"Of course. With the current realm of my Azure Flame Seven Repair Sword, your Golden Tiger Fury is hard to withstand."

The handsome young man glanced at Zhou Jian, his fingers resting on the Mysterious Green Drawing Sword placed on the table, a subtle sharpness in his calm voice.

Zhou Jian remained calm, confidently saying, "Not necessarily."

At this moment, a song and dance performance had just finished. After paying their respects, ten graceful girls withdrew and left.

"What’s interesting about watching performances? Since you’re so confident, why don’t we have a spar and see who’s superior?"

Zhuang Fei suddenly grasped his sword and looked at Zhou Jian. A chilling sword aura dispersed, and he seemed like a peerless sword ready to be drawn, sharp and prepared to take a life at any time.

Zhou Jian stood up with a smile, saying:

"Zhuang Fei, I knew you would challenge me. It seems that you are unwilling to accept the defeat from half a year ago."

"Half a year ago was half a year ago. You are no longer my match now."

Zhuang Fei’s figure flashed and appeared in the center of the square, his eyes sharp and piercing through the murky night.

Xia Yunjing, sitting to Luo Feng’s left, spoke:

"Zhou Jian ranks thirty-sixth on the New Dragon Ranking, while Zhuang Fei, who lost to him at the New Dragon Assembly half a year ago, ranks thirty-seventh. They have always been secretly competing."

Luo Feng nodded, observing the two.

"Alright, I’ll face you!"

Zhou Jian let out a long howl, his figure appearing in front of Zhuang Fei. His heavy steps left cracks on the ground as they stood face to face.

"Senior Brother Zhuang Fei, go for it!"

Several disciples of the Sky Sword Pavilion cheered for Zhuang Fei.

Su Rui rested her smooth chin on her palm, watching the confrontation with interest, saying:

"Zhou Jian, the hunting tournament is in a few days, take it easy."

Zhou Jian nodded, "I’ll keep that in mind."

Zhuang Fei’s face stiffened, confronting him, saying, "I’ll also show mercy with my sword."

"Hahaha, Zhuang Fei, you’d better give it your all."

Zhou Jian smiled, his body trembling slightly, emitting a dazzling glaze of golden light, forming a gigantic tiger’s shadow.

The tiger’s shadow was as large as a house, its imposing aura turning the entire square into different colors.

"This is the Golden Tiger Fury Technique from the Yuangang Hall, truly formidable."

Luo Feng watched the golden shadow behind Zhou Jian, his eyes flickering.

The aura emitted by this golden tiger shadow was terrifying, like a second Zhou Jian.

Xia Yunjing, familiar with the martial arts techniques of the major Golden Palaces, said:

"The techniques of the Yuangang Hall are inclined towards defense, and the Golden Tiger Fury Technique is outstanding among them. Zhou Jian can form a Glaze Golden Tiger, meaning his technique should have reached the sixth level, impenetrable by blades, resistant to water and fire, with formidable defensive power."

"Tiger Fury Strike!"

Zhou Jian’s entire body was shining with golden light, like a fierce tiger stepping out, ignoring the twenty-step distance, and striking with a fist accompanied by a phantom tiger shadow towards Zhuang Fei.

"Extinguish!"

Zhuang Fei neither retreated nor avoided, as a green flame ignited on the sword’s edge, striking down with one sword.

Szz! Szz! Szz!

Though it was one sword, it transformed into three enormous green sword lights midair, forming a triangle and aiming at Zhou Jian, leaving behind three dreadful sword marks as it silently split the ground.

Boom!

The golden and green sword qi collided, exploding in dazzling radiance. Zhou Jian retreated three steps, the golden giant tiger behind him roared, causing a gale to surge forward, leaving the ground in front utterly shattered, and the remaining sword qi vanished without a trace.

Xia Yunjing observed the two, her fine brows furrowing, saying:

"Zhuang Fei’s Azure Flame Seven Repair Sword has also improved significantly, to be able to casually unleash three Azure Flame Sword Lights. It seems the next New Dragon Assembly will definitely be fiercely intense."

