Translator: CinderTL
Whoosh!!
Amidst the howling wind, a bear-like figure slid down the snowy cliff, eventually reaching a flat area.
The surroundings were blanketed in pure white snow, with flames raging on the cliff, cries of agony echoing everywhere, and debris scattered in all directions.
Yet, he remained utterly indifferent, his entire body stained with blood, even a severed hand hanging from his foot.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Soon, more movements followed.
One after another, cyborgs descended from the mountainside using force fields and tools, appearing nearby.
The circular pattern on their left chests was directly engraved on their augmentation modules, making them particularly conspicuous.
"Master Onit, should we retreat?"
There was no response. Onit, towering over two meters tall, had a grim expression. His tattered jacket was torn off and discarded.
The chest hair on his synthetic skin was exposed as a device inside him activated.
Zzzzt! A force field enveloped his entire body, causing all the blood to slide off and soak into the snow.
Then, he looked up towards the mountainside hundreds of meters away.
An elderly figure seemed to stand near the snowy mountain structure, at the edge of the cliff, coldly gazing in their direction.
"Pinnacle Realm Master..."
Onit glanced at the left side of his bare chest, where a fist imprint was deeply embedded, nearly piercing through his Radiant Alloy.
"Onit, retreat!"
"That Flying General has gone berserk; the Platinum Federation has already left!"
A crisp female voice came through the communication module, and Onit was visibly displeased.
"Weren't we supposed to hold them off? Why is it ending so quickly?"
He still wanted to kill a Pinnacle Realm Master. Even though the dent in his chest didn't hurt, he wanted to vent his frustration.
"That Flying General is stronger than the intel suggested!"
"Anyway, the Secret Realm Node has been destroyed. Stop dawdling and retreat! The Radiant Alloy in the base is limited, don't forget!"
The crisp female voice turned cold as well. Onit's eyes flickered, his scanning module still locked onto the elderly figure on the cliff.
"What about that kid?"
He hadn't forgotten one of the objectives of this mission.
Yet, he couldn't find any trace of the target.
"He's left Dowa Snow Mountain. Come back first!"
"Repair your damage first; I'm confident I can find him."
"Alright."
Onit finally responded in a low voice, then led his cyborg subordinates, stepping on the snow, activating their energy, and swiftly departing.
Seeing this, the elderly Pinnacle Realm Master on the cliff hesitated, his eyes flickering.
Behind him, two Grandmasters appeared, clutching their chests and broken arms, their eyes filled with hatred and unwillingness as they watched the cyborgs leave.
High above, a black Flying Eagle appeared, its eyes reflecting the scene of half-collapsed buildings and raging flames.
Suro people screamed and wailed within, their voices tearing through the air.
"It was too sudden."
That night, Xu Tingxiao and the others returned to the hotel.
He Jian from the military was also there, clearly aware of the events at Dowa Snow Mountain, his expression heavy.
The Platinum Federation's actions were undeniably ruthless.
No one expected them to choose to destroy the Secret Realm Node, preventing anyone from entering.
And then there was Utopia.
It was thought that the Dowa Sect had allied with the Platinum Federation, yet they were still attacked.
Who would believe that the Platinum Federation wasn't behind this?
"How are the casualties?"
Chen Feng asked, and He Jian sighed.
"After all, we're not in the Red Nation, and we have many constraints here. We can't expand the airspace alert range."
"The aerial bombing was too sudden, but fortunately, we had already prepared for the worst-case scenario. At the critical moment, the force field protection was activated, controlling the casualties."
"Most of the injured were those who left the force field area."
He didn't answer directly, but Chen Feng already understood the implication.
"What about Captain Han Chao?" he thought of the special forces captain who had shown him kindness.
"He only suffered minor injuries."
He Jian explained, "Captain Han had several Cyborgs with him, and the main target of that Onit wasn't him."
"However, I heard that two of the five Grandmasters from Suro's Mystic Mark Schools died, including that Walong."
He glanced at Chen Feng, but the latter merely nodded calmly.
The room fell silent again, and after a few more words, everyone gradually dispersed.
"Senior Brother, I'll go check on the shipping customs and defense."
Xu Tingxiao said, indicating that Grandmaster Flying Eagle was still there and he wanted to lend a hand.
Chen Feng nodded, and once again, he was alone in the room.
Outside, the night grew darker. He exhaled a turbid breath, forcing himself to suppress those unnecessary thoughts.
The Platinum Federation, Utopia—he could foresee that after this incident, the situation would likely become turbulent again.
"After dealing with Demon Moon, I'll return to Nanjiang."
With his mind made up, he finally drew the curtains and lay down on the bed.
