Luo Feng turned his gaze to the Wanluo School student lying on the ground.

Still reeling from Yuan Kong's defeat, the student jolted to his senses under Luo Feng's stare. His whole body shivering, he pleaded, "Luo Feng, I was blind and failed to recognize your greatness. Please... spare me…"

Luo Feng shook his head, losing interest. He said to Yuan Ying, "Leave him here. Let him fend for himself."

Yuan Ying nodded, and they turned toward the mine entrance.

Seeing Luo Feng and Yuan Ying disappear from view, the Wanluo School student sighed deeply in relief. His body collapsed to the ground, his heart still pounding with fear. Yuan Kong, an expert in the late stage of the Ninth-Level Heavenly Court Realm, died at Luo Feng's hands. Killing me would be as easy as crushing an ant for Luo Feng.

His gaze flickered, and as he looked at Yuan Kong's corpse beside him, a sinister expression appeared on his face. "Senior Brother Yuan, rest assured! As soon as I get out of here, I'll go to the Sky Sword Pavilion and have our fellow disciples avenge you!"

Luo Feng crippled my hands! How could this matter end just like this?!

TAP! TAP!

Just as the Wanluo School student finished his vow, footsteps echoed from a nearby cave.

Hearing the sound, the student looked up, his ferocious expression immediately replaced by sheer terror.

From a nearby cave, a muscular, wolf-like Demon Beast with fur like blazing fire was emerging step by step, its blood-red pupils radiating a murderous glow.

"Fire Ming Wolf!"

A dry sound escaped his throat. The Wanluo School student's face turned ashen. Scrambling up from the ground with a terrified cry, he staggered towards the cave exit.

ROAR!

With a deafening roar, the Fire Ming Wolf erupted in scorching heatwaves, its body shooting forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.

"AAAAHHH—"

A piercing shriek echoed through the mine, audible from a great distance.

While they were walking, Yuan Ying suddenly stopped and glanced back towards the mine depths. "That's a Fire Ming Wolf."

Luo Feng nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "It seems his luck isn't very good."

Yuan Ying's red lips curved into a smile as she looked at Luo Feng. "You already knew there was a Fire Ming Wolf nearby, didn't you?"

Luo Feng touched his nose, neither confirming nor denying. Yuan Kong and his companion tried to kill me; how could I let them off? When I left, I had already sensed the Fire Ming Wolf's presence.

Yuan Ying, having guessed the answer, didn't press further. "It's probably daylight outside. Let's get out of here."

Luo Feng nodded. "Alright."

The two quickened their pace towards the mine entrance.

On their way, they encountered a few more Demon Beasts, but they were only Level Two or Level Three. Luo Feng dispatched them with his fist aura before they could even get close.

Soon, they arrived at the entrance of the mine. Golden sunlight filtered through cracks into the mine; it was already noon the next day.

「…」

Outside the mine, Headmaster Li was pacing back and forth, frowning. Looks like another failure...

Looking at the empty mine entrance, Headmaster Li shook his head slightly. A whole night had passed, and so far, not a single person had emerged from the mine. Headmaster Li speculated that those who had entered were likely in grave danger.

Headmaster Li sighed to himself, "It seems we have to give up on this mine." Among the experts we invited this time was one at the late stage of the Ninth-Level Heavenly Court Realm. If even he couldn't handle the Demon Beast lurking inside the mine, it means the Chen Family can do nothing more and will have no choice but to abandon it.

Turning to leave, Headmaster Li suddenly halted, his surprised gaze fixed on the mine entrance.

Footsteps sounded, and two figures appeared at the mine entrance—it was Luo Feng and Yuan Ying.

"Are you both alright?" Headmaster Li stared at Luo Feng and Yuan Ying, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Luo Feng landed lightly beside Headmaster Li, smiling. "What could possibly be wrong with us?"

Stunned, Headmaster Li said, "You were in there for so long, I thought you had been killed by the monster in the mine…"

"Killed by the monster in the mine? On the contrary, the exact opposite happened," Luo Feng said with a casual smile.

"The exact opposite?" Headmaster Li mused, a hint of pleasant surprise appearing on his face. "Could it be... you killed the monster in the mine?"

"Exactly." Luo Feng nodded, tapped his storage ring, and a gigantic head materialized beside him.

"What is this…" Startled by the sudden appearance of the massive object, Headmaster Li jumped back several steps. When he saw clearly that it was a giant head, he gasped, "Is this... a Crystalline Flame Lion?"

Yuan Ying nodded slightly. "Indeed, it's the Crystalline Flame Lion. It should be the monster that recently appeared in the mine."

Headmaster Li stared at the massive head, his expression one of utter surprise. He nodded repeatedly. "No wonder even early-stage Ninth-Level Heavenly Court Realm experts couldn't handle it. So it was an advanced Level Four Demon Beast!"

Taking a breath, Headmaster Li turned to Yuan Ying and said admiringly, "Cherry Blossom Knife Yuan Ying, you truly live up to your reputation! We owe this all to you. Otherwise, our Chen Family would have had to abandon this mine, which would have been a tremendous loss for the family."

When Yuan Ying heard Headmaster Li's praise, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. He clearly thinks I was the one who killed the Crystalline Flame Lion.

Shaking her head slightly, Yuan Ying looked at Headmaster Li and said, "Headmaster Li, you've misunderstood. The one who killed the Crystalline Flame Lion wasn't me, but Luo Feng."

Headmaster Li was taken aback. He looked at Luo Feng in astonishment and couldn't help but ask, "He killed the Crystalline Flame Lion?"

