Translator: CinderTL
Whoosh!
Half an hour later, as Chen Feng emerged from the Holy City's rear hall, the Heaven's Fall slowly began to move again in the sky.
The cloud layer dispersed, and a fierce wind swept through.
Like a colossal aerial beast drawing near, the Heaven's Fall stirred up dust and debris within the Holy City, sending them swirling into the air.
"It's truly unimaginable that Heaven's Fall Mountain was actually a creation left behind by the empire," Adams murmured, his usually calm eyes flickering with lingering astonishment. He had learned most of the truth.
Chen Feng paid little attention, merely nodding slightly as he withdrew his gaze from the Heaven's Fall.
The Star Spirit's communication with the Holy City's inhabitants had gone far more smoothly than he had anticipated.
Especially after she revealed her origins and recounted the ancient history, both Isidore and Adams treated her with even greater respect and trust.
"Heh, it seems they knew some of the old secrets after all," the Star Spirit chuckled in Chen Feng's mind, her tone smug and satisfied.
The survival of bloodline descendants from the Ancient Taiduo Civilization was good news for her.
At least it proved she wasn't alone.
Chen Feng didn't delve further into this, simply nodding casually as he began asking about the crucial matter.
"Are you confident in repairing the Heaven's Fall?"
Although the Holy City had agreed to provide the Star Spirit with various ores and materials to repair the Heaven's Fall, the conditions here were far from ideal. Both metal refining and other technological capabilities were severely lacking compared to Earth.
"There is," the Star Spirit replied unexpectedly, nodding with a confident smile. "Previously, I was only fifty percent certain, but now..."
She materialized an Incarnation within her spiritual world and gazed into the distance. Following her gaze, Chen Feng saw the rocky ground beneath the palace, riddled with holes.
"I've completed my scans. Beneath this ground lies a War Fortress."
"It's a specialized creation integrating defense, repair, and refining modules—a true war logistics hub."
"Though its intelligence is dormant and its permissions frozen, most of its functions remain intact. Once I fully activate it and crack the authorization protocols, it can assist in repairing the Heaven's Fall."
Her voice carried a hint of excitement as she explained.
Chen Feng's eyes flickered with understanding, and he felt a wave of relief wash over him.
No wonder the Holy City possessed such a formidable and magnificent Barrier, akin to a light shield.
No wonder, after the empire's annihilation, the Holy City had managed to escape the destruction zone, evade the Serpentfolk's pursuit, and establish itself at the world's southernmost point.
He had previously assumed it was some other creation, never imagining it was the most comprehensive War Fortress imaginable.
"Why didn't they discover it before?"
"Isidore and the others are just descendants separated by many generations. With the intelligence dormant and time passing, much of the crucial information has been reduced to mere fragments."
The Star Spirit shook her head, feigning an air of ancient wisdom. "Still, this little one is reliable enough. He still holds the core authority."
"He's already agreed to cooperate with me in fully activating the War Fortress."
"In exchange, I'll help him repair the Holy City and boost the defense system's output power."
It was clear that while Isidore and the others respected her existence, they hadn't yet placed their complete, unconditional trust in her.
The Star Spirit didn't mind. She understood that such caution was natural for any rational person.
Chen Feng refrained from interfering or commenting on their negotiations. He believed that as their understanding deepened, things would gradually fall into place.
Soon, the group left the palace and headed toward their temporary lodgings.
During their journey, Chen Feng sensed an anomaly and glanced toward the Holy City's interior.
The collapsed buildings rose and fell in waves, stretching from the mountaintop palace down to the vast plains below.
Bricks were shattered, and cracks riddled the structures.
Yet unlike before, the Holy City now seemed to stir with life.
Figures had appeared within the city—the elderly, women, and children previously hidden in the Holy City's underground shelters, the majority of its ordinary citizens.
With the war's end, they were now returning to the surface.
Some stood blankly near the collapsed buildings, lost and disoriented, while others tearfully clutched their children, their faces etched with relief.
"Is the war over?"
"We survived."
Voices echoed through the air, but most ordinary residents were busy tending to the Three Legions' encampments.
The reason for this was the Flying Eagle Beasts that had plummeted from the sky.
Warriors who had fought outside the city gradually returned to their units, their armor bloodstained, swords broken, and bodies bearing wounds.
The Holy City's residents emerged one by one, brewing medicinal broths to heal injuries and bandaging wounds.
Among them were many who had lost limbs or suffered severe injuries, their wives and children weeping bitterly.
