Martial Arts Overlord

Gazing at Zhou Jianyi's corpse, Luo Feng pondered for a moment and shook his head. The man had tried to kill him. If he hadn't killed his opponent, would he just wait for the opponent to come and kill him? It was such a simple principle; of course, he understood it.

One must deal with problems as they arise. Luo Feng was not an indecisive person. He stopped thinking about the Zhou Family's affairs, walked over to Zhou Jianyi, and took his storage ring.

Slipping the ring onto his finger, Luo Feng sent his consciousness into it. Scattered inside were some gold notes and elixirs, along with a pile of Yuan Stones—over a hundred of them. There was also a Secret Manual tucked away in the ring's space.

Taking the Secret Manual out of the storage ring, Luo Feng opened it, his eyes lighting up with joy. It was actually a Profound Level mid-grade martial arts Secret Manual!

"Tear Wind and Sky Claw, a mid-grade Profound Level Claw Technique, is renowned for its speed. The attack speed is comparable to a gale, and a single claw strike can shatter gold and stone!"

After reading the Secret Manual's description, Luo Feng sighed. What a pity. This Secret Manual wasn't suitable for his cultivation. However, he wasn't too bothered. Even if he didn't cultivate it himself, a Profound Level mid-grade martial art would surely fetch a heavenly price at auction, allowing him to exchange it for a considerable number of Yuan Stones.

Now that he had stepped into the Ninth Level of the Heavenly Court Realm, Yuan Stones were essential for cultivation. A single Yuan Stone was worth several hundred taels of gold; supporting such an expense required astonishing wealth. Many Martial Artists who reached the Ninth Level of the Heavenly Court Realm found their cultivation progress slow. Apart from their own aptitude limitations, a major reason was the scarcity of Yuan Stones.

Putting away the Secret Manual, Luo Feng looked deeper into the hall. What's behind this light door? Could there be other treasures?

In the depths of the hall stood a massive white light door, nearly ten zhang tall, radiating strong Yuan Qi fluctuations. Engraved upon the gleaming door were four powerful characters: Kuiyang Yuan Hall.

Luo Feng walked to the light door and touched it. His fingertips met a solid surface; even with his strength, he couldn't push it in the slightest. Such incredible defensive power!

Having entered the Ninth Level of the Heavenly Court Realm, his strength had surged. Now, even without using Yuan Qi, relying solely on his physical power, he could shatter boulders and bend steel, yet he couldn't damage the light door in the slightest.

With a glint in his eyes, Luo Feng drew the Fury Flame Knife, stood at a distance, and unleashed a streak of Gang Qi into the air.

CLANG!

The sharp Saber Qi struck the light curtain, producing a cold, metallic clang, but the light door remained unmoved. Seeing this, Luo Feng knew it was impossible to enter the light door. If even the Fury Flame Knife couldn't budge the light door, he guessed that not even Spiritual Rotation Realm experts could open it.

Forget it, I've gained enough this time. Time to leave. Staying any longer wouldn't yield further gains. Luo Feng turned and walked towards the white column of light in the center of the hall. This light column's Yuan Qi fluctuations are very similar to the light curtain in the Red Flame Desert. This must be the exit.

BUZZ!

The moment Luo Feng stepped into the column of light, ripples spread across the colossal light curtain connecting heaven and earth in the Red Flame Desert. Everyone in the desert was startled by this sight.

"Someone's coming out!"

"I wonder who it is this time."

"Who else could it be? Only Luo Feng from the Flowing Cloud Region and Zhou Jianyi, the Broken Wind Sword, are left inside."

"They've been inside for so long. I wonder what happened."

The crowd buzzed with discussion. Zi Hongyuan and the others from the Flowing Cloud Region, along with the Zhou Family members, stared at the light curtain, their expressions a mixture of tension and anticipation.

SWOOSH!

A figure shot out from the light curtain, landing steadily on the ground. He was dressed in green martial attire, with the gold-trimmed purple sun emblem of the Purple Sun School embroidered on his back.

"It's a Purple Sun School student! That's Luo Feng!"

A wave of astonishment swept through the crowd. Luo Feng lasting this long was beyond many people's expectations.

