Translator: CinderTL
"He has accepted the challenge."
In the north, at the Saint Sect's headquarters, Zhang Hengshan, the Old Chief, stood by the edge of a secluded pool beneath a cascading waterfall, delivering the latest news.
"Good."
A white-robed figure sat cross-legged on a massive boulder in the pool, nodding slightly. The middle-aged man's broad-faced, thick-browed visage exuded an innate air of authority and unwavering resolve.
Sensing his thoughts, Zhang Hengshan sighed softly and couldn't resist urging him again.
"Grandmaster Chen has already achieved another breakthrough, rivaling the Legendary Flying Generals. Multiple sources in both Radiant Light and Nanjiang have confirmed this. Why insist on this confrontation?"
He disapproved of the man's decision to issue the challenge. Even if he succeeded in Transcendence, he would only approach the Peak Flying General level. Combining that with the New Martial Arts Method still left a considerable gap between him and the Legendary realm.
The outcome was already predetermined. Why force the issue?
Silence descended, broken only by the roar of the waterfall cascading down the Back Mountain.
Liu Duanyun, still sitting cross-legged on the boulder, kept his eyes tightly shut. Water trickled behind him, wisps of mist rising from the pool.
After waiting several seconds without a response, Zhang Hengshan shook his head with a sigh and turned to leave.
Only when he sensed Zhang Hengshan's departure, vanishing completely, did Liu Duanyun finally open his eyes.
His gaze was deep and unfathomable, like the secluded pool itself, yet within it seemed to lurk hidden flames and solid earth, raging winds and dense forests.
A faint starlight seemed to linger within his gaze, radiating an indescribable aura of mystery and authority.
Buzz!
Instantly, his gaze flicked to a corner, freezing the pool water and halting the waterfall's cascade.
The light-refracting invisibility concealing the white man hidden in the forest was forcibly shattered, forcing him to reveal himself.
"Truly worthy of being the former number one martial artist of the Red Nation," the white man said deliberately, his smile unnaturally insincere.
His black Bio-Armor clung to his body like a combat suit, and faint traces of keratinous protrusions resembling a pair of jet-black bull horns could be seen sprouting from his head.
"Even other Flying Generals couldn't detect my presence, yet you saw through my concealment abilities."
"How intriguing. Your Red Nation's martial artists truly are exceptional."
He spoke with a smile that feigned respect, but his tone dripped with condescension and arrogance.
As he spoke, he walked to the edge of the pool, stopping exactly where Old Leader Zhang had stood moments before.
Without a word, Liu Duanyun simply stared back at him calmly.
His deep gaze seemed to condense starlight, and within the frozen pool, fish stared back with wide eyes.
The air between them, spanning a hundred meters, trembled as invisible forces collided.
Seeing this, the white man's smile vanished, and he cut straight to the chase, revealing his true purpose.
"We know you're furious that the throne of martial arts supremacy has been stolen from you."
"Perfect. The Roth Family is willing to show our sincerity. If you agree to cooperate."
The words hung in the air as their eyes locked.
The frozen, dark pool suddenly came to life, and the figure on the massive boulder narrowed his eyes.
"Come to Nanjiang in seven days for a duel."
Chen Feng received the message on his phone. Though the sender was Zhang Hengshan, the Old Chief, he knew this was merely a relay. The true challenger was someone else entirely.
Liu Duanyun.
The former number one martial artist of the Red Nation, the pioneer of the New Martial Arts, had finally succumbed to the urge to test his skills against Chen Feng in a direct, face-to-face confrontation.
This came as no surprise. Chen Feng understood this was the man's last vestige of pride.
After a moment's contemplation, Chen Feng agreed.
If Liu Duanyun refused to accept reality, he would force him to face it. Besides, the Martial Dao Alliance's foundation was still shallow, its reputation not yet fully established.
With that thought, he put down his phone.
Pushing open the door, he stepped outside. The azure sky stretched clear and boundless above him, while on Back Mountain, stone steps were being expanded.
Flying cars descended intermittently, landing in the Martial Arts Arena.
Figures emerged, passing through the corridors. Among them, Chen Feng recognized familiar faces:
Zhang Tai, Zhan Wushuang, and Pang Kui—the outstanding disciples of the Three Great Factions. They had once clashed at the Yun Port Martial Arts Tournament and had now all broken through to the true intent level.
