Translator: CinderTL
Thump!
Night had fallen, and the stars twinkled in the sky.
An unnatural sound pierced the air, like a heartbeat echoing in their ears.
In Niduo Kingdom's Capital, several Pinnacle Realm Martial Artists opened their eyes, each sensing something amiss.
"What was that?"
One of them frowned and looked up. The night sky was clear, the moon hung high, and nothing seemed out of place.
The sound vanished as abruptly as it had appeared, as if it had been a mere illusion.
"Did any of you hear that?"
Inside the Star Palace's medical ward, where several members were bandaged and hooked up to intravenous drips, they exchanged puzzled glances.
Hux, lying motionless like a mummy on his bed, his face etched with a deep frown, turned to the subordinates guarding him. "Report."
"Master, I didn't hear anything," the Platinum Federation's Grandmaster Martial Artist replied, shaking his head in confusion. The other nearby subordinates gave similar answers.
This only deepened the Star Palace members' bewilderment. No matter how hard they pondered, they found no explanation.
Finally, a black-robed figure materialized silently, as if emerging from the shadows themselves.
"It's a distortion in the rules."
His voice, cold and sharp as a blade, sent shivers down their spines.
"Who's there!"
The guards stationed nearby tensed, their expressions hardening. Some activated their Force Field Shields, while others channeled their Force, their eyes gleaming with hostility. A battle seemed imminent.
"Martial Divinity?" Hux recognized the figure instantly, his face darkening with unease.
The other tall man and the silver-armored warrior shared similar expressions, though a flicker of confusion crossed their eyes as they pressed for clarification. "Rule anomaly? What does that mean?"
The black-robed figure offered no answer, merely glancing around at the security personnel and guards scattered throughout the room.
Hux frowned slightly, then waved his hand. After a moment's hesitation, the tense guards lowered their weapons and withdrew from the room.
"These so-called 'rules' are the shackles that bind us to the limits of the human body. Only those who reach the Pinnacle Realm, where their spiritual will undergoes sublimation, can perceive even a fraction of them."
"This is the constraint of the World Force, the former apex of martial arts."
The black-robed figure spoke calmly, still standing by the window.
Hux and the others frowned. The silver-armored warrior asked gravely, "The former apex of martial arts? What exactly are you implying?"
"It's simple," the black-robed figure said calmly, their eyes hidden beneath the hood, yet radiating a deep, abyssal darkness with faint crimson glimmers flickering like embers.
"The rules of this world have been disrupted. As for the reason... I've discovered the perfect method to break through the limits."
"From this day forward, the Pinnacle Realm will no longer be the ultimate destination, but merely a stepping stone to what lies beyond."
Hux and the others trembled at these words, unable to suppress their burning curiosity. "What about Iphia?" Hux asked.
The figure didn't answer. Instead, they whispered, "Where is she?"
"She's been crippled, terrified out of her wits, and isn't here," Hux replied, his face darkening with bitter recollection. He knew this entire situation was a consequence of being manipulated by the Martial Divinity before him and the Lion King of the royal palace.
"Martial Divinity, tell us quickly! What exactly is this method?" The silver-armored man, his movements hampered by a grievous abdominal wound, pressed urgently.
After a moment of silence, the black-robed figure finally stepped closer to the trio.
"The method... you will soon understand it firsthand."
---
Was that truly an illusion?
At Niduo Academy, within a secluded building, Old Leader Zhang awoke with a slight frown. Instinctively, his gaze drifted to the nearby room next door.
A flicker of doubt lingered in Chen Feng's mind, yet he couldn't quite grasp its source.
The night deepened, growing ever darker, and the rhythmic snores of others filled the air, unnoticed in the stillness.
Seated cross-legged, Chen Feng smoothed his brow, focusing his consciousness inward to meticulously sense every fiber of his being on the Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder.
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
The heavy shackles, weighing like mountains, began to fissure, the cracks spreading relentlessly across their surface.
