Translator: CinderTL
In the heart of the Serpent Spirit Continent, within a massive pyramid-shaped structure built of square stone blocks, powerful Serpentfolk warriors clad in dark golden armor and wielding long spears patrolled the tiered steps.
In the central hollowed-out area, several stone statues stood unyielding.
Besides the largest, circular statue that dominated the center, seven other serpent-shaped statues of various forms surrounded it.
Beneath each statue, a bone token bearing the names of various Saints could be seen.
Some were fearsome and violent like Winged Serpents, while others were cold and deathly still, with horns sprouting from their heads.
Yet amidst this scene, a group of hooded figures in black robes knelt before the statues, chanting hymns to the Serpent God's greatness and the legendary past of his Pseudo-Angels, as if in prayer.
"You are all-powerful, one of the origins of chaos."
"You are the creator of the Star Realm's cycle, the first beginning of all civilizations."
Their solemn, low voices echoed through the space, imbued with an indescribable sense of eerie solemnity.
This contradictory scene, strangely harmonious, should have continued indefinitely.
But then—
Crack!!
An unnatural sound echoed through the chamber.
The solemn chanting abruptly ceased as every Serpentfolk in black robes turned their gaze toward the stone statue ahead.
Nothing seemed amiss, yet—
Crack, crack!
The sound of shattering continued, drawing the eyes of several Serpentfolk downward.
In an instant, their pupils constricted, locking onto the base of a majestic, boundless serpent statue that resembled the Lord of Earth Rock.
The bone token, representing the soul of a Saint, was cracking apart.
"This!!"
Some Serpentfolk paled, while the ancient Serpentfolk kneeling alone in the front narrowed his eyes.
A sense of unease washed over them. Then, the shattering sound echoed again.
Someone's heart skipped a beat as they focused their gaze once more.
Beneath the statue of the Winged Serpent King, the Saint's token inscribed with the characters "Man'gu" was also cracking apart.
Buzz!!
An invisible gale sliced through the clouds.
After days of travel, even activating the Dark Dream Mark, Chen Feng stood atop the shoulder of the Holy Shield Colossus, having traversed countless desert oases, mountain ranges, and forests.
The Holy City was no longer far off, and during their journey, they encountered numerous Serpentfolk patrols.
"Lord Kali, there's a Serpentfolk patrol below. Shall we engage?"
Someone suddenly spoke up, having spotted dozens of Serpentfolk moving through the mountain range below.
"Make it quick."
Kali, perched atop a massive Flying Eagle nearby, nodded in approval.
Screech!!
In an instant, the Flying Eagle screeched and dove down.
A Fifth-Tier commander, leading several Fourth-Tier warriors, descended like heavenly troops. Within mere breaths, they annihilated the entire Serpentfolk patrol, a force not to be underestimated.
Chen Feng watched silently from above, making no move to intervene.
However, the scenes he had witnessed along the way caused him to frown slightly, sensing something amiss.
"After we left," Olon said gravely from his perch on the Flying Eagle beside Chen Feng, "the Holy City may have been plunged into another war."
Molly and the other Holy City warriors shared similar thoughts. The closer they got to the Holy City, the more Serpentfolk patrols they encountered. This was a clear sign of another large-scale siege.
"These inhuman monsters are determined to wear us down!" someone clenched their fist, their face grim and heavy with a sense of oppression.
Population, resources...
Each war drained the Holy City's strength.
If this continued, even with their unwavering dedication, they would eventually exhaust their last reserves and blood.
A heavy silence fell. The elite warriors on the ground quickly cleaned the battlefield before returning to their ranks on the Flying Eagles.
"Do all Eight Great Tribes of the Serpentfolk have their own Saints?"
Sensing the suppressed emotions, Chen Feng voiced his doubts.
The Holy City's situation seemed overly passive.
He even wondered how this human Holy Land had survived for so many years.
"All Eight Great Tribes possess the Serpent Spirit Bloodline, so their line of Saints never dies out," Olon replied gravely, without hiding the truth. "Whenever their Great Priest dies, a Fifth-Tier Elder within the tribe receives a divine revelation, making it easier for them to break through compared to Serpentfolk from smaller tribes."
This was common knowledge within the Holy City, hardly a secret.
Chen Feng remained silent for a moment, but a certain speculation began to form in his mind.
He had witnessed the Holy Sword's power firsthand. At least most Saints couldn't withstand its strikes.
Perhaps this was the reason the Holy City had endured for so long. Or perhaps there were even more formidable hidden strengths?
The thought flashed through his mind, and he glanced at the green vine-armored woman on another giant Flying Eagle nearby.