Hengmu looked on with a heavy expression, "Senior Brother Zhou Jian and Zhuang Fei are both at the early stage of the Seven Spirit Rotations, with their martial arts realms similar as well. It’s hard to tell who will ultimately win."

Luo Feng glanced at the two, saying, "It should be Zhou Jian."

"Why?"

Hengmu looked puzzled, and Xia Yunjing also turned her gaze over.

Luo Feng said, "Although Zhuang Fei’s Azure Flame Seven Repair Sword is indeed formidable and unstoppable, it is too rigid and prone to break. He’s overly focused on increasing his power, which puts him at a disadvantage. Whereas Zhou Jian appears to be fully defensive yet has only used seventy percent of his strength, keeping thirty percent as reserve. You could say he’s balanced between attack and defense, and once there is a chance to counterattack, it’ll certainly be his win."

Hearing this, Hengmu and Xia Yunjing both looked towards the square.

But neither could discern anything different; Zhou Jian and Zhuang Fei’s exchanges were always earth-shattering, far beyond their ability to tell who was exerting full force and who wasn’t.

"Hmph, what arrogance."

Nearby, a cold snicker was heard, Lu Yun, who had been paying attention to Luo Feng, had heard the conversation clearly, mocking, "Doesn’t even know his own weight and dares to talk big."

Although Xia Yunjing didn’t have a good impression of Luo Feng, it didn’t mean she was pleased to see other Golden Palace disciples insulting him. Coldly, she said:

"Do you know it’s rude to eavesdrop on others’ conversations?"

Lu Yun’s face turned slightly stiff, retorting, "Am I wrong? Among everyone here, Luo Feng is at most a bottom-tier existence. How could he possibly see through Senior Brother Zhuang Fei?"

"Indeed, just gained a little fame and starts acting like he’s invincible. Doesn’t know his limits."

"Senior Brother Zhuang Fei is ranked thirty-seventh on the New Dragon Ranking. In the upcoming New Dragon Assembly, he has a chance to break into the top twenty and could crush him with just a finger."

Several disciples from the Sky Sword Pavilion sneered.

Lin Yue’er and others looked very displeased, and Nanxuan, full of rage, couldn’t help but glare at the Sky Sword Pavilion disciples, saying:

"What right do you have to comment on Senior Brother Luo Feng! When you were still academy students, did you have the strength to beat New Dragon Ranking experts? At the time, you probably couldn’t even touch the edge of the New Dragon Ranking!"

Hearing this, the Sky Sword Pavilion disciples looked slightly embarrassed.

Lu Yun, with a stern face, said, "That’s another matter. It was he who arrogantly declared Senior Brother Zhuang Fei would lose."

Nanxuan didn’t back down, "I trust Senior Brother Luo Feng’s judgment. If you’re so confident, let’s see your faces when Zhuang Fei loses."

"Then let’s wait and see."

Lu Yun didn’t care; unable to discern anything from the confrontation, he naturally didn’t believe Luo Feng, with only a mid-sixth realm of Four Spirit Rotations cultivation, could see anything.

Xia Yunjing withdrew her gaze and used sound transmission to communicate with Luo Feng, "Luo Feng, will Zhuang Fei really lose?"

"Mm. It’s a sure thing."

Luo Feng nodded.

"Arrogant!"

Lu Yun sneered disdainfully, ignoring this side.

Luo Feng didn’t mind Lu Yun and the others. His earlier statement was based on analyses using soul power, not idle talk.

The previous lively debate had already attracted the attention of several Yuangang Hall disciples nearby.

A female disciple glanced at Luo Feng, shook her head slightly, and whispered, "This person is too reckless."

Su Rui’s lips curled into a smile with a hint of deeper meaning, "Perhaps."

Boom!

As the crowd continued to converse, the battle in the square grew increasingly intense, with the golden tiger and the omnipresent azure flame confronting each other, turning the vast square into a blend of gold and green hues.