CHAPTER 332: CHAPTER 331: SECRET

WHOOSH.

Seeing that the situation was under control, Luo Feng didn’t pursue those who fled, instead looking to the side.

More than half of the twenty-odd Blood Clothed Guards were dead or injured, most with bloody holes in their bodies—clearly, all killed by Bing Ruolan’s Spirit Rhino Finger Technique.

A moment later, the battle neared its end. Elder Lu and the others managed to kill the last Blood Clothed Guard.

Luo Feng walked towards Bing Ruolan.

"Senior Brother Luo Feng."

The nearby students of the Floating Snow School, upon seeing Luo Feng, immediately stepped aside, their demeanor extremely respectful.

Everyone had witnessed the previous battle. Luo Feng had single-handedly slain two mid-stage Ninth Heavenly Court Realm experts. Such strength was enough to earn their respect.

Looking at the pairs of awe-filled eyes around him, Luo Feng recalled how, just a few months prior, he was still a despised member of the Silver Moon class. A wave of emotion washed over him.

"Luo Feng."

A stern-faced young man walked over; it was Hu Yitian.

His snow-white robe was now stained red, a testament to the fierce battle he had just endured.

Luo Feng smiled and said, "Long time no see. Thanks for the information last time."

Hu Yitian punched Luo Feng on the chest and laughed heartily. "You’re still thanking me for that little thing? This time you saved my life! How am I supposed to repay you? Offer myself in return?"

Just then, Bing Ruolan walked over. Hearing his words, her dark brows furrowed slightly. She moved to stand beside Luo Feng, giving Hu Yitian a strange look.

Seeing Bing Ruolan, Hu Yitian looked a little embarrassed. He scratched his head and chuckled, "Bing Ruolan, I was just kidding. Haha..."

Luo Feng smiled faintly, sized Hu Yitian up, and said with surprise, "Peak of the eighth-stage Hell Realm. Your progress is quite fast."

"That’s nothing. I only reached my current cultivation after taking twelve Snow Ginseng Pills." Hu Yitian shook his head, then looked at Luo Feng. "You, on the other hand... If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe you’ve actually entered the Ninth Heavenly Court Realm! Even mid-stage Ninth Heavenly Court Realm experts are no match for you. That rate of progress is terrifying enough to scare someone to death!"

As he spoke, Hu Yitian was about to pat Luo Feng again, but seeing Bing Ruolan’s disapproving look, he sheepishly withdrew his hand.

Luo Feng rubbed his nose and smiled. "I was just lucky and had some fortuitous encounters. By the way, what brings so many of you here?"

"We heard that a Secret Realm had appeared in the Red Flame Desert, so the Dean wanted us to see if we could find any opportunities. We never expected to run into disciples of the Blood Demon Sect as soon as we entered the Blood Roar Plains..."

Hu Yitian shook his head, his expression dimming.

"The news got out so fast!"

Luo Feng was startled.

News of the Secret Realm had only spread a few days ago; he hadn’t expected it to reach the Flowing Cloud Region so quickly.

Bing Ruolan pondered for a moment and said, "I suspect the Demon Sect spread the news intentionally, then set up ambushes along the necessary routes to wear down the strength of the major powers."

Hearing this, Luo Feng nodded, "It seems so. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been so many Blood Demon Sect disciples on the Blood Roar Plains."

Hu Yitian listened, puzzled, and asked in surprise, "You know about the Secret Realm too?"

Luo Feng replied with a faint smile.

"We’ve just come out from the Secret Realm."

"You entered the Secret Realm?" Elder Lu and the others had just walked over and were greatly shocked by this.

The news of their entry into the Secret Realm would eventually reach the Flowing Cloud Region anyway, so there was no need to hide it. Luo Feng nodded, admitting it.

"The Dean said this Secret Realm was the Puppet Sect, which vanished a thousand years ago. However, after we came out, the Secret Realm disappeared too."

"The Puppet Sect? That was a behemoth of a power a thousand years ago, stronger than even the current Martial Arts holy lands!"

