Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Lin XiaoXiao’s Purpose
Luo Feng carefully examined the scroll in his hand. The killing intent from the bracelet just now had given him a huge shock. He had never felt such a powerful aura before; it was simply irresistible. This bracelet was so strange; this map must certainly hold some secrets!
After a while, Luo Feng shook his head regretfully. It’s a pity it’s an incomplete map. I wonder if I’ll ever have the chance to find the other parts...
Luo Feng sighed, put the map away since he couldn’t make anything out of it, and took out the Tiger Soul Saber.
Influenced by the overpowering killing intent from the bracelet, he had vigorously practiced his saber technique and gained a new understanding of the Sky Slayer Saber Technique. While this feeling hadn’t faded, he continued to practice.
Less than three months remained until the Newcomer’s Grand Tournament, and students from other academies must be training hard as well. The Newcomer’s Grand Tournament, where talents from the four major academies would gather, was his chance. His goal was to make it to the top three, so he had to work harder than the others.
「The next day.」
Luo Feng continued his Martial Arts training in the small courtyard.
His Tiger Roar Fist had gradually transcended the confines of its original moves. Every punch he threw made the air rumble, demonstrating unparalleled power. The Sky Slayer Saber Technique and Teng Dragon’s Step were becoming more proficient. His control over Saber Gang was more flexible, and the power of Dragon Roaring Nine Heavens could already blow stones on the ground a meter high without them falling.
While he was training his saber techniques, there was a sudden knock at the door.
"Who could be looking for me?"
Luo Feng stopped his movements. No one knew about his new place since he had moved.
He opened the courtyard door, and there stood a slender figure.
She was dressed in the Purple Sun uniform of the inner court. Her short, pale blue hair was refreshing and neat, her features delicate, and her long legs could be described as perfect.
"Ruolan, how did you find this place?" Luo Feng was somewhat surprised.
"You’ve moved to a new place; aren’t you going to invite me in to see it?" Bing Ruolan stood outside the courtyard with her hands behind her back. Her sapphire-like, clear eyes blinked slightly with a hint of playful mischief. She was like a morning lotus, captivatingly beautiful.
Luo Feng was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered, smiling as he said, "Please come in. It’s a bit messy since I haven’t tidied up yet."
The two of them entered the courtyard. Bing Ruolan looked at the breathtaking saber marks in the courtyard, a flash of surprise in her beautiful eyes. "Your saber technique is becoming more and more powerful. You’ll surely be among the best in this year’s Newcomer’s Grand Tournament."
"I’m still far behind Zi Yuan," Luo Feng shook his head. This was not false modesty. Zi Yuan was now a master at the mid-stage of the Seventh Level of the Essence storage Realm, not to be underestimated.
"What brings you here?"
Bing Ruolan pouted her red lips discontentedly and hummed, "Can’t I come to see you if there’s nothing else?"
Seeing Luo Feng speechless, Bing Ruolan bit her lip and smiled lightly.
"Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. I just heard that Li Yuanhao, the instructor of the Jinyang class, has gone missing. People in the academy suspect it might have something to do with the Duanmu Family. You crippled Duanmu Yu, so you should be careful during this period."
I didn’t expect things to develop like this... Luo Feng’s eyes narrowed slightly. This could actually be a good thing for him. At least, no one would suspect him.
She came specifically to tell me this news. She also practices Swordsmanship; perhaps I should give her the Cloud Piercing Swordsmanship to practice... Looking at Bing Ruolan, Luo Feng felt a warmth in his heart, contemplating whether to give her the Cloud Piercing Swordsmanship.
In the end, Luo Feng gave up on the idea. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Bing Ruolan, but at this time, the Cloud Piercing Swordsmanship was a hot potato; the fewer people who knew about it, the better.
"Luo Feng, what are you thinking about?" Bing Ruolan asked, biting her lip as she averted her gaze, her cheeks involuntarily turning slightly red when she saw Luo Feng staring at her in a daze.
