Translator: CinderTL
Whoosh!!
White vapor streaked across the sky outside the window like shuttles.
The holographic projection of a virtual ocean wave exploded, its droplets scattering into blue light.
Turning away, Chen Feng stood by the window, already accustomed to his return.
Several days had passed in reality, and his reason for returning was simple: the City Council was holding a meeting today, likely related to the aftermath of Luo Wantao's death. If he didn't attend, it might attract unwanted attention.
As for the agreed-upon trade with the Holy City, he would depart in seven days. Considering the difference in time flow between reality and the Dream Realm, he still had time.
I can Dream Incursion tomorrow night, no problem.
The thought crossed his mind, and Chen Feng turned to the panel before him.
[Sacred Flame Awakening Method: Fifth-Tier (92%)+]
A few drops of Sacred Spirit Essence had sent the Sacred Flame Awakening Method's progress soaring.
In addition, his attributes had increased:
[Strength: 73.2 → 75.1]
[Agility: 63.1 → 65.5]
[Constitution: 74.3 → 77.0]
[Will: 75.1 → 76.1]
"An eight-point increase in attributes."
Clenching his fist, Chen Feng could clearly feel his physical fitness surging once more.
The effect was almost comparable to a major breakthrough in a Martial Arts True Skill.
Without using any skills, his strength should now be around 500 tons, and his physical body had reached the level of Radiant Alloy.
This realization sparked a powerful intuition within Chen Feng.
He had taken the crucial step, completely surpassing the peak of the Fifth-Tier.
In other words, he was now Sixth-Tier.
Even if he had only just crossed the threshold, and some might call him a "pseudo" Sixth-Tier, he was still Sixth-Tier.
And almost the instant he broke through, he sensed a layer of restraint in the haze.
"My physical body has reached its limit."
His gaze lingered on the four-dimensional attributes on his panel, especially the Physical Body stat.
Chen Feng could vaguely feel an invisible shackle restricting him.
This was the so-called human limit, the ultimate endpoint of human physical potential.
Perhaps his strength, agility, and willpower still had room for improvement, not yet fully exhausted.
But with his fundamental physical body locked down, it was only a matter of time before those aspects reached their limits as well.
To break through this limit, he would have to attempt Transcendence, drawing upon the power of the world to unlock infinite potential.
In that instant, a sense of connection surged within Chen Feng.
Closing his eyes slightly, he focused his mind and saw a dozen or so glowing points in his mind.
Bright as flames, these were the so-called traces of legend.
Moreover, three new ones had appeared since the last time he checked.
Instantly, he reached out with his Perception.
The images that flashed before him were of him slaying the Admiral of the Infernal Prison in the Dead Crow Secret Realm, causing chaos in Yun Port in the real world, and repelling the Winged Serpent King in the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm.
New legends had been born, and with them, the faint connection to the real world had strengthened ever so slightly.
His heart stirred, and Chen Feng immediately sat cross-legged, controlling his mental will to follow that thread of connection and make an attempt.
Buzz!
Suddenly, the entire world blurred into a dizzying haze.
The Martial Hall, Nanjiang City—everything vanished in an instant.
It was as if a thin thread had suddenly appeared before him, and he stood on the edge of a precipice, tasked with using it to climb to the summit of an impossibly tall mountain peak on the opposite side.
Beyond the thread, the sky and earth were shrouded in a deep, eerie darkness, as if he were the only being left in existence.
Without panic or confusion, Chen Feng knew this was the Method of Transcendence mentioned in the Qinggang City Dreamscape and his lingering memories.
With the Legendary Imprint as the foundation, and an unyielding will to carry him forward, he resonated with the world.
Instinctively, he took a step, placing his foot on the thin thread.
Thud!
The echo of his footstep reverberated, and the thread swayed violently.
Below the cliff lay a pitch-black abyss. If he fell, he would be severely injured.
His first instinct was to activate his Azure Armor Talent, but Chen Feng quickly realized that all his extraordinary abilities were frozen.
It was as if they had been suspended in time. He couldn't unleash any power beyond his martial arts.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
An invisible gale, sharp as a blade and fierce as a storm, surged up from the abyss.
The thread swayed even more violently, and hairline cracks appeared, threatening to snap.
"Seeking Intent... Legend... Resonance..."
The words echoed in his mind, and Chen Feng inexplicably thought of the unwavering will that had guided him on this journey.
Protection?
Struggle?
Rage?
Indifference?
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, and even he had moments of confusion.
He had experienced too much on this path. Countless battles had left him lost.
But soon, a series of images flashed before his eyes.
His loved ones: Chen Yun, his friend Lin Hao, and his Master, Li Tong.
The Flame Tiger Sect, which he had joined in his youth and provided him with protection.
The Martial Hall and Nanjiang, which had gradually come to regard him as their pride and foundation.
Without realizing it, he had become a Councilor of the United Coalition, a Pinnacle Realm Master known throughout the Earth Martial Arts World.
The Black Tide that had once swept through Suojia City was a cause for concern, and the destruction of Transcendent Martial Dao in Qinggang City seemed to foreshadow a grim future.
