Translator: CinderTL
"The New Martial Dao"
It represented an uncharted path for martial arts, one that might reverse the decline of traditional martial arts and even reshape the balance of power among factions.
Everyone in the Meditation Chamber understood this, including Vice Dean Fang, who fell silent for a moment upon hearing the term.
"This matter isn't really a secret," Fang Mocuan finally said, breaking the silence.
A gentle breeze drifted in from the window, carrying the fragrant steam rising from the teacups.
After meeting the curious gazes of Chen Feng and Chu Shihong, and seeing Cao Tong pretending to pour tea while secretly eavesdropping, Fang Mocuan didn't hesitate any longer.
"Liu Duanyun truly deserves his title as the Northern Martial Arts Champion. After years of seclusion, he emerged and traveled alone to Red City to demonstrate his breakthrough."
"I was actually present that day. I initially thought it wouldn't be much different from traditional martial arts, but I was completely wrong. He had truly forged a unique path."
"Oh?" Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. This wasn't the first time he'd heard rumors about Liu Duanyun.
After a moment of patient listening, Fang Mocuan spoke again.
"Grandmaster Chen, you must understand this deeply. After reaching the Grandmaster realm, the Pinnacle Realm represents the human body's absolute limit, making further breakthroughs nearly impossible, wouldn't you agree?"
"Mm."
Chen Feng nodded lightly, not denying it.
"Then, I wonder, could Grandmaster Chen possibly manifest wind, earth, water, and fire?" Fang Mocuan asked, his gaze fixed on Chen Feng.
Chen Feng remained silent for a moment.
"No."
He spoke in a low voice. While the Heavenly Flame Force and Sacred Flame Awakening Method allowed him to solidify his Force into a Blazing Sun, burning with intense heat like true flames and vaporizing everything in its path, it was still just Force, not genuine elemental energy.
"Could it be that Liu Duanyun actually achieved this?" Chu Shihong asked, his eyes wide with astonishment.
"Indeed."
Fang Mocuan nodded, setting down his teacup. His expression was filled with awe, as if reliving the shock he had experienced that night.
"At the Royal Family's birthday banquet, he summoned a mysterious mist with a single hand."
"Then, combining it with a Martial Arts True Skill, he used this mist to manifest wind, earth, water, and fire. It could sweep across the heavens like a raging storm, or stand as unyielding as stone and ice. Or perhaps it would burn like incandescent flames, consuming all things."
"Even the Sixth-Tier Modified Humans present that day commented on the opponent's incredibly powerful life Magnetic Field, rivaling any Sixth-Tier Mech Warrior. Even they felt a sense of danger," Fang Mocuan said calmly, his voice still tinged with lingering awe.
Chu Shihong fell silent, his expression a mixture of astonishment and wonder. Beside him, Cao Tong stood frozen until the spilled tea overflowed the cup, nearly spilling onto the tea table and soaking the floor. Only then did he snap back to reality.
"No matter," Fang Mocuan said with a gentle wave of his hand, watching Cao Tong frantically wipe the tea table. He smiled peacefully, not taking offense.
He understood their shock. Even he had been no better when he witnessed the scene. After all, whether it was surpassing human limits, breaking the shackles of the Pinnacle Realm, or the so-called evolution of earth, wind, water, and fire into tangible reality, it all defied the established understanding of martial arts.
"No wonder," Chu Shihong murmured, finally understanding why Speaker Li had been placing so much emphasis on traditional martial arts recently, and why the higher-ups were equally invested.
It was clear that Liu Duanyun's Martial Arts method had surpassed the limits of normal human strength, possibly delving into other mysteries.
If one could thoroughly research it, might it become a New Martial Dao to rival Modified Human technology?
If so, traditional Martial Arts...
With a firm resolve, he turned his head to look at the silent black-clad youth.
He wondered if this discovery would shock the young man.
After all, this was a Martial Arts Champion who was at least equal to Yang Wudi, and perhaps even stronger, based on current evidence.
If this path proved true, Liu Duanyun could be hailed as a pioneer, illuminating the future of Red Country Martial Arts, and perhaps even Earth itself.
Even the proud Flame Tiger Grandmaster would have to...
"Interesting."
A low voice echoed, and the black-clad youth in his vision suddenly smiled faintly.
Chu Shihong froze, while Fang Mocuan's expression tightened. Both men turned to look at the youth.
"This truly is a remarkable era," Chen Feng said calmly, having risen and walked to the window of the Meditation Chamber at some point.
The sky was azure, and skyscrapers rose like forests outside.
Holographic projections floated in the air, announcing the arrival of new Mega Corporations.
"Whether it's Yang Wudi or Liu Duanyun..."
"They're both formidable opponents."
A wisp of crimson flame had silently ignited within his calm gaze.
His sense of invasion seemed to pierce through the world, revealing the two strongest Pinnacle Realm Masters in the Red Nation, and even the elite few Martial Artists who stood at the pinnacle of Earth's martial arts.
Ever since he had surpassed the Grandmaster realm and entered the Fifth-Tier, he had transformed from a pursuer into someone all Martial Artists looked up to.
Now, he was experiencing that familiar feeling once more.
"I don't know if his path is right or how far he can go."
"But I can be certain of this..."
Turning to face the three people in the room, Chen Feng had already put aside his contemplation, returning to his calm sense of invasion.
"The path I must walk is about to begin as well."
Whoosh!!
At the edge of the cliff, a waterfall plunged down like a silver river falling from the setting sun. It gathered into a stream, forming a thousand-meter-wide emerald lake at the base of the cliff.
The constant roar of the waterfall sent ripples spreading across the lake's surface.
Plop!
A lake fish leaped out of the water, then plunged back in.
