Chapter Nine: Unexpected

At the critical moment, Liu Feng decided to stop holding back. With a resolute cry, he slashed through the air with all his might.

He raised his hand like a blade, condensing a brilliant arc of energy along his palm. As the energy blade emerged, a thunderous crack resounded in the surrounding air, as if it were slicing the very atmosphere apart.

By now, Yang Dong's fist was already upon him.

Liu Feng’s palm, brimming with condensed energy, slashed fiercely towards Yang Dong.

Suddenly, Yang Dong felt the air in front of him thinning. A dazzling blade of light appeared before his eyes, and only then did the explosive roar of the air reach his ears.

Boom!

On the dueling platform, it felt as if a raging hurricane had swept through, sending sand and debris flying in all directions.

The students watching below were battered by the shockwaves, unable to open their eyes against the force.

“What’s happening on the stage? Where did this huge wave of energy come from?”

“Has the winner been decided? Did Yang Dong win?”

The students below discussed anxiously. When the winds finally died down, they hurriedly looked up at the stage, and each one gasped in astonishment.

What they expected had not come to pass. On the contrary, Yang Dong was half-kneeling on the stage, his clothes ragged, propping himself up with one hand to avoid collapsing entirely.

Liu Feng, meanwhile, stood tall and unharmed on the platform.

The sudden reversal left the crowd in shock.

“This is impossible! I could feel you were nearly out of true energy—how could you unleash such a powerful strike?” Yang Dong roared, disbelief etched across his face.

“I thought our match was just a friendly spar, so I didn’t use my full strength at first,” Liu Feng replied calmly. “But you pressed me relentlessly, so I had no choice but to give it my all.”

“I don’t believe you have any strength left after that blow!” Yang Dong said, forcing himself upright, though his movements were slow and strained.

“Demon Bull Fist—Mad Bull’s Frenzied Assault!” With the last of his strength, Yang Dong launched the ultimate strike of the Demon Bull Fist.

At once, phantom images of a raging bull overlapped on the stage, the air thick with a violent aura. The dueling platform trembled under the onslaught, struggling to withstand the eruption of power.

Faced with this overwhelming momentum, Liu Feng dared not be careless. He instantly gathered his true energy, unleashing strike after strike that tore through the air.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The dueling platform was rocked by waves of thunderous explosions, riddled with the sound of shattering air.

The stone surface of the stage splintered and cracked under the onslaught, debris scattering in every direction.

Below, the crowd was forced to dodge for cover, and chaos erupted across the square.

Bang!

Suddenly, the sound of a body hitting the ground echoed across the arena. The rampant waves of energy faded abruptly, and the stones flung by true energy fell to the floor. In an instant, calm returned.

Everyone saw Yang Dong collapse to the stage, his clothes in tatters, a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth, his chest heaving violently.

Liu Feng, supporting himself with one arm, was gasping for breath, his clothes also torn in places.

Yang Dong tried several times to get up but failed, his energy clearly spent and unable to stand.

“How could I lose to a newcomer who’s only just enrolled? This is impossible!” Yang Dong said furiously, unable to accept the outcome.

Liu Feng glanced at him in silence—the result spoke for itself.

“This can’t be… Yang Dong actually lost? He’s one of the top ten in Class Two!” some of his classmates exclaimed in disbelief. None of them had expected this result.

“It truly was unexpected. I thought Liu Feng was about to lose. But clearly, his talent for combat is extraordinary,” a Class One student said excitedly.

“Their strengths are actually quite close,” Zhang Yu offered her opinion, “but Yang Dong was too hasty, unleashing his ultimate move at the very start and exhausting his energy and stamina too quickly. Liu Feng, on the other hand, fought methodically, conserving his strength and outlasting Yang Dong by the slimmest of margins.”

Liu Feng turned to Yang Dong and said, “My victory today was sheer luck. In truth, our strengths are evenly matched.”

“A loss is a loss. There’s nothing more to say. Next time we meet, I’ll be the one to win,” Yang Dong replied.

As they spoke, both began to recover their strength and soon hopped down from the stage.

A Class Two student hurried over with a set of clothes, draping them over Yang Dong’s battered shoulders.

At this moment, Zhang Yu approached, patting Liu Feng on the shoulder. “Well done—you’ve brought honor to Class One.”

The other students from Class One gathered around to celebrate.

Seeing this, Yang Dong’s face turned ashen, and he departed in anger, followed by his classmates.

Zhang Chen came over and looked at Liu Feng. “So the real master hides his strength. It seems you weren’t going all out during the assessment.”

Liu Feng smiled faintly. “Don’t think I didn’t notice—you weren’t going all out either. We’re all the same.”

“Class is over for today. How about we go out for dinner tonight and treat ourselves?” Liu Feng suggested.

“Sounds good. Let’s invite Wang Yun and Li Feng as well,” Zhang Chen replied.

Training concluded, the students went their separate ways. Liu Feng and Zhang Chen left the square and soon returned to their dormitory.

When Liu Feng opened the door, he found Wang Yun and Li Feng had already returned.

“How was your first day of class?” Wang Yun asked first.

“Not bad,” Liu Feng answered. “I acquired a cultivation method and a martial technique.”

“I already told Liu Feng—let’s go out for dinner tonight. Are you two in?” Zhang Chen said.

“Sure! The cafeteria food is good, but going out for a meal every now and then is a nice change,” Li Feng replied.

After discussing their plans, the group left the dormitory and soon exited the academy.

“Which restaurant around here has the best food and the greatest reputation?” Liu Feng asked, turning to Wang Yun and Li Feng.

“We always go to Guest’s Delight. It’s the largest restaurant in the city,” Li Feng replied.

They made their way through the bustling streets, ablaze with lights, merchants hawking their wares, and a steady flow of people and carriages—a scene of lively prosperity.

As they chatted, Guest’s Delight soon came into view.

Entering the restaurant, Liu Feng saw that the interior was spacious—on the first floor alone there was room for the equivalent of fifty ordinary rooms. Massive stone pillars supported the space between the first and second floors.

“There are six floors in total,” Li Feng explained. “The first three are dining areas, and the upper three serve as guest rooms. Let’s eat on the second floor—the view at night is wonderful.”

Taking his suggestion, they went upstairs and chose a table by the window. A server arrived with a pot of tea. After ordering their food, they sipped tea and waited for their meal.

Suddenly, a brazen voice drifted up from below. “Xiao Yun, you’d better hand over the Phoenix Blood Grass, or you’ll never escape our pursuit!”

Their conversation was interrupted. Footsteps approached. Liu Feng looked toward the source and saw a girl quickly ascending the stairs.

She wore a green dress, her features delicate and beautiful, with an icy, refined air.

Scanning the room, the girl’s eyes lit up when she spotted Wang Yun, and she hurried over.

“Xiao Yun, what’s going on? Who’s giving you trouble?” Wang Yun asked the girl in green.

The girl named Xiao Yun replied, “Today, I was out training with some classmates and happened upon a Phoenix Blood Grass. Unexpectedly, two disciples from the Mountain-Cleaving Sect saw it too. I managed to pick it first, so now they’re chasing me for it.”

Just then, two young men appeared at the top of the stairs, dressed in fitted clothing and carrying longswords.

Seeing Xiao Yun seated at Liu Feng’s table, they strode over quickly.

“I advise you all not to meddle in things that don’t concern you—otherwise, you won’t be able to bear the consequences,” the taller of the two said arrogantly.