Martial Arts Overlord

Having arranged with Elder Zhuang to collect the Illusion Heart Pill nine days later, Luo Feng took his leave and headed toward Purple Sun School.

Upon returning to his small courtyard, Luo Feng closed the courtyard door, took out a few pills to consume, and began his closed-door cultivation. The last punch he exchanged with Yang Yunshi had also caused a slight jarring to his meridians.

「Nothing happened overnight.」

Early the next day, Luo Feng opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath before casually throwing a punch. The punch whistled through the air, filling the small courtyard with gusty winds. Grass and trees rustled, and the entire space seemed to be engulfed by this punch.

Not bad, my strength has improved a bit more after yesterday's fight! Luo Feng could feel a noticeable increase in the power of his punches. If he were to confront Yang Yunshi now, even if he ended up at a disadvantage, he would not get hurt again.

Standing up, Luo Feng thought for a moment before leaving his courtyard, closing the door behind him, and heading towards the Extreme Sun Great Hall. He could only receive the Illusion Heart Pill nine days later, and his cultivation wouldn't improve much even if he stayed at the school. So, Luo Feng decided to take on a mission, complete this month's school task, and seize the opportunity to go out and gain experience.

The early morning sun shone on the nearly empty Extreme Sun Great Hall. Only a few people were choosing missions. Luo Feng went straight to the innermost jade wall and scanned the jade plaques on it, his gaze eventually resting on the one in the second slot from the left.

Task: Proceed to Chaotic Stone Town to assist the Chen Family in investigating the man-eating creature that appeared in the Red Flame Crystal Ore vein and resolve the issue.

Task Details: Half a month ago, a creature appeared in the Red Flame Crystal Ore vein in Black Wind Mountain. Nearly ten people have been devoured by it, including two experts at the early stage of the Ninth Heavenly Court Realm.

Task Difficulty: Three stars.

Task Reward: Ten thousand gold and one hundred Yuan Stones.

Red Flame Crystal Ore… isn't this an ore that contains Fire Yuan Qi? Looking at the jade plaque, Luo Feng's eyes flashed slightly, and he reached out to take it down.

Red Flame Crystal Ore was a top-quality material for crafting weapons. It contained Fire Yuan Qi, and it was rumored that Red Flame Crystal Gem, which held even purer Fire Yuan Qi, could occasionally be found within it. If I can get some Red Flame Crystal Gem, I can start cultivating the Eight Wildernesses Dominating Flame Fist.

Apart from this, Luo Feng was also intrigued by the creature that had suddenly appeared in the mine and could defeat experts of the Ninth Heavenly Court Realm.

Putting away the mission jade plaque, Luo Feng turned and left the Extreme Sun Great Hall. After leaving the school, he immediately used Teng Dragon's Step and headed towards Chaotic Stone Town.

Chaotic Stone Town was a small town a few hundred miles north of Purple Sun School, named for its proximity to the Chaotic Stone Mountain Range. Luo Feng pushed Teng Dragon's Step to its limit and arrived near the Chaotic Stone Mountain Range half a day later.

Not knowing the Chen Family's location, Luo Feng decided to find a place to ask for information. Conveniently, there was a small tavern ahead. A tattered banner hanging by the door bore four large black characters: Facing Stone Tavern.

Having traveled for half a day, Luo Feng felt a little hungry. He planned to eat something before continuing, and also inquire about the Chen Family's whereabouts in Chaotic Stone Town.

As Luo Feng entered the tavern, he found it even more dilapidated than he had imagined. There were only a few tables, and the walls had cracks, apparently from sword strikes, indicating someone had once fought there. Luo Feng found a table and sat down.

"Young master, what would you like to eat?" a waiter asked. Seeing Luo Feng's impressive bearing, which set him apart from ordinary folk, the waiter immediately approached him with enthusiasm.

Luo Feng casually ordered a few dishes. After the waiter left, he suddenly felt eyes on him and looked back to see several youths of similar age seated at the next table. Spotting them, Luo Feng's eyebrows rose slightly. The four youths seated on either side of the table wore blue uniforms; they were presumably Wanluo School students.

What caught his interest was the young man in green at the innermost seat. This young man's eyes held a restrained, brilliant light, and he emanated an extremely powerful aura, indicating a cultivation level at the late stage of the Ninth Heavenly Court Realm. Luo Feng had never heard of such a powerful figure in Wanluo School and gave him a longer look.

The green-robed youth, feeling Luo Feng's gaze, turned his head. His eyes narrowed slightly, his clothes fluttered, and a powerful aura bore down on Luo Feng. Luo Feng's brows furrowed, but he remained calm. An invisible force suddenly emerged, dissipating the pressure from the green-robed youth.

The green-robed youth, a Purple Sun School student, had originally wanted to publicly humiliate Luo Feng. He was slightly stunned when Luo Feng remained motionless under his oppressive aura.

"Friend, I don't recall any grudges between us, do I?" Luo Feng asked coldly.

At this, a Wanluo School student leaned in and whispered to the green-robed youth, "Senior Brother Yuan, this guy is Luo Feng from Purple Sun School, this year's top newcomer. Our Senior Brother Wan Feng was defeated by him."

Hearing this, the green-robed youth's eyes flashed as he sized up Luo Feng. "I just wanted to see if this year's top newcomer lived up to his reputation. It seems he's nothing special."

"The feeling is mutual," Luo Feng replied calmly.

