Ling Xiaotian's announcement of Luo Feng's victory resonated like a heavy hammer, jolting everyone to their senses.
"This guy is simply terrifying! With just a mid-stage fourth-level Rigid-Soft Realm cultivation, his power surpasses Li Tianyang of the fifth-level Iron Bone Realm—and by more than double! He's an absolute monster!"
"Indeed. Li Tianyang is also a renowned genius from the Purple Sun School. I never expected him to lose. Who on earth is this Luo Feng?"
"I just asked around. This Luo Feng is a student of the Silver Moon class in the outer court of the Purple Sun School!"
"A Silver Moon class student!" The surrounding Martial Artists looked at Luo Feng, their expressions immediately turning strange.
They all knew that the Silver Moon class consisted of students with only average talent. Yet, Luo Feng had defeated Li Tianyang, a genius! This stark contrast left many momentarily speechless.
"Regardless, Luo Feng has certainly made a name for himself today!" someone exclaimed with emotion.
Li Tianyang clenched his fists, his gloomy gaze shifting from the Tiger Soul Saber to Luo Feng, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
He even considered directly attacking Luo Feng to teach him a lesson and snatch back the Tiger Soul Saber. However, a lingering shred of rationality told him that doing so would undoubtedly earn him the reputation of a sore loser.
Besides, Ling Xiaotian was present and wouldn't allow him to act so presumptuously.
Hmph, the Challenge King Tournament is in just over ten days. I'll make him pay back everything with interest then!
Li Tianyang took a deep breath and shot Luo Feng a vicious glare. "Luo Feng, don't get complacent. Power doesn't represent true strength! I'll see you at the Challenge King Tournament in half a month!"
After speaking, Li Tianyang, his face dark, flicked his sleeve, stepped off the ring, and strode away.
Luo Feng watched Li Tianyang's retreating figure, a solemn expression appearing in his eyes.
Li Tianyang's cultivation had reached the mid-stage of the fifth-level Iron Bone Realm. Coupled with his Small Success with the Iron Mountain Wall, his body was like copper and iron. If they were to fight, Luo Feng estimated his chances of winning would not exceed thirty percent.
Since his opponent had issued such a threat, he would definitely make a move against him during the Challenge King Tournament.
There are still thirteen days. As long as I can advance to the late stage of the Rigid-Soft Realm and use this Tiger Soul Saber, my chances of winning against him will be fifty-fifty!
Luo Feng wasn't overly worried. He was confident that in the remaining dozen or so days, he could elevate his cultivation to the late stage of the Rigid-Soft Realm. If he could cultivate the Tiger Roar Fist to the Great Achievement Realm, a direct confrontation with Li Tianyang wouldn't be impossible.
After thanking Ling Xiaotian, Luo Feng strapped the Tiger Soul Saber to his back and leaped off the stage.
"Luo Feng, congratulations." Bing Ruolan, a graceful figure, walked over. With her hands behind her back, she gazed at Luo Feng with her beautiful, smiling eyes, her grin as radiant as a blooming flower.
Luo Feng offered a faint smile and, noticing the crowd, suggested they leave first.
After taking a few steps, Bing Ruolan stopped. Her beautiful, ocean-blue eyes filled with puzzlement as she looked at Luo Feng. "Luo Feng, this isn't the way back to the school. Are you going the wrong way?"
Luo Feng turned back, smiled at Bing Ruolan, and said, "Who said I was going back to the school?"
"Then where are you going?"
"The Drunk Fairy Building. I recall promising to treat you to a meal. I don't want to break my word." Luo Feng pointed to a lavishly decorated restaurant in the distance.
Bing Ruolan remembered saying this to Lin XiaoXiao before and pursed her lips into a smile. "You really want to treat me? Let me warn you first, I eat a lot."
Luo Feng patted the money pouch at his waist, declaring heroically, "You can eat until you can't move!"
Bing Ruolan's shapely brows arched, and she feigned anger, clenching her delicate fist, "I'm not a pig!"
"You said it, not me."
"Luo Feng! You're dead meat!"
「...」
Despite her protests, Bing Ruolan only ordered a few side dishes at the Drunk Fairy Building.
After their meal, Luo Feng exchanged all his remaining money for Condensation Yuan Pills.
Although Condensation Yuan Pills were now of little help in significantly advancing his cultivation, they could replenish his Yuan Qi, keeping him in peak condition and allowing him to focus on his training.
