Martial Arts Overlord

The entire martial arts arena was boiling with excitement.

All eyes were drawn to the two figures on the stage.

'Thunderbolt Spear' Wan Feng was one of the top four new talents from the previous four major academies. He had a clear-cut and decisive style. His spear technique was ferocious and ruthless. Once he made a move, he was like a hungry wolf or a fierce tiger—extremely savage. Last year, he had only lost to Ji Wufa by half a move, ranking third among the new talents.

'Twin Sword Guest' Yang Hong, despite being older than the other students, had a modest reputation in the Jianghu. His accumulated combat experience could not be underestimated.

The two stood face to face on the platform, their auras clashing, neither willing to yield.

"Senior Brother Yang Hong is actually challenging Wan Feng!"

Bing Ruolan watched the two figures on the platform, her beautiful eyes showing some surprise.

Luo Feng shook his head and sighed. "He has no choice. He already drew Wan Feng once earlier. If he forfeits again, he'll definitely lose his qualification for the ranking tournament."

Bing Ruolan stuck out her delicate tongue. "Senior Brother Yang Hong is really unlucky. I hope he can win."

In the first group, two individuals had so far maintained a record of eight consecutive victories.

If Yang Hong forfeited twice, he would very likely lose his qualification for the ranking tournament.

Hearing Bing Ruolan's words, Luo Feng shook his head slightly. He didn't think Yang Hong had a chance of winning.

On the platform, Wan Feng stood holding his silver spear, his back straight, his aura soaring to the heavens.

"Yang Hong, I advise you to admit defeat. Once we start, I won't show mercy," Wan Feng said, licking his lips.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Yang Hong swung his twin swords, his gaze calm. "Wan Feng, no need to pretend you're a good guy. I'm well aware of what you've done to the students of our Purple Sun School. Enough talk. Let's settle this with our skills!"

Hearing this, Wan Feng's smile faded, and his eyes gradually grew colder.

"You brought this on yourself!"

With a cold shout, Wan Feng thrust his long silver spear toward Yang Hong. The spear shaft trembled slightly, tearing through the air. Its passage sounded like a ghost's wail and a wolf's howl, causing some nearby participating students to turn pale with fear.

Yang Hong held his twin swords. Facing Wan Feng's ferocious aura, his body sank, his feet seeming to connect with the earth, stabilizing his stance.

"Double Jiao Overturning the Sea!"

His twin swords erupted with a three-foot sword glow, and Yang Hong's aura changed dramatically. A vast, surging intent merged into his sword technique, making his two massive swords resemble Jiao Dragons churning the sea as they slashed towards the long silver spear.

CLANG!

The spear and swords collided, sending sparks flying. Wan Feng's spear force was struck repeatedly from left and right by the twin swords, its momentum slowing slightly.

The light in Yang Hong's eyes flashed brightly. Seizing the opportunity, he spun around the silver spear and suddenly launched a second wave of attacks.

"Wild Wind Slash!"

The twin swords, carrying a shrieking, malevolent wind, slashed towards Wan Feng's shoulders with astounding momentum.

"Hmph! Child's play!"

Wan Feng's face turned cold. He released the long silver spear with his right hand and flicked the tail of the spear with his left.

BUZZ!

The long silver spear hummed and sprang up, striking against the momentum at Yang Hong's twin swords. The immense impact flung Yang Hong's twin swords away.

Wan Feng seized the opportunity, grabbed the spear shaft, and executed Divine Dragon Wagging its Tail. The silver spear swept out with an astonishing aura, blanketing Yang Hong. The sound of the heavy wind whined ceaselessly.

"Yang Hong is in danger!"

"Wan Feng truly lives up to his name as one of the Four Great New Talents. His spear technique is unpredictable."

"Indeed. Compared to Wan Feng, Yang Hong is ultimately a step behind. I'm afraid he's about to lose."

Seeing Yang Hong enveloped by Wan Feng's spear momentum, the crowd shook their heads, believing the outcome was decided.

Luo Feng, however, had a different view. Yang Hong is highly experienced, he thought. The moment his offensive was broken, he was already gathering power to retreat. Dodging this blow won't be an issue.

Sure enough. Yang Hong stamped his foot, and his entire body shot back several meters, narrowly evading Wan Feng's silver spear as it brushed past him.

