Translator: CinderTL
Whoosh!
High in the azure sky, a gray-black aircraft sliced through the clouds.
A white, shuttle-shaped wake trailed behind it, and the maple leaf emblem of the Military drew many gazes upward.
"Master, you were once the Sect Leader of our Saint Sect. Now, you've taken a crucial step in the New Martial Arts, surpassing the mortal realm."
"Wouldn't it be too accommodating to personally visit a junior to offer congratulations? Is this not too much?"
Inside the aircraft, a woman in a white cloud-patterned martial arts uniform spoke.
She had a slender, graceful figure, her long hair coiled into a bun secured with a jade hairpin, and she held a silver rapier.
Appearing to be in her thirties, she possessed an elegant, reserved beauty.
"Junior Sister Zhao, Grandmaster Chen may be a junior, but he's also at the Pinnacle Realm," the middle-aged man beside her said, shaking his head inwardly and offering a gentle reminder.
However, contrary to his expectations, the woman's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, as if displeased.
"Senior Brother Zhou, you're close to him, so you're speaking up for him. I don't care."
"But have you forgotten that at Xiang Mountain, he disregarded the Saint Sect's honor and injured Elder Protector Wang first?"
Her accusatory tone left the middle-aged man speechless.
Indeed, Grandmaster Chen had been rather forceful during the battle at Xiang Mountain.
But that was simply his nature—fearless and unyielding.
"And didn't we ultimately spare him out of respect for the Saint Sect, letting him off with a warning?"
"Furthermore, Yang Wudi injured many of our Saint Sect disciples back then."
"They say he and Yang Wudi share some camaraderie. If we were to visit him now, wouldn't it invite gossip? And how would we face the other protectors and Elders when we return to the Saint Sect?"
The woman in the white martial arts uniform stood by the window, her words sharp and logical, like the slender sword in her hand, piercing straight to the heart of the matter.
The middle-aged man could only force a bitter smile, turning to see Han Chao, dressed in plain clothes and standing tall, shake his head subtly, as if hesitant to interrupt.
"Master!"
Seeing that neither man had spoken, the woman in the white martial arts uniform spoke again, turning to the elderly man who had remained silent throughout.
He sat in a leather chair by the window, dressed in a simple white robe. He was somewhat gaunt, his graying hair tied back with a wooden hairpin, his complexion ruddy and serene.
As if sensing everyone's gaze upon him, he finally turned away from the window and met the woman's gaze.
"Xiao Ling, you're excellent in every way, and your considerations are thorough."
"But... some things don't need to be taken so seriously."
With a gentle smile, the old man's eyes deepened, like the depths of a tranquil lake.
The woman in the white martial arts uniform opened her mouth to protest, but he shook his head lightly.
"To surpass Grandmaster at just twenty-four and reach the Pinnacle Realm... Such a person, besides the historical records, have you ever seen another?"
The woman fell silent, unable to answer the question.
"Wuren, have you?"
The old man turned to the middle-aged man from before, who could only offer a wry smile and shake his head.
"Then that settles it."
The old man withdrew his gaze and looked out the window again.
"Duanyun barely managed to glimpse a faint new path. Perhaps our martial arts will usher in a new future as well."
"If we could have such peerless talents exploring and uncovering this path together, who's to say we can't continue the journey to the end of martial arts?"
These few words fell like a stone into the quiet cabin.
Martial arts had been in decline for far too long.
That was precisely why every Peak of the Pinnacle Realm who showed promise of forging a new path was so precious.
In a sense, this was no longer a matter of gain or loss for a single person or sect.
Zhou Wuren, standing nearby, fell into deep thought, while Han Chao, who had been hesitant to interrupt, found himself filled with admiration for the old man.
The woman in the white martial arts uniform understood the logic but remained silent. Yet, thinking of her close uncle and Elder Protector Wang's fate, a lingering resentment still lingered in her heart.
As the destination drew closer outside the window, she gripped her slender sword tightly, barely suppressing the emotions swirling in her phoenix eyes.
I hope the rumors are true. I hope you truly are a Pinnacle Realm Master.
Otherwise...
As the thought arose, the aircraft continued its flight.
Just as they were about to arrive, a Military officer in the cabin suddenly cried out in alarm.
"What is that!"
"What's wrong?"
At the Mountain Gate celebration, in the center of the hall's table.
Li Tong, noticing the change in Chen Feng's expression, was the first to sense something amiss. He asked with a puzzled expression, "What's going on?"
Chen Feng shook his head slightly, his brow furrowed as he gazed beyond the Mountain Gate.
