"Is this...?" The onlookers were dumbfounded as they watched the scene before them.
No one had expected Lin Feng to be so strong, sending Xuanyuan Yu flying with a single kick.
Could this guy really not be worried about Xuanyuan Zhan in the Jialan Academy?
"You brat, you..." Xuanyuan Yu's face darkened considerably as he found himself trampled under Yang Fan's feet, experiencing an unprecedented humiliation.
In his entire life, Xuanyuan Yu had never felt this way before.
"Hand over 15,000,000 taels of silver notes, and I might spare the Xuanyuan Family some face and let you go today," Lin Feng said coldly, looking at Xuanyuan Yu.
Xuanyuan Yu wished he could slice Lin Feng into a thousand pieces.
But he knew he was no match for Lin Feng, and this guy seemed totally unafraid, making it difficult for Xuanyuan Zhan to determine Lin Feng's background.
Xuanyuan Yu was well aware that there were many great forces outside Jialan City.
Jialan City, in the True Martial Country, was merely a main city; its ranking was not high, and the powers within the city were considered insignificant, mere local tyrants.
So, Xuanyuan Yu thought of temporarily yielding and investigating Lin Feng's identity before deciding how to deal with him later. After all, a gentleman's revenge is never late, and Xuanyuan Yu found solace in this idea, suppressing his anger. "Fine, I'll give you the money," he said.
Lin Feng withdrew his foot from Xuanyuan Yu's body, and Xuanyuan Yu climbed up from the ground, full of humiliation, and took out 15,000,000 taels of silver.
This silver was given to Xuanyuan Yu by his clan's elder for purchasing a large batch of spiritual medicines before he left. Yet now, to escape, he had no choice but to hand it over to Lin Feng.
Lin Feng accepted the silver notes, coldly looking at Xuanyuan Yu. "You can scram now."
Xuanyuan Yu was filled with hatred, but knowing he was not strong enough, he could only hide his resentment as he quickly walked away, soon disappearing from sight.
The crowd slowly dispersed, but many were engaged in lively discussions. The recent battle was truly spectacular, and who could have thought that the young master from such a distinguished family as Xuanyuan Yu would suffer such a defeat?
Lin Feng went over to the young cultivator selling the black spiritual root and handed him 5,000,000 taels of silver notes.
Then, Lin Feng put away the black spiritual root.
"What may I call you, sir?" the young cultivator asked, seemingly surprised that someone would actually spend 5,000,000 taels to buy a black spiritual root. Yet, he quickly regained his composure.
"Jialan Academy, Lin Feng."
The young cultivator nodded and turned to walk away.
"Young brother, you've been swindled. The black spiritual root is worth at most 300,000 taels of silver, nowhere near 5,000,000."
"Indeed, young brother, that fellow clearly conned you."
Many people were chiming in.
Lin Feng smiled and bade farewell to the crowd.
How could he not know that the black spiritual root was not worth 5,000,000 taels?
But Lin Feng was kind-hearted and generous by nature, seeing the young man in difficulty and choosing to help was a way to accumulate virtue and do good.
Afterward, life returned to normal, and Lin Feng diligently cultivated every day, hoping to break through to the Martial Master Realm.
However, it was evident that breaking through to the Martial Master Realm was not an easy task.
"There are just over two months left until the Great Competition of the Four Academies. I hope to break through before then," Lin Feng murmured.
The Great Competition of the Four Academies was a contest between the four divisions within the Inner Academy.
Held every three years!
The Great Competition ranked the talented students of the Inner Academy.
Those ranked highly could not only bring honor to their academy division, but the students themselves would also receive substantial rewards.
The higher the ranking, the more generous the monthly benefits received from the academy, like how Lin Feng currently could only receive thirty ordinary Qi Replenishing Pills each month.
However, those students ranked higher could receive the Great Strength Dragon Suppressing Pill.
If Lin Feng took one Great Strength Dragon Suppressing Pill daily, his cultivation would certainly progress by leaps and bounds.
But such an elixir was personally refined by an elder of the Jialan Academy and was limited in quantity, hardly available for purchase.