Everyone was shocked at this news.

The students of the Floating Snow School looked at Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan with envy.

Many assumed their rapid cultivation progress was due to the Secret Realm.

"This is a fortuitous opportunity, something that can’t be sought after. You two must cherish it."

Elder Lu knew what was appropriate to ask and what wasn’t, so he didn’t press further. He glanced at the remaining Floating Snow School students and sighed. "To think we fell into the Demon Sect’s trap, sacrificing so many lives for nothing."

Hearing this, the others’ expressions turned somber.

Luo Feng shook his head. "The path of Martial Arts is one of contending with heaven and earth, fraught with peril. As Martial Artists, we must have the courage to disregard life and death. Today’s trials will forge tomorrow’s sharpness! It cannot be said to be for nothing."

These words were spoken with powerful conviction. Elder Lu was slightly stunned, looked deeply at Luo Feng, and nodded.

"Well said. I’ve cultivated for so many years yet haven’t seen through this point; I’m truly ashamed. It’s no accident that you can comprehend the Grand Momentum!"

Luo Feng rubbed his nose and chuckled, "Elder Lu, you praise me too much."

Elder Lu shook his head. "I, Lu Yunhan, have roamed the martial arts world for decades. While my strength may not be exceptional, my eye for people is still decent. At such a young age, you possess an air of decisive slaughter; you are definitely not one to remain in a small pond."

The people nearby were quite shocked to hear Elder Lu’s words.

Elder Lu was a Teaching Elder of the Floating Snow School, holding a very high status. He was strict by nature and seldom praised others. His words about Luo Feng were truly surprising.

Hearing Elder Lu praise Luo Feng, Bing Ruolan was secretly delighted. Biting her red lip, her beautiful eyes quietly sized up Luo Feng. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks, making her look charming and captivating.

At this moment, a Floating Snow School student strode over. "Elder, the count is complete. Of thirty-eight students, sixteen are dead, and eight are critically injured."

Elder Lu nodded with a grim face and waved his hand. "Get ready. We’ll head to Willow Mountain City first."

"Yes!"

Elder Lu turned back to Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan. "The road ahead is likely unsafe. How about you travel with us? We can look out for each other on the way."

Luo Feng nodded. "We also need to go to Willow Mountain City to replenish some dry rations."

Bing Ruolan glanced at Luo Feng. She knew he had a second-tier storage ring; how could he be short of dry rations?

Elder Lu breathed a sigh of relief, gratefully looking at Luo Feng. "Thank you!"

He had genuinely worried Luo Feng would refuse. With their current state of injuries and deaths, if they encountered another mishap, they would have no strength to resist.

Hearing Luo Feng agree, Hu Yitian was overjoyed and grinned. "Luo Feng, I’ll have to ask for your guidance on Saber Techniques later!"

"Alright." Luo Feng nodded.

Bing Ruolan found the Six-leg Demon Horses. After helping the injured mount up, the group set off for Willow Mountain City.

With injured members, the group of several dozen people did not travel quickly.

Along the way, Hu Yitian and Luo Feng discussed Saber Techniques.

Both had profound insights into Saber Techniques. Luo Feng’s Saber Technique was characterized by its swiftness and ferocity, while Hu Yitian’s Saber Technique aimed to subdue enemies with speed. Their styles complemented each other, and both gained something from the exchange.

The surrounding Floating Snow School students, most of whom were saber users, benefited greatly from listening to their discussion.

Eventually, even a few elders couldn’t resist joining in, asking Luo Feng about certain problems related to Saber Techniques.

Apart from questions about his Grand Momentum and Shocking Thunder Saber Technique, Luo Feng welcomed all inquiries. He was always able to accurately hit the nail on the head, earning the admiration of the crowd. He quickly integrated with the group of Floating Snow School students.

「Half a day later」

A city appeared in sight.

Luo Feng needed to hurry back to the Purple Sun School, so he bid farewell to Elder Lu and the others.

