Martial Arts Overlord-Chapter 791 - 789: Linglong Hall

"Really?" A smile touched Luo Feng's lips as he heard Ling Qingwu's words. "Then you'll have to work hard. My goal isn't just to defeat Lu Xiao Yun, but to become the foremost individual in the Canglang Dynasty."

"The foremost individual in the Canglang Dynasty..." Hearing this, Lin Yue'er, Nanxuan, and Fang Lin all instinctively turned their gazes to Luo Feng. They found it somewhat difficult to comprehend how such a seemingly small frame could house such immense courage.

To ordinary people, challenging the Ten New Dragons was already considered overreaching. Luo Feng's ambition, however, extended far beyond that; he aimed to be the foremost individual in the Canglang Dynasty!

Luo Feng's words were no mere boast. He had only two short years remaining.

The Nangong family in the North Sea Territory wielded far greater power than the Canglang Dynasty. Within their ranks, there were undoubtedly many individuals stronger than Lu Xiao Yun. If Luo Feng couldn't even surpass Lu Xiao Yun, what right would he have to go to the North Sea Territory and welcome Bing Ruolan two years later?

Luo Feng had decided to challenge Lu Xiao Yun, first, for his pride as a disciple of Linglong Hall, and second, to fuel his own motivation for cultivation.

"Let's go. We need to make haste." Ling Qingwu gave Luo Feng a profound look, then her figure abruptly accelerated, shooting forward like a swift arrow.

Wind seemed to gather beneath Luo Feng's feet. He was enveloped in a barrier of flame Yuan Qi, deflecting the frigid oncoming air currents as he closely followed Ling Qingwu.

In the days that followed, the group of five spent their time either cultivating or traveling. They crossed several plains, over a dozen major rivers, and passed through numerous cities. Their journey southward from the Extreme North Land of the Canglang Dynasty was uneventful.

「Half a month later, the five of them arrived above a mountain range.」

The continuous mountain range was filled with towering peaks that pierced the sky, straight as swords, grand and majestic. Verdant trees flourished on the slopes, and the dense Yuan Qi of heaven and earth condensed into a light, thin mist that coiled through the mountains, imbuing the scenery with an ethereal, mystical quality.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

At the far end of the mountain range, thousand-zhang waterfalls cascaded from the peaks into a vast lake below. The sound was deafening, and the rising spray plumed tens of zhang into the air.

Mist and clouds drifted over the lake's surface, obscuring any view of its full expanse. Sunlight piercing through illuminated the vapors, creating a myriad of colors and revealing an atmosphere of mysterious, ancient desolation.

Luo Feng found himself momentarily captivated by the sight. Even Azure Sky City, famed for having the most beautiful waters under heaven, could not compare to this place.

"Senior Brother Luo Feng, this is Yao Light Lake," Nanxuan said with a gentle smile, noticing his awestruck expression. Pride shone in her bright eyes. "It stretches for a thousand li and is shrouded in mist and clouds year-round. The Yuan Qi of heaven and earth here is so dense it's sometimes visible to the naked eye. Among the twelve Golden Palaces, our Linglong Hall boasts the most magnificent scenery!"

"It is indeed beautiful..." Luo Feng gazed at the rainbow-like shafts of light above the lake and nodded in heartfelt agreement.

"We should arrive at the Golden Palace in an hour. Let's make haste," Ling Qingwu said.

After they had traveled for a short while, Luo Feng's brow furrowed. "There's Demon Qi approaching from ahead," he said.

SCREECH!

His words had barely faded when a series of piercing shrieks echoed from ahead.

Ling Qingwu peered into the sea of clouds before them.

Within the sea of clouds, immense shadows emerged. They were shaped like orbs, each as large as a house, their forms swirling with mist. Vaguely, countless tentacles could be seen writhing within.

WHOOSH!

A black bird, nearly three meters in size, flew past. Suddenly, a tentacle shot out from one of the cloud-like orbs, instantly impaling the bird. It dragged the creature's body into the mist, where it vanished without a trace.

"What formidable Demon Beasts!" Luo Feng's eyes glinted. He had seen clearly: the bird was a fourth-tier Iron Feathered Eagle. Yet, before these Demon Beasts, it had been utterly powerless to resist.

"Be careful. Those are Poisonous Monsters," Ling Qingwu warned.

Poisonous Monsters? Luo Feng was startled.

He had heard of this type of Demon Beast. They thrived only in areas rich in Yuan Qi, sustaining themselves by devouring flesh, blood, and Yuan Qi. Their true bodies were merely the size of a head, yet they could use miasmic fog and Yuan Qi to conceal themselves. If one attacked recklessly without knowing this, it would be impossible to slay the monster, even if its concealing cloud was completely dispersed.