No matter how wealthy you were, you couldn't buy it outside.
Therefore, many students worked tirelessly in their cultivation, striving to achieve a good ranking in the triennial Great Competition of the Four Academies. This determined whether they would cultivate with Qi Replenishing Pills or Great Strength Dragon Suppressing Pills over the next three years. The difference was unimaginable.
"Ha!" Lin Feng couldn't afford to slack off even a bit. With a shout, he sprang forth, his punches breaking the air as he trained his Breaking Fist. An hour later, Su Zimo arrived where Lin Feng was.
"Junior Brother Lin, Senior Brother Zhang Qichu sent me to find you. He said Senior Brother Huo Xuanyi is looking for you," Su Zimo said.
"Huo Xuanyi? The seventh-ranked Huo Xuanyi in the Inner Academy?" Lin Feng asked in surprise.
"Yes, exactly." Su Zimo nodded hastily.
Lin Feng was puzzled, for he seemed to have no interaction with Huo Xuanyi.
This Huo Xuanyi was rather mysterious within the Inner Academy and seldom appeared there.
Lin Feng had been in the Inner Academy for over six months but had never seen Huo Xuanyi.
As to why Huo Xuanyi was looking for him, Lin Feng was naturally quite puzzled.
"Alright, I'll go and take a look."
Lin Feng agreed, returning with Su Zimo to the academy. In the lounge, Zhang Qichu was speaking cautiously with a young cultivator, who appeared eighteen or nineteen years old, slightly slender, with a resolute face.
Lin Feng was a bit surprised; this person was undoubtedly Huo Xuanyi, the same young cultivator who had been selling the black spiritual root a few days ago.
"Junior Brother Lin, it's been a few days since we parted. How have you been?" Huo Xuanyi asked with a smile.
Lin Feng nodded and said, "Everything is well. Forgive me for failing to recognize your true identity as Senior Brother Huo that day."
"I left the academy over a year ago. It's understandable that Junior Brother Lin didn't recognize me," Huo Xuanyi replied with a smile, then continued, "I came to find Junior Brother Lin today to discuss a matter."
"Senior Brother Huo, Junior Brother Lin, I recall Wang Xuanming asked to see me today, and the time is nearly up, so I'll go and see what Wang Xuanming wants? You two can talk leisurely," Zhang Qichu said, standing up with a smile.
"Take care, Junior Brother Zhang," Huo Xuanyi nodded.
After Zhang Qichu left, Lin Feng asked, "I wonder what brings Senior Brother Huo here?"
"Junior Brother Lin, do you remember the black spiritual root?" Huo Xuanyi asked.
"Of course, I remember," Lin Feng nodded.
"This is the spirit root of the Xuanming Black Flame Fruit; I believe Junior Brother Lin knew this as well," Huo Xuanyi said, looking at Lin Feng.
Lin Feng nodded.
Huo Xuanyi continued, "Frankly speaking, while training outside, I stumbled upon a Xuanming Black Flame Fruit, but it was guarded by a fierce beast. At the time, the fruit had not yet matured. Now that half a year has passed, I think it should have ripened by now. We, as fellow brothers, are destined for this opportunity, and I wish to invite Junior Brother Lin to accompany me to seize this chance."
"A matured Xuanming Black Flame Fruit?" Lin Feng's eyes lit up instantly.
This was indeed a Heavenly Earth Treasure. Lin Feng believed that just one was enough to propel him into the Martial Master Realm.
"Then I must sincerely thank Senior Brother Huo," Lin Feng said, suppressing his inner excitement.
"Haha, Junior Brother, there's no need to be so polite with me. We'll set out tomorrow, so make your preparations," Huo Xuanyi advised.
"Alright, I'll prepare thoroughly," Lin Feng nodded.
After seeing Huo Xuanyi off, Lin Feng began preparing some essential items. The next day, along with Huo Xuanyi, he set off for the Wilderness Mountain Range's Lion Group Mountain, where the Xuanming Black Flame Fruit grew in its depths.