Luo Feng landed on the ground, turning to face Duanmu Ji who was hot on his heels.
Duanmu Ji’s expression turned grim when he saw Luo Feng halt suddenly. Suspecting Luo Feng was out of Yuan Qi, Duanmu Ji landed casually with a cold smirk. "Luo Feng, why have you stopped running?"
Luo Feng released his Soul Power, sensing the restless Scorpion Tail Fire Lions around them. A smile touched his lips as he said, "Duanmu Ji, why should I run? I didn’t want you to lose face in front of your men, so I brought you here. I’m saving your dignity; you should be thanking me."
Duanmu Ji was livid. Gritting his teeth, he snarled, "You brat! Still so defiant on your deathbed!"
As the foremost prodigy of the Duanmu Family, Duanmu Ji had been surrounded by accolades since childhood. His status as the young master of the Duanmu Family alone earned him the respect and awe of everyone. In terms of family background and strength, Luo Feng was no match for him. In Duanmu Ji’s eyes, Luo Feng was merely an insignificant figure he could crush at will.
To be scorned by Luo Feng now made him burn with the desire to tear Luo Feng apart with his own hands.
"Luo Feng, I’ll tear you limb from limb!"
With a low, cold shout, the Yuan Qi around Duanmu Ji vibrated fiercely.
CRACKLE... A violently spinning, azure cyclone of air appeared between his hands. The sharp Gang Qi grated against the air, creating a series of purple lightning sparks, its power as imposing as a mountain.
Duanmu Ji was about to strike Luo Feng down.
A fierce wind swept through the entire canyon, sending sand and stones flying. The ground trembled violently. The adjacent lava river roiled, and astonishing pillars of fire shot into the sky, coiling into the air.
It’s here! Luo Feng felt an astonishing surge of Demon Qi rushing towards Duanmu Ji, a hint of delight flashing in his eyes.
Before Duanmu Ji could comprehend what was happening, a terrifying roar pierced the heavens.
SPLASH! A three-meter-high wave of fire surged from the lava river, and a Demon Beast two zhang tall, with the body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion, broke through the waves.
Its body was covered in crimson scales. Its tail was a long scorpion’s tail, the barbed end shimmering with firelight. The surrounding air distorted, thick with fiery poison.
"The Scorpion Tail Fire Lion King!" Duanmu Ji’s face changed drastically as he felt the overwhelming Demon Qi crash towards him.
Among advanced Level 3 Demon Beasts, the Scorpion Tail Fire Lion King was a dominant existence. Even a martial artist at the late stage of the eighth level of the Hell Realm would have to retreat three steps from it.
Moreover, there were dozens, even hundreds, of Scorpion Tail Fire Lions surrounding them!
The Scorpion Tail Fire Lion King scanned Luo Feng and Duanmu Ji with its blood-red pupils. Suddenly, it roared skyward and shot a blast of Gang Qi toward Duanmu Ji.
Duanmu Ji was horrified. Without a second thought, he unleashed his azure cyclone.
BOOM! The two blasts of Gang Qi collided in mid-air. The air suddenly expanded, and a huge crater was blasted into the ground.
Duanmu Ji stumbled back nearly ten steps before regaining his footing, completely encircled by the Scorpion Tail Fire Lions.
"HAHAHA... Duanmu Ji, how do you like the gift I prepared for you?" Watching Duanmu Ji’s disheveled state, Luo Feng stood at a distance, laughing gloatingly.
He had deliberately provoked Duanmu Ji, forcing him to unleash his full power. Demon Beasts have an instinctive sense for danger. Sensing that Duanmu Ji was a significant threat, the Scorpion Tail Fire Lion King had indeed focused all its attention on him.
Luo Feng seized the opportunity to fly several hundred meters away, escaping the nest.
Hearing Luo Feng’s words, Duanmu Ji was so enraged his Three-Corpse Spirit practically leaped out. He cursed in fury, "Luo Feng, you shameless wretch! Do you dare fight me for three rounds?"
By now, how could he not realize he had fallen into Luo Feng’s trap? Regret and fury churned within him.
