Lengyuan's slap froze everyone's expression instantly. Lengyuan hadn't defended Leng Yunshan; he'd actually struck him! It was incomprehensible. Many were speculating in their hearts as to what identities these two could possibly possess for the dignified City Lord of East Flame City, Lengyuan, to become so enraged with Leng Yunshan over them.

Blood seeped from the corner of Leng Yunshan's mouth as he clutched his swollen left cheek. He stared at Lengyuan, his expression stiff, seemingly unable to process what had just happened.

He didn't understand why Lengyuan had suddenly turned on him.

Just who is this girl… Luo Feng watched Bing Ruolan's retreating figure, a glint in his eyes.

He had long suspected that her identity was unusual, and now it seemed that the truth might be even more extraordinary.

With just a single sentence, she had thrown Lengyuan, the City Lord, into confusion. This was not something an ordinary person could do.

Lengyuan turned to Bing Ruolan. "I have failed in raising my son. Yunshan has offended you both, and I apologize on his behalf! Yunshan, kneel!"

"Father, I did nothing wrong! Why should I apologize to them!"

Upon hearing Lengyuan's words, Leng Yunshan finally snapped back to his senses. He turned his gaze towards Bing Ruolan and Luo Feng, his eyes filled with hatred.

As the Young Lord of East Flame City, how could he apologize to these two nobodies?

Lengyuan's expression darkened. He flicked his hand, and an immense pressure surged forth. Leng Yunshan, unable to resist in the slightest, was forced to his knees with a thud.

Leng Yunshan's face twisted with malice. "I'm going to kill you both!" he snarled, glaring at Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan.

He had grown up with others always apologizing to him. To be humiliated like this in front of so many people today—he wanted nothing more than to kill the pair of them immediately!

Xiao Ning, watching from the side, paled slightly and quietly backed away, vanishing in moments.

"Chun An, take the Young Lord away. He is forbidden from stepping out of the City Lord Mansion for three months!" Lengyuan, his face ashen, ordered the Martial Artist of the Hei family beside him.

"Yes!"

This was the first time the Hei family Martial Artist had seen Lengyuan with such a grave expression. Knowing the matter was likely extraordinary, he immediately ordered the Iron Spear Army to bind the still-roaring Leng Yunshan and take him away.

"I've troubled you today. Why not adjourn to my mansion? I would like to personally extend my hospitality to you both." After the Iron Spear Army took Leng Yunshan away, Lengyuan turned to Bing Ruolan and Luo Feng and offered, his demeanor respectful.

"No need. We are just passing through East Flame City and staying for one night," Bing Ruolan straightforwardly refused.

Lengyuan nodded and then instructed one of his attendants, "Take these two young heroes to the Heavenly Cloud Tower to rest! Ensure they are not neglected in any way!"

"Yes!"

An attendant stepped forward, walked to Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan's side, and respectfully said, "Please, follow me."

Luo Feng naturally had no objections to such a welcome offer, and followed the attendant along with Bing Ruolan.

The surrounding onlookers exchanged bewildered glances. None had expected events to unfold this way, and they secretly speculated about the pair's identities.

Lengyuan watched Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan depart and sighed in relief. Then, his sharp gaze fell upon the black-armored Martial Artist beside him, and he barked, "Chun An, how dare you join the Young Lord in his foolishness, mobilize the Iron Spear Army without authorization, and cause so many casualties! Return to the mansion and report to the Disciplinary Hall to receive your punishment!"

The black-armored Martial Artist's face stiffened. He dared not argue, "This subordinate knows his crime."

Glancing in the direction Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan had disappeared, the black-armored Martial Artist hesitated for a moment before asking, "City Lord, who is that blue-haired young girl?"

This Martial Artist from the Hei family had served Lengyuan for nearly several years. Never before had he seen Lengyuan so discomposed, not even when dealing with people from the Imperial City.

A chill emanated from Lengyuan as he snorted coldly, "Don't ask about things you shouldn't! All you need to know is that she is someone who absolutely cannot be offended! If anything had happened to her today, I fear the entire Canglang Dynasty would be shaken!"

The entire Canglang Dynasty would be shaken! Could they be a force from outside the domains…

"Yes!"

The black-armored Martial Artist seemed to realize something. His expression changed drastically, and he dared not speak further.

「Heavenly Cloud Tower.」

This was the largest inn in East Flame City.

The Iron Spear Army soldier led Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan to the Heavenly Cloud Tower. After he whispered a few words to the Shopkeeper, the Shopkeeper immediately arranged two superior rooms for them.

Luo Feng occupied a room overlooking the street, with Bing Ruolan in the adjacent one.

The room's furnishings were luxurious. The tables and chairs were spotless, and a faint, pleasant fragrance filled the air.

Luo Feng briefly inspected the room, a smile spreading across his face. As expected of the finest inn in East Flame City; this Lengyuan is quite thorough.

He walked to the table and sat down, his gaze fixed on the wall, lost in thought.

The way Lengyuan treated us definitely has something to do with Ruolan. I wonder what is going on…

On the way to the Heavenly Cloud Tower, Luo Feng had wanted to ask about this, but seeing Bing Ruolan's foul mood, he had held his tongue.

This girl seems afraid of others knowing her identity. Could it be related to her family…

Luo Feng suddenly remembered the marriage contract Bing Ruolan had mentioned. His heart sank, and he stood up, wanting to go next door to ask Bing Ruolan. However, after taking a few steps, he stopped.

Since she hadn't spoken of it, she must have her own difficulties. To ask her directly would be to impose on her.

Glancing at the sky, which was gradually darkening, Luo Feng pondered for a moment, then muttered to himself, That Lengyuan seems to know something. I'll head to the City Lord Mansion tonight.

