Martial Arts Overlord-Chapter 655 - 653: Narrow Encounter Between Foes

Hearing the young man’s words, Xie Xuantong’s expression turned bitter.

"Senior Brother, that Luo Feng is not simple."

"Not simple?"

The youth raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to Xie Xuantong.

"Xie Xuantong, that doesn’t sound like you. A Martial Artist’s heart should be as firm as a blade, unyielding and forging ever forward. If you lose that sharpness, I fear your achievements will stagnate from this day on."

"Your teachings are wise, Senior Brother."

"Is that Luo Feng truly so formidable?" the youth asked again.

Xie Xuantong’s face stiffened. He nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "Senior Brother, Luo Feng defeated Yi Wuxue with a single punch. And it looked like he wasn’t even using his full strength."

Only after witnessing the clash between Luo Feng and Yi Wuxue did Xie Xuantong truly grasp the meaning of real power.

Luo Feng was like a towering, insurmountable mountain, extinguishing any thought of resistance deep within Xie Xuantong’s heart.

"A single punch?"

The youth frowned slightly. He glanced at Yi Wuxue, a cold glint in his eyes, and sneered disdainfully, "It seems this person does have some strength. I hope he doesn’t cross my path."

Feeling the chill emanating from the youth, a shiver ran down Xie Xuantong’s spine.

This man was once a student of Chongyue School and was now the rising star ’Stone Sword’ Xiao Yun of the Sky Sword Pavilion. Back when Xie Xuantong and Yi Wuxue were still external students of Chongyue School, Xiao Yun had already been one of the top three experts of the inner court.

Last year, Xiao Yun entered the Sky Sword Pavilion. His cultivation had improved by leaps and bounds, and he was now a Martial Artist at the fourth layer of the Spiritual Rotation Realm.

Xiao Yun waved his hand dismissively.

"Let’s not dwell on these dreary matters. We haven’t seen each other for two years, and you’ve both been admitted to the Golden Palace, so let’s enjoy ourselves thoroughly today! The Tianhan Restaurant is just ahead. I hear their food and drinks are exceptional, and moreover, the proprietress is a rare beauty!"

Xiao Yun chuckled, a suggestive smirk playing on his lips.

Xie Xuantong forced a laugh.

This Xiao Yun was quite capable, but he was overly fond of women. Otherwise, with his potential, his cultivation should have progressed further after a year in the Golden Palace.

Just as he was about to reply, Xie Xuantong looked up. His gaze suddenly froze on something ahead, and his thick eyebrows knitted together.

Yi Wuxue also halted, his eyes fixed intently on the path before them, the hand gripping his sword trembling slightly.

Noticing their strange expressions, Xiao Yun glanced to the side and spotted Luo Feng and Ye Siyi. His eyes lit up when they fell upon Ye Siyi.

"Xie Xuantong, who are these two?" Xiao Yun asked, though his gaze remained fixed on Ye Siyi.

"Luo Feng!"

Before Xie Xuantong could speak, the two words escaped Yi Wuxue’s lips, cold and sharp from between gritted teeth.

"Luo Feng?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yun raised an eyebrow. His attention finally shifted from Ye Siyi to Luo Feng.

"So he’s this year’s Martial Champion? He doesn’t look particularly special."

Xiao Yun shook his head slightly, a hint of arrogance in his eyes.

Xie Xuantong introduced them, "The woman beside Luo Feng is Ye Siyi from Jade Sword School. Senior Brother, you should have met her before."

"Ye Siyi? I didn’t expect such a transformation in just two years."

Xiao Yun was slightly taken aback. It’s true what they say about girls changing dramatically as they grow up. The once unremarkable little girl has blossomed into such a stunning beauty! He involuntarily licked his lips.

Luo Feng watched the approaching group with a slight frown and said to Ye Siyi, "Let’s go."

Ye Siyi, feeling Xiao Yun’s gaze, was inwardly displeased and nodded at Luo Feng’s words.

As they were about to pass each other, Xiao Yun suddenly reached out, blocking Luo Feng and Ye Siyi’s path.

"What do you mean by this?" Luo Feng, not wanting to engage with the trio, looked up at Xiao Yun.

Xiao Yun smiled faintly, glanced at Ye Siyi, and said, "Nothing much. I just want to invite you for a drink."

