Translator: CinderTL
Whoosh!!
The Azure-Black Figure sliced through the night sky, the crimson glow of its blood-veined wings trailing two threads of scarlet light.
The center of the Ironwood Forest was so close now. In a single breath, it had closed the distance by hundreds of meters, almost merging into the darkness.
"You're courting death!!"
Roaring in fury, the Admiral of the Infernal Prison instantly understood. Someone was trying to steal the thing that had stirred his heart.
Though he didn't know what it was, nor could he see it, he would never allow anyone to snatch a prize from under his nose!
Buzz!!
In an instant, a torrent of evil spirits surged from the Gate of Bones behind him, rapidly coalescing into a colossal, pitch-black hand that stretched toward the heavens, hurtling straight for the Azure-Black Figure.
As the five fingers clenched, just moments before they could grasp their target...
Boom!!!
A muffled explosion erupted, sending shockwaves rippling outward.
Crackling arcs of black lightning flickered and dissipated, but the Azure-Black Figure pressed on, unstoppable as a battering ram. In the next second, it landed on the ground at the center of the Ironwood Forest.
"It's him."
Glide's expression turned grave. He remembered the wanted poster he had seen earlier and instantly recognized the man as the Saint-level wanted criminal who had killed Suoya and the others.
He was about to activate his Spirituality and summon an Earth Dragon to block the figure's path.
But then he suddenly remembered the Saint-level wanted criminal's other accomplice.
Whoosh!
As if to confirm his suspicion, a streak of white-gold light descended from the sky like a comet.
A piercing sonic boom tore through the heavens, and a crushing pressure descended like a mountain range.
Both the Admiral of the Infernal Prison and Glide's expressions shifted slightly. They each unleashed their abilities and hastily dodged.
Boom!
A massive tremor reverberated through the area, and a deep crater erupted.
A storm exploded outward like a tornado, spreading cracks across the ground. Rocks and trees shattered simultaneously.
Even in the deep night, a plume of smoke rose into the sky, drawing numerous gazes.
At the same time, both the Admiral of the Infernal Prison and Glide's eyes widened as they looked toward the center of the Ironwood Forest.
A deep golden light spread wildly, transforming in less than a second into a circular shield that completely enveloped the Azure-Black Figure without a single blind spot.
Everything was instantly isolated. The world seemed to fall briefly silent.
Chen Feng gazed at the Emerald Light Orb floating before him, clearly seeing the heart-shaped mark within.
Thump!
A heartbeat-like sound echoed, brimming with vitality.
Without hesitation, Chen Feng reached out and grasped it.
A cold sensation washed over him—the lingering essence of a Sequence Talent.
But almost the instant Chen Feng touched it, the Light Orb suddenly exploded, scattering into countless emerald motes that drifted around like fireflies.
With the naked eye, the nearby Ironwood Forest could be seen rapidly withering, and the Blood Moon Flowers that had been blooming withered and scattered in that instant, as if all their life force had been drained away.
Glide and the Admiral of the Infernal Prison both paled, momentarily setting aside their conflict to prepare their own techniques.
Boom!!
However, before they could react, the white-gray stone statue in golden armor, its body shimmering with golden patterns, looked down haughtily. It erupted in a pillar of golden light, rapidly transforming into a massive, ten-meter-tall rock giant.
The crunch of its fist clenching was like the roar of heavy artillery, sending waves of air surging outward.
Looking up, one could see the Heavenly Pillar's fists crashing down like two meteorites.
The ground hadn't even been struck yet, but it was already groaning under the strain, cracking and groaning with each crack sound.
"Damn it!!"
The Admiral of the Infernal Prison roared in fury and alarm.
He realized he couldn't even interfere.
Chen Feng ignored him, having complete faith in the Holy Shield Colossus—a confidence born from their well-coordinated teamwork in the Dream Realm.
He turned his attention to the scattering emerald motes, a surge of vibrant life force washing over him, accompanied by an unusually warm sensation.
It felt like countless hearts were beating in unison, until finally—
Buzz!
All the light orbs surged wildly into his body. Chen Feng could clearly perceive the sensation as a heart-like life mark gradually spread across his left chest.
[You have obtained the Talent Light Orb: Heart of Life!]
[A Sequence Talent left behind by an Extraordinary One—a blessing from the God of Life!]
[Talent Fusion Successful!]
[Effect 1: You can absorb the Life Essence of those you kill and store it within the Life Mark.]
[Effect 2: You can consume the Life Essence stored in the Life Mark to rapidly heal your injuries and accelerate stamina recovery.]
[Effect 3: You can consume Life Essence to transform into the appearance of those you have killed.]
[Effect 4: This Talent passively grows in power, its effectiveness directly proportional to the strength of the Talent holder's life force.]
All the notifications flashed before Chen Feng's eyes, his gaze settling on the words:
Life Mark?
