Martial Arts Overlord-Chapter 553 - 551: "Stone Man" Xue Fei

"Who?" Luo Feng asked.

"Luo Feng, it’s me."

Luo Feng recognized Bing Ruolan’s voice and went forward to open the courtyard gate.

Bing Ruolan stood outside the gate in a light blue dress, her hands behind her back. Upon seeing Luo Feng, her sapphire-like, clear eyes blinked slightly, blossoming like a lotus flower, playfully cute.

What a beauty, she’s becoming more and more beautiful...

Luo Feng looked at Bing Ruolan, a touch of admiration flashing in his heart, and he smiled, "Why are you here so early today?"

Facing Luo Feng’s slightly burning gaze, Bing Ruolan’s delicate little face turned a rosy blush, as tempting as a ripe apple. She pressed her lips into a smile and said, "You haven’t forgotten what day it is today, have you?"

Luo Feng shook his head, puzzled. "What day is it?"

Bing Ruolan’s lips pouted slightly, seemingly dissatisfied. "Today is the day the assessment content will be announced. Everyone has gone to the square."

Luo Feng was stunned, then gave a wry smile. "I really forgot."

After several days of practicing day and night, Luo Feng had completely lost track of time.

Bing Ruolan gave him a look that said, "I give up on you," as she eyed the messy courtyard, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. "What a mess."

Luo Feng looked embarrassed and said, "I’ll clean it up."

Bing Ruolan grabbed Luo Feng’s arm, blushing. "You go and freshen up. I’ll help you clean up." Without waiting for his protest, Bing Ruolan entered the courtyard and began tidying up the clutter.

Looking at Bing Ruolan’s busy figure from behind, a warm feeling rose in Luo Feng’s heart, and he was about to go freshen up.

"Luo Feng."

A clear voice rang out from the side. It was Yue Haitang.

Yue Haitang was dressed in Changxin Academy’s evergreen snow-melting robe, with the Red Dragon Purple Gold Sword at her waist. Her handsome face possessed a valiant air, like a refined young lady. Her appearance immediately attracted the gazes of numerous young girls nearby.

Luo Feng was already used to this. He chuckled, "Yue Haitang, how did you find this place?"

"I asked the steward in charge of lodging," Yue Haitang said, raising her head to glance at the small courtyard. She smiled, "Bamboo Shadow Courtyard. A good name."

Luo Feng stood by the courtyard gate and said, "Come in. You’re here so early, what’s the matter?"

"I..."

Just as Yue Haitang began to speak, she looked up and saw Bing Ruolan in the courtyard. She immediately fell silent, her raised foot lowering back down.

"Luo Feng, I’ll be going now."

With a word of farewell, Yue Haitang turned and quickly walked away.

"Yue Haitang..."

Luo Feng turned and saw that Yue Haitang had already gone quite far.

"Luo Feng, is she Princely Heir Haitang from Changxin Academy?" Bing Ruolan asked, approaching after hearing the voice.

"Yes," Luo Feng nodded.

"What did she want with you?"

Luo Feng shrugged. "I was just about to ask her, but then she suddenly excused herself and left."

"Really? She helped us in the Secret Realm last time. I was actually thinking of thanking her," Bing Ruolan said, gazing at Yue Haitang’s somewhat hurried departing figure, her Daimei slightly furrowed.

Luo Feng reached out and gently tapped Bing Ruolan’s small nose, smiling. "There will be plenty of opportunities to thank her. Let’s go. We should see what the assessment content is this time."

"Okay," Bing Ruolan nodded.

Luo Feng freshened up, and then he and Bing Ruolan headed towards Mysterious Rock Square, where the assessment content was to be announced.

On the way to Mysterious Rock Square, talents from all over the Six Southern Domains gathered. Among them were many heroes from the martial arts world, and also some leaders of various factions.

"Conglomerate Cloud Swordsman, you’ve roamed the world, yet you’re also here to watch the Twelve Golden Palace assessment this time."

