Translator: CinderTL
"Inner strength?"
Floating mid-air, above the deep mist, Chen Feng gazed down at the rows of buildings below.
A faceless figure wearing a white mask stood quietly at the entrance of a deserted supermarket, surrounded by seven or eight other faceless beings, all looking up at him.
Meeting the gaze of the lone faceless figure, Chen Feng's eyes flickered slightly, somewhat surprised.
This was the first time he had encountered a faceless being at the Inner Strength level.
But
"The difference isn't significant."
Whoosh!
A flash of white ash, disappearing just as it was about to hit the ground.
Chen Feng surrounded all the masked men and faceless beings in front of him, a golden broadsword now in his hand.
Tap tap tap tap.
A series of rapid footsteps echoed as the faceless beings struggled in their death throes.
In response, Chen Feng simply flashed with golden light, sweeping through like a thousand armies, resolving everything in an instant.
Thud!
The Inner Strength-level masked man was pierced through the chest, falling backward to the ground.
The screech of the black soldier ants abruptly ceased, a pale blue light orb floating before him.
With an expressionless face, Chen Feng retracted his Steel Bones. The incomplete iron book had already been absorbed by him, turned into debris, becoming nourishment for a bit of progress.
The surrounding gray light orbs automatically surged toward him, and a panel prompt quietly appeared before his eyes.
[Perception LV4: 5/100]
"Indeed, improving Perception is becoming increasingly difficult."
Chen Feng shook his head inwardly. Since he had been prepared for this, he wasn't too disappointed.
Then, confirming that there were no other Black Calamity Creatures around, he stepped forward and touched the Extreme Martial Arts light orb.
In an instant, residual memories flooded in.
A special scene appeared before him.
"We're inside."
A steady voice. A middle-aged man in white martial attire stood near a green swamp, punching and killing a giant crocodile that had lunged at him.
Several disciples from the Extreme Martial Hall surrounded him. Seeing this, Chen Feng frowned.
Instructor Xu?
The Extreme Martial Hall instructor who had voluntarily led people into the secret realm to save the people of Blackwater Town.
Moreover
Why did the other party's location feel familiar?
"Instructor, why are there only a few of us here?"
The young man in the residual memory asked, cautiously surveying the surroundings.
"The spatial rejection of the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm is quite strong. We were forcibly separated."
With a serious tone, Instructor Xu counted the number of people and then cautioned, "I've heard that the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm is somewhat special. This is the resting place of an evil god, and it's easy for them to detect the presence of outsiders like us, even sending people to hunt us down."
"Everyone, be careful and stay close to me."
At these words, everyone grew tense, nodding and following him out of the green swamp.
In an instant, a white-gray city appeared in the distance, built against a mountain, with a waterfall cascading down from it.
Chen Feng's gaze sharpened. He hadn't expected these people to also arrive near the Holy City.
Hum!
Soon, the scene shifted, and he saw a new image.
"Instructor, I can understand the power of the snake people here, using what's called the Serpent Spirit Power."
"But what about these ordinary people?"
In a place resembling an arena, white-gray stone pillars supported a vast space, with stacked stones forming spectator stands, somewhat resembling the interior of the Holy City.
Rows of seats extended upward, filled with shadowy figures, most of them blurred, their faces indistinct.
The young man in the residual memory stood behind Instructor Xu, looking down at the arena below, somewhat surprised.
Following his gaze, someone was engaged in combat within the arena.
Though there were no signs of Force, their physical prowess was astonishing, each punch and kick stirring up terrifying gusts of wind.
"It's the Method of the Seed of Life."
Instructor Xu, sitting at a desk, frowned slightly and said, "I've heard from the Enforcement Team that the people here are enslaved by the Serpent God. Most worship the Serpent God, but a few, seeking self-preservation, have awakened different powers."
"Somewhat similar to our martial arts, but they achieve this by meditating on elements like wind, earth, water, and fire, combined with appropriate training and the supplementation of Essence items, thereby awakening what they call the Seed of Life within their bodies."