The moment he obtained the Talent, feedback flooded his senses, confirming that the heart-shaped pattern on his chest was indeed the Life Mark.
In other words, whenever he killed a living being, he could extract their Life Essence, store it at will, and use it at any time to heal his injuries, restore his stamina, or transform into the appearance of his victim.
"So, if I absorb enough high-quality Life Essence, I can instantly restore myself to full health?"
The thought flashed through my mind as a massive thud echoed from outside my golden Steel Bones.
Using Perception, I saw the Holy Shield Colossus being restrained by the Saint Mage. Earth Dragons surged skyward, coiling around it.
Meanwhile, the Admiral of the Infernal Prison had summoned a colossal Hell Knight riding a skeletal warhorse, which repeatedly slammed against the Steel Bones shield.
Boom!
Another muffled explosion erupted.
In the night sky, the Blood Moon hung eerily, casting an eerie glow over the desolate surroundings. All the Ironwood had already shattered and vanished, never to regenerate.
Rolling waves of energy continued to surge, darkening the Admiral's expression.
"What a tough turtle shell!" he cursed, then launched another attack.
Suddenly, the Gate of Bones swelled, expanding to a height of seven or eight meters.
Evil spirits swirled around it as skeletal soldiers rapidly merged, pouring into the Hell Knight's body to form a colossal Evil Spirit Troll over a dozen meters tall.
Phosphorus fire gathered in its mouth, coalescing into a devastating attack.
Buzz!
At that very moment, the golden, flawless circular shield contracted and vanished.
The azure-black figure with a single horn glanced sideways, a crimson stag beetle pattern slowly forming on its chest.
"It seems you're eager to become my nourishment," a deep voice rumbled.
Ignoring the threat, the Evil Spirit Troll suddenly opened its maw and unleashed a colossal phosphorus fire breath.
Boom!
The dazzling blue-green spectral light carried an eerie chill, as if it could freeze the very air. Yet paradoxically, it also burned everything in its path, the phosphorus flames almost reflecting the Admiral of the Infernal Prison's grotesque skeletal face.
But in the next instant...
Bang!
A visible golden shield, held firmly in a single arm, seemed to prop up the heavens. The entire phosphorus fire breath was blocked mid-air, unable to advance even an inch. The two-meter gap between the flames and the ground became an eternal chasm.
Simultaneously, a golden broadsword materialized in the azure-black figure's right palm.
Brilliant, sacred, and majestic.
The eerie light of the Blood Moon was reflected by the golden blade, its fiberglass Scarlet Eyes fixed on the Admiral of the Infernal Prison in the distance.
"Horn Strike," the figure commanded.
The moment the words fell, the Admiral of the Infernal Prison felt a bone-chilling coldness.
"Not good!"
His expression contorted in alarm. He hastily dodged, leaping behind the Gate of Bones.
A dark, shadowy shield reappeared, while the Evil Spirit Troll lunged forward in a desperate attack.
Boom!
The ground sank, and a sonic boom echoed.
Only a fleeting azure-black and golden afterimage flashed, tearing through the darkness.
The Evil Spirit Troll was instantly pierced, shattering into countless fragments. Even its black light shield rippled violently.
In less than a breath, the golden broadsword had already struck the surface of the Gate of Bones's bone shield. The ferocious force sent shockwaves through all defenses, and the high-frequency vibrations threatened to tear everything apart.
His face contorted, the Admiral of the Infernal Prison could no longer hold back. He immediately unleashed his trump card.
Buzz!!
His aura exploded, and behind the Gate of Bones's shadowy mirror, a colossal figure materialized.
Resembling a dragon made of bone, its immense pressure radiated outward, sending shivers down everyone's spines.
Glide, who had been distracting the Holy Shield Colossus in the distance, paled slightly. He hadn't expected the Saint-level wanted criminal to be this powerful, forcing his old nemesis to risk backlash and use his ultimate move.
Without hesitation, he retreated, unwilling to be caught in the crossfire.
If the Bone Dragon appeared, this place would surely be destroyed.
As for the wanted man, his fate was clear: only death awaited him.
Boom!!!
The ground in front of the Gate of Bones sank again, forming a massive crater.
A light like daylight erupted from the azure-black figure, dispelling the darkness and transforming into blinding radiance that shook the heavens and earth.
In an instant, all fell silent. Only the dazzling golden broadsword remained, cleaving through the black light shield in a single stroke.
Buzz!!
The black light solidified, but the golden sword continued to grow larger.
The towering azure-black figure instantly shrank, yet somehow, he held the massive golden blade steady, slashing diagonally upward.
Suddenly, the night sky froze.
Mist drifted beneath the Blood Moon, and Glide, who had retreated to a distance, stared wide-eyed.
Crack!
An unnatural sound echoed. Glaring intently, he saw a crack appear in the Gate of Bones, an Extraordinary Artifact of unparalleled hardness.
