The Tiger Soul Saber in Luo Feng’s hand reached its peak power, instantly tearing through the air. It formed a crescent-shaped slash mark, like a long rainbow chasing the moon, as it descended upon Lu Han.
The saber and sword collided. Layers upon layers of sharp sword light shattered.
"How is this possible..."
Lu Han’s eyes filled with horror; Luo Feng’s Martial Arts were even more profound than his.
With no chance to resist, Lu Han was sent flying by the irresistible force, spitting out a mouthful of blood in mid-air.
Students from the two nearby academies watched Luo Feng in shock.
"So strong! He actually defeated Lu Han within three moves! Is this real?"
"It seems Luo Feng winning first place in the Challenge King Competition was no accident. His strength might even surpass Li Heshan’s!"
"Tsk tsk, defeating Lu Han with a cultivation at the peak of the Fifth Layer Iron Bone Realm... This reminds me of Young Master Duanmu a year ago. Back then, Young Master Duanmu also challenged inner academy students while at the Fifth Layer Iron Bone Realm, his prominence unmatched."
When Luo Feng won first place in the Challenge King Competition, many students from the Jinyang Class were unconvinced, believing Luo Feng had simply been lucky.
Now, having personally witnessed Luo Feng defeat Lu Han—the top prodigy of Wanluo School’s outer academy—in three moves, they were finally convinced of Luo Feng’s strength.
Luo Feng’s victory was no fluke.
The greatest advantage of a Martial Artist at the Sixth Layer God Bravery Realm was the ability to generate an imposing aura to suppress their enemies.
However, due to Luo Feng’s powerful Soul Power, Lu Han’s aura couldn’t affect him at all.
Luo Feng had now cultivated his Sky Slayer Saber Technique to the third stage. Its might was no less than that of a high-grade Yellow Rank Martial Art. Coupled with his monstrous strength, Lu Han’s defeat was inevitable.
"Senior Brother Han, are you alright?" Chen Xin and several Wanluo School students helped Lu Han up from the ground.
Lu Han shook his head. After all, he was a Martial Artist at the Sixth Layer God Bravery Realm with a robust physique. Luo Feng’s full-strength saber strike had only jolted his qi and blood, leaving him with minor injuries.
"Haha, then I won’t be polite about this Jade Iron Juice!"
Luo Feng laughed heartily and picked up the Jade Iron Juice.
Seeing Luo Feng pocket the Jade Iron Juice, the corner of Lu Han’s eye twitched.
He had spent a fortune and gone to great lengths to obtain this Jade Iron Juice. He originally believed that with his strength, defeating Luo Feng was practically guaranteed, which was why he had taken it out without hesitation. He hadn’t expected Luo Feng’s strength to be so surprisingly formidable.
Luo Feng looked at Lu Han’s anguished expression, clapped his hands, and said with a grin, "Lu Han, it seems this Jade Iron Juice is very important to you. How about we have another match? I’ll wager this Jade Iron Juice. What do you say?"
Lu Han gave a bitter smile. He currently had nothing of value comparable to the Jade Iron Juice.
Shaking his head, Lu Han stared intently at Luo Feng. "Luo Feng, I admit you are very strong! Stronger than I imagined! However, I lost to you today only because of the quality of our Martial Arts; my Wind Swordsmanship is inferior to your Saber Technique. I’ll soon be promoted to an inner academy student. Then, I’ll also be able to cultivate supreme-grade Yellow Rank Martial Arts. The next time we meet, you will undoubtedly lose!"
"See you at the New Talents Competition!"
With that parting shot, Lu Han quickly departed with his group of Wanluo School students.
Watching Lu Han and the others depart in a dejected state, the outer academy students at the school gate seemed somewhat excited.
Among the four major academies, the relationship between Wanluo School and Purple Sun School wasn’t very friendly. Wanluo School’s strength had always consistently overshadowed Purple Sun School, causing many Purple Sun students to feel inferior when facing Wanluo students.
Now that Luo Feng had single-handedly defeated two top experts from Wanluo School’s outer academy, many students felt a sense of pride, looking at Luo Feng with adoration.
For a moment, Luo Feng was basked in boundless glory.
"Luo Feng, you truly are formidable! Lu Han is a renowned prodigy in Wanluo School and a strong contender for the title of one of the next Four Great New Talents. Yet, you defeated him in just three moves! I was just worried about how today’s situation would be resolved. If you hadn’t repelled Lu Han, I can’t imagine what terrible things people would have said about our Purple Sun School."
Qin Luoxue and Bing Ruolan walked over. Qin Luoxue looked at Luo Feng, a faint smile playing on her lips as she spoke.
"It was a small matter."
Luo Feng smiled and shook his head. Recalling Lu Han’s parting words, he asked, "By the way, what is this New Talents Competition?"
A flicker of surprise flashed in Qin Luoxue’s eyes, as if she had remembered something. She explained, "The New Talents Competition is a martial arts tournament held annually by the four major academies. Academies are ranked based on the performance of their strongest students in this tournament. The higher an academy’s rank, the more privileges it receives."
Sighing softly, Qin Luoxue continued in a somber tone, "In the last New Talents Competition, our academy ranked fourth, last among the four."
For the past three years, Luo Feng’s thoughts had been entirely consumed by Lin XiaoXiao; he had no idea about these matters.
Nodding, Luo Feng suddenly remembered Zi Yuan, whom he had seen on the third floor of the Martial Arts Hall.
Zi Yuan’s strength is already infinitely close to the Seventh Layer Essence Storage Realm, yet she could only rank fourth in the New Talents Competition? This competition truly is full of hidden experts.
