Martial Arts Overlord

WHOOSH!

In the gloomy, dense forest, a robust figure swept through the woods, skillfully flying forward.

The blood-red sunset gradually descended, and the light in the Red Chain Mountain Range grew dim. Occasional terrifying beast roars added an air of eerie mystery to the forest.

The figure darting through the woods was Luo Feng, heading to Giant Stone City.

Hearing the increasingly frequent roars, Luo Feng stopped. He glanced at the slightly dimming sky and furrowed his brow.

Leaving the forest before nightfall was clearly impossible.

It seems I'll have to spend another night in the mountain range, he thought.

The nights in the Red Blood mountain range were ten times more terrifying than the days. Although Luo Feng's capabilities were far greater than before, he still dared not travel recklessly at night.

Shaking his head, Luo Feng stood on a tree, identified his direction, and then, in a flash, continued his journey.

After about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, the surrounding forest gradually thinned. Having left the depths of the Red Chain Mountain Range, Luo Feng breathed a sigh of relief.

By then, the sky had grown completely dark.

Faint lights flickered throughout the Red Chain Mountain Range. Various strange plants emitted dim, eerie glows, creating a strangely beautiful scene.

Luo Feng did not approach these luminescent plants; instead, he kept his distance.

Beneath their beauty could lie deadly danger.

Once, he had seen a massive mushroom emitting a blue light. As he had approached, the mushroom suddenly split open from the middle, revealing a row of sharp, terrifying fangs!

His gaze swept across the forest. Luo Feng planned to find a safe place to rest and continue his journey at daybreak.

Suddenly, his gaze fixed. Not far ahead in the woods, the light of a bonfire glowed, smoke slowly rising.

There are people here!

Staring at the distant bonfire, Luo Feng was slightly surprised. After a moment of contemplation, he moved towards the fire.

Reaching a massive tree nearby, Luo Feng saw four figures seated by the bonfire: two middle-aged men, a young woman, and a young man.

All four carried weapons. The two middle-aged men exuded a faint murderous aura, clearly having recently experienced a bloody battle. They must be Martial Artists who entered the forest to hunt Demon Beasts, Luo Feng guessed.

Just as Luo Feng was observing them, one of the middle-aged men by the bonfire suddenly whipped his head around. His sharp gaze shot towards Luo Feng's hiding place as he barked, "Who's there!? Come out!"

At his shout, the other three immediately sprang up, drawing their weapons with a CLANG. They all looked towards the massive tree where Luo Feng was hiding. The young woman's face showed a hint of fear, and she subtly moved two steps closer to the young man in azure robes beside her.

"Heh, relax, everyone. I was just passing by and saw the firelight, so I came over," Luo Feng said with a slight smile as he emerged from his hiding place. He even raised his empty hands to show he meant no harm.

"You say you're just passing by? Why should we believe you?" the young woman, the only one of her gender in the group, asked, her gaze somewhat annoyed.

Luo Feng's sudden appearance had embarrassed her in front of the one she admired. Infuriated, she directed her anger at him, her words icy.

Luo Feng frowned slightly and looked at the young woman who had spoken.

She appeared to be around his age, dressed in a green short skirt. Her face, illuminated by the firelight, was rather pretty, but her eyes held a touch of willfulness. However, her arrogant words and haughty tone detracted from her charm.

"Xiao Hua, don't be rude!" the middle-aged man who had spoken first scolded. He then turned to Luo Feng and said with a smile, "Xiao Hua didn't mean to offend. It's just that this is the Red Chain Mountain Range, and one can't be too careful. Young brother, do you have anything to prove your identity?"

"I am a student of the Purple Sun School. I came to the Red Chain Mountain Range to complete a school assignment, but it has unexpectedly taken this long," Luo Feng explained, taking out his Purple Sun School student Token.

"So, you're a high-achieving student from the Purple Sun School!"

The middle-aged man examined the Token in Luo Feng's hand closely. His expression softened with relief, mixed with a hint of surprise. He pointed to the bonfire and said heartily, "Young brother, come and sit. The Red Chain Mountain Range is perilous at night. It's very dangerous to be out here alone. If we stick together, we can look out for each other."

The others relaxed upon learning Luo Feng was a student from the Purple Sun School. Only the young woman called 'Xiao Hua' snorted softly.

I didn't expect the school Token to be so effective, Luo Feng thought. He also didn't want to stay alone in the forest. He nodded gratefully at the middle-aged man and, under the group's gaze, walked over to the fire and sat down cross-legged.

Seeing Luo Feng's clear features and somewhat reserved demeanor, the middle-aged man was reminded of his own children and felt a sense of warmth towards him. He smiled and said, "Young brother, my name is Chen Shi. I'm a Martial Artist at the mid-stage of the sixth-level God Bravery Realm. For someone so young to dare enter the Red Chain Mountain Range alone, that's quite courageous!"

Luo Feng blinked and smiled. "I only came because of a school assignment; I had no other choice."

Luo Feng didn't mention his cultivation level. Chen Shi assumed he was worried about being mocked and didn't press further.

The young woman in the green skirt had initially worried Luo Feng might be an expert. Seeing now that he didn't even dare reveal his cultivation level, she immediately grew smug, her crisp laughter carrying a hint of disdain. "My name is Li Hua," she declared, "a fifth-level Rigid-Soft Realm Martial Artist. I'm not like you—clearly lacking real strength yet still acting tough by coming to this dangerous Red Chain Mountain Range. If you hadn't run into us tonight, you'd probably be food in a Demon Beast's stomach by now!"