"Luo Feng is out. Zhou Jianyi should be out soon too."

The ten members of the Zhou Family glanced at Luo Feng, then quickly looked back at the light curtain, watching for any movement.

"Luo Feng!"

Of everyone present, Bing Ruolan was the happiest to see Luo Feng safe. If not for the crowd, she would have rushed over to him.

Luo Feng nodded and, with a swift movement, appeared beside Bing Ruolan. Seeing the lingering tension on her face, he gently tapped her small, delicate nose and smiled, "I'm fine."

Zi Hongyuan and the others were still nearby. Luo Feng's affectionate gesture made Bing Ruolan a little flustered, her earlobes turning a shade of crimson. She nodded with an "Mm," but dared not say more.

"Luo Feng, what took you so long? We were worried something had happened to you," Zi Hongyuan said, his expression relaxing as he looked at Luo Feng. Luo Feng was now a great contributor to the Purple Sun School, and Zi Hongyuan truly feared something might have happened to him.

Luo Feng chuckled. "I passed the third trial, so I was delayed a bit."

"You passed the third trial?"

Hearing this, not only Zi Hongyuan but also the others nearby gasped. He Qin and the others who had experienced the third trial were especially dumbfounded.

"Did you defeat the mid-stage Ninth Level Heavenly Court Realm Light and Shadow Warrior?" He Qin asked, unable to contain her curiosity.

Luo Feng paused, then shook his head and explained, "The third trial was against a late-stage Ninth Level Heavenly Court Realm Martial Artist. And you don't need to defeat them, just withstand ten moves to pass."

"A late-stage Ninth Level Heavenly Court Realm Martial Artist!"

"Withstand ten moves!"

The few who had just calmed down were once again profoundly shocked by Luo Feng's casual tone. Even Zi Hongyuan and Zhou Zhiyun, who had experienced many great storms in their lives, were too stunned to speak for a moment. When a Martial Artist's cultivation reached the Ninth Level of the Heavenly Court Realm, each subsequent rise in stage meant a world of difference in strength. Challenging someone at a higher stage was already extremely difficult, let alone someone two stages higher! Even just withstanding ten moves was astonishing enough.

He Qin, after her initial surprise, calmed down. Recalling that the third trial involved challenging an opponent two stages higher, something occurred to her. She looked at Luo Feng and asked, "Luo Feng, have you advanced to the Ninth Level of the Heavenly Court Realm?"

Luo Feng had already suppressed his aura, so the others hadn't sensed his breakthrough. Hearing her question, he nodded.

Zi Hongyuan laughed heartily with gratification. "Excellent! After three years, one of the Four Great Academies finally has another student at the Ninth Level of the Heavenly Court Realm."

Luo Feng had heard that Lu Xiao Yun had already reached the Ninth Level of the Heavenly Court Realm three years ago, before entering the Golden Palace, so he wasn't surprised.

He Qin glanced at Luo Feng with envy and smiled. "Luo Feng, congratulations."

Zi Yuan and Bing Ruolan also congratulated Luo Feng, and the atmosphere became lively.

However, not everyone was pleased that Luo Feng had returned safely.

From the direction of Ivy School, Headmaster Zhu Huo stared at Luo Feng, his face ashen. That brat! He actually didn't die in the Secret Realm!

Meanwhile, Duanmu Xiong, hidden in the crowd, had a flash of murderous intent deep in his eyes, his face contorted with malice.

Luo Feng was chatting and laughing with Bing Ruolan and the others when his gaze suddenly shifted towards the Zhou Family. After a moment's hesitation, he said to Zi Hongyuan, "Headmaster, there's something I must tell you."

"What is it?"

Luo Feng lowered his voice. "I killed Zhou Jianyi."

There had been too many shocking events today, and Zi Hongyuan had grown somewhat numb. He wasn't overly surprised by this, merely more cautious. The Zhou Family was a major clan in Red Maple Lead, and their influence was not to be underestimated.

Luo Feng briefly recounted what had happened in the Secret Realm.

After listening, Zi Hongyuan nodded. "You're not to blame for this. He was overcome by greed and deserved to die. However, the Zhou Family is powerful, so this matter must be handled carefully. Fortunately, only the two of you were there. Even if they suspect something, as long as you don't admit it, they have no proof."

