One Sword to Break It

Everyone stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they were seeing.

Yue Feng's strongest strike, Shadowing Spear: Blood Wolf Devours Heaven, had actually... been broken by Luo Heng with such a casual sword strike?

"Th-this... how is that possible?!"

Yue Feng looked as though he had been struck by lightning. His face turned deathly pale, his eyes filled with shock and confusion.

His greatest killing move could not even withstand a single sword strike from his opponent?

"My turn."

Luo Heng's calm voice rang out, jolting Yue Feng from his daze.

Luo Heng's figure flickered, and he was already standing before Yue Feng.

Yue Feng was startled and hurriedly tried to retreat, but the previous move had drained too much of his strength, slowing him by half a beat.

Luo Heng did not use his sword. Instead, he brought two fingers of his left hand together and struck Yue Feng's chest like lightning.

Tai Xu Sword Intent silently surged from his fingertips!

"Pfft!"

Yue Feng was struck as if by a heavy hammer. The clothing over his chest shattered, revealing a blood-red soft armor beneath.

The soft armor flashed and blocked most of the force, but the remaining Sword Intent still penetrated his body.

"Urgh!"

Yue Feng spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward, crashing heavily at the edge of the arena. The distinct sound of his breastbone cracking echoed out.

He struggled to get up, only to discover that his Primal Energy was in disarray and his meridians throbbed with pain. For the moment, he could not muster any strength.

"Y-you..." Yue Feng pointed at Luo Heng, his eyes full of venom and fear.

Luo Heng sheathed his sword. Without even glancing at Yue Feng, he turned and walked off the arena.

"Today's only the interest."

His voice was calm, yet every word reached Yue Feng's ears clearly.

"The next time we meet, it won't be just a serious injury."

With that, Luo Heng drifted off the stage and returned to the Symbol Master Association's seats.

The entire venue remained silent.

Everyone had been so stunned by the battle that they could not speak.

From beginning to end, Luo Heng had appeared utterly composed and at ease.

Meanwhile, Yue Feng, the Blood Wolf Gang's Young Master and a young expert in the Middle Heaven Yuan Realm, had been defeated so effortlessly—and even... seriously injured!

"Young Master Luo, what exquisite swordsmanship."

Zi Yue was the first to recover. She praised him softly, a rare hint of a smile appearing on her cool, beautiful face.

Master Yan stroked his beard and nodded, his eyes filled with satisfaction and pride.

Over at the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild, Xia Zhilan's beautiful eyes shone repeatedly. The way she looked at Luo Heng had already changed.

As for the Blood Wolf Gang, every one of them wore a livid expression and sinister eyes, yet none dared act out.

Yue Feng was helped off the stage by two Blood Wolf Gang disciples. He stared fixedly at Luo Heng's back, the killing intent in his eyes nearly becoming tangible.

Luo Heng... if I do not avenge this grudge, I, Yue Feng, swear I am not human!

He roared inwardly but did not dare say it aloud.

At that moment, the steward from the City Lord's Mansion stepped forward.

The steward asked, "Is anyone else willing to take the stage for a spar?"

The crowd below exchanged looks, but no one responded.

Are you kidding?

Even Yue Feng had been defeated so easily. Who would dare step up and humiliate themselves?

For a time, the atmosphere in the Martial Arts Garden became rather strange.

Then the steward announced loudly, "This battle goes to Luo Heng of the Symbol Master Association! He is awarded one Yan Yang Pill!"

He took out the crimson pill and handed it to Luo Heng.

Luo Heng accepted it, did not even look at it, and casually put it away.

Luo Heng stepped down and returned to his seat. He picked up his teacup and took a light sip.

It was as though the battle just now had been no more than casually swatting away a fly.

Yet everyone knew that after today, Luo Heng's name would truly resound among Flame City's younger generation.

Sixteen years old, Heaven Yuan Realm, Rudimentary Sword Intent, and one sword strike to defeat Yue Feng.

Such achievements were enough to inspire awe in anyone.

The tea gathering continued, but the later sparring matches had become utterly dull.

Everyone's thoughts still lingered on the battle from before.

An hour later, the tea gathering ended.

