Translator: CinderTL
Buzz!
The resonant spiritual world hummed.
Chen Feng focused his consciousness, sinking deeper into his inner self. There, he once again confronted the fourth trial of the Heavenly Ladder: Fearless Heart!
The silver breastplate mirror armor, which should have been gleaming with divine radiance as it floated majestically above the White Jade Plaza, now emanated tendrils of dark mist.
Scanning the depths of his spiritual world, Chen Feng saw that the once-bright Daylight sky had been replaced by an oppressive blackness. Wisps of dark mist drifted like curtains, obscuring the radiant Legendary Imprint.
The pristine Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder had been corroded into a treacherous, muddy staircase riddled with potholes.
Eerie figures flickered near the ladder, their forms inhuman, their thousands of eyes—crimson or ghastly green—burning with cruel intent.
Several colossal entities lurked in the shadows, their bat wings blotting out the sky and serpentine bodies coiling like mountains, radiating the true spiritual might of angels.
Waves of chilling, malevolent energy surged forth, and Chen Feng recognized the familiar scene.
"Black Tide Angels."
Narrowing his eyes, Chen Feng knew these were mere illusions conjured by his own mind, not reality.
According to the Dream Realm records of Qinggang City, Fearless Heart was primarily a spiritual trial, designed to exploit the climber's mental weaknesses and test their Martial Dao Will.
On his way to Niduo, Chen Feng had been struck hard, forcing him to retreat from the Resonance State.
He later relied on the Heart of Life's innate ability to heal his spiritual wounds, ensuring he remained in peak condition.
Buzz!
As if sensing something, the Black Tide phenomenon manifested by the Fearless Heart solidified into reality, and tens of thousands of scarlet eyes simultaneously fixed their gaze upon him.
Cold, deathly silence.
Even the colossal entities resembling Evil God Angels—such as the Winged Serpent King and the Lava Lord—gradually awakened, their cruel and tyrannical spiritual might bearing down on him.
"My spiritual weakness..."
Chen Feng's expression darkened. He knew this was the vulnerability in his Martial Dao Will, the deepest, most dreaded vision buried within his heart.
It was the Black Tide that had annihilated civilizations, the cold, deathly silence of a nest destroyed, where no egg could remain unbroken.
The more he learned about this calamity born from chaos, the more powerless he felt. Even mighty civilizations like Ancient Taiduo and the transcendent individuals of Qinggang City had been annihilated by it.
Despite his belief in his own spiritual strength and his will as sharp as a blade, he often found himself plagued by anxiety and confusion, troubled by the future of himself, his loved ones, and even the entire Earth.
This was the star realm's natural enemy, the bane of civilizations.
If he couldn't resist it—if he failed to grow strong enough to confront the Evil Gods in time—then...
Crack!
"Then we'll find another way!"
His fist clenched, the air crackled.
Chen Feng's eyes blazed with a knife-like intensity, forcibly severing all doubts and anxieties.
The more insurmountable the obstacle, the more he would fight with every fiber of his being.
That was why he planned to stay in Niduo Kingdom's Capital for two days, observing and searching for a faster solution.
He knew that if he could single-handedly repel an incoming Black Tide, his mental weakness would crumble on its own.
At that moment, the shackles of the Fearless Heart trial would shatter, allowing him to automatically transcend it!
Boom!
Deep within his spiritual world, a violent phenomenon erupted. Several angelic figures materialized, their forms becoming increasingly vivid and solid as they awakened.
Witnessing the illusory Black Tide surging across the sky, poised to engulf him once more, Chen Feng narrowed his eyes, memorized the scene, and deliberately withdrew from his spiritual world.
Buzz!
The droning hum of the aircraft filled his ears, and the clear blue sky and white clouds materialized in his perception.
The descending aircraft drew closer to the ground, the cabin falling into a temporary silence.
Lin Hao and the accompanying military personnel still wore expressions of shock from witnessing Chen Feng's Martial Dao Momentum earlier. None of them realized he had briefly entered a Resonance State again.
"Holy crap, Fengzi, how the hell did you do that?" Lin Hao blurted out. Flying General Guo Fei, who had insisted on joining the mission, leaned in curiously to eavesdrop.
"Martial Dao Momentum," Chen Feng explained calmly. "It's a martial arts technique of a higher order than Pinnacle Intent."
He wasn't worried about being targeted, as he was the only one on Earth who truly mastered it. Yang Wudi and Liu Duanyun were still far behind, with no hope of catching up anytime soon.
"Martial Dao Momentum?" The crowd murmured, their curiosity and confusion evident.
Seeing their reaction, Chen Feng shook his head and said no more. Apart from him, there were few truly powerful martial artists present. Even if he explained in detail, no one would be able to learn it.
