Translator: CinderTL
"He's incredibly strong."
The images on the giant screens flanking the Arena Combat Stadium's towering structure finally froze.
Celine stood in a concrete room across from the arena, her expression a mixture of awe and doubt. "Yang, what level do you think he's reached? Pseudo Sixth-Tier? Or has he already surpassed his limits?"
She pressed the question, knowing that even top-tier martial artists like Yang and Martial Divinity might struggle to defeat opponents so effortlessly.
Whoosh!
Yang Wudi, a cigarette clenched between his teeth, stared deeply into the arena, letting the smoke he exhaled curl upward around him. "It seems he's found his own path," he murmured, his hands still tucked in his pockets.
Celine was about to press further when Yang Wudi shook his head and gestured toward the window. "Time to move."
Among the Niduo citizens gathered outside, cyborgs from the Niduo Military had begun to appear, disguised within the crowd. Their eyes darted about, some even glancing toward the building where Yang and Celine were hiding.
"Move? But weren't you going to ask Chen for help?" Celine asked, bewildered.
Yang Wudi turned and waved his hand dismissively. "Not yet."
"Besides, aren't you curious about why Martial Divinity suddenly disappeared?"
The moment the words left his lips, Celine's gaze sharpened. Without asking further questions, she immediately picked up her black backpack and hurried after him.
"Champion!"
"Congratulations to Mr. Chen Feng, the Martial Artist from the Red Nation, for winning the World Fighting Tournament!"
"He will receive a golden trophy, ten million platinum coins, and a bottle of... the Source of Life!"
Inside the Arena Combat Stadium, the event finally came to a close.
Chen Feng, escorted onto the high platform, maintained a calm demeanor under the spotlight. The female host and the award presenter, holding the trophy, flanked him on either side.
With an exchange rate of five Red Nation Currency to one platinum coin, this represented an immense fortune for ordinary people.
But not for him.
What truly captivated his attention was the bottle of emerald-green liquid potion known as the Source of Life, and the increasingly erratic behavior of the Legendary Light Orb within his mind.
"Mr. Chen, I'm sure you have many thoughts to share at this moment."
"Would you care to say a few words?"
Suddenly, the female host extended the microphone, inviting Chen Feng to deliver his acceptance speech.
Briefly suppressing all extraneous thoughts, Chen Feng glanced at the trophy in his hand before turning his gaze to the devastated Arena City, where bruised and battered contestants nursed their injuries.
"I accept," he nodded.
But as the microphone approached, he waved it away.
Calmly, he surveyed the grandstands, meeting the sea of expectant eyes.
Niduo's nobles, wealthy clans, and military officials mingled with martial arts enthusiasts and members of prominent families from other nations on Earth.
A wave of murmurs surged through the crowd, only to be silenced as Chen Feng began to speak.
"My name is Chen Feng."
His single voice commanded the attention of thousands, his ruggedly handsome face projected clearly on the giant screens.
"I have only one thing to say."
"There are many martial artists in this world—Professional Level, Grandmaster Level, and even Grandmaster Level."
"But from this day forward, remember this..."
Beneath his sharply angled brows, his eyes burned with a hint of crimson flame and predatory intensity. Chen Feng faced the cameras and the countless gazes with unwavering composure.
"The strongest martial artist... resides in the Red Nation."
Whoosh!
A brief silence hung in the air, followed by an overwhelming roar of cheers and thunderous applause.
Some considered it arrogance, others deemed it self-evident.
The contestants' faces ranged from somber to awestruck.
"The strongest martial artist..." Gert, Athens, and others murmured, their voices tinged with confusion.
In the stands, Shiva's expression was complex, Zhou Wuren clenched his fists in excitement, and Xu Tingxiao couldn't resist shouting to the surrounding crowd:
"That's my Senior Brother!"
"We're from the Flame Tiger Sect of the Red Nation!"
"The strongest martial artist..."
"Such arrogance..."
