Chapter 274: Chapter 274: Half-Step Prodigy Level
Claw shadows filled the sky, and the sword light was dazzling.
CLANG!
To everyone’s surprise, a brilliant golden sword light blasted towards the claw shadows.
Layer upon layer of claw shadows disintegrated like moths to a flame, but the golden sword light also trembled violently. Finally, pushed to its limit, it shattered explosively.
"Winding Peaks, Turning Paths!"
As the sword light shattered, Bing Ruolan remained calm and composed. With a sweep of her three-foot-long blade, rings of sword shadows, like an unbroken range of mountains, whistled out and crushed the remaining claw shadows.
THUMP, THUMP!
Feeling the impact, Li Jun was forced back three steps, while Bing Ruolan floated back five steps before stopping. This demonstrated the difference in their Cultivation.
Seeing this, the students from Ivy School smiled. Dean Zhu Huo took a content sip of tea, his gaze drifting pointedly towards Zi Hongyuan and Zhou Zhiyun, a smug look on his face.
"Li Jun is sure to win. He hasn’t even used the ultimate move of his Cracking Air Hand. The Star-piercing Swordsmanship only has six levels; the fifth level is already at a disadvantage, and the sixth level definitely won’t be enough to turn the tide."
Qin Honglie watched the two in the square, a smile on his face.
Qin Huan, sitting beside him, snorted coldly at these words. He glanced at Luo Feng and said with disdain, "What masters could Flowing Cloud Region possibly have? After this summit, the so-called ’Four New Talents’ of Flowing Cloud Region will be nothing but a laughingstock!"
"Hush, just watch how Li Jun secures victory." Qin Honglie chuckled, his gaze returning to the square.
BOOM!
Li Jun stomped hard on the ground, and several large cracks appeared in the solid square.
Halting his retreat, Li Jun squinted at Bing Ruolan and sneered, "The Purple Sun School’s Star-piercing Swordsmanship? It’s undeserving of its reputation!"
Bing Ruolan stood holding her sword, her ethereal grace like that of a descended fairy. She glanced at Li Jun. "Your Cracking Air Hand doesn’t seem so great either."
At her words, Li Jun’s eyes turned cold. A harsh, deep laugh rumbled from him. "Then I’ll let you witness the true Cracking Air Hand!"
As he spoke, a flash of green light flickered in Li Jun’s pupils. The air around him distorted violently, as if an invisible force was fiercely churning it. His entire presence became like that of a ferocious beast, with an overwhelming aura that seemed to want to shatter heaven and earth.
"Cracking Air Big Cloud Hand!"
Li Jun growled deeply, his right claw pressing down from the air. The green light transformed into a sharp claw shadow, the size of a house, bearing down on Bing Ruolan.
The ferocious, sharp green claw shadow stirred the air for tens of meters around. Even the clouds high above the square were blasted apart by this fierce, cutting aura, allowing sunlight to pierce through.
"The Cracking Air Big Cloud Hand! That’s the killing technique of the Cracking Air Hand! Its power is comparable to an ordinary Low-grade Profound Level Martial Art!" An uproar of gasps erupted around the square.
"Bing Ruolan is in danger! The Star-piercing Swordsmanship is inherently weaker than the Cracking Air Hand, not to mention her Cultivation is a step lower than Li Jun’s."
Zi Yuan’s small face was taut with worry; she hadn’t expected Li Jun’s Cracking Air Hand to have reached such a level.
Luo Feng smiled. "Zi Yuan, don’t worry. The Star-piercing Swordsmanship isn’t necessarily inferior to the Cracking Air Hand. Ruolan won’t lose."
"Hmm? Why?"
Zi Yuan also hoped Bing Ruolan could win, but the current situation clearly favored Li Jun.
"You’ll understand if you keep watching." Luo Feng didn’t explain, his gaze returning to the square.
"Accept defeat!"
A ferocious grin spread across Li Jun’s face. His Yuan Qi surged violently, intensifying the green claw shadow’s might.
In that very instant, Bing Ruolan, who had been motionless, suddenly exuded a piercingly sharp aura.
