Translator: CinderTL
After the Black Tide ended, Chen Feng and the others stayed at the hotel in Suojia City for a few more days.
Meng Anran, Lin Hao, and the others were in no hurry to leave, and Xu Tingxiao and Cao Tong also safely reunited with them.
"Grandmaster Chen, during today's meeting, the Toran Sect expressed their deep gratitude for your and Yang Wudi's assistance and hope to convey their thanks."
"If you have any needs, please feel free to speak."
In the hotel conference room, most people were present.
Han Chao asked earnestly, while the young Flying General sitting at the center was engrossed in playing on his tablet, seemingly controlling a character to push towers.
Glancing at the game character the other person was controlling, Chen Feng, who was sitting across from him, didn't beat around the bush and spoke directly.
"I hope to obtain an Advanced Life Elixir."
"Additionally, my friend also contributed, but his Augmentation Module was slightly damaged. If there's any high-grade metal available, that would be ideal."
Chen Feng fabricated a friend out of thin air, but Han Chao and the others didn't seem to doubt him.
The Holy Shield Colossus had also contributed significantly, and its departure afterward was done quietly.
By all accounts, a Fifth-Tier Cyborg like this should have been registered and documented upon being seen. However, considering the role it played in this incident and the goodwill Chen Feng had established with the military, they didn't press further.
"No problem."
Han Chao nodded and noted it down, then turned to the person who had been sitting near Chen Feng the entire time, smoking a cigarette.
"Mr. Yang, what about you?"
"Simple, just help me arrange visas for the countries in the southwestern part of the Eastern Continent."
He said casually, flicking the ash from his cigarette into the ashtray.
"Oh?"
Everyone was puzzled. Han Chao wanted to ask more but felt it might be inappropriate.
Only Chen Feng's eyes flickered, as if he had guessed something.
"Suojia City has connections with major countries in the Eastern Continent, so this shouldn't be difficult."
"But, are you really only asking for this as compensation?" Han Chao probed.
"That's enough."
Yang Wudi nodded calmly, offering no further explanation.
The conversation proceeded smoothly, and at one point, Chen Feng asked a question.
"Could the Black Tide in this Secret Realm erupt again?"
This was a disaster, and it also meant that the Black Tide could appear on Earth at any time.
"Not for now."
With a serious expression, a military specialist activated a virtual screen and explained, "The Energy Node in this Secret Realm has disappeared. It's likely that the realm has been completely closed or has left Suro."
"Of course, other possibilities can't be ruled out, but after this incident, the Toran Sect will naturally be on high alert."
"Other countries have also received invitations from us and the Toran Sect, and we will discuss countermeasures in the follow-up."
He briefly mentioned a few points, and Chen Feng fell into thought.
This disaster was unprecedented in Earth's history and would undoubtedly be recorded in the annals. Moreover, this might just be the beginning of the Black Tide's appearance on Earth.
Other countries were surely feeling a sense of urgency and concern, wanting to observe and understand the situation.
In a way, this Black Tide Disaster served as a wake-up call.
Soon after, the meeting continued.
The military indicated they had confidential matters to discuss, so Chen Feng and the others nodded and left.
Outside the conference room, Cyborgs stood guard, with enhanced soldiers holding guns stationed every five or six steps.
The corridor had carved windows, and as they walked past, they could see that the riverside port had, at some point, been outfitted with a specially designed metal barrier.
At the shipping checkpoint and near the high-rise buildings, cranes and construction workers were busy repairing the structures.
At the same time, some people stood near the riverbank, their hands tightly clasped, as if in prayer or mourning.
Although the disaster had been controlled and repelled by them, many had still lost their lives.
"What's that?"
Suddenly, Lin Hao asked.
Everyone paused and looked in the direction he indicated.
By the riverbank, there was a small square where white doves occasionally landed and lingered.
Several masons and sculptors were moving about, and a few humanoid statues had been transported and placed there. Additionally, a large stone carving was being unloaded from a heavy truck by a crane.
"Those are items commissioned by the Toran Sect,"
He Jian, who had been accompanying them, explained. "The statues are modeled after Grandmaster Chen, Mr. Yang, and the Fifth-Tier Cyborgs who intervened at the time."
"As for the stone carving, it bears the names of the fallen warriors, a tribute to their sacrifice."
His tone was melancholic, and he sighed.
Upon hearing this, Chen Feng's gaze sharpened, clearly seeing a statue being unveiled, revealing a face.
It was an exact likeness of him, along with a scaled-down version of the Holy Shield Colossus.
"The Black Tide,"
Yang Wudi shook his head, averting his gaze from his own statue.
He pulled out a cigarette and lit it with a flick, the spark igniting.
With his hands tucked into his coat pockets, he walked ahead of the group and returned to his room.
