"Brother Feng, well done!"
Li Yuan was the first one in the crowd to clap, his slightly chubby face flushed with excitement.
The other disciples from the Silver Moon class, roused from their stupor, all gazed fervently at Luo Feng.
During their earlier tests, many of them had been unable to move the bronze cauldron even ten meters and were consequently ridiculed by the Golden Sun class disciples.
Now, Luo Feng's punch had sent the bronze cauldron flying more than twenty meters. The astonishing display felt like a satisfying slap in the face to those condescending Golden Sun class disciples.
Luo Feng scanned the crowd. Those Golden Sun class disciples who had been jeering the loudest moments ago immediately felt a chill crawl up their spines and lowered their eyes, daring not to meet his gaze.
"HMPH!"
With a cold snort, Luo Feng returned to Bing Ruolan's side, preparing to leave the School square.
「In a corner of the square.」
"It's surprising that this year's Silver Moon class has produced a few outstanding disciples. Especially Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan; they show great promise. This year's Challenge King competition might hold some surprises."
The speaker was a serene young woman in a snowy robe, her demeanor quiet and elegant.
This was Qin Luoxue, the genius ranked second alongside Li Tianyang in the Golden Sun class.
"Heh. Bing Ruolan has broken through to the Fifth Layer of the Meridian Wheel; that's somewhat interesting. As for Luo Feng, with his mere late-stage Fourth Layer Rigid-Soft Realm cultivation, even if he's exceptionally talented and a bit stronger, it's nothing much."
A thick-browed young man standing beside Qin Luoxue spoke, his dismissive tone clearly indicating he didn't consider Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan worthy of his attention.
"I don't see it that way. I always feel there's more to Luo Feng than meets the eye. That kind of strength isn't something an ordinary Rigid-Soft Realm Martial Artist should possess. I heard he also had a conflict with Duanmu Yu. He must have some backing..."
Qin Luoxue's bright eyes glinted with contemplation.
"He had a conflict with Duanmu Yu?" The bushy-browed young man raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, that's what I heard. Duanmu Yu initially wanted to recruit Luo Feng, but was refused. The reason seems to involve Lin XiaoXiao from our class," Qin Luoxue said with a smile.
"Heh, this Luo Feng fellow is somewhat interesting."
"Li Heshan, do you still intend to compete with Duanmu Yu? He has now entered the inner courtyard, and his strength is improving by leaps and bounds. I heard he broke through to the Sixth Layer of the God Bravery Realm just a few days ago..." Qin Luoxue sighed softly.
The thick-browed young man was none other than Li Heshan, the current top prodigy of the Golden Sun class!
"HMPH! That Duanmu Yu only progressed so quickly because of his family background, practicing a top-quality Yellow-rank Martial Art, and having countless Elixirs to aid his cultivation! One day, I, Li Heshan, will surpass him!" Li Heshan declared, his face darkening, then turned and strode out of the square.
Qin Luoxue watched Li Heshan's receding figure, sighed helplessly, glanced back at Luo Feng once more, and then followed.
Just as Luo Feng was about to leave the square, a strange premonition suddenly arose in his heart. Turning his head, he saw the departing figures of Qin Luoxue and Li Heshan.
Mid-stage Iron Bone Realm, late-stage Iron Bone Realm! What powerful auras. Those two must be Qin Luoxue and Li Heshan from the Golden Sun class.
Luo Feng's gaze fell upon the young man beside Qin Luoxue, and his eyebrows rose. Both of them exuded a strangely oppressive feeling, especially Li Heshan, whose aura was like that of a rampaging giant python—not to be underestimated!
Luo Feng's emotions stirred briefly but quickly settled.
As long as he obtained the reward from this Challenge King competition, he was confident he could swiftly surpass Li Heshan and become the foremost disciple in the outer courtyard!
"Are you Luo Feng?"
A cold, questioning voice suddenly sounded beside him.
Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan turned to see a tall, imposing middle-aged man in purple silk robes standing nearby. His tiger-like eyes were fixed coldly on Luo Feng.
"I am. May I ask what you need?"