"Is it strong, Instructor? How does it compare to our martial arts?" another young man asked.
"Of course, our transcendent martial arts are superior. But their method of cultivation also has its merits."
Instructor Xu's eyes flickered as he clearly saw a victor emerge from the arena below. "The greatest effect of awakening the Seed of Life is to strengthen the body, much like our strengthening techniques."
"Additionally, they gain different special enhancements depending on the element they meditate on, such as increased speed, stronger defense, or enhanced recovery."
Hum!
The image suddenly shattered, and everything disappeared.
Chen Feng stood still, slightly dazed, the surrounding streets pockmarked with holes, the supermarket's glass long since shattered into pieces.
"The Seed of Life?"
His eyes flickered uncertainly. He hadn't expected to glimpse another power system of the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm within the dream of Qinggang City.
He had been curious about this before, but due to some language barriers, he hadn't had the chance to ask Molly about it.
And now...
"Wind, earth, water, fire... Different meditative elements can awaken different types of Seeds of Life, and consuming items with essence can accelerate progress."
"Each has its own merits, but the greatest effect is to strengthen the body..."
A thought struck him, and Chen Feng suddenly had some new ideas.
He had been tirelessly pursuing the Heavenly Aura Overlord Body, seeking a powerful strengthening technique to maximize his Steel Bone Talent.
Having not succeeded yet, he had felt somewhat helpless.
But now, the appearance of the Seed of Life gave him another direction.
Regardless of superiority, at least in terms of strengthening the body, he had another option.
A day later.
Sunlight spilled down, the autumn breeze blowing.
The green trees within the Flame Tiger Mountain Gate gradually turned yellow, a few withered leaves drifting through the air.
Disciples held brooms, sweeping leaves from the courtyards and stone steps, while the sounds of martial practice continued to echo.
"Practice well!"
"Senior Brother is our role model. All of you, give it your all!"
Cao Tong shouted continuously on the training grounds, while Wu Shuang and Zhao Jushan stood to the side, smiling without speaking.
Under this morale-boosting encouragement, all the disciples ignited with hope, enduring their fatigue, continuously practicing their stances and punches.
Xu Tingxiao had also somehow blended in with them, occasionally stepping down during his free time to instruct one or two disciples.
The atmosphere had become much more lively, no longer filled with the worries of the past.
Seeing this, Chen Feng stood in the courtyard, nodding slightly.
Since breaking through to the Grandmaster level, all the True Disciples had quietly changed their address, calling him Senior Brother.
In fact, everyone had the idea of having him take over as sect leader, but considering that their master was still unconscious, Chen Feng ultimately rejected the proposal.
Being the sect leader didn't matter much to him, as he was already the only Grandmaster of the Flame Tiger Sect.
"However, breaking through to Heavenly Flame will probably take a few more days."
Suppressing his stray thoughts, he looked at the panel before him.
[Extreme Martial Arts: 5]
[Limit Breaking: 26]
Every exploration of the danger zone required the Holy Shield Colossus to help fend off enemies, and traveling back and forth to find the Extreme Martial Hall also took some time.
Shaking his head, Chen Feng subconsciously glanced at the snake-shaped mark on his palm.
He had a slight urge to return to the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm.
Firstly, for the body-strengthening Method of the Seed of Life.
Secondly, to find a treasure to awaken his master.
As the thought crossed his mind, he prepared to push open the door and leave.
Hum!
At that moment, a flying vehicle suddenly appeared.
Chen Feng keenly noticed it, looking up at the sky.
Two familiar flying vehicles, side by side, approached.
Sensing them with a glance, Chen Feng was somewhat surprised to see who had arrived, but upon further thought, it wasn't entirely unexpected.
Soon, the flying vehicles approached and landed outside the mountain gate.
Cao Tong and the others exchanged glances, but they no longer had the tense, battle-ready demeanor of last time.
"The atmosphere is completely different now."
A sigh came from the left flying vehicle. It was none other than the Elder Chen from the Giant Elephant Sect who had visited last time.