Luo Feng shook his head, just about to speak, when suddenly there was another knock at the door.
"Who could it be this time?" Luo Feng was taken aback. In the past, no one would come looking for him for half a month, and now, two people had shown up abruptly early this morning. How strange.
Luo Feng opened the courtyard door. Standing outside was a long-haired young girl with snow-like skin and gentle, bright eyes, waiting anxiously.
"What are you here for?" Luo Feng frowned.
"Luo Feng, I’m sorry about what happened before..." Lin XiaoXiao said softly, biting the corner of her lip, somewhat at a loss when faced with Luo Feng’s cold attitude.
"There’s no need. We’re even now." Luo Feng shook his head, his gaze indifferent.
"Luo Feng, who’s here?" Bing Ruolan’s soft and pleasant voice echoed in the courtyard. She walked over, her gaze freezing when she saw Lin XiaoXiao. The atmosphere became slightly awkward.
"It’s nothing. Let’s go back in." Luo Feng paid no heed to Lin XiaoXiao and turned to walk back into the courtyard.
Bing Ruolan glanced at Lin XiaoXiao, then followed him inside.
Seeing Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan walking side by side, laughing and chatting, Lin XiaoXiao felt as though she had plunged into an ice cellar. Her eyes revealed a mixture of regret and envy. Only at this moment did she truly regret the choices she had made.
"Luo Feng, how about we spar?" Bing Ruolan suddenly proposed once they were back in the courtyard.
Seeing the confusion in Luo Feng’s eyes, Bing Ruolan elaborated, "I’ve been practicing the Floating Cloud Sword Technique recently, but I feel something is missing, and I can’t quite figure out what. I’d like to spar with you to identify my deficiencies."
"Great!" Sparring was more beneficial than practicing alone, so Luo Feng readily agreed.
Soon, two figures began clashing in the courtyard, exchanging blows fiercely, neither giving an inch.
Luo Feng wasn’t using his Sky Slayer Saber Technique. Instead, he maximized the power of his Tiger Roar Fist, using only sixty percent of his strength. Even so, he still held the upper hand.
Luo Feng maintained a steady aura with broad, sweeping movements. Meanwhile, Bing Ruolan moved gracefully, exhibiting the Falling Leaves Butterfly Dance Step from the Light Martial Arts she had mastered, fluttering like a group of butterflies. Their exchange bore no hint of malice and was quite pleasing to the eye.
「Half an incense stick later.」
Bing Ruolan couldn’t keep up and conceded defeat, panting slightly. Her beautiful eyes, shining at Luo Feng, blinked with a touch of excitement as she said, "Luo Feng, thank you."
It turned out that during their spar, Luo Feng had secretly given Bing Ruolan pointers on her Tiger Roar Fist. His Tiger Roar Fist had already reached a state of mastery. With a few pointers from him, Bing Ruolan benefited immensely. In that short moment, her Tiger Roar Fist was already approaching perfection. Her excitement was palpable.
"It’s nothing. You also helped me realize that my lower body foundation is lacking. We’ve helped each other," Luo Feng replied with a light smile.
Earlier, Bing Ruolan had suddenly aimed her attacks at Luo Feng’s lower body. If not for Luo Feng’s exceptional Light Martial Arts skills, he might have found it difficult to defend.
Bing Ruolan, her cheeks still flushed and utterly charming, looked at Luo Feng and smiled. "This is the Dancing Wave Leg Technique I chose when I became an inner court student. It focuses on stacking leg power, aiming precisely at an opponent’s lower body. Your fist technique and movement technique are just too strong; I had no choice but to exploit your weakness."
"Leg technique?" Luo Feng nodded slightly. "It seems I also need to practice a leg technique to address my deficiencies."
"As you’re now an inner court student, you can choose an upper-rank Yellow Level Martial Art. You can visit the Martial Arts Hall to take a look."
Bing Ruolan, gripping her sword with both hands behind her back, glanced sideways at Luo Feng and said quietly, "Luo Feng, I’m going into seclusion to practice, aiming to break through to the late stage of the Sixth Level of the God Bravery Realm. After I succeed, how about we go out and gain some experience together?"