This woman, Kali, the Thorn Legion Commander, hadn't spoken much throughout the journey.
He had initially found her behavior somewhat unusual, but after several days of observation using his Perception, he hadn't detected anything strange.
He had also learned more about the patterns on her face.
They were marks of Kali's innate ability to communicate with plants, present since her birth.
"What about the Serpent God Temple?" Chen Feng asked, continuing his interrogation.
He hadn't seen Huorong or the Great Priest of the Black Blade Tribe near the barrier. It was clear that these tribal Saints weren't entirely aligned with the temple.
"The Serpent God Temple has at least seven Saint Elder figures, acting as representatives of the Serpent God and the Pseudo-Angels."
"Furthermore, there's a Great Elder, rumored to be a being beyond the Saint level."
Olon spoke truthfully, and the group resumed their journey, cutting through the clouds.
Above the Saint realm? Chen Feng was slightly taken aback.
He recalled the information he had researched on the Evil God Cult back on Earth, particularly the Serpent Spirit Sect.
The Serpent God had seven angels under his command, and the Winged Serpent King was one of them.
Even the fraction of his power that had descended already surpassed the Sixth-Tier. It was hard to imagine the level of his full strength.
As if sensing his curiosity, Kali, who had remained silent throughout the journey, suddenly turned to him and spoke.
"Those above the Saint realm are known as angels."
"Above them are the King of Angels, also called Demigods."
Her tone remained as flat as ever, as if that was simply her nature.
Yet Chen Feng detected a hint of worry in her expression.
If they were to be compared, an angel would be at least a true Seventh-Tier entity.
As for the King of Angels...
His gaze grew solemn, and Chen Feng suddenly understood the situation in the Holy City.
This only deepened his confusion.
How had the Holy City managed to endure for so many years against such a formidable enemy, relying solely on the Holy Sword?
"You must be wondering why the Holy City has endured for so long despite the Serpentfolk's immense power," Kali said, shaking her head and adding a hint of nostalgia to her voice.
"According to ancient texts, the Serpentfolk's angels suffered severe injuries during the destruction of the Ancient Taiduo human empire, forcing them into a deep slumber."
"There are also rumors that they were exiled to the Star Realm along with fragments of the continent, lost and unable to return."
"As for the Grand Elder of the Serpent God Temple, he merely achieved a forced promotion to Pseudo-Angel through the Serpent God's Blessing."
With these few sentences, Chen Feng nodded thoughtfully, finally grasping the key.
The angels were gone, and the Serpent God was asleep.
While the Serpentfolk were powerful, their strongest individuals had never truly surpassed the Sixth-Tier.
Without further questions, the group soon caught sight of the magnificent city in the distance.
Towering mountains loomed like giant beasts at the world's edge, and the gray-white mountain city clung to the slopes, seemingly constructed from an incredibly sturdy stone.
Its surface was etched with blue, rune-like patterns that seemed poised to unleash immense power at any moment.
Buzz!
The fierce wind beneath the clouds whipped against Chen Feng's face, causing his brown hemp robe to flutter wildly.
Squinting slightly, he could make out Flying Eagles circling above the Holy City, with figures moving below.
At the highest point of the city, atop the mountain, stood a magnificent palace. A figure clad in Golden Armor seemed to be standing before it, gazing distantly toward them.
"Adams," Chen Feng recalled the name of the Falcon Corps Legion Commander in his mind, then turned his gaze toward the Holy City's exterior.
A thousand meters away, a black fortress wall stretched across the horizon like a great wall, separating the inner and outer worlds.
Warriors who had trained in the awakening method moved within its defenses. Behind them lay vast, fertile fields and lush vegetation.
This was the last Holy Land of humanity on the Serpent Spirit Continent.
But...
Looking beyond the black wall, Chen Feng saw the scattered remains of Serpentfolk and Holy City warriors.
Some were clearing the battlefield, where fresh blood stained the earth anew.
Others, their limbs severed, were being carried away for treatment.
Amid the crackling flames, piles of corpses slowly melted, sending wisps of smoke rising into the sky. The earth, riddled with holes, appeared even more desolate.
"As expected," Olon said, his face grim. Everything matched their earlier speculations.
The Flying Eagle Beast slowly descended, then passed through the black castle's defenses to reach the camp behind it.
"Lord Kali is back!"
"Guard Captain Olon!"
Many warriors turned their heads, some shouting in surprise and hurrying to greet them.
Soon, a towering figure emerged from the central camp tent. He carried a massive shield, three or four meters across, and was none other than another Saint of the Holy City: Corps Commander Di Yan, Yan Le.
