Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Assault on the Heart!
The mountain wind blew gently, rendering the entire gorge eerily silent.
"Damn it!"
A moment later, a furious roar erupted. Xiao Yu, his eyes glinting like a fierce tiger, let out a long scream. His fist, wreathed in Gang Qi, hurtled towards the ground.
BOOM!
The ground was immediately blasted into a depression.
Thinking about how he, Xiao Yu, had been played by Luo Feng, whose cultivation was only at the peak of the Sixth Level God Bravery Realm, filled him with an urge to go mad.
He had never experienced such a humiliating failure in his entire life!
The other three students from Tianlan School exchanged glances as they witnessed Xiao Yu’s rage. One of them gulped and asked, "Senior Brother Xiao, should we pursue him?"
"Are you an idiot?"
Xiao Yu whirled around, his gaze coldly fixed on the student who had spoken. He snorted, "With his Qinggong, do you think you can catch him? Three good-for-nothings! You couldn’t even watch two people!"
He was played by the opponent, and now he’s blaming us. How utterly shameless!
Anger simmered in the hearts of the three. They secretly agreed with what Luo Feng had said earlier but dared not show it, merely nodding obsequiously.
Xiao Yu took a deep breath and said in a solemn tone, "If anyone dares to breathe a single word about what happened today, I will hunt them to the ends of the earth and personally cripple them!"
The pupils of the three Tianlan School students constricted, and they hurriedly shook their heads. "Senior Brother Xiao, rest assured, we will take what happened today to our graves!"
"That’s best."
Xiao Yu snorted coldly, looking up in the direction Luo Feng had vanished. A murderous glint flickered in his dark eyes.
"Luo Feng, just wait and see, this isn’t over!"
***
Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan climbed the cliff. Not long after they had walked some distance, they heard the roar from behind them.
Bing Ruolan, still blushing from being held in Luo Feng’s arms moments before, looked even more charming and adorable. Hearing the roar from behind, she glanced back and said with a sweet smile, "Luo Feng, it looks like you really angered Xiao Yu."
Luo Feng curled his lip. "He brought it on himself for being so shameless."
Her sapphire-like eyes blinked. Bing Ruolan clasped her hands behind her back, tilted her head towards Luo Feng, and asked, "Luo Feng, why didn’t you fight Xiao Yu just now?"
Bing Ruolan had initially thought Luo Feng would fight it out with Xiao Yu. She was genuinely surprised when Luo Feng had grabbed her hand.
"It’s nothing. I just felt that his Azure Cloud Gangqi was too troublesome."
Luo Feng replied casually while resting his hands behind his head.
Is that really so...
Bing Ruolan blinked her lovely eyes, glancing at the seemingly nonchalant young man beside her. The corners of her rosy lips curved into a subtle, alluring smile.
Xiao Yu’s Azure Cloud Gangqi was indeed formidable. However, the Teng Dragon’s Step, combined with the Sky Slayer Saber Technique, was also extraordinary.
Bing Ruolan was confident that even if Luo Feng could not win against Xiao Yu, he wouldn’t be at a disadvantage in a short period of time.
After much thought, the only reason Bing Ruolan could conceive for Luo Feng choosing to leave was her.
She knew she would be no match for three experts at the peak of the Sixth Level God Bravery Realm if they joined forces.
Such a clumsy excuse. He can’t even lie properly...
Bing Ruolan secretly glanced at Luo Feng, her lips pursed slightly, a mischievous glint in her beautiful eyes.
"Luo Feng, the Black Dark Claw and Ji Wuchang’s head should be exchangeable for a good number of academy credits. Where are we headed now?"
Bing Ruolan asked a moment later, her voice cheerful.
"I want to continue training in the Misty Swamp for a few more days. When the time is right, I’ll consume the Spirit Blood Pearl and attempt to break through to the Seventh Level Essence Storage Realm."
Bing Ruolan nodded. "Mm, there are still about ten days until the academy’s selection tournament. We still have some time. I also plan to consolidate my cultivation realm."
***
Over the next few days, Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan remained in the Misty Swamp. Besides challenging various Demon Beasts and cultivating, they sparred and discussed their understanding of Martial Arts.
Luo Feng’s Martial Arts were direct and domineering, while Bing Ruolan’s were the opposite—agile and versatile. The two complemented each other perfectly, and practicing together, they achieved results with half the effort.
Especially Bing Ruolan, with Luo Feng’s guidance, her comprehension of Martial Arts improved rapidly, and her cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.
DING DING DING DING...
In a dense part of the Misty Swamp forest, two figures continuously darted past each other. The clash of saber and sword sent sparks flying.
They fought fiercely. Nearby trees, occasionally caught by the shockwaves from their fists and blades, creaked and toppled.
Although their fight was intense, there wasn’t the slightest hint of killing intent. It was as if they were communicating through their sparring, a sight pleasing to behold.
After a long time, the two sparring figures finally stopped.
It was Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan.
"Luo Feng, your Saber Technique is becoming increasingly polished, almost flawless."
Bing Ruolan sheathed her sword, her beautiful eyes looking at Luo Feng with a hint of envy.
Having just finished cultivating, Bing Ruolan’s developing chest rose and fell gently. Strands of her light blue hair clung to her smooth, sweaty forehead. Her cheeks were still flushed, adding a touch of captivating charm to her innocent face, a truly heart-stirring sight.
This girl is already so beautiful. I wonder how devastatingly stunning she’ll be when she grows up...
Luo Feng gazed at Bing Ruolan, momentarily lost in thought. He took a shallow breath, quickly regaining his composure, and said with a smile, "Your Floating Cloud Sword Technique is also excellent. You had me scrambling a few times. You must have reached Great Accomplishment with it, right?"