Seizing the opportunity, Chen Feng took another step onto the pristine, luminous stair, continuing his ascent.
Crack!
One step.
Crack!
Another step.
The sound of shattering shackles grew clearer with each stride, as strands of World Force surged into his body.
His physique strengthened, his spiritual will fortified, and his body, already pushed to its limits, found renewed vitality.
With each step, the cracks in his shackles widened further.
Foot by foot, Chen Feng pressed upward, determined to shatter them completely.
Tap!
Tap!!
Tap!!!
After countless steps, the shackles on his body were riddled with holes, a latticework of cracks covering their surface.
Suddenly, his foot paused mid-stride. Chen Feng's gaze sharpened as he realized he was nearing the first platform of the Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder.
It was like a brief respite for a climber gasping for breath, or perhaps the will of the world spurring them onward.
And there it was, the first platform closest to him.
Buzz!
As if sensing his presence, a crimson glow suddenly materialized, coalescing into a pair of fiery gauntlets wreathed in Undying Flame.
[Limit Breaking Fist!]
The name flashed through Chen Feng's mind, a memory from Qinggang City's Dream Realm.
This was a tangible manifestation of the World Force, an embodiment of limits and will.
The Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder was sustained by spiritual will, making it endlessly climbable.
Yet nothing was perfect; infinite potential came with infinite challenges.
Each resonance with the World Imprint opened a new realm. Only by constantly overcoming trials of will and shattering limits could one continue ascending higher.
Instantly, Chen Feng's footsteps faltered. He gazed upward at the five platforms towering above.
Golden Armor floated there, representing the Myriad-Kilogram Body.
Lightning crackled around combat boots, embodying the Pinnacle of Speed.
A chestplate like a mirror reflected the Fearless Heart.
Beyond lay the Calamity Cloak and the Bloodfire Crown, followed by the golden-sculpted World Throne.
Each platform represented a shattered limit, a trial of spiritual will that every climber faced at a certain stage.
Victory deepened one's connection to the world, raised the potential ceiling, and propelled one to greater heights.
Failure left one trapped by the shackles of the ladder's rules, stagnating in place.
In an instant, Chen Feng retracted his gaze.
His eyes focused on the crimson, floating Limit Breaking Fist before him, its Undying Flame burning eternally.
With a thunderous step, Chen Feng planted himself firmly on the platform.
Then, he thrust his hands forward, seizing the moment!
Boom!!
The Limit Breaking Fist hurtled toward him, its shockwave alone capable of severely injuring a Pinnacle Realm expert.
Yet Chen Feng neither dodged nor evaded. Instead, he hurled his own fist forward, a declaration of his martial will.
Boom!!!
A storm of energy erupted, but the world's radiance remained undimmed.
The Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder stood firm, unshaken.
The powerful impact sent tremors through Chen Feng's arms, while the Undying Flame coiled around him like a fiery dragon, threatening to devour him whole.
In an instant, the stinging pain intensified, confirming Chen Feng's suspicions.
"The Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder... it truly adapts to the individual."
According to Qinggang City's martial arts records, ordinary practitioners could pass the first trial—the first platform—at the Pseudo Sixth-Tier. But Chen Feng, with his far greater potential, faced a far greater challenge.
"So what!"
His eyes turned glacial, refusing to back down.
Hum!
The Glazed Crystal reappeared, unleashing his Pinnacle Intent and scattering the flames.
Fist met fist, Crimson Flame clashing against Undying Flame.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Punch after punch, Chen Feng's fists blurred into afterimages. The impact sounded like colliding trucks, the force of his Limit Breaking Fist already rivaling a strong Sixth-Tier fighter.
The Daylight's radiance suddenly flared, then narrowed to a sliver. Spurred by this surge, Chen Feng's combat prowess skyrocketed, his momentum soaring.
Bang!
