Translator: CinderTL
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Two days later.
In the afternoon, sunlight poured down.
Under the blue sky and white clouds, a cluster of wooden buildings stood in orderly rows, encircling the mountain peak.
The plaque bearing the three characters of the Flame Tiger Sect hung above the main gate, with numerous courtyards and houses behind it. Occasionally, the figures of disciples could be seen.
"Those two cyborgs are incredibly strong. They actually severed one of the Flying Dragon Grandmaster's arms."
"I heard the Flying Dragon Sect has halted its expansion, and those two grandmasters have returned to Yun Port to recuperate."
"Wait, doesn't that person look a bit like the Blue Demon? Wasn't he supposed to be from Utopia?"
"Who said he's the Blue Demon? They don't even look alike!"
Whispers of conversation quietly arose, accompanied by the sound of footsteps.
Cao Tong, who had mostly recovered and discarded his crutches, stood among a circle of true disciples, his expression filled with awe and admiration.
"So Junior Brother Chen left Nanjiang and went to Yue City?"
"You're asking me? I was about to ask you the same thing."
Zhao Jushan had awakened a few days ago. Though his face was pale, he was supported by Wu Shuang as he sat on a stone bench, his chest wrapped in bandages.
A faint medicinal scent lingered in the air. The other true disciples exchanged glances, some smiling, others shaking their heads, appearing more relaxed than before.
"It seems we all misunderstood Junior Brother Chen before," Wu Shuang spoke up, standing beside the stone bench, her expression tinged with guilt.
The others nodded, recalling the previous situation.
Back then, when Chen Feng decided to sell off most of the sect's assets, they had all thought he was planning to flee with them.
But now, looking back...
"I wonder when Junior Brother Chen got to know those two cyborgs," Wei Ping said with envy, setting down his teacup. Lin Xiaoyun, dressed in a palace-style gown, remained silent, her thoughts drifting back to the time they were evading pursuit in Yun Port.
Those ash-white bio-cyborgs, capable of battling grandmasters.
It turned out that even back then, Junior Brother Chen had foreseen and prepared for this.
If not for that, they might have perished in Yun Port.
"Let's not be too optimistic," suddenly, Zhang Guiyuan, the second true disciple standing by the eaves, shook his head, interrupting their reverie.
"The Flying Dragon Sect is only temporarily hindered. Matters in the martial world ultimately have to be resolved through martial means."
"Moreover, those two are merely Junior Brother Chen's friends."
His words fell, and the atmosphere grew quiet.
Cao Tong and the others exchanged glances, the excitement on their faces gradually fading.
Indeed.
They were only Junior Brother Chen's friends, not members of the Flame Tiger Sect.
Being willing to intervene once or twice, to confront a grandmaster, was already the limit.
The final outcome would still depend on the Flame Tiger Sect itself.
For a moment, everyone's thoughts diverged, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them, restoring their calm.
Taking all of this in, Chen Feng stood in the quiet room of the courtyard, his eyes flickering.
The second true disciple, Zhang Guiyuan, was very rational.
Some of his words might have been harsh, but one thing he said was indeed correct.
The Flying Dragon Sect was only temporarily hindered, and it was entirely possible for them to make a comeback.
Especially once they fully consolidated their subordinate sects like the Flying Eagle Sect and the Golden Blade Sect.
"In the end, there will still be a great battle..."
The thought was clear in Chen Feng's mind. If it truly came to that, he wouldn't be as fortunate as he had been during the battle at Yue Mountain.
"But... I can't stop here either."
His gaze shifted downward, looking at the panel.
[Extreme Martial Arts: 3]
[Limit Break Points: 18]
Over the past two days, he had continuously entered the dream world and had gained some rewards.
Regardless of what the future held, since he had fought hard to secure a period of respite, he would use it to improve himself as much as possible.
Immediately, his gaze moved again, landing on his skills.
Chen Feng's eyes lingered on the Crimson Tiger Force and the Myriad Tempered Steel for a few seconds. The incomplete progress indicators were glaringly obvious.
"The method to break through to grandmaster..."
The recent events had been too urgent, leaving him no time to think or consider this.
Now that he finally had a chance to catch his breath, it was time to ask Martial Uncle Yan about the secrets of the true techniques.
Moreover, besides that...
Chen Feng touched his chest, which had barely recovered from his injuries.
It was a palm strike that had pierced through his Steel Bones defense, bypassing the Azure Armor, and injuring him.
It was a testament to the strength of a grandmaster, but also a reminder of his own physical shortcomings.
"Breaking through to grandmaster is one thing, but cultivating Strengthening Techniques is another."
His eyes brightened. Chen Feng hadn't forgotten the other effect of the Steel Bones talent—a thirty percent increase in physical enhancement.
With his thoughts clear, he quickly left the room and headed straight for a secluded courtyard.
A strong medicinal scent greeted him as he approached. Xu Tingxiao was bustling about, helping Li Shi with the preparation of medicine.
"Senior Brother!"