"Reverse Water Mad Jiao!"

Having dodged Wan Feng's attack, Yang Hong's face flushed red as he let out a great roar. The shout was like thunder, causing the surrounding air to ripple like water.

Yang Hong gripped his twin swords tightly. In an instant, his aura transformed from steady to ferocious, as if he had changed from a docile rabbit into a savage, hungry wolf.

WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH...

Silver light flashed as the twin swords transformed into a ring of silver sword light, stirring up a fierce gale. Accompanied by a vast and powerful aura, it swept towards Wan Feng.

Damn it! Unable to defeat Yang Hong in a single blow, Wan Feng grew frustrated and angry. Lightning seemed to flicker in his eyes as his aura surged higher, his clothes whipping about in the wind.

CRACKLE! POP!

Suddenly, the sound of thunder echoed across the entire platform. Around the long silver spear in Wan Feng's hand, streaks of electrical serpents appeared, a hair-raising sight even from a distance.

"Shocking Thunder Phantom!"

The long silver spear suddenly attacked Yang Hong from the left at an impossibly bizarre angle. The spear image split into two, then four... In the blink of an eye, it multiplied into sixteen spear phantoms wreathed in lightning, completely enveloping Yang Hong.

BOOM!

Amidst the colossal sound, the entire platform was thrown into turmoil with swirling winds, too dazzling for the naked eye to look at directly.

In the next instant, a figure was sent flying from the platform, coughing up a large mouthful of blood in mid-air.

It was Yang Hong!

Now, his clothes were tattered, and large patches of his exposed skin were charred black. He looked utterly wretched, and his twin swords were gone.

"HISS... What terrifying power!"

"Simply irresistible! Yang Hong is, after all, the second-ranked expert on Purple Sun School's Hidden Dragon List, yet he was defeated so miserably! Wan Feng is too strong!"

"The strength of the Four Great New Talents is truly unimaginable! Ji Wufa was like this, and Wan Feng is also terrifyingly strong. It seems no one can shake the position of the Four Great New Talents this year."

"Still, Wan Feng was too ruthless. Yang Hong will probably be bedridden for a month or two to recover."

"Wan Feng has always disliked the Purple Sun School students. I heard that yesterday, at the foot of Yunlan Peak, Wan Feng was publicly humiliated because of a Purple Sun School student. He was probably taking revenge just now."

"A Purple Sun School student? Could it be Zi Yuan?"

"Not Zi Yuan. It seems to be Luo Feng, the one who defeated Xiao Yu."

Although Yang Hong's defeat was expected, it still sparked a wave of discussion among the spectators.

Many felt that Wan Feng had gone too far.

Yang Hong was carried away for treatment. Wan Feng stood on the platform, silver spear in hand. He looked down imperiously at Luo Feng, a cold sneer touching his lips, then casually leaped off the high platform.

Luo Feng's brow furrowed slightly. Wan Feng's gaze just now was perfectly clear, he thought. He's provoking me!

"Such a domineering spear technique! It even contains thunderous power!" In the VIP seats, Huo Tianqing, the Dean of Floating Snow School, watched Wan Feng, his gaze sharp as lightning, a hint of surprise on his face.

Nearby, Zhao Hanshan, the Dean of Wanluo School, smiled and said, "Two months ago, Wan Feng had a fortuitous encounter and accidentally obtained a Profound Level Lower Grade spear technique, the 'Shocking Thunder Spear Technique.' This technique contains thunderous power, can erode Gang Qi, and its might is comparable to a Profound Level Middle Grade Martial Art!"

"A spear technique that can erode Gang Qi! I never thought he'd have such an opportunity," Zhou Zhiyun remarked, her beautiful eyes showing slight surprise.

The True Martial Continent was vast and boundless, existing for millennia, leaving behind countless mysteries, ancient texts, and abundant opportunities. It was not uncommon for a Martial Artist to stumble upon treasures or secret manuals from ancient ruins, causing their cultivation to soar overnight—a true case of a carp leaping over the dragon gate.

The competition continued.

A short while later, the ninth round of the competition ended.