An unusual force had appeared in his Perception. Dark shadows, like a curtain, rose from all directions, enveloping the Flame Tiger Mountain Gate.
One thousand meters... eight hundred meters... five hundred meters...
Gradually, it wasn't just him.
Disciples outside, having noticed the commotion, rushed inside.
Some Cyborgs, sensing the magnetic field anomaly, paled and stood up to look outside.
"What is that!"
Someone cried out in alarm, and the Giant Elephant Grandmaster and others rose to their feet.
Some went to open spaces to look at the Mountain Gate, while others leaped onto rooftops to peer into the distance.
The entire world seemed to shrink like a closing birdcage, constantly compressing.
The azure sky was replaced by a dark curtain, and the once wild green forest was now completely isolated from the outside world.
Boom! Boom!
Anxious Cyborgs fired missiles into the sky.
A violent explosion erupted, accompanied by a flash of fire. But the shrinking curtain merely rippled slightly before continuing to contract.
Everyone's expressions changed. Then, a blue arrow of light pierced the air from a courtyard within the Flame Tiger Sect.
It was blinding and terrifying, leaving a sonic boom in its wake.
"It's a Fifth-Tier Mech Warrior!"
A cyborg exclaimed in surprise, never expecting such a powerhouse to be hidden within the Flame Tiger Sect's Mountain Gate.
Dong!!
A muffled thud reverberated through the air, sending dense ripples across the shadow curtain.
The blue arrow of light, resembling a flying shuttle, had struck the curtain at a single point. It vibrated at a high frequency, attempting to pierce through.
But in the end, it failed.
The massive, sky-covering curtain erupted with black light, instantly swallowing the blue flying shuttle.
Within a few breaths, the black curtain had shrunk again, completely enveloping the entire sect.
Above and below, it formed a perfect hemisphere.
"Something's wrong," Mei Li said urgently, her expression grave. She carried a briefcase and wore a black trench coat. As a Fifth-Tier Mech Warrior who had risked her life for Jadeite Biotech in her youth, she knew many secrets and had a broader perspective than most present. She immediately recognized the underlying problem.
Moreover, the fact that he could effortlessly block her full-power strike clearly indicated immense strength, possibly exceeding the Fifth Tier.
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Chen Feng also sensed a familiar energy signature.
It seemed like the Power of the Dead, yet also resembled the barrier he had encountered in the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm.
"What's going on?!"
"Why has the sky changed?!"
"What is this thing? A force field?"
Unlike Chen Feng and the woman, many others in the crowd panicked, shouting in alarm.
But soon, someone with a keen eye noticed something amiss and pointed towards the sky.
Dozens of black dots dotted the black barrier.
Upon closer inspection, these dots turned out to be a flock of creatures resembling ravens and bats, hovering in the air and constantly emitting black light, creating the eerie spectacle.
"This... is this the Evil God Cult?"
"Or a tactic of the Divine Martial Alliance?"
Third Martial Uncle Yan Chong spoke in a low voice, his expression grim, as if forced to recall unpleasant memories.
During the Flame Tiger Sect's downfall, when he was besieged by True Intent masters from the Divine Martial Alliance, he had sensed a similar power.
At once, his words caused Li Tong and the others to frown deeply, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Zhang Guiyuan and other True Disciples like Lin Xiaoyun and Zhao Jushan took the initiative to disperse, protecting the weaker disciples.
The crowd grew increasingly chaotic, even with disciples trying to maintain order.
"Councilor Chen, what should we do?"
A director from a major corporation forced himself to remain calm and hurried over. He knew who the strongest person here was, and if something went wrong, this was the safest place to be.
Chen Feng didn't answer, his eyes reflecting the chaos around him. His Perception detected a powerful malice approaching, causing some of the hundred guests to panic while others feigned composure.
Amidst the thunderous explosions, several Cyborgs joined forces, targeting the Bat and Raven silhouettes within the barrier with another volley of missiles.
Everyone's attention was drawn to the spectacle, but the results were even worse than before. Only faint ripples appeared, and even the flames were extinguished.
Chen Feng's gaze sharpened, focusing on the Mountain Gate barrier directly ahead.
But in stark contrast, a chorus of gasps erupted behind him.
"Senior Brother!!"
"Watch out!"
Whoosh!!
A razor-sharp metal dagger shot out, piercing through a black, ancient-looking robe.
The Martial Dao Grandmaster standing beside Chen Feng suddenly contorted his face in a ferocious grimace, but his expression froze in shock as a crisp clang echoed through the air.
The metal dagger shattered instantly, its flying shards reflecting distorted faces.