Upon returning to the school, Luo Feng bid farewell to Bing Ruolan and headed straight for the Combat Training Hall, intending to select a Saber Technique to cultivate.
"Wild Wind Saber Technique, Green Snake Saber Technique, Vertical and Horizontal Saber Technique, Reheavy Saber Technique..."
There weren't many basic Saber Techniques in the Combat Training Hall. Luo Feng quickly scanned through them.
The Wild Wind Saber Technique pursued speed, its slashes like a fierce wind. The Green Snake Saber Technique demanded high Qinggong skill and physical flexibility; its every move was light, graceful, and ornate, suitable for women to practice. The Vertical and Horizontal Saber Technique was fierce and tyrannical. Simple to learn, its power was limited, making it suitable for disciples with lower comprehension to cultivate. The Reheavy Saber Technique, however, was the best among the numerous basic Saber Techniques. It pursued overwhelming finesse with power, and its might was considerable, but it required high comprehension.
Ultimately, Luo Feng chose the Reheavy Saber Technique. After all, his comprehension was extraordinary, so naturally, he chose the best.
Taking the Secret Manual, Luo Feng went to the registration area.
The same middle-aged instructor as last time was handling registrations. Recognizing Luo Feng at a glance, he smiled. "Well? You didn't manage to learn the Teng Dragon's Step, did you? It's not too late to choose another Light Martial Art."
Luo Feng smiled faintly and handed over the Reheavy Saber Technique. "No need. I'm here to borrow this Reheavy Saber Technique."
"Reheavy Saber Technique, not bad! Although its moves are simple, its intent realm is profound, and its power is considerable. Cultivated to Great Accomplishment, its might can be comparable to a lower-grade Yellow-level Martial Art." The middle-aged instructor nodded and had Luo Feng register.
Luo Feng began to fill out the registration information.
Seeing that Luo Feng hadn't brought out the Teng Dragon's Step, the middle-aged instructor frowned. "The Challenge King Tournament is in about ten days. Light Martial Arts are crucial in the tournament. Aren't you going to switch to another Light Martial Art and give it another shot?"
Luo Feng finished registering, looked up, and smiled. "I think the Teng Dragon's Step should be sufficient for the Challenge King Tournament."
The middle-aged instructor nodded subconsciously, then, startled, his eyes widened. "Are you saying you've mastered the Teng Dragon's Step!"
"More or less."
Unwilling to elaborate, Luo Feng picked up the Secret Manual and left the Combat Training Hall.
Watching Luo Feng depart, the middle-aged instructor still looked incredulous.
He knew how difficult the Teng Dragon's Step was to cultivate. The Dean of the Purple Sun School himself had once admitted that he couldn't fully fathom the Teng Dragon's Step. Three years ago, Lu Xiao Yun, the Purple Sun School's supreme genius, had only managed to grasp a sliver of the Teng Dragon's Step's threshold.
How could a Martial Art that even the Dean and a genius like Lu Xiao Yun couldn't fathom be successfully cultivated by a mere disciple of the Silver Moon class?
This Luo Feng is too presumptuous. The middle-aged instructor shook his head and sighed, clearly not believing Luo Feng's words.
「...」
Upon exiting the Combat Training Hall, Luo Feng didn't return to his small courtyard. Instead, with the Tiger Soul Saber on his back, he left the school directly and headed towards Purple Spirit Peak.
Arriving at the cliff where he had previously trained, facing the vast sea of clouds, Luo Feng took down the Tiger Soul Saber, regulated his breathing, and began to practice.
He didn't immediately start practicing the Reheavy Saber Technique but began with the most fundamental basics.
Sweep, cleave, parry, pare, skim, flick, slash, and thrust. These were the eight fundamental movements in Saber Techniques, known as the Eight Methods of the Saber, and formed the basis of all Saber Techniques.
Luo Feng deeply understood the importance of fundamentals. Wielding the Tiger Soul Saber, he began the tedious and monotonous training.
Sunrises and sunsets marked the passage of two days.
For two days, Luo Feng had been constantly practicing the Eight Methods of the Saber. Supplemented by Condensation Yuan Pills, he trained without interruption. Now, he had skillfully mastered the Eight Methods of the Saber, and every time he struck, his blade could carve out the most ideal trajectory.
Although he had successfully mastered the Eight Methods of the Saber, Luo Feng wasn't overly excited.
The Tiger Soul Saber was heavier than he had imagined. Although powerful, his movements were unavoidably sluggish, creating a sense of discontinuity.
