Martial Arts Overlord

The refectory of Tianlan School.

Nearly ten students from Purple Sun School were all seated around a single table.

Tianlan School boasted an excellent environment, and its refectory offered a lavish spread of dishes, vibrant in color and aroma. However, none of them were paying attention to the food.

A series of footsteps echoed as Nan Xiao, a student from the Hidden Dragon List, strode over, his face grim.

"Nan Xiao, how is Senior Brother Yang Hong's injury?" Zhou Tong, who was closest to Nan Xiao, hastily asked.

Nan Xiao sat down heavily, his face somber. "His injuries are severe, and he's still unconscious. The Dean said it will take at least two months of recuperation for him to recover!"

SLAP!

Zhou Tong slammed his palm heavily on the tabletop, veins pulsing on his forehead. "That Wan Feng scoundrel! He deliberately struck Senior Brother Yang Hong so heavily!"

"Exactly! This is a clear provocation to our Purple Sun School!"

"Those bastards from Wanluo School! This matter cannot be simply forgotten!"

Several male students flushed red with rage, their hateful gazes fixed on a corner of the refectory where the Wanluo School students were seated.

As if sensing their stares, several Wanluo School students turned, offering cold, provocative smiles.

A Wanluo School student with small eyes deliberately raised his voice, "Huh, looks like we've got some stray dogs here."

"No wonder I've been smelling something foul," several Wanluo School students jeered and burst into laughter.

"What did you say?!"

The fiery-tempered Zhou Tong, his eyes bloodshot, slammed the table and shot to his feet.

All the Purple Sun School students rose as well.

The entire refectory fell suddenly silent; the tension was palpable. The other factions present watched with the detached interest of spectators at a play.

The small-eyed martial artist flinched slightly under Zhou Tong's glare, but the thought of Wan Feng nearby emboldened him. He narrowed his small eyes, a fearless sneer playing on his lips as he taunted, "My mouth is my own. What I say is none of your damn business. You Purple Sun School people sure meddle a lot!"

"Then I'll tear that filthy mouth of yours apart!" Zhou Tong roared, about to charge forward when a hand reached out and stopped him.

"Zhou Tong, sit down!"

Zi Yuan looked at Zhou Tong, her youthful face an icy mask.

"Elder Sister, but…" Zhou Tong looked utterly unwilling to back down.

"Zhou Tong, this isn't the place for a fight," Luo Feng, seated nearby, frowned and glanced towards the refectory entrance.

Near the refectory entrance stood ten Tianlan School elders. All were seventh-tier Essence storage Realm masters, and two among them were even eighth-tier Hell Realm masters. They were currently walking towards their direction, clearly having noticed the commotion.

Zhou Tong knew a fight was impossible here. He sat down heavily, gritting his teeth. "Are we just going to let those bastards off? I can't accept this!"

"Let them off? How could we possibly!"

Luo Feng smirked coldly. "Wan Feng injured Yang Hong. If we want revenge, naturally, we'll give them a taste of their own medicine!"

Including Zhou Tong, the few Purple Sun School students felt a sudden chill in their hearts as they met Luo Feng's gaze, an inexplicable shiver running down their spines.

Nan Xiao frowned. Does that mean we're to teach Wan Feng a lesson during the tournament? But Wan Feng's strength…

Though they detested Wan Feng, they were also aware of the disparity in their strengths.

Wan Feng's spear techniques were terrifyingly unpredictable. The blow that had heavily injured Yang Hong still made them shudder to recall; even Zi Yuan would likely find it difficult to match him.

"Finish eating. Prepare for this afternoon's ranking tournament," Luo Feng said, offering no further explanation.

Zi Yuan, Bing Ruolan, and Xu Mei silently observed Luo Feng.

Only they understood the profound meaning behind his words.

「In the afternoon.」

The Martial Arts Plaza once again erupted with excitement, several times livelier than in the morning.

Having finished their meal, everyone had eagerly returned to the Martial Arts Plaza, awaiting the start of the ranking tournament.

At the center of the plaza, Zhou Zhiyun, dressed in a simple gown, her beauty nonetheless peerless, announced in a soft voice, "The ranking tournament, as before, is divided into an elimination round and a challenge round. The elimination round will remove six people, leaving only ten. These remaining ten will then compete in challenge matches to determine this year's Four Great New Talents…"

Luo Feng, Bing Ruolan, Xu Mei, and Zi Yuan stood together, listening intently to Zhou Zhiyun's words.

The elimination round, like the previous qualifying round, was divided into ten rounds, with matches held on two platforms simultaneously. Whoever's name was drawn would ascend the platform to fight.

The only difference was that the elimination round did not divide participants into groups; the sixteen participants were drawn randomly. If they encountered one of the Four Great New Talents, they could only blame their bad luck.

Bing Ruolan looked at the students from the other academies, appearing slightly nervous. "These people are so strong. I wonder if I can make it into the top ten."

After the qualifying round, the remaining students were all true elites of the Four Great Academies!

Those remaining were, at minimum, at the late stage of the seventh-tier Essence storage Realm in cultivation, making Bing Ruolan's cultivation level seem quite ordinary.

Luo Feng smiled faintly. "Ruolan, don't be nervous. Your strength is sufficient to enter the top ten."

"Mm." Bing Ruolan exhaled softly, her expression easing somewhat.

Luo Feng turned his head, his gaze meeting Wan Feng's from across the plaza.

Their eyes clashed like blades in mid-air, causing some of the students caught between them to feel an inexplicable chill.

At this moment, Zhou Zhiyun's voice suddenly rose a few decibels.

"Now, the ranking tournament begins!"

BOOM!

The entire Martial Arts Plaza erupted, the atmosphere boiling. Cheers and shouts from the spectator stands surged, as people excitedly called out the names of the students they supported.