The dark, rippling mirror within shattered in two. The black-armored skeletal figure standing behind it was left headless.
Thud!!
Finally, the Gate of Bones shattered and exploded, the headless skeletal corpse crashing to the ground.
The countless Evil Spirit Ghosts vanished in unison, leaving Glide as if plunged into an icy abyss, nearly frozen in place.
That had been a Saint—even if he had taken a shortcut, he was not someone who could be killed by ordinary means.
And now...
Click.
The golden broadsword vanished in a flash. The azure-black figure took a step forward, approaching the headless corpse.
Before Glide's very eyes, everything dissolved without any visible movement.
The headless corpse in black bone armor instantly withered into dust, crumbling and vanishing completely, even its Soul Flame extinguished.
Glide's pupils contracted. Then, he saw the other person raise his eyes to meet his gaze.
A strange sense of dread washed over him. Gritting his teeth, he abruptly activated his trump card.
Buzz!
In an instant, the scepter in his hand erupted with a pillar of silver light that shot into the sky.
Chen Feng frowned and glanced over, only to find that Glide had vanished, as if teleported away.
The crowd in the distance gasped in shock and disbelief, their cries echoing through the air.
When they finally recovered and looked back at the ground, they saw that the immensely powerful Saint-level wanted criminal had also vanished from his spot.
Whoosh!
Outside the Martial Hall, a Flying Car shot into the sky, piercing through the holographic projection.
As sunlight streamed in, Chen Feng stood on the brown wooden floor of the Meditation Chamber, now accustomed to the differences between the Dream Realm and the real world.
In the final moments, he had heeded the call to return, choosing not to activate the Dark Dream Mark.
After all, he had already obtained a new Talent Light Orb, and Glide had been remarkably decisive, using some method to seemingly teleport away.
It was a pity he hadn't been able to turn Glide into nourishment as well. However...
Glancing at his status panel, Chen Feng realized this journey had still been quite fruitful.
[Heart of Glory LV4: 93/100]
[Azure Armor LV6: 62/100]
This was the first time he had personally killed a true Saint—a being of intense emotions and intellect.
Not like the twisted, mutated Sixth-Tier monsters from the Dream Realm, most of whom knew only how to kill.
Thanks to this, the Heart of Glory's progress surged, bringing it close to its next upgrade.
Even Azure Armor had improved significantly.
But that wasn't all.
Focusing his Perception, he looked at his left chest.
Thump! Thump!
The powerful heartbeat—his own—thrummed within him.
Blood coursed through his body, his flesh firm and resilient, filling him with a sense of overwhelming power.
Above all this, he saw a unique mark etched onto his left chest, nearly identical to his own heart.
It resembled a tattoo, its size and proportions exactly like a normal heart.
Yet, when he focused his Perception, he could sense the mark brimming with potent life energy.
This was the Life Essence he had absorbed after killing the Admiral of the Infernal Prison.
His sharp intuition told Chen Feng that if he suffered a serious injury, he could rely on this mark to instantly restore himself to full health.
And...
With a thought, he immediately activated a small amount of the Life Essence.
Buzz!
In an instant, his Physical Body transformed, his appearance shifting.
He felt a primal heat coursing through him, altering his very essence. His body grew heavier.
Finally, he scanned himself.
He stood clad in black bone armor, his face that of a middle-aged man with a ponytail.
The right half of his flesh-and-blood face was cold and cruel, while the left half was nothing but cold white bone and eerie blue phosphorus fire burning deep within his eye sockets.
"Exactly the same."
Chen Feng carefully examined the Admiral of the Infernal Prison's appearance and aura, finding no difference whatsoever.
Furthermore, according to the feedback from his Talent Light Orb, even fingerprint analysis or blood sample comparison against the genetic database would identify the Admiral, not Chen Feng.
This was a technique unlike anything a typical Martial Artist could achieve.
Before this, Chen Feng had believed he could use his Physical Body to reshape his form and alter his appearance.
But in reality, any precise instrument capturing residual hair follicles or tissue fragments would eventually reveal the deception.
Now, however, all these concerns were completely resolved. Every trace of flesh and blood had been perfectly replicated and transformed by the Life Essence, turning the false into true.
"It's a pity I can't use his abilities," Chen Feng mused, a hint of regret in his voice.
The Admiral of the Infernal Prison's methods were formidable, a unique power akin to the Power of the Dead that allowed him to communicate with the Netherworld Abyss.
Unfortunately, the Heart of Life wasn't omnipotent, and this aspect was beyond its ability to replicate.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Chen Feng recalled the Admiral's Gate of Bones, which he had shattered earlier. A familiar sensation stirred within him.
"The Netherworld Abyss..."
"It seems the Great Priest of the Black Blade Tribe in the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm nearly banished the Holy Shield Colossus to this so-called Nether Sea."
"Could there be some connection here?"
(End of the Chapter)
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