Some warriors had even lost their lives, their corpses carried back to the city. An old woman knelt beside one such body, sobbing softly as she clutched the cold form tightly, refusing to let go.
"War is the cruelest of fates," the Star Spirit murmured in Chen Feng's mind, her voice tinged with melancholy. Chen Feng's gaze flickered with emotion.
Though the war had been won, driving back the Serpentfolk Army, the Holy City had paid a heavy price.
This reminded him of Nanjiang City's encounter with the Black Tide.
Though different worlds and different people, the scenes were eerily similar.
Rustle!
"Lord Feng Chen."
The wind whistled, and footsteps approached.
Chen Feng's thoughts were interrupted as a shadow fell across his vision.
It was Yan Le, Olon, and the others, who had returned to the Holy City and rushed to meet him.
The former was like a moving Dwarf Mountain, each step causing the ground to tremble.
His sturdy armor was cracked and stained with blood, the metallic tang of blood filling the air. Despite this, his face remained somewhat pale.
"Thank you, Lord Feng Chen, for your assistance."
"We will forever remember this day's kindness and never forget it!"
He knelt on one knee, performing a solemn knight's salute.
The rocky ground trembled slightly as Olon and the others behind him mirrored his gesture.
Even the Legion Warriors stationed in the distance, sensing the commotion, followed suit, simultaneously shouting Lord Feng Chen's name.
In an instant, a sea of figures knelt in gratitude, their forms converging around Chen Feng as the focal point.
Countless eyes in the Holy City turned to witness this scene, while ordinary residents tending to the wounded wore similar expressions of gratitude.
Many had already learned the full story, their faces radiating heartfelt appreciation.
"There's no need for such formalities," Chen Feng said, shaking his head gently as he accepted their gratitude and helped Yan Le rise.
An invisible heart's momentum quietly dispersed, enveloping most of the Holy City.
Olon and the others, as well as the Legion Warriors in the distance, felt an unseen force lifting them, compelling them to straighten their knees and stand upright.
"This..."
Yan Le was once again stunned, while Olon and the others felt a jolt of awe, sensing that their benefactor had grown even more formidable.
Meanwhile, Adams, standing to one side, and Isidore and Kali, observing the scene from within the palace, exchanged knowing smiles, as if they had anticipated this very situation.
"Lord Feng Chen has already met with Her Highness," Adams said tactfully. Yan Le's eyes widened in realization, and he began to piece together the situation.
He inwardly marveled once more, while Olon and the others behind him gradually suppressed their turbulent emotions.
During the ensuing conversation, Chen Feng learned about Molly's condition.
"Her injuries are severe, and she remains unconscious," Olon volunteered, knowing that Lord Feng Chen held Molly in higher regard and trust than any of them. "But her condition has stabilized somewhat. She's currently recuperating within the Thorn Corps' medical facilities."
Chen Feng nodded slightly, accessing the shared vision of Stone Statue No. 2 to confirm Olon's report.
The small stone statue had reverted to its miniature form, standing inside a domed tent made of sheepskin, accompanying the bedridden Molly.
After a brief observation, Chen Feng withdrew his gaze, satisfied that her recovery was only a matter of time.
"What's the status of the routed Serpentfolk Army?"
"The core members of the Huorong, Black Blade, and other Three Great Tribes have all been eliminated," Yan Le reported grimly, his voice filled with awe. "The Five Great Tribes also suffered catastrophic losses, with only a few core members remaining. They've fled toward the northern territory, accompanied by some smaller Serpentfolk Tribes."
Yan Le's tone was solemn, his eyes fixed on Chen Feng with growing reverence and gratitude.
He knew that without the Platinum Colossus and the Serpent Angel's intervention to annihilate the Serpentfolk Angels and the Saints of the Eight Great Tribes, they would never have had the chance to turn the tide, let alone pursue the fleeing enemies beyond the city walls.
In this battle, the Eight Great Serpentfolk Tribes suffered devastating losses, with nearly all their Saints perishing. Conversely, the Holy City successfully reversed its fortunes and glimpsed renewed hope.
"It seems this is an opportunity," Adams said calmly, analyzing the situation. Chen Feng's heart stirred, recognizing the unspoken implications.
The Serpentfolk Army's strength stemmed from the various tribes, and their recent defeat had clearly left them in their weakest state. This undoubtedly presented the perfect opportunity to eradicate the Serpentfolk Tribes.
As this thought took shape, Chen Feng noticed the cold glint in Adams' eyes and the burning desire for revenge in Yan Le and the others. He offered no objection, for he too had his own plans.
