"It seems we’ve lost them."
Entering the inner courtyard of the Luo Mansion, Luo Feng heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that no one had followed. Dealing with this kind of situation was even more exhausting than hunting Demon Beasts.
"You can let go of me now."
Feng Lingyue bit her red lip gently and looked at Luo Feng, a hint of shyness on her face.
Luo Feng released Feng Lingyue and laughed, "When we were children, didn’t we always run around hand in hand ? Back then, if I didn’t hold your hand, you’d even cry to me."
"That was when we were children; things are different now!"
Feng Lingyue felt a little annoyed and embarrassed but didn’t say it out loud. Seeing Luo Feng glancing to the side with a playful smile, she brought her two fingers together as a sword, suddenly stabbing towards Luo Feng’s left shoulder.
The wind from her fingers was extremely fast, making only a faint, barely perceptible sound.
Just as her fingertips were about to touch Luo Feng’s left shoulder, it was as if Luo Feng had eyes in the back of his head; his left shoulder suddenly tilted to one side. His right hand became a palm-blade, blocking Feng Lingyue’s lightning-fast finger attack.
Luo Feng blocked Feng Lingyue’s move and said with a nod of praise, "Is this the ’Spring Thunder Flash’ from the Sky Wind Swordsmanship of Tianlan School? I’ve heard this swordsmanship is extremely fast, with the continuity of spring thunder and the swiftness of summer thunder. Truly impressive!"
Feng Lingyue blushed and huffed, "So you were prepared! You intentionally lured me into making a move! You scoundrel! Take this, ’Summer Thunder Gust’!"
Luo Feng felt a little helpless.
With his Soul Power, he could clearly hear an insect crawling from a hundred meters away. How could Feng Lingyue possibly ambush him?
Seeing Feng Lingyue attacking again, a hint of a smile flashed in his eyes.
When they were children, he and Feng Lingyue often sparred .
Laughing heartily, Luo Feng used his palm as a blade and once again blocked Feng Lingyue’s attacking finger.
Under the bright moonlight, in the small courtyard, the two figures moved back and forth, their forms constantly interweaving.
Feng Lingyue possessed an elegant temperament, appearing like a newly bloomed pure lotus under the moonlight. Her light, gauze-like skirt fluttered with her steps, her figure lithe and graceful, beautiful beyond words. It seemed as if she was not performing Martial Arts but dancing.
Tianlan School was the foremost of the four great academies. Feng Lingyue had originally thought that even if their Cultivation levels were similar, she should be able to surpass Luo Feng with her Martial Arts realm!
However, as they sparred, she grew increasingly surprised.
Luo Feng didn’t use any specific Martial Arts techniques, yet his every move and gesture possessed a perfectly natural aura!
He was like an unshakeable mountain. That feeling of him having no openings, no flaws, made her feel an indescribable frustration.
Feng Lingyue’s feet suddenly tapped the ground, and she gracefully retreated, saying with an annoyed expression, "I’m not playing anymore."
Luo Feng also immediately stopped, touched his nose, and chuckled, "We haven’t decided the winner yet. Why stop all of a sudden?"
Feng Lingyue let out a sigh and shook her head calmly.
She could already tell that Luo Feng had been holding back just now.
Otherwise, defeating her would not have been difficult for him.
"I haven’t seen you for two years, and I can’t believe your strength has grown to this extent. It’s truly surprising."
Looking at Luo Feng, a hint of astonishment rippled in Feng Lingyue’s beautiful eyes. Then, her red lips curled into a smile as she said, with her hands behind her back, "However, I’ll soon break through to the late stage of the Sixth Level God Bravery Realm. At the New Talent Championship, I will definitely defeat you."
Luo Feng smiled with his hands behind his back, "Then you’ll have to work hard."
Feng Lingyue gently arched her dark eyebrows and said petulantly, "Should I call you confident or arrogant?"
"I think you’re just full of yourself!"
With a light laugh, Feng Lingyue moved with light, lotus-like steps, stirring a fragrant breeze as she walked towards the outside of the courtyard.