Specks of golden light began to appear, dancing around Bing Ruolan. They resembled a celestial river of stars, profound and vast, exuding a boundless aura.
"Could this be...?"
Zi Hongyuan suddenly shot up from his seat, staring wide-eyed at Bing Ruolan, his face a mask of utter shock.
Starlight flickered and swirled. Bing Ruolan suddenly switched her Longsword to her left hand, her right index and middle fingers pressed together, sliding them along the blade.
"Watch me shatter your Cracking Air Hand! Star Sword Extreme!"
WHIZZ!
As Bing Ruolan’s fingers swept across the blade, the surrounding starlight transformed into a dazzling sword ray that shot out fiercely, smashing directly into Li Jun’s claw shadow.
BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG...
The sword rays linked together, exploding in rapid succession like a dazzling display of fireworks.
The green claw shadow initially held its ground, but after being struck by over a dozen sword rays, it began to tremble violently, gradually becoming faint and illusory.
Zi Yuan looked astonished. "Such sharp Sword Qi! What Martial Art is this? I’ve never seen it before!"
A glint flashed in Zi Hongyuan’s eyes. He took a deep breath and said slowly, "This is the Star-piercing Swordsmanship. The Secret Manual in our school is only an incomplete version. The complete Star-piercing Swordsmanship has nine levels; it’s a Mid-grade Profound Level Martial Art. If I’m not mistaken, what Bing Ruolan is demonstrating should be the seventh level of the Star-piercing Swordsmanship! She must have perfected it herself."
Hearing this, everyone in the pavilion was stunned.
Perfecting Martial Arts is no easy task; even experts of the Spiritual Rotation Realm would find it difficult.
He Qin glanced at Luo Feng, her eyes flickering thoughtfully. She had a strong intuition that this matter might be connected to Luo Feng.
BOOM!
In the square, Bing Ruolan unleashed dozens of sword rays in a single breath, and Li Jun’s green claw shadow instantly exploded.
"Damn it!"
Li Jun roared, pushing his Yuan Qi to its absolute limit. His face flushed red as he unleashed another claw strike, imbued with an aura that threatened to tear everything apart, blasting it forward furiously.
"A futile, dying struggle."
Bing Ruolan’s voice was ice-cold. The speed of her fingers doubled, and countless rays of Sword Qi, formed from starlight, shot out with the speed of lightning.
Li Jun was already a spent force. He held on for a mere instant before his claw shadow disintegrated. A ray of Sword Qi slammed into him, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood as he was sent flying backward.
"Next time you speak, remember your place." Bing Ruolan swept Li Jun a glance, sheathed her sword, and turned to leave.
Li Jun struggled to his feet, only to spray out another mouthful of fresh blood.
"Bing Ruolan, you actually perfected the Star-piercing Swordsmanship to the seventh level! Congratulations, that’s wonderful!" As Bing Ruolan returned to the pavilion, Zi Yuan immediately rushed up to greet her, beaming.
"I was just lucky," Bing Ruolan replied with a slight smile, her gaze discreetly shifting towards Luo Feng.
It really is him. He Qin noticed this exchange. Her thoughts stirred, and she slowly exhaled.
The outcome of the duel had taken a sharp, unexpected turn. Many in the square were stunned by the Swordsmanship Bing Ruolan had displayed, and lively discussions broke out.
It took a moment for Elder Chen to regain his composure before he announced, "Bing Ruolan is the winner! Who else wishes to compete?"
"I didn’t expect Li Jun to actually lose. What a surprise."
Jadeite Young Master Xin Wuyue lightly tapped his folded fan, his gaze suddenly landing on Luo Feng. His expression shifted as he said to a slender young man beside him, "Li Feng, you go test that Luo Feng."
Li Hanshan’s apparent high regard for Luo Feng had piqued Xin Wuyue’s interest.
Hearing this, the young man named Li Feng frowned, glanced at Luo Feng, and shook his head. "He isn’t worth my effort."
Jadeite Young Master Xin Wuyue didn’t find his companion’s words arrogant.
In all of Changxin Academy, aside from the uniquely outstanding Young Master Haitang, only this young man, Li Feng, gave him a sense of unease.