He let out a deep sigh, then walked to the bed and sat cross-legged.

Judging from today's events, even a powerful figure like City Lord Lengyuan treated Bing Ruolan with utmost respect. One could only imagine how immense the power of the family behind her must be.

This made Luo Feng feel a sense of pressure.

If things were as he suspected, annulling Bing Ruolan's marriage contract would be no easy feat. With his current strength, it was far from sufficient.

Stop overthinking. Things need to be dealt with one at a time. The immediate priority is to resolve the threat of the Duanmu Family.

Luo Feng shook his head, took out the invitation to Duanmu Xiao's fortieth birthday celebration, glanced at it, and placed it by his bed.

Seeing that it was still early, Luo Feng decided to seize the time to cultivate.

Whether it was dealing with the Duanmu Family's threat or protecting Bing Ruolan, the most crucial thing was to possess sufficient strength.

Without strength, everything was just empty talk.

Luo Feng composed himself, retrieved a Yuan Stone from his storage ring, and circulated his Condensation Yuan Technique to its limits, channeling it through the meridians in his arm and into the Yuan Stone.

BOOM!

The moment his consciousness entered the Yuan Stone, it was as if floodgates had opened. A vast torrent of Yuan Qi surged through his meridians and into his body, rapidly converting into his own intrinsic Yuan Qi.

Two hours later, Luo Feng opened his eyes, a sharp gleam briefly flashing through them.

Yuan Stones really are a good thing; my cultivation speed is several times faster than before!

After just this short period of cultivation, Luo Feng felt his realm showing faint signs of loosening. At this rate, reaching the middle stage of the Nine Heavenly Court Realm wouldn't be far off.

Gazing at the Yuan Stone in his hand, which had dimmed somewhat, Luo Feng frowned slightly.

Logically, a single Grade One Yuan Stone should be sufficient for an early-stage Nine Heavenly Court Realm martial artist to cultivate for three days. However, he had only cultivated for two hours, yet more than half of the Yuan Qi in this stone had already been consumed.

Luo Feng pondered this for a moment and immediately understood the reason.

It was likely because his Soul Power was formidable, allowing him to refine Yuan Qi at a rate exceeding that of ordinary people. That explained the rapid consumption of the Yuan Stone.

Far from being worried, Luo Feng was actually pleased by this.

A faster consumption rate of Yuan Stones meant a faster refinement rate of Yuan Qi, which naturally translated to faster cultivation progress than others.

Luo Feng couldn't help but feel a surge of relief that he had obtained several hundred Yuan Stones in the Secret Realm.

Otherwise, with such an astonishing rate of consumption, he would never have been able to sustain it.

It seems I must earn more Yuan Stones.

At this rate, the six hundred-odd Yuan Stones he possessed wouldn't last long. Furthermore, as his cultivation level rose, the consumption of Yuan Stones would only increase.

Putting the Yuan Stone away, Luo Feng glanced out the window.

The moon hung high in the sky; it was already night.

It is time to meet Lengyuan, Luo Feng muttered to himself. He stood up and listened for any sounds from the next room.

In the adjacent room, the sound of slow, steady breathing could be heard; Bing Ruolan was also cultivating.

Luo Feng tiptoed to the window, executed the Teng Dragon's Step, and his figure flashed, disappearing into the night.

A short while later, Luo Feng arrived before a grand, imposing residence with red walls and crimson tiles—the City Lord Mansion of East Flame City.

Releasing his Soul Power, Luo Feng immediately sensed numerous powerful auras concealed within the high courtyard walls, all belonging to cultivators at or above the Eight Hell Realm.

As expected of the City Lord Mansion, it has so many experts.

A glint flickered in Luo Feng's eyes. He found a less guarded spot and, with ten Qi Dragons swirling around his body, he transformed into a dark shadow and slipped over the courtyard wall.

SWOOSH!

A cool breeze swept past. Two City Lord Mansion guards, hidden in a grove of trees inside the courtyard walls, shivered and pulled their necks in.

One of them frowned. "Did you hear anything just now? It sounded like something passed by."

The other chuckled. "Kui Si, you must have spent too much time on women's bellies and gotten muddle-headed. What noise could there be?"

"Maybe I misheard."

The guard named Kui Si listened intently for a moment. Hearing nothing, he shook his head.

Luo Feng, perched on a nearby treetop, glanced at the guards below before looking towards the depths of the mansion. His figure flashed as he sped forward.

…

「Heavenly Cloud Tower.」

Bing Ruolan finished her cultivation and walked to Luo Feng's door.

Standing at his door, Bing Ruolan hesitated. She raised her hand several times, only to lower it again, before finally mustering the courage to knock.

"Luo Feng, there's something I want to tell you."

After much thought, Bing Ruolan decided to reveal what she had been hiding.

After a moment, there was still no response from within the room.

Bing Ruolan knocked again. Still receiving no answer, her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she pushed the door open.

He's not here…

Seeing the empty room, Bing Ruolan's tense heart inexplicably relaxed somewhat. She slowly exhaled.

Her gaze drifted to the window, towards the bright, clear moonlight outside. Bing Ruolan's fine, beautiful brows drew together slightly as she murmured to herself, This might be for the best. What if he can't accept my true identity…

At that thought, Bing Ruolan's small frame trembled faintly. Her small hands clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white, her expression heart-wrenchingly sorrowful.

After a moment, Bing Ruolan composed herself. She turned to leave the room but suddenly spotted the invitation on the bed.

What's this?

Bing Ruolan walked to the bed, picked up the invitation, and opened it. Her gaze focused intently.

An invitation to Duanmu Xiao's fortieth birthday… Why would he have this? Could it be that his rush to return to the academy was for this…

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