Martial Arts Overlord

"Impossible! How could I possibly lose to you! Luo Feng, how can you release your Gang Qi externally?"

Li Yuanhao fell to the ground, leaning against a tree, gasping for breath, his face as pale as paper.

At this moment, he looked at Luo Feng, his eyes filled with horror. The arrogant demeanor he showed earlier was completely gone, leaving only a wild expression.

Luo Feng looked at Li Yuanhao and said with a faint smile, "Li Yuanhao, for an academy instructor, it’s pathetic that you’re regressing with age. Can’t you even recognize the Sky Slayer Saber Technique of the academy?"

Luo Feng defeating Li Yuanhao in one strike was not a coincidence.

In terms of cultivation, Li Yuanhao, who was at the Seventh Level of the Essence Storage Realm, was definitely superior to him.

However, Li Yuanhao never expected Luo Feng to be able to release his Gang Qi externally. He was not prepared for it and didn’t employ his full strength earlier.

Besides, although Li Yuanhao’s Cloud Piercing Swordsmanship was an excellent Yellow Level technique, the power of the Sky Slayer Saber Technique was comparable to Profound Level martial arts. Even if Luo Feng’s Sky Slayer Saber Technique had not reached the sixth stage of completion, it far surpassed ordinary Yellow Level martial arts.

It was due to these two reasons that Li Yuanhao was severely injured by Luo Feng in one fell swoop!

"Sky Slayer Saber Technique..."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanhao paused and then vehemently denied, "Impossible! How could you cultivate the Sky Slayer Saber Technique to the fifth stage in one month! Besides, those who cultivate this technique would fall into madness before reaching the fourth stage! How are you unscathed?"

Due to the rumored power of the Sky Slayer Saber Technique, Li Yuanhao had once been tempted and trained in it.

It took him almost a year to barely cultivate the technique to the third stage. Then, he sensed the danger of the Sky Slayer Saber Technique and immediately stopped his cultivation.

Earlier, when he heard that Luo Feng’s prize for the Challenge King competition was the Sky Slayer Saber Technique, Li Yuanhao had sneered inwardly, believing Luo Feng had chosen a useless martial art that was impossible to cultivate.

Now, unexpectedly hearing that Luo Feng had cultivated the Sky Slayer Saber Technique to the fifth stage in just a month, he naturally refused to believe it.

Luo Feng gave Li Yuanhao a casual glance and laughed, "You couldn’t do it. You can only blame your own mediocre talent."

Upon hearing Luo Feng’s words, Li Yuanhao nearly spat out blood.

Luo Feng had once stagnated in his cultivation for three years and was always used by Li Yuanhao as a negative example, considered a waste.

Now, he was being called mediocre by that very person!

Li Yuanhao felt as if he had been slapped in the face.

"Alright, let’s end the pleasantries. It’s time to settle our grudge."

Luo Feng gripped his saber and approached Li Yuanhao. His calm tone concealed an intense murderous intent that sent shivers down one’s spine.

Seeing Luo Feng approach, Li Yuanhao showed no fear; instead, he said strenuously, "Luo Feng! I am an academy instructor. Do you know the consequences of killing me? You’ll be expelled from the academy, your name will appear on the mission board of the Extreme Sun Great Hall, and from now on, you’ll live under an endless chase!"

When he finished speaking, he softened his tone and said, "You’ve severed my arm, and thus avenged Ji Wuyue. Can we call it even between us?"

"Call it even?"

Luo Feng chuckled as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke in the world. "Do you think I’m a three-year-old? You dare to tell such a clumsy lie. I clearly understand the consequences of killing you. Otherwise, why would I go to the trouble of bringing you to this deserted forest?"

Li Yuanhao looked around and finally understood Luo Feng’s intention for bringing him here.

With a flash in his eyes, Li Yuanhao suddenly thrust his sharp sword towards Luo Feng, then leapt into the air, trying to flee from the forest.

"Still trying to run?"

Luo Feng reached out, caught the incoming sword, and then threw it with all his might!

WHOOSH!

A brilliant streak of sword light appeared out of nowhere, shooting out with incredible speed.

Li Yuanhao, who was trying to escape, suddenly stopped. He stood there in a daze, looked down, and saw the tip of a sword protruding from his left chest, piercing through his body, blood trickling down the blade.

"I, Li Yuanhao, a renowned expert of the Seventh Level Essence Storage Realm, defeated by a fifteen-year-old boy... I can’t accept it..."

Li Yuanhao roared lowly, his face filled with regret, then collapsed onto the ground.

At the moment of his death, he regretted getting involved with Luo Feng over such a trivial matter, which had led to this miserable end.

Seeing that Li Yuanhao had died, Luo Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief.

With his current strength, challenging an experienced old fox like Li Yuanhao was still quite dangerous.

Nonetheless, he was the ultimate victor.

Worried that delays might bring complications, Luo Feng quickly approached Li Yuanhao’s corpse.

He casually searched Li Yuanhao’s body and tossed all the items into his storage ring. He then cut some dry wood from nearby and set the corpse on fire.

This way, all traces would disappear in the flames, and no one would ever know he killed Li Yuanhao.

After taking care of everything, Luo Feng changed into clean clothes and hurried back to the academy.

「When he returned to the academy, it was late evening.」

In the square outside the academy, a figure was pacing anxiously back and forth.

Luo Feng recognized her as Bing Ruolan and asked, "Ruolan, what are you doing here so late?"

Upon hearing his voice, Bing Ruolan turned around to see Luo Feng, a hint of relief washing over her face. "Luo Feng, where have you been? I’ve been looking for you all day with no luck."

"I took a trip to Qingfeng Town. What’s up?" Luo Feng answered, feeling somewhat guilty, concerned that Bing Ruolan might have noticed something.

