"Who said I'm out of options?"

Luo Feng came to his senses, laughed, and reached out. "Give me your sword."

"Sword?"

He Qin didn't understand, but she still unfastened her sword and handed it to Luo Feng.

The sword was one foot seven inches long, with the words 'Cold Snow' engraved on the hilt. Its sheath, adorned with only a few fine lines, was simple yet majestic. A sharp aura emanated from it, palpable even through the scabbard, as if the sword could leap out to kill at any moment.

"Good sword!"

Luo Feng nodded in approval and stored the sword in his storage ring.

Watching Luo Feng's serious expression, He Qin's slender hands clenched, and her bright eyes trembled slightly. Can he really help me comprehend Sword Intent?

Luo Feng put away the sword, took a few steps to the side, holding the Tiger Soul Saber that was nearly as tall as himself, and looked at He Qin.

HUM!

The Yuan Qi of Heaven and Earth surged towards him wildly. Luo Feng's gaze abruptly sharpened, and a massive phantom of Saber Qi appeared around him.

"Grand Momentum like a Saber!"

An intensely sharp aura erupted from Luo Feng, sweeping out in all directions, like a mountain of sabers roaring toward He Qin.

Enveloped by the Grand Momentum, He Qin's expression changed. She instinctively reached to draw her sword but her hand grasped only air.

Only then did she remember that Luo Feng had her sword.

Facing the enormous pressure, He Qin felt an involuntary urge to retreat.

"When paths are narrow, the brave prevail! You are a swordsman, so you must never allow fear into your heart!"

Luo Feng stared at He Qin, his gaze as sharp as a saber. A shocking power emanated from his icy voice.

"Sword!"

Upon hearing Luo Feng's words, He Qin's heart jolted. A flicker of understanding lit up her bright pupils. She halted her retreat, her gaze growing progressively sharper as she resisted the pervasive aura.

Time passed, second by second. Sweat poured from He Qin, soaking her clothes. Exhaustion gradually crept onto her delicate face, yet she gritted her teeth and held on, not a trace of fear in her eyes.

Luo Feng's eyes showed approval; he knew the time was right. He suddenly raised his voice and yelled, "Cut!"

The moment he yelled, Luo Feng stepped forward. A huge saber shadow materialized in the air, slashing towards He Qin.

Instantly, Luo Feng's aura intensified severalfold, and the air before him parted like water.

He Qin's expression shifted. The massive saber shadow carried a chilling killing intent, seeming as if it would truly slice her in two.

Her white teeth bit her lip until it was bloodless. Faced with the sharply descending Saber Qi, He Qin struggled to endure, yet she persisted, not retreating a single step.

At this moment, Luo Feng's cold shout suddenly boomed, "He Qin, cut down my Grand Momentum!"

Cut it down?

Looking at the huge saber shadow slashing down from the sky, He Qin was taken aback.

This saber shadow, formed by Grand Momentum, embodied the saber's intent to kill all. Though it was still some distance away, its sharp aura already sent a chill through her palms.

Without my sword, how can I possibly block this attack...?

For the first time, hesitation flickered across He Qin's beautiful and coolly serene face.

"Your mind is like a sword—cut it down!"

Luo Feng's voice, like a thunderclap, resounded in He Qin's ear.

Instantly, He Qin shuddered. Cold glints, like swords, like snow, flashed in her dark pupils. A frigid aura emanated from her smooth, white skin, and snowflakes began to flutter within a ten-meter radius around her.

Her beautiful eyes focused. He Qin extended two fingers of her right hand and pointed into the air.

"Break!"

SWISH!

A colossal stream of Sword Qi, like a bolt of silk, poured out. Everywhere it passed, the air seemed to freeze, creating an intent that could congeal everything. Even the great blade formed by the Grand Momentum began to slow.

CRACK!

The Sword Qi and the Saber Qi phantom made contact instantly. In the next moment, the Saber Qi phantom was sliced in two. The Sword Qi, though diminished to a third of its original size, swept onward with undiminished force towards the Purple Bamboo Forest. Large swaths of purple bamboo instantly transformed into ice sculptures, which then shattered into countless pieces.

