Translator: CinderTL
Buzz!
A blurred image materialized, shrouded in a hazy white mist.
A wide river bisected the city's edge, with countless figures in ancient robes or casual attire milling about the ancient towns lining its banks.
A solid blue Flying Dragon descended with overwhelming force, its presence bearing down like a mountain.
Yet, amidst the surging river, a figure in black robes walked across the water, the Flame Tiger close behind. With a pair of iron fists, he shattered the Flying Dragon and overturned its supposed dominance.
"This is..."
Chen Feng's gaze sharpened as the other light spots in his mind began to scatter in rapid succession.
The golden-armored figure in Yun Port, unstoppable as a tidal wave, had single-handedly stormed a hundred-meter skyscraper under the Sky Eye's surveillance, destroyed a helicopter, and beheaded the Council Speaker's son with a single sword strike.
Despite being surrounded by layers of encirclement, he had calmly walked away unscathed.
Then came the battle at Xiang Mountain, where, before reaching the Pinnacle Realm, he had repelled a Saint Sect Elder with a single punch and killed the Divine Martial Alliance's Pseudo-Pinnacle Realm Grand Protector with two fists, stabilizing the martial arts landscape in the south.
During his subsequent journey through Suro, Xing's reputation overshadowed the entire nation. Even when the Black Tide struck, she didn't retreat a single step. Instead, she surged forward against the tide, standing before ten thousand people.
She eliminated the Modified and destroyed the Modified Humans.
The prestige of being Beyond Grandmaster poured over her, and her power, suspected to be at the Pinnacle Realm, crushed her enemies.
Each past experience seemed to transform into a mark, leaving a profound impression like a legend.
Every survivor remembered and sang the two-character name associated with these events.
Furthermore, her Perception expanded, allowing her to glimpse other, even more blurred points of light.
It felt as though a world barrier existed, an insurmountable chasm blocking everything.
Yet, Chen Feng still saw faint images of his time in the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm and the Dead Crow Secret Realm.
He destroyed a tribe and aided the Holy City.
He killed a Duke and battled a Saint.
Onlookers gasped in amazement, the legends surrounding these events etched indelibly in their memories.
In a daze, Chen Feng sensed a subtle, almost imperceptible connection forming between himself and the real world.
It was as if the entire world had remembered him, making it impossible to forget him easily.
"So... this is what it means to become a legend?"
Coming to his senses, Chen Feng carefully considered the implications.
This wasn't blind speculation, but rather a deduction based on the fragmented memories Chen Feng had received in the Qinggang City Dreamscape.
Transcendence required leaving a powerful mark through sufficient legends, transforming into a World Imprint etched into the world.
Only by resonating with the world on this foundation could one avoid easily losing their way or being assimilated by the world and reduced to ashes.
"Legends often require reaching the limits of the human body, and only those who dare to take that step can perceive them."
"But why am I experiencing this so much earlier?"
Chen Feng sensed something amiss. His situation clearly deviated from the martial arts records of Qinggang City.
But then, recalling the changes he had undergone before sensing the legends, he relaxed.
"It's because of the Perception upgrade."
"It's not just about perceiving external objects anymore. I now have a vague, preliminary sense of intangible legend traces and World Imprints."
Lost in thought, Chen Feng roughly grasped the connection.
He didn't dwell on this further, instead focusing on carefully sensing the legends he had left behind.
The scenes from Earth were the most vivid, and it was through these that he felt a faint connection to the real world.
As for the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm and the Dead Crow Secret Realm, their presence was much more ambiguous. However, thanks to the commotion he had caused, he had still managed to sense them.
"Normally, legends require considerable time and accumulation to undergo their initial qualitative transformation and leave behind a World Imprint."
"But I took a shortcut, relying on the Dream Realm's assistance."
Chen Feng once again felt the difference between himself and ordinary people.
