Chapter 976: Chapter 973: Tempering and Trials

On the cliff outside Panlong Residence, a figure faced the surging sea of clouds, practicing his punches.

Bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam...

Without using Yuan Qi, the fierce punch force generated a gust that made the air emit a series of explosive sounds, forming vortices in the sea of clouds beneath the cliff, forming and dispersing endlessly.

"Invincible in battle!"

Suddenly, the figure’s momentum surged, fists like dragons, continuously striking out, moving so fast that his hands were almost invisible.

The air trembled, over a hundred transparent punch forces appeared like a high wall, crushing forward, compressing the air to make cracking sounds.

Swish!

The figure flashed forward in a rush, moving so fast that a shadow seemed to remain in place.

"Dominating for Thousands of Years!"

In mid-air, the figure delivered a tiger-like punch, following the previous punch force, striking downwards.

Boom!

The fierce punch force compressed the air into an arc-shaped film, merging seamlessly with the hundred punch forces.

Instantly, the power of the punch increased dramatically, the friction slightly distorted the air, as if it would ignite at any moment, the nearby clouds evaporated instantly, disappearing into nothingness.

Pa!

The figure flipped in the air, landing on the cliff, it was Luo Feng.

Exhaling a breath, Luo Feng looked up to see a void area a hundred meters wide appearing in the vast sea of clouds, stretching out a thousand meters, with vapor boiling on both sides.

"Still not enough..."

Luo Feng frowned slightly.

It had been two days since he broke through to the late stage of the Spiritual Rotation Realm eighth level.

During these two days, aside from consolidating his cultivation, he had spent all his remaining time practicing the Sky Fire King Fist.

The Sky Fire King Fist was incredibly domineering in power, plus he could condense sixteen Sky Fire King’s Arm, the actual power had already surpassed the Profound Level supreme fist technique.

After breaking through to the late stage of the Spiritual Rotation Realm eighth level, Luo Feng felt the Sky Fire King Fist had reached a bottleneck, so he prepared to break through to the fourth level of the Sky Fire King Fist, then return to Panlong City. If he could break through the fourth level and master the Floating Slaughter Demon Image, combined with his current cultivation, the power of his fist technique would definitely reach a new level.

However, after two days, although his understanding of the Sky Fire King Fist had deepened, he still couldn’t break through the last barrier. It seemed like something was missing, but he didn’t know what it was.

"It seems my accumulation is still insufficient, better return to Panlong City first."

Glancing at the rising morning sun in the east, Luo Feng shook his head, turned back into Panlong Residence, quickly washed up, and headed towards the summit of East Spirit Peak.

On both sides of the stone path were Spirit Flowers and Spirit Grasses, the dewdrops on them sparkled under the morning sun, creating a picturesque landscape.

While admiring the scenery, Luo Feng hastened his pace and soon reached the peak.

It was his first time on the summit of East Spirit Peak, and the scenery left him somewhat dumbfounded.

The summit was extremely spacious, surrounded by lush trees, with a misty lake in the center where fish swam like shuttles, a white jade bridge several thousand meters long spanning the lake.

On the other side of the bridge, a majestic palace entirely made of jade loomed in the rain and mist, with three graceful and elegant large characters engraved on its gate:

Water Cloud Hall!

"What a beautiful place."

Admiring for a moment, Luo Feng crossed the bridge and arrived before the palace.

"Senior Brother Luo Feng, this is the Water Cloud Hall, no one is allowed inside except the Hall Master and the Second Hall Master." Six Inner Sect Disciples stood on both sides of the palace, the foremost one extended a hand to stop Luo Feng.

Luo Feng cupped his hands, politely saying, "Sisters, I have matters to discuss with the Second Hall Master, please relay my message."

"Senior Brother, the Second Hall Master should be cultivating now and cannot be disturbed..."

A female disciple with phoenix eyes said.

"Let him in."

At this moment, a clear voice like pearls and jade came from within the hall, it was Shui Linglong.

Upon hearing this, the six female disciples stepped aside, "Please, Senior Brother."

Luo Feng nodded, entering the great hall.

The Water Cloud Hall was very spacious, equivalent to half of Purple Yao square, with thirty-six white jade pillars on either side, engraved with auspicious beasts like cranes, golden eagles, cloud tigers, peacocks... a presence of majesty pervaded the hall.

Shui Linglong sat on a jade chair at the upper part of the hall, her charming figure faintly discernible beneath a water-blue long dress.

"Sister Linglong." Luo Feng saluted.

With a smile, Shui Linglong asked, "You’ve been in seclusion these two months, how is it going?"

Luo Feng replied, "I just broke through to the late stage of the Spiritual Rotation Realm eighth level two days ago."

"The late stage of the Spiritual Rotation Realm eighth level?"

Shui Linglong carefully assessed Luo Feng, a hint of surprise flashing in her bright eyes: "Indeed, it’s the late stage of the Spiritual Rotation Realm eighth level. Have you fully refined the medicinal power of the Starfight Juggernaut Pill... Star Fighting Yuan Spirit Pill?"

The Starfight Juggernaut Pill is a sixth-grade top-tier spirit pill, with overwhelming medicinal power, not as easy to refine as other spirit pills.

She originally thought it would take Luo Feng a month and a half, or even longer, to completely refine the Starfight Juggernaut Pill’s medicinal power. But from Luo Feng’s cultivation, it was obvious he had already fully refined its medicinal power.

"Hmm."

Luo Feng thought Shui Linglong was surprised at his cultivation, didn’t care much, and said, "However, a little problem has occurred. I took the Star Fighting Yuan Spirit Pill, and during cultivation, I felt another kind of Yuan Qi entering my body..."

