In the City Lord Mansion of East Flame City.

In the spacious study, Lengyuan paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. A newly uncovered piece of letter paper sat on the desk beside him.

I never expected her to appear in East Flame City. Should I inform her family about this or not...

After murmuring to himself, Lengyuan suddenly walked to the desk, intending to write.

Lost in thought for a long moment, Lengyuan sighed and put down his pen.

Forget it. This is not something I can involve myself in. Let's let it take its natural course.

As Lengyuan put down the pen, his gaze suddenly shifted. He looked towards the shadow of a decorative rockery outside the window and said, "Since you're here, why don't you come in and have a seat."

The sound of footsteps echoed, and a figure emerged from the shadow of the decorative rockery. It was Luo Feng.

"City Lord Lengyuan, what sharp ears you have!" Luo Feng exclaimed.

Without showing any apprehension, Luo Feng walked directly into the study with a smile on his face.

Lengyuan watched Luo Feng approaching, a curious glint in his eyes.

East Flame City bordered the Red Flame Desert and was plagued by numerous bandits and robbers. Disciples of the Demon Sect also occasionally stirred up trouble. As a result, the city's defenses were extremely tight, with the City Lord Mansion being of utmost importance.

The elite of the Iron Spear Army were all hidden within the City Lord Mansion, and among them were three powerful martial artists of the Ninth Heavenly Court Realm.

Lengyuan was utterly surprised that Luo Feng could reach this place without alerting anyone.

After calming himself down with a deep breath, Lengyuan walked over to a side seat and asked, "What brings you here so late?"

Luo Feng took a seat opposite Lengyuan and said, "I want to know more about Bing Ruolan."

Lengyuan's brow twitched. He was somewhat surprised, then understanding dawned. "She cannot reveal her identity right now, so it's understandable that you don't know."

"So, you do know the reasons?" Luo Feng asked, slightly excited.

Lengyuan shook his head and replied, "I'm sorry, but if she hasn't spoken about it, I can't tell you."

Luo Feng frowned slightly. At this moment, Lengyuan added, "However, as an apology for my offense today, there's one thing I can tell you."

"What is it?"

Lengyuan looked at Luo Feng and said slowly, "Her identity is related to the North Sea Ice Palace."

"North Sea Ice Palace!" exclaimed Luo Feng, his face showing obvious shock.

Lengyuan nodded, then took a sip of tea. He looked deeply at Luo Feng and said, "I presume you know what this implies."

Luo Feng exhaled sharply, the surprise still evident on his face.

Of course, he knew. When he heard Bing Ruolan mention the Ice Palace during the day, he hadn't given it much thought. He hadn't expected that this was indeed the legendary North Sea Ice Palace!

The North Sea Ice Palace was one of the major powers in the North Sea region, its strength significantly surpassing even the Canglang Dynasty.

At this moment, Luo Feng finally understood why Lengyuan had been so surprised upon seeing Bing Ruolan.

Even the imperial family of the Canglang Dynasty would not dare to offend someone from the North Sea Ice Palace easily.

The North Sea Ice Palace... So, the rumors about Ruolan being from the Xi Tribe are true. However, she doesn't seem any different from ordinary people... Luo Feng pondered.

Just then, Lengyuan fixed his gaze on Luo Feng and asked, "It appears that you two share a special relationship. Do you... like her?"

Luo Feng was stunned. He didn't understand why Lengyuan would ask such a question, but he didn't deny it and nodded. "Yes."

Hearing this, Lengyuan looked at Luo Feng meaningfully and said, "Are you aware that she is already betrothed?"

"I'm aware of that."

Luo Feng nodded and said to Lengyuan, "But I'm personally going to the North Sea Ice Palace to get her marriage contract annulled!"

"Annulling the marriage contract?"

Lengyuan was slightly taken aback, then shook his head and sighed, "Truly, the ignorant are fearless. Since you know she is linked to the North Sea Ice Palace, you should understand that the person she is engaged to is no ordinary fellow."

"That's not important."

Luo Feng shook his head, his gaze resolute. "Once I have made a decision, I will definitely see it through."

Luo Feng's firm tone startled Lengyuan for a moment. He smiled wryly and said, "I'm now aware of your identity: Luo Feng, the top newcomer from the Flowing Cloud Region."