With a complex expression, he felt that this scene was somewhat familiar.
Wasn't it similar to when the Giant Elephant Sect first became a top-tier sect, full of such vitality?
No one answered. Zhang Tai, who was driving, looked on with a mix of envy and admiration.
He subconsciously glanced at the back seat, where the bald, burly Martial Uncle sat in silence, like a dormant giant elephant.
Vaguely, he felt that this Martial Uncle, the only Grandmaster of their Giant Elephant Sect, might also be somewhat unsettled.
Hum!
Finally, the flying vehicles landed properly, and people stepped out one after another.
The white-robed old man from the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect sighed and walked forward, exchanging a glance with the Giant Elephant Grandmaster.
"We misjudged him."
"Regret is useless."
The Giant Elephant Grandmaster was somewhat displeased.
He had originally agreed to give the Grandmaster's insights to this person, partly because he valued the younger generation and appreciated his talent, and partly to thank him for using his connections to bring in two Cyborgs to help repel Lu Xinglong at Yue Mountain.
But, unfortunately, this decision had been opposed by the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect.
His words faltered, and the Whale Sect Grandmaster, knowing he was in the wrong, couldn't get angry.
He could only lead his disciples and stand together with the other party outside the Flame Tiger Mountain Gate, watching the burly young man approach, surrounded by people.
Under the carved red wooden eaves, in the corridor.
The gray stone bricks were neatly paved, and the approaching man's gaze was calm, his eyes exuding a sense of aggression like a tiger descending the mountain.
As their eyes met, the white-robed Whale Sect Grandmaster instinctively averted his gaze, whispering.
"You're also a Physical Grandmaster. How does it feel?"
"I couldn't kill Jin Wei."
The Giant Elephant Grandmaster said flatly, though his expression remained calm, he felt somewhat unsettled inside.
He hadn't broken through to Grandmaster until his forties, allowing the Giant Elephant Sect to rise and dominate the martial world of Ze Province.
He had thought himself a martial legend of the southern martial world, worthy of being called a legend.
But now...
"Do you think he started practicing martial arts from the womb?"
He subconsciously muttered, and the Whale Sect Grandmaster beside him fell silent for a moment.
A twenty-three-year-old Grandmaster.
Throughout history, such a thing was rare.
In fact, he suspected that the Flame Tiger Sect had deliberately concealed the truth, claiming that the other party had only practiced for a few months.
In reality, they might have secretly passed down martial arts long ago.
Both harbored different thoughts, and the sound of footsteps approached.
Chen Feng stood at the main gate of the Flame Tiger Sect.
Behind him were the Third Elder, Xu Tingxiao, and the True Disciples.
"Flame Tiger Grandmaster."
Taking the initiative, the Whale Sect Grandmaster and the other party showed their respect.
Chen Feng's expression remained calm as he returned the greeting, addressing each of them.
Seeing that he had no intention of inviting them into the mountain gate, the Whale Sect Grandmaster sighed inwardly, and the middle-aged True Intent man behind him paled, feeling somewhat awkward.
The more decisive they had been in leaving back then, the more uncomfortable they felt now.
"Flame Tiger Grandmaster, last time I was blind. Please punish me!"
The True Intent man stepped forward, bowing with clasped fists.
Chen Feng glanced at him sidelong but didn't respond.
Seeing this, the Giant Elephant Grandmaster pretended not to notice, standing with arms crossed, while the Whale Sect Grandmaster, seemingly expecting this, soon also clasped his fists and spoke.
"Last time, our actions were improper, and we were inconsiderate."
"Now that we've come to apologize, we actually have important matters to discuss. Would it be possible to have a word with the Flame Tiger Grandmaster?"
He took the initiative to lower his stance, which somewhat surprised Chen Feng.
As fellow Grandmasters, they each had their own pride.
For the other party to speak in such a manner showed genuine sincerity.
As for the matter of the Grandmaster's insights, it wasn't a big deal.
Now that their positions had changed and the other party was showing such sincerity, he naturally wouldn't hold a grudge.
