《Martial Fist: Adding Points in Dreamland》 Chapter 1: Dream Translator: CinderTL --- ¡°Sanda isn¡¯t just about flashy moves.¡± ¡°Fast! Accurate! Fierce! Punch like lightning, kick like a blade¡­¡± In Nanjiang City, at the Flame Tiger Martial Arts School. The coach¡¯s voice echoed, as Chen Feng sweated heavily, delivering a right punch forward. Swish! The punch was straight, with the elbow slightly bent. This was the most basic jab, one of the basic Sanda moves Chen Feng had recently mastered at the school. Without stopping, he continued stepping forward, clenched his fist, and threw a left punch. Swish! The elbow bent noticeably, a more standard left hook. This scene didn¡¯t stand out in the whole martial arts school, where about thirty students were practicing Sanda moves in the spacious practice hall. Some were throwing punches, others were kicking, blocking, or stepping, all with steady stances and decent form. There were even some students hitting the punching bags for further practice. For a moment, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the sweat-drenched faces of the practitioners. Swish! Without glancing sideways, Chen Feng threw another punch. This time¡­ [Progress +1] [Sanda: Unfamiliar (82%)] A panel automatically appeared in front of him, and Chen Feng stopped his movements, taking a deep breath. With a thought, he wiped the sweat from his face, and quickly noticed more information floating in front of him. [Name: Chen Feng] [Age: 22] [Strength: 8.2] [Agility: 8.1] [Constitution: 8.1] [Willpower: 8.8] [Skill: Sanda (Unfamiliar, 82%) ] ¡°Still a bit short¡­¡± The thought flashed through Chen Feng¡¯s mind as he squinted his eyes. A week ago, he had transmigrated into this world and obtained this panel in a dream while he was sleeping. Its purpose was to reflect his current physical stats and the proficiency of his skills. Tap, tap! S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking at the others practicing around him, Chen Feng felt thirsty. He walked to the open space near the floor-to-ceiling windows, grabbed his sports water bottle, and twisted the cap to drink. Glug, glug! Sweat ran down his skin as water flowed down his throat. This feeling of exhaustion and fulfillment made Chen Feng feel very satisfied. A week ago, he was just an ordinary office worker on Earth, who had died from overworking while playing games. Now, by some stroke of luck, he had crossed into a parallel world similar to Earth. In the past week, he had barely adapted to everything here. Earth Star, Red Nation. This was the country where his original owner had lived, one of the pillars of the current world. As for his original owner, who shared his name, he was a recent graduate who had lost his job right after graduation. He had also just joined the martial arts school as a Sanda student. He had gotten sick a week ago and had a fever, which allowed Chen Feng to take over his place. The original person¡¯s parents were ordinary people, passing away two years ago. He had an older sister, a doctoral student at a local research institute, who worked part-time while studying, and had excellent grades. Thinking about this, Chen Feng stopped drinking, glancing at his reflection in the window. He was almost 1.8 meters tall, wearing a black round-neck T-shirt, looking a bit skinny. At 22, with sharp eyebrows, a short crew-cut hairstyle, his facial features were still strong. ¡°No matter what this world is like¡­¡± ¡°First, I need to survive.¡± ¡°Then, I need to get stronger!¡± The thought flashed through his mind as he thought about the strange dreams, he had been having every night since his transmigration. Chen Feng quickly put down the water bottle, returned to the practice area, and continued practicing Sanda. Time passed, and after two more hours, the progress of his Sanda skill increased again. [Sanda: Unfamiliar, 83%] ¡°If I manage to keep this pace, I should be able to officially learn it in about a week.¡± He exhaled a breath, nodding to himself. Clap, clap! After a full day of practice, the coach, who had been standing at the front of the room, clapped his hands to signal the end of class. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough for today.¡± ¡°If anyone has any questions about Sanda, feel free to come to me after class.¡± With that, Chen Feng caught his breath for a moment and didn¡¯t waste too much time. He packed up his things, went to the changing room, wiped the sweat off, and changed out of his soaked clothes. Before long, he left the martial arts school. ¡­¡­ The journey was uneventful, and after half an hour, he arrived at the bus stop. Chen Feng exited through the back door of the crowded number 12 bus. Looking around, the nearby neighborhood was filled with old cement buildings, and the streetlights were rusty and slightly yellowed. Fruit wholesale stores occupied the first floors, with trucks unloading and voices constantly echoing. The corners of the street were damp, and flies buzzed around the trash bins. This was the only inheritance left by his parents¡ªan old, dilapidated apartment. Chen Feng lived here alone. Buzz! Suddenly, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Chen Feng stopped, pulled out his phone, and saw the message notification and a transfer of 1,000 yuan. [Chen Yun]: Xiao Feng, I¡¯m very busy at the research institute this weekend, I can¡¯t come back for now. [You¡¯ve been practicing punches lately, make sure to eat more nutritious food, and don¡¯t worry about the job search, I¡¯ll find a way.] After reading the message, Chen Feng fell silent. Chen Yun was the original owner¡¯s older sister, and over this period, he had felt her concern and worry. Though she was a doctoral student, her salary wasn¡¯t very high due to her internship, with only a few thousand yuan in internship allowances. However, she had been very good to the original owner, paying for tuition, living expenses, and even the Sanda training fees over the past two years. [Received.] He didn¡¯t refuse her care, as the original owner had been jobless after graduation, and he was truly broke. He instinctively typed "thank you," but thinking of her tone, he silently deleted it. [Chen Yun]: I have to go now, lots of things to do at the project, smile.jpg] [Okay.] Chen Feng replied briefly, not wanting to seem unusual. After putting his phone away, he quickly walked up five flights of stairs and entered his two-bedroom apartment. The old couch, the black-screen TV. The grey-black floor tiles, simple decoration. Chen Feng took a small bag of beef from the fridge, cooked it quickly, paired it with rice, and had a meal. Whether in his previous life or now, he wasn¡¯t much of a cook. But thanks to the energy expended in practicing Sanda, he was too hungry to care about the taste and devoured the meal. He quickly washed the dishes and tidied up. Not long after, he returned to his bedroom. A simple white wardrobe, a wooden table, a large bed. Taking out his phone, Chen Feng half-lay on the bed and began browsing local job listings. He wasn¡¯t the type to just wait around and live off his sister. He couldn¡¯t keep relying on her forever. So, he still wanted to find a job, balancing work with his training, to ensure he could support himself independently. ¡°Supermarket cashier: six days a week, 8 AM to 12 AM, 16-hour shifts, no degree required, salary 3500 yuan¡­¡± ¡°Bar security guard: six days a week, 6 PM to 3 AM, no degree required, salary 5000 yuan¡­¡± ¡°Company clerk: weekends off, 9 AM to 6 PM, requires a diploma, salary 3000 yuan¡­¡± The job listings kept flipping, and Chen Feng had a rough idea. Before long, the fatigue from his training set in, and his eyelids began to grow heavy. He didn¡¯t force himself and instead laid down on the bed, letting sleep take over. Beep beep! A car honked downstairs, and someone yelled irritably, "Whose car is that? Move it!" Chen Feng felt his consciousness slipping away. The memories of the original owner flashed through his mind like slides, one after another. The grief of his parents¡¯ death, the laziness of gaming all day in college... The regret of never confessing to the girl he liked, the envy he felt towards classmates with branded clothes and sneakers... Studying hotel management for four years, only to become an underpaid waiter... Graduating only to be unemployed, using the excuse of practicing boxing to escape everything... Resentment, inferiority, confusion... Chen Feng continued processing the original memories and emotions as his consciousness descended into nothingness. As time passed, the night grew deeper. A black mist swirled, as the surroundings dimmed. In the endless night and in deep sleep, Chen Feng suddenly felt his body move, his feet stepping into empty space. Buzz! At once, his eyelids twitched, and Chen Feng opened his eyes. Everything around him was shrouded in thick black fog, as he once again descended into the strange dream. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 2: Limit-Breaking Light Orb, Enhancement! Translator: CinderTL --- ¡°Here we go again.¡± Lying on the bed, Chen Feng gazed at the black mist surrounding him, yet he wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised. During the week since his transmigration, every night when he fell asleep, he would end up here. And that panel, first appeared in front of him when he had first stepped into this place. ¡°But where exactly is this?¡± ¡°Is this really just a dream?¡± Chen Feng was puzzled because he had pinched himself before, and he could still feel pain here. It was as though this place were a real alternate space. Buzz! Suddenly, just as the thought crossed his mind, the mist outside the bed started to dissipate, vanishing like a receding tide. Chen Feng, surprised, looked around and quickly saw an unfamiliar room. A pale yellow chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm and bright light over everything. A portrait of a person, painted in an abstract and childlike style, hung on the whitewashed wall. A wooden desk stood two meters ahead, and above it, there was a faint red light orb, about the size of a fist, hovering in midair. ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem like my bedroom.¡± Chen Feng warily observed his surroundings, feeling unfamiliar with the exquisite d¨¦cor. A dream? Or perhaps another parallel world? S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His gaze flickered, and Chen Feng sat on the bed, deep in thought. He couldn¡¯t figure out where he was. Moreover, in his memories, the original body had never encountered such a situation or seen this kind of room. So, this was likely something that happened because of his transmigration. Taking a deep breath, Chen Feng decided not to wait idly. It wasn¡¯t his style to always hide in bed whenever he entered this place. He pushed himself off the bed, intending to explore this strange room and the faint red light orb hovering above the desk. As he moved, he felt a soft sensation under his feet. Looking down, Chen Feng realized he was still in the same clothes he wore before going to sleep¡ªshort-sleeve shirt, shorts, and barefoot. But thanks to the white-yellow carpet on the wooden floor, he didn¡¯t feel uncomfortable. Swish! Swish! Continuing cautiously, Chen Feng walked around the room, soon arriving at the desk. The faint red light orb emitted a soft glow, about the size of a fist, resembling a small sphere. He looked to the left and right, thinking for a moment. Not finding anything useful in the room, no books or valuable information, he finally raised his hand and cautiously touched the light orb. Buzz! In an instant, the orb seemed to melt into his body through his fingertip. At the same time, a panel appeared, and a text prompt automatically popped up. [You have obtained a (Limit-Breaking Light Orb)!] [Limit-Breaking Light Orb: The remaining will of a martial artist] [Quality: Primary] [Effect: Can enhance martial arts skill proficiency to some extent] The information appeared in his vision, and Chen Feng stood there, stunned. ¡°Limit-Breaking Light Orb?¡± ¡°The remaining will of a martial artist?¡± Could this be a real world, with people living in it? His thoughts flickered as he quickly looked at the description of the effect. It could enhance martial arts skill proficiency... Unbidden, Chen Feng thought of the sanda (Chinese kickboxing) he hadn¡¯t started practicing yet. [Sanda: Unfamiliar (83%) +] ¡°An additional +?¡± ¡°Does this mean it can be enhanced?¡± Chen Feng raised an eyebrow and, without hesitation, decided to give it a try. ¡°Enhance!¡± Buzz! In that instant, Chen Feng felt a sudden surge in his mind, as if he had been honing and training for years. In less than a second, the sanda information on the panel had changed. [Sanda: Beginner (20%)] !!! Chen Feng¡¯s eyes lit up with surprise. He hadn¡¯t expected the enhancement to be so significant. Without a second thought, he threw a few punches standing where he was, feeling his strength flow more smoothly and with no more awkwardness in his movements. Moreover, he vaguely sensed that his body... had undergone some subtle changes? A thought crossed his mind, and he quickly summoned the panel to check his attributes. [Strength: 8.2 ¡ú 8.4] [Agility: 8.1 ¡ú 8.3] [Constitution: 8.1 ¡ú 8.2] [Willpower: 8.8 ¡ú 8.9] ¡°As expected, my body has definitely become stronger.¡± ¡°Strength, agility, constitution, willpower¡ªeverything has increased. This should be the result of reaching beginner level in sanda.¡± Chen Feng recalled the students he had seen at the martial arts school. Most people who reached beginner level in sanda had some muscle definition and were stronger than the average person. ¡°Looks like, as long as my martial arts skills improve, my physical attributes will enhance too.¡± ¡°Training at the martial arts school should continue. No matter what job I find in the future, I can¡¯t let it be neglected.¡± Nodding to himself, Chen Feng felt more motivated and started to plan for the future. At the same time, he was more eager to see if there were more of these light orbs. ¡°I wonder if there are any more light orbs around.¡± He licked his lips. The coach had told him that martial arts skills like sanda had several proficiency levels: Unfamiliar, Beginner, and Mastery. In other words, if there were enough Limit-Breaking Light Orbs, his sanda could probably break through again. Thinking of this, Chen Feng quickly began searching around the room, leaving no corner unchecked. Drawers, wardrobe, under the bed... But unfortunately, aside from the earlier discovery, there was nothing else. Just a few oil paintings stacked in the corner. There were also some metallic game controllers with black screens and some dusty toys. ¡°Then what about the world outside the room?¡± Chen Feng¡¯s gaze shifted, and he walked to the door. It was a red-painted wooden door with a metal handle and a keyhole. There was also a peephole above. After a moment of thought, Chen Feng realized that the wooden desk and the door handle both had dust on them. It was as if no one had lived here or cleaned the place in years. A guess formed in his mind, but to be sure, he crouched slightly and peered through the peephole. There was no one outside. The bright light illuminated a hallway with a red carpet and another red-painted door. The room was very quiet. After hesitating for a few seconds, two conflicting thoughts emerged in Chen Feng¡¯s mind. To leave or not to leave. ¡°The opportunity is right in front of me. If I miss it, won¡¯t I regret it forever?¡± Suppressing his doubts, Chen Feng made his decision and twisted the door handle. Click! A faint sound was heard. There was no obstruction, and Chen Feng easily turned the handle and opened the door. Suddenly, the world in front of him changed. The familiar ceiling appeared before his eyes again. ¡°This...¡± The sensation of weightlessness vanished instantly, and Chen Feng opened his eyes. He was lying on a soft mattress, with patterned curtains gently blowing in the wind and a beam of sunlight falling through the gap. His gaze focused, and he saw the white wardrobe against the wall and the familiar wooden desk under the window. He knew he had returned to his own bedroom. ¡°Is it morning?¡± Somewhat regretfully, Chen Feng reached for his phone, unlocked it, and checked the time. It was already 7:05 AM. Without thinking, he quickly summoned the panel. He focused and saw that his physical attributes and the sanda skill information all reflected the enhanced data. ¡°So, the improvement in the dream world carry over to reality.¡± ¡°No, maybe it¡¯s not a dream. Perhaps it¡¯s another world, but the effects of the enhancement can synchronize back.¡± Chen Feng had a guess in his mind and, for the sake of convenience, temporarily named it the Dream World. ¡°It¡¯s still early.¡± ¡°Let me try to get some extra sleep!¡± After a moment of thought, Chen Feng quickly turned over, wanting to take advantage of the remaining drowsiness and try to enter the Dream World again. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes again. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 3: Flame Tiger Martial Arts School Translator: CinderTL --- 7:30 AM. Chen Feng got up, brushed his teeth, turned on the induction stove, and boiled some water to steam the eggs. The idea of going back to sleep was soon abandoned; he simply couldn¡¯t fall asleep. He took out a box of milk from the fridge and warmed it up in the microwave. As usual, he ended his breakfast with two eggs, a slice of bread, and a box of milk. Perhaps because his physical strength had increased a little, Chen Feng noticed that his appetite had grown slightly as well. For the past week, this breakfast had been enough to fill him up almost completely. But now, it seemed like it was only about 80% full? ¡°Strong muscles need enough protein to maintain.¡± ¡°Correspondingly, the higher your physical abilities, the more nutrition is needed to support it.¡± Chen Feng wasn¡¯t surprised by his increased appetite, as this only showed that he was indeed becoming stronger. He even wondered, if his proficiency reached the next level, would his physical attributes also improve? ¡°I really want the evening to arrive now.¡± His eyes brightened¡ªthis was the first time Chen Feng felt such a longing. Then, making use of the morning time, he checked the nearby job listings on his phone. By 1 PM, he changed into a black T-shirt and pants and walked out the door. ...... The streets were lined with high-rise buildings, and people were coming and going. Honking horns were heard now and then as oil and electric cars drove on the road. Everything looked very similar to Earth, but Chen Feng knew that this was no longer the same space-time. First, the technology. Chen Feng¡¯s gaze shifted, and in the distance, he saw a red car with two winged wheels speeding toward him through the air, about two meters above the ground, with a light blue flame shooting from its tail. Whoosh! A pedestrian¡¯s skirt fluttered, and even a middle-aged man¡¯s wig was blown off. ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s the flying car gang again!¡± ¡°Such bad luck!¡± The noticeable speeding caught the attention of many, and soon, a blue-and-white vehicle from the safety department chased after it, also with flames shooting out. Flying cars. A technological product of this world. They could drive on the ground like regular cars, but they could also switch to flight mode, deploying wings and flying several meters above the ground at high speeds. This alone surpassed Chen Feng¡¯s knowledge from his previous life and was far more advanced than Earth¡¯s technology. Aside from that... Chen Feng crossed the street, looking up at the huge electronic screen on a high-rise building. A city martial arts competition was being broadcast live. On screen, two muscular men were battling it out in the ring. The sounds of punches landing were heard as many pedestrians stopped to watch. ¡°City Martial Arts Competition...¡± His eyes flickered, and Chen Feng thought about another difference in this world. Two global powers were competing against many strong alliances. The country he was in, the Red Nation, was one of these two powers, adopting the political paradigm of an empire, it stood opposing the Western Platinum Federation. After experiencing a world war known as the Solar Revolution, technology advanced rapidly, and peace has lasted for the past 12 decades. Perhaps due to this, martial arts competitions were particularly popular in this world. From primitive violence and amateur combat to the division of martial arts schools for professional martial artists. From low to high, amateur nine-dan, professional seven-level... Any martial arts-related event attracted great attention and had high prize money. Because of this, there were many martial arts schools in this world, and the number of martial arts enthusiasts was far greater than on Earth in his previous life. Tap, tap! A flash of thought passed through his mind, and Chen Feng found himself standing at the bottom of the martial arts school. The sign for the Flame Tiger Martial Arts School was hung across the second-floor wall. Looking through the floor-to-ceiling windows, he saw dozens of people inside. Some were training their physical strength, using equipment, practicing movements, or hitting punching bags. It looked like a vibrant atmosphere. Whoosh! Without delay, Chen Feng pushed open the glass door and entered, quickly heading to the changing room to change clothes. ¡°Chen Feng!¡± Someone greeted him. Chen Feng nodded in acknowledgment. The person was lean, about 1.78 meters tall, with long, messy hair. His name was Lin Hao. He was a fellow student from the martial arts school, someone Chen Feng was vaguely familiar with. ¡°Didn¡¯t see you yesterday.¡± Chen Feng casually replied. ¡°Heh, had something to do yesterday, took the day off,¡± Lin Hao said with a smile, then gestured toward the practice area where several people were sparring. ¡°Look over there, Xu Dongtai¡¯s punches are ruthless as always, he knocked Zheng Qiang down with just two hits.¡± Chen Feng glanced over and saw a strong young man lying on the ground, bruised and disheveled. On the other side, the man standing in the ring was full of confidence. He was nearly 1.85 meters tall, with a buzz cut and a silver earring in his left ear. His eyes were intense. His muscles were prominent, with his thick arms hanging by his sides, making him appear overwhelming just standing there. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Sigh, just some trash talk. Zheng Qiang shouldn¡¯t have provoked Xu Dongtai.¡± ¡°Plus, it was a sparring match¡ªno one can say much, not even the coach...¡± Lin Hao replied briefly, shaking his head at the end. Chen Feng understood his meaning but did not offer an opinion. Xu Dongtai had great physical talent. The coach had praised his fighting potential multiple times, and his progress in sanda was far beyond the average person. But unfortunately, he had a bad personality and had become a bit of a bully in the class. ¡°Why are you looking? You wanna spar with my brother Dongtai?¡± ¡°Come on, get in the ring and give it a try!¡± A lackey beside Xu Dongtai shouted, glaring at several people, including Chen Feng. Most people didn¡¯t want to cause trouble, so they ignored the provocation and continued their training after helping Zheng Qiang up. ¡°Tsk, tsk, Zhou Xin really knows how to kiss ass.¡± Lin Hao muttered and then saw Chen Feng turn around, heading to a corner by himself. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Training.¡± Chen Feng replied calmly, ignoring the distractions around him. There was only one reason for all setbacks. Weakness. So, he just wanted to practice and silently become stronger. Whoosh! S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He stretched twice, finishing his warm-up. Chen Feng stood still, took a deep breath. His five fingers clenched, and following his understanding and memory, he thrust his right arm forward. Whoosh! His fist was straight, with only a slight bend at the elbow. The most basic straight punch. But unlike before, this time, Chen Feng clearly felt the smoothness of his power delivery. It was as if all his muscles were activated, with his waist and back unleashing power together. His eyes lit up, and without hesitation, he stepped forward and threw a left punch. Whoosh! His elbow was more clearly bent, delivering a standard left hook. The punch flew out, and Chen Feng fully realized the difference between having just started learning sanda and having actually achieved it. The former could only barely manage the moves, but the power was not coordinated. The latter, however, had truly understood the principles of the movements, and every punch engaged more muscle groups. He had quickly adapted to the changes after achieving beginner level in sanda. Chen Feng continued to throw punches and kicks, quickly losing himself in his practice. ¡°This guy... Why does he seem to have improved a lot?¡± Lin Hao, who was nearby, was surprised. But since he himself was still a beginner, he couldn¡¯t be sure. Time passed, sweat dripped bit by bit, gradually soaking Chen Feng''s clothes. Some people started resting due to sore muscles, while others gritted their teeth and continued. At the same time, Coach Lu from the sanda training class quietly appeared, observing the students'' practice and occasionally offering tips. His gaze lingered on Xu Dongtai, watching him throw powerful punches that cut through the air. He nodded to himself. ¡°Xu Dongtai¡¯s talent is indeed impressive. He¡¯s at the level of amateur four-dan. He might have a chance at passing the exam.¡± ¡°But this guy¡¯s personality is too wild. He even injured Zheng Qiang today...¡± Coach Lu shook his head and turned his attention away, thinking to himself. At this moment, many students were resting. Coach Lu unconsciously glanced at Chen Feng, who was still focused on his practice in the corner. ¡°Oh? He¡¯s entered the basic stage of sanda?¡± It wasn¡¯t a huge surprise. Coach Lu had already noticed that Chen Feng was close to entering this stage. But... ¡°Such diligence, but... his talent is a little lacking.¡± In this group of students, being at the entry level of sanda was considered average, not particularly outstanding. With a slight shake of his head, Coach Lu quickly left without making a fuss. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 4: Re-entering the Dream Translator: CinderTL --- Two hours later. [Progress +1] [Sanda: Beginner (21%)] The system panel popped up. Chen Feng stopped his movements, breathing heavily. His muscles felt extremely sore, and his lungs felt like they were burning intensely. Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! "My talent... seems to be really poor." Sweat dripped into his mouth, tasting salty, and his soaked clothes felt like they were glued to his skin. Chen Feng shook his head inwardly, smacking his lips. After two hours of practice, his progress had only increased by 1%. It was easy to predict that if he continued practicing at this pace, reaching the next proficiency level in Sanda, let alone mastering it, would take several months. Despite this, Chen Feng was not overly disappointed. If his talent was lacking, so be it. He wasn¡¯t planning to rely solely on talent anyway. Tap-tap! He walked over to grab a gray sports water bottle, quickly twisting the cap off and drinking in big gulps. Gulp! Gulp! The room-temperature water felt refreshing at that moment. After a short rest to recover, the class ended, and he quickly went to the locker room. Grumble! While changing, his stomach rumbled. Chen Feng felt hungry. The afternoon¡¯s workout had taken a toll, and he was starving. "How¡¯s the job hunt going?" Lin Hao had also arrived at the locker room, but he had clearly just showered, his long hair wet. "I¡¯m still on the lookout." Chen Feng paused for a moment but didn¡¯t hide his current situation. He also remembered that Lin Hao was a recent graduate, just like him, and was also unemployed. "Oh." Lin Hao nodded lightly, quickly changing into his clothes and not asking any more questions. Then, as if thinking of something, he leaned closer and lowered his voice, "By the way, have you heard about this?" "What?" "I heard the martial arts academy is expanding its core students. After this training course ends, they¡¯ll assess us." "If we pass... you know what that means." Lin Hao patted Chen Feng on the shoulder. Chen Feng raised his brow. Core students at the martial arts academy? That was a different world compared to their current status as regular students. They had to pay tuition fee to use the academy''s equipment and facilities, attending training sessions at fixed times under the guidance of instructors. But core students not only had access to all of that for free, but they could also get help and recommendations from the academy''s team for future martial arts competitions. More importantly... Core students seemed to have a chance to learn actual martial arts styles. Unlike Sanda or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, these were the exclusive martial arts techniques of the Flame Tiger Martial Arts School. Though the original owner had never seen them firsthand, he had seen broadcasts of martial arts tournaments on TV. Fists that could break bricks, moves that could shake steel. Interesting... Chen Feng¡¯s eyes flashed, and he nodded. But soon, he felt something was off. "How do you know about this?" he asked Lin Hao. "Heh, guess." Lin Hao shrugged nonchalantly. At that moment, Chen Feng suddenly realized that the original owner never really understood Lin Hao. Although they were both unemployed college grads, Chen Feng didn¡¯t know anything about Lin Hao¡¯s background. "See ya." Lin Hao waved casually and left. Chen Feng watched his figure for a moment but didn¡¯t delve deeper. Shaking his head, he left the academy soon after, taking the bus back home. ... "The beef¡¯s almost gone, and the eggs too. Looks like I¡¯ll have to go to the supermarket tomorrow." Sitting at the wooden dining table inside his room, Chen Feng finished his dinner with satisfaction. The feeling of a full stomach gave him some peace of mind, but when he looked at the thousand yuan left in his bank account, the sense of urgency crept back into his thoughts. "I won¡¯t bother looking at job listings tonight. I¡¯ll try tomorrow." "Let¡¯s check out cashier positions at the supermarket first. If that doesn¡¯t work, I can try a bar or delivery..." The thought flashed by. Chen Feng wanted to balance work with his training. The martial arts academy¡¯s course still had a week left, and with what Lin Hao said about the core student opportunity, he was now interested and couldn¡¯t afford to miss any more training sessions. So, to free up time in the afternoons, his options for work were limited. With the plan set, Chen Feng¡¯s mind was clear. Soon, he flipped through his phone and contacted the recruiters, setting up appointments for the next day. Gradually, the sky darkened, and the noise outside the building lessened. Fatigue overtook him. Chen Feng put down his phone and rolled over. His consciousness began to sink, and he fell asleep. Not long after, when he opened his eyes again, the world had quietly changed. ... "I am back." Looking at the abstract portrait hanging on the wall and the white-yellow furry carpet on the floor, Chen Feng sighed in relief. He had been worried that the dream might have changed for the worse, making it impossible for him to enter again. But it seemed he was overthinking it. Without wasting time, knowing that the dream time was limited, he quickly got up, stepped on the carpet, and walked towards the red wooden door. He slightly bent down and peered through the peephole. The environment was still empty and eerily quiet. Click! Turning the doorknob, Chen Feng successfully opened the door. Outside was a clean corridor, with two rooms on the opposite side, both with closed redwood doors. The floor was made of dark brown solid wood, and as Chen Feng looked down the corridor, he saw that the ends were different. The right wall ended in a sealed gray area, with another painting hanging there. At the end of the left wall was a spacious living room. A large, exquisite crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the warm light illuminated the room. Below were brown leather sofas and a wooden coffee table. Chen Feng slowly walked into the living room, soon seeing a projector hanging from the ceiling and a screen on the opposite white wall. The machine was off, and apart from the light, the room was silent. Swish! Chen Feng reached out and touched the sofa, lifting his hand to see the dust on his fingers. It was the same as earlier in the house. Even the coffee table and other furniture in the living room were covered with a thin layer of dust. This made Chen Feng more confident in his guess. "It looks like no one is living here." His expression relaxed slightly. Chen Feng turned to look at the redwood door and the carved windows on either side. Outside, the sky was also pitch-black, as if thick black mist had covered every light source. The house felt like the only place left in the world, making Chen Feng feel a bit oppressed and suffocated. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After thinking for a moment, he slowed his steps and first went to open the two rooms he had noticed earlier. The first room was a bedroom, similar to the one he was in previously but larger. It was also empty, offering no new discoveries. As for the second... Click! The redwood door opened. A row of bookshelves lined the wall, and a withered potted plant stood in the corner. There was a dusty wooden table and chair beneath the window, and next to them were two glowing orbs that caught Chen Feng¡¯s attention. Both were about the size of a fist, floating above the wooden table and chair. The orb on the table was a pale red, identical to the previous day''s breakthrough light orb. The orb on the chair was pure white, like a piece of warm jade emitting a soft glow. Seeing this, Chen Feng felt a surge of excitement. He quickly scanned his surroundings, calming his emotions. After confirming there was no danger, he stepped forward and reached out to touch the two orbs. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 5: Attribute Light Orb! Translator: CinderTL --- [You have picked up a (Limit-Breaking Light Orb)!] [Limit-Breaking Light Orb: The Residual Will of a Martial Artist] [Quality: Primary] [Effect: Can enhance martial arts skill proficiency to a certain extent] --- The first Light Orb¡¯s text prompt appeared. Though Chen Feng had guessed the result in advance, he still felt a pleasant surprise. Without hesitation, he looked at the "+" behind his Sanda skill and immediately chanted the enhancement. Buzz! [Sanda: Beginner (68%)] ¡°An increase of over 40% in progress?¡± Nodding to himself, though he didn''t break through to mastery level in one go, Chen Feng was still quite satisfied. After all, if he had practiced step by step, it would have taken at least a month to reach this point. In other words, this primary quality Limit-Breaking Light Orb was equivalent to a month of hard work. Clearing his mind, he quickly touched the second Light Orb, which was pale white. In an instant, the text prompt appeared. [You have picked up an (Attribute Light Orb)!] [Attribute Light Orb: The Spiritual Residue of an Extraordinary Being] [Quality: Primary] [Effect: Using it can increase four-dimensional attributes by 0.5 points, with random distribution] --- ¡°This!¡± Chen Feng¡¯s pupils contracted as the effect of this Light Orb was beyond his expectations. Though it only granted 0.5 points in attributes and the distribution was random, the effect was still terrifying. After all, with his Sanda skill at beginner level, his total four-dimensional attribute increase was only 0.6 points. ¡°Spiritual residue of an extraordinary being... So, this world has extraordinary powers?¡± ¡°Could it be that there are truly extraordinary beings here, distinct from ordinary humans?¡± Looking at the description, Chen Feng thought about the martial artist will residue mentioned in the Limit-Breaking Light Orb. He wasn¡¯t sure if this martial artist was related to the martial arts schools of reality, nor if this title referred to the same groups of people. But at least, the existence of these Light Orbs was the best proof of extraordinary power. His heart burned with excitement, and Chen Feng became more convinced that this dream world was the greatest opportunity for him to grow stronger. By using it, he was sure he could become a powerful person in reality, even a true martial artist. ¡°Enhance!¡± Without any further hesitation, Chen Feng quickly used the Attribute Light Orb. Buzz! [Strength +0.2!] [Agility +0.2!] [Constitution +0.1!] --- The text prompt appeared once again, and the four-dimensional attributes transformed. [Strength: 8.4 ¡ú 8.6] [Agility: 8.3 ¡ú 8.5] [Constitution: 8.2 ¡ú 8.3] [Will: 8.9] --- ¡°Comparable to a full improvement in Sanda!¡± Chen Feng¡¯s eyes brightened as he stood and threw two punches. Strength and agility didn¡¯t need much explanation¡ªhis punches were faster, and the bursts of power were stronger. Constitution, on the other hand, represented endurance, stamina, and other physical attributes. With the increase in constitution, his endurance grew, his stamina increased, and his resistance to illnesses and recovery ability improved. ¡°Indeed, every time my attributes increase, my body undergoes changes.¡± Focusing on his feelings, Chen Feng moved his body again. He could sense the strengthening of his muscles. Though it wasn¡¯t extremely obvious, the sense of fullness was tangible. It felt like water flowing into a deflated sponge; no matter how little, it would still cause a slight expansion. ¡°Let me search more, see if there are other Light Orbs.¡± An expectant gleam flashed in his eyes as Chen Feng adapted to the changes in his body and began searching the house again. Living room, kitchen, bathroom, storage room... Every corner, every drawer... After a search, Chen Feng felt somewhat disappointed. ¡°It seems there are no more here.¡± Chen Feng sighed and realized he was being a bit too greedy. He then returned to the study where he had found the Light Orbs earlier and stood there. As he observed the surroundings, something in his mind suddenly shifted¡ªhe noticed a key detail. There were no books in the room. For example, the study he had passed through earlier. He hadn¡¯t paid attention when searching for the Light Orbs. But now, he could see that the bookshelves along the walls were completely empty, and the wall behind them was visible. Even the desk didn¡¯t have a single book, only a bare red-painted surface. ¡°Why are there no books?¡± ¡°Could it be that the owner of this place moved them all?¡± Chen Feng frowned. He had planned to use the books to learn more about this world. But now, this idea was clearly shattered. ¡°Wait, there¡¯s also a projector!¡± An idea flashed in his mind. Chen Feng quickly returned to the living room, climbed onto a stool, and began fiddling with the projector, trying to turn it on. However, no matter how much he tried, the projector showed no signs of life. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it have power?¡± He glanced at the crystal chandelier overhead, still emitting light, and Chen Feng felt confused. Could the projector be broken? Frowning slightly, he quickly remembered his search through the house and went to find a computer. The LCD screen had a circle-and-axe symbol sticker, and the mainframe was a black, square box with a power button. Unfortunately, no matter how much he tried to turn it on, the computer remained unresponsive. The display screen stayed black. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, there was power, yet these electronic devices couldn¡¯t be used. Unsure whether this was a coincidence, Chen Feng¡¯s mind began to feel uneasy. ¡°The only thing I can confirm is that the technology here is probably not inferior to Earth¡¯s.¡± Shaking his head in silence, confirming he couldn¡¯t find any useful information in this house, Chen Feng¡¯s gaze shifted. Looking at the carved windows, he began to wonder about everything outside the pitch-black world. He wanted to find more Light Orbs. He also wanted to understand this world more deeply. There was only one choice¡ªleave this place and head into the wider outdoor world. As this thought arose, Chen Feng couldn¡¯t suppress it. After thinking for a moment, he walked toward the closed door. Tap! His footsteps moved. Suddenly, the world before him changed, becoming blurry and fading like mist. Opening his eyes, Chen Feng saw the familiar ceiling again and the long, grayish-white fluorescent light. ¡°Seriously?¡± He sighed, but quickly reached for his phone. It was 7:05 in the morning. This had almost become his biological clock. Even without an alarm, he would wake up automatically. Then, the panel appeared. The data inside was just as it had been in the dream, which relieved Chen Feng completely. ¡°Time to get up.¡± Not lingering in bed anymore, with his previous experience, he knew he could only enter the dream world by sleeping at night. So, he no longer hoped for a nap and quickly got up to tidy up and wash in the bathroom. Splash! Splash! The cold water from the faucet splashed into his hands, hitting his face repeatedly. The icy sensation immediately refreshed Chen Feng, and he looked up at the mirror, wiping the water off his face. In the rectangular mirror, he saw a figure standing at 1.8 meters tall. Wearing a black vest and shorts, the lines of his muscles began to show, and his once-skinny frame seemed to have gained some strength. His short-cropped hair, sharp features, slanted brows, and high nose bridge made him look more masculine than before. His gaze was brighter and more piercing, likely due to the improvements in his Sanda skills. In that instant, he met his gaze in the mirror. Chen Feng was looking forward to a better future for himself, he grinned widely as his white teeth gleamed. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 6: Work Translator: CinderTL --- At 8:50 AM that day, Chen Feng arrived at a small chain supermarket called Yongle Fu. The space wasn¡¯t too large, occupying less than 100 square meters. The shelves were stocked with many snacks, drinks, and daily necessities. Next to the cashier counter were a sausage grill machine and a row of cigarettes in the back. "May I help you?" The cashier, a woman in her thirties, was dressed in a white shirt and black pants. Seeing Chen Feng approach, she instinctively asked. "Hello, I¡¯m looking for Manager Liu." Chen Feng replied, adding his purpose: "I have an interview with her at 9:00 AM for the cashier position. Is she available?" "Oh, you must be Chen Feng," the woman smiled at him. What surprised Chen Feng was that the woman smiled warmly. "I¡¯m Liu Fang. Haha, I didn¡¯t expect you to be so punctual." As she spoke, she sized him up. He was dressed in a black short-sleeve shirt and shorts. Although not overly formal, the young man looked quite bright and his eyes were sharp. Liu Fang nodded inwardly, feeling satisfied. She quickly gestured for him to follow. "Come on, Chen Feng, follow me, we¡¯ll talk while sitting." "Zhang Ayi, can you cover the cashier for a bit?" Under Liu Fang¡¯s guidance, Chen Feng walked to a rest area near the shelves by the large window. "Please, sit, don¡¯t stand on ceremony." "Thank you, Manager Liu." "Ah, just call me Sister Liu." "Not many young people are willing to work in supermarkets, and you¡¯re even a college graduate. You¡¯re quite outstanding..." They exchanged a few pleasantries, and during the conversation, Chen Feng learned that Liu Fang was the manager responsible for three branches of the supermarket in the area. This store was one of them, with a total of four employees working in two shifts, from 8 AM to 12 PM. Due to one cashier quitting suddenly, Liu Fang had been filling in for a few days. No wonder. In her haste to hire someone, and due to Chen Feng being young, good looking, and having prior cashier experience, he was offered his first job in this world. His monthly salary was 3,000 yuan, with one free meal provided every working day, and six days of work with one day off. He could take time off as needed, had a monthly shopping allowance of 300 yuan, and is eligible for internal discounts. "Do you have any questions? If not, we can finalize this," Liu Fang asked, showing that the supermarket was truly short-handed. "Manager Liu, I have a special request," Chen Feng spoke up at the right moment, not mentioning his martial arts practice but using his other commitments as an excuse. "Would it be possible for me to only work the afternoon shift, from 4 PM to midnight?" The martial arts class was from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM, and Chen Feng needed to keep that time free. "Oh?" Liu Fang was a bit surprised by his request. But she didn¡¯t mind, in fact, her eyes brightened as she nodded and said, "No problem, Chen Feng." "Actually, Aunt He has been talking about shifting her hours to pick up her grandson from school earlier. Looks like this works out perfectly for you." "I¡¯ll speak with her about the shift change later." Chen Feng, relieved and expecting a possible rejection, didn¡¯t waste any more words. After a few more brief conversations, he followed Liu Fang to the cashier counter to familiarize himself with the process. "The prices are automatically calculated when you scan the barcodes, just have a rough idea in your head." "The supermarket offers different discounts for members based on their levels, and entering a phone number will calculate the discount." "Then, during your downtime, help organize and arrange items on the shelves..." Liu Fang explained patiently, and Chen Feng nodded lightly. Having worked as a cashier during the summer internship in his previous life, he quickly familiarized himself with the procedures, earning compliments from Liu Fang soon after. "Young people catch on quickly." "Now then, Chen Feng, can you start your shift at 4 PM today?" "Sure." Seeing his eagerness, Liu Fang immediately registered his employee details and the 300 yuan shopping allowance for him. She also invited him to stay for lunch. ... At 1:30 PM, Chen Feng arrived at the martial arts school on time. Patting his full belly, he found out that the food at the supermarket was quite good. Two meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and a soup, with meals delivered regularly at noon and in the evening. Of course, he wasn¡¯t sure if Liu Fang had prepared extra food because she saw him there, but he was definitely full. "Next up, time to focus and train." His eyes shone with excitement as he couldn''t wait to practice his punches. He quickly changed into his training clothes in the locker room and walked into the practice hall. "Yo, you¡¯re here." Lin Hao, wearing a white tank top, saw him from a distance, his face slightly sweating as if he had just finished warming up. "Mm, you¡¯re early today," Chen Feng nodded, then looked around. He noticed other students were slowly arriving in pairs. "Well, there¡¯s nothing to do, so why not come early?" "Besides..." Lin Hao replied with a smile, but before he could finish his sentence, a loud thud echoed. Looking over, they saw the burly Xu Dongtai punching a sandbag. Thud! Thud! The muffled sounds reverberated as the nearly 100-kilogram sandbag shook violently. This caught the attention of several people, and some female students even sent fiery glances his way. "Brother Xu is incredible!" Xu Dongtai¡¯s lackeys, including Zhou Xin, exaggerated loudly, even looking around at the other students, acting proud, as though they had caused the noise themselves. Some students were unimpressed, but others were inspired by Xu Dongtai¡¯s display of strength, sparking their own competitive spirits. "This Xu Dongtai, his punching power test last month was 89 kg." "At this rate, he¡¯s probably already at the level of an amateur fourth dan." Lin Hao clicked his tongue in surprise, and though Chen Feng didn¡¯t respond, his gaze became more serious. Amateur fourth dan, professional level, that was the ranking system for combatants on Earth. TL/N: "dan (¶Î)" refers to a rank or level in martial arts. It took into account strength, reaction, speed, and combat ability, providing a comprehensive evaluation. Amateur ranks went from first to ninth dan, while professional ranks went from level one to level seven. Many city tournaments required competitors to have the appropriate certification for their level; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be allowed to participate. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Amateur fourth dan... the punching power standard is at least 90 kg..." Looking at Xu Dongtai¡¯s explosive punches, Chen Feng¡¯s eyes gleamed. The punching power requirement for amateur first dan was 60 kg. Each subsequent rank increased by 10 kg. As for professional, the starting point was 200 kg. Chen Feng recalled his own punching power when he first entered the martial arts school¡ªit was barely 50 kg. Now, with the additional martial arts practice and the enhancement to his strength attribute, he was curious about his current level. "I¡¯ll check it out after class." With that thought in mind, Chen Feng¡¯s eyes gradually calmed. Soon, he walked to a corner by himself. Boom! He began his training again! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 7: Punching Power Translator: CinderTL --- "Sanda practical training requires footwork, fist techniques, leg techniques, and throws, all of which are indispensable!" "Don¡¯t just focus on throwing punches¡ªintegrate your footwork with your stance as well!" In the Sanda class, Coach Lu reappeared and, as usual, began to give pointers to everyone. "I''ve mentioned footwork before¡ªstep-shifting, striking steps, and crossing steps..." "Now, I¡¯ll demonstrate each one again. Pay attention." As he spoke, Coach Lu shifted his center of gravity downward, sitting into a horse stance, bending his knees and stepping forward, launching a step-and-punch combo. The punch struck with a booming sound, and although it didn¡¯t hit a sandbag, the explosive force still left spectators feeling uneasy. He then demonstrated several movements in sequence, patiently explaining the key points he had previously taught. Finally, watching everyone continue with their Sanda practice, he stood silently, observing their progress. "Zheng Qiang? Really hopeless. Looks like my teaching was in vain." "Yu Shan... What a shame, his physical talent is a bit worse than Xu Dongtai''s." "Lin Hao... Why even sign up for the class? His progress is almost negligible..." Shaking his head, Coach Lu had already grown accustomed to the mediocrity of most people. After all, most of the people here were just ordinary enthusiasts with no amateur-level skills. He wasn¡¯t surprised. "Mm?" Suddenly, his gaze shifted as he noticed a figure standing near Lin Hao. Whoosh! A punch shot out, the right arm straight, the movement flawless. It even produced a slight sound of cutting through air. With his eyes sharpened, Coach Lu kept watching. The figure was sweating, the punches were strong, and the stance was steady. Chops, swings, whiplashes, legwork... Each move was executed with precision, fluidly connecting. It was as if he was close to Sanda mastery. "This kid, how did he improve so much?" Raising an eyebrow, Coach Lu silently wondered as he observed Chen Feng''s back. But Chen Feng was unaware of the attention, focused solely on his practice, repeatedly throwing punches. Whoosh! Stepping aside, he moved forward, launching another punch. [Progress +1!] [Sanda: Beginner (69%)] The system notification appeared, and only then did Chen Feng stop to catch his breath. Huff! Huff! Sweat streamed down his face, and his shirt clung tightly to his chest. "Indeed, if I were to rely on my talent alone, it wouldn¡¯t get me anywhere." Shaking his head internally, Chen Feng walked over to the side, twisting his gray sports water bottle and taking large gulps. Two hours to gain just one progress point had left him hopeless in his talent. However, even so, he wasn¡¯t ready to give up on practicing. Though the progress was minimal, it helped him better adapt to his body. After all, his improvements lately had been quite rapid. Clap, clap! Soon, as his thoughts passed, the lesson ended. From afar, Coach Lu withdrew his gaze from Chen Feng and clapped, reciting the familiar closing lines. "That¡¯s all for today." "Also..." After thinking for a moment, Coach Lu decided to give the group a reminder. "The school is planning to recruit more core students. You¡¯re lucky to have come at the right time." "After the training next week, the school will send someone for an assessment. There will be only one spot for our class, so make sure to seize the opportunity." His strong voice echoed in everyone¡¯s ears, and Chen Feng could feel that most of the students looked surprised, evidently hearing the news for the first time. A few others, like Lin Hao and Xu Dongtai, remained calm, clearly already aware. "So, how about it? I wasn¡¯t wrong, was I?" Lin Hao smiled. Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, growing even more curious about how Lin Hao had learned about it. "Don¡¯t ask. It¡¯s a secret," Lin Hao replied with a mysterious smile before heading to the locker room. Chen Feng shook his head and, not long after, went to take a shower and change clothes. When he came out again, he saw many students gradually leaving, including Lin Hao. He didn¡¯t waste time, quickly moving towards a spacious area on the second floor. There were several fitness machines here, including barbells, bench presses, and squat racks. But the most eye-catching piece of equipment was a punch force testing machine, placed in the center. It was bright red, with flame-like patterns winding around its rectangular body. At the moment, there weren¡¯t many people around, and Chen Feng didn¡¯t want to make a scene. He sped up and soon stood in front of the punch testing machine. Huff! Taking a deep breath, his eyes brightened. His left foot firmly planted on the ground, and his right leg stepped back. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He gathered power in his waist and back, his five fingers clenched tight. Boom! The punch whooshed through the air, striking the red rubber. A dull sound echoed, and soon a series of numbers appeared on the electronic display. 70kg! The number flashed in his vision, much higher than he had expected. "Such a huge improvement?" His eyes gleamed, and he couldn¡¯t help but look down at his fist. Although it was still not as powerful as Xu Dongtai¡¯s, let¡¯s not forget that Xu Dongtai had superior natural talent and a much stronger physique. He was catching up! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 8: Energy Bar Translator: CinderTL --- "Xiu Ping''s son is doing well. Over the past two years, he''s started a business and made a lot of money. They even hired a maid at home." "If it weren''t for passing the time, she wouldn''t have come to work here..." In the supermarket, noticing Chen Feng''s confusion and surprise, another employee nearby smiled and explained. She was Aunt Zhang, the same woman he had seen in the morning, slightly overweight, and they had eaten lunch together. "Thanks, Aunt Zhang." Chen Feng nodded lightly, understanding now. So, Aunt He had come here to experience life. He shook his head inwardly, feeling the difference between people. As for the employee shopping card placed in front of him, he thought for a moment and ultimately decided to put it in the drawer without using it. He wasn¡¯t at the point of being unable to afford food, and he preferred to avoid taking too many free things. He quickly put on a red vest with the "Yongle Fu" logo and started his shift behind the counter. Everything went smoothly, and he soon met another employee who came to relieve Aunt Zhang. Li Hongxia, around 37 or 38 years old, was primarily responsible for the supermarket''s cleanliness and the arrangement of products on the shelves. She was slightly thin, with yellowish skin, noticeable wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, and several spots on her face. "This is Xiao Feng, the new college student." "This is Hongxia, you can call her Sister Xia." TL/N: Here sister is used to represent the word ¡°Jie¡± which is a respectful but casual title for an older acquaintance. Before leaving, Aunt Zhang kindly made the introduction, and Chen Feng thanked her while nodding in goodwill to Li Hongxia. Time passed as he stood behind the counter, with customers gradually arriving. There were elderly people, children, young men, and young women. "I''ll take a pack of cigarettes, Tianhua, yes, the slim ones." A man ordered a pack of cigarettes, and Chen Feng scanned the barcode to charge him. "How much for this bottle of water?" "Five yuan." Another customer came, grabbing a bottle of "Arrow" sports drink. "Okay." Ding! The payment was processed, five yuan. The small supermarket was filled with various prompt sounds, and Chen Feng kept working until 10 PM, when he noticed the number of customers had decreased significantly. Perhaps because they weren¡¯t familiar with each other, he and Li Hongxia hadn¡¯t exchanged much conversation. Both quietly went about their tasks, and by almost midnight, with no more customers in sight, Chen Feng went to the product area to buy some items. Two packs of noodles, a box of milk, two dozen eggs, a large bag of bread... Mostly food, and he also bought a box of Superhero-brand energy bars. These were a high-nutrition food from the Red Country, looking like long milk sticks but rich in protein, ideal for martial arts practitioners or people who exercise regularly. They weren¡¯t cheap either¡ªover 500 yuan for a box of 24 bars. "You can use our internal shopping card to pay. First, deduct up to the 300-yuan limit." "For the remaining balance, you can pay the difference yourself. The shopping card will give you an internal discount." Li Hongxia, who was mopping the floor, kindly reminded him. Chen Feng paused for a moment, realizing there was such an option. "Thanks, Sister Xia," he said, holding a large box of items in his arms. "No need to thank me." Li Hongxia smiled and glanced at the energy bars in his hands. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she curiously asked, "Xiao Feng likes to work out, huh?" "Yeah, I occasionally practice," Chen Feng replied, not mentioning anything about martial arts. He didn¡¯t want to draw too much attention. "That''s good." Li Hongxia smiled and nodded before quickly finishing mopping the floor. The two didn¡¯t say much more, and Chen Feng followed her suggestion to make the payment. He first used the employee card, spending the free amount for the month, and then topped up another 400 yuan. He got a discount of 15% and had 120 yuan and 60 cents left on the card. "Money really disappears fast." Shaking his head, Chen Feng glanced at the balance on his phone. The 1000 yuan transferred by Chen Yun was down to 600 yuan, and with the shopping card, he had a sum total of just over 700 yuan left. "That should be enough to last until payday." "I''ll lock the door, you go ahead," Li Hongxia said after finishing cleaning, pulling down the supermarket¡¯s roll-up door with a long iron hook. "It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m in no hurry." Chen Feng lightly shook his head, glancing at the dark sky. After finding a cardboard box to pack up everything he bought, he silently stood on the sidewalk outside the supermarket, watching as she locked the door. Once he saw the roll-up door was fully secured, he said goodbye and left with the large box of items. Clack, clack! His footsteps echoed as it passed midnight, and the night had fully arrived. There were few pedestrians on the street, with the yellow streetlights casting a dim glow on the road. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Occasionally, a few drunken men appeared, and the distant smell of grilled skewers wafted over. Chen Feng sniffed the air, then suppressed the saliva in his mouth and continued walking toward the nearby neighborhood. Clack, clack! His steps were steady and strong. Thanks to his improved strength and physique, he didn¡¯t feel fatigued on this walk. Minutes later, the old neighborhood appeared across the street. Chen Feng stepped forward, about to pass a dark alleyway. "Damn, at this rate we¡¯re going to go broke." "Wang Jie still calls us brother, but he wouldn¡¯t even lend us a few bucks when asked." "Brother Jin, did you go looking for him?" "Of course, this kid¡¯s probably hiding somewhere. If not for..." "Huh?" A voice from the alley caught his attention. Under the dim yellow light of the streetlamp, he could barely make out three young men standing at the entrance of the alley, smoking. They all had tattoos on their arms, clearly troublemakers, and one even had dyed yellow hair. It seemed like they noticed him passing by, and their conversation abruptly stopped, all of them turning to look at him. "One person?" One of them muttered, his eyes intentionally turning a bit more menacing. Chen Feng didn¡¯t stop and kept walking toward the neighborhood. This was the old part of Nanjiang City, with poor infrastructure and ineffective surveillance. He had seen these troublemakers around before. The leader was Zhao Jin, a lazy guy who had been in and out of jail, with a long criminal record. There was no conflict between them, and Chen Feng didn¡¯t want to get involved with them. Clack, clack! His steady steps continued, and he quickly disappeared into the darkness. Without incident, Chen Feng safely made it home. He locked the door behind him and turned on the lights. The grayish-black floor tiles came into view, and the old sofa seemed to glow faintly, with the TV still showing a black screen. He quickly unpacked the eggs, bread, and other items from the box, placing them in the fridge. Afterward, he went to the bathroom, undressed, and let the hot water from the shower fall on him. Whoosh! The weariness of the day washed over him as he exhaled deeply. Droplets of water slid over his muscles, which were becoming increasingly defined. Earning money, practicing martial arts. These two thoughts grew stronger in his mind, and he knew he still had a long way to go. Finally, after finishing his shower and drying his hair with a towel, he lay down on the bed without saying a word. His breathing relaxed, and as the fatigue hit him like a tidal wave, he didn¡¯t check his phone, letting sleep take over. A few minutes later, the mist flickered, and the long-awaited dream world reappeared. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 9: Sanda Mastery Translator: CinderTL --- A delicate crystal chandelier hung overhead, and a red carpet stretched beneath his feet. Once again entering the dream world, Chen Feng glanced at the leather sofa beside him and other items in the living room. Without hesitation, he quickly walked to the red-painted door. Looking through the peephole, he saw that the corridor outside was lit, and beyond the wooden floor corridor, there was a small yard enclosed by an iron fence. In the middle, there was a small gray stone-brick path, about seven to eight meters long and two to three meters wide, leading up to the iron gate. On either side were cobblestone-paved grounds and some flower beds planted near the iron fence. It looked ordinary, but Chen Feng¡¯s gaze shifted slightly. He had clearly seen a light red glowing orb hovering above the stone path in the yard. ¡°Limit-breaking light orb!¡± His eyes flashed, and Chen Feng decided to leave the house. He had already searched through the house and couldn''t find any other light orbs. So, if he wanted to continue improving his strength, the opportunity outside was the only chance he had right now. Even if it meant taking a risk, he had to try. ¡°Wait...¡± Suddenly, he looked at the black mist beyond the iron fence. Chen Feng pondered for a moment and decided to take precautions. He withdrew his steps and quickly went to the study room of the house. He opened the drawer and found three items: A pair of white sneakers that fit him well, A silver metal knuckle duster, And a sharp dagger wrapped in cowhide. These were things he had seen when searching for the light orb earlier, but he hadn''t paid them much attention before. But now, since he had decided to leave the house, it was better to be prepared with some self-defense items. ¡°Too bad the flashlight is out of battery. It would be safer with it...¡± Shaking his head inwardly, Chen Feng quickly put on the shoes, slipped the knuckle duster onto his right hand, and tucked the dagger at his waist. With everything ready, he took a deep breath. ¡°Phew!¡± Clearing his mind, he stepped forward and twisted the metal doorknob. Click! The sound of a spring-like mechanism echoed as the red-painted wooden door was slowly pulled open. Everything outside the yard looked almost the same as what Chen Feng had seen through the peephole. The only difference was that there was an independent small building in the yard, likely a garage. However, it was empty, clearly, the vehicle had already been taken by the owner. Without paying much attention, Chen Feng carefully surveyed the surroundings of the front yard. The space was not small, nearly a hundred square meters. The flowers and plants near the iron fence had long withered, and a mist floated outside. He could faintly see an asphalt road and the outlines of high-rise buildings and small houses. ¡°Get the light orb first.¡± He couldn¡¯t care about further investigating the environment; after confirming the yard was safe, he quickly stepped forward and reached for the light red orb. [You have obtained a (Limit-breaking Light Orb)!] [Limit-breaking Light Orb: Residual Will of a Martial Artist¡¯s Will] [Quality: Primary] [Effect: Increases martial arts skill proficiency to some extent] The text prompt automatically appeared, and the orb absorbed into his body through his pores, seemingly stored somewhere unknown. Without hesitation, Chen Feng clenched his fist with the knuckle duster and mentally invoked an enhancement. Buzz! In an instant, his head grew heavy again. A deeper understanding of Sanda appeared out of nowhere, integrating into his memories. In a daze, Chen Feng felt as though he had been practicing Sanda for many years, tirelessly training day and night, sweating relentlessly. His muscles had become stronger, and all his movements and strikes flowed more smoothly. [Sanda: Mastery (1%)] ¡°Sanda mastered!¡± His eyes lit up, and Chen Feng couldn''t help but clench his fist. A more complete feeling washed over him, and he immediately called up his status panel. [Strength: 8.6 ¡ú 8.9] [Agility: 8.5 ¡ú 8.7] [Constitution: 8.3 ¡ú 8.6] [Willpower: 8.9 ¡ú 9.1] ¡°Four-dimensional attributes have increased so much?!¡± Chen Feng''s eyes narrowed in surprise. He hadn¡¯t expected that mastering Sanda would result in such a significant enhancement. Strength increased by 0.3, agility by 0.2, constitution by 0.3, and willpower by 0.2! Altogether, that was a total of 1 point¡ªcomparable to the effect of two attribute orbs! ¡°Indeed, many people start learning Sanda, but few reach mastery.¡± ¡°Among the training class, only Xu Dongtai, Zheng Qiang, and Yu Shan reached it... This proves that proficiency becomes increasingly difficult to improve as you go on.¡± ¡°And naturally, higher-level proficiency brings stronger benefits to the body.¡± Chen Feng pondered and made a guess. For a moment, he wondered if he should learn a few other martial arts styles, like Judo or Wrestling. That way, he would gain more attribute boosts than from just mastering Sanda alone. ¡°But if I do that, I¡¯ll need more Limit-breaking Light Orbs.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s keep looking. For now, I¡¯ll see if there are more orbs...¡± With hopeful eyes, Chen Feng scanned the yard, looking around. After searching thoroughly without success, he finally turned his gaze to the buildings and streets outside the iron fence. The surrounding mist had dispersed slightly, and within a seven to eight-meter range, he could now see a three to five-meter-wide asphalt road, with dim streetlights standing on both sides. The building on the opposite side was barely visible through the mist, appearing to be a six-story apartment building. Similarly, he withdrew his gaze and looked toward the side buildings of the yard. On both sides, there was an apartment building with similar floor levels and style. ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look.¡± After thinking for a moment, Chen Feng, eager for more light orbs, took another step forward and headed toward the central iron gate. He hadn¡¯t noticed before, but now that he was close, he could see the iron gate was rusty, with a thin layer of gray covering the surface. Chains were wrapped around the top, tightly locking the gate, making it impossible to open. ¡°That¡¯s odd...¡± His gaze shifted as Chen Feng noticed that the large iron gate had a small door on the lower left, about two meters high and half a meter wide, just wide enough for a person to pass through. The door was sealed with a bolt-style iron bar, and there was a square copper lock on it. Fortunately, the key was still in the lock, as if it had been forgotten there by someone. Thinking for a moment, Chen Feng reached forward and turned the key. Click! Iron filings fell from the top of the gate, and Chen Feng successfully unlocked it. He tried to pull out the bolt, but it was stuck tightly due to rust. After a bit of force, with a screeching sound, he managed to remove the bolt and open the small door, revealing a passage just big enough for one person. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clink-clink! He stepped forward, gripping the knuckle duster tightly, and walked out. The black mist in the distance still floated slowly, like tangible water flowing. Many buildings were hidden within the mist, and the streetlights within only cast vague outlines, not illuminating anything. The atmosphere was eerily silent, with no movement whatsoever. Watching this scene, for some reason, Chen Feng suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. It was as if some kind of monster was lurking nearby, watching him. ¡°Should I go back?¡± He glanced at the glowing house behind him, almost wanting to retreat. However, the apartment buildings on both sides and the ones across the road seemed to emit an invisible allure. There might be more light orbs there. Limit-breaking! Attributes! With this thought, Chen Feng steeled his resolve. Since he had already mastered Sanda, if danger arose, he might still have the power to defend himself. Huff! Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to push down all distractions. Chen Feng tightened his grip on the knuckle duster, his fists primed, his eyes alert as he cautiously moved toward one of the nearby apartment buildings. Click-clack! Click-clack! The sound of his footsteps echoed as he followed the road''s edge, quickly reaching the entrance of the apartment building. The iron fence blocked both sides, and only a half-open iron door stood in front of him. With the light from the street lamps and the corridor lights of the building, there seemed to be no danger inside. Seeing this, Chen Feng hesitated for a moment and then stepped forward. Thud! Just then, an exceptionally fast sound of footsteps suddenly echoed from behind him! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 10: The Faceless One Translator: CinderTL --- In a quiet environment, the sound of footsteps was sharp and out of place. Chen Feng''s heart tightened, and he quickly turned his head to look. On the asphalt road, a black mist three meters away was swirling like a vortex. Through the clacking footsteps, a figure of a man awkwardly walked out. He wore a tattered blue jacket and pants, his body covered in stains and what seemed to be dried blood. The exposed skin on his neck was rotten, as if covered in pustules. His entire face had no features, only a pale outline. "What is this thing?!" With an astonished look, Chen Feng felt like his vision was greatly impacted. The next moment. Thud! Thud! Thud! The faceless figure suddenly quickened its pace, its body slightly hunched, charging towards him like a beast. A foul odor filled the air, and a strong chill rose from his heart. Goosebumps formed on his skin, and Chen Feng quickly stepped aside. Boom! The faceless figure missed, crashing into the apartment''s iron railing. Iron filings scattered, and the ground trembled slightly. However, as if nothing had happened, the figure struggled to rise and charged at Chen Feng again. "Monster!" Muttering a curse, Chen Feng roughly assessed the figure''s strength and speed. It was stronger than an average person, but not overwhelmingly so. In other words, he might be able to handle it. So... Run! Without hesitation, Chen Feng dashed away. The figure¡¯s sudden appearance was too strange. He couldn¡¯t be sure if it had other abilities, so he needed to test and observe. Thud! Thud! Thud! Soon, their footsteps echoed on the street, and Chen Feng quickly reached the iron gate at the front of the house. Swish! As if sensing his intent to enter, the faceless figure suddenly leaped forward, directly aiming for the entrance of the gate. "Damn!" He hadn¡¯t expected the figure to leap so far, blocking his way into the gate. Chen Feng''s face darkened, and he could only step back. Boom! The faceless figure missed again, its head rotating 360 degrees with a clicking sound. Its featureless pale face appeared again, and this strange scene made Chen Feng shiver. Crack! The next second, the faceless figure¡¯s body twisted violently, forcibly correcting its head. Then, it pushed off the ground and charged forward again. Swish! At the critical moment, Chen Feng stepped left and dodged, gripping his knuckle-duster tightly, feeling sweat forming in his palm. He had a strong intuition. He shouldn¡¯t die in a dream, or something terrible might happen. Boom! The faceless figure missed, stabilizing itself before charging again. Seeing this, Chen Feng gritted his teeth. The skills he had mastered in Sanda surged in his mind, and the dagger at his waist was his backup. Since there was no way to avoid it, he would fight! Swish! In an instant, the faceless figure closed the distance, and Chen Feng clearly saw it raise its arm to strangle his neck. Instinctively, the Sanda techniques appeared in his mind. He took a left sidestep, lowering his body slightly, and just narrowly avoided the hand reaching for him. The pungent stench filled the air, and he could even see the dirt under its nails and the remnants of blood and flesh. Swish! The next moment. Chen Feng suppressed his disgust, his thoughts narrowing to just one goal. Punch! All his strength gathered as he twisted his waist and clenched the knuckle-duster. With a drop of his shoulder, his right arm swung forward like a cannonball. Boom! The knuckle-duster hit the faceless figure¡¯s featureless head without resistance. Crack! There was the sound of bones cracking, and the faceless figure¡¯s head tilted violently, forced back two steps by the powerful impact. Seeing this, Chen Feng¡¯s eyes lit up. It worked! His confidence surged as he quickly stepped forward and threw another punch with his left hand. Boom! A muffled sound echoed as it hit the faceless figure¡¯s head squarely. Blood seemed to spurt out, but unfortunately, this world was too dim to see clearly. Then, in his line of sight. He saw the faceless figure wobble, like a drunk man, stumbling back. Chen Feng didn¡¯t dare relax or hold back. The finishing move from his Sanda training was engraved in his mind. "Die!" His eyes sharp, Chen Feng stepped forward again, his five fingers gripping the knuckle-duster. The faceless figure before him seemed like a punching bag, the world quiet, with only his piercing punch that was like a spear. Boom!!! A muffled explosion rang out, and the faceless figure flew backward, collapsing to the ground. Chen Feng¡¯s gaze remained alert as he stepped forward, ready to land another blow. However, the next second. The bloodied flesh on the faceless figure¡¯s neck suddenly squirmed, and a black beam, the thickness of a finger, shot out, flying toward him at high speed. Buzz! Goosebumps rose on Chen Feng¡¯s skin, and he felt an intense chill. He protected his face with his fists, sinking his weight and suddenly twisting his body. Swish! The black beam pierced the air and narrowly missed him. Upon closer inspection, the black beam seemed to consist of a swarm of tiny black insects, resembling ants, which crashed into the iron railing and brick pillar behind him. A sizzling, decaying sound echoed, and the red bricks visibly sank, forming pits. A nauseating gray smoke rose from the holes. When Chen Feng focused again, the swarm of black ants had disappeared, leaving behind a pool of decaying black liquid. "What the hell is that thing..." His heart racing with confusion, Chen Feng warily turned to look at the faceless figure, now lying on the ground. Contrary to his expectations, the faceless figure didn¡¯t rise or struggle. Instead, its body rapidly decayed, turning to ashes within moments, leaving only a gray light orb where it had fallen. This scene was astonishing, and Chen Feng stared at the gray orb, uncertain. What is this? Could it be another collectible light orb? The sudden appearance of the black insects and the disappearance of the faceless figure''s body was too bizarre. Chen Feng''s gaze flickered, concerned that if he approached, he might end up becoming a faceless monster too. Buzz! Just as he was hesitating and pondering, the light orb suddenly moved on its own. Chen Feng was startled but realized he couldn''t evade it. He could only watch as the gray orb merged into his body. [You have acquired the Talent Orb: Perception!] [The residual innate instinct of the faceless monster "The Faceless One"!] [Talent fusion successful!] [Perception +1!] [Your perception ability has increased! You can sense mental and spiritual remnants within a certain range and detect malice directed at you...] Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Talent growth condition: Kill more Faceless Ones and acquire new perception-based talent orbs!] The text prompt appeared rapidly, and Chen Feng¡¯s worries dissipated instantly. "So it¡¯s a Talent Orb?" "So that monster was called the Faceless One?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly feeling a new instinct emerge within him. The street''s stone brick patterns were clearer now, and he could easily spot the remnants of insect corpses and the pool of black liquid in the decayed brick pillar pit. "So this is what enhanced perception feels like?" Chen Feng squinted, instinctively turning to look at the apartment across the street, shrouded in black mist. He had a strong feeling that there were other light orbs there, which meant more spiritual and mental remnants. This was a sensation he hadn''t experienced before and was clearly a result of the talent fusion. As he was about to experiment further with this newfound ability, the world in front of him suddenly blurred, everything twisting and spinning. Finally, the familiar ceiling appeared in his vision, and he was back in reality. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 11: Coach Lu’s Surprise Translator: CinderTL --- ¡°Time to wake up, huh?¡± On the bed, Chen Feng casually picked up his phone from under the pillow. The time was exactly 7:05 AM. He got up, drew the curtains, and sunlight pierced through, blinding him. Outside, buildings stretched along the streets, old neighborhoods intertwined with towering modern buildings. A light summer breeze blew by, rustling the trees lining the asphalt road. A janitor was sweeping the street while several elderly men and women practiced Tai Chi in the square. For a moment, he stood still, taking in the peaceful scene, before contrasting it with the strange darkness from his dream. Chen Feng stood there silently for a few minutes before slowly returning to reality. ¡°Perhaps... that was a real world,¡± he thought. ¡°Maybe something happened...¡± The thought of the faceless creature and its black worms flashed through his mind. It was extremely strange, and it almost ambushed him. If the black worms hadn''t decayed quickly after leaving the human body and couldn''t survive on their own, he would have been in great danger. ¡°But this dream journey did bring some gains,¡± Chen Feng muttered. He clenched his fist, walked out the door, and went into the bathroom next to the living room. Looking into the mirror, his reflection seemed normal. However, compared to his skinny self when he first came here... The definition of his biceps, deltoids, and trapezius muscles was increasingly noticeable, with a clear increase in size by at least 20%. If he were walking on the street, anyone would think he must spend a lot of time at the gym. ¡°The strengthening from mastering Sanda is really impressive. I guess my punching power is over 80kg now?¡± He even wondered if he had reached the level of an amateur third-dan. As the thought crossed his mind, he clenched his fist, comparing it with the punch test from yesterday. He could feel the change in his strength. This wasn¡¯t just about body control and adaptation. It was also a result of his perceptual talent. Although the panel''s text description was simple, as a beneficiary of this talent, he could feel the more subtle effects. ¡°Not bad!¡± he nodded in satisfaction, clearing his mind. After some preparation, he had breakfast and ate an energy bar from a brand called "Superman." Time passed, and by 1 PM, he had arrived at the martial arts school ahead of time. --- Bang! In the practice room, perhaps due to the news of the core trainee assessment, most of the Sanda class students had their own thoughts. They came early. Some were practicing punches alone in the corner, others were using kettlebells to squat and train muscles. The sound of sandbags being struck echoed throughout the room. Many people were wearing boxing gloves, either hitting the sandbags or sparring with each other. Chen Feng, dressed and walking into the practice room, initially doubted he had walked into the wrong place. ¡°Morning, Chen Feng.¡± Lin Hao appeared a bit later, wearing a black tank top and looking casual. ¡°Wow, there are quite a few people here, and they came early.¡± Lin Hao chuckled strangely, ¡°But it¡¯s a pity these guys probably have no idea what the assessment is about.¡± ¡°They think just because they¡¯ve been performing a bit better these days, they can pass the assessment...¡± Saying this casually, Chen Feng turned his head and asked curiously, ¡°Do you know what the assessment is?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Lin Hao grinned and didn¡¯t hide it: ¡°You should know that although the Flame Tiger School in our Nanjiang City is quite powerful. This is ultimately just a branch.¡± ¡°They are planning to expand the number of core trainees, but they won¡¯t accept just anyone.¡± sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Character and talent are both essential, and there¡¯s only one spot for training. What do you think will happen?¡± From his casual tone, Chen Feng understood what Lin Hao meant. To put it bluntly, the martial arts school¡¯s most important criterion is the ability to fight. Without a doubt, only those with martial potential can qualify as core trainees. And the way to assess this potential is simple. In a group of people like this in the Sanda class, just having a sparring match would quickly make it clear. Thinking of this, Chen Feng didn¡¯t say anything more. He walked to the corner, quickly assumed his stance, and began practicing his punches. The improvements in his physical fitness from last night were significant, and he needed to adapt more. Boom! With a sudden strike, his punch swiftly moved into rhythm. Lin Hao raised an eyebrow. Although he was far from an expert, he could still sense that Chen Feng''s Sanda skills had improved significantly in the past few days. ¡°He can¡¯t have mastered it already, can he?¡± Shaking his head, he thought it was unlikely. After all, they were classmates, and he knew the other¡¯s talents well. At this point, Lin Hao didn¡¯t probe further. He grabbed a kettlebell and started training his balance and lower body muscles. Soon, the official Sanda class began. Coach Lu walked into the room on time, glancing first at Xu Dongtai in the center. Boom! A punch struck, and the sandbag trembled. The force was clearly close to 100kg. If it weren¡¯t for other areas being weaker, Xu Dongtai might have qualified for an amateur fifth-dan martial arts certification. ¡°Not bad, quick progress. He¡¯s probably nearing amateur fifth-dan...¡± ¡°Looks like Xu Dongtai has a high chance of passing the assessment.¡± Coach Lu silently nodded. Among the three Sanda classes he oversaw, Xu Dongtai was the one he had the most faith in. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Xu Dongtai¡¯s personality was a bit impulsive and high-profile, often causing trouble, he might have even recommended him directly to senior martial artists at the school, skipping the assessment. ¡°A test wouldn¡¯t hurt; it¡¯s a good way to temper his character,¡± Coach Lu thought. But then, in his peripheral vision, something caught his attention. He quickly turned his head to the corner, where a figure in black was practicing punches alone. Slightly slanted eyebrows, a buzz-cut, and a sharp jawline. At first, when Chen Feng signed up, he seemed quite thin, but recently, he seemed to have gained some weight and bulk, probably from better nutrition and consistent training. Even more... ¡®Mastered Sanda?!!¡¯ Coach Lu¡¯s eyes narrowed as he watched Chen Feng throw a slicing punch, step forward, rotate, and deliver a whip kick. The movements were fluid, and his center of gravity was stable. As an experienced coach, Coach Lu knew immediately that this was a sign of mastery in Sanda. ¡°That can¡¯t be, this kid only started learning two days ago, right?¡± He doubted his eyes. But when he took a second look, the way the wind whistled around Chen Feng¡¯s punches was undeniable proof. ¡°This kid really has mastered Sanda!¡± ¡°Two days, from beginner to expert!¡± Coach Lu¡¯s mind was shaken. He knew exactly what this meant. In martial arts, there is a saying about enlightenment and sudden realization. This had been common knowledge since ancient times. He had seen similar cases before. For instance, a junior martial artist at the school who was initially mediocre but had a sudden epiphany and soared to greatness. ¡°Let¡¯s not jump to conclusions!¡± ¡°People like him, like the junior master, are rare. Perhaps this kid is just lucky, a fluke.¡± Taking a deep breath, Coach Lu tried to calm himself. He focused on Chen Feng¡¯s movements, forcing himself not to expect too much. The higher the expectation, the greater the disappointment. He didn¡¯t want his emotions to fluctuate. ¡°Whether it¡¯s true or not, we¡¯ll know in time.¡± ¡°But, maybe I should give him a few pointers, just to test him out...¡± (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF:ADIP) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 12: Suggestions Translator: CinderTL --- ¡°Punches need to be accurate, hooks need to be strong!¡± ¡°Chops need to be firm, whips need to be quick...¡± ¡°To summarize, the key to sanda lies in these techniques. I¡¯ve finished, now you should think over them again after class.¡± With the sanda class over, Coach Lu demonstrated the boxing movements twice before slowly walking away. The students had different expressions. Some seemed enlightened, furrowing their brows as they repeated the moves. Others, seeing the end of class, quickly dropped the boxing equipment and walked toward the changing room. ¡°I¡¯m heading out first.¡± Lin Hao said, waving his hand, and left the training room. Chen Feng lightly nodded and then felt the light around him dim slightly. Turning his head, he saw Xu Dongtai, who was also leaving the class, passing by him. Standing at 1.85 meters, Xu''s muscled body was like a block of stone. With a crew cut, his eyes scanned everyone coldly beneath his silver earrings. ¡°Walk faster, don¡¯t block the way.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you see that Brother Dong is leaving too?¡± Xu''s lackey, Zhou Xin, shouted loudly as usual. Several students frowned but chose to step aside. ¡°Hm?¡± Suddenly, as if sensing something, Xu Dongtai halted his step. He squinted and turned his head, looking down at Chen Feng. The two locked eyes, and Xu Dongtai felt a slight sense of danger. ¡°Brother Xu?¡± Zhou Xin looked at him in confusion as he stopped walking. No one answered, and the atmosphere fell silent for two seconds. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Eventually, shaking his head, Xu Dongtai withdrew his gaze, thinking it was just his fatigue playing tricks. After all, Chen Feng was just an average student, one who wasn¡¯t particularly outstanding. Even Zheng Qiang and Yu Shan weren¡¯t his opponents, so how could anyone else in the class make him feel threatened? Even if it was a slight feeling of danger, that was impossible! Click, click! He then turned and walked away, his figure growing distant. Zhou Xin didn¡¯t understand but still shot Chen Feng a glare before hurrying to catch up. ¡°Punching force close to 100kg...¡± Standing alone, Chen Feng didn¡¯t pay attention to Zhou Xin¡¯s slight provocation earlier. His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Xu Dongtai¡¯s massive figure retreat. During class today, Zhou Xin had intentionally boasted about Xu Dongtai¡¯s latest punch power¡ª99kg! This was close to the level of an amateur fifth dan. In a small combat gym, Xu Dongtai could even be qualified to be a coach. He could also participate in small team-based competitions and could become a key player with hopes of winning the championship. Indeed, Xu Dongtai had every reason to be proud. ¡°There¡¯s still time¡­¡± Clenching his fist, Chen Feng¡¯s eyes flickered but soon returned to calm. There were still six days before the assessment. With the help of the dream world, as long as he could continue to find light orbs, he was confident in surpassing him. As he noticed the other students leaving the practice room, he decided to leave as well. ¡°Chen Feng!¡± Suddenly, Coach Lu¡¯s voice called out. Surprised, Chen Feng looked up and saw him standing at the glass door. Looking at him, Coach Lu was of average build, neither too fat nor too thin, about 1.78 meters tall. He wore a loose black T-shirt, his face square with thick eyebrows and a wide forehead. His hands were clasped behind him, and his gaze was calm. ¡°Coach Lu?¡± Chen Feng asked, puzzled. ¡°You¡¯ve mastered sanda, right?¡± Coach Lu¡¯s sharp gaze fixed on him as he went straight to the point. Although slightly startled, Chen Feng quickly regained his composure. Other students couldn¡¯t tell, but Coach Lu had taught sanda here for over ten years and could easily assess his progress. ¡°Yes.¡± Chen Feng nodded lightly, not intending to hide anything. He had previously looked up similar situations online, and the concept of a sudden enlightenment did exist in martial arts circles. It was often given more attention. If it weren¡¯t for that, he wouldn¡¯t have dared to continue practicing in the gym. ¡°Great!¡± Coach Lu smiled and immediately said, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you want to become a core student at our Flame Tiger Martial Arts School, right?¡± ¡°Mm!¡± Chen Feng nodded. Most students in the training class would want that. After all, this was the only chance for ordinary people to get involved with martial arts, and the only way to enter another circle. ¡°Then I¡¯ll speak frankly,¡± Coach Lu continued, ¡°Right now, you¡¯re not a match for Xu Dongtai.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He looked Chen Feng up and down as if assessing him. Seeing that Chen Feng didn¡¯t speak, Coach Lu assumed he was unconvinced. ¡°I¡¯m not angry,¡± he said patiently, ¡°but you should understand that just because you¡¯re skilled in sanda, doesn¡¯t mean you can compete with him.¡± ¡°Look at Zheng Qiang and Yu Shan. They also excel at sanda, but what happened?¡± ¡°There are many factors that affect the outcome of a fight¡ªfighting skills, physical condition, willpower... none of these can be lacking. Got it?¡± He paused, and seeing Chen Feng remain silent, Coach Lu nodded with satisfaction before continuing: ¡°Xu Dongtai has better physical talent than you, his family background is solid, and he gets proper nutrition. He also has other coaches guiding him privately.¡± ¡°If you really want to challenge him for the core student position, I have one suggestion...¡± Chen Feng looked at him, puzzled. ¡°Use your spare time to practice another combat technique, aim for the basics.¡± ¡°Judo, wrestling, things that focus on strength and lower body muscle training would help compensate for your weaknesses. It would add another skill to your arsenal.¡± ¡°Then, you might have a chance to win unexpectedly.¡± Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, surprised that Coach Lu would say so much to him. Could it be because he mastered sanda? ¡°Alright, think it over carefully.¡± ¡°There are still six days left. The final result depends on you.¡± After saying this, Coach Lu turned and left. Chen Feng quickly said, ¡°Thank you, Coach,¡± then went to the changing room, took a shower, changed, and left the school. ... ¡°Seems like even Coach Lu acknowledges Xu Dongtai¡¯s strength.¡± On the bus, standing in the crowded group, Chen Feng silently gripped the handle, his gaze shifting. He had taken Coach Lu¡¯s advice to heart. It was something he had already planned to try. Improving after mastering sanda would definitely become harder, so using his time to practice another combat skill was indeed a good choice. If he could get the basics down, not only would he have another combat method, but it would also enhance his physical attributes. Coach Lu¡¯s suggestion wasn¡¯t wrong. ¡°But with six days left, he seems confident in me.¡± Shaking his head, Chen Feng realized that his rapid progress must have revealed his potential, catching attention. Otherwise, Coach Lu wouldn¡¯t have privately given him advice. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s a test.¡± ¡°He probably wants to see if I¡¯ve been hiding my strength or if I really had a sudden breakthrough.¡± He suppressed his thoughts and continued to ponder. Looking up, he saw the bus was about to stop. The sign for Yongle Fu Supermarket appeared not far away. Not thinking much further, he exited from the back door as soon as the bus stopped. Click, click! His steps were steady as he arrived at the supermarket entrance at 3:55 PM, even a little early. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF:ADIP) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 13: Family, Malice Translator: CinderTL --- Aunt He, with a carefree attitude, praised the young man for being punctual before leaving in her black car. Chen Feng put on a red employee vest and returned to his position behind the cash register. Due to the two-shift system, today, Aunt Zhang was on the evening shift and worked with him. As for Li Hongxia, to Chen Feng''s surprise, she donned a yellow delivery uniform, mounted a scooter with a warming box, and hurriedly left, helmet on. "Is Sister Xia going...?" Chen Feng instinctively asked. "Ah, she''s delivering food," Aunt Zhang explained, shaking her head. "Hongxia¡¯s husband passed away two years ago, and her daughter is still in her second year of high school, recently taking extra lessons." "She''s really working hard for her kid..." Chen Feng understood, his tone carrying a hint of sympathy. "By the way, Xiao Feng, which university did you attend?" At that moment, the supermarket was relatively quiet, and Aunt Zhang, while tidying the shelves, struck up a conversation. "Nanjiang Business College," Chen Feng replied honestly, tidying up the items on the cash register. It was an average undergraduate university that the original body had barely managed to get into, but unfortunately, the original major was hotel management, which turned out to be of no use. "Oh? That¡¯s where you went." "My son teaches at the nearby Nanjiang Finance University. Seems like we have quite a connection..." Aunt Zhang liked to chat, or at least, that was Chen Feng¡¯s impression. He nodded slightly, responding intermittently. As time passed, it became 6 PM. During the evening, there were many customers, and his phone buzzed several times. After a small rush of customers, he finally had some free time and unlocked his phone to check the messages. There were three in total. [Forever Class 9 - Class Leader (Wang Hanwen): @All members, everyone must be graduated by now, right? How about we get together sometime?] Chen Feng glanced at the first message and quickly muted the group chat. This was the high school class group of the original body. Perhaps there were some friends he got along well with back then, but after four years of college, most of them had lost contact. Moreover, since he wasn¡¯t the original body, he didn¡¯t want to interact with these people any more than necessary. [Red Country Communications: Your phone balance is insufficient to cover next month''s payment. To avoid service disruption, please top up promptly...] Chen Feng glanced at the second message. Red Country Communications was one of only two telecom companies in the country. He planned to top up 50 yuan later. [Chen Yun: Xiao Feng, the sanda class at the martial arts school should be ending soon. Do you want to continue?] [If you want to continue, I can transfer the money to you. Smiling.jpg.] The last message was from Chen Yun. Chen Feng''s eyes flickered, and he quickly tapped out a response. "No need." He had a job now, and if he wanted to continue the classes, he could pay for it himself. Besides, if he became a core student, he could attend the martial arts classes for free. [Chen Yun: Alright.] [By the way, today I spoke to the mentor and asked him to help you with a job introduction. He said it''s no problem.] [Are you free this weekend? I think we should go out to eat and thank him. What do you think?] Chen Feng raised his eyebrows at the message. He hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yun to be so proactive. He had to admit that she had been really good to the original owner. Chen Feng remembered that when he first crossed over and was ill with a fever, Chen Yun had taken several days off to take care of him, never leaving his side. But... He glanced at the supermarket and thought about his martial arts training. Chen Feng considered it for a moment and concluded that, at least for now, his job wasn¡¯t that urgent. In the future, once his sanda skills improved, he could get a martial arts certification, apply to be a coach at the gym, or even participate in competitions. That would be enough to support himself. With that thought in mind, he carefully considered and replied, "I¡¯ve found a job now. No need to trouble Teacher Li." He remembered that Chen Yun¡¯s mentor¡¯s last name was Li, and he had met him a couple of times. He was a polite middle-aged man. Beep beep! Soon, his phone vibrated, and it was a call from Chen Yun. After two seconds of silence, since there weren¡¯t many customers, Chen Feng decided to answer the phone. "Xiao Feng, when did you find a job? Can you tell me what it is?" The voice on the other end was gentle, exactly like he remembered Chen Yun being. Chen Feng thought for a moment and didn¡¯t hide anything. He explained his job at the supermarket. He also made sure to mention that he had shown talent in martial arts and that the coach had noticed him. He wanted to focus on this path and didn¡¯t want to be distracted by other jobs. "Talent in martial arts? I knew you could do it." There was no doubt in her voice, nor did she reproach him for not telling her sooner. Chen Yun was smiling happily on the other end of the phone, and she encouraged him, saying: "If you want to continue with martial arts, then train well. I¡¯ll support you, but please don¡¯t get injured, okay?" "Okay." Chen Feng nodded, holding the phone between his ear and shoulder while scanning a customer''s purchase of bottled water. "Since that coach appreciates you so much, you should thank him properly." "I''ll transfer 1,000 yuan to you later. Buy him a gift, and keep the rest for yourself. Get some good nutrition." Chen Yun¡¯s words were warm, and despite being in a different person now, Chen Feng still felt very touched and close. "No need to transfer it. I¡¯m working now, and I have money for the moment." "But what about Teacher Li? Do you think he¡¯ll be upset?" Chen Feng thought of Chen Yun''s mentor. After all, she had asked him for help, and he might have already started making connections. Now that he was turning down the offer, he was worried it might cause a rift between them, making things difficult for Chen Yun. "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle it." Chen Yun laughed softly and then continued talking about her work at school. She was currently working on a special metals project with her mentor. If it succeeded, she would likely have a good chance of staying at the research institute and even getting a promotion. Most of the time, she did the talking, and Chen Feng just listened quietly. Outside the supermarket, people came and went, the evening sky growing darker, and neon lights filled the streets. Finally, someone called out to Chen Yun, and she reminded him of a couple of things before hanging up the phone. Buzz buzz! [Chen Yun has transferred 1,000 yuan to you!] [Chen Yun: Please accept it. Don¡¯t forget to buy a gift for your coach! Smile.jpg.] "Really." With a helpless smile, Chen Feng knew that if he didn¡¯t accept it, she wouldn¡¯t give up. After silently accepting the transfer, he put down his phone and gazed at the bustling street outside, slowly exhaling. Having such a family member... doesn¡¯t seem so bad. The thought flashed through his mind, and Chen Feng smiled, realizing he had already adapted to this world. Tap, tap! Then, footsteps sounded, and more customers entered the store. Chen Feng snapped out of his thoughts and looked up. Two men, wearing duck-billed caps and masks, entered, dressed in black coats despite the summer heat, their faces obscured. Their eyes met, and Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. He clearly sensed a strong malice emanating from them. TL/N: Sus... (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF:ADIP) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 14: Subdued Easily Translator: CinderTL --- At the entrance of the supermarket, four eyes locked in a stare. It seemed that they had noticed him too. Their eyes flashed with brief surprise. Then, something unexpected happened. Clang! The rolling shutter door of the supermarket was suddenly pulled down by one of the men, forcefully blocking the inside view from the outside. The loud noise startled Aunt Zhang, who was arranging products on the shelves. She quickly walked over, still holding two cans of yellow peach. "Xiaofeng, why did you suddenly close..." Before she could finish her sentence, Aunt Zhang''s face turned pale, freezing in place. Looking around, she saw why. The two men, both wearing masks and caps, after closing the shutter, suddenly pulled out spring-loaded knives from their waistbands. One stood by the shutter door, pointing at Chen Feng, while the other walked toward Aunt Zhang. "Hurry up, get the money, move quickly!" TL/N: Dude seriously, they¡¯re robbing a fucking convenience store... The men¡¯s vicious voices were familiar to Chen Feng, as if he had heard them somewhere. Thud! The yellow peach cans dropped to the floor, their metal lids dented. The supermarket was being robbed! Aunt Zhang, who was in the shelves area, trembled in fear, her face pale. Seeing the man pointing a knife at her and stepping closer, she froze in fear, her legs shaking uncontrollably. She lost her balance and fell to the ground. "Don''t call the cops if you want to live." "Be obedient, put the money in." The man wearing a cap at the cash register continued to threaten and urged Chen Feng, placing a red plastic bag in front of him. At this moment, there were no other customers in the supermarket. After the shutter door was closed, the outside world was unaware of the situation inside. With a blank expression, Chen Feng was slightly irritated. The blade pointed at him, and he reluctantly opened the cash drawer at the register. Inside, there was quite a bit of loose cash, mostly in five and ten yuan bills, with fifty and one-hundred yuan bills scattered among them. All totaled, there was around two or three thousand yuan. "Hurry up!" "Stop trying to play tricks on me!" The man at the register became impatient, his voice growing more aggressive. While speaking, he even swatted Chen Feng''s head as a warning. This caused Chen Feng to pause, and he looked up at the man. "What the fuck are you looking at!?" "Money! I told you to get the money!" "And the cigarettes behind you, Tianhua, Lianhua, Chongjiu, grab as many as you can, quickly!" The man waved his spring knife at Chen Feng, and Chen Feng glanced at the shelf area. Aunt Zhang, terrified, shook her head slightly, her eyes pleading with him, signaling him not to act rashly. The other man, seeing that she was powerless to resist, grabbed a few large bags of betel nuts. "Damn it, you''re just standing there, huh?" "Do you believe I''ll stab you right now?" Seeing Chen Feng hesitate to grab the money, the man at the register shouted angrily. The spring knife wavered in his hand, as though he was about to punish Chen Feng. Suddenly, a loud crack sounded! Before the man at the register could finish speaking, his wrist suddenly hurt, and when he looked down, he saw Chen Feng had already seized his wrist holding the spring knife. Four eyes locked, cold light flashing. "Are you spoiled or what?" "Is this how you were raised?" Bam! With a fierce yank, Chen Feng unleashed his full 8.9 strength attribute, instantly slamming the man''s hand down onto the cash register. The spring knife flew from his hand, and the man¡¯s face turned pale with shock. Before he could fight back, a large hand reached out, grabbing his head. Then, with a powerful bang, his head was slammed into the metallic countertop. Thud!! The dull sound echoed, and the cash register''s metal surface slightly dented. The man¡¯s cap flew off as his body slumped, and the supermarket fell into eerie silence. "Damn it!" The other man cursed, his eyes filled with hesitation, but in the end, he dropped the betel nuts and charged forward with his spring knife. "Let go of him!" He barked, trying to sound menacing. Chen Feng remained calm, ignoring the man who was knocked unconscious, he steadied himself on the counter and leaped toward the front. The spring knife stabbed toward him, but Chen Feng instinctively sidestepped, his knowledge of martial arts taking over. Whoosh! The blade missed, and Chen Feng¡¯s gaze grew colder. Without hesitation, he threw a powerful punch. Boom!! The punch landed on the man¡¯s chin, a tooth flying out, mixed with blood. The man staggered back, toppling a shelf and collapsing onto the floor, unconscious. The sound of falling goods echoed, and Aunt Zhang, sitting on the floor, stared in shock. With wide eyes, she saw the strong figure cast a shadow under the lights, as the yellow peach cans were picked up once more. The familiar yet unfamiliar young man reached out, calmly speaking: "Call the cops... Aunt Zhang." --- More than half an hour later. Personnel from the Safety Bureau and the supermarket manager, Liu Fang, arrived. The rolling shutter door was opened, and the two criminals sat with their heads lowered, hands and feet bound by white ties. Aunt Zhang, still pale, hadn¡¯t recovered, but silently started to pick up the fallen goods. The strong young man stood expressionless, but everyone around, after watching the surveillance footage, couldn''t help but look at him with more respect. "Impressive." "This guy must practice some kind of martial arts, right?" A worker from the Safety Bureau remarked, with some admiration for Chen Feng, who nodded slightly in response. Liu Fang, standing nearby, looked a bit agitated, but after confirming that neither Chen Feng nor Aunt Zhang were hurt, she breathed a sigh of relief. "These two are repeat offenders with a long criminal record." "One is called Huang Hu, and the other is Zhou Xiaoshan." One of the Safety Bureau members, named Xiang Jianjun, was a man in his forties. He quickly accessed the criminals'' identities and criminal history using his smart wristband. Chen Feng wasn¡¯t surprised; once the masks were removed, he recognized the two men immediately. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They were the same thugs he had encountered in the alley, only without their leader Zhao Jin this time. "Director, how will they be dealt with?" Liu Fang asked. "They¡¯ll go to jail." "Robbery and intentional harm are serious crimes in our country. Even though they didn¡¯t succeed, they¡¯ll still get at least three to five years." Xiang Zhiwei explained, and both Liu Fang and Aunt Zhang relaxed a little. Chen Feng, however, looked out the supermarket window. It was nearly midnight, with few pedestrians and vehicles outside. But he couldn''t help but think about the two thugs. They were always following their leader Zhao Jin. He wondered if today¡¯s incident had anything to do with him. Thinking this, he spoke up to Xiang Jianjun, so as not to miss any clues. "Alright, I¡¯ll interrogate them further and let you know if I find anything." "That¡¯s it, the report is done. I¡¯ll take them away. If you need anything, just contact me." Xiang Jianjun nodded and didn¡¯t stay long. After giving a couple of instructions, he and another officer left with the criminals. "Xiao Feng, you did great today! I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong about you!" "You''re really amazing!" After seeing the Safety Bureau leave, Liu Fang quickly returned to praise Chen Feng. "I¡¯ve already talked to the boss. Here¡¯s two thousand yuan in cash as a reward." "And I¡¯ll upgrade your employee card, so from now on, you¡¯ll get a 30% discount on all purchases." "What do you think?" "Thank you, Sister Liu." Chen Feng nodded lightly, grateful for the reward. Soon, he received a notification for the bank transfer. It was time for him to leave work. "Let¡¯s go, go home and rest properly." "You¡¯re our hero today." Liu Fang said with a smile, looking at Chen Feng with admiration. Without saying much, Chen Feng nodded slightly. A moment later, pushing aside his distractions, he left and headed home. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF:ADIP) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 15: Allocating Points Translator: CinderTL --- Night. The neon lights of the bustling city illuminated the surroundings, with the shadows of old buildings rising and falling. Chen Feng stood in the bathroom, letting the warm water pour down on him. Under the dim yellow light, the sound of water droplets falling echoed, the lines of his muscle surface becoming increasingly defined. "Is this the feeling of becoming stronger...?" Chen Feng tilted his head and wiped his hair, the scene from earlier in the supermarket flashing in his mind. If he were just an ordinary person, the outcome today would have been obvious. But in reality, there are no "ifs." He was no longer the weak person he once was. The meaning of practicing martial arts had become more tangible, and it provided him with more motivation and insight. "However, I must not let my guard down." "That Zhao Jin might be involved in this. He could possibly retaliate in private..." The thought crossed his mind, and Chen Feng picked up a towel to dry his body and hair. He felt no regret or fear. What was done, was done. Even if it happened again, he would act the same way. That was the cashier''s duty (TL/N: It¡¯s not), as well as his own principle. Moreover... His knuckles cracked as he clenched his fist, his eyes growing more intense. Let him come for revenge, he would take them all down. With that thought, he stopped letting his mind wander. His stomach growled twice. After working the whole night and even getting into a fight, he still felt somewhat hungry despite having dinner earlier. When hungry, he couldn¡¯t sleep¡ªthis was a long-standing habit of his. Rip! He quickly took a bag of bread and an energy bar from the fridge, tore off the packaging, and ate them one after the other. The feeling of fullness surged up. Only then did he brush his teeth and lie down heavily on the bed. Fatigue hit him, and downstairs, there seemed to be the sounds of a drunk man cursing. Chen Feng¡¯s consciousness sank quickly, and soon everything spun as he fell into the dream world once again. --- Buzz! Mist floated down the street, with plants on both sides withered. A single-story villa, dimly lit, with rotting brick pillars and pits, still showed traces of black marks. "This time, I¡¯m not in the house?" Chen Feng stood outside the iron gate, looking at the cobblestone yard and the stone-brick road leading to the villa''s door, feeling a bit surprised. He had expected to find himself in the small room like before, entering this place from the bed. But now, he appeared directly outside the dream¡¯s exit point. "It¡¯s like a checkpoint from games..." "Once you leave a certain range, you create a new save point?" Chen Feng tried to understand it using a gaming mindset and roughly grasped the concept. He then looked at his hands and feet. The knuckle-dusters were still tightly gripped, and his white sneakers, fitting his feet, were firmly planted on the ground. He checked his waist, and the leather-wrapped dagger was still where it had been. Everything was exactly the same as when he left. Thinking deeply, Chen Feng didn¡¯t bother diving deeper into the logic of it all. Dream time was precious, and he had not forgotten his goal for entering. "New light orb..." He squinted his eyes and looked across the street. There was a six-story apartment building, and now, as the mist dissipated, he could vaguely see the red bricks on its surface. Several windows in the rooms were still lit, and the open balcony faced the road. The bottom floor had a small yard, and the iron gate had white-painted walls on either side, about two meters tall. "It¡¯s here." Chen Feng¡¯s eyes flickered as he looked at the third floor of the apartment. His perception talent, besides detecting hostility, allowed him to more clearly perceive his own changes. It also enabled him to feel the spiritual and mental residues within a certain range. Whether it was when he left the dream last time or now, he had an instinctive feeling that there must be a light orb inside the apartment. Especially now, with most of the mist gone, his instinct made it clear that the third floor was the target area. "Let¡¯s give it a try." "Even if there are faceless monsters like last time, I¡¯m not incapable of dealing with them." After thinking for a moment, Chen Feng decided not to waste time. He tightened his grip on the knuckle-duster and started moving. The apartment¡¯s ground-floor yard gate was half open, and Chen Feng, dressed in black t-shirt and shorts, walked towards the dim hallway. Tap, tap! In the dim light, his footsteps echoed softly. The motion-sensor lights on the stairs turned on one after another, illuminating his figure¡ªthe man with the knuckle-duster in hand, dressed in black. "Third floor..." Chen Feng¡¯s goal was clear, his eyes alert as he made his way to the third-floor sensing area. Soon, he reached the corner of the stairs. This was the hallway to the third floor. There was a cement guardrail over a meter high on the side, with colorful tiles covering the top. Six rooms were arranged in a row, and at the far end, there was what seemed to be a public restroom, a faint unpleasant odor leaking out. Tap! As Chen Feng stepped forward, the hallway lights flickered on. He reached the first room, which had a dark brown security door. The door was half open, and no lights were on inside. Chen Feng carefully inhaled and pushed the door open fully. The light from the hallway illuminated the room, and Chen Feng roughly saw the layout inside. A living room, a sofa, a coffee table, a flat-screen TV... An ordinary, mundane scene. Chen Feng felt around the doorframe and pressed a switch. Click! The light turned on, a bit too bright. Chen Feng squinted instinctively, quickly realizing the room was empty as well. He wiped his hand across the coffee table, and the thin dust clung to his hand¡ªobviously, no one had cleaned in a while. Confused, he didn¡¯t linger. He opened the other rooms in the house, only to find no results. "The light orb isn¡¯t here." Chen Feng figured out the situation. His perception talent only gave him a direction and range, not pinpoint accuracy. "However..." He turned towards the wall at the back of the bedroom. His sensing power became even stronger. "Since it¡¯s not here, I¡¯ll continue searching in this direction." "It must be nearby." Taking advantage of this intuition, he quickly left the room and kept searching. Finally, in the bedroom of the second house, his eyes brightened as he saw the object he was looking for. Three light orbs. Two were light red, one was white. The former floated over the bed, while the latter hovered near the half-open window. "I hit the jackpot!" Chen Feng¡¯s expression lit up with joy. He hadn¡¯t expected to find three light orbs. Without hesitation, he moved quickly and touched them one by one. --- [You have picked up a (Limit-Breaking Light Orb)!] [Limit-Breaking Light Orb: The Residual Will of a Martial Artist] [Quality: Primary] [Effect: Can somewhat enhance martial arts skill proficiency] ... [You have picked up a (Attribute Light Orb)!] [Attribute Light Orb: The Spiritual Residue of an Extraordinary Being] [Quality: Primary] [Effect: Using it will increase 0.5 points of any of the four basic attributes, effect distribution is random] ... The information of the three orbs appeared: two Limit-Breaking Light Orbs and one Attribute Light Orb. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without hesitation, Chen Feng used the Attribute Light Orb first. --- Buzz! In an instant, his body heated up as if warm currents flowed into his cells. [Strength: 8.9 ¡ú 9.0] [Agility: 8.7] [Constitution: 8.6 ¡ú 8.8] [Willpower: 9.1 ¡ú 9.3] "Agility didn¡¯t get any...and strength only increased by 0.1..." Chen Feng glanced at his stats. Although a bit disappointed, he was still satisfied. Any increase was a good thing. Moreover... "Strengthening my constitution brings many benefits. It affects recovery, resistance, endurance, and more." "And willpower, it should relate to mental strength. I feel like my thoughts are clearer, and I have more control over negative emotions..." Quietly sensing his changes, Chen Feng used his perception talent to detect all the subtle improvements. He nodded quietly and quickly used another Limit-Breaking Light Orb. "Enhance!" (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 16: Diary Translator: CinderTL --- Buzz! [Sanda: Mastery (19%) +] "It seems the enhancement effect has weakened." "Progress is under 20%." Shaking his head upon seeing the panel''s prompt, Chen Feng sighed inwardly. He had anticipated this, so he wasn¡¯t too disappointed. Mastery of Sanda is much stronger than the basics, so it naturally takes more effort to improve. A similar Limit-Breaking Light Orb naturally wouldn''t have the same effect. "Only one more Limit-Breaking Light Orb left." Chen Wei glanced at the panel. At this moment, the information had changed. [Talent: Perception lv1 (1/100)] [Limit Break Points: 1] The former had been there since the last time he left the dream, corresponding to his Perception talent. The latter only appeared when he obtained a Limit-Breaking Light Orb, disappearing after use. "Even if I level up now, Sanda would still remain at the mastery level, not much improvement." "Only two options." "Either I keep saving, wait for the assessment day, and see if I can gather enough Limit-Breaking Light Orbs to increase to the Perfect Master level in one go." "Or... I could practice another martial art, allocate points to the basics and mastery, and gain new attribute improvements." Chen Feng hesitated slightly. Who can predict the future? For example, today, he was just going about his normal life when suddenly he encountered a robbery. If he lacked strength, he could only be at the mercy of others. Besides that, he wasn''t sure whether Zhao Jin was involved or if there would be any covert revenge. Naturally, the more strength he had, the more confident he would be. With that thought, Chen Feng leaned slightly toward the second option. "I''ll save it for now." With his decision made, Chen Feng didn¡¯t continue to allocate points to Sanda but instead saved the Limit-Breaking Light Orb for later. He then looked around the room. He realized that the sensation had completely disappeared. Clearly, there were no more light orbs nearby, and the Perception talent had a range limit. Shaking his head, he decided to leave the apartment and continue searching. But soon, his gaze moved. Chen Feng suddenly noticed a diary on the desk by the window! It had been missed earlier due to his focus on the light orbs. "Shall I take a look?" Curious, Chen Feng wanted to understand whether this dream world was real. His curiosity piqued, he quickly walked over to the wooden desk by the window and picked up the diary. It was completely brown, held closed by a leather strap. Next to it was a pen with no ink, attached to the notebook. Whoosh! Chen Feng shook the book, and a bit of dust floated, irritating his nose. He waved his hand and turned his head for a few seconds before opening the first page. It had a slightly decayed smell. But Chen Feng paid no mind, quickly being drawn into the text. [I never expected to become an awakened person, what a surprise.] [The martial arts academy said I had no hope of breaking my limits, but who would have thought, I awakened a talent.] [It''s great. My name, Wang Yu, will definitely echo throughout Qinggang City.] ... [Heh, the heavens are really playing a joke on me.] [I got the most useless Spirit Taming talent, and now I have no hope of advancing to a higher awakened position... sigh...] [I¡¯m sure many people are laughing at me behind my back. I regret showing off at the martial arts academy.] ... [Good news and bad news.] [Bad news: The Black Calamity has appeared; traces were found in the wilderness.] [Good news: The Enforcement Team announced they¡¯ve solved the Black Calamity.] [Praise the Enforcement Team, they are truly the guardians of Qinggang City, reliable as always.] ... [The Enforcement Team are a bunch of idiots!] [Didn¡¯t they say the Black Calamity was eradicated? Why has it erupted again?] [Heaven, as a low-level awakened, I still have to respond to the call and go to the battlefield.] [I really regret awakening this talent...] "Black Calamity?" "Qinggang City?" The diary¡¯s content was brief, like a young man¡¯s self-reflection. The text was very similar to the Red Chinese language on Earth, and Chen Feng could roughly understand it. "It seems this city is Qinggang City." "As for the Black Calamity..." Chen Feng turned his gaze to the dark fog outside the window, suspecting it was the Black Calamity. He thought for a moment and remembered the living room of this house had a television. He quickly left to check. After some operations, he pressed the switch. The TV remained black, unresponsive. All that was left was a thin layer of dust on his hands. "Still not working." Chen Feng frowned, rubbing the dust off his fingers. Refusing to give up, he went to other rooms on the third floor. He found that no matter what he tried¡ªTV, computer, or even a tablet he stumbled upon¡ªnone would power on. Even though they were all properly connected to electricity. "Really strange." Chen Feng shook his head, feeling something wasn¡¯t right. Could it be that all the electronics here don¡¯t work? He started to suspect this and decided to leave the house to try again. Tap! But just then, the world before his eyes suddenly shifted, as if a fog had dissipated. The familiar ceiling appeared again, a ray of sunlight shining down, and the curtains fluttered slightly. "Is it 7:05 already?" Chen Feng quickly adjusted, reaching for his phone. The screen unlocked, and the time was exactly as expected¡ªit was indeed the moment he woke up from the dream. Then, with a thought, he quickly opened his browser and searched for two keywords. [Qinggang City] [Black Calamity] [Search results: None...] The mobile site showed an error. Chen Feng shook his head. As expected, no results. It was clear that the dream world and Earth were most likely not the same place. "Hah!" Thoughts flashing, Chen Feng exhaled and got up to draw the curtains. The sky was a clear blue, with wisps of white clouds. Glass skyscrapers and old cement buildings stood side by side in a dense urban sprawl. A child, carrying a backpack, ran along the street, biting a fried dough stick, chasing after a bus. Young men and women going to work walked slowly, yawning as they found a small restaurant to sit in. The peaceful scene was a stark contrast to the dark, eerie dream world. "Whether it¡¯s related or not, it doesn¡¯t matter to me for now." "The most important thing is to become strong enough!" With this thought settled, Chen Feng had no more distractions. After freshening up, he quickly cooked noodles with three eggs, tore open two packs of bread, and ate an energy bar. With his mastery of Sanda and the attributes he gained from the light orbs, his physical condition had improved rapidly. Chen Feng felt his appetite had increased by 20-30%. Gulp! Gulp! Finally, after drinking a whole box of hot milk, he let out a contented burp. "Indeed, with enhanced physical fitness, food consumption increases." Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I wonder what professional fighters or real martial artists eat every day..." As his thoughts wandered, his stomach full, Chen Feng focused again on his plan. He quickly took out his phone. "Coach Lu¡¯s advice was pretty reasonable. I can try Judo and Wrestling." "Not only would I gain another skill, but my physical condition would improve too. It¡¯s a win-win..." Not wasting any time, Chen Feng sat down at the table and quickly opened a video app on his phone. He typed in a few words and hit enter. Judo Beginner¡¯s Lesson! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 17: Judo Introduction Translator: CinderTL --- A second after tapping the screen, the screen popped up with over a hundred search results, indicating everything was going smoothly. In this technologically advanced society, where short videos are extremely popular, there are many fighters skilled in judo who are willing to teach basic moves online, gaining attention and traffic. Though the effectiveness of online tutorials may not compare to face-to-face instruction at a martial arts school, and the entry difficulty may be higher, there is one major advantage: it''s free! Soon, many related videos appeared. Chen Feng¡¯s gaze fixed as he clicked on the homepage of a blogger with over 100,000 followers. [Flame Tiger Martial Arts School ¡ª Core Student, Cao Tong] [Professional Level 6 Fighter, Honors: Nanjiang Medium Weight Boxing Tournament Runner-up, City Judo Champion...] A series of impressive credentials followed. ¡°Core student of Flame Tiger Martial Arts School?¡± ¡°Professional level 6, isn¡¯t this even stronger than Coach Lu?¡± Chen Feng recalled that when the original body registered for the sparring training class, he had specifically looked into Coach Lu¡¯s abilities. Coach Lu was a level 2 professional, with a punch power close to 300 kg, and had once sent a 100 kg sandbag flying several meters with a single punch. In comparison, this blogger, Cao Tong, was undoubtedly stronger. ¡°Let¡¯s try it and see how he teaches.¡± With the intent to learn, Chen Feng found a series of beginner judo tutorial videos on the blogger¡¯s homepage. Clicking play, the screen displayed a burly man, nearly 1.9 meters tall, with a square face, high nose bridge, and a crew cut. His lips were thick, his eyes sharp, and his white judo Gi looked stretched and puffed out. ¡°Judo techniques can be divided into three types.¡± ¡°Standing techniques, ground techniques, and body defense techniques.¡± His voice was deep, and Chen Feng focused on his explanations and demonstrations. ¡°Among them, standing techniques mainly consist of hand techniques, waist techniques, foot techniques, and sacrifice techniques.¡± ¡°Arm pulls, waist throws, foot entanglements...¡± In the video, Cao Tong quickly found a slightly shorter student and demonstrated a hard pull throw by grabbing the opponent¡¯s shoulders. Chen Feng watched with a serious expression, staying inside all morning and watching the entire beginner judo series. In an instant, his memory organized itself, and the sequence became clear. The panel prompt automatically appeared. [Judo: Unfamiliar (1%)+] ¡°As expected, it works!¡± Chen Feng¡¯s eyes lit up as his hypothesis was confirmed. Without hesitation, he focused on the ¡°+¡± symbol next to judo and immediately silently activated the upgrade. Buzz! In an instant, insights into judo flooded his mind, and the panel information in front of him changed. [Judo: Beginner (1%)] ¡°I¡¯ve made it!¡± Clenching his fists, Chen Feng could feel a wealth of judo knowledge added to his memory. The techniques such as hand techniques, waist techniques, and foot techniques that Cao Tong had demonstrated could now be performed smoothly, with no resistance in his movements. If someone were watching, they would probably think he had practiced judo for at least one or two months. ¡°Not bad. Judo techniques are indeed useful, and they can be applied in unarmed close combat.¡± ¡°Also, my physical strengthening...¡± Chen Feng¡¯s eyes gleamed, and he quickly checked his stats. [Strength: 9.0 ¡ú 9.2] [Agility: 8.7 ¡ú 8.8] [Constitution: 8.8 ¡ú 8.9] [Will: 9.3 ¡ú 9.4] ¡°Indeed, judo focuses more on strength, and the improvement in that area is significant.¡± ¡°I guess my punching power is over 90 kg now?¡± Chen Feng could feel his muscles subtly strengthened. Comparing it to the punch force test he had done earlier, he could estimate his current power. At least 90 kg, possibly even near 100 kg. In other words, his strength was now on par with an amateur level 4 fighter. He might even pass a certification test with ease. ¡°My choice was right.¡± ¡°Judo can comprehensively enhance physical fitness, fully compensating for the shortcomings of sparring in close combat.¡± ¡°I can continue to level up in judo as well...¡± Chen Feng examined himself and nodded in satisfaction. He had a strong sense that, apart from Xu Dongtai, no one in the training class should be his opponent. Even those often mentioned like Zheng Qiang and Yu Shan would definitely be weaker than him in terms of strength. Content, confident, and firm... Finally, he glanced at the time on his phone. Noticing the time was getting late, Chen Feng decided to stop his thoughts and began to prepare to leave. He packed his boxing shirt and shorts into a bag, added two energy bars, and then left the house. Step, step! His footsteps echoed as he glanced at the alley near his neighborhood. Zhao Jin had not appeared, but his vigilance had not relaxed. Withdrawing his gaze, he boarded the bus and left. Twenty minutes later, the martial arts school came into view. Getting off at the station, Chen Feng was about to enter when suddenly¡ª Boom! A loud noise startled him, and he quickly turned to see the source of the sound on the opposite street. Flames erupted from a jewelry store. Gunshots rang out, lasting for over ten seconds. Surrounding pedestrians screamed and scattered, some collapsing in fear, while others fled. Eventually, after a barrage of gunfire, three masked robbers rushed out of the jewelry store, carrying bags stuffed with gold bars and jewelry. They immediately jumped into a flying car parked on the side of the road, and with wings extending and flames blasting, the car sped off. In less than half a minute, they completely disappeared from sight. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Did someone rob a jewelry store?¡± The sudden scene stunned Chen Feng, and he raised an eyebrow. Many pedestrians and nearby residents were also standing on the street or inside their homes, peeking out of windows to watch. The chaotic scene caused traffic congestion, with car horns blaring incessantly. Seeing this, Chen Feng thought about his encounter last night at the supermarket. Compared to the robbery at the jewelry store, the two punks from last night seemed like petty troublemakers, nothing worth mentioning. ¡°Tsk tsk, robbery in broad daylight?¡± Suddenly, a familiar voice caught his attention. He turned his head and saw Lin Hao, who had somehow arrived at the martial arts school, standing nearby in a black T-shirt with a baseball bag slung over his shoulder. He was watching the aftermath of the robbery with interest. ¡°Even with a gun permit, they couldn¡¯t protect the gold. This jewelry store might not survive...¡± Lin Hao teased, and Chen Feng, listening, recalled the country¡¯s gun laws. Unlike the complete ban on firearms in the Summer Kingdom from his previous life, the United Earth Coalition had passed a law five years ago permitting legal gun ownership. As long as the relevant conditions were met, one could apply for a gun permit. Jewelry stores, with their gold reserves, were considered a prime target, so they naturally employed armed security. ¡°Hope no one got killed.¡± Chen Feng thought briefly, knowing that firearms were much more dangerous than the hand-to-hand combat he¡¯d experienced. As if to confirm his thoughts, a medical flying car soon rushed to the scene and parked at the jewelry store entrance. Doctors in white coats rushed into the store with stretchers, carrying two people out. A security vehicle arrived a few minutes later, with six armed officers in uniforms from the Safety Bureau securing the scene and entering the store with the manager. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 18: Sparring Translator: CinderTL --- "Xiang Jianjun?" From a distance, Chen Feng raised an eyebrow as he saw the personnel from the Safety Bureau entering the jewelry store. One of them looked familiar from the side¡ªhe was the middle-aged man who had handled the supermarket robbery case last night. I wonder if those two punks confessed... Chen Feng stood still for a moment, regretting that he didn''t get contact details last night to follow up on the case. "Let''s go. The Safety Bureau''s here, there''s no point staying." Lin Hao said with a shake of his head, seemingly disappointed. Chen Feng didn''t linger, as the martial arts class was about to start, and he didn''t want to be late. Thud thud! The sound of footsteps echoed. The two quickly changed into their training clothes in the martial arts school''s locker room and walked into the training area. "The jewelry store was actually robbed? That''s ridiculous." "The robbers¡¯ backpacks were full of gold. How much is that worth?" "Even with money, you''ve got to have your life to spend it. I think someone got shot earlier." The news of the robbery at the jewelry store was a hot topic, and many students were discussing it. Among them was Xu Dongtai, standing by the large window with a frown on his face, looking quite grim. "Interesting," Lin Hao paused in his steps, suddenly smiling to himself. Chen Feng was puzzled, but Lin Hao smirked and said, "I heard Xu Dongtai¡¯s family has some connections." "That jewelry store downstairs¡ªhis family recently used some means to buy a small stake in it..." Chen Feng was first surprised, then realized. No wonder Xu Dongtai looked so gloomy, and his sidekick Zhou Xin was unusually quiet, not daring to make a sound. The loss from the jewelry store robbery was definitely substantial¡ªprobably at least a few million. However... Chen Feng glanced at Lin Hao, who looked indifferent, and was again surprised by how well-informed the guy was. Whether it was about the core student matter from last time or the intel on Xu Dongtai¡¯s family background, it was clear that Lin Hao wasn¡¯t an ordinary person. "Why are you looking at me?" Lin Hao asked, sensing Chen Feng¡¯s gaze. "Your information sources are pretty extensive, huh?" Chen Feng asked cautiously. "Heh, is that so?" "Such a small matter, just ask around, anyone would know." Lin Hao grinned. Chen Feng realized Lin Hao didn¡¯t want to say more and didn¡¯t press the issue. The two continued to the corner of the training area to practice their moves. Coach Lu walked over right on time, just as the sparring class was about to begin. As usual, he glanced at Xu Dongtai, who was pounding the punching bag with ferocity, causing the bag to shake. Coach Lu shook his head. "With an unsettled mind, the punches can never be straight." After a brief thought, he figured out the reason but didn¡¯t say anything more. Soon, his attention turned to Zheng Qiang and Yu Shan. "Just barely an amateur third-dan... still a long way to go." "His comprehension isn¡¯t great either. Seems like he¡¯s hit a bottleneck." He shook his head slightly before his gaze shifted to Chen Feng in the corner. Jab, uppercut, chop... The sound of whistling punches filled the air. Although the movements were not too loud, they carried a calm confidence. "This kid..." "Why does it feel like his sanda skills have improved?" "Plus, his physique... he¡¯s gotten a bit stronger... Could it be that he¡¯s finally unlocked his potential?" Coach Lu raised an eyebrow, becoming even more certain of his guess. His eyes gleamed with interest, but he didn¡¯t approach immediately. Instead, he clapped his hands, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. "Today''s class will focus on sparring practice." "We¡¯ll now assign partners." His voice resonated powerfully, and no one dared to object. Sanda is a combat sport, and no amount of practice compares to real fighting. Therefore, every few days, Coach Lu would arrange a sparring session to assess everyone¡¯s progress. "Xu Dongtai and Yu Shan." "Zhang Ping and Fang Yuan." ... Soon, pairs of names were announced by Coach Lu. Some students'' eyes lit up, while others sighed and shook their heads. "Damn it, I¡¯m the one getting beaten again." sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A tall youth cursed under his breath, pulling his gaze away from Xu Dongtai. He thought the coach would pair him with Zheng Qiang, as he was more resilient and closer in strength to Xu Dongtai. Thinking this, he almost called out to Zheng Qiang. "Zheng..." "Zheng Qiang, Chen Feng!" Suddenly, Coach Lu spoke again, interrupting him. The training area fell silent, and the tall youth was stunned. In the distance, Xu Dongtai narrowed his eyes. "What¡¯s going on?" "Zheng Qiang and Chen Feng?" People couldn¡¯t believe it and turned to look at Chen Feng in the corner with astonished expressions. "Shouldn¡¯t it be me?" Lin Hao asked, equally surprised, glancing at his companion. He had always been the one sparring with Chen Feng, right? A novice versus a novice, isn¡¯t that how it goes? The crowd was filled with confusion, and after a few seconds of silence, murmurs started to rise. Eventually, a disgruntled voice spoke up. "Coach Lu, did you make a mistake?" Everyone turned to look. Zheng Qiang stood in the first row on the left side, wearing a black vest, his body well-built, and his skin like bronze. Unlike his usual calm demeanor, his face was clearly displeased. Although he was a bit weaker than Xu Dongtai, he was still an amateur third-dan, a skilled fighter. And Chen Feng? He glanced at the corner, where Chen Feng was standing. Though he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to him before, based on his talent, he figured Chen Feng was probably just a beginner in sanda. Sparring with him? Not only would it be embarrassing if he won, but he would have to hold back, control his strength, to avoid seriously injuring the kid. This wasn¡¯t sparring¡ªthis was a joke. "Yes, it''s you and Chen Feng." Coach Lu¡¯s tone was calm as he glanced at him. He knew these kids were proud and likely hadn¡¯t noticed Chen Feng¡¯s progress. It was normal not to see through his sanda skills. But this would be a good opportunity to test them and see where Chen Feng stood now. "Coach!" Zheng Qiang shouted in protest, wanting to argue. He would rather spar with Xu Dongtai. At least there, he could fight seriously and test his own limits, rather than beating someone with no challenge. "Do what I say. No more complaining!" Coach Lu snapped, his expression stern, his aura imposing. Immediately, the crowd shrank back, too intimidated to speak. Zheng Qiang closed his mouth, not daring to protest. "Fine, I¡¯ll do it." He strode to a nearby spot, claiming an area for sparring. His face showed dissatisfaction, and he was clearly annoyed, but soon raised his right arm, extended his hand, curled his four fingers, and waved provocatively at Chen Feng. "Come on, let¡¯s give it a try." "I won¡¯t go easy on you. If you get hurt, pay for your own hospital bills¡ªdon¡¯t expect me to take any responsibility!" His tone was full of provocation, but Chen Feng said nothing. He didn¡¯t even respond to Lin Hao beside him. He simply walked forward, stopping in the midst of the gazes of those watching, and took his position. "Alright." Chen Feng responded calmly, his voice steady, clearly unfazed by the challenge. His perception ability allowed him to sense Zheng Qiang¡¯s hostility. It was mostly annoyance, with some disdain and arrogance in his eyes. But it didn¡¯t matter. He would make him submit. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 19: Easy Victory Translator: CinderTL --- "Is this for real?" "Can Chen Feng, do it?" "Why do I feel like Chen Feng has gotten a bit more muscular?" "Hey, now that you say it, it does seem to be true. Did he start working out on his own¡­?" In the training class, many of the students stood on either side, watching with great interest as Chen Feng and Zheng Qiang stood facing each other. Even Xu Dongtai and Yu Shan seemed puzzled, not rushing to practice but instead observing from a distance. "Brother Dong, what do you think the coach is thinking?" "Hasn''t Chen Feng always been at the bottom? Isn''t he worried that Zheng Qiang might beat him to a pulp?" Zhou Xin, his lackey, whispered from the side, a hint of skepticism in his eyes. No one responded, as this doubt had crossed many minds. However, despite the many watchful eyes, Chen Feng remained calm. He even silently put on his gloves and protective gear. "Still trying to act tough?" Zheng Qiang raised an eyebrow. He didn''t believe that the other party didn¡¯t know his strength. To actually agree to practice with him and stay so calm¡ªit might mean there was something more to this guy after all. "Aren''t you wearing any protective gear?" Chen Feng asked, glancing at Zheng Qiang¡¯s unprotected head. "Not needed for someone like you." Zheng Qiang''s gaze darkened as he only wore his gloves, intentionally speaking arrogantly. Seeing this, Chen Feng didn¡¯t reply, merely narrowing his eyes at Zheng Qiang¡¯s head. Looks like he¡¯d need to go easy on him. Thud thud! In an instant, both of them stood firm, ready for action. Their gazes locked. As Chen Feng took his stance, a cold light flashed in Zheng Qiang''s eyes. "No matter if you''re pretending or not, we¡¯ll know once we try!" Without further words, Zheng Qiang¡¯s gaze became sharp, and he immediately stepped forward. Whoosh! In the blink of an eye, Zheng Qiang, dressed in a black tank top, seemed to transform into a leopard. With a sharp thud, his feet planted firmly on the ground. He stabilized his balance and suddenly appeared just half a meter in front of Chen Feng. Their gazes met as Zheng Qiang¡¯s tanned right arm swung up, his elbow slightly bent, and his waist and back pushing forward. Boom! In the next second, a whistling sound was heard as his fist tore through the air, heading straight for Chen Feng¡¯s face! "How fast!" Some of the students observing gasped. "Why isn¡¯t he dodging?" Lin Hao¡¯s face grew serious, and the others were secretly alarmed. Zheng Qiang¡¯s punch had 80 kg of force behind it. Shouldn''t Chen Feng dodge? Was he intending to admit defeat right away? Bang! !! A dull thud rang out. Everyone''s thoughts shattered as the world in front of them seemed to freeze. "What¡¯s going on!" Zhou Xin exclaimed; his face full of disbelief. Yu Shan¡¯s face showed confusion, and Xu Dongtai¡¯s gaze sharpened. Looking over, they saw that Zheng Qiang¡¯s powerful punch was forced to halt in mid-air. It was a pair of strong hands. The left hand held it horizontally, fingers clenched tightly. Without a doubt, it was an incredibly strong grip that caught Zheng Qiang''s fist. "Impossible!" Zheng Qiang''s eyes narrowed as a flash of disbelief passed through his mind. Had his punch really been stopped? And it looked like the guy had done it so easily? As the thoughts flashed in his mind and he felt the stares from around him, Zheng Qiang felt a surge of heat inside. He tried to break free and threw another punch. Buzz! However, in the next second, a faster punch appeared. The sound of the wind shook the air as the fist clenched tightly. Chen Feng¡¯s left hand pulled hard, immediately disrupting Zheng Qiang¡¯s balance, causing his body to wobble and fall forward. Then, his right shoulder shifted. His muscular right arm shot out from his waist, his spine pushing with force as his left foot pivoted. The force of the punch grew stronger, faster, and more powerful! Boom!!! In an instant, the fist slammed into Zheng Qiang¡¯s cheek. His head jerked, and his skin rippled like waves, sinking and vibrating. Extreme pain tore through him! His mind went fuzzy, and his eyes filled with shock and rage. This guy was hiding his strength! It hurt like hell! Unable to think clearly, his body swayed. Not willing to lose like this and unwilling to admit defeat in front of others, Zheng Qiang gritted his teeth and tried to steady himself. Boom! Another punch! Chen Feng''s gaze was sharp. He didn¡¯t know when, but his left hand had withdrawn and turned into a fist. With a slight bend in his elbow, he struck diagonally with his left fist! Bang!! Another dull thud as the punch landed, and Zheng Qiang¡¯s head spun as golden stars appeared before his eyes. His eyes rolled back. Then, in front of the crowd, his body wavered, and with a crash, he fell to the ground. In an instant. The atmosphere fell silent. The crowd stared, stunned. Lin Hao and Zhou Xin had their mouths wide open. Xu Dongtai''s eyes narrowed into a thin line. That sense of danger from earlier¡ªwas it real? Looking at Chen Feng¡¯s calm demeanor, he wasn¡¯t even breathing heavily. Xu Dongtai realized he might have underestimated a formidable opponent. "Fake, this must be fake, right?" One student snapped back to his senses and spoke reflexively. The silence was broken, and the crowd started murmuring. "Unbelievable!" "Chen Feng is so strong? Damn, he hid himself really well!" "That punch¡ªdefinitely on the level of an amateur fourth-dan, right?" The noisy voices filled the air, but Chen Feng silently removed his gear and gloves. Looking at the unconscious Zheng Qiang on the ground, he touched his fist, his thoughts racing. The first punch, I held back too much. The second punch was just right. Hopefully, I didn¡¯t break his skull. "Take him to the infirmary, it¡¯s nothing serious. Just spray some healing spray on him, and he¡¯ll wake up in a bit." Coach Lu had walked up at some point, quickly assessing Zheng Qiang¡¯s condition and confirming he was fine. He waved his hand, and soon some students came over to carry Zheng Qiang away. "You kid, you actually held back a bit." Turning to Chen Feng, Coach Lu¡¯s eyes gleamed with a hint of excitement. This kid... He really had started to get the hang of it. That footwork... besides sanda, it seemed to have traces of judo, too? He learned judo in a day? A series of thoughts flashed through his mind, and the more he looked at Chen Feng, the more satisfied he became. "How do you feel?" "Not bad." Chen Feng smiled and said, glancing at the shocked expressions of the other students. Under the spotlight, as it should be. No one dislikes being noticed. From being completely unnoticed at the beginning to this point. It had only been about ten days. "Heh, looks like you¡¯ve really started to get the hang of martial arts." Coach Lu smiled as he patted Chen Feng¡¯s shoulder. Without saying more, he glanced at Xu Dongtai in the distance. He had always thought Xu Dongtai was the most outstanding. But now... Shaking his head, he quickly walked past Chen Feng and began directing the others to pair up for practice. "Chen Feng, you¡¯re amazing, man!" Lin Hao ran over quietly, his eyes full of surprise and curiosity. "How long has it been, and you¡¯ve already taken off?" "How did you train so quickly? Can you share some tips on how to practice punches?" A rapid-fire barrage of questions followed, and Chen Feng shrugged. "Just practice normally." "Just sweat a little more." "Damn!" Lin Hao rolled his eyes, his face helpless. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Is that even an answer? He shook his head inwardly and stopped pressing the topic. Then, he glanced at Xu Dongtai in the distance. Seeing him spar with Yu Shan, throwing violent punches, and ending the fight quickly. Lin Hao¡¯s eyes moved, and he soon grinned. "Looks like this core student evaluation just got a lot more interesting." "You and Xu Dongtai... tsk tsk..." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 20: Rules Translator: CinderTL --- The day of the sparring class ended. Chen Feng took a shower and changed his clothes in the locker room. Lin Hao stood beside him, continuing their earlier conversation. "Do you know the rules for this core student assessment?" "What?" Chen Feng asked as he put on a loose black T-shirt and wiped his head with a towel. "Battle royale." Lin Hao smiled and said, "Everyone fights at once, and the last person standing wins the spot." Chen Feng was surprised. He had thought it would be a one-on-one competition, like in a boxing match. "Well, since we''re on good terms, I''ll tell you, but don¡¯t spill the beans." Waving his hand, Lin Hao noticed Chen Feng''s curiosity but didn¡¯t explain further. He turned and left quickly, slinging his baseball bag over his shoulder. "That guy." Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, sensing that Lin Hao was not as simple as he appeared. In fact, he suspected that Lin Hao might have known about the battle royale rule long ago but didn¡¯t say anything until now, after realizing that Chen Feng was not weak. "Battle royale? Fine by me." "Five more days, I can get even stronger." Shaking his head, Chen Feng didn¡¯t dwell on it. After dealing with the supermarket situation and defeating Zheng Qiang, his confidence had quietly taken root. As long as it was a fight where fists did the talking, he wasn¡¯t afraid of anyone in the whole fight training class. He packed his clothes into his bag and decided to leave early to take over his shift at the supermarket. Tap, tap! Just as he was about to leave, Xu Dongtai walked in. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The burly figure brushed past him, and Zhou Xin looked away, avoiding eye contact. Remembering how he had challenged Chen Feng by glaring at him the other day, Zhou Xin still felt a bit uneasy. Chen Feng, who wasn¡¯t familiar with the two, didn¡¯t intend to engage further. "Chen Feng." Suddenly, just as they were about to pass each other, Xu Dongtai stopped and spoke. Chen Feng paused and turned his head. "I didn¡¯t expect you to hide it so well." "If it weren¡¯t for today''s sparring, you probably would have tried to keep it hidden until the assessment, huh?" His tone was heavy, with a hint of more respect than usual. However, Chen Feng could feel a trace of hostility in his words. It was mostly cold, mixed with suspicion. Clearly, Xu Dongtai assumed that Chen Feng had been hiding his strength from the beginning, intending to use a surprise tactic to steal the spot in the final assessment. Shaking his head, Chen Feng didn¡¯t feel the need to respond. Xu Dongtai had already made up his mind, and any explanation would be useless. Besides... why should he explain? Without another word, he quickly walked out of the locker room. The sound of footsteps faded as he left. Xu Dongtai stood there, his face as dark as water, his displeasure hidden beneath the surface. He hadn¡¯t expected Chen Feng to ignore him like that. For a moment, he thought about stopping him and teaching him a lesson right then and there in the locker room. "Boss Dong..." Seeing this, Zhou Xin dared not make a sound and cautiously probed, "Chen Feng¡¯s asking for it, isn¡¯t he?" "Should we gather a few people and teach him a lesson one night?" "Do you think Coach Lu is a fool?" Xu Dongtai turned to give him a sharp look, his expression full of impatience, as though looking at an idiot. "The Flame Tiger Martial School¡¯s biggest taboo is to secretly cause harm to a fellow disciple." "Once that¡¯s done, I¡¯ll never get into the core of the martial arts club." His tone was grim, and Zhou Xin swallowed his words, not daring to speak again. "You don¡¯t need to worry about this." "Weaklings hide their power; strong people have no fear." With an impatient sigh, Xu Dongtai added, "I¡¯ve seen his strength today. He¡¯s still hiding something, but he¡¯s at most at an amateur level, fourth dan." "Five days from now... He won¡¯t be able to escape when I personally knock him out." ... [The vehicle has arrived at the station. Please exit from the rear door in an orderly manner.] On the street, the bus slowly pulled into the station. Chen Feng took out an energy bar from his bag, took a bite, chewed, and swallowed, replenishing the energy he had spent during the training. The sound of crunching echoed as he glanced around cautiously. Not just because of the trouble with the thug, but also because of Xu Dongtai in the locker room. Though he didn¡¯t think there was a high chance of being targeted, he still felt a bit more alert than usual. Just in case, he wanted to stay a little more prepared. Tap, tap! With steady footsteps, he crossed through the crowd at a red light at the intersection and arrived at the other side. The supermarket sign for Yongle Fu appeared in front of him, and he clocked in for his shift on time. "Here you are, Xiao Feng!" "Yes, Aunt He, Aunt Zhang." "Good boy, you have such a sweet mouth. I heard from Aunt Zhang that you were really impressive last night!" Aunt He, though over fifty, looked well-maintained, her eyes bright. Her voice was gentle as she praised him, making Chen Feng smile helplessly. "Aunt He, I just did what I was supposed to do." "Mm... That may be true, but not everyone can do that." She smiled warmly and praised him some more. If she weren¡¯t in a hurry to pick up her grandson, she might have continued talking for much longer. "This is how Aunt He is, Xiao Feng, don¡¯t mind her." Watching Aunt He drive off in her car, Aunt Zhang, who had been standing by, chuckled and said, "That little thug was trying to rob money, but what if something had happened?" "Yeah, if he had been angered and did something rash, it would have been dangerous." Thinking of this, Aunt Zhang¡¯s attitude toward Chen Feng became even warmer, and she seriously thanked him, saying, "Xiao Feng, really, thank you for yesterday." As she spoke, she placed a box of Superman brand energy bars on the side. "I don¡¯t really know much about martial arts, but my son says these are good for the body and help with fitness training." "Aunt Zhang¡¯s small token of appreciation, please take it." Her tone was sincere, and Chen Feng could only nod and accept. "Thank you, Aunt Zhang." "Ha, what do you need to thank me for?" They chatted casually for a while, and Chen Feng quickly donned his red employee vest and took his position at the cashier. Finally, the sound of footsteps approached as his shift partner, Li Hongxia, arrived. "Sorry, Aunt Zhang, I¡¯m late again." Li Hongxia was still wearing her delivery uniform, and sweat ran down her slightly yellowish face. Beside her was a young girl. She appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen, wearing a light-colored long dress and carrying an old pink backpack. Her black hair was pinned back with a white hairpin, her bangs covering her forehead. Her fair skin and delicate features made her look gentle and obedient. "Is this Little Yao?" "Yes, Little Yao, go ahead and greet Aunt Zhang." Li Hongxia quickly spoke, motioning to the girl beside her. "Hello, Aunt Zhang." The girl spoke softly. "Such a good girl," Aunt Zhang said with a smile. "This is Chen Feng, my colleague." "This is my daughter, Xu Yao, you can call her Little Yao." Li Hongxia smiled as she introduced her daughter to Chen Feng. Having heard about the previous night''s events, Li Hongxia now looked at Chen Feng with more kindness and respect than before. "Hello, Big Brother Chen Feng." Xu Yao quickly greeted him, appearing a little shy. "Hello, Little Yao." Chen Feng smiled and nodded. His 1.8-meter frame appeared even more solid under the light, casting some shadow behind him. Xu Yao hesitated a little but then nodded shyly, instinctively shrinking back. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 21: Monster Translator: CinderTL --- Am I really that scary? In the supermarket, Xu Yao¡¯s slight retreat made Chen Feng feel a little hurt. He thought to himself, although his current physique was strong, with his black loose short-sleeve shirt clinging tightly to his body, the muscle lines were clearly defined, with his deltoids notably prominent. But wasn¡¯t it still not as exaggerated as Xu Dongtai¡¯s imposing 1.85-meter tall frame? Alas, No one could answer his question. Xu Yao, looking a bit shy, was quickly led by Li Hongxia to the sofa area behind the shelves, where she placed her schoolbag and quietly did her homework. Seeing this, Chen Feng didn¡¯t disturb them and stood at the cash register, silently taking care of the transactions. ¡°Xiao Feng, tonight, Xiao Yao will eat here too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll order two more dishes. I hope you won¡¯t mind.¡± Li Hongxia soon approached the register and quietly spoke to Chen Feng. After learning more, Chen Feng found out that Xu Yao had just finished extra classes and had been picked up by Li Hongxia. Since her grandfather had gone back to the countryside yesterday and no one was at home to cook, she had simply come along here. As a single mother, Li Hongxia¡¯s helplessness was understood by Chen Feng, and naturally, he didn¡¯t mind. Time passed quickly. Dinner soon arrived, and Li Hongxia paid for two additional dishes¡ªone meat, one vegetable. The three of them ate heartily. Chen Feng was very hungry but restrained himself, only eating until he was about 80% full. Even so, all the food was finished, leaving only a little oil residue and scraps. ¡°Xiao Feng, your physical fitness is really good.¡± ¡°No wonder you were able to easily subdue those two punks last night.¡± Li Hongxia was cleaning up the takeout containers and complimented Chen Feng, glancing at his increasingly muscular body. Xu Yao, sitting next to them, also stole a glance and quietly helped clean up without saying a word. ¡°It¡¯s just a hobby,¡± Chen Feng smiled and responded, not elaborating on his training. The two chatted casually while customers came and went, and he continued to handle the register. In the supermarket, there was a flat-screen TV hanging on the wall, usually ignored by most people. But tonight, the news was playing, drawing the attention of several customers. [According to reports, at 1:18 PM today, a jewelry store robbery occurred on Qingshi Street.] [The robbed store, Fuxiang Gold Store, was in the middle of unlocking its vault when the thieves struck. There were three robbers, one of whom was injured by the store¡¯s security. They made off with 10 kilograms of gold bars and gold jewelry worth millions.] [The safety bureau has issued a wanted notice. A 200,000-yuan reward is offered for information leading to their capture...] Chen Feng glanced at the TV. This was the robbery incident that occurred across from the martial arts school in the afternoon. The details in the news were nearly identical to what he had seen at the time, as well as the subsequent discussions he overheard in the school. ¡°Ten kilograms of gold bars.¡± ¡°The price of gold in the Red Country is about 600 yuan per gram. Even without counting the jewelry, that¡¯s at least six million, right?¡± After a quick calculation, Chen Feng was a little shocked. The cost of living in the Red Country was quite similar to that of Summer Country on Earth in his previous life. Six million was already an astronomical figure for many ordinary people, enough to live comfortably in Nanjiang. He suddenly understood why Xu Dongtai had been so grim earlier. ¡°It¡¯s a pity, those thieves were masked¡­¡± Shaking his head, Chen Feng thought that if he had the chance to encounter them, he could report them and earn the reward. Then, the news continued, and customers came and went. As time passed, midnight approached. After Li Hongxia finished cleaning, Chen Feng locked the supermarket¡¯s shutter door. Looking over, little Xu Yao was half-asleep, her schoolbag on her back as she sat on the electric bike, her head nodding off. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Xiao Feng. Be careful on your way home.¡± ¡°Okay, Sister Hongxia, you and Xiao Yao take care too.¡± ¡°Alright, Xiao Yao, say goodbye to Brother Chen.¡± ¡°Goodbye, Brother Chen.¡± ¡°Goodbye.¡± Waving gently, Chen Feng took the box of energy bars Aunt Zhang gave him and carried the bag of clothes, walking down the dark street. The streetlights cast a faint yellow glow, and the smell of grilled skewers wafted through the air. Feeling a bit hungry again, he opened the box, took out an energy bar, ripped open the wrapper, and bit into it with a crunch. Walking while chewing, he brushed past a few drunken men. His tall figure cast long, narrow shadows under the dim streetlights. Many of the lights had exposed wires, flickering intermittently. Tap! Tap! The sound of footsteps echoed as Chen Feng passed by an alley. Suddenly, his steps halted, and his hair stood on end. He abruptly sensed a strong, almost tangible malice. Turning his head, he saw that the alley was pitch black, as though covered in ink, with no visible hand in front of his face. But there, a pair of blood-red eyes were glaring at him. The sound of teeth gnashing echoed, sending a terrifying chill through him. In an instant, his heart froze. He initially thought it was a revenge attack by Zhao Jin, but he quickly regained his composure. ¡°What the hell is that thing!¡± Tap! Tap! Suddenly, rapid footsteps sounded, and the owner of the blood-red eyes rushed at him. The malice was frigid, and Chen Feng smelled the stench of blood and decay. Without hesitation, he turned and sprinted, clutching the cardboard box and clothes bag tightly! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! The dry air rushed into his nostrils, his blood boiling with excitement as his feet blurred. His heart became the engine fueling the fire, his veins burning hot. Chen Feng had never felt so exhilarated and terrified at the same time. A monster! It was definitely a monster! His thoughts flashed, and the streets of the night flickered in his vision. He had initially thought that Earth Star was just a world with a unique martial arts style, far more ordinary compared to the mysteries in his dreams. But now, the appearance of this monster made him realize that there was something extraordinary hidden beneath the neon-lit city. Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! His footsteps pounded as he sprinted dozens of meters. Only when the malevolent presence faded did he stop and glance back. The streetlights were still dim, and the blood-red eyes had disappeared. It was as if everything earlier had been a figment of his imagination. ¡°I wasn¡¯t followed?¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Or maybe¡­¡± Thinking to himself, Chen Feng, benefiting from his enhanced physical condition, wasn¡¯t even out of breath. He had no doubt about the malevolent presence he had sensed. His sensory abilities had allowed him to sense how powerful those blood-red eyes were. If they had come into contact, he would have been killed easily. With that thought, he glanced at the pitch-black night sky. Though he was incredibly curious, he didn¡¯t dare approach the alley any closer. ¡°I¡¯ll go back for now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll check it out tomorrow during the day.¡± Suppressing his thoughts, Chen Feng exhaled and noticed a cold sweat on his face. He wiped it off with his sleeve. He turned and hurriedly left. About ten minutes later, he arrived at his apartment. Click! The door closed. Looking at the simple, quiet space with basic decor, Chen Feng finally felt a sense of relief. He quickly showered, washed up, and rushed to bed. He thought he would fall asleep quickly, but the shadow of the monster lingered, haunting his mind. ¡°Monster¡­¡± Chen Feng murmured. There was no fear, just a sense of exhilaration. If there was a monster, then there might be something supernatural in this world. Could it be that the dreams and the real world are connected? With that thought, his mind surged with waves of ideas. This distraction lasted well into the early morning hours. Only when his emotions finally calmed down did he close his eyes and drift into sleep. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 22: Progress Translator: CinderTL --- ¡°I finally fell asleep¡­¡± Under the night sky, Chen Feng opened his eyes. Holding the metal brass knuckles, he stood at the door of his apartment. He had been worried that he would be too excited tonight, preventing him from falling asleep and entering the dream. Fortunately, his body¡¯s need for rest overcame his mental state. ¡°But, why has my entry point changed?¡± ¡°It seems that the logic of entering the dream is somewhat similar to a game save system¡­¡± He suppressed the distractions related to reality, including the strange monsters he had encountered. Looking down at himself, everything seemed the same as when he left the dream yesterday, both the surroundings and his gear. The dagger at his waist was still there, and his white sneakers were still firmly planted on the ground. Raising an eyebrow, Chen Feng thought for a moment. Ultimately, he confirmed that there was nothing in the apartment that drew his attention. He stepped forward, heading to the hallway, planning to search for the light orbs elsewhere. He descended the stairs and walked onto the street. The asphalt road was shrouded in mist on both sides, but Chen Feng keenly noticed something important. Whether it was the apartment behind him or the villa he first entered, both had clear lights with no mist. It looked as though they had been permanently illuminated. Even though it was still night, there was no longer the oppressive feeling that had been there initially. ¡°Could it be because I¡¯ve explored these areas¡­¡± Chen Feng mused, instinctively guessing. Then, he looked ahead. Several meters ahead, he saw a clearing where the mist had dissipated slightly, revealing buildings and streets within a 7-8 meter range. Seeing this scene and recalling the changes when he entered the dream previously, Chen Feng had a realization. ¡°Each time I enter the dream, a new area opens up for me to explore.¡± ¡°As long as I leave footprints, the mist won¡¯t obscure the area anymore¡­¡± Thinking it over, he didn¡¯t delve too deeply into the underlying principles. After all, he still didn¡¯t know why he was entering the dream in the first place. He soon dismissed those thoughts and continued walking along the road. There, ahead, were two attached apartments. Dead trees stood on both sides of the iron gate, devoid of leaves. Clack, clack! As he got closer, Chen Feng sensed some remnants of spirit and vitality. He turned his head and focused on the second floor of one of the apartments. He knew there was another light orb there. Without hesitation, he quickened his pace. The iron gate ahead was half open, and the small yard was paved with red stone bricks, surrounded by an iron fence. With his eyes gleaming, Chen Feng was about to push open the gate. Buzz! But the next second, dark mist suddenly swirled nearby, followed by the harsh sound of footsteps. Clack, clack! His gaze darkened as he quickly turned to look. Two figures appeared, dressed in different clothes. One was fat, the other thin, both were clearly men. But they both lacked facial features, their faces a ghastly white. ¡°Two faceless ones!¡± Chen Feng¡¯s eyes narrowed, surprised that the difficulty of this dream had increased so suddenly. Whoosh! Before he could act, the thinner figure quickened his steps and lunged at him. His movements were identical to the faceless ones Chen Feng had encountered before, and he could see the rotting sores below the man¡¯s ears. Instinctively, he sidestepped, avoiding the thin faceless one¡¯s attack. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Buzz! But then, the sound of air tearing rang out. The other fat faceless one, stomped forward, charging like a small vehicle. Seeing this, Chen Feng lowered his center of gravity, his eyes calm. Just as he was about to be hit, he stepped to the side and twisted his body. His judo instincts guided him, and he locked both of the fat man¡¯s arms and shoulders, using the opponent¡¯s momentum to throw him over his shoulder. Boom! A perfect shoulder throw landed, sending the fat faceless one crashing to the ground. Whoosh! At the same time, the thin faceless one had already twisted his body and was aiming to tear Chen Feng apart with his bloody nails. Facing this attack, Chen Feng quickly retreated, his head darting aside. A swift strike cut through the air, and he coldly clenched his right fist with the brass knuckles, landing a powerful punch. Buzz!! The air howled, as a white mist appeared around his fist. With a power attribute of 9.2, this punch carried nearly a hundred kilograms of force! Far more decisive and ruthless than the one he had delivered at the martial arts gym earlier, because Chen Feng knew that the beings before him were not alive. Boom!! The punch landed squarely on the thin faceless one¡¯s temple. The metal brass knuckles dug into the flesh, the force tearing through. There was a cracking sound, and the faceless one¡¯s body stiffened before it toppled backward. Chen Feng didn¡¯t relax his vigilance. He swiftly aimed a whip kick toward the rear. Whoosh!! The wind from the kick intensified, and Chen Feng¡¯s leg slammed into the fat faceless one¡¯s head with brutal force. The figure was sent flying, landing heavily on the ground. A dull thud echoed, and a cloud of dust rose, but Chen Feng¡¯s expression softened slightly. But soon after, a chill ran through him, and he quickly stepped back half a meter. Whoosh! Two black lines whizzed past him, hitting the iron fence on either side. Sizzle! Sizzle, sizzle! The ear-piercing sound filled the air as the iron fence seemed to dissolve under a strong acid, with several hollow iron bars rapidly melting away into black droplets. Chen Feng¡¯s expression became serious as he stood still, scanning the surroundings. Two puddles of black liquid dripped from the iron fence, pooling on the ground. Within the liquid, Chen Feng could faintly see small black insects twisting and writhing. The disturbance lasted for a few seconds before it gradually subsided. Eventually, the black liquid dried up, leaving a sticky residue on the red brick ground. ¡°What are these insects?¡± Chen Feng wondered, thinking back to the diary left by someone named Wang Yu in the apartment. Black Calamity! Could these insects be the Black Calamity? He had no clue but felt a rising suspicion. The bodies of the faceless ones began to dissolve, and two gray light orbs appeared. Using the experience from last time, Chen Feng wasn¡¯t worried anymore. The two orbs quickly merged into his body. --- [You have acquired the Talent Orb: Perception!] [Perception +2!] [Talent: Perception lv1 (11/100)] --- The system prompt appeared, and Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. He knew this must be the so-called talent growth. He closed his eyes, and soon felt his perception become sharper. Even when he looked at the nearby apartment, he realized that, in addition to the second floor, the seventh floor also had a similar sensation. ¡°Has my perception range increased?¡± ¡°The light orbs are also more precise in their positioning¡­¡± Realizing this, Chen Feng no longer hesitated. Thinking about the other light orbs, he quickly pushed open the iron gate and entered the apartment. --- In the next ten minutes, he found two more limit-breaking light orbs on the second and seventh floors. After a brief thought, he quickly allocated one to his sanda skills and the other to judo. ¡°Enhance!¡± Buzz! Warm currents flooded his mind, the new insights flowing into his martial arts techniques. [Sanda: Mastery (38%)] [Judo: Beginner (41%)] --- Looking at the progress in his skills, Chen Feng clenched his fist. Although he hadn¡¯t reached full proficiency or improved his physical attributes, he felt his martial arts becoming smoother and more natural. ¡°Let¡¯s fucking go!¡± His eyes gleamed, a slight smile on his lips. The desire for more light orbs only grew stronger. He stepped out of the apartment room. He quickly turned his gaze to the other buildings and open spaces beyond the mist. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 23: The Corpse Translator: CinderTL --- ¡°I guess I was getting greedy again.¡± At 7:05 AM, Chen Feng woke up once more. He was a bit helpless, having failed to find a new light orb. He then got up and drew the curtains. Sunlight poured in, revealing a completely different blue sky and white clouds from the dream world. High-rise buildings stood in a row, and the sound of fruit shops opening below echoed in the air. Coming to his senses, Chen Feng quickly summoned his panel. [Name: Chen Feng] [Age: 22] [Strength: 9.2] [Agility: 8.8] [Constitution: 8.9] [Willpower: 9.4] [Skills: Sanda (Mastery, 38%), Judo (Beginner, 41%)] [Talent: Perception Lv1 (11/100)] He glanced at the information on the panel and roughly sorted out all the logic. ¡°Martial arts skills can be improved through personal practice or by breaking through limits using light orbs.¡± ¡°Talent, on the other hand, can only grow through specific methods.¡± He thought about the gains from killing the two faceless men in the dream world last night. Two gray light orbs had slightly enhanced his perception talent. But normally, no matter how he used his perception talent, the data after Lv1 never changed at all, unlike Sanda and Judo, which could still improve slowly. ¡°This is just Lv1. What if it improves to Lv2 in the future?¡± ¡°Then the effect should more than double¡­¡± His eyes flashed, and Chen Feng paid great attention to his perception talent. After all, this was a special benefit distinct from Sanda and Judo. In fact, he even suspected that this might be some kind of supernatural ability, but he hadn¡¯t truly developed it yet. ¡°Take it slow.¡± ¡°At least now I know how to grow this talent¡­¡± ¡°The dream world might still hold many secrets. As long as I continue exploring, one day I¡¯ll be able to make it stronger.¡± With this thought, Chen Feng organized his plans for the future. Buzz! Suddenly, his phone vibrated, signaling a new message. He put his thoughts aside and opened it. [Chen Yun: Xiao Feng, about the job search thing, I told my mentor your thoughts.] [But he¡¯s a bit worried and wants to meet you. He hopes we can have dinner together this weekend. Is that convenient for you?] After reading the message, Chen Feng thought for a moment. Chen Yun¡¯s mentor was a good person. When his original parents passed away, the mentor had helped with the funeral arrangements and resolved the disputes left by the previous generation. In the past two years, the mentor had occasionally invited the siblings to dinner, giving advice in a senior¡¯s tone, but had also helped out a lot in private. ¡°Alright.¡± He nodded, not wanting to make things difficult for the mentor. After all, he had a day off at the supermarket every week, so having a meal was fine. [Chen Yun: How about Saturday evening? Hotpot, your favorite. :) ] ¡°Alright.¡± After a brief exchange, Chen Feng set up a dinner for three days later, the location near the research institute. Afterward, there were no further issues, and he thought about last night¡¯s encounter. He changed into his clothes and left the house. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A few minutes later, Chen Feng arrived again at the old alley. ¡°Heard someone died?¡± ¡°Yeah, it was horrible. His organs were all gone.¡± ¡°Damn, that¡¯s terrifying. Whose family was it?¡± ¡°It was the drunk from Liu Ping¡¯s family. Probably got drunk and came home late¡­ Serves him right.¡± Unlike last night¡¯s dim and empty atmosphere. The street was now crowded with people, all gossiping. Two long yellow police lines blocked the entrances to the alley, with two blue and white security cars parked nearby. Seven or eight security officers were maintaining order, moving in and out. ¡°Huh?¡± Chen Feng was surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected such a big fuss in this alley. Quickening his pace, he overheard some of the conversations. ¡°No organs left?¡± The key words triggered a memory from last night when he passed the alley and heard chewing sounds. Man eating monster? A chill ran down his spine, and Chen Feng instinctively wanted to squeeze into the crowd to get a better look. ¡°Who the hell¡­¡± Someone was annoyed at being squeezed and was about to shout. But when they turned around, they saw a tall young man with a sturdy build and a calm gaze. The unfinished words got stuck in their throat. After making eye contact, the person quickly forced a silly grin and stepped aside. ... ¡°Time of death, estimated around midnight last night.¡± ¡°Male, 49 years old, name¡­¡± The alley was about ten meters long, with uneven cement floors. On either side were walls and two old buildings made of cement and red brick. The body, slightly obscured from view, lay half-sitting against the wall, with several security officers standing nearby, all looking pale and nauseous. Some of the older security officers weren¡¯t scolding them because even they were frowning. Looking at the body, the drunk man was torn in half from the waist, as if ripped apart by tremendous force. Blood covered his entire body, with only some organ remnants left inside. The blood trailed all the way from the other end of the alley, as if dragged across the ground. ¡°Captain, what do you think?¡± someone asked. ¡°These injuries don¡¯t look like the work of an ordinary person¡­¡± Captain Xiang Jianjun shook his head, frowning as he observed the scene for a while. ¡°It could be a martial artist of a professional level, or even a modified human.¡± ¡°Or¡­¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence, but those nearby understood what he meant. Their expressions changed slightly, and the atmosphere grew more tense. ¡°How¡¯s the surveillance footage?¡± Captain Xiang Jianjun quickly turned to ask the others. ¡°Captain, the situation is a bit complicated.¡± ¡°This is an old community with poor infrastructure, and there are few surveillance cameras¡­¡± A younger security officer awkwardly explained, opening the data on his tablet. ¡°There¡¯s an electronic eye at the left exit, but it might have been out of service for days due to aging. The other exit on the right is too far to capture anything from here.¡± Captain Xiang Jianjun frowned when he heard this but soon saw the young officer¡¯s surprised expression. ¡°No, Captain, we¡¯ve found something.¡± ¡°At 12:08 AM last night, someone passed by nearby. Perhaps we can ask them¡­¡± ... ¡°Xiang Jianjun?¡± At the exit of the alley, Chen Feng stood at the front of the crowd, pressing up against the police line. His tall frame blocked the view of many people. The youth who had previously moved aside could only lower their head and curse inwardly. ¡°What a coincidence, he¡¯s here again.¡± ¡°Is the Safety Bureau really that short on people?¡± Chen Feng briefly thought, then quickly turned his attention to other traces at the scene. Unfortunately, the distance was too far, and with the security officers deliberately concealing things, he couldn¡¯t find any useful clues. ¡°Move aside, please!¡± Two security officers carried a stretcher out, with a white cloth covering the body. The smell of blood hit his nose, and Chen Feng stepped back, watching as the white-cloth-covered stretcher was loaded into a van. A middle-aged woman accompanied the body into the vehicle, her face showing no grief, only numbness. Chen Feng guessed she was the deceased¡¯s family member. He shook his head inwardly and looked away. Soon, Captain Xiang Jianjun walked out as well. Their eyes met, and the other¡¯s gaze turned to one of surprise. ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 24: A Reminder Translator: CinderTL --- Beside the Safety Bureau¡¯s vehicle. Chen Feng stood on the right side of the engine hood, with the slender Xiang Jianjun and another security officer standing in front of him. He could feel the curious gazes of many passersby and residents, while clearly hearing the smiling words of Xiang Jianjun. "Young man, what a coincidence, we meet again." "Do you live nearby too?" "Mm." Chen Feng nodded lightly, not feeling uncomfortable. "Alone?" "Most of the time." Chen Feng replied, as Chen Yun occasionally comes back to stay for a while. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That''s good." Xiang Jianjun nodded and smiled, exchanging a few polite words. Then, glancing at the people and residents standing several meters away, his smile faded. Looking back at Chen Feng, he quickly changed the subject and asked seriously: "I checked the surveillance records, and you passed by here around midnight last night." "Do you remember what you saw?" His tone was serious, and the furrowed brow on Xiang Jianjun¡¯s forehead was evident. Chen Feng raised an eyebrow upon hearing this; he sensed something unusual. "A pair of scarlet eyes." After a moment of consideration, he said truthfully, "It felt wrong, so I ran away quickly." The security officer who was taking notes nodded instinctively, as this matched the footage exactly. "Did you see anything else?" Xiang Jianjun continued, his white shirt making him look very solemn. "No." Chen Feng shook his head. Noticing Xiang Jianjun seemed slightly disappointed, he quickly feigned curiosity and asked, "Officer Xiang, what was that thing? Was it really human?" It devours people''s internal organs. Its eyes were scarlet, and it exuded violent malice. No matter how you looked at it, it didn¡¯t seem human. "Of course, it¡¯s human." "This is a technological society; everything can be verified by materialistic science," Xiang Jianjun responded with righteous certainty, leaving Chen Feng stunned. He had expected to learn something useful. "However, we are still investigating the killer. There is no conclusion yet." "So, before we do, please refrain from discussing what you saw last night, to avoid causing misunderstandings and panic among the public..." An official-sounding response. Chen Feng looked deeply at the other man. He felt the Safety Bureau must know something. Not asking any more questions, he believed that once he became stronger, he would know more answers. "By the way, those two punks who robbed the supermarket, they confessed last night." Probably sensing the thoughtful look from Chen Feng or perhaps admiring him a bit due to the supermarket incident, Xiang Jianjun quickly changed the topic, proactively sharing another piece of information. "As you guessed, they both said they were instructed by Zhao Jin." "At the time, the other party was still in a car on the street, providing lookout and backup, but didn''t expect to run into you." "We¡¯ve started to catch the other party, but haven¡¯t found them yet. You should be careful, and if anything happens, feel free to contact us..." Chen Feng was surprised that Xiang Jianjun would share this information voluntarily. He nodded, keeping it in mind. Soon, the questioning ended. Xiang Jianjun left a few people to guard the scene and quickly answered a phone call before leaving in a hurry. Seeing this, Chen Feng didn''t stay long. He went home and practiced judo for a while, training his body for half a day. After lunch, he went to the martial arts school with his sparring clothes and two energy bars. ... Boom!! At 2 PM, the dull sound of the sandbag continued to echo. Thinking of the monster from last night and the grisly scene he heard about today, Chen Feng felt a sudden sense of urgency and pressure in his heart. The feeling that monster gave him was at least twice as strong as Coach Lu. In other words, if he had been unlucky enough to run into it, the only possible result would be... Death! Boom! Immediately, Chen Feng reined in his thoughts, his gaze sharp, becoming more eager to grow stronger. He continued practicing his punches, tirelessly honing his sanda skills. The sandbag¡¯s hard surface quickly dented, and the hanging iron chains clanged with a sharp sound, swaying in all directions. Many students around him couldn¡¯t help but stare, quietly comparing. "Chen Feng is so fierce." "His punching power must be over 90 kg." "Is he really an amateur fourth dan? No way." "Of course, didn''t you see how Zheng Qiang was knocked out with two punches yesterday?" "He¡¯s been hiding his strength all along..." Whispers of discussion began to spread. The once inconspicuous name "Chen Feng" had now become a prominent figure in the sanda training class. Even students from other classes under Coach Lu¡¯s supervision were paying attention to him. "Damn, his punches are so heavy." On the side, Zheng Qiang looked at Chen Feng¡¯s punching practice, his face full of pain as he instinctively rubbed his right cheek. Although he had used sprays and medication to heal, he still felt some lingering pain. Yesterday¡¯s crushing defeat was vivid in his mind, and he understood better than anyone the strength and toughness of his opponent. That was close to Xu Dongtai¡¯s level of ferocity. "Only four more days until the evaluation, what should we do?" "Do you think we have a chance?" Zheng Qiang''s sparring partner, Yu Shan, also had a tall physique, standing at about 1.82 meters. After hearing this, Zheng Qiang fell silent for a moment, before slowly shaking his head. "We probably don¡¯t have much of a chance. Let¡¯s wait for the next round..." His tone was reluctant, but resigned. Yu Shan understood what he meant. His gaze shifted, and soon, he turned to look at another person in the arena. Boom! Boom! The louder sounds of punches followed, much stronger than Chen Feng¡¯s. Xu Dongtai, tall and muscular, was covered in sweat but remained focused, completely absorbed in his training. It was clear that the two had started to compete against each other. "Ah..." A deep sigh echoed, the shared sentiment of many people. Yu Shan had once thought he had some talent. But now... He shook his head inwardly, finally understanding the words he had heard before. In the martial world, talent triumphs hard work. ... "Brother Dong, don¡¯t practice too hard, be careful not to get hurt," said Zhou Xin, who rushed over with a water bottle and towel as soon as he saw Xu Dongtai finally stop to rest. Without responding, Xu Dongtai grabbed the towel and wiped his sweat, then turned his head towards the corner about seven or eight meters away. Boom! Boom! The sounds of punches continued, and the young man in black, soaked in sweat, was still focused on his training. The punches sounded like they were almost 100 kg, not much weaker than his own. "Again!" With a cold shout, Xu Dongtai threw the towel aside and turned to unleash another powerful punch on the sandbag. "Tsk tsk..." Watching this, Coach Lu, who had entered the training area, shook his head with a smile, impressed. He had never realized that Xu Dongtai could be this relentless. But now... He looked at Chen Feng''s figure, swinging his punches. Though still skilled in sanda, it was clear he had made another small breakthrough. Each day showed improvement, a true moment of enlightenment. If this continued, there might indeed be a surprise on evaluation day. "Interesting." With a slight smile, Coach Lu''s gaze grew more expectant. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 25: Drawing Translator: CinderTL --- An hour later, the panel prompt appeared, and Chen Feng, drenched in sweat, stopped his practice. Sweat trickled down his face and chin, his black T-shirt clinging to his skin. "Gather sand to form a tower, rivers converge to form the sea..." Muttering to himself, his eyes brightened slightly. Although his talent wasn''t great, as long as he put in some effort, he could still make some progress. It didn''t seem like much, but over time, it would save him some limit-breaking light orbs. He then took a break, stepping aside to grab a gray sports water bottle, drinking deeply. Gulp! Gulp! The refreshing feeling coursed through his body, as if all his fatigue was being washed away bit by bit. "Tsk tsk, are you done training?" Lin Hao, who had just finished a set of bodyweight exercises, lightly set down the 20-kilogram kettlebell in his hand. "You should have seen the coach''s expression earlier, it was like a glowing lightbulb." "I bet you''re on his radar now, huh?" Lin Hao said sourly, but Chen Feng paused for a moment, glancing at Coach Lu, who was correcting the other students'' techniques. He didn¡¯t argue, knowing full well that Coach Lu was paying special attention to him. However... "It¡¯s not enough." "The core student group, that¡¯s where I want to be." A thought flashed in his mind, and he quickly returned to punching practice. "Freak, don''t you ever get tired?" Lin Hao looked on enviously, unaware that Chen Feng¡¯s physique had already changed drastically. Time passed, and half an hour later, the class ended. Chen Feng quickly took a shower, and after changing into fresh clothes, on a whim, he decided to head to the second floor. Bang!! A punch landed, followed by a dull explosion. The screen of the punching power test machine displayed an astonishing number: 100kg! That was the strength level of an amateur fifth-degree. "Sure enough, my punch power has reached 100 kilograms now." Chen Feng nodded in satisfaction. His perception talent allowed him to roughly estimate his power, within a certain range but not enough precision. That¡¯s why he decided to test it out today. He glanced around and noticed that only a few students were around. He quickly turned and left the gym. In the distance, he could hear a few gasps of amazement. ... "Ding-dong!" "Welcome." As Chen Feng entered the supermarket, a mechanical voice greeted him. Surprised, he saw Aunt He, who was handing over the shift at the counter, smile and quickly explain, "This was just installed today." "Xiao Liu said it''s the trend now, all the other supermarkets are doing it, so we have to learn too." Chen Feng nodded, understanding. Before long, the shift handover was completed, and Li Hongxia arrived with her daughter, stepping in hurriedly. "Zhang Jie, sorry we''re late." "Eh, you¡¯re not even a minute late, it¡¯s fine." As they talked, Chen Feng glanced at the two. Li Hongxia was still in her yellow delivery outfit, sweat evident on her face, clearly in a rush. Beside her, Xu Yao stood obediently, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans. The knees were slightly faded from washing, and she quickly called out to them. "Oh my, Xiao Yao is so well-behaved." Before leaving, Aunt He smiled, ruffling Xu Yao¡¯s hair and handing her a box of candy. "Aunt He, this..." "Oh, she¡¯s such a well-behaved child, it¡¯s just a box of candy." "Thank you, Aunt He. Xiao Yao, thank Auntie." "Thank you, Aunt He." "Such a good girl. I¡¯ll leave now, you all take your time..." Laughter filled the air as Aunt He left in her black car. Chen Feng shifted his gaze, feeling a strange awareness. Turning his head, he made eye contact with Xu Yao, who immediately looked away and ducked her head. Quickly, she walked to the sofa area behind the shelves, lowering her head to work on her homework. "This little girl..." Chen Feng wondered, puzzled if he really looked that scary. The answer came swiftly as he saw Liu Fang arriving, accompanied by a middle-aged man with a large belly dressed in fine clothes, and two tall bodyguards in suits. "Xiao Feng, come, let me introduce you." "This is the owner of our supermarket, Zhang Guohui, General Zhang. He came specifically to see you..." After some introductions and explanations, Chen Feng understood the situation. The supermarket owner appreciated him for stopping the hooligans from robbing that day. However, since the man was out of town at the time, he had asked Liu Fang to send material rewards first. Now that he was back, he stopped by to visit. "Good young man, you seem to have a strong sense of justice." "Thanks to you, our company has saved significant losses..." The middle-aged man smiled warmly and gave a few words of encouragement. Chen Feng mostly nodded in response. He then noticed Li Hongxia and her daughter, and went over to sit for a while, asking about their well-being. "You¡¯ve worked hard. I see your contributions to Yongle Fu, and when I go back, I¡¯ll set up an internal fund to support the employees." "This is your daughter? She¡¯s very well-behaved." "Hmm? This little girl has a lot of talent. She draws really well." Boss Zhang suddenly commented, causing both Chen Feng and Li Hongxia to pause. Drawing? Turning his head, Chen Feng noticed a notebook opened on the table in the sofa area. Inside, the image showed a strong young man in black and white, single-handedly subduing two masked thugs against a supermarket background. "This..." Chen Feng looked at Xu Yao, who was blushing, her hands clutching her clothes, standing by Li Hongxia, looking nervous and uneasy. In an instant, Chen Feng understood. No wonder she was too shy to look at him; it was because of this. Amused, he didn¡¯t think much about how she could imagine this scene. Because Aunt He liked gossip, she must have talked about that night¡¯s events with them. "Hongxia, your little girl is so talented. You must nurture her well." "Maybe one day, our Nanjiang city will have a great artist." With some light-hearted teasing, Zhang Guohui sat for a while before leaving with his bodyguards. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Feng looked at the car, which had a flying eagle emblem on the hood¡ªan extended luxury sedan. Leroux, a high-end car brand from the Platinum Federation. "General Zhang has many industries, including not just our Yongle Fu chain supermarkets, but also two food companies." "His visit today really added a lot of prestige to our branch..." Liu Fang said with a smile, and Chen Feng and Li Hongxia nodded in acknowledgment. The mundane work continued, Liu Fang left, and they returned to their duties. Customers came and went, and the sky darkened, the night settling in. Chen Feng stood behind the counter. Before long, he saw Xu Yao approach with her head down, handing him a piece of paper. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 26: Stalking Translator: CinderTL --- On the page in front of him were three large characters. It seemed like a title for the scene of subduing a thug with bare hands. Chen Feng smiled and then looked at Xu Yao, who was lowering her head in front of him. "Is this for me?" "Mm." Xu Yao nodded. "Thank you, it''s very well drawn." Chen Feng smiled. She nodded gently and quickly returned to the sofa area, lowering her head once again. Seeing this, Chen Feng smiled and folded the drawing paper, putting it into his clothes bag. As time passed, it was nearly midnight, signaling the end of his shift. Crash! The roller shutter door was pulled down, and he waved goodbye to Li Hongxia and her daughter. "Sister Hongxia, take care on the way." "Okay, you too, Xiao Feng. Xiao Yao, say goodbye to brother." "Goodbye, Brother Chen Feng." "Goodbye, Xiao Yao." Chen Feng smiled and nodded to Xu Yao, watching as the two of them rode their electric bike and disappeared down the street. Not lingering any longer, he turned and walked away, quickly grabbing his clothes bag and tearing open an energy bar, popping it into his mouth. Crunch! Crunch! The sound of chewing echoed as the roadside barbecue stand no longer attracted his attention. Walking forward, he quickly passed the barbecue stand, the drifting white smoke dissipating behind him. Tap! Tap! His footsteps were firm, and the energy bar was once again bitten into and chewed. At this moment, in the shadows around the street corner, a figure suddenly dropped a cigarette butt and stomped on it viciously. Stepping out, wearing a black hoodie with the hood covering his face, it was hard to make out his features. He could only be seen walking lightly, holding a long steel rod in his hand, trailing not far behind Chen Feng. "Little bastard, I finally found you." "Because of you, I was caught by the Safety Bureau. I didn¡¯t get the money and ended up in trouble..." "I¡¯m going to break your bones later!" Gnashing his teeth, he followed closely behind Chen Feng, watching him leisurely walking while eating an energy bar. Zhao Jin¡¯s eyes flashed with malice, his heart filled with hatred. His footsteps quickened. He glanced at the surrounding neighborhood. This area was near an old residential block with few surveillance cameras. Familiar alleys appeared again, and he watched the young man enter one. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Heh, little bastard, you''re dead!" Zhao Jin muttered lowly, surprised at how smoothly things were going. There were no surveillance cameras nearby, a perfect moment to strike! Immediately, his eyes lit up. He gripped the steel rod tightly and quickened his pace. Tap! He dashed into the alley entrance, and it was dark all around. The next second. Buzz! It was as though a crouching beast had suddenly awakened. A fierce wind swept over, and before Zhao Jin could react, a strong hand reached out and grabbed his face. Before he could recover, a massive force erupted. Boom! Bang!! His head was pressed into the red brick wall of the alley. His flesh tore, and blood spurted out! Brick shards flew, and the pain was intense! The dull thud of the impact echoed, and the two motion-sensing lights of the surrounding neighborhood brightened. Clang! Clang! Clang! The steel rod dropped weakly to the ground, making a distinct clanging sound. Zhao Jin¡¯s consciousness blurred, and blood spilled from his head, soaking his hoodie and dripping onto his nose. "Too weak." With a blank expression, Chen Feng took a step forward, his tough face emerging from the dim light. Such strong malice¡ªhe could feel it with his innate ability without turning around. He then lifted the hoodie and saw the familiar face. Chen Feng raised his eyebrow slightly. "It really is Zhao Jin." Shaking his head, he loosened his grip and let the unconscious man collapse to the ground. From his perception, he could tell Zhao Jin was only unconscious. Though his breath was weak, he wasn¡¯t dead. "My control over my strength has increased." "Next, let the Safety Bureau handle it." He glanced around the surroundings and quickly took out his phone to report the situation. More than ten minutes later. The red and blue lights flashed through the street, and a patrol car slowly stopped at the alley entrance. Chen Feng stood in place and saw Captain Xiang Jianjun again. "Efficient work." "I warned you this morning to be careful, and you¡¯ve already handled it by tonight?" Xiang Jianjun was still in his white shirt uniform, his black pants tucked in, and a red star emblem on his leather belt from the Safety Bureau. He glanced at the unconscious Zhao Jin, his eyes showing a hint of surprise. "It was just a coincidence." Chen Feng calmly responded, then asked the key question. "Officer Xiang, this doesn¡¯t count as intentional harm, right?" "It doesn''t." Shaking his head, Xiang Jianjun understood Chen Feng''s concerns. "You helped us catch a criminal. Not only is there no fault, but you¡¯ve done a good deed." "Once I¡¯m done with things in the next couple of days, I¡¯ll have someone deliver a commendation flag to you." Chen Feng shook his head, signaling there was no need. He just wanted the matter to be settled. Soon, the Safety Bureau took Zhao Jin away, handcuffing him. Chen Feng watched them leave and couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. "It seems the Safety Bureau really is short on manpower." ... That night. The sound of water running echoed. Under the shower, his short hair quickly became wet, and the water droplets rolled down his body. The white steam rose, swirling up the vent and disappearing. "Finally, I can live with peace of mind again." Turning off the shower, he wiped his face with his hand. Chen Feng¡¯s expression relaxed, a rare moment of relief. Zhao Jin was weak, just a petty thug. But these past few days, he had been on high alert. After all, he was just an ordinary young man with some muscle. If he had been ambushed with a knife or even a gun, he could have easily died. "Although, I did overestimate this guy." "Even though Red Country allows gun ownership, not everyone can get their hands on firearms." Shaking his head, Chen Feng realized he had been influenced by the robbery he witnessed at the jewelry store. Subconsciously, he thought that if someone had the intention, they could find a way to get a gun. Reflecting on it, he was relieved that the matter had ended safely, and he didn¡¯t dwell on it. Soon, he ate two bags of bread, brushed his teeth, tidied up, and then lay down in bed. Maybe because of discovering the drunk man''s body in the morning, the neighborhood was eerily quiet that night, with no sounds of disturbance. Thanks to this, Chen Feng quickly fell asleep and entered the dream world once again. A thick mist filled the air, and the pitch-black sky showed no stars. The asphalt road grew dim, and only a few familiar places he had explored earlier were lit up. Buzz! His perception activated. Chen Feng¡¯s eyes flickered, looking at a building on the street. It was a martial arts dojo, not far from the asphalt road. The mist parted, and with the glow of a streetlight, he could see three large characters on the sign. "Extreme Martial Arts..." A strong feeling surged in his chest, and his eyes brightened. Because he knew, there had to be a Limit-Break Light Orb inside! Without hesitation, he moved quickly and headed towards it. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 27: Light Orbs, Patterns Translator: CinderTL --- Step step! The footsteps echoed along the street as Chen Feng arrived at the entrance of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. Looking ahead, he saw a massive brown wooden door on the first floor, standing about three meters tall and over four meters wide. The surrounding fog had already dissipated. Chen Feng walked up to the door and intended to enter. He stopped and looked around. There was no visible lock, and the huge door seemed to be made from two giant wooden boards seamlessly joined together. ¡°Is it push to open?¡± A thought flashed through his mind. Chen Feng raised both hands and placed them on the door, attempting to push. Buzz! He applied force with his shoulders and elbows, veins slightly visible on his muscles. However, the wooden door remained unmoved. Raising an eyebrow, Chen Feng decided to use all his strength. But just then¡ª Tap! Tap! Suddenly, footsteps sounded, and the fog five meters away stirred, forming a vortex. Three figures emerged, walking left and right, varying in height, build, and size. Some wore coats, others short sleeves. The only thing in common was their pale faces, lacking any visible features. ¡°Here they come again!¡± Chen Feng''s expression darkened, as a certain pattern seemed to form in his mind. Before he could think further, the three Faceless Ones sped toward him, attacking. Swish! A harsh wind rushed toward him, and the Faceless One wearing the coat, tall and thin, extended its pale hand like an eagle''s claw. Chen Feng''s instincts as a skilled martial artist kicked in. He quickly pivoted and dodged the attack. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Buzz! The next moment. The air trembled. The slightly plump Faceless One in short sleeves, launched itself off the ground like a cannonball, charging straight toward him. His gaze flickered, and Chen Feng quickly retreated, avoiding the strike. Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. Instinctively, he turned, his right arm tensing, muscles coiling as he struck out with a whip-like punch. Bang!! He blocked a sneak attack from the third Faceless One, whose fist had aimed at his temple. Both forces collided, and Chen Feng''s right arm shook, his body slightly shifting. It felt like the strength and speed of this Faceless One were stronger than the first one. Swish! Without giving him a break, the initial tall, thin Faceless One reached out again with its claw. Simultaneously, the plump Faceless One charged forward like a battering ram, heading for his abdomen. Under the imminent crisis, Chen Feng''s hairs stood on end. Yet, instead of fear, he felt an exhilarating rush of adrenaline through his veins! Kill! The only thought in his mind was that his perception talent could still use some improvement! He quickly stepped back with his left foot, using the momentum from the third Faceless One''s punch. He leveraged the movement to retreat, executing a back-step maneuver from his martial arts. Their attacks missed him as he narrowly avoided them. Seeing the third Faceless One step forward again, throwing a hook punch, Chen Feng''s expression hardened. Boom!! Fist met fist, without hesitation. His strength attribute of 9.2 burst forth, and the 100 kg punch was overwhelming. The wind from his punch exploded, and a gust swept through the area. Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap! The third Faceless One''s arm trembled as its body was sent reeling backward. Seizing the opportunity, the tall, thin Faceless One and the plump one tried to team up once more to ambush him. Chen Feng stepped forward and launched a punch. Buzz!! The punch cut through the air, fast and accurate, tearing through the night like a shockwave. It struck the tall, thin Faceless One on the temple, sending it staggering backward. Swish! Chen Feng planted his left foot on the ground and twisted his waist, sending his right leg sweeping out like a whirlwind! Whap! His whip-like kick smashed into the neck of the plump Faceless One. A subtle crack was heard as its body lurched, and it collapsed to the ground with a loud thud. But Chen Feng didn¡¯t relax. Buzz! The third Faceless One, clearly stronger, regained its balance and swiftly lunged at him. Chen Feng''s eyes grew cold. He recognized that the figure''s movements had some elements of boxing. Even without dodging, he was confident he could handle it! He sank his stance, and his back muscles coiled. His right arm tensed, ready to strike. Boom!! He landed a punch directly to the Faceless One¡¯s face. The third Faceless One flew backward, crashing to the ground with a loud thud. Looking at the fallen figures, Chen Feng''s vigilance heightened. Without hesitation, he flashed backward. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Black lines shot out from the three Faceless Ones'' faces, necks, and ears, heading straight toward him. He could see countless bugs writhing in the black lines. A strange, cold sensation washed over him, and Chen Feng''s face darkened as he swiftly dodged. Smack! The black lines barely missed, striking empty ground. The tiles of the courtyard were corroded, leaving pits. Nearby, a dead tree¡¯s branches decayed, revealing a hole the size of a fist. Through his senses, Chen Feng could clearly feel the insects'' death throes in the decaying areas, the black liquid left behind by their deaths. ¡°This is too freaky.¡± Chen Feng shook his head, remaining alert and scanning the area vigilantly. The Faceless Ones, though mysterious, seemed connected to humans. But the black bugs were beyond common sense, and their origin was unclear. If it weren''t for his experience and timely evasion, he might have been corrupted by the black bugs. "Perhaps the Faceless Ones were controlled by these black bugs." A thought crossed his mind, and he speculated. After confirming that the black liquid had dried up, leaving only dark marks, he sighed in relief and turned his gaze to the battle site. The three Faceless Ones had vanished, replaced by three faint gray light orbs. As he got closer, the orbs automatically flew toward him. One by one, they merged into his body. [You have gained three Perception Light Orbs!] [Perception +3!] [Talent: Perception lv1 (26/100)] A change appeared on his talent panel, and Chen Feng felt a warm current surge into his mind, bringing a refreshing sensation. The world before him was still a dream, but he could faintly perceive everything around him with much greater clarity. It was as if he were using a magnifying glass, allowing him to see every detail within his field of vision. Additionally, his ability to detect mental and spiritual residues, as well as the locations of light orbs, had improved. His gaze turned toward the martial arts hall, which had two floors. Chen Feng was shocked, realizing there might be even more of those limit-breaking light orbs inside than he had anticipated. With this in mind, he quickly moved to the front of the building''s large door. Placing both palms on the door, he pushed it open. Click! The massive wooden door slowly moved, revealing a wide entrance several meters wide. ¡°Just as I thought...¡± His thoughts solidified as he suspected that the dream world had a certain set of rules. More specifically, there seemed to be a certain logic behind the appearance of the Faceless Ones, closely tied to his exploration of this place. Before he could continue to think or investigate, he noticed that on the practice floor of the martial arts hall, four light orbs had appeared¡ªthree red and one blue. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 28: Skill Light Orb Translator: CinderTL --- [You have picked up a (Limit-Breaking Light Orb)!] [Limit-Breaking Light Orb: Residual Will of a Martial Artist] [Quality: Primary] [Effect: Can somewhat enhance martial arts skill proficiency] Inside the martial arts hall, three Light Orbs of light red color were touched by Chen Feng in succession, and the related information quickly appeared on the panel. He didn¡¯t pay much attention to them and didn¡¯t use them immediately. Chen Feng¡¯s gaze was entirely fixed on a light blue Light Orb. Faintly, he seemed to see a faint shadow of a fist, wrapped inside it. "What is this Light Orb?" Curious, Chen Feng attempted to raise his hand and touch it. Buzz! In an instant, the light flashed, and the blue light surged into his body! [You have picked up a (Skill Light Orb)!] [Skill Light Orb: Martial Artist''s Skill Inheritance] [Skill: Explosive Fist] [Effect: Can condense energy, amplifying the power of the punch!] [You have comprehended it at the beginner level!] [Explosive Fist: Beginner (1%) +] Numerous insights flooded his mind, and a new memory emerged. It was the sweat and effort he had put into practicing his fist technique day and night, until one day, he suddenly grasped the entry level! "Explosive Fist?" Intrigued, Chen Feng couldn¡¯t help but want to try it. Immediately, following the special method in his memory, he quickly guided the energy, gradually gathering it in his arm. The veins bulged, and his right arm, already muscular, now seemed to have grown stronger by twenty percent. The muscles stacked up, and the blood vessels twisted and coiled like tree roots. Finally, with a heavy punch, Chen Feng aimed at a sandbag in the martial arts hall and suddenly launched his right fist forward! Boom! A violent howling sound entered his ears, as if the air had been torn apart. Finally, with a thud! The standing hard-skin sandbag sank, its stable bottom suddenly lifting off the ground. The floor of the martial arts hall echoed with a thundering sound, and roughly estimated, the bag had flown back by two meters. "This punch... is at least 140 kilograms!" A gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and Chen Feng was greatly surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected the explosive fist¡¯s effect to be so strong. It directly increased his explosive power by 40%! It was close to the full-force strike of an amateur ninth-dan fighter. "But, it¡¯s not without drawbacks..." Looking down at his right fist, Chen Feng could feel a slight rebound ache from his flesh. He knew that this might be due to his physical constitution not being strong enough. A person¡¯s explosive power was closely related to their physical fitness. Muscles, fascia, bones... these were all key factors in generating power. If the body¡¯s constitution wasn¡¯t strong enough, even with great power, it was easy to injure oneself. Besides... "This technique also consumes a lot of energy." Quietly sensing his body, Chen Feng noticed that the punch he just threw had probably consumed at least one-fifth of his stamina. In other words, he could only use it five times at most in a short period. Otherwise, his stamina would be exhausted, and he would be left vulnerable. "But that¡¯s more than enough." "It can definitely serve as my trump card." Nodding in satisfaction, Chen Feng immediately turned his attention to the three Limit-Breaking Points on the panel. If he could increase his explosive power by 40% with just the beginner level, what if he mastered it? Feeling an impulse, he looked at the ''+'' symbol after the Explosive Fist skill and couldn''t help but silently wish for an upgrade. Buzz! More insights about the Explosive Fist appeared, and the skill progress immediately changed. [Explosive Fist: Beginner (11%) +] "One Limit-Breaking Point only gives 10%?" His gaze sharpened, and Chen Feng immediately abandoned the idea of continuing to allocate points. This was more demanding than upgrading a mastery-level technique in free combat. He only had two Limit-Breaking Points left and had to maximize the effect. "Sanda is currently at 39%. Even if I use all the Limit-Breaking Points, it will be hard to reach mastery." "Judo is at 41%, and with two Limit-Breaking Points, I can definitely break through to mastery... this will also improve my strength and constitution." Making a decision, Chen Feng immediately looked at the ''+'' symbol after the Judo skill. "Upgrade!" Buzz! Numerous insights about Judo flooded into his mind. Stance, legwork, defense techniques... all the techniques became instinctual memories. In an instant, the panel information changed again. [Judo: Mastery (8%)] [Strength: 9.2 ¡ú 9.5] [Agility: 8.8 ¡ú 9.0] [Constitution: 8.9 ¡ú 9.2] [Willpower: 9.4 ¡ú 9.6] "Indeed, Judo is now mastered." Looking at the panel prompt, Chen Feng nodded in satisfaction. With this upgrade, his physical fitness, especially his strength and constitution, had notably improved. The former would allow his punch to be even more powerful, and the Explosive Fist¡¯s power would increase. The latter would ensure he had more stamina, and even the strain from an Explosive Fist could be better supported and alleviated. "This martial arts hall is truly my treasure." His eyes brightened as Chen Feng looked around the martial arts hall. He was currently at the outermost training area, closest to the main door. The brown wooden floor was laid out, and the lights inside were off. The streetlights outside cast a dim yellow light through the windows. Looking inside, he could see several separated training rooms, distributed along the corridor on both sides. Further ahead, there was a staircase leading to the second floor. "Let¡¯s continue." Filled with greater anticipation, Chen Feng used his perception ability to sense that there were Light Orbs in both the training rooms and on the second floor. His steps quickened as he walked forward. In the next moment... With a creak, one of the wooden doors closest to the outer training area suddenly opened. Chen Feng¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately stopped, looking at it warily. A figure appeared. Dressed in a form-fitting white martial arts uniform, a black thread embroidered the character "Ji" (Extreme) on the left chest. Barefoot, the person was tall, about 1.85 meters. The limbs were sturdy, and the hands, hanging by the waist, had thick knuckles, showing clear signs of being a martial artist. However, as he looked up... Chen Feng¡¯s pupils shrank. Under the messy hair was a white and black patterned mask. Most of the facial features were hidden, with only a pair of pitch-black eyes visible, with no whites at all. It looked as if the person¡¯s eyes had been stained with ink, resembling the mist outside. In that instant, their eyes met. Chen Feng¡¯s hair stood on end, as if being stared at by a wild beast, and a chill ran down his spine. Danger!!! BOOM! The martial arts hall shook. The man in the white martial arts uniform suddenly stomped the ground turned into a blur. The next thing Chen Feng knew, he was in front o him. Riiiip! Suddenly, the world froze. A howling punch covered in white mist tore through the air. DEATH! A sense of dread flashed through his mind, and Chen Feng felt his body stiffen. Time seemed to stop as he urged himself to move! S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. MOOVEE! He mentally shouted, but the punch, like a launched missile, grew closer. Just as it seemed he would be blasted apart by the punch; Chen Feng finally felt his body regain awareness. He quickly fell back and dodged. Boom! The punch missed, but Chen Feng still felt a sharp pain in his chest. The punch never touched him, the pain was caused just the aftershock a few inches away. Thud! The next moment. He saw the masked man freeze for a moment, his foot stomping heavily, making a muffled sound on the wooden floor. Then, his left shoulder moved. Chen Feng saw the frightening left punch coming from the waist with a tremendous force. Seeing this, his heart grew colder. He shouted angrily, immediately using the Explosive Fist, hoping for a sliver of chance. Boom! Crack! The two fists collided with a cracking sound. Pain tore through him, and Chen Feng was sent flying backward at high speed. Blood quietly seeped from the corner of his mouth. Looking at the masked man charging again, he didn¡¯t hesitate. Taking advantage of the backward motion, he grabbed his right arm and bolted out the martial arts hall door! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 29: Laws Translator: CinderTL --- Thud, thud, thud, thud! In the dream world, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed repeatedly. Chen Feng, clutching his right arm, rushed out of the dojo''s main gate, a look of surprise flashing across his face. He had never expected the masked man to be this terrifying. With a single punch, the masked man had fractured his right arm, and even using his Explosive Fist, he was unable to fight back. In his perception talent, the other party felt like a terrifying humanoid beast, with a malicious intent so strong that it felt like a storm, destroying everything in its path. "At least a professional level, and definitely stronger than Coach Lu!" "Even compared to the shadow monster in the alley that day, it¡¯s probably not far behind." As these thoughts crossed his mind, Chen Feng suddenly realized that the malicious intent he had sensed was slowly dissipating. He paused, ignoring the pain in his right arm, and quickly looked back. At the bottom of the two-story dojo, the masked man in a white martial arts uniform had not followed. His ink-black eyes watched Chen Feng leave from a distance, standing motionless at the entrance of the huge wooden door. "What''s going on?" Chen Feng was confused, but at the same time, he felt a sense of relief. Thud, thud! Then, his footsteps sounded again. But instead of giving chase, the masked man turned around and quickly disappeared from the dojo entrance. It looked like he had returned to the training room. "He¡¯s going back." "Could it be because he can¡¯t leave the dojo?" The thought arose, and Chen Feng felt a chill. The world spun, and fog rose. In the next moment, the world in front of him changed again, and he saw the familiar ceiling once more, along with the curtains swaying in the wind. "I''m back." Hoo! He sighed, a flicker of relief in his eyes. The chill he had felt in the dream didn''t dissipate, and he instinctively touched his face. Only then did he realize that he had been soaked in cold sweat, and half of the pillow was drenched. "Is it because of the masked man..." His expression became serious, and he lay in bed for several minutes, staring blankly at the ceiling. There are always people stronger than you, and there are always worlds beyond your own. The strength of the masked man was beyond ordinary. For a moment, the slight sense of pride he had gained from the Explosive Fist skill seemed to scatter like willow catkins in the wind. "I shouldn''t explore the dojo for now." "At least, I need to wait until I can defeat the masked man..." After shaking his head and reflecting on himself, Chen Feng''s eyes returned to calm and sharp. Then, he turned over and got out of bed, pulling back the curtains. Only then did he notice that his right arm, which had been fractured in the dream, was perfectly fine. "Dream injuries don''t affect reality?" "No, wait..." He carefully sensed his body and, with the help of his perception talent, Chen Feng noticed something different. Although his right arm was not broken, he felt that his mental state had deteriorated slightly. Thinking of this, he quickly walked to the bathroom. The square mirror on the wall reflected his image, and he noticed that his body seemed to have become a little stronger. His judo mastery had enhanced his physical fitness, and his deltoid and trapezius muscles were more prominent, with his arms becoming slightly thicker. However, in contrast, Chen Feng clearly saw that his face had turned pale. He looked like someone who had stayed up all night and appeared somewhat haggard. "It seems that injuries in the dream world consume my mental energy in reality." "And this is just a broken arm. If I died in there..." Chen Feng''s eyes flashed, and he speculated that the consequences would be quite serious. Thinking of this, he became even more certain that next time he entered the dream world, he would avoid the dojo like a plague. "As for those light clusters I sensed, I''ll go after them once I get stronger." "I will definitely go and retrieve them myself, to avenge my broken arm!" His gaze firm, Chen Feng immediately turned on the faucet, cupped his hands under the water, and splashed his face with a refreshing stream. The coldness invigorated him, and all his negative emotions and psychological shadows evaporated like mist under the sun. After a short while, he quickly finished cleaning up prepared himself for a new day with a refreshed mindset. ... Boom!! At 1:30 PM, inside the Flame Tiger Martial Arts School. A group of 20 to 30 students arrived one after another, with the sound of punching bags being struck continuously echoing. "Why do you look so pale?" Lin Hao, dressed in a gray gym short-sleeve, saw Chen Feng¡¯s haggard appearance and was surprised. "I didn''t sleep well last night." Chen Feng shook his head and casually gave an excuse. "Oh?" Raising an eyebrow, Lin Hao''s eyes flickered, as if thinking of something. "I totally get it, you''re also a man after all..." He grinned mischievously, and Chen Feng felt an bubbling urge to slap him to oblivion. "By the way, when I came in today, I heard someone talking." S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yesterday, the punch force testing machine showed someone hit 100kg!" His eyes sparkled, and Lin Hao quickly changed his tone, looking curiously at Chen Feng, "Come on, admit it, was it you?" ... "Zheng Qiang, do you think it was him?" On the practice field, after their sparring session the other day, many people had started to pay close attention to Chen Feng. At this moment, Zheng Qiang and Yu Shan, who were sparring at a nearby open area, exchanged glances. "100kg punch force? His punch force was probably below that level the day before yesterday..." Zheng Qiang observed Chen Feng¡¯s slightly haggard face from a distance. Though surprised, he didn¡¯t think much of it. His eyes flickered as he speculated, "Of course, it¡¯s not impossible." "But I think Xu Dongtai is more likely to have done it." "Zhou Hengtao from the Sanda Second Class is also close to this level." Hearing this, Yu Shan nodded, agreeing with his thought. He tilted his head and looked toward another open space, where a burly figure was hitting the punching bag. The 100kg punching bag swayed violently, and the dull sound of the strikes resembled thunder, ringing loudly. A few days ago, Xu Dongtai¡¯s punch force had already reached 99kg. If he had been taking some nutritional supplements recently, or improved his fighting skills a bit... It wouldn¡¯t be impossible for him to break through 100kg. ... "Brother Dong, do you think it''s that guy?" Zhou Xin, the lacky, held a towel and sports water bottle, standing by the punching bag, carefully withdrawing his gaze. He knew that Brother Dong hadn¡¯t tested his punch force yesterday. "Whether it¡¯s him or not, it doesn¡¯t matter anymore." Xu Dongtai''s voice was cold as he struck the punching bag again. The surface of the bag dented, and the chain hanging from it clanked loudly. "My personal trainer got me some secret medicine. It''ll arrive tomorrow night." "After taking it, my physical condition will improve by 10-20% in the short term, and my strength will definitely reach the level of an amateur Sixth Dan." "Then, during the battle in the selection, I¡¯ll have no problem beating him." As the words fell... Boom!! Another punch landed. Xu Dongtai¡¯s eyes flashed with coldness and disdain. He had no family background. He lacked resources. As for the spot as a core student, what could he use to compete with me? Suddenly, his punches rained down one after another, with thunderous sounds shaking the air. The intensity of the noise immediately drew the attention of everyone in the room. Seeing this, Zhou Xin''s face beamed with pride. Even when facing the surprised gaze from Chen Feng, he stood tall, no longer flinching. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 30: Classmates Translator: CinderTL --- "That guy." Chen Feng shifted his gaze away, not paying any attention to Zhou Xin''s stupidity. As for Xu Dongtai, he was even less concerned. By now, with his expertise in Judo, his strength and physique had improved significantly. He could roughly sense the extent of his current punching power. It definitely exceeded 110kg, which corresponds to the so-called amateur 6th dan. Not to mention, he had his trump card¡ªthe Explosive Fist skill. Once activated, the power of his punch could rival that of an amateur 9th dan, almost guaranteeing a spot among the core trainees. Unconsciously, Chen Feng''s mindset had shifted. His goals had become higher, and his ambitions stronger. The masked man in his dreams¡ªthat was his true opponent. With that thought, he quickly steadied himself and entered a Sanda stance. Jab, hook, chop... The sound of punches slicing through the air continued, and during this time, Coach Lu came by, but Chen Feng paid him no mind. Time passed, and by the end of the session, his progress in Sanda had increased once again. [Progress +1!] [Sanda: Mastery (40%)] Retrieving his gaze, Chen Feng picked up his grey sports water bottle, unscrewed the cap, and took a few large gulps. Gulp! Gulp! The cool water entered his stomach, sweat dripping down his chin and neck, soaking his collar as it slowly slid down. Without wasting much time, he took a brief rest, then headed to the changing room to shower and change. "See you later." Lin Hao waved his hand, slinging his black baseball bag over his shoulder, and casually left. Watching him leave, Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. He hadn''t noticed it much before, but now, as his perceptive abilities grew, he had begun to sense a change in Lin Hao. "Has his physical fitness improved a bit?" Thinking it over, Chen Feng didn''t dig too deeply. Everyone had their secrets, and he was no exception. He then stepped out of the changing room, quickly exited the martial arts gym, and boarded the bus with his bag of clothes. It wasn''t rush hour, so there weren''t many people, and there were several empty seats. He casually chose a window seat and waited silently for his stop to arrive. But within a few minutes, he noticed the bus gradually slowing down. Traffic was congested around them, and the sound of honking horns filled the air. "What''s going on?" Chen Feng wondered, leaning against the window to look ahead at the asphalt road. It was a wide, one-way four-lane road, so traffic shouldn''t have been an issue. Boom!! A muffled sound erupted, followed by a flash of fire. Chen Feng''s eyes narrowed, and he quickly saw a medium-sized jewelry store on the side of the street, its windows shattered and in disarray. Gunshots rang out, continuing for over ten seconds. Soon, a flying car appeared from the distance, passing right by the bus he was on. In an instant, Chen Feng clearly saw it was a black flying car. Through the dark-tinted windows, he could make out several blurry human figures inside. Whoosh!!! Suddenly, flames shot out, and a gust of wind shook the surroundings. The bus windows rattled, and the entire vehicle seemed to shake twice. Chen Feng couldn''t get a clear view, but he knew, with a high degree of certainty, that this was the same group that had robbed the jewelry store across from the martial arts gym. "Isn¡¯t it a bit too high profile." "And it¡¯s another jewelry store robbery." "Ugh, it''s getting worse lately. I heard there was a small-scale youth protest on the pedestrian street last month..." "Hope the Safety Bureau can handle it... sigh..." The bus quickly filled with the sound of noisy discussions¡ªsome sighing, some angry, and some indifferent. Chen Feng listened and then saw the Safety Bureau''s flying car arrive, parking outside the jewelry store. An ambulance arrived shortly after, and stretchers were used to carry out the injured. Security personnel maintained order, and traffic soon resumed. "Something''s wrong." As the bus began to move again, Chen Feng glanced at the wrecked jewelry store. One robbery, he could understand as the work of some thugs trying to get rich quickly by taking risks. But this was just two days later, and another robbery had occurred. Something felt off. "This world is even stranger than I imagined." Chen Feng thought back to the day he had seen the crimson eyes in the alley. Martial arts sects, shadow creatures... what else was there that I didn''t yet know? His thoughts began to wander, and he gazed absentmindedly out of the window. It wasn''t until the bus reached his stop that he collected his thoughts, quickly got off, and made his way to the supermarket. "Xiao Feng''s here!" Aunt He was smiling behind the cashier counter. Despite being over fifty, she looked well-maintained, with a rosy complexion and dark grey hair. "Aunt He." Chen Feng nodded and glanced at his phone. Due to the traffic jam, he was two minutes late. "Sorry, I¡¯m late." "It¡¯s fine, just a few minutes," Aunt He said, waving her hand with a smile, not scolding him. After a brief chat, she drove off in her Feichi brand black car. "Was there a traffic jam on the way?" Aunt Zhang, who was working the late shift, had arrived before Chen Feng. "Yeah, another jewelry store was robbed, so there was a traffic jam." Chen Feng answered truthfully, quickly donning the red cashier vest. "Sigh, it seems like things are getting a bit chaotic lately." Aunt Zhang sighed and briefly mentioned, "Unemployment is rising, prices are going up... there have been more reckless people lately." "I heard from my son that some university students even wanted to join a protest, but the school found out and stopped them..." Chen Feng fell silent. Protests were illegal under the laws of the Red Nation. If discovered, the Safety Bureau would investigate and detain those involved, even imprisoning them. It wasn''t too bad before; it rarely happened. But in recent years, many cities in the Red Nation had begun to experience such incidents. "Hope things get better." Aunt Zhang said, not sure if it was in expectation or resignation. Chen Feng didn¡¯t respond much. These things were too far removed from him; he just wanted to live a good life for now. Practice martial arts, get stronger. Simple and steady progress. With that, both of them ended the conversation and quickly returned to their tasks. As the evening wore on, customers came and went in the supermarket. Chen Feng stood behind the counter, scanning items and handling money. His phone buzzed a few times during this period, and after finishing his work, he checked the screen. There were two messages. [Chen Yun: Xiao Feng, don¡¯t forget dinner tomorrow night, smile.jpg.] [Location: Qinghe District, Jianshe Road, Yongxiang Street... Spicy Hot Pot Restaurant] The first message was from Chen Yun. After looking at the chat box, Chen Feng remembered that tomorrow was the dinner he had agreed on. Without much hesitation, he typed a simple "okay" in reply. Soon, his phone buzzed again, likely because Chen Yun was not busy. She replied almost instantly. [Chen Yun: Okay, see you tomorrow, looking-forward.jpg.] Not replying further, Chen Feng exited the chat box and looked at the second message. [Wang Hanwen: Chen Feng, why haven¡¯t you said anything about the class reunion in the group?] [I heard you¡¯re in Nanjiang, do you have time to attend?] Chen Feng raised an eyebrow at the second message. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 31: Bounty Translator: CinderTL --- Chen Feng remembered that he had muted his high school class group. At the same time, he also remembered that the original owner had added the class monitor Wang Hanwen on WeChat. ¡°Something came up, can¡¯t make it.¡± With a blank expression, he quickly typed a reply. In the four years of university, they hadn¡¯t been in contact much, and their relationship had long faded. Besides, he wasn¡¯t the original owner, and it felt even more awkward to go. Why bother? Buzz! Two minutes later, the phone vibrated again. [Wang Hanwen: Wow, this isn¡¯t like you, Chen Feng.] I heard Han Yue is also coming. Are you sure you¡¯re not coming? ¡°Not coming.¡± Chen Feng replied briefly. Han Yue? This was a name familiar to the original owner, or more accurately, the original owner¡¯s crush in high school. But¡­ I¡¯m not the original owner. With no expression, seeing that the other person sent two more messages, Chen Feng decisively clicked the settings and chose to mute this person¡¯s notifications. The world became quiet again, and he quickly locked his phone and put it into his pocket. Time passed quietly, and midnight arrived. With a clatter, the rolling door was pulled down and locked. Chen Feng waved goodbye to Aunt Zhang. ¡°Good bye, Aunt Zhang.¡± ¡°Alright, take care, Xiao Feng.¡± ... Clack clack! Footsteps echoed on the quiet street. The aroma of barbecue wafted in the air, and Chen Feng chewed on an energy bar, savoring it. The rich protein was continuously absorbed by his body, and the slight fullness made him feel satisfied. ¡°Just a bit mentally tired...¡± Swallowing the last bite of the energy bar, Chen Feng felt a sense of heaviness in his head. This was a side effect from the right arm fracturing in a dream earlier that morning, causing excessive mental drain. Now, with the late hour and fatigue from the day, his mind was growing more and more weary. He quickened his pace, wanting to get home and sleep as soon as possible to recover his energy. After more than ten minutes, he saw his familiar home in front of him. He pushed the door open, quickly washed up, and lay down on his bed. Less than a minute later, the sound of snoring filled the room as his consciousness sank. Chen Feng slept soundly. Until the next morning, with dawn approaching, his eyelids twitched and he subconsciously opened his eyes. The familiar ceiling greeted him, and a beam of sunlight poured through the curtains. In an instant, his consciousness cleared, and Chen Feng noticed something unusual. ¡°I didn¡¯t enter the dream last night?¡± He was surprised and quickly reached for his phone under the pillow, checking the time. It was exactly 8 AM. It was nearly an hour later than his usual waking time of 7:05 AM after coming out of a dream. Also, he clearly remembered that he had fallen asleep as soon as he lay down, without having any dreams. He had slept so soundly that it felt like only a short time had passed. ¡°Wait a minute¡­¡± Soon, realizing something was off, Chen Feng got up and snapped out of it. He quickly walked into the bathroom and looked at the square mirror on the wall. The young man in the mirror was tall, around 1.8 meters. His physique was strong, with prominent deltoids, trapezius muscles, and well-defined biceps and triceps. Looking up further... His rugged, masculine face. The pale complexion from yesterday was gone, replaced by a healthy, rosy glow, his mind clear and sharp. ¡°Indeed¡­¡± Chen Feng raised an eyebrow thoughtfully. Clearly, he had slept deeply, so he recovered very well. His mind wasn¡¯t foggy anymore, and his eyes were bright. ¡°So, I probably didn¡¯t enter the dream last night because my mind needed to recover?¡± ¡°Or maybe it was because the mental consumption was too great, so I couldn¡¯t enter the dream¡­¡± He made a rough guess, but Chen Feng felt that this hypothesis needed to be tested tonight when he slept again. His mental state was now the same as usual, and as long as he could enter a dream normally, he would know the result. He didn¡¯t dwell on it any longer. Chen Feng quickly washed up, got dressed, and had breakfast. At the same time, he sent a message to the supermarket manager, Liu Fang. Yesterday, he had briefly mentioned taking the day off today and going to dinner with Chen Yun in the evening. Buzz! Liu Fang: OK, no problem, Xiao Feng. ¡°Thanks, Sister Liu.¡± Chen Feng replied. Fortunately, there was nothing urgent in the morning, so he stayed home and worked out, practicing judo. He found that his talent for judo was similar to that of sanda. After practicing for two hours every day, he had made some progress. Every little improvement counts; He didn¡¯t plan to give up his regular practice. ... [Progress +1] [Judo: Mastery (9%)] ¡°Phew, not bad.¡± Around noon, Chen Feng, shirtless and drenched in sweat, stood in the living room and nodded to himself. His chest and abdominal muscles were well defined, as if they were carved by a knife, sharp and clear. His strong physique made him look like a different person compared to more than ten days ago. Gurgle! Gurgle! Soon, a feeling of thirst hit. Chen Feng grabbed a water cup and took a couple of gulps of water. During his break, he opened his phone and, on a whim, searched for news about the jewelry store robbery he had encountered yesterday. [Security Bureau Report: This robbery is linked to the same group of robbers from the jewelry store three days ago. Additional personnel have been dispatched for investigation.] [The robbers wore masks, but based on analysis and assumptions, the current composite sketch is as follows... A reward of 200,000 yuan is offered for any information leading to their capture...] ¡°Seems like it¡¯s the same group, and the reward has doubled.¡± After reading the news, Chen Feng held his water cup and looked at the sketch for a while longer. It was a white sheet of paper with pencil sketches of the robbers, detailed and lifelike. There were five pictures, showing people of different builds and genders. One picture was particularly memorable because one of the men had a vertical scar near his left cheekbone, close to his eye. Seeing this, Chen Feng suddenly thought of Li Hongxia¡¯s daughter, Xu Yao. She was also good at drawing and had some talent. The painting she gave him that day was still in his drawer, carefully preserved. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the cost of learning to draw is too high.¡± ¡°Tuition, paper, paints... I¡¯m afraid Sister Hongxia can¡¯t afford it¡­¡± He shook his head in silence, recalling how many of his classmates once wanted to learn to draw but couldn¡¯t due to family constraints. Thinking about this, he put down his phone and water cup, shaking his head. He was struggling enough himself, with no time to think about others. Then, his stomach growled. He took a bag of frozen beef from the fridge, quickly cooked two dishes, and settled for a meal. He ate three or four bowls of rice, two bags of bread, and an energy bar. Chen Feng keenly noticed that his appetite had grown. ¡°The better my physical fitness, the bigger my appetite.¡± ¡°If this keeps up, I¡¯ll really have to find another way to make money.¡± His eyes flashed as Chen Feng thought of something. His savings were still enough for now, and the 1,000-yuan Chen Yun transferred to him was left untouched; he didn¡¯t send it to his coach but kept it for himself. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Plus, the supermarket had given him a 2,000-yuan bonus and a 30% discount on shopping. So, he wasn¡¯t in a hurry at the moment. ¡°I¡¯ll wait a little longer.¡± (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 32: Meeting Translator: CinderTL --- That afternoon. Chen Feng went to the martial arts school and finished his training. [Progress +1!] [Sanda: Mastery (41%)] The results of his training were modest, but still better than nothing. Afterward, he took a shower and quickly changed clothes in the locker room. "You''re taking the test the day after tomorrow. Do you feel confident?" Lin Hao asked with a smile, as always moving quickly and already carrying a baseball bag. "I feel alright," Chen Feng said calmly, wiping his short hair with a towel. "Heh, seems like you''re not afraid of Xu Dongtai at all," Lin Hao said with a thoughtful smile. He could sense the change and growth in Chen Feng. Then, watching Chen Feng put on a loose black t-shirt, Lin Hao thought for a moment and added: "Just a heads-up, Zheng Qiang and Yu Shan have been getting really close to Zhou Xin these past couple of days." "Handle it yourself." "Getting close?" Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, understanding the implication. The rules for the upcoming test involved a chaotic fight, and he wouldn''t forget that. After looking at Lin Hao''s smiling face, he finally said, "Thanks." "Eh, it''s nothing. I''m off," Lin Hao waved casually and turned to leave the martial arts school. "This guy..." Chen Feng squinted at his retreating figure. Although he didn''t know why Lin Hao helped him, he wouldn''t reject someone''s goodwill. Even if that goodwill no longer meant much to him. Click! He closed the metal locker in the changing room. Straightening out his clothes, he grabbed his bag and left. The bus station was just outside the martial arts school, and as he approached, he could see a figure in the glass frame. Wearing a casual black t-shirt and loose denim pants, with white sneakers¡ªit was the gift that Chen Feng''s sister, Chen Yun, had bought him for his birthday last year. It was a simple getup, but his muscular physique accentuated his good looks. "Not bad." Chen Feng nodded and turned away. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a while, the bus arrived. He scanned his ticket, found a spot, and held onto the handrail, standing near the back door. The view outside gradually receded, and the sign of the martial arts school grew distant. The place Chen Yun had chosen for dinner was near the research institute, in Qinghe District, Jianshe Road. It was about ten kilometers away, and with the bus stopping frequently, the journey took roughly an hour. So, Chen Feng decided to go directly to his destination instead of heading home first. The bus was crowded by five o''clock, and though it swerved and jolted around corners, Chen Feng stood firm, unshaken, like a block of black stone. --- "Xiao Feng should be arriving soon." On Jianshe Road, Yongxiang Street, outside a spicy hotpot restaurant, two figures stood side by side. The speaker was a middle-aged man with square-framed glasses, tall and slightly thin, with neatly combed gray-black hair. He wore a dark shirt, short sleeves, and casual pants, giving off an intellectual vibe. "Yes, Teacher Li," Chen Yun replied. "Xiao Feng said he would be here soon, just a few minutes away." Chen Yun nodded repeatedly, her face showing a hint of nervousness. If you looked closely, you¡¯d notice she was about 1.7 meters tall, slightly shorter than Teacher Li. She appeared to be around 27 or 28 years old, with long black hair tied behind her head, wearing a white t-shirt and denim jeans. Despite being barefaced, with some freckles, her face was beautiful and clean. "Sigh, look at you getting all nervous." "Don''t worry, I just want to see if he¡¯s really thought through his future, and not being deceived." Seeing Chen Yun''s anxiety, Teacher Li spoke in a gentle tone: "Xiao Feng''s personality has always been reserved, which could cause him to be taken advantage of in society." "As long as he''s on the right path, I support him and won¡¯t say more." Chen Yun nodded, understanding her mentor''s concern. Since her parents passed away, both she and Xiao Feng had been well cared for by Teacher Li, and their relationship was like that of close family members. So, she knew that Teacher Li was worried Xiao Feng might be misled on to the wrong the path, such as joining a gang or fighting underground. "Thank you, Teacher Li, for your concern." Chen Yun expressed her gratitude. "Sigh, Xiao Feng, like you, is also my junior. It¡¯s only right for me to look after him." "If you really want to thank me, do some good research on the project after you get back. I¡¯m counting on you." Teacher Li smiled and said a couple of words, and Chen Yun nodded repeatedly. Buzz! Suddenly, her phone vibrated, and she quickly checked the message. [Xiao Feng: I¡¯ve arrived.] "He¡¯s here, Teacher Li. Xiao Feng says he¡¯s arrived," Chen Yun said, then hurriedly looked toward the bus stop not far ahead, by the asphalt road. "Oh? He''s here?" Teacher Li nodded and looked in that direction as well. At this moment, the bus had just arrived, and five figures could be seen stepping off. Four men and one woman. Tall, short, fat... But there was no sign of the slender and reserved Xiao Feng. "Why isn¡¯t he here?" Chen Yun wondered, worried she had made Teacher Li wait too long, and quickly sent a message: "Xiao Feng, we don¡¯t see you. Did you miss your stop?" Buzz! [Xiao Feng: I see you.] The phone vibrated again. After reading the message, Chen Yun was slightly surprised. Then, suddenly, the world in front of her darkened, as if all the light had been blocked out. Teacher Li''s breath paused slightly, and Chen Yun noticed something was off. She quickly looked up. White sneakers, denim pants, a black t-shirt. A familiar yet unfamiliar face, almost identical to what she remembered. But the strong, muscular physique made her pause in surprise. "Xiao... Xiao Feng?" "Yes, sister." Chen Feng nodded in response. Immediately, both Chen Yun and Teacher Li stared in shock, their eyes wide open. "Xiao Feng, how... how did you become so muscular all of a sudden?" Chen Yun couldn¡¯t help but express her shock and confusion. Just over half a month ago, she had taken care of a feverish Xiao Feng. At that time, although he had been practicing martial arts for a while, his physique was still somewhat slim, and the difference compared to now was striking. "Maybe it¡¯s because of working out," Chen Feng casually explained. When she heard this, although Chen Yun found it somewhat magical, she subconsciously nodded in agreement. "Seems like your coach was right. Xiao Feng really has a talent for martial arts." Teacher Li praised, adjusting his glasses and leaning forward to take a closer look at Chen Feng¡¯s solid muscles. Having seen many people in his life and heard about some secret martial artists, Teacher Li was able to accept this faster than Chen Yun. As long as there was progress in martial arts and proper nutrition, it was normal to see a strong physique. After hearing this, Chen Yun didn¡¯t probe further. Then, she suddenly realized that her mentor was still beside her. She quickly gave Xiao Feng a meaningful glance. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 33: Farce Translator: CinderTL --- "Teacher Li." Seeing Chen Yun''s urgent expression, Chen Feng politely called out to Teacher Li. "Ah, Xiao Feng." "Not bad, it seems you''ve found your target." Smiling and nodding, Teacher Li''s tone was warm, already accepting the change in the other person. He prided himself on being good at reading people. At first, he had worried that the person might go down the wrong path, but after a few simple glances during this meeting, he realized that he had probably overthought it. Chen Feng did not deny this, simply nodding in response. The three of them finished chatting outside the hotpot restaurant and soon entered. Upon entering, the clamor of voices and the fragrant smell of hotpot filled the air. Beef, tripe, ribs... The decor was simple and ordinary, with rows of brown square wooden tables and matching brown wooden benches, almost all seats filled. Fortunately, Chen Yun had already made a reservation, right by the window, at the third table. Around the table, there were wooden barriers and potted plants separating the space. At the moment, a girl was sitting there, occupying the seat, idly playing on her phone. "Xiao Wei, call the others." Teacher Li walked up and said with a smile. Hearing this, the girl looked up. She wore a light-colored short-sleeve top and denim skirt, her short hair shoulder-length, silver earrings hanging from her ears, a high nose bridge, and her brows and eyes looked a bit aloof. Their eyes met, and Chen Feng realized this was Teacher Li¡¯s daughter, Li Wei. He had met her a few times before; she was likely in college now, just a year or two younger than him. "Chen Feng?" Li Wei raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised, her gaze lingering on his changed physique for a few seconds. Chen Feng nodded and simply responded. He wasn''t too familiar with her. In the memories of the original owner, she was not as deeply remembered as Teacher Li. "Xiao Feng is currently practicing martial arts and working out. He¡¯s making great progress," Teacher Li explained with a smile as he sat down. Li Wei nodded, her surprise fading gradually. She didn¡¯t ask more questions and went back to playing on her phone. Teacher Li shook his head in amusement but chose not to comment further. Eventually, he picked up the menu and handed it to Chen Feng, saying, "Xiao Feng, take a look at what you want to eat. We ordered a few simple dishes before you arrived." "Thank you, Teacher Li." Chen Feng didn¡¯t hesitate and soon ordered beef, tripe, and other meats. The portions were quite large, surprising both Chen Yun and Teacher Li. But then, they remembered that Chen Feng had been practicing martial arts, so they didn''t ask any further questions, quickly letting the waiter take the menu away. "Xiao Feng, practicing martial arts must be tough, right?" Chen Yun asked from the side, her eyes filled with concern. She believed that results and effort were proportional, and seeing Chen Feng''s transformation, she was certain that he had worked hard. "It¡¯s not that difficult," Chen Feng shook his head and smiled, briefly explaining his current situation. His daily routine was simple, and he felt a sense of fulfillment. "That''s great, young people are full of energy," Teacher Li said with a grin, his earlier worries completely dissipating as he observed that Chen Feng wasn''t lying. "However, there¡¯s one thing. I¡¯ve heard some friends say that the further you go in martial arts, the more you need to restrain yourself." "Having weapons and a killing intent is natural, but we live in a modern society with well-established laws. If you encounter conflicts, it''s best to reason things out and avoid physical confrontation..." His kind advice was only partially heard by Chen Feng. TL/N: ? He knew that Teacher Li was an intellectual with a refined character, so he merely nodded lightly, not wanting to make him feel awkward. Seeing this, Teacher Li thought that Chen Feng had taken his words to heart. His smile grew wider, and his admiration became more apparent. "It seems that practicing martial arts really could change one''s character..." A thought crossed his mind. He remembered that Chen Feng had always been stubborn and didn¡¯t take advice well in the past. But now, it was clear that he had improved significantly. Meanwhile, the hotpot restaurant worked efficiently. The steaming hot pot was brought to the table, and soon, they began adding ingredients. "You should eat more meat, it¡¯s on me. No need for reservations." "We¡¯ll order more if we run out." Teacher Li said with a smile, quickly adding several plates of beef and tripe. "I want some soda." Li Wei, who was still playing on her phone, suddenly spoke without looking up from her screen. Teacher Li frowned, and Chen Yun quickly stood up to smooth things over: "I¡¯ll go get it, Teacher Li, Xiao Feng, what would you like to drink?" "Anything¡¯s fine." Chen Feng and Teacher Li answered in unison. The former glanced at Li Wei without making it obvious. "Okay." Nodding, Chen Yun quickly left the table. After watching her leave, Teacher Li fell silent for a moment. Finally, he put down his chopsticks and said to Chen Feng, "Xiao Feng." "Your sister is very outstanding." His tone was serious, and Chen Feng quickly swallowed a piece of beef, paused, and looked at him. "Currently, the high-level leaders are paying a lot of attention to the advanced metal project research we¡¯re doing. It¡¯s having an impact on the development of mechanical technology in our country." "If the research yields positive results, your sister might have the chance to go to the central city for further studies." With that, Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. Central city? A flash of memory stirred in his mind. It was a term that he wasn¡¯t very familiar with. Even he had only seen it occasionally in the news but didn¡¯t know much about it. Realizing his confusion, Teacher Li¡¯s tone softened, and he patiently explained, "Central city is a completely different super city compared to where we are." "Technology, living standards... it¡¯s almost like a different world. If your sister can go there for further studies, it would definitely be a good thing." Chen Feng understood what he meant, nodded lightly, and decided that when he returned, he would look up more information on the subject. They continued chatting briefly about this topic before Chen Yun returned. "Here¡¯s your drinks, with straws." Chen Yun smiled as she handed out the drinks to everyone. Apart from one bottle of soda, the rest were red-packaged cans of iced tea. Both Chen Feng and Teacher Li thanked her as they took their drinks. "Why is it orange flavor? I wanted lychee," Li Wei muttered without lifting her head as she looked at the drink in front of her. Chen Feng narrowed his eyes. "Xiao Wei!" Teacher Li frowned, about to scold her. Chen Yun, seeing this, hurriedly took the drink away, trying to ease the unpleasant atmosphere. "I¡¯ll get you a new one. Sorry, Xiao Wei." "It¡¯s fine, I don¡¯t want it anymore." Li Wei shook her head impatiently, then went back to typing on her phone without saying another word. Seeing this, Teacher Li¡¯s expression darkened, and his gaze grew cold. He placed his chopsticks down and was about to snatch her phone away to discipline her. Bang!! At that moment, a muffled sound suddenly rang out, and two tables over, a fight broke out. An empty beer bottle shattered. "F*** you!" "All I wanted was a micro-chat, what¡¯s your problem? Acting all high and mighty!" "I won¡¯t let you off!" "F*** your mother!" Bang!! In an instant, the two groups began to brawl inside the hotpot restaurant. Tables and chairs were overturned, and cries of alarm filled the room. Then, a beer bottle was thrown. Its aim less than perfect, and it skimmed past a person before heading straight for Teacher Li¡¯s head. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 34: Are you done? Translator: CinderTL --- Buzz! The beer bottle that was coming at him swiftly zoomed into his sight. Attracted by the sound of the fight, Li Wei finally snapped back to reality, her eyes widened in shock, almost frozen in place. On the opposite side, Chen Yun had the same anxious expression but didn''t have time to react. Swish! In an instant, the beer bottle hurtled forward, just a few centimeters from smashing Li Wei¡¯s head and causing a bloody mess. Thud! At the critical moment, a strong hand shot out and firmly grabbed the beer bottle. It was only a millimeter away from smashing into her, when Li Wei froze in place, cold sweat unknowingly dripping down her face. After a slight tremor, she snapped out of it and hurriedly stepped aside. "X-Xiao Feng..." Looking over, the muscular young man was quietly sitting, expressionless. His left hand still held chopsticks, and his bowl contained beef and tripe. His right arm, muscular and strong, showed slight bulging veins on the back of his hand. "Th-thank you." Li Wei quickly expressed her gratitude, and at that moment, she stared wide-eyed at Chen Feng. He didn''t respond but instead, the dull sound of fighting grew louder. Bang!! The two tables around them were filled with both men and women, almost all engaged in fierce brawls. Bowls, chopsticks, and beer bottles all became weapons, creating a continuous series of sharp clangs. Glass shards flew, and porcelain bowls were thrown all over. The surrounding diners looked panicked and hurriedly stood up to avoid getting hit. As for the hotpot restaurant''s staff and manager, their faces were grim, wanting to step forward and intervene, but they couldn''t get a word in. "Go to hell! I¡¯m going to kill you today!" The instigator was a tattooed, overweight young man who suddenly pushed another man to the ground, his head hitting the floor. Immediately, he grabbed a long bench and swung it forward. Fwip!! The sound of the swing echoed, showing the man''s obvious strength. Just as the bench was about to hit the fallen man''s head, the crowd gasped, and some even closed their eyes in reluctance. Thud! However, the next moment¡­ It was as though a giant black stone rose from the ground. A figure stepped forward and reached out. The edge of the long bench was seized in his hand, and a pair of cold, indifferent eyes scanned the scene. The atmosphere paused, though the other brawlers continued fighting. "Damn it, are you looking for death, huh?!" The tattooed, overweight man cursed, attempting to pull back the bench, only to find it completely unmoving. "Did you throw this?" Chen Feng asked, expressionless, holding a beer bottle in his other hand. "Yeah, I threw it! What¡¯s it to you?!" The overweight man gritted his teeth, using all his strength to try to move the bench, but it didn''t budge. "Let go and get out of the way, believe me or not I¡¯ll fucking kill you!" Seemingly embarrassed, the tattooed man angrily threatened, his eyes blazing. "Will you apologize?" Chen Feng asked indifferently. "Apologize to your mother!" the tattooed man cursed again, then let go of the bench and grabbed another beer bottle from the table. Buzz! The sound of the bottle being swung grew louder, and Chen Yun and the others turned pale. "Xiao Feng!" A worried shout rang out, followed by a loud crash. Bang!! Chen Feng''s punch smashed the beer bottle to pieces. Glass shards flew everywhere, and those still fighting froze in their tracks. Then, in everyone''s sight... The muscular young man had somehow discarded the bench, and his large hand reached out, pressing against the tattooed man''s face like a mask. Then, with a mighty press, the force exploded! Boom!!! A dull thud echoed as the tattooed man''s head slammed into the wooden hotpot table. A cracking sound rang out, and a fine crack appeared on the table. The tattooed man¡¯s head was bleeding, his eyes rolled back, and his body swayed as he collapsed, knocked unconscious. "Fuck!" "You¡¯re looking for death!" Some of his companions reacted. Their eyes glinted with fury as their blood boiled, and one grabbed the long bench and charged at Chen Feng. Buzz! The sound of the swing grew louder, merciless. However, the next second... Chen Feng cast a cold glance at the oncoming man, turned, and delivered a powerful sidekick. Bang! The bench shattered, and the man was sent flying. With a series of dull thuds, tables and chairs were overturned, and the attacker could only clutch his abdomen, curling up on the spot, wheezing. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this scene, the crowd was stunned into silence. All those who had been fighting stopped moving, the staff and manager of the restaurant were wide-eyed, unable to comprehend what had just happened. The remaining diners stood frozen, faces full of disbelief, and Chen Yun and Li Wei were almost petrified. Clang, clang, clang! Finally, one of the brawlers, stunned, lost his grip on the iron tray, which fell to the ground. The crisp sound echoed, and Chen Feng turned his head to look at the others. "Are you done?" After he spoke, no one dared to respond. Eventually, the muscular young man turned and walked back to Chen Yun''s side. He glanced at Li Wei and said in a flat tone: "Sis, I¡¯m full." "Let¡¯s go." --- Half an hour later, outside the hotpot restaurant. Li Wei, pushing her square glasses, stood with the restaurant manager and was negotiating with security personnel. During this time, she made a call, seemingly pulling some strings, which made the security personnel''s attitude much more sincere. Chen Feng stood on the sidewalk a few meters away, leaning against a streetlamp, expressionless, staring at the night sky. His tall figure was illuminated by the dim yellow light, casting a long shadow. Seeing this, Li Wei sat alone on a nearby public bench, her face changing several times but still not daring to approach him. Only Chen Yun, after calming the others, walked slowly up to Chen Feng. "Xiao Feng, it¡¯s okay now." "Li Wei found her friend, and the restaurant is really grateful to you, so you don¡¯t need to pay for anything..." She still spoke gently, and Chen Feng simply responded with an "mm," without any further words. The two stood silently on the street, and Chen Yun couldn''t help but glance at his side profile. It was still the familiar face. But for some reason, she suddenly felt her brother had become a stranger. "No matter what, Xiao Feng is still my only family." The thought crossed her mind, and she pushed aside all distractions. Just as she was about to speak again, she saw Chen Feng suddenly speak. "Sis, remember this." "No one can bully you." He turned to look at Chen Yun, thinking of her kindness to his original body. At the same time, he also remembered how she had cared for him in these days. Since this body was now his, he would take on the karma that came with it. Thinking of this, Chen Feng''s voice grew low, and he said seriously: "If you ever run into trouble, don¡¯t hide it from me." "I¡¯m always here for you." As his words landed, Chen Yun paused for a moment, then, a few seconds later... A smile bloomed on her face, her eyes bright and moist with tears. She looked like a clean orchid blooming in the night after rain. "Okay." With a full smile, Chen Yun nodded and said: "Then, from now on, Xiao Feng, please take care of me." Their gazes met, and Chen Feng smiled slightly. He turned back to look at the night sky, where stars twinkled. He felt that, perhaps, only at this moment had he truly set his roots in this world. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 35: Unexpected Malice Translator: CinderTL --- That night. The incident at the hotpot restaurant came to a peaceful conclusion. Chen Feng declined Mr. Li¡¯s offer to drive him home. After all, his neighborhood was quite far, while Mr. Li lived nearby and had an apartment assigned by the research institute. He waved goodbye to Chen Yun and walked towards the bus stop again. Clack-clack! His footsteps echoed in the night, with the sound of cars passing by on the asphalt road. Lights from the vehicles flashed past his vision. In the small alley behind the bus stop, pedestrians walked leisurely, and the sounds of their chatter mixed with the distant music from street dancers. ¡°Did you hear? Old Zhou¡¯s daughter got into the Safety Bureau?¡± ¡°Yeah, the Zhou family¡¯s ancestors must be smiling down on them. They¡¯re really showing off now.¡± ¡°Hey, some people are just born lucky. My kid doesn¡¯t seem to have any future.¡± ¡°Ha, I¡¯ve got a suggestion for you.¡± ¡°Really? What?¡± ¡°Let your son chase after Old Zhou¡¯s daughter. Things will get better, right?¡± The gossip and chatter buzzed in Chen Feng¡¯s ears, but he remained calm as he crossed the street. Clack-clack! His pace slowed as he was about to reach the bus stop. ¡°Hm?¡± Suddenly, his steps faltered. Chen Feng sensed something unusual. Or more accurately, a faint malice coming from not far behind him. Cold, disdainful. Negative emotions subtly gathered, and he squatted down, pretending to tie his shoelaces, glancing behind him. A black car was parked at the edge of the small street behind the bus stop. Through the windshield, he could vaguely see two people sitting inside. One in the driver¡¯s seat, the other in the passenger seat¡ªboth men. ¡°Who are they?¡± Chen Feng squinted, feeling something was off. Then, perhaps realizing his abnormality, the black car suddenly turned on its headlights. It wasn¡¯t too glaring, and he saw it slowly move forward, passing him by. A half-meter distance between them, the car¡¯s front and body passed by in sequence. The closed windows were pitch black, but Chen Feng could clearly feel the cold malice emanating from the car. Buzz! Finally, the car sped away with a slight rev of the engine. Chen Feng pretended to casually withdraw his gaze, but he silently noted the car¡¯s license plate number. ¡°Who could it be?¡± A flash of wariness crossed his eyes as he slowly walked toward the bus stop. This unexpected malice made him wonder if he had offended someone recently. Could it be the three thugs from Zhao Jin? Or was it revenge for his actions at the hotpot restaurant today? The dim streetlights still shone brightly, and the pedestrians at the bus stop were absorbed in their phones. A series of thoughts ran through Chen Feng¡¯s mind, but he quickly dismissed them. The three thugs from Zhao Jin were too insignificant, and based on the original body¡¯s memories, it didn¡¯t seem like they had any other accomplices. As for the hotpot restaurant? The troublemakers there had been detained by the security agency, and they didn¡¯t seem to have any significant background. They should still be in custody at the agency. ¡°Could it be Xu Dongtai trying to pull something?¡± With a puzzled look, Chen Feng didn¡¯t think that was likely either. With the upcoming assessment, if anything happened to him, the inside story would be easily guessed. Unless the other party didn¡¯t want to reenter the core of the martial arts academy, but even then, it seemed unlikely. After thinking for a while, Chen Feng felt a bit frustrated. He turned his gaze to the street corner, and the black car was now completely gone. The malice had disappeared. Instead, the 17-no. bus finally arrived, slowly approaching his stop. It stopped for a short time, and Chen Feng had no choice but to withdraw his gaze and silently board the bus. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll ask Lin Hao tomorrow.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see if this guy can find out who owns that license plate.