Gata hadn't responded yet, perhaps he hadn't returned to Banli Port, and going there would inevitably delay things.
As for the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm.
He had two more chances to enter, and he had already reached the limit of the fourth-tier Life Seed Awakening Method.
According to Molly, within the Holy City, there should be fifth-tier, or even higher, Awakening Method inheritances.
But "there's no rush for now."
"Even if I obtain it, I won't be able to break through again in a short time."
Chen Feng's plan was clear, and he ultimately decided to focus on improving his Extreme Martial Fist.
He believed that the Falling Sun level would bring about a new transformation, and its power would surely surpass the ordinary.
Suddenly, his eyes closed.
His consciousness gradually sank, enveloped in mist.
But soon.
"Hmm?"
Opening his eyes, Chen Feng suddenly realized something was wrong.
The white sheets and blankets, the black wardrobe, the wall-mounted LCD TV with a black screen—was this a hotel room?
Everything was familiar, yet he was certain he was in a dream, already asleep.
Everything seemed completely frozen, the phone next to the pillow was black and unresponsive.
Frowning slightly, Chen Feng amplified his senses.
In the neighboring rooms, Cao Tong and He Jian were nowhere to be found.
Even the entire hotel was empty, as if the world had been reduced to just him.
"A dream..."
His eyes flickered, and Chen Feng narrowed his gaze.
He recalled a moment from when he was still weak.
Back then, he hadn't yet become a direct disciple, and his strength was only at a professional level.
That night, the Serpent Spirit Sect was annihilated by the United Coalition, causing quite a stir.
It was at that moment he saw a dream of reality, just like the current situation.
However, there was one difference.
Back then, he heard a distant, massive roar, as if a Giant Python had awakened.
But now, there was no anomaly at all.
"Is it the Serpent Spirit Sect? Or is it another Evil God Cult causing trouble?"
Chen Feng speculated silently, then tried to get up.
There was no obstruction, just like the dream in Qinggang City.
Then, he walked to the window and looked outside.
Everything was exactly the same as before he fell asleep.
Cars were parked below the hotel, and neon lights flickered between the crowded high-rises.
In the cement buildings at the edge, a newspaper was swept up by the night wind and then fell back to the ground.
But.
"Not a single person?" Chen Feng confirmed his thoughts once more, then pushed open the window. His feet were covered with Force, and he leaped continuously, landing on the rooftop of the hotel.
The entire Suojia City was laid out before his eyes.
The group light signs of the high-rises, the greenery and streetlights on the asphalt roads.
The older cement districts at the edges, the wide river that encircled most of the city, and the steel bridge that spanned the river.
It was as if a silent city had emerged, with faint black mist floating in the air.
Chen Feng's thoughts raced until, finally, an unusual sound broke the silence.
Crack!
In the silent city, it was so abrupt, so piercing.
Chen Feng's alertness surged, and he followed the sound.
Above the wide river, at the same height as the steel bridge.
A tiny black dot appeared, and the surrounding space seemed to crack like glass.
"What is that?"
Chen Feng's pupils contracted as he tried to investigate.
But soon, the mist rolled in, enveloping the world.
His vision suddenly shifted, as if the city's shadow had overlapped.
Buzz! Suojia City disappeared, replaced by a city that was all too familiar.
Qinggang City! Chen Feng was taken aback.
"So, was that just a dream of Earth?"
"And now, this is another world?"
The speculation arose, but the more he thought about it, the less he could find an answer.
"Perhaps tomorrow I can ask if there's an Evil God Cult in Suojia City."
Chen Feng thought, finally suppressing the unnecessary distractions and focusing on the danger zone ahead.
Martial Halls were becoming fewer, and he needed to hurry.
Whoosh!!! The next morning.
The red sun rose, casting a crimson reflection on the surface of the Suro River.
Steel cargo ships were docked at the pier, crowded and queued, waiting for the lifting of the traffic ban.
Cars traveled back and forth on the bridge, and figures on motorcycles and bicycles appeared.
But when he looked at the empty space above the river nearby.
There was nothing, and he could see the other half of the riverbank across the Suro River.
"Indeed, reality and dreams are not the same."
The thought flashed, and Chen Feng finally withdrew his gaze, looking at the panel.
[Extreme Martial Fist: Meteor (92%)+]
"Almost there."
The breakthrough was getting closer, just within these two days.
Chen Feng was somewhat expectant. He hoped to touch his limits again and see where his bottleneck truly lay.
A Radiant Alloy Physical Body, fifth-tier strength.
Even so, he was still a bit short of his limit.
Then, he stopped overthinking.
