Chapter 26

On the main road, a young man was riding a fast horse, galloping swiftly. The youth, who looked to be about sixteen or seventeen, had a rather handsome appearance and a hatchet tucked into his waist. This youth was Ye Feng, who had just left the academy, and his destination this time was Qiancheng.

After a long day of travel, Qiancheng came into view. The massive city exuded a grandeur, much larger than the Yellow City where Ye Feng lived. After all, Yellow City was a small city, while Qiancheng had a population of millions, with a mix of all kinds of people.

Entering the city, Ye Feng dismounted and walked westward according to the instructions on the mission tag.

"Is this the Chen family residence?"

Outside the Chen family compound, a young man holding the reins of a fine horse asked the guard.

"Yes, this is the Chen family!" The guard was quite polite. Ye Feng had an outstanding demeanor, clearly a disciple of a major family, and the two guards did not dare to be negligent.

After being transformed by the Purple Dragon Pill, Ye Feng's demeanor had undergone a tremendous change. His eyes sparkled with a profound light, as if hiding a vast starry sky, and they were exceptionally clear.

"This is the mission tag. I have come to participate in this mission," Ye Feng explained his purpose.

"So you're here for the herb-gathering mission too. Please come in, it's about time." One of the guards was very courteous, allowing Ye Feng to enter. Under the guidance of a dedicated person, Ye Feng soon arrived at a large square.

When Ye Feng arrived, he found that dozens of young people were already standing in the square. There were disciples from Tianling Academy and other academies. It turned out that the Chen family had issued the mission to various academies, and anyone had the chance to take it.

Seeing someone arrive, everyone turned their gaze to Ye Feng. Some were puzzled, while others were mocking. After all, who in the crowd was not at the Eighth Level of the Later Heaven stage or above? They ignored Ye Feng and continued to look at the scene, where two young men in their twenties were facing off.

"Boy, you should get out of here. The Chen family's mission has been taken by our Daluo Academy. You Tianling Academy should scram."

In the square, one man was wearing the uniform of Daluo Academy, and the other was wearing the uniform of Tianling Academy. The one who spoke was a disciple of Daluo Academy, his face full of mockery.

"Ridiculous, the ones who should scram are you from Daluo Academy." The man from Tianling Academy did not back down and countered.

"In that case, I'll kick you out of the Chen family!" The disciple of Daluo Academy moved, throwing a punch at the young man opposite him, incredibly fast.

Ye Feng roughly understood the situation. The young man from Daluo Academy was called Hei Wuchang, and the disciple from Tianling Academy was called Ma Wenchang.

This time, the Chen family had issued the mission to both Tianling Academy and Daluo Academy. They originally thought it would be good if one of them took it, but unexpectedly, both academies sent people, and it exceeded the Chen family's expectations.

The Chen family only needed ten people. With Ye Feng, Tianling Academy already had seven people, and Daluo Academy had eight, five more than needed. The Chen family's original intention was for each side to have five people, which would be fair, but Daluo Academy refused, giving Tianling Academy only two spots and taking eight for themselves.

The matter was simple. Both sides wanted to take the mission, as the rewards were very generous. In Tianling Academy, elite disciples could only receive three hundred spirit stones a month, so they all rushed over at the first opportunity.

Although the Chen family was a large merchant family, they were a business family and had many martial artists, but they were not as strong as the two major academies. They did not want to offend either academy and were in a difficult position.

Suddenly, a loud noise interrupted Ye Feng's thoughts. A figure flew out of the square, and Ma Wenchang was actually hit and flew away, not a match for Hei Wuchang.

"I told you, Tianling Academy should get out of here. If you don't leave, he's an example!" Hei Wuchang was extremely arrogant, his eyes sweeping over everyone from Tianling Academy.

"Ridiculous, let me deal with you!" Another person stood up, his strength at the peak of the Eighth Level of the Later Heaven stage.

"Stubborn, since that's the case, I'll play with you and show you the power of Daluo Academy!" Hei Wuchang leaped, his fist sweeping straight over, and Ye Feng's eyes narrowed.

"Actually at the Ninth Level of the Later Heaven stage!" Ye Feng instantly saw through Hei Wuchang's true realm. Although he had perfectly hidden his strength, it did not escape Ye Feng's eyes.

Sure enough, after a few rounds, the disciple from Tianling Academy was also hit and flew away, lying on the ground, spitting blood.

"Haha, you're all a bunch of weaklings. Don't embarrass yourselves here, get out of here quickly."

Seeing no one speaking, the Daluo Academy disciples laughed mockingly.