I must resolve this. Luo Feng stood at the cliff's edge, gazing at the boundless sea of clouds, lost in thought.
A moment later, his eyes lit up. He strapped the Tiger Soul Saber to his back and sprinted down the mountain.
After running, drenched in sweat, for over twenty miles along the mountain peak, the sound of rushing water suddenly reached his ears. A wide, great river appeared before Luo Feng.
Seeing the turbulent river water, excitement showed on Luo Feng's face. He leaped directly into the river and began practicing Saber Techniques in the water.
Practicing Saber Techniques in the river was ten to a hundred times more difficult than on land. The rushing currents pressed in from all directions, making it difficult to execute moves. Luo Feng felt the Tiger Soul Saber was at least twice as heavy in the water as it was on land!
WHOOSH!
A casual slash felt like a clay ox entering the sea, disappearing without a trace. The blade only managed to draw a shallow white mark on the water's surface, its force merely twenty percent of his usual strength!
Just as I thought, practicing the saber in water is much harder, but this is exactly what I want. If I can wield my saber freely in this rapid current, my Saber Technique mastery will definitely reach a new level!
A resolute look in his eyes, Luo Feng gripped the saber hilt with both hands and began practicing in the river.
The river water was turbulent, its fierce currents swirling around Luo Feng like water serpents, tugging at the Tiger Soul Saber in his hands. Luo Feng's striking speed slowed severalfold.
His concentration was unprecedented. Luo Feng carefully sensed the power contained within the flowing water, striking and retracting his saber, causing the river water to churn violently.
As time passed, Luo Feng gradually sensed a wondrous balance within the water flow, and the speed of his slashes grew faster and faster.
After practicing like this for a day, the power of his Saber Technique in the water had recovered to seventy percent of his usual strength. He then began to practice the Reheavy Saber Technique.
The Reheavy Saber Technique had only three moves, corresponding to the three levels of the Saber Technique: 'Shocking Mountain,' 'Reverse Flow,' and 'Break Mountain River.'
All three saber moves were exceptionally fierce, exuding an aura of fighting to the death, of burning one's bridges. It was enough to make one's heart turn cold, as if these moves could cleave through anything!
Practicing according to the Secret Manual, in half a day, Luo Feng gradually grasped the Reheavy Saber Technique's domineering intent realm, one where each slash was a matter of life and death.
This Saber Technique was just as the middle-aged instructor had described; it was no simple basic Martial Art. Its intent realm was profound. Luo Feng was confident that if he cultivated the Reheavy Saber Technique to Great Accomplishment, then with the Tiger Soul Saber, no one of the same level could even take one of his slashes!
Another three days passed. In the river, Luo Feng stood with his saber, exuding an imposing aura. The endlessly churning river, like a monstrous python, seemed insignificant before him.
Shocking Mountain!
Luo Feng's gaze suddenly sharpened. His figure leaped up abruptly, like a fierce tiger pouncing from high above!
A flash of saber light, and tumultuous waves surged several meters high. A massive white wake appeared before Luo Feng, an impressive sight.
Reverse Flow!
Luo Feng roared inwardly. His body spun half a circle in the water, the saber's edge cutting against the current.
CRASH! The surging waves were instantly cleaved, flowing backward.
"Break Mountain River!" Luo Feng's eyebrows rose, his clear voice carrying a surging killing intent that rippled the river's surface. The five-foot-long saber descended with unstoppable momentum.
HISSH! The blade instantly sliced through the water, parting the current within a five-meter vicinity into two, even revealing the silt at the riverbed.
Luo Feng exhaled, looking at the now turbid river before him, a pleased expression in his eyes.
In three days, he had cultivated the Reheavy Saber Technique to the Small Success Realm. His saber movements were no longer hindered, flowing like moving clouds and flowing water.
Not only that, but Luo Feng's cultivation was also on the verge of a breakthrough, just a step away from the late stage of the fourth-level Rigid-Soft Realm. However, his nearly fifty Condensation Yuan Pills were now completely depleted.
There's only a week left until the Challenge King Tournament. My training has hit a bottleneck. I should go to the Red Chain Mountain Range to hone my practical combat skills and, while I'm at it, hunt some Demon Beasts to earn some Silver.
Luo Feng made his decision, strapped the Tiger Soul Saber to his back, tidied his clothes, and headed towards the Red Chain Mountain Range.