"I visited the assessment hall this afternoon, and your name wasn’t on the list of those who passed the inner court promotion assessment..." Bing Ruolan lightly bit her lip, her delicate feet scuffing the gravel on the ground. She stood gracefully, her beautiful eyes filled with concern as she looked at Luo Feng.

So, this was what it was about...

Luo Feng let out a sigh of relief. Seeing the worry in Bing Ruolan’s gaze, a surge of warmth flowed through his heart. He then recounted the events that had transpired in the assessment hall earlier that day.

After listening to Luo Feng’s account, Bing Ruolan’s delicate brow furrowed as she looked at him.

"You’re really going to challenge Duanmu Yu in the martial arts arena tomorrow? I heard that Duanmu Yu recently received some valuable pills from his elder brother and has already reached the Seventh Level of the Essence Storage Realm. Even Lin XiaoXiao is now a master in the late Sixth Level of the God Bravery Realm..."

"I won’t lose," Luo Feng interrupted Bing Ruolan, determination gleaming in his eyes.

Taken aback slightly, Bing Ruolan clasped her small hands behind her back and gave him a charming smile. "Remember, you said it. I’ll be there to cheer you on tomorrow. If you lose, I won’t let you hear the end of it."

Luo Feng responded with a faint smile and a nod before bidding Bing Ruolan farewell.

Upon returning to his courtyard, Luo Feng washed up, then quickly stepped out into the moonlit yard.

Though he had answered confidently earlier, Luo Feng did not feel entirely assured about the upcoming duel. He had triumphed over Li Yuanhao today largely because Li Yuanhao had underestimated him. However, not every occasion would prove so fortuitous. Duanmu Yu, being a member of a noble family with his great-uncle as an elder in one of the twelve Golden Palaces, undoubtedly had access to extraordinary cultivation resources! He surely had some hidden tricks up his sleeve and was not to be underestimated.

Taking a deep breath, Luo Feng cleared his mind, no longer dwelling on the looming duel. He pulled out the Tiger Refining Pill and a bottle of Demon Melting Water from his storage ring.

The Tiger Refining Pill shimmered with a fiery red hue, its inner flame flickering, and cracks visible all over its surface.

As he held the pill in his palm, a scorching sensation began to spread.

Luo Feng retrieved a bottle of Demon Melting Water and popped off its seal. Immediately, a refreshing chill filled the courtyard. The faint, reviving scent of the medicinal liquid filled the air.

Tilting the bottle slightly, a milky-white liquid with a jade-like luster slowly trickled out.

As the liquid drops fell on the Tiger Refining Pill, there was a SIZZLE, as if hot iron had been plunged into water. A puff of white mist arose, and the scorching heat from the Tiger Refining Pill rapidly vanished.

"Alright."

After a moment, Luo Feng exhaled and swallowed the Tiger Refining Pill in one gulp. He then adopted the Chi block stance and began to refine the pill’s medicinal power within him.

BOOM!

As soon as the pill entered his stomach, a loud rumble echoed within him.

It was as if thunder was roaring and exploding inside him. A surge of Yuan Qi violently poured into the twelve opened Meridian Wheels in his body, gradually merging with his primal Yuan Qi.

Luo Feng controlled the medicinal power, repeatedly washing over the Meridian Wheels in his liver.

Under the potent medicinal effect, the two Dragon-shaped Pulse Wheels in his liver became increasingly clear. Their Scale Armor was discernible as they writhed and roared as if alive, showcasing an astonishing power.

「Two hours passed.」

Luo Feng slowly opened his eyes, a flash of light darting across his pupils, illuminating the courtyard’s night like a bolt of lightning.

Feeling the changes inside himself, Luo Feng’s eyes gleamed with joy.

After two hours of cultivation, he had refined almost half of the medicinal power contained in the Tiger Refining Pill, allowing his cultivation to advance another step.

Though he was still some way from reaching the peak of the God Bravery Realm, at this pace, it wouldn’t be long before he broke through.

It should take me three days to refine the power of one Tiger Refining Pill. This time, after just two hours, I’ve already refined almost half of its medicinal power. This is strange.

A normal martial artist would need nearly ten days to refine the power of one Tiger Refining Pill. Despite Luo Feng possessing eighteen Meridian Wheels and prodigious talent, the time he should require to process the power of the pill should not be less than three days.

Could it be because I killed Li Yuanhao?

After some pondering, Luo Feng could only attribute it to this potential reason. He had heard before that a martial artist’s mental state is incredibly important during cultivation. Having killed Li Yuanhao and avenged Ji Wuyue, his mind had achieved clarity, thus enhancing the effectiveness of his cultivation.

Luo Feng was unsure whether this was indeed the case. Deciding not to brood over things he could not understand, he took out his Tiger Soul Saber. Remembering the scenes of his fight with Li Yuanhao, he began to mull over the experience.

Li Yuanhao was an expert of the Seventh Level Essence Storage Realm. The experience gained from a duel with such a high-level opponent was extremely valuable.

Revisiting and reflecting on the fight, each time Luo Feng recalled a noteworthy point, he would practice it with his Tiger Soul Saber. By the time the night passed, he had reaped considerable gains.

In particular, the scenes depicting Li Yuanhao executing the Cloud Piercing Swordsmanship had led Luo Feng to a deeper understanding of the Sky Slayer Saber Technique.

「The night quickly passed.」

As dawn broke the following day, Luo Feng rushed through his morning routine, then slung his Tiger Soul Saber over his back and left the small courtyard, heading towards the martial arts arena.

「...」

The martial arts arena was where the students of Purple Sun School held competitions and grand events.

Today was not a special day at the school, nor was any competition scheduled. However, the stands in the martial arts arena were already packed with students.