Bing Ruolan pursed her red lips and said with a soft smile, "If it weren’t for your guidance, I wouldn’t have progressed so fast."
Luo Feng shook his head. "That’s the result of your own hard work. My advice was merely the icing on the cake. Even the greatest genius, without effort, will just fade into mediocrity."
"Hee hee... Your tone is exactly like that old, heavily bearded examiner from the assessment hall! When I became an inner courtyard student, he said the same thing while stroking his beard." Bing Ruolan looked at Luo Feng, smiling gracefully.
Luo Feng chuckled. "How did you know I learned it from him?"
Bing Ruolan playfully tapped Luo Feng. "Alright, stop joking. The academy’s qualification challenge tournament is in ten days. We should be heading back."
"Yes, I was thinking the same. I feel I’m almost ready. Tonight, I’ll consume the Spirit Blood Pearl and attempt to break through to the Seventh Level Essence Storage Realm."
Luo Feng nodded, his eyes full of confidence.
These past few days of cultivation had made his aura increasingly refined and complete. The two Dragon-shaped Pulse Wheels in his liver had reached Great Accomplishment, and the time for a breakthrough was ripe.
"I also feel like I’m about to break through. I wonder what realm these two Spirit Blood Pearls will help me reach."
Hearing Luo Feng mention the Spirit Blood Pearl, Bing Ruolan’s eyes filled with anticipation.
A mature Spirit Blood Pearl is equivalent to a peak Grade Four Spiritual Medicine!
Even though the Spirit Blood Pearls they had obtained weren’t fully mature, their spiritual efficacy was still extraordinary!
They were definitely more potent than the peak Grade Three Nurturing Spirit Pill, the reward for first place in the previous Challenge King competition!
As night deepened, the entire Misty Swamp was plunged into pitch darkness, where one couldn’t see their own hand in front of their face; the pervading grey-black mist seemed to conceal countless dangers.
A faint fire flickered within a hidden tree hollow.
Inside the tree hollow, Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan sat cross-legged beside a crackling bonfire, cloaked against the chill.
"Let’s begin."
The two exchanged a look, and Luo Feng spoke.
Bing Ruolan nodded and took out the two hard-won Spirit Blood Pearls.
The Spirit Blood Pearls rolled in Bing Ruolan’s palm, emitting a dense, sanguine glow that outshone the nearby firelight, resembling a blood-red sun.
Bing Ruolan drew her sword and used its edge to make a small cut in the palm of each hand. Blood immediately welled up.
She quickly placed one Spirit Blood Pearl against each bleeding wound, gripping them tightly. A crimson light flashed in her sapphire-blue pupils as she slowly closed her eyes.
Spirit Blood Pearls could not be ingested directly, or most of their Yuan Qi would dissipate. The correct method was to absorb them into one’s body, using fresh blood to draw out and assimilate their medicinal power!
HUM!
A moment later, steam began to rise from the top of Bing Ruolan’s head. Her delicate body trembled slightly, and the skin of her hands gripping the Spirit Blood Pearls suddenly exuded a layer of vivid, blood-red mist.
The mist spread rapidly, soon enveloping her entire body. From the side, she looked like a giant blood cocoon, from which intense Yuan Qi fluctuations pulsed.
"Such terrifying Yuan Qi!"
Sensing the potent Yuan Qi fluctuations from within the blood cocoon, Luo Feng couldn’t help but lick his lips.
It was the first time he had ever sensed such formidable Yuan Qi.
"I hope I can break through to the Seventh Level Essence Storage Realm tonight!"
Looking at the Spirit Blood Pearl in his hand, Luo Feng’s eyes burned with anticipation.
The peak of the Sixth Level God Bravery Realm and the Seventh Level Essence Storage Realm, though only a single step apart, were worlds apart in power!
Only by successfully stepping into the Seventh Level Essence Storage Realm could one truly be considered to have touched the threshold of cultivation!
Taking a shallow breath, Luo Feng gripped his Tiger Soul Saber, instantly creating two bleeding cuts in his palms.
Placing a Spirit Blood Pearl into each wound, Luo Feng entered a state of Chi block, slowly guiding his blood to flow over and infuse the pearls.
SIZZLE!
The moment his blood touched the Spirit Blood Pearls, it was as if boiling oil had been poured onto a raging fire; all the blood in his body began to seethe.
The immense Yuan Qi within the Spirit Blood Pearls began to merge with his blood, coursing through his limbs and torso, tempering his skin, flesh, muscles, and bones. It then returned to his heart, relentlessly battering the two unawakened Meridian Wheels within!
The Yuan Qi surged like a tide, wave after powerful wave crashing against the two dim Meridian Wheels.
RUMBLE!
With each impact, a deafening sound like rolling thunder echoed within Luo Feng’s body!
Two hours!
Four hours!
...
Eight hours!
The bonfire in the tree hollow had long since died out, and the sky outside was gradually brightening.
CRACK!
After an indeterminate amount of time, a crisp sound, like an eggshell cracking, suddenly emanated from within Luo Feng’s body.
Within his heart, one of the two originally dim Meridian Wheels, battered by countless surges of Yuan Qi, finally developed a fissure!
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE...
The Yuan Qi’s assault intensified. The fissure on the Meridian Wheel grew larger and larger, spreading rapidly like a spiderweb accompanied by crisp cracking sounds.
Finally...
CRACKLE! With a final sound, it shattered completely!
The originally dim Meridian Wheel now blazed within his heart like a scorching sun!
The ninth Meridian Wheel, successfully awakened!