Chapter 57: Underground Cave, Discovery of the Remnants
"Master, about three hundred meters southeast of your position, a tunnel structure has been detected within the mountain. It leads directly inside."
Linglong's voice echoed in Jiang Feng's ear.
As soon as she finished speaking, a precise three-dimensional map appeared on the display of his smart glasses, with the target location flashing on the frame.
"Well done."
With that, Jiang Feng dashed toward the marked point at full speed.
Before long, a strange and ancient black cave appeared before his eyes.
The entrance looked like the gaping maw of a demon, bottomless and pitch dark, as if it led straight to the depths of hell itself—ready to devour any living being that dared to enter.
Fortunately, Jiang Feng's smart glasses were equipped with advanced night vision and infrared detection systems.
Even in total darkness, he could see as clearly as in broad daylight.
Through the high-tech scanning interface, he saw a sloping passage inside the cave, winding downward deep into the mountain.
As he approached the entrance, Jiang Feng could clearly detect the movement of several life signals inside.
"Linglong, deploy all Iron Armors."
At his command, his strongest blue-grade Iron Armor descended from the sky like divine battle gear, gleaming under the sunlight.
With the precise mechanical sound of shifting components, the armor perfectly fitted onto Jiang Feng's muscular body.
"The Hand Association's headquarters must be filled with traps and deadly mechanisms," Jiang Feng thought cautiously.
Though he was confident in his strength, he knew that caution was always the rule of survival for the strong.
After fully equipping himself, several other Iron Armors lined up neatly behind him under Linglong's precise control.
The figures stood like a futuristic mechanical legion—
just their presence alone exuded a chilling pressure that could make enemies tremble.
Then, Jiang Feng led his six-suit formation into the mountain cave with overwhelming force.
As they delved deeper, torches began to appear along the walls.
The flickering flames drove away the darkness, bringing a faint light to the underground passage.
The rough, natural tunnel gradually became smoother—clearly refined by human hands.
Jiang Feng knew he was now entering a man-made area.
After descending more than a hundred meters underground,
a breathtaking sight appeared before him—an entire underground complex carved into the heart of the mountain.
Ancient stone buildings stood in neat formation:
layered residences, spacious training grounds, a solemn council hall, and other fully equipped facilities.
The architectural style exuded the aura of the Warring States period,
as if this hidden fortress had been transported directly from ancient times.
But with Jiang Feng's sudden intrusion,
the silence of this underground world was instantly shattered.
"Who dares trespass into this sacred ground?!"
Several figures clad in black ninja uniforms leapt from the shadows like ghosts.
When their eyes fell upon the Iron Armors, shock and confusion filled their expressions.
"What… what kind of monsters are these?!" one of them shouted in disbelief.
Having lived in isolation deep in the mountains for years,
they had never seen technology like the Iron Armors and were utterly stunned on the spot.
"Yes, it's you," Jiang Feng said firmly, his voice filled with icy certainty as his gaze locked onto the ninja group.
He raised his palm toward the nearest ninja—
a blinding white beam condensed in his hand, emitting a sharp, piercing hum.
In the next moment, a blazing pulse cannon roared forth like a judgment from death itself.
The ninja, though swift and battle-hardened, was only human.
He had no time to dodge.
With a scream, he was engulfed by the beam—
his body twisted and charred into ashes, leaving behind only the stench of burnt flesh.
"Damn it! Kill the intruders!"
Panic and fury erupted among the remaining ninjas.
A storm of kunai and shuriken filled the air, raining down toward Jiang Feng and his Iron Armors with a shrill whistling.
But what were deadly weapons to ordinary men were nothing to these steel giants.
The projectiles clanged harmlessly off the armored exteriors,
not even leaving a scratch, let alone causing damage.
With a sharp metallic whine, the Iron Armors' weapon systems activated.
Armor-piercing rounds, micro-missiles, and pulse beams weaved a deadly web of firepower,
unleashing a one-sided massacre upon the terrified ninjas.
In the blink of an eye, dozens of them were obliterated by the steel onslaught,
their bodies reduced to blood and fragments—none left intact.
"Quick! Activate the traps!"
The surviving ninjas were terrified beyond reason, their voices trembling as they screamed.
A few of them, hands shaking, frantically searched the cave walls and pressed hidden mechanisms known only to core members of the Hand Association.
"Retreat!"
In the same instant, all of them fled like startled beasts, desperately trying to distance themselves from Jiang Feng.
Rumble!!!
A deafening explosion echoed through the cave as the ground began to shake violently,
as though an invisible hand was tearing the mountain apart.
"Master," Linglong reported immediately, "there is indeed a trap! Switch to flight mode—the ground is collapsing!"
Jiang Feng and his armors reacted instantly.
Flames burst from their thrusters as they launched into the air, hovering safely above the collapsing terrain.
A massive crack tore through the ground where Jiang Feng had just stood,
and the entire section crumbled into the depths below, burying everything beneath rubble and dust.
The remaining ninjas, having anticipated the trap,
retreated behind a massive metal gate just in time.
Beyond the gate, the interior remained untouched—completely intact.
This was a self-destruct defense mechanism designed by the Hand Association,
sacrificing an outer base to protect the true core.
Unfortunately, such a trap was meaningless against Jiang Feng.
For someone who could soar through the skies, a collapsing floor was child's play.
Hovering steadily in midair, the Iron Armors surrounded him,
flames from their leg and back thrusters swirling in the air like comets.
Behind the metal gate, the surviving ninjas peeked through a narrow slit,
watching in horror as those steel monsters floated unharmed in the air.
Their last trace of hope vanished completely.
Faces pale as death, they muttered in despair,
"Damn it… what are these monsters? Why are they after the Hand Association?"