A day later.
Several aircraft left Suojia City and arrived above the city defense checkpoint of Pula City.
The military camp stationed below had expanded somewhat since their departure, with armored vehicles and camouflaged heavy trucks neatly lined up. Occasionally, cyborgs and cyborg weapons could be seen moving about.
"You haven't reached the Pinnacle Realm, yet you managed to defeat a Fifth-Tier Cyborg?"
On the way back, Lin Hao had privately learned about Chen Feng's situation and was astonished.
He had always thought the Pinnacle Realm was equivalent to the Fifth Tier.
"Yang Wudi is at the Pinnacle Realm, but I believe he has surpassed that level,"
Chen Feng shook his head, not intending to boast.
But Lin Hao had asked him several times out of curiosity, and he had finally revealed some details.
There weren't many people in the aircraft, as Meng Anran and the Black Crystal Group had stayed behind in Suojia City.
"Wow, it seems your limits are terrifyingly strong!"
"Doesn't that mean if you break through to the Pinnacle Realm, you'd be almost comparable to some Flying Generals?"
After his initial shock, Lin Hao was filled with envy and admiration, his gaze toward Chen Feng now tinged with fervor.
Flying Generals were the highest combat force in a province, among the most powerful figures.
In the entire Feng Province, aside from a couple of Council Speaker-level figures and military elites, there were hardly any constraints.
As for the large corporations, most didn't have cyborgs and cyborg weapons at this level.
Firstly, resources were limited, and the higher-ups hadn't allocated the corresponding quotas to them.
Secondly, those who could withstand Sixth-Tier modifications were exceedingly rare, and they were mostly absorbed by the military and the Red Guard.
"Is that so?"
Learning these things from Lin Hao, Chen Feng pondered thoughtfully.
Then, recalling the distinctions he had noticed among Fifth-Tier cyborgs, he grew more curious.
"The Fifth Tier? Indeed, there are levels within it."
"As far as I know, there are ordinary Fifth-Tier, strong Fifth-Tier, and peak Fifth-Tier,"
Lin Hao, standing by the aircraft window, shared what he knew without holding back.
"The Radiant Grade Titanium Module is the threshold for the Fifth Tier and the foundation for all devices and weapon systems."
"But the strength of different Armament Modules varies. For example, some might have a Level 5 Energy Device and a Level 5 Force Field, which is the standard for an ordinary fifth-tier."
"Beyond that, some Armament Modules might include energy Sniper Cannons or special energy technologies."
"Others might even incorporate Stellar Titanium directly into the module, making their physical defense much stronger. It's difficult for an ordinary fifth-tier to break through such defenses."
Lin Hao explained, and Chen Feng nodded, his doubts dissipating.
By this comparison, Onit should be at the level of a normal fifth-tier, approaching a strong fifth-tier.
"What about the sixth-tier?"
He asked, thinking of the Flying General, Wang Cheng.
The other party was clearly stronger than Yang Wudi.
"I'm not sure about that, but it should be similar to the fifth-tier."
Lin Hao speculated, and Chen Feng nodded, not pressing further. Shortly after, the aircraft passed through the checkpoint between Pula City and Luohe.
Chen Feng stood by the window and saw figures below. His senses tingled slightly as a young man waved, seemingly celebrating a triumphant return.
He nodded lightly in response, unsure if the other could see him.
Whoosh!!
The air currents surged as the aircraft headed straight for Nanjiang, passing by Luohe.
The conversation inside the cabin suddenly paused, and Chen Feng also noticed, turning his gaze outside.
Cars came and went, and tall buildings stood densely.
The elevated highways intertwined with the clusters of buildings, while people on the streets laughed, relaxed, held hands, or waited for buses in the crowded areas.
But unlike usual.
The streetlights and the doors of many shops were adorned with festive red decorations.
"It's almost New Year."
Lin Hao's gaze was complex as he sighed.
The others in the cabin also looked out in silence. The city was peaceful, with red decorations everywhere.
The usually congested roads seemed much wider, and the number of vehicles on the streets had noticeably halved.
Children chased each other playfully, while elderly people sat at their doorsteps, seemingly waiting for the return of their loved ones.
"New Year..."
Chen Feng's eyes flickered, momentarily lost in thought.
The events in Suro had been so sudden that he had almost forgotten about this.
Peace and tranquility—compared to this, Suojia City had been like a living hell.
Hum!!
Instantly, the aircraft accelerated, heading straight for a low hill in the outskirts of Nanjiang.
Looking down from above, a cluster of ancient-style buildings stood on the mountaintop clearing.
Pavilions, terraces, small courtyards, and ponds—everywhere was decorated with lanterns and festive red.
From a distance, one could even see figures moving about within.
