Translator: CinderTL
"The Calamity Secret Realm?"
"Yes, the area pulled in to the north should be part of the Calamity Secret Realm. I heard the Spirit Master is planning to go rescue the people trapped there."
"It's a unique Secret Realm, a purely technological civilization perpetually at war, with no martial arts."
Inside the Martial Hall, an elder who had officially achieved Transcendence frowned slightly as someone reported the recent appearance of the Abyss Secret Realm.
The Black Tide had been temporarily repelled, but a section near the high wall had been pulled into the Abyss.
"Are you certain this Secret Realm has no martial arts heritage?"
The elder narrowed his eyes, surprised.
"Not entirely none, but it's negligible. The martial arts practiced there are merely basic exercises for physical fitness, and few ever break through to Bone Refining."
The person before him elaborated further, leaving the elder lost in thought.
After a few more exchanges, the scene shattered with a loud boom. Chen Feng snapped back to reality, standing in place.
The Calamity Secret Realm... He had seen similar words in the diary of Wang Yu, the Spirit Tamer Talent.
At the time, Wang Yu had been torn between going to the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm to enhance Alonco's power with the Holy Sword of the Holy City, or fulfilling Storm Queen Shirley's request and returning to the Dead Crow Secret Realm.
In the end, the Black Tide Disaster erupted. Though it was repelled, a vast area was pulled into the so-called Land of Calamity.
Chen Feng chose to venture into this place to rescue those trapped within.
"Calamity Secret Realm..."
"Could this be the Evil God's domain behind the Plague Cult?"
The thought flashed through his mind. Chen Feng recalled that Cao Tong had collected data on hundreds of Evil God Cults.
Among them, only three were truly powerful, the rest negligible.
And the Plague Cult just happened to be one of the three strongest, alongside the Serpent Spirit Sect and the Dead Crow Cult.
After a moment's consideration, he shook his head, deciding not to delve deeper.
He possessed no Plague Force, and even if he did, he had no intention of entering this unfamiliar Secret Realm for now.
Boom!!!
Just then, a muffled explosion erupted. The Holy Shield Colossus's stone wings trembled violently, clearly under attack by multiple 6th-tier creatures. Their assault was terrifying.
No longer hesitating, Chen Feng's Daylight radiance flared once more, and he quickly gripped his Steelbone Broadsword.
"Time for a counterattack."
Boom!!!
He woke with a start. Despite the restorative effects of a second nap, the light in Chen Feng's eyes remained slightly dimmed.
In the Dream Realm, several 6th-tier creatures had reappeared. He clearly saw countless Black Tide Creatures swarming beyond the breach in the high wall, their numbers seemingly endless.
After enduring countless battles, he was nearly exhausted.
In the end, Chen Feng barely managed to rush into the Martial Hall and absorb another Extreme Martial Arts orb before being forced to withdraw from the Dream Realm.
[Extreme Martial Arts: 4]
The panel before him hovered in mid-air, and Chen Feng couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.
"So close..."
The Martial Hall still held one more Extreme Martial Arts orb and over a dozen Limit Breaking Orbs. If he could have absorbed them all, he might have broken through to the peak of the Falling Sun realm.
"Beyond Falling Sun lie the two tiers of Extreme Martial: Extreme Earth and Extreme Heaven. But one must reach Transcendence to cultivate them."
The key principles and crucial points of the Extreme Martial tiers flashed through his mind. Chen Feng realized this was the greatest reward of his journey into the Dream Realm. Not only had he gathered all the essential techniques of the Extreme Martial Fist, but he had also grasped the specific path to Transcendence.
"Seeking Intent, Legend, Resonance."
He summarized the three steps as the crucial stages for continuing his ascent after reaching the limit. In a sense, finding one's own infinite will was already the beginning of transcending the limit.