Yet, from beginning to end, he had held onto one fundamental conviction that never wavered:
To become stronger!
Even stronger!!
Strong enough to protect everything around him, strong enough to shatter all fears, even to stand fearless against the Black Tide itself!
Buzz!!
As if his will were infinite, it continued to forge ahead.
The scene before him suddenly shifted. The thin line beneath his feet widened and expanded, eventually transforming into a white staircase.
The dimness gradually brightened. Looking up, he saw countless steps appearing, stretching endlessly into the sky, illuminating everything.
A colossal mountain rose from the depths, shrinking and transforming as it ascended.
Finally, it became a massive throne floating among the clouds.
"Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder... King of the World."
Buzz!
A sudden clarity flooded Chen Feng's mind, revealing fragments of information. Simultaneously, an overwhelming pressure surged from all directions, like Mount Tai crushing down or the crushing weight of the Deep Sea.
Thump... thump... thump...
The sound of his heart pounded in his chest. Chen Feng felt as if he were about to resonate with the world itself.
Closer... closer...
Instinctively, he took another step, trying to steady himself on the celestial staircase.
Thud!
His foot landed firmly.
But in the next instant...
Boom!
The world shattered. Chen Feng's eyes snapped open.
Excruciating pain, like a hurricane raging through his mind or a steel blade piercing his skull, tore through him.
Tiny beads of blood seeped from his pores, and his internal organs felt as if they had been struck by a truck.
Cold sweat trickled down his face. Chen Feng's complexion paled, and he could clearly feel his weakness.
Resonance failed, and Transcendence backfired.
Even his Radiant Alloy physique was injured, and his mental will suffered the same fate.
Buzz!
At this critical moment, a warm current surged from the Heart of Life in his chest.
In an instant, it flooded his limbs and meridians, rapidly repairing the significant injuries he had just sustained.
All fatigue and pain vanished, and color returned to his face.
"Hah!"
Exhaling a turbid breath, Chen Feng lowered his head and clenched his fist.
Transcendence was not without its dangers.
After a moment's thought, he realized where the problem lay.
According to the dream records of Qinggang City, the Method of Transcendence required meeting two conditions: reaching the Pinnacle Realm and possessing a sufficient Legendary Imprint.
The reason was that after reaching the absolute limit of the physical body, where no further progress was possible, the mental will would undergo a certain sublimation, forming what was known as Pinnacle Intent.
This was why Martial Artists, after finding boundless will, could strongly sense the presence of their Legendary Imprint and control their mental energy to resonate with the world.
However, Chen Feng didn't meet these criteria.
Yet, due to the Wrath of the Storm and his Perception Talent, he had prematurely gained an effect comparable to Pinnacle Intent.
"But it's still not true Pinnacle Intent," he mused.
Chen Feng shook his head silently, carefully examining himself.
Of his four physical attributes, his Physical Body had reached its limit first.
As for Strength and Will, he still had a sliver of untapped potential remaining.
Then there was the matter of Legendary Traces.
While his progress had been rapid, and he had accumulated a sufficient number, most of them unfortunately originated from the Dream World.
This had left the connection between his Legendary Imprint and the real world tenuous and unstable.
"I can see the end of the road for my Physical Body's limits. It won't be long before I truly reach them."
"But these Legendary Traces..."
He rose slowly and walked back to the window.
Gazing at the azure sky and the towering buildings below, Chen Feng knew that this final step would require the real world.
Countless thoughts raced through his mind until finally, a flicker of Perception drew his gaze to the black invitation card he had placed in the drawer of his meditation chamber's wooden desk.
The World Fighting Tournament.
An invitation from the Star Palace.
Wasn't this the perfect opportunity to leave his mark in the real world?
Whoosh!
That very day, at nine in the morning, a black sedan slowly pulled away from the Martial Hall, merging into the bustling traffic of the city.
"Junior Brother Chen, Giant Elephant Grandmaster and the others have already arrived in Nanjiang," Cao Tong said from the passenger seat, reporting on the preparations for the Mountain Gate celebration. "Senior Sister Wu mentioned that several Councilors and Directors from major corporations have also sent congratulatory letters and will be attending tomorrow's ceremony."
Breaking through to Grandmaster rank is a major event in the Martial Arts World, regardless of whether it's in the North or South, and it will draw the attention of many Martial Artists. This is especially true when the breakthrough is by a Pinnacle Realm Master.
Chen Feng, seated in the back, nodded calmly, unfazed. He had long grown accustomed to the goodwill and attempts at alliance from various factions. Tomorrow was the day to celebrate his Master's breakthrough, and a large crowd was expected. He planned to return to the sect tonight.
As the thought crossed his mind, Cao Tong continued listing important figures who would be attending to offer their congratulations, eventually mentioning some familiar names.
"Captain Han Chao seems to be coming on behalf of the Military to offer congratulations. Junior Brother Tingxiao told me this over the phone. But according to him, it seems people from the Saint Sect will also be attending."
Oh?
Chen Feng was surprised, but quickly guessed the reason. He and the Saint Sect had never had any major conflicts, their differences stemming solely from their geographical origins and differing stances.