Luo Feng wasn't surprised by this. As the City Lord, Lengyuan naturally had his resources.

"You're young and able to step into the Ninth Heavenly Court Realm. Quite impressive, I admit. But that might only seem outstanding in a remote place like the Flowing Cloud Region. Compared to the true scions of the great families, your aptitude is quite ordinary."

Lengyuan put down his teacup and said, "I can tell you that the person betrothed to Bing Ruolan reached the Spiritual Rotation Realm at the age of sixteen. In terms of status, you and he are worlds apart. There is no chance for you to be with Bing Ruolan. If you insist on doing this, I fear you might lose your life even before reaching the North Sea Ice Palace!"

Lengyuan's words were solemn and forceful, like a declaration of fate.

Luo Feng could tell that Lengyuan wasn't just using scare tactics.

「...」

WHOOSH!

A whistling sound of wind splitting the air echoed as a dark shadow shot out from the City Lord Mansion of East Flame City.

After leaving the mansion, Luo Feng stood on the rooftop of a tall building.

Looking up at the full moon hanging in the sky, Luo Feng showed a bitter smile. North Sea Ice Palace... quite an unexpected answer indeed.

Ruolan, you've really given me a difficult problem.

Lowering his gaze, Luo Feng remembered Lengyuan's final words.

Reached the Spiritual Rotation Realm at sixteen, huh? I can do that too!

Taking a deep breath, Luo Feng's eyes filled with determination. He executed Teng Dragon's Step, and ten Qi Dragons swirled around him. Within a moment, he disappeared into the night sky.

Lengyuan stood at the entrance of the study, watching Luo Feng's rapidly receding silhouette, and shook his head slowly.

「Sometime later」

Luo Feng returned to Heavenly Cloud Tower. Bing Ruolan had already returned to her own room.

Hearing the even breathing from the adjacent room, Luo Feng exhaled softly and took out a Yuan Stone to begin his cultivation in earnest.

The person betrothed to Bing Ruolan was a Spiritual Rotation Realm expert at the age of sixteen. Luo Feng didn't want to lose to him.

If his rival could become a Spiritual Rotation Realm expert at sixteen, then he would enter the Spiritual Rotation Realm before he turned sixteen!

Otherwise, how could he be worthy of going to the North Sea Ice Palace?

「The next day」

After a night of intense cultivation, Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan continued their journey.

On the way, both of them tacitly avoided mentioning the incidents that had taken place in East Flame City.

The conversation he had had with Lengyuan was deeply buried in Luo Feng's heart.

In the following days, Luo Feng seized every moment to cultivate, hoping to enter the Ninth Heavenly Court Realm as soon as possible.

「Two days later.」

Across the boundless plain, the exposed earth was crimson red. From a distance, it resembled a blood-soaked hell, a heart-palpitating sight.

The blazing sun hung high, its golden radiance scattering across the plain, transforming into a bloody, eerie, and fantastical light.

This was the Blood Roar Plains, where the subterranean fire energy was extremely potent, forming baleful fire energy. This made the surrounding environment harsh, and its creatures brutal and bloodthirsty.

WHIZZ!

A Six-Leg Demon Horse, like a black flash of lightning, darted across the plain.

Luo Feng sat behind Bing Ruolan, his hands lightly encircling her soft waist, while in his heart, he contemplated the various intricacies of the Shocking Thunder Saber Technique.

AWOO...

Suddenly, a terrifying beastly roar echoed. Bing Ruolan's brow furrowed slightly. "Such incredible Demon Qi! This is probably a Fourth-level Demon Beast!"

Luo Feng was also startled from his contemplation, his sharp gaze looking ahead.

A kilometer away, two large shadows were rushing towards them, their heavy footsteps thundering. With each leap, they covered hundreds of meters, as if gliding through the air.

"It's the Flame Marked Flying Leopards!"

Bing Ruolan recognized the two Demon Beasts, her brow furrowed slightly, and her expression became more serious.

The two shadows had already closed to within a hundred meters. They were two leopard-like Demon Beasts.

The two Flame Marked Flying Leopards had no fur; their skin was covered in clusters of red markings that resembled flames. Wings stretched from their backs, their bone-white fangs were as thick as an arm, and their blood-red pupils seemed to drip blood.