Luo Heng and Zi Yue left the City Lord's Mansion together.

Along the way, Zi Yue said softly, "Young Master Luo, you've revealed your edge today. I'm afraid the Blood Wolf Gang will not let this go."

Luo Heng replied indifferently, "No matter. If they dare come, I'll deal with them."

Zi Yue glanced at him and sighed inwardly. This Young Master Luo appeared gentle, but in his bones, he was prouder and more domineering than anyone else.

Still, only such a personality was worthy of his monstrous talent.

After returning to the Symbol Master Association, Luo Heng headed straight back to the Bamboo House.

He took out the Yan Yang Pill and examined it carefully.

The pill was crimson like fire, with faint fiery patterns flowing within it. Its medicinal fragrance was rich and dense.

"A fourth-grade pill. It will help stabilize my realm somewhat, but the effect is limited."

Luo Heng pondered for a moment before putting the pill away.

His cultivation now mainly relied on the Great Devouring Art to devour the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, as well as all kinds of energy. Pills were merely supplementary.

"Next, I should focus on cultivating Tai Xu Swordplay."

Luo Heng sat cross-legged, sank his consciousness into his Niwan Palace, and began Deduction on the subsequent transformations of "Void Blade."

After today's battle, he had gained new insights into using "Void Blade."

That sword strike had broken the blood-colored giant wolf's profound meaning. It appeared simple, yet it contained multiple profound principles: breaking a surface with a point, shifting between illusion and reality, condensing Sword Intent, and more.

"If I can cultivate Void Blade to the minor mastery stage, its power can increase severalfold."

A trace of anticipation flashed through Luo Heng's eyes.

By then, even an expert in the Late Heaven Yuan Realm would fall to a single sword strike!

Meanwhile, as Luo Heng cultivated in seclusion, news of today's battle at the tea gathering swept across the entire city like a storm.

"Have you heard? That Luo Heng from the Symbol Master Association defeated Yue Feng, the Blood Wolf Gang's Young Master, with one sword strike!"

"Defeated? He seriously injured him! Yue Feng's breastbone was broken!"

"A sixteen-year-old in the Heaven Yuan Realm, with Rudimentary Sword Intent too... just who is this Luo Heng?"

"The Symbol Master Association really found a treasure this time!"

"The Blood Wolf Gang has been utterly disgraced. They probably won't let this go."

Amid all the discussions, Luo Heng's reputation rose to a whole new height.

Within the Blood Wolf Gang, however, the atmosphere was terrifyingly grim.

"Trash! A bunch of trash!"

Yue Shan smashed the table beside him with a slap, his face livid.

Below him, Yue Feng lay on a couch, pale-faced. His chest wound had already been treated, but his internal injuries would still need time to heal.

"Father, Luo Heng's swordsmanship is extremely strange. My Shadowing Spear was completely countered..." Yue Feng said through gritted teeth.

"Shut up!" Yue Shan roared, his gaze icy. He continued coldly, "A loss is a loss. What excuses are you making?"

He took a deep breath, suppressing the fury in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "This boy's talent is far too monstrous. If we allow him to grow, he will surely become a grave threat in the future."

"Father, you mean..." A vicious gleam flashed through Yue Feng's eyes.

"Wait." Yue Shan said coldly, "Wait for an opportunity—an opportunity to eliminate him completely without leaving any evidence behind."

"But the Symbol Master Association..." Yue Feng hesitated.

"The Symbol Master Association can protect him for a while, but not forever." Killing intent flickered in Yue Shan's eyes as he said coldly, "Beyond Flame City, life and death are ruled by fate."

At those words, venom also appeared in Yue Feng's eyes.

"Luo Heng... I will make sure you die without a burial place!"

Deep into the night, killing intent churned beneath the surface of the Blood Wolf Gang.

Inside the Bamboo House of the Symbol Master Association, Luo Heng knew nothing of it.

Even if he had known, he would not have cared.

The path of cultivation was inherently filled with thorns and slaughter.

Soldiers would be met with generals, water with earth.

One sword was all it took to break through.

What he needed to do now was simply grow stronger without cease.

Strong enough that no one would dare provoke him.

Strong enough to protect everything.

Strong enough to stand at the very peak.