"The Giant Elephant Grandmaster and others wish to have some of their disciples stay with us temporarily for martial arts instruction," Cao Tong explained, arriving swiftly with two disciples and a meal after learning of Chen Feng's emergence from seclusion.
"Most of them are at the True Intent level," he added.
Chen Feng nodded, having anticipated this.
The Flame Tiger Sect's Back Mountain had become the headquarters of the Martial Dao Alliance. Various Martial Arts Sects were eager to send their most outstanding disciples to exchange cultivation methods, spar, and advance together.
He didn't object to this arrangement, seeing it as a form of motivation for the Flame Tiger Sect. The True Disciples and core members would feel pressured to compete, accelerating their progress.
He then turned to Cao Tong, sensing that the latter had unconsciously reached the Third Level of Inner Strength.
Moreover, the Flame Tiger Sect had recently gained another True Intent Expert: Sixth True Inheritance Wu Shuang.
Including Xu Tingxiao and the others, the sect now boasted a total of seven True Intent Experts.
These True Disciples were inherently talented, their progress previously hindered only by limitations in their cultivation methods.
Now that he was simultaneously cultivating the Cultivation Awakening Method and the complete Heavenly Flame Force, both Grandmaster-level True Arts, his progress was naturally rapid.
"Still, breaking through to the Grandmaster realm remains a formidable challenge," Chen Feng mused, shaking his head slightly.
To date, only his Master had achieved Grandmaster status, and the other True Disciples still had a considerable distance to go.
This realization further solidified his resolve to expand the Martial Dao Alliance and recruit more exceptional talents.
Whoosh!
At that moment, the high-altitude cloud layer suddenly dispersed, and a resonant hum of air currents approached.
Sensing the disturbance, Chen Feng interrupted his thoughts and glanced upward.
An aircraft rapidly approached, its deep crimson star-shaped emblem strikingly prominent.
"Prince Shiwen, we're almost there," a gray-haired Tang-suited butler reminded him from within the aircraft's cabin. The butler was revealed to be a Sixth-Tier Mech Warrior.
Xia Shiwen, seated in a genuine leather chair by the window, glanced impatiently at the several silver briefcases inside the cabin.
These cases contained either multiple Advanced Life Elixirs or rare, century-old ginseng roots—vitality-replenishing treasures rarely found on the market.
"What is the old man thinking?" Xia Shiwen muttered, his gaze drifting back to the passing clouds.
"We're royalty. Why should we go out of our way to befriend him?"
He couldn't shake off his resentment, still stung by the memory of being overshadowed at the Sky Island entrance in Radiant Light Inner City.
Not to mention, he was older than this Grandmaster Chen. How could he possibly lower himself to such a degree?
"My lord, this is for Prince Shiwen and the future of our Radiant Light lineage," the Tang-suited Butler said soothingly. "Grandmaster Chen is highly regarded by both the Military and the Federation headquarters. His relentless progress in martial arts has repeatedly astonished the world. No one can guarantee he won't achieve further breakthroughs."
"If His Highness can cultivate a good relationship with him, the benefits will far outweigh the risks."
Xia Shiwen, dressed in a white Martial Arts Uniform embroidered with cloud patterns, fell into a brief silence.
He wasn't unaware of these considerations, nor did he truly misunderstand the butler's advice.
But regardless of the Radiant Light lineage's current standing, they were still royalty.
In ancient times, they would have been princes and nobles, able to command any citizen of the Red Nation to kneel with a mere decree. Even without real power today, their bloodline remained noble.
Having been accustomed to being surrounded by flattery and deference since childhood, Xia Shiwen found it humiliating to have to curry favor with others.
Noticing the shifting expressions on his face, the Tang-suited Butler sighed inwardly.
Finally, the aircraft slowly descended, landing within the Flame Tiger Sect's pavilion complex.
Xia Shiwen's face flickered with conflicting emotions, but he ultimately suppressed his displeasure and regained his composure.
"Let's go," he said in a deep voice, rising to his feet.
The Tang-suited Butler breathed a sigh of relief. He and two security personnel flanked Xia Shiwen as they exited the aircraft.
The ground was paved with smooth, gray-green stone bricks, with only a few wild grasses sprouting between the cracks.
The red pavilion's Mountain Gate exuded an imposing grandeur, and the gilded plaque with black characters radiated the spirit of martial arts.
Everything appeared normal. Alerted by the commotion, Li Tong arrived with two disciples, waiting at the main gate.
Other disciples from the Three Great Factions also noticed the commotion, their faces tightening as they turned to observe.