Luo Feng nodded. He recognized the man: Li Yuanhao, an instructor from the Golden Sun class, and also Li Tianyang's father!
This doesn't look good!
Li Yuanhao snorted coldly, then turned and shouted, "Chen Gang, Yang Wu, get over here!"
Two figures approached timidly. Luo Feng looked at them and his eyes narrowed.
It was the two Golden Sun class disciples he had thrashed soundly at the Drunk Fairy Building a few days ago!
Their faces were still slightly swollen, and their eyes held a trace of fear as they looked at Luo Feng.
"There's no need for you to be afraid. With me here, no one will dare to harm you!"
Li Yuanhao glared coldly at Luo Feng, then said to the two, "Tell me exactly what happened a few days ago."
"Yes! That day, Yang Wu and I went to the Drunk Fairy Building for a meal. This Luo Feng, without any provocation, ganged up with Li Yuan from the Silver Moon class and beat us up," Chen Gang said, mustering his courage.
Li Yuanhao snorted heavily, his icy gaze turning to Luo Feng. "Luo Feng, what do you have to say for yourself? You dared to disregard School rules, indiscriminately attacking fellow disciples! You are a disgrace to our Purple Sun School! Today, I shall punish you with three months of confinement in the meditation room, facing the wall! Do you have any objections?"
Three months of facing the wall!
Luo Feng's gaze turned cold. He questioned Li Yuanhao, "Are you going to convict me based solely on their one-sided testimony?"
When Li Yuanhao suddenly appeared, Luo Feng knew he was up to no good, but he hadn't expected the man to demand three months of confinement!
He had less than two months until his three-year enrollment period concluded. If he hadn't entered the inner courtyard by then, he would be forced to drop out of the School!
He would never accept such an outcome!
Li Yuanhao looked down his nose at Luo Feng and said arrogantly, "Of course! I know my disciples; they would never lie!"
"HAHAHA! A good one, 'they would never lie'!" Luo Feng threw his head back and laughed.
Li Yuanhao's brow furrowed. "What are you laughing at?"
Luo Feng stopped his laughter and looked coldly at Li Yuanhao. "I laugh because you're a disgrace as an instructor, yet you can't even distinguish right from wrong!" Since the other party clearly had no intention of letting him off, Luo Feng saw no point in trying to save face or endure the injustice meekly.
"You!"
Being berated by Luo Feng in front of so many people, Li Yuanhao's face flushed crimson with fury. He roared, "Well, Luo Feng! You dare disrespect your elders! An unruly brat like you would bring shame upon the School even after leaving! Today, I will cripple your cultivation and expel you from the School!"
"HMPH! If you want to accuse me, you'll never lack for a pretext! Don't think that just because you're an instructor, you can do as you please. Others may fear you, but I, Luo Feng, do not! You want to cripple my cultivation? I'm afraid you lack the ability!" Luo Feng spoke, neither servile nor overbearing. As he finished, he retreated several steps swiftly. With a SWISH, his Tiger Soul Saber was in his hand, his eyes glinting with fighting spirit.
Since his opponent intended to cripple his cultivation, he certainly wouldn't submit without a fight. Even if Li Yuanhao was a tiger, Luo Feng was determined to pull a few of his teeth today!
"Wretch! I cannot let you remain today!"
Li Yuanhao was enraged. His robes billowed as an invisible pressure emanated from him, bearing down on Luo Feng.
Seventh Meridian Wheel, Essence Storage Realm!
Luo Feng's heart tightened, his fighting spirit surging even stronger. He discreetly executed the Teng Dragon's Step.
"Stop!"
Just as the situation was about to explode, a low shout suddenly rang out. With a SWISH, a figure in fiery red blocked Luo Feng's path.
"Instructor!"
Luo Feng was slightly startled to see the figure standing before him. It was Ji Wuyue!
He glanced to the side and saw Bing Ruolan standing there, sticking out her pink tongue playfully. He immediately understood that Bing Ruolan had summoned Ji Wuyue.
