Translator: CinderTL
Two days later, several Flying Eagle Beasts arrived at the border between the northern and southern territories.
The Legion Warriors who had rushed to the scene wore solemn expressions as they gazed at the black curtain that divided heaven and earth.
The entire world seemed split in two, as if a world-spanning wall blocked their path.
"Just as we suspected," an elite warrior murmured, his voice tinged with worry. "No matter how we try to circumvent it, we can't enter the northern territory."
Adams, the Legion commander, remained silent for a moment, his grip tightening on his sword. The golden armor he wore gradually began to glow with a divine light.
Clang!
With a single strike, he cleaved the heavens and earth.
The powerful blow, nearly on par with a Lower Angel's, tore through all in its path, slashing horizontally to slam into the boundless black curtain.
Ripples spread across the barrier, and wisps of black mist drifted into existence.
But in the end, as Adams and his men watched with widening eyes, the barrier swallowed the thousand-meter-long sword beam whole, like a black hole, leaving no trace of a breach.
The Small Stone Statue, which had been silently observing the scene, recorded the spectacle. Meanwhile, the detection devices embedded in the sandy rock layers gathered visual and data streams.
Chen Feng's gaze flickered with uncertainty. He reluctantly abandoned his plans to march north and annihilate the Serpent God Temple for the time being.
The barrier that divided heaven and earth gave him an unsettling feeling. Even Adams, wielding the power of the Holy Sword, had failed to breach it.
With that settled, Chen Feng turned his attention to the data displayed before him.
The Serpent Spirit Power was draining rapidly. He needed to conserve some as a contingency for his next entry into this world.
After a moment's contemplation, he finally looked up at the sky.
The pyramid-shaped creator, resembling a colossal beast, was slowly descending.
Waves of wind surged as its massive shadow blanketed the earth, growing ever larger.
The landing site was the wilderness adjacent to the Holy City, where Yan Le had already stationed the Earth Rock Corps to isolate the area and level the ground.
"Don't worry," the Star Spirit assured him. "I've left behind an intelligent sub-entity. It will activate the Holy City Fortress's repair modules according to my instructions, assisting in the Heaven's Fall's restoration."
"Once we complete the space jump functionality and establish star ring coordinates, the Heaven's Fall will have a chance to join us on our journey to Earth."
The Star Spirit had long sensed Chen Feng's intention to leave and offered these earnest explanations.
The Heaven's Fall's repairs were about to begin, and each world ark represented countless hopes.
Seeing the anticipation sparkling in her bright eyes, Chen Feng nodded gently, saying nothing more.
He cast one last glance at the Holy City, his gaze sweeping past the stone structures and settling on the palace at its summit.
The draining Serpent Spirit Power solidified, and he deactivated the Dark Dream Mark.
At that very moment, in the distant legion camp, Molly's eyelashes fluttered as she lay on her wooden bed.
Brown eyes slowly opened, revealing a world of azure blue.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sound of wind rushed past as she noticed the Ash-White Stone Statue standing guard nearby.
"Little Stone."
Swish!
Flying Cars zipped through the cloud layer, leaving straight white contrails that lingered in the air.
The Flame Tiger Sect's Back Mountain Martial Arts Arena grew increasingly lively. In addition to representatives from the Southern Lands, core members from various sects in the Northern Martial World had also arrived.
"Is this the headquarters of the Martial Dao Alliance?"
"I envy the Flame Tiger Sect. How did they produce someone