"Not interested."

Luo Feng, guessing that Xiao Yun’s intentions were not merely for a drink, shook his head and refused.

"Luo Feng, this is our Senior Brother Xiao Yun, a Disciple of the Sky Sword Pavilion. His invitation is an honor; he’s giving you face," Xie Xuantong interjected.

"I don’t need anyone to give me face. Excuse us!"

Luo Feng ignored the three of them and, with Ye Siyi, prepared to walk around them.

"Stop!"

Xiao Yun’s figure flashed, once again blocking their way. His eyes, burning with jealousy and rage, were fixed on Luo Feng.

"So you refuse a toast, only to be forced to drink a forfeit! You injured Yi Wuxue; do you think you can just walk away as if nothing happened?"

Seeing Luo Feng and Ye Siyi’s apparent closeness, he had planned to strike up a conversation with Ye Siyi first and then find an opportunity later to avenge Yi Wuxue.

Who would have thought Luo Feng would give him no face at all, causing him to lose his dignity in front of a beauty? Annoyance and jealousy surged in his heart. This Luo Feng must be taught a harsh lesson!

Luo Feng stopped, glanced at Yi Wuxue, and sneered, "Yi Wuxue challenged me of his own accord. His injuries are his own doing and have nothing to do with me."

Ye Siyi added, "That’s right. The overseers from the various Sky Mountain branches were present. You can verify this at Sky Mountain."

Seeing Ye Siyi speak up for Luo Feng, Xiao Yun’s expression turned even colder.

"Regardless of the reason, anyone who dares to harm a student of my Chongyue School will not get away unscathed! Otherwise, how could Chongyue School maintain its standing in the martial arts world!"

His gaze fell on Luo Feng, his chin slightly raised as he said coldly, "Luo Feng, kowtow to Yi Wuxue and admit your mistake immediately. If you do, I might let you off today!"

Kowtow and apologize...

Luo Feng’s eyes turned icy.

Xie Xuantong had only intended to teach Luo Feng a lesson; he hadn’t expected Xiao Yun to make such a demand, but he felt he couldn’t intervene.

Ye Siyi’s Daimei furrowed. Yi Wuxue had challenged Luo Feng on his own initiative and was injured as a result; by all reasoning, Luo Feng was not at fault. She never expected Xiao Yun to make such an outrageous demand in public. It’s utterly unreasonable!

"Look, it seems like a fight is about to break out."

"Huh, isn’t that ’Stone Sword’ Xiao Yun, the Disciple from the Sky Sword Pavilion? He actually came to Coldwater City."

"The ones with him must be Yi Wuxue and Xie Xuantong. Who are they confronting?"

"HISS! It’s them!"

A square-faced Martial Artist, his eyes fixed on Luo Feng and Ye Siyi, drew a sharp breath.

"Who are they?"

The square-faced Martial Artist, his expression grave, said, "I’ve been to Sky Mountain. If I’m not mistaken, that young man with the saber on his back is this year’s number one Martial Champion, Luo Feng. And the woman is Fragrance Without Shadow, Ye Siyi!"

"The number one Martial Champion, Luo Feng! No wonder. Both Yi Wuxue and Xie Xuantong lost to him. Those two are proud; they must be unwilling to accept defeat."

"This is going to be a good show..."

Duels were a daily occurrence in Coldwater City. The crowd, accustomed to such sights, automatically cleared an open space.

"Xiao Yun, you are a senior Disciple of the Golden Palace, and I respect you for that. But don’t take things too far."

Ye Siyi stared coldly at Xiao Yun. She had a faint feeling that Xiao Yun’s deliberate provocation of Luo Feng had something to do with her.

Xiao Yun glanced at Ye Siyi, licked his lips, and smirked. "You’re so protective of Luo Feng. Could it be there’s some unspeakable relationship between you two...?"

"Shameless!"

Hearing Xiao Yun’s words, a chilling light flashed in Ye Siyi’s eyes. With a SHING, her sword left its sheath, and an azure sword light shot out.

WHOOSH!

The air was split by the sword light, whipping up a fierce gale that swept through the street. Nearby martial artists scrambled backward, cries of alarm erupting all around.

