Luo Feng held Bing Ruolan's hands from behind.
At this moment, the world fell silent, and they could even feel each other's heartbeat. Bing Ruolan's cheeks flushed slightly as she glanced at Luo Feng, somewhat at a loss.
"Luo Feng..."
"Don't move."
Bing Ruolan had just spoken when Luo Feng's voice echoed from behind, so clear and pure that it left no room for any ill-feeling.
Bing Ruolan couldn't help but stop struggling, her cheeks blushing even deeper.
"The next part is crucial. Remember the feeling."
In Luo Feng's calm voice, he held Bing Ruolan's hands, took a slight breath, and began to demonstrate the Tiger Roar Fist.
"En..."
Bing Ruolan quickly responded with a blush and a nod, somewhat annoyed at her earlier wandering thoughts. She was glad that Luo Feng was behind her and couldn't see her reddened face at that moment.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Bing Ruolan immersed herself fully in the practice of the Tiger Roar Fist.
"Angry Tiger Coming Out of the Cave!"
"Evil Tiger Turns Back!"
"Fierce Tiger Scorching the Plains!"
Luo Feng led Bing Ruolan in flawlessly executing the first three moves of the Tiger Roar Fist.
After such a long period of joint practice, the two were perfectly in tune. Their execution of the forms was as synchronized as if they were one person.
Just as Bing Ruolan believed they would stop after the first three moves, her body suddenly felt lighter.
Luo Feng stomped his foot, and four transparent Qi Dragons ascended, their figures instantly rising.
This is... the fourth level of the Tiger Roar Fist!
Bing Ruolan paused for a moment before reacting, her eyes flickering with excitement.
WHOOSH!
As the Qi Dragons undulated, Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan rapidly ascended. At thirty meters off the ground, their aura suddenly changed. It was like an unsheathed sword, overwhelming and oppressive, making Bing Ruolan's heart involuntarily skip a beat.
"The most important aspect of the Tiger Roar Fist is its momentum. The tiger, king of beasts, can make stars fall and mountains tremble with a single roar. Nothing can impede its path."
"When you strike, there can be no hesitation. Imagine yourself as a sharp blade, forging ahead, invincible. Only then can you truly unleash the power of the Tiger Roar Fist!"
Luo Feng's words rolled in, each one making Bing Ruolan feel enlightened.
After explaining, the urge to erupt within Luo Feng was like a raging fire in his body, seeking an outlet. He couldn't help but let out a long roar.
"Watch closely! Fierce Tiger Descending into the Valley!"
WHOOSH!
Luo Feng, with Bing Ruolan, made a sharp turn and plummeted downwards.
Their speed increased, and they began to spiral violently, forming a cyclonic airflow in mid-air. From a distance, they looked like a meteor chasing the moon, their momentum unmatched.
BOOM!
Their figures slammed harshly into the ground, kicking up a wave of air several meters high. The entire courtyard instantly caved in, forming a deep pit, and the ground for several miles around trembled violently.
"What's going on? What happened?"
WHOOSH, WHOOSH...
Disciples from the nearby Silver Moon class hurriedly ran out of their courtyards, looking around in fear, obviously startled by the recent tremor.
"Someone must be practicing some powerful Martial Arts." With no clear discovery, someone guessed.
"Tsk, tsk, such a commotion! It must have been one of those geniuses from the Golden Sun class. I wonder what Martial Arts they were practicing to be so powerful..."
"It looks like this year's Challenge King competition will be exciting. I wonder how the top ten Challenge King spots will change. I hope our class leader can rank within the top ten this year..."
Various speculations arose about the cause of the alarming tremors.
In the courtyard, Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan gazed at the wreckage, too stunned to speak.
Centered on them, the ground had caved in, forming a crater ten meters wide!
"So this is the power of the fourth level of Tiger Roar Fist! No wonder it can rival upper-level Huang Class Martial Arts." Bing Ruolan took a deep breath in awe.
"Such power ranks among the very top of upper-level Huang Class Martial Arts." Luo Feng nodded in agreement.
Just as Bing Ruolan was about to agree, her gaze faltered slightly. An excited flush spread across her exquisite face as she looked up at Luo Feng. "Luo Feng, could you protect me while I cultivate?"
Luo Feng turned to look at her, his eyes flickering. "You're about to make a breakthrough?"
Bing Ruolan's Qi and blood roiled throughout her body, her Yuan Qi surging unstoppably; she was evidently at a crucial moment for a breakthrough.
Bing Ruolan nodded, her face flushed with excitement. "Your explanation earlier shattered the mental barriers I've had for so long. Tonight, I should be able to open the fifth Meridian Wheel! I'll step into the Five-Fold Iron Bone Realm!"
"Good, I'll stand guard for you." Luo Feng acknowledged cheerfully, nodding his head.
Seizing the opportunity, Bing Ruolan glanced gratefully at Luo Feng, immediately sat cross-legged, and focused all her effort on breaking through her realm.
Seeing Bing Ruolan enter a meditative state, Luo Feng exhaled lightly. He glanced at his skin, which had become as delicate as jade, and a hint of joy flickered in his eyes. Skin as smooth as jade, I've also advanced to the mid-stage of the Rigid-Soft Realm!
The moment he unleashed Fierce Tiger Descending into the Valley, the residual medicinal power of the Tiger Power Tyrant Body Pill within him was drawn out. It integrated into his flesh and blood, allowing him to successfully advance to the mid-stage of the Rigid-Soft Realm.