Luo Feng nodded.

BOOM!

As they were speaking, a sudden loud bang erupted, and the surrounding space trembled violently.

"What's happening?"

"Could it be a Demon Beast?"

Everyone was startled. They drew their weapons, blades and swords flashing, and looked around in confusion.

"Look, the light curtain is disappearing!" Someone suddenly shouted, pointing at the light curtain.

Alerted, everyone immediately looked towards the light curtain. The massive light curtain rapidly contracted inward like a sphere, shrinking back into the ground in the blink of an eye and vanishing without a trace.

"Headmaster, has the Secret Realm vanished?" Luo Feng's Soul Power was strong. The moment the light curtain receded into the ground, he sensed something disappear from beneath the earth. Even the initially strange Yuan Qi fluctuations were now untraceable. He couldn't help but be surprised.

Zi Hongyuan slowly exhaled, nodded, and said with a grave expression, "Mm. I just discussed this with Feng Linshan and the others. We believe this Secret Realm is the Puppet Sect, which mysteriously vanished a thousand years ago! The place you entered was likely the Puppet Sect's 'Kuiyang Yuan Hall,' a place used for training their disciples."

Seemingly recalling something terrifying, Zi Hongyuan paused before continuing, "A thousand years ago, the Puppet Sect was a formidable power that surpassed the Three Sects and Six Divisions of the Canglang Dynasty, yet it vanished overnight without a trace. Why it suddenly appeared here, and why it has suddenly disappeared again, no one knows."

Surpassing the Three Sects and Six Divisions! Luo Feng took a deep breath. He had seen the Kuiyang Yuan Hall, so this Secret Realm was undoubtedly the Puppet Sect. He just hadn't expected the Puppet Sect to have such a significant history. The Three Sects and Six Divisions were the martial sacred grounds of the Canglang Dynasty, their authority even surpassing imperial power. He hadn't imagined the Puppet Sect could be even more formidable. What shocked him even more was that such a colossal sect could vanish overnight! It was truly incredible.

"So, this Secret Realm is useless now?" Zi Yuan asked from nearby.

Zi Hongyuan nodded. "The Puppet Sect's main gate has disappeared. There's no longer any Secret Realm here."

"What's going on?! Why has the Secret Realm's entrance vanished?! Quickly open the entrance! My Zhou Family's disciple, Zhou Jianyi, is still inside!" A Zhou Family Martial Artist suddenly roared as he stepped forward.

Feng Linshan, the Headmaster of Changxin Academy, shook his head and said, "Since the Secret Realm has relocated, Zhou Jianyi is most likely dead."

Hearing this, the others exchanged glances. From what had transpired, everyone would be teleported out whether they passed the trials or not—unless they had died inside. Since Zhou Jianyi had not yet emerged, he had probably perished. It turned out that Luo Feng had lasted the longest.

"Impossible!"

At this moment, a tall, middle-aged Martial Artist with a flushed face strode out. Staring at Luo Feng, he demanded aggressively, "Kid, you were the last one out! What happened to my son, Zhou Jianyi?"

Zi Hongyuan frowned slightly. He had thought that with the Secret Realm relocating, no one would suspect Luo Feng regarding this matter, but it seemed he was mistaken.

Facing the tall middle-aged man's accusation, Luo Feng calmly shook his head. "I don't know."

"You don't know?" The tall middle-aged man's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth. "You were in the Secret Realm for so long; you must have seen him! I heard you two had a conflict in the plaza. Did you ambush and kill him? Confess the truth now!"

As he spoke, the tall middle-aged man advanced towards Luo Feng step by step. With each step, the killing intent emanating from him intensified. The pressure from his early-stage Ninth Level Heavenly Court Realm cultivation was immense.

Zi Yuan and Bing Ruolan, standing beside Luo Feng, immediately felt a mountain-like pressure bear down on them, and beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads.

Luo Feng, possessing Grand Momentum, was completely unaffected by the man's pressure. He frowned slightly and said coldly, "I said I don't know. There's no need to ask further!"