The Genius Cass

The evening sun dyed the sky red, its soft, gentle glow spreading across the heavens.

After telling the Silver Dragon Wa'ersi to teach the young noble a proper lesson, Luo Feng found a relatively decent hotel and paid a year's rent upfront, making it his long-term residence for the time being.

Soft light fell on Luo Feng through the window. Inside the room, he sat cross-legged, his breathing steady and drawn out. As time passed, specks of cyan light rippled around him in rhythm with his breathing, entering his body through his skin and slowly being refined.

About half an hour later, Luo Feng, his eyes half-closed, drew the last wisp of pure Battle-qi into his body. Only then did the fluctuating cyan glow slowly fade and disappear from around Lu Foweng's body.

His eyelashes twitched slightly, and a piercing gleam flashed through his dark, profound eyes as they snapped open. Luo Feng lowered his head and murmured, "Still at the peak of the eighth-level warrior. I can't even touch the threshold of a warrior of the ninth rank."

A trace of resignation flashed in Luo Feng's eyes. He then pushed open the closed door and walked straight out...

The tavern was dimly lit, its overall tone as dark as dusk. The tables were arranged in a regular pattern, with screens separating them from one another.

It was a quiet, stylish tavern, and Luo Feng had taken a liking to it after visiting once.

It was also relatively expensive.

In between cultivation sessions, Luo Feng would generally visit the quiet tavern every three or four days to drink and listen to its beautiful music. From time to time, he could also hear the guests talking about all sorts of things.

There were still quite a few guests in the tavern at this hour. They all made a point of speaking in slightly lowered voices, but when Luo Feng listened carefully, he could hear every conversation around him clearly.

"Hey, buddy, I heard Cass's younger brother angered a ninth-rank expert a few days ago. Then that expert's magical pet beat him up, and he still hasn't recovered."

A ninth-rank expert? And his magical pet? A few days ago? A trace of interest appeared on Luo Feng's cool face. For no other reason than that, from their conversation, he could tell that this Cass was probably very strong.

"You mean Cass, the nominal disciple selected by the War God Sect ten years ago?" The bald man's eyes lit up. "I've heard about it too. They say Kasuo contracted a sixth-level magical beast, a Winged Bird Dragon, with his brother Cass's help the year before last. It advanced to a seventh-level magical beast a few days ago, and then he came out to show off and offended a super expert. The expert's magical beast gave Kasuo a beating."

"Baldy, you knew too? Yeah, so you heard about it too. Know what that expert's magical pet was? You don't, do you? I'll tell you: a level nine magical beast-a Silver Dragon." The man who had spoken earlier sounded smug, as though he were talking about himself.

"Heh heh, of course. Kasuo's brother Cass is a genius of our O'Brien Empire. Naturally, lots of people pay attention to his every move. Besides, a direct disciple of the War God Sect said last year that Cass has an excellent chance of breaking through to the saint domain within ten years. As Cass's younger brother, Kasuo is impossible to ignore," another middle-aged man with green hair said.

"Really? Cass's brother got beaten up? Cass is a future saint domain expert. Just about everyone gives him some face these days, so who would dare beat up Kasuo?" said a bearded man who had been listening all along.

"Come on, why would I lie to you? There were so many people there. How could it be made up?" the man who had spoken first replied.

"That's strange. Didn't Cass go after the person who beat up his brother for revenge? That's not like Cass, who's always so protective of his own."

"How could he not? Cass went into seclusion half a month ago, and I heard he only came out yesterday. As soon as he did, he heard his brother had been beaten. For all we know, he's still looking for that expert now."

"Hey, tell me, if Cass fought that expert, who would win? I bet it'd be Cass. After all, even a direct disciple of the War God Sect said Cass has an excellent chance of breaking through to the saint domain within ten years."

"Hard to say. That expert's magical pet is a level nine magical beast-a Silver Dragon. Maybe he's a saint domain expert himself?"

In the quiet tavern, Luo Feng savored his wine, a thoughtful smile appearing on his face. Right now, he couldn't wait for that fellow called Cass to come looking for trouble.

Luo Feng had now completely mastered Wielding Something Light as Though It Were Heavy, and his understanding of Swift Wind had grown increasingly refined. Still, he knew his own limits and wouldn't challenge a saint domain expert now. As for Cass, who was highly likely to advance to the saint domain within ten years, Luo Feng was quite interested in him.

"Waiter, a bottle of Emerald Green for each of us, and make it quick. We won't wait for you." A voice familiar to Luo Feng rang out in the tavern.

What's this? Luo Feng found it a little strange. The voice seemed quite familiar, as if it had been making a racket in front of him just a few days ago.

The tavern was very dim, and every table was separated by screens. Luo Feng's body was almost completely hidden behind one, so the owner of the familiar voice couldn't see him at all.

Luo Feng turned his head and peered over, revealing a little of his eyes.

He was as arrogant and overbearing as ever, but there were quite a few claw marks on his once fairly handsome face.

"It's actually him. Should I say we're fated to meet, or that you're unlucky? Why do you run into me every time?" Luo Feng said with a faint smile. He picked up the glass on the table and took a sip.

Luo Feng listened carefully.

Clearly, Kasuo and his companions hadn't noticed Luo Feng.

"Brother, you have to help me! I got beaten up so badly a few days ago. Look at my face-it still hasn't healed, and it's covered in claw marks. Damn it, why did he have to hit me so hard?" Kasuo spoke in a low voice, seemingly afraid the people around him would recognize him. After all, he had suffered a huge loss of face a few days ago. If he still had the nerve to come out and show off now, one could only say his shamelessness was beyond words.

"Kasuo, when are you going to grow up? You'll never truly grow if you rely on others. No one can help you for your whole life; in the end, you have to rely on yourself. If you were willing to work hard, you wouldn't still be just a warrior of the sixth rank. You even needed my help to contract a magical beast." Cass spoke with the helplessness of someone frustrated that Kasuo had failed to live up to his potential.

"Brother, I know, but you have to help me! I was bullied so badly a few days ago." In his heart, apart from their ancestor, his elder brother was the person he admired most. At only forty, Cass was already at the peak of a warrior of the ninth rank and was highly likely to become a saint domain expert within the next ten years. Compared with their ancestor, his talent was far superior.