Noticing Bing Ruolan's unusual demeanor, and recalling her previous denial that Hengmu had killed Zhouyan, He Qin immediately suspected Luo Feng.

Luo Feng did not evade the question, nodding as he confirmed, "Yes."

Seeing Luo Feng's admission, He Qin drew a sharp breath, a strange light flashing in her eyes. She had initially thought this unlikely, but it turned out to be true.

Zhouyan was Zhou Jianyi's younger brother. Given Zhou Jianyi's protective nature, killing Zhouyan was undoubtedly a provocation. If Zhou Jianyi found out, he would certainly not rest until he had his revenge!

Thinking this, He Qin, worried Zhou Jianyi might discern something, asked no more questions.

Seeing the tense expressions on the three women, Luo Feng calmly reassured them, "Don't worry too much. It's best if he doesn't find out, but even if he does, it's not a big deal."

Both He Qin and Zi Yuan were startled. The implication of Luo Feng's words was clear—they need not fear Zhou Jianyi.

Zhou Jianyi, after killing one man, was not satisfied. He waved his hand, using his Gang Qi to seize another Martial Artist nearby. His eyes were red as he demanded, "Did you see my brother?"

This Martial Artist only possessed strength equivalent to the quasi-Young Master level. He was so scared his face turned ashen and his body trembled. He stammered, "I… I saw him!"

Upon hearing this, He Qin and her companions' expressions changed drastically.

Zhou Jianyi hurriedly asked, "Where is my brother?"

The Martial Artist swallowed hard, his teeth chattering as he replied, "When I saw him, he was already dead."

"What! My brother is dead!"

Zhou Jianyi froze for a moment, then his aura surged violently. The killing intent in his eyes was almost tangible as he roared, his eyes bloodshot, "Who killed him!"

The surroundings fell silent, everyone stunned by the terrifying murderous intent radiating from Zhou Jianyi.

"I don't know. By the time I arrived, he was already dead. However, there were many saber marks in the surrounding passageway. He must have been killed by a saber-wielding Martial Artist," the Martial Artist stammered.

"Since you don't know, what use are you!"

In his fury, Zhou Jianyi kicked the young Martial Artist, sending him flying several zhang high, leading to his undeserved, tragic death.

Watching the murderous Zhou Jianyi, cold sweat broke out on the palms of He Qin and the other two women. They worried he might suspect Luo Feng of killing Zhouyan.

Among the Martial Artists present, most wielded swords; only a few used sabers. With a little thought, anyone could guess that Luo Feng had killed Zhouyan.

However, consumed by rage, Zhou Jianyi didn't calm down enough to consider who the real killer was. He slapped another person to death with a wave of his hand and was about to grab someone else for questioning.

"Save me!"

The person enveloped by Zhou Jianyi's aura was a student from Changxin Academy. Seeing Zhou Jianyi approach, he cried out in terror.

"No one can save you. Since none of you know who killed my brother, all of you will accompany him in death today!" Zhou Jianyi bellowed, his voice deep, his eyes bloodshot.

WHOOSH!

Just as the Changxin Academy student thought he was doomed, a green figure shot forward, blocking his path.

THUMP!

A gust of wind erupted. For the first time, Zhou Jianyi was stopped.

"It's him." Luo Feng's eyebrows rose slightly as he watched the suddenly appearing youth in green.

The youth was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a fair, smooth face and eyes that shone like stars in the sky. This was the First Young Master Haitang of the Red Maple Lead, whom Luo Feng had noticed outside the Secret Realm.

Zhou Jianyi clearly recognized Young Master Haitang. He glared intently and said in a low voice, "Yue Haitang, you dare block me?"

Young Master Haitang remained unmoved. He let the Changxin Academy student behind him move to safety and then spoke calmly, "Zhou Jianyi, my junior brother has already made it clear. He did not see your brother."

Zhou Jianyi sneered, "Ridiculous! Just because he said he didn't see him means he didn't? You're protecting him so fiercely; it seems my brother was definitely killed by you!"

Saying this, Zhou Jianyi strode towards Young Master Haitang, the murderous intent radiating from him growing ever stronger.

"Students of Changxin Academy, gather here!"

Another figure flashed out—Xin Wuyue, the Jadeite Young Master, one of the Four Great Young Masters of the Red Maple Lead.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The six remaining Changxin Academy students quickly flew to Young Master Haitang's side, secretly gathering their power, ready for a bloody battle at any moment.

Xin Wuyue looked at Zhou Jianyi, his face grim. "Zhou Jianyi, Changxin Academy is no pushover for you to bully as you please!"

Zhou Jianyi laughed heartily, a laugh filled with a chilling killing intent that made one shiver. "Brave! Unfortunately, bravery isn't always a good thing. Today, everyone from your Changxin Academy will die!"

BUZZ!

Zhou Jianyi's body trembled, and blood-colored Gang Qi erupted around him, churning like a river of blood, emitting an intense murderous aura.

The scene became deathly still as a brutal atmosphere spread.

The surrounding Martial Artists watched in shock. They hadn't expected the people from Changxin Academy to be so united as to fight the murderous demon Zhou Jianyi to the death.

Although many present hated Zhou Jianyi, they still weren't optimistic about Young Master Haitang and his group.

Fighting desperately didn't always guarantee results. In the face of absolute strength, everything was fragile.

"Luo Feng, what should we do?" Bing Ruolan asked.

Seeing Zhou Jianyi target Changxin Academy, Bing Ruolan felt a sense of relief, but she couldn't help worrying about the students. Cang Nanyue, the former dean of Changxin Academy, had always maintained a good relationship with the Purple Sun School. She couldn't bear to see the Changxin Academy students fall prey to Zhou Jianyi's cruelty.