Suddenly, Chen Feng thought of Yang Wudi. During their last encounter in Suro, Yang Wudi had already been on the verge of breaking through to the Sixth-Tier. Chen Feng had always assumed Yang Wudi was merely at the Pinnacle Realm, but now, knowing the three steps to Transcendence, he had a different perspective.
Based on the lingering memories from the Dream Realm, even among the Martial Artists of Qinggang City, few could reach the Sixth-Tier solely by pushing their own limits.
This was a natural limitation of the human body. The gap between the Sixth-Tier and Fifth-Tier was simply too vast to bridge easily.
Furthermore, Chen Feng recalled Yang Wudi's past battles, particularly the exceptionally powerful and unique Pinnacle Intent he had displayed.
He suspected that Yang Wudi might have already taken a crucial half-step back then, discovering his own infinite will. This could have elevated his Pinnacle Intent, allowing him to reach the Sixth-Tier level.
"Truly worthy of being the only Pinnacle Realm cultivator to emerge from the Southern Martial World in the last century," Chen Feng murmured in admiration. To have charted a course on his own was a feat truly befitting a hero among mortals.
His thoughts then turned to Liu Duanyun and the video and message Chen Yun had sent him earlier. The mysterious mist from the Red City academy exchange, resembling Force but capable of transforming into flames and raging winds... What path to the future of martial arts had this Northern Martial Arts First, Saint Sect leader discovered?
His mind wandering, Chen Feng finally glanced at his phone. Zhou Wuren still hadn't replied. He suspected Zhou Wuren might have already made contact with something, perhaps even entered seclusion for cultivation. Otherwise, it was unlikely he would have remained silent for several days.
Buzz!
Suddenly, before Chen Feng could ponder the answer, his phone vibrated with a notification from someone else.
His eyes narrowed, but he shook his head a moment later.
Several hours later...
Nanjiang United Coalition Building
"I never expected Councilor Xu to meet such an end."
"Indeed, who could have foreseen it?"
Whispers of discussion filled the conference room. Some councilors, present for the occasion, feigned sighs of sorrow.
"What a tragic loss at such a young age," whispered the Councilors in the meeting room.
Some Councilors, present for the occasion, feigned sorrow. Others were absent, leaving empty seats on either side of the oval wooden table.
Chen Feng watched silently, his gaze resting on the empty seat beside him. Lin Hao had not yet arrived.
"Representative Chu, may we ask the cause of Councilor Xu's death?"
"Isn't Councilor Xu affiliated with Jadeite Biotech? Why was his death confirmed so suddenly?"
Uninformed Councilors began to inquire, and Chen Feng turned his attention to Chu Shihong, seated at the head of the table in a dark wool coat.
News of Xu Heng's death had naturally spread. The initial report had come from Chu Shihong himself, requesting an emergency meeting to discuss the aftermath.
"It has been confirmed that Councilor Xu and his security personnel perished in an accident on the outskirts of the city," Chu Shihong announced gravely, his face etched with grief. "Preliminary investigations suggest the Dead Crow Cult may be involved."
The room fell silent. Many Councilors' eyes narrowed, not at Chu Shihong's feigned sorrow, but at the shocking revelation. Even Chen Feng, who knew the truth, was taken aback.
The Dead Crow Cult?
He knew Lin Hao had the means to cover his tracks and distance himself from the incident. But that the Dead Crow Cult could be implicated and the City Council would acknowledge it was more than he had anticipated.
"The Dead Crow Cult? What were they doing out in the suburbs?"
"Exactly! Councilor Xu had Fifth-Tier Security Personnel with him. Even if it really was the Dead Crow Cult, they shouldn't have been able to kill him so easily, right?"
Some people were skeptical, and a few even glanced at Lin Hao's empty seat and Chen Feng's bewildered expression.
Although key evidence at the scene had been destroyed and magnetic interference had prevented any footage from being transmitted, the conflict between Lin Hao and Xu Heng was no secret to some of the mega-corporations present.
Consequently, Chen Feng had also become a target of suspicion among a few individuals.
