Translator: CinderTL
"Data stable. Continue injecting the serum!"
"Fluctuation values normal. Energy fluid infusion can proceed!"
"Genetic cell disruption weakening. Pressure gradually decreasing."
Voices echoed through the Underground Laboratory, their metallic floors reflecting the cold glare of the incandescent lights.
Research personnel in white lab coats were immersed in their work, constantly adjusting and operating various precision instruments.
"Almost there..."
"Faster and faster..."
Director Feng, a refined woman, stood at the center of the experimental area, just a few feet from the massive glass container.
Her bright eyes gleamed with fervent devotion as she stared intently at the crimson flesh submerged in energy fluid within the container, injected with countless doses of serum.
This scene raised no suspicion. The breakthrough experiment in Legendary-grade biological technology was on the verge of success, a feat that would drive anyone to madness and excitement.
Soon.
Tap-tap!
Footsteps approached rapidly.
The laboratory's metal door opened, revealing a team of tall Security Personnel in suits striding forward.
One figure in the lead stood out, with several conical Flying Shuttles hovering above their head and a Sixth-Tier Force Field coalescing around them, forming a dense, diamond-shaped illusory shield.
A powerful aura silently unfurled, causing the Security Personnel and Red Wave Energy personnel stationed here to widen their eyes in shock. They immediately bowed respectfully and addressed the newcomer.
"Group Leader Lu!"
"Greetings, Group Leader Lu!"
The chorus of greetings finally snapped Director Feng out of her daze. She turned to face the newcomer.
"Group Leader Lu," she said, her voice tinged with surprise. The Group Leader of Red Wave Energy's corporate security, a Sixth-Tier powerhouse, had come to Nanjiang.
"Mm."
Nodding calmly, the man known as Group Leader Lu walked to the center of the experimental area and gazed at the crimson liquid within the glass container.
It resembled compressed Essence Blood, its potent vitality making it appear like a genuine piece of flesh with visible veins.
Beside the container stood a rectangular metal device, connected by black cables to a muscular figure within. The figure appeared to be a Platinum Federation citizen, with brown hair and pale skin. But at this moment, his eyes were closed, his naked body covered in wounds, and a bloody hole pierced his chest, where half a heart still faintly fluttered.
"It seems the experiment is nearing completion, isn't it?"
He scanned the room, his voice calm as he asked, "Is everything ready?"
Director Feng's eyes flickered as he nodded slightly.
"Good."
The man identified as Group Leader Lu waved his hand. Security Personnel quickly dispersed, sealing off the entire laboratory.
Facing the puzzled expressions of Director Feng and the others, he remained impassive, his voice flat as he spoke.
"From this moment on, I am taking over security here."
Ding-dong!
Welcome!
In a corner of Nanjiang City's plaza, the mechanical voice of an intelligent greeting system echoed from the glass door of a noodle shop, its sound cutting through the air.
Chen Feng glanced at the figures entering and exiting the shop before settling into a clean wooden table by the window.
The aroma of noodles wafted into his nostrils, and a bowl of zhajiangmian was placed before him by a server.
"Chen-xuechang..."
Wang Hanwen, seated across from him, looked somewhat embarrassed. Peeking through the server's arm, Chen Feng could see a hint of shame in her expression.
She had intended to treat him to a proper meal, but he had insisted on this ordinary noodle shop on the street.
"I appreciate the thought," Chen Feng said calmly, ultimately accepting her sincere invitation.
Without further comment, Chen Feng silently picked up his chopsticks, stirred the noodles and sauce, and began to savor the dish.
The taste was quite good, and the noodles were tender yet resilient.
The atmosphere remained silent, but Wang Hanwen noticed that Chen Feng didn't seem to be forcing himself.
Relieved, she decided not to interrupt the meal any further.
The three of them ate their noodles in silence. Wang Zhou, the young man, kept glancing between Chen Feng and Wang Hanwen.
He was smart enough not to ask questions, but perhaps he simply disliked the quiet atmosphere.
After slurping down a few mouthfuls of noodles, he couldn't resist returning to their earlier private conversation.
"Sis, after the club's classes end, I'm going to train at the Flame Tiger Martial Arts Hall. What do you think?"
As soon as he spoke, he didn't notice that both his sister and Chen Feng paused their eating simultaneously.
"Well..." Wang Hanwen cautiously glanced at Chen Feng, who was still enjoying his noodles. She then turned to her younger cousin. "Of course you can. But has your father heard about this?"
"Not yet. I'm guessing he won't be too happy about it."
Wang Zhou sighed, his voice tinged with annoyance. "He's always nagging me to study hard and stop getting distracted."
"But I just love practicing martial arts! What can I do?"
Wang Hanwen listened with a helpless expression as the boy continued to pour out his frustrations on the subject.
"Becoming a Martial Artist is my dream, and there might be a new policy coming out soon."
"My teacher told me that if you achieve a martial arts rank, you might get extra points on major exams later."
"And if you succeed in martial arts, you'll have a bright future. Anyway, I'm going to the Flame Tiger Martial Arts Hall to train."
The boy's words were resolute and mature, clearly the result of much thought.
Wang Hanwen found his arguments somewhat persuasive, but then a burly middle-aged man at the next table interjected with a smile.
"Kid, you don't have to go to the Flame Tiger Martial Arts Hall to practice martial arts."
"The Flying Bird Fist Hall is also recruiting apprentices. Want to hear about it?"
"No."
Wang Zhou rejected the offer outright, showing no courtesy.
"If I'm going to train, I'll go to the best. The Flame Tiger Martial Arts Hall is the biggest Martial Hall in Nanjiang."