Luo Feng smiled faintly. He certainly wouldn't stoop to her level. His gaze shifted to the other middle-aged man and the young man in azure robes, and he asked, "And how should I address you two?"

"Lu Qing. Late-stage, sixth-level God Bravery Realm," the other middle-aged man replied with a polite smile.

The young man in azure robes glanced dismissively at Luo Feng and stated flatly, "Xue Ming. Late-stage, sixth-level God Bravery Realm."

As soon as Xue Ming finished speaking, Li Hua interjected, "Brother Xue Ming has fought many students from the Four Great Academies before, and they all lost to him!"

Li Hua's implication was clear: Luo Feng was no match for Xue Ming.

Luo Feng glanced at the slightly smug Li Hua and noticed her ardent gaze fixed on the young man in azure robes. He merely smiled faintly.

Li Hua clearly admired the young man in azure robes greatly; her admiration even contained a hint of infatuation.

The young man in azure robes was handsome, and possessing the strength of a late-stage, sixth-level God Bravery Realm Martial Artist at only sixteen or seventeen was indeed impressive. No wonder Li Hua admired him so much.

After these brief introductions, the atmosphere gradually lightened.

During their conversation, Luo Feng was somewhat surprised to learn that all four were from Giant Stone City. Li Hua was even the young lady of a minor family there. No wonder she's so willful, he thought.

Luo Feng hadn't forgotten his objective, so he asked them about Giant Stone City and the Green Wood Trading Co.

Chen Shi and the others assumed Luo Feng was merely curious, so they didn't withhold anything and shared some information about Giant Stone City and the Green Wood Trading Co.

The information Chen Shi revealed was largely consistent with what Hu Yitian had told him. However, the number of mid-stage Hell Realm experts stationed at the Green Wood Trading Co. was not two, but three!

Luo Feng, however, wasn't particularly concerned about this.

Whether there are two Hell Realm Martial Artists or three, they don't concern me right now, he thought.

Through their conversation, Luo Feng learned another useful piece of information.

He learned that, whether due to overconfidence in their own strength or for some other reason, the three priceless Golden Jade Heart Lotuses were not secretly stored away. Instead, they were openly displayed in the Gather Treasure Pavilion, the innermost section of the Green Wood Trading Co., visible to anyone who entered.

That's good news. It'll save me the trouble of searching everywhere, Luo Feng thought to himself.

Having obtained the information he sought, Luo Feng's interest in the conversation waned. He mostly listened as the others discussed various anecdotes about Giant Stone City.

The young woman in green, Li Hua, still resentful that Luo Feng had made her lose composure in front of the young man in azure robes, periodically made sarcastic remarks aimed at Luo Feng. In contrast, her words to the young man in azure were soft and sweet.

Luo Feng couldn't be bothered to respond to her. He simply closed his eyes and began to meditate and regulate his breathing. This dismissive attitude infuriated the proud young woman, causing her to grind her teeth in frustration.

CRACKLE!

As the campfire dwindled to embers, the night passed. At first light, Luo Feng awoke. Chen Shi and the others were already packing up their camp, preparing to depart.

Once everything was packed, Luo Feng cupped his fist to Chen Shi and said, "Uncle Chen Shi, let's part ways here. Thank you for your hospitality last night."

"Luo Feng, aren't you also going to Giant Stone City? We're heading in the same direction. It would be safer for all of us to travel together," Chen Shi said, quickly trying to persuade him when he heard Luo Feng intended to leave.

Luo Feng hesitated. He had intended to refuse, but Chen Shi's enthusiastic invitation was hard to decline. Besides, he wasn't very familiar with the route to Giant Stone City, so he nodded in agreement.

"Exactly! I'd advise you to stick with us," Li Hua chimed in, standing beside the young man in azure robes, a smirk playing on her lips as she addressed Luo Feng. "Although the Red Chain Mountain Range is much safer during the day, there are still plenty of Demon Beasts lurking about. If you accidentally run into one, your little life could be in peril."

Luo Feng gave a wry smile and shook his head, not bothering to respond to her.

After everyone finished packing, they set off immediately for Giant Stone City.

The group traveled for half a day through the Red Chain Mountain Range, eventually reaching its edge.

Along the way, they encountered a few second-rank Demon Beasts. Luo Feng didn't bother to act; the young man in azure robes and the others dealt with them.

This further convinced Li Hua that Luo Feng wasn't very strong. Her remarks became even more mocking, as if Luo Feng's safe passage out of the Red Chain Mountain Range was entirely due to her group's merit.

Luo Feng planned to bid them farewell once they were out of the forest, so he didn't bother to engage in a war of words with her.

By noon, the group finally emerged from the Red Chain Mountain Range.

Their view suddenly opened up. The bright sunshine made everyone, who had been confined within the gloomy Red Chain Mountain Range for so long, instinctively breathe a sigh of relief.

"We're finally out."

A smile touched Chen Shi's lips as he sighed in relief, gazing at the road beyond the forest. Suddenly, his smile vanished, and he frowned, muttering, "Why did we have to run into them? Li Hua, all of you, be careful."

Luo Feng, who had been about to bid them farewell, heard Chen Shi's words and couldn't help but look towards the road ahead.

Ahead on the road, seven riders on swift horses were galloping towards them at full speed, kicking up a cloud of dust.