Chapter 272: Chapter 272: The Four Young Lords
Looking at the defiant expression on Zi Yuan’s face, Zi Hongyuan forced a bitter smile.
As the Dean of Purple Sun School, he wished for nothing more than for Luo Feng and the other three to achieve good results at the upcoming summit.
However, he knew deep down that this was highly unlikely; there was virtually no hope.
Nearby, Zhou Zhiyun suddenly looked towards Luo Feng. "Luo Feng, be careful of Qin Honglie. Yesterday, you taught Li Jun a lesson, which embarrassed Ivy School. He probably won’t let it go. If he challenges you later, it’s best to refuse; he’s very powerful."
News of the incident at the valley entrance yesterday had already spread throughout Changxin Academy.
"I have it under control," Luo Feng said, nodding, his gaze devoid of any tension.
He had witnessed Qin Honglie’s strength at the tavern last time. Indeed, Qin Honglie was strong, but not enough to threaten him.
Changxin Academy’s grounds were divided into a residential area and an academic area, separated by a ten-meter-high wall. The summit was to be held in the Star Gathering Plaza, located in the academic area.
At this moment, a throng of people was moving briskly towards the academic area.
Luo Feng and his companions followed the crowd, and moments later, the Star Gathering Plaza appeared before them.
The plaza was hundreds of zhangs wide, constructed entirely from lustrous white condensed jade. Upon closer inspection, one could see a soft, jade-colored light shimmering across its surface, giving it an opulent and magnificent appearance.
The plaza was already bustling with noise, as streams of people continuously arrived from all directions.
As Luo Feng’s group entered the plaza, an elder from Changxin Academy immediately approached them with a smile. "Gentlemen, the summit will begin shortly. Please follow me."
Zi Hongyuan nodded and followed the elder.
On one side of the plaza, several pavilions had been erected in a row.
"This way, please."
The Changxin Academy elder led them to the third pavilion.
The first pavilion belonged to Changxin Academy, the second to Ivy School. From this arrangement, it was clear that the four great academies of Flowing Cloud Region were outranked by Red Maple Academy and Evil Spirit Academy.
The group entered their pavilion and sat down in order.
Hm? As soon as he was seated, Luo Feng felt several icy gazes on him. He looked up towards the Ivy School pavilion.
Seated there were several Ivy School students they had seen two days prior, including the few who had provoked Luo Feng at the valley entrance. Noticing Luo Feng’s gaze, they immediately flinched, clearly intimidated.
Li Jun’s long, narrow eyes flashed with a cold light, his face extremely grim. Beside him sat the brothers Qin Huan and Qin Honglie.
"Qin Huan, that brat is here!" Li Jun said quietly to Qin Huan, glancing at Luo Feng.
Qin Huan spared Luo Feng a glance, a cold glint deep in his eyes. He tugged Qin Honglie’s sleeve and, pointing at Luo Feng, said, "Big brother, that’s Luo Feng."
Hearing this, Qin Honglie narrowed his large eyes and said in a deep voice, "I’ve met him already."
"You’ve met him?"
Qin Honglie nodded. "Three days ago, while tracking the Impermanence Ten Ghosts near the Red Chain Mountain Range, I happened to run into him. We even exchanged blows."
"Big brother, don’t tell me you were also defeated by him!" Qin Huan gasped, sucking in a cold breath.
He knew his elder brother’s temperament; no one who fought him ever escaped unscathed. The best-case scenario was broken bones, requiring at least half a month of bed rest.
Qin Honglie’s face darkened. He clenched his fists, a disdainful smile playing on his lips. "He wants to beat me? He’s about eight hundred years too early. We had just started fighting when that old fossil Feng Linshan showed up. Otherwise, he’d be crippled now, if not dead!"
Qin Honglie licked his lips, a savage sneer spreading across his face.
Qin Huan sighed in relief and nodded vigorously. "Exactly, how could he be your match, big brother? Big brother, you must avenge me later!"
"Rest assured. No one who has caught my, Qin Honglie’s, attention has ever gotten away unscathed! He will be no exception!" Qin Honglie squinted at Luo Feng, a chilling light erupting from his pupils.
In the third pavilion, a cold smirk touched Luo Feng’s lips.
Qin Honglie and Qin Huan had been speaking openly, not bothering to lower their voices. With his keen perception, Luo Feng had heard every word clearly.
Their fight at the tavern last time had been cut short. Luo Feng found himself looking forward to the upcoming summit.
Shifting his gaze, Luo Feng’s attention fixed on a young man in green robes meditating in the second pavilion.
The young man appeared to be sixteen or seventeen years old, with an ordinary face. He sat with his eyes slightly closed, cradling a silver spear. Even from this distance, Luo Feng could feel a sharp, intense aura, as if something ferocious was about to pounce.
What a piercing aura! This person is extraordinary! Ordinary people might not notice anything, but I can sense that this spear-wielding young man’s aura is even stronger than Qin Honglie’s! Luo Feng’s eyes flashed.
As if sensing something, the spear-wielding young man, who had kept his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.
SWISH, SWISH, SWISH...
The moment he opened his eyes, the temperature around him seemed to plummet. Several Ivy School students nearby couldn’t help but shiver, reflexively drawing their swords in alarm.
Facing two gazes as sharp as swords, Luo Feng remained as tranquil as an old monk in deep meditation, his expression calm as still water.
A student from one of the four great academies? To remain so calm before me... Interesting...
The spear-wielding young man’s gaze landed on Luo Feng, a hint of surprise on his face. He then nodded slightly before closing his eyes again, as if nothing around him concerned him.