The Dream Realm's time flow was not equivalent to Earth's, making it the perfect way for him to save time.
"Still, it's not enough."
"I've only gained an initial sense of them. I need to continue accumulating."
"Moreover, the Dream Realm is not Earth. There's a certain barrier between the two worlds, so I can't rely solely on the Dream Realm's power."
After carefully reflecting, Chen Feng grasped the key.
Legends were the foundation of the resonance world. The stronger they were, the more solid the World Imprint would be.
The Dream Realm could shorten the time needed to accumulate legends, but it should never lead him to neglect the path of reality.
Otherwise, the World Imprint of his legends in reality might become shallow and unable to support his Transcendence.
Suddenly, clarity dawned.
Chen Feng realized that the most correct path lay in advancing both reality and the Dream Realm in tandem.
Without further delay, he suppressed his lingering speculations.
He immediately focused his mind and turned his attention to the panel before him.
[Extreme Martial Arts: 3]
[Limit Breaking Orbs: 21]
The gains from last night's Qinggang City Dreamscape had brought Falling Sun to its peak. He couldn't advance further without reaching Transcendence.
As for the Golden Dawn Art, the Golden Body Manual was incomplete, and breaking down Extreme Martial Arts to add points would be too wasteful.
His gaze drifted downward, settling on the Heavenly Aura Overlord Body.
[Heavenly Aura Overlord Body: Mighty Arms (1%)+]
"Enhance!"
Buzz!
In an instant, all his Extreme Martial Arts and Limit Breaking Orbs were consumed.
The remaining martial arts insights from the Extreme Martial Light Orb surged forth, finally increasing the Heavenly Aura Overlord Body's progress.
"Yang, what do you think the Lion King is really up to?"
In a city within Niduo Country, concrete buildings stood shoulder to shoulder. Despite it being daytime, sunlight barely reached the area.
"First, he sealed off and hunted us. Now, he's lifted the blockade."
"And the World Fighting Tournament... it's being held right in the Niduo Kingdom's Capital."
The short-haired woman in a leather jacket spoke, appearing to be in her mid-thirties with brown eyes and wheat-colored skin.
Xing held her black backpack in her hand as people streamed past on the bustling street. Yang Wudi, in his brown trench coat, didn't answer. Instead, he looked up at the concrete buildings across the street.
Grotesque demon masks with green faces and fangs were carved or spray-painted onto the concrete walls. Neon signs flickered red and green in the alleyways, and virtual light screens projected images that gathered in the air like mist.
Dark-skinned figures moved through the street, their footsteps echoing on the uneven, potholed concrete. In some places, air conditioners dripped water.
Yet, despite this scene, if one looked up, they would see a cluster of ancient, red-roofed pavilions stretching across the sky, like a brand-new city built atop the concrete buildings.
Occasionally, a Flying Car would pierce through the neon lights and virtual projections, causing the crowd below to stop and stare in awe, their envy palpable.
"The World Fighting Tournament has always been secretly organized by the Star Palace," Yang Wudi said calmly, a cigarette appearing between his lips.
The ember glowed, and smoke curled upward.
"That makes sense," Xing replied.
The short-haired woman with brown eyes, who had a rather dashing air about her, pondered for a moment before saying, "It's good enough if the two of us don't cause trouble. There's no point in him continuing the lockdown."
"But I'm curious, Yang. Do you think Liu will come?"
"I don't know."
Yang Wudi shook his head, withdrawing his gaze from the distant horizon.
Across the street, several tattooed thugs exchanged glances and nodded subtly. They then advanced, circling them with clubs in hand.
The short-haired woman seemed oblivious, lost in thought for a moment before speaking again.
"What about that person you mentioned? Chen, right?"
"He should be close to reaching the Pinnacle Realm by now, shouldn't he?"
"Perhaps he already has."
Yang Wudi's eyes flickered as he took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling a plume of smoke. "But I can't quite read him. These young upstarts these days..."