Confronting the two Flame Marked Flying Leopards, the Six-Leg Demon Horse whinnied restlessly and stopped on its own, without needing Bing Ruolan's command.

The Six-Leg Demon Horse was a Third-level Demon Beast and immediately sensed danger when facing the Fourth-level Demon Beast, the Flame Marked Flying Leopard.

"Let's get down," Luo Feng said. He and Bing Ruolan dismounted.

THUD THUD THUD THUD...

The ground trembled. In the blink of an eye, the two Flame Marked Flying Leopards charged before them, their cold, merciless blood-red pupils locked onto Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan.

ROAR!

The Flame Marked Flying Leopard on the left let out a colossal roar. Its body immediately ignited with raging flames, instantly incinerating the surrounding rocks into dark red magma.

Luo Feng's eyes twitched slightly.

This was his first encounter with a Fourth-level Demon Beast. Its powerful Demon Qi surpassed that of a Third-level Demon Beast by many times.

"To think we'd encounter Flame Marked Flying Leopards here."

Bing Ruolan's gaze was solemn. The strength of a Flame Marked Flying Leopard was equivalent to a mid-stage Ninth Heavenly Court Realm Martial Artist. Combined with a Demon Beast's formidable physique, their threat level was even greater.

These Fourth-level Demon Beasts should be perfect for tempering my Saber Technique.

Unlike Bing Ruolan's tense expression, Luo Feng's eyes filled with excitement as he looked at the two Flame Marked Flying Leopards.

For the past two days, he had been contemplating the Shocking Thunder Saber Technique and had gained some insight. This was an excellent opportunity to test his blade on these two Flame Marked Flying Leopards.

"Ruolan, you stay here. I'll handle them," Luo Feng said to Bing Ruolan. He drew his Fury Flame Knife and strode towards the two Flame Marked Flying Leopards, which were watching him like tigers.

"Be careful."

Bing Ruolan knew she was no match for the Flame Marked Flying Leopards, so she could only stand anxiously to the side.

Seeing Luo Feng approach, the two Flame Marked Flying Leopards crouched slightly, their throats emitting threatening growls.

Instinct told them that the human before them was extremely dangerous! The slightest carelessness would result in their deaths.

ROAR!

The larger Flame Marked Flying Leopard roared, spewing two streams of fiery breath from its nostrils that coalesced into a beam of firelight as it charged forward first.

The other Flame Marked Flying Leopard circled to Luo Feng's left and pounced as well.

Fourth-level Demon Beasts already possessed considerable intelligence and intended to surround Luo Feng.

The Flame Marked Flying Leopards' massive bodies did not slow them down at all. They were incredibly fast, reaching Luo Feng in an instant and pouncing simultaneously.

CLANG!

The Fury Flame Knife was unsheathed. Ferocious Saber Qi howled out, slashing heavily at the Flame Marked Flying Leopard charging from the left.

The Flame Marked Flying Leopard growled. Its enormous body couldn't withstand the immense force contained in the Saber Qi and was flung backward, smashing a deep pit into the ground.

BANG!

Having repelled one Flame Marked Flying Leopard, Luo Feng stomped on the ground, his body spinning half a circle. He threw a ferocious punch, seemingly possessing heaven-shattering power, directly at the other Flame Marked Flying Leopard.

BOOM!

His fist struck the Flame Gang Qi on the Flame Marked Flying Leopard. The intense impact shattered the surrounding ground, and both Luo Feng and the Flame Marked Flying Leopard were pushed back simultaneously.

Truly worthy of being a Fourth-level Demon Beast! Let's see how you handle my Shocking Thunder Saber Technique—Mad Thunder Overturning Sky!

Seeing that the Flame Marked Flying Leopard had actually blocked his punch, Luo Feng was slightly surprised. The Fury Flame Knife hummed, its blade flashing with countless sparks of lightning as he executed the first stance of the Shocking Thunder Saber Technique: Mad Thunder Overturning Sky.

CRACKLE!

The moment the blade light flashed, it was as if thunder fell from the nine heavens. The Saber Qi transformed into a thick electric python, enveloping an area several zhang in front of Luo Feng.

Wherever the blade light passed, the ground was plowed into terrifying trenches, turning pitch black and filled with infinite explosive power.

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