The tenth round was the final round. Bing Ruolan faced a Tianlan School student at the peak of the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm. Wielding two powerful High-Grade Yellow Rank Martial Arts, the 'Star-piercing Swordsmanship' and the 'Phantom Phoenix Sky Cloud Dance,' Bing Ruolan eventually won after a tense but ultimately safe encounter.

The fourth match was Luo Feng's. His opponent was a Floating Snow School student named Hu Lie, also at the peak of the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm.

Seeing his opponent was Luo Feng, Hu Lie's expression changed subtly, but he still calmly ascended the high platform.

The tenth round of matches determined group rankings and qualification for the ranking tournament, so no one took it lightly.

Once on the platform, Hu Lie immediately drew his sword. He advanced using his swordsmanship, his sword light sealing the space around Luo Feng, clearly wary of Luo Feng getting too close.

Luo Feng shook his head with a wry smile, standing his ground.

When the distance between them closed to five paces, Hu Lie's attack suddenly intensified. His sword light converged into a single, piercing thrust—like a lone swan darting towards the sun—aimed at Luo Feng.

Shifting his body slightly, Luo Feng skillfully dodged the sword light. With a tap of his foot, he slid to Hu Lie's side.

AH!

Hu Lie hadn't expected Luo Feng to be so fast. Startled, he stumbled back more than ten paces, lost his footing, and actually tumbled off the high platform.

THUD!

The platform was nearly ten meters high. Hu Lie crashed down, thoroughly dazed. It took him a while to struggle back to his feet.

Laughter rippled through the entire martial arts arena.

Realizing he'd been so startled by his opponent that he'd fallen off the platform, Hu Lie flushed crimson. Too ashamed to remain, he turned and left the square.

Luo Feng shook his head and walked off the high platform.

"Luo Feng actually has ten consecutive wins! In Group Three, only he and Zi Yuan have achieved that, right?"

"Yes, that's right. I heard he fought Zi Yuan to a draw in the Challenge Tournament. It seems the rumors were true."

"Tsk, tsk... Ten consecutive victories. Truly not simple."

After a few more matches, the tenth round of competition concluded.

The elder in charge of the competition announced the group stage win records.

"In Group Three, Luo Feng and Zi Yuan both have ten wins, tying for first place. Wu Haiming has nine wins, ranking second. Xin Fei has eight wins, ranking third."

The top four from each group in the qualifiers, based on wins, are eligible for the ranking tournament. Since Luo Feng and Zi Yuan tied for first, Group Three only advanced qualifiers down to the third-ranked position.

Soon, the lists of students from other groups who qualified for the ranking tournament were also announced.

Bing Ruolan, with nine victories, smoothly advanced to the ranking tournament.

Yang Hong had eight victories, barely securing a top-four spot. Unfortunately, he was seriously injured in his duel with Wan Feng and couldn't participate in the ranking tournament, so he had to withdraw.

Hu Yitian and Xu Mei, both with eight wins, also advanced to the ranking tournament, though not without some close calls.

The qualifiers concluded by noon. Zhou Zhiyun announced a break; the ranking tournament would resume in the afternoon.

Having watched matches all morning, many people were hungry and headed towards the Tianlan School canteen.

"I can't believe that in just one year, the strength of the Four Great New Talents has improved so much!"

"Indeed, Ji Wufa's Sword Intent and Wan Feng's spear technique are both astounding."

"It's a pity that everyone drawn against He Qin forfeited automatically. I really want to see the true extent of that favored daughter of heaven's abilities."

"Besides the Four Great New Talents, several dark horses have emerged this year: Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan from Purple Sun School, Hu Yidao from Floating Snow School, and 'Sky Heart Swordsman' Gu Yunfei from Tianlan School."

"Yes. Gu Yunfei's swordsmanship is so strong; I've never been able to see clearly how he defeats his opponents."

"Hu Yidao is incredible too. His Blizzard Saber Technique is blinding."

"Do you think Luo Feng is strong enough to challenge Wan Feng and the others? He defeated Xiao Yu with a single punch, seemingly with power to spare. And rumor has it he fought Zi Yuan to a draw..."

"Impossible. Zi Yuan is quite a bit weaker than Wan Feng and the others. You just saw the strength of Ji Wufa and Wan Feng."

"That's true... I can't wait for the ranking tournament! The Four Great New Talents will definitely clash then. That will be a true clash of titans!"