Ji Wuyue fixed her beautiful eyes on Li Yuanhao and said coldly, "Li Yuanhao, aren't you overstepping your bounds? Luo Feng is my student. Even if he is to be punished, it's not your place to do it!"
Li Yuanhao glared angrily at Ji Wuyue, not having expected her arrival at this moment. His beard trembled. "Ji Wuyue, are you trying to shield this good-for-nothing? Not only does he show no regard for his fellow disciples, resorting to malicious attacks, but he also disrespects his elders! Such an unruly disciple must be made an example of!"
"Whether I am shielding him or not is not for you to decide!"
Ji Wuyue stood her ground and called out, "Li Yuan, Zhao Qin, come over here and tell everyone what happened that day!"
Li Yuan and Zhao Qin stepped out from the crowd.
Li Yuanhao shot them a cold glance, and Li Yuan visibly flinched. Nevertheless, he pointed at Yang Wu and Chen Gang and said loudly, "That day, Zhao Qin and I were eating at the Drunk Fairy Building when these two verbally insulted us without reason. Chen Gang even injured me. Luo Feng only acted to protect us!"
Zhao Qin's pretty face flushed, but she gathered her courage and said, "That's right, Luo Feng was forced to act! The attendant and the owner of the Drunk Fairy Building can both testify to this!"
Ji Wuyue turned to the ashen-faced Li Yuanhao. "Li Yuanhao, the truth of the matter is now clear. Besides, School regulations only prohibit disciples from fatally harming one another; they don't forbid fighting. Luo Feng merely taught them a lesson. It's their own lack of skill; how can they blame Luo Feng?"
Li Yuanhao was rendered speechless. He shot a glare at Chen Gang and Yang Wu, then turned back to Ji Wuyue, his voice even more sinister, "This matter can be dropped for now! However, Luo Feng just openly defied me and even intended to attack me. Such disrespectful behavior must be severely punished!"
"Luo Feng, is this true?" Ji Wuyue turned to look at Luo Feng.
Luo Feng was no fool. He quickly sheathed his Tiger Soul Saber and smiled at Li Yuanhao. "Instructor Li, you have quite the sense of humor. I am merely at the late-stage Fourth Layer Rigid-Soft Realm, while you are a peerless master of the Seventh Layer Essence Storage Realm. Even if you lent me ten times the courage, I wouldn't dare to make a move against you. Don't you all agree?"
Luo Feng looked at the surrounding crowd.
"Exactly! A Rigid-Soft Realm Martial Artist challenging an Essence Storage Realm expert? Anyone with half a brain knows that's impossible," Li Yuan declared loudly.
"Right, isn't that just asking for death?"
"Even an idiot knows that's impossible..."
"I'd bet five silver coins that no one in the world is that foolish!"
...
Once Li Yuan started, the other Silver Moon class disciples chimed in, all voicing their support for Luo Feng.
They were usually suppressed by the Golden Sun class, and some had even been punished by Li Yuanhao before, so they weren't about to miss such a golden opportunity to heckle.
Although the Golden Sun class disciples wanted to argue in Li Yuanhao's defense, Luo Feng's words were indeed reasonable, leaving them momentarily unsure how to respond. They could only let the Silver Moon class disciples continue their jeering.
Li Yuanhao trembled with rage and suddenly roared.
"Enough!"
His voice was like thunder, scattering some of the floating clouds above the School grounds. All sound instantly ceased.
Li Yuanhao glanced at Luo Feng, then glared angrily at Ji Wuyue. "Fine! Fine! Fine! Ji Wuyue, what fine students you've taught! Let's see how long you can protect them! In just over ten days, you'll be participating in the Golden Palace assessment, won't you? Looking at your cultivation, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed again this year. At that time, I wonder what face you'll have left to remain in the School!"
Ji Wuyue bit her lip, her face paling. She remained uncharacteristically silent.
"HMPH! The Challenge King competition is tomorrow. I'd like to see just what these good-for-nothings you've trained are capable of."
Li Yuanhao snorted coldly, then turned to the Golden Sun class disciples and shouted, "Alright, dismissed. Tomorrow, we'll show these good-for-nothings what true strength is!"