Snowflakes drifted down. The young man and young woman stood facing each other, bathed in the beautiful glow of the setting sun. A gentle breeze rustled the Purple Bamboo Forest, making it sway like a verdant sea, composing a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

He Qin stared blankly at the falling snowflakes, extending her slender fingers to touch one.

The coolness on her fingertips confirmed that this was no dream.

"You've severed the thoughts of the void. He Qin, congratulations on comprehending Sword Intent," Luo Feng looked at He Qin and said with a smile.

Lifting her eyes to gaze at the handsome young man opposite her, He Qin remained silent for a long moment before softly saying, "Luo Feng, thank you..."

Her voice trembled slightly.

She had never expected to truly comprehend Sword Intent.

"No need for thanks."

Luo Feng waved his hand and said, "You even told me about a secret place like the Snow Valley, so we can be considered friends. Besides, comprehending Sword Intent primarily depended on you. I merely did what I could."

He Qin smiled gladly but didn't reply.

She understood her own potential; without Luo Feng, she would never have comprehended Sword Intent.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she clasped her hands behind her back, looked at Luo Feng, and asked, "Luo Feng, why did you come looking for me earlier?"

Luo Feng shrugged. "I originally intended to discuss Sword Intent with you. But it seems there's no need for that now."

Hearing that Luo Feng had sought her out to help her comprehend Sword Intent, He Qin's eyes flickered, and a faint smile touched the corners of her lips.

Recalling Qin Huan's parting words, He Qin couldn't help but worry. She said, "Luo Feng, it would be best if you don't go to Red Maple Lead this time."

"Why?"

He Qin pondered for a moment before speaking, "You may not know this, but Qin Huan's elder brother is the Fiery Sun Young Master, ranked second among the Four Young Masters of Red Maple Lead. He reached the mid-stage of the Eightfold Hell Realm last year, and his strength is unfathomable. Moreover, he's known for his eccentric and tyrannical behavior. Since you injured Qin Huan, he's unlikely to let the matter rest."

Pausing briefly, He Qin, worried that Luo Feng might misunderstand, added, "I'm not saying your strength is inferior to his, but this could save you some trouble."

Luo Feng chuckled lightly. "When the time comes, it will just be a martial arts exchange. With so many academy Deans present, I doubt he'd dare to do anything too outrageous."

Seeing Luo Feng's resolve, He Qin didn't try to persuade him further, merely vowing silently to intervene if anything unexpected occurred.

Luo Feng lifted his head to observe the sky.

The sun had completely set, and night had fallen.

"Time flies. It's already night. He Qin, I'll head back now."

Seeing how late it was, Luo Feng bid He Qin farewell.

He Qin stood rooted to the spot, watching Luo Feng's retreating figure, lost in thought.

WHOOSH!

With a sudden gust of wind, Zhou Zhiyun, dressed in a water-blue long gown, appeared silently beside her.

"Dean, you're here?"

He Qin turned to see Zhou Zhiyun and was taken aback.

Zhou Zhiyun looked at He Qin, smiled with a hint of profundity, and said, "A student of Tianlan School has comprehended Sword Intent. With such a momentous event, how could I not come?"

He Qin's beautiful eyes trembled slightly, and she blushed with embarrassment. "So, Dean, you were here all along."

Zhou Zhiyun nodded. She had rushed over as soon as she heard about Luo Feng's clash with Qin Huan.

Qin Huan had repeatedly disparaged the Four Academies, so Zhou Zhiyun had intentionally allowed Luo Feng to teach him a lesson, which is why she hadn't shown herself.

However, the events that followed had shocked her so much that she lost track of time.

Luo Feng had actually helped He Qin comprehend Sword Intent—something Martial Artists dream of! Even witnessing it with her own eyes, Zhou Zhiyun found it utterly incredible.