Deep within the royal capital's palace, a majestic figure sat cross-legged, his eyes snapping open.
No one had ever dared to claim the title of "strongest," not even he himself, Martial Divinity, Yang Wudi, or Liu Duanyun.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes as a subordinate approached.
"Lion King," the newcomer bowed.
"I know everything," the Lion King replied indifferently, glancing at him. "What about that old fool?"
"He's still at the Niduo Academy exchange event, under General Mord's personal surveillance."
The Lion King fell silent, and the palace once again sank into stillness.
"Your command?"
"Withdraw."
The Lion King spoke indifferently, the cold glint in his eyes fading as he closed them once more.
His subordinate hesitated, puzzled, but ultimately dared not press further.
After the man left, sunlight and shadows intertwined through the cracks in the palace windows, creating a surreal tableau.
It seemed some terrifying creature was undergoing a metamorphosis, poised to awaken.
Whoosh!
Half an hour later, a flying car departed the Arena Combat Stadium.
The sky outside had grown dim, neon projections and interlacing red and blue lights illuminating the arena's perimeter.
"This trophy's surprisingly heavy, Brother Zhou. Do you think it's made of real gold?"
"Probably. It's a Stellar Grade tournament, after all, hosted by the Niduo Royal Family."
The flying car sliced through the neon projections as it ascended toward the redwood towers of Upper City.
A representative from the Red Kingdom Military had arrived for a private escort. Chen Feng silently gazed out the window, having already tossed the golden fist-shaped trophy—a solid twenty centimeters tall—to Xu Tingxiao.
Even the usually composed Zhou Wuren couldn't resist taking the trophy to cradle in his hands for a moment, his eyes filled with envy and admiration.
Champion of the World Fighting Tournament—the highest honor in the Martial Arts World.
Especially since Chen Feng had earned it by defeating four Pinnacle Realm experts, making it all the more prestigious and surpassing previous tournaments in significance.
Yet Chen Feng remained unfazed. Instead, he gazed at the night sky, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.
"They still haven't shown themselves."
The thought crossed his mind. He had already realized that the Star Palace's targeting of him was likely orchestrated by others, most likely the Lion King and the Divine Martial Alliance Leader.
But this only deepened his confusion. Why hadn't they tried to stop him from winning the tournament? Why had they allowed him to claim the prize money, the fame, and the precious Source of Life?
Could there be something wrong with this Source of Life?
A sudden suspicion arose. Chen Feng amplified his perception, focusing it on the left pocket of his newly acquired black trench coat.
Inside lay a slender glass vial, no thicker than two fingers.
The emerald liquid within glowed with vibrant vitality, far surpassing even an Advanced Life Elixir in potency.
At first glance, it seemed flawless, but...
"Something's definitely off."
Chen Feng's eyes narrowed. He realized that this Source of Life might not be as miraculously potent as he had imagined.
The energy within the potion was undoubtedly potent, but only about 20-30% stronger than an Advanced Life Elixir. Chen Feng suspected it was a diluted Source of Life.
The rumors he had heard earlier were likely just that—rumors—or deliberate exaggerations by the Star Palace to attract top-tier Martial Artists to the competition.
"That explains it," he thought. "A diluted Source of Life, while valuable, isn't significantly stronger than an Advanced Life Elixir."
Moreover...
His gaze turned icy. His Perception, functioning like an advanced magnetic field and energy detector, clearly sensed other abnormalities within the potion.
Someone tampered with it.
He was certain of it. It was highly probable that the potion had been mixed with some forbidden drug or other illicit substance.
A chill ran through him as he once again felt the malicious intent descending.
Extending his Perception, he tracked the black raven as it blended into the night sky, landing atop a skyscraper to preen its feathers. The raven's pitch-black eyes, tinged with crimson, seemed to reflect the passing Flying Cars and Chen Feng himself.
"Chu Dingkun..." Chen Feng narrowed his eyes, his killing intent intensifying. He suspected that Chu Dingkun had anticipated his victory and was now attempting to strike with a hidden arrow.