"Of course, I had to come. The young students appearing here today are all young talents from our Six Southern Domains. Perhaps some of them will become peerless masters in the future. It would be a great pity not to come and witness this."

"Indeed. The strength of our Six Southern Domains’ students this year seems to be considerably higher than in previous years."

"Yes, it’s probably because the Demon Sect’s activity has spurred them on. This is a good thing."

The crowd discussed amongst themselves as they headed towards Mysterious Rock Square.

Among them, a young man dressed in brocade robes and possessing a noble air walked slowly. Beside him was a small-eyed martial artist.

"Have you found out any news about Yue Haitang and that Luo Feng?" the brocade-robed young man, Princely Heir Yi Tian of Azure Cloud Marquis, asked indifferently as he observed the surrounding young students.

The small-eyed martial artist replied respectfully, "Princely Heir, I’ve already inquired. Yue Haitang and the Dean of Changxin Academy are staying at the Red Moon Pavilion to the east. Luo Feng is in the Bamboo Shadow Courtyard."

Yi Tian nodded, a cold glint in his eyes, his thoughts unreadable.

At this moment, the small-eyed martial artist’s gaze suddenly froze. He whispered, "Princely Heir, look quickly!"

"What is it?" Yi Tian’s thoughts were interrupted. His brows knitted slightly, his expression somewhat displeased.

"Princely Heir, that young man is Luo Feng."

The small-eyed martial artist pointed to their front right. There, a young man with a saber on his back and a blue-haired young woman were walking side by side. It was Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan.

"Oh?" A flicker of interest sparked in Yi Tian’s eyes as he looked at Luo Feng. He raised an eyebrow and said, "So, he’s the one who comprehended Grand Momentum? He doesn’t look like anything special."

The small-eyed martial artist was the very same man who had pursued Luo Feng and Yue Haitang and had narrowly escaped. Hearing Yi Tian’s words, a hint of nervousness flickered in his eyes. "Young Master, you must not underestimate this person. Back then, my elder brother lost his life at his hands precisely because he underestimated him..."

Yi Tian waved his hand, interrupting him. "My target is the Sword Heart Heaven Jade. Since he knows Yue Haitang, he has some use. Arrange for me to see him tonight."

"Yes, Young Master," the small-eyed martial artist acknowledged.

"Luo Feng, those two over there have been watching you. Do you know them?" Bing Ruolan, walking beside Luo Feng, asked nonchalantly.

Luo Feng glanced back, a cold glint flashing momentarily in his eyes before vanishing. He shook his head. "I don’t know them. Perhaps they’ve mistaken me for someone else."

He had clashed with the small-eyed martial artist before and had recognized him the moment he appeared. However, this matter involved the Princely Heir of Azure Cloud Marquis and was too dangerous; he didn’t want to drag Bing Ruolan into it.

Fortunately, this was Sky Mountain. Even the Princely Heir of Azure Cloud Marquis wouldn’t dare act recklessly here. There shouldn’t be any immediate danger.

Yue Haitang nodded, showing no suspicion.

The two of them followed the crowd and soon arrived at Mysterious Rock Square.

The square was immense, thousands of yards in length and width. The ground was paved with black rock, engraved with patterns of ferocious beasts, giving it a grand and imposing atmosphere.

"’So many people,’ Luo Feng said in surprise, observing the streams of people moving to and fro in the square."

The plaza was bustling, with probably close to ten thousand people.

Luo Feng observed that most of them were at the Meridian Wheel Realm in cultivation, and only a very few were experts at the Spiritual Rotation Realm.

"The notice board is over there. Luo Feng, let’s go," Bing Ruolan said, pointing with her slender finger towards the interior of the square.

"Okay."

Luo Feng looked up and saw a huge, dark-colored wall standing inside the square, with large characters engraved on it.

’Assessment Content: Challenge the Heaven Gate Road.’

’Time: Tomorrow morning, Chen hour.’

