Luo Feng descended from Purple Spirit Peak, a self-mocking smile on his face as he recalled the suspicious look in Bing Ruolan's eyes.
He had kindly pointed out the mistakes in Bing Ruolan's fist technique, only to find that she didn't believe him at all. To think he'd failed so badly.
Never mind. After the martial arts sparring class, she'll naturally know who's right and who's wrong. Luo Feng decided not to dwell on the matter.
For the ensuing two days, Luo Feng stayed on Purple Spirit Peak to cultivate. He would drink from a mountain spring whenever he was thirsty and hunt some small game to satiate his hunger. Fortunately, Purple Spirit Peak teemed with small wild creatures.
For two days, he practiced the Tiger Roar Fist repeatedly, becoming increasingly familiar with it. He could now achieve 'fists following the heart, intent moving with the heart, form and intent as one.' When fighting others, he could unleash the maximum power of the Tiger Roar Fist at any time.
That wasn't even the most important part. After two days of grueling cultivation, Luo Feng achieved his goal and stepped into the third level of the Meridian Wheel, the middle stage of the Cultivation Power Realm. The two Meridian Wheels in his spleen blazed like suns, his strength having nearly doubled to almost four thousand catties!
For someone at the middle stage of the Cultivation Power Realm, a strength of nearly four thousand catties could only be described as terrifying. It far surpassed that of ordinary Martial Artists in the late stage of the Cultivation Power Realm.
All these changes were, naturally, due to the fusion of his Soul Power.
The next morning, Luo Feng sat cross-legged on the edge of a cliff, facing the vast sea of clouds, breathing and circulating the Yuan Qi in his body to nourish his Meridian Wheels.
DONG DONG DONG...
Suddenly, several melodious bell chimes echoed from the direction of the academy.
Luo Feng opened his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a knife. In an instant, he seemed like a dormant lion suddenly awakening. A formidable aura emanated from him, like a majestic mountain or a great river, giving off an air of unpredictability.
Today is the day of the martial arts sparring class...
Luo Feng recalled the promise he made to Lin Hui ten days ago. He stood up, exhaled, and strode down the mountain.
The martial arts sparring class, held once a month, allowed students to pair up for free sparring to gain practical combat experience.
As the early morning sun rose, many students of the Silver Moon class were already on the practice ground, gathered in small groups.
News of Luo Feng's challenge to Lin Hui had spread throughout the Silver Moon class, and everyone was excitedly discussing it.
A student in the early stage of the Cultivation Power Realm challenging one in the late stage was a rare occurrence.
"I wonder if Luo Feng will come today..." Everyone looked eagerly toward the entrance of the practice ground, their expressions filled with anticipation.
"Humph! He definitely won't come! Luo Feng just opened his third Meridian Wheel and is only in the early stage of the Cultivation Power Realm, whereas Lin Hui's strength long reached the late stage. The difference in their strength is too great. I bet Luo Feng is cowering in some forgotten corner, trembling in fear..." mocked a student on good terms with Lin Hui.
Just as he finished speaking, an exclamation suddenly sounded beside him.
"Luo Feng is here!"
WHOOSH!
Everyone turned their gaze towards the entrance of the practice ground and indeed saw Luo Feng striding over.
The student who had just claimed Luo Feng wouldn't appear looked gloomy. He gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath, "The overconfident fool, coming here to die!"
Everyone ignored his comment. Someone with sharp eyes observed Luo Feng for a moment and suddenly exclaimed.
"Am I seeing things? When did Luo Feng break through to the mid-stage of the Cultivation Power Realm?!"
"His cultivation speed is that fast? Could it be he was holding back before?"
Others also noticed the change in Luo Feng's cultivation. Many looked on with astonishment, sparking a flurry of discussion.
Luo Feng had only opened his third Meridian Wheel ten days ago. To break through to the mid-stage of the Cultivation Power Realm in such a short time—his cultivation speed was simply inconceivable!
Luo Feng paid no heed to the surrounding discussions. He walked directly to his usual spot, closed his eyes, and quietly waited for Lin Hui to arrive.
"Luo Feng."
Just as he closed his eyes, a soft, melodious voice suddenly sounded beside him.
Luo Feng opened his eyes and saw a slender figure standing before him. He raised an eyebrow, "Class President, is there something you need?"
The person standing next to Luo Feng was none other than Bing Ruolan.
At this moment, Bing Ruolan looked at Luo Feng, her exquisite eyebrows slightly furrowed, a troubled expression on her beautiful face.
"Huh, what does the Class President want with Luo Feng?" The nearby students were somewhat surprised to see Bing Ruolan initiate a conversation with Luo Feng.
Bing Ruolan, one of the top three beauties of the outer courtyard, was known as the 'Jade Legs Fairy' for her flawless, long legs. Moreover, at just fifteen, she had already unlocked four Meridian Wheels and reached the late stage of the Rigid-Soft Realm. Her prowess rivaled that of the geniuses in the Golden Sun Class, and she was extremely popular in the Silver Moon class.
Bing Ruolan usually focused solely on her cultivation, showing little interest in anything else, and rarely approached others. Because of this, she was privately nicknamed the 'Ice Beauty.'
No one had expected that Bing Ruolan, who was like a goddess, would actively approach someone—and a bottom-ranking student of the class, no less!
For a moment, many were filled with bewilderment.
Bing Ruolan stood beside Luo Feng and hesitated for a moment. Then, as if having made a decision, she took a shallow breath, her sapphire-like, intelligent eyes fixed on Luo Feng, and her voice gentle, she said, "Luo Feng, thank you for your guidance with my cultivation last time!"