During the newcomer tournament, several skilled fighters from Wanluo School had been defeated by Luo Feng, causing Wanluo School to rank last. Since Luo Feng was the main culprit, the Wanluo School students harbored severe resentment towards him. Hearing the exchange, one of them couldn't help but sneer, "Hmph, don't think you can look down on everyone just because you're the top newcomer! Let me tell you, this is Senior Brother Yuan Kong, a student from the Sky Sword Pavilion of the Twelve Golden Palaces. You'd better watch your tongue!"

"Exactly! So what if he's the top newcomer? In Senior Brother Yuan's presence, he's nothing!" another chimed in.

Yuan Kong, seated nearby, heard these words and a satisfied smile touched the corner of his lips.

A cold smirk appeared on Luo Feng's lips. Looking at the two speakers, he said, "If the top newcomer is nothing, then what does that make trash like you, who aren't even qualified to participate in the Newcomer Tournament? Mere chickens and dogs?"

"You!" Several Wanluo School students shot up in anger, their eyes glaring daggers at Luo Feng, almost spitting fire.

Luo Feng ignored their gazes, poured himself a cup of tea, and drank it slowly. These individuals were only at the Seventh Stage of the Essence Storage Realm; they weren't even worth teaching a lesson. They were no longer on the same level as him.

Yuan Kong's face darkened, his eyes flickering. Although he knew his companions had provoked Luo Feng first, Luo Feng had insulted them to his face, which was a direct slap to his own.

"Sir, your food and drinks are here..." Just as the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, the waiter emerged from the back and placed the dishes on Luo Feng's table.

Luo Feng paid no mind to the expressions of the group nearby and asked the waiter, "How do I get to the Chen Family in Chaotic Stone Town?"

The waiter's expression changed slightly. "Sir, you're a Purple Sun School student. Could it be you've accepted the mission issued by the Chen Family?"

"That's right." Luo Feng nodded, not denying it. The waiter's reaction, however, piqued his interest.

The waiter shook his head. "Sir, I advise you not to go."

"Why is that?"

The waiter took a deep breath. "In the past half-month, more than a dozen people have asked me for directions to the Chen Family. They were all students from various schools, many from the four major academies. Every one of them who entered that mine never returned. A few days ago, two early-stage experts of the Ninth Heavenly Court Realm met the same fate. That mine is very strange; at night, firelight even emerges from it. You absolutely mustn't go!"

Luo Feng hadn't expected the waiter to be so kind-hearted. He smiled. "Just tell me the Chen Family's location. I know how to handle myself."

Seeing Luo Feng's determination, the waiter sighed and told him the directions to the Chen Family in Chaotic Stone Town.

Yuan Kong, who had overheard their conversation, watched with flickering eyes, a faint smile on his face. "Luo Feng, you've also accepted the Chen Family's mission?"

"What of it?" Yuan Kong's smirk made Luo Feng feel quite disgusted, as if he were looking at a rat. He replied in a flat, indifferent tone.

Yuan Kong flicked his fingers and smiled. "I just wanted to remind you, you'd better heed the waiter's advice. The creature in that mine isn't something you can handle. If you recklessly charge in and lose your life, it won't be worth it."

"You should worry more about your own life," Luo Feng replied, his expression indifferent.

Yuan Kong snorted coldly, stood up, and waved his hand. "Let's go."

The Wanluo School students, who had expected Yuan Kong to teach Luo Feng a lesson, were startled by his sudden decision to leave. Yuan Kong gave them no chance to ask questions, turning and striding towards the tavern entrance.

"Gentlemen, your food will be ready soon," the waiter called out, surprised.

Yuan Kong glanced at Luo Feng and sneered, "How can I eat with such an appetite-spoiling person around? Here's the money for the food and drinks. The rest is for you." He tossed a silver ingot to the waiter and walked out of the tavern.

The other Wanluo School students looked unwilling but knew that without Yuan Kong, they were no match for Luo Feng. They shot Luo Feng a fierce glare and then turned to leave.

Watching them depart, a sharp glint flashed in Luo Feng's eyes before vanishing. He had just sensed a trace of concealed killing intent from Yuan Kong. That fellow was surely plotting something.

Luo Feng shook his head. A mere late-stage Ninth Heavenly Court Realm martial artist was no longer worthy of his serious concern. Whatever Yuan Kong was planning, it would crumble before absolute strength.

Once Yuan Kong was outside the tavern, the Wanluo School students caught up. One asked, "Senior Brother Yuan, Luo Feng was so arrogant. Why didn't you teach him a lesson?"

"Exactly! He dared to talk back to you just now. He clearly has no respect for you. Letting him off so easily is too lenient."

A smile touched Yuan Kong's lips. He glanced back at the tavern, his gaze icy and chilling, and then a cruel smile spread across his face. "Let him off? How could I possibly do that?"

Sensing the killing intent in Yuan Kong's tone, the students were alarmed. "Then, Senior Brother, you plan to...?"

Yuan Kong waved his hand. "Since he dared to oppose me, it won't end so simply. However, he's currently the top newcomer of the four major schools, so it's not convenient for me to strike too heavily here. He has also accepted the Chen Family's mission. Once he enters the mine, I'll find an opportunity to eliminate him completely. That way, the blame can be shifted to the creature in the mine."

"Senior Brother is wise!" The eyes of the Wanluo School students lit up.