"Please."
Turning, Chen Feng led the way.
Though he had broken through to Grandmaster, he still had some confusion about the path ahead, and there were indeed some things he needed to learn from these top-tier sects.
"Good, as expected of the Flame Tiger Grandmaster, truly broad-minded."
The white-robed Whale Sect Grandmaster smiled and flattered, not hesitating to follow with his people.
The Giant Elephant Grandmaster also nodded and entered, and the group soon arrived in the reception hall from last time.
Pearwood chairs lined both sides, and Chen Feng unceremoniously took the seat at the head, his back against the wooden wall of the hall.
"Both of you, speak your minds."
"Alright."
The Whale Sect Grandmaster nodded, then exchanged a glance with the Giant Elephant Grandmaster.
After a mutual nod, he spoke, "Flame Tiger Grandmaster, have you received the challenge from the Flying Dragon Sect?"
"Hmm?"
Chen Feng was puzzled.
"Then it seems we arrived just in time."
The Whale Sect Grandmaster breathed a sigh of relief, then explained, "I've received news that Lu Xinglong has recovered from his injuries and, having broken through his limits, may have already opened the Gate of Spirit."
"Moreover, I've heard that he has issued a challenge, intending to come to Nanjiang in seven days to face you."
As the words fell, the atmosphere grew quiet.
The Third Elder's eyes flashed coldly, while Cao Tong and Xu Tingxiao and the others had mixed expressions.
Though they had known this confrontation was inevitable, hearing the news still made them somewhat uneasy.
Though their Senior Brother was undoubtedly strong, their Flame Tiger Sect was a burden compared to the Flying Dragon Sect, which had more than one Grandmaster and the support of Cyborgs.
If a battle were to occur...
"And...?"
Chen Feng's tone was calm, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, signaling the Whale Sect Grandmaster to speak directly.
"Good, then I'll be blunt."
"Flame Tiger Grandmaster, your talent is unparalleled, and the Grandmaster's barrier was easily overcome by you. In the future, you may even advance further, possibly reaching the Pinnacle Realm."
TL/N: Pinnacle Realm isn't the official name for the next stage, it is just called that by the majority of practitioners as it symbolizes the "supposed peak" of the Martial Arts.
"But Lu Xinglong has deep foundations and may have already overcome two barriers."
After a moment of consideration, the Whale Sect Grandmaster stopped beating around the bush and directly stated his purpose. "My personal suggestion is that you endure this moment of anger, accumulate strength, and wait for the right time."
"At that time, our three sects can form an alliance, and even the Flying Dragon Sect won't be able to do anything."
Hearing this, Chen Feng smiled.
"You want me to decline his challenge?"
"Correct." The Whale Sect Grandmaster nodded.
"And you?" Chen Feng turned to the bald, burly man.
"I also think so. Brother Chen, why not endure this moment of anger?"
Though straightforward, the Giant Elephant Grandmaster also nodded in agreement. "Your talent is truly rare. Given more time, you will undoubtedly surpass Lu Xinglong in the future. There's no need to worry about this momentary honor or disgrace."
Both spoke in a consoling tone, while the Third Elder and the others remained silent, waiting for Chen Feng to speak.
The atmosphere grew quiet, and Chen Feng's gaze was calm yet profound.
He knew that his rapid breakthrough had made the Flying Dragon Sect feel threatened.
Thus, they would undoubtedly act without restraint.
"Even if I don't accept the challenge, will Lu Xinglong not take action?"
He asked in return, sweeping his gaze across the group.
The Whale Sect Grandmaster opened his mouth but said nothing.
Chen Feng paid no attention, his gaze steady, finally looking out of the hall.
The sect's plaque appeared in his perception, the five characters "Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect" imprinted in his mind.
"Thirty years. Our Flame Tiger Sect has been dormant for too long."
With his resolve set, he sat confidently and calmly in his seat.
"I accept this battle."
"In seven days, by the Huai River."
"To determine victory and settle life and death."
(End of the Chapter)
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