Chapter 94: Chapter 93: Lang Feng’s Departure
The next day, Gao Yuerou arrived very early. Then, everyone headed to the training grounds behind the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion.
All the new students looked at Wen Qingye with awe, their eyes filled with admiration, jealousy, and a whole spectrum of other reactions.
On the viewing platform, the Mountain Masters, Vice Directors, and Inner Courtyard teachers were all watching the scene below.
Today was the semi-finals, and only four people remained: Wen Qingye of North Mountain, Lang Feng of South Mountain, Guu Lei of West Mountain, and Wei Qiutong of East Mountain.
The contestants drew their lots and walked down from the platform.
Soon, the Announcement Stele displayed the names for the first match: Lang Feng of South Mountain versus Wei Qiutong of East Mountain.
Wei Qiutong’s expression changed the moment he saw it. He had been hoping to face Wen Qingye, which would have given him a chance to advance to the finals. But now, it seemed all his hopes had turned to dust.
Wei Qiutong slowly walked onto the arena stage. Looking at the man who had dominated the Outer Courtyard for nearly a year, he gave a helpless smile and said, "I hope Brother Lang will be generous with his guidance."
Lang Feng laughed. "I’ll be leaving this place soon, so I’m feeling a bit nostalgic. You’re a familiar face, after all. I’ll go easy on you."
Wei Qiutong nodded. "In that case, let me congratulate Brother Lang on entering the Inner Courtyard."
Everyone present thought it was only natural for Lang Feng to enter the Inner Courtyard. With his strength, he could definitely get into Qig Mountain Academy’s Inner Courtyard.
Lang Feng shook his head and said, "Who said I was going to enter Qig Mountain Academy’s Inner Courtyard?"
"Then what’s this about?" Wei Qiutong asked, confused. If Lang Feng wasn’t going to the Inner Courtyard, where was he going?
"If I’m joining an Inner Courtyard, of course I’ll join the strongest one. Vice Director Situ of Purple Sun Prefecture’s Inner Courtyard has already sent me an invitation. So, after this Four Mountains Martial Arts Gathering, I’ll be heading directly to the Inner Courtyard of Purple Sun Prefecture." A trace of excitement and pride was visible on Lang Feng’s face.
"What!?"
Lang Feng’s words were like a single stone stirring a thousand waves!
Everyone present stared at Lang Feng, utterly stunned, their eyes filled with shock.
Nie Qinglan’s face turned livid on the spot, her fists clenched tightly. On the viewing platform, the Four Mountains’ Mountain Masters and the other core members of Qig Mountain Academy all had extremely ugly expressions. They had no idea this was happening.
Although they were all part of the three great academies of the Celestial Martial Country, there had always been conflict between Purple Sun Prefecture, Qig Mountain Academy, and Celestial Academy. Qig Mountain Academy had always been suppressed by Celestial Academy and Purple Sun Prefecture. How could they possibly tolerate it when a chosen prodigy they had nurtured for years wanted to join the Inner Courtyard of a rival academy?
Wei Qiutong said in disbelief, "You’re really going to Purple Sun Prefecture?"
Lang Feng nodded and said faintly, "A man strives for greater heights, just as water flows downward. I don’t want to be trapped in this Qig Mountain Academy, just waiting to die."
The surrounding Qig Mountain Academy students who heard Lang Feng’s words were furious, glaring at him on the stage.
Xiaxia curled her lip and said, "He even has to viciously criticize Qig Mountain Academy on his way out. What a waste of the two years the academy spent nurturing him. He’s a heartless wolf."
Wen Qingye just smiled, his eyes slightly narrowed, and said nothing.
GONG!
With the clear ring of a bell, the match officially began.
Lang Feng looked casually at Wei Qiutong and said, "Let’s begin. I’m determined to be the champion of this Four Mountains Martial Arts Gathering. Consider it my final blaze of glory at Qig Mountain Academy."
Wei Qiutong gritted his teeth and drew the Long Spear from his back. The spear was swift, whistling through the air as it lunged forward like an enraged dragon.
"Sea Waves Thousand Jins!"
Lang Feng’s expression remained unchanged. He dashed forward, his palm carrying the unstoppable force of a thousand jins as he slapped it fiercely toward the tip of Wei Qiutong’s spear.
A sharp glint flashed in Wei Qiutong’s eyes. The Primordial Qi throughout his body surged toward his Dantian like a raging river before finally gathering in the shaft of his spear.
BANG!
Lang Feng didn’t dodge at all. His palm struck the tip of Wei Qiutong’s spear, and Wei Qiutong felt a violent tremor run through his entire body, sending him flying back to the edge of the stage.
A single palm strike!
Lang Feng had defeated Wei Qiutong, the second-strongest expert of East Mountain, with just one palm strike.
Everyone present was appalled and aghast.
Wei Qiutong slowly got to his feet, his face deathly pale. He looked at Lang Feng and said, "Your strength is indeed formidable," before coughing twice.
Lang Feng’s expression suddenly turned sharp. He laughed and said, "What? You still want to resist?"
"Then let’s give it a try!" Wei Qiutong roared, his body exuding a violent aura as he charged toward Lang Feng.
"Is... Is that the Burning Yuan Secret Technique?"
"To think Wei Qiutong knows a Martial Art like that! You have to understand, a technique like this might wound the enemy by a thousand, but it injures the user by eight hundred!"
"Go, Brother Wei! Defeat Lang Feng!"
The crowd couldn’t help but start cheering for Wei Qiutong on the stage. They knew that using the Burning Yuan Secret Technique would cause immense damage to his body, but he used it anyway. And for what? To preserve the prestige of Qig Mountain Academy.
Watching Wei Qiutong charge over, Lang Feng’s lips curled into a disdainful smile. "Wei Qiutong, you really are headstrong. Trying to stop me from winning the championship? Your strength is just too pathetic."
"Wave after Wave!"
A sharp aura began to rise from Lang Feng’s body. Blue Primordial Qi rippled out from him in visible waves, and the air around his palms seemed to transform into a raging river, surging outward.
BOOM!
A violent explosion thundered in everyone’s ears.
The students closest to the stage felt a hurricane-force wind slam into them, almost sending them flying. Their cheeks stung, and their ears rang as if they’d been struck by a hammer, leaving their heads spinning.
"Good! Not bad! Exhilarating!" Lang Feng roared with laughter, his arrogance on full display.
Wei Qiutong stumbled back three steps, but his eyes remained bright and determined. The Primordial Qi around him seemed to be on fire, sending out strange, rolling ripples that spread into the distance.
...
"Again!"
Without hesitation, Wei Qiutong briefly regulated his breathing and immediately unleashed his second palm strike.
Wei Qiutong’s palm strike was incredibly fast. The violent Primordial Qi swirled around him, lingering and spreading outward as if it meant to devour everything. A furious gale erupted from his palm.
A towering battle intent appeared in Lang Feng’s eyes, and he smiled faintly.
Lang Feng took a deep breath. His entire arm began to glow with a round, blue light, and the scene behind him seemed to transform into a great tidal wave, surging forward.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, their two palm attacks collided in mid-air.
BOOM!
This explosion was even more deafening than the last, like a sudden clap of thunder on a clear day. The surrounding students’ faces paled, and they all scrambled backward.