"And I heard that legendary Martial Artist is at the Flame Tiger Martial Arts Hall—even more powerful than a Grandmaster! What do you think, Uncle?"
The unfamiliar middle-aged man's face turned awkward, his pride slightly bruised.
"Young man, the Flame Tiger Martial Arts Hall is indeed impressive, but it has very high requirements for aptitude. Not just anyone can get in."
"I suggest you reconsider..."
"I'm definitely capable," Wang Zhou retorted, cutting him off. The two nearly started arguing.
Wang Hanwen felt a headache coming on and wanted to intervene.
At that crucial moment, a sharp clack cut through the air.
Chen Feng had set down his bowl and chopsticks, the crisp sound silencing all other noise. His bowl of noodles had been emptied, and he wiped his mouth with a tissue.
"Why do you want to practice martial arts?" he suddenly asked the young man named Wang Zhou.
Wang Zhou visibly froze, instinctively replying, "I want to become a Martial Artist."
"Do you even know what a Martial Artist truly is?" Chen Feng pressed.
"I... I..." Wang Zhou stammered, unconsciously avoiding the question of why he wanted to become one in the first place.
The middle-aged man beside him visibly relaxed, a smile about to break across his face.
But then—thump!
A figure rose, its imposing frame blocking much of the light.
An inexplicable sense of oppression settled over everyone in the room, including the middle-aged man, whose expression subtly shifted.
"Martial Artist..."
Chen Feng shook his head, realizing the question might be too profound for a young man.
Even he himself sometimes felt momentarily lost in thought.
Even the formidable Qinggang City had perished under the Black Tide, becoming a Fire Seed in the Heroic Spirit Hall.
Could a Martial Artist truly survive to the end?
"Thank you for the meal," he said to Wang Hanwen, shaking off his thoughts.
He then stepped out, brushing past the others as he left.
His steady footsteps echoed in everyone's hearts, plunging the entire noodle shop into an eerie silence.
Just then...
Boom!!
A sudden, earth-shattering explosion erupted, and blinding flames bloomed high above Central City in the distance.
Everyone jolted, their eyes widening in shock. Both inside and outside the shop, people on the street and in the surrounding buildings craned their necks to look.
Whoosh!!
It seemed the temporary headquarters of Red Wave Energy had suddenly exploded. Flames shot skyward, and three aircraft rapidly ascended, piercing through the billowing black smoke and heading toward the outer districts.
"What's happening?"
"What's going on?!"
In the noodle shop, incredulous gasps erupted, momentarily silencing the near-argument that had been brewing.
"Wait, there's someone!"
"Someone's flying!!"
Suddenly, another cry pierced the air. The crowd turned their attention skyward.
They saw a figure trailing a rocket-like plume of flame, soaring through the air in pursuit of the fleeing aircraft. Others rode Flying Shuttles, streaking across the sky at breakneck speed.
At the same moment, Chen Feng's phone buzzed in his pocket. Through his Perception, he sensed a sudden communication request from Han Chao.
He pulled out the phone and answered, standing at the noodle shop entrance, gazing up at the chaos in the sky and the smoke billowing from the skyscrapers.
"Grandmaster Chen!"
"It's bad! Red Wave Energy was indeed compromised! Han Mingchuan attacked our people and is trying to escape the country!"
Boom!!
Before the voice on the line could finish speaking, the three aircraft in midair suddenly scattered, each heading in a different direction.
One even lowered its altitude, launching an attack on a city building.
Boom boom boom!!
A hundred-meter-tall skyscraper had its top corner destroyed by a Sniper Cannon, causing the wall to collapse and crash to the ground like a meteor.
Amidst the billowing smoke and dust, shards of shattered floor-to-ceiling windows transformed into razor-sharp blades, mixed with heavy indoor objects and concrete pillars that plummeted together.
"Ah!!"
"Run for your lives!!"
The vehicles and pedestrians on the street were instantly thrown into chaos. Screams and panic erupted, spreading rapidly!
Flying General Zhao and his team, who were in the midst of pursuit, watched with grim faces as countless civilians fled in terror across the asphalt streets of Nanjiang City.
This was a major urban disaster.
If they didn't intervene to stop the collapse and rescue the survivors, countless people would become casualties, and countless families would be shattered.
But if they chose to rescue, their current pursuit and investigation would be...
"Damn it! That Han Mingchuan bastard!!"
Flying General Zhao clenched his jaw, ready to abandon the pursuit and focus on rescue.
At that crucial moment, a voice suddenly cut through the shared Military communication channel.
"Understood."
The low rumble echoed, as if the entire neighborhood had been affected.
The people in the noodle shop were still reeling, while passersby in the street continued to flee in panic.
Chen Feng hung up the phone and pulled open the glass door of the shop.
Buzz!!!
In an instant, the world froze.
The falling meteor-like debris from the collapsed skyscraper, along with the sharp shards of glass, all hung suspended in mid-air.
Unparalleled storm pressure surged skyward, twisting the clouds and reflecting in the Mental Worlds of everyone present.
For a moment, all was silent.
Only the black trench coat fluttered in the wind, revealing Chen Feng standing at the noodle shop's entrance, his head slightly tilted.
His gaze swept past the stunned crowd and the middle-aged man from the Flying Bird Fist Hall, finally locking onto the wide-eyed Wang Zhou.
"I can make decisions for the Flame Tiger Martial Arts Hall."
"If you become a Martial Artist here, don't forget... to answer my question from today."
Boom!!
As the words fell, Chen Feng vanished.
Flickering blue light arcs crackled where he had stood, and a raging crimson storm erupted into the sky.
(End of the Chapter)
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