Translator: CinderTL
World Fighting Tournament!
The black letter, no larger than a palm, was adorned with golden swirling patterns.
Chen Feng sat before the tea table in his Meditation Chamber, studying the letter with a slight frown.
"One of the disciples said it appeared beside him when he woke up this morning," Cao Tong, clad in a loose hoodie, explained with a hint of bewilderment. "He glanced at the contents out of curiosity and immediately brought it to the Martial Hall."
The reason for Cao Tong's surprise lay in the black ink that filled the letter:
March 12th—Special Invitation to Flame Tiger Grandmaster of the Red Nation!
Location: Dragon's Nest Arena, Niduo Royal Capital!
The text was brief, but its purpose was unmistakable.
Chen Feng recognized the handwriting as deliberate, sensing a hidden True Intent woven into the words.
Roar!!
The sound was like a lion's roar, yet also resembled the hiss of a giant serpent.
The moment he touched the letter, the Flame Tiger True Intent within it surged forth, as if eager to engage in a fierce battle.
Even Cao Tong, standing nearby, seemed to sense the shift. He clearly saw a palm-sized Sky Flame Crimson Tiger materialize above the letter, locked in combat with two creatures of equal size: a brown berserk lion and a black giant serpent.
It was as if a condensed Pinnacle Intent had stirred the Meditation Chamber into a buzzing hum, with invisible ripples of energy radiating outward.
Boom!!
But soon, after only two breaths, the raging lion vanished, and the black python exploded.
The so-called True Intent Radiance dissipated into nothingness, and everything returned to its initial tranquility.
"Two Pinnacle Realm experts?"
Chen Feng narrowed his eyes slightly. He could sense the immense power of the two True Intents just now, confirming they were at the Pinnacle Realm level.
The reason he could erase their traces so quickly was simple.
The Sky Flame Crimson Tiger had his constant support, drawing endless power, while the traces left by his opponents were merely fleeting, rootless wisps.
He then flipped the black letter over.
In the corner of its back, he saw a six-pointed star emblem etched into the paper.
"This is the work of the Star Palace."
Chen Feng spoke calmly, having reached his conclusion.
When Zhou Wuren had previously revealed information about the Star Palace, he had mentioned their distinctive emblem.
The purple six-pointed star served as the Star Palace's unified symbol of self-identification.
"The Star Palace?"
Cao Tong, who had finally regained his composure, grew increasingly serious.
He recalled the mysterious old man who had died outside the Martial Hall—the Divine Martial Alliance Leader.
"Could it be..."
"Yes."
Chen Feng nodded, confirming Chu Shihong's guess.
When the Divine Martial Alliance Leader had come to test him before, it had seemed like death, but Chen Feng had always suspected it wasn't the leader's true body.
And this invitation letter... during the True Intent trigger just now, he had detected a familiar aura, highly likely belonging to the leader.
"So, the one who came before was indeed just a clone."
Chen Feng narrowed his eyes as he accepted the black letter, still unsure of the Divine Martial Alliance Leader's intentions.
Was it a trap to lure him into an ambush, or a genuine invitation?
And this World Fighting Tournament...
He hadn't heard much about it before and had many questions.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, he decided to find someone to learn more.
But before he could act, several flying cars landed outside the Martial Hall, the air currents they generated creating quite a commotion.
His Perception instinctively swept the area, revealing several unfamiliar figures.
A familiar face accompanied them.
"Is this the Martial Hall of Flame Tiger Grandmaster?"
"Yes, Vice Dean Fang."
Chu Shihong stepped out of the aircraft, wearing a black wool overcoat. His graying hair was meticulously combed, and a smile played on his lips.
Several Modified Human Security Personnel accompanied him, and a group of figures could be seen to his left.
Most of them wore loose white robes with the words "Shining Star" embroidered on their left chests.
Both men and women were present, ranging in age from their late twenties to their mid-thirties, even middle-aged individuals.
Leading the group was an elderly man with graying hair and a gaunt face, dressed in a black down jacket.
"Flame Tiger Grandmaster usually stays at the Martial Hall. Let's go see him," Chu Shihong said with a smile, taking the lead.
The elderly man beside him nodded in agreement, and the group of seven or eight men and women quickly followed him into the Martial Hall.
Boom! Boom!
Someone on the first floor was practicing boxing, punching sandbags with muffled thuds.
Others were near the fitness equipment, squatting and bench-pressing to build muscle and refine their physique.
"Very energetic," Vice Dean Fang remarked with a smile, then turned his gaze to the Martial Hall's interior decor.
The space was simple and elegant, with crimson patterns resembling flames blossoming across the walls.
The accompanying men and women glanced around, some with curious expressions, others with indifferent or casual gazes.
"The Flame Tiger Martial Arts Hall is a major school in Nanjiang, originating from the Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect," Chu Shihong explained with a smile. "We have many young disciples, especially Flame Tiger Grandmaster himself. At just twenty-four years old, his example naturally inspires a vibrant atmosphere."
The other man nodded in agreement.
The Martial Hall's disciples had already been instructed, and soon a core disciple stepped forward to lead them up to the second floor.
"He certainly has a lot of airs," muttered a young man among the entourage as he stepped onto the pedestrian staircase. His voice was barely audible.
The two security personnel behind Chu Shihong's back stiffened and glanced at the young man.
"What are you looking at?"
The young man, wearing black square-framed glasses, looked rather scholarly and slender. His long hair, with bangs covering his forehead, gave him an air of disdain.
"Fang Wen, keep your mouth shut," the woman beside him, who appeared to be in her late twenties with her hair in a ponytail, frowned and reminded him. Vice Dean Fang, who was leading the group, also turned to glance at the young man.