It was no wonder he was so shocked. The Crystalline Flame Lion's strength was exceptional even among Level Four Demon Beasts; ordinary late-stage Ninth-Level Heavenly Court Realm Martial Artists would find it difficult to contend with. To suddenly learn that Luo Feng, with only a mid-stage Ninth-Level Heavenly Court Realm Cultivation, had killed the Crystalline Flame Lion was truly astonishing.

Yuan Ying nodded and said with a wry smile, "Yes. If it weren't for Luo Feng, I'm afraid I wouldn't have made it out either."

Only then did Headmaster Li dare to believe it. His mind reeled, and he was unsure how to express his profound shock. For someone Luo Feng's age to be able to defeat the Crystalline Flame Lion... it's truly hard to believe.

Yuan Ying saw the shocked look in Headmaster Li's eyes and pursed her lips. If he knew that the Crystalline Flame Lion Luo Feng killed was a mutated one, his jaw would probably drop to the floor.

Luo Feng looked around and asked, "Headmaster Li, where are the others?"

At these words, Headmaster Li's expression darkened. "So far, only the two of you have come out of the mine. But don't worry. Now that the Crystalline Flame Lion is dead, and given their strength, they should be able to make it out safely. It's getting late, and we must get back before dusk. You two go on ahead; I'll wait for them here."

Luo Feng nodded. He had experienced the horrors of the Chaotic Stone Mountain Range the previous day; there was no need to take further risks. Moreover, having finally obtained the Red Flame Gold Crystal, I'm eager to return and cultivate the Eight Wildernesses Dominating Flame Fist.

"Okay, then we'll go ahead."

After bidding farewell to Headmaster Li, Luo Feng and Yuan Ying started heading towards the outskirts of the Chaotic Stone Mountain Range.

Headmaster Li stood rooted to the spot, watching their retreating figures for a long time before shaking his head and musing with a sigh, "To think he could kill the Crystalline Flame Lion at such a young age. Even Lu Xiao Yun, that super-talent from Purple Sun School back in the day, probably couldn't have managed it."

「Time passed swiftly, and the blazing sun dipped in the west.」

By evening, Luo Feng and Yuan Ying had reached the outskirts of the Chaotic Stone Mountain Range. The journey hadn't been peaceful; they had encountered several Demon Beast ambushes. However, compared to nighttime, the Chaotic Stone Mountain Range was much safer during the day. The Demon Beasts they encountered were all low-level and hardly a concern.

The moment they left the Chaotic Stone Mountain Range, the setting sun finally sank below the horizon. Almost instantly, it seemed, the mountains behind them filled with eerie cries and howls, making one's hair stand on end.

"This Chaotic Stone Mountain Range is truly strange," Yuan Ying said, turning back to look at the pitch-black mountains in the distance.

Luo Feng nodded, deeply agreeing. Many of the Demon Beasts in the Chaotic Stone Mountain Range were poisonous, greatly increasing the danger.

Once out of the forest, free from the worry of Demon Beast ambushes, they both activated their Qinggong and sped towards Chaotic Stone Town.

An hour later, they returned to Chaotic Stone Town and headed straight to the Chen Family.

Chen Lingfeng, the Family Head of the Chen Family, was aghast when he saw the Crystalline Flame Lion's head. He never would have imagined that the monster in the mine was so formidable, nor that Luo Feng and Yuan Ying were capable of killing it. He immediately ordered his men to prepare a celebratory feast to personally entertain the two.

With the Red Flame Gold Crystal on my mind... Luo Feng declined the Family Head's kind offer.

The Family Head, left with no choice, commanded his men to bring out the prepared Yuan Stones. In addition to the hundred Yuan Stones initially promised, an extra fifty were added.

Luo Feng thanked him, took the Yuan Stones, and promptly took his leave.

As Luo Feng was leaving Chen Mansion, he heard footsteps from behind. He turned to see Yuan Ying and asked, "Are you leaving now too?"

Yuan Ying nodded, her fair, smooth chin catching the light. She smiled. "I'm used to roughing it. I'm not very good at handling such formal occasions on my own."

Luo Feng chuckled, asking, "What are your plans now?"

While talking, they walked side by side out of town.

Yuan Ying glanced upward at the rising moon, her hands behind her back, and said with a smile, "Same as always—roaming the world. However, I'm planning to visit Maplewood City soon. I heard that Duanmu Xiao, the Head of the Duanmu Family, is approaching his fortieth birthday. Many Martial Artists are sure to gather there. I intend to go and broaden my horizons; it should be beneficial for my Cultivation."

Maplewood City... Luo Feng's eyes flickered. Maplewood City was the closest city to Green Wood Peak.

"Then we might have a chance to meet again," Luo Feng smiled and said.

"Are you going to Maplewood City too?"

Luo Feng nodded. "Yes. But I'll have to wait a while."

As they finished speaking, they had already left Chaotic Stone Town. Maplewood City was to the northwest of Chaotic Stone Town, while Purple Sun School was to the southwest, so they wouldn't be taking the same route.

"Luo Feng." Yuan Ying stopped, looked at Luo Feng, paused for a moment, then smiled. "Until we meet again."

"Until we meet again." Luo Feng smiled and nodded. He turned, identified his direction, and executed the Teng Dragon's Step, swiftly moving away. After a few flickers, he vanished into the night.

Yuan Ying watched Luo Feng's figure disappear before reluctantly withdrawing her gaze.

She muttered to herself, "Time to go."

Smiling and shaking her head, Yuan Ying set off, her figure quickly dwindling to a small speck in the night before vanishing entirely.

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