Translator: CinderTL
Roar!!!
Early the next morning, a surge of Qi erupted from the Flame Tiger Sect's Mountain Gate, accompanied by a deafening Tiger Roar that echoed through the air.
All the disciples froze in stunned silence, simultaneously noticing a rise in temperature around the Mountain Gate.
"This is..." someone exclaimed, their gaze fixed on the Sect Leader's secluded courtyard.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Figures darted forward, some leaping across rooftops and rafters, others hurrying along the stone-paved paths.
Eventually, many disciples gathered around the courtyard, some even entering it.
Looking up, they saw a crimson Flame Tiger, incredibly solid and lifelike, emerge from the courtyard's interior, its form piercing through the walls. It coiled and reclined within the small courtyard.
The crowd stared in awe, while Third Elder Yan Chong, clad in a gray robe, narrowed his eyes. His expression quickly became complex, a mix of envy and regret.
"This is...?" Yao Wei voiced a similar suspicion, his expression shaken, but he hesitated to confirm it.
Yan Chong opened his mouth, but before he could speak, footsteps sounded behind him. A presence as steady and profound as a reef in the ocean settled beside him.
"Third Martial Uncle."
Turning to meet the calm gaze of the man with slanted eyebrows, Yan Chong forced a wry smile and nodded.
Behind them, Yao Wei immediately clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and the title "Senior Brother" rang out repeatedly.
"Looks like Senior Brother... he must have succeeded, right?" Yan Chong asked enviously. Chen Feng remained silent for a moment before nodding.
Two veteran True Intent masters, one had failed, the other succeeded. He could understand the Third Martial Uncle's current mood of somber regret.
Grandmaster was a realm that every martial artist aspired to reach. At this level, founding a sect was effortless, and one commanded universal respect within the Martial Arts World.
But alas...
"It's good that he succeeded," Yan Chong said, a smile spreading across his gaunt, wrinkled face, as if he had finally let out a long-held breath. "Senior Brother has endured so much over the years. He's far stronger than I am."
"With this, the Flame Tiger Sect finally has its second Grandmaster!"
His laughter was open and genuine, and Chen Feng could sense the sincerity in his words. After all, the Third Martial Uncle and Master had been through thick and thin together for decades, supporting each other through the Flame Tiger Sect's darkest days until they reached their current prosperity. The bond between them was self-evident.
Creak!
Suddenly, the courtyard door opened. A slightly plump figure in a white robe embroidered with crimson patterns emerged slowly, stroking his gray-black beard with a smile as he walked.
"Junior Brother, my good disciple."
Li Tong looked younger, his graying hair now a solid gray, and the wrinkles on his ruddy face had faded considerably, making him appear to be in his early forties.
"Master, congratulations," Chen Feng said with a smile. Yan Chong and the others gathered around, offering their sincere congratulations as well.
"Hehe, indeed, it's worth celebrating," Li Tong chuckled, his face flushed with joy. "I've finally walked the path you once trod."
His eyes were filled with deep satisfaction. He knew that without the Sacred Flame True Art Chen Feng had given him, he might never have crossed that final threshold in his lifetime.
Fortunately, everything had succeeded.
With a slight thought, the solidified True Intent Crimson Tiger appeared behind him, then merged into his body.
All his Force retracted, and everyone present could sense his aura deepening, now carrying a hint of the profound presence his Senior Brother had once possessed.
"Master, this calls for a celebration! Should we announce it to the world?" Xu Tingxiao, who hadn't yet left for the suburban military camp, grinned from the side. He was bursting with pride that both his Master and Senior Brother had surpassed the True Intent Realm.
"Xiao Feng, what do you think?"
Li Tong didn't immediately agree. Instead, he stroked his beard and looked at Chen Feng, seeking his opinion.
The others present didn't find this awkward; they were already accustomed to it.
They all knew who was the true foundation of the Flame Tiger Sect.
"Of course," Chen Feng said with a smile, nodding. He could see that his Master was eager to breathe a sigh of relief.
The group briefly discussed follow-up matters, and many disciples left with flushed faces and beaming smiles. The Flame Tiger Sect had produced a new Grandmaster, and they were all proud to share in the glory.
Finally, most of the courtyard emptied, leaving only Chen Feng, Third Martial Uncle, and a few others.
"I wonder where Chenye is now," Li Tong suddenly mused, his voice tinged with nostalgia. He knew that if the man were still around, he might have had a chance to break through to Grandmaster rank as well.
"So long without news... perhaps..." Third Elder Yan Chong shook his head, his expression complex.
Li Chenye's disappearance had been sudden and abrupt. Shortly after, Yan Chong himself had been attacked by members of the Divine Martial Alliance, and the Flame Tiger Sect had been plunged into crisis due to the Flying Dragon Sect's machinations.
No matter how one looked at it, the situation seemed strange.
Many present shared similar suspicions, having already considered the worst-case scenario. Even if Li Chenye hadn't betrayed the sect, he must have made a choice that was close to it, or why else would he have remained hidden for so long?