Someone was about to step forward but was pulled back by a companion. Going up would just be asking for a beating; they were no match for him.

The other four disciples lowered their heads, their fists clenched tightly. If they left like this, losing their reputation would be a small matter, but losing the academy's reputation would be a big deal. Once it spread, they would be ridiculed. Only Ye Feng remained expressionless, calm and composed.

Hei Wuchang's eyes swept over everyone and finally fixed on Ye Feng, who had a look of disdain.

"Boy, get out of here. When did Tianling Academy send a snot-nosed brat to do missions?" Hei Wuchang shouted, actually calling Ye Feng a snot-nosed brat.

"Ha ha ha!"

The scene erupted in laughter, with seven or eight Daluo Academy disciples laughing together.

"Slap!"

A crisp slap interrupted the laughter.

"You actually dared to hit me!"

One of the Daluo Academy disciples covered his left cheek, completely shocked that Ye Feng had slapped him, leaving five clear finger marks.

Ye Feng's eyes flashed with disdain. Who let this young man laugh the loudest? He hit him.

Eight Daluo Academy disciples surrounded Ye Feng, their eyes filled with anger. They had not even seen how Ye Feng had struck. Hei Wuchang, in particular, stared at Ye Feng intently.

"Boy, no one can save you today. Kneel down now and beg for forgiveness, or I'll make you bleed to death!" Another young man from Daluo Academy said coldly, filled with hatred.

"Is that so? I'll see how you make me bleed to death!" Ye Feng sneered.

"Anger me to death, I'll kill you!" The young man who had been slapped stood up and threw a punch at Ye Feng, very fast, his strength at the peak of the Eighth Level of the Later Heaven stage. His punch produced a rumbling sound.

"Humph!" Ye Feng coldly snorted and faced the incoming punch with one hand.

"Crack!" The young man's punch was frozen in mid-air, caught by Ye Feng's hand, even making a cracking sound.

"My hand!" The young man screamed in pain, his face contorted. Ye Feng's grip was crushing his bones, causing unbearable pain.

"Let him go, or we'll kill you!" Someone started to shout, demanding that Ye Feng release the young man.

"Do you think I'll let him go just because you say so? Who do you think you are!" Ye Feng's killing intent was intense, his eyes glaring at the man who spoke.

The disciples from Tianling Academy felt relieved, cheering as they saw Ye Feng subdue the Daluo Academy disciple. Some even recognized Ye Feng's identity, as the transformation after he took the Purple Dragon Pill was significant.

"Slap!" A slap landed on the face of the captured man, blood and teeth spitting out.

"This slap is for insulting Tianling Academy." Ye Feng was not lenient, as they had repeatedly insulted the academy, which he found very offensive.

"Slap!" Another slap, this time both cheeks were swollen.

"This slap is for insulting me!"

The two slaps left the man dazed, completely at a loss. The Daluo Academy disciples could not accept that Ye Feng had slapped him twice.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

Seven or eight people drew their weapons simultaneously, the scene becoming tense, swords drawn, ready to strike!

"Kill him!"

Hei Wuchang shouted angrily, ignoring the captured man, and all of them attacked Ye Feng.

"Humph!"

Ye Feng sneered, waving his hand to throw the young man away, who crashed into a distant wall and fainted.

"Swish"

A curved sword was about to land, but the young man holding it felt a sharp pain in his abdomen and was thrown back.

"Bang!" At the moment he struck, Ye Feng punched his abdomen, sending him flying.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

The air was cut with a whistling sound as a sword light slashed down, incredibly fast, landing just in front of Ye Feng. Hei Wuchang had moved, his strength several times greater than the others. Ye Feng did not dare to be careless, his feet moving, his body spinning to dodge skillfully.

The advanced martial technique of Daluo Academy, the Eighteen Whirlwind Swords, continued to spin, each sword strike stronger than the last. It was rumored that the final strike combined all eighteen, with immense power.

The near-perfect Shadow Step created numerous illusions of Ye Feng, making it impossible to see his true form, as he moved among the Daluo Academy disciples.

"Bang!"

A man could not dodge in time and was punched away by Ye Feng, blood spraying, creating a rain of blood.

"Boy, if you have the guts, don't dodge!"

Seeing Ye Feng continuously dodging and not engaging in a direct confrontation but hitting others, Hei Wuchang became angry. His sword movements became even faster, like a storm, striking like rain on banana leaves, making a pattering sound.

"Fine, let me see the ultimate technique of Daluo Academy!"

After throwing three or four people, Ye Feng stopped dodging and punched the sword, his fist making a rumbling sound in the air, as if it could shatter space.