Beside her, Zi Yuan and He Qin also felt a pang of sympathy and looked towards Luo Feng. He was the only one who could make a decision here.

Luo Feng shook his head and said calmly, "Don't worry. Zhou Jianyi might not necessarily be able to kill them."

Even before entering the Secret Realm, Luo Feng had sensed that this Young Master Haitang was not simple. To be the head of the Four Great Young Masters of the Red Maple Lead, he was definitely not an ordinary figure. Since he dared to step forward, he must have some backing.

Indeed, as Zhou Jianyi approached, Young Master Haitang's right hand rested on his sword hilt. The sword was still sheathed, but its sharp aura was already emanating, splitting the air within a three-zhang radius around her as if sliced by an invisible force.

Just as a bloody battle was about to erupt, Zi Yuan suddenly tugged Luo Feng's sleeve, pointing to the center of the plaza with a shocked expression. "Luo Feng, look! What's that?"

Luo Feng had been about to observe the strength of Young Master Haitang and Zhou Jianyi. Hearing Zi Yuan, he followed her gaze, and his expression also changed.

The blood of the few people Zhou Jianyi had killed earlier was flowing on the ground. As if possessing a life of its own, it squirmed along the plaza, converging at the center and forming numerous blood lines.

Upon closer inspection, these blood lines merged in the middle of the plaza to form a huge, mysterious pattern.

At this moment, the pattern was emitting a hazy, blood-red light that grew increasingly intense, creating a very eerie atmosphere.

Everyone's attention had been on Zhou Jianyi and Young Master Haitang; no one had noticed this.

Looking at the blood-colored pattern in the plaza, Luo Feng frowned slightly and warned those beside him, "Be careful."

He felt a fierce and malevolent aura, as if something terrifying was stirring.

BOOM!

As soon as Luo Feng's words fell, the entire plaza suddenly trembled violently, the world seeming to spin.

Everyone was startled. Even Zhou Jianyi and Young Master Haitang, who were about to fight, stopped and looked towards the center of the plaza.

"What is this!"

"When did this pattern appear!"

Noticing the bizarre scene in the center of the plaza, everyone couldn't help but exclaim.

Zhou Jianyi, Young Master Haitang, and other experts also frowned. The stronger one was, the clearer their perception. This blood-red light was filled with a tyrannical, cruel aura, brewing some terrifying existence.

At this moment, a square-faced Martial Artist, about seventeen or eighteen years old, said nervously, "Everyone, be careful! I've seen this pattern in a book. It's the Puppet Sect's Blood-Inducing Formation! The Blood-Inducing Formation is used by the Puppet Sect to guard their mountain gate. Once triggered by blood qi, it can awaken the puppet demon beast sealed within!"

Actually, even without his explanation, everyone already understood the severity of the situation.

The blood-red light had now expanded to ten zhang in size, with a Blood Cloud roiling within. The shadow of a giant python, tens of meters long, could be vaguely seen writhing inside.

The giant python's body was covered in inverted triangular scales, black with gold edges, and its vicious aura sent shivers down one's spine.

Watching the giant python writhing in the Blood Cloud, Luo Feng was somewhat surprised. This giant python resembled the Level 5 giant python he had encountered in the Red Chain Mountain Range. That giant python, with a single puff of foul wind, had incinerated ten li of forest. The immense destructive power still made Luo Feng's scalp tingle at the memory. However, while the current giant python's form was similar to the one he had seen before, its aura was much weaker, not even a tenth of it.

"It's a Level 5 Demon Beast, the Black Gold Mysterious Python!" someone recognized the giant python and shouted in horror.

"A Level 5 Demon Beast! Are you kidding me?"

"A Level 5 Demon Beast is powerful enough to rival a Spiritual Rotation Realm expert!"

"It's over! We're all going to die!"

Gazing at the overwhelmingly imposing figure of the giant python, many people's faces instantly turned deathly pale.

Even experts like Zhou Jianyi and Young Master Haitang looked grim.

If this truly was a Level 5 Demon Beast, it was likely none of them would leave this place alive.

The square-faced Martial Artist who had recognized the Blood-Inducing Formation seemed to know a lot about the Puppet Sect. Looking at the giant python, he licked his lips and said, "Don't be nervous. The demon beasts sealed by the Blood-Inducing Formation are puppets refined from Demon Beast corpses; their strength is less than one-tenth of the actual Demon Beast. This Black Gold Mysterious Python's strength is at most equivalent to the mid-stage of the Ninth Layer of the Heavenly Court Realm. If we all attack together, we can definitely kill it."

Everyone remained standing tensely, no one daring to take a step forward.

"Chen Xu, if that's so, why don't you go test its strength first?" someone who recognized the square-faced Martial Artist taunted.

"I..."

The square-faced Martial Artist opened his mouth but didn't dare to agree. This information was also from books; he wasn't sure if it was true or false. If it was false, and the Black Gold Mysterious Python before them was a genuine Level 5 Demon Beast, he would likely be torn to pieces with no remains in an instant if he went up.

BOOM!

While everyone hesitated, the blood-red light in the center of the plaza suddenly shattered, and the Black Gold Mysterious Python charged out.

With a flip of its body, its tail, imbued with immense power, whipped across the plaza, carving out a huge fissure several zhang long, its ferocity awe-inspiring.

"Let's retreat to the passageway first," someone suggested, looking at the fearsome Black Gold Mysterious Python.

Others, also fearing the Black Gold Mysterious Python, quickly agreed.

Just as everyone was about to retreat, Luo Feng suddenly stepped forward. He stared at the crowd and said with a sneer, "To pass the trial and enter the palace, we obviously have to defeat this Black Gold Mysterious Python. Cowering like this, do you expect the treasures to just fly into your hands?"

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