Luo Feng threw a punch.
The brutally powerful punch landed squarely on Li Yun, who was rushing over.
The Gang Qi on Li Yun’s palms shattered. With a muffled groan, he coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood. His body flew through the air for more than ten meters and landed face-first on the arena floor.
Raising his head, he looked at the approaching Luo Feng, fresh blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, appearing utterly distraught.
This swift turn of events was a massive blow to him.
His prized Qinggong had been bested by another, and worse, he had been defeated head-on by Luo Feng, someone he despised. His arrogance had now curdled into humiliation!
Watching Luo Feng draw near, Li Yun gritted his teeth and said unwillingly, "I lost."
The smirk on Luo Feng’s face remained. "What did you say? I didn’t hear you."
Li Yun saw the cold, cruel smile on Luo Feng’s face and, recalling something, his expression changed drastically. He blurted out, "What are you planning to do?"
"Instructor, I admit defeat!"
Li Yun shifted his gaze to the instructor beside the arena, stood up, and tried to jump down.
Just then, a sharp whistling of wind suddenly sounded.
"Thunder Rush Shock Cloud Step!"
Luo Feng blurred, appearing beside Li Yun in a single step. Under Li Yun’s horrified gaze, he stomped down forcefully.
Amidst the loud impact, Li Yun spurted out another mouthful of blood. His clothes were instantly shredded by the concussive force of the Shock Cloud Step. Sent flying naked for more than ten meters, he crashed outside the arena.
The entire martial arts field erupted in laughter. The female students, blushing furiously, covered their eyes.
Li Yun struggled to get up. Initially disoriented, he looked down, and his face turned deathly pale. Ignoring his injuries, he immediately used his Qinggong to vanish without a trace, his enraged voice drifting back on the wind.
"Luo Feng, just you wait!"
Luo Feng smiled faintly, paying him no mind, and said to the dazed instructor, "Instructor, it’s time to announce the results, isn’t it?"
The middle-aged instructor finally snapped back to reality. He glanced at Luo Feng in surprise and announced loudly, "Luo Feng wins! He qualifies for tomorrow’s challenge match!"
One step closer to his goal! A smile touched Luo Feng’s lips.
As the middle-aged instructor made his announcement, everyone in the martial arts field came to their senses. Gazing at the figure standing proudly on Arena One, many eyes filled with admiration and awe.
"He actually defeated Li Yun!"
"If only I were that strong, then no one would dare look down on me!"
Exclamations rippled through the stands.
Li Yun was the top expert on the Winged Tiger List, while Luo Feng was ranked fifty-eighth. The outcome of this duel was beyond everyone’s expectations!
In just two short months, he had gone from a Silver Moon class student in the outer courtyard to the number one on the Winged Tiger List in the inner courtyard!
This astounding transformation could only be described by one word in everyone’s mind: Terrifying!
"Nan Xiao, what do you think of this Luo Feng’s strength?" ’Ruthless’ Zhou Tong’s expression became unusually serious as he turned to his companion and asked.
’Blood Fiend’ Nan Xiao glanced at the black-haired youth on the arena and took a shallow breath. "Unfathomable! I heard he has cultivated the Sky Slayer Saber Technique to the fourth level and can release Saber Gang externally. He didn’t even use his full strength just now."
"Interesting! I never expected someone like him on the Winged Tiger List. This trip wasn’t a waste after all. A worthy opponent has finally appeared!"
Zhou Tong licked his lips, a fierce fighting spirit erupting in his tiger-like eyes.
Seeing Zhou Tong’s expression, Nan Xiao gave a wry smile and nodded.
After his victory, Luo Feng leaped directly from the stage. The inner courtyard students who saw him immediately greeted him respectfully.
"Senior Brother Luo Feng, congratulations..."
Now that Luo Feng had defeated Li Yun, he was the number one on the Winged Tiger List. All students, except for the elites on the Winged Tiger List, were expected to address him as Senior Brother.