She was well aware of He Qin's potential; He Qin indeed had the capacity to comprehend Sword Intent, but not this quickly.

"Our Tianlan School owes him another significant favor," Zhou Zhiyun said slowly after a moment.

He Qin nodded, an unusual light flickering in her beautiful eyes.

The significance of a Martial Artist comprehending Sword Intent is immense. This was indeed a tremendous favor.

"He Qin, prepare yourself well. In ten days, we set off for Red Maple Lead," Zhou Zhiyun said to He Qin, her face wreathed in smiles.

Red Maple Lead had its Four Young Masters, and she had initially worried that this trip might bring shame to the Four Academies of Flowing Cloud Region.

But now that Luo Feng had comprehended Grand Momentum and He Qin had grasped Sword Intent, as long as they didn't suffer too humiliating a defeat, it would be enough to preserve their dignity.

Besides, it was still hard to say who would win or lose...

Recalling the aura Luo Feng exuded when he unleashed his Grand Momentum, a look of anticipation flickered in Zhou Zhiyun's beautiful eyes.

「...」

A round moon hung high in the sky, casting a cold, snow-white light.

In his small courtyard, Luo Feng sat cross-legged, examining the changes within his body.

The Yuan Qi seed in his Dantian rotated slowly, just as before. With each rotation, it released a small amount of Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi, which then infused into his flesh and blood.

"Phew…" After a moment, Luo Feng opened his eyes and murmured to himself, Indeed, only during battle can the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi integrate into my flesh and blood more quickly.

During his fight with Qin Huan, the speed at which Yuan Qi integrated into his flesh and blood had increased significantly. Now, however, it had returned to normal.

Luo Feng pondered for a moment and immediately understood the crucial point.

If I can maintain this cultivation speed during combat, I should be able to break through to the late stage of the Eightfold Hell Realm soon!

After some thought, Luo Feng decided to traverse the Red Chain Mountain Range alone to reach Red Maple Lead.

There were still over twenty days until the gathering at Red Maple Lead, so he had ample time. The innumerable Demon Beasts within the Red Chain Mountain Range were currently the perfect training material for him.

「The night passed without incident.」

The next morning, Luo Feng went to visit his elder brother Luo Xiao.

After consuming the pill refined from the Golden Jade Heart Lotus, Luo Xiao was recovering rapidly and was already out of any serious danger.

Seeing his elder brother was well, Luo Feng sighed in relief. He then asked Luo Xiao to inform Dean Zhou Zhiyun about his plan to travel to Red Maple Lead alone.

"Second Brother! You want to traverse the Red Chain Mountain Range?"

Luo Xiao's eyes widened in shock when he heard Luo Feng's plan.

The periphery of the Red Chain Mountain Range was filled with low-level Demon Beasts, but its depths were complex and home to high-level Demon Beasts. It was an exceedingly dangerous place!

Traveling through the Red Chain Mountain Range to Red Maple Lead was incredibly perilous!

Luo Feng smiled and said, "Elder Brother, don't worry. You've seen my Qinggong; ordinary Demon Beasts can't harm me."

Luo Xiao knew that once Luo Feng made a decision, he wouldn't change his mind, so he could only say, "Alright, I'll inform the Dean. Second Brother, be careful on your journey! Don't push yourself too hard."

"I will. Take care, Elder Brother!"

Luo Feng nodded, then turned and left the courtyard, heading out of the school.

WHOOSH!

Upon descending Yunlan Peak, Luo Feng immediately activated his Teng Dragon's Step and sprinted towards the Red Chain Mountain Range.

CRASH!

Just as Luo Feng's figure vanished, a form suddenly flashed out from the woods beside the road. It was a middle-aged Martial Artist with cold, sinister eyes.

"Kid, you've finally shown yourself! Though I doubt it's possible, I must investigate whether you were the one who destroyed the Green Wood Trading Co.!" The middle-aged Martial Artist gazed in the direction Luo Feng had departed, a sneer on his face. A chilling murderous intent glinted in his eyes as his figure, like a phantom, darted forward.

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