"Do you think I’m as idiotic as you?" Luo Feng smirked contemptuously. Worried that the situation might change, he added, "Duanmu Ji, enjoy your time here. I won’t keep you company. I hope you don’t get torn to pieces... HAHAHA..."
Before his voice faded, Luo Feng, carrying his Tiger Soul Saber, transformed into a great bird. With a few flashes, he vanished into the vast mountains.
"Bastard!" Watching Luo Feng’s figure disappear, veins throbbed on Duanmu Ji’s forehead. He desperately wanted to give chase immediately.
But with the Scorpion Tail Fire Lion King still eyeing him menacingly nearby, he didn’t dare make the slightest move.
Luo Feng fled for several li in one breath.
Suddenly, a violent tremor came from behind him, as if the very heavens and earth were shaking.
Luo Feng stopped and looked back.
In the distance, in the direction of the Scorpion Tail Fire Lions’ nest, the sky had turned a mixture of azure and crimson. Even from so far away, the intense Yuan Qi fluctuations still stunned him.
What terrifying power! So this is the strength of an eighth-level Hell Realm expert... Luo Feng couldn’t help but marvel.
The Spirit Containing Realm comprised three major stages, and each stage represented a monumental leap in strength.
I wonder if Duanmu Ji is dead... Luo Feng’s eyes flickered as he considered going back to check.
Forget it. Greed can lead to ruin, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. My gains from this trip to the Smelting Mountain Range are already astonishing. There’s no need to risk going back. I should return to the academy quickly.
Luo Feng shook his head, dismissing the thought. Even if Duanmu Ji wasn’t dead, Luo Feng was confident that the next time they met, he wouldn’t be forced to flee for his life as he had today.
Executing the Teng Dragon’s Step, Luo Feng sped towards the academy.
From a pile of rubble on a mountain peak, a low growl, like that of a cornered beast, echoed.
Duanmu Ji lay sprawled amongst the stones. He was covered in blood, his expensive silk robes tattered. Especially on his face, three shocking, bone-deep wounds marred his features.
In the fierce battle with the Scorpion Tail Fire Lion King, he had exhausted all his means to narrowly escape, but he was still severely injured.
He took out a few medicinal pills and swallowed them. After a moment of regulating his breath, some color returned to his face.
His gaze turned towards the Purple Sun School, his eyes suddenly becoming as sharp as a blade’s edge.
"Luo Feng, I, Duanmu Ji, swear I will not live under the same sky as you until I kill you!"
His hoarse voice, like an animal’s snarl, carried a chilling killing intent that would make one’s blood run cold.
A day later, Luo Feng appeared in Qingfeng Town.
Only one day remained until he was to begin training under the guidance of a Spiritual Rotation Realm expert.
Luo Feng didn’t rush back to the academy. Instead, he went straight to the Medicine Ding Store, intending to sell the Demon Beast materials he had acquired.
The shop was bustling with people, most of them martial artists armed with sabers and swords.
Shopkeeper Lan Congfeng was attending to two young women.
Luo Feng walked to the counter, his gaze subtly falling on the red-robed young woman in front.
She appeared to be fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in red, with skin like jade and eyebrows like distant, ink-black hills. Her bearing exuded a noble air, and she was stunningly beautiful.
What caught Luo Feng’s attention, however, was not her beauty, but her strength. She was actually a martial artist at the late stage of the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm!
Such formidable strength! She’s likely on par with Zi Yuan. A flash of surprise crossed Luo Feng’s eyes before his expression returned to normal. The Canglang Dynasty had countless academies, and young geniuses emerged endlessly; it was impossible to know every single one.
"Luo Feng, where have you been? You look quite disheveled," Lan Congfeng greeted him warmly upon seeing him.
Luo Feng glanced down at his torn clothes and gave a wry smile. "Just a small matter. I made a trip to the Smelting Mountain Range."
The attendant beside the red-robed young woman curled her lip. "Smelting Mountain Range... Bragging!" she muttered, clearly disbelieving.
It wasn’t her fault for doubting him. The Smelting Mountain Range was one of the six most perilous regions in the Red Chain Mountain Range, exceedingly dangerous. Even those at the middle stage of the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm wouldn’t dare enter it rashly. For someone Luo Feng’s age to make such a claim was indeed difficult to believe.