"Senior Brother?" Xu Tingxiao and Zhao Tingxiao, seated beside him, noticed a slight chill in the car's atmosphere and turned to look at Chen Feng simultaneously.
Chen Feng shook his head, choosing to remain silent. His Perception confirmed that the black raven had vanished once more, disappearing beyond his sensory range.
The Flying Car returned to Niduo Academy's private compound, where Old Leader Zhang, Han Chao, and most of the others were waiting in the courtyard.
"Congratulations, Grandmaster Chen, on winning the Martial Arts Tournament!" Han Chao said with a smile. Behind him, the Military's Modified Humans and Dean Qin eagerly offered their congratulations as well.
"Congratulations, Councilor Chen!"
"Many congratulations!"
The chorus of greetings swelled as the turbulence from the Flying Car's landing gradually dissipated.
Noticing the commotion, members of other exchange groups opened windows or stepped onto balconies, their gazes drawn to the scene. A mixture of awe, envy, and fear intensified among them.
"Heroes rise in every generation, and the martial arts world will always produce champions," Old Leader Zhang declared last, his smile sincere and his voice filled with heartfelt admiration. "Grandmaster Chen, you've brought great honor to Red Nation Martial Arts!"
Although everyone knew Chen Feng's claim of being the strongest Martial Artist was self-referential, the mention of "Red Nation" resonated deeply, stirring a sense of national pride. Moreover, as martial artists themselves, driven by inherent competitive spirit, who wouldn't aspire to reach the pinnacle of power?
No one voiced any objections. Most wore expressions of agreement.
"I'm merely stating a fact," Chen Feng replied calmly, his tone radiating unshakeable confidence that left no room for doubt.
Old Leader Zhang paused briefly, then repeatedly exclaimed his approval as they entered the building together. They tacitly avoided discussing the Star Palace's deployment of three of its members to guard the arena.
During their conversation, Chen Feng glanced out the window and surmised why the Star Palace dared to act so boldly. "It seems they're watching you as well," he subtly warned, pointing to an aircraft concealed 700 meters away.
A small team of cyborgs appeared to be monitoring the area, led by a middle-aged man in a trench coat with a general's insignia on his shoulder. His Force Field aura radiated a Sixth-Tier level of power.
"Niduo is still a nation, after all. They have the resources to maintain Flying General-class cyborgs," Old Leader Zhang said with a helpless shake of his head, clearly aware of the surveillance.
"Two Flying Generals are stationed in the royal capital: Mord, one of Niduo's generals under the Lion King's control, and Walker, responsible for the Royal Family's security."
"Walker was likely the one protecting Princess Eleanor during your fight with Hux yesterday," Chen Feng explained briefly. Han Chao nodded in agreement, supplementing with military intelligence.
The room had been shielded by military-grade devices that disrupted electromagnetic signals, preventing eavesdropping. Chen Feng acknowledged this with a nod and withdrew his gaze.
After a round of casual conversation, they returned inside.
Click!
The lock clicked shut. Chen Feng drew the curtains and settled into a cross-legged position.
He glanced at the panel before him. The progress of his Azure Armor and Heart of Glory was unremarkable, having advanced only slightly.
His attacks had been too swift, and most opponents hadn't fought to the death, resulting in minimal Fear Value gained.
As for Glory Value...
Even the four Pinnacle Realm experts—Pseudo Sixth-Tier cultivators at best—combined were barely comparable to a single Batfolk. They were simply too weak to benefit him now.
But that wasn't the main point.
Because...
Closing his eyes, Chen Feng focused his mind inward, directing his consciousness to the depths of his mind.
Ever since severely injuring the four Pinnacle Realm experts and winning the World Fighting Tournament at the Arena Combat Stadium, a persistent throbbing sensation had plagued his mind.
Now, as he focused his Perception, he saw the Legendary Light Orbs glowing with extraordinary brilliance, radiating light ceaselessly.