"The banquet should be starting soon. Let’s go out."
The banquet continued until late at night. Most people were stumbling and bleary-eyed.
Because Feng Lingyue was by his side, no one came to disturb Luo Feng.
In terms of family background, appearance, and talent, who in all of Panlong City could compare to Feng Lingyue? Naturally, no one would come over to invite ridicule.
After the banquet, Luo Feng found Luotian in the main hall.
"Father, this is for you."
Luo Feng took out the jade box containing the Guixu Pill. Opening the lid, a pill gleaming with multicolored lights was revealed.
The pill was thumb-sized and flashed with spiritual light like pinpricks, illuminating the entire main hall with a mesmerizing, colorful radiance. Its rich fragrance was invigorating to the heart and mind.
Luotian’s eyes brightened. "A Guixu Pill? This is a top-grade, third-rank Spiritual Medicine. It can help an Eighth Level Hell Realm expert advance one realm. It’s exceedingly rare."
Luotian looked at the Guixu Pill for a good while, then shook his head. "Feng Er, keep this Spirit Pill for yourself. I don’t need it."
"Father, I’ve taken Spiritual Medicine before, and my physique has changed, so breaking through realms isn’t difficult for me. Besides, I don’t know when I’ll reach the Eighth Level Hell Realm. Now that you’re the City Lord of Panlong City and our Luo Family has become the foremost family, a tall tree attracts the wind, and it’s inevitable that others will be envious. Only with sufficient strength can we ensure our safety."
Luo Feng was very concerned about the profound words Yang Wanyi had spoken before she left. He always had a feeling that something was about to happen.
Luotian thought for a moment and nodded. "Feng Er, you’re right. Although I now hold the position of City Lord, Li Yantian may not necessarily submit to me. In that case, I won’t refuse this Guixu Pill."
Luotian took the Guixu Pill and said to Luo Feng, "I will enter secluded cultivation now to refine its medicinal power. Instruct everyone that no one is to disturb me during this time."
Luo Feng nodded, exited the main hall, and immediately ordered the hall to be sealed off, not allowing anyone to approach.
As the night grew deep and quiet, the Luo Mansion, which had been bustling all night, gradually calmed down.
Sitting cross-legged in his small courtyard, Luo Feng was bathed in the silvery glow of the moonlight, which cloaked him in a shimmering frost.
Though the night was windless and all was still, within Luo Feng’s body, waves of turbulence were surging.
A few days ago, while cultivating in the Black Moon Forest, Luo Feng had reached the bottleneck of the middle stage of the Sixth Level God Bravery Realm. His earlier exchange with Feng Lingyue had caused the Meridian Wheels within his body to become active, showing faint signs of a breakthrough.
Such an opportunity was exceedingly rare. Naturally, Luo Feng would not let it pass. So, upon returning to his room, he immediately began to focus all his efforts on breaking through to the next realm.
While the Luo Mansion had been lively all night, the Li Family, one of the four great families of Panlong City, seemed exceptionally desolate tonight.
Within the Li Mansion, lanterns and streamers were hung, with ’happiness’ characters pasted on some doors and windows.
These were arranged by Li Tianyang the day before the hunting tournament.
He originally intended to marry Feng Lingyue immediately once they secured the position of the foremost family.
Alas, circumstances had changed. Now, those ’happiness’ characters were like needles in the eyes of the Li Family members.
In the main hall of the Li Mansion, Li Yantian sat bolt upright, his expression extremely grim. Standing below him were the two brothers, Li Tianyao and a pale-faced Li Tianyang.
"Didn’t you claim this time was foolproof? So what is the meaning of this now?"
Hearing the faint sounds of revelry from outside, Li Yantian, his face contorted with rage, slammed his fist on the table, making it THUD loudly. He roared at the Li Tianyang brothers in the hall, "Now that old bastard Luotian has become the City Lord, will our Li Family still have a place to stand in Panlong City in the future?"
Facing Li Yantian’s unbridled rage, both brothers trembled with fear. Li Tianyao, being the elder, took a deep breath and said, "Father, perhaps we should show goodwill to the Luo Family and first see what his attitude is?"