A faint, disdainful smile touched Xiao Yun’s lips. He casually waved his hand, sending out a chilling Palm Gang.

BOOM!

The sword light and Palm Gang collided, creating a deafening explosion. The ground between them shattered, sending cracks spiderwebbing outwards.

"Flying Leave Without Shadow!"

Ye Siyi’s eyes were like ice as her figure suddenly vanished from everyone’s sight.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Under the stunned gazes of the onlookers, eight chilling sword lights abruptly materialized around Xiao Yun.

"Senior Brother, be careful! Those are the Phantom Footsteps!" Xie Xuantong hastily warned.

Xiao Yun’s expression grew somewhat serious, and he snorted coldly.

"Petty tricks! Shattered Cold Palm!"

A biting wind swept down the street, causing some of the lower-level Martial Artists to instinctively hunch their shoulders.

Xiao Yun executed a renowned technique of the Sky Sword Pavilion. His hands moved like a blur, unleashing a rapid succession of frigid palm shadows that enveloped the area.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

The clash of sword and palm resounded like shattering jade.

Although Ye Siyi’s swordsmanship was exquisite, her cultivation was far inferior to Xiao Yun’s. The force of his palm strikes compelled her out of hiding, forcing her to retreat continuously.

"Truly worthy of a Golden Palace Disciple. Even Ye Siyi, the second Martial Champion, is so outmatched by Xiao Yun."

"That’s only natural. Otherwise, why would students from all academies strive so desperately to enter the Golden Palace for training?"

"It looks like Luo Feng and Ye Siyi are in trouble."

Seeing Ye Siyi forced back, a smirk touched Xiao Yun’s lips. He suddenly shot forward, appearing before Ye Siyi and striking out with his palm.

SWISH!

Just as Ye Siyi was about to be struck, a figure suddenly appeared by her side—it was Luo Feng.

"Tyrant Flame Return Wind!"

With eyes as sharp as blades, Luo Feng threw a punch.

FWOOSH!

The surging fist energy formed a massive flaming tornado that roared towards Xiao Yun, enveloping him.

Xiao Yun, unable to dodge in time, could only meet the attack head-on. His figure was blasted back more than ten steps before he managed to stop.

Having repelled Xiao Yun with a single punch, Luo Feng placed his palm on Ye Siyi’s back. With a slight jolt, he dispelled the invasive palm energy, and they both landed steadily on the ground.

"I’ll deal with him," Luo Feng said in a deep voice, glancing at Xiao Yun.

Ye Siyi, her face still flushed, looked at Luo Feng with her beautiful eyes. "Alone?"

"Mm."

Luo Feng nodded.

"Be careful. He’s a Martial Artist at the fourth stage of the Spiritual Rotation Realm," Ye Siyi cautioned, saying no more.

"Luo Feng, I thought you’d tuck your tail between your legs and run," Xiao Yun said, dusting off his hands and smiling at Luo Feng.

He had only used sixty percent of his strength in the previous palm strike, so he wasn’t concerned.

Luo Feng sneered, "You think too highly of yourself. I even dared to challenge Yi Tian. You’re not yet qualified to make me run."

His words caused a stir among the onlookers.

News of Luo Feng’s life-and-death duel with Yi Tian had already spread throughout Coldwater City.

Yi Tian was ranked forty-sixth on the New Dragon List, while Xiao Yun didn’t even qualify for it. There was a world of difference in their status, so Luo Feng’s remark wasn’t inappropriate.

Xiao Yun narrowed his eyes. He wasn’t a fool; he could easily discern the mockery in Luo Feng’s words. He replied coldly, "Such a sharp tongue! Today, I’ll knock your teeth out and see if you still dare to be so arrogant!"

BOOM!

As his voice fell, Xiao Yun stomped heavily on the ground.

This stomp landed with the force of a crashing meteorite. The ground within a hundred-meter radius abruptly sank, compelling Yi Wuxue and Xie Xuantong to retreat repeatedly.

The nearby Martial Artists watched with horrified expressions. In that moment, Xiao Yun seemed like an imposing, hundred-zhang peak, his aura irresistible.

Luo Feng stood his ground, his feet seemingly rooted to the earth. Xiao Yun’s oppressive aura couldn’t shake him in the slightest.