Martial Arts Overlord

Zhao Hanshan!

A thought stirred in Luo Feng's mind.

Zhao Hanshan was the Headmaster of Wanluo School!

His gaze shifted to the person beside Zhao Hanshan. Luo Feng's brow twitched slightly, a cold glint flickering deep within his pupils.

The purple-robed youth beside Zhao Hanshan was none other than Wan Feng, whom he had encountered in Wind Howl City!

Wan Feng had also hired strongmen from the Jianghu to pursue and kill him and Bing Ruolan.

More than a dozen riders from Wanluo School galloped through the valley, their expressions arrogant and self-satisfied. They seemed to look down on everyone else and arrived before them in an instant.

Zhao Hanshan was exceptionally burly. Dressed in a purple exquisite brocade robe, he sat atop his horse like a small mountain. His tiger-like eyes were so imposing that wherever his gaze landed, the crowd there seemed to stop breathing. His aura was terrifying!

Zi Hongyuan looked at Zhao Hanshan, a cold smile on his face. "Zhao Hanshan, your voice is as loud as ever. People tens of miles away can hear you roar. Afraid people won't recognize you?"

Zhao Hanshan narrowed his tiger-like eyes, looking down at Zi Hongyuan. "Hahaha... Zi Hongyuan, I'm not like you, pretending to be confident when you have no real substance. Are these the students you brought to the New Talent Conference this time?"

Zhao Hanshan's gaze swept over Luo Feng and the others with contempt. He shook his head. "Truly, the sun is setting on Purple Sun School! To think they need such a motley crew just to make a showing. I reckon it won't be long before Purple Sun School loses its place among the Four Great Academies."

Behind Zhao Hanshan, the dozen or so Wanluo School students burst into raucous laughter.

Yang Hong, being hot-tempered, couldn't help but retort, "Who do you think you are? It's not your place to comment on our Purple Sun School!"

"Hmm?"

Zhao Hanshan's face turned cold. No one had ever dared speak to him like this before.

However, with so many people present, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to strike a junior. Moreover, his strength was comparable to Zi Hongyuan's, so he wouldn't gain any advantage by making a move.

Zhao Hanshan's gaze shifted. He pointed at Yang Hong and sneered at the purple-robed youth beside him, "Wan Feng, they seem unconvinced. Looks like they want to challenge you."

"Then I shall gladly oblige!"

A cold voice arose suddenly. The purple-robed youth beside Zhao Hanshan spurred his horse forward, transforming into a streak of purple light as he threw a punch at Yang Hong.

BOOM!

Before he even arrived, the air within a radius of several zhang vibrated violently, and the ground itself seemed to leap!

The purple-robed youth's fist, like a mountain peak, bore down on Yang Hong.

Yang Hong's expression changed drastically; the sheer momentum of the punch made him feel utterly powerless!

Gritting his teeth, Yang Hong pushed his Yuan Qi to its limits, preparing to meet the punch head-on.

Just then, a cold snort echoed.

"Get back!"

WHOOSH!

A figure flashed, intercepting Yang Hong and throwing a punch.

Fierce energy radiated outwards, tearing cracks into the surrounding ground. The air within a three-zhang radius of the two was compressed into a transparent barrier!

BOOM!

The barrier exploded instantly. The purple-robed youth flew backward, twisting in mid-air to land on his horse. The powerful impact caused the Dark Cloud Treasure Horse to let out a mournful whinny and spew blood; it was killed instantly by the sheer force!

"Look, the people from Purple Sun School and Wanluo School are fighting again!"

"Among the Four Great Academies, Purple Sun School and Wanluo School have the most grievances and entanglements. It would be strange if they didn't fight upon meeting."

"That's right. I heard that five years ago, a genius appeared in Purple Sun School who reached the eighth level of the Hell Realm at sixteen. He had a strong chance of becoming the top new talent of that year. But he was plotted against by Wanluo School and brutally killed!"

