Translator: CinderTL
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That day, the black sedan drove along the road.
As it passed through Luohe City, Chen Feng sat in the back seat, placing the pitch-black disc into his clothing pocket, and turned his head to look out the window.
Tall buildings, streets.
The electronic screen of a shopping mall was playing an advertisement for a type of gene medicine, and there were many pedestrians at the traffic lights, as if everything was normal.
However, looking at the flying vehicles darting through the air and the armored vehicles that were temporarily intercepted on the road, slowly driving away from the intersection, he frowned slightly.
"The military."
Both the flying vehicles and the armored cars bore a red maple leaf insignia, and looking at the direction they were heading, it was clearly towards the border of Luohe City, close to the Suro Nation.
"Coach!"
Suddenly, a shout rang out.
Chen Feng turned his head to see a young man in a steel helmet at a checkpoint set up on the roadside to facilitate military vehicle passage.
"Li Chengdong."
Chen Feng was not surprised, as he had sensed the other party's presence beforehand.
"Coach, what brings you to Luohe?"
The young man made a gesture to his companions and then walked to the window to speak.
Chen Feng glanced at the insignia on his shoulder; he was still a captain.
"Just handling some matters."
Chen Feng smiled and turned his gaze to the departing military vehicle.
"That's…"
After a moment of hesitation, Li Chengdong lowered his voice.
"Suro is in trouble."
With that simple sentence, Chen Feng pondered.
He nodded in response, taking a look at the young man's somewhat dark skin.
It had to be said that Li Chengdong could indeed endure hardship.
Among the club's wealthy offspring, he ranked among the top.
"Come back safe."
Chen Feng said, not probing whether the other would go to Suro or if his family supported and agreed with his decision.
Everyone has their own pursuits; as a friend, he could only offer his blessings.
"Sure thing, Coach."
"I'll treat you to a drink when you return!"
He was still unaware of the matters in the martial arts world, as these were two separate circles.
Just as Chen Feng was oblivious to the military side of things.
After a while, they parted ways.
The armored vehicle disappeared from sight, and Chen Feng signaled the driver to continue.
The journey was silent as they passed through the highway and the city of Nanjiang.
After some thought, Chen Feng decided to return to the mountain gate to reside.
During such extraordinary times, he felt uneasy not staying there.
Meanwhile, the black car passed by the pharmaceutical factory at the foot of the mountain, and the figures on both sides of the small town were still present.
However, he noticed that the factory's name had changed.
"Has this place been sold?"
Chen Feng asked, and the driver was taken aback for a moment before nodding.
"Zhang Zhenchuan has sold this factory to the Kui Pharmaceutical Group, and two other sports goods factories have also been dealt with."
"The martial hall hasn't been doing well lately; many people haven't recovered from the Utopia incident, and other sects from different cities have opened two martial halls here."
Listening in silence, Chen Feng knew it was all due to his previous decisions.
Even after the Yue Mountain trip, he had no intention of changing his course.
"Flying Dragon Sect."
At this moment, many were still observing and testing, watching them spar with the Flying Dragon Sect.
Only by completely resolving this trouble could the Flame Tiger Sect truly spread its wings.
"Grandmaster."
Chen Feng knew there was only one way to resolve it.
He needed the strength to kill a Grandmaster, not just injure one.
As his thoughts scattered, he quickly returned to the mountain gate.
"Senior Brother!"
Along the way, many disciples greeted him respectfully, and Chen Feng nodded in response before glancing at his still unconscious master and chatting briefly with the Third Elder.
"I'm getting old; my strength is no match for yours now."
"Do as you wish."
The Third Elder did not interfere with any of his decisions, nor did he inquire about the Grandmaster techniques.
Nodding silently, Chen Feng finally returned to his room.
As dusk fell, darkness gradually enveloped the sky.
He sat on the bed, looking at the panel before him.
[Azure Armor LV4: 17/100]
[Heart of Glory LV2: 53/100]
The fear value was growing slowly, and the effect of a True Intent-level expert was minimal.
As for the Heart of Glory, the opponents were too weak, and the same applied.
For a moment, sitting in place and watching the night draw near, Chen Feng's gaze deepened as he quietly contemplated the path ahead.
Flying Dragon Sect, Divine Martial Alliance.
To kill a Grandmaster, relying solely on his current strength was definitely insufficient.
His talent had hit a bottleneck, and the best way forward was to return to the path of martial arts.
Suddenly, his gaze shifted down to the skills.
[Extreme Martial Fist: Beginner (3%) +]
[Crimson Tiger Force: Crimson Tiger (1%) +]
[Myriad Tempered Steel: Ten Thousand Refinements (1%) +]
"First, let's try the Dream World, gather as much as possible, and aim to accumulate enough to first enter the Grandmaster level."
"If that doesn't work, I'll settle for second best."
With his thoughts settled, Chen Feng took out the pitch-black disc from his clothing pocket.
He didn't know how to activate it, and it seemed the key hadn't been fully activated yet.
It looked like it was related to the Serpent Spirit, which meant that even if activated, it could only open the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm.
So why not go through the Dream World?