Luo Feng nodded, not paying it much mind. His gaze swept over the crowd and landed on Zhou Jian.
Zhou Jian was pale as a sheet. When Luo Feng’s gaze swept over him, he turned even whiter, hastily forcing a smile. "Congratulations, Senior Brother Luo Feng, on qualifying for the challenge match!"
Looking at Zhou Jian’s drastically changed attitude, a flash of disdain crossed Luo Feng’s eyes. He ignored him and turned back to Li Heshan’s side.
Li Heshan’s revenge had been served. He had watched with boiling blood and exclaimed excitedly, "Luo Feng, you’re truly amazing! You defeated Li Yun so easily!"
"Li Yun is nothing. His Splashing Wave Palm is only cultivated to the Small Success realm. He’s not worth mentioning."
Luo Feng smiled faintly.
His goal was the top three in the qualifying challenge match; he hadn’t paid Li Yun much mind.
Thanks to Luo Feng, the matches in the first group concluded earliest; fights on the other stages were still ongoing.
On Arena Two, Luo Feng saw Bing Ruolan.
After Bing Ruolan easily defeated a student at the peak of the sixth level of the God Bravery Realm, the matches in the second group also proceeded to the final round.
Bing Ruolan’s opponent was a curvaceous and charming young woman, ’Poison Bee’ Du Xin, ranked second on the Winged Tiger List.
The two young women faced each other on the arena.
Du Xin was also one of the academy’s three great beauties. With her stunning figure and formidable strength, she was known as the ’Toxic Hibiscus’.
Both Bing Ruolan and Du Xin were exceptionally beautiful.
Du Xin had a voluptuous figure and eyes like tranquil water. Every movement, every glance, exuded an alluring aura, like a peony in full bloom.
Bing Ruolan, in contrast, possessed a different kind of charm: delicate and captivating, pure and elegant. She stood gracefully, like a pristine lotus, stirring the hearts of onlookers.
When the two beauties stepped onto the stage together, the hearts of many young men below began to race.
"Senior Sister Du Xin, please offer your guidance." Bing Ruolan gripped her sword with both hands and bowed to Du Xin.
Du Xin pursed her red lips and replied with a flirtatious smile, "Chuckling... Bing Ruolan, I wouldn’t dare claim to ’offer guidance.’ I watched your previous match; your Floating Cloud Sword Technique has reached perfection. I might not be able to withstand it. I’ll be the one needing you to show mercy soon."
As she laughed, Du Xin’s slender waist swayed, her curvaceous figure trembling enchantingly. The tantalizing glimpses occasionally revealed beneath her swaying skirt made many male students gulp.
"Flowing Cloud Crosses the Peak!"
"Crescent Saber Technique!"
Before their voices faded, the two women let out soft cries simultaneously, their graceful figures intersecting in combat.
Although their moves were perilous, the duel between the two beautiful young women was a delightful spectacle for the onlookers. All eyes in the martial arts arena were drawn to their stage.
DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!
Swords and sabers clashed continuously, sparks flying amidst the cold, metallic impacts.
Du Xin wielded two willow-leaf sabers, her techniques fierce and ruthless. Each slash created a sharp, wind-piercing sound. Her twin sabers danced like the wind, enveloping her in a curtain of light, making her appear incredibly formidable.
Two months prior, Du Xin had already entered the early stage of the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm, making her cultivation deeper than Bing Ruolan’s.
Having consumed the gallbladder of the Black Dark King Serpent, Bing Ruolan’s cultivation was also very stable. In terms of cultivation realm, they were considered on par.
However, Du Xin was slightly older and ranked second on the Winged Tiger List, so many favored her to win.
Yet, the situation was turning out to be quite the opposite...
After exchanging several moves, Du Xin not only failed to gain any advantage but was nearly wounded by Bing Ruolan’s sword on multiple occasions, finding herself at a disadvantage.