Although Li Feng was not one of the Four Young Masters, his strength had already surpassed the quasi-Young Master level.
"Li Feng, don’t underestimate him. He’s this year’s top new prodigy from Flowing Cloud Region and has comprehended the Grand Momentum. Even Li Hanshan regarded him highly earlier," Xin Wuyue slowly cautioned.
"Someone Li Hanshan takes notice of? Then I must test him for myself!" Li Feng’s eyes flashed. He suddenly stood up and strode into the square.
"Huh, it’s actually Li Feng from Changxin Academy! He’s making a move too!"
"At Changxin Academy, Li Feng’s reputation is second only to Jadeite Young Master and Young Master Haitang. It’s said his strength has already reached the Half-step Young Master level!"
"Look, his aura is perfectly consolidated! He’s already at the peak of the mid-Eighth Level of the Hell Realm and will break through soon. Given time, he’ll definitely be able to contend with the Four Young Masters!"
"Indeed. He’s a martial arts fanatic who only fights those who genuinely interest him. I wonder who he’ll challenge this time."
Seeing Li Feng stride into the square, many spectators showed keen interest, their discussions growing louder.
Li Feng strode into the center of the square, his sharp gaze fixed directly on Luo Feng. "I challenge Luo Feng of Purple Sun School! Luo Feng, come out and fight!"
Instantly, all eyes fell upon Luo Feng.
As the top new prodigy of Flowing Cloud Region who had also comprehended the Grand Momentum, many had heard of Luo Feng.
"So he’s the top new prodigy of Flowing Cloud Region. He’s so young!"
"To comprehend the Grand Momentum at such a young age... his future achievements will be limitless!"
"True, but his Cultivation is a bit low. I’m afraid he’s no match for Li Feng."
"Losing wouldn’t be a big deal. With his comprehension of the Grand Momentum, given time, he too could become a Young Master-level figure."
Li Feng’s challenge to Luo Feng ignited a wave of discussion in the square, bringing the event to its first minor climax.
Luo Feng, the top new prodigy who had comprehended the Grand Momentum, and Li Feng, an expert at the Half-step Young Master level—though not a true Young Master yet—were both exceptionally brilliant talents. Their clash was bound to be spectacular.
However, most people didn’t hold high hopes for Luo Feng.
I didn’t expect it would be me. Luo Feng gave a faint smile and rose to his feet.
"Be careful. His strength ranks among the top four in Changxin Academy. He’s formidable," Bing Ruolan cautioned, recognizing Li Feng.
Luo Feng nodded and walked directly into the square.
Seeing Luo Feng enter the arena, a flicker crossed Qin Huan’s eyes, and a sneer touched his lips.
His elder brother, Qin Honglie, was one of the Four Young Masters. Defeating Luo Feng himself wouldn’t bring much glory or serve to truly humiliate Luo Feng.
Qin Huan, by contrast, much preferred to see Luo Feng defeated by someone else.
"Luo Feng, for Li Hanshan to look upon you favorably, you must have something extraordinary. I hope you won’t disappoint me and can last a little while."
Seeing Luo Feng step forward without hesitation, Li Feng’s eyes blazed with fervent battle intent.
Young Master Hanshan, Li Hanshan? Luo Feng was slightly taken aback. He hadn’t expected that a mere glance from the other party would cause such a stir.
Taking a shallow breath, Luo Feng looked at Li Feng and said with a calm smile, "Don’t worry, this will be over soon."
This statement stunned everyone present.
Li Feng was an expert second only to the Four Young Masters. For Luo Feng to make such a proclamation to his face was clearly the height of arrogance.
Hearing this, Li Feng didn’t get angry. Instead, he laughed heartily. "Excellent! No wonder Li Hanshan regards you so highly. Such audacity is indeed admirable! However, strength is what truly matters. Brace yourself!"
With a low shout, Li Feng’s clothes billowed as if in a strong wind, though there was none. His ordinarily calm demeanor suddenly became sharp and fierce.
SWISH!
His Longsword slid silently from its sheath. Like a wisp of breeze, Li Feng darted towards Luo Feng, skimming close to the ground.