun ruthlessly kicked towards Li Heshan.
Caught completely unprepared, Li Heshan was brutally kicked in the chest. The distinct sound of bone cracking echoed as he spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying off the arena.
Gasps of surprise rippled through the surrounding crowd.
Luo Feng’s expression turned icy. His figure flashed, and he caught Li Heshan just before he hit the ground.
After helping Li Heshan lie down, Luo Feng glared murderously at Li Yun on the arena. "Li Heshan already conceded! What was the meaning of that vicious attack?"
Standing on the arena, Li Yun glanced indifferently at Luo Feng. "Did he concede? I didn’t hear anything."
"I didn’t hear Li Heshan concede either!" Zhou Jian shouted from the side of the arena, casting a smug glance at Luo Feng.
"COUGH!" Having regained consciousness, Li Heshan tugged at Luo Feng’s sleeve, his face grim. "Luo Feng, they must have planned this. Be careful later!"
"You bastards!" Realization dawned on Luo Feng, his face turning livid.
The instructor in charge of the match gave Luo Feng a helpless look, then walked to the center of the arena and announced, "Li Yun wins!"
Many students held personal grudges, and it wasn’t uncommon for them to use dirty tricks during matches. As long as things didn’t go too far, the school usually wouldn’t intervene.
Li Yun walked down from the arena. Noticing Luo Feng still looking at him, he said coolly, "I’ve heard of you, Luo Feng. Do you really think defeating a mere Duanmu Yu makes you invincible? In my eyes, you’re just a frog in a well, smug about your meager accomplishments. No wonder Senior Brother Lin Yun can’t be bothered with you."
Li Yun raised an eyebrow, his gaze filled with disdain. "What? You want to avenge Li Heshan?"
"Then you’d better be careful. My goal is the top five of the Hidden Dragon List. Don’t get eliminated before you even meet me." Li Yun smiled faintly, his expression arrogant.
"That’s none of your concern." Luo Feng, having calmed down, replied indifferently.
Such ignorance of your own limitations! Li Yun shook his head slightly and walked away.
「The second match began.」
"Number Three versus Number Nine."
"Luo Feng, it’s your turn," Li Heshan said. He had taken some healing medicine, and some color had returned to his face.
Luo Feng nodded and, with a single step, appeared on the arena.
His opponent, Number Nine, was a robust, dark-faced youth, bare-chested, with muscles like blocks of steel, exuding a heavy aura.
Seeing Luo Feng, the dark-faced youth crossed his arms and laughed heartily. "I’m Teng Chong, ranked twenty-eighth on the Winged Tiger List! With your rank of fifty-eight, you can’t possibly beat me. If you know what’s good for you, concede now and save yourself the embarrassment."
Luo Feng was in a terrible mood and didn’t feel like talking. He strode forward, appeared before the dark-faced youth, and threw a simple, unadorned punch.
The moment Luo Feng threw his punch, up in the spectator stands, Zi Hongyuan, the head of Purple Sun School, showed a slight change in expression.
Luo Feng used no martial arts, not even Gang Qi, yet his momentum was incredibly fierce.
"ARGH! I wasn’t ready! How did you get here so fast?!" On the arena, the dark-faced youth, startled by Luo Feng’s sudden attack, scrambled to defend himself.
With a deafening sound, the dark-faced youth grunted as his burly body was blasted off the arena by Luo Feng. He crashed heavily to the ground, rolling several times before stopping.
Scrambling up, covered in dust and looking utterly humiliated, the dark-faced youth glanced at Luo Feng on the arena, then hurried away from the training field amidst the crowd’s laughter.
"Luo Feng wins!" The instructor beside the arena, stunned by the match’s abrupt and comical end, announced the result after a moment’s pause.
Luo Feng easily won his first match. Thanks to the dark-faced youth’s comical display, he didn’t attract much attention.
He didn’t even use any martial arts; this Luo Feng is truly arrogant! If Teng Chong had used his Iron Mountain Jue just now, Luo Feng would’ve likely been sent flying. Zhou Jian watched Luo Feng from afar, sneering.
Beside him, Li Yun also nodded. The current opponents are all experts from the Winged Tiger List; even I wouldn’t dare be too careless.
He certainly wouldn’t dare to rely solely on brute force like Luo Feng.
"Luo Feng, well done!" Li Heshan congratulated him as Luo Feng came down from the arena.
Luo Feng nodded, showing no particular excitement. His gaze shifted to Li Yun on the other side.
He’s the only opponent I want to defeat right now!
「The matches continued.」
After the first round of matches, five students remained in Group One: Li Yun, Zhou Jian, Luo Feng, He Yu (ranked thirteenth on the Winged Tiger List), and Yang Xu (ranked fifteenth).
「A moment later, the second round began...」