"Luo Feng, with your and Lu Han’s potential, you’re both sure to qualify for this year’s New Talents Competition. You’ll likely meet again then," Qin Luoxue said with a smile.
Luo Feng smiled faintly but didn’t say anything.
Since he could defeat Lu Han now, the outcome wouldn’t change next time either.
Just as Luo Feng was about to leave, a clamor arose from beyond the academy gate, and a group of people emerged.
Everyone turned to look.
"Young Master Duanmu!"
Seeing the figure at the head of the crowd, some students gasped in surprise.
At the forefront of the group was a high-spirited youth—Duanmu Yu. A casual glance from him carried a biting chill, and he constantly exuded an oppressive aura that deterred others from approaching.
Mid-stage of the Sixth Layer God Bravery Realm!
Luo Feng observed Duanmu Yu, his expression turning serious.
They hadn’t seen each other for merely half a month, yet his strength has advanced again. His title of ’genius’ is clearly well-deserved.
"Wanluo School scum! Weren’t you looking to challenge Young Master Duanmu? The Young Master is here now! Step forward and die!"
A student beside Duanmu Yu scanned the surroundings with a fierce gaze. When he noticed the saber and sword marks covering the ground, he was visibly startled.
"The Wanluo School people have already left," someone said.
Duanmu Yu frowned. "What happened?"
After learning what had transpired from the people nearby, Duanmu Yu’s piercing gaze fell on Luo Feng, his eyes glinting. "Luo Feng, you repelled Lu Han?"
Luo Feng nodded calmly. "That’s right."
Peak of the Fifth Layer Iron Bone Realm... This kid has broken through again...
Duanmu Yu scrutinized Luo Feng, a flicker of surprise in his eyes that vanished as quickly as it appeared.
Lin XiaoXiao stood to the side, her delicate fists clenched tightly. She glared at Luo Feng with hatred, her expression frigid.
Because of Luo Feng, she had not only lost a top-three spot in the Challenge King Competition but had failed to even make it into the top six.
For this, Lin XiaoXiao hated Luo Feng to the core.
Duanmu Yu nodded slightly and suddenly walked towards Luo Feng. "Not bad! To defeat a Sixth Layer God Bravery Realm expert with a cultivation at the Fifth Layer Iron Bone Realm is truly astounding. Luo Feng, you are this year’s top Challenge King, and I was last year’s. How about we have a match?"
Many hadn’t expected events to unfold this way, their mouths hanging open in surprise.
Luo Feng looked at Duanmu Yu before him, his eyes narrowing slightly as he sneered, "Duanmu Yu, you yourself know you became the top Challenge King a year before I did..."
Luo Feng knew he was currently no match for a mid-stage Sixth Layer God Bravery Realm opponent. He had only managed to defeat Lu Han earlier partly due to Lu Han’s carelessness. Facing Duanmu Yu now would be pushing his luck too far.
"Luo Feng, weren’t you so arrogant before? Not only did you beat Li Tianyang half to death, you didn’t even show any respect for Instructor Li Yuanhao. Why so timid all of a sudden?" an inner academy student behind Duanmu Yu sneered.
"Exactly! Young Master Duanmu merely wants to spar with you. Are you really that scared?"
The few people behind Duanmu Yu jeered and roared with laughter.
"Luo Feng, you say Young Master Duanmu received the top Challenge King title a year before you. But no matter how much time passes, he still earned it before you did. Are you going to use that as an excuse to avoid fighting forever? That’s a poor excuse."
"That’s right. If you’re really that scared, just admit in front of everyone that you’re inferior to Young Master Duanmu, then kneel and concede defeat. That would be more like it."
"You’re going too far!"
Bing Ruolan glared at the inner academy students who had spoken, then said to Luo Feng, "Luo Feng, let’s go."
Luo Feng coldly regarded the group behind Duanmu Yu, his gaze landing on the one who had been shouting the loudest. "Who do you think you are, daring to squawk in front of me!"
"You’re courting death!"
Although Luo Feng’s fame was rising in the outer academy, these inner academy students would hardly take an outer academy student seriously, let alone one from the Silver Moon Class.
The young man Luo Feng was staring at seemed to suffer immense humiliation. He flew into a rage and thrust a claw strike towards Luo Feng’s chest.
Luo Feng executed the Teng Dragon’s Step, effortlessly dodging the vicious attack, and kicked his assailant squarely on the backside.
This inner academy student, at the peak of the Fifth Layer Iron Bone Realm, let out a wretched scream and was sent flying several tens of meters, crashing to the ground unconscious.
These changes occurred in the span of a single breath. Before anyone could react, the inner academy student was already sprawled on the ground.
"Duanmu Yu, there’s no need for your pretense in front of me."
Luo Feng raised an eyebrow, looking coldly at Duanmu Yu. He held up one finger and declared emphatically, "One month! In one month, I will personally step onto the martial arts stage and duel you!"
The onlookers stared at Luo Feng as if he were a madman.
While Luo Feng’s strength was considerable, Duanmu Yu was nothing like the inner academy student who had just been kicked away.
Not to mention Duanmu Yu’s mid-stage Sixth Layer God Bravery Realm cultivation, his paternal uncle was an elder of the Twelve Golden Palaces, and his elder brother was a student of the Sky Sword Pavilion within the Twelve Golden Palaces! With such connections, Duanmu Yu’s cultivation resources far exceeded those of ordinary people, and the Martial Arts he cultivated were all high-level! Among them was even a supreme-grade Yellow Rank Martial Art!
Let alone one month, even after a year, no one believed Luo Feng could possibly be Duanmu Yu’s match.