"Elimination round, first match! Platform One: Xu Mei of Purple Sun School versus Song Jian of Wanluo School!"

"Platform Two: Hu Yidao of Floating Snow School versus Wu Fei of Tianlan School!"

The four named students began to ascend the high platforms.

"Oh, so that's Song Jian!"

When Zi Yuan recognized the Wanluo School student on the first platform as the insolent, small-eyed martial artist from noon, a cold glint flashed in her beautiful eyes.

Xu Mei also recognized him, her pretty face instantly turning several shades colder. "What a small world for enemies to meet!"

"Xu Mei, be careful," Luo Feng reminded her.

"I know." Xu Mei nodded and ascended the first platform.

The small-eyed martial artist, Song Jian, was also at the late stage of the seventh-tier Essence storage Realm.

His eyes roved over Xu Mei's figure as he leered, "Who'd have thought she'd be such a beauty. It seems I'll have to be ruthless with this beauty today."

"That depends on whether you have the ability!"

Xu Mei gave a soft, derisive laugh. Her toes tapped the ground, and like a fragrant breeze, her figure flickered, appearing before the small-eyed martial artist in an instant.

The small-eyed martial artist was greatly alarmed, his scalp tingling. He shot backward, trying to create distance.

"You can't escape!"

Xu Mei's figure moved like a shadow, sticking close to the small-eyed martial artist.

The small-eyed martial artist was primarily a swordsman, but her sudden proximity left him no time to draw his sword. He could only grit his teeth and meet her attack with his palms.

His Gang Qi surged, and the small-eyed martial artist's palms blazed with dense Gang Qi as he struck out repeatedly, showing no mercy.

Xu Mei's gaze was calm. Facing the whistling palm wind, a faint smile even touched Xu Mei's rosy lips.

"Holding Wind Hand!"

Her slender, jade-like hands darted out like nimble snakes, weaving through the palm wind to strike the small-eyed martial artist squarely on the chest.

SPLAT!

The small-eyed martial artist's face flushed red as he spat out a mouthful of blood, his body sent flying.

Just as the small-eyed martial artist was about to fly off the platform, a soft ringing sound came from Xu Mei's sleeve. It lashed out, coiling around his arm, and with a sharp tug, she yanked him back.

The small-eyed martial artist hadn't yet processed what was happening when he suddenly saw a small, fair hand rapidly enlarging in his vision.

SLAP!

A crisp slap echoed across the Martial Arts Plaza, followed by a piercing scream. Xu Mei's palm struck the small-eyed martial artist across the mouth, and he cried out, spitting a mouthful of blood.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! With her left sleeve binding the small-eyed martial artist's right arm, Xu Mei's right hand flashed, striking his mouth ten times in quick succession, each blow landing precisely.

Finally, the small-eyed martial artist's mouth was a bloody mess, and he was unable to even utter a sound.

Only then did Xu Mei toss the small-eyed martial artist off the platform. She dusted off her hands and turned to descend.

"This… isn't this female student from Purple Sun School a bit too ruthless?"

In the surrounding spectator stands, people stared dumbfounded at the small-eyed martial artist, whose lips were swollen and disfigured.

However, those who had witnessed the earlier scene in the refectory knew why this had happened.

"Xu Mei, impressive!" Luo Feng gave Xu Mei a thumbs-up.

Several Purple Sun School students cheered, feeling vindicated.

Xu Mei's cheeks were flushed. She humphed lightly, "Serves him right for having such an ungoverned tongue!"

The match on the first platform concluded with Xu Mei's victory. On the second platform, Hu Yidao also defeated his opponent with ease.

When the sixth match arrived, it was Luo Feng's turn. His opponent was a Tianlan School student named Li Xiao.

As soon as the two were on the platform, Luo Feng took the initiative. His figure silently appeared behind his opponent, and a single punch sent the other flying off the platform.

This elicited a wave of cheers from the spectator stands.

Li Xiao was a somewhat renowned expert in Tianlan School, possessing strength at the peak of the seventh-tier Essence storage Realm. The crowd had anticipated a fierce battle, but no one expected such a one-sided outcome.

The seventh match featured Zi Yuan, who similarly defeated her opponent with ease.

The eighth match held little suspense. The disparity in strength between the two combatants was too great, and the victor was decided quickly.

"First round, ninth match: Bing Ruolan of Purple Sun School versus Chen Wan of Floating Snow School! Tenth match…"

These last two matches of the round brought the excitement in the Martial Arts Plaza to a small climax.

Chen Wan was an extremely popular beauty from Floating Snow School. With her graceful figure, waist-length black hair, delicate features, and large, captivating eyes, she possessed immense charm.

Bing Ruolan, with her serene and elegant temperament, her short, pale blue hair framing a refined and unworldly beautiful face, was like a pure lotus—her beauty stirred the heart.

As the two young women ascended the high platform and stood facing each other, they immediately became a beautiful spectacle.

Below the platform, many students from the Four Great Academies found their eyes glued to them.

"Hehe… Junior Sister, I'll go easy on you," Chen Wan said with a sweet smile, a single saber in hand as she looked at Bing Ruolan. At sixteen or seventeen, she was slightly older than Bing Ruolan, and her smile carried a bewitching charm.

Bing Ruolan gripped her sword hilt and performed a gentleman's sword salute. "Please provide your guidance!"

"Butterfly Blossom Saber Technique!"

"Floating Cloud Sword Technique!"

With sharp cries, the two women's graceful figures immediately blurred and clashed.

On the high platform, their skirts billowed and their dark hair flew, like two butterflies dancing in the wind. The sight was pleasing to the eye, causing many of the young male students below to stare, transfixed, letting out occasional cheers of approval.