This was evident from Old Leader Zhang's repeated attempts to convey goodwill through Zhou Wuren.
Moreover, Han Chao had mentioned earlier that the other party had accepted the invitation to collaborate on the Niduo expedition.
Counting the days, it had only been a few, so it wasn't surprising that they had arrived in Nanjiang now.
Lost in thought, Chen Feng didn't press for further details.
He turned his gaze to the window, where towering skyscrapers rose one after another.
The Radiant Light Secret Realm's impending relocation to Nanjiang was no longer a secret.
With the emergence of a new Mega Corporation, four large characters had appeared atop one of the buildings:
Shi Tong Express
This was already the third Mega Corporation to establish a presence in Nanjiang. Rumor had it that many of the flying car technology patents currently on the market originated from this company.
Its strength was undeniable, rivaling behemoths like Red Wave Energy and Blue Sky Group.
But...
Chen Feng's eyes flickered as he recalled a crucial detail Chu Shihong had confided in him privately.
When the High-Wall Project was first announced, these Mega Corporations had also sought to participate in its construction.
However, the Provincial Federation had rejected their proposals outright.
The implications were intriguing. Chen Feng shook his head inwardly, then leaned back against the seat, closing his eyes slightly.
Though he appeared to be resting, his mental consciousness had already received shared images.
That was the experience of Stone Statue No. 1 and Stone Statue No. 4. The former was already in the northern part of the Red Nation, while the latter had long since arrived in Suro.
Endless snow-capped mountains stretched as far as the eye could see—one of the Red Nation's two great mountain ranges, Snowpeak Mountain.
Vast in area, rising thousands of meters above sea level, its peaks remained perpetually covered in ice and snow.
Unfortunately, Stone Statue No. 4 didn't linger long before choosing to leave, heading straight for the next mountain range.
"It won't work, huh?"
Chen Feng narrowed his eyes, receiving the feedback from the mental link.
The Earth Vein Power of Snowpeak Mountain didn't resonate with the Holy Shield Colossus.
The scene shifted, and he turned his attention to Stone Statue No. 1.
A golden sun hung high in the sky, atop a similar snow-capped peak.
Midway down the mountain, a massive Cloud Summit was visible, with a familiar structure faintly discernible.
Its yellow and white walls resembled a grand temple.
It was none other than Dowa Snow Mountain, where he had once spent several nights.
Once destroyed by Utopia, it had now been fully restored.
The Suro script on the walls remained as fresh as ever, and numerous figures could be seen moving through the eaves and corridors. Hundreds of cars were parked in the open space below.
Soldiers in thick coats stood guard, while high-ranking members of the Suro Dowa Sect were escorted in and out.
Puff! Puff!
Suddenly, the stone wings vibrated.
Stone Statue No. 1 plunged headfirst into the snow beneath the Cloud Summit, leaving a white crater.
Less than a minute later, it emerged from the snow hole, spitting out some snow and earth as if finding them unappetizing.
Whoosh!
The palm-sized streak of white-gray light shot away, quickly disappearing from the area.
As if sensing something, the figure meditating cross-legged on the Cloud Summit opened his eyes.
Focusing, he could be seen wearing a black cloak and a round cap. He appeared to be in his late thirties, with a straight scar running down his left cheek.
"A snow eagle? Or a drone?"
He narrowed his eyes, watching the white-gray streak vanish beneath the sea of clouds.
But before he could ponder further, footsteps sounded behind him.
"Senior Brother Gert."
The soft voice made him glance back.
The black martial arts uniform bore several Mandala-style floral patterns. The tall figure had long black hair cascading down her back, and her wheat-colored skin exuded a wild beauty.
"Junior Sister Shiva," he replied in a deep voice.
"I heard the World Fighting Tournament has an extremely high mortality rate. Are you really going to Niduo?"
Shiva asked with concern, her gaze lingering for a moment on the scar on his face.
After the sudden disaster that struck the Suro Twin Stars, only one remained.
The Dowa Sect could not bear to lose another pillar of strength nearing the Pinnacle Realm.
"My decision is made."
Gert responded calmly, gazing down from the Cloud Summit at the sea of clouds and snow-capped mountains below.
Shiva opened her mouth to dissuade him, but before she could speak, he continued.
"This is the grandest event every Martial Artist dreams of participating in. Even Pinnacle Realm Masters like the Mountain Ancestor might appear."
"Perhaps only there can I truly take that final half-step."
As he spoke, a face flashed before Gert's eyes.
Slanting eyebrows, a cold, hard expression—the Red Nation youth who had shattered all his pride and composure.
Rumor had it the youth had already reached the Pinnacle Realm.
In contrast, Gert remained stuck at that final half-step, unable to break through.
As if sensing his frustration, Shiva, standing to the side and witnessing his clenched fists and the subtle fluctuations in his calm expression, sighed inwardly. In the end, she didn't try to dissuade him further.
Her gaze drifted beyond him, as if through the endless snow-capped mountains, she could see that rebellious crimson landscape—exploding and burning.
(End of the Chapter)
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