"Yes, I've heard about that too. Wanluo School didn't fare well either. A year later, ten of Wanluo School's inner court elite students went out on a mission and vanished without a trace; even their bodies couldn't be found. Many suspect they were secretly dealt with by people from Purple Sun School!"

"To think there are such hidden stories! No wonder the two academies are like fire and water."

"However, it seems the one who just attacked was 'Thunderbolt Spear' Wan Feng. Who is that saber-bearing youth? He actually blocked Wan Feng's punch?"

"That saber... He's Luo Feng, the new genius of Purple Sun School! I saw him at the Purple Sun School's ranking tournament. His Sky Slayer Saber Technique is peerless and incredibly formidable!"

"No matter how formidable, he's surely no match for Wan Feng. Wan Feng definitely didn't use his full strength just now. After all, this is Tianlan School; causing a fatality here would be difficult to explain."

"That's true."

The nearby crowd, witnessing the conflict, began to discuss it animatedly.

"Luo Feng! It's you!"

Wan Feng's horse had been killed by the force. He scrambled to his feet, his expression unsightly as his eyes, dark and cold, fixed on the saber-bearing youth before him.

"Wan Feng!"

Bing Ruolan recognized Wan Feng and was about to reveal Wan Feng's despicable actions in Wind Howl City that day, but Luo Feng stopped her with a gesture.

"Wan Feng, been a while, no hard feelings? I still have to thank you for what happened in Wind Howl City. You allowed me to earn several million silver taels for nothing," Luo Feng said with a slight smile, looking at Wan Feng.

Wan Feng's face turned extremely ugly.

That day, he had spent ten million silver taels to hire two experts at the peak of the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm from the Jianghu to hunt down and kill Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan.

He had thought it was foolproof, but to his surprise, they had escaped completely unscathed.

"Feng Er, are you alright?" Yang Qing approached and asked.

Luo Feng shook his head. "I'm fine."

"Luo Feng, thank goodness you intervened. Otherwise, I definitely wouldn't have escaped unscathed," Yang Hong said, wiping cold sweat from his forehead.

Luo Feng waved his hand. "It was nothing."

Just as the tension between the two sides was at its peak, several elders from Tianlan School hurried over.

"Everyone, your accommodations have been arranged. Please follow us."

This was Yunlan Peak. If both sides were to fight here and cause any damage, it would tarnish Tianlan School's reputation. They naturally wouldn't let such a scene unfold.

"Fine! I'll give Tianlan School face and won't bicker with you! Zi Hongyuan, we'll settle this at the New Talent Conference!"

Zhao Hanshan departed with a flick of his sleeve, his gaze carrying an irresistible majesty and dominance. As he turned, he gave Luo Feng a profound, meaningful look.

Wan Feng also followed. As he passed Luo Feng, he lowered his voice. "Luo Feng, today's matter won't end like this!"

"Of course, it won't end just like this."

Luo Feng watched Wan Feng's retreating figure with a cold smile.

"Despicable!"

"The people from Wanluo School are too arrogant!"

Someone nearby couldn't help but exclaim.

Zi Yuan, her face grim as she watched the Wanluo School contingent depart, walked over to Luo Feng. "Luo Feng, at the New Talent Conference, you must defeat those people from Wanluo School!"

This was the first time Zi Yuan had spoken voluntarily since the desecration incident that night. Luo Feng touched his nose and smiled. "Don't worry. Even if you hadn't said anything, I wouldn't spare them."

Meanwhile, Zi Hongyuan calmed himself and said, "Let's go in too."

「On Yunlan Peak.」

As everyone walked along the mountain path, it felt as if they were in a fairytale world.

"As expected of the premier peak in Flowing Cloud Region, this place is truly a veritable paradise on earth."

"The scenery of Purple Spirit Peak is already exceptional, but compared to this place, it's a tier below."

"Look, that tree with fiery red leaves is a Flame Red Pine! It's an incredibly rare tree; a single one is worth over a million silver taels!"

The group exclaimed in admiration as they followed the path up the mountain.