The atmosphere fell silent, but Chen Feng's mind was filled with a growing suspicion.
Back on the sect's back mountain, Tian Hao Security had stumbled upon Li Chenye's final trace and shown him the footage.
The footage showed Li Chenye briefly conversing with a figure in black before departing.
At the time, nothing seemed amiss, but now, the black-clad figure, wearing a black raincoat, inexplicably reminded him of yesterday's Divine Martial Alliance Leader's avatar.
"If the Divine Martial Alliance was truly behind this, why did the people they killed back then have no knowledge of Junior Martial Uncle's situation?"
This was his biggest question. Li Tong, sensing his unease, turned to look at him.
Without explanation, Chen Feng simply raised his head and gazed at the sky.
Everyone paused, then followed his gaze.
They saw an aircraft pierce through the clouds and hover above the Flame Tiger Sect's Mountain Gate. Its gray-black, oval shape was unmistakable, with the four white-painted characters of Tian Hao Security standing out prominently.
"This is..." Li Tong asked, his eyes widening.
"They came quickly," Chen Feng replied, his gaze flashing.
As his words fell, the aircraft slowly descended, landing just outside the red-lacquered gate of the Mountain Gate courtyard.
A circular wave of air surged outward, causing the wild grass to sway and dust to swirl.
Without further ado, Chen Feng led the group out of the courtyard. They soon saw the aircraft's hatch open, revealing several figures.
Most were burly men in suits, some armed with firearms, others cyborgs.
Among them was the familiar figure of Zhou Cheng, and another woman, middle-aged with black shoulder-length hair and a trench coat, carrying a suitcase.
Her black leather boots clicked crisply against the gray stone bricks.
"Grandmaster Chen," Mei Li said with a smile. Zhou Cheng and the others behind her followed suit, respectfully addressing him.
"Madam Mei," Chen Feng nodded. He had specifically requested her assistance from Lin Hao.
The Divine Martial Alliance Leader's methods were insidious, and he couldn't afford to be careless.
Chen Feng couldn't stay at the Flaming Tiger Mountain Gate indefinitely, so he had invited this Modified Human expert, who was nearing the peak of the Fifth Tier.
"I'll need to trouble you for a while," he said.
"Grandmaster Chen, please," Mei Li replied modestly, her eyes crinkling with gentle lines as she smiled warmly. "You're Xiao Hao's friend, which makes you our friend. And we'll never forget the help you gave us back then."
She spoke tactfully, her tone filled with gratitude.
Though she didn't know the Blue Demon's true identity, she suspected Chen Feng had spent considerable personal favors to persuade him to intervene. Otherwise, why would two Fifth-Tier peak Cyborgs have offered their assistance without expecting anything in return?
Chen Feng nodded without elaborating.
He introduced Mei Li to his Master, Li Tong, and the others, briefly mentioning the Divine Martial Alliance Leader's threat.
"Ah, so that's it."
Li Tong nodded in understanding. Though still somewhat concerned, he refrained from asking further, given his disciple's capabilities.
The group proceeded to the reception hall, where disciples were already arranging guest quarters, preparing seating, and pouring tea.
"How has Lin Hao been lately?" Chen Feng asked. They hadn't spoken much on the phone that day, so he was curious about the situation.
Was Lin Hao planning to stay in Yun Port permanently and not return to Nanjiang?
"Xiao Hao is still in Yun Port," Mei Li replied, accepting a cup of tea from another disciple and nodding her thanks. "After a vote by Jadeite Biotech's senior management, he's now the junior-most Director. He needs to complete some handover procedures and identity verification there."
"Moreover, the Secret Realm in Cloud Dream Forest has been very active recently. Although the Inner City Passage remains sealed, staying a bit longer might bring a breakthrough."
She elaborated briefly, leaving Chen Feng deep in thought.
"I heard they discovered a crucial advanced material extraction technique there?"
"That's correct."
Mei Li nodded lightly, her gaze sweeping across the room.
Lowering her voice, she said seriously, "The blueprints for this technology have already been uploaded to the Red Capital Institute of Technology. Rumor has it that it can extract a high-grade metal to create specialized devices, enhancing the intensity of certain modifications."
"There are even rumors that it could raise the upper limits for both Cyborgs and Modified Humans."
"In short, Cloud Dream Forest is now attracting a lot of attention."
Sensing a hint of warning in her words, Chen Feng looked at her deeply, suspecting that Lin Hao had sent her to deliver this message, indirectly reminding him not to act rashly.
Without saying much, he simply nodded and chatted casually for a while.
As the last guest departed, Master Li Tong personally escorted her to the guest quarters to show respect.
Left alone in the hall, Chen Feng sat in the main seat of the pear blossom wood chair, gazing up at the vast sky visible through the open doors.
The upper limits of Modified Humans and Cyborgs?
That wasn't the key issue.
Perhaps he should consider adopting a new identity?
Buzz!!
One day later, a black sedan drove onto the asphalt road, slowly departing from the low mountain.