A final punch sent shockwaves spiraling outward.
His black trench coat billowed wildly, veins throbbing on his clenched fist, and the Legendary Imprint on his arm blazed brightly. Yet the crimson gauntlet showed no signs of retreat. Instead, it erupted with soaring pillars of crimson flame.
Buzz!
An overwhelming pressure erupted in all directions like a storm, relentlessly driving Chen Feng backward step by step.
Before he could regain his composure, the Limit Breaking Fist shot forward like a rocket, trailing a soaring pillar of flame that slammed into him.
Boom!
Chen Feng's veins bulged visibly beneath his skin as his muscles coiled tight like steel cables.
His forearms, glowing with crimson light, rose to block the attack. The Heavenly Flame Crimson Fire had transformed into a sacred radiance, unleashing its full power.
Boom!
Yet another punch landed.
Chen Feng's legs skidded across the platform, leaving deep furrows in the stone. He was just one step away from tumbling off the edge and back onto the staircase.
Drips of blood fell from his mangled forearms and knuckles. For the first time, the Glazed Crystal shattered.
The Daylight's radiance dimmed slightly. The Limit Breaking Fist seemed designed to relentlessly suppress him, impervious to any countermeasure he attempted.
Even as he pushed his body to its limits, boosting his combat prowess, his opponent's strength surged to even greater heights.
Worst of all, his Extraordinary Talent was completely useless here.
His injuries refused to heal, his Azure Armor remained dormant, and his Steel Bones offered no protection.
The Holy Shield Colossus stood between them, a trial Chen Feng had to overcome alone.
Whoosh!
The wind surged, and the air trembled.
The Limit Breaking Fist showed no mercy.
The Undying Flame compressed and coalesced once more, threatening to erupt as molten magma.
The crimson gauntlet, radiating destructive heat, smashed through the air again, leaving a trail of searing fire in its wake.
His heart was icy, yet his body burned.
The fist's explosive force felt like the flames of the upper atmosphere or the raw fury of the Earth's molten core.
Limit Breaking! Limit Breaking!
Only by truly shattering his limits could he withstand the Limit Breaking Fist!
But how could he break his limits without first overcoming this trial?
A vicious cycle had formed, turning this stage of the Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder into an unbreakable knot.
The crushing wind pressure shattered the Glazed Crystal encasing his body, while the Crimson Holy Flame enveloping him began to dissipate.
In that instant, the cracks in his physical restraints deepened, poised to shatter completely.
Defiance!
Disbelief!
Persistence!
Chen Feng's gaze sharpened like a blade, a feverish glint in his eyes as he stared intently at the interface. His eyes lingered for a moment on the Extreme Martial Fist technique.
"Can one not cultivate without achieving Transcendence?"
"Even if it kills me, I'll break through this trial!"
Buzz!
In an instant, Chen Feng recklessly depleted his Extreme Martial Arts, sacrificing everything to enhance his skills.
A flood of insights surged through him, but the lingering restrictions of the unresolved rules also inflicted grievous wounds, causing blood to stream from his seven orifices.
"Enhance!" Chen Feng roared.
Boom!
Fist met fist. The bright daylight dimmed abruptly as a colossal Falling Sun descended upon the world, its trajectory intersecting with the World Throne, resonating with the Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder, and aligning with legendary tales.
Thump!
A thunderous heartbeat reverberated across the world as the Falling Sun crashed onto the platform.
Bang!
[Extreme Martial Fist: Polaris - Minor Mastery (1%)]
The mountain of restrictive rules shattered completely, and the limits of the human body were formally broken!
The illusory flames vanished, and an increasing torrent of World Force poured in from all directions. Chen Feng's bloodied body rapidly healed, and crimson gauntlets materialized on his fists, shifting mysteriously.
Fixing his gaze, Chen Feng eyed the higher steps and platforms with burning ambition. The Crimson Flame flickered in his eyes, rekindling the predatory glint within.