If they seized this momentum and advanced north, he might be able to harvest a large quantity of Serpent Spirit Fruit, further advancing the growth of his awakening method. Moreover, the Lava Lord's angel clone's descent must have come at a significant cost to the Serpent God Temple. Now that the war had ended, this dominant power in the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm might also be weakened, just like the Serpentfolk Tribes.
Buzz!!
Suddenly, the earth trembled, and a resonant hum filled the air. Chen Feng's thoughts were abruptly interrupted.
Adams, Yan Le, and the others standing nearby exchanged uneasy glances, their heads turning in unison to gaze at the distant horizon beyond the Holy City.
High above, the cloud layer rippled and swayed, the air visibly trembling as if transforming into seawater, its surface etched with tangible waves.
The crimson-stained wilderness earth shuddered violently, sending loose rocks and dust swirling into the air.
"What's happening?"
"What's going on?!"
The Holy City's Legion Warriors wore expressions of alarm and confusion. Elite warriors scrambled aboard Flying Eagle Beasts from the high-altitude platforms, soaring into the sky to investigate.
Panic gripped many city residents, who mistakenly believed war had erupted anew. Meanwhile, the young men clearing the battlefield outside the city stared blankly at the sky, their eyes darting around in bewilderment.
The vast earth remained devoid of life, and no shadows darkened the dome of the sky.
Yet the tremors persisted relentlessly, as if an Earth Dragon were stirring deep beneath the distant horizon.
"Such a powerful energy field fluctuation!"
Suddenly, amidst the growing confusion, Star Spirit exclaimed in surprise, materializing within Chen Feng's spiritual world.
She was piloting the Heaven's Fall, scanning thousands of meters in every direction, yet still found no trace of the source.
At this critical moment, a signal arrived from the contingency measures they had left behind at Heaven's Fall Mountain before their departure.
Buzz!
In the Heaven's Fall's central control room, a light screen flickered to life, projecting a holographic image.
The transmission originated from the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm, specifically the border region between the north and south.
The earth had fractured into canyon-like fissures, and at their center stood a towering, impassable mountain range.
Now, with the Heaven's Fall having departed, only a massive crater over a thousand meters deep remained.
A biological device hidden by the Star Spirit silently activated, capturing the surrounding landscape.
Simultaneously, a new Small Stone Statue flew past, transmitting a shared vision to Chen Feng.
Within view, the earth at the north-south border cracked and split apart.
A bottomless fissure stretched in a straight line, tearing through everything like an abyss.
Rocks shattered, and the deep pit widened.
It was as if the continental plates of the Serpent Spirit World were collapsing.
"This is..."
The Star Spirit's eyes widened in astonishment, and Chen Feng also sensed the anomaly.
As they followed the fissure's path, they saw a black curtain of light erupt from the depths, soaring into the sky and isolating the world.
Wherever it spread, all life withered. Birds and beasts that panicked and flew overhead were cleaved in two.
Before their blood could even splatter, the black curtain absorbed it, leaving only two shriveled halves of corpses to plummet.
"Is this... a barrier?"
Chen Feng frowned, finding the black curtain that tore through the earth and shot straight into the sky utterly bizarre.
He faintly sensed a power similar to that of the spiritual world, and also detected a trace of an aura akin to the Black Tide Mist.
Whoosh!
At the same moment, within a realm of primordial chaos, black mist churned and surged like pitch-black ocean waves.
A colossal entity loomed within, its serpentine form coiling and twisting, stirring the turbulent waters.
As if heeding its command, countless crimson eyes snapped open in succession, forming a dense, crimson sea.
A closer look revealed an endless horde of mutated creatures arrayed like locusts, stretching beyond the horizon.
"Still not enough," a deep, savage voice rumbled. Within the black mist, the colossal entity revealed a streak of amber light.
Its earth-shattering form writhed, as if a mere shift could shatter the world, which could not withstand its weight.
Yet a vast Spatial Crystal Wall, resembling a starry sky, stood before it, blocking its path.
"Together," a chilling voice hissed, causing the Sea of Mist to churn violently as a crimson hue seeped into the darkness.
"Our initial power has been exhausted. We must now consume our Origin."
The crimson surge coalesced into a colossal Winged Serpent, its wings eclipsing the sky.
Its vertical pupils glared coldly, erupting with intense crimson light.
In an instant, the amber light fused with the crimson, transforming into primordial power.
The Spatial Crystal Wall slowly tore apart, and the endless chaos mist surged through the spatial rift, flooding into the Serpent Spirit World.