"Jushan, why haven't the couplets been put up here yet?"
"Coming, coming, right away."
"Senior Brother Wei, where are the Sect Master and the Third Elder? It's time to invite them."
"Right away, right away."
Amid the responses, Lin Xiaoyun, one of the four True Disciples, dressed in a red palace gown, accompanied a girl in a white down jacket to the courtyard hall.
"Xiao Yun, just treat this place as your home."
"No need to be reserved."
She smiled gently, her tone soft and warm, while another female disciple brewed tea for Chen Yun nearby.
Chen Yun seemed a bit uncomfortable but nodded in thanks and sat on the wooden chair.
Noticing her worry and distracted state, Lin Xiaoyun smiled softly and comforted her, "Are you worried about Junior Brother Chen?"
"Yes."
Chen Yun didn't hide it, putting down her teacup and looking outside.
The sky was a clear blue, with white clouds drifting lazily.
She said with concern, "I heard something happened again in Suro. The Platinum Federation bombed Dowa Snow Mountain."
"Although Xiaofeng is in Luohe, it's been too long since he was at the border."
"I'm afraid..."
She didn't finish, but Lin Xiaoyun understood her meaning.
"Don't worry."
"Junior Brother Chen is very capable now. He'll be fine."
Chen Yun nodded gently, accepting the other's reassurance.
But whether he was capable or impressive, she still believed that safety was the most important thing.
For a moment, the hall fell into brief silence.
Until finally, a black dot appeared in the sky, accompanied by the roaring sound of an aircraft's airwaves.
Chen Yun looked up and soon heard the cheers and shouts from the Flame Tiger Sect.
"He's back!"
"Senior Brother is back!!"
Cheers and celebrations erupted everywhere.
Chen Yun's worry and relief, Master Li Tong's deep satisfaction, Third Martial Uncle's hopeful words.
One by one, the True Disciples busied themselves, laughing heartily.
Amid the booming sounds of fireworks, Chen Feng returned to his small courtyard house, silently savoring this rare moment of peace and relaxation.
Unconsciously, the Flame Tiger Sect had become an inseparable part of him.
The people and events here had accompanied him step by step since his days of weakness.
For a moment, his emotions were complex, and he thought of the Black Tide he had encountered in Suojia City.
What if one day, Nanjiang faced a similar situation?
What if the Flame Tiger Sect was pulled into a Secret Realm, invaded by the Black Tide, and faced a scene of apocalypse?
Could he really hold on? The thought flashed through his mind, and Chen Feng clenched his fist slightly.
Before his eyes, numerous prompts flashed by, all gains from the Black Tide.
[Power of the Dead: 970/100]
[Serpent Spirit Power: 910/100]
Killing inhuman monsters had granted him a large amount of Evil God Power.
The numbers in the prompts should have been even higher, but a significant portion was missing for a simple reason.
[You have obtained the Dark Dream Mark!]
[Effect: A special ability nurtured by a large amount of Evil God Power. You can use this to remain in a dream state within a Secret Realm!]
The explanation was simple, with no strange traces or patterns appearing.
But Chen Feng instantly understood the function of this ability.
Every time he traveled to other Secret Realms, it was only for a few days before he would awaken.
The Dark Dream Mark, however, allowed him to stay in the Secret Realm by consuming Evil God Power when he returned.
"There is an effect. My physical body, which should have awakened, will remain asleep until I choose to return."
"But it's not too bad. After choosing to stay, I can awaken at any time."
The moment the ability appeared, Chen Feng intuitively grasped its key aspects.
Not in a hurry to try it out, he then looked at the biggest gain from this journey.
[Heart of Glory LV4: 21/100]
After experiencing such a massive event as the Black Tide, and killing a creature close to the peak of the fifth tier, as well as several other inhuman beings, he had only gained 20 points of Glory progress.
The reason, aside from the fact that others had also contributed significantly, was that the Holy Shield Colossus was now too powerful.
[Prompt: Unable to act during transformation.]
In his mind, the brilliant golden light mixed with ash-gray, and the Holy Shield Colossus, now shrunk countless times, folded its wings and curled up into a ball, hugging its knees.
Before returning, he had initiated its upgrade and transformation, but it clearly required a lot of time, and it still hadn't finished.
The situation was completely different from before. Chen Feng speculated that this transformation might make him significantly stronger.
"Perhaps, it could reach the level of the sixth tier."
His eyes flickered with a strong premonition.
The gap between the sixth tier and the fifth tier was immense, as evident from the comparison between Yang Wudi and ordinary fifth-tier individuals.
Therefore, he had no doubt about the transformative potential of the Holy Shield Colossus.
A sixth-tier colossus!
His greatest confidence and most trusted companion!
(End of the Chapter)
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