"Nonsense!" Li Yantian forcefully slapped the purple jade sandalwood table beside him, which exploded with a CRASH. He roared furiously, "Our Li Family and the Luo Family have been feuding for decades! How could he let us off so easily? Moreover, in Cultivation and methods, that Luotian is inferior to me in every way! What qualifications does he have to make me bow my head to him!"
Li Tianyao licked his lips and said, "But now Luotian has the Guixu Pill. After he consumes it, his realm will surely advance significantly. At that time..."
Li Yantian’s eyes darkened.
This was precisely the reason for his extreme fury.
Once Luotian consumed the Guixu Pill, he would be able to firmly suppress him!
The Guixu Pill! The Guixu Pill! If it weren’t for that brat Luo Feng, that Guixu Pill should have been mine! Li Yantian roared endlessly in his heart, intense killing intent churning in his eyes like thunderous electric pythons.
"Father, there’s one more thing I forgot to tell you," Li Tianyang said in a low voice, as if suddenly remembering something.
Li Yantian knew Li Tianyang’s character; it definitely wouldn’t be good news.
But right now, what could be worse than the Luo Family becoming the foremost family?
Li Tianyang swallowed hard, hesitated for a moment, then said with flickering eyes, "Yesterday, at the Watching Moon Tower’s betting operation, Luo Feng bet five hundred thousand silver taels that the Luo Family would become the foremost family. The payout odds were one to twenty..."
"What! Five hundred thousand silver taels, at one to twenty?!"
Li Yantian’s mind exploded. He felt his vision go black, and he slumped directly onto his chair, as if he had aged more than ten years in an instant.
"Who agreed to Luo Feng placing such a huge bet?"
After a long moment, he came to his senses. Li Yantian’s fingers gouged marks into the purple-gold jade armrest of his chair. Staring at Li Tianyang, his pupils seemed ready to spew fire.
Li Tianyang trembled all over under Li Yantian’s gaze, but he knew he couldn’t evade responsibility for this matter and could only say in a low voice, "It was me. That Luo Feng deliberately goaded me. I thought we would definitely secure the position of the foremost family! So I..."
"So now we have to pay the Luo Family ten million silver taels in compensation!"
Li Yantian shot up, his figure flashing to Li Tianyang’s side. Before Li Tianyang could react, he was sent flying with a slap, crashing heavily to the ground.
"Useless trash! Do you have any idea what ten million silver taels mean to the family? It’s ruin! Our family’s foundation, built over hundreds of years, will be destroyed in our hands!"
Li Yantian’s face was livid, and his thunderous roar seemed powerful enough to almost lift the roof off.
The corner of Li Tianyang’s mouth was split and bleeding, but he didn’t dare make a sound. Lying on the ground, shivering all over, he cursed Luo Feng thousands upon thousands of times in his heart.
If it weren’t for Luo Feng, how could he have been so hot-headed as to accept a massive bet of five hundred thousand silver taels!
If it weren’t for Luo Feng, how could the Li Family have lost the position of the foremost family!
Li Tianyao stepped forward to block the furious Li Yantian, saying, "Father, Second Brother didn’t expect it to turn out this way either. This is all because that Luo Feng is too cunning, to have hidden his Cultivation so deeply! Right now, the most crucial thing is to find a way to overcome this crisis."
Li Yantian gradually calmed down. His gaze turned towards the direction of the Luo Family’s residence. He pondered for a moment, then his eyes narrowed, his gaze becoming as sharp as a blade.
"There is only one path left for us now! Yao’er, go immediately and bring the Family Heads of the Han Family, Qiu Family, and Nangong Family here."
"Father, you mean to...?" Li Tianyao’s eyes widened with shock.
Li Yantian waved his sleeve, his eyes filled with dense killing intent. "The victor becomes king, the loser a bandit! Things have come to this; we have no other choice. One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. While the Luo Family has yet to grow strong, we must make them disappear forever from Panlong City!"