Looking at the surrounding scenery, Luo Feng had to admit that, in terms of environment alone, Purple Sun School was indeed inferior to Tianlan School.

After walking a stretch of mountain road and passing through the clouds, the view suddenly opened up. Before them stood a magnificent jade building. From a distance, it resembled a white jade immortal palace nestled on the mountaintop, wreathed in mist and clouds, like a fairyland.

In front of the jade building's main entrance stood a group of young men and women in jade-colored robes. Judging from their Yuan Qi fluctuations, all were experts at the sixth level of the God Bravery Realm or higher.

"This must be Tianlan School. To think it's built atop a mountain peak, truly remarkable."

Luo Feng gazed at the majestic building before him and murmured to himself.

Suddenly, a commotion rippled through the surroundings.

"Look! 'Heavenly Fragrance Maiden' He Qin is coming out!"

"Tianlan School's number one beauty!"

The surrounding clamor instantly turned into dead silence.

From the misty clouds, a graceful young woman with a sword at her waist emerged.

The young woman was slender and graceful, her features exquisite. Her vermilion lips were like flawless crystal. She moved like a secluded orchid in an empty valley, each gesture captivating the hearts of the male students. Her waterfall-like hair added a touch of ethereal, misty grace.

He Qin, around fifteen or sixteen years old, carried herself with elegance. Her composed yet cool demeanor held a unique charm.

"As expected of Tianlan School's number one beauty! Even if I don't achieve a good rank this time, this trip hasn't been in vain!"

"If I could win her favor, I'd die willingly."

"Stop dreaming! Don't forget, He Qin is Tianlan School's foremost genius, and the only student among the Four Great Academies to have reached the eighth level of the Hell Realm! Anyone she'd take an interest in would surely be an extraordinary individual!"

Many male students, watching He Qin's graceful approach, were momentarily lost in a daze.

Some, with calmer minds, knew the disparity between themselves and her and dared not indulge in such fantasies.

She is indeed very beautiful.

Luo Feng glanced at He Qin once before withdrawing his gaze.

Bing Ruolan, who had been tense beside him, visibly relaxed upon seeing this, a faint smile gracing her full, rosy lips.

He Qin had been observing the crowd. When her gaze fell upon Luo Feng, a flicker of surprise showed in her beautiful eyes before vanishing. She stepped forward and said, "Welcome, everyone, to Tianlan School for this year's New Talent Conference. The conference will officially begin tomorrow. Today, please rest within the academy grounds."

He Qin's voice was like the clear, melodious tinkling of a mountain stream, making listeners feel as if caressed by a spring breeze.

After some explanations, He Qin led everyone into the academy.

Luo Feng and the others followed He Qin and were shown to their respective lodgings.

The eleven members of Purple Sun School were assigned to a small courtyard named Residence in the Clouds.

The courtyard had fifteen rooms in total, more than enough for one each with some to spare.

Luo Feng was given a room on the west side of Residence in the Clouds.

The room's furnishings were simple yet tasteful, and it was immaculate. Outside, there was a verdant plant nursery. A faint, clean fragrance permeated the air, refreshing the spirit.

After a brief survey, Luo Feng went out.

As he passed Bing Ruolan's room, he heard sharp whooshing sounds of air being rent from within; someone was practicing their sword techniques.

This girl doesn't waste a moment.

Luo Feng smiled. Bing Ruolan had always trained more diligently than others, seizing every available moment to cultivate.

Without disturbing her, Luo Feng walked away.

Not far from Residence in the Clouds was a cliff. Clouds billowed around it, the Spiritual Energy was palpably dense, and the scenery was picturesque.

Residence in the Clouds... residing amidst the clouds. Tianlan School's environment truly is uniquely blessed.

Luo Feng stood at the cliff's edge, took a deep breath, and couldn't help but marvel. The ambient Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi here felt significantly richer and purer than on Purple Spirit Peak.

"Luo Feng! We meet again."

While he was appreciating the scenery, a voice suddenly sounded at his side.