Shui Linglong raised her Daimei slightly. The other Yuan Qi Luo Feng mentioned was undoubtedly the Star Essence condensed by the Nine Lotus Star Gathering Formation. However, she naturally wouldn’t tell Luo Feng about this.

"This should be your illusion."

Shui Linglong casually said, then asked, "Why did you come to find me so early?"

Luo Feng raised his head and said, "Sister Linglong, I want to go out to train."

Returning to Panlong City was just incidental for Luo Feng. His real intention was to take advantage of the time before the New Dragon List competition to experience the outside world.

Although his cultivation had rapidly advanced to the late stage of the Spiritual Rotation Realm’s eighth level, he was not the only one making progress.

Training properly in the Golden Palace, it was unlikely he’d surpass Lu Xiao Yun at the New Dragon List competition in three months.

Noticing Luo Feng’s expression, Shui Linglong’s beautiful eyes slightly focused as she seriously asked, "Where do you plan to train?"

"I’ve never left the Canglang Dynasty since I grew up. This time, I want to see the outside world. As for the specific place, I haven’t decided yet," Luo Feng said.

"Leaving Canglang Dynasty..."

Shui Linglong gently inhaled. Within Canglang Dynasty, people would consider the identity of the Linglong Hall’s disciple if danger occurred. But outside the Canglang Dynasty, the identity of a Golden Palace disciple wouldn’t be so prestigious. Plenty of disciples died out there each year.

"No."

After some thought, Shui Linglong shook her head and refused. Looking at Luo Feng, she said, "It’s not that I want to dissuade you. Your current cultivation makes you an expert in the Canglang Dynasty, but the outside world is filled with experts beyond your imagination. Furthermore, you should know that the news of you acquiring the Demon Sect’s map has spread through the rtiad, and Demon Sect disciples see you as a target."

"I know this. Nonetheless, my mind is made up," Luo Feng said firmly.

This training was a decision he had made long ago. The sharp edge of the sword is honed through experience. Staying in the Linglong Hall for cultivation is safe but offers little breakthrough chances. Outdoing the geniuses at the forefront of the New Dragon List would be incredibly difficult.

He must win first place in this New Dragon List competition. For the entire True Martial Continent, the Canglang Dynasty is but a tiny fraction. If he cannot become number one here, how can he fulfill the two-year promise?

Two years for a Martial Artist is just a moment.

Additionally, he must go out for a crucial reason.

Now that his cultivation has further advanced, it’s time to train in the Demon Form Technique. He must choose a suitable Demon Beast to refine its Demon Qi.

Shui Linglong looked at Luo Feng, gently biting her red lips, feeling somewhat distressed.

What she admired in Luo Feng was his bold, fearless, and tough personality, yet she didn’t expect that she’d find herself in a predicament because of it. Judging by Luo Feng’s gaze, persuading him to stay would be difficult. But as his Direct Disciple, she didn’t want to see him encounter misfortune.

Just then, footsteps echoed, and a stunning woman with noble temperament and dreamy eyes walked out.

"Hall Master!"

Luo Feng saluted.

Shui Qingcheng nodded slightly, her bright eyes examining Luo Feng, and spoke slowly:

"Luo Feng, I can agree to you going out for training."

"Sister!" Shui Linglong was anxious.

Shui Qingcheng gestured to stop Shui Linglong’s words, continuing:

"However, you need to pass a test, and only after passing can you leave the Golden Palace."

"What test?" Luo Feng asked.

Shui Qingcheng replied, "Don’t worry, the test won’t exceed the limits of Martial Artists at the late stage of the Spiritual Rotation Realm’s eighth level. As for the test’s content, I’ll tell you later. You go and prepare for now. The test will last three days, during which you might not have the chance to rest."

Seeing no other option, Luo Feng clenched his fist and said, "Understood!"

Watching Luo Feng leave, Shui Linglong promptly said to Shui Qingcheng:

"Sister, you really intend to let him go out to train?"

Shui Qingcheng smiled faintly, "His gaze was just like yours. Do you think you can stop him?"

Shui Linglong fell silent.

Shui Qingcheng gazed outside the hall and said:

"Luo Feng managed to completely refine the Starfight Juggernaut Pill’s energy in just a month and advanced to the late stage of the Spiritual Rotation Realm’s eighth level. Judging by his cultivation technique, it must be extraordinary. With his potential, staying in the Golden Palace for systematic cultivation is undoubtedly a waste of time. Going out for training is undoubtedly the most suitable choice. The path of a Martial Artist is like rowing upstream; if one doesn’t advance, they retreat. If one always fears death and hesitates, they can only blend in with the crowd, missing the opportunity to become a top-tier expert."

Shui Linglong softly exhaled and suddenly asked, "Sister, you arranged this test for..."

Shui Qingcheng showed a charming, subtle smile, nodded:

"You’ll be in charge of this test. You should know the test’s content, right?"

"Of course I know."

Shui Linglong showed a slight wry smile. "I suffered quite a bit for this test back then."

After leaving Water Cloud Hall, Luo Feng thought about the three-day test ahead and went to the canteen for some food.

At the canteen, he heard the news that Yang Wanyi had broken through the peak of the Spiritual Rotation Realm’s seventh level five days ago and then left the Golden Palace.

He wasn’t surprised at Yang Wanyi’s breakthrough, guessing it was due to taking the Five Elements Pills.

Having had his fill, Luo Feng planned to head to Water Cloud Palace and passed by Panlong Residence, where he found Shui Linglong already waiting there.