After washing up and getting ready, he pushed open the door.
Cao Tong and the others had taken turns guarding the shipping checkpoint last night. Pei Pokong hadn't returned, but Zhou Wuren was still there, though he had sent his disciples out.
Click! Then, the door opened.
Zhou Wuren seemed to have noticed he was up and also stepped out.
"Let's go together."
He said with a smile, clearly waiting for him on purpose.
Looking down, the bandages on his hand had been removed, the bluish-purple on his palm had mostly faded, and the flesh had already scabbed over and healed significantly.
After all, he was a Grandmaster and had unlocked his Physical Body, so his recovery was naturally vigorous.
"Alright."
Chen Feng nodded, and the two of them walked along the corridor together, taking the elevator to the third floor.
This was the location of the restaurant, which occupied a vast area.
A brown patterned carpet was neatly laid out, with rows of wooden chairs placed on both sides.
At the entrance, waiters dressed in shirts and suits greeted them respectfully, while the dining area was filled with steaming hot food.
There were hot porridge and steamed buns from the Red Nation, as well as local pastries and bread from Suro. At this moment, some people were already seated in the restaurant, mostly locals from Suro, with a few from the Platinum Federation and other countries.
Most of them were business elites on work trips, while a small number were tourists.
Tap, tap.
Then, footsteps sounded.
Chen Feng and his companion entered the restaurant, their foreign appearance drawing curious glances from a few individuals.
"Grandmaster Chen, Grandmaster Zhou."
He Jian was also having breakfast here, along with the young Yao Wei.
"Deputy Captain He."
Chen Feng and his companion nodded in acknowledgment and naturally sat down at the table next to them.
He Jian was almost finished with his breakfast, while Yao Wei quickly went to the dining area, selected some food, and brought it over, piling it high for Chen Feng and his companion.
"Thank you."
Chen Feng nodded, noticing Yao Wei's nervousness and unease.
The young man quickly waved his hands, and He Jian, sitting beside him, smiled and spoke.
"Xiao Wei has been waiting here for you two for a while. He was just hesitating whether to bring the food to your rooms."
Zhou Wuren was surprised, then shook his head with a smile.
"That's thoughtful of you."
He knew it was the young man's nervousness—the more he cared, the more tense he became.
"Take a seat."
Chen Feng spoke softly to him, offering reassurance.
Over the past two days, he had already investigated the young man's background through military channels.
The Flame Tiger Sect was a small, long-declined martial arts sect in the southern Martial Arts World. Yao Wei's master had stumbled upon its legacy over a decade ago, later coming to Suro to make a living, settling here, and opening a Martial Hall.
Things hadn't gone smoothly, and the details matched what Yao Wei had mentioned. His background was clean, making him a suitable candidate to join the Flame Tiger Sect.
Soon, the group stopped teasing Yao Wei, and the conversation subtly shifted.
"The envoy at the embassy has already communicated with the Toran Sect. They've agreed to increase the level of city defense and shipping customs in the next few days."
"Additionally, they'll dispatch a certain number of patrol officers and cyborgs to search the entire city and issue a warrant for Demon Moon."
"Oh?" Chen Feng was somewhat surprised.
He had expected some resistance, but he hadn't anticipated it would go so smoothly.
After all, the shipping on the Suro River was a major source of local income. With so many cargo ships queued up, stricter measures would inevitably slow down the process, creating significant pressure.
And the city-wide manhunt would also consume considerable resources.
"There's no other way. The incident at Dowa Snow Mountain yesterday was too big."
"Perhaps the Dowa Sect's fate was too tragic, so the Toran Sect has become more cautious toward the Platinum Federation and more amicable toward us."
"Moreover, there's been another outbreak of unrest downstream of the Suro River, and the situation is quite severe. There might be local hidden dangers as well, which is why they're going along with it."
So that was the reason.
"However, they still plan to lift the ban tomorrow and allow cargo ships to pass."
"We might need to increase the inspection efforts at the maritime checkpoints."
He Jian spoke seriously, and Chen Feng knew he had done his best.
Nodding, Chen Feng then mentioned that he wanted to visit the Shark Gang's location today.
This was the bait on the surface, and at the very least, they needed to test the waters.
"No problem, I'll arrange it right away."
"The Langor Group Company behind the Shark Gang has also been persuaded by the Toran Sect. As long as we don't go too far, they won't interfere."
Everything was going smoothly, and Chen Feng nodded slightly.
Finally, during the meal conversation, he recalled his dream from yesterday.
"Deputy Captain He."
"Do you know if there's an Evil God Cult in Suojia City?"
(End of the Chapter)
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