’Location: Mysterious Rock Square.’

Luo Feng looked at the notice, frowned slightly, and asked, "Why only these few words?"

With a slight arch of her brows, Yue Haitang smiled and said, "The content of the Twelve Golden Palace assessment is never announced in advance each year. We’ll only know the specifics when the assessment actually begins. This Heaven Gate Road should be similar to our Purple Sun School’s Challenge King Tournament; it’s a type of elimination trial."

Luo Feng nodded. He had heard a little about the Twelve Golden Palace assessment. To ensure fairness, the content was different every year. Participants could only rely on their own strength; the experience of predecessors was useless.

"Challenge the Heaven Gate Road... I wonder if it’s difficult..."

"Do you even need to ask? Every year, most people are eliminated in the first round of the Twelve Golden Palace assessment."

"I really envy the Ten Young Masters. They don’t have to participate in the first round."

"Get real. If you had the strength of the Ten Young Masters, would you still be worried about not passing the assessment?"

"I was just saying..."

Beneath the notice board, various talents gathered, all discussing the contents posted.

Suddenly!

A sharp aura appeared, and everyone involuntarily looked towards the back.

At the rear of the crowd, two figures appeared in the square.

The young man in front had a sharp gaze. A powerful, vast aura emanated from him, causing the nearby young talents to involuntarily hold their breath.

"So strong! He’s a first-level Spiritual Rotation Realm expert! Who is this young man?"

"I recognize him! He’s Xue Fei, the Young City Lord of Flame Sand City in Flowing Cloud Region. He’s been cultivating at the Bluemoon School in Blue Moon Territory since childhood and stepped into the Spiritual Rotation Realm a month ago. Apart from the Ten Young Masters, he’s the strongest contender for the Martial Champion title!"

"Stone Man Xue Fei. No wonder his aura is so strong."

A student from Long Wind School in Tianming Region, standing nearby, sneered, "Apart from the Ten Young Masters, the strongest contender for the Martial Champion title has always been our Long Wind School’s number one, Wei Kuang. Since when was it Xue Fei’s turn?"

The person who had just spoken up for Xue Fei looked indignant. "Xue Fei cultivates the Heavy Mountain Skill, which integrates offense and defense; he’s known as the Stone Man. I’ve heard his Heavy Mountain Skill has reached the highest realm, allowing him to manifest the Profound Weight Qi Field. If Wei Kuang wants to defeat Xue Fei, he’s likely still lacking."

"Hmph! How can the mere Heavy Mountain Skill compare to our Long Wind School’s Hurricane Saber Technique!" The Long Wind School student who spoke looked disdainful.

"Hahahaha... Hurricane Saber Technique! I, Xue Fei, have long wanted to experience it!"

Suddenly, a loud laugh erupted. Before anyone could pinpoint its source, a fierce gust of wind swept over them, and everyone present felt their bodies inexplicably grow heavier.

BANG!

The ground trembled. Everyone focused their gaze and saw that Xue Fei, who had been a thousand meters away just moments ago, had somehow appeared nearby. His eyes were fixed coldly on the Long Wind School student who had just spoken, an imposing aura, as if he could command the winds and clouds, subtly emanating from him.

First-level Spiritual Rotation Realm. It seems his progress during this period hasn’t been small, Luo Feng thought, standing to the side and sizing up Xue Fei.

Xue Fei’s sudden appearance startled the long-faced Long Wind School student, who stumbled back several steps before regaining his balance.

"Xue Fei, what... what are you trying to do? This is Sky Mountain, not your Flame Sand City! If you dare to lay a hand on me, you’ll be disqualified from the assessment!" the long-faced martial artist said in a panic, looking at Xue Fei.

Xue Fei’s expression was fierce. He sneered coldly, "A minor character like you isn’t even worthy of me making a move. I’ll give you one chance: slap yourself three times, and I’ll let you go."

Slap himself three times!

The long-faced martial artist’s face stiffened, his expression turning extremely ugly.