These were vivid, self-illuminating memories:
At the Flaming Tiger Mountain Gate, slaying the Batfolk, shattering their barrier, and thwarting the Church's sinister blood sacrifice plot.In the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm, annihilating the Saint. Even as lightning cracked, thunder roared, and dark clouds loomed, he stood undaunted against the Serpent God's divine wrath and curse.
And there, in the arena, he had fought valiantly against countless challengers, becoming the undisputed pinnacle of Earth's martial arts world under the watchful gaze of millions.
Buzz!
In that instant, the legend seemed to solidify.
The final missing piece fell into place, and the true purpose of his participation in the World Fighting Tournament became crystal clear.
Both quantity and quality had reached their zenith. The luminous Light Orbs rapidly coalesced, merging into a single, unified entity.
An inexplicable realization suddenly dawned on Chen Feng.
"Transcendence?"
The thought flashed through his mind, and the dark void of his consciousness transformed.
A white staircase materialized before him, its endless steps leading upward to a throne suspended in the heavens, seated amidst the clouds, overlooking the world.
The fused Legendary Light Orb ascended like the sun, illuminating all below.
Like an invisible brand, it etched itself deep into the celestial vault, destined to endure forever.
Tap!
Instinctively, Chen Feng took a step onto the staircase.
Everything coalesced in that instant, and he clearly sensed the shackles of universal laws binding him.
It felt as though a mountain had settled upon his shoulders—the ultimate limit of human potential, the insurmountable ceiling beyond which he could never rise.
Meanwhile, subtle changes rippled through the Heavenly Ladder above. Six platforms materialized in succession, and a light symbolizing the World Force began to coalesce.
In an instant, immense pressure descended, almost suffocating Chen Feng.
His heart pounded heavily, its muffled thud echoing in his ears.
His veins felt like they would burst, tiny needles of pain prickling across his body.
Yet paradoxically, it was this very pain that snapped Chen Feng back to his senses, his eyes blazing with renewed resolve.
"With boundless will, I shall bear this vessel; with the Legendary Imprint, I shall seek the truth of heaven and earth."
"I will transcend! I will shatter these shackles!"
Hum!
A surge of indomitable will erupted within him. He placed his faith in his fists and the path of Extreme Martial.
His finite martial arts were now sustained by infinite resolve. The Heavenly Ladder solidified, and Chen Feng seized the opportunity, stepping forward.
Tap!
His foot landed firmly on the first step.
For a moment, the world fell silent. Then, a deep, muffled boom echoed through the air.
Thud!
Heavy, immense, and ear-shattering.
Thud!!
The sound repeated, and Chen Feng recognized it.
Thud!!!
Looking down at his chest, Chen Feng understood: it was the thunderous beat of his own heart.
The world trembled, finally resonating with his will.
The next moment...
A violent wind tore through the air, and volcanic flames erupted from the earth.
Heavenly rain poured down in torrents, and verdant vines surged skyward in a frenzy.
Countless visions of worlds assailed his mind, accompanied by a cacophony of voices echoing in his ears.
Joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, bitterness, anguish—the full spectrum of human emotion and primal desires flooded his senses.
Humans, beasts, plants—
It was the entirety of the world condensed into a single moment, a deluge of information so vast it would cripple even the most sophisticated technology.
His will faltered, teetering on the brink of chaos, lost in bewilderment.
But at that critical moment, the legendary imprint—a sunlike radiance suspended in midair—blazed with renewed brilliance.
In an instant, all the anomalies vanished. Beneath the illuminated path of the Heavenly Ladder, only wisps of invisible World Force remained, flowing steadily into his body.
The stinging pain subsided, replaced by a warm, soothing current.
His muscle cells pulsed with greedy anticipation. Chen Feng clearly sensed the mountainous chains of cosmic law—
A hairline crack had appeared within them, and it was widening steadily.
(End of the Chapter)
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