As they spoke, the tattooed thugs had already closed in.
One of them, with a fierce expression, was about to threaten them.
But in the next instant—
Click.
The sound of a bullet being chambered echoed as the short-haired woman, as if by magic, produced a Desert Eagle and pressed it against his chin.
"Lead the way."
Heavenly Aura Overlord Body: Mighty Arms (29%)
Inside the Martial Hall, the progress bar on the panel froze. Chen Feng withdrew his gaze.
Without further delay, he changed into a black trench coat and stepped out of the Meditation Chamber.
The door to the room swung open, revealing Cao Tong standing in the doorway wearing a loose black hoodie.
"Junior Brother Chen, the car is ready."
"Alright, let's go."
Nodding, Chen Feng descended the second floor, passed through the main hall, and headed straight for the Martial Hall's main entrance.
Every disciple and student he encountered along the way stopped respectfully to greet him. The title "Senior Brother" echoed throughout the hall until he stepped outside onto the smooth, gray stone-paved plaza.
A black sedan was parked at the curb, a driver in a suit sitting inside.
"Radiant Star Academy's temporary lab is located on the outskirts, apparently using part of the military's facilities."
"We should arrive in about thirty minutes," Cao Tong said as he walked, then opened the car door.
Chen Feng nodded and settled into the back seat. Today, he was going to complete the experimental transaction with Radiant Star Academy.
In addition to the two Advanced Life Elixirs, Fang Mocuan had also mentioned collaborating on martial arts research projects related to the Flame Tiger Sect and a special research grant of ten million yuan. However, he would need Chen Feng's help to complete these research projects.
As for his own strength, although he had expended considerable energy in the Dream Realm and suffered some mental strain, he hadn't fully recovered yet.
But the display of power—the glimpse of strength beyond Grandmaster—was enough.
Vroom!!
With a roar, the engine ignited, and the black car merged into the main thoroughfare, weaving through the bustling traffic.
Towering buildings receded on either side, and a constant stream of pedestrians flowed past.
Glancing upward, Chen Feng noticed a new skyscraper.
Blue Sky Group
Another Mega Corporation?
The four steel characters of the company's sign hung atop the building, and Chen Feng realized that Nanjiang's rise as a Central City was now unstoppable.
Then there was the City Council. With Xu Heng's death, a seat had opened up.
During a casual conversation with Chu Shihong yesterday, Chen Feng learned that a Mega Corporation had approached him, seeking to negotiate for the vacant position.
Though he had declined, he heard the corporation had secretly approached other Councilors.
The implications were clear, and a subtle sense of urgency began to stir within Chen Feng.
Central City... Secret Realm...
The thought flashed through his mind as the black car continued its journey through the bustling streets, gradually reaching the former outskirts.
The towering buildings thinned out, replaced by factories that had sprung up on the once-barren land.
In the distance, a massive, gray-black wall loomed into view.
Towering over a hundred meters high even in its unfinished state, the wall already exuded an air of grandeur.
Nearby, numerous steel sheds had been erected, serving as temporary branch offices for various major corporations participating in the High-Wall Project. These housed construction workers.
Outside these corporate outposts, several housing developments were under construction, accompanied by restaurants, supermarkets, and mobile food vendors.
Amidst the bustling crowds, a military camp had been established near the wall's construction site.
Green iron mesh separated the camp from the outside world, surrounded by lush greenery. Steel barracks and makeshift tents dotted the cleared ground within.
The words "Military Restricted Zone" stood out prominently, and armed soldiers stood guard at the entrance checkpoint.
Yet, instead of the expected silence and solemnity, seven or eight figures stood before the military gate, poised and alert, as if awaiting an important person.
The personnel from the nearby major corporations and construction workers finishing their meals at the restaurants watched with curiosity and confusion, their murmurs growing louder.
Finally, a black sedan slowly approached.
(End of the Chapter)
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