Whoosh!
The aircraft began its descent.
Chen Feng ignored the crowd's curiosity, silently sitting by the window and watching the approaching royal capital plaza, a military restricted zone.
The shattered earth remained unchanged, the massive kilometer-deep crater still riddled with cracks. Dust swirled in the air currents, and weeds sprouted from the fissures.
The Void Black Spot at the center, along with the surrounding cracks, resembled a spatial anomaly, glaringly conspicuous. Specialized monitoring devices were stationed around the perimeter, continuously detecting energy fluctuations around the clock.
"Still the same," Chen Feng murmured, recalling the chaos he had once unleashed here.
Storming the Royal Palace, crushing the army.
Killing the Lion King with a single punch, suppressing the Martial Divinity.
The deep crater before them was the result of the Falling Sun Strike.
This pinnacle punch, fused with spiritual will, already possessed a fraction of spiritual might back then.
"The World Fighting Tournament was held nearby, wasn't it?" Lin Hao asked.
"Taking on a whole group of Pinnacle Realm Martial Artists single-handedly? You really had guts!"
Lin Hao snapped out of his reverie, no longer dwelling on the Martial Dao Momentum. Instead, he sat by the window, gazing at the landscape below, triggering memories of the televised tournament. A surge of excitement coursed through him.
He vividly recalled that it was after that very event that his friend had earned the title of "strongest martial artist," gradually ascending to the pinnacle of Earth.
"That's all in the past now," Chen Feng said calmly, shaking his head slightly.
Of the Star Palace members who had opposed him back then, most—except for Iphia—had long since turned to dust, tragically exploited by Martial Divinity.
With the dead already gone, he saw no need to dwell on them, to judge or justify anything.
Understanding his meaning, Lin Hao nodded and fell silent.
The military aircraft finally touched down, a faint tremor running through the cabin.
Chen Feng glanced at the Black Tide Anchor Point at the heart of the military restricted zone, subtly activating his Perception. He detected no anomalies.
Undeterred, he suppressed his thoughts and stepped out through the opened hatch.
Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the midday sun as figures from the Red Kingdom Military and the Niduo Royal Family's guard rushed toward him.
A mix of awe, shock, and gratitude washed over Chen Feng's Perception. Beyond the royal guard, allied forces from various nations stood beside their tanks and missile carriers, their expressions complex.
Some showed admiration, while others averted their gaze.
The Platinum Federation's delegation, in particular, looked pale, their eyes darting nervously with guilt and fear.
Chen Feng glanced at them but said nothing.
He knew the assassins had likely used false identities, making it impossible to trace them through superficial investigations.
As for the subsequent interrogations and negotiations, those were the responsibilities of the Niduo Royal Family and other Red City authorities—matters in which he should no longer interfere.
Tap-tap!
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, footsteps echoed before him.
The royal guard parted to make way for Princess Eleanor, who approached with weary determination. Clad in a long gown of golden silk, she strode forward in leather boots.
"Thank you... thank you," she said, her voice trembling. Pressing her right palm to her left chest, she bowed deeply.
General Walker and the other royal guard members flanking her echoed her gratitude with similar gestures. Even Captain Modo and the other injured officers, who were being supported by their comrades, followed suit.
Without hesitation or false modesty, Chen Feng nodded calmly, accepting the honor with composure.
In the solemn atmosphere, he watched as the members of the royal guard rose one by one.
Chen Feng surveyed the scene, his gaze sweeping across the allied forces stationed around the perimeter.
"I value tranquility," he said. "I trust you will all grant me this small favor."
Gulp!
The commanders of the allied forces swallowed hard, understanding the unspoken implications.
Some furtively glanced sideways, noting that the once-arrogant officers of the Platinum Federation's military were now bowing their heads, not daring to utter a single word.
Silence descended, the midday sun radiating a scorching heat that felt like interrogation.
Some gloated, believing the federal military was finally reaping the consequences of their actions. Princess Eleanor trembled slightly, her gaze toward Chen Feng filled with complex gratitude.
She knew this was his way of publicly supporting the Royal Faction, led by her.
With these words, at least for the immediate future, no one would dare interfere in the internal affairs of the Royal Family.
"Chen, thank you," she whispered again, her pale complexion gradually regaining a hint of color.
He nodded calmly, their eyes meeting briefly.
Finally, guided by an escort, Chen Feng strode away, heading directly toward the nearby Red Nation embassy.
The sound of footsteps gradually faded into the distance, and the invisible pressure dissipated like dark clouds parting, as if a mountain had been lifted from their shoulders. The crowd couldn't help but breathe a collective sigh of relief.
They watched until the young man's figure disappeared from sight.