Perhaps he could avoid some deadly dangers through the Dream World?
Without further hesitation, he made his choice.
[Absorption Successful!]
[Serpent Spirit Power +75!]
[Serpent Spirit Power: 140/100]
[Notice: You have gained an opportunity to enter the Dream World for the second time, temporarily entering the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm!]
As expected, Chen Feng had sensed how potent the power contained within this key was.
Crack!
Soon, as the notification appeared, the disc suddenly showed cracks.
In no time, it shattered into dust, turning into powder.
Without further delay, Chen Feng suppressed all distractions and lay down on the bed.
He closed his eyes, breathing evenly, and let his consciousness sink.
The familiar Dream World appeared; he was carrying a black backpack, standing atop a tall building, surveying the surroundings.
He took out the map and glanced at it, comparing it to the distant, misty central area.
He found that outside the danger zone, only two Extreme Martial Halls remained.
Three days later.
Roar!!!
Within the danger zone, a thunderous roar echoed as a massive creature resembling a bipedal gorilla appeared.
Standing nearly eight meters tall, every movement caused the surrounding mist to swirl.
Buzz!!
A punch was thrown, blocking out the sun.
The blue-gold figure with a single horn immediately flapped its blood wings and vanished from its spot.
Boom!!!
A low building was directly punched through, its steel and concrete columns snapping in two.
Crack!
The building collapsed, crashing to the ground.
Chen Feng hovered in mid-air, his expression grave as he looked down.
The Extreme Martial Hall was not far from here, but he couldn't get closer.
He had already explored all the Extreme Martial Halls outside the danger zone in the Dream World, obtaining three Extreme Martial Arts Points and twenty Limit Breaking Points.
The accumulated rewards were only enough for a breakthrough in either the Crimson Tiger Force or Myriad Tempered Steel, so he had to come here to try.
Roar!!!
The roar sounded again, revealing the gray gorilla's fangs, its pitch-black eyes looking up, roaring ferociously.
The powerful aura exceeding the fourth level made one's heart tremble, and his chest bore faint charred marks, with slight injuries to his flesh, but he had not sustained any significant damage.
"Even Black Flash can't handle it."
Chen Feng's expression darkened as he looked at the ground, where the sound of thumping echoed.
It was another gray gorilla, slightly smaller in size, but its aura was not much weaker than his.
The roars continued, and Chen Feng looked at the panel before him.
[Myriad Tempered Steel: Flame Steel Body!]
[Strength: 30.3→32.8]
[Agility: 27.2→29.7]
[Constitution: 36.0→38.5]
[Will: 33.4→35.9]
Before entering the danger zone, he had already used up all his Extreme Martial Arts Points and Limit Breaking Points.
The reason for choosing Myriad Tempered Steel was simple; it was a True Art that could strengthen his physique, allowing him to gain more enhancement under the Steel Bones talent.
As for Extreme Martial Fist, with Black Flash around, he didn't lack a killing move for now, so he was more eager for a breakthrough to Grandmaster.
As long as he could achieve Grandmaster, all his talents would be able to exert greater effects.
But—
Roar!!!
The gray gorilla didn't care about his strength or thoughts.
The ground collapsed as it leaped, climbing the tall building to the top.
Then, it stomped down, causing the building below to collapse and the glass to shatter.
The air felt as if it had solidified, everything around in mid-air was sucked away.
That was the suppression brought by absolute power, making every muscle and heart tremble.
The gray fist drew closer, and without hesitation, Chen Feng turned to flee.
Whoosh!!
With a flap of his wings, he tore through the sky, leaving his spot.
Boom!!!
A powerful cylindrical windstorm swept everything, leaving a long white trail in mid-air, resembling the wake of a fighter jet.
The other gray gorillas on the ground were similar, climbing the tall buildings one after another, trying to imitate.
Seeing this, Chen Feng didn't hesitate any longer and flashed away.
He still hadn't given up on trying in the danger zone; he continued to search for the next Extreme Martial Hall.
---
"Indeed, it's not feasible."
During the day, with a pale face, Chen Feng exited the Dream World and returned to reality.
A glimmer of disappointment flickered in his eyes; the cost was significant in terms of physical and mental exhaustion.
The creatures in the danger zone were indeed beyond the ordinary; even the Giant Rage Bear had only dared to move in the outer circle back then.
Moreover, perhaps due to the dense mist there, the number of Black Calamity Creatures was greater than in other places, and a moment's inattention could expose one's whereabouts and lead to an ambush.
Shaking his head, Chen Feng stood by the window, looking out at the courtyard.
The blue sky and white clouds remained, with wild geese flying in from the north of the Red Nation, preparing to winter here.
He sensed some sounds and followed them.
In the open area outside, Cao Tong and Wu Shuang were teaching martial arts, with dozens of disciples either standing in stances or practicing punches, all diligently training.
These were the disciples who chose to stay after the incident with the Flame Tiger Sect.
After the battle at Yue Mountain, some who had left regretted their decision, but Chen Feng no longer accepted them, even stripping them of their True Art.
