"Hmph, I'm well aware of that."
At the Purple Sun School, students weren't allowed to engage in private fights. Lin Hui coldly huffed in response to Bing Ruolan's questioning.
Turning away, Lin Hui resentfully looked at Luo Feng, who was shielded by Bing Ruolan. With a disdainful glance, he said, "Luo Feng, no wonder Xiao Xiao looks down on you. You're just a loser who can only hide behind a woman!"
Lin Hui's voice was loud enough for all the students present to hear clearly. Several students on good terms with Lin Hui immediately chimed in to support him, "Lin Hui, let's go. Luo Feng has the class president backing him; how could you be a match for him?"
"Exactly. Now that Luo Feng has latched onto powerful connections, he wouldn't give you a second thought..."
Various taunts and jeers continued to pour in.
Luo Feng raised an eyebrow, his expression flickered, and anger surged within him.
This was undoubtedly naked humiliation!
Taking a deep breath, Luo Feng forced himself to calm down.
Lin Hui is already at the Late Stage of the Third Level of the Meridian Wheel Realm, with strength exceeding 2,500 catties. I am definitely not his match right now. However, my Soul Power is strong, and my cultivation speed is fast. As long as I can break through to the Third Level of the Meridian Wheel Realm, I'll have a chance to win!
After some analysis, a glint flashed in Luo Feng's eyes. Stepping past Bing Ruolan, he looked coldly at Lin Hui, "Lin Hui, in the martial arts practice class ten days from now, I will personally challenge you. And then, I will defeat you!"
The surrounding whispers suddenly died down. Everyone stared at Luo Feng in astonishment; no one had expected him to utter such words.
Bing Ruolan's daimei creased. Just as she was about to dissuade Luo Feng, Lin Hui's disdainful laughter suddenly rang out from the side.
"HAHAHA... Kid, I accept! I'll give you ten days! In the martial arts practice class ten days from now, don't you dare forget today's agreement!" A glint of cunning flashed through Lin Hui's eyes.
Luo Feng's gaze was steady as he nodded and said, "I always keep my word!"
The crowd was somewhat taken aback. The unspoken implication of Luo Feng's words was that he would defeat Lin Hui in the martial arts practice class ten days from now.
Lin Hui also understood. His gaze hardened, and he snorted coldly, "Luo Feng, strength isn't proven by words alone. Trash will always be trash! See you in ten days!"
With that, Lin Hui strode away from the training ground with his few followers.
"Luo Feng, you were too reckless..." After Lin Hui left, a soft sigh was heard nearby. Bing Ruolan looked at Luo Feng, shaking her head slightly.
She thought Luo Feng had been provoked by Lin Hui and had recklessly spoken those words as a result. Lin Hui had already opened his third Meridian Wheel and was now at the Late Stage of the Third Level of the Meridian Wheel Realm. Luo Feng had only opened his third Meridian Wheel today. In Bing Ruolan's view, Luo Feng stood no chance of winning in ten days.
"Whether it was reckless or not, we'll only know in ten days," Luo Feng replied, his face full of confidence.
Bing Ruolan was taken aback for a moment by Luo Feng's confident expression, then she shook her head.
As the class president of the Silver Moon class, she had a clear understanding of each student's strength. Even though Luo Feng had broken through to the Third Level of the Meridian Wheel Realm today, he definitely couldn't be a match for Lin Hui. Nevermind. I don't have the right to tell him what to do. I just hope he won't blame me later for not having warned him.
With that thought, Bing Ruolan said no more.
Luo Feng also knew that defeating Lin Hui in ten days would be no easy task. A sense of urgency pressed upon him. After thanking Bing Ruolan for her earlier intervention, he took his leave and returned to his own small courtyard.
The Purple Sun School was one of the four major academies in the Flowing Cloud Region of the Canglang Dynasty. It boasted an unrivaled status and its grounds covered over one hundred and sixty acres. Each student had their own individual small courtyard within the academy grounds.
The accommodations for the Outer Academy students were quite simple: each square, red-brick small courtyard contained only a single, detached building.
Lin Hui is now at the Late Stage of the Third Level of the Meridian Wheel Realm, with strength exceeding 2,500 catties. His power cannot be underestimated! I must elevate my strength to the Mid-Stage of the Third Level of the Meridian Wheel Realm within ten days to have a chance of winning.