After Luo Feng had left that day, Bing Ruolan had tried practicing the way he suggested. Initially, she was just experimenting, but she hadn't expected such a minor change to increase the power of her Tiger Roar Fist by nearly thirty percent! It also became much more fluid in execution.
In just two days, Bing Ruolan's Tiger Roar Fist had broken through to the third level! This would have been impossible if she had continued her previous training method.
WHOA!
As Bing Ruolan finished speaking, the surrounding students erupted.
All the students nearby stared at Luo Feng with disbelief.
"This can't be real, did I hear that right? The Class President actually said Luo Feng guided her cultivation! And she's thanking that brat!"
"How is this possible? How could that trash guide the Class President in cultivation? It's more like I should be guiding him!"
"But, looking at the Class President, she doesn't seem to be joking..."
A buzz of discussion rose from the crowd. Envy, jealousy, doubt... All sorts of gazes landed on Luo Feng.
Bing Ruolan thanking Luo Feng was truly astounding! It was like suddenly seeing a vastly wealthy man thanking a beggar in ragged clothes.
Luo Feng turned a deaf ear to the surrounding murmurs of disbelief and said calmly to Bing Ruolan, "It was a small effort. Besides, you helped me once before."
Luo Feng's words drew another round of gasps from the crowd.
What he said undoubtedly confirmed that what Bing Ruolan had stated was true!
Seeing Luo Feng's calm gaze, Bing Ruolan paused. She sensed an indescribable temperament about the current Luo Feng, a quality she had only ever felt from the true geniuses in the inner courtyard.
"Luo Feng, come with me for a moment." The whispers nearby jolted Bing Ruolan back to her senses. She glanced around and, ignoring the astonished stares of the other students, pulled Luo Feng to a deserted corner.
What does this girl want from me? Doesn't she realize the trouble this could cause? Feeling the cold, stabbing gazes around him, Luo Feng couldn't help but smirk. At the same time, he felt a little smug.
In the hearts of all the male students in the Silver Moon class, Bing Ruolan was a goddess. To be able to have such close contact with a goddess... I'm probably the only one, right?
Luo Feng savored the faint fragrance emanating from Bing Ruolan's hair and the warmth of her soft, delicate hand in his, his thoughts couldn't help but drift.
When Bing Ruolan led Luo Feng aside, she released his hand, looked at him, and asked, "Luo Feng, are you really confident you can defeat Lin Hui?"
Before Luo Feng could answer, Bing Ruolan quickly added, "We can explain the situation to Instructor Ji Wuyue. As long as you refuse the duel, Lin Hui can't do anything to you."
Luo Feng had pointed out the errors in her cultivation, and Bing Ruolan was grateful. She didn't want to see Luo Feng defeated by Lin Hui in front of everyone.
"If I did that, I would become a true villain, forever ridiculed by others! Let alone Lin Hui not being my match; even if my strength were inferior to his, I, Luo Feng, would never flee without a fight!" Luo Feng shook his head, his gaze resolute. He knew Bing Ruolan was concerned for him, but for him to admit defeat and live under someone else's thumb was absolutely impossible.
"You..."
Bing Ruolan was a little angry. Is this the time to be discussing that? She was about to say more when hearty laughter suddenly erupted nearby.
"Hahaha... Luo Feng, I thought you'd be too scared to show up! Looks like you do have some backbone after all." Lin Hui's tall figure appeared in the practice ground. He strode towards Luo Feng, his gait confident and imposing.
Following behind Lin Hui was Qin Feng, the one Luo Feng had beaten until he vomited blood in the dining hall a few days prior.
When Qin Feng saw Luo Feng, he recalled what happened in the dining hall. A hint of venomous hatred flashed in his eyes. He was about to utter some sarcastic remarks when his gaze shifted, and his expression changed drastically in horror as he exclaimed, "How is this possible! How did you advance to the middle stage of the Cultivation Power Realm so quickly?!"
"Nothing is impossible!"
Luo Feng walked to Bing Ruolan's side. His sharp gaze fell on Lin Hui as he stood with his hands behind his back and said coldly, "Lin Hui, ten days ago I said that today, in front of everyone, I would personally defeat you!"
Luo Feng stood there casually, yet he seemed like a coiled dragon or a crouching tiger, an invisible and powerful aura emanating from him. Being stared at by Luo Feng, Lin Hui instantly felt as if he were being targeted by a Demon Beast. He felt uneasy all over, and his palms gradually grew damp with cold sweat.
What's going on? It's only been a few days. How has this kid become so strange?!
Lin Hui was inwardly shocked. He swallowed hard, forcibly suppressing the trembling sensation in his heart. He glared at Luo Feng and growled in a deep voice, "Luo Feng, stop putting on airs in front of me! You're merely at the middle stage of the Cultivation Power Realm, yet you dare to be so arrogant! I can defeat you with a single finger!"
Lin Hui shot Qin Feng a look. Qin Feng nodded and stepped forward.
"Everyone!"
Qin Feng clapped his hands, a broad smile on his face, and announced to the surrounding students, "Today, I'll be the bookie, taking bets on who will win the duel between Luo Feng and Lin Hui! If Lin Hui wins, the payout is one to one point one!"
"Then what if Luo Feng wins?" a male student on good terms with Lin Hui asked loudly, his teasing tone clear to everyone.
Lin Hui laughed, glanced disdainfully at Luo Feng, and boomed, "Him, win against me? How about this: if Luo Feng wins against me, the payout will be one to ten!!"
Lin Hui's tone was filled with ridicule.
He simply didn't believe Luo Feng could defeat him.