"The Royal Family?"
The deep crimson star-shaped emblem made their pupils contract. A group of figures had already reached the gate.
"Sect Leader Li, we apologize for the intrusion," Xia Shiwen said.
"We wish to pay our respects to Grandmaster Chen."
The Tang-suited Butler bowed respectfully, clearly having done his homework and knowing the key figures of the Flame Tiger Sect.
In contrast, Xia Shiwen, standing beside him, glanced around the room, his gaze sweeping over the others before settling on Li Tong. Though his expression remained neutral, his inner displeasure grew increasingly palpable.
What arrogance, he thought. The Royal Family descends, yet they send only a Grandmaster to greet us?
As this thought flashed through his mind, the Tang-suited Butler had already briefly stated their purpose, causing the Giant Elephant Grandmaster and others observing from afar to secretly tremble, further convinced that joining the Martial Dao Alliance was the only path to enlightenment.
"This way, please," Li Tong said, nodding. He had no time to delve into their intentions and could only lead Xia Shiwen and his entourage toward the reception hall.
Their path took them up blue stone steps and through red sandalwood corridors. Finally, they arrived at the main hall, where Chen Feng, dressed in black, made his appearance.
"Grandmaster Chen," the Tang-suited Butler said, rising and clasping his hands in a respectful greeting. Chen Feng nodded in acknowledgment as he entered the hall.
His gaze flickered toward Xia Shiwen, the Royal Family youth seated to the side, who had been staring intently at him. Chen Feng could sense the complex emotions hidden beneath the surface: displeasure, frustration, resentment. Though outwardly calm, these feelings were crystal clear within his perception.
"Please, take a seat," Chen Feng said, his expression calm and unreadable as he settled into the master's seat beside his master, Li Tong.
Attendants poured tea and water, attending to every courtesy with meticulous care.
"We've come today to pay our respects to Grandmaster Chen's martial arts prowess," the Tang-suited Butler said with a smile. "We are deeply impressed and wish to offer these tokens of our esteem to help the Flame Tiger Sect's esteemed members advance further."
Behind him, security personnel quickly opened several briefcases, revealing:
Several bottles of Advanced Life ElixirA bottle of Life Source LiquidHundred-year-old wild ginseng and Essence-replenishing tonicsRare primary ingredients for secret medicines
Chen Feng glanced at the offerings, his expression thoughtful.
Unexpectedly, he declined the gifts.
"Gentlemen, I fear I am unworthy of such generosity," he said calmly. "Please take these back."
His unwavering refusal stiffened the Tang-suited Butler's smile, and Xia Shiwen, seated beside him, frowned deeply.
"What does Grandmaster Chen mean by this?" Xia Shiwen couldn't help but ask, his emotions tightly suppressed as he scrutinized Chen Feng's every move.
We, the Royal Family, have come to seek your acquaintance, already showing you great honor. How dare you put on airs?
Do you not fear offending us?
A moment of silence fell as Chen Feng picked up his celadon teacup, lifted the lid, and took a sip.
"Why didn't Wu Zong come?"
The casual question made Xia Shiwen's face stiffen, and the Tang-suited Butler's eyes flickered as he opened his mouth to speak.
"Because he doesn't dare," Chen Feng said flatly, setting down the teacup and glancing at the two men and the security personnel behind them.
Every pair of eyes immediately lowered, avoiding his gaze, as if a powerful, oppressive force had enveloped the entire room.
Though his expression remained calm, Chen Feng hadn't forgotten the difficulties Wu Zong and Luo Wantao had caused him in the past.
Given their close ties to the Radiant Light Royal Family, he refused to believe they were unaware of these old grudges.
He then turned his attention to Xia Shiwen.
The Radiant Light lineage and the Red Capital Faction were at odds—a secret Chu Shihong had specifically warned him about, involving taboos at the Divine General level.
While Chen Feng hadn't aligned himself with either faction, he had long received support and assistance from the Red Capital Faction, forging numerous favorable connections.
The cardinal sin of human relations was straddling two boats. Naturally, he couldn't afford to maintain further ties with the Radiant Light lineage and risk being gossiped about behind his back.
Watching Xia Shiwen's clenched jaw and the Tang-suited Butler's helpless attempts to explain, Chen Feng waved his sleeve dismissively, ending this farcical visit.
"Escort them out."
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c590. [+10.9k]
🔑Early Access at $5.
💥Translated (6) Series, (4.1K+) Chapters, (5.8M+) Words.