General Walker turned to Princess Eleanor, his voice low. "Your Highness, this rebellion has spread far and wide. Duke Ailer and Viscount Dort may be involved."
"What are your thoughts?"
"General Walker, I entrust you to investigate this matter thoroughly and interrogate the suspects on my behalf."
Forcing back her exhaustion and grief, Princess Eleanor turned to the uneasy federal garrison.
"Any member of the Royal Family or nobility found to have participated in the rebellion will be stripped of all titles and positions and imprisoned for life in prison number one."
"Those whose crimes are particularly heinous..."
Her voice faltered as she glanced behind her.
The once-magnificent palace lay in ruins, its walls collapsed, towers fallen, a scene of utter devastation.
Her gaze swept over the blood-soaked corpses of the royal guards, and Eleanor finally understood why her Uncle Wang had been able to maintain such cold detachment.
"Show no mercy."
Click!
The vermilion embassy doors closed, and Chen Feng settled into a room on the second floor.
Inside, a living room and bedroom were furnished with a light brown leather sofa and a plush carpet.
Chen Feng scanned the room with his Perception, confirming there were no eavesdropping devices.
He stopped by the window and gazed outside.
The Upper City's pavilions and streets retained their familiar appearance, built directly atop the Lower City's concrete structures and interconnected to form a unique, antique-style landscape.
This was the exclusive domain of nobles and wealthy clans, typically serene and peaceful, guarded by layers of security personnel who maintained its isolation.
But now, many pavilions lay shattered and collapsed.
Security personnel corpses lay strewn in pools of blood, and even some nobles lay dead, their eyes wide in death.
Among the bodies were those of noble children.
After a brief glance, Chen Feng's gaze deepened as he withdrew his gaze.
Whether it was Niduo's coup or the Platinum Federation's assassination attempt, he had no intention of intervening directly.
He knew this bloody incident had irrevocably pushed Eleanor toward the Red Nation.
In other words, Red City would devise a response and resolve the situation.
This was far more appropriate than his personal intervention.
With that thought, Chen Feng drew the curtains.
The system panel automatically appeared before him, and he shifted his focus to another layer.
[You have completed a battle to defend your honor.]
[Victory!]
[Heart of Glory successfully upgraded!]
[Heart of Glory LV7: 1/100]
[You have gained one opportunity to enhance the Holy Shield Colossus!]
[Tip 1: The Holy Shield Colossus will undergo a Second Metamorphosis. You can immediately initiate the first stage of enhancement!]
[Tip 2: The second stage requires world-class Earth Vein Power as enhancement energy to expand your spiritual world and complete the transformation!]
[Tip 3: You cannot act during the transformation. Glory Points will continue to accumulate and serve as nourishment for the next transformation!]
A series of notifications flashed across the screen, the massive rewards for thwarting the coup in the royal capital.
Beyond eliminating two Flying Generals, Chen Feng had also driven back a Legendary-grade entity, significantly impacting Niduo's present and future.
This abundance of nourishment had directly triggered the Heart of Glory's upgrade.
"The transformation conditions seem similar to before," Chen Feng mused.
"However, the Earth Vein Power required for the Second Metamorphosis appears to be on a completely different scale."
His gaze sharpened as he pinpointed the critical detail:
[World-class Earth Vein Power to expand the spiritual world.]
This term had never appeared before.
Instinct told him this demand far exceeded the resources of the Niduo Mountains, with consumption increasing exponentially.
"Looks like I need to find a solution."
Chen Feng withdrew his gaze, his expression thoughtful.
The Niduo Mountains clearly couldn't sustain the Holy Shield Colossus's Second Metamorphosis, and the earlier commotion had already drawn the attention of various factions.
If he were to search for another mountain range on Earth to draw power from, he risked being discovered by these forces, exposing the Colossus's true nature.
At that point, a Divine General might even come personally.
Shaking his head inwardly, Chen Feng reaffirmed his plan and decision.
He had considered this possibility before, but hadn't acted on it immediately.
Now, however...
Looking down at the three secret realm imprints in his palm, he knew these Secret Realms were the Colossus's final transformation grounds.
In an instant, he sent out commands.
Using his mental link and conscious communication, Chen Feng conveyed his instructions to the several Small Stone Statues within the Secret Realms.
These were his contingency plan, now activated to disperse and search the Secret Realm Worlds for suitable Earth Vein coordinates.
Buzz!
Confirmation came instantly.
Following the mental link, Chen Feng turned his inner gaze to the radiant platinum light within his mind.
The Holy Shield Colossus, shrunk countless times, slumbered within the Light Orb, its eyes closed. The dense nourishment of glory continuously nourished its physical body and spiritual world.
Without hesitation, he communicated his intent.
"Begin."
(End of the Chapter)
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