I originally thought that breaking through to the mid-stage of the Rigid-Soft Realm would require nearly ten more days. Unexpectedly, by helping this girl cultivate, I made a breakthrough ahead of schedule due to a fortunate coincidence. With this, likely no one below the Five-Fold Iron Bone Realm is my match!
A gleam flashed in Luo Feng's eyes, a hint of excitement in them.
Li Yunhao's strength was ranked in the top twenty of the Golden Sun class. Having defeated Li Yunhao, Luo Feng's strength could now be considered among the top twenty in the Outer School!
Luo Feng's gaze fell on Bing Ruolan.
This girl has now broken through to the Five-Fold Iron Bone Realm. If she successfully cultivates the Tiger Roar Fist, she should have a chance to enter the Inner Courtyard. I must also work hard.
Luo Feng withdrew his gaze, sat cross-legged, and continued to consolidate his realm.
「One night passed.」
Early in the morning, Luo Feng suddenly opened his eyes and looked over to Bing Ruolan at his side.
Currently, Bing Ruolan's entire body was emitting wisps of vapor, her school uniform completely soaked. A humming vibration emanated from within her body, and a sound like the ebb and flow of tides could be faintly heard.
She's about to break through!
A gleam flashed in Luo Feng's eyes. He began to observe Bing Ruolan carefully. Witnessing such a breakthrough would provide valuable experience, making his own future breakthroughs smoother.
About half an incense stick later, Bing Ruolan's body suddenly shook. It was as if a great bell or drum chimed from within her, the sound booming, profound, and lingering, like rolling thunder.
"Bone Bursting Thunder Sound! Congratulations, Class Leader, you have successfully stepped into the Five-Fold Iron Bone Realm!" Luo Feng said with a smile.
Bing Ruolan opened her eyes, her enchanting blue pupils exuding exhilarated delight.
She had finally broken through to the Five-Fold Iron Bone Realm! Moreover, her Tiger Roar Fist had reached the fourth level. With her strength drastically increased, she was now seventy percent confident of entering the Inner Courtyard!
Raising her head, Bing Ruolan looked at the young man's handsome face. She bit her red lip and, weeping with joy, said, "Luo Feng, thank you. Thank you, thank you so much..."
Luo Feng scratched his head in frustration. "Hey, why are you crying again?"
"I'm just too overjoyed! I thought it would take at least another three months to break through to the Five-Fold Iron Bone Realm. By then, I would have been expelled from the academy. I..."
Bing Ruolan stood up from the ground, laughing and wiping her tears. She looked at Luo Feng and asked emotionally, "Luo Feng, how can I ever thank you?"
Luo Feng shook his head and, looking at Bing Ruolan, smiled. "It's alright. I also benefited from helping you cultivate this time; I advanced to the mid-stage of the Rigid-Soft Realm."
Luo Feng glanced at Bing Ruolan and smiled.
Having just broken through, her hair was damp with sweat, making her look particularly endearing. To appreciate such a lovely sight first thing in the morning is quite an unexpected bonus, Luo Feng thought.
Bing Ruolan noticed Luo Feng's gaze and came to her senses. Thinking about her current disheveled state, she blushed, flustered and annoyed. "Turn around and don't look back! Otherwise... I won't speak to you anymore!"
"Alright, alright, I won't look back."
Though Luo Feng found it odd, he didn't question it and simply turned around.
A rustling sound came from behind him, and soon after, Bing Ruolan's voice rang out.
"Alright, I'm done."
When Luo Feng turned back, he found Bing Ruolan had already changed into a clean school uniform. With her short, pale blue hair, she stood there, slim and graceful.
"You managed that already?" Only three or four breaths had passed since he turned around.
"It's this."
Bing Ruolan's pretty face was still a bit flushed. She smiled sweetly, pulling up her sleeve to reveal a smooth, fair wrist, as flawless as a lotus root.
On Bing Ruolan's wrist was a blue bracelet, crystal clear and sparkling. It cast a radiant luster on Bing Ruolan's jade-like skin, making it appear even more translucent and snow-white.
Bing Ruolan brushed her finger across the jade bracelet, and suddenly a longsword appeared in her hand. Its sheath, engraved with auspicious clouds, was none other than the 'Feathers Cloud Sword' they had obtained from Li Yunhao.
"A storage Spiritual Artifact!" Luo Feng gasped, staring at Bing Ruolan in surprise. "Class Leader, who on earth are you?"
A storage Spiritual Artifact contains its own space for storing items, making it incredibly convenient to carry things. It's extremely useful for a Martial Artist.
However, storage Spiritual Artifacts are exceedingly precious. Purple Sun School is one of the four great schools in the Flowing Cloud Region, holding a transcendent status. In the entire school, only the Headmaster possesses a storage Spiritual Artifact.
Luo Feng was greatly shocked that Bing Ruolan actually possessed a storage Spiritual Artifact.
Bing Ruolan saw Luo Feng's confusion. She lowered her eyes, looking somewhat troubled. "Luo Feng, can I explain this to you later?"
Luo Feng nodded, refraining from asking any further.
Bing Ruolan had unreservedly taken out the storage Spiritual Artifact in front of him, which was already a demonstration of immense trust.
Her possession of such a Spiritual Artifact indicated her identity was certainly not simple. However, that had nothing to do with him.
Seeing that Luo Feng didn't press further, Bing Ruolan breathed a sigh of relief. Her gaze shifted, and she asked, "Luo Feng, you said you were going to Qingfeng Town? What for?"