¡± He suppressed the thoughts in his mind and sat by the window, slowly clenching his fists, trying to control his irritation. He hated this feeling of unknown malice. So... He had to figure it out. --- Click! Around 10 PM, Chen Feng arrived home. The lights turned on, revealing the gray floor tiles. The blackened LCD TV screen was slightly dusty, as if he hadn¡¯t cleaned his house for a while. He walked softly, opening the doors to each room and glancing around, casually observing the indoor items and some dusty windows. ¡°No sign of anyone breaking in...¡± After making his assessment, Chen Feng hoped he was just overthinking. After a quick wash and tidying up, he locked the windows and doors before returning to his bedroom to try and sleep. ¡°My mental state is normal, no sign of weakness¡­¡± He muttered to himself as he adjusted his sleeping position. However, he soon found that despite trying to sleep, he just couldn¡¯t. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After taking a few deep breaths, he tried to calm down his emotions. Eventually, after some tossing and turning, he couldn¡¯t resist and took his phone from under his pillow. Click! He unlocked the screen, the light a bit harsh. Adjusting the brightness, Chen Feng quickly entered the search page and typed in a keyword. [Central City] He recalled what Mr. Li had said earlier. Soon, the search results appeared. [Central City, the capital of the Red Kingdom, also known as the self-circulating city.] [Access to Central City is extremely complicated, and residents not born there must meet strict requirements...] A series of search results appeared, but there were no photos or descriptions of the current state of Central City. Chen Feng read part of it and could only vaguely sense that Central City was very hard to enter, and it was quite mysterious. ¡°It feels deliberately blocked¡­ or perhaps the information is isolated?¡± Not finding much useful information, Chen Feng shook his head. It was still a long way from him, and he didn¡¯t delve too deeply. Instead, fatigue finally started to set in, so he put the phone down and closed his eyes. Soon, his consciousness sank. Suddenly, he felt his feet slipping, and he jolted awake, opening his eyes. The long-awaited dream world had finally appeared again. --- ¡°Just as expected, I¡¯ve entered smoothly.¡± Standing on the street outside the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, Chen Feng held a knuckle duster in his hand, standing still. Mist enveloped the area, and the night was dark as ink. The dim streetlights around him illuminated the area, with the once-explored single-story villas and apartments standing behind him like a shelter. He sighed in relief, quickly refocusing, his gaze shifting toward the open doors of the martial arts academy. The masked man had not appeared, and he didn¡¯t sense any malice. ¡°It seems that as long as I don¡¯t go in, it won¡¯t come out to attack me.¡± Chen Feng thought deeply, only to notice something different. His right arm no longer hurt! He looked down and saw that his arm was perfectly fine, and he casually swung it around, as normal as could be. Clearly, in the dream, this body had fully healed from the injury. ¡°So, I probably couldn¡¯t enter the dream last time because of mental exhaustion.¡± ¡°Now that my mind is completely restored, I entered smoothly, and the injury is healed... Could it be that this body is composed of mental energy?¡± A sudden guess popped into Chen Feng¡¯s mind, and he felt it was very likely. However, thinking of the attribute improvements in the dream world, which were also reflected in reality, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder. If this body was truly made of mental energy, why would his physical fitness improve as well? His eyes flickered for a few seconds as he pondered. ¡°No matter. ¡°It''s good to have found a pattern. I¡¯ll search for answers slowly later.¡± He exhaled, forcing himself to suppress all extra guesses. He then turned to look at the two other areas beside the martial arts academy. The mist had cleared, revealing two low buildings. His sensing ability once again responded, and Chen Feng knew there were limit-breaking light orbs present. He stepped forward, quickly heading in that direction. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Chapter 76. Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 36: Sanda Perfection Translator: CinderTL --- Thud! Thud! Under the night sky, Chen Feng stopped in his tracks outside a low building. He didn''t rush to open the courtyard door because he sensed an unusual movement nearby. The mist swirled, and four faceless figures appeared one after another. They were of various heights, sizes, and builds, quietly surrounding him from behind and on all sides. They had no facial features, but based on their body traits, Chen Feng deduced that they were three men and one woman. "Just as I thought... they¡¯ve appeared again." His gaze flickered as he turned to face the four faceless figures. Last time he entered the dream, he had a rough guess. Now, his suspicions were confirmed. "Whenever I explore a new area, faceless figures attack." "The number seems to increase with each encounter, one more each time?" His thoughts raced as he recalled his previous dream encounters. From one faceless figure to now four. He had explored two apartments and a martial arts gym in that time. With a rough idea of what to expect, the four began their attack. Thud, thud, thud! A strong gust of wind swept towards him, and the female faceless figure with a ponytail rushed in swiftly. Her movements had a hint of sanda, and her hands were wrapped in bandages. "Not only has their number increased, but their strength has also grown?" Chen Feng stepped sideways, observing her fist miss by a hair''s breadth as it brushed past his chest. His eyes narrowed. Based on the wind from her punch, he estimated she was at an amateur level, about second-dan. Whoosh! Next, the two faceless figures on his right attacked together. One performed a whip kick, while the other went for a waist grab. Just as they were about to surround him, Chen Feng stepped back with a quick motion and swung his fist. Boom! A backward whip punch hit the one attempting the waist grab squarely in the temple. Full power unleashed, and his punch, nearly 120 kg of force, exploded into the target! Boom!! The figure flew backward, but another gust of wind rushed at him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the female faceless figure charging again, her ponytail swinging in the night air. Raising his eyebrows, he pivoted, turning his head slightly to avoid her punch. Chen Feng¡¯s hand shot out like a tiger¡¯s claw, grabbing her arm and shoulder. He used his waist to leverage and sank his center of gravity. Boom!! A beautiful shoulder throw followed, and then he kicked down with all his might. Crack! The sound of bones breaking echoed as the female faceless figure¡¯s skull shattered, and her body slid half a meter away. Whoosh! The next moment, the faceless figure with the whip kick charged in again, trying to replicate the previous move. Chen Feng didn¡¯t dodge but instead planted his left foot on the ground, spinning around. Whoosh! The air vibrated and whistled. The faster whip kick followed, and this time it hit her temple squarely. The faceless figure¡¯s head twisted, and her body was sent flying sideways. Boom¡ªshe crashed to the ground. Chen Feng retracted his leg and stood firm, narrowing his eyes at the last faceless figure. This one was wearing loose sweats and shorts, with a buzz cut, and had been watching the others without intervening. As though sensing his victory, the remaining figure shifted his foot. Whoosh! His body darted forward, resembling a leopard with the sound of rushing wind. With explosive speed, he moved in a boxing stance, his movements quick and unpredictable. Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. When he saw the straight punch coming, he calmed himself. "Let¡¯s finish this." With those words, his energy gathered. In the next instant, the muscles in his right arm grew, and his body became more powerful. Just as the straight punch from the faceless figure was about to land, Chen Feng took a quick step and launched a counter-punch. Boom!! The faceless figure¡¯s punch barely missed Chen Feng¡¯s ear as his own fist slammed into the enemy¡¯s jaw with the force of a cannonball. Crack! Bones shattered, and the faceless figure flew back. Boom!¡ªthe final faceless figure hit the ground hard and remained motionless. "Amateur level three?" Chen Feng lightly shook his head, estimating the figure¡¯s strength and slowly retracting his fist. He knew what was coming next as he had expected it and quickly moved half a meter to the side. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Four dark lines shot at his previous position, causing the asphalt to corrode and form a crater. Silently watching, he observed small insects struggling within the hole, eventually losing their lives. Another streak of black appeared, leaving behind a trace. Only then did Chen Feng step forward and approach the glowing orbs left by the faceless figures. [You have received four light orbs of Talent: Perception!] [Perception +4!] [Talent: Perception Lv1 (46/100)] "Just as I thought, the range of perception has increased." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His gaze sharpened as he sensed the change in the range of his perception. Fifteen meters. With his body at the center, he could detect any anomalies within this range, he would know as long as there were light orbs present. "This is only Lv1," he mused. "If I can reach Lv2, the effect will surely be stronger." He glanced at the other misty areas with a hint of anticipation. He needed to kill more faceless figures to level up his Perception talent. And the faceless figures would only appear when he explored new regions... "So, I must ensure my strength improves gradually." "Otherwise, the faceless figures will only keep multiplying and getting stronger... If my strength isn¡¯t enough, I¡¯ll be in serious danger." With this thought, Chen Feng instinctively looked toward the martial arts hall, just over ten meters away. The masked man was still inside, which was the perfect opportunity for verification. Deciding not to delay, he quickly entered the two low buildings in front of him and found three Limit Break orbs. [You have picked up a (Limit-Breaking Light Orb)!] [Limit-Breaking Light Orb: Residual Will of a Martial Artist] [Quality: Primary] [Effect: Can somewhat enhance martial arts skill proficiency] Familiar notifications came in as Chen Feng looked at the panel and focused on Sanda. 41% progress. The three Limit Break orbs would boost his progress by about 60%, enough to help him reach the next level. Without hesitation, Chen Feng spoke aloud: "Enhance!" Whoosh! Instantly, the comprehension of Sanda flooded his mind. Charged punches, whip punches, chopping punches... Footwork, leg techniques, throws... Everything came together as the core principles of the martial art. In the blink of an eye, Chen Feng saw his progress on the panel. [Sanda: Perfection] "So perfection is the highest level?" Seeing his Sanda proficiency reach mastery, Chen Feng was initially satisfied, then paused with surprise. It was clear that he had reached the limit of Sanda. After all it was a basic martial arts, no wonder it was limited. Chen Feng mused thoughtfully, beginning to understand. Not dwelling on it, he quickly checked his stats. [Strength: 9.5 ¡ú 9.9] [Agility: 9.0 ¡ú 9.3] [Constitution: 9.2 ¡ú 9.6] [Willpower: 9.6 ¡ú 10.0] "Such a big boost?" Chen Feng stared in surprise at his stats. A total of 1.5 points of attributes had increased. There was no doubt that the breakthrough to Perfection had yielded tremendous results. Among them, Strength and Willpower stood out the most. The former was especially remarkable¡ª0.4 points of increase brought it dangerously close to 10. Chen Feng threw a simple punch, estimating his punch power. It exceeded 130kg! At an amateur level 8. If he used his explosive punch with a 40% boost, the effect would be even more formidable! Besides that... The most significant was the transformation in Willpower. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Chapter 76. Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/ Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 37: History of the Alliance Translator: CinderTL --- "Willpower..." Sensing himself subtly, Chen Feng''s eyes shone brightly. Due to his perceptive talents, he clearly noticed that when his willpower surpassed 10 points, his mind seemed to have undergone some kind of enhancement. His control over physical strength became more refined. The dark mist around him no longer felt as oppressive as before, as if he had gained some form of resistance to negativity. Additionally, there was one more thing. That was calmness. He had increased control over his emotions! "I can enter a state of calm, at will..." Chen Feng stood still, roughly sensing the changes in his mind. It was as if his spirit now had a switch; whenever he wished, he could use it to shut out most negative emotions. This allowed him to enter a relatively calm state. At first glance, it seemed trivial, not really useful. But after some thought, Chen Feng rejected that idea. Calmness represented rationality. This could help him avoid panic during dangerous situations, allowing him to truly unleash all his strength and make use of any available environment. Especially in battle. Pain, unforeseen circumstances, and psychological interference¡­ these were all factors that affected one''s emotions and the ability to perform. If he could maintain a calm state of mind, then he would naturally not be swayed by such things. "That''s good." Nodding in satisfaction, Chen Feng quickly suppressed other thoughts and adjusted to his strengthened body. During this, he thought of the masked man from the martial arts hall, casting a glance in his direction, briefly considering challenging him. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But in the end, he calmly chose to let it go. "The masked man definitely has professional-level skills." "There¡¯s no need to get hurt over this for now. I can¡¯t waste the opportunity to explore the dream¡­ I''ll wait a bit." Shaking his head, Chen Feng exhaled and withdrew his gaze. Remembering that the dream wasn¡¯t over, he soon began walking around the area, trying to use his perception to locate the light clusters. Perhaps his luck had run out, as there were no new discoveries. Instead, his attention was grabbed by a book that he found. "The Alliance''s History" The book had a brown cover with four large characters written on it. Perhaps damaged by fire, only about ten pages remained. The edges were charred, and just a slight touch caused parts to crumble into black ash. Raising an eyebrow, Chen Feng became curious about the history and background of the dream world. With a soft rustling sound, he gently opened the cover and looked at the contents. "Three hundred years ago, a nuclear war broke out, and the wastelands were left in ruins. Humanity entered the dark age." "Radiation spread everywhere, beasts mutated, deranged people were everywhere, and extraordinary awakeners began to emerge. Various local forces vied for power¡­" "Two hundred and forty years ago, some powerful awakened led by the Golden Emperor, helped humanity rebuild. High walls were constructed, the Alliance was born, and humanity stepped out of the darkness, entering the dawn era." "Sixty years later, the High Wall Alliance continued to expand... Qinggang City was established during this period." "In the ninety-second year of the Alliance, champion Luo Chao first discovered the secrets of martial arts, breaking the limits and reviving the path of martial arts... Martial arts gained high status and became a new path, on par with talent awakeners... In honor, later generations praised Luo Chao as the originator of the Martial Path." "Martial arts and the talented awakened continued to grow. Legends emerged, and individuals broke through their limits¡­ until thirty years ago, when the Abyss appeared, bringing forth the Black Calamity..." The content abruptly ended here, and Chen Feng paused when he reached the next page. "That¡¯s it?" He had become engrossed in reading, hoping to gain some useful information. But then it stopped? A bit helpless, he shook his head and quickly reviewed the historical information he had just read. "Nuclear war¡­ wastelands, Golden Emperor¡­ the Alliance..." "The diary of Wang Yu I read earlier also mentioned the wasteland. That must be the world outside Qinggang City, full of mutated dangers." "There are other cities¡­ Together with Qinggang City, they formed the so-called High Wall Alliance." Pondering more, Chen Feng was particularly curious about the last two lines. "Martial arts and talents..." Narrowing his eyes, this reminded him of the limit-breaking light orb. But his instincts told him that these were not the same. "And the Abyss¡­ what is that?" "Could it be related to the Black Calamity?" With a puzzled look, Chen Feng stood still for a long time, thinking deeply. Though he had finished reading a dozen pages and learned some historical context, he found himself even more confused. The information was incomplete, and there were too many unfamiliar terms. For example, he still didn¡¯t understand what the Black Calamity was. "I''ll have to pay more attention later." Shaking his head, he regretfully set down the broken book, "The Alliance''s History." The book made a crisp sound as it hit the table. The next moment, Chen Feng withdrew his hand, only to feel the world gently shift. The sky and earth spun, and he quickly felt the scenery around him changing at a rapid pace. It was as though a mist was enveloping him, or like the moment of dawn. The familiar ceiling reappeared, and a ray of sunlight shone through the curtain gap. "I¡¯m back..." He glanced at the time. It was still 7:05. Everything had returned to its original state. Chen Feng sighed in relief, quickly getting up and pulling back the curtains. Whoosh! The blue sky, white clouds, towering buildings, and rows of small houses were visible. Children carrying backpacks were heading out, and workers dressed in blue were yawning as they got up. The scene was completely different from the dream world. Staring out in a daze, Chen Feng couldn¡¯t help but entertain an absurd thought. If that so-called Black Calamity happened in this world¡­ Would humanity on Earth survive? Thinking of this, a sense of heaviness suddenly grew in his heart. After all, based on "The Alliance''s History," the awakened talents and martial arts in the dream world were probably very powerful. Yet, even then, that world could not prevent the Black Calamity and seemed to have been destroyed. "I wonder if there are any survivors in the dream world..." This thought flashed through his mind, and Chen Feng found himself mulling over many ideas. Finally, after gazing out the window at the peaceful scene, he shook his head and cleared his thoughts. "The more I think about it, the more time I waste." "Slowly and steadily, I just need to grow stronger." His willpower quickly helped him regain his composure. He walked into the bathroom and saw his reflection in the mirror. His broad shoulders, defined trapezius, and thick back muscles were more prominent than before. His arms had grown even more muscular, and his facial features had become more rugged. He even suspected that his height had increased. "It seems like I¡¯ve grown half a centimeter." Chen Feng raised his hand and measured above his head, confirming his feeling. It wasn¡¯t particularly obvious, but his perceptive abilities made him keenly aware of it. "Close to 1.81 meters..." Nodding in satisfaction, Chen Feng started his morning routine. After washing up and having breakfast, he changed into a black tank top. In the living room, he began his bodyweight exercises and judo practice. Sweat dripped down as his muscles swelled with strength. Eventually, his progress in judo increased again. [Progress +1] [Judo: Mastery (10%)] (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 38: The Assessment is Moved Up Translator: CinderTL --- It was 1 PM that day. After having lunch, Chen Feng took a short break and then left the house with his boxing gear. He was skilled in both Sanda and Judo. His punching power exceeded 130kg. Unconsciously, he had already reached the level of an amateur 8th dan. This gave him some confidence. "Tomorrow¡¯s the assessment." "Today, I¡¯ll go to the dojo and observe the others'' skills." The thought crossed his mind. Although he was confident in his abilities and felt he could easily secure the first place, he decided to play it safe. Step! Step! He walked down the stairs of his apartment building at a steady pace. Rows of wholesale fruit stores appeared in front of him¡ªwatermelons, bananas, grapes, and white pears... Large trucks were parked on both sides of the road, blocking the street, and the sound of car horns could be heard frequently. "Hey, move the car! It¡¯s blocking the way!" "Alright, alright, I¡¯m on it." "Old Zhang, hurry up and move your car!" The shouting was loud, and there were countless similar situations. Chen Feng was used to it and was about to continue on his way when¡ª Step! His foot landed, but suddenly, his gaze flickered. "Are they back again?" A subtle sense of unease crept over him. Chen Feng felt a faint malice again. Wearing a cold face he stopped and turned toward a nearby fruit shop, pretending to pick fruit. He casually looked over in the direction. Two figures were standing on the opposite side of the street, under an electric pole. One was tall, and the other was chubby. They wore different clothes¡ªone in a dark short-sleeve shirt, the other in a black dress shirt. Both were smoking cigarettes and staring at his location. With a single glance, Chen Feng immediately recognized them as the two people who had driven away in a black car outside the hotpot restaurant last night. "Are they following me?" A flash of doubt and vigilance crossed his eyes as he casually grabbed a plastic bag and picked five or six large white pears that were bigger than his fists. "How much, boss?" "23.7 yuan, 24 is fine." Chen Feng raised an eyebrow and looked at the shopkeeper. "Move your car! Don¡¯t park in front of my shop. I¡¯ve got cargo coming in soon!" The shouting continued from the street, and Chen Feng¡¯s eyes shifted, catching sight of the two followers tossing their cigarette butts. The chubby one shot a frustrated glare at the fruit shop owner, seemingly ready to act. "The guy¡¯s right across, don¡¯t let him notice." The tall one said softly, signaling to his companion, and they both entered the black car before quickly leaving, disappearing at the end of the street. Seeing this, Chen Feng withdrew his gaze. He checked the license plate¡ªexactly the same as the black car from last night. "Young man, we do business like this. Round up..." "If it''s less than fifty cents, I''ll just let it go." The fruit shop owner explained with a grin, but Chen Feng shook his head in annoyance. He hated this reverse rounding off. "23 yuan, that¡¯s what I¡¯m paying." "That¡¯s too low, there¡¯s no profit left for me." Chen Feng turned and left. "Alright, alright, 23." Without another word, Chen Feng paid via QR code and picked up the bag of pears before heading out. .... "Who could it be?" On the bus, heading toward the dojo, Chen Feng got off at the back door, but didn¡¯t sense the malice anymore. However, the more he couldn¡¯t feel it, the more vigilant he became. Once could be a coincidence, but twice¡ªespecially once outside his building¡ªhe couldn¡¯t help but suspect that someone was behind this, or maybe he had offended someone. Step! Step! As the thought crossed his mind, footsteps approached. "What''s up with you, looking like you¡¯re in another world?" Lin Hao, wearing loose black casual shorts and white sneakers, approached, carrying a baseball bag as always. Though dressed casually, there was a distinct aura around him. "Hey, you brought fruit to the dojo?" "What''s going on, you bringing a gift for the coach?" Lin Hao laughed, his tone teasing. Chen Feng thought for a moment but didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries. "I¡¯ve run into some trouble, and I need a favor." He got straight to the point. "Oh?" Lin Hao raised an eyebrow. "What¡¯s the matter?" "I need you to help me check a license plate." Chen Feng, with a serious look, explained. He remembered how effective Lin Hao¡¯s information-gathering had been before and figured this was the best course of action for finding out more about the two men and planning his next move. "Oh, so that¡¯s it," Lin Hao¡¯s face relaxed, clearly relieved. "Alright, I¡¯ll handle it. Send me the license plate via WeChat later." Chen Feng nodded. He had considered asking over the phone, but decided it was safer to do it in person. "So, this pear is for me, right?" Lin Hao laughed, quickly guessing. "Just a little token of appreciation." Chen Feng nodded, mentally noting down this favor. Lin Hao chuckled, took the bag of fruit, and said no more. "Alright, I¡¯ll take it." The atmosphere relaxed, and the two of them walked into the dojo side by side. Step! Step! The sound of their footsteps echoed, but as they exited the locker room, they noticed something was off. "There are experts at the dojo." "I heard, seems like it¡¯s the assessment group. Coach Lu is meeting them in the quiet room." "Aren¡¯t they coming tomorrow?" "How would I know!" The students in the practice area weren¡¯t training as usual. Even Chen Feng could sense that most of them were distracted, quietly chatting. Including Xu Dongtai and Zheng Qiang, who were standing still, their expressions all different. "Looks like the rumors are true." Suddenly, Lin Hao murmured, and Chen Feng turned to him. "I forgot to tell you... It seems like the core student assessment has been moved up." Chen Feng was surprised. Moved up? Does that mean the assessment starts today? Step! Step! Step! Just as he was puzzled, footsteps approached. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Four figures slowly walked towards them, their eyes sharp, their heights varying. Coach Lu, usually imposing, was now at the edge of the group, almost like an assistant, talking to them. In an instant, with a single glance, Chen Feng realized that the other three were definitely experts. At least professional-level! And among them... "Huh?" He focused, and from the three, he recognized a familiar face. A strong, tall figure, nearly 1.9 meters in height. His square face, high nose bridge, and crew cut. Thick lips and sharp, piercing eyes. It was none other than the judo instructor he had watched teaching online a few days ago. One of the core members of the Flame Tiger Martial Arts School¡ªCao Tong! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 39: The Chaotic Battle Begins! Translator: CinderTL --- ¡°Just a quick announcement, due to special considerations, the assessment for core students will start ahead of schedule today.¡± On the martial arts training ground, Coach Lu walked with the three assessors to an open area. His booming voice echoed in everyone''s ears. Many students, who had speculated about this, showed varying expressions of surprise or relief. "Just as I thought." "I didn¡¯t expect the assessment to start early, that¡¯s quite sudden." "It was bound to happen sooner or later, anyway, it won¡¯t be any of us." Quiet murmurs spread as Lin Hao stood at the edge with a smile, flashing Chen Feng a look that said, I knew it. Then, perhaps because of the rising noise, Coach Lu raised an eyebrow. With a slight wave of his hand, he pressed down on the sound and said, "You have ten minutes left to warm up." "After ten minutes, the assessment will start right here on the training ground, supervised by the three assessors behind me." "The assessment is a free-for-all battle. The last person standing will earn a spot in our Flame Tiger Martial Arts Academy¡¯s core class..." Coach Lu quickly explained the rules of the assessment. Many students were surprised to hear the news. Seeing their reactions, Coach Lu didn¡¯t elaborate further and instead looked toward the three people beside him, particularly at the leader ¨C Cao Tong. "Junior Brother Cao, do you have anything to add?" His tone was sincere. Coach Lu was well aware of his junior¡¯s talent and strength. Long ago, Cao Tong had reached the seventh-dan in his specialty, and it was rumored that he had begun practicing true martial arts, with a chance to become the sect¡¯s true successor. Compared to him, Coach Lu was just a coach for a branch academy, their positions worlds apart. If it weren''t for Cao Tong''s old friendship, Coach Lu, even at his age, would have to address him as Senior Brother. "No." "Brother Lu, just go ahead and make the arrangements. We are here only to observe," Cao Tong said, his voice deep and resonant. Upon hearing this, Coach Lu nodded. The students on the field began to warm up, clearly not daring to waste time. In no time, stretching, punching, and various other exercises began... sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shouts echoed in the several hundred square meters of the training ground, quickly making the area lively. "Brother Lu, do you see any promising students this time?" Someone in the assessment team asked. Coach Lu instinctively glanced at Xu Dongtai and Chen Feng on the field. The former had once been his top prospect, likely to reach the professional level. Moreover, it was heard that he had recently acquired a secret medicine. But... After thinking for a moment, Coach Lu pointed toward Chen Feng and said, "This student is quite impressive." "Just a week ago, he unlocked his martial arts potential, and in just one day, he''s transformed. In seven short days, he went from being a complete beginner to mastering Sanda and even learning Judo to high proficiency." "I personally think his talent is very high. He is more than qualified to join our academy''s core class." As soon as he finished speaking, Cao Tong remained expressionless, but the two people behind him raised an eyebrow. Martial arts potential unlocked? Such examples were rare, but those who had experienced it all ended up at the professional level or above. "Brother Lu, are you sure it was unlocking martial arts potential and not just a simple breakthrough in Sanda?" Cao Tong asked, his tone skeptical. Coach Lu hesitated at this. There was a significant difference between unlocking martial arts potential and just gaining insight into fighting techniques. The former represented a real transformation in talent and could lead to going far in martial arts. The latter, however, was just a quick comprehension of a single martial art style. While it might allow rapid progress in the short term, it was not sustainable. "Eight or nine out of ten," Coach Lu said after a pause, gritting his teeth. He trusted his judgment and didn''t want such a talented person to be overlooked by the academy. After all, he knew Xu Dongtai had obtained the secret medicine, dramatically increasing his strength. He was probably already nearing the amateur seventh-dan. Compared to that, Chen Feng''s martial arts potential had been unlocked too recently. Today''s free-for-all battle might be a bit too tough for him, and he could lose. "Unlocking martial arts potential takes time to verify, Brother Lu. Be careful not to misjudge," someone in the assessment team reminded. It was clear that they thought this possibility was unlikely. After all, if the academy mistakenly enrolled someone based on such a judgment, it could waste resources. And the person who recommended him would have to bear the consequences. "Junior Brother Zhao, I..." Coach Lu started to respond, but another member of the assessment team shook his head. "Brother Lu, unlocking martial arts potential is too elusive. There have been few cases in the history of our academy, and in this generation, only Junior Uncle has achieved it." "Junior Brother Zhao is also concerned about you being punished for a wrong judgment. Don''t blame him for speaking out." Upon hearing this, Coach Lu understood. He sighed, refraining from arguing further, and ultimately looked at Cao Tong. Cao Tong was the one in charge of the assessment, and whether Chen Feng would still have a chance to be enrolled in the core class after a failure in the battle would depend on whether Cao Tong spoke up. "We''ll see," Cao Tong said, his expression unchanging, like a towering figure. Solemn and calm. Seeing this, Coach Lu understood and said no more, silently turning his head to watch Chen Feng on the training ground. Chen Feng, ah, Chen Feng, I¡¯ve done my best. I hope you can impress Junior Brother Cao. ... "Zheng Qiang, are you really going to help Xu Dongtai?" On the training ground, Yu Shan asked Zheng Qiang, who was standing nearby, in a low voice. "Of course, why not earn the money?" "One thousand yuan, most fighters wouldn''t get that much." Zheng Qiang replied with an expression that said are you stupid, making Yu Shan raise an eyebrow. "Of course, there¡¯s also personal grudges." Zheng Qiang, knowing his thoughts had been seen through, didn¡¯t hide anything. "That kid embarrassed me badly the other day. I couldn¡¯t hold my head up for days." "Now that I have a chance, I must make things right." Yu Shan gave a knowing look, then glanced at the young man warming up in the corner. A trace of pity appeared on his face. What a shame. He was a good talent... ... "Brother Dong, you don¡¯t think Zheng Qiang and Yu Shan will betray us, right?" On the training ground, Zhou Xin, standing beside Xu Dongtai, asked cautiously. With the free-for-all assessment about to begin, he was worried these two might turn on him. "As long as they¡¯re not stupid, they know what to do." Xu Dongtai replied indifferently, exuding confidence. Then, he stood in place, stretching his muscles, and his gaze shifted unconsciously toward the assessment team. His eyes lingered for a moment. Cao Tong! He hadn¡¯t expected him to be the one overseeing the assessment. Seventh-dan professional, likely to be the sect¡¯s true successor. Xu Dongtai¡¯s family¡¯s private coach had often praised Cao Tong¡¯s strength. If he could show more potential in today¡¯s battle, he might win Cao Tong¡¯s favor and gain an important ally. With this thought, Xu Dongtai¡¯s eyes burned with passion and longing. Then, his gaze shifted. He looked toward the corner, where Chen Feng was warming up quietly with Lin Hao. As if sensing the gaze, Chen Feng turned to look. Their eyes met, and Xu Dongtai sneered, drawing his hand across his neck in a mocking gesture. After taking the secret medicine, his strength was already close to amateur seventh-dan. Not to mention that Zheng Qiang and Yu Shan had both been brought into his fold. What was once a threat from Chen Feng now seemed like an ant that could be easily crushed. With these thoughts, Xu Dongtai¡¯s expression became indifferent as he withdrew his gaze. Stretching his muscles, his body heated up. He knew it was a done deal¡ªthe core student spot was his! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 40: Insta-Kill Translator: CinderTL --- "How arrogant." In the corner of the martial arts hall''s training area, Chen Feng remained expressionless as he stood in place, stretching his limbs, while Xu Dongtai made a provocative gesture. He could feel the attention of many, as well as the mocking and pitying looks from Zheng Qiang and Yu Shan. But under the weight of his immense willpower, his mind was exceptionally calm. His inner world was undisturbed, and the colors and sounds of the world before him grew clearer as a result. When Coach Lu announced the start of the assessment, Chen Feng stood alongside the other students in the center of the training area. "Within the boundaries of the white lines¡ªa 200-square-meter dueling zone." "Crossing the line means elimination, as does surrender." "Combat must be hand-to-hand¡ªno other restrictions!" As soon as the rules were announced, the chaotic free-for-all assessment began. Most of the students tensed up immediately, their eyes darting around warily. Then, suddenly¡ª Bang! Someone made the first move, striking an opponent and sending them flying out of bounds. "Shit!" "Let''s fight!" Curses and roars broke out, and the training area descended into chaos. Fighting, evasion, counterattacks¡ªall unfolded chaotically. Standing at the edge of the area, Chen Feng watched the chaotic scene, observing the participants as they weaved in and out. Through the gaps in the crowd, he saw Xu Dongtai knocking several people aside, clearing out a large space. He also noticed the malice in Xu Dongtai¡¯s gaze, as well as Zheng Qiang and Yu Shan teaming up to charge at him. "Let''s take him down together!" Zheng Qiang, bronze-skinned and muscular, lunged forward with an aggressive look. Beside him, Yu Shan¡ªtall and burly at 1.83 meters¡ªmoved like a tank. Their rapid footsteps approached. Both were skilled fighters near the amateur fourth rank and posed a significant threat when working together. One attacked from the front with a punch, while the other moved to grapple him from behind, leaving Chen Feng no room to retreat. ¡°This might be tough to escape,¡± Coach Lu murmured, narrowing his eyes as he focused on Chen Feng. The three assessors, including Cao Tong, also noticed the situation, their gazes falling on the black-shirted youth. Under their watchful eyes, Chen Feng raised his head calmly. And then¡ª Bang! With a twisting sidekick, Chen Feng struck with overwhelming speed. His powerful right leg, like a steel spear, smashed into Zheng Qiang''s abdomen. A muffled explosion followed, leaving the crowd momentarily stunned. Zheng Qiang''s eyes bulged, blood vessels prominent as his body left the ground, limbs outstretched, bending backward like a shrimp. Crash! He was sent flying, colliding with two students locked in combat. Witnessing this, Coach Lu¡¯s eyes widened slightly. Cao Tong and the other assessors raised their eyebrows in surprise. "Not good!" Yu Shan¡¯s face turned pale, but he had no choice but to act. In the blink of an eye, he lunged forward, aiming to grab Chen Feng¡¯s waist and slam him to the ground. However, just as he reached out, Chen Feng, leveraging the force of his kick, spun around and locked eyes with him. Veins bulging on his muscled arm, Chen Feng seized Yu Shan''s arm and shoulder with a grip of steel. In that moment, Yu Shan felt a chill run through him. Before he could react, Chen Feng shifted his weight, his back tightening like a coiled spring. Wham! Yu Shan was lifted off the ground, spun mid-air, and then¡ª Boom! He was slammed onto the ground, the impact echoing throughout the hall. A textbook-perfect over-the-shoulder throw. Chen Feng¡¯s mastery of judo was on full display. The astonished Coach Lu stared wide-eyed, while Cao Tong looked on, a hint of familiarity flickering in his expression. "No!" Yu Shan roared, struggling to rise despite his dizziness. But before he could react further, a massive hand clamped down on his face. Darkness enveloped him as Chen Feng¡¯s arm muscles flexed with unrelenting power, slamming his head against the ground. Bang! The floor shook violently, and the hall fell into stunned silence. Even the other students, locked in their own battles, froze, staring in disbelief. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "A monster¡­" "Did he just¡­ one-shot him?" "How is that possible¡­?" Trembling voices broke the silence. Zhou Xin swallowed nervously, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he instinctively took a step back¡ªonly to bump into Xu Dongtai. Xu Dongtai turned, his eyes narrowing as he sized up Chen Feng again. His gaze, initially disdainful, grew sharper. But his confidence remained unshaken. ¡°This ends now.¡± Chen Feng¡¯s voice was calm, devoid of emotion, as he strode toward Xu Dongtai and Zhou Xin. "Indeed, it ends now." Xu Dongtai sneered, stepping forward with power surging through him. Years of rigorous training and enhancements from secret medicines had honed his body to the peak of amateur seventh rank. Their gazes locked. The distance between them vanished in seconds. Then, at the final moment¡ª Chen Feng raised his hand, his calm demeanor unwavering, as a deafening impact shattered the air. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 41: Core Class Translator: CinderTL --- In the practice area, with Xu Dongtai crashing to the ground with a loud thud, everyone¡¯s gaze turned to the strong young man in black. Some had their mouths agape in shock, while others trembled and froze in place. "This guy... is truly a monster," Lin Hao said with a complex expression, a hint of envy flashing in his eyes. He loved martial arts but unfortunately had little talent for it. Shaking his head inwardly, seeing the other students still stunned in place, he decided to go along with the flow. "I concede." As soon as he spoke, everyone snapped out of their daze. They looked at Chen Feng, who was calmly observing them with an indifferent expression. They also noticed the burly figure lying unconscious on the ground beneath his feet. One by one, the remaining students who hadn¡¯t been eliminated all shuddered and began to speak. "I concede!" "I concede! Don¡¯t hit me!" The voices continued to sound off, and before long, the final victor emerged. --- "Mastery in Sanda, Mastery in Judo." "Even if he hasn¡¯t unlocked his martial arts potential, this talent is already extraordinary." As they watched the young man win, members of the assessment team quickly started commenting. A fiery look flashed in their eyes. They knew just how important such talent was. "Senior Lu, I don¡¯t recall you teaching him Judo?" Cao Tong withdrew his gaze, deep in thought. "Heh." Understanding his point, Coach Lu felt in high spirits. As a coach of the secondary martial arts school, if a genius appeared in the class he taught and successfully joined the core of the martial arts school, he would receive certain contributions and rewards. "Junior Cao, I haven¡¯t taught him Judo." Coach Lu''s gaze brightened as he looked at Chen Feng, his face full of admiration. "And just a week ago¡ªno, five days ago¡ªhe didn¡¯t even know Judo." At these words, Cao Tong¡¯s eyes lit up, and the other two assessors¡¯ expressions shifted. A single martial art can be learned quickly with some breakthroughs, understood as a sudden realization. But if there¡¯s rapid progress in multiple areas, it¡¯s something more impressive. "Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect his Judo to advance so quickly." "Even in Sanda, I didn¡¯t think he would break through so fast..." Coach Lu continued with a smile, but Cao Tong and the others were no longer paying attention. Their eyes were focused on Chen Feng, and a fiery excitement flickered in their gazes. Clearly, if what Coach Lu said was true, the Flame Tiger School had truly struck gold. Thinking of this, Cao Tong spoke again, addressing Coach Lu as "Senior Lu," making Coach Lu smile broadly. He nodded with a grin and quickly walked over to the practice area, bringing Chen Feng with him. "Chen Feng, congratulations, from today on, you are part of the core class." "These three are core disciples from previous generations of our school. They¡¯ll be your seniors from now on." "This one is Cao Tong, currently the coach of the core class. This one is..." After a round of introductions, Chen Feng looked at the three people in front of him, politely addressing each as instructed by Coach Lu. He then recalled Coach Lu¡¯s mention of core disciples and couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit puzzled. Aren¡¯t core students supposed to be the ones who have proven themselves? "Core students are only considered preparatory disciples, also called quasi-core." Cao Tong noticed his confusion and kindly explained, "Only after graduating from the core class and grasping the basics of martial arts can one truly become a core disciple of the school and serve officially." With just a few words, Chen Feng understood. "Chen Feng, I find your Judo techniques quite familiar." "I wonder, who taught you?" Cao Tong looked at him curiously, remembering the shoulder throw Chen Feng had used earlier. Different people have different habits and styles, and naturally, there are some subtle differences. He also wanted to probe a little and see if Chen Feng had been hiding his Judo skills, trying to deceive Coach Lu. "You taught me," Chen Feng said calmly. At these words, Cao Tong froze, and Coach Lu and the others looked at each other strangely. "I taught you?" Cao Tong asked, thinking he had misheard. "Yes, online," Chen Feng added, sensing what Cao Tong was thinking. At once, he could feel Coach Lu and the others¡¯ expressions change, and Cao Tong¡¯s gaze became much more friendly. No wonder it felt familiar. Turns out he¡¯s my little fan? Cao Tong thought to himself, even more amazed by Chen Feng¡¯s martial arts talent. He also stopped doubting whether he was lying. After all, it was easy to verify something like this, and there was no need to probe further. He didn¡¯t want to hurt his little fan¡¯s feelings. "Good! Kid, you¡¯re talented." Smiling, Cao Tong patted Chen Feng¡¯s shoulder. "Starting tomorrow at nine in the morning, you¡¯ll be at the Jinhua District martial arts school." "That¡¯s where the core class is taught. Here, add me on WeChat, so you won¡¯t get lost." Soon, Chen Feng nodded and went to the locker room to get his phone. After both of them exchanged WeChat info, Cao Tong and the other two quickly left for the quiet room to rest. "I have a few more Sanda classes to assess later. I need to go accompany them," Coach Lu explained, then glanced around at the students still watching, and led Chen Feng to a corner. "Chen Feng, your talent is really high, stronger than I thought." "But, don¡¯t get cocky. Flame Tiger School is full of talent." His tone was filled with emotion as he spoke, using a rare elder¡¯s tone: "When you get to the core class, you¡¯ll realize that someone at Xu Dongtai¡¯s level is a dime a dozen." "So, always be humble, and if you don¡¯t understand something, feel free to ask me in private..." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Coach Lu continued with his long lecture, mostly reminding him to stay humble and not to become arrogant. Chen Feng understood the good intentions, nodding in acknowledgment. Seeing that he was listening, Coach Lu smiled contentedly. Finally, he patted Chen Feng on the shoulder, his expression a mix of satisfaction and envy, and left for the quiet room. Tap, tap! Tap, tap! Soon, familiar footsteps echoed behind him. "Congratulations, Chen Feng." Lin Hao had been standing nearby, and seeing Coach Lu leave, he walked over with a smile. "Thank you." Chen Feng nodded, looking at Lin Hao. He was the only friend he knew in the Sanda class, though they weren¡¯t particularly close, he felt some connection. "Don¡¯t worry, even though you¡¯re no longer in the Sanda class, I¡¯ll still keep my promise to you." Lin Hao said with a smile, seemingly trying to ease Chen Feng¡¯s concerns. Before Chen Feng could reply, Lin Hao quickly glanced at the corner of the practice area, where a pale-faced Zhou Xin stood with his head lowered. "By the way..." "That punch you threw earlier... I gotta say..." "It felt pretty good." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 42: License Plate Number Translator: CinderTL --- The day before, Chen Feng had changed his clothes in the locker room and waved goodbye to Lin Hao. The two kept in touch through a messaging app, finding it easy to communicate. Carrying his bag with clothes, he stood at the door of the martial arts school. He took a final glance at this martial arts school, knowing he probably wouldn¡¯t return. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he muttered to himself, taking a step forward, heading quickly toward the bus stop. Perhaps due to good luck, the bus arrived just in time. Within seconds, he boarded and found an empty seat by the window. He was on his way to work at the supermarket. Even though he had become a core disciple, Chen Feng had no plans of quitting his supermarket job just yet. After all, being a core disciple only meant he could receive martial arts teachings for free. As for living, such as food, clothing, and shelter, he still had to manage on his own. ¡°According to Cao Tong, once I grasp the basics of the martial arts system, I¡¯ll become an official disciple of the Flame Tiger School and be eligible for a formal job there,¡± he thought. ¡°In other words, I¡¯ll be able to get a proper job at the school and receive a salary...¡± His thoughts flickered, and ideas started forming. His physical abilities were improving rapidly, which meant his appetite was growing as well, especially his need for high-nutrition food. So, for now, at least, he could continue to live by relying on his supermarket job. Once he became an official disciple of the Flame Tiger School, he could aim for a higher-paying job. With this in mind, Chen Feng nodded to himself. Get stronger, earn money. His plan for the future was still the same. Screech! The bus stopped at the station, and more people boarded. The empty seats were quickly taken, but Chen Feng remained seated by the window, silently watching the street outside pass by. ¡°Did you hear? Someone died on Xiaoshi Street last night.¡± ¡°Huh? How did they die?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I heard when the body was found this morning, the organs were gone. They probably were taken by the killer and sold.¡± ¡°Is that true...?¡± Two elderly people in the front seats were talking in low voices. Although their conversation was quiet, Chen Feng could hear most of it. Another body without organs? He raised his eyebrows slightly, and his mind wandered back to a few days ago when he had seen crimson eyes in an alley. In recent days, his powers had grown, and the monster had not appeared again, so he had almost forgotten about it. But now... His thoughts sparked, and he became curious. Seizing the moment of leisure, he pulled out his phone and quickly opened the local news app. He typed in keywords such as ¡°organs,¡± ¡°body,¡± and ¡°Xiaoshi Street.¡± Soon, a series of news articles appeared. [Body found on Xiaoshi Street missing organs!] [A resident found the body this morning while throwing out trash. At first, they thought the person was just unconscious, but upon closer inspection, they were shocked by the gruesome sight, almost suffering from a brain hemorrhage.] [The Safety Bureau has already intervened, urging residents not to panic...] One after another, the headlines appeared. Chen Feng read through a few of them. The content was mostly similar, and some of the articles included photos from the crime scene. Though he didn¡¯t see the body, the dried blood stains splattered on the wall made Chen Feng furrow his brows. ¡°Looks familiar...¡± He thought the blood splatter looked similar to what he had seen in the alley near his community that morning. (TL/N: A Blood Splatter Analyst?) It appeared to have been caused by some immense force tearing apart flesh and spraying blood. ¡°Could this be caused by that monster?¡± A bold guess popped into his mind, and the more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. However, he wasn¡¯t overly fearful. Instead, he felt more alert and pressured to grow stronger. He didn¡¯t want to encounter the monster. So, he hoped to quickly gain the strength to defeat it. ... Half an hour later. Chen Feng got off the bus and arrived at Yongle Fu Supermarket. Ding Dong! ¡°Welcome!¡± The mechanical voice greeted him as he entered, and Aunt He, who had been playing with her phone behind the counter, looked up. ¡°Aunt He.¡± ¡°Hey, Xiao Feng, why are you here so early today?¡± She was a bit surprised and instinctively glanced at the time on her phone. It was 3:40 PM. She still had twenty minutes before her shift ended. ¡°I didn¡¯t have much to do today, so I came by on the way,¡± Chen Feng explained. Due to his assessment earlier, he had left earlier than usual. Rather than going back to the community, he decided it was better to just head to the supermarket directly. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s too early,¡± Aunt He said. ¡°Go wait in the back for a while. You can take over the shift when it¡¯s time.¡± Feeling a bit awkward, she said it with a smile. Chen Feng didn¡¯t mind and headed to the sofa area behind the shelves to wait. Not long after, the supermarket¡¯s welcoming mechanical sound played again. He heard a familiar voice. ¡°Sister Zhang, thank you for switching shifts with me today.¡± ¡°Ah, no problem, it¡¯s all the same,¡± came the reply. ¡°Thanks, Sister Zhang. Xiao Yao, quickly get the person.¡± ¡°Aunt He, Aunt Zhang.¡± ¡°Ah, Xiao Yao is so obedient.¡± Soon after, Chen Feng saw Xu Yao walking over, carrying a school bag. She was wearing a white T-shirt, denim jeans, and slightly yellowed white canvas shoes. Her attire was simple, but the girl had fair skin, attractive features, and black long hair tied up neatly, giving off a well-behaved vibe. ¡°Chen... Brother Chen Feng.¡± She seemed a little surprised to see him here, but quickly greeted him with a sweet voice. ¡°Hmm, Xiao Yao,¡± Chen Feng smiled and nodded. Noticing it was about time, he stood up to take over his shift. At that moment, his robust body grew taller, casting a shadow over Xu Yao¡¯s view. Noticing she was still a bit shy, Chen Feng gently ruffled her head. Without any resistance, she smiled, and he walked toward the cashier. Soon, the supermarket settled into a quiet rhythm, with everyone busy either collecting payments or cleaning. Xu Yao, seated in the sofa area, remained quiet. Occasionally, the sound of a ballpoint pen clicking could be heard. As the night grew later, customers continued to come and go. Chen Feng¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as a sense of malice reappeared within his perception. ¡°They¡¯re back.¡± Looking toward the supermarket window, a black car slowly pulled up and parked in a spot near the streetlamp. The license plate was identical to the one from earlier that morning. Two figures, one tall and one stout, sat inside. Their gazes met, and perhaps sensing his attention, the two casually shifted their eyes and lit cigarettes. They appeared to be waiting for someone, but Chen Feng knew the hostility was coming from them. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What do they want?¡± He was on alert, retracting his gaze. He had previously suspected that Xu Dongtai might want to make a move before the assessment. But now, it seemed like that wasn¡¯t the case. ¡°Could it be that I unintentionally offended someone?¡± Furrowing his brow, Chen Feng couldn¡¯t help but start recalling past encounters. He shook his head, his thoughts scattered. At that moment, his phone vibrated. A message arrived just at the right moment. [Lin Hao: I found the license plate number you asked me to check.] (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 43: Tian Heng Society Translator: CinderTL --- TL/N: Tian Heng roughly translates to Heavenly Constancy or Heaven''s Stability. Nanjiang Second Research Institute. Chen Yun, dressed in a white lab coat, walked quickly out of the experimental building, holding a lunch box, hurrying toward the staff canteen. "Hopefully, there''s still food at this late hour." Although her face was tired, Chen Yun''s eyes were bright and full of anticipation. The knowledge of the physical and mechanical world was indeed vast, and every new discovery filled her with a sense of accomplishment. If this continued, maybe she would be able to summarize a better experimental method. Perhaps even new research conclusions. Clack, clack, clack, clack! Soon, her footsteps became lighter, and she passed a young woman dressed elegantly on the way. "Sister Chen Yun." "Gao Xue." They greeted each other with smiles, and Chen Yun didn''t think much of it, quickly heading to the canteen. On the other hand, the woman named Gao Xue paused, turned back, and glanced at her retreating figure. "Heh." Her smile faded, and Gao Xue sneered. Her golden earrings swayed as she turned around, and she soon arrived at the research institute''s entrance. The security guards on the way nodded politely to her. Taking a look, she saw a Leylaos car with a flying eagle logo parked on the roadside, surrounded by a young driver and two black Mercedes-Benz cars as escorts. Seeing her approach, the young driver hurriedly opened the back seat door for her. "Xiao Xue." A middle-aged man sitting in the back called out indulgently. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Dad, how much longer do I have to stay in this miserable place?" Gao Xue asked as she got into the car, a look of impatience on her face. "I''m really fed up with pretending to be someone else every day." "Especially that Chen Yun, with that cheap, poor smell..." The middle-aged man raised an eyebrow at her words, and the driver understood, quickly starting the car. "Wait until the experiment is over. It''s safer that way." "What? Still that long? No, I don''t want to stay any longer." Gao Xue complained. "Be patient." "Everything has already been arranged. You need to stay here long enough to prove yourself, so there won''t be any slip-ups." His tone was calm, and his gaze was deep. "As for that Chen Yun, she''s your best stepping stone. I''ve already sent people to investigate her family." "Although they''re ordinary, you need to be patient, just like a hunter..." His tone grew more serious, and after hearing what he said, Gao Xue reluctantly gave in. ... [Lin Hao: That car belongs to Tian Heng Society. Check if it''s the same one.] In the supermarket, Chen Feng looked at the message on his phone. Lin Hao had sent a picture, and when he opened it, it was indeed the same car. [Lin Hao: Have you offended someone?] [Tian Heng Society is not a small gang. It owns many businesses, almost comparable to some large corporations...] The messages kept coming, and Chen Feng frowned, his confusion deepening. Tian Heng Society, he had heard of it. Or more accurately, the original owner had. It was a major gang in Nanjiang City, involved in many gray industries. It used to be called Tian Heng Gang, but after expanding, it became Tian Heng Society. But... When did he have a conflict with this group? Chen Feng was puzzled and glanced toward the supermarket window. A black car was parked on the roadside, with two people inside, rolling down the windows and smoking, tossing the cigarette butts onto the road. They had followed him three times, yet hadn''t taken further action. Chen Feng couldn''t help but begin to doubt their motives. "Waiting for the right moment to strike?" "Or... are they investigating me?" The thought crossed his mind, and he felt a slight urge to talk things over with the two people who had been following him. Vroom! His phone vibrated again, and Lin Hao sent another message. [Lin Hao: Don''t confront Tian Heng Society members directly. These guys have gun licenses.] A polite reminder, which made Chen Feng''s thoughts settle down. He might be an amateur eighth-dan, but if guns were involved, it would be difficult. "The weak need to adapt." He felt a little pressure but was also on guard. Chen Feng eventually replied with a message thanking Lin Hao, choosing to endure for now. Time passed quietly, and he lost interest in other things, constantly keeping an eye on the black car outside. Finally, around midnight... Vroom! The engine roared to life, and the black car turned on its lights and slowly drove away. The malicious intent faded from his senses, and Chen Feng''s nerves relaxed slightly. "Xiao Yao, clean up, we''re about to head home." Li Hongxia''s voice sounded, and Chen Feng''s thoughts gradually returned to reality. He and Li Hongxia quickly tidied up the supermarket, and Xu Yao proactively helped place the mop back. With a rustle, the three of them exited the supermarket, and the rolling shutter door was pulled down and locked. "Let''s go, Xiaofeng." "Alright, Sister Hongxia, take it easy on the way." "Goodbye, Brother Chen Feng." This time, without Li Hongxia''s reminders, Xu Yao sat on the electric bike, hugging her tightly and calling out. Chen Feng waved gently, and the two parted ways. He watched as the mother and daughter disappeared at the street corner, then quietly surveyed the surroundings. His gaze was vigilant, and his perception was heightened. Step, step! Footsteps sounded, and he walked slowly, more cautious than ever. Nearby, a barbecue stall was burning charcoal, white smoke rising into the air. The smell of slightly charred meat hit his face, and a few drunk men at the stall were red-faced from drinking. Chen Feng withdrew his gaze and passed several alley entrances. Fifteen minutes later, he returned to his apartment. Click! The door opened and then quietly closed. After checking the environment inside and carefully sensing using his perception, Chen Feng finally let out a breath. "No signs of breaking and entering." He confirmed, and with the rare chance to relax, his hunger quietly surged. Chen Feng immediately opened the fridge, eating three bags of bread, two cartons of milk, and two energy bars before feeling satisfied. He glanced at the empty fridge. Only a few bags of bread, milk, and half a bag of frozen beef remained. He sighed inwardly. "Looks like I need to restock tomorrow..." The thought crossed his mind, and he exhaled. Perhaps because of the surveillance, combined with Tian Heng Society''s presence behind the scenes, he felt a bit irritable. Not bothering to consciously suppress it, Chen Feng quickly went to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Drip, drip! The water splashed and soaked his body. The lines of his muscles deepened, veins and blood vessels occasionally appearing. Under the dim yellow light, with the cool water flowing over him, Chen Feng''s thoughts gradually became clearer. "First, find out who''s behind this." "If we can talk and work out a solution together, that''d be good..." His eyes returned to calm, and he casually turned off the shower. "If the conflict is irreconcilable..." A cold light flashed in his eyes as he grabbed the towel, wiped the water off, and, feeling fatigued, returned to the bedroom and lay on the bed. The martial arts training was just beginning to show progress, and he was about to make contact with a martial arts faction. He would never allow anyone to interrupt the future path he was forging. So... He slowly closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking, entering the dream world again. "No matter who you are... do not, under any circumstances, force my hand." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 44: Attribute Light Orbs and New Diary Translator: CinderTL --- Boom!! Outside a new single-story villa in the dream world. Five faceless figures appeared one by one and quickly engaged in battle with Chen Feng. Buzz! A punch was thrown with unmatched force. At this moment, Chen Feng was in need of some targets to vent his negative emotions. With a dull sound, a faceless figure was struck in the head and sent flying backward. Swish! However, the remaining four showed no emotions or feelings. Ignoring the death of their comrade, they either punched, kicked, lunged, or circled around him, soon surrounding Chen Feng in the center. "Explosive Fist!" With a cold expression, Chen Feng suddenly charged forward and punched. The air whistled, as if a vacuum had appeared. Boom! The faceless figure hit by the punch flew backward, its head caving in, knocking down a comrade. Tat tat tat tat tat! Footsteps echoed rapidly, and the howling wind could be heard from behind and around him. Chen Feng knew it was the remaining two and immediately planted his left foot on the ground, twisting his body and spinning. Swish! A whip-like kick cut through the air and struck the faceless figure''s head. Crack! The sound of breaking bones resonated. Chen Feng didn''t even glance at the opponent flying backward, narrowing his eyes and pulling back his fist, driving his elbow up and crashing backward. Boom! The last faceless figure who tried to ambush him was hit at a vital spot and quickly fell silent. "Ha!" The battle ended, and Chen Feng stood in place, exhaling a breath. He felt inexplicably better, looking at the faceless figures lying on the ground. He suddenly felt that they were much more pleasing to the eye than some people in real life. Swish swish! At that moment, his figure flashed backward. Five black lines of surprise attacks were avoided by him. The sizzling sound rose from the spot, and foul-smelling gray smoke spiraled upward. Upon steadying his mind and looking closer, a large pool of black water quickly evaporated, leaving behind a mass of struggling ants and corroded pits. Chen Feng was already used to it and was unfazed. In contrast, the rapidly vanishing bodies of the faceless figures caught his attention more. "These faceless figures seem a bit stronger than before." As the gray light orb slowly appeared, Chen Feng''s eyes gleamed. They had surrounded him in an attack, almost at an amateur fourth-tier level. That was the feeling he had just experienced. And this was a test he had to undergo in exploring new areas. Shaking his head, Chen Feng didn''t probe further. Stepping closer, he quickly collected the five gray light orbs. [You have acquired five Talent Orbs: Perception!] [Perception +5!] [Talent: Perception LV1 (71/100)] A prompt appeared on his interface, and Chen Feng couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow. Unknowingly, his perception talent had already leveled up to this point. From his experience, he figured that by the next area exploration, after killing six faceless figures, he would be able to level up his perception talent to LV2. "Not bad." He nodded in satisfaction, not wasting time, and quickly opened the iron gate, entering the new single-story villa. The trees in the front yard had long withered, with half of the ground covered in dirt and the other half paved with gray bricks. The exterior of the house was dark, and the deep brown wooden door was soon pushed open by Chen Feng. Buzz! The door creaked open, and Chen Feng''s eyes moved as he immediately spotted what he had been looking for in the living room. Four light orbs: three red and one white. His eyes brightened as he quickly approached and touched the four light orbs. [You have picked up three (Limit-Breaking Light Orb)!] [Limit-Breaking Light Orb: Residual Will of a Martial Artist] [Quality: Primary] [Effect: Can somewhat enhance martial arts skill proficiency] ... [You have picked up a (Attribute Light Orb)!] [Attribute Light Orb: The Spiritual Residue of an Extraordinary Being] [Quality: Primary] [Effect: Using it will increase 0.5 points of any of the four basic attributes, effect distribution is random] ... Looking at his gains, Chen Feng summoned the interface, his gaze stopping at the ''+'' behind Judo. [Judo: Mastery (10%) +] "Mastery proficiency, one Limit Break Light Orb can only increase about 20%." "Three Limit Break Light Orbs, even if I use them all, won''t be enough to break through Judo to the Perfection level¡­" He thought to himself and then glanced at the progress of Explosive Fist. [Explosive Fist: Beginner (11%) +] Shaking his head, he temporarily gave up on improving these two skills. The reason was simple¡ªtomorrow, he was going to the core class of the martial arts school. According to Coach Lu''s private reminder, Chen Feng knew he would soon encounter some basic martial arts techniques. So, since both Judo and Explosive Fist couldn''t be upgraded for now and wouldn''t boost his strength immediately, he decided to leave the Limit Break Light Orb for later and see what happened tomorrow. If he really got access to some martial arts techniques, maybe he could directly allocate points to beginner-level skills. With that thought settled, Chen Feng''s mind was clear, and he quickly turned his attention to the Attribute Light Orb. Without hesitation, he silently thought: "Allocate points!" [Strength: 9.9] [Agility: 9.3 ¡ú 9.5] [Constitution: 9.6 ¡ú 9.8] [Willpower: 10.0 ¡ú 10.1] "This time, no points were allocated to Strength..." His gaze flickered as Chen Feng felt a bit regretful. He felt that if he could increase his strength a little more, he should be able to reach the amateur ninth-tier level. But he wasn''t too disappointed. Having points allocated was better than not at all. As long as there was improvement, it was a good thing. With that thought, Chen Feng quickly calmed down and continued his search in the dream world. Perhaps due to average luck, he didn''t sense any more light orbs. However, a new diary caught his attention. [Alliance Calendar, Year 245, December 6.] [This winter is colder than ever, and the Black Calamity has severed all roads to the wilderness.] [The high walls have been eroded and rotted, dawn is far away, and the law enforcement teams can''t hold on much longer.] [We don''t know if we''ll survive.] ... [Alliance Calendar, Year 246, January 19.] [We survived the harsh winter, but the city''s defense perimeter has shrunk again.] [Food has run out, roads are blocked...] [Aid from other cities has still not arrived. Perhaps they''ve also encountered the Black Calamity...] ... [Alliance Calendar, Year 246, March 5.] [In the darkness, I finally heard some news that could be considered good.] [A newcomer in the law enforcement team has experienced a talent mutation, summoning the spirits of our ancestors...] [Perhaps he will become our hope for survival?] ... The diary ended here, with messy handwriting. But Chen Feng''s intuition told him this was likely written by a man. Because in this villa, he only saw men''s clothing and shoes. "Alliance Calendar, Year 246?" "The last Alliance History book mentioned that the High Wall Alliance was founded 240 years ago, so this history book must have been written in Alliance Year 240..." "It also mentioned the Abyss and Black Calamity that appeared thirty years ago. So, the Black Calamity must have started in Alliance Year 210." His gaze flickered as Chen Feng recalled the last Alliance History book he saw, trying to combine the information from it with the diary. Then, looking at the final entry in this diary. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A thought struck him, and he suddenly remembered the first diary he found, written by a youth named Wang Yu. It seemed that he, too, had joined the law enforcement team in the end? (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 45: Branch Martial Arts School, Core Students Translator: CinderTL --- The next morning, 7:05 AM. Chen Feng opened his eyes and woke up on time again. He got up and stretched to adapt to his newly enhanced body, drew open the curtains, and after a quick wash, he finished his breakfast. A big bowl of noodles. Two eggs, three packets of bread, a box of milk. He couldn''t understand how his stomach could fit so much food, but since he couldn¡¯t figure it out, he didn¡¯t think too much about it¡ªthis was his usual approach. Then, he changed into a clean outfit: a black T-shirt and loose shorts. He also prepared another set of clothes for practicing martial arts. Chen Feng quickly grabbed his phone and left the room. Tap, tap! The sound of footsteps echoed as he slowly walked out of the old cement neighborhood. The noisy fruit store buzzed in his ears, and the honking of trucks sounded intermittently. The sounds of people, the smell of smoke, and the fragrance of fruits... everything was heightened under his alertness. Eventually, he boarded the bus. Throughout the ride, he didn¡¯t sense any hostility, which surprised him. "Have they given up?" A hint of doubt arose in his mind as he continued on his way to the branch martial arts hall near the Jinhua District. Looking ahead, a five-story building with large glass windows appeared before him. It was oval-shaped, resembling a sports hall. At the top, three prominent characters caught his eye. "Flame Tiger Hall!" "Is this really a branch martial arts hall?" He glanced up, noticing many students entering and exiting the martial arts hall. Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. Compared to the Sanda class he was previously in; this branch hall was undoubtedly much more impressive. In terms of size, it was at least three to five times larger. Surprised at the sheer size of it, he was about to enter. But then, his steps suddenly paused. A faint sense of hostility rose. Chen Feng¡¯s expression darkened, his face now emotionless. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a black sedan across the street. In the gaps between the passing cars, he saw two men in the front seat, one tall and one fat. They were undoubtedly the same two men who had been following him previously. "Tian Heng Society..." A cold gleam flashed in his eyes, and Chen Feng stood still, grinding his teeth for a moment. Just as he was about to make a move, a pair of footsteps quietly approached, and he felt someone tap his shoulder. In an instant, his expression hardened. Chen Feng instinctively lowered his center of gravity, grabbing the person¡¯s shoulder and arm. "Hey, hey, hey, that hurts, that hurts!" A familiar voice immediately sounded, and Chen Feng paused his move, turning around to see a familiar figure. Short, messy hair, around 1.78 meters tall. A bit thin, with fair features, wearing a loose gray T-shirt that gave off a fresh vibe. "Lin Hao?" Chen Feng was surprised, not expecting him. "You really hit too hard. I was planning to surprise you, but instead, you scared the heck out of me," Lin Hao rubbed his shoulder, grinning in pain. Chen Feng helplessly shrugged. He had thought it was the Tian Heng Society people, so he hadn¡¯t held back. But... "What brings you here?" he asked with a confused look. "Of course, I¡¯m here to practice martial arts." Lin Hao massaged his shoulder and arm, the pain subsiding. He quickly grinned and said, "Now I¡¯m a core student too. I might even be in the same core class as you." "?" Chen Feng narrowed his eyes. Core student? Wasn¡¯t that position only one available? "No way, my talent is simply unrivaled, unmatched," Lin Hao said with a smile. "Flame Tiger Hall couldn¡¯t bear to lose a genius like me, so they made me a core student." Chen Feng knew that wasn¡¯t the real reason. He was almost sure that Lin Hao had used some unconventional means. Curious about Lin Hao¡¯s background, he was about to ask when Lin Hao glanced at the opposite street and smiled at him, "No wonder you wanted me to check the Tian Heng Society¡¯s license plate." "Turns out they¡¯ve been following you." "What''s going on? Tell me." Chen Feng was silent for a moment. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After thinking it over, he realized that he probably needed Lin Hao¡¯s channels to get to the bottom of this. Rather than hiding it, he decided to be upfront. "What if I said I don¡¯t know the reason? Would you believe me?" "Oh?" Lin Hao''s smile faded, and he stared at Chen Feng for a moment. "I believe you." Lin Hao took his hand back and said seriously, "Come on, do you want me to help you investigate?" "Yes," Chen Feng nodded. "Sure." Lin Hao readily agreed, then quickly added with a smile, "But I¡¯m just saying, I can¡¯t do this for free..." "I owe you one," Chen Feng said seriously. He believed that his favor would be valuable in the future. But that was for later; what he needed most right now was to get a handle on the present. "Deal!" Lin Hao nodded briskly, his smile like that of a fox, clearly waiting for this answer. "Let''s go. No more standing around." "Give me three days, and I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this for you." With strong confidence, Lin Hao patted Chen Feng¡¯s shoulder and said. Chen Feng glanced once more at the black car across the street, then nodded slightly. He walked with Lin Hao into the martial arts academy. ... Twenty minutes later. In the spacious practice hall on the second floor. Chen Feng and Lin Hao, along with eighteen other core students, formed the academy¡¯s core class three. From the conversations around him, Chen Feng learned that the academy had set up five core classes this time. There were a total of one hundred core students. Most had been recruited from training classes in disciplines like sanda, judo, and wrestling from various branch academies. They were all talented, with at least a fifth- or sixth-dan amateur level. A few had average talent, but had paid a high price to secure a spot. "So, how much did you pay?" Standing at the edge of the practice hall, Chen Feng curiously asked Lin Hao. No wonder Lin Hao became a core student; now, he finally understood the answer. The academy''s purpose was partly to generate revenue and support a large number of people. Naturally, selling core student spots at a high price was one way to achieve this. "This much." Lin Hao held up four fingers. "Four hundred thousand?" Chen Feng asked. "Add a zero," Lin Hao said with an irritated tone. "Come on, this is a core student spot. You get to learn from martial arts techniques." "Even if your talent isn¡¯t great, just receiving the basic teachings can strengthen your body. It¡¯s not a small benefit." "And the most important thing..." Lin Hao smiled again. "You can make some connections." At his words, Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, giving him a deep look. Before they could continue talking, several coaches from the core classes appeared, taking them to their respective practice rooms. And just in time, their core class three coach appeared¡ªtall and burly, with short hair and thick lips. It was none other than Cao Tong. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 46: The Sky-Flame Crimson Tiger Style Translator: CinderTL --- "Hello, my name is Cao Tong, and from today, I will be your martial arts instructor." "Let''s go over the rules first. For those entering the core class, you must be here by 9 AM every day and practice until 3 PM before you can leave." "Meals will be provided by the martial arts hall, and if you have any questions, feel free to come to me at any time." In the training room with wooden floors, Cao Tong, who stood nearly 1.9 meters tall, was positioned at the center of the room. Dressed in a deep gray martial arts uniform, he resembled a small mountain, creating a heavy presence that was imposing. From the time they entered until now, only a minute had passed. His gaze was commanding. He did not bother with small talk or polite greetings with anyone, including Chen Feng, and simply instructed everyone to stand in formation. With a voice like a thunderclap, he continued, "The martial arts hall has invested considerable resources in your training, but not for no reason." "It''s all for the legacy of our Flame Tiger Hall''s martial arts style to thrive!" As his powerful words reverberated through the room, many of the young trainees showed excited and slightly agitated expressions. He didn''t keep them waiting. Cao Tong raised his hand, signaling for silence, and continued scanning the room. His gaze briefly met Chen Feng''s, then focused on a few promising candidates. He settled his posture, sinking his center of gravity, fingers curling into claws. His spine straightened, elbows slightly bent, and the movement was fluid as his arms dropped into an intertwined position. In the blink of an eye, it felt as though the world had shifted. Chen Feng''s pupils contracted as if he had just seen a ferocious tiger stir to life. "Sky-Flame Crimson Tiger Style!" "Remember, this is the martial arts style of our Flame Tiger Hall!" "It will help you break free from mediocrity and achieve a realm beyond human limits!" The powerful voice rang out, like a tiger''s roar in the ear. Under this immense pressure, Cao Tong moved his body. His thick legs dug into the floor, causing the wooden boards to creak under the strain. He then clenched his fists, bent his knees, and tightened his thigh muscles. The next moment, he demonstrated the most basic stance. "Flame Tiger Stance!" "Also known as Inferno Tiger Fist, combining both stillness and motion, it can be trained and used in combat." "This is one of the fundamental techniques of the Sky-Flame Crimson Tiger Style, with a total of eleven moves." "By practicing the Tiger Imagery Visualization Chart, it will help your body undergo refinement, activating your tendons, bones, and internal organs..." His voice continued to roll, as Cao Tong''s body shifted. His chest caved in, back straightened, and his shoulders dropped. The eleven movements flowed seamlessly, and for a moment, it seemed as if a blazing red tiger truly appeared before Chen Feng''s eyes. At times it crouched with fierce eyes, radiating authority, and at others, it leapt across ravines, shaking the mountains with its force. When he finished, Cao Tong broke his stance and slowly walked to the side of the training room. A cloth-wrapped round axle hung from the ceiling, with a red rope dangling. With a swish, Cao Tong grabbed the rope and pulled. The round axle spun, and the cloth fell, revealing a massive image on the canvas. In the blink of an eye, everything before Chen Feng disappeared, leaving only the image of a mighty tiger covered in fiery red flames. The black "king" character on its forehead exuded power, its vertical pupils looking down, claws as sharp as blades, and feet stomping on the red flame. It was a majestic sight, intimidating and overbearing. This vision left a deep imprint on his mind, and a rush of energy overwhelmed him. "This is the visualization technique of our Flame Tiger Hall¡ªCrimson Tiger Soaring Through the Sky." "When practicing stances and fists, keep your mind calm and visualize the red tiger." "This will activate your blood and refine your muscles, tendons, and internal organs. It will also nurture your fist''s energy, with your chest holding the form and your breath like a ferocious tiger." The words echoed in the room as the expressions of the students varied. Some were excited, while others took the opportunity to ask questions. "Coach Cao, does the Flame Tiger Stance have any stages? What are the special benefits once we reach the later stages?" "Good question!" Cao Tong''s face remained calm as he answered, "After mastering the basics, there are three stages of the Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Form, Tiger Roar, and Tiger Might." "Mastering Tiger Form means you can emulate the power of a tiger, refining your body and strengthening your physique." "Reaching the Tiger Roar stage will allow you to fortify your tendons and bones, producing a roaring sound that can intimidate enemies!" "As for Tiger Might..." He paused for a moment, then motioned for someone to bring over a sandbag. Weighing a full 100 kilograms, it caused the floor to tremble as it was placed. "Watch carefully!" With a change in posture, Cao Tong suddenly threw a punch. Roar!! The punch released a forceful wind, and an audible tiger''s roar surged forth. For a moment, it felt as if he had transformed into a soaring crimson tiger, striking the sandbag with all his might. Boom!!! A muffled explosion echoed as the sandbag exploded. The crowd gasped, and Chen Feng''s pupils shrank in shock. Destroying the sandbag was no easy feat¡ªit was far more difficult than simply knocking it away. For a long while, the group remained silent, stunned by the shredded sandbag and the scattered sand on the floor. "This is the Tiger Might stage..." "It enables you to internalize your strength and develop extraordinary power." Cao Tong slowly retracted his fist, and the aura around him gradually dissipated. "Did you all get it?" As the words fell, everyone nodded eagerly, their eyes still wide in shock. Seeing their reaction, Cao Tong smiled slightly, clearly pleased. "Alright, you don''t need to think too much about it." "At this point, it''s too early for you to grasp its full meaning. Let''s get to practicing your stances..." Hearing this, everyone nodded. Those in the core class were all exceptional individuals. Looking around, their eyes were filled with determination and excitement, as if they believed that in no time, they would master the style and become invincible in Nanjiang. Cao Tong, noticing their expressions, shook his head inwardly but refrained from commenting. "Better not disillusion them yet." "After a few days of training, they''ll soon realize how difficult this truly is." With that thought, he quickly demonstrated the Flame Tiger Stance once more, signaling everyone to follow. "Tiger Form, Tiger Roar, Tiger Might..." As he stood in stance, Chen Feng''s eyes briefly flickered with understanding. Clearly, compared to this martial style, basic sparring was a walk in the park. Realizing this, Chen Feng suppressed his excitement, focused his mind, and stood firm in his position, ready to practice the stances. The red tiger''s image faintly reappeared in his mind, but it felt as though something was missing¡ªjust on the edge of slipping away. "Coach Cao, why does the visualization disappear when I move my limbs?" One of the other trainees asked, followed by several others. "When your mind is unsettled, the visualization will naturally fade." "The more impatient you are, the harder it becomes..." After offering a brief explanation, Cao Tong advised everyone to reflect and remain calm. Mastering the visualization technique was never easy. If it were that simple, they wouldn''t have been so carefully selected and cultivated. As he watched the students practice, his gaze fell on a few promising ones. "Pei Yue''s talent is indeed impressive. No wonder Senior Zhao recommended him as a genius¡ªhe''s already mastering the visualization technique." "Oh? Wu Tian... Last time, he was only at an amateur level, but now he''s already reached the Tiger Form." "Looks like Senior Wu has been teaching him privately, huh?" Cao Tong''s eyes occasionally nodded or shook, assessing his students. While privately passing on the technique was a sensitive issue, considering Wu''s background, he chose not to comment further. His attention then shifted to Lin Hao and a few others who had invested heavily in the core class. Noticing their awkward posture, he made a mental note to provide some extra guidance later. "That kid... I wonder how he''s doing." With that thought, Cao Tong''s gaze unexpectedly landed on Chen Feng. Having witnessed his performance during the evaluation, Cao Tong felt some expectations for him. If it weren''t for that, he wouldn''t have made arrangements for Chen Feng to be placed in his core class for personal instruction. Looking at Chen Feng now, he could see that his posture was perfect, but his visualization was still off, his movements stiff. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Failed to grasp the visualization?" Cao Tong thought, slightly furrowing his brow. "Martial arts enlightenment... could it be that I was wrong about him?" (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 47: Rejection Translator: CinderTL --- Inside the practice room, unaware of Cao Tong''s attention, Chen Feng stood calmly, his shoulders relaxed, his spine tense, and his feet firmly rooted to the ground like tiger claws. He had initially thought visualization would be easy, but now, with firsthand experience and after hearing the puzzled questions from the other trainees earlier, he realized it was more difficult than he had imagined. Visualization, calmness... Recalling Cao Tong''s words, Chen Feng suddenly understood something. In an instant, his willpower shifted. Chen Feng quickly cast aside all negative emotions, entering a state of calmness. In the blink of an eye, the image of the Red Tiger visualization in his mind rapidly took shape, all the lines and movements becoming magnified and crystal-clear, hard to dissipate. "Hmm?" Seeing this, Cao Tong¡¯s gaze shifted. The confusion in his eyes disappeared, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "I knew it..." He nodded slightly, then casually looked at the other trainees, pretending to be indifferent. As expected, my disciple is truly gifted. ... At the same time. As soon as the visualization was successful, Chen Feng''s eyes suddenly shifted. [Flame Tiger Stance: Beginner (1%) +] A panel notification appeared before him, and he inwardly thought, "As expected." At first, there was no progress shown during the stance training, but once the visualization was successful, the feedback appeared. Clearly, as Cao Tong had said, these two practices were complementary martial arts techniques that, when combined, formed the true Flame Tiger Stance. "Shall I add some points?" Looking at the ''+'' behind the skill bar, Chen Feng had an idea. However, thinking back to how the calmness helped him visualize successfully, he suddenly wanted to see how his martial arts talent fared in this calm state. Had it improved significantly? Moreover, the limit-breaking points were right at hand, ready to be added at any time. With this thought, Chen Feng continued practicing the stance until noon. [Progress +1] [Flame Tiger Stance: Beginner (2%)] Sweat streamed down his face, soaking his black T-shirt, clinging to his back. Chen Feng expressionlessly walked to the window of the practice room, picked up his sports water bottle, and gulped down several large mouthfuls of water. Gulup! Gulup! Cool water slid down his throat, and sweat slid down his cheek, as a hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes. His talent, to be honest, was utter trash. Only a bit of progress after an entire morning. Who knows how long it will take to reach the beginner stage at this rate? "It seems that calmness only made me more focused." "Although it helped a little with martial arts, it''s not that much." With this realization, Chen Feng gave up on any hopes and immediately tried using a limit-breaking point. Buzz! Suddenly, the feeling of the stance appeared in his memory, and the progress bar on the panel changed. [Flame Tiger Stance: Beginner (22%) +] "Not enough." He raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised. A single limit-breaking point only increased the progress by 20%, meaning even if he used the remaining two points, it wouldn''t be enough to break through to the Tiger Form stage. "It seems the Flame Tiger Stance is quite difficult." "Just the beginner stage... I can''t even imagine how much limit-breaking will be needed after reaching the Tiger Form..." Lost in thought, Chen Feng suddenly felt an urge to enter the Dream World immediately, combing through every region to find large amounts of limit-breaking light orbs. "This stance is just too difficult." Just then, during the break, Lin Hao walked over. His loose gray T-shirt was drenched, his face flushed red, sweat dripping constantly, as if he had just finished a sauna. "I''m really exhausted. And that visualization diagram is so mysterious." "I think my five million might have been wasted." Lin Hao quickly grabbed his water bottle and drank, while Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. "Didn''t Coach Cao give you some pointers?" "Don''t mention it, I¡¯m just not cut out for martial arts." "Just calm down and visualize? I can''t do it." Lin Hao said helplessly, then looked at Chen Feng with an expectant expression. "By the way, did you manage to visualize successfully?" "What do you think?" "Dammit! I shouldn''t have asked." Lin Hao said, clearly annoyed, and took another big gulp of water. The two chatted idly, mostly with Lin Hao doing the talking. Tap! Tap! At that moment, footsteps sounded. The light in front of them dimmed slightly as two figures approached. "Hmm?" Lin Hao stopped drinking, and Chen Feng turned his head to look. One was tall and slender, about 1.85 meters, with messy long hair, a flushed face, and phoenix eyes, looking around twenty-three or twenty-four. He was dressed in a loose white martial arts outfit. The other was slightly shorter by two centimeters but had a broad back, thick arms and legs, and his sports T-shirt was stretched tightly. With a buzz cut, his face appeared older, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. "Let me introduce myself, I¡¯m Wu Tian." The tall, slender man with messy long hair spoke first, his voice calm, with a hint of reserve and pride. "Pei Yue." The burly youth beside him gave a slight nod, his voice deep. He stood next to the other, looking at Chen Feng. Seeing this, Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. There was no obvious malice in his perception, but he did sense a hint of scrutiny. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What¡¯s up?" His tone was calm as he addressed them. "Nothing, we just think you''re pretty good." Wu Tian smiled and then gestured toward the other trainees who were resting. "In this core class, there are a lot of mediocre people and only a few talented ones." "I heard from the seniors at the martial arts hall this morning about your talent, so I wanted to spar with you." His tone was natural, with no attempt to hide anything. Chen Feng was somewhat surprised but then remembered that he happened to be in Cao Tong''s class. He had some guesses in his mind. "Not interested." Chen Feng shook his head slightly, rejecting the offer outright. He had no obligation to spar with them and waste his own time. "Oh?" Wu Tian raised an eyebrow, a playful smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Are you afraid of losing?" It was clearly a challenge, but Chen Feng wasn¡¯t bothered by it. "Has anyone told you," His tone calm as he stared at Wu Tian, "that your methods are quite crude?" As his words landed, a brief silence filled the air between the four of them. Lin Hao smiled, watching the exchange without saying anything, while Pei Yue frowned slightly, seemingly ready to step forward. "Heh." Wu Tian raised his hand, signaling Pei Yue to stop, and slowly opened his narrowed eyes before shrugging. "You¡¯re interesting. I¡¯ll remember you." With that, he turned around and left. Pei Yue gave a barely perceptible shake of his head, giving Chen Feng a deep look before following Wu Tian away. Seeing this, Lin Hao¡¯s previously cheerful expression faded a bit. He spoke with a hint of sarcasm, "I didn¡¯t expect there¡¯d be such arrogant people in the core class." Hearing this, Chen Feng remained calm, simply watching Wu Tian and Pei Yue¡¯s retreating figures. In that moment of rejection, he had sensed a cold, faint malice, tinged with mockery and frustration. It wasn¡¯t strong, but enough to show that the other person¡¯s heart was not as broad as it seemed. "It¡¯s fine." Shaking his head, he spoke calmly, as if responding to Lin Hao, "We are gonna be in the core class for a long time." "There will be plenty of opportunities to teach him a lesson." As his words fell, the two exchanged a brief smile. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 48: The Protest Translator: CinderTL --- That afternoon, Chen Feng walked out of the martial arts school and bid farewell to Lin Hao. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was his imagination, but he could feel that Lin Hao¡¯s attitude toward him had subtly changed. Unlike before, where Lin Hao hid his feelings intentionally, there was now an unspoken sense of closeness. TL/N: That sounds so wrong! "Shall I give you a ride?" Lin Hao asked with a smile, gesturing toward a car in the parking lot downstairs. It was a blue Flying Speed model, clearly more expensive than Aunt He¡¯s car. "No need, I¡¯ll just take the bus." Chen Feng shook his head. He knew they weren¡¯t heading in the same direction, so there was no need to complicate things. "Alright, take care then." Lin Hao nodded. "Thanks." After waving goodbye, Chen Feng made his way to the bus stop. At the same time, he saw Wu Tian and Pei Yue driving by in a black jeep. The two exchanged a brief glance through the car window, but Chen Feng didn¡¯t pay much attention. He didn¡¯t like to waste time dealing with fools. "Those Tian Heng Society people..." Chen Feng thought to himself. He scanned the area but noticed no malicious intent. The black car tailing him was also nowhere to be seen, likely having left already. After a moment of thought, Chen Feng glanced over as the bus arrived. He got on, scanned his card, and found an empty seat by the window. This was the central area of Nanjiang City. Surrounding him were numerous high-rise buildings, their glass windows reflecting the setting sun, giving the scene an ocean of architecture. Between the towering structures, shopping malls and stores were lined up, one after another. Looking up, one could see holographic projections floating outside the buildings of major brands, merging the virtual with the real. "Technology here is far more advanced than on Earth," Chen Feng mused, remembering the discussions he overheard earlier in the martial arts school. It seemed that muscle-enhancing liquids, life potions, and other technological items that could enhance a person¡¯s physical abilities were already available in the market. However, due to the different policies of regional councils, they hadn¡¯t been officially released in Nanjiang City. Only through small channels could people get access to them. "However, it seems the martial arts school has similar items," he thought. "They''re called secret potions, which can only be used in martial arts training..." A trace of curiosity flickered in his eyes as he recalled Xu Dongtai, who had once lost to him. According to Lin Hao''s private hints, Xu Dongtai had used a secret potion, but it was a flawed version, with only mild effects. As these thoughts crossed his mind, a sudden halt of the bus broke his train of thought. Beep beep beep! "Why is there another traffic jam?" "Look, it''s happening again!" Outside, the sound of car horns filled the air, and many passengers inside the bus raised their heads to look. Chen Feng glanced out and quickly saw an unexpected scene. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the intersection up ahead, below the pedestrian signal light, dozens of people had gathered, holding long banners that blocked the road, shouting loudly. "Protest! Protest!" "Protesting the United Earth Coalition''s regulations, strongly demanding stricter gun control!" "Protest!!!" The words on the banner and the shouts of the crowd reached Chen Feng''s ears. It was a bit surprising¡ªthis was his first time witnessing such a public protest. The protesters, mostly young people, were joined by a few middle-aged individuals who looked disheveled, clearly struggling with life. Immediately, traffic was completely paralyzed, and the noise of the crowd grew louder. "I heard it¡¯s because of a recent robbery at a jewelry store, where several people were accidentally shot..." "I heard that, too. It seems two people didn¡¯t make it, one of them was a little girl." "Looks like stricter gun control is necessary..." Most of the discussions seemed to support the protest, but no one was brave enough to get off the bus and join them. Within minutes, several flying cars appeared from the high buildings, flashing red and blue lights. The vehicles, all white and gray, clearly belonged to the Safety Bureau. Vroom! The wind from the strong engines sent people in the crowd stumbling. Soon, tear gas canisters were thrown into the air, quickly dispersing the protesters. "The situation is one-sided..." Chen Feng narrowed his eyes, quietly observing. In less than ten minutes, the crowd was completely subdued by the security officers. Some fled, leaving behind the banners and chaos. Finally, the road cleared up, and Chen Feng saw a middle-aged man being handcuffed and forced to kneel on the ground by one of the officers. That officer looked strangely familiar to him. --- "Stay calm, don¡¯t resist!" "Mm?" The officer, Xiang Jianjun, suddenly felt a familiar gaze. Turning his head, he noticed a figure withdrawing their attention as the bus slowly drove away. "What''s up, Captain Xiang?" a younger officer asked. "Nothing." Xiang Jianjun shook his head, not thinking much of it. He instead looked around at the overturned road barriers and the mess left behind by the protest. "It''s getting more chaotic..." he sighed, looking exhausted. The young officer beside him fell silent, also feeling the pressure. The recent jewelry store robbery hadn¡¯t been solved, and another one had happened. Protests were on the rise, and cases of mutilated bodies were becoming more frequent. The pressure on the Safety Bureau was growing. "Sigh..." --- At the supermarket, Aunt He sighed when she saw Chen Feng. "The machine out front has been silent all afternoon." Chen Feng paused, realizing that the usual welcome message had not played. "It¡¯s probably broken," he said, walking over to the cashier¡¯s desk to put on a red employee vest. "Did Sister Liu know?" he asked. "She knows, but the technician said he¡¯s too busy today. He¡¯ll come tomorrow." "Oh." Chen Feng nodded with little expression. Seeing this, Aunt He didn¡¯t linger on the topic and soon waved goodbye, driving off. Meanwhile, Li Hongxia, having finished cleaning up and changed into her delivery uniform, walked to the cashier¡¯s desk. Standing beside her was Xu Yao, carrying a schoolbag and sporting a short bob tied in a ponytail. She wore a white T-shirt with a cartoon cat on it. "Xiao Feng, Sister Zhang said she¡¯s on her way. I¡¯m a bit rushed, so I¡¯m leaving first." "Okay, Sister Hongxia, take care." "Goodbye, Brother Chen Feng," Xu Yao whispered, still too shy to meet his gaze. Chen Feng smiled faintly and gently ruffled her hair. Not long after, he watched her face turn red as she got on the electric bike, hurrying after Li Hongxia. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 49: Perception Talent, Upgrade Translator: CinderTL --- That night, at midnight. The supermarket''s roller shutter door slammed shut as Chen Feng waved goodbye to Aunt Zhang. "Goodbye, Aunt Zhang." "Take care, Xiao Feng. Be careful on the road." After parting ways, Chen Feng, carrying a large cardboard box, turned and walked toward the old residential area. He had bought a lot of things today: two large bags of bread, a carton of milk, two bags of frozen beef, a box of energy bars... He had simply grabbed an empty cardboard box from the supermarket and packed everything in. Tap, tap! The sound of footsteps echoed. The street lamps along the side of the road were old and weathered, with faint yellow light spilling out, barely illuminating the street. After walking for several minutes, Chen Feng did not sense any malice. This reassured him that the people from Tian Heng Society had likely stopped following him for the time being. "I wonder if Lin Hao will really find something in three days." The thought crossed his mind, recalling Lin Hao''s promise. Well, it¡¯s not like he could do something, he could only wait. Once everything became clear, he would know what steps to take next. Tap, tap! The footsteps continued. Feeling a bit hungry, Chen Feng casually took two energy bars from the box, tore open the packaging, and stuffed them into his mouth. Crunch! Crunch! The crisp sound echoed, but as he walked, Chen Feng felt something was off. "Did they not set up a stall tonight?" A flash of confusion crossed his mind, as the familiar scent of barbecue was nowhere to be found. Chen Feng casually glanced around; the street was empty. The barbecue cart, usually parked here, was missing tonight. "Damn it, we came for nothing." "What¡¯s going on with Old Zhao? Why didn¡¯t he set up shop tonight?" "Forget it, let¡¯s go somewhere else and continue the second round." A few drunk men cursed loudly as Chen Wei glanced at them. "Kid, what are you looking at?" A middle-aged man shouted, clearly drunk. Chen Feng paused for a moment, coldly staring at him. Their eyes met. The tall, muscular young man stood with his back to the streetlight, casting a massive shadow around him. The air froze, and a heavy pressure filled the atmoorb. In a daze, the drunk man felt as though a fierce tiger had suddenly appeared in front of him. "I..." His eyes widened, and the drunk man quickly fell silent, not daring to speak further. Even his companions seemed a bit dazed, and no one shouted anymore. "Interesting." A flash of light gleamed in Chen Feng¡¯s eyes. The image of the Crimson Tiger Soaring Through the Sky map formed in his mind, not dispersing. This idea came to him spontaneously while making eye contact. He didn¡¯t expect it to have any effect, but it actually worked. With that thought, he no longer paid attention to the pale-faced drunk man, taking a few more steps before heading back home. --- Click! The door opened. He placed the items into the fridge one by one and went to the bathroom to take a shower. Soon, Chen Feng dragged his exhausted body and collapsed onto his bed. ... "Limit-breaking light orb..." Entering the dream world again, Chen Feng stood at the misty entrance of an apartment. He quickly expanded his senses, searching for his target. He was in need of the limit-breaking light orb. The Flame Tiger Stance needed to break through to the Tiger Form. His judo hadn¡¯t been perfected yet. He wanted to improve his Explosive Fist skill to mastery as well. All of these required him to use the limit-breaking light orb to upgrade. "Found it." Chen Feng¡¯s gaze shifted to a newly unlocked area opposite him. It was a basketball court surrounded by iron fences, near a park covered in mist, about twenty meters away. Three shallow red light orbs floated silently over the court, almost beckoning him. "Good." A glimmer of light flashed in his eyes as Chen Feng immediately moved forward. His internal strength quietly gathered, and he anticipated the sound of footsteps approaching. Without looking, Chen Feng knew that the mist around him was swirling, and Faceless Ones were approaching to surround him. Whoosh! This time, he didn''t passively respond as before. Glancing around at the six Faceless Ones¡ªfour men and two women¡ªChen Feng revealed a eerie smile. "Perfect." Whoosh! He stomped his foot and instantly charged forward. His body moving like a runaway truck, and with his elbow bent, he struck a faceless woman in front of him with a powerful elbow to the chest. Crack! The sound of broken bones echoed. Without lifting his head, Chen Feng¡¯s face remained indifferent as he turned his left arm into a whiplike punch, smashing down. Bang! A ferocious claw strike was blocked, and the assailant staggered backward. Tap, tap, tap! Immediately, the remaining four Faceless Ones rushed toward him, one even holding a metal bat. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His eyes cold, Chen Feng pressed his left foot into the ground and spun, kicking with his right leg. Whoosh! His strong right leg tensed, and his foot struck two of them like iron boards. Bang, bang! The figures flew backward, and in that instant, Chen Feng felt the sound of wind whistling past him. A chill rose in his heart. Recalling his Flame Tiger Stance practiced earlier, he sank his body and immediately adopted a tiger crouch. Whoosh! The metal bat swished past him, and he maintained his stability. Looking at the Faceless Ones with their pale faces devoid of features, his mind remained calm, and only one thought flashed through his head. "Explosive Fist!" Buzz! His muscles swelled and tightened like waves. In an instant, Chen Feng¡¯s right arm seemed to grow thicker by several inches, and then he unleashed a sudden strike, ferocious and forceful. Boom!! The sound was deafening, and the figure flew backward, crashing into another. Chen Feng¡¯s gaze remained cold as he turned and stretched out his five fingers, curling them like claws, swiftly tearing the clothes of another faceless being and grabbing its shoulder and waist. "Up!" His voice rang out, and his veins bulged as he lifted the faceless being into the air. In the next second. Chen Feng swung his arms and slammed the faceless being into the ground. Boom!!! The heavy thud shook the ground. All six Faceless Ones fell to the ground, and Chen Feng stood there, breathing lightly. "Amateur fifth-dan..." A flicker of light flashed in his eyes. The six Faceless Ones he fought were almost at this level. Even he felt a bit of pressure. "This is just six of them. If their numbers keep increasing and their strength improves, it will be hard to deal with." The thought crossed his mind. Though he felt the possibility of this continuing was unlikely¡ªeverything has limits. Nevertheless, he still felt a sense of urgency. Tap, tap! Suddenly, he sensed danger and quickly backed away, evading a strike. Six black lines flew past him, and the sound of insects and ants became more unpleasant. "Looks like these bugs have changed?" He raised an eyebrow, observing the large puddle of black water on the ground. He carefully sensed the changes in the insects. Had they gotten slightly bigger? Could it be that these bugs had different strengths? The thought emerged, but Chen Feng couldn¡¯t find an answer. Finally, he focused on the six gray light orbs. He quickly suppressed all distractions and rushed to absorb them. This time, his perception talent finally underwent a massive transformation. [You have acquired six Talent Orbs: Perception!] [Perception +6!] [Talent: Perception LV2 (1/100)] (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 50: New Light Orb Translator: CinderTL --- [Perception: LV2 (1/100)] At the entrance to the basketball court¡¯s iron net, just as his perception leveled up, Chen Feng felt a buzzing in his head, and the world in front of him suddenly changed. The floor''s patterns expanded rapidly, and the metal frame behind the basketball hoop felt rusty and worn. In front of him, the decaying black marks were filled with insect corpses, and what was once a blurry outline was now crystal clear. They resembled ants with wings, with some gray markings running across their backs. Seeing this, Chen Feng immediately understood the changes brought by his perception upgrade. "Everything has become clearer!" Everything was now sharply defined, as if viewed in 4K. The range of his perception also expanded, with a radius of nearly thirty meters from him, as if he were looking up close. Whether in front or behind, even without turning his head, he could vividly picture the scenes in his mind. "Three hundred sixty degrees, no blind spots..." A glint flashed in Chen Feng¡¯s eyes. He hadn¡¯t expected the upgrade to perception to be this powerful. The expanded range was self-explanatory, as it meant he could detect abnormalities in his surroundings in time, leaving ample space to think and react. As for the omnidirectional visual perception, whether it was tracking or a sneak attack from behind, anything entering the thirty-meter range was hard to escape from his notice. Even when faced with situations where he was surrounded, he could handle them with more composure, without worrying about blind spots. "It seems there¡¯s more to it." With his eyes brightening, Chen Feng felt his perception upgrade had other effects. He quickly turned around and walked towards the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. Standing by the street, within a thirty-meter radius, He focused his perception, and even through the wall¡¯s obstruction, He quickly sensed a powerful life force inside the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. It resembled the sound of a heartbeat or a light flickering in the dark. Without a doubt, it was the masked man¡¯s presence. "Presence! Sensing life force!" Chen Feng''s eyes lit up. This was the true effect of the perception upgrade. It allowed him to detect the intensity of others'' life forces, and even within a certain range, he could instantly notice any life fluctuations. This would certainly be useful for him in exploring the dream world in the future. "Excellent." Nodding in satisfaction, Chen Feng suddenly realized that he was like a human radar right now. No blind spots, full-range perception... He shook his head to dispel the distraction and quickly returned to the basketball court, storing away the three Broken Limit Light Orbs. [You have picked up three (Limit-Breaking Light Orb)!] [Limit-Breaking Light Orb: Residual Will of a Martial Artist] [Quality: Primary] [Effect: Can somewhat enhance martial arts skill proficiency] The prompt appeared, and Chen Feng quickly looked at his panel. [Limit Break Points: 5] Two of these were from yesterday¡¯s collection, which he had yet to use. Next, he looked at his skill bar. [Judo: Mastery (10%) +] [Explosive Fist: Beginner (11%) +] [Flame Tiger Stance: Beginner (22%) +] "Five Limit Break Points should be enough to push Flame Tiger Stance to the Tiger Form level." He murmured to himself, but his gaze lingered for a moment on Judo. He hesitated slightly. Using them on Judo would definitely allow him to reach the mastery level. But... He was curious about the improvement from breaking through with Tiger Stance techniques. Not to mention, his current performance in the Extreme Martial Arts Hall was at a genius level. Delaying further would no longer match his previous displays. "Upgrade!" With no further hesitation, Chen Feng chose Flame Tiger Stance. Buzz! In an instant, four Limit Break points were consumed. The sensation of enlightenment surged, like a hundred days and nights of standing and practicing punches alone, enduring the grind of solitude. Until, at a certain moment, the bottleneck was shattered. A warm flow surged inside him, his limbs and cells greedily absorbing it, and his skin felt like it had been tempered. [Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Form (1%) +] "Success!" His eyes narrowed, and Chen Feng clearly felt the change in his body. His muscles were stronger and more solid. It was like iron being forged, more refined and powerful. He immediately looked at the mental attributes on his panel. Chen Feng couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow. [Strength: 9.9 ¡ú 10.3] [Agility: 9.5 ¡ú 9.9] [Constitution: 9.8 ¡ú 10.2] [Willpower: 10.1 ¡ú 10.5] A 1.6 attribute increase. It was even stronger than the effect of Perfecting Sanda. "No wonder this is the legacy of the martial arts faction, and this is just the breakthrough to Tiger Form." Clenching his fists, Chen Feng estimated that his punch power now was at least 150 kg. This surpassed the level of an amateur ninth-dan fighter. "The minimum requirement for professional level one is a 200 kg punch, with each subsequent level adding 30 kg..." "If I use Explosive Fist, with 40% power...!" His gaze shifted, and Chen Feng suddenly realized that he could now unleash professional level one strength. Though limited by the stamina cost of Explosive Fist, it couldn¡¯t last long. But that was enough. "Good." A wave of confidence rose in his heart, and Chen Feng couldn¡¯t help but glance toward the Extreme Martial Arts Hall in the distance. He hadn¡¯t forgotten the grudge from back then. Not to mention, there were several more Limit Break Light Orbs inside the hall. But... "There¡¯s no need to rush..." Taking a deep breath, Chen Feng calmed himself, forcing himself to hold back. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The masked man¡¯s presence was far stronger than Coach Lu¡¯s, probably at least a professional level two or three. Right now, he still wasn¡¯t quite there yet. "But I¡¯ll be there soon." Pushing aside his distractions, Chen Feng clearly knew that the gap between them was rapidly narrowing. The immediate priority was to continue searching for more light orbs and break through to the professional level as soon as possible. With that in mind, he quickly spread out his perception and began searching. The nearby park was large, covering at least three to five kilometers. The mist within was slowly dissipating, and seeing this, Chen Wei¡¯s heart moved, and he turned to enter the park. Step, step! Footsteps echoed as his perception swept across. The surrounding plants were all withered, and the gray stone-paved paths crisscrossed through the park. Looking up, Chen Feng saw a massive tree. Dozens of meters tall, with twisted roots, and a thick trunk that required several people to circle around it. But oddly enough, even such a large tree was completely dead, without a trace of life. "Is it caused by the Black Calamity... or something else?" It was withered, deadly silent, and on the gray tree branches, not a single leaf remained. Chen Feng¡¯s eyes held confusion and awe, growing more wary of the circumstances in this world. Until finally, his steps halted. Chen Feng¡¯s heart stirred as he looked toward the center of the park, where a taller dead tree stood. Its twisted roots were about a meter or two thick, towering thirty to fifty meters high, towering over the land like a giant. Around it, a sea of withered trees seemed to be huddling around it, as though they were supporting their king. Seeing this, Chen Feng¡¯s gaze sharpened. Because, looking up toward the top of the tallest dead tree, He could see the upper branches tangled, resembling the shape of a tree crown. And within this withered, gray landscape, there was a light orb, about the size of a human head, enveloped in it was the shadow of a rhinoceros beetle, quietly floating. "Azure Light Orb?" (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 51: Robber Shot Dead Translator: CinderTL --- A thick shade of azure appeared before his eyes, a light orb that was beyond his range of perception. With just the naked eye, he could tell it was there. In fact, he could even see the faint image of what looked like a horned beetle-like insect wrapped inside the light. "What is this light orb?" With curiosity in his eyes, Chen Feng looked up and gazed into the distance. The limit-breaking light orb was pale red, and the attribute light orb was pure white¡ªthis was a known fact and pattern. Clearly, this azure light orb wasn¡¯t one of these two. "I wonder if it¡¯s a talent or a skill..." Chen Feng''s curiosity grew, as if there were a cat scratching at his thoughts. Without thinking much, he immediately walked to the base of the giant tree, intending to climb up using the intersecting branches. Rustle! He gripped the gnarled branches tightly, gathering his strength, his feet pressing against the ground. With a pull of his arms, he leapt upwards. Buzz! The world changed, and his feet stepped into thin air. The familiar ceiling reappeared before his eyes. "I¡¯m back already?" Lying on the bed, Chen Feng opened his eyes and clicked his tongue in mild regret. He knew that the azure light orb must be something extraordinary. After all, whether it was a talent or a skill, Looking back at his past experiences, abilities like perception and explosive fists had already provided him with considerable help, gradually becoming his trump cards. "I have to get it tonight." With his mind made up, Chen Feng casually reached for his phone under his pillow and glanced at the bright screen. It was exactly 7:05. Remembering that the core class started at 9:00, he didn¡¯t procrastinate. He quickly got out of bed and pulled open the curtains. Whoosh! Blinding sunlight poured in, with the azure sky and white clouds. The surrounding old neighborhood buildings were in disarray, clothes hanging on the balconies, the cement gray forming the most ordinary of scenes. But unlike the lifeless grayness of the dream world, Here, the gray had the vitality of human life. Pushing aside his thoughts, Chen Feng proceeded to the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. "I¡¯ve grown half a centimeter again." His eyes flashed as he noticed the height change. 1.81 meters tall, and 1.82 meters with shoes on. Besides that, His deltoids were more defined, making his shoulders look even wider. The trapezius muscles were thick, giving his back a proud posture. His arms slightly bent, with the biceps and triceps forming a graceful arc¡ªrepresenting pure strength. "Bigger and stronger..." The thought inexplicably popped into his mind. Chen Feng shook his head, pushing the thought aside. He didn¡¯t waste any more time. After washing up and boiling water, He ate three bags of bread, two eggs, and two cartons of milk. He also cooked a big bowl of noodles, then burped contentedly. His increasing appetite didn¡¯t bother him. After all, everything in this world comes at a cost. Compared to getting stronger, this was an insignificant sacrifice. ....... 8:10 AM. Chen Feng finally stepped outside. He took the bus to the Illusion Zone, surrounded by towering buildings. Large windows reflected a dazzling light, resembling wide azure-green waves. Holographic projections floated on some of the larger brand buildings, with a massive electronic screen hanging on the mall¡¯s outer wall. "[Yesterday, a protest march broke out on Yonghuan Street, with extreme consequences. Several people were trampled and injured...]" "[Among them, two-thirds were young people under 25, while one-third were middle-aged people who had recently lost their jobs...]" "[According to a detailed investigation by the Safety Bureau, the protest is suspected to have been instigated by members of the Utopia organization. The incident is currently under investigation...]" The voice echoed through both the external electronic screen and the LCD panel inside the bus, both showing news about yesterday¡¯s protest. ¡°Utopia¡­¡± Chen Feng murmured softly. This was the first time he¡¯d seen the term. However, it didn¡¯t feel unfamiliar to him. Because in the original body¡¯s memories, Utopia was an anti-government organization originating from the Platinum Federation, which had been restricted and hunted down within Red Nation. They often caused large-scale riots, posing a significant threat to social order. Boom!! Suddenly, as Chen Feng was recalling memories, A loud explosion rang out not far from the street. Turning his head, he saw a large jewelry store on fire, its glass windows shattered into pieces, scattering everywhere. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Help!¡± ¡°Run!¡± The screams followed the explosion, then came the sharp sound of rapid gunfire. Looking toward the chaos, five masked figures were armed with guns and wearing backpacks full of gold, continuously firing inside. The store¡¯s security fought back but was clearly unable to hold the robbers off. "Not again." Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, increasingly puzzled. Was this the third time? What was the purpose of these constant robberies? Did they really think the Safety Bureau was a paper tiger? Whoosh whoosh whoosh! Just as if to confirm his thoughts, While the gunfight continued inside the store, a sharp sound of something breaking through the air suddenly rang out. Chen Feng, surprised, leaned against the bus window, looking outside. Several flying cars from the Safety Bureau appeared, their wings spreading as they rushed toward the scene, their pale azure exhaust flames creating a hot airwave. "Not good!" ¡°Run!¡± The robbers inside yelled in shock, clearly not expecting this situation. Soon, the flying cars activated their weapon modules, and several gun barrels rose from the roof, aiming at the robbers below. Bang bang bang!!! A burst of intense firepower struck, and the surrounding residents quickly ducked for cover. Potholes formed on the cement ground, the iron of nearby vehicles dented, and car windows shattered. It didn¡¯t take long before two of the robbers were hit and fell to the ground, blood pouring out. ¡°Old Three! Little Five!¡± A robber screamed in grief and anger, trying to help his comrades. But soon, his fellow robbers grabbed him, forcing him into a black flying car. Then, with a swoosh, In the midst of the gunfire, the damaged black flying car shot off with a burst of flames from its tail, escaping with its engine smoking. ...... "Damn, that was terrifying." ¡°These people are crazy to still be robbing jewelry stores.¡± ¡°Thanks to the Safety Bureau. It should be safe now.¡± The bus, frightened, quickly pulled away, and the passengers began discussing in hushed voices. Some were excited by the thrill, but most were anxious and worried. No one wanted to be caught up in something like this. If a bullet hit, it was a one-way trip. ¡°The Safety Bureau was really fast this time¡­¡± Chen Feng shifted his gaze, looking at the wreckage of the jewelry store outside the bus window. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Two robbers had been completely neutralized, and armed security officers appeared one after another, setting up a perimeter. Chen Feng guessed that the Safety Bureau might have anticipated this. ¡°Maybe that captain knows something.¡± The thought crossed his mind, and he shook his head. He didn¡¯t have the captain¡¯s contact information, nor were they close, so there was no way to ask. Moreover, with all this confusion, He didn¡¯t want to get involved. At once, he pushed the thought aside and continued his bus ride. Not long after, the familiar bus stop appeared, and he finally walked into the martial arts hall where his core class was held. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 52: Cao Tong’s Surprise Translator: CinderTL --- ¡°Wow, you''re early.¡± In the martial arts school changing room, Lin Hao arrived before Chen Feng, dressed in a white training uniform, and greeted him with a smile. ¡°You''re not late either.¡± Chen Feng nodded and quickly took out a black short-sleeve shirt from his bag, then began to undress. ¡°Damn, it feels like you''ve gotten even stronger!¡± Lin Hao, standing beside him, looked on with a mix of surprise and envy. He had been practicing for so long, but his progress was slow. In comparison, Chen Feng seemed to have gained strength as if he were on some kind of supplement. ¡°Just practice more.¡± Chen Feng shrugged, which made Lin Hao feel a bit frustrated. While they were talking, several people came and went in the changing room, including Wu Tian and Pei Yue. They entered together and exchanged a cold, somewhat malicious glance with Chen Feng. Neither of them spoke, and it wasn¡¯t until they left the changing room that Lin Hao glanced inside again. He quickened his pace and closed the distance with Chen Feng, whispering, ¡°I checked into this yesterday.¡± ¡°No wonder Wu Tian is a bit arrogant in the school. Guess what?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°His aunt is a core disciple of the martial arts school.¡± Chen Feng¡¯s footsteps faltered as soon as he heard this. ¡°Core disciple?¡± It was the first time he had heard this term. ¡°Let me put it this way,¡± Lin Hao quickly continued, seeing the confusion on his face. ¡°Coach Cao is amazing, right? But even he¡¯s not a core disciple. When he sees Wu Tian¡¯s aunt, he has to call her ¡®senior sister.¡¯¡± Hearing this, Chen Feng more or less understood. No wonder Wu Tian acted like a snob. It turned out he had been coddled and protected so well that no one dared to provoke him in the martial arts school. He took it all for granted. Shaking his head, Chen Feng didn¡¯t dwell on it too much. Instead, he was more concerned about the surveillance from the Tian Heng Society. ¡°Forget about that, what¡¯s the progress with the Tian Heng Society? Have you found anything?¡± ¡°We agreed to wait three days, so don¡¯t rush it.¡± ¡°Some information takes time to gather.¡± Lin Hao smiled and made a gesture with two fingers, signaling Chen Feng to wait for another two days. Seeing this, Chen Feng nodded without saying more. Soon after, the two of them walked together into the practice room. With the clock striking 9:00, the day¡¯s standing and punching practice officially began. --- ¡°How¡¯s the investigation going?¡± At the same time, on the top floor of a high-rise building in Nanjiang City, a middle-aged man sat behind a red-painted wooden desk, holding a cigar and reclining slightly in his leather chair. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve found out.¡± ¡°That Chen Yun¡¯s younger brother doesn¡¯t have much of a network, but he seems to have some talent for martial arts. He¡¯s currently training in the core class at Flame Tiger Martial Arts School.¡± ¡°They were worried about being noticed by the people at Flame Tiger, so the men retreated.¡± Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man raised an eyebrow. ¡°Core class? When was this?¡± ¡°A couple of days ago. He passed the Flame Tiger Martial Arts School¡¯s test and became a core student.¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s eyebrows relaxed, and he took a puff of his cigar. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°That¡¯s it. He¡¯s a bit of a loner and rarely interacts with others.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Nodding, the middle-aged man¡¯s expression returned to its neutral state. ¡°Well then, since this kid has joined the core class, he should be under the school¡¯s radar now.¡± ¡°No need for bloodshed. Handle things at the research institute quietly, using reasonable methods, and make sure we don¡¯t leave any traces.¡± The man reporting nodded seriously, but he still didn¡¯t leave. ¡°Anything else?¡± The middle-aged man raised an eyebrow and asked. ¡°The gold shop¡­ Ah Biao lost two brothers, and there¡¯s some tension¡­¡± The man didn¡¯t finish his sentence, but the middle-aged boss understood. He took another puff of his cigar, his face obscured by smoke. ¡°Let him in.¡± --- ¡°The core class has rules. You practice every day, and every three days, you fight.¡± ¡°Fists are trained for combat, and this way, we can assess your foundations and test your stamina.¡± Inside the Flame Tiger Martial Arts School practice room, as Cao Tong¡¯s words echoed, many students¡¯ faces lit up, and their expressions varied. Most were excited, cracking their knuckles, eager for a good match. Similarly, Chen Feng noticed the malicious gaze coming from afar. Wu Tian, wearing a white martial arts uniform, he was warming up as he gazed at him. His lips curled into a mocking smile, his eyes filled with provocation. It seemed like he was saying, ¡°No matter what you do, your defeat is inevitable.¡± ¡°Idiot,¡± Chen Feng thought, shaking his head, but he didn¡¯t respond. His perception had already upgraded, allowing him to sense the strength of his opponents. Wu Tian¡¯s level was roughly at the ninth rank of the amateur level, slightly stronger than average, but still far from professional. Perhaps to the other students in the core class, he seemed unbeatable. But to him¡­ He couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste time with him. With that thought, he quickly put it out of his mind and focused back on Cao Tong. True to expectations, after discussing future plans, Cao Tong quickly moved on to another topic. ¡°Another thing. To help you better practice the Flame Tiger Stance, from today onwards, anyone who joins the Flame Tiger Stance can receive a bowl of Qi and Blood soup at noon.¡± ¡°This is for strengthening your body, boosting your energy, and improving your physical strength. If you want some, hurry up and get started.¡± After giving his instructions, Chen Feng¡¯s gaze shifted. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder what the Qi and Blood soup was. Could it be some kind of secret medicine? S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He pondered briefly but didn¡¯t ponder any further since he¡¯d be able to find out at noon. Before long, he saw Cao Tong directing everyone to practice their stances. Chen Feng seized the opportunity to settle into his stance and prepare for the Flame Tiger stance. The Flame Tiger Stance, also known as Flame Tiger Fist, consisted of eleven movements, combining stillness and motion, suitable for both practice and combat. At once, with his mind focused, he entered a calm state. Chen Feng soon visualized the Tiger Imagery Visualization Chart in his mind. With a deep stance and claws formed by his fingers, he rooted his feet firmly into the floor. As his body moved, the first move of the stance, Fierce Tiger Crouching, was unleashed. In that instant¡­ A tearing sensation surged throughout his body. Chen Feng could clearly feel the muscles in his legs being strengthened by the motion. After holding the position for a moment, he shifted his movements and quickly extended his arms forward, crossing his tiger claws. For a brief moment, Lin Hao, standing nearby, felt as though a man-shaped tiger had appeared in front of him. He didn¡¯t understand what was happening, but in his heart, he couldn¡¯t help but secretly envy Chen Feng¡¯s progress with his stance. ¡°Hmm?¡± Unlike Lin Hao, who was somewhat clueless, Cao Tong, experienced and sharp, immediately sensed a subtle shift in the atmosphere as Chen Feng immersed himself deeply in his training. Raising an eyebrow in surprise, he initially thought it was due to Wu Tian. But as he scanned the room, he realized something was wrong. A bold guess formed in his mind, and he quickly turned his gaze to the left corner of the practice room. The sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and a young man in a black short-sleeve shirt was standing in place, his fingers formed into claws, crossing over one another. It looked like an ordinary scene, but in Cao Tong¡¯s eyes, it seemed as though a ferocious tiger was leaping out, furious and charging through the mountains. His vision froze. What was supposed to be a teaching moment for others, Cao Tong now stood frozen in place. ¡°Tiger form?¡± (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 53: Qi and Blood Soup Medicine Translator: CinderTL --- "Has he actually mastered the Tiger Form in one day?" In the practice room, seeing Chen Feng standing still practicing punches, Cao Tong¡¯s eyes flashed with astonishment. He had thought the other party had high talent, but he never expected that Chen Feng would be able to master the Tiger Form in just one day. "Martial arts awakening, looks like it''s definitely the awakening of the martial path." The thought passed through his mind. If he had some doubts before, thinking it would need further verification, now Cao Tong was absolutely certain. Suddenly, a sharp light flashed in his eyes, and he felt that the martial arts school had really struck gold this time. When it¡¯s reported to the elders later, he might even receive some recommendations or rewards. "Good, good..." "As expected of my fan!" The more he thought, the happier he got, and Cao Tong couldn¡¯t help but slap the shoulder of a core student beside him heavily, making the student wince in pain. However, Chen Feng didn¡¯t notice. He just silently stood still practicing punches until it was nearly noon. The progress prompt didn¡¯t appear, even though he was drenched in sweat and feeling exhausted. "When I first started, I could increase 1 point of progress in one morning." "Now, the difficulty of the Tiger Form has clearly increased a lot. It seems it¡¯ll take a whole day to increase 1 point." Shaking his head at his own talent, Chen Feng exhaled and walked to the rest area by the floor-to-ceiling window, grabbing a sports water bottle and drinking deeply. Gulp! Gulp! The cool water helped alleviate some of the fatigue and heat. Sweat slid down, and Chen Feng could clearly feel the soreness and pain in his muscles. Since his physical attributes had improved, especially his physique, he hadn¡¯t felt like this in a long time. Even when he was practicing sanda and judo in his previous training class, he had never experienced this. This was enough to prove that the Flame Tiger Stance indeed had the effect of strengthening the entire body, as Cao Tong had said. "I can¡¯t take it anymore." Lin Hao, soaked in sweat, walked over and grabbed his water bottle, drinking like crazy. He had received another private instruction from Cao Tong today, but unfortunately, it seemed to have little effect. Seeing his state, Chen Feng couldn¡¯t help but ask, "I heard there are muscle-enhancing liquids on the market, supplements that can strengthen the body." "Although they haven¡¯t circulated in Nanjiang City yet, you should have a way to get them, right?" Lin Hao paused slightly, realizing the implication. He wasn¡¯t angry, instead, he smiled and said, "I just enjoy practicing martial arts. It¡¯s my dream, you know?" "This doesn¡¯t seem to contradict it?" Chen Feng asked, puzzled. "No, you don¡¯t get it." Shaking his head, Lin Hao¡¯s smile faded, and he reminded him earnestly, "Supplements like muscle-enhancing liquids shouldn¡¯t be injected or taken casually." "Especially for martial artists." Chen Feng raised an eyebrow at this, as he really didn¡¯t know this, and was also curious as to why they couldn¡¯t be taken. Lin Hao didn¡¯t explain, instead, he patted his stomach and said, "Let¡¯s go eat!" "I¡¯m starving, can¡¯t hold on much longer." Chen Feng, noticing Lin Hao didn¡¯t want to discuss it further, didn¡¯t press the matter. He, too, was feeling a bit tired and hungry, so they went to the canteen together. ... "So many people." The canteen was located on the first floor of the martial arts school and was a large, independent space, covering several hundred square meters, with white floor tiles making it very bright inside. Rows of long metal tables and chairs were arranged in an orderly manner, and there were many people moving about ¡ª over a hundred people passing by, either queuing for meals or sitting in groups. At the far end was a long row of food counters, with plates of meat, vegetables, and fruits placed below the counters. Beef, fish, potatoes, tomatoes... and fruit platters such as watermelon, as well as warm milk... You could get food by swiping the core class student card, with no limit on the amount, but you couldn¡¯t take it away. You had to eat until full. "The martial arts school is really rich." "Of course, we get to have lunch every day, and just this alone is a big expense." "Enough talk, hurry up and get the food, I¡¯m starving." The noisy chatter was like a swarm of bees, and the various smells of food made people¡¯s appetites soar. As Chen Feng and Lin Hao entered the canteen, they scanned the crowded seats. They didn¡¯t delay and, based on memory, quickly found a less crowded counter and queued up in an orderly fashion. At the same time, Chen Feng took out a white magnetic card from his pocket. It had the student¡¯s photo, name, and the building design of the Flame Tiger Martial Arts Hall as the background. This was the identity card handed out by Cao Tong during rest time when they joined the core class, and it allowed them to freely enter and exit the martial arts school. Beep! The card was successfully scanned. "Let¡¯s get some beef, the milk is just the right temperature, I¡¯ll have a box..." Lin Hao quickly took his food and glanced at Chen Feng. Looking at Chen Feng¡¯s tray, which was stacked with beef and rice, Lin Hao¡¯s eyes widened. "This guy¡¯s appetite has grown again?" Surprised, Lin Hao didn¡¯t leave right away. He noticed that the staff at the counter also brought out a thick brown medicinal soup and placed it on Chen Feng¡¯s tray. "Whoa, you¡¯ve really mastered the stance?" Lin Hao didn¡¯t know about Chen Feng¡¯s progress, but he remembered what Cao Tong had said. Only those who have mastered the Flame Tiger Stance are qualified to receive the Qi and Blood Soup Medicine, a privilege for geniuses. Many of the core students around them also looked envious, and their eyes towards Chen Feng held a bit more admiration. Only those who practiced it personally knew how difficult the Flame Tiger Stance was. Many people hadn¡¯t even visualized the form yet. "Yeah." Chen Feng nodded lightly, not intending to explain that he had already mastered the Tiger Form, so as not to make Lin Hao feel too disheartened. Even so, Lin Hao still looked at him with admiration. "Mastered it in one day. As expected of you." The two chatted casually as they searched for an empty table, soon finding a spot to sit. Without delay, Chen Feng picked up the Qi and Blood Soup Medicine and opened his mouth wide. Gulp! A strong herbal taste filled his mouth, and he couldn¡¯t help but wrinkle his brow. But thinking of the benefits of this soup medicine, he still swallowed it all. "How does it taste?" Lin Hao asked curiously, handing over a tissue. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Terrible." Chen Feng took the tissue, wiped his mouth, and shook his head slightly. "Be grateful." Lin Hao smiled and explained, "The Qi and Blood Soup Medicine is made by the martial arts school using various herbs, specifically for martial arts practice." "Although it¡¯s not as effective as secret medicines, if taken daily, it still has significant benefits for strengthening the body and improving Qi and blood." Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. He had thought this was a secret medicine, but now he saw it wasn¡¯t what he had imagined. However... His gaze shifted, and he suddenly felt a warm current rise from his stomach, slowly integrating into his body¡¯s flesh and blood. It was faint, and his four-dimensional attributes showed no change. But with his perceptive abilities, he could keenly sense that his physique had improved slightly. "So, the effect of this Qi and Blood Soup Medicine is gradual?" His eyes brightened, and Chen Feng looked back at the food counter. He wondered if he could get another serving. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 54: Former Classmates Translator: CinderTL --- That day, Chen Feng¡¯s plan to receive another dose of medicinal soup was not realized. It wasn''t much of a regret, however, as after a full day of standing and practicing punches, by 3 p.m., just before finishing his training session, he had made some progress. [Progress +1!] [Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Form (2%)+] Chen Feng wiped the sweat off his face as he glanced at the panel. Yesterday, he had used four doses of Limit Breaking, and there was still one left. Now, seeing the mediocrity of his talent again, he didn¡¯t hesitate and quickly assigned points. [Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Form (12%)] ¡°Only 10%?¡± Chen Feng raised an eyebrow and wiped the sweat from his face. As his power grew, the level of the skills kept increasing. He noticed that he was relying more and more on the Limit-Break Light Orbs. Thinking of this, he exhaled, and the memory of the azure orb he saw in the dream world came to mind. He wondered whether it was a talent or a skill... Curiosity nagged at him, and the core class for the day finally came to an end. Without further delay, Chen Feng and Lin Hao quickly went to the locker room and changed clothes. ¡°Did you hear?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Wu Tian tested his punch power at noon, 145kg.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s almost better than a 9th-dan amateur!¡± ¡°Tomorrow is the competition. I hope I don¡¯t meet him.¡± Other students entered the locker room and whispered. Lin Hao frowned when he heard and instinctively looked at Chen Feng. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Can you handle it?¡± Lin Hao asked quietly. He remembered Wu Tian¡¯s displeased expression when his challenge to spar was rejected yesterday. ¡°No problem.¡± Chen Feng shook his head, his expression calm. Seeing his calm demeanor, Lin Hao opened his mouth but ultimately didn¡¯t say anything more. Over the past few days, he had understood Chen Feng¡¯s personality and realized that some things were better left unsaid. Tap, tap! Footsteps echoed. The two quickly left the martial arts hall, each going their separate way. As Chen Feng walked towards the bus, Lin Hao watched his back slowly disappear. The last two figures to leave the martial arts hall paused for a moment. One of them squinted his eyes and showed a playful smile. ¡°Pei Yue, what do you think his level is now?¡± ¡°Probably still at the amateur 8th-dan?¡± said the burly, older youth with a frown. Since they were all from the same core class, it wasn¡¯t hard to check some details. It had been just two days, how much could he have progressed. ¡°You didn¡¯t notice at noon? He also took some Qi and Blood soup.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Pei Yue raised an eyebrow. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Anyone who can get into the core class is a genius.¡± Wu Tian smiled playfully as he withdrew his gaze. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll make him realize that¡­¡± ¡°Geniuses aren¡¯t all in the same league.¡± His tone was calm but full of strong confidence. Soon, with envious and admiring gazes from other students, he and Pei Yue strolled off. ... ¡°Ding dong!¡± ¡°Welcome!¡± At 3:50 p.m., the familiar voice echoed at the entrance of Yongle Fu Supermarket. A sturdy young man, wearing a red vest, pushed through the transparent soft curtain and walked in like a moving black rock. ¡°Aunt He, is the machine fixed?¡± Chen Feng¡¯s familiar voice made He Xiuping look up. ¡°Ah, yes, the repairman came this morning.¡± She nodded and gave Chen Feng a few more glances. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if it was just her imagination, but it seemed like he had gotten even sturdier? ¡°It¡¯s almost time, Aunt He.¡± Chen Feng spoke as he donned his employee vest, not noticing her silent gaze. ¡°Oh, the day really passed quickly.¡± He Xiuping smiled and didn¡¯t delay any further. ¡°Alright, thank you, Xiao Feng. I¡¯m leaving now.¡± ¡°Take care, Aunt He.¡± Once the conversation ended, He Xiuping quickly left, and the transparent soft curtain was lifted again. Li Hongxia, wearing a yellow delivery outfit, walked in, sweating profusely, with Xu Yao, her old schoolbag slung on her back, following behind. ¡°Sister Zhang, I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t rush, drink some water first.¡± The group of women in their thirties or fifties exchanged a few words. Chen Feng heard a familiar voice and smiled at Xu Yao. ¡°Are you signing up soon?¡± Chen Feng casually asked. It was already mid-August. ¡°Next Friday,¡± Xu Yao shyly replied, lowering her head. Her shoulder-length hair hung loosely, and her bright apricot eyes were focused on the gray tiles beneath her feet, as if trying to find a flower in the cracks. ¡°The summer vacation really passed quickly. My son will soon go back to teaching,¡± Sister Zhang added. Li Hongxia responded with a hint of envy, ¡°Being a college teacher sounds nice. I wish Xiao Yao could be a teacher too.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure that won¡¯t be a problem, Xu Yao is so obedient, and her grades are great,¡± Zhang Jie said with a smile. ¡°This last year of high school, just push harder, and she¡¯ll definitely get into a top teacher¡¯s college.¡± Zhang Jie continued cheerfully. Chen Feng didn¡¯t respond, just smiling as he ruffled Xu Yao¡¯s head. Having spent some time with them, he could tell that Li Hongxia had high hopes for Xu Yao. The little girl was well-behaved and didn¡¯t struggle in her studies, and everyone wished for her future to be even brighter. ¡°Alright, alright, you two get back to work. I need to go cook.¡± ¡°Goodbye, Xiao Feng, Xu Yao.¡± ¡°Take care, Aunt Zhang.¡± Chen Feng nodded. ¡°Goodbye, Aunt Zhang,¡± Xu Yao whispered. Then she walked to the back of the shelves to continue her homework, the faint sound of writing and sketching filling the air. Chen Feng stood behind the cash register, occasionally processing payments or gazing out the window, quietly waiting for night to fall. ¡°Has Tian Heng Society given up on following me?¡± The usual malicious intent hadn¡¯t shown up, and no black cars were parked on the street outside. This made Chen Feng wonder if they had been following the wrong person? Or perhaps... Had it been because he entered the core class? As this thought crossed his mind, the mechanical notification sounded again at the supermarket entrance. And with it, came the faint sound of laughter. ¡°Sun Zhi is really rich; he bought a necklace just like that.¡± ¡°Really something, Han Yue.¡± Two girls in their twenties walked into the supermarket together. One had long wavy hair, heavily made up, tall, and wearing a strapless dress. The other had a similar outfit, a tight crop top showing off her figure. ¡°Hm?¡± Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. He felt like he had seen one of them before, the one in the strapless dress. Not giving it much thought, he stood behind the register, waiting for them to pay for their drinks. ¡°Hmm? I think it¡¯s Chen Feng?¡± The girl in the strapless dress paused her actions, frowning and looking at him. After a few seconds of hesitation, she uncertainly asked, ¡°Chen Feng?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Chen Feng frowned. ¡°Old classmate, it¡¯s me, Han Yue. Don¡¯t you remember?¡± Han Yue smiled teasingly, her brow relaxed. Chen Feng was taken aback. Now he understood why she looked so familiar. She was his high school classmate, Han Yue. And, during the three years of high school, his secret crush. However, unlike the youthful innocence of the past, she had changed a lot, with heavy makeup now. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you come to the class reunion a few days ago?¡± ¡°Had something to do,¡± Chen Feng replied simply, his face expressionless. ¡°Is that so...¡± Han Yue raised an eyebrow, seemingly not used to his indifferent attitude. She then looked him up and down. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten stronger, Chen Feng. Do you work out?¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Feng nodded slightly, responding politely. ¡°How come you¡¯re working as a cashier here? I remember you had pretty good grades and were studying hotel management?¡± Han Yue continued with a smile, as if making small talk. ¡°It¡¯s fine here.¡± Chen Feng replied calmly, not offering much explanation. Han Yue nodded but didn¡¯t ask further, though the smile on her face faded slightly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be going now.¡± ¡°Take care.¡± Chen Feng nodded gently, hearing the payment notification sound, and watched them leave. He also overheard their conversation carried by the wind. ¡°Your classmate?¡± ¡°Yes, we were in the same class in high school.¡± ¡°He¡¯s kind of stingy. Didn¡¯t even offer to buy us water.¡± ¡°Typical. We¡¯re not really close.¡± ¡°Good for you, though. You¡¯ve got your sights on Sun Zhi. Don¡¯t worry about that Chen Feng. He¡¯s just a cashier. Looks like he¡¯s not doing that well.¡± (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 55: The Return of the Monster Translator: CinderTL --- The high school years were merely a simple endpoint, and people would inevitably change in the dye pot of society. Chen Feng remained calm, indifferent to the conversation as the two left. He was no longer the original owner, and aside from the only connection, Chen Yun, he had no desire to care about other relationships. Soon, time passed, and midnight arrived once again. With a swish, the mop was placed at the door, and Chen Feng lowered the metal roller shutter. "Xiao Feng, we''ll head off first. You stay safe on your way back," Li Hongxia said as she adjusted the electric scooter and hopped on. Behind her, Xu Yao followed, carrying an old backpack, and turned to look at him, her bright eyes shining. "Goodbye, Brother Chen Feng." "Take care, Sister Hongxia." "Goodbye, Xiao Yao." With a gentle nod, Chen Feng waved goodbye to the mother and daughter. He watched them leave slowly, the red lights of the scooter fading at the end of the street. Only then did he turn around, carrying the bag with his practice clothes, heading in the direction of the neighborhood. Tap, tap! The sound of footsteps echoed along the road. The streetlight poles were old, their white paint yellowed, and the flickering light cast a series of oval-shaped patches on the ground, each about two to three meters wide. Every five or six meters, there was a streetlight, and the dim night sky covered most of the view. Tap, tap! The footsteps continued, and as usual, he felt a gnawing hunger. Prepared in advance, Chen Feng took out two energy bars from his bag, tore open the wrappers, and stuffed them into his mouth. Crunch! Crunch! The crisp sound echoed in his head as the taste of the milk-flavored bars filled his stomach. Full and satisfied, his eyes scanned the road, and Chen Feng noticed an empty water bottle and some scattered plastic bags. He continued walking until, two minutes later, he reached the spot near the old barbecue stand. The area was deserted, with the ground still stained with oil stains from previous days. Two flattened beer cans lay on either side. "Did they really stop setting up their stall?" Chen Feng was somewhat surprised. He remembered the barbecue vendor as a man in his late forties. He used to set up the stall here every day, rain or shine, so it was strange that the stall hadn¡¯t appeared for two days in a row. "Hmm?" Suddenly, his gaze shifted. Chen Feng looked toward the nearest streetlight pole. Missing Person Notice. Zhao Guoqiang, male, 49 years old, disappeared after closing his stall on the night of August 16th... A reward of 5,000 yuan will be given to anyone providing clues, and additional rewards will be given if the person is found... The notice contained both text and a photo. Chen Feng glanced at it, his eyebrows furrowing as his expression grew serious. The photo was of the barbecue vendor, Zhao Guoqiang. And, most importantly... "August 16th, wasn''t that just the day before yesterday?" A cold feeling ran down Chen Feng''s spine as he suddenly realized that the air around him seemed to carry a strange, metallic scent. Hiss! A faint sound like a snake''s tongue flicking out, followed by the slow approach of heavy footsteps. Thud! Thud! The surrounding light was suddenly blocked, and a thick, overwhelming malice enveloped the area. In an instant, a chill ran through him, and his skin crawled. He saw a shadow rush toward him on the ground, and without thinking, Chen Feng immediately rolled forward and dove. Whoosh! Boom! A black shadow appeared where he had been just a moment ago, and the nearby streetlight pole was struck by a thick arm. Iron shavings flew, and the metal surface showed a slight dent. Chen Feng''s pupils contracted, and his gaze followed the thick arm, slowly moving upward. The figure was clad in black robes, with a hood covering its face, and its body stood nearly 1.85 meters tall. Broad, heavy. The face was shrouded in shadow, but the most prominent feature were the blood-red eyes. Veins like those of a snake''s pupils, bloodshot and intense. Dimly, Chen Feng thought he could hear it opening its mouth, expelling something that resembled a snake''s tongue. "Is it that monster?!" The thought struck him, and Chen Feng suddenly remembered the blood-red eyes he''d seen in the alley nearby before. At the time, the distance was too great to make out clearly, but now, with a closer look, he realized how similar the two eyes were. Whoosh! Just as his mind was distracted by the memory, a crackling sound followed. The creature withdrew its arm from the streetlight pole and, with a stomp, lunged forward. The air whistled as it blurred into a black shadow, shooting toward him like a cheetah. "Move!" "Move, now!" A cold chill gripped his heart as the air seemed to grow heavier with the creature''s foul scent. In the face of death, Chen Feng felt a wave of intense malice and fear that seemed to invade his mind like a tidal wave. It felt like the difference between life and death, as if the predator at the top of the food chain had locked its sights on him. His body froze, his limbs unresponsive, and he could only stand there, watching as the creature flew toward him. "Move, damn it!!" Whoosh! The inner scream resounded as Chen Feng''s willpower suddenly surged, and with it, all the negative emotions were swept away, leaving him in a state of calm. In a moment of clarity, the image of the Crimson Tiger flying through the sky appeared in his mind. Roar!!! The fiery tiger howled, the king of beasts! In an instant, his blood began to boil, and his heart raced like an engine. His figure flickered, and Chen Feng executed the Hungry Tiger Leaps the Gorge from the Flame Tiger Stance. Boom!!! S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A low, resounding hum reverberated through the air as the monster appeared where he had been moments before. Its thick arm struck the air, and Chen Feng suddenly realized that its palm was tinged with blue, the veins wriggling like small snakes. Before he could recover his senses, the black-robed creature twisted its body, launching a fierce side kick. Whoosh! The air vibrated with a loud whistling sound as the attack surged toward him like a constrictor. There was no way to avoid it, no way to retreat! Sensing the killing intent and indifference, and recalling that he had just begun practicing martial arts... In that instant, Chen Feng''s blood boiled as his eyes flashed with madness. ¡®Explosive Fist!¡¯ He roared inwardly, his arm muscles swelling as if waves were crashing. Since he couldn¡¯t avoid it, he would take the blow head-on! Boom! In an instant, his already muscular right arm expanded even further, and with tremendous force, he struck the attack. Boom!! Fist met foot. Violent power surged, and the shockwave struck. Chen Feng staggered back several steps. The surrounding area fell eerily silent, the gust of wind from the impact sweeping through the night. Tap, tap! Finally, he found his footing, steadying his stance. Chen Feng raised his head, his bright eyes gleaming with intensity. There was no fear, no hesitation, only a trace of exhilaration and madness. "I can fight it!" Calculating calmly, Chen Feng shook his arm to ease the tension from the powerful punch. Looking over, he saw that although the black-robed creature hadn¡¯t retreated, it had paused momentarily, its breath heavy. Chen Feng''s senses sharpened, and he realized that if he ignored the intense malice, the creature''s strength seemed to be at a professional level, around the first or second tier. In other words, though the monster was strong, it wasn¡¯t invincible. As long as he was fast enough, strong enough, and ruthless enough... He could still pop its head with a single punch! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Chapter 90. Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 56: Monsters Can Die Too Translator: CinderTL --- Bang!! Chen Feng, having made up his mind, became focused and calm. Once again, a clash of fists occurred. Facing the murderous intent of the black-robed monster, he didn''t retreat. Instead, he stared directly at the creature''s blood-red eyes, which seemed to have vertical pupils. With the dim light from the street lamps, Chen Feng managed to catch a glimpse of the face beneath the creature''s hood. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A human face, but with dark, bluish-black skin, resembling scales that seemed to flicker in and out of visibility. Additionally, the creature''s slightly open mouth revealed a thin, forked tongue, resembling that of a snake, slowly flicking out. "A serpent man?" The thought crossed his mind. Such an unnatural and eerie sight was unexpected for Chen Feng. Could there really be creatures beyond humans in this world? Or... is this still considered a human? Whoosh! Before he could figure it out, the black-robed serpent man moved, turning into a shadow, charging at him. Boom!! Chen Feng raised his arms in front of him, sliding back several steps to block the creature''s whip-like kick. His skin stung, and his arms felt a slight numbness. The rapid footsteps drew near. He could sense the serpent man was coming again. Without even looking closely, his heightened senses allowed him to track every movement accurately. His mastery of Sanda surged in his mind. He took a step back, readying his stance and threw a punch. Whoosh! His powerful arm cut through the air, creating a wind strong enough to make his clothes hum. Before Chen Feng could react, the serpent man''s whip-like leg swept horizontally, a fierce gust of air following. The kick was aimed at his head. As if by instinct, the move from the "Flame Tiger Stance" surged in his mind. In an instant, his body lowered, his weight shifted. The leg grazed past his scalp. As the serpent man balanced on one leg, Chen Feng''s eyes flashed. A weakness! His heart silently shouted, and he immediately clenched his right fist, gathering power at high speed. Muscles bulged, veins visible. His sturdy right arm coiled at his waist, and then, with a twist of his back, he lunged forward, delivering a punch. Boom!!! A thunderous punch hit the serpent man''s head like a cannonball. The shockwave spread, and the air trembled. Chen Feng could see the serpent man''s head snap to the side, struck hard. His eyes gleamed, seeing it was effective, and he held nothing back. In an instant, his left fist followed. Boom! Right fist! Boom! One punch after another! Boom boom boom! The heavy sounds of punches echoed continuously. Perhaps due to his improved physique, Chen Feng felt that his ability to use Explosive Fist had increased, enough to land multiple blows in quick succession. In the blink of an eye, the black-robed serpent man was struck again and again in the head. Its body wobbled, as if stunned by the blows, staggering back, forgetting to fight back. For half a minute straight. The muffled sounds of punches reverberated in the night air, triggering the motion-sensing lights in the surrounding neighborhood. Boom!!! Sweat and blood mixed in the punches, splattering as the glow reflected off them. Finally, a final thudding sound. It was as if the last straw had broken the camel''s back. The serpent man''s body froze, then suddenly collapsed backward. Thud! A heavy crash echoed. Chen Feng''s arms dropped weakly, but there was no sign of relaxation in his eyes. Sweat dripped from his forehead, and his chest heaved like a bellows. "Ha! Ha! Ha!" He gasped heavily. This was the first time he truly felt his physical limits. The relentless Explosive Fist had been too intense, leaving his arm muscles sore and swollen, unable to lift again. So... "Is it dead?" He slowed his breathing, confident his senses wouldn''t be wrong. Focusing on the body, he saw the serpent man''s vertical pupils wide open, its head deformed and twisted. Its skin was torn, and its bones exposed. A large pool of blood spilled out, staining the black hood darker, forming a bloodstain on the ground. Seeing this, Chen Feng''s expression softened, and he finally exhaled. Ha! Ha! He took a few more seconds to steady himself, alleviating some of his fatigue and pressure. Looking around, the nearby old neighborhood had few surveillance cameras, and this place was in a blind spot. Shaking his head, he dismissed the thought. Chen Feng pieced together the events that had occurred. If he wasn''t mistaken, this black-robed serpent monster had likely been hiding around here. The barbecue stall owner, Zhao Guoqiang, had disappeared two days ago, and it was possible this serpent was involved. Even earlier, the body of a drunken man found in the alley was probably the work of this serpent. "Wait..." Suddenly, Chen Feng remembered something he''d heard a few days ago on the bus, along with news reports he had searched. There had been reports of disemboweled bodies found on Xiao Shi Street. That place was about 20 kilometers from here, a suburb of South City. It was hard to believe the serpent man could travel between these two locations. "So, either the body wasn''t killed by this monster..." "Or... there''s a second serpent?" His gaze sharpened, and a strong intuition told him that the second theory might be more likely. His heart sank. He quickly scanned his surroundings. After observing for a few seconds, his senses detected no hostility. Confirming it was safe, he sighed in relief. "It looks like it''s just this one..." Looking back at the serpent''s body, Chen Feng considered leaving the area. But then, he hesitated. A body like this would surely attract attention tomorrow. If the serpent had allies, they might come after him for revenge. He frowned, troubled. "How should I deal with this?" This one serpent had already worn him out, nearly defeating him. If there were several more, he knew he wouldn''t stand a chance. Thinking of this, Chen Feng finally took out his phone. He typed in the number for the safety agency''s emergency hotline. However, after a moment of thought, he stopped. He wasn''t sure how the safety agency would handle this situation. This was different from dealing with Zhao Jin before. After all, a human had been killed. Although the creature had snake-like traits, its face and limbs were still human, something he couldn''t deny. After a moment of hesitation, he opened the chat window on his phone and selected one person. [Cao Tong] After considering it, Chen Feng decided that his best course of action was to ask for help from the martial arts hall. They were a force with martial traditions, and people like Cao Tong seemed much stronger than this serpent. Perhaps he would know something important, or even help cover for him. With a clear mind, Chen Feng typed out a message. "Cao coach, are you awake?" Buzz! Buzz! His phone vibrated, and Cao Tong responded almost immediately. [Cao Tong: Not yet. What''s up?] "Have you ever seen a human with snake-like features?" Chen Feng quickly took a photo of the serpent''s body and sent it along with the message. A moment later, the phone buzzed again. [Cao Tong: ???] (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Chapter 90. Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 57: The Cult of the Evil God Translator: CinderTL --- [Cao Tong: ???] Under the night sky, seeing the message on the screen, Chen Feng was silent for a moment. Soon, perhaps feeling he had overreacted, the three question marks were quickly retracted. Shortly after, his phone vibrated again, and Cao Tong''s message came through. [Cao Tong: Where are you?] [Find a safe place to stay. I''ll come over right away.] Seeing the message, Chen Feng didn''t waste time. He sent a location, glanced around his surroundings, and found a secluded corner to wait quietly. Fortunately, it was late at night, and there were few people wandering around. In just over ten minutes, a black SUV sped toward him. Buzz! The car screeched to a halt. With a loud bang, the door opened, and the burly Cao Tong, as imposing as a small mountain, stepped out. "Chen Feng?" The man called out from a distance. Confirming his identity, Chen Feng quickly emerged from the corner. "Coach Cao." "Are you alright?" Cao Tong asked, glancing at the snake-like corpse on the ground. Its head was caved in, clearly the result of repeated blows, beaten to death. "I''m fine." "That''s good." Letting out a sigh of relief, Cao Tong scanned the surroundings, quickly noticing something odd. "Wait, this snake man... did you kill it?" His tiger-like eyes widened as he looked at Chen Feng. He was well aware of the strength of such creatures; even the weakest required a professional-grade fighter to handle. But clearly, Chen Feng, who had just mastered tiger form, shouldn''t be at that level. Chen Feng remained silent for a moment. "It was me." As his words fell, Cao Tong''s eyes widened in astonishment. For several seconds, he stared at Chen Feng up and down. He could tell Chen Feng wasn''t lying, but that only made it harder to understand how he had managed it. "Coach Cao, what exactly is this thing?" Noting Cao Tong''s shock, Chen Feng quickly changed the topic, unwilling to linger on the possibility of attracting the snake man''s companions. "This thing..." Recovering from his thoughts, Cao Tong frowned deeply. After giving Chen Feng a meaningful look, he explained: "You need to know, not everyone in this world is willing to endure the sweat and effort of martial arts training." "There are always those who seek an easier way to gain power." "Are you talking about cyborgs?" Chen Feng asked curiously. In this highly advanced world, body modifications were not uncommon. For instance, the wanted robber from the gold shop had undergone such enhancements. But... Looking at the snake-like corpse on the ground, Chen Feng couldn''t spot any mechanical features. "It''s not a cyborg." Shaking his head, Cao Tong''s expression turned faintly disdainful. "This is someone who worships so-called evil gods, offering sacrifices to willingly undergo mutations..." "Evil gods? Mutations?" Raising an eyebrow, Chen Feng caught onto a series of keywords. This was information absent from his inherited memories, things he had never encountered. In a daze, it felt as if a door had been opened before him, revealing a mysterious world gradually unfolding. "That''s all I can tell you for now." "There are things you''ll learn as your strength grows." Cao Tong stopped there, offering only a brief warning. Though slightly disappointed, Chen Feng wisely refrained from pressing further. "Coach, what about this scene..." "Report it to the Safety Bureau." Shaking his head, Cao Tong quickly pulled out his phone. "Those lunatics who worship evil gods are mortal enemies of the Safety Bureau." "It''s best to let them handle this." With that, he swiftly sent a message, seemingly contacting a friend at the Bureau. Chen Feng sighed in relief. It was clear Cao Tong was covering for him, ensuring he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about retaliation from the snake man¡¯s allies. --- Meanwhile, in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Nanjiang City... "Number 19 is dead?" The space was filled with the stench of rust and gasoline, with oil barrels scattered haphazardly. In the dimly lit area, several black-robed figures stood together. "Yes, the Serpent God revealed it." The one speaking wore a hood, their voice vaguely feminine. "Two minutes before you arrived, it returned to the Serpent God''s embrace." "Who did it?" a hulking black-robed figure asked, voice heavy with anger. "Unknown." Shaking her head slightly, the hooded woman spoke flatly. "Nanjiang City is a major metropolis with several martial arts sects. All of them have some level of strength." "Moreover, the cyborgs backing the Safety Bureau and the United Earth Coalition may have noticed traces of us..." Hearing this, the atmosphere grew tense. Although the large man knew this reasoning, his frustration remained. "I''ll get to the bottom of this!" "Suit yourself." The hooded woman replied indifferently. "But think carefully." "Compared to the mission Lord Messenger assigned, which is more important?" Her words caused the large man to stiffen. After a moment of hesitation, he let out a cold snort and dropped the subject. Soon, the black-robed figures stood together in a circle. A dark energy began emanating from them, and within the abandoned warehouse, a hazy serpent-like apparition gradually emerged. Below it, a pool of deep red, almost black blood began to spread. --- Back in the city, a Safety Bureau vehicle departed with the snake man¡¯s corpse. Seated in Cao Tong¡¯s SUV, Chen Feng watched the scene unfold without stepping out. Finally, as the task was wrapped up, Cao Tong re-entered the car. "It¡¯s done. Don¡¯t worry." "Where do you live? I¡¯ll take you home." "Just ahead, a couple of minutes'' walk. I can make it myself." Chen Feng opened the door, stepped out, and expressed his thanks through the car window. "It¡¯s nothing," Cao Tong chuckled. "But you, you¡¯ve really surprised me today." "Train hard. I¡¯m looking forward to the day we¡¯re fellow disciples!" The words stunned Chen Feng. He could sense Cao Tong¡¯s genuine appreciation, likely sparked by his potential. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Thank you, Coach Cao." "Coach? Forget it. Call me Brother Cao from now on!" Laughing, Cao Tong drove off, leaving Chen Feng standing under the red glow of the tail lights as they faded into the distance. Turning toward home, Chen Feng entered, dropped his bag, and headed to the bathroom. The hot shower soothed his muscles and calmed his mind. Reflecting on the night¡¯s events, he felt an urgency building within him. ¡°Ultimately¡­ it all comes down to strength.¡± With determination gleaming in his eyes, he hurried into his bedroom, ready to dive into his dreams. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 58: Talent: Azure Armor Translator: CinderTL --- That night. Fatigue surged, and his consciousness sank. Chen Feng lay down on the bed and quickly drifted into a deep sleep. Standing once again in the park of the dream world, his eyes gleamed as his sense of urgency regarding improving his strength grew. He raised his head slightly. Looking at the withered giant tree¡¯s canopy, an azure light orb wrapped around the image of a horned beetle hovered above. Without hesitation, he quickly tossed aside his brass knuckles, grabbed the gnarled roots and intertwining branches, and began climbing the tree with his bare hands. Clack, clack, clack! His muscles rippled, veins popping out. The powerful strength and physique came into play at this moment. Even though he wasn¡¯t skilled at climbing, he was still able to ascend nimbly. Crack! A branch he stepped on suddenly broke. Chen Feng¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he firmly grabbed the main trunk to the side. Stretching his arms to pull hard to the left and right, his body shifted. In no time, he climbed another half meter, completing one-fifth of the climb. "Keep going, keep going." His eyes were calm, and his perception expanded. The withered giant tree was bare, with no leaves to obstruct his view. As time passed. Eight meters, ten meters, fifteen meters, twenty meters... The gray, dead tree¡¯s surface was visible as the black-clad youth climbed upward, getting closer and closer to the top. Finally, Chen Feng looked up. The crossing branches were offset, and the huge canopy and azure light orb were just half a meter above him. The misty sky felt close at this moment, and he didn¡¯t rush blindly to the top. Crack! Another branch he pulled on snapped, falling to the ground. After several repeated attempts, he finally found a thick branch that wouldn¡¯t break easily. Taking advantage of the moment, he leaped up and landed firmly in the tree¡¯s canopy. The azure light orb was now within reach, surrounded by a misty world above. Under the layers of azure light, a clear, distinct image of a horned beetle could be seen inside the light orb. "Let me see what you really are!" His eyes sharp, Chen Feng immediately reached out and grabbed for the light orb. Buzz! In an instant, before he could get close, the light orb exploded, splitting into countless greenish-blue lights that swirled around his body like fireflies. The dark night sky was lit up, as hundreds of thousands of azure light dots appeared, seemingly alive. Chen Feng was stunned, but he didn¡¯t sense any danger or hostility. This scene continued for a few seconds, and he couldn¡¯t help but stretch out his finger. Suddenly, one of the azure light dots touched his finger. It felt cold. Buzz! The next moment, hundreds of thousands of green lights surged toward him, quickly turning into a dense light shadow that entered his body. [You have obtained the Talent Light Orb: Azure Armor!] [A signature talent left by an awakened being!] [Talent fusion successful!] [Effect: You can continuously consume mental and physical energy to activate the Azure Armor form, gaining a comprehensive combat power boost!] [Current status: Azure Armor LV1 (1/100)] [Talent growth condition: Obtain enough fear!] A panel prompt suddenly appeared. Before Chen Feng could examine it carefully, he felt a strange sensation on the back of his left hand. Looking down, he opened his hand. An azure mark appeared near his forearm, about the size of a fingernail. It was an azure beetle, resembling a horned beetle. "Azure Armor?" His gaze fixed, and Chen Feng stared at the mark on his hand for a few seconds. Then, combining it with the panel prompt, he quickly understood its function. "Consume mental and physical energy to activate..." Standing on the tree canopy, he gazed at the mist-covered city below, the area he had explored already visible beneath him. He decided to try it. "Azure Armor, activate!" Buzz! Azure light exploded from the back of his hand! A cool sensation spread across his body, covering him entirely in less than a second. When the light faded, a figure completely covered in azure armor appeared on top of the canopy. The body was enveloped in a hard shell, with azure-black armored plates overlapping at joints like the shoulders, elbows, and knees, some circular, others spiked. As for the sharp facial features, they were covered by a mask with an azure horn on it. The eyes were unique, two elliptical red lights shining like glowing fiberglass. In an instant, Chen Feng¡¯s appearance changed drastically, and his aura surged! "So, this is the Azure Armor..." He raised his hand slightly, looking down at himself. He could sense that his current form resembled wearing the hard shell of a horned beetle. Instinctively, he recalled the masked heroes he had seen in his previous life on Earth. "They are somewhat similar." The thought flashed, but he didn¡¯t linger too much on his appearance. Activating the Azure Armor wasn¡¯t without cost¡ªit required draining his physical energy. Every second of activation came at a price. But conversely, the combat power boost it provided was undeniably alluring. Whoosh! Immediately, Chen Feng rush forward, his body turning into a blur as he swiftly moved along the giant tree¡¯s branches, dropping toward the ground. Within just a few seconds, he had reached the ground. "My speed has at least doubled, and I have better balance control." Standing still, Chen Feng glanced at another withered tree nearby. It was about the size where three or five people needed to link hands to circle it. Without hesitation, he charged forward and abruptly stopped, throwing a punch. Boom!!! The punch was like a cannonball, an azure blur hitting the tree. The withered tree shook, and its decayed trunk shattered with cracks spreading out. Looking closely, Chen Feng¡¯s forearm had sunk deep into the tree. "Power, at least doubled!" "Three hundred kilograms, and I haven¡¯t even used the Explosive Fist yet!" A thought crossed his mind as he pulled his fist back. Crack, crack! The dry bark kept falling, and he took a deep breath, launching another powerful punch. Boom!! A muffled roar echoed throughout the park. With the Explosive Fist, it surpassed four hundred kilograms! The already decayed and cracked trunk shattered again, and Chen Feng¡¯s forearm was completely buried inside, causing the tree to sway violently as though it might collapse. "It¡¯s definitely feasible." "In the Azure Armor form, all my skills are still available." "Not just the Explosive Fist, but even my striking skills, like the flame tiger stance, are unaffected." His eyes brightened as the red fiberglass in his eyes lit up. He then looked down at his palm and the metallic hard shell around his torso. A bold thought suddenly crossed his mind. "Maybe, now I can resist bullets." From the punch impact earlier, he could feel the sturdiness of the armor. In terms of hardness, it was comparable to some steel plates, and it could absorb the impact pressure. His thoughts sparked, and he was eager to test it out. In the real world, he didn¡¯t have a gun license, so he couldn¡¯t get firearms. Even if he did, he wouldn¡¯t dare to experiment on himself. But in this dream world, injuries weren¡¯t permanent. As for the gun issue... He turned his head toward the city, his heart racing, and immediately deactivated the Azure Armor to conserve energy. He quickly left the park and entered the residential area. Clack, clack, clack, clack! Urgent footsteps echoed as a shadow moved through the night, searching. Hundreds of meters, five hundred meters, a kilometer. Taking advantage of the time in the dream world, Chen Feng scoured all the buildings within range. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He collected four limit-breaking light orbs, and by the end... In the study of a single-story villa. Perhaps by luck, he opened a drawer in a mahogany desk. He finally found a black handgun. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words. Chapter 59: Explosive Strength Translator: CinderTL --- Inside the villa in the dream world, Chen Feng ejected the magazine from his pistol and examined it. There was only one bullet remaining, with another already chambered. After a moment''s thought, he activated his Azure Armor form once again. A hum sounded as a brilliant azure light burst forth, enveloping his body in a shell resembling the exoskeleton of a rhinoceros beetle. He extended his arm and aimed the gun barrel at himself. Disabling the safety, he pulled the trigger. Bang! Flames erupted from the muzzle, and the sound of the gunshot reverberated. Chen Feng felt a jolt in his arm. Looking down, he noticed a small indentation on the armor''s surface. Yet, despite the dent, the azure-black armor remained intact and undamaged. As for the bullet, it ricocheted off, eventually piercing a wardrobe on the side. ¡°Haha!¡± The red eyes on his horned helmet gleamed, and Chen Feng clenched his fists tightly. The Azure Armor form had elevated his strength to an entirely new level. Even without using explosive strikes, his strength and speed rivaled those of professional fighters at levels three or four. Not to mention, he could now withstand bullets for a short time with this sturdy defense. If he were to encounter the black-robed serpent man again, a single move in his Azure Armor form would be sufficient to eliminate him. ¡°However, the drawbacks are evident¡­¡± ¡°The mental and physical energy consumption is massive. Right now, I can only maintain it for five minutes at most.¡± Deactivating the Azure Armor form, Chen Feng exhaled deeply. The form was undeniably powerful, but it was clearly tied to his physical and mental strength. The stronger his constitution and the more abundant his energy, the longer he could sustain this power. Besides... [Talent Growth Condition: Induce enough fear!] Looking at the talent growth prompt on the interface, Chen Feng was surprised. Growing by inducing fear? This was entirely different from his perception talent, which only required slaying Faceless Ones. ¡°Does it mean fear from any living being?¡± ¡°How do I obtain it? By scaring others?¡± Various thoughts flashed through his mind as Chen Feng¡¯s eyes flickered with consideration. Eventually, he decided to try it out in reality once he returned. With that thought in mind, he left the villa with the pistol in hand. Glancing at the martial arts hall 100 meters away, his eyes lit up. ¡°The masked man¡­¡± A spark of determination ignited within Chen Feng as he prepared for revenge. The Azure Armor gave him immense confidence, not to mention the pistol he had acquired. He felt certain of his ability to defeat the man. However, just as he stepped forward¡ª The ground beneath him vanished, and his body lost balance. The solid floor disappeared, and a familiar ceiling appeared before his eyes. Nearby, curtains swayed gently in the breeze as sunlight filtered through. ¡°Good morning, I guess.¡± Chen Feng sighed, a tinge of regret in his voice. Still, he wasn¡¯t too disappointed; after all, the masked man couldn¡¯t escape forever. Summoning the interface, he turned his attention to his other gains. [Limit Break Points: 4] ¡°Four Limit Break points. Which one should I enhance?¡± Gazing at the interface, Chen Feng contemplated. [Judo: Mastery (10%) +] [Explosive Fist: Beginner (11%) +] [Flaming Tiger Stance: Tiger Form (13%) +] ¡°Enhancing Explosive Fist or Flaming Tiger Stance would undoubtedly bring great improvements.¡± ¡°But unfortunately, there aren¡¯t enough Limit Break points for either.¡± ¡°Judo is the same. It would take at least one more point to reach mastery.¡± Seeing that none of the skills could be significantly upgraded at the moment, Chen Feng decided to save the points for now. He quickly got out of bed, drew the curtains, and took in the view of the blue skies and white clouds outside. The shadows of people moved through the old concrete neighborhood, while some could be seen retrieving clothes from outdoor balconies. Further away, towering skyscrapers lined the streets, with newly developed buildings standing like giants. The mundane scenes of the neighborhood felt oddly refreshing to Chen Feng. ¡°Although the Azure Armor talent is strong, I can¡¯t neglect martial arts¡­¡± Standing by the window, Chen Feng¡¯s eyes were exceptionally calm. Five minutes of overwhelming power couldn¡¯t compare to the enduring stability martial arts provided. The Azure Armor was indeed formidable, but its strength was fundamentally tied to his base physical abilities. Moreover, the form consumed significant stamina and mental energy, making it unsustainable. Martial arts, on the other hand, enhanced his combat techniques and permanently strengthened his physical attributes. The two complemented each other and were integral to his overall power. Besides, the dream world¡¯s Limit Break orbs ensured that his martial arts progress would be smooth. With his thoughts resolved, Chen Feng planned his next steps and quickly freshened up, ate breakfast, and left his apartment. Without further delay, he boarded a bus. As the vehicle moved, the scenery outside began to recede. Old cement buildings gave way to glass-panelled skyscrapers on either side. While idly passing time, Chen Feng recalled the events of the previous night involving the serpent man. He pulled out his phone to check the news. ¡°No related reports?¡± Chen Feng suspected the Safety Bureau was deliberately suppressing the information. However, he soon spotted a headline that caught his attention. [Major Development in Jewelry Store Robbery!] [According to the Safety Bureau¡¯s investigation and tracking, the robbery appears to be linked to the Utopia Organization.] [Of the five robbers, two have been killed. Blood tests suggest they were Zhou Qi and Li Ping, who disappeared a year ago...] [The identities of the other three are unknown, but they are suspected of mechanical modifications. Citizens are urged to provide tips if they have any information...] After reading the news, Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. He had witnessed the robbery while riding a bus nearby and had seen the Safety Bureau promptly eliminate two of the culprits. However, he hadn¡¯t expected the incident to be connected to the Utopia Organization. ¡°Mechanical modifications... transforming body parts?¡± ¡°This is becoming increasingly complicated¡­¡± Shaking his head, Chen Feng decided not to dwell on the matter. When the bus reached its destination, he arrived at the Jinhua District Martial Arts Hall. Just as he was about to enter, his phone vibrated. [Chen Yun: Xiao Feng, the project research is over.] [I plan to come home and rest for a few days.] ¡°Hm?¡± Seeing the message, Chen Feng quickly replied. ¡°Alright.¡± [Chen Yun: Is there anything you¡¯d like to eat? I received a bonus from this project.] ¡°No.¡± Chen Feng responded briefly. [Chen Yun: Alright.] [Chen Yun: When I get back, I¡¯ll cook a feast for you. ????] Reading the message, Chen Feng nodded lightly. After exchanging a few more words, the conversation ended. Pocketing his phone, he entered the martial arts hall. ¡°Morning.¡± Lin Hao had arrived earlier and was already dressed in a loose gray T-shirt. ¡°Morning.¡± Chen Feng nodded slightly in response. He placed his bag into a metal locker and changed into a set of loose black athletic wear. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Did you get a tattoo yesterday?¡± Lin Hao suddenly noticed the azure mark on the back of Chen Feng¡¯s left hand. Chen Feng nodded. He had already prepared this as a cover story. Sensing Lin Hao¡¯s curiosity and knowing he might ask further questions, Chen Feng quickly changed the subject, bringing up the Tian Heng Society matter. ¡°Any updates on the favor I asked?¡± ¡°Just wait a bit longer.¡± Lin Hao grinned, aware that today was the third and final day of his promise. ¡°The city¡¯s been restless lately, and it¡¯s hard to gather certain information.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I said three days, so you¡¯ll get an answer by the end of today¡¯s training.¡± (End of the Chapter) S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 60: Courting Death Translator: CinderTL --- "Dad, the project research is finished. How much longer do I have to stay here?" At the same time, outside the Second Research Institute of Nanjiang City. The well-dressed Gao Xue sat in the back seat of an expensive Leroux, looking visibly impatient. The middle-aged man sitting beside her didn''t scold her but instead showed a hint of a fond smile. "That must be Chen Yun, right?" he asked with a smile, looking out the window at a figure walking out of the experimental building. Wearing a white long coat, her face had a few freckles, with a resilient and clean aura about her. "Yes, that''s her," Gao Xue responded. "She¡¯s always dressed so shabby, only cares about researching those worthless metals, and smells like cheap sweat." "I have to smile at her every day, just thinking about it makes me feel disgusted..." Gao Xue began to complain, her tone full of disdain. The middle-aged man wasn''t angry. Instead, he smiled and gently rubbed her head. "It¡¯s okay, just one more day." "After the review, you won¡¯t have to see her anymore." "Oh? Really?" Gao Xue¡¯s face lit up with joy. "When have I ever lied to you?" the man replied gently, his face full of calm confidence. Seeing this, Gao Xue¡¯s mood improved, and she got out of the car to enter the research institute. Click! The car door closed. Watching her retreating figure, the middle-aged man¡¯s gaze deepened. "That new director doesn¡¯t seem to be cooperating with us?" "Yes, President," the young driver in the front seat nodded quickly. "We ran a checks. This person has some connections and is adamant about nominating Chen Yun for the review." "You see..." "Alright," the man said calmly. "Since the reasonable rules don¡¯t work, we¡¯ll try a different approach." "You handle it personally. Don¡¯t make it obvious." The young driver nodded in understanding. But then, as if thinking of something, he spoke again. "President, what about Chen Yun¡¯s younger brother..." "He¡¯s just a core student, not a representative of Flame Tiger Hall." "And... who has proof that we did it?" Shaking his head, the middle-aged man relaxed, leaning back in the leather chair and closing his eyes to rest. The young driver understood and didn¡¯t ask further questions. Soon, the engine started. The two black cars escorting the Leroux sedan slowly left the research institute. ... "Good." In the changing room, hearing Lin Hao¡¯s promise, Chen Feng nodded slightly. After waiting two days, a few more hours didn¡¯t bother him. He had the patience for it. Then, both of them stepped forward. Not long after, they stepped onto the floor and entered the training room. "Today¡¯s combat test, I feel like I won¡¯t be able to beat many of these people." "Dammit, they¡¯re all so tough. Yesterday afternoon, I saw several people getting medicated." "Who cares? Just go for it," came the loud discussions. Today marked the third day in the core class, and according to Cao Tong¡¯s rules, a combat test was required to assess everyone¡¯s skills. Step step! Footsteps followed, and Cao Tong¡¯s burly figure standing at nearly two meters tall, entered. His heavy frame gave off a tremendous presence, and even though he restrained his aura, the noise in the training room quieted immediately. "It looks like you¡¯re all ready," Cao Tong said with his thick lips moving as he surveyed the crowd before meeting Chen Feng¡¯s eyes. He nodded imperceptibly, a brief acknowledgment, before continuing, "The rules for the sparring are simple." "We¡¯ll draw lots, and whoever is drawn will spar with the person opposite." "Any questions?" His voice fell, and the expressions in the room varied. Some were excited, others frowned, but Cao Tong took all this in as he prepared for the next steps. In no time, under his direction, the group of over twenty people in the training room was divided into two groups¡ªone stood on the left and the other on the right. "Those on the left, standby while those on the right draw lots." "Whoever gets chosen will face the person opposite." After a quick explanation, Cao Tong soon instructed an assistant to bring a box with slips of paper and head to the right side of the room. Lin Hao, Wu Tian, Pei Yue, and others lined up to draw their names. Chen Feng stood on the left side, his expression neutral, silently watching the draws. Before long, he felt a shift in perception. He sensed a slender young man across from him, holding a paper slip and looking directly at him. Their eyes met, and Chen Feng realized that his opponent was most likely this person. "Wait." Suddenly, Wu Tian¡¯s voice broke through. The crowd looked surprised as Wu Tian walked up to the slender young man. "Switch." His tone was calm, and with a height advantage of ten centimeters, he looked down at the other with an air of certainty. "Why?" The young man frowned and clenched his slip of paper. "How about you spar with me?" Wu Tian said with a playful tone, his eyes gleaming. Seeing this, Cao Tong¡¯s brow furrowed. His gaze shifted between Chen Feng and Wu Tian. It seemed these two weren¡¯t getting along? Confusion rose, but no one responded. Everyone watched the scene unfold, eventually seeing the slender young man grit his teeth, his face turning red as he reluctantly handed over his paper slip. "Smart move, looks like you have more sense than some others," Wu Tian taunted, casting a glance toward Chen Feng. His voice wasn¡¯t loud, but enough for many to hear. Seeing Cao Tong¡¯s attempt to stop him, Wu Tian quickly approached and handed the slip to Chen Feng. "Are you still going to avoid it?" "Or are you planning to beg for mercy and admit defeat?" His tone was playful, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. Wu Tian assumed a posture of dominance, eagerly awaiting his opponent¡¯s reaction. However, contrary to his expectations, Chen Feng remained expressionless and slightly raised his eyes. "I¡¯ve never understood your thinking." "But now to me, it seems like... you just want to die." The cold words stunned Wu Tian for a moment. As the shock from those around them set in, his expression changed, and a cold murderous aura filled his eyes. "This is bad." Realizing the situation, Cao Tong thought quickly and rushed over, intending to stop the commotion. Whoosh! But Chen Feng moved faster. With a swift motion, his hand shot out like a tiger¡¯s claw and grabbed Wu Tian by the neck. Then, with a powerful pull, he slammed Wu Tian¡¯s head forward. Boom!!! A muffled sound echoed through the room. Everyone saw as Chen Feng delivered a headbutt that made Wu Tian¡¯s eyes spin, his forehead turning red as he staggered back. Before Wu Tian could even recover... Bang! Like a tiger pouncing from the mountain, Chen Feng stomped the ground and lunged forward with a punch. Thud!! The punch struck Wu Tian¡¯s jaw. With an immense force, equivalent to a nearly 160 kg punch from an advanced amateur level. Wu Tian had just recovered from the violent headbutt, barely stabilizing himself when another sharp pain shot through his left jaw. His eyes rolled back, and his vision blurred. Moments later, he staggered and collapsed to his knees, unable to control his body. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 61: Fear Inducement Translator: CinderTL --- "Th-this..." Inside the training room, everyone stared wide-eyed at Wu Tian, who had collapsed to the ground, instantly defeated with a single move. All the core trainees were shocked, looking at the figure wearing a black short-sleeve shirt. Confusion, astonishment. Wasn¡¯t it said that Wu Tian had the strength of an amateur 9-dan? How could he... lose so easily? "Too weak." With a calm tone, Chen Feng''s eyes were cold as he glanced at Pei Yue, who was standing nearby, equally shocked and stunned. Their gazes met, and he stared at him for two whole seconds. [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] ... "Hmm?" His gaze paused as Chen Feng saw a prompt suddenly appear in front of him. In a moment of daze, it felt as though an invisible force had emerged from the crowd of onlookers, then was brutally absorbed by the cyan mark on the back of his hand. Surprised, he suddenly thought of his Azure Armor talent. It grew by absorbing fear. Before he could think more about it, Pei Yue, who had been standing across from him, quickly turned away, avoiding his gaze. He hurriedly walked up to support the unconscious Wu Tian. Other trainees, too, showed expressions of awe. "Fear?" "They''re afraid of me?" Chen Feng pondered for a moment and roughly understood the growth mechanism of the Azure Armor talent. Wanting to experiment further, he was interrupted as the tall and burly Cao Tong walked over, separating him and Pei Yue. "You brat..." With a helpless expression, Cao Tong''s eyes flashed with surprise. He had failed to stop the commotion between them, which was his mistake. However, what truly concerned him was the power Chen Feng had unleashed just now. Instinctively, he recalled the scene from the previous night, when they had dealt with the serpent man¡¯s corpse. At that time, he had still doubted whether Chen Feng had been lying, but now, it seemed that the other really might have killed the serpent man. "Brother Cao, can I continue the sparring?" Chen Feng asked eagerly, a hint of excitement in his eyes. He wanted to see if beating Pei Yue again would make the people around him continue to fear him, providing more nourishment for his Azure Armor. "Spar?!" "Go away, go practice by yourself." With a pained look, Cao Tong knew there was no one left in the class who could challenge him. "Stop staring. Hurry up and spar!" He glared at the other stunned trainees, muttering irritably. The others responded with an "Oh" and gradually returned to their senses. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One by one, sparring resumed, but Chen Feng could only regretfully walk to a corner, silently practicing his punches. [Azure Armor LV1: 2/100] Looking at the progress of his Azure Armor talent in his interface, Chen Feng seemed to be practicing punches, but his mind was full of thoughts. "So, as long as I make others fear me, I can gain fear value, which will help Azure Armor grow." "But, the amount of fear should be related to how scared they are, right?" As this thought passed, Chen Feng had a rough understanding of how the Azure Armor talent worked and couldn''t help but glance back at the sparring crowd. Eventually, under Cao Tong''s irritated gaze, he suppressed his curiosity and focused on practicing the Flame Tiger Stance and judo. --- By noon, the sparring test was over, and everyone made their way to the cafeteria. "Damn, you sure made quite a scene." Standing in the first floor of the cafeteria, Lin Hao clearly noticed many gazes directed at them. Not paying attention, Chen Feng simply grabbed a bowl of herbal soup from the serving window and found an empty table to sit at. The unpleasant smell wafted through the air, but he endured it and swallowed the soup. Gulg! The warmth entered his stomach, and soon, Chen Feng felt a surge of warmth rise from his abdomen, spreading through his body. The exhaustion from practicing the Flame Tiger Stance all morning dissipated somewhat, and he felt his stamina recover. "So, how does it feel to steal the spotlight? Must be nice, huh?" Lin Hao said with a tone full of envy as he watched Chen Feng finish the soup, his voice a little sarcastic, as he felt the admiring gazes around them. "Heh." With a faint smile, Chen Feng didn¡¯t respond, but instead, glanced at the bump on Lin Hao¡¯s head. That was from when another trainee had punched him during the sparring. Or, more accurately, it was from him dodging too clumsily and accidentally falling. "What are you laughing at?" Lin Hao pretended to be annoyed. Then, tilting his head, he quickly noticed in the distance, at a table, Wu Tian glaring at them, his jaw swollen and red with anger. "You really pissed off Wu Tian this time." "Lost a tooth, huh? He''s probably cursing you to death." Lin Hao said with a grin, suddenly in a much better mood. Wu Tian had been sent to the medical room during the sparring after getting his tooth knocked out, and he didn¡¯t know how many people had secretly laughed at him. Ever since he woke up and returned, he had been fuming with anger. Although Lin Hao seemed to be speaking casually, it was clear that his words were deliberate. Chen Feng glanced over, locking eyes with Wu Tian¡¯s furious glare. He hadn¡¯t really cared much about this minor character before. But... His brow slightly raised, and he subconsciously glanced at the unique horned mark on the back of his hand. For some reason, an idea suddenly formed in Chen Feng¡¯s mind. He needed to gather fear, but he had some principles. At the very least, he couldn¡¯t pick on the weak and innocent. So... Looking at Wu Tian, Chen Feng suddenly felt that he wasn¡¯t so annoying after all. With this thought in mind, a smile appeared on his face. This gesture caused Wu Tian, far away, to pause for a moment, and when he reacted, he immediately felt a wave of shame and anger. "He¡¯s mocking me!" ... Thud, thud, thud! At the Second Research Institute of Nanjiang City, Wearing a white short-sleeve shirt and denim pants, Chen Yun entered the employee dormitory building, walking briskly towards her room. "I heard the experiment''s over, huh? Xiao Yun." "Yeah, Sister Zhang." "You''ve worked hard. Are you not going home to rest?" "I was just going to pack my things, I¡¯ll head home in the afternoon." "Right, work and rest, you¡¯ve earned it. You really brought us honor, so take a few days off..." She greeted several colleagues who lived in the dormitory along the way, mostly with a smile. The metal research project was finally over, and she had been granted three days of leave, so she could go home and rest. Moreover... "After I go back, how should I talk to Xiao Feng?" The thought crossed her mind, and Chen Yun thought about the matter her mentor had assigned. She was very likely to pass the review and get the only spot available. If she went there to further her studies, could Xiao Feng really take care of himself in Nanjiang? Her eyes held both anticipation and worry, and she had gotten used to placing part of her focus on Chen Feng¡¯s life. He was her only family, so she was conflicted about the decision she had to make. Click! She took out her keys and opened the dormitory door. While pondering, she went to the wardrobe to take out some clothes, starting to pack her things. Gradually, the breeze outside blew through the window. Dark clouds appeared in the sky, and the once clear sky became overcast. The traffic outside the research institute moved along the road, but finally... In a blind spot of the surveillance cameras, a black sedan quietly stopped. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Chapter 93. Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 62: The Truth Translator: CinderTL --- That day, Wu Tian, thinking he could regain his honor, once again took the initiative to challenge for a spar. He still felt that the reason he lost in the morning was due to underestimating his opponent. Bang! The outcome was swift. Without refusal, Chen Feng once again made him feel the pain. Several punches came at him, and he felt a sharp pain on his right cheek. A tooth became loose again. Then, his head tilted. He quickly fainted, his face bruised and swollen, collapsing onto the floor. "Did I go too hard?" Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. He had originally planned to extract some benefits from his opponent. [Fear +1!] S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hmm?" Chen Feng''s gaze shifted. He looked to the side. Pei Yue slightly lowered his head, his gaze evasive, hurriedly stepping forward to help Wu Tian up. This caught him off guard, as he hadn''t expected that the bystander would end up providing him with the fear. "Pei Yue." Chen Feng called his name. "Ah?" Pei Yue looked at him in confusion. "Want to practice?" Chen Feng asked. "No way!" Without thinking, Pei Yue immediately rejected and quickly carried Wu Tian out of the practice room. "You guys?" Chen Feng turned his head to look at the other students who had been watching. The crowd scattered, their eyes evasive, no one responding to him. Seeing this, Chen Feng clicked his tongue, feeling a bit regretful. He then summoned his panel and checked his "Azure Armor" talent. [Azure Armor LV1: (3/100)] "Too slow." Chen Feng shook his head inwardly. He realized that the growth of the Azure Armor wasn¡¯t as simple as he had expected. "Maybe it''s because the fear value I got is too low." "Everyone''s just students. They may fear me, but they don''t fear me that much..." With some guesswork, Chen Feng felt that the reason was likely due to their fear not being deep enough. Soon, noticing that the core class was about to end, he didn¡¯t hesitate further and headed to the changing room to shower and change clothes. "Hmm?" Suddenly, when he entered the changing room, he saw Lin Hao standing in a corner, holding a phone and making a shushing gesture toward him. Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. He hadn''t seen Lin Hao earlier when he was beating Wu Tian and wondered where he had gone. "Okay, I got it." Lin Hao nodded and said a few words, his expression becoming a bit more serious. Chen Feng felt puzzled, and then saw Lin Hao put down the phone and look at him. "Chen Feng?" His tone was serious, and it was rare for him to be so earnest. "I found a lead." "Oh?" Chen Feng was a little surprised, not expecting Lin Hao to follow through and gather intelligence by the end of the class. "The one tracking you is the president of Tian Heng Society, sent by Gao Tian Heng." "He has a daughter. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve heard of her." "Who?" "Gao Xue." Upon hearing this, Chen Feng frowned. He didn¡¯t recognize anyone named Gao Xue. "Gao Tian Heng wanted to send Gao Xue to the Central City, but for some reason, she didn¡¯t meet the requirements." "But, your sister''s research institute has a special spot, and they¡¯ll start evaluating it in the next few days..." Lin Hao continued in a serious tone, and suddenly, a flash of realization hit Chen Feng''s mind. He recalled what Teacher Li had said at the hotpot restaurant. "Chen Yun is very talented, standing out in the metal research project. She has a great chance to study in the Central City." Central City? A spot? In an instant, thinking back to the time he was being followed outside the hotpot restaurant, Chen Feng''s heart grew cold, and he quickly pieced everything together. "So, they¡¯re investigating me?" "They want to see if I have any background or connections with Chen Yun?" His gaze flickered, and he thought of the malice he had felt at that time. Chen Feng even suspected that Tian Heng Society might have been tracking him with the intention of using him as leverage to force Chen Yun to give up the spot. It wasn¡¯t until he entered the martial arts core class that they backed off a bit. "Is the spot in Central City really that important?" Chen Feng looked at Lin Hao, puzzled. He didn¡¯t understand why Gao Tian Heng, with such a significant influence in Nanjiang City, would want to seize the spot and send his daughter to the Central City. "Did you know? Central City has a special nickname in some circles." Lin Hao, with a serious expression, said in a tone rarely seen, "New World." "The things there can''t just be obtained with money." "Technology, medicine, mechanical modification... In short, a spot to go there is far more important than you think." His tone was filled with awe, and Chen Feng detected a trace of nostalgic longing. Not probing further, as he was more concerned with how to deal with this matter. He believed Lin Hao¡¯s words. Since the spot in Central City was so precious, it was clear that this wasn¡¯t a matter that could be easily negotiated. Thinking of this, a cold light appeared in Chen Feng''s eyes as many thoughts rushed through his mind. "I advise you not to act impulsively." Noticing the cold glint in Chen Feng''s eyes, Lin Hao quickly reminded him, "Gao Tian Heng has been in Nanjiang City for a long time. He even has some connections with the United Coalition." "This matter can¡¯t be forced. Give me some time, I¡¯ll think of a way..." He was sincerely advising. Looking at Lin Hao''s serious expression, Chen Feng knew that the other person truly considered him a friend. "Thanks." He said sincerely, and as memories flashed in his mind, Chen Feng realized that Lin Hao had already helped him quite a bit. So... "This matter... I have to solve it myself." Shaking his head, looking directly at Lin Hao, Chen Feng¡¯s gaze was calm. Tian Heng Society was powerful, and while he didn¡¯t know Lin Hao¡¯s background, it was clear that this matter also put some pressure on him. As a friend, Chen Feng didn¡¯t want to drag him further into this. He then patted Lin Hao¡¯s shoulder, took a step, and walked past him. Tap, tap! The sound of footsteps gradually faded as his strong black figure slowly moved away. Turning around to watch this, Lin Hao hesitated for a long time, before finally letting out a deep sigh. He picked up his phone and dialed a number. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Chapter 93. Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 63: Why Are You Forcing Me? Translator: CinderTL --- The rain was pattering softly, and the sky was overcast. Chen Feng stood by the asphalt road, watching as the taxi behind him drove off. Buzz! [Chen Yun: Have you arrived, Xiao Feng? Why did you suddenly come to the research institute to pick me up?] [It¡¯s raining, do you have an umbrella?] The phone vibrated continuously as Chen Feng saw the research institute building ahead. It was an old below with tiled walls, and a new building with floor-to-ceiling windows rising above it. The grass was neat, and the trees were lush. A metal iron gate stood before him, with a security booth inside where a uniformed guard was watching the surveillance monitors. Tap, tap! Soon, footsteps were heard. A well-dressed young woman quickly walked out from inside. Only then did he notice a luxurious car parked at the roadside. A man dressed like a driver quickly approached with an umbrella, escorting her away. Chen Feng stood by, brushing past them. "Why are you in such a hurry to pick me up?" "Miss, this is the president''s arrangement." "Don¡¯t use my dad to pressure me..." Their conversation was soft, the young woman seeming somewhat impatient. Chen Feng didn¡¯t use an umbrella; his hair gradually got wet in the rain. His black short-sleeve shirt, still soaked with sweat from practice, clung to his body. They exchanged glances, and the young woman, with a look of disdain, got into the car, seemingly looking at him like he was an idiot. Buzz! The car drove away, and Chen Feng squinted. He quickly looked away and picked up his phone, intending to ask Chen Yun to come out so they could leave together. But... He sensed something wrong. He suddenly noticed a familiar aura lingering in a nearby alley to his right. Turning his head, he saw the front of a black car. Inside, two people sat. Through the dark tinted windows, Chen Feng could feel they were watching him. An inexplicable sense of malice resurfaced. It was so familiar, so unforgettable. With the pattering rain soaking his clothes, Chen Feng with an unreadable face finally walked towards them. ...... "Why isn¡¯t Chen Yun out yet? Damn, my legs are almost numb from waiting." "Should be soon." "By the way, did Brother Qiang find someone to take the fall? I don¡¯t want to end up in a cell." "Got it, don¡¯t worry." "Alright, hit the accelerator hard when you go. Don¡¯t screw up." The black car stopped at the entrance of the alley, perfectly out of sight from the surveillance cameras. A supermarket stood a few meters to the left, and a fruit stall to the right was closed for the day. The two inside the car chatted casually, occasionally lighting a cigarette. "Hey, did you see? The lady¡¯s been picked up." "Yeah." "Hmm... hmm? Wait, look, the guy who just got out of the taxi looks familiar." The fat man in the passenger seat suddenly said. There was a streak of water on the car window, making the view unclear. "Looks like... Chen Yun¡¯s brother?" The tall man behind the wheel frowned, wiped the rainwater off the windshield, as a figure resurfaced in his memory. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They exchanged a glance, and their expressions froze. The young man in black was walking through the rain toward them. With a wary look, they saw him walking quickly, soon passing in front of the car and heading into the nearby supermarket. "Ha, scared me! I almost thought we were exposed." The fat man cursed, stopping his hand, which had reached for his gun. "It¡¯s not that easy to notice us. That kid probably doesn¡¯t know yet, but his sister is about to die." "Such a pity. It¡¯d be better if we could have some fun before taking her out." The tall man mocked, showing a cruel smile. The fat man¡¯s expression mirrored the sentiment. He turned his head back toward the research institute''s entrance and quickly brightened. "Here she comes!" The girl in a white short-sleeve shirt was dragging a suitcase as she walked out. Upon hearing this, the tall man¡¯s face changed, and he immediately started the engine, preparing to step on the gas. The next second. Boom!!! The car window was shattered by a punch, and glass fragments flew everywhere. A large hand reached through from the outside, grabbing his head and hair, slamming it repeatedly into the steering wheel. Bang, bang, bang!!! Blood splattered as the horn blared incessantly. "Damn it!" The fat man¡¯s face in the passenger seat changed slightly. He quickly pulled out his gun, aiming at the assailant. But, as if sensing something, the figure outside suddenly vanished. The fat man froze for a second. When he looked again, the tall man¡¯s head was slumped, his face lying on the steering wheel, blood flowing, breath weak. His heart trembled as he looked around, preparing to fight back desperately. Boom!! The car window next to him suddenly exploded, and a muscular arm, as strong as a cement pillar, violently struck him. Before he could pull the trigger, the fat man felt as if his head was hit by a hammer. His eyes bleeding, and he died on the spot lying limply. Crack! The car door was pulled open. Chen Feng, his hair dripping wet, stood motionless, his expression blank, his clothes soaked through. He silently stood there for two seconds. Buzz! Buzz! His phone vibrated. He stepped forward and searched the fat man¡¯s body for a moment. [Brother Qiang] The name flashed on the fat man¡¯s phone. Chen Feng didn¡¯t hesitate and tapped to answer. "Hello? Fatty, is Chen Yun¡¯s matter settled?" The voice sounded around 27 or 28 years old. Chen Feng stood there, silent. "Hello? Fatty?" "Hello?" He asked several times but got no response. The other side was silent for two seconds. "You¡¯re not Fatty. Who are you?" Beep! Chen Feng hung up the phone, his eyes now completely cold. He shut the car door, walked over to the driver¡¯s seat, unbuckled the seatbelt, and threw the tall man¡¯s body into the back seat. A sense of irritation rose within him, his blood feeling like it was boiling hotter and hotter. He only wanted to focus on martial arts, to pursue that mysterious transcendence. But why... why do they force me? Taking a deep breath, Chen Feng sat in the driver¡¯s seat, his gaze flickering. He stayed silent for several seconds. Finally, when his phone vibrated again, he made up his mind. [Chen Yun: Xiao Feng, I¡¯m at the research institute¡¯s entrance. Have you arrived?] "Wait for me in the dorm for an hour." After sending the message, Chen Feng put his phone away and gripped the steering wheel tightly. He stepped on the gas, and with a loud roar, the car sped away. In the blink of an eye, he was gone. ...... "Strange." Standing at the research institute¡¯s entrance with an umbrella, Chen Yun turned her head to look at the alley to the left. The black car honked a few times, but soon fell silent. Her phone vibrated, and she saw the message Chen Feng had sent. Though surprised, she didn¡¯t ask further, quickly replying: "Be safe, and don¡¯t rush." "I¡¯ll wait for you." Once the message was sent, she turned her head back to find the black car had already left, disappearing down the street. ...... "Who are you?" In a high-rise building with floor-to-ceiling windows, a young man in a black suit, looking like an elite, stood in the corridor, holding his phone with a grim expression. Beep! Once again, silence answered. The beep from the hung-up call made him feel something was wrong. This had been a foolproof plan. Could something have gone wrong? He stood silently for several seconds, then quickly turned and knocked on the office door behind him. Knock, knock! "Come in." A calm voice came from inside. The young man, though anxious, gently opened the wooden door. Inside, a middle-aged man in a dark shirt sat on a leather sofa in the empty room. On a pearwood table in the center, a woman in a cheongsam was kneeling, serving tea. "President." "Speak," Gao Tian Heng said, not looking up, as he took the tea from the cheongsam woman. A faint aroma of tea lingered. The young man hesitated for a moment before saying, "Something went wrong." "Fatty¡¯s phone was answered by someone else." Gao Tian Heng paused, then looked up at him. "Who was it?" "I don¡¯t know, no one spoke." The young man briefly explained the situation, not daring to hide anything. Gao Tian Heng fell silent. The only sound in the office was the quiet sipping of tea. "Call Ah Biao and the others back." The young man was startled. He hadn¡¯t expected that for dealing with such an unknown, they would have to call in Ah Biao and his group. Before he could recover from his surprise, Gao Tian Heng lifted his eyes again: "Has Xiao Xue been brought back?" "She¡¯s on her way, almost downstairs." "Mm." He nodded slightly, his expression finally relaxing a bit, before returning to his calm, composed demeanor. "Make arrangements. Let her stay at the company tonight." "No matter if you¡¯re dealing with an ant or an elephant, it¡¯s best to be cautious." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 64: A Symphony of Death Translator: CinderTL --- Afternoon, 5:00 PM Rain poured heavily, and the entirety of Nanjiang seemed to be shrouded in a misty haze. Tiny droplets slid down the floor-to-ceiling windows of towering buildings, gathering on the ground to form puddles. The red sign with the four characters of Tian Heng Group cast a reflection from above, flickering in the rain. Splash! A long luxury car of Leroux brand screeched to a halt, its black tires disturbing the reflection in the water. Upon seeing the license plate, the security immediately stood up and let the car pass. The gate opened, and the Leroux slowly pulled up to the glass doors of the building. At once, seven or eight men in suits appeared from inside the building, alertly watching the surroundings, their nerves tense, ready to assist as they opened the door for the car. "Xu Qiang, where is my dad?" S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A well-dressed Gao Xue, stepped out of the car. Her golden earrings swayed gently, and her long, slender legs clicked with each step due to her high heels. "Miss, the president is in his office." A young man in a black suit, dressed as an elite, respectfully replied. "Oh." Gao Xue responded indifferently, walking a few steps before suddenly glancing around at the seven or eight bodyguards. "Xu Qiang, why are there so many people here all of a sudden?" "They are here to protect you," Xu Qiang explained honestly. "Protect?" Gao Xue furrowed her brows. "Yes, this is the president''s order, and you''ll need to stay in the company tonight, temporarily." Gao Xue''s brows tightened further, a look of impatience spreading across her face. "What is my dad doing? Why is he being so mysterious? Do I have any freedom or what?" "Did he offend someone again?" Xu Qiang fell silent, unsure how to explain. Seeing his expression, Gao Xue was deeply dissatisfied. With a cold snort, she continued walking. Click, click, click The sound of footsteps echoed as they approached the elevator. The gray floor tiles reflected the warm pale light from the ceiling. "By the way, has the research institute issue been resolved?" Gao Xue hesitated in front of the elevator, disgust evident in her voice. "That Chen Yun disgusts me. I don''t want to see her for even a day." "We''re working on it." Xu Qiang nodded quickly and pressed the elevator button. At that moment, someone was still using the elevator, and it was about six or seven floors away. "What do you mean ''working on it''?" Gao Xue''s face grew more displeased as she scolded, "Do you know how much Chen Yun makes me sick? Acting with her every day is..." Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Xu Qiang''s phone suddenly vibrated. He frowned and pulled it out, glancing at the screen. [Fatty] "Mm?" His expression turned serious, a sense of unease rising in his chest. He looked around, and soon, his gaze froze upon a figure in the courtyard outside the building. "What are you doing? Haven''t you been listening to me?!" "Do you believe I¡¯ll tell my dad and let him¡ª" Bang!!! A loud crash erupted as the glass window on the left side of the building''s bottom floor shattered. A azure figure with a horn rushed forward. "Protect the young lady!!" Xu Qiang''s face turned pale as he finally reacted. The azure figure stirred up a whirlwind. The surrounding bodyguards, their faces terrified, hesitated for only a moment before drawing their guns and shooting. Bang, bang, bang! The gunfire rang out, flames shooting from the barrels. However, the azure figure continued its unstoppable charge, with every bullet sounding like it had struck steel, ringing with a sharp clang. "Not good!" "He''s a modified human!" Xu Qiang''s face went pale, quickly glancing towards the elevator. Four floors, three floors, two floors... Bang! A bodyguard blocking the way was struck in the head by a punch. Blood sprayed like juice from a burst watermelon. The figure crashed to the ground, flipping over a few of the others. "Quick, to the elevator!" Xu Qiang''s heart raced in terror as he dragged Gao Xue toward the elevator, but they were still a floor away. Bang!! The tiles cracked again, and several more bodyguards were sent flying, their chests caving in. The azure figure closed the distance rapidly, its horned head glowing with red light. Only a few meters remained. Ding!! Finally, the elevator reached the first floor. Xu Qiang''s face lit up with joy, quickly pulling Gao Xue, who was already scared stiff, into the elevator. "Close it!" "Close it now!!" He frantically pressed the close door button, and the gray metal doors began to close slowly. Bang!!! A bodyguard in a black suit was blasted into the door, crashing into the nearby tiles and cement walls. The impact caused the elevator doors to shake slightly. Until the final moment, the metal doors almost shut completely. Outside, the gap was getting smaller and smaller. Xu Qiang kept his eyes fixed on the movement outside, his heart in turmoil. "Ah Biao and the others are on the roof." "As long as they are there, it will definitely not..." Click! Suddenly, a azureish-black hand with five fingers reached in, just in time to catch the elevator doors at the last moment. With a violent burst of force, the elevator doors were ripped open to both sides. Ah!!! Gao Xue screamed, collapsing to the ground in fear. Xu Qiang''s face went pale. He raised his gun and aimed at the horned head of the intruder. Bang, bang, bang! The gunfire rang out, but the sound of bullets hitting the target came back, clanging against the azure figure¡¯s body. Xu Qiang cried out in pain as a bullet ricocheted, piercing his left shoulder. "You!" Bang!! Without even looking, Chen Feng slammed a punch into Xu Qiang''s chest. With a crunch, his suit and flesh caved inward, and the elevator wall buckled slightly. "Please don''t kill me, please don''t kill me!" Gao Xue collapsed to the ground, her face pale as tears streamed down her face. [Fear+1!] [Fear+1!] [Fear+1!] The fear prompts appeared continuously as Chen Feng expressionlessly moved forward, grabbing Gao Xue''s hair and dragging her out of the elevator. Ignoring her painful screams, the azure-shelled head raised slightly, its bright red eyes locking onto the surveillance camera. Chen Feng¡¯s voice was low, deliberately changing his tone, "Gao Tian Heng." "You have thirty seconds." He knew Gao Tian Heng could see this. As long as the other side wanted Gao Xue alive, they would have to come down and face him. If they didn¡¯t want to, he had plenty of ways to escape. "Please don''t kill me! Please, don''t kill me!" Gao Xue sat on the cold ground, crying and begging for her father to save her. [Fear+1!] [Fear+1!] [Fear+1!] "You¡¯re too weak." "Everything you have was given by your father. By yourself, you''re just like wild grass, easily trampled and discarded." Chen Feng¡¯s voice was low as he stood beneath the surveillance camera, deliberately provoking her. Gao Xue trembled even more, quickly looking up at the camera, crying and pleading with her father. [Fear+1!] [Fear+1!] [Fear+1!] "Everything that¡¯s happening to you now is your own doing. Your so-called arrogance and dignity mean nothing in the face of fear." "Open your eyes and look carefully. You think your father is all-powerful, but in reality..." "He can do nothing." Chen Feng sneered as he looked at the elevator surveillance and spoke slowly. He wanted to provoke Gao Tian Heng to the point where he would want to kill him personally. Finally, the elevator¡¯s numbers began to count down. Nineteen, eighteen, seventeen... Fear prompts continued to appear as Chen Feng grabbed Gao Xue by the neck like trash. Ding! Finally, the elevator reached its destination, and the metal doors slammed open! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 65: A Symphony of Death 2 Translator: CinderTL --- "Gao Tian Heng." "You have thirty seconds." In the office on the top floor, the azure shadow on the surveillance footage moved like a wild dragon, resolving all the battles in less than half a minute. The threatening voice was low and condescending, causing Gao Tian Heng¡¯s eyes to spew fire in anger. "Bastard!!!" Bang! All the items on the tea table were overturned, and his previously calm face became completely grim. He had never imagined that someone would dare to kill right outside his building. Moreover, using his own daughter as leverage. Huff! Huff! Huff! Breathing heavily, he knew that in moments like this, he needed to stay calm. After managing to suppress his anger, he turned his head to look at the three figures waiting in the room. Or rather, more accurately, at the one standing in the lead. "Ah Biao!" "Do you have confidence in taking him down?" "Fifty percent." A hoarse voice responded, sounding like the grinding of gravel. The person who answered appeared burly, wearing a black jacket, with a scar running from his left cheek to his eye socket. He slowly took off his brown leather gloves, revealing a pair of silver metal hands. "This should be a fully enhanced cyborg. Although it doesn''t seem to have armed modules, regular firearms would have little effect on him." "The three of us working together only have a fifty percent chance." Ah Biao¡¯s voice was hoarse, and the two brothers beside him were one short and thin, playing with a handgun, and the other had long messy hair, looking ordinary, but his entire left arm was made of metal, and he held a metal shield. "How long can you delay him?" "Three minutes!" With a grim expression, Gao Tian Heng immediately pressed a button on the table, seemingly contacting someone. He had never been this angry. He swore he would kill this cyborg here and now. "Nine percent!" (TL/N: He¡¯s offering them a deal.) Ah Biao said calmly, his hoarse voice followed by the two brothers agreeing. "Boss Gao, don''t worry, my elder brother and I are also half-cyborgs." "Three minutes will be no problem." "Good!" With the words spoken, Gao Tian Heng immediately opened a drawer and took out a black handgun, entering the elevator with the three men. The button was pressed, and the numbers flickered. Nineteen, fifteen, ten, six, three. Finally, with a ding sound, the elevator door opened, and gunfire suddenly rang out. Bang! Bang! Bang! Flames shot from the muzzle, bullets flying through the air. The thin man quickly raised the metal shield, the sound of clanging and sparks flashing instantly. "Oh?" Chen Feng was surprised, standing still, holding a gun in his right hand, while his left still gripped Gao Xue''s neck. "Let go of my daughter. As for our grudge, we¡¯ll settle it one-on-one." Gao Tian Heng stood behind Ah Biao, his low voice suppressing his anger. Up to this point, he had thought it was one of his enemies. As for Chen Yun and her brother? They were just ordinary small fries, who would never be able to get in touch with cyborgs. "Fine." In a calm tone, Chen Feng simply tossed away his gun. "Come then." "Dad!" Gao Xue screamed in panic, her refined looks long gone, replaced by a pale and distressed face. The atmosphere was silent, and Gao Tian Heng¡¯s expression grew even darker. Seeing his hesitation, Chen Feng shook his head. "It seems your father is quite cowardly." [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] Gao Xue¡¯s eyes widened, but before she could react¡ª Crack! A bone-cracking sound echoed. Gao Xue''s breath faded, and she was tossed to the ground like trash by Chen Feng. "Xue!!" Gao Tian Heng roared in anger, and the three men in front of him seized the opportunity, charging forward. Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Heavy footsteps rapidly approached. Ah Biao, with his muscular frame, lunged forward like a giant bear. The floor tiles cracked, and a gust of air rushed at them. Chen Feng remained expressionless, his red eyes beneath his Azure armor suddenly glowing brightly. "Explosive Fist!" Boom! He swung a punch, doubling the already enhanced power and increasing it by another 40%. A punch with over 400 kilograms of force! The wind howled, like a cannonball. In an instant, Ah Biao¡¯s face changed slightly, and he quickly raised his metal arms to block. Bang! A dull explosion, and his leather jacket ripped apart inch by inch. A circle of white mist spread out, and Ah Biao, like a rolling boulder, slid backward at an even faster speed. "Hm?" Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, surprised as he looked at the dented metal arms. Mechanical modification? Bang! Bang! Bang! Gunfire erupted, and the thin man fired at the opportunity, a barrage of bullets flying swiftly. Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang! Chen Feng raised his palm to block, not looking back, twisting his body to deliver a sidekick to the shield. Boom!!! The metal shield swung through the air, hitting the thin young man with the metal left arm in the abdomen. His eyes bulged, and his body bent backward like an arc, flying away. Whoosh! The azure shadow disappeared from its spot, and Ah Biao, who had just steadied himself, had a drastic change in expression. "Hou Zi, retreat!!" Without him needing to remind, the thin man already felt the cold air and quickly rolled backward to dodge. However, "You''re too slow." Snap. A dark azure hand shot out and grabbed the back of his head. The cold voice followed, and the thin man¡¯s heart was filled with dread. Boom!! Then, his head was violently slammed into the ceramic tile wall, debris scattering, and blood exploding like watermelon juice, splattering on the wall and azure armor. "Hou Zi!!!" sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Two angry roars followed, and Ah Biao charged forward. The thin young man, now performing a backflip, wielded his metal shield, following the attack. Boom!!! The wind was kicked up, and Chen Feng¡¯s fists landed with a left and right punch, forcefully blocking both of their assaults. The Azure armor¡¯s red eyes shone even brighter as he stared at their hateful, murderous glares, expressionless as he threw another punch! Boom!!! Another Explosive Fist, Chen Feng felt his mental and physical energy quickly depleting. The time for his Azure armor form was getting shorter, but for him, it was more than enough to finish this battle. Step, step, step! Ah Biao stepped back again, every step crushing the gray tiles. The other thin young man moved similarly, face full of anxiety. But before he could steady himself, the sound of hurried footsteps grew near, and when he looked up, the azure face with a single horn was already in front of him. Boom!!! A whip-like punch, and he felt himself slammed to the ground. The entire building seemed to shake, and then, a foot came down, crushing his head. "Too weak, too weak." The cold voice rang out, and the thin young man felt extreme humiliation, rage and fear mixed, and he tried to struggle. The next second. Boom, a burst of blood exploded, scattering in a circle. [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] The panel flashed quickly, and Chen Feng looked at the pale-faced Gao Tian Heng and Ah Biao in the distance. "Yes, just like that." "You only need..." Whoosh!! Like a shadow, he arrived in an instant. Before Ah Biao could react, Chen Feng had already grabbed his neck with one hand, straightened his spine, and exerted his strength, slowly lifting his massive, heavy body. "You only need to fear." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Nightmare Strikes FREE!! ;) Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 66: The Mighty Cyborg Translator: Cinder Translations --- "khuk ugh." The sound of struggle came from Ah Biao''s mouth, his metal arm repeatedly grasping at Chen Feng''s right palm, trying but failing to budge it even an inch. Is this what a fully enhanced cyborg is like? Was the gap always this large? No one could answer his question. Finally, remembering that the time limit for the Azure Armor was almost up, with only two minutes left. Chen Feng slightly raised his head, coldly staring at Gao Tian Heng. Crack! With a forceful grip, he tossed Ah Biao aside. Thud! The heavy thud of Ah Biao''s body hitting the floor caused a tremor, and standing not far from the elevator door, Gao Tian Heng''s body shook. His face turned as pale as someone who had lost all their blood. [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Fear +1!] Chen Feng walked up to him, his footsteps echoing in the silence. "Who are you?" Gao Tian Heng glared at the Azure mask, a mix of fear, confusion, and rage filled his heart. When did he acquire such a powerful enemy? Someone who could summon a fully enhanced cyborg to take action? There was no answer. Chen Feng simply took another step forward, stopping just a foot away from Gao Tian Heng. Chen Feng reflected on the events of the day. He had once thought about negotiating peacefully. However¡ª Bang bang bang bang! Clang clang clang clang clang! Bullets were deflected by the Azure Armor. Chen Feng wrapped his arms around himself, as though bracing against a wild wind. The deafening sound of gunshots echoed. Gao Tian Heng''s eyes bulged, his body froze for half a second before he fell backward. The black handgun in his hand had emptied its magazine, and smoke curled from the muzzle. Everything ended there. Chen Feng glanced at the trembling receptionist and other irrelevant people hiding in the corner of the building. Without lingering, he turned and left the company. Thud thud thud! His footsteps echoed as the dark sky, seemingly heavy with clouds, began to clear. The Azure Armor had only one minute left, and Chen Feng''s body began to feel heavier, his head increasingly fatigued. His mental and physical exhaustion was immense. He quickened his pace, hoping to find a surveillance blind spot to shed the Azure form. However, before he could fully exit the building, something unexpected happened. Whoosh!!! A silver-gray figure streaked across from the opposite side of the street, like a truck slamming into him, sending gusts of wind. His pupils contracted, and Chen Feng quickly raised both arms to shield himself. Bang! The sharp pain struck, and Chen Feng''s legs slid back across the ground for seven to eight meters. His arms felt numb, on the verge of losing all strength. The surface of the Azure Armor cracked slightly, and his blood and energy surged within him. He felt like his body was no longer his own. "A mere Tier 2 Metal Cyborg, without even an armed module installed, daring to provoke me?" The silver-gray figure spoke mockingly, its entire body exuding a metallic feel. There was a circular pattern on the left chest. An otherworldly aura radiated from it, pressuring Chen Feng greatly. Realizing this, Chen Feng clenched his teeth. He stomped his foot, immediately twisting his body and running in the opposite direction. "You want to escape?" The silver-gray figure sneered, ready to chase him down, intending to teach this wild cyborg a lesson. However, to his surprise¡ª Whoosh!! A dark golden flying dart, about a foot in size, descended from the sky, aiming directly at his face and eyes. The air whistled, white vapor swirling on both sides. The silver-gray cyborg''s eyes changed slightly, quickly swinging a fist to block. Bang! The dart was knocked back, flying into the air and quickly disappearing across the street. "Who was that?" The silver-gray cyborg felt pain in his hand, but didn''t have time to investigate. He quickly used a scanning module to survey the other side of the street. A quick shadow disappeared out of his range, and he couldn¡¯t capture any image. Then, a strange sensation hit him. Looking down, he noticed a small hole the size of a needle puncture on the back of his hand. This was high-precision silver steel, capable of blocking sniper bullets, yet it had been pierced by that dart. His gaze darkened as he cautiously scanned the surroundings. The Azure figure had vanished from view, and he stood in place, uncertain, waiting for several seconds. Eventually, hearing the sound of a security vehicle approaching, and seeing no further signs of the assailant, he snorted coldly and quickly disappeared. Huff! Huff! Huff! In a corner of an alley, after confirming he wasn¡¯t being pursued or followed, Chen Feng dismissed the Azure form and leaned heavily against the nearby wall, panting deeply. His physical energy was almost gone, and mentally, he was utterly exhausted. He had never felt so weak. "I should avoid pushing the Azure Armor to its limit next time." After catching his breath, Chen Feng despised this feeling of weakness. He forced his tired body to walk out from the other side of the alley, eventually blending into the crowd. He relaxed slightly, relieved that no one would recognize him now that the Azure form had dissipated. "I wonder who that cyborg was just now." "Could it be a helper Gao Tian Heng hired?" His pace slowed as he felt slightly better, finally gathering enough energy to think. Earlier, he had sensed a deadly danger. With just one strike, he had nearly lost the ability to defend himself. Clearly, the silver-gray cyborg was very powerful, possibly even surpassing the professional level. "And that dark golden flying dart... who was it that helped me?" A hint of confusion flashed across his face. Although he had been running away, his senses had clearly picked up the flying dart that had descended from the sky, stopping the silver-gray cyborg''s pursuit. Such a tactic was beyond his understanding¡ªneither a martial arts technique nor something a cyborg would use. After thinking for a while with no answers, the toll of mental exhaustion hit him, making his head feel foggy. He quickly abandoned the thoughts, hailed a taxi, and left in a hurry. Half an hour later. In the study of a single-story villa, Lin Hao changed into casual clothes and sat behind a redwood desk. Knock knock! A knock on the door. "Come in." The door opened, and an elderly man with gray-white hair, dressed in a black professional suit, entered. "Young master, your friend is fine." The old man''s voice was respectful, and he wore white gloves, just like a professional butler. Surprisingly, his left eye was dark gold, and it seemed to be a mechanical implant. "Huff." Lin Hao, whose expression had been solemn, finally relaxed a bit. He had sensed something was wrong when Chen Feng left the dojo. That''s why he had urgently asked Liu Bo to go to Tian Heng Corp''s building to ensure nothing happened to Chen Feng. "Thank you, Liu Bo." "No need to thank me, young master." "Your friend didn¡¯t go himself. Even if I didn¡¯t go, he would still be fine." "Oh?" Lin Hao raised an eyebrow, surprised. This was not what he expected. Seeing his confusion, Liu Bo explained, "Your friend seems to know a cyborg." "That cyborg went to Tian Heng Corp and wiped out Gao Tian Heng and his daughter." Lin Hao''s eyes widened in shock. Chen Feng knew a cyborg? And he had wiped out Gao Tian Heng? Surprised, Lin Hao soon heard Liu Bo explain the scene he had witnessed outside the building. Still in shock, Lin Hao asked, "A cyborg without an armed module?" "Then it seems that Chen Feng¡¯s friend probably hasn''t joined any faction." Liu Bo nodded lightly, agreeing that this seemed the most likely explanation. They chatted for a while about this, and Lin Hao soon thought about the silver-gray cyborg. His eyes flickered, realizing that the situation in Nanjiang City was even more complicated than he had imagined. Seeing Lin Hao''s expression change, Liu Bo hesitated for a moment before speaking his mind. "Young master, forgive me for saying this but..." "I personally think that you¡¯ve gotten too involved with this Tian Heng Corp matter." Lin Hao paused for a moment, then understood Liu Bo''s meaning. "Just making friends, Liu Bo." "Being sincere opens up more opportunities. Isn¡¯t that what my father used to say?" Lin Hao defended himself. Hearing this, Liu Bo was silent for a moment. "Alright, Liu Bo, I¡¯m tired." "You should go rest now." "Alright." Liu Bo nodded and didn¡¯t say more. He quickly left the room and gently closed the door. Watching him leave, Lin Hao sat in place. After a few moments of silence, he finally looked up at the night sky outside the window. To the southeast, it felt like home was far away. In the stillness, a deep sigh escaped his lips. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Nightmare Strikes FREE!! ;) Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 67: Rapid Growth of the Azure Armor Translator: Cinder Translations --- That day. After leaving the scene, Chen Feng went to the outskirts to deal with the two corpses in the black car. Then, despite his exhaustion, he forced himself to head to the research institute to pick up Chen Yun. "Xiao Feng, are you sick?" Chen Yun asked with concern as she noticed his pale and tired face during the ride. Shaking his head, Chen Feng casually made up an excuse to avoid mentioning today''s events. He suspected that Chen Yun still didn¡¯t know about Gao Tian Heng and his daughter''s plans. The taxi slowly drove onto the street, and it wasn¡¯t clear if it was a coincidence, but they passed by the area near the Tian Heng Group''s building. The scene had already been fully sealed off, with several flying cars from the Safety Department parked nearby, and armed guards on alert. Among them, Chen Feng spotted a familiar figure. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Captain Xiang, what do you think?" someone asked. "Haven¡¯t you seen the footage, what else is there to say?" Team Leader Xiang Jianjun, standing on the periphery of the scene, had just reviewed the full surveillance footage. "I don¡¯t know where this mysterious cyborg came from, but their actions were certainly ruthless." "But we have to thank him, or we wouldn''t have cracked the gold shop case so quickly." Xiang Jianjun spoke with a complicated tone. Though his words were slightly out of line, the security officers around him didn¡¯t argue. Looking around, beside the bodies of Gao Tian Heng and his daughter, there were three other figures with various causes of death. From the simulation images and previous clues, it was clear these three were part of the gang that had robbed the gold store. "I heard that Senator Zhou has been quite close to Gao Tian Heng. Captain Xiang, what do you think about this?" "Don¡¯t ask me, it¡¯s giving me a headache," Xiang Jianjun said, rubbing his temples, regretting coming to the scene. The Tian Heng Group, involved in the gray market, wasn¡¯t anything unusual, but if it was linked to Utopia, then this wasn¡¯t something a small security team leader like him could handle. "Captain Xiang, what about this Azure cyborg, should we investigate?" --- "Well, what do you think?" "Could this cyborg be sent by the Safety Department?" Inside a sealed metal chamber, several figures sat together, having just reviewed the surveillance footage from inside Tian Heng Group. One person speculated, but it was quickly dismissed. "This doesn¡¯t match the Safety Department''s style, and the United Coalition wouldn''t be involved either." "Maybe Gao Tian Heng had some enemies." This conclusion was mostly agreed upon by the group. "By the way, where¡¯s Silver Wolf?" "He¡¯s injured. He mentioned being ambushed by a weaponized fighter, and is now repairing the damage." "Is there really a weaponized fighter in Nanjing?" "We''re not sure. It could also be another type of cyborg." Speculation ran wild. Everyone wore a round floral pin on the left side of their chests. Eventually, someone, not wanting to waste time, interrupted the conversation, "The Safety Department definitely knows the gold shop incident is related to us. What are we going to do next?" "Proceed as planned," came the reply. "But..." "Only when Jin Wei finishes repairing the damage can we open up the situation without fear of the United Coalition." Hearing this, everyone fell silent and didn''t speak further. "So, what about this wild Azure cyborg?" "Investigate!" someone shouted. "Someone actually dared to ruin our, Utopia¡¯s plans? We must make an example out of them!" That night, Chen Feng and Chen Yun returned home. After a simple dinner, Chen Feng quickly dragged his exhausted body to his bedroom. With a thud, he collapsed onto the bed. He had never felt so drained. "But it wasn¡¯t all for nothing," he thought. A panel appeared. [Azure Armor LV1: 63/100] "It seems that the degree of fear is indeed linked to the amount of fear points." "And the stronger the one who fears, the higher the quality of the fear points, which makes the progress grow faster." After today¡¯s killings, Chen Feng finally understood the logic behind the growth of the Azure Armor. His progress surged by 60%, which was much higher than when he beat Wu Tian. He then lay down and took off his shoes. Chen Feng recalled his actions for the past day. Leaving the research institute, he had chased the vehicle that Gao Xue was in and arrived near the Tian Heng Group''s building. He found a secluded spot, activated the Azure Armor form, and used the fat man¡¯s body to unlock a phone and made the final confirmation. With his perception range, nothing could escape his notice. Paired with the Azure Armor, everything was taken care of. "I wonder if I left behind any traces." "Everyone seems to think I¡¯m a cyborg, so they probably won¡¯t suspect me." Thoughts flashed through his mind, but Chen Feng was too tired to dwell on them. The fatigue swept over him like a tide, and soon, his consciousness sank as he fell into a deep sleep. "I entered the dream world?" Standing in the single-story villa, holding a handgun with one bullet left, Chen Feng was somewhat surprised. He had thought that due to his excessive mental exhaustion, he would need to recover fully before entering this place, just like last time when he was injured. "Hmm? Something¡¯s off," he suddenly realized. His body felt weak. Walking up to the villa¡¯s mirror, he looked at his reflection. The person in the mirror was tall, well-built, dressed in a black short-sleeve shirt and pants, with white sneakers. Everything seemed normal, but his face was pale, and his eyes lacked their usual brightness under his slanted eyebrows. He clenched his fist slightly, but the strength wasn¡¯t there; it had regressed to the level of an amateur 6th-dan. "Although the mental exhaustion is heavy, because I wasn¡¯t injured in the dream this time... maybe that¡¯s why I managed to enter." "The price is that I''ll be in a weak state until my mental recovery is complete?" He had some guesses, but Chen Feng wasn¡¯t sure. He would need to verify it later. "Doesn¡¯t matter. Being able to enter the dream world is a good thing." "It¡¯s just a shame I can''t challenge the masked man tonight." He glanced towards the direction of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall and shook his head, deciding to wait another day. He was too weak to do anything. As for the handgun, it only had one bullet left, and he hadn¡¯t practiced much with firearms, so at a distance, it was likely to miss or fail to hit a vital spot. Thinking of this, Chen Feng didn¡¯t dwell on it further. Since he couldn¡¯t challenge the new area or the masked man, he would focus on searching for the limit-breaking light orbs. Soon, the sound of footsteps echoed through the silent dream world. He searched through areas he had previously overlooked, walking alone under the dark, misty sky. Perhaps his luck was down, even after searching the entire old area, he only found two limit-breaking light orbs. In addition, near a public bench, he noticed a unique copper plate, around 20-30 cm in size. [Black Ant Swarm: One of the Black Calamity creatures.] [Can control corpses and strip the souls of the living.] [Weakness: Only survives within flesh and blood. Disintegrates within three seconds of leaving the host. Its blood is like dark corrosive water.] [Black Soldier Ant: One of the Black Calamity creatures, originating from the Black Ant Swarm.] [Latches onto those with strong blood and energy, using their blood as nutrients, growing slowly.] [Resides in the heart, devouring consciousness. The host is immune to bullets and most fatal injuries.] [Weakness: The host''s heart.] (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 68: Judo Mastery Translator: Cinder Translations --- [Weakness: The heart of the host. A strong blow will prove fatal.] [Note: The Black Soldier Ant is one of the leaders of the Black Ant Colony. Its death will cause a riot among the ants in the area.] The small text on the copper plate was carved into several rows, seemingly etched by someone. After reading the information, Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. ¡°Black Ant Colony, Black Soldier Ants, Black Calamity creatures?¡± He thought about the Faceless One he had killed. From this description, it seemed that the insects and ants flying out of the Faceless One¡¯s body were likely the Black Ant Colony. ¡°Looks like there are more non-human creatures in the Black Calamity?¡± ¡°The Black Ant Colony is just one of them.¡± A chill ran down his spine, and Chen Feng turned to look at the vast mist, which seemed to envelop the entire city. In a daze, he wasn¡¯t sure if it was just his imagination. The distant mist slowly shifted, as though a massive creature, either a giant bear or a black dragon, was lurking or moving inside. ¡°That area¡­ seems like the center of Qinggang City?¡± Judging by the alignment of the buildings around him and the elevation changes, Chen Feng made this rough assessment. Moreover, according to past journals, the city center was where the law enforcement headquarters was located, a powerful force. As such, he felt a tightening in his chest. It was clear that the area was also fully covered by the mist. If there were other Black Calamity creatures there, the danger level would undoubtedly be much higher. ¡°It looks like I¡¯ll need to find a map later.¡± ¡°At the very least, I need to understand the distribution of various forces in the city.¡± ¡°The more powerful the dead people, the more terrifying the Black Calamity creatures in those areas will be.¡± His gaze flickered as he didn¡¯t want to accidentally enter a dangerous zone and lose his life. Beyond that, he had other plans. Perhaps, by using a map, he could find smaller martial arts schools, preferably places similar to the Extreme Martial Arts School. Those locations would certainly have more Limit-Breaking Light Orbs than regular areas, and the beings inside would be manageable for him. This way, he could maximize his time in the dream world and improve his orb collection efficiency. Buzz! Just as Chen Feng was deep in thought, the world spun, and the mist dispersed. In an instant, the world changed, and he quickly exited the dream, seeing familiar curtains and sunlight. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± Slowly sitting up, he pulled out his phone. It was 7:05 AM. Chen Feng walked to the window and drew the curtains. Perhaps due to yesterday¡¯s rain, the sky looked an even clearer blue today. White clouds floated in various shapes, and below, tall buildings stood in rows. A gentle breeze blew. ¡°My energy and physical strength have fully recovered.¡± Gazing at the distant street scene, Chen Feng¡¯s eyes shone brightly, feeling full of vitality. The system panel then appeared. [Limit-Break Points: 6] After a moment of thought, Chen Feng checked his current skills. [Sanda: Perfection] [Judo: Mastery (12%) +] [Explosive Fist: Beginner (12%) +] [Flaming Tiger Stance: Tiger Form (14%) +] Sanda could not be improved further, and although he had practiced various skills these past few days, the improvements were quite minimal. ¡°Which skill should I enhance?¡± His gaze lingered on Explosive Fist and Flaming Tiger Stance, but it was obvious that he didn¡¯t have enough Limit-Breaking Light Orbs. As for Judo¡­ "Five Limit-Breaking Orbs are enough to break through to the next level of Perfection." Both his fighting techniques and physical attributes would improve, which would benefit him in sparring and in increasing the duration of his Azure Armor form. With this in mind, and remembering the immense pressure from the silver-gray figure yesterday, he was eager to strengthen himself every second. He turned his attention to the "+" next to Judo, focused, and muttered: ¡°Enhance!¡± Buzz! The insights of Judo flooded into his mind, as he tirelessly practiced and honed various techniques. Pulling, throwing, leg techniques¡­ In the blink of an eye. [Judo: Perfection!] Chen Feng could clearly feel that his use of Judo techniques had reached a new level. It was like using four ounces to move a thousand pounds¡ªhe could now achieve better results in combat with the same amount of force. In addition to that: [Strength: 10.3 ¡ú 10.8] [Agility: 9.9 ¡ú 10.2] [Constitution: 10.2 ¡ú 10.6] [Willpower: 10.5 ¡ú 10.8] ¡°1.5 in attribute improvements!¡± He clenched his fist slightly, clearly feeling a warm current flow through his body, constantly nourishing his physique. His energy surged, and his skin tightened, as if it had become as tough as leather. With his enhanced perception, he estimated that his punch strength was now close to 180kg. ¡°Only 20 more kilograms to reach professional level one.¡± Clenching his fist, he heard a cracking sound. Chen Feng walked into the bathroom next to the living room and looked at himself in the mirror. His physique was strong and muscular, with clearly defined muscle blocks. Standing at 1.81 meters tall, he seemed even taller, giving off an imposing presence like a concrete pillar. At that moment, Chen Feng¡¯s sister, Chen Yun, who had just come out of her room to wash up, froze when she saw him. ¡°L-Little Feng?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, realizing that his sister had already come home the previous night. He wasn¡¯t living alone anymore. ¡°Sis.¡± He called out, his gaze softening as he simply finished washing up and made space for her. ¡°You seem to have gotten taller?¡± Chen Yun came back to her senses, walked up, and curiously commented, gesturing with her hands. She wasn¡¯t short herself, standing at 1.68 meters, which was quite tall for a woman. But now, standing next to Chen Feng, she felt small and fragile, as if she might fall over with just a light touch. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ve grown an extra centimeter.¡± Chen Feng casually replied, and Chen Yun had no choice but to look up. It was a good thing that her brother had become so strong and sturdy, but she still felt somewhat unaccustomed to it. Perhaps it was because he hadn¡¯t lived at home for so long. But it seemed that Little Feng¡¯s clothes didn¡¯t fit quite right anymore. Chen Yun thought to herself, then gave him several glances, which made Chen Feng feel a bit puzzled. The two of them quickly finished washing up and had breakfast together. ¡°I¡¯m leaving, Sis.¡± ¡°Okay, be safe out there.¡± Nodding and waving his hand, Chen Feng left the house in a loose black t-shirt. Tap, tap! Footsteps echoed. But soon, as he left the neighborhood, he saw a crowd gathered at the foot of a building, blocking the street. Among them was a middle-aged woman holding a black-and-white framed photo, with others holding white wreaths, slowly walking toward the old building across the street. The atmosphere was heavy, and Chen Feng immediately recognized the man in the black-and-white photo. Zhao Guoqiang, the missing barbecue stall owner. After briefly inquiring, he got his answer. ¡°So, it was the serpent man who killed him.¡± He had lost his internal organs, and the body had just been found by the Safety Bureau yesterday. His gaze flickered, and Chen Feng thought about the previous night. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Serpent Men, worshipers of a twisted evil god. He then thought about the silver-gray cyborg he encountered yesterday, as well as the dark-gold dart that far surpassed the power of a sniper rifle. Tap, tap! His footsteps quickened as he passed through the crowd and left the neighborhood. He boarded a bus and looked at the streets and buildings outside. This world was getting more and more complicated. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 69: Potential Threats Translator: Cinder Translations --- [Our city''s gold store robbery case has been solved!] [According to the investigation by the Safety Bureau, Tian Heng Corporation has close ties with the recent gold store robbers. The two sides allegedly had a dispute over the division of stolen goods, leading to a gunfight, resulting in both parties'' deaths.] [After further investigation, the United Coalition found Tian Heng Corporation in violation of the city''s regulations on articles 2, 5, and 13, which cover hiring assassins, bribery, and intentional injury. All shareholders of the company have been detained.] On the bus, Chen Feng glanced at the news on his phone. He was a bit surprised because he didn''t see any information about him being wanted. The report on the case also seemed clearly off. "The Safety Bureau is hiding the truth?" His eyes lingered on words like "dispute over the division of stolen goods," and Chen Feng naturally understood that the two half-modified individuals he killed yesterday were part of that gang of robbers. Their appearance matched the sketches quite closely, but at that time, he didn¡¯t have the luxury of considering anything else, so he had to act quickly. "So, the gang that robbed the gold store were actually Tian Heng''s subordinates." "But Tian Heng doesn''t seem to be short on money. Why would he send people to rob a gold store?" Chen Feng narrowed his eyes. He felt something was off. Tian Heng Corporation, the gold store, the Safety Bureau¡ªthese words flashed through his mind, along with the powerful silver-gray cyborg, who didn¡¯t seem like someone Tian Heng could easily associate with. After thinking for a while, he still couldn¡¯t find an answer. Finally, as the bus reached his stop, Chen Feng shook his head, pushed the thoughts aside for now, and got off. Walking down the street, he soon entered the Flame Tiger martial arts hall. The floor-to-ceiling windows were behind him, and one by one, students poured in. ¡°Did you hear, the boss of Tian Heng Corp was killed!¡± ¡°Who do you think did it?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t watch the news? It was the gang that robbed the gold store.¡± The murmurs reached Chen Feng¡¯s ears. He continued walking calmly, his face expressionless, betraying nothing suspicious. Since the Safety Bureau was hiding his involvement, he was not stupid enough to expose himself. What he needed to do was keep a low profile as much as possible to avoid exposure. Soon, the sound of footsteps echoed. A few students in front of him stopped, feeling a slight darkness in their vision. As they turned to look, they saw Chen Feng and instinctively stepped aside. [Fear Value +1!] The system prompt appeared, though the fear value was minimal, almost negligible. Still, Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. "What is everyone so afraid of?" "Ha, you should blame yourself for smashing Wu Tian so hard yesterday," Lin Hao¡¯s teasing voice came from behind. He approached Chen Feng with a smile, slapping his shoulder. ¡°And, you know, a lot of people are aware of his background. They don¡¯t want to get involved with you, so of course, they¡¯re keeping their distance.¡± Chen Feng turned his head to look at Lin Hao, who was dressed in a loose gray sports shirt and shorts, seemingly amused by the situation. Chen Feng remained expressionless and asked bluntly, "What about you then?" "Me? To me it doesn¡¯t matter. If it gets too bad, I¡¯ll just stop practicing martial arts," Lin Hao shrugged, unconcerned. Martial arts were just a hobby for him, and the worst-case scenario was that he''d leave in disgrace if he couldn''t make it here. Chen Feng¡¯s gaze softened, but before he could speak further, Lin Hao leaned in close and quietly whispered, ¡°I heard the real killer is someone else¡ªa cyborg. And some forces are looking for him, apparently to avenge the robbers.¡± Lin Hao gave Chen Feng a meaningful look before turning toward the locker room. Chen Feng stood still for a moment, several thoughts flashing in his mind. The gang that robbed the gold store? Hadn¡¯t they all been killed? Could it be¡­? His gaze shifted as he remembered the silver-gray cyborg, he encountered the day before while leaving the Tian Heng building. The person had a round pattern on their left chest. It seemed familiar, but he had been too exhausted yesterday to think it through properly. Now, he took out his phone, searched for related images, and after a moment, his eyes sharpened. ¡°Utopia.¡± No wonder it seemed familiar; that was the logo of the Utopia organization. It was a symbol often seen on wanted posters within the borders of the Red Nation. Immediately, everything fell into place. Chen Feng quickly understood what Lin Hao meant. Utopia was looking for him. Or more precisely, they were looking for him in his Azure Armor form. ¡°Looks like I need to avoid using Azure Armor form for a while,¡± he mused quietly. After a moment, he checked the time, realizing it was getting late, and went to the locker room to change clothes. "Strengthen the tiger¡¯s stance, when still be like a crouching tiger, when moving be like the flying tiger." "Understanding the true meaning of the Red Tiger¡¯s form will guide you to harness all your energy, strengthening your flesh, muscles, bones, and organs." In the training room, sunlight streamed through the windows. Cao Tong arrived on time and began instructing the students. Some students were either standing still or throwing punches, and while some were slowly grasping the basics, only two or three had mastered the Tiger form. Cao Tong¡¯s eyes fell on Chen Feng and Wu Tian. After yesterday''s incident, he had inquired about their friction. Fortunately, it seemed to be just a rivalry, nothing serious. Even though Wu Tian¡¯s Senior Sister had taken good care of Wu Tian, she couldn¡¯t do much to prevent the conflict. Looking over at Chen Feng practicing alone in the corner, surrounded by students keeping their distance, Cao Tong shook his head but couldn¡¯t help but admire Chen Feng more. He didn¡¯t waste any time. In front of everyone, he waved at Chen Feng to come over. ¡°Brother Cao?¡± Chen Feng asked in confusion. ¡°Follow me.¡± Cao Tong said, leading Chen Feng out of the training room. Seeing this, Lin Hao frowned, and many nearby students stopped their practices. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Could it be because of Wu Tian?¡± ¡°Is Cao Tong warning Chen Feng?¡± Many whispered, and Lin Hao looked over, noticing Wu Tian and Pei Yue standing near the window, also stopping their practice. ¡°Looks like even Coach Cao isn¡¯t willing to offend Wu Shuang,¡± Pei Yue thought to himself, while Wu Tian narrowed his eyes and shook his head. ¡°My aunt doesn¡¯t know about this,¡± he muttered, rubbing his left cheek, still feeling some lingering pain. He had lost two teeth and the memory still felt like a disgrace. Despite his anger at Chen Feng, he didn¡¯t feel the need to report it to an elder. So, he didn¡¯t understand why Cao Tong would take Chen Feng away alone. There couldn¡¯t possibly be something good coming from this, right? (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 70: Secret Medicine, Enhancement Translator: Cinder Translations --- ¡°Brother Cao?¡± As they left the training room and entered the elevator, Chen Feng¡¯s doubts grew deeper. Was he called away because of Wu Tian? "Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not about Wu Tian," Cao Tong seemed to read his mind, pressing the button for the basement floor and smiling as he spoke. "Do you remember the night before yesterday?" Chen Feng thought back to the night he encountered the Serpent-man. "That was one of the Evil God Cult factions, the Serpent Spirit Sect." "And by coincidence, our martial arts hall has a longstanding feud with the Serpent Spirit Sect." His tone was light, and as the elevator descended, Cao Tong explained further: "I mentioned that incident to the elders in the hall, and the martial arts hall decided to give you a reward." "Do you understand?" The elevator door opened, and Chen Feng was relieved when he saw Cao Tong''s expression, which wasn¡¯t as ominous as he had feared. "I thank you, Brother Cao." Chen Feng sincerely expressed his gratitude, knowing full well that this was something Cao Tong had actively helped him secure. "No big deal." Cao Tong waved it off with a smile. He took large strides as they left the elevator, with Chen Feng following closely behind. Soon, they reached the basement floor, which looked quite different from the main areas. It was a heavy, metallic pathway with metal walls of the same color on both sides. The sound of footsteps echoed as they walked for a while, coming to a doorless entryway. Inside was dim and spacious, but as they approached, Chen Feng could smell the faint scent of herbal medicine. "Third Elder." Cao Tong respectfully called out from the doorway. "Come in," came a clear yet elderly voice. Chen Feng¡¯s heart stirred, and following Cao Tong¡¯s signal, he walked in. The lights flickered on automatically, revealing the interior. Several wooden cabinets neatly displayed herbs, with a few ventilation holes and temperature control devices on the metal ceiling, keeping the temperature around zero degrees. It was cold, and Chen Feng, still in a short-sleeved shirt, felt the chill, his skin breaking out in goosebumps. By contrast, Cao Tong seemed completely unaffected, his face still flushed and healthy. A few quick steps took them past the cabinets to the inner area, where a brown wooden reclining chair sat. Lying there was an elderly man in a gray robe, with white hair and a wooden hairpin, dressed like someone from ancient times. "Third Elder, I¡¯ve brought him." "Ah." The elderly man opened his cloudy eyes and gave Chen Feng a quick scan. In that instant, Chen Feng felt an overwhelming sense of danger, as if a real, fiery red tiger had appeared before him, towering above him with blazing power. His vision was filled with the fierce eyes of the red tiger, its cold breath filling the air. The immense pressure made it hard to breathe, and Chen Feng felt his blood flow slow, almost as though he couldn¡¯t endure it. At the critical moment, he focused his mind, and his powerful will surged to life again. He cleared all negative emotions from his heart, and his gaze became unshakable. This display surprised Cao Tong, while the Third Elder gave a slight nod of approval. "He''s a good seed." As the old man¡¯s words fell, the illusions in Chen Feng¡¯s mind dissipated immediately. Before Chen Feng could react, a small brocade box was thrown towards him, landing in his hands. "This is a secret medicine, the Tiger-Embrace Pill." "Go and practice well," the Third Elder said, and Chen Feng immediately understood that he had been given a benefit, so he clasped his hands in gratitude. The Third Elder nodded lightly and then closed his eyes to rest, no longer paying attention to him. "Third Elder, we¡¯ll take our leave now," Cao Tong said, and they left the room. The sound of their footsteps echoed as they walked down the hallway, the cold air blowing behind them. Chen Feng realized that his back was already soaked with cold sweat. He knew it was from that intense encounter with the Third Elder. This Third Elder was the strongest person Chen Feng had ever encountered, even more so than the silver-gray cyborg in terms of pressure. "Brother Cao, what level is the Third Elder?" Curious, Chen Feng asked once they were back in the elevator. "Above professional level," Cao Tong answered simply. "Or, in our martial arts circles, we¡¯d say it¡¯s above the ¡®Entry Level¡¯ level." "Entry Level?" Chen Feng was surprised, having never heard this term before. "The distinction between amateur and professional levels comes from the Platinum Federation," Cao Tong explained. "It¡¯s more in line with the current era and has become the standard for measuring individual strength on the Earth." He paused before continuing: "As for ¡®Entry Level,¡¯ it¡¯s a term used in our country¡¯s martial arts circles, passed down from ancient times." "Below that, there are three other levels: Body Training, Bone Training, and Organ Training." "The first one is roughly equivalent to amateur level, while the latter two correspond to professional level." Chen Feng thought for a moment and then remembered the three levels of the Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Form, Tiger Roar, and Tiger Might. These three levels matched the martial arts stages Cao Tong had mentioned, which refined the skin, bones, and organs. "Well, this isn¡¯t a secret; you can find some of it online," Cao Tong said. "As for other things, once you become a formal disciple of the martial arts hall, you¡¯ll gradually learn more." Chen Feng nodded quietly. To become a formal disciple was the real goal of the martial arts hall. Only after reaching that point would he be qualified to know many of the true secrets of martial arts. The requirements to become a formal disciple had already been explained by Cao Tong during the first martial arts class in the core class. The minimum standard was to pass the Flame Tiger Stance assessment within three months in the core class. Alternatively, if a student performed exceptionally well, the hall might make an exception and enroll them as a formal disciple ahead of time. Chen Feng¡¯s mind stirred as he considered his chances. He believed that with the Limit Break Light Orb, he would have no problem becoming a formal disciple. Soon, they returned to the second floor, where Cao Tong glanced at the brocade box in Chen Feng¡¯s hand. "The Tiger-Embrace Pill is an ordinary secret medicine, but its effects might be a bit overpowering for you." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I recommend you take it in the meditation room, where I can protect you in case of any accidents," Cao Tong advised. Chen Feng thought for a moment and nodded, expressing his thanks. He was soon led to the martial arts hall¡¯s meditation room, where he stood on a wooden floor and opened the brocade box. It was small, about the size of half a palm, wrapped in yellow silk, with a white pill the size of a fingernail in the center, emitting a faint fragrance. "When taking it, stand and visualize, so that you can absorb the medicine¡¯s effects fully," Cao Tong instructed. Chen Feng nodded, took the pill, and put it into his mouth. He chewed twice, feeling a slightly soft texture, but the bitter, unpleasant taste of traditional medicine made him frown. Despite the discomfort, he swallowed it down. "Stand and visualize!" Cao Tong¡¯s reminder came again. Chen Feng immediately entered a calm state, pushing away all distractions. Soon, the image of the red tiger with four flaming limbs appeared in his mind. His legs moved into the stance, and Chen Feng soon entered the state of standing meditation for martial arts practice. As he focused inward, he could clearly feel the pill rapidly dissolving in his stomach. Waves of warmth spread throughout his body, gradually sinking into his skin, bones, and muscles. Gradually, Chen Feng noticed a change. The panel floated up, showing an unprecedented sight. [Strength: 10.8 ¡ú 10.9 ¡ú ...] [Agility: 10.2 ¡ú 10.3 ¡ú ...] [Constitution: 10.6 ¡ú 10.7 ¡ú ...] Chen Feng¡¯s physical attributes¡ªstrength and constitution¡ªwere beginning to rise slowly. At the same time, the progress of the Flame Tiger Stance was also growing rapidly. [Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Form (14% ¡ú 15% ¡ú 16%)] (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 71: Professional Level (2600+ Words) Translator: Cinder Translations --- "This kid seems to be absorbing it quite well." In the quiet room, Cao Tong stood quietly like a massive rock at the side. His gaze was focused on Chen Feng, who was standing in a martial stance with his eyes closed, his body resembling the form of a tiger, crouched and still. Though it appeared calm and ordinary, Cao Tong could sense that the energy within Chen Feng was slowly increasing. Time passed by steadily, and after more than half an hour, Chen Feng''s breath stabilized, and he suddenly opened his eyes. "Hu!" A hot breath escaped from his mouth, and his eyes flashed with brilliance. Standing still, he relaxed his stance. Chen Feng could clearly feel the changes in his body. [Strength: 11.1] [Stamina: 11.0] [Agility: 10.5] [Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Form (54%)] He clenched his fist slightly and could distinctly sense his own transformation. His strength had increased again, nearing 200kg, almost reaching the professional level. His agility and stamina had risen as well, improving his endurance and physical strength, while the progress of the Flame Tiger Stance had leaped 40%. Thanks to this, his body was nourished by the medicinal energy, and under the guidance and refinement of the stance, it became firmer and stronger. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Subtly, Chen Feng had an instinctual feeling. His physical defense had increased significantly, and unless someone used exceptional force, a small knife wouldn¡¯t be able to cut through his skin. ¡°How does it feel?¡± Cao Tong noticed that Chen Feng had absorbed all the medicinal energy and smiled, asking. ¡°It feels pretty good.¡± Chen Feng nodded and shared his feeling, wanting to verify it. He had to admit that the effect of the secret medicine was indeed powerful. It was nearly comparable to two attribute boosts and four limit-breaking light orbs. ¡°It¡¯s normal to feel this way.¡± Cao Tong nodded lightly and explained, "The Flame Tiger Stance is designed to lay the foundation and refine the body." "Tiger Form focuses on refining the flesh, and the Tiger Embrace Pill is a powerful tonic, so it naturally strengthens your physical condition and tightens your muscles." "This is just the Tiger Form. When you become an official disciple of our martial arts school in the future, you¡¯ll even practice the True Transmission skill." "At that point, you could even resist bullets." Cao Tong smiled as he spoke, and Chen Feng¡¯s heart stirred. Resist bullets? Could martial arts really reach this level? "Don¡¯t underestimate martial arts," Cao Tong continued. "Although we live in a technological era, martial arts has indeed declined compared to the past." "But there are still martial artists of this caliber in the world." "For example, our school''s little master uncle, or even the third elder you met earlier, have both had similar feats in the past." Cao Tong briefly mentioned this, and Chen Feng could sense his respect and pride. This indirectly confirmed his thoughts. Just like the Azure Armor talent, martial arts were also an important path to strengthening one''s power. "Alright, enough talk." "The medicinal power of the Tiger Embrace Pill might still be lingering. Go back and continue practicing the stance to see if you can fully absorb it." After giving some advice, Cao Tong quickly took Chen Feng back to the practice room. Everyone''s eyes were on him, scrutinizing him from head to toe. Seeing that his breath was stable, and he even conversed with Cao Tong with confidence, many were puzzled. "This guy, something about him feels off." Wu Tian frowned, and Pei Yue beside him also looked confused. Chen Feng didn¡¯t respond, simply walking calmly back to his corner. "Did you get a scolding?" Lin Hao leaned over, curious. "No." Chen Feng shook his head and thought for a moment but didn¡¯t elaborate. The matter with the Cult of the Evil God was complicated and convoluted, and explaining it would take too long. "Oh, okay then." Lin Hao nodded, seeing that nothing was wrong, and didn¡¯t think much about it. Soon, his eyes lit up as he whispered, "By the way, I wanted to discuss something with you." "What is it?" "I¡¯m planning to open a boxing club in the next couple of days, make some money, and maybe build some connections." "Are you interested in joining me?" Lin Hao smiled, and Chen Feng was slightly taken aback. A boxing club? Many medium-sized martial arts events on Earth involved clubs, so to some extent, it was indeed a good way to make money. If he joined, his life would certainly improve a lot. "I don¡¯t have the money." Chen Feng said honestly, as he didn¡¯t have the funds to start a club. "Eh, I¡¯ll fund it." Lin Hao waved his hand, looking confident, "You just need to work. You can be the boxing coach or help with the security, occasionally participate in matches. We¡¯ll split the profits." Upon hearing this, Chen Feng fell silent. It wasn¡¯t because the conditions were too harsh¡ªin fact, they didn¡¯t put much pressure on him. With his current strength, he had already reached the professional level, and he was more than capable of holding his own in the club. However... Looking at Lin Hao''s smiling face, Chen Feng couldn''t shake the feeling that this guy had ulterior motives. "So, what do you think?" Lin Hao urged, his eyes filled with expectation. After some thought, Chen Feng recalled how Lin Hao helped him investigate the Tian Heng Society. No matter what the ulterior motive was, at least the favor he did him was real. "Alright." In the end, Chen Feng nodded. "Great!" Lin Hao clapped Chen Feng¡¯s shoulder, his face beaming with joy. Then the two of them discussed the club business for a while. By the time they went to the cafeteria for lunch and finished their afternoon training, they parted ways, each heading to the changing room to change clothes and leave the martial arts school. Standing at the bus station, watching the blue car speed away. Chen Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing that Lin Hao was hiding some secret. He even suspected that Lin Hao¡¯s invitation to start the boxing club might be related to this secret. But... "It doesn¡¯t really matter." With a calm expression, the bus arrived, and Chen Feng saw his blurry reflection in the clean car window. His height was close to 1.82 meters, tall and muscular, approaching the sturdy side. His muscles were clearly defined, and the black short-sleeve shirt he wore was becoming tight, fitting snugly against every inch of his skin. As his physical strength grew stronger, he needed more food to sustain his body¡¯s functions and replenish nutrients. The supermarket job was clearly no longer enough to handle this pressure, and becoming an official disciple would take some time. So, this boxing club seemed like a good option. Chen Feng moved his steps and entered the crowded bus. Many pedestrians made way, and Chen Feng grabbed the metal handle, standing in the aisle by the window. The street scene outside the window receded, with some holographic projections coming into view floating in the air outside large companies. Gradually, as the bus drove steadily for more than half an hour, the familiar Yongle Fu Supermarket appeared again not far from the street. "I heard from my son that the number of missing cases in the city has been increasing recently." "Is that true?" "Yes, it seems so. Be careful when you go out lately." Inside the supermarket, He Xiuping, as usual, stood behind the cashier counter, chatting with Aunt Zhang, who was cleaning. While talking, Aunt Zhang, who was bending over with a broom, felt a chill behind her and heard some hissing sounds. Confused, she turned her head, and in the next second. "Ah!!!" A terrified scream rang out, and Aunt Zhang, holding a mop, collapsed to the ground. He Xiuping at the cashier was startled and quickly looked over, only to see a black snake, more than a meter long, appearing out of nowhere and slithering up to the metal goods shelf. The hissing snake tongue flicked in and out, its cold vertical pupils and winding scales made the skin crawl. "This..." Her body weakened, and He Xiuping¡¯s eyes widened, her face turning pale. "Hiss..." The snake''s tongue flicked as it stretched its head toward Aunt Zhang, trying to crawl closer. Both women were too frightened to move, and there were no other customers in the supermarket. Until finally, the lights dimmed, and a large black figure, like a rock, violently entered their line of sight. A thick hand, like a tiger¡¯s claw, reached out, seizing the snake by the neck. Crack! Crack! Crack! The muscles, like stones, squeezed and exerted force, creating a sound that made one¡¯s teeth ache. In less than half a second. With a crunch, the snake''s flesh and organs were crushed. The black snake''s body stiffened, its struggle ceased, and it lost its breath. "Xiao, Xiao Feng?" Aunt Zhang and He Xiuping called out, recognizing the newcomer. "It''s fine now." Chen Feng glanced at the snake''s corpse, curled it into a ball, and threw it into the trash bin. He heightened his senses, instinctively thinking of the existence of the Serpent-men, vigilantly surveying his surroundings. There was no hostility, everything seemed normal, and it looked like just a random incident. "I wonder where this snake came from. I was so scared." "Fortunately, Xiao Feng, you showed up. Otherwise, I might have been bitten." Aunt Zhang said with lingering fear, and He Xiuping helped her stand up. With a grateful tone, the two talked for a while. Chen Feng nodded but didn¡¯t pay much attention. Then, after confirming that there were no Serpent-men around, he relaxed his guard and washed his hands. "This thing seems unlucky. I¡¯ll go throw it away." It was already four o¡¯clock, and Aunt Zhang was in a hurry to go home. As she left, she nervously said, then casually took the trash bag with the black snake¡¯s body and threw it into the public trash bin outside. Chen Feng acknowledged her and glanced at the flowing traffic and pedestrians outside. "Is it really a coincidence?" He hadn¡¯t noticed anything unusual and didn¡¯t feel any malice either. Shaking his head inwardly, he kept it in mind. He then put on his red vest and stood behind the cashier counter. Aunt Zhang, who was supposed to be off, hadn¡¯t left, maybe due to gratitude and lingering fear. She shared a story about how she was once frightened by a snake when she was young. The two of them stayed together in the supermarket for more than ten minutes. Chen Feng raised his brow slightly, feeling something was off. Finally, when Aunt Zhang also frowned, they saw the replacement cashier, Li Hongxia, arrive on her bike. "Sorry, Sister Zhang, I¡¯m late." Li Hongxia was sweating profusely, still wearing a yellow delivery outfit. She walked over while unbuckling her helmet. There was nothing unusual about her, but both Chen Feng and Aunt Zhang¡¯s eyes immediately focused on her. "Hongxia, what¡¯s with..." Looking over, they noticed that the left shoulder of Li Hongxia¡¯s shirt was torn, and her elbow was covered in abrasions, with blood dripping from the broken skin. As for Xu Yao behind her, she also looked a bit disheveled. There were two small bloodstains on her white T-shirt, and a stain on her backpack. Her face was pale, with some abrasions, and her arms had bruises and cuts from the fall. "I was too hasty when crossing the traffic light and accidentally fell." Li Hongxia said apologetically, her voice full of guilt, while she also looked at Xu Yao¡¯s injuries with some distress. "Big brother Chen Feng, Aunt Zhang." Xu Yao, carrying her backpack, was still pale but obediently called out to both Chen Feng and Aunt Zhang. Seeing this, Chen Feng shook his head slightly, knowing that Li Hongxia had probably been in a rush to deliver the food. Aunt Zhang didn¡¯t say much and quickly brought out Band-Aids and iodine to treat their wounds. "Thank you, Aunt Zhang." Xu Yao said softly, looking at the bruises and abrasions on her arms, which made Aunt Zhang feel a bit sorry. "Hongxia, you¡¯re carrying a child, why rush like that?" "You don¡¯t mind getting hurt, but what if something happens to Xu Yao?" After hearing her worried lecture, Li Hongxia¡¯s expression turned apologetic, and she didn¡¯t dare argue. On the side, Xu Yao opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to stop her. She just felt that her mom had already worked so hard and that she shouldn¡¯t become a burden to her. Her heart felt a little bitter, but she didn¡¯t know how to express it, fearing that arguing would upset Aunt Zhang. As she was hesitating. A shadow was cast, and the fluorescent light was subtly blocked. A tall, burly figure walked up to them, and a box of candy was gently offered by a strong hand. "Children shouldn¡¯t worry about adult matters." Hearing the deep voice, Xu Yao trembled slightly and looked up. The masculine, rugged face came into view, and a warm hand pressed down on her head. "Eat some candy. Maybe it won¡¯t hurt as much." Chen Feng said calmly, rubbing her head. Then, seeing her dazed expression, he placed the candy down and returned to the cashier counter. Outside the window, the street scene was as usual. Pedestrians passed by, and familiar voices filled the supermarket. But Chen Feng knew he couldn¡¯t stay here for too long. Whether it was joining Lin Hao¡¯s boxing club or becoming a formal disciple of the martial arts hall to earn a salary, both required him to set aside some time outside of training. Compared to that, the least cost-effective job at the supermarket was definitely going to be abandoned. "Let¡¯s wait a bit longer." "I¡¯ll mention it to Liu Fang tonight or tomorrow, so there¡¯s some buffer time for recruiting." The thought crossed his mind, and Chen Feng¡¯s future plans became clearer. It has already been a month since he woke up as Chen Feng, and he was no longer the passive and weak person without choices. But that wasn¡¯t enough. Thinking about the Serpent-men and the Utopia organization in pursuit of his life, he had to grow stronger. As time passed, customers came and went in the supermarket. Aunt Zhang quietly left, and Li Hongxia took over, tidying up products and cleaning the shelves. Time passed slowly until nearly midnight. With a slight motion of his senses, Chen Feng looked out at the night sky, then returned his focus to the little girl walking up to the cashier counter. "Brother Chen Feng." Xu Yao whispered, her shoulder-length hair tied back with a black hair tie, her bright eyes reflecting the light above her head. Band-Aids were on her arm and face, and while she looked tired, she appeared much better than when she first arrived at the supermarket. "What is it?" Chen Feng asked, puzzled. "The candy was really delicious. This is for you." Xu Yao whispered, her little face slightly flushed with embarrassment as she quickly put something into Chen Feng¡¯s hand. Then, she turned and hurried back to the sofa area. Chen Feng was slightly stunned and looked down at his palm. It was a paper crane folded from white paper. It had the words "Thank you" written on it, the handwriting delicate and beautiful. His gaze softened as he looked at her sitting back in the sofa area. Obedient and sensible, like the epitome of an ordinary person. For some reason, Chen Feng felt that the urgency for power that he had been feeling suddenly calmed down. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 72: Masked Man (2600+ Words) Translator: Cinder Translations --- That night, at twelve o''clock. With a loud clang, the rolling shutter door was closed heavily. Chen Feng, holding the folded paper crane and a clothing bag, waved goodbye to Li Hongxia and her daughter. "Sister Hongxia, Xiao Yao, take it easy on the road." TL/N: ¡°Xiao¡± here in Xiao Yao is meant as a term of endearment, Little Yao. "Okay, Xiao Feng, goodbye." "Goodbye, Brother Chen Feng." Li Hongxia and her daughter both responded, then slowly rode off on their electric scooter. Watching the red taillights disappear into the distance, Chen Feng turned and walked towards home. Tap, tap! The sound of footsteps echoed as he expanded his perception and walked slowly. He tore open an energy bar¡¯s packaging, and the crisp crunching sound echoed in his mouth. "I wonder if there are still any Serpent Men around." Due to the incident with the black snake in the afternoon, Chen Feng was particularly vigilant at this moment. Besides that, he actually felt a bit of anticipation. If there were indeed more Serpent Men around, would killing them again earn him another secret medicine reward from the martial arts hall? The thought flashed through his mind as Chen Feng licked his lips and slowed his pace. Soon, more than ten minutes later, he arrived home, feeling a little regretful. Click! The door opened, and warm light filled the living room. The TV was still playing softly, and Chen Yun was sitting on the sofa, apparently having fallen asleep at some point, her head slightly tilted back, her long eyelashes resting gently. Perhaps sensing the sound of the door opening, Chen Yun¡¯s eyelashes fluttered, and her eyes slowly opened. "Xiao Feng?" "Sis." Chen Feng replied, changing into his slippers. "If you''re tired, go to your room and sleep, so you don''t catch a cold." "I''m fine, hehe." With a smile, Chen Yun quickly got up and went to the kitchen, bringing out a large bowl of steaming chicken soup. "You must be hungry. Don''t eat too much cold bread, it''s not good for your stomach." "Here, try what I made." Chen Feng paused as he smelled the irresistible aroma. Nodding, he walked over and sat at the dining table, taking a couple of bites. "How is it?" "Really good." "Looks like my cooking skills haven''t gotten rusty." Chen Yun said with a smile and went back to her room. In a moment, she returned with two new black outfits. "Try them on in your room. If they don''t fit, I''ll take them back and exchange them tomorrow." Her tone was casual, and her smile was pure. Chen Feng, still drinking the soup, paused for a moment, before smiling and nodding. Click! Ten minutes later, after finishing the soup, Chen Feng returned to his bedroom. He tried on both sets of black clothing. They fit well, the fabric felt comfortable, clearly chosen with care by Chen Yun. Once again feeling the warmth of being taken care of, Chen Feng shook his head and quickly suppressed his negative thoughts, lying down on the bed. Full of energy, his physical strength still intact. He wanted to see what kind of state he would enter into in tonight''s dream. Lying flat, he slowly closed his eyes. Perhaps due to his strong willpower, he found it much easier to fall asleep, even feeling like he could control when to fall asleep. One second, two seconds, three seconds... Finally, his consciousness sank, and Chen Feng felt the subtle change in his body¡¯s center of gravity. When he opened his eyes, he found himself sitting on a public seat, still holding the small copper plate he had discovered the last time he left the dream. [Black Ant Swarm, Black Soldier Ants] Glancing at the familiar text, Chen Feng noticed the edges of the copper plate weren¡¯t smooth, showing signs of being scratched and abraded. It felt as though it had been torn from a larger whole, or even ripped off by brute force. "How much strength would it take to do this?" Staring at the marks on the edges of the copper plate, Chen Feng tried to tear it apart. It didn¡¯t budge. It was much sturdier than he had imagined, and the material was clearly not regular copper. A bit surprised. Chen Feng thought for a moment, then decided to keep the copper plate and pocket it. Tap, tap! Standing up from the public seat, he drew the black handgun from his waist. There was only one bullet left. Chen Feng''s gaze shifted towards the distant Extreme Martial Arts Hall. "It¡¯s time for revenge." The thought flashed through his mind as he stepped forward, heading straight for the martial arts hall. Tap, tap, tap! The footsteps echoed steadily, without the slightest flicker of disharmony. The fog on both sides gradually cleared, revealing the sprawling martial arts hall. It was two stories tall, with a huge brown wooden door still wide open. The internal lighting was dim, and the ground outside the door was paved with even bricks. Tap! Just as Chen Feng stepped into the martial arts hall area, his senses shifted, as a shadow moved inside the building. A tall, burly man slowly walked out, standing at the door. Barefoot, wearing a tight white martial arts uniform, with a black line embroidered in the shape of "Ji" on the left chest. His muscular arms hung at his sides, and under the black-and-white mask, only a pair of dark pupils could be seen. In an instant, their eyes met, and killing intent washed over him. Seeing the masked man charging toward him, Chen Feng grinned, baring his teeth, no longer feeling any worry or hesitation! Boom! Fist collided with fist, muscles tensed, and his spine straightened. After the nourishment of the secret medicine, Chen Feng had reached the threshold of professional-level martial arts. Immediately, a violent force exploded, but he didn¡¯t retreat. "Explosive Fist!" His muscles surged, and his right arm swelled with power. The layered strength gathered and erupted with 280 kilograms of force. Boom!!! A muffled sound rang out, and both men staggered backward. "Professional Level Three!" Chen Feng''s eyes brightened. Sliding back half a meter, he roughly estimated the masked man''s strength. He was stronger than Chen Feng in his normal state, but not by much. The thought passed, and just as the masked man steadied himself and charged again, Chen Feng didn¡¯t hesitate. He immediately drew the black gun from his waist, aimed, and pulled the trigger. Bang!! The last bullet shot out. Though it deviated slightly, it still struck the masked man¡¯s chest. Puff! The bullet penetrated, tearing through organs. But what surprised Chen Feng was what happened next. Tap, tap, tap! The masked man¡¯s footsteps grew rapidly closer, his body swaying, but he continued charging forward, his breathing steady, completely unharmed. Whirr! The sound of rushing fists quickly approached. The masked man¡¯s powerful fists were aimed directly at Chen Feng''s face. Even more so, circles of white vapor spread around, and Chen Feng recognized the familiar scent. "Explosive Fist?" His eyes narrowed as the fist was about to strike. Boom!!! The punch, far surpassing 350 kilograms of force, struck Chen Feng¡¯s head without any obstacle. The fiberglass-like red light flickered, and his head tilted slightly. Then, more punches came one after another. Boom, boom, boom! Muffled sounds continued. The masked man seized the opportunity, repeatedly launching punches. The force erupted far beyond before, with punches coming like a fierce storm, creating gusts of air. Finally, just as the masked man gathered his strength again to launch another Explosive Fist... Chen Feng''s hand shot forward, the Azure palm reaching out and grabbing the man¡¯s fist. "Have you had your fun?" Chen Feng activated the Azure Armor, tilting his head slightly, and coldly said. The masked man paused his movements, and the atmoorb fell into silence as the mist dispersed. Boom!!! sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Feng slammed his head forward, and the horned blue face collided fiercely with the masked man''s forehead. In the next moment, his perception expanded, and just as the masked man was about to retaliate, Chen Feng¡¯s right arm suddenly gathered strength and unleashed an Explosive Fist! Boom! The punch landed directly on the masked man¡¯s heart, with no hesitation. Bang!!! It sounded like the reverberation of a drum, and Chen Feng vaguely heard a sharp screech. Immediately after, the surrounding mist quietly enveloped the area. What was once a bright space was now filled with shadowy figures. There were more than ten figures, both men and women, all with smooth faces and no facial features. "Sure enough, inside you is the Black Soldier Ant. And this guy must be your leader." His guess was confirmed. Chen Feng immediately exploded with power and shook his arm. The punch that had been stamped onto the masked man''s chest struck again, this time like a reloaded cannonball charging forward! Roar! A tiger emerges from the mountains! The Eleven Movements of the Flame Tiger Stance! Crack! A loud, violent crack echoed as the sharp screeching stopped abruptly. In his perception, the masked man lost his breath and flew backward. The dozen or so faceless figures around him moved, all launching attacks to surround and kill him. Bang! Bang! Bang! Punches, side kicks, spinning leg strikes! With the unique Azure Armor that feared nothing, within five seconds, one faceless figure after another was sent flying backward at even faster speeds. Some crashed into the front yard wall, their bones broken and twisted, while others were sent flying through windows, getting stuck inside. Bang! The sound of a body hitting the ground echoed. The mist receded, and the last faceless figure was held by Chen Feng by the neck, lifted off the ground with one arm. With a blank expression, Chen Feng squeezed his palm. Crack! A brittle sound rang out, and all the faceless figures perished. Without a moment¡¯s pause, Chen Feng¡¯s perception flared, and his figure flickered, leaving behind a trail of blue-black afterimages. The sound of swishing filled the air as black ant lines darted toward him, but they were narrowly avoided. The ground tiles corroded and caved in, with sizzling sounds and gray smoke rising. Seeing this, Chen Feng couldn''t help but wonder if the Azure Armor could resist the attacks from the Black Soldier Ant swarm. "Forget it, better not to try." He shook his head. These Black Calamity creatures were out of the ordinary. After standing still for a few moments, he saw the faceless figures'' corpses quickly decay and disappear, leaving behind gray light orbs. At the same time, an unusual glow appeared where the masked man had fallen. It was a light blue orb, containing the faint image of a fist. The scene seemed familiar, and Chen Feng couldn''t help but think back to when he first obtained the Explosive Fist skill. It was identical to that skill light orb. "Could it be..." A thought crossed his mind, and Chen Feng dispersed the Azure Armor form to conserve energy. The shell on his body receded like a tide, and he stepped forward to touch the light blue orb. [You have picked up a (Skill Light Orb)!] [Skill: Explosive Fist] [You already possess this skill!] [Choice 1: Fuse: Increase the proficiency of Explosive Fist!] [Choice 2: Decompose: Break the skill light orb into pure martial will residue¡ªLimit-Breaking Light Orb!] [Note: If the Limit-Breaking Light Orb is used to enhance Explosive Fist, the effect is halved!] The panel''s prompt appeared automatically, and after seeing the content, Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. "Fuse... Decompose." He hadn''t expected such an option. The meaning was simple: choose one, either directly increase the proficiency of Explosive Fist or decompose it into a regular Limit-Breaking Light Orb. The difference didn¡¯t seem huge, but the latter could be used to improve other skills. Of course, the first option wasn''t bad either, as it would enhance Explosive Fist more effectively. After a brief pause, Chen Feng hesitated slightly. Increasing Explosive Fist was definitely powerful, but if the Flame Tiger Stance could be improved, he would become an official disciple of the Martial Arts Hall sooner and gain access to stronger sect inheritance. After considering for a few seconds, Chen Feng finally focused on the Explosive Fist option. "Directly enhancing Explosive Fist is the best choice." "Decomposing it would significantly reduce its effectiveness, and the Flame Tiger Stance can still be improved using the Martial Arts Hall''s secret medicine." With this thought in mind, he made his decision. "Explosive Fist, enhance!" Buzz! The sensation of enlightenment surged through his entire being, and Chen Feng felt as though he had become the masked man. Day and night, he tirelessly tempered his muscles and practiced the Explosive Fist technique. Sweat drenched his entire body, and the solitude of the training surrounded him. In the end, the light and shadows dissipated, and the Explosive Fist progress rapidly changed. [Explosive Fist: Beginner (62%)] "50% increase." Chen Feng nodded inwardly, feeling quite satisfied. This upgrade was equivalent to five Limit-Breaking Light Orbs. He then gathered his thoughts and looked around at the ten or so gray light orbs. Chen Feng moved forward, approaching them one by one. Buzz! The grayish light points merged into his substitute, and his perception talent progress grew as well. [Talent: Perception LV2 (29/100)] "Only a 28% increase?" Chen Feng frowned as he noticed the progress was slowing down. He had just killed fourteen faceless figures. If it had been before, it would have been enough to level up. "Looks like the higher the talent level, the harder it gets to level up." "To get Perception to level 3, I¡¯m afraid I''ll need to put in more effort." Chen Feng thought to himself, not dwelling too much on it. As long as the dream world existed, he could keep improving. With that in mind, he quickly walked into the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. Using his perception, Chen Feng sensed that no other lifeforms were present. He checked all the training rooms, sweeping through both the first and second floors. Soon, he found six Limit-Breaking Light Orbs. In addition, he discovered a partially damaged iron book that contained written text. [Year 221 of the Alliance: The Black Calamity is overwhelming, the Alliance is weakening, and internal conflicts within the high walls are frequent. To prevent the loss of inheritance, the Extreme Martial Arts Hall split into three branches, each seeking a path to survive, leaving a spark of hope.] [One of my branches was personally passed down by the 19th Master, and it was left behind by my granduncle, Zhao Yan, the 23rd generation disciple.] [The Black Calamity has been ongoing for 36 years. We have fought in hundreds of battles, slaying one Black Calamity creature, the Shadow Dragon, five Sand Demons, and eleven others. Many of our elders died in battle, and only a few of us survived, heavily wounded, barely hanging on.] [The hearts of the Alliance are growing restless, and the city of Qinggang is weakening. Even traitors have joined the Black Calamity tide.] [Though a Spiritual Master has emerged to awaken ancient spirits and block the disaster tide, our hope for inheritance remains slim.] [To be safe, we decided to leave behind this record, hoping future generations will find hope and restore the glory of our martial arts.] [Extreme Martial Style: Our Extreme Martial Arts Hall¡¯s martial arts system includes five advanced boxing styles, four body-refining techniques, and two Limit-Breaking Methods, along with several mid and low-level techniques.] [Those who practice with sincerity, provided they have good roots, may have a chance to break through the limits of martial arts and transcend the mundane world.] [Cultivation method for high-level boxing style 1: Extreme Martial Fist. It requires internal refinement of the organs and mastery of the internal strength before beginning cultivation. It is recommended to first master the basic Explosive Fist technique to the perfect stage.] [Specific cultivation methods are as follows:] (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C . Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 73: Mastery (2600+ Words) Translator: Cinder Translations --- [Extreme Martial Fist, Specific Training Method is as Follows:] [Gather Qi in the Dantian, descend the spirit into the heart, using the true meaning of my Extreme Martial Fist style to temper oneself, expelling energy to open the acupoints.] [Condense energy at each point of the body, and then...] ¡°That''s it?¡± The broken iron book¡¯s text abruptly stopped. Chen Feng''s gaze sharpened, and he clicked his tongue in slight disappointment. From what he had read, his trump card, Explosive Fist, was still only a beginner''s martial art. This implied that the Extreme Martial Fist style''s higher-tier fist technique must be incredibly powerful. It was somewhat regrettable, and Chen Feng shook his head. Then, raising his hand slightly, he examined the damaged edges of the iron book carefully. The edges were charred and decayed, carrying a smell of rot, as if some force had eroded it. In an instant, Chen Feng thought back to the previously found, incomplete history of the Alliance. Both were incomplete, and their missing sections bore similar marks. "Is there a force intentionally destroying these things?" "Why destroy them, though?" Chen Feng pondered this question in silence but could find no answer. Ultimately, as he was about to continue searching within the martial hall, the world shifted, and mist surged. His eyes instinctively opened, and the familiar ceiling greeted him once more. "I¡¯m back." Unfortunately, he shook his head. Chen Feng took out his phone from under the pillow. It was still 7:05, not a second off. Without lingering, he stood up, put on his slippers, and pulled open the swaying curtains. The window screen outside was closed, but a summer breeze blew in. The sky, unlike the usual clear Azure, was now overcast with dark clouds gathering. Around him, the old buildings'' open balconies revealed several clothes that had been blown off and fallen to the ground below. "It¡¯s almost autumn." A thought flashed through Chen Feng''s mind as he calculated the days. October was fast approaching, and he had recently seen news about a cold front coming from the northern area. Not paying much attention, he stood by the window, letting the breeze help him regain his focus and summoned his panel. [Limit Break Points: 7] Yesterday, he had upgraded his Judo skill, leaving behind one Limit Break. This time, he had found six more light orbs in the dream world, bringing the total to seven. ¡°Which skill should I upgrade?¡± His gaze flickered as he looked at the skills. [Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Form (54%) +] [Explosive Fist: Beginner (62%) +] The number of Limit Breaking Light Orbs was only enough for one skill''s breakthrough. Chen Feng thought for a moment. The Flame Tiger Stance was tied to his becoming an official disciple, and it provided clear improvements to his physical attributes. As for Explosive Fist, it enhanced his basic explosive power, far surpassing ordinary techniques, giving him an even stronger trump card. After considering it, Chen Feng finally decided to stick to his original plan. ¡°The official disciple matter isn''t urgent. There¡¯s still plenty of time to buffer.¡± ¡°The threats from the Serpent Men and the Utopians are significant. It¡¯s better to secure my trump card and plan for a stronger future.¡± His gaze settled on the Explosive Fist section, and Chen Feng immediately chose to upgrade it. HUM! Four Limit Breaking Light Orbs were consumed. [Explosive Fist: Mastery (1%)] [Strength: 11.1 ¡ú 11.4] [Agility: 10.5 ¡ú 10.7] [Constitution: 11.0 ¡ú 11.3] [Willpower: 10.8 ¡ú 11.0] A wave of heat flowed through Chen Feng¡¯s body, and he could clearly sense his physical strength slowly increasing. This continued for several seconds until all the strange sensations vanished. Chen Feng glanced at the data on his panel and was slightly surprised. ¡°Only a 1-point increase in attributes?¡± Clearly, compared to the Flame Tiger Stance, Explosive Fist had a weaker effect on physical stats. After some thought, Chen Feng realized the key point. ¡°The Flame Tiger Stance is meant to temper all parts of the body, so it shows more obvious results in that area.¡± ¡°Explosive Fist, on the other hand, focuses more on technique, honing explosive power.¡± Having deduced this, Chen Feng wasn¡¯t disappointed. The reason was simple. What¡¯s lost in one area is gained in another. Boom! Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, standing in place, Chen Feng threw a punch with all his might. The air whistled, and the curtains half a meter away from him were blown around, creating a rustling sound. ¡°My strength has almost doubled!¡± Pulling back his fist, Chen Feng looked down with a slight nod of satisfaction. His strength had now surpassed 200 kg, officially reaching the professional level. Combined with the Explosive Fist''s boost, he could unleash up to 400 kg of force. ¡°And with the Azure Armor Form... At full power, I should be close to a ton.¡± This was the reason Chen Feng chose to enhance Explosive Fist. It would allow his combat power to grow exponentially in a short amount of time. ¡°If I run into that silver-gray cyborg again, I shouldn¡¯t be as helpless this time.¡± A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he recalled the difficulty that cyborg had posed. If not for that golden needle, he would have likely been left behind by that person. The consequences were obvious, and he had kept them in mind. He then looked at his panel again and saw there were still three Limit Breaking Light Orbs remaining. Not enough to break through the Flame Tiger Stance, so he decided to save them for later. Afterward, he tidied up quickly. Chen Feng put on the new clothes Chen Yun bought for him, left the bedroom, and went to the bathroom to freshen up. ¡°You¡¯re up already?¡± Chen Yun had just finished washing up, holding a toothbrush and cup, wearing long-sleeve pajamas and cotton pants, and stepped aside to make room. ¡°Mm.¡± Chen Feng nodded. ¡°Looks like the clothes fit well.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t wear them yet. Let me wash them first, and you can wear them tomorrow.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°By the way, it looks like it¡¯s going to rain. Make sure to take an umbrella when you head to the martial hall.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Her reminders continued as Chen Feng nodded in agreement, not offering any objections. Finally, after finishing the hot porridge that Chen Yun had made, he changed back into his old clothes and hurried out. Click! The door closed. In the ensuing silence, only Chen Yun remained. Looking at the news about Tian Heng Corporation¡¯s attack and a message from Teacher Li about Gao Xue¡¯s unexpected death, followed by her successful evaluation for further study, Chen Yun¡¯s expression shifted in surprise. She quickly typed some questions. [Teacher Li: I didn¡¯t expect Gao Xue¡¯s situation either. I heard it was an accident.] [Don¡¯t worry yourself over it. Because that''s all in the past now. What you need to do is prepare well. In half a month at most, you''ll be heading to the central city.] Beep! Beep! Downstairs in the community, the horn sounded incessantly. On either side of the fruit wholesale store, unloading trucks blocked most of the road. Chen Feng, carrying his clothes bag and umbrella, walked through the crowd toward the bus stop. The wet sewers were stained with grime, and the foul-smelling garbage bins buzzed with flies. Soon, his steps paused. A brief commotion erupted near the fruit shop ahead. His perception shifted, and he instinctively glanced over. ¡°Snakes! There are loose snakes!¡± ¡°Hurry up, strike them!¡± ¡°Aim at their head!¡± Several snakes of varying lengths appeared inside the fruit store, and the man holding a shovel was frantically striking around, disoriented. The crowd watched curiously, and Chen Feng furrowed his brow slightly. ¡°Snakes again?¡± It was already a coincidence when he encountered snakes at the supermarket yesterday, and now they appeared again in the fruit store. His instincts told him this was no coincidence. He intensified his senses and scanned the surroundings. Yet, he failed to detect any hostility, nor did he sense the presence of any Serpent Men. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Chen Feng felt puzzled, then watched as the few small snakes were killed by the crowd and tossed into the trash. He withdrew his gaze and quickly left the scene. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Brother Cao when I get to the martial arts hall.¡± Chen Feng recalled that Brother Cao had mentioned before that the martial arts hall had conflicts with the Serpent Spirit Sect. Since that was the case, Cao Tong should know something about this issue. Suppressing his thoughts, Chen Feng quickened his pace, weaving through the crowd. He boarded the bus and soon left the area. The vehicle¡¯s exhaust fumes rose, and the dirty water on the roadside slowly flowed into the dark, shadowy drainage system. In a daze, two small snakes suddenly slithered out from the grass behind the bus station. Ding! ¡°Jinhua Station, please alight from the back door.¡± Forty minutes later, at the Jinhua District bus station. The red and green signboard bus slowly came to a stop, the crowded bus filled with commotion. Chatter, pushes, and collisions echoed around. Many office workers, eager to get off, tried to rush to exit. However, a tall, muscular figure stood at the front, blocking the bus door. Like an immovable rock, the few rays of sunlight coming through the glass were completely obstructed by him. The crowd had varied expressions, but most silently stared at his back. Click! Finally, the bus door opened. The muscular figure finally moved, expressionless, carrying clothes and an umbrella bag, slowly stepping off the bus. The sunlight hit his face again, and the fresh air filled his lungs. The oppressive feeling dissipated, and the crowd let out a collective sigh of relief, scattering in all directions as they rushed to leave the bus station. ¡°I¡¯m finally off the bus.¡± ¡°Phew, it was so cramped!¡± ¡°That guy earlier felt so intimidating; he must be super strong.¡± Whispers reached Chen Feng¡¯s ears, but his expression remained calm as he walked down the street, heading straight toward the martial arts hall. Strength did come with its price, but he didn¡¯t mind the distance it created between him and others, nor the oppressive air it gave off. He actually preferred it quite a bit. Tap, tap! His footsteps echoed as he passed through the street, brushing past several people. He was slightly delayed downstairs, so he arrived a bit later than usual. It was nearly 9 o''clock, and the first floor of the martial arts hall was nearly empty, with most students already in the training rooms. Without delay, Chen Feng gave up on the elevator and took the stairs to the second floor. Soon, passing through the hallway, he noticed two people talking inside the adjacent glass-walled room. One of them was Cao Tong, but unlike usual, he was respectfully making tea for a young woman. She wore simple white clothes, her black hair tied up with a wooden hairpin, quietly sitting on the sofa. Her skin was pale as snow, and she appeared slender and ordinary. But the next moment, as if sensing something, she cast a cold, piercing glance in his direction. In an instant, Chen Feng''s perception shifted, and his expression slightly stiffened. He felt an aura akin to the cold moon in the sky, giving off a chilling, frosty sense of danger. ¡°Who is that?¡± Suppressing his doubts, Chen Feng quickly walked away from the hallway. No one could answer his question, and inside the glass room, Cao Tong was visibly frustrated. ¡°Junior Sister Wu, I didn¡¯t expect you to come in person.¡± ¡°Why? Can¡¯t I come?¡± Wu Shuang¡¯s expression remained cold as she took a sip of the tea that Cao Tong had offered. Though she was not very old, only about 26 or 27, Cao Tong felt an overwhelming sense of authority and pressure from her presence. ¡°No, no, Junior Sister Wu, you¡¯re joking.¡± He chuckled awkwardly, then continued, ¡°I just thought you were in a crucial moment for your true breakthrough and might be secluded in the sect, without time for small matters.¡± Wu Shuang¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°The Serpent Spirit Sect is the mortal enemy of our Flame Tiger Martial Arts Hall. Anything related to them is of utmost importance; there are no small matters here.¡± Her tone was flat, with an undertone of reprimand. Cao Tong felt awkward but could only nod and agree. ¡°Forget it, you always speak this way, without any tact.¡± Seeing his attitude soften slightly, Wu Shuang¡¯s expression eased a bit. ¡°This matter was originally something Senior Brother Zhao was supposed to handle. However, I heard you have a promising new disciple here.¡± ¡°Though he¡¯s talented, he¡¯s rather arrogant and has beaten up my useless nephew several times. As an elder, don¡¯t you think I should come and see him?¡± Her tone was indifferent, and Cao Tong could only roll his eyes inwardly. Even as a direct disciple, she was so petty. ¡°Is that little guy the one?¡± Wu Shuang suddenly spoke, glancing at the figure in black coming out of the changing room. Cao Tong knew he couldn¡¯t hide anything from her, so he reluctantly nodded. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s at the entry level of the Tiger Form, with stable breath control. He really does have some talent.¡± ¡°No wonder you applied to the sect to accept him as a formal disciple ahead of time.¡± Wu Shuang nodded slightly, then her tone changed: ¡°But¡­ are you sure he¡¯s really opened the path of martial arts?¡± Her voice carried doubt, and Cao Tong could only grit his teeth and vouch for him. ¡°Nearly certain, even Third Elder thinks highly of him.¡± ¡°Third Elder?¡± Wu Shuang¡¯s expression became slightly more restrained, but she still shook her head calmly. ¡°If it¡¯s nearly certain, then that means you¡¯re not sure.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll discuss this matter later.¡± With that, she dismissed the conversation and signaled Cao Tong to leave. Cao Tong felt frustrated but had no choice but to comply. He wanted to say more but was quickly gestured to leave. ¡°Why are you so late today?¡± Inside the training room, Lin Hao looked around, finally spotting Chen Feng. ¡°I got delayed by something on the way.¡± Chen Feng shook his head, answering absentmindedly. He was still thinking about what he saw earlier¡ªthe respect Cao Tong had shown that woman. Her aura was almost on par with that of Third Elder. ¡°Alright, as long as you¡¯re not late.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve sorted out the club business. The grand opening is tomorrow. Can you come?¡± ¡°Already so soon?¡± Chen Feng was surprised. He thought these things usually took a long time to set up. ¡°Yeah, I pulled some strings.¡± Lin Hao rubbed his fingers together. Chen Feng understood that a lot of money must have been spent. Thinking about what Lin Hao had asked him earlier, Chen Feng hesitated before replying, ¡°I¡¯ll see depending on the situation.¡± Earlier in the morning, he had already messaged Liu Fang about resigning from the supermarket job. Though she was reluctant and even called to persuade him, he had insisted on leaving. After some discussion, he agreed to stay for a few more days to help until they found a replacement. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°The grand opening isn¡¯t a big deal. Just come when you have time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll hire a few boxing coaches to deal with the regular customers.¡± Lin Hao didn¡¯t mind, and continued sharing his ideas. Chen Feng wasn¡¯t familiar with these things, so he mostly listened and nodded, accepting Lin Hao¡¯s decisions. Soon, Cao Tong entered the training room, his face not looking too good. The atmosphere grew tense as both of them focused on training. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Chapter 101. (+5K Words) Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 74: Chaos! (2400+ Words) Translator: Cinder Translations --- [Progress +1!] [Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Form (56%) +] Noon, in the martial arts training room. Sweat dripped, chest rising and falling. Chen Feng walked slowly to the window, feeling the breeze, picked up his sports water bottle, and twisted off the cap. Gulp! Gulp! He drank deeply, the water flowing down as sweat continued to drop from his body. Chen Feng glanced at the status panel, nodding to himself. "Sure enough, the progress is faster than before. This must be the residual effects of the medicine that Brother Cao mentioned." He knew that relying solely on his own talent, it would be difficult to increase the progress of the Flame Tiger Stance by two points in one morning. Additionally, when he focused, he could sense a faint flow of heat nourishing his muscles while practicing the stance. "The Tiger Embrace Pill is just an ordinary secret medicine, and its effects are already this noticeable." "If there are higher quality ones..." His thoughts wandered, and he remembered why he had received the secret medicine reward yesterday ¡ª it was related to the Serpent Spirit Sect. So, he took advantage of this moment of rest. After a brief pause, he quickly set the bottle down and walked towards Cao Tong, who had a slightly grim expression. "Brother Cao." Chen Feng called out, standing beside him. "Mm?" Cao Tong nodded, his expression softening a little. He then raised his hand, signaling the students he had been instructing to leave, creating space for a private conversation with Chen Feng. "What''s the matter?" "I noticed something unusual these past couple of days, and I think it might be related to the Serpent Spirit Sect." Chen Feng briefly described the encounters with the snakes. Cao Tong fell into thought for a moment. "It seems the Serpent Spirit Sect might indeed be making a big move." Chen Feng raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. As if seeing his confusion, Cao Tong lowered his voice and explained, "The Serpent Spirit Sect is one of the cults worshiping evil gods, and they revere the Serpent God." "In order to gain greater power, they often perform certain rituals to please the Serpent God and receive blessings in return." "From past experiences, the snakes you encountered are likely influenced by their rituals, driven or attracted by some kind of power, causing them to appear in human areas." After the explanation, Chen Feng roughly understood. "So, shouldn''t we stop them immediately?" "Mm, it''s definitely necessary." Cao Tong nodded, his expression growing more serious. He then patted Chen Feng''s shoulder and comforted him, "But don''t worry too much. Because you discovered the Serpent Men, the martial arts hall has already sent a true disciple to handle the situation." "I''ll inform her about this soon. If nothing goes wrong, it should be resolved smoothly." Chen Feng thought about the young woman he had seen earlier in the corridor and asked, "Is it the one from this morning?" "Yes, that''s right. Wu Tian''s aunt, Wu Shuang, she¡¯s a true disciple." Chen Feng couldn''t help but notice a subtle displeasure in Cao Tong''s tone. Before he could respond, Cao Tong leaned closer and whispered, "Wu Shuang is known for being petty, so you better lay low these days. Don''t beat up Wu Tian again." "Otherwise, even I can''t stop her." Chen Feng paused for a moment, quickly understanding what he meant. --- Wu Tian stood nervously in front of Wu Shuang, who wore a simple white robe. "I didn¡¯t expect you to come here, Aunt." "Ha." "If I hadn¡¯t come, would you have ended up being beaten into a fool?" Wu Tian widened his eyes, surprised. "You knew?" "Of course, I do!" Wu Shuang rolled her eyes and threw a small porcelain bottle into his hand. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "This is the secret medicine, the Tiger-Leopard Pill. Use it to regain your strength." "If you lose again, don''t blame me for punishing you." After hearing these words, Wu Tian was still a bit reluctant. However, seeing Wu Shuang''s cold demeanor, he dared not refute her and accepted the medicine. "Are you still not convinced?" Wu Shuang glanced at him knowingly, then spoke plainly, "Do you know why the sect is expanding the core disciples this time?" "Isn''t it to pass on the martial arts style?" Wu Tian asked, confused. "Idiot." Wu Shuang shook her head, speaking softly, "What good is it to add more official disciples?" "It''s for something else." "The sect master is about to emerge from seclusion. He has decided to take a personal disciple." Wu Shuang¡¯s expression became serious, and she said solemnly, "All of you core disciples are being selected for this purpose." "Do you understand?" Wu Tian¡¯s face stiffened as he realized the truth. Personal disciple? He hadn''t expected this to be the real reason behind the selection. His gaze then focused on the porcelain bottle in his hand, his excitement growing. --- In the afternoon, around 3 PM. Chen Feng finished training and changed in the locker room. He quickly left the martial arts hall with Lin Hao. "Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll check out the club." "Alright." Nodding, Chen Feng grabbed his clothes bag and umbrella, heading for the bus stop. The sky was cloudy, and though it was dark, no rain had fallen yet. A cool breeze signaled the beginning of autumn, making the air feel colder. Soon, the bus arrived. Chen Feng stepped aboard and found a seat by the window. His brief exchange with Cao Tong earlier had caused him to temporarily abandon the idea of continuing to gain fear points from Wu Tian. It was a bit of a pity, but he had learned something important. The true disciple, Wu Shuang, would be leading a team soon, cooperating with the Safety Bureau to deal with the Serpent Spirit Sect. "Too bad I¡¯m not an official disciple, so I can¡¯t go with them." Shaking his head, Chen Feng felt that he had missed out on a chance to gain a secret medicine reward. He thought about how he had now reached a professional level, and with his Explosive Fist, he would be able to deal with snakes at that level. But unfortunately, being an official disciple was a hurdle, and from Cao Tong¡¯s tone, it seemed Wu Shuang might be somewhat against him. As these thoughts ran through his mind, Chen Feng¡¯s gaze flickered. He gradually suppressed these distractions. Ultimately, it came down to strength. He hoped that tonight in his dreams, he could continue discovering Limit-Breaking Light Orbs and push his Flame Tiger Stance to the Tiger Roar level. --- The bus continued its route, and Chen Feng sat at the back, gradually calming his mind as he watched the city streets pass by. Half an hour later, the supermarket was in sight. But just before they reached the bus stop, the bus slowed down and stopped by the roadside. "Why did we stop?" "Looks like there¡¯s traffic ahead?" "Huh? Look, it seems like another protest?" The elderly passengers inside the bus discussed in surprise. Chen Feng frowned and looked forward through the window. The wide asphalt road was packed with cars, the honking of horns filling the air. The sidewalk was filled with people holding banners, a mix of young and middle-aged, most of them with flushed faces, shouting excitedly. "Protest!" "Protest against the new regulations from the United Coalition!" "Strict population control must be enforced, no outsiders allowed!" Their passionate cries drowned out the sound of car horns for a moment. "Another protest?" Frowning, Chen Feng recalled the previous protest he had encountered, which was reported to be related to Utopia. Suddenly, the air was shattered by a loud explosion. Boom!!! Some passengers inside the bus were so frightened they fell. Chen Feng''s thoughts were interrupted, and he quickly looked toward the source of the noise. In the distance, a large jewelry store was engulfed in flames, smoke rising, and there were the sharp sounds of gunfire. Bang, bang, bang! A few shots rang out, and then a figure flew out, crashing through the glass and slamming into the wall of the opposite street. Blood splattered in the air, a shocking sight that froze everyone on the sidewalk. Even the people in the protest were frozen, standing motionless. Boom! Soon, the gunshots faded, and a dull sound echoed. All eyes focused inward. The thudding continued, as if a monster was stepping out of the jewelry store. Finally, the smoke cleared. Boom! A silver-gray cyborg wearing a mask appeared, carrying a massive metal box that was several cubic meters in size. It walked steadily out from the store. "Is it him?" Chen Feng narrowed his eyes, catching a glimpse of a pattern on the cyborg''s left chest. Before he could recover, a large flying vehicle came into view, landing at the roadside. With a loud bang, the massive metal box was thrown onto the vehicle. The cyborg leaped onto the flying vehicle and swiftly flew away. Whoosh! The tail flames roared as the vehicle sped off. Chen Feng watched as the flying vehicle brushed past the bus. In the brief moment of eye contact, he was absolutely certain it was the same cyborg who had stopped him from leaving the Tian Heng Corporation building earlier¡ªa member of Utopia. "Loot it!" "There''s so much gold!" Suddenly, the crowd outside erupted into chaos. Someone started shouting, and the protesting group quickly scattered, with many running into the large jewelry store from earlier. Even some bystanders, having regained their senses, covered their faces and followed, taking advantage of the chaos to loot. The scene became a mess. The bus was stuck at the roadside, unable to move. Chen Feng shook his head and decided to get off, quickly heading towards the Yongle Fu supermarket. The air was tinged with the faint smell of gunpowder, a lingering trace of the earlier explosion. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed around him as most pedestrians fled, their faces pale with fear. Bang! A jewelry store¡¯s glass was shattered. Soon after, gunshots rang out, followed by screams and cries. Some looters were shot and fell to the ground, crying out in pain. However, a few bolder ones turned their attention to the pedestrians. "Give me your phone!" "My bag!" Cries of alarm filled the air, and chaos ensued. Chen Feng remained expressionless, walking forward indifferently. Bang! A thin girl wearing glasses was knocked down by a bag snatcher, hitting a streetlamp. Despite this, she tightly clutched her brown leather bag, gritting her teeth and refusing to let go. "Don¡¯t take my bag!" "Please, don¡¯t!" "Go to hell!" The young man in a hoodie kicked her harshly. Chen Feng did not glance at the scene but walked past calmly. Tap! The girl¡¯s leg was grabbed. Looking down, Chen Feng saw the pale-faced girl clutching the bag¡¯s zipper with one hand and holding onto her pants with the other, her face full of pleading. "Please, help me." "Kid, don''t make trouble, got it?" The hoodie-wearing young man glared at Chen Feng, a little intimidated by his larger frame. But perhaps driven by anger, the young man took out a switchblade from his pocket and waved it threateningly. Without speaking, Chen Feng stood still, silently gazing at the frail girl. She was under 1.6 meters tall, with shoulder-length disheveled hair, and her white t-shirt had two footprints on it. Her face had acne marks, and the lenses of her glasses were thick. Squinting slightly, Chen Feng felt a strange sense of familiarity. "Please, please help me!" "The things in this bag mean so much to me." "Wang Hanwen?" Chen Feng interrupted her pleading words. He remembered from his previous owner¡¯s memories that Wang Hanwen was his high school class monitor, and they had privately chatted about a class reunion. Wang Hanwen was momentarily stunned, and the hoodie-wearing young man, sensing something was off, glared at him with anger and a threatening look. "Kid, get lost!" "If you don¡¯t leave in ten seconds, I¡¯ll make you regret it." Boom! With a sidekick, the young man was sent flying backward, foaming at the mouth as he fell and rolled several times. "Damn, Da Qiang!" A shout came from a distance, likely from his companion. Urgent footsteps followed, and a switchblade reflected a vicious glint in mid-air. On the ground, Wang Hanwen¡¯s face changed as she tried to warn them. However, in the next second, a large and imposing figure cast a shade over her. A thick hand casually reached out, avoiding the blade and grabbing the man by the back of his head. Then, with a powerful slam¡ª Boom! The sound of impact was sharp and loud, echoing in all directions. The rusty metal of the streetlight bent inward, and with a clink, the switchblade fell helplessly. The atmosphere turned eerily quiet. The two looters had their eyes rolled back, their scalps bleeding as they fell unconscious on the spot. In an instant, the surrounding bystanders froze, staring in shock as if witnessing a wild beast. [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] The panel flashed with prompts, but they didn¡¯t last long. Chen Feng glanced at the other pedestrians, who were quickly fleeing in panic, then looked down at the frail figure on the ground. "Can you stand up?" There was a brief silence. "Ah! Yes! I can!" Wang Hanwen quickly stood up, shakily adjusting her thick glasses. Her face was a mixture of relief, shock, and confusion. "Thank you, thank you for saving me." "Um... Excuse me, are you... Chen Feng?" "Yes." Chen Feng nodded indifferently. Wang Hanwen stood frozen, her mouth slightly open, as if she couldn''t believe it. "It¡¯s really you!?" This was the same timid, introverted high school classmate? Chen Feng didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he sensed something and looked up toward the sky. Wang Hanwen, slightly stunned, instinctively turned her head. Tall buildings stretched into the sky, and the sunset was near. It seemed like an ordinary scene, but a strong sense of confusion rose in the air. Suddenly, a loud roar pierced the air. Several flying vehicles rushed from the sky, flashing blue and red lights. Tear gas grenades followed, raining down on the area. Within seconds, more than a dozen heavily armed security personnel landed on the ground, quickly securing the scene. Seeing this, Chen Feng¡¯s gaze narrowed, and once again, he spotted a familiar figure in the crowd. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Chapter 101. (+5K Words) Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 75: Before the Decay (2400+ Words) Translator: Cinder Translations --- "What a coincidence, we meet again." Minutes later, by the roadside. The Safety Bureau had regained control of the chaos, and a middle-aged man in security uniform stood in front of Chen Feng. "Mm." Chen Feng nodded slightly and looked at the two thugs being escorted away. "Don''t worry, thanks to your intervention in maintaining order, there were no casualties among the crowd." "If it were a usual situation, I would have applied to the agency for a bravery award for you." Xiang Jianjun joked, trying to smooth over the heavy atmosphere. Chen Feng nodded, then glanced at the distant rioters being taken away in flying cars. Some of them were part of the previous parade, and others were opportunists, taking advantage of the chaos to loot. Curious as to why the robbery at the gold store had happened again, Chen Feng seized the chance to probe: "Seems like Utopia is behind this again?" "Oh? You seem to be well-informed." Xiang Jianjun smiled meaningfully. Chen Feng shook his head, realizing he wouldn''t get anything useful from him. Not saying much more, he exchanged a few pleasantries before watching Xiang Jianjun turn to handle other matters. He then turned and walked away. "Ah." "Chen Feng!" Seeing him leave, Wang Hanwen, who had been trembling the whole time, couldn''t help but call out. Chen Feng turned around, puzzled. "I... I, thank you!" Wang Hanwen opened her mouth but couldn''t find the words. Finally, she simply bowed to express her gratitude. Chen Feng waved his hand, not particularly interested. He quickly walked away, vaguely hearing her shout about treating him to a meal next time. --- Whoosh! The air vibrated as the tail lights flickered. A black flying car, filled with large crates of gold, passed through a high-rise building in the city and descended rapidly to the ground, soon retracting its wings. Beep! "Camouflage module activated." A prompt sound echoed, and the surface of the flying car quickly turned gray, with its overall appearance changing to resemble a regular vehicle. In the blink of an eye, the car started up again, slowly driving away from the parking lot of the high-rise building. Whoosh! A blue and white flying car brushed past in the air, quickly entering the upper floors of the building to secure the scene. Seeing this, the man sitting in the passenger seat of the gray car, wearing a silver-gray mask and a robe, shook his head in disdain. "Even with all this, they still couldn''t catch up to us. The Safety Bureau of the Red Nation really is getting more useless." "Luckily, it''s thanks to Lord Silver Wolf''s intervention, otherwise, we wouldn''t have been able to leave so smoothly." The woman in the driver''s seat spoke respectfully, clearly aware of how strong the security at the large gold store was. Hearing this, Silver Wolf shook his head, then thought of something else. "Have we located that wild cyborg yet?" If it weren''t for the fact that the other party had wiped out Gao Tian Heng, he wouldn''t have been involved in such a trivial matter. "We''re still searching. The Safety Bureau''s surveillance system has blocked both internal and external access, and the assault team hasn''t been able to breach the system yet." "Useless!" After a harsh scolding, Silver Wolf''s tone grew colder. "Tell them, I need results in no more than three days!" "Understood!" Chen Feng arrived at Yongle Fu Supermarket. Since it was on the same street, the area had also been affected by the earlier chaos. However, when Chen Feng entered the supermarket, he found it completely unharmed, with no signs of damage. "Xiao Feng, you''re finally here!" He was greeted by He Xiuping, Li Hongxia, and Aunt Zhang, all of whom were inside. When they saw him, they looked relieved, as if they had seen reinforcements. After a few questions, Chen Feng quickly learned that there had been attempts to loot the supermarket earlier as well. Fortunately, He Xiuping had closed the roller shutter in time, and the looters had only cursed from outside before leaving without causing any further destruction. "Thank goodness." Chen Feng nodded gently, speculating that the supermarket likely had nothing of significant value, which was why it had escaped the worst of the looting. "By the way, Xiao Feng, I heard from Liu Fang that you''re planning to resign?" Suddenly, Aunt Zhang asked, and both He Xiuping and Li Hongxia turned their eyes toward him. The former had been preparing to take over, while the latter two were supposed to hand over the responsibilities. However, due to the earlier chaos, they were too scared to leave and had huddled together for safety in the supermarket. "Mm, I¡¯m planning to switch jobs." Chen Feng gave a brief explanation, not wanting to elaborate further. As soon as he said this, the expressions of the others visibly became complicated. Reluctant, regretful, and disappointed. After spending half a month together and experiencing several events, they had come to rely on Chen Feng. Especially during the recent riot, their first thought had been how much better it would have been if Chen Feng had been around. But alas... "Ah, young people, it''s good to go out and experience more." "It broadens your horizons and you¡¯ll be able to help more people in the future." Sighing, He Xiuping and Aunt Zhang, both older and more experienced, expressed understanding. Li Hongxia, who wasn''t as talkative, simply offered a few words of blessing, while Xu Yao, still carrying her backpack with a bandage on her arm, stared at Chen Feng. Her bright apricot eyes reflected his figure, subtly filled with reluctance. "I still need to stay for a couple of days. I¡¯ll come back to visit when I have the time." "Don¡¯t be too sad." Noticing the atmosphere, Chen Feng said a few more words than usual to ease the tension. Aunt Zhang smiled and nodded, trying to lighten the mood, and the others dropped the topic. Before long, He Xiuping waved goodbye and left, while Li Hongxia received a new delivery order and soon left with Xu Yao on a bike. Though they were still in a hurry, it was a far cry from the frantic, reckless rushing they used to do. "Heh." Thinking of this, Chen Feng watched Li Hongxia and Xu Yao leave and suddenly smiled and shook his head. "What''s wrong?" Aunt Zhang, who was tidying the shelves, asked curiously. "Nothing." Shaking his head, Chen Feng didn¡¯t elaborate. As long as things were getting better, it was a good thing. He then pushed aside his stray thoughts. Putting on his red vest, he stood behind the counter, quietly waiting for nightfall. During this time, there were very few customers, possibly due to the earlier riot, and there weren''t many pedestrians on the streets either. Seeing this, and recalling the situation when the Safety Bureau sent people to control the chaos, Chen Feng suddenly thought of the message Cao Tong had revealed today. It seemed like the Safety Bureau was struggling to deal with Utopia, so could they really divert their forces to cooperate with Wu Shuang''s true disciple to deal with the Serpent Spirit Cult? In the suburbs of Nanjiang City. --- Outside a large, abandoned factory, surrounded by dense greenery, several figures stood. Looking closely, Wu Shuang, dressed in white, stood at the front on the left side, with several instructors from the Flame Tiger Martial Arts Hall behind her. In addition, there was another group here. The leader of this group was a young man with short hair, dressed in black combat gear, clearly a member of the United Coalition or the Safety Bureau. Beside him, a few individuals were clustered together, some holding firearms, others carrying metal weapons, all showing signs of body modifications or enhancements. "Didn''t expect the United Coalition would allow you to act." Wu Shuang squinted, her tone cool, as if somewhat wary. In response, the young man in black only smiled faintly. "They would have to do it eventually, the Safety Bureau has been dragged into dealing with too many matters by Utopia." "To destroy the Serpent Spirit Sect, we''ll have to use some trump cards." With a confident tone, Wu Shuang glanced deeply at the others. "It seems like you¡¯ve paid a high price this time. You''ve probably injected quite a bit of the enhancement serum, haven¡¯t you?" "Hehe." The young man in black didn¡¯t argue, instead giving a half-smile and said, "Do you want to give it a try?" "No need." The conversation ended there, and soon, the young man in black lifted his metallic arm slightly, and a light blue holographic screen appeared. In the blink of an eye, several mechanical, bionic spiders dropped to the ground behind him and quickly moved towards the abandoned factory ahead. Images were transmitted back clearly, and Wu Shuang and the others waited in silence. Eventually, the familiar snake-like figures appeared in the footage, and the ground of the abandoned factory vibrated slightly. In a moment of haziness, black mist gathered into the shape of a massive Serpent Spirit. Upon seeing this, everyone exchanged looks and quickly made a decision. "Let¡¯s move." "Alright!" With those words, everyone rushed forward! --- That night. Customers were sparse, and Chen Feng checked his phone during a break. The riot had stirred up quite a buzz online. Even though the Safety Bureau had forcefully sealed the news, some videos had still leaked. "What''s going on with the Safety Bureau?" "Could Utopia be behind this riot again?" "I heard another gold shop was robbed. It was the Jinlin Company, the largest gold and jewelry group in Nanjiang City. How could they be robbed?" "Did you watch the video? The ones who attacked were cyborgs!" A series of discussions began to emerge, and some even started talking about the existence of cyborgs. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was the most cutting-edge technology on Earth, allowing body parts to be enhanced with mechanical and metal modules. It enhanced the strength, speed, defense, and reflexes of individuals. Of course, there were significant downsides. The cost of modifications was enormous, often reaching hundreds of millions, a burden that ordinary people couldn¡¯t bear. Moreover, there were technical challenges. "Central City?" Chen Feng raised an eyebrow upon reading a post. [The technology for cyborgs originally came from the Platinum Federation. Currently, only Central City in our country has the technology and equipment for full-body modifications.] [In Nanjiang City, at most, we have semi-cyborgs, limited to modifications of certain body parts.] "No wonder Gao Tian Heng, despite his considerable wealth, doesn¡¯t have a full-body cyborg under his command." After reading the post, Chen Feng recalled the incident when he infiltrated Tian Heng Corporation. Only two men who could barely be considered semi-cyborgs were able to exchange a few blows with him. "Looks like Utopia really is a powerful organization." "Across the entire Nanjiang City, there are probably no local forces that can compete with it." Chen Feng was very aware of the strength of fully cyborgs, and the silver-gray cyborg he had encountered was the perfect example. A sense of urgency rose within him, and soon, midnight arrived. With a clang! The roll-up door was pulled down and locked with a key. Chen Feng bid farewell to Aunt Zhang, grabbed his coat, and stepped out, heading home. The journey was smooth without any incidents. Click. The door to the house opened. Warm light spilled out, and Chen Yun could be seen still asleep on the sofa, leaning back. She had only covered herself with a coat, and her phone screen was on, playing a movie. "Mm." Perhaps hearing the noise, she fluttered her eyelashes and woke up. "Xiao Feng?" "Mm." Chen Feng nodded lightly, changed into his slippers, and walked into the house. "Are you hungry?" "A bit." "I¡¯ve stewed some spare ribs, come try it." Another large bowl of warm food was placed in front of him, and Chen Feng silently chewed and swallowed. Meanwhile, Chen Yun sat across from him, leaning on the back of the chair, silently watching him eat, seemingly with something on her mind but unsure how to express it. Noticing her, Chen Feng spoke gently, "Say whatever¡¯s on your mind, sis." "Hm?" Surprised that he had noticed, Chen Yun smiled awkwardly. She then raised a hand to brush her hair behind her ear, organizing her words before speaking softly, "It¡¯s like this, Xiao Feng." "The research institute has a spot for further studies in Central City, and the reviewers decided to offer it to me." "I was thinking..." "You should go," Chen Feng interrupted, quickly finishing the soup in his bowl. "Huh?" Chen Yun was a bit stunned, and then she saw Chen Feng set down the bowl and wipe his mouth with a napkin. "I¡¯ve heard Central City is very unique. You go and check it out for me." With a smile, Chen Feng calmly said, "When you get there, tell me all about it." As the words fell, Chen Yun sat there slightly dazed, she hadn¡¯t expected the conversation to go so smoothly. On one side was her most beloved research, and on the other, her most cherished family. Her heart was originally filled with conflict and hesitation. But at this moment, looking at Chen Feng¡¯s calm demeanor, she suddenly felt as if she had let go of all her concerns. "Okay." Smiling, Chen Yun nodded, no longer troubled. --- At the same time, in the outskirts of Nanjiang City, dozens of kilometers away. Boom! With a loud rumble, the air shook as mechanical spiders exploded, detonating the concentrated explosives they carried. Boom, boom, boom! The sounds of continuous explosions echoed as the steel panels of the abandoned factory shattered, and the metal roof caved in. The ground trembled, dust billowed, and iron shrapnel flew in all directions. Many black-robed snake people were struck by the blasts, and small blood holes appeared all over their bodies. In the center, surrounded by a special formation and pattern, the four leaders of the group looked furious as they spat blood. "Damned United Coalition!" "Flame Tiger Martial Hall, you are courting death!" The ritual was interrupted, as a massive Serpent Spirit quickly materialized in the air. Among the angry and astonished voices, Wu Shuang and her group of martial artists approached with cold faces, while the young man in black and others sealed the passage and began shooting with contemptuous smiles. Bang, bang, bang! Special bullets rapidly shot out, and in an instant, the two groups collided in fierce combat. Roar! With the roar of a tiger, the enhanced cyborgs dashed through the battlefield. One by one, black-robed snake people were killed, and the four leaders of the black-robed group looked grim, immediately deciding to unleash their trump cards. "Serpent Spirit! Descend!" (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Nightmare Strikes FREE!! ;) Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 76: Tiger Roar! (2800+ Words) Translator: Cinder Translations --- That evening, Chen Yun spoke at length. Mostly giving instructions and reminders. Chen Feng mostly nodded and listened, until late into the night, when he finally washed up and returned to his bedroom. Click! The door closed, he took a few steps and lay down on the bed. "Central City." This was probably the umpteenth time he had heard that term. Over time, Chen Feng found himself feeling a bit curious about it. After a moment of thought, he pushed aside his distractions. Feeling a slight sense of drowsiness, he fortunately cleared his mind and lay flat in his position. Gradually, his balance shifted. He opened his eyes, suddenly realizing something was wrong. "This is..." His face slightly changed as Chen Feng found that he was still in his room. Everything was dim, the soft mattress beneath him, and the overhead light was off. It seemed like he hadn¡¯t fallen asleep, only that the lights in the room were turned off. "Something¡¯s wrong!" Suddenly, his senses expanded, and he noticed something unusual. The whole room was eerily quiet and still, as though everything in the darkness had frozen. The curtains were completely still, and the phone beside him had a black screen, but he couldn¡¯t touch it. Even in the next room, when he expanded his senses, he couldn¡¯t sense Chen Yun¡¯s presence. Everything felt completely different from usual, and before Chen Feng could fully process it... Roar!! A massive roar reverberated through the air, filled with anger and coldness. Instinctively, Chen Feng turned his head towards the window, looking toward the southeast. The black mist surged, and faintly, a giant mythical creature, resembling a serpent or a dragon, seemed to be coiling and thrashing in the mist, venting its fury from afar. Roar! The enraged roar continued, and violent winds swept through, causing the mist to ripple like a tide. Chen Feng¡¯s pupils contracted, and soon, he noticed the residual wind blowing through the area, causing the windows of the buildings in the neighborhood to shake and the houses to tremble. His face turned pale, and his expression became grave. He had never encountered a situation like this before. Not daring to make any movements, he could only stay in his room and wait for the roar to subside. It was unclear how long it lasted, perhaps tens of minutes, or even hours. The darkness in the room deepened, and the mist outside swirled, slowly creeping through the cracks into the room. Gradually, the world began to spin, and everything shifted. He finally entered the familiar dreamscape. ---- "Damn it, two of them escaped." In the abandoned warehouse in the outskirts, Wu Shuang¡¯s face darkened, and the black-clad youth beside him had a similar expression. What was supposed to be a foolproof plan to annihilate the members of the Serpent Spirit Sect in their hideout had unexpectedly failed. They had set up contingency measures, managing to slip through their grasp. "What do we do next?" Wu Shuang asked, his breath slightly erratic. "We¡¯ll handle it," the black-clad youth said, shaking his head. Soon, they began to clean up the battlefield. Around them, the bodies of the black-robed serpent men lay on the ground, and the smell of gunpowder lingered. Besides that, around the pools of blood, countless serpent remains could be seen wriggling and twitching. "What exactly happened just now?" In the dream world, Chen Feng appeared once again in the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. Remembering the situation when he entered the dream, his mind was full of confusion. What was that roar? And why did the environment look exactly like his neighborhood, but at the same time, feel eerily different? "Could it be that it was a dream about the real world?" A sudden guess rose in Chen Feng¡¯s mind, and he found it hard to believe. It was the first time he had encountered such a situation, and no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn¡¯t find an answer. Eventually, he took a deep breath. Looking down at the incomplete legacy iron book in his hand, he could only suppress his wandering thoughts and set the issue aside for now. "I¡¯ll deal with it next time." Exhaling, Chen Feng glanced around the quiet room in the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. It was exactly as it was before he left, and he was certain that he had truly entered the dream world of Qinggang City. Then, he remembered his previous plan. He searched the martial hall for a moment, finally finding a paper map. He walked up to it and unfolded it completely, it was more than a meter wide. Qinggang City Six Major Districts: White Tower District, Blue Light District... The map was fairly complete, clearly showing the internal terrain of Qinggang City. The five major districts surrounded the White Tower District, forming a circular city with high defensive walls. From his current position, Chen Feng deduced that he was in the leftmost area of the Blue Light District, toward the southwest. "Qinggang City seems to be quite large." Looking at the map¡¯s scale, Chen Feng estimated that Qinggang City was at least ten times larger than the districts of Nanjiang City. And the area he had already explored on the map was probably less than one-thousandth of it. "Let¡¯s take it one step at a time, I¡¯ll first look for the nearest martial hall." Chen Feng had many plans for exploring the dream world. Since the Limit-Breaking Light Orbs were the remnants of martial artists'' wills, there should be an abundance of martial arts halls in the city. Plus, maybe he could acquire some new skills. With that in mind, Chen Feng took another look at the map, marking down the nearby locations and routes. He rolled the map up and put it in a black backpack he found in the martial hall, along with the incomplete iron book and the broken copper plate he had obtained last time. He felt like these items would be useful in the future, so he packed them together just in case. Tap tap! He left the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. Chen Feng looked at the road outside. The mist enveloped both sides, and he chose to head south. About seven or eight kilometers away, there was another branch of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. Buzz! Immediately, as if responding to his decision, the mist in the southeast parted slightly, revealing a new area and road. Expanding his senses, Chen Feng moved along the road; Though he was determined to go to the martial arts hall, he would not miss any Limit-Breaking Light Orbs along the way. His footsteps echoed under the streetlights, and his shadow stretched long in the dim light. Soon... The surrounding mist moved, and strange noises began to rise. Prepared for this, Chen Feng turned his head to look. Seven faceless individuals, their auras all close to the amateur seventh rank, stood in his path. Bang bang bang bang! Explosive fists, and air tearing kicks! Hungry Tiger Leaps the Gorge, the fist technique of the Flame Tiger Stance was unleashed. In just a few seconds, the battle was over, and the ground was littered with black marks and gray light orbs. Buzz! [Talent: Perception LV2 (43/100)] "Not bad." The progress had increased by 14%, and Chen Feng nodded in satisfaction. Then, he turned his gaze away and quickened his pace. Before reaching the new Extreme Martial Arts Hall, he noticed a single-story detached villa building that caught his attention. Tap tap. He approached. Red bricks, white paint, the building had a retro style. The central door was a deep red color, about two to three meters high and three meters wide. With a gentle push, it creaked open. The interior was dark, and the lights were off. Using his senses, Chen Feng found four light red Limit-Breaking Light Orbs in the bedroom and study. Adding to the previous ones, [Limit-Break Points: 7] The panel appeared, and Chen Feng finally focused on the Flame Tiger Stance section. [Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Form (54%) +] "Level up!" He silently spoke the words, consuming five Limit-Breaking Orbs, causing the stance¡¯s progress to surge! All insights flooded in, and a hot current surged through his limbs, quickly tempering his skin and flesh. In the blink of an eye, the information before Chen Feng changed. [Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Roar (1%) +] [Strength: 11.4 ¡ú 12.1] [Agility: 10.7 ¡ú 11.1] [Constitution: 11.3 ¡ú 12.0] [Will: 11.0 ¡ú 11.5] "2.3 attribute boost?" Chen Feng¡¯s gaze hardened as he moved his body. The sounds of cracking filled the air, and he could clearly feel that his physical abilities had improved significantly. With a casual punch, he felt that his strength had reached around 250 to 260 kilograms, comparable to a professional level three. If he were to use Cao Tong''s words, he would now be considered to have reached the "bone training" stage in the martial arts world. "And my physique... it feels much stronger." "Not just in terms of stamina and endurance, but also in terms of defense." With his eyes slightly squinted, using his perception talent, Chen Feng could clearly detect all the changes in his body. His skin and flesh had tightened, almost as if an additional layer of membrane had formed inside. This could not only be used to rebound and dissipate force, but also to resist attacks from sharp weapons. He acted on impulse, and, since he was in the dream world, Chen Feng immediately took a dagger from his waist and slashed at his forearm. Whoosh! A white scar appeared, but it was only because he controlled the force, not using all of his strength. He kept gradually increasing the pressure, when it reached 260 kilograms, the blade barely broke through a bit of skin. "As expected." Chen Feng nodded to himself, satisfied. He had heard Cao Tong say that the Flaming Tiger Stance was more of a foundational martial arts technique. While it could refine the skin, flesh, and bones, it was far less effective in terms of defense compared to other body strengthening techniques. However, the fact that breaking through to the "Tiger¡¯s Roar" stage resulted in such a change was already quite impressive. "Wait a minute." "Body strengthening techniques?" Suddenly, Chen Feng''s gaze shifted, and he thought of something. It was also something he had overlooked until now. After reaching the highest level of martial arts, one would be fearless of bullets. So what if he trained in body strengthening techniques in advance? After all, if the Flaming Tiger Stance alone had such an effect, the body strengthening techniques would surely be even more terrifying. With the Limit-Breaking Light Orbs, he was bound to break through faster than others. As the thought emerged, it quickly took root in his mind, and he couldn¡¯t shake it off. This could be the best method to make him bulletproof 24/7, unlike the Azure Armor talent. "Tomorrow!" "I¡¯ll ask Brother Cao then, and see if there¡¯s a chance to learn body strengthening techniques!" Chen Feng was filled with anticipation, then he looked at the remaining three Limit-Breaking Orbs, instead of hastily using them, he decided to save them for later. Eventually, he left the place and continued heading toward the next branch of Extreme Martial Arts Hall. His luck was poor, and he didn¡¯t encounter any new Limit-Breaking Orbs along the way. The mist dispersed, and the world spun. Soon, he returned to reality. "7:05 AM." Looking at his phone, Chen Feng got out of bed and opened the curtains. The weather was clear, and the sunlight was bright. The blue sky and white clouds hung before him, and the vast scenery made him feel emotional. He quickly checked his phone for news about the events from the previous night, but there was no mention or discussion. It was as if his encounter had been nothing but an illusion. "The roar clearly came from some non-human creature." "And the massive figure I could feel from far away, writhing and coiled¡ªalmost like a serpent." His gaze hardened as Chen Feng suddenly remembered the serpent men. "It couldn¡¯t be right...?" His heart tightened. It felt like he had grasped something crucial, but couldn¡¯t break through the vague barrier. Finally, he sighed. Seeing that it was getting late, he suppressed his thoughts and got ready. Soon, he had breakfast with Chen Yun and left the neighborhood together. There were no words exchanged on the way, and he finally arrived at the Jinhua District branch of the martial arts hall. Students came in and out, and Chen Feng went to the changing room to change into the new clothes Chen Yun had bought for him. "You¡¯re pretty early today." Lin Hao said with a smile, slinging a black designer sports bag over his shoulder. "Same as usual." After changing into his training clothes, Chen Feng asked about the situation at the club. "It¡¯s all basically settled. Today, two or three boxing coaches are coming for interviews." "Also, the opening ceremony yesterday went well, and seven or eight people have already signed up for membership." Lin Hao said with a smile, and Chen Feng nodded. "I¡¯ll come check it out tomorrow." He had already communicated with the supermarket, and today was the last shift. By then, he would have enough time to help at the club. "Great, I¡¯m looking forward to it." Lin Hao smiled and nodded. The two of them walked into the training room together. "Today¡¯s going to be a sparring session again. I really don¡¯t want to spar with Pei Yue." "Shh, quiet." "Chen Feng¡¯s here, god help us, we must not be matched with him." Most of the students had already arrived in the room, and quiet discussions started. Chen Feng froze when he heard. He suddenly remembered that today was the sparring session, held once every three days. "How about you, do you think you can win against him?" In the crowd, Pei Yue asked in a low voice, standing next to Wu Tian. "He¡¯s no longer my match." Wu Tian¡¯s face was confident as he clenched his fist, narrowing his eyes at the approaching Chen Feng. The effect of the Tiger Leopard Pill was very powerful. After taking it, he was one step away from breaking through to the Tiger Roar realm. He was close to reaching the professional level one threshold. He was confident that today, he would regain his honor by defeating Chen Feng. Pei Yue heard this and felt a bit envious, probably understanding some of the inside story. Just as he was about to speak, Cao Tong walked in, his footsteps steady. --- "So, two of the cult members escaped?" In the adjacent quiet room outside the training hall, the third elder, dressed in a gray robe, sat cross-legged on the wooden floor with a casual expression. On the opposite side, Wu Shuang, wearing a light white outfit, poured tea for him. "Yes." "The disciples didn¡¯t expect that those serpent men had hidden cards, leading to the summoning of the Serpent Spirit. We let our guard down for a moment, allowing them to escape." Her tone was calm, but there was a noticeable respect in her voice compared to before. Though the direct disciples held equal status to the elders, the person before her was a senior in the sect, and his power was greater than hers. "What about the United Coalition?" "They are still investigating. I suspect there¡¯s more to this matter." After hearing the explanation, the third elder¡¯s face remained neutral, neither cold nor warm. "What are your plans moving forward?" "Since the serpent men haven¡¯t been eliminated, I plan to stay in Nanjiang for a while." Wu Shuang remained composed, but the third elder lightly chuckled. "Heh." "Why do I feel like you have some ulterior motives?" With a meaningful look, the third elder could clearly sense the presence of several disciples in the training room next door, including one whose aura was similar to his own. In response, Wu Shuang remained silent for a moment but did not deny it. After all, the third elder was a high-ranking member of the sect, and his information was not something Cao Tong or others could match. With the sect leader about to leave seclusion, the matter of accepting personal disciples was bound to be known by him. "Wu Tian is the only son of my older brother. He has good talent and potential." "Both for the sect and personally, I should guide him to help the sect grow stronger." With that, the third elder¡¯s expression became even more neutral. Thinking of what Cao Tong had said last time, he seized the moment to speak, offering a reminder. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That disciple recommended by Xiao Cao..." "Martial arts enlightenment is not some cabbage. Some things need to be verified multiple times overs." "Third Elder, what do you think?" Wu Shuang smiled faintly, finally taking control of the conversation. Upon hearing this, the third elder glanced at her and gently shook his head. At that moment, a noise came from the training room next door, and Wu Shuang felt something amiss. She quickly expanded her senses to check. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Chapter 103. Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 77: Strengthening Techniques, Giant Tiger Technique (2500+ Words) Translator: Cinder Translations --- "Are you sure?" In the practice room, looking at Wu Tian who proactively expressed his desire to challenge Chen Feng, Cao Tong frowned slightly, sensing something was off. "Yes." With a confident look, Wu Tian stepped forward and stood in the center of the practice room. One by one, the other students, not wanting to offend him, moved aside to clear his line of sight. Immediately, Chen Feng and Lin Hao, who had been in the corner at the back, were exposed to the other''s gaze. "Ridiculous." Cao Tong scolded, clearly noticing something suspicious. This kid isn''t stupid. If he was about to get beaten up, he wouldn¡¯t be so proactive. Plus, Wu Shuang arrived in Nanjiang yesterday, so... "Alright." However, to Cao Tong''s surprise, Chen Feng nodded and actually stepped forward, walking to within one meter of Wu Tian. He remained silent, with a blank expression. Seeing this, Cao Tong felt a headache coming on and almost wanted to stop him. But then, in the next second, Wu Tian''s face lit up with excitement as he suddenly unleashed his strength, taking the initiative and striking decisively. Smack! The force exploded, as if a fierce tiger was charging out. Wu Tian struck with one palm, his body slightly bent, muscles tensed all over. In an instant, Cao Tong realized something was wrong, noticing that Wu Tian had finished training his body and was about to break through to the Tiger Roar stage and start training his bones. He wanted to intervene, but... Roar!!! The tiger''s roar echoed through the forest, the Crimson Tiger Soaring Through the Sky! Like a silent giant stone, the black-clad figure erupted, with muscles and bones ringing. A punch was thrown, and the roar exploded in mid-air. All the students felt their eardrums ache, and then saw Wu Tian, who had been charging forward aggressively, quickly fly backward with even greater speed. Boom! His figure crashed to the ground, sliding several meters backward. Eyes filled with uncertainty, Cao Tong rushed to Chen Feng and grabbed his shoulder in excitement. "Tiger Roar!" His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Chen Feng. How long has it been? Six days? One day for Tiger Form, five days for Tiger Roar? This isn''t just the awakening of martial arts; this is something else entirely! Silence. In the quiet room, Wu Shuang''s expression froze as she clearly sensed the commotion from next door. Shaking his head with a sigh, the Third Elder stood up. "True disciples..." "Even true disciples can make mistakes." His tone was calm as he slowly left the quiet room. Wu Shuang''s expression changed, and the tea in front of her rippled. "Yes, I realized something last night." In the practice room, amidst the silence, When Cao Tong asked, Chen Feng nodded lightly in response. Hiss! The students snapped back to reality and gasped in shock. They had just started, and yet he had already broken through to the Tiger Roar stage? For Pei Yue, who had just achieved Tiger Form, it was even more shocking. He forgot to help Wu Tian, staring dumbfounded at the scene. He thought he was a genius. But now... A bitter feeling surged in his heart, as he looked at the figure lying on the ground, unconscious from anger. "Good kid, you really are something!" Cao Tong''s face lit up with excitement, and he couldn''t help but slap Chen Feng''s shoulder heavily. He knew Wu Shuang was next door. This was fucking awesome. Let that bothersome witch experience a bit of frustration as well. Then, the sparring continued. Wu Tian was once again carried to the medical room by Pei Yue, while Chen Feng was taken by Cao Tong out of the practice room. "Brother Cao, where are we going?" "To see the Third Elder!" With an excited expression, Cao Tong led him into the elevator, saying, "With your talent, it''s a waste to stay in the core class." "You¡¯ll definitely be accepted as a formal disciple ahead of schedule, no doubt about it." Chen Feng''s expression shifted. He hadn''t expected to meet the requirements for special admission this way. But then he thought about it, and it made sense. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His performance had been extremely outstanding, though his breakthroughs were quite rapid. Ding! The elevator soon arrived at the basement floor. They walked through a metal corridor and entered a secret room filled with cabinets full of herbs. "Third Elder!" Cao Tong greeted respectfully, holding back his excitement. "Mm." The Third Elder nodded slightly, opening his dull eyes as they locked onto Chen Feng''s. Chen Feng didn''t feel the same pressure as last time. "Third Elder, Chen Feng has broken through to Tiger Roar. What do you think about officially accepting him as a disciple?" "Oh." The Third Elder nodded lightly, glancing at him. "I see." "Huh?" Cao Tong touched his forehead, confused by the Third Elder''s indifferent response. "Let¡¯s talk about formal discipleship later. I suggest you stay in the core class for a bit longer." The Third Elder looked at Chen Feng and added the rest of the sentence. Raising his eyebrows slightly, Chen Feng felt there was something behind his words. "No way, Third Elder." "You didn¡¯t get influenced by Senior Sister Wu, did you?" "What did you say?" The Third Elder scolded, interrupting Cao Tong. Cao Tong''s face turned red, feeling a bit embarrassed, "If he¡¯s not accepted as a formal disciple, then Chen Feng can''t practice true techniques." "With his talent, isn¡¯t this a waste?" "Who told you I¡¯m not teaching him true techniques?" The Third Elder shot him a calm glance. "Huh?" Cao Tong was stunned, and Chen Feng was equally surprised. He had heard that only by becoming a formal disciple could one cultivate true martial arts techniques. But now... "Choose. You can only pick one." The Third Elder tossed a small booklet, resembling a roster, into Chen Feng¡¯s hands. "You can only look at the first page." Chen Feng paused and instinctively flipped it open. [Tian Yan Crimson Tiger Flow, True Martial Arts Legacy!] [Crouching Tiger Technique: Cultivate strength within, store power in the body.] [Golden Tiger Fist: A technique for the fists and feet, helps one consolidate the true meaning of the Tiger Form.] [Body Strengthening Technique: A true technique that refines muscles, bones, and skin at a deep level.] "Third Elder, are you sure about it?" Cao Tong, not understanding his reasons, looked at the Third Elder, who shot him an impatient glance. "What¡¯s the problem? If anything goes wrong, I¡¯ll take responsibility." After speaking, Cao Tong didn¡¯t dare ask further but felt relieved. He roughly understood that the Third Elder had his own reasons for doing this. It was probably not a bad thing. Thinking about this, Cao Tong looked at the first page of the true martial arts techniques Chen Feng was holding. After thinking for a moment, he quietly suggested, "Think it through carefully. Once you start with a true technique, there¡¯s no turning back." "This will, to some extent, decide the direction of your martial arts in the future." Chen Feng nodded, glancing at the techniques. They all seemed quite good. And he noticed two strengthening techniques in particular. [Body Strengthening Technique, Giant Tiger Technique.] Gazing thoughtfully, Chen Feng pondered silently. "You want to practice strengthening techniques?" Noticing his thoughts, Cao Tong was somewhat surprised. Strengthening techniques are difficult to master and often leave hidden injuries¡ªthis is a well-known fact in the martial arts world. But thinking of Chen Feng¡¯s talent, Cao Tong opened his mouth but didn¡¯t try to dissuade him. ¡°I choose this one.¡± After a moment¡¯s consideration, Chen Feng chose the latter strengthening technique, the Giant Tiger Technique. From the description, it appeared to be stronger than the Body Strengthening Technique in the later stages. After mastering the basics, there were three realms. Rock Tiger, Mighty Tiger, and Giant Tiger. Each breakthrough in these realms greatly enhanced physical strength, improving both power and defense. At the Mighty Tiger level, one could withstand small-caliber bullets from regular firearms. As for the Giant Tiger, it was comparable to a humanoid beast, with bones and muscles as strong as steel. Every movement would carry immense power. ¡°Are you sure?¡± The Third Elder squinted his eyes, looking at Chen Feng. Beside them, Cao Tong opened his mouth. ¡°The Giant Tiger Technique is extremely difficult. Even in our sect, only a few people have reached the Giant Tiger stage.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Chen Feng nodded. He believed that with the help of the Limit-Breaking Light Orb, he would certainly be able to master it all the way to the end. ¡°Alright.¡± Seeing that Chen Feng had made up his mind, the Third Elder didn¡¯t say more. ¡°Scan the QR code, I¡¯ll add you on WeChat.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Chen Feng was stunned. ¡°Hehe, Junior Brother Chen, we¡¯re in the tech age now.¡± Cao Tong grinned, changing how he addressed him, and explained, ¡°Our elders have recorded training videos, much faster than you trying to figure things out by studying the images of the techniques.¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Feng understood and quickly went to the changing room to grab his phone, scanning the code to add the Third Elder as a friend. [Cultivating Mind and Body] The Third Elder''s WeChat username. Buzz. Soon, his phone vibrated, and Chen Feng received a video file from the Third Elder. [Giant Tiger Technique.MP4] ¡°Alright, go down and practice well. If you have any questions, you can ask me.¡± The Third Elder casually said, then closed his eyes to continue resting. After thanking him, Chen Feng followed Cao Tong out. ¡°Junior Brother Chen, although the Third Elder didn¡¯t say it, you still need to be careful. Don¡¯t let this video of the true technique get leaked.¡± ¡°Of course, if it does leak, it¡¯s not so bad. This technique requires our sect''s Tiger Imagery Visualization Chart to practice, so it¡¯s unlikely to be practiced by others. But still, it¡¯s better not to risk it¡ªit could lead to punishment.¡± Cao Tong warned a few more times on the way, and Chen Feng nodded, the confusion in his mind now cleared. No wonder the Third Elder sent it directly via WeChat, without worrying about hackers stealing it. So, that was the reason. Soon, the two arrived on the second floor of the martial arts hall. As they walked, Chen Feng thought about his experience from last night¡¯s dream. ¡°By the way, Brother Cao.¡± ¡°The Serpent Spirit Sect¡­¡± ¡°Senior Sister Wu took people to handle it last night.¡± Cao Tong didn¡¯t know what Chen Feng was thinking and responded honestly, ¡°But it seems there were some unexpected issues, and not everything was resolved.¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Feng¡¯s eyes narrowed. His intuition told him that the powerful non-human entity in the dream was related to the Serpent Spirit Sect. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°With the Third Elder here, the martial arts hall is very safe.¡± Misunderstanding that Chen Feng was worried about retaliation, Cao Tong patiently reassured him. But unfortunately, before he could finish his sentence, a woman in white stood ahead in the corridor, her back to them as she gazed out the floor-to-ceiling window. Chen Feng halted, and soon saw Cao Tong¡¯s expression change slightly as he clasped his hands respectfully and said, ¡°Senior Sister Wu.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± She nodded lightly and turned to face them. Chen Feng, following Cao Tong¡¯s cue, also clasped his hands and respectfully greeted, ¡°True Disciple Wu.¡± ¡°It seems the Third Elder has passed on the true technique to you.¡± Her tone was cold, and she looked Chen Feng up and down. Gone was the danger from the previous day, replaced by her faint frosty aura. Chen Feng remained silent, and Cao Tong explained, ¡°Senior Sister Wu, the Third Elder¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to explain anything...¡± ¡°Geniuses are treated differently. I understand that.¡± She nodded lightly again and looked at Chen Feng: ¡°You indeed have the talent to have the sect make an exception for you. Very good.¡± ¡°If you encounter any difficulties in your cultivation in the future, feel free to come to me.¡± When she finished speaking, Cao Tong was left stunned. How quickly she changed her attitude! ¡°Thank you, True Disciple Wu.¡± Although Chen Feng didn¡¯t know her intentions, he still nodded in thanks. ¡°Mm.¡± Wu Shuang nodded slightly, then walked away. Watching her retreating figure, the two of them stood there for a moment. ¡°As expected of a true disciple, hehe.¡± Cao Tong muttered under his breath, probably realizing the key point. Chen Feng thought for a moment but didn¡¯t pay much attention. Whether it was talent or potential, in the end, everything had to be proven by strength. So¡­ ¡°Brother Cao, can I go to the meditation room to practice the Giant Tiger Technique?¡± Chen Feng asked curiously. By now, the martial arts courses in the core class were no longer very helpful to him. Compared to that, the freshly obtained Giant Tiger Technique seemed far more important. ¡°No problem.¡± Cao Tong nodded heavily and immediately gave him permission for a meditation room, allowing him to practice there alone in the future. Not being shy, Chen Feng thanked him and quickly went to the meditation room to practice alone. He then took out his phone and opened the video he had just saved. The background was purely white, with only the image of a muscular middle-aged man appearing. His face was square, and his thick eyebrows gave him a sharp, tough look. Half-naked, his muscles bulged, looking even more muscular than Cao Tong. After a while, a deep voice echoed. [Giant Tiger Technique, needs to visualize the Crimson Tiger Soaring Through the Sky. Use this as a foundation to guide the blood and energy, mimic the mighty tiger, and temper the entire body.] [Basic Requirement: At least the Bone Refining Realm is needed to begin training.] [Entry Essentials: Guide the blood to clear the acupoints, stimulating the skin and muscles. Practice with the mindset of a crouching tiger, controlling distractions and thoughts.] [It¡¯s allowed to use special medicine, such as Tiger Blood, to accelerate training progress.] [First Stage, Rock Tiger: During training, swallow the secret medicine ¡°Rock Tiger Pill¡± and lightly rub your limbs with gravel.] The stages of training and detailed instructions were spoken aloud, with demonstrations included. After watching the entire video, Chen Feng began to practice, recalling the instructions in his mind. He set his stance, visualizing the Crimson Tiger Soaring Through the Sky, just like the Flame Tiger Stance. With a strong will, he entered a calm state, clearing all distractions and negative emotions. Soon, a four-legged fiery red tiger appeared in his mind. He immediately adjusted his stance, extending his hands like claws. His body sank, one leg forward, the other bent back. The system panel didn¡¯t appear, but Chen Feng wasn¡¯t in a hurry. He calmly focused, guiding his blood and energy within, slowly tempering his skin, muscles, and bones according to the Giant Tiger Technique''s instructions. Slowly, time passed. When the first drop of sweat appeared on his face, the panel finally moved and a prompt appeared. [Giant Tiger Technique: Beginner (1%) +] Seeing this, Chen Feng smiled. Without hesitation, he used up all three Limit-Break Points. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 78: Unexpected (2000+ Words) Translator: Cinder Translations --- Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Three Limit-Breaking Light Orbs vanished rapidly. The next moment. Buzz! Insights surged, and the progress of the Giant Tiger Technique changed. [Giant Tiger Technique: Beginner (46%) +] "Wait, that¡¯s it?" Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, surprised by the amount of Limit-Breaking Light Orbs required for the Giant Tiger Technique. At this rate, it seemed like he would need four more Limit-Breaking Light Orbs to break through to the Rock Tiger stage. "Plus, the Explosive Fist and Flame Tiger Stance, the Limit-Breaking Light Orbs required for later stages will increase exponentially." "All in all..." Chen Feng felt a headache coming on, mentally calculating that he would need to find more Light Orbs in the dream realm no matter what. Then, standing still, he focused on his physical training to strengthen his bones, muscles, and skin. The progress was negligible, but Chen Feng had already grown accustomed to it and was not disappointed. Until one day after martial arts practice ended, he sought out Cao Tong to inquire about the secret medicine. "Strengthening techniques are hard to practice, right?" Cao Tong smiled slightly before his expression turned serious. He explained, "As for secret medicines, the rules within our sect are simple." "You exchange contributions for them or get a fixed monthly quota within the sect." "Can''t you buy them with money?" Chen Feng asked curiously. "It''s difficult." Cao Tong shook his head, elaborating, "This is the foundation used by our martial arts sects to assist with personal cultivation." "The medicinal ingredients are already rare, and the refining methods are intricate and energy-draining." "The sect can''t meet the demand internally, and outsiders find it difficult to refine and absorb them. Plus, the sect is not short of money, so we don¡¯t allow them to be bought with money." Chen Feng thought for a moment but was not too disappointed. He didn¡¯t have any money to begin with, and even if he could buy them, he probably couldn''t afford it. "How do you earn contributions, then?" "By completing sect tasks. And once you become an official disciple, you''ll receive a fixed quota every month that can be exchanged for secret medicine for cultivation." At this point, Cao Tong seemed somewhat regretful. The third elder could have helped Chen Feng become an official disciple quickly, but he insisted on having him stay in the core class longer. Chen Feng had thought of this as well. But he didn¡¯t mind too much. Instead, he recalled his conversation with Lin Hao. Secret medicine. Enhancement serum. "Cao Ge, I heard that if you want to practice martial arts, you shouldn''t inject enhancement serum easily?" "Yes!" Cao Tong¡¯s expression grew serious, and he replied earnestly, "This is a taboo in the martial arts world." "Why?" Chen Feng was puzzled. He had learned recently that enhancement serums were one of the major ways to improve strength in the current technological age of Earth. Through injection, they could enhance genes and cells, improving physical attributes comprehensively. The more expensive the enhancement serum, the fewer side effects it had, and the more times it could be used. Generally speaking, even the most basic serum would cost hundreds of thousands per injection. "It destroys the foundation of martial arts." Cao Tong paused, and perhaps sensing this explanation might be a bit profound, he continued, "Enhancement serums forcibly improve your genes and cells, and once injected, the body becomes highly dependent on them." "Additionally, at a certain level, this conflicts with our true cultivation techniques, making it harder to break through bottlenecks and advance." After the explanation, Chen Feng understood the key point, even if he didn¡¯t fully grasp the details. The two continued chatting for a few more minutes, and when it became clear that time was running short, Chen Feng said goodbye and went to the changing room to switch clothes. "How¡¯s it feel, getting special treatment?" Lin Hao, already dressed in a casual gray outfit, seemed to be waiting for him. He asked with a smile. "It¡¯s fine," Chen Feng replied. "Really?" Lin Hao chuckled, his eyes showing a hint of envy. Sensing something, Chen Feng didn''t speak much but felt a bit puzzled about why Lin Hao was so determined to practice martial arts. After all, from Lin Hao¡¯s usual performance, it seemed like he struggled with martial arts, barely managing to visualize the entry-level techniques. Given his financial situation, a few injections of enhancement serums should have been no problem. Chen Feng couldn''t quite understand why Lin Hao insisted on this approach. "Alright, I have to go to the club. The boxing coaches from the interview are still waiting for me." Lin Hao spoke, and Chen Feng nodded. The two quickly parted ways. Tap tap! As Chen Feng walked outside the martial arts hall, he boarded a bus. The bus was not crowded, so Chen Feng easily found a window seat. The holographic projections of the surrounding buildings were still floating, and the bustling city seemed peaceful. However, [Yesterday''s riot, the Safety Bureau has intervened in the investigation.] [Please trust the Safety Bureau and the Joint Council. The attackers from Utopia will surely be brought to justice.] News kept scrolling, and Chen Feng shook his head as he looked at the display screen inside the bus. He could feel that Nanjiang was indeed getting more chaotic. Utopia, Serpent Spirit Sect... Who knows when this city will truly return to peace. "Then I¡¯ll leave now, Sister Hongxia." "Okay, Sister Zhang. Drive safely." At the entrance of Yongle Fu Supermarket, Li Hongxia, stood wearing a delivery uniform. It was rare for her to arrive a few minutes early for her shift. Beside her, Xu Yao waved to Aunt Zhang, carrying her backpack while occasionally glancing outside the window. She had heard from her mother that today was Chen Feng''s last day working at the supermarket. After such a long time, she wondered if he would... Ding! "Welcome!" The mechanical announcement sounded as a tall, muscular figure blocked some of the light. "Sorry, Aunt He." "Traffic was bad, I got delayed a bit." Chen Feng apologized and quickly put on the red vest to begin his shift. "No problem, no problem, it was just a minute or two." Aunt He waved her hand and looked Chen Feng up and down. "Xiao Feng, how''s the new job search going?" "Why don''t you come work at my son¡¯s company? I¡¯ve mentioned it to him, and it¡¯s just up to you..." After spending half a month together, she could tell that Chen Feng was reliable and grounded, so she wanted to help him out. "Thanks, Aunt He." Chen Feng politely declined, saying he had already found his next job. "Ah, okay." "Well, you¡¯re so capable, you¡¯ll be welcomed anywhere you go." Aunt He smiled and said a few words before finally waving goodbye to Chen Feng. As he watched Aunt He leave, Chen Feng sensed a gaze on him. He turned his head toward the sofa area. Xu Yao was sitting there, having just placed her backpack down, and was looking at him. Their eyes met, and she quickly blushed, lowering her head, not daring to look at him again. The atmosphere became silent, and Li Hongxia wasn¡¯t sure what to say either. Most of the time, she was busy organizing items on the shelves. Without breaking the silence, Chen Feng stood behind the cash register, silently waiting for time to pass. During this time, several customers came and went, far more than yesterday. Some of the shops near the area that had been damaged were undergoing repairs, and because of this, occasionally carpenters or tile workers would come in to buy water or cigarettes. "Beep!" "Payment received, 13 yuan!" A middle-aged man wearing a safety helmet bought a pack of Lichun cigarettes, and the rubber curtain at the door was lifted. A girl entered, somewhat frail, no taller than 1.6 meters. She wore thick glasses, a gray t-shirt, and a denim skirt, with a white leather bag slung over her shoulder. "Chen Feng!" She called out, and Chen Feng frowned slightly. "Wang Hanwen?" He was somewhat surprised. He hadn¡¯t told her where he worked. "I asked Han Yue. She mentioned it at the last class reunion and said you worked here." Wang Hanwen quickly explained, and Chen Feng relaxed his brow. "How come you''re here?" "I... I wanted to invite you to dinner." Once she spoke, Xu Yao and Li Hongxia, who were nearby, heard the noise and instinctively looked over. "You helped me yesterday. Please let me have a chance to thank you," Wang Hanwen said carefully, seemingly worried that Chen Feng would refuse. She looked up at him with sincere eyes. "That¡¯s not necessary." Chen Feng shook his head slightly, not wanting to waste time. Seeing this, Wang Hanwen could tell he wasn¡¯t interested in the invitation, and she became a little downcast. "Oh, it¡¯s fine." She opened her mouth several times, wanting to say something but stopped each time. Finally, under Chen Feng''s calm gaze, Wang Hanwen weakly asked, "Then... next time, could you reply to me on WeChat?" Hmm? Chen Feng was slightly stunned. Then, he remembered that at the last reunion, he had blocked her messages because he found her chatter annoying. "Oh." He replied with just an "Oh," and nodded lightly, signaling that it was okay. "Then let me buy you a bottle of water." Hearing this, Wang Hanwen seemed relieved. She quickly went to the shelf, grabbed two bottles of drinks, and tried to pay by scanning the code. Seeing this, Chen Feng hesitated for a moment. "Alright." He could tell she genuinely wanted to show gratitude, and if he refused, it might make her feel uncomfortable. Click! The bottle cap twisted open. Since there weren¡¯t many customers at the moment, Wang Hanwen stood next to the cash register and chatted with Chen Feng for a while. "I work at He Lin Street. I¡¯m a clerk. It''s hard to find work these days." "Yesterday, I just happened to pass by here, and my wallet in my bag had a photo my grandmother left me. It¡¯s really important to me." She rambled on for a while, and Chen Feng finally understood why she hadn''t let go earlier. "Sorry for wasting your time." Realizing she had said too much, Wang Hanwen stopped talking in time. Then, seeing another customer arriving, she courteously said goodbye, "I¡¯ll go now, Chen Feng. See you next time." Chen Feng nodded lightly and watched her leave. From the memories of the original body, Wang Hanwen had been a history and archaeology major in university, but in the end, she found a job unrelated to her major. Her personality was still quite nice, and looking at her now, she hadn¡¯t changed much. "Is she your classmate?" Li Hongxia, who had walked over, asked. "Yes, a high school classmate." Chen Feng nodded, then scanned and collected payment for the customer purchasing items. "She seems like a nice girl," Li Hongxia smiled and said, as if implying something. Chen Feng shook his head and didn¡¯t respond. Li Hongxia smiled faintly and didn¡¯t say anything else. Time passed until midnight. Clang! The roller shutter door was pulled down, and Chen Feng stood at the door, officially finishing his first job in this world. "Xiao Feng, I wish you good luck with your new job." Li Hongxia stood beside Xu Yao and sincerely wished him well. "Bro- brother Chen Feng, will we see each other again?" Xu Yao hesitated for a long time before finally asking. Upon hearing this, Chen Feng rubbed her head. "Yes." Chen Feng remembered the drawing she had given him, along with the origami crane. "Then can I add you on WeChat?" Xu Yao cautiously asked, pointing to her student smartwatch. "Sure." Chen Feng smiled and nodded. He quickly scanned and added her as a friend. Finally, standing in place, he waved and watched as the mother and daughter rode off on their electric bike. The red taillight grew smaller in the night, until it finally passed through the green light at the intersection. Buzz! Boom!!! A red sports car sped from another intersection, and the loud sound echoed. The electric bike was thrown far away. Iron fragments and hard shell debris flew everywhere. A pink backpack fell from the sky. Stained with blood. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 79: A Turning Point (2300+ Words) Translator: Cinder Translations --- Wee-woo, wee-woo. The sound of the ambulance echoed in his ears as Chen Feng stood at the scene, watching as two stretchers were hurriedly lifted into the ambulance by doctors in white coats. Xu Yao and Li Hongxia were both unconscious, their breathing faint to the extreme, covered in blood. Even he, too, was stained with blood, with droplets of blood sliding from between his fingers. "Get a caregiver!" The doctor shouted, snapping Chen Feng out of his daze as he followed into the vehicle. With a loud clang, the door slammed shut. Finally, he had a moment to look outside. The electric bicycle had slid about six or seven meters before crashing into a streetlight pole and coming to a halt. The helmet was twisted and deformed, still lying on the ground. Not far away, the red sports car¡¯s front was crushed, its parts and wires exposed, and the airbags had fully deployed. The young man in the floral shirt, obviously drunk, was flirting with a woman in a short skirt. He had a minor head injury but was still laughing and chatting. He didn¡¯t get into the ambulance but was instead escorted by bodyguards to a vehicle, passing by the emergency responders without a care. "Hahaha, how could I hit someone, huh!?" "Am I really that bad at driving?" Mumbling drunken words could be faintly heard as the ambulance sped back to the hospital. Silence. The sound of beeping medical machines filled the vehicle, with doctors injecting some medication to stabilize the heartbeat and breathing of both women. Finally, they arrived at the hospital. Chen Feng watched as Li Hongxia and Xu Yao were taken into the emergency room. "Come pay the fees!" The voice echoed around him, and Chen Feng instinctively stood up. Liu Fang had arrived at some point, hurriedly running to pay the emergency fees. Soon after, He Xiuping and Aunt Zhang arrived in a rush, and Chen Yun, worried that he hadn¡¯t gone home, quietly showed up as well. The group either sat or stood outside the emergency room, leaning against the white wall, in a tense and suffocating silence. Chen Feng remained expressionless, feeling as if he could no longer hear the others speaking. Time passed, though how long it was, he didn¡¯t know. With a clang, the emergency room door opened, and Chen Feng finally snapped back to reality. "They¡¯re temporarily stable, but still not out of danger." The attending doctor answered in a low voice, lifting his mask with a grim expression. Aunt Zhang and He Xiuping, their eyes slightly red, exhaled in relief. Liu Fang, in the meantime, clasped her hands together, muttering thanks to the heavens. Chen Feng remained silent, his clenched fist loosening just a bit. The technology and medical advancements in this world were far more developed, and their medical techniques were much stronger than in his previous life. Tap tap tap tap tap! At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps approached. An elderly woman with gray hair was being carried by a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard, running toward them. Behind them was an old man with short hair, limping, wearing tattered clothes and looking quite rustic, his face full of wrinkles. "Hong¨C Hongxia, and Xiao Yao, where are they?" The man asked anxiously. Liu Fang quickly explained the situation. "As long as they¡¯re still alive, they will get better!" The elderly woman carried on in a hurried voice, while the old man beside her also seemed slightly relieved. However, the doctor¡¯s next words nearly pushed them to despair. "This is the critical care period. They need to be administered advanced treatment to maintain their lives." "The cost isn¡¯t low, so you¡¯d better be mentally prepared." The doctor could tell that Li Hongxia¡¯s family was quite ordinary, and the advanced treatment drugs were not something most could afford. As expected, the elderly couple¡¯s faces stiffened, and they stuttered, unable to say anything. The man, Li Hongqiang, turned pale. Chen Feng silently watched all of this, and through Liu Fang¡¯s explanation, he learned that these were Li Hongxia¡¯s parents, who were Xu Yao¡¯s grandparents from the countryside. As for the man, he was Li Hongxia¡¯s uncle, Li Hongqiang. "This is the place." "Are you all family members of Li Hongxia and Xu Yao?" Suddenly, a voice rang out, and three people approached. The leader was a middle-aged man dressed in a suit, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a tie, holding a briefcase and some documents. Behind him were two burly men in crew cuts, looking like bodyguards, their expressions unreadable. "Hello, I am Mr. Zhao Jiapeng¡¯s lawyer, Zhou Wen, legal advisor for Hong Guang Group." "We¡¯ve already communicated with the Safety Bureau, and here¡¯s the situation." Standing in front of Li Hongxia¡¯s family, the lawyer named Zhou Wen took out a business card and explained: "Mr. Zhao Jiapeng¡¯s car had a brake failure, which caused the accident." "Therefore, Mr. Zhao Jiapeng is willing to offer a compensation of five hundred thousand as an expression of his apology and concern. What do you think?" As he spoke, he pulled out a mediation agreement, signaling them to sign. "Brake failure? Compensation?" Li Hongqiang, Xu Yao¡¯s uncle, suppressed his anger and glared at the lawyer as if he were a beast ready to devour him. "Stop talking nonsense!" "My sister and niece are still lying inside, and you don¡¯t know whether they¡¯re alive or dead!!!" His roar was filled with fury, and Li Hongqiang instinctively moved forward, trying to grab the lawyer by the collar. However, before he could reach him, one of the bodyguards behind the lawyer grabbed his wrist and restrained him. "Sir, as a lawyer, I must remind you that this behavior is considered personal insult and intentional harm." "You should have a more constructive attitude toward resolving this matter. We can sit down and discuss it." "Discuss my ass!" "Where is the person who was driving? Let him come here!" Li Hongqiang yelled with all his might, and Li Hongxia¡¯s parents glared at the lawyer with bloodshot eyes. It was clear that the person responsible had not even shown up, which only made them appear arrogant and dismissive. "Are you talking about Mr. Zhao Jiapeng?" "Sorry, he also sustained some injuries and is currently receiving treatment. It¡¯s inconvenient for him to appear." "This matter is now fully under my authority." Lawyer Zhou Wen spoke calmly, brushing off the dust from his collar. The two bodyguards behind him quickly understood the signal and moved to hold Li Hongqiang, intending to give him a lesson. "Let go." Chen Feng, standing nearby, observed the situation and immediately saw through their intentions. "Who are you?" Zhou Wen asked, frowning slightly. Without responding, Chen Feng rose slowly, his towering body blocking out part of the light, and walked up to the bodyguards. "Let go." The two bodyguards exchanged glances. One continued his actions, while the other stood up, preparing to act. "Kid¡ª" Boom!!! A powerful punch hit the man¡¯s abdomen, and his face changed slightly as he staggered back two steps. Just as he was about to speak again, a large hand reached out, grabbing his head. Click! At that moment, the black handgun was raised, and the other bodyguard¡¯s face turned serious. He let go of Li Hongqiang, cocked the gun, and pointed it at Chen Feng¡¯s head. The three men stood in a standoff, all of them with icy expressions. Behind them, Chen Yun, Liu Fang, and the others had changed expressions, some trembling, while others were about to speak in an attempt to mediate. Tap tap tap tap tap! At this critical moment, the sound of hurried footsteps approached, and the security officers from the Safety Bureau arrived in time. The leader was none other than Chen Feng¡¯s acquaintance, Xiang Jianjun. "What are you all doing!" "Put the gun down!" Xiang Jianjun angrily said, The lawyer, Zhou Wen, frowned, and the armed bodyguard unwillingly lowered his handgun. "Kid, you''re lucky." The bodyguard with the gun muttered, while his companion, holding his abdomen, shot a dark glance at Chen Feng. "Lawyer Zhou, aren''t you going a bit too far?" With a security officer standing in front of Chen Feng, blocking the conflict, Xiang Jianjun looked at the lawyer, Zhou Wen, with a serious expression. "Sorry, Captain Xiang, I am just handling things reasonably," Zhou Wen pushed up his glasses and calmly replied. Xiang Jianjun frowned at his words. He wanted to do something, but there was nothing he could do. The Hong Guang Group was too powerful, and Chairman Zhao Jianlong was also a representative in the Nanjiang United Coalition, a member of the council. While he, was just a small security officer captain. "Alright, the victim''s family is emotional, and Captain Xiang is also busy with official duties. Let''s go for now," Zhou Wen quickly noticed Xiang Jianjun¡¯s intent to help Chen Feng and others, so he didn¡¯t say much and quickly led his people away. "By the way," Suddenly, his footsteps paused. He placed the mediation agreement, with black text on white paper, onto a nearby chair against the wall. His gaze swept over Chen Feng before finally stopping on the family of Li Hongxia, whose eyes were bloodshot. "The injured seem to require quite a bit of treatment," he said with a slight smile. "After you''ve calmed down, I hope you''ll make the right decision in time." With a faint smile, Zhou Wen then walked away slowly. --- Tatatat! The sound of steady footsteps. Xiang Jianjun''s face was ugly as he finally turned to look at Chen Feng. "Come with me, we need to take a statement." "This matter..." After finishing the statement downstairs at the hospital, Xiang Jianjun looked at Chen Feng, whose face remained expressionless, lit a cigarette, shook his head, and said, "There''s nothing I can do." "Sorry." Chen Feng remained silent for a moment. "That¡¯s not something you should say to me." He glanced at Li Hongqiang, who was talking to other security officers, his face pale, written all over with the despair and bitterness of an ordinary person. Xiang Jianjun paused, and then heard Chen Feng ask, "What about the perpetrator?" "You mean Zhao Jiapeng?" "He was immediately taken by people from the Hong Guang Group." Xiang Jianjun''s expression was not good, he shook his head and said, "Sometimes, people just don''t have a choice." "By the way, you''re training at the Flame Tiger Martial Arts Hall, right? How''s it going?" Realizing he was changing the subject, Chen Feng didn¡¯t answer. Xiang Jianjun shook his head, took a drag from his cigarette, and helplessly said, "Do you know what the situation was with those two bodyguards in the hallway just now?" "They''ve each had two to three doses of enhancement drugs, making them comparable to professional-level fighters." "They have legal firearm permits and are allowed to defend themselves. If I hadn¡¯t shown up..." His sentence was unfinished, but Chen Feng understood. Although he could activate his Green Armor at any time, making him fearless of bullets, he didn¡¯t want to expose himself in front of others. At this point, he suddenly realized how important the improvement of his Giant Tiger Technique was. "Thank you." In the end, Chen Feng spoke. "Heh, it''s nothing. I actually didn¡¯t like the way they did things either," Xiang Jianjun took a drag from his cigarette and added, "But what can I do? My wife and kids are waiting at home, some things, I just don¡¯t have a say in." "I understand." Chen Feng nodded, showing his understanding. "The same for you. Your sister¡¯s quite concerned about you." Xiang Jianjun glanced at Chen Feng¡¯s sister, Chen Yun, who was standing not far away, her face full of worry as she waited. "Sometimes, it¡¯s these concerns that make us helpless." "So, go back and calm down a bit." Chen Feng didn''t respond to his words. "Can we leave now?" "Of course." Chen Feng nodded and turned, leading Chen Yun away from the scene. Watching their retreating figures, Xiang Jianjun¡¯s gaze was complicated as he sighed. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sometimes, he questioned the meaning of this uniform. --- "Xiao Feng." Around 4 AM, after taking a cab back home, Chen Yun, worried, handed Chen Feng his slippers. He nodded gently, thanked her, and took them. "We..." "Sis, it¡¯s okay." Chen Feng interrupted his sister, giving her a look that reassured her not to worry. Then, he moved his feet and returned to his bedroom. Click! The door to the room closed as he changed out of the bloodstained clothes and pants, lying on the bed. His mind was somewhat hazy as thoughts of Xiang Jianjun''s words and the scenes in the hospital corridor flashed through his head. Severe injuries, possibly comatose. At least hundreds of thousands in medical fees. Justice and reality were presented before him, forcing a shift in perspective deep within him. All of it weighed down under the three heavy words: Hong Guang Group. It was a legitimate giant, many times more powerful than Tian Heng Society, the leader in the photovoltaic industry in Nanjiang. The security force was limitless, but from the two bodyguards who had been injected with enhancement agents, one could tell. Moreover, the chairman was a member of the United Coalition. It could be said that this was the true giant in Nanjiang, something ordinary people couldn¡¯t afford to offend. At this point, Chen Feng forced himself to close his eyes and sleep. One minute, three minutes, five minutes... The dark green marks on his hands glimmered, and many thoughts flashed in his mind, his expression somewhat cold. He barely fell asleep and didn¡¯t stay long in the dream world. Finally, the morning sun shone through the window. His phone buzzed, and Chen Feng opened his eyes, slowly waking up. He grabbed his phone and saw a message. After reading it, his cold expression softened slightly. [Supermarket Group Chat] [Liu Fang: Chat Image] [Liu Fang: Thank heavens, we¡¯ve already communicated with Manager Zhang. Hongxia had a traffic accident on her way home from work.] [Regarding the medical fees, the company is willing to offer advance payment for her and her daughter and will also try to raise employee donations to help them through the crisis.] (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 80: Rock Tiger Pill Translator: Cinder Translations --- The message sent by Liu Fang in the group chat helped to ease some of the cold emotions. Aunt Zhang and He Xiuping expressed their gratitude in the group chat to the big boss behind the supermarket, Manager Zhang Guohui, feeling that Li Hongxia and her daughter were finally going to be okay. Seeing this, Chen Feng''s expression softened slightly. He stood up and opened the curtains. Blue skies and white clouds came into view, with the autumn morning breeze gently blowing. He glanced at the surrounding old neighborhood, where many balconies had gradually started displaying long-sleeve clothes and outerwear. The cold of autumn was becoming more pronounced. But thankfully, not everything around him was so cold and indifferent. "Ha!" Exhaling deeply, Chen Feng''s expression relaxed, and he forced himself to suppress most of his distractions. Despite having only a little over two hours of sleep last night, he should have been exhausted. Yet, he found himself surprisingly refreshed at the moment. After the breakthrough of the Flame Tiger Stance into Tiger Roar, he had entered the Bone Training realm in martial arts. His energy was vibrant, and his recovery speed far exceeded what it had been before. Additionally, there were the gains he made from the dream world last night. Although it was brief and he hadn''t managed to enter the Extreme Martial Arts Hall''s sub-hall, his luck was still decent. On the way, he obtained an attribute light orb and two limit-breaking light orbs. Attribute improvement: agility increased by 0.2, physique increased by 0.2, and willpower increased by 0.1. This somewhat raised his physical limits and alleviated his fatigue. "Once I finish with the martial arts training, I''ll go to the hospital to check things out," he thought. With this in mind, Chen Feng walked out of the house. He washed up, tidied up, and had a meal. He exchanged a few words with Chen Yun, who appeared relieved and kept saying how glad she was that everything was fine. "This Manager Zhang is a good person. It looks like Xiao Yao and Hongxia should be okay now." "Once I''m done tidying up, I¡¯ll head to the hospital as well to see if I can help." Though Chen Yun had little contact with Li Hongxia and the others, she couldn¡¯t help but want to offer her assistance when hearing about the situation. Chen Feng didn''t object and left the house after finishing his meal. After rushing and taking the bus, he arrived at the martial arts hall a little earlier than usual. "You''re early today," Lin Hao appeared in the changing room, wearing a loose black T-shirt, greeting him as usual. "Why are you so quiet?" Not receiving a response, Lin Hao raised an eyebrow, sensing something unusual about Chen Feng''s silence. He also felt as if the aura around Chen Feng had become slightly colder. "Nothing," Chen Feng gently shook his head, placing his clothes in a metal locker. Then, remembering Lin Hao''s mysterious nature and his ability to gather information, he quickly asked, "Do you know about the Hong Guang Group?" "Of course, why?" Lin Hao responded. "How much do you know about them?" Upon hearing this, Lin Hao¡¯s expression became serious. "You¡¯ve offended the Hong Guang Group?" Chen Feng shook his head, remaining silent. "Good to hear that," Lin Hao sighed in relief and then added, "Let me tell you one thing¡ªdon¡¯t mess with them." "Zhao Jianlong has been in the United Coalition for over ten years. He has deep pockets, many connections, and has recruited many strong people." "Mutants, fighters¡ªhe has them all. And I heard he recently left Nanjiang, probably planning something big..." Chen Feng¡¯s eyes flickered slightly before he asked another name. "What about Zhao Jiapeng?" Lin Hao frowned. After locking eyes with Chen Feng for a few seconds, he sighed. "I hope you really haven¡¯t offended the Hong Guang Group." "Zhao Jiapeng is Zhao Jianlong''s youngest son, quite favored. He''s a well-known troublemaker in the second-generation circle of Nanjiang. He¡¯s always surrounded by a security team from Hong Guang Group that protects him 24/7." Chen Feng squinted, gaining a clearer understanding. Seeing his expression, Lin Hao couldn''t help but feel it looked a bit familiar. "Take my advice¡ªdon¡¯t cause trouble," he said. "Of course, I¡¯m just asking," Chen Feng replied. The two exchanged glances, and Lin Hao felt a headache coming on. Fortunately, he didn''t dwell on it and instead changed the subject when the brief pause came. "Enough about that." "The club is about to be on track. Do you want to check it out this afternoon?" Chen Feng paused when he heard this. He suddenly remembered that he had promised to visit the club today. After thinking for a moment, he realized that Chen Yun was at the hospital for now, so he could visit later. "Okay." He nodded, eager to see the club that belonged to them. Soon, the time neared 9 AM. They exchanged a few more words on related topics before heading into their respective training and meditation rooms. Though Chen Feng wasn¡¯t an official disciple yet, because of Cao Tong''s tacit approval, he had received special treatment in the core class. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He could freely decide his training time, and the meditation room had become his exclusive space. "Don''t rush into training." Suddenly, Cao Tong appeared at the door of the meditation room and called out to him. Chen Feng was slightly startled, then saw Cao Tong smile and say, "Come with me, I have something good to show you." Without asking further, Chen Feng quickly followed Cao Tong into the elevator, heading to the basement level. As they passed through the metal corridor, the familiar scent of herbs filled the air. Wooden cabinets were neatly arranged, and the third elder, wearing a gray robe and appearing like a laid-back ancient scholar, was still lounging on the recliner with his eyes closed. "Third Elder." Cao Tong greeted respectfully, and the third elder opened his eyes. His cloudy gaze rested on Chen Feng, and it seemed like he noticed something, his eyes flickering slightly. "Although you are not yet an official disciple, you are still part of the Flame Tiger Hall." "If you encounter any problems, feel free to come to me." The Third Elder spoke casually, and Cao Tong was momentarily stunned. Chen Feng, on the other hand, felt unexpectedly surprised. He had been read like an open book. He could sense that something was off with his condition, ever since last night. He hadn¡¯t deliberately controlled it, which made him appear somewhat unapproachable. "Alright, enough with the talk." "Here, take this." Without saying much, the Third Elder casually tossed over a white jade porcelain bottle. It landed perfectly in his arms, and the cool sensation brought Chen Feng back to his senses. "This is the secret medicine, Rock Tiger Pill, specifically for assisting the cultivation of the Giant Tiger Technique," Cao Tong quickly explained in a low voice. Chen Feng looked surprised, not fully understanding. He was given permission to cultivate the true technique and was also given a secret medicine? Why? He didn¡¯t believe in free handouts. "You have good talent. In time, you''ll understand certain things," the Third Elder said. "It''s rare for my lineage to have a decent junior, so I appreciate talent." His tone was calm, and the Third Elder slowly closed his eyes to rest. Chen Feng could hear the hidden meaning in his words. Although he was surprised, he could also tell the Third Elder was speaking sincerely. "Thank you, Third Elder." "Mm." Without raising his head, the Third Elder waved his hand, signaling Chen Feng to leave. Chen Feng nodded, then followed Cao Tong out of the basement floor. "Brother Cao, do you know what the Third Elder was talking about?" Chen Feng asked in the elevator. Cao Tong shook his head. "I don''t know, but the Third Elder definitely wouldn''t harm you." His tone was firm. Chen Feng nodded lightly, not pressing the matter any further. The two exited the elevator, and soon, they encountered a figure in white who appeared from the opposite direction, followed by the disheveled Wu Tian who had his head lowered. As they crossed paths, Cao Tong paused paused as dictated by the internal rules of the hall and respectfully greeted, "Senior Sister Wu." "Mm." Wu Shuang nodded indifferently, quickly brushing past them and entering the elevator. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that her destination was also the basement floor. Seeing this, Cao Tong shook his head but wisely refrained from commenting. Before long, Chen Feng parted ways with him and returned to his meditation room alone. "Swallow it directly, then refine the medicinal power according to the Giant Tiger Technique''s cultivation method," Chen Feng recalled Cao Tong¡¯s reminder. He quickly unscrewed the brown wooden cap of the white jade porcelain bottle and poured out a round brown pill. It had a faint fragrance, somewhat like honey. Without hesitation, he opened his mouth and swallowed it whole. The taste was similar to Chinese herbal medicine but much more pleasant and less bitter. He then planted his feet firmly, like an ancient tree taking root. Chen Feng recalled the key points of the Giant Tiger Technique and lowered his center of gravity. He visualized the Crimson Tiger Soaring Through the Sky diagram once again. Buzz! Immediately, his spirit concentrated fully, sinking into his inner self and guiding his qi and blood to refine his muscles, bones, and skin. At the same time, as the pill entered his stomach, waves of heat quickly spread throughout his body, merging with various parts of his body. Time passed quietly, and the panel before Chen Feng automatically appeared, showing the progress feedback. [Giant Tiger Technique: Beginner (54% 55% 56%)] Additionally, the basic stance technique that integrated both practice and combat, Flame Tiger Stance, had also shown progress! [Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Roar (1% 2% 3%)] --- At the same time. In a luxurious villa¡¯s hall. A delicate crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, with sunlight streaming in through the carved windows. Several women were sprawled on brown leather sofas, sleeping in the open, wrapped in bath towels. A young man with disheveled long hair lay on the soft cushions, embraced by women, still in a deep sleep. "How long has Young Master Peng been asleep?" a lawyer named Zhou Wen, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a refined suit, walked in. Two bodyguards behind him looked at the time and responded, "Less than six hours. The medical team checked last night; apart from superficial head injuries, there are no major concerns." "And these women?" "Younger Master Peng took a stimulant last night, and the brothers couldn''t stop him." Zhou Wen frowned slightly, about to say something more, when the young man wrapped in a bath towel on the sofa woke up. "Quit making noise so early, can you?" The young man snapped impatiently, and Zhou Wen and the two bodyguards immediately fell silent. Soon, the young man propped himself up and sat against the leather sofa. Footsteps approached, and other bodyguards emerged from the villa''s corners, holding a restorative potion and walking over to him. Gulp! Gulp! The young man drank the potion in one go, and within ten seconds, his pale face slowly regained some color, showing clear signs of recovery. "Alright, speak," Zhao Jiapeng said impatiently as he set the cup down, looking up at Zhou Wen. "How was last night''s situation handled?" "Young Master Peng, the Safety Bureau has communicated, and there¡¯s no problem. But the family of the two injured people is reluctant to sign." Zhao Jiapeng squinted. "What? It''s just a few worthless lives, and you can''t settle it?" "Young Master Peng, there''s been some unrest in Nanjiang recently. A lot of eyes are on us," Zhou Wen explained seriously while adjusting his glasses. "And the hospital is full of people, so it¡¯s difficult for the brothers to take action." The atmosphere fell silent for a moment. "Do they really have the nerve to refuse the medical bills?" Zhao Jiapeng sneered. "Zhang Guohui from Jinxiang Foods and Yongle Fu helped them out. That might be their confidence," Zhou Wen replied. Upon hearing this, Zhao Jiapeng cursed, "That old man Zhang Guohui wants to die? He dares to meddle in my business?" "Didn¡¯t you warn him?!" The curse echoed, but no one responded. Zhou Wen remained calm on the outside, but internally, he sighed. "Young Master Peng, although Zhang Guohui isn¡¯t a major figure, his connection with Councilman Xu is very close." Just those simple words made Zhao Jiapeng take a deep breath. "So, what do you plan to do?" Suppressing his anger with some difficulty, Zhao Jiapeng said impatiently, "My father is returning to Nanjiang soon. If he finds out about this, you won¡¯t get away with it either." "Don¡¯t worry, Young Master Peng. The families of the injured are just ordinary people," Zhou Wen reassured him. "External forces have limits. I¡¯ll resolve this within two days." Zhou Wen¡¯s tone was firm, and Zhao Jiapeng¡¯s expression softened a little. Then, he waved his hand impatiently, dismissing Zhou Wen. He squeezed the necks of the women next to him, ignoring their painful cries, feeling only disgust and irritation in his heart. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 81: Rock Tiger Stage, Power Boost Translator: Cinder Translations --- Inside the martial arts hall¡¯s quiet room. As the internal heat gradually weakened and vanished, Chen Feng looked at the status panel, particularly focusing on the skill progression of Giant Tiger Technique. [Giant Tiger Technique: Rock Tiger (20%) +] ¡°Did I really break through directly to the Rock Tiger level?¡± Chen Feng was a bit surprised. He then moved his body. A series of cracking sounds followed, and he could clearly feel his skin, tendons, and bones all advancing to a new level. His physical attributes rapidly strengthened, and the corresponding stats were reflected on the panel. [Strength: 12.1 ¡ú 13.0] [Agility: 11.3 ¡ú 11.8] [Constitution: 12.2 ¡ú 13.4] [Willpower: 11.6 ¡ú 12.0] ¡°A 3.0 attribute increase¡­¡± Chen Feng focused and was a bit surprised. This far exceeded the effects of any skill he had trained before. Especially his constitution, which had increased by 1.2 points directly! "So this is the power of body strengthening¡­" He slightly lowered his head, looking at the muscles on his arms. Thanks to his Perception Talent, he could clearly feel that his skin and muscles had become firmer, as if a layer of tough keratin had formed. TL/N: Keratin is a protein that helps form hair, nails and your skin''s outer layer (epidermis). "Am I bulletproof now?" "No, but it¡¯s getting close." Chen Feng had a strong intuition that, perhaps because of the synergy of his other skills, his constitution had surpassed that of ordinary people and even exceeded the normal Rock Tiger level. As long as vital spots like his head and heart were not hit, small-caliber bullets probably wouldn¡¯t pose much of a threat to him. ¡°Moreover, the improvement in my constitution also indirectly boosted my other attributes, especially strength.¡± He clenched his fists, and they cracked loudly. Chen Feng felt it was surreal because he could clearly feel that his strength had increased by nearly 100 kg, approaching the professional level of 350 kg. Everything was steadily improving, and the effects of Giant Tiger Technique were better than he had expected. It truly lived up to the name of a martial arts true technique. This made him look forward to breaking through to the Fierce Tiger level as soon as possible, achieving true brute strength and becoming bulletproof! "Also, Flame Tiger Stance..." His gaze shifted to another skill on the panel. [Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Roar (21%) +] After consuming the secret medicine, the progression of Flame Tiger Stance also surged. Although it wasn''t as rapid as Giant Tiger Technique, it had still increased by 20%, a full one-fifth. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because both martial arts focus on tempering bones and flesh¡­¡± Chen Feng had a rough guess, then turned his attention to the two remaining items of interest. He was curious to try and see how many light orbs the two skills would require for further progression. ¡°Upgrade!¡± Instantly, the two Limit-Break Points were used one after another, and the progress of Giant Tiger Technique and Flame Tiger Stance increased again. [Giant Tiger Technique: Rock Tiger (28%) +] [Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Roar (29%) +] ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Chen Feng squinted. One Limit-Break Point only raised the progress by 8%. In other words, if he wanted to break through to the Fierce Tiger level or reach the "Tiger Might" stage of body cultivation¡­ He would need to consume at least nine more Limit-Break Points for each skill. And that didn¡¯t even include Explosive Fist. "It looks like tonight, I have to enter the Dream Realm and find that branch of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall," Chen Feng thought to himself, feeling a vague sense of urgency in his heart. His encounter at the hospital yesterday had left an impression on him, and those two bodyguards who had injected enhancement drugs made him even more frustrated. Without the need for martial arts, they could reach a professional level just by injecting drugs multiple times. If they weren¡¯t crushed beneath his feet, then what¡¯s the point of practicing martial arts? After finishing his training for the day, Chen Feng stood outside the martial arts hall, opening the blue sedan¡¯s door. He had promised Lin Hao that he would go to the boxing club in the afternoon. ¡°Don¡¯t you need to go to the supermarket anymore?¡± Lin Hao asked from the driver¡¯s seat, aware of Chen Feng¡¯s previous job at the supermarket. ¡°Mm.¡± Chen Feng nodded lightly, sitting in the passenger seat, not wanting to explain further. Knowing Chen Feng¡¯s personality, Lin Hao didn¡¯t press the issue. He reminded him to buckle up, and quickly stepped on the gas, heading straight for the bustling district. As they approached, various holographic projections became clearer. Chen Feng looked up to see a dolphin leap into the air, splashing waves. It seemed like a real scene, but upon closer inspection, the splashing waves turned into light dots, clearly the creation of virtual technology. ¡°Is it like this in Central City too?¡± Suddenly, Chen Feng asked, moved by the thought. Lin Hao, who was driving, paused for a moment. ¡°Well, how do I put this? The difference is huge. It¡¯s like two different worlds.¡± He explained briefly: ¡°In terms of virtual technology, this place only has holographic projections, but in Central City, memories and consciousness can be backed up. Some people can even clone themselves and be revived.¡± Chen Feng¡¯s gaze sharpened at the mention of this. ¡°Consciousness backup? Cloning and revival? Has Earth¡¯s technology advanced to this level?¡± ¡°Otherwise, how could they call it the New World?¡± Lin Hao said with a sigh before mentioning Chen Feng¡¯s sister. ¡°Your sister is about to go to Central City too, right?¡± S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about her. Although it¡¯s a little different there, everything is under the laws of the Red Nation.¡± ¡°Your sister is a high-end talent in a research institute. She¡¯ll definitely enter official training, with protection from agencies like the Safety Bureau.¡± Hearing his explanation, Chen Feng felt a bit more at ease. But then, he realized something. ¡°You seem to know a lot about Central City?¡± Chen Feng asked, tilting his head toward Lin Hao. Lin Hao fell silent for a moment before forcing a smile. ¡°Who doesn¡¯t have a story?¡± There was a hint of helplessness and complexity in his voice. Chen Feng knew he didn¡¯t want to talk more, so he nodded lightly and didn¡¯t ask further. The atmosphere in the car became quiet until, after about ten minutes, the car slowed down. Lin Hao parked in an open-air parking lot. ¡°We¡¯re here, this is it.¡± Chen Feng looked up, seeing a large shopping mall with multiple floors. People came and went, with four floors of space. Clothing stores, jewelry, restaurants, cinemas, and more were all inside. ¡°Our club is on the second floor, right next to a gym.¡± ¡°I interviewed three boxing coaches yesterday. One is a bit of a troublemaker, with about a Level 2 professional skill. He¡¯s demanding, and a little hard to manage.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also a nearby combat club. They sent someone over yesterday, and I feel like they might cause trouble.¡± Leading Chen Feng to the elevator, Lin Hao shared a few more details, returning to his usual smiling expression. ¡°So, since you¡¯re here today, you can stretch your muscles a bit.¡± ¡°So, these guys will know that our club has someone backing it up.¡± Amidst Lin Hao¡¯s teasing, the elevator reached the second floor. The two of them stepped out, and Chen Feng quickly saw the boxing club right next to the gym. It covered several hundred square meters, with a glass door on the outside, allowing a clear view of the inside. The floor was covered with smooth soft mats, with dumbbells, barbells, and other small fitness equipment, along with several leather punching bags placed upright or hanging. Inside, more than ten people were practicing boxing, and at the front desk, there was a young woman in a suit and skirt. At the center, on either side of the glass door, there were potted plants, and above the door, the sign read: Hao Feng Boxing Club. Chen Feng¡¯s gaze sharpened, and he turned to look at Lin Hao in surprise. ¡°What are you looking at? I told you, we¡¯re partners, 50/50.¡± ¡°The shares and the name are the same!¡± Lin Hao said matter-of-factly. Chen Feng gave a helpless smile. Then, following Lin Hao, he walked toward the club. The young woman at the front desk hurriedly put away her phone and snacks from the desk. ¡°Hello, Boss!¡± Her voice was somewhat melodic, and she was quite good-looking¡ªan oval face, big eyes, delicate features, and light makeup. ¡°Hmm.¡± Lin Hao lightly nodded, pretending not to notice her goofing off on her phone. He pointed to Chen Feng beside him and introduced, ¡°Let me introduce you.¡± ¡°This is the other shareholder I mentioned to you, our head boxing coach, and my partner, Chen Feng.¡± ¡°This is the front desk employee, Zhou Xiaoli, and there¡¯s also Xu Xiaoxiao, who rotates shifts with her.¡± Zhou Xiaoli looked curiously at Chen Feng. His tall and strong build made her look up to him. He was dressed in black, calm and indifferent, making people feel a sense of pressure. ¡°Hello, Coach Chen!¡± She quickly said respectfully, and Chen Feng felt somewhat uncomfortable with the title. But seeing the situation, he nodded slightly in response. ¡°Hehe.¡± Lin Hao secretly smiled, rarely seeing Chen Feng act like this. They continued walking, soon entering the spacious training area. ¡°I¡¯ve divided the club into a few areas. This is the most basic practice area. Anyone can come to practice as long as they register, but equipment and time are limited, it¡¯s just a trial operation.¡± ¡°Inside is the student area. Only those with a student card can enter. They can receive boxing training from the coach. There should be eleven people currently.¡± ¡°And then there¡¯s the membership area. I set some thresholds, and specifically emphasized that your expert guidance, as the head coach, will be there. Of course, there aren¡¯t many people for now.¡± Lin Hao walked around, explaining everything actively. Zhou Xiaoli followed along, occasionally helping Lin Hao with additional details or answering individual questions. ¡°It¡¯s quite good.¡± Chen Feng nodded gently, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes. Although he wasn¡¯t knowledgeable about business, he could tell that Lin Hao must have put in a lot of effort and money to build this place. Everything was clean, orderly, and well-organized. The atmosphere was also quite good. ¡°Jab!¡± ¡°First, set up your fighting stance, keep both fists protecting your cheeks.¡± ¡°When attacking with a punch, push off with your back foot, using your waist to power your shoulder, and deliver the punch with your shoulder.¡± The three of them reached the student area, where seven or eight students were practicing boxing. There were both men and women, mostly under thirty years old. A young coach was demonstrating actions at the front, while another coach was patiently correcting the students'' movements. However, this scene made Lin Hao frown slightly. He looked over and saw another coach sitting by the window at the far side, looking down at his phone. Short-cropped hair, probably in his thirties. His breathing was steady, his complexion normal, and there wasn¡¯t a drop of sweat on him. His training clothes showed no signs of perspiration either. ¡°How long has Wang Cheng been resting?¡± Lin Hao turned to Zhou Xiaoli. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she answered truthfully, ¡°He¡¯s... been resting the whole time.¡± ¡°Are Zhang Ping and Chen Dong okay with that?¡± Lin Hao asked again. ¡°They had a match this morning. Zhang Ping and Chen Dong lost when they teamed up,¡± Zhou Xiaoli answered honestly, not daring to hide anything. Chen Feng narrowed his eyes upon hearing this, and Lin Hao frowned. Soon, it seemed like others noticed. All the students in the practice room stopped their movements, looking confused, and the other two coaches, including Wang Cheng by the window, all had similar expressions. Everyone¡¯s gaze was now focused on them, and the atmosphere suddenly felt a bit awkward. Lin Hao relaxed his frown, quickly exchanged a glance with Chen Feng, and then slowly walked forward. ¡°Haha, everyone, it¡¯s been just one day, and you¡¯re all looking more professional.¡± ¡°Listen to the sounds, seems like our club has struck gold.¡± After a few lighthearted remarks, Lin Hao broke the ice, walking into the training area. Zhang Ping, who was correcting movements, and Chen Dong, who was teaching in the front, both smiled and responded, calling him boss. As for Wang Cheng by the window, he put away his phone but remained seated. ¡°Since everyone¡¯s talent is so good, our club must provide more professional guidance!¡± ¡°So, let me introduce this guy to you.¡± With a smile that drew everyone¡¯s attention, Lin Hao stood next to Chen Feng and said, ¡°This is a professional-level fighter, the head coach of our club, Coach Chen Feng!¡± His words were met with scattered applause. Most of the students were still a bit confused, and a few of them looked at Chen Feng with skeptical expressions. ¡°Professional level?¡± ¡°He¡¯s so young, is that for real?¡± ¡°Is he stronger than Coach Wang?¡± Low murmurs spread among the students, as many had seen Wang Cheng¡¯s deliberate display of strength in the last two days. A punch generating 230 to 240 kilograms of force, the punching machine buzzing with the impact. Except for lacking certification for now, he definitely had a professional level two ability. ¡°Wang Cheng!¡± Seeing the strange expressions, Lin Hao smiled slightly and quickly called out to Wang Cheng, who had been sitting by the window with his arms crossed, seemingly watching the scene. ¡°Boss?¡± Wang Cheng responded indifferently from his seat. ¡°Come on, lend a hand to Coach Chen.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± With a slight frown, Wang Cheng stood up. He was tall, about 1.85 meters, with broad shoulders and bulging muscles, resembling a strong man like Cao Tong. There was a black tattoo on his left cheek and neck beneath his short hair. His features were ordinary, but he gave off an intimidating vibe. Thud, thud! His heavy footsteps approached, and he walked to a spot in front of Chen Feng, looking down at him from a short distance. Although he was strong and somewhat stocky, he appeared quite young¡ªat most 22 or 23 years old. A professional at that age would come to a small club like this? A thought flashed through Chen Feng¡¯s mind, and Wang Cheng stood with his arms hanging at his sides, his gaze lowered, his expression calm. ¡°Coach Chen, show us a few moves?¡± (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 82: Fear Brings About the Optimal Outcome (1800+ Words) Translator: Cinder Translations --- "Coach Chen, show us what you''ve got." A somewhat rebellious voice echoed through the training room. The burly Wang Cheng stood like a towering giant, making everyone feel pressured. Seven or eight trainees and the other two boxing coaches all turned to look. The former were mostly curious onlookers, while the latter seemed to harbor some concern. After all, all of them were at an amateur level of 9th dan or even slightly higher. But today, when they teamed up, they were almost brought to their knees after just two or three moves from Wang Cheng. For a moment, with a variety of expressions, all eyes were on Chen Feng, who remained calm. He glanced at the rebellious man, who was about two or three centimeters taller than him, and nodded faintly. "Sure." As soon as the words left his mouth, a shadow flashed in front of him. Wang Cheng, standing still a moment ago, suddenly struck. His arms fell to his sides like giant pythons, whipping forward in a roaring punch. Whoosh! The sound of air being torn apart echoed as everyone¡¯s eyes widened, still in shock. Beside them, Zhou Xiaoli instinctively covered her mouth, her face paling, unable to look any further. Until, finally, Wang Cheng''s fists, like dragons, landed with a heavy blow to Chen Feng''s chest. Boom! A muffled sound rang out, and everyone felt a sudden jolt in their chest. ¡°...¡± "Is this your full strength?" Chen Feng remained unmoved, his tone indifferent, locking eyes with Wang Cheng. Wang Cheng''s pupils contracted, and a sense of danger quickly rose from within. This is bad! Realizing his mistake, he hurriedly exploded with power, pushing his back and shoulders in an attempt to withdraw his punch! But the next second... A large hand appeared out of nowhere, pressing against the back of his head. Thud!!! A headbutt, and stars exploded before his eyes. Chen Feng took advantage of the momentum and yanked Wang Cheng forward, standing straight, his left arm driving a punch. Boom! With 350 kilograms of punch power¡ªan ordinary punch, not even a full-powered one! A dull explosion sounded, and it seemed as though white mist spread from the impact. Wang Cheng¡¯s head snapped sideways, his consciousness clouded, and his eyes rolled back in his head. Thud, thud! In the sound of unsteady footsteps, Wang Cheng swayed, his body tilting left and right. Finally, with a loud thud, he knelt to the ground. Hiss!!! A deathly silence fell in the room, with the sound of people gasping for air. Chen Feng, expressionless, stepped over Wang Cheng''s unconscious body and slowly walked toward a hanging leather punching bag, standing firmly. His strong physique casting a huge shadow. In the midst of astonished glances, he clenched his right fist, and his shoulder and back muscles rippled like flowing water. Roar! Like a tiger emerging from the mountains, his muscles and bones resonated in unison! Thud!!! Poof! With a punch, the leather bag trembled violently! The veins in his fist bulged as it appeared from the other side, and the shattered black leather flew like debris from the cracks. The sunlight pouring in through the floor-to-ceiling window cast its rays, and everyone stared in stunned silence. Finally, Chen Feng moved his right shoulder, stepping back and twisting his shoulder, pulling his arm back. Whoosh, whoosh!!! The hole punched through the leather bag spouted sand grains, which quickly fell to the ground, accumulating in a pile. The mixture of dark brown and white-gray sand felt like it had smashed into everyone''s hearts, creating an oppressive, heavy atmosphere. Thud, thud! Finally, turning around to face everyone, Chen Feng stood tall. His tone calm, he glanced around as though introducing himself and slowly spoke, "My name is Chen Feng." "You can all call me, Coach Chen." --- "Holy shit, dude you¡¯re too strong!" A few minutes later, Chen Feng was alone in the club¡¯s lounge, pulled aside by Lin Hao. Along the way, everyone stared at him with shock and admiration, and all the trainees and coaches were left in a daze for a long while. Even Lin Hao muttered his astonishment several times. "How the hell did you train like that?" "Is the Tiger Roar state really that terrifying?" Chen Feng shook his head lightly, not offering much explanation. What he had actually done earlier was use some of his Explosive Fist technique, but with just a slight restraint, increasing his force by only around 40%. With 40% of a 350-kilogram punch, it was almost 500 kilograms of raw power, reaching the peak of professional level. One punch, and the leather punching bag was simply a fragile object in comparison. And the reason he did it was to intimidate everyone and establish the rules for the club. "Monster, you¡¯re really a monster." Lin Hao repeated the words in an envious tone, not knowing how many times he had said it. Although he had thought Chen Feng had great talent, he had never had a clear frame of reference. It¡¯s just that every time Wu Tian was defeated in an instant, he couldn¡¯t gauge Chen Feng¡¯s destructive power. But today, he had received a surprise. "Well, with your display, you¡¯ve probably shocked them all." "Especially Wang Cheng. He¡¯ll definitely listen more from now on. And those trainees¡ªthis is the best promotion. I think some of them will want to become our core members." Lin Hao rambled on, but Chen Feng didn¡¯t pay much attention. He recalled the moment when Cao Tong had exploded a punching bag with a single punch. At first, he thought he should be able to do the same, but now he realized, even with full explosive force, it would be difficult to achieve. "Strength." Chen Feng¡¯s eyes flickered as he remembered something Cao Tong had once said. If the Tiger Roar stance breaks through to the Tiger Might, it can internally refine the organs and give birth to great strength. Clearly, that was how Cao Tong achieved it. Thinking of this, Chen Feng didn¡¯t want to waste any more time. He quickly asked Lin Hao for a private training room and started practicing his stance alone. The effects of the Secret Medicine Rock Tiger Pill might still linger, and he might still be able to improve further. Achoo! "Who¡¯s talking bad about me behind my back?" In a commercial district near the city center, Cao Tong stepped down from a black SUV, sneezed, and muttered to himself. The companion beside Cao Tong shook his head upon hearing this, patting his broad, tower-like shoulder with a teasing smile, "Your body can¡¯t take it anymore, huh? I told you to rest early at night." "Get lost." Cao Tong slapped away the hand on his shoulder, distancing himself with a look of disdain. Wu Shuang, seeing this, remained expressionless. She stepped out of the backseat of the car in her plain white clothes, passed by the two men, and looked up at the residential area ahead. People were coming and going, with sounds of laughter and chatter. Under the tree at the entrance, an elderly man was playing chess, children were chasing each other, and adults sat nearby, gossiping. "Senior Sister Wu, is that Serpent Spirit Sect scum really hiding here?" Cao Tong asked from the side. Wu Shuang replied calmly, "I¡¯m not sure. This is just the area we suspect for now; we¡¯ll need to check step by step." Another person furrowed their brows, curious. "What about the United Coalition people?" "They¡¯ve found traces of another Cult member and have sent people to investigate and block any traces nearby." "We¡¯re here mainly to lend a hand, just in case." Cao Tong and the others relaxed their brows, glancing at the towering buildings of the residential area, and at the damp and foul-smelling sewer manhole covers. "These Cult members, every time they¡¯re severely injured, they use despicable methods to absorb the life force of others to heal." "Let¡¯s go, see if anyone¡¯s in trouble." With a calm tone, Wu Shuang took the lead and stepped forward. Cao Tong and the others silently followed, soon blending into the crowd of the residential area. ------- Later that evening, after finishing his training at the club and having dinner, Chen Feng and Lin Hao chatted briefly. He left around 8 PM. Since Chen Yun was still at the hospital, he stopped by on his way. Li Hongxia and her daughter had not woken up yet, and the lawyer and bodyguards from yesterday strangely hadn''t appeared. However... "Old Li, listen to our advice and sign the agreement." "Yeah, Hong Guang Group isn¡¯t a company ordinary people like us can mess with. If they say it''s a brake failure, then it¡¯s a brake failure." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You can¡¯t change their minds. If you don¡¯t sign and keep making a fuss, you won¡¯t get a single cent in compensation. You¡¯ll gain nothing." Several new faces had appeared in the hospital, both male and female, of various ages. Through Liu Fang¡¯s explanation, Chen Feng learned that these were relatives of Li Hongxia¡¯s family. "We¡¯ll handle our own affairs, don¡¯t say anything!" Li Hongqiang stood next to his elderly parents, scolding a few times, but was soon surrounded by more voices persuading him. Chen Feng calmly watched all of this, then left the hospital with Chen Yun. "What did the doctor say?" he asked as they walked. "Her vital signs are stabilizing. The doctor said she was lucky to survive, but recovery will take some time." "Mr. Zhang also came to check on Hongxia¡¯s family today. What¡¯s strange is that the lawyer from yesterday hasn¡¯t come back, and neither has the person responsible for the accident." "Hongxia¡¯s family is very angry, so they¡¯ve refused to sign the mediation agreement. They just want a sincere apology." Chen Yun briefly explained the situation, and Chen Feng listened quietly. As for Li Hongxia and Xu Yao''s matter, in essence, he was just an outsider and had no right to decide anything. They had worked together, so he hoped for a peaceful resolution. What he could do was offer assistance out of goodwill, within his ability. "I hope everything ends with the best outcome." With a calm gaze, Chen Feng and Chen Yun returned home. He had gained little from his dreams the night before, and now he couldn¡¯t wait to find more of those limit-breaking light orbs. After washing up and settling into bed, he was about to close his eyes when his phone suddenly vibrated. Buzz. Instinctively, he unlocked it to check. An unexpected message appeared before him. ------ Buzz! An hour later, lightning struck suddenly. In the dark, cloudy night, a figure with an Azure horn stood at the street corner. The hospital had temporarily stopped medication, claiming key drugs were unavailable, so treatment could not continue. Although still indignant, Li Hongxia¡¯s family came to terms with the reality. Chen Feng, expressionless, looked at the villa in the distance, the fiberglass red eyes glaring brightly. "It¡¯s only fear... that brings about the best outcome." "So, let me be its enforcer." He muttered as thunder rumbled in the sky. The clouds thickened, and the wind howled. A storm was coming. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Chapter 112. Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Nightmare Strikes FREE!! ;) Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 83: The Scent of Fear (2700+ Words) Translator: Cinder Translations --- "Young Master Peng, the matter has been resolved." It was 10:30 PM. Zhou Wen stood on the lawn of a detached villa and respectfully handed the signed mediation agreement to Zhao Jiapeng. Looking around, he saw they were in the villa¡¯s outdoor area on the first floor. Elite bodyguards dressed in suits stood vigilantly at every corner, with bulging muscles and earphones in place, on high alert. In the center was a swimming pool tiled with ceramic, surrounded by stacks of alcohol and colorful figures, as if a party was being held. A group of seductively dressed women posed provocatively, while Zhao Jiapeng, the main character of the party, lay on a white lounge chair wearing a floral shirt and shorts, with women on either side. "Oh? You got it done in a day?" After glancing at the mediation agreement, Zhao Jiapeng¡¯s irritation faded. "Well done, Zhou Wen. How did you do it? Tell me." His voice was filled with curiosity, and many eyes turned toward Zhou Wen. Zhou Wen smiled slightly, adjusted his golden-rimmed glasses, and leaned forward to whisper a few words. "Hahaha, nice!" Zhao Jiapeng laughed arrogantly, clapping his hands. "These bastards deserve to be treated like this." "The more we push them to the brink, the more they¡¯ll know pain and beg for mercy." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Amidst his laughter, he walked to the lawn, grabbed a bottle of champagne, shook it around, then opened the cap, spraying the alcohol everywhere while continuing to laugh loudly. "Woohoo!" "Young Master Peng is amazing!" "Young Master Peng!" The voices around the pool were filled with flattery, with some women stepping forward to get themselves wet, shaking their bodies to please him. Zhou Wen, understanding the situation, stepped back and breathed a little easier. "Brother Wen, it¡¯s all thanks to you." Two bodyguards clustered behind him, their voices filled with relief. If this had been handled poorly and the chairman found out, they would certainly face punishment. "Just a small thing." Zhou Wen shook his head calmly, looking unfazed. He adjusted his suit jacket, and his gold-rimmed glasses reflected the chaotic scene around the pool. His mind wandered back to that night in the hospital. The power and authority of Hong Guang Group were not to be trifled with. When he had personally met the so-called hospital director, a little pressure had been enough to make the director lower his head. The director had no choice but to stop the vital medicine from being used as a gesture of loyalty. No matter how bold or defiant, the family of the injured could only bow their stubborn heads and swallow their bitterness in such a situation. "This is power." A sense of awe arose in Zhou Wen¡¯s heart. He suddenly realized that by entering Hong Guang Group and leaning on such a strong backer, he had come a long way. Looking around at the security, Zhou Wen reminded himself to stay cautious. He soon turned to the bodyguards and said, "Although everything seems fine now, we still need to be careful." "The chairman isn¡¯t in Nanjiang, so there are likely some who are restless. We can¡¯t afford any more mistakes." The two bodyguards nodded repeatedly, one of them patting his chest. "Don¡¯t worry, Brother Wen. The brothers are all on alert." "We¡¯re all members of the group¡¯s security team, seasoned fighters who¡¯ve had a couple of booster shots. Plus, we¡¯ve got Old Xu overseeing things, so everything will be fine." Upon hearing this, Zhou Wen glanced up at a room on the second floor of the villa. Old Xu had been with the chairman for many years. He had even spent a large sum to enhance his modifications in Central City, making him extremely powerful. With him around, things should be fine. At that moment, Zhou Wen suddenly felt an unsettling sensation. Looking outside, the night sky was darkened, as thick clouds had gathered, enveloping the entire city. For some reason, he felt an unusual sense of unease in his heart. This was the first time he had felt this way since joining Hong Guang Group. "Forget it, I¡¯ll advise Young Master Peng to rest early, just in case." Trusting his instincts, Zhou Wen walked toward the pool area, but the two bodyguards hesitated. Who would dare to suggest rest when Young Master Peng was so caught up in the mood? Knowing what they were thinking, Zhou Wen didn¡¯t press the issue and quickly moved toward the poolside. "Younger Master Peng, it¡¯s getting late. Perhaps you should rest early." "Rest my ass! There¡¯s nothing to do tomorrow!" Zhao Jiapeng, wearing a floral shirt, muttered, visibly displeased. Zhou Wen sighed inwardly. "Alright, no need to sulk." "You did well today, so come join me and have some fun." Zhao Jiapeng mocked with a smile, then signaled two of the closest seductive women to him and pushed them forward. Seeing this, Zhou Wen felt helpless. He opened his mouth as if to advise further. Boom! The next moment, a gunshot rang out suddenly outside the villa. Everyone froze, and Zhao Jiapeng turned his head in confusion. "What¡¯s going on?" "Someone¡¯s trying to break into the villa!" The bodyguards'' earpieces crackled with voices. Zhao Jiapeng grew intrigued. "Oh? Let me see who¡¯s got a death wish!" Boom boom boom boom boom! Gunshots rang out in quick succession, followed by shouts on the earpieces. "Not good!" "Ah!" "We can¡¯t stop them!" Panicked cries filled the air, and muffled sounds followed. In just a few seconds, a bodyguard in a suit was flung out of the villa, crashing through the pool¡¯s wall and falling in front of the group. The atmosphere went silent, with only a few raspy breaths escaping from the dying man¡¯s mouth before his head tilted and he died. Panic filled the air as everyone looked toward the hole in the wall. Woosh! Pitter patter. Suddenly, rain began to fall from the dark clouds, and a flash of lightning illuminated the sky. From a distance, under the dim streetlights and in the dark night, more than a dozen bodyguards lay scattered, blood staining the ground. At the center, a figure with an Azure horn stood calmly. His glass-fiber eyes were blood-red, and with one hand, he gripped a man¡¯s neck, lifting him off the ground. Crack! The sound of breaking bones rang out, and a thunderous boom followed! Boom! Chen Feng dropped the body and coldly turned his gaze toward Zhao Jiapeng and the others, standing just beyond the hole in the wall. "Not good! It¡¯s a cyborg!" "Young Master Peng, run!" Zhou Wen reacted fastest. Though his face was pale, he shouted urgently. But... Boom! The ground shook as Chen Feng stomped on it, then lunged forward. Like an Azure cannonball, he leaped over ten meters, leaving a trail of afterimages, charging straight toward Zhao Jiapeng. "Protect Young Master Peng!!!" Two bodyguards yelled, and others began shooting. Bang bang bang bang! Clang clang clang clang! The sound of bullets splintering and sparks flying was deafening. The metallic clanging chilled everyone to the bone as the Azure figure, like a wild dragon, surged forward. Soon, the remaining bodyguards¡¯ chests caved in, and they were thrown through the villa¡¯s walls and windows. "Huff." Their internal organs ruptured, and blood spilled out. The two bodyguards lay on the ground, pale, watching the Azure figure cross their cooling bodies and approach Zhou Wen and Zhao Jiapeng. Where did this powerhouse come from? The chairman¡¯s enemy? No one could answer their questions as the scream that broke the silence rang out. "Ah!!!" The women around the pool, who had been provocatively dressed, were already frozen with fear, lying on the ground. Zhao Jiapeng¡¯s face went pale, and Zhou Wen, in front of him, trembled uncontrollably. [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] The fear indicator flashed repeatedly, but Chen Feng¡¯s gaze suddenly sharpened. Boom! As he dodged backward, a figure suddenly fell where he had just been standing. The ground cracked, forming a half-meter deep pit, with cracks spreading outward. Upon closer inspection, the towering figure stood at nearly two meters tall, with a middle-aged face, a sinister nose, and a ponytail hairstyle. His body was entirely covered in brown metal, with rocky patterns clearly marking him as a fully-enhanced cyborg. "Old Xu!" "Uncle Xu!" Zhou Wen and Zhao Jiapeng, seeing a savior, were both visibly excited. The latter regained his composure, sneering at Chen Feng, feeling that this man was already a corpse. "Who are you?" With a serious expression, Xu Shan fixed his gaze on Chen Feng. He had never seen such a modification module in Nanjiang, except for the person rumored to have been involved in the Tian Heng Society incident. "Grim reaper." With a cold face, Chen Feng suddenly threw a punch. "Courting death!" With an angry roar, Xu Shan immediately activated his full-body enhancement module. Vroom! It was like an engine revving up, and a vortex erupted. The rocky patterns on his brown metal glowed brightly, and a metal mask appeared on his face, covering his head. Boom! Punch against punch, the ground beneath them cracked, and the sound of snapping fissures rang out. Zhou Wen and Zhao Jiapeng staggered and almost fell, quickly retreating to distance themselves, trying to escape. "With this little strength, you dare to raid the Zhao residence?" Feeling at ease, Xu Shan''s gaze turned cold as he looked at the azure figure that had been pushed back by his punch, retreating a few steps. No longer holding back, he activated his power unit to overload! Buzz! In an instant, his figure blurred, becoming a shadow that instantly appeared in front of Chen Feng. With a punch, the rain exploded like mist. A full ton of power! Boom!!! The punch hit the face, the muffled sound of an explosion! The Azure horned head tilted back; the surrounding rain evaporated. "Die!" A furious shout, and killing intent soared. Taking advantage of the moment, Xu Shan attacked again, the brown metal patterns on his body lighting up completely. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! One punch after another, his arms almost became afterimages, constantly pounding on Chen Feng¡¯s body. The Azure cyborg''s head swayed from side to side, and the red eyes made of fiberglass were strikingly bright. Finally, the scanning module detected the biggest flaw, and Xu Shan''s face turned cold as he threw his final punch. Boom!!! The rain paused briefly, a vacuum forming within a half-meter radius. But despite such a powerful attack, the Azure figure still stood in place, the punch landing as if it had no power at all. "Is that it?" "Is this all you''ve got?" Chen Feng tilted his head, casting a sideways glance at Xu Shan''s brown metal mask. The Giant Tiger technique brought a massive boost to his physique, increasing both his armor''s activation time and his strength, defense, and other aspects by a factor of two, making him much stronger than before. Xu Shan widened his eyes, and the faint blue light on the fiberglass mask flickered, seemingly in disbelief. "How is this possible!" Buzz! And as Xu Shan stood there distracted, the air vibrated and the surrounding rain seemed to shudder. The Azure figure''s right arm suddenly grew thicker, as if endless power was gathering, building momentum. His pupils contracted, and there was nowhere to hide. The next second. Whoosh!!! The thick Azure arm shot forward like a javelin, leaving a trail of white mist behind it. A full force strike of about 1.5 tons, a double enhancement of the Explosive Fist and the armor. Raindrops exploded, shockwaves rose, and the grass was blown away. Until the end. Boom!!! A muffled explosion, a whirlwind formed around them, and the grass and water droplets within a three-to-five-meter radius exploded into foam. Crack! An exceptionally sharp sound rang out. Looking over, the Azure fist mark was engraved into Xu Shan¡¯s brown metal mask, distorting everything around it. Crack! Crack! Crack! More and more strange sounds appeared, several cracks rapidly spreading, and droplets of blood mixed and fell. Finally, with a loud bang! The brown metal mask shattered into pieces, and Xu Shan¡¯s body staggered backward, falling to the ground. [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] Familiar panel prompts appeared again; the muffled sound of gasps cut through the rainy air. Chen Feng walked forward indifferently, stepping on Xu Shan''s head. "You... who are you?" Boom! Blood exploded like watermelon juice, and the Azure armor splattered with crimson as Chen Feng stepped over the corpse. Finally, with his perception heightened, he looked at the two figures standing in front of the villa¡¯s door. One wore gold-rimmed glasses and looked like a high-level elite, but now his face was pale, his lips trembling, his face full of horror. The other wore a floral shirt and shorts, his whole body trembling, full of fear, no longer the arrogant young master from before. "I... I''ll give you money!" "Don''t kill me!!" Zhao Jiapeng hurriedly begged, backing away and pleading, "No matter who sent you, I¡¯ll pay double, no, three times, four times!!!" His voice was frantic, and fear notifications appeared rapidly. Chen Feng silently stepped forward and walked right up to the stiff, trembling pair. "Kill him." Chen Feng looked at Zhou Wen, his voice low, tossing over a pistol he had picked up. Upon hearing this, Zhao Jiapeng''s pupils contracted, frozen in place. When he came to his senses, he quickly turned to Zhou Wen. "I¡ª" He opened his mouth, but Zhou Wen, his face pale, suddenly felt as though the modified man before him was a demon. Did he have to kill Zhao Jiapeng to survive? "Seems like you don''t want this chance?" Chen Feng''s tone was indifferent. Hearing this, Zhou Wen fell into hesitation, trembling, his glasses shaking. Quickly, Zhao Jiapeng''s face turned cold, and he squatted down, picking up the gun. "Zhou Wen, you lowly bastard, you dare betray the Zhao family!" Zhao Jiapeng''s voice was venomous, standing in front of him, without hesitation, pulling the trigger. Click! The atmosphere was silent! The gun was empty, and Zhao Jiapeng''s face stiffened. "Now?" Chen Feng¡¯s tone was cold, tossing another pistol that landed right in Zhou Wen¡¯s hand. The coldness of the gun in his hand made Zhou Wen look at the retreating Zhao Jiapeng. Fear and dread filled his heart. This was the first time he saw such a look on the arrogant young master''s face. All the dirty work he¡¯d done for him all these years, and now, in the end... "Die!!!" Bloodshot eyes, Zhou Wen slammed the trigger! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bullets flew, piercing Zhao Jiapeng¡¯s body and head. Blood mist appeared, and his body fell to the ground. Zhou Wen emptied the magazine, bloodshot eyes, his face twisted, gasping heavily in place. The smell of blood hit his nose, and he suddenly felt nauseous, wanting to vomit. "He was right." "You really are a lowly thing." A cold voice sounded again. Zhou Wen forced a smile, looking at the figure before him with a pleading expression. "Can you let me go?" "Why?" Chen Feng asked, puzzled. Fear notifications kept appearing as the progress of the Azure armor soared, nearing the critical point. Zhou Wen was stunned, and in his eyes, despair and rage exploded. "Isn¡¯t killing him the only way I survive?" "Why?!!!" His voice cracked with terror, and his whole body trembled. Chen Feng¡¯s tone was indifferent and deep: "When did I say I would let you go?" Zhou Wen¡¯s eyes widened, and the next second, a massive Azure hand shot forward, grabbing his head. With a twist, the hand exerted force. Crack! His neck snapped, eyes wide open, dying without peace. "Those who trifle with life will eventually be toyed with by it." "What do you think?" In a deep tone, Chen Feng turned his head, looking around. A few people lay scattered on the ground, pretending to be dead, most of them irrelevant bystanders. They widened their eyes in shock, not daring to breathe. Fear surged again until it broke free from its shackles. As the external sounds faded, Chen Feng finally stopped, turned, and left quickly. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Chapter 112. Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Nightmare Strikes FREE!! ;) Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 84: Azure Armor Upgrade (2100+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- Whoosh! In the night, several Azure-and-white flying cars swiftly approached, their wake creating a gust of wind and a buzzing sound. When they landed on the villa''s grounds and saw the bodies scattered across the area, all the security officers from the Safety Department turned pale, their faces full of shock. "Who did this?" Xiang Jianjun¡¯s face was filled with disbelief, and the other officers around him quickly searched the area, moving briskly. Eventually, they found the body in the floral shirt. After extracting blood and testing for DNA, all of them fell silent. "Zhao Jiapeng is dead." Someone spoke in a low tone, their expression grim. The Zhao family was powerful, and the Hong Guang Group was the local industry leader. Zhao Jianlong, the chairman, was also a member of the United Coalition. His son¡¯s death, even though he wasn¡¯t an only child, would undoubtedly enrage the family. "Who did this?" Someone asked, and they quickly accessed the surveillance footage from the area. The Azure-armored figure had not concealed itself at all. Upon seeing the figure clearly, the faces of Xiang Jianjun and the others subtly changed. "Is it him again?" "This guy... he really scared me this time." Inside the bedroom, Lin Hao received the news from Uncle Liu. Lin Hao, lying in bed with the light on, wore a resentful expression. Soon, his phone vibrated. A familiar contact name appeared, and he answered the call. "What''s your friend been doing?" The voice on the other side was serious. Lin Hao didn¡¯t hold back and directly asked. At midnight, unable to resist the bombarding calls from Chen Feng, Lin Hao had revealed Zhao Jiapeng¡¯s address. Now, he was told that all of Zhao Jiapeng¡¯s people had been killed by his (Chen Feng¡¯s) friend, who was a modified human? TL/N: I was initially confused by this conversation, but it is Lin Hao talking to Chen Feng and Chen Feng is talking about his friend (Azure Armor) in the third person. "He¡¯s doing whatever he¡¯s supposed to be doing," Chen Feng¡¯s voice came from the other end, low and steady, with the faint sound of rain in the background. Lin Hao fell silent but soon heard Chen Feng continue, "Thanks, he owes you two favors." The call ended abruptly. A dial tone followed, and Lin Hao sat on his bed, sighing and shaking his head in resignation. Beep! The call ended, and Chen Feng, dressed in black, stood in a dark alley. "Two favors." He muttered to himself, then looked up at the sky. The moon was hidden behind the clouds, but the rain had lessened considerably. He didn¡¯t like getting involved in other people¡¯s business. But some things, he had to do. Regardless of the consequences, at least his restless mind had finally calmed. With that thought, Chen Feng no longer hesitated. He quickened his pace, using his perception to avoid nearby surveillance cameras, and soon returned home. Chen Yun was fast asleep in the adjacent room. It was nearly dawn. Fatigue washed over him, and Chen Feng could feel both his physical and mental exhaustion. The Azure state had been activated, and the continuous use of Explosive Fist had drained him. He should have already reached his limit, but... [Talent: Azure Armor LV2 (1/100)] He glanced at the updated status of his Azure talent, feeling somewhat relieved. Killing was the best way to generate fear, and Zhao Jiapeng and his men had provided him with the ideal nourishment to upgrade his talent. The improvements were primarily in two areas. First, the hardness of the Azure shell. Chen Feng could sense that it was more than twice as strong as before, possibly even able to withstand repeated shots from small-caliber rifles. Second, the consumption of stamina and mental energy. Rather than increasing, it had actually decreased by half. In other words, with his Azure activated, he could maintain it for twice as long. Coupled with his recent breakthroughs in martial arts, especially the explosive boost in his physical condition due to the Giant Tiger Technique, the maximum duration for the Azure talent had likely surpassed 15 minutes. Additionally, there were minor improvements in strength and speed. Though not very noticeable, Chen Feng was already satisfied. Then, he glanced at the time on his phone. He lay down on the bed, feeling the fatigue set in, his mind briefly flashing through many thoughts. Eventually, he succumbed to the feeling and gradually fell asleep. Meanwhile, outside, a large portion of Nanjiang was in an uproar. Chen Feng had no knowledge of this. He was simply carrying a black backpack, walking swiftly through the misty dream world, heading straight to the Extreme Martial Arts Branch according to the map. The sound of footsteps echoed, one after another, as brightly lit houses passed by behind him. After traveling several kilometers, he finally saw the two-story martial arts building appear in front of him. With a familiar appearance, the large windows inside were dimly lit. Through the light of the street lamps, the outlines of punching bags and equipment could be faintly seen. The sign of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall hung in the center, with a large brown wooden door underneath, three meters tall and about four or five meters wide, very imposing. Thud! Thud! Thud! The mist swirled, and faceless figures appeared. There were about seven or eight of them, just like before, but Chen Feng¡¯s gaze became more focused. Among these faceless figures, several had a distinctive "Extreme" logo on their clothing. It was clear that, in life, most of them had been disciples of this Extreme Martial Arts Hall. Whoosh! While he was thinking, figures charged forward, and the eight faceless figures surrounded him, leaving no escape. They threw punches, some whipped their kicks, and some even wielded knives. Boom!!! All the attacks landed on him, but Chen Feng stood motionless, his eyes half-closed. A blade slashed across his left shoulder, leaving only a white streak. As for the other attacks, they came from people who were barely at the eighth rank, and their punches, barely exceeding 100 kilograms of force, were like harmless scratches. The effect of the Giant Tiger Technique was fully verified, and he immediately made his move. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! The figures flew in all directions, as if a tornado had lifted them off the ground. In a single breath, they were all killed. One of the faceless figures even crashed into the brown wooden door, smashing it into the martial arts hall. With a blank expression, Chen Feng slowly stepped forward, avoiding all the black ants'' attacks. Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! His footsteps quickened as he dashed through the martial arts hall''s door and entered the first floor. Boom!!! A loud thud echoed through the air. In the darkness inside, the faint light from street lamps illuminated a man in a brown martial arts uniform, tall and muscular, wearing a mask. He was struck by a powerful punch, his legs scraping the floor as he was knocked backward. "You''re too weak!" Chen Feng coldly stepped forward, then suddenly paused. Without turning his head, he spun around, his kick tore through the air. A leaner, masked man attempted a sneak attack, but was sent flying by a single kick. With his perception talent active, he could detect all ambushes within a 30-meter radius. "One level three professional, one level four professional." A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and Chen Feng¡¯s figure shot forward. His right arm''s muscles surged like flowing water. Buzz! sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With an explosive punch, he struck the burly masked man directly in the heart. The man froze, staggering as a loud, piercing shriek erupted from his body. The windows of the hall trembled, and cracks appeared in the glass. Amidst the sounds of shattering air, Chen Feng coldly raised his arm and shifted his body to the left. Thud! The kick of the lean masked man was caught by Chen Feng¡¯s hand. He reached out, and like a constricting snake, his palm wrapped around the man¡¯s ankle. Then, with a powerful twist of his muscles, he pulled and then slammed the lean masked man into the ground like a sledgehammer. Boom! The man¡¯s body hit the ground, and Chen Feng immediately lifted his foot, bringing it down heavily! Boom!!! Once again, a heart was struck, and a piercing scream followed. The sound of rapid footsteps echoed around the martial arts hall, with mist spirals appearing¡ªthis was the growth nourishment for his perception talent. "Heheheh." A grin spread across Chen Feng¡¯s face, revealing his sharp white teeth as he scanned the area. Finally, his figure shot forward with unstoppable force. A punch caved in the masked man¡¯s face, and his leg spun through the air like a dragon in flight. A black whirlwind appeared around the martial arts hall, sweeping through the area. After a few seconds, fifteen decayed black marks were left behind, followed by a continuous stream of gray light orbs. Buzz! [Perception: LV2 (89/100)] "Just a little more." Chen Feng sighed, looking around. No more faceless figures were in sight. Without further investigation, he quickly stepped back into the martial arts hall and saw two light orbs glowing faintly in Azure. His fists were enveloped within the orbs¡ªthese were the Explosive Fist skill orbs left behind by the faceless men. [You have picked up two (Skill Light Orb)!] [Skill: Explosive Fist] [You already possess this skill!] [Choice 1: Fuse: Increase the proficiency of Explosive Fist!] [Choice 2: Decompose: Break the skill light orb into pure martial will residue¡ªLimit-Breaking Light Orb!] [Note: If the Limit-Breaking Light Orb is used to enhance Explosive Fist, the effect is halved!] The familiar prompt appeared. With his experience, Chen Feng didn¡¯t hesitate, as he could sense there were still ten Limit Break Orbs in the martial arts hall. He immediately chose to enhance his Explosive Fist! [Explosive Fist: Mastery (31%)] "Still a long way to go." Chen Feng shook his head but wasn¡¯t disappointed. The Explosive Fist was much harder to master than the Flame Tiger Stance, and it was very close to the Giant Tiger Technique. Mastery needed at least fifteen Limit Break Orbs to be perfected. At this point, the two faceless men¡¯s gifts saved him a lot of trouble, giving nearly a third of the needed progress. "Next." His eyes brightened as he scanned the surroundings in the dark. Following his perception, one by one, the shallow red Limit Break Orbs were touched by Chen Feng. He walked through every corner of the martial arts hall, collecting the ten Limit Break Orbs. In addition, he found another item. It was a grey-black object, seemingly made of steel. It had carvings on it, with writing that resembled etchings. "Legacy Iron Book... As expected, every branch of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall has one." He nodded in satisfaction, realizing that this was why he had deliberately chosen the Extreme Martial Arts Hall branch. He wasn¡¯t satisfied with the incomplete Legacy Iron Book he had obtained last time, so he hoped for a bit of luck to try again. Unexpectedly, he was rewarded in the end. [Cultivation Method, High-level Fist Art 1: Extreme Martial Fist. Requires internal training of organs; practice can only begin once Inner Strength is mastered. It is recommended to first master the basic Explosive Fist.] [Extreme Martial Fist, Specific Training Method: ] [Gather Qi in the Dantian, channel the spirit to the heart, and temper oneself with the true meaning of Extreme Martial Flow.] [This fist art has three stages upon entry: Meteor, Falling Sun, and Extreme Combat!] [First Stage, Meteor Realm: The fist is like a meteor, shaking the heavens and earth! During training, inner strength must flow throughout the body to stimulate the arms and specific acupoints in the body, which are: ] "That¡¯s it?" Chen Feng frowned. The Legacy Iron Book was also heavily damaged, with blackened and rotted edges, now only about the size of a palm. Moreover, parts of the writing had been erased, and only by comparing it with the previous damaged Legacy Iron Book did he understand some of the content. Everything stopped at the Meteor Realm, even leaving out the specifics of which acupoints to stimulate. "Such a pity." He shook his head quietly but soon adjusted his mindset. Since his hypothesis was correct, every branch of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall probably had a damaged Legacy Iron Book. If he kept searching, perhaps he could piece together a complete one and gain a true high-level martial arts technique? He also remembered the Explosive Fist skill orbs. Maybe the next branch would have new skill orbs? After a moment of thought, his mood gradually calmed. He tucked the damaged Legacy Iron Book into his black backpack. Checking the map, Chen Feng decided to continue searching the nearby area before waking up from the dream. To the southeast, ten kilometers away, there was another branch of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. With a determined step, he moved forward, following his original plan. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Chapter 113. Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Nightmare Strikes FREE!! ;) Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 85: Impervious to Blades and Spears (2400+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- 7:05 AM. Chen Feng woke up on time again. The familiar ceiling, with a bit of dust on the fluorescent light, and the white-painted top surface around him. He could see a small insect quickly scurry by. He immediately got up. With a rustling sound, he pulled open the curtains, and the familiar blue sky and white clouds appeared again. The sky after rain always felt clearer, as if even the air had become cleaner. On the surrounding open balconies of nearby houses, more and more coats and thick clothes were being hung out to dry. The chill of autumn deepened, but strangely, Chen Feng didn¡¯t feel cold at all. [Limit Break Points: 10] He glanced at the panel. After leaving the Extreme Martial Arts Hall branch, he hadn¡¯t found any more Limit Breaking Light Orbs. A total of ten, which was clearly only enough for the enhancement of one skill. ¡°Which skill should I choose?¡± Chen Feng looked at his skills. [Giant Tiger Technique: Rock Tiger (28%) +] [Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Roar (29%) +] [Explosive Fist: Mastery (31%) +] His gaze lingered more on the first two. By a strange twist of fate, Chen Feng finally decided to focus on the Giant Tiger Technique. Only nine Limit Breaking Light Orbs were needed to break through to the Mighty Tiger realm. With the added power, his strength would surge. His body would become as hard as steel, impervious to bullets. Clenching his fist, Chen Feng felt a sense of urgency in his heart and immediately suppressed all distractions. ¡°Enhance!¡± Buzz! Countless insights surged through him, and waves of heat flowed within his body. [Giant Tiger Technique: Mighty Tiger (1%) +] A breakthrough in realm¡ªinstantly, a series of crackling sounds exploded from within Chen Feng''s body. His muscles seemed to continuously thicken and grow, tendons like snakes twisting and writhing. Gradually, his physical attributes skyrocketed, and the data on his panel surged. [Strength: 13.0 ¡ú 14.0] [Agility: 11.8 ¡ú 12.5] [Constitution: 13.4 ¡ú 15.0] [Will: 12.0 ¡ú 12.7] ¡°An increase of 4 points in attributes?¡± His eyes gleamed. Despite expecting this, Chen Feng still didn¡¯t anticipate such a huge increase after this breakthrough. His constitution directly went up by 1.6 points, and strength increased by a full point. As he clenched his fist, a crisp cracking sound echoed. Through his perception, Chen Feng came to an astonishing conclusion. His current strength, even without using Explosive Fist, could easily reach 500 kilograms with a casual strike. He was much stronger than an ordinary level-seven professional. ¡°This isn¡¯t even the most important part.¡± His eyes narrowed, and he slowly lifted his arm, looking down at his body. Chen Feng could clearly sense the transformation of his body. The skin was as firm as iron, and the flesh felt as tough as steel. It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say that his body¡¯s toughness, in terms of defense, was now no worse than when he first gained the Azure Armor talent. In other words, ordinary small-caliber bullets would have difficulty hurting him. Even without activating the Azure Armor, he could still handle most situations. ¡°Finally, I''ve reached this step.¡± He nodded in satisfaction. If he encountered the silver-gray cyborg from last time again, he felt confident he could face it head-on. ¡°This is only the Mighty Tiger realm. What about the Giant Tiger?¡± His gaze shifted to the ¡°+¡± sign behind the Mighty Tiger realm. He had one Limit Break Orb left, so he decided to try. Buzz! Immediately, the Limit Break Orb was consumed, and the progress bar shifted. [Giant Tiger Technique: Mighty Tiger (6%)] ¡°That¡¯s it??¡± Chen Feng was slightly surprised but quickly became resigned. The stronger the skill, the more difficult it was to advance. The Giant Tiger Technique was a true martial arts technique, and the Giant Tiger realm was stronger than the Mighty Tiger, naturally requiring more Limit Breaking Light Orbs. There was still a long way to go, and searching for more Limit Breaking Light Orbs remained urgent. His thoughts flashed by, and after checking the time, he realized it was getting late. He left his bedroom and went to the bathroom to freshen up. The square mirror was mounted on the wall, reflecting his towering figure. ¡°Seems like I''ve grown taller.¡± Chen Feng raised an eyebrow as he looked at himself in the mirror. The loose black T-shirt he wore was stretched taut, his arms thick and muscular, built like stacked stones, with veins bulging like coiling snakes. His broad shoulders and masculine face remained unchanged. He took a simple measure¡ªhe had grown about another centimeter. ¡°1.82 meters.¡± That was his current height. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Xiao Feng?¡± Chen Yun, who had also planned to freshen up, froze slightly, standing in the doorway, looking at Chen Feng in surprise. It had only been one night, but why did it feel like Xiao Feng had gotten even more muscular? And the clothes he just bought¡ªdid they shrink? TL/N: He¡¯s probably gonna rival hulk at this rate... Half an hour later. After breakfast, Chen Feng boarded the bus, heading straight to the martial arts hall. It was rush hour, and every time the bus stopped, office workers scrambled to board and disembark. Suddenly, a wave of pressure hit. A tall and muscular figure grabbed the bus handle and stood silently, and the previously chaotic atmosphere inexplicably quieted down. Everyone instinctively glanced at his figure before quickly turning their gaze elsewhere. [Breaking News!] [Last night, Mr. Zhao Jiapeng, vice president of Hong Guang Group, was attacked in his villa and is now deceased.] [The Safety Bureau and the United Coalition have intervened in the investigation, and it has been confirmed that the assailant is a cyborg, who has been placed on the wanted list under the ID: XXXX12.] [Mr. Zhao Jiapeng is the third son of Councilor Zhao Jianlong, a prominent member of our city¡¯s United Coalition.] Suddenly, a news flash appeared on the bus¡¯s display screen. The image of a blue-black figure with crimson eyes, captured in the rain-soaked night, sent a chill down people¡¯s spines. ¡°They are really bold. They even dared to kill the third son of the Hong Guang Group?¡± ¡°Could it be the Utopia faction again? All the recent troubles seem to be their doing.¡± "It¡¯s possible, but it doesn¡¯t feel like it. I¡¯ve heard of Zhao Jiapeng before, I even saw him at the company¡¯s annual meeting." Suddenly, a wave of discussion erupted on the bus, with loud voices filling the air. A giant like Hong Guang Group had long been above ordinary people, and now someone had dared to challenge its authority, sparking everyone¡¯s curiosity. But soon, amidst the noise, the bus began to slow down. Jinhua Station had arrived, and the back door opened. The silent, towering figure moved suddenly, walking steadily as he carried a clothes bag and stepped off the bus. The chatter immediately ceased, and everyone instinctively stepped back, watching him disappear. Only then did the conversation continue. "It¡¯s caused quite a commotion." As Chen Feng entered the martial arts hall, he overheard similar discussions. Hong Guang Group''s dominance was overwhelming, and now, under the manhunt, the entire city of Nanjiang must be aware of him. "You¡¯ve finally arrived." Lin Hao seemed to have been waiting in the locker room, wearing a gray sports T-shirt with a look of grievance on his face. Yesterday¡¯s events had come too suddenly, but they weren¡¯t without warning. Earlier in the day, the other person had asked him about a lot of information regarding Hong Guang Group. He should have seen this coming. "Did Zhao Jiapeng offend you, or was he your friend?" Lin Hao asked, not bothering to think about the consequences since things had already happened, and his curiosity about the reason grew. "Both." Chen Feng replied calmly. After all, both were him, so this wasn¡¯t a lie. "Alright, alright, your friend''s killing intent is really strong." Lin Hao noticed that Chen Feng didn¡¯t want to elaborate, so he didn¡¯t ask further. He glanced around to make sure no one was listening and then whispered, "There¡¯s something I need to remind you." "Have your friend hide, don¡¯t let them show up for a while." Chen Feng froze for a moment and looked at Lin Hao. "Zhao Jianlong has already pressured the Safety Bureau and used the Sky Eye system to track down your friend." "This time, things are serious. Hong Guang Group¡¯s security forces have launched a full-scale search. This incident is causing quite a stir, and I have no way to help." "Okay." Chen Feng nodded slightly, grateful for the reminder. Perhaps because he had already expected this, or maybe because of the confidence from breaking through the Giant Tiger Skill, he wasn¡¯t too worried or anxious. Instead, his thoughts drifted back to Xu Shan from yesterday and compared him to the silver-gray cyborg from Utopia. He was starting to feel confused and curious. Since they were both cyborgs, why did their power seem so different? "How is a cyborg''s strength classified?" Chen Feng looked at Lin Hao, his eyes filled with curiosity as he asked. After a moment of silence, Lin Hao gave an answer. "It¡¯s complicated." "Cyborgs are divided into two types: biological modification and mechanical modification." "The former involves implanting certain biological genes to modify the body. It¡¯s similar to those who inject enhancement drugs, but more special and powerful, even granting certain biological abilities." "The latter uses mechanical technology to replace body tissue with metal, adding various modification modules, including firepower devices." "I won¡¯t talk about the first type, as it¡¯s rare in Nanjiang. Most are the second type." Lin Hao explained patiently, his tone serious: "From low to high, cyborgs are classified according to the hardness of the modified metal. They are divided into Bronze, Silver, and Gold." "This is just a rough standard, but it doesn¡¯t necessarily represent absolute strength." "What do you mean?" Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. "As I mentioned, Bronze, Silver, Gold, etc., these levels are named after the corresponding metals." "The higher the level, the harder the metal, the more load it can bear, and the stronger the firepower and armed modules." "So, there¡¯s a key factor involved." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Hao¡¯s face grew serious as he continued, "Whether or not they have armed modules." "Armed modules?" Chen Feng was stunned for a moment, suddenly recalling what the silver-gray cyborg had said to him. "I don¡¯t have armed modules, and yet I dared to attack the Tian Heng Society?" "Yes, armed modules are the real upper limit of a cyborg¡¯s power. The stronger the armed modules, the greater the destructive power." "As for the metal material, it¡¯s an inaccurate description of the cyborg¡¯s strength limit, as it forms the base to carry the armed modules." "A typical Bronze-level cyborg might have a basic strength of around one ton, but if they activate the armed modules, their strength could multiply several times, and they could use various firepower modes, such as shooting bullets or launching small missiles." Chen Feng was shocked by this. Now he understood why Xu Shan, the cyborg he killed yesterday, didn¡¯t seem to have armed modules. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been so easily killed. "If armed modules are so important, why do some cyborgs not have them?" "It¡¯s not that they don¡¯t want to have them, it¡¯s that they can¡¯t." Lin Hao sighed and shook his head, "Once a complete cyborg has armed modules, their firepower is extremely strong, and the destructive range is vast, easily harming innocent people." "So, Red Nation has regulations prohibiting cyborgs from carrying armed modules in urban areas, except for a few law enforcement agencies." "This is monitored by Sky Eye. Most urban areas in Red Nation have corresponding magnetic fields and energy monitoring. If any abnormality is detected, A manhunt will ensue, and the cyborg will be hunted down or even killed on the spot." "Ah, I see." Chen Feng¡¯s confusion finally cleared. No wonder he always felt that there was something off with those cyborgs¡ªdespite their strength, they could only fight in close quarters. "So, it seems like I¡¯ll need to be more careful next time I encounter a cyborg." Chen Feng understood his own situation. He wasn¡¯t really a cyborg. If he ever faced an enemy with armed modules, it would certainly be troublesome. --- At the same time. In a metal chamber. Around an oval table, seven or eight figures sat, all wearing masks with round floral patterns on the left side of their chests. "Zhao Jianlong¡¯s youngest son is dead. I heard he¡¯s on his way back to Nanjiang. Should we try to intercept him?" "I think it¡¯s a good idea. It might cause chaos in Nanjiang and help us activate the Golden Protector and repair all damages." Voices of agreement echoed, but soon, someone proposed a different idea. "Zhao Jianlong¡¯s security is very strong. I heard Dong Tao, the Winged Tiger, has already been recruited by him." When these words were spoken, the atmosphere fell into silence for a moment. "Heh, Dong Tao rejected us in the past, but now he¡¯s chosen to be someone¡¯s dog." "So who¡¯s going to handle it?" No one answered. Seeing this, a man in a silver robe and a silver-gray mask sneered and spoke. "I¡¯ll go!" "I¡¯ve been wanting to meet the Winged Tiger for a long time. Nanjiang¡¯s been a mess with so many problems, I¡¯m already fed up with it!" "No." Before he could finish, someone immediately contradicted him. The Silver Wolf narrowed his eyes in response, about to snap when he heard the man sitting at the head of the table, with a slicked-back hairstyle, speak. "Golden Protector is most familiar with you. If you¡¯re not there during the repair process, if it goes berserk, we won¡¯t be able to wake it up." With these words, the Silver Wolf fell silent. "Also, haven¡¯t you always been looking for that wild cyborg?" The man with the black floral mask spoke calmly, "He killed Zhao Jianlong¡¯s son this time. He¡¯s being hunted by the Safety Bureau and Hong Guang Group." "Perhaps it won¡¯t be long before we find him." His tone was persuasive, and the Silver Wolf narrowed his eyes for a moment before standing up. "Damn it, I hate playing mind games with you guys." "Let me know once you¡¯ve found him!" With a hiss, the metal chamber opened briefly, and the silver figure left. The others exchanged glances before returning to the original discussion. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 86: Direct Disciple (2400+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- TL/N: Direct and Personal disciple maybe used interchangeably. That day, because of his conversation with Lin Hao, Chen Feng accompanied him all the way to the practice room. Wu Tian, Pei Yue, and others were already inside, and the other passing students looked at him with envy and admiration. By now, almost everyone in the core class knew about his special treatment. A private meditation room, individual training. He could be considered the only one like that in the entire branch martial arts hall. "This guy..." Wu Tian felt a twinge of pain in his teeth, as if the ones that had been knocked out were hurting again. His aunt had been supporting him at first, but ever since Chen Feng broke through the Tiger Roar level, his aunt had suggested that he lower his stance and try to get along with him. This feeling was something he had trouble accepting. "Didn''t you also break through to Tiger Roar and start training your bones?" Pei Yue said with a grin. After a day or two, he had recovered from the blow. Wu Tian was somewhat tempted, but just then, he saw Cao Tong walking toward them, arriving at the door of the practice room. "Hmm?" Cao Tong suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on Chen Feng. At first, his expression was calm, but when he sharply sensed the change in Chen Feng¡¯s physique and a faint feeling of danger, Cao Tong¡¯s eyes changed. "You broke through to the Mighty Tiger?" His voice carried a hint of suspicion, while Lin Hao and the other students were confused. Mighty Tiger? What is that? "Mm." Chen Feng nodded in response. "Shh!!" Cao Tong sucked in a breath, looking at him with astonishment. In just two days, he broke through to the Mighty Tiger level? This kid''s talent in physical strength was more terrifying than in martial arts? "Want to spar?" Cao Tong¡¯s eyes sharpened, and he immediately spoke up. Had it not been for their previous interactions, he might have doubted Chen Feng¡¯s sincerity, but seeing how Chen Feng seemed uninterested in lying, he couldn¡¯t help but want to confirm it himself. "Alright." Chen Feng nodded, eager to give it a try. Cao Tong was a well-known figure in the martial arts hall, already at professional level 7. Some even speculated that he had surpassed this level and might become the next true disciple. So, when the rare opportunity to spar with him arose, Chen Feng was naturally eager to see for himself how strong his Mighty Tiger breakthrough truly was. "This spot is good. It¡¯s spacious." Cao Tong quickly led him into the practice room and instructed Wu Tian and the others to step back to avoid any accidents. The two stood facing each other in the center of the wooden floor. Upon seeing this, the surrounding students finally came to their senses, their faces filled with astonishment. "Is this for real? Coach Cao is actually going to spar with Chen Feng?" "How is this possible? Has Chen Feng become strong enough to fight him?" "Not necessarily. Maybe he''s just going to let him have some moves." Most of the speculation leaned toward Cao Tong letting Chen Feng show off some skills. But Cao Tong didn¡¯t offer any explanations, just standing two meters away from Chen Feng, smiling as he said, "Go ahead, give it your best shot." "Use your full strength." At those words, Chen Feng took a deep breath. If Cao Tong knew about his breakthrough to the Mighty Tiger level and still dared to speak like this, he must have the confidence to back it up. Chen Feng didn¡¯t hesitate. He calmed his mind, forcing his emotions under control, and focused. Whoosh! A puff of white air escaped his lips, and a sense of oppressive energy filled the room. Wu Tian and the others were all shocked, and even Cao Tong raised his eyebrows in surprise. Then, under their gazes, Chen Feng suddenly bent his knees and stomped on the ground. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from his original position. Whoosh!! His figure shot through the air leaving behind a smoking trail, now right in front of Cao Tong. With a cold expression, Chen Feng stood firm, his spine straightening, and his right arm''s muscles rolled like stones, forming an incredible amount of power. Buzz! A howling noise erupted as the tremendous force tore the air apart! At least five hundred kilograms, surpassing the so-called peak professional level. Boom! However, when their palms met, to Chen Feng¡¯s surprise, Cao Tong simply stepped back and raised his palm to deflect the strike. "Hmm?" Chen Feng¡¯s gaze sharpened, and he soon felt a chill. Boom!!! A swift palm struck his chest, and the power was almost on par with his own. Tch tch! Chen Feng slid back two steps, lowering his head and looking at his chest. A flash of white light vanished, trying to penetrate his skin, but was immediately blocked by his tough skin. "Power?" Chen Feng asked, puzzled. Cao Tong¡¯s fist still hovered in the air, his eyes gradually growing bright. So this was the Mighty Tiger level¡ªthere was no way he could have easily defended against his power otherwise. "That¡¯s right." Cao Tong nodded slightly and lowered his fist to explain, "What you¡¯re practicing is internal refining, which strengthens the five internal organs, thus generating power." "From there, it repeats, expanding the power or practicing some true martial arts to increase its potency and unify it." Whoosh! As he spoke, Cao Tong¡¯s figure shot forward, leaving a blur in his wake, closing in on Chen Feng. His eyes were bright, sharp, full of light. "Keep going!" "Don¡¯t stop!" Boom!! As their palms met again, Chen Feng stood his ground, his muscles feeling as heavy as cement blocks. A blast of air surged, and the students around them widened their eyes in amazement. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Buzz! In an instant, another palm struck. The sound of rushing air was loud, and the white light gathered rapidly around Cao Tong¡¯s palm. Boom!! Another strike hit Chen Feng¡¯s left shoulder. The sensation on his skin felt strange, as if something were trying to crawl into his body through the pores. Not daring to be careless, he stood firm as his body trembled violently. This was the power of the Mighty Tiger. Once attacked, it would trigger a retaliatory shock! Step step step! Cao Tong staggered back several steps as the force was shaken off and forced out by Chen Feng¡¯s countershock. "Haha, it¡¯s really Mighty Tiger! Truly impervious to blades and spears!" Cao Tong laughed heartily, his tone filled with excitement and approval, even causing the other students to look on with envy. But before anyone could respond, Chen Feng suddenly darted forward, charging like a spear. If he didn¡¯t strike back, wouldn¡¯t he appear rude? He also wanted to see for himself what his full strength looked like. Buzz! In an instant, over 500 kilograms of force gathered. Without using the Explosive Fist, it was still a storm of punches. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!! A series of rapid punches. Charging punches, whip punches, hooking punches. White flashes exploded in mid-air, and Cao Tong reacted quickly, speeding up his palms to counter each blow, taking them head-on and deflecting them all. Gradually, the two of them were engaged in combat, back and forth. The terrifying intensity continued, and the surrounding students were already dumbfounded. "Is this real?" Someone muttered, and Pei Yue¡¯s face was numb, realizing he might need another couple of days to recover. As for Wu Tian, his face had turned pale, gradually understanding his aunt¡¯s intentions. Boom! Another punch collided, and both stepped back a few paces. Chen Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing something unusual. He had secretly used 20-30% of his Explosive Fist, and his strength had gradually increased to 600-700 kilograms. But even with that, Cao Tong remained at ease, never showing any change in his expression. "Is this... the power of internal qi?" A thought flashed through his mind, but he didn¡¯t realize that Cao Tong was just as surprised. "This kid is strange." "Why does he seem even stronger than those few in the inner sect who have reached the Tiger Roar level?" Cao Tong thought to himself, his hands swinging slightly to relieve the numbing feeling from using Internal qi for an extended period. He hadn¡¯t fully tapped into his Internal qi yet, and using it for so long had a certain burden. Not to mention, this kid¡¯s strength was unexpectedly high. Just as he saw the other person readying himself again, with a look of full energy as if the warm-up was just finishing, he immediately raised his hand and stopped. "That¡¯s enough! No more!" "You¡¯ve got really thick skin; this is no fun." After finishing, Cao Tong turned around, his arms crossed in front of his chest, with a calm expression on his face. "Did you all see? This is the real mastery of martial arts." "Make sure you train hard, don¡¯t slack off!" He deliberately lectured the stunned students, and from the corner of his eye, he glanced at Chen Feng. Seeing him slowly retracting his power, Cao Tong finally let out a sigh of relief. Damn, that was close. "Chen Feng, come, let¡¯s go." "Okay." Chen Feng nodded lightly. Though he hadn¡¯t had enough of the fight, he still followed quietly and walked away. The students stood on both sides with complex expressions, and Pei Yue suddenly remembered what Wu Tian had said before. So, talent really does vary. "You must be a natural hard-style practitioner. Not only is your strength unusually great, but the effect of the secret medicine you absorbed is also stronger than others." As they walked, Cao Tong praised him with many words. Chen Feng listened quietly, not explaining anything. He knew the other person had misunderstood, thinking he had broken through to the Tiger Roar level just with the help of the Rock Tiger Pill. As for the use of Explosive Fist, Cao Tong probably hadn¡¯t realized it and thought it was due to his natural body talent. He didn¡¯t mind though and immediately asked a question that had been bothering him. "Brother Cao, what exactly is Internal qi?" He described the feeling he had earlier, where despite the other¡¯s strength being weaker, the reliance on Internal qi made them evenly matched. He even sensed that this wasn¡¯t Cao Tong¡¯s full strength. "Internal qi, it¡¯s the power hidden within the five organs and six bowels." Cao Tong¡¯s expression became serious, leading him to the elevator door and pressing the button. "The martial arts path is a process of unlocking the mysteries of the human body, and that¡¯s why martial arts were once so glorious." "Internal qi is both invisible and tangible. To a certain extent, it¡¯s also the integration of your entire body¡¯s power, but it¡¯s more sophisticated than just swinging fists or kicking." "It can amplify the power of your moves, and it can also be used for defense, such as some experts who have entered the Internal qi level. If their Internal qi is strong enough, they can even resist ordinary bullets." "That¡¯s about it. After you break through to the Tiger Might level with the Flame Tiger Stance, you¡¯ll naturally understand when you get a bit of Internal qi." Cao Tong explained briefly, and Chen Feng seemed to understand. Then, the two walked out of the elevator. During this time, he also learned something else from Cao Tong. "Above the professional level internationally, there¡¯s also the master level." "The martial arts in the Platinum Federation aren¡¯t inferior to the martial arts styles of our Red Country. They call fighters who can exceed a ton of strength ''Fighting Masters.''" "And we call it ''Entering Internal qi,'' which they call ''Martial Arts Masters.''" With just a few simple words, the martial arts world ahead of him opened up wider. Chen Feng assessed his own strength and roughly understood his current level. In his normal state, without a martial arts lineage, he was on par with those nearing the completion of their hard-style training. When using the Azure Armor form or fully utilizing Explosive Fist, he could barely be considered at the master level. A thought passed through his mind, and the two had already passed through the metal corridor and arrived at the familiar medicinal herb room. The smell of herbs wafted through the cracks in the wooden cabinet. Third Elder, wearing a gray robe, was lying on a wooden recliner, resting with his eyes closed. "Third Elder." "Mm?" Before Cao Tong could speak, Third Elder suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Chen Feng. A sharp light flashed, and the next second, he vanished. When he reappeared, he was already standing in front of Chen Feng, reaching out to grab his arm. "How fast!" Chen Feng¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, not even seeing the other¡¯s movements clearly. If not for the fact that he felt no malice in his perception, he might have reacted with force. "Tiger Roar!!" A surprised voice came from Third Elder. He stood in front of Chen Feng, sizing him up. His cloudy eyes grew deeper, and soon, he revealed a broad smile. "Good boy, looks like your talent in hard-style training is exceptional." "Very good, very good. Our Flame Tiger lineage has finally found a gem." He praised him repeatedly. Chen Feng remained calm, but Cao Tong beside him showed a look of envy. He knew Third Elder¡¯s personality, and it was rare for him to praise a junior so much. "Third Elder, as you said, if Chen Feng succeeds in his hard-style training in these few days, we¡¯ll bring him here." "Is there something good going on?" Suppressing his thoughts, Cao Tong quickly asked. When Third Elder heard this, his smile faded, and he released Chen Feng¡¯s arm, nodding lightly before returning to his recliner. "That¡¯s right, there is something." "Ah?" Cao Tong was surprised, not expecting his guess to be correct. "You¡¯re a core disciple, and you don¡¯t even know the latest news in the sect?" He scolded Cao Tong lightly before turning his attention back to Chen Feng. "The sect leader has come out of seclusion." "He¡¯s going to select a direct disciple from this batch of core students. Each lineage can recommend one person." "Chen Feng, how about it? Want to give it a try?" (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 87: Medicinal Bath and Coach (2300+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- In the herbal medicine room, the words of the Third Elder echoed in the air. Next to him, Cao Tong¡¯s eyes were wide with astonishment. Once he came to his senses, his gaze turned towards Chen Feng, filled with admiration and anticipation. "Personal disciple?" This was the first time Chen Feng had heard this title. "Above true disciples, below the Sect Leader." "In terms of status, they are even higher than this old man." The Third Elder said casually, while Cao Tong added: "In the whole sect, only the little martial uncle is a personal disciple." "He has the right to participate in all the sect''s industries, but he is so devoted to martial arts that he pays no attention to these matters." Although these words seemed scattered, Chen Feng understood the meaning. A personal disciple held a high status, second only to the Sect Leader. They had the right to participate in the sect''s industries, implying they had abundant resources. Chen Feng couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit tempted. He had personally experienced the effect of the secret medicines twice, and they were no less powerful than the Limit Breaking Light Orb. If he could really receive sufficient resources, his strength would certainly improve much faster. "Thank you, Third Elder." Chen Feng decisively agreed and respectfully cupped his fists in gratitude. This was an opportunity, and the Third Elder was the one giving it to him. "Don¡¯t get too excited yet. The selection for personal disciples isn¡¯t so simple." The Third Elder calmly accepted Chen Feng¡¯s salute, his expression turned serious, and he continued, "Although your strength is good, it still lacks some refinement." Chen Feng was somewhat surprised by this remark, as he believed that no core disciple in the entire Jinhua District would be able to match him in direct combat. "Surprised?" Seeing through Chen Feng''s thoughts, the Third Elder spoke casually, "You may have high talent and have unlocked your martial arts potential, but your training time is still short." "Some people have been soaking in medicinal baths since they were young, and have had secret medicines to build their foundation." "Although their talent isn''t as good as yours, they are diligent, practicing martial arts with great effort, enduring both the cold and the heat, training for over ten years. Now, they are already close to mastering the ¡®Entry Strength¡¯ stage." TL/N: Entry Strength stage, above professional level. First mentioned in chapter 70. "Such a person exists among the core disciples of other divisions." "Then, there is another person with a special physique, born with divine strength. Although they also started late, their talent in hardening their body isn¡¯t much weaker than yours, and they are almost at the peak of their true skill." Chen Feng listened, secretly thinking how there is always a heaven beyond the current. However, he wasn¡¯t discouraged, as he had confidence in his own strength. In the end, it all came down to power. Compared to that, he was more curious about when the selection would begin. "Three days later." The Third Elder said calmly, then flicked his finger. Whoosh! A red-colored energy shot out from nowhere, hitting a drawer in a wooden cabinet. He then raised his hand, and Chen Feng saw a phantom image of a flying red tiger, which retrieved an item from the drawer and placed it in his hand. A small fabric bundle, the size of a palm, with many powdery particles faintly visible inside. "This is body-refining powder made from tiger bones. Soak in it once a day for three days." "I can only help you this much. As for the final outcome, it depends on you." With that, the Third Elder closed his eyes again, resting. Chen Feng felt grateful, cupping his fists to thank him. Then, he left the room with Cao Tong. Thud, thud! sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The steady sound of footsteps faded as they walked away. The Third Elder closed his eyes and smiled faintly. "Perhaps, my lineage will have a chance to restore the glory of the Flame Tiger?" "The secret medicine has certain medicinal properties. Repeated use of the same secret medicine will significantly reduce its effectiveness." "This body-refining powder is probably the best body-refining medicine we have in stock. Looks like the Third Elder really has high hopes for you." On the way, as if worried Chen Feng might misunderstand why it wasn''t the Rock Tiger Pill, Cao Tong kindly reminded him. Chen Feng nodded in acknowledgment and made a mental note. They then returned to the quiet room. Knowing that he needed to prepare for the personal disciple selection, Cao Tong had instructed the martial arts hall staff to bring him a wooden tub and fill it with hot water. Soon, the steaming hot water filled the tub. Chen Feng thanked him and saw him leave. After the door was closed and only he was left inside, he took out the body-refining powder and opened the package. There wasn¡¯t a strong odor, just a light grayish powder. Following the Third Elder''s instructions, he poured one-third of the powder into the tub. Then, after undressing, Chen Feng leaped into the water and sat cross-legged. In his mind, the image of the flying red tiger appeared once more. He followed the techniques of the Giant Tiger Technique, guiding his blood and energy to temper his body. Gradually, his progress bar appeared, and the progress of the Giant Tiger Technique slowly increased again. In a separate quiet room, Wu Shuang, dressed in white, sat cross-legged on a round cushion. Standing before her were the other coaches of the martial arts hall. They reported everything they had heard and seen. "It seems the Third Elder has already made up his mind." Her gaze flickered, and Wu Shuang couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly. She had wanted her nephew to get this spot, but unfortunately, Xiao Tian was still lacking. The Giant Tiger Technique at the level of the Mighty Tiger was truly impressive. Losing wasn¡¯t shameful. "Sister Wu, do you think Chen Feng can pass the selection?" Someone cautiously asked, their curiosity and doubt evident. He had only been practicing for a little over a month, and yet he had already reached this level. In the sect, he was considered unique. "Three out of ten." Wu Shuang gave her estimate. "Although the Mighty Tiger is strong, the selection isn¡¯t just about simple combat. In the end, it¡¯s based on talent and temperament, assessed as a whole." The person who asked was surprised but after thinking for a moment, they found this reasoning sound. There were indeed disciples with exceptional talent in the sect, but the higher the realm, the more it tested one¡¯s temperament. Throughout history, countless people had fallen at the "Entry Strength" stage. Even the little martial uncle almost made a mistake back then. Thus, those who truly reached the top were always those with great willpower. For a moment, the atmosphere grew silent, and neither of them spoke further. Instead, Wu Shuang glanced at the time, stood up, and instructed, "It¡¯s time, let¡¯s go." "We''ve confirmed the whereabouts of a cult member." [Giant Tiger Technique: Mighty Tiger (23%) +] An hour later, Chen Feng finished the medicinal bath. Looking at the panel data before him, Chen Feng fell into a brief silence. The difficulty in improving the Mighty Tiger stage was indeed great. Based on this progress, even after using up the body-refining powder, he couldn¡¯t expect much breakthrough. "As expected, in the end, it all depends on me." Thinking of the Limit Breaking Light Orb, Chen Feng cleared his mind and continued his standing meditation. By the end of the martial arts practice, he changed his clothes in the locker room, then quickly went downstairs and got into Lin Hao¡¯s car. "Where did Coach Cao take you again?" Lin Hao asked curiously while driving. "Personal disciple matter." Chen Feng briefly explained. He knew Lin Hao would find out sooner or later, so he decided to mention it early, as long as he didn¡¯t casually talk about it to outsiders. "No wonder." Lin Hao seemed to understand, then smiled broadly, "You¡¯ll definitely make it. When you do, you¡¯ve got to look out for me." "See if you can get me enrolled as an official disciple too." He exaggerated a few words, but Chen Feng took it as jest and didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. The matter was still undecided, and everything remained unknown. He didn¡¯t like to speak too soon. Soon after, the two arrived at the club. The second floor of the mall was brightly lit, and inside, people were using the sandbags and equipment. Chen Feng raised his eyebrow, clearly noticing that the number of people in the club had increased. Just as he was about to ask, he saw a display screen at the glass door, playing footage of him punching through the sandbag the previous day. He turned to look at Lin Hao, who was grinning and said, ¡°Best promotional video, why not use it?¡± ¡°Look, seems like it¡¯s having a good effect.¡± With a light chuckle, Chen Feng fell silent for a moment but didn¡¯t pay too much attention. The club wasn¡¯t just Lin Hao¡¯s matter; it was also closely related to him. Then, they entered the club, and the receptionist, Zhou Xiaoli, hurriedly greeted them. ¡°Boss, Coach Chen!¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± With a slight nod, Chen Feng quickly spotted Wang Cheng and the other three coaches. Unlike yesterday¡¯s arrogance, today Wang Cheng seemed much more subdued, guiding other students in practicing punches. Upon noticing Chen Feng¡¯s gaze, he froze for a moment before weakly calling out. ¡°This guy, it still takes you to keep him in check.¡± Lin Hao chuckled, while Chen Feng gently shook his head, glancing at the members¡¯ area where two people seemed to have been waiting for a while. One was a young man with a buzz cut, around 23 or 24 years old, wearing camouflage pants and black military boots, exuding a rugged sense of masculinity. The other was a long-haired woman in her early twenties, dressed in high-end sportswear. She had fair skin, delicate features, and her black hair was neatly tied behind her head. As expected, Chen Feng had already heard a little from Lin Hao on the way here. It seemed that after watching the video of him punching through the sandbag, the two had specially come to the club, paid a hefty membership fee, and wanted to receive his personal guidance. ¡°Come, let me introduce you.¡± ¡°This is Li Chengdong, and this is Zhuang Xiaoqing, our new members.¡± ¡°You two must have seen him in the promotional video, our head coach.¡± Lin Hao made a few introductions, and the two members greeted Chen Feng one by one. ¡°Hello, Coach Chen.¡± Li Chengdong extended his hand. He was about 1.8 meters tall with a muscular build, clearly someone who had trained before. According to Lin Hao¡¯s earlier explanation, Chen Feng knew that he had just returned from the military, having been a lieutenant, and his family had some influence in Nanjiang. ¡°Hello.¡± As they shook hands, Chen Feng made brief eye contact with him and nodded calmly. Next was the other person. Smiling, Zhuang Xiaoqing greeted him with poise. Her father had just retired from a government position, and her mother was a businesswoman¡ªshe came from a distinguished background. According to Lin Hao, the club¡¯s priority was making money, but building connections was also very important. In fact, the latter was the true purpose of Lin Hao starting the club. To that end, he had set some thresholds for membership and secretly checked the backgrounds and character of applicants. If there were any issues, he would find an excuse to refuse them. ¡®But why would they, with their upper-middle-class backgrounds, would they come here to learn boxing instead of joining a more traditional martial arts school with a lineage?¡¯ Chen Feng held back his curiosity, then led the two into the members'' training room. There were several black sandbags and some small dumbbells for bodyweight exercises. Without saying much, he quickly tested their levels. Li Chengdong had some foundation, at an amateur 7th or 8th level, and knew some basic combat techniques, especially boxing and wrestling. Zhuang Xiaoqing, on the other hand, was a little behind. She didn¡¯t know much about fighting but likely had been doing fitness training, and although she was well-nourished, she was still at an amateur 2nd level. ¡°Could you tell me your purpose for learning boxing?¡± ¡°So I can decide what level of training to assign you.¡± Chen Feng asked, his tone unusually gentle. After all, since they had paid him, he couldn¡¯t not do anything. ¡°Coach Chen, let me be straightforward.¡± Li Chengdong was outgoing and spoke directly. ¡°I had some setbacks in a fight before coming here, and now I just want to break through to a professional level.¡± ¡°As long as you can get me there without relying on enhancement potions, I¡¯m willing to train however you want.¡± Without beating around the bush, Chen Feng nodded lightly. From Lin Hao¡¯s explanation, he knew not everyone liked to use enhancement potions. Apart from their high cost, these substances also had some side effects on the body. Next, he turned to Zhuang Xiaoqing. ¡°I¡¯m curious about combat and want to learn some basic self-defense techniques.¡± A polite explanation, and Chen Feng understood. She wanted to learn something but didn¡¯t want it to be too difficult. With that clarity, he quickly formed a plan. Not long after, standing in front of them, he assumed his stance and began teaching them basic Sanda (Chinese kickboxing). ¡°Jab, shuffle step!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make the movements too large; focus on getting familiar first, then gradually build power.¡± ¡°Li Chengdong, after your practice, go on the treadmill to work on your stamina. A light jog for about 7 kilometers. After that, I¡¯ll teach you some judo.¡± ¡°Zhuang Xiaoqing, start by mastering the basics of Sanda, then I¡¯ll teach you close combat and judo throws.¡± Chen Feng systematically arranged their training while demonstrating some movements. Gradually, the quiet members'' area came to life, and Lin Hao, watching from outside, felt a flash of envy and admiration. ¡°So nice.¡± (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 88: A New Talent Sphere (2100+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- That evening, after finishing his teaching duties at the club and having dinner, Chen Feng reflected on his first day as an instructor. Despite it being his initial experience guiding others, his deep understanding of Sanda and Judo, coupled with his training in authentic martial arts techniques, made mentoring amateur-level members relatively effortless. ¡°Goodbye, Coach Chen,¡± Zhuang Xiaoqing said, her voice gentle as she departed. She had changed into a light-colored dress, radiating elegance, with a faint trail of perfume wafting in her wake. Nearby, Li Chengdong, dressed in loose black clothing, also waved goodbye. Watching their retreating figures from the club window, Chen Feng remained silent, but Lin Hao seemed to guess his thoughts. ¡°An individual¡¯s power has limits,¡± Lin Hao said, breaking the silence. ¡°Sometimes, building connections can make all the difference when you least expect it.¡± It was the driving philosophy behind the club¡ªa calculated effort by Lin Hao to gather influence and resources for future endeavors. Unaware of Lin Hao¡¯s deeper plans, Chen Feng shook his head. ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking about that. I¡¯m just puzzled why these two, given their privileged backgrounds, didn¡¯t join a martial arts academy¡¯s core program instead?¡± Lin Hao chuckled knowingly. ¡°Martial arts academies prioritize talent. Have you ever seen anyone receive personal training from Coach Cao without meeting his strict standards?¡± ¡°Besides, accessing authentic martial arts techniques is challenging without becoming a formal disciple. For those without the dedication or innate ability, learning combat techniques is a much easier path.¡± Chen Feng mulled this over, slowly piecing together why certain platinum federation combat techniques had become so prevalent in Red Nation. The threshold for learning them was low, making them accessible to the average person. ¡°Alright, enough of that. I should get going,¡± Lin Hao said, preparing to leave. Chen Feng nodded and also made his way out of the club. As they exited, Chen Feng¡¯s sharp senses detected someone watching him from across the street. The individual quickly turned away, attempting to blend into the flow of pedestrians. A fleeting malice, masked under a calm exterior. ¡°Well, well,¡± Lin Hao said, noting Chen Feng¡¯s gaze. ¡°Recognize him? He¡¯s from the boxing gym across the way.¡± Lin Hao gestured toward a building on the other side of the mall. Its neon sign read Dongling Boxing Gym. Inside, the light revealed over a dozen trainees furiously practicing their punches. ¡°They¡¯ve got a decent number of students. Several of their instructors are professional-level.¡± Lin Hao sighed. ¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t want to open the club here, worried it¡¯d cause friction. But the location was too good to pass up.¡± Lin Hao shook his head. ¡°Since our club started drawing crowds, it¡¯s been a headache for them. They even came to stir trouble the other day, but your performance must¡¯ve scared them into behaving.¡± Chen Feng quietly observed the gym in the distance. The man who had been watching him had re-entered the boxing gym. Judging by his physique and movements, he likely had a Professional Level 6 capability. Though not a threat on par with someone like Coach Cao Tong, Chen Feng suspected the absence of authentic martial arts training accounted for the gap. ¡®If they stay out of my way, I¡¯ll give them a chance to walk away,¡¯ Chen Feng thought, dismissing the matter. After parting ways with Lin Hao, he hailed a ride to the hospital to pick up Chen Yun. ¡°The issue¡¯s been resolved,¡± Chen Yun said during the ride. ¡°Hongxia¡¯s family agreed to a settlement and received compensation.¡± ¡°Xiaoyao woke up today, but she¡¯s still in the ICU.¡± Chen Feng listened in silence as Chen Yun updated him on the situation. ¡°Oh, and I heard there¡¯s trouble brewing for Hong Guang Group. The person responsible for the incident was apparently killed by an enemy.¡± ¡°Poetic justice, I guess,¡± Chen Yun sighed. ¡°Hongxia¡¯s family was crying with relief when they heard the news.¡± Chen Feng nodded slightly, careful not to reveal his involvement. --- In a sterile morgue, dim light illuminated the figure of a man standing beside a shrouded body. His black suit and gray-streaked hair gave him a foreboding presence. ¡°Still no leads?¡± his deep voice reverberated in the room. ¡°No, sir. The Safety Bureau¡¯s surveillance network hasn¡¯t detected the target within the city limits,¡± a subordinate replied. ¡°We suspect he¡¯s hiding in the outskirts.¡± Zhao Jianlong, a man of authority and ferocity, gazed coldly at the covered corpse. Although the deceased wasn¡¯t his only heir, the loss struck a nerve. Allowing such an affront to go unanswered would tarnish his reputation. ¡°Have you heard from Dong Tao?¡± ¡°No, sir. He was ambushed by Utopia operatives and is currently unaccounted for.¡± Zhao Jianlong¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Should we pressure the Safety Bureau regarding Utopia¡¯s activities?¡± another subordinate suggested. ¡°First, locate the modified man,¡± Zhao Jianlong ordered after a pause. ¡°Spread the word¡ªwhoever finds him will have one favor from me.¡± --- Later that night, back home, Chen Feng prepared for bed. Once he lay down and closed his eyes, his consciousness drifted into the familiar dreamworld. Before him stretched a vast, shadowy landscape, with eight kilometers left to his destination¡ªa branch of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. Adjusting the black backpack on his shoulder, Chen Feng glanced at the map before proceeding. As he ventured down a dim asphalt road, rows of low buildings emerged from the mist. Then, his senses sharpened. To his left stood a three-story house, exuding a vibrant aura visible only to his spiritual perception. Without hesitation, Chen Feng diverted his path, entering the courtyard. Atop the building, a brown sphere the size of a human head floated in place. It resembled a rock, mundane yet pulsing with an enticing glow. ¡°A talent sphere?¡± Recognizing its potential, Chen Feng approached the building, his senses scanning for threats. Just as he reached the entrance¡ª Click. A faint sound triggered a sharp wave of danger. Chen Feng instinctively rolled to the side. CRACK! The wall beside him splintered as a dark shadow streaked past, leaving a fist-sized crater in the pavement. "What is that?" Startled and confused, Chen Feng focused his gaze. A black needle-like object, long and slender, gleamed with a dark sheen. Before he could even react, the sound of something slicing through the air rang out repeatedly, each noise identical to the one before. His expression changed slightly, and Chen Feng swiftly dodged. Thud! Thud! Thud!! A muffled sound followed, and the ground beneath his feet began to form small craters. A sharp pain shot through his right arm, and Chen Feng looked down to see a black needle had pierced through his skin. "How could I get hurt?" With a sudden burst of strength, he forced the needle out, and it fell to the ground with a faint clink. Before he could fully process what was happening, an unusual noise reached his ears, and he immediately looked up. On the rooftop of a three-story building across the street, a humanoid creature appeared. It resembled a human woman, with black wavy hair flowing behind her and a pair of vibrating, black-veined cicada wings. Her gaze was cold, her lips black, and her skin was pale, almost ghostly. Her body was mostly exposed, except for the black armor-like covering around her chest, thighs, and joints such as the shoulders and elbows. However, at her rear, a strange feature caught Chen Feng¡¯s attention. "A hornet?" Chen Feng¡¯s gaze sharpened as he noticed the creature''s hornet-like black-veined oval tail and a long, slender black needle, nearly a meter in length. The sound of buzzing filled the air as more hornets appeared around the creature. They were the size of human heads and swarmed around her, some twenty of them in total. Some of them had no stingers on their lower bodies, indicating that they were responsible for the earlier attack. "What is this creature? A new Black Calamity species?" A thought flashed in Chen Feng''s mind, and he soon realized something was wrong. A searing heat began to spread from the wound on his right arm, making his mind feel sluggish and his body burn with discomfort. "It''s poisonous!" His face darkened as he realized his mistake. Because the dream world couldn¡¯t lead to real death, he had let his guard down. At that moment, sensing his deteriorating condition, or perhaps predicting his intent to escape, the half-human hornet woman gently waved her hand. The hornets dispersed quickly, surrounding him while emitting sharp clicking sounds. "!!" A sense of impending danger hit him, and Chen Feng suppressed the discomfort as he immediately dodged. But the creature¡¯s movements were too fast¡ªwithin moments, seven or eight black needles shot through the air, like sniper bullets aimed directly at him. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The sounds of high-speed projectiles filled the air, and Chen Feng saw flashes of dark green light. He scowled, eyes locked onto the hornet woman and her hornet-like creatures, their dark green armor now marked with several needle-sized indentations. "Seeking death!!" Boom!! Chen Feng''s figure disappeared as he slammed the ground, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared next to two hornet-like monsters. His fists moved like dragons, unstoppable and fierce. A muffled explosion followed, and green blood sprayed out, splattering against the dark green armor. "#@%#!" The hornet woman roared angrily, spitting out several syllables that Chen Feng couldn''t understand. With a hum, her black-veined wings vibrated rapidly, and her body shot forward, leaving behind a blur of motion as she arrived in front of him. The gust of wind created by her high-speed movement swept past, and debris fluttered around him. As the needle-like stinger from behind her came at him, Chen Feng sidestepped and raised his right arm, his muscles tensing. Huff! It felt like a wisp of white vapor exhaled from his body, or like ripples in water gathering at a single point. Sensing something wrong, the hornet woman quickly vibrated her wings and retreated. Whoosh!!! The gust from her retreat caused nearby hornet creatures to explode, while her thick, dark green arms smashed through the air like a battering ram, unyielding and relentless. Clang!!! The sound of metal clashing echoed as the hornet woman''s tail flicked, using her stinger to block Chen Feng¡¯s powerful punch. With a grunt, blood seeped from her lips, and her eyes grew wild with fury. As her wings vibrated again, her figure flew into the air, bringing several hornet creatures with her as she hovered, coldly staring down at Chen Feng. Click! An unusual sound rang out, and the burning sensation inside him intensified. The discomfort grew more acute. A sense of impending danger rose in his heart. Chen Feng took a deep look at the creature, seemingly memorizing her features. He then turned and, with a burst of energy, raced off like an arrow. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed as the hornet woman hesitated for a moment, her stinger poised to strike but then halted as she watched him flee. Finally, she flapped her wings, leading the remaining hornet creatures as they slowly retreated, vanishing into the darkness behind the building. "I almost got surrounded." Several minutes later, after confirming he wasn¡¯t being pursued, Chen Feng deactivated his armor, his body swaying as he used a wooden cabinet to steady himself, entering an apartment. He had let his guard down, not activating his armor in time, or perhaps due to his rapid power growth and the strength of his Flame Tiger Stance, he had become a little complacent. If not for that, the poison wouldn''t have invaded, and his movements wouldn''t have slowed. He actually had the chance to take down the hornet woman earlier. "I¡¯m simply not strong enough." Suppressing his thoughts, Chen Feng looked at the wound on his right arm. It had only pierced his skin slightly, but now, near the wound, the skin had turned a dark, ominous color. He had assumed the poison would be severe, and he still thought so initially. However, as time passed, he noticed the burning sensation and the pain were slowly fading. At first, he was confused, but then he understood. "Of course, my physique is already strong, and I have hardened body techniques to protect me." "The human body has its own self-defense mechanisms. As long as the toxin doesn¡¯t exceed a certain threshold, the body can gradually eliminate it." Chen Feng thought to himself, but he knew that if the poison had come from the hornet woman, he might not have been able to resist it. "I wonder which Black Calamity creature this is, and if it has any weaknesses." A thought crossed his mind as he remembered the brown-colored talent orb. Without eliminating the hornet woman, he wouldn¡¯t be able to absorb it. With this in mind, feeling his weakness fading slightly, Chen Feng took a deep breath and slowly stood up. Soon, he moved again, heading into another area to search for Limit Breaking Light Orbs and any records related to Black Calamity creatures. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C . Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 89: Perception Upgrade! (2200+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- Boom!! Under the night sky, the mist dispersed. A faceless person was kicked sideways, flying off the ground and crashing into a white-painted wall, causing dust to fall from the impact. With the sound of footsteps, a siege attack began. Chen Feng¡¯s face remained cold as he swung his arms, delivering a powerful punch. Boom!! A whip-like punch came down from above, sending one person flying! The whistling sound echoed in his ears as he lifted his leg, bringing it down like a battle axe. Dong! The figure was sent flying, their life extinguished in an instant. Eventually, as he moved to dodge, black marks appeared on the ground, with gray light orbs floating around. Hoo! Chen Feng exhaled a breath of air, suppressing the lingering discomfort in his body. Despite feeling weak from his battle with the bee woman and the poison not yet fully purged, dealing with these amateur-level faceless people was not too difficult. "However, there are variations in strength among these faceless ones. It seems they''re reaching their limit, with most being around amateur rank seven or eight at most." "Their numbers no longer increase like before." He glanced at the black decaying marks left on the ground, deep in thought. The faceless ones were controlled corpses of black ants, perhaps even this group had its own limits in strength. Chen Feng moved, stepping left and right. Eight gray light orbs surged into his body, and the status panel appeared before his eyes. [You have obtained eight perception light orbs!] [Perception +8!] [Willpower +2!] [Talent: Perception lv3 (1/100)] "I levelled up!" In an instant, a cool sensation surged into his mind, strengthening his spirit. The invisible power continuously enhanced his willpower attribute. Chen Feng instinctively closed his eyes. Normally, it should have been pitch dark. But surprisingly, everything within a radius of one hundred meters, both indoors and outdoors, appeared automatically in his mind. To the left, on the road, inside a house, there was some dust on the sofa, and the LCD screen elevator was still black. Behind him, the trees on the road were all dead, with not a single withered leaf in sight. A faint breeze blew, and a wooden plaque on the balcony of a nearby apartment swayed slightly with a faint movement. He suddenly opened his eyes and looked around. Everything was exactly the same as when he had closed his eyes. The scenes that appeared in his mind were all real. "Not only is the range of perception larger, but I can also ignore many obstructions?" Surprised, Chen Feng looked down at his arm. Activating his perception, the skin beneath his clothes appeared magnified, with pores and fine hairs clearly visible. Delving further in, he saw thick skin layers, blood, and bones, as if everything was being analyzed layer by layer. Not quite used to it, Chen Feng quickly stopped and shook his head. The effect of the perception upgrade was too strong, and because of this, he needed to control this ability carefully. "However, with this," "I can find light orbs and other things much more efficiently." Suppressing his distractions, Chen Feng quickly moved forward, continuing his search. The toxins and weakness in his body gradually faded, and he collected three more limit-breaking light orbs. Finally, as he entered a detached villa, Tap! His foot moved, and mist appeared before him. The world changed in an instant. Upon opening his eyes again, he saw a white incandescent lamp close to the ceiling, and the surroundings were all painted white. "I¡¯m back." Chen Feng adjusted to the situation and glanced at his phone. It was 7:05 as always. "My spirit is still good, no significant weakness." The injuries from the dream world didn¡¯t seem too severe for his perception to handle. After all, it was just a small wound, and most of the poison had been withstood by him, gradually wearing off. Chen Feng stood up and walked to the window, pulling back the curtain. The sky was blue, with clear clouds extending far. Across the street, on an old neighborhood''s cement open-air balcony, an elderly woman was holding a clothes pole, collecting clothes. A wisp of smoke rose from a window not far off, indicating that the neighbor was cooking breakfast. Click! The distinct sound of a bedroom door opening followed. In the rustling sounds, Chen Yun had already gone to wash up and tidy up to give him space. "You¡¯re leaving soon, right?" Chen Feng murmured calmly. Counting the days, Chen Yun would likely leave for Central City in a few days. The research institute had given her a short break so she could relax and prepare. She had made or bought breakfast these days, with bread, milk, and energy bars filling up the fridge. Chen Feng smiled faintly, then walked out of the room and went to freshen up. Thinking that he would participate in the so-called personal disciple selection in a couple of days, he casually mentioned it at the dining table. "Is it the day after tomorrow? What are you going to do?" "Going to the martial arts academy''s main gate, just some small matters." Chen Feng didn''t go into detail, knowing that Chen Yun would be concerned. If he mentioned a martial arts competition, it would only add to her worries. "Oh, when will you be back?" Chen Yun placed two boiled eggs on top of a big bowl of noodles for him. "Before you leave." Chen Feng looked at her and said. Chen Yun paused when she heard that. "I¡¯ll send you off." A smile appeared on her face, as pure as ever. "Okay." Chen Yun smiled happily and nodded earnestly. The two chatted for a moment. After Chen Feng finished his breakfast, he took a few energy bars and left. He headed straight for the martial arts academy and once again squeezed onto the bus. The people around him formed a row, and he stood silently, seeing the latest news on the screen. [Yesterday, another large gold warehouse under Jinlin Corporation was robbed, with a large amount of gold missing. The stock price has now fallen below 11 yuan per share.] [The Jinlin Corporation board of directors has announced that a new security team has been established, and they will fully cooperate with the Safety Bureau to deal with the Utopia Organization and maintain social order.] [An explosion occurred in Garden District yesterday, resulting in several casualties. The blast affected a wide area. The Safety Bureau has already launched an investigation.] "Another incident with gold?" Chen Feng read the news, his doubts growing. Gold was indeed a precious metal, but the Utopia Organization was a massive organization on Earth¡ªmoney shouldn¡¯t be a problem for them. Even if they needed it, there were more discreet ways than robbing gold. Shaking his head, Chen Feng cleared his mind as he couldn''t find an answer anyway. As for the last news, he glanced at it but didn¡¯t pay much attention. [Jinhua Station has arrived.] [Passengers, please exit from the rear door.] The mechanical announcement sounded, and the bus slowly came to a stop. Chen Feng stepped out, smoothly moving through the crowd and stepping onto the thick gray brick steps. The martial arts academy was right in front, with students coming and going. Without delay, he headed straight for the quiet room, greeting Lin Hao on the way. "Man I¡¯m so envious, you¡¯re going to get a special session again." Lin Hao said enviously. Chen Feng ignored it as he was already used to his temperament. Soon, the two parted ways, and he walked into his private practice room, quickly noticing someone was already inside. It was a staff member from the martial arts academy, who had prepared a wooden tub and hot water for him. "Senior Brother Chen." The person called out first, a young woman. Although Chen Feng hadn''t been officially enrolled as a disciple yet, everyone basically knew that it was only a matter of time. "Thank you." Chen Feng nodded, then watched the person leave and closed the wooden door. He took out the Body Refining Powder from the bag and divided it into one-third, pouring it into the tub. He stirred it briefly, undressed, and jumped into the wooden tub, soaking in it. Buzz! The effect of the medicinal bath was no joke. Chen Feng could feel the hot streams flowing through his pores, entering his body, slowly being absorbed by his skin, muscles, and bones. A notification appeared on the panel, and the progress of his Giant Tiger technique grew again. One hour later. Chen Feng walked out of the tub and changed into new clothes. [Giant Tiger Technique: Mighty Tiger (37%)+] "The secret medicine does have resistance, it¡¯s true." "Looks like this Body Refining Powder will probably only get me up to around 50%." He glanced at the panel and calculated his progress. The remaining 50% would require him to find a way on his own, at least ten Limit-Breaking Orbs. He looked at the panel. [Limit-Breaking Points: 3] It wasn¡¯t enough to upgrade yet, so he decided to save it. His expression remained calm; Chen Feng wasn¡¯t disappointed. There were still two more days, no need to rush. Not to mention, a new Talent Orb was waiting for him to collect. He then adjusted his mindset and continued with his martial arts practice. The day passed quietly. He went to the cafeteria for lunch, and at 3 p.m., he went downstairs and got into Lin Hao''s car. The blue flying car sped along, its leather seats comfortable as he leaned back slightly. "Is this a flying car?" Chen Feng asked, glancing at the car''s interior. From the outside, it looked just like an ordinary car unless the flying mode was activated. Inside, however, there was a mode-switching device. Once activated, not only did the appearance change, but there were also holographic VR screens inside for easier control. "Yeah, want to try it?" Lin Hao smiled, but quickly added in a regretful tone. "Too bad we''re in the city area. We haven¡¯t registered the low-altitude flight path. It could cause trouble." "When we go to the suburbs one day, there are no surveillance drones, and fewer people. I''ll let you try it then." Chen Feng nodded and, soon enough, they arrived at the familiar shopping mall. They parked, got out, and Lin Hao, dressed in high-end casual wear and wearing sunglasses, walked like a rich young master, drawing attention from the crowd. Chen Feng remained calm, his imposing figure casting a shadow over those around him, making many think of him as a bodyguard. "These people have no taste," Lin Hao laughed. Chen Feng didn¡¯t hesitate to call him out. "I think you¡¯re actually enjoying it." "Hehe, when you''re out and about, your identity is given by everyone else. You can''t blame me for it." They chatted casually as they entered the mall, heading to the second-floor club. Through the glass windows, they saw more people inside than yesterday. Nearly thirty trainees were in the training area. Wang Cheng and the other two were teaching, sweating and clearly busy. "Looks like we need to hire two more coaches," Lin Hao said with a smile. Chen Feng didn¡¯t object. He didn¡¯t understand the business side, but Lin Hao was good at it, so he left it to him. Click-clack! Footsteps echoed, and the receptionist at the front desk saw them and quickly greeted them. "Boss, Coach Chen!" The voice was different from usual. Chen Feng looked over and saw that the receptionist was a slightly plump woman with shoulder-length hair, light makeup, and a slightly round, delicate face. "This is Xu Xiaoxiao, the one I mentioned last time." Lin Hao briefly introduced her, and Chen Feng nodded in acknowledgment, knowing she was the one who alternated shifts with Zhou Xiaoli. Then, they continued inside. Lin Hao went to take care of other matters while Chen Feng walked into the training room in the members'' area. Li Chengdong and Zhuang Xiaoqing were already waiting for him, dressed in training gear. "Coach Chen." "Coach." "Mm." Chen Feng lightly nodded, then instructed the two to warm up. As he was planning the day''s training lesson, Li Chengdong, stretching his muscles, asked him a question. "Coach Chen, I saw you punch through the sandbag the other day." "Can you tell me what your current professional level is?" Hearing this, Zhuang Xiaoqing paused, her bright eyes looking at Chen Feng, a bit curious. "I don¡¯t have a level." Chen Feng replied calmly, shaking his head. Li Chengdong froze, and Zhuang Xiaoqing looked surprised. No level? Then how could he be a coach? After a moment, Li Chengdong understood. "Coach Chen, you mean you haven''t taken the professional certification exam yet, right?" "Mm." Chen Feng nodded slightly, his expression indifferent. In reality, most official club coaches had the corresponding professional level certifications. One, it was required by qualifications; two, it served as proof of their own abilities. But before this, he had been either practicing martial arts at the academy or working to earn money, so he hadn¡¯t had time to take the exams for these certificates. Of course, he didn¡¯t think it was too necessary anyway. Li Chengdong and Zhuang Xiaoqing exchanged looks and opened their mouths, wanting to persuade him. But before they could speak, a loud noise suddenly came from outside the practice room. Chen Feng amplified his senses and saw the situation clearly, raising an eyebrow. Before long, one of the coaches, Zhang Ping, rushed in, panicked, and shouted, "Coach Chen, something¡¯s happened!" "Someone is challenging the academy!" (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going! S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 90: With Such Pitiful Strength, You Dare to Act So Boldly? (3100+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- Boom!! A dull explosion rang out. In the club, one of the coaches, Chen Dong, was sent flying several meters by a punch, rolling on the ground twice. The sudden change shocked everyone, including the other students practicing boxing and the front desk staff. Eyes wide, they looked at the person who had entered. The newcomer was about 182 cm tall, wearing a blue denim jacket and pants, and appeared to be around 27 or 28 years old. He had a lean build, a crew cut, high cheekbones, and sharp eyes. "With this kind of strength, you dare teach boxing? Tch, you''re not even as good as the old women dancing on the streets." The lean young man sneered, slowly retracting his punching stance. It was clear that his fists had thick, dark calluses, and his arms were noticeably longer than most people''s. Seeing this, Wang Cheng''s face darkened, and Lin Hao, who had come out from the break room after hearing the noise, also narrowed his eyes. They initially thought the person was just a student coming to practice boxing, but it turned out he was a troublemaker here to cause a scene. "What do you mean by that?" Wang Cheng, catching Lin Hao¡¯s look, walked up with a serious expression. Behind him, Chen Fei, helped by others, had blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, his face pale, and was slowly getting up. "I mean nothing." The lean young man raised his chin and looked at Wang Cheng with mockery. "I just felt like having a sparring match." "But I didn''t expect you guys to be so weak. One punch and you''re done." "What''s the matter? Is it wrong to point out weakness?" As soon as these words fell, tension filled the air. Wang Cheng, already known for his fiery temper, could no longer hold back his anger. He lunged forward with a swift step, aiming a knee strike. Boom!! With a loud thud, Wang Cheng¡¯s knee was forcefully blocked by the young man''s palm. The sound reverberated in everyone''s ears. They looked on in surprise as the lean young man held Wang Cheng''s attack with one hand, then raised his left arm to throw a punch. Boom! With swift steps, Wang Cheng was knocked back by the punch, sliding several meters across the floor. His face turned red, and he could taste the blood rising in his throat. Lin Hao quickly supported him, but Wang Cheng gritted his teeth and forced it down. "Professional level two? Is this all you¡¯ve got?" Looking down at the opponent, the lean young man sneered again. By this point, even the slowest students had begun to realize something was wrong¡ªthey could tell this person came to cause trouble. Expressions varied among the crowd¡ªsome were hesitant, others suspicious. After all, their coach had been easily defeated, and as students, they couldn¡¯t help but feel uncomfortable. It made them question if their training fees were worth it. "I don''t know who gave you the courage, but with this kind of strength, you dare teach boxing?" "I think you should just close down and save yourselves from embarrassing yourselves further." The lean young man continued mocking them, causing Wang Cheng to flare up with rage, ready to rush forward. Tap, tap! At that moment, steady footsteps rang out, and a solid hand was placed on his shoulder. Wang Cheng was shocked to find that he couldn''t move at all. Turning his head, a massive figure appeared beside him, exuding a suffocating pressure. "Fengzi," Lin Hao spoke with concern. He hadn''t fully understood the background of the lean young man, nor had he figured out his power level. But he knew that anyone who dared to come and cause trouble with Chen Feng here must have some serious backing. "Ah, so your big master is out now?" The lean young man looked at Chen Feng, his expression becoming slightly more restrained, though his mocking tone remained unchanged. Boom!! A dull thud sounded as the large figure shot out like a bullet, leaving behind a blur of motion, and appeared in front of the lean young man within a few meters. With an expression of cold indifference, Chen Feng clenched his fists and didn¡¯t waste any time with words. Boom!! Fist collided with fist. The force of 500 kilograms in the strike easily surpassed any so-called professional peak. The shockwave from the impact was immense, and everyone held their breath. But to their surprise, the lean young man remained standing, unmoving. "Is this all you¡¯ve got?" he mocked, his arm muscles suddenly tensing. A burst of white light shot from his palm, forcing Chen Feng to take a step back. Looking down, Chen Feng saw strands of white energy trying to seep into his pores. His face remained impassive as he looked up at the young man. "Dirty tricks?" "Guess you have an eye for that." Crack! Boom! With a sudden fist, all the energy was shattered by Chen Feng¡¯s overwhelming power. The pressure in the air intensified as Chen Feng coldly glared at the opponent. Sensing something was wrong, the lean young man frowned slightly. Before he could react, Chen Feng had already disappeared from his original spot and appeared right in front of him. The veins in his arms bulged, and his muscles surged like flowing water. He punched again, and a burst of white energy exploded, temporarily halting the young man¡¯s breathing. The lean young man felt a chill run through him, immediately twisting his body and retreating like a monkey, widening the distance. Whoosh!! The punch missed, but the whirlwind generated by it swept across the area, making the nearby students feel as though they couldn¡¯t breathe and freezing in place. "Such power." His tone had become serious, no longer carrying the cocky attitude from before. The lean young man dodged the punch and launched a counterattack with his elbow. Chen Feng¡¯s eyes remained cold and unrelenting. Smack! The force exploded, and the lean young man crossed his arms in front of his chest, feeling a tremendous force coming at him, but unable to completely block it. Tap, tap! Taking a step back, the young man tried to maneuver and fight at a distance. The next second, the tiger came roaring out of the mountain, its roar reverberating through the air. Roar!! The sound of the tiger¡¯s roar, resonating through muscles and bones, was deafening. It shook the entire club. Focus returned to the scene, and the white energy dissipated, while Chen Feng¡¯s powerful right arm smashed into the lean young man¡¯s chest with such force that he was sent flying backward, crashing through the glass door. Boom!! The sound of the door shattering and glass flying everywhere echoed through the room. Outside in the corridor, people gathered, and bystanders gasped in horror, either screaming or backing away in fear. Chen Feng looked around, his sharp senses picking out a familiar figure leaving the crowd and quietly returning to the Dongling Boxing Gym across the street. Whispers began to spread. In a 100-meter radius, everything became crystal clear, as if it was right in front of them. At that moment, noticing the malicious intent, Chen Feng¡¯s gaze turned cold. He immediately stepped forward, dragging the half-unconscious lean young man with him, heading straight for the Dongling Boxing Gym. "What the hell is he doing?" "Is he that mad? No, wait, it looks like he¡¯s heading for the Dongling Boxing Gym!" The crowd buzzed with discussion, but no one dared to stop him. People quickly moved aside, giving way. In the club, Lin Hao and the others snapped out of their shock, realizing what had happened, and quickly followed. In the blink of an eye, the entire mall had its attention drawn to them. The first to fourth floors were filled with people noticing the commotion, some rushing upstairs, others stopping to peer over the railings. "What do you think you¡¯re doing?" The Dongling Boxing Gym had already noticed something was off. A middle-aged coach stood at the door with more than ten disciples, their expressions grave. "Did you invite him here?" Chen Feng asked coldly, and the lean young man, dragged along, had blood dripping from his mouth and was murmuring something about monsters and divine strength. "What does this have to do with us?" The middle-aged coach¡¯s eyelids twitched as he quickly countered, "Friend, you¡¯re not trying to frame us, are you?" The crowd looked on with varying expressions, and some began to side with the middle-aged coach, looking at Chen Feng with suspicion. ¡°Frame you?¡± The malicious intent grew in Chen Feng''s senses, and he suddenly smiled. The middle-aged coach frowned, while the two men standing beside him, along with the disciples, were also confused. The next second. Boom!!! A headbutt! A dull crash rang out, and the middle-aged coach saw stars. He felt like he had been hit by a hammer, his forehead swelling and turning red as he staggered backward. "You dare lay your hands on me?" "You''re seeking death!!" The two men on either side of him¡ªone in a short-sleeved shirt and the other an old boxing master¡ªreacted the fastest. Anger and shock flashed across their faces, and they both rushed to attack. The first one threw a punch like a dragon or serpent, creating a terrifying momentum as it slammed forward. The second one transformed his fingers into claws, resembling a soaring eagle, with powerful energy flashing. Boom!! The sound of fists meeting flesh was extremely dull, causing everyone¡¯s hearts to jump. The punch landed on the head, and the claws struck the chest, but oddly enough, as they followed the trajectory, Chen Feng remained motionless, with no sign of injury on his body despite the attacks. "This¡ª!" "Strengthening Technique?" The two looked at each other with suspicion. The next second, a tiger''s roar echoed. "Scram!!" Chen Feng''s body trembled, and immense power erupted! Suddenly, the two of them changed their expressions drastically and retreated a few steps. The other disciples around them regained their senses. Some, with more courage, tried to attack together, hoping to suppress Chen Feng and give their masters a chance. But before they could even get close¡­ Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!! S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Charged punches and whip-like strikes. Figures shot out, heavy fists smashing into their faces. Seven or eight people were sent flying in all directions, crashing into everything in their path. Clatter! The glass around the boxing gym shattered, and the pedestrians around were horrified. The middle-aged coach, who had been dizzy, regained his bearings and saw the scene, his face turning red with anger. "This is too much!" He shouted, stabilizing his body, muscles wriggling as he lunged forward like a snake. Without dodging, Chen Feng gathered his power, his legs sinking like a red tiger in a crouch, his bones cracking as the tiger''s roar filled the air. Roar!! It was as if a fierce tiger had descended from the mountains, unstoppable. Boom!! Fist collided with fist. Crack! The sound of bones breaking rang out. The middle-aged coach slid backward and crashed into a sandbag, barely stopping. The other two¡¯s faces turned ugly. They suppressed their fear and charged forward, trying to save face for the gym. The two attacks came from either side. Chen Feng took a deep breath, his arm muscles shifting, as if stones were rolling. His arms became even thicker. Veins bulged, and power gathered. A 60% increase in his explosive fist¡ªis more than enough! Boom!! The fists collided with the palms, and the claw technique was shattered. Whether it was the short-sleeve man or the grizzled old boxer. Their faces changed drastically. They felt a surge of brute force, their muscles becoming numb, on the verge of snapping. Then, with two more loud thuds. The two figures were sent flying, blood dripping from the corners of their mouths, crashing heavily to the ground. The atmosphere was dead silent, a chaotic mess. The remaining disciples stood frozen, fear in their eyes, too scared to intervene, standing amidst the glass shards. The middle-aged coach¡¯s face turned pale, while the pedestrians nearby were wide-eyed, feeling like the imposing figure of Chen Feng was a descending tiger, their hearts heavy with fear. Finally, in the silent atmosphere, Chen Feng glanced coldly at the middle-aged coach, who was holding his right arm in pain, looking disheveled from a distance. "I¡¯m trying to frame you? Slandering you?" "With your pitiful strength, do you think yourself worthy?" As soon as he finished speaking, the coach''s face turned white and then quickly flushed red. Pfft! He suddenly spat blood, swaying and stumbling, barely supported by a disciple nearby. Then, Chen Feng turned and stepped over the bodies of the unconscious disciples. As his figure passed by, Wang Cheng, standing behind, already showed an expression of deep admiration, instinctively impressed by Chen Feng¡¯s prowess. Among the other trainees, Zhuang Xiaoqing''s eyes shone with admiration, full of awe. Li Chengdong, beside her, clenched his fists, feeling excited and moved. Professional certification? It seemed that some people didn¡¯t need such things to prove themselves. Their strength was already enough to break through the so-called worldly rules. Tap! Tap! Eventually, his steps slowed. The crowd parted like a tide. Chen Feng walked calmly, returning to the club as everyone watched. "I want to sign up!" "Me too, me too!" "How can I become a member? I want to train with that coach!" Half an hour later, at the front desk of Hao Feng Boxing Club. A long line had formed, with many people clamoring to become club members and train with Chen Feng. After all, no advertisement could match the power of witnessing something firsthand. One man against several, and with three professional experts, the battle was decided in just a few moves. This scene had left a deep impression on the pedestrians. Seeing this, Lin Hao smiled widely. The front desk staff, Xu Xiaoxiao, was overwhelmed. Zhou Xiaoli had been called in to help, and Wang Cheng, along with the three coaches, had been forced to assist in registering various sign-ups. "Too awesome, Fengzi." "You¡¯ll be a local celebrity in this mall from now on. Maybe even the martial arts circle around here will hear of you." Lin Hao smiled as he spoke in the training room. Chen Feng didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, as he had already returned here after the ¡°club challenge,¡± and had immediately asked Li Chengdong and Zhuang Xiaoqing to return and continue training. Perhaps at first, they both had some doubts about his strength. But now¡­ They both had shining eyes, listening intently to the training plans, eager to become masters like him. "By the way, the guy you challenged earlier, you didn¡¯t go too far, did you?" Lin Hao suddenly asked, as the man had been knocked into unconsciousness by a punch to the chest, and he was worried there might have been a serious injury. "A little lesson, he won¡¯t die." Chen Feng shook his head. He had already reduced his power. He only used 30% of his explosive fist, less than 700 kilograms of force. The man clearly had some martial arts background, but compared to Cao Tong, his strength was much weaker. "Alright, that¡¯s good." "I¡¯ll check his background just in case." Lin Hao nodded and went back to register the sign-ups. "Coach Chen, are you from a martial arts school?" During a break from training, Li Chengdong approached, curiosity in his tone. His voice was noticeably more respectful than before. Chen Feng didn¡¯t mind, only raising an eyebrow and asking, "Did you figure it out?" "Yes, when I was in the army, there was a martial arts expert who served as an instructor, teaching us combat skills." "The way you feel, it¡¯s very similar to him, not the moves, but the aura." Li Chengdong tried to describe, while Zhuang Xiaoqing remained silent but watched the conversation with curiosity. "How strong was he?" Chen Feng asked. "Very strong, once he shattered a sandbag with one punch." He paused and added, "But I feel like he might not be as strong as you, Coach Chen." After taking a deep look at the guy, Chen Feng knew he was intentionally flattering him to get closer. It was only natural, and he simply nodded in acknowledgment before continuing to guide the two in their training. Gradually, night fell. After the training session ended, and after eating dinner at the club, Chen Feng stepped downstairs, preparing to leave the mall. "Coach Chen, are you going home? Let me give you a ride?" Zhuang Xiaoqing, who was about to leave the parking lot, was sitting in the back seat of a Feichi-brand sedan, her black hair flowing down, dressed in a light-colored long dress that gave off an intellectual beauty. Chen Feng glanced at the driver, a well-built man in a suit, his waist bulging with a gun, clearly a bodyguard as well as a driver. He gently shook his head, politely declining her offer. "Alright, Coach Chen, see you tomorrow." Smiling and waving, Zhuang Xiaoqing signaled for the driver to leave. Watching the tail lights fade into the distance, Chen Feng¡¯s expression remained calm. He took out his phone and called for a ride-sharing car. "Chen Feng!" Suddenly, a voice called out from behind. Chen Feng was slightly surprised, turning his head. A thin girl, under 1.6 meters tall, wearing thick glasses and her shoulder-length hair pinned up with a hair clip, was walking toward him. Her white cartoon-patterned T-shirt was covered by a long-sleeved shirt. "Wang Hanwen?" Chen Feng didn¡¯t expect to run into her here. "What a coincidence, didn¡¯t expect to meet you here." "I was just having dinner with some colleagues nearby, and we were taking a walk to digest." She explained, pointing behind her, smiling brightly. Chen Feng glanced over and saw two young women waiting by the shared bicycles, clearly her colleagues. They looked him up and down, curiosity mixed with surprise. "By the way, did you change jobs?" "I went to the supermarket you worked at yesterday, but they said you had already quit." "How¡¯s your new job? Is everything going well?" Wang Hanwen asked with curiosity. Chen Feng nodded, saying it was fine, without giving much explanation. Noticing he didn¡¯t want to talk more, Wang Hanwen understood and nodded. "Alright, I¡¯ll go now. Chen Feng, take care on your way back." "Bye." After saying this, she waved and turned to join her waiting colleagues. Though she was walking farther away, Chen Feng could still hear their playful voices in his mind. "Xiaowen, is this your boyfriend?" "No, he¡¯s just a classmate." "He¡¯s so tall and strong, looks really reassuring. Can you introduce him to me?" Shaking his head, Chen Feng withdrew his gaze. Soon, his ride arrived, and he left the mall. The talent orb from his dream was still unclaimed, but tonight, everything was in perfect condition. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) ahead on (pa treon. com/CinderTL) ¨C . Your support keeps this going! Subscribe & Read Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words. Chapter 91: New Talent: Steel Bones (3500+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- Crack! At 10 PM, the bedroom door opened and closed. After finishing his grooming routine, Chen Feng lay down on the bed and slowly closed his eyes, preparing to sleep. The stronger his will, the easier it was for him to control his sleep. Soon, mist began to roll, the darkness in front of him faded away, and the door to a single-story villa appeared in his vision. A black backpack was slung over his shoulder, and he wore the same white sneakers he had on when he first arrived. His bodily wounds had long healed, and all the toxins had disappeared. He had returned to peak condition. Activating his senses, Chen Feng quickly moved around inside the villa and once again obtained a limit-breaking light orb. [Limit Break Points: 4] Little by little, he was accumulating them, preparing to continue his search. "Hmm?" His gaze shifted, and he suddenly noticed something familiar. Inside the study drawer, a diary appeared. This wasn''t something that would normally attract his attention, but to his surprise, it contained a broken copper plate. Crack! Taking a step into the study, he opened the drawer. The thick, brown leather-bound diary was flipped open by Chen Feng. Inside, there was a concave shape, as if it had been deliberately cut into an oval form. Right in the middle, the broken copper plate was placed. [Black-faced Spider: One of the Black Calamity creatures, its silk has strong adhesive properties and can easily bind other creatures.] [Habits: Social in its youth, prefers solitude once matured. The female black-faced spider often feeds the young until they leave the nest in their youth.] [Danger Level: The young can harm ordinary adult males, but after reaching adulthood, it possesses second-tier strength and is immune to regular bullets.] [Black Toxic Bee Swarm: One of the Black Calamity creatures, resembling a large hornet, but with a head the size of an adult''s, capable of shooting venomous bee stingers.] [Habits: Social, controlled by a queen bee, with a short lifespan and rapid adulthood.] [Danger Level: First-tier, with bee stingers that fire quickly and have potent toxicity and destructive power.] "First-tier, second-tier?" After briefly glancing through the contents, Chen Feng was surprised. This was the first time he had seen levels in the dream world. Quickly, he continued to read. [Toxic Queen Bee: One of the Black Calamity creatures, the queen of the Black Toxic Bee Swarm, humanoid with a bee tail, capable of flight.] [Habits: Social, rules over the bee swarm.] [Danger Level: First-tier in its youth, second-tier after maturity, immune to bullets, fast-moving, and its bee stingers have extremely high toxicity and power. They can be charged and launched, with power comparable to a small missile.] [Weakness: After launching the stingers, the queen will experience a temporary weakening of strength.] "Toxic Queen Bee?" Chen Feng squinted, instinctively thinking back to the wave of bee-like Black Calamity creatures he encountered yesterday. From the description, it seemed likely that it was the Toxic Queen Bee and her swarm. "It seems like she''s already matured, which means she possesses second-tier strength?" "If that''s the case, second-tier should be roughly equivalent to a Cyborg''s Bronze rank, or a regular human''s Master rank?" After making the comparison, Chen Feng had a rough idea. From the intensity of the aura he sensed yesterday, he would need to activate his Azure Armor and use his Explosive Fist to overcome her. He then glanced at the copper plate in his hand. The edges were broken, and there was no other information. After a moment''s thought, he put it into his black backpack. As for the hollowed-out diary, he opened the first few pages. There were some ink-stained words, just a handful of lines. [Year 246 of the Alliance Calendar, March 2nd.] [The outer defense circle was breached by Black Calamity creatures, causing heavy casualties among the law enforcement team.] [At the critical moment, a miracle occurred.] [One of my new recruits, his talent mutated, and he summoned an ancestor''s spirit¡ªSwordmaster Alonco.] [This super-strong being, who died twenty years ago in the Black Tide disaster, was reborn as a spirit and is unstoppable.] [The crisis was temporarily resolved, but the summoner nearly died from spiritual and physical exhaustion, only surviving thanks to the healing of the Saint Light.] [I have a feeling that he may become our hope for Qinggang City.] [Message from: Zhou Chong] "Spirit summoning talent, is it that guy again?" After reading the diary, Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, recalling the first diary he had seen. The young man named Wang Yu, who awakened his talent. Curious, Chen Feng thought that this ability to summon the spirits of those who had passed away was truly unique. "Maybe later, I can look into finding more clues." "But for now..." He closed the diary and looked out the window. The grudge from yesterday still hadn''t been avenged, and the brown talent orb was still uncollected. So... After strapping the black backpack back on, he set out, retracing the steps from yesterday. Thud thud! Thud thud thud! Thud thud thud thud! As his footsteps quickened, Chen Feng felt his body grow more energized. It felt like his blood was flowing intensely, and his cells were cheering in excitement. Perhaps, deep down, he longed for a battle, to write his own truth with fists and violence. Thud thud! Eventually, he arrived near the familiar residential building. Activating his senses, he saw the brown light orb, the size of a human head, floating on the roof of the third floor. The surroundings were dark, but as he approached, Chen Feng soon detected the presence of the Toxic Queen Bee. It was a massive, oval-shaped hive, several cubic meters in size, built right on the back wall of the building. Several black toxic bees were buzzing around, acting as guards. Inside the hive, the Toxic Queen Bee rested with her eyes closed, seemingly in deep slumber. "Good." Chen Feng smiled darkly, nodding in satisfaction, standing in the dark corner of the street, showing his sharp white teeth. In an instant, he focused his mind. His spiritual and physical energy began to drain, and the Azure mark on his hand flickered slightly. The Azure glow emanated, beginning to spread. Wrist, arm, elbow. Shoulder, waist, abdomen, and legs. In just a breath''s time, the Azure armor covered his entire body, and a horn emerged. The fiberglass red eyes gleamed brightly. As if sensing something, the Toxic Queen Bee opened her eyes. Buzz!! With a flap of her wings, she immediately emerged with the black toxic bee swarm. The buzzing of the bees filled the air as she looked down at Chen Feng. The Azure horned figure raised his head, slightly raised his hand, and made a provocative gesture. "##@!" A strange sound came from her mouth. Immediately, several of the black bees dispersed, and with a quick movement of her body, she produced a clicking sound. Swish swish swish!! The black needle-like bee stingers shot toward Chen Feng. He didn''t even move. Clang clang clang! The sound echoed as he stood still, squinting his eyes, waiting for the right moment as the bees descended. In a flash, it seemed as if his indifference had enraged her. The Toxic Queen Bee let out another strange noise. "#&&!" The harsh sound echoed like a shrill scream, causing the windows of the surrounding buildings to rattle, cracking open. Buzz!! In the next moment, the transparent black-veined wings suddenly fluttered. A black shadow flickered, and in the blink of an eye, the Toxic Queen Bee had already reached him. Clang!!! The sound of metal clashing rang out, sparks flying. Chen Feng raised his arm to block. The Azure armor and the black bee stingers scraped against each other, creating a screeching noise. He stood his ground without moving. The fiberglass red eyes locked with the dark, murderous eyes of the bee. The next second. Chen Feng''s muscles bulged, and he gathered strength in his explosive fist. Whoosh! The sound of blood flowing through his body intensified, and his left arm swung out with full force. White energy rose, and the air burst apart. Just as it seemed he would land a solid hit. Buzz! The Toxic Queen Bee flapped her wings and vanished from his sight. She was too quick, and Chen Feng''s punch hit nothing. The shockwave exploded, and the streetlamp pole, grazed by the wind, groaned, nearly breaking. In the next second, a whoosh rang out. The sound of something cutting through the air increased, and a cold sensation came from behind. Ding!! A round bee stinger struck. The Azure armor held firm. Chen Feng seized the opportunity to pivot and swipe with his right arm, delivering a whip-like punch. Buzz! The wind howled as the Toxic Queen Bee dodged again. The cycle repeated, with Chen Feng''s attacks missing and the queen bee darting around at high speed. But he could see the traces in midair¡ªthose were the afterimages of the Toxic Queen Bee''s rapid movement. Ding ding ding! Clang clang clang! The sharp, clear sounds echoed, and Chen Feng felt like a target, his punches and palms missing every time, passively taking hits. Silence. Stillness. Beneath the mist, the Toxic Queen Bee''s eyes were cold and full of killing intent. Clang! Another sharp stinger launched at him, clearly aimed at a vital spot, but it just couldn''t penetrate the armor on his body. Frustration surged within her. She flapped her wings, searching for another opening. Snap! The next moment. "I got you." A low voice sounded, and the red eyes of the fiberglass armor brightened. The Toxic Queen Bee was startled to find that her leg had been grabbed by his hand. "#&&" Boom!! The strange cry echoed in her ears as Chen Feng coldly swung his right arm, like a sledgehammer, smashing the Toxic Queen Bee into the ground. Gray stone bricks shattered with a loud crash, the ground caving in and cracks spreading in all directions. Boom! Boom! Boom! With repeated swings, he slammed her into the ground, sending shards flying, disorienting the Toxic Queen Bee. In the air, the bee swarm cried out in a frenzy. In the blink of an eye, seven or eight more bees appeared in the hive, rushing to join the fray. They lined up, their tails twitching. Snap. A chill ran through his heart. Chen Feng immediately stopped his attacks, tightly holding the Toxic Queen Bee''s body, and swung it forward like a weapon. Whoosh whoosh whoosh!! The black bee stingers met flesh, creating a dull thud as the Toxic Queen Bee''s upper body turned into a pincushion, crying out in pain. "&&#!" Her shrill cry seemed like a curse, but Chen Feng, unmoved, slammed her back into the ground again. Buzz!! As the body swung, just when it seemed like it was about to be slammed back into the ground once more... The Toxic Queen Bee suddenly let out a strange screech, and with a sudden burst of force, she broke free from her restraints and soared into the air. Chen Feng looked up in surprise, seeing dark black lines suddenly appear on her body, as if she had triggered some kind of ability, and her aura was noticeably stronger. Then, with a click sound... Whoosh!!! A one-meter-long stinger detached from her tail, shooting towards him like a conical missile. There was no way to dodge, and the danger escalated rapidly. Boom!!! A muffled explosion echoed as the ground was swept by strong winds. The withered trees and windows on either side trembled violently. Dust flew, and smoke rose. The Toxic Queen Bee, surrounded by other black poison bees, hovered in mid-air in front of a residential building. Upon closer inspection, her face was pale, and her aura was weakening. It was clear that using such a technique had drained her significantly. Even so, she did not retreat. Instead, she coldly and cruelly looked down at the ground, seemingly wanting to witness the human''s tragic death. Then, the smoke dissipated. Crack-like webbed fissures spread across the area, and a large, several-meter-wide crater formed at the center. The massive bee stinger pierced through the solid concrete and asphalt, embedding deeply, leaving behind a fist-sized, deep circular hole. As for the Azure humanoid figure, it was half-kneeling at the edge of the crater. Although its shell was dented and damaged, it had not been struck by the stinger, nor was it significantly injured. Seeing this, the Toxic Queen Bee''s expression froze. The next second... Crack! The ground shattered, and the Azure humanoid figure raised its head, its eyes glowing red like knives. Boom!! With a knee bend, it stomped on the ground and shot up into the air. It shot upwards like a thrown spear! "##&!!" The Toxic Queen Bee screeched in panic and immediately flapped her wings to escape. But in the next moment, the figure had already reached her. A powerful hand grasped her neck, and the immense force dragged her down, causing them both to crash onto the top floor of the residential building. A heavy thud echoed as the two fell, Chen Feng gripping her tightly. "##&!!" Boom!! A punch exploded out, and her head splattered. Azure blood sprayed out like watermelon juice, and the Toxic Queen Bee¡¯s shriek abruptly ceased. Crack! The dark Azure fist moved slightly, slowly retracting from the sunken cement floor. Cracks spread beneath it as Chen Feng stood up and glanced at the remaining black poison bees in mid-air. [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] Buzzing!! In less than two seconds, all the remaining black poison bees were terrified and frantically fled in all directions. "Oh?" Chen Feng raised an eyebrow as he saw the fear notification on his status panel. This was the first time he had discovered that creatures from the Black Calamity would feel fear. He didn¡¯t think too much about it, sensing the disappearance of the Black Toxic Bee Swarm. He then looked down at the Toxic Queen Bee''s corpse. According to the records on the copper medal, the Toxic Queen Bee¡¯s weak point was her head. After using her tail stinger, her strength would decrease, and both her speed and defense would drop significantly. Had it not been for this, he wouldn''t have dared to leave the ground and take the risk. Buzz!! Then, within his line of sight... The Toxic Queen Bee¡¯s corpse quickly decayed, turning into a sticky, black humanoid stain on the ground. Chen Feng withdrew his gaze and turned to look at the other side of the building''s rooftop. The brown light orb remained suspended, unaffected by the previous battle. Seeing this, Chen Feng walked over slowly, getting closer. The Azure Armor state faded, and his shell slowly retracted. He looked at the brown light orb and clearly saw a spherical rock-shaped phantom inside. Without delay, he extended his hand. The instant his finger made contact... Buzz!! The light orb exploded into countless grains of sand, swirling around his body. It was as if time froze, and everything remained suspended in place. Chen Feng was astonished as he watched the grains of sand hurry into his body. One, two, three... A warm sensation filled him, and he didn¡¯t know how many points had entered him. Finally, the panel notification appeared, and he had obtained a new talent. [You have obtained the talent Light Orb: Steel Bones!] [This is a signature talent of an extraordinary individual!] [Talent fusion successful!] [Effect 1: You can absorb the essence of metals to enhance your bone density!] [Effect 2: You can consume stamina to grow bones externally and shape them into any form!] [Effect 3: Permanent 30% boost to physical strength!] [Current status: Steel Bones LV1 (1/100)] [Talent growth condition: Absorb enough metal essence!] After reading the prompt, Chen Feng suddenly felt a strange sound within his body. Crack! Crack! Crack! It sounded as if his bones were growing and strengthening, and his flesh tightened as well. In an instant, his physical attributes on the status panel rapidly increased again! [Strength: 14.0 ¡ú 14.5] [Agility: 12.5 ¡ú 13.0] [Constitution: 15.0 ¡ú 15.8] [Willpower: 14.7] "An increase of 1.8 in attributes." It seemed like a small increase, but Chen Feng could clearly feel the change in his physique. The effects of the Giant Tiger Technique were indeed as the panel had indicated¡ªan increase of 30%. His strength had officially reached 650 kg, and his body¡¯s defense had been boosted by 30%. "Does this mean that no matter which hard technique I practice in the future, I¡¯ll always be 30% stronger than others?" With a gleam in his eye, Chen Feng suddenly realized the power of this effect. A 30% increase¡ªpermanently! The stronger the foundation, the greater the difference that 30% will make. And this was just the talent at LV1. What would happen when it levels up? "Also, the first two effects..." Chen Feng lowered his head slightly, raising his palm. He concentrated his mind, consuming stamina, and began growing bones. In the blink of an eye, a solid white spike appeared in his palm and rapidly extended, forming a sharp spike about several centimeters long. He aimed it at the ceiling of the residential building below, and it easily pierced through as if cutting through tofu. "This level of hardness?" Chen Feng squinted, carefully sensing, and found that his bone density had surpassed ordinary steel, approaching the hardness of Bronze-class metal. That was quite terrifying. Then, with a thought, the spike in his hand changed shape. A small knife, a round ball, even a compact shield¡ªor it could grow into a mask, covering half of his face. "It changes freely, but there is a limit." "From my current strength, I can only control a volume the size of a palm at most." After patiently experimenting and sensing, Chen Feng nodded in satisfaction. The talent was progressive, and the so-called limit was only temporary. "It''s about absorbing metal essence. I need to try this more in the future." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I hope I can afford it." As the thought passed, he suppressed the extra thoughts, walked to the back of the residential building''s rooftop. A massive beehive clung to the back wall, and there were still some bee eggs inside. "No honey?" Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, a little surprised. He had originally planned to see if there was anything like honey inside, to see if he could consume it and check for any effects. But now, that plan was clearly scrapped. Since that''s the case... His gaze sharpened, sensing that the bee eggs still held some life force. He immediately clenched his fist and struck heavily! --- Morning, 7:05 AM. Chen Feng opened his eyes and saw the familiar ceiling. [Limit Break Points: 6] After obtaining the Steel Bones talent, he had found two more Light Orbs elsewhere. Now, he had accumulated six. "Still not enough." Shaking his head as he got up, whether it was for the Flame Tiger Stance to reach the Tiger Might or for the Giant Tiger Technique to break through to the Giant Tiger level, he still had a long way to go. However... Swoosh! He pulled open the curtains, and the blue sky and white clouds greeted him. Chen Feng felt calm inside. The Steel Bones talent was powerful. It was the greatest gain he had recently obtained from the dream world, far more important than a few Light Orbs. "The 30% boost to physical strength means I can train harder in the future." "As for absorbing metal essence..." With a thought, Chen Feng rummaged through the drawer and took out a lump of iron. A metal sphere, something he had found when he was younger. He extended his hand and pressed it against the sphere. Chen Feng activated his talent ability. A few seconds later, it was as though a switch had been flipped. The metal sphere vibrated slightly, and Chen Feng quickly realized that some element was being forcibly separated from it. It traveled through his skin, passing through his flesh, and was absorbed by his bones. Crack! Two seconds later... A crack appeared on the surface of the metal sphere. Then, with a loud bang, it shattered into dust, turning into little black ash that fell onto his palm and the floor. [Steel Bones LV1: 1/100] Chen Feng summoned the status panel and quickly fell silent. Not even 1 point of progress? He could clearly feel that he had absorbed the metal essence. However... "Too little, or the quality was too low." After some thought, Chen Feng speculated. This was just an ordinary iron ball, not some high-quality metal. And its size was also small, so this outcome wasn¡¯t that unreasonable. "At least a large amount of ordinary metal, or perhaps... a metal of Bronze class." A thought flashed through Chen Feng¡¯s mind, and he suddenly remembered the Cyborgs he had seen before. Their metal seemed quite good, didn¡¯t it? (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - . Translated (4) Series, (1.8K+) Chapters, (2.25M+) Words. Chapter 92: Sect Mountain Gate (2400+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- That day, a bus drove into Jinhua District and stopped at the station. The bus became crowded again as a tall figure slowly stepped off, causing people to make way. Tap tap! With steady steps, Chen Feng remained expressionless as he headed straight for the martial arts hall. "You''re here," Lin Hao said, having just parked his car downstairs. He slung a baseball bag over his shoulder. "You''re early today." "Just lucky, no traffic." Chen Feng briefly responded, and Lin Hao nodded. They then went up to the second floor together. Thinking about the matter of the personal disciple, Chen Feng told Lin Hao, "After today, I won¡¯t be able to come to the club for a few days." "Just message me if you need anything." "Alright, you go ahead, and try to succeed as soon as possible." Lin Hao smiled and nodded in reply. Before long, they each went into their respective practice room. By the time it was almost 9:00 AM, when Chen Feng entered the room, the wooden tub was already filled with warm water. "Senior Brother Chen." The staff at the martial arts hall greeted him respectfully, and Chen Feng nodded in acknowledgment. After they left, he took out the final Body Refining Powder and poured it into the water. Soon, everything was ready. He stripped off his clothes and jumped into the tub, sitting cross-legged. Gradually, the medicinal bath enveloped his body, and the warm flow entered him, being absorbed by his skin, muscles, and bones. An hour later. The progress of the Giant Tiger Technique increased, and the panel displayed the latest data. [Giant Tiger Technique: Giant Tiger (51%) +] "As expected, it¡¯s just as I predicted." Chen Feng glanced at the progress on the panel and lightly shook his head. Just as he was about to leave the tub, a calm set of footsteps sounded outside the quiet room. Thud thud! "Junior Brother Chen." "Done with your medicinal bath?" The footsteps stopped at the door, and Cao Tong''s voice followed with a knock. "Brother Cao?" Chen Feng was a bit surprised. After a brief exchange, Cao Tong opened the quiet room door and walked in. However, unlike the usual coach''s outfit, today Cao Tong was dressed in a loose green robe, wearing cloth shoes, looking somewhat like an ancient figure. At the same time, he carried a simple gray ancient robe and a pair of black cloth shoes with new white socks inside. "Brother Cao, what¡¯s this for?" "For you," Cao Tong replied seriously, and Chen Feng understood his intention. Yesterday, Cao Tong had mentioned they would go to the martial arts sect''s mountain gate in the afternoon. The reason was that tomorrow was the personal disciple competition, so they had to go up the mountain to stay a day in advance, just in case. Chen Feng guessed that perhaps this overnight stay was also a form of assessment. "There are rules inside the sect; whenever a disciple returns to the mountain, they must wear the ancient robe." "Since you haven''t officially become a disciple yet, this simple robe is the best we can do." While speaking, Chen Feng looked at Cao Tong''s robe. The sleeves had silver thread stitching, and the robe was mostly green with a tiger character outlined in white thread on the back, giving off a somewhat solemn aura. This must be the style for core disciples. "Alright." Not hesitating, Chen Feng nodded in agreement. "I¡¯ll step outside. Change and come out, we¡¯ll tidy up and head up the mountain together." "Okay." Chen Feng quickly got out of the tub, dried off, and changed into the robe. The gray robe and black cloth shoes fit him well, clearly prepared with great care by Cao Tong. However, since it was his first time wearing this ancient robe, he felt a little uncomfortable. Only after a bit of adjustment did he get used to it. Tap tap! Finally, he stepped out, opened the quiet room door, and walked out. Cao Tong had already been waiting outside and looked at him with a gleam in his eye. "Not bad, Junior Brother Chen, you look quite handsome." It wasn''t flattery. Chen Feng had a strong, muscular build, and his upper body had a broad V-shape. The ordinary gray ancient robe fit him perfectly, and his sharp features and slightly raised brows gave him a heroic air. Without responding, Chen Feng didn''t know what he looked like since there was no mirror. The two of them went downstairs together and headed for the underground parking lot. During the walk, Chen Feng took out his phone and sent a message to Chen Yun. Buzz buzz! [Chen Yun: Stay safe, smile.jpg] [I¡¯ll wait for you to come back, so message me when you arrive.] After reading the message, Chen Feng locked his phone and looked up. A black Mercedes-Benz stopped in front of him. The driver was a middle-aged man in casual clothes, and sitting in the backseat was a familiar figure. She wore a white robe, and her long black hair was tied with a wooden hairpin, giving off a cold and frosty aura. "Senior Sister Wu." Cao Tong called out, and the figure nodded slightly. "Get in." After the door closed, Cao Tong arranged for Chen Feng to sit on the right side of the back seat, while he sat in the passenger seat. "Don¡¯t overthink it. This time I¡¯m going down the mountain to deal with the Serpent Spirit Sect, but I¡¯m also bringing back the personal disciple seeds." "After all, the Flame Tiger Sect has some enemies, so it''s just precautionary." Seeing Chen Feng''s confusion, Wu Shuang explained from the back seat. Chen Feng nodded in acknowledgment, and the driver quickly started the engine. The three of them slowly drove out of the parking lot and onto the paved road. The car was quiet, and Cao Tong couldn''t bear the silence, so he initiated a conversation. "Senior Sister Wu, I heard from Luo Chong that the Serpent Spirit Sect issue is almost resolved?" "Yeah." Wu Shuang nodded lightly, and Chen Feng remained silent. Then he heard her continue, "Yesterday, I went to the scene with Luo Chong. The people from the United Coalition are quite strong. They killed one of the Divine Attendants." "Another one was severely injured and fled, but with heavy distortions, they won¡¯t pose any threat." Divine Attendant? Chen Feng was intrigued. It was the first time he had heard this term. He didn¡¯t fully understand the content of Wu Shuang''s words, but he roughly understood half of it. It seemed to be related to the action Cao Tong had mentioned earlier. "The Evil God Sect worships an evil god and is willing to serve as its followers and attendants." "The term ''Divine Attendant'' refers to some of the leaders inside, at the weakest level, they are in the Strengthening stage, also known as the Master level." "Last time, when Senior Sister Wu and the United Coalition destroyed a Serpent Spirit Sect hideout, she personally killed a Divine Attendant." Noticing that Chen Feng might not understand, Cao Tong turned back to explain a bit more, mentioning some of the context. Wu Shuang remained silent, and Chen Feng was deep in thought. "We¡¯ll talk about the Serpent Spirit Sect later." Suddenly, as Chen Feng was pondering, Wu Shuang spoke up, "Before we return to the mountain, I¡¯ve already had someone seal off information about you." "Most people in the sect only know that you¡¯ve broken through to the Bone Refining stage, but they don¡¯t know you¡¯ve reached the Giant Tiger level in the hard techniques." "Though the advantage is small, it will be unexpected and could give you an extra edge." The tone was calm, but Chen Feng was slightly surprised as he felt a hint of warmth. Helping him conceal his strength, the effect was self-evident. At least before the martial arts competition began, he wouldn''t attract attention, and maybe he could avoid some targeted actions. Of course, he actually didn''t mind either way, but still thanked her. "Thank you, Senior Sister Wu." "Mm." Wu Shuang nodded lightly, seeing that he had taken it to heart, and she too relaxed a little. Offending someone wasn''t scary, but offending a potential monstrous genius would come with a huge price. So, no matter the outcome of the personal disciple competition, at least, between her and Chen Feng, there would be no grudges, and that was enough. Vroom! The car became quiet again, and the driver gradually increased the speed. The black car with four people weaved between other vehicles, and the tall buildings and street views outside swiftly retreated. --- The stench of the sewer grates along the roadside wafted up, mingled with the damp and darkness. "Flame Tiger Sect." "United Coalition." Amid the hateful murmurs, black snakes slithered towards a burly man in a black robe, half lying on the ground, licking his wounds. Under the hood of the robe, a triangular face covered in black scales could be seen. The eyes, once human, had turned into snake-like vertical pupils, and even his hands kept shifting between scales and skin. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had been fleeing, evading the Sky Eye System''s pursuit. Heavily injured, it was easy for his divine power to go out of control and suffer a backlash from the mutation. But unfortunately, those people still hadn''t given up. After finally absorbing some ordinary people''s life essence, they had been discovered again and had to flee here. Hiss! Suddenly, as he felt a sense of despair, a hissing sound was heard. A small brown snake appeared, slithering up his sleeve, and crawled to his ear. The hissing sound continued, but his face suddenly froze, and he smiled. "Hong Guang Group? Zhao Jianlong?" "Hahaha! As expected, the Serpent Spirit blesses me, the heavens have not abandoned me!" --- The black car continued its smooth journey, leaving the bustling city center and entering a deep mountain. Gradually, the tall buildings faded into the distance, replaced by rolling mountain ranges and dense forests. Occasionally, simple black-tiled brick houses could be seen, with modestly dressed farmers working in the fields. Chen Feng silently observed this scene. This was his first time seeing the rural mountain towns of Earth Star. The atmosphere in the car was quiet, until finally, the vehicle slowed as it entered a flat area. The scenery outside the window changed quietly, and a red-painted fence with traditional architectural style appeared. "We''re here, Senior Sister Wu." The driver spoke, stopping the vehicle in front of a flat area. Cao Tong got out of the car, and Chen Feng quickly followed. The ground was paved with smooth gray stone bricks, and the eaves of intricately carved buildings extended back for hundreds or even thousands of meters. The red-painted wooden gates were wide open, with three large golden words inscribed above them. [Flame Tiger Sect] "Let''s go. This is the mountain gate of our martial arts sect." Cao Tong spoke and led him into the building. Wu Shuang parted ways with them, and the driver carried her luggage towards a separate courtyard. Several young people wearing traditional robes appeared during this time, all wearing gray robes with tiger symbols. They treated Cao Tong with great respect. "Those are just ordinary formal disciples." "The core disciples wear the blue robes like mine. As for the true disciples, there''s no rule, they can wear whatever they like." Cao Tong explained as he led Chen Feng through corridors and past pavilions. Since this was the sect''s mountain gate, Chen Feng closed off his perception, so no skilled individuals could notice and detect him. Tap! Suddenly, his footsteps paused. Noticing something unusual, Chen Feng followed Cao Tong and looked to the right. A bamboo forest surrounded a small pond, where colorful goldfish were swimming. A young man dressed in a gray-white robe stood by the pond, tossing fish food into the water, attracting the goldfish to gather. "Junior Uncle." Cao Tong greeted respectfully, and Chen Feng was momentarily stunned, soon seeing the young man turn towards them. With somewhat handsome features, the young man was about 1.8 meters tall, with a slim build. His temperament was cold, and his slanted eyes gave off an impression that he was not easy to approach. "Mm, back from the mountain?" "Yes." The brief exchange ended quickly, and Chen Feng could feel he was being observed. The deep, calm gaze made him realize that this person¡¯s aura was extremely strong, comparable to the Third Elder. This person was above the "Entry Strength" level. "This is our sect''s most outstanding core disciple, Chen Feng." "This time, he¡¯s here to participate in the personal disciple competition." Cao Tong explained seriously, with an unprecedented respectful tone. "Mm." The Junior Uncle nodded lightly and then seemed to think of something, suddenly asking. "Where''s the Third Senior Brother?" "The Third Elder said he needs to guard the medicinal herb storage and won''t be returning to the mountain." "Is that so?" The Junior Uncle nodded lightly, then resumed feeding the fish. Cao Tong, knowing the proper timing, took his leave with a respectful bow, then led Chen Feng away. The sound of footsteps echoed quietly as they walked, while in the pond behind them, the water rippled as the fish fought for the food. Noticing Chen Feng''s surprise and confusion, Cao Tong lowered his voice and explained, "That¡¯s our Junior Uncle, Li Chenye. He is the sect master''s disciple and our sect''s only personal disciple at the moment." "He, along with the sect master and the Third Elder, are the only ones in our sect who are above the Entry Strength level." With this simple explanation, Chen Feng¡¯s confusion faded. No wonder he felt such a strong aura. Above Entry Strength... Chen Feng narrowed his eyes, feeling an intense curiosity about this realm. He was soon led to a residence. A separate wooden house within a courtyard. Inside, there was a wooden bed, a wooden desk, cushions, and other furnishings, along with other core disciples living nearby. There were eleven in total, all of whom were recommended to participate in the personal disciple competition, and they were all outstanding individuals. "Junior Brother Chen, if you need anything, just message me." Cao Tong gave a few instructions before leaving. Chen Feng nodded and took out his phone, preparing to let Chen Yun know he had arrived safely. But soon, someone knocked on the wooden door outside. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - . Translated (4) Series, (1.8K+) Chapters, (2.25M+) Words. Chapter 93: Dream Accident, Violent Bear Creature (3000+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- "Senior Sister Wu, weren¡¯t you going down the mountain to cause trouble for that kid?" "Why did you end up bringing him back?" In a small courtyard, with rockeries and a stone table surrounded by several figures in varying attire, a man in brown martial arts clothes spoke. His physique was massive, like a giant bear. In his thirties, with a tall nose, a square face, and thick eyebrows, he was even taller than Wu Shuang, who was standing. Around him were two men and one woman, all wearing traditional robes, with powerful auras, clearly true disciples. "Senior Brother Zhao, I went down the mountain for the sake of the sect¡¯s business, don''t speak nonsense." "Besides, this junior has good talent. Naturally, I should bring him back to the sect." Wu Shuang replied with a feigned displeasure. Senior Brother Zhao widened his eyes, raised his hand to point at her, and said, "Senior Sister Wu, you¡¯re being unreasonable!" "You¡¯re taking advantage of the fact that I didn¡¯t record it." "Senior Brother Zhao!" Wu Shuang interrupted him lightly, her tone drifting, "Do you remember who broke the sect leader''s magnolia pot?" "Uh..." sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Senior Brother Zhao froze for a moment, his eyes darting, and quickly said, "How would I know?" "Well, thanks for reminding me, it seems I did remember wrong." The two exchanged words, while the others remained silent, used to this dynamic. It was well known that Wu Shuang and Senior Brother Zhao were close. "Senior Sister Wu, the person you brought back, isn''t this the one Cao Tong recommended back then?" "I heard he opened his martial path and broke through to Tiger¡¯s Roar after only a month of practice?" A skinny man asked. He wore a deep gray robe, around forty, with two small mustaches. "Yes, Third Senior Brother, he just broke through recently." Wu Shuang nodded slightly, confirming the truth of her statement. "Really? That¡¯s impressive." "But unfortunately, starting martial arts too late, this time¡¯s competition..." His sentence was left unfinished, but everyone understood the meaning. Wu Shuang didn¡¯t argue. After all, this was her intention. Among these senior brothers and sisters, almost everyone had a disciple they had recommended or brought back. This conversation was also a kind of probing. "Speaking of which, it¡¯s actually Second Senior Brother and Fourth Senior Sister¡¯s disciples who have the best chance." Third Senior Brother¡¯s tone shifted, and he soon turned his attention to the other two figures in the room: a man in white and a woman in a red skirt. The man was in his forties but appeared to be in his early thirties, with short black hair and a healthy complexion, clearly possessing deep martial arts strength. As for the woman, she was plump, wearing a pale red ancient dress, with a phoenix-chased collar. "Don¡¯t try to probe me, Third Senior Brother." The red-skirted woman shook her head, "My disciple has innate divine strength, but unfortunately, her real martial arts aren¡¯t complete yet, she¡¯s still lacking a bit." "But Second Senior Brother¡¯s disciple... hehe, if you ask me, there¡¯s no need for the competition." At this, the atmosphere shifted, and everyone¡¯s expressions subtly changed, even Wu Shuang did not expect this development. They all knew the red-skirted woman¡¯s competitive nature; she was not one to easily admit defeat. "Second Senior Brother, is the disciple you brought back already in the ''Entry Strength'' stage?" --- "I¡¯m Feng Xue, and this is Lu Ming." In a spacious meditation room several hundred meters away, Chen Feng walked in. Inside, there were already eight or nine people, all wearing gray robes. The two closest to him, the man and the woman, were the ones who had knocked on his door and brought him here. The woman appeared to be in her early twenties, tall and slender, about 1.7 meters, with her long hair tied into a ponytail and a light makeup on her face. The man was around the same age as Chen Feng, with messy long hair and a somewhat lean but handsome frame, a black mole on his left cheek. "We¡¯re also competing tomorrow, so we¡¯re just sitting here to get to know each other." "I see you came with True Disciple Wu. Your name is Chen Feng, right?" Feng Xue asked with fake curiosity, and Chen Feng nodded lightly. "I¡¯ve heard of you." Next to her, Lu Ming smiled and added, "You broke through Bone Training in less than a month of practicing martial arts, that¡¯s impressive." Their words revealed that they were well-informed, but Chen Feng didn¡¯t mind. After a quick scan with his senses, he noticed that their auras were very ordinary, likely on par with Wu Tian¡¯s, just beginning to practice Bone Training, at best at the second or third professional level. As for the others, most were similar, with the strongest being full Bone Training, around the fifth or sixth professional level. "Don¡¯t bother looking, Jiang Hu and Xu Tingxiao haven¡¯t arrived yet." Misunderstanding that Chen Feng was looking for them, Feng Xue shook her head and reminded him. Chen Feng raised his eyebrows. On the way here, Cao Tong had mentioned that his strongest competitors in the personal disciple competition were Jiang Hu, who had innate divine strength and whose raw power was on par with his, and Xu Tingxiao, who was close to breaking into the ''Entry Strength'' stage. "Alright, the three of you stop standing there and come sit down." Someone spoke, and Feng Xue and Lu Ming pulled Chen Feng into a circle around the meditation room. Soon, the conversation shifted. "Tomorrow is the personal disciple competition. You all should know the rules, it''s a free-for-all." "I won¡¯t say too much, don¡¯t mind if I¡¯m blunt." "Our strength is far behind Jiang Hu and Xu Tingxiao. If we follow normal methods, we definitely can¡¯t win." The one speaking was a fatty. As soon as he finished, the atmosphere turned heavy, and the faces of everyone, including Feng Xue, turned grim. But they all knew their own situation, so no one argued. "So, what are you suggesting?" "Yeah, you didn¡¯t bring us all here just to say that, did you?" Someone asked impatiently, and the fatty raised his hand to calm them down before nodding. "Yes, I called you all together to discuss a strategy." "It¡¯s simple. Tomorrow, we should team up to take out Jiang Hu and Xu Tingxiao." "Only by eliminating them first will we have a chance. After that, everyone can do as they wish." The straightforward plan was met with nods from many. As long as they hadn¡¯t reached the ''Entry Strength'' stage, their gap wasn¡¯t insurmountable. If they all attacked Jiang Hu and Xu Tingxiao together, they might have some hope. It was definitely better than fighting alone. "Let¡¯s make a decision. Those who agree, raise your hands." The speaker asked, and the group nodded in agreement. But soon, several people frowned as they looked at Chen Feng, who was sitting at the farthest side. "Hmm?" Feng Xue and Lu Ming were also a bit surprised and looked at him. Chen Feng remained calm, sitting still and not raising his hand. "Quickly raise your hand." Feng Xue urged softly, but Chen Feng remained expressionless. "This friend, what¡¯s going on?" The fatty frowned and asked, and the group¡¯s impatient gazes turned to him. Lu Ming, sitting at the edge, knew it wasn¡¯t directed at him, but still felt uncomfortable. "I refuse." Chen Feng shook his head, stood up, and left the room. Everyone thought he had something to do, but what they didn¡¯t expect... Was that he simply found it boring. With calm steps, he walked out of the meditation room. "This guy..." Feng Xue and Lu Ming furrowed their brows, and the others secretly shook their heads. Such arrogance. Having pride isn¡¯t scary, but not recognizing reality is truly pitiful. "Well, one less person, no big deal." "He probably just started Bone Training." The fatty spoke again, and the group didn¡¯t pay much attention, quickly returning to their discussion on how to deal with Jiang Hu and Xu Tingxiao. Meanwhile, Chen Feng was unaware, since he wasn¡¯t using his senses to eavesdrop. "Only the weak attack in groups." "The strong always walk alone." With no expression on his face, he returned to his room. That was his personality. He genuinely despised ganging up on one person. Victory, if it comes, must be won honorably! He pushed aside any distractions. Since they weren¡¯t formal disciples, they weren¡¯t allowed to move freely in the sect. After the sect members brought their meals, Chen Feng ate, tidied up, and then glanced outside the window at the darkening sky. He took off his shoes and socks and soon lay down in bed. He was just four limit-breaking light orbs away from an advancement, which would allow him to further improve his Giant Tiger Technique. So tonight, success was a must! With his resolve set, the lights went off. Soon, he quietly fell asleep. "This guy, how bold, sleeping so early." "One would think he¡¯s here on vacation." Outside the room, Feng Xue, Lu Ming, and the others all saw the light in the room turn off through the gap in the door. They had originally planned to persuade him a little more, but upon seeing this, they lost their motivation and shook their heads as they left. --- Chen Feng stood in a room, the floor scattered with debris, black and silver mixed together. [Steel Bones LV1: 1/100] "So it really doesn''t work," Chen Feng muttered, shaking his head secretly as he looked at the progress of his talent on the panel. He had searched for many metals in the dream, such as burglar-proof doors, appliances, and so on. But unfortunately, the effect was weak, and the growth of the Steel Bones talent was practically nonexistent. This indirectly confirmed his thought: to level up the talent, the quality of the metal was very important. Ordinary steel had too little effect. "Metal..." "Where can I find high-quality gold in this dream?" Hmm? His eyes moved, and Chen Feng opened his black backpack, pulling out two items. One was a copper-colored, broken copper plate that recorded information about black disaster creatures¡ªthere were two pieces. The other was the inheritance iron book, which he had obtained from two branches of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. It was also damaged, but about the size of a palm. "Does this count as metal?" Chen Feng thought for a moment, intending to try. He had tried these items before, and even with all his strength, he couldn¡¯t damage them in the slightest. The materials seemed to be some kind of advanced metal. As for the content recorded on them, it wasn''t much. He had already memorized it, so there was no concern about it shattering after absorbing the essence. The benefit of having a strong will was now evident; his memory was sharp too. "Forget it, I''ll write it down, just in case." After thinking for a moment, he quickly went to find several apartment buildings and eventually found two notebooks and a black pen with some ink left. The sound of scribbling as he wrote the content of the copper plate and the inheritance iron book continued. After confirming everything was correct, he picked up the broken copper plate and tried it first. Talent activated! One second, two seconds... A minute later. "Why isn¡¯t it working?" Chen Feng frowned. He didn¡¯t feel any essence of metal from the copper plate, nor any other abnormality. Puzzled, he wasn¡¯t sure if it was because this wasn''t metal or if the material of the copper plate was too high-grade, even protected by other forces, preventing absorption. "Forget it." If it doesn¡¯t work, it doesn¡¯t work. Chen Feng could only reluctantly put it down and pick up the broken inheritance iron book. He pressed his palm tightly against it and activated his talent again! One second, two seconds, three seconds... Buzz! After more than ten seconds, a strand of metal essence appeared, rushing into his body, passing through his skin, and being quickly absorbed by his bones. A prompt appeared in front of him. [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] "It works!" Chen Feng''s eyes lit up, and in no time, just a few seconds passed. Crack! A loud sound, and the inheritance iron book cracked. Then, one, two, three cracks... The cracks spread like a spider web, and the iron book instantly turned into gray powder, scattering all around. "Next." Chen Feng wasn¡¯t bothered. He picked up the last piece. [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] Crack! The second inheritance iron book shattered into dust, and the progress of his Steel Bones talent finally changed. [Steel Bones LV1: 20/100] "Nice!" Chen Feng nodded in satisfaction. "Looks like the inheritance iron book is indeed made of some kind of advanced metal." "It was just two pieces the size of a palm, and they were already damaged by some kind of force, so they were incomplete." His eyes gleamed, and he suddenly felt that the Extreme Martial Arts Hall in the dream world was truly a treasure. Not only did it have the potential to break limits and skills, but it also provided nourishment for the growth of his Steel Bones talent. Thinking of this, he quickly packed up the notebook with the recorded content and put it back in his black bag, preparing to head towards the southeast branch. Boom!! Suddenly, as he was about to leave the room, a rumbling sound rang out. The ground shook, and the fog in the north began to churn, as if some giant creature was walking through it. Chen Feng''s gaze sharpened, and an inexplicable sense of danger rose in his heart. Without thinking, he immediately stopped in his tracks and stood in the corner by the window, vigilantly watching. Boom! The ground shook again, the house trembled, and the glass rattled. Boom! Boom! Boom! The sounds were slow but continuous, and soon, in his line of sight. On the wide asphalt road, illuminated by streetlights on both sides. A towering, five or six-meter-tall violent bear walked out of the fog-covered area, moving in a straight line. Its fur was black, and its eyes were pitch-black. Boom! The giant bear''s paw slammed down with a dull sound, shaking everything around it. The chandeliers in the apartment buildings swayed, and the white water in cups rippled. Boom! Chen Feng¡¯s pupils contracted, and the sense of danger in his perception grew stronger. This violent bear creature felt more terrifying than the Third Elder. Furthermore, he clearly saw several black poison bees flying above the bear¡¯s head, constantly buzzing, seemingly guiding it. "Here for revenge?" Suddenly, it clicked in Chen Feng¡¯s mind. He quickly withdrew his gaze and focused on using his senses to remain alert to the surroundings. Soon, the muffled booming sounds continued, gradually moving away from his current location. Finally, when the sounds faded, he looked again. The direction the violent bear was heading seemed to align with where he had killed the Toxic Queen Bee the previous day. His intuition was stronger now, and he quickly left the area, intending to distance himself as much as possible. However, just as he was about to leave the apartment building... Buzz!! The sound of wings flapping rang out, and Chen Feng¡¯s face stiffened. Focusing on the sound, he could see a black poison bee swaying toward him, just coming from where the giant bear had passed. In an instant, it seemed to sense something. The lone black poison bee tilted its head, and Chen Feng stood still, locking eyes with it for a brief moment. Buzz! The black poison bee immediately recognized him, hurriedly flapping its wings while emitting some strange sound. Chen Feng¡¯s face darkened. He immediately crouched, stomped the ground, and leaped into the air, delivering a punch that exploded the bee. "Roar!!!" A massive roar suddenly echoed from the distant darkness, the soundwaves violent and sweeping across the heavens. The streetlights around him swayed, and the withered trees were pulled to and fro, as if they were about to collapse. Not daring to delay, Chen Feng knew that the violent bear had already sensed him. He immediately activated his Azure Armor form, exerting all his strength as he ran at full speed. "Damned black poison bee... Why is it alone?" Chen Feng thought as the buildings sped by, unsure of how far he had run. Finally, when he felt that nothing unusual had happened behind him, and his physical and mental energy had clearly been drained by more than half... He deactivated his Azure Armor and found a house to hide and rest. After waiting for more than ten minutes. Boom boom! The heavy footsteps of the giant bear creature and the black poison bee swarm appeared again, now in his line of sight, hundreds of meters away. "Bear-type creatures have a strong sense of smell. I wonder if it will find me." Chen Feng thought to himself, but he noticed that when the bear had passed by him earlier, it hadn''t detected him. Boom! Finally, the giant bear stopped a little more than a hundred meters away from him. "Roar!!!" The roar resounded again, shaking the windows of nearby buildings. Soon, cracks started to form. Boom! The glass shattered, scattering debris. Chen Feng held his breath, feeling his eardrums vibrating, his blood surging, and his chest feeling heavy. Finally, the roar subsided. The giant bear stood still, but the black poison bees above its head dispersed, flying into nearby houses to search. With a grave expression, Chen Feng glanced at the room he was hiding in. It was a bedroom, with a wardrobe and a wooden bed. He could now determine that the violent bear had some ability to sense his general location within a certain range. After a moment of consideration, he looked at the wardrobe. These ordinary black poison bees had no remarkable sensing abilities, other than their sting attacks. This was something he had observed during their previous encounters and was also mentioned in the copper plate¡¯s records. With this in mind, he moved quietly and hid inside the wardrobe, gently closing the door. Soon, the buzzing sound appeared. A black poison bee flew in through the broken window. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - . Translated (4) Series, (1.8K+) Chapters, (2.25M+) Words. Chapter 94: Breakthrough, 30% Enhancement (2700+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- Buzz buzz! Inside the bedroom, the Black Toxic Bee flew back and forth, eventually stopping outside the wardrobe. Chen Feng, relying on his senses, could clearly see everything outside. He was only separated from the bees by a thin wooden panel. His heartbeat echoed in his ears. This was the first time he had encountered such a crisis in the dream world. He never expected that this Black Toxic Bee swarm would be able to summon a beast like the violent bear. Buzz buzz! The transparent black-patterned wings fluttered gently. Unable to open the wardrobe, the Black Toxic Bee hesitated for a moment, then flew to another room. In the end, it left and continued to search for another building. Time passed, and Chen Feng did not rush out. He silently waited. He wasn''t sure how long it had been. Boom! The sound of the violent bear''s footsteps echoed. The house trembled, as if it were stepping on one''s heart. Chen Feng''s face relaxed slightly. He could sense the beast moving further away. Eventually, the noise grew fainter, and everything returned to normal. Only then did he leave the wardrobe and cautiously peek through the corner of the wall by the window. The huge black bear was gradually returning to the misty northern area, with several Black Toxic Bees following it, all disappearing into the mist. "Hoo!" He exhaled a breath of relief, and his tense nerves finally relaxed. "Next time, if I encounter a similar situation, I should eradicate the source of the problem first." Chen Feng thought back to the previous day when the seven or eight Black Toxic Bees had escaped, leading to the current passive situation. He shook his head in self-reflection. Not daring to waste more time, he quickly amplified his senses and searched for the limit-breaking orbs nearby. One, two, three... In the end, perhaps due to good luck, he found four limit-breaking orbs within a one-kilometer radius. He looked at his panel. [Limit-Break Points: 10] [Giant Tiger Skill: Mighty Tiger (51%) +] [Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Roar (30%) +] "Flame Tiger Stance can be upgraded with just eight limit-breaking orbs." "However..." His gaze lingered on the Giant Tiger skill, and Chen Feng recalled his Steel Bones talent. One of its effects could enhance his physical strength by 30%. So... "Upgrade!" He consumed all ten limit-breaking orbs, and the comprehension of the Giant Tiger skill surged into his mind. It was the loneliness and sweat of countless days and nights spent practicing stances, gritting his teeth while being struck by sticks, enduring the pain to build hard power. In an instant, his body made cracking sounds, his muscles and bones resounded, and his skin tightened. Waves of heat flowed through his limbs and bones, and the progress on the panel skyrocketed. [Giant Tiger Skill: Giant Tiger!] [Entry Strength: 14.5 ¡ú 15.5] [Agility: 13.0 ¡ú 14.0] [Constitution: 15.8 ¡ú 17.8] [Willpower: 14.7 ¡ú 15.7] "5 points of attribute increase?" Chen Feng clenched his fists, and his joints cracked. With his constitution rising by 2 points, he felt his body¡¯s defense was now close to that of a Bronze Grade Cyborg. Entry Strength had also increased, though not as significantly as with Mighty Tiger¡ªonly about 200 kg. But... Chen Feng took a deep breath, expelling his energy. A brilliant light appeared in his eyes. Crack, crack, crack! In an instant, his muscles grew, and his body shot upward. Rip! His clothes were torn apart, and in the blink of an eye, he had transformed into a two-meter-tall, burly giant. His muscles bulged like concrete blocks, veins protruding, giving off a sense of oppression. This was the Giant Tiger! The power of condensed energy allowed him to briefly enter the Giant Tiger state. His physical attributes were elevated in all aspects¡ªwhether it was defense or strength, everything was enhanced by 30%! Buzz! Chen Feng immediately launched a full-force punch at the single-layer cement wall of a building. Boom!! Crack! The cement wall caved in, debris flying. Cracks spread across the wall like a spider¡¯s web. "Close to a ton!" Chen Feng withdrew his fist, well aware of the force behind it. Then, he gathered more energy. His already muscular right arm expanded again, and he threw another punch at the building. Boom!! The muffled sound of explosion echoed, and the building shook. The power of his punch doubled, reaching over one and a half tons, almost two tons. "Not enough!" Chen Feng¡¯s heart surged with excitement. The Azure mark on his back suddenly flashed. In an instant, an Azure glow flashed and transformed into a tough shell, covering his entire body. Boom!!! A punch unleashed, combining the Mighty Tiger, Giant Tiger, and Green Armor! With two forms and enhancement skills combined, the cement wall was punched through directly, dust exploding in all directions, forming a round shockwave. The surrounding cracks had already spread to the ceiling, and inside, the wooden table and bookshelf were clearly visible. "Three and a half tons!" The scarlet double pupils of the glass-steel shone brightly, and Chen Feng clearly felt the power. "Without the Mighty Tiger, I currently have three states." "First, in normal condition, my punch is around 700 kg." "Second, in Giant Tiger form, my punch is nearly a ton, and my physical strength is comparable to a Bronze Grade Cyborg." "Third, I activate both the Giant Tiger and Green Armor." Chen Feng''s mind was clear, and he was extremely satisfied. But at the same time, he knew that the third state should not be used casually. The Giant Tiger form itself consumed stamina, and if he added the Green Armor, the duration would certainly be shorter. At most, five or six minutes would be the limit. "However, it should be enough to protect myself." "Just the Giant Tiger form alone can unleash nearly a ton of power, comparable to a newly breakthrough Master of Entry Strength." Chen Feng thought to himself. He had heard Cao Tong mention before that once the Organ Training reached perfection and broke into Entry Strength, the strength would become much denser, and each strike would have over a ton of explosive power. Even when facing a Bronze Grade Cyborg, one could still engage in direct confrontation. With this thought in mind, Chen Feng felt that training in hard power was definitely the right choice. Of course, this was also thanks to the enhancement of the Steel Bones talent; otherwise, he would never have reached this point. "Once the personal inheritance matter is over, I¡¯ll train a few more Strengthening Skill." Chen Feng had made a plan and quickly saw the world around him suddenly change. The mist dispersed, and the world spun. Finally, when he opened his eyes again, he saw the wooden roof and sunlight shining through the left window. He reached for the phone under his pillow, and indeed, it was already 7:05. "Back already?" Chen Feng clenched his fist, still feeling the strength in his body. He then stood up and walked over to the window where there was a copper mirror attached to the wall. Standing in front of it, he looked up. Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. His height had not changed, but his physique had become slightly more muscular, though it wasn''t very noticeable. The breakthrough in Giant Tiger was more internal, making his body firmer and more solid, allowing for a sudden expansion into the Giant Tiger form. However, despite this, Chen Feng still felt a bit constricted around his shoulders and elbows, as if his gray robe was too tight. "Such a hassle." Shaking his head, Chen Feng still preferred to wear modern loose clothing. He quickly washed up. Not long after, a servant from the mountain gate brought breakfast. Eggs, steamed buns, and a special hot porridge from the mountain gate. After drinking it, Chen Feng felt his hunger diminish, clearly a highly nutritious meal, no worse than the "Superman" energy bars sold on the market. "Can I take some with me when I leave the mountain?" He thought to himself when suddenly he sensed someone approaching. Bang bang! Someone knocked on the door. "Brother Cao?" He subconsciously called out, and the person outside seemed startled. "Junior Brother Chen, how did you know it was me?" "Oh, just guessed." Chen Feng made up an excuse, quickly going to open the wooden door. "What''s going on?" Hearing this, Cao Tong''s expression was complex. After hesitating for a moment, he sighed and shook his head. "Pack up, we''re heading down the mountain." "What''s going on?" "Yeah, didn''t we agree to have a martial arts competition today?" "Are we being eliminated?" In the small yard, puzzled voices rang out, and some people even seemed dissatisfied. Chen Feng stood by the gate, silently listening to Cao Tong''s explanation. "Zhao Tingxiao''s talent is too high. He broke into Entry Strength at just twenty-two, younger than our Junior Uncle when he broke through." "Of course, Junior Uncle was a late bloomer, breaking through after twenty-three, but I have to admit, this guy is truly impressive. I thought he was just practicing the Organ Training." "Last night, he was taken by Zhou Zhen to meet the sect leader alone. After a round of testing, the sect leader decided to take him as a disciple." Cao Tong''s tone was complex, a mixture of envy and admiration. At twenty-two years old, Zhao Tingxiao''s breakthrough into the " Entry Strength" stage was comparable to some of the weaker true disciples. In comparison, Cao Tong was already almost twenty-eight, yet he still hadn''t made the final breakthrough. He shook his head and sighed, then looked at Chen Feng with a sense of helplessness and regret. He opened his mouth, wanting to offer some comforting words when¡ª "Why?!" A voice like thunder erupted suddenly from the distance, filled with intense protest. Everyone looked toward the sound. A tall, bald youth stood there, his expression displeased as he questioned the plump woman who had come to speak: "Zhao Tingxiao just got a step ahead of me, that''s all!" "So what if he''s entered the ''Entry Strength'' stage? He hasn''t even competed yet¡ªwhy does everyone say he''s stronger than me?" "I won''t accept this!!" As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere fell into silence. Then, one or two other core disciples who were also dissatisfied couldn''t hold back their grievances and spoke up: "Right!" "I won''t accept it either!" "Jiang Hu, count me in!" Voices of agreement sounded, and the once-quiet courtyard became a hubbub. The plump woman, one of the true disciples, feigned displeasure but didn''t stop the scene from escalating. "That''s True Disciple Lin, Jiang Hu''s elder." Cao Tong felt the atmosphere shift and quickly explained. Chen Feng nodded, and then, sensing something, turned his attention to the entrance of the small courtyard. A thin youth walked in, appearing to be in his early twenties. He stood on the smooth gray brick floor. With messy long hair and dressed in a blue ancient robe, he looked quite handsome, though his tone was somewhat arrogant. "Stop shouting." "If you¡¯re not satisfied, I¡¯m right here." "You, you, and Jiang Hu, come at me together." As the atmosphere quieted, Cao Tong furrowed his brows. True Disciple Lin, dressed in a red ancient robe, gave a brief, subtle glance toward the plump woman. "Alright!" The bald youth shouted loudly, stomping his foot before charging forward. Roar!! The roar of a tiger echoed as the ground shook with the power unleashed. Everyone could see the bulging muscles and prominent veins on his body. Bang!! In an instant, their fists collided, and everyone¡¯s eardrums vibrated. Zhao Tingxiao remained still while Jiang Hu, who had attacked with great force, slightly changed his expression and staggered backward several steps. "As expected, he¡¯s entered ''Entry Strength''!" Cao Tong''s eyes shifted, and Chen Feng looked over, noticing that Zhao Tingxiao''s palm glowed with a thick white light, at least half an inch thick. "Is this all?" With a calm tone, Zhao Tingxiao glanced at Jiang Hu dismissively. His gaze swept across the other disciples, including Chen Feng. He extended his finger and gently waved it. "You all can¡¯t do it, even if you teamed up." "Dammit!" Jiang Hu, enraged by the words, stomped his foot again and charged forward. In the blur, it seemed like a tiger¡¯s roar exploded from him, with each punch and kick reaching nearly seven hundred kilograms. Bang! Bang! Bang!! The two fought fiercely, causing the ground to crack and the stone tiles to break. But even a fool could see that Jiang Hu¡¯s face was turning red, and it was only a matter of time before he was defeated. Seeing this, some of the other disciples¡¯ expressions shifted. Especially the fat disciple who had been discussing an ambush yesterday¡ªhe gritted his teeth and suddenly dashed forward. "Let¡¯s go together!" "I don''t believe that all of us here can¡¯t beat a single person!" Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh! The crowd was riled up, and one by one, they charged at Zhao Tingxiao. In the blink of an eye, eight or nine people surrounded him, with Jiang Hu as the main force, and they began fighting fiercely in the courtyard. Bang, bang, bang! The sounds of the battle echoed, and the commotion grew so loud that several true disciples rushed over. "Quite the spectacle." "This is our new true disciple?" "Indeed, he''s entered ''Entry Strength''¡ªSecond Brother really has a sharp eye." The praise echoed, and Chen Feng turned to look. One by one, true disciples appeared near the courtyard. Some stood on the rooftop tiles, others appeared in the distant pavilion. A white-robed figure appeared not far from them, watching the situation in the courtyard and letting out a soft sigh. "Such a pity." She had originally thought Chen Feng would have a 30% chance, but in the end, there was not a single bit. In the next moment. Bang!!! A white beam of strength shot through the air, covering Zhao Tingxiao¡¯s arms. With the naked eye, everyone could see that with every strike from him, a gust of wind was created, and in an instant, he knocked several people flying, completely clearing the area. "Jiang Hu, if I say I''m better, I am better!" "Just give up!!" Boom! A strike landed, and Jiang Hu¡¯s legs skidded across the ground, sliding backward several meters before finally stopping. Heavy breaths escaped from him, blood trickling from his mouth, and his face turned pale rapidly. The atmosphere became deathly silent, and several true disciples had serious expressions. Feng Xue and Lu Ming, who had not intervened, were both visibly shaken and slightly trembling. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for Cao Tong, his expression became unusually complex. Entry Strength. Master-level. Even though he had just broken through, there were already some inhuman signs present. What mattered even more was that the person was still quite young. Someone like this being selected as a personal disciple? No one could deny that the sect leader had an eye for talent. "How about it?" Looking at all the disciples lying or standing around, Zhao Tingxiao¡¯s expression was cold as he spoke, "I¡¯m the personal disciple now. Is there anyone who¡¯s not convinced?" No one responded, their expressions were all complex. It was clear to everyone that this might be the sect leader¡¯s way of demonstrating his decision, helping Zhao Tingxiao solidify his position as the sect''s personal disciple. "You, you, you, and you?" Zhao Tingxiao looked around and pointed at them one by one. Retreating, dejected, heads lowered¡­ Even the proud Jiang Hu gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, lowering his head. Finally, his finger landed on Chen Feng. "You?" Zhao Tingxiao pointed at him, his tone arrogant. "You don¡¯t seem convinced?" He had already noticed that Chen Feng had been expressionless, as though indifferent. This made him quite displeased. "Junior Brother Chen." Cao Tong quickly whispered in warning, but Chen Feng''s face remained calm as he stepped forward. "Want to spar?" "Huh?" Some of the true disciples were momentarily stunned, and Wu Shuang furrowed her brows slightly. Cao Tong¡¯s face changed, and he thought something was wrong, about to step forward when Zhao Tingxiao let out a cold laugh. "It seems some people always seek out trouble." Boom!!! The ground shook as a figure charged forward. Roar! A tiger''s roar echoed as a fist shot out, creating a shockwave! A moment later, Zhao Tingxiao was forced back, sliding across the ground for several meters... (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - . Translated (4) Series, (1.8K+) Chapters, (2.25M+) Words. Chapter 95: Apprenticeship, the True Disciple Master Brother! (2400+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- "Strengthening technique?" "Something¡¯s off!" Inside the courtyard, several true disciples were surprised as they saw Xu Tingxiao being knocked back several steps by a punch. The other students lying or standing on the ground blinked in disbelief, while Cao Tong stood frozen, unable to react. "Such strength!" Xu Tingxiao furrowed his brows, slowly raising his eyes, his arms crossed over his chest. White energy swirled continuously, enveloping his arms. Noticing that he was not injured, Chen Feng stomped his foot and rushed forward coldly. Swish! The hungry tiger pounced on the staff, one of the eleven movements of the Flame Tiger Stance. A shadow dashed forward, causing the ground to shake as a punch flew out. Buzz!! The image of the fist appeared, howling and tearing through the air. Beside them, Jiang Hu''s face changed slightly, completely caught off guard by the fact that someone¡¯s strength was greater than his own. Boom!! A palm print struck the air, but the powerful fist was suddenly blocked. White energy, like starlight, gathered and thickened, condensing to about half an inch between Xu Tingxiao¡¯s palms. "Ah, so this is your confidence." His face remained arrogant as he stood still, unmoving. "Unfortunately, it¡¯s too weak." Buzz! He thrust out a hand, sending a rapid palm strike, leaving behind an afterimage that slammed into Chen Feng¡¯s chest. Boom!!! A muffled explosion rang out, and the air rippled. Chen Feng¡¯s grey robe tore at the slap''s impact, with several torn pieces of cloth fluttering like willow catkins. Seeing this, Cao Tong¡¯s face turned pale. But before he could react, Wu Shuang, who was standing nearby, suddenly froze, her pupils contracting. "This!" Looking closely, Chen Feng stood still. His exposed chest, though red from the strike, bore a palm-shaped bruise. However... "Are you scratching an itch for me?" Chen Feng spoke coldly, his aura suddenly surging! Crack, crack, crack! Bones and muscles expanded, his body swelling. In the blink of an eye, a ripping sound echoed, and the upper half of his grey robe exploded. Veins, like iron threads, bulged under his skin, revealing a towering giant two meters tall, standing proudly, overlooking everything. "This!!" "A giant tiger!" Several true disciples stared in disbelief, their expressions changed. Xu Tingxiao¡¯s face froze, and he felt the air around him become unbearably oppressive, making it hard to breathe. Buzz! A whistling sound suddenly erupted as a hand, like a fan, swept horizontally. With nearly a ton of force, Xu Tingxiao raised his hand to block. Boom!! The violent clash of forces shook the ground. Both stood rooted to the spot, their feet sinking into the earth, with stone bricks shattering beneath them. "Get lost!!" Xu Tingxiao roared, his face turning red as the energy in his palms erupted with greater force. The next second. Roar!!! A tiger¡¯s roar echoed, and Chen Feng¡¯s arm muscles trembled before rapidly expanding, growing half a size larger. All the energy was forcefully dispersed, and the remaining force in his pores quickly vanished. Then, a punch was thrown like a cement pillar, directly striking Xu Tingxiao¡¯s head. Boom! Pfft!! Blood spurted out as Xu Tingxiao was sent flying backward. His blue robe-wearing figure crashed through the courtyard wall, and the atmosphere fell dead silent. "You¡ª" Xu Tingxiao, half-lying on the ground, struggled as if trying to say something. His robe was tattered and covered in dust. But eventually, his head tilted. He fainted, completely collapsing. The onlookers¡¯ expressions varied, with eight or nine core disciples staring in shock, unable to believe what they had just witnessed. They had thought him to be an arrogant weakling. But unexpectedly, he turned out to be the strongest one? Eyes continued to fixate on him, with true disciples standing on the rooftops and nearby, all observing the burly young man standing in the courtyard, half-naked. "Master¡¯s disciple this time..." Someone tried to speak but ultimately just sighed and shook their head. A true disciple appeared to carry Xu Tingxiao away. Crack, crack, crack! His bones shrank back, and his muscles contracted. The two-meter-tall physique quickly shrank, and Chen Feng, now half-naked, returned to his normal form. "Chen... Junior Brother." Cao Tong, standing aside, looked complicated, his voice still laced with disbelief. Chen Feng smiled faintly. After the battle, he had fully adapted to his sudden surge in strength. Then, his gaze flickered. Wu Shuang, in her white robe, appeared before him, her face full of shock and suspicion. Soon, other true disciples arrived, gathering around with warm expressions. --- "Junior Uncle, the Master has summoned you." In the tranquil courtyard, with bamboo leaves drifting, a figure in a grey-white robe stood at the edge of a stone path by the pond. "He¡¯s decided to make an exception and take on another personal disciple. He invites you to join him." "I understand." Li Chenye nodded gently, his pupils clear and distinct. Then, he casually threw some bait into the pond. Ripples spread, and the goldfish gathered, darting around in a frenzy. "I have to say, this time, we¡¯ve truly broadened our horizons." "Indeed, not to mention Zhao¡¯s disciple, entering the realm at twenty-two, his future is unimaginable. But this Chen... personal disciple? His Strengthening technique talent is simply remarkable. After such a short time, he has already perfected the Giant Tiger Technique?" "Not just that. I suspect he¡¯s naturally strong. Didn¡¯t you see how his punch could even overpower Zhao, who just entered the realm?" "I heard he also has the martial arts enlightenment? I swear, at this rate, I might not be his match soon." --- Half an hour later, the true disciples gathered again, standing outside the Master¡¯s courtyard. As they spoke, Xu Tingxiao, one of the true disciples, suddenly looked at Wu Shuang, his voice complex and filled with emotion. "Junior Sister Wu, you really hid this well from us." "Perfected the Giant Tiger Technique. Was this just a breakthrough in bone training?" As soon as he spoke, everyone chimed in. Wu Shuang, expressionless, felt their gazes on her, her shock still lingering in her heart. When did he even break through the Giant Tiger Technique? "Ah, forget it." "I think Junior Sister Wu might not even know the extent of his strength. Let¡¯s not ask her anymore." Someone attempted to defuse the tension, and the voices of casual conversation continued. Chen Feng paid no mind to this. He had simply changed into a new grey robe, and with a bruised and swollen Xu Tingxiao, who had regained consciousness, they waited for the Master to arrive in the small courtyard. "This time, you win." "When I¡¯m recovered, let¡¯s have another match!" Xu Tingxiao said, his voice a little unclear, his left cheek still swollen. Chen Feng remained expressionless, merely clenching his fist, wondering whether it was possible to strike again here. After defeating Xu Tingxiao, the other true disciples were astonished, calling him "Personal Disciple Chen," and they brought him here. He had some guesses in his mind, but perhaps due to his strong will, he remained calm. "Why aren¡¯t you speaking?" ¡°Are you afraid?¡± Xu Tingxiao, feeling somewhat dissatisfied with Chen Feng''s silence, was about to say more when suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed. Tap tap! The footsteps were steady, and they could clearly hear someone calling from outside the small courtyard. ¡°Sect Master!¡± ¡°Junior Uncle!¡± Turning their heads, two figures appeared, one after the other, walking in sync. One was dressed in a white-gray robe, slender and tall, with narrow phoenix eyes and a cold aura¡ªLi Chenye, the sect''s Junior Uncle. In front of him by half a step was an older man wearing a flame-patterned white robe, slightly plump, with white hair, a peaceful demeanor, and a ruddy face. He seemed to be in his fifties, with a smile reminiscent of the Maitreya Buddha¡ªLi Tong, the current sect master of the Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect. TL/N: The ¡°Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect¡± is the sect¡¯s full name. ¡°Master!¡± Xu Tingxiao hurriedly called out. He had already sworn allegiance to the sect the night before but had yet to officially pay his respects. ¡°Hm.¡± With a slight nod, the sect master smiled and gently rubbed Xu Tingxiao''s head. It seemed as if some force appeared in his hand. In the blink of an eye, Chen Feng''s gaze sharpened. He clearly saw Xu Tingxiao''s slightly swollen left cheek return to normal in just a few seconds. A chill ran down his spine as he immediately noticed the sect master¡¯s gaze fall on him. ¡°Chen Feng.¡± ¡°Twenty-three years old, only a little over a month of martial practice.¡± ¡°Martial path awakened, born with a tyrant''s physique.¡± With a sly smile, as if an old fox, Li Tong asked warmly, ¡°My Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect has never had such a talent. I wonder, would you be willing to become my disciple and be recognized as a direct disciple?¡± The words fell, and despite the prior expectation, the other direct disciples outside couldn''t help but feel envious. As for Xu Tingxiao, he opened his mouth but hesitated to speak. ¡°What is an Innate Tyrant Physique?¡± Unexpectedly, Chen Feng didn''t immediately agree but asked a question instead. Li Tong didn''t mind. He walked to the pearwood chair in front and sat down, explaining, ¡°Some people have a special physique, like the Jiang Hu brought back by Xiao Si, born with immense strength, making them better at training Strengthening techniques than others.¡± ¡°Also, some disciples from other sects have unique bone structures that make them highly compatible with certain martial techniques, allowing them to advance rapidly.¡± ¡°But among these, there''s one physique that''s particularly powerful, capable of adapting to any Strengthening technique, advancing at great speed, while also possessing innate strength¡ªlimitless power.¡± He paused, smiling at Chen Feng, with an expression that seemed to say, "You should understand now." So that¡¯s it. Chen Feng guessed that the sect master must have mistaken his steel-like bones talent for the Innate Tyrant Physique. ¡°Well, have you considered it?¡± Li Tong asked again. At the same time, Li Chenye sat down next to him, and both of their gazes focused on Chen Feng. The other disciples had unknowingly entered and stood on either side, waiting curiously. Chen Feng thought about the purpose of this visit. ¡°Sect Master, please accept my bow.¡± He immediately cupped his fists and bowed. He had come here for this purpose, and there was no need to hesitate. After all, recognizing a powerful master would never be a loss. He needed both martial skills and resources! ¡°Haha, good!¡± Sect Master Li Tong laughed happily, then waved his hand. The direct disciples Wu Shuang and the second direct disciple stepped forward, receiving tea from a servant and handing it to Chen Feng and Xu Tingxiao. After a brief explanation, Chen Feng understood that this was part of the formalities for becoming a disciple. ¡°I don¡¯t like too extravagant a ceremony, just a simple exchange will do.¡± Li Tong said with a smile. Xu Tingxiao, having moved ahead, respectfully said, ¡°Master, please have some tea.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°From now on, you are my second disciple. Always consult with your senior brother on matters.¡± Li Tong took a sip of tea and spoke softly. Xu Tingxiao froze. Senior Brother? Wasn''t it said that the sect master didn¡¯t have other disciples? Hmm? As he pondered, a shadow loomed over him, and the burly figure of Chen Feng stood beside him. ¡°Master.¡± Chen Feng handed over his tea. ¡°Hmm, from now on, you are my eldest disciple. I hope you will take good care of your junior brother.¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When these words fell, Xu Tingxiao¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Chen Feng merely nodded in response. Then, the sect master introduced the nearby direct disciples and the sect rules. The names were hard to remember, but Chen Feng had a general impression. As for the rules, they were simple: unity, helping fellow disciples, and forbidding harm to one another. The ceremony didn¡¯t take long, ending in just ten minutes. Whoosh! Sect Master Li Tong flicked his finger, and two white jade porcelain bottles landed in the hands of Chen Feng and Xu Tingxiao. ¡°Your realms are different, so I¡¯ve prepared different secret medicines for you.¡± ¡°Go ahead and take them. Return here tomorrow at eight in the morning.¡± After a wave of his hand, Chen Feng and Xu Tingxiao cupped their fists and left. Soon, with the servant leading them, they exited the courtyard. Tap tap tap... The footsteps grew distant, and the smile on Li Tong¡¯s face gradually faded. He then looked around at all the direct disciples. ¡°Born with a tyrant¡¯s physique, potential is extraordinary. Chen Feng¡¯s future achievements are bound to be immense.¡± ¡°Some people might not want this, so to the outside world, they¡¯ll say Chen Feng only has innate strength.¡± As his words fell, many of the direct disciples nodded in agreement, then left one by one. The courtyard returned to silence. Meanwhile, Chen Feng and Xu Tingxiao each received their own courtyard. The courtyard was filled with green plants, and cobblestone paths. It spanned over a hundred square meters and contained a quiet room, soft mats, wooden training posts, and other martial training equipment. ¡°If the two direct disciples need anything else, feel free to command us.¡± The guide was a middle-aged man, Li Shi, the sect master¡¯s confidant. He was responsible for many of the sect¡¯s mundane tasks. ¡°Thank you, Uncle Li.¡± Chen Feng nodded gently. Xu Tingxiao, however, remained unusually quiet. Perhaps because he had suddenly become a junior brother, he hadn''t said a word along the way. Chen Feng didn¡¯t mind. He quickly parted ways with the two and entered his own courtyard. ¡°Direct disciple.¡± In just half a day, the attitude of the direct disciples and the sect servants toward him had drastically changed. It wasn¡¯t until now, when he was alone and quiet, that Chen Feng began to fully adjust to his new status. ¡°All of this is due to strength.¡± ¡°Status, position, power¡ªall are built upon it.¡± Lost in thought, he didn¡¯t linger on it for long and quickly picked up the white jade porcelain bottle that Sect Master Li Tong had given him. Removing the wooden cap, he opened his hand. A round pill appeared before him. About the size of a fingernail, it was a white-gray color. A faint fragrance wafted up, and he quickly swallowed it. It was half bitter, half sweet. Soon, a wave of warmth rose from his abdomen, and his status panel flickered, quickly displaying a new notification. [Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Roar (30% 31% 32%)] (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - . Translated (4) Series, (1.8K+) Chapters, (2.25M+) Words. Chapter 96: Breakthrough, Organ Training (3400+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- Hiss, hiss! In an abandoned factory, black snakes slithered across the ground. In the center of the area was a blood pool several meters wide. A figure in a black robe with a hood tightly shut his eyes, sitting cross-legged within the pool. Buzz! The blood pool rippled as if an invisible force had been activated. Soon, the water level of the blood pool rapidly dropped, as though it was being absorbed by the figure at the center of the pool. In just a few seconds, the pool dried up, revealing a metal-reinforced depression beneath it. "Dead blood again. This can''t fully heal my injuries." "You should capture some living people for me. Only their life essence is potent enough." The figure in the black robe opened his eyes, speaking coldly, his tone full of dissatisfaction. Through a ray of light, his face was revealed to be triangular, covered in black snake scales. "You''re too greedy." A deep voice responded. Looking around, there were several other figures present. Most had signs of metal modifications on their arms or legs, and the leader was an actual Cyborg. He had brown metal lines running across his body and wore a helmet resembling rock. "You don''t understand." "Only after fully recovering can I use my divine power to find the target." The black-robed man spoke coldly, and the Cyborg in front of him fell into brief silence. "You don''t need to worry about the methods of our Serpent Spirit Sect." "But you need to understand, we''re just cooperating, not your servants." His tone was low, and the Cyborg stared at him coldly. "Councilor Zhao only gave you three days." "If you don¡¯t find the target, you know the consequences." After saying this, he turned and left, with his subordinates continuing to pour blood into the metal pool. The black-robed figure¡¯s gaze grew colder as he watched this. Shadows of snakes slithered from his robes, and his face¡¯s snake scales flickered. --- [Flame Tiger Stance: Tiger Might!] "This secret medicine... its effects are so strong?" Inside the courtyard, Chen Feng looked at the skill progress on his panel, somewhat surprised. He had broken through to the Tiger Might level, saving him at least eight limit-breaking light orbs. Thanks to this, his physical stats had improved again. [Strength: 15.5 ¡ú 16.0] [Agility: 14.0 ¡ú 14.6] [Constitution: 17.8 ¡ú 18.7] [Willpower: 15.7 ¡ú 16.3] "An increase of 2.6 in attributes." He clenched his fist, feeling his body grow a little stronger. Perhaps due to the enhancement of the Giant Tiger Technique, his body had become extremely powerful, so the improvement didn¡¯t feel very obvious. The same applied to strength. However... Chen Feng calmed his mind and guided the power within his body with his will. Soon, a faint white energy appeared in his palm. It was faint and scarce. It was less than half the thickness of Xu Tingxiao''s and didn¡¯t cover both of his palms like Cao Tong''s. It felt as if a gust of wind could blow it away. But Chen Feng knew that this was the true sign of entering the Organ Training. Internal training of the five organs and six bowels, producing a wisp of energy. From here, continuously strengthening this energy would augment the power of his moves, giving every action an energy boost. Just like Cao Tong, whose physical strength was probably at the peak professional level, over 400 kilograms. But relying on his energy, he could unleash destruction comparable to 700 or 800 kilograms in an instant. And Xu Tingxiao¡¯s ability was even greater. "But... how do I strengthen it?" Chen Feng felt confused. Perhaps because he didn¡¯t expect to break through so quickly, no one had mentioned the key points to him earlier. The Flame Tiger Stance had already reached the Tiger Might level, with no further progress. Clearly, this was the limit of this basic martial art. Chen Feng thought of Li Tong¡¯s last instruction for him and Xu Tingxiao to meet him at eight in the morning. It seemed likely that they would be guided in martial arts. With this in mind, he stopped dwelling on it. Taking advantage of his free time, Chen Feng walked around nearby. The entire mountain gate was bigger than he imagined, with not only traditional buildings like pavilions and courtyards but also vast farmlands. Some were growing rice, others medicinal herbs, and there were people active nearby. Green stone blocks were arranged like steps, with trees on both sides, making it exceptionally peaceful. Buzz! Suddenly, his phone vibrated. He picked it up and checked the message. [Lin Hao: How did it go?] Chen Feng thought for a moment and replied, "It went okay." [Lin Hao: No way! Seriously?] [Does that mean I have someone covering me now? Lmao.] Chen Feng shook his head slightly at his exaggerated tone. After a brief chat, Lin Hao sent another message. [Lin Hao: I found out about the guy who came to challenge you the other day.] [He does have some background. It seems he¡¯s a true disciple from a sect called Heart Ape Sect.] [But it¡¯s not a big deal, I heard it¡¯s a small sect. The sect leader was crippled in a martial arts competition, and they don¡¯t have many experts.] Lin Hao briefly described the situation, and Chen Feng squinted his eyes. That skinny young man who came to challenge him was indeed from the martial arts world. Heart Ape Sect? He thought for a moment and decided to ask more about it tomorrow. With that, the conversation ended. Looking at the quiet mountain forest around him, Chen Feng turned and headed back to his courtyard. Clack, clack! Suddenly, footsteps sounded. He turned his head and saw a thin figure in a gray-white ancient robe, walking calmly, with narrow Phoenix eyes, seemingly strolling from the other side. "Junior Chen." "Junior Uncle." Chen Feng nodded in response. The figure was Li Tong''s disciple, making him Li Tong¡¯s senior brother and holding a high rank. "Have you trained the organs already?" "Seems like the training pill I gave you worked well." Li Chenye walked up to him, stopped, and calmly said. Chen Feng was slightly surprised upon hearing this. So the secret medicine he had taken earlier was called the Organ Refining Pill? Besides that, he was also surprised by Li Chenye¡¯s strength. He could tell at a glance that Chen Feng had broken through. Was this the level beyond the Qi skill? "You should only have practiced the Giant Tiger Technique, right?" "Yes." Chen Feng nodded. "No wonder." Li Chenye gently nodded. Chen Feng felt even more confused. "The Flame Tiger Stance is just a basic stance in our sect. The limit is breaking through to the Organ Training realm." "After this, you need to cultivate a martial arts skill that strengthens the energy and refines the organs. Only then will you be able to channel energy through your limbs and break through to the Qi skill." Perhaps noticing Chen Feng¡¯s lack of knowledge in martial arts, Li Chenye spoke a little more, and his voice became somewhat gentle. "Now that you¡¯re my Master¡¯s personal disciple, you don¡¯t have to worry about martial arts techniques." "When we meet tomorrow, I¡¯ll have the proper methods ready for you." Chen Feng¡¯s confusion disappeared as he finally understood the method of cultivation after training the organs. He thanked Li Chenye, who lightly shook his head. "You¡¯re my junior disciple, no need for formalities." "Any doubts you have in martial arts, feel free to come find me anytime." After the words were spoken, Chen Feng nodded in thanks, and the two passed each other. Li Chenye walked into the mountain forest alone, his figure slender and giving Chen Feng an inexplicable sense of loneliness. "I can¡¯t see through him." Chen Feng retracted his gaze. For some reason, he always felt there was something mysterious about his Junior Uncle. It was an intuition given by his powerful perception, something he hadn¡¯t felt with the Third Elder or Sect Master. He shook his head and suppressed his thoughts. Seeing that it was getting late, he quickly returned to his courtyard. That evening, the steward, Li Shi, personally brought the meals. This middle-aged man silently stayed in the courtyard, only leaving after Chen Feng and Xu Tingxiao finished eating, taking the trays with him. Gradually, the night deepened. Chen Feng lay on the bed and slowly drifted into sleep. --- Boom!! A man in a gray martial arts uniform was sent flying by a punch, crashing through the window of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall and slamming into the front courtyard wall, his body embedded in the wall in a "´ó" shape. With the sound of shattering glass, another man in a brown martial arts uniform charged forward. Buzz! A punch was thrown, howling and explosive, with the strength of a peak professional. It was obvious from the way his arm thickened that he used an explosive fist! Boom!! Chen Feng didn¡¯t dodge, and the punch landed squarely on his chest. The sound was muffled as he looked down at his black sleeveless shirt. This was the fitted clothing he had finally found in his dream, and the fist was pressed right against his bulging muscles, making them tremble. "You¡¯re too weak." His body shook, and an immense force burst forth, sending the masked man staggering backward. Chen Feng took a large step, dodging the man¡¯s retaliatory punch, and reached out, grabbing his head. Clack, clack, clack! The previous faceless man was dead, and black soldier ants screeched. More faceless men appeared around them. Chen Feng ignored them, pressing down hard and smashing the masked man''s head into the side wall of the martial arts hall. Boom!! The sound was muffled, and the wall caved in, the masked man¡¯s head embedded in it. But even so, there was not a shred of fear on his face. "Indeed, the black ants are different from the black poisonous bees." The experiment concluded, and Chen Feng looked at the masked man''s heart. With his perception, everything was transparent. He clearly saw that inside the masked man''s heart, there was a creature shaped like a black ant. But it was much larger than an ordinary ant, almost the size of a fist. "Hiss!" The black soldier ant sensed the danger and let out a screech. One by one, the Faceless Ones rushed into the martial arts hall, scrambling to get ahead, charging forward. Two, three, five, eight, twelve! It was as though Chen Feng¡¯s body had an invisible attraction, with all the Faceless Ones grabbing his arms and legs, trying to stop him. Boom!! With a burst of power, the twelve Faceless Ones were sent flying backwards, smashing into the wall, piercing through glass. Some even knocked over other Faceless Ones who had arrived a step too late. "Die!" Chen Feng spoke coldly and punched out. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Boom!! The walls of the martial arts hall shook as a figure was embedded in it. In the center of the spiderweb-like cracks, the masked man¡¯s chest caved in, and his heart was directly destroyed. As for the new Faceless Ones charging at him from behind. Chen Feng swung a hanging sandbag in the martial arts hall like wielding a giant club, sweeping it across. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! The figures were sent flying and fell to the ground, unable to get up. Pools of black marks kept appearing, along with nearly twenty gray light orbs and two light orbs of light blue, surrounded in the center. Boom!! Chen Feng tossed away the sandbag and stepped forward. [Perception LV3: 10/100] "The difficulty of upgrading Perception has increased again." As expected, Chen Feng had already gotten used to it. He reached out and absorbed the two skill light orbs. [You have picked up two skill light orbs!] [Skill: Explosive fist] [You already have this skill!] [Choice One: Fusion: Increase Explosive fist skill proficiency!] [Choice Two: Decompose: Break down this skill light orb into pure martial will residue¡ªLimit Breaking Light Orb!] [Note: If the Limit Breaking Light Orb is used to enhance Explosive fist, its effect will be halved!] Familiar prompts appeared, and Chen Feng silently chose to upgrade. Buzz! [Explosive fist: Mastery (61%)] "Still missing one-third." Chen Feng squinted and kept walking, checking every room in this martial arts hall. A faint red Limit Breaking Light Orb appeared before his eyes¡ªone, two, three. This martial arts hall was slightly worse than the previous one, with only seven orbs. Seeing this, Chen Feng¡¯s gaze flashed. To break through Explosive fist mastery, eight Limit Breaking Light Orbs were needed. Clearly, he was missing one. Moreover, he thought of his recent progress at the Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect, where he had already become an inner disciple. Tomorrow, he would likely receive a new martial skill. If he could accumulate some Limit Breaking Light Orbs, the effect would be self-evident. "I¡¯ll hold onto them for now." Making a decision, Chen Feng didn¡¯t dwell on it. He soon used his Perception to find the familiar inheritance iron book from a secret room in this martial arts hall. [Martial Arts Method, High-Level Strengthening skill: Heavenly Aura Overlord Body!] [Practice Requirements: Must have perfected at least three basic strengthening skills, and mastered the internal strength before starting this practice.] [After mastering this strengthening skill, there are four stages: Mighty Arms, Aura Body, Giant Dome, and Overlord Body!] [First stage: Mighty Arms, practice key: tempering the muscles and tendons of both arms, stimulating six acupoints. Can use the secret medicine, Giant Pattern Ointment, to apply it, and must use gold sand to polish the skin day and night.] "Again, it¡¯s incomplete." Chen Feng took a deep breath. Once again, at a critical moment, the inheritance iron book in his hands was still broken, only about the size of a palm. This was different from the previous two inheritance books. The content was not about the high-level fighting technique, Extreme Martial Fist, but a seemingly powerful strengthening skill. But unfortunately... "I don¡¯t believe that I won¡¯t be able to complete you later." "If one time doesn¡¯t work, then ten times, a hundred times, I¡¯ll scour the entire Qinggang City for the Extreme Martial Halls!" The words "Heavenly Aura Overlord Body" seemed to have some kind of magic, firmly planted in Chen Feng¡¯s mind. After several deep breaths, he barely suppressed this urge and looked at the inheritance iron book in his hands. With his will attribute breaking through 16 points, his mind and memory far exceeded that of ordinary people. But in the end, with a steady mind, Chen Feng, as before, took out his notebook and black pen from his black backpack and began writing down the contents of the inheritance iron book. As the sound of writing echoed, ink stains were left, and parts of the key methods for Heavenly Aura Overlord Body were recorded. Seeing this, he picked up the inheritance iron book. Chen Feng didn¡¯t hesitate and quickly activated his Steel Bone talent. [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] In the dream realm, at the Extreme Martial Hall''s branch. The inheritance iron book in his hands rapidly shattered, quickly turning to dust and scattering into bits. [Steel Bones LV1: 30/100] "I wonder what kind of metal this inheritance iron book is made of." Chen Feng squinted. Now, with his full power strike, he could already twist and deform even copper-grade metals, or break them. But this inheritance iron book, if he didn¡¯t use the Steel Bone talent, he wouldn¡¯t be able to damage it in the slightest. Even with Steel Bone, it would take more than ten seconds to extract the metal essence. This showed that the material of this inheritance iron book was far from ordinary. Shaking his head, he suppressed his thoughts. 30% progress in the talent still didn¡¯t satisfy Chen Feng. After perceiving the martial arts hall again and confirming nothing was left behind, he stepped out of the door. Clack! Footsteps echoed, and the mist outside suddenly surged. When he opened his eyes again, the wooden beams of the roof appeared before him, and the sunlight outside the wooden window quietly spilled in. "Already?" Chen Feng stood still for a moment, adapted for two seconds, then got up. He picked up his phone and checked¡ªit was still 7:05. Besides that, there were two calendar reminders. [Central City] He glanced at it¡ªthis was a reminder he had set before heading up the mountain. Because tomorrow morning, Chen Yun would be leaving for Central City. "I¡¯ll go back tonight." Chen Feng murmured, then walked out of the room. Green trees were planted in the yard, with vines wrapping around the surrounding wooden fences, and purple-white flowers bloomed. The gray stone bricks were neatly paved, with a stone table and three stone stools arranged at the side. Whoosh! Swoosh! A faint sound of air breaking came, and Chen Feng turned his head to look. In the neighboring yard, Xu Tingxiao was practicing martial arts. He threw punches and kicked, with energy circulating through his limbs, giving off a sense of martial arts mastery. "Zhao¡¯s personal disciple practices at six in the morning. Very diligent." A figure walked over holding breakfast, wearing a dark gray robe, middle-aged in appearance. His face was ordinary, and his tone was respectful. He was none other than the sect manager, Li Shi. "Oh." Chen Feng calmly responded, understanding his meaning. Being a personal disciple also meant comparison. Regardless of anything else, just his diligence showed Xu Tingxiao¡¯s worth as a personal disciple. Moreover, with his talent, his future achievements were certain. However, Chen Feng didn¡¯t pay much attention to this. Others waking up early to practice martial arts was to improve their skills, while him sleeping a little longer was also a way to improve his martial arts. "Uncle Li, this hot porridge is a secret recipe from the sect, right?" After drinking two sips of hot porridge, feeling the nutrients rapidly absorbed and filling his stomach, Chen Feng asked his lingering question. "Yes." Li Shi nodded and explained, "Martial artists, the higher their realm, the bigger their appetite." "This is Silver Moon Porridge. The millet inside is specially grown, and some medicinal herbs are added during the boiling process." Chen Feng nodded in response, finishing his breakfast soon after, feeling full and strong. On the other side, Xu Tingxiao snorted coldly, thinking that if he practiced even harder, he would definitely make the master change his mind and promote him from junior brother to senior brother. Chen Feng didn¡¯t know his thoughts. After resting for a moment in the yard, he finished digesting his food. Soon, under the guidance of Li Shi, he and the secretly competing Xu Tingxiao headed toward the courtyard where they had become disciples yesterday. The green stone bricks were arranged like steps, with some weeds growing on both sides. The ancient trees were thick, needing several people to hug them, with roots intertwining and branches dense. Before long, the two of them arrived at the small courtyard. They saw an elderly man with silver hair, wearing a red-patterned white robe, standing in the center of an open space with his hands behind his back, slightly overweight. "Master." Chen Feng and Xu Tingxiao called out in succession. "Mm." Li Tong nodded, turning to look at them. His gaze seemed to see through everything, and he gave a slight nod with a satisfied smile. "Not bad." "It seems the pills from yesterday weren¡¯t wasted. Both of you have gained something." With just a simple sentence, Xu Tingxiao subconsciously glanced at Chen Feng. His expression was somewhat eager to try, but quickly heard Li Tong continue: "The reason I called you here today is simple." "Both of you are now my personal disciples, and also the hope for the revival of my Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect¡¯s legacy." "Talent and comprehension are not lacking in you, so it¡¯s time for you to choose one or two of our sect¡¯s core true skills." While speaking, Li Tong flicked his fingers, and two thin pieces of paper fell into Chen Feng and Xu Tingxiao''s hands. After focusing, they saw many inked words, with names and effects of various martial arts. [Tiger Extreme Skill: One of the core true skills, practitioners can use this to enhance their strength and cultivate the Tiger Extreme posture.] [Crimson Tiger Force: One of the core true skills, can directly reach the Internal strength stage, with four levels of mastery.] [Bronze Statue Technique: One of the core strengthening skills, can externally train muscles, bones, and skin, and internally train some organs. Can counteract others'' attacks and protect oneself.] (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - . Translated (4) Series, (1.8K+) Chapters, (2.25M+) Words. Chapter 97: Crimson Tiger Force, Bronze Statue Technique (3700+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- Several core martial arts techniques appeared in front of Chen Feng, totaling five. However, among them, there was only one strengthening technique, which surprised Chen Feng. ¡°Our sect has produced very few masters in body training martial arts throughout history, so our accumulation in this area is limited,¡± Li Tong said, seemingly understanding Chen Feng''s thoughts. He continued, ¡°Moreover, most strengthening techniques emphasize strength over power, which is another reason why we have few strengthening techniques.¡± ¡°Of course, you need not worry about this.¡± Suddenly, his tone paused, and Li Tong smiled. ¡°Although our sect lacks outstanding strengthening techniques, there is a sect in nearby Luohe City that possesses relevant inheritance.¡± ¡°They practice techniques that can not only forge a hard body but also strengthen their power, making them quite impressive.¡± ¡°I will go retrieve it for you in a few days.¡± Chen Feng fell silent for a moment. How could a technique from another sect be easily passed to an outsider? The price, needless to say, Li Tong''s determined tone made Chen Feng feel he had made the right choice in his master. ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± He did not act overly formal but nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Li Tong waved dismissively, not overly concerned. Then he looked at the two, who were contemplating which martial technique to choose, and offered his advice. ¡°Tingxiao, although you¡¯ve already entered the ¡®entry strength¡¯ realm, it¡¯s only barely flowing through your limbs. You haven¡¯t fully explored the subtle uses of your power, remaining at a basic level of practice.¡± ¡°You can choose between Extreme Tiger Technique and Crimson Tiger Force. Both contain complementary techniques for power, such as Shock, Explosion, Gathering, and Contraction. This way, you can continue to strengthen your power and better understand the subtle uses of power.¡± Li Tong explained patiently, while Chen Feng felt somewhat confused. Since he had not entered the power realm yet, he did not understand these concepts well. Xu Tingxiao saw his confusion, first thanking the master, and then arrogantly explaining, ¡°It¡¯s obvious you don¡¯t know anything.¡± ¡°There are three stages in entering power: the power flows through the limbs, the power flows throughout the body, and the unity of internal methods.¡± ¡°I¡¯m at the stage where power flows through my limbs, and my energy can barely circulate through my arms.¡± ¡°If I can circulate it through my legs, that will be the first stage of completion. Later, if the power can flow and cover vulnerable parts such as the chest, abdomen, and neck, that will be the second stage¡ªpower flowing throughout the body.¡± Looking at Chen Feng with a half-sneer, Xu Tingxiao continued, ¡°Each breakthrough in the power realm refines a corresponding body part. But more importantly, it¡¯s the application of power.¡± ¡°The same force can cause more destruction. This is what the master mentioned, techniques like Shock, Explosion, and Gathering. These are the true subtleties of power.¡± ¡°The third stage, I won¡¯t bother explaining to you, since you probably won¡¯t even reach it.¡± His tone was still proud and aloof, but Chen Feng didn¡¯t feel like punching him. Three stages of power. No wonder he thought Xu Tingxiao was so weak, only to find that he had just entered the first stage. ¡°Hmm, Tingxiao has been taught martial arts by elders since he was young, so his foundation in this area is solid.¡± ¡°However, don¡¯t underestimate yourself. Just focus on your practice,¡± Li Tong smiled and encouraged, seemingly worried about Chen Feng¡¯s confidence. Xu Tingxiao wore a proud expression, and finally looked at the martial techniques, choosing Crimson Tiger Force. It was the strongest technique in their sect for cultivating power, with a chance to break through beyond the power realm. Of course, the difficulty was immense, but he was confident he could succeed. ¡°What about you?¡± Li Tong asked, looking at Chen Feng. ¡°I want to choose Crimson Tiger Force and the Bronze Statue Technique,¡± Chen Feng replied truthfully. The former was a required technique and the best choice for entering the ¡®entry strength¡¯. The latter was a special strengthening technique. Though it was ordinary in terms of power, it had one outstanding feature. Recoil! There were three stages after entering the technique: Bronze Skin, Bronze Bones, and Bronze Statue. Each stage increased the recoil force by half or a full level, which, combined with his strong physique, would complement each other perfectly. ¡°Oh, you want to practice another strengthening technique? That¡¯s fine, after all, you have a dominant physique,¡± Li Tong nodded without further comment. A moment later, he stood firm. Suddenly, his center of gravity sank, and a phantom of a fierce tiger appeared behind him. Its four legs were surrounded by flames, with red patterns all over its body, coiling behind Li Tong. The ¡°King¡± character on its forehead exuded immense dominance, and its vertical pupils held authority, looking down at Chen Feng and Xu Tingxiao. ¡°!!¡± Chen Feng¡¯s gaze sharpened. The last time he saw such an image was on the Third Elder, but this was even more solid and powerful. ¡°True Intent.¡± ¡°Such powerful martial intent.¡± Xu Tingxiao beside him showed admiration, and Chen Feng keenly heard his muttering, memorizing it in his heart. ¡°Clear your mind, and watch as I demonstrate Crimson Tiger Force for you.¡± Li Tong¡¯s calm voice rang out, and in an instant, the red tiger phantom vanished from their view. ¡°Crimson Tiger Force is our sect''s most powerful core martial technique. It contains thirteen power techniques, and after mastering the first, there are four stages of progression.¡± ¡°Blazing Flame, Steel Fire, Mountain Burning, Crimson Tiger!¡± ¡°The first stage, Blazing Flame, resembles scorching flames that temper the internal organs, strengthening power. After mastering it, you can channel power through your limbs and unleash the power of flame, burning others upon contact.¡± ¡°The second stage, Steel Fire, is invasive like fire and wild like steel. Upon completion, you can channel power throughout your body, with every move and strike triggering the Steel Fire.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll now teach you the key points of the first two stages. Listen carefully.¡± S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Li Tong¡¯s voice continued, and the image of him standing still with red power circulating around him became vivid. Sometimes he squatted, lowering his center of gravity. Other times, he stepped sideways and struck with energy targeting acupoints. Step by step, Chen Feng noticed Xu Tingxiao¡¯s aura suddenly changing. In an instant, his palms emitted a white light energy. But when examined closely, a faint reddish hue slowly spread, gradually turning into the color of flames. ¡°Tingxiao, you¡¯ve already entered the power realm. The first stage, Flame, won¡¯t be a problem for you. You just need to convert your energy and practice gradually,¡± Li Tong explained. Chen Feng thoughtfully observed, understanding that Xu Tingxiao had already surpassed the entry stage, moving directly into the first stage. ¡°Chen Feng, you just recently broke through and your energy is still weak, insufficient for circulation.¡± ¡°Crimson Tiger Force is difficult to master at the start, so observe carefully, and practice diligently with the key points. You will definitely break through to the Flame stage.¡± Li Tong¡¯s voice continued to encourage him. Chen Feng nodded and didn¡¯t delay. He quickly followed Li Tong¡¯s instructions, visualizing the Crimson Tiger Soaring Through the Sky diagram in his mind, setting his posture, and attempting to guide the weak energy within his body. One minute¡­ two minutes¡­ three minutes. The energy slowly circulated through his internal organs, but the panel didn¡¯t show the entry-level prompt. Xu Tingxiao¡¯s aura grew stronger beside him, and the white light in his hands gradually became red and fiery. Chen Feng didn¡¯t rush. With his strong will, he stayed calm and focused, isolating any negative emotions. Time passed. ¡°Tingxiao¡¯s talent in the power realm is indeed strong. After today, he will likely have fully converted into Crimson Tiger Force.¡± ¡°Chen Feng, hmm, steady and composed. It seems entering the entry-level is only a matter of time.¡± Li Tong nodded with satisfaction, feeling fortunate to have two such excellent disciples. Unaware of his thoughts, Chen Feng¡¯s forehead began to sweat. His concentration was exhausting, and just as he started to feel fatigued, a faint but vital energy finally completed a full cycle through his body. Suddenly, the panel appeared with a prompt. [Crimson Tiger Force: Entry (1%) +] Without hesitation, Chen Feng mentally whispered two words. ¡°Upgrade!¡± Buzz! In an instant, as Chen Feng¡¯s thoughts moved, seven points of power surged, disappearing rapidly. [Crimson Tiger Force: Entry (56%) +] ¡°Only halfway?¡± Chen Feng frowned in surprise. He thought for a moment, realizing that this was a core martial technique aimed at breaking through the power realm, so the difficulty was understandably high. The energy continued to circulate through his internal organs. Perhaps due to the upgrade, the faint energy began to grow slightly stronger, about half an inch in length. Looking up, the blazing sun had already passed two or three hours, nearing noon. Li Tong, unaware, had found a brown wooden recliner and was leisurely lying on it, swaying back and forth. Other than his slightly comical appearance while playing on his phone, he resembled the Third Elder quite a bit. Both were from the same martial lineage. Then, looking at Xu Tingxiao, who was still diligently practicing, Chen Feng thought about tomorrow morning¡¯s farewell to Chen Yun. He quickly walked over and stood beside Li Tong¡¯s recliner. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Li Tong put down his phone and sat up. ¡°Master, I¡¯d like to go down the mountain today,¡± Chen Feng briefly explained. ¡°Oh, you should go and see her off.¡± Li Tong nodded, as if recalling something. ¡°Well, you don¡¯t have many acquaintances on the mountain, and you probably don¡¯t feel too comfortable staying here.¡± ¡°From now on, just return to the mountain once a week so I can check your progress.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Chen Feng agreed readily, glad to leave. He never liked staying here in the ancient robes. Plus, he still had to visit Lin Hao¡¯s club, there were some things he wanted to ask for help with. ¡°Here, let¡¯s add each other on WeChat, and I¡¯ll send you the Bronze Statue Technique shortly.¡± Li Tong took out his phone, unlocked it, and scanned the QR code. It was done smoothly. Chen Feng pretended not to notice the short-form video of a dancing influencer that Li Tong quickly switched from and added him as a friend. [Carefree] Li Tong¡¯s WeChat nickname. Chen Feng changed the remark. ¡°If you go down the mountain, tell Li Shi.¡± ¡°When you come back, just let him know if there are any trivial matters, but for martial matters, ask me.¡± Li Tong smiled and gave a few instructions. His expression then became serious as he reminded, ¡°Also, remember.¡± ¡°You are now my personal disciple, the eldest disciple of the Flame Tiger lineage.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t shortchange yourself. Of course, you don¡¯t seem like the type who would.¡± He smiled at the end, and Chen Feng nodded to acknowledge it. Whoosh! A white jade porcelain bottle was flicked from Li Tong¡¯s fingers and landed in Chen Feng¡¯s hand. ¡°Taking too many secret medicines like the Viscera Strengthening Pill isn¡¯t good. It can cause impurities in your power and affect your foundation.¡± ¡°So, to enter Crimson Tiger Force, you must rely on yourself.¡± Li Tong smiled leisurely and added, ¡°As for this secret medicine, it contains seven Muscle-Fortifying Tiger Bone Pills that can strengthen your muscles and bones, open your blood vessels, and assist in practicing the Bronze Statue Technique.¡± ¡°Take one a day, and when it¡¯s finished, come back to me.¡± His lighthearted tone made it sound like a casual remark. Chen Feng quietly held the white jade porcelain bottle, remaining silent for a while. "Alright." He nodded in acknowledgment, then turned and left the courtyard. The sound of footsteps echoed as Xu Tingxiao, who had just finished his training, opened his eyes. He''s leaving? Watching the person¡¯s silhouette fade away, his hand''s strength flared like a flame. It was almost transforming into the Crimson Tiger Force, but he felt incredibly uncomfortable. Now he''s leaving? How am I supposed to regain my honor? "Master, when will he come back?" "Probably in a week." Probably? A week? "By the way, be more polite. Don¡¯t just call him ¡®he.¡¯ Next time, call him ¡®Senior Brother¡¯ properly." Li Tong casually said, switching back to a short video page on his phone. The twisting dance moves made him smile. Now, this was freedom. Seeing this, Xu Tingxiao clenched his fists. This is so frustrating!! --- At 2 PM. In the mountains, a black sports car slowly drove down the cement road. Chen Feng was still wearing a gray robe, sitting in the backseat. Li Shi had prepared several sets of red-patterned silver robes for him, but he couldn¡¯t be bothered to change. They were left up in the mountains. He was holding a brown paper bag, which Li Shi had given him when he left the mountain gate. Inside were two keys and property certificates for two high-end residential areas in Nanjiang City. "True Disciple Chen, this is from the Sect Leader. From now on, it will be under your name." The words echoed in his mind, and Chen Feng looked out the window at the retreating mountain forest, slightly lost in thought. This master doesn''t seem too bad. The car was quiet. He then tilted his head and looked ahead, thinking of something. The driver was the same one from the day before yesterday, and the front passenger seat was still occupied by Cao Tong. Cao Tong also planned to descend the mountain today, so they were returning together. "Brother Cao." "True Disciple Chen." Cao Tong replied awkwardly, clearly still not accustomed to the title. Being a True Disciple carried more weight than a core disciple, especially since he was just a core disciple himself. "Brother Cao, let¡¯s just keep it casual." Chen Feng shook his head, easing the other¡¯s discomfort. Before this, Cao Tong had taken good care of him, and he naturally remembered this kindness. Upon hearing this, Cao Tong breathed a sigh of relief, then felt a wave of satisfaction. As Chen Feng''s recommender, he not only forged a good connection but also received a reward from the sect. Secret medicine, true skills. Thanks to his success, he had finally seen the threshold of entering the inner force and was confident he would breakthrough in the future. Chen Feng had heard about this and didn¡¯t pay much attention. Instead, he asked, ¡°Brother Cao, have you heard of the Heart Ape Sect?¡± Chen Feng had planned to ask Li Tong about it this morning but forgot due to his martial training. ¡°Heart Ape Sect?¡± Cao Tong was stunned for a moment, then recalled, ¡°It¡¯s a martial arts school from Nanjiang. It was once quite prosperous.¡± ¡°But later, their sect leader was severely injured and had his martial arts crippled. In recent years, it has declined.¡± ¡°I heard only one or two experts who entered the inner force are left.¡± Chen Feng nodded, cross-checking this information with what Lin Hao had told him and learning more details. No wonder that skinny young man could become the true disciple of the school just after achieving the peak of the organ refinement. Perhaps Xu Tingxiao could even become their sect leader. ¡°Why? Did you run into someone from the Heart Ape Sect?¡± Cao Tong asked curiously. Chen Feng didn¡¯t hide it and explained the situation. ¡°Oh, then it¡¯s fine.¡± Cao Tong shook his head. ¡°There are many conflicts in the martial arts world. You¡¯ve already shown mercy.¡± ¡°Besides, he was in the wrong to start with. If he got hurt, it¡¯s his own fault.¡± The two chatted casually, and Chen Feng took the opportunity to learn about other martial schools in Nanjiang. ¡°Our Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect is an outsider, and we¡¯ve only been around for about thirty years. But due to the sect leader and the third elder¡¯s influence, we are the strongest in this area and have some impact in the surrounding cities.¡± ¡°Others, like the Golden Flying Eagle Sect, the Giant Elephant Sect, and the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect, are all powerful, but their main gates are not in Nanjiang. These are just branches here.¡± ¡°Besides them, there are smaller schools like the Heart Ape Sect, and some don¡¯t even have masters who¡¯ve entered the inner force.¡± Chen Feng raised an eyebrow in surprise at the short history of his own school. Only thirty-something years? ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the exact reason.¡± ¡°But now that you¡¯re a True Disciple, if you ask the sect leader, you should get an answer,¡± Cao Tong said enviously. He understood that this matter probably involved the sect¡¯s secrets. After all, martial arts schools always take root in one place to maintain their influence. Changing territories suddenly must have some reason behind it. Chen Feng nodded thoughtfully. Gradually, the car grew silent again. The vehicle continued driving, entering the bustling area of Jin Hua District. Chen Feng and Cao Tong got out of the car and went to a changing room, where they changed into loose black t-shirts and pants. Next, they went to the basement. ¡°The third elder must have already received the news.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to visit him now to make him happy,¡± Cao Tong said with a smile, and Chen Feng understood what he meant. The third elder had been the one who recommended him to participate in the True Disciple competition. Visiting him first upon his return was a way of showing gratitude and making him happy. Tap! The sound of footsteps echoed as they walked through the metal hallway and entered the herb room, where the temperature dropped. The scent of herbs was overwhelming, and the wooden cabinets were neatly arranged. ¡°Third Elder!¡± Cao Tong called out before even approaching. The familiar, slim elder in gray robes was resting in a recliner with his eyes closed, and he gave a soft hum in response. ¡°Third Elder,¡± Chen Feng cupped his fists and said, ¡°Thank you for giving me this opportunity.¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for his recommendation and the help of secret medicine, he would have had no chance in this True Disciple competition. ¡°Hmm, you¡¯re not bad. But there¡¯s no need to thank me,¡± the third elder opened his cloudy eyes. Though a junior to Li Tong, he appeared even older than him. ¡°Focus on practicing martial arts. Strive to reach our level, then take my senior brother¡¯s mantle.¡± ¡°The future of the Flame Tiger Style ultimately rests with you younger disciples.¡± His voice was tinged with some nostalgia. Chen Feng nodded. ¡°Also, don¡¯t call me Third Elder in the future.¡± The third elder smiled and said, ¡°Call me Third Uncle.¡± ¡°Yes, Third Uncle.¡± Chen Feng said calmly. ¡°Hmm, go on.¡± ¡°If you need anything, you can come to me anytime.¡± The third elder waved his hand, and the two of them left. Not lingering, Chen Feng glanced at the darkening sky. He thought for a moment, then decided not to go to the club and headed straight home. Click! The door opened, and the warm light flooded the room. The dust on the sofa and coffee table had already been wiped away by Chen Yun, and the items that had been haphazardly placed on the table were now neatly arranged. With his perception, Chen Feng could clearly see the fridge stocked with plenty of food. Bread, milk, meat, vegetables, energy bars¡ªevery shelf was filled to the brim. ¡°Xiao Feng, are you back?¡± Chen Yun, who was packing her luggage in the bedroom, probably heard the door opening. With rustling sounds, Chen Feng hummed in response and walked over. A pink suitcase was open in the middle of the floor, on the brown wooden floor. The bed was stacked with several clothes, mostly long-sleeve shirts and coats, along with two knitted sweaters and a down jacket. ¡°My mentor said I¡¯m going to study in the central city of our Feng province, Yun Port, at the Radiant Star Academy to learn from some experts.¡± ¡°I think there are also some doctoral students going there for training. It¡¯s probably going to take about a year.¡± ¡°The procedures for entering the central city seem a bit complicated, and I can¡¯t come back before the training ends, so I probably won¡¯t be back until next year.¡± Chen Yun folded the clothes one by one, placing them neatly into her suitcase. At the end, she looked up at Chen Feng. She was barefaced, with a few freckles. Her features were gentle and beautiful, her eyes bright like light. ¡°Take good care of yourself.¡± ¡°If you''re unhappy or upset, feel free to message me. Don¡¯t stay up late, eat your meals on time, try to cook for yourself, and avoid ordering takeout.¡± ¡°And if you¡¯re low on money, let me know. I heard that studying abroad gives you subsidies, almost ten thousand a month.¡± Chen Feng didn¡¯t interrupt her nagging, just silently watched her counting things off with her fingers, reminding him one thing after another. Though they hadn¡¯t parted yet, he could already feel her reluctance. Her voice grew softer as she spoke, and their eyes met. Chen Feng paused for a moment. ¡°You too.¡± He said seriously. Chen Yun was initially stunned, then came to her senses. ¡°Okay!¡± She smiled, pure as a flower. The two stood for a moment. Chen Feng helped her organize a few things before heading back to his own bedroom. The lights were turned off, and the room gradually darkened. Standing by the window, Chen Feng¡¯s emotions stirred slightly. Soon, he would be alone again. His thoughts scattered but didn¡¯t linger long. His strong willpower made him calm down, able to resist most negative emotions without forcing himself into a focused state. Gradually, night fell. Chen Feng suppressed his distractions and lay down on the bed. His eyes slowly closed, his breathing evened out, and his consciousness sank. Before long, when he opened his eyes again, he had entered the dream world. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - . Translated (4) Series, (1.8K+) Chapters, (2.25M+) Words. Chapter 98: Prelude to Slaughter (2400+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- Crack! The shattered metal turned to dust, and the asphalt road in the dream world was littered with the exposed parts of over ten cars. The metal shells either disappeared entirely or left behind only a pile of black ash. [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] Finally, a large amount was absorbed. Over twenty cars were destroyed, and the surrounding houses'' security doors and appliances were all rendered useless. Chen Feng finally saw the progress in his Steel Bones talent. [Steel Bones LV1: 32/100] "Only increased by two points." Chen Feng was silent. After this attempt, he was fully convinced that ordinary metal had an extremely weak effect on improving Steel Bones. Moreover, the large quantity needed made the absorption process incredibly time-consuming. In summary: It isn¡¯t worth it. Given his limited time in the dream world, rather than spending a significant amount of time absorbing ordinary metal, it would be better to search for Limit Breaking Light Orbs or directly go to another branch of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. Having figured this out, he no longer hesitated. He slung his black backpack over his shoulder, packed his things, and turned east, following the map''s marking to a new Extreme Martial Arts Hall located ten kilometers away. Speeding up, his senses expanded. Occasionally, other buildings along the way offered some rewards. Eventually, halfway there, the dream world began to fade. Two Limit Breaking Light Orbs and one Attribute Light Orb. [Strength: 16.0 ¡ú 16.1] [Agility: 14.6 ¡ú 14.8] [Constitution: 18.7] [Will: 16.3 ¡ú 16.5] "A few Attribute Light Orbs no longer have much effect on me." Returning to reality, Chen Feng glanced at his panel, shaking his head. A 0.5 increase in attributes was negligible; any real martial technique cultivation would surpass this result. "However, I wonder if there are more similar entities in the dream world." "Perhaps, there are places abundant in Attribute Light Orbs." Chen Feng slowly stood up, lost in thought. A single Attribute Light Orb''s effect is weak, but what if there were ten? Or even a hundred? With this thought, his mind expanded further. Limit Breaking Light Orbs were the spiritual remnants of martial artists. Attribute Light Orbs were the spiritual remnants of transcendent beings. What if he went to places frequently visited by transcendents? Perhaps, it could yield the same effects as the martial arts academy. Lost in thought, he walked over to the window and pulled open the curtain. The weather was clear, and the sky was a vast blue. The sounds of people in the nearby community began to rise, and the noise of the fruit shop downstairs filtered through the air. Every household''s window had rusty iron railings. This was the oldest neighborhood in Nanjiang City. By instinct, Chen Feng glanced at the file bag he had placed on the bedside table. The two property deeds given to him by Master Li Tong were still unopened. "I''ll deal with it later." He shook his head, changed into a black T-shirt and pants, and left the room. Chen Yun had woken up early. Wearing a plaid shirt and dark jeans, she had already washed up and prepared breakfast. The two were unusually silent in the morning. After finishing breakfast, Chen Yun''s phone buzzed. "Teacher Li is here to pick me up." "Alright, I''ll send you off." Chen Feng nodded, grabbing a pink suitcase about half a meter long. He quickly descended five flights of stairs and left the community. "Hey, move your car!" "These oranges are too expensive! Lower the price a bit!" "Watch where you''re walking! Who stepped on my stuff?!" Noisy voices filled the air as fruit trucks lined the street, unloading goods. The road was crowded with office workers and middle-aged people in uniforms. "Here!!" "Xiaoyun, Xiaofeng!" A figure stood at the street corner, waving, with a black business car parked next to them. Despite the surrounding noise, Chen Feng spotted them immediately. "It''s Teacher Li," Chen Yun said. "Mm." Chen Feng nodded. The two squeezed through the crowded street, and the road was narrow, with a car backing up just ahead, blocking the intersection. "Who is that, don''t push!" Someone was accidentally bumped, turning around angrily. A shadow loomed, with a cold and indifferent gaze. The large figure in black, accompanied by a girl in a plaid shirt, apologized as they brushed past. Thud! Thud! The footsteps were steady, and the once crowded road felt much wider to Chen Yun. Finally, they reached the street corner. "Xiaofeng, you''re getting stronger and stronger!" Teacher Li smiled, walking over to open the trunk of the car. The scene at the hotpot restaurant was still fresh in his memory, and he could recall many details even now. Chen Feng gave a hum, then turned his attention to Teacher Li and Chen Yun. "This trip to Yun Port City, take care of yourself." "If you need anything, call me. The dean also appreciates you." "The journey should take about a day. Master Xu will send you to the high-speed train station, where you''ll meet two others. The team leader is Teacher Zhou from another research institute; I''ve already talked to him." Teacher Li gave detailed instructions, and Chen Feng listened quietly. Finally, everything was settled. Chen Yun got into the car, sitting by the window. The two siblings waved goodbye, and Chen Feng watched the car drive off. "She''s gone, Xiaofeng." "If you need anything, you can also tell me." Teacher Li chatted with him for a while. Chen Feng nodded, standing alone at the noisy street corner. A few seconds later. He turned and took a taxi, heading straight for the martial arts academy. --- "Time is up." "You haven''t given me the answer I wanted." In the abandoned warehouse, several figures stood. Zhao Jianlong, cloaked in a black woolen coat, stood at the center, guarded by his subordinates, watching the black-robed figure in the blood pool. His face was stern and cold, with his subordinates holding guns, standing in alert positions. There were more than ten drones hovering around them, and two fully modified humans flanked him. With a swish, sharp blades extended from their wrists, and huge cannon-like openings appeared in their chests. A full lockdown surrounded them, the atmosphere tense. Sensing Zhao Jianlong''s threat, the black-robed figure in the blood pool hesitated before finally speaking. Hissss! A small, brown-patterned snake emerged, its triangular head appearing from the collar of the black robe. The security personnel of Hong Guang Group frowned slightly, preparing to take action. "This is my life-snake spirit." "Let it swallow your son''s corpse, and in at most a day, we''ll find that person." As the words fell, everyone could see the small brown-patterned snake hissing and slithering, winding its way out of the blood pool, leaving a thin, winding trace on the floor of the warehouse, which was littered with black ash and debris. Upon seeing this, Zhao Jianlong narrowed his eyes. The atmosphere was eerily silent, with a growing chill. It wasn¡¯t until a few seconds later that he spoke coldly, "Ah Cheng, bring the corpse here." "Yes." A modified human responded immediately and quickly made the necessary arrangements. The man in the black robe and hood coldly watched the scene, and finally rose from the blood pool, slowly walking towards the ground. The surrounding people were on alert, and the swarm of drones turned their guns, ready to fire at any moment. "I think we can make another deal." In his cold voice, Zhao Jianlong furrowed his brows. "I¡¯ll go with you and help you kill that person." "In exchange, you need to prepare some live humans for me." The two exchanged glances, the deep, imposing human eyes and the vertical snake pupils reflecting each other. A few seconds later. "Deal." --- "You''ve finally returned, huh?" At the entrance of the Jinhua District branch martial arts hall, Lin Hao, dressed in loose gray sportswear, was waiting for Chen Feng. He had known since yesterday that Chen Feng would come to the hall today, so he had specifically waited downstairs in the morning. "You wouldn¡¯t know, but now the entire core class is talking about it. Everyone knows you¡¯ve become the direct disciple." "Does that mean I should call you ''Big Brother'' now?" Lin Hao said with a big smile, and Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. "Big Brother!" "Good morning, Big Brother!" As some students walked into the martial arts hall and saw Chen Feng, they all greeted him. This scene caught the attention of some pedestrians outside, and Chen Feng felt a bit unaccustomed but still nodded in response. He hadn¡¯t expected the news of his becoming a direct disciple to spread so quickly. "Coach Cao gave instructions when he returned yesterday afternoon. From now on, anyone who sees you should call you ''Big Brother''." "And Wu Tian, tsk tsk, you should''ve seen his awkward expression, hahahaha." Lin Hao laughed smugly, and Chen Feng thoughtfully raised an eyebrow. The Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect places great importance on etiquette, especially regarding people of different statuses. Like with Cao Tong in the past, even though he disliked Wu Shuang, he still respected him in front of others. And now, his status was even higher than Wu Shuang¡¯s, so this situation was not surprising. "How''s the club doing?" Chen Feng asked. In the past couple of days, he hadn¡¯t heard much from Lin Hao about the club, perhaps to avoid distracting him. "It¡¯s fine. We hired two new coaches, and we¡¯ve gained a few more members." "You¡¯ll know for yourself when you visit in the afternoon." Lin Hao briefly explained the situation before teasing, "As for you, now that you''re a direct disciple of the sect, you¡¯re not going to look down on our little club, right?" The joke had a hint of seriousness. Chen Feng fell silent for a moment. According to what Li Shi had told him, aside from the martial arts hall, the Flame Tiger style actually had other businesses in Nanjiang. For example, chain herbal medicine stores, companies specializing in treating bruises and injuries, martial arts uniforms, and sporting goods. Most of the time, real disciples were responsible for managing these businesses, and as a direct disciple, Chen Feng would naturally have the authority to participate and even have a higher say, potentially earning a share of the profits. But, he had only just joined the sect, and his master Li Tong hadn¡¯t mentioned this yet, so he didn¡¯t want to overstep. Aside from that¡­ "The sect is the sect, and I am me." "The club is our business, and that¡¯s different." Chen Feng gave his response. The club was independent of the sect, and it belonged solely to him and Lin Hao. It wouldn¡¯t be interfered with by others, nor would they have to fight for power or resources with anyone. "Alright! With that said, the club will definitely thrive!" Lin Hao grinned widely, as he had been worried that Chen Feng might look down on the club. Perhaps it was because of his feelings, or maybe because he was worried Chen Feng might change his mind later, so he seized the opportunity to express his thoughts. "Actually, my goal isn¡¯t just this. Once the club¡¯s reputation grows, I plan to expand into other businesses using the connections we build." "Things like on-site coaching, participating in martial arts competitions, or even more directly, starting a security company to provide protection services for middle and upper-class families. I have ways to establish connections, get some modification modules and enhancement agents to train a group of people. At that time, we¡¯ll definitely grow bigger." At first, Chen Feng didn¡¯t pay much attention to the first part, but when Lin Hao mentioned modification modules and enhancement agents, he raised an eyebrow. Because of the policy of the Nanjiang United Council, these items were rarely available in the local market, and ordinary people had a hard time accessing them. Clearly, Lin Hao had some considerable influence behind him. "You handle it." Chen Feng didn¡¯t pry, knowing that when Lin Hao was ready to talk, he would share what he wanted to. As for Lin Hao¡¯s future plans and other businesses, Chen Feng wasn¡¯t too concerned. He didn¡¯t understand business, as long as he could legally make money, that was enough. And besides¡­ "Since you can get modification modules, do you have a way to get me some high-grade metals?" Chen Feng asked, which was something he had thought about after gaining the Steel Bones talent. There were very few copies of the dream realm¡¯s inheritance iron book, but there were plenty of high-grade metals in reality, and they should be used to their fullest. However, these things weren¡¯t something ordinary people could access. "High-grade metals?" "What do you need these for?" Lin Hao asked, puzzled. "A friend of mine needs them." Chen Feng calmly explained. This was the excuse he had prepared, and the reason he didn¡¯t ask the martial arts hall for help was the same¡ªhe didn¡¯t want to cause misunderstandings or make explanations difficult. "Oh~~" Lin Hao immediately understood. Fully modified humans repairing damaged modification modules, or upgrading them... The thought passed through his mind, but he didn¡¯t ask more questions. "I¡¯ll think of something. Let me give you a heads-up." "The Copper grade should be fine, but the Silver Steel grade is tightly controlled, so it¡¯ll be a bit difficult. It¡¯s a matter of luck." "Alright." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Feng nodded, pleasantly surprised. The two discussed these matters a bit more, and not long after, they parted ways and entered the training room. Whew! After exhaling, Chen Feng, dressed in loose black clothes and flat shoes, suppressed the distractions from the earlier conversation. Once he regained his calm, he took out a white jade porcelain bottle from his pocket. It was the Muscle-Fortifying Tiger Bone Pill that his master, Li Tong, had given him. It was a special medicinal pill used in conjunction with the Bronze Statue Technique. On his way back yesterday, he had already watched a demonstration video of the Bronze Statue Technique. Thanks to his foundation in the Giant Tiger Technique, he easily grasped it after just visualizing it once, and it was faster than the Crimson Tiger Force. Immediately, he removed the cork and poured out a round pill. It was the size of a fist, dark gray, with a faint, unpleasant odor. He held his discomfort in check and threw it into his mouth, biting it open with a crunch. Chen Feng immediately stood still, sinking his waist, and began to visualize and refine his body. Soon, a wave of heat flowed from his abdomen. Panel notifications began appearing. [Bronze Statue Technique: Entry (1/100)] [Bronze Statue Technique: Entry (3/100)] [Bronze Statue Technique: Entry (6/100)] (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@- . Early Access at $5. Translated (4) Series, (1.8K+) Chapters, (2.25M+) Words. Chapter 99: Southern Martial Arts Tournament (2700+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- [Bronze Statue Technique: Beginner (65/100) +] Two hours later, inside the quiet room. The internal heat gradually subsided, and Chen Feng looked at the progress of his Bronze Statue Technique with some surprise. It wasn''t that it was slow. On the contrary, it was a bit fast. After all, the Bronze Statue Technique was the core true technique of the Flame Tiger style. To some extent, its power was stronger than the Giant Tiger Technique, and naturally, the difficulty was higher. A single Muscle-Fortifying Tiger Bone Pill had helped him complete two-thirds of the beginner level. The effect of the secret medicine was evident. "Perhaps it''s also because I have the foundation of the Giant Tiger Technique." "Although the two strengthening techniques have different effects, at their core, they both enhance the body..." Chen Feng had a rough idea and finally looked at his limit-breaking light orbs and skills. [Limit Break Points: 2] [Explosive Fist: Mastered (61%) +] [Crimson Tiger Force: Beginner (56%) +] [Bronze Statue Technique: Beginner (65%) +] With three skills in front of him, Chen Feng focused more on the Crimson Tiger Force. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before entering the technique, secret medicine couldn''t be used, so limit-breaking light orbs became the only way to improve this true technique. As for Explosive Fist and Bronze Statue Technique, they each had other ways to break through. "Enhance!" Without hesitation, Chen Feng silently spoke the word. [Crimson Tiger Force: Beginner (72%) +] "Still four more limit breaking light orbs needed." Chen Feng made a rough estimate, feeling that the power inside him had become a bit denser. With a thought, the faint red energy appeared in his hands, covering almost half of his palm. Unlike others¡¯ white glows, this was the characteristic of Crimson Tiger Force¡ªonce practiced to the beginner level, the energy would turn into a flame color. The higher the realm, the darker the color. "The energy has accompanying techniques, which can unleash power stronger than the body¡¯s base strength." Chen Feng recalled Li Tong''s words and after considering it for a moment, he decided to select one or two techniques from Crimson Tiger Force to practice. Since Li Tong had only passed on the first two layers of the mantra, there were only a few moves that he knew of. [Tiger Roar Style: A shock technique that gathers energy into both palms, capable of injuring internal organs from a distance, like striking a cow from the air.] [Steel Claw Style: A claw technique that concentrates energy into the fingers, extending the power of the attack, transforming it into tiger claws to tear through flesh and bones.] [Flame Blast Style: A blasting technique that compresses energy between the fists, erupting in an instant to break the enemy.] [Tiger Leap Style: A body technique that covers the legs with energy, making movements more flexible.] After thinking for a while, Chen Feng felt that the Tiger Roar Style and Flame Blast Style suited his fighting style. He made up his mind and quickly tried practicing them in the martial hall. Gradually, time passed. Though hindered by a lack of energy, the effects of practicing the techniques were still faint but not without progress. --- "Senior Brother!" "Hello, Senior Brother!" At noon, Chen Feng went to the cafeteria for lunch. The respectful calls echoed, and Wu Tian, who had originally planned to find a place to hide, was a step too slow. "Big Senior Brother." He awkwardly called out, while Pei Yue next to him acted more casual, seemingly indifferent. "Mm, keep practicing." Chen Feng passed by them, maintaining a calm attitude. Lin Hao, who was nearby, tried to stifle a laugh but failed, causing Wu Tian¡¯s face to redden, though he could do nothing about it. Eventually, a day of training came to an end. Around 3 PM, Chen Feng changed clothes and got into Lin Hao¡¯s car. Vroom! The engine roared as they headed straight for the club. The shopping mall was bustling with people, and after parking, they took the elevator directly to the second floor. "Mm?" Chen Feng¡¯s gaze sharpened when he saw that the Dongling Boxing Gym had closed down. "Heh, I heard they ran off. They didn¡¯t show up yesterday." "It seems they¡¯ve opened another gym somewhere else." Lin Hao explained, and Chen Feng nodded in understanding. Trying to take over the gym had ended in failure, and it had become embarrassing. Plus, since many people witnessed it, their boxing business plummeted. Naturally, the best solution was to cut ties and move to another location. Without stopping, the two walked toward the club. On the way, a man and woman approached, and they brushed past each other. "Mm?" Suddenly stopping, the woman in a black leather skirt and windbreaker coat looked back in confusion. The tall, muscular figure entered the club and disappeared. She thought the person seemed somewhat familiar. "What¡¯s wrong, Xiao Yue?" the man asked. "Nothing, just thought the person who went in looked familiar." "Oh." The man looked at the club and smiled. "How about we go in and take a look?" "This Haofeng Club just opened, but it¡¯s quite famous. I heard there¡¯s a seventh-level coach, very impressive." "They offer more than just boxing¡ªthere¡¯s fitness and other services too." "Forget it." Xiao Yue had little interest in those things, and even if the person looked familiar, it didn¡¯t matter. "Didn''t we agree to check out the new sky blue handbag? I heard it''s on sale for only fifty or sixty thousand. How about we go now?" "Alright, let¡¯s go." --- "What''s wrong?" "Nothing." Inside the club, when Lin Hao asked, Chen Feng calmly shook his head. He walked into the members'' practice area. "Coach Chen!" "Coach, you''re finally back!" The warm greetings echoed as Li Chengdong and Zhuang Xiaoqing stood up with smiles on their faces. Beside them were three to five other young men and women. Though they were dressed in loose sportswear, their demeanor was clearly exceptional. According to Lin Hao, these people were friends from Li Chengdong and Zhuang Xiaoqing¡¯s circle. They came from prominent families, some with relatives in the council or security bureau, while others had family-owned businesses. After witnessing Chen Feng beat Dongling Boxing Gym, Li Chengdong and Zhuang Xiaoqing had flaunted it a little in their circle, attracting these people to come. "Coach Chen, hello." "My name is Luo Yue." A young man spoke directly, extending his hand. His short hair was sharp, and his bronzed skin showed that he often worked out. With a slight sense, Chen Feng immediately realized that this person¡¯s skill was higher than Li Chengdong¡¯s¡ªalready at the professional level. "Have you trained?" Chen Feng asked calmly, meeting his gaze. During their handshake, he could feel the other person testing him with force. "My family hired a few coaches, and I¡¯ve been training for five or six years," Luo Yue answered truthfully. His expression grew more serious, and by the end, he grunted, his face flushing slightly, feeling as if his hand was being caught in a vice, the pain intense. "How does it feel?" Chen Feng asked calmly, then let go. "Coach Chen is indeed strong, stronger than any coach I¡¯ve ever met!" Luo Yue quickly nodded, his tone much more respectful than before. Most of the people around didn¡¯t understand what was happening, but Li Chengdong could see the clue. He silently shook his head but didn¡¯t speak. Chen Feng didn¡¯t mind, as he had received payment from the other party, so it was understandable for him to test him once. Afterward, he asked the new arrivals for their thoughts and quickly arranged training plans for them, pointing out and correcting some of their movements. ¡°Don¡¯t swing your arms too widely. When applying force, your center of gravity needs to be stable.¡± He gave a couple of pointers while standing next to Zhuang Xiaoqing. She nodded brightly in agreement. ¡°Coach, I¡ª¡± She slightly opened her mouth to speak, but quickly saw Chen Feng turn his head toward the door of the practice room. Wang Cheng hurriedly entered, his expression serious. ¡°Brother Chen, someone is looking for you!¡± The title had quietly changed, and Chen Feng¡¯s senses expanded as he immediately recognized who had arrived. ¡°Lead the way.¡± His tone was calm as he turned and left the practice room. Many students looked on curiously as he walked to the door of the club, where two figures were standing. On the left was a young man with a pale face, weak breathing, and a slender frame. He was still wearing a bandage on his chest¡ªthis was the same youth who had caused trouble the other day. On the right was an elderly man with gray hair, dressed in a green robe and sporting a goatee. Upon closer inspection, the elderly man¡¯s arms were unusually long, like a monkey¡¯s, and his knuckles were thick and prominent. He carried an aura of calm strength. Thud! The footsteps stopped, and Chen Feng narrowed his eyes. The slender young man avoided his gaze, lowering his head and not daring to look at him. The elderly man, however, met his gaze openly. There was no malice sensed, which surprised Chen Feng. They¡¯re not here for revenge? Then, within his line of sight, the elderly man suddenly cupped his fists in a respectful bow and introduced himself. ¡°Heart Ape Sect, Liu Fangming.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. He had heard from Cao Tong the previous day about this person¡ªLiu Fangming, one of the two current masters of Heart Ape Sect, an elder of the sect. ¡°The rebellious disciple hasn¡¯t apologized yet.¡± Apparently noticing Chen Feng¡¯s surprise, Liu Fangming slapped the slender youth next to him. The youth¡¯s face turned red, but he obediently cupped his fists and greeted Chen Feng. ¡°Heart Ape Sect, Sun Fei, offering my apology to the direct disciple of the Flame Tiger Sect.¡± Slap! ¡°Look at you! You can¡¯t even apologize properly. You¡¯ve been practicing martial arts all this time and still haven¡¯t learned how to behave?¡± Liu Fangming scolded, slapping the youth on the back of his head. The youth¡¯s face flushed red, but he didn¡¯t dare to rebut. Liu Fangming then turned to Chen Feng. ¡°My rebellious disciple was misled by others. He didn¡¯t know you were the direct disciple of the Flame Tiger Sect.¡± ¡°Two days ago, he rashly offended you. Thanks to your mercy, he was able to keep his skills and barely saved his life.¡± At the end of his words, Liu Fangming once again cupped his fists in respect. His attitude was sincere, and there wasn¡¯t a single flaw to be found. Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, roughly guessing that the other party must have learned about his apprenticeship from somewhere. Seeing his sincere attitude, Chen Feng¡¯s expression softened. He nodded slightly, signaling that it was all in the past. ¡°Indeed, as expected of a high-ranking disciple of Flame Tiger. Your broad-mindedness is impressive.¡± ¡°Rebellious disciple, hurry and thank the coach!¡± Liu Fangming scolded again. Sun Fei, the slender young man, quickly complied and expressed his gratitude. ¡°Many thanks to the direct disciple of Flame Tiger.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Chen Feng nodded while Wang Cheng, standing beside him, looked stunned. The atmosphere eased significantly. However, Liu Fangming didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of leaving. Instead, he smiled and cupped his hands, indicating that he wanted to have a drink of water. ¡°Oh?¡± Chen Feng¡¯s gaze flickered, sensing that the elder seemed to have something to say. ¡°Please follow me.¡± Chen Feng nodded and led Liu Fangming to the club¡¯s lounge. Soon, the receptionist, Zhou Xiaoli, brought over three cups of tea, and Chen Feng sat down at the wooden chairs by the tea table, giving a simple gesture. ¡°Thank you.¡± Liu Fangming expressed his thanks and took a sip. ¡°Good tea.¡± He nodded and didn¡¯t seem to mind Chen Feng¡¯s expression. He spoke nostalgically. ¡°The last time I had such good tea was when I attended the Southern Martial Arts Tournament with your master.¡± ¡°Back then, your master¡¯s style was truly impressive.¡± Chen Feng caught the implied meaning in his words. ¡°Senior Liu knows my master?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say we know each other, but we¡¯ve met a few times,¡± Liu Fangming smiled and waved his hand, lowering his posture. Sun Fei, standing beside him, looked quite bitter. This was the difference between sect influences. Liu Fangming only later learned that Chen Feng¡¯s background was with the Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect. If he had known from the start, he wouldn¡¯t have dared to challenge their dojo. ¡°I see. Then, what exactly is this Southern Martial Arts Tournament you mentioned?¡± Chen Feng asked curiously. This was the first time he had heard about it. ¡°Oh? Your master didn¡¯t tell you?¡± Liu Fangming was momentarily stunned, but Chen Feng nodded lightly. ¡°I see. As you¡¯re relatively new to the core of the sect.¡± ¡°The Southern Martial Arts Tournament is a major event for the martial arts community in the southern part of our country. It happens once every five years, and many sects participate.¡± ¡°From the juniors practicing bone and internal work to those who have reached the ¡®Entry Strength¡¯ realm and even higher-ranking sect leaders, they all participate to compete and decide the influence of each sect.¡± Liu Fangming explained, and Chen Feng roughly understood the meaning behind it. In ancient times, many sects would compete for disciples and territories, leading to intense rivalries. To change this situation, some powerful sects set rules and brought these competitions into the open to reduce covert conflicts. The Southern Martial Arts Tournament was the product of these rules. The reason the Flame Tiger Sect could dominate in Nanjiang City and establish its dojo here was because of this very event. ¡°The last Southern Martial Arts Tournament was four years ago. According to past rules, the next one should be next month.¡± Seeing that Chen Feng wasn¡¯t familiar with this, Liu Fangming continued to explain with enthusiasm, hoping to build a good rapport. The two of them talked for more than ten minutes. At the end, Liu Fangming¡¯s tone changed as he lowered his voice and said, ¡°There is one more thing that I need to trouble you, Brother Chen, to inform your master.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Chen Feng asked calmly, suspecting that this was what Liu Fangming had been building up to say. ¡°The Blood Poison Hand has returned. Please remind your master to be cautious.¡± Blood Poison Hand? Chen Feng was puzzled. Who was that? ¡°?¡± Liu Fangming, seeing his expression, was also confused. ¡°Your master didn¡¯t tell you about this?¡± Chen Feng nodded. Liu Fangming went silent for a moment. After several seconds, he explained that this person was a former ¡®Entry Strength¡¯ expert who had been severely injured and almost crippled by Master Li Tong. He was known for his evil ways. He had escaped from Nanjiang City, but recently, he was spotted by another elder from Heart Ape Sect in the city. ¡°I¡¯ll inform my master,¡± Chen Feng nodded and thanked him. ¡°Good.¡± Liu Fangming sighed in relief. After a few more pleasantries, he stood up to leave. The door to the room slowly closed. Chen Feng sensed the two leaving, his gaze flickering. He guessed that this visit from Heart Ape Sect was an attempt to clear up any lingering misunderstandings and bridge the gap between them. His expression remained calm as he took out his phone, preparing to inform his master, Li Tong. His fingers tapped the screen, and the sound of typing echoed. But soon, he paused. He suddenly felt an intense malice heading straight for him. One hundred meters, ninety-nine meters, ninety-eight meters... His gaze sharpened, and he expanded his senses to cover the area. Inside the mall, people were bustling about, the lights shining down, creating a lively and peaceful atmosphere. Outside the left window, traffic flowed continuously, and pedestrians conversed casually. It seemed like a normal scene, but... At a nearby manhole cover, a small brown-patterned snake suddenly slithered into his range of perception. It hissed and darted straight toward the mall. Following it, strong figures dressed in black appeared, with bulging waistlines, moving in pairs. There were even drones silently appearing, hovering near the mall. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@- . Early Access at $5. Translated (4) Series, (1.8K+) Chapters, (2.25M+) Words. Chapter 100: Slaughter (2700+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- "Serpent Spirit Sect?" Behind the brown-patterned little snake, there were more than ten figures following. Although they were scattered, they appeared to be ordinary passersby. However, with his perception, Chen Feng, as if seeing through an omnipotent perspective, could clearly sense their exchanged glances and whispered voices. "Team Leader, from the movements of this Serpent Spirit, the Cyborg should be inside the mall." "He probably hasn''t noticed. Everyone has dispersed." Wait a minute. This wasn¡¯t the Serpent Spirit Sect. Chen Feng expanded his perception again and soon noticed the metallic arms under the clothes of these figures. Half-modified people. The followers and attendants of the Serpent Spirit Sect could not implant modification modules, as both Cao Tong and Lin Hao had pointed out. The malicious intent was strong, and Chen Feng was certain these people were here to cause trouble for him. Hong Guang Group? A sudden thought rose in Chen Feng''s mind, though he wasn¡¯t entirely sure. Hiss! The hissing sound of the brown-patterned snake came again. Seeing through his perception, perhaps worried about being exposed, it slithered and hid in the shadow of a streetlamp by the mall. Soon, a figure in a black robe and hood appeared, and the brown-patterned snake crawled into the robe. At the same time, a man who appeared ordinary but was actually a fully Cyborg walked towards them. "The target is inside the mall," the black-robed attendant coldly said. "It''s difficult to move inside the mall, too many people around." The fully modified man spoke in a deep tone, his large black suit concealing all his modification modules. "Moreover, the mall is quite large, with so many people. Who exactly is it?" He still found it hard to believe the tracking ability of the snake. "I can''t reveal myself too much. Just let your people take the Serpent Spirit in." "It will lock onto the target, and the target won¡¯t stay here forever." Hearing this, the fully modified man thought for a moment. "Do as he says." A dignified voice came from the communication module, and he finally nodded. "Alright." While speaking, he signaled someone to come over, preparing to execute the plan. However, the next second. Several cars quickly drove out of the underground parking lot of the mall, blocking their view. People were coming and going at the mall''s exit, but the black-robed attendant frowned slightly, though he soon relaxed. "The target has left the mall." "Dammit, chase them!" Thud! The sound of footsteps echoed as a figure in black clothes jumped from the second floor of the mall, rolled upon landing, and vanished into the greenery. Nearby pedestrians looked around, but there was no sign left. "What fell?" "Could something have been knocked over inside?" Amid the confusion, Chen Feng silently moved, blending into the crowd and heading quickly toward an old street with fewer people. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Buzz, buzz, buzz! His phone vibrated. Two missed calls, and he answered the third. "Where are you? Where did you go?" Lin Hao''s voice came from the receiver. Chen Feng fell silent for a moment. "Something came up, I left first." "Oh, alright. Take care on the road." After hanging up, Chen Feng''s face became colder than ever. They were coming for him. The Serpent Spirit Sect¡¯s attendants. Was it the fugitive Wu Shuang mentioned? Or was it another hidden force of the Serpent Spirit Sect? And then there was the fully modified man? The forces in South Jiang City capable of wielding this kind of power were few, and the only one who held a grudge against him was probably the Hong Guang Group. With cold light flashing in his eyes, Chen Feng took a black baseball cap from a street vendor and put it on his head. With a slight bow of his head, pale white steel bones grew from his face, covering the lower half of his face. Hiss! The hissing sound of the snake appeared again, now within a hundred meters. The brown-patterned snake quickly slithered on the ground, and due to the surrounding crowd creating a hubbub, no one noticed. Buzz! Vehicles were driving, and the sound of honking echoed. Several black SUVs suddenly changed lanes, speeding toward him. A hundred meters, eighty meters, sixty meters. The malicious intent grew stronger. The streetlights at the intersection were bright. Whoosh! Chen Feng suddenly turned and entered a side alley. The number of people around decreased. A few drunken men gathered, and a young couple stood in a corner, holding hands. Clang! An empty beer can was crushed underfoot, and a tall, burly figure quickened his pace, brushing past people. Buzz!! Suddenly, more than ten drones appeared in the air, hovering between the tall buildings in the alley, blocking the way. The several SUVs on the street side abruptly stopped. Well-dressed elite men rushed out, their waists bulging with concealed weapons, and quickly entered the alley. "Get lost!" "Hong Guang Group is handling this. Get the hell out of here!" In the midst of the low curses, the few drunken men in the alley sobered up instantly, shivering and running away. The young couple, frightened, lowered their heads and quickly escaped. In an instant, only a man in a black outfit with a white mask, wearing a baseball cap, remained standing in place. Hiss! The brown-patterned snake suddenly disappeared, and the black-robed figure appeared at the alley entrance. The drones hovered in the air, red dots targeting him. "Run!" "Keep running, damn it!" Among the more than ten people behind, a tall, well-built man in a black suit cursed under his breath. The half-modified people behind him were cold-faced, and the rest of the men had also injected strengthening drugs two or three times. Click, click! The safeties of the firearms were released, and cold killing intent swept through the air. The atmosphere became tense and heavy. Finally, amidst the sound of footsteps. A middle-aged man wearing a black woolen coat slowly walked into view. There was another fully modified bodyguard beside him, with black leather shoes making dull sounds. "You''re the one who killed Jiapeng?" Zhao Jianlong''s gaze was cold and fearless. With the screeching sound of car brakes, more vehicles arrived at the alley street entrance, and Hong Guang Group''s security personnel rushed out of the cars, either isolating the surrounding environment or protecting the man behind, lifting their guns and aiming at the back of the man in the baseball cap. The pedestrians on the street didn¡¯t understand what was happening. Some recognized that it was Hong Guang Group at work and quickly turned pale with shock. But before they could approach, loud shouts rang out, roughly driving them away. "What''s wrong, do you not dare admit it?" Zhao Jianlong squinted slightly, surrounded by more than twenty security personnel, their killing intent ice-cold. "Dammit, speak up!" "Cat got your tongue?" The well-built man in the suit cursed loudly, stepping forward, tossing his suit off. Brown metal reflected in his eyes, covering his whole body with modification modules. The clattering of footsteps grew louder. The brown, rocky metal mask spread like liquid, covering his face. Eventually, he walked behind Chen Feng. There seemed to be an engine-like hum from his body! Boom! Chen Feng suddenly stomped the ground, slamming into a cement wall and crashing into a shop under renovation. The group frowned, some dispersing to surround him, while others controlled drones to rapidly descend toward the hole in the wall, turning their guns toward him. "Trying to escape? You wish!" The well-built man cursed and charged forward, his massive metal arm smashing toward Chen Feng''s back. Boom!! A shockwave burst, and the ground trembled. The brown-metal man flew out from the shattered hole in the wall, his body curled like a shrimp, crashing through the opposite wall of the alley and disappearing from sight. The crowd''s expressions changed, and gunfire orders were quickly given. Bang, bang, bang!! The drones'' gunfire sparked, and the muffled explosions rang throughout the block, leaving pedestrians stunned and horrified. Yet, in the midst of this offensive, the sound of footsteps continued. A figure in azure walked slowly through the dust, standing at the hole in the wall. "Why... do you force me?" His deep voice inquired, and his red eyes, made of fiberglass, locked onto Zhao Jianlong, who was being protected by the others. Zhao Jianlong''s expression slightly changed, and his bodyguard hurriedly stepped forward. Boom!! The ground shook. With the sound of bullets ricocheting, the azure figure tore through the dust, dashing forward. Boom!! Several half-modified men were knocked away by a punch, their flesh exploding, sending them flying. Chen Feng coldly stepped forward and threw another punch. Boom! At the critical moment, the fully modified human in front of Zhao Jianlong blocked just in time, crossing his arms in front of his chest. The shockwave exploded, and debris scattered across the ground like a wild wind, blowing the surrounding drones off course. The brown metal on the bronze level deformed slightly, and the modified human''s face shifted slightly. Behind him, Zhao Jianlong frowned and quietly stepped back. ¡°Damn it!!!¡± Another modified human appeared on the opposite side of the alley, moving with immense speed, almost like an afterimage. In an instant, he reached behind Chen Feng and threw a punch directly at his head. Boom!!! A muffled sound exploded as Chen Feng¡¯s head tilted. The modified human facing Chen Feng seized the opportunity. His internal energy surged beyond capacity, and a hollow indentation appeared in his chest, revealing the cannon barrel inside. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about escaping!!¡± The modified human behind him yelled again, taking the opportunity to extend both hands and lock Chen Feng¡¯s arms and waist from behind. One second, two seconds... Click!! Finally, empowered by the armed modules, the cannon barrel heated up to a red temperature, and a micro missile rapidly launched, about to pierce the air. A crisis loomed. At the critical moment. ¡°Get lost!!!¡± A deep voice suddenly exploded, and Chen Feng stomped his legs, arching backward and kicking out with immense force! Boom! The modified human in front of him was knocked down by the kick, and the missile on his chest shot into the air. Boom! A massive explosion erupted in midair. Everyone in the entire block was shaken, and the fireball in the sky could be seen by all. A high-intensity energy magnetic field appeared, alerting the Safety Bureau more than ten kilometers away. The Sky Eye system in the high skies locked onto the alley¡¯s location with incredible speed. The whole city was alarmed, and the glassy red eyes of the drones shone brightly. Pfft!! A white steel bone spike suddenly shot out from behind, piercing through the chest and abdomen of the modified human. His face changed drastically as his body functions rapidly deteriorated. Realizing something was wrong, he suddenly found that the implanted bronze-level metal modules in his body were rapidly dimming and cracking apart. ¡°How is this possible!¡± A great fear struck his heart, and the energy magnetic field in the scanning module spiked suddenly. [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] Panel notifications rapidly appeared. Chen Feng¡¯s arm muscles quickly expanded, and the dark azure shell around his body grew. Using his brute force, he broke free from the restraint, and the spike behind him disappeared in an instant. In that fleeting moment, he turned and punched forward, targeting the modified human¡¯s face. Hiss!! The sound of a snake¡¯s tongue flicked as the black-robed figure of the Serpent Spirit Sect¡¯s divine attendant realized something was wrong and moved quickly as if leaving an afterimage. ¡°Get lost!!!¡± A cold shout echoed as two fists were thrown out. Boom!! The Serpent Spirit divine attendant was stopped by one punch, and the other punch struck the modified human¡¯s head. The brown metallic faceplate cracked, blood mixed in, revealing a hardened face with wide eyes full of fear. [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] Boom!! With a tremor, the figure was sent flying out of the alley¡¯s entrance. His skull cracked, making a loud crashing sound. The fear notifications continued. The drones in midair were quickly controlled to attack again. The surviving security personnel of the Hong Guang Group endured their fear, firing their guns while covering Zhao Jianlong as they retreated from the alley. Bang, bang, bang, bang! Ding, ding, ding, ding!! The sound of metal clashing continued as another modified human who had fallen rose clumsily, preparing for one last fight. The Serpent Spirit divine attendant¡¯s face darkened as a massive python with a mouth wide enough to swallow a person suddenly appeared from the shadow behind him, charging straight at Chen Feng. ¡°You all must die!¡± The deep voice echoed as sparks flew in the center of the alley. The azure figure suddenly grew taller. Crack, crack, crack, crack! It seemed as if his bones were growing. In an instant, he transformed into a two-meter giant. Boom!! The incoming punch was caught, and the ground shook as if a three-ton force had struck, creating a dent in the cement. The modified human¡¯s face shifted slightly. His internal energy module erupted once again, trying to pull away, but he saw that Chen Feng¡¯s palm had clamped down like a vice, holding him firmly in place. At the critical moment, Hiss! The massive python¡¯s mouth descended. The world went dark, and the light was obscured. Chen Feng exploded with brute force, twisting his body to the side. With one arm, he swung the modified human, like an axe, directly toward the python. Boom!! Blood and flesh exploded as the snake¡¯s head caved in, letting out a miserable hiss before falling back. The Serpent Spirit divine attendant¡¯s pupils contracted, and his face paled. In the next second, Chen Feng tightly grabbed the modified human¡¯s arm, continuously smashing him into the ground. Boom! Boom! Boom! The muffled sounds echoed as pits appeared in the cement floor, debris flying in all directions. Everyone¡¯s faces turned pale in shock. Zhao Jianlong noticed something was wrong, and the previous cold and domineering expression was gone. ¡°Retreat!¡± He quickly retreated from the alley, under the cover of his subordinates. Crack, crack! The bronze-level metal on the modified human rapidly shattered, cracks spreading. [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] Panel notifications appeared as the Steel Bone talent grew again. Chen Feng suddenly threw the body out, charging directly at Zhao Jianlong and the others. ¡°Not good!¡± ¡°Secretary, get down!¡± A loyal half-modified human yelled and quickly dove to protect Zhao Jianlong. The Serpent Spirit divine attendant, noticing the situation, immediately turned to leave. ¡°A weak divine attendant? Who gave you the courage to try and stop me?¡± The low voice echoed as Chen Feng¡¯s eyes filled with killing intent. He stomped the ground and charged straight at the Serpent Spirit divine attendant. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! His figure flickered, the azure shadow obscuring the darkness in the alley. The two-meter-tall giant body overshadowed everything. His fists rained down like hail, heading straight for the back of the divine attendant. Hiss, hiss, hiss!! The snake¡¯s tongues flicked again as black snakes suddenly emerged from the ground¡¯s shadow. Some aimed to bite at his horned head, while others coiled around him, trying to trap him. Boom!! Rip!! His body shuddered as immense power exploded. In the dual-state of the giant tiger and the azure armor, over two tons of power tore apart all the snakes. In an instant, the backlash hit. The Serpent Spirit divine attendant, nearing the alley¡¯s exit, had blood dripping from his mouth, stumbling. Street lights illuminated the scene, where traffic had already blocked the road. People were in chaos, shouting loudly. Countless eyes were watching. The next second. A massive hand reached out, and the black-robed figure was once again pulled into the darkness. Boom!! The ground trembled, and the tall buildings shook. The surrounding crowd gasped as the Safety Bureau¡¯s flying cars rapidly arrived, leaving a trail of fiery rainbow arcs in the dark sky. At the same time, a silver-colored, wolf-like modified human was running swiftly toward the location. A fierce light flashed in an instant, and in the blink of an eye, a silver mask appeared on his face! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@ - . Translated (4) Series, (1.8K+) Chapters, (2.25M+) Words. Chapter 101: The Weak Don’t Get to Choose (2500+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- "Has the target been locked?" "Report, Lord Silver Wolf, the target has caused a huge disturbance and is engaged in fierce gunfire with the Hong Guang Group!" "Good!" The sinister voice echoed, and Silver Wolf''s speed increased, instantly becoming a blur as he passed through the intersection with the traffic lights. At the same time, all the flying vehicles from the Safety Bureau descended. In the howling windstorm, the armed modules aboard were activated one by one. Click! One after another, large-caliber weapons appeared from the top of the flying vehicles, aiming their barrels with red dots piercing the darkness. All the armed law enforcement officers disembarked, and a yellow caution line was drawn to isolate the area. With the sound of hurried footsteps, special forces personnel in black uniforms, who had been enhanced with strengthening agents, calmly lined up and stood at attention. Upon seeing this, everyone on the road stared wide-eyed, sensing that something major was about to happen. Murmured discussions filled the air as Xiang Jianjun stood behind a middle-aged man with a high police rank, listening to the man''s reprimand. "What about those modified humans? Haven''t they arrived yet?!" "Report, Deputy Director, they will arrive in two minutes!" "And the weaponized soldier?" "Already notified! They''re on their way!" "Good, tell them to hurry, quickly deploy the drone swarm, and get it done now." Boom!!! A muffled sound rang out, and the ground shook. Inside the dim alley, it felt as though some kind of monster was venting its anger. Everyone in the Safety Bureau felt a jolt in their hearts, many swallowing nervously. The atmosphere instantly fell silent. Xiang Jianjun''s face showed suspicion, and the Deputy Director beside him was interrupted in his instructions, looking around in alert. Thud! Thud! Thud! The sound of hurried footsteps grew louder, and the officers aimed their guns. Several security officers from the Hong Guang Group, dressed in suits, fled in disarray, panic evident on their faces, as if some monster were chasing them. Zhao Jianlong, being protected in the middle, had lost his usual calm demeanor. His hair was disheveled, his face pale, and he quickly ran out of the alley. "Director Zhang, it''s Representative Zhao!" Xiang Jianjun''s face darkened, and the Deputy Director beside him wore the same expression. The situation had escalated so much that, regardless of how it ended, they would be held accountable. And it was clear that the incident had been caused by Zhao Jianlong and the others. "Director Zhang!!" Zhao Jianlong shouted, not caring about the consequences, only wanting to survive and return to the Hong Guang Group. The law enforcement officers around him dared not block him and could only watch as he crossed the caution line, about to enter the safety zone. Whoosh!!! The wind exploded, and a black-robed figure flew out from the alley, passing right by the group. Boom!!! A streetlight pole was dented and broken, and a fire hydrant exploded, spraying water everywhere! Some enhanced special forces members reacted swiftly and managed to hold up the streetlight pole. Director Zhang and Xiang Jianjun looked on in surprise, seeing the black-robed figure cling to the building''s wall, as though it was embedded in the indentations of the bricks and cement. The hood slipped off, revealing a face that seemed half-human, half-monster. It was triangular in shape, with shattered snake scales. Blood poured from the head¡¯s cracked wounds, and the chest was caved in, clearly dead beyond recognition. "Serpent Spirit Sect!" Director Zhang''s face turned ugly as he immediately realized what had happened, and he turned to Zhao Jianlong. The representative of the United Coalition had colluded with the evil Serpent Spirit Sect?! Looking at him, Zhao Jianlong''s face was grim as he quickly approached the temporary safety zone, saying, "Director Zhang, this Serpent Spirit Sect has nothing to do with me." "The priority now is to kill that madman inside." Boom!!! An azure, horned figure suddenly charged out, appearing as if a shadow, and instantly emerged outside the alley. The ground trembled, and a gust of wind swept up. With a series of crackling noises, indentations appeared on the asphalt road. Director Zhang and Xiang Jianjun¡¯s faces changed drastically as several half-modified humans in suits were violently knocked away, crashing like ragdolls. Snap! S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A heavy, suppressed breath spread out, and the lights ahead were completely blocked. Zhao Jianlong¡¯s pupils contracted as, in the next moment, he felt his body lifted off the ground, his neck in a firm grip. "Heh..." The sound of struggling echoed, and the faces of the Safety Bureau personnel changed drastically. The large-caliber gun barrels of the flying vehicles were adjusted, and special forces officers aimed their weapons at him, while snipers in distant high positions held their breath. Hum! It seemed like some switch had been flipped, and a thin red line appeared high in the sky. It descended from the heavens, marking a direct path toward Chen Feng. "Heaven''s Punishment has locked onto you!" The oppressive atmosphere exploded, and Director Zhang quickly grabbed a megaphone, shouting, "Madman, release Representative Zhao immediately!" "Otherwise, no one can save you!" Regardless of Zhao Jianlong¡¯s fate, he was still a representative of the Nanjiang City United Coalition. If he died here, the repercussions would be unimaginable. The atmosphere fell silent as pedestrians outside the blockade stared wide-eyed, holding their breath. Zhao Jianlong struggled desperately, but he couldn¡¯t break free from the vice-like grip on his neck. "Are you threatening me?" Chen Feng had never been so ruthless. The glass-fiber red eyes gleamed with killing intent as he stared at Director Zhang. The barrels of the guns clicked in preparation, and Director Zhang''s face turned grim, his voice steely as he said, "Think carefully, this is Nanjiang City." "Heaven¡¯s Punishment has locked onto you, you can¡¯t escape." With a determined tone, Chen Feng raised Zhao Jianlong with one arm and looked around. The entire area was surrounded, and the blockade was nearly airtight. With the dual exhaustion of the Azure Armor and Giant Tiger form, his stamina was nearly depleted, and he couldn¡¯t last much longer. But... "Weaklings beg for mercy; the strong are never afraid." He looked down at Zhao Jianlong¡¯s red, bulging face, veins popping out. Chen Feng¡¯s voice was low as he asked, "Representative Zhao, which one do you think you are?" The fear prompts kept appearing, and he loosened his grip slightly. Director Zhang and Xiang Jianjun furrowed their brows, still unsure of what he intended to do. However, sensing a faint glimmer of hope, Zhao Jianlong coughed several times and finally managed to gasp for air. "Cough, cough... I... I..." In his hesitation, he gritted his teeth. "Let me go." Snap! The sound of bones cracking echoed as Zhao Jianlong¡¯s neck snapped, his eyes wide in disbelief. "Weaklings do not deserve to live." With those grim words, Director Zhang¡¯s eyes widened in horror, and he shouted in fury. "You!!!" Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bullets flew! Large-caliber rifles, long-range sniper rifles! Countless bullets flew, and the harsh sounds of impact rang out. At the same time, the red line in the sky grew closer, as if it would turn into Heaven¡¯s Punishment at any moment. Whoosh!!! With a stomp, Chen Feng charged forward and leaped into the air. Boom! The glass shattered as he crashed into the nearby hotel, rolling forward and disappearing from sight. The sound of gunfire suddenly stopped, and Director Zhang¡¯s face grew grim. "Chase!" "Seal off the building!" Commands rang out, and more than ten security officers and special forces rushed into the hotel. Drones followed closely behind. Crash! Suddenly, another sound of glass breaking came from the back of the building, followed by the thud of something heavy hitting the ground. The people downstairs looked slightly changed and hurried to chase after it. Amid the sound of hurried footsteps, Xiang Jianjun hesitated and quietly slowed down his pace, walking toward the hotel entrance. He still had a wife and children at home, and with such a dangerous modified person, it was better to leave it to the younger, more ambitious ones. As he took a step forward, Director Zhang, who was behind him, glanced at him, frowned slightly, but didn''t say much. Soon, images of the inside of the hotel were transmitted from the drone, and some people from the back were also chasing after them. "Ah!" "Let me go!" "Why are you blocking us?!" There was suddenly chaos at the hotel entrance as some guests, hearing the commotion, tried to leave but were stopped by the security officers. Xiang Jianjun frowned slightly and turned to look at Director Zhang. "Director Zhang, this..." "How is the scan going?" Instead of answering, Director Zhang asked the technician holding the scanner. Looking over, a blue light shot from the technician''s instrument, scanning the crowd at the hotel entrance. "No modified modules detected!" "No other signs of modification or energy devices!" Upon hearing this, Director Zhang nodded at Xiang Jianjun. With a whoosh, the crowd dispersed. Chen Feng, dressed in black, lowered his head slightly, his face grim, walking among them. Just as he was about to leave, someone suddenly put a hand on his shoulder. "Huh?" Turning his head, Xiang Jianjun¡¯s eyes lit up, greeting him. "What are you doing here?" "What do you think?" Chen Feng calmly replied. "Yo, you little guy." "Alright, I''ll let you off this time, but not next time!" Xiang Jianjun, with a knowing look, nodded, but Chen Feng didn''t explain further, just turning and walking away. In the distance, he vaguely heard words like "poor health" and "pale complexion." Not having time to dwell on it, he quickened his pace. Finally, after crossing the street and weaving through the crowd, he caught a cab and left the area. The tall buildings receded outside the window, and a sense of exhaustion washed over him, his consciousness growing hazy. In a daze, it felt as if a silver blur passed by the vehicle he was riding in. --- "This isn''t right!" Outside the hotel building, Director Zhang suddenly frowned. "What''s wrong, Director Zhang?" Xiang Jianjun asked, puzzled. "Look, the heavenly punishment has been lifted?" With a surprised tone, Xiang Jianjun looked up as well. The red line from the sky disappeared, as if it had never appeared at all. In that instant, the two exchanged glances. Both caught their breath, realizing the situation had become even more serious. --- "Lord Silver Wolf, it seems the target has escaped." On top of a high building, amidst the howling winds. Silver Wolf stood at the corner, overlooking the chaos at the hotel and the alley entrance, his expression extremely dark. He had arrived as quickly as possible, yet still missed the target. These security officers couldn¡¯t even stop a single person. Truly useless. "Lord Silver Wolf, the heavenly punishment seems to have been lifted as well?" Upon hearing this, Silver Wolf slightly regained his focus and looked up at the night sky. Everything was normal again, the oppressive aura had disappeared. "Even the heavenly punishment could be deceived." "It seems this person must have some kind of high-level shielding device." He furrowed his brow, beginning to suspect the background of this rogue modified person. Such a high-level shielding device was something even he didn¡¯t have. Could this person really be a backgroundless rogue? The thought crossed his mind but there was no answer. Losing such a good prey made him feel a bit regretful. "Lord Silver Wolf, isn''t Dong Tao still here?" "He¡¯s so loyal to Zhao Jianlong. If he finds out about this, he surely won¡¯t let it go. You might end up with two prey." As if sensing his thoughts, an analysis came through the communication system. Silver Wolf was slightly stunned at first, then soon revealed a satisfied smile. "Not bad." "Next time, they¡¯ll all become my prey." --- Click! The door closed. Chen Feng staggered back to his bedroom. His face was pale; this was the second time his physical and mental exhaustion had reached the brink. Thud! He collapsed onto the bed, the overwhelming sensation of fatigue and emptiness washing over him. Two bronze-level modified people, both armed with real weapon modules. Their explosive power was three times that of the one he killed at the villa, and they could even fire missiles and other heavy weaponry. In addition, there were several semi-modified people and drone bombardments. The danger was self-evident. The Serpent Spirit Sect¡¯s divine envoy was also quite a hassle. If not for the Giant Tiger form bonus and the Steel Bone talent that could break through the modified people''s metal defense. He feared he might have failed this time. "Heavenly punishment..." Chen Feng lay in bed, recalling his decision to kill Zhao Jianlong. If he hadn¡¯t killed him, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to shake off the frustration in his heart. As for the heavenly punishment, it was actually a gamble that turned out to be correct. The heavenly punishment''s lock was blocked by the azure armor. After the form was lifted, the threat from this direction disappeared. "However, the storm is likely to be huge next." "Although I hid in the building and activated the azure armor, from when I left the mall until I killed Zhao Jianlong, I never showed myself." "But..." His gaze flickered, Chen Feng lay wearily on the bed, feeling some pressure and urgency. Once the Safety Bureau investigates afterward, they could easily find clues from the mall. By reviewing the surveillance footage or checking the Sky Eye system, it would likely be easy to determine that his sudden appearance was unusual. Perhaps they would even be able to detect traces of the Giant Tiger skill from changes in body shape, ultimately pinning it on him. "My only advantage is that I haven¡¯t implanted any modification modules." "Without these traces, there is no evidence." With heavy thoughts, Chen Feng felt that things had not yet reached their worst point. If worse comes to worst, or if even the Flame Tiger Sect can¡¯t protect him. Then he would cause a massive uproar and hide in the suburbs, places without Sky Eye monitoring. Since Chen Yun went to the central city, he no longer had any weaknesses in Nanjiang. His mind made up, he took one last look at the rewards from this battle. [Azure Armor LV2: 83/100] [Steel Bones LV1: 79/100] The former was boosted by Zhao Jianlong¡¯s numbers and the help of the Safety Bureau and surrounding pedestrians, so there was plenty of fear, directly raising the progress by more than eighty percent. The latter came from those two modified people. Though their metal quality wasn¡¯t as good as the inherited iron book in the dream, there were more of them, so the progress was passable. Additionally, there was something else that caught Chen Feng''s attention. Raising his right hand, he looked closely. A brownish line appeared in his palm, somewhat like a snake shape. This was the result of killing the Serpent Spirit Sect''s divine envoy, a power that had leaked from the opponent''s body. At the time, the situation was urgent, so Chen Feng didn¡¯t have the chance to observe and investigate it closely. Now, though exhausted, he carefully examined it. Soon, a new notification appeared. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@- . Translated (4) Series, (1.8K+) Chapters, (2.25M+) Words. Chapter 102: Abyssal Secret Realm (2400+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- [You have gained a trace of Serpent Spirit Power!] [Originating from the Abyssal Evil God¡ªthe Ouroboros'' servant belief] [Usage: Accumulate fully, then use it in the Dream World] [Effect: Can re-enter the Dream World briefly, entering the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm] [Serpent Spirit Power: 5/100] A notification appeared on the panel, and Chen Feng¡¯s pupils contracted. He had never encountered such a prompt before. Abyssal Evil God? Serpent Spirit Power? It sounded unusual. Wait... His gaze flickered, and he suddenly thought of something from the Alliance''s history, which he had once read in the Dream World. [Martial Arts and the Supernatural grew stronger, with legends frequently emerging. Individual great powers continuously broke through until thirty years ago, when the Abyss appeared and the Black Calamity descended.] "Abyss?" "Could it be that this so-called Evil God is related to the Black Calamity in the Dream World?" A guess rose in Chen Feng¡¯s mind, and he felt there was a high possibility. Moreover, he recalled the situation from the last time he entered the Dream World. He had clearly fallen asleep, but did not immediately enter the Dream World. Instead, he stayed in a place that closely resembled reality for a moment, sensing the presence of a giant serpent-like mythical creature. Thinking about it, Chen Feng felt as though he had grasped something. Perhaps the so-called Serpent Spirit Secret Realm was a place similar to Qinggang City. And now, it seemed like it might even have a connection to Earth Star? Thoughts rose and fell. In the end... "Anyway, the progress is still far off, so I¡¯ll leave it for later." Shaking his head, Chen Feng temporarily suppressed these thoughts. Fatigue swept over him, and he closed his eyes, giving in to sleep. Soon, he entered the Dream World once again. In the outskirts of Nanjiang City, within a hidden underground warehouse. Several figures were either sitting or standing. Some were wiping firearms and drones, while others sat at a row of screens, typing on keyboards. "These Utopia trash are really troublesome." "Thanks to the old god''s bravery, otherwise, my arm would¡¯ve probably been destroyed." One of the half-modified humans said as he removed his metal left arm. Most of the others were engaged in similar actions, but soon¡ª "Boss, something''s happened." A voice suddenly rang out, freezing everyone''s actions. They all turned to look, and the short-haired woman sitting in front of the large row of screens had an uneasy expression. Her face looked pale, a mixture of shock and anger. "Speak." A deep voice responded, and a tall man covered in dark golden metal, with a cigarette in his mouth and a scar across his face, walked over. "The boss is dead." When the words fell, everyone¡¯s expressions froze. "Are you kidding? Didn¡¯t Luo Cheng and the others protect the boss?" "This isn¡¯t funny, Xu Na." Several voices rang out, full of suspicion, and the man with the scar narrowed his eyes. "It¡¯s true. This footage was transmitted by Luo Cheng and the others just before they died through the communication module." The short-haired woman, Xu Na, pressed a key on the keyboard, her face growing paler. Boom! A muffled explosion sounded from the screen, and a modified human was blasted apart by a punch, dying on the spot. A humanoid figure with a black horn and red eyes slaughtered all the security personnel, causing them to drop their helmets and armor, suffering heavy casualties. The scenes played out, and the warehouse fell silent. "This is another video pulled from the web. The security department hasn¡¯t managed to block all of it yet." "The boss was killed by this person." The image froze, showing the horned figure strangling Zhao Jianlong before leaving calmly. Seeing this, the group of people showed varied expressions. Some looked skeptical, some were hesitant, and others were uncertain. Such a powerful figure... no one here could match them, except for the boss. "Who exactly is this person?" "Could it be someone from Utopia?" Someone asked, and Xu Na was not sure. "Boss, should we leave Nanjiang?" Another person couldn¡¯t help but speak up. They were already disliked by the United Coalition, with too many lives on their hands. Without Zhao Jianlong''s protection, and now with Utopia attacking, leaving was the best option. The atmosphere was tense. All eyes eventually turned to the man with the scar holding the cigarette. --- Squeak! The sound of a door opening echoed on the silent street. Chen Feng, carrying a black backpack, quietly pushed open the red door of a single-story villa and stepped inside. His spirit had been overly drained, causing his strength in the Dream World to drop significantly. He was only at the level of a professional, maybe one or two ranks. The branch of the Extreme Martial Hall had a masked man, and he planned to wait until he was at his peak condition before going there to avoid any injuries that might affect his real-life state. He then walked into the living room. Buzz! He raised his hand and touched, collecting a broken light orb from the sofa. Aside from that, Chen Feng¡¯s face remained calm as he entered the study. Click! The drawer opened, and based on his perception, he knew exactly what was the most important thing inside. A new diary. Additionally, there was a broken copper plate. [In the year 246 of the Alliance, on April 26th] [The Black Calamity has struck again, completely sealing off Qinggang City.] [The last battle caused significant losses, and the law enforcement team is severely understaffed. If it weren''t for Captain Wang Yu summoning the sword master Alonco''s spirit, we would probably have already died.] [We don''t know if we¡¯ll survive this time. The Black Calamity creatures on the battlefield are growing stronger, and we¡¯ve heard that the Abyssal Secret Realms in the wilderness are increasing as well.] [Zhou Chong said, since he feels he¡¯s going to die anyway, he might as well write a diary and leave something for those who come after us.] [To the ones who come after, by the time you read this diary, I will probably be dead.] [I don¡¯t know if Qinggang City is still around in your time, or if anyone still remembers us, the deceased.] [Signed, Fang Wei.] After reading the diary, Chen Feng furrowed his brows. It mentioned Wang Yu again, the young man with the Spirit Summoning talent. Clearly, he had begun to stand out in the law enforcement team and was becoming well-known. Besides that, the Abyssal Secret Realm mentioned in the diary made Chen Feng ponder. "The Abyssal Secret Realm... Could this be the source of the Black Calamity?" "Also, could the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm be one of them?" This thought arose inexplicably. From a literal perspective, Chen Feng felt there might be a significant connection between the two. However, due to his lack of experience and insufficient related information, he could only suppress these thoughts for now. He then closed the diary and looked at the broken copper plaque. Several pieces of information appeared before his eyes. [Black Wolf Pack: One of the Black Disaster creatures, a social species.] [Strength: First stage in the juvenile phase, second stage as adults, with a small chance of a third stage Black Wolf King emerging due to a faint bloodline.] [Weakness:] [Giant Rage Bear: One of the Black Disaster creatures, protector of the Black Poison Bee swarm.] [Strength: First stage in the juvenile phase, third stage as adults, some may break through to the fourth stage.] [Likes to eat the honey of the Black Poison Bees, regularly receives offerings, thus protecting them within its territory.] [Weakness:] New information on the Black Disaster creatures caused Chen Feng to raise his eyebrows at the next line. ¡°Giant Rage Bear?¡± Based on the description, he thought it seemed extremely similar to the violent bear creature he had encountered that day. Moreover, this solved one of his earlier puzzles. No wonder the Black Poison Bees were so weak, yet they could find such a powerful ally. It was because of the honey. He had killed the poison bee queen and destroyed the hive, so naturally, the bees had lost a stable source of offerings. ¡°It¡¯s a pity I don¡¯t know how large the territory of this Giant Rage Bear is. Next time, I¡¯ll need to be more cautious.¡± Chen Feng put away the copper plaque and didn¡¯t want to encounter a situation like the previous one. He then took out a map and glanced at it. He quickly left the villa and set off around the location of the Extreme Martial Arts Branch. Time passed, and after the dream faded, he successfully obtained another Limit Breaking Light Orb. [Limit-Break Points: 2] Chen Feng opened his eyes and looked at the panel. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was still two orbs away from breaking through to Crimson Tiger Force, but he decided to upgrade now. [Crimson Tiger Force: Beginner (88%)] His internal strength grew slightly again, and with a thought, Chen Feng could see a faint red glow surrounding his palm. "Almost there." Only two more orbs, and he would break through to Inner Strength, which would allow him to refine his body and use strength-based techniques, increasing his power. With this thought, he didn¡¯t delay any further. He got up, opened the curtains, and after cleaning up, he quickly called a cab to head to the martial arts hall. --- [Yesterday, near Feiteng Plaza in Guangyang District, a highly malicious attack occurred!] [Reliable sources confirm that Mr. Zhao Jianlong, chairman of the Hongguang Group and a member of the city¡¯s United Coalition, has unfortunately been murdered.] [The attacker was a cybernetic human with a blue-black exterior. Initial assessments suggest that this individual is likely the same one who killed Mr. Zhao Jiapeng last time. The United Coalition has intervened in the case and promises to apprehend the perpetrator and give everyone an explanation.] The taxi''s radio station was playing the news. Chen Feng sat in the back seat, looking out the window. He could also see similar news reports playing on the large outdoor screens of nearby shopping malls. "Zhao Jianlong was killed? That''s outrageous." The driver, a middle-aged man, noticed that Chen Feng remained calm and young-looking, and assumed he might not understand the significance of the news. He quickly spoke in a familiar tone: "Young man, you probably don¡¯t understand this, but Zhao Jianlong and I are from the same generation. He started from scratch, built Hongguang Group in just two or three decades, and was elected as a member of the United Coalition." "This guy was ruthless and had a lot of power. You have to admit, the person who did this really had guts to kill him. What do you think?" Hearing his question, Chen Feng nodded calmly. Soon, the car arrived at the martial arts hall¡¯s branch. He scanned the payment code, paid, and got out. Lin Hao, wearing a blue sports jacket, was parking, and many students were coming and going. "Senior Brother, good morning!" "Senior Brother, you¡¯re here early!" In the greetings, Lin Hao quickly walked over, his expression somewhat serious. Chen Feng waited in place, and soon heard the expected question. "You suddenly left yesterday. Were you helping your friend?" Lin Hao¡¯s tone was serious, clearly guessing what had happened the night before. The incident occurred not far from the shopping mall, and since Chen Feng left suddenly, it wasn¡¯t hard for people to make a connection. "I¡¯m telling you, you better stay out of this matter." "Zhao Jianlong had many enemies, but no one had dared to kill him in Nanjiang until now, except for Utopia. Do you know why?" "The Hongguang Group was just a part of it. The real reason is because he''s a member of the United Coalition!" "His death has huge implications. I heard that the provincial United Coalition sent special representatives overnight to investigate." Lin Hao spoke urgently, his gaze filled with worry and helplessness. He didn¡¯t understand why Chen Feng would want to get involved in such a mess. Once or twice might be fine, but if evidence was found, even if he was a direct disciple of the Flame Tiger School, it would be difficult for him. Chen Feng could vaguely feel his concern. But perhaps because he had already anticipated this, he felt unusually calm. "Also, I heard that Zhao Jianlong once saved the life of Dong Tao, the ¡®Winged Tiger.¡¯" "That guy is tough, most of his body is enhanced with silver-steel modifications, and he¡¯s strong. He was one of Zhao Jianlong''s most loyal men. You should get your friend to run. Leave Nanjiang, don¡¯t come back." Lin Hao spoke as they walked, and Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. So, I didn¡¯t kill them all. "If you want to leave Nanjiang, I can help you get them out safely." "Let your friend decide soon." Lin Hao sighed, and Chen Feng stood silently for a moment, feeling the sincerity in his words. It wasn¡¯t a bad escape route. He nodded slightly. "Thanks." He patted Lin Hao¡¯s shoulder, and quickly walked into the quiet room. The door closed, and all the noise was isolated outside. Clenching his fist, Chen Feng stood by the window, looking at the bustling street outside. Tall buildings, busy crowds. He knew that if things really reached the worst-case scenario, with the Security Bureau keeping an eye on him and the United Coalition involved, not even the Flame Tiger School could protect him... Then the only thing he could rely on was himself. "Strength." The strength to break out of encirclement, the strength to fear no enemy! With this thought, a strong will entered Chen Feng¡¯s calm state once again. He turned around, walked to the center of the wooden floor, and took out a jade porcelain bottle. He poured out a Muscle-Fortifying Tiger Bone Pill into his hand. Whoosh! Crunch! He bit it, the bitterness flowing down his throat. As the pill was consumed, a wave of heat quickly rose from his lower abdomen, flooding his limbs. Grabbing the time, Chen Feng began to regulate his blood flow and refine the medicinal power. The Flying Tiger Diagram and the techniques of the Bronze Statue Technique. Gradually, a panel prompt appeared, and the core true technique taught by his master, Li Tong, progressed rapidly again. [Bronze Statue Skill: Beginner (65/100)] [Bronze Statue Skill: Beginner (66/100)] [Bronze Statue Skill: Beginner (67/100)] (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - . Translated (4) Series, (1.8K+) Chapters, (2.25M+) Words. Chapter 103: Breaking Through to Bronze Skin (2600+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- In a metallic, secret room. Shadows sat on either side of an oval table, each wearing a mask. A round, flower-like brooch on the left chest reflected the bright white light of the overhead lamps, and on the wall beside them, a projection displayed a scene where a dark, shadowy figure publicly killed Zhao Jianlong. "Hahaha, if I didn¡¯t know this guy killed Gao Tian Heng, I would almost think he¡¯s one of us," one of the masked figures laughed. "Tsk, tsk, Zhao Jianlong just died like that; now we can start taking action," another added. The scene froze, the playback ended, and the masked figures laughed and nodded in agreement. "Zhao Jianlong was a fool. He actually dared to step forward on his own in something like this." "It¡¯s good he¡¯s dead; we can recall people from Dong Tao¡¯s side. Jin Wei is about to revive, and he¡¯ll need some manpower to look after things." "Others in the city have already started moving. I heard that over in Luohe City, another council member was killed. We can''t fall behind." Similar voices filled the room, but the man in a gray coat, the Silver Wolf, wore a calm expression, even with a hint of disdain. A group of people who only knew how to play with schemes. If it weren¡¯t for Jin Wei needing repairs here, he would never have worked with them. "Then it¡¯s decided," one of them said. "I heard that the Provincial Council headquarters in Yun Port sent a special representative to investigate Zhao Jianlong¡¯s death." "Make haste, and it would be best to leave him in Nanjiang." --- Inside the Martial Arts Hall¡¯s Quiet Room, two hours later. As the effects of the Muscle-Fortifying Tiger Bone Pill were fully absorbed, the Bronze Statue Technique finally broke through. Crack, crack! With a sound like popping beans, Chen Feng stretched his body and slowly clenched his fist. [Strength: 16.1 ¡ú 16.8] [Agility: 14.8 ¡ú 15.4] [Constitution: 18.7 ¡ú 19.8] [Willpower: 16.5 ¡ú 17.1] "Three attribute points improved." Retracting his gaze, Chen Feng could clearly feel his physique had grown stronger. Even without activating the Azure Armor or the Giant Tiger Form, his physical strength was comparable to a bronze-level cyborg. As for his strength... Crack! With a clenched fist, the air trembled. The Bronze Statue Technique was more focused on physical defense, with only a slight increase in power. But even so, his ordinary punch now likely had the strength of 900 kilograms, nearly a ton. If he activated both the Azure Armor and Giant Tiger Form and unleashed his explosive punch, the strength would reach an astounding four and a half tons! Moreover... A flash of light flickered in his eyes as he looked at his hands. With a thought, he concentrated his energy. His skin gradually turned bronze, as though sun-kissed for years, giving off a heavy, solid feeling. Bronze Skin! This was the true purpose behind his training in the Bronze Statue Technique. It further reinforced his defensive physique, and after breaking through to the Bronze Skin stage, he could condense his energy, gaining a half-force backlash from enemy attacks. After this breakthrough, each successive one would double the effect, with the ultimate Bronze Statue achieving a 30% counterattack! This was different from the Giant Tiger Form''s brute force. Brute force meant channeling his internal strength to push back nearby enemies. But the Bronze Statue''s counterattack was passive, deflecting part of the enemy''s force back at them the moment he was attacked. "Not only that. I also have the Steel Bones talent, which adds an additional 30% effect every time." "If it reaches perfection, the Bronze Statue¡¯s counterattack could reach a full 40%!" With his fist clenched, Chen Feng felt this was the kind of power he needed¡ªthis was the true martial path he sought. Endure all damage, rebound the enemy¡¯s power, and then strike back with heavy fists! Swish! He swung his arm, letting out a muffled sound as he immediately assumed a stance, refining his body and not wasting a second to increase his strength. Standing, meditating, practicing strength... Gradually, the sun climbed higher, nearing noon. Some noise could be heard from outside the Quiet Room. Chen Feng remained focused, still standing and punching, finishing the Tiger Roar stance. Thud, thud! Finally, a series of footsteps approached. A quarrel broke out outside, stopping at the door of the Quiet Room. Hoo! A stream of white vapor escaped as his martial practice ended. Chen Feng¡¯s gaze flickered, halting his movements. "Brother Cao, you can come in." With his heightened perception, Chen Feng already knew who had arrived. At the same time, he saw the restrained anger on Cao Tong¡¯s face, as well as several other martial hall instructors and sect disciples standing around with serious expressions. Click! The door opened, and it was Jianjun, dressed in black, standing in front of him. His muscular arms hung by his sides, the muscles stacked like blocks of stone. Their gazes met, deep and calm. "Chen Feng." For a moment, Jianjun seemed stunned, standing with several law enforcement officers at the door, his expression complex. Was it just his imagination, or had this young man suddenly become somewhat unfamiliar? Not only because he just learned about his direct disciple status, but also... that aura. It seemed... there was a subtle hint of aggression? "Captain Xiang," Chen Feng finally spoke, knowing this moment had come. His perception sharpened, and he noticed several security department flying cars parked outside the martial hall. He also sensed fully modified cyborgs hidden among them, with many of their weapon systems already activated. In fact, one of the towering, muscular officers behind Captain Xiang was fully encased in bronze-level armor. "Chen Feng, I¡¯m sorry." Xiang Jianjun came back to his senses, his expression complicated as he said gently, "Yesterday¡¯s incident has caused a lot of trouble. Director Zhang hopes you can come to the Security Department for a chat." He wasn¡¯t sure whether Chen Feng was the cyborg in question. At least, from what he could see, there were no modifications, no evidence at all. However, based on the Sky Eye System and the night-long investigation by the Security Department, the man had some obvious suspicions. As a result, he had no choice but to forcefully bring a team to apprehend him. "I understand." Chen Feng nodded calmly. If the Security Department dared to make such a bold move, it meant they had some confidence. He didn¡¯t want to start a fight here, as it would only put the sect in a more passive position. Tap, tap! He then stepped forward, his steps calm. Some officers among the law enforcement officers held special material handcuffs, ready to make a move, but they were quickly stopped by others. Xiang Jianjun cursed inwardly and silently signaled them to stop. Looking aside, he saw many formal or core disciples of the sect lined up in the hallway outside the Quiet Room, most of them were instructors from the core class. Wearing black, their muscles bulging, with the Flame Tiger symbol tattooed on their left chest. Their eyes were sharp, like a pack of tigers on the prowl. A chilling, murderous energy gathered in the air, and Cao Tong stood beside Chen Feng, looking down from a higher position with a furious gaze. Drip! A bead of cold sweat slid down the face of the law enforcement officer beside Xiang Jianjun, his face turning pale. Though he knew backup was waiting outside, with cyborgs ready to respond, he knew that if a fight broke out, he wouldn''t survive until tomorrow. "Let¡¯s go, Captain Xiang." Chen Feng¡¯s tone was calm as he continued walking toward the elevator. The sound of footsteps echoed. The core disciples of the martial arts hall had already sensed that something was wrong. Many of them appeared at the doors of the practice rooms along the corridor. They peered out, their expressions varied, and some even stepped out, standing on both sides. Lin Hao¡¯s expression was serious, and Wu Tian, who had always been at odds with Chen Feng, clenched his fist and looked at Xiang Jianjun and the others, revealing a complex expression mixed with anger. ¡°Senior Brother!¡± Suddenly, someone shouted. ¡°Senior Brother!¡± ¡°Senior Brother!¡± ¡°Senior Brother!¡± The voices continued, quickly spreading throughout the entire martial arts hall like a wave. Chen Feng paused his steps, and a wave of emotions stirred in his heart. Click! The ascending elevator suddenly stopped and opened, revealing a thin old man in a gray robe, who stepped out and stood before Chen Feng. Behind him, a massive phantom of a tiger with four flaming paws appeared. It seemed both real and unreal, crouching at the doorway, blocking the path. With cold vertical pupils, the figure gazed down, flames rising and exploding in a surreal manner. ¡°Do you think you can take away my direct disciple of the Flame Tiger style just like that?¡± --- The United Coalition. A towering building in the center of Nanjiang City. This place symbolized the highest authority in Nanjiang City, where countless people would often look up in reverence. However, at this moment, inside the conference room, all the council members were holding their breath, staring with focused eyes at the elderly man in a gray suit sitting at the head of the wooden table. ¡°Representative Chu, this is the situation at present.¡± ¡°According to the Sky Eye system and related investigations, we have found that this Chen Feng is highly suspicious.¡± On the wooden table, there was a projection device with a blue light screen hovering above it, displaying Chen Feng¡¯s detailed information. [Male, 23 years old, direct disciple of the Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect.] Zhang Zhengtai, the deputy director of the Safety Bureau, sat at the second seat on the left of the table, pointing to the information with a serious expression. ¡°Combined with the recent appearances of the Blue Demon, we have found that both the deceased Gao Tian Heng and his daughter, as well as Zhao Jiapeng and others, have, to some extent, crossed paths with this person.¡± ¡°When Councilman Zhao was first chasing at the mall, he was there. And when the incident ended, he appeared again at the scene.¡± ¡°So, we suspect that this person is deeply involved in Councilman Zhao¡¯s death, and it¡¯s very likely he is the Blue Demon.¡± As soon as his words landed, the room fell silent. Many members of the council exchanged subtle expressions, finally turning their gaze toward the silver-haired elderly man in the gray suit. His face was thin, with sharp, knife-like features. Standing behind him was an exceptionally strong man in a black trench coat, wearing sunglasses, like an immovable giant tower. ¡°Deputy Director Zhang, there¡¯s one thing I¡¯d like to ask you.¡± The silver-haired elderly man suddenly spoke, his voice calm, with a hint of faint authority. ¡°Representative Chu, please go ahead!¡± Zhang Zhengtai responded respectfully. ¡°The genetic modification technology in Nanjiang City has progressed so far?¡± ¡°Can modified humans practice martial arts and improve without any modification traces, even with high-level scanning equipment?¡± His tone was indifferent, and Zhang Zhengtai¡¯s heart sank. As for the other people, some council members who were not part of the Safety Bureau also noticed the key issue. Any modified human would have certain identifiable traits. And since part of their flesh and blood had been replaced by metal modification modules, even if they disguised it, it would be impossible for them to cultivate ancient martial arts. ¡°Representative Chu, this does indeed raise significant doubts.¡± With an awkward expression, Zhang Zhengtai quickly explained, ¡°So we have a second hypothesis: that Chen Feng may be related to the Blue Demon.¡± ¡°We want to bring him into the Safety Bureau to see if we can learn the whereabouts of Blue Demon from him.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The silver-haired elderly man, known as Representative Chu, responded lightly, his expression gradually becoming neutral. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°By the way, the situation has already developed for more than twelve hours.¡± ¡°The Safety Bureau of Nanjiang City still hasn¡¯t found solid evidence to lock down the suspect? Everything is based on assumptions?¡± His voice was light, but it carried heavy weight in the hearts of everyone present. ¡°Representative Chu, I¡ª¡± ¡°You need not say anything more¡± Representative Chu raised his hand to interrupt, visibly displeased. ¡°I am now doubting the ability of your Nanjiang Safety Bureau and the United Coalition.¡± ¡°The Utopia riots have occurred three times in a row, the Serpent Spirit Sect has not been eradicated, and some fish have slipped through the net.¡± ¡°And yet, a member of the United Coalition actually colluded with a divine servant of the Serpent Spirit Sect, publicly activating armed modules to kill others, causing the Heaven Punishment system to intervene.¡± ¡°Tell me, is this the kind of person you have in Nanjiang''s United Coalition?¡± In his scolding, Representative Chu frowned and angrily surveyed the room. Except for a few people, most avoided eye contact, not daring to look him in the eye. Including Zhang Zhengtai, a cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and he opened his mouth but was left speechless. The Evil God Sect and the United Coalition were already at odds, and Utopia was a notorious terrorist organization. Nanjiang City had indeed handled things poorly. ¡°I see in your report that Sky Eye detected traces of Utopia at the crime scene?¡± Suddenly, Representative Chu picked up a document and asked. Inside was a photo of a silver-gray modified human standing on the rooftop, overlooking the city. ¡°Yes!¡± Zhang Zhengtai quickly responded, ¡°This is our third hypothesis. Utopia has been very active recently, and they have planned to assassinate Councilman Zhao.¡± ¡°So, we suspect that Blue Demon could be someone from Utopia, and this Silver Wolf might have appeared to cover his escape.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Representative Chu frowned slightly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say that Gao Tian Heng, who was with the Tian Heng Group, was from Utopia?¡± ¡°Blue Demon killed Gao Tian Heng and others, disrupting Utopia''s plan to collect gold, so aren¡¯t they enemies?¡± ¡°We suspect it might be a feigned injury tactic!¡± Zhang Zhengtai spoke, holding his ground. ¡°Gao Tian Heng was just a pawn used by Utopia, and they might have originally targeted Councilman Zhao, to misdirect us.¡± As he continued, he noticed the slight change in Representative Chu''s expression and gave an encouraging look. Zhang Zhengtai wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, speaking quickly, hoping his explanation would convince the others. ¡°By intentionally killing Zhao Jiapeng, and then separately dispatching people to intercept Dong Tao, Utopia made it difficult for Zhao to have proper protection.¡± ¡°Finally, they exposed their movements and led Zhao out to the Hong Guang Group.¡± ¡°Blue Demon¡¯s initial assassination of Gao Tian Heng was just to divert our attention, and later, he tried to mislead us, which is why it ended up implicating the Flame Tiger style.¡± Zhang Zhengtai said everything in one breath and felt a little dry in his mouth. He even started to wonder if what he said was actually the truth? Unconsciously, he glanced again at Representative Chu. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°This is what the Safety Bureau of Nanjiang City should look like. Well done, Director Zhang.¡± Representative Chu¡¯s expression softened and he gave a slight nod, even omitting the ¡°Deputy¡± in his address. Zhang Zhengtai¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately understood much more. ¡°Since we already have a lead, let¡¯s proceed with this.¡± ¡°Utopia has been very active in our Feng Province lately, assassinating several United Coalition members.¡± ¡°Now, I, as the representative of the Provincial Council, announce that we will immediately begin a campaign to eliminate the Utopia organization in Nanjiang City, and I will serve as the chief commander.¡± Representative Chu scanned the room once more, his tone stern as he spoke, ¡°I hope all the members present will participate seriously in this matter and work with me to eradicate Utopia.¡± ¡°The president is highly concerned about this.¡± (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - . Translated (4) Series, (1.8K+) Chapters, (2.25M+) Words Chapter 104: The Master’s Connections Translator: Cinder Translations --- Inside the Flame Tiger Martial Arts Hall. On the second floor corridor, Third Elder stood beside Chen Feng. Looking at the massive, several-meter tall manifestation of the Crimson Tiger''s true intent, it hovered in the air, coldly overseeing and assuming a menacing position. The modified human beside Xiang Jianjun wore a serious expression, with cold sweat already sliding down his face. In this era, martial arts had declined and was gradually replaced by modification technologies and weaponry. However, there were still some martial arts masters who existed. Their flesh and blood strength was comparable to steel, their power like the ocean, fearless of ordinary firearms. Under the cloak of true intent, they were unstoppable, and even a modified human at the Bronze-level would be no match, even if they had armed modules installed. "Third Master Uncle," Chen Feng''s expression was complex. To be honest, perhaps it was because he had just entered the core of the sect not long ago. He really hadn¡¯t expected the Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect to do this much for him. "We¡¯re not dead yet," Third Elder patted his shoulder and said calmly, "If they want to touch our direct disciples, let¡¯s see if they dare." Roar!!! The tiger¡¯s roar erupted, causing the windows of the entire martial arts hall to shake. A massive sound wave reverberated, and the Crimson Tiger¡¯s true intent stood up, roaring in anger. A bloodthirsty, wide-open mouth appeared in front of them, and Xiang Jianjun and the others were covered in cold sweat. At the critical moment, a voice suddenly came from the communication module. "Director Zhang has ordered, retreat!" When the words landed, Xiang Jianjun felt like he had been pardoned. "Sorry to interrupt." "Let¡¯s go!" The hurried footsteps sounded, and the people from the Safety Bureau left in a disheveled state. Looking through the window, flying cars outside slowly ascended, and drones followed suit, leaving the area. "What¡¯s going on?" Chen Feng asked in confusion. Although Third Master Uncle was very strong, being above the strength of some Silver-level modified humans, the massive array from the Safety Bureau shouldn¡¯t have withdrawn so easily. "Heh," Third Elder gave a faint smile, as though he knew something. "No wonder Senior Brother told me he was coming down the mountain today." --- "Old Chu, thanks," he added. Inside a black, fast-moving sedan entering the city. Li Tong, dressed in a red-patterned white robe, sat in the back seat, holding the phone to his ear, smiling as he spoke. "Thanks for what? Now tell me, how are you going to thank me?" "This time coming down the mountain, I brought that twenty-year-old Tiger Whip health wine. How about a sip tonight?" Li Tong replied with a laugh. "Wow, you¡¯re finally willing to part with it." "It looks like you really care about your disciple." Li Tong chuckled, but the voice on the other end of the phone turned serious. "Make sure your disciple and his friends behave. I can protect him once, but I can¡¯t do it a second time." "Got it, got it," Li Tong smiled and nodded, saying a couple more words. The call finally ended, and he glanced out the window. Tall buildings receded as a flying car from the Safety Bureau passed through the sky. "Li Shi, are we there yet?" "Almost, Sect Leader." Minutes later. Inside the quiet room of the Flame Tiger Martial Arts Hall. Looking at the slightly plump old man in a red-patterned white robe with his hands behind his back, Chen Feng''s doubts were completely cleared. "This is nothing, why worry?" Li Tong said lightly as he sat by the tea table. Cao Tong, quick and sharp, poured him a cup of tea, while Third Elder sat nearby with his eyes closed. "The new special representative, Chu Shihong, is an old friend of mine from when I was young." "He¡¯s doing well at the Provincial Federation in Yun Port now. With his involvement, you don¡¯t need to worry about the rest," Li Tong waved his hand, taking a sip of tea. Chen Feng listened quietly, both surprised by the man¡¯s connections and feeling a sense of gratitude from the bottom of his heart. If it weren¡¯t for Li Tong¡¯s intervention and protection, he would likely have had to flee to Nanjiang, or even be targeted by the higher-level Sky Eye for capture. "Being a Sect Leader for so many years, who doesn¡¯t have some connections?" Li Tong smiled. "Focus on your martial arts. Once you enter the realm of strength, some people will come to see you." "Also, your friend is causing quite a stir, making trouble. Try to distance yourself from him." Li Tong gave some more serious instructions, and Chen Feng nodded in acknowledgment. He¡¯d have to avoid activating his Azure Armor state in the city from now on. Suddenly, he remembered something. "By the way, Master." "Yesterday, people from the Heart Ape Sect contacted me, mentioning the Blood Poison Hand." Chen Feng recounted what had happened at the club yesterday, also mentioning his connection with the Heart Ape Sect. The atmosphere immediately became tense. Third Elder, who had been calm, opened his eyes. "This old bastard, he dares to come back?" His tone was cold, laced with murderous intent. Li Tong¡¯s smile faded slightly as he squinted his eyes. Sensing Chen Feng¡¯s confusion, he briefly explained the backstory. The Blood Poison Hand, named Feng Li, had killed a true disciple of the Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect over ten years ago. Afterward, Li Tong and Third Elder pursued him. Just as they had nearly crippled his martial arts and were about to kill him, someone suddenly appeared and saved him. Since then, his whereabouts had remained unknown. "This guy was lucky to have survived, and his martial arts were personally crippled by me," Li Tong said, frowning. "For him to dare return now, he must have something up his sleeve." "Hmm, Senior Brother, I think we should handle it like this," Third Elder suggested. The two of them began discussing the matter in front of Chen Feng, while Cao Tong discreetly left the room. The conversation continued in the room, mostly about sending people to search, with each martial arts branch stationing a true disciple to guard against any retaliation. "Your suggestion makes sense," Li Tong said, then turned his gaze to Chen Feng. "Heh, good disciple." "For this matter, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to help out as well." That day, Chen Feng walked out of the martial arts hall with a strange expression on his face. Li Tong¡¯s plan was straightforward. The Blood Poison Hand always held grudges, and since he had enmity with him, he would surely come back for revenge. Although they didn¡¯t know his exact strength, the fact that he hadn¡¯t shown up yet meant that he wouldn¡¯t exceed the strength of Li Tong and Third Elder. Thus, Li Tong¡¯s plan was to lure him out. He would fake serious injuries and make sure everyone knew about it. That way, they could see if they could draw him out. "These old folks," Chen Feng thought as he shook his head. Whether it was Liu Fangming from the Heart Ape Sect, or Third Elder and Master Li Tong, he could feel some qualities in them that ordinary people didn¡¯t have. Suppressing his thoughts, he walked toward the parking lot. "How did you resolve it?" Lin Hao stood next to a blue car, looking curious. "I heard that Chu Shihong directly intervened and dismissed your suspicion, shifting the blame onto Utopia," he said. "You¡¯re not his illegitimate child, are you?" With an exaggerated tone, Chen Feng gave him another deep look. Lin Hao was quick to get this information, so his connections must be quite powerful. "Drive," Chen Feng didn¡¯t explain and simply got into the passenger seat. "Tsk tsk, having a good master really makes a difference." Lin Hao clicked his tongue enviously, then opened the door and sat in the driver''s seat. He took the initiative to explain, "Chu Shihong is no ordinary special representative." "He''s quite a figure in the provincial association headquarters in Yun Port. Recently, he''s gained quite a bit of favor from the provincial association president." "Getting on this relationship, your master is no ordinary person either." In just a few words, Chen Feng sat in the car, deep in thought. Li Tong hadn''t explained it to him this thoroughly, and his tone had been very casual. Now, it seemed clear that getting help from such a person obviously cost quite a bit of favor. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His gaze flickered, and Chen Feng kept all this in his mind. The vehicle continued driving, eventually arriving at the mall. After parking, they got out and headed straight to the club. Clack, clack! They walked into the mall and made their way toward the club. Inside, dozens of trainees were practicing punches, including Wang Cheng and five other coaches, all sweating, actively guiding the training. "Ever since the Dongling Boxing Gym moved out, our teaching business has been doing better and better," Lin Hao said with a smile. "Now, we have nearly a hundred trainees, plus another seven or eight members like Li Chengdong and the others." "Taking all expenses into account, we''re estimated to make nearly a hundred thousand this month." As he spoke, he mentioned the bonus distribution. "Just exchange it all for high-grade metal for me," Chen Feng shook his head. He wasn''t lacking money for now. As a direct disciple, he could receive a regular amount from the sect, averaging around fifty or sixty thousand a month, not to mention the annual dividends from the company and other perks like special elixirs. Li Shi had told him all this. So, the money earned from the club would be used to exchange for high-grade metals to strengthen his Steel Bone talent. In the future, he even planned to withdraw part of the money from the sect to use for this purpose. "I knew you''d say that," Lin Hao grinned. "Come with me." Chen Feng was a bit surprised, but followed him. They walked into an office in the club. The door closed, the blinds were drawn. With swift actions, Lin Hao went to the corner of the office, stood in front of a half-meter-sized grey-green safe, scanned his fingerprint, and opened it. Chen Feng''s eyes sharpened. Despite having sensed it in advance, he was still a little surprised. A large oval piece of brown metal, about the size of a human head, clearly of the Bronze-grade. "Here, this was sent last night, but you left early, so it was kept overnight." Lin Hao grinned. Chen Feng remembered the call he received from Lin Hao last night. He had just mentioned it in the daytime, and Lin Hao managed to get it that evening? "And such a large piece must not be cheap, right?" It looked ordinary, but Bronze-grade metal had a very high density and strength far beyond any ordinary steel. Plus, it was a special material that could carry various modification modules, replacing flesh, bones, and conducting nerve unit reactions. Conservatively speaking, this large piece was worth at least two hundred thousand. "Tsk, it''s nothing, just consider it a gift for you, my friend." Lin Hao wanted to establish a good relationship and make a friend. Chen Feng didn''t want him to suffer any loss, so he said, "I''ll make up for the difference. If it''s not enough, I can deduct it from the club''s next bonus." Seeing Lin Hao''s insistence, he couldn''t refuse. "Alright, then. Make sure to take it with you later." "Okay." Chen Feng nodded, suppressing the impulse to immediately use his Steel Bone talent. After chatting for a while, they left the office and walked toward the club''s membership area. Clack, clack. In the practice room, Li Chengdong and others were training according to the plan Chen Feng had given them. Some were running on treadmills for endurance, others were using dumbbells, kettlebells, and other small equipment to train their arms and legs. Among them, Li Chengdong and Luo Yue were the most diligent, with the highest training intensity. "You guys say, who exactly is this Blue Demon? He''s terrifying, even daring to kill Zhao Jianlong?" "Didn''t the results come out already? He''s from Utopia." "Li Chengdong, Luo Yue, your families are in the association. What did they say?" Chen Feng paused for a moment as he overheard the conversation. Blue Demon? Was that the title the Safety Department had given him? "It''s all Utopia''s doing, don''t ask anymore." Li Chengdong''s eyes flashed as he shook his head. Luo Yue, standing next to him, had a similar expression. The two exchanged a silent understanding, as if they knew some hidden truth. The others didn''t suspect anything, until they heard footsteps. Clack! "Coach!" Zhuang Xiaoqing''s eyes lit up. The others, hearing her call out, looked over and greeted him one by one. Chen Feng nodded in response. Soon, he noticed that Li Chengdong and Luo Yue were looking at him with more respect. He didn''t mention anything about it, instead checking everyone''s progress and correcting their actions. Soon, when he reached Li Chengdong''s side, he lowered his voice and asked, "Coach, are you really a direct disciple of the Flame Tiger Sect?" His tone was full of admiration. If it hadn''t been for his elders mentioning it after the Safety Department''s meeting, he wouldn''t have realized his coach''s identity was so high. Luo Yue, standing next to him, seemed to sense something and also leaned in with an envious expression. After all, the Flame Tiger Sect was the largest martial arts sect in Nanjiang City. They had both admired it in the past, but due to their own talent and family background, they couldn''t join. "They found out too?" Chen Feng asked in a low voice, feeling relieved. "No, we didn''t say anything," Luo Yue quickly replied. Chen Feng nodded in satisfaction. It wasn''t that he was deliberately hiding his identity, but he wanted to keep the club pure. He didn''t want other members to be attracted just because of his status as a direct disciple. This would involve the reputation of the Flame Tiger Sect, and if it were to get out, it might negatively affect the martial arts school. Seeing that they understood, he gave them some individual guidance. He also gave a lesson on sanda and judo to these young men and women of notable backgrounds. By evening, after eating dinner at the club, he bid farewell to everyone, took the box with the Bronze-grade metal, and left the mall, walking to the roadside. Under the night sky, traffic lights flashed in red and green, cars and pedestrians moved along the street. Street lamps cast a dim yellow light. Chen Feng walked along the grayish-white pavement, passing rows of shared bicycles parked on the side. "Coach, can I give you a ride?" Zhuang Xiaoqing hadn''t left yet. She lowered the car window and waved from inside the luxurious business car. "No need." Chen Feng politely refused, shaking his head. They parted ways, and he walked along the road he had taken yesterday. Zhao Jianlong was dead, and the Hong Guang Group had been taken over by other forces. The destruction from the killing scene yesterday was being assessed by the Safety Department, and the new Hong Guang Group would take care of compensation. However... As he walked through the crowd and came to a small roadside stall, standing under a streetlamp, a plain-looking middle-aged woman was sitting on a small stool, eating lunch. On the ground lay mats, with various hats hanging on a nearby wooden frame. Knitted caps, hip-hop hats, and tourist hats... "How much?" Chen Feng picked up a duckbill cap and asked. "Handsome guy, take whatever you want, ten yuan each." "Alright." He paid twenty yuan via QR code. Ignoring the calls behind him, he put on the duckbill cap and slowly walked toward home. The surrounding crowd brushed past, and the smell of fried food from nearby stalls filled the air. This feeling... was finally peaceful. (End of the Chapter) --- ???? (Martial Invincible). Read now for FREE on NovelFire and ScribbleHub. Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - . Translated (5) Series, (1.9K+) Chapters, (2.43M+) Words. Chapter 105: Swarm of Black-Faced Spiders – Anomaly! (2300+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] Inside the bedroom, notifications flashed continuously on the interface. A black box lay open on the floor, and a head-sized chunk of bronze-grade metal was pressed firmly against Chen Feng¡¯s palm. This continued for nearly ten seconds. Crack! Fissures spread¡ªone, two, three... In the blink of an eye, the Bronze metal crumbled into shards. [Steel Bones LV1: 91/100] ¡°Still a bit short,¡± Chen Feng muttered. Wiping the brownish dust off his hands, he glanced at the progress bar on the interface. A piece this size, while impressive, was naturally far less effective than what a fully augmented cyborg could offer. ¡°But if I can get another piece of a Legacy Iron Tome, that should be enough to upgrade.¡± With that thought, he looked at the night outside, now blanketed in darkness. Chen Feng lay back on his bed, slowly closing his eyes and drifting into dreams. --- Buzz! Darkness dissipated as the ground beneath him stabilized. Wearing a black, sleeveless vest and a backpack, Chen Feng opened his eyes. He was standing on the balcony of an apartment building, overlooking rows of low-rise buildings ahead. Thick fog swirled in the distance, and about a kilometer away, he could faintly make out the outline of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall''s branch. Without delay, Chen Feng vaulted off the third-floor balcony. Thud! The ground shook slightly as he landed in a crouch, unharmed. He took steady steps forward, heading straight toward the asphalt road and his destination¡ªthe Extreme Martial Arts Hall. All around, the fog churned, and the steady sound of footsteps echoed. Tilting his head slightly, Chen Feng noticed figures emerging from the surrounding low-rise buildings¡ªeight faceless humanoids. They varied in height, build, and even gender, wearing either blue jackets or dark, heavy clothing. Their strength, as Chen Feng had suspected, peaked at an amateur eighth or ninth stage. ¡°Just as I thought.¡± Narrowing his eyes, Chen Feng pieced together the puzzle. When he first entered this dream realm, he¡¯d explored relatively ordinary zones near the outskirts of the fog. Back then, the black ant swarms he encountered were smaller in number and weaker in strength. But now, as he delved deeper into the fog, the black ant swarms had grown significantly in both size and power, along with the humanoids they controlled. ¡°Still, they¡¯re too weak.¡± Whoosh! Chen Feng vanished from his spot, leaving the faceless figures momentarily stunned. Bang!! One figure was sent flying, crashing through a neighboring building¡¯s glass window and landing within. And then¡ªmore crashing sounds. Finally, with a resounding boom, Chen Feng stood on the street. His hand firmly pressed the head of a faceless figure into the brick wall. Sensing an attack, he swiftly retreated a step. Black ants swarmed toward him, their assault narrowly missing as clusters of gray energy spheres materialized around him. [Perception LV3: 14/100] ¡°Still not enough.¡± Shaking his head, Chen Feng resumed his advance toward the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. Crossing the sunken potholes in the asphalt and stepping past shattered glass windows, his footsteps echoed. After walking a hundred meters, Chen Feng suddenly stopped, frowning slightly. Ahead, under the dim glow of a streetlight, stood two figures clad in white martial arts uniforms. Both wore masks with black patterns on a white base. The symbol "¼«" (Ji) was embroidered on their left chest in black thread¡ªundeniably members of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. ¡°Why are they here?¡± Based on his prior experiences, the Black Soldier Ants controlling the masked figures usually stayed within the pavilion and rarely ventured out. Tap, tap, tap! Urgent footsteps echoed, leaving Chen Feng with little time to think. The two masked figures advanced swiftly, one to his left and the other to his right. One exuded a violent aura, clearly at the peak of the professional level and in the refined visceral state, with a faint thread of inner force coiling around his hand. The other bore a similar presence. His arm muscles swelled as he charged forward, delivering a powerful blow. Boom!! A dull sound reverberated. Chen Feng stood unmoving as his bronzed skin shimmered. One hand caught the swollen fist, while his chest deflected the invading force with ease. Bronze Skin rebounded, strength erupted! Whoosh! Bang!! One figure was sent flying like a ragdoll, while the other struggled to escape Chen Feng¡¯s iron grip, only to be firmly pinned down. ¡°Tiger Roar Style.¡± Chen Feng muttered under his breath, his right palm faintly glowing red. Boom!!! A single strike hit the faceless figure''s chest. The crimson Red Tiger Force surged within, ripping through the flesh and instantly destroying the Black Soldier Ant inside, silencing its screech. Whoosh! In a flash, Chen Feng dashed toward the second faceless figure. His left palm turned, gathering another crimson glow. ¡°Flame Burst Style.¡± Thud!! With pinpoint precision, his palm struck the figure''s left chest. The concentrated force exploded violently, exposing bones and mangled organs as blood sprayed. Both the masked figure and the controlling Black Soldier Ant perished instantly. --- Tap, tap, tap! Footsteps resounded again as more Black Soldier Ants swarmed from all directions, encircling Chen Feng. Three...six...nine... A total of sixteen faceless figures! In an instant, countless figures lunged at him, grappling his arms and locking his waist. A punch struck his head with a muffled thud, but Chen Feng remained unmoved, his gaze calm. ¡°How...truly weak.¡± Boom!! With a burst of strength, the figures flew back like scattered leaves. His heavy punches landed one after another, crushing and blasting. In seconds, the ground was littered with rotting black stains. Broken shop windows lined the street, and shelves toppled over. A dozen gray energy spheres floated around him, accompanied by two faint blue orbs. --- Step! Chen Feng advanced, absorbing the gray energy into himself. [Perception LV3: 22/100] Without pause, he touched the two blue orbs. [You have collected two (Skill Orbs)!] [Skill: Explosive Punch] [You already possess this skill!] [Option 1: Fuse¡ªIncrease Explosive Punch proficiency!] [Option 2: Disassemble¡ªConvert the Skill Orb into pure Martial Will Residue: Limit-Breaking Light Orb!] [Note: If used to enhance Explosive Punch, the effect is halved.] ¡°Enhance!¡± Without hesitation, Chen Feng upgraded his Explosive Punch. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Explosive Punch: Proficient (91/100)] Clenching his fists, Chen Feng exhaled softly. ¡°Almost there.¡± One more masked figure from the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, or two Limit-Breaking Light Orbs, and the Explosive Punch would reach the Mastery level. Satisfied with his steady progress, Chen Feng turned to the vanishing corpses of the masked figures around him. "The Extreme Martial Hall is their territory." "But why are they appearing here now?" Chen Feng frowned, recalling his first encounter with the Masked Men. Back then, they relentlessly pursued him but never left the confines of the martial hall. Looking toward the distant Extreme Martial Hall, about half a kilometer away, it lay at the edge of the dissipating mist, shrouded in deep darkness. His eyes flickered as he thought for a moment. Whether for the sake of the Limit-Breaking Light Orbs or the possible existence of a Legacy Iron Book, he had to make the trip. With that, he started walking again. The shadow of his figure stretched long under the streetlights, the silent, gloomy street growing increasingly oppressive. Carrying a black backpack, Chen Feng walked several hundred meters before looking up. Across the road, on the second floor, the martial hall¡¯s three-character signboard stood out clearly. Behind the dim glass windows, vague outlines of sandbags and various training equipment could be seen. Tap! His footsteps halted as his heightened perception kicked in, and his brows furrowed. "There¡¯s¡­ something else here." Within the hundred-meter radius of his perception limit, the dim surroundings of the martial hall revealed spiderwebs scattered about¡ªsome beneath eaves, others on ceilings. Several black spider-like creatures hung upside-down, each about a meter in size. The weakest among them were comparable to peak professionals, equivalent to experts at the pinnacle of the Body Training stage. What was more concerning were two spiders perched on large webs, each over two or three meters in size¡ªone male and one female, judging by their form. Based on their auras, both were at least at the Master level. Buzz! Suddenly, as if sensing something, pairs of eerie green eyes snapped open. With eight glistening eyes per creature, a cacophony of scraping noises filled the air. Swoosh! A harsh, ear-piercing soundwave erupted like a gale, shaking nearby windows. One after another, the black-faced spiders dropped from their perches, rushing straight toward Chen Feng. "So that¡¯s how it is." In that instant, Chen Feng understood why the Black Soldier Ants had vacated the martial hall. These creatures were far stronger¡ªblack-faced spiders, the kind described in the bronze tablet. Adults of their kind were naturally at the second tier of strength. Click, click, click! The hundred-meter distance closed rapidly as a swarm of black-faced spiders surrounded him. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Several streaks of gray-white silk shot out, forming webbing that descended like a net from above. Relying on the records from the bronze tablet, Chen Feng¡¯s figure blurred as he sidestepped and dodged swiftly. Splat, splat, splat! Missed webs struck the ground behind him, while three black-faced spiders closed in. From up close, they resembled regular spiders, but their grotesque features became even more pronounced: four pairs of compound eyes glowing with malicious green light and scythe-like mandibles near their abdomens. Rip! The air tore as three black-faced spiders lunged from different directions, with one aiming directly for his face. Drawing on his previous battle experience with the venomous bee swarm, the azure mark on Chen Feng¡¯s hand flashed. In an instant, he activated his Azure Armor Form. Smack! The spider aiming for his face was caught mid-air and slammed into the ground. Boom! The impact resounded as the ground caved in. Green blood splattered as the spider''s hardened shell shattered. Two more spiders, sensing danger, attempted to retreat, but they were sent flying by a powerful sidekick and spin move. Swish! The spiders crashed into a streetlight pole with a crunch, green blood oozing from their ruptured abdomens. Hiss! The two larger adult spiders shrieked in rage. The larger male, over three meters tall, launched a massive web like a bullet, tearing through the air with a white streak. Following closely behind, it lunged with open mandibles, aiming to crush Chen Feng in one strike. Whoosh! Chen Feng dodged the web by a hair''s breadth, his body expanding rapidly as he countered with a fully powered Explosive Punch. Boom!!! A shockwave rippled outward, shaking withered trees nearby. The male spider staggered, its hard exoskeleton slightly dented. Chen Feng, however, was forced backward, leaving deep grooves in the asphalt. "So strong." His crimson eyes gleamed faintly as he felt numbness spread through his arm. He had poured everything into that punch¡ªExplosive Punch, augmented by his Giant Tiger and Azure Armor forms¡ªunleashing a force exceeding four tons. And yet, he was still overpowered. Shriek! Seizing an opening, the injured female spider charged from the left. Chen Feng¡¯s left arm swelled, imbued with the might of his Explosive Punch, swinging horizontally in a whip-like arc. Thud! The female spider, smaller by comparison, was flung away, its shell cracking and green blood seeping from the fractures. Hiss! Its pained cries enraged the male spider, which surged with even more power, its body expanding as though breaking through a limit. Whoosh! The massive creature descended like a mountain, its oppressive aura crashing down. Faced with the overwhelming pressure, Chen Feng crossed his arms to defend. Boom!!! The ground beneath his feet caved as the asphalt shattered. Chen Feng gritted his teeth against the crushing weight. Sensing an opening, he retaliated with all his strength, gathering his internal energy in his arms. Buzz! Explosive Punch! Boom!!! The male spider staggered, its hardened shell dented once more. Just as Chen Feng prepared to press his advantage, he heard the whistling sound of approaching danger. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Threads of silk zipped past him as the injured female spider, rallying her remaining forces, launched a coordinated sneak attack. Through his heightened perception, Chen Feng detected an even larger black-faced spider approaching from afar, rushing to reinforce the group. Faced with the dire situation, he glanced at the still formidable male spider and the swarming reinforcements. Chen Feng¡¯s eyes flickered, and without hesitation, he turned and dashed into the distance. Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap! His rapid footsteps echoed as he disappeared down the street. The male spider let out an enraged screech but, after glancing at the injured female and their other subordinates, could only roar helplessly in place. Hiss!!! Several minutes later, with the noise fading behind him, Chen Feng stopped at the base of a residential building. Confirming he wasn¡¯t being pursued, he finally relaxed. "That was close." Shaking his head, the Azure armor on his body receded like a tide, his enlarged physique shrinking back to normal. "That male spider¡­ it must¡¯ve been close to Tier Two." Reflecting on the battle, Chen Feng noted the vast disparity between the male and female spiders. The former suppressed him even at full strength, while the latter was nearly overpowered by his attacks. "In the real world, that male spider would probably rival a Silver-tier cyborg." With a rough comparison, Chen Feng felt confident he could take it down, but not with so many reinforcements around. "I¡¯ll need to reach the Inner Strength Stage or break through in Bronze Statue Arts first." Glancing at his sleeveless vest, he sighed. The battle had stretched it to the point of tearing. Shaking his head, he expanded his perception, searching the nearby residential buildings for Limit-Breaking Light Orbs or spare clothes. Eventually, the dream faded. With some gains and some losses, his luck wasn¡¯t too bad. He had managed to find three Limit-Breaking Light Orbs in the vicinity. Upon waking and seeing the familiar ceiling, Chen Feng summoned his status panel. His gaze landed on the skills section. [Crimson Tiger Force: Beginner (88%) +] "Upgrade!" (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Early Access at $5. Translated (5) Series, (1.9K+) Chapters, (2.43M+) Words. Chapter 106: Explosive Power Boost (2400+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- Buzz! Two Limit-breaking Orbs were consumed rapidly as a torrent of martial insights surged into Chen Feng¡¯s mind. Countless days and nights spent standing in stances, punching, and kicking¡ªhe could no longer recall how much sweat he had shed. From tempering the flesh, to the bones, and finally to the organs, endless energy had been poured into this pursuit. Suddenly, the barrier shattered, and the power within him surged explosively. A wave of intense heat emanated from his internal organs. [Crimson Tiger Force: Flame Blast Style (1/100) +] The system panel lit up, and Chen Feng suddenly detected a strange odor. Looking down, he noticed that the surface of his skin was covered in a layer of black impurities. "Organ Refinement Complete. Impurities Expelled." Recalling his master Li Tong¡¯s teachings, Chen Feng immediately understood: this was a sign he had truly stepped into the stage of Inner Strength. Only by completing organ refinement and cultivating strength so potent that it could circulate endlessly within could one expel these internal impurities. With purified organs and fortified muscles and bones, the body was further tempered by inner power. Even lifespan could increase by up to 20 years. Reflecting on this, Chen Feng turned his gaze toward the system panel. [Strength: 16.8 ¡ú 17.9] [Agility: 15.4 ¡ú 16.4] [Constitution: 19.8 ¡ú 21.6] [Willpower: 17.1 ¡ú 18.2] ¡°A 5-point increase in stats.¡± Closing his eyes briefly, Chen Feng carefully sensed the changes within his body. Previously, his training in Giant Tiger and Bronze Statue Techniques had indeed enhanced his physical strength and resilience. However, these hard-body techniques had left him somewhat rigid. Now, with the breakthrough to Inner Strength, his physique had gained a newfound flexibility¡ªlike steel that was no longer just unyielding but layered with a pliable core. While subtle on the surface, this change opened up vast potential for growth. His raw strength also saw significant improvement. Opening his eyes and clenching his fist, Chen Feng felt that even in his normal state, his power now exceeded 1.5 tons. And then¡ª Snap! With a thought, the heat within him surged forth, enveloping his arms. The inner energy felt more robust and condensed, its color gradually deepening toward crimson. "Tiger Roar Style!" TL/N: One of the techniques from Crimson Tiger Force. Mentioned in Ch99. He struck out with a palm, sending a torrent of energy forward. The air before him trembled and burst with a dull roar. White mist dissipated as the entire room quaked slightly. ¡°Damn!¡± ¡°Is it an earthquake?¡± ¡°Who the hell is lighting firecrackers indoors?¡± Neighbors upstairs and downstairs shouted in complaint. Chen Feng ignored them, instead staring at his palm, where deep crimson energy danced like flames. For the first time, he truly grasped the essence of Inner Strength techniques. When unleashed, they carried destructive power far beyond raw strength alone, amplifying force through vibrations or explosions. ¡°Unfortunately, Inner Strength techniques can¡¯t stack with Explosive Fist.¡± Chen Feng reflected thoughtfully. Both Tiger Roar Style and Flame Blast Style relied on channeling inner energy drawn from the organs, while Explosive Fist depended on the combined physical strength and stamina of the entire body. The fundamental principles differed, making them incompatible. But Chen Feng was unbothered. In his view, Inner Strength techniques were already as devastating as mastery-level Explosive Fist, offering an alternative trump card in battle. ¡°Inner Strength is divided into three tiers. I¡¯ve just entered the first: Flame Blast Style.¡± ¡°After that come Steel Fire, Burning Mountain, and finally the Crimson Tiger stage beyond Inner Strength.¡± Looking at the progress bar for the Crimson Tiger Force, Chen Feng used up the last Limit-breaking Orb. [Crimson Tiger Force: Flame Blast Style (6/100) +] ¡°The difficulty has increased.¡± Estimating how many Limit-breaking Orbs he¡¯d need to reach the Steel Fire tier, Chen Feng shook his head. He took a quick shower, changed into a clean black outfit, and had a hearty breakfast before stepping outside. Tap, tap! His footsteps echoed as the bustling fruit shop faded into the background. Taxis zipped by on the roadside. Feeling slightly more financially comfortable, Chen Feng decided to forgo the bus. Hailing a taxi with a wave, he quickly got into one displaying an available sign. [Recently, the United Coalition has established a Special Task Force that has uncovered the true cause of death of Hong Guang Group¡¯s chairman, Zhao Jianlong, one of our city¡¯s Coalitionors.] [The murderer, Blue Demon, is a member of Utopia. He meticulously plotted Zhao Jianlong¡¯s assassination to orchestrate a terror attack...] As soon as he got into the car, the radio broadcasted breaking news. [Reliable sources report that the Special Task Force launched a raid last night against Utopia operatives hidden in our city, achieving significant results.] [So far, five senior executives with ties to Utopia have been identified in our city...] Hearing the broadcast, Chen Feng¡¯s gaze flickered with surprise at the speed of the Coalition¡¯s actions. ¡°They must have been planning to deal with Utopia all along. My involvement was just the catalyst...¡± Trusting his instincts, Chen Feng glanced out the window. High-rise billboards displayed similar news reports, while the trails of hovercars painted streaks across the sky like roaring missiles. --- Meanwhile, in the suburbs of Nanjiang... A sprawling, abandoned warehouse was engulfed in chaos. Boom! An explosion erupted, sending dust and debris flying. Drones fired bullets relentlessly, while heavy-caliber weaponry roared. Amid the cacophony, two metallic figures smashed through the warehouse walls, crashing into the surrounding forest. ¡°Damn it!¡± The silver-gray Silver Wolf staggered backward, crashing into several thick trees after a punch struck his chest. The dark-gold enemy, resembling a menacing tiger, leapt forward with a follow-up knee strike. Closer inspection revealed the enemy¡¯s helmet resembled a golden tiger¡¯s head, radiating an aura of menace. Bang! The dull thud reverberated as Silver Wolf crossed his arms to block, only for a blade to spring from his opponent¡¯s arm, aiming for his neck. Clang! Sparks erupted as the blade clashed against the reinforced glass of Silver Wolf¡¯s helmet. His energy module roared to life, unleashing a surge of power that sent the enemy staggering. Rising to his feet, Silver Wolf growled furiously: ¡°Dong Tao!! Are you out of your damn mind?!¡± ¡°It''s not like I killed Zhao Jianlong, what the hell is wrong with you!¡± With a dark expression, Silver Wolf couldn¡¯t believe that after he had escaped the sudden raid by the United Coalition, Dong Tao managed to find a flaw and had been pestering him for quite some time. Crack! A green tree with twisted roots snapped as the dark gold-colored cyborg stood up from the sunken mud. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t been there, could the Blue Demon have escaped the Heavenly Punishment¡¯s lock-on?¡± His voice was deep, filled with murderous intent. Silver Wolf¡¯s expression darkened, growing even more irritable. ¡°I¡¯ve explained already!¡± ¡°That Blue Demon isn¡¯t one of ours! This has nothing to do with me!¡± Swish!! However, no matter how agitated he became, the dark gold cyborg refused to listen to his explanation. The weapon module activated, and a powerful energy engine roared to life. In an instant, a buzzing sound rang out, and behind the cyborg, a pair of massive dark gold wings suddenly appeared. His aura surged, becoming even more dangerous. Seeing this, Silver Wolf¡¯s fury was ignited. His body flashed with silver light as the weapon module activated, and his form transformed into a metallic werewolf! Boom! --- In the city district, the car door closed. Chen Feng scanned his payment, got out, and walked into the Jinhua District martial arts hall. ¡°Good morning, Big Brother!¡± ¡°Good morning, Big Brother!¡± Various greetings rang out, and Chen Feng nodded in acknowledgment. As he stepped forward, just as he was about to enter the martial arts hall, he suddenly stopped and looked up at the three large characters, "Flame Tiger Hall" on the door. After the confrontation with the Safety Bureau yesterday, everyone from the third martial uncle to the core disciples had stepped forward to support him. He wasn¡¯t heartless or cold-blooded. Naturally, he felt somewhat moved. ¡°What are you standing there for?¡± Lin Hao¡¯s voice came from behind, and Chen Feng gradually calmed down. ¡°I was thinking about some things.¡± As he walked in, he and Lin Hao went upstairs. ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Hao looked a little surprised, seeming to think about something. ¡°Were you thinking about how to thank me? Did you give the things from yesterday to your friend?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Chen Feng nodded slightly, then changed the subject. ¡°He asked me to thank you.¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing. Another batch of modification modules is coming soon. If you need more, just let me know.¡± Lin Hao waved generously, and upon hearing this, Chen Feng paused and turned to look at him. ¡°What do you need all those modification modules for?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I say? I¡¯m going to start a security company.¡± Lin Hao chuckled, ¡°Wait and see, you¡¯ll know in a while.¡± After speaking mysteriously, he quickly entered the training room. Chen Feng watched his back and thought for a moment. Could this guy be the heir of some big corporation, out here starting a business? The thought flashed by, and he shook his head, pushing it aside. In the end, he went to find Cao Tong. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, he entered his personal meditation room. ¡°Let¡¯s get started.¡± Ten minutes later, in the meditation room. Chen Feng stood in the center, shirtless, surrounded by five core disciples, all holding sticks and looking a bit nervous. ¡°B-Big Brother, can we do this?¡± Someone asked, and the others were also hesitant. Although they knew he was strong, they were all worried that they couldn¡¯t withstand the blows with so many people hitting at once. ¡°Just give it your all. Don¡¯t hold back.¡± Chen Feng said calmly, his legs planted firmly. Sitting in the horse stance, his muscles rippling as he prepared to perform the Bronze Statue Skill. The Bronze Statue Skill was a bit special¡ªafter breaking through the copper skin stage, it required hitting and striking practice to break into the copper bone stage. He wasn¡¯t sure if using the Limit Breaking light orbs would work, so he decided to use all the Muscle Fortifying Tiger Bone Pills first, saving the Limit Breaking orbs. The disciples had been specially chosen from the core class after Chen Feng explained his needs to Cao Tong. ¡°Alright, Big Brother. Be careful.¡± Someone said, suppressing their worry and deciding to hold back a bit with their strikes. The others understood and nodded. Boom! The sticks fell, striking Chen Feng¡¯s skin. He furrowed his brow. ¡°Big Brother, did we hit too hard?¡± ¡°Hit harder.¡± Glancing at them, Chen Feng¡¯s tone was serious: ¡°Use your full strength!¡± With that, the five disciples exchanged glances. They gritted their teeth and went for it! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! The continuous sounds of sticks hitting the body echoed, shaking the whole room. Gradually, the power seeped into Chen Feng¡¯s body, subtly refining his muscles and bones. Chen Feng had already swallowed the Muscle Fortifying Tiger Bone Pills, and now the medicinal power worked in conjunction with the strikes to enhance his body. Time passed quickly. Half an hour later, the five core disciples¡¯ arms were numb, shaking with exhaustion. Chen Feng¡¯s face remained calm, and he urged them to continue. An hour later, the five disciples couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. They collapsed to the floor, drenched in sweat, feeling like this was more tiring than their usual training. Meanwhile, in the center of the room, the muscular figure remained. His muscles were well-defined, his skin bronzed, and there wasn¡¯t even a hint of redness from the strikes. Seeing this, the five disciples exchanged glances. They chuckled bitterly, shaking their heads, slowly understanding why Chen Feng was the Big Brother. Chen Feng didn¡¯t notice their feelings. He silently refined the last bit of medicinal power and looked at the panel. [Bronze Statue Skill: Copper Skin (26/100)+] ¡°20% increase, one-fifth of the progress.¡± ¡°Seems like the Muscle Fortifying Tiger Bone Pills really work well.¡± The thought crossed his mind, and Chen Feng finished his training and slowly stood up. His tall, muscular body blocked the light from outside the window. He thanked the five disciples and watched them leave. Not wasting any time, he began to familiarize himself with the Tiger Roar Style and Flame Blast Style by practicing his strength. By noon, when he was preparing to go to the cafeteria, a knock sounded on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Big Brother, Wu Shuang and the others are looking for you.¡± Someone came in and said. ¡°True Disciple Chen, the Sect Master is in trouble!¡± Inside the martial arts hall¡¯s meditation room, Wu Shuang, dressed in white, looked grave and spoke urgently. Beside him was another true disciple in a brown ancient robe, Zhao Jushan. Zhao Jushan was a burly man in his thirties, with a square face and thick eyebrows. His skin was bronzed, and he was the only true disciple who had perfected the Bronze Statue Technique. It was rumored that his power flowed throughout his body, and he was recently attempting to break through the third stage of the internal strength. ¡°True Disciple Chen, we need to go back to the mountain quickly.¡± ¡°The Sect Master¡¯s breakthrough failed, and he suffered internal injuries. His condition isn¡¯t good.¡± Zhao Jushan said solemnly, his tone low. Chen Feng looked at their expressions, standing in place in silence for a moment. Only he and the third martial uncle were present during last night¡¯s plan, so these true disciples didn¡¯t know that Master Li Tong was acting and didn¡¯t know about the return of the Blood Poison Hand. According to what they were saying, the real and the fake would blend together most convincingly. Then, recalling Master Li Tong¡¯s instructions, he forced himself to show a worried expression and followed them out of the martial arts hall. Soon, the black speeding car drove out of the busy city and headed straight for the deep mountains outside the city. Seeing this scene, a man wearing a duckbill cap and seemingly reading a magazine on a public bench outside, lowered the magazine slightly. His eyes behind the sunglasses moved quietly, and everything seemed to be returning to him. ¡°Heh, it¡¯s been ten years.¡± ¡°Finally, I can start collecting the interest.¡± With a murmured laugh, he stood up and began walking, slowly heading in the direction of the departing black car. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Early Access at $5. Translated (5) Series, (1.9K+) Chapters, (2.43M+) Words. Chapter 107: The Grandmaster Realm (2100+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- Mist shrouded the air, and towering mountains stood in grandeur. A sleek black sedan drove into the courtyard. Chen Feng, now dressed in a gray robe, followed Wu Shuang and the others as they stepped out of the vehicle and headed toward the ancient residence where his master stayed. Along the way, many formal and core disciples appeared. Their expressions were solemn, carrying a weight of unease. Before long, the group passed through a small courtyard. A slender young man, clad in a white-gray robe, stood by a pond, feeding the goldfish within. The bamboo forest nearby swayed gently in the breeze, rustling softly as a few yellowing leaves floated into the pond. "Young Martial Uncle," Wu Shuang and the others greeted respectfully. Chen Feng also followed suit, addressing him politely. "Let Direct Disciple Chen, proceed alone," Li Chenye said nonchalantly as he scattered more fish food, ripples spreading across the pond as the goldfish scrambled for food. Wu Shuang and the others nodded, halting in their tracks, while Chen Feng proceeded alone across the corridor. "Direct Disciple Chen," a figure called at the entrance to a gray courtyard. It was Li Shi. "The sect master¡¯s injuries are severe, and he¡¯s in and out of consciousness..." After quietly briefing him, Li Shi opened the door. With a creak, Chen Feng stepped inside. The interior featured wooden tables and desks, with jade plates of Azure porcelain placed on either side. A landscape ink painting adorned the wall. Entering the bedroom, he saw a figure lying on the bed, half-covered by a quilt, holding a phone in hand. On the screen, a young woman danced provocatively, scantily dressed. Oddly enough, Chen Feng let out a sigh of relief. Even though he knew it was all an act, on the way here, a part of him couldn¡¯t help but worry it might be real. "Ah, you¡¯re here?" Li Tong smiled as he turned off his phone and sat up. He still wore his white robe with red patterns, but his face looked pale, and his eyes carried a dimness to them. "Master, what is this?" "Bah, if we¡¯re acting, we might as well make it convincing," Li Tong replied with a grin. Then, as Chen Feng approached, a gleam flashed in his eyes. Swoosh! In an instant, like a shadow, he appeared beside Chen Feng, grabbing his arm and staring intently. "You¡¯ve stepped into the Inner Strength Realm?" "Yes," Chen Feng nodded, barely stopping himself from instinctively unleashing his strength. "Good heavens," Li Tong exclaimed, releasing his arm. "How many days has it been? Three days?" "No, wait..." His expression shifted as he seemed to realize something. "Show me your force," he urged eagerly. Buzz! As his words fell, the room heated up. Chen Feng didn¡¯t hesitate. Soon, deep crimson flames enveloped his arms, radiating a pure and fierce energy. "Such purity... and no signs of using secret medicines." Relieved, Li Tong¡¯s gaze toward Chen Feng became complex¡ªfilled with admiration, astonishment, and anticipation. "Martial enlightenment... and born with domineering bones." "My disciple, it seems you are destined to become a Grandmaster," Li Tong declared, his tone brimming with excitement. At that moment, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh heartily. My disciple is destined for greatness! Who else can compare? In contrast, Chen Feng remained calm, though there was some confusion in his expression. "A Grandmaster?" "After reaching the stage of force, the next realm is True Intent," Li Tong explained, noticing his puzzlement. "Myself, your Third Martial Uncle, and your Young Martial Uncle are all at this level." "In the martial arts world, this is known as the Sect Master level. Only by reaching this stage can one establish a sect." "Then what about Grandmasters?" Chen Feng asked. "Above True Intent," Li Tong said seriously. "At that level, the mysteries of the human body are fully unlocked, and one¡¯s energy and vitality become as vast as the ocean." "In any martial arts world, a Grandmaster is a cornerstone, a pillar that elevates any sect to the pinnacle of power." "In the past, our Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect..." He suddenly paused, shaking his head with a sigh. Chen Feng sensed something unusual but refrained from pressing. "Anyway, my dear disciple," Li Tong said, patting Chen Feng on the shoulder with a look of encouragement. "Train hard. Once this matter is settled, I¡¯ll secure that strengthening martial art for you." Chen Feng nodded, choosing not to question further. When the time is right, he¡¯ll speak. Just then, footsteps sounded from outside. Without hesitation, Li Tong darted back to his bed, pulling up the quilt. The door creaked open, and Xu Tingxiao entered, carrying a bowl of medicine, his expression heavy. Chen Feng exchanged a glance with him. Xu Tingxiao opened his mouth to speak but said nothing, simply walking to the bedside. "Master, it¡¯s time for your medicine," Xu Tingxiao said, repeating it several times before Li Tong groggily opened his eyes and drank the concoction. Chen Feng observed, noting that Xu Tingxiao, too, was unaware of the act. He kept silent, standing quietly by the side. After tidying up, Xu Tingxiao left with the bowl of medicine. As the door closed with a creak, Chen Feng voiced his doubts. "Your junior brother is too na?ve. If he knew, he¡¯d blow the cover," Li Tong said with a sly smile. Shaking his head, Chen Feng eventually left the room. --- Meanwhile, in a villa¡¯s living room elsewhere, two figures conversed. "Where¡¯s Blood Poison Hand?" The speaker was a tall, curvaceous woman in a red leather jacket. Her crimson lips and striking eyes carried a dangerous allure, with pupils resembling vertical slits tinged with dark gold. "He said he¡¯s seeking revenge¡ªlikely on the sect master of Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect. After all, they crippled him ten years ago," the cloaked figure beside her explained, a raven perched on his arm. "Fool. He¡¯s only recently fused with the divine power crystal. Without breaking through True Intent, how can he kill anyone?" The red-leathered woman¡¯s tone turned icy. The cloaked figure chuckled. "Blood Poison Hand isn¡¯t that reckless. He must have his own plans." "You and I can wait for his return without worry." The woman in red snorted coldly at these words, feeling the situation was too coincidental, like a trap. She wanted to summon him back immediately, but her call was directly declined. "Ever since he merged with the Divine Power Crystal, his attitude has grown increasingly arrogant." Her face darkened slightly as she squinted her eyes. The shadowy figure in black chuckled lightly to ease the tension. "Side effects are normal. Weren¡¯t we the same back then?" After a pause, he changed the subject, "Rather than worrying about him, let¡¯s focus on the task the alliance entrusted to us." "After all, it¡¯s being led by you and me." The woman in red narrowed her eyes at his words but finally nodded lightly, temporarily setting the matter aside. --- Night fell, and the sky was adorned with countless stars. In the Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect, lanterns were hung, giving off an air of traditional elegance. There were occasional murmurs of conversation and the sound of footsteps. But as the night deepened, everything fell silent. Especially in the courtyard of one of the inner disciples. Buzz! Consciousness sank, and Chen Feng opened his eyes. The dream world of rolling mist reappeared before him. Dressed in a new loose gray T-shirt and carrying a black backpack, he stood on an asphalt road. The branch of the Extreme Martial Hall was half a kilometer away. Yesterday¡¯s retreat caused by the black-faced spiders still left a bitter taste. Crack! Clenching his fist, the air vibrated. He stepped forward, calm but with his blood gradually heating up. Tap! Tap! Tap, tap, tap! Tap, tap, tap, tap! His pace quickened as he moved forward. Finally, when he stepped within 100 meters of the Extreme Martial Hall¡ª Whoosh! A shrill and furious screech echoed. In the blink of an eye, seven or eight black-faced spiders rushed out of the hall, surrounding him. Five half-meter-tall first-tier spiders and two larger ones¡ªa male and a female¡ªthe very group from yesterday. Swish, swish, swish! Grayish-white webs tore through the air, and the spiders¡¯ long legs struck the ground or clung to the walls along the street. Some even hung upside down from streetlamps, leaping over a dozen meters in one swing. Whoosh! Stomping on the ground, Chen Feng charged forward like a nail driving into the spider swarm. Webs brushed past him as his skin quietly turned a bronze hue. Crack, crack, crack! Muscles expanded and bones grew. The towering two-meter-tall figure of a burly giant reappeared. His massive palm clenched into a fist, coiling at his waist. When a black-faced spider lunged at him¡ª Buzz! A white misty ring formed as a bronze spear shot forth, piercing the spider¡¯s dark exoskeleton. Blood splattered, Azure droplets filled the air. Tap, tap! As two smaller black-faced spiders approached from the sides, Chen Feng coldly pulled back his fist, unleashing explosive force. Crash! It sounded like fire igniting. Deep red energy enveloped his arms. His left hand struck out in a palm, and his right in a punch. Tiger Roar Style: Shock! Flame Blast Style: Explosion! Boom! Boom! Energy erupted. The spider on his left appeared intact but collapsed as its internal organs were shattered by the impact, crashing into a nearby supermarket window. The spider on his right exploded entirely, its exoskeleton and flesh scattering in all directions. Screech!!! The male and female black-faced spider leaders let out sharp cries. The remaining smaller spiders were commanded to retreat. Soon, shadows loomed as all the streetlights dimmed. A massive male spider, over three meters tall, finally arrived. Like a towering mountain, it raised its forelimbs to strike at Chen Feng. "Azure Armor." A mutter echoed in his mind as the mark on the back of his hand flashed. Boom! The ground quaked as the asphalt beneath Chen Feng¡¯s feet sank, fracturing within a two-meter radius. But upon closer inspection¡ª A layer of Azure chitin quickly spread across his body, encasing him entirely. A single horn stood upright, and his crimson eyes gleamed fiercely. Boom! Fragments of debris scattered as his figure vanished in a flash. In the next moment¡ª Boom! Boom! The sounds of explosions rang out. Two smaller spiders hiding on the sidelines were obliterated, their blood and shell fragments mixing in a gruesome display. Screech!!! Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The male spider roared in fury, spitting out a web several meters wide. Whoosh! The sound of it cutting through the air was sharp and piercing. Chen Feng¡¯s right arm, encased in Azure-black chitin tinged with red, clenched into a fist and struck forward. Boom! Energy exploded, igniting a fiery burst. A hole tore through the sticky web as a flash of Azure light shot through, like an arrow. Whoosh! Chen Feng inhaled sharply mid-motion, tightening his grip as his muscles swelled, layering over one another. When he finally stopped, planting his feet firmly into the ground, the towering male spider loomed before him like an imposing wall. Exhale. He punched forward. Boom!!! White energy rings burst outward with a muffled explosion, striking the spider¡¯s abdomen. A single punch carrying over six tons of force¡ªequivalent to the strength of a Silver grade cyborg¡ªlanded. Crack! The black exoskeleton caved in, cracks spreading. The male spider¡¯s Azure eyes flickered with dread as it tried to retreat. Boom! Chen Feng¡¯s left fist followed, striking again. The repeated impacts caused intense pain, and the spider let out a mournful cry. Screech!!! The female spider frantically cried for help, summoning another massive spider¡ªnearly three meters tall¡ªthat had been hiding nearby. The new spider leaped down from a tall building with a deafening whoosh. But¡ª The crimson light in Chen Feng¡¯s eyes shone brightly. Despite his exhaustion from his explosive attacks, he roared coldly. "Rise!!!" With a ferocious grip, he tore into the male spider¡¯s flesh and shell. Explosive strength surged as he bent his knees and twisted his torso. Thud, thud, thud! The incoming webs were intercepted by the struggling male spider. In the next moment, a thunderous boom reverberated. Amid the smoke and trembling ground, Chen Feng¡¯s powerful over-the-shoulder throw crushed the male spider, while the other spider was now within reach. His left palm struck first, followed by his right fist. Tiger Roar Style and Flame Blast Style collided in dazzling bursts of deep red. Boom!!! The nearly three-meter spider disintegrated mid-air, leaving only its legs and fragmented eyes scattering to the ground. Without hesitation, Chen Feng moved again. Standing before the male and female spiders, he resembled a giant blocking the way. Boom! His fist descended, blood splattering, exoskeletons shattering. The weakened male spider struggled to rise, but shadows loomed, threatening to engulf Chen Feng¡¯s form. Green blood splattered across his Azure armor as he crushed the spider beneath his fist. Boom!!! The earth-shaking explosion rocked the streetlights, shattering windows. The massive spider¡¯s body vanished, leaving only a pool of green blood on the ground. Tap. Chen Feng stepped forward, crushing an eerie green eyeball beneath his foot. He scanned the ruined street, his heightened senses detecting no signs of life. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (1.9K+) Chapters, (2.43M+) Words. Chapter 108: Strength Soars! (2900+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- Tap! Tap! Chen Feng stepped forward, crossing a field of shattered debris. He could keenly sense that the corpses of the black-faced spiders were disappearing rapidly. Even the green blood staining the ground was gradually fading away, becoming ethereal. This wasn¡¯t the first time he had encountered such a phenomenon, and by now, he should¡¯ve been used to it. Yet, for some reason¡ªperhaps due to his growing strength¡ªChen Feng faintly felt as though some kind of power was leaving the dream. Or more precisely, being extracted. Unable to make sense of it, he suppressed the distracting thoughts. Taking another step, the blue carapace that covered his body quickly faded away, merging into the mark on the back of his hand. Just like the black ant swarm earlier, he gained no fear from these black-faced spiders. It was as if these creatures lacked such emotions entirely. Instead, they were dominated by rage, slaughter, and brutality. "Could it be that the toxic bee swarm is unique?" As this thought crossed his mind, Chen Feng stepped into the Extreme Martial Hall. Several faint red orbs of light floated on the ground, scattered across the training chambers. Upon seeing this, Chen Feng walked forward and collected them one by one. Yet, another doubt crept into his mind. "Can¡¯t these black-faced spiders collect these orbs?" "Or do they lack any sense of them from the beginning?" After a moment of consideration, Chen Feng managed to collect eight Limit-Breaking Light Orbs in total. In addition, in the innermost chamber of the martial hall, he found what he had been searching for¡ªa legacy iron book. Palm-sized and somewhat tattered, its edges were charred, and certain words on it were blackened, as if corroded by some mysterious power. [Cultivation Technique ¨C Advanced Fist Style 1: Extreme Martial Fist. Requires internal organ refinement and mastery of inner strength to begin. Recommended to first achieve mastery in Explosive Fist, the introductory fist technique.] "It¡¯s not the Heavenly Aura Overlord Body?" For some reason, Chen Feng felt a little disappointed. Perhaps it was because he had been yearning for a strengthening technique. Of course, the Extreme Martial Fist was also an advanced martial art, likely on par with the Heavenly Aura Overlord Body. He consoled himself with this thought and continued to carefully read the tiny, densely packed characters inscribed on the iron book. [This fist technique has three realms: Meteor, Falling Sun, and Extreme Combat.] [Training method for the first realm, Meteor: Strike like a meteor, shaking the heavens and earth! Train by circulating inner force throughout the body, stimulating specific acupoints in the arms and torso. Simultaneously, visualize the Extreme Martial Hall''s Essence of Combat Diagram to refine oneself.] [Second realm: Falling Sun...] The content abruptly ended, but Chen Feng¡¯s eyes lit up. When pieced together with the contents of other legacy iron books he had gathered earlier, the key training methods for the first realm, Meteor, were now complete! "Wait... I also need to visualize a diagram?" "The Essence of Combat Diagram?" His excitement dimmed slightly. The Flame Tiger School¡¯s internal techniques required visualization, and evidently, so did the Extreme Combat School¡¯s techniques. But where was he supposed to find the Essence of Combat Diagram? Scanning the martial hall, he found only a handful of books, most of them blank and pristine. There were no visual diagrams or similar items. This wasn¡¯t limited to the martial hall. Other residential buildings were similarly barren. Records with writing were rare; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have taken this long to find a few diary entries and scraps of content. "Forget it. I¡¯ll check other branches later and see if I can find it." Shaking his head, Chen Feng decided not to give up on cultivating the advanced technique. With his mind made up, he quickly regained composure and focused on the legacy iron book. He took out a black pen and notebook from his bag, meticulously copying and preserving its contents. Finally, after everything was done, he concentrated his will and activated Steel Bones. Within ten seconds... [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] A series of panel notifications appeared, and the progress of his Steel Bones talent surged. Crack! The legacy iron book developed cracks, spreading across its surface in seconds before disintegrating into gray powder and slipping from his hands. At the same time... Crack! Crack! It felt as though his bones were growing anew. Clenching his fist, Chen Feng sensed an overwhelming strength and solidity. [Steel Bones LV2: 1/100] "Upgraded." Chen Feng carefully sensed his body, as though he could directly observe his bones. Then, with a slight movement of his hand... A streak of white swiftly took form, transforming in the blink of an eye into a half-meter-long broadsword. He casually swung it forward. The sword cleaved effortlessly through the martial hall¡¯s walls, splitting them like tofu. Boom! As the wall collapsed, Chen Feng¡¯s eyes gleamed with determination. "Comparable to silver-grade steel." His perception confirmed the significant enhancements to his Steel Bones. The hardness had greatly increased, and shapeshifting had become far easier. Additionally, he could now manipulate a volume close to half a meter outside his body. With a thought, the broadsword in his hand shifted form. In an instant, it turned into a 40-centimeter round shield, pure white and seamless. Holding the shield for a few seconds, it transformed again. The shield shrank, and his entire arm became encased in white bone. "That works." Chen Feng nodded in satisfaction. His frequent use of the Azure Armor in the city had drawn significant attention, even alarming the Heaven¡¯s Punishment System. Thus, unless absolutely necessary, he preferred to avoid attracting more attention in urban areas. Steel Bones¡¯ upgrade perfectly filled this gap. In battle, covering vital areas with it would mimic some functions of the Azure Armor. After testing various shapes, Chen Feng stored it away and resumed searching for orbs in the dream realm. Time passed until the surrounding fog began to churn once more. Feeling his center of gravity shift, Chen Feng opened his eyes to find wooden planks and beams in his view. "I¡¯m back." Reaching under his pillow, he retrieved his phone. It still read 7:05. Rising, he walked to the wooden window. The sounds of martial training could already be heard outside. In the neighboring courtyard, Xu Tingxiao was practicing diligently, alternating between stances, punches, and kicks, creating powerful gusts of wind. Observing closely, Chen Feng noted the deep crimson energy enveloping Xu¡¯s arms. Even his legs showed traces of energy coating them. "His talent really is better than mine." Chen Feng acknowledged the truth. Xu Tingxiao¡¯s martial aptitude was indeed superior. Yet... The panel appeared before him. [Limit-Break Points: 8] "Upgrade!" With that thought, six Limit-Breaking Light Orbs were consumed instantly. The residual spirit of martial artists filled his mind, enhancing his understanding. The progress of Crimson Tiger Force surged. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In moments, Chen Feng looked down at his legs, where a faint crimson hue emerged. Each advancement in the Blazing Flame Stage of the Crimson Tiger Force made his energy stronger. He could now coat both feet completely. "It seems I should learn another energy technique." Considering this, Chen Feng thought of a complementary move from the Crimson Tiger Style: Tiger Leap. Empowering his legs with energy would enhance his agility, allowing him to seize the initiative in combat. This had always been his weak point, but now he could compensate. Looking at the last two Limit-Breaking Light Orbs he had intentionally reserved... [Limit-Break Points: 2] [Explosive Fist: Proficient (91/100)+] After a moment of deliberation, Chen Feng decided. "Upgrade!" A flood of insights filled his mind¡ªcountless nights of arduous practice honing his Explosive Fist technique. Suddenly, the panel displayed: [Explosive Fist: Mastered!] [Strength: 17.9 ¡ú 18.6] [Agility: 16.4 ¡ú 17.0] [Physique: 21.6 ¡ú 22.4] [Willpower: 18.1 ¡ú 19.0] "Three points to attributes." Chen Feng clenched his fist, feeling the surging power. His arm swelled, veins bulging like writhing serpents, muscles rigid and defined. The strength he now wielded was astonishing. If he unleashed Explosive Fist now, even without activating the Azure Armor, he could exceed four tons of force. Besides that, there was one more thing. "Power exertion technique." After mastering the Explosive Fist, although the increase in various attributes wasn¡¯t very noticeable, the technique of gathering strength and doubling the explosive power had almost become his instinct. Chen Feng focused his mind, and the strength in his arm dissipated, quickly returning to its original state. In contrast, the already strong strength in his legs could now also exhibit the doubled enhancement of the Explosive Fist. "Every move, whether it''s a punch or a kick, can elevate the power." A flash of brilliance appeared in his eyes. Chen Feng was very satisfied with the decision he had just made. The improvement of Explosive Fist was indeed correct! He adapted to this for a moment in the room, gathered all his strength, and relaxed his mind before pushing open the door. A blue sky greeted his eyes, and the trees in the courtyard were lush and thick, their roots twisting together. Next door, Xu Tingxiao was still grunting and practicing martial arts. Chen Feng withdrew his gaze. Since Li Shi was acting and taking care of his master, he planned to go directly to the mountain gate¡¯s canteen for a meal. "Hey, wait for me." Suddenly, Xu Tingxiao shouted. Chen Feng paused his steps for a moment. "I¡¯ve been wanting to go eat, but you never got up." "You''ve never been to the canteen, and without me guiding you, you''d definitely get lost." The voice was accompanied by footsteps approaching. Although Chen Feng had the perception ability and wouldn''t get lost, he didn¡¯t rebut. Though this junior brother spoke with arrogance, he wasn¡¯t a bad person at heart. Sensing his character, Chen Feng slowed his steps and walked alongside him. Their footsteps echoed, and perhaps feeling the silence, Xu Tingxiao quickly asked out of curiosity. "How¡¯s your Crimson Tiger Force coming along?" "Not bad," Chen Feng didn¡¯t want to discourage him. "Tch, I can tell you haven¡¯t entered the stage of the skill yet." Xu Tingxiao crossed his arms over his chest, wearing a red-patterned cloud robe, a disciple¡¯s garment. He was quite handsome and had a refined demeanor. "I told you, Master was wrong when he chose. I should''ve been the senior brother." "I¡¯ll tell you, I might break through the Steel Fire level in less than a month, and then the gap between us will only grow wider." His tone was filled with pride as he tilted his head, finding a sense of self-importance. Chen Feng remained silent. "But even if I break through, it¡¯s not enough. We¡¯re still too weak." With a sigh, Xu Tingxiao suddenly thought of their master¡¯s serious injuries. "If we don¡¯t enter the True Intent, we can never become the sect master and support the mountain gate." "Master must have been under too much pressure, or else why would his cultivation go awry?" As they spoke, the two entered the canteen. It was a spacious place, several hundred square meters in size. The decoration had a classical style with wooden tables and chairs, and ink paintings hung on both sides. The window area displayed a variety of food: porridge, steamed buns, noodles, as well as some specially made dried meat and pickled vegetables, along with bread and milk. "Hello, Senior Brother Chen!" "Hello, Senior Brother Xu!" A series of greetings sounded as the canteen had dozens of sect disciples eating or waiting in line. Most of them were formal or core disciples, with only a few true disciples. Chen Feng nodded slightly, and Xu Tingxiao beside him maintained a proud and aloof expression. Soon, the two grabbed large plates of food and found a vacant seat. As martial artists, they had a large appetite. While others buried their heads in eating, Chen Feng finished one plate and quickly went back for a second. Xu Tingxiao secretly clicked his tongue, thinking that martial artists practicing hard techniques were indeed quite fierce. "After this, I¡¯m going to deliver medicinal soup to Master. Would you like to come along?" Xu Tingxiao asked after finishing his meal, looking at Chen Feng who was still eating his second plate. "I have some matters to attend to. I¡¯m going down the mountain today." Chen Feng replied briefly, and Xu Tingxiao raised an eyebrow. "Alright." He hesitated for a moment but then reminded him, "Actually, Master cares a lot about you." "When you¡¯re done with your matters, remember to come back and visit him." After speaking, he left the canteen by himself. Sensing his departing figure, Chen Feng lowered his head to continue eating, his gaze quietly becoming deep. --- By ten in the morning, the cement road through the mountains had dense green forests on either side, lush and thick. Chen Feng sat in the back seat of the black car, with Wu Shuang accompanying him. "Junior Brother Chen, our Flame Tiger Sect still has some enemies." "You should let a few of our true disciples know when you go up or down the mountain, just to be on the safe side." Wu Shuang explained, and Chen Feng lightly nodded, silently gazing out the window at the mountain scenery. Beyond the trees, there were gradually lower hills and residential houses. Black-tiled brick houses dotted the landscape, but there were also a few small western-style two-story buildings. The fields crisscrossed, and from a distance, the people walking within them looked like ants. Whether Chen Feng kept her advice in mind, Wu Shuang¡¯s expression was serious as she looked at the roadside ahead. The sect master was severely injured, suspected of going astray, with only one-tenth of his power left. The ones who could hold the fort in the sect were the Third Elder and the Junior Uncle, with the remaining true disciples still only at the second or third level of power. The Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect wasn¡¯t without enemies, and the Third Elder had to stay in the city, while the Junior Uncle had to guard the sect gate. Therefore, it was best to be cautious and prepared. As the thoughts shifted, the vehicle entered a flatter section of road. The view opened up, and the dense forest on both sides was clear, with the yellow line in the middle of the road. "Hm?" Suddenly, Wu Shuang¡¯s eyes narrowed. "Stop the car." A low voice suddenly came from the left side, faster than her reaction. The driver was momentarily confused, and the next second. Whoosh!!! A huge rock, about two meters in size, appeared out of the forest, falling from the sky and landing in the middle of the road. With a bang, the ground shook, blocking their path. The driver¡¯s face changed dramatically, finally realizing the situation. He hurriedly slammed on the brakes and steadied the steering wheel. Whoosh!! "Not good!" Wu Shuang¡¯s expression slightly changed, and she saw another two- to three-meter-sized gray stone coming from the left forest, heading straight for them. At this moment, she realized it was an ambush. Moreover, the angle of the attack was clearly intentional, deliberately striking from the left to block her position, preventing her from breaking the window and intervening in time. "Chen¡­" Bang!! The window shattered, and a figure leapt out. The person beside her reacted faster than her, even sensing the attack before the giant stone had risen into the air. It was as if he had predicted it. A tiger roar exploded. Boom!! The nearly three-meter-sized stone shattered, and the black car barely stopped just in time before impact. The cement ground was scraped by the brakes, leaving four long black skid marks, with the first giant stone blocking the way. Clack! Wu Shuang had already jumped out of the broken window. The air was filled with the unpleasant smell of tire friction, and glass shards and debris scattered everywhere. Looking urgently, she saw a tall figure in a gray robe standing by the roadside, perfectly unharmed. She felt a slight relief, but then turned to follow his cold gaze. In the left forest, a figure wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap slowly stood up. The person wore a black leather jacket, had yellowish skin, and a medium build. He looked ordinary, but Wu Shuang suddenly felt a sense of horror. It was as if the difference in life force or the person was about to breakthrough to True Intent. "Now this is unexpected." "A recently initiated true disciple, and yet his reaction speed is faster than most true disciples." "Hehe... Li Tong, this old man, really took in a good disciple." The voice was hoarse like a snake''s hiss, and then the person took off his sunglasses and casually tossed them aside. A pair of triangular eyes revealed, with blood-red vertical pupils, inhuman-like. In an instant, Wu Shuang¡¯s pupils contracted. "Blood Poison Hand!!" She would never forget that face. It belonged to the infamous villain whom the Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect would always remember. The first senior brother of the true disciples had died at his hands, which caused the sect master to become furious and take action, but he had managed to escape. "Hehe, it¡¯s the little girl from back then. Didn¡¯t expect you¡¯ve already entered the second level of power." "What¡¯s the matter, are you¡­" Whoosh!!! A figure broke the air, and the gray robe tore through the atmosphere. The tall, burly figure had already crossed a distance of seven or eight meters, standing right in front of the Blood Poison Hand. His white teeth gleamed with cold killing intent. The knotted fist, filled with blue veins, burst into the air, and a low voice reverberated. "Finally, I¡¯ve caught you." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (1.9K+) Chapters, (2.43M+) Words. Chapter 109: Divine Power Crystals (2500+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- Boom!! On the roadside, in the woods. The sound of fists meeting palms, followed by a muffled explosion. The surrounding trees rustled, and the ground sank as if a strong wind had passed through. "Tsk tsk, what great strength." "Born with divine power, no wonder that old man Li Tong took you as his disciple." Blood Poison Hand, Feng Li, still stood in place, using a single palm to block Chen Feng''s punch. As their eyes met, he sneered, and his blood-red energy suddenly burst, covering his entire body. The faint smell of blood wafted through the air, signaling the impending danger. Behind them, Wu Shuang''s face tightened in disbelief. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Inner and Outer Unity!?" Hadn¡¯t he been crippled by the sect leader ten years ago? How could he have recovered his strength? As the thought flashed, Feng Li''s left palm, stained with an eerie blood color, suddenly slammed towards Chen Feng''s chest. Wu Shuang inwardly cursed and gritted her teeth, charging forward while urgently shouting, "Junior Brother Chen, dodge!" Boom!! Flames erupted. A deep crimson covered Chen Feng''s arms in an instant. His pupils shrank, and a deep murmur echoed. "Flame Blast Style." Boom!! The fists collided, and their energies exploded. The powerful impact shattered the soil and leaves, and Feng Li¡¯s left arm attack was momentarily blocked. His brows furrowed, surprised. "Inner Strength?" Hadn¡¯t this kid only just started training? With the sound of hurried footsteps, Wu Shuang, who had rushed forward, was equally stunned. But she knew there was no time for shock. The priority was to send for reinforcements from the sect and stall Feng Li. "Sister Wu, just guard the flank." A deep voice rang out, and a tall, muscular figure suddenly trembled. Boom! Bang!! The powerful force sent Feng Li stumbling backward. Wu Shuang had yet to fully react when she saw the tall figure¡¯s energy shift. The rosy skin that had been exposed quickly turned a deep bronze. Swish!! The figure blurred, moving like an afterimage, with both arms glowing in crimson. Chen Feng grinned fiercely, stepping forward with lightning speed, his left palm swinging through the air. Tiger Roar Style! Boom!! Palm against palm, a fierce rebound surged. Feng Li''s feet moved, crushing dry leaves, and he suppressed the impact, narrowing his eyes slightly. "He even practiced the Bronze Statue Technique?" "Looks like I really found the right person this time. As long as I cripple this kid¡­" Snap!! A whip-like kick exploded in the air. Chen Feng went all out, his right leg sweeping through the air like a concrete pillar, interrupting Feng Li¡¯s unfinished words. Boom! Energy collided, hands and legs crashing together. The blood-red energy burst out, and Feng Li¡¯s eyes grew dark with irritation as he took the powerful whip kick with a single palm. "These young ones are really hot-headed," he thought. "Not even letting me finish my sentence." Buzz!! With the sound of a punch cutting through the air, Feng Li¡¯s thoughts were once again interrupted by a fierce barrage. Blood surged through his body as Chen Feng suddenly felt a rush of excitement. Through his senses, he could tell that Feng Li was very strong. Stronger than Wu Shuang, and all the elite disciples of the Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect. In fact, he was almost on par with a silver-grade cyborg without weapon modules¡ªjust as powerful as the black-faced spider he had killed yesterday. And such a formidable opponent... Chen Feng''s right arm gathered a deep crimson energy as the Flame Blast Style flared once more. Chen Feng was thoroughly satisfied! Boom!! The energy exploded, and Feng Li¡¯s eyes darkened further. Blood Poison Hand Feng Li once again used a single palm to block Chen Feng¡¯s lethal strike, showing annoyance and mockery. "Ten years without walking the martial world, and a mere first level of Inner Strength dares to challenge me?" His voice turned cold, and the next moment, he thrust his palm forward, ripping through the air with such speed that it left behind an afterimage. It slammed into Chen Feng¡¯s chest. Boom!! The shockwave exploded, the ground beneath them sinking several inches. His grey robe ripped apart, revealing ragged cloth fluttering in the wind. Behind them, Wu Shuang''s face turned pale, seeing the blood-red energy gathering on Chen Feng''s chest, so thick it looked like fresh blood. "Kid, remember this." "This palm¡­" Crack, crack, crack! Bones grew, muscles expanded. The grey robe tore apart inch by inch, and a two-meter-tall giant blocked all the light in the forest. "Are you trying to scratch an itch for me?" Chen Feng said coldly, suddenly charging forward with a headbutt. Boom!! A white streak appeared on Feng Li¡¯s forehead as he stumbled backward, a cracking sound following the impact. Chen Feng stepped forward, hands covered in flames, launching a powerful punch. Buzz!! The veins on his fists bulged as they stirred up a fierce wind, causing the temperature around them to rise rapidly. It felt as if flames had erupted, burning intensely. But surprisingly, Feng Li, who had been stumbling backward, suddenly steadied himself, unleashing another palm strike. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!! The two exchanged punches and palms, the forest around them turning into a blur of blood-red and deep crimson shadows. Wu Shuang, who had been guarding the flank, was petrified. Breaking through the first level of Inner Strength in such a short time was already impressive. But to be able to fight evenly with Feng Li, who had reached the third level of Inner and Outer Unity? Boom! Another clash of fists. The ground cracked and Chen Feng narrowed his eyes. "Something¡¯s not right." He carefully studied Feng Li¡¯s head. He had clearly landed a hard blow on his skull, hearing a crack, but now it appeared there were no injuries? There was no sign of any drop in his energy either. However, Feng Li was the one who was truly alarmed. "This kid''s head is so hard." Feng Li¡¯s gaze darkened as he stared closely at Chen Feng. The white mark had disappeared as if everything that had just happened was a mere illusion. Something felt off, but he couldn''t pinpoint what it was. Buzz! In an instant, Chen Feng¡¯s next punch came at him. His face darkened, and a murderous intent surged, his voice cold. "Get lost!!" He pushed both palms forward, unleashing a tidal wave of blood-red energy from his hands, forming a column of air that surged forward without stopping. Boom! The violent force exploded, ripping through the air faster than a bullet and slamming into Chen Feng¡¯s chest. The powerful shockwave felt like a dragon serpent entering his body. Whoosh!! Whoosh!! Chen Feng''s legs slid back, carving a seven or eight-meter-long mark in the earth, the surrounding grass twisting and breaking as it mixed with the dirt. Behind him, the massive trees crashed to the ground with a loud thud. "Breaking through the air with energy¡ªthis is what Inner and Outer Unity is?" Chen Feng sank several inches into the ground but quickly stabilized himself. Looking down, he saw a blood-red palm print on his chest. Tiny blood vessels had ruptured, and a few droplets of blood seeped out. It felt as if he had been hit by a sniper bullet¡ªtoo fast for him to activate his Steel Bones defense in time. "Just a scratch?" Feng Li narrowed his triangular eyes, frowning slightly. He hadn¡¯t expected the opponent''s physique to be this strong. After all, this attack could shatter bronze-grade metal, and even with the Bronze Statue Technique, it shouldn¡¯t have been like this. Something felt off. Feng Li''s eyes flickered. Suddenly, he recalled the hardness of Chen Feng¡¯s skull and the immense strength. "Born with an invincible physique?" A thought suddenly struck him. His face froze, followed by a sinister look of vengeance. "Hahahahaha! Li Tong!!" "What a born invincible physique! Even if I die today, I¡¯ll cripple your disciple!" As his words fell, his energy shifted. With a whoosh, Feng Li stomped the ground and shot forward, the earth beneath him exploding. He appeared in front of Chen Feng in an instant, immediately unleashing palm strike after palm strike. Boom! Boom! Boom!!! Each palm was near four tons of force, quick and overwhelming, like a serpent attacking. Chen Feng¡¯s speed slightly lagged, and he could only barely keep up. Dust filled the air, and trees around them were shredded by the force of the palm strikes, splinters flying everywhere! Wu Shuang, recovering from her shock, hesitated before charging to help. But the next second. "Don''t interfere!" Chen Feng¡¯s low, almost scolding voice rang out. He had no intention of ganging up on someone, and he didn¡¯t think Feng Li required him to break his principles! Boom!! Another palm struck Chen Feng¡¯s chest, the bronze-colored skin flashing. The shockwaves surged through him, but Feng Li¡¯s eyes became even more vicious, pushing back the discomfort with his thick energy and fully unleashing his power. "Congratulations. You''ve successfully angered me." Chen Feng''s gaze was cold, his tone low. Feng Li frowned slightly, suddenly feeling an additional cold and hard sensation beneath the blood-colored force in his palm. Immediately after, a hum sounded. The air vibrated, and the muscular arm suddenly grew even thicker. It was like waves surging, or like rocks rolling. With a swish! At the moment of his force explosion, Chen Feng remained still and launched an explosive punch! Boom!! The form of a giant tiger overlapped with the explosive punch! A punch with over five tons of force. Charging from his waist, it struck directly at Feng Li¡¯s abdomen. Feng Li''s eyes widened, blood vessels bulging. His body curled up like a shrimp, and the next second, he flew backward with a whoosh, smashing through one tree after another. Tch tch tch tch tch! The rapid footsteps rang out as Chen Feng, bare-chested, moved like a fierce tiger, leaving afterimages, chasing after the retreating Feng Li. Crack! A one-meter-thick green tree was smashed apart. Chen Feng reached Feng Li¡¯s side, and the two appeared as if crossing each other like a cross. The steel bones in his chest quietly vanished again, and his right arm¡¯s muscles swelled. Boom! It was like a steel rod smashing down, followed by the cracking sound of bones. The momentum of Feng Li¡¯s backward flight was forcefully interrupted. He fell from mid-air, landing on his back and crashing into the ground. Boom!! The ground shook, and the soil churned, creating a massive pit. Chen Feng¡¯s legs dug into the earth like plows, forcing him to stop. His arms were as thick as concrete pillars, his fingers tightly clenched as he delivered continuous punches! Boom boom boom boom boom! One punch after another landed, each strike sinking deeply. Blood splattered, clothes ripped apart. Feng Li¡¯s chest, like mush, tumbled as his spine cracked. Shock! Astonishment! He never imagined the opponent¡¯s strength would reach this level. Over five tons? And this was just the first stage of the Inner Strength? ¡°No, I¡¯ll die like this!¡± A shocking thought flashed through his mind. He could no longer care about anything else and hurriedly used his last trump card. "Hmm?" Chen Feng¡¯s gaze sharpened as he detected an unusual fluctuation from within Feng Li¡¯s body. Somewhat familiar? Boom! He punched again, crushing Feng Li¡¯s breastbone completely. But the next second. A wave of black power erupted from within Feng Li, like thin serpents connecting all his flesh and bones, forcibly healing his injuries. In an instant, the familiar fluctuation appeared. "Serpent Spirit Power!" Chen Feng''s eyes lit up. He had finally noticed what was wrong. Looking further, Feng Li¡¯s pupils rapidly changed, resembling snake-like vertical slits. The skin on his body began to form dense black dots, like scales growing from beneath his flesh. ¡°Kid, I¡¯m not only going to cripple you!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll also cut off your head and use it as a trophy tonight...¡± A cold voice rang out. Feng Li glared at Chen Feng, ready to strike. Boom!! The fist descended once again, but this time, there was something different. Small white dots, like sharp spikes, appeared at the knuckles of Chen Feng¡¯s fist, wrapped in force, and extremely hidden. Whoosh! Flesh was torn, and bones cracked. Feng Li¡¯s eyes widened. Chen Feng again coldly hurled his fist. Heal your injuries? Then I¡¯ll keep hitting until you run out of power!! Boom boom boom boom boom!! The dull sounds of fists landing echoed as blood exploded everywhere. Wu Shuang, who had always maintained a calm demeanor, opened her mouth in shock but could not make a sound. Tch tch! Until the sound of footsteps quietly rang out. A figure in a gray-white robe appeared from the forest behind, and Wu Shuang finally snapped back to reality. "Little Master Uncle?" She was somewhat surprised; had the mountain gate¡¯s support arrived so quickly? "I¡¯ve been here the whole time." Li Chenye had a cool temperament, his eyes narrow like phoenixes. "Now it seems, Junior Brother Chen can handle it himself." "Impressive, a born tyrant¡¯s bone, to reach this level." He stood quietly, his gaze subtly shifting. Looking at the black power healing Feng Li, his eyes deepened. Wu Shuang felt something in her heart, perhaps the mountain gate had anticipated the Blood Poison Hand''s assassination attempt. Boom! Finally, the sound of fists landing echoed again. Suppressing her thoughts, Wu Shuang glanced at the fallen Feng Li, his breath weakening, and the black snake-like power rapidly dissipating. Finally, with a crack. Feng Li''s head was brutally smashed open, blood spilling out, staining the dirt and grass. [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] "Blood Poison Hand?" "Nothing special." Ignoring the terrified look in Feng Li¡¯s bloodshot eyes, Chen Feng stomped on his head. With a burst of brute strength, his bones shook. Boom!! White bones and blood exploded, scattering everywhere. An invisible force was drawn from Feng Li¡¯s body and quickly merged into the black lines in Chen Feng¡¯s right palm. [Serpent Spirit Power: 25/100] The prompt appeared, and Chen Feng¡¯s perception showed that Feng Li''s breath had completely dissipated. Blood stained the ground, his torn clothes and sunglasses covered by the churned dirt. Upon further inspection. He saw a small, black object the size of a fingernail where Feng Li¡¯s heart should have been, looking like some kind of power crystal. Crack! As if all power had been drained. In less than half a second, the crystal shattered into dust. "So, it''s a Divine Power Crystal." Li Chenye had somehow appeared beside him. Chen Feng, however, was not surprised. His plan to go up and down the mountain had always been part of the plan. Rather than the appearance of Li Chenye, he was more curious about the term used earlier. "Divine Power Crystal?" "Yes." Li Chenye nodded lightly and waved his hand, causing the crystal dust on the ground to automatically gather into his hand. The phantom of the red tiger appeared behind him. Chen Feng knew this was some force forcibly merging, not true recovery. "Something from the Cult of the Evil God. It¡¯s rumored to be a power crystal left by some evil gods." "This one should be from the Serpent Spirit Sect." As he finished speaking, the crystal quickly turned into dust again and slipped from his fingers. Chen Feng was puzzled. "So, the Blood Poison Hand joined the Serpent Spirit Sect?" "Not necessarily." Shaking his head, Li Chenye seemed to remember something. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (1.9K+) Chapters, (2.43M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 110: Weapon Arts & Divine Arts (2200+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- "Not long ago when I went down the mountain, I heard that a new martial arts faction had emerged in the Nanjiang Martial Arts World." In the forest, Li Chenye, dressed in a gray-white robe, slowly explained as he recalled something. "This faction claims to have discovered a shortcut to achieving master-level accomplishments, or even surpassing them." "It seems to be related to these Divine Power Crystals." Beside him, Wu Shuang had remained silent, but was still shaken upon hearing this. It goes without saying how rare martial arts masters are in the Red Country''s martial arts world¡ªthere are only a handful. The road to breaking through is perilous, but now, someone dares to say they''ve discovered a shortcut? "Master Uncle, may I ask which faction this is?" "Divine Martial Alliance." Li Chenye spoke softly. Upon hearing the answer, both Chen Feng and Wu Shuang furrowed their brows. Divine Martial Alliance? "It is a martial path that integrates Divine Power Crystals, hence the name ''Divine Martial''." With deep eyes, Li Chenye stood still and slightly raised his head. His gaze pierced through the gaps between the green tree branches, to the boundless blue sky above. "In today''s age, martial arts are in decline." "Whether it¡¯s mechanical martial arts or human augmentation, the power of technology grows stronger with time, but pure martial arts, even masters, can eventually run out of strength." "Perhaps, this is another way to pursue martial arts." With a tone of lament, Li Chenye¡¯s eyes revealed a trace of melancholy. Chen Feng, deep in thought, couldn''t help but think of the martial arts he saw in the dream world. [Alliance History, Year 92: King of Fists Luo Chao first discovered the secrets of martial arts, breaking limits successfully, thereby revitalizing martial arts and elevating their status, making them rival the path of extraordinary awakenings.] A martial path that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the extraordinary¡ªundoubtedly an extremely powerful martial art. He couldn¡¯t help but feel that perhaps this was related to the martial factions on Earth, and might even represent a possible path forward. "Master Uncle, what exactly is mechanical martial arts?" Suddenly, Chen Feng had a question. He had never heard of this system before. "Mechanical martial arts, it¡¯s another form of martial path, or rather, it¡¯s no longer truly martial arts." Li Chenye shook his head, his expression returning to its usual calm. "The principle is somewhat similar to human augmentation, where special modules are implanted into the body, containing various martial logic." "However, mechanical martial artists are mostly still human in terms of flesh and blood. They rely on special modules, combined with spiritual power, to control external weapons, use mechanical energy to replace internal energy, and manipulate electromagnetic fields to evolve martial intent, thus achieving tremendous destructive power." With a simple explanation, Chen Feng recalled the moment when he killed Gao Tianheng. He had been blocked by a cyborg from Utopia, and then a dark golden flying shuttle had descended from the sky to rescue him, allowing him to escape. Could this be the mechanical martial arts? "Does this mean many people will eventually choose the mechanical martial arts path?" Chen Feng asked curiously, as Wu Shuang handed him a coat she had found in the car. "Not necessarily. Mechanical martial arts also has its shortcomings." Li Chenye shook his head. "Because special modules are implanted into the body, some flesh and blood are replaced with machinery. All the martial arts training becomes wasted, and it becomes difficult to apply them. Not every martial artist can tolerate this feeling." "Moreover, mechanical martial artists rely heavily on external forces. They need to inject large amounts of enhancement drugs to improve their physical and mental strength. Their power is closely tied to the quality of their external weapons, mechanical energy, and electromagnetic fields." "To enhance strength, you have to spend a lot of resources and money. The costs keep increasing as time goes on." Chen Feng understood the meaning. Mechanical martial artists mainly rely on "spending money"¡ªthe higher the quality of the equipment, the stronger the power. While it still sounds like martial arts, it actually follows the same path as human augmentation, focusing on mechanical technology. He didn''t ask more questions and they continued their brief conversation. Soon, a vehicle from the mountain gate arrived. Li Tong, dressed in a red-striped white robe, stepped out of the car with a flushed face, showing no signs of weakness at all. Behind him were several true disciples, including Xu Tingxiao, who was still in the dark about the situation, following along. "Is he dead?" Li Tong glanced around the scene. The corpse of the Blood Poison Hand lay on the ground, surrounded by destruction¡ªtrees shattered, the earth overturned, as if bombarded by artillery. His eyes sought confirmation from Li Chenye. "Junior Brother Chen did it." Li Chenye spoke calmly, causing everyone to pause in surprise. Li Tong was shocked, and the true disciples were even more bewildered. After all, if they had encountered this Blood Poison Hand, unless they worked together, it would be difficult to kill him. For a moment, all eyes turned to Chen Feng. They saw that he had only a small wound on his chest, which had already scabbed over. With mixed expressions, sighs and praises followed. He was already this strong after just reaching the first level of Inner Strength. If he breaks through again in the future... No one dared to imagine. "Truly my good disciple, you really have the bearing of a master." Li Tong smiled and patted Chen Feng¡¯s shoulder, his pride and expectations clearly evident. As for Xu Tingxiao, wearing a red-striped robe behind him, he had finally digested the truth and snapped back to reality. But just as he had processed it all, he felt an overwhelming discomfort. "You were right this morning." "Our gap has indeed widened." Chen Feng walked past him and deliberately whispered. Xu Tingxiao¡¯s body shook visibly, his fists clenched in frustration. --- "Li Feng is dead." In a villa living room, at the same time that the Blood Poison Hand died, a black snake wooden sculpture on a wooden table suddenly cracked. A woman with wavy hair, wearing a red leather jacket, had a grim expression, and the man beside her, cloaked in black, remained silent. "Was it the people from the Flame Tiger faction who killed him?" "How would I know?" The woman in red snapped back, "I told him not to go, and now look at what happened!" "A divine power crystal of emissary-level importance... There¡¯s been a lot of debate about this within the alliance. If the elders find out, you and I will definitely be punished." The man in black remained silent, while a raven flew past the window. Its cawing continued, and soon, the room was filled with silence. --- That day, the matter was concluded. Chen Feng, along with Li Tong and others, took the corpse of the Blood Poison Hand back to the mountain, offering a tribute to the true disciples he had killed. Perhaps because of this event, Chen Feng felt that the true disciples around him began to subtly change their attitude towards him. "Junior Brother Chen, thank you for avenging Senior Brother Luo." "If you ever need anything, feel free to find me." The speaker was Zhang Guiyuan, a second true disciple. Wearing a white robe, he had reached the integration of internal and external energy long ago. In his forties, but appearing to be in his early thirties, his short black hair and rosy complexion made him look youthful. Chen Feng learned that the former grandmaster disciple, Luo Yan, was very close to them, like an older brother. As they chatted casually, the initial unfamiliarity between Chen Feng and the other disciples began to dissolve. Watching this scene with a smile, Li Tong stood at the side, silently observing. Meanwhile, Li Chenye turned and glanced outside, toward the mountain gate. "It looks like Nephew Xu is practicing again," he said softly. Li Tong smiled casually, "Young people always have a bit of competitive spirit." "Yes," Li Chenye nodded, not refuting. With a clear view of everything at the mountain gate, he spoke again, "The Southern Martial Arts Conference is starting soon." "Are you planning to take anyone with you, Senior Brother?" "All of them," Li Tong said, his gaze distant. The smile on his face quietly faded. "Speaking of which, the tournament will be held in Yun Port." "I haven''t been there in many years." His tone was long, filled with nostalgia. Li Chenye, though never having experienced that time himself, had heard Li Tong mention it many times. The atmosphere became quiet, only the wind from below the mountain breaking the stillness. The disciples moved around, crossing paths. The goldfish swam in the pond, their movements peaceful. Li Chenye¡¯s gaze grew deep, and he finally spoke his thoughts. "Senior Brother, I think I want to go down the mountain." --- That evening, at dusk. Since his injuries weren¡¯t serious and had already scabbed over, Chen Feng didn''t continue with his treatment. After dinner, he went straight back to his courtyard. He also received a bottle of pills from his master, Li Tong. "This is the Flame Origin Pill, a secret medicine to assist in the cultivation of the Crimson Tiger Force," Li Tong had said. "Because the inner force focuses on purity, the effect of this pill is limited. The increase won¡¯t be substantial, so be mentally prepared." "There are four pills in a bottle. Take one a day, and let me know when you run out." Recalling Li Tong''s instructions, Chen Feng stood inside the room and opened the pill bottle, taking out one pill. It was round, about the size of a fingernail, with a reddish color. It smelled faintly bitter, but Chen Feng didn¡¯t mind. He popped the pill into his mouth. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Crunch! The bitter taste hit his throat. Once the pill entered his stomach, he felt a surge of heat, as though a fire had appeared in his lower abdomen. Without delay, he quickly began his martial practice and visualized the Crimson Tiger Soaring Through the Sky diagram in his mind. His internal force flowed quietly, and his organs began refining. The sense of heat was drawn in and transformed. Time passed, and the night deepened. By the time Chen Feng opened his eyes, a flash of light shone in his gaze. [Crimson Tiger Force: Blazing Flame (48/100)] "Not bad, I¡¯ve gained 12% progress." Satisfied, Chen Feng nodded and guided his intent. Soon, deep red inner force leaked from his pores, covering his feet and climbing up to his heels. The inner force grew stronger, and it was nearing full-body circulation. At this rate, if he added the Limit-Breaking Light Orb, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he broke through to the Steel Fire level. His thoughts flickered, and after a moment of adapting to the growth of his inner force, Chen Feng prepared to rest for the night. Just then, his phone suddenly vibrated. Raising an eyebrow, he picked it up to see the message. [Chen Yun: Picture.] [The new dormitory is great. Don¡¯t worry.] [How have you been? Is everything going smoothly at the martial arts hall?] It was a message from Chen Yun. Chen Feng realized that he had forgotten to reply to her earlier messages. On the day he arrived in the central city, Chen Yun had sent him messages, but he had been too tired from his battle with Zhao Jianlong and the drain from using the Azure Armor, so he had forgotten to respond. As he flipped through the chat, he saw several pictures she had sent recently. One was of a large school made of white jade-like material, resembling some special stone. A white dove, symbolizing peace, perched atop the school hall. In the background, there were single-person flying vehicles landing. Many of the people walking around had visible mechanical modifications, with half-augmented bodies blending into their everyday life. Another picture was an aerial view of the city. Bright and glorious. Neon lights blazed, and holographic projections covered the sky, with multi-colored rays of light weaving through the air. Beyond the glowing city, there were large containers stacked up against the outer metal walls, and in the distance, the vast blue ocean stretched out, with countless giant cargo ships docking at the shore. Some gray-white steel warships were also visible. "Central City, Yun Port." Chen Feng¡¯s eyes flickered as he typed a response. He hadn¡¯t come across much information about Central City online, except for pictures like these. Suddenly, he recalled something Lin Hao had said. Central City was also known as the New World in some circles. His thoughts were turbulent, rising in waves. Eventually, he glanced out the window at the dark sky, shaking his head slowly. He returned to his calm demeanor. If given the opportunity, he would definitely visit it in the future. But for now... Lying down on his bed, he closed his eyes. He knew that higher strength was the foundation for traveling the world. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@- Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 111: Fearful Speculation (2700+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- Tap, tap! In the dream world, the sound of footsteps echoed. Chen Feng, with a black bag slung over his shoulder, released his perception as he walked through a district full of towering buildings, heading straight toward the south. According to the map, there was a new branch of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall nine kilometers away, still within the Blue Light Zone. Walking alone, Chen Feng glanced at his own status panel. [Azure Armor LV2: 98/100] Today, when he killed Blood Poison Hand, the opponent had given him 12 fear points. Just two more points and it would level up. When that happens, Azure Armor''s power would definitely soar. "But where can I get them?" As the thought flashed through his mind, Chen Feng was halfway through his journey, turning a corner and entering a single-story apartment. He absorbed a "Limit Breaking" Light Orb floating in the living room, but his mind wasn¡¯t fully focused on it. The requirement for fear points was to make others fear him, and it had to be within a certain range. If this weren¡¯t the case, when he killed Zhao Jianlong during the city battle, which had nearly caused a stir in the whole district, with so many pedestrians and security officers around, he should have reached Azure Armor LV3 by now. Moreover, fear points also differed in quality. Ordinary respect was vastly different from life-and-death terror. The individual''s strength and mental resilience also had an impact on this. Suddenly, Chen Feng thought of the many disciples at the mountain gate. The weakest of them were in the Bone Refining realm, and there were even True Disciples at the Inner Strength realm. "No, it won¡¯t work." After thinking for a while, Chen Feng decided against it. These disciples, including the True Disciples, currently viewed him with respect and goodwill. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to make them fear him. His thoughts scattered, and he stored away the Limit Breaking Light Orb, starting to think about which enemies he still had left. Zhao Jianlong was dead, and his family, it seemed, was scared out of their wits and had fled Nanjiang. As for the Dong Tao that Lin Hao had mentioned, no one knew where he was hiding. Hmm? Suddenly, Chen Feng remembered the silver-gray cyborg from Utopia. "I wonder if there¡¯s any news from Utopia." His gaze flashed, but he quickly suppressed the distraction and decided to head down the mountain early to see if there were other targets he could find to collect fear points. Tap, tap! The footsteps continued as he entered another residential building, where he found a Limit Breaking Light Orb and an attribute Light Orb. [Strength: 18.6] [Agility: 17.0 ¡ú 17.2] [Constitution: 22.4 ¡ú 22.5] [Willpower: 19.0 ¡ú 19.2] "Insignificant." Chen Feng shook his head. But... He walked away from the building. Stepping onto the balcony, he stopped. Looking down, a piece of paper filled with writing was blown by the breeze and landed here. Raising an eyebrow, Chen Feng suddenly realized that the handwriting on it seemed familiar. [Alliance Year 246, March 7th.] [Hahahahaha, I, Wang Yu, am really a genius!!] [Who said that a mediocre talent can¡¯t save the world? I¡¯m amazing, directly mutating my talent¡ªwho can resist?] [Zhou Chong, this old guy, used to look down on me. Hmph, now he knows to speak quietly, right?] [When I become the leader of the enforcement team, no, the commander, let''s see if he won''t stand up and toast me.] [Alliance Year 246, March 9th.] [Damn, damn, why can¡¯t I summon Alonco anymore?] [Was the backlash from the last time too severe? But no, I¡¯ve basically recovered now.] [Don¡¯t mess with me, Alonco! Everyone in the city knows I can summon heroic spirits. Why aren¡¯t you responding to my call?] [Big Brother, please, will you respond once tomorrow? I¡¯ll give you a bow! Please!] [Alliance Year 246, March 10th.] [I¡¯m so embarrassed.] [Zhou Chong looks at me differently now. He must have figured out that my success was a fluke.] [Alliance Year 246, March 15th.] [Hahahahaha! Still me, as always.] The content suddenly cut off, and Chen Feng held the diary page in his hand, flipping it over twice. The familiar handwriting, names, and tone were unmistakable. Wang Yu... His gaze flickered, and he realized that this person might be someone special. Not only because of his powerful mutated talent. But also... "Why is it that all the diaries I¡¯ve found have information related to this person?" Chen Feng frowned slightly. "Or more accurately, why can I only find diaries related to him?" A sense of unease rose in his heart, but he couldn¡¯t make sense of the logic. He shook his head and finally stored the diary in his black bag. Tap! The footsteps continued. Soon, the sensation of dizziness hit him. When he opened his eyes again, the familiar wooden beams and ceiling were right in front of him. "I¡¯m back." Chen Feng got up, and sunlight filtered in through the window. Next door, Xu Tingxiao was still practicing martial arts, throwing punches and kicks, the sound of air breaking echoing. He glanced at his Limit Breaking status. [Limit Breaking Points: 2] Two pieces. Shaking his head, Chen Feng temporarily suppressed the urge to increase his attributes and soon turned his attention to the ceramic bottles beside the bed. One was white jade in color, and the other was light blue. The former was the Muscle Fortifying Tiger Bone Pill for cultivating Bronze Statue Technique, with four pills remaining. The latter was the Flame Origin Pill for cultivating the Crimson Tiger Force, with four pills left as well. Both were secret medicines prepared for him by his master, Li Tong. Pop! The crisp sound of the cork being pulled off, and one Flame Origin Pill was tossed into Chen Feng¡¯s mouth. At this moment, neither martial art could break through the current bottleneck. It was better to consume the secret medicine first and then choose which one to focus on if one of them faced a hard limit. Crunch! Gulp! Immediately, the pill entered his stomach, and a burning sensation surged through his body. Chen Feng walked to the yard, took his stance, and visualized the Crimson Tiger Soaring Through the Sky Diagram, guiding his internal energy and refining the medicinal power. "He actually got up to practice martial arts?" Xu Tingxiao, next door, frowned, then suddenly felt an intense sense of urgency. He had heard from the True Disciple seniors yesterday. Blood Poison Hand was a powerful master at the third level of the Inner Strength, skilled in internal arts and likely following a divine martial path. Even so, his usually lazy and silent senior brother had killed him in cold blood. Goosebumps spread all over him, and he remembered the bold words he had said to the man yesterday. Xu Tingxiao clenched his fists. He had planned to rest, but now his mood had completely shifted. "Again!" [Crimson Tiger Force: Blaze (60/100) +] An hour later, Chen Feng withdrew his gaze from the panel. His progress had increased by 12%, which was quite good. Turning his head, he looked toward Xu Tingxiao in the next yard. The energy covered his calves, and it was clear he was also making good progress. Chen Feng wasn¡¯t surprised by this. His master, Li Tong, wouldn¡¯t only have prepared secret medicines for him; Xu Tingxiao, as the second disciple, definitely had his own set of benefits. However... He and Xu Tingxiao still had a slight gap. The presence of Limit Breaking Light Orbs. It allowed him to bypass accumulation and insights, directly breaking through every level¡¯s bottleneck and surpassing others step by step. Chen Feng shook his head with a calm smile. Despite Xu Tingxiao¡¯s desperate efforts, it was somewhat amusing. Soon, he went to the mountain gate¡¯s dining hall for breakfast. He sent a message to Li Shi, telling him he would return to the city center in the afternoon. He hadn¡¯t been to the club in two days, and since Li Chengdong¡¯s group of members had paid, it would be rude not to visit. "Are you leaving again?" Xu Tingxiao had been quietly following him all this time. This kid had a somewhat arrogant personality, and apart from the True Disciples, he didn¡¯t think much of anyone else in the sect. However, most of the True Disciples were responsible for managing the sect¡¯s industries, and they weren¡¯t around most of the time. So, Xu Tingxiao hadn¡¯t gotten to know many disciples and always ate alone. "Mm." Chen Feng nodded lightly, walking out of the dining hall with him. Everyone¡¯s personality was different, and in some ways, he was quite similar to Xu Tingxiao¡ªjust a little more reserved. Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t persuade him to change or anything. ¡°When will you come back again?¡± Xu Tingxiao asked. Other disciples on the road saw them and greeted them actively. ¡°Three or four days.¡± Chen Feng calculated the amount of pills he had, and in three or four days, they would be used up. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Tingxiao muttered, quickly returning to his own courtyard to continue practicing. Watching his back, Chen Feng had a sudden thought and called out. ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Help me out with something.¡± Oh? Xu Tingxiao was somewhat surprised, and his expression softened considerably. ¡°Go ahead,¡± he said, crossing his arms and tilting his chin up with a look of "I knew you couldn¡¯t do it" on his face. Whoosh! Immediately, a wooden stick was thrown by Chen Feng, and Xu Tingxiao caught it just in time. Then, the gray robe was pulled off halfway. The tall and muscular figure remained calm, as if the muscle mass resembling stacked stones appeared before him. The visible flesh turned from a reddish skin tone to bronze, inch by inch, spreading all over his body. ¡°Come on, give me your full strength.¡± Buzz! That afternoon, the black speeding car left the mountain gate. [Bronze Statue Technique: Bronze Skin (51%) +] ¡°Not bad, the energy tempering of an expert at the ¡®Inner Strength¡¯ stage is indeed stronger than the core students at the martial arts hall.¡± Chen Feng, now wearing black clothes and long pants, sat in the back seat. The driver was the same person from yesterday, and in the front passenger seat was a core disciple going down the mountain for errands. As his mind replayed the scene of Xu Tingxiao¡¯s desperate effort, as if he wanted to knock him down, he recalled how the energy he exerted, one or two tons of force, repeatedly snapped several wooden sticks. Thanks to this, the Muscle Fortifying Tiger Bone Pill was fully absorbed, and the progress of the Bronze Statue Technique surged. ¡°How about coming to the mountain gate more often during the day?¡± Chen Feng thought to himself. After all, such an easy-to-command expert at the ¡®Inner Strength¡¯ stage was rare. He still remembered Xu Tingxiao¡¯s exhausted, resentful expression when he was knocked off balance by a countershock, clenching his teeth in frustration while glaring at him. Buzz! As this thought passed, the vehicle drove smoothly. As they passed by the location where he had killed the Blood Poison Hand yesterday, the scene and the giant rocks on the road had already been cleared. Chen Feng withdrew his gaze, and soon, the vehicle came to a stop. ¡°Senior Brother, I¡¯ve arrived. Please take care.¡± This was a suburban town, and the core disciple in the passenger seat got out. Around them were cement buildings, with a mix of high-rise and low-rise houses. The first floors were mostly small shops, such as eateries, supermarkets, and barbershops. Workers in ordinary uniforms were strolling around, and many children and elderly were sunbathing under eaves. Chen Feng had heard from Li Shi that one of the mountain gate¡¯s industries was located here, specializing in collecting medicinal ingredients for trauma recovery. ¡°Hmm.¡± He nodded lightly, then withdrew his gaze. The black car drove on, and pedestrians nearby looked at the speeding car with envy, watching it drive away. With his senses fully extended, Chen Feng relaxed. Instead, he thought again about his Azure Armor talent. ¡°Still two points left, where should I get them?¡± He mused as the Nanjiang city gradually appeared before him. The concrete ground and asphalt roads met, and the high-rise buildings on both sides grew higher and more densely packed. ¡°Senior Disciple Chen, are we going to the martial arts hall or¡­?¡± The driver suddenly asked. Chen Feng checked the time. It was about 4 p.m. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Feiteng Square in the Blue Light District.¡± He planned to go straight to the club. His phone had vibrated several times, with Lin Hao sending a few messages asking if he was coming. ¡°Alright.¡± The driver nodded and complied, gradually accelerating the vehicle. About thirty minutes later, the bustling city center appeared outside the window, with traffic and pedestrians crossing paths. Click! The car door opened, and passersby in the mall threw envious glances. Chen Feng stepped onto the ground and nodded his thanks to the driver. With a calm and relaxed demeanor, he entered the mall, the seven-character sign of the Hao Feng Boxing Club was right ahead. ¡°Coach!¡± ¡°Coach Chen!¡± Zhou Xiaoli at the front desk quickly put down her phone and greeted him with a smile, and the other resting coaches also respectfully called out. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re finally back.¡± Lin Hao heard and walked out of the lounge, putting his arm around Chen Feng¡¯s shoulder as they headed towards the member area. ¡°You didn¡¯t come for two days, I almost couldn¡¯t handle it.¡± ¡°We got a few new members these past couple of days, and that Luo Yue really pumped you up. He brought seven or eight of his friends to support.¡± ¡°I checked their backgrounds the night before, and most of them are from the council or the military, so their connections are pretty solid. But they also have bad tempers and are hard to deal with.¡± ¡°They kept demanding to meet you. If it weren¡¯t for Luo Yue explaining things, they might have left today.¡± Chen Feng wasn¡¯t surprised upon hearing this. He had already received Lin Hao¡¯s urgent messages during the trip. When they entered the training room, he scanned the room. More than ten people were active inside, most doing aerobic or equipment training. A few others were sitting on benches by the wall, chatting continuously. ¡°Luo Yue, is your coach really as amazing as you say?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been two days, why hasn¡¯t he shown up yet? What about the video you showed me, the one where he punched through the sandbag, is that real?¡± ¡°Exactly, if he doesn¡¯t show up soon, I¡¯ll leave. I wouldn¡¯t come to a small club like this unless it¡¯s for your sake.¡± Luo Yue was embarrassed upon hearing this. He hadn¡¯t expected Chen Feng to stand them up for two days. As for today¡­ Tap tap! The footsteps sounded. He looked toward the door, his eyes lighting up as if he had found a savior. ¡°He¡¯s here, he¡¯s here!¡± ¡°What¡¯s here?¡± Immediately, several calls rang out, surrounding Chen Feng. ¡°Coach!¡± ¡°Coach Chen!¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You¡¯re finally here!¡± Li Chengdong had a resentful expression, as did several people around him. They had paid their membership fees and were promised daily guidance, but now, he hadn¡¯t shown up for two or three days. Only Chen Feng¡¯s strength had kept them loyal; otherwise, they might have thought about leaving by now. ¡°Sorry, I had some urgent matters yesterday.¡± Chen Feng admitted his fault without making excuses. After a brief conversation, he planned to save time and begin the lesson immediately. Seeing this, some of the new students exchanged glances. ¡°Luo Yue, why don¡¯t you let your coach show us his skills?¡± ¡°Yeah, even though he¡¯s big, let¡¯s at least see what he¡¯s capable of, if it¡¯s really like you say.¡± Their voices quietly rang out. Luo Yue felt embarrassed. Finally, he looked toward Chen Feng, who was talking with Li Chengdong and Zhuang Xiaoqing. After hesitating for a moment, he was about to step forward to explain and make another request. But before he could do anything, the next moment. Bang bang bang! Sudden gunfire erupted outside the club. Everyone inside stared wide-eyed, and the atmosphere in the room became eerily silent. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@- Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 112: Flesh Against Bullets (2500+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- Boom!! "Ah!!" "Run!!" "There''s a murder!!" The first floor of the shopping mall was in chaos, with screams echoing everywhere. Looking carefully, a black flying car had smashed through the mall¡¯s glass, like an uncontrolled angry dragon crashing into the lobby. Boom! Boom! Boom! Display cabinets twisted and flew, and golden piggy banks exploded with a loud bang. A few unlucky people were hit by the flying car, crashing into the ground and spewing blood, lying there, not knowing whether they were alive or dead. Blood splattered everywhere, and some people were so terrified they collapsed, unable to rise due to the fear, their faces pale. Boom! Finally, the flying car crashed into a cement steel-reinforced column painted white. Gray smoke rose, and glass shards and debris were scattered all around. Thud! A heavy sound echoed as the door of the black flying car was kicked open. A middle-aged man in a suit stepped out, his face dark and bloodied, swaying as he emerged from the broken car. In his hand was a black handgun, his eyes filled with cruelty and struggle as he surveyed the surroundings. Soon, he grabbed the nearest woman, who was lying limply, and forcefully pulled her to her feet, pointing the gun at her temple and dragging her backward. Vroom!! The sound of engines revving echoed as several flying cars from the Safety Bureau arrived. In the blink of an eye, more than ten fully armed security officers and special forces dressed in black combat suits surrounded the first floor of the mall, evacuating the crowd. "Wang Lei, put down the gun!" "Let go of the hostage immediately!!" Xiang Jianjun shouted into the megaphone, his face extremely grim. He hadn¡¯t expected that this capture operation would go so wrong. These bastards from Utopia were really good at hiding, otherwise, there¡¯s no way this man would have escaped. Looking around, several people had been caught up in the chaos, especially those hit by the flying car, most of whom were bleeding profusely and were clearly not going to make it. In addition, the second, third, and fourth floors were crowded with people who had come to check on the commotion. Some were hiding in fear, but others, more daring, were watching from above, using the building''s structure as cover. "Damn it." Xiang Jianjun cursed under his breath, knowing that if he didn¡¯t handle this well, he might lose his position. "Shut up!" "If I release the hostage, do you think you¡¯ll let me go?" Wang Lei, the middle-aged man in the suit, looked fierce, blood continuously dripping down his face and staining his black suit even darker. He dragged the woman close to a wall, clearly experienced, as he spoke while pulling his head and body back, hiding behind the woman. The woman had already started crying, her face pale and trembling with fear and pleading. She seemed to be nearly thirty, and in the distance, a child was being pulled by someone, crying and shouting for his mother. "Where the hell is the sniper!?" Xiang Jianjun shouted into his communication module. "Captain Xiang, it¡¯s no use." "Wang Lei is wearing advanced body armor, and his body is blocked by both the columns and the hostage. I¡¯m not sure I can take the shot." "What about the cyborg? Has he arrived yet?" "He¡¯ll need two more minutes!" Hearing this, Xiang Jianjun¡¯s expression grew darker. Bang! Bang! Suddenly, gunshots rang out. Wang Lei fired several shots into the sky, causing the onlookers on the second, third, and fourth floors to pale and quickly duck their heads. "Xiang Jianjun, I know you¡¯re waiting for backup!" "You¡¯ve got a minute at most. If you don¡¯t let me go, this woman is going to be the one to pay!!" Wang Lei shouted viciously, and Xiang Jianjun knew the man was capable of going through with it. Collaborating with Utopia was already a grave crime, and in order to seize even the smallest chance of survival, anything could happen. "What should we do, Captain Xiang?" A security officer asked, Xiang Jianjun broke into a cold sweat, unsure of what to do. "Where¡¯s Director Zhang?" He quickly asked into his communication module, knowing that the Safety Bureau and Special Operations Team were monitoring the situation. "Director Zhang is chasing the enemy." Someone quickly responded, and Xiang Jianjun cursed under his breath. As for the other team leaders or vice-leaders responsible for the operation, they mysteriously chose to remain silent. Immediately, Xiang Jianjun felt a chill run down his spine. His eyes darkened, and he realized that this matter had to be handled by him alone. The woman in front of him kept crying, while Wang Lei, his expression twisted, continued to count down. "Xiang Jianjun, you have fifty seconds!" "Forty seconds!" "Thirty seconds!" The countdown continued, and all eyes were fixed on him. Xiang Jianjun gritted his teeth, suddenly thinking of his wife and children. "Captain Xiang?" "Damn it, let him go." Boom!! A muffled explosion rang out. A figure suddenly dropped from the second floor, landing smoothly and standing in the middle of the room. He slowly rose to his feet. Clad in black clothing and pants, tall and sturdy, with a cold, hard expression. Several gun barrels were aimed at him, and all eyes followed his every move. "Wait!" Xiang Jianjun¡¯s eyes lit up as if he had grasped at a glimmer of hope, and he quickly waved his hand to signal his men not to fire. "Chen Feng?" He shouted, but saw the other man silently step forward. "Shit, Luo Yue, your coach has lost his mind!" "What is he doing? Is he looking for death?" From the second-floor entrance of the club, voices echoed. Luo Yue looked shocked, and the others around him, including Li Chengdong, were still too stunned to react. Hearing the gunshots, they rushed out of the club, but they never expected things to turn out like this. "Who the hell are you?!" Wang Lei shouted angrily, equally unprepared for the turn of events. Chen Feng remained silent. The distance between the two was only about six or seven meters. With his tiger leap, he was confident he could kill the man instantly and save the woman. But... Such a perfect opportunity to gather fear energy... how could he let it go? "Get lost!" "Don¡¯t come any closer!!" "Otherwise, I¡¯ll kill her right now!" Wang Lei shouted, clearly seeing Chen Feng closing in. Eyes were locked on him as he continued to approach. With a calm tone, Chen Feng replied, "Then why don¡¯t you just kill me?" "I¡¯m standing right here." His voice was steady, while Xiang Jianjun kept signaling his men to hold their fire. After all, Chen Feng was a disciple of the Flame Tiger Sect. He hoped that this might work. "Kill you?" "Fine, just stay right where you are!" Wang Lei cursed viciously, and to his surprise, Chen Feng actually stopped in his tracks. "Alright, shoot." Chen Feng said. The mall was eerily silent on the second, third, and fourth floors, everyone thinking he might have gone crazy. "What are you so scared of?" Chen Feng suddenly urged him on, continuing, "Could it be that you are actually a coward?" "You only bully women, but you¡¯re too scared to face a man." His voice was calm but tinged with mockery, and Wang Lei¡¯s eyes filled with bloodshot rage. The woman in front of him trembled uncontrollably, sensing his fury and murderous intent. "How pathetic." "You don¡¯t even have the courage to pull the trigger. Using the word ¡®trash¡¯ is giving you too much credit." Bang! Bang! Bang!! Three gunshots rang out in rapid succession, cutting off his mocking words. Xiang Jianjun¡¯s eyes widened, and so did the eyes of the onlookers on the second, third, and fourth floors. Three deep yellow bullets seemed to hit steel plates, compressing into a cluster before dropping to the ground. Some thought they saw a spark, then noticed the figure, still standing in place, completely unharmed. On the second floor of the club, Luo Yue and the others were horrified, mouths agape. [Fear Value +1!] [Fear Value +1!] [Fear Value +1!] The panel prompt continued to appear as Chen Feng calmly looked at the terrified Wang Lei in the distance. "How is this possible?" Could this guy be a Cyborg? "You''re too weak." "Even your bullets don¡¯t have any strength." Chen Feng¡¯s mocking tone echoed again, and Wang Lei¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot as he snapped out of it. "Dammit, you forced me!" "Then let¡¯s die together!!" He snapped back to his senses and immediately turned his gun on the woman he was holding, intending to use her as a shield. Whoosh!!! The figure vanished in an instant, and everyone felt the ground tremble. The light gray tiles cracked and dented, and a deep red burst of energy flashed by. Roar!!! It sounded like a tiger¡¯s roar. The nearest people, like Xiang Jianjun, felt a sharp pain in their eardrums, as if they were seeing a tiger leaping from the forest to kill its prey. Boom!!! In just half a second, at a distance of five or six meters, the black handgun and the hand gripping it were shattered by a single punch, turning into debris. Blood sprayed everywhere, and the screams were deafening. But in the next second. "Heh..." Wang Lei was grabbed by the neck, lifted off the ground with one arm. "Feeling scared?" Chen Feng looked up, his sharp eyebrows exuding coldness. With just a little more points left for the Azure Armor talent, his voice remained calm: "Choose one." "Pain, or death." [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] The panel prompts continued to appear, as Chen Feng¡¯s fingers tightened around Wang Lei''s neck. Thud, thud, thud¡ªrapid footsteps approached, and Xiang Jianjun and the others frowned as they neared. Then, in the next moment. [Azure Armor LV3: 1/100] Boom!! With a casual toss, Wang Lei, whose right hand was no longer there, crashed to the ground, howling as Xiang Jianjun and the others restrained him. All eyes lifted to Chen Feng, who met Xiang Jianjun''s gaze calmly. "I''m a law-abiding citizen, I never kill." "Don¡¯t you agree, Captain Xiang?" --- Five minutes later. The area inside and outside the mall was chaotic. A yellow caution tape separated the inside from the outside. In front of the entrance on the first floor of the mall, Xiang Jianjun stood in front of Chen Feng, his tone grateful: "Thank you, Chen Feng." He was well aware of the gravity of the situation. If not for Chen Feng¡¯s intervention, things might have turned out much worse. And he was still shocked by another point. The fact that Chen Feng had practiced martial arts to the extent where he could withstand bullets was truly unsettling, leaving him still unable to calm down, even now still astonished. "You''re welcome." Chen Feng shook his head, not concerned with Xiang Jianjun¡¯s emotions, and glanced at the flying car behind him. Wang Lei was escorted into the car, and another Cyborg in a Safety Bureau uniform arrived on the scene to personally oversee his transport. A capture operation had nearly failed in such a chaotic way. Chen Feng couldn¡¯t help but think about a few more things. "Captain Xiang, it seems the situation with Utopia is getting complicated." Chen Feng casually asked, eager to gather more intelligence. He wouldn¡¯t forget the silver-gray Cyborg, and if the opportunity arose, he would surely collect some interest. "Yes, there are quite a few people in our city who are secretly involved with Utopia." Xiang Jianjun suppressed his shock, his tone complex as he turned off the microphone on his comms device. Unlike before when he was evasive, or out of gratitude, he looked around at the surrounding officers, lowered his voice, and continued: "Councilman Zhou from the United Coalition, you know him, right? He''s a senior councilor, even more influential than Zhao Jianlong." "Well, this morning, he was arrested by the Joint Task Force and taken to Prison No.1." "Representative Chu is very concerned about this matter, and it seems like it was the Provincial Union¡¯s request." Xiang Jianjun paused, hesitated for a moment, then continued: "Also, I¡¯ve heard some rumors." "It seems Utopia is inciting riots in our province, likely to stir up international public opinion, and there may be shadows of the Platinum Federation behind it." "Anyway, be careful, things are getting messier." Xiang Jianjun spoke for a while, until someone called for him. He then left. Chen Feng watched his retreating figure, frowning slightly, deep in thought. He hadn¡¯t expected things to be so complicated behind the scenes, even involving the Platinum Federation, another major power in the world, not inferior to Red Country, especially in technology. He¡¯d heard they¡¯d been planning space immigration for a long time, with some successful cases already in place. "Perhaps the future situation will only get messier..." Unexpectedly, Chen Feng felt a sense of urgency rise in his heart. It was a feeling that had gradually faded after killing Zhao Jianlong and successfully advancing in power, but now, it lingered once more. "What are you standing there for?" Lin Hao suddenly came down from the second floor and patted him on the shoulder. Looking around, many trainees were standing on the second floor, staring at him in awe. "You were awesome just now, taking bullets with your body?" "How did you train like that?" Lin Hao asked three questions in a row, breaking Chen Feng''s solemn mood. "I just practiced casually." Chen Feng replied calmly, making Lin Hao grimace. Casually practiced? If I trained as casually as you, wouldn¡¯t I become invincible? "So, was the Safety Bureau being difficult with you?" "Luo Yue and Li Chengdong, their families have connections, and they were just talking about calling someone to help you earlier." Lin Hao, his jaw aching, quickly changed the subject, recalling how Chen Feng had just confronted the Safety Bureau. Though he¡¯d stopped the bad guys today, he was worried the incident might have some bad consequences, like breaking an enemy''s hand. "It¡¯s fine." Chen Feng shook his head, soon stepping forward, heading back to the second floor with Lin Hao. Many bystanders on the sides were looking at him with expressions of awe, and some regretted not filming the moment due to the urgency. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the others in the club. Whether it was the coach or the new members. Their faces were filled with reverence, even admiration. No one dared to bring up any criticisms about his skills anymore. "Coach." Li Chengdong called out in admiration, and one by one, the members followed suit. "Coach!" "Coach, you''re awesome!" "Coach, can you teach me that move?" Shouts rang out in quick succession, surrounding Chen Feng in an instant. Looking around, he met the eyes of Luo Yue, Li Chengdong, and others. His calm gaze had an oppressive force, and wherever it landed, there was nothing but fervor. "Get ready." Stepping through the crowd, he walked into the training room in the members¡¯ area. "Let¡¯s continue training." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 113: The New Effect of the Azure Armor (2400+) Translator: Cinder Translations --- That evening, at 8:35 PM. As night fell, the aftershocks of the mall incident gradually faded. The windows on the first floor, still not repaired, along with some broken tiles, were cordoned off individually. People came and went, with some newcomers curious and others who had stayed behind continuing to talk about the violence and danger they had witnessed earlier. ¡°Goodbye, Coach Chen!¡± ¡°Coach Chen, will you come tomorrow?¡± ¡°Can you continue training us tomorrow?¡± At the entrance of the second-floor club, many members, having finished their training, looked at Chen Feng with expectant faces. Especially the new members around Luo Yue, each one more excited than the last, as if they had discovered a new world. Seeing this, Li Chengdong and Zhuang Xiaoqing, the older members, couldn''t help but smile slightly, feeling a little bit superior inside. ¡°See you tomorrow.¡± Chen Feng nodded, and only then did everyone excitedly leave. With his perception, he could hear many of the discussions. ¡°Luo Yue, thank you for bringing us here.¡± ¡°Yeah, taking bullets with your body, this is almost like being a cyborg!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s continue tomorrow, anyone who¡¯s late tomorrow is an idiot.¡± Chen Feng shook his head, not bothering to care about their mixed attitudes. Lin Hao beside him grinned from ear to ear, thinking that it wouldn¡¯t be long before the club¡¯s membership count would skyrocket. ¡°By the way, I have a batch of modification modules arriving soon.¡± ¡°Does your friend still need high-grade metal? I have a little extra.¡± Lin Hao suddenly spoke up, and Chen Feng naturally wouldn''t refuse. ¡°Sure.¡± He planned to contact Li Shi later to see if he could get some money from the sect. As a direct disciple now, he hadn''t fully utilized his benefits and privileges yet. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep it for you.¡± ¡°Thanks, I¡¯m leaving now.¡± Chen Feng waved his hand and prepared to leave. ¡°Want me to drive for you?¡± ¡°No need.¡± With that, Chen Feng walked out of the mall. The crowd outside was still bustling, and several hours had passed since Wang Lei had charged into the mall. Most passersby had no idea what had happened earlier, each person living in their own world. Chen Feng walked calmly, heading towards the street corner where the streetlights stood. There were rows of shared bicycles beside him, and cars passed by, with couples walking hand in hand, brushing past him. He ordered a ride, while also sending a message to Li Shi. Soon, his phone buzzed. [Li Shi: No problem, I¡¯ll transfer the funds to your card right now.] ¡°Chen Feng?¡± Suddenly, a voice came from beside him. Chen Feng turned to look. A woman wearing black boots, a short skirt with stockings, and a black leather coat appeared. She had heavy makeup on and was carrying a white-gray luxury handbag. Her appearance seemed familiar. ¡°Han Yue?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me, old classmate. Taking a cab?¡± Han Yue smiled modestly, and soon, a speeding car arrived. Through the lowered window, Chen Feng could see a young man in casual branded clothes sitting in the driver¡¯s seat. Although he was smiling, Chen Feng could feel the man eyeing him warily. ¡°This is my boyfriend, Sun Zhi.¡± ¡°Where are you going, old classmate? Why don¡¯t I have my boyfriend give you a ride?¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Han Yue pretended to be friendly, but Chen Feng could sense the disdain in her eyes. Chen Feng calmly shook his head. Seeing that her objective had been achieved, Han Yue said a polite goodbye and got into the car. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°He¡¯s an old high school classmate, and he even chased after me once.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah, so you better appreciate me.¡± Faint voices drifted out with the sound of the car driving away. Chen Feng looked down at his phone''s message. [Cloud Crystal Bank: Your bank card 62XXXXXX has received a deposit of 800,000 Red Country currency. Your current balance is¡­] ¡°800,000?¡± Chen Feng was somewhat surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected it to be this much. He asked Li Shi for clarification. [Li Shi: The sect leader allocated 35% of a pharmaceutical factory¡¯s shares to you a couple of days ago. However, these cannot be transferred, only the dividends can be collected.] [This is the dividend for the past six months. As for your direct disciple salary, because you¡¯ve only recently joined, it hasn¡¯t been disbursed yet. However, if you need it, I can arrange for an early withdrawal.] Li Shi gave a detailed explanation, and Chen Feng fell silent. He had known that the Flame Tiger Sect had money, but he hadn''t had a clear idea of how much. Now, even just from himself, he had received so much, and there were many true disciples, core disciples, and formal disciples as well. He felt he had underestimated the sect¡¯s financial strength. ¡°Not needed for now.¡± Chen Feng replied to Li Shi, and just as a white ride-hailing car arrived, his mood lightened a little. He got in the car, heading straight home. At night, the stars twinkled. After finishing his routine, Chen Feng lay down on his bed and fell asleep. Mist rolled in, and once again, the dark world enveloped him in his dream. He stood inside a residential building, looking down. In the maze of buildings, there was a thin mist, and the dim yellow streetlights were the only source of light. His mind stirred, and the blue-colored horned beetle mark on his hand flashed faintly. Buzz! The blue-black armor spread rapidly, immediately covering his entire body. Even the black backpack on his back disappeared as a result. It was a bit strange, but Chen Feng had already grown accustomed to it. He suspected that the Azure Armor talent had a separate space where it could store these items. However, that wasn¡¯t his main focus. ¡°Azure Armor LV3, what has changed?¡± He focused his mind, gathering his senses. Strength, speed, defense¡­ there was an increase, but it didn¡¯t seem very significant. Only about a 20% boost. But then, His eyes narrowed as he concentrated his thoughts. Crack! Two cracks appeared on the armor on his back, as if something was growing out of it. Crack! Crack! Crack! The sound grew louder, and after a few seconds, A pair of wings appeared behind him. About a meter long, thin as a cicada''s wings, almost transparent. But upon closer inspection, there were several blood-red streaks running across the top of the wings. As for the edges of the wings, the blue-black armor still extended, strong and muscular. At the top, near the shoulder blades, there were two curved, tusk-like spikes protruding. It gave off an ominous, violent feeling. Chen Feng controlled his will, and with a flap of the wings, Buzz! The air vibrated, and his figure flickered. In an instant, he was floating, appearing on a streetlamp across from the residential building, about fifty meters away. ¡°Such speed.¡± Chen Feng thought to himself, quickly controlling his movements, and soon, he began shifting within a small area. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The figure moved rapidly, leaving visible afterimages in the air, scattered in all directions around him. One after another. Chen Feng stopped and looked back, seeing at least eight afterimages left behind. Some were flapping wings midair, some were standing on the ground, and some were crossing their arms, hovering in the air. Buzz! One afterimage scattered, like black smoke. Chen Feng withdrew his gaze and focused his perception on the fierce wings behind him. After some experimentation, he had a rough understanding of the effect of the upgraded Azure Armor talent. The main enhancement was in his movement speed. He could now move fifty meters per second, and he had also gained the ability to fly. It seemed ordinary at first, but the word "flying" already represented infinite possibilities, offering him an additional escape route. Not to mention, the increased movement speed completely made up for his previous weaknesses. With the same strength but different movement speed impacts, the destructive power naturally multiplied. ¡°Pity, using the Blood Wings seems to consume quite a bit of stamina.¡± After sensing for a moment, Chen Feng noticed that his stamina had decreased by one-tenth. He wasn¡¯t disappointed, knowing that the more powerful the force, the greater the cost would be. Once his martial arts improved and his physique grew stronger, this problem would surely be resolved. Crack! Then, he mentally controlled his ability. The Blood Wings behind him slowly retracted and merged into the shell. The rate of stamina consumption slowed, and Chen Feng immediately dismissed the Azure Armor state. Without further delay, he continued following the map''s direction, leaving the residential building and heading towards the new Extreme Martial Arts Hall. Whether it was the inherited Iron Book or the missing Essence of Combat Diagram, both were things he cared about a lot. Tap tap! His footsteps once again echoed on the quiet street, with supermarkets, clothing stores, and other shops on both sides. Behind him, two limit-breaking light orbs were absorbed, and his shadow moved under the streetlights as he closed the distance to the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. Seven kilometers, six kilometers, five kilometers... Numerous Faceless Ones appeared nearby, but soon, several crimson flashes appeared, and immense power exploded. Black stains appeared on the ground and quickly dissipated. Ten gray light orbs surged into his body, and Chen Feng glanced at the panel¡¯s notification. [Perception LV3: 19/100] ¡°Still a long way to go,¡± Chen Feng thought, shaking his head. He was about to leave when¡ª Boom!! A huge rumbling sound suddenly came from afar. The ground shook, and the high buildings wobbled slightly. Chen Feng¡¯s expression changed slightly, and the next second, a loud roar echoed. ¡°Roar!!¡± It sounded like a giant bear in a furious rage, shaking the earth. He felt a strange familiarity and leapt forward, jumping onto the roof of a low building while trying to locate the source of the sound. Through his focus, he saw it¡ªabout seven or eight hundred meters away. A huge black raging bear emerged from the mist, towering five to six meters tall, standing on the ground and roaring at the sky. Cracks spread beneath it, and many black venomous bees surrounded it. It was the giant raging bear Chen Feng had once avoided. His eyes narrowed, and he focused on its enemy. Another massive creature, resembling a statue carved from white stone, stood against it. Its limbs were thick and strong, far surpassing cement pillars. Its square head was protected by a dark golden stone helmet. The body seemed to be made of iron, with golden lines resembling armor across it. Two wings, made of white-gray stone blocks, extended seven to eight meters, casting a shadow on the ground. Just one glance made Chen Feng feel a sense of oppression, even from nearly a thousand meters away. ¡°What is that creature?¡± Chen Feng¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°Roar!!!¡± The giant raging bear roared again, furious beyond measure. In the next moment, Chen Feng watched as the massive stone statue stomped its feet, charging forward like a heavy-duty truck. The ground shook as it moved, and streetlamp poles snapped while nearby cars were crushed and shattered. But against this terrifying offensive, the massive stone statue didn''t move or retreat; it merely raised its arm and reached forward. Boom!! A massive shockwave spread, and the ground beneath the two creatures sank, spreading out for over ten meters, exposing cement reinforcement and sand. The strong wind spread, causing the streetlights a thousand meters away to sway. Chen Feng¡¯s face grew serious as he watched, seeing the stone statue creature use its muscular arms to grab the giant raging bear. Then, the massive wings flapped. Wham!! The wind pressure dispersed, and the smoke cleared. Chen Feng saw the stone statue creature lift off the ground, several meters high. The giant raging bear seemed to realize something was wrong, but before it could struggle or roar, the stone statue creature flapped its wings again. The two creatures soared several dozen meters into the air, exceeding the height of surrounding buildings. Then, in Chen Feng¡¯s narrowing eyes, the stone statue creature held the giant raging bear in its arms and, with a turn, fell like a meteor from the sky. ¡°!!¡± Chen Feng was stunned. Boom!!! A huge thud reverberated through the earth, and the high buildings in the area wobbled as if an earthquake had struck. Glass windows shattered, and smoke billowed up. Even from nearly a thousand meters away, Chen Feng could feel the vibrations through the low building beneath him. Roar!! An angry and pained roar rang out. A massive burst of black light erupted, and the smoke cleared. Chen Feng saw the giant raging bear, dazed, standing up from the collapsed cement and sand pit. It was clearly badly shaken from the earlier impact. Boom!! The stone statue creature seized the opportunity and landed a massive rock-like punch directly to the bear''s head. The five- to six-meter-tall giant bear was sent sliding backward, and Chen Feng¡¯s expression grew solemn. He thought that if it were him, that punch would have either severely injured him or even killed him instantly. Just when he thought the two would engage in an earth-shattering battle, he saw the stone statue creature flap its wings again and take off. In the next second, it flew to a nearby villa''s courtyard and landed, kneeling down halfway. The wings, composed of stone, slowly retracted, enveloping the massive body of the stone statue creature. Everything returned to silence, except for the giant raging bear, surrounded by the black venomous bees, still roaring in anger. The sound continued as Chen Feng, standing on the rooftop of the low building, furrowed his brow. He couldn''t figure out why the battle had started or why the stone statue creature had chosen to leave the battlefield after gaining the upper hand, becoming silent. Roar!! The giant raging bear roared once more. But perhaps knowing it couldn¡¯t do anything to the stone statue creature, it turned and walked away with its black venomous bee swarm, leaving the battlefield. Chen Feng furrowed his brow and shifted his gaze back to the stone statue creature. ¡°Hm?¡± Suddenly, his gaze froze. Chen Feng noticed something¡ªa tiny golden light dot was next to the stone statue creature in the villa¡¯s courtyard. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 114: Breakthrough in the Bronze Statue Technique, Sudden Malice! Translator: Cinder Translations --- Buzz! At 7:05 AM, Chen Feng woke up. As he opened his eyes, he felt a bit of regret. Though it was far away, almost a thousand meters, his intuition told him that the golden light spot in that villa was definitely a unique light orb. It was either a skill or a talent. "Too bad it''s too far. Otherwise, I''d be able to tell what kind of light orb it is." He shook his head, thinking about the stone statue creature he had encountered. It was incredibly powerful, on par with the Giant Rage Bear. Even though it was so far away, he could sense that its aura was several times stronger than his master''s. At the very least, he knew he was no match for it. With this thought, he got up, pulled open the curtains, and looked at the sky outside. It was gloomy and cloudy, with gray replacing the usual vast blue. The noise of people gradually grew from the cement buildings below, and the fruit shop downstairs was also becoming active. The noodle shop by the street had a good business, with many people sitting at the wooden tables. "Strength..." Chen Feng''s gaze deepened. He made a decision to try his best to enter the dream tonight and see if he could get that light orb. The stone statue creature was strong, but he had to give it a shot. He quickly washed up and got dressed. He then returned to his bedroom, picked up the green porcelain bottle from the bedside, removed the wooden stopper, and poured out a round pill. Crack! The Flame Origin Pill was crushed and swallowed, his posture steady as he began to visualize the Red Tiger. The intense medicinal energy spread through his body, circulating, constantly absorbing and strengthening. One hour later... [Crimson Tiger Force: Blazing Flame (72/100) +] "Still a bit more." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Feng glanced at his panel, noting the number of limit-breaking points. This dream had yielded three limit-breaking points. If he added the previous ones, it made five in total. It wasn''t enough to break through the Crimson Tiger Force. He shook his head, suppressing the urgency, then changed into loose, clean black clothes, put on a black jacket, and left the neighborhood. ----- "Good morning, Senior Brother!" "Morning, Senior Brother!" Entering the Jinhua District branch of the Martial Arts Institute, the warm greetings came one after another. Chen Feng nodded in response, and soon saw Lin Hao hurrying behind him, almost late. "Why so late?" he asked in confusion, remembering Lin Hao usually came early. "Sigh, don''t mention it," Lin Hao replied, his eyes a bit dark from lack of sleep. "The modified module they sent last night almost got lost. I didn¡¯t sleep until late into the night." Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. "The Utopia Organization and the United Coalition are at odds lately, and forces from all sides are being redirected. There are people at the city gate trying to stir up trouble, hoping to profit from the chaos." Lin Hao, still carrying his black baseball bag and dressed in gray athletic clothes, continued, "Luckily, I know some people, and it got sorted out." "By the way, your friend''s high-grade metal has arrived. Make sure to pick it up at the club tonight." Chen Feng was silent for a moment. "If you need help, just say so." He spoke seriously, wanting to return Lin Hao''s favor and also not wanting his much-needed high-grade metal to be lost, which could delay the growth of his Steel Bones Talent. "Of course," Lin Hao said with a smile. "Don¡¯t worry, my security company is almost set up, and the connections at the club will help. There shouldn''t be any problems." Chen Feng nodded, knowing that if Lin Hao ever encountered a real issue, he wouldn''t hesitate to ask for help. The two exchanged a few simple words before Chen Feng watched Lin Hao enter the training room and waited in place for Cao Tong to arrive. "Junior Brother Chen?" "Brother Cao, same as usual. Could you help me call a few people?" The practice of the Bronze Statue Technique required coordinated strikes, which was why he continued coming to the martial arts hall. As for returning to the sect, there were still club matters to handle, especially with the high-grade metals only Lin Hao could help him with. If he kept going back and forth, it would be too exhausting. "No problem, I¡¯ll arrange it right away." Cao Tong smiled and replied, and Chen Feng suddenly thought of Xu Tingxiao. It would be great if this guy was also at the martial arts hall. "By the way, Junior Brother Chen, you¡¯ll probably be coming to the hall a lot recently, right?" Cao Tong suddenly asked, and Chen Feng was a bit puzzled. "Why?" "It¡¯s not a big deal," Cao Tong scratched the back of his head and explained. "The Southern Martial Arts Conference is about to start. According to past rules, martial artists from nearby cities would come down the mountain to travel, train, and spar." "Normally, a true disciple would be stationed at each branch to ensure the reputation isn''t damaged, but now that we have you here..." Chen Feng understood. The martial arts Conference was coming, and some people would want to practice or challenge themselves in hopes of a breakthrough. According to Cao Tong, anyone brave enough to challenge would not be weak. At the very least, they would be at the level of refining the body, and sometimes even people with inner strength techniques would appear. The rule was that sparring should be done with someone of the same level. Losing once or twice didn''t matter, but if you kept losing, the reputation of the martial arts hall would suffer. "I understand." Chen Feng nodded, accepting the responsibility as the elder brother of the Flame Tiger Sect. Moreover, neither his master nor his third uncle would have any objections. "Hehe, that''s good." "With you here, Junior Brother Chen, our branch is definitely secure." Cao Tong grinned, praising him. The admiration in his eyes grew stronger. Although the sect had concealed the details of the Blood Poison Hand''s death, Cao Tong had heard that the person had entered the inner strength realm. After a brief exchange, Chen Feng entered his private meditation room. Bang! The wooden stopper from the white jade porcelain bottle was removed, and another Muscle Fortifying Tiger Bone Pill was placed in his hand. There were seven pills in the bottle, and this was the fifth. He immediately chewed it up. A faint fishy taste spread, but he suppressed the discomfort and swallowed it, then stripped off his jacket and black clothes, standing bare-chested. As if sensing that he was ready, footsteps echoed, and ten core class students, holding sticks and with varying expressions, gathered outside his meditation room. "Is it true? Senior Brother asked for ten people?" "Yeah, are we really fighting ten of us? Can Senior Brother handle it?" Some students, new to the task, asked, while others, like Pei Yue, who had come to build good relations, stood by quietly, listening intently. "Do you know why he called for ten people?" one of them asked. "Why?" "To make sure you don¡¯t die from exhaustion." The conversation raised some confusion among the newcomers, but those with experience only chuckled. They knocked on the door, heard the signal, and entered. Thud! A tall, muscular man stood still, his calm gaze exuding a sense of aggression, like a wild beast ready to strike. His muscles were sculpted like marble, clear lines filled with violent beauty. "Senior Brother!" one of them called, trembling. "Mm, let''s begin." Chen Feng nodded, scanning the group before locking eyes with Pei Yue for a moment. He sank into a horse stance and once again visualized the Crimson Tiger Soaring Through the Sky Diagram. "You five rest for now. The rest of you, step forward." The experienced students made a quick move, positioning themselves around Chen Feng. They exchanged glances and tightened their grips. Suddenly, the sound of five sticks dropping in unison was heard. Bang! Bang! Bang! The strikes landed one after another, and a few had already begun practicing their bone training. The newcomers winced at the sight, and Pei Yue began to regret coming here for a beating. "Put in more effort." A deep voice rang out, calm and undisturbed. Everyone''s hearts trembled, and the sounds of the strikes continued to echo. Until the end, the wooden clubs had broken over ten times. The new arrivals and the old five were lying on the floor of the quiet room, resting. Their faces were pale, and their arms trembled, unable to lift. They exchanged bitter smiles, finally understanding the logic they had heard earlier. He was a fucking monster! They all shared the same thought and look. Chen Feng didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. His body was bronzed, yet there wasn¡¯t a single white mark on him. ¡°Next time, use iron rods,¡± he said calmly, and the ten nodded bitterly. After that, he said a word of thanks and watched them leave. Chen Feng then turned his attention to his progress panel. [Bronze Statue Technique: Bronze Skin (70/100)+] ¡°Five limit breaks, this should be enough.¡± The difficulty of the Bronze Statue Technique was less than that of the Crimson Tiger Force, and Chen Feng hesitated about whether to add points. After all, the Crimson Tiger Force was also approaching a breakthrough. However, he thought about that golden light ball again. He had decided to try it tonight, and when facing that mysterious stone statue creature, the stronger he was, the better. Furthermore, with the Steel Bones enhancement, the improvement of the Bronze Statue Technique wouldn''t be weaker than the Crimson Tiger Force. ¡°Level up!¡± Suppressing his hesitation, Chen Feng immediately made a decisive decision. In an instant, all five limit break points were consumed, and boundless insights flooded him. Day and night, grinding muscles and bones, hitting himself with rods. Countless sweat drops nourished the bronze, with the scorching sun overhead and the frosty winter snow all bearing witness to his growing strength. Buzz! [Bronze Statue Technique: Bronze Bones (1/100)] A panel notification appeared, and Chen Feng suddenly heard a series of popping noises coming from within his body. [Strength: 18.6¡ú19.7] [Agility: 17.2¡ú18.0] [Constitution: 22.5¡ú24.7] [Willpower: 19.2¡ú20.1] ¡°5 points of attribute increase.¡± Chen Feng clenched his fist. Although he didn¡¯t focus on strength, the Bronze Statue Technique still boosted his punch strength by over 200 kilograms. But that wasn¡¯t the key. The 2.2-point increase in constitution was the most satisfying part. His physical hardness had surpassed that of copper-level metals, and if he activated the Giant Tiger form, it might already be close to silver-steel grade. Moreover, his rebound force, enhanced by both Steel Bone and Bronze Bone, had reached 20%. He then stepped to the window of the quiet room. His energy gathered, and his skin quickly turned bronze. There was no significant change in his body shape, but it seemed denser, as if forged and hammered like steel. Although it was still the same body shape as before, the muscles and lines now gave an impression of extremely refined power. ¡°Bronze Bones.¡± Chen Feng internally observed, clearly seeing that his bones had turned bronze in color. He then turned around, facing away from the window. With the activation of the Steel Bone talent, a piece of bone quietly emerged from his palm. It wasn¡¯t white anymore but a shade of bronze, close to dark gold. ¡°Not bad.¡± He nodded in satisfaction and retracted the Steel Bone. By noon, he stopped his training. He had lunch with Lin Hao in the cafeteria. Steak, lamb legs, fried chicken, shrimp balls, milk, eggs¡ªmountain-like food mixed with rice filled his stomach, leaving the surrounding students dumbfounded, envious, and impressed. As time passed, it was soon around 3 or 4 p.m. After finishing his Crimson Tiger Force training in the quiet room, Chen Feng took a shower, changed clothes, and prepared to leave the martial arts center. The outside was bustling with people, and Lin Hao was already waiting for him in a blue sports car. ¡°Get in the car,¡± Lin Hao called as he parked by the entrance. Chen Feng nodded and stepped forward. Thud! His foot hit the ground. But in the next moment. ¡°Hm?¡± His gaze sharpened, and Chen Feng suddenly felt a trace of malice. Cold, distant, watching. His expression turned serious, and he activated his perception to search. Everything around him was magnified, and the street within a hundred meters appeared like a 3D map suspended in his mind. On the opposite side of the street, pedestrians were leaving with shopping bags, some were chatting on public benches, and employees were entering and exiting a company building. Someone bent down to pick up a fallen employee ID, and faces flashed by through the car windows in the passing traffic. A crow flew past overhead, and ants moved on the grass below. ¡°A crow?¡± Chen Feng frowned slightly and noticed a black crow standing on the power pole across the street. Its entire body was pitch black, including its eyes. It seemed ordinary at first, but Chen Feng knew very well¡ªit was maliciously watching him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Hao asked, noticing his change in expression. Lin Hao turned his head and followed his gaze, frowning slightly, puzzled about why a crow would appear here. Caw! The crow suddenly called out, then immediately took flight. Without hesitation, Chen Feng got into Lin Hao¡¯s car. ¡°Chase it!¡± His tone was cold. He didn¡¯t believe a crow would hold malice against him. So, there must be some force controlling it. Lin Hao was momentarily stunned upon hearing this. But seeing the seriousness on Chen Feng¡¯s face, he didn¡¯t hesitate to ask any more questions. Buzz!!! The accelerator was slammed to the floor, and the engine roared. Pedestrians were surprised, and the students coming and going from the martial arts center also looked on. The blue car drifted as it made a turn and slid out of the parking lot, merging into the asphalt road. ¡°This little guy flies fast,¡± Lin Hao said, his tone oddly excited as the crow flew higher. As he spoke, Lin Hao shouted: ¡°Big Head, activate holographic mode!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± A childish voice responded, and a bobblehead popped up on the car''s display screen¡ªChen Feng had seen it before but didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. However, the scenery inside the car suddenly changed. Both car windows rapidly turned black, and the view through the windshield seemed to extend, becoming much wider. Faint blue lights flashed rapidly, crisscrossing and gathering on the glass. ¡°Big Head, activate tracking and lock onto the crow flying above.¡± ¡°Yes, Master!¡± The childish voice was like a human¡¯s, and the next moment, a blue circle appeared on the windshield, encircling the crow. A series of numbers appeared, constantly changing, clearly representing the distance between the car and the crow. But because of the traffic and pedestrians, the car speed was slowed, so the distance was increasing. ¡°Is it something serious?¡± Lin Hao suddenly asked. Chen Feng nodded. ¡°Alright, if we get penalized, we get penalized.¡± Without further hesitation, Lin Hao immediately gave the command to the AI. ¡°Big Head, activate flight mode and autopilot!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The clear, crisp voice rang out, and Chen Feng saw the button in the center console press itself. Buzz! The car trembled. A rear spoiler lifted from the back of the car, and metal wings extended outward from the sides near the bottom of the car. ¡°Hold on tight!¡± Lin Hao reminded, handing over a pair of sunglasses and even letting go of the steering wheel. In the blink of an eye, four exhaust pipes from the rear of the car erupted with red and blue flames. Whoosh!!! The car sped up instantly, and the surrounding high-rise buildings and greenery kept retreating. 180 km/h, 190 km/h, 200 km/h. The car speed indicator shot up rapidly, and just as they were about to hit the rear of a car in front... Buzz!!! The car suddenly lifted, flying several meters into the air. The four wheels retracted and leveled, and in the blink of an eye, all that remained in the view was the expanse of skyscrapers and the open sky. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 115: Golden Light Orb, An Attempt! [2.6k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- "tsk tsk." "So it was discovered, huh?" In the villa''s living room, two figures stood and sat. The man in the black robe stood by the window, while the woman in the red leather jacket leaned back on the sofa, holding a bottle of red wine and observing the vintage. Upon closer inspection, one could see seven or eight other figures kneeling on one knee on the carpet behind the sofa, as though standing by. "Discovered? You acted on your own again?" The woman in red paused for a moment, frowning slightly. "I was just curious about who killed Feng Li," the man in the black robe explained in a somewhat indifferent tone. "There were only a few people who descended the mountain that day. Although Flame Tiger Sect claims it was Li Chenye who did it, I don''t believe that¡¯s the case." "So?" The woman in red frowned, showing impatience. "Heh, so I sent Black Fang to check things out, and to my surprise, Li Tong¡¯s new disciple is quite capable," the man in the black robe smiled, his eyes cold with a murderous gleam. "The fact that he detected my spying¡ªinteresting." Seeing through his thoughts, the woman in red furrowed her brows. "Are you insane?" "The matter the master entrusted us with hasn''t even begun properly. If Flame Tiger Sect catches on and ruins our plan, we¡¯ll both be in trouble!" She scolded him harshly, but the man in the black robe fell silent for a moment, his murderous intent slowly fading as he regained his composure. "Fine. I¡¯ll let him live for a bit longer," he finally decided. --- In the city, a blue flying car zoomed up into the sky, chasing after the black crow. The distance displayed on the windshield decreased rapidly, and the black dot under the gray clouds grew clearer. Soon, they could make out the black feathers and pitch-black eyes of the crow. "Got it!" "Big Head, engage cruise control." Lin Hao didn¡¯t want to alert the target, so he planned to follow at a distance. The two flying objects sped ahead, quickly leaving the city. However, as they passed a tall building, the black crow made a sharp turn and suddenly vanished. "Lost it?" Lin Hao asked in surprise as the flying car lost its target. Chen Feng furrowed his brows and expanded his perception. He saw that the crow had dispersed mid-flight, turning into a wisp of black smoke and disappearing. This method was somewhat similar to the Serpent Spirit Power of the Serpent Spirit Sect. "Was I discovered?" Chen Feng speculated, realizing it was likely the power behind the crow that had noticed them. Soon, a safety agency flying car appeared, and the communication module displayed a connection request. "Well, we''re done for." Lin Hao removed his sunglasses, looking helpless. The flying car was forced to stop and slowly descended to the ground. Two security officers appeared, and Lin Hao had to show his identification and pay fines, which also resulted in points being deducted. Additionally, he was ordered not to engage the flying car mode for the next half month, and any flight routes would be blocked. "Was it handled well?" Chen Feng asked. "No problem, just a small issue," Lin Hao chuckled as he got back into the car. He blended into the flow of ground traffic and slowly headed to the club. "You know, money can solve most problems." "And in the security company, I¡¯ve already prepared more than ten flying car licenses." Chen Feng¡¯s brows relaxed, and he had time to think about the situation. The malicious spying surely came from an enemy. But who could it be? Hong Guang Group? They had already changed their shareholders and had no connection to Zhao Jianlong anymore. People from Utopia? At least on the surface, he had no grudge with them, and he had never heard of Utopia wielding powers of evil gods. "It seems either the Serpent Spirit Sect or..." His gaze flickered as he thought of the Blood Poison Hand, Feng Li, whom he had killed. It might be related to the Cult of the Evil God. Without hesitation, he immediately took out his phone and sent a message to his master, Li Tong. With powerful factions like Flame Tiger Sect backing them, they were sure to have more resources and could trace clues better than he alone could. He briefly described the situation, omitting how he had discovered it, only mentioning his suspicion. --- [Li Tong: I understand. Be careful.] Although the reply was short, Chen Feng knew that his master would take it seriously. Lin Hao, who had been watching silently, didn¡¯t ask any questions and quietly drove. Soon, they arrived at the mall. There were many people coming and going, and the coffee shop downstairs was quite busy, with many young men and women sitting by the large windows. A faint fragrance wafted through the air as Chen Feng and Lin Hao quickly headed up to the second floor, entering the club. --- "Boss!" "Coach Chen!" The front desk was manned by Xu Xiaoxiao, and there were snacks on the desk. "Still sneaking snacks? Aren''t you supposed to be on a diet?" Lin Hao teased as he chatted with her. Chen Feng walked past, greeted by several coaches in Wang Cheng, and headed straight for the member area. --- "Wow, Cheng Dong, are you serious? Have you really decided?" "Yeah, you¡¯re not joking right?" "Will we see you again?" Voices of surprise came from inside, and Chen Feng raised an eyebrow as he glanced over. The training room was fully filled, and no one was late. Li Chengdong, the center of attention today, was surrounded by people. Next to him were Luo Yue and Zhuang Xiaoqing, among others. They had all become familiar over the past few days, and most had concerned expressions. "Don''t take it too seriously." "I¡¯m just going to adjust and get used to things. If there¡¯s an opportunity, I¡¯ll still come back when I can," Li Chengdong explained with a smile. --- Just as footsteps approached, everyone turned to look as the tall and burly Chen Feng walked in, quickly greeted by everyone. A few words of conversation later, Chen Feng asked about the noise. He learned that the United Coalition had established a special operations team, led by the Safety Bureau, with forces drawn from the military and city defense to eliminate Utopia. Li Chengdong had been persuaded by his family elders, and now he was keen to seize the opportunity, hoping to join and prove himself. "After returning from the military, I kind of regret it," Li Chengdong said with anticipation. "Now, there¡¯s a chance, so I want to give it another try." Chen Feng could tell he was serious. Li Chengdong, from a military family, had good connections with the Nanjiang military and the council. The chaos caused by Utopia was indeed a crisis but also a potential opportunity. "Always welcome to return," Chen Feng patted his shoulder, appreciating his earnestness. "I will come back for sure, coach," Li Chengdong smiled. "When I have time, I¡¯ll come by and ask you to teach me a few moves." Chen Feng nodded, and the class extended a little longer. --- After the lesson, as the members left, Lin Hao appeared, and they both went to the break room for dinner. "It looks like things are getting more complicated," Lin Hao murmured, sensing more than Chen Feng. Eliminating Utopia was supposed to be a minor operation, but the United Coalition¡¯s response seemed disproportionate, gathering forces from all over. "Maybe Utopia isn¡¯t as simple as it seems," Chen Feng thought of their actions collecting gold and stirring protests, causing riots. Lin Hao didn¡¯t comment on it but silently decided to send people to investigate further. --- After dinner, Chen Feng followed Lin Hao to the office and saw the Bronze-grade metal he needed. It was still the same size as a human head. Along with the debt from last time, he directly transferred five hundred thousand to Lin Hao. "Heh, getting rich, huh?" Lin Hao teased, smiling as he looked at the bank transfer information. He didn''t refuse or dodge; he knew Chen Feng''s personality. He didn''t like leaving debts unpaid. Moreover, he was aware that the money probably came from the Flame Tiger Sect, so it was legitimate. "Next time, leave me a bit more." Without explaining further, Chen Feng simply gave instructions and expressed his gratitude, "Of course, if you can get Silver-grade, that would be best." His Steel Bone talent had already broken through to LV2, and he suspected that the effect of the Bronze-grade metal might be significantly reduced. Lin Hao didn¡¯t know all this, he just patted his chest in agreement. After parting ways, Chen Feng left the shopping mall as usual, hailing a rideshare to go home. Perhaps because it was rare for him to use the flying car today, he felt a bit unsettled on the way. Until finally, he arrived back at his apartment. Click! The door opened and closed again. He quickly washed up and got ready. Then, he entered his bedroom and opened the metal box. The copper-colored metal, the size of a human head, appeared in front of him. With a firm hand, he reached out and pressed it against the metal. Activating his Steel Bone talent, several seconds passed. [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] Panel prompts appeared in succession. Chen Feng could feel a faint essence being drawn from the metal, rapidly absorbed by his bones. This continued for ten seconds. Crack! A harsh sound rang out as a crack spread across the Bronze metal. Crack crack! The noise continued, and in the blink of an eye, the metal shattered into dust, leaving only powder on the ground. [Steel Bone LV2: 7/100] "The effect has halved." As expected, Chen Feng shook his head, but he wasn¡¯t too disappointed. After all, his Steel Bone¡¯s hardness was now on par with Silver-grade. It was normal for the effect of a lower-level Bronze metal to be reduced. "I need to find a way to earn some more money and see if I can get Lin Hao to buy Silver-grade metal." "Or perhaps..." Chen Feng inexplicably thought of the silver-gray cyborg. He must have quite a bit of Silver-grade metal, right? His gaze flickered, and he silently made a decision. Finally, he lay on the bed and slowly closed his eyes. The mist swirled, and the golden light orb was something he could never forget. Thud! The ground beneath him shifted, and as he opened his eyes, he saw varying heights of buildings ahead, nearly a thousand meters away. The quiet courtyard of a villa stood, the stone statue creature wrapped in white-gray wings like a giant stone sculpture. The golden light points flickered next to it, appearing to radiate some strange allure in Chen Feng''s eyes. "Let¡¯s just go for it!" Once his thoughts settled, he immediately left the small residential building, intending to head straight to the villa. But soon, he paused. He placed down the black backpack on his body, ensuring everything was in order before leaping forward. Buzz! A flash of green light, and with a thud, his figure landed. Bending his knees, he stood. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the single horn of his green-black armor glowing, his red eyes brightened, and in an instant, he left a trail of afterimages, speeding away. He didn¡¯t use his Blood Wings to conserve energy. He activated his ordinary Azure Armor state for self-preservation. Having witnessed the battle between the stone statue creature and the giant bear last night, Chen Feng had already formed a rough assessment. It was likely approaching the Gold-grade level. Stronger than anyone he had encountered. Judging he didn¡¯t have full confidence, he decided to remain cautious. Thud thud thud! His steps quickened, closing the distance rapidly. Thanks to the powerful physique from the Giant Tiger and Bronze Statue Techniques, Chen Feng''s stamina was long-lasting. Just using his Azure Armor alone could sustain him for twenty to thirty minutes. As for the energy spent on the journey, he controlled his power, not going all out. Instead, he gradually slowed down as he approached, expanding his senses. Thud! He halted, looking at the massive pit in front of him on the road. It spanned over ten meters, and the closer he got to the center, the deeper it went. He could clearly see the shattered concrete and rebar inside, as well as the soil and gravel deeper down. This was the site of the battle between the two creatures yesterday. Looking ahead, he could see the villa surrounded by withered trees, including the stone statue creature. As for the northern side, a few hundred meters away, the mist shrouded the area, which was the direction the giant bear had taken when it left yesterday. "I wonder why they fought." The thought passed quickly, and Chen Feng slowed his steps, planning to bypass the road-blocking pit. The distance between him and the villa had already shrunk to about a hundred meters. Buzz! In an instant, as if sensing something, a powerful aura suddenly awakened. Chen Feng¡¯s expression changed instantly. Within his perception, the stone statue creature¡¯s tightly closed eyes suddenly opened, its body entirely gray-white like stone. Then, its folded wings rapidly spread open, creating a fierce wind. In the next second, it lifted off the ground and headed straight for him. "!!" Danger! Chen Feng didn¡¯t hesitate for a second and couldn¡¯t care about conserving energy. His Blood Wing flared behind him in an instant, and his figure blurred, leaving only an afterimage. Boom!! It was like a meteor crashing to the ground. The shockwave erupted, like a hurricane. The already collapsed road was further impacted, with dust and debris flying everywhere. Several streetlight poles collapsed, as an afterimage dispersed. "So strong." Chen Feng had already appeared fifty meters in the air. His pupils contracted as he looked down at the deep pit below. The massive stone-gray statue slowly stood up, dark golden lines swirling around its body like armor. Its humanoid shape was robust, with arms and legs as thick as stone pillars. The dark golden helmet on its square head exuded an indescribable majesty and solemnity. Powerful. Violent! This was Chen Feng''s most intuitive impression. Standing at over five meters tall, it could easily be mistaken for a sturdy giant rock on a cliff. Instantly, Chen Feng''s heart grew cold, and his expression turned cautious. He glanced back at the villa a hundred and fifty meters away. The golden light orb hovered quietly above the ground, now without any interference from other forces. Without hesitation, he activated his Blood Wings once more, vanishing from his spot in an instant. Whoosh!! The air exploded, and the fifty-meter distance was closed in the blink of an eye. With just one hundred more meters, he could capture the golden light orb! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c158. Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a mass release. (0/5) Chapter 116: Stone Statue Illusion [2.5k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- "Faster!" "Go faster!" The Azure figure dashed through the air at incredible speed. Chen Feng was now certain that the golden light orb was most likely a new talent! The stone statue creature was just tens of meters below him, and he was confident that he could get past it and reach the villa first to take the orb. Whoosh!! However, the moment he crossed the 100-meter range, a fierce wind swept in, like a tornado. This caused Chen Feng to momentarily hesitate. He could clearly sense that the giant statue had flapped its wings, creating a whirlwind. Whoosh! The massive body lifted off the ground, initially sinking heavily. In an instant, it surged forward, carrying with it an overwhelming pressure. "Faster!!" Chen Feng stabilized his position and quickly activated the blood-patterned wings again, moving toward the villa. The fierce wind persisted, and because of the earlier delay, the stone statue creature had already caught up. Buzz!! A sharp sound broke the air, and in the instant Chen Feng teleported and reappeared, a bright white flash blinded his vision. The giant statue hovered in mid-air, blocking all sight. Its stone pillar-like hand swung violently, and the immense force created gusts of wind. Everything around seemed to be sucked in by the power. "I can''t move!" Chen Feng''s pupils contracted as a sense of horror and crisis flooded his mind. The stone-carved giant fist approached him rapidly. He only had time to raise both arms and activate his Steel Bone ability. Boom!! The violent force exploded, as if a giant cannonball had struck him. Chen Feng was sent flying backward, crashing through several walls and glass windows from dozens of meters away, skidding until he finally stopped at an open-air balcony. The room was in chaos. A human-shaped impression was left on the walls, with deep gouges on the floor. Sofa, wooden tables, and windows were all shattered, glass and cement debris scattered all around. Looking down at himself... His arms felt numb. The bronze-colored Steel Bone shield he had used to block the blow was dented and cracked. He felt some pain inside, as though his internal organs had been shaken. "Ha..." Chen Feng forced himself to swallow the metallic taste in his throat, his expression grim. This was the first time he''d taken such a hard hit. If it weren¡¯t for his Steel Bone defense, which was comparable to silver-steel grade, and the enhancements from his Azure Armor, plus his two hard-hitting abilities, that blow would have likely left him seriously injured. But even so, he still didn¡¯t feel great. His blood surged, and it took a while before his arms could move properly again. "Mm?" Suddenly, Chen Feng sensed something was off. Despite taking such a big hit, the stone statue creature didn¡¯t take advantage of the opportunity to attack him? The thought crossed his mind, and he immediately activated his perception ability. Through the opening in the wall shaped like a human figure, he saw the clear night sky above. The giant statue was gone. Chen Feng furrowed his brows and searched further. Within a 100-meter radius, there was no sign of the creature. He suppressed the discomfort in his body and cautiously moved forward. Soon, he reached the human-shaped opening in the wall of the tall building. Looking down from there, over 100 meters away... The giant statue had returned to the villa. Its wings folded, it was half-kneeling beside the golden light orb. "Something''s wrong." Chen Feng frowned, suddenly recalling what he had witnessed the day before. The giant white statue had clearly defeated the Giant Rage Bear, but it had chosen to stop attacking and return to the villa. When connecting it with the current situation, Chen Feng suddenly came up with a hypothesis. He activated his blood-patterned wings and advanced 50 meters in an instant. Buzz! The white stone eyes opened, and a strong aura revived. Swish! Chen Feng quickly withdrew and retreated back into the building. Immediately, as if sensing something... The giant statue fell into a slumber again, its aura slowly fading. "As expected." Chen Feng''s gaze flashed, surprised by the outcome. The giant statue would only attack creatures within a 100-meter range of the villa. And based on his previous experience with the Giant Rage Bear, which had been knocked back by a punch, it seemed that as long as one stepped outside the 100-meter range, the statue would stop attacking and return to the villa. It appeared that the statue was guarding that villa. Or rather... "Is it guarding that light orb?" Chen Feng''s eyes narrowed as a shocking guess formed in his mind. As he looked more closely, he realized that within the golden orb, there seemed to be a shadow. It looked like a small stone statue person, and its outline was strikingly similar to the giant statue. This revelation caught Chen Feng off guard. He had always assumed that the giant statue was a black disaster creature. But now, it seemed that this assumption might need to be reconsidered. After all, based on his earlier observations, none of the black disaster creatures could interact with or even sense the light orbs. In contrast, this golden light orb seemed to be directly related to the giant statue. Shaking his head, Chen Feng¡¯s thoughts became chaotic. His stamina was quickly depleting, and he still had some light injuries. He dismissed the Azure Armor ability. Buzz! The Azure Armor and bronze-colored Steel Bone gradually faded, and his face grew pale, a slight pain radiating from his body. Fortunately, it was still within his tolerance, but this wasn¡¯t his main concern right now. "This orb is likely a talent." "But how can I get it?" After his recent attempt, Chen Feng realized that with his current strength, it would be difficult to obtain the orb. The giant statue was extremely powerful, at least a few tons in weight. And its flying speed wasn¡¯t slow either, not much slower than his own. Its overwhelming force and windstorms could slow him down, and with that immense power, it could suppress him with ease. Chen Feng definitely didn¡¯t want to take another punch like that. "Either I wait until I''m stronger and try again." "Or..." A thought flashed through his mind, and he didn¡¯t want to wait too long. Instinctively, he turned his head toward the mist in the northern direction. The Giant Rage Bear had a strength comparable to the giant statue, and it had fought nearby yesterday. If it appeared again, he could use it to hold off the statue. That would significantly increase his chances of obtaining the golden orb. "So, the key now is to find the Toxic Bees!" His eyes glinted with determination, and Chen Feng already had a plan in mind. Not wasting any more time, he immediately expanded his perception and returned to his previous position, grabbing his black bag while searching for a breakthrough and the location of the Toxic Bee Swarm. [Toxic Bee Swarm: A type of black disaster creature resembling wasps, capable of shooting poisonous stingers.] [Habits: Social, controlled by a queen, short lifespan, likes to build hives on tall building walls.] sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was the information on the Toxic Bee recorded in the copper book. Chen Feng made his way toward the northern mist. From a distance, he could see the silhouettes of tall buildings, dark and ominous. But as he drew closer, the surrounding mist gradually dissipated and even disappeared entirely. Expanding his perception, Chen Feng moved cautiously, not wanting to encounter the Giant Rage Bear head-on. Slowly, he ventured deeper into the northern region. One kilometer, two kilometers, three kilometers... Along the way, he collected two light orbs, comparing them with his map and memory, and realized that he was getting close to the border of the Blue Light District in the Qinggang City, near the Maple Leaf District. Buzz! Suddenly, his footsteps halted, standing in the alleyway of the high-rise building. Chen Feng''s senses moved, and he clearly heard a faint noise. A Black Toxic Bee, the size of a human head, was flying in mid-air along the road, closely following the windows of the high-rise. Its body swayed up and down as if it were drunk. Chen Feng had a thought and immediately lightened his steps, relying on his perception to follow from behind. Ten meters, a hundred meters, five hundred meters. Eventually, he stopped. Chen Feng stood at a corner of a residential building near a basketball court, his gaze brightening. On the other side of the adjacent residential building, a giant two- or three-meter-long beehive was stuck to the ceramic tile wall, glued firmly. The Black Toxic Bee that had been tracked lazily flew back, and several other Black Toxic Bees flew out of the hive and joined it, emitting buzzing sounds as if communicating. In addition, Chen Feng clearly saw a Toxic Bee Queen resting with her eyes closed inside the hive. She looked similar to the one he had killed before. Her appearance was that of a human woman with long black hair and a pair of folded black cicada wings. Her lips were black, and her skin was eerily pale. Most of her body was exposed, except for black bee armor covering her key parts, with a thin, long stinger at the end of her lower body. "I found it." Chen Feng''s gaze deepened, and the Azure mark on the back of his hand flickered again. The Azure armor covered his entire body, and the blood-patterned wings fluttered quietly. Whoosh! His body moved like an afterimage, covering fifty meters in just one second. Although he had been injured by the giant statue, Chen Feng was confident that he could easily deal with these Black Toxic Bees. Buzz! Suddenly, as if sensing something, the Toxic Bee Queen inside the hive opened her eyes, showing a look of surprise. The next second, as she was about to leave the hive, Chen Feng¡¯s Azure armor expanded and his muscular arms thickened once again. The beehive shattered, and with a powerful punch, he broke through everything, pinning the queen to the high wall. Boom!!! A huge sound echoed as blood splattered from her shattered head, forming a green fan-shaped stain on the cracked wall. Buzz buzz!! Three Black Toxic Bees that were too close were affected, instantly turning to mush. Another three reacted quickly and retreated in fear. [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] Weak fear energy appeared as Chen Feng slowly retracted his fist. The Toxic Bee Queen, whose body was embedded in the cracked wall, gradually began to fade. He watched as a few Black Toxic Bees fled in terror. He continued northward, where the mist grew thicker. Without delay, Chen Feng landed, retracting his blood-patterned wings. He slowed his pace deliberately, retracing his steps. Soon, he entered the hundred-meter radius of the giant statue''s villa. Buzz! The powerful aura revived, seemingly about to fall from the sky like a dying sun. The world spun, and the mist surged. Chen Feng instinctively turned around. The patterned curtains fluttered in the wind, and a ray of sunlight shone in. "I¡¯m back." He reached for his phone under the pillow, and it was already 7:05. He lay on his side, glancing at the panel information. [Limit Break Points: 2] Due to the delay caused by the golden light ball, he had only found two limit-breaking light orbs. However, it was all worth it. "Hopefully, the Black Toxic Bees will be more helpful." Chen Feng thought to himself, hoping that when he entered the dreamscape again, the giant beast would show up. If one attempt fails, he would try again. After all, the Black Toxic Bee colonies certainly weren''t limited to just one or two places. Whoosh! He drew the curtains and cleared his mind. The vast world stretched before him, clear and cloudless, a deep blue sky. His reflection appeared in the window, a pale face with slightly tired eyes. Although his face was pale and he felt a little exhausted, there were no significant issues. "It''s just a bit of mental fatigue, but it''s not a big deal." Chen Feng clenched his fist slightly, feeling that his strength hadn''t been greatly affected. Although the injuries he sustained in the dream were no less severe than the time his arm was broken by the masked man, his condition in reality was much better. "The dream mainly affects the mind; in other words, the stronger the mind, the stronger the ability to withstand it." He thought thoughtfully and glanced at his 20.1 willpower attribute. It was almost double what it had been before, and perhaps that was the main reason. He didn¡¯t delve further; at least it was a good sign. After a quick wash, he grabbed five or six pieces of bread and two energy bars from the fridge and boiled three eggs. He ate enough to fill his stomach, then left the house and took a taxi out of the neighborhood. [Latest News: Yesterday, large-scale protests and riots erupted in four cities of our province, leading to the deaths of two councilors and the injury of three others.] On the way, the radio in the taxi broadcasted the news. Chen Feng¡¯s expression turned serious as he listened quietly and took out his phone to search for related news. [The United Coalition has issued a notice to eliminate all Utopia organization''s hidden strongholds and bring all criminals to justice.] [Our city''s United Coalition fully cooperates with the United Coalition''s plans and has announced a second comprehensive investigation within the next week.] He even found some videos of the riots in nearby cities. Flames shot into the sky, with someone detonating a bomb in the crowd. There were also tragic scenes of protest marches, streets in disarray, and store windows smashed and burned. "Utopia has gone too far!" "I saw my neighbor gunned down during the riot, it must have been premeditated." "The foreign networks are saying it was us, that the Red Kingdom''s royalty is not popular." "Nonsense! I heard it¡¯s the Platinum Federation behind Utopia¡¯s actions!" The online discussions were heated, and although Chen Feng had heard of the riots, he hadn''t expected the situation in other cities in Feng Province to deteriorate so quickly. In contrast, while there had been riots in Nanjiang City, the situation was much better. "This world really is hard to understand." The taxi driver suddenly spoke, his tone full of lament: "Everything was fine a few decades ago, but now it¡¯s all falling apart." "At this rate, we might even end up fighting the Platinum Federation." Chen Feng narrowed his eyes as he listened. Before, although Utopia had staged riots, the news and public opinion were limited to that. But now, discussions were all over the internet, and the Safety Bureau and United Coalition hadn''t even blocked the news or controlled public sentiment. It was as if they were tacitly allowing the public''s emotions to take their course. "Something¡¯s wrong." Chen Feng felt something was off, and his mind wandered back to what Xiang Jianjun had mentioned to him at the mall. The Platinum Federation. He looked out the window at the clear, cloudless sky and suddenly felt that perhaps these peaceful days wouldn¡¯t last much longer. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 117: Kneel and Beg for Mercy. [2.4k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- [Crimson Tiger Force: Blazing Flame (84%) +] Over an hour later, in the quiet room of the martial arts school. Chen Feng calmed his mind, suppressed his distractions, and fully digested the medicinal effects of the Flame Origin Pill. He withdrew his gaze from the status panel and looked down at his legs. Deep red energy slowly appeared, completely covering his calves. "Almost there." The two Limit-breaking points weren''t enough to elevate the Crimson Tiger Force to the level of Steel Fire, but Chen Feng wasn''t in a hurry. He still had one more Flame Origin Pill left. He would take it tomorrow and, combined with the Limit-break points, it would definitely be sufficient. He then took out a white jade porcelain bottle and poured out a Muscle Fortifying Tiger Bone Pill. He chewed it up and swallowed it. Outside the quiet room, the core disciples arrived on time, each holding a steel rod, a total of ten of them. "Let''s go." Chen Feng removed his black shirt, revealing the muscled physique that looked like blocks of stone. He sank his waist and assumed a horse stance, visualizing the Crimson Tiger. No matter how turbulent the situation outside, he knew that in the end, it all came down to having enough strength. Bang! Suddenly, a muffled explosion sounded, and iron rods fell one after another. No matter how hard the surrounding core disciples swung their rods, Chen Feng remained still, as if a gentle breeze was blowing past him. "Senior Brother, is this the martial arts school of the Flame Tiger Sect?" Outside the school, two figures walked down the street. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Both had tall and muscular builds. The person speaking on the left was about 1.85 meters tall, sporting a crew-cut hairstyle, appearing to be about 22 or 23 years old, wearing a sleeveless gray hoodie. His exposed arms were muscular and knotted, as if he had been working out in the gym for years. The person on the right was just over 1.9 meters tall, wearing a loose blue sports jacket, with long, messy hair covering his forehead. Although his muscles weren''t visible, his clothes were tightly stretched across his well-built frame. He also had a black backpack with a sports water bottle on his back, appearing to be in his late twenties or early thirties. "Yeah, this is the Flame Tiger Sect''s branch martial arts school." "The Flame Tiger Sect has considerable influence in Nanjiang. Last time at the Southern Martial Arts Conference, they ranked 16th, and there are three True Intent-level masters in the sect. They''re not weak by any means." The man with messy long hair spoke softly, glancing at the Crimson Tiger Martial Arts School''s sign a few meters away. Through the glass windows, they could see some disciples practicing inside, throwing punches and kicks while sweating. The hoodie-wearing youth froze for a moment when he heard this, staring curiously at the practice inside. He asked, "Senior Brother, didn''t our master say that the Flame Tiger Sect was once stronger than us?" "Why are they only ranked 16th now?" "They''ve fallen behind, that was over thirty years ago." The man with messy long hair shook his head and sighed. "The Flame Tiger Sect and the Flying Dragon Sect have always been rivals, fighting for supremacy. One of them had to lose." "I see." The hoodie-wearing youth''s face darkened slightly. His initial intent to enter and spar had already faded. He didn''t like picking on the weak. "Though the Flame Tiger Sect has declined, it once produced a grandmaster, so it still has some foundation." "Especially in terms of strength, they''re quite proficient in offensive techniques." Seeing the youth''s thoughts, the man with messy long hair patted his shoulder and smiled. "The Giant Elephant Technique requires some external force to stimulate it, and you''re just about at the critical point of mastering it." "In my opinion, this might be the perfect stepping stone for you." When the words landed, the hoodie-wearing youth took them to heart. Without mentioning changing places to train, he immediately stepped forward, planning to follow his senior brother inside. Tap, tap! Footsteps echoed. However, someone was faster than them. From a distance of seven to eight meters, an elderly and a young figure entered the martial arts school. Looking through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the whole first floor of the martial arts school was visible, and soon, the sounds of sparring and teaching began to echo. "Interesting, seems like they''re from the Pine Crane Sect." The man with messy long hair''s eyes gleamed, and he quickly led the hoodie-wearing youth toward the school. "Pine Crane Sect, Jiang Yuan, I request Flame Tiger Sect to teach me!" On the first floor of the martial arts school, the loud voice echoed. Several people, who had come to the school to work out, paused in surprise. "What''s going on?" "It seems like they''re sparring, I remember martial arts sects enjoy this." "No, this doesn''t seem like sparring. It feels more like a challenge to the school." Discussions spread, and a 25-26-year-old martial arts instructor frowned. He quickly sent someone to notify the second floor, while stepping forward to observe the elderly and young figures at the door. The young man who had spoken, likely in his early twenties, wore a small braid and gray casual sportswear. His complexion was healthy, with a faint air of arrogance, his chin slightly raised as he spoke. The old man next to him wore a traditional Chinese-style robe, embroidered with a white-feathered crane, and stood silently, exuding a calm demeanor. "I am from the Flame Tiger Sect, Xu Li. May I ask the name of this esteemed senior?" The instructor walked up, quickly recognizing the old man as the true authority figure. His face remained calm, though he was internally displeased. The Pine Crane Sect, from the neighboring Yongcheng, was a martial arts sect of considerable strength. The two sects usually kept to themselves, and while visiting for sparring was common, being so rude, causing a scene for everyone to witness, was definitely uncalled for. However, after a quick glance, the old man remained silent, his expression indifferent. The young man with the braid immediately took the lead, speaking up, "You don''t deserve to know my master''s name." "Quickly send out your strongest fighter, let''s spar." His arrogant tone was off-putting, especially with many bystanders around. If they lost their momentum, what would happen to the reputation of the Flame Tiger Sect? The thought crossed his mind, and despite his growing frustration, Xu Li suppressed his anger and cupped his hands. "Please, enlighten me." "Oh? Just you?" The young man with the braid, Jiang Yuan, sneered, looking around. "Fine, let''s do it. Tell me where we will fight." "I should warn you, if someone gets hurt or something gets broken, don''t blame me." Xu Li suppressed his anger once again and motioned for them to move toward the first floor''s sparring arena. It was a spacious area designed for sparring practice, about ten meters wide and long. The two of them walked over. Tap, tap, tap! The hurried footsteps echoed on the second floor of the martial arts school. Core disciples led by their instructors filed out. Dozens, almost a hundred, stood in the second-floor corridor or gathered on the first floor, surrounding the sparring area. Six instructors stood in the front row, their expressions varied. The strongest among them, Cao Tong, looked solemn, immediately recognizing the elderly man in the Pine Crane Sect robe. "That''s Qian Changsong." Nearby, a newly promoted core disciple who had never heard of the name received an explanation. "He''s an elder from the Pine Crane Sect. He reached the third stage of inner strength a long time ago." Cao Tong''s face grew serious, feeling uneasy. The third elder was away today. That meant the key issue was... "What about the Senior Brother?" he intentionally changed the title, knowing it wasn''t good to keep it as is. "We''ve already notified him." "Good." Cao Tong felt a slight sense of relief. He then turned his attention to the sparring area. Xu Li leapt up and landed at the center. Jiang Yuan, with his braid, sneered and immediately performed a graceful leap, landing steadily as if he were a crane. The display of skill made Cao Tong and the others tense up. "Perfect mastery of the Organ Training, seems like he''s about to reach the next stage." The strength is not weak, and the key is that the other party is still very young, probably just in his early twenties. "With so many people watching, what? Do you want to suppress me with numbers?" Jiang Yuan deliberately provoked and glanced around at the people, then immediately launched a surprise attack. Whoosh!! His fingers turned into claws, resembling a pine crane pecking forward. White light covered his hand, and Xu Li focused in response. Boom! Boom! Boom! The two fought for several rounds, and soon... Boom!! A sudden, unexpected strike¡ªPine Crane strikes the river. Xu Li was blasted off the stage. "Junior Brother Xu!" "Coach Xu!" Some coaches and disciples rushed forward to help. They could see that Xu Li''s face was pale, and his chest had been torn open by the force. It looked as though the Pine Crane had pecked through his flesh, with fresh blood oozing from the wounds, skin torn and flesh mangled, nearly exposing bone. "I... I''m fine," Xu Li said weakly, feeling ashamed. Cao Tong''s expression was serious, realizing the opponent¡¯s malicious intent and the heavy blow. He instructed someone to send Xu Li for treatment while suppressing his own emotions, preparing to go up and deal with it. "Tsk tsk tsk, not good enough." "If the coach is at this level, then you guys are probably just as weak." Jiang Yuan stood on the platform, surveying everyone with disdain, forcing the core disciples to turn red in anger. Wu Tian, frustrated and eager to go up, was held back by Pei Yue, knowing that he hadn''t mastered the skills yet. Lin Hao also frowned, but before he could speak, Jiang Yuan continued: "Stop wasting time. Next! Hurry up!" "If we lose again, maybe we should just rename the Flame Tiger School to the Weak Cat School." Tap tap tap! Footsteps echoed from the second floor of the dojo. "Senior Brother!" "Senior Brother!" Some of the core disciples reacted and immediately shouted. In an instant, all eyes turned toward them, including Cao Tong, who was preparing to step onto the stage. "Oh? There¡¯s a Senior Brother?" Jiang Yuan looked up with a smirk, spotting a tall man in black, surrounded by core disciples, standing at the edge of the second-floor railing. The man was tall and burly, calm and composed. One was looking down, the other looking up. Feeling slightly confused, Jiang Yuan thought to himself that he had at least trained with some true disciples who had reached the first stage of "Inner Strength" in the school. Still smirking, Jiang Yuan raised his chin and pointed, continuing his provocation: "You seem to have some skill. What, do you dare come down and spar?" Upon hearing this, everyone in the dojo looked at Chen Feng. "Cao Tong." Chen Feng called out lowly, not moving an inch. "Here!" Cao Tong, with a cold expression, directly ignored Jiang Yuan and called out. "Shut his mouth." The atmosphere fell silent. The elderly man in the crane robe at the door slightly opened his eyes and furrowed his brows, showing a cold expression. However, in contrast, Cao Tong¡¯s expression brightened. He responded with a loud roar. "Yes!" He leaped up without hesitation. Boom! The towering, muscular figure landed on the stage, shaking the ground, and Jiang Yuan finally snapped back to reality. You look down on me? You want to shut my mouth? His expression turned ugly, and he immediately erupted with killing intent, extending his hand and releasing his power. Whoosh!! Like a pine crane pecking forward, the air rippled with sharp, whistling sounds. But Cao Tong remained unfazed, as did Chen Feng on the second floor, showing no signs of concern. Cao Tong had almost broken through to "Inner Strength" previously, and recently, because of his own efforts, he had received a secret medicine and true skills from the school. Considering the timing and sensing his nearing breakthrough, he knew he was close to entering "Inner Strength." Boom!! The clash of fist against claw sent a shockwave through the air. Cao Tong grinned fiercely. "Kid, I¡¯ve been pent up for a while now!" Buzz! A faint red energy flowed through his arm, covering most of his limb with power. Clenching his fist, raising his elbow, and striking heavily! Boom!! The two fists met, and Jiang Yuan staggered back, retreating a few steps on the stage, stumbling into the ropes. Cao Tong took advantage of the situation, rushing forward to deliver a humiliating lesson, just as Chen Feng had instructed. "Good courage!" Suddenly, Qian Changsong, who had been standing at the foot of the stage, seemed to have anticipated this moment. A cold light flashed in his eyes, and in the next instant, he vanished into thin air, soaring into the air to land on the stage. Screech!! The real "White Crane Spreads Its Wings." The afterimage hung in the air as a crane¡¯s call rang out. Everyone felt a vibration in their ears. The tall youth in the gray sweatshirt outside the window had a serious expression. Cao Tong, sensing the impending danger, gritted his teeth, ready to endure. But in the next second... Roar!!! The sound of a tiger¡¯s roar erupted, shaking the dojo. A flash of deep crimson energy surged, and the stage cracked beneath the force. The deafening explosion sent Qian Changsong flying out of the dojo, crashing into several fitness equipment. Boom boom boom! Crash! He slid across the floor, leaving two long marks from his legs, stopping just before the window. His face turned pale, and blood poured from his throat. Qian Changsong stared at the towering figure in black standing in front of Cao Tong, feeling more shocked than ever before. "So you''re this weak." With a calm tone, Chen Feng raised his right arm, covered with deep crimson energy. He stood like a massive mountain, suppressing the entire scene, gathering all eyes upon him. Without even glancing at Jiang Yuan, who was close by, trembling and pale, he looked down at Qian Changsong, who was seven or eight meters away, and simply gave a cold choice. "If you can¡¯t even take one of my slaps..." "You tell me, should you not kneel and beg for mercy? Or... you can prepare yourself to die." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 118: Flying Dragon Sect [2.8k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- Gulp! Inside the martial arts hall, the atmosphere was silent, with some people unable to resist swallowing their saliva. The ordinary onlookers were shocked, as they had just witnessed the elderly man in his fifties, who had overturned so many barbells and bench press equipment, yet was still standing firm. In contrast, the young man in black who had made the opponent so miserable was even more oppressive to look at. "Junior." Qian Changsong slowly recovered, standing by the window, swallowing the taste of rust in his mouth. His gaze was cruel as he deliberately reminded, "Our Pine Crane Sect is not afraid of your Flame Tiger Sect." "Alas, this was just a normal spar, but you insist on being arrogant and threatening us, then I''m afraid..." Whoosh!! A flash of deep red, a tiger leap. The ropes on the arena suddenly snapped in half, and the ground beneath collapsed further. Step!! With a firm step, Chen Feng had already crossed a distance of seven to eight meters and stood in front of Qian Changsong. "Can¡¯t make a choice?" "Then I¡¯ll choose for you!" Wham!! The wind from his fist rushed toward Qian Changsong, his muscular arm clenched into a fist, covered with deep red strength, as if flames were hidden within. Qian Changsong¡¯s expression shifted slightly¡ªhe hadn¡¯t expected Chen Feng to attack so suddenly. White light covered his body as he instantly spread his wings and reached out with his claws. Bang!! The sound of an explosion echoed as deep red and white light collided. In the span of a single breath. Qian Changsong suddenly sensed something was wrong, feeling a strong rebound force traveling up his arm. "This!" He focused his gaze and was stunned by what he saw: The young man in front of him had a subtle change in skin color. It now reflected a bronze hue, shining under the sunlight. As for the aggressive gleam in his eyes, it suddenly revealed a piercing brilliance. Boom!! His body was violently shaken back by the rebound, but a rapid punch came at him without warning. Qian Changsong was sent crashing through the window, sliding out onto the street. Nearby, the young man in a hoodie was already stunned. He then saw the black-clad youth charging after. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Junior, you are being too much!!" His face flushed with embarrassment and anger. Qian Changsong struggled to steady himself, feeling as though he had never been so humiliated. Without a second thought, he gathered his strength and thrust his palm forward. Screech!! The white light of his energy tore through the air, forming a pillar of energy that twisted the air and pierced everything in its path, directly crashing into Chen Feng. Whoosh!! Qian Changsong slid back several steps, his legs scraping the ground. The metal frames around the windows twisted and cracked under the pressure. Qian Changsong grinned, seeing this. But the next moment. Rip!! His black top tore apart, his muscles bulging and his bones growing. In the blink of an eye, the two-meter-tall giant was already standing in place, suddenly swinging his hand, effortlessly dispersing the energy column. "!!!" His pupils contracted, both Qian Changsong and the hoodie-clad young man nearby were stunned. Whoosh!! The sound of tearing air echoed, and in the next instant, the giant dashed forward with explosive speed, turning his body as he spun around. Boom!! His whiplash-like kick landed squarely on Qian Changsong''s back. Qian Changsong spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying like a ball into the martial arts hall. Glass shards flew everywhere as Chen Feng glanced at the hoodie-clad young men, his red energy surging as he leaped again. Whoosh!! A lingering afterimage remained in the air, like a tiger pouncing on its prey. Qian Changsong, still airborne, was soon caught by Chen Feng, who grabbed his ankle. Not good! Qian Changsong gritted his teeth and struggled, but there was nowhere to exert force. In the next moment, his center of gravity shifted rapidly. Boom!! The ground caved in as debris scattered everywhere. Chen Feng held onto Qian Changsong''s ankle and swung him around before slamming him into the ground. The sound of continuous thumping filled the air, and the core disciples watching from a distance slowly began to change their expressions. Excitement! Anticipation! But soon, after the thumping sounds lasted for over ten seconds, many expressions changed again. Worry. Would the old man be dead? On the arena, Cao Tong''s eyelids twitched, but he dared not intervene. Then, as if remembering something, he turned toward Jiang Yuan, who was already pale from fear. He sneered and stepped forward, grabbing Jiang Yuan by the chin and slapping his face with his hand. Slap! Boom! Slap! Boom! The two sounds overlapped, back and forth. Passersby watching outside, the hoodie-clad young man trembled slightly, glancing toward his senior. "Senior, should we still go for a spar?" Fifteen minutes later. An ambulance left the martial arts hall, taking the old and young to receive treatment. Chen Feng had changed into a spare black short-sleeve shirt and returned to the quiet room. "Junior Chen, today the two of us teaming up will definitely shake the entire Nanjiang Martial Arts world." Cao Tong was still inside, grinning with pride. Part of it was due to venting frustration by defeating the Pine Crane Sect disciples who had come to provoke them. The other part was due to today''s breakthrough. He had finally stepped into the "Inner Strength" level, and after a trip back to the mountain, he would become a true disciple. This was something he had longed for, and thanks to this conflict, he had succeeded by chance today. Chen Feng smiled faintly, feeling happy for him. He had heard from others that Cao Tong had joined the Flame Tiger Sect when he was just a teenager. After more than a decade of training, today he had achieved his goal. This was a good thing both for him personally and for the entire sect. "Brother Cao." "I remember our sect never had any enmity with the Pine Crane Sect, right?" Chen Feng''s thoughts returned, remembering today''s conflict. With the Southern Martial Arts Conference approaching, sparring with others was common. However, it usually took place in private, in a quiet place. No matter who won or lost, the impact on the sect would be minimized. As for Pine Crane Sect''s unforgiving nature, this was usually only seen when there was a personal grudge. "Right, I also remember no enmity." Cao Tong nodded, his smile fading as he grew puzzled. The two exchanged a glance, feeling something unusual. Soon after. Knock, knock! There was a knock at the door. "Senior Brother, someone wants to see you." "They say they are from the Giant Elephant Sect." As the words dropped, Chen Feng extended his senses and raised an eyebrow. The hoodie-clad young man and the messy-haired youth were waiting in one of the rest rooms of the martial arts hall, both of them with strong auras. The former seemed close to the second layer of Inner Strength, while the latter was likely on the verge of breaking through to True Intent, stronger than Qian Changsong, and comparable to the Blood Poison Hand, Feng Li. "Giant Elephant Sect?" Cao Tong furrowed his brow, confused. This was a large martial arts faction in the southern region, located in other cities of Feng Province. Their Flame Tiger Sect had an ordinary relationship with them¡ªwhat could they want visiting them? "Let''s meet them." Chen Feng had a slight guess, but he didn¡¯t sense any ill intent. Cao Tong nodded and stood up, moving behind him. Soon, the coach outside led them to the two visitors, who were also serving tea while standing behind Chen Feng. "Giant Elephant Sect, Zheng Shan, greetings to the esteemed disciples of Flame Tiger Sect." "This is my junior brother, Zhang Tai." The man with long, disheveled hair took the initiative to clasp his fists in a salute, speaking respectfully as if they were equals. Chen Feng nodded in return, not wasting words, and got straight to the point. "I wonder what brings you here, Senior Brother?" "Hehe, just here to make a friend." Zheng Shan smiled and said, not hiding his intentions, "I see that Junior Brother is only in the first stage of the ''Inner Strength'' level, but you are capable of battling experts in the integration of internal energy." "Born with divine strength, especially adept in physical techniques, which aligns perfectly with the practices of my Giant Giant Elephant Sect." "I feel a strong affinity and wanted to pay a visit to Junior Brother, to form a good connection." Chen Feng listened without revealing his emotions, responding with just a few words. Beside him, Zhang Tai observed Chen Feng the entire time, curious about how his physical strength compared to his own. "By the way, Junior Brother, have you heard about the incident with the Pine Crane Sect?" Zheng Shan casually asked, and Chen Feng immediately understood that this was the real reason for the visit. "Please, Senior Brother, enlighten me." "The former sect master of the Pine Crane Sect declared a retreat, and now the Great Elder has taken over the responsibility of leading the sect." "I''ve heard that this Great Elder once received help from the Flying Dragon Sect." Upon hearing this, Chen Feng furrowed his brow. Flying Dragon Sect? What kind of force is that? Seeing his confusion, Zheng Shan did not explain. He smiled and put down his tea cup, saying a few more words before clasping his fists and taking his leave. "Senior Brother, why are we telling him all of this?" As they left the martial arts hall, Zhang Tai voiced his doubts. He acknowledged that the man was powerful, but didn''t think it was necessary for Senior Brother to go so far in making a friendly gesture. "This person has considerable potential; there''s an eighty to ninety percent chance he''ll break through to true intent in the future." Zheng Shan continued walking, still wearing his black backpack, and explained, "Also, don''t you find it strange that the Flying Dragon Sect has suddenly become so aggressive?" "They withdrew from the martial arts tournament thirty years ago and haven''t participated since." "But now, they suddenly announce their return and claim control over the tournament." His tone was calm, but there was an underlying sense of worry and seriousness. "The southern region of the Red Country is becoming more and more complex. Perhaps, Flame Tiger Sect can test the waters and see what the Flying Dragon Sect''s true intentions are." "Flying Dragon Sect..." Chen Feng withdrew his sensing abilities and looked at Cao Tong. He frowned for a moment and said uncertainly, "I think I''ve heard of them. They are a major sect, not smaller than the Giant Giant Elephant Sect." "I also heard they have some grievances with our Flame Tiger Sect." Cao Tong wasn''t very knowledgeable on the subject, and Chen Feng''s confusion remained unresolved. He thought for a moment, then decided to ask his master, Li Tong, for more information. To make a long story short, he made a call and described today''s events. "I will handle this matter." "Wait a few days, and I will tell you the details." The phone hung up. Li Tong''s tone seemed complex. Chen Feng thought for a moment but didn''t press further. He felt like he might have stumbled upon something hidden, and his master, Li Tong, was likely still hesitant about how to reveal this to him. Soon after, Cao Tong and the others left. Chen Feng stayed alone in the quiet room and practiced his "Crimson Tiger Force" techniques. TL/N: The "Crimson Tiger Force" techniques refer to Tiger Roar Style, Steel Claw Style, Flame Blast Style and Tiger Leap Style. Just in case you¡¯re wondering. (Refer to chapter 99) Time passed, and by 3 or 4 in the afternoon, he took a shower, got dressed, and put on his black jacket before leaving the martial arts hall. "Let''s go!" Lin Hao waved his hand, signaling to get in the car, and the two headed straight for the club. On the way, cars passed by, and people walked along the streets. During the drive, Chen Feng briefly saw Zheng Shan and his companion outside the martial arts hall of another smaller sect. He didn''t pay much attention and instead focused on the transparent panel in front of him. [Azure Armor LV3: 5/100] "Has the difficulty increased again?" Chen Feng recalled what happened today, thinking about the fear points he earned from Pine Crane Sect''s Qian Chang Song. There were quite a few, but unfortunately, the quality was somewhat lacking. He speculated that it might have been because he hadn''t gone for the kill. Even so, it was clear that the difficulty in advancing to level three of Azure Armor had increased. After all, Qian Chang Song was a master at the third stage of Inner Strength, stronger than most modified people with weaponized modules. "So, it needs new nutrients," he thought. The idea flashed through his mind, and he suddenly thought of the golden light orb. His mind wandered as he focused on his martial arts and talents. Before long, the vehicle slowed as they reached the shopping mall. "What''s wrong? You seem distracted," Lin Hao asked, puzzled. "Nothing," Chen Feng shook his head, got out of the car, and entered the mall, planning to finish his lessons early and go home to rest. He wondered if the Giant Rage Bear had been swayed by the Black Toxic Bee. Or if it had already begun its attack. --- Bang! In the suburbs of Nanjiang City, in a hidden metal chamber, several people wearing masks and floral brooches on their chests were seated around a circular table. "What is going on? Why hasn''t Jin Wei awakened yet?" One person slammed the table in anger, his tone questioning. They had been under siege by the United Coalition recently, and it could be said they had been thoroughly beaten, looking quite disheveled and helpless. They were all burning with rage, and most of their gazes turned to the leader sitting at the head of the table. A man with slicked-back black hair, wearing a loose black suit. "His injuries were too severe. Although they have been repaired, there are still some minor issues." "If we force his revival, it will affect his strength." Upon hearing this, the others wore various expressions, most of them frowning in deep thought. "What should we do then? The other cities are moving faster than us. If we don''t make some progress, the headquarters won''t let us off!" "Yes, Jin Wei is our greatest reliance. If he doesn''t awaken, our plan cannot proceed." "How big an impact will it have? Leader, if necessary, we should just wake him up first!" The supportive voices continued. The leader sitting at the head of the table remained silent, watching them until they quieted down, then spoke again. "Two days." "I''ve heard reports of people moving goods through the city gates, smuggling modification modules and advanced metals. I''ve already sent people to track them down and retrieve the materials." "Regardless of the outcome, I will make sure Jin Wei awakens within two days." His tone was calm and resolute, and upon hearing this, the questioning voices quieted down. They looked around the table. Someone suddenly asked, "What about Silver Wolf?" "Don''t mention him. He''s an arrogant fool," someone responded with a shake of their head, disdain in their voice. "He fought to a draw with Dong Tao and is now recovering at the base." "Serves him right. He insisted on going after that Blue Demon." "If it weren''t for Jin Wei, I would have had him transferred by now." A wave of discontent spread, though no one spoke, some secretly nodded in agreement. All of it was noted by the leader. As the head of the Utopia branch in Nanjiang, the man with slicked-back hair did not stop their complaints and internal conflicts. He turned his head to the other side of the room. His gaze seemed to pierce through layers of metal walls, focusing on a massive figure lying still with closed eyes, seemingly in deep sleep. Golden-paved platforms slowly melted away, and several pipes were inserted into the figure''s metallic limbs, continuously feeding it some kind of advanced energy fluid to maintain its life signs. Its aura was thick, like a sleeping lion, just a step away from awakening, ready to shatter the so-called United Coalition and bring about its own great era. "It''s almost time." The leader whispered inwardly, his eyes flashing with fervor. This was the great era they would create, where the words "Utopia" would no longer just be a dream. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Early Access at $5. Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 119: New Talent: Heart of Glory [3.1k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- That evening, at 7:50 PM, Chen Feng finished his training session at the club, had dinner, and walked out of the mall. Several luxury cars sped away from the parking lot, and several people inside were waving at him. "Coach Chen, we''re leaving!" "Coach, want a ride? I can take you!" They were all members of the club, but Chen Feng shook his head and politely declined. He continued walking, stepping onto the gray tiles along the street, called a ride-hailing car, and waited to go home. Thinking of the golden light orb, his heart grew more eager. "Chen Feng?" Suddenly, a familiar voice called out. Chen Feng turned his head to see a girl wearing thick glasses standing not far from him, holding a shared bike, seemingly about to return it. She was wearing a white coat, jeans, and small sneakers. It was none other than his former high school class monitor, Wang Hanwen. "Fancy meeting you here again." Wang Hanwen smiled, parked the bike, walked over to Chen Feng, and took a plastic bag off the bike handle. "Are you heading home?" "Yes." Chen Feng nodded and glanced at the plastic bag in her hand. It contained a lot of flyers, mostly for office supplies and promotions. Seemingly aware of his curiosity, Wang Hanwen explained openly, "It''s a task assigned by my company." "Our business hasn''t been doing well lately, so the boss asked all the employees to hand out some flyers to help with promotion." "If we get results, we can get a commission." "Since the mall is crowded, I thought I''d distribute them here and try to finish quickly." Although she had some acne marks, her smile was bright and genuine. "Give me one." After a moment of silence, Chen Feng said. Wang Hanwen was initially surprised but quickly smiled and pulled a flyer from the bag. "Thanks, old classmate." "By the way, how''s your new job going? Do you need any help?" "It''s going alright." Chen Feng replied calmly. Just then, a white electric ride-hailing car pulled up and stopped in front of him. After a brief goodbye, he opened the car door, sat inside, and left. Watching the car drive away, Wang Hanwen stood there, holding the flyer, feeling a bit envious. With the rising cost of living, she was becoming more reluctant to spend on things like taxis. "Hang in there, things will get better," she quietly encouraged herself, then straightened up and, with a smile, walked toward the crowd around the mall to distribute the flyers. --- At Home Chen Feng walked into the living room and glanced at the flyer. [Hongyuan Office Technology Co., Ltd.] [For Sale: Office Desks, Chairs, Metal Cabinets, Computers.] He glanced over the content, then placed the flyer on the table. He then went to freshen up and tidied up, before returning to his bedroom and lying down on the bed. With his strong willpower, his mood gradually calmed. He closed his eyes slightly and soon drifted to sleep. Eventually, he opened his eyes again. Mist swirled around him, and the collapsed road and toppled streetlights came into view. The sky was pitch black, and the surroundings were dimly lit. --- Inside the Dream Buzz! Before he could fully observe the environment, Chen Feng suddenly felt a strong, awakening presence. Retreat! Without hesitation, the Azure mark on the back of his hand flashed suddenly. Azure armor covered his entire body, and his blood-patterned wings flapped once. Whoosh! His afterimage lingered in the air as he retreated fifty meters, leaving the giant statue''s one-hundred-meter radius. The awakening aura quickly dissipated, and Chen Feng stood atop a residential building, suddenly remembering that he had left the dream earlier at this location to draw the Giant Rage Bear into the target zone. "Giant Rage Bear." A thought flashed through his mind, and he looked toward the northern area. The fog had dispersed in the area he''d explored before, but further ahead, the surroundings remained dark. There was no movement. He furrowed his brows and observed the environment around the villa. The enormous stone statue knelt on the ground, its white stone wings folded and bent around its body. The golden light orb floated nearby, as if it were a guarded treasure. It was silent and untouched. Apart from the battle marks from earlier, there were no signs of other conflicts in the hundred-meter radius. "Looks like it hasn''t arrived yet." With certainty in his heart, Chen Feng dismissed the Azure Armor and decided to wait. The Giant Rage Bear was the protector of the Black Toxic Bee swarm and the Toxic Bee Queen, and he expected a successful revenge strike. However... After waiting for an hour, Chen Feng''s patience was wearing thin. The mist drifted, and there was still no sign of movement. He suspected his plan had gone wrong. Moreover, he was running out of time in the dream and couldn''t afford to wait any longer. "One more try!" An idea flashed through his mind. He decided to head north again into the fog area. There had to be more Black Toxic Bee swarms there, and he didn''t believe the Giant Rage Bear could ignore them. Boom! The next moment, just as he was about to move, a massive sound came from afar, and the northern mist began to swirl and shift. They''re coming! Chen Feng''s eyes brightened, suppressing his urge to rush forward. He immediately retreated into a nearby residential building. Boom! Boom! Boom! The ground trembled as the mist spun, like a portal opening. From the thick fog emerged a giant black bear, standing tall at six meters, striding forward with Black Toxic Bees buzzing above it, their numbers growing as they followed closely behind. There were dozens, almost a hundred, and among them, four Toxic Bee Queens could be seen, their wings vibrating as they followed in a swarm. It seemed as if the war was about to begin, and the atmosphere immediately grew tense. Seeing this, Chen Feng took a deep breath, instinctively concealing his presence. He couldn''t let the Giant Rage Bear detect him as an outsider. At the same time, within the villa a hundred meters away, the white stone statue remained still, like a stone sculpture. It wasn''t until the Giant Rage Bear followed the path Chen Feng had taken the previous day that, when it neared the hundred-meter range... S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Roar! A massive roar shook the earth, filled with rage as if a volcano had erupted. The surrounding glass windows shattered with a loud crash, debris scattering everywhere. Chen Feng held his breath, hiding in the corner, careful not to expose himself, relying solely on his senses to observe. The buzzing of the Black Toxic Bees suddenly filled the air as they spread out, seemingly planning to search the area under the guidance of the Toxic Bee Queens. "So, the Giant Rage Bear can sense the presence of other beings within a certain range." Chen Feng''s heart sank. He hadn''t anticipated this complication. All they needed was a few more steps, and the Giant Rage Bear would trigger the white statue''s attack. But instead... Buzz! The Black Toxic Bees began to scatter, closing in on the nearby residential buildings. Chen Feng immediately quieted his movements, preparing to hide in the shadows of the building. However, the next moment... One of the Black Toxic Bees accidentally crossed the hundred-meter boundary. It was only a tiny distance. Buzz! The hundred-meter boundary triggered immediately. The white statue within the villa sprang to life, its stone eyes opening wide, and its massive wings flapped violently. A violent aura surged into the sky, forcing all the Black Toxic Bees and Toxic Bee Queens to stop in their tracks, confused, staring at the distance. Whoosh! The air howled as the white figure descended like a falling meteor. Boom! The ground cracked, and the surrounding tall buildings shook violently. The shockwave spread like a hurricane. The Black Toxic Bees in midair disappeared, crushed beneath the giant statue''s feet, their blood and remains mixing with the shattered debris. Roar! The Giant Rage Bear let out a furious roar, its fangs bared, unable to hold back its rage. With loud thuds, it charged forward, dark energy flashing across its body. Boom! The two giant creatures collided with a tremendous impact. Black energy shot out like lightning, but the white statue remained unfazed. "Now!" Chen Feng''s eyes lit up. The Azure armor covered his body in an instant. He leaped, crashing through the bedroom window, sending shards of glass flying into the air. Whoosh! His blood-patterned wings flapped powerfully as he disappeared, speeding toward the distant villa. Fifty meters, one hundred meters! The white statue, still locked in combat with the Giant Rage Bear, suddenly trembled, releasing a massive burst of power that forced the Giant Rage Bear back. Boom! The rock-like body of the statue lifted into the air, its massive wings flapping with a roar. "Hurry!" "Faster!" Chen Feng''s thoughts raced, feeling the wind rushing toward him. The final fifty meters closed in the blink of an eye. The villa''s lawn was beneath his feet, and the golden light orb was as clear as day. The stone figure''s silhouette inside the orb was vivid, eyes closed in slumber. Buzz! The wind roared like a tornado, and the returning white statue crashed into the scene like a falling sun. Chen Feng immediately reached out to touch the light orb, preparing to take flight again. Buzz!!! Golden light flared, and everything slowed down. The sound of the wind whistled past his ears, the grass underfoot pressed flat by the violent gusts. In the distance, the Giant Rage Bear was still in a state of fury, and the Black Toxic Bees were trembling in fear. It was as if time had paused, and the rapidly approaching white statue hung suspended in the air. [You have obtained the talent orb: Heart of Glory!] [A life core left by an extraordinary being ¡ª the core of the Holy Shield Statue!] [Talent fusion successful!] [Effect 1: You can command the Holy Shield Statue, making it your most loyal warrior, fighting for glory!] Effect 2: Every time the talent levels up, you have the opportunity to strengthen the Shield Golem, allowing it to grow stronger until it becomes the King of Glory! Current Status: Heart of Glory LV1 (1/100) Talent Growth Condition: Gain enough Glory Points! A panel prompt appeared, and the golden light in the sky suddenly vanished. Buzz!! The strong winds continued, but before Chen Feng could regain his composure, a white giant figure, flying from a distance, suddenly shrank into an illusory form and shot directly into his chest like an arrow of white smoke. Poof! It seemed as though it had broken through some kind of barrier. The world before him suddenly changed, and Chen Feng felt dizzy. "Indeed, it''s Luona. She has awakened such a powerful talent." "Heart of Glory, how enviable." "Is that the Shield Golem? It''s already so strong in its infancy." Voices of discussion entered his ears. Chen Feng looked around in confusion. In a high-level academy with a wide plaza, platforms made of white jade stones could be seen. A girl with red short hair was standing above, just retracting her palm from a crystal ball embedded in a stone pillar. "Are you the Shield Golem?" Her clear voice carried a hint of curiosity. Following her gaze, a light beam rapidly dispersed, and a five-meter-tall white golem emerged from it. Boom! Without a word, it knelt halfway on the ground. Like a knight¡¯s silent loyalty, the red-haired girl smiled. "Hello, my partner." Buzz! The world spun again, and Chen Feng found himself in an unfamiliar place. Near the swamp in a wilderness jungle. A group of mutated creatures, resembling crocodiles, surrounded him on all sides. They were several meters in size, with glowing, greed-filled vertical pupils that sent a chill down his spine. The girl and two of her teammates were trapped in the encirclement, but there was no trace of fear on their faces. Instead, there was a proud confidence. "Big White, crush them!" Whoosh!!! The white giant descended from the sky like a falling star, smashing the bodies of several mutated crocodiles underfoot. The stone wings flapped, the mountains and forests were overturned¡ªinvincible. Looking closely, the golem¡¯s size had already grown to seven meters. Its golden patterns deepened, and a small diamond-shaped crystal appeared on its brow. "Roar!!!" The leader of the mutated crocodiles attempted to struggle, but it was too late. The Golem¡¯s fist! Boom!! The shockwave exploded, and the mutated crocodile vanished, replaced by a deep ravine. Buzz! The world changed again. Suddenly, black mist covered the sky above Qinggang City, and pairs of crimson and green eyes appeared within it, emitting a suffocating atmosphere. "Black Disaster." The red-haired girl¡¯s short hair had lengthened into waist-length hair at some point, and she wore a dark red, tight-fitting leather combat suit with firearms strapped to her waist. She sat atop the Shield Golem¡¯s shoulder. Looking closely, the Golem hadn¡¯t changed much in size, but its rocky helmet had transformed into a golden crown. The diamond-shaped crystal on its brow was transparent with a faint golden light. Behind it, stone wings were etched with golden patterns, and there were several smaller golem-like creatures standing beside it. They were all Shield Golems! "Big White, do you think we can win?" The red-haired girl asked, her voice no longer that of a young girl. There was no response. The Shield Golem, wearing the crown, simply stared at the misty sky, then clenched its fist and struck its chest. Boom!! The muffled sound echoed, and all the golem subordinates around it made similar gestures. Boom!!! Nearby, everyone looked up to see members of the enforcement team standing on the high defensive walls. Seemingly inspired, many showed a determined spirit. The red-haired girl stood up, smiling, and stepped onto the golem¡¯s shoulder. "Good!" "This battle is ours!!" Buzz! The clear female voice abruptly stopped, and all the images disappeared in an instant. Chen Feng''s vision blurred, and he saw the surrounding detached houses, distant skyscrapers, and a swarm of black toxic bees. "Is this a memory?" He regained his senses slightly and made some guesses. The red-haired girl named Luona must have been the powerful extraordinary being who left behind the talent "Heart of Glory." He wasn''t sure, though, whether the Shield Golem he had received was the same companion as hers. Suddenly, a sensation stirred in his mind. His head heated up, and a faint anomaly transmitted from within. Chen Feng closed his eyes and sensed it. He clearly noticed a small golden light dot deep within his mind. It surrounded a shadowy figure, hazy and indistinct. Looking carefully, it was none other than the shrunk Shield Golem. "Roar!!!" Far away, the Giant Rage Bear didn¡¯t care for these matters. It roared in rage and charged forward. The Shield Golem vanished, leaving Chen Feng as the sole target of its wrath. Boom boom boom! The ground shook, and muffled sounds rang out. As the Giant Rage Bear charged recklessly toward him, Chen Feng immediately attempted to use his talent. "Shield!" Whoosh! A golden-white light shot out from the center of his brow. Solid, heavy, and mighty! The disappeared Shield Golem reappeared, and its thick stone-like arms swung out, landing a punch directly on the Giant Rage Bear¡¯s forehead. Boom!!! The Giant Rage Bear was caught off guard and sent flying backward, like a truck overturning. Boom boom boom! Cars were flipped, streetlights collapsed, and the streets grew darker. Seeing this, Chen Feng¡¯s eyes gleamed, a sense of satisfaction rising within him. Very strong! Nearly the power of a Cyborg at the Titanium grade! Moreover, unlike other talents that only affect oneself, Heart of Glory directly provided him with a loyal, reliable companion. Thanks to their connection, Chen Feng could clearly sense that the Shield Golem was an independent entity. It had its own consciousness, thoughts, and obeyed his commands. Even more, he could share its vision. Boom! A punch was thrown, and the shock-wave erupted. The Giant Rage Bear roared and staggered back, dark lightning erupting from its body. Crack! The sound of thunder cracked, and a large beam of black light shot toward his vision. Chen Feng felt a chill, but standing before him, the Shield Golem, standing several dozen meters away, was unafraid. It didn¡¯t dodge or retreat; it raised both arms to block. Boom!! The black light struck, and a small puff of gray smoke rose. Soon after, the sound of clattering was heard, and the black toxic bees, under the command of the Toxic Bee Queens, spread out and fired their stingers. Whoosh whoosh whoosh!! The piercing sound of the stingers echoed loudly as dozens of powerful bee stingers shot out. Among them, four especially noticeable ones came from the Toxic Bee Queens. Boom boom boom!!! Like a bombardment, a thunderous roar rang out. The asphalt road was riddled with cracks, and fissures spread out in all directions. Debris flew, and a cloud of dust rose in the vision. But... Buzz! The stone wings flapped, and the dust scattered. The five-meter-tall Shield Golem stood firm in its place. Looking closely, its golden patterns glowed brightly, as if a power of glory had transformed into armor, strengthening its body. Not a single scratch¡ªdespite being bombarded by what seemed like sniper fire or even small missiles, not even a piece of its skin had been broken. "Such strong defense." Chen Feng had already retreated to the top of a residential building, watching the battle unfold. His Azure Armor rapidly faded, but his eyes remained exceptionally bright. However, in contrast, his face had turned pale, and a wave of exhaustion surged in his mind. "The drawbacks are also clear." "The mental energy consumption is too high." The Shield Golem was an independent entity, and it didn¡¯t even belong to this world from the start. Perhaps because his Heart of Glory level was low, Chen Feng could sense that there was some limitation to his connection with the Golem. It wasn¡¯t too noticeable when it was in a dormant state, but activation, movement, or combat required a cost to maintain the mental link between them. This cost was the consumption of mental energy. He estimated conservatively that one minute was the limit. Roar!!! The Giant Rage Bear¡¯s roar rang out once more, its claws covered in lightning-black light as it charged toward them. Seeing this, the Shield Golem suddenly flapped its wings. Whoosh!! Its massive body lifted off the ground, and a whirlwind swept through, knocking back the swarm of toxic bees. Then, amidst the Giant Rage Bear¡¯s angry roar, the Shield Golem flew off into the sky. A black shadow leaped from the building. Several seconds later. One man and one golem disappeared into the horizon. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Early Access at $5. Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 120: Lin Hao’s Request [2.8k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- Roar!! The angry roar behind him gradually grew fainter. Chen Feng felt the solid shoulder beneath his feet as his clothes were blown by the strong wind. The sound of rushing wind filled his ears and mouth. For the first time, Chen Feng experienced what high-speed movement felt like without the protection of his blue armor. Immediately, his mind gave the command. The Shield Golem slowed down gradually. He felt a slight shift underfoot as the solid stone blocks moved. Whoosh!! With a flap of its stone wings, the giant stood tall, lightly landing on the ground. The sound was minimal. Chen Feng leaped off and landed lightly. Buzz! His mental energy ceased to drain as the massive Shield Golem quickly became ethereal, transforming into a streak of golden white light and rushing into his forehead. "It¡¯s a pity. If only the mental consumption were a bit less." His face turned slightly pale, but it wasn''t yet to the point of exhaustion. He recalled his situation before obtaining the talent, when the Shield Golem had acted autonomously without external help. "Maybe, once the Heart of Glory level increases, this consumption will reduce." "Or perhaps, it will become fully independent and no longer need my support." Chen Feng thought for a moment and came to a certain guess. This conclusion came both from the subconscious feedback of his new talent and from his previous experiences with other talents. He didn¡¯t dwell on it for long because his attention had already shifted. [Talent Growth Conditions: Obtain enough Glory Points!] This was the prompt he received when he obtained the talent. Glory Points were the necessary fuel for growth. Since receiving the memory belonging to the Shield Golem and Luona, Chen Feng had a rough idea of how to gain Glory Points. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Defend Glory, achieve victory." "In other words, it¡¯s about securing an absolute victory in battle." With a thoughtful expression, Chen Feng had some ideas. Without wasting time, he rested briefly to recover his energy and then swiftly headed back to the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. As time passed, he again gained three Limit-Breaking Light Orbs. The martial arts hall building was getting closer, and the distance between them had narrowed to only a few hundred meters. Buzz! The world spun around him, and everything went black. Having gained experience, Chen Feng didn¡¯t resist and immediately felt his footing give way as his side hit the ground. When he opened his eyes again, he saw familiar bright lights and a white-painted ceiling. After a brief adjustment, Chen Feng got up and drew the curtains. The sky was overcast, and his phone showed that today¡¯s weather was cloudy with rain. From the fruit shop downstairs, he heard the sound of people talking. Chen Feng extended his perception and noticed that the Shield Golem¡¯s phantom still lingered in his mind. Even though he was back in reality, he could still summon it to command in battle. Then, he turned his attention to the panel. [Limit Break Points: 5] "That¡¯s enough to break through the Crimson Tiger Force." "But..." He went out, washed up, and then got everything in order. Returning to his bedroom, Chen Feng picked up a blue porcelain bottle and poured out the last piece of Flame Origin Pills. Every bit helped, especially considering it was worth two Limit-Breaking Light Orbs. Crunch! He chewed and swallowed. A slight bitterness spread, but he forced it down. After standing still and guiding his energy to refine the medicinal effect for an hour... [Crimson Tiger Force: Flame (96%)+] "Upgrade!" With a surge of energy, one Limit-Breaking Light Orb rapidly consumed. His internal body felt the intense heat spreading out. A deep red energy quickly spread to his arms and legs. He looked down as the energy continued to surge, expanding into his chest, abdomen, and shoulders. The sensation continued for a minute or two until the entire body was flowing with deep red energy. The panel prompt appeared automatically. [Crimson Tiger Force: Steel Fire (1%)+] [Strength: 19.7 ¡ú 20.7] [Agility: 18.0 ¡ú 19.0] [Constitution: 24.7 ¡ú 26.2] [Willpower: 20.1 ¡ú 21.5] "Five points in total." Chen Feng¡¯s gaze shifted slightly as he observed the results. Strength and agility seemed fine. His strength increased by around 200 kilograms, and his punches were close to two tons now. Constitution also saw a significant boost. With the energy flowing through his body, his internal organs, muscles, and blood vessels all underwent secondary refinement. But... "Willpower?" The increase was comparable to that of his constitution. Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. He could even feel that his mental strength had improved a bit. "Wait..." His mind flickered, and he recalled some cultivation tips Master Li Tong had mentioned. The first level of energy cultivation focuses on Training the limbs and refining the internal organs. But at the second level, the energy spreads throughout the body. When the energy reaches its peak, it must begin to cultivate the mind and perfectly control every strand of energy. Only then can the mind and energy begin to merge, achieving the third level¡ªunity of inner power and external release. "Training the mind is, to some extent, training the spirit." Realization dawned on him, and Chen Feng understood the reason. Without further thoughts, he quickly packed up. He walked to the kitchen, cooked a large pack of noodles, and ate several loaves of bread and three eggs. Only then did he feel sufficiently full. He left the house and walked out of the community. "Beep beep, move your car." "How much are your oranges per kilogram?" "Quick, load the car; I¡¯ve paid over there." The fruit shop downstairs remained noisy as Chen Feng crossed the crowded street and reached the asphalt road. Although Master Li Tong had given him two properties in the city center, he didn¡¯t plan to live in them for now. He had gotten used to his current place, and the thought of moving and taking his luggage didn¡¯t appeal to him. Buzz buzz! His phone vibrated. [Chen Yun: How¡¯s everything at home? I saw the news that many cities in Feng Province have been in turmoil lately.] Chen Feng glanced at the message on his phone. Although the central city of Yun Port hadn¡¯t been affected, it was still located in Feng Province, which was experiencing some unrest. "How about you? How¡¯s everything on your side?" Chen Feng stopped a taxi and asked, curious about the order in the central city. "It¡¯s fine here." Chen Yun replied, explaining, "Radiant Star Academy is located inside Yun Port, and it''s close to the Provincial Union. But I heard from my classmates that there was a minor disturbance at the outer city port, but it was quickly suppressed." "They''ve also made entry and exit procedures stricter, and the number of foreign cargo ships at the port has decreased." Chen Yun sent several messages, and Chen Feng quietly read them while sitting in the taxi. The Red Nation covered a vast area with over ten provinces, occupying most of the eastern continent. Feng Province was in the southwest of the Red Nation, bordering some war-torn small countries. Lin Hao had once given him some information about the central city. Yun Port was the only central city in Feng Province, located closest to the southern lands, near the ocean. In comparison, South City was a bit farther north, about a thousand kilometers away. After confirming that Chen Yun was fine, Chen Feng put away his phone. The sign of the Flame Tiger Martial Arts Hall was right in front of him. He paid through his phone, got out of the taxi, and entered the hall. "Good morning, Senior Brother!" "Good morning, Senior Brother!" The respectful greetings of the students filled the air. He was surprised not to see Lin Hao there. It was unusual for Lin Hao to be late or absent. Buzz buzz! As he walked up to the second floor, his phone vibrated with an incoming call. [Lin Hao] He picked up the phone in confusion, and a tired voice came through. "Help me ask for leave." The voice sounded weary, as if he had pulled an all-nighter and was in poor condition. Chen Feng sensed something was off, but before he could speak, the other party continued. "Also, I¡¯d like to ask your friend for a favor." "Is it possible tonight?" After a moment of silence, Chen Feng naturally would not refuse, but he was curious about the reason. "Something happened last night. A batch of modified modules I had sent to Nanjiang was stolen." "Among them, there was a piece of silver-steel grade metal I had reserved for your friend." Upon hearing this, a cold gleam flashed in Chen Feng''s eyes. "Who did it?" "Someone dared to steal my high-grade metal." "I don¡¯t know. The other party used several cyborgs. They don''t seem like a small faction." "I¡¯ve already set up a tracker. They didn¡¯t notice and hid it in the suburbs." On the other end of the line, Lin Hao sat in his study. With dark circles under his eyes, though tired, his expression was colder than usual. "So tonight, I hope your friend can lend a hand and help retrieve our stuff." "No problem, he¡¯ll agree." Chen Feng nodded in agreement. Lin Hao let out a sigh of relief, then chatted for a bit before hanging up the phone. Some sunlight filtered through the window. He sat behind the wooden desk in his study, leaning against a black leather chair. Looking along the shadows that crossed the room, Lin Hao noticed an elderly man in a black suit standing across from him at the red-painted wooden desk. His hair was neatly combed in a three-seven style, and he wore white gloves on his arms, giving off an elegant, gentlemanly aura. "Young master, this matter, I can handle it alone." "Wasting a favor like this isn''t worth it." The elderly man spoke softly, and upon closer inspection, his left eye seemed to have a hint of dark gold, almost like it was made of metal. Lin Hao shook his head gently, immediately rejecting the suggestion: "Liu Bo, we still haven¡¯t confirmed how strong the enemy is, we should be more cautious." "As for the favor, we can always exchange it later." Upon hearing this, Liu Bo, the elderly butler, said nothing more. But there was a hint of contentment in his eyes, as if he felt that the young master had truly grown up. --- Bang!! An iron rod crashed down, and a dull thud echoed. A muscular figure stood in the quiet room, resembling a silent giant tiger, allowing all the iron rods to fall. Bang! Bang! Sweat streamed down the heads of the core disciples as they put their all into the effort. Time passed, and after two hours, the muscular figure finally spoke. "Well done." As his voice fell, the bronze color on his body quietly faded. Although they had expected it, and this was not the first time they had experienced such a scene, the core disciples, who were slumped against the walls of the quiet room, still felt a shiver down their spines. The door to the quiet room opened and closed, and the disciples, all claiming it wasn¡¯t hard, finally left. The atmosphere was still, and Chen Feng looked up at the panel in front of him. [Bronze Statue Skill: Copper Bones (16%)+] The sixth Muscle Fortifying Tiger Bone Pill had been consumed, but the progress had only increased by about 15%. Chen Feng looked at the remaining limit-breaking items¡ªfour left. Whether to continue improving the Bronze Statue Skill or use them on the Red Tiger Fist, neither would be enough to break through the next boundary. "Forget it." Suppressing the thought, Chen Feng decided to hold onto the limit-breaking items for now and use them all at once when he had enough. By noon, he changed clothes and went to the cafeteria for lunch. In the afternoon, he continued practicing martial arts, but someone knocked on the door to the quiet room. Knock! Knock! "Senior brother, Junior Uncle and Senior Brother Xu are here." Raising an eyebrow upon hearing the news, Chen Feng immediately finished his training and walked with the person to the lounge. Cao Tong, who had already entered the Inner Strength stage, was respectfully pouring tea inside. Two figures stood and sat. The former, dressed in casual blue sportswear, looked handsome and stood by the window near the corridor, watching the movements in the other training rooms. Though still young, his chin raised arrogantly, as though looking down on everyone. It was none other than the second disciple, Xu Tingxiao. As for Junior Uncle Li Chenye, he wore a grayish-white sweater and black trousers. His deep-set eyes were calm as he sat by the tea table, gently nodding as he accepted the tea from Cao Tong. "Now that you''ve entered Inner Strength, I will add another direct disciple." "The Sect Leader already knows about it and asked me to tell you that you can go to the mountain tomorrow." Cao Tong said with a smile, feeling that a heavy weight had finally been lifted. Xu Tingxiao, however, wasn¡¯t as interested and quickly turned his head, looking towards the door. "Junior Uncle." Chen Feng softly called as he entered. "Mm." Li Chenye lightly nodded, his gaze resting on Chen Feng for a moment. His expression paused slightly, as if sensing something. "Senior Brother." Xu Tingxiao called out from the side. Though still somewhat unwilling, most of his earlier rebellious thoughts had faded after witnessing the death of Blood Poison Hand, Feng Li. In the ensuing moments, he walked to the tea table, grabbed a gray bag, and took out a jade bottle. "This is from Master. He said your Muscle Fortifying Tiger Bone Pills should be used up." "As for the Flame Origin Pills, Master said those shouldn''t be used too often, so one bottle should be enough." Chen Feng was somewhat surprised. He had originally planned to return to the mountain gate to pick it up himself. "Thanks, Junior Brother." After thanking him with a nod, he immediately asked the two why they had come down the mountain. "I said before, I want to go down the mountain for some training, seeking a breakthrough." "Coincidentally, Junior Uncle also plans to go down and take a walk, so we came together." Xu Tingxiao didn¡¯t hide anything, while Li Chenye had already withdrawn his gaze and resumed his calm demeanor. "Senior Brother said you might encounter the Cult of Evil God''s spies." "I''m coming down this time to observe their methods." Chen Feng understood, guessing that this might have been arranged by their Master. Junior Uncle was an expert at the True Intent stage, comparable to some sect leaders. With him going down the mountain, the matter with the Cult of Evil God was likely no longer a concern. "By the way, Chen Feng, Senior Brother asked me to tell you." "The Southern Martial Arts Conference is coming up, and he¡¯ll take you and Tingxiao with him." Getting up from the tea table, he patted Chen Feng¡¯s shoulder. Their eyes met as he spoke seriously, "Prepare well." After speaking, he gave a few more instructions. Li Chenye told Xu Tingxiao to prepare to leave, and the latter quickly grabbed his bag and followed him. "Junior Uncle, do you think I¡¯ll have a chance to surpass Senior Brother after this training?" "¡­" "Junior Uncle?" "...Just do your best." The conversation faded as Chen Feng withdrew his gaze and perception. Southern Martial Arts Conference "Brother Cao, do you know much about it?" He tilted his head to ask. "I haven¡¯t been, but I¡¯ve heard Senior Brother Xu talk about it once." Cao Tong replied truthfully: "The last tournament was held in Yue City, Ze Province, and I had just started practicing my bones at the time." "According to Senior Brother Xu, there were many sects participating, over a hundred, and the Giant Elephant Sect that visited us yesterday was one of them. They were the hosts of the last tournament and took fifth place." "We were a bit behind, only placing sixteenth." Chen Feng quietly listened as Cao Tong grinned, continuing, "Though Bone Training and Organ Training disciples can participate, the Sect Master always only takes the direct disciples, so none of us core disciples have gone." "But it doesn¡¯t matter. It seems like the true focus is on the Inner Strength and True Intent stages. The duels between disciples below that level don¡¯t seem to affect the rankings much." After hearing all this and recalling what he had learned from Heart Ape Sect¡¯s Liu Fangming, Chen Feng gained a clearer understanding. After some more conversation, the afternoon passed quietly. At four o¡¯clock, his phone buzzed. Opening it, Lin Hao had sent a location in the suburbs. Chen Feng¡¯s gaze shifted, and he no longer focused on the Martial Arts Conference. After tidying up briefly in the quiet room, he deliberately changed into loose clothing. Taking a step, he immediately left the martial arts hall and called a ride to head toward the suburbs. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 121: A Battle with Utopia [3.1k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- The ride in the hailed car continued, with tall buildings quickly receding outside the window. The buildings on both sides grew shorter and more sparse. The previously overcast sky darkened even further, as if a storm were about to burst into a torrential downpour. During the journey, the phone vibrated several times with messages from Lin Hao. Chen Feng briefly replied, until half an hour later. Low-rise houses surrounded the area, and the tall buildings had long since disappeared. Gray factories and brick walls spread across the land, with a layer of dust covering the cement roads that continued to stretch ahead. "Young man, I can only take you this far." "Beyond that white line is the outskirts. It''s not like the city here, so please understand." The driver of the ride-hailing car said a few words, and Chen Feng nodded in understanding. The outskirts lacked the surveillance of the Sky Eye System, and with recent unrest in Nanjiang, the driver was concerned about being robbed. Thud! The car door opened, and Chen Feng stepped out, firmly planting his feet on the ground. The air was filled with the scent of dust, unlike the industrial district near the Flame Tiger Mountain Gate where the sect was located. In the nearby factory, huge chimneys rose into the sky, with wisps of white-gray smoke pouring out, merging with the surrounding dark clouds. The gray sky felt oppressive, and weeds were still growing stubbornly in the corners of the walls. Vroom! The ride-hailing car quickly drove off, and Chen Feng walked ahead, approaching the white line on the roadside. Twenty centimeters wide, it spanned the entire cement road and stretched out to the horizon, unending. There was a warning sign nearby, along with an unmanned charging station. Chen Feng knew that this was the boundary between the city and the outskirts. The white line marked the limit of Sky Eye System''s surveillance; beyond it, there would be no monitoring by the system. Thud! Taking a step forward, he continued. Steel bones silently grew, transforming into a copper-colored mask that covered his entire head. After walking several hundred meters, Chen Feng reached the location Lin Hao had sent. At the entrance of an abandoned factory, a black sedan was already waiting, with two men in suits that Chen Feng had never seen before, both with crew cuts and strong physiques. Through his senses, he could tell that both men had substantial strength, with clear signs of bodily enhancements, indicating they were half-modified humans. Seeing him approach, the two men showed some caution and wariness. Thud! Chen Feng stopped in his tracks, having bought a voice modulator on the way. "Lin Hao''s men?" he asked in a low voice. The two men paused for a moment, looking him over. One of them nodded, while the other pulled out a phone and dialed. "Mr. Lin, he¡¯s here." "Oh, quickly pass the phone to him." The suited man handed the phone over, and Chen Feng took it. "Is it a friend of Mr. Feng?" Lin Hao''s voice came through. "Yeah," Chen Feng replied with a nod, not worried about being recognized. The steel mask concealed his face, and the loose clothes hid his physique and the marks on his hands. As for his voice, the modulator was the perfect disguise. "Thanks, brother, sorry for making you run an errand." Lin Hao¡¯s voice on the phone clearly relaxed, expressing his gratitude. "By the way, brother Feng didn''t come, right?" "He¡¯s not suited to get involved." Chen Feng spoke in a low voice, and Lin Hao agreed deeply. "Yes, I thought so. It''s good he didn¡¯t come." "Anyway, to make a long story short, brother, here¡¯s the situation. Yesterday, a batch of my modified modules was robbed at the city boundary. Several Bronze-grade cyborgs showed up at the time." "But I was prepared, and we put a high-level tracker in the modules. The other party hasn''t noticed it yet." "We¡¯ve already pinpointed their location. It''s at the foot of Cloud Mountain in the outskirts. I''ve already hidden a portion of my men nearby, but we¡¯re worried about alarming them. I may need your help to retrieve the modules. Sorry to trouble you." Lin Hao''s tone was simple and light, and Chen Feng responded with a grunt, not wasting time. "Let your men lead the way." "Got it!" After the call, Chen Feng handed the phone back to the two suited men. The group quickly got into the car, with the two suited men sitting in the front while Chen Feng sat alone in the back. The car bumped along as it moved forward. Gradually, dense forests and low mountains appeared on the horizon, getting closer. "Where did this batch of goods come from?" In an underground warehouse, many boxes and items were stacked beneath the hardened rock cave. Gray metal covered the floor, and bright incandescent lights illuminated the space. "Silver Wolf, these are the modified modules the leader sent us to steal yesterday." "Tonight, we have to move the goods and send them to Lord Jin Wei to help him fully revive." One man, wearing a black vest and having silver-white mechanical arms, responded. "Oh?" Silver Wolf, dressed in a full silver robe, was surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected that during the short two days of his repairs, such events had occurred. "Who did we steal them from?" "Looks like a small company called Tian Hao Security, but they have some skills. The modules are of good quality, including Silver-grade level metals." Silver Wolf¡¯s thoughts stirred. He was considering upgrading the modules, but then he remembered this was for Jin Wei, so he suppressed his greed. "When are we delivering them to Jin Wei?" "An hour from now, the leader hopes you can escort the goods to ensure everything goes smoothly." The half-modified man in the black vest respectfully replied, "Also, Lord Jin Wei will begin preparations for his revival tonight, and the leader hopes you can be there in case anything goes wrong." Silver Wolf nodded in agreement and didn''t refuse. He stepped forward, and a group of people was seen organizing items in the distance. Metal boxes were opened, revealing Bronze-grade metal modules and a few Silver-grade materials. "Have they been checked?" Silver Wolf asked, not wanting any accidents in Jin Wei¡¯s revival. "Don¡¯t worry, Silver Wolf, they¡¯ve all been checked. Five trackers were removed halfway." The half-modified man in the black vest answered seriously, and Silver Wolf nodded in satisfaction. "Good, then prepare to leave quickly." --- "Boss, Silver Wolf is probably hiding here." A distance away from Cloud Mountain, an armored vehicle covered by a camouflaged net was hidden in the forest corner. Inside the metal cabin, four or five figures were visible, with a large projection screen showing images of the surrounding mountains and forests. "Can we be sure?" asked Dong Tao, who had a scar across his face. His three subordinates, who were maintaining drones and mechanical arms, stopped and looked at him. "80% chance. Last night, Hong Que captured some people entering Cloud Mountain." "There were three Bronze-grade modified humans. Although they disguised themselves, from their style, it''s likely Utopia." The woman sitting in front of the display screen gave her analysis. "Also, Silver Wolf left in that direction. I suspect there¡¯s an underground Utopia base here." "Only a place like this could allow him to repair the damaged modules without drawing attention from the United Coalition." The team¡¯s intelligence analyst rarely made mistakes, so everyone nodded in agreement. "Alright, keep an eye on them and see if Silver Wolf is really here." Dong Tao¡¯s expression turned cold as he thought of the punch that had hit his chest the other day, which still hurt. "By the way, boss, I discovered something interesting." "What?" Dong Tao asked. "Look." The woman pointed, and the map on the display switched, revealing several blurry shadows of black-clad figures. "This was captured by Hong Que in the nearby forest. It looks like a team of more than ten people. They don¡¯t seem weak." She explained seriously, "I suspect they¡¯re from the United Coalition, probably here to stir trouble with Utopia." "To avoid being discovered, I didn¡¯t let Hong Que get too close." "Oh?" Dong Tao squinted, then revealed a playful smile. "Perfect." "Let them fight and weaken each other." --- Rustle rustle. Dry leaves crunched underfoot as the dirt was exposed beneath black shoes. In the green forest at the foot of the low mountain, trees with thick branches and leaves were growing, and some insects and ants were crawling or building nests. Upon closer inspection, behind a large green tree, several figures could be seen scattered in all directions. Most of them were armed men in black tactical suits, either half-modified humans or skilled fighters enhanced with potions. Among them was a particularly large figure, standing at nearly 1.9 meters tall and looking about thirty years old. His black outfit was tightly stretched, and from the silver marking on his neck, it was clear he was a complete modified human. "Phew, looks like everything is fine now." Lin Hao, surrounded by the group, hung up the phone. He quickly turned to the fully modified man beside him and asked, "Zhou Cheng, get two brothers to go out and meet him. Our friend is almost here." "Got it." Zhou Cheng, the tall man, nodded and soon ordered two men to go to the forest¡¯s edge. "How''s the situation?" "Nothing major for now." Zhou Cheng indicated the display screen in his hand, where low figures could be seen moving around. "The mechanical spiders have all been equipped with shields and anti-jamming devices. The enemy shouldn''t have noticed anything." "However, we haven¡¯t pinpointed the entrance yet. I suspect they are a very experienced large force." Lin Hao pondered for a moment. There were few factions in Nanjiang that could deploy Bronze-grade modified humans and build an underground base in the outskirts. He had some guesses in mind. "Doesn¡¯t matter, whatever their force is." "If they dare touch our things, they¡¯ll have to pay interest." With a smile, Lin Hao looked around at everyone. "And, this also happens to be a good opportunity for training." "If our reputation spreads, our company will definitely thrive in Nanjiang." Everyone agreed upon hearing this, and Zhou Cheng nodded in admiration. Though the young boss was a bit down on his luck and could only develop in this small area for the time being, based on his actions and plans over the past few days, he believed without a doubt that he hadn¡¯t followed the wrong person. They then patiently waited, while the controlled mechanical spiders continued to search for an entrance in the nearby low mountains. Click! Suddenly, a faint noise sounded. A huge rock from the mountain split apart like a door opening. The mechanical spiders, under control, hid in the shadows. "There¡¯s movement." Zhou Cheng''s subordinate, who was beside him, said seriously. Lin Hao frowned and looked over, and everyone else focused, waiting. Step, step! Black boots stepped on gravel as figures holding firearms appeared one after another. Some were carrying heavy objects on their shoulders, while others helped lift large metal boxes. At a glance, Lin Hao immediately recognized it ¡ª it was the modified module he had lost yesterday. "Damn it." He cursed softly, and the mechanical spider slightly raised its head from the bushes. In the field of vision, more modified humans appeared, and the mountain rock continued to open, revealing several heavy vehicles emerging from within. "Looks like these people are moving." Lin Hao realized something was wrong. Zhou Cheng beside him also made the same judgment. "Boss, should we block them or pursue?" All eyes turned to Lin Hao. "How long until our friend arrives?" "According to the locator, about two or three minutes." Lin Hao fell silent, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes. He didn¡¯t like taking risks, but he also worried that they might let them slip away. "If we just watch them get away, it will be a huge embarrassment." "Do it!" As soon as the words were spoken, everyone stopped hesitating. Buzz!!! Spirals spun, and over a dozen drones that had been prepared earlier suddenly took off, with the gun turrets beginning to rotate and aim. At the same time, Zhou Cheng, the man called out, stepped forward and waved at several people. "Charge with me!" In the rustling of dry leaves, more than ten people rushed out of the mountain forest, blocking the dirt road below Cloud Mountain in just a few seconds. Bang! Bang! Bang! The drones fired first, bullets raining down, hitting the Utopian group below the rock mountain. Puff! Puff! Puff!! Several people were hit immediately, their heads exploded or their chests pierced, falling dead on the spot. "Ah!!" "We¡¯re under attack!" The quicker-reacting Utopian members quickly ducked and shouted. Sparks flew off the surface of the heavy vehicles, the sound of metal clashing constantly ringing. "Damn it!" A fully-modified person angrily charged out, immediately spotting the ten or so black-clad figures on the road ahead. Without thinking, a liquid metal appeared on his face, transforming into a mask covering his head. The next moment, he bent his knees, dashed forward, and ignored the drone¡¯s bullet barrage, charging ahead. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!! Another round of gunfire rang out. Zhou Cheng stood coldly behind his subordinates, gesturing with his hand. The modified person knew the defenses of other modified individuals, so he had prepared in advance. Clang! Clang! Poo! The Utopian modified person charging forward changed his expression slightly. His clothes were torn by the bullets, and his body¡¯s metal surface visibly dented. "Damn it, special ammunition?" His heart sank. Knowing he couldn¡¯t endure the attack, he immediately dodged to avoid the fire. Whoosh!! From the dozen drones in the air, two suddenly flew out, bypassing above his head, and flew toward the back of the rock mountain. The Utopian members looked up in confusion, while reinforcements rushing from the underground base also watched carefully. Click! The drones'' undersides suddenly opened, and two black bombs dropped. "Damn!!" Shouting in anger, the Utopian members hiding behind the heavy vehicles quickly dodged. Boom!!! The missiles landed and exploded in a flash. A pillar of fire erupted, and the front of the heavy vehicles shattered. Seven or eight Utopian-enhanced people howled in pain, blood spilling, staining the dirt. The situation was completely suppressed. In the mountain forest, Lin Hao was protected by several semi-cyborgs, his face filled with a mix of excitement and exhilaration. After a series of twists and turns, he had finally built a decent security force. But today... "Looking for death!!!" A roar suddenly came from the rock mountain. A silver figure shot out at high speed. Just as several bombs were about to land, it reached up and grabbed them, throwing them into the air. Boom!! Another explosion occurred, conspicuously visible in the night. The dark clouds cleared a little, and more than half of the drones were destroyed, their charred and twisted bodies plummeting to the ground. Seeing this, Lin Hao, who had previously thought the situation was under control, suddenly darkened his face. "It¡¯s Utopian people after all." "That person must be Silver Wolf." An old voice came through the earpiece, and Lin Hao gestured for his subordinates to switch the mechanical spider''s view. They clearly saw the silver figure in the rock mountain area. He was tall, nearly two meters, his body completely covered in silver metal. A true Silver-grade level modified person, possibly equipped with a high-quality weapon module. "Your all dead meat!!" Silver Wolf shouted coldly. In the next second, he turned into a blur, heading straight for Zhou Cheng and his group on the dirt road. The immense pressure made everyone tense. Zhou Cheng, who had been commanding others, saw his face change and immediately rushed out from behind his subordinates! Boom!! Fist against fist, Zhou Cheng''s black combat suit was instantly torn apart. Visibly, Zhou Cheng¡¯s legs dug into the ground as he slid backward, leaving long trails in the dirt. Liquid metal quickly appeared, covering his head and turning it gray. Clang!!! In a split second, a silver fist came at him, striking his face. Had he been a second slower, he would have lost his head. Even so, his head was thrown back, and his burly body staggered, clearly unable to contend with Silver Wolf. "Young master, Zhou Cheng has just completed the Silver-grade modification. The weapon module hasn¡¯t adapted yet." "He¡¯s no match for Silver Wolf, let me do it." The old voice urged again through the earpiece. Lin Hao hesitated for a moment. He always felt it was unstable to rely on Liu Bo, his greatest trump card. "Wait a little longer, Liu Bo." "This is Utopia. I¡¯m worried they have more tricks up their sleeve." His tone was serious as he again refused the suggestion. The atmosphere grew tense. On the dirt road, Zhou Cheng was once again hit in the chest by a punch, flying backward and crashing into several trees. "A freshly modified Silver-grade, and you dare come after me!" "Looking for death!" Fierce light flared in Silver Wolf¡¯s eyes. Seizing the opportunity, he charged forward, fully activating his energy module. A flash of steel appeared in his hands, like a wolf¡¯s claw. His danger senses flared, and Zhou Cheng quickly rolled and dodged. Snap! A tree that required several people to circle around it was sliced apart, exploding on the spot. Bang! Bang! Bang! Subordinates opened fire in support, but these special bullets were clearly insufficient, sparking against Silver Wolf¡¯s body but doing little harm. "Looking for death!" Silver Wolf roared in anger, intending to turn around and attack. "Silver Wolf, leave him to me!" Seeing the impatience, the previously Bronze-grade modified person rushed out of cover, eager to prove himself. Seeing this, Zhou Cheng cursed under his breath, wanting to rescue his subordinate. Boom!! Silver Wolf landed a punch, knocking him back again. He couldn¡¯t even respond. "Young master!" Liu Bo¡¯s voice came through the earpiece, urging him. These were loyal security guards who had undergone enhancements and training. Losing them would be a significant blow. Lin Hao knew this as well. After hearing Liu Bo¡¯s words, he gritted his teeth. No longer hesitating, he decided to use his trump card. But just then... Whoosh!!! The mountain forest flipped. Fallen leaves filled the air. A dark, Azure figure rushed like a wild dragon, hitting the copper-level modified person in the chest with a single punch. Boom!! The sound was muffled, and the figure flew backward. The trees snapped and shattered as Silver Wolf¡¯s eyes narrowed. An Azure horn, and glass-steel eyes glowing red. Cold and ruthless, full of savagery and violence. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It''s you!!" (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 122: The Might of the Holy Shield Golem [2.4k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- "Blue Demon!!" A furious roar echoed through the sky. As the Azure-horned figure appeared before him, Silver Wolf¡¯s eyes burned with killing intent. The deep blue fiberglass gleamed brightly. This was the bastard who had framed him. Today was the perfect time to settle the score! "Get lost!" With a thunderous shout, he swung his fist, forcing Zhou Cheng back. Without sparing anyone else a glance, he twisted his body, stomped the ground, and shot straight toward Chen Feng. Clang!!! Steel clashed as Chen Feng raised his elbow to block the attack. The ground several meters around him caved in, dry leaves shattered and scattered into the air. Scarlet eyes locked onto cold blue light. Chen Feng suddenly smirked. "Finally, we meet again." His voice was low as memories surfaced¡ªof the day he left the Tian Heng Corporation building. If not for that golden flying shuttle''s intervention, he would¡¯ve fallen to this man¡¯s hands back then. In an instant, all thoughts vanished. His body trembled, power burst activated! Buzz! Whoosh! A figure was sent flying. Silver Wolf¡¯s heart jolted¡ªhis prey had suddenly become much stronger! Tap tap tap tap! Rapid footsteps approached as the blue figure lunged forward. A thick fist swelled suddenly, exuding a dangerous aura. Without hesitation, Silver Wolf exploded with power, forcefully steadying himself, feet firmly planted. Boom!!! A punch came crashing down¡ªhe barely managed to raise his arms to block. The raw force behind it¡­ nearly ten tons! "Impossible!" Shock filled Silver Wolf¡¯s heart as his body involuntarily retreated. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Massive trees shattered into splinters as two figures tore through the night, disappearing into the distance. Zhou Cheng, barely regaining his footing, was stunned. His subordinates were even more speechless, eyes wide in disbelief. "So¡­ so strong!" Was this the friend their young boss had made? ¡ªMeanwhile, elsewhere in the forest¡ª Inside a camouflaged armored vehicle, hidden by a mesh net¡ª On the screen, violent energy waves erupted. The pitch-black night was illuminated by firelight, rapid gunfire resounding. "Good! Let them tear each other apart." "Hahaha, never thought Utopia would face such a day." "The United Coalition has some strength after all." Several men in the vehicle chuckled. The scarred man, Dong Tao, narrowed his eyes as he felt the armored vehicle tremble slightly. "Silver Wolf made a move?" The tremor suggested either Silver-grade power was unleashed or a high-energy explosive had detonated. At his words, a woman before the monitor quickly controlled an external mechanical drone, zooming in the footage. A silver blur flashed into the forest. The battle intensified. But soon, an Azure afterimage streaked across the screen¡ªSilver Wolf was sent flying, disappearing from view. "Blue Demon?" Dong Tao¡¯s gaze sharpened, turning ice-cold. "Can you zoom in further?" "Boss, this is the max. I can''t let the drone get any closer." Dong Tao fell silent. The tension in the vehicle grew. "You all stay here." Before anyone could respond, he opened the door. Dark gold liquid metal rapidly covered his head. In a blink, a pair of golden wings burst from his back, tearing through his clothes. Whoosh!! His figure flickered and vanished. Boom!! A muffled crash¡ªSilver Wolf smashed through trees before finally coming to a halt. His metal legs were deeply embedded in the ground, leaving two long trenches. Whoosh! A blue shadow approached, crimson light flashing¡ªanother punch incoming. Face grim, Silver Wolf no longer underestimated his opponent. "Activate the Armament Module!" His mind raced as the punch descended. Bang!! His arms crossed in defense, and the ground caved again. Crack! A seven-to-eight-meter crater formed beneath them. But this time, Silver Wolf didn¡¯t retreat. "I never expected¡­ you¡¯ve implanted Silver-grade enhancements too." Chen Feng¡¯s eyes turned cold. Under the moonlight at the forest¡¯s edge, Silver Wolf¡¯s two-meter frame shimmered. As though some power had been activated, his silver-gray armor began transforming. All traces of gray vanished¡ªreplaced by a dazzling silver sheen. His helmet shifted, morphing into a metallic wolf¡¯s head. Whoosh! His figure disappeared¡ªhis speed had surged! As if fueled by a high-intensity energy source, he reappeared behind Chen Feng in an instant, slashing with his steel blade. Clang!!! A crisp impact¡ªChen Feng¡¯s Azure armor dented slightly. His body staggered forward, shattering the ground beneath. "Can you feel it? This is my true power!" Silver Wolf¡¯s taunting voice echoed coldly. Whoosh! He flickered again¡ªthis time appearing to Chen Feng¡¯s left, spinning and delivering a powerful kick. Boom!! A white shockwave erupted¡ªChen Feng barely had time to raise his arms to block. The force sent him skidding backward, carving a long trench and smashing through two trees. His strength had increased. Chen Feng instantly noticed the transformation¡ª Nearly ten tons of power. His speed had also outclassed his base state. Silver Wolf had truly reached the peak of Silver-grade! Tap! Tap! Tap! Footsteps rapidly approached. The cold, mocking glow in Silver Wolf¡¯s metal wolf eyes intensified. "Is that all?" "Weren''t you acting all high and mighty just now?" "AHHH!!" With an enraged roar, countless cold lights slashed forth. Their arms blurred as they exchanged blows at lightning speed. Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! The relentless clash of metal rang out. Silver Wolf¡¯s killing intent grew more violent. Whoosh! Once again, the steel blade swung down. He intended to wear down the prey before him through sheer persistence. However, in the next second¡ª Snap! The steel blade was suddenly gripped by an immense force, and the figure before him swelled in size. Crack, crack, crack! It was as if bones were growing, muscles expanding. The opponent, who had previously been shorter than him by a head, suddenly shot up to two meters tall. Even more shockingly, at some unknown moment, a bronze knuckle duster had appeared, covering the entire fist. Whoosh! A powerful gust of wind surged forth, muscles rolling like solid stone. Silver Wolf suddenly sensed that something was wrong. He struggled to retreat. The steel blade in his hand abruptly shrank, trying to retract swiftly. But in the next instant¡ª A bronze hue spread from Chen Feng¡¯s left arm, wrapping around like chains and locking his arm in place. Both were of Silver-grade strength, yet he found himself unable to break free! His pupils shrank. He widened his eyes in disbelief. Boom!!! A bronze fist crashed down. His head tilted, his body trembled. Then came a relentless barrage of punches. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Muffled sounds echoed as the Silver-grade metallic bones, seemingly indestructible, were forcefully battered. [+1 Metal Essence!] [+1 Metal Essence!] [+1 Metal Essence!] One notification after another popped up. Chen Feng could feel strands of Metal Essence being drawn from his opponent''s body, surging into his own through his grasping left arm. "Ahhh!!!" Silver Wolf roared in fury, his voice filled with both shock and rage. "I will kill yo¡ª" Boom!! Another punch silenced him, cutting off his words. And then, Chen Feng grabbed hold of Silver Wolf¡¯s metallic wolf head. With an immense burst of strength, his arm slammed downward¡ª Boom!! The two-meter-tall Silver Wolf had his head driven into the ground, face buried in the fallen leaves. The surrounding soil shattered, cracks spreading in all directions. "You¡ª" Boom! A sudden burst punch cut off his angry retort. His deep blue glass-steel eyes burned with shock, rage, and hatred. Then, in the next second¡ª Driven to hysteria, a hidden cannon port on his shoulder-back armor suddenly shifted and locked onto Chen Feng. An intense sense of danger erupted! "Die!!!" His venomous voice rang out, but Chen Feng¡¯s gaze only grew colder, his movements even more decisive. Boom!! Another punch landed squarely on Silver Wolf¡¯s head. Crack!! A sharp, unnatural sound rang out. Silver Wolf''s pupils shrank violently. Shattered? His Silver-grade metal defense¡­ had been broken? Crack, crack, crack! A series of splitting sounds echoed. A wave of pain spread through his body. The next moment, Chen Feng¡¯s fist came crashing down once more. There was no time to analyze why¡ªonly one desperate thought remained in Silver Wolf''s mind. "If I die¡­ I¡¯ll take you with me!!" Eyes filled with fury and madness, he gave his final command. Boom!! His shattered silver wolf head exploded, launching a missile from the cannon port on his back. BOOM!!! A violent explosion erupted, shaking the ground and sending shockwaves through the forest. Flames shot skyward, smoke and dust billowed in all directions. A short distance away, a dark-gold cyborg had just arrived. Standing atop a tree, he sighed regretfully. "Too late¡­" He had intended to personally kill the Blue Demon, but to his surprise, the latter had perished alongside Silver Wolf. Step! Suddenly, a strange sound came from within the smoke. His expression shifted slightly. The swirling dust slowly cleared, revealing a charred, ten-meter-wide crater. Silver Wolf''s corpse had long been reduced to ashes in the explosion. In contrast, the Azure figure was half-kneeling on the ground, firmly protected by a copper-colored round shield about half a meter in size. "Do you feel death approaching?" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A deep voice asked, without turning his head. The copper-colored shield in his hand was covered in cracks, slowly retracting into his body like liquid. "A defensive-type armed module?" Frowning slightly, Dong Tao snapped back to his senses. A flash of cold light, and he immediately suppressed all doubts, charging forward to attack. Swish! The dark-gold wings vibrated, leaving afterimages suspended in the air. In just one second, he had crossed dozens of meters, about to reach Chen Feng''s back. A chill swept through the air, killing intent surging. Chen Feng stood with bent knees, still not turning his head. "So, you also long for death." Buzz! As his words fell, a streak of white mixed with golden light appeared in midair. A strong sense of crisis surged in Dong Tao¡¯s heart, and he couldn¡¯t help but look up. Whoosh!! A roaring wind, a colossal figure like a meteor descending from the sky! A tremendous pressure bore down¡ªDong Tao''s face turned pale with shock, attempting to evade. Boom!!! The earth trembled violently, shaking the entire Cloud Mountain. It was as if a subterranean dragon had flipped over¡ªthick clouds of dust soared into the sky, a hurricane-like force sweeping outward, uprooting countless trees. "What¡¯s going on?" Inside a disguised armored vehicle in the distance, a woman in front of a monitor suddenly noticed that her leader¡¯s communication module had abruptly disconnected. No matter how she tried, she couldn¡¯t reconnect. She quickly controlled the Red Sparrow drone to check the situation. Swish! A streak of dark gold suddenly flashed across, and the monitor screen turned pitch black. Inside the vehicle, everyone exchanged glances, momentarily stunned. "Impossible! The Red Sparrow has an advanced stealth module!" The woman refused to believe the result and hurriedly switched to other camouflaged drones. Whoosh whoosh whoosh!! Dark gold flashed again¡ªfaster than she could switch signals. In the blink of an eye, all drones lost connection. Everyone realized something was wrong. "Someone must have discovered us¡ª" Pfft!! Suddenly, the armored vehicle was pierced by an external force, and a thin streak of dark gold flashed by at high speed. All voices were abruptly cut off. The woman in front of the monitor widened her eyes, feeling a sharp pain between her brows. A small trickle of blood ran down her nose and cheeks. The last image froze, and the sound of dripping blood gradually faded. --- "Young Master, a kilometer away, I found camouflaged drones." "They weren¡¯t from Utopia. They¡¯ve all been dealt with." Deep within the forest, as the Silver Wolf was repelled, Lin Hao and his team regained control of the battlefield. A voice came through the earpiece, but Lin Hao paid it no mind. Instead, he looked toward another direction in the forest with a doubtful expression. "Uncle Liu, what just happened over there?" In the distance, clouds of dust lingered in the air. Even their current location felt the tremors from the disturbance. "Apologies, Young Master, I was a step too late." "There are traces of missile explosions at the scene¡ªit could have been a high-powered armed strike." After a brief pause, Uncle Liu continued, "Additionally, there are two bodies¡ªpreliminary judgment suggests they belonged to Silver Wolf and Winged Tiger." Lin Hao¡¯s breath caught. "What about Blue Demon?" "He likely left." "So¡­ they were all killed by Blue Demon?" Taking down two peak-tier, Silver-grade cyborgs equipped with armed modules¡ªalone? "Most likely." The old voice spoke again, and Lin Hao fell into silence for a moment. Bathed in moonlight, he suddenly realized¡ªhe couldn¡¯t see through his friend Fengzi anymore. TL/N: Fengzi is a way of addressing Chen Feng. It is more casual and shows closeness. "It seems¡­ he must have a very powerful team backing him." --- Buzz!! Under the night sky, stone wings flapped as a massive white stone statue glided past the moon. The roaring wind stirred his clothes¡ªChen Feng stood atop its broad shoulders, wearing a steel-bone mask, issuing a landing command with his mind. As the speed decreased, the rock-like body beneath him slowly straightened up. Man and statue descended into the shadows of an empty suburban area. The golden-white glow gradually faded, soon merging into Chen Feng¡¯s forehead. Tap! His foot landed firmly on the ground, and Chen Feng exhaled. Using the Shield Golem was his first attempt in reality. In truth, he had sensed Dong Tao¡¯s approach the moment the missile exploded. Taking advantage of the smoke and dust, he activated Heart of Glory, allowing the Shield Golem to descend from the sky at the last moment. "Near Gold-grade strength¡­" He sighed inwardly. He could still recall Dong Tao being crushed by the Colossus like a meteor¡ªseverely injured, unconscious, nearly dead. Dong Tao didn¡¯t even have time to feel fear. There was no resistance at all¡ªthe process of absorbing his metallic essence was smooth. In just over ten seconds, Dong Tao was reduced to a corpse, and Chen Feng left swiftly with the Shield Golem. Beyond that, something else caught his attention. After taking down Silver Wolf and Winged Tiger, a series of notifications suddenly appeared on his panel. [You have completed a battle in defense of honor.] [Victory!] [Honor Points +20!] (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 123: The Change in Skill Light Orbs [2.6k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- TL/N: Jin Wei and Golden Protector are the same. "Not good!" "The instrument is suddenly out of control!!" "Quick! Notify the leader, the Golden Protector is about to awaken!!" ¡ªThat night, inside a metal-sealed chamber. A series of panicked exclamations rang out in succession. Looking over, a group of lab personnel in white coats were in chaos, their eyes fixed on the massive display screen in front of them, where various data readings were skyrocketing. The sound of hurried footsteps soon followed. A slicked-back man wearing a mask appeared with several others. "What happened?" His voice was deep, and the eyes visible through the mask carried a mix of seriousness and confusion. The Golden Protector had suffered severe injuries in the past and had long since fallen into subconscious slumber. Unless awakened by external instruments, self-recovery was nearly impossible. But now... Through the reinforced transparent glass window, a figure lay flat on a metallic platform, as still as a slumbering lion. His body was connected to numerous tubes, while the energy liquid inside surrounding pumps was rapidly depleting. Within just a few seconds, the dark-gold metallic limbs of the figure grew increasingly radiant, shifting towards a dazzling golden hue. "Can we stop it?" The leader''s expression darkened as he questioned the head researcher. There was still a deep-seated issue with the modification module that hadn¡¯t been resolved. The subject needed to remain in a subconscious state for further repairs. If he were to awaken now, their entire operation would undoubtedly be affected. "We are currently administering a mental suppressant and have also activated the bio-magnetic field to induce¡ª" Crack! Crack! Suddenly, the ultra-reinforced transparent glass began to crack, spiderweb-like fissures spreading rapidly. The laboratory¡¯s energy pumps were completely drained and exploded one after another, sending debris flying everywhere. "This...!!" The head researcher was dumbfounded. The leader''s face grew increasingly solemn, and the guards behind him took defensive positions, as if facing a great enemy. Boom!! The tubes connecting the metallic limbs shattered into fragments. The once motionless figure twitched his fingers lightly¡ª Zing!!! His eyes snapped open. A golden divine radiance flashed¡ª And an earth-shaking roar erupted. "Silver Wolf!!!" --- Click! An old apartment door creaked open. Chen Feng finished washing up and tidied himself before lying down in his bedroom. [Heart of Glory LV1: 20/100] Looking at the progress displayed on his panel regarding his new talent, Chen Feng''s eyes flickered. "To defend glory¡ªabsolute victory." By slaying the two cyborgs of the Silver-grade, he had gained 20 points of Glory, causing his talent to start evolving. And this was perfectly in line with the memory fragments that had mentioned how to acquire Glory. "I wonder what happens if I fight others but don''t kill them¡ªwould it still count?" "And how much does strength influence this...?" With these thoughts in mind, Chen Feng decided to conduct some tests over the next few days. His gaze then shifted downward to another talent. [Steel Bones LV2: 62/100] The metallic essence extracted from the two Silver-grade cyborgs had increased his progress by nearly 60%. Chen Feng wasn¡¯t fully satisfied, but he wasn¡¯t disappointed either. As he expected, by this logic, in order to upgrade Steel Bones again, he would likely need at least two more Silver-grade cyborgs to "contribute" their essence. "Right." Chen Feng suddenly recalled what Lin Hao had mentioned. Among the stolen supplies, there was a piece of Silver-Steel grade metal reserved for him. During the intense battle with Silver Wolf and his men, he had been too focused to remember it. Given Lin Hao¡¯s capabilities, recovering the stolen modification module and high-grade metals shouldn¡¯t be a problem. "Still, Lin Hao is quite something." Chen Feng thought back to what he had seen that night. Not only did the Silver-grade cyborgs have special bullets capable of piercing Bronze-grade metal, but he had also sensed an incredibly powerful aura¡ªone seemingly connected to Lin Hao. However, due to the distance, he hadn¡¯t been able to confirm it. From all these signs, Lin Hao''s security company was definitely no small force. It was nearly comparable to the elite security forces of the major corporations in Nanjiang City. In fact, Chen Feng suspected that Lin Hao had prepared for this long before officially establishing his club. After pondering for a moment, he ultimately chose not to delve deeper. Everyone had their own secrets¡ªjust like himself. He adjusted his mindset and slowly closed his eyes. The noises from downstairs gradually faded, and a dense mist swirled before his eyes. He was back in his familiar dream world. Opening his eyes, he stood on the street, a black backpack slung over his shoulders. The dim yellow glow of streetlights lined the asphalt road, illuminating buildings of varying heights. Looking ahead, several hundred meters away, the faint outline of three large characters loomed¡ª "Extreme Martial Arts Hall" Step! Step step! Step step step! Chen Feng moved forward, his pace quickening. The echo of his footsteps resonated through the silent streets. A deep crimson hue seeped from his skin, enveloping his arms and legs. Boom!!! From within the mist on his left, a faceless figure emerged¡ªonly to be struck square in the chest by his fist. Power exploded, sending the figure flying backward. His clothes and flesh were scorched and punctured, the impact also knocking down several other faceless beings behind him. Whoosh! Stepping forward, the crimson aura surged. Like a tiger leaping into battle, Chen Feng instantly broke through the faceless beings¡¯ defenses¡ª And, like an unstoppable truck, crashed straight into the martial hall. Boom!! The massive wooden doors of the martial arts hall shattered into splinters, scattering wooden fragments in all directions. A masked man standing on the first floor was immediately grabbed by the head. With unstoppable momentum, he was slammed straight into the indoor wall. Thud! A muffled explosion sounded, and blood splattered. A piercing screech came from his heart¡ªit was a Black Soldier Ant, hidden within him, resembling an ant in appearance. The sound of rapid footsteps tap-tap-tap came from both sides of the martial arts hall. In the midst of the chaos, a swarm of black ants erupted wildly. At the same time, on both floors¡ª Two more masked men emerged simultaneously. Their martial arts uniforms differed in color, their auras fluctuating in strength. Upon closer inspection, their palms were both enveloped in force, a clear indication that they had reached the Organ Training stage¡ªone had just entered, while the other had reached perfection. Swish!!! A black shadow flashed¡ªChen Feng¡¯s left fist shot out like a javelin, piercing the heart of the faceless man who had crashed into the wall. The ear-piercing screech came to an abrupt halt. Meanwhile, the other two masked men had already reached his back. Their fists and palms struck out simultaneously¡ªone aimed at the back of Chen Feng¡¯s head, the other at his heart. Bang!! A dull explosion sounded, yet Chen Feng remained completely motionless. Upon closer examination, his skin had unknowingly transformed into a shade of ancient bronze. The immense recoil caused the two faceless men to freeze momentarily. Immediately after, two thick, muscular arms reached out, pressing squarely against their chests. Roar!!! Like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, Tiger Roar Style condensed in his palms, releasing a deep red force that exploded violently. The martial arts uniforms of the Extreme Martial Hall suddenly burst apart. The two masked men were sent flying backward, crashing into the wall. The beams and ceiling of the martial arts hall trembled in unison. The two Black Soldier Ants didn''t even have time to screech before being shattered into dust. One faceless enemy after another charged into the hall, only to be sent flying like discarded debris, crashing through windows one after another. Crack! Stepping on a shard of glass, Chen Feng effortlessly evaded the last desperate struggles of the black ant swarm. One after another, gray light orbs merged into his body, and his Perception Talent progress increased once again. [Perception LV3: 35/100] Without stopping, three faint blue skill light orbs hovered in place. Chen Feng stepped forward and reached out to grab the first one. Buzz! Suddenly, a golden light belonging to the Shield Golem flickered slightly in his mind. The world changed in an instant, spinning chaotically. He was witnessing a new scene. --- "Little brother, you''re heading to the martial arts hall again?" A plainly dressed woman, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, stood at the doorway, asking. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes, sister." "The coach says I have talent, but I still need to train diligently." The young man replied with a smile. He wore a loose short-sleeved shirt, faded from countless washes. His physique was a little thin as he bent down at the doorway to change his shoes. "Alright then, do your best. I''ll make chicken soup for you tonight." "Great! Don¡¯t worry, sis!" The young man waved cheerfully. He slipped his feet into his white sneakers, pressing down on the heels before straightening up with a light bounce. Tap! He took a step forward and turned. Slipping a backpack over his shoulder, carrying his martial arts training clothes, he stepped out of the house. The old neighborhood was paved with cement, with buildings closely packed against a towering hundred-meter-high city wall. "I hope I can break through to the Organ Training stage soon. "Then, I¡¯ll have a chance to become an official disciple of the Extreme Martial Hall and take my sister out of the slums." The young man''s eyes were bright, filled with hope for the future. "Martial arts is not just about refining the body¡ªit¡¯s also about refining the heart!" "Since you¡¯ve joined the Extreme Martial Hall, you must follow its rules, act with integrity, and live with a clear conscience!" The martial arts coach was giving a speech on stage. Looking around, the hall was vast, spanning hundreds of meters. The young man stood among nearly a hundred students, looking rather unremarkable. Soon, the speech ended, and the coach began teaching martial arts techniques. Stance training, energy cultivation, tempering of muscles, bones, and skin. Whenever exhaustion struck and soreness overwhelmed him, the young man always gritted his teeth and persevered. "Sister¡­" Gradually, he became one of the few who endured to the end among hundreds of people. "Not bad." The instructor nodded with satisfaction and came over to pat his shoulder. A trace of internal energy quietly flowed into his body, relieving much of his soreness and discomfort. "Train well and join my Extreme Martial Sect as soon as possible." "Qin Feng, I heard you broke through to the Organ Refining stage?" "Mm." "Congratulations! That''s amazing! I knew you would definitely become an official disciple!" "Thank you." The young man turned and left¡ªor more accurately, he was now a young adult. Seeing his somewhat lonely figure, a group of martial arts students in training uniforms looked on in confusion. "Why does Qin Feng seem unhappy?" "Yeah, didn¡¯t he just become an official disciple?" "I heard his sister seems to be seriously ill..." At those words, the crowd''s expressions became complicated. The young man walked away alone, mist rolling in, shrouding everything. "Are these the memories belonging to that masked man?" Chen Feng was momentarily dazed and only snapped back to reality after several seconds. The scenes just now had played in his mind like a movie, making him feel as if he had experienced them firsthand. His mind was filled with doubts¡ªthis had never happened before when he picked up skill light orbs. Just as he was about to ponder further, the system prompt suddenly appeared, and to his surprise, the skill he thought was "Explosive Fist" had undergone a drastic transformation. [You have picked up a (Skill Light Orb)!] [You now possess a vessel linking to this world, inheriting part of another¡¯s memories.] [Enhancement!] [You have obtained a special skill light orb¡ªExtreme Martial Fist!] [Option One, Specialization: Can be used to enhance skills related to the Extreme Martial Sect, with effects doubled, far surpassing normal limits!] [Option Two, Decomposition: Break down this skill light orb into pure martial will residue¡ªLimit-Breaking Light Orb!] [Hint: If decomposed, the Limit-Breaking Light Orb will still enhance skills of the Extreme Martial Sect, but at half the effect!] Lines of information floated before him, and Chen Feng was somewhat surprised. A vessel linking to this world, inheriting another¡¯s memories? Wait a minute. He quickly focused his senses and saw a golden light speck in his mind. Inside it, the Shield Golem had shrunk countless times, but Chen Feng could clearly tell that the earlier memory scenes had appeared because of it. "So, it''s because of the Shield Golem that these changes occurred?" "Because it has a spiritual link with me, I can see the memories left behind in the light orb?" Chen Feng pondered. This was something he had never considered before. He didn¡¯t dwell too much on it, as it was ultimately a good thing. Previously, skill light orbs could only enhance "Explosive Fist," but now, the transformed light orb could enhance any skill related to the Extreme Martial Sect. The improvement was evident, though the only downside was that he hadn¡¯t yet mastered any other Extreme Martial Sect techniques. "I¡¯ll hold onto it for now." After some thought, Chen Feng decided not to decompose the Extreme Martial Orb. He still had an idea in mind, inspired by what he gained from the Iron Book of Inheritance. Extreme Martial Fist, Heavenly Aura Overlord Body¡­ Two high-level martial techniques¡ªhe suspected they were from a martial legacy surpassing the Flame Tiger Sect, perhaps representing the continuation of a martial path. Of these, he had already completed the first layer of the "Meteor Realm" stage for Extreme Martial Fist. The only thing missing now was the True Intent Visualization Diagram. "Hmm?" Suddenly, his gaze locked onto two remaining faint blue light orbs, revealing a trace of anticipation. Since he could see fragments of others¡¯ memories¡­ Could he perhaps see their past visualization of the Extreme Combat True Intent Diagram? Without hesitation, he immediately absorbed the two skill light orbs. Buzz! Memories resurfaced, similar to those of the previous person. Family, friends¡­ There was little martial-related content. Chen Feng felt momentarily disoriented but adapted after a dozen seconds. "What a pity." He shook his head but did not feel discouraged. If three skill light orbs weren¡¯t enough, then he would try ten, or thirty. There were still unexplored branches of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall on the map¡ªhe refused to believe he couldn¡¯t obtain the True Intent Visualization Diagram. Determined, Chen Feng searched every corner of the dojo. From top to bottom, he collected a total of eight Limit-Breaking Light Orbs. At the same time, he found a palm-sized fragment of an iron book. [High-Level Martial Technique: Heavenly Aura Overlord Body!] [Training Requirements: Must have mastered at least three fundamental hard-body techniques. Once initiated, this martial art has four stages: Mighty Arm, Tyrant Body, Colossal Firmament, and Overlord Physique!] [First Stage: Mighty Arm¡ªUpon successful cultivation, one gains arms of immense strength, capable of shaking anything!] [Training Essentials: Energy refinement of acupoints and tendons, requiring the use of special medicinal elixirs daily.] The contents were incomplete, even for the first stage. The palm-sized fragment was too small, and parts of the engraved text were obscured by black stains. The only gain was that he had managed to piece together a few more key characters from the first stage. Retracting his gaze, he took out paper and a pen from his black bag and recorded all the text. Once everything was ready, Chen Feng grasped the iron book fragment tightly, making full use of its remaining value. [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 124: Undercurrents Surge, Erupting Riots! [2.7k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- [Steel Bones LV2: 67/100] Chen Feng glanced at the progress of his Steel Bones skill and sighed in disappointment. As expected, after upgrading Steel Bones, the growth difficulty increased, and the effect of the Incomplete Iron Book was halved. Without dwelling on it further, he immediately took out a map from his black bag, searching for the next branch of the Extreme Martial Hall. To the east, inside a shopping mall, approximately ten kilometers away in a straight line. Without hesitation, he packed up his belongings. Leaving the martial hall, he confirmed his direction and headed straight east. One kilometer, two kilometers, three kilometers... Along the way, he obtained two more Limit Breaking Points and encountered two separate groups of Faceless Ones. Bang!! Several figures were sent flying, and the gray light clusters surged into his body. [Perception LV3: 40/100] "Still not fast enough." Retracting his gaze, Chen Feng looked ahead at the rows of buildings and the winding roads. The dream world had a time limit, and based on past experiences, he sensed that the dream was nearing its end. Without hesitation, he activated his Azure Armor, bursting forward with speed. Buzz! His figure became a blur, moving faster and faster. He abandoned some buildings on both sides, sacrificing short-term gains for a greater reward. Finally, as he covered another third of the remaining distance¡ª The mist ahead suddenly dispersed. A wave of dizziness struck as the world spun. Chen Feng opened his eyes. A familiar ceiling came into view, with a slightly dusty fluorescent light hanging above. "I''m back." Turning to the side, he retrieved his phone from under the pillow. The time remained unchanged¡ª7:05 AM. He got up, walked to the window, and pulled open the curtains. The sky was clear and blue, with white clouds drifting lazily under the morning sun. Shifting his gaze slightly, Chen Feng checked the other two stats on his panel. [Limit Breaking Points: 14] [Extreme Martial Points: 3] After advancing Crimson Tiger Force to Steel Fire yesterday, he was left with four Limit Breaking Points. Now, they had accumulated to fourteen in total. "Let¡¯s try it." Looking at the Crimson Tiger Force skill display, Chen Feng silently activated the enhancement. Buzz! A flood of insights surged in, and the progress increased. [Crimson Tiger Force: Steel Fire (42%)] "As expected." Even advancing through the Blazing Flame stage was challenging, so Steel Fire would only be harder. With that in mind, his gaze fell on the three Extreme Martial points. Chen Feng hesitated for a moment but ultimately restrained himself from Decomposing them. "Better to wait." Decomposing was easy, but the choice was irreversible. Keeping them gave him more options in case of emergencies. Suppressing his scattered thoughts, Chen Feng finally left the bedroom and quickly freshened up. After finishing a hearty breakfast¡ªseveral steaming bowls of beef noodles¡ªand grabbing a few energy bars, he stepped out of his apartment, hailed a taxi, and left the residential complex. High-rise buildings blurred past on both sides. Pedestrians crowded the bus stops, waiting in the morning rush. The autumn wind swept through the open car window, carrying the exhaust fumes and city noise. Buzz! Chen Feng closed the window, but the quiet didn''t last long. [According to reports, the City United Coalition, led by Representative Chu Shihong, has launched a second offensive against Utopia.] [Before the operation, Representative Chu stated that Nanjiang City is a beautiful place, and such beauty should not be tarnished by terrorist organizations like Utopia.] [We urge all citizens to trust in the Council¡¯s determination. They will surely...] A female news anchor¡¯s voice filled the taxi¡¯s radio. Chen Feng listened in silence. "This representative seems quite capable, much better than those other politicians." "The city has finally been a bit more peaceful these past few days." The taxi driver started a conversation, but Chen Feng merely responded with a brief "Mm," showing no interest in continuing the discussion. As they neared the martial hall, the car slowed down. A three-character signboard came into view. Chen Feng scanned the QR code to pay, then stepped out of the taxi once it stopped. "Wow, this guy is huge... Is he a martial hall instructor?" The driver muttered in curiosity as Chen Feng moved through the bustling street crowd with firm steps toward the martial hall. "Senior Brother!" "Senior Brother, good morning!" The passing trainees greeted him respectfully, their strong voices drawing the attention of many toward the tall, imposing figure in black. Nodding lightly, Chen Feng continued walking without stopping. Soon, at the entrance of the martial hall, he encountered Lin Hao rushing over. "Whew, almost late." Lin Hao grinned, clearly in a good mood. "Problem solved?" Chen Feng paused briefly, asking casually. "Yeah, thanks to your friend¡¯s help." With a grateful tone, Lin Hao briefly described yesterday¡¯s events. Chen Feng¡¯s mind stirred¡ªhe had just learned that the person Shield Golem had killed was none other than Winged Tiger, Dong Tao. "So that Dong Tao overestimated himself, huh? Instead of leaving Nanjiang, he actually dared to seek revenge on your friend..." Shaking his head at the thought, Lin Hao continued, "But seriously, your friend is insanely strong." "I remember he was just at the Bronze-grade not long ago, but in such a short time, he¡¯s already surpassed most Silver-grade experts..." Chen Feng slowed his pace, quietly listening. Through Lin Hao¡¯s words, he gathered a crucial piece of information about the modified humans. Although implanting modification modules can strengthen a person in all aspects, this transformation is not without limitations. Some people are naturally only capable of withstanding Bronze-grade modifications; exceeding this level would cause their consciousness to collapse, turning them into a vegetative state. Others, however, can endure higher-quality modules, continuously pushing their potential limits. Because of this, Lin Hao was surprised by Blue Demon¡¯s rapid growth. "Your friend has a physique naturally suited for modifications. He might even have a chance to reach the Gold-grade." "Really! Why don¡¯t you pass along my message and ask him and his team if they''re interested in joining my security company? I¡¯ll provide all the resources¡ªhe won¡¯t have to worry about anything." Lin Hao spoke enthusiastically, and Chen Feng remained silent for a moment upon hearing his words. He could sense the sincerity and anticipation in Lin Hao¡¯s tone. However... "I¡¯ll pass the message to him, but I can¡¯t make the decision for him." Chen Feng found an excuse, though he was indeed somewhat tempted. Getting access to all kinds of high-grade metals for free¡ªwhy not? But the key issue was that he wasn¡¯t ready to reveal Blue Demon¡¯s identity yet. After all, he wasn¡¯t a cyborg. His Azure Armor talent was too unique¡ªif word got out, it would cause an uproar. Moreover, if he joined Lin Hao¡¯s security company and interacted with him frequently, Lin Hao would eventually notice something off. He needed to think this over carefully. "Alright, I¡¯ll wait for your reply." Lin Hao smiled cheerfully before heading off to the training room. Chen Feng withdrew his gaze and went to the meditation chamber. Suppressing stray thoughts, he took out a blue porcelain bottle. It contained a new batch of Muscle Fortifying Tiger Bone Pills. He removed the wooden cap, poured out one pill¡ªgray in color, round, and the size of a knuckle. A faint fishy smell emanated from it. Chen Feng tossed it into his mouth and bit down. Tap, tap, tap! Footsteps echoed outside the meditation chamber as ten core trainees arrived right on time. Before long, the sound of iron rods striking reverberated continuously, marking further progress in the Bronze Statue Technique. At the same time¡ª In Nanjing City, on the road to the high-speed rail station... An old man and a young man wore gloomy expressions. The elder was clad in a loose crane-patterned robe, both arms in plaster casts wrapped in bandages and suspended from his neck. He sat in a wheelchair in a miserable state, being pushed forward. The younger man had removed his bandages, but his cheeks were still slightly swollen upon close inspection. His eyes had lost their former confidence and brilliance. "Master, how are we supposed to explain this when we go back¡­?" Jiang Yuan pushed the wheelchair, glancing toward the distant high-speed rail station. The area was sparsely populated¡ªthey had deliberately chosen a less crowded route, unwilling to suffer further humiliation. "Explain? We¡¯ll explain everything clearly!" "This Flame Tiger Sect is arrogant and ruthless! When we return, we must report everything truthfully to the Grand Elder!" Qian Chang Song¡¯s tone was gloomy. "And that brat¡­ He must have been born with natural divine strength." "Heh, the Flame Tiger Sect has been hiding him so well. They clearly want him to make a name for himself in the upcoming martial arts conference. Our scouting mission wasn¡¯t in vain¡ªwhen the time comes, others will deal with him for us and cripple that brat!" Jiang Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened at these words. Just as he was about to respond, he suddenly felt an inexplicable chill. He raised his head to look at the sky¡ªclear and cloudless. As someone on the verge of mastering Internal Force, why did he suddenly feel cold despite his thick clothing? Caw! A sharp cry rang out from above. Looking carefully, he saw a pitch-black crow perched on a nearby utility pole. Qian Chang Song frowned slightly, sensing something was off. Looking around, he realized¡ª The people on the street had vanished without a trace. The parked cars and trees on both sides cast long shadows under the sunlight, exuding an eerie chill. Silence. Coldness. A scent of death and decay lingered in the air. "Not good." Qian Chang Song¡¯s expression shifted. His instincts screamed danger. Just as he was about to order his disciple to push him away quickly¡ª A figure appeared in front of them, walking toward them. Clad in a black robe, his exposed eyes were pitch-black, surrounded by a crimson glow. At the same time, four more figures emerged from the shadows, their powerful presence sealing off all escape routes. "Although¡­ I also want to kill that brat as much as you do." "But¡­" The man in the black robe strode forward as a crow descended from midair, landing on his left shoulder. "One must start with an appetizer." --- [Bronze Statue Technique: Bronze Bones (31%)] At noon, in the quiet training room of the martial arts hall. Ten core disciples, drenched in sweat, left exhausted. Chen Feng glanced at the progress on his panel and nodded. Not bad. The Muscle Fortifying Tiger Bone Pill was quite effective, saving him a good amount of Limit-Breaking Light Orbs. His progress wasn¡¯t slow, and Chen Feng speculated that this was likely due to his mastery of the Tiger Form Technique. Although it was of slightly lower quality compared to hard martial arts, it was still a true martial technique. His strengthened physique had laid a solid foundation, and in some aspects of tempering his muscles, bones, and skin, it even helped reduce the time needed for refining the Bronze Statue Technique. Shaking his head, he suppressed his wandering thoughts. Chen Feng stood by the window and took a look at his current reflection. At 1.82 meters tall, with sharp, sword-like eyebrows. A tall and imposing build with a short buzz cut. His well-defined muscles looked as if they were carved from stone. Simply standing there gave off an oppressive aura. But that wasn¡¯t what concerned Chen Feng the most. What drew his attention were his eyes. Calm, steady. Yet, beneath the surface, there was an invasive, predatory presence¡ªlike a tiger gazing down on its prey. "I¡¯ve grown stronger again." Chen Feng could sense the difference. This was a change brought about by practicing Crimson Tiger Force, but it had been manageable before. Now, ever since Crimson Tiger Force advanced to Steel Fire, this oppressive aura had intensified. For some reason, Chen Feng thought of his master, Li Tong, and his third martial uncle. They had also practiced Crimson Tiger Force, so why had he never sensed this from them? "Could it be because they¡¯ve broken through to the realm of true intent?" Chen Feng pondered, forming a hypothesis. After a day of training, he was exhausted. Instead of dwelling on it, he pushed aside all his thoughts and left the quiet room, heading to the cafeteria with Lin Hao for lunch. --- At the foot of Cloud Mountain, deep in the forest. The ground was littered with corpses and shattered metal remnants. The earth was scorched black, and a heavily armored vehicle had been destroyed. The underground base hidden within the rocky mountainside had been utterly annihilated. Yet, that wasn¡¯t the most concerning part. Several masked individuals, each wearing a brooch with intricate patterns, stood among the ruins. These were the core members of Utopia, and not one of them dared to breathe too loudly. Their gazes were locked onto the distance with grave expressions. A massive crater, as if left by a meteor impact. Inside lay two corpses, surrounded by dark gold and silver metal fragments embedded in the dirt. Nearby, a towering figure stood silently. With shoulder-length black hair and a broad back, he stood at an imposing two meters tall. An aura reminiscent of a lion awakening spread outward. Within a radius of ten meters, no one dared make a sound. "Who did this?" His deep voice rang out, and the core members of Utopia flinched, quickly shifting their gazes toward their leader. "The United Coalition." Suppressing all guesses and speculations, their leader¡ªan imposing man with slicked-back hair, clad in a black suit¡ªspoke decisively. "Though the scene was severely damaged and all surveillance footage destroyed..." "The only force in Nanjiang City capable of such destruction¡ªand that is sworn to annihilate us¡ªis the United Coalition." As his words settled, the expressions of those present varied. Some quickly voiced agreement¡ªafter all, the United Coalition had recently declared a second extermination campaign against them. That alone was evidence enough. Others nodded hastily, fearing that Jin Wei might lose control and send them to meet his foolish and arrogant brother. "Is that so." "It seems I¡¯ve truly slept for too long." His voice was low, his lion-like silhouette unmoving. A stifling pressure spread through the air. Some frowned, deep in thought. Crack. Cracks spread across the ground near the crater, and the surrounding forest trembled, leaves rustling violently. Then¡ª Boom! A deafening impact shook the earth. Many of those standing in the distance staggered, and countless trees toppled over. Horrified, the Utopia members turned to see that the massive crater had suddenly been filled in¡ªsealed shut in an instant by a single stomp. "I will send him to meet you." "My foolish brother." As the words fell, the lion-like figure stepped forward. Buzz! Like an afterimage, he vanished from sight in an instant. The entire forest trembled continuously, trees collapsing in succession, and even massive boulders were shattered in his wake. Witnessing this unstoppable, overwhelming display of force, several core members¡¯ expressions darkened. Then, their leader issued an order. "Everyone, begin the operation!" A jolt ran through the assembled members. Immediately, the fully armed combatants boarded their hover vehicles and sped off. Drones and modified humanoids took flight, swiftly following the retreating figure of Jin Wei. Within mere seconds, more than half the personnel had vanished from the scene, leaving the forest eerily empty. Seeing this, the remaining core members frowned deeply. One of them glanced at the corpses and wreckage before cautiously approaching the leader. Speaking in a whisper that only the two of them could hear, he voiced his suspicion. "Silver Wolf... wasn¡¯t killed by the United Coalition, was he?" The stolen cybernetic modules had been seized by an unknown force. And nearby, they had discovered the corpses of Dong Tao¡¯s team. Logically speaking, the United Coalition shouldn¡¯t be the only suspect. "What do you think?" Instead of answering, the leader simply shot him a cold glance. A chill ran down the man¡¯s spine as he recalled their plan. Jin Wei was the key. Only he could hold off the United Coalition. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So... Realizing the implications, he dared not ask any further. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 125: Amidst the Chaos, Only Slaughter Remains [2.5k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- In the afternoon, a period of satiety and digestion. Followed by the shedding of sweat, a rigorous training of strength. It wasn''t until around three or four in the afternoon that Chen Feng finally left the martial arts hall, departing together with Lin Hao who had been waiting. "Remember to take that piece of Silver-grade metal when we get to the club later." "Your friend helped me out a lot yesterday, so let''s not talk about money." Lin Hao said generously with a smile, quickly starting the vehicle and driving onto the road. Chen Feng wasn''t pretentious either; the price of Silver-grade metal far exceeded that of Bronze-grade metal, and he really couldn''t afford to buy it at the moment. Save where you can, as for favors, they can be reciprocated. Soon, the vehicle was on the road, with pedestrians constantly crossing on both sides. After half an hour, the blue car once again approached the vicinity of the Bright District, arriving at the mall. The two got out of the car, and Chen Feng''s gaze suddenly shifted. At the mall entrance by the floor-to-ceiling windows, a girl with thick glasses was handing out flyers. Wearing a baseball jacket and gray sweatpants, she continuously smiled at passersby. "Office supplies, anyone interested? Feel free to take a look." Her voice wasn''t loud, but it was very clear in Chen Feng''s perceptive senses. Noticing his attention, Lin Hao also looked over, somewhat surprised. "Your friend?" "High school classmate." Chen Feng replied simply, and Lin Hao nodded. "Just in time, the club needs to buy some tables and chairs, we can consider her later¡ª" Whoosh!!! Suddenly, before Lin Hao could finish his sentence. Several flying cars appeared in the sky, passing over the road. The blue-red tail flames were exceptionally eye-catching, drawing curious gazes from all around. Which corporation''s flying cars are these, so ostentatious? Even Lin Hao was somewhat taken aback. Bang!!! A loud explosion suddenly erupted, and Chen Feng''s gaze sharpened as he quickly looked over. The bank across the street was engulfed in flames, with glass shards flying everywhere. Several off-road vehicles appeared nearby, with masked men shooting guns and causing destruction. "Ah!" "Help!" "Run!" The peaceful tranquility vanished in an instant, replaced by panic and screams. People ran in all directions, some in a panic, others falling. Car accidents occurred on the road, and soon the traffic was completely paralyzed. "Something''s wrong." Lin Hao''s expression was grave, sensing something unusual. Chen Feng thought similarly, quickly noticing the chaos erupting outside the bank, with the sound of bombs and intense gunfire. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, at a nearby intersection. A figure standing by the roadside suddenly tore off his loose suit, revealing a bronze metallic body. "Hahaha, die everyone!!" With a deranged laugh, the figure smashed the glass of a nearby car with a punch, crouched down, and actually lifted a small car weighing over a ton. Then, under the horrified gazes of onlookers. Whoosh!!! The car was thrown like a shot put, flying over ten meters and hitting several people. "Ah!" "Run!!" "Mom, mom!" Piercing screams erupted, a little boy panicked and ran outside the mall, suddenly falling. A woman looked panicked but bravely suppressed her fear, trying to help him up. "Watch out!!" Wang Hanwen, who was handing out flyers, finally snapped back to reality, just in time to see someone inside the mall taking advantage of the chaos to smash things. Glass shattered, and amidst the falling debris, a wooden stool could be seen falling from inside towards the mother and son. Without thinking, she rushed forward and pushed them both down. Bang!! The stool hit the ground, narrowly missing them. The three half-lay on the ground, looking back with pale faces and a sense of relief. The child cried out in fear, the young woman quickly helped him up, thanking her profusely. "No, no need..." Wang Hanwen stood up, waving her hands, and together with the mother and son, prepared to flee the scene. But the next second. "Die everyone!!" "Hahahaha!" Amidst the maniacal laughter, the cyborg at the intersection lifted another empty car from the roadside and threw it towards the mall. Whoosh!!! The air exploded, a terrifying howl entering everyone''s ears. Countless passersby quickly ducked down, looking around in panic. A huge shadow loomed, rapidly approaching. Wang Hanwen and the two others in the direct path turned pale, even lacking the time to dodge. "Are we going to die?" Wang Hanwen trembled in despair, her life flashing before her eyes. Youth, studies, graduation. Images of her parents interspersed, their hair gradually graying. If she died, what would happen to them? Swoosh! Roar!!! A tiger''s roar, leaping across a mountain stream. A deep red filled her vision, the roaring air current blowing her clothes. But strangely, the car that was heading straight for them suddenly froze in front of her eyes. A black-clothed, burly figure. His broad shoulders and sturdy back gave off a sense of solidity. Just standing there, with his arms outstretched, he effortlessly caught the oncoming car. The world seemed to pause, as if everything had slowed down. Wang Hanwen stood wide-eyed, inexplicably feeling that the figure before her was eerily familiar. "¡­Ch" She wanted to speak, but found her throat dry, unable to make a sound. Bang!! The car was thrown to the ground by the figure in front of her, not harming anyone. Countless gazes gathered, and the cyborg in the distance also noticed something unusual. "Oh?" "He actually caught it?" The thought flashed through his mind, and he reached out again, grinning ferociously as he grabbed another car from the roadside parking spot. "Let''s add another one!" Whoosh!!! Another car was hurled, the howling sound like it was tearing through waves. Thud! The ground shook, a deep red energy erupted. Chen Feng leaped forward like a tiger, throwing a punch mid-air. Bang!!! The metal surface of the car caved in, its internal frame twisted and deformed. In the next second. It flew backward at an even faster speed, heading straight for the cyborg. Swoosh!! The Bronze-grade metal cyborg''s expression changed slightly, quickly leaping aside and landing on the roof of an off-road vehicle by the roadside. Bang!! The black car hit the ground, dented and shattered, its internal components mostly exposed. Some debris grazed his face, followed by the sound of something cutting through the air rapidly approaching. "A mere Bronze-grade metal level dares to seek death?" Thud!!! A punch landed on the chest, the explosive force of the Flame Blast technique! The force erupted, the impact intense. The cyborg''s expression changed drastically, his feet leaving the ground as he was sent crashing backward, breaking through the guardrail and smashing into a white-painted pillar of a panel shop, causing it to crack and break. "Damn it!" Cursing under his breath, the Bronze-grade metal cyborg immediately activated all his energy, planting his feet on the ground and standing up in an unnatural posture. "Kid, you¡ª" A thick, large hand reached out, grabbing his head. Before he could finish his sentence, he was slammed into the already crumbling pillar. Bang! Bang! Bang! Three dull thuds, and the pillar completely shattered. The shop''s ceiling shook, and Chen Feng clearly sensed that there was no one inside. Tap tap tap tap!! Suddenly, rapid footsteps sounded from behind. The group that had robbed the bank was clearly working with the cyborg, and they quickly split off, several of them charging over. Click! The sound of guns being cocked echoed, as they wielded submachine guns, wearing black cloth masks, and opened fire. Bang bang bang bang! Muzzle flashes spat out, bullets flying. Some bystanders widened their eyes, not daring to look, but the next second they were frozen in shock. Clang clang clang clang clang! The crisp sound of metal clashing reverberated, as if striking steel. The black clothes were torn apart by the bullets, but strangely, the skin and flesh beneath remained completely unharmed. For a moment, the entire intersection fell into a brief silence. Wide-eyed, horrified... Even the armed robbers who had been shooting were stunned, stopping in their tracks. "Die!!" Seizing the opportunity, the dazed cyborg regained his senses, forcefully breaking free from the grip of the thick hand, twisting his body and swinging his fist. A blade extended from the back of his hand, but Chen Feng didn''t even glance at it. Crack crack crack crack! Tendons grew, muscles bulged. The tattered black clothes, riddled with bullet holes, were torn apart by the expanding muscles, the bulging veins clearly visible. Clang!!! The Bronze-grade metal blade struck Chen Feng''s left shoulder, but it didn''t even break the skin. "Is this all you amount to?" Chen Feng asked in a low voice, the faint sound of cracking echoing in his ears. His current physique was already close to the Silver-grade metal level. A mere Bronze-grade metal cyborg couldn''t even scratch him, even without activating his Azure Armor form. "You¡ª" The Bronze-grade metal cyborg''s eyes widened in complete horror. How strong must his physique be? A martial arts master who had mastered hard techniques? The thought flashed through his mind, and in the next moment. Thud!! The towering figure''s head came crashing down, a headbutt that sent the Bronze-grade metal cyborg crashing into the ground. The cyborg gritted his teeth, trying to struggle, but in the next second. Crack! A crack appeared in his metal armor, and his eyes widened in horror. He could no longer afford to hide anything. "Activate combat mo¡ª" Bang!!! A massive, swollen fist slammed down, directly shattering his metal mask, along with the skull inside. The final command of resistance was cut short, as drops of blood flowed from his head, forming a sinister pool of crimson on the ground. [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] Continuous notifications kept popping up. Chen Feng turned to look at the trembling, terrified robbers who had holstered their guns and were trying to flee. Step! He took a step forward. "What are you all standing around for? Shoot, dammit!" A robber at the bank entrance saw this scene but, with a grimace, pulled out a rocket launcher from a nearby vehicle. He crouched down, preparing to aim, but then. Bang! A gunshot rang out, and a bullet pierced his skull. Lin Hao stood below the mall, lying on the ground, holding a silver handgun for self-defense. "Not bad, all that training wasn''t for nothing." He muttered to himself, exchanging a brief glance with Chen Feng. Whoosh!!! Chen Feng leaped forward again, his figure flashing. With just the most basic punches. Every strike landed, leaving a person''s chest caved in and lifeless. "Dammit, run!!" The robbers at the bank entrance finally gave up, rushing into a nearby vehicle to escape. Swoosh!!! Bang!! A masked corpse flew through the air, smashing through the rear window of the car, half of its body landing inside. A two-meter-tall giant, surrounded by deep red energy, strode forward, completely terrifying the robbers. Bang bang bang bang!! Some stubbornly continued to shoot, the clanging sounds echoing. Faintly, some even saw sparks flying off the bare skin of the half-naked figure, as if it weren''t human but a true body of steel. "What are you waiting for?!" "Drive, dammit!!!" The robber in the passenger seat cursed, and the driver, trembling, snapped back to reality, quickly activating the flight mode to escape the congested ground. Hum! The tail flames shot out, the car lifted, about to take off. In the next second. Thud!!! The car sank, the hood caving in. The light outside the windshield was mostly blocked, and the robbers stared in horror as a fist came crashing toward them. Bang! Like a watermelon exploding, red liquid splattered, covering the road outside. The street fell silent. All screams and panic seemed to be choked off by an invisible hand. [You have completed a battle defending honor.] [Victory!] [Honor Points +30!] A panel notification appeared, and Chen Feng glanced at it. He was somewhat surprised, as he had only killed a few weaklings. Yet, the honor points he gained were more than what he had earned from killing the two cyborgs last night. "Wait..." A thought struck him, and he glanced around. Hundreds of bystanders had stopped in their tracks. Office workers and residents hiding in the surrounding high-rises were watching him from their windows, their expressions a mix of shock, awe, and admiration. Various emotions were reflected in their gazes, as if they were witnesses to the birth of glory. "So, this is what true honor is." Enlightened, Chen Feng leaped down from the car''s hood. His swollen frame gradually shrank back to his original burly form. The strength of the opponent was an important factor in gaining honor points. But the number of witnesses to the battle was also a key factor. With this thought, Chen Feng walked toward the mall. --- "Leader, all teams have begun operations in the Nanjiang urban area, tying down the security forces." "Golden Protector''s progress is also smooth; they''ve already breached the United Coalition." In what appeared to be an ordinary meeting room, it was packed with people. On the display screens, chaos could be seen in various districts of Nanjiang City, with looting, riots, and protests unfolding. The Utopia Nanjiang City branch leader, with his slicked-back hair, nodded lightly, his gaze soon fixed on the central screen. A lion-like figure leaped down from above, landing on the roof of a high-rise building, overlooking the entire city. The entire United Coalition was alarmed, as cyborgs and armored vehicles rushed out, surrounding the area. "What about the military?" The Utopia leader asked, as this was his primary concern. "They''ve already begun mobilizing forces and might arrive within ten minutes." "Moreover, I suspect that long-range sniper cannons are likely being prepared, waiting for the Eye in the Sky to lock on before firing." Someone reported truthfully, and the leader nodded lightly. "The Sky Eye System... How long can Golden Protector''s cloaking device last?" "He''s fully activated his combat module, and the energy field around him is putting too much strain on the cloaking device. Conservatively, five minutes is the limit." "That''s enough." The leader wasn''t worried. Instead, he ordered, "Tell everyone to hurry. This operation must yield significant results!" "Yes!" The subordinate nodded and quickly relayed the orders. During this time, one of the screens on the wall suddenly changed. The Bronze-grade metal cyborg sent to incite riots and his team were all dead, with no survivors. Someone in the meeting room frowned, looking at the burly young man on the screen, and asked, "Where did this martial arts master come from?" "He seems to use techniques similar to the Flame Tiger Martial Arts School." The question hung in the air, but no one knew the identity of the half-naked young man who was slowly returning to his normal size. The leader wasn''t too concerned, as this was just one setback. In comparison. Enveloping the entire Nanjiang City in fear and systematically eliminating the so-called high-and-mighty councilors. That was the true goal of Utopia''s operation. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Early Access at $5. Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 126: The Gold-Grade Cyborg [2.5k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- "Coach!" "Coach Chen!" At the entrance of the mall, the club members watched as Chen Feng approached, their expressions filled with admiration. Even the surrounding bystanders couldn''t help but straighten their backs, feeling an inexplicable sense of pride. "Clothes." Lin Hao, who had somehow retrieved a loose black jacket from the car, handed it to Chen Feng, who put it on. It fit well enough. Sometimes, Chen Feng wondered if he should get a special top to avoid having to change clothes every time he used the Giant Tiger Technique. "Chen... Chen Feng..." Wang Hanwen stood at the mall entrance, her expression complex, still in a daze. It wasn''t until the mother and son beside her repeatedly thanked her that she snapped out of it and spoke up. "Th-thank you..." Chen Feng nodded slightly, casually ruffling the child''s hair. It was just a small act of kindness, nothing worth making a fuss over. Whoosh! The sound of engines roared as several security vehicles descended from the sky. Over a dozen security officers quickly appeared, taking control of the scene and guiding the crowd. Chen Feng didn''t recognize the man leading them, but one of the club members recognized him and stepped forward to exchange a few words. Soon, the lead security officer approached Chen Feng, extending a friendly hand. "My name is Luo Ping, captain of the fifth squad of the Safety Bureau." "I''ve heard Coach Chen''s name mentioned by Luo Yue before. Now that I''ve seen you in action, the reputation is well-deserved." At this, Chen Feng noticed that the man bore a slight resemblance to Luo Yue. A bit older, around twenty-six or twenty-seven, with a leaner build. For someone of that age to become a squad captain in the city''s Safety Bureau, there was clearly more to him. "Coach, this is my cousin." Luo Yue whispered a reminder, and Chen Feng nodded, shaking Luo Ping''s hand. "Thank you, Coach Chen, for your bravery in saving the public and helping to minimize the losses for Nanjiang City." "I will report this to my superiors and ensure you receive the honor you deserve..." Luo Ping spoke kindly, though inwardly he was also surprised. Such a young martial arts master truly lived up to the reputation of being a direct disciple of the Flame Tiger School. As the pleasantries continued. Chen Feng glanced at the security officers behind Luo Ping. About a dozen of them, all well-trained. Armed with guns and riot shields, they quickly subdued the thugs and criminals who were taking advantage of the chaos, using rubber bullets and tear gas. Within a minute or two, many of those who had been looting and causing trouble were either pinned to the ground or knocked unconscious. The situation on the ground improved slightly, but then. "Hmm?" Chen Feng''s gaze shifted, and he looked up at the sky. He wasn''t the only one; many around him also looked up. A bright red line appeared in the clear sky, like a satellite lock, piercing through the clouds and heading straight for the city center. "The Sky Eye?" Chen Feng was surprised, and Lin Hao, standing beside him, also frowned. "What''s going on?" "Did a Cyborg activate their combat module in the city center?" The group was puzzled, and then the sound of whooshing air filled the sky. Looking up, they saw several gray-black aircraft flying in from outside the city, accompanied by armed fighter jets. On the metal hulls of the aircraft, a bright red maple leaf emblem was visible. "It''s the military!" Lin Hao was the first to react, his expression grave, sensing that something major was happening. Luo Ping, standing nearby, had a similar expression and quickly stepped aside to contact the Safety Bureau headquarters for information. In the end, amidst a solemn and heavy atmosphere. Luo Yue and the other young elites from prominent families felt their phones vibrate incessantly, receiving either texts or calls, as if they had been notified of something. Within seconds, their faces turned pale. Finally, under Chen Feng''s gaze. Someone''s voice trembled as they spoke with difficulty. "Something''s happened." "The United Coalition building has been breached." Boom!! At the same moment. An explosion erupted at the top of the United Coalition building, sending thick black smoke and flames soaring into the sky. "It''s Utopia!!!" A furious roar echoed as half-Cyborgs and gun-wielding enhanced individuals rushed out of the building. The sound of guns being cocked echoed back and forth, and a swarm of hundreds of drones appeared, rapidly ascending into the air. On the ground, armed vehicles and armored cars sped to the scene, their weapons trained on the target. Even in the sky above, a red light was triggered, scanning the area in an instant and locking onto the location. But despite this overwhelming force, there was only one enemy in sight. He stood atop the exploding high-rise, his long hair fluttering in the fierce wind, like a lion overlooking the entire city. He wore loose blue jeans, but his upper body was completely devoid of flesh, his arms, eyes, chest, and abdomen all gleaming gold, as if forged from pure gold. With just one glance at his indifferent expression, the silver-haired elder, Chu Shihong, who was being escorted out of the building and surrounded by layers of protection, paled slightly. He finally understood why Utopia dared to act so brazenly. "It''s... the Golden Protector." His tone was heavy, his expression grim. The other Coalition members were stunned at first, but as memories resurfaced, their faces mirrored Chu Shihong''s. Most were filled with dread, and some even swallowed hard, visibly frightened. "Who is the Golden Protector?" Someone who hadn''t heard the name before cautiously asked. "One of Utopia''s known twelve generals, a Gold-grade Cyborg." Chu Shihong''s personal guard answered solemnly, his tone grave. The questioner''s face turned pale. While they didn''t know what the twelve generals represented, they were well aware of the power of a Gold-grade Cyborg. A human-shaped rocket launcher, with destructive power comparable to a tank, and capable of high-speed movement... "But wasn''t he severely injured in the coup war in Suro a year ago and fell into a coma?" "When did he wake up?" Someone exclaimed in shock. Chu Shihong frowned, his expression shifting as if he had realized something crucial. "So that''s it..." His face darkened, and as everyone turned to him, he explained, "There are rumors that a foreign country discovered an ancient civilization ruin containing some kind of alchemical technology... It has the potential to convert certain precious metals into pure energy, repairing the special damage sustained by fully Cyborgs." "Now it seems... Utopia has obtained this discovery." His words sank everyone''s hearts. Before anyone could say more, the lion-like man atop the high-rise looked down at them. Without a word, the surrounding vehicles and drone swarms rotated their gun barrels, firing large-caliber specialized bullets. Bang bang bang bang!!! The bullets rained down, the clanging sounds echoing incessantly. Sparks flew as if hitting the toughest steel, but the golden exterior remained unscathed. Then, under the shocked gazes of everyone, the man threw a casual punch. Hum!!! A shockwave erupted, the sheer force rippling through the air. It was as if some kind of magnetic field device had been activated, instantly destroying the drone swarm more than ten meters away. Amidst the explosions, flames burst, smoke rose, and debris fell. Next, golden armor on the Golden Protector''s shoulders split open, revealing small turrets. Boom!!! Small missiles shot through the air, hitting two armed vehicles that failed to dodge in time. Amidst the violent explosions, the vehicles billowed smoke and plummeted from the sky. Seeing this, Chu Shihong and the others in the open ground below turned grim, scrambling to take cover. However, the next second. The lion-like man on the high-rise building leaped into the air, descending toward them! Thud!!! The solid stone ground shattered, collapsing in a radius of more than ten meters. Clouds of dust erupted, and a powerful shockwave swept outward. Several armored vehicles were sent flying, as if struck by some monstrous force, twisting and deforming as they crashed through walls and glass. The Coalition members turned pale, quickly turning to flee. In the next second, the shockwave reversed. The guards behind Chu Shihong sensed the danger. Gritting their teeth, they stepped forward, shielding him. Bang!!! The golden figure charged like a raging dragon, the ground beneath the two guards cracking under the pressure. In an instant, the entire United Coalition building descended into chaos. --- "The United Coalition was breached..." Back at the club, Chen Feng walked into the restroom, his mind still reeling from the shock. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He admitted to himself that even if he activated his Azure Armor form, he wouldn''t dare to be so brazen as to storm the Coalition building. That place was the heart of the city''s power, with the strongest security in Nanjiang District. It was guarded by at least several Silver-grade Cyborgs, along with a host of armed forces. Not to mention the Sky Eye tracking system, the Heaven''s Punishment system, and long-range sniper cannons for physical strikes. "Are these Utopia people insane? They actually attacked the United Coalition!" "This is terrifying!" "I wonder what''s happening in other places..." The young members of the club were all gathered in the lounge, some sitting, some standing, their expressions uneasy. They wanted to return home, but the entire city was in chaos, with traffic congested and paralyzed in many areas. Not to mention, having just witnessed their coach take down a Bronze-grade Cyborg. They figured that the club was probably the safest place to be right now. "Where are you going? Zhang Ling, are you crazy?" Suddenly, a raised voice echoed. Chen Feng and Lin Hao turned to see a young man standing up, his face flushed as he broke free from Zhuang Xiaoqing and others trying to hold him back. "My dad is still in the Coalition building!" "I have to go save him!!" He shouted angrily, but was quickly pinned down by Luo Yue. "You''re insane!" "What are you going to do to save him? With just your two professional-level bodyguards?" "They can''t even handle a regular Cyborg. What good will you be there?" Luo Yue held him down firmly, and the young man named Zhang Ling struggled helplessly, his face red with despair. "Look here!" At the critical moment, Lin Hao took out his phone and played a video for everyone. Gray-black aircraft and armed fighter jets arrived near the high-rise buildings in the city center. Cyborgs in camouflage uniforms emerged, some even riding single-person aircraft with small silver drones hovering on either side. Whoosh!!! At the same time, a silver light flashed from a distant high-rise, aligning with the red beam from the sky. Boom!!! Like a cannon blast, it directly hit the golden figure on the ground, sending him flying dozens of meters and crashing through beams and walls of buildings. Whoosh whoosh whoosh! Several silver lights flashed in succession, continuously striking the golden figure. The one-sided situation was finally brought under control, and the club members began to calm down. Even Zhang Ling, who had been struggling, relaxed a bit. "It''s a long-range sniper cannon." Someone exclaimed excitedly, recognizing the powerful weapon. Because it was in the city, the power was reduced to minimize collateral damage, but it still played a significant role. The video on the phone soon cut off, and Lin Hao knew the military had severed the nearby signals. Unfazed, he turned to Zhang Ling, who was still pinned to the ground, with a smile. "I have a security team that can escort you near the Coalition building." "How about it? Want to give it a try?" His words stunned everyone. Even Chen Feng was surprised by his offer. After all, even he wasn''t keen on getting involved in this mess. "Really?" Zhang Ling, pinned to the ground, showed a glimmer of hope, but Luo Yue frowned and asked, "Boss Lin, this isn''t a joke." "Even though the military has intervened, the situation isn''t fully under control. There''s still a chance of encountering other attacks on the way." Lin Hao wasn''t offended. Instead, he chuckled and pointed outside the mall. Everyone looked in confusion, and soon, the sound of engines roared as several vehicles arrived, shards of glass rolling on the ground. Several flying cars pulled up and parked by the street. The metal exteriors were painted with the words "Tian Hao Security" in white. Seven or eight enhanced humans and semi-Cyborgs in black combat uniforms stepped out. The leader looked familiar, a man in his thirties, standing at 1.9 meters tall, wearing an oversized suit. It was none other than Zhou Cheng, the Silver-grade Cyborg who had appeared the previous night. "My security captain here is a full Cyborg, Silver-grade." "With him escorting you, you can rest assured!" Lin Hao said confidently, but Luo Yue remained skeptical. Silver-grade Cyborgs weren''t common. Even the strongest security forces under most city councilors were at this level. To dispel their doubts, Lin Hao had Zhou Cheng come upstairs to the club and demonstrate his strength. Everyone was convinced, and several other young members spoke up. "Boss Lin, can you escort us too?" "Yeah, we''ll cover all the costs. I also have family near the Coalition building." Both men and women spoke up, all from influential families. Their elders held various positions in the Coalition, but they had been more rational earlier, resisting the urge to act. Now that the military had intervened and the situation had improved somewhat. With Lin Hao''s security company backing them, the risks were significantly reduced. "No problem." Lin Hao''s smile widened, and he quickly arranged for Zhou Cheng and his team to escort several young members away. As for Zhuang Xiaoqing, Luo Yue, and most of the others, they stayed at the club, planning to wait until the situation was fully under control before having their families send someone to pick them up. "How about it?" Lin Hao led Chen Feng to his office alone, asking with a smile along the way. "This is your chance." Chen Feng nodded, understanding Lin Hao''s plan. These young members came from influential families. If Lin Hao could safely escort them to their destinations, his security company would likely gain a strong reputation among the upper echelons of Nanjiang City. So, while this riot was a crisis for some, it was also an opportunity for Lin Hao. Perhaps, in the coming days, his security business would see even greater growth. "Timing worked out." Lin Hao entered the office and closed the door. As he opened the safe and took out the silver steel, he explained, "I realized earlier that Utopia might not be so easily wiped out, which is why I decided to take this path." "I''ve invested all my money into this. I hope this turns things around." With a thud, the metal box was placed on the ground, heavy and solid. Lin Hao''s smile faded, and his expression turned serious. "Also, I feel..." "The situation is going to change a lot in the future." "Nanjiang''s future might be completely different." Looking Chen Feng in the eye, he added, "Try to inherit the Flame Tiger Sect as soon as possible. At the very least, gain some influence." "If you trust me..." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Early Access at $5. Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 127: The Military and a Chaotic Situation [2.6k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- That night, Chen Feng did not return to his apartment. "Don''t run around. The situation is a bit off right now¡ªeven the United Coalition Building has been bombed." "Hurry to the martial arts school and stay there for two nights. Your Third Elder is there, just in case." His master Li Tong''s voice, echoed in his mind as Chen Feng sat in Lin Hao¡¯s car, holding his phone. A security team escorted them straight to the martial arts school in Jinhua District. Though their intelligence network wasn¡¯t as well-connected as the noble families with ties in the Coalition, they still received the news early and called him immediately. After a brief moment of contemplation, Chen Feng decided to stay at the martial arts school for two nights. Firstly, it was his master''s recommendation. His Third Elder had returned, and having him there provided some reassurance. Secondly, he was the direct disciple and senior brother of the Flame Tiger School. The martial arts school represented the sect, and some employees and disciples were still there. Since he had benefitted from the sect, he should take responsibility and help his Third Elder guard it. The car sped through the streets. Unlike the usual bustling cityscape, the night was eerily silent. The Utopian terrorist attack had been terrifying. Even though the military had taken control of the situation, most people were still scared out of their wits. Few people were in sight, and only dim streetlights flickered. Household doors were tightly shut, and many shops had closed entirely. The roads were almost empty, with only a handful of vehicles. The only sounds came from security patrols conducted jointly by the Safety Bureau and the military. "It looks like there were riots here too," Lin Hao observed as the blue sedan stopped at a crossroads near the martial arts school. He glanced at the scene on both sides of the street. Many shop windows were shattered, particularly those that bought gold, jewelry, and jade. The destruction was severe. Broken pillars, exposed ceiling wires, dust, and debris littered the ground. Flyers and scraps of paper were scattered across the street, fluttering against the car window with the wind. "Beep! Beep!" A warning siren blared as Lin Hao''s security convoy was stopped. Looking ahead, several armored vehicles had blocked the road. Red and blue lights flashed as military personnel in camouflage uniforms held their weapons and set up a checkpoint. "Where are you headed?" a military officer asked with a frown. "We''re from Tian Hao Security Company, escorting our client to the martial arts school," Lin Hao responded, rolling down his window. The military officer remained vigilant. Just as it seemed there would be a prolonged exchange, a young officer in camouflage uniform and a steel helmet approached. "Old Lu, let them through." "Captain?" "That¡¯s my friend. There''s no way he''s with Utopia." The young officer spoke casually. Though Chen Feng had already sensed his presence, he still pretended to be surprised. "Li Chengdong?" Lin Hao was taken aback, not expecting to run into him here. "Coach, Boss Lin." Li Chengdong smiled, motioning for his men to step aside before exchanging a few words. "Although we''ve repelled Utopia for now, some remnants are still hiding in the city." "Today''s attack on the Coalition Building was too big. The entire city is under lockdown, so stay cautious." Chen Feng and Lin Hao nodded, learning from him that the military had stationed forces in the city to assist the Safety Bureau in maintaining order. With that, their vehicle was allowed to pass through the checkpoint and soon arrived at the entrance of the martial arts school, a few hundred meters ahead. From the outside, the school was brightly lit, and shadows of people moved within. Disciples lurked in the dark, watching the security convoy with cautious eyes. Clank! The car stopped, and Chen Feng stepped out. "It''s Senior Brother!" Someone recognized Chen Feng immediately and rushed to report his arrival. Chen Feng withdrew his gaze and looked at Lin Hao. "Want to come in?" "I¡¯ll pass. I¡¯m a light sleeper and prefer staying at home." Lin Hao smiled and declined. Chen Feng didn¡¯t insist. He knew Lin Hao¡¯s personality¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t risk his life recklessly. If he was leaving, it meant he had confidence in his safety. "See you tomorrow." "Alright." Waving goodbye, Chen Feng carried his metal case and watched as Lin Hao''s convoy disappeared into the night. The street was eerily silent, and footsteps approached from behind. Cao Tong, accompanied by two disciples, came out to greet him, scanning the surroundings cautiously. Chen Feng could sense that some nearby apartment residents were peeking out their windows, observing him in secret. "How¡¯s the martial arts school?" Chen Feng asked as he walked inside with Cao Tong and the others. "It¡¯s fine. Those Utopia members knew better than to attack us." "But the Third Elder lost his patience and killed two modified humans this afternoon." Cao Tong kept his words brief. Calls of "Senior Brother" echoed around them. Many students had stayed at the school temporarily, some even bringing their families for refuge. The first and second floors were packed with mats and bedding, barely enough to accommodate everyone for a night or two. Chen Feng nodded, understanding their situation. Without further delay, he made his way upstairs. "You¡¯re here?" A somewhat aged voice spoke. A thin old man in a gray robe sensed the movement and stepped out of a quiet room on the second floor. "Third Elder." Chen Feng approached, sensing the elder¡¯s stable aura¡ªhe was unharmed. "Mm." "Get some rest soon. With me here, nothing will happen." The Third Elder spoke calmly, clearly someone who had experienced many major events. Hearing this, Chen Feng nodded, exchanged a few more words, and then went to his private room with peace of mind. Inside, a separate mat and quilt were laid out. Cao Tong chuckled and said, "Things seemed off this afternoon, so I figured a lot of people would be staying over tonight. I took some people to a nearby mall and brought back a bunch of supplies." He was now a true disciple, at the first stage of inner strength, capable of competing with some Bronze-grade cyborgs that hadn''t activated their combat mode. But despite his casual tone, it was clear he had taken some risks. "Did you pay for it?" "I did. The store owner even begged us to take him in. He''s staying here tonight, down on the first floor." Chen Feng nodded, gradually realizing the role of martial halls and security in times of chaos. After giving a few instructions, he watched Cao Tong leave. Click! The door of the private room closed. Chen Feng set down a metal box, walked to the window, and looked outside. Military armored vehicles were still on guard, and occasionally, security agency hovercars streaked across the sky. Most households had turned off their lights early¡ªeverything was completely different from before. For some reason, emotions welled up inside Chen Feng. Riots, loss of control, death... If he hadn¡¯t stepped in today, Wang Hanwen and the others would have died in a bloody scene. And how many ordinary people like them had met the same fate, especially in a riot engulfing the entire city? For a moment, his thoughts were complicated. He drew the curtains and placed the metal box on the tea table. He recalled Lin Hao¡¯s last warning at the club. After this battle, the relations of Red Nation with the outside world might undergo major changes. Although Nanjiang was just an ordinary city, it was located in Feng Province, near the Great Ocean and the borders of smaller eastern continent nations. It was best to prepare early. Hoo... He exhaled, and his strong willpower resurfaced. Regaining his composure, he pushed aside distracting thoughts. Chen Feng opened the metal box on the table. Click! A fist-sized block of silver steel was revealed. Its entire body was silver, streaked with deep gray. He reached out and pressed his hand against it. No matter how great the upheaval in Red Nation, no matter what the situation... Ultimately, everything came down to strength. Buzz! His mind sharpened, and his Steel Bones talent quickly activated. [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] The system prompts appeared repeatedly until a minute later when cracks formed on the silver steel¡¯s surface. Crack! Silver-gray fragments scattered. Chen Feng focused on the system panel. [Steel Bones LV2: 77/100] "Not bad." As expected, the improvement was within his estimates. After all, this was only a small piece¡ªnot as rich in energy as a fully transformed cyborg. His gaze shifted downward to the Azure Armor section. [Azure Armor LV3: 16/100] The Bronze-grade cyborgs and their gang were too weak. Their fear had little effect on his LV3 Azure Armor. As for the surrounding civilians, the range limitation resulted in a similar situation. He didn''t dwell on it further. After cleaning up the debris, Chen Feng washed up briefly, then lay down on the mat and slowly closed his eyes. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The night grew darker, the streets silent, with barely any noise. Lights in the martial hall gradually dimmed as some students slept, while others took turns keeping watch to prevent any mishaps. Confirming that nothing was overlooked, Chen Feng retracted his senses and let his consciousness sink. The night passed without incident. In his dreams, he swept through various places. There was still some distance to cover before reaching the Extreme Martial Hall, and along the way, he hurriedly collected three Limit-Breaking Light Orbs. Opening his eyes, Chen Feng saw the wooden ceiling of the quiet room. A strip-shaped light tube hung on the wooden board. Chen Feng, dressed in a black short-sleeved shirt, lifted the blanket and got up smoothly. Tap! His foot touched the ground, producing a crisp echo. The floor of the quiet room in the martial hall was paved with wooden planks, feeling somewhat firm and cool underfoot. He then walked to the window. With a swish, he pulled open the curtains, letting in a cool breeze from outside the screen window. His enhanced physique, due to Inner Strength and Strengthening Techniques, made him indifferent to the slight chill. Looking outside the martial hall, the noise from the street was quite faint. It was already 7:05 AM. Scraps of paper still fluttered on the ground, and most shops remained closed. The noodle shop across the street was one of the few open establishments, with empty tables occupying most of the view. As for the asphalt road, there were vehicles, but not many. Pedestrians were also significantly fewer than usual¡ªat least half as many¡ªmost of them walking briskly with a sense of vigilance. Silently observing the scene, Chen Feng finally took out his phone. Searching for news related to yesterday¡¯s riots, he found the online discussions in chaos. Many videos and images from the scene had already spread widely, indicating that the Safety Bureau had not yet managed to suppress them. Meanwhile, an official announcement had quietly become the top headline of Nanjiang¡¯s morning news. [Yesterday, the Utopia Organization launched a premeditated, citywide terrorist attack.] [Three council members were killed in the attack. A total of eleven locations, including the United Coalition Building, were affected by medium-scale riots, resulting in 37 deaths and multiple serious injuries.] [Currently, the military has taken over security in parts of the city and, together with the Safety Bureau, has successfully repelled the Utopia attack. In total, 98 Utopia members were killed, and 17 were arrested.] Scrolling further, a wanted notice appeared. [According to investigations, the masterminds behind this terrorist attack consisted of seven individuals. Four have been arrested or killed, while three remain at large. The fugitives include: Utopia¡¯s Nanjiang Branch Leader, Wei Tie Keng, a 49-year-old Platinum Federation national. Jin Wei, a Utopia War General, classified as a Gold-Level Cyborg, 32 years old.] The wanted notice provided detailed information, including photos and bounty amounts. "Jin Wei." Chen Feng''s gaze sharpened as he looked at the wanted photo of the man. Tall and burly, over two meters in height. His upper body was entirely golden, as if sculpted from pure gold. With long hair draped over his shoulders and an indifferent expression, he looked down as if he were a lion awakening from slumber. "Gold-Level Cyborg" With a strength exceeding 30 tons, an advanced full-body weapons system, and firepower comparable to tank artillery, he was practically a walking missile launcher. He had already surpassed the so-called Master level. If he fought at full capacity, only Grandmasters in the martial arts world could possibly stand against him. At that moment, Chen Feng completely understood why Utopia had dared to make such a massive move yesterday. If the military had not intervened, things could have turned out much worse. That thought flashed through his mind as he looked at his own status panel. His gaze shifted downward to check the progress of his two martial skills. [Crimson Tiger Force: Steel Fire (42%) +] [Bronze Statue Technique: Bronze Bones (31%) +] After a brief consideration, Chen Feng decided to allocate more points to Crimson Tiger Force. Bronze Statue Technique had medicinal assistance, so using Limit-Breaking Points on it would be inefficient. However, Crimson Tiger Force relied solely on himself. "Upgrade!" In an instant, all three Limit-Breaking Points were consumed. [Crimson Tiger Force: Steel Fire (53%)] "Still quite a bit to go." A surge of force quietly emerged from his body, resembling flames that wrapped around his palm. With a single thought, he withdrew all of it, returning it to his body. Only then did Chen Feng leave the room to wash up and eat breakfast. He had expected the martial hall to be somewhat chaotic, given that many students had stayed overnight. But surprisingly, the entire hall¡ªboth upstairs and downstairs¡ªwas spotless and orderly. All mats and bedding had been put away, and early in the morning, the sounds of martial arts training already echoed through the halls. "Last night, I instructed everyone to clean up their own space." "They were all quite cooperative." Cao Tong, who had also risen early, had breakfast with Chen Feng. Hearing this, Chen Feng felt reassured and then asked about the arrangements for the other martial halls in the sect. "Senior Brother Zhao and Senior Sister Wu have gone down the mountain. They are now stationed at different branch halls." "For safety reasons, the martial hall has decided to suspend core classes and other training sessions for the time being, in case of emergency. Most students agree with this decision, as many prefer not to go outside for now." Nodding lightly, Chen Feng understood. Even at the club, he had just received a notice from Lin Hao. Operations would be postponed until the situation calmed down. After all, most students and members were unwilling to risk going out, let alone coming for training. However¡ª "We¡¯ll stick to the usual schedule," Chen Feng told Cao Tong. After breakfast and a short digestion break, he quickly headed to the private training room. Seeing this, Cao Tong chuckled and shook his head. As expected of the personal disciple of the Grandmaster. Even in times like these, he could still remain focused on his martial arts practice. Throughout the entire martial hall, he was probably the only one like this. --- Author¡¯s Note: This marks the end of Volume One. Lately, I¡¯ve been experiencing some writer¡¯s block, and I feel like my writing hasn¡¯t been great. The pacing might have been a bit rushed, and many areas could have been handled better. But no matter what, I will reflect, improve, and keep pushing forward! Also, a huge thank you to everyone for your support and patience along the way! Thank you!!! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????If I can get 5 Reviews on NovelFire and ScribbleHub Combined, I''ll do a Chapter 128: Mighty as a Meteor [2.8k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- Two consecutive days. Due to the Utopia incident, the entire Nanjiang city suddenly became much quieter. This terrorist attack was massive, and all of Red Nation was now aware of it. Internationally, various reactions arose, especially from the Platinum Federation, where many media outlets criticized the Red Nation royal family for being too corrupt, claiming that such violent protests were a result of their misgovernance. "The Platinum Federation¡¯s hypocrisy is disgusting!" "Who would believe they aren¡¯t involved in the recent riots in Feng Province?" "Why not just go to war already?" Public opinion online was in turmoil. Chen Feng glanced at his phone when an incoming call appeared and chose to answer it. "Sis." "I just got out of the lab and saw the news about the Nanjiang incident. Are you okay?" "Are you hurt?" A rapid string of anxious and guilty questions poured out. Chen Feng waited for her to finish before responding calmly, "I''m fine. Don¡¯t worry." "I''m staying at the martial arts hall for now¡ªit''s very safe here." He specifically mentioned the martial arts hall, which finally made her feel somewhat relieved. "That¡¯s good. Yes, stay at the martial arts hall for now. It¡¯s definitely safer than home." "Don¡¯t go out unnecessarily. Don¡¯t worry about the stuff at home¡ªit doesn¡¯t matter." "Oh, by the way, do you need money? I just received my training subsidy. I can transfer some to you." Chen Yun continued with a long list of instructions, reminding him to respect the elders at the martial arts hall and not to cause trouble, ensuring he left a good impression. Chen Feng remained silent throughout, taking in her rare display of concern. After she finished speaking, he asked about the situation in Yun Port. "It¡¯s safe, but the academy suddenly issued a notice this morning, requesting some foreign exchange students to leave as soon as possible." "The entire Yun Port city as well¡ªespecially targeting Platinum Federation citizens¡ªeveryone is being forcibly deported within three days." "I feel like it¡¯s definitely related to Utopia¡¯s attack." Hearing this, Chen Feng fell into deep thought. If things continued this way, tensions between the two global powers, Red Nation and the Platinum Federation, would likely escalate. No wonder Lin Hao had warned him like that earlier. Shaking his head, he finally looked outside into the night. For the past two days, he had stayed inside the martial arts hall without stepping out. Last night, he gained two more limit-breaking experiences and was now very close to the Extreme Martial Hall. And tonight... "I must gain something!" With that thought, he fell asleep. As his body¡¯s balance subtly shifted, ten seconds later, he opened his eyes again. A thick mist lingered in the distance. Wearing a black backpack, he stood in the middle of a street district. The flickering streetlights on both sides stretched into the distance, their dim yellow glow illuminating the road and surrounding buildings. The three-character sign of the Extreme Martial Hall was no longer far away¡ªits outline could be seen even from a few hundred meters away. However, as he enhanced his perception¡ª Chen Feng frowned and glanced around. A series of faint footsteps sounded, and suddenly, figures emerged from the surroundings. Three long shadows appeared under an apartment building to the left, while five men and women stepped out from the corner of an intersection on the right. There were also figures inside the supermarket ahead and even more closing in from the distance. One after another, although they varied in size and clothing¡ª Most of them had featureless, pale faces. "So, another territory has been unlocked?" Chen Feng¡¯s gaze remained calm as he immediately spotted the two masked men among the faceless ones. They wore the martial arts robes of the Extreme Martial Hall¡ªsomething that should have been hidden inside the hall. Now appearing in the outside world, the situation was eerily similar to when he had encountered the Black-Faced Spider before. Looking again at the sign of the Extreme Martial Hall in the distance and its tightly shut redwood doors, Chen Feng knew¡ªthere was definitely an even stronger creature hiding inside. Swish! The faceless ones lunged at him simultaneously, but Chen Feng had no intention of wasting time. Buzz! An Azure mark on the back of his hand flashed as a dark blue horn emerged. Within a few breaths¡ªhis fists and legs lashed out like a sweeping storm. Silhouettes were sent flying, and the black soldier ants hidden in the masked men¡¯s chests were forcibly shattered. Before the sharp screeches could even rise, they were abruptly silenced. One by one, gray and pale blue light spheres floated in the air. [Perception LV3: 51/100] Glancing at his talent progress, Chen Feng stepped forward and absorbed the pale blue light. Buzz! The world shifted, and memories resurfaced. "Explosive Fist is one of the fundamental martial arts techniques of our Extreme Martial Hall. You can train it even without true intent visualization!" "Beginner, proficient, mastery¡ªeach stage enhances your strength and greatly increases your punching power. If you can cultivate it to the mastery level and break through the ''refining organs'' stage to reach ''internal strength''..." "Then you might qualify to glimpse the power of an advanced martial technique¡ªExtreme Martial Fist." In a vast outdoor training ground, a middle-aged instructor¡¯s voice boomed as he gave his daily lecture. Rows of martial arts hall students stood at attention, and among them, someone curiously asked, "Coach, just how strong is the Extreme Martial Fist?" As soon as the question was asked, many others echoed the sentiment. "That''s right, Coach! I heard that the legendary black dragon among the Black Calamity creatures was seriously injured by one of our martial school''s predecessors with a single punch! Can you show us some of your skills?" "Yeah! Coach! Please show us what you''ve got!" Amidst the clamoring voices, a middle-aged coach wearing a white martial arts uniform stood under a large green tree that required five people to encircle. He wasn''t angry. Instead, after pondering for a moment, he nodded. "Very well." "Today, I''ll broaden your horizons so you can understand why martial arts can stand on equal footing with the supernatural!" Buzz!! The moment he finished speaking, a white mist surged from his body. His five fingers clenched into a fist as if grasping some kind of hazy light. A powerful aura erupted like a storm. The next moment, a flash of white light shot out like a meteor, heading straight for a massive boulder in the distance. Whoosh!!! A sharp sound pierced through the air. It all happened in an instant. Boom!! A muffled explosion resounded, shaking the martial school. The enormous boulder shattered with a deafening crash, causing the ground beneath it to crack and form a deep pit about six or seven meters wide. The disciples were utterly dumbfounded. When they turned back, they saw the middle-aged coach still standing in the same spot. The only movement he had made was extending his fist, from which the white light had slightly dimmed. "A punch as swift as a meteor can also streak across the sky!" The middle-aged coach, now intrigued, suddenly clenched both fists, causing them to glow even brighter before he launched them skyward. Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!! His arms blurred into afterimages, and beams of white light shot out like a relentless storm. Through the hazy air, continuous explosions rumbled in the sky. The white lights, resembling meteor missiles, rained down endlessly, shaking the heavens. Then, the white glow around the middle-aged coach intensified. He suddenly let out a loud shout. "Meteor! Falling Sun!" His voice echoed as the white light abruptly condensed, forming a miniature sun hovering over his right fist. The atmosphere grew heavy, as if some colossal force was about to descend and crash into the earth. At the critical moment, a figure rushed forward, halting his demonstration. "Old Xu! Are you trying to blow up the martial school?!" The scene abruptly cut off, and Chen Feng''s eyes flickered, his mind slightly dazed. The sky was no longer bright but shrouded in darkness, the streets dimly lit by a yellowish glow. "Extreme Martial Fist¡ªMeteor Realm." TL/N: This realm is explained in chapter 84. His gaze sharpened again as he regained his senses, a hint of astonishment in his expression. The white light unleashed by the middle-aged coach was as powerful as the micro-missiles used by cyborgs¡ªeffortless and continuous, without a hint of fatigue. Calling him a human artillery wouldn''t be an exaggeration. Moreover, he was about to demonstrate an even higher-level move¡ªthe Falling Sun Realm. The highly condensed white light had made Chen Feng¡¯s hair stand on end. He had no doubt that if he were struck by such a punch, even a reinforced steel body wouldn''t survive. "No wonder martial arts can rival the supernatural." With a sigh, Chen Feng once again recalled the white light radiating from the coach¡¯s fist. It seemed similar to the external release of inner force, yet he knew very well that it wasn¡¯t mere force. Neither its speed at the start nor its sheer power could be compared to conventional martial techniques. "Extreme Martial Fist." His heart burned with excitement as he gazed at another glowing skill orb before him. Without hesitation, he reached out and absorbed it. Buzz! A flood of memories surged into his mind. His consciousness trembled, and his expression grew dazed once more. More than ten seconds later... "What a pity." Shaking his head with a sigh, he still hadn¡¯t glimpsed any images related to the Essence of Combat Diagram. The only gain was another martial skill. "So many masked men are disciples of the Extreme Martial Stream. Logically, they should have seen the Essence of Combat Diagram at some point." "Is it because the memories left behind are too fragmented? Or are these masked men simply too weak?" Frowning slightly, Chen Feng thought of a key point. Based on those memory fragments, martial arts in this world had some subtle differences. For example, basic techniques like Explosive Fist could be learned without visualization. In other words, only higher-tier techniques required access to the Essence of Combat Diagram. And after days of exploration, he had discovered something¡­ These masked men were at most at the Organ Refining level in strength, and their skills were quite limited. In other words, it was very likely that these masked men had only ever practiced basic-level techniques from the beginning, which was why they had never seen an Essence of Combat Diagram. "Only those who can access visualization diagrams are either stronger, having broken through to the Inner Strength stage and practicing higher-level techniques¡­" "Or they have exceptional talent and are granted advanced techniques at the Organ Refining stage, allowing them to visualize ahead of time." With this line of thought, Chen Feng had some guesses in mind. However, he still needed to explore a few more martial arts halls to verify them. Wasting no time, he looked up at the Extreme Martial Hall branch a few hundred meters away. The azure armor on his body remained, and he quickly moved forward, dashing like an arrow. Whoosh!!! His figure flickered like a residual shadow, a mix of blue and black. A few seconds later¡ª Boom!! The redwood doors of the martial arts hall were violently smashed open, and every creature inside fell into his clear perception. Wooden splinters flew everywhere as a black wolf-like creature was sent crashing into the inner wall of the martial hall, killed instantly by the impact. In the darkness, pairs of ghostly green eyes opened¡ªseven or eight black wolf-like creatures, each at least two meters tall. [Black Wolf Pack: A type of Black Disaster creature, known for living in groups.] [Strength: First-tier in its juvenile stage, second-tier as an adult, with rare third-tier Black Wolf Kings rumored to possess traces of Ice Demon bloodline.] The information recorded on his worn-out bronze token flashed before his eyes. The red gleam in his glass-steel pupils suddenly intensified as he spotted the massive black wolf standing in the innermost part of the martial hall. It was three and a half meters tall, covered in pitch-black fur. A streak of gray fur ran across its brow, resembling a third eye. Based on the records, this was undoubtedly the Wolf King of the Black Wolf Pack. Awooo!! A wolf howl echoed as all the black wolves charged forward. In the blink of an eye, the azure figure vanished, swallowed by the surrounding black shadows lunging at him from all directions. The next second¡ª Buzz! Whoosh!! A surge of immense power erupted, deep red energy bursting from his body. Roar!!! Like a tiger¡¯s roar in the mountains, his palms struck out in quick succession. It was as if a lone, ferocious tiger had emerged¡ªa black wolf''s heart shattered, its body smashing through glass and walls, dying instantly. Witnessing this scene, the Black Wolf King bared its savage fangs and lunged. A third-tier creature, comparable to a Silver-Steel Cyborg. The air was filled with its foul stench as razor-sharp fangs sliced through the air. It was lightning-fast, instantly maneuvering behind Chen Feng, jaws wide open to devour him. But in the next moment¡ª Two thick, powerful hands reached out, muscular arms like cement pillars. Boom!! The Black Wolf King¡¯s bite was forcibly stopped¡ªChen Feng¡¯s palms clamped onto its upper and lower jaws, pressing down with immense force as the ground beneath him cracked apart. The glass-steel red pupils flickered with killing intent¡ªhe was ready to end this battle. Huh? Suddenly, in the next instant¡ª Chen Feng felt a chill in his heart as he saw a grayish aura gathering in the Black Wolf King¡¯s mouth. Swoosh!! A stream of icy breath shot out like frost, freezing his afterimage in place. Suspended in midair, blood-patterned wings flapped as he flew upward. Looking down, he saw that his previous position had been frozen over. [Black Wolf King: Has awakened a trace of Ice Demon bloodline, allowing limited control over Frost Breath.] The information on his bronze token flashed again. The Black Wolf King turned sharply, preparing to repeat its attack. Chen Feng''s thoughts moved, and his blood-patterned wings flapped. Whoosh! In an instant, he appeared at the Wolf King¡¯s flank, reaching out with his bare hand. A piece of ancient bronze rapidly expanded in his grip, transforming into a broad, bronze-colored longsword in less than a second. Puchi!! The blade pierced through flesh¡ªthe Wolf King''s defense was weak, but its bones were as tough as Silver-grade metal. The sword''s tip was stopped by its bones, and an enraged howl erupted. Awoo! Boom!!! Chen Feng gave it no chance¡ªhe swiftly kicked out, using the momentum to pull out his sword. The massive Black Wolf King was sent crashing into the wall. The azure-black figure flickered once more¡ª In the next instant, he appeared beneath the Wolf King¡¯s head. Crack, crack, crack!! Muscles swelled, bones expanded. His thick hands clamped onto the Wolf King¡¯s head, forcefully pinning it against the wall, preventing it from lowering its head. Then, his sword struck out repeatedly, aiming at one precise point. Puchi!! Blood splattered like a fan, covering the entire wall. The Silver-Steel-tier bones were crushed, and the ferocious Wolf King was completely nailed to the wall. For several seconds, the attack continued¡ªuntil its savage expression froze, and its aura dissipated completely. Buzz! A ghostly glow flickered¡ªthe Wolf King''s corpse rapidly faded into an illusion. The surrounding black wolves followed suit, vanishing along with the frozen frost breath on the ground. Seeing this, despite being used to such occurrences, Chen Feng was still surprised by the Wolf King''s attack just now. Spitting out frost breath¡ªthis ability had already touched upon the supernatural realm, hadn''t it? At the very least, in reality, he had never¡ª "Cult of the Evil Gods." Suddenly, Chen Feng recalled the Serpent Spirit Cult Emissary he had killed before. That individual also seemed to possess extraordinary powers, capable of summoning a giant python from the shadows. This power was completely different from martial arts and cybernetic enhancements¡ªit carried a unique mysticism. For a moment, Chen Feng couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ª Perhaps the so-called Evil God¡¯s Power was, in some way, linked to the supernatural? Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This thought flashed through his mind as he stood still. The azure-black armor gradually retracted into the mark on the back of his hand. The tiger form slowly faded away as well. Chen Feng lowered his head and glanced at his right palm. A tiny, pitch-black mark wriggled like a small serpent. [Serpent Spirit Power: 25/100] If he filled this completely, he could enter the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm again in the dream world. But for now, he was still far from reaching that threshold. "Perhaps I should look into matters related to the Cult of the Evil Gods more deeply in the future¡­" (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????Review Objective Achieved Mass Release (1/13) Chapter 129: Trouble – The Arrival of the Pine Crane Sect [2.7k] Translator: --- Crash! Inside the quiet room, the curtains were drawn open. Chen Feng returned to reality and looked out the window. At the street corner, armored vehicles were still stationed, with soldiers in camouflage uniforms standing guard, their guns in hand, providing an immense sense of security. The once-deserted streets had improved somewhat, with traffic gradually recovering to about half of its former state. Whoosh!! An airborne vehicle zipped through the sky, flashing blue and white¡ªthe emblem of the Security Bureau. Chen Feng picked up his phone and checked the news. As expected, most reports detailed the latest operations and victories of the Security Bureau. It was all about capturing certain Utopia members or wiping out underground bases. Yet despite all these successes, there was still no sign of the fugitive Utopia leader, Wei Tie Keng, or the high-ranking cyborg, Jin Wei. Shaking his head, he put away his phone and turned his attention to the interface before him. [Limit Break: 11] [Extreme Martial Arts: 5] [Steel Bone LV2: 82/100] After killing the Black Wolf King, he had thoroughly searched the branch of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall and then continued his journey. He successfully obtained eleven Limit Break Light Orbs and a palm-sized fragment of an iron book, which boosted his Steel Bone progress by 5 points. Apart from that¡ª "Horned Crocodile Beast, Purple Centipede." His journey wasn¡¯t without other gains. He had found a broken bronze plaque containing detailed information on two Black Calamity creatures. [Horned Crocodile Beast ¨C A Black Calamity creature.] [Habitat: Prefers living in groups, especially in swamps or other damp environments.] [Strength: Juveniles range from Tier 1 to 2, adults reach Tier 3, capable of launching ground spike attacks.] [Purple Centipede ¨C A Black Calamity creature.] [Habitat: Solitary, thrives in dark environments.] [Strength: Juveniles are Tier 1, adults reach Tier 3, and some can even break into Tier 4. Besides having an extremely tough exoskeleton, it also possesses corrosive venom.] Chen Feng knew very well that one of the key reasons he had successfully killed the Black Wolf King in the dream realm was that he understood its abilities and could counter them in time. Otherwise, he might have been injured by its Frost Breath, which would have affected his real-world condition and even delayed his ability to re-enter the dream realm. This made his latest dream venture quite rewarding. His gaze lowered, shifting to his skill panel. [Crimson Tiger Force: Steel Fire (53%) +] Without hesitation, he allocated points to Crimson Tiger Force. The eleven Limit Break Light Orbs were rapidly consumed, causing his true force progress to skyrocket. [Crimson Tiger Force: Steel Fire (86%)] "Still a bit more to go." He clenched his fist, deep red energy swirling like flames, hovering above his palm. The third level, Burning Mountain, was within reach. As for the five Extreme Martial Arts points¡­ "The Essence of Combat Diagram still hasn¡¯t appeared. The Extreme Combat Fist remains an illusion." Recalling last night¡¯s disappointment at the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, where he failed to find the visualization diagram, Chen Feng realized he might need to adjust his plans. Especially since the Utopia leader and the high-level cyborg were still at large¡ªwho knew when another surprise attack might come? A thought flashed through his mind, and he made a decision. He would dismantle part of his Extreme Martial Arts Light Orbs to see what would happen. If it led to a breakthrough, great. If not, he would reconsider. Turning to his Extreme Martial Arts panel, he mentally commanded¡ª "Dismantle." [[You have chosen to dismantle one skill orb (Extreme Martial Arts)!] [[Dismantling successful. You have obtained five Limit Break Light Orbs!] [[Limit Break Points: 5] Chen Feng''s eyes lit up. He hadn''t expected a single Extreme Martial Arts point to be equivalent to five Limit Break Light Orbs. Wasting no time, he focused on Crimson Tiger Force and commanded an upgrade. "Enhance!" Buzz! Five Limit Break orbs were consumed. A flood of insights filled his mind¡ªcountless days and nights spent refining his bones, strengthening his organs. Through frost, under scorching sun¡ª Sweat dripped as his force continued to grow, spreading throughout his entire body. From Light Red Entry, to Blazing Flame, to Steel Fire¡­ Until a certain moment, a breakthrough opportunity arrived. His mind tempered and strengthened. Every strand of energy was now fully understood and intricately controlled. The bottleneck was right in front of him. [Crimson Tiger Force: Steel Fire (100%)] [[Notice: Please acquire the next level of true force techniques before advancing further!] Suddenly, a notification popped up, halting all progress. Chen Feng was momentarily stunned. "I¡¯m missing the advanced techniques¡­?" Frowning slightly, he suddenly recalled¡ªhis master, Li Tong, had only passed down the first two stages, Blazing Flame and Steel Fire. The later levels, Burning Mountain and Scarlet Tiger, had yet to be taught. "Looks like I need to find Master." With that thought in mind, he checked the time on his phone¡ª 7:10 AM. A little early to disturb his master. Besides, his Third Martial Uncle had mentioned recently that Master was away in Luohe City. After some thought, he decided to send a message asking when he would return. Tap, tap, tap. His fingers moved across the nine-key keyboard, and with a soft buzz, the message was sent. There was no immediate reply, but Chen Feng wasn¡¯t in a rush. Putting away his phone, he left the room to freshen up and grab breakfast. "Senior Brother!" "Good morning, Senior Brother!" "Morning, True Disciple Cao!" On his way, many disciples greeted him respectfully. Beside him, Cao Tong grinned the entire time. A few days ago, after returning to the sect, he had officially been promoted to a True Disciple¡ª Ranked seventh, just below Wu Shuang. Ranked Seventh, Just Below Wu Shuang. To a certain extent, the branch martial arts hall in Jinhua District was already under his full authority. However, because the Third Elder preferred to stay in the herb storage room and Chen Feng often came here to train, his influence had been somewhat overshadowed. The two entered the dining hall, drinking several bowls of Silver Moon Porridge and eating some dried meat and eggs. After a satisfying meal, they were about to return to the quiet chamber. Boom!! Suddenly, a muffled sound echoed from the front of the martial arts hall, followed by the faint noise of shattering glass. Immediately afterward, a furious roar rang out¡ª "Chen Feng, you brat! Get out here!!" Crash!! Glass shattered as a figure was sent flying. A coach standing at the martial hall entrance was struck by a single palm strike, crashing through the floor-to-ceiling window and rolling several times across the ground. Seeing this, many martial arts students were stunned. The formal disciples and coaches, on the other hand, were enraged and hurried forward¡ªsome helping the injured, while others surrounded the attacker. "Get lost!!" A cold shout rang through the air, and a massive, illusory white pine crane soared into the sky. Screech!! A sharp crane cry reverberated throughout the hall. In an instant, numerous members of the Flame Tiger Martial Hall were sent flying, smashing into training equipment and sandbags. "Where is Chen Feng?! Tell him to get the hell out here!!" The one who had attacked was an elderly man with a head full of white hair and an average build. He wore a long cyan robe embroidered with a white pine crane stitched in silk. Standing beside him were four others in similar pine crane robes, all appearing to be over thirty years old, each exuding Inner Force Realm. Only one person among them was weaker. A twenty-year-old youth with a braided ponytail and casual attire¡ªnone other than Jiang Yuan, the same person who had previously come for a so-called "friendly match," only to be slapped and hospitalized. Tap, tap, tap, tap! A series of footsteps approached as Chen Feng and Cao Tong arrived with a group of martial hall students. The scene before them was utter chaos. Seven or eight official disciples stationed at the martial hall were clutching their chests, blood trickling from their mouths as they lay sprawled on the ground. The coach who had crashed through the glass was even more seriously injured¡ªcompletely unconscious. In an instant, Chen Feng''s expression turned ice cold, and he looked at the intruders with murderous intent. "Fifth Martial Uncle, that¡¯s him!" Jiang Yuan immediately raised a hand and pointed at Chen Feng. The elderly man who had previously spoken coldly snapped his gaze toward him. "Such a fierce aura!" "Get over here!!" His white eyebrows bristled with anger, and the crane''s cry rang out once more. Screech!!! Before the eyes of everyone present, the white crane manifestation behind the old man shot forward, streaking toward Chen Feng. In an instant, Cao Tong and the others turned pale. Standing at the very front, Chen Feng lowered his gaze, his killing intent surging. "Why... must you force my hand?" ROAR!!! Before Chen Feng could even act, a ferocious tiger''s roar erupted! A gray-robed, elderly figure appeared in a flash¡ªhis Crimson Tiger Intent leaping forward, pinning the white crane illusion to the ground in midair. "Yang Chengyuan, do you have a death wish?" The Third Elder stood in front of Chen Feng, his robes billowing. His face was dark and filled with murderous energy. The intruders¡¯ expressions shifted, though the white-haired elder at the lead remained unfazed. His inner force surged, instantly reinforcing the white crane manifestation, allowing it to break free from the Scarlet Tiger¡¯s bite. "Yan Chong! Others may fear you, but I do not!" The white-haired elder, Yang Chengyuan, shouted Third Elder Yan Chong¡¯s name before pointing directly at Chen Feng, his face filled with killing intent. "This brat killed an elder of my Pine Crane Sect!" "Today, even if it means war between Pine Crane and Flame Tiger Schools, you must give me an explanation!" His icy threat rang through the air. The Third Elder frowned, while the disciples and coaches exchanged shocked looks. Senior Brother killed a Pine Crane Sect elder? Impossible! "Impossible!" No one believed this accusation, yet the other party spoke with absolute certainty. "Jiang Yuan, tell them!" "Yes, Fifth Martial Uncle." Jiang Yuan, still wearing the same casual sportswear from a few days ago, stepped forward upon command. His face was pale and haggard as he gritted his teeth, pointing at Chen Feng with hatred. "It was him! That day, he severely injured both me and my master, sending us to the hospital¡ªyet that wasn¡¯t enough for him!" "Three mornings ago, my master and I were preparing to leave Nanjiang when this man ambushed us on the road. My master sacrificed himself to ensure my escape¡­ and died at his hands." His voice was filled with grief and resentment. If Chen Feng hadn¡¯t known the truth, even he might have believed him for a second. "Do you have any evidence?" The Third Elder''s face darkened as he directly refuted the claim. "I saw it with my own eyes¡ªthat is evidence!" "This man is ruthless! He has probably already destroyed my master¡¯s body to erase the evidence!" Jiang Yuan shouted through tears, his fury growing. Seizing the moment, the white-haired elder stepped forward and pressed the issue further. "Yan Chong, tell me¡ªare you handing him over or not?!" As he spoke, the phantom white crane reappeared above his head, poised to strike at any moment. Seeing this, the Third Elder¡¯s face turned deadly cold, and he made his decision without hesitation. "Enough with the bullshit! If you want to fight, then fight!" "Come at me!" ROAR!!! The Scarlet Tiger pounced, and illusory flames erupted into reality. The tiger¡¯s roar clashed with the crane¡¯s cry, as the white-haired elder¡¯s inner force surged. Then, with a glance, he gave the order¡ª Whoosh!! The four inner force disciples beside him lunged forward, surrounding Chen Feng in an instant. Seeing this, the Third Elder¡¯s expression shifted, intending to intervene. "Yan Chong, your opponent is me!" The white-haired elder sneered as he struck out, forcibly holding the Third Elder back. Meanwhile, three elite disciples of the Pine Crane Sect closed the distance within seconds, surrounding Chen Feng and Cao Tong from all directions. Two were at the second stage of inner force, while the third was at the third stage. As danger loomed, Cao Tong¡¯s face paled. Even so, he gritted his teeth, preparing to fight. But before he could act¡ª "You guys¡­ really have a death wish." ROAR!!! The tiger¡¯s roar erupted as deep red energy flared. Before the shockwave even faded, Chen Feng had already leaped forward! S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was faster than his opponents¡ª With a single palm strike to the chest, he sent the first enemy flying. CRACK! The sound of breaking bones rang out, and the onlookers'' faces changed. In the next instant, Chen Feng grabbed the man¡¯s head, lifted his knee, and¡ª BAM! "Sixth Junior Brother!!" The remaining two disciples¡¯ expressions changed drastically, and they immediately unleashed their inner force. Whoosh! One aimed a palm strike at the back of Chen Feng¡¯s neck. The other formed a claw with his fingers, striking for Chen Feng¡¯s ribs. BANG!! The man whose head Chen Feng had grabbed took a full-force knee strike¡ª Blood sprayed from his nose, his nasal bridge collapsed, and his eyes bulged, filled with ruptured blood vessels. At the same time, the other two landed their attacks on Chen Feng¡¯s body¡ª But¡ª Buzz!! His skin instantly turned bronze. The shockwave of their attacks rebounded violently, making the two disciples freeze in place as their pupils shrank. Then¡ª CRACK, CRACK, CRACK! The sound of shattering bones filled the air. "Pine Crane Sect¡­" "Is this the best you¡¯ve got?" Chen Feng¡¯s voice was icy cold as he glared down at the two men. Then¡ªwithout hesitation¡ª He swung the unconscious disciple in his hands like a weapon, smashing him into his comrades. BAM!! The two took the hit but didn¡¯t dare counterattack, unwilling to harm their fellow disciple. They could only stagger backward, helplessly enduring the blow. "You bastard! If you have the guts, let¡ª" Whoosh!! Before the man could finish, Chen Feng hurled the bloodied, unconscious disciple straight at the third-stage inner force fighter. The man¡¯s expression shifted as he rushed to catch his junior brother, channeling his inner force to absorb the impact. But in the next instant¡ª BOOM! The martial hall floor cracked open as deep red energy exploded¡ª The Tiger¡¯s Leap activated once more! In a flash, Chen Feng crossed over eight meters and appeared in front of another second-stage inner force disciple. "Damn it! I¡¯ll fight you to the death!" The man roared, forming a claw, his inner force surging as he struck forward. CRACK!! Fist and claw collided. But only one hand shattered¡ª The Pine Crane disciple¡¯s fingers and wrist bones snapped instantly, making his eyes go bloodshot as he tried to scream. Before he could react¡ª A strong hand clamped over his mouth and face, forcefully slamming his head downward! BAM!! The floor shattered completely, wooden planks exploding into pieces. Blood seeped through the cracks. Without hesitation, Chen Feng grabbed a discarded weight plate from the ground¡ª And smashed it down on the man¡¯s skull. BAM! BAM! BAM! A series of sickening thuds echoed. In just a few seconds, the battle had turned into a one-sided slaughter. The white-haired elder, Yang Chengyuan, looked both enraged and shocked. He had completely underestimated Chen Feng¡¯s combat ability. He wanted to intervene, but¡ª The Third Elder smirked coldly. "Do you really think I¡¯m fighting you for no reason?" His mocking words struck Yang Chengyuan like a hammer. His eyes widened. "Junior Brother!!" The last standing disciple¡¯s face twisted in despair. He compressed all his inner force into his palm and¡ª WHOOSH!!! A white energy beam shot out, distorting the air. Metal training equipment twisted and bent on impact. Cao Tong and the others were about to cry out in alarm. But¡ª Swish! The energy strike hit Chen Feng head-on¡ª And did nothing. He tossed aside the shattered weight plate, stood up straight, and turned to face his opponent. His eyes were calm. "Did you even put any strength into that?" TL/N: DAMN! This was probably the best chapter so far¡­ (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????Review Objective Achieved Mass Release (2/13) Chapter 130: The Hidden Secrets of the Flame Tiger Sect [2.8k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- As the indifferent voice fell¡ª A pillar of white energy struck the burly figure. It should have been unstoppable, capable of twisting and shattering even steel. Yet at this moment, it felt as soft and powerless as flowing water. Bronze-colored muscles stacked upon one another, each contour seemingly sculpted from stone. Step! Against the powerful energy pillar, Chen Feng strode forward, his cold gaze locked onto the true disciple of the Pine Crane Sect. Step! A second step. The opponent¡¯s pupils shrank, a mix of shock and fury in his eyes. Impossible! Had this guy really trained his body to such an extreme level? Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but the sound of approaching footsteps only grew faster. The next moment¡ª The opponent¡¯s energy ran dry, unable to be sustained any longer. His vision went dark as the bronze-colored figure completely blocked out the light, casting everything into shadow. Boom!! A fist, fierce and heavy like a sandbag, smashed into his temple. His body spun chaotically through the air, colliding with multiple treadmills and exercise machines before finally skidding to a stop on the ground. Silence! Absolute silence! Cao Tong and the others felt their understanding of reality shatter once again, leaving them utterly dumbfounded. The injured students and instructors all felt a deep sense of satisfaction. But¡ª It wasn¡¯t enough! Chen Feng took a step toward the white-haired elder of the Pine Crane Sect, feeling as if this wasn¡¯t nearly enough. But then, as if realizing something¡ª He suddenly stopped, shifting his gaze to another target. "With your master''s pathetic skills? He''s nothing but trash." "Do you think someone like that is even worth dirtying my hands?" Overlooking the trembling Jiang Yuan, Chen Feng asked coldly. This man had spoken lies without hesitation, spouting baseless accusations. He wanted to know¡ªwhy? Gulp! Jiang Yuan swallowed hard, recalling that suffocating fear from that day. His face turned deathly pale, regret and guilt flashing in his eyes. Instinctively stepping back, his body trembled¡ªand he stumbled to the ground. The pathetic sight made the white-haired elder, Yang Chengyuan, curse him as useless under his breath. Then¡ª Boom! Energy erupted! White Crane Spreads Its Wings! Screech!! A sharp cry rang out as Yang Chengyuan¡¯s speed skyrocketed. Breaking free from the Third Elder¡¯s entanglement, he became a flickering afterimage¡ª Charging straight toward Chen Feng! His decision was made¡ªhe would cripple this brat no matter the truth. With this level of talent, at this young age¡ª After today¡¯s conflict, Chen Feng would inevitably become a deadly enemy of the Pine Crane Sect! "DIE!!" Murderous intent filled the air. Yang Chengyuan was already in front of Jiang Yuan, his hand forming a deadly strike like a golden beak, aiming straight for Chen Feng¡¯s waist. Behind him, the Third Elder remained expressionless. Chen Feng, too, simply narrowed his eyes and released his clenched fist. Tap! Suddenly, a gust of wind arose. A white-robed figure extended a hand, catching the golden beak strike effortlessly. "Old Yang, old Yang, your temper is a bit too fiery, isn¡¯t it?" "This is my disciple. What are you trying to pull here?" Dressed in white robes with crimson patterns, a man with a gentle smile had appeared¡ªLi Tong. His voice was calm and relaxed. Yang Chengyuan¡¯s expression changed. There was no time to question how Li Tong had arrived so precisely. Nor did he bother with the seemingly polite tone. Swoosh! Bursting with energy, he forcibly pulled himself free, seizing Jiang Yuan under his arm and retreating several meters. Boom!! The wooden floor shattered, debris flying everywhere. A massive crimson tiger¡¯s shadow loomed over where he had stood moments before, its eyes locked onto its prey, ready to devour. Li Tong¡¯s smile remained, but his eyes gleamed with the same icy light as the tiger¡¯s vertical pupils¡ªcold and dangerous. "Old Yang, why so quiet?" "It¡¯s been a long time since we last met. Why don¡¯t we catch up?" Li Tong took a step forward. Meanwhile, the Third Elder and his men subdued the three unconscious Pine Crane Sect disciples. Yang Chengyuan watched, his face darkened. He knew he had lost. "Li Tong, your disciple killed a Pine Crane Sect elder. Are you really set on making war against us?" He made one last attempt, speaking in a cold voice, clinging to a sliver of hope. Li Tong merely glanced at the unconscious Jiang Yuan in his grasp and smiled. "Without evidence, you can spin the truth however you like." "But honestly, your thinking is too small. Why not go all the way and say my disciple killed your sect leader instead?" "Didn¡¯t he just happen to retreat into seclusion due to his injuries? How about this¡ªI¡¯ll spread the word for you. We¡¯ll say my eldest disciple was the one who did it. How about that?" Though his tone sounded as if he was negotiating, Yang Chengyuan¡¯s face turned even darker. A mere junior injuring their sect leader? If that rumor spread, even if the martial world knew it was false, the Pine Crane Sect would still become a laughingstock. However, this remark made him realize something. He glanced at the trembling, terrified Jiang Yuan. It was clear¡ªsome things needed to be properly investigated once they returned to their sect. "I¡¯ll admit defeat today." "Take good care of my three true disciples!" As soon as he finished speaking, he smashed through the window and fled the martial hall. The three unconscious true disciples of the Pine Crane Sect were left behind. Chen Feng watched the direction of Yang Chengyuan¡¯s escape, his eyes flashing with cold intent that did not fade for a long time. "You can¡¯t stop him." Seeing through his thoughts, Li Tong patted his shoulder and sighed. "The Pine Crane Sect is exceptional in movement techniques. If he¡¯s determined to leave, it¡¯s nearly impossible to keep him here." "But don¡¯t worry¡ªI¡¯ll make sure you get the answer you deserve." His voice was calm and reassuring. Li Tong pointed at the three unconscious Pine Crane Sect disciples but never once mentioned Qian Changsong¡¯s death or asked about it. This unconditional trust made Chen Feng pause in silence for a moment before finally giving a slight nod. "Enough of this topic. Come, I have something to tell you." With his hands behind his back, Li Tong calmly walked up to the second floor, gesturing for him to follow. Chen Feng turned and stepped forward, eventually entering the quiet room together. Clack! The door closed. Whoosh!! The next second, Li Tong¡¯s calm expression completely changed. He suddenly leaped forward, grabbing Chen Feng¡¯s shoulders tightly. "Steel Fire?!" "When did you break through to Steel Fire?!" His eyes were filled with uncontrollable excitement, his usual composed demeanor completely gone. He had never expected his eldest disciple¡¯s progress to be this rapid. "Two days ago." Chen Feng answered honestly, adding another remark: "I think I¡¯ve touched the threshold of the third stage." "But I lack the true technique¡¯s key formula." !!! Li Tong¡¯s eyes gleamed sharply, then suddenly erupted into laughter. "Good!" "Good! Good! Good!!" His joyous laughter startled the students outside. Cao Tong was momentarily stunned, quickly turning to look at the Third Elder. Only to see the elder smiling slightly, humming a little tune as he carried the three unconscious Pine Crane disciples to the medicine room. "As expected of my disciple¡ªtruly the makings of a grandmaster!" Inside the quiet room, Li Tong remained ecstatic for quite some time before finally getting back to business. He nodded repeatedly. "I¡¯ll pass on the key formulas of Burning Mountain and Crimson Tiger to you later." "But before that, take this." He reached into the inner pocket of his white robe and pulled something out, handing it to Chen Feng. Looking down, it was wrapped in white cloth. Unwrapping it revealed a gray-blue martial arts manual. [Ten Thousand Tempered Steel] "This is a true martial art from the Myriad Tempering Sect. Their sect leader owed me a favor from years ago." "I went to Luohe these past two days to have a little chat with him, and in the end, I managed to get a copied version of this true technique. Read it carefully, then burn it afterward." Li Tong spoke with a lighthearted tone, his expression full of satisfaction and expectation. Only now did Chen Feng realize why his master had been absent from Nanjiang these past two days. And he knew¡ªthis wasn¡¯t as simple as it sounded. This was a true martial art technique. Even if the sect leader owed Li Tong a favor, there was no way he would have simply handed it over without a price. "Thank you, Master." His gratitude was sincere. Chen Feng committed this favor to memory once again. "Bah, what¡¯s there to thank me for?" "It¡¯s only natural for a master to teach his disciple!" "It is only natural for a master to teach his disciple." Li Tong spoke with a cheerful smile, his face showing complete willingness. The old master and his young disciple sat in the quiet room, flipping through the copied martial arts manual. The contents unfolded before their eyes: [Ten Thousand Tempered Steel: Three Stages of Mastery] [Hundred Temperings, Thousand Temperings, Ten Thousand Temperings!] [By tempering the body with internal force, one can continuously refine and harden their physique, making it stronger and more resilient. At the same time, it enhances and purifies the internal force itself¡ªenduring countless trials to forge a truly indestructible strength.] After reading through it once, Chen Feng quickly grasped the unique aspects of this martial art. It could be cultivated alongside other true martial arts, pushing internal force beyond its original limits while refining and compressing it for greater potency. Additionally, like external hardening techniques, it reinforced the body, allowing it to break past its previous physical limitations. Simply put, the value of this martial art was extraordinary¡ªperhaps even superior to Bronze Statue Technique by several degrees. "Good thing the Myriad Tempering Sect has declined in recent years, nowhere near what it once was." "Otherwise, that old bastard wouldn¡¯t have handed this over so easily." Li Tong sighed, offering a brief explanation. From this, Chen Feng learned that the Myriad Tempering Sect now had only one True Intent-level master, barely managing to dominate Luohe City. The only reason they agreed to let Chen Feng cultivate this technique was because Li Tong made a promise¡ª If the Myriad Tempering Sect ever faced a crisis, he would personally step in to help. And if he was no longer around, that responsibility would fall on Chen Feng. To this, Chen Feng had no objections. It was merely a debt to be repaid in the future. Once he became strong enough, he would have plenty of ways to return the favor. However, something else caught his attention. "With such a powerful martial art, how did the Myriad Tempering Sect decline?" Curious, he asked. Li Tong shot him an exasperated look. "You think everyone¡¯s like you, learning things at a glance?" "The more profound the martial art, the harder it is to cultivate. The last few generations of the Myriad Tempering Sect have been utterly useless¡ªnone of them have mastered it." His tone carried a trace of regret. Chen Feng fell into deep thought. Seeing his expression, Li Tong hesitated for a moment. In the end, he sighed and decided to reveal something. "Actually, it¡¯s not just the Myriad Tempering Sect¡ªmy Flame Tiger Sect has also declined significantly compared to the past." His gaze turned distant as he walked toward the window, looking out at the clear sky as if he were seeing something far beyond. Chen Feng was slightly taken aback but quickly focused and moved to the side, listening attentively. "Over thirty years ago, our sect¡¯s stronghold wasn¡¯t in Nanjiang¡ªit was in Yun Port." "Back then, in the entire southern martial world, Flame Tiger Sect was one of the top sects, with a Grandmaster overseeing it." Li Tong paused briefly before continuing. "But unfortunately, good times never last." "Our longstanding rival, Flying Dragon Sect, was always at odds with us." "Then, an unfortunate event occurred¡ªour Grandmaster¡¯s lifespan came to an end, and he passed away in meditation. Some of our core teachings were lost, and none of the next generation were able to break through the barriers to reach that level." "Over time, we were eventually forced out of Yun Port by the Flying Dragon Sect and had no choice but to migrate north to Nanjiang." Shame, regret, resentment¡ª For the first time, Chen Feng saw such a mix of emotions in his master. And now, he finally understood why Pine Crane Sect had come looking for trouble a few days ago. Nine times out of ten, it was because of Flying Dragon Sect. Suppressing stray thoughts, he looked at Li Tong, who confirmed his guess with a slight nod. "The people from Giant Elephant Sect were right¡ªthe Great Elder of Pine Crane Sect has indeed benefited greatly from the Flying Dragon Sect in the past." "Moreover, the Flying Dragon Sect has kept a low profile in recent years, not participating in any martial arts tournaments. But this year, they¡¯re suddenly intervening in the tournament¡¯s affairs¡ªperhaps they have ambitions." Chen Feng nodded, piecing together the chain of events. Everything traced back to thirty years ago. The clash of the dragon and tiger¡ªthis was the essence of it all. After exchanging a few more words, Li Tong¡¯s gaze turned distant before finally resting on Chen Feng. "Thirty years ago, I was just an official disciple, unable to interfere." "Many of my seniors suffered injuries, passing away with regret. Before they died, they entrusted us with one mission¡ªto restore the sect and reclaim Yun Port." "But unfortunately, in these past thirty years, your Third Martial Uncle and I have only barely managed to preserve what remains of our foundation¡­" His tone carried a deep sigh. Chen Feng remained silent. "But fortunately¡­" Suddenly, Li Tong smiled, his eyes full of satisfaction and anticipation. "At last, I see hope again." That day, aside from the Ten Thousand Tempered Steel manual, Li Tong also passed down the final two layers of Crimson Tiger Force. After a series of instructions, he had Li Shi arrange two cars to take him back to the sect. At the same time, he took the three captured Pine Crane Sect true disciples, intending to use them as bargaining chips for negotiations. "What if Pine Crane Sect seeks revenge?" Standing downstairs, Chen Feng asked. He was concerned that their other disciples, such as Wu Shuang, might be targeted by True Intent-level experts from Pine Crane Sect. "Unless Pine Crane Sect wants to completely disgrace themselves and become a joke in the martial world..." Li Tong chuckled and gave a brief explanation, indicating there was no need to worry. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was the rule of the martial world¡ªif you stirred up trouble and lost, you had to negotiate and make a trade. Otherwise, every sect¡¯s headquarters was out in the open. If True Intent-level masters disregarded the rules and started killing freely, no one would ever have peace again. Understanding the logic, Chen Feng didn¡¯t ask further. Two black cars pulled up. Cao Tong, assigned to escort the captives back, had already taken a seat in the rear vehicle. Li Tong was about to leave when he suddenly paused, patted Chen Feng¡¯s shoulder, and said¡ª "The martial arts tournament is in seven days. I¡¯ll come pick you up then." "For now, no matter what happens, don¡¯t worry about anything. Just focus on yourself." Their eyes met. Recalling their conversation upstairs, Chen Feng was silent for a moment before giving a firm nod. "Alright, I¡¯m off then." Li Tong smiled, turned, and got into the car, heading back to the sect. Watching his master¡¯s figure disappear, Chen Feng wasted no time. Returning to the second floor, he checked his messages from Lin Hao. [Lin Hao: They¡¯ve left. Just boarded the high-speed train.] [Image] Opening it, he saw the backs of Yang Chengyuan and Jiang Yuan. A pity. Chen Feng had originally planned to track them under a different identity, find out the truth, and make that old bastard kneel and apologize. But clearly, the man was prepared¡ªhe left the martial hall and immediately took the high-speed train. Shaking his head, Chen Feng decided he would wait for the next opportunity. Suppressing distractions, he assumed a stance, recalling the Burning Mountain Formula and visualizing the Crimson Tiger. The bottleneck was just within reach. He focused, sensing the subtle changes in his internal force. One second¡­ Two seconds¡­ Three seconds¡­ Minutes passed. Buzz! As if breaking through an invisible wall, his internal force surged. His mind seemed to merge with it completely. [Crimson Tiger Force: Burning Mountain (1%) +] Crackling! His body trembled with newfound vigor. In an instant, the system panel updated¡ª [Strength: 20.7 ¡ú 21.9] [Agility: 19.0 ¡ú 20.0] [Endurance: 26.2 ¡ú 28.0] [Willpower: 21.5 ¡ú 23.5] (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????Review Objective Achieved Mass Release (3/13) Chapter 131: Burning Mountains and Hundred Refinements [2.6k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- ¡°Tsk, tsk, this old guy is pretty quick, huh?¡± Near the high-speed railway station, a high-speed train slowly pulled away. The man in the black robe, standing in the shadows, shook his head in regret. He had planned to intercept again, but unfortunately, the target was too fast and blended into the crowd. Caw! A crow pecked its feathers on the electric pole, then flew down to land on his shoulder. The four men in black behind him wore masks, and one of them handed him a phone. ¡°It¡¯s the Red Steward.¡± Indifferently, he took the phone, and a voice came through the receiver. ¡°How¡¯s the progress on the Pine Crane Sect?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not quite there yet, but it should be enough,¡± the man in the black robe said calmly, and the woman¡¯s voice on the other end of the line gave a soft nod. ¡°What about that kid? Don¡¯t let him expose our tracks.¡± ¡°I left him a way out, he won¡¯t survive the night.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± the woman on the phone said with satisfaction, then immediately gave more instructions: ¡°Switch to another sect and continue.¡± ¡°The Martial Arts Tournament is in seven days. Let¡¯s make this fire burn brighter.¡± --- ¡°Six-point attribute increase.¡± In the training hall¡¯s quiet room, Chen Feng stood still. His gaze lingered on the four attributes. His strength had increased moderately, probably by two or three hundred kilograms, not very noticeable. In comparison, his willpower had grown the most. A full two points, his mental strength had expanded significantly. Conservatively estimating, his limit for summoning the Shield Golem was now approaching two minutes. Apart from that, his power in Qi had also grown. He slightly raised his hand, deep red Qi swirling around his palm, resembling flames. The third level of Qi, unlike the first two levels, had a major difference here. Internal and external Qi fusion. His mind and Qi now merged, allowing for faster burst speeds, and the power was twice as strong as before. For example, normally, his punch would only exceed two tons. But if he used a Qi technique, it could unleash nearly five tons of destructive power. Effect-wise, it was on par with a master-level explosive punch. And the most important part. ¡°Flame Pillar.¡± This was the Qi technique available only after the Crimson Tiger Force broke through the Burning Mountains. Under the control of his mind, he compressed his Qi, gathered both palms, and struck out with a Qi pillar. It was similar to the technique used by the Pine Crane Sect when entering the third level of Qi. Chen Feng was eager to try it, as it was his first long-range attack method. He left the quiet room and went to an open area behind the training hall. There were no people around, about forty or fifty meters away from the cafeteria. In the middle was a green area, with several strong-growing trees, and a paved stone path extended out. After a quick look around, Chen Feng found a suitable spot. Taking a deep breath, he focused his mind and compressed his Qi. Humm! The deep red Qi appeared between his palms. He slightly lowered his waist, with his palms one above the other, facing each other. The Qi flame deepened, and with his focused intent, it gradually formed a crimson Qi sphere. It was hot and pulsating. It felt as though actual flames were condensed there, and the temperature around him increased slightly. After sensing it for a moment, Chen Feng extended his arms and focused on a thick tree in the distance. ¡°Go!!¡± Whoosh!!! A crimson Qi pillar, the size of a human head, shot out, causing the surrounding air to distort. Boom!! A tree that would take three people to hug was instantly blasted apart, snapping with a loud crack. The broken bark was blackened, like the marks left by a shell. Retrieving his senses, Chen Feng roughly understood the technique¡¯s effect and limit. It was comparable to some miniature missiles, with a range limit of about eight meters. But it wasn¡¯t without flaws¡ªit required a certain amount of charging time and consumed a lot of Qi. For example, the blast just now cost him at least a third of his Qi. ¡°No matter what, this gives me another tool.¡± Feeling somewhat satisfied, Chen Feng noticed that some trainees inside the training hall had heard the noise and were looking over. He immediately returned to the quiet room. Alone, thinking about the upcoming Martial Arts Tournament, Chen Feng didn¡¯t want to waste any more time. He decided to focus on training at the hall. For that, he sent a message to Lin Hao to inquire about the club¡¯s opening. He confirmed that the opening would be delayed by about a week. After discussing leave arrangements, he casually asked if he could still get silver steel. Buzz! Buzz! [Lin Hao: It''s difficult, the entire city is under martial law right now.] [The checkpoints in the urban area are manned by the military, it¡¯s probably going to take some time.] After reading the message, Chen Feng wasn¡¯t too disappointed. The Utopia incident had caused quite a stir. Even though the military had repelled them for now, the situation hadn¡¯t completely settled. However¡­ ¡°Steel Bones is close to break through again, but in the short term, it seems like I¡¯ll only be able to rely on the Dream Realm.¡± Putting the phone down, Chen Feng looked at the talents he had mastered. [Perception LV3: 51/100] [Steel Bone LV2: 82/100] [Azure Armor LV3: 32/100] [Heart of Glory LV1: 70/100] Azure Armor and Heart of Glory had seen some improvement today, primarily thanks to the three true disciples from Pine Crane Sect. Perception had started to hit a bottleneck, and Azure Armor was still far from a breakthrough. If he wanted a breakthrough in the short term, Steel Bone and Heart of Glory had the highest potential. With that thought, Chen Feng had a plan in mind. For three consecutive days, the situation in Nanjiang gradually improved. During this time, Chen Feng entered the Dream Realm and went on a sweep, accumulating seven Limit Breaks. At the same time, he had successfully verified one of his guesses. ¡°These guys really are lucky, getting direct guidance from the Senior Brother himself.¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk, Pei Yue is useless, just one move and he¡¯s down.¡± ¡°Senior Brother already suppressed his power, didn¡¯t even use Qi.¡± Inside the training room of the martial arts hall, several core trainees retreated in shame, including Pei Yue and Wu Tian. Another long line of trainees stood behind, many of the coaches watching enviously. Looking over, the tall, burly young man in black stood in the center of the arena, suppressing over ninety percent of his power. One by one, core trainees stepped up to spar with him, receiving pointers from the Senior Brother. However, even though Chen Feng was doing his best to suppress his power, these trainees, who were only at the Bone Training stage, stood no chance against him. Defeated in a single move, it was rare for anyone to last more than two moves. Boom! Another person was hit on the left shoulder and fell to the ground with a loud thud. He got up awkwardly, looking somewhat ashamed. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother, for your guidance.¡± He cupped his fists in respect before stepping off the field. Seeing this, Chen Feng frowned slightly, but it wasn¡¯t directed at the person. ¡°Turns out it doesn¡¯t work.¡± The panel in front of him was completely still, not providing a single point of Glory. He had hoped to take advantage of the situation, using these battles as easy victories. But now, it was clear that idea had failed. The thought flashed through his mind, and he silently regretted it. In the end, Chen Feng decided to finish giving pointers to the trainees at the martial arts hall before returning to the quiet room. ¡°Taking shortcuts doesn¡¯t work.¡± ¡°Well then, let¡¯s go with brute force.¡± Standing alone in the quiet room, Chen Feng immediately summoned his panel and looked at the skill section. [Ten Thousand Temperings: Beginner (1/100) +] This true technique also required visualization for cultivation, but the visualization image was quite simple. A mass of mist-like gas, continuously compressed and transforming into different shapes. After three consecutive days of receiving seven Limit Breaks, Chen Feng was fortunate enough to directly add them all to this skill. Buzz! In an instant, his progress skyrocketed. A sense of enlightenment washed over him, as though he had spent dozens of days training in the scorching sun, refining his body. Qi circulated through his body, tempering his physique. His body grew stronger, feeding back into his Qi, becoming even more refined. In an instant, the panel notification appeared. [Ten Thousand Temperings: Hundred Refinements (1%)] As the breakthrough occurred, Chen Feng narrowed his eyes. Slightly sensing it, he found that the Qi in his body had increased by a full third. As for his physique and mental state: [Strength: 21.9 ¡ú 22.7] [Agility: 20.0 ¡ú 20.8] [Constitution: 28.0 ¡ú 28.8] [Willpower: 23.5 ¡ú 24.1] ¡°An increase of 3 attribute points.¡± Looking purely at the attribute effects, it was similar to when the Bronze Statue Technique broke through to Copper Skin. However, unlike the Bronze Statue Technique, which focused on constitution, the Giant Tiger technique paid more attention to strength. At this point, Ten Thousand Temperings appeared to be quite balanced. The growth in strength, agility, and constitution was identical. ¡°Balance means mediocrity.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Crunch! Clenching his fist tightly, Chen Feng felt that this principle didn¡¯t quite apply to him. As long as the base value is large enough, every time he gains an average improvement, it¡¯s a transformative enhancement. After adapting, he suddenly had an intuitive thought. If he faced the Pine Crane Sect¡¯s True Intent Realm elder who had caused trouble a few days ago, he might not even need to activate the Azure Armor to fight him. ¡°Not enough!¡± He shook his head; simply being able to resist was not the result he was aiming for. What he wanted was only one word. Victory! Absolute suppression, certain victory! S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He immediately gave an order. Another Muscle Fortifying Tiger Bone Pill was swallowed by him. Soon, ten core trainees, holding steel rods, appeared again. --- Thud! Black boots crushed the bloodstained ground as they stepped out of a deep, muddy pit. Around them, trees had been overturned and shattered, various metal wreckage scattered on the ground, mixed with rolling dirt. Thud! As they took another step, their blue jeans were soaked in blood. The golden body, though somewhat dull, had some dents and damage marks, and even one of the metal arms had disappeared. However, the rugged man with loose long hair still wore a calm and confident expression. ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving yet?¡± A voice came from the communication module, faintly accompanied by gunfire in the background. To this, Jin Wei¡¯s tone was indifferent as he asked a single question. ¡°Silver Wolf, who killed him?¡± The atmosphere fell silent. The gunfire in the background continued, but the leader on the other end remained eerily quiet for a moment. Jin Wei stood still, already sensing the movements of other mobile teams and drones around him. He didn¡¯t move; he was waiting for an answer. ¡°It¡¯s possible it was the people from Tian Hao Security.¡± The leader finally spoke, but Jin Wei¡¯s expression remained cold. ¡°I¡¯ve looked into that company. It¡¯s not simple.¡± ¡°Your modification module is too damaged, you should put off seeking revenge for now.¡± ¡°This operation was very successful. The organization has prepared a reset for you.¡± Bang bang bang bang! The gunfire intensified on the other end of the line, and the communication module was abruptly cut off. The sound of whooshing approached quickly, and Jin Wei looked up. A new swarm of drones appeared, and mechanical spiders began scanning the area. At the same time, several powerful mechanical warriors arrived, riding single-person flying devices, floating in the air and gazing down at him as though they were watching a dead man. Seeing this, Jin Wei remained silent. Around him, intense gunfire erupted, and he could even see several missiles closing in, surrounding him. Without dodging, he turned back and glanced in the direction of Nanjiang city. It was as if everything had been engraved into his bones. Then, a flash of golden light erupted as he unleashed his power. Boom!!! The blast wave from the explosion swept through the area, and everything vanished, leaving only swirling smoke and broken pieces of machinery. The military mechanical warriors in midair remained silent for a moment before finally shaking their heads and receiving the communication. ¡°For now, it¡¯s over.¡± That night, streetlights illuminated the city. Suddenly, many people¡¯s phones buzzed with notifications, including Chen Feng¡¯s, who was just about to sleep. He curiously opened the message, and his gaze quickly focused. [United Coalition: Utopia fugitive, Jin Wei, has been killed in the suburban area.] [Citizens can rest assured, Utopia¡¯s power has been completely eradicated from Nanjiang. Everyone can resume their normal activities and work! All those who suffered casualties can come to the Council building tomorrow to register and receive compensation.] The sudden official notification caught Chen Feng off guard. So that Gold-grade cyborg was dealt with by the military? Though he thought it was the most probable outcome, given the military''s overwhelming power on Earth. But still, when thinking about the strength of a Gold-grade cyborg, it felt a little surreal. Buzz! His phone vibrated, and Lin Hao had sent him a message. [Lin Hao: Did you see the announcement?] ¡°Mm.¡± Chen Feng responded briefly. [Lin Hao: It seems to be true, finally some temporary peace.] Frowning slightly, Chen Feng sensed something important. Temporary? Suddenly, he remembered something Lin Hao had mentioned before. The Central City already had cloning and consciousness uploading technology. Could it be¡­? Buzz! The phone vibrated again, and Lin Hao sent another message. [Lin Hao: I found something today.] [Silver Wolf is Jin Wei¡¯s younger brother.] [My bad, I was careless. It¡¯s better if you ask your friend to hide for now.] Messages kept coming in, and Chen Feng fell silent. A new sense of urgency rose in his heart, driven by the pressure of facing a Gold-grade cyborg. After all, the one who had killed Silver Wolf was none other than Chen Feng himself. Thinking of this, he asked Lin Hao about his earlier guess. Soon, a piece of news came in that helped him breathe easier. [Lin Hao: Cloning and consciousness uploading isn¡¯t difficult, but the Gold-grade resources are quite a burden for Utopia.] [Every reset requires corresponding modification modules and advanced metals, which take time to prepare. Also, Utopia¡¯s internal factions aren¡¯t united.] [If someone competes, they might steal his reset resources, leaving his consciousness source body stuck in the deep sea forever.] As the messages continued, Chen Feng relaxed a little. However¡­ ¡°Deep sea?¡± [Lin Hao: You can think of it as a virtual network that stores backup consciousness, allowing the source body to survive.] Chen Feng paused, thinking for a moment but didn¡¯t ask further. The two ended their conversation, and Chen Feng glanced at the pitch-black night outside. Reset, revival. Cloning, backup. He wouldn¡¯t gamble on whether Jin Wei would be stuck in the deep sea forever, unable to resurface. He only trusted himself. He lowered his head slightly and raised both arms. He only trusted that these arms, capable of defending everything¡ªincluding life and dignity¡ªwere his true strength. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????Review Objective Achieved Mass Release (4/13) Chapter 132: Depart [2.7k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- Boom!! Under the mist, inside the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, several faceless figures were knocked out, smashing through glass and walls. A masked man was grabbed by the neck and lifted into the air by a single arm. Crack! The sound of bones breaking echoed, and the masked man died. The riotous black soldier ants controlled the faceless figures to attack, but in response, Chen Feng lowered his eyelids, his palms coming together at his waist. A deep red light rapidly grew, resembling flickering flames. Whoosh!!! Flame Pillar! In an instant, amidst the sounds of Boom Boom Boom, the bodies of all the faceless figures exploded, and the black soldier ants that were shot out evaporated into dust. Step! Withdrawing his hand, Chen Feng took a step forward. He exhaled a deep breath, very satisfied with the cleanup effect of this move. In an instant, grayish light masses gathered around, and his perception skill level increased. [Perception LV3: 61/100] "Not bad." He retracted his gaze and looked at the two faint blue light masses floating before him. Raising his hand, the remaining memories quickly surged in. The sky was dark, and a mist covered the entire Qinggang City. Countless pairs of eyes, either ghostly green or blood-red, appeared, and a heavy atmosphere quietly spread. "Look at that!" Someone shouted in surprise, and everyone in the scene looked. It was a gigantic vertical pupil, golden all over, radiating an aura of authority. Upon closer inspection, the surrounding mist stirred, revealing a long body. It was a gigantic black dragon, entirely black. Boom!! A massive breath descended from the sky, the scene shattered, and everything was pulled back. Chen Feng''s gaze flickered, and he was momentarily dazed. He knew this was probably the legendary black dragon, a disaster-level creature often mentioned in the diaries and other memory fragments. Rubbing his head and taking a moment to recover, He extended his palm again. After several seconds, He sighed in regret, still unable to find the visualization diagram for the Extreme Martial Arts'' true intent formula. He then went through the entire Martial Arts Hall, collecting eight Limit Breaking Light Orbs. Additionally, he took the incomplete iron book that recorded the second-level martial arts techniques of the Extreme Fist. [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] After more than ten seconds, with a crack, the iron book shattered into pieces. [Steel Bone LV2: 87/100] "Almost there." A bronze hue grew in his palms, and Chen Feng felt the hardness of his steel bones increase once again. It had surpassed the range of regular Silver-grade, and if he could break through, "It will definitely rival Gold-grade!" Suppressing his thoughts, he immediately left the Martial Arts Hall and headed for the next location. The dim sky felt oppressive, but his strong will kept him unusually calm. Whoosh! Suddenly, a violent wind blew, shaking the surrounding building windows. His senses tingled, and Chen Feng''s pupils contracted as he quickly dodged into a nearby building. Whoosh!! The fierce wind continued, and standing at the corner of the building, Chen Feng looked up. A creature with a wingspan of nearly ten meters flew overhead. It looked like a giant eagle, its feathers as black as iron, with a sharp golden beak. Its claws were like iron hooks, tucked behind its body. Every time it spread its wings, it caused a gust of wind, shaking the buildings slightly, as if caught in a hurricane. "What kind of creature is this?" With a serious expression, Chen Feng could feel the creature¡¯s immense power, even stronger than the Shield Golem and the Giant Rage Bear, slightly stronger. It was definitely at the Gold-grade level, or at least at the fourth-tier level described in the bronze scroll. Shaking his head, unsure, he watched as the giant eagle creature continued to soar, gradually disappearing into the dark mist to the north. Whoosh! A white paper was blown toward him. Chen Feng instinctively sensed it and saw the contents. "Hmm?" His gaze sharpened, and he moved forward to grab it. Looking down, several lines of text appeared. "Damn it, this Abyss Secret Realm is ridiculous." "Accidentally entered a Serpent Spirit Secret Realm, almost lost my life." The exaggerated tone, and the handwriting seemed familiar. Chen Feng couldn''t help but think of a young man named Wang Yu. "Been chased for days. Turns out it''s because I''m an outsider, the secret realm rejects me. No wonder those people could always find me." "Luckily, my luck is good, I survived and got two Serpent Crystal Fruits. Great stuff, can break through again." "But the natives in this Serpent Spirit Secret Realm are really stupid. They''re all humans, and yet they worship the Serpent Spirits, a bunch of pitiful creatures." The text abruptly stopped, and Chen Feng furrowed his brows. A Serpent Spirit Secret Realm? This person has been there? Did this person really enter? The thought flashed, and his previous suspicions became more intense, as if validated. The Evil God Cult, and the so-called secret realms, truly seemed to be connected in some way to this dream world. Immediately, he glanced at the diary again. Rejection, pursuit, Serpent Spirit Fruit¡ªthese key phrases were sharply captured by him. He now had a rough understanding of some key points about entering the secret realm. Without hesitation, he decided to keep this page of the diary and put it in his bag. The night was eerily quiet. After a brief moment of silence, Chen Feng continued his walk. Regardless of whether it was coincidence or not, the information inside this diary was indeed useful to him. With his thoughts settled, new ideas emerged. --- "The Evil God Cult?" In the quiet room during the day. Upon hearing Chen Feng''s request, Cao Tong looked somewhat surprised. "Hmm, I want to learn about this," Chen Feng replied. "Especially anything related to the Serpent Spirit Sect. The more detailed, the better." Chen Feng found an excuse, and Cao Tong, deep in thought, did not question it further. He nodded and agreed to prepare and gather the relevant information. "By the way, what happened with those three true disciples of the Pine Crane Sect?" Chen Feng took a sip of tea and asked. These were hostages they had left behind. Pine Crane Sect shouldn''t have been silent about them. "According to Senior Sister Wu and the others, two true intention-level disciples from Pine Crane Sect came early this morning, personally visiting the Sect Master," Cao Tong said, having already planned to tell Chen Feng about it. "There was an argument, followed by a fight. They claimed they wanted to spar with the Sect Master, but Little Master Uncle heard about it and returned to the sect last night." "It seems like they reached some sort of agreement. In any case, the three true disciples of Pine Crane Sect were taken away." "Also, something else happened." Cao Tong deliberately paused, and Chen Feng became interested. "What happened?" "The kid who was identified the other day, Jiang Yuan, suddenly died the night before at the Pine Crane Sect''s gates," Cao Tong said. Chen Feng furrowed his brows at this unexpected news. "It was suspicious, so there was some disagreement within Pine Crane Sect. Some say it was our doing, others think a third party might be involved." "Anyway, this whole thing is strange." Cao Tong scratched his head, unsure of the cause. Chen Feng pondered, feeling that there might be a conspiracy targeting the Flame Tiger Sect. Several guesses came to his mind, but before he could think further, there was a knock at the door, interrupting his thoughts. "Senior Brother, someone is looking for you." Chen Feng raised an eyebrow and immediately expanded his senses. The visitor was quickly identified. "Wang Hanwen?" A bit surprised, he followed his senses and saw a young girl with thick glasses sitting in the waiting area on the first floor of the Martial Arts Hall. She wore a gray wool coat, denim jeans, and flat shoes. Beside her were several bags of nutritional supplements, including a large box of SuperMan-brand energy bars. He guessed her intentions and checked his phone. Sure enough, he had set his message notifications on silent for Wang Hanwen on the previous conversation, so he hadn''t noticed her messages. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were several inquiries, all expressing gratitude and asking where he was or if they could grab a meal together. After a moment''s thought, he opened the chat box and asked Lin Hao. [Lin Hao: Hehe, how did you know it was me who said that?] [No choice, she came looking for the club directly. She¡¯s been asking for days. Seems sincere.] Chen Feng shook his head and gained some understanding of Wang Hanwen''s personality. She was a bit stubborn¡ªif he hadn¡¯t agreed to meet her, she probably would have kept showing up. "Let her in." He turned off his phone and told the disciple who had come to ask. "Yes, Senior Brother." The disciple quickly went downstairs. After a short while, with the sound of footsteps, Wang Hanwen appeared, struggling to carry boxes of gifts. She still looked mostly nervous and uneasy, with a slight blush on her face. "Chen... Chen Feng." She heard the title of "Senior Brother" and didn¡¯t know what else to say. "Take a seat." Chen Feng instructed someone to serve tea, and then he stood up to take the gifts from her. "Thank you." "No, no, I should be the one thanking you. You¡¯ve saved me twice already." Wang Hanwen, still feeling uneasy, took the tea while constantly expressing her gratitude. Chen Feng nodded lightly, handling the situation briefly. Cao Tong, leaving the room, struggled to hold back laughter, thinking this side of Chen Feng was rather rare. "You¡¯re really amazing. I heard from the others that you¡¯re a Senior Brother now." "Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t gossip in the student group. After all, you¡¯re so low-key." Wang Hanwen chatted on, but as the conversation went on, her voice grew softer, and she could tell that Chen Feng wasn¡¯t too interested in continuing the chat. "Well, I¡¯ll be going now. Thank you, Chen Feng." "Hmm." Chen Feng stood up and saw her to the door. "Good luck. You¡¯ll definitely become even stronger." The girl in the gray coat suddenly turned back, and then, her face flushed red as she quickly left. There was a moment of silence. Chen Feng took one last look at the blue sky. A flock of birds flew south. But one black bird detached from the group, rising higher and higher, crossing the sky. --- Bang!! Two days later. Inside the training room of the Martial Arts Hall, the sound of sticks striking flesh echoed in dull thuds. The relentless blows continued for more than an hour. Eventually, over a dozen core disciples, their limbs sore and numb, and in unbearable pain, began to leave one by one. Chen Feng said a word of encouragement and finished the training. [Bronze Statue Technique: Bronze Bones (89%) +] He glanced at the skill bar in his panel. His muscular, half-naked body barely moved, but it was coated in a Bronze sheen, as hard as bronze or iron. Looking down, Chen Feng inspected his progress on other techniques. [Crimson Tiger Force: Burning Mountain (41%) +] [Ten Thousand Temperings: Hundred Tempered (46%) +] The four Extreme Martial Arts breakdowns had only increased the Burning Mountain progress by 40%. As for the Ten Thousand Temperings, its speed had slowed as well. [Extreme Martial Arts: 2] [Limit Breaking Points: 4] Two days of dream realm sweeps had yielded average results. After using up the Ten Thousand Temperings boost, only four Limit Breaking light orbs remained. ¡°Breaking through true intent is my current top priority. These two Extreme Martial Arts should be kept for the Crimson Tiger Force,¡± he thought. ¡°As for the Limit Breaking Points¡­¡± After a moment¡¯s consideration, Chen Feng refocused his attention on the Bronze Statue Technique. He had originally planned to rely on hitting training combined with special medicines to break through. But unfortunately, perhaps due to resistance, the progress on the Bronze Statue Technique had gradually slowed down. Also, with the Martial Arts Tournament approaching, he had to leave soon to handle related matters. So... ¡°There¡¯s no reason to hesitate.¡± Enhance! Buzz! The last four Limit Breaking orbs disappeared, and countless insights flooded in. The pain from the repeated steel rod strikes, the sweat pouring down in the cold autumn wind. All the strength surged inward, bones and muscles subtly transforming. Until, finally... [Bronze Statue Technique: Bronze Statue!] Crack, crack, crack! In the instant of the breakthrough, the bones inside Chen Feng¡¯s body made an odd noise. His body didn¡¯t change in size, but it felt as though some force was compressing his bones, making them denser and more solid. In that moment, his four-dimensional attributes automatically appeared, and all the numbers began to rise. [Strength: 22.7 ¡ú 24.5] [Agility: 20.8 ¡ú 22.0] [Constitution: 28.8 ¡ú 31.3] [Will: 24.1 ¡ú 25.6] ¡°7 points of attribute increase.¡± Chen Feng clenched his fist tightly, feeling a satisfying crack in his bones. He could clearly feel that his constitution had grown significantly stronger. Even in a normal state, his strength now rivaled Silver-grade, no less than a genetically modified human. Thanks to this, along with the Steel Bone talent. Even though the Bronze Statue Technique wasn¡¯t particularly focused on strength, it still added an additional 500 kilograms of raw power to him. A punch could now deliver 2.5 tons of force. If he activated the Giant Tiger form or used his Explosive Fist¡­ It would reach nearly 10 tons!! This was already close to the limit for most True Intent level practitioners. ¡°There¡¯s also... the rebound force.¡± With his eyes closed and focusing, Chen Feng sensed a mysterious new feeling in his body. His bones were made of ancient bronze, tinged with a subtle dark gold hue. Typically, a perfected Bronze Statue Technique would have a maximum rebound force of 30%. However, due to the enhancement from the Steel Bone talent, he had 40%! Chen Feng felt an inexplicable sense of powerful confidence. If an ordinary practitioner of the first or second level of Strengthened Realm were to fight him¡­ Even if he didn¡¯t fight back, he could still injure them with sheer rebound force, wearing them down to death! Crack! He stretched and adapted to the changes. The sounds of his bones cracking echoed. Chen Feng had never felt so confident and powerful. Buzz, buzz! Just then, his phone vibrated, indicating a new message. His senses were sharp, and he immediately looked toward the outside of the Martial Arts Hall. A black business car from Feichi Motors was parked quietly by the roadside. His master, Li Tong, was seated in the back, resting with his eyes closed. Xu Tingxiao, who had returned to the mountain gate, was also in the car, occasionally glancing toward the Martial Arts Hall. The four true disciples, Lin Xiaoyun and Zhao Jushan, both got out of the car at the same time. One wore a floral qipao with a long skirt, the other a gray sleeveless sweatshirt, towering and muscular. Many of the Martial Arts Hall disciples were confused but still approached respectfully. Chen Feng immediately understood, and without hesitation, he put on a fitting black T-shirt and threw on a jacket. Step! He walked out of the quiet room, heading toward the door of the Martial Arts Hall, greeted by respectful calls from the disciples. ¡°This road won¡¯t be too peaceful.¡± ¡°The banner of the Flame Tiger Sect... will rely on you.¡± He didn¡¯t know when, but Third Master Uncle had appeared, dressed in a gray ancient-style robe, standing at the entrance. With his thin face and cloudy eyes, their gazes met. Behind Chen Feng, the illusory image of the Red Tiger loomed, as if in response to the faint glimmer of expectation in the vertical pupil. Chen Feng stopped for a moment and nodded silently. ¡°Good.¡± With that, he passed by the two true disciples¡¯ respectful salutations, stepped into the car, and sat beside Master Li Tong. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Leave it to me.¡± (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????Review Objective Achieved Mass Release (5/13) Chapter 133: The Outer City of Yun Port, Roadblock! [2.9k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- Whoosh! The white high-speed train sliced through the silence, crossing the city track. In the black pupils, this scene was reflected, and the black crow-like figure made a strange screech before flapping its wings and spiraling into the air. Unaware, Chen Feng was sitting in the business class at the front of the high-speed train, on the window-side seat on the right. The cityscape quickly receded behind him. This was his first time leaving Nanjiang City. "We''ll be there in five hours," said Master Li Tong from the window-side seat on the other side. The entire business class was arranged in three rows. Two of the seats were on the right, by the windows, while the left side had individual seats. Chen Feng nodded lightly, gradually suppressing the ripples in his heart. Nanjiang City was located on the northern side of Feng Province, with Zhe Province to the east, bordering the mainland. Yun Port was nearly a thousand miles away, requiring a southward journey. The high-speed train was the most convenient mode of transport, and it went directly there. Five hours was about the time it took. "I thought we were going to take a car," said Xu Tingxiao, sitting next to him in a blue casual outfit. Chen Feng glanced at him. Behind him, Lin Xiaoyun and Zhao Jushan were seated. Only the five of them were attending the Martial Arts Conference. As for the others: The Junior and Third Uncles had to stay behind to manage the mountain gate and the city. The remaining direct disciples stayed to assist and run the business. As for the core disciples and below, whether they participated in the Martial Arts Conference didn¡¯t affect their ranking much. Chen Feng quickly set aside any distractions. The city outside the window gradually disappeared as they had already left the Nanjiang area. The business class seats were relatively comfortable. Chen Feng reclined slightly, and after a while, he took out his phone to pass the time. [Lin Hao: Good luck on the competition!] An unread message. Chen Feng wasn¡¯t surprised. He had briefly mentioned it when discussing the club, and many people in the martial arts hall knew about the Martial Arts Conference. He replied with an "OK" emoji and scrolled down to find Chen Yun''s contact. She was also in Yun Port, and he was thinking about whether to visit her. ¡°Maybe later,¡± he thought, pushing the idea aside as he remembered the existence of the Flying Dragon Sect. The Flame Tiger Sect and Flying Dragon Sect weren¡¯t on good terms, and he didn¡¯t want to involve Chen Yun in this. He continued scrolling through his phone and saw a message from Cao Tong, sent the previous night. [Cao Tong: Information on the Evil God Cult (zip)] It was a compressed file. Since he had been focused on breaking through his Bronze Statue technique this morning, he hadn¡¯t opened it yet. Now, he had some free time. He opened the file and browsed. One message after another appeared in front of his eyes. [The Evil God Cult, a church organization that suddenly emerged after the Radiant Revolution 120 years ago, is a collective term for various cults worshipping evil gods.] [There are dozens of known Evil God Cults, and the most active ones include: Serpent Spirit Sect, Crows of the Dead, and the Plague Cult.] [Eastern and Western continents have different attitudes towards the Evil God Cult. The Platinum Federation acknowledges the legality of some churches, while certain small countries in war-torn regions depend on the Evil God Cult for survival.] [In contrast, the Red Nation sees the Evil God Cult as taboo, banning anyone from participating in Evil God Cult activities and hunting down all members within its borders.] The file began with general information. Chen Feng continued reading. The business class was quiet, and after about an hour, he had memorized the names of some of the major active Evil God Cults. Besides that: [According to some captured and killed members of the Evil God Cult, there might be certain hidden spaces on Earth where the evil gods'' realms exist, granting their followers peace after death.] [Believers, Servants, and Messengers ¨C in every Evil God Cult, these are the rankings, representing the degree to which the evil god bestows power and attention. It¡¯s rumored that those above Messenger rank, in addition to gaining powers from the evil gods, might even receive some kind of secret treasure from the evil gods (this is just hearsay and requires verification).] [In short, the various Evil God Cults use different methods. The Serpent Spirit Sect¡¯s powers are often associated with shadows and serpent creatures. The Crows of the Dead deal with the undead and regard black crows as their familiar creatures.] ¡°God realms, Evil God treasures?¡± Frowning, Chen Feng felt that these descriptions were somewhat exaggerated and fantastical. But recalling the extraordinary events in his dreams and the existence of secret realms, he couldn¡¯t help but think it might make some sense. Shaking his head, he continued reading. Soon, he focused on the last part of the message. Crows of the Dead They regard black crows as their familiar creatures. Chen Feng couldn''t help but recall the malicious gaze of the black crow that had watched him outside the martial arts hall that day. Could it be that those were members of the Crows of the Dead? Or perhaps, were they divine warriors with powers related to the Crows of the Dead? A thought flickered in his mind, and Chen Feng grew thoughtful. He continued reading until he had gone through all the information. He felt that he might have been overlooking the power of the Evil God Cult until now. If what was described earlier was true, then even martial arts masters might not be able to contend with them. At this thought, Chen Feng quietly looked out the window, his mind wandering. During the journey, the high-speed train passed through several stations, with people getting off and boarding. Gradually, he focused his thoughts. Looking at everything outside the window, Chen Feng realized something. The closer they got to Yun Port, the more prosperous the cities became. Just like now. Skyscrapers rose from the ground, and holographic neon projections scattered across the sky. Many of the projections floated around the high-speed train station, turning into advertisements. [Dekang Brand Muscle Enhancement Liquid: Get the perfect muscles! Buy one, get one free!] [Want to become stronger? Want to jump higher, run faster? Superhuman Gene Enhancer, you deserve it.] [Lost limbs? Don''t worry, imagine how dazzling and attractive you¡¯ll look after you implant mechanical limbs and undergo partial modification¡ªEmerald Bio-Modification Corp.] Slogans and accompanying images looped continuously, and Chen Feng¡¯s gaze drifted far away. Someone was flying a single-person flying device in the shape of a disk over the high-speed train station. Others jumped from airborne flying devices, parachuting into the city below, seeking thrills as they gently descended. It was completely different from the vitality of Nanjiang and even far more advanced in terms of technology. "New World." Chen Feng thought of the phrase Lin Hao had once mentioned. Compared to here, calling Nanjiang the old world didn¡¯t seem like an exaggeration. And they hadn''t even reached Yun Port yet. The thought suddenly cleared, and Chen Feng felt that his perspective had broadened significantly. Since the Red Nation¡¯s official authorities could hunt down the Evil God Cult and suppress it in the shadows, This meant that the power of the Evil God Cult might not be as exaggerated as it seemed, or the government had ways to deal with them. Much like the more advanced and powerful technologies here, the modifications and mechanized weaponry that exceeded traditional martial arts, or other inventions. These could very well be some of the key reasons. Lost in thought, Chen Feng let go of the distractions and decided not to dig deeper into the matter. "Miss, here." Suddenly, a blonde woman entered the business class at the door of the high-speed train. She wore black sunglasses, a black coat, and a tight skirt, with black stockings and boots. Two bodyguards followed her, one ahead and one behind. Chen Feng casually glanced at them. The two were modified humans; one was only partially modified, while the other was a fully-modified Silver-grade. This surprised him, but with the bustling cityscape he had just seen, this little surprise quickly faded. "Mm, you all can rest now." The blonde woman nodded, sitting in the business seat ahead on the left side, not even raising her head as she spoke. The two bodyguards nodded in acknowledgment, scanning the group of Chen Feng and the others before taking their seats¡ªone to the right and the other in front. No incidents occurred, and Chen Feng soon looked away. The high-speed train continued its journey until around four in the afternoon. The speed gradually slowed, and a mechanical prompt echoed in the cabin. [This train''s final stop, Yun Port Station, is approaching. Please gather your belongings and exit in an orderly fashion.] The announcement echoed as Chen Feng and the others stood up. Zhao Jushan took their luggage, and Master Li Tong, dressed in his red-and-white robe, was the first to exit the cabin. People were bustling in and out, with figures crossing each other in the crowded area. The high-speed train station was built on an elevated platform, and through the glass, Chen Feng could see a vast expanse of blue ocean. Containers were stacked densely at the port, while white-gray military ships and giant cargo vessels either docked or sailed. Seagulls flew in from afar, and waves rippled along the shore. His gaze shifted, focusing inward. Buildings of various heights and colors were lined up, some made of imposing gray metal, others with glass walls tinted blue and green. Skyscrapers rose in a continuous line, while flying vehicles zipped between them, and driverless cars moved back and forth. Farther away, there stood a massive, towering silver-gray wall. Over a hundred meters high, it encircled the entire city, splitting it into two parts: an inner and outer city. The only thing visible above the wall was a tall tower, black and silver mixed, lit brightly as if reaching for the sky. "Yun Port." Chen Feng''s gaze lingered, and after a moment of reflection, he sighed. This was the only central city of Feng Province, a jewel standing at the southern end of the Red Nation. Borders, oceans, trade. Prosperity, foresight, and vastness. Even the outer city surpassed any city he had seen before in terms of scale. Compared to Nanjiang, it was more than ten times greater. "Thirty years... The changes are huge." A voice sounded beside him, pulling Chen Feng back from his thoughts. Master Li Tong stood still, his gaze on the interior of the high wall, with a hint of melancholy and complexity in his expression. No one knew what he was thinking, or perhaps recalling the painful memories of leaving Yun Port in a rush. Zhao Jushan and the others clearly knew the secret of the Flame Tiger Sect, and so did Xu Tingxiao. The four of them stood silently by, not disturbing him, until half a minute passed. "Let''s go." Li Tong shook his head with a smile, stepping forward. Chen Feng and the others followed, taking the escalator down to the first floor of the station, exiting through the ticket gate. The waiting hall was spacious, with many people coming and going. Some carried suitcases, some wore leather jackets, with all kinds of city accents. Holographic projections and advertisements floated around, and there were also robotic assistants introducing the entry and exit procedures, along with other services for newly arrived passengers. Outside the glass windows, a large gray-tiled plaza stretched out, with many unmanned taxis parked nearby, as well as stations for trams and other transportation. After scanning the area, Zhao Jushan frowned and spoke. "Why is no one here to pick us up?" The tone was slightly frustrated, and Xu Tingxiao beside him wore a similar expression. "What are you talking about? The organizer for this time is the Flying Dragon Sect." Lin Xiaoyun, wearing a qipao dress, spoke up, and Chen Feng¡¯s eyes flickered. He had heard before that for every martial arts conference, the organizers would send someone to pick up participants and ensure all the major factions were properly arranged. But clearly, this time... "Let¡¯s just take a taxi." Li Tong shook his head and spoke calmly. Chen Feng and the others nodded, not dwelling on the matter, and soon left the waiting hall together, heading to the gray-brick square outside. [Stay at the Best Hotel, address.] [Everyone should see the sea at least once in their life, Great Ocean Travel Company, we welcome your call.] Virtual blue glowing text floated in mid-air above the square, and half-modified humans in black clothes patrolled, holding guns. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The sounds of flying devices could be heard as they passed overhead¡ªclearly the security service of Yun Port¡¯s outer city. People were coming and going, and the five of them walked straight to the parking area beside the square. Chen Feng¡¯s gaze shifted, and his attention was caught by a conspicuous blonde woman. She was walking with two bodyguards toward the roadside, where a convoy of Lai Lao Si vehicles was parked, with several bodyguards, visibly modified, arriving to meet her¡ªshe was clearly being picked up. "She¡¯s a rich woman." Xu Tingxiao muttered beside him, clearly noticing the situation as well. "Heh, Junior Brother Zhao is so handsome, maybe you should try your luck?" Lin Xiaoyun teased, but Zhao Jushan deliberately furrowed his brows. "Senior Sister Lin, don''t joke with me." "I wasn¡¯t talking about you." The three of them exchanged a few jokes, and inexplicably, Chen Feng felt the slight tension of being in an unfamiliar place slowly dissipate. His steps felt lighter as they walked toward the roadside. However, in the next moment¡ª "Hm?" He furrowed his brow and looked toward the opposite side of the road. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A figure stood there. Slightly thin, yet straight like a pine tree, over 1.8 meters tall. Dressed in a gray robe, embroidered with the character for "Fist," around thirty years old. A faint malice swept over him, and then the figure took a step forward, brushing past the blonde woman''s team, heading straight for the five of them. "One Fist Sect, Luo Dong." "Greetings, Master of the Flame Tiger Sect." The figure stopped a few meters in front of them, cupped his hands slightly, and blocked their way. Before Chen Feng and the others could react, Li Tong took a careful look at the man. His gaze shifted for a few seconds before he shook his head with a sigh. "I didn¡¯t expect that you¡¯ve all joined the Flying Dragon Sect." Luo Dong, blocking the way, remained silent, not responding. Li Tong shook his head and stepped forward, brushing past him. Xu Tingxiao was slightly stunned, unsure of what just happened. In the next moment, Zhao Jushan, towering and strong, took a step forward. Crack! Crack! Crack! His muscles and bones creaked, and a vicious look appeared on his face. "Flame Tiger Sect, Zhao Jushan!" Boom!! With a stomp, he charged forward, releasing a burst of deep red internal energy. The two immediately clashed, while Li Tong continued walking forward. Chen Feng furrowed his brows slightly, and Xu Tingxiao seemed a little uncomfortable. As if sensing their thoughts, Lin Xiaoyun shook her head seriously and gestured for them to follow. The sound of footsteps rang out, followed by the thud of fists landing with force. The intense battle instantly drew the attention of everyone in the square, including those inside the high-speed train station, who watched through the glass windows. However, the half-modified humans responsible for patrolling and maintaining order seemed to ignore the commotion and did not intervene. "Miss?" On the roadside, the Lai Lao Si convoy had not yet left. The blonde woman, about to get into the car, paused in front of the open door and turned to look at Chen Feng and the others. "It¡¯s from the One Fist Sect, likely some martial arts conflict." One of the modified human bodyguards quickly explained. The blonde woman responded with an "Oh," and then shook her head dismissively. The martial arts world had long since declined. In the face of modifications and mechanized weapons, even masters could find themselves powerless. Looking at all of Yun Port City, only the so-called Flying Dragon Sect deserved her attention. Moreover... Such mid-road challenges and street brawls were a disgrace. "Crude." She simply muttered, and then turned to enter the car. Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Suddenly, footsteps rang out from the roadside, and the bodyguards grew alert. Another man appeared, around thirty years old, very tall¡ªabout 1.85 meters. He wore a blue robe, embroidered with the character for "Palm." His large hands moved slowly, and his sharp, piercing eyes gave off an immense pressure, reminiscent of a hawk or a wolf. Seeing this, the blonde woman raised an eyebrow, halting her movement. Following her gaze, the man walked straight toward Chen Feng and the others, malice concealed in his demeanor. "Eight Trigrams Palm, Qin Bugui." "Greetings, Master of the Flame Tiger Sect." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????Review Objective Achieved Mass Release (6/13) Chapter 134: Killing You Is Like Stepping on an Ant [2.6k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- "Third stage of Internal Strength." Li Tong, wearing a red-patterned white robe, calmly shook his head and continued walking, brushing past the person who tried to block his path. Step! A figure in a cyan qipao detached from the group. "Flame Tiger Sect, Lin Xiaoyun." The calm voice fell, and red and white light erupted simultaneously. The gray floor tiles cracked inch by inch as the two in the third stage of Internal Strength clashed, with debris flying everywhere, creating quite a commotion. Passersby had already stopped to watch, and even flying vehicles hovered in midair, as if someone was looking down from above. "Let''s go." Chen Feng''s tone suddenly became calm as he signaled Xu Tingxiao to follow his master. He had already understood what was happening. It was most likely the Flying Dragon Sect stirring trouble from behind, not wanting them to smoothly participate in the Martial Arts Conference. At that moment, the sound of footsteps and the thudding of battle overlapped. The blonde woman, who was about to leave, grew interested. She sat in the vehicle, watching the third wave of enemies arrive. "This is interesting." She looked ahead as several figures walked from the opposite side of the road. At the forefront were two elderly men, both dressed in ancient-style robes. The fatter one on the left had a bear embroidered on his clothes, while the thinner one on the right had a flying bird. Behind them stood four men in similar robes, aged between thirty and forty, all at the third stage of Internal Strength. "Old Li, long time no see." The six of them blocked their way, and the thinner elder spoke first. Li Tong''s gaze wavered, and he stopped. "Have you also sided with the Flying Dragon Sect?" He asked, sounding somewhat unwilling to believe it. "It¡¯s been thirty years, the world has changed a lot." "Face reality." The thinner elder sighed, and Li Tong fell into silence upon hearing this. "Go back." The elder spoke again, trying to persuade him. Li Tong remained silent. It wasn¡¯t until the fatter elder showed impatience that Li Tong finally raised his head and glanced at the land¡ªhis homeland, which he hadn¡¯t seen in thirty years. "A disciple not present, and yet you can force me back." "Tell me, how should the Flame Tiger Sect survive in the future?" His tone was calm, and a smile suddenly appeared on his face. The thinner elder furrowed his brow slightly, and the fatter elder cursed aloud. "Why waste words with him?" "He ran away 30 years ago; he¡¯ll do so again." Roar!!! A giant bear¡¯s illusory image appeared, and the elder ruthlessly attacked, charging directly at Li Tong. The thinner elder sighed, but still followed along, no longer holding back. Bang!!! True intent manifested as the red tiger¡¯s strength clashed with the giant bear, biting the flying bird. Shockwaves surged out, and Xu Tingxiao was already stunned, frozen in place. Weren¡¯t they supposed to attend the Martial Arts Conference? Why was this happening? Step, step, step, step! Before he could recover, a rapid series of footsteps approached. The four who had been blocking their path at the third stage of Internal Strength had already split to surround them. "Senior Brother Sun, what should we do?" "Heh, just break their limbs. Don¡¯t cause any fatalities." "Alright." The four exchanged words, as though they had already decided the fate of Chen Feng and Xu Tingxiao. Xu Tingxiao¡¯s face turned red, filled with humiliation. Just as he was about to rage and fight back, he felt a heavy sensation on his shoulder, followed by a light pat. "I''m still here." The calm voice startled Xu Tingxiao. He instinctively opened his mouth to say something but was suddenly engulfed in darkness as all light was blocked. Buzz!!! A powerful force exploded, and a pillar of flames erupted into the world. The surrounding air twisted as a third-stage practitioner was struck in the chest by the force and sent flying, crashing through a nearby guardrail. The other three were slightly stunned. The next second, a tiger¡¯s roar erupted! Roar!!! The tiger leapt forward, and deep crimson light flashed. It was as if flames wrapped around the palm, and Chen Feng, with a cold expression, struck, landing a blow on another person¡¯s arms as they barely raised them to block. Bang!!! A violent shockwave pushed the person back, their legs carving deep grooves into the ground as they slid for several meters. "In... internal Law Unity." Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, his face pale. The other two quickly regained their senses and moved forward. Fast! Roar! The bird screeched, and the giant bear roared. White and brown energy enveloped their fists and feet. The two third-stage practitioners had fierce expressions, attacking with full force, their strikes landing on Chen Feng¡¯s back of the head and chest without any resistance. Bang!!! Clothes shredded, and white energy exploded. "Got him!" The two closed in, their eyes full of savagery. But the next moment... Buzz! Chen Feng''s skin instantly turned a bronze hue, and he remained completely still, glancing sideways, looking down at the two men. Without saying a word, a powerful rebound shock quietly surged, freezing the expressions on both men''s faces. He reached out and grabbed the neck of the person in front of him. With a single arm, he lifted him up, then kicked behind him, landing a blow to his spine. Boom!!! A muffled explosion rang out, but Chen Feng remained unmoved. On the other hand, the person who had been kicked in the back changed his expression slightly, feeling his right leg numb and sore, a bead of cold sweat sliding down his face. "Why do you choose to be someone''s dog?" Chen Feng ignored the attack from behind, coldly staring at the man whose throat he was gripping. White energy surged, but his hand remained unyielding like a vice, unable to budge even an inch. The scene fell into silence, the only sound was the desperate gasping and struggling. "Everyone! Attack together!!" The person who had been sent flying by the shockwave earlier stood up; his chest burned black. If it weren¡¯t for his cultivation in strengthening techniques, he might have really fallen. He quickly rushed forward like a giant bear, his arms covered in brown energy, bringing down an attack like a giant axe. Bang!!! A punch landed on Chen Feng''s forehead, causing his head to tilt. He looked sideways at the attacker, and the man¡¯s expression changed slightly. A cracking sound came from his arm. "That¡¯s the Bronze Statue technique!" "This kid''s Bronze Statue technique might have reached perfection!!" The person behind him, whose arm had cracked, cursed for not mentioning it earlier. He quickly stepped back, preparing to unleash energy for a combined attack. However, the next second... Crack. The retreating motion suddenly halted as the tiles underfoot exploded. A powerful, sturdy hand reached out and grabbed him by the crown of his head. The sound of cracking bones filled the air as a taller young man looked down indifferently, applying more and more force with his hand. "To kill you is no different from stepping on an ant." As the words fell, immense force erupted. Crack! A crack appeared in the man''s skull, and the Giant Bear Sect man¡¯s face changed dramatically, showing fear and panic. "Stop!!!" The fat elder, who was still fighting with Li Tong, became furious and rushed to assist. However, in the next second, he saw Li Tong standing in front of him with a smiling expression, while the Red Tiger behind him roared angrily toward the sky. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Buzz!!! A huge wave of energy turned into a fireball, exploding midair with a tremendous force. Step, step, step! The fat elder''s robe was scorched black as he slid backward, barely managing to suppress the shockwave. He looked up, his face full of anger, only to see his disciple pinned down by immense force, his knees bent as he knelt on the ground. Boom!!! The tiles cracked under the impact as Chen Feng released his left hand. His right arm bent like a drawn bow. The man he was holding by the neck turned pale with terror. The next moment, he felt a rush of wind as a powerful gust approached. Bang! He was smashed face-first into the ground, creating a human-shaped crater, with blood seeping out. Crack! The sound of his nasal bones cracking continued as Chen Feng''s figure flashed, moving like the wind. Whoosh!!! The shockwave burst out, and the Flame Blast Style erupted. In an instant, the man whose right leg had been injured lost his balance and was sent sliding backward. Before he could react, he felt his left leg seized by an iron grip, and his body suddenly lost weight. Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang! Chen Feng swung his opponent around like a hammer, smashing the ground into rubble, sending fragments flying in all directions. Even the hardest skull couldn¡¯t withstand such a brutal assault, and blood sprayed like petals falling to the ground. Seeing this, the last third-stage practitioner no longer hesitated. His arms, still aching from the previous block, and his chest, feeling shaken from the impact, made him grimace. He quickly stepped back, preparing to retreat. However, the next second... A body, knocked unconscious from being swung around, was thrown at him like an arrow, speeding toward him with tremendous force, cutting through the air. His expression turned grim, and he quickly gathered his energy, preparing to block and catch the incoming force. Whoosh!!! In the span of a breath, a roar of white energy exploded as if a giant tiger was pouncing. The light behind him was completely blocked, and a massive shadow cast over the ground in front of him. ¡°Spare m-¡° Boom!!! With a violent punch, all pleas for mercy were shattered. Chen Feng stepped forward, his right foot stomping down on the opponent''s head, grinding it into the shattered floor tiles. His bronzed body gleamed in everyone''s eyes, his upper body ripped apart, leaving only tattered cloth strips. But oddly enough, no one thought of him as looking pathetic. Instead, their gazes were intense, some shocked, some curious, as they watched him tilt his head, revealing a menacing smile, his face full of murderous intent as he locked eyes with the two True Intent elders. "Two old dogs." "How about you just step up and try?" Crack! As he spoke, he exerted force with his foot, and the opponent''s skull cracked further, causing the floor cracks to rapidly spread. "You brat!" The fat elder roared, having never been so humiliated. He tried to strike again, but suddenly, a tiny silver light darted out, stopping just beside his temple. Cold sweat dripped down his face, his pupils constricting. Chen Feng''s gaze also sharpened as he looked toward the source. At that moment, a car slowly drove up and stopped at the side of the road. With a click, the car door opened, and a middle-aged man in a suit stepped out. "Sorry, I''m late." He smiled lightly, with two bodyguards following him. The tiny silver light dart automatically withdrew and quickly merged into one of the bodyguard''s briefcases. "Let me introduce myself, I am Zhou Zhixiong." He extended his hand, completely ignoring the two True Intent elders, and stood in front of Li Tong, offering his hand. "Old Chu specifically told me to take good care of you, it''s a pleasure." As his words landed, the scene fell silent. The two blocking True Intent elders¡¯ faces darkened, while Li Tong chuckled and shook his hand. "I''ve heard much about Councilman Zhou, it''s an honor." Nearby, the security guards, who had previously ignored everything, suddenly showed signs of concern as they looked on with slightly changed expressions. Click, click, click. The sound of footsteps grew louder, and soon the leader, sweating profusely, walked up to Zhou Zhixiong. "Councilman Zhou, my subordinate really didn¡¯t know you were acquainted with these people, it¡¯s just that Councilman Fang..." Slap! Two slaps rang out as Zhou Zhixiong shook his hand. "Do I really need to teach you how to handle things?" "No!" The slapped security captain no longer tried to shirk responsibility and quickly stood straight, saying, "There were people gathering and causing trouble, damaging public property!" "Get them all arrested!" After giving the orders, the situation suddenly shifted. Half-modified human guards, armed with guns, surrounded the two True Intent elders, as well as the other six who were either severely injured or unconscious. Drones in the sky rotated their gun barrels, locking onto them with special ammunition and red dot scanning. Seeing this scene, a blonde woman sitting in the car by the side of the road gave a curious glance at Chen Feng and the others. "So Zhou Zhixiong is backing them up." Though he was just a regular provincial councilor, his connections included a representative and even someone managing the outer city districts. "Miss, we¡¯ve looked into it. It seems these people belong to the Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect, a major martial arts faction that left Yun Port thirty years ago." "They¡¯ve come from Nanjiang, likely to participate in this Southern Martial Arts Conference." The assistant was well aware of her intentions and had already mobilized the group''s resources to investigate Chen Feng and the others'' identities. "Oh? The Flame Tiger Sect, no wonder." "So, it¡¯s the Flying Dragon Sect behind this?" Her tone was flat, and her assistant nodded quickly. "Heh, they only know how to use underhanded tricks." She shook her head and, sensing a gaze from that direction, finally withdrew her attention, losing interest. "Let''s go." Buzz! A convoy of Lai Lao Si vehicles slowly left, and Chen Feng squinted. Not sensing any malice, he withdrew his gaze and looked around. Several security guards, holding guns, glanced awkwardly at him. The man whose head was being stomped on had already passed out in humiliation. Crack! Chen Feng lifted his foot, dispersing the power of the Giant Tiger technique, and his posture gradually returned to normal. Zhao Jushan and Lin Xiaoyun, having also finished their battles, walked over with similar movements. "Master, Senior Brother." Xu Tingxiao still had a look of shock on his face, holding a large black coat in his hand. "Hmm." Chen Feng nodded and took the coat, putting it on. Zhao Jushan and Lin Xiaoyun both looked at him with admiration, especially Lin Xiaoyun, who, as someone at the third stage of entry, could better understand just how exaggerated the battle they had witnessed was. Confirming that no one was seriously injured, Chen Feng led them toward Li Tong. The two blocking True Intent elders'' faces darkened, but in the end, they didn¡¯t dare make a move because of the Provincial Council¡¯s authority. Zhou Zhixiong, the councilor, glanced at them with an appreciative look, he was middle aged with a slightly plump frame. He smiled and asked Li Tong, "Is this your prized disciple?" "Yes, my eldest disciple, he¡¯s not very promising, sorry to disappoint you, Councilman Zhou." "Heh, if he¡¯s not promising, then there aren¡¯t many promising ones in the entire martial arts world." Zhou Zhixiong intentionally flattered him, and at Chen Feng¡¯s nod, he respectfully greeted. During this, Chen Feng''s senses sharpened as he noticed the two bodyguards behind Zhou Zhixiong. Their energy was very strong. Glancing at their briefcases, he realized that the silver dart from earlier, which had forced back the True Intent experts, was now stored inside. This was an entirely different method from martial arts sects¡ªit clearly combined with technology. "Let''s go, I¡¯ll take you to the conference location." "Thank you, Councilman Zhou." Li Tong exchanged a few words with Zhou Zhixiong before they got into the car and left. The high-speed train station was bustling and noisy as always. Witnessing this, someone¡¯s eyes glinted, and a pinhole device in their hand recorded the earlier battle footage. "The Flame Tiger Sect, huh." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????Review Objective Achieved Mass Release (7/13) Chapter 135: Secret Medicine, Divine Strength Pill [2.7k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- ¡°How is it?¡± In the quiet room, several figures were either sitting or standing. The projection screen displayed a scene where Chen Feng single-handedly defeated four formidable opponents at the third level of the Inner Strength. The atmosphere fell silent for a moment, the wooden floor reflecting the sunlight and shadows from outside the window. Until the footage ended, the burly figure leaning against the wall with crossed arms shook his head. ¡°The people from the Bear Style and the Bird Style are all useless. I feel like we haven¡¯t seen this person¡¯s full strength.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, they were quickly met with rebuttals. ¡°Isn¡¯t that all?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t the core techniques of the Flame Tiger Sect just a few? The Bronze Statue Technique and the Crimson Tiger Force, plus one more Giant Tiger Technique. No matter how high his talent is, could he have any other means?¡± The speaker was sitting cross-legged on the ground, with messy long hair and a somewhat thin frame. His tone was somewhat serious, and after a moment of silence, someone else chimed in: ¡°Then let¡¯s compromise and assume he¡¯s still hiding twenty percent of his strength.¡± ¡°Overall, it should be no less than Xiao Wu.¡± ¡°What do you all think?¡± ¡°Tch, you¡¯re using me as a reference again.¡± The young man with messy long hair sitting cross-legged said unhappily, but he didn¡¯t argue further. The burly figure standing with crossed arms pondered for a moment before gently nodding, and the others gradually expressed their agreement. If they could elevate his combat power by another twenty percent, he would rank fifth among the true disciples. This was already enough respect from them. Seeing this scene, the elder outside smiled slightly, quite satisfied with their proactive analysis and planning. The prosperity of a sect is like this; the Flame Tiger Sect, which has languished for thirty years, dreaming of catching up, is just a fool¡¯s errand. Tap, tap, tap. Footsteps approached, and a disciple walked up. ¡°Elder Liu, the senior brother has exited seclusion.¡± ¡°Oh? What was the result?¡± ¡°I saw the True Intent of the Flying Dragon.¡± --- Step step step! As the footsteps moved, Chen Feng and the others stood outside a hotel with ancient decor, carrying their luggage. In the sky, a flying vehicle streaked across, while a black sedan slowly drove away from the street. Seeing this, Xu Tingxiao could no longer suppress his curiosity and couldn¡¯t help but look at Li Tong, asking, ¡°Master, so you had already contacted someone in advance?¡± Zhou Zhixiong¡¯s arrival was too timely. He thought it was Li Tong¡¯s preparation that resolved the final conflict. ¡°No, I was surprised too.¡± However, Li Tong withdrew his gaze and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with this person; I only heard Elder Chu mention him briefly before.¡± In a calm tone, Chen Feng beside him seemed to be pondering. This Zhou councilor¡¯s arrival was too coincidental, neither early nor late. Moreover, if he truly intended to host them, the security personnel at the high-speed rail station wouldn¡¯t have ignored them at first. ¡°Then it seems he was weighing our value.¡± Zhao Jushan said in a low voice, and Lin Xiaoyun beside him also seemed to grasp the implication. The group fell silent for a moment, and footsteps gradually sounded behind them. Turning around, the hotel with ancient decor was quite large, with many lofts and small courtyards inside. Outside the main entrance was a rockery and fountain, with gray bricks laid on both sides, and figures passing by, many flying vehicles landing and parking. [The 37th Southern Martial Arts Conference] The virtual projection text hovered above the entrance, and staff members were busy receiving people from various sects. As if sensing Chen Feng and the others¡¯ arrival, someone¡¯s gaze flickered, and soon a young female staff member approached them proactively. ¡°May I ask who you are?¡± ¡°Flame Tiger Sect.¡± Zhao Jushan¡¯s voice was low, and the other party looked somewhat surprised. Without saying much, she quickly gestured for them to follow her: ¡°Please come with me.¡± The five of them followed her, during which other sects cast glances their way. Expressions varied, some surprised, some complex, and others gleeful. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the people from the Flame Tiger Sect to actually dare to come.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been thirty years, tsk tsk, could it be another battle of dragons and tigers?¡± ¡°What are you thinking? Haven¡¯t you seen how powerful the Flying Dragon Sect is now? More than a dozen sects in Yun Port depend on it for survival, not to mention it has transformed into the Flying Dragon Group.¡± ¡°I heard that the Flying Dragon Sect has already sent people to set things up.¡± ¡°Really? What was the outcome?¡± Whispers of discussion arose, but Chen Feng and the others were all at the Inner Strength level, how could they not know. Xu Tingxiao was somewhat dissatisfied, but soon, seeing that his master and the others were all silent, he had to suppress all his emotions and stepped forward, walking to a small courtyard named Wind Listening Courtyard. There were some green bamboos planted, a small pond and pavilion nearby, and a few rocks piled together. ¡°Wind Listening Courtyard has five rooms. Considering that you all have the habit of practicing martial arts, we have closed off some intelligent services that involve privacy.¡± ¡°If you need anything, just let us know at any time.¡± The female staff member familiarized them with the courtyard inside and out. After glancing at Li Tong¡¯s expression, Lin Xiaoyun gently nodded, signaling her to leave. The five of them each took a room, and Li Tong didn¡¯t say much, just gave a brief instruction. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. No matter how much the Flying Dragon Sect is at odds with us, they still have to consider face. They won¡¯t act recklessly in this kind of setting.¡± ¡°Rest if you need to, make friends if you want, and we¡¯ll discuss the rest when the conference starts tomorrow.¡± They nodded, and in the end, only Chen Feng was left behind. Click! The door closed, and Li Tong stood by the window, gazing outside. ¡°You saw everything that happened today, right?¡± ¡°Do you regret joining the Flame Tiger Sect?¡± He was very clear about his eldest disciple¡¯s talent. If it weren¡¯t for the obstacles posed by the Flying Dragon Sect and the past grievances, he would surely be unstoppable. ¡°Why would I regret it?¡± Chen Feng retorted, his tone surprisingly calm. ¡°In the battle of dragons and tigers, who can predict the outcome?¡± ¡°This is just the beginning.¡± As his words fell, Li Tong turned to look at him. His burly and tall figure resembled a rock, and the calm gaze beneath his slanted brows inexplicably exuded a hint of the aggression belonging to a fierce tiger. Their eyes met for several seconds. ¡°Good!¡± With no more worries, Li Tong laughed heartily and soon pulled out a white jade porcelain bottle from his pocket. ¡°This is the Divine Strength Pill. After taking it, it can help you refine your spirit and accelerate the fusion of your strength.¡± ¡°As for whether you can break through to the True Intent in the future, I can only help you this far.¡± Whoosh! With a flick of his finger, the white jade porcelain bottle landed in Chen Feng¡¯s hand. After a moment of silence, Chen Feng felt the preciousness of this secret medicine. He had heard from his third master uncle. To break through to the True Intent, one needed to cultivate the Crimson Tiger Force to the Crimson Tiger level. It required refining the spirit and resonating with the strength, so that the envisioned Crimson Tiger could be reflected outside the body, transforming into a true intent phantom. The Divine Strength Pill was meant to shorten this process, the only secret medicine most suitable for the Flame Tiger Sect. Because the medicinal materials were hard to find and the refining process was complex. Thus, within the entire sect, only one Divine Strength Pill remained. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Li Tong said with a smile, and Chen Feng didn¡¯t waste any words. He bowed deeply, memorizing all the favors firmly. Then he left the room and returned to his own. ¡°Divine Strength Pill.¡± He twisted open the wooden cork, pouring out the only pill from the porcelain bottle. It was round, about the size of a fingernail. A light red color, with a very faint scent. Without hesitation, Chen Feng decisively tossed it into his mouth. Crunch! He chewed it and swallowed it. A wave of heat rose from his abdomen, while a cool sensation spread through his mind. Not daring to delay, Chen Feng immediately envisioned the Crimson Tiger Flying Through the Sky Diagram while guiding the internal strength to refine the medicinal power. The heat and coolness intertwined and converged, gradually causing his four-dimensional attributes to begin to rise. Or more accurately, it was a singular increase in his will attribute. [Will: 25.6¡ú25.7¡ú25.8] Time flowed by, until an hour later, dusk was approaching, and the sky was darkening. Huff! A breath of turbid air was expelled by Chen Feng as he looked at the data on the panel before him. [Will: 25.6¡ú27.1] [Crimson Tiger Force: Burning Mountain (66%)] ¡°The progress of the Crimson Tiger Force actually increased by 25%.¡± With a flash of his gaze, Chen Feng could clearly feel that the strength and spirit within him had begun to resonate slightly. One Divine Strength Pill had saved him at least twelve portions of Limit Breaking Points. Moreover, this did not even account for the enhancement in will. ¡°Still a bit short.¡± Within the panel, there were still two portions of Extreme Martial points. If he could obtain two more portions and break them down completely, he would be able to break through to the Crimson Tiger level, achieving true intent level. Aside from that. His gaze shifted down to the talent section. [Azure Armor LV3: 45/100] [Heart of Glory LV1: 90/100] The former increased by 13 points, while the latter gained another 20 points of glory value. All of it came from the powerful battle today when he was ambushed at the high-speed rail station. Seeing this, Chen Feng¡¯s gaze flickered. He knew. This martial arts conference would definitely allow his Heart of Glory to break through and upgrade. --- That night. Li Tong rested early, while Chen Feng and Zhao Jushan went together to the hotel restaurant. A separate gray building, surrounded by rockeries and green trees. Following the staff inside, they saw a red carpet laid out, illuminated by lanterns. Rectangular redwood tables and chairs were arranged in order, with various dishes placed in the serving area. Emperor crabs, foie gras, roasted whole lamb, beef hooves. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The aroma of delicious food wafted through the air, and many figures had already appeared. Some wore ancient-style robes, while others were dressed casually. With ponytails, long hair, and crew cuts, there were youths, middle-aged, and elderly people of all ages. A rough glance revealed at least a hundred people, all martial arts practitioners from several provinces in the south. ¡°Just eat something casually.¡± Zhao Jushan was already hungry, while Lin Xiaoyun spotted a familiar friend from another sect. ¡°Junior Brother Chen, I¡¯ll be right back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Chen Feng nodded and glanced over. It was a girl, about the same age as Lin Xiaoyun, and her aura was also at the Inner Strength level. ¡°That¡¯s someone from the Hundred Flowers Sect in Su City, ranked thirty-first in the last martial arts conference.¡± ¡°That female disciple has a good relationship with Senior Sister Lin and has some private contact.¡± Zhao Jushan, worried that Chen Feng wouldn¡¯t understand, explained proactively. As he spoke, he walked to the serving area, picked up a large plate, and began to take meat and fruit. ¡°By the way, Junior Brother Chen, the competition starts tomorrow.¡± ¡°Your strength is strong, but aside from the Flying Dragon Sect, there are still a few sects you need to be cautious of.¡± Zhao Jushan patiently pointed out the positions of several sects in the distance. ¡°The Giant Elephant Sect, you¡¯ve encountered them before, so I won¡¯t say much.¡± ¡°Ranked fifth in the last martial arts conference, in recent years they produced a master, and now they are a top sect in Ze Province.¡± Chen Feng nodded at this and looked across. A group of tall and strong men, and he even saw the two who had come to visit the martial arts school regarding the Pine Crane Sect matter. ¡°The Golden Flying Eagle Sect and the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect, these two are top sects in Yun Province and Jiang Province, both have masters stationed.¡± ¡°Ranked first and second in the last martial arts conference.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s the Golden Blade Style and the Lion Heart Style, ranked third and fourth in the last conference, but due to rumors of their master aging, their influence has declined in recent years.¡± After this round of reminders, Chen Feng remembered these five top sects. He wouldn¡¯t underestimate anyone, and in terms of aura perception, the Inner Strength level of these sects was purer and more robust than his previous opponents by a significant margin. ¡°Jushan, you finally made it.¡± Suddenly, someone walked up and called out. A burly figure, muscles stacked, looking to be in his thirties, clearly trained in strengthening techniques. From the aura perception, he had just broken through to the third level of Inner Strength. ¡°Oh, Qin Tao, good to see you here too.¡± Zhao Jushan was slightly taken aback, put down his plate and introduced Chen Feng and the others. ¡°These are my two junior brothers, personally taught by the sect master.¡± ¡°Junior Brother Chen, this is Qin Tao, a true disciple of the Myriad Tempering Sect in Luo City.¡± Hearing this, Chen Feng¡¯s eyes moved. He was still cultivating the core true technique of the Myriad Tempering Sect. The other party might know this, and with a flicker of his gaze, he nodded kindly at him. Then he pulled Zhao Jushan away to chat with a few other strong men. Zhao Jushan left after giving a few instructions, and Xu Tingxiao looked a bit envious. ¡°Senior Brother Zhao and the others know so many people.¡± Looking around, hundreds of people were divided into small circles. Disciples practicing martial arts, masters at the Inner Strength level. Some were surrounding the five top sects, flattering and crowding around, while others were getting to know each other, deliberately grouping together to exchange ideas. Those who could appear here were all martial arts experts from various cities in the south, and if they could make acquaintances, it would be a form of networking. In this regard, Chen Feng remained calm. As newcomers, they had few acquaintances. Fortunately, he just held his food and found an empty seat, preparing to eat quietly. Tap, tap. Suddenly, footsteps approached, and a large plate of food was placed on the table. ¡°We meet again.¡± Looking up, it was a tall, burly young man in a gray hoodie with a buzz cut. His eyes were bright, and he grinned widely. ¡°Oh?¡± Chen Feng recognized him as one of the true disciples from the Giant Elephant Sect who had come to the martial arts school to relay information. Zhang Tai. Looking around, the tall young man named Zheng Shan was still in his previous position, and more and more people from other sects were crowding around him. ¡°Don¡¯t look anymore.¡± ¡°I hate dealing with people the most; it¡¯s much more enjoyable to eat quietly.¡± He explained proactively and then pointed to the spot he had occupied. ¡°There¡¯s no one here, right?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Chen Feng nodded, feeling that this person was straightforward and didn¡¯t mind sharing a table. ¡°I heard you made quite a name for yourself today, driving off several sect members.¡± As Zhang Tai sat down, he eagerly said, ¡°If there¡¯s a chance in tomorrow¡¯s competition, we should have a good spar.¡± Chen Feng nodded calmly at this, not too surprised. On the way here, he had heard people discussing today¡¯s events, and it wasn¡¯t surprising that the Giant Elephant Sect had learned of the news. Then he introduced Xu Tingxiao to the other party, and the three chatted briefly. Just as they were about to continue eating, the next second. Bang! A muffled explosion. The plate shattered into pieces, and two figures stood facing each other, their auras powerful, standing in the center. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????Review Objective Achieved Mass Release (8/13) Chapter 136: The Essence of Combat Diagram Finally Revealed [2.9k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- ¡°Tsk tsk tsk, young people sure have a lot of fire in them.¡± ¡°What do you expect? That¡¯s the most outstanding disciple of the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect, only twenty-three years old, and already at the third level of the Inner Strength.¡± ¡°Hehe, the Golden Blade Sect and the Golden Flying Eagle Sect have never gotten along well. They¡¯ve clashed many times over the fight for the top position. This is going to be interesting.¡± Voices of discussion reached their ears as Chen Feng and his companions frowned slightly, looking into the distance. Debris was scattered everywhere as two young men, seemingly around twenty-three or twenty-four years old, clashed and confronted each other. One had short hair and a lean physique, with sharp eyes like an eagle, dressed in a dark long robe adorned with a golden embroidered eagle pattern. The other was nearly two meters tall, with a buzz cut and ordinary features, yet exuded an impressive aura, resembling a killer whale rolling in the waves. The sound of footsteps echoed continuously as many figures rushed to stand behind the two, clearly the respective disciples and followers of their sects, confronting each other on either side. ¡°Here we go again with these two.¡± Zhang Tai muttered, and Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. Earlier, Zhao Jushan had mentioned to him that these top sects had their share of grudges and conflicts. The Golden Blade Sect and the Lion Heart Sect had similar issues, as did the sects of the two men on the field. But¡ª ¡°They¡¯re both so strong.¡± Xu Tingxiao¡¯s expression was somewhat complex. He had thought of himself as a rare martial arts talent, second only to his senior brother in the entire vicinity of Nanjiang. But now, looking at the young man of similar age who had already reached the third level of Inner Strength, he felt somewhat spiritually defeated. ¡°The one from the Golden Flying Eagle Sect is called Zhan Wushuang. It¡¯s rumored that he has already touched the bottleneck of the true intent realm.¡± ¡°The one opposing him is called Pang Kui. I¡¯ve heard my senior brother say that he¡¯s not even a match for this person. His Whale Body technique is already perfected, and his strength is astonishing, even able to contend with some true intent level masters.¡± Noticing that Chen Feng didn¡¯t recognize the two, Zhang Tai took the initiative to explain a bit. His tone was equally complex, as he felt a significant gap between himself and these two. Although the Giant Elephant Sect was a top-tier sect, it had only produced a master in recent years, and its foundation was indeed somewhat lacking. Hearing this, Chen Feng nodded slightly. Then he saw the two men on the field making their move. ¡°Zhan Wushuang, I say, why wait until tomorrow?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have a proper match right now and see who is truly number one!¡± The tall Pang Kui said in a deep voice, his tone carrying over like rolling waves, giving off a sense of immense pressure. However, the lean young man remained unusually calm and did not get angry. ¡°Who is number one will be determined once the martial arts tournament concludes.¡± ¡°As for you giving yourself a couple of days of face, what harm is there in that?¡± His confidence was evident in his words, and the standoff continued until two true intent masters stepped in to mediate. Seeing this scene, Chen Feng narrowed his eyes. Zhang Tai also sensed something was off and looked puzzled. ¡°Why haven¡¯t the people from the Flying Dragon Sect shown up?¡± As the hosts of the tournament, they hadn¡¯t made an appearance from the beginning until now. It seemed somewhat unreasonable. Thinking this, he glanced at Chen Feng and the others. Although the enmity between the Flying Dragon Sect and the Flame Tiger Sect was significant, it was clear that this wasn¡¯t the reason. Unable to ascertain, he shook his head. The three finished their dinner, and Zhang Tai took his leave first, returning to the Giant Elephant Sect¡¯s circle. After a moment, Zhao Jushan and Lin Xiaoyun returned one after another. The smiles on their faces gradually faded, and Chen Feng could see that their expressions had become more serious. ¡°I inquired a bit. Although the Flying Dragon Sect hasn¡¯t participated in the martial arts tournament in recent years, they have already dominated the entire martial arts scene in Yun Port behind the scenes.¡± ¡°More than a dozen sects have completely become their vassals, obeying their commands.¡± Lin Xiaoyun said in a low voice, clearly indicating that their earlier departure was not just for socializing. Beside her, Zhao Jushan had a similar expression and said solemnly, ¡°Not only that, I¡¯ve heard that the Flying Dragon Sect has successfully transformed and established the Flying Dragon Group, venturing into many industries in Yun Port, while also monopolizing the entire transmission of martial arts.¡± ¡°Every year, they select the most talented individuals first.¡± ¡°The rest are then given to sects like the One Fist Sect and the Giant Bear Sect.¡± With these words, although the restaurant was still noisy, the atmosphere among Chen Feng and the others fell silent for several seconds. Thirty years. Collecting all martial arts talents in Yun Port. One could imagine how profound the foundation and strength of the Flying Dragon Sect, with masters in command, must be now. With heavy hearts, the four quietly left the restaurant and returned to the Listening Wind Courtyard. Night fell, enveloping everything in silence. After tidying up, Chen Feng lay down on his bed, sensing that his master was still awake. The struggle for dominance was not just talk; it was a mountain pressing down on everyone in the Flame Tiger Sect. The more he understood, the more intense the unspoken oppression became. A thought crossed his mind, and he finally closed his eyes, suppressing all distractions. He knew there was only one way to break the deadlock. Strength. Even more powerful strength. Whoosh!! The fierce wind howled, and a body as solid as rock stepped forward. Dark mist swirled above, and the Shield Golem flapped its wings, shooting like a white beam of light straight towards the Extreme Martial Hall. At this point, the breakthrough was imminent. In the final few kilometers, Chen Feng could no longer care about the consumption of his mental energy. Although this would have some negative effects on him in reality, as long as he controlled it within a certain time, it was bearable. Whoosh!! Suddenly, the fierce wind rose again, and the Shield Golem moved at an incredible speed, not much slower than when it activated its blood-patterned wings. Buildings flew past beneath him, the shadows of the streetlights dark and deep. Until he was close to reaching the limit of mental exhaustion. A building came into view, and the small sign of the Extreme Martial Hall was barely visible below. Whoosh! The giant stone wings flapped, and the Shield Golem slowly descended. But soon, he sensed a change. Chen Feng¡¯s expression shifted slightly. Caw!! A piercing cry split the sky, and a shadow suddenly shot out from within the martial hall building below. It moved at incredible speed, covering a hundred meters in just a breath. With no way to evade, Chen Feng felt a wave of life-and-death crisis. At the critical moment, the Shield Golem stood upright, hovering in mid-air, and struck out with its right arm. Boom!!! The shockwave exploded, like a hurricane reversing. The powerful Shield Golem was actually pushed back seven or eight meters. Three claw-like marks appeared on the surface of its solid gray-white fist, and it stabilized its form only after flapping its stone wings again. Whoosh! The wind continued to howl as Chen Feng stood on its shoulder, steadying his balance and focusing his gaze. What he saw was a massive flying creature with a wingspan of nearly ten meters. Its black eagle-like exterior was covered in feathers as dark as iron, with a beak of dark gold. It was unmistakably the flying eagle creature he had caught a fleeting glimpse of in his dream a few days ago. Unlike the previous situation, the flying eagle creature now had cold vertical pupils, filled with murderous intent as if it were defending its territory. At the same time, several more shadows rose from the open space of the martial hall building below. They resembled smaller versions of the flying eagle creature, but their wingspan also reached six or seven meters, exuding an aura not inferior to that of an ordinary third-tier creature. With a serious expression, Chen Feng knew he had encountered a tough opponent this time. Feeling the rapid depletion of his mental energy. Without hesitation, he made a decision. ¡°Run!¡± Whoosh! The Shield Golem suddenly flapped its stone wings and left the area. However, that group of flying eagle creatures showed no mercy. They surrounded him one after another, their speed not much slower than that of the Shield Golem. Seeing this scene, Chen Feng made a quick decision. The Shield Golem dove straight towards a tall building, and he was already covered in Azure Armor, with blood-patterned wings sprouting out. Caw!! A piercing shriek erupted again, and the ground-floor windows of the nearby buildings trembled continuously, cracking. As the flying eagle swarm charged in unison, the Shield Golem suddenly halted, turned, and struck with its fist. Boom!!! The shockwave surged, and the ground-floor windows of the tall buildings shattered with a loud bang. The massive stone figure flickered rapidly, and the white light mixed with golden patterns vanished from the spot. The two flying eagles, injured and screeching, spiraled in the air, while the leader of the flying eagles, with its vertical pupils cold and indifferent, looked down at the ground. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After several breaths, having failed to find the target¡¯s trace, it finally spread its wings and returned, leading its group away. The sound of the wind gradually subsided, and everything slowly returned to silence. Witnessing this scene, Chen Feng, who was hiding in another building, had a grim expression, looking rather unpleasant. If it hadn¡¯t been for relying on the Shield Golem to maneuver and confuse their vision, and then escaping through the blood wings, he would have almost certainly been severely injured or even killed by that group of flying eagles. Besides that. ¡°I miscalculated.¡± He had originally planned to go directly to the martial hall, kill the masked man, obtain the Extreme Martial, and then loot the remaining limits. But now it seemed that those black soldier ants and the black ant swarm had definitely been driven away. Shaking his head to suppress his thoughts, the Shield Golem had consumed a lot of his mental energy, nearing its limit. After a moment of rest in place. After thinking for a while, Chen Feng decided to leave the building. ¡°The corpses controlled by the black soldier ants will be influenced by their consciousness from life.¡± ¡°So, the masked man from the Extreme Martial Hall won¡¯t stray too far from the hall.¡± With a clear thought, he slung his black backpack over his shoulder and quickly appeared on the asphalt road. He amplified his senses, and everything within a hundred meters became clear. That group of flying eagle creatures had already returned to the martial hall. What he needed to do was find the masked man before they discovered him. This was the best way for him to break through to true intent in a short time, and even if it was risky, it was worth it. Instantly, he quickened his pace. Centered around the Extreme Martial Hall, Chen Feng walked briskly within an eight-hundred-meter radius. Half an hour, an hour, two hours. The eight-hundred-meter radius was not small, and searching through it all consumed quite a bit of time. Time ticked away, and Chen Feng¡¯s heart sank. The time until the end of the dream was drawing closer, and he didn¡¯t want to return empty-handed. Step! Finally, just as his patience was about to run out. An unusual sound of footsteps echoed. At the end of his perception, at the entrance of a shopping mall. Several faceless individuals appeared. Some wore trench coats and leather shoes, while others were in sportswear and black boots. Instead of being startled, Chen Feng felt a surge of joy, for he clearly saw two men wearing white masks with black patterns standing behind those faceless individuals. As if sensing his approach, they not only didn¡¯t hide but instead stepped forward, seemingly thinking they had found their prey. Step step step step! The sound of footsteps echoed densely, and the other nearby faceless individuals seemed to receive orders, rushing in from all directions. ¡°Finally, I found you.¡± Grinning and licking his lips, Chen Feng saw the light orbs waving at him. In an instant, as the faceless individuals and the masked men approached like locusts. Whoosh!!! With a burst of energy, he dashed forward like a tiger. Bang bang bang bang bang! As if hit by a truck, countless figures were sent flying, crashing into walls. The two masked men paused, sensing something was off with the black soldier ants hidden in their hearts. They wanted to escape, but the next second. Snap! Both of their thick palms shot out simultaneously, one left and one right, perfectly grabbing their heads. ¡°Extreme Martial Fist.¡± His eyes lit up, and Chen Feng swung his arms. Boom!! The two tall and strong faceless individuals were smashed into the ground like toys, blood splattering everywhere. The crimson energy erupted, and a faint tiger roar reverberated. Boom! The two black soldier ants hidden in their hearts instantly perished, their piercing screams never even having a chance to sound. In the blink of an eye, the surrounding black soldier ant swarm went into a frenzy. Chen Feng flicked his palm, revealing a sharp bronze long knife. Swish! His figure flickered, and in two breaths. All the faceless individuals were severed in half, and the corrosive black residue gradually faded away. [Perception LV3: 70/100] Nearly twenty gray light orbs surged into his body, and Chen Feng glanced at the progress on his panel. The bronze sword in his hand quietly shrank, and he withdrew his gaze, looking at the two light orbs of pale blue floating not far in front of him. He stepped forward. Reaching out, he absorbed them. Buzz!! In an instant, a new scene appeared before him. ¡°Now that black disasters are frequent, and my sect has lost more than half of its experts, it¡¯s time to relax some rules.¡± In the scene, there was an old man and a young man, and the old voice echoed. One wore an ancient long robe, with gray hair, while the other was dressed in a white martial arts uniform, appearing to be in his early twenties. ¡°Though your talent is average, your character is upright.¡± ¡°It¡¯s rare that you have mastered the Explosive Fist and have practiced it to perfection, so you barely qualify to cultivate my sect¡¯s advanced techniques.¡± As the words fell, Chen Feng, who was observing this scene, was taken aback. ¡°Extreme Combat Fist, Celestial Tyrant Body. According to the sect¡¯s rules, you can only choose one of these advanced techniques.¡± ¡°I can teach you the first layer of the key points, and additionally allow you to observe the Essence of Combat Diagram.¡± ¡°Have you thought it through?¡± The old man asked calmly, while the young man across from him hesitated for a moment. ¡°Master, I want to choose Extreme Combat Fist.¡± ¡°Good!¡± The old man nodded readily and soon led the young man into a quiet room. It was quiet yet bright. Looking through the window, one could see the sky over Qinggang City, darkening as if shrouded in some black mist that wouldn¡¯t disperse. However, this was not the focus of Chen Feng¡¯s attention. Because, following the young man¡¯s line of sight. He saw the old man walk to the wall of the quiet room and pull a red rope. Whoosh! The round shaft hanging on the wall slid rapidly, revealing an ink wash painting. Extreme Combat! Only two bold characters, written in a flamboyant style, like a dragon flying and a phoenix dancing, with strokes as strong as iron! Completely different from any image Chen Feng had seen before. Yet, through the ink-colored characters, it seemed as if he saw a light point suspended in the sky. Infinitely magnified, it turned out to be a massive meteor falling from the sky. No, it was countless meteors! The atmosphere evaporated, flames erupted. Countless meteors came from beyond the heavens, blocking out the sun and bringing despair. But the next second. The painting rapidly ascended, and a figure stood at the cliff¡¯s edge, looking up at the sky full of meteors. ¡°Human strength will eventually reach its limit.¡± ¡°But, the fighting spirit is boundless!¡± Boom!! The image shattered, and all memories vanished without a trace. Chen Feng stood dazed in place, as if two large characters were rapidly coalescing in his eyes. Extreme Combat! Extreme Combat!! Extreme Combat!!! Buzz! In an instant, his mind automatically envisioned those two characters. It felt as if a roar echoed, breaking through the so-called limits of human strength, connecting to the endless future of martial arts. [You have comprehended the Essence of Combat Diagram!] [You have gained a new skill¡ªExtreme Combat Fist!] [Extreme Combat Fist: Beginner (1%)+] TL/N: F***ing Finally! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????Review Objective Achieved Mass Release (9/13) Chapter 137: Plans to Break Through True Intent [3k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- The next morning. A group of people marched towards the venue. Various sects emerged one after another, and Li Tong glanced at Chen Feng, somewhat puzzled. "Did you not sleep well last night?" Upon closer inspection, Chen Feng''s complexion appeared slightly haggard, and the brightness in his eyes was dimmer than usual. "A bit." Nodding lightly, Chen Feng accepted the other¡¯s reasoning. In reality, it was due to the excessive consumption from summoning the Shield Golem in his dream, akin to the principles of injury and death. However, it was manageable and did not significantly affect his strength. Moreover, His gaze fell on the panel displaying real-time notifications. In his mind, the words "Extreme Combat" emerged, which was the true intent he had been searching for for a long time. He had thought he would have to continue banging his head against the wall in a stroke of luck, but the result was¡ª Shaking his head inwardly, Chen Feng focused on the panel before him. [Extreme Combat Fist: Entry Level (1%) +] This high-level technique within the extraordinary martial arts had finally reached the entry level. Even if he had not yet reached the Meteor Realm, its effects were still extremely powerful, allowing him to condense his strength in a short time and unleash several strikes comparable to miniature missiles. Its power was even thirty percent stronger than the Flame Pillar that released strength, and it did not require any buildup. His gaze shifted downward. [Extreme Martial Arts: 4] Four portions of Extreme Martial Arts might allow the Extreme Combat Fist to break through to the Meteor Realm. However, His gaze moved down again, looking at the skills section. [Crimson Tiger Force: Burning Mountain (66%) +] If he were to fully decompose this, he would definitely break through to the Crimson Tiger Force level and enter the realm of true intent. At once, his eyes flickered. Chen Feng hesitated. No matter which option he chose, he would not lose out. But precisely because of this, he found it difficult to decide. "Naturally, with the competition approaching, it¡¯s normal to feel a bit nervous." Unaware of his thoughts, Li Tong, walking along, did not blame him but instead smiled and offered some comforting words: "When I first participated in the Martial Arts Conference, I felt the same way." "Just perform normally when the time comes. With you in the Inner Strength competition, I¡¯m very reassured." Upon hearing this, Zhao Jushan and Lin Xiaoyun both nodded in agreement, not refuting him. The battle yesterday had made them fully understand one principle. Their own direct disciple, born with a dominating spirit, was already among the top in the Inner Strength realm, ranking among the best in the southern martial arts community. With the other party backing them, they felt confident in the Martial Arts Conference, even daring to challenge the Flying Dragon Sect. Seeing this, Chen Feng fell silent for a moment. He was already clear about the rules of the competition. The main focus was on battles at the Inner Strength and true intent levels, with opponents drawn randomly through a lottery. Winners would earn points, while losers would lose points, determining the final rankings. The competition would last several days, starting with Inner Strength battles followed by true intent. So... "I understand." Nodding in response, Chen Feng seemed to accept the expectations of his master and the two true disciples. But in reality, he had made a decision. Rather than seeking uncertain outcomes, it was better to stick to his original goal. That was to break through to true intent! However... His gaze flickered, recalling the earlier conversation, and Chen Feng devised a better plan. Since he had decided to break through to true intent, he needed to maximize this opportunity. The Heart of Glory still needed upgrading, and winning the Inner Strength competition would also affect the ranking of the Flame Tiger Sect in the martial arts community. Thus, it would be wise to first participate in the Inner Strength competition to help the sect earn points. Afterward, he could privately break through and join his master in dealing with other true intent level battles. As for the training of the Extreme Combat Fist, it could wait until he continued to collect Extreme Martial Arts light orbs in his dreams; it was not too late. Instantly, his thoughts became clear, and he no longer hesitated. Chen Feng''s pace gradually slowed, and his emotions became increasingly calm. Step by step! The five of them entered the venue. Buzz! "I didn¡¯t expect the Golden Flying Eagle Sect to arrive so early." "How is this seating arranged? Why are we in the third row?" "Tsk tsk, I just saw a few people from the Heart Ape Sect; they are really dwindling." Suddenly, a cacophony of voices filled the air, with various discussions reaching his ears. Upon focusing, he saw that the internal space of the venue was vast, spanning thousands of square meters. In the center, there were nine white-gray arenas, with seating arranged in a circular pattern on both sides, extending for dozens of rows. Above was a huge transparent glass dome, currently half-open due to the clear weather. Each seating area had corresponding sect nameplates, arranged according to the rankings from the last Martial Arts Conference, extending from left to right and then backward. At this moment, nearly a thousand people were present in the venue, some sitting, some standing. Almost a hundred sects were represented, clearly more than those seen last night in the restaurant. They came from several provinces in the south, and according to the requirements of the Martial Arts Conference, even the weakest had Inner Strength masters in attendance. "Hey, Old Li, you¡¯re here?" Halfway through, someone greeted them. An old man with gray hair, of medium build, wore a loose robe embroidered with the words "Myriad Refinements." Behind him stood several disciples, including the senior brother Qin Tao, whom Chen Feng had met yesterday. "I heard you were ambushed by someone from the Flying Dragon Sect yesterday." "Is that true?" The old man leaned closer, curious, while Li Tong smiled and glanced at him. "What''s this, are you going to help me get revenge?" The visitor was momentarily taken aback, speechless. Li Tong chuckled, not teasing him further, and quickly gestured to Chen Feng and the others behind him. "These are my two disciples, Chen Feng and Xu Tingxiao." "Senior Lu from the Myriad Tempering Sect in Luohe City, just call him Elder Lu." Upon hearing this, Chen Feng and Xu Tingxiao clasped their fists in greeting, while Zhao Jushan and the others were already familiar with him. "Your two disciples are quite good." With a chuckle, Elder Lu focused on Chen Feng for a moment. His eyes brightened, and he nodded kindly before walking with Li Tong towards their seats. The Flame Tiger Sect ranked sixteenth last time, sitting in the second row. The Myriad Tempering Sect ranked in the thirties, but due to the fan-shaped seating arrangement extending backward, their positions were quite close, one in front and one behind. The disciples naturally walked together, during which Chen Feng sensed some malicious intent. Turning his head, he noticed the Pine Crane Sect, also seated in the second row. The white-haired elder of true intent, Yang Chengyuan, sat among them, exuding an intimidating aura as he cast several glances at him. The disciples behind him wore similarly cold expressions. In addition, several sects that had blocked his path yesterday were also visible again. Some were in the second row, others in the third. The One Fist Sect, Eight Trigrams Palm Sect, Giant Bear Sect, Flying Bird Sect¡ª Looking over, he saw that most of them had unfamiliar faces, but their expressions were similar to those of the Pine Crane Sect, filled with coldness and malice. Including the two true intent masters who had blocked his way, one fat and one thin, who also reappeared. "It seems you¡¯ve offended quite a few people." "Have you thought about how to handle it when the time comes?" Elder Lu from the Myriad Tempering Sect asked in a low voice, having also sensed the malicious gazes. Li Tong nodded slightly but did not speak. It wasn¡¯t that no one had advised him to withdraw from this competition. Everyone understood the saying, "As long as the green mountains remain, one need not worry about firewood." However, some matters pertained to the final dignity of the sect, which he could not retreat from. Seeing this, Elder Lu sighed and said no more. The group then stepped forward and took their seats in the second and third rows. Hundreds of sects continued to arrive, and the noise of discussions grew louder. Until finally, there was a commotion at the entrance of the venue. Chen Feng lowered his gaze and saw a dozen figures arriving last. Dressed mostly in white robes, with a few in blue. The only commonality was that above their robes, there was a pattern of a flying dragon, soaring and clawing. "They''re here." Zhao Jushan spoke solemnly. Not just him, nearly a hundred sects, totaling thousands of people, all turned their attention towards them. Their breaths steady, their faces flushed. From the Organ Training to the Entry Level, there were even two True Intent Masters leading the way. Without any pretense, the people from the Flying Dragon Sect directly took the main seats in the center of the first row. "This Flying Dragon Sect is acting a bit high and mighty, isn¡¯t it?" "I¡¯ve never seen them participate in the Martial Arts Conference before, and they have no ranking; why do they take the prime seat now?" "Look at the Golden Flying Eagle Sect; their faces are all dark." Voices of discontent echoed, mostly expressing dissatisfaction. Whoosh! Then, a true intent expert from the Flying Dragon Sect leaped onto the central white-gray arena. Ignoring the frowns of the other sects, he spoke loudly. "Flying Dragon Sect, Jiang Yunshan, greetings to all fellow practitioners." His voice was deep and resonant, clear enough to reach everyone¡¯s ears without the aid of a microphone. A faint flying dragon phantom could be seen emerging behind him, circling around him. He appeared to be in his forties, but his true intent aura was exceptionally pure, rivaling that of any sect leader present. With just this display, the noise in the venue quieted significantly. "We, the Flying Dragon Sect, have not participated in the Martial Arts Conference for thirty years; I believe many of you have forgotten us." His tone calm, the true intent middle-aged man named Jiang Yunshan surveyed the crowd and slowly said, "But that¡¯s alright." "Because in this Martial Arts Conference, everyone will surely remember us." "Remember, we are the Flying Dragon Sect." Roar!! As if a dragon''s roar echoed, the true intent phantom behind him soared into the sky, flying around the entire venue. Such a spectacle left many from smaller sects astonished, including true intent experts from the top five sects like the Giant Elephant Sect, who frowned in seriousness. "Hmm?" Suddenly, sensing a shift, Chen Feng turned his gaze towards the Flying Dragon Sect''s seating. "They don¡¯t seem that impressive." "This is our sect¡¯s former rival? To be honest, they seem quite weak." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I¡¯m really afraid we might end up killing them." Dozens of eyes exchanged glances, indifferent, curious, disdainful, and provocative. Chen Feng could sense some unabashed malice, especially from a few true disciples in blue robes. "Senior Brother." Xu Tingxiao, sitting beside him, looked displeased. He could also feel the provocative stares from the Flying Dragon Sect, pointing and whispering, igniting a surge of anger within him. "Junior Brother Xu, stay calm." Zhao Jushan patted his shoulder, offering some comfort. The Martial Arts Conference was like this; it concerned sect rankings and the division of territories. Few would show goodwill. Moreover, the Flying Dragon Sect had some grievances with them. In contrast, Chen Feng remained calm, silently watching the true intent middle-aged man on stage finish his speech and announce the start of the competition. "It seems it¡¯s still the old rules." Lin Xiaoyun remarked, noticing that people were gradually stepping out from the seating area, mostly younger disciples at the Organ Training level. Although the focus of the competition was on Inner Strength and true intent, To allow some younger disciples to gain experience and practice, the event would typically provide an hour or two beforehand for those below Inner Strength to challenge each other on stage. Step by step! Amidst the mixed discussions, figures flickered on the arena, and soon some disciples from mid-ranking sects took to the stage. "I, the Qingyun Palm, challenge the Moon Shadow Sect!" "Flying Bird Sect, dare to fight!" "One Fist Sect, get down here!" Similar voices rang out continuously, and the challenged disciples from various sects did not back down, leaping onto the stage to duel. Some experts from the Flying Dragon Sect took the stage as judges, and the sounds of fighting echoed one after another. In just a few minutes, victories and defeats were revealed, with some disciples from smaller sects being beaten to the point of spitting blood and flying off. During this time, Chen Feng observed. From one of the lower arenas, he spotted a familiar figure. Dressed in a green robe with a black monkey character embroidered on it. Slim and short-haired, it was none other than Sun Fei, a disciple from the Heart Ape Sect who had previously come to apologize. He had now reached the peak of the Organ Training level, with white light energy almost covering his arms. With swift strikes and agile movements, he quickly defeated a disciple from a smaller sect after a brief entanglement. "Thank you for the lesson." Sun Fei clasped his fists in salute, while his opponent, clutching his chest, reluctantly exited the stage. Elder Liu Fangming in the stands felt greatly relieved and was very satisfied with his disciple''s performance. Although this would not earn points or improve the Heart Ape Sect''s ranking, it was beneficial for the disciple to gain experience and truly practice on stage. For the future of the Heart Ape Sect, it was more beneficial than harmful. Observing all this, Chen Feng began to wait silently. The Flame Tiger Sect had only those at the Inner Strength and true intent; there were no disciples of lower realms. For over an hour, they merely acted as spectators, watching the exchanges and duels between various sects. Finally, just as this warm-up session was about to conclude, The previously inactive Flying Dragon Sect sent nine white-robed disciples to the stage one after another. Swish, swish, swish! Figures moved, and white light energy quickly enveloped their palms. "Nine at the peak of Organ Training?" Lin Xiaoyun narrowed her eyes, her expression serious. From a small glimpse, it was clear that the Flying Dragon Sect was finally beginning to showcase their strength and foundation. Bang, bang, bang! In the eyes of many, the nine white-robed disciples wasted no time and directly attacked. In just a few breaths, all opponents on the arena were defeated. "Is there anyone else willing to fight?" In a calm tone, one of the nine disciples spoke, deliberately looking towards the front row of seats. There sat the top ten sects from the last Martial Arts Conference. This action surprised everyone, and disciples from major sects like the Giant Elephant Sect and the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect darkened their expressions, feeling provoked. "I''ll take you on!" Someone stepped onto the stage, launching a fierce attack. But soon, With the sounds of fighting landing, the atmosphere in the arena gradually fell silent. Defeat! Defeat! Defeat! Aside from the Giant Elephant Sect, Golden Flying Eagle Sect, and Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect, which ended in a draw, The remaining six major sects, including the Golden Blade Sect and Lion Heart Sect, were all completely defeated. In an instant, the sound of a pin dropping could be heard, and even Chen Feng and the others frowned. "These disciples are probably on the verge of breaking through to Inner Strength." Zhao Jushan spoke in a low tone, his expression not looking good. Although they had anticipated that the Flying Dragon Sect was strong, the scene before them was still somewhat unexpected. Inner Strength practitioners were not common; some could even serve as sect leaders in smaller sects. Even in their Flame Tiger Sect, counting all the true disciples and a few reclusive elders, there were only a dozen or so. Other sects wore similar expressions, until finally, the true intent middle-aged man from the Flying Dragon Sect stepped onto the stage and laughed heartily. "These juniors'' sparring is not worth mentioning. Now, shall we begin the Inner Strength competition?" No one objected, or rather, everyone had already sensed something was off. The atmosphere became tense, and the entire scene in the venue was quietly projected onto a distant quiet room. "Elder, it seems they already have their answer in mind." The old man in a robe chuckled, glancing at the eight figures in the quiet room. Most were aged, but the one sitting at the head was a middle-aged man with a square face. Calm and indifferent, he spoke softly. "It¡¯s time to wake them up." "The southern martial arts community has been divided for too long; without our Flying Dragon Sect leading, it will be hard to achieve great things." Everyone nodded in agreement, most echoing his sentiments. As the atmosphere became lively, the previously speaking elder pondered for a moment before speaking again. "Elder, what about the Divine Martial Alliance?" "I have already promised them." The middle-aged man said calmly, and the others frowned slightly. No one dared to refute, even if there were some doubts. "That person exchanged blows with me; he is not weaker than a master." "Continuing to fight would be of no benefit to us." Seeing their thoughts, the middle-aged man provided an explanation. Upon hearing this, everyone¡¯s expressions tightened, and then they heard something even more important. "Additionally, Vice President Luo of the Provincial Federation has informed me of the news." "The higher-ups have made a decision. War is likely to begin." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????Review Objective Achieved Mass Release (10/13) Chapter 138: The Heroes Gather to Hunt [3.1k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- Buzz! In the venue, as the warm-up ended. The ground trembled slightly, and the nine platforms in the center began to slowly descend. With the sound of gears turning, the central area gradually split open, revealing three even larger square platforms. Each platform was several hundred meters in size, constructed entirely of some gray material. There were no railings on either side, offering a clear view, spacious and solid. In addition, several virtual screens projected from the ground instruments, floating in mid-air, flashing the names of various masters entering the competition like a lottery draw. However, the crowd paid little attention to this. Instead, they frowned and looked towards the seating of the Flying Dragon Sect. "During the competition, I ask all true intent masters and sect leaders to come to the back room of the venue for a discussion." Jiang Yunshan, who was responsible for maintaining order in the venue, spoke again, and the elder from the Golden Flying Eagle Sect frowned in dissatisfaction. "Jiang Yunshan, what exactly does your Flying Dragon Sect want to do?" Voices of questioning arose, and several other top sects shared the same expression. The sudden intervention of the Flying Dragon Sect in this martial arts conference was already strange. Now, with the current situation, they all sensed something was off. "Hehe, it''s my fault for not making it clear." Without showing anger, Jiang Yunshan instead cupped his hands and added, "It is a request from our sect''s master, not my personal order." As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere fell silent. Even the proud members of the Golden Flying Eagle Sect quieted down. Master Feilong, the pinnacle of martial arts. No one dared to disrespect. "A good request from Master Feilong." An elder from the Golden Blade Sect snorted coldly, but ultimately took the lead and walked towards the exit at the back of the venue. Seeing him take the lead, the expressions of the true intent elders from other top sects varied. Some snorted, some flicked their sleeves, but in the end, they chose to silently follow. One by one, the true intent masters left the venue, and Chen Feng and the others looked towards their sect leader. "I think something big is about to happen." "Ah." Sect leader Lu of the Myriad Tempering Sect shook his head and said, while Li Tong''s expression grew serious, the usual smile fading away. After hesitating for a moment, he looked at Chen Feng. "My good disciple, it will be up to you soon." As their eyes met, Chen Feng felt something was off. As if sensing his thoughts, Li Tong gestured towards the departing true intent masters. The number was increasing, forming a significant trend. Moreover, this was a request from Master Feilong. "Don''t worry, Master Feilong is also someone who values face." Patting Chen Feng''s shoulder, Li Tong finally turned and left with Sect Leader Lu. Watching their slightly plump figures disappear, Chen Feng remained silent in place. "Will Master be alright?" Xu Tingxiao asked with some concern. "With so many sects present, the Flying Dragon Sect shouldn''t act recklessly," Lin Xiaoyun rationally analyzed. Even so, the few of them still felt some anxiety. Ever since arriving in Yun Port, they had felt constrained everywhere. At this moment, that feeling was at its peak. The atmosphere was silent until the end. Chen Feng could be seen sitting back in his seat, not saying a word. Master Feilong. Everything revolved around these two words. The Flame Tiger had retreated back then precisely because of this. The Flying Dragon Sect had been able to rise against the odds and dominate Yun Port for thirty years for the same reason. Thinking of this, Chen Feng looked at the panel in front of him. [Heart of Glory LV1: 90/100] If he could upgrade his talent, it would grant the Shield Golem a chance for enhancement. Then even a master would not be impossible to deal with. "Junior Brother Chen?" Noticing the coldness in Chen Feng''s eyes, Zhao Jushan asked with concern. "It will end." Chen Feng closed his eyes and then opened them again, giving his response. "Everything will come to an end." Bang!! Ten minutes later, on Platform No. 3. A figure was sent flying out. A dignified second-level master was struck away by a single palm, falling off the platform and fainting on the spot. Eyes filled with astonishment turned towards the platform, where a young man in a blue robe from the Flying Dragon Sect had a bland expression, with a seven-character embroidery on his sleeve. "Too weak." Shaking his head to himself, he scanned all the sects in the venue. Zhan Wushuang from the Golden Flying Eagle Sect, Pang Kui from the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect, Zheng Shan from the Giant Elephant Sect, and the Lion Heart Sect. Each one was a top-level master from the intelligence reports, including Chen Feng. Exchanging glances, they indifferently withdrew their gazes. He then looked left and right. The battles on the other two platforms were still ongoing, featuring weaker members from other sects. "Why do we have to draw lots?" "Can''t we just settle it in one go?" Shaking his head in confusion, he fortunately flipped over and jumped off the platform. "This person is very strong; he seems to be the seventh true disciple of the Flying Dragon Sect." "I heard there are six others like him, all under thirty, each one stronger than the last." "The Flying Dragon Sect intends to trample all the sects underfoot." Whispers of discussion arose, and in the seating of the Giant Elephant Sect, Zhang Tai and Zheng Shan wore serious expressions. The true disciples of the Golden Flying Eagle Sect and several strong men from the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect were also feeling the tension, including Zhao Jushan and others nearby. Beep! The platform cleared, and the virtual screen flickered again. Soon, a notable figure stood up. Like a giant orca, he stirred up waves with every breath. "It''s Pang Kui!" Zhao Jushan''s expression turned serious as all eyes focused on him. A towering figure nearly two meters tall stomped and leaped onto the platform. Boom! The ground trembled slightly as he landed. Then, as the screen flickered again and settled on an opponent, the crowd''s expressions suddenly tightened. Step! A similarly robust figure in a blue robe stepped out slowly, appearing to be around twenty-six or twenty-seven, walking up the steps to the platform. The Flying Dragon emblem was fierce, and the three characters on his sleeve were eye-catching. "Is this the third true disciple of the Flying Dragon Sect?" "Pang Kui is sure to win, right?" Similar murmurs of discussion arose, and Zhan Wushuang from the Golden Flying Eagle Sect narrowed his eyes slightly. "Just admit defeat." Pang Kui stood still, his expression unchanged, "Although I don''t know what tricks your Flying Dragon Sect is up to." "But as a second-level master, no one has ever beaten me." Without responding, the third true disciple simply waited for the referee''s signal. Start! Whoosh!! The figure vanished in an instant, and when it reappeared, it was already in front of Pang Kui. His pupils contracted as he saw a powerful punch coming. Roar!!! It was as if a flying dragon had appeared, its roar echoing endlessly. The sound of crashing waves rose, and Pang Kui''s expression changed slightly as he quickly lowered his center of gravity. Boom!!! A wave of energy exploded from behind him, a pillar of force as thick as a fist pierced through, hovering several meters in the air. The dark whale-patterned robe burst apart, revealing the veins on Pang Kui''s face, who roared and swung his arms, his ears ringing. It was as if a killer whale was crashing through waves, the oppressive energy locking onto everything. The air whistled, and white vapor exploded. Swish!! However, in the next second. The unstoppable dual fists suddenly struck empty air, and the third true disciple had vanished from his original spot, appearing behind Pang Kui. "How is that possible!" "He actually dodged the Whale Body Six Styles." "He even managed to evade the energy lock?" Gasps of astonishment arose from the crowd, and the top sect members from the Giant Elephant Sect and others were extremely serious, even the usually confident Zhan Wushuang showed signs of wariness. "It''s over." Roar!! The energy pillar erupted again, as if an invisible force penetrated Pang Kui''s body, appearing from behind and tearing through the air. One, two, three. Nine consecutive attacks, the blue figure flickered continuously. Boom!! Pang Kui''s massive body staggered, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his face pale as he half-knelt on the ground. "You were able to make me unleash nine punches." "You are not weak." His palm stopped at the opponent''s throat, and although the third true disciple had consumed a lot of energy, his aura remained incredibly strong. Their eyes met, and Pang Kui gritted his teeth in unwillingness. "I lost." "Pang Kui actually lost?" Many people widened their eyes in disbelief, and Chen Feng also squinted at the platform, feeling somewhat surprised. In terms of energy perception, this third true disciple was not much stronger than Pang Kui. But the result had come to a swift conclusion. Beside him, Zhao Jushan and the others were also unable to recover for a long time, but in the next second. Beep! Another platform cleared, and the screen flickered, revealing a new match. [Flame Tiger Sect, Zhao Jushan, Platform No. 2!] As the draw settled, Zhao Jushan exhaled a breath of foul air. Then, he gently nodded at Chen Feng, his gray robe billowing as he quickly left his seat and walked towards the platform. "Don''t worry, Jushan''s Bronze Statue Technique is almost perfected." Seemingly sensing Xu Tingxiao''s concern, Lin Xiaoyun suppressed her doubts about watching the match and quickly reassured, "He has dealt with second-level masters before; as long as he doesn''t encounter those top sects, then..." Beep! The opponent on the virtual screen settled. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A blue-robed figure from the Flying Dragon Sect, with the characters on his sleeve reading six. Lin Xiaoyun''s words were interrupted, and many gazes turned towards the arena. Step! The sixth true disciple of the Flying Dragon Sect moved like a swimming dragon, stepping onto the platform, his expression particularly disdainful. "Flame Tiger Sect, heh." He looked at Zhao Jushan, who wore a serious expression, standing about seven or eight meters away on the opposite side of the platform. A glint of mockery flashed in his eyes, and his words fell lightly. "Bow down and admit defeat, or I''ll cripple you." His tiger-like eyes blazed, but Zhao Jushan still restrained his emotions. Until finally, the referee waved his hand. "Not admitting defeat? Then don''t blame me." "Stop talking nonsense!" Stomping the ground, he interrupted the opponent. Zhao Jushan struck fiercely, leaving no room for mercy. With a weaker realm, if he let his anger out, how could he still compete? Buzz!! Bronze energy covered his entire body as he threw a punch, deep red energy condensing within. Bang! The energy exploded, hitting the opponent. There was no hint of joy; instead, Zhao Jushan''s mood sank to the bottom. Looking at the situation, his full-powered punch was easily caught by the opponent''s raised palm. As if fire met water. The blue energy flowed endlessly, all the deep red energy sizzling and extinguishing. "I told you, admit defeat." Whoosh!!! A blue palm suddenly struck out, directly hitting Zhao Jushan''s chest. Bang!! The bronze chest caved in, his body bending backward. His tiger-like eyes widened, blood vessels bursting. Even with his Strengthening Skills, and nearing the perfection of the Bronze Statue Technique. Zhao Jushan still felt a sharp pain, as if his breastbone was about to shatter. In contrast, the blue-robed youth swayed slightly, easily dissipating all the recoil force. Moreover. His left hand''s five fingers gripped his own fist like dragon claws, and then his right arm broke through the air, leaving a series of afterimages. Bang bang bang bang bang! The gray robe shattered into flying threads, leaving a series of concave palm prints on Zhao Jushan''s chest. His blood-streaked eyes gradually closed, and his robust aura rapidly plummeted. Thud! His body fell weakly, and in just a few seconds, Zhao Jushan had already fallen backward, fainting on the spot. In an instant. Chen Feng''s expression turned cold, and Lin Xiaoyun beside him wore a similar expression. "Senior Brother Zhao!" Xu Tingxiao''s face turned anxious as he hurriedly left his seat to help the fallen Zhao Jushan. The judges from the Flying Dragon Sect remained indifferent throughout, while the other sects wore varied expressions, some frowning, others discussing. "Such heavy hands?" "Almost crippled him directly." "How ruthless." The true disciples from the top sects like Zheng Shan had complex expressions, and Pang Kui, who was being helped off the stage, shook his head. The Flying Dragon Sect still had some reservations about dealing with people like them, but when it came to the Flame Tiger... "Such a fragile defense, what kind of trash Strengthening Skills are they practicing?" The sixth true disciple said blandly, his tone slightly mocking. Xu Tingxiao carried the unconscious Zhao Jushan, his face flushed, fists clenched tightly. Beep! Suddenly, at that moment. Another platform cleared, and the virtual screen flickered again, revealing a new match. [Flame Tiger, Lin Xiaoyun, Platform No. 3!] Upon seeing this information, Lin Xiaoyun''s expression froze. The next second, the screen flickered again. The image froze, and the opponent appeared. As if already anticipated, the opponent had stepped onto the platform first. Upon closer inspection, the figure was of medium build, and somewhat familiar. "Another seventh true disciple!" "What the heck is going on?" "Why is it always someone from the Flying Dragon Sect?" Whispers of discussion arose, and Chen Feng had already stood up with a cold gaze. However, as if sensing something. Beep! The screen for the platform where Zhao Jushan was located suddenly flickered, and the image froze. [Flame Tiger, Xu Tingxiao, Platform No. 2.] Everyone was stunned, including Xu Tingxiao. Before he could react, he saw the sixth true disciple on the platform standing still, revealing a mocking smile. At the same time, the virtual screen behind him flickered and froze, displaying the same face. "What the hell!" "This isn''t right!" "Can''t you see? The Flying Dragon Sect is intent on wiping out the Flame Tiger Sect!" The discussions reached Chen Feng''s ears, and his expression turned completely cold. "The Flame Tiger''s ranking this time is likely to drop to the bottom." Zheng Shan from the Giant Elephant Sect shook his head, noticing the signs, feeling some pity. Zhan Wushuang and the injured Pang Kui wore similar expressions. Beep! Instantly, the last cleared Platform No. 1 flickered, revealing the expected name. [Flame Tiger, Chen Feng, Platform No. 1!] The text settled, and footsteps sounded. A slender young man in a blue robe with the characters on his sleeve reading five stepped onto the platform. In an instant, the atmosphere fell silent, and many couldn''t help but swallow hard. "Flame Tiger Sect." In the last row of seats, the expressions of Liu Fangming and his disciple from the Heart Ape Sect were complex, but they dared not intervene. The disciples of the Myriad Tempering Sect were furious, and some couldn''t help but seek help from the top sects. "This is targeted!" "Brother Zhan Wushuang, could you please step in to mediate?" Zhao Jushan''s friend, Qin Tao, earnestly requested, looking towards Zhan Wushuang. His eyelids twitched; he had already sensed the dangerous gazes from the Flying Dragon Sect. The first and second true disciples, even the third true disciple, had begun to recover their energy. Sigh... With a sigh, Zhan Wushuang closed his eyes and shook his head, not intending to intervene. Qin Tao felt disappointed, looking towards Pang Kui and others. "Senior Brother." Zhang Tai from the Giant Elephant Sect felt some reluctance and wanted to speak, but was stopped by Zheng Shan''s shake of the head. Instantly, the atmosphere fell silent, with no one responding. Qin Tao wanted to say more. Clap! A hand pressed down on his shoulder, and he turned to see Chen Feng, who had stood up at some point, shaking his head at him. "Thank you, Senior Brother Qin." As he moved his steps, he released his grip. He brushed past Qin Tao, walking out of the seating area with Lin Xiaoyun, heading to the side of the platform. This was a battle between dragons and tigers, a grudge that belonged solely to the Flame Tiger Sect and the Flying Dragon Sect. It truly shouldn''t involve more people. "Senior Brother." Xu Tingxiao''s face flushed, still carrying the unconscious Zhao Jushan, feeling an overwhelming bitterness, his nose tinged with sourness, and his eyes slightly red. He was a genius from Nanjiang City. But in Yun Port, he felt as weak as dust. The elders who used to care for him were no longer around, and the isolation and oppression were about to crush him. Step! As he moved his feet, Chen Feng stood in front of him. He patted his shoulder and then looked up at the venue. It was vast enough to accommodate thousands of people. Yet, there was no place for the few members of the Flame Tiger. Thousands of gazes converged, and the expressions of the true disciples from the Flying Dragon Sect on the three platforms varied. Some mocked, some sneered, while four others with even stronger auras crossed their arms, watching with predatory eyes. "So, you are the strongest under true intent in the southern martial arts world?" Chen Feng suddenly spoke, his tone calm as if it were the frost of a cold pond. Zhan Wushuang and Pang Kui frowned slightly, while the members of the Flying Dragon Sect revealed blatant mockery. "That''s right, you could say that." The slender fifth true disciple stood on Platform No. 1, spreading his hands with a nonchalant smile, "Because of what you just said, I can give you a chance." "Kneel down and admit defeat on behalf of the Flame Tiger Sect." "From now on, you will never set foot in Yun Port again, and I will let you leave this place." As his voice fell, someone from the Pine Crane Sect let out a delighted laugh. The malice grew thicker, and the smiles of revenge and mockery became clear in their perception. "Then there''s no need to waste time." Chen Feng''s steps were steady as he ascended Platform No. 1. Without even glancing at the fifth true disciple, he surveyed all the members of the Flying Dragon Sect below, including the surrounding judges. "You all, come at me together." TL/N: Yes SIR! This is what I¡¯m talking about¡­ (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????Review Objective Achieved Mass Release (11/13) Chapter 139: Brutal Slaughter [2.9k] Translator: Cinder Translations --- "Elder Jiang, may I ask where Master Feilong is?" In a large silent room at the back of the venue, an elder from the Golden Flying Eagle Sect frowned and asked. Around him sat several true intent-level masters from the southern martial arts community, and upon closer inspection, they noticed a red oval wooden table in the center of the room, surrounded by rows of wooden chairs extending to the wall. Master Feilong had yet to make an appearance, which left many feeling puzzled. At this moment, someone took the lead to ask, and everyone curiously turned their gaze to Jiang Yunshan, who was seated at the head of the round table. "Hehe, the Master will arrive shortly." "Elder Xu need not think too much; just wait patiently." Jiang Yunshan said with a smile, his tone exceedingly calm. Upon hearing this, the elder from the Golden Flying Eagle Sect snorted coldly, clearly dissatisfied with such evasive words. "Elder Jiang, if there¡¯s something to say, just say it. Why beat around the bush?" An elder from the Golden Blade Sect raised an eyebrow and spoke, with several others from different sects echoing his sentiment. They had realized that the Flying Dragon Sect must have some ulterior motive for gathering them here. After a moment of hesitation, Jiang Yunshan looked around and nodded slightly. "Very well, then I will first convey a message on behalf of our sect''s Master." "Please speak." Everyone focused, with Li Tong and Elder Lu sitting in the back row, waiting solemnly. "The southern martial arts community has been divided for many years, and the situation in the Red Nation is about to undergo a significant change." "Our Flying Dragon Sect hopes that all of you can unite as one, consolidate the power of martial arts, and advance and retreat together to safeguard our rights." Jiang Yunshan said calmly, but many were frowning in confusion. A significant change in the situation? Li Tong inexplicably thought of the recent Utopian riots that had occurred in Nanjiang City. The five top sects seated to the left and right of the head table, however, wore solemn expressions, their brows furrowed. "So, what does the Flying Dragon Sect mean by this?" Elder Xu from the Golden Flying Eagle Sect asked. "Let our Flying Dragon Sect serve as the leader of the southern martial arts community, jointly establishing the Southern Martial Alliance." Meeting their gazes, Jiang Yunshan smiled and said, "At that time, the five major sects will serve as vice-leaders. What do you all think?" --- "Arrogant!" On the arena stage, as Chen Feng''s voice fell, several true disciples from the Flying Dragon Sect turned furious. Especially the fifth true disciple. The feeling of being ignored filled him with rage, a blue light flickering on his gaunt face, and his entire body exuding power in an instant. "I thought you had the qualifications to compete with me." "Who would have thought you were just a short-sighted clown!" Whoosh!! The moment the cold voice landed, he had already dashed out like a blue light shadow, charging towards Chen Feng. "There''s no need." Seeing the other party make no move, Zhan Wushuang and Pang Kui both shook their heads, while Zhang Tai looked on with a pained expression. In just a breath''s time. A dragon''s roar echoed, and blue energy coalesced into an arc of light, erupting from the fifth true disciple''s hand, striking hard against Chen Feng''s chest. Boom!! A muffled explosion sounded, as if steam had burst forth. The robe of the Flame Tiger sect was pierced and turned to flying shreds, while disciples from the Flying Dragon''s affiliated sects showed expressions of delight. However, the next second. Buzz!!! Heavy bronze energy enveloped Chen Feng''s entire body, and he remained completely still, glancing sideways at the person before him. "Hmm?" His expression tightened, and Pang Kui below sensed something was off. "What a strong recoil." The fifth true disciple''s eyes shifted slightly, feeling an unprecedented force rebounding towards him. A full forty percent made his arm tremble, feeling extremely uncomfortable. His body swayed as he stomped down to dissipate the force, and seeing the indifferent expression of the person before him, he erupted in anger, wanting to strike again to finish him off. "Are you holding back?." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Slap. A thick palm suddenly reached out, grabbing his wrist just as he was about to strike. A crimson hue quietly blossomed, and sizzling sounds echoed. Fire and water, red and blue. They should have been at a stalemate, but the former quickly gained overwhelming advantage, swiftly extinguishing all of the fifth true disciple''s energy. "Not good!" The sixth and seventh true disciples, who were closest, sensed something was wrong. They had initially planned to deal with Lin Xiaoyun and Xu Tingxiao, but at this moment, they quickly changed their minds and rushed towards the first arena. Whoosh!!! The sound of air being sliced was deafening, and the crowd below had long been left in shock. "Ah." Zhan Wushuang shook his head and sighed, while Zheng Shan from the Giant Elephant Sect wore a complex expression. He thought to himself that even if he were in that position, he might not be able to withstand the combined assault of these three true disciples. But the next second. "Five, six, seven?" "So, you three are the weakest." Boom!!! The moment the indifferent voice fell, a headbutt struck out. Bronze steel bones quietly covered his forehead, blending with his skin tone, making it hard to see. Crack! The fifth true disciple''s eyes widened, feeling his skull shatter, intense pain erupting as cracks spread. His arms were instantly twisted and broken, contorted at a one-hundred-eighty-degree angle. "Fifth Brother!" "Fifth Senior Brother!" The sixth and seventh true disciples'' faces turned furious, and in the blink of an eye, they had already rushed to Chen Feng''s side. Without sparing a glance at the seemingly lifeless fifth true disciple, Chen Feng turned and spun, planting his left foot on the ground and sweeping his right leg. Buzz! Crimson energy enveloped him like flames, directly sweeping the incoming seventh true disciple, breaking through his crossed arms and sending him flying off the arena. A killing intent erupted beside him, and blue energy surged terrifyingly. Chen Feng''s right palm was surrounded by energy, resembling a concentrated fireball. Flame Blast! The energy technique of the Flame Tiger sect may have fallen into decline. But in his hands, that energy, refined through countless trials, was even more pure and powerful. Boom!! The clash of palms erupted, blue and red light exploding simultaneously. The shockwave swept through, shaking the arena. The sixth true disciple''s face turned grim, and he immediately stomped the ground to charge forward, wanting to unleash his ultimate technique. But the next second. Whoosh! A bronze arm shot out like a spear, piercing through the residual shockwave of the energy explosion, directly imprinting on his chest. Boom!! His chest caved in, eyes wide, blood vessels bursting. As his body bent backward, about to fly away, another powerful arm reached out, firmly grabbing his shoulder. Bang bang bang bang bang!! Continuous strikes echoed, the sound of bones cracking resonating. Everything looked just like what had happened to Zhao Jushan earlier, only the target had changed. "Hah." Blood stained the blue robe, the sixth true disciple, whose chest bones had been shattered, fell to the ground, breathless. The fifth true disciple behind him, covered in blood, collapsed alongside him, resembling a pile of mud. As the dust slowly settled below, the seventh true disciple, whose arms had been smashed, fell to the ground, his face pale, staggering to his feet. The atmosphere fell into silence, the faces of the disciples from the Pine Crane Sect and the One Fist Sect stiffened, while Pang Kui and Zhan Wushuang also showed expressions of shock. "Seeking death!!!" Coming back to their senses, the four top true disciples from the Flying Dragon Sect wore cold expressions, their killing intent palpable. The fourth true disciple charged out, his burly body crashing like a truck, heading straight for Chen Feng. Crack crack crack crack! Bones grew, his physique towering. Chen Feng stood his ground, his right arm transforming into a claw, suddenly bulging and thickening. Boom!!! All impacts were suppressed by that solid palm, the gray stone bricks of the arena shattered, and Chen Feng''s legs sank several inches into the ground. Familiar with the explosive fist technique, Chen Feng''s right claw gripped the incoming person''s crown, his expression growing increasingly cold. Crack! The sound of a skull shattering rang out, and the restrained third true disciple could no longer remain seated. Whoosh!!! Blue light erupted, arriving in an instant. That was the high-speed movement brought by a special energy technique. Below the arena, Zheng Shan and Zhang Tai were already filled with uncertainty, while Pang Kui instinctively stood up, looking on with a serious expression. Boom!!! A punch struck the chest of the bronze body. The energy column shot through Chen Feng''s body from behind, tearing through the air, lingering for a moment. With no reservations, the third true disciple''s expression turned fierce, his figure flickering, turning into a series of blue light shadows on the arena. One punch, two punches, three punches. Just like the nine consecutive strikes he had used against Pang Kui earlier, even more rapid. A full eleven energy columns pierced through Chen Feng''s body, embedding him in place like arrows of light. Until the end. His figure paused. He could be seen revealing himself, his face pale, breathing heavily. His arms had already been injured by the recoil, his sleeves shredded, exposing swollen muscles and somewhat twisted arms. Such a technique was also a massive drain on him, costing him dearly. But as long as he could exhaust the enemy before him... "Are you tired?" Suddenly, the indifferent voice rang out again. The third true disciple''s pupils constricted, looking on in disbelief. The burly youth still stood in place, looking coldly at him. Boom!!! All the energy columns exploded, swirling flames dominating everything around. With a Silver-grade physique, and in the form of a giant tiger. Not to mention, there was also the near-Gold-grade support of the bronze bones, forming the strongest inner armor around his organs, resisting all penetration. In an instant, Pang Kui below completely changed color. "How is this possible!!" In disbelief, Zhan Wushuang, not far away, clenched his fists tightly, utterly shocked. Wasn''t it said that the Flame Tiger sect had already declined, with most of its heritage lost? Or was it that the so-called Giant Tiger Technique and Bronze Statue Technique were even stronger than the core true techniques of the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect? Buzz! Unaware of the crowd''s feelings, Chen Feng exerted force with both palms, forcibly slamming the fourth true disciple into the ground. The crisp crack and muffled explosion sounded, a portion of his head splitting open, blood splattering onto his pants. Then, the ground shook. He could be seen stomping forward, preparing to take the third true disciple along with him. "Attack together!" The second true disciple of the Flying Dragon Sect had unknowingly put down his arms crossed over his chest, his expression cold and filled with killing intent. The blue-robed youth seated in the central position nodded coldly, no longer holding back. Boom!!! The ground of the venue collapsed, two blue shadows rapidly breaking through the air, appearing on the first arena in less than a second. The white-gray arena cracked loudly, forming a circular depression as it trembled upwards. "I admit you have the qualifications to make us both take action." The second true disciple appeared, and he had already positioned himself behind Chen Feng, his body flashing blue light, face filled with malice. As his voice fell, the first true disciple stood in front of Chen Feng, his elbow bent, eyes filled with killing intent, energy coalescing. "But..." "This is where it ends." Buzz!!! Blue light erupted, an energy close to true intent, even revealing a transparent illusion of true intent about to solidify. Roar!!! Two blue flying dragons clawed and danced, one in front and one behind. A powerful pressure swept out, and Zhan Wushuang below clenched his fists tightly, his face looking extremely grim. Just as he had predicted. These two had also touched the threshold of true intent. "Senior Brother!!" Boom!!! Xu Tingxiao''s anguished shout rang out, while Lin Xiaoyun''s face turned exceptionally pale. The Flying Dragon consecutive strikes unleashed, the shockwave sweeping through. The massive first arena had already shattered into pieces, a cloud of dust rising as if it had encountered a small earthquake. The crowd below was completely stunned, Zhang Tai''s expression was complex, while the disciples from the smaller sects in the back felt a sense of shared sorrow. Crack! However, the next second. An unusual sound emerged, and all the dust was swept away. The figures of the first and second true disciples became visible, but the crowd''s pupils constricted, utterly shocked. Looking on, they saw a cold, emotionless smile. The bronze figure grinned, revealing its menacing white teeth, its bulging arms extending outwards, slightly turning to catch the incredibly powerful Flying Dragon consecutive strikes. "When one is truly close to true intent." "One blow is all it takes!" Buzz!!! The explosive fist erupted again, a full ten tons of extreme power causing the faces of the two Feilong true disciples to stiffen. Crack! With a grip, their fist bones shattered, their inner bones turning to crushed remnants. Intense pain erupted, and they attempted to withdraw their palms. But. Roar!!! A tiger''s roar erupted, as if a fierce tiger''s phantom appeared behind Chen Feng, roaring to the sky. Crimson energy and spirit resonated continuously, leaving the crowd below utterly stunned. "True intent!" "He is about to break into true intent!!" Zhan Wushuang couldn''t believe it, as Chen Feng''s panel displayed two extreme martial arts decompositions, rapidly transforming into a breakthrough. [Crimson Tiger Force: Burning Mountain (66%¡ú76%)] [Crimson Tiger Force: Burning Mountain (76%¡ú86%)] The momentum soared infinitely, and the true disciples of the Flying Dragon Sect were also horrified. In that instant, the explosive fist struck again, both palms gripping the faces of the first and second true disciples. Slammed to the ground! Boom!!! The already shattered arena broke apart even more, the two figures embedded into the solid ground. With both feet firmly planted on the heads of the two true disciples, Chen Feng reached out with one hand, grabbing the neck of the third true disciple who had rushed in. The judges from the Flying Dragon Sect around were frozen in fear, their eyes wide with shock. [You have completed a battle to defend your honor.] [Victory!] [Honor Points +30!] [Heart of Glory upgraded successfully!] [You have gained an opportunity to enhance the Shield Golem!] Panel notifications kept appearing, and the two proud heads beneath his feet were now covered in gray and red, the sound of cracking skulls echoing continuously. Crimson energy flowed throughout Chen Feng''s body, and he indifferently surveyed the entire venue. No one could maintain a calm gaze; he finally looked at the third true disciple, whose face was flushed, arms broken and hanging limply, struggling to resist. "You are all too weak." Crack!! The sound of bones cracking echoed, and the head tilted, lifeless. Seeing this scene, the people from the Pine Crane Sect in the distance completely changed color, their faces pale with fear. Roar!!! Behind him, the phantom of the Crimson Tiger was on the verge of materializing, at a critical moment of solidification. In that instant, there was no more hesitation. Extreme martial arts points, decompose! Breakthrough, enhance! Buzz! The last two extreme martial arts points disappeared, an endless understanding surged forth. It was the result of countless days and nights of hard training, all the unwillingness of gritting his teeth. The oppression and constraints of dragon fights and tiger struggles, thirty years of failures, unable to lift his head. Conspiracy, indifference, killing intent, ridicule. In that instant, he looked again at the surprise and expectation on Xu Tingxiao and others'' faces below. Chen Feng suddenly smiled. "So this is true intent." [Crimson Tiger Force: Crimson Tiger (1%)] Roar!!! The tiger''s roar shook the heavens, looking down upon everything! The phantom of the fierce tiger envisioned by his energy completely materialized, flames swirling beneath its four paws. Measuring several meters in size, with a kingly aura displayed on its head, its cold vertical pupils surveyed the entire arena, filled with aggressive ferocity. Crack crack crack crack! Boom! The already shattered arena exploded violently, the heads of the two true disciples beneath his feet bursting open, blood and debris splattering everywhere. Without a moment''s pause, Chen Feng looked at the panel. [Heart of Glory LV2: 5/100] [Would you like to enhance the Shield Golem?] Enhance! Buzz! The talent prompt received a response. A streak of white light mixed with golden patterns in the depths of his mind suddenly shone brilliantly. The miniature Shield Golem opened its eyes, a beam of golden light formed from honor enveloping it. In just a few seconds, an unmatched sense of confidence surged from the depths of Chen Feng''s heart. This was the new Shield Golem. It could control its size to a certain extent, and could battle against Gold-grade Cyborgs, contending with masters! Consumption decreased instead of increasing, with a limit approaching five minutes! Boom!!! A violent noise suddenly erupted from the back of the venue. With a cold expression, Chen Feng suddenly stomped the ground. Rumble! The sound of vibrations rose, dust swirling, leaving the crowd in confusion. The white light mixed with golden patterns vanished in an instant, and he had already taken Xu Tingxiao and Lin Xiaoyun with him, charging out of the venue! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????Review Objective Achieved Mass Release (12/13) Chapter 140: The Might of the Shield Golem, Breaking Through the Siege! [2.6k] Translator: --- Bang!! In the spacious quiet room at the back of the venue, wooden chairs shattered, and the walls were pierced. Several True Intent level sect masters were sent flying out, covered in blood, gravely injured and unconscious. The scene, meant to intimidate, made the onlookers'' eyelids twitch, especially the elder of the Golden Flying Eagle Sect who had voiced opposition, now spitting blood, with a blade wound piercing his chest. "You, you of the Golden Blade Sect... are you also a dog for the Flying Dragon Sect?" The elder of the Golden Flying Eagle Sect turned pale, unable to believe it. He never expected such a blow from behind him. Similarly, the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect and the Lion Heart Sect, among other top sects, wore expressions of shock and suspicion, even exchanging glances filled with doubt. "You''ve stayed in the top position for too long." Pfft! The blade light was drawn out, blood splattering. The esteemed elder of the Golden Flying Eagle Sect died right there. And the elder of the Golden Blade Sect unceremoniously took the position the elder had just occupied. In an instant, Li Tong, sitting in the back row, felt a chill in his heart, already sensing several auras locking onto him. "We, the Flying Dragon Sect, are the leader of the Southern Martial Alliance." "Is there anyone who still opposes?" Jiang Yunshan asked with a smile. The atmosphere grew tense, and some could no longer bear the pressure and prepared to nod. Whoosh!!! Without hesitation, Li Tong erupted with power, a fierce tiger shadow coalescing behind him. In an instant, like a fleeting shadow, he broke through the quiet room''s window, landing on the first floor''s rockery grass, about to leave. "Where do you think you''re going!!!" Yang Chengyuan of the Pine Crane Sect had long been on guard against his escape. Caw!! A white pine crane shadow appeared out of nowhere, surprisingly arriving first, rushing out the window to block him. Bang!! The force exploded, red and white lights clashing. Li Tong''s figure halted, standing in the middle of the grass. His face darkened completely, and from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of shadows landing behind him, four True Intent masters surrounding him. One Fist Sect, Eight Trigrams Palm Sect, Giant Bear Sect, and Flying Bird Sect. These were the sects that had blocked him on the day he arrived in Yun Port, and they had long since become vassals of the Flying Dragon Sect. "Hahaha, Li Tong, you have lost today!" Yang Chengyuan''s face was filled with delight, standing in the center, not forgetting the humiliation he suffered that day at the Flame Tiger Pavilion. The other four True Intents also wore fierce expressions, locking him in from all sides, leaving him no escape. "Li Tong, admit defeat." "Since you dare to return to Yun Port, don''t think you can leave again." Mocking and threatening voices rang out, but Li Tong did not respond. Instead, a wave of intense crisis surged within him, and he turned to look at the redwood corridor beside the rockery grass. Step, step! Several figures approached, mostly elderly men with gray hair, all wearing Flying Dragon robes. The weakest among them was at the True Intent level, but that was not the most deadly part. Because, behind them, the Crimson Tiger shadow bristled, and Li Tong''s gaze was fixed on the middle-aged man surrounded by them. He had a square face and wore a light blue robe. There were no Flying Dragon patterns, but behind him was a vividly lifelike flying dragon, as if it had truly materialized. Soaring from the clouds, it peered down. The dragon whiskers moved slightly, its vertical pupils indifferent. The pressure of a master condensed and did not dissipate, causing Li Tong to tremble all over, his spine cracking as if about to break, and the blood vessels within him were rapidly compressed, on the verge of bursting. "Flame Tiger Sect." The middle-aged man''s expression was calm, the scales of the flying dragon beside him appearing real. "Kneel, submit." "I can give you a way out." His voice was light and breezy, but Li Tong gritted his teeth, small blood vessels bursting within him, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins. Step, step, step, step, the footsteps sounded, and Jiang Yunshan and others who were in the quiet room on the second floor appeared. "Greetings, sect master!" The True Intent Masters of the Flying Dragon Sect respectfully addressed him. The mood of the top sects like the Giant Elephant Sect sank completely. They had planned to continue stalling, but this master had already appeared. It was clear they had only one choice left. "What now?" The middle-aged man asked indifferently, not caring about the many respectful figures beside him, still looking coldly at Li Tong. The flying dragon beside him continued to look down, and under its pressure, the Crimson Tiger True Intent gradually became illusory and transparent, its desire to raise its head and roar suppressed, almost lying flat on the muddy grass. Crack! The ground began to sink, and Li Tong''s spine bent like a bow. He never expected that his former peer enemy had already become a master. The overwhelming pressure kept coming, his knees cracking, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to kneel. In the blink of an eye, blood dripped. His eyes, nose, and ears bled, staining the red-patterned white robe. Some True Intent Masters showed signs of compassion, but no one dared to speak up. "It seems you have made your decision." Shaking his head and no longer waiting, the middle-aged sect master of the Flying Dragon Sect stepped forward, preparing to leave. "Since that''s the case, from now on." "There will be no more Flame Tiger." Whoosh!!!!!! A violent sound of breaking air suddenly rang out from above, forcibly interrupting the middle-aged sect master''s words. With a raised brow, everyone looked up at the sky. A white light mixed with golden rays fell from the heavens, rapidly approaching in sight, like a meteor crashing down. The wind howled, causing the grass on the ground to sway, and cracks appeared in the rockery. "This!" All gazes froze, and someone couldn''t help but exclaim! The wooden boards at the top of the wooden corridor rapidly shattered, cracks spreading like a spider web. A rough and violent pressure surged, and they gradually began to understand Li Tong''s earlier feelings. "A Cyborg?" The middle-aged sect master''s face tightened, and with a wave of his hand, the flying dragon beside him, solid as reality, shot into the sky. Bang!! It was as if two massive objects collided, just a breath apart. The shockwave exploded, and the wooden boards of the corridor shattered. The air within a radius of several meters suddenly solidified, and then a white mist formed a circle, overturning heaven and earth. "Quick, dodge!" "Run!" Someone shouted a warning, and figures rapidly fled. The middle-aged sect master''s expression turned serious, and then he saw the flying dragon retreat, a three-meter-high gray stone statue crashing down. Boom!!! The ground collapsed, and cracks spread, as if an earthquake had struck. Yang Chengyuan and the five closest to him changed color, feeling their bodies pinned down by a powerful impact, their blood surging, unable to move. The next second. Buzz!! The air exploded, like a white-gray fist carved from rock smashing out. "No!!!" Yang Chengyuan shouted in fear and anger, the pine crane shadow rushing to his front. Bang!!! The force exploded, flesh and blood scattered. Bone fragments mixed with blood and torn cloth flew everywhere, leaving no trace of anyone at the scene. "Run!!" The other four True Intent Masters finally regained their composure. Suppressing the backlash, they fought down the surging blood and aching bones. Their faces turned pale as they hurriedly retreated in fear. However, the next second. Bang!!! The courtyard wall exploded, and a bronze-colored, burly figure charged in like a tyrannosaurus. The One Fist Sect''s True Intent was punched through the from the back, its heart exploding into blood spots. The scene fell silent, a thick right arm pulled out from the blood hole, and the corpse fell to the ground. All the True Intent Masters present changed color, and the middle-aged sect master of the Flying Dragon Sect frowned deeply. Swish! His figure vanished, and he instantly appeared in front of Chen Feng. The right hand of the man in the blue robe reached out like a dragon''s claw, a strong killing intent enveloping him. With blood splattered on his face, Chen Feng did not dodge or evade, merely meeting his gaze coldly. Buzz!!! The fierce wind rose again, and the giant body carved from rock suddenly moved. Brutal strength overturned the air. The middle-aged sect master frowned again, having to abandon Chen Feng and change his move to block. Boom!!! The ground collapsed again, and the intentionally shrunken Shield Golem punched out once more. The middle-aged sect master''s expression was serious as he stepped forward, crushing everything underfoot, retreating to unload the force. Whoosh!! The fierce wind rolled back, and the stone wings flapped. In an instant, the Shield Golem charged forward, like a gray-white tank, crashing through everything, continuously throwing punches. Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang! Like cannon fire, everyone in the entire venue felt the ground tremble. Gazes froze in horror, bodies stiff for several seconds. Only Li Tong stood on the barely intact soil, turning to look at the towering figure that had appeared. "Good disciple." Stumbling slightly, he couldn''t finish his sentence before he was about to fall. Clap. At the critical moment, Chen Feng supported him. "Quick, escape." The red-patterned white robe was stained with blood, the once smiling, plump elder was gravely injured and weak. Step, step, step, the footsteps rapidly approached, those were the True Intent Masters of the sects who had reacted and were closing in. From left to right, front to back, under the eaves of the walls. Fist prints, flying birds, giant bears. Illusory True Intents emerged, and Chen Feng slightly lowered his head, looking at the elder in his arms, whose breath was weak. He was smiling, but it was a forced smile. His eyes held guilt and regret, but there was no fear of death. Flames burned in his heart, and all his blood vessels felt scalding hot. This was the second time Chen Feng felt such rage. He looked up at all the surrounding True Intents. Behind him, a Crimson Tiger shadow coalesced out of thin air. Gazes filled with suspicion came, the Crimson Tiger extended its claws, exerting force, lifting Li Tong onto its back. "I''ll take you." "Let''s kill our way back." Roar!!! The tiger''s roar shook the heavens, not weaker than a dragon''s roar. Chen Feng charged forward, the Crimson Tiger following closely behind with Li Tong. "This kid has broken through to True Intent, don''t hold back!" "Kill him!" The Giant Bear Sect''s True Intent, which had appeared to block them that day, looked furious and shouted loudly. He never expected the opponent''s talent to reach such a level. Similarly, Jiang Yunshan and others also wore serious expressions, revealing killing intent, clearly sensing the opponent''s potential and threat. Letting the tiger return to the mountain would bring endless troubles! "Kill!!" It was unclear who shouted, and the Flying Dragon charged out, the dragon''s roar resounding. Bang!!! The next second, a figure flew back, an arm of a Flying Dragon Sect True Intent exploded into fragments. Color drained from their faces. Chen Feng''s arms bulged, the mastery-level Explosive Fist no longer concealed. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After breaking through to True Intent, his body''s four-dimensional attributes had risen again. An ordinary punch reached four tons, plus the Explosive Fist and the full power of the giant tiger. A full fifteen tons! In an instant, he ignored the screams of the True Intent with a severed arm in front of him and punched out again. Boom!! The bronze arm pierced through the chest bone and flesh, the fist clenched tightly emerging from the blood hole in the back. Jiang Yunshan''s face turned ugly, and the distant onlookers from the Giant Elephant Sect were even more horrified. "It''s the Overbearing Bone!" "He must be a natural Overbearing Bone!!" The Giant Bear Sect''s True Intent looked terrified, sensing something was off. "Quick, everyone together." Whoosh!!! The bronze figure flashed away, and the giant bear shadow blocking in front exploded. Gripping the opponent''s heart, Chen Feng coldly met his gaze. "I''ve tolerated you for a long time." Bang! The heart exploded, and another True Intent died violently. Everyone''s hearts shattered, and in the end, Jiang Yunshan took a deep breath and shouted, leading the charge. "Block him!" "The sect master will soon deal with that Cyborg, and the elder will arrive shortly!" As he spoke, the flying dragon shadow emerged from him, and blue energy gathered around him in a circle. Whoosh!! A powerful energy pillar broke through the air, and Chen Feng''s feet plowed the ground, his chest a bronze hue, sliding back several meters. ¡°It¡¯s working!¡± The encircling attackers were all invigorated, hurriedly channeling their energy, replicating the move. Some even looked at Li Tong, who was being carried by the Crimson Tiger shadow, with ulterior motives, rushing towards him. "You¡¯re looking for death!" With cold eyes and killing intent, Chen Feng forcefully withstood several energy pillars, using a body stronger than ordinary silver steel to punch out. Bang!! Another True Intent was punched through the heart, and someone couldn''t help but swallow. The successive energy pillars stalled, and Jiang Yunshan cursed the crowd for being useless, gritting his teeth and charging forward. Roar!!! The flying dragon shadow merged into him, and his aura continuously rose as a result. Whoosh!! Fist prints broke through the air, blue energy enveloping them. Bang!! Fist against palm, in a breath, a full ten punches. Pfft!! Gasping for breath, Jiang Yunshan was punched through the spine, spitting out a large pool of blood, flying back and crashing through several courtyard walls. Sensing that the opponent was not yet dead, Chen Feng''s killing intent ran rampant, stomping the ground to continue the pursuit. But soon, the platinum light in his mind flickered continuously, his figure swayed, and his face suddenly turned pale. His footsteps halted as he looked towards another direction nearly a hundred meters away. The attic shook and collapsed, the ground trembled, and the sound of dragon roars echoed continuously. The Shield Golem kept launching attacks but still couldn''t take down that master. Moreover, sensing the situation, more and more people from the Flying Dragon Sect appeared, and there were even obvious cyborgs rushing towards the Shield Golem, preparing to encircle and kill. In an instant, cold light flickered in his eyes and then faded, crossing over several breaths. Chen Feng ultimately suppressed all killing intent, glancing around at everyone, memorizing the faces of all those who had surrounded him today. Jiang Yunshan, the sect master of the Flying Dragon, the martial arts world of Yun Port. Without a moment''s delay, he immediately turned, embraced his master, and with a side shove, broke through the courtyard wall. "Chase!!" A True Intent Master from the Flying Dragon Sect shouted angrily, leading several True Intent Masters closely behind. In mid-air, even aircrafts appeared, sent by the security agency that had been alerted, and some were from other forces, including some corporate groups from Yun Port. Seeing this scene, the top sects like the Giant Elephant Sect and other observing smaller sects wore complex expressions, feeling as if they were witnessing a piece of history. "If he does not die today." "Perhaps, our Southern Martial Arts world will see another master emerge." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. ????Review Objective Achieved Mass Release (13/13) Chapter 141: A Bunch of Pathetic Worms Who Abandoned Martial Arts [2.5k] Translator: --- Whoosh!! The bronze figure moved swiftly, darting through the artificial hills and courtyards. All the walls along the way were violently crashed through, leaving one human-sized hole after another. "Hurry!" "Faster!" Chen Feng''s face was slightly pale as he carried his blood-soaked master, his eyes cold and terrifying. The battle with the Grandmaster was too intense, and the consumption of the Shield Golem was far greater than he had anticipated. He had to leave this place before the Flying Dragon Sect''s encirclement was fully formed. Whoosh!! Bang!! Debris flew everywhere as he passed by the people rushing to the arena in surprise. Zhang Tai, Zheng Shan, Pang Kui, Zhan Wushuang One by one, their eyes widened in shock, and then a storm swept over from behind. "Scram!!" A roar shook the heavens, and a flying red tiger condensed out of thin air, charging forward. Roar!! A burst of crimson energy turned the red tiger''s shadow into a solid form, pouncing and biting the pursuing Flying Bird Sect''s True Intent to the ground. Splat! Blood splattered, and an arm flew into the sky. Chen Feng didn''t stop, not even glancing back, as he charged forward forcefully. Bang!! Another wall was crashed through, and all the artificial hills and trees along the way exploded. The open ground outside the hotel came into view, with rows of parked vehicles and wide streets. "Senior Brother!!" A flying car was already parked there, the passenger window half-open, and Xu Tingxiao shouted with tears in his eyes. Lin Xiaoyun, looking anxious, sat in the driver''s seat, gripping the steering wheel tightly, while the unconscious Zhao Jushan lay half-reclined in the back seat. In an instant, their gazes met. "Go!" Chen Feng stomped on the ground, shattering the stone bricks, and shot into the car as the door automatically opened. Hum!! The engine roared to life, and the four wheels left black marks and sparks on the ground. Whoosh!! The tail of the car exploded, and the white flying car shot out like a bolt of lightning. "Damn!!" The faces of the Flying Dragon Sect''s True Intent and others who arrived a step later were grim, and several flying cars had already arrived in the air. "Chase!" They roared and leaped into the air, with several True Intent Practitioners following suit. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!! A series of air currents surged in the sky, and the people from other streams who were watching were stunned. Boom!! At that moment, it was as if a meteor had struck. A white-gray stone statue rose into the sky, its stone wings flapping, breaking free from the Grandmaster''s restraint and charging forward. All the buildings and walls along the way exploded, and a fierce wind swept through, causing the robes and long hair of the True Intent Practitioners and sect disciples to flutter wildly. In just two seconds, the several flying cars that had just set out were forced to stop! "No!!" Several True Intent Practitioners roared in anger and frustration. The next second. Roar!! A solid-looking flying dragon came charging, slamming the Shield Golem, which was about to punch, far away. Footsteps echoed, and the leader of the Flying Dragon Sect, dressed in a green robe, appeared at the hotel entrance. His face was not too pleasant, and his robe was slightly disheveled. "Regardless of which force''s cyborg you are." "By daring to interfere with the affairs of the Flying Dragon Sect, you will not leave today." Hum!! The Shield Golem ignored his words and rose again, charging straight into the sky. The middle-aged leader''s face was dark, filled with murderous intent. One by one, the flying vehicles that had arrived started their energy devices, their tails exploding as they followed and flew high. Until at last, all the sounds disappeared from sight. The hundreds of people from various streams on the scene finally came to their senses, looking at each other with difficulty. "This..." "The sky is about to change." Low murmurs echoed, and Zhang Tai, looking at the flying car that had disappeared, felt a flash of sympathy and hope. "I hope my flying car can help them." --- "So, they have already escaped from the arena?" In a black sedan, Zhou Zhixiong, dressed in a suit, sat in the back seat. The assistant in the passenger seat nodded, and a holographic screen projected inside the car, showing several images. The white-gray colossus battling the Grandmaster. The young man who had broken through the True Intent was unstoppable, breaking out of the encirclement. "Which force''s cyborg is this?" Zhou Zhixiong frowned, finding the person somewhat unfamiliar. "Temporary records haven''t found any information in the archives. It''s likely an unregistered high-level cyborg." The assistant gave his speculation, and Zhou Zhixiong nodded lightly. Yun Port was too large, with both inner and outer cities. Although the threshold for bio-enhancement technology was high, several large corporations had the necessary qualifications and capabilities. "He should be at the Gold-grade, right? Not lower than the mechanical enhancements." "Yes, his energy level is not low, already exceeding the minimum standard of the Gold-grade." "However..." The assistant frowned, hesitating to speak. "Speak." "I just accessed the surveillance permissions for the outer city area, but I didn''t find when this person appeared." "I suspect there is a formidable team behind him, otherwise, it would be difficult to shield from surveillance." After some reasoning, Zhou Zhixiong pondered. The Flying Dragon Group and Vice Chairman Luo were too close, and the representatives within the faction were dissatisfied, giving private instructions. Now, it seemed that the Flame Tiger Sect might have some hidden connections, with far more influence than it appeared on the surface. "Old Chu, Old Chu..." Shaking his head, Zhou Zhixiong suspected that the other party might have known about this all along, which was why they were so eager to form an alliance. Not knowing the answer, he made a decision. "Notify Xu Fei." "Finally, help them one more time." "Miss, there was a high-level magnetic anomaly at the Xinglong Hotel, and the martial arts competition was forced to stop." "According to the images transmitted by the security team, it seems there was a conflict at the Gold-grade." At the top of an extremely prominent corporate skyscraper, a blonde woman sat behind a leather chair, listening quietly to the secretary''s report. "What''s the result?" "The Flame Tiger Sect broke through the encirclement and is currently fleeing in the city, trying to leave Yun Port." Hearing this, the blonde woman became interested. "A long-fallen Flame Tiger Sect can actually resist a Grandmaster?" "There was a Gold-grade cyborg who helped them," the secretary said honestly. "Oh? Interesting." Her eyes gleamed, and she stood up. The sound of high heels tapping on the ground, her assistant quickly draped a windbreaker over her. "An enemy''s enemy is a friend." "Let''s go and see the commotion." --- Whoosh!! The white flying car darted through the skyscrapers, heading straight for the outskirts of Yun Port. Along the way, several flying vehicles and flying cars appeared, nearly causing collisions several times. Lin Xiaoyun had already switched the flying car to manual mode, constantly increasing the speed limit, and driving close to the ground-to-ceiling windows of a skyscraper. A strong wind surged, and Xu Tingxiao looked back at the back seat with worry. "Senior Brother, how are you and Master?" "I''m fine." Shaking his head, Chen Feng, half-naked, though pale, had already retracted the Shield Golem, stopping the further depletion of his mental energy. However, Master Li Tong, like Zhao Jushan, was still unconscious. Seeing this, Xu Tingxiao felt a deep sense of helplessness, feeling useless. The atmosphere in the car was heavy and silent, and the holographic image showed that the pursuers were closing in. When the competition ended, Chen Feng had sensed something was wrong. After leaving with Xu Tingxiao and the others, he perceived the movement in the back room and instructed them to leave quickly, find a flying car to pick them up, and contact the third uncle and others. If not for this, they might still be trapped near the arena. Ding ding! Suddenly, the phone vibrated. Xu Tingxiao picked it up. In an instant, his face turned pale, and he gasped. "What''s wrong?" Chen Feng asked, puzzled. "The martial arts school... is in trouble." Xu Tingxiao said in disbelief, "Senior Brother Cao said the martial arts school was attacked just now. Third Uncle was severely injured by two True Intent-level mysterious people and barely managed to drive them back." "What about Little Uncle?" Lin Xiaoyun, who was driving, asked in shock. "He''s missing." Xu Tingxiao looked at Chen Feng, knowing that only his senior brother was the true pillar of support now. In an instant, the atmosphere became heavy again. Facing the panic of the two, Chen Feng responded calmly. "First, leave Yun Port." "The rest, we''ll talk about when I return." As he spoke, feeling his composure, the two were somewhat reassured. Whoosh!! The flying car continued to drive, with several skyscrapers sliding past behind them. But the next second. Whoosh!! A dazzling silver light came at an incredible speed. "Turn left!" Chen Feng instantly sensed and warned. Crack! The flying car''s window cracked and then exploded. The strong wind rushed in, and the car lost balance, with the smart system issuing a warning. [Window damaged, pressure abnormal!] [Please quickly disable flight mode!] Whoosh!! A loud whistling sound rang out again, and Lin Xiaoyun hurriedly controlled the flying car to lower its altitude, unable to react in time. At the critical moment, Chen Feng reached out coldly and grabbed forward. Tear! His palm, as strong as silver steel, was ruptured and torn, and he tightly held a thin, long projectile about ten centimeters long. The tip was only two centimeters away from his temple. Lin Xiaoyun''s face turned pale, but she still forced herself to stay calm and stabilize the flying car. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! A series of whistling sounds echoed, and several gray flying vehicles, shaped like capsules, appeared. Their speed far exceeded that of ordinary flying cars, and they quickly surrounded them from all sides. The sound of the tail thrusters created a barrier around them. Pedestrians on the street below stopped and looked up in surprise. In the midst of the murmurs, Chen Feng looked coldly at the central flying vehicle. Sizzle! Click! The hatch opened, and a slender figure with short hair appeared. Wearing a black leather windbreaker with a flying dragon pattern, his eyes were sharp, and he held a silver briefcase. At a glance, Chen Feng saw the problem. "Mechanical Warrior." For a moment, he felt a movement in his hand. The silver projectile he held vibrated, trying to break free. Some blood dripped, and this was the first time he had been injured since breaking through to the True Intent level. "Not running anymore?" The mechanical warrior from the Flying Dragon Group looked down and asked, as the hatches of the surrounding flying vehicles opened one by one. Click, click, click! Figures stepped out, some holding briefcases, others with projectiles hovering beside them. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A powerful force field spread, and several virtual flying dragons condensed, pressing down. "This is bad!" Lin Xiaoyun''s face turned grim, but she could only watch as the flying car''s center of gravity sank and it fell to the ground. Bang! The flying car with the broken window landed on the ground, and the surrounding pedestrians had already scattered, with countless eyes looking on. "You should commit suicide." "We will leave you a whole body." Several mechanical warriors stepped out on single-person flying vehicles, hovering in the air, looking down coldly. Behind them, the flying vehicles had already entered combat mode, and their guns were aimed at them. In an instant, Lin Xiaoyun and Xu Tingxiao felt a sense of despair. "Commit suicide?" Chen Feng, still holding the projectile, looked up at the four coldly hovering mechanical warriors. "You still want to struggle?" Someone squinted, and the device on his body suddenly activated. Hum!! The projectile in his hand vibrated violently, and the silver metal cut like a saw. But the next second. Crack! [Metal Essence +1!] The Steel Bone talent activated, and Chen Feng crushed the projectile in his hand. The faces of the several mechanical warriors tightened, and then they saw Chen Feng step out of the car. "Senior Brother!" "Junior Brother Chen!" Anxious shouts echoed inside the car, and the wound on Chen Feng''s palm began to scab over. Looking coldly at the mechanical warriors, a red glow appeared behind him, and flames swirled. A phantom red tiger crouched on the ground, its eyes proud and aggressive, even disdainful. "A bunch of pathetic worms who abandoned martial arts." "Do you even deserve to be my enemy?" "Looking for death!" The faces of the four mechanical warriors turned grim, and they no longer cared about their composure. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Several silver projectiles shot like lightning, covering him in a dazzling array. Bang!! Energy exploded, and the red tiger''s shadow roared out, and the Flame Burst technique was used again. Several projectiles were blown back, and two were caught in Chen Feng''s hands. [Metal Essence +1!] [Metal Essence +1!] The prompts appeared, and the cracking sounds followed. Two mechanical warriors'' eyes twitched, and then they saw their briefcases transform. Whoosh!! Six, twelve, thirty-six... A dense array of silver projectiles shot through the air, hitting Chen Feng like a storm. Thud, thud, thud, thud! The sound of projectiles piercing flesh echoed, and Chen Feng''s eyelids drooped, feeling his eyelids pierced. In addition, his chest, abdomen, and thighs... Dense silver projectiles were embedded, barely penetrating half a centimeter into the flesh. In an instant, blood flowed out. But surprisingly, the faces of the four mechanical warriors changed, not expecting his body to be so sturdy. Projectiles that could penetrate ordinary silver steel had only barely broken the skin? Bang!! A burst of power exploded, and all the silver projectiles were forced out of his body. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! The whistling sounds of the projectiles breaking echoed, and the four mechanical warriors quickly controlled the remaining projectiles, pulling them back. Whoosh!! In that instant, a column of energy formed, and a red energy beam pierced the sky. The attacked mechanical warrior''s face turned dark, and the projectiles around him merged rapidly, forming a circular shield in front of him. Bang!! The Flame Pillar finally hit, but most of its power was blocked. "Don''t hold back, quickly cripple him!" The flames in front of him dissipated, and the energy beam was harmless. The mechanical warrior, hovering behind the shield, said coldly. Several of them nodded, their devices activated, preparing to use their trump cards. But the next second. The scanning module detected an energy anomaly, as if a high-energy magnetic field was rapidly intensifying. The four were startled and focused their attention. Chen Feng, with blood scabs all over his body, still stood in place, his eyelids drooping. But, at some point. A faint white light had quietly gathered, appearing in his palm like a light source. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Early Access at $5. Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. Chapter 142: The Struggle of Forces, Leaving Yun Port [2.6k] Translator: --- "What is that?" The four cyborgs looked grave, one of them with a clearly mechanical eye projecting a holographic screen in front of him. It was an alert for an abnormal magnetic field, with a certain data point rapidly rising. The next second. Whoosh!!! As Chen Feng threw a punch, two hazy white lights shot into the sky. In the blink of an eye, the two cyborgs'' expressions changed drastically, and they hurriedly manipulated their shuttles to form a shield. Boom!! The white light exploded, and the circular shield formed by the shuttles was directly blown away, crashing into the two of them. The powerful impact was unstoppable, comparable to a missile explosion. Pfft!! Two sprays of blood erupted as the two cyborgs, standing on their single-person flying devices, were sent flying backward, crashing into the hatch of the flying machine. A cracking sound, like bones breaking, could be heard. Upon closer inspection, their breathing was gradually ceasing, and a mixture of blood and brain matter was oozing from the shattered back of their heads, with some mechanical parts sparking. "Damn it!" The remaining two cyborgs looked both shocked and furious, quickly retracting their shuttles and hovering them in front of them, wary and on guard. The next second. The phantom of a red tiger roared out, and the bronze figure, leveraging the explosive force, stomped the ground and leaped into the air, grabbing one of them by the ankle. Before he could react, Chen Feng crushed his leg bone with a crack, and the force in his left palm exploded like a jet of flame. The man spun in mid-air, twisting his body and swinging his arm. Whoosh!!! The thrown cyborg collided with the other one, and both lost their balance, falling downward. Their expressions changed drastically as shuttles formed, seemingly to create a shield to catch their bodies. Hum! Two more white lights bloomed. Boom! Boom! Boom! Explosions rang out continuously, and the ground was littered with flesh and mechanical modules, a scene of utter horror. "Senior Brother!" Xu Tingxiao, quick-eyed and swift-handed, hurried forward to support Chen Feng, who staggered slightly. Facing the worried looks of the two, Chen Feng, pale-faced, shook his head and said in a deep voice, "Let''s go." Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The sound of breaking air continued to echo in the sky. He knew that such pursuers would only increase. In contrast, his condition was no longer at its peak. The continuous consumption was too great, and they had to leave as soon as possible. Lin Xiaoyun quickly nodded and soon re-entered the flying car''s cockpit. Like a wild horse breaking free, they charged forward, heading straight out of Yun Port City. Only by doing so could they escape the city''s surveillance, or else they would face endless attacks and killing intent. Whoosh!! At that moment, another flying machine appeared in the sky, and the cyborgs on their single-person flying devices reappeared. Even the previously intercepted Flying Dragon Sect''s true intent practitioners had arrived in flying cars, overtaking them from above. The onlookers were completely stunned. Chen Feng knew that if it weren''t for being in the city, they would have already been bombarded. "Kid, let''s see how you escape now!!" A true intent elder from the Flying Dragon Sect leaped down from the flying car, blocking the road ahead. Behind him, several elders from other schools followed¡ªone, three, six... A total of seven true intent practitioners, along with three to five cyborgs, looked down from above. The street trembled, and the phantoms of true intent appeared. For a moment, the sky above and the ground below, from all directions. True intent, cyborgs, gun barrels... The rising killing intent was endless, and the advancing flying car seemed to be heading straight for death. "Daring to kill someone from our Flying Dragon Sect, not even the King of Hell can save you!" "Die!!" The phantom of a flying dragon merged into the elder''s body, and the cyborgs in the sky cooperated, activating the magnetic field, exerting a powerful pressure. The piercing sound of breaking air grew closer, and the encirclement descended like locusts. Lin Xiaoyun''s face turned pale with despair, and even the accelerator she was pressing loosened slightly. In that instant, it was as if the world had paused. The azure mark on the back of his hand kept flashing, and Chen Feng, sitting in the car, lowered his eyelids, a flash of killing intent in his eyes. The next second, just as he was about to go all out, even if it meant exposing his Azure Armor to break through the encirclement. Boom!!! A black dot instantly disappeared. The two Flying Dragon true intent practitioners who had attacked were sent flying, crashing through the street walls, with specks of blood mist spraying into the air. The sudden change stunned everyone, and then they saw similar black dots exploding, sending all the true intent practitioners blocking the road flying. Whoosh!!! The flying car continued unimpeded, and Chen Feng and the others instinctively looked back. Under the high-rise building, among the onlookers. A convoy of Rolls-Royce vehicles had somehow stopped nearby, with six silver-steel level cyborgs, their shoulders and chests revealing gun barrels, each aiming at a cyborg or true intent practitioner. "It''s the Black Crystal Group!!" The cyborg¡¯s expression changed, and the Flying Dragon Sect elder, who had stood up from the shattered bricks in the distance, clutching a bloody hole in his left shoulder, looked pale and grim, staring intently at the newcomers. The crowd on both sides parted like a tide, and a blonde woman in high heels stepped out slowly. Wearing sunglasses, a black trench coat, with a white shirt and pencil pants inside. One by one, gun-wielding semi-cyborgs appeared, surrounding the entire street scene. A bespectacled secretary holding documents stood behind her, and a tall, burly man, the security captain of the Black Crystal Group, stood to her left. "So many people ganging up on one person, your Flying Dragon Group..." The blonde woman had her hands in her pockets, the sleeves of her trench coat rolled up. "...is really pathetic." As her words fell, the atmosphere turned completely silent. The flying car, now unhindered, sped up again, and the blonde woman glanced at the distant broken taillight. Her eyes flickered, and she finally shook her head, looking at the group of cyborgs and true intent practitioners. And the Flying Dragon Sect master who had arrived later. Whoosh!!! Passing by several oncoming vehicles, Chen Feng retracted his perception, feeling both grave and puzzled. The bodyguard behind the blonde woman had an aura as if a dormant volcano, his broad suit hiding a fully mechanical body. A Gold-grade cyborg, clearly of no ordinary origin. It was precisely because of this that he wondered why they had helped him. They had never had any private contact, at most a brief encounter on the high-speed train. Xu Tingxiao and the others had similar thoughts, but at this moment, seeing the city defense checkpoint getting closer, they forcibly suppressed these distracting thoughts. Leaving Yun Port was the most urgent matter at hand! Once they were out, like a tiger returning to the mountains, everything could start anew. Beep! Beep! However, the sudden honking of a horn pulled their thoughts back. The city defense checkpoint at the end of the road ahead had suddenly been sealed off, with metal barriers blocking the way. Several flying machines hovered in the air, their gun turrets rotating, clearly loaded with special bullets, ready to fire at any moment. In addition, on both sides of the blockade. Many security bureau flying cars were parked, with security officers holding guns, and even several cyborgs in black combat suits appeared. [Yun Port City Guard] The four white characters were clearly visible on the left chest of the cyborgs'' uniforms. The black briefcases in their hands gave off a solemn feeling, and among them, a middle-aged man stepped forward. His features were ordinary, his build average. But the deputy director-level shoulder insignia of the security bureau gave off a strong sense of authority. "Stop!" The command was cold, and shuttles hovered beside the cyborgs. "Junior Brother Chen!" Lin Xiaoyun gritted her teeth and shouted, feeling both confused and desperate. "Charge through!" Chen Feng said in a deep voice, the sound of the whistling wind echoing in his ears. Even though his physical and mental strength were nearing their limits, and even his internal energy was almost depleted. He had to take all the members of the Flame Tiger Sect back safely! Feeling Chen Feng''s determination, Lin Xiaoyun clenched her teeth, no longer hesitating, and pushed the flying car''s engine to its maximum. Whoosh!! The distance between them grew closer. Nine hundred meters, eight hundred meters, seven hundred meters... The flying machines ahead were aiming, and the deputy director of the security bureau raised his arm. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!! A continuous burst of gunfire suddenly rang out, and Chen Feng prepared for one last desperate charge. Whoosh!!! The next second. A dazzling silver light flashed by, and a huge metal flying shield blocked all the incoming bullets, spinning forward and smashing through the city defense checkpoint''s blockade. Crack! The ground cracked, collapsing slightly. The flying car took advantage of the gap, leaped forward, and landed heavily. Hum!! The tail wave sprayed, and the air burst, successfully breaking through the final blockade of Yun Port''s outer city. "Damn it!" The middle-aged man with the deputy director''s insignia looked grim, ready to lead his men in pursuit. The Yun Port guards blocking the road had similar expressions, but soon they saw the silver flying shield that had smashed into the ground rise from the crack. Sensing an abnormal fluctuation, they looked up and saw a figure in the sky. Standing on a single-person flying device, a young man in black clothing, wearing metallic silver headphones. "Xu Fei?" The middle-aged man with the deputy director''s insignia''s eyes narrowed, and then he heard the other speak calmly. "The General Assembly will hold a new meeting, requiring all council members to attend immediately." "Deputy Director Fang, do you need me to take you there?" As these words fell, the atmosphere became tense. Deputy Director Fang''s eyes flickered several times, and finally, he looked back at the gradually disappearing taillight of the flying car. "Let''s go!" Without further ado, he turned and led his men away. During this time, other flying machines from the Flying Dragon Group passed overhead, and the young man named Xu Fei glanced up. Shaking his head slightly, he did not stop them, but turned and left the scene. He had done what he needed to do. The final outcome would depend on whether the other''s life was tough enough. Boom!! The speeding flying car leaped out from a dirt slope and landed heavily. The dirt ground was covered with flying dead leaves, and a trail of dust rose. Due to the severe damage to the windows, the flying car could no longer enter flight mode. However, this did not affect its movement through the wilderness of the suburbs. Flying in the air would only make them more exposed, whereas moving on the ground was relatively safer. "What was that just now?" Lin Xiaoyun''s face still showed the relief and shock of escaping Yun Port, almost doubting if she had hallucinated. Chen Feng did not answer, only looked back at the increasingly distant Yun Port. The city''s high-rise buildings grew smaller, and the vastness of the ocean gradually became a dot. He had not expected to encounter two groups of people helping him in succession. The Black Crystal Group, and what seemed to be another faction of official cyborgs... As these thoughts flashed through his mind, perhaps because they had already broken through the blockade, the adrenaline began to subside, and a strong sense of fatigue took over. Summoning the Shield Golem, killing true intent practitioners and cyborgs, using steel bones and perception abilities throughout, and even unleashing the killing move of the Extreme Martial Fist. His mental and physical strength were nearing their limits, and Chen Feng couldn''t help but close his eyes slightly. Whoosh!!! However, he was not given a chance to catch his breath. Two flying cars were chasing them from the sky, part of the Flying Dragon Group''s security force. Even with a wide net, they had managed to find traces of them in the wilderness outside Yun Port. "We''ve found them!!" The pursuers were ecstatic; this was an enemy that had alarmed the entire group, with a bounty on their heads. Even just discovering their whereabouts would bring a huge reward, a chance to undergo bionic transformation, let alone the rewards for killing them. "Don''t act recklessly; that''s a master who has killed several true intent martial artists, and four team leaders have already fallen." A companion warned, quickly activating the communication module to contact other security teams. The man in the driver''s seat thought it made sense, but after some consideration, he couldn''t suppress his excitement and decided to activate the armed module. "These people follow the traditional martial arts path; they can''t fly." "Although we can''t defeat him, we can definitely delay him." After some discussion, the metal plate on the roof of the flying car split open, revealing a large circular gun turret. They hadn''t dared to use heavy firepower in the city for fear of causing too much commotion, but now... "Die!!!" The pursuer shouted excitedly, and the gun turret rotated, firing large-caliber special bullets. Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!! The gunfire was deafening and abrupt. Lin Xiaoyun''s expression changed slightly, and she quickly turned the steering wheel, making the car zigzag on the dirt road. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Some bullets grazed the car, and the right rearview mirror was directly blown off. Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Several metallic sounds came from the roof, and dents appeared continuously. "This won''t do." Lin Xiaoyun was extremely nervous, knowing that if this continued, the car would be blown up, trapping them here. Xu Tingxiao gritted his teeth, his expression resolute, ready to open the car door and go out to delay them. "Senior..." "Just keep driving; leave the rest to me!" Thud! The car sank slightly, and as the cold voice echoed, Chen Feng had already grabbed the car door and flipped out of the window, standing on the roof of the car. Before the two could react, the flying car in the sky lowered its altitude and fired again. Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! The two sounds continued to echo, and the pursuer''s excited smile suddenly froze. Sparks were visibly bursting from Chen Feng''s body, his bronze-like skin like a copper wall, completely blocking all the gunfire. "Junior Brother Chen, hold on!" Lin Xiaoyun no longer hesitated, immediately stepped on the accelerator, and the car sped forward in a straight line, rushing toward the wilderness forest ahead. The clanging sounds continued to echo, and Chen Feng looked up at the two flying cars in the sky. "Why... must you seek death?" Hum!! The red energy gathered again, and with a clap of his hands, a pillar of flame shot into the sky. Boom!! The front of the flying car that was hit exploded, and glass shards flew everywhere. The stiff, excited expression turned to fear, and black smoke billowed from the front of the car, which then plummeted to the ground. "Damn it!" The pursuer in the other flying car looked both shocked and furious, quickly pulling the car up. But alas. Whoosh!!! Another pillar of red energy shot into the sky. Boom! The explosion echoed continuously, and the falling black smoke crashed into the ground. His body swayed, and Chen Feng struggled to stand on the roof of the car. His perception expanded, and soon. He gave Lin Xiaoyun instructions to detour. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c188. [+5.2k Words] Translated (5) Series, (2K+) Chapters, (2.5M+) Words. Chapter 143: A Thousand Miles of Escape, Finally Back to Nanjiang [2.6k] Translator: --- Two days and two nights. A thousand miles of travel, and that too in the wilderness, constantly detouring. The three of them had not rested for a moment, their eyes bloodshot and weary, carrying the unconscious Li Tong and Zhao Jushan as they hurried along. The flying car''s energy was nearly depleted, but then¡ª "Almost there." Lin Xiaoyun gripped the steering wheel tightly, speeding into the forest, all the dust and noise quietly concealed by the green canopy. "This is Luohe City." "Another hundred miles, and we''ll be in the outskirts of Nanjiang." Her tired voice couldn''t hide her excitement. Lin Xiaoyun couldn''t help but look in the rearview mirror, where Chen Feng, now with a bit of stubble, appeared. She knew very well that they had been able to escape so far thanks to him. He could always sense the enemy''s position in critical moments, allowing them to detour and avoid them in time. Later, when they encountered the enemy several times, it was he who led Xu Tingxiao in decapitation actions, quickly leaving the scene. "Turn left." Chen Feng suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse. Looking closely, his eyes were much dimmer, having lost much of their usual luster. His body, wrapped in a coat, was dotted with blood, and his black long pants were in the same condition, the dried blood making them appear even darker. All that blood was from others, splashing onto him and blooming on his body. Apart from his perception, his other three talents had all progressed, but he had no time to examine them in detail. Whoosh!! The flying car sped forward, and Lin Xiaoyun turned left as ordered, weaving through the forest. The pursuers, undetected by his perception, were gradually falling behind. The Flying Dragon Group had pursued them all the way, but Chen Feng began to feel some doubt. The pursuers were getting fewer. He wasn''t sure if it was because they were running out of manpower and gradually giving up the chase, or if there were other ambushes. His mental energy was nearly depleted, and he had little energy left to think critically. For a moment, the car was silent. Xu Tingxiao, his body also stained with blood, stared intently at the road ahead, slapping his own face several times to stay awake. Lin Xiaoyun fought off her fatigue and continued to press the gas pedal. Gradually, the forest road came to a brief end, and another fifty miles were shortened. The outskirts of Nanjiang were getting closer, and the three of them felt a sense of indescribable emotion, as if they were about to return home. Whoosh!! But at that very moment¡ª A missile streaked through the air, and Chen Feng''s eyes changed slightly as he gave a warning. Boom!! The ground caved in, and debris flew everywhere. The trees at the end of the forest were scorched and shattered, falling in a heap. The flying car, narrowly avoiding the missile, was hit by the shockwave, its body twisting and deforming as it rolled several times, smashing through tree roots and green trees. Whoosh!! A gray spherical flying craft appeared in the sky, followed by four or five flying cars. A cyborg, standing on a personal flying craft, hovered in the air, holding a silver briefcase and looking down at the ground with vigilance. Several gun barrels swiveled, and someone spoke excitedly. "These people are really stupid, letting us ambush them successfully." "Mainly because Captain Xu deployed us well, having us wait outside Nanjiang in advance." Excited and agitated voices continued to ring out, and the hovering cyborgs did not stop them. After a long escape and significant consumption, the targets were like fish in a barrel. As the captain of this pursuit squad, he would surely receive great credit and a bright future. Click! Finally, the dust on the ground settled. The twisted and deformed car door was kicked open. Glass shards scattered everywhere, and a light coughing sound could be heard. Two men and a woman, though covered in dust, were not seriously injured. The unconscious old man and the strong man were carried on their shoulders, and the cyborg narrowed his eyes, looking at the central, imposing young man. Raising his hand, he waved. Without a word, he ordered his subordinates to launch a missile, intending to end their lives. Click! The sound of a gun being cocked rang out, and Lin Xiaoyun couldn''t help but close her eyes in despair, while Xu Tingxiao stared intently at the cyborg''s face. But Chen Feng, who was also locked onto, showed a hint of a relaxed smile. Whoosh!! The missile streaked through the air and hit the unguarded flying craft in mid-air. A thunderous explosion, and a burst of flames. The cyborgs in the air dodged clumsily, and several pieces of machinery debris fell to the ground. "Who is it?!" Shouting in shock and anger, everyone looked up. The sound of footsteps rustled. Several figures in black combat uniforms appeared, including muscular men with injected enhancers and a man in a suit with mechanical modifications, carrying a rocket launcher. In addition, several more figures emerged. Black, wide suits were thrown aside, and two imposing, Silver-grade level modified men coldly gazed at the flying cyborgs in the air. A young man in casual clothes slowly walked out, approaching Chen Feng. "Rare to see you in such a state." A teasing voice, a familiar face. Chen Feng smiled, feeling the tension in his nerves finally relax, the fatigue in his limbs surging up. "Leave it to me." Their eyes met for a moment, and a complex expression flashed in them. Lin Hao looked up at the cyborgs and the flying cars, his expression gradually calming. "Not one of them will be left alive." Boom!! Explosions filled the sky, and Silver-grade strikes followed. Xu Tingxiao was filled with surprise and doubt, suddenly feeling his body sink as he turned his head. His reassuring senior brother had fallen asleep at some point. No matter how intense the commotion, he simply leaned against himself, his brows relaxed, eyes closed, and breathing evenly. For a moment, a sense of relief and guilt arose. Xu Tingxiao and Lin Xiaoyun exchanged a glance, both knowing¡ª They had returned alive. --- Two days later. In the courtyard of the Flame Tiger Sect. True disciples appeared one by one, some with broken arms in casts, others with bandaged heads. Cao Tong, leaning on a cane, stood under the eaves, his face anxious and pale. "I think we should disband the disciples." Wei Ping, one of the three true disciples, suddenly spoke, his face at forty-something filled with worry. At these words, several people frowned. "Third Senior Brother, what do you mean by that!" Lin Xiaoyun, who had rested for two days and recovered her energy, wore a red palace dress. Her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and she was somewhat angry. Xu Tingxiao had a similar expression. Two days ago, thanks to Lin Hao and his security company, they had safely returned to Nanjiang. But the situation of the sect was worse than they had expected. "I don''t mean it that way, Lin Junior Sister." Wei Ping''s face was filled with worry, and he smiled bitterly. He looked around at everyone, then at the closed courtyard door, and quickly explained, "A few days ago, a group of mysterious people suddenly attacked the sect and the martial arts school. The third elder was severely injured and hasn''t recovered yet." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Now, with the Flying Dragon Sect as a major enemy, they could appear at any time. The junior uncle is missing, and the sect leader is unconscious. The sect and the martial arts school can''t be taken care of." "My idea is to let the non-core ordinary disciples leave early to avoid being implicated." His tone was filled with worry, and Lin Xiaoyun''s expression eased slightly as she understood his meaning. To preserve some seeds for the sect, so there would be a chance to rebuild. "Third Senior Brother has a point, but¡ª" Wu Shuang, with a cast on her left arm, shook her head, her face pale, clearly still injured: "Our Flame Tiger Sect is in a precarious situation. If we spread the word, some people might leave." "Then, it might be beyond our control." Her tone was calm, but everyone could hear the concern in her words. Sighs echoed, and finally, the second true disciple, Zhang Guiyuan, sitting on a stone bench, shook his head and spoke. "Both Junior Brother Wei and Junior Sister Wu have valid points, but how to handle this¡ª" "Let''s wait for Junior Brother Chen to wake up and decide." He touched his empty left sleeve, and his black hair had a touch of gray. Lying in the courtyard room, Chen Feng opened his eyes. Two days of sleep. Due to the immense consumption, he hadn''t even entered a dream. He had woken up a few minutes ago, his energy fully restored, and he had heard the conversation outside the door. "Mysterious people¡ª" Thinking about what Wei Ping had mentioned, Chen Feng''s mind filled with multiple speculations. The timing of the attacks on the sect and the martial arts school coincided with their events in Yun Port, which made him think more. And the disappearance of the junior uncle was also very strange. Shaking his head, Chen Feng thought again about the existence of the Flying Dragon Sect. With grandmasters sitting in, and possibly more than one. Backed by a large corporation and closely related to the provincial council in Yun Port. For a moment, the slight peace of returning to Nanjiang was diluted, and Chen Feng felt a certain pressure again. The battle at the venue had already made him realize that in the struggle of dragons and tigers, only one could survive. So, he knew that the Flying Dragon Sect would eventually come to Nanjiang and take action against them. The thought flashed through his mind, and he looked at the panel. [Azure Armor LV3: 85/100] [Steel Bone LV2: 97/100] [Heart of Glory LV2: 25/100] The battle at the venue and the subsequent pursuit. The dead had provided him with fear nutrients, and the cyborgs'' flying weapons had further strengthened his Steel Bone. Additionally, the Heart of Glory. Several major battles, possibly due to the opponents being only at the True Intent level, or because of the talent upgrades. The Glory Points obtained were not as many as he had expected. His gaze lingered on this for a few seconds, and Chen Feng gradually had some ideas. He couldn''t sit and wait for disaster, nor could he watch the Flame Tiger Sect fall apart. So¡ª Perhaps after some arrangements were made. He should go out once to seek nutrients for these talents. The thought flashed through his mind, and he got up, put on a black coat, and pushed open the door. Creak! The sound echoed, and the true disciples, who were in conversation, stopped and looked over. "Senior Brother!" Xu Tingxiao was the most excited. Perhaps even he hadn''t noticed that the word "Senior Brother" had become natural to him. Lin Xiaoyun was also pleasantly surprised. Among the people present, perhaps only she and Zhao Junior Brother could truly understand how powerful Junior Brother Chen was. "Junior Brother Chen!" "Junior Brother Chen, you''re finally awake!" "Junior Brother Chen, are you hungry?" Voices rang out one after another, and Cao Tong followed Xu Tingxiao to the side, asking, while the other true disciples showed similar respect. They had all heard from Lin Xiaoyun and Xu Tingxiao about their escape, and regardless of the details, the fact that Chen Feng was at the sect leader level was undeniable. Just this point alone meant that as long as Chen Feng didn''t destroy the Flame Tiger Sect, any orders he gave would be followed without question. "Let''s go see the Master and the others first." Chen Feng gently shook his head, responding to each of them before speaking. Everyone was taken aback, and Xu Tingxiao quickly led the way. Walking through the crowd, Chen Feng suddenly paused, his gaze sweeping over their injuries. Thanks to advanced technology and secret medicines, most injuries were not severe and had a chance of complete recovery. But¡ª Looking at the missing left arm of the second true disciple, Zhang Guiyuan, his eyes flickered slightly. "It doesn''t matter. I have no hope of breaking through to True Intent anyway." Zhang Guiyuan shook his head calmly, and the surrounding true disciples had complex expressions. There were two True Intent experts among the mysterious people. If not for that, the second senior brother wouldn''t have lost his arm. Chen Feng was silent for a moment before continuing to walk. Following Xu Tingxiao into the adjacent courtyard, two core disciples were guarding, and the sect manager, Li Shi, in a gray robe, was busy boiling medicine. "Senior Brother!" " True Disciple Chen!" Voices rang out, and Chen Feng nodded lightly as he walked in. Three wooden beds lay there, with the Master and Zhao Jushan already changed into clean clothes. Though their breaths were weak, their faces pale, and they were unconscious, they were in better condition than before. In contrast, it was the third senior uncle. In a gray robe, lying on the right bed, his limbs intact and his breath steady, but his face showed slightly black veins, as if he were poisoned. "Third Senior Uncle, this is¡ª" "Not poisoned." Li Shi said seriously, "This is the condition after the battle with the mysterious people. We initially thought it was poisoning, but using many antidotes had no effect." "Later, we used instruments to test and took blood samples, but found no toxins. It''s very strange." Chen Feng frowned slightly upon hearing this. Amplifying his perception, he quickly sensed something abnormal. It wasn''t so much black veins as a black gas lingering in the third senior uncle''s body. A sudden intuition, Chen Feng reached out and placed his hand on the other''s forehead. In an instant, the black gas stirred slightly, pulling out from the third senior uncle''s body and merging into his palm. His pupils contracted, and the next second¡ª [You have obtained a trace of the power of the dead!] [Origin: A strand of the faith of the Messenger of the Abyssal Evil God, the Dead Crow] [Usage: Accumulate and use in dreams] [Effect: Can enter the dream world a second time, briefly entering the realm of the dead] [Power of the Dead: 5/100] The panel notification suddenly appeared, and a black crow-like pattern appeared on his left palm. Chen Feng''s heart trembled, and most of his doubts were dispelled. The Dead Crow, the Evil God¡¯s Cult. The false accusations by the Pine Crane Sect and the signs of the Divine Martial Alliance¡ª He thought again of the black crow that had maliciously spied on him before. "Senior Brother?" Noticing his dazed expression, Xu Tingxiao asked worriedly. Shaking his head, Chen Feng indicated that everything was fine. Looking at the third elder again, his face still showed black veins, but Chen Feng could sense that the life force within him was gradually recovering. Waking up was just a matter of time. As for the others, they clearly hadn''t noticed the presence of the power of the dead. "Let''s go." Having a rough idea, Chen Feng stepped out. Finally, back in the courtyard. He gathered all the true disciples and began to discuss the affairs of the sect. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Early Access at $5. Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 144: Prelude to War [2.5k] Translator: --- "Everyone, take a seat." Inside the courtyard house, Chen Feng didn''t stand on ceremony and directly sat on the pearwood chair in the central position. Behind him hung a plaque inscribed with the words "Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect." The six true disciples and Xu Tingxiao stood on either side, only sitting down after hearing his words. "Master and Third Uncle haven''t woken up yet, and the sect is in a special situation recently. For the time being, I''ll be acting as the sect leader." "Does anyone object?" His tone was calm as Chen Feng glanced around the room. As the eldest true disciple, he was the rightful heir to the sect, a rule universally acknowledged in the martial arts world. Coupled with his sufficient strength, everyone nodded in agreement, with no one voicing any opposition. However... "Junior Brother Chen, could you please manifest your visualization and let us see your true intent?" The second true disciple, Zhang Guiyuan, asked seriously. Although the other true disciples didn''t speak, their eyes also showed curiosity and uncertainty. After all, breaking through to the true intent at such a young age was astonishing, and they were worried that Lin Xiaoyun might have been too nervous and misjudged the situation. Chen Feng didn''t mind, understanding their concerns. The sect needed a true intent to serve as a foundation, providing them with some final confidence. Immediately, he focused his mind. The internal energy within him swirled out, quickly manifesting a visualization behind him, forming a massive, illusory Crimson Tiger. Its vertical pupils swept over everyone with a commanding and aggressive gaze, with sparks of fire bursting and extinguishing around it. "Crimson Tiger True Intent!" A complex emotion flashed in Zhang Guiyuan''s eyes¡ªenvy, admiration, and regret. The other true disciples'' expressions mirrored his, becoming more respectful and free of doubt. "I only have a general understanding of the sect''s situation." "But for the specifics, let''s hear from everyone." Not wasting time, Chen Feng retracted the Crimson Tiger''s energy, signaling them to keep it brief. Each of the true disciples was responsible for certain industries and affairs, and soon they began reporting in low voices. "Recently, two local corporations from Nanjiang have contacted me, wanting to acquire our pharmaceutical factory and sports goods company." "They also want to get involved in some of our patents for trauma medicine..." Zhang Guiyuan spoke truthfully, his expression calm but his eyes slightly shadowed. In the past, the Flame Tiger Sect''s dominance in Nanjiang had made these local corporations wary, not daring to offend easily. But now, they were clearly trying to take advantage of the situation. "There have also been some issues with the martial arts schools." Cao Tong and Wu Shuang hesitated for a moment before speaking truthfully: "In the eight branch schools in the city, many students have been asking for refunds and leaving these past few days." "Moreover, I''ve heard that two or three other sects from different cities are planning to open new martial arts schools in Nanjiang soon..." Wu Shuang''s expression was cold, and Cao Tong, leaning on his cane, also looked grim. This was already crossing the line. "Some of the sect''s disciples... are also becoming restless." Under Chen Feng''s gaze, the third true disciple, Wei Ping, spoke with difficulty: "A few formal disciples have already lost contact. I sent people to investigate, and they''ve left Nanjiang." As the words fell, Xu Tingxiao clenched his fists, while Chen Feng remained silent for a few moments. Although he had anticipated that the situation would be bad, hearing it now still left him somewhat disappointed. "What are your thoughts?" "We''ll follow Junior Brother Chen''s lead," Zhang Guiyuan said. "Good." Chen Feng nodded, not wasting any words. "In terms of industries, sell everything except the martial arts schools and the trauma medicine patents." "The martial arts schools will operate as usual. Just protect the brand; don''t worry about others'' provocations." "As for the disciples, those below the core level who want to leave can go. Those who stay will be treated well." His tone was calm as he laid out his plans. The Flame Tiger Sect needed to retract and defend, waiting to overcome this crisis. Ordinary disciples practiced common techniques, mostly only knowing the first layer of the essential methods, which wasn''t crucial. Moreover, with their restlessness, he couldn''t keep an eye on everyone all the time. So, it was better to filter out the truly loyal disciples at once and focus on cultivating them later. As for the industries... Although the local corporations in Nanjiang weren''t a significant threat, he didn''t want to be distracted by them for now. As long as they could protect the core martial arts schools and secret medicines, they could temporarily retract their forces and accumulate strength. Once they overcame this crisis and dealt with the threat from the Flying Dragon Sect, he could reclaim these non-core industries, even making them more prosperous than before. As soon as he finished speaking, Wei Ping and Wu Shuang exchanged complex glances, seemingly somewhat disappointed. But since he had already made the decision, no one voiced any objections. "I understand." Zhang Guiyuan nodded lightly, his expression calm throughout, neither happy nor sad. Taking the lead, he indicated that he would handle the transfer of some of the sect''s industries and consolidate their influence. The others followed suit, and soon they stood up and left one after another. The spacious courtyard house was left with only a few figures. Xu Tingxiao roughly understood Chen Feng''s thoughts and couldn''t help but glance at the departing backs of the true disciples. He could sense their disappointment, but some things... "Senior Brother..." He wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn''t know how to express it. "Master and Third Uncle are in your care." Patting his shoulder, Chen Feng stood up from the wooden chair and walked back to his own courtyard house. With the sect''s affairs arranged, he had already instructed Lin Xiaoyun to gather information on the Flying Dragon Sect and the southern martial arts world. As for the mysterious person who attacked the martial arts school... Closing the door, he took out his phone. Without hesitation, he quickly dialed Lin Hao''s number. "Thanks." As the call connected, Chen Feng expressed his belated gratitude. On the way back from Yun Port, with no one in the Flame Tiger Sect able to help, the only person he could think of at the time was Lin Hao. He hadn''t held much hope, but in the end, the other party had actually appeared. "Tch, I thought you were going to say something else." On the other end of the line, Lin Hao sat in an office with floor-to-ceiling windows, leaning back in his leather chair. He responded with a teasing tone, the sunlight streaming through the windows and warming the room. "I really didn''t want to get involved in this mess." "But what can I do? We''re friends, after all." At his rhetorical question, Chen Feng fell silent for a moment. "By the way, don''t worry about your sister." "I''ve already sent people to check. It seems she joined a sub-project at the Red Nation Research Institute, which is highly valued and involves some kind of secret. She left Yun Port a week ago..." Chen Feng was momentarily stunned. This was indeed something he had worried about before, not wanting Chen Yun to be implicated. But at the time, the situation was urgent, and he hadn''t had the chance to contact her. "I think your sister might have signed some kind of confidentiality agreement, which is why she didn''t tell you the truth." "Anyway, it''s a good thing. At least you don''t have any weaknesses now." Lin Hao chuckled, and Chen Feng nodded lightly. Then, recalling the death energy he had discovered on Third Uncle, he made a request. "You want me to look for someone?" Lin Hao raised an eyebrow but quickly relaxed. Since he had already offended the Flying Dragon Group, finding two mysterious people didn''t seem like a big deal. The two chatted briefly, neither mentioning the club again. Lin Hao didn''t want to distract him, and Chen Feng didn''t have the energy to waste. They hung up the call with mutual understanding. The sunlight from the floor-to-ceiling windows fell on Lin Hao, who shook his head with a smile, sitting casually. "Young Master, I have something to say, but I''m not sure if I should." An elderly man named Liu Bo stood in front of the mahogany desk, dressed in a black suit and white gloves, resembling an old gentleman. His left mechanical eye gleamed dark gold, as if precise mechanical gears were quietly turning. "Liu Bo, you must be thinking that Feng is too much of a troublemaker, right?" As if reading his thoughts, Lin Hao chuckled. Not denying it, Liu Bo nodded lightly: "He''s offended too many people." "The Flying Dragon Group is no small force. Your career is just taking off, and if it''s delayed because of this, it wouldn''t be worth it." Lin Hao wasn''t angry but calmly offered a rational analysis. "Liu Bo, he has many enemies, but he also has many friends, right?" "A cyborg comparable to the Gold-grade, plus the backing of Chu Shihong''s faction, and even a pragmatist like Zhou Zhixiong was willing to spend favors to help him leave the city." At this point, Lin Hao paused, a smile appearing on his face. "And that woman from the Black Crystal Group." "You''ve met her. Even she chose to help, which can only mean she sees investment value in Feng." After he finished, Liu Bo fell silent. Looking at the young man before him, calmly analyzing and speaking eloquently. He seemed to see the shadow of that person, the middle-aged face overlapping with the young one, identical. "Young Master, I hope you''re right." Liu Bo spoke, and Lin Hao nodded with a smile. Soon, after the other left. The smile on his face gradually faded as he turned his chair to face the sunlight and the floor-to-ceiling windows of the corporate building. Outside, the city''s skyscrapers stood tall, with the city''s United Coalition building under repair not far away. For some reason, a question arose in his mind. The situation back then was so serious. So why didn''t Feng ask Blue Demon for help? S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- The call ended. Chen Feng glanced at the messages in WeChat. Zhuang Xiaoqing and Luo Yue from the club were asking if he was still going to teach boxing. There were also several unread messages from Chen Yun''s chat box. [Chen Yun: I''m going out to study, Xiao Feng.] [I''ll be away from Yun Port for a while, following the institute''s mentor and project team. Don''t worry.] The message was sent three days ago, when he was busy with the martial arts tournament and hadn''t opened it to read in detail. In their chat interface, there was also an expired 1,000 yuan transfer that had already been returned to Chen Yun. "An important research project, huh." Thinking of the news Lin Hao had mentioned earlier, Chen Feng briefly replied to Chen Yun without pressing for details. Then, he was about to lock his phone and put it down. But the next second. A sudden news notification appeared on his phone screen. [Red Nation General Assembly: In light of the recent surge in terrorist activities, our country will initiate...] Limited by the small notification bar, the message was hard to read in full. Chen Feng instinctively opened the full content. [The military department announced at 10 a.m. today that a military exercise will commence in the western section of the Great Ocean in three days. The duration is to be determined. All fleets and vessels are advised to avoid the area and stay clear of the coordinates.] [The foreign affairs department has announced future visitation plans, with a visit to the new leader of Suro Nation scheduled for tomorrow...] After reading the content, Chen Feng''s gaze sharpened. The western section of the Great Ocean was south of Feng Province, near the central-western part of the Eastern Continent. That was the coastline of several war-torn countries, especially Suro Nation. And coincidentally, Luohe City, next to Nanjiang, bordered Suro Nation. [It''s about to start!] [Tsk, interesting. Finally, it''s time for reckoning!] [As one of the two poles, it''s about time they showed their might!] [I heard that Utopia''s main base in the Eastern Continent is in Suro Nation. I wonder if it''s true...] Comments began appearing under the news notification. Chen Feng put down his phone, finally understanding why the Flying Dragon Sect had participated in the martial arts tournament with such a firm stance, aiming to form the Southern Martial Alliance. War was coming. The southern part of Red Nation might experience much turmoil and opportunity. And all of this. Required a sufficiently powerful force. --- "Tsk tsk tsk, that kid made quite a stir when he came back." At the foot of a mountain, a black crow flew back from the sky and landed on the shoulder of a black-robed man. The twilight stretched their shadows long and dark. A red-clad woman who had also led a team stood nearby, not responding but quietly reading all the battle reports sent to her phone. [Killed three true intent-level fighters and four mechanical martial artists of the same level, and also likely counter-killed a Flying Dragon security team in the Nanjiang suburbs.] [Possesses the potential of a grandmaster and may have already returned to the Flame Tiger Sect¡¯s Mountain gate.] [Has a significant relationship with a Gold-grade cyborg. It''s uncertain whether the latter will intervene again...] One message after another from the alliance demanded their vigilance. The red-clad woman''s expression was grave, while the black-robed man chuckled. "What''s there to fear? We''re not like those ordinary true intents." "As for that cyborg, heh... isn''t the master also coming to Nanjiang soon?" Despite his words, the red-clad woman still hesitated. As if sensing her desire to change plans, the black-robed man''s eyes flashed, and he spoke again. "Don''t forget." "We were the ones who injured that old man Yan Chong together, and we almost crippled a few true disciples." "That kid holds grudges. There''s no way he''ll make peace with us." At his words, the red-clad woman frowned for a few moments. "What a pity..." She sighed, admitting that she had indeed felt the urge to invite him to join the Divine Martial Alliance. With the potential of a grandmaster, if he could also obtain a divine power crystal, his future would be unimaginable. But unfortunately, due to Feng Li''s influence, their plans hadn''t considered this, nor had they anticipated his brilliance. TL/N: Feng Li is Blood Poison Hand. Some things had been done too harshly, and there was no way to change them now. "Let''s stick to the plan." Her gaze firm, the red-clad woman looked up at the small mountain before her, suppressing all hesitation and distractions. "The Flying Dragon Sect has already started gaining momentum. We need to speed up our progress." Nodding lightly, the black-robed man said no more. Stepping forward, the black crow left his shoulder and flew into the sky. Behind him, shadows followed in unison. Within a dozen minutes. Angry shouts echoed from the mountainside, and lives were harvested and buried. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Early Access at $5. Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 145: Steel Bones, Breakthrough! [2.5k] Translator: CinderTL Dark mist enveloped the sky, seemingly never to dissipate. Chen Feng stood a hundred meters away from the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, atop a high-rise building, dressed in black, quietly looking down. Behind him, the phantom of the Crimson Tiger silently emerged. After several days, he had finally entered the dream realm again. "I wonder how much of a gap there is between me, the Gold-grade, and the Grandmaster." His gaze focused, he wanted to test it out. A panel appeared before his eyes, displaying his four-dimensional attributes after breaking through the True Intent. [Strength: 24.5¡ú27.0] [Agility: 22.0¡ú24.0] [Constitution: 31.3¡ú33.8] [Willpower: 27.1¡ú30.1] A total of 10 attribute points increased, with the most significant breakthrough in willpower. This was also the reason he could summon the Shield Golem for five minutes. Suddenly, as if sensing his gaze and malice. A sharp cry erupted from within the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. "Screech!" A giant eagle with a wingspan of ten meters soared into the air, its vertical pupils cold and ferocious as it looked down. The wind behind it continuously stirred, revealing four other slightly smaller eagles, their black feathers as deep and solid as steel. Whoosh!!! A fierce sound of breaking air rang out, and the azure scarab mark on the back of Chen Feng''s hand suddenly flashed. Buzz! Bang!! The azure-black horn stood tall, its glass-like eyes crimson. Chen Feng''s arms swelled as he tightly gripped the dark golden beak that stabbed towards him. A wave of ferocity hit him, even though he used the Azure Armor to double his strength, pushing it to the threshold of thirty tons. He still felt immense pressure. Crack! The ceiling of the high-rise building cracked, then caved in and exploded. His feet sank, about to lose balance. Suddenly, blood-patterned wings appeared on his back, flapping once. Whoosh!! In an instant, he disappeared, now hovering in mid-air. His arms slightly numb, he looked down at the giant eagle flapping its wings, coming at him again. His expression darkened, roughly understanding the gap between them. Forty tons, that was the force of the eagle''s previous attack. Moreover, he wasn''t sure if the eagle, like the Black Wolf King he had killed before, possessed other supernatural powers. Whoosh!!! In an instant, before he could react, the eagle creature flapped its wings, soaring towards him. Its massive talons, sharp and solid like steel, tore through the air, creating white streaks. Crash!! A tremendous force hit, and the Azure Armor shell, nearly at the Gold-grade, was scratched by the eagle''s talons, leaving three deep marks. The dents pressed against his skin, as if they were about to pierce through. Roughly understanding the gap, Chen Feng decided not to waste any more energy or time. The blood-patterned wings flapped again, and his figure flickered as he retreated, creating distance. Simultaneously. Buzz! A mix of golden and gray-white light suddenly appeared before him, six meters tall, like a massive wall. Thud!!! The pursuing eagle was blocked, a muffled explosion sounded, and white air surged. The powerful wind caused the surrounding buildings to shake, windows rattling incessantly. The size of the Shield Golem didn''t affect the burst of power, but adhering to the principle that bigger is stronger, Chen Feng could sense that the Golem didn''t like to shrink deliberately. In the next moment, as the gray-white and black forces clashed. The Golem''s right fist clenched, the air emitting an unpleasant creaking sound. Buzz!!! Like a dragon emerging, with one punch, the surrounding air completely solidified. The sound of the wind exploded as the fist struck the eagle. Thud!! The black giant eagle swayed slightly in mid-air, retreating several meters, the powerful wind rolling like a cone on both sides. But strangely, the eagle''s physique was equally formidable, its black feathers and flesh comparable to Gold-grade metal, suffering little damage. Moreover, its eagle subordinates, sensing something was wrong, quickly flapped their wings, intending to assist. However, in the next second. Following Chen Feng''s command, the Shield Golem stepped forward, its arms as thick as house beams, spreading out to embrace. Whoosh!!! The massive stone wings flapped, a gale erupted. In an instant, the Shield Golem and the giant eagle left the spot, soaring into the sky. Seeing this, the four approaching eagles were momentarily stunned. The glass-like crimson eyes and the eagle''s vertical pupils locked gazes for half a second. Chen Feng shook his slightly numb arms, his figure disappearing instantly. Thud!!! One eagle creature was struck in the chest, a bloody hole blown open. Thirty tons of force, this had reached the threshold of a Gold-grade modified human, by the dream world''s standards, that was close to the fourth tier. Although these eagles were quite formidable, within a few breaths, Chen Feng had carved a path straight to the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. "Screech!" A furious cry came from the misty sky, and Chen Feng sensed the cold killing intent of the eagle leader. Looking down, the four black eagle corpses lay in pools of blood. Without delay, he flapped his blood wings and charged into the martial arts hall. Whoosh!! He absorbed several Limit-Breaking orbs, totaling nine. In addition, he obtained the long-awaited incomplete iron book. Whoosh!!! Another sharp cry came from the sky. Through shared vision, he saw the giant eagle forcefully break free from the Shield Golem''s restraint. In the next second. Some of its black feathers detached, floating around. A chill ran down Chen Feng¡¯s spine, and he quickly flapped his blood wings, leaving the spot. Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!!! The piercing sound of breaking air was like a barrage of cannon fire. Boom boom boom! The ground shook, the martial arts hall''s buildings crumbled and collapsed, windows and walls shattered and flew. In an instant, seeing the rising dust, Chen Feng thought it was close, quickly flapping his blood wings to leave the area. A hundred meters, three hundred meters, a kilometer. Only when his stamina and spirit were significantly drained did he hide in a residential building. He then released his senses, dispelling the summon. Screech!!! A furious cry echoed through the night sky, the giant eagle circling nearby, refusing to leave. Chen Feng remained in his Azure Armor form, always on guard in case the eagle found him. Time passed, and he was almost unable to sustain the energy consumption. Finally, after half an hour. The cry disappeared, the wind weakened. The giant eagle vanished, and Chen Feng finally relaxed. The Azure Armor form slowly dissipated, having nearly reached the limit of his post-True Intent breakthrough time. Without delay, he looked down at the incomplete iron book in his hand. It had already crumbled into dust, its metal essence extracted and absorbed by him. As for the recorded content, the key points of the second layer of Extreme Martial Fist, he had already memorized them. [Steel Bone LV3: 1/100] The progress appeared on the panel, and Chen Feng activated it. The Steel Bone grew from within his body, quickly spreading, covering his entire form. Moreover, unlike the previous bronze color. This time, the Steel Bone had a dark golden luster, resembling an exoskeleton metal armor, giving a solid, hard feel. "Gold-grade." Chen Feng had an intuition, a genuine feeling that surpassed the Silver-grade. Even compared to the eagle creature from before, it was not inferior. "But it''s not enough." His gaze remained calm, Chen Feng did not become arrogant because of this. The might of a Grandmaster was not just about greater strength and physique. It was about fully exploring the mysteries of the human body, reaching realms far beyond the ordinary. Moreover, the Flying Dragon Sect was a top-tier school, with years of accumulation, who knew how many powerful martial arts techniques existed. For example, that day Jiang Yunshan had integrated True Intent into his body, boosting his aura, and briefly fought evenly with Chen Feng who used Explosive Fist for over ten moves. If a Grandmaster used such a technique, it would undoubtedly be even more formidable. With this thought, Chen Feng leaped out of the residential building. The dream wasn''t over yet, if he could obtain enough Extreme Martial Arts Points, and elevate Extreme Martial Fist to the Meteor level. Perhaps, he could gain more confidence. --- "That kid from the Flame Tiger school has quite the talent, when do you plan to deal with him?" Inside an aircraft, two figures stood. The one asking was a lean old man, wearing a gray robe with a flying dragon pattern on the sleeves. His hair was gray, his face ruddy and full, clearly indicating a high level of martial arts. "No rush." Shaking his head calmly, the middle-aged Flying Dragon sect master looked out at the clouds and vast sky, explaining. "Although this person has exceptional talent, comparable to Riding the Wind, he has only recently broken through to True Intent." "The chasm to Grandmaster is not something ordinary people can easily cross, letting him live a few more days won''t hurt." The gray-robed old man frowned, thinking of the stone-winged Golem that had disappeared when he arrived that day. "What if he also chooses biological modification?" "Ha, wouldn''t that be even better." The middle-aged sect master said nonchalantly, "If even the most talented person in the school abandons martial arts." "Then we won''t need to lift a finger, the Flame Tiger school will destroy itself." Hearing his confidence, the gray-robed old man shook his head. Seeing this, the man understood the other''s dissatisfaction. The middle-aged sect master smiled slightly, then gestured towards the horizon outside the window, where a bustling city was faintly visible. "Uncle, no need to overthink." "The priority now is to take down these top-tier sects as soon as possible, to prepare for the big event." "As for the Flame Tiger school" His gaze deep, a glint of light flashed. The middle-aged sect master finally said, "By then, our Flying Dragon will have unified the southern martial arts world, no matter where he hides, or how talented he is." "With our overwhelming momentum, we can crush him to dust." "What do you think?" --- Daytime. At the Flame Tiger school''s mountain gate courtyard. Chen Feng, who disliked ancient robes, wore a black shirt and long pants, standing in the quiet room, looking at the panel before him. [Limit-Break Points: 11] Due to the entanglement with the eagle creature, he had lost some time and expended considerable energy and spirit. Thus, he hadn''t made it to the new branch martial arts hall. However, along the way, he had obtained two more Limit-Break Points, totaling eleven. "The elevation of Extreme Martial Fist needs to be prioritized, might as well try." With the intention to experiment, Chen Feng looked at the skill bar, using one Limit-Break. [Extreme Martial Fist: Beginner (3%)+] "So little?" Narrowing his eyes, Chen Feng quickly let it go. Such a high-level technique was clearly stronger than the Flame Tiger school''s true skills, and the difficulty of improvement would only be greater. In comparison, using Extreme Martial Arts to elevate it would be more cost-effective. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, Extreme Martial Arts had a special bonus when elevating the martial arts of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. "Therefore, Limit-Break orbs are best used to elevate the martial arts true skills in reality." With a clear thought process, Chen Feng looked at the other two skills. [Crimson Tiger Force: Crimson Tiger (1%)+] [Myriad Temperings: Hundred Refinements (46%)+] TL/N: Ten Thousand Temperings ¨¤ Myriad Temperings Ten Limit Break Points were enough to elevate Myriad Temperings once more. As for Crimson Tiger Force... Chen Feng was actually somewhat surprised. He had thought Crimson Tiger was the end, and breaking through would directly lead to perfection. But now, it seemed there was still a realm beyond. "Perhaps, there''s another layer pointing directly to the Grandmaster?" A glint in his eyes, Chen Feng had some speculation. The Flame Tiger school was once a top-tier sect, surely it had true skills for breaking through to Grandmaster. It was only after losing power that they were driven out of Yun Port. He had a strong intuition that this was the case, but Chen Feng knew he would have to wait for his master to wake up to get the answer. As for now, not to mention how difficult it was to elevate Crimson Tiger Force. Just the lack of the next layer''s key points made him decide. "Elevate!" In an instant, ten Limit Break Points were consumed. Endless insights flooded in, the loneliness and pain of guiding force, tempering the body. A thousand hammers, a Hundred Refinements, the bitter practice of martial arts. Finally. [Myriad Temperings: Thousand Refinements (1%)] [Strength: 27.0¡ú28.3] [Agility: 24.0¡ú25.2] [Constitution: 33.8¡ú34.0] [Willpower: 30.1¡ú31.4] "5 attribute points." Chen Feng clenched his fist, feeling his physique had strengthened another notch. It had surpassed the ordinary Silver-grade, but was still short of the Gold-grade. In addition, his force had grown by another third. Moreover, focusing his gaze, the Crimson Tiger phantom behind him solidified. It seemed even larger than before, close to five meters. "The limit of a normal True Intent should be six meters." "If one wants to break through to Grandmaster, they must fully integrate True Intent and force at the limit of True Intent, thereby exploring all the mysteries of the human body." Thinking of the cultivation key points his master and third uncle had once instructed, Chen Feng pondered. Moreover, with the existence of Myriad Temperings. Perhaps his True Intent limit would be much larger than ordinary people''s. With this thought, he had some ideas. But in the end, considering the current situation, he gradually calmed down. "The Flying Dragon Sect will definitely come to Nanjiang, it''s only a matter of time." "And because of the Shield Golem, they definitely won''t come with just one Grandmaster-level combatant." All the satisfaction from the breakthrough of Myriad Temperings was suppressed, Chen Feng clearly understood the gap between him and a Grandmaster. Even with the Azure Armor activated and Steel Bone in use, he might not be able to repel a Grandmaster head-on. As for leaving here? Whether it was the past efforts of his master and third uncle, or the Flame Tiger true skills he cultivated. All of this tied him to the Flame Tiger school, making it impossible for him to ignore or abandon it. Therefore, the only thing he could do. Was to obtain the strength to repel, or even kill, a Grandmaster in a short time. For a moment, looking at the panel before him. Chen Feng''s gaze lingered on the Azure Armor and the Heart of Glory. These were his greatest assets. If both could be upgraded, the effects would undoubtedly be powerful. Moreover, if he could cultivate one or two other hard skills, or martial arts true skills that could enhance spiritual power, the effects of these two talents would be further amplified, and the summoning of the Shield Golem could last even longer. Then, just as he was hesitating whether to descend the mountain. Urgent footsteps sounded outside the room. Thud thud! "Come in." Chen Feng sensed the person and spoke to allow entry. The door opened, and Xu Tingxiao walked in. His face flushed with excitement, he said: "Senior brother, third uncle has woken up!" (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Early Access at $5. Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 146: Visiting the Door, the Tiger Devours the Pine Crane [2.7k] Translator: --- ¡°You go down the mountain and seek your opportunity. Leave the rest to me.¡± ¡°If things take a turn for the worse, promise me and your master that you won¡¯t come back. Avenge us in the future.¡± Chen Feng remembered Third Elder¡¯s words upon waking. Without further hesitation, he decisively descended the mountain that very day. A black sedan departed from the mountain gate. Two figures occupied the front seats. Xu Tingxiao was the driver, and Cao Tong sat in the passenger seat. ¡°Senior Brother, are we really going to the Pine Crane Sect?¡± Xu Tingxiao asked curiously, puzzled by their destination. In contrast, Cao Tong seemed to have some inkling, insisting on coming along despite his injury. ¡°Of course,¡± Chen Feng replied calmly, gazing out the window. ¡°It¡¯s time to collect some interest.¡± He hadn''t forgotten how the Pine Crane Sect, subservient to the Flying Dragon Sect, had repeatedly targeted him, pushing him to the brink of death. Moreover, both his Azure Armor and Heart of Glory needed nourishment to grow. This was the perfect target. Hearing this, Xu Tingxiao fell silent, asking no more questions. A flicker of anticipation danced in Cao Tong¡¯s eyes as the car left the outskirts of Nanjiang, heading straight for Huai City, a neighboring city. This was the opposite direction of Luohe City, where the Myriad Tempering Sect resided, and where the Pine Crane Sect¡¯s Mountain gate was located. Along the way, Chen Feng extended his senses, vigilant against any surveillance or ambushes. However, the situation was better than he had anticipated. The Flying Dragon Sect seemed to have overlooked him. Buzz! His phone vibrated. He opened it to find a message from Lin Xiaoyun on WeChat. [Lin Xiaoyun: The Flying Dragon Sect and the Golden Flying Eagle Sect have officially engaged in conflict. Their Grandmasters have agreed to a duel in Ming City, Yun Province.] [The mechanized forces of their respective backing corporations have been deployed around Ming City, Yun Province, and Yue City, Ze Province. The Golden Blade Sect has declared allegiance to the Flying Dragon Sect and is currently entangled with the Lion Heart Sect.] [The Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect and the Giant Elephant Sect remain neutral, but both have gathered numerous Martial Arts Masters in various provinces to discuss their strategies.] Chen Feng read the information he had commissioned her to gather about the martial arts world and finally understood why the Flying Dragon Sect hadn''t pursued him further. The top-tier schools were not small forces. Even if the Flying Dragon Sect was stronger, it would have to devour them one by one. In comparison, he, a mere True Intent realm cultivator, wasn''t yet worth their attention. ¡°So be it,¡± Chen Feng murmured, closing his phone with a cool gaze. Time was what he lacked the most. And now¡­ The car accelerated, finally entering Huai City. At the same time, in Ming City, Yun Province¡­ Although not a central city, Ming City was quite renowned due to the presence of the Golden Flying Eagle Sect. A strong martial arts atmosphere permeated the city, evident in the numerous martial arts studios and the holographic projections in the sky advertising martial arts training. But unlike usual, today, every martial arts studio in Ming City was closed. Everyone in the city''s martial arts circles, and even many Martial Arts Masters from Yun Province, had gathered at a mountain range on the outskirts of Ming City. Ming Mountain, home to the Golden Flying Eagle Sect. The mountain exuded a majestic aura, with clouds gathering above, as if a giant eagle were circling within. ¡°Grandmaster of the Flying Eagle Sect has emerged from seclusion.¡± ¡°The rumors are true. The Flying Dragon Sect and the Golden Flying Eagle Sect are going to war.¡± ¡°Both possess Grandmaster-level strength. I wonder who will truly prevail.¡± Discussions rippled through the crowd. Numerous figures appeared on Ming Mountain, with hovercars and aircraft suspended nearby, their occupants peering down through the windows. There were martial artists who had come to observe, as well as businessmen and politicians from various circles in Yun Province, mostly those who had cultivated relationships with the Golden Flying Eagle Sect over the years. A confrontation between top-tier martial arts schools was never simply a comparison of martial power. Having operated in their respective provinces for many years, they naturally had influence and infiltration in various aspects of society. Seeing so many people present in support, Zhan Wushuang, standing ready in front of the school¡¯s main hall, felt a sense of reassurance and confidence. Especially when he heard the piercing cry of an eagle, stirring the wind and clouds around the mountain gate. His expression turned fervent, all anxiety and doubt vanishing. Grandmaster, the pinnacle of martial arts. As long as their Grandmaster remained, the Golden Flying Eagle Sect would never fall. Similar thoughts arose in the minds of all the disciples and elders, as well as the many martial artists who had come to support or observe. Then, amidst this confident anticipation, the clouds parted, revealing several aircraft approaching from the sky, drawing closer and closer. --- ¡°This is the Pine Crane Sect¡¯s Mountain gate.¡± Cao Tong, leaning on his cane, stepped out of the car and pointed to the low mountain ahead, acting as a guide. ¡°Years ago, I traveled down the mountain with Senior Brother Zhao for training, and we stayed near here for a night.¡± Chen Feng nodded and got out of the car. Xu Tingxiao parked the vehicle, and they looked towards the mountain together. Lush trees covered the low mountain, a tapestry of green. A gray stone staircase led straight to the summit, only a few hundred meters high. The outline of the mountain gate and the school buildings could be vaguely discerned. The leaves on both sides of the path were turning yellow, and occasional shouts echoed from within the mountain gate, the sounds of disciples practicing martial arts. Several gray-robed disciples could be seen sweeping fallen leaves on the gray stone steps a hundred meters away. ¡°I heard from the Grand Elder that we¡¯ll be elders of the Southern Martial Alliance. Is that true?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s true. We¡¯ll have the Flying Dragon Sect as our backing. Think about how awesome that will be.¡± ¡°Then why has the atmosphere around the mountain gate been so strange these past few days? It feels¡­cold.¡± ¡°Shh, keep your voice down¡­¡± The disciple holding the broom looked around before whispering, ¡°I heard that Elder Yang was¡­killed.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°It was someone from the Flame Tiger Sect, the one who killed Elder Qian¡­¡± Tap! Footsteps sounded amidst their conversation. The disciples instinctively looked down the mountain and saw a black car parked by the roadside. Three figures were walking up the mountain. The man in the lead wore a black shirt and trousers, his build imposing. His face, beneath slanted eyebrows, was calm, but his eyes held a hint of aggression that made it difficult to meet his gaze. The two behind him seemed more ordinary, but gradually, the disciples sensed something amiss. The man on the left was using a cane, yet his eyes were bright, and he walked with a briskness that surpassed even a healthy person. The young man on the right clenched his fists, as if anticipating something. Tap, tap, tap, tap. Their footsteps quickened, or perhaps the silence amplified the sound. The three figures drew closer. The disciples exchanged glances, and one of them, emboldened, spoke up. ¡°Who are you?¡± No one answered. Chen Feng brushed past them. A flicker of annoyance arose in the disciple¡¯s heart, but then, Chen Feng glanced sideways at him. Clatter. The broom fell from the disciple¡¯s grasp, his face stiffening. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± his companion asked hurriedly, only to see the disciple¡¯s face pale as he stammered, ¡°Run¡­run quickly.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Trust¡­trust me.¡± With that, the disciple turned and fled down the mountain without looking back. His fellow disciple, skeptical, couldn¡¯t understand why he was so afraid when there were True Intent realm elders present. He turned back to look at the top of the stairs. ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± A cold shout erupted¡ªthe voice of the Second Elder. A four-meter-tall spectral white crane materialized, spreading its wings and flying from the back courtyard of the mountain gate towards the three approaching figures. A powerful pressure made the disciples¡¯ faces pale, but then¡­ Roar!!! A crimson glow burst forth, and a soaring crimson tiger manifested. The tiger roared, a hungry predator pouncing on its prey. The man in black didn¡¯t move, but in the space of a breath, the white crane True Intent that had charged at him was repelled, devoured and bitten by the leaping crimson tiger, exploding on the gray brick ground. The ancient cauldron placed in the front courtyard of the mountain gate trembled slightly, the incense sticks within snapping, scattering white ash. ¡°It¡¯s you!!¡± Standing on the rooftop, the Second Elder of the Pine Crane Sect, dressed in a cloud-patterned white robe, recognized Chen Feng from the photograph he had seen. Ignoring the backlash from his broken True Intent, his eyelids twitched. A number of core disciples practicing in the courtyard were startled and rushed out, along with several white-robed true disciples, some of whom wore casts, clearly still recovering from injuries. In an instant, their eyes met. The crimson tiger¡¯s spectral pupils looked down, cold and aggressive. The true disciple with the cast paled, instinctively recalling the brutal beating he had received at the martial arts studio, which had fractured his bones. Others hadn¡¯t yet reacted. The Second Elder on the rooftop, both shocked and furious, hurriedly shouted, ¡°Scatter¡­¡± Whoosh!!! Crimson force materialized, the tiger leaping and devouring everything in its path. Thump, thump, thump! One by one, the Internal Strength martial artists were sent flying. Some crashed into the courtyard walls, others through the main gate. The ancient cauldron in the center rang with a clang. Someone vomited blood, staining their white robe crimson, and collapsed to the ground. [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] Notifications popped up continuously on the panel. Chen Feng stepped forward impassively, finally reaching the top of the last step and setting foot on the gray brick courtyard. His cold gaze swept across the scene. The core disciples lining the sides paled, instinctively retreating. The Second Elder on the rooftop gritted his teeth and leaped down, demanding, ¡°Chen Feng! Why are you here causing such wanton harm?!¡± As he questioned, some Internal Strength martial artists were helped to their feet, but they stumbled, unable to stand firmly. ¡°Why ask what you already know?¡± Chen Feng narrowed his eyes, meeting the Second Elder¡¯s gaze. Roar!!! The crimson tiger behind him leaped forward, roaring before the Second Elder. The sonic boom from the force was deafening, its illusory fangs looming overhead. His gray hair ruffled by the force, the Second Elder¡¯s face paled further. He had just broken through to True Intent? Why hadn¡¯t the Flying Dragon Sect killed him? Thoughts raced through his mind. He suppressed his shock and hurriedly explained, trying to stall for time. ¡°It was Yang Chengyuan who offended you, not us. Since he¡¯s already dead¡­¡± Swish!!! A gray figure flashed past, seizing the moment while the Second Elder was speaking, bursting through the courtyard wall and attacking Chen Feng from the side. Boom!!! The ground caved in, spiderweb cracks spreading rapidly. Chen Feng stood unmoved, simply raising his left hand and clamping it onto the attacker¡¯s right arm like a tiger¡¯s claw. Their eyes met. The elder in the gray crane robe glared fiercely, a white glow suddenly erupting from his body. Whoosh!!! His left arm shot out like a pecking crane. The attack was swift and terrifying, as fast as lightning. Cao Tong¡¯s expression changed slightly, but in the next second¡­ Thump!! The ferocious strike landed squarely on Chen Feng¡¯s forehead, but¡­ Crack! The sound of bones breaking echoed. The elder in the gray crane robe¡¯s eyes widened as he saw his fingers twisted and broken. ¡°Senior Brother!¡± The Second Elder, seeing something was wrong, gritted his teeth, knowing he couldn¡¯t hesitate any longer. He charged forward, the white crane phantom condensing once more. Screech! A sharp crane cry resonated through the mountain gate. The restrained elder in the crane robe snapped back to his senses, his eyes filled with malice, suppressing the pain. White light exploded from his hand again, but he couldn¡¯t break free. Without even looking at him, Chen Feng twisted and delivered a kick. Thump!! Crimson force erupted, the Flame Burst technique detonating. The white crane phantom shattered. The Second Elder¡¯s chest caved in, and he flew backward, crashing into the ancient cauldron. Clang!! Splat!! Two sounds echoed, blood splattering on the ground. ¡°Argh!¡± The elder whose arm was trapped, no longer holding back, roared furiously. A white crane phantom, a full five meters tall, appeared behind him, clearly demonstrating some depth in the True Intent realm. In a split second, the white crane phantom descended, enveloping his entire body. His aura surged, and he finally broke free from Chen Feng¡¯s grasp. Whoosh!! His undamaged right arm thrust forward like a spear, his left hand, despite the pain, forming a palm strike, delivering a series of blows. Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump!! Chen Feng¡¯s expression turned slightly serious as he countered with both arms, blocking each attack. The gray brick ground crumbled beneath their feet. They fought as they moved, their arms leaving afterimages in the air. ¡°Die!!¡± The elder in the crane robe roared viciously. The white light enveloping him condensed once more, transforming into a white crane phantom that pecked at Chen Feng¡¯s eyes. Boom!! An explosive punch shot out, swift and unstoppable, piercing through the white crane True Intent and striking the elder squarely in the head. The elder¡¯s aged face turned an unnatural shade of red, the skin rippling like waves. His malicious eyes filled with bloodshot veins, and then he flew backward, crashing towards the beam of the rear courtyard gate. Whoosh!!! Without mercy, Chen Feng stomped the ground and shot forward like an arrow. The stone bricks beneath his feet shattered. His body intersected with the elder¡¯s flying form, forming a cross. Hum! His right arm, covered in crimson, swung down like a flaming axe. Thump!!! The elder¡¯s falling body crashed through the stone bricks, embedding itself within. Debris sprayed onto Chen Feng, a streak of blood splattering on his clothes. Fear notifications appeared again. He took a step forward, crouched down, and grabbed the elder¡¯s hair. He lifted the bruised and bloodied head from the hole in the ground. ¡°Are you the Grand Elder of the Pine Crane Sect?¡± Chen Feng asked indifferently. ¡°You¡­¡± The elder vomited blood, his eyes filled with hatred. ¡°If you have the guts, kill¡­¡± Thump!!! His head exploded, blood splattering onto Chen Feng. Chen Feng flicked his clothes, the force evaporating the blood, and then walked towards the Second Elder, who lay collapsed in front of the ancient cauldron, vomiting blood. ¡°You said I killed Qian Chang Song.¡± He looked down, meeting the Second Elder¡¯s resentful and hateful gaze. The Azure Armor still needed a bit more fear to break through, so Chen Feng stepped on the Second Elder¡¯s head, forcibly suppressing that hateful stare. ¡°From now on, you can say I annihilated the Pine Crane Sect.¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] [Fear +1!] Notifications popped up continuously. Chen Feng remained expressionless. Cao Tong, standing behind him, was utterly shocked. He hadn¡¯t expected Junior Brother Chen to be so ruthless, intending to completely wipe out the Pine Crane Sect. Xu Tingxiao¡¯s expression was complex. The Second Elder, filled with hatred and resentment, finally broke down, his eyes losing focus in despair. [Azure Armor LV3: 90/100, 91/100, 92/100] The progress continued to increase. Chen Feng deliberately refrained from delivering the final blow. But soon, when the talent¡¯s growth reached 95%, it stalled, as if encountering a bottleneck. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Narrowing his eyes, Chen Feng pondered how to obtain more nourishment. Just then, his senses tingled, and he looked towards the residential building of the Pine Crane Sect. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± A sigh echoed, followed by the sound of steady footsteps. Looking closely, another figure emerged from the building. Their eyes met. The figure shook his head calmly, unafraid. ¡°Young man, enough is enough.¡± (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 147: The Pine Crane Sect, Expulsion [2.9k] Translator: --- A figure stepped out of the courtyard, walking slowly towards them. Dressed in a white robe adorned with pine cranes, he was remarkably thin and appeared to be middle-aged. Chen Feng squinted, and behind him, Cao Tong''s expression changed, filled with surprise. "The master of the Pine Crane Sect?" Hadn''t he claimed to be injured and gone into hiding? Moreover, with such a rosy complexion, where was the slightest sign of injury or weakness? "This matter ends here." "From today onwards, my Pine Crane Sect will no longer intervene in your Dragon and Tiger conflict." The master of the Pine Crane Sect spoke calmly, and behind him, a white radiance quietly gathered, transforming into a nearly six-meter tall True Intent of a white crane. It was close to the limit of ordinary True Intents, not inferior to that of the previous Jiang Yunshan. In an instant, their gazes met. Seeing the other¡¯s calm and resolute demeanor, Chen Feng thought of something. The outside world claimed that the elder of the Pine Crane Sect had overstepped his authority and was acting on behalf of the master, siding with the Flying Dragon Sect. But at this moment, it was clear that the man before him was significantly stronger than the elder from earlier; how could there be any talk of usurpation? "What if I say no?" Understanding the crux of the matter, Chen Feng''s eyes turned cold as he stepped on the head of the second elder, with the red tiger looming behind him, standing in opposition to the white crane True Intent. The master of the Pine Crane Sect''s expression darkened, his tone turning icy. "Young one, there are some things that do not need to be taken to the extreme." "You and I will eventually pass away; the future..." "Oh." Bang!! The second elder''s head exploded, blood splattering everywhere. The ground blossomed with several eerie blood-red flowers, and the master of the Pine Crane Sect''s face revealed a murderous intent as he was interrupted. Whoosh!!! Like a shadow, he charged forward in an instant. The white crane True Intent seemed to wrap around him like a shell, with concentrated power coiling in his fingers, aimed directly at Chen Feng''s throat. The blood splattered on him was evaporating as Chen Feng threw a punch. Bang!! The stones beneath their feet shattered into dust, a shockwave erupting, causing those around them to squint their eyes. Whoosh whoosh whoosh!! His fingers pecked out in rapid succession; the master of the Pine Crane Sect had already reached the pinnacle of his True Intent and was in the prime of his life. Each strike sent the air whistling, tearing through with white energy. Without flinching or dodging, Chen Feng stood his ground. His explosive punches doubled in power. The red tiger behind him remained motionless, and his arms became mere shadows, repeatedly repelling the incoming white light. Bang bang bang bang bang!! The sounds of their collisions echoed continuously, the force exploding, a muffled sound reverberating. The onlookers had instinctively pulled back, and several gray-robed disciples holding brooms had already collapsed in fear on the stone steps. Puff!! Finally, a strike from the white light broke through his defenses, piercing Chen Feng. It felt like hitting steel, leaving only a faint red mark. The master of the Pine Crane Sect''s pupils constricted. In that moment of distraction, a fist the size of a sandbag ruthlessly struck out, like a cannonball. Thud! Crack! The sound of bones cracking echoed as the master of the Pine Crane Sect was sent flying, crashing into an ancient cauldron. His face visibly paled, his chest caved in, clearly having broken a rib. Yet, Chen Feng frowned, puzzled. Looking over, the master of the Pine Crane Sect surprisingly sprang back to his feet like a carp. He tapped several acupoints on his body with his right hand. In an instant, his rapidly declining aura stabilized, even rising again, continuously restoring to its peak state. Observing his complexion, it was once again rosy, showing no signs of injury whatsoever. "Secret technique?" Chen Feng recalled his master mentioning that some major sects possessed certain foundations that allowed martial artists to gain extraordinary abilities. Whoosh!!! Before he could gather his thoughts, the master of the Pine Crane Sect charged at him again, his eyes cold as frost. Bang bang bang bang bang!!! The two clashed again, and Chen Feng was struck on the eyelid by a peck of white light. Ding!!! A crisp sound exploded, exceeding the ordinary. The master of the Pine Crane Sect''s expression grew increasingly grim, completely unprepared for the fact that the opponent''s physique had nearly surpassed that of Silver-grade. Buzz! In an instant, his skin turned bronze. The recoil force surged back, and he was struck again by a punch. Bang!!! The courtyard wall was smashed through, and the surrounding disciples turned pale in shock. In the next moment, a figure in black dashed out like an arrow, with the red tiger following closely, leaping into the air. Bang!!! Fist met palm, and the master of the Pine Crane Sect stood up again, his complexion rosy, returning to his peak. His gaze turned colder, and Chen Feng''s body was now bronze, his bones cracking as they grew. In the blink of an eye, a towering giant two meters tall reappeared, blocking out all light, casting a shadow over the ground. Roar!!! The red tiger behind him roared angrily, the power coalescing in its palm exploded. With a tiger''s roar, a palm struck out, colliding with its five fingers. Thud thud thud! The master of the Pine Crane Sect retreated to absorb the force, and Chen Feng sensed the opportunity, leaping forward to attack. Flame Blast Style, Tiger Leap Style. Fists and palms intertwined, his right arm like a cannon, his left arm like an axe. The shockwave from his strikes was extremely powerful, and the crimson energy surged like real flames, relentlessly invading. Bang! In the end, another punch struck the master of the Pine Crane Sect''s head. He flew sideways, crashing through a beam, coughing amidst the dust and debris. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth and the injured head, and Chen Feng''s calm footsteps approached. "Come on, let¡¯s keep going." Chen Feng said calmly, seemingly waiting for him to use the secret technique to recover to his peak again. With a dazed expression, the master of the Pine Crane Sect couldn''t comprehend why the opponent, who had just entered the True Intent stage, could reach such a level. Snap! Finally, his hair was grabbed, and his entire body was lifted up. Pain shot through his bones, and the master of the Pine Crane Sect was too weak to struggle any longer. Noticing his condition, Chen Feng saw his once black hair gradually turning white. He understood that this secret technique came at a cost. But given the earlier effect, he felt a twinge of curiosity. "What is this secret technique?" "Let them go, let them go." The master of the Pine Crane Sect struggled one last time. Their eyes met, and Chen Feng remained silent for a moment. Crack! Without answering, he tightened his grip, crushing the master¡¯s skull. All aura dissipated, and he stepped out of the ruined courtyard, looking at the remaining members of the Pine Crane Sect. A cold light shrouded the hearts of the crowd, and the red tiger behind him coalesced, sweeping through the area like a ferocious beast, leaving no trace of energy. Blood trickled out, and the plaque of the Pine Crane Sect at the main entrance was taken down by Chen Feng. Crack! The plaque shattered. "From today onwards." "There will be no more Pine Crane Sect in this world." A roaring fire shot into the sky, and a plume of black smoke rose from the low mountain. The once prosperous martial arts sect seemed to be engulfed in flames, with buildings collapsing one after another. "What¡¯s going on? How did it catch fire?" "Wasn''t this our Huai City¡¯s martial arts major sect? There are martial arts masters stationed here; how could it catch fire?" "Who knows? I wonder if it can be saved." Vehicles on nearby roads came to a halt, and passersby quickly took out their phones, either calling the fire department or capturing the scene. For a moment, no one noticed. A black sedan drove away from the roadside, slowly leaving the area. Cao Tong in the passenger seat looked excited, glancing out the window, feeling a sense of relief. Xu Tingxiao was driving but was somewhat distracted. Having killed the True Intent master, destroyed the mountain gate, and incapacitated all the core members. In the rearview mirror, his senior brother was looking down at a blue-gray book, appearing calm, but Xu Tingxiao felt the overwhelming presence of his strength once again. Even without the Eye in the Sky covering this place, such a thunderous method would make him hesitate for a long time before carrying it out if it were him. Chen Feng, however, paid little attention to it. Kill when necessary, incapacitate when necessary. Since the Pine Crane Sect dared to side with the Flying Dragon Sect and target them mercilessly, such consequences were only to be expected. As for those ordinary disciples who couldn''t even practice the basics, he looked down on the idea of attacking these weaklings who hadn''t even cultivated true skills. If they couldn''t recognize reality, someone would inevitably send them to reunite. Then, suppressing his thoughts, he looked at the book in his hand. It was a martial arts true skill found in the secret chamber of the Pine Crane Sect¡¯s Mountain gate, and the others were mostly similar to those of the Flame Tiger Sect, but this particular true skill caught his attention. [Crane Origin Skill] [After reaching great success, it can consume vital energy when severely injured to stimulate acupoints, briefly returning to peak condition.] [Realm division: Initial Origin, Heavenly Origin, Crane Origin!] Chen Feng opened it and took a glance, roughly understanding the principle of the secret technique used by the master of the Pine Crane Sect earlier. The human body possesses vital energy, which is the most fundamental essence of life. By using some method to consume it and fill the acupoints throughout the body, one can briefly stimulate the body and suppress all negative states. "Such a pity." Shaking his head, Chen Feng had thought it was a technique that could directly restore injuries. Its effects had many flaws; not only was it extremely difficult to cultivate, but only that master of the sect had barely reached great success. Moreover, the consumption of vital energy was significant; the more times it was used, the heavier the burden on the body, and the subsequent stimulating effects would weaken. This was also why the master of the Pine Crane Sect had retreated faster and faster later on, nearly unable to suppress the negative effects of his injuries. Furthermore, recalling the master¡¯s hair turning from black to white. Chen Feng suspected that if he used it once more, he might not even need to intervene; he would die directly. "I''ll keep it for now." Having it was better than not having it, Chen Feng closed the true skill manuscript. Then, pretended to look out the window, the green trees and mountains along the roadside receded continuously. The sound of the wind whistled in his ears, and the panel before him quietly appeared. [Heart of Glory LV2: 33/100] The progress was slow, which Chen Feng had anticipated; he no longer held much hope for the short term. In contrast. The true goal and harvest of this trip. [Azure Armor LV4: 1/100] The nutrients provided by the three True Intents, along with the fear of other Pine Crane Sect disciples around, finally allowed him to accumulate enough to upgrade the Azure Armor. He hadn''t had time to adapt to the specific effects yet, but he had already gained some insight, receiving an enlightening feedback. There were two changes in total. First, the Azure Armor could be summoned and retracted at will. The sturdy shell of the unicorn beetle was no longer just a rigid covering for the entire body; it could now be controlled by thought to cover only parts of the torso. The increase in strength and defense had also improved slightly. Second, a unique skill. Or rather, a skill that could only be used in the Azure Armor form. The power still needed to be tested later, but... "I can now fight against Grandmasters." A powerful intuition, feedback from the Azure Armor upgrade, gave Chen Feng the confidence to set aside all worries. Even if a Grandmaster were to come here right now, he could face them head-on after activating the Azure Armor, without losing an inch. Buzz buzz! Just as his thoughts flickered, his phone suddenly vibrated. Soon, a message came through, and Chen Feng opened it, his gaze sharpening. [Lin Xiaoyun: The Golden Flying Eagle Sect has suffered a great defeat, the Eagle Sect Grandmaster is severely injured, and has now chosen to join the Southern Martial Alliance, serving alongside the Golden Blade Sect as protectors, recognizing the Flying Dragon Sect as the leader.] [Additionally, the Flying Dragon Sect has publicly declared that three days from now, they will head to Ze Province''s Yue City to challenge the Giant Elephant Sect!] --- "Everyone has received the news, right?" Ze Province, located on the eastern side, is adjacent to the heartland of the continent. A mountain rose in its centre; that was the famous mountain of Ze Province, Yue Mountain. Buildings sprawled along the mountainside and summit, and at this moment, figures were bustling inside, especially in the reception room, where numerous True Intents from different sects could be seen. "The Eagle Master is an old-school master; how could he lose to Lu Xinglong?" "Now the entire Golden Flying Eagle Sect has decided to bow down; they will likely come to our Ze Province next." Some were worried, and others nodded in agreement, their expressions grim. However, some frowned slightly and spoke up in rebuttal. "The Flying Eagle Sect has been at the top for too long these years; they¡¯ve become complacent, so their defeat was expected." "Let¡¯s wait and see how the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect and Lion Heart Sect plan to respond." S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as this was said, some voiced their dissatisfaction. "The Lion Heart Sect? They''ve long been trapped by the Golden Blade Sect. Besides, the Lion Heart Sect¡¯s Master doesn''t have much time left, does he?" "Rather than waiting for them, we should take the initiative!" The atmosphere grew tense again, with various expressions among the crowd, ultimately looking towards the burly middle-aged man at the head. Dressed in a tight outfit, adorned with a pattern of a giant elephant trampling the earth. "Master Zhang, when will the Giant Elephant Master emerge from seclusion?" "Today." The burly middle-aged man with thick brows and a broad face spoke solemnly: "Additionally, the Whale Sect Master has sent word, wishing to join forces with us to deal with the Flying Dragon." "Everyone, you have three days to prepare." --- "The Flying Eagle Sect has fallen so quickly?" On the way back, Cao Tong received similar news, his expression somewhat unnatural. During this time, he had learned about the past glories and grievances of the Flame Tiger Sect, but even so, the Flame Tiger Sect had never claimed first place in the martial arts tournament, always falling short compared to the Golden Flying Eagle Sect. For a moment, his mind was in turmoil, and even upon returning to the urban area of Nanjiang, he found it hard to regain his focus. Beside him, Xu Tingxiao felt similarly; both were worried, their expressions not quite right. In response, Chen Feng remained silent, merely gazing out at the streets and passersby, as well as the high-rises under construction. "Time is running out." A thought crossed his mind; Chen Feng was well aware that the Flying Dragon Sect would not easily halt its expansion. With the Golden Flying Eagle Sect just having fallen, they dared to continue declaring war in the short term. This could only mean one thing: they were confident and had a strong grasp of the situation. Likewise, it indicated another matter. He could no longer delay. After all, if the Flying Dragon Sect truly defeated the Giant Elephant Sect and the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect, the Southern Martial Alliance would rise to dominate the entire southern martial arts world. At that time, with over four or five masters coming to pressure him in Nanjiang, even with the aid of the Shield Golem, he would not stand a chance. As for hiding, with the Eye in the Sky and the entire martial arts world on the lookout, unless he took the Flame Tiger Sect deep into the mountains for a lifetime or completely left the Red Nation, there would be nowhere to escape. "It seems it''s time to set out." With cold light flashing in his eyes, Chen Feng looked at everything familiar outside the window. He had initially planned to accumulate more strength, waiting until he could kill a Grandmaster before taking action. But... First, let¡¯s collect some interest. That should be enough! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 148: Journey to Yue City, Settling the Storm [2.6k] Translator: --- Two days later. Buzz! At the peak of the Flame Tiger Sect, the mountain gate. Two flying cars landed, and a group of true disciples stood at the entrance. Instead of showing any signs of worry or vigilance, they wore expressions of surprise and joy. The airwaves stirred, causing the wild grass and green trees in front of the courtyard to sway gently. The third elder, Yan Chong, who had already recovered somewhat from his injuries, stood in front of the many true disciples, silently watching the flying cars land, dressed in a gray robe. Click! The four wheels extended and slowly touched the ground. Immediately, several figures emerged. Most were burly men in suits wearing sunglasses, their waists bulging, clearly carrying firearms. Among them, two stood out: one was tall and robust, clearly a Silver-grade cyborg, while the other carried a metallic briefcase, giving the third elder a slight sense of danger. ¡°Councilor Chu.¡± Finally, Yan Chong stepped forward, leading all the true disciples to greet the white-haired elder who was surrounded by others. ¡°Hmm, Yan Chong, long time no see.¡± Nodding slightly, Chu Shihong had a lean face with a somewhat sharp demeanor. Though he smiled, it still instilled a sense of authority in several true disciples. After a brief exchange, it was clear that the other party was straightforward. ¡°Let¡¯s go, take me to see Old Li.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± As they spoke, the two men stepped out, flanked by the true disciples and bodyguards, entering the courtyard. The wooden door opened, and Chu Shihong went in to check on Li Tong alone. Li Tong was still in a coma. He shook his head and, after sitting for a short while, exited the room. ¡°This is the life potion I had someone procure; it should help with his recovery.¡± Chu Shihong gestured for a bodyguard beside him to take out a silver metallic cylinder, revealing a light green liquid inside that exuded a sense of vitality. ¡°Thank you, Councilor Chu.¡± The third elder did not feign modesty and immediately cupped his hands in gratitude. ¡°No need, Old Li is, after all, an old friend of mine.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, I was delayed by the Utopia incident and didn¡¯t realize you were in trouble until now.¡± Waving his hand, Chu Shihong spoke with a hint of embarrassment. The third elder responded with a smile, until finally, he noticed the curious gaze of Chu Shihong scanning the many true disciples present. ¡°By the way, where is Li Tong¡¯s big disciple?¡± ¡°Not on the mountain.¡± The third elder shook his head in response, and the other party acknowledged with an ¡°oh.¡± The next moment. Buzz!! More flying cars approached, and the bodyguards following Chu Shihong frowned in vigilance, looking towards the newcomers. All were sleek black flying cars, marked with four large white characters. [Tian Hao Security] Click! The flying cars stopped, and the doors opened. Seven or eight semi-cyborgs emerged, with the leader being exceptionally robust, his suit straining against his physique. ¡°Oh? Tian Hao Security.¡± Chu Shihong seemed to ponder, and soon the leader of the group approached. ¡°Hello, Representative Chu.¡± The other party spoke respectfully, while a bodyguard whispered something in his ear. Silver-grade cyborg. Chu Shihong nodded slightly, and then the other party turned to the third elder. ¡°Hello, Mr. Yan, I am Zhou Cheng, the captain of the second team of Tian Hao Security.¡± ¡°We are currently commissioned by Mr. Chen to investigate the mysterious attack incident and will be staying for a few days as a precaution.¡± ¡°Do you have any requests?¡± A look of satisfaction flashed across the third elder¡¯s face as he shook his head in response, indicating he was already quite pleased. ¡°Good, then for the next few days, we¡¯ll be in your care.¡± Zhou Cheng nodded and then turned to leave, leading his team of security members to patrol the vicinity. Seeing this scene, Chu Shihong¡¯s gaze flickered. In the end, he couldn¡¯t help but smile and shake his head. ¡°Looks like Old Li¡¯s disciple is not simple.¡± --- Whoosh!!! The blue flying car sped through the air, creating a wave of air behind it. The suburban wilderness and green forests rolled beneath, and Chen Feng sat in the driver¡¯s seat, experiencing this perspective of piloting a flying car for the first time. [Would you like to play music?] The car¡¯s AI issued a query, its voice more humanized and youthful compared to other flying cars. Turning his head, a large-headed doll-like AI projection appeared on the control screen, looking quite lifelike, resembling a human. ¡°No need.¡± Chen Feng shook his head, and the AI did not ask further. [Alright, if you need anything, just call for Big Head.] [You have now left the Nanjiang suburbs, with 97% energy remaining, capable of traveling two thousand kilometers. You are expected to arrive at your destination, Yue City, at 5:42 PM today.] The prompt voice gradually faded, and Chen Feng was somewhat surprised by the intelligence of this flying car. This was Lin Hao¡¯s blue vehicle, which he had lent to Chen Feng without hesitation upon hearing that he was leaving Nanjiang alone. After the trip to Yun Port, Chen Feng was no longer an inexperienced person. However, compared to all the intelligences he had encountered, ¡®Big Head¡¯ was clearly much more humanized, at least several levels higher. In fact, to some extent, it was comparable to a human being. [Beep!] [You have a communication from my master, Lin Hao!] [Would you like to answer?] The intelligent Big Head reminded him again, and Chen Feng nodded. Beep! A prompt sound came from the car¡¯s audio system, and then a blue light projection floated out, appearing on the windshield. ¡°How¡¯s my ride? No issues, right?¡± Lin Hao said with a proud smile through the video projection, and Chen Feng could see him dressed in a gray casual suit, sitting in a high-rise office with sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him. ¡°Pretty good.¡± Chen Feng glanced at the large-headed doll-like AI projection beside him, which was blinking its big eyes and displaying a human-like expression, and nodded. ¡°Of course, now my security company¡¯s terminal intelligence relies entirely on Big Head.¡± ¡°Rest assured, with it around, it¡¯s even more reliable than a person.¡± Lin Hao said confidently, and Chen Feng nodded without rebuttal. It had to be said that Lin Hao¡¯s security company had indeed grown to a certain scale. Leveraging the previous Utopia riot and escorting that group of club members, it had gradually gained a reputation among the upper echelons of Nanjiang. Moreover, he had also formed good relations with several councilors. ¡°By the way, how¡¯s the investigation on the matter I entrusted to you last time going?¡± Chen Feng thought of the mysterious individuals suspected to be from the Divine Martial Alliance or the Evil God Church. This was his biggest concern since leaving Nanjiang. If it weren¡¯t for Lin Hao¡¯s willingness to help, he would have been somewhat distracted. ¡°Currently, there are no leads, but I¡¯ve found something unusual.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s smile faded as he said seriously, ¡°Recently, several small factions in Nanjiang have been wiped out, and the traces left at the scene are very similar to the methods used during the attack on the martial arts school.¡± ¡°I feel that it should be those mysterious individuals, with some martial arts traces.¡± Chen Feng frowned slightly. From Lin Hao¡¯s investigation, he could already confirm that it was highly likely the Divine Martial Alliance. But why were they targeting the Flame Tiger Sect and even the entire martial arts community in Nanjiang, not sparing even small factions? Not knowing the answer, he could only look at Lin Hao in the video projection. ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble you with this.¡± ¡°No problem. If they dare to attack the Flame Tiger Sect again, I¡¯ll give them a surprise,¡± Lin Hao said with a smile. Chen Feng felt relieved upon hearing this, but soon. He noticed Lin Hao¡¯s gaze flicker, and seemingly casually, he asked, ¡°Is Blue Demon going with you to Yue City?¡± After saying this, the two exchanged glances. Chen Feng remained silent for a moment, knowing that Lin Hao might have some discoveries and speculations. ¡°Yes.¡± He nodded in response, and the two tacitly chose not to elaborate further. In the end, the communication ended, and the flying car sped on. A straight line of white vapor dissipated in the air, while the green forest below rustled. In the Nanjiang urban area, nearly a hundred miles away, Lin Hao put down his phone and chuckled, instinctively turning to look out at the vast blue sky through the floor-to-ceiling window. ¡°Uncle Liu, do you think Fengzi will succeed on this trip?¡± ¡°If Blue Demon is still at the same level as before, it might be tough.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± That evening, at 5:42 PM. As the intelligent Big Head had calculated, Chen Feng arrived at Yue City right on time. The dusk was thick like crimson clouds, and a tall mountain stood unwavering outside the city. Though it was the outskirts of Yue City, at the foot of the mountain, one could see a cluster of buildings nestled against the hills. Whoosh!!! A flying car whizzed by, and Chen Feng looked out the window, gazing down below. A dense array of vehicles and figures filled the asphalt roads winding around the mountains, with signs indicating AAA-level scenic spots. Only then did he remember that Yue Mountain was indeed a well-known tourist destination. Not wanting to delay, he saw staff directing the flying cars to land and immediately instructed Big Head to slow down. The airwaves surged and fell, and finally, the car stabilized, and the doors opened automatically. [Beep!] [Big Head requests to connect to your phone for convenient service at any time!] The intelligent Big Head reminded him again. Chen Feng thought for a moment and ultimately agreed. If uncontrollable situations arose, he could promptly notify the AI to come and pick him up with auto-driving. Step! With everything settled, he took out the prepared sunshade mask, donned a cap and sunglasses, and slipped into a loose black outfit before stepping out of the car. This was an open-air parking lot, and perhaps due to arriving by flying car, many local residents looked his way. The sunlight in Yue Mountain was quite strong, so there were plenty of people dressed in sun-protective gear. Thus, no one thought much of it, and soon he found himself surrounded by a few people at the parking lot exit, inquiring. ¡°Need accommodation?¡± ¡°Handsome guy, want to eat?¡± ¡°Hello, are you here for tourism? Do you need a guide?¡± Voices rang out from men and women of various attire, young and middle-aged alike. In the distance, there was a holographic projection of the scenic area introduction and a help hotline, with staff maintaining traffic order. After some thought, Chen Feng chose a guide. He was unfamiliar with the area and needed someone to help him navigate to the site of the sect duel the next day. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ah, oh, hello, I¡¯m honored to be your guide.¡± The young woman, who hadn¡¯t expected much, was slightly taken aback and quickly introduced herself. Dressed in a black windbreaker with her long hair tied up, she wore a tourist agency badge and appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six. ¡°Sir, our travel agency has several guiding options: group tours, one-on-one, and various travel packages.¡± ¡°Are you familiar with the route to the Giant Elephant Sect?¡± Chen Feng interrupted her lengthy explanation and asked directly. ¡°Ah, the Giant Elephant Sect?¡± The guide named Du Mengqi was momentarily stunned, then quickly nodded, ¡°I know, I¡¯m a local.¡± ¡°The Giant Elephant Sect is the largest martial arts faction here, and part of their mountain gate is open to the public as a tourist attraction. They also offer accommodation and even martial arts training experiences.¡± ¡°Are you going to visit the Giant Elephant Sect, sir?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Chen Feng nodded, ¡°Lead the way.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Du Mengqi clearly hadn¡¯t caught up, explaining, ¡°Sir, it¡¯s already getting late tonight, you see¡ª¡± ¡°Then get someone else who can lead the way.¡± Chen Feng shook his head calmly, unwilling to waste time at the foot of the mountain. Hearing this, Du Mengqi hesitated. She realized he wanted a one-on-one guide, which wouldn¡¯t be cheap, and the commission would be considerable. However, looking at him wearing a sunshade mask and being a man, she felt a bit concerned. Just then, another woman with a tourist agency badge approached and whispered a few words to her. Chen Feng vaguely heard her asking to switch and help with the group. ¡°Alright!¡± Du Mengqi¡¯s face lit up, and then she asked Chen Feng, ¡°Sir, there happens to be a small group of seven or eight people going up the mountain tonight to visit the Giant Elephant Sect.¡± ¡°Would you like to join them?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Chen Feng nodded, and then followed her to a nearby signpost. A small bus was parked there, and without delay, Chen Feng boarded, taking a seat by the window in the back row. Inside the bus were seven or eight young men and women, some couples, some solo travelers, and occasional conversations could be heard. Paying, buying tickets, arranging accommodation. Du Mengqi said a few things as she got on the bus, and Chen Feng handed her a pre-fabricated identity card. Before long, the small bus slowly drove off, heading straight for the mountain top along the asphalt road. The trees on both sides receded continuously, and occasionally, they could see some large buses descending the mountain, passing each other. They even spotted some special flying cars darting back and forth, heading directly to the mountainside. ¡°Why does it feel like there are more people than last time I came to Yue Mountain?¡± Someone in the bus suddenly whispered, and the guide Du Mengqi didn¡¯t answer, as she was also puzzled. These two days were clearly weekdays, yet the number of tourists at Yue Mountain was more than on previous weekends. ¡°You guys don¡¯t know yet?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a martial arts faction in Yun Port that¡¯s going to ascend Yue Mountain tomorrow to challenge the Giant Elephant Sect.¡± ¡°Many people have come for this reason these past few days.¡± A young man in the bus answered loudly, his tone somewhat smug. After his explanation, the others in the bus learned about the Flying Dragon Sect¡¯s duel with the Giant Elephant Sect. ¡°How do you know? I didn¡¯t see anything online about it?¡± ¡°Pfft, this is insider information in the martial arts circle. My cousin is a disciple of the Giant Elephant Sect, so of course, I know.¡± The chatter continued, and sitting in the back row, Chen Feng¡¯s gaze flickered as he realized that the martial arts circle indeed had a significant information barrier for ordinary people. He didn¡¯t interrupt, listening quietly as he discovered that the others knew quite a bit. ¡°The duel is scheduled for ten o¡¯clock tomorrow morning, and legendary masters will be making their moves.¡± ¡°You guys are lucky. My cousin said they¡¯ll be competing on the martial arts platform, which isn¡¯t open to the public, but with me around, I can get my cousin to make arrangements so you can watch with me.¡± His words drew gratitude and curiosity from many. The young man looked pleased, and Chen Feng gazed out at the darkening sky, shaking his head. Watching the duel? He couldn¡¯t help but wonder how much honor points such ordinary people could provide him. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c200. Early Access at $5. Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 149: Dreams and Secrets, Breaking Through the Trials [3k] Translator: --- That night, the minibus drove up the mountainside, arriving at a vast and imposing mountain gate. [Giant Elephant Sect] The three words, inscribed in gold on a black background, hung in the center of the gray gate pillars. Behind it lay a grand hall of bricks and tiles, with bronze cauldrons burning incense, and intricately carved beams and painted rafters, showcasing the grandeur of a major sect. Even though it was already night, some tourists could still be seen wandering nearby. Under the illumination of lanterns and streetlights, staff members of the Giant Elephant Sect appeared, guiding passersby at the entrance. Everything was orderly; if it weren''t for the prior knowledge of an impending battle, one would hardly suspect that a fierce conflict was about to unfold here. Nevertheless, the lights in the buildings on the mountainside were clearly visible, and the surrounding hotels and inns were fully booked, far exceeding usual occupancy. ¡°Here, these are everyone¡¯s room cards. Be sure not to lose them!¡± Chen Feng, following the tour group, settled in a courtyard near the Giant Elephant Sect. He requested a single room, took the room card, and closed the door behind him. ¡°That guy is so strange.¡± Someone whispered, ¡°It¡¯s so late, yet he¡¯s still wearing a sunshade mask. It¡¯s creepy.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my cousin is nearby; he¡¯s a martial arts expert.¡± The young man from earlier patted his chest, and the others felt a bit more at ease. Du Mengqi didn¡¯t dare to comment, only glancing at the tightly shut door of Chen Feng¡¯s room. In her years as a tour guide, she had seen many people, but for some reason, she felt this person was somewhat unusual. Shaking her head, she didn¡¯t dwell on it and quickly reassured everyone to settle in. ¡°Tomorrow, we¡¯ll wake up at six in the morning; we should have a chance to see the sunrise.¡± ¡°Everyone, get some rest. I¡¯ll post the itinerary in the WeChat group shortly. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.¡± Walking to the bedside, Chen Feng took out his phone and privately messaged the tour guide, Du Mengqi, indicating that he was used to waking up late and wouldn¡¯t be going to see the sunrise. Then, he expanded his perception, confirming that there were no hidden cameras in the room. Removing his sunshade mask and cap, he washed up and finally lay down on the bed. ¡°Tomorrow morning at ten.¡± The Grandmaster Battle between Flying Dragon Sect and the Giant Elephant Sect. A thought flashed through Chen Feng¡¯s mind; he had considered finding that Zhang Tai privately to enter the first scene. But after some thought, he ultimately changed his plan. After all, only one of him or the Azure Armor could appear at the same time. Suppressing his distractions, Chen Feng lay flat on the bed, looking at the panel. [Extreme Martial Arts Points: 2] [Limit-Breaking Points: 1] [Steel Bone LV3: 3/100] It had been two days since the Pine Crane Sect group had set out. After two nights of dream realm journeys, he had indeed gained something. His gaze shifted down to the skills section. [Myriad Temperings: Thousand Refinements (30%) +] ¡°Still quite a bit to go.¡± With the battle imminent, Chen Feng hoped to increase his strength as much as possible. The Crimson Tiger Force and Extreme Martial Fist were difficult to break through, but the Myriad Temperings had a slightly better chance. As for the Crane Origin Skill. After some deliberation, Chen Feng chose to give it up. The reason was simple; it conflicted somewhat with his use of talent. Azure Armor, Steel Bones, and Heart of Glory either consumed physical strength or mental energy, which was already part of his vitality. If he were to use the Crane Origin Skill, the duration of his talent would surely be drastically shortened, making it not worth the cost. Suddenly, his thoughts became clear, and he closed his eyes. Buzz! His consciousness sank, shrouded in mist. Tall buildings lined both sides, and the Extreme Martial Arts Hall appeared a few hundred meters ahead. Without any delay, Chen Feng shouldered his black backpack and stepped straight out. The distance closed rapidly, but. Looking up at the sky, Chen Feng paused, his expression slightly darkening. Caw!!! A sharp cry rang out; it was the enormous eagle that had suddenly discovered his presence yesterday and was now hunting him down nearby. Just as he had left the dream, they had not encountered each other immediately. Whoosh! With a wingspan of ten meters, a fierce wind swept through. Its cold, vertical pupils radiated a chilling killing intent, and the massive black-feathered body was as intimidating as iron fortress. In an instant, an Azure mark flashed on the back of his hand. Azure Armor spread out like flowing water, gradually covering his neck. Whoosh!!! The eagle dove down, its massive claws tearing through the air like steel, howling continuously. A chill surged, and instead of immediately summoning the Holy Shield Colossus, Chen Feng had the idea to try out Azure Armor. TL/N: Shield Giant ¨¤ Holy Shield Colossus. Changed cause it sounds cooler. Buzz! In an instant, the Azure shell spread again, while dark gold began to grow, enveloping his entire body. TL/N: The dark gold here is due to his Steel Bone talent reaching level 3. The glass-fiber red eyes shone brightly, and the Azure unicorn body was adorned with golden patterns, with dark golden spikes protruding from his elbows and shoulders. Boom!!! With golden armor covering his arms, he unleashed a powerful punch, striking the enormous eagle''s claw. The ground cracked with a series of loud cracks, and the asphalt road split apart continuously. Amidst the ear-piercing screech, sparks erupted from the surface of the golden armor; even the Gold-grade eagle''s claws could not damage it in the slightest. Caw!!! The furious screech of the eagle seemed to be enraged. Its wings flapped, and a fierce wind whipped around. Chen Feng¡¯s legs sank deep into the shattered ground, his senses sharp as he raised his arms to block. Clang!!! The sound of metal echoed; he was pushed back, sliding seven or eight meters. The asphalt surface was gouged out, leaving two long marks, as the enormous eagle retracted its claws, its black wings suddenly separating from its body, hovering on either side. With a focused gaze, Chen Feng slightly bent his knees and raised his left arm. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!! Like high-speed moving cannonballs, dark golden shields rapidly formed. Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! The crisp sounds continued, as the steel bone shield seemed to ignite, sending up bursts of sparks. A strong impact erupted, and Chen Feng¡¯s arms tingled slightly as he continued to slide back, even seeing small dents appear on the surface of the steel bone shield. ¡°Truly a fourth-tier creature.¡± Feeling the opponent''s strength once again, Chen Feng no longer held back. Concentrating his thoughts, he activated Azure Armor. With a sizzling sound! On the tip of his spiraled golden-patterned Azure horn, a black light resembling lightning gathered, forming a black electric sphere. As if sensing the crisis, the hovering eagle suddenly halted its attack. All its black feathers were retracted, and it prepared to flap its wings and create distance. But the next second. Whoosh!!! The black light erupted, shooting out from the tip of the forked horn. As thick as an arm, it was like a true lightning strike, instantly crossing a distance of several meters and directly hitting the eagle. ¡°Caw!!¡± A sharp cry echoed, tinged with pain and anger. The eagle was visibly knocked back, crashing into a high-rise wall, with shards of glass raining down. Puffs of gray smoke rose from its chest and abdomen, and a blood hole the size of an arm appeared in its otherwise Gold-grade flesh, charred and bleeding, revealing white bone. Seeing this, Chen Feng, who was using this skill on a creature for the first time, also froze in place, his eyes narrowing. This was the special skill gained after upgrading Azure Armor. [Black Flash: Can consume stamina to gather black light at the horn, unleashing a powerful strike.] The feedback was simple; after a certain amount of buildup, it unleashed a power comparable to a medium-sized missile. Previously, the targets he had tried were ordinary buildings, so he hadn¡¯t felt the full impact. But now. Caw!!! Suddenly, a fierce wind surged. The injured, bleeding giant eagle flapped its wings, stirring up a cloud of dust and debris. Seeing that the opponent wanted to create distance, Chen Feng snapped back to reality and no longer hesitated. Whoosh!!! A white light mixed with golden patterns solidified in front of him, and the next second transformed into a giant rock figure, bursting forth. In the blink of an eye, the Holy Shield Colossus circled behind the eagle, its thick arms wrapping around it forcefully. Like a constrictor snake coiling around its prey, or a stone pillar holding up the heavens. The eagle screeched in anger, and the surrounding high-rise glass shattered inch by inch, as gusts of wind overturned everything. Yet even so, it could not break free. Seizing this opportunity, Chen Feng did not delay and unleashed Black Flash once more. Whoosh!!! The black light, like high-voltage lightning, erupted and shot forth. Pfft!! Blood splattered, then was rapidly evaporated. The struggling eagle''s head was struck directly, a blood hole the size of an arm piercing through from front to back, blood gushing out. In an instant, all struggles ceased, and the massive body of the eagle fell to the ground. Boom!! Dust scattered, and sensing the opponent''s breath dissipate, Chen Feng exhaled, his body swaying slightly. Black Flash consumed too much stamina; he could only use it three times at most. Then, watching the eagle''s body gradually fade, he dared not overexert his spirit and stamina. Azure Armor and Steel Bone slowly retracted, and the Holy Shield Colossus merged back into his brow. Step! Finally, he stepped out. He walked into the nearby martial arts hall. The earlier commotion from the fight had been too loud; the masked men inside, controlled by the black soldier ants, tried to hide. But unfortunately. Boom!!! With a muffled explosion, two masked men fell to the ground, their forms fading. The surrounding swarm of black ants, similarly dead, left the martial arts hall in ruins. Buzz! Gray light clusters surged in. [Perception LV3: 80/100] ¡°Still a bit short.¡± Shaking his head, Chen Feng looked at the two floating light clusters of light blue. As usual, he raised his hand to absorb them, gently touching them. As his will concentrated, a new scene appeared. ¡°Black disasters are frequent; the situation in the wilderness outside the city is dire.¡± ¡°Yesterday at dawn, Heishui Town encountered an accident, forcibly pulled into the Abyssal Secret Realm, with six hundred and ninety-three people missing, their fates unknown.¡± ¡°The law enforcement team is understaffed and is now seeking assistance from our Extreme Martial Arts Hall.¡± Inside the hall, the middle-aged coach Xu, whom he had seen last time demonstrating the Extreme Martial Fist, stood on the stage, his expression serious as he spoke gravely. One by one, disciples dressed in gray-white martial arts uniforms stood below, their expressions varied but orderly, waiting for his command. ¡°This mission may involve considerable danger.¡± ¡°Are there any disciples willing to leave the city with me to the wilderness?¡± ¡°I want to go!¡± ¡°So do I!¡± ¡°Coach Xu, count me in!¡± A series of strong voices rang out, and the middle-aged man named Coach Xu nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Xu Dong, Zhou Qiang, Luo¡­¡± One name after another was called, and the selected disciples, recalling their memories, clenched their fists, feeling a surge of excitement. Days later, in a wild area. Weeds grew thickly, green trees withered, and the corpses of mutated beasts piled up in groups around. A dark mist hung heavily, revealing an ordinary tile-roofed town surrounded within. Someone stepped forward, raising a hand to touch the mist before them. But they found that the mist was like a layer of glass, blocking their palm, making it impossible to advance even a fraction. ¡°Don¡¯t try; Heishui Town has already been pulled into the Abyss.¡± ¡°This mist is merely a facade; in reality, it is shrouded by the barrier of the Abyssal Secret Realm. It looks close, but we are no longer in the same space.¡± The crowd grew serious at these words, and a curious disciple asked, ¡°Then how do we save them?¡± ¡°First, we need to find the key to the secret realm to open the entrance; only then can we enter.¡± The middle-aged man referred to as Coach Xu explained, then communicated with the law enforcement team, spending time to find the key. It was a fist-sized black stone ball, engraved with some snake-like patterns, seemingly radiating a certain magical power. ¡°It seems this area should be the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm.¡± Coach Xu spoke seriously, then began to infuse power into the stone ball. In the blink of an eye, the stone ball emitted a ghostly light, floating out and automatically drifting above the mist. After a few seconds of this, with a hum, the mist swirled and rotated, revealing a portal two to three meters high. ¡°Disciples below the entry level need not go in; just wait for us here!¡± ¡°Xu Dong, Luo Peng, you stay here to take care of the younger disciples; the rest, follow me!¡± Boom!! The scene shattered, everything dissipating. Chen Feng¡¯s gaze was momentarily dazed before he gradually came to his senses. Another Serpent Spirit Secret Realm. It requires a key to open? Thinking of this, he couldn¡¯t help but look at the two marks on his palms. One resembled a black snake, the other a crow. Could it be that the so-called power of the evil god is a kind of key? Feeling that something was off, Chen Feng recalled a crucial point from the memory scene. The so-called abyss could forcibly pull parts of this world into another time and space. This exceeded any power he had seen on Earth. The only records related to it were those provided by Cao Tong regarding the evil god cult, which vaguely mentioned that there might be other unknown spaces on Earth. ¡°I wonder if this claim is true.¡± Shaking his head, uncertain of the answer. Chen Feng forced himself to suppress unnecessary thoughts and soon stored away another portion of Extreme Martial Arts. The remaining memory scene yielded little, and he ultimately walked through the martial arts hall, obtaining ten more fragments of the Limit Breaking Light Orbs. In addition, he found a palm-sized incomplete iron book in a secret room. [Heavenly Aura Overlord Body] Still the first layer of the technique, just a bit more to complete it. Chen Feng carefully backed up its contents, then used it as nourishment to support the growth of Steel Bone. [Metal Essence +1!] [Steel Bone LV3: 6/100] A slight progress increase; Chen Feng shook his head, not surprised. He knew. Perhaps he needed to absorb more steel to bring about greater growth. During the day. When Chen Feng woke up, the other members of the tour group in the hotel had already left. [Du Mengqi: Mr. Chen, we¡¯re going to see the sunrise. If you wake up later, you can message me, and I¡¯ll come to get you.] [The Giant Elephant Sect is different from other attractions; you need a guide with a sightseeing certificate to move around and visit.] [Also, that Mr. Zhang who is traveling with us has already communicated with his cousin, so we¡¯ll all have a chance to observe the martial arts competition.] Glancing at the message on his phone, Chen Feng didn¡¯t rush to reply but instead looked at the panel before him. [Extreme Martial Arts Points: 4] [Limit Breaking Points: 11] ¡°Still a bit short.¡± These gains were not enough to elevate the Extreme Martial Fist to the Meteor level. As for the Crimson Tiger Force, there was no next layer of technique, so the improvement would be minimal. On the contrary, if he invested all into the Myriad Temperings, he should be able to break through to the Ten Thousand Refinements level. ¡°The Grandmaster Battle; every bit of strength counts.¡± No longer hesitating, Chen Feng made his decision. Decompose, enhance! In an instant. Four portions of Extreme Martial Arts Points disappeared, and eleven portions of Limit Breaking Points were put into it. The progress of Myriad Temperings surged, breaking through the bottleneck. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Myriad Temperings: Ten Thousand Refinements (1%)] ¡°Hmm?¡± His gaze sharpened, Chen Feng was surprised. ¡°Not yet complete?¡± He had thought that Ten Thousand Refinements was the final level. But like the Crimson Tiger Force, it was clear that Myriad Temperings also concealed some secrets. Interesting. A thought flashed through his mind, recalling that the Myriad Temperings Sect was willing to pass on this core true skill to him. Chen Feng felt he had guessed something. Not delving deeper, he began to sense the changes within himself. [Strength: 28.3¡ú30.3] [Agility: 25.2¡ú27.2] [Constitution: 34.0¡ú36.0] [Will: 31.4¡ú33.4] ¡°An increase of 8 attribute points, no less than the Bronze Statue Technique.¡± Clenching his fist, Chen Feng could feel his strength increasing again; an ordinary punch was nearly five tons. If he used the Explosive Fist while activating both the Giant Tiger Technique and Azure Armor forms. He would receive a boost of full thirty-five tons! In that instant, a surge of powerful confidence welled up within him. Azure Armor, Steel Bones, Heart of Glory. Chen Feng¡¯s eyes sparkled with confidence and cold light; he was no longer satisfied with merely repelling masters. Then, without further delay. He quickly washed up and put on his sunglasses and sunshade mask again. He stepped out of the room and sent a message to Du Mengqi. TL/N: Let¡¯s freakin¡¯ goooo! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Early Access at $5. Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 150: The Battle of Grandmasters [2.6k] Translator: --- "It''s about to begin." "Why am I feeling so excited?" "It''s normal. This is a battle of grandmasters. Even in the martial arts world, it''s a rare sight." The murmurs of conversation rose as Chen Feng followed Du Mengqi through the corridors and halls, arriving at a particular place. A vast square, nearly a thousand square meters in size, made entirely of white jade. Located on the mountainside, backed by a cliff, it was perfectly flat. Looking up, one could see the sea of clouds in the mountains, with a blazing sun hanging high in the sky, casting a golden light. To the left and right, one could see corridors surrounding the area, with layered pavilions and gray stone pillars carved with giant elephant patterns lining the edges. "This is the training ground of the Giant Elephant Sect. It''s usually never open to the public." "It''s only because of my cousin''s connections that we have the chance to be here." Walking to a corner, the young man surnamed Zhang was proudly showing off to the tour group. It wasn''t an exaggeration. Chen Feng looked around and saw the corridors on both sides packed with people. There were middle-aged men and elders with wooden hairpins and ancient-style robes. There were young men with short hair, wearing casual sportswear, clearly in the process of refining their internal organs. There were also well-dressed businessmen and politicians, exuding an air of authority. In addition, looking up, one could see many martial artists standing on the tiled roofs of the corridors, and some drones were hovering in the air, adjusting their camera angles. "Mr. Chen, this is our spot." "Please don''t wander off later." Du Mengqi softly reminded him. Chen Feng nodded and stood at the very back of the corridor, pressed against the brick wall of the hall behind him. The people in the front rows were mostly tall, blocking much of the view. But even so, the seven or eight young men and women from the tour group were still excited. "It looks so grand. Is this what the martial arts world is like?" "Everyone here seems so strong. I don''t even dare to speak loudly with just one look from them." "Wow, look over there! Isn''t that Councilor Xu from the Yue City United Coalition? I''ve seen him on TV. He''s here too?" "Not just him. Look over there, the chairman of Hengtong Group is also here!" Their excited chatter drew the attention of some martial artists around them. Some shook their heads and frowned, while others remained indifferent. Chen Feng remained silent throughout, glancing in the direction of their discussions. His senses heightened, focusing on a spacious area near the main entrance of the hall. The training ground ascended several steps, with rows of pearwood chairs neatly arranged. Those seated were true intent masters, as well as some well-known businessmen and council representatives from Yue City and even the entire Ze Province. Mechanical martial artists and Silver-grade cyborgs guarded the sides, along with disciples of the Giant Elephant Sect, who stood with their arms hanging at their sides. Chen Feng saw Zhang Tai and even Pang Kui, dressed in a tight-fitting robe. "Hmm?" He was somewhat surprised to see that many people from the Sea Swallowing Whale Sect had come here. Among them, two men, one middle-aged and one elderly, were being surrounded in the central position. One wore a tight-fitting robe, towering and burly, with a bald head, looking to be in his early forties, sitting there like a towering mountain. The other wore a white robe, with gray hair and eyebrows, around fifty or sixty years old. He was slightly thinner, resembling an ordinary old man. As if sensing something, the older man glanced over. But soon, finding nothing, he shook his head and couldn''t help but praise. "Giant Elephant Grandmaster, your Yue City truly has many talented people." The bald, burly man was puzzled, then exchanged a few words and glanced around. "Haha, quite a few schools are here today. There are always some with unique true skills." Not particularly concerned, he instead said, "Speaking of which, I must thank you, Whale Sect Grandmaster, for coming here personally to support our Giant Elephant Sect." "Otherwise, today, we might not be able to withstand the Flying Dragon''s momentum." The white-robed old man shook his head, speaking earnestly, "No need for thanks." "The Flying Dragon Sect is too powerful, and their actions are too domineering. We are just banding together for warmth." The two chatted for a few more sentences, and then the bald, burly man''s tone shifted, curious. "Grandmaster Flying Eagle is a seasoned grandmaster, yet he was severely injured by Lu Xinglong in just a few dozen moves." "Could it be that he has reached the pinnacle?" "No, not quite." The white-robed old man shook his head gently, his tone distant, "The pinnacle is the ultimate realm of a grandmaster, and breaking through is extremely difficult." "Throughout the entire Red Nation, only a handful have reached this realm. Although Lu Xinglong is a late bloomer, he is still quite far from this realm." Hearing this, the bald, burly man felt somewhat relieved. As long as it wasn''t the pinnacle, there was still a fight to be had. The two fell silent, gradually beginning to gather their energy and wait. The true intent masters and local councilors behind them all wore serious expressions, and some Silver-grade cyborgs guarded the sides, their expressions varied. "Senior brother, we should be able to win, right?" Zhang Tai stood in the back row of the true disciples'' position, looking somewhat anxious and nervous. "We should be able to." Zheng Shan was uncertain, as the Flying Eagle Flow''s crushing defeat was too shocking. If it weren''t for the Sea Swallowing Whale Sect coming to assist, the outcome would have already been decided. "Don''t worry." "My grandmaster has rarely come out of seclusion. There''s no way he could lose." Pang Kui, who had recovered from his injuries, stood beside them, shaking his head, still full of confidence. Zhang Tai and Zheng Shan exchanged glances, both somewhat envious of the other''s positive attitude. "See that? That''s my cousin." In the crowded corridor, the tour group was still excitedly chatting. The young man surnamed Zhang pointed to a tall, burly young man standing guard and maintaining order in the opposite corridor. Everyone looked over, and a girl asked curiously, "Your cousin is a core disciple of the Giant Elephant Sect? He must be at the professional level, right?" "Of course, my cousin is already at professional level seven." The young man surnamed Zhang was slightly proud, and the others around him expressed their admiration. Even Du Mengqi thought it was quite impressive and joined the conversation. Only Chen Feng stood alone at the edge of the crowd, remaining silent, seeming somewhat out of place. As for the others around them, perhaps because they were on the Giant Elephant Sect''s turf, and the young man kept mentioning his cousin, they weren''t sure how to react. Although they found the noise annoying, they didn''t say much. "Your cousin is at professional level seven and is only a core disciple. I heard the Giant Elephant Sect also has true disciples, elders, and even the sect leader." "What level are they at?" A girl suddenly asked. The young man surnamed Zhang had clearly done his homework and, glancing at Chen Feng, who had been isolated the entire time, smiled and said, "Above the professional level is the master level." "In the martial arts world, it''s also called inner strength and true intent, corresponding to the true disciples and elders of the Giant Elephant Sect." Everyone gained some knowledge, and someone else asked curiously. "What about grandmasters? Isn''t today a battle of grandmasters?" "Above the master level, the pinnacle of martial arts." The young man surnamed Zhang said mysteriously, and the girls around him were completely captivated. Seemingly satisfied with this, the young man surnamed Zhang continued chatting with them. Just then. Whoosh!! Several aircraft broke through the sky, their round gray cabins parting the sea of clouds. The entire Yue Mountain seemed to quiet down for a moment, all noise paused. "They''re here." A deep voice sounded. One of the grandmasters seated at the front, the bald, burly man, looked extremely serious. The white-robed old man beside him also narrowed his eyes. All the martial artists present tensed up, looking up. Buzz! Click! The cabin door opened, revealing two figures inside. One middle-aged, one elderly. The former wore a light blue robe, with a square face and deep eyes. He was none other than the middle-aged sect leader of the Flying Dragon Sect, Lu Xinglong. The latter wore a gray robe, with a flying dragon pattern on the sleeves. He had white hair and a youthful face, his aura restrained. In an instant, under the gaze of countless eyes. The blue-robed figure moved, stepping out. He fell from a height of several dozen meters, causing many to gasp in shock! The girls in the tour group covered their eyes, too scared to look. Roar!!! At the critical moment, the sound of a dragon''s roar suddenly rang out. A seven or eight-meter-long flying dragon appeared in mid-air, carrying the blue-robed figure, and landed gently. Everyone stared, and some true intent masters looked horrified. "Flying Dragon in the Sky..." The white-robed old man of the Sea Swallowing Whale Sect looked grave, understanding the technique. This was an extremely high-level application of force. Chen Feng, wearing a sunshade mask, narrowed his eyes, doing his best to suppress all his energy. "I didn''t expect it to be so lively today." Lu Xinglong stood in the center of the white jade square, glancing around at the hundreds of people gathered. He ignored them, finally stopping his gaze on the two grandmasters of the Giant Elephant and Whale Sect, over a hundred meters away. "Very well..." "Giant Elephant, Whale Sect." "Let''s begin." Without any unnecessary words, Lu Xinglong spoke calmly, naturally seeing that the two schools had joined forces. The flying dragon phantom behind him seemed to solidify, each scale lifelike, its whiskers twitching, looking down at everyone. Seeing his overbearing demeanor, the Giant Elephant Grandmaster''s gaze darkened, and he stood up. "We disdain ganging up on you." "Old rules, if you lose, leave Ze Province. If you win, the Giant Elephant Sect will bow to you!" As his voice fell, a deafening sound suddenly erupted. Roar!!! It was a deep gray giant elephant. Its tusks were menacingly pointed forward, its legs as thick as pillars. Standing eight or nine meters tall, it seemed both real and illusory, blocking all light, casting a large shadow over everyone. This scene stunned the tour group, leaving them in awe. The other martial artists around, though somewhat better, still showed a fanatical expression. Giant Elephant! The pride of Yue City, the top sect of Ze Province! "Good!" Lu Xinglong responded loudly. The gray-robed old man in the aircraft remained motionless, but the Whale Sect grandmaster below locked eyes with him, their energies clashing. Whoosh!!! A figure shot through the air, covering dozens of meters in an instant. In just two breaths, the bald, burly man in deep gray attire had already arrived on the white jade square. Boom!!! The solid tiles exploded, and everyone present felt the ground shake. The next moment, as the Giant Elephant Grandmaster steadied himself. Roar!!! The deafening elephant roar erupted again. The true intent elephant raised its front legs, seemingly merging with the burly man''s arms, delivering a ferocious strike. The massive shadow enveloped the sky, like a mountain pressing down. Roar!!! The dragon''s roar sounded again, the flying dragon dancing in the sky. The deep gray force clashed with the blue light. Lu Xinglong, in his blue robe, stood in place, raising his palm to block the heavy fists. Crack! Boom!!! The vast white jade square shook violently, the tiles shattering one by one, spreading out dozens of meters from the two as the center. Shards of debris shot out like bullets, heading straight for the surrounding corridors. Some martial artists intercepted them, some cyborgs acted. But perhaps because they had been annoyed by the young man surnamed Zhang earlier. The people around the tour group remained indifferent. In an instant, seven or eight pairs of eyes widened in fear, the young man surnamed Zhang already pale and trembling. Crack! At the critical moment, a thick hand reached out, grabbing the tile fragments. Powder fell, and ignoring the suspicious glances around him, Chen Feng stepped forward, standing at the very front of the corridor. The tour group was stunned, and the guide Du Mengqi widened her eyes in surprise. Roar!!! At that moment, the situation on the field suddenly changed. The true intent flying dragon coiled out, gradually binding the giant elephant''s true intent. The blue force was clearly stronger, the deep gray force somewhat dim. "Your breakthrough was too recent." Lu Xinglong spoke calmly. The Giant Elephant Grandmaster looked serious, then felt the palm under his fist suddenly empty. A sense of crisis surged, and he immediately mobilized his entire body''s energy, forming a golden bell! Clang!!! A palm struck his chest. The clear sound echoed endlessly, the blue light exploded, and his attire shattered. His burly, muscular body was revealed, with a red palm print on it. Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!! The blue light flashed continuously. Lu Xinglong struck out with palm after palm, each time producing the clear sound of striking steel. Visibly, the Giant Elephant Grandmaster was forced back step by step, his footprints sinking deeper, gradually submerging his calves. Clang!! Another palm struck, and cracks spread from under their feet, extending over ten meters. Seizing this moment, the Giant Elephant Grandmaster roared, his energy suddenly exploding. Boom!!! Lu Xinglong was repelled, his figure sent flying. The giant elephant bound by the flying dragon in mid-air also shook, breaking free and stepping forward. "Giant Elephant... Trampling the Heavens!!" The roar echoed throughout the area. The Giant Elephant Grandmaster stomped the ground, shattering one-fifth of the square into a massive block over ten meters. The next moment, he had already shot through the air over ten meters, catching up to the flying Lu Xinglong, arriving at his side. His arms raised like battle axes, veins bulging like coiling pythons, his eyes filled with ferocity. Hum!!! The heavy strike descended, the giant elephant''s legs trampling the heavens!! Boom!!! The ground shattered, as if hit by a cannonball. A circular depression ten meters wide appeared, the solid stone beneath the square turned to powder, revealing red soil. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Lu Xinglong suddenly appeared behind the Giant Elephant Grandmaster, his eyes deep, pointing a finger at the back of his head. "Not good!" The Whale Sect grandmaster saw the danger, his expression changing, wanting to intervene. Roar!!! The gray-robed old man in the aircraft suddenly descended on a dragon, blocking him. Seeing this, everyone''s expressions changed. The Giant Elephant Grandmaster on the stage also looked grim, only able to mobilize his energy, strengthening his bones, preparing to take the hit. But. "It''s over..." As if foreseeing this, Lu Xinglong''s expression was indifferent, his finger following the back of the Giant Elephant Grandmaster''s head like a shadow. In that instant, seeing the blue light gathering at the tip of his finger. The people below finally snapped out of it, and Zhang Tai and Pang Kui widened their eyes in shock. At the critical moment. Whoosh!!!! A streak of white light mixed with gold suddenly descended from the sky, parting the sea of clouds, blocking the sun, and falling to the earth. At the same time, in the corridor. A burly figure wearing a sunshade mask leaped over the wooden railing, flipping out. Black-green and dark gold rapidly grew, like the strongest metal in the world. Whoosh!! Blood-patterned wings spread out, and the next moment. The black-green and dark gold horned figure had already crossed the sky, arriving within half a meter of Lu Xinglong! (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 151: Grandmaster and Cyborg [2.7k] Translator: --- Bang!!! A thunderous sound reverberated across the vast square. The figure in the blue robe, who was supposed to deliver a heavy blow to the Giant Elephant Grandmaster, was sent flying, carving two long grooves into the ground. The sudden turn of events shocked everyone, their eyes wide with disbelief as they turned to look at the figure that had appeared. Dressed in Azure and black, with golden armor covering his chest, abdomen, shoulders, and elbows. He resembled a fearsome beetle, with twisted golden patterns, and blood-red wings spreading out behind him, forming streaks of crimson. ¡°It¡¯s a cyborg!¡± ¡°A Titanium-grade cyborg!¡± TL/N: Titanium-grade is a level above Gold-grade. The crowd gasped in astonishment, and a true intent master in the main viewing area stood up, his expression uncertain. Even the local council members of Yue City and their Silver-grade Guards had their pupils constrict and their faces change color. The Giant Elephant Grandmaster¡¯s expression turned wary; he could not afford to assist the opponent and instead hurriedly created distance, focusing his gaze on Chen Feng. ¡°You¡ª¡± Just as he was about to speak. Whoosh!!! A sharp sound of breaking air echoed, and a shadow from above rapidly descended, as if to suppress the heavens, heading straight for Lu Xinglong. The crowd was horrified, but the Old Grandmaster Flying Dragon, who was confronting the Whale Sect Grandmaster, suddenly had a glint in his eyes. Ying!!! The hatch of the flying vehicle opened in mid-air, and a blue metal longsword shot out. In an instant, a powerful magnetic field erupted, and a middle-aged man standing on a single-person flying device hovered in mid-air. ¡°Stop!!¡± His cold shout echoed, and the blue metal longsword suddenly burst forth with a dazzling blue light. Ying!! The flying dragon, born from the magnetic field, appeared, towering at seven meters in size. The blue longsword was enveloped like a core by the magnetic field, and the flying dragon soared into the sky, unleashing a force field. Boom!!! The air exploded, and all the drones shattered, their wreckage plummeting down the cliff. Stone wings flapped, stirring up a fierce wind. The thousands of spectators around the martial arts arena looked up to see a three-meter-tall stone statue colliding with the flying dragon in mid-air. The statue was entirely grayish-white, resembling a massive rock sculpture. Golden patterns shimmered on its chest, abdomen, and arm joints, transforming into a golden armor that protected it. The flying dragon clawed, and the giant statue punched. In an instant, the two became entangled, and the crowd below changed color once more. ¡°A Grandmaster-level Cyborg!¡± The Whale Sect Grandmaster¡¯s expression darkened; he had not expected the Flying Dragon Sect to possess such depth. The Old Grandmaster¡¯s face remained expressionless, while Lu Xinglong, who had been ambushed and forced back, steadied himself and brushed off the dust from his blue robe. His complexion was still rosy, as if he had not sustained any injuries. His gaze was calm and profound, pulling away from the white-gray giant statue in mid-air. He looked directly at Chen Feng. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°He¡¯s here; I¡¯m not surprised.¡± A Titanium-grade biological cyborg¡ªhow could they not be on guard? But¡ª ¡°But who are you?¡± The atmosphere fell silent, and all eyes were fixed. The bald Giant Elephant Grandmaster suddenly realized, as Chen Feng¡¯s Gold energy surged, gripping a broad golden giant sword tightly in his hand. He did not answer; he merely looked at the Giant Elephant Grandmaster. ¡°I will only assist you once.¡± The electronic synthesized voice landed. Whoosh!!! With a flap of blood-red wings, he vanished from his spot. A straight line of white vapor surged through the air as the broad longsword swung down, the Gold color tearing through the sky. With a focused gaze, Lu Xinglong¡¯s blue light energy condensed. Bang!! The bricks beneath their feet disintegrated, as over thirty tons of colliding force ravaged the ground. With his crimson eyes flashing slightly, Chen Feng clearly saw the opponent¡¯s palm strike the side of the steel longsword. The blow missed, but he did not hesitate. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! His arms swung in succession, the sword light like a shadow. Even without knowledge of sword techniques, under the explosive force of immense power¡ª It was swordplay!! Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!! In an instant, a series of sounds erupted, and the crowd could only see the Gold and blue light intertwining, creating afterimages as they clashed in place. Seeing the signs, the Giant Elephant Grandmaster gritted his teeth and stomped the ground, charging forward. The cyborg in mid-air was clearly related to the Flame Tiger Sect, and this person before him was certainly the same. Today, the Giant Elephant Sect could not afford to lose; since that was the case¡ª ¡°Behemoth Tremor Stance!¡± His roar swept through the air, echoing like an elephant¡¯s trumpet. A deep gray true intent giant elephant materialized, its thick trunk swinging forward, merging with the arm thrust out by the Giant Elephant Grandmaster. The air solidified, and white vapor exploded outward like a cone on both sides. Everyone present felt the ground tremble, their eardrums aching, and their hearts racing. Boom!!! In the next second, palm met fist. The ground cracked again, and Lu Xinglong¡¯s legs sank into it. One hand gripped the sword, the other met the fist. His blue robe billowed, and his long hair flew. Not only did he show no fear, but he also revealed a hint of excitement. ¡°Flying Dragon Water Dragon¡¯s Roar!¡± Woong!!! The blue light surged and exploded, a dazzling brilliance filling the air. In the next moment, two flying dragon phantoms appeared behind him, their dragon whiskers fluttering, their vertical pupils cold and indifferent. The superb energy technique unleashed a tremendous force. The two flying dragon phantoms seemed real, charging forward from both sides, forcing both Chen Feng and the Giant Elephant Grandmaster to retreat, sliding back several meters. Crack. The stone bricks shattered, blood oozing out. The Giant Elephant Grandmaster¡¯s expression darkened as he wiped the corner of his mouth. As fellow Grandmasters, there was still a gap. This was due to both personal reasons and differences in sects. The Flying Dragon Sect had long been a top-tier sect, producing many Grandmasters. Their foundation was deep, and their true skills numerous. In contrast, the Giant Elephant Sect had only risen because of him, lacking in depth and means. Witnessing this scene, the expressions of those around varied; some were horrified, others complex. Especially the other disciples of the Giant Elephant Sect, who clenched their fists, feeling ashamed and heavy-hearted. ¡°Martial Uncle.¡± Zhang Tai¡¯s face turned pale, while Zheng Shan and Pang Kui beside him wore serious expressions, remaining silent. If the two of them together could not defeat the Flying Dragon Grandmaster¡ª Then what would that mean? ¡°Interesting.¡± Suddenly, the electronic synthesized voice rang out, and the Giant Elephant Grandmaster turned his head to look. The cyborg beside him showed no signs of retreat; instead, he stood firm, revealing an eager demeanor. Buzz! In an instant, the Gold longsword in his hand suddenly shrank. In its place were small, menacing spikes, wrapping around his fists like tiger claws. Boom!! The ground shattered, and the Azure and Gold surged forth again. Seeing this, the Giant Elephant Grandmaster suppressed all negative emotions, fists colliding, his gaze focused. ¡°A fight to the death!¡± Whoosh!! His figure followed closely, both charging towards Lu Xinglong¡¯s side. As they stepped down, the already shattered ground collapsed again, as if the entire cliff sank several inches. One unleashed a powerful punch, going all out. Thirty-five tons of force stirred up a whirlwind, shaking the air. The other was empowered by the giant elephant, true intent raising its hooves, shaking the earth. Boom!!! Palm met fist. Lu Xinglong, clad in blue robes, was surrounded by a glow of energy, the true intent of the flying dragon coiling around him, blue scales forming a solid defense. Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!! The two sides clashed, fighting while retreating. Deep gray, Azure, Gold, blue light. The spectators felt as if they could not see the battle clearly, their vision filled with streaks of light. As for the Silver-grade cyborgs or the mech warriors guarding them, their scanning modules had long been activated, trying to capture the positions of the three. Boom!! The stone brick walls below the corridor suddenly shook, crumbling and caving in. The Giant Elephant Grandmaster was struck by a palm and sent flying, crashing into the wall. In the moment of the human-shaped hole left behind, those nearby heard a curse. ¡°Damn it.¡± As the voice landed, the bald, muscular man once again stomped the ground and charged forward, continuing the fight. After a couple of seconds. Bang!! The Azure figure was sent flying, smashing through several gray stone pillars below. The carved giant elephant patterns shattered, and several dents appeared in the golden armor on the opponent. Then, just as he was about to crash through the clouds and step into empty air, about to fall off the cliff¡ª Buzz! With a flap of blood-red wings, he halted his retreat, soaring through the sky, rejoining the fray. The sounds of bang, bang, bang, bang continued, lasting for ten seconds, thirty seconds, two minutes! The spectators felt their eardrums ache, their vision spinning, their will wavering. ¡°This is what a Grandmaster is.¡± An elder at the true intent level had a complex expression, filled with envy and admiration. After this battle, regardless of who won or lost, the title of Grandmaster would surely revive the spirit of martial arts! ¡°This is what it means to be above the Master level?¡± The members of the travel group had long become numb; the young man named Zhang looked pale, and the tour guide Du Mengqi was filled with shock and complexity. Such powerful individual had actually traveled with them before? Bang!! In the end, the battle group changed. The blue-robed figure was sent flying, smashing through several gray stone pillars, embedding into the gray wall below the corridor. It was evident that his face was pale, and his breath had weakened. Looking down, his blue robe was tattered, with numerous dents and small wounds appearing on his body. These were the result of the Giant Elephant Grandmaster¡¯s relentless punches and the Gold spikes piercing through his energy defenses. Whoosh!! Seizing the opportunity, the Giant Elephant Grandmaster charged like a truck, aiming a knee strike. Bang!! The strike missed, but Lu Xinglong¡¯s energy erupted, his body like a swimming dragon, evading the deadly strike. Chen Feng took the chance to attack, his right arm piercing through the air like a spear, standing right behind the opponent, landing a punch squarely on his back. Bang!!! A solid hit; Lu Xinglong¡¯s left side of his back caved in several inches, his body sliding forward a great distance. ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk.¡± The Whale Sect Grandmaster, who had been somewhat restless, now had a calmer expression as he returned to his original position. After suffering such heavy blows consecutively, even a Grandmaster would¡ª ¡°Hm?¡± Suddenly, his expression changed slightly, and he stood up abruptly. Instinctively looking towards the eaves, he saw the gray-robed elder confronting him still calm, as if he had anticipated this. ¡°Something¡¯s off.¡± The Giant Elephant Grandmaster panted slightly, moving to Chen Feng¡¯s side, his expression extremely grave. He had already exerted himself to the fullest, every punch aimed at vital points. Yet even so, he still felt a hint of abnormality. Without speaking, Chen Feng¡¯s gaze was no longer relaxed and confident; instead, it was serious and somber. He had to admit that he might have underestimated the title of Grandmaster. Step! Following his gaze, they could see Lu Xinglong, who had slid back a great distance but barely steadied himself, suddenly raising his hand and pulling off half of his blue robe. Beneath his gray robe, his lean, bronze body was revealed. The muscle lines were strikingly clear, giving off a sense of fierce explosiveness. Blood splattered across him, with numerous small blood holes and the impressions of punched-in bones visible to everyone. But¡ª In the next second. ¡°Flying Dragon: Dragon-Crane Technique!¡± In an instant, as he formed seals with both hands, his energy flowed. The sunken skin and flesh suddenly swelled, as if restored to its original state. The bleeding wounds began to scab over, with blue light energy covering the surface, as if new flesh was growing, healing him. In an instant, his aura surged, returning to its peak. It was as if he had just finished warming up. ¡°This!!!¡± The Giant Elephant Grandmaster¡¯s face changed dramatically, and Chen Feng beside him also furrowed his brows. It looked familiar. It even resembled the Crane Origin Skill of the Pine Crane Sect. However, the effects of the two were vastly different. Because, under his perception, he could clearly sense that Lu Xinglong¡¯s injuries had genuinely healed significantly. The blue light energy seemed like some kind of energy, reconnecting his shattered bones while stimulating the cells in his skin and flesh, accelerating the healing of his wounds. ¡°Years ago, the Pine Crane Sect presented me with the Crane Origin Skill. It was quite useful, but it had too many flaws and didn¡¯t suit my eye.¡± ¡°After eleven years of experience, gathering the strengths of a hundred schools, I refined its essence and integrated it into myself.¡± His tone was calm as Lu Xinglong looked at Chen Feng and the others, as if chatting casually. ¡°Gentlemen, what do you think of the Dragon Crane True Skill I created?¡± As his words fell, a loud noise echoed through the air. Looking over, the airwaves exploded, and a portion of the cloud sea dispersed. The middle-aged mech warrior standing on the single-person flying device had actually managed to withstand all the impacts of the Holy Shield Colossus. The blue metal longsword floated in mid-air, resembling a dragon¡¯s heart. The true intent flying dragon born from the magnetic field continuously unleashed repulsive force, always able to neutralize the giant statue¡¯s strikes, even rebounding and shaking it back. In an instant, the atmosphere fell silent, a pin drop could be heard. ¡°How could this be¡­¡± Zhang Tai and the others from the Giant Elephant Sect turned pale, while the other true intent elders looked somewhat bewildered. The two had joined forces and exhausted all their strength to severely injure the Flying Dragon Grandmaster. Yet now, he had recovered? ¡°How are we supposed to fight this?¡± The onlookers from the martial arts circle spoke bitterly, feeling despair. A Titanium-grade cyborg and a Grandmaster could not defeat them; who else in the southern martial arts world could? Unknowingly, everyone felt that the Flying Dragon Sect had truly soared this time, unstoppable. ¡°Continue!!¡± Suddenly, the Giant Elephant Grandmaster shouted. As fellow Grandmaster, no one wanted to bow their heads in submission. If it were the absolute peak, that would be one thing, but you¡¯re at the same level as me¡ªwhy should I yield!!! ¡°Oh?¡± Lu Xinglong was somewhat surprised; he had heard that the Giant Elephant Grandmaster was hesitant in his actions and had thought little of it. But now, seeing this spirit¡ª ¡°A mantis trying to stop a chariot.¡± Whoosh!! In an instant, he dashed forward, suddenly appearing before the Giant Elephant Grandmaster. In perfect peak condition, the blue light energy condensed in his palm, taking advantage of the opponent¡¯s moment of anger and distraction to strike directly at his chest. Bang!!! The figure was sent flying, the gray afterimage crashing out of the square, colliding with the gray wall. The corridor shook and trembled, and the people above looked on with uncertainty, while many disciples of the Giant Elephant Sect were anxious, wanting to join the fray. ¡°Impossible!¡± Someone shouted; it was an elder of the Giant Elephant Sect, with a head full of white hair, worry and anger both evident on his face. It was already disgraceful to join forces against an enemy; if others joined in, how would they be mocked? Moreover, even if they joined, what good would it do? Whoosh!! Just as the expressions of the crowd were uncertain, Lu Xinglong¡¯s figure flashed again, already arriving in front of the blue-robed figure. ¡°Why help the Flame Tiger Sect?¡± His low voice carried a palm print that broke through the air. The sound of rushing air surged, as if waves of water were crashing into the heavens, looking down and falling. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 152: Blocking the Great Trend, A Breathing Space [2.8k] Translator: --- Boom!!! A muffled explosion erupted. Chen Feng''s expression was grave as he slid back seven or eight meters, his legs digging into the ground. His arms were covered in golden armor, still maintaining a defensive posture in front of him. Splash! The sound of rushing water returned, indicating that the enemy had come before him once more. "Just a broken and failed minor sect, with severed lineage and no Grandmaster." "Why do you choose to stand with them?" Bang!! Chen Feng launched a punch, engaging in a direct confrontation. White vapor exploded, his legs sinking into the ground. The surrounding white stone tiles suddenly sank, as if shattered by immense pressure. Bang bang bang bang bang!! The sound of continuous strikes rang out again, his arms numb, and Chen Feng''s expression grew increasingly somber. From the very beginning, he had intended to use the Black Flash skill to turn the tide, but Lu Xinglong''s speed was too quick. He knew that during his buildup, the opponent would surely sense it and easily evade. As for allies. The Holy Shield Colossus was restrained, and the Giant Elephant Grandmaster was left dazed from the heavy blows. Bang!!! Another clash of fists occurred, and Chen Feng felt the numbness in his arms intensify, clearly sensing that the power behind the opponent''s palm strikes was growing stronger. It was as if waves upon waves were crashing down, and even when he used his Explosive Fist, he was suppressed. As for the rebound, the opponent quietly dissipated it using the momentum of the waves, even channeling it into the next palm strike''s power. Bang!! The next instant, he felt a moment of discomfort. The opponent seized the opening and struck a palm against his chest. His body was forced back, sliding out, and the golden armor made of Steel Bones showed signs of denting, revealing the dark blue shell beneath. "What the Flame Tiger Sect can give you, my Flying Dragon Sect can offer as well." "Why not join us?" Lu Xinglong''s figure closed in, now just a meter away. As he spoke, a blue light surged between his palms, and a phantom of a flying dragon emerged along his arm. Splash! The sound of waves echoed, as if a flying dragon was riding the wind and waves, roaring once more. A chill swept over, and Chen Feng''s expression darkened, preparing for one last desperate attempt. "Damn it!!" Suddenly, a furious roar shook the ground, and a figure shot out from the collapsed gray wall ruins. The corridor completely collapsed, and the figure above hurriedly dodged. In the next breath, a bald, muscular man descended like a cannonball, his body swirling with brown energy, and the palm print on his chest was strikingly prominent. Bang!! A punch was thrown, sending Lu Xinglong staggering back, and the giant elephant phantom around him changed color, turning deep brown. "Giant Elephant: Behemoth Tremor Stance!!" Roar!! The sound of the elephant''s trumpet erupted, shaking the heavens. Amidst the painful gasps that pierced the eardrums, he expanded to over two meters, his skin deep brown, veins bulging, and his fist struck Lu Xinglong''s chest squarely. Boom!!! The square was completely shattered, with nearly a thousand square meters left in ruins. The figure was sent flying, crashing through the outermost stone pillars and plummeting into the cliff, smashing through the sea of clouds. Everyone''s expressions changed, and the members of the Giant Elephant Sect were filled with exhilaration. The Giant Elephant Grandmaster stood in the dented ground, breathing heavily, bloodshot eyes indicating significant exhaustion. But Chen Feng''s gaze sharpened. Roar!!! The flying dragon soared in the sky, its true intent solidifying in the air. The falling Lu Xinglong was unexpectedly caught by the true intent flying dragon, which propelled him upward, grasping the edge of the cliff. Then, with a single arm, he pushed himself up. In the moment of leaping to the ground, he formed seals with both hands. Buzz! His vitality surged, and his heavily injured state began to recover. The concave imprint on his chest bulged out, and the thumping heartbeat radiated a powerful vitality. Thud! He landed, his complexion rosy as he stood firm. In mid-air, the Holy Shield Colossus had already been present for over four minutes, its vibrating stone wings attempting to dive down to attack, but it was once again entangled and restrained by the True Intent Flying Dragon. Everyone''s faces turned pale, and the Giant Elephant Grandmaster''s body swayed. "Is this not enough?" Blood vessels spread in his eyes; this was his strongest killing move created after breaking through to Grandmaster. He had thought it would allow him to establish a foothold among the Grandmasters, but now it seemed. "It¡¯s over." With a low, calm tone, Lu Xinglong had already closed in to within half a meter of him. The palm imprint shifted, blue energy gathering, resembling waves crashing. In an instant, the exhausted Giant Elephant Grandmaster was caught off guard, his expression slightly changing. At this point, there was no time to evade; he immediately surged with energy, condensing the true intent giant elephant, intending to withstand it once more. But the next second. Whoosh!!! Blood wings flapped, and a figure appeared in an instant. A circular dark golden shield blocked in front of him, the synthesized electronic voice landing heavily. "Trap him." Bang!!! The copper bones in his palm exploded, and the ground shattered, spreading ten meters. The unpleasant creaking sound reached their ears, the shield twisted, and his feet sank into the ground. A single palm strike capable of breaking titanium, Chen Feng''s face turned pale as he felt the immense drain on his stamina and spirit. But so what? He had come here with no regard for anything. The momentum of the Flying Dragon Sect was unstoppable, carrying the great trend? I am blocking the great trend!! Crackle crackle crackle! Malice surged, and black light flickered. This scene left everyone dumbfounded, and Lu Xinglong sensed something was wrong, his expression changing as he hurriedly retreated. The Giant Elephant Grandmaster felt a chill of danger, recalling Chen Feng''s earlier warning. "Damn it, let''s fight!" Bang! The ground shook again, and the true intent giant elephant stomped into the sky, crashing down and knocking the true intent flying dragon to the ground. His face pale, the Giant Elephant Grandmaster unleashed his power, channeling his vitality, seizing the last moment to reach behind Lu Xinglong. The brown and deep gray energies rose alternately, as if forming layers of defense. With his arms wrapped around, he locked Lu Xinglong''s form and movements. No matter how the opponent struck, even as his body was dented and bones cracked, he did not let go. The atmosphere fell silent, and everyone looked on. Only his thunderous roar echoed again. "Come!!" Whoosh!!! S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Like lightning, the black light pierced through everything, shooting out from the spiraled dark golden horn. Though it was only the thickness of an arm, in that moment, it changed the color of the heavens and the earth. "Not good!" The old Grandmaster of the Flying Dragon Sect''s expression changed drastically as he attempted to summon the flying dragon to block this strike. Splash! An even heavier sound of waves erupted, and a massive whale of true intent obstructed him. In that instant, it was just a breath''s time. Pfft!!! Roar!! The dragon''s roar sounded, and blood splattered. Lu Xinglong used the method of a thousand-pound drop to smash the Giant Elephant Grandmaster into the ground, shaking off the restraints. But It was just a hair''s breadth. He was just a moment too slow. His face pale and ghastly, he turned his head to look at his side. The flesh on his left shoulder was charred black, red flesh and white bone exposed to the world. His entire arm had broken off, and a wave of tearing pain coursed through his body. "Drip drip." Blood continued to fall, staining the ground red. The Giant Elephant Grandmaster, who had been knocked back and rolling on the ground, widened his eyes. The spectators in the distance were similarly stunned, including the Whale Sect Grandmaster, who seemed momentarily lost. Silence returned, until the very end. Crackle crackle crackle! The black light gathered once more, and the figure behind the blue-gold mask was obscured, as if only the overwhelming killing intent remained. "Damn it!" The old Grandmaster of the Flying Dragon Sect''s expression was grim. Seizing the moment when the Whale Sect Grandmaster was dazed, he unleashed his energy and broke free from the restraints. Then, he swiftly retrieved the severed left arm from the ground, standing beside the figure with a face full of killing intent and cold light. "Go! There will be more opportunities in the future!" Two Grandmasters, two Titanium-grade Cyborgs. If they were in peak condition, they could certainly contend, but now... Crackle crackle crackle! A black light sphere gathered atop the horn, and it seemed the opponent was about to replicate the previous attack, seemingly without cost. Lu Xinglong''s expression was cold and dark as he memorized the blue-black and dark-gold figure''s features before turning to leap into the air. Whoosh!!! A gray flying vehicle rushed in, the middle-aged Cyborg''s expression grave as he delayed the Holy Shield Colossus while transmitting commands, activating the force field to shoot out a golden flying shield. Whoosh!!! The Titanium-grade shield was instantly pierced. However, as a result, the power of the black light weakened. Seizing this opportunity. The flying vehicle''s door opened, carrying three people away at high speed, disappearing into the horizon. In an instant, the situation on the field changed dramatically, leaving everyone momentarily stunned and unable to react. "They... they escaped?" They had broken the Grandmaster''s arm and forced him back? Martial artists looked at the blue-gold figure with astonished and shaken expressions, while the Whale Sect Grandmaster and the Giant Elephant Grandmaster were also somewhat dazed. Whoosh!!! Finally, the white-gray stone statue in mid-air came crashing down. The stone wings flapped, stirring up a fierce wind. The Titanium-grade flying shield that had been pierced was grasped by its massive hand, and in the next second, it flew close to the ground, arriving beside Chen Feng. Suppressing all fatigue, Chen Feng retracted his blood wings and reached out to grasp the other arm of the figure. Splash!!! The fierce wind rose again, and the giant statue soared into the sky, breaking through the sea of clouds, leaving the cliff behind. The blue-gold figure was lowered onto its solid back, and the two figures grew increasingly distant. Until finally, under the blazing sun. They had vanished from the peak of Yue Mountain. "They''re gone." Someone couldn''t help but speak, and the silence was finally broken. The members of the tour group had long been numbly rooted in place, the tour guide Du Mengqi''s face filled with shock and complexity, feeling that this might be the most unforgettable experience of her life. "Too, too strong." Zhang Tai stammered, unable to help but turn his head to exchange glances with Zheng Shan and Pang Kui. In a daze, they each saw the bitterness and confusion on each other''s faces. Cyborgs were so powerful that they could even heavily injure a Grandmaster. What was the purpose of martial arts, after all? As if witnessing all of this, the Giant Elephant Grandmaster rose from the ground, the blood vessels in his eyes receding, his complexion pale and complex. Martial arts had declined, and Cyborgs and machines were on the rise. He had once thought that Grandmasters could uphold a piece of the world, but now... "Get used to it." Shaking his head in response, the Whale Sect Grandmaster walked to his side, also standing at the edge of the cliff, gazing far into the distance. "Did you not see that even the deeply rooted Flying Dragon Sect is shifting towards Cyborgs, forming a group?" "Grandmaster... heh." A self-deprecating laugh escaped the Giant Elephant Grandmaster''s lips as his expression shifted. The two fell silent for a few breaths, until the sea of clouds in the mountains reappeared, leaving nothing else. "Regardless, our martial arts world still has some remnants of light." "Today''s battle, the Flying Dragon Sect''s unification of the southern martial arts world, can be considered a meager blockade." His tone was inexplicable as the Whale Sect Grandmaster withdrew his gaze. "I plan to send someone to talk to the Flame Tiger Sect." "And you?" --- "Cough cough." A light cough echoed through the mountains. The dry leaves underfoot crunched as the Azure Armor and Steel Bones seemed to vanish like receding tides. The Holy Shield Colossus had long since faded into his mind, and Chen Feng''s face was pale, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he leaned against a large tree, barely standing. A sharp pain radiated from his chest, and he looked down. His loose black clothing was intact, but beneath the skin. There was a deep purple bruise left in the center, a slightly concave, broad palm print. He could faintly feel some bone fractures; it was from Lu Xinglong''s earlier palm strike, which had been like crashing waves. Even with the dual protection of Steel Bones and Azure Armor, he was still injured. Moreover, this was based on his already enhanced three Strengthening Techniques. "Grandmaster." With a pale face, Chen Feng looked up at the sky, the direction in which the Flying Dragon Sect had departed. He had thought that martial arts had declined and that Grandmasters were at their limit. But he had underestimated the intricacies of this path. In fact, if it weren''t for the Giant Elephant Grandmaster''s desperate struggle, he might have found it difficult to force Lu Xinglong back with heavy injuries. "I was too lucky." Shaking his head, Chen Feng took a moment to catch his breath. Perhaps it was because this journey had gone too smoothly that he had underestimated the martial arts of Earth Star. No matter how much it had declined, there were still extraordinary talents, along with many years of heritage and remaining glimmers of light. After a great wave of sand, anyone who could achieve the status of Grandmaster was certainly extraordinary, a true paragon. Thinking of this, he reflected on himself, silently warning himself to stay cautious. Once his body had recovered somewhat, he took out his phone, turned it on, and instructed the intelligent assistant Big Head to come pick him up. [Beep! Big Head received!] Text appeared on the phone screen; Chen Feng had deliberately turned it off at the beginning. The Azure Armor talent was somewhat extraordinary; although Lin Hao might have had some suspicions, at least it had not been truly verified. Thus, the longer he could keep his relationship with the Blue Demon hidden, the better. Then, with his thoughts settled. Chen Feng immediately stepped through the dense forest, walking into a more open area with sparse trees. The driverless blue flying car rushed in according to the location shared, the door opening automatically as he sat in the driver''s seat. The trailing waves stirred up, and dry leaves flew. The howling wind was blocked by the car windows, and the green forest quickly receded into the distance. [Would you like to take the urban route or detour through the suburbs?] "Return the same way." [Yes!] The virtual projection of Big Head nodded in response, and then it blinked its big eyes, curiously looking at Chen Feng. "What''s wrong?" [Are you injured?] "No." [Oh!] The intelligent assistant Big Head did not speak further, and Chen Feng feigned calmness, slightly reclining the seat. The pain in his chest was still quite intense; he would likely need to apply secret medicine when he returned. Aside from that. He looked at the panel in front of him. [Steel Bones LV3: 13/100] [Azure Armor LV4: 11/100] [Heart of Glory LV2: 45/100] The progress of the three talents had each increased. The Steel Bones came from the Titanium-grade shield that had been pierced by the Black Flash earlier; absorbing it provided a full ten points of nourishment. The growth of the Azure Armor was minimal because those Grandmasters, though surprised, did not truly fear him. As for the surrounding spectators, although there were quite a few, due to the limitations of range and level, the effect was also ordinary. As for the Heart of Glory... "Indeed, just as I guessed." Shaking his head slightly, Chen Feng discovered a characteristic of the Heart of Glory. Or rather, it was a pride belonging to glory. Fighting alone against many was far superior to teaming up to fight. Because he had teamed up with the Giant Elephant Grandmaster to deal with Lu Xinglong. Thus, although they had ultimately won, the glory points gained were not many. But even so, Chen Feng was already quite satisfied. The flying car sped up into the sky, breaking through the wind and waves as he gazed out at the gradually expanding world and clouds. After all, his purpose for this journey was not to enhance his talents. But to win a longer breathing space for himself and the Flame Tiger Sect. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 153: Speculations on the Grandmaster’s Method [2.7k] Translator: --- Two days later. In the afternoon, sunlight poured down. Under the blue sky and white clouds, a cluster of wooden buildings stood in orderly rows, encircling the mountain peak. The plaque bearing the three characters of the Flame Tiger Sect hung above the main gate, with numerous courtyards and houses behind it. Occasionally, the figures of disciples could be seen. "Those two cyborgs are incredibly strong. They actually severed one of the Flying Dragon Grandmaster''s arms." "I heard the Flying Dragon Sect has halted its expansion, and those two grandmasters have returned to Yun Port to recuperate." "Wait, doesn¡¯t that person look a bit like the Blue Demon? Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be from Utopia?" "Who said he¡¯s the Blue Demon? They don¡¯t even look alike!" Whispers of conversation quietly arose, accompanied by the sound of footsteps. Cao Tong, who had mostly recovered and discarded his crutches, stood among a circle of true disciples, his expression filled with awe and admiration. "So Junior Brother Chen left Nanjiang and went to Yue City?" "You¡¯re asking me? I was about to ask you the same thing." Zhao Jushan had awakened a few days ago. Though his face was pale, he was supported by Wu Shuang as he sat on a stone bench, his chest wrapped in bandages. A faint medicinal scent lingered in the air. The other true disciples exchanged glances, some smiling, others shaking their heads, appearing more relaxed than before. "It seems we all misunderstood Junior Brother Chen before," Wu Shuang spoke up, standing beside the stone bench, her expression tinged with guilt. The others nodded, recalling the previous situation. Back then, when Chen Feng decided to sell off most of the sect¡¯s assets, they had all thought he was planning to flee with them. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But now, looking back... "I wonder when Junior Brother Chen got to know those two cyborgs," Wei Ping said with envy, setting down his teacup. Lin Xiaoyun, dressed in a palace-style gown, remained silent, her thoughts drifting back to the time they were evading pursuit in Yun Port. Those ash-white bio-cyborgs, capable of battling grandmasters. It turned out that even back then, Junior Brother Chen had foreseen and prepared for this. If not for that, they might have perished in Yun Port. "Let¡¯s not be too optimistic," suddenly, Zhang Guiyuan, the second true disciple standing by the eaves, shook his head, interrupting their reverie. "The Flying Dragon Sect is only temporarily hindered. Matters in the martial world ultimately have to be resolved through martial means." "Moreover, those two are merely Junior Brother Chen¡¯s friends." His words fell, and the atmosphere grew quiet. Cao Tong and the others exchanged glances, the excitement on their faces gradually fading. Indeed. They were only Junior Brother Chen¡¯s friends, not members of the Flame Tiger Sect. Being willing to intervene once or twice, to confront a grandmaster, was already the limit. The final outcome would still depend on the Flame Tiger Sect itself. For a moment, everyone¡¯s thoughts diverged, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them, restoring their calm. Taking all of this in, Chen Feng stood in the quiet room of the courtyard, his eyes flickering. The second true disciple, Zhang Guiyuan, was very rational. Some of his words might have been harsh, but one thing he said was indeed correct. The Flying Dragon Sect was only temporarily hindered, and it was entirely possible for them to make a comeback. Especially once they fully consolidated their subordinate sects like the Flying Eagle Sect and the Golden Blade Sect. "In the end, there will still be a great battle..." The thought was clear in Chen Feng¡¯s mind. If it truly came to that, he wouldn¡¯t be as fortunate as he had been during the battle at Yue Mountain. "But... I can¡¯t stop here either." His gaze shifted downward, looking at the panel. [Extreme Martial Arts: 3] [Limit Break Points: 18] Over the past two days, he had continuously entered the dream world and had gained some rewards. Regardless of what the future held, since he had fought hard to secure a period of respite, he would use it to improve himself as much as possible. Immediately, his gaze moved again, landing on his skills. Chen Feng¡¯s eyes lingered on the Crimson Tiger Force and the Myriad Tempered Steel for a few seconds. The incomplete progress indicators were glaringly obvious. "The method to break through to grandmaster..." The recent events had been too urgent, leaving him no time to think or consider this. Now that he finally had a chance to catch his breath, it was time to ask Martial Uncle Yan about the secrets of the true techniques. Moreover, besides that... Chen Feng touched his chest, which had barely recovered from his injuries. It was a palm strike that had pierced through his Steel Bones defense, bypassing the Azure Armor, and injuring him. It was a testament to the strength of a grandmaster, but also a reminder of his own physical shortcomings. "Breaking through to grandmaster is one thing, but cultivating Strengthening Techniques is another." His eyes brightened. Chen Feng hadn¡¯t forgotten the other effect of the Steel Bones talent¡ªa thirty percent increase in physical enhancement. With his thoughts clear, he quickly left the room and headed straight for a secluded courtyard. A strong medicinal scent greeted him as he approached. Xu Tingxiao was bustling about, helping Li Shi with the preparation of medicine. "Senior Brother!" Xu Tingxiao¡¯s eyes lit up as he called out from the courtyard gate, holding a fan used to stoke the fire. Chen Feng nodded, dressed in loose black clothing, and stepped into the room. His master, Li Tong, was still lying on the bed, unconscious, but his complexion had improved slightly, with a hint of color returning to his face. Beside him stood another figure. "Martial Uncle Yan." "Hmm." With a slight nod, the third elder, Yan Chong, still lean and wearing a gray robe, had a few more wrinkles on his face than before. His gaze toward Chen Feng was filled with approval. He had heard about the battle at Yue Mountain. "If you get the chance, convey my thanks to your two friends," he said earnestly, without pressing further on how Chen Feng had come to know such powerful cyborgs. Everyone had their secrets, just like the history of the Flame Tiger Sect. Chen Feng nodded lightly, indicating he would pass on the message. Then, looking at the unconscious figure on the wooden bed, he asked, "Master¡¯s injuries?" "He¡¯ll need more time to recover," Yan Chong shook his head and explained, "He wasn¡¯t just physically injured; his spirit was also struck by the grandmaster¡¯s True Intent, causing significant damage." "The life potion Councilor Chu brought a few days ago was quite effective. It¡¯s already healed most of his physical injuries." "Now, whether he wakes up or not depends on himself." After hearing this, Chen Feng fell silent for a moment. He stepped forward and adjusted his master¡¯s robe collar, taking note of everything, before turning back to Yan Chong. "Martial Uncle Yan, there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to ask you." "Oh?" Chen Feng explained the situation he had encountered while cultivating the Crimson Tiger Force and the Myriad Tempered Steel. Yan Chong¡¯s expression gradually grew complex. "So it really is the Myriad Tempering Sect..." Hearing this, Chen Feng was puzzled. Then, he saw Yan Chong sigh and explain, "When we left Yun Port back then, the reason we chose to head north to Nanjiang was because the Myriad Tempering Sect in Luohe was founded by a blood relative of one of our Flame Tiger Sect¡¯s elders. This way, we could have some support in case of emergencies." "Very few people knew about this. It wasn¡¯t until I broke through to True Intent that I learned from the previous sect master that the Myriad Tempering Sect wasn¡¯t called that back then¡ªit was called the Thousand Tempering Sect." TL/N: It was actually Ten Thousand Tempering Sect but I had changed it to Myriad Tempering Sect because it just flows better. He paused, and Chen Feng¡¯s confusion deepened. But soon, Yan Chong continued, "During our escape, our sect lost many of its true techniques, and we couldn¡¯t even preserve the method to become a grandmaster." "However, I once heard my senior brother mention that our Flame Tiger Sect still retained one grandmaster method, called the Heavenly Flame Technique." "It requires fully mastering the Crimson Tiger Force and then merging it with another true technique to complete it." "But my senior brother was always tight-lipped, and such matters weren¡¯t meant to be spread, so I never asked further..." As Yan Chong spoke, Chen Feng began to understand. The Myriad Tempered Steel was likely the other true technique his master had mentioned, which was why he had instructed Chen Feng to cultivate it. And this matter was probably only known to him and that previous sect master, Lu. Thinking of this, Chen Feng glanced at his still-unconscious master, silently realizing why he had dared to take the risk at the martial arts conference. Perhaps he had already discussed the aftermath with that previous sect master, Lu. Shaking his head, Chen Feng gradually made up his mind. After finishing his conversation with Martial Uncle Yan, he stayed for a while longer before preparing to leave. But then... "About Chenye..." TL/N: Referring to Li Chenye (Little Martial Uncle) Yan Chong sighed, his expression complex. "I don¡¯t know why he disappeared." "This matter may also fall to you." "Alright," Chen Feng nodded, his eyes flickering. --- "When did this kid¡¯s connections become so impressive?" In the living room of a villa. Looking at the latest news in his hand, the black-robed man was somewhat surprised. The crow on his shoulder, for once, didn¡¯t let out its usual grating caw. Beside him, a red-clothed woman sat on a brown leather sofa, her expression grave as she gradually discerned something unusual. "Two Titanium-grade cyborgs..." "Probably only Master himself could deal with them if he went to Nanjiang." Her words fell, and the room fell silent for a moment. But soon, the black-robed man thought of something crucial and raised an eyebrow, "Wait, those two can¡¯t protect him all the time. Why not just kill him directly?" "If we do it discreetly, who would know it was us?" His tone was eager, but the red-clothed woman immediately vetoed the idea. "No, I suspect he might have joined some organization." "Otherwise, why would two Titanium-grade cyborgs intervene for a mere True Intent practitioner, offending the Flying Dragon Sect?" "And their modification modules¡ªbio-modifications are notoriously difficult to obtain, not to mention that other guy¡¯s black light charge. These aren¡¯t resources that civilian groups can easily access..." She paused, and the black-robed man also frowned slightly. There had been recordings of the battle at Yue Mountain, and their Divine Martial Alliance had been paying close attention. That kind of attack didn¡¯t seem like a magnetic field; it was more like a high-voltage black current, far surpassing conventional missile strikes. Without an answer, he couldn¡¯t help but feel some hesitation. "So what do we do?" "The final step of our plan was to destroy the Flame Tiger Sect and seize the True Intent-level life essence, gathering the last resources needed for the key." "Are we just going to give up?" Hearing this, the red-clothed woman fell silent for a moment. She lowered her head slightly, looking at the coffee table. There, a palm-sized, black disc-like object lay. It was engraved with serpentine patterns, resembling a cluster of snakes, carved from black stone. Only those who wielded the power of the evil god could sense the abyssal depths within it. "Then let¡¯s target another sect with a True Intent practitioner." Having made up her mind, the red-clothed woman took out a map and looked at the several red marks on it. Nanjiang, Huai City, Luohe. Flame Tiger Sect, Pine Crane Sect, Myriad Tempering Sect. Only one choice remained. The black-robed man frowned. "Does that kid know we need True Intent-level life essence? Did he deliberately kill off the trash from the Pine Crane Sect?" The red-clothed woman didn¡¯t respond, but her expression wasn¡¯t pleasant either. Everything had been going according to plan, but now there were unexpected twists and turns. "Enough, stop talking." "Are you going, or am I?" The black-robed man¡¯s eyes were pitch black as he picked up the black disc from the table. The black crow on his shoulder flew out the window, and his expression turned cold as he prepared to leave. "Never mind, I¡¯ll go with you." Suddenly, the red-clothed woman glanced uneasily at the key in his hand. "Someone¡¯s been investigating our movements recently. It¡¯s safer with two people." They left without further ado, the black-robed man was already used to her style. The two of them stepped out, followed by a group of black-clad figures, their auras cold and restrained. --- Roar!! That night. The wind howled, and the fog was pitch black. A tremendous roar echoed through the mist, causing the surrounding buildings to shake as if they might collapse. A dull, thunderous sound, like the collision of massive objects, resounded. Then, a massive, ash-gray stone statue with stone wings broke through the fog, emerging from within. "Cough..." Chen Feng, standing on the stone statue¡¯s back, coughed lightly. His azure-gold body was somewhat damaged, and his face was pale as he removed the Azure Armor. Looking back, a colossal creature, over ten meters tall, loomed in the deep mist. It resembled a cross between a crocodile and a dragon. A nearby high-rise building collapsed with a crash. Black mist gathered, quickly obscuring the three characters "Extreme Martial Hall" below. "That was close." His expression wasn¡¯t good. This was the misty area where the Giant Raging Bear had once appeared, a dangerous zone he had previously been wary of. He had thought that with the Azure Armor activated, he could battle a grandmaster and had some qualifications to explore, hoping to find new talent orbs. But he hadn¡¯t expected it to be so perilous. Just one move had nearly killed him. As for the Extreme Martial Hall there, he hadn¡¯t even had the chance to search it. Whoosh! The fierce wind blew, and the Holy Shield Colossus also bore some injuries. The golden patterns on its sturdy stone body had dimmed, and cracks had appeared on its pillar-like arms, slowly repairing themselves. Having been forced to retreat despite their combined efforts, Chen Feng had no choice but to take out the map again, searching for the nearest Extreme Martial Hall. He marked this dangerous area as forbidden. After some consideration, he directed the colossus to fly eastward, toward the edge of the Blue Light District in Qinggang City. Not wanting to waste time, Chen Feng had the Holy Shield Colossus fly in a straight line, aiming for maximum efficiency. One kilometer, three kilometers, ten kilometers... A new Extreme Martial Hall drew closer, its three-word sign faintly visible through the mist hundreds of meters away, with rows of buildings lining the sides. Just as they were about to descend and land, however... "Huh?" Suddenly, Chen Feng¡¯s gaze sharpened. As the mist drifted, he spotted a figure near the Extreme Martial Hall¡¯s street, hundreds of meters away. A man in black combat gear, with short hair and a robust build. It shouldn¡¯t have been surprising, but... The man wasn¡¯t wearing any mask, and his features were clearly visible. Moreover... "This..." The stone statue broke through the mist, arriving above the Extreme Martial Hall. Chen Feng looked down and realized there wasn¡¯t just one figure. Several other men and women were also present, all dressed in black combat gear, their auras strong, with three white characters on their uniforms. Enforcement Team! Chen Feng was taken aback. This was the first time he had encountered the Enforcement Team in the dream world. They were the official organization of Qinggang City, mentioned several times in diaries and other records. The two groups were only a few hundred meters apart, one in the air and the other on the ground. And they seemed... alive? Immediately, Chen Feng ordered the Holy Shield Colossus to descend, considering whether to make contact. Their current state wasn¡¯t ideal, and if something unexpected happened... Thud! However, at that very moment. The Holy Shield Colossus seemed to collide with some kind of barrier, producing a dull thud. The previously empty air rippled slightly. It was as if an invisible wall had appeared, blocking their path and separating the heavens and the earth. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 154: So, I Was Actually Inside the Abyss? [2.7k] Translator: --- Ripples began to stir in the air. Chen Feng raised his palm, pressing it against the empty space before him, his expression gradually growing serious. Clearly, there was nothing in sight, not even the buildings and streets obscured by the mist across from him. Yet, he was unable to penetrate the invisible barrier before him. A heavy feeling settled in Chen Feng''s heart as he realized that despite the mere hundreds of meters separating them, the members of the Enforcement Team moving swiftly on the street across had not noticed him at all. "Could it be..." A bad suspicion formed in his mind. Chen Feng attempted to increase the distance, landing on the ground. Then, he commanded the Holy Shield Colossus to unleash its full power in the air. Boom!!! A muffled explosion erupted, wind and waves surged, and white mist coalesced into a circle. A punch weighing over forty tons. The space still only rippled, showing no other reaction. As for the few members of the Enforcement Team hundreds of meters away, they had already left the vicinity, disappearing without a trace. Seeing this scene, Chen Feng''s gaze flickered, recalling the fragments of memories he had obtained from the masked man earlier. The abyss could forcibly pull parts of reality into a secret realm. It seemed very close, but in reality, they were no longer in the same time and space. As for the so-called mist, it was actually a manifestation of energy from the spatial barrier, obscuring the outside. So... "This place I am in has been pulled into the secret realm." "Or is it that the outside part has been?" Chen Feng''s expression darkened slightly, for according to the previous memory fragments and diary entries, it was clear that Qinggang City had already been invaded by the abyss and the black disaster creatures, making this possibility not impossible. His thoughts raced, and he quickly called back the Holy Shield Colossus, pressing his palm against the spatial barrier before him, moving it continuously. The sound of footsteps echoed persistently; he no longer cared about his physical exhaustion. Swish, swish, swish! The air seemed to carry the scent of friction, stretching for a full kilometer. It was as if it extended in a circular manner. Chen Feng stopped, looking up at the sky. With his blood wings vibrating, he soared into the air, the mist enveloping him overhead as he attempted to ascend continuously. One hundred meters, three hundred meters, seven hundred meters. The spatial barrier still existed, seemingly rising endlessly with this world, without limits. After a series of attempts, all hope dissipated. Chen Feng roughly deduced an answer. The place he was in was highly likely a part of Qinggang City that had been severed and pulled into the abyss. The mist above still lingered, as if shrouding everything in some dimensional limit. Looking up, the edges of his vision were the same. "So, if my guess is correct, then no matter how I explore the outside, there are limits in place." "Even the Limit Breaking light orbs will eventually be completely exhausted." A heavy realization settled in. Chen Feng turned his gaze further away. The mist was deep and darker. That was the direction he had been injured and had retreated from, where powerful black disaster creatures resided, and not just one. So, if this space was truly isolated... Then until now, he had already explored the non-dangerous areas of the Extreme Martial Hall thoroughly. If he wanted to continue exploring, he would have to venture back inside, risking being killed by even stronger black disaster creatures, affecting reality, or even delaying his entry into the dream realm. As for outside the spatial barrier... With a serious expression, Chen Feng looked. Amidst the dispersing mist, he could vaguely see a broader city outside. If he wanted to avoid the threat of stronger black disaster creatures and obtain more light orbs, there was no doubt he had to break through this spatial barrier. Or perhaps, he needed to transcend the limitations here and enter another... "Hmm?" His expression shifted as Chen Feng looked down at the two marks on his palm. One was a snake pattern, and the other resembled a black crow. If he could gather the corresponding Evil God Power, he could enter the dream world a second time, temporarily entering different secret realms. In other words... "Perhaps I can use this to escape the spatial limitations of this place?" Chen Feng thought to himself, feeling he had found a new direction. Shaking his head, he ultimately did not want to tempt fate. Before long, he returned to the Extreme Martial Hall located at the spatial barrier, killing two masked men and a group of faceless ones. Buzz! Gray light orbs surged in, the hall was riddled with holes, windows shattered, and beams broken. Once the cool energy merged into his mind, a panel prompt appeared. [Perception LV3: 88/100] Retracting his gaze, Chen Feng finally looked at the two pale blue light orbs before him. Reaching out to absorb them, a fragment of memory surfaced. "I heard that Instructor Xu and the others are trapped in the secret realm?" "Yes, I heard the secret realm expanded, and in the end, only Du Peng and a few others managed to escape." "Sigh..." Sighs echoed, and the atmosphere inside the Extreme Martial Hall was heavy with gloom. The students and disciples dressed in gray martial arts uniforms wore solemn expressions. Soon, several figures in black arrived at the hall''s entrance, invited upstairs by an Elder of the sect. "Is it the Enforcement Team?" "Why are they here again?" Speculations arose among the crowd, and the boy with lingering memories was filled with curiosity. Until finally, after the Enforcement Team left, the earlier Elder gathered everyone. "As for Instructor Xu, we can only do our best to rescue him." "The Enforcement Team has dispatched a squad to collaborate with the main hall for rescue, and the participants are all experienced individuals who have entered the Snake Spirit Secret Realm." Once the words fell, the discussions within the hall gradually subsided. Time flowed on, and the scene quietly shifted again. The youth with lingering memories seemed to have aged a few years, but Instructor Xu had not appeared. In his place, a vast expanse of black mist enveloped the entire sky above Qinggang City. Pairs of ghostly green and crimson eyes emerged, and a massive black dragon descended, its vertical pupils looking down with authority. "The abyss has descended." An elder spoke, and the youth''s face turned pale. Turning his head, he saw the elders and disciples of the martial hall standing around, their expressions grave. In the distance, a streak of white light mixed with gold rose into the sky, and the members of the Enforcement Team were on high alert atop defensive walls, even various heavy weaponry could be seen powering up, releasing their restrictions. "Elder Luo, can we survive this?" The youth with lingering memories couldn''t help but ask, and the elder fell silent for a moment. His expression was bitter as he wanted to speak, but soon... Roar!! The black dragon exhaled, a dark energy sphere plummeting to the earth, as if it aimed to corrode and corrupt the entire city. Despair filled the air, and silence reigned. Only the platinum-colored colossus soared against the tide. And a burning human silhouette, wielding a sword, charged upward, unleashing a brilliant sword light that seemed capable of cleaving the entire world. "Alonco!!!" A furious roar came from the high wall, and the scene shattered! Chen Feng''s gaze flickered as he stood in place, dazed for several breaths, remaining silent for a long time. The abyss... If he wasn''t mistaken, the two figures battling in the memory scene should be the Holy Shield Colossus and the resurrected spirit of the sword master Alonco. The outcome was unknown, but... Thinking of how this space had been severed from Qinggang City, it was highly likely it had been pulled into the abyss. Chen Feng shook his head, not optimistic about the outcome. Without further delay, he quickly absorbed another piece of Extreme Martial Arts Orbs. The memory scene was largely similar, and he thoroughly searched the entire martial hall, obtaining nine Limit Breaking Light Orbs. In addition, he also acquired a fragment of an iron book. It recorded part of the second layer''s key techniques of the Extreme Martial Fist, which Chen Feng replicated and backed up before using Steel Bones to absorb its essence. [Metal Essence +1!] [Steel Bones LV3: 18/100] "Still far from enough." Shaking his head inwardly, Chen Feng finally suppressed his distractions and left the place. While the dream was not yet over, he continued to explore the limits along the existence of the spatial barrier. During the day. After finishing several bowls of hot porridge, Chen Feng set down the empty bowl in the courtyard of the mountain gate. In front of him lay a considerable amount of meat, all breakfast sent by Li Shi after instructing the logistics personnel. After breaking through True Intent, Chen Feng felt his appetite had increased. Finally, after consuming five or six bowls of meat and hot porridge, he felt full. The logistics staff waiting nearby discreetly came forward to tidy up and then left. Retracting his gaze from their departing figure, Chen Feng looked at the panel before him. [Extreme Martial Arts Points: 5] [Limit Breaking Points: 26] "If I allocate all points to Extreme Martial Fist, it should be enough." Glancing at this extraordinary skill obtained from the dream world, Chen Feng did not immediately enhance it. Because, with Crimson Tiger Force and Myriad Tempered Steel, he had some ideas. If he could obtain the subsequent key techniques, perfect them, and merge them into Heavenly Flame Technique... Then perhaps, he could break through to Grandmaster? But... Shaking his head, Chen Feng felt that this goal was not so easily achievable. Just the Crimson Tiger Force, at the level of Burning Mountain, required forty to fifty Limit Breaking Light Orbs to enhance. The difficulty of Crimson Tiger now was certainly higher, not to mention Myriad Tempered Steel. In the past, he might not have cared, but now... "The dream space is limited, and the difficulty of finding Limit Breaking light orbs will only increase." Last night, he had ventured far from the Extreme Martial Hall, and the result was as he had guessed. The spatial barrier extended like a ring, and he still hadn''t found a gap. In light of this, Chen Feng had already prepared for the worst. To try the dangerous area. Or perhaps... Suppressing his thoughts, he picked up his phone and sent a message to Lin Hao. Buzzing vibrations; the reply came from him in less than two minutes. [Lin Hao: I haven''t found anything. They haven''t attacked other sects in the past few days.] [I even sent someone to stake out near the Heart Ape Sect, hoping for a stroke of luck, but there¡¯s been no result.] The clues regarding the mysterious individuals from the Divine Martial Alliance had come to a halt. Chen Feng shook his head in disappointment, exchanging a few brief words. Before long, he called over two people. "What''s up, Junior Brother Chen?" During this time, the martial hall was barely maintaining operations, with few students, and Cao Tong had mostly stayed at the mountain gate. "Brother Cao, could you help me check if there are any traces of the Evil God Cult near Nanjiang?" He couldn''t trouble Lin Hao with everything; the power of the Flame Tiger Sect should also be utilized appropriately. If he could truly find traces of the Evil God Cult, perhaps he could discover a new way to break the deadlock. Cao Tong was somewhat surprised but nodded in agreement. As for the other person who had been called over... Dressed in gray robes, Li Shi stood respectfully. "Uncle Li, please prepare a vehicle for me." "I need to go to Luohe." --- "Master, hold on!" In the outskirts of Luohe City, bordering Nanjiang. A white flying car sped down the mountain road, soaring through the air, flames spewing from its tail. A robust man, covered in blood, was at the controls. In the back seat, two figures were visible; one was a pale, trembling man in a long robe, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. Beside him lay a middle-aged man in gray robes, clutching his chest, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth¡ªnone other than Sect Leader Lu of the Myriad Tempering Sect. "Go straight to Nanjiang." The elderly voice trembled as Qin Tao at the driver''s seat nodded, hastily instructing the AI to accelerate. However... Caw! The sound of crows echoed, and suddenly, a large flock of black crows appeared in the air, blocking the path of the flying car. They even ignored death, crashing directly into it, continuously shattering the car''s windows and doors. "Damn it!" Qin Tao''s expression darkened as he suddenly realized the car''s balance was lost, forced to plummet. Bang, bang, bang! The sound of trees snapping echoed as the flying car twisted and deformed, rolling over not far from the roadside. [Flight system malfunction, unable to start!] [Driving system malfunction, unable to operate!] [Warning, energy system severely damaged, please...] The AI''s continuous reminders rang out. Dazed and bloodied, Qin Tao disregarded the pain, hurriedly kicked open the car door, helping his junior brother carry their master out. "Go, hurry!" Qin Tao urged, supporting him as they tried to leave the area as quickly as possible. But the next second... The sound of footsteps echoed, and several figures suddenly appeared around the roads and woods, surrounding them. "You can''t escape." Sect Leader Lu, bloodied in gray robes, looked pale and sighed. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following his gaze, among the shadows, two figures stood in the center, blocking the road. One wore a red leather jacket, with fiery red lips and a tall, curvaceous figure, a woman nearing thirty. The other was wrapped in a black robe, with pitch-black eyes tinged with crimson, not resembling a human. Caw! A black crow descended from the sky, landing on the shoulder of the latter. Seeing this scene, Qin Tao and the other disciple''s expressions changed. "Their target is me." Sect Leader Lu''s face was pale, but he ultimately forced himself to break free from their support, standing in front of the two, taking a deep breath to say: "Qin Tao, from now on, you will be the leader of the Myriad Tempering Sect." "In the future, remember to learn to endure and pass down the sect''s legacy intact." Upon hearing this, Qin Tao''s expression turned sorrowful, clutching his chest, feeling an item there. It was something his master had given him earlier, instructing him to go to Nanjiang to find the Flame Tiger Sect and deliver it to Junior Brother Chen. But unexpectedly, they encountered a mysterious ambush before even leaving the mountain gate. In his heart, he was resolute and shook his head, wanting to stop it. Seeing their struggle, the black-robed man blocking the way sneered coldly. "What a touching farewell, truly moving." "But..." With dark energy swirling around him, he stepped forward slowly. "Don''t worry, I''ll make sure you reunite." As the words fell, his figure vanished, appearing instantly before Sect Leader Lu. His large hand reached out, dark energy enveloping his palm. Bang!!! The two clashed, but the black-robed man remained standing in place. In contrast, Sect Leader Lu was forced back several meters, his face turning an abnormal crimson, blood spilling from his mouth once more. At the same time, a dark aura appeared on his face, making him look as if he were poisoned, which was quite terrifying. "You''re quite resilient." The black-robed man sneered, wanting to toy with him further. The red-clad woman noticed his intentions and frowned. "Stop playing around, hurry up." "Fine." Suppressing his dissatisfaction, the black-robed man said no more. His figure flickered again, and he reappeared before Sect Leader Lu. Dark energy condensed in his palm, and a crow''s phantom appeared behind him. Sect Leader Lu gritted his teeth, gathering his energy to raise his palm in response. Bang!!! Unexpectedly, the dominant black-robed figure was sent flying back, leaving everyone momentarily stunned. Looking back at the spot, a streak of crimson exploded in mid-air, and a burly young man in black appeared before Sect Leader Lu, his expression indifferent. "Finally." Brushing off a dead leaf from his shoulder, Chen Feng coldly scanned the crowd. "I found you." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@ Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 155: The Serpent Spirit Key, Heavenly Flame Technique [2.9k] Translator: --- The sudden appearance of the young man in black left everyone stunned, and his indifferent tone made the woman in red frown slightly. ¡°Kid, are you looking for death?!¡± The black-robed man, who had been sent flying, halted his retreat, his face filled with murderous intent as he recognized the newcomer at a glance. I was going to spare your life, but now you¡¯ve come to me. Whoosh!!! In an instant, he lunged forward, the shadow of a crow spreading its wings behind him. A thick aura of death spread out, as if some mysterious power was gathering within his black energy. In response, Chen Feng merely clenched his fist, the veins on his forearm bulging. Roar!!! The roar of a tiger echoed through the mountains, and the crimson energy exploded in mid-air like flames. The crow shadow shattered with a loud bang, and the black-robed figure was sent flying backward at an even greater speed. Qin Tao and the others were completely dumbfounded, while Sect Leader Lu behind them blinked in surprise. Boom!! The ground cracked, and dry leaves filled the air. The True Intent Crimson Tiger pounced forward, and the towering young man in black had already reached the side of the black-robed man, who was crashing down from the trees. ¡°Not good!¡± The woman in red¡¯s expression changed slightly as she regained her senses, her eyes suddenly flashing with a strange vertical pupil. In the blink of an eye, Chen Feng felt a disturbance in the shadow beneath his feet. Furrowing his brow, he unleashed a roar. A black python, condensed from True Intent, emerged from the shadow, opening its massive jaws to reveal its vicious fangs, ready to swallow him whole. Roar!!! The tiger''s roar erupted again, the True Intent Crimson Tiger surrounded by flames, its energy gathering like fire, suddenly exploding. Bang!! The black giant python shattered with a loud crash, transforming into a burst of energy and light. However, as if seizing this opportunity, the black-robed man revealed a cold, mocking smile, his energy swirling around him, transforming into a swarm of crow shadows that surrounded Chen Feng. Countless attacks surged forth, as if death itself was swirling around. All light was obscured, and the black-robed man felt a sense of certainty in his heart as he reached out to grab a tree, using it to stabilize his form. But in the next second. Bang!!! A crimson explosion erupted, like a fiery storm, a pillar of flames bursting forth, directly piercing through all the crow shadows in front of him and striking the black-robed man. Pfft!! He spat out a mouthful of blood, his body crashing down into the ground, his robe charred and tattered, his face pale with shock. The remaining crow shadows attempted to close in, but Chen Feng unleashed his power, shaking off the attacks. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong, let¡¯s go!¡± The woman in red had somehow appeared behind the black-robed man, wanting to escape. One by one, her subordinates rushed forward recklessly, surrounding Chen Feng. ¡°No, I want to kill him!!¡± The black-robed man was filled with true fire and murderous intent, feeling more humiliated than ever. The woman in red was furious and was about to speak. Boom!! One of her subordinates was sent flying, brushing past them and crashing into a green tree, his chest pierced by a splintered branch. The black-robed man¡¯s gaze sharpened, and in the next second, a series of whistling sounds echoed. One by one, the black-clad subordinates met various fates, some with their heads smashed, others with their chests pierced. Their bodies flew backward like scattered stones, and the black-robed man changed his mind, nodding as he circulated his energy. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± As the words left his mouth, the two of them quickly moved to retreat. However, in the next moment. ¡°Grandmaster is one thing.¡± ¡°But you two?¡± Boom! The ground shook, and spiderweb-like cracks spread out in all directions. A figure two meters tall leaped forward like a fierce tiger, charging straight ahead, its bronze body crashing through countless thick trees. The figure roared as it approached, the True Intent Crimson Tiger opening its mouth wide, ready to devour. Their faces lost color, stabilizing themselves and employing their techniques. Hiss! Caw! The sounds of a serpent¡¯s tongue and crows exploded. Once again, a black giant python appeared beneath Chen Feng, vividly lifelike, its scales and patterns clearly visible. The stench made one nauseous and fearful, while a massive crow shadow soared into the air, its pitch-black eyes locking onto Chen Feng. Buzz! In an instant, Chen Feng felt the world around him shift, a scene of blood and corpses, as if he had fallen into hell. ¡°Got him!¡± The black-robed man revealed a sinister smile, and the woman in red raised her hand, the black giant python opening its mouth wide, ready to swallow Chen Feng whole. This scene left Sect Leader Lu and the others behind feeling cold and pale, their bodies trembling. But. ¡°Too weak.¡± Bang!!! The black giant python exploded, the thick, swollen bronze right arm transforming into the most solid spear, annihilating everything. Chen Feng¡¯s eyes were icy cold, showing no signs of being affected or falling into an illusion. ¡°How is this possible!¡± The black-robed man was in disbelief, his faith completely shaken. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was the Evil God¡¯s technique of the Crows of the Dead, which had always been effective against other True Intents. But why... Pfft!!! A fist pierced through his heart, and Chen Feng stood before him, coldly looking down. All thoughts were interrupted in an instant, and he looked down at his chest, his blood-stained arm slowly withdrawing. ¡°You¡ª¡± Fear surged as the black crow mark in his palm deepened. Unaware of this, the woman in red had already turned pale with fright. She attempted to retreat, but a thick hand suddenly reached out, grabbing her head. Crack! The sound of bones breaking echoed, and Chen Feng spoke indifferently. ¡°I ask, you answer.¡± ¡°Yo¡ª¡± Crack! The skull cracked again, and the disheveled woman in red was filled with terror. ¡°I¨CI¡¯ll answer!¡± ¡°Why do you want to exterminate the martial arts sects, specifically targeting my Flame Tiger Sect?¡± ¡°I¡ªI...¡± Crack! Pain tore through her, the sound of bones cracking continued. The woman in red was in a pitiful state, forced to kneel on the ground, humiliated and terrified. ¡°Because we want to collect the life essence of martial artists to activate a certain item.¡± ¡°Nanjiang and Luohe are close to the Suro Nation, making it convenient for our subsequent retreat.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing the black disk hidden in her leather clothing. It was covered in serpent patterns, as if some black power was concealed within. ¡°What is it, and how is it used?¡± he asked again in a low voice. ¡°I only know that it is a key, but I don¡¯t know how to use it.¡± The woman in red wanted to hide the truth, but faced with his cold gaze, she had no choice but to confess. In an instant, the atmosphere fell silent. Chen Feng recalled the remnants of memories he had seen in his dreams. The key, an item that could open the entrance to a secret realm. His gaze flickered, and he asked again. ¡°How strong is your Divine Martial Alliance? Do you have any Grandmasters?¡± Sensing his killing intent, the woman in red hurriedly replied, ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t know how many there are; I only know that the Alliance Leader and the Master are both Grandmasters!¡± ¡°Master?¡± Chen Feng frowned. ¡°I am one of the protectors in the alliance, above the black crows.¡± Raising an eyebrow, Chen Feng was somewhat surprised. From her description, it seemed that the number of Grandmasters in the Divine Martial Alliance was likely greater than that of the Flying Dragon Sect. Breaking through to Grandmaster is so difficult; could it be that the combination of divine power and martial arts truly has some extraordinary aspect? No cost at all? Thinking of this, he voiced his doubts. ¡°I only know that merging divine power allows us to gain some special abilities, but there will still be bottlenecks in breaking through to Grandmaster; it just offers a bit more hope.¡± ¡°However, merging divine power also has a cost, leading to a certain degree of mental instability, just like those from the Evil God Cult.¡± As he spoke, Chen Feng finally noticed something he had overlooked earlier. Her eyes were not like those of a human but rather had serpent-like vertical pupils. There were also some scale-like markings on her neck, similar to those of the Evil God¡¯s servant he had killed before. ¡°Oh.¡± Having received the answer, and seeing that her fear value had reached a bottleneck, Chen Feng no longer showed mercy. ¡°Wait, you can¡¯t kill me!¡± Sensing the change in his aura, the woman in red spoke in fear, ¡°If you kill me, the Master will definitely come after you.¡± ¡°With your talent, and now having made an enemy of the Flying Dragon Sect.¡± ¡°Why not just join us? Even the Flying Dragon Sect won¡¯t be able to target you then.¡± As her words fell, Chen Feng remained silent for a few moments. ¡°What do you think? I will plead with the Master for you; I will definitely be able to¡ª¡± Crack! The skull shattered, her eyes wide with disbelief. A trickle of serpent spirit power was absorbed into his palm as Chen Feng indifferently took the palm-sized black disk from her embrace. He would not forget the incident where the True Disciple Zhang Guiyuan lost an arm, and the near-death experience of Third Martial Uncle. The Divine Martial Alliance? One by one. Bang! The corpse fell to the ground, and a panel prompt appeared before him. [Serpent Spirit Power: 65/100] [Power of the Dead: 45/100] The two progress bars increased, and the patterns in his palm deepened. However, Chen Feng did not pay attention to this; instead, he looked at another prompt. [You have obtained the key!] [This key contains a certain amount of serpent spirit power. Do you wish to absorb it?] [Note: Absorbing the power will destroy the key, making it unusable again.] This was the abnormal prompt that appeared when he obtained the black disk, which was the key. His gaze flickered, and Chen Feng temporarily stored it away, not choosing to absorb it immediately. Turning around, he saw that Sect Leader Lu and the others still bore expressions of shock. They were well aware of how strong those two True Intents from the Divine Martial Alliance were, far surpassing the ordinary peak of True Intent. It was precisely because of this that witnessing Chen Feng¡¯s overwhelming power made it even harder for them to remain calm. ¡°Truly worthy of being born with an Overlord Body.¡± With a complex expression, he gradually suppressed his shock. Sect Leader Lu recalled the scene from that day in Yun Port when he witnessed Chen Feng escape from the encirclement. It had been less than two weeks, but Chen Feng was clearly much stronger than he had been then. Suddenly, he thought of the recent battle at Yue Mountain. He vaguely understood why those two Titanium-grade Cyborgs were willing to support him. This was a potential destined to become a Grandmaster, a fierce tiger meant to stand at that height. Thinking of this, he quickly stepped forward with his two disciples and clasped his fists in gratitude. ¡°No need for such courtesy, Sect Leader Lu.¡± Shaking his head, Chen Feng did not care too much. It was somewhat of a stroke of luck; he had just happened to discover the flying car that had fallen from the sky, which led him here. Soon, after exchanging a few words, he learned about the Myriad Tempering Sect¡¯s predicament. They had been ambushed, resulting in several True Disciples dead and many core members lost. ¡°Fortunately, some disciples were in the city¡¯s martial arts hall; otherwise...¡± Sect Leader Lu¡¯s expression was complex, filled with anger and guilt. If he, the Master of True Intent, had been a bit stronger, the sect wouldn¡¯t have suffered such heavy casualties. As they spoke, they began to leave the area. When they reached the roadside, Sect Leader Lu coughed twice and waved for Qin Tao and the others to step back. ¡°Chen Shizi, if I¡¯m not mistaken, you must be here to find me, right?¡± TL/N: In Chinese, "Shizi" (ÊÀ×Ó) refers to the heir or the eldest son of a noble or royal family, often positioned to inherit the title or power of the family or sect. Chen Feng was not surprised that he could guess, as his appearance here was indeed sudden. ¡°Mm.¡± Nodding slightly, he no longer concealed his purpose. ¡°I would like to ask Sect Leader Lu to inform me of all the techniques of Myriad Tempered Steel.¡± As their eyes met, although Sect Leader Lu had anticipated it, he was still surprised that Chen Feng had managed to practice Myriad Tempered Steel to the third layer of Ten Thousand Refinements in such a short time. ¡°Born with an Overlord Body, unparalleled in the world.¡± Unable to help but murmur an ancient saying, he nodded and quickly gestured for Qin Tao to step forward and retrieve an item from the other¡¯s embrace. A manual of True Art, inscribed with the three characters ¡°Myriad Tempered Steel.¡± It looked very similar to the one he had seen before, but upon opening it, he found that it not only contained the three layers of Hundred Refinements, Thousand Refinements, and Ten Thousand Refinements. At the same time, there were two special records. [Myriad Tempered Steel Fourth Layer: Flame Steel Body, cultivation key points as follows] [Crimson Tiger Force Fourth Layer: Heavenly Flame Technique, cultivation key points as follows] [Completing the breakthroughs of both can achieve the Grandmaster¡¯s Steel Body and gain the Heavenly Flame Force.] ¡°According to the rules, I keep the key points for the fourth layer of Crimson Tiger Force, while your master keeps the Flame Steel Body, thus balancing and preventing loss.¡± ¡°However, during the martial arts conference, your master secretly found me and informed me of the key points for the Flame Steel Body.¡± With a complex expression, Sect Leader Lu recalled, ¡°He also instructed me that if anything happened to him, I must take you away from Yun Port.¡± ¡°But as you know, the subsequent events unfolded.¡± Chen Feng remained silent, ultimately accepting the manual of True Art. ¡°When I enter the Grandmaster realm, I will visit Yun Port again.¡± His tone was calm, but Sect Leader Lu sensed his meaning and had no doubt about his determination. After a long silence, he could only continuously marvel at how Li Tong had indeed taken in a good disciple. Soon, the two sides planned to part ways. Chen Feng informed him of the potential threat from the Divine Martial Alliance, and after a brief discussion, they left. --- In a quiet room. A red tea table was surrounded by a clear aura, and a faint tea fragrance wafted, intoxicating. On the wooden cabinet behind were placed a dozen wooden plaques, each engraved with two characters. Red Serpent, Black Crow, Giant Python. ¡°Activating the key is truly troublesome.¡± ¡°I envy you for having so many capable people to share the burden.¡± At the tea table sat two people, one of whom was a veiled woman who spoke softly, her figure graceful, dressed in a long black veil. Opposite her sat a burly man, quietly seated, with a rugged face and a serpent tattoo on the left side of his head, his long hair tied in a ponytail. Shaking his head slightly, the burly man had no intention of responding to her. Seeing his thoughts, the woman in the black veil was not angry; instead, she seemed intrigued and said, ¡°I heard you went to the southern martial arts world last time and exchanged a few moves with the Flying Dragon Sect.¡± ¡°How was it compared to those old guys in the northern martial arts world?¡± Upon hearing this, the burly man finally regarded her. ¡°Same as Grandmasters, not much difference.¡± ¡°Tch, talking nonsense again.¡± The woman in the black veil shook her head and said, ¡°The northern martial arts world has always been unified, with a peak emerging in every generation.¡± ¡°In my opinion, the Flying Dragon Sect should be no match.¡± Crack! Suddenly, before the woman could finish her sentence, two wooden plaques on the wooden cabinet by the wall shattered. Upon closer inspection, they bore the characters Black Crow and Red Serpent. In an instant, the burly man with the ponytail¡¯s eyes narrowed, a cold light flashing in them. Clearly, there was no movement. Yet. It felt as if thunder and wind were roaring within the room. Tap, tap, tap, tap. Someone heard the commotion and hurriedly approached, asking anxiously outside the door, ¡°Master, do you have any orders?¡± ¡°Send someone to Nanjiang to investigate the cause of the Red Serpent¡¯s death.¡± ¡°And the whereabouts of the key.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The person quickly nodded and left in haste. Seeing this, the woman in the black veil shook her head. ¡°I thought you would personally go to Nanjiang.¡± ¡°I will go, but not now.¡± The ponytailed man squinted at the view outside, where brown-tiled houses were lined up. Many warplanes flew overhead, followed by gray circular flying vehicles. The sound of explosions echoed from time to time, and men and women in various clothing, with yellow-black skin, were in a state of panic. ¡°At this moment, Suro is the best place to obtain sacrifices.¡± (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@ Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 156: Decision, Second Entry into the Dream [2.8k] Translator: --- That day, the black sedan drove along the road. As it passed through Luohe City, Chen Feng sat in the back seat, placing the pitch-black disc into his clothing pocket, and turned his head to look out the window. Tall buildings, streets. The electronic screen of a shopping mall was playing an advertisement for a type of gene medicine, and there were many pedestrians at the traffic lights, as if everything was normal. However, looking at the flying vehicles darting through the air and the armored vehicles that were temporarily intercepted on the road, slowly driving away from the intersection, he frowned slightly. ¡°The military.¡± Both the flying vehicles and the armored cars bore a red maple leaf insignia, and looking at the direction they were heading, it was clearly towards the border of Luohe City, close to the Suro Nation. ¡°Coach!¡± Suddenly, a shout rang out. Chen Feng turned his head to see a young man in a steel helmet at a checkpoint set up on the roadside to facilitate military vehicle passage. ¡°Li Chengdong.¡± Chen Feng was not surprised, as he had sensed the other party''s presence beforehand. ¡°Coach, what brings you to Luohe?¡± The young man made a gesture to his companions and then walked to the window to speak. Chen Feng glanced at the insignia on his shoulder; he was still a captain. ¡°Just handling some matters.¡± Chen Feng smiled and turned his gaze to the departing military vehicle. ¡°That''s¡­¡± After a moment of hesitation, Li Chengdong lowered his voice. ¡°Suro is in trouble.¡± With that simple sentence, Chen Feng pondered. He nodded in response, taking a look at the young man''s somewhat dark skin. It had to be said that Li Chengdong could indeed endure hardship. Among the club''s wealthy offspring, he ranked among the top. ¡°Come back safe.¡± Chen Feng said, not probing whether the other would go to Suro or if his family supported and agreed with his decision. Everyone has their own pursuits; as a friend, he could only offer his blessings. ¡°Sure thing, Coach.¡± ¡°I''ll treat you to a drink when you return!¡± He was still unaware of the matters in the martial arts world, as these were two separate circles. Just as Chen Feng was oblivious to the military side of things. After a while, they parted ways. The armored vehicle disappeared from sight, and Chen Feng signaled the driver to continue. The journey was silent as they passed through the highway and the city of Nanjiang. After some thought, Chen Feng decided to return to the mountain gate to reside. During such extraordinary times, he felt uneasy not staying there. Meanwhile, the black car passed by the pharmaceutical factory at the foot of the mountain, and the figures on both sides of the small town were still present. However, he noticed that the factory''s name had changed. ¡°Has this place been sold?¡± Chen Feng asked, and the driver was taken aback for a moment before nodding. ¡°Zhang Zhenchuan has sold this factory to the Kui Pharmaceutical Group, and two other sports goods factories have also been dealt with.¡± ¡°The martial hall hasn''t been doing well lately; many people haven''t recovered from the Utopia incident, and other sects from different cities have opened two martial halls here.¡± Listening in silence, Chen Feng knew it was all due to his previous decisions. Even after the Yue Mountain trip, he had no intention of changing his course. ¡°Flying Dragon Sect.¡± At this moment, many were still observing and testing, watching them spar with the Flying Dragon Sect. Only by completely resolving this trouble could the Flame Tiger Sect truly spread its wings. ¡°Grandmaster.¡± Chen Feng knew there was only one way to resolve it. He needed the strength to kill a Grandmaster, not just injure one. As his thoughts scattered, he quickly returned to the mountain gate. ¡°Senior Brother!¡± Along the way, many disciples greeted him respectfully, and Chen Feng nodded in response before glancing at his still unconscious master and chatting briefly with the Third Elder. ¡°I¡¯m getting old; my strength is no match for yours now.¡± ¡°Do as you wish.¡± The Third Elder did not interfere with any of his decisions, nor did he inquire about the Grandmaster techniques. Nodding silently, Chen Feng finally returned to his room. As dusk fell, darkness gradually enveloped the sky. He sat on the bed, looking at the panel before him. [Azure Armor LV4: 17/100] [Heart of Glory LV2: 53/100] The fear value was growing slowly, and the effect of a True Intent-level expert was minimal. As for the Heart of Glory, the opponents were too weak, and the same applied. For a moment, sitting in place and watching the night draw near, Chen Feng''s gaze deepened as he quietly contemplated the path ahead. Flying Dragon Sect, Divine Martial Alliance. To kill a Grandmaster, relying solely on his current strength was definitely insufficient. His talent had hit a bottleneck, and the best way forward was to return to the path of martial arts. Suddenly, his gaze shifted down to the skills. [Extreme Martial Fist: Beginner (3%) +] [Crimson Tiger Force: Crimson Tiger (1%) +] [Myriad Tempered Steel: Ten Thousand Refinements (1%) +] ¡°First, let¡¯s try the Dream World, gather as much as possible, and aim to accumulate enough to first enter the Grandmaster level.¡± ¡°If that doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll settle for second best.¡± With his thoughts settled, Chen Feng took out the pitch-black disc from his clothing pocket. He didn¡¯t know how to activate it, and it seemed the key hadn¡¯t been fully activated yet. It looked like it was related to the Serpent Spirit, which meant that even if activated, it could only open the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm. So why not go through the Dream World? Perhaps he could avoid some deadly dangers through the Dream World? Without further hesitation, he made his choice. [Absorption Successful!] [Serpent Spirit Power +75!] [Serpent Spirit Power: 140/100] [Notice: You have gained an opportunity to enter the Dream World for the second time, temporarily entering the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm!] As expected, Chen Feng had sensed how potent the power contained within this key was. Crack! Soon, as the notification appeared, the disc suddenly showed cracks. In no time, it shattered into dust, turning into powder. Without further delay, Chen Feng suppressed all distractions and lay down on the bed. He closed his eyes, breathing evenly, and let his consciousness sink. The familiar Dream World appeared; he was carrying a black backpack, standing atop a tall building, surveying the surroundings. He took out the map and glanced at it, comparing it to the distant, misty central area. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He found that outside the danger zone, only two Extreme Martial Halls remained. Three days later. Roar!!! Within the danger zone, a thunderous roar echoed as a massive creature resembling a bipedal gorilla appeared. Standing nearly eight meters tall, every movement caused the surrounding mist to swirl. Buzz!! A punch was thrown, blocking out the sun. The blue-gold figure with a single horn immediately flapped its blood wings and vanished from its spot. Boom!!! A low building was directly punched through, its steel and concrete columns snapping in two. Crack! The building collapsed, crashing to the ground. Chen Feng hovered in mid-air, his expression grave as he looked down. The Extreme Martial Hall was not far from here, but he couldn¡¯t get closer. He had already explored all the Extreme Martial Halls outside the danger zone in the Dream World, obtaining three Extreme Martial Arts Points and twenty Limit Breaking Points. The accumulated rewards were only enough for a breakthrough in either the Crimson Tiger Force or Myriad Tempered Steel, so he had to come here to try. Roar!!! The roar sounded again, revealing the gray gorilla''s fangs, its pitch-black eyes looking up, roaring ferociously. The powerful aura exceeding the fourth level made one¡¯s heart tremble, and his chest bore faint charred marks, with slight injuries to his flesh, but he had not sustained any significant damage. ¡°Even Black Flash can¡¯t handle it.¡± Chen Feng¡¯s expression darkened as he looked at the ground, where the sound of thumping echoed. It was another gray gorilla, slightly smaller in size, but its aura was not much weaker than his. The roars continued, and Chen Feng looked at the panel before him. [Myriad Tempered Steel: Flame Steel Body!] [Strength: 30.3¡ú32.8] [Agility: 27.2¡ú29.7] [Constitution: 36.0¡ú38.5] [Will: 33.4¡ú35.9] Before entering the danger zone, he had already used up all his Extreme Martial Arts Points and Limit Breaking Points. The reason for choosing Myriad Tempered Steel was simple; it was a True Art that could strengthen his physique, allowing him to gain more enhancement under the Steel Bones talent. As for Extreme Martial Fist, with Black Flash around, he didn¡¯t lack a killing move for now, so he was more eager for a breakthrough to Grandmaster. As long as he could achieve Grandmaster, all his talents would be able to exert greater effects. But¡ª Roar!!! The gray gorilla didn¡¯t care about his strength or thoughts. The ground collapsed as it leaped, climbing the tall building to the top. Then, it stomped down, causing the building below to collapse and the glass to shatter. The air felt as if it had solidified, everything around in mid-air was sucked away. That was the suppression brought by absolute power, making every muscle and heart tremble. The gray fist drew closer, and without hesitation, Chen Feng turned to flee. Whoosh!! With a flap of his wings, he tore through the sky, leaving his spot. Boom!!! A powerful cylindrical windstorm swept everything, leaving a long white trail in mid-air, resembling the wake of a fighter jet. The other gray gorillas on the ground were similar, climbing the tall buildings one after another, trying to imitate. Seeing this, Chen Feng didn¡¯t hesitate any longer and flashed away. He still hadn¡¯t given up on trying in the danger zone; he continued to search for the next Extreme Martial Hall. --- ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s not feasible.¡± During the day, with a pale face, Chen Feng exited the Dream World and returned to reality. A glimmer of disappointment flickered in his eyes; the cost was significant in terms of physical and mental exhaustion. The creatures in the danger zone were indeed beyond the ordinary; even the Giant Rage Bear had only dared to move in the outer circle back then. Moreover, perhaps due to the dense mist there, the number of Black Calamity Creatures was greater than in other places, and a moment''s inattention could expose one¡¯s whereabouts and lead to an ambush. Shaking his head, Chen Feng stood by the window, looking out at the courtyard. The blue sky and white clouds remained, with wild geese flying in from the north of the Red Nation, preparing to winter here. He sensed some sounds and followed them. In the open area outside, Cao Tong and Wu Shuang were teaching martial arts, with dozens of disciples either standing in stances or practicing punches, all diligently training. These were the disciples who chose to stay after the incident with the Flame Tiger Sect. After the battle at Yue Mountain, some who had left regretted their decision, but Chen Feng no longer accepted them, even stripping them of their True Art. There were also those with complex feelings, thinking that the goodwill had been exhausted, and it would be difficult for the Cyborgs to lend a hand again, choosing to leave quietly. Two Grandmasters, and at least one or two Grandmaster-level Cyborgs. This was the power that the Flying Dragon Sect openly displayed. As for how much was hidden, no one knew. Taking everything in, Chen Feng¡¯s expression gradually calmed. His exploration in Qinggang City¡¯s Dream World had reached its limit for now. The exploration plan for the danger zone was not feasible, so he needed to change his strategy. With that thought, he looked down at the palm of his right hand. The serpent-like patterns resembling tattoos were deep and dark, as if they held a unique kind of magic. With a decision in mind, he finally left his room for breakfast and then headed to the training ground. ¡°Senior Brother!¡± ¡°Senior Brother!¡± Excited shouts rang out as all the disciples focused on the tall figure in black. Cao Tong and Wu Shuang paused their movements, their expressions complex, filled with admiration or nostalgia. Unbeknownst to them, the Junior Brother Chen, who had the shortest training time, had already become the greatest reliance in the hearts of everyone in the Flame Tiger Sect. ¡°Today, I¡¯m here to teach them martial arts.¡± Chen Feng spoke calmly, and although Cao Tong and Wu Shuang were puzzled, they did not ask further. Instead, they joined the ranks of the disciples, showing curiosity and joy. It was rare to have a True Intent-level expert personally demonstrate martial arts. ¡°Flame Tiger Stance.¡± With a deep squat, Chen Feng stood in place. A scorching aura quietly spread, and a phantom of a red tiger coalesced, as if dozing behind him. ¡°Body like a tiger, intent like fire.¡± ¡°Force flows through the body, refining the bones.¡± With a snap, he swung his hand to initiate the stance, and the red tiger behind him opened its eyes, moving in sync. Tiger form, tiger roar, tiger might. The eleven movements of the Flame Tiger Stance were practiced in conjunction with the stance work. The True Intent Crimson Tiger followed throughout, causing many formal disciples to brighten their eyes, feeling they had found the key. In a peaceful and serene atmosphere, the training continued. Cao Tong and Wu Shuang exchanged smiles, both feeling that Junior Brother Chen was indeed a True Intent expert; his slight guidance was more effective than their days of teaching. Subtly, a faint sound arose. Zhang Guiyuan, Wei Ping, and other True Disciples either stood on the roof or leaned against the beams, quietly appearing around. Zhao Jushan, supported by Lin Xiaoyun, stood at the edge, his face filled with admiration, not interrupting. ¡°Rock Tiger, Mighty Tiger, Giant Tiger.¡± ¡°Blazing Flame, Steel Fire, Burning Mountain.¡± The calm voice rang out again; for these disciples who chose to stay during the desolation, Chen Feng was generous with a few True Arts to pass down. The expressions of the True Disciples were complex, but no one refuted or obstructed. In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures were necessary, especially since this was Junior Brother Chen¡¯s decision. For a moment, the sounds of the martial arts arena echoed, sunlight poured down, and the autumn breeze blew. The Third Elder sat by the bed in a room, turning his head to look out the window at the sounds. Taking everything in, the figure in the red-patterned white robe still lay unconscious beside him. ¡°Senior Brother, I think I saw a Grandmaster.¡± ¡°That belongs to our Flame Tiger Sect, a Grandmaster.¡± That night, Chen Feng sat on his bed. It was not his first time entering the Dream World, but he still felt a tinge of nervousness. Second entry into the dream, Serpent Spirit Secret Realm. He was uncertain what would happen. Buzzing! At that moment, his phone suddenly vibrated. His thoughts were interrupted, and Chen Feng instinctively picked it up to take a look. [Lin Hao: There¡¯s something I need to remind you about.] Chen Feng was puzzled. [Lin Hao: There¡¯s been turmoil in Suro, and Utopia is causing trouble. Someone captured a photo of Jin Wei and posted it on the dark web.] [Preliminary judgment suggests it¡¯s true; he likely completed his consciousness replication from the deep sea, possessing a new Titanium-grade body, and has successfully rebooted.] Upon receiving the news, Chen Feng fell silent for a moment. ¡°I understand.¡± He replied and closed his phone. With his eyes tightly shut, he lay back on the bed. All distractions were suppressed, and he quickly sank into consciousness, arriving at Qinggang City. The mist enveloped the sky like a cage, with lifeless buildings standing before him. Looking up, he noticed many powerful creatures moving in the deep, dark areas¡ªmonsters he currently could not contend with. Retracting his gaze, Chen Feng silently stepped into a bedroom of a house, looking at the serpent patterns on his palm. Second entry into the dream, everything was unknown. But based on his previous experiences in the Dream World of Qinggang City, even if he encountered a deadly crisis in the dream, he would not die. At most, he would suffer a mental blow, affecting reality, or delay his next entry into the dream. As for the duration of entry, it shouldn¡¯t be too long. This was the confidence that allowed him to make this choice. With that thought, Chen Feng lay flat with his eyes closed in the bedroom. No more hesitation or distractions. Only one thought solidified completely. ¡°Serpent Spirit Secret Realm, activate!¡± (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 157: Serpent Spirit Secret Realm, Serpent Spirit Fruit [2.7k] Translator: --- Buzz! The moment Chen Feng made his decision, he felt his consciousness sink once again. In his perception, everything turned pitch black, and his body''s center of gravity subtly shifted. Until finally, he opened his eyes again. Whoosh!! A scorching wind blew against his face, and the ground beneath his feet was searing hot. Within his line of sight was a vast expanse of sand, dark yellow with a hint of brown, stretching endlessly. Unlike the dark and gloomy Qinggang City, here the sun hung high in the sky, with scattered clouds. Beams of sunlight poured down, comparable to the intense heat of summer, causing the air in the desert to distort and warp. Chen Feng looked down and saw that he was still wearing the black tank top, pants, and white sneakers from his dream. However, the black backpack was nowhere to be seen, which surprised him. Apart from that. The moment he arrived in this world, he received a sudden insight. He could stay here for three to five days, after which he would be forcibly returned. The exact duration depended on his condition in this world¡ªthe greater the consumption, the shorter the time. This still needed to be verified. Rustle. Suddenly, a sound emerged. Looking down, he saw a patterned lizard crawling away in the desert. Unconcerned, Chen Feng instead felt a strange movement in his head. White light mixed with golden patterns flickered, and he sensed a hint of joy from the Holy Shield Colossus. As if it had been freed from some kind of shackle. "Hmm?" With a thought, Chen Feng immediately summoned it. Whoosh!! The stone wings flapped, and the Holy Shield Colossus slowly landed. But. "No consumption!" Chen Feng keenly noticed the abnormality in his mental energy, his gaze slightly narrowing. "Wait, the consumption has decreased, it''s become very little." He was somewhat puzzled, but upon further contemplation, he seemed to grasp the key point. The Holy Shield Colossus was originally not a creature from Qinggang City or Earth. Based on the memory fragments, it should have come from some secret realm. Thus, every time it was summoned to Earth or Qinggang City, he needed to expend mental energy to strengthen the connection between them. In contrast, the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm was also a secret realm world, essentially on the same level as its place of origin. Summoning it was no longer so strenuous, and the consumption had greatly decreased. "Good." Looking at the Holy Shield Colossus''s six-meter-tall massive body, Chen Feng immediately signaled, stepping onto its extended palm and sitting on its shoulder. The Serpent Spirit Secret Realm was unfamiliar to him, and his only knowledge came from a diary found in Qinggang City. The Serpent Spirit Fruit could enhance strength, but the secret realm''s rejection made it easy to encounter pursuit... In this situation, the Holy Shield Colossus''s reduced consumption and ability to remain manifested for protection was naturally a good thing. "Let''s go, let''s take a look together." Patting the Holy Shield Colossus''s shoulder, it immediately flapped its stone wings. Whoosh, a gust of wind swept up, rolling the sand. The grayish-white massive body flew at low altitude, heading straight in one direction across the desert. At the same time. Inside an enormous, pyramid-like structure built with square stones. Snake-men clad in dark golden armor, holding spears, stood on tiered steps, patrolling the area. At the center of the pyramid-like structure was a hollow space, and looking down, several massive serpent-shaped stone statues were arranged in a row. "May the great Serpent God enjoy the offerings!" "Serpent God!" "Serpent God!" A group of figures cloaked in black robes knelt there, praying and offering. Hundreds of people bound by ropes looked miserable and desperate. Soon, one of the massive serpent-shaped stone statues suddenly trembled, and the vertical pupils carved in black stone seemed to come alive. Ah! Screams erupted as the hundreds of bound people, regardless of age or gender, seemed to have some kind of vitality sucked out of them. Their bodies rapidly withered, turning into dry bones like burning firewood. Seeing this, the cloaked figures showed no fear but instead revealed faces of fanaticism. "The Serpent God has responded to us!" Excited and fervent voices rose, but soon, the serpent-shaped statue that had absorbed the vitality shot out a green light, landing on the forehead of a leading priest. The others looked on with envy, seeing that beneath the hood was a black serpent head covered in scales. The vertical pupils were dark, with green light flickering. Finally, the fervor faded, and the priest spoke coldly. "The Serpent God''s revelation." "Another outsider has arrived..." --- Whoosh!!! The stone wings flapped, and the wind brushed against his face. The endless desert was vast and boundless. Chen Feng stood on the Holy Shield Colossus''s shoulder, frowning as he gazed into the distance. "Did I choose the wrong direction?" After flying for over half an hour, they seemed trapped in the desert, still unable to escape. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As his thoughts flickered, Chen Feng''s gaze suddenly shifted. At the edge of his vision, a dozen figures appeared, dressed in linen robes, wearing shackles and chains, stumbling in a long line. A few others rode massive lizards, whipping them, seemingly driving and commanding them. His eyes narrowed as Chen Feng pondered whether to make contact. His clothes were clearly out of place with theirs, but he was too unfamiliar with this place and needed to ask for directions and understand the situation. Immediately, he lowered his altitude, retracted the Holy Shield Colossus, amplified his senses, and walked over alone. Footprints were left in the desert, soon buried by the rolling sand. "Move it!" "If you don''t make it back to Yellow Sand City by sunset today, you''re all dead!" "Bunch of useless trash, move faster!" The whip-wielding man had several braids, riding a two-meter-long patterned lizard. He wore a brown linen robe, carried a water pouch at his waist, and had a serpent-shaped tattoo on his face. His tone was fierce, his eyes like snake pupils. Beside him were three companions, similarly dressed, but clearly his subordinates. Crack! Crack! As the whip lashed, the shackled, ragged figures either wailed or remained numb. The desert was already unbearably hot, and some had pale, cracked lips, unable to endure. The escorts were about to whip them, but soon. The sound of footsteps on sand approached, and a man in black clothes walked toward them. It was a material they had never seen before, though he seemed somewhat tall. "Who are you!" The escort leader barked, his snake-like eyes full of vigilance. Chen Feng realized he could understand their language, even though it was different from Earth''s. But... "I wanted to ask where the nearest gathering point is." He spoke, still using the language of Earth Star''s Red Nation. But the other party clearly didn''t understand. "What are you saying!" The escort leader frowned and shouted. Chen Feng shook his head. In his perception, he could sense the other party''s malice. The next moment, the other three on their large lizards surrounded him. "He''s just a lowly one without any blessings..." The escort leader''s eyes revealed cruelty and greed. Chen Feng then noticed the difference between him and the other three, and the group of slaves. The slaves were completely normal humans. But these four had some serpentine features, and each had a serpent-shaped tattoo on their face. Swish! At that moment, as he was thinking, a whip lashed from behind his head. Snap! He raised his hand and caught it. Chen Feng looked up at the escort leader, whose expression had changed. "I just wanted to ask for directions." "Why... seek death?" Buzz! A hint of crimson bloomed, and the True Intent Tiger pounced in a flurry of attacks. Squelch!! Three figures died instantly. The escort leader''s face changed drastically. "Kill him!!" With a wave of his hand, the other three patterned giant lizards opened their bloody mouths, lunging at Chen Feng. Thud!!! Blood sprayed, evaporating on the hot sand. Massive holes appeared in the chests of the three lizards, and a blood-stained arm slowly withdrew. "Close to entry strength, at the peak of organ tempering." Roughly estimating their strength, he looked at the escort leader before him. "Damn it!!" The other party''s face was filled with fear, and he immediately ordered his patterned giant lizard to flee. But. Roar!!! The True Intent Crimson Tiger leaped out, and with the full enhancement of the Flame Steel Body, it was now a full five meters in size. The tiger pounced, and flames exploded. Squelch! Blood blossomed on both the figure and the patterned giant lizard. The slaves behind stared in shock. "Gasp..." Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth as the escort leader fell back and died. Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, unsatisfied. He hadn''t gained any Serpent Spirit Power. "Could it be because they''re natives of the secret realm?" A guess surfaced in his mind as he looked at the group of slaves. None dared to meet his gaze, all trembling with fear. The Azure Armor and Heart of Glory provided minimal enhancement, and the nourishment from the weak could no longer offer much growth. Seeing this, he didn''t waste words. Chen Feng directly stepped forward and removed the slaves'' shackles, then gestured for them to lead the way. This place was unfamiliar, and communication was impossible. Everyone had the instinct to survive, and he believed that following these people would lead him to a gathering place. Also... Glancing at the escort leader''s clothes. Chen Feng''s eyes flashed as he flicked off a grain of sand from his body. "Too late." Two days later. Three cloaked figures appeared beside the four dead patterned giant lizards, briefly scanning the fatal wounds. There were also four corpses, one of whom had been stripped of his clothes. "Master, it must be an outsider. The residual power in these wounds doesn''t belong to our world." One of the cloaked figures, with dark snake-like pupils, touched the wound on a corpse and analyzed. "Hmm." The leader merely nodded lightly. Without needing orders, another subordinate quickly took out an item resembling a compass, its needle pointing south. "Master, it seems he''s headed for Yellow Sand City." "Isn''t that the territory of the Huorong Tribe now?" TL/N: Huo Means fire and Rong has the connotations of War and Barbarism. "Yes, the last outsider was hunted down with their help." "Hmm, that makes it simple." --- Under the scorching sun, Chen Feng stood on a small sand dune, looking into the distance. A city made of stone, entirely yellow-brown, with layered, polished stones and redwood structures interspersed. Outside the city, the wide road was lined with withered trees, and a slight breeze stirred up specks of yellow sand. "A barbaric tribe..." During the two-day journey, though he couldn''t communicate with the slaves, he had learned a fair amount. This secret realm world seemed to resemble a barbaric tribal society. The Serpent God Temple was the pinnacle of power, with eight great serpent clans ruling everything, followed by the survival space of smaller tribes. The more powerful the clan, or the higher one''s status, the closer they were to the serpent form. In this world''s terms, this was considered the blessing of the Serpent God. Conversely, those with fewer serpentine features had lower status. Especially those who were completely normal humans. They could only become slaves, also known as the lowly ones. "Worshiping the Serpent God..." His gaze cold, Chen Feng had long since parted ways with the group of slaves. Wrapped in a brown linen robe, with most of his face covered, he walked toward Yellow Sand City. Around him were many similarly dressed figures, mostly humanoid but not entirely normal. Some had vertical pupils, others had scales on their necks or arms. Additionally, their exposed faces bore a black or green serpent-shaped tattoo, the greatest proof of the Serpent God''s blessing, imprinted by the Serpent God Temple. Amid the bustling crowd, Chen Feng blended in. The houses on both sides of the city were made of stone, with some forging iron, others selling animal hides. There were also slaves being beaten, and even open-air fights in the streets, forcing them to kill each other. "Kill him!" "Kill him! Or I''ll cripple you when we get back!" "Kill him now!" Cold and ruthless voices rang out continuously. Chen Feng stood at the edge of the crowd, his gaze icy. He felt that everything here was starkly different from Earth''s modernity, exuding a primitive, barbaric atmosphere. Moreover, for some reason. He felt a sense of unease, as if something was watching him. "Secret realm rejection..." Chen Feng thought of the diary left by Wang Yu, the transcendent spirit master. Everything else was unimportant; only the secret realm''s rejection and the Serpent Spirit Fruit he had mentioned were crucial. Having ventured into the dream a second time, he couldn''t return empty-handed. "Useless, he''s dead." Suddenly, in the fighting arena, one slave killed another, who was crying. The two masters had different expressions, one laughing cruelly, the other cursing in anger. Feeling a chill in his heart, Chen Feng looked at the others around him. He felt that these natives with serpentine features were no longer like normal humans. Not just physically, but mentally as well. "By the way, I heard the Huorong Tribe''s Serpent Spirit Fruit is about to ripen." The crowd was about to disperse when someone curiously spoke up. Chen Feng''s gaze shifted, eavesdropping. "Yes, and it seems a representative from the Serpent God Temple will come to take it." "I heard that consuming the Serpent Spirit Fruit can purify our serpent bloodline, potentially breaking through our rank. I wonder if we''ll be lucky enough to gain the Temple''s favor." "Don''t dream. The Serpent Spirit Fruit is hard to ripen. Even the Huorong Tribe can only keep a few each year." Though spoken casually, Chen Feng listened intently. Standing in the corner of the crowd, he pondered, looking toward the center of this barbaric city. The Huorong Tribe. One of the eight great clans of this world, the rulers of Yellow Sand City. Rumored to have a trace of the Serpent God''s bloodline, each generation would produce a high priest who ignited the divine blood. "Interesting." Finally finding his target, Chen Feng turned and walked toward the city lord''s mansion of Yellow Sand City. After more than ten minutes, he reached the central area. It was still built with square stones, but with redwood beams and black tile roofs interspersed. A large area was enclosed by polished brown stones, with many buildings visible inside. At the entrance of the solemn city lord''s mansion stood two serpent-shaped stone statues. There were also armored men standing guard, their serpentine features even more pronounced. Vertical pupils, scales, and even their heads were somewhat triangular, almost resembling snake-men. After a quick glance, Chen Feng walked around the stone walls, amplifying his senses to search for any signs of the Serpent Spirit Fruit. Layer by layer, the rocks were penetrated by his perception. Inside the vast area was a training ground, where many half-snake youths were sparring and practicing with weapons. Their auras varied, from organ tempering to Entry Strength. There were also armored patrols moving about, led by a fully serpentine figure with a True Intent-level aura. Without stopping, Chen Feng, separated from the patrol by a stone wall, blended into the crowd and continued to circle. After a full lap, limited by his hundred-meter perception range, he couldn''t see everything from the outside. Having found nothing, he was considering whether to force his way in when. A group of half-snake armored men walked through the corridors of the building complex, carrying a wooden box, and hurried toward the central building of the city lord''s mansion. Just within the hundred-meter limit, Chen Feng frowned and amplified his senses, not wanting to miss any opportunity. In an instant, his gaze sharpened. Inside the red wooden box were several fruits. Resembling coiled little snakes, entirely blood-red in color. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c218. [+5.4k Words] Early Access at $5. Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 158: Conversion and Absorption, Chaos in Heaven and Earth [2.5k] Translator: --- Inside the stone-built secret chamber. A middle-aged snake-man in a red robe opened his eyes and looked toward the door. Thud! Thud! Only then did the sound of footsteps and knocking echo, followed by a familiar voice. "Master, someone from the Serpent God Temple has arrived." "Oh?" His vertical pupils flickered, and the middle-aged snake-man was somewhat surprised. As he stood up, it became evident that not only his face but his entire body was covered in red scales. Moreover, behind him. There was a thick, red serpent tail. If not for the traces of shedding around his eyes, it would have been difficult to discern his age. "They usually prefer to come two days later." "Why are they early this time?" As he walked to the door, he asked. The visitor was a young half-snake-man, still bearing some human traits, who quickly expressed his ignorance. "Fine, lead the way." Shaking his head indifferently, the middle-aged snake-man soon left the secret chamber, ascending along the dimly lit staircase. The redwood beams and pillars receded as he stepped on the brown stone bricks, passing through the corridor. Midway, he glanced at a corner of the city lord''s mansion. There stood a small stone-built house with a locked door, guarded by two snake-men. "Has the High Priest not returned yet?" He asked as he walked, and the young half-snake-man nodded. "The realm of a Saint..." Muttering to himself, the middle-aged snake-man with red scales flashed a hint of envy in his eyes. Before long, he entered the reception room of the city lord''s mansion and saw three black-robed visitors. Their robes were embroidered with a serpent pattern, and two of them wore hoods. The third had removed his hood, revealing a black-scaled serpent head, with two additional serpent patterns on his sleeves. "Black Shadow, long time no see." "I didn¡¯t expect the envoy collecting the Serpent God Fruit this time to be you." The middle-aged snake-man smiled, taking the main seat, sitting level with the other. "Rong Ren, I¡¯m not here for the Serpent God Fruit this time." However, shaking his head slightly. The black-scaled serpent envoy took out a compass from his chest, his meaning clear. His expression changed, and the middle-aged snake-man named Rong Ren, the lord of Yellow Sand City, finally understood the reason for the other''s sudden appearance. "Another outsider?" "Yes." The envoy named Black Shadow nodded, his tone calm. "The Serpent God gave a revelation two days ago, ordering us to capture him." "We found traces of him in the Red Rock Desert. According to the Spirit Tracking Compass, he has already arrived in Yellow Sand City." As the words fell, Lord Rong Ren wasted no time. "I¡¯ll immediately order the city sealed." He was well aware of the threat posed by these outsiders. Not to mention the distant past, just the last time, one of them nearly overturned Yellow Sand City, and it took considerable effort to subdue him. "Could we ask High Priest Rong Yan to intervene?" Black Shadow asked, and Rong Ren hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "The High Priest received the Serpent God''s blessing last time and is now wandering, pursuing the path of a Saint..." "Very well." Black Shadow did not press further, as according to the serpent-men''s revelation, this outsider''s strength was limited, not yet at the fourth level. Without any surprises, he alone could capture him. Buzz! However, at that moment. The compass needle moved, beginning to spin in a circle. The few present were slightly stunned, and Black Shadow was the first to react. "Heh, it seems we don¡¯t need to seal the city." "This guy must be near the city lord''s mansion." As he spoke, he immediately stood up, following the compass needle. His two hooded subordinates followed, and Lord Rong Ren wasted no time, waving his hand to gather his guards. But soon, just as they left the reception room. Roar!!! A tiger''s roar erupted, shaking the ground of the city lord''s mansion. Lord Rong Ren''s face darkened, and he flashed toward the source of the sound. Bang!! With a single palm strike, several half-snake-man guards were sent flying. Chen Feng, who had already activated Steel Bones, leaped over the stone wall into an open area, his face covered by a dark golden mask. His gaze fixed on the wooden box containing the Serpent God Fruit, held by a red-scaled hand a few meters ahead. "You dare break into my city lord''s mansion and steal the Serpent God Fruit!" "You¡¯re seeking death!!" The black-armored snake-man guard leader was filled with rage and killing intent. Chen Feng wasted no words, his body surrounded by crimson Force, leaping like a tiger and throwing a punch. Boom!! Fist met fist, and the crimson Force exploded. The red-scaled hand was surprisingly strong, and the guard leader stood firmly in place, sneering at him. "So, you¡¯re a lowly one without the Serpent God''s blessing." The other instantly noticed the anomaly, and Chen Feng was somewhat surprised. The physical strength of a snake-man¡¯s body was this strong? Surpassing some ordinary Silver-grade metals. "Die!" The shout rang out, and the guard leader held the red wooden box in one hand, his scales suddenly tightening, his entire aura changing. He threw a punch, the air vibrating with a piercing whistle. Finally. Bang!!! Flesh exploded, and shattered black scales scattered in all directions. The guard leader¡¯s eyes widened as he looked down, a thick, bronze arm piercing through his chest. "You were able to take one of my punches. You can die without regrets." The low voice fell, and the blood-stained bronze arm slowly withdrew, then took the red wooden box from his hand. Thud! The corpse fell to the ground, and Chen Feng looked around. Many half-snake-man armored guards were rushing over. He didn¡¯t plan to delay and was about to leave. "Trying to leave?" A cold voice suddenly rang out, and in Chen Feng¡¯s perception, a deep red figure appeared. Whoosh!!! Breaking through the air, the afterimage shot straight like a nail. His gaze sharpened, and the green mark on the back of his hand flashed. Boom!!! Palm met fist, the ground caved in, and the brown stone tiles within a ten-meter radius shattered. The half-snake-man guards'' faces changed, forced back by the shockwave. The air currents churned at the center, revealing a green-gold unicorn standing tall, its glass-like crimson eyes filled with coldness. "Grandmaster, fourth level?" Chen Feng held the red wooden box in one hand, standing firmly in place. Before him was a middle-aged snake-man in a red robe, his body covered in deep red scales, his vertical pupils filled with cold killing intent. "You dare cause trouble in our Huorong Tribe..." "Outsider, it seems you¡¯re destined to die." As the cold words fell, Chen Feng¡¯s expression hardened. Not because of the threat, but because of the term used. Outsider? Buzz!! Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, Lord Rong Ren¡¯s scales moved, and flames gathered, merging into his arm. The scorching heat approached, and the fiery fist closed in rapidly. Boom!!! A muffled explosion sounded, and the snake-man guards showed excited expressions. This was their Lord Rong Fire, with such a punch... "Barely a Grandmaster." A golden mask had appeared on Chen Feng¡¯s face at some point, and he tilted his head slightly, glancing at the other. His bones creaked. His taller figure cast a shadow, and his arm suddenly swelled. Whoosh!! An Explosive Fist strike, enhanced by Azure Armor and Giant Tiger. Having mastered Myriad Tempered Steel and obtained the Flame Steel Body, his strength had already increased significantly. Now, at full power, it was close to forty tons! Boom!!! The fist struck the scales, and Lord Rong Ren¡¯s expression changed slightly as he was forced back, his feet plowing through the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Chen Feng¡¯s unicorn gathered black light, ready for a killing blow. Hiss! However, at the critical moment. The shadow beneath his feet trembled, and he keenly sensed a chill. Black Flash was interrupted, and he sidestepped. A black-scaled Giant Python, seven to eight meters long, opened its gaping maw from the shadow, lunging upward. On its massive serpent head stood a black-scaled, serpent-headed fourth-level snake-man. "It seems the situation is different." The vertical pupils coldly looked down, and Black Shadow¡¯s figure blocked the sun, as if certain of the outcome. "Rong Ren, let¡¯s work together to..." Whoosh!!! Before he could finish, a sharp whistling sound suddenly rang out. A white light mixed with golden patterns solidified in mid-air, like a stone pillar, and a violent punch struck. Splat!!! The python¡¯s head was blown apart, and Black Shadow¡¯s expression, standing atop it changed, plummeting to the ground. "I hate looking up at others." "So..." Standing beside the Holy Shield Colossus, Chen Feng¡¯s unicorn gathered black light once more. His crimson eyes merged with the sunlight, and he immediately unleashed Black Flash as Black Shadow fell. "Die!" Whoosh!! The black light, like lightning, pierced through everything, directly penetrating the other¡¯s chest, leaving a black mark in the air. The smell of scorched flesh spread, and everyone was horrified. However, looking at the fallen figure, Chen Feng keenly sensed that the other still had a trace of life. Raising an eyebrow, the peculiarity of the snake-man¡¯s body surprised him, as if it were a true serpent, difficult to kill without hitting a vital spot. Just as he was about to deliver the finishing blow, the red-scaled snake-man charged again, filled with rage. Flames formed arcs around them, like a circular prison, sealing off all sides. This technique had already surpassed martial limits. "Black Shadow, move!" Hearing the shout, Chen Feng sensed something was wrong. Then, he saw the black-scaled snake-man merge into the shadow, and the nearby tiles began to disintegrate. Boom!!! As the flame arcs formed a circle, a pillar of fire shot into the sky. It looked like a volcanic eruption, both spectacular and terrifying, and even the snake-men outside the city lord''s mansion noticed the commotion. "What¡¯s that!" "It¡¯s the Huorong Tribe¡¯s Molten Flame Technique, a blessing from the Serpent God." "Such a commotion, has Lord Rong Ren personally taken action?" The entire Yellow Sand City was drawn to the spectacle of the fiery pillar. Guards within the city lord''s mansion and young snake-men from the training grounds rushed over, standing on rooftops or leaning against beams. Amidst the chatter, Lord Rong Ren panted slightly, wisps of white smoke rising from the gaps in his scales. This technique was also a significant drain on him. A disturbance appeared in the nearby shadow, and Black Shadow stood beside him, his chest scorched and his aura weakened. "He should be dead." Seeing the other¡¯s poor condition, Rong Ren forced himself to speak. Black Shadow nodded slightly, his vertical pupils filled with coldness and surprise. He had almost been defeated. Just as he was about to end this farce. His vertical pupils contracted, looking at the gradually dissipating pillar of fire. On the disintegrated stone tiles, within the sandy pit. White-gray stone wings had quietly closed at some point, wrapping around the interior like a rocky sphere. Lord Rong Ren¡¯s expression changed slightly, and the other snake-men wore similar looks. Whoosh! Then, the stone wings moved slightly, the wind picked up, and the dust dispersed. The massive stone statue had somehow shielded the azure-gold figure within its embrace, its golden patterns shining like armor, protecting them. Chen Feng¡¯s gaze was cold, the wooden box in his hand already shattered, revealing five Serpent God Fruits. Each was the size of a walnut, coiled like small snakes, held in his palm. [You have discovered a secret realm treasure¡ªSerpent God Fruit!] [Effect: A special product of the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm. Consuming it can enhance physical strength, cleanse the body, and strengthen vital energy!] [Drawback: The consumer must perform a ritual to remove the Serpent God essence, or risk varying degrees of serpent-like mutations!] [Tip: You can choose to convert it into pure energy and absorb it into your body, with no side effects, but the effect is reduced by one-third!] "Convert, absorb." With a cold expression, Chen Feng immediately made his choice. Buzz! In an instant, the five Serpent God Fruits in his hand rapidly melted, turning into an invisible energy that passed through his bronze bones and Azure Armor, merging into his body. "This!" Lord Rong Ren and the others were shocked, unable to comprehend what ritual the other had used. In contrast, Chen Feng¡¯s eyes saw constant panel notifications, keenly sensing his physical attributes rapidly increasing. He didn¡¯t have time to examine them closely, only feeling a surge of heat flowing through his body, forcefully strengthening his physique. Like a torrent of magma, scalding hot. His breathing became scorching, and his previous stamina consumption was instantly replenished. Boom!! In an instant, he charged forward, his blood wings vibrating. He instantly closed in on Lord Rong Ren and the other. His fingers clenched, and his thick green-gold arms shot forward like spears, piercing through everything. "Damn it!" An incomprehensible curse rang out, and Lord Rong Ren snapped back to reality, his red scales deepening in color as he crossed his arms in front of him. Black Shadow¡¯s expression was grim, black light swirling around him, as if he were about to merge into the shadow again. Whoosh!!! However, at that moment. The white-gray Holy Shield Colossus flew over, somehow appearing behind the two. Its massive, rock-like hand reached out, abruptly interrupting Black Shadow¡¯s shadow merge, forcefully grabbing his head. Boom!! At the same time. An Explosive Fist strike, far surpassing the previous one roared out. Cracks appeared in the red scales, and the black robe exploded. Splat!! The fist struck both, and Lord Rong Ren was sent flying, his arms twisted and hanging, crashing through several large stones and falling outside the mansion. Black Shadow¡¯s chest wound refused to heal, and his head deformed as the Holy Shield Colossus crushed it with brute force, emitting constant cracking sounds. "Lord Black Shadow!!" The two hooded envoys¡¯ expressions changed drastically, wanting to rush to his aid. However. Whoosh! Steel Bones rapidly grew, forming a broad golden sword in his hand. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Feng¡¯s right arm gripped it tightly, sweeping it in a circle. The snake-men and hooded envoys surrounding him were cut in half at the waist, blood spraying everywhere. The glass-like crimson eyes reflected Black Shadow¡¯s venomous gaze, and Chen Feng heard his threat. "The Serpent God has discovered you... you can¡¯t escape..." Splat!! With a single sword strike, he decapitated the already twisted head, and only then did Chen Feng sensed the other¡¯s life force completely dissipate. Then, expanding his perception, he vibrated his blood wings once more, charging through the breached stone wall and out of the city lord''s mansion. The red-scaled middle-aged Lord Rong Ren lay half on the ground, his aura weakened. His arms were twisted and fractured, blood continuously seeping from the cracks in his scales. "Despicable outsider, you dare kill a temple envoy..." Lord Rong Ren¡¯s tone was filled with shock and hatred. "Wait for your death, you..." Boom!!! A brutal stomp, and blood sprayed everywhere. "A snake-man¡¯s body?" "Can still be killed." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c221. [+5.3k Words] Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 159: Return, The Path to Grandmaster [2.7k] Translator: --- [You have completed a battle to defend your honor.] [Victory!] [Honor Points +20!] The long-awaited acquisition of honor points did not bring much joy to Chen Feng. Instead, he narrowed his eyes as he looked at the corpse of Rong Ren, the city lord, which was still bleeding profusely. Just like when he had killed the Black Shadow envoy earlier, the same thing was happening now. Though invisible to the naked eye, through his perception, he could clearly sense two strands of black energy, resembling Serpent Spirit Power, dissipating and rising into the sky from the bodies of these two individuals. It was as if they were returning to this world. "So, this is why I can''t obtain Serpent Spirit Power from the natives of this world?" He looked up at the sky, recalling the keywords these two had mentioned earlier¡ªSerpent God and outsiders. Chen Feng pondered thoughtfully. Then, he withdrew his gaze and scanned his surroundings. The half-serpent people, dressed in various attire, were all terrified, retreating far away. Some hid behind stone pillars, while others closed their doors and took refuge inside their homes. Under the gaze of numerous eyes, he looked toward the area where the previous duel had taken place. A young human had died there, merely for the amusement of these half-serpent people. No one cared about the corpse, which was now being soiled by the yellow sand blown by the hot wind. This world exuded an inexplicable chill, as if it had seeped into one''s bones. Whoosh!!! Suddenly, a rapid whistling sound broke the silence. Looking up into the sky, he saw a massive winged serpent flying toward him. On its back stood several red-scaled, robed serpent people, their auras varying, with two of them being at the fourth tier. "How dare you kill someone from our Huorong Tribe!!" "Prepare to die!!" The furious roar echoed, and at the same time, movement could be detected in a certain area of Yellow Sand City. It seemed other serpent people had noticed the commotion and were rushing over to provide support. The heat within his body intensified, and his blood grew increasingly scalding. Chen Feng wasted no more time. With a flap of his blood wings, he leaped onto the shoulder of the Holy Shield Colossus. Whoosh! A fierce wind swept up as the Holy Shield Colossus spread its wings and ascended into the sky. Stone houses, black-tiled red buildings, sturdy city walls¡ªthe brown, desolate city below gradually shrank in his vision. The massive, square outline of the city came into view, and Chen Feng''s gaze shifted as he noticed a place he had missed within the city lord''s estate. It was a secluded, isolated courtyard. Inside, there were no stones, only flat, brown soil. A massive, transparent dome, composed of some mysterious force, covered the area. Within it grew a thick tree that would take five or six people to encircle, its branches lush and roots gnarled. The entire tree was a reddish-brown color, and its leaves, shaped like serpents, matched its hue. Among the leaves, several bright red fruits remained unpicked, resembling coiled and entwined small serpents¡ªclearly, they were Serpent Spirit Fruits. Chen Feng''s eyes flickered with thought. But soon, the black-winged serpent behind him caught up. Whoosh!!! It spat out a breath attack, over a meter in size, exuding a strong, corrosive acidic smell. Whoosh! The stone wings of the Holy Shield Colossus flapped, allowing it to dodge the attack. But the next second. Boom!! A flaming arrow shot straight toward him, launched by one of the red-robed serpent people on the serpent''s back, who had drawn his bow and fired a powerful shot. Like a pillar of fire shooting into the sky, it struck fear into the hearts of those who saw it. Its power surpassed that of the previous city lord, Rong Ren, and the temperature in the air grew scorching. At the same time, the heat within his body intensified, making him increasingly uncomfortable and restless. His gaze turned calm. Originally planning to return to the ground to try again and seize more Serpent Spirit Fruits, Chen Feng decisively abandoned the idea and commanded the Holy Shield Colossus to leave at full speed. Whoosh! The stone wings flapped, and a fierce wind blew. For a moment, the entire Yellow Sand City fell silent. Everyone looked up at the sky, watching the pursuit fade into the distance. --- Night. Shrubbery and forest. Insects the size of palms clung to the leaves as a figure wrapped in a brown robe slowly approached. Thud! Stepping on dry leaves and soil, Chen Feng pushed aside the branches and leaves of the shrubs, illuminated by the moonlight, and continued walking. It had taken him half a day to shake off his pursuers, and the continuous use of Azure Armor and Steel Bones had drained him greatly. Yet, the gleam in his eyes not only showed no signs of dimming but instead grew even brighter. His body was scorching hot, his blood flowing with a gurgling sound, and even the beating of his heart was clearly audible in his ears. [Strength: 32.8¡ú33.01¡ú33.02¡ú...] [Agility: 29.7¡ú29.91¡ú29.92¡ú...] [Constitution: 38.5¡ú40.01¡ú40.02¡ú...] [Willpower: 35.9¡ú36.11¡ú36.12¡ú...] This was the result of absorbing the five Serpent Spirit Fruits¡ªhis four attributes were steadily and slowly increasing. Especially his constitution, which had directly broken through the 40-point threshold, making his physical strength comparable to Titanium-grade metal. It was from that moment that Chen Feng felt his blood boiling, his skin, flesh, bones, and tendons emitting subtle sounds. He wasn''t worried, as he had a strong intuition. His body seemed to be undergoing some kind of transformation. It was a powerful vitality, a step closer to the threshold of becoming a Grandmaster. Every minute, every second, he was stronger than the moment before. A vague guess formed in his mind, but due to his lack of experience, Chen Feng could only set it aside for now. Crack. A branch snapped underfoot. This shrubbery and forest were located in another area south of Yellow Sand City. Glancing around, he saw dense trees growing closely together. Perhaps due to his current unstable state, Chen Feng had a strong feeling that his return was imminent. But he didn''t mind. He intended to use the last moments before his return to learn more about this world. The Serpent Spirit Fruits here were a valuable resource, and the power of this place also intrigued him. Moreover, killing or defeating these serpent people could enhance his Heart of Glory and Azure Armor abilities. This was a perfect environment, different from Earth. In the Red Nation, he had his principles and was unwilling to act recklessly, harming the innocent, nor did he want to cause too much trouble and be hunted by the authorities. But here, facing a group of inhuman, serpent-like creatures who slaughtered ordinary people without hesitation, he felt no guilt whatsoever. In fact, glancing at the Steel Bones section on his panel, Chen Feng wondered if this secret realm world had any high-strength metal materials that could nourish the growth of his Steel Bones. The sound of his linen robe brushing against the shrubbery leaves filled the air as Chen Feng summoned the Holy Shield Colossus once more. Just as he was about to take off, he sensed something unusual. "Hmm?" His gaze shifted, and he walked forward. Pushing aside the shrubs in front of him, he saw a large lake in the distance. The moon''s reflection shimmered on the water''s surface, rippling gently. But that wasn''t what caught Chen Feng''s attention. On the other side of the lake, a group of people had gathered around a fire. "Don''t worry, everyone. Just two hundred kilometers south, and we''ll reach the Holy City." "There, under the protection of the Mighty King, even the Serpent God Temple will think twice before acting... As long as we can enter the Holy City, we''ll be able to escape the enslavement of the serpent people." Among the group of over a dozen people, a woman with tanned skin and shoulder-length curly hair was comforting the others. They were all dressed in linen robes, some with tattoos on their foreheads, others with scars on their wrists and ankles from long-term enslavement. Chen Feng listened thoughtfully, then, after a moment of consideration, pushed aside the shrubbery leaves and walked toward the group. "Who are you!" The sound of footsteps alerted the lookout, who gripped his spear tightly, his face full of vigilance. The people by the fire turned in surprise, some drawing wooden bows, others holding torches as they quickly approached. But soon, when they saw Chen Feng''s normal human face, their wariness lessened slightly. "Who are you?" The curly-haired woman who had spoken earlier remained cautious, holding a torch in her left hand and gripping the hilt of a curved sword at her waist with her right, stopping a few meters away. Chen Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, scanning her. Her aura wasn''t weak¡ªshe was at the level of having mastered Force. Moreover, he could vaguely sense that it was a power different from Force. "Who are you!" Seeing that he didn''t respond, the curly-haired woman grew even more wary, and the people behind her gradually began to arm themselves. Realizing they couldn''t understand him, Chen Feng pointed to his mouth and shook his head gently. "Mute?" The curly-haired woman frowned, and someone behind her whispered a reminder. "Could he be a serpent person sent by the Black Blade Tribe to track us?" "He doesn''t look like one¡ªhe doesn''t have the serpent tattoos on his face." "What if he''s one of our kind, enslaved by the serpent people and implanted with a tracking spell?" Amid the speculation, the curly-haired woman hesitated for a moment. "Are you also fleeing?" Chen Feng nodded, feeling that this wasn''t exactly a lie. He had indeed just escaped the pursuit of the Huorong Tribe. The atmosphere fell silent for a moment. Then, the woman nodded slightly, as if believing his words. "Do you plan to stay here, or will you come with us to the Holy City?" Chen Feng pointed south. "Alright." The curly-haired woman, though plain in appearance, had bright eyes. A black cloth was tied around her forehead, and she quickly turned to discuss with the others. "Master Molly, what if he''s a spy?" "I didn''t sense any Serpent God-related power on him¡ªnone at all. He must be a fugitive." "Then he''s one of us?" "Yes, one more person means more strength. Let him join us. Going to the Holy City together will provide mutual support." Chen Feng listened in silence, sensing that this woman named Molly held a high position among the group. After some persuasion, most of them accepted him, though they remained somewhat wary and distant, but without any significant malice. Thus, Chen Feng joined the group around the fire. He sat quietly on the edge, silently listening to their conversations, appearing introverted and somewhat aloof. "Would you like some water?" The curly-haired woman named Molly noticed this and carefully took a water pouch from her side, offering it to him. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Feng, with his brown human eyes, nodded and accepted it. "We''re all like you, fleeing from other serpent tribes." She glanced at Chen Feng, her eyes flickering, then looked at the others gathered around the fire and spoke earnestly: "Everyone here is prepared to die, but surviving is naturally the best outcome." "There may be many dangers on the way to the Holy City... We''ll set off at dawn. Try to adapt." She gave Chen Feng a deep look before returning to the group. Chen Feng pondered thoughtfully, realizing that she hadn''t completely trusted him and had deliberately hinted at something. He didn''t mind, as he sensed no malice from her. The soft murmurs of conversation continued intermittently as the night grew darker. The group gradually dispersed, many succumbing to sleepiness and finding corners to rest, while others left the lakeside to keep watch in case of danger. "Black Blade Tribe... Holy City." "A power different from martial Force, and also different from Serpent Spirit Power..." Chen Feng''s perception swept over Molly, who was sleeping in the distance, and he knew that this secret realm world must hold many secrets. He shook his head, deciding not to delve deeper. Because he had already begun to see faint black mist appearing out of thin air. In an instant, his consciousness drifted. The world seemed to turn pitch black, and an invisible force lifted him up, as if pulling him out of this world. One second, two seconds, three seconds... Opening his eyes, Chen Feng found himself back in his bedroom in Qinggang City. The black backpack was still on his chest, and he was once again dressed in this world''s black clothes and white sneakers. He felt slightly dazed, as if everything in the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm had been a dream. Rubbing his slightly swollen head, he got out of bed. Thud! As his center of gravity shifted, Chen Feng opened his eyes again. He was greeted by the familiar wooden ceiling, with sunlight streaming through the cracks in the window. The faint sound of shouts and exertion came from the courtyard nearby¡ªit was Xu Tingxiao practicing martial arts early in the morning. Lying in bed for a moment to adjust, Chen Feng knew that he had truly returned. "7:05 AM..." He pulled out his phone from under the pillow and checked the time and date. Chen Feng was both surprised and relieved. Three full days had passed in the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm. But in reality, only one night had gone by. "Is the time flow different, or is it due to the intervention of dream power?" His eyes flickered as he got out of bed, slipped on his black slippers, and walked to the window. Xu Tingxiao was practicing the Flame Blast Style in the courtyard, his Force a deep red, having unknowingly reached the second tier of Force mastery. The trip to Yun Port had hit him hard, and these days he had either been helping his master brew medicine or practicing martial arts. Unable to figure it out, Chen Feng decided to set aside his distracting thoughts. The connection between the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm and dreams could be explored later. Besides... He looked down at the lines on his palm, noticing that the serpent-shaped one had significantly dimmed. [Serpent Spirit Power: 40/100] Exactly one hundred points had been depleted. If he wanted to enter the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm again, he would need to gather sixty more points. "Divine Martial Alliance... Evil God Cult..." A glint flashed in Chen Feng''s eyes as he clenched his fist, producing a cracking sound. The four attributes on his panel were still slowly increasing. Sensing his body carefully, he could tell that the energy from the Serpent Spirit Fruits he had absorbed and fused with in the secret realm had been completely digested. But the transformation of his body was still ongoing, continuously pushing toward the threshold of becoming a Grandmaster. His physical strength had genuinely crossed the Titanium-grade threshold, now on par with his Steel Bones. Hum! With a thought, the Crimson Tiger phantom appeared, lazily sprawled on the ground. Apart from having grown to six meters in size, reaching the so-called peak of True Intent, there were no significant changes. But Chen Feng was certain. His transformation had already surpassed the level of True Intent. "The Crimson Tiger Force hasn''t yet broken through to the perfect Heavenly Flame level, so in theory, I shouldn''t have reached the Grandmaster level either." "But..." After a moment of contemplation, Chen Feng immediately left his room and headed toward Third Martial Uncle¡¯s courtyard. TL/N: If you are getting confused why Third Elder is also Third Martial Uncle, that¡¯s because MC is now the foremost authority in the sect after the sect leader. And being the sect leader¡¯s personal disciple, his seniority has reached a high level. He needed to ask about this matter. Because he was absolutely certain. He was undergoing a transformation, becoming a Grandmaster. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c221. [+5.3k Words] Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 160: The Ever-Changing Situation [2.5k] Translator: --- "Transformation?" Within the courtyard of the Flame Tiger Sect''s mountain gate, the Third Elder wore a puzzled expression. "Yes, I want to know if our sect has any similar records left behind?" Chen Feng''s expression was calm as he briefly mentioned his feeling of touching the threshold of the Grandmaster realm. A mix of envy and doubt flashed in the Third Elder''s eyes, and he remained silent for more than ten seconds. Finally, after barely digesting this shocking news, he showed a look of recollection, searching his memory. "I only remember that an elder once mentioned that only by completely merging and solidifying the True Intent and Force can one truly step into the Grandmaster realm." "As for the transformation of the body..." The Third Elder shook his head and sighed regretfully. The Flame Tiger Sect had lost too much, including the martial insights left by Grandmasters. Back then, he was only a core disciple and had no access to such levels, so his knowledge was limited. Thus, he wasn''t very familiar with the martial path beyond True Intent. Although Chen Feng felt regretful, he wasn''t overly disappointed. He had some vague guesses but couldn''t verify them. Just as he was about to say something more. Whoosh!! Two flying cars suddenly descended from the sky, and he frowned, looking up. The Third Elder, not as perceptive as him, only reacted after a few moments and followed his gaze. Swish, swish, swish! In an instant, they sensed the commotion and saw the flying cars appear above the mountain gate. Cao Tong, Wu Shuang, and other True Disciples cautiously emerged, some standing on rooftops, others in the courtyard. The core disciples had varying expressions, all thinking that a great enemy had arrived, showing a somewhat skittish vigilance. Seeing this, the figures in the flying cars secretly shook their heads. "A declining sect like the Flame Tiger Sect actually has connections with Titanium-grade Cyborgs... I don''t get it." "Shh, keep it down. They did help us repel the Flying Dragon Sect." "Since Martial Uncle instructed us to come, let''s be polite..." Several martial artists wearing Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect robes sat in the left flying car. Chen Feng could sense that the middle-aged man leading them was a True Intent-level martial artist. Glancing over, the right flying car carried members of the Giant Elephant Sect, also led by a True Intent-level expert. Somewhat surprised, he stepped to the gate''s position. Seeing him appear, Cao Tong and the others gradually relaxed, soon gathering behind him. Hum!! The air surged as the flying cars landed. Zhang Tai, wearing a gray hoodie, followed his Martial Uncle out of the car. The other members of the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect also disembarked. The leading middle-aged man wore a dark robe with a small mustache, embroidered with whale patterns. "Junior Nephew Chen." He spoke with a smile, somewhat reserved. Chen Feng merely nodded slightly in response, not even knowing the man''s name. Turning his head to look at the Giant Elephant Sect members, he saw Zhang Tai smiling beside a True Intent-level elder. "Senior Brother Chen, this is my Martial Uncle, who happens to share your surname." His tone was respectful, suppressing the complexity in his heart. Both were of the younger generation, but the other had already stepped into True Intent, making their gap incomparable. The Elder Chen also smiled and nodded, praising the martial prodigy, his attitude noticeably more sincere than that of the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect. Moreover, whether it was an illusion or not. He felt that the tall, black-clothed young man before him was somewhat unfathomable. "You praise me too much." Chen Feng nodded in response, exchanging a few polite words, while the Third Elder, Yan Chong, beside him cupped his hands in a salute. Then, they invited the visitors into the main reception hall. The Giant Elephant Sect sat on the left, the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect on the right, and Chen Feng naturally took the seat of honor. This detail made the True Intent-level experts from the two top sects raise their eyebrows slightly, but they didn''t dwell on it. "I wonder what brings you all to our Flame Tiger Sect." Chen Feng spoke calmly as Cao Tong actively served them tea. "Junior Nephew Chen is straightforward, so I''ll get to the point." The middle-aged leader of the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect sat in the rightmost seat and spoke directly, "The Flying Dragon Sect is powerful. Although temporarily hindered, they may make a comeback." "Our Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect has already allied with the Giant Elephant Sect, encompassing the martial world of Jiang and Ze provinces, united in our resolve to hold our ground." His tone was reserved as he looked at Chen Feng and continued, "So, we would like to invite the Flame Tiger Sect to join us." After these words, Chen Feng didn''t respond immediately. Instead, he looked at the Giant Elephant Sect members. "Thank you." Elder Chen smiled and nodded at Cao Tong, accepting the tea, then quickly turned to Chen Feng, "Elder Luo is correct. The Flying Dragon Sect has deep foundations and has already subdued the Golden Blade Sect and the Golden Flying Eagle Sect." "If the Flame Tiger Sect is willing to join us, with those two Titanium-grade Cyborgs restraining the Flying Dragon Sect''s Cyborgs, we need not fear the Flying Dragon Sect''s unifying momentum." Hearing this, Cao Tong, Wu Shuang, and the other True Disciples had complex expressions, while the Third Elder, Yan Chong, also had a flash in his eyes. The fact that they had come to invite them wasn''t due to the Flame Tiger Sect''s strength. But rather, Chen Feng''s powerful connections as the contemporary True Intent and acting sect leader. Yan Chong sighed inwardly, not interrupting, just waiting for Chen Feng''s decision. "If we join the alliance, who will lead?" Chen Feng asked, looking around at everyone. "Naturally, we will follow the orders of the three Grandmasters." The middle-aged elder from the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect spoke with some pride, his tone assertive. Their sect had two Grandmasters, meaning they would naturally take the lead. Elder Chen didn''t say much, just nodded slightly in agreement. Chen Feng remained silent for a moment. "The Flame Tiger Sect can join the alliance, but with one condition." "Oh?" The middle-aged elder from the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect raised an eyebrow. He had expected the Flame Tiger Sect to agree immediately. After all, they were the Flying Dragon Sect''s sworn enemies, and the favor of the Titanium-grade Cyborgs wasn''t easy to repay. Such connections would eventually run out. "Junior Nephew Chen, please speak," the elder from the Giant Elephant Sect remained gentle and patiently asked. "I want to borrow and read the Grandmasters'' insights of your two sects." Chen Feng stated frankly. Whether to join the alliance or not wasn''t of great interest to him. He wanted to know what was happening to him now. He was growing stronger every moment, albeit slowly, but it was very real. He had an intuition that he was on the verge of crossing the Grandmaster threshold, but his Force hadn''t shown significant changes. "Impossible!" However, the True Intent-level middle-aged man from the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect''s expression changed slightly, and he directly refused. The Grandmasters'' insights were the closely guarded secrets of the top sects, one of the foundations of their transcendent status in the provincial martial world. How could they let outsiders read them? Elder Chen beside him also frowned. Shaking his head, his attitude was slightly better, but he still tactfully said, "This matter is beyond our authority." "We can only report back to the Grandmasters and let them decide." After these words, the atmosphere quieted somewhat. Chen Feng shook his head, knowing this was tantamount to a refusal. He understood the mindset of these top sects. They wanted the Flame Tiger Sect to share the burden but didn''t want another Grandmaster to affect their status. "In that case, we''ll await good news." "Our sect will join the alliance once your Grandmasters agree to this condition." Taking a sip of tea, Chen Feng''s attitude was firm, not yielding. Elder Chen from the Giant Elephant Sect frowned, wanting to persuade him. But the True Intent-level middle-aged man from the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect impatiently stood up. "Junior Nephew Chen, the power of the Flying Dragon Sect is not something you can handle alone." "I advise you to reconsider." Cupping his hands in a salute, his expression turned indifferent, and he directly turned to leave. A declining sect, yet they dared to make such demands. If it weren''t for the connections with the Titanium-grade Cyborgs, why would the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect have come personally? Immediately, several Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect disciples followed him out. Cao Tong and the others had mixed expressions, some embarrassed, some indignant. Only Chen Feng remained composed, silently watching them leave in their flying cars. "Sigh..." Shaking his head, seeing Chen Feng''s firm stance. Elder Chen from the Giant Elephant Sect didn''t press further. "Junior Nephew Chen, farewell." "Our Giant Elephant Sect always welcomes you to Yue City." With the talks broken down, Zhang Tai looked awkward, having to follow his elder and leave. During this, he glanced at Chen Feng, seeing his calm and unreadable expression. His feelings were complex, feeling that this peer of his already had some of the authority of a sect leader. Hum! The tailwind stirred as the flying cars left as quickly as they had come. Cao Tong and the other True Disciples stood under the eaves, watching the ascending car shadows, their expressions shifting. Although indignant at the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect''s high-handed attitude, they still felt a hint of regret. If they could truly ally, the Flame Tiger Sect would surely gain more confidence. But... Expressionless, Chen Feng sat alone in the pearwood chair at the head of the hall. The Third Elder, Yan Chong, quietly stood up, walked over, and patted his shoulder. "Whatever decision you make, just go for it." He was the only one who knew that Chen Feng was undergoing a transformation, continuously striving for the Grandmaster realm. Thus, he believed Chen Feng wouldn''t act recklessly. After these words, Chen Feng nodded slightly. Stepping forward, he stood up. He eventually left the place and returned to his room. At the same time, in the suburbs of Luohe. Several figures stood on a flat area of a low hill, looking up at the quiet mountain gate not far away. Green trees stood like canopies in the courtyard, white-gray mixed stone walls surrounded the mountainside, and patches of black-tiled roofs and lush greenery could be vaguely seen. The mountain gate wasn''t particularly grand, with two red wooden doors closed shut. Perhaps due to a recent incident, the place was unusually quiet, with almost no sound. But the visitors didn''t pay much attention, just squinting slightly and speaking indifferently: "So, Black Crow and Red Serpent fell at the hands of this sect?" Looking closely, the black characters of the Myriad Tempering Sect were inscribed on a blue plaque, hanging above the main gate of the building complex. "Reporting to Master Rock Python, indeed, Red Serpent''s target was this sect at that time." Someone quickly nodded in response, but the questioner was puzzled. "This sect only has one True Intent-level expert?" If not, how could they have killed Red Serpent and the others. "This... subordinate doesn''t know. The intelligence indeed mentions only one True Intent-level expert, and he''s old, no longer at his peak." "Luohe only has this one major sect, with no other True Intent-level experts." "Is that so..." Nodding lightly, the questioner didn''t waste more words. Stepping forward, he was seen wearing a brown camouflage combat uniform, black boots, and a sun hat. Behind him stood several similarly dressed individuals, all with yellowish-black skin, and a few even carried firearms. Everything was transmitted via a disguised drone from afar, projecting onto a screen in a building in the city. Qin Tao, wearing loose sportswear, stood inside, his face cold, feeling fortunate. Thanks to Junior Brother Chen''s warning and reminder to be cautious of the Divine Martial Alliance''s pursuit, they might have been caught off guard otherwise. "Are there no disciples left in the sect?" Sect Leader Lu, who wasn''t originally here, hurried over upon receiving the news, accompanied by several others. "Master, it''s arranged. The disciples are scattered throughout the city." "Good." Nodding lightly, Sect Leader Lu breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he looked at the man sitting in front of Qin Tao, controlling the drone, adjusting the screen, and continuously tracking. At the same time, he glanced around the room. Rows of screens were lined up, with young men and women sitting at each, wearing headsets and communicating. "Luohe has a situation, Group Two, stay alert." "Got it, got it. Group Three, how''s Nanjiang? Any issues?" "None for now." Voices kept ringing out. Looking closely, it was clear that these people were all wearing black uniforms with four white characters on their backs. [Tian Hao Security Company] This scene truly amazed him, while also making him feel somewhat despondent. With such technology, no wonder martial arts were declining. "Gentlemen, how is it?" Lin Hao smiled and accompanied them, always standing by Sect Leader Lu''s side. "Such matters should be left to professionals." "And coincidentally, our Tian Hao Security is the most professional." Hearing this, Sect Leader Lu smiled wryly and nodded, also curious about the relationship between Lin Hao and Chen Feng, who had recommended him. Just as he was about to speak. Soon. "Group Six has a situation!" A sudden voice rang out. A young man in black looked serious, adjusting the drone''s screen in another corner. A black car flashed by, in a suburban area of Nanjiang City. It shouldn''t have attracted attention, but the license plate had been marked, triggering an automatic alert. His expression turned serious as Lin Hao, accompanied by his bodyguards, walked over to the screen. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Boss, Utopia''s people are indeed making moves." "Fortunately, you instructed us to keep an eye on these hidden pieces, or we really wouldn''t have been able to track them." The young man controlling the screen was accompanied by another, clearly his superior, who smiled and flattered Lin Hao. Nodding lightly, Lin Hao gestured to zoom in on the image. Instantly, the fleeting black car was magnified, revealing a face through the half-open window. Long hair draped over the back like a lion''s mane, a baseball cap covering most of the face. As if anticipating this, the screen soon displayed a chiseled, hard-lined face for comparison. [Similarity: 80%!] The prompt appeared, and Lin Hao''s mood sank. "Notify everyone, the security company will temporarily stop accepting new tasks." "Try to complete the already accepted tasks as soon as possible..." His serious tone made the atmosphere in the intelligence room grow tense. Seeing this, Sect Leader Lu and Qin Tao exchanged glances, both surprised, wondering what was going on. "Wait..." Recalling the face that had appeared in the comparison image earlier, Sect Leader Lu felt like he had seen it somewhere before. Struggling to remember, but unable to recall. Finally, it was Qin Tao who turned pale and opened his mouth. "Master." "Hmm?" "That person, isn''t he the Jin Wei from the Utopia organization on the wanted list?" (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c222. [+2.5k Words] Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 161: Hunting the Divine Martial, Turning the Tables [2.5k] Translator: CinderTL "You shouldn''t go to Nanjiang now." "The Red Nation is intensifying their pursuit of us, and the situation in Suro is volatile. Someone needs to oversee the overall situation. You should wait a bit longer." The black car drove through the streets. The sturdy man in the back seat wore a baseball cap, a black jacket, and blue jeans. He carried no communication devices like phones or watches, yet a serious male voice echoed in his mind. The nagging voice continued, but he only glanced out the window and said one sentence. "He''s my only brother." The deep voice reverberated through the communication module, reaching a distant country. On the other end, the faint sound of explosions could be heard. He didn''t give the other party a chance to say more. Beep! The communication was cut off. His long hair cascaded down as he silently gazed out the window. Streets, skyscrapers. Young couples walked hand in hand along the sidewalk, while gray-haired elders held children''s hands, carrying large bags of snacks. Traffic roared past on both sides, and new buildings rose from the ground, standing tall in the city. The prosperity remained, as if everything had returned to normal after the previous terrorist incident. Jin Wei paid little attention to this, his indifferent gaze fixed on a small black dot in the sky. It looked like a bird, but... "It seems you''ve already been exposed in Nanjiang." A golden light flashed in his eyes as he detected a certain signal. Hearing this, the two men in suits sitting in the front seat were momentarily stunned. --- Hum! The blue flying car sped forward. Chen Feng, sitting in the passenger seat for the first time in a while, looked somewhat surprised at the young man in the driver''s seat. He had asked the other party to keep an eye on the Myriad Tempering Sect for the Divine Martial Alliance, but this shouldn''t have warranted such an enthusiastic welcome. "Alright, stop looking at me like that." "I had no choice, but who made it safer to be around you?" Lin Hao smiled, as if hinting at something. Chen Feng raised an eyebrow slightly, as if he had thought of something. "Jin Wei is here?" "Yes." The smile on Lin Hao''s face faded a bit as he switched the flying car to autopilot mode. Another flying car followed behind, belonging to his personal security team. "After discovering that Jin Wei had successfully rebooted, I communicated with the city defense department''s councilors and temporarily borrowed some authority, just in case." "But I didn''t expect... we actually caught that guy." Lin Hao spoke seriously, "It seems he knows the truth now." Back then, when Silver Wolf died in Yun Mountain, although many traces were erased, with careful deduction, the key points could still be discovered. Tian Hao Security would undoubtedly be the first target of his revenge. Thus, although it was unclear why Jin Wei hadn''t come after them before, his sudden appearance now left no room for doubt. "Where is he now?" Chen Feng asked calmly. Lin Hao was slightly taken aback and couldn''t help but glance at him. "What?" "Impressive, Feng. I feel like your aura is getting stronger." "Even though he''s a Titanium-grade Cyborg, you sound so confident, as if you''re sure to take him down." Chen Feng remained silent, shaking his head slightly. It wasn''t blind arrogance. But... [Strength: 36.1¡ú36.11¡ú36.12¡ú...] [Agility: 32.4¡ú32.41¡ú32.42¡ú...] [Constitution: 44.6¡ú44.61¡ú44.62¡ú...] [Willpower: 38.5] His four-dimensional attributes were still improving, the heat within his body surging, the transformation ongoing. Since consuming the Serpent Spirit Fruit in the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm, he had already gained a full twelve points in attributes, and his physical strength had long reached the Titanium-grade level. But for now, apart from his willpower gradually stopping its growth, the improvements in other areas clearly hadn''t reached their limit. It was a rational analysis based on perception, and a strong intuition that gave him ample confidence. He might have already crossed that threshold. "Unfortunately, Jin Wei noticed our tracking." "He disappeared as soon as he entered the city. I''ve already provided clues to the city council through other identities." Lin Hao didn''t dwell on the previous topic, speaking seriously, "Anyway, I''ll be relying on you these next few days. Are Blue Demon and the others in Nanjiang?" "Yes." Chen Feng nodded lightly, naturally not refusing Lin Hao''s request. He owed him several favors, and Lin Hao had even offended the Flying Dragon Sect for him. As for Jin Wei, it wasn''t Tian Hao Security who had killed Silver Wolf; they had just taken the blame for him. After a brief discussion, the flying car continued to soar through the sky. As they passed through the Nanjiang city area, Chen Feng saw the city council building. The floor-to-ceiling windows reflected sunlight like waves, fully repaired, no longer in the disarray of the past. But. Looking at the other flying cars passing by, he was somewhat surprised. When had so many out-of-town license plates appeared? "You finally noticed it?" "I think you''ve been secluded for too long." Lin Hao teased with a smile, quickly giving instructions to the AI. "Big Head, show our secluded martial artist the latest regulations from the Nanjiang City Council." [Yes, Master!] Soon, the projection of the big-headed doll disappeared, replaced by a string of text. [The Nanjiang City Council has issued new regulations: Trial implementation of separate tax incentives for newly registered enterprises in Nanjiang, effective from November 3rd.] Chen Feng quickly skimmed the content, which essentially offered various preferential policies to large enterprises and factories newly registered in Nanjiang. "So, some out-of-town business groups have come to invest?" Chen Feng looked at Lin Hao. "Yes." "Why were these regulations suddenly issued?" "Two reasons." Lin Hao didn''t hide anything, speaking honestly, "From what I''ve gathered and analyzed, one reason is that the impact of the previous Utopia incident was too severe, coupled with unemployment issues, so they want to boost the local economy and restore public confidence." "The second... it might be related to the Suro Nation." "Suro?" Chen Feng frowned, recalling the information he had learned from club member Li Chengdong the last time. Suro was in the midst of a civil war. Hmm? His gaze shifted as he noticed that the preferential policies in this regulation were more targeted at high-tech enterprises. Especially in the fields of cyborgs, military, and machinery. "Nanjiang''s location is special, backed by the hinterland, with Luohe bordering Suro, and also sharing a province with the coastal Yun Port." TL/N: Hinterland: the remote areas of a country away from the coast or the banks of major rivers. "It can act as a buffer while also stockpiling resources, ready to provide support at any time." Chen Feng understood the implication. His eyes flickered as he looked at Lin Hao. "It seems you had already guessed this during the last riot?" "Heh." Lin Hao smiled without answering. Chen Feng, seeing this, pondered thoughtfully. He didn''t press further. This was a good thing for him. The more Nanjiang developed, the better. Both he and the Flame Tiger Sect could rise higher with the momentum. Whoosh!!! Without further ado, the flying car continued to accelerate. Finally, they left Nanjiang, heading straight for Luohe. --- "Giant Python, we''d better leave here quickly." In a villa living room in Luohe City. An exquisite chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the carved windows were half-open, revealing the lawn and pool outside. Several members of the Divine Martial Alliance, dressed in brown camouflage, were gathered here. One of them spoke seriously, speculating, "The Myriad Tempering Sect is completely empty. They must have known we were coming and deliberately hid." "Now, with us in the open and them in the dark, and Black Crow and Red Serpent dying mysteriously, who knows what tricks they have up their sleeves." The rational analysis garnered agreement from the others, but the burliest man among them shook his head in denial. "Have you forgotten Master''s orders?" "The key is the cipher." "If we return empty-handed, there won''t be any divine power crystals for us next time." The burly man''s eyes were snake-like, with a hint of brown. A brown serpent tattoo on his neck was partially covered by the collar of his camouflage uniform. Hearing this, the group fell silent, unable to refute. "Too bad Venom Fang was left behind in Suro. Otherwise, we could have tracked the killer and the cipher." The man who had spoken first sighed, his face oddly triangular. The snake scales on the back of his hand were greenish, and his build was lean. "No matter." The burly man, known as Giant Python, shook his head and ordered his men to spread out and stay alert, saying coldly, "If the Myriad Tempering Sect wants to hide, we''ll just take our time searching." "I don''t believe such a large sect can abandon all its martial arts schools and businesses." "As long as we kill enough people, they''ll have to show up." As he spoke, a hint of bloodlust flashed in his eyes, and his veins bulged slightly. Outside the villa, a few children laughed and played as they passed by. He suddenly revealed a cruel smile. "At worst, we''ll capture everyone associated with them." "They can serve as sacrifices to activate the cipher later." The group''s expressions varied, but the first speaker still had a trace of concern. "Black Crow and Red Serpent weren''t weak. That person must be quite strong, and he might have allies." "If he really shows up..." "Leave it to me!" The man named Giant Python impatiently interrupted, disdainfully saying, "Luohe is just a small place. What kind of experts could there be?" "I''m not like those useless Black Crow and Red Serpent. It''s a waste of Master''s training." Whoosh!!! Before he could finish speaking. The sound of something moving at high speed suddenly rang out. The group was momentarily stunned, looking toward the half-open carved window. A black shadow rushed toward the villa''s iron gate from the asphalt road outside, the poplar trees on either side swaying and rustling. The air howled, and the continuous sound of footsteps merged into a sharp, ear-piercing vibration. "Who''s there!" The men disguised as bodyguards at the villa entrance quickly moved to intercept, raising their hands to draw their guns. Bang! The tightly shut iron gate was directly smashed open, a human-shaped hole revealing the rusted metal inside. In the next moment, blood splattered, and a pistol flew into the sky. The man in the suit was like a leaf caught in a hurricane, his body sent flying and crashing into the pool behind him. Splash! The pool was stained with blood. "Damn it!" "How dare you trespass! You''re asking for death!" Shouts of anger erupted from the Divine Martial Alliance members disguised as offcial bodyguards. In an instant, all the guards drew their pre-prepared weapons, and the sound of gunfire erupted. Flames spat from the barrels, bullets flying everywhere. "These are specially made bullets. He''s done for." "Heh, I didn''t expect him to show up so quickly. I''m curious to see him beg for mercy in a moment." Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! The sound of metal clashing shattered all illusions. The black clothes were torn, scraps of fabric flying. The exposed upper body revealed muscles of ordinary skin tone, solid and deeply etched, as if carved by an axe. The man wearing a dark golden mask emitted sparks all over his body, as if he were not made of flesh and blood, but of titanium. Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! The sound continued. In an instant, the mocking expressions on the faces of Giant Python and the others froze, replaced by shock and doubt. The next second. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! The men in suits were sent flying in all directions, crashing through walls and twisting iron gates. One of them even flew to the second floor, smashing through the glass and sliding past their eyes. Blood droplets scattered in the air. Amid the chaos, the burly Giant Python''s expression changed again. "This guy''s not normal!" "Attack together!" He forgot all the bravado he had spouted earlier, immediately leaping down from the second floor with three companions. Whoosh!!! The four of them had energy flowing through their bodies, some brown, some green, some black. True Intent serpent shadows condensed around them, surrounding Chen Feng on the lawn from all directions. Hiss!! The piercing sound of serpents vibrated their eardrums, a cold dread creeping into their hearts. Shadows moved behind them, and various killing moves followed one after another. Facing all this, Chen Feng stood in place, merely lowering his eyelids and clenching his fist indifferently. Bang!! White air exploded, and the True Intent serpent shadow in front of him shattered instantly. A bloody hole appeared in one man''s chest, a thick arm piercing through the camouflage uniform and flesh. Drops of blood splattered onto the green tips of the grass. "Can you feel death approaching?" A deep voice rang out. The man wearing the dark golden mask swept his indifferent gaze over them. A True Intent-level companion had fallen in a single exchange. Giant Python and the others were both furious and terrified. "Run!!" Giant Python shouted urgently. One of his companions quickly activated a secret technique, summoning black serpents from the shadows as cover. Bang!! Black light exploded, and the shadows dissipated. Another man had his chest pierced, kneeling on the ground. "G-Grandmaster?" Completely terrified, Giant Python was filled with dread. In a small place like Luohe, even a True Intent was rare. When had a Grandmaster appeared? "Go!" His companion shouted a reminder, his eyes glowing green as serpents swarmed around him. In an instant, countless snakes were attracted, pouncing toward Chen Feng. Hum! Bang! A powerful force shook the air, and blood sprayed everywhere. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Black, green, brown, and yellow scales shattered into pieces, and a rain of blood soaked the lawn. Giant Python''s face turned pale. In the next moment, he saw the figure stomp the ground and rush forward, appearing in front of his companion. Thud!! The ground where the man had stood moments earlier suddenly shook, a circular depression forming as the earth cracked. A large hand gripped his companion''s neck, and the deep voice spoke again. "Why is your fear so worthless?" Hearing this, Giant Python was momentarily stunned. Crack! The sound of bones breaking impatiently rang out, and his companion, who had been channeling energy, died completely. "You!" Terrified, Giant Python''s skin rapidly turned brown, serpentine patterns covering his body. A brown True Intent serpent shadow coiled around him, as if forming a solid rock-like defense. But. Bang!! He seemed to hear a sound, and a momentary pain shot through his left chest. Looking down, blood gushed out, soaking the torn and pierced camouflage uniform. "You..." The threatening words he wanted to say were forcibly cut off. The brown serpent eyes rapidly lost focus. Thud! Finally, the corpse fell to the ground, and strands of intangible power were drawn away. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c224. [+5.5k Words] Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 162: Growing Stronger, Gaining Extreme Martial Arts Again [2.5k] Translator: CinderTL Drip, drip. Blood spilled, staining the grass red and seeping into the soil. The villa was littered with corpses, and the scattered yellow bullet casings still retained some warmth. Four True Intent peak experts, comparable to Silver-grade Cyborgs, had died in various states. The burly man wearing a dark gold mask flicked his arm slightly, and all the blood scattered away. The scene on the display screen was silent. Zhou Cheng and the others, who were controlling the drones, looked shaken and instinctively gulped. "Chen Feng has gotten stronger again..." Lin Hao stood to the side, his expression quite complex. Such combat power had already surpassed the Silver-grade level. "Uncle Liu, what level is Chen Feng at now?" He whispered, walking to a corner of the street outside the flying car. "He should be a Grandmaster... but not entirely." The elderly voice also sounded surprised, and Lin Hao widened his eyes slightly. A Grandmaster? Wasn''t it said to be extremely difficult to break through? And what did "not entirely" mean? "There are three methods to break through to the Grandmaster realm. Although the methods differ, there is always a period of transformation." "He is likely still in the transformation stage... Remarkable. Even before the transformation is complete, his physical strength is already comparable to Gold-grade. Young Master, your friend might very well reach the pinnacle of the extreme realm." The tone was filled with admiration. This was the first time Lin Hao had heard Uncle Liu praise someone''s martial talent. "What about me, Uncle Liu?" "If I practiced martial arts, would I have a chance..." "Young Master, everyone is different. Some things shouldn''t be forced." The kind, elderly voice interrupted his inquiry, and Lin Hao smiled wryly. Finally, seeing the dark gold-masked figure in the drone footage move, he returned to the flying car. [Serpent Spirit Power: 200/100] On the way back, Chen Feng sat in the flying car, having changed into a new, intact black hoodie. He tilted his head to look out the window as the tall buildings passed by. A security bureau''s flying car brushed past, and he quietly glanced at the panel before him. The four True Intent experts had given him 160 points of Serpent Spirit Power. It was enough for him to open the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm twice in the dream. As for his talents, the progress of Azure Armor and Heart of Glory was ordinary, with some growth but not much. "Things here shouldn''t be a problem. Suro has been too chaotic recently, and Luohe has also been affected." Lin Hao, sitting in the driver''s seat, spoke, and Chen Feng nodded slightly. As they approached the Nanjiang district, he thought about the club. "How''s the club doing?" "Eh, same as usual." Lin Hao''s tone was casual. "After you left, I found a few minor school''s Force experts to be coaches. Otherwise, how do you think I found out about the Divine Martial Alliance''s activities?" "But unfortunately, most of the members only respect you. They''re not very fond of the new coaches." "Although they haven''t left, they''ve been coming less frequently. Probably only staying out of respect for you." Chen Feng felt a bit guilty upon hearing this. After all, he had initially agreed to be the head coach and personally guide them. "If I get the chance, I''ll go back." "Alright." Lin Hao nodded, not urging him to go today. Jin Wei''s whereabouts were currently unknown, but he was most likely in Nanjiang. With a bit of investigation, it would be easy to discover that Tian Hao Security was behind him, and Hao Feng Boxing Club, as a related business, couldn''t escape scrutiny. There was no need to involve others. It was better to return and wait. Immediately, the two took the opportunity to discuss. Chen Feng decided to temporarily act as Lin Hao''s bodyguard, accompanying him back to Tian Hao Security. As dusk deepened and night approached, the short buildings gave way to taller ones, and the bustling streets came into view. Finally, the flying car entered a building in the city center, where the words "Tian Hao Security" flashed brightly on the rooftop. The city''s joint council building was not far away, and Chen Feng glanced at Lin Hao in surprise. "Rented. I can''t afford to buy it yet." Lin Hao explained, and Chen Feng was half-convinced. The security company had developed rapidly, exceeding his initial expectations. Moreover. His eyes flickered as he glanced at a certain room in the building. Within his perception, he faintly detected a presence no weaker than a Grandmaster, lurking there. It wasn''t a Cyborg, because it was a powerful magnetic field interference, even affecting his perception. He could only vaguely see an elderly man in a suit and white gloves, sitting alone in a study with the curtains drawn. As if sensing something, the man turned his gaze toward the building''s lower levels. Chen Feng averted his gaze, pretending nothing was amiss. Lin Hao seemed oblivious, instead taking the elevator all the way to the top floor with him. Zhou Cheng and two other Silver-grade Cyborgs escorted them the entire way, along with four or five semi-Cyborgs with bulging waists. "I''ve already arranged your accommodation." "Come, take a look. Is it alright?" As he spoke, Chen Feng followed him into a room. A swan velvet mattress, exquisite chandelier, hardwood floors... Walking to the window, he could see the brightly lit city outside, the neon lights of Nanjiang almost entirely visible. "I''m satisfied." Chen Feng nodded slightly, withdrawing his gaze. "Good. I was worried you might not be used to it." "For the next few days, you''ll be in charge during the day. Others will handle my security at night." "Anyway, thank you." Lin Hao''s expression turned serious as he spoke, and Chen Feng waved his hand, indicating it was no trouble. As for the matter of alternating day and night security, Chen Feng''s eyes flickered, but he didn''t ask further. He knew that the elderly man dressed like a butler he had sensed earlier was most likely the one responsible for Lin Hao''s and the building''s nighttime security. He didn''t delve into why a suspected Grandmaster-level Cyborg was involved, knowing it was surely related to Lin Hao''s mysterious background. After a few more instructions, the two parted ways, and Chen Feng pulled the curtains shut with a swish. After settling in, he lay down and closed his eyes. The building''s soundproofing was good, and with the Grandmaster-level Cyborg on night duty, he didn''t worry too much. Clearing his mind, he soon entered the dream. Buzz! A world shrouded in mist. Tall buildings and houses everywhere. Cars parked by the roadside, their surfaces covered in a thick layer of dust. The entire world was dark and gray. Chen Feng, carrying a black backpack, stood inside a residential building, looking toward the deep misty dangerous area in the distance. He wasn''t in a hurry to enter the dream again, as he wanted to see if he could now venture into the dangerous area. Both Crimson Tiger Force and Extreme Martial Fist required Extreme Martial Arts Points and Limit Breaking Points. Not to mention the coveted Heavenly Aura Overlord Body Technique. TL/N: This technique was introduced in chapter 96. Moreover, looking at the slowly increasing four-dimensional attributes on the panel before him, Chen Feng had another thought. Since those top schools refused to give him Grandmaster insights, perhaps the Extreme Martial Hall here had similar records? Immediately, without hesitation. The mark on the back of his hand flashed, and Azure Armor covered his entire body. His blood wings flapped, and he leaped out of the window of the ten-story residential building. Whoosh!! His figure flickered, speeding through the air. The nearest Extreme Martial Hall was in the deep mist. After twenty minutes of continuous travel, he entered the outer-middle section of the dangerous area. Chen Feng hovered a hundred meters in the air, looking down at the plaque with the words "Extreme Martial Hall." Moreover. He could see a humanoid creature in the courtyard. Its entire body was gray, as if covered in a special shell. It had two horns on its head, a single green eye, and arms like blades, with no fingers. There were also several masked men and faceless beings scattered around, not driven away but seemingly attached to the gray humanoid creature, also in the courtyard. As if sensing movement, the gray humanoid creature, lying asleep in the open space of the martial hall, opened its single eye and looked up. Their eyes met, and dark gold grew on Chen Feng''s body, the Golden Armor wrapping around his arms like gauntlets. "You''re it." His gaze was resolute. After comparing several Extreme Martial Halls, he had found this to be the weakest dangerous creature. Its aura was stronger than many fourth-tier beings but seemed not to have broken through that level, stuck in between. Whoosh!!! Suddenly, his blood wings flapped, and he dove down. The gray figure on the ground stood up simultaneously, its arms rapidly extending, growing longer like blades slicing through the air. Swish, swish, swish, swish! Chen Feng''s blood wings flapped continuously, and he flickered in mid-air, dodging all the blades, arriving behind the creature. The dust on the ground scattered, and all the strength in his body gathered. Explosive Fist! His arm muscles bulged, and he struck with full force from the start. Boom!! The air shook, like a mountain collapsing. Everything was drawn toward the creature''s vital spot. But the next second. Clang!!! A dull sound exploded, and the creature reacted swiftly, retracting its extended blade arms and slashing back. A crisp sound swept through, and the stone brick ground of the martial hall collapsed, cracks spreading inch by inch. Sparks flew as the Steel Bones and Golden Armor on his fist clashed with the gray blade. The masked men and faceless beings around had already fled in terror. That was a living source of Extreme Martial Arts and perception talent nutrients. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without hesitation, Chen Feng summoned the Holy Shield Colossus. Whoosh!!! A fist like a stone pillar. White light mixed with golden patterns instantly condensed, suppressing the air. The gray figure was forced to split its attention, raising its other arm. Boom!! White air exploded, and the ground caved in again. Its strength was astonishing, not inferior to the Holy Shield Colossus in the slightest. Even with its legs sunk into the cracked ground, it stood firm, the friction producing a grating sound. Swish! Chen Feng''s figure flickered, and he seized this moment of opportunity. Dark gold grew in his hand, forming a broadsword. He flew low, slashing in a circle. Splat!! Blood splattered, and all the masked men and faceless beings died instantly. Black lines were easily dodged by him. [Perception LV3: 96/100] Over a dozen gray light orbs entered his body. Seeing the two Extreme Martial Arts Orbs right before him, Chen Feng didn''t immediately absorb them. "First, I''ll deal with you!" His gaze turned cold. Chen Feng knew the influence of memory scenes would leave him stiff and immobile. Immediately, as the Holy Shield Colossus and the creature clashed again. Zap, zap, zap! Black light flickered, and the Holy Shield Colossus instantly received the command. Ignoring all the blade slashes, golden patterns shone on its body like armor. Amid the clanging sounds, its white-gray body sustained some blade wounds, cracks appearing inch by inch. But even so, it didn''t retreat. Instead, it flapped its stone wings, forcefully advancing, spreading its arms, trying to embrace the gray creature with brute force. But as if sensing the danger. Whoosh!! The gray humanoid creature moved, and two more gray blade arms grew from its waist. Clang!! The Holy Shield Colossus''s waist embrace was blocked. Chen Feng''s expression turned serious, and Black Flash was unleashed. Whoosh!!! The gray blade ignored everything, slashing toward the lightning-like black light. The powerful Black Flash was slightly split like water, but the creature''s gray blade arms, comparable to Gold-grade, also cracked like a spider web, on the verge of shattering. Seizing the opportunity, his blood wings flapped again. Chen Feng instantly appeared behind the creature, exchanging a glance with the Holy Shield Colossus. Buzz! The waist embrace completely changed tactics. The stone pillar-like arms suddenly raised, and fists like massive rocks fell. The air shook, and Chen Feng moved in sync. His bulging muscles transformed into Explosive Fist techniques. One large, one small, one in front, one behind¡ªtwo fists struck simultaneously! Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!!! Fist afterimages, azure and gold colors lingered in the air. The white-gray speed was slightly inferior, but it made up for it with a powerful strike, like a heavy hammer hitting the ground. The entire martial hall shook, and debris from the ground kept bouncing and flying. The gray humanoid creature was riddled with holes, but its four blade arms kept slashing up and down, desperately resisting. Moreover, a certain power seemed to emerge from its body, continuously trying to repair its surface wounds. Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!!! The sound of fists and blades echoed continuously, sparks flying. Chen Feng''s gaze grew colder as he kept punching. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!!! He didn''t know how many consecutive strikes he had made, even his arms feeling slightly sore. Crack! Finally, as if shattering a core. The gray figure''s four blade arms exploded, and the repairs on its body completely stopped. Its single green eye was filled with bloodshot veins, as if it was desperately memorizing Chen Feng and the Holy Shield Colossus''s faces. Boom! Its body exploded, gray debris scattering and mixing into the cracked and sunken pit. Huff, huff, huff! The Azure Armor retracted the double-layered face mask, and Chen Feng greedily gulped air. Although the face mask didn''t actually affect his breathing, he felt better this way. It was strong. This gray blade figure was likely at the peak of the fourth tier. Without the Holy Shield Colossus restraining the opponent, he might not have been able to take it down so quickly. Breathing heavily, he recovered slightly. Feeling his mental energy was quite depleted, Chen Feng thought of the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm. If one day the Holy Shield Colossus could be maintained without any consumption, that would be great. Buzz! Immediately, as the thought ended. He dismissed the summoning, and the white-gray colossus quickly faded, merging into his brow. The gray debris on the ground also faded, along with the blood, leaving nothing behind. Faintly, Chen Feng could sense. It was as if some power had been extracted, a trait belonging to the gray blade figure. "I don''t get it." Shaking his head, Chen Feng was already used to such situations. In this dream of Qinggang City, no matter how he killed these creatures, they would eventually fade away. As if they weren''t real bodies... The thought flashed through his mind, and Chen Feng didn''t delve deeper. Looking at the two pale blue light orbs not far away, he quickly went over and absorbed them. Buzz! Instantly, residual memories flooded in, with some different scenes. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c224. [+5.5k Words] Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 163: The Grandmaster’s Three Gates, Perception Upgrade [2.7k] Translator: CinderTL "The Extreme Martial Stance is the foundational stance of our Extreme Martial Hall. It is the best method for you to lay the groundwork on your martial path." "If you can master it to perfection, refining your internal organs and developing your Force in the future won''t be a significant problem." In the residual memory scene, inside the martial hall. Sunlight poured in, and a group of disciples in white martial arts uniforms stood on the training ground. A thin, middle-aged man in a dark robe was demonstrating and instructing them. "Moreover, if you can fully comprehend the True Intent of Extreme Martial Fist and cultivate the True Art of our Extreme Martial Arts Hall, you may glimpse the threshold of True Intent and step into that realm." "Therefore, you must calm your minds and diligently practice this stance." After his explanation, most of the disciples seemed deep in thought. But soon, one of them raised his hand and asked loudly. "Instructor Zhang, if we may be so bold, if we master this stance to perfection, will we have a chance to break through beyond True Intent in the future?" "Oh?" The thin middle-aged instructor glanced at him, noticing the youthful ambition in his eyes, but he didn''t rebuke him. He simply shook his head and said in a matter-of-fact tone, "Beyond True Intent, we don''t speak of the ultimate realm or transcendence." "Even the fourth-tier Grandmaster isn''t something you can achieve with just a single stance or an ordinary True Art." His words piqued the curiosity of the young disciples. "Instructor Zhang, they say that only after reaching the fourth tier in martial arts can one truly have a foundation to stand on and earn the title of Martial Artist of the Alliance." "May we ask what is so special about this realm?" The one who had asked earlier spoke up again, and many others echoed his question. "Fine, if I don''t tell you, you probably won''t focus on practicing the Extreme Martial Stance today." The thin instructor shook his head and then explained, "The fourth tier in martial arts was known as the Grandmaster in the old era. Such a person could take on a thousand enemies and be invincible." "In today''s world, they can also ignore the attacks of many firearms. The key lies in one thing." "The Three Gates of Transformation." He extended three fingers and looked around at the disciples. "Essence, Qi, and Spirit¡ªthese are the foundations of us martial artists and the only forces we can rely on." "The Gate of Essence, the Gate of Qi, and the Gate of Spirit... Breaking through any one of these gates will allow us to unlock the mysteries of our bodies and undergo a transformation." "Only when the transformation is complete will one truly become a Grandmaster." As these words echoed, Chen Feng, who was still immersed in the memory scene, felt a tremor in his heart. He was still somewhat confused, but then he saw someone else ask a question. "Instructor Zhang, may we ask what the differences are between these three gates?" "Of course." The thin middle-aged man spoke calmly, "The Gate of Essence is the gate of physical strength. Once you break through its shackles and undergo transformation, your physical attributes will continuously improve¡ªstrength, agility, defense¡ªall will increase dramatically." "The more essence you replenish, the faster the transformation. If your essence is insufficient, the transformation may fail." "Then, the Gate of Qi refers to the Force aspect, right?" one of the disciples deduced. "Correct. The Gate of Qi involves fusing the True Intent we visualize with our Force, thereby obtaining incredibly powerful Force techniques." "What about the Gate of Spirit? Or what if all three gates are broken?" "Ha, want to know the answer? Wait until you''ve developed your Force first!" Buzz! The scene faded, and Chen Feng stood still, slightly dazed. It took him a full ten seconds to digest the memory. The confusion and daze in his eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by clarity. "So that''s how it is." "No wonder only my Will attribute has stopped growing, while the others are still improving." "It''s because I broke through the Gate of Essence." Deep in thought, Chen Feng recalled the use of the Serpent Spirit Fruit. [Enhances physical strength, purifies the body, and strengthens essence.] It was precisely because of this that he had been able to surpass his Flame Steel Body and break through the shackles. "From this perspective, if I can cultivate the Crimson Tiger Force to the perfection of the Heavenly Flame level and fuse the Myriad Tempered Steel with the Crimson Tiger Force into the Heavenly Flame Technique..." "That should be the so-called Gate of Qi." Everything clicked. After digesting the residual memory, Chen Feng had grasped the general logic of the Grandmaster''s Three Gates. Each gate would bring specific advantages, and there should be no clear superiority between them. However, breaking through more gates would undoubtedly make one stronger than an ordinary Grandmaster. Breaking through all three gates would be even more so. "But..." Looking at the four-dimensional attributes on his panel, Chen Feng still didn''t know how long his transformation would take. Only when the transformation was complete would he truly stand in this realm and reach his peak state. Therefore... He lowered his gaze to the serpent-shaped pattern on his palm, a glint of determination flashing in his eyes. Two days later. In the gym of Tian Hao Security. Chen Feng single-handedly lifted a nearly thousand-kilogram barbell, while the staff member guarding the area was already numb to it. His burly figure stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, lifting the weight as if it were a toy. "Still no news from Jin Wei?" Chen Feng asked, still looking out at the vast cityscape. Skyscrapers stood tall, and some out-of-town corporations had begun setting up branches in Nanjiang. "No." Lin Hao was doing weighted squats with a kettlebell nearby, drenched in sweat and struggling. His gray sports shirt was soaked, and droplets of sweat had formed on the floor. "The United Coalition has deployed the Sky Eye, but they still haven''t found Jin Wei." "It''s the same on my end. It''s as if he just vanished." After explaining, he finally caught his breath, put down the kettlebell, and took a towel handed to him by a subordinate to wipe off the sweat. Chen Feng didn''t respond, just turned his gaze back to the room. It was a private gym spanning nearly a hundred square meters, equipped with barbells, bench presses, and other small to medium-sized fitness equipment. Over the past two days, to prepare for Jin Wei''s potential retaliation, Lin Hao hadn''t gone anywhere. Sometimes, when he got too restless, he would come to the gym to work out, dragging Chen Feng along for some casual training. Bang!! The barbell was set down, its black plates stacked like a wall. The floor shook, and the windows rattled. Lin Hao raised an eyebrow, secretly impressed. The subtle expressions of the staff around them¡ªsome with mouths agape, others squinting¡ªwere all easily caught by him. In an instant, a panel appeared before him. [Extreme Martial Arts Points: 4] [Limit Breaking Points: 19] The gains from his risky ventures in the danger zone over the past two days had slowly improved his four-dimensional attributes. He had resisted the urge to return to the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm. Beyond that, his gaze shifted downward. [Perception LV4: 1/100] His Perception talent had finally leveled up, and he could feel a subtle difference in himself. The same world, the same everything. The black, white, blue, green, red, yellow, and purple hues¡ªthe bodyguards in the room, the sweat on the kettlebell handles, the flying cars zooming past outside, the workers cleaning the windows on the skyscrapers. All were living and moving normally, existing in this world. But. "In my eyes, everything has slowed down." Chen Feng glanced out the window, the structure of the flying cars clearly visible. Every inch of movement seemed like a frame drop, and the actions of the others in the room were the same. The still-widened eyes, the slightly relaxed brows. He was certain this wasn''t an illusion. It was a new effect from the upgrade and breakthrough in his Perception. Aside from the range expanding to three hundred meters, as long as he focused his mind, he could activate it. This allowed every instant of his focused observation to be rapidly processed in his mind, giving him the sensation that the world had slowed down, as if experiencing frame drops. Leaving aside other potential uses, just in terms of combat. Chen Feng felt that he could use this as a foundation to observe changes in others'' muscles, Force, and energy, predicting their attack intentions. It was undoubtedly powerful and once again compensated for his lack of agility. Of course, there was a cost. Such intense focus would drain his mental energy. At present, he could only maintain it for about ten minutes at most. "But that''s enough." The light in his eyes remained bright. Chen Feng knew that ten minutes was more than enough to deal with any enemy. Then, pushing aside all distractions. He turned to Lin Hao and shared his thoughts. "Since Jin Wei hasn''t shown himself, it means he''s probably realized that this place isn''t so easy to breach." "He''s likely waiting for the right moment." "Yes, I think so too." Lin Hao nodded. "So, I have a plan." "Oh?" "Leave this place and lure him out." Chen Feng spoke calmly, but Lin Hao was taken aback. "Go out as bait?" "Yes." "This..." Lin Hao was hesitant. For one, it concerned his life, so he naturally didn''t want to take the risk. Secondly, he had invested a lot of effort into the security company. If he left, what if Jin Wei attacked and bombed the place? After all, if he were to leave, he would need both Liu Bo and Chen Feng for safety. That would mean the company would lose its defense against a Titanium-grade Cyborg. Even if he evacuated everyone, the reputation and credibility of Tian Hao Security would be shattered by the bombing. "Give me two more days." With a calm expression, Chen Feng patted his shoulder, their eyes meeting. "After that, I alone will be enough to take you out and handle everything." Two days would be enough for him to improve his Extreme Martial Fist. And to obtain a few more Serpent Spirit Fruits, completely transforming his physique and truly standing as a Grandmaster. That way, no matter what tricks or schemes Jin Wei had, Chen Feng could crush them all. --- Bang!! In a conference room. Blood splattered as a man in a suit was punched through the chest. A golden metal arm, stained with blood, emerged from his back. The man with long, flowing hair looked at the dying man, whose eyes were wide with disbelief. "Why... why?" They were both members of Utopia. Even if he hadn''t contributed much, he had still put in effort. Why kill him? "Waste doesn''t deserve to live and consume resources." Jin Wei''s tone was cold as he pulled out his arm. Thud! The man collapsed, blood pooling on the gray floor. Some kind of energy on the metal arm caused the blood to evaporate rapidly, leaving no trace. Seeing this, the other man in the room turned pale. The circular badge on his chest stood out prominently. "Jin... Jin Wei." "Was... was that really necessary?" "Old Shen put in a lot of effort to help you return to the country..." His voice trembled as he spoke, and Jin Wei gave him a cold glance. "That''s why I only killed him." Hearing this, the middle-aged man with the badge felt a chill in his heart. Seeing that he didn''t dare to speak further, Jin Wei returned to the head of the oval table, leaning on it with his elbows. "After the last riot, the branch was completely destroyed just to save you two for future use." "But... if we''ve been exposed, what''s the point?" He was well aware that his whereabouts had been discovered by the Nanjiang City Council. The reason was that these fools had failed to cover their tracks, revealing their identities and allowing others to set a trap. If not for that, he would have already stormed into Tian Hao Security''s building, destroyed everything, and left. He wouldn''t be so passive now. "This..." The middle-aged man sitting on the left side of the oval table didn''t dare to argue. In truth, if Jin Wei hadn''t been angry, he wouldn''t have known that their identities had been exposed. Feeling a sense of dread, he knew exactly what this meant. Since the last incident, the Nanjiang City United Coalition had tightened control over the city. Moreover, due to the recent turmoil in Suro and the city''s investment initiatives, they had reportedly invited a Titanium-grade Cyborg from the Provincial Council to oversee things. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If they were really traced back to him, he would likely be executed alongside Jin Wei. "Let''s continue." Jin Wei''s tone was indifferent as he ignored the man, sitting back in his leather chair and lightly tapping the oval table. The woman in a suit and pencil skirt across from him had been terrified, her face pale. But she forced herself to stay calm, pressed her wristwatch, and projected a blue screen in front of her. "We''ve... we''ve already investigated." "On the surface, Tian Hao Security only has three Silver-grade Cyborgs, but... the company''s behind-the-scenes controller is somewhat special." The woman suppressed all emotions, forcing herself not to look at the blood and body on the floor, and focused on the projection. "Lin Hao, twenty-three years old, arrived in Nanjiang a year ago, obtained a temporary residence permit, and settled here." "He rented an apartment in Lakeside Garden for a year and started frequently visiting the Nanjiang black market about seven months ago, establishing private connections with city defense personnel." As she spoke, the projection screen displayed photos and information about Lin Hao. "Three months ago, he began training at the Flame Tiger Martial Hall and purchased a core class membership, but his martial progress was minimal. Later, he established the Hao Feng Boxing Club to network with the city''s elite families and expand his security business." "Based on funding sources, it''s suspected that he has some connection with the Jadeite Biotech Group in Yun Port''s inner city, but the specifics are unknown." "Additionally, the Cyborg modules and high-grade metals he smuggled into Nanjiang were likely obtained from the Yun Port black market..." A string of information was presented, but Jin Wei remained expressionless, only tapping the table with his finger. However, the other surviving middle-aged man looked uneasy. Jadeite Biotech. That was a renowned top-tier corporation in Feng Province, excelling in biological research, Cyborg technology, and modifications. It was on par with Black Crystal Group, if not superior. It had branches not only in Yun Port but also in other central cities, wielding significant influence in Chi Nation. "Moreover, based on some investigations, we suspect he may have a high-level Cyborg protecting him, though the exact level is unclear." "And the City Council''s sudden pursuit this time might also be due to their tip-off..." The woman in the suit finished her analysis and conclusions in one breath. Jin Wei narrowed his eyes but remained silent. The other surviving middle-aged man grew nervous, worried that Jin Wei might go on a rampage, and quickly asked, "So what should we do?" "Jadeite Biotech isn''t to be trifled with, and the City Council will surely set up an ambush. They won''t just stand by..." Jin Wei glanced at him impatiently, his cold gaze like that of a lion, and the man immediately shut his mouth. Only when the man could no longer withstand his imposing aura did Jin Wei look up and gaze out the window. Nanjiang''s cityscape remained bustling, and a flash of golden light flickered in his eyes. "Hunters and prey can switch roles at any moment." "Since they want to challenge me..." He sneered, his arrogance undiminished. "Let''s see who comes out on top." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c226. [+5.1k Words] Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 164: That Person is Back Again! [2.6k] Translator: CinderTL Sunlight filtered through the shrubs in the forest. Beside the lake, there were some charred branches and pieces of charcoal. The soil and leaves covering them were suddenly brushed aside. "It seems they left several days ago." His eyes flickered slightly as Chen Feng, wrapped in a brown robe, returned to the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm. Everything was for the Serpent Spirit Fruit. The rate at which his four-dimensional attributes were growing had slowed, but the transformation was still ongoing. He wanted to end it all as quickly as possible and reach his peak state. Then, withdrawing his gaze from the charred marks on the ground, he glanced toward the southern direction. The Holy City. It was the place where those who had escaped slavery wanted to go, rumored to be a gathering place for normal humans. But. With calm eyes, he turned his head and looked toward the northern side of the shrub forest. Yellow Sand City, Huorong Tribe. A flash of gold mixed with ash passed through his eyes as he stomped the ground and leaped, using a thick tree to propel himself into the air. Hum!! An illusory ash-colored colossus suddenly materialized. He stepped onto the solid, heavy back of the rock, and in the next moment, felt the stone wings flap, bringing with them a gust of wind. "The Serpent Spirit Fruit is destined for me." "What do you think, partner." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- "Has the High Priest not returned yet?" Inside the city lord''s mansion in Yellow Sand City. The damaged walls had long been repaired. In a hall with black tiles and red wood, several snake people wearing gray robes with red patterns sat in various places, their expressions serious. Some still had traces of gray-white fur in their eyebrows, a mark deliberately left during shedding. Others had limbs like lizard claws, their vertical pupils cold and sinister. "This matter has already been communicated to the High Priest through the spirit serpent, but he is still in the far north and will need some time to return." A lean red-scaled snake person spoke, and the others'' expressions varied upon hearing this. The High Priest was the strongest in the tribe and the true decision-maker. With him absent, they were somewhat worried. "This outsider is now hiding who knows where. He came suddenly before, clearly for the Serpent Spirit Fruit." "In my opinion, he might make a comeback. We should notify everyone in the tribe to be on guard and wait for the Serpent God Temple''s envoy to arrive." A senior snake person with a trace of gray-white fur in his eyebrows spoke solemnly, and everyone nodded. But soon, someone thought of something and said with difficulty, "Fourth Elder, the five Serpent Spirit Fruits the Serpent God Temple wanted were all taken by that outsider." "The Serpent Spirit Fruits in the other cities have already been used up. Only the divine tree here still has three left. What should we do?" "There''s no need to worry about this. The High Priest has already communicated with the Serpent God Temple, allowing us to offer these three first. The remaining two can be made up later." The senior snake person said in a deep voice, and the one who asked relaxed slightly, nodding gently. The other snake people''s expressions varied, and some couldn''t help but sigh. "What a pity. Originally, these five Serpent Spirit Fruits could have added another fourth-tier warrior to our tribe." "That damn outsider." The curses drew several agreements, as fourth-tier warriors were the tribe''s high-level combat strength, the true backbone for competing with other clans. Suffering such a blow was indeed a loss. "Enough. Our Huorong Tribe may be weak, but we haven''t fallen to the point of sighing over this." "However, with Rong Ren''s death, Yellow Sand City cannot remain without a ruler for long." Fourth Elder, with a trace of gray-white fur in his eyebrows, looked at everyone, his gaze finally resting on a middle-aged red-scaled snake person. "Rong Feng has made considerable contributions to the tribe, and his strength is decent. I personally think he can temporarily take over as the city lord of Yellow Sand City, pending the High Priest''s final decision upon his return." "What do you all think?" "Fourth Elder is wise." Agreements rang out, and the middle-aged red-scaled snake person appointed as city lord was overjoyed, quickly clasping his hands in gratitude. "Thank you, Fourth Elder¡ª" Whoosh!!! Suddenly, a sharp sound cut through the air. An ash-colored colossus mixed with golden light descended from the sky, crashing into Yellow Sand City like a meteorite. The ground shook, buildings collapsed, as if the earth dragon had stirred. Winds surged, sand filled the sky. The entire city was thrown into chaos. The middle-aged snake person who hadn''t finished speaking was stunned for a moment, then quickly reacted, his face filled with anger. "That outsider is back again!" "Sixth Elder, Seventh Elder, follow Rong Feng and capture him." "Yes!" Three figures quickly left the area. Watching the commotion outside, Fourth Elder suddenly frowned. "Wasn''t there two outsiders? Where''s the other one?" "Fourth Elder, could it be¡ª" "Damn it!" Bang!! The snake guards'' scales shattered, their armor pierced, and drops of blood slid down the holes in their chests. Several bodies fell to the ground. A figure with a bronze horn and wings stood in a separate courtyard within the city lord''s mansion. The stone slabs beneath his feet extended forward, but about three meters away, there was only a large patch of brown soil. Looking up, a faint red dome covered the soil, including a thick red-brown tree that would take five people to encircle. Its roots were gnarled, its branches lush. Three blood-red Serpent Spirit Fruits hung from the branches. Chen Feng''s eyes lit up as he let the last body fall and stepped forward. Hum! The golden broadsword transformed from Steel Bones was blocked by a transparent force in the shape of a half-dome. Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, feeling that it resembled a barrier. He increased the force in his hand, even attempting to strike with Explosive Fist. Bang!!! Ripples spread across the surface of the barrier, but it remained unbroken, preventing him from entering. "Interesting." Chen Feng narrowed his eyes, planning to try Black Flash. But. Bang!! The rear wall of the courtyard was smashed open as a huge black winged serpent pounced toward him. It was nearly eight meters in size, and its aura surpassed that of an ordinary fourth-tier. Hiss!! Amidst the sharp hissing, the air seemed to freeze as a black breath shot toward him. Swish! Blood wings flapped, and Chen Feng instantly dodged the attack. A sizzling sound filled the air, and the tiles within three meters of the original spot quickly disintegrated, with wisps of acrid white smoke rising. Whoosh!!! At the same moment he dodged. A half-meter-long flaming arrow shot through the air, its momentum overwhelming, accompanied by an elderly roar. "Despicable outsider, you dare cause trouble in our Huorong Tribe again!!" Bang!!! The arrow exploded, like a pillar of fire enveloping everything. The red barrier behind rippled as an elderly and a middle-aged red-scaled snake person arrived, one standing on the roof with a drawn bow, the other with tightened scales, watching the explosion seriously. Soon. The deep red scattered, flames flickered. A dark golden shield appeared in the world, held by a bronze-horned figure standing in place. Hiss!! Immediately, upon receiving the command. The winged serpent charged, opening its bloody maw, as if covering the sky. Without dodging, the dark golden shield disappeared, and his muscular arms struck forward. Bang!!! The ferocious fangs were gripped by his fists, and the already scorched ground collapsed again, his bronze legs sinking into it. But, in the next moment. "Winged Serpent, move!" Fourth Elder''s eyes changed slightly, and the middle-aged snake person beside him stomped the ground without hesitation, charging forward. Layers of flame seemed to explode behind him, increasing his speed to the limit. But Chen Feng paid no attention, only his crimson armored eyes and a low voice followed. "Last time, you chased me for a long time, didn''t you?" Sizzle! Whoosh!!! The charged Black Flash erupted like lightning, instantly piercing the winged serpent''s ferocious mouth, emerging from its skull, and hanging in the air, shining. The scorching heat arrived simultaneously, and the middle-aged snake person''s expression turned grim as he punched Chen Feng. Bang!!! A dull explosion sounded, and the dark golden armor covering his body dented slightly. Flames erupted out of thin air, enveloping his entire body like fire spears. But, in the next second. "Huh?" A strong recoil came, and the middle-aged snake person paused. Then, he saw the other''s body grow taller, and cracking sounds came from within. "You''re not enough." Hum!! Flames erupted from the bronze head, and an unstoppable headbutt smashed into the middle-aged snake person''s skull. Pain surged, scales shattered. The golden face mask was like a solid hammer, and then he saw the winged serpent fall, making space for the enlarged fist to strike violently. "Move!" The elderly snake person shouted from afar, drawing his bow, flames gathering again. The middle-aged snake person regained his senses, enduring the pain of his shattered skull and scales, trying to dodge. But in Chen Feng''s eyes, everything slowed down, the movements predictable. Snap! Another hand reached out, grabbing the middle-aged snake person''s neck. Before the other could react, brute force erupted, lifting him up, and a fist smashed into his head, while using him as a shield. Bang! Squelch!! Explosive Fist shattered scales, and the flaming arrow pierced through the back. The elderly snake person''s vertical pupils flickered, filled with doubt. The flames exploded, the powerful pillar of fire burned everything, and the middle-aged snake person, used as a human shield, let out a howl of pain. Sensing that his life force was still present, Chen Feng gathered all his strength, both arms gripping his neck, and with a twist of his tiger mouth, exerted force. Crack! The red-scaled snake head was twisted violently, life force rapidly fading. The elderly snake person drawing his bow was both shocked and furious, then saw the bronze figure make an insulting gesture toward him. "You''re not enough either." He wagged his index finger, the mockery stinging. The elderly snake person was utterly enraged, his red scales suddenly tightening, and wisps of white smoke began to rise from his body. It was as if some power had been ignited, and Chen Feng even caught a faint scent of magma. Without dodging, he seemed to be standing still. Then, he saw the elderly snake person''s eyes filled with killing intent, releasing the arrow. "Die!" The cold voice echoed throughout Yellow Sand City, and the violent arrow pierced through the air, scorching flames erupted, as if magma covered it. Intense red light burst forth, the temperature soared, and the world seemed to darken slightly. Many people outside the city lord''s mansion noticed the commotion, looking over in shock. Chen Feng''s eyes narrowed, feeling that this attack was no less powerful than his charged Black Flash. However, before he could act. He saw the winged serpent, seemingly dead on the ground, its vertical pupils move, and it suddenly opened its mouth, spewing a blood-stained black breath. Two attacks came from above and below, unavoidable. As the air froze, he saw the bronze horn gathering black light. The elderly snake person frowned slightly, and in the next moment. Swish! Chen Feng suddenly leaped into the air, turning around, blood wings flapping, and unleashed Black Flash. Bang!!! The flaming arrow, black breath, and Black Flash attack. The three attacks merged at this moment, all striking the empty ground behind where he had been standing. "Not good!" The elderly snake person''s expression changed drastically, and then he saw the faint red barrier ripple densely, the waves growing faster. Taking everything in, as the world slowed down, Chen Feng''s eyes flashed, and he soon saw a small hole appear on the barrier''s surface. He had long sensed that the barrier''s defense was astonishing, and without a special method, he probably couldn''t break it by himself. Let alone take the Serpent Spirit Fruit. "Thank you." With a cold smile, the Steel Bones in his hand grew, turning into a golden sword, and he thrust it with all his might into the small hole. Explosive Fist technique, Giant Tiger form, Azure Armor talent. Layer upon layer of enhanced power, the broad golden sword pierced through everything, completely tearing open the barrier. "Go!" Knowing that the barrier could close at any moment, Chen Feng naturally wouldn''t risk entering. Whoosh!!! In an instant, the ash-colored colossus mixed with golden light shrank in size, flying low. It had clearly already used its stone wings to fly, shaking off the three snake people. "Useless!!" The elderly snake person cursed, having to draw his bow again. The winged serpent closest by received the command to intercept, but was a moment too late. Its vertical pupils reflected the savage ash-colored colossus, charging forward without hesitation, entering the barrier, circling the divine tree once. The three blood-red Serpent Spirit Fruits disappeared, and the winged serpent let out a sharp cry, immediately spinning around to charge, heading straight for Chen Feng. As long as it could repel him, the barrier would close, and the other person would naturally be trapped. Bang!!! Sure enough, as expected. Chen Feng, unable to focus, was knocked back by the winged serpent, and the barrier''s crack quickly closed. But. Three blood-red fruits were thrown out, and the bronze figure caught them mid-air. Whoosh!!! The flaming arrow arrived a step too late, and Chen Feng exchanged a glance with the Holy Shield Colossus inside the barrier. "Good job, my partner." Hum! The golden patterns dimmed, the ash-colored illusion faded. The Holy Shield Colossus, like a shimmering mist, passed through the last crack, merging into Chen Feng''s brow. Boom!!! The pillar of fire exploded, blood wings flapped. The bronze figure rose into the sky, hovering above, overlooking the earth. The elderly snake person looked up in shock and anger, the winged serpent hissed, wanting to chase. The other three fourth-tier snake people acted similarly, roars and threats rising from the ground, aimed at the sky. As for the other residents of Yellow Sand City, they were already dumbfounded, looking up at the chaos that had erupted again after several days. "Huorong Tribe." "Hmph." His expression indifferent, the world seemed to slow down. The elderly snake person below had an aura like flowing magma within him, and Chen Feng guessed he was about to use that move again. Chen Feng silently chanted "transform," blood wings flapping, and he immediately left the area. Whoosh!!! The bronze figure''s afterimage kept moving further away, and the several fourth-tier snake people were both embarrassed and furious, wanting to chase. "Don''t go!" Shouting, the elderly snake person''s expression darkened. The others were puzzled, but soon heard him say grimly, "That person''s aura is still rising." "Without treasure assistance, chasing him will only get you killed!" As soon as the words fell, everyone was in disbelief. "Are we just going to let him go?" Someone was filled with anger, still unwilling to give up. "Don''t rush." The elderly snake person''s tone was dark, his gaze withdrawing from the horizon. "The Great Priest will be back soon. With him here, that outsider is as good as dead." "Moreover, the Serpent God Temple has never tolerated the presence of outsiders." "The stronger he gets, the more the Serpent God will focus on him." His vertical pupils were cold and cruel, even with a hint of mockery. "In the end, heh... he''s just a pitiful creature waiting to die." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c228. [+5.4k Words] Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 165: Gate of Essence, Achieved! [2.5k] Translator: CinderTL Buzz! The fierce wind swept by, the azure and golden hues fading away. The shrubs and woods rustled as a figure landed by the lakeside, stepping on dried leaves. Crack, crack, crack, crack! The sounds resembled the creaking of bones and muscles, as if flesh and skin were searing hot. Chen Feng silently felt the changes within himself, having fully absorbed the energy transformed from the Serpent Spirit Fruit. [Strength: 40.2] [Agility: 35.4] [Constitution: 48.3] [Willpower: 38.5] The four attributes had completely stopped increasing, or more accurately, they had exploded to their limits in one go before halting. "The Gate of Essence." He clenched his fist slightly, feeling the immense power surging within. Chen Feng knew that he had likely completed his so-called metamorphosis and truly stepped into the realm of a Grandmaster. Even without relying on the Azure Armor and Steel Bones, he could now handle any fully-fledged Titanium-grade Cyborg with his own strength. "And my physical strength..." Sensing it carefully, a blade of Steel Bones extended from his palm. Chen Feng swung it forcefully at his ordinary, flesh-and-blood arm. Clang! The sound of metal clashing echoed, and a small nick appeared on the blade''s surface, visible to the naked eye. "Stronger than ordinary Titanium-grade, at least by thirty percent." His eyes brightened, Chen Feng suspected that he was stronger than other Grandmasters who had also achieved the Gate of Essence. Because he thought of that Giant Elephant Grandmaster. The other''s Force techniques were clearly inferior to Lu Xinglong''s, yet his body was exceptionally sturdy, likely having also gone through this barrier. But even so, barely matching Titanium-grade was the other''s limit. "Is it due to the Steel Bones'' innate body enhancement?" "Or is it because of the Serpent Spirit Fruit?" Thoughts flashed through his mind, and he had some guesses. But he didn''t delve too deeply; after all, this was a good thing. It could be said that the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm was indeed a treasure trove, allowing him to break through the Gate of Essence and complete his metamorphosis much faster than an ordinary person. Besides that. [Azure Armor LV4: 35/100] [Heart of Glory LV2: 93/100] The Huorong Tribe was also a great place for nurturing innate abilities. Chen Feng guessed that he only needed one more victory in a Grandmaster-level battle to allow the Heart of Glory to break through and level up. However... "Some things can be done once or twice, but not thrice." "Yellow Sand City shouldn''t be revisited anytime soon." His eyes flickered. Though confident, Chen Feng wasn''t arrogant. The Huorong Tribe was, after all, one of the Eight Great Clans of this world, and they surely had some hidden depths. Moreover, the tribe seemed to have a Great Priest who was above the fourth tier and had ignited the bloodline of the Serpent God. If he were to be intercepted by such a figure, Chen Feng had no confidence in victory. Not to mention, the Serpent God Temple had likely already noticed his re-entry into the secret realm and might send even stronger pursuers after him. "However..." Chen Feng looked up at the blazing sun and the sky. If the Huorong Tribe wasn''t an option, he could just change his target. This would also be a good opportunity to see if this world had any high-grade metals to nourish the growth of his Steel Bones ability. With that thought, his mind stirred. Buzz! White light interspersed with golden patterns solidified once more, casting a shadow on the ground as the Holy Shield Colossus appeared before him. Its body bore few injuries, most of which were slowly healing. Chen Feng guessed this was likely one of the Holy Shield Colossus'' abilities, akin to the enhanced self-healing brought about by a powerful physique. Then, the giant hand of the colossus reached out. A six-meter-tall, burly figure with arms like stone pillars. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Its palm spread open like a shield formed by five fingers. Chen Feng stood atop it, being lifted like an elevator to its shoulder. "Head south." Giving the command, Chen Feng patted the colossus'' neck, his goal clear. The Huorong Tribe had surely issued a warrant for his arrest, and the Serpent God Temple might send pursuers again at any moment. Naturally, he had to get far away from this place. Whoosh! The stone wings flapped, and the silent Holy Shield Colossus answered with action. In an instant, the fierce wind howled. The gray-white body soared into the sky, and the vast expanse of the heavens came into view. --- Two days later. Amidst a stretch of greenery, swamps sprawled everywhere. Rotten branches and leaves decayed within, as poisonous snakes slithered and crocodiles with gray-brown scales lurked beneath the water. A dozen or so figures moved in disarray, some supporting each other, others holding spears and scimitars, alternating between vigilance and exhaustion. They pushed aside leaves and hacked through obstructing vines. Swoosh!!! A green venomous snake lunged from a branch. The leader, holding a spear, paled slightly. Swish! At the critical moment, a scimitar flashed. The silver blade light vanished in an instant, and with a thud, the snake was severed in two, falling onto the dried leaves. "Are you alright?" "Y-yes, thank you, Master Molly." The spear-wielding man, pale-faced, expressed his gratitude with relief. The curly-haired woman with yellowish skin shook her head, though her eyes were filled with concern as she glanced back at the group. Originally numbering around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, their group had dwindled by a third, leaving only a dozen or so. Some were injured, their linen robes stained with blood and bandages, supported by their companions as they limped along. "I wonder if they''ll make it to the Holy City." Molly sighed, and the spear-wielding man she had saved also looked disheartened. "Those Black Blade Tribe people still won''t let us go." "If it weren''t for you, Master Molly, we would''ve died long ago..." Many among them cast complex looks at the curly-haired woman, filled with gratitude and hope. They knew well that without her guidance, they would have perished halfway. But even so, some of them were pale-faced and uncertain. Could they really make it to the Holy City like this? "Let''s not talk about that. The Black Blade Tribe might still be on our trail. We need to hurry." Molly suppressed her negative emotions and encouraged the group, "I''ve heard that once we cross this swamp, we''ll see the Holy City." "Once we reach there, even the Black Blade Tribe won''t dare to act recklessly..." Her words lifted their spirits, and they nodded before continuing forward. This scene fell into Chen Feng''s eyes as he stood high above on the Holy Shield Colossus'' shoulder. "What a coincidence..." He hadn''t expected to run into this group of ordinary people. Moreover. From the vantage point of the Holy Shield Colossus'' back, the endless expanse of greenery and swamps seemed boundless. He didn''t know the locations of the other tribes, and this journey south had been a matter of luck. This world was sparsely populated, and he hadn''t encountered many other Serpent Spirit tribes along the way. Hearing the fleeing group''s conversation, he began to form some ideas. "The Black Blade Tribe..." Another of the Eight Great Clans, no weaker than the Huorong Tribe. Thus... His eyes flickered, and he had some plans. If he couldn''t find other tribes, he could wait here like a fisherman, letting the Black Blade Tribe''s strong come to him, and seize the glory. Moreover, he was curious about the power within Molly. It wasn''t Serpent Spirit Power, nor was it martial Force, yet it allowed her to rival the level of Force, even approaching True Intent. With his mind made up, he dismissed the Holy Shield Colossus and descended into the green swamp. Roar!! A mutated, massive crocodile leaped out of the water, its gaping maw revealing terrifying fangs. Boom!! His foot stomped on the armored flesh, and it exploded into a bloody mess. He used the momentum to leap onto solid ground. "Hmm?" Molly, leading the group, suddenly turned her head to look back. The others were startled and instinctively followed her gaze. Immediately, they saw a flock of birds startled into the air, fleeing. "Master Molly, is it the Black Blade Tribe?" The spear-wielding man, lean and wrapped in a short linen robe, asked gravely. The other lookouts with bows and arrows also wore the same expression, scanning the swamp. "It doesn''t feel like it." Molly shook her head, her face serious but dismissing their fears. "The swamp is full of beasts; it''s probably just something hunting." "Anyway, it''s best to leave quickly." She urged the group to move, instructing the adult men to stay vigilant. But soon. Rustle, rustle! Unhidden footsteps sounded from the side. Everyone tensed up, and Molly gripped her scimitar tightly. Crude arrows were nocked and aimed, and then the low bushes were pushed aside as a tall figure wrapped in a brown linen robe emerged. "Hmm?" Molly''s gaze sharpened. The others were also stunned. "You?" Her wariness was unmistakable as Molly frowned, standing her ground. The spear-wielding man was puzzled at first but quickly recognized him. "It''s you again!" His face turned cold and cautious. Without hesitation, he led the others to surround Chen Feng. Blades and swords were raised, the air thick with hostility. Chen Feng remained calm, not making a move, and simply looked at the curly-haired woman. Perhaps sensing his confidence or fearing Molly''s soft heart, the spear-wielding man quickly warned, "Master Molly, this man is definitely suspicious." "We''ve been traveling for six days; how could he run into us again?" "Brother Wu is right, Master Molly. We were ambushed by the Black Blade Tribe just two days ago. Maybe he''s the one who tipped them off and revealed our trail." "Yes, we should kill him!" Voices of agreement rose, but Molly remained silent, her eyes filled with doubt as she studied Chen Feng. That night by the lake, she had sensed that this man was extraordinary, which was why she had let him stay. Now, her intuition told her that he had grown even stronger, more terrifying than the swamp crocodiles here. This was the heightened sixth sense brought by the seed of life, her trump card that had saved her from deadly dangers multiple times. "Wait." The thought flashed through her mind, and she quickly raised her hand to stop them, stepping forward over the dried leaves and vines. "Master Molly?" The spear-wielding man and the others were surprised and confused. "Who are you, really?" Molly''s tone was grave, not answering but instead gripping her scimitar tightly as she looked at Chen Feng. She was certain there was no trace of the Serpent Spirit on him. Could he be like her, someone who had activated the seed of life? "..." The atmosphere was tense, and Chen Feng shook his head. He couldn''t communicate with the people of this world, only understand their words. Their eyes met, and he met her gaze calmly, simply pointing south. The spear-wielding man and the others were already filled with confusion, while Molly''s eyes flickered. Swoosh!!! At that moment, a sharp whistle sounded. The fleeing group''s faces turned pale, as if they had encountered a predator, fear written all over them. Even the spear-wielding man and the others who had surrounded Chen Feng were panicked, looking toward the source of the sound. Rustle, rustle, rustle. Chen Feng narrowed his eyes, looking toward the green jungle to the left. Countless black snakes emerged, hundreds upon thousands of them. Then, three black pythons, each four to five meters long, slithered forward, with seven or eight figures atop them, most of whom were half-serpent beings. Their scales were black, their faces marked with totems. Their limbs, revealed beneath their black robes, were hideous, not human at all. Among them, one had fully transformed into a serpent-being, with black scales and a snake''s head, its vertical pupils coldly scanning the group. Anyone who met its gaze shivered, their faces pale. Even Molly was no exception. "Ren Luoduo." She took a deep breath, gripping her scimitar tightly, her expression grim, her arm slightly trembling. That was a third-tier serpent-being, a core member of the Black Blade Tribe. Even if she burned her seed of life, she might not be able to drive him back. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, you''ve run quite far." The half-serpent beings atop the black pythons leaped down, spears in hand, surrounding the group. The serpent-being named Ren Luoduo remained atop the python''s head, looking down at them. "To think that you lowly scum could repel the Black Blade Tribe''s slave-hunting team." "Let me guess, who''s the one causing trouble?" His cold, vertical eyes swept over the group, passing over Chen Feng and the spear-wielding man, before stopping on the curly-haired Molly. "Oh, it''s you." "The lowly one who luckily awakened the seed of life..." "Tell me, should I kill you and offer you to the Divine Tree, or turn you into a sacrifice for the ritual?" Buzz! The moment he finished speaking, Molly gritted her teeth and drew her blade. Her figure became a blur, a white flash cutting through the air. An invisible force enhanced the scimitar, a strike approaching True Intent, aimed directly at the serpent-being atop the python. But. Clang!! A half-serpent being on the ground leaped up, blocking with his spear. Sparks flew, and another half-serpent being seized the opportunity, swinging his fist. Boom!! Molly''s body was sent flying, her feet plowing through the ground, breaking four or five green vines as she slid back several meters. Her yellowish face quickly turned pale, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth as she staggered. "Master Molly!" The spear-wielding man and the others cried out in alarm, rushing to support her. Unfazed, the black-scaled serpent-being atop the python shook his head mockingly. "So weak..." His snake-like tongue flicked out as he surveyed the group. "Kill them all, except for her." "Yes!!" The half-serpent beings nodded, their human faces filled with bloodlust and coldness as they looked at the fleeing group. Despair filled the group, and the spear-wielding man''s face turned ashen. Molly clenched her teeth, ready to burn her seed of life and make a desperate attempt. But in the next moment. Thud!!! A dull explosion sounded, and a drop of blood splattered before her eyes. The half-serpent being remained standing, a bloody hole in his chest gushing blood. Molly and the others froze, and the serpent-being atop the python narrowed his vertical pupils. A calm breath sounded behind him, and he hadn''t even noticed when the other had stepped forward and appeared behind him. Shock and anger filled him, and a chill ran down his spine. He quickly mobilized the Serpent Spirit Power within his bloodline, trying to escape. Squelch!!! A large hole was punched through his back, hot blood splattering onto the python''s scales beneath him. A thick hand held his heart, and Chen Feng looked indifferently at the faint fear in the other''s eyes. "You''re so weak that you can''t even provide nourishment anymore." Muttering words no one could understand. Boom!! The serpent heart exploded, but before the blood could splatter onto the brown linen robe, it was blocked by the powerful aura of his physique. The faint fear remained, but the progress of the Azure Armor was minimal. Looking at the half-serpent beings below, Chen Feng lost his patience. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c230. [+5.5k Words] Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 166: The Holy City, Return [2.6k] Translator: CinderTL Boom!!! The last corpse fell to the ground, the swarm of serpents and Giant Pythons now unrecognizable, their blood and remains splattered everywhere. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the withered leaves, the swamp''s surface, and the green trees. The timid fugitives turned pale, witnessing such a scene for the first time, and some couldn''t help but run to the corners to vomit. For a moment, all eyes filled with shock and awe converged on the figure in brown robes standing at the center, slowly retracting his fist. Molly''s face was visibly shaken, while the spear-wielding man beside her and the others first felt relief, but soon their expressions changed, revealing traces of fear and trepidation. After all, they had almost considered attacking him earlier. The atmosphere fell into a brief silence until... Crack! A dry branch snapped underfoot. Chen Feng turned to face the group. The moment their eyes met, Molly, the backbone of the fugitives, hesitated for a moment before finally mustering the strength to step forward despite her injuries. "Thank you for saving us, Master!" Her tone was sincere and grateful as she quickly clasped her hands in a gesture of thanks. As the only one among them who had awakened the Seed of Life, she was acutely aware of just how powerful this person was. Peak of the third tier? Or perhaps even the fourth? She didn¡¯t dare to think further. As for his youthful appearance and the reason he had approached them, Molly didn¡¯t dwell on it. Awakening the Seed of Life often granted certain special traits, especially at higher tiers. Maintaining a youthful appearance wasn¡¯t difficult. It was also common for such individuals to have eccentric personalities and enjoy disguising themselves as ordinary people while traveling. Seeing this, Chen Feng¡¯s expression remained unchanged, sensing that she had likely filled in the gaps with her own assumptions. "Thank you for saving us, Master!" "It was our ignorance earlier, Master, please don¡¯t hold it against us!" The spear-wielding man and the others gradually regained their composure, their faces flushing red as they bowed in gratitude, their voices filled with shame. Ignoring their earlier behavior, Chen Feng simply walked over to the corpse of the black-scaled snake-man and picked up a small black rock, about half the size of a fist. His intuition told him this was some kind of metal ore, and his Steel Bones talent quickly activated. [+1 Metal Essence!] [+1 Metal Essence!] Within seconds, crack! The black ore crumbled into dust, as if he had crushed it with his bare hands. [Steel Bones LV3: 25/100] A notification appeared on his panel, showing an increase of 1 point in progress. He scanned the area, but unfortunately, there were no similar black ores nearby. "Master, are you looking for obsidian?" Molly, standing nearby, seemed to understand Chen Feng¡¯s thoughts. Chen Feng didn¡¯t respond, merely locking eyes with her. "This kind of ore is extremely rare, and the deposits are well hidden. No one knows where they are." "However, I¡¯ve heard that in the Holy City, people trade in it. There are rumors that it can be used in certain rituals." She seemed to sense that Chen Feng wasn¡¯t from the southern regions. The key clue was his appearance¡ªhis black hair, black eyes, and complexion were something she had never seen in the south. It was said that only people from the north looked like this. Chen Feng pondered her words thoughtfully. Soon, he saw her and the others actively collecting small hemp bags from the corpses nearby. Inside were several finger-sized Serpent-Shaped Coins, in black, red, and silver, seemingly made of hard bronze. "This is the common currency of the southern regions, jointly minted by the Black Blade, Fire Rong, and Silver Wood tribes." "Master, please take these." Her attitude was sincere. Seeing the pouch she offered, Chen Feng hesitated for a moment before accepting it and placing it into a small snakeskin bag he had picked up. He doubted he would need it, but having it was better than not. Then, noticing the expectant look in her eyes and the hopeful yet humble gazes of the other fugitives, he understood their intentions. His thoughts flickered as he glanced at the corpses on the ground. After all, his original goal had been to lure out a fourth-tier snake-man. Moreover, the obsidian had given him an idea. If half a fist-sized piece could provide one point of progress, what about a piece the size of a head, or even larger? If the Holy City traded in such ores, obtaining them could significantly advance his Steel Bones talent. With that in mind, he pointed toward the south. Molly immediately understood, her face lighting up with joy. "Thank you, Master!" Having such a powerful ally would undoubtedly make their journey safer. The spear-wielding man and the others were equally excited, and a chorus of thanks followed. Finally, the group set off again. Chen Feng remained silent throughout, but the inconvenience of communication made him ponder. "Perhaps I should learn the language of this world." It sounded difficult, but for him, it wasn¡¯t too challenging. After all, he could understand what they were saying, and he could memorize and mimic their sounds by observing the differences in syllables and tones. Moreover, his mental strength was exceptional, and his memory was equally sharp. As they walked, withered leaves crunched underfoot, and they navigated through twisted roots and muddy swamps. Chen Feng took the opportunity to memorize some syllables and words, listening intently to better understand this world. The Serpent Spirit Secret Realm, or the Serpent Spirit Continent as the fugitives called it. Legend had it that thousands of years ago, this continent was vast and home to a brilliant human civilization known as the Ancient Taiduo Empire. It had mastered many ancient rituals and alchemical inventions, flourishing for a time. But later, the continent shattered, the civilization vanished, and the Serpent God was born. The first eight people who followed the Serpent God were blessed, becoming the ancestors of the eight great snake-man clans. Each clan carried a trace of the Serpent Spirit Bloodline, endowed with divine powers and absolute authority over certain regions. The land they now inhabited was thus called the Serpent Spirit Continent. "And the Holy City?" During a rest along the way, the fugitives gathered together, curious about the ancient legends, and pressed for more information. "The Holy City was said to have emerged hundreds of years ago. Is that true?" "The Holy City did indeed emerge hundreds of years ago, but there are several legends about it," said Wu Heng, the spear-wielding man, who was a minor leader among the fugitives. He hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice, "The first and most widely known is that the Holy City found relics of the Ancient Taiduo civilization, which allowed it to be established and provide sanctuary for us lowly ones." "The second is that the Holy City was created by the ninth person who followed the Serpent God. He was extremely powerful but eventually left the Serpent God and founded the Holy City, where he was buried." As he spoke, the expressions on the faces of the group varied. Chen Feng, sitting alone to the side, seemed indifferent but was secretly listening intently. "The third legend is that the Holy City wasn¡¯t created by someone from our world." "It¡¯s said that an outsider arrived, someone who couldn¡¯t stand the tyranny of the snake-men and raised a banner of rebellion, thus creating the Holy City." The speaker might have been casual, but the listener was intrigued. Chen Feng hadn¡¯t expected these people to know about outsiders. "Wu Heng must have heard these rumors from somewhere. Please don¡¯t mind them, Master," Molly, who had been accompanying Chen Feng throughout, said with an awkward expression, not daring to be negligent. Chen Feng remained expressionless, simply shaking his head slightly. These legends were unverifiable, but the mention of outsiders had given him some ideas. Since the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm could be opened with a key, it was certain that others could also enter this world. The Divine Martial Alliance, the Serpent Spirit Sect, and even... "The Extreme Martial Arts Sect." Chen Feng recalled the residual memories he had seen in Qinggang City. Blackwater Town had been accidentally pulled into the Abyss, and the corresponding secret realm was the Serpent Spirit World. Among the rescuers at that time were instructors from the Extreme Martial Arts and members of the Enforcement Team. If they had also come to this world, perhaps they had left some traces behind. His thoughts expanded, and Chen Feng grew increasingly curious about the secrets of this world. The group finished their rest and set off again. Gradually, another day passed, and they finally left the Green Marsh behind. Their clothes were disheveled, with bits of withered leaves clinging to them. But as they looked up, they saw a vast plain stretching before them. A wide, flat dirt road led into the distance, with golden rice paddies growing abundantly, extending endlessly. Looking further ahead, a grayish-white city stood at the horizon, built against a mountain, resembling a giant standing tall, its territory vast. A massive waterfall cascaded down the city walls, and a silver river encircled the base, separating the city from the plain. The drawbridge outside the gray-white walls was raised, and the buildings inside were densely packed. Fortresses, streets, soldiers... the gray-white stones were stacked layer upon layer, and the small mountain at the center had been completely transformed, with only a patch of greenery remaining at the summit. From a distance, they could see over the tall city walls, catching a glimpse of the gray-white houses and streets that spiraled around the mountain. Even more striking were the giant eagles, seemingly carrying humans, circling above the city. In an instant, the faces of the fugitives, who had been on the run for so long, lit up with excitement and longing. "We¡¯ve made it! We¡¯ve finally made it!" "That must be the Holy City! They say it¡¯s home to many powerful humans who can summon giant eagles. It¡¯s true!" "Rumor has it that the city walls are inscribed with some kind of runes, making them indestructible. Even the snake-men can¡¯t break through..." "We¡¯re safe at last! We¡¯re finally safe!" Voices filled with excitement rang out, and even Molly, who was usually more composed, was breathing heavily, her hands trembling slightly. Chen Feng, however, wasn¡¯t paying much attention to their reactions, as he too was somewhat surprised. This was a city completely unlike anything on Earth, filled with a fantastical style. It seemed like a secluded paradise, or perhaps a hidden castle from legends, the kind where elves might reside. Screech! Suddenly, as if noticing their arrival, the eagles in the sky above the city let out piercing cries. Then, two giant eagles soared toward them. "Don¡¯t be afraid, everyone. That¡¯s the Holy City¡¯s guard." "Just explain the situation truthfully, and they¡¯ll guide us into the city." Molly, who seemed to have some experience in this, calmed the group, and they waited nervously. Soon, the sound of flapping wings grew louder as the eagles descended. Looking up, they could see that the eagles were about five to six meters in size, with brown feathers, dark gold beaks, and sharp talons. On their backs were strong men in silver armor and helmets, aged between twenty and thirty-five, armed with spears and bows, their expressions wary. "Who are you?" A sturdy man in his thirties, nearly six feet tall and clearly the leader of the group, asked. He ignored the others, including Chen Feng, his gaze immediately locking onto Molly, filled with caution. In that instant, Chen Feng¡¯s senses picked up on something. The aura of the Holy City guards, though ranging from the second to the third tier, was very similar to Molly¡¯s power, clearly part of the same system. "Master, we are fugitives from the snake-men territories." "We admire the glory of the Holy City and hope to live within its walls." Molly spoke truthfully, her tone sincere, even offering the pouch of Serpent-Shaped Coins as a gesture of goodwill. However, the armored man raised his hand to stop her, frowning slightly. He scanned the rest of the group, his expression indifferent, and shook his head. "The Holy City¡¯s resources are limited. We can¡¯t support useless people." "Only you have awakened the Seed of Life. I can only take you into the city." His words struck like a hammer, and the faces of the group turned pale. Chen Feng¡¯s eyes flickered, suddenly realizing that the Holy City might not be as idyllic as he had imagined. "Master!" Molly¡¯s face was urgent as she quickly spoke up, "They can work and contribute in the city! They won¡¯t be a burden!" The others chimed in, panic evident in their voices. But soon, a strong gust of wind blew as the eagles ascended. The armored man¡¯s voice was cold as he and the guards looked down from above. "People like you come every month, every year." "The Holy City¡¯s territory is limited. Day after day, it¡¯s impossible to support everyone." Standing high in the air, he ignored the rest, addressing Molly directly, "If you truly want to bring them into the city, go and settle outside the walls. Wait for your turn." His cold words echoed as the two giant eagles flapped their wings, carrying the guards away. For a moment, the fugitives who had traveled thousands of miles to get here stood in stunned silence, their faces pale with despair and confusion. Wasn¡¯t the Holy City supposed to treat everyone equally and offer them refuge? Why were they being turned away so coldly? "Master Molly..." Wu Heng, the spear-wielding man, had a complicated expression, filled with guilt and confusion. He knew well the significance of someone who had awakened the Seed of Life. Molly, who had led them here, could have entered the Holy City directly, but now she had lost that opportunity because of them. Molly, however, didn¡¯t respond to him. Instead, she turned to Chen Feng, her expression equally complicated. "Master..." She had thought he might reveal his power and gain the Holy City¡¯s favor. But now it seemed the master had other plans, or perhaps he didn¡¯t want to get too involved in their affairs. "What is this ''turn''?" Chen Feng, ignoring her thoughts, suddenly asked. His tone was stiff and awkward, clearly struggling with the words. He had forced himself to memorize and mimic the sounds, but they were still far from perfect. "It¡¯s the opportunity to enter the Holy City." All her hopes dashed, Molly was now certain that Chen Feng wasn¡¯t from the southern regions. "I always thought it was just a rumor, but it seems to be true." "Rumor has it that the Holy City can only accommodate a fixed number of people. Ordinary folks can only enter if someone inside dies, freeing up a spot..." Her voice was bitter, her face downcast. Chen Feng seemed to ponder this, his gaze shifting to the river that separated the Holy City from the outside. There, a cluster of dark-brown buildings stood scattered, mostly built around the base of the city¡¯s mountain, with faint signs of human activity. "It¡¯s alright, Master Molly. Just being near the Holy City is already a blessing." The fugitives were in disarray, but Wu Heng forced a smile and stepped forward to console her. "Besides, we can live out there, can¡¯t we? We¡¯ll just have to wait for our turn to enter the city..." They still clung to hope and fantasy, and Molly could only sigh and accept it. After some discussion, the group decided to head toward the base of the Holy City¡¯s mountain. But soon, someone spoke up in surprise. "Where¡¯s the Master?" Molly, startled, turned to look. A gentle breeze blew, stirring up some dust. The burly figure in brown robes was gone, leaving only the pouch of Serpent-Shaped Coins behind. (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c230. [+5.5k Words] Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 167: With Me Here, No Matter Who It Is… [2.6k] Translator: CinderTL The morning sunlight spilled down. The floor-to-ceiling windows of towering buildings reflected the first crimson rays of the rising sun. As the autumn wind blew, withered yellow ginkgo leaves rustled and fell, scattering on both sides of the asphalt road. Cleaners in yellow-striped uniforms were sweeping the ground, while office workers, yawning, crowded at the bus stop. Private cars continuously drove by. Taking it all in, Chen Feng stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, quietly overlooking the entire Nanjiang city area. This time, he had stayed in the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm for nearly four days. But upon returning, only a single night had passed. It was as if he had merely experienced a conscious dream, but Chen Feng knew very well that it was a real world. Then, he lowered his head to look at his palm. The dark serpentine pattern, though somewhat dim, was still deep and profound. [Serpent Spirit Power: 100/100] He still had one more chance to enter the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm. But after some thought, he wasn''t in a hurry to use it immediately. Instead, his gaze shifted downward, looking at the other information on the panel. [Extreme Martial Arts Points: 6] [Limit Breaking Points: 28] [Extreme Martial Fist: Beginner (3%)+] S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Flame Tiger Force: Flame Tiger (1%)+] Before entering the dream, he had ventured into a danger zone, successfully exploring an Extreme Martial Hall. But to elevate the Flame Tiger Force to the Heavenly Flame level, he was still far short in both Limit Breaking and Extreme Martial Arts. If he focused on improving the Extreme Martial Fist, relying on the special enhancement of the Extreme Martial light orb, he could break through to the Meteor realm. "It''s about time to have a trump card that surfaces." His eyes flickered, Chen Feng hadn''t forgotten his promise to Lin Hao. Jin Wei was a Titanium-grade Cyborg from Utopia, equipped with Armament Modules that were far from ordinary, granting him explosive combat power. And since he was to protect Lin Hao closely, it naturally wouldn''t be convenient to activate the Azure Armor and use the identity of the Blue Demon. So. "Upgrade!" In an instant, all six units of Extreme Martial Arts and the entire Limit Breaking stock were consumed, and all insights flooded in. The solitude of practicing the fist, the persistence through days and nights. Punch, sweep, slam, whip. Fists like meteors, empowered by Extreme Martial Fist. [Extreme Martial Fist: Meteor (10%)+] The moment the panel''s progress skyrocketed and broke through, a hazy white light appeared in Chen Feng''s hand. It seemed like Force, but not entirely the same. According to the True Art Key and his careful perception. Chen Feng knew that this was a form of condensation and compression of the internal energy within his body. It was a special combat technique similar to the Explosive Fist, but instead of acting on oneself, it was directly externalized. Although it didn''t greatly enhance physical attributes, it had a certain level of growth potential. The more internal energy one had, the more attacks they could release, and the power would correspondingly increase significantly. It was precisely because of this that the Instructor Xu from the residual memories could continuously throw punches like a bomber. "He must also be a Grandmaster." A flash in his eyes, Chen Feng had a rough comparison in mind. The hazy white light in his hand dissipated, and as he looked down at the city again, confidence filled his eyes, with a Flame Tiger silently coiled behind him. He knew that from this moment on. Having achieved the physique of a Grandmaster, he could protect some things. --- At two o''clock that afternoon. Below the Tian Hao Security building, a line of black vehicles slowly pulled up. Several suited bodyguards with bulging waists, among them Silver-grade Cyborgs, opened the car doors, vigilant on both sides. Passersby stopped, surprised at who could have such a grand presence. Soon, looking over. A young man could be seen stepping out from the main entrance on the first floor, surrounded by several suited bodyguards. "Young Master, are you really going to take such a risk?" A voice of opposition came through the earpiece. Lin Hao was dressed in a gray casual suit with an overcoat and sunglasses. "Liu Bo, we have no choice." "If we don''t eliminate Jin Wei, our manpower can''t be dispersed. If we keep dragging on like this, other companies will snatch away our security business." Lin Hao whispered, his tone complex. After much hesitation, he finally agreed to Chen Feng''s plan, deciding to leave Liu Bo to guard the company building while using himself as bait to lure out the snake. It wasn''t just about trusting Chen Feng, but also out of helplessness. During this period, to prevent Jin Wei from coming to kill, he had concentrated manpower and resources, letting go of a lot of security business. It was manageable in the short term, but in the long run, it would certainly have a significant impact. "That''s the logic, but what if you get hurt?" The elderly voice in the earpiece was worried and displeased. Lin Hao sighed, knowing Liu Bo wouldn''t agree, which was why he had informed him at the last minute. "Isn''t Fengzi here? And he promised me that the Blue Demon would send a Cyborg friend to help." "Moreover, I''ve communicated with the Joint Council, and they will provide support at any time to deal with Jin Wei." "Rest assured, I''m not ready to meet my father so soon." He said it as if joking, but the voice in the earpiece suddenly fell silent. The atmosphere quieted, and Lin Hao stopped at the car door. The sunlight reflected off the black car windows, and flying cars zipped across the sky above. Zhou Cheng, dressed in a loose suit, was vigilant on both sides, while Chen Feng in the passenger seat was composed, dressed in a black and white suit, pretending not to have heard anything. "I understand." The elderly voice on the phone sighed for a moment, then said no more. "Young Master, please make sure to protect yourself." Beep! The earpiece''s communication was temporarily disconnected. Lin Hao shook his head with a smile, then stepped into the back seat of the black car. All the bodyguards boarded the cars, and the sound of doors slamming shut echoed one after another. "It''s settled, my life is in your hands now." He glanced at the burly figure in the passenger seat, half-joking and half-serious. "With me here, no matter who it is..." Without finishing the sentence, without turning his head. But Lin Hao clearly felt his strong confidence. Feeling inexplicably more at ease, a smile appeared on his face, and he stopped overthinking. "Alright, let''s get crazy." "Let''s have a wild time for once." --- "The target is on the move!" In the operational deployment room of the City Joint Council. On both sides of a long black table sat over a dozen people, mostly middle-aged with serious expressions. The red nameplates on the table bore their names, clearly showing they were part of the Safety Bureau and City Defense Department''s Joint Council members. Following their gaze, a huge projection floated on the wall ahead, displaying multiple split screens. Upon closer inspection, it showed various angles of the Tian Hao Security building''s surveillance footage. A slender young man in a gray overcoat got into a car, and the line of vehicles slowly departed, seemingly heading to some corporate office for a meeting. Seeing this, Chu Shihong, with gray hair and sitting at the head of the table in a dark suit, frowned slightly. "Director Zhang, how did Tian Hao Security communicate with you?" "With such a small number of personnel, can they hold off Jin Wei?" He even spotted the beloved disciple of his friend among them. If something went wrong with this reckless move, how would he explain it once the other party woke up? "Chairman Lin didn''t reveal much, only that he was confident he could lure out Jin Wei." The middle-aged man Zhang Zhengtai, now acting director of the Nanjiang Safety Bureau, sat at the left head of the table. Upon hearing this, he straightened his expression and quickly explained, "This person has always been rational and is quite cared for by several other council members. He shouldn''t act recklessly." "Moreover, he expressed a desire to contribute to the public security of Nanjiang and the eradication of Utopia, willing to take the risk..." Zhang Zhengtai hurriedly finished his explanation. Chu Shihong remained silent for a moment. "Quite a remarkable young man." Although this matter originated from him and his words might be exaggerated. Being willing to take such a risky action is commendable. "Since he is willing to make such a sacrifice for our City Joint Council, we must not slack off." "Is Mr. Qin on the scene?" "Yes!" Zhang Zhengtai quickly nodded, then instructed his subordinates to switch the communication. "Hello!" A nonchalant voice, sounding around thirty. The screen switched to show a robust man in a black hoodie, seemingly strolling on the street. Wearing a baseball cap, half his face showed some stubble. "Mr. Qin, Councilor Chu wishes to speak with you." "Oh, sure." The man nodded, and Chu Shihong began to speak. "Mr. Qin, we''re counting on you this time." "Tian Hao Security is one of Nanjiang City''s renowned large security enterprises, and we''re at a crucial moment for investment attraction... If something goes wrong, it might affect the Provincial Joint Council''s strategic deployment..." "Alright, I get it." Before Chu Shihong could finish, the thirty-something man interrupted in a low voice, "I don''t care about the rest, but that person named Lin Hao, I''ll do my best to protect him." "But let''s be clear, since Jin Wei''s reboot, no one knows if he''s equipped with new Armament Modules." "All I can say is, I''ll do my best." Chu Shihong wasn''t surprised. After all, this was no small matter. Unless the Provincial Joint Council was willing to send those few people, no one could have absolute certainty. As for the military side. The Suro Nation has been quite chaotic recently, and it''s even less likely they''d divert resources to help with this mess. "Alright, that''s it then." Beep! The communication was cut off. Chu Shihong''s expression remained unchanged. Beside him, Zhang Zhengtai felt awkward but didn''t dare to speak up. He could only brace himself and start deploying other arrangements, occasionally communicating with various armed squads. "I wonder if Jin Wei will show up." In the line of black cars moving between tall buildings, Lin Hao sighed. Although he told the City Joint Council he was confident, when it came to actually trying it, he wasn''t so sure. After all, at such a critical moment, anyone would think it was a trap. "You said Jin Wei is proud, didn''t you?" "The prouder one is, the more stubborn... If I were him, even knowing it''s a trap, I wouldn''t easily miss the opportunity." Chen Feng sat in the passenger seat, holding a tablet with detailed information about Jin Wei. Or rather, information about him before his consciousness was replicated from the deep sea and rebooted. [Jin Wei, Suro Nation, thirty-two years old... Born to the same mother as Utopia member ''Silver Wolf,'' they are half-brothers] [Titanium-grade complete Cyborg, equipped with missile modules, precision strikes, Tier-4 Energy Device...] As he browsed through the information, Lin Hao in the back seat shook his head and added, "I''m not sure." "People change, and Suro is in chaos. Utopia is being attacked by other forces. Maybe he''s lost patience and run back." "Perhaps." Chen Feng responded, his gaze lingering on the Tier-4 Energy Device. "What level is this Tier-4 Energy Device?" "It''s the pinnacle of civilian technology, capable of granting a complete Cyborg high-power energy support in a short time, enhancing strength, firepower, neural reaction speed¡ªeverything gets a exponential boost." "So, it''s a device that enhances power and boosts explosiveness?" "Right." Lin Hao nodded, also somewhat uncertain, "But my main concern now is whether he''s installed a Force Field Device after the reboot." "If he really has one, we might be in trouble." "Force Field Device?" Chen Feng was puzzled. "Similar to the Flying Dragon Cyborg, it grants him force field protection, making him immune to ordinary firepower attacks." Knowing his lack of knowledge in this area, Lin Hao patiently explained, "Like the Energy Device, it''s part of the Armament Module, starting from the lowest level, with each higher level exponentially increasing in power and effect." Chen Feng recalled the Flying Dragon Cyborg he had seen during the Yue Mountain battle. It had relied on a force field to delay the Holy Shield Colossus, neutralizing its brute force impact without suffering any injuries. "How many levels does this device have?" "Previously, it was seven. In recent years, the military, the Platinum Federation, and several major corporations have been researching it... But Tier-4 is the civilian peak, also the maximum limit a Titanium-grade Cyborg can handle." Lin Hao didn''t hide anything, "Each higher level requires a massive investment of money and resources." "Even just a Tier-3 Force Field Device would cost nearly ten million, with terrifying protective power. Ordinary bombs and missiles would hardly harm the target." "Anyway, let''s hope he hasn''t installed one." The sighing voice made Chen Feng''s eyes flash, memorizing this knowledge. Then, the convoy continued. To avoid too much of a stir, they deliberately took a route around the city''s outskirts, near the suburbs. Time passed, half an hour, one hour, two hours. The convoy circled the city at a steady pace, but no accidents or attacks occurred. The sky turned increasingly crimson, with bits of evening glow rising. Unnoticed, it was already dusk, approaching night. The convoy reached a crossroads. Looking out the window, pedestrians were scattered on the street, and various restaurants and hotpot places were bustling, filled to the brim. Lin Hao''s tense mood relaxed a bit, leaning back on the leather seat, somewhat enviously watching a child holding an adult''s hand, buying snacks at a roadside stall. "Sometimes, I really wish I could be an ordinary person." He suddenly spoke. Chen Feng was slightly taken aback. This was the first time he had heard the other speak with such weariness. Buzz! Soon, his phone vibrated, interrupting their thoughts. Lin Hao glanced at the message, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "A message from the City Joint Council." "They said that at the city defense checkpoint, Jin Wei was confirmed to have left, around four in the afternoon..." Hearing this, Chen Feng''s eyes flickered. Gave up? He felt an unreal sensation. Even taking Lin Hao''s phone to look, there was indeed footage of Jin Wei appearing in the suburbs. "Let''s just head back, I''m getting hungry." Lin Hao also felt it was somewhat unreal. Although he remained cautious, he couldn''t help but ease his tense emotions. Chen Feng didn''t object, as they couldn''t keep wandering outside aimlessly; they needed a place to rest. Whether Jin Wei''s departure was real or not, as long as they remained vigilant... "Hmm?" His heightened senses suddenly stirred, Chen Feng''s thoughts halted, narrowing his eyes to look into the sky. A figure stood atop a tall building. The fierce wind made his long hair flutter as he coldly gazed over. Like a lion looking down, his intensely oppressive gaze met across the distance. In an instant, without hesitation. He sensed his surroundings and immediately shouted. "Stop the car!!" (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c232. [+5.3k Words] Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 168: Witness to Glory, The Nutritious Jin Wei! [2.4k] Translator: CinderTL "Why did you act when you knew it was a trap?" The questioning voice rang out again through the communication module. Standing atop a high-rise building, Jin Wei looked down upon the entire city. The last hidden forces of Utopia in Nanjiang had finally been mobilized. Below, the streets were now filled with speeding hovercars and several Silver-grade Cyborgs moving in for the kill. The scanning module enveloped the streets below, and he accurately locked onto the suddenly halted black convoy. As if catching his prey, he spoke coldly. "When this is over, I¡¯ll return." Beep! The communication was cut off. The next second. Boom!! A sudden missile strike hit the intersection ahead, narrowly missing the black convoy. A deafening explosion rang out, leaving a deep crater in the asphalt road. An unmanned car was blown to pieces, soaring into the air and tumbling several meters. Pedestrians around screamed in terror, collapsing to the ground. Amid the flames, Lin Hao inside the car looked grim, and Zhou Cheng and the rest of the security team also turned pale. "Fengzi, how did you notice that?!" Lin Hao¡¯s voice was urgent. He knew full well that if it weren¡¯t for Chen Feng¡¯s sudden shout to stop the car, they would have been hit. Without answering, Chen Feng opened the car door and stepped onto the ground. Whoosh!!! Another missile came hurtling through the air. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, standing in front of the car. Under the astonished gazes of everyone, he calmly raised his hand and caught the missile the size of his arm with a single hand. His thick palm was like a vice, gray smoke trailing in the air. Then, to the shocked eyes of Lin Hao and Zhou Cheng, they saw him pull back his arm like drawing a bow, twist his waist, and send it flying back. Whoosh!!! The missile flew back the way it came, heading straight for a hovercar by the roadside. Someone on the car¡¯s roof was aiming a rocket launcher, but upon seeing this, they were instantly terrified. Boom!!! Flames shot into the sky as the hovercar exploded, sending the masked assailants inside to their deaths. Without a hint of joy, Chen Feng glanced around. Several more hovercars appeared, and even Silver-grade Cyborgs activated their armament modules, preparing to attack with long-range weapons. "Damn it!" "Brothers, let¡¯s go!" Zhou Cheng from the security team was the first to react, quickly getting out of the car and throwing off his oversized suit, hastily organizing a counterattack. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Gunfire and the whooshing of missiles filled the air. Several Silver-grade Cyborgs clashed, and within seconds, blood splattered on the ground. Lin Hao remained seated in the car, which had been reinforced to withstand large-caliber bullets. But even so, the missile attacks were still a threat. "Don¡¯t worry about me, I¡¯ve got this." As if sensing Chen Feng¡¯s hesitation, Lin Hao gritted his teeth and pulled out a palm-sized metal disc from his pocket. The next second, as he activated it. Hum!! A force field instantly expanded, forming a half-dome barrier that protected the vehicle he was in. Seeing this, Chen Feng nodded, realizing this must be the Force Field Device Lin Hao had mentioned. No longer distracted, he stood by the car and looked up at the sky. Explosions continued around him, debris flying past his eyes and ears, even hitting his body. The man standing atop the hundred-meter-high building looked down, locking eyes with him. His long hair flowed in the wind, his chiseled face coldly smirking as golden liquid rapidly spread across his body. The next second. He leaped down. "It¡¯s Jin Wei!" "He didn¡¯t leave! He¡¯s now in the downtown shopping district!" In the City Council¡¯s operations command center, Zhang Zhengtai, the acting head of the Safety Bureau, turned pale. As the screen switched, the figure of the rugged and arrogant man leaped down, facing the fierce wind. The remaining Utopia members in the district were engaged in intense firefights with Tian Hao Security. Explosions and gunfire filled the air, and pedestrians were in chaos. Chu Shihong¡¯s expression darkened, and he immediately ordered reinforcements. "Also, notify Mr. Qin, tell him to act now!" "Yes!" Thud!! The ground shook, cracking and caving in. The golden figure landed like a meteor, sending up a cloud of dust and a gust of wind. The streets were already in chaos, horns blaring and car alarms ringing. Under the flickering car lights, pedestrians screamed and collapsed. "Help!" "Run!" Amid the panicked cries, Chen Feng narrowed his eyes. His perception pierced through the dust, seeing the golden Cyborg kneeling, some kind of energy module activated on his body. Whoosh!!! The next second, the figure burst through the dust, streaking toward him like a golden light. The wind howled, the golden light blinding. But instead of dodging, Chen Feng coldly narrowed his eyes and stomped the ground, charging forward. Boom!!! Fist met fist, nearly forty tons of force erupting. The ground beneath their feet shattered, and cars on either side had their windows blown out, lifted off the ground, and slammed into guardrails, skidding several meters. Shocked and incredulous gazes came from the surrounding buildings, the golden fiberglass reflecting a cold arc of light. "Who are you?" The arrogant tone remained, though there was a hint of surprise at being temporarily halted. The scanning module signaled a high-intensity energy field. Jin Wei knew this man wasn¡¯t a Cyborg but a true Grandmaster of martial arts! "Grim reaper!" Chen Feng¡¯s voice was low, locking eyes with him. His Steel Bones talent activated, but¡ª "Just you?" A mocking laugh. Jin Wei¡¯s body suddenly erupted with a force field. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hum!! A powerful shockwave burst forth, catching Chen Feng off guard. His legs plowed through the ground, crashing through several cars and sliding back seven or eight meters. Lin Hao in the rear car turned pale, and the Smart AI Big Head inside provided an accurate assessment. [Level 4 Force Field!] "Level 4 Force Field?" Chen Feng¡¯s expression darkened as he received the information through his earpiece. Looking down, he was wedged inside a car. His black suit had been torn apart by the twisted metal, revealing his solid, muscular build. "A mere physical Grandmaster dares to challenge a fully evolved Cyborg like me?" Jin Wei sneered again, two cannons emerging from his shoulder armor, tiny missiles ready to fire. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Missiles the size of fingers, but with the power of ten times a regular bomb. Just as they were about to hit, Chen Feng¡¯s skin suddenly turned bronze. "Get lost!!" A cold shout, his strength synchronized. The car trapping him was violently torn apart. His hands glowed red, a force column sweeping through the air. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Several tiny missiles were detonated mid-air. A crimson tiger, six meters tall, loomed behind him. Chen Feng had no intention of hiding his identity, knowing Utopia would eventually find out. So, rather than holding back, he decided to go all out and see exactly where he stood. "Interesting." Jin Wei sneered, retracting his shoulder cannons and stomping the ground, charging forward. But to his surprise. Boom!! Whoosh!!! The figure who stomped the ground was faster, seemingly merging with the crimson tiger, leaping forward to kill. Boom!!! The golden body was brutally sent flying. Thick hands clenched into fists, continuously striking. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Under the Explosive Fist, full-force blows landed. Dents formed on the Titanium-grade Cyborg¡¯s body. The City Council members stared in shock, and the distant man in a baseball cap looked incredulous. "What the? Since when did Nanjiang have a physical Grandmaster?" This was a martial arts expert with physical strength rivaling a Titanium-grade Cyborg. And somehow, this man seemed even stronger than an average physical Grandmaster. "You¡¯re dead!!" Retreating, Jin Wei¡¯s eyes darkened. He activated his energy device, halting his decline. Boom!! Fists collided, the stone tiles beneath their feet shattering, a crater forming. Then, an engine-like sound came from his body, his golden arm turning into a blur. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Fist against fist, the two clashed brutally. From the intersection all the way to the end of the district, lampposts snapped, and cars were sent flying. Amid the smoke and flames, the firefight between Tian Hao Security and Utopia was interrupted by the two¡¯s savage charge. Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Bullets and ordinary shells struck their bodies. Sparks flew, but aside from some dust rising or clinging to them, no injuries were left. "This¡­" Zhou Cheng, who had just repelled a Utopia Silver-grade Cyborg, looked incredulous. This scene shattered his understanding. Lin Hao in the car was also in shock, realizing such defense likely surpassed ordinary Titanium-grade. "Liu Bo, what¡¯s going on?" "Remarkable, Young Master, your friend is truly remarkable!" The old voice in the earpiece was also amazed. "He has completed his transformation, passed the Gate of Essence, and judging by his appearance, he truly has a Innate Tyrant Bone." "His physique is extraordinary, naturally stronger than ordinary Titanium-grade." "If it were an ordinary Titanium-grade Cyborg, they would have been crippled by now." Lin Hao listened with envy. "However, this Jin Wei is no ordinary foe." "Based on the images, he seems to have fully mastered the use of the Level 4 Force Field." "Compressing the device¡¯s energy to cover his body, achieving even greater defense." Lin Hao¡¯s heart sank, and Chen Feng in the center of the battle was also surprised. "So this is the Force Field Device?" Boom!! Fists collided, both sliding back several meters. Chen Feng frowned slightly, looking at the Titanium-grade body before him. He could clearly sense a force field compressed and enveloping the opponent¡¯s body. Because of this, his Explosive Fist strikes and the recoil from his Bronze Body Technique were all silently neutralized. Even his Steel Bones talent was blocked by the force field, unable to activate. But what he didn¡¯t know was that Jin Wei¡¯s heart was already in turmoil, his eyes growing colder. "Where did this physical Grandmaster come from?" "Such immense strength, such a powerful physique. Could he have already broken through the Gate of Essence?" His suspicions were no less intense. Jin Wei could clearly feel his energy reserves rapidly depleting. The Level 4 Force Field was indeed powerful, invincible in defense. But to activate it and maintain it in a compressed state for so long wasn¡¯t something the device¡¯s auxiliary energy could sustain. In other words, if this continued, he wouldn¡¯t last until the energy was depleted. "It¡¯s time to end this!" His eyes turned cold, and he activated all his reserve energy, going all out. Seeing this, the baseball-capped Cyborg in the distance, who had been planning to join the fight, turned pale and shouted a warning. "You! Get out of the way!" Whoosh!! As the words fell, before Chen Feng could react. Golden light flashed, right in front of him. "Die!!" A furious shout. Jin Wei¡¯s arms suddenly extended two golden blades, stabbing toward his chest. It was the explosive enhancement from activating all his energy, increasing speed, strength, and reflexes. Everyone present turned pale, and in the City Council¡¯s operations room, Chu Shihong slammed the table and stood up! In that instant, the world slowed. Chen Feng¡¯s perception focused. The cold arc of light on Jin Wei¡¯s fiberglass body flickered. "So, you¡¯ve already used all your strength." Unprecedented calm. Chen Feng¡¯s arms bulged, striking first. Boom!!! The golden figure charging forward was sent flying even faster. Then, the bronze body was enveloped in flames, crimson force gathering behind him, forming a soaring crimson tiger. "Roar!!!" A true Tiger Roar erupted, the Flame Tiger Sect¡¯s signature move. Mysteriously, dozens of kilometers away in the Flame Tiger Sect¡¯s mountain gate, Third Elder suddenly opened his eyes, and the unconscious Li Tong¡¯s fingers twitched. Everything was quickly pulled back. The burly, half-naked figure leaped like a tiger, pouncing to kill. Thud!!! An elbow strike landed on the chest of the flying Jin Wei. Roar!!! The Tiger Roar sounded again, force rippling. The opponent¡¯s body slammed into the ground, shaking the earth and buildings. The crimson tiger vanished in an instant. Chen Feng¡¯s hands glowed with a faint white light, illuminating the sky. "To witness my path to Grandmaster." "That is your honor!" Whoosh!!! White light exploded, hitting the golden body. Boom!!! Like a missile explosion, Jin Wei¡¯s face turned pale, clearly feeling his energy draining rapidly. The Level 4 Force Field could no longer be maintained. Seizing the opportunity, Chen Feng¡¯s arms bulged, his burly body blocking all sunlight. Under the gaze of all, he gathered strength and punched. Images of his past weakness during sparring flashed before his eyes. The golden figure was like a punching bag, standing out. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!! The Steel Bones talent was no longer hindered, fully activated. One after another, metal essence prompts appeared. The Titanium-grade body began to crack. "I¡¯ll remember you!" A threatening whisper. Jin Wei locked Chen Feng¡¯s face in his memory, then steeled himself to self-destruct and return to the depths. As if sensing this, Lin Hao in the distance shot up, deactivating the force field and opening the car door, hurling a silver device toward him. "Feng, take him!" His excited shout. The baseball-capped man¡¯s face changed, wanting to intervene. But sensing this. Chen Feng suddenly turned his head, a cold light in his eyes, staring him down. An overwhelming aggression spread. The True Intent Crimson Tiger loomed behind him, its vertical pupils coldly oppressive. In that instant, faced with the threat of a predator interrupted during its meal, the man surnamed Qin froze, his foot awkwardly stopping mid-step. Clink! Under all eyes, Chen Feng caught the silver circular device. A device that could lock a Cyborg¡¯s consciousness, preventing it from rebooting¡ªa special virus. This was something Lin Hao had briefly mentioned to him before. "No!!!" Jin Wei¡¯s pupils contracted. He roared, abandoning all hope, speeding up his self-destruction. But the next second. "Goodbye." Clink! Beep! The silver circular device was pressed onto his head. Silver light burst forth, rushing into Jin Wei¡¯s mind like a beam of light. Strings of code locked his consciousness, all commands forcibly cut off. Crack! Crack! The already cracked Titanium-grade body completely shattered. All golden light vanished in that instant. In that moment, the world seemed to pause. Under the witnessing gazes, Chen Feng stood up. The buildings on either side flickered with light and shadow. The setting sun slowly descended. As the prompt appeared before his eyes, a new light replaced it. [You have completed a battle defending your honor.] [Victory!] [Glory Points +20!] [Heart of Glory upgraded successfully!] [You have gained a chance to enhance the Holy Shield Colossus!] (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c234. [+5.4k Words] Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 169: Transactions, Trap and Freedom [2.3k] Translator: CinderTL "Damn it!" In an underground base in the Suro Nation. The communication module sent back the final image¡ªa cold, burly young man pressing a silver device onto Jin Wei''s head. The screen went black, followed by a series of warning alerts. The staff, wearing circular patterned badges, turned pale and quickly severed the consciousness link. The leader, a red-haired woman, ripped off her headset and slammed it onto the table with a loud bang. "That idiot Jin Wei!" "He knew it was a trap but still acted recklessly! Just like his useless brother!" Her icy curses echoed through the room. The red-haired woman wore a black combat suit and a trench coat, her figure tall and graceful. Her fair skin and emerald green eyes marked her as a native of the Platinum Federation. For a moment, the underground base was in chaos. Seeing her frosty demeanor, many dared not even breathe too loudly. "Master Hong Ling, what should we¡ª" "That fool deserves to be left in the deep sea to rot!" "Let him stay there and fend for himself!" She cursed again, her chest heaving with anger. No one dared to interject, exchanging nervous glances instead. This branch relied on Jin Wei and Master Hong Ling to sustain itself and fend off attacks from other forces. But now... BOOM!!! A violent explosion erupted above them, a bombardment from the surface. The entire underground base shook briefly, and dust fell from the cracks in the metal ceiling. Seeing this, the red-haired woman took a deep breath. After firmly memorizing the appearances of those from Tian Hao Security, she finally made a decision. "Retreat!!" --- BANG! Several minutes later. The gunfire on the streets gradually ceased, and all the thugs had been killed. Even the Silver-grade Cyborgs had met the same fate as Jin Wei. "We hit the jackpot this time, Feng!" Lin Hao was ecstatic, walking over to pat Chen Feng on the shoulder. The ground was littered with golden remnants of mixed flesh and blood. Chen Feng picked up a silver circular device and held it in his hand once more. "Are you sure this will work?" Suppressing the Holy Shield Colossus''s eager vibrations for now, Chen Feng looked at the disk in his hand, curious. Cyborgs could replicate and upload their consciousness. They had only sealed off this instance of Jin Wei''s consciousness. What if he revived in the deep sea? Wouldn''t all this effort be wasted? "Don''t worry, replicating consciousness isn''t that simple." Lin Hao smiled, taking the silver disk and examining it. "The deep sea is just a virtual network cluster. While it can store and carry a certain number of human consciousnesses, it¡¯s not without limits." "Each person''s original consciousness is maintained by biological energy, but this energy is finite. Every replication consumes the source. Too many replications can cause the original consciousness to collapse, turning it into a mindless, uncontrollable mental wave." He weighed the silver device in his hand, grinning. "Also, there''s a crucial taboo when it comes to consciousness replication." "What is it?" "Outside the deep sea, only one independent consciousness can exist." Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, understanding the implication. It was like cloning. If two identical independent individuals existed simultaneously, who would be the real one, and who would be the fake? They might even influence each other, leading to mutual destruction. "So, by sealing Jin Wei''s consciousness, Utopia won''t dare to easily restart it from the deep sea." "This is a bargaining chip." Lin Hao grinned like a merchant, but Chen Feng frowned. "You want to make a deal with Utopia?" "No, plenty of people want to deal with us." Lin Hao''s eyes signaled, and Chen Feng looked toward the approaching man in a baseball cap. A Titanium-grade Cyborg. At the same time, vehicles from the Safety Bureau arrived quickly, landing nearby. "See? They''re here." Lin Hao smiled, and Chen Feng stood beside him, watching the newcomers. The sound of footsteps echoed continuously. A large group approached, led by a gray-haired old man in a dark suit. Alongside him was Zhang Zhengtai, the acting bureau chief, and other Cyborgs and enhanced individuals. "Grandmaster Chen." Chu Shihong chuckled, extending his hand. Meeting his gaze for a second, Chen Feng, aware of the man''s relationship with his master, softened his expression and nodded, shaking his hand. "Today, thanks to Grandmaster Chen, Nanjiang has been cleared of Utopia''s threats." "On behalf of the Nanjiang City Joint Council, I extend our deepest gratitude." Perhaps because of the presence of outsiders, Chu Shihong spoke respectfully, not putting on any airs of seniority, giving Chen Feng plenty of face. Seeing this, and recalling that Chu Shihong had helped him once before, as well as the Life Elixir he had gifted to his master, Chen Feng didn''t act arrogantly. "Councilor Chu, you¡¯re too kind. This is just what any citizen of Nanjiang should do." "In fact, we should be thanking the council and the Safety Bureau for their support." Their eyes met, and both men tacitly understood, smiling without delving into the matter of the Flame Tiger Sect. Then, Chen Feng''s gaze shifted. He exchanged a glance with the smiling Acting Bureau Chief Zhang, before finally settling on the man in the baseball cap. During the battle with Jin Wei, the man had offered a word of advice. But later, he had almost intervened, seemingly trying to seize the opportunity to seal Jin Wei''s consciousness. "This is the action specialist sent by the Provincial Joint Council, here to maintain order in our Nanjiang district." Chu Shihong chuckled, smoothing things over as he introduced them. "Qin Xiao." The man in the baseball cap had already removed his mask. Though his face was ordinary and he seemed lazy, his aura wasn¡¯t much weaker than Jin Wei''s. "I got a bit carried away earlier. My apologies." He offered an explanation, glancing at the silver disk in Lin Hao''s hand. With Chu Shihong mediating, Chen Feng nodded slightly, letting the matter go. They chatted for a while, and Chu Shihong soon got to the point, looking at Lin Hao. "Regarding this Utopia incident, the impact is significant." "We hope to collaborate with Tian Hao Security to handle the aftermath..." He spoke with a smile, but Lin Hao shrugged, turning to look at Chen Feng. All eyes followed, knowing that Chen Feng had contributed the most to this operation. Without his approval, no one could make decisions about the sealed consciousness belonging to Jin Wei. "Tian Hao Security has full authority to represent my decisions." Chen Feng patted Lin Hao''s shoulder. He didn¡¯t like or excel at negotiations. So, professional matters were best left to professionals. "Alright, alright." Lin Hao grinned, giving Chen Feng a grateful look. Soon, the two sides began discussing on the spot. Safety Bureau personnel arrived one after another, maintaining order, clearing potential hazards, and setting up yellow caution tape. Chen Feng walked to the side alone, intending to return to the convoy and wait to leave. "I¡¯ve never seen a Physical Grandmaster as strong as you." "Even in the Flying Dragon Sect, there¡¯s never been anyone like you." Qin Xiao, the Titanium-grade Cyborg who also disliked negotiations, walked over to Chen Feng and struck up a conversation. Chen Feng paused, sensing something in his tone. "You know the Flying Dragon Sect well?" "Well, I¡¯ve spent some time in Yun Port. The Flying Dragon Sect is quite famous there¡ªit¡¯s the strongest Martial Arts Sect in Yun Port..." Qin Xiao was also burly, even five or six centimeters taller than Chen Feng. He didn¡¯t hide anything, speaking honestly. "I¡¯ve heard some things about your Flame Tiger Sect and the Flying Dragon Sect, but that¡¯s all old news." "I don¡¯t know much about the martial arts world, and some people aren¡¯t too optimistic about you." "But I think you could give Lu Xinglong a run for his money." "Oh?" Chen Feng frowned. It wasn¡¯t surprising that Qin Xiao already knew he was from the Flame Tiger Sect. But even after his performance¡ªkilling Jin Wei¡ªQin Xiao still thought he could only barely compete with Lu Xinglong? "Hey, don¡¯t look at me like that." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qin Xiao chuckled, speaking directly. "You¡¯re a Grandmaster too. You must know about the Three Gates of a Grandmaster, right?" "Lu Xinglong isn¡¯t just any ordinary Grandmaster. Even before the battle at Yue Mountain, I heard he had already broken through the Gate of Qi." "Rumor has it, he¡¯s even glimpsed half of the Gate of Spirit." At these words, Chen Feng¡¯s eyes narrowed, and all his doubts vanished. No wonder... No wonder even with the Giant Elephant Grandmaster¡¯s help, they hadn¡¯t been able to defeat Lu Xinglong. It was only with Black Flash¡¯s surprise attack that they managed to drive him back. Indeed, Lu Xinglong¡¯s performance was far superior to that of an average Grandmaster. "What exactly is the Gate of Spirit?" Chen Feng asked, puzzled. This was a secret not revealed in the memories from his dreams. "That, I don¡¯t know." Qin Xiao shook his head honestly. "We Cyborgs aren¡¯t too interested in the martial arts world. It¡¯s just that the Flying Dragon Sect is related to Cyborg technology, so I know a bit..." Deep in thought, Chen Feng gave Qin Xiao a long look. He understood that the man was intentionally offering goodwill to smooth over their earlier tension. "Thank you." Chen Feng nodded, then walked to the convoy. The Cyborgs from the security team made way, and Captain Zhou Cheng even opened the car door for him, draping a new black coat over his shoulders, his eyes filled with admiration. Watching this, Qin Xiao smiled, knowing Chen Feng had let go of their earlier disagreement. He put on his mask again and blended into the crowd. Nearby, a middle-aged officer maintaining order was already numb to it all. A younger officer nudged his shoulder. "Captain Xiang, don¡¯t you know that guy?" "He¡¯s a Martial Arts Grandmaster. Aren¡¯t you going to chat with him?" "Oh come on, get going." Xiang Jianjun suppressed his mixed emotions, scolding lightly. Outwardly calm, he felt a sense of helplessness. He knew such figures were beyond his reach in terms of status, position, and strength. The goodwill he¡¯d once shown could only go so far... "Hmm?" Suddenly, he felt someone¡¯s gaze on him. Turning, he saw the young chairman of Tian Hao Security being escorted toward the convoy after the discussions had ended. Following the gaze, he saw the burly young man in the back seat of the central black car roll down the window, locking eyes with him. In the silence, he nodded slightly, a friendly acknowledgment. Instantly, Xiang Jianjun¡¯s eyes lit up, and he waved. The convoy slowly drove away. Seeing this, Chu Shihong raised an eyebrow and asked Acting Bureau Chief Zhang Zhengtai. "That¡¯s one of my old subordinates. He¡¯s been a team leader for years..." "Oh, I heard the Jin Hua District team is short a deputy captain?" Chu Shihong¡¯s expression relaxed, speaking casually. Zhang Zhengtai was momentarily stunned. The black convoy entered the streets as dusk faded, and night approached. People streamed out of the surrounding buildings¡ªchildren in school uniforms carrying backpacks, office workers finally relaxing after work. "How did it go?" Chen Feng sat in the back seat, looking out the window as he asked. "The City Joint Council wants to take this thing and hand it over to the military for research on source consciousness." "It¡¯s a valuable experimental material, and they¡¯ve offered many conditions." Lin Hao grinned, and Chen Feng voiced his concern. "What if this consciousness collapses?" "As long as it doesn¡¯t completely disintegrate, it¡¯s fine." "Besides..." Lin Hao explained, "The military wants to use this to try and locate Utopia¡¯s deep sea center, to pinpoint the virtual network cluster storing source consciousness." "Maybe even Utopia¡¯s true headquarters." Oh? Chen Feng¡¯s eyes gleamed, realizing this was likely the City Joint Council¡¯s primary goal in making the deal. After all, only by destroying the virtual network cluster could they truly eliminate these consciousness-uploading Cyborgs. "Fine." Chen Feng nodded, agreeing readily. He had no mercy for a terrorist organization like Utopia. Moreover, in his view, sealing consciousness wasn¡¯t entirely reliable. If possible, destroying the source directly would be the most secure approach. "Alright, I¡¯ll discuss the terms with them later." "Besides money, is there anything else you need?" Lin Hao asked with a smile, and Chen Feng had already made up his mind. "High-grade metals. Titanium would be best." Money was enough for him. In contrast, exchanging resources to enhance his strength and grow his Steel Bones was far more important. "Got it." Lin Hao¡¯s eyes flickered, but he didn¡¯t ask further. The convoy soon arrived at Tian Hao Security¡¯s headquarters. Chen Feng asked one final question. "If Cyborgs can upload consciousness..." "What about ordinary people?" The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy, and Lin Hao knew what he was asking. "Ordinary people¡¯s bodies can¡¯t bear replicated consciousness. Only Cyborgs can." "So, those in high positions might have uploaded their source consciousness?" Chen Feng turned from the window. Just because they couldn¡¯t bear it didn¡¯t mean they couldn¡¯t upload it. If he had such an opportunity, he might consider uploading a copy of his consciousness, just in case of an accident, and then create a Cyborg body to carry his revival. Or perhaps, achieve immortality? Unconsciously, he felt a chill, suddenly remembering that this nation had a royal family. "Some people would make that choice." Lin Hao¡¯s tone wavered, and he sighed. The vehicle stopped, and Zhou Cheng and the security team stepped out, opening the doors. Lin Hao thought of his deceased loved one. "But nothing in this world is perfect." He shook his head, getting out and saying, "The line between a trap and freedom is often just a step away." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c236. [+5k Words] Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words. Chapter 170: Holy Shield Colossus, Enhance! [2.6k] Translator: CinderTL "Freedom and Traps" Back in his room at the Tian Hao Security building, Chen Feng stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the city''s nightscape. The city was ablaze with lights, and the flow of traffic never ceased. He realized that this world might be far more complex and mysterious than he had previously imagined. Alternative longevity, or even the uploading of consciousness for immortality. Or perhaps, hidden traps that would shackle one forever. In addition. "The Force Field device..." Chen Feng recalled his battle with Jin Wei. He hadn''t managed to penetrate the Level 4 Force Field; instead, he had exhausted Jin Wei''s energy before finally defeating him. If Level 4 already offered such formidable defense, what about Level 5, or even higher? Moreover, something Lin Hao had mentioned during their conversation had caught his attention. The Level 4 Force Field and Energy Device were the limits that a Titanium-grade Cyborg could withstand. Did this mean that beyond this, there were even higher-grade metals or other forms of augmentation? "Things are getting more and more interesting..." With a bright gaze, Chen Feng looked out at the city''s nightscape, his thoughts scattered. Far from feeling disappointment or frustration, a sense of curiosity about what lay beneath the surface of the world began to rise within him. Grandmaster was not the end; the potential of stronger technological augmentations was yet to be seen. Unbeknownst to him, a sense of ambition had taken root in his heart¡ªa desire to reach the pinnacle and a confidence in his ability to do so. With that, he suppressed his turbulent emotions. He turned his attention to the panel information. [Azure Armor LV4: 58/100] [Steel Bones LV3: 55/100] Even the arrogant Jin Wei had shown signs of fear in the end. As for Steel Bones, it had grown by 30 points thanks to the nourishment provided by his opponent. However, this wasn''t what Chen Feng was most concerned about. Because... [Heart of Glory LV3: 1/100] [You have obtained an opportunity to enhance the Holy Shield Colossus!] He had originally planned to enhance it in the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm, but through a twist of fate, he had returned to square one. Without further delay, he focused his gaze and made his decision. "Enhance!" A brilliant white light suddenly flashed in his mind. He could clearly feel the Holy Shield Colossus undergoing a transformation and becoming stronger. A sense of joy and satisfaction washed over him, a result of the resonance and communication through their spiritual link. After tidying up, he lay down on the bed. Curiosity filled Chen Feng, but he quickly suppressed his stray thoughts and closed his eyes. In no time, the world before him changed. His center of gravity shifted, and his feet touched the ground. Looking up, he saw dimly lit buildings and clusters of withered trees. The fog-shrouded Qinggang City once again came into view. Without wasting any time, Chen Feng leaped out from the high-rise residential building, his blood wings flapping as he soared to the top. Then, with a thought. A white light interspersed with golden patterns shot out from his forehead, materializing into a towering six-meter-tall giant. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a small diamond-shaped crystal embedded in the center of the Holy Shield Colossus''s dark golden stone helmet. The golden patterns on its chest and abdomen had expanded, winding around the thick limbs of the white-gray stone pillars like lines. The stone wings on its back also bore several thin golden lines. After a few seconds of staring, through their spiritual link. Chen Feng quickly understood the new changes in the Holy Shield Colossus. It possessed strength surpassing that of a Grandmaster, and the golden patterns on its body could transform into armor, providing powerful defense. The stone wings on its back could also be covered with golden patterns at critical moments, turning into sharp golden blades. Moreover, the most crucial point. Was the diamond-shaped crystal on its helmet. Perhaps it had enhanced the Holy Shield Colossus''s spiritual power, further solidifying the bond between them. As a result, Chen Feng could clearly feel that the energy consumption for summoning it had decreased significantly. The time limit, whether in reality or within Qinggang City, had increased to over twenty minutes. "Excellent!" Satisfied, Chen Feng nodded and immediately leaped onto the giant''s shoulders. The fog in the danger zone remained thick, housing many branches of the Extreme Martial Hall and numerous dangerous creatures stronger than Grandmasters, exceeding the fourth tier. With a flicker in his eyes, Chen Feng wasn''t in a hurry to test his limits. Instead, he turned his gaze to the edge of the safe zone. "I wonder if the Holy Shield Colossus can now break through the spatial barrier here?" The thought arose, and Chen Feng was eager to try. Although the danger zone wasn''t small, it was still limited in area. If he could expand his exploration range and break through the spatial barrier, he would undoubtedly gain access to more resources. Buzz! Immediately, he retracted the colossus to conserve energy and flew through the air with his blood wings alone. As buildings flashed by, he finally arrived at the nearest spatial barrier. With a thought, the white light interspersed with golden patterns condensed once more. Boom!!! It was as if a concrete block had struck the air, creating a shockwave and a dull reverberation. The windows of nearby buildings shattered, scattering debris everywhere. Chen Feng stared intently at the spot where the Holy Shield Colossus''s fist had landed. The empty air rippled densely, like waves on a calm water surface. "Continue!" Chen Feng''s eyes gleamed with excitement, clearly sensing an anomaly in the barrier here. Boom! Boom!! Boom!!! The Holy Shield Colossus unleashed a series of punches, causing the ripples in the air to grow denser, converging at a single point. But no matter how much the Holy Shield Colossus continued, even when he used Black Flash to join the attack. The spatial barrier remained intact, showing no signs of breaking. "It seems I''m still a bit short." Rather than feeling disappointed, Chen Feng nodded lightly. During his previous absorption of residual memories, he had learned something. The spatial barrier that enveloped the real world within the secret realm could also be broken from the inside. However, it required an immense amount of power concentrated at a single point to achieve this. Through his recent attempt, he had verified his theory and clearly sensed that whenever the Holy Shield Colossus struck the air here, the spatial barrier would show certain anomalies. It was as if there was an internal rule that automatically drew energy from intact areas to repair any damage, preventing breaches. "Perhaps after one or two more enhancements, the Holy Shield Colossus will be able to break free from the constraints of this place." Having found his answer, Chen Feng abandoned further exploration. He then retracted the Holy Shield Colossus and turned his gaze toward the fog-shrouded danger zone. He charged forward with unrelenting momentum. With a grin, he finally felt confident enough to cause some serious chaos. Whoosh!! The sound of his flight echoed as his figure grew increasingly distant. The commotion in the area gradually subsided, and everything seemed to return to normal. But... Beyond the spatial barrier, in the seemingly close neighboring street. A breeze blew past, and a figure clad in a gray cloak suddenly appeared, looking at the invisible barrier with confusion. "Was there an anomaly here just now?" --- Buzz! Opening his eyes, Chen Feng saw the familiar ceiling and curtains. The panel appeared before him, and he glanced at several pieces of information. [Extreme Martial Arts: 2] [Limit Breaking: 9] Having explored the danger zone up to the mid-periphery, he had relied on the Holy Shield Colossus to fend off other fifth-tier creatures, allowing him to obtain new Extreme Martial Arts and Limit Breaking points. Unfortunately, the masked man and the faceless ones hadn''t been as cooperative this time. They had been driven out of the Extreme Martial Hall''s location, forcing him to waste time searching before finally finding a shivering group of black ants in a corner of a building. In addition. "Heavenly Aura Overlord Body..." With a flicker in his eyes, Chen Feng thought of the incomplete iron manual he had scavenged. The second layer of the Meteor Sun technique in the Extreme Martial Fist was still incomplete. In contrast, the long-awaited Heavenly Aura Overlord Body was nearly complete, with only the final part of the first layer, "Mighty Arms," remaining. [Mighty Arms: Force tempering both arms, stimulating acupoints, requires secret medicine or high-grade Essence supplements to strengthen the body and aid cultivation...] [Once cultivated, one will possess immense strength, capable of hurling stars with mighty arms!] "I wonder when I''ll finally complete the first layer." Sighing, Chen Feng felt that the Heavenly Aura Overlord Body was the most suitable for him. Not for any other reason, but because of the 30% enhancement effect of the Steel Bone Talent. He was already a Physical Grandmaster; if he could further strengthen his body with this, the effect would be unimaginable. At that point, even a Level 4 Force Field might be within his power to break. Shaking his head in resignation, he realized that every time he explored the Extreme Martial Hall, he was merely relying on luck. He could only do his best to search; in comparison, the improvement of the Crimson Tiger Force was also crucial. [Crimson Tiger Force: Crimson Tiger (1%)+] "If I can perfect it, I''ll be able to break through the Gate of Qi..." "At that point, my strength will definitely reach a new level." Feeling increasingly that his Extreme Martial Arts and Limit Breaking points weren''t enough, Chen Feng subconsciously glanced at the snake-shaped pattern on his palm. If he went to the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm to scavenge again, would he be able to gain more resources and speed up his progress? With this in mind, he got up and tidied himself up. Now that he had become a Grandmaster and dealt with Jin Wei, it was time to return to the Flame Tiger Sect. Stepping out of the room. "Mr. Chen!" The suited bodyguard stationed outside stood as straight as a spear, bowing slightly upon seeing him. "The Chairman is waiting for you in the dining room. He invites you to join him for breakfast." "Alright." Chen Feng nodded and followed the bodyguard into a private dining area. This was part of Lin Hao''s luxurious lifestyle. As he put it, since he was now living and working at the company, he might as well treat himself well. "Good morning, Mr. Chen!" Several young men and women dressed in white shirts and vests were either busy at the food counter or standing guard at the entrance, greeting him respectfully. Lin Hao, dressed in a blue casual outfit, sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, sipping milk and scrolling through his phone. His brows furrowed and relaxed intermittently, and he only put his phone down when Chen Feng approached. "What''s the matter?" Chen Feng asked as a young, attractive waitress pulled out a red-patterned wooden chair for him to sit opposite Lin Hao. "Well, it''s not a big deal." Shaking his head, Lin Hao looked somewhat conflicted. Chen Feng always maintained a certain level of respect for his friends and wouldn''t casually probe their privacy. Without pressing further, he turned to the waiting waitress and ordered a simple breakfast of milk and bread. "Seriously, aren''t you curious?" Lin Hao, seeing that Chen Feng wasn''t planning to ask, felt a bit uncomfortable. "You''ll tell me if you want to." Chen Feng remained calm, then thanked the efficient waitress as she handed him a glass of warm milk. "Fine, I''ll tell you." Lin Hao lowered his voice, looking somewhat awkward. "That woman is coming." "?" Chen Feng frowned. "Who?" "That woman from the Black Crystal Group. You met her at Yun Port." Lin Hao looked utterly defeated, and Chen Feng suddenly remembered someone. The blonde woman who had helped him leave Yun Port. She appeared to be in her early twenties, but she had a strong, capable demeanor. "Who is she?" Chen Feng asked. He never forgot those who had shown him kindness. "The General Manager of the Black Crystal Group, Meng Anran." "Her father is the largest shareholder and current Chairman of the Black Crystal Group, but he''s handed over many responsibilities to her." Lin Hao explained, and Chen Feng noticed the odd expression on his face. "Do you have issues with her?" "Not exactly." Shaking his head helplessly, Lin Hao hesitated before continuing. "I''ve known her for a long time, but she''s crazy... She''s like the big sister in our circle, and everyone''s afraid of her. You get it, right?" "Ah." Chen Feng gulped down the milk in his glass, understanding what Lin Hao meant. He had already sensed that Lin Hao had connections in Yun Port; otherwise, he wouldn''t have known in advance about Chen Yun joining the national research project. This didn''t surprise him too much, but he was intrigued by the other information Lin Hao had revealed. From the way Lin Hao spoke. It seemed that he was somewhat intimidated by this blonde woman. Yet, all along, Lin Hao had always appeared confident and in control in front of him. "So why is she coming to Nanjiang?" Chen Feng gave him an out, focusing on his bread to change the subject. "Ugh, it''s all because of the mess in Nanjiang. The investment and business promotion brought the Black Crystal Group here." Lin Hao glanced out the window, sighing. "She probably knows I''m here, so she''s deliberately coming." "Of course, I think it might also have something to do with you..." Outside, flying cars zipped by, and many newly constructed buildings bore the logos of new companies. Lin Hao suddenly turned back, looking at Chen Feng with a knowing smile. "You''re now a Physical Grandmaster... She''s a shrewd one. She might want you to repay her favor." Chen Feng detected a hint of schadenfreude in his tone but didn''t pay it much mind. "I''ll repay what I owe." He was straightforward. As long as her request wasn''t excessive, he had no problem repaying the favor. In comparison... S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''m heading back to the Flame Tiger Sect today. I''ll leave the negotiations with the City Joint Council to you." He signaled the waitress to repeat his earlier breakfast order. Lin Hao was slightly surprised but quickly understood. The Flame Tiger Sect was still in turmoil, and now that he had become a Grandmaster, it was time to return and stabilize things. "Alright, I won''t keep you. It''s just a short trip anyway." "Is there anything else you need to tell me?" "Yes." Chen Feng nodded. "Two things. I need your help." "Go ahead." "First, help me find out where Martial Uncle Li Chenye has gone. I want to know his exact whereabouts." Chen Feng spoke calmly. This was the Third Elder''s request, and he knew that if his master woke up, he would also want to know the answer. He had suddenly disappeared during the sect''s crisis, and Chen Feng hoped it wasn''t a voluntary decision. "Got it." Lin Hao nodded, waiting for his second and final request. "Lastly... Please look into any methods that can help someone regain consciousness." Chen Feng turned to look out the window, where the vast sky was clear and blue, with clouds drifting over the mountain peaks. "My master is old." "But there are still some sights I want him to see." (End of the Chapter) --- Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c238. [+5.2k Words] Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words.