"Luo Feng, are all students from your Silver Moon class so skilled in Qinggong?" Li Heshan, having noticed the disparity, couldn’t help asking.
He had already discerned that Bing Ruolan was steadily gaining the upper hand primarily because her Qinggong was significantly superior to Du Xin’s.
"How could that be?" Luo Feng said, watching the agile, short-haired girl on the stage, a smile playing on his lips. He and Bing Ruolan had practiced Martial Arts daily in the Misty Swamp, and Bing Ruolan had benefited the most. Now, her Floating Cloud Sword Technique and Falling Leaves Butterfly Dance Step had both reached Great Accomplishment. Though far inferior to his Teng Dragon’s Step, they were already outstanding within the academy.
After exchanging over thirty moves, the smile on Du Xin’s face gradually faded, her expression turning serious.
Bing Ruolan was unexpectedly tenacious. Her Floating Cloud Sword Technique, combined with the Falling Leaves Butterfly Dance Step, left no openings; she was flawless.
After a few more exchanges, Du Xin decided to end the fight quickly and shouted coldly, "Crescence of the Waning Moon!"
SHUA! SHUA! SHUA! SHUA!
The might of Du Xin’s saber technique suddenly surged. The cold glints of her sabers merged into one, and she lunged at Bing Ruolan like a cold moon.
Sensing Du Xin’s intent to settle the match in one move, Bing Ruolan’s beautiful eyes flickered. She exhaled softly and said, "Clouds and Thousands of Peaks!"
Bing Ruolan’s steps were light, her skirt fluttering. She moved like a butterfly dancing among flowers or a leaf swaying in the wind, her movements elusively unpredictable.
The cold edge of her sword transformed into countless Sword Shadows, attacking Du Xin relentlessly.
The crisp sound of impact was incessant. Bing Ruolan’s sword strikes grew stronger with each blow. After barely parrying a few more, Du Xin’s footing became unsteady. She hastily retreated, sheathed her sabers, and said with a wry smile, "Excellent swordsmanship! I concede."
"You flatter me, Senior Sister," Bing Ruolan replied with a charming smile, sheathing her sword. The joy in her beautiful azure eyes was almost impossible to conceal.
"Don’t call me Senior Sister. After tomorrow, I might be the one calling you Senior Sister." Du Xin had a cheerful disposition and didn’t dwell on the loss. Looking at Bing Ruolan with her bright eyes, she said, "Your Swordsmanship and Qinggong are both at a very high level. I lost because of my lower Martial Arts attainment. Did you receive guidance from an expert?"
"Um... I suppose so." Bing Ruolan blinked, her gaze drifting discreetly towards Luo Feng, a flicker of joy in her eyes.
Du Xin noticed Bing Ruolan’s expression and nodded thoughtfully. "Congratulations on qualifying for tomorrow’s challenge match. I hope you can make it onto the Hidden Dragon List. Then, in the future, when I’m out in the martial world, I can boast that I once competed on the same stage against a member of our academy who made it to the Hidden Dragon List."
After the instructor announced the match results, Bing Ruolan joyfully hurried back to Luo Feng’s side.
"Luo Feng, I’ve also advanced to tomorrow’s challenge match!" With her small hands clasped behind her back, Bing Ruolan said, her cheeks flushed and her eyes faintly glinting with excitement.
She was eager to share her joy with Luo Feng.
Luo Feng saw Bing Ruolan’s happy expression and nodded with a smile. "I saw everything. Congratulations. Let’s both do our best tomorrow."
The matches for all groups gradually concluded, and the ten students who would participate in tomorrow’s challenge match were determined.
These included ’Single Stroke Sword’ Han Feng, ranked fourth on the Winged Tiger List; ’Shadow Kill Knife’ Hu Fei, ranked third; and ’Returning Horse Spear’ Zhao Yifan, ranked sixth...
Aside from Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan, all of them were prominent and well-known masters from the Winged Tiger List.