The strength of Poisonous Monsters was generally distinguished by their number of tentacles. A first-tier monster possessed one tentacle, a second-tier had two, and so forth. These appendages could pierce metal and shatter stone; even Protective Gang Qi struggled to withstand them, making the creatures incredibly formidable.

"You protect the others. Leave these Poisonous Monsters to me," Luo Feng said to Ling Qingwu.

Among these Poisonous Monsters, there were even sixth-tier Demon Beasts. Lin Yue'er and the others were no match for them.

"Alright." Ling Qingwu nodded. "Poisonous Monsters are adept at concealment," she reminded him. "You must destroy their true bodies to kill them completely."

"Be careful, Senior Brother Luo Feng!" Lin Yue'er and the others chorused, their voices filled with concern.

With a slight nod, Luo Feng's figure blurred, and he shot towards the swarm of Poisonous Monsters.

Executing the Sky Cloud Step at full power, he covered the kilometer distance in a heartbeat. As Luo Feng closed to within two or three hundred meters of the Poisonous Monster swarm, the sound of rending air suddenly erupted.

SWISH, SWISH, SWISH, SWISH...

More than ten tentacles lashed out. Reddish-brown, they glinted coldly under the sunlight as if forged from steel. Each was tipped with a sharp barb, possessing astonishing piercing power.

Luo Feng's speed didn't falter. He clenched his right hand into a fist and threw a devastating punch.

BOOM!

The air fractured as a crimson, spiraling current of energy erupted. Any tentacles it touched were instantly pulverized, then incinerated into nothingness by the scorching Gang Qi.

His hand a blade, Luo Feng slashed through the air.

SLICE!

A crimson saber gleam whistled out, cleaving the air. Three nearby massive clouds of mist instantly dissipated, revealing three fleshy orbs, each the size of a human head.

The fleshy orbs sported grotesque maws filled with sharp teeth. However, Luo Feng had already bisected these three Poisonous Monsters; they were utterly dead.

SLICE! SLICE!

Luo Feng's figure became an elusive dance of flickers. Every strike was fatal; with each move, another Poisonous Monster fell, its blood spraying down to stain the clouds crimson.

"This must be Senior Brother Luo Feng's first time seeing Poisonous Monsters, yet he's so incredibly skilled!" Nanxuan exclaimed, sticking out her tongue in playful surprise as she watched him slay one Poisonous Monster after another.

Lin Yue'er and the others were equally astounded. Ordinary Martial Artists, upon their first encounter with Poisonous Monsters, usually struggled to locate the true body and would often be thrown into disarray. Luo Feng's Saber Technique, however, was frighteningly precise.

Ling Qingwu's expression remained impassive, but a ripple of surprise stirred within her. When she had first encountered Poisonous Monsters, it had taken her considerable effort to grasp the key to destroying their true bodies. She hadn't anticipated Luo Feng would discern it almost instantly.

"Let's move. We should be nearing the Golden Palace. We'll follow him," Ling Qingwu said, noticing Luo Feng's figure was about to vanish from sight.

WHOOSH...

With a final slash of his right hand through the air, Luo Feng dispatched the last Poisonous Monster and then halted.

Gazing at a finger-sized tear on his right sleeve, Luo Feng's eyes flickered. These Poisonous Monsters are truly bizarre, he thought with an inward shiver. If my Soul Power weren't so strong, dealing with them would have been far more troublesome.

PHEW...

Exhaling slowly, Luo Feng looked down, his gaze sharpening.

The clouds had been cleaved apart, revealing the landscape below.

Upon the emerald-green waters, a small island was faintly discernible.

The island spanned over a hundred li, its mountains stretching endlessly in undulating ranges. Some peaks were lush and graceful, while others coiled like slumbering dragons.

Nestled among the mountains were numerous lakes, large and small, that, viewed from above, resembled scattered pieces of clear, transparent crystal, shimmering with shades of green and blue.

Countless pavilions and palaces shimmered faintly within the mist, like castles in the sky, ethereal and otherworldly.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Just as Luo Feng was lost in admiration of the vista, the sound of tearing air rushed up from below. Several small specks ascended from the island, shooting towards him like arrows. In the blink of an eye, they arrived before him: three graceful young women.

"Who are you?!" one of the young women demanded, her sword drawn.

"Linglong Hall does not receive male guests, nor are men permitted to fly in this vicinity!" another declared.

"Depart at once, or do not blame us for being discourteous!" the third warned.

The three stood with swords leveled, their sharp eyes fixed on Luo Feng, Yuan Qi surging around them, clearly poised to attack at any moment.