The red-robed young woman’s beautiful eyes flickered, however. She gave Luo Feng a thoughtful glance with her limpid eyes but remained silent.
Luo Feng paid no mind to their reactions and said to Lan Congfeng, "Uncle Lan, I want to sell some materials."
Lan Congfeng gestured towards the two young women beside him and smiled. "Please wait a moment."
Lan Congfeng turned back to the two young women.
"My lady’s whip is broken. She needs the tail of a Scorpion Tail Fire Lion to repair it," the attendant stated directly.
Lan Congfeng frowned and shook his head. "I’m sorry, we don’t have any Scorpion Tail Fire Lion tails in stock."
The attendant grumbled, "Isn’t the Medicine Ding Store the largest medicinal materials shop in Qingfeng Town? How can you not even have something as common as a Scorpion Tail Fire Lion tail?"
Lan Congfeng’s eye twitched; he felt an urge to show them the door. A Scorpion Tail Fire Lion was a low-level Tier 3 Demon Beast, difficult even for late-stage seventh-level Essence Storage Realm martial artists to handle, yet she called its tail "common"!
"Xiao Qing, don’t be rude!" the red-robed young woman chided, then apologized to Lan Congfeng, "I’m sorry, I’ve spoiled Xiao Qing. Since you don’t have it here, I’ll look elsewhere."
Although her tone was calm, the disappointment in her expression was undeniable.
Just then, a clear voice suddenly sounded from the side.
"You need Scorpion Tail Fire Lion tails?"
Seeing it was Luo Feng who spoke, the red-robed young woman nodded.
Luo Feng smiled faintly. "How many do you need?"
"Hm?" Hearing this, the red-robed young woman paused, then, as if guessing something, replied, "The more, the better."
Luo Feng nodded, took all the Scorpion Tail Fire Lion tails from his storage ring, and placed them on the counter. "Are these enough?"
A collective intake of breath sounded around them.
Even the attendant named Xiao Qing stared wide-eyed at Luo Feng, her face a mask of disbelief.
A small mountain of Scorpion Tail Fire Lion tails was piled on the counter—at a rough estimate, no fewer than fifty!
Just how many Scorpion Tail Fire Lions did he kill! The martial artists in the Medicine Ding Store were aghast.
The red-robed young woman recovered, looked at Luo Feng with surprise, and let out a soft breath. "These are enough."
Luo Feng nodded and said to Lan Congfeng, "Uncle Lan, please help me appraise them."
Lan Congfeng, startled back to his senses, gave Luo Feng an appreciative glance. After counting them, he announced the valuation, "The market price for a Scorpion Tail Fire Lion’s tail is nine thousand taels. Yours are all complete and of superior quality, so they can fetch ten thousand taels each. With seventy-five tails, the total comes to seven hundred and fifty thousand taels."
So many... Luo Feng himself was taken aback by the sum. Seven hundred and fifty thousand taels was no small fortune.
The red-robed young woman, however, remained perfectly calm. She took out a stack of gold bank notes and handed them to Luo Feng. "Here are seven hundred and fifty thousand taels. Please count them."
Luo Feng accepted the bank notes directly and chuckled. "No need to count. If it turned out to be more, wouldn’t I be at a disadvantage?"
Hearing this, both young women couldn’t help but smile, their favorable impression of Luo Feng increasing significantly.
His business concluded, Luo Feng bid farewell to Lan Congfeng and left the Medicine Ding Store.
"Miss, that Luo Feng is quite interesting," the attendant Xiao Qing said with a smile.
The red-robed young woman nodded with a smile, then turned back and asked, "Shopkeeper, he calls you Uncle Lan. Do you know who he is?"
Lan Congfeng chuckled. "That’s Luo Feng, the genius from Purple Sun School who has recently risen to prominence. You mean you don’t know of him?"
"Ah, so he’s the Luo Feng who fought Zi Yuan to a draw! Miss, doesn’t that mean his strength is on par with yours?" Xiao Qing exclaimed in surprise.
The red-robed young woman tapped her smooth, fair chin, her beautiful eyes rippling with an unreadable emotion as she seemed lost in thought.