"Kali, Lord Feng Chen." His voice was deep and resonant, shaking the air.
His face was somewhat plump, making him appear to be in his thirties. He visibly relaxed, clearly relieved that Kali and the others had returned safely.
"Corps Commander Di Yan," Chen Feng replied with a nod. Then, Kali and the others stepped forward to inquire about the war situation.
"We've repelled them," the Corps Commander rumbled, his expression grim. "But something feels wrong. The Serpentfolk are gathering their forces more and more frequently, which is highly unusual."
In the past, the Holy City had fought wars with the Eight Great Tribes, but such frequent clashes were rare. After all, prolonged sieges inflicted heavy losses on the Serpentfolk, and the major tribes wouldn't want to exhaust their strength and weaken themselves.
"Perhaps Adams's speculation was correct," Kali suddenly said, causing the Corps Commander to stiffen slightly.
He quickly recovered, his expression shifting.
Both fell strangely silent after that, Chen Feng suspecting it was because he was present.
Finally, Kali spoke again.
"Lord Feng Chen, we haven't forgotten our agreement. We will bring you the complete Sacred Flame Method tomorrow."
She sensed Chen Feng's reluctance to enter the Holy City, so she didn't press him further.
Chen Feng was naturally pleased. After a simple acknowledgment, he followed Molly and Olon toward the wooden cabin where he had once lived.
The space was ample, furnished with a wooden bed and table. The wooden window was half-open, allowing fresh air to circulate freely.
During this time, Molly left alone and returned carrying a small wooden box.
With a fluttering of stone wings, the Small Stone Statue also spun into the room and landed on the table.
"Master Feng Chen, this is what you asked me to keep safe," Molly said seriously as she entered the cabin and set down the box.
Chen Feng was momentarily stunned before realizing what it was. Through his Perception, he could see the contents: two Serpent Spirit Fruits.
Before they had parted ways after leaving the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm, he had specifically instructed Molly to preserve the Serpent Spirit Fruits separately during the Serpent-Folk Tribe's annihilation.
Later, after he was ambushed by the Serpent God Temple, Molly and the others were forced to retreat back to the Holy City.
Two Serpent Spirit Fruits was already a pleasant surprise.
"Thank you for your hard work," Chen Feng said, accepting the wooden box.
Molly waved her hand dismissively, indicating it was no trouble. She also tactfully refrained from asking about the Serpent Spirit Fruits.
She then watched him leave.
Chen Feng opened the wooden box, then closed it again.
There was no need to consume the Serpent Spirit Fruits immediately. Instead, he was more curious about his current Azure Armor Talent.
Buzz!
With a thought, the black armor on the back of his hand emerged automatically, spreading across his body like liquid.
His single horn stood proudly, piercing the sky. Using his Perception, Chen Feng could clearly see that the color of the armor had deepened several shades.
The joints at his elbows and knees now had square protrusions, and the red horn-like pattern on his chest was more vibrant.
The changes might seem subtle, but the overall defensive power and strength enhancement of the Azure Armor had increased again.
Based on a preliminary estimate, even without entering the Limit Break State, the armor's hardness alone surpassed that of ordinary Stellar Grade Titanium.
Furthermore, the blood-veined wings had undergone subtle changes, appearing more transparent and thin as cicada wings.
Each wing now bore a curved crimson streak, resembling a razor-sharp blade.
Buzz!
In an instant, his figure flickered, teleporting several meters.
Crimson veins of light flashed past, though he tried to control it, not wanting to cause a disturbance and attract the Holy City's attention.
Still, Chen Feng had learned the enhanced effects of the Blood Wings.
[Vacuum Slash!]
The intuitive feedback from the skill revealed that the Blood Wings were no longer just for speed and flight. They now also possessed a cutting effect, allowing him to slice through targets at high speeds.
And finally, one last thing.
"Limit Break State: Force."
Crack!
The carapace on his body instantly thickened. Though the burden remained the same, he gained a far greater boost to both strength and defense.
His power had doubled. Chen Feng felt he might even be able to spar with the Holy Shield Colossus now.
Moreover...
Buzz!!
The gravity within several meters of him instantly shifted, as if a force field was emanating from his body.
[Gravity Well!]
A new skill in his Limit Break State, it allowed him to control the gravity around him up to eight times normal, expanding his defensive range and even suppressing enemies.
This was something even a Sixth-Tier force field couldn't achieve.
Then, a flash of inspiration struck him.
Chen Feng thought of his Wrath of the Storm.
What would happen if he combined the two?
(End of the Chapter)
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