He knew it.
Transcendence had been achieved!
Click!
Early the next morning, the door creaked open.
"Good morning, Brother Zhou."
"Morning, Tingxiao."
In hushed tones, Zhao Tingxiao and Zhou Wuren emerged to begin their daily stance training—a martial artist's habit, a path where even a moment's complacency could never be tolerated.
Martial training demanded relentless toil and sweat, except for the rare few blessed with monstrous talent.
Chen Feng remained oblivious to the emotions swirling around him.
His Perception had absorbed the entire scene. Slowly opening his eyes, he saw slivers of sunlight filtering through the cracks in the window.
"The second stage is definitely more challenging than I expected."
With a flicker of his gaze, he recalled his all-night climb up the Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder.
Unfortunately, the second stage's Myriad-Kilogram Body proved far more difficult than he had anticipated. He felt as if he had been battling the Holy Shield Colossus itself.
Though he had failed to clear the stage, he felt no regret.
Because...
Looking at the panel before him, he saw his long-stagnant four core attributes finally surging upward:
[Strength: 80 → 90]
[Agility: 70 → 76]
[Vitality: 77 → 85]
[Willpower: 78 → 84]
"A thirty-point increase in total attributes."
Despite knowing that Transcendence would bring a massive boost, Chen Feng was still somewhat astonished.
He clenched his fist, and the air cracked with a sharp snap.
He sensed that his strength, or rather the power of an ordinary punch, had doubled to a thousand tons.
This was the unique enhancement granted by the Limit Breaking Fist, specifically tailored for physical power.
As for his physical body...
He suspected he could now shatter even a Stellar Titanium with his bare hands.
"Low Sixth-Tier?"
"No... it feels like I'm already approaching the peak of Sixth-Tier."
Comparing his current state to the Flying General he had fought in Yun Port, Chen Feng could clearly sense that even without using any Extraordinary Talents, he was now far stronger than his former opponent.
This was the confidence born of Transcendence, the profound self-assurance that came from shattering the limits of the human body for the first time.
In terms of raw physical strength alone, Chen Feng was just a hair's breadth away from reaching the peak of the Sixth-Tier.
But his greatest achievement lay in breaking free from his limitations and forging a World Imprint.
The former rekindled his vision of the path forward in martial arts, unlocking untapped potential that would allow him to ascend to even greater heights.
As for the World Imprint...
Silently sensing it, Chen Feng intuitively knew he could now defeat even a peak Sixth-Tier expert.
This was because he could consciously resonate with the world, drawing upon the World Force to amplify his power.
Though it imposed a certain strain, this resonance could temporarily skyrocket his combat prowess, granting him comprehensive enhancements.
Furthermore, within a limited radius, he could manifest extraordinary abilities.
For instance:
Chen Feng extended his hand in a summoning gesture.
The water glass on the wooden table levitated toward him, landing gently in his palm.
He hadn't used any Force techniques.
This was merely a subtle application of the World Force, empowering his spiritual will to extend outward and materialize as tangible power.
Or consider this:
Thud!
A small bird flying past the window suddenly plummeted to the ground, as if it had collided with an invisible barrier.
The World Force, rooted in his Pinnacle Intent, had woven outward to create a containment field—a Force Field Shield or energy barrier—currently limited to a hundred-meter radius.
While its destructive power might not yet pose a significant threat to high-level experts, this display alone hinted at its vast potential.
Chen Feng still needed time to adapt to these newfound abilities and explore their full range of applications. He sensed corresponding enhancements in his fist techniques, footwork, Force manipulation, and sensory perception.
For now, he remained alone in the room, gradually acclimatizing and comprehending.
Just as he was about to experiment with his new capabilities...
"Sha!!"
The Soul Flame in his mind flickered faintly.
It was a call from the sea beast Gata, signaling a new departure and journey.
(End of the Chapter)
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