Xu Tingxiao's eyes lit up as he called out from the courtyard gate, holding a fan used to stoke the fire.
Chen Feng nodded, dressed in loose black clothing, and stepped into the room.
His master, Li Tong, was still lying on the bed, unconscious, but his complexion had improved slightly, with a hint of color returning to his face.
Beside him stood another figure.
"Martial Uncle Yan."
"Hmm."
With a slight nod, the third elder, Yan Chong, still lean and wearing a gray robe, had a few more wrinkles on his face than before.
His gaze toward Chen Feng was filled with approval. He had heard about the battle at Yue Mountain.
"If you get the chance, convey my thanks to your two friends," he said earnestly, without pressing further on how Chen Feng had come to know such powerful cyborgs.
Everyone had their secrets, just like the history of the Flame Tiger Sect.
Chen Feng nodded lightly, indicating he would pass on the message.
Then, looking at the unconscious figure on the wooden bed, he asked, "Master's injuries?"
"He'll need more time to recover," Yan Chong shook his head and explained, "He wasn't just physically injured; his spirit was also struck by the grandmaster's True Intent, causing significant damage."
"The life potion Councilor Chu brought a few days ago was quite effective. It's already healed most of his physical injuries."
"Now, whether he wakes up or not depends on himself."
After hearing this, Chen Feng fell silent for a moment.
He stepped forward and adjusted his master's robe collar, taking note of everything, before turning back to Yan Chong.
"Martial Uncle Yan, there's something I'd like to ask you."
"Oh?"
Chen Feng explained the situation he had encountered while cultivating the Crimson Tiger Force and the Myriad Tempered Steel. Yan Chong's expression gradually grew complex.
"So it really is the Myriad Tempering Sect..."
Hearing this, Chen Feng was puzzled.
Then, he saw Yan Chong sigh and explain, "When we left Yun Port back then, the reason we chose to head north to Nanjiang was because the Myriad Tempering Sect in Luohe was founded by a blood relative of one of our Flame Tiger Sect's elders. This way, we could have some support in case of emergencies."
"Very few people knew about this. It wasn't until I broke through to True Intent that I learned from the previous sect master that the Myriad Tempering Sect wasn't called that back then—it was called the Thousand Tempering Sect."
TL/N: It was actually Ten Thousand Tempering Sect but I had changed it to Myriad Tempering Sect because it just flows better.
He paused, and Chen Feng's confusion deepened.
But soon, Yan Chong continued, "During our escape, our sect lost many of its true techniques, and we couldn't even preserve the method to become a grandmaster."
"However, I once heard my senior brother mention that our Flame Tiger Sect still retained one grandmaster method, called the Heavenly Flame Technique."
"It requires fully mastering the Crimson Tiger Force and then merging it with another true technique to complete it."
"But my senior brother was always tight-lipped, and such matters weren't meant to be spread, so I never asked further..."
As Yan Chong spoke, Chen Feng began to understand.
The Myriad Tempered Steel was likely the other true technique his master had mentioned, which was why he had instructed Chen Feng to cultivate it.
And this matter was probably only known to him and that previous sect master, Lu.
Thinking of this, Chen Feng glanced at his still-unconscious master, silently realizing why he had dared to take the risk at the martial arts conference.
Perhaps he had already discussed the aftermath with that previous sect master, Lu.
Shaking his head, Chen Feng gradually made up his mind.
After finishing his conversation with Martial Uncle Yan, he stayed for a while longer before preparing to leave.
But then...
"About Chenye..."
TL/N: Referring to Li Chenye (Little Martial Uncle)
Yan Chong sighed, his expression complex.
"I don't know why he disappeared."
"This matter may also fall to you."
"Alright," Chen Feng nodded, his eyes flickering.
---
"When did this kid's connections become so impressive?"
In the living room of a villa.
Looking at the latest news in his hand, the black-robed man was somewhat surprised. The crow on his shoulder, for once, didn't let out its usual grating caw.
Beside him, a red-clothed woman sat on a brown leather sofa, her expression grave as she gradually discerned something unusual.
"Two Titanium-grade cyborgs..."
"Probably only Master himself could deal with them if he went to Nanjiang."
Her words fell, and the room fell silent for a moment.
But soon, the black-robed man thought of something crucial and raised an eyebrow, "Wait, those two can't protect him all the time. Why not just kill him directly?"
"If we do it discreetly, who would know it was us?"
His tone was eager, but the red-clothed woman immediately vetoed the idea.
"No, I suspect he might have joined some organization."
"Otherwise, why would two Titanium-grade cyborgs intervene for a mere True Intent practitioner, offending the Flying Dragon Sect?"
"And their modification modules—bio-modifications are notoriously difficult to obtain, not to mention that other guy's black light charge. These aren't resources that civilian groups can easily access..."
She paused, and the black-robed man also frowned slightly.
There had been recordings of the battle at Yue Mountain, and their Divine Martial Alliance had been paying close attention.