A fleeting glimpse revealed crimson pillars of light erupting from within the world, beckoning and guiding.
The Serpent God Temple stood tall, its altars piled with life sacrifices, fueling the crimson pillars like kindling.
This should have expanded the spatial channel, transforming it into an entrance for the Black Tide, allowing their perfect descent and the complete annihilation of the world.
But fate had other plans.
Buzz!!
Crystal chains materialized from thin air on the Spatial Crystal Wall, radiating iridescent light.
The torn spatial rift, like a severed lotus root still clinging by threads, was reconnected, preventing their true forms from entering.
"These damned Divine Chains! After all these years, they're still so troublesome!"
A chilling voice echoed as the two angels each expended their Origin.
Yet the effect was minimal. No matter what methods they employed, they couldn't fully manifest their true forms.
In the end, facing the massive drain on their Origin, they had to settle for a compromise. They transformed the seeping Black Tide Mist into a vast chasm dividing the world's north and south, temporarily shielding the anchor point.
Watching its slow formation, the Lava Lord remained silent for a moment.
Though this coordinated effort had torn the earth and secured a fallback for their future descent, a flicker of savage resentment flashed in his eyes.
"If not for that Ancient Taiduo back then, this world would have been ours long ago."
"And that fool... daring to kill my clone and disrupt our grand plan! He's courting death!"
Boom!!
The furious roar reverberated, causing the Sea of Mist to churn violently.
Crimson and umber hues swirled through the chaos, hinting at other colossal entities slumbering and stirring in different regions of the Black Tide Mist.
At the heart of this black Sea of Mist, along the Spatial Crystal Wall torn open before him, Chen Feng gazed left and right.
Countless Spatial Crystal Walls, each as vast as the starry sky, connected to form a colossal, honeycomb-like structure.
Within its myriad facets, different worlds reflected and shimmered, the entire construct resembling a magnificent island dividing the boundless black Sea of Mist into two realms.
This structure should have radiated immense power, remaining eternally indestructible within the chaos.
Yet upon closer inspection, subtle anomalies became apparent in the colossal honeycomb.
Each world functioned like an individual mirror, once radiating a crystal-clear brilliance.
But now, many of these mirrors were shattered, plunging into deathly, pitch-black silence.
The black Sea of Mist within the chaos surged forward like an invading tide, while colossal entities seized the opportunity to encroach upon neighboring worlds, relentlessly advancing toward the honeycomb's core.
Eventually, even the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm was engulfed.
Only a handful of the luminous mirror-worlds remained faintly visible.
"Something's not right."
That evening, at dusk, Chen Feng entered his temporary quarters in the Holy City. Standing by the window, he observed the hazy outline of the black curtain high in the sky.
A chasm-like black wall split the heavens and earth, visible even to the residents of the Holy City.
"What exactly is that?"
"It's like something incredibly distant is right at our doorstep."
"Lord Adams has already dispatched the Falcon Corps' elite to investigate. We should have results soon."
Anxious murmurs echoed through the Holy City as Isidore and the others in the palace wore grave expressions.
Perceiving the scene clearly, Chen Feng glanced at the Heart Reflection, where the Star Spirit's eyes also shone with contemplation.
"It seems like the Black Tide," she said, her voice tinged with worry but lacking certainty. The Heaven's Fall's database had only partially filled the gaps in her knowledge, leaving her incomplete.
Chen Feng's eyes flickered at her words. He, too, found the situation peculiar.
This world had been ruled by the Serpent God Temple for so long, surely the Serpent God and his angels would have established anchor points here long ago. If it were truly the Black Tide, it should have manifested far more easily than in other worlds.
Yet what they were witnessing seemed like a desperate move by the Evil God Angels—not to destroy this world, but rather to shield the northern territory of the Serpent Spirit Continent.
Could something be blocking them? Chen Feng wondered. Are they afraid I'll annihilate the Serpent God Temple and the Five Great Tribes in the north, forcing them to resort to this desperate measure?
A faint suspicion arose in his mind, though he couldn't be certain.
Moreover, whether it was his imagination or not, he felt the world's rejection growing stronger since the black curtain had risen.
His gaze shifted to the panel before him.
The Dark Dream Mark was already active, and Serpent Spirit Power was being consumed at an accelerating rate. The numbers on the panel dwindled faster and faster, as if confirming his earlier suspicion.
For a moment, his eyes flickered with uncertainty.
The urge to return resonated ever more strongly within his heart, growing increasingly insistent.
Chen Feng knew he would likely have to leave again soon.
(End of the Chapter)
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