Dawn had barely broken.
Outside Nuoding Academy's gates.
Three carriages were already prepared.
The drivers yawned.
They fed the horses one last handful of fodder.
Wang Sheng rubbed his eyes.
He came out dragging his luggage.
Zhang Tiedan and Li Qingsong followed behind him.
All three still looked sleepy.
But their eyes were astonishingly bright.
"We're really leaving!"
Wang Sheng rubbed his hands.
He stamped his feet in excitement.
Xiao Wu skipped out of the dormitory building.
A carrot dangled from her mouth.
"You're all so slow!"
She shouted behind her.
Tang San followed at an unhurried pace.
He carried two bundles.
One was his own.
The other he was carrying for Xiao Wu.
Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang stood at the front.
He wore a gray combat outfit.
His back was ramrod straight.
He was checking the roster.
"Where's Ling Feng?"
He looked up and asked.
He had barely finished speaking.
Ling Feng appeared on the academy's main path.
He wore the same simple black combat outfit as always.
A small pack rested on his back.
His steps were steady.
The early morning sunlight shone on him.
It cast a long shadow.
Check in.
As he reached the academy gates.
Ling Feng silently recited the words.
[Ding! Check-in at Nuoding Academy's gates successful!] [Departure reward: Soul Power stabilization +1. Current level: peak level 15]
A warm current surged through his meridians.
His Soul Power became more condensed.
It prepared him for the long journey.
"Everyone's here."
Grandmaster put away the roster.
"Get in."
"Ling Feng, Tang San, Xiao Wu, ride in the first carriage with me."
"Everyone else, divide yourselves between the other two."
Everyone quickly climbed aboard.
A whip cracked.
The wheels began to turn.
Nuoding Academy gradually receded into the distance.
Xiao Wu leaned against the carriage window.
She watched the familiar scenery slide backward.
For once, she was quiet for a while.
"Having trouble leaving?"
Tang San asked.
Xiao Wu shook her head.
"Of course not!"
"I was thinking..."
She suddenly turned around.
Her eyes sparkled.
"Suotuo City must have even tastier carrots!"
Tang San couldn't help laughing.
Ling Feng sat near the door.
He rested with his eyes closed.
In truth, he was sensing the Soul Power fluctuations along the way.
He was searching for possible check-in locations.
Grandmaster opened a notebook.
Every so often, he wrote a few strokes.
The carriages traveled along the dirt road.
At noon.
They stopped in a small town to replenish supplies.
"Everyone, get out and stretch."
Grandmaster said.
"Have something to eat."
"We'll continue after an incense stick's time."
The town was small.
But it was bustling.
Steam rose from the food stalls lining the street.
Ling Feng stepped out of the carriage.
His gaze swept across the town square.
System.
Check in.
[Ding! Check-in at Clear Wind Town successful!] [Reward: basic stamina boost (less fatigue during long journeys)]
A cool sensation circulated through his entire body.
The slight soreness in his muscles vanished immediately.
"Ling Feng!"
Xiao Wu ran over.
"They're selling sugar cakes over there!"
"Come buy some with me!"
She tugged at Ling Feng's sleeve.
Her eyes blinked again and again.
Tang San followed behind her.
He smiled helplessly.
"Go ahead."
Ling Feng said.
"Don't go far."
The three headed toward the food stall.
They had just finished buying sugar cakes.
A sudden sneer came from behind them.
"Where did these country bumpkins crawl out from?"
"Never even seen sugar cakes before?"
They turned to look.
Several richly dressed youths stood nearby.
The one leading them was about fifteen or sixteen.
He wore a silver combat outfit.
A clan crest was embroidered on his chest.
Four or five lackeys stood behind him.
All wore mocking expressions.
"What are you staring at?"
The silver-clad youth stepped forward.
"Never seen a noble before?"
His gaze swept over the three's clothing.
Especially their Nuoding Academy badges.
"Nuoding City?"
"Never heard of it."
"What backwater is that?"
His lackeys burst into laughter.
"They're probably here for the Suotuo Grand Competition."
"With their level?"
"What a joke."
Xiao Wu's cheeks puffed up with anger.
"You-"
Tang San pressed a hand to her shoulder.
"Don't bother with them."
Ling Feng gave them an indifferent glance.
He turned to leave.
"Stop!"
The silver-clad youth suddenly barked.
"Did this young master give you permission to leave?"
He strode forward.
He reached out to grab Ling Feng's shoulder.
Ling Feng sidestepped him.