There were also those with complex feelings, thinking that the goodwill had been exhausted, and it would be difficult for the Cyborgs to lend a hand again, choosing to leave quietly.
Two Grandmasters, and at least one or two Grandmaster-level Cyborgs.
This was the power that the Flying Dragon Sect openly displayed.
As for how much was hidden, no one knew.
Taking everything in, Chen Feng's expression gradually calmed.
His exploration in Qinggang City's Dream World had reached its limit for now.
The exploration plan for the danger zone was not feasible, so he needed to change his strategy.
With that thought, he looked down at the palm of his right hand.
The serpent-like patterns resembling tattoos were deep and dark, as if they held a unique kind of magic.
With a decision in mind, he finally left his room for breakfast and then headed to the training ground.
"Senior Brother!"
"Senior Brother!"
Excited shouts rang out as all the disciples focused on the tall figure in black.
Cao Tong and Wu Shuang paused their movements, their expressions complex, filled with admiration or nostalgia.
Unbeknownst to them, the Junior Brother Chen, who had the shortest training time, had already become the greatest reliance in the hearts of everyone in the Flame Tiger Sect.
"Today, I'm here to teach them martial arts."
Chen Feng spoke calmly, and although Cao Tong and Wu Shuang were puzzled, they did not ask further.
Instead, they joined the ranks of the disciples, showing curiosity and joy.
It was rare to have a True Intent-level expert personally demonstrate martial arts.
"Flame Tiger Stance."
With a deep squat, Chen Feng stood in place.
A scorching aura quietly spread, and a phantom of a red tiger coalesced, as if dozing behind him.
"Body like a tiger, intent like fire."
"Force flows through the body, refining the bones."
With a snap, he swung his hand to initiate the stance, and the red tiger behind him opened its eyes, moving in sync.
Tiger form, tiger roar, tiger might.
The eleven movements of the Flame Tiger Stance were practiced in conjunction with the stance work.
The True Intent Crimson Tiger followed throughout, causing many formal disciples to brighten their eyes, feeling they had found the key.
In a peaceful and serene atmosphere, the training continued.
Cao Tong and Wu Shuang exchanged smiles, both feeling that Junior Brother Chen was indeed a True Intent expert; his slight guidance was more effective than their days of teaching.
Subtly, a faint sound arose.
Zhang Guiyuan, Wei Ping, and other True Disciples either stood on the roof or leaned against the beams, quietly appearing around.
Zhao Jushan, supported by Lin Xiaoyun, stood at the edge, his face filled with admiration, not interrupting.
"Rock Tiger, Mighty Tiger, Giant Tiger."
"Blazing Flame, Steel Fire, Burning Mountain."
The calm voice rang out again; for these disciples who chose to stay during the desolation, Chen Feng was generous with a few True Arts to pass down.
The expressions of the True Disciples were complex, but no one refuted or obstructed.
In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures were necessary, especially since this was Junior Brother Chen's decision.
For a moment, the sounds of the martial arts arena echoed, sunlight poured down, and the autumn breeze blew.
The Third Elder sat by the bed in a room, turning his head to look out the window at the sounds.
Taking everything in, the figure in the red-patterned white robe still lay unconscious beside him.
"Senior Brother, I think I saw a Grandmaster."
"That belongs to our Flame Tiger Sect, a Grandmaster."
That night, Chen Feng sat on his bed.
It was not his first time entering the Dream World, but he still felt a tinge of nervousness.
Second entry into the dream, Serpent Spirit Secret Realm.
He was uncertain what would happen.
Buzzing!
At that moment, his phone suddenly vibrated.
His thoughts were interrupted, and Chen Feng instinctively picked it up to take a look.
[Lin Hao: There's something I need to remind you about.]
Chen Feng was puzzled.
[Lin Hao: There's been turmoil in Suro, and Utopia is causing trouble. Someone captured a photo of Jin Wei and posted it on the dark web.]
[Preliminary judgment suggests it's true; he likely completed his consciousness replication from the deep sea, possessing a new Titanium-grade body, and has successfully rebooted.]
Upon receiving the news, Chen Feng fell silent for a moment.
"I understand."
He replied and closed his phone.
With his eyes tightly shut, he lay back on the bed.
All distractions were suppressed, and he quickly sank into consciousness, arriving at Qinggang City.
The mist enveloped the sky like a cage, with lifeless buildings standing before him.
Looking up, he noticed many powerful creatures moving in the deep, dark areas—monsters he currently could not contend with.
Retracting his gaze, Chen Feng silently stepped into a bedroom of a house, looking at the serpent patterns on his palm.
Second entry into the dream, everything was unknown.
But based on his previous experiences in the Dream World of Qinggang City, even if he encountered a deadly crisis in the dream, he would not die.
At most, he would suffer a mental blow, affecting reality, or delay his next entry into the dream.
As for the duration of entry, it shouldn't be too long.
This was the confidence that allowed him to make this choice.
With that thought, Chen Feng lay flat with his eyes closed in the bedroom.
No more hesitation or distractions.
Only one thought solidified completely.
"Serpent Spirit Secret Realm, activate!"
(End of the Chapter)
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