Splashes of water flew, revealing a massive rock rising from the lake. Atop it, a figure sat cross-legged.
He wore a simple, loose white robe embroidered with silver thread clouds.
His thick eyebrows, broad face, and wide shoulders gave him a formidable presence.
His gray hair was tied back with a wooden hairpin, and he appeared to be around forty years old, with a ruddy complexion and steady breath.
Ohm!!
Suddenly, as if sensing something, he opened his eyes.
The roaring waterfall instantly fell silent, and the entire lake seemed frozen in time.
Fish froze mid-swim, and ripples on the surface solidified in place.
After several seconds, the anomaly vanished.
Finally, a light footstep echoed through the forest. A figure as nimble as a swallow leaped and glided through the trees, arriving at the lake's edge.
"Master," he said, cupping his hands respectfully. His aura drove away many fish, revealing him to be a Grandmaster.
"What is it?"
"The Star Palace has sent an invitation. The World Fighting Tournament is about to begin."
That day, after seeing off Fang Mocuan and the others, Chen Feng stood by the window, watching their aircraft depart.
The research project on Martial arts had been successfully established. In the coming days, he would need to visit Radiant Star Academy's temporary laboratory to assist with data collection.
Based on Fang Mocuan's words, martial arts now enjoys official attention and resource support. The research results might also influence this trend.
The thought flashed through Chen Feng's mind, but he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he turned his attention to the two Advanced Life Elixirs on the tea table.
Without hesitation, he picked them up and twisted off the caps.
Gulp! Gulp!
The emerald-green liquid flowed down his throat, a wave of warmth spreading through his abdomen. It transformed into fundamental nutrients, nourishing the growth of the Sacred Flame Seed.
Finally, the system panel's progress bar froze:
[Sacred Flame Awakening Method: Fifth-Tier (52%)]
The progress had increased slightly again, now over halfway complete.
"Without the Sixth-Tier key technique, the final step will be difficult to break through."
"But the barrier sealing the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm poses a problem."
Chen Feng pondered for a moment, realizing that forcing his way into the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm now would yield unsatisfactory results.
So...
He glanced at the darkening sky outside, waiting until night had fully fallen. Then, he lay down on his bed, closed his eyes, and soon found himself back in the Dream Realm of Qinggang City.
Whoosh!!
Mist drifted through the ruined city, teeming with monsters.
Flight, Low-Altitude Attack, Bite, Encirclement
Black Tide Creatures swarmed from all directions, their numbers overwhelming. Even with Xing's Blood Wings beating rapidly, the Azure-Black Figure was slowed.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A Dark Flash Burst erupted, clearing the area.
Monster after monster exploded into dust, their eerie green blood and shattered remains splattering across the ground.
Roar!
A mutated Sixth-Tier Griffin creature soared into the sky, its wings blotting out the sun and even dimming the crimson blood moon above.
Ignoring the threat, Chen Feng pressed forward, his gaze fixed on the Martial Hall where his target lay.
Ohm!!!
In an instant, a hurricane descended. The massive Griffin swooped down.
But then, a flash of white-gray streaked across the sky, leaving a trail of dazzling golden light.
Boom!
The colossal impact sent the Sixth-Tier Griffin hurtling backward, like a broken-winged eagle caught in a whirlwind, crashing through a row of buildings.
Seizing the opportunity, Chen Feng accelerated.
Steel Bones flashed, golden threads slicing through the air, clearing the path of incoming monsters.
The dilapidated Martial Hall came into view, its walls riddled with holes, resembling a crumbling ruin.
Yet, this very scene of desolation caused Chen Feng to suddenly halt, his gaze fixed on a Training Hall within the Martial Hall.
Crack!
A brick crumbled into powder underfoot as a burly figure in a white robe rose from a kneeling position.
His hair was gray, and his features were all intact.
But above his prominent nose bridge, he possessed a pair of eerie eyes with only white sclera.
Ohm!!
In that instant of eye contact, Chen Feng felt a sharp chill.
Boom!!!
The Martial Hall shuddered violently, then collapsed with a deafening roar.
A piercing sonic boom echoed as the figure stomped the ground and lunged forward, instantly covering hundreds of meters to appear before Chen Feng.
"So fast!"
Clang!!
A clear clang of metal on metal rang out. Chen Feng's expression darkened as he realized that the Steel Bones shield he held, renowned for its durability, now bore a fist-shaped dent three or four centimeters deep.
Boom!!
The ground beneath them crumbled, and cracks spread like spiderwebs.
Though the mighty punch was blocked by the Steel Bones shield, the violent impact and terrifying Qi Force behind it couldn't be fully neutralized. The force drove Chen Feng's entire body into the ground, shattering the surface and creating a deep crater.
Whoosh!!
Another punch, just as swift and brutal.
The burly white-robed figure remained expressionless. Chen Feng immediately activated his Steel Bones, causing them to grow into a larger, semi-circular shield.
Clang!!!
Sparks flew as another dented fist mark appeared.
The Steel Bones, which were slightly stronger than Stellar Titanium, seemed fragile in this moment.
"Transcendence... definitely Transcendence."
"And not just an ordinary Sixth-Tier!"
Chen Feng's eyes flickered. His legs were already buried up to his calves in the crater.
Just then, the burly white-robed figure clenched his fist again. His eerie white-eyed gaze suddenly flashed.
Chen Feng's breath hitched involuntarily. His Perception expanded, and he activated Focus.
Boom!!
A muffled roar echoed like a war drum shaking the heavens.
The very air of Qinggang City seemed to tremble for an instant. Chen Feng could distinctly feel the world resonating with his opponent.
(End of the Chapter)
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