"Show some respect. This isn't Yun Port," he said, his tone impossible to read.
The young man named Fang Wen opened his mouth, then lowered his head slightly, daring not to speak again.
Vice Dean Fang shook his head and apologized to Chu Shihong. "Councilor Chu, I apologize. The young man is a bit rash. I'm afraid he's made you laugh."
"No matter. They're just young people," Chu Shihong replied, dismissing the matter.
He knew the young man was Vice Dean Fang's nephew and didn't take it too seriously.
With a nod, he offered a way out, and the small incident passed without much fanfare. The group continued up to the second-floor corridor, where a young man in a loose hoodie stood at the door of a meditation chamber with several others.
"Councilor Chu, please," Cao Tong gestured. Chu Shihong nodded and followed, leading Vice Dean Fang into the chamber.
At once, they turned to look.
In the Meditation Chamber, floored with raw wooden planks, a black-clad young man stood with his back to the sunlight streaming in from the window. He had already prepared several cups of tea, as if he had been waiting for them.
He had a short, cropped haircut and slanted, sharp eyebrows. His rugged, masculine features were framed by a calm gaze that lifted slightly as he looked up.
Buzz!
In that instant, everyone's hearts trembled.
Though he hadn't deliberately released any aura, they all felt as if an unparalleled tiger, a peerless hero of the mortal realm, had taken up residence in the chamber.
"Vice Dean Fang, please."
Chen Feng spoke calmly, and the others managed to regain their composure.
Most of the accompanying security personnel were led to a nearby waiting room by other disciples. The two Security Mecha Warriors who had been speaking earlier glanced back at the Young Man Fang, whose expression was shifting rapidly. Seeing his sudden obedience, they exchanged silent glances and shook their heads in understanding.
This was the second Martial Arts Hero to emerge in the Southern Martial World since Yang Wudi, a potential Pinnacle Realm prodigy. Even Fifth-Tier Cyborgs and Modified Humans treated him with respect, let alone a mere mortal.
The Young Man Fang's expression shifted, but he quickly suppressed his emotions, as if he had finally grasped the situation.
Chu Shihong, however, took the initiative to lead Vice Dean Fang to the tea table in the Meditation Chamber. Smiling, he introduced them to each other.
"This is Flame Tiger Grandmaster, Councilor Chen Feng, our Federation Councilor from Nanjiang City."
"What do you think, Vice Dean Fang?"
"Seeing is truly believing. Your imposing presence and boundless aura truly live up to your reputation as the number one Martial Arts expert in the Southern Martial World."
Vice Dean Fang, the elderly man, seized the opportunity on the steps to offer a few words of praise. He then took the initiative to shake Chen Feng's hand, even going so far as to subtly compare him favorably to Yang Wudi.
Chen Feng studied the man closely, sensing his genuine goodwill and the restrained authority of a superior.
He had already learned about Vice Dean Fang from Chu Shihong.
Fang Mocuan was one of the three Vice Deans of Radiant Star Academy, a figure of some renown in Feng Province and the surrounding provinces. He had previously served at Red Capital Academy, cultivating extensive connections, including a certain rapport with Speaker Li.
"Our visit today is rather abrupt. First, Radiant Star Academy intends to establish a branch in Nanjiang, and I've been tasked with overseeing its construction."
"Second... we hope Grandmaster Chen might assist us with some research projects related to Martial Arts."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Vice Dean Fang cut to the chase, revealing his intentions.
Chen Feng wasn't surprised, but he was somewhat taken aback by the man's sincerity.
Following the line of sight, Chen Feng saw an open suitcase containing two metal vials filled with a vibrant green liquid. Tiny specks of light shimmered within, giving the liquid a lively, almost organic appearance.
"These are two doses of Advanced Life Elixir, the research compensation Councilor Chu previously conveyed," Vice Dean Fang said, his face gaunt, his eyebrows and hair streaked with white, yet his voice calm and steady. "I hope Grandmaster Chen won't mind our presumptuous visit. We also hope you'll bear with us in our future research endeavors."
He offered to pay the compensation in advance. Chen Feng remained silent for a moment.
At this point, the effects of Advanced Life Elixir had diminished considerably, but any advantage was better than none. It could still contribute to the advancement of the Sacred Flame Awakening Method.
However, this came with a condition.
"I'm happy to contribute my strength to the martial arts of the Red Nation," Chen Feng said, deciding to lay down the ground rules in advance. "However, I'm not comfortable with special experiments that delve too deeply into my personal principles."
He was willing to assist with data collection related to physical fitness and strength performance.
However, they wouldn't allow any special research involving the collection of his own blood.
After all, he understood Biological Modification technology. There was no guarantee that after his blood was collected, it wouldn't be used to develop some kind of gene therapy or even targeted special techniques.
"Of course," Vice Dean Fang didn't object. Instead, he smiled and nodded, seizing the opportunity to discuss the specifics of the research with him.
Everything fell within Chen Feng's acceptable range and was largely consistent with their initial agreement. The research would focus solely on collecting comparative performance data for those who had surpassed the Beyond Grandmaster realm.
Their discussion went smoothly, and as the atmosphere grew more relaxed, Chen Feng seized the moment to voice his curiosity.
"Vice Dean Fang," he began, "I'm curious about the New Martial Dao mentioned by the Northern Saint Sect. What makes it so special that all the major academies have established research projects around it?"
As his words landed, Chu Shihong's eyes flickered, and Cao Tong, who was refilling their tea, pricked up his ears.
(End of the Chapter)
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