In the courtyard, Luo Feng stood with a resolute air, ready to begin his cultivation.
He reached into his robes and took out the porcelain vial. Crushing the wax seal at its mouth, a round, translucent, jade-green pill rolled out, landing in his palm. The surrounding air immediately filled with a faint medicinal fragrance.
I now have two Condensation Yuan Pills. One Condensation Yuan Pill is enough for a Martial Artist at the Second Level of the Meridian Wheel Realm to cultivate for three days. Two Condensation Yuan Pills should be enough for me to break through to the Third Level of the Meridian Wheel Realm.
Luo Feng murmured to himself and then put the pill directly into his mouth.
The pill melted the moment it entered his mouth. Luo Feng felt a cool sensation stream into his stomach. Then, a surge of heat suddenly erupted from his abdomen, spreading throughout his entire being!
Luo Feng knew the medicinal power was spreading through his body. Wasting no time, he immediately began to practice the foundational martial art, the Leopard Fist!
The Meridian Wheel Realm consisted of nine levels: the First, Life Nurturing; the Second, Body Strengthening; the Third, Strength Training; the Fourth, Hardness and Softness; the Fifth, Bone Tempering...
Among these, Life Nurturing and Body Strengthening focused on recuperation and conditioning, making the body robust.
Luo Feng was currently at the Second Level, the Body Strengthening realm, where he needed to use Yuan Qi to stimulate his body's potential and fortify his physique.
Practicing martial arts could help Yuan Qi integrate into the body faster.
The Leopard Fist was a foundational martial art, consisting of five forms: Leopard Steps, Leopard Fist, Leopard Pounce, Leopard Attack, and Leopard Crack!
Closing his eyes, the various forms of the Leopard Fist flowed through his mind. Luo Feng took a shallow breath, then clenched his fists. His fists moved like the wind as he began practicing from the first form of the Leopard Fist.
As soon as he moved, Luo Feng noticed how today's cultivation felt different from the past.
Previously, when practicing the Leopard Fist, his movements had always felt somewhat awkward and stiff, lacking fluidity. But now, Luo Feng moved with the powerful grace of a dragon and the agility of a tiger. He executed the fist techniques effortlessly, his mind guiding his fists, one form flowing seamlessly into the next, experiencing an exhilarating smoothness like drifting clouds and flowing water.
"Leopard Attack!"
Luo Feng's eyes locked onto a huge boulder five paces away. His body bent slightly, then he propelled himself forward forcefully. Moving like a leopard tearing through the air, he instantly crossed the five-pace distance.
BOOM!
His fist landed on the boulder, making it tremble slightly. With a series of CRACKLING sounds, fine fissures rapidly extended from the point of impact.
"Leopard Crack!"
Luo Feng's eyes flashed with brilliance. With a great roar, the ground beneath his feet began to crack and splinter. His right arm trembled slightly, and the surrounding air vibrated audibly, as if an enraged leopard was roaring!
CRACK!
On the man-high boulder, the fissures, originally only as thick as a finger, rapidly widened. Then, with a loud RUMBLE, the entire boulder shattered into countless pieces, scattering across the ground!
Calming his breath and standing still, Luo Feng gazed at the scattered rubble before him. Recalling the utterly satisfying exhilaration he had felt while executing the Leopard Fist moments ago, his eyes lit up with joyful surprise.
It's truly unbelievable! I used to struggle even with executing 'Leopard Attack,' but now I can perform 'Leopard Crack' so freely and effortlessly!
Luo Feng was amazed. Contemplating the reason for this transformation, he realized the only explanation was the soul fusion—his comprehension of martial arts had also grown stronger.
Figuring this out, Luo Feng's breath quickened slightly, his eyes gleaming with delight.
The stronger a Martial Artist's comprehension, the faster they could master martial arts.
And the higher the level of mastery in martial arts, not only did it accelerate a Martial Artist's cultivation speed, but it also unleashed greater power! One could even achieve victory against a stronger opponent!
If I can cultivate the Yellow Grade, Mid-Rank martial art, Tiger Roar Fist, to the Great Achievement Realm, then even if I'm only at the Initial Stage of the Third Level of the Meridian Wheel Realm, Lin Hui probably wouldn't be my match! Luo Feng thought, his eyes blazing with determination.