Elder Lu had initially wanted to urge them to stay, but hearing Luo Feng had urgent business, he had to let it go.

"Luo Feng, if you hadn’t appeared, we would likely have met a terrible fate at the hands of the Blood Demon Sect. I, Lu Yunhan, will engrave this kindness in my heart and will surely repay you generously in the future!" As they were about to part, Elder Lu cupped his fist to Luo Feng.

"And me!"

"Me too!"

The others from the Floating Snow School also cupped their fists one after another.

Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan were on their Six-leg Demon Horses, initially intending to decline everyone’s kind offers. But after a moment’s thought, they dismounted.

Rubbing his nose, Luo Feng looked at Elder Lu and smiled. "No need to wait until later. I actually have something I need your help with right now."

Everyone was taken aback. Elder Lu quickly asked, "What is it? As long as I can do it, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

"It isn’t that serious."

Luo Feng shook his head and smiled. "Do you happen to have any Yuan Stones on you..."

Luo Feng was wondering where he could get Yuan Stones. Such a good opportunity presenting itself, he naturally wouldn’t miss it.

"Er..."

Hearing Luo Feng’s words, the people around were unsure whether to laugh or cry. They hadn’t expected Luo Feng’s request to be something so... simple.

Bing Ruolan, sitting on her Six-leg Demon Horse, bit her red lip as she looked at Luo Feng, a mischievous smile in her beautiful eyes.

Elder Lu shook his head with a wry smile and turned to the others. "Take out all the Yuan Stones you have. I’ll reimburse you according to the amount when we get back to the school."

Everyone took out their Yuan Stones.

These students weren’t at the Ninth Heavenly Court Realm cultivation, so their personal stashes of Yuan Stones were limited. In the end, the twenty-odd people only managed to pool together one hundred and forty-three Yuan Stones.

Luo Feng had only mentioned it casually and didn’t think the amount was too little, so he accepted them.

Seeing Luo Feng wasn’t bothered, Elder Lu felt rather embarrassed, and the other Floating Snow School elders also felt their cheeks burn.

Luo Feng had saved so many of them, yet the renowned Floating Snow School, one of the four great schools, could only offer a mere one hundred and forty Yuan Stones as thanks. If word of this got out, they would surely become a laughingstock.

"Luo Feng, we left in a hurry this time and didn’t bring many Yuan Stones. When we return to the school, I will inform the Dean, and we will prepare a proper reward then," Elder Lu said.

Luo Feng swung himself onto his horse, not taking Elder Lu’s words to heart. He waved. "Then we’ll be off! We’ll meet again if fate allows!"

With that, the two of them rode off.

"We should get going too. Let’s enter the city first and tend to the injured. Cheng Ling, ride quickly back to Cold Cloud Valley and report today’s events to the Dean!" Elder Lu turned and instructed.

Just then, the galloping Six-leg Demon Horse suddenly stopped.

"Ruolan, why did you stop?" Luo Feng asked curiously.

Bing Ruolan looked back and said, "I forgot something, wait for me."

Saying this, Bing Ruolan gracefully dismounted. With a few leaps, she was beside Hu Yitian, whispering to him.

"What? He really plans to do that? This is no small matter, it’s too dangerous!"

Hu Yitian glanced at Luo Feng in the distance, his expression shocked, as if he had heard some incredible news.

Bing Ruolan’s gaze was solemn. Biting her lip, she said, "Knowing his personality, now that he’s decided, he definitely won’t stop. I’ll have to trouble you with what comes next."

Hu Yitian nodded and patted his chest in assurance. "Don’t worry, his business is my business! Leave this to me."

"Alright, thank you."

Bing Ruolan smiled gratefully and returned to her Six-leg Demon Horse.

"What did you say to Hu Yitian? It seemed to be about me," Luo Feng asked, noticing Hu Yitian looking their way from a distance.

Bing Ruolan turned back, placed her index finger to her rosy lips, blinked, and said with a captivating smile, "It’s a secret..."