"Junior Brother Chen, we've already notified the other sects about the Sect Leader's breakthrough celebration. It's scheduled for seven days from now."
"We've also informed several Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters. Do you think there's anything else we need to do?"
Cao Tong asked from the passenger seat, his voice calm. Chen Feng, still wearing his black trench coat, shook his head.
He wasn't concerned with such trivial matters. All he needed to do was be present when the time came.
In contrast, he glanced at the message on his phone.
[Chen Yun: Xiao Feng, the project team is about to get busy. I might not be able to contact you much for a while.]
[If I don't reply to your messages, don't worry smile.jpg]
The message from Chen Yun had arrived early that morning, while he was still catching up on sleep.
"It seems the discovery in the Cloud Dream Forest is truly remarkable," he mused, his thoughts drifting. He recalled the information Mei Li had shared yesterday: the potential emergence of a new advanced metal that could significantly impact current modification technology.
Perhaps when Chen Yun messaged him again, it would mark the moment this technology truly came to fruition.
He set down his phone.
The shared screen from the three Small Stone Statues flickered with blurry images, most of which offered little useful information.
Shaking his head, Chen Feng gazed out the window at the receding mountains and forests. The rapid advancement of cyborg technology had instilled in him a sense of urgency and pressure.
Coincidentally, beneath the chasm of Transcendence, his martial arts cultivation had begun to plateau.
His immediate priorities were to quickly accumulate legendary achievements, deepen his World Imprint, and reach his true limit as soon as possible.
Beyond that...
Chen Feng's thoughts drifted back to the Dead Crow Secret Realm and the Emerald Light Orb on Hurricane Island.
Calculating the time difference between the Dream Realm and reality, the next full moon should arrive in a day or two.
If he could obtain that Light Orb, his strength would undoubtedly surge further. This would greatly increase his chances of success, whether he chose to enter the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm or settle a certain matter that needed closure.
Lost in thought, the black car had already reached the outskirts of the city.
The bustling urban sprawl came into view, the familiar streets teeming with traffic and skyscrapers.
The reason for his descent from the mountain was simple:
The City Council had called a new meeting, and because a vote was required, Chu Shihong hoped Chen Feng would attend in person.
Beep! Beep!
Amidst the blaring horns and roaring engines, a black sedan gradually pulled up beneath the Federation's high-rise building in the city center.
Several people had already arrived. Flying Cars landed and parked, and cyborgs with bulging waistlines in tailored suits and Modified Human security personnel carrying briefcases emerged.
"Councilor Chen!"
"Good morning, Councilor Chen!"
Shouts rang out as councilors spotted his arrival and stopped to wait.
"Good morning, everyone."
Chen Feng nodded in response, stepped out of the car, and was immediately surrounded by several councilors as they walked toward the glass-walled entrance of the high-rise.
Security personnel attempted to follow, but were quickly waved away.
"You don't need to follow. Just wait here for me."
"But..."
"What 'but'? With Councilor Chen here, who could possibly harm me?"
Li Chengdong's elder, Li Hai, deliberately said, appearing to be in his sixties but with a remarkably sturdy frame. He wore a black wool overcoat and a black scarf, his steps steady and without any hint of frailty.
The other councilors around them were momentarily stunned, then inwardly cursed the old fox.
Recognizing the deliberate show of goodwill, Chen Feng smiled and shook his head, then waved gently at the security personnel who were watching.
While Li Hai's words were an exaggeration, one thing he said was undeniably true.
As long as Chen Feng was present, the United Coalition Building was safer than any security detail could ever hope to make it.
Could it even be that Chu Shihong had insisted on his personal presence rather than a remote projection for every council meeting for this very reason?
Whoosh!!
Just then, an aircraft landed nearby.
The tailwash whipped up violently, causing many people's suit collars and ties to flap against their faces.
Dust and debris swirled through the air, and Chen Feng and his companions paused in their steps.
Squinting, they saw a crimson water wave pattern on the aircraft. Then, a crisp sound rang out.
Hiss! Click!
The hatch opened, releasing two wisps of white vapor.
Four men in their thirties emerged, some carrying metal briefcases, others in loose-fitting suits, all tall and imposing.
One of them made a subtle gesture, and a special device activated, silently emitting a Force Field that forcibly isolated the surrounding crowd, creating a buffer zone.
This action displeased some Councilors, but then another figure stepped out of the aircraft.
One man lagged half a step behind, appearing to be in his late thirties. He wore gold-rimmed glasses and had a slender build.
The other was surrounded by the group, dressed in a dark suit of exceptional material. His polished brown leather shoes clicked against the ground.
Of medium build, neither fat nor thin, his middle-aged face was remarkably calm, with a few forehead wrinkles and thin lips.
As if sensing the many gazes fixed upon him, he glanced briefly at the crowd, his eyelids furrowing slightly.
Then, he pulled a white handkerchief from his left breast pocket, covered his mouth and nose, and slowly walked toward the United Coalition Building.
(End of the Chapter)
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