His gaze turned cold.
"Need something?"
"Hah!"
The youth's hand caught empty air.
He froze for a moment.
Then his embarrassment turned to rage.
"You dare dodge?"
"Do you know who I am?"
"From a branch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan in Silves City!"
"Lan Feng!"
He puffed out his chest.
He waited to see their frightened expressions.
Yet-
Ling Feng remained expressionless.
Tang San's gaze was strange.
Xiao Wu...
Xiao Wu was munching on a sweet rice cake.
She wasn't listening at all.
Lan Feng's face flushed red.
"You're courting death!"
He abruptly unleashed his Martial Soul.
A pale blue dragon-shaped phantom appeared.
Two Yellow Soul Rings rose beneath his feet.
"A Soul Grandmaster?!"
The surrounding passersby cried out in shock.
They all backed away.
"A rank twenty-two Power Attack System Battle Soul Master!"
Lan Feng declared proudly.
"Get on your knees and apologize!"
"Otherwise-"
Before he could finish.
Ling Feng moved.
He stepped forward.
His Soul Power remained contained.
Relying purely on physical strength.
He threw a punch!
Fast!
Precise!
Ruthless!
Lan Feng had no time to react.
A heavy punch struck his stomach!
"Urgh-"
He doubled over.
His eyes bulged.
Drool streamed from his mouth.
He fell to his knees.
His lackeys were stunned.
"Young master!"
They hurried forward.
Ling Feng shook out his wrist.
"Let's go."
He left with Tang San and Xiao Wu.
Lan Feng was helped to his feet.
His face was deathly pale.
"Find... find out who they are!"
He ground his teeth.
"Nuoding Academy, is it?"
"At the tournament..."
"I'll make you pay!"
Meanwhile.
Grandmaster saw the three return.
"What happened?"
He noticed Xiao Wu's puffed-up, angry expression.
"Nothing."
Ling Feng said.
"We ran into a few flies."
Grandmaster frowned.
But he didn't ask any more questions.
"Get in."
"We're moving on."
The carriage set off again.
Xiao Wu moved close to Ling Feng.
"Why didn't you use your Martial Soul just now?"
She asked quietly.
"That guy was so annoying!"
Ling Feng watched the scenery flying past outside the window.
"He wasn't worthy."
Just three simple words.
Yet they carried incomparable confidence and pride.
Tang San was secretly shocked.
Without using his Martial Soul.
He had crushed a Soul Grandmaster through physical strength alone?
Ling Feng's strength...
Just what level had it reached?
Toward evening.
The convoy stopped at a relay station for the night.
The wooden cabins were crude.
But they provided enough shelter from the wind and rain.
"Get some rest early."
Grandmaster instructed.
"We have a full day's journey tomorrow."
Everyone returned to their own rooms.
Ling Feng stood by the window.
He gazed at the faint outline of the mountains in the distance.
"System."
"Check in."
[Ding! Successfully checked in at Sunset Relay Station!] [Reward: Slight improvement to night vision]
The world before his eyes suddenly became clear.
He could even make out the veins of distant leaves with perfect clarity.
Not bad.
This would come in handy when traveling at night, too.
Just as he was about to rest.
There was a soft knock at the door.
"Ling Feng."
It was Grandmaster's voice.
He opened the door.
Grandmaster stood outside.
His expression was grave.
"I just received word."
He lowered his voice.
"The people from Silves Academy."
"Are heading toward Suotuo City, too."
"And..."
"They seem to have set their sights on us."
Ling Feng raised an eyebrow.
"The one from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"
Grandmaster was surprised.
"You already know?"
"We ran into him this afternoon."
Ling Feng briefly explained what had happened.
Grandmaster's brows knitted tightly.
"This is troublesome."
"Although Lan Feng is only from a side branch."
"He's still a member of the Upper Three Sects, after all."
"At the tournament..."
"They might target us."
Ling Feng's expression didn't change.
"It doesn't matter."
Grandmaster looked at his calm expression.
Suddenly, he smiled.
"True."
"With a monster like you around."
"They should be the ones worrying."
He patted Ling Feng on the shoulder.
"Get some rest."
"We still have traveling to do tomorrow."
After Grandmaster left.
Ling Feng stood by the window.
Moonlight spilled across his face.
Illuminating a pair of calm yet fathomless eyes.
Silves Academy?
Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon?
At the tournament...
Hopefully, they wouldn't run into him too early.
Otherwise...
One swing of the hammer would settle it.