Once she finished speaking, she clenched her fingers hidden behind her back, a hint of nervousness in her eyes.
"Go out to gain experience?" Luo Feng pondered for a moment, then nodded. "I also plan to go out after a while to earn academic credits for Martial Arts and medicinal pills."
"Then it’s settled! I’ll come for you in a month!" Bing Ruolan’s eyes lit up at his words. As if afraid he would change his mind, she took a few steps and disappeared out of the courtyard, only her light, clear voice drifting back.
Luo Feng shook his head slightly. That girl, when did she become so impetuous?
Bing Ruolan was usually as cold as ice in public, earning her the nickname "Ice Beauty," but now she seemed completely different.
I should go to the Martial Arts Hall first and see if there are any suitable leg techniques.
Luo Feng tidied up a bit, then turned and left the courtyard.
「Martial Arts Hall.」
"Uncle Li, I’ve come to choose a leg technique." Upon entering the Martial Arts Hall, Luo Feng greeted Uncle Li, who was on guard nearby.
If not for Uncle Li’s recommendation last time, he might not have cultivated the Sky Slayer Saber Technique. Then yesterday’s duel might have had a very different outcome.
Uncle Li looked up and saw Luo Feng, his face breaking into a smile. "Good lad! You actually managed to cultivate the Sky Slayer Saber Technique! I heard all about yesterday’s duel from Elder Hua; he couldn’t stop praising you. It’s the first time I’ve seen that old man praise a student so highly."
"Elder Hua?"
Uncle Li chuckled. "Hua WuJian, an assessment elder of the academy."
Luo Feng nodded and handed his inner court student Token to Uncle Li. "Uncle Li, I want to choose an upper-rank Yellow Level Martial Art."
Uncle Li stared at the inner court student Token, muttering as if to himself, "Unbelievable. Two months ago, you were still at the Third Level of the Cultivation Power Realm. Now, you’ve already ranked high on the Winged Tiger List! My judgment wasn’t wrong!"
"I owe it all to Uncle Li’s guidance last time."
Hearing this, Uncle Li’s eyes gleamed with even more delight. He handed the Token back to Luo Feng. "Go on. The leg techniques are on the second floor, on the left side by the window."
Watching Luo Feng’s retreating figure, Uncle Li shook his head and sighed with admiration. "Two Martial Arts that no one could master, the Teng Dragon’s Step and the Sky Slayer Saber Technique, he actually succeeded in cultivating them both. What an astonishing talent!"
Amidst the envious gazes of numerous outer court students, Luo Feng ascended to the second floor and went directly to the section by the window. The two rows of bookshelves here held nearly a hundred different leg techniques.
As an inner court student, there were no time restrictions for him on the second floor of the Martial Arts Hall, so he leisurely began browsing through the manuals one by one.
The Teng Dragon’s Step allowed him to perform Steps in the Air, and once his Cultivation reached the Seventh Level of the Essence storage Realm, he could also use Gang Qi to attack enemies. I want to choose a leg technique that can be used in conjunction with the Teng Dragon’s Step.
"Cyclone Leg Technique: Consists of five stages. Upon reaching the third stage, one can execute three mid-air attacks; at the fifth stage, five mid-air attacks."
"Shadow Killing Leg Technique: Consists of five stages. With each advancement in stage, the practitioner’s attacks generate an additional leg shadow. At the fifth stage of mastery, the leg shadows form a wall, making it difficult for opponents to distinguish and defend."
"Chaotic Cloud Leg Technique: Consists of five stages. With each advancement in stage, the practitioner’s leg strength doubles. At the fifth stage, each kick possesses the force of a thousand catties!"
Luo Feng examined them one by one. These leg techniques were indeed worthy of being upper-rank Yellow Level; each one was extremely formidable.
However, it was still too early to make a choice. There might be even better leg techniques further on.