Having made up his mind, Luo Feng prepared to continue his cultivation.
Although the Tiger Roar Fist was powerful, it was too fierce and domineering, placing an immense strain on the body. Cultivating it before reaching the Third Level of the Meridian Wheel Realm, the Cultivation Power Realm, would be more harmful than beneficial.
Leopard Steps!
...
Leopard Attack!
Leopard Crack!
...
As Luo Feng's figure flickered about, the wind from his fists billowed through the small courtyard. The sounds of fists explosively parting the air were everywhere, and dust filled the air.
Luo Feng executed the Leopard Fist dozens of times. He gradually felt the Yuan Qi, released from the Condensation Yuan Pill within him, follow the momentum of his techniques, continuously washing through his body like waves of water.
The waves, cresting one after another, grew increasingly fierce, gathering the Yuan Qi within his body like a powerful vortex. The momentum was immense, as if it was about to break through some barrier.
I'm about to break through! How can it be this fast!
Luo Feng sensed the changes within his body. He was momentarily stunned, then jolted to awareness. This was the feeling of an impending breakthrough!
Such an opportunity was rare; if he missed it, who knew when the next one would come! Realizing this, Luo Feng immediately sat down cross-legged in the small courtyard.
At this moment, an intense feeling of depletion emanated from within his body. Luo Feng hurriedly took out the last Condensation Yuan Pill he had on him.
Success or failure hinges on this! Lin XiaoXiao, you could never have imagined it, could you? The Condensation Yuan Pill you left behind will be the very first foundation stone for my, Luo Feng's, ascent!
The thought flashed through Luo Feng's mind. With a sharp glint in his eyes, he swallowed the Condensation Yuan Pill! Then, closing his eyes, he began to guide the nearly frenzied tide of Yuan Qi within him to assault the two Meridian Wheels located in his spleen!
「The stars turned and the moon cycled; in what felt like the blink of an eye, two days passed.」
Luo Feng remained seated cross-legged in the small courtyard, a few fallen leaves scattered over him, motionless as a statue of wood or stone. Students' schedules at the academy were quite unrestricted, so no one had disturbed him during these two days.
HUMMM!
Suddenly, strange ripples emanated from Luo Feng. Though there was no wind in the small courtyard, the surrounding fallen leaves abruptly swirled upwards!
Luo Feng abruptly opened his eyes. They burst with a brilliant light, dazzling like a thunderbolt or a flash of lightning.
WHOOSH!
Leaping to his feet, Luo Feng spread his arms and pounced towards a pile of discarded stone material in the corner of the small courtyard, like a great Roc.
"Leopard Fist!"
With a low shout, his fist shot out like lightning, smashing into the large stone.
RUMBLE!
The large stone, nearly two men tall, was blasted a meter into the air before shattering into innumerable pieces!
"Third Level of the Meridian Wheel Realm!"
Luo Feng gazed at the field of rubble, a confident smile spreading across his face.
Thanks to two Condensation Yuan Pills and two days of intensive effort, Luo Feng had finally succeeded in opening the two Meridian Wheels in his spleen. He was now a genuine Martial Artist of the Third Level of the Meridian Wheel Realm.
I now have six opened Meridian Wheels in my body, and my strength is close to 1,500 catties! That's equivalent to a Martial Artist at the Mid-Stage of the Third Level of the Meridian Wheel Realm! If I encounter Yang Ting now, I could beat him half to death with a single punch!
Luo Feng clenched his fists, feeling the unceasing surge of power coursing through his body, and exclaimed in pleasant surprise.
The Third Level of the Meridian Wheel Realm, also known as the Cultivation Power Realm, primarily involved using Yuan Qi to crudely temper the physique and enhance physical strength.
Generally, Martial Artists at the Initial Stage of the Cultivation Power Realm possessed strength of around 500 catties. Those at the Mid-Stage had around 1,500 catties, and Late-Stage cultivators surpassed 2,500 catties.
Thanks to his soul fusion, Luo Feng's body contained eighteen Meridian Wheels. Having just broken through to the Third Level of the Meridian Wheel Realm, his strength already surpassed 1,500 catties, making his capabilities comparable to those of a Martial Artist at the Mid-Stage of the Third Level of the Meridian Wheel Realm!