"Luo Feng, that person is Young Master Hanshan, Li Hanshan. The spear art he cultivates, Snow Dance Fills the Universe, is a Profound Level, mid-grade martial art. He’s ranked second among the Four Great Young Masters!" He Qin whispered.
Luo Feng nodded. The Four Great Young Masters are indeed no ordinary individuals. The moment he opened his eyes, I felt an urge to draw my saber.
"He has a solitary nature, obsessed with martial arts, and rarely pays attention to others. From his gaze just now, it seems he considers you an opponent," He Qin said, a faint look of surprise on her small face.
In the first pavilion, a refined-looking young man fanned himself, remarking with surprise, "I didn’t expect Li Hanshan to pay attention to anyone other than Young Master Haitang."
This refined young man was Jadeite Young Master Xin Wuyue, one of the Four Great Young Masters, ranked fourth among them.
The young man sitting beside Xin Wuyue said, "That person is Luo Feng, this year’s top newcomer from Flowing Cloud Region."
A look of astonishment appeared on Xin Wuyue’s face. "Oh? So he’s the one who comprehended the Grand Momentum."
Mid-stage Eighth Layer of the Hell Realm... his cultivation doesn’t seem that impressive. I wonder why Li Hanshan pays him any mind. Xin Wuyue sized Luo Feng up, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
Xin Wuyue and He Qin weren’t the only ones surprised; everyone who had noticed the change in Li Hanshan’s expression was now looking at Luo Feng with curiosity.
Qin Honglie had also witnessed the exchange. His face turned extremely unsightly, his eyes filled with a chilling intent.
He had always considered Li Hanshan his rival, yet from the moment they entered the plaza until now, Li Hanshan hadn’t even bothered to look at him directly.
Now, Li Hanshan was actually giving Luo Feng special attention. This deeply displeased Qin Honglie, making him feel a burning anger coiling in his stomach.
It was as if this proclaimed that he, the Third Young Master, was inferior to Luo Feng.
Li Hanshan... Just you wait! I’ll soon let you know who your real opponent is!
Qin Honglie sneered, gritting his teeth as he glared in Luo Feng’s direction.
The morning sun gradually ascended, and the entire plaza was now packed, with only the Deans of Changxin Academy and Ivy School yet to arrive.
A short while later, a group of figures emerged from the main hall’s entrance into the plaza.
"Feng Linshan and Zhu Huo are here!"
"Then Young Master Haitang should be arriving soon too."
Everyone immediately craned their necks, their faces alight with anticipation.
The figures moved quickly, reaching the center of the plaza in moments.
Walking at the forefront was a middle-aged man exuding a scholarly aura; this was Feng Linshan, the Dean of Changxin Academy.
Beside Feng Linshan was a red-faced, powerfully built man who resembled an enraged Vajra guardian; he was Zhu Huo, the Dean of Ivy School.
Several elders from both academies accompanied them.
"Huh? What’s going on? The First Young Master, Young Master Haitang, hasn’t arrived."
Many people around the plaza looked puzzled.
Once the group reached the center of the plaza and took their seats, an elder from Changxin Academy stepped forward and announced in a clear voice,
"Esteemed guests, today marks the summit between Red Maple Lead and Flowing Cloud Region. We welcome all of you who have graced us with your presence, having traveled great distances to be here."
"Elder Chen, you’re too kind. For Changxin Academy to host this summit and invite us is an honor for us."
"Indeed, to witness the skills of the young talents from these two territories is our good fortune."
"Elder Chen, the summit is about to begin. Why hasn’t Young Master Haitang appeared yet?"
Leaders from various major powers and renowned figures of the martial world gathered around the plaza began to ask questions.
Elder Chen raised his hand, gesturing downwards.
An invisible pressure swept across the entire plaza, and the clamor immediately subsided.
Only then did Elder Chen continue, "Young Master Haitang has recently achieved a breakthrough and is currently in seclusion to consolidate his cultivation. Therefore, he will be unable to attend today’s summit."
"What? Young Master Haitang made a breakthrough?"
"Could the rumors be true? Has he reached the peak of the Eighth Layer of the Hell Realm?!"
"Incredible! He’s only sixteen, yet he has achieved so much. When I was sixteen, I was merely a Sixth Layer God Bravery Realm martial artist..."
"With this, his position as the First Young Master is even more unshakeable. The other three Young Masters are still at the late-stage Eighth Layer of the Hell Realm."
As Elder Chen’s words fell, an uproar erupted in the plaza. Everyone was stunned by the news.
"Peak of the Eighth Layer of the Hell Realm. He’s taken the lead again."
Hearing this, Jadeite Young Master Xin Wuyue shook his folding fan and then his head, a bitter smile on his face.
In the second pavilion, Qin Honglie’s eyes blazed with astonishing battle intent, but more so with jealousy and unwillingness. His fingers dug into the tabletop, gouging five deep marks into its surface.
SWISH!
Li Hanshan, who had kept his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. A brilliant light flashed within them, then his expression returned to calm. He slowly closed his eyes again, leaving everyone to wonder what he was thinking.
A hint of regret flashed in Luo Feng’s eyes. So Young Master Haitang isn’t coming. He’s the foremost of the Four Great Young Masters of Red Maple Lead, and I wanted to see his strength for myself. I didn’t expect this turn of events.
Just then, a group of young women wielding swords walked gracefully to the center of the plaza and stood there quietly.
These young women, their faces veiled by light gauze, possessed graceful figures. Their youthful forms exuded an endless allure, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.