That kind of attack didn't seem like a magnetic field; it was more like a high-voltage black current, far surpassing conventional missile strikes.
Without an answer, he couldn't help but feel some hesitation.
"So what do we do?"
"The final step of our plan was to destroy the Flame Tiger Sect and seize the True Intent-level life essence, gathering the last resources needed for the key."
"Are we just going to give up?"
Hearing this, the red-clothed woman fell silent for a moment.
She lowered her head slightly, looking at the coffee table.
There, a palm-sized, black disc-like object lay.
It was engraved with serpentine patterns, resembling a cluster of snakes, carved from black stone.
Only those who wielded the power of the evil god could sense the abyssal depths within it.
"Then let's target another sect with a True Intent practitioner."
Having made up her mind, the red-clothed woman took out a map and looked at the several red marks on it.
Nanjiang, Huai City, Luohe.
Flame Tiger Sect, Pine Crane Sect, Myriad Tempering Sect.
Only one choice remained. The black-robed man frowned.
"Does that kid know we need True Intent-level life essence? Did he deliberately kill off the trash from the Pine Crane Sect?"
The red-clothed woman didn't respond, but her expression wasn't pleasant either.
Everything had been going according to plan, but now there were unexpected twists and turns.
"Enough, stop talking."
"Are you going, or am I?"
The black-robed man's eyes were pitch black as he picked up the black disc from the table.
The black crow on his shoulder flew out the window, and his expression turned cold as he prepared to leave.
"Never mind, I'll go with you."
Suddenly, the red-clothed woman glanced uneasily at the key in his hand.
"Someone's been investigating our movements recently. It's safer with two people."
They left without further ado, the black-robed man was already used to her style.
The two of them stepped out, followed by a group of black-clad figures, their auras cold and restrained.
---
Roar!!
That night.
The wind howled, and the fog was pitch black.
A tremendous roar echoed through the mist, causing the surrounding buildings to shake as if they might collapse.
A dull, thunderous sound, like the collision of massive objects, resounded. Then, a massive, ash-gray stone statue with stone wings broke through the fog, emerging from within.
"Cough..."
Chen Feng, standing on the stone statue's back, coughed lightly. His azure-gold body was somewhat damaged, and his face was pale as he removed the Azure Armor.
Looking back, a colossal creature, over ten meters tall, loomed in the deep mist.
It resembled a cross between a crocodile and a dragon. A nearby high-rise building collapsed with a crash.
Black mist gathered, quickly obscuring the three characters "Extreme Martial Hall" below.
"That was close."
His expression wasn't good. This was the misty area where the Giant Raging Bear had once appeared, a dangerous zone he had previously been wary of.
He had thought that with the Azure Armor activated, he could battle a grandmaster and had some qualifications to explore, hoping to find new talent orbs.
But he hadn't expected it to be so perilous.
Just one move had nearly killed him.
As for the Extreme Martial Hall there, he hadn't even had the chance to search it.
Whoosh!
The fierce wind blew, and the Holy Shield Colossus also bore some injuries.
The golden patterns on its sturdy stone body had dimmed, and cracks had appeared on its pillar-like arms, slowly repairing themselves.
Having been forced to retreat despite their combined efforts, Chen Feng had no choice but to take out the map again, searching for the nearest Extreme Martial Hall.
He marked this dangerous area as forbidden. After some consideration, he directed the colossus to fly eastward, toward the edge of the Blue Light District in Qinggang City.
Not wanting to waste time, Chen Feng had the Holy Shield Colossus fly in a straight line, aiming for maximum efficiency.
One kilometer, three kilometers, ten kilometers...
A new Extreme Martial Hall drew closer, its three-word sign faintly visible through the mist hundreds of meters away, with rows of buildings lining the sides.
Just as they were about to descend and land, however...
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Chen Feng's gaze sharpened.
As the mist drifted, he spotted a figure near the Extreme Martial Hall's street, hundreds of meters away.
A man in black combat gear, with short hair and a robust build.
It shouldn't have been surprising, but...
The man wasn't wearing any mask, and his features were clearly visible.
Moreover...
"This..."
The stone statue broke through the mist, arriving above the Extreme Martial Hall.
Chen Feng looked down and realized there wasn't just one figure.
Several other men and women were also present, all dressed in black combat gear, their auras strong, with three white characters on their uniforms.
Enforcement Team!
Chen Feng was taken aback. This was the first time he had encountered the Enforcement Team in the dream world.
They were the official organization of Qinggang City, mentioned several times in diaries and other records.
The two groups were only a few hundred meters apart, one in the air and the other on the ground.
And they seemed... alive?
Immediately, Chen Feng ordered the Holy Shield Colossus to descend, considering whether to make contact.
Their current state wasn't ideal, and if something unexpected happened...
Thud!
However, at that very moment.
The Holy Shield Colossus seemed to collide with some kind of barrier, producing a dull thud.
The previously empty air rippled slightly.
It was as if an invisible wall had appeared, blocking their path and separating the heavens and the earth.
(End of the Chapter)
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