Xu Tingxiao's expression darkened, while Li Tong beside him was consumed by murderous intent as he subdued the assailant.
Yet, despite this chaos, Chen Feng remained unfazed, his gaze fixed on the barrier outside the Mountain Gate.
"Did you control him?"
A low, resonant voice cut through the din, instantly silencing the commotion.
Chen Feng had sensed the sudden surge of malice moments earlier. He wasn't concerned about the weakling's attack, but he was puzzled by the method used. He hadn't detected any anomalies before.
However, the figure outside the barrier offered no response.
Instead, the chaos intensified, as guests suddenly erupted in madness, lunging at those around them.
"Die!"
"Die, all of you!!"
Screams of frenzy pierced the air, the contorted faces of the attackers sending shivers down everyone's spines.
At this critical moment, a storm descended. A powerful mental will manifested in reality.
Everyone instantly felt an immense pressure, as if a Force Field had landed, enveloping everything.
Suddenly, the abnormally behaving guests all collapsed. The remaining normal guests turned pale, clutching their heads and covered in cold sweat.
Grandmaster Flying Eagle and the others closest to the scene paled slightly, their faces flushed unnaturally. The Councilor's cyborgs detected a disruption in the magnetic field.
"It seems to be a problem with the barrier," Chen Feng murmured, narrowing his eyes. "Ordinary people are being affected, their wills twisted."
He realized the key: most of the guests who had suddenly behaved strangely, as well as the corporate director who had attacked him earlier, were ordinary people who hadn't cultivated martial arts or activated their Force Field defenses in time.
Clap, clap!
Clap, clap!
The sound was like applause, yet also mocking.
The seemingly impenetrable barrier rippled with dense waves, and then a dozen figures materialized outside the mountain gate.
All were clad in black robes, most with hoods drawn over their heads.
Only the leading woman revealed her face: she had shoulder-length hair, pointed ears, and eyes as black as night, with no white visible.
She appeared to be in her twenties, still clapping her hands, a cold smile playing on her lips as she looked down at them.
"Truly worthy of a Pinnacle Realm Master," she said. "Such a powerful physical body and sharp mental acuity—Master should be very pleased with such a sacrifice."
As the voice spoke, a certain power surged through the speaker's body, effortlessly dissolving the pressure of Wrath of the Storm.
The crowd's expressions shifted slightly, and some cyborgs detected a sudden surge in the energy magnetic field.
"It's a Fifth-Tier Envoy!" someone exclaimed. Mei Li frowned deeply and was the first to strike.
Whoosh!
A blue light darted through the air like an arrow, vanishing in mid-flight. When it reappeared, it was a mere foot from the speaker's face.
The powerful force generated a piercing sonic boom, yet...
Clink!
A slender white finger caught the Flying Shuttle. The speaker's hair fluttered, revealing a mocking smile.
"How dare you pigs resist?"
Whoosh!
The words had barely landed when the dozen black-robed figures behind the speaker scattered instantly, swooping down upon the surrounding guests like black hawks, hunting them down.
Simultaneously, the Radiant-Grade Titanium Flying Shuttle was flicked away with a flick of the speaker's finger, hurtling towards Mei Li at an even greater speed.
The air howled, leaving a white trail in its wake.
A blue arc flashed past, leaving behind a trail of dense, circular airbursts.
The hunted guests panicked, their faces contorted in terror. Mei Li, targeted by the Flying Shuttle, narrowed her eyes, finding herself too slow to dodge.
At a crucial moment.
Clang!
A thick, outstretched hand, like a vice, instantly seized the blue light. The black-robed youth with a short haircut stared indifferently, a flash of Crimson Flame already burning in his eyes.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
More than a dozen black-robed figures were sent flying backward in unison. The Scarlet Flame Force had become even more swift and violent than a missile.
Tables and chairs shattered into pieces, and guests on either side scrambled to retreat.
Crack.
The Flying Shuttle snapped, and Chen Feng released his grip.
Glancing sideways at the black-robed woman across from him, he saw a crimson light gathering above his head, like a blazing sun illuminating the heavens and earth.
All darkness and coldness were dispelled in that moment, even the pitch-black Barrier seemed to have its power diminished, faintly revealing the sky and green fields beyond.
"A mere Envoy-Class..."
"Who gave you the courage?"
Roar!!
The Crimson Tiger Soars Through the Sky, leaping down in a single bound.
The distance of several dozen meters vanished in an instant. The True Intent Crimson Tiger opened its blood-red maw, snapping at the black-robed woman!
(End of the Chapter)
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