"Members of the Dead Crow Cult were found near the scene of the incident, along with a destroyed hideout," Chu Shihong explained seriously, instructing his assistant to display images of the scene.
Chen Feng glanced at the images, which showed an underground warehouse about a kilometer from the incident site. There were signs of an explosion and the remains of numerous Dead Crow Cult members.
He was surprised. The images looked incredibly authentic, not staged.
"After extensive investigation, we've discovered that Councilor Xu's Security Personnel had engaged in a firefight with this branch of the Dead Crow Cult."
"Personally, I suspect Councilor Xu may have been targeted for retaliation."
"After all, a Walker-Class member of the Evil God Cult can hold their own against Fifth-Tier Security Personnel."
Zhang Songtai sat not far to Chen Feng's left, at the head of the row closest to Chu Shihong's main seat. His square face was etched with seriousness and earnestness, his voice solemn and his reasoning calm and logical.
Chen Feng suspected Zhang Songtai had already been bribed by Lin Hao.
"Councilor Chen, what do you think?" Zhang Songtai suddenly asked, a smile playing on his lips.
"It's certainly a possibility," Chen Feng nodded, and the other councilors fell silent, no one challenging his statement.
Those in the know understood the implications and didn't want to get involved. Representatives from several super-large conglomerates, such as Sky Shield Heavy Industries, remained silent, watching Chen Feng and Zhang Songtai's carefully orchestrated exchange.
Those who were unaware found Zhang Songtai's analysis plausible, and for a moment, no one dared to question its authenticity.
"Then we must expedite the investigation into the Evil God Cult," Chu Shihong declared. "First the Serpent Spirit Sect in Luohe, and now the Dead Crow Cult in Nanjiang—it's truly impossible to guard against them all."
Li Chengdong's elder, Li Pinghai, said sternly, while Chu Shihong nodded in agreement.
"I've already contacted the military. They've set up a camp in the New City area and will assist us in our investigation."
"This matter will require your utmost attention, Old Li."
Li Pinghai, with his military background and extensive connections, was the perfect person to coordinate the operation.
"No problem."
After a brief exchange, the two quickly finalized the plan for a thorough investigation of Nanjiang.
As the meeting neared its end, someone couldn't help but ask, "What about Councilor Xu?"
"After the meeting, I'll contact the media to announce the matter," Chu Shihong sighed, revealing his arrangement.
With the decision made, no one spoke out in opposition.
"Furthermore, due to Councilor Xu's passing, there's a vacancy in the council."
"If any of you have recommendations for a replacement, please inform me in advance so we can discuss them at our next meeting."
The others nodded, some with scheming thoughts.
Chen Feng stared at the empty seat without expression until the familiar call echoed once more.
"Councilor Chen, please stay behind."
Chu Shihong spoke again, and the others, already accustomed to this, bid their goodbyes with cheerful smiles.
A moment later, Chen Feng followed Chu Shihong into the adjacent reception room. A faint mist of fragrant tea drifted slowly from the tea table before them.
The door was tightly closed, leaving only the two of them inside.
"You didn't interfere with Councilor Xu's matter, did you?"
Chu Shihong's face was devoid of any lingering sorrow or grief. Instead, he asked in a serious whisper.
"He was too weak."
Chen Feng replied calmly, neither denying nor confirming the accusation.
Chu Shihong paused slightly, then smiled wryly, but didn't press the issue further.
"What do you think of the Dead Crow Cult?"
He changed the subject, and Chen Feng pondered for a moment.
This matter had puzzled him greatly during the meeting.
In the past, these cults had rarely surfaced in the Red Nation. Yet now, they were appearing repeatedly, which seemed highly suspicious.
Moreover, Luohe had only recently eradicated the Serpent Spirit Sect, and Chen Feng suspected there was a hidden manipulator behind it all.
"I sense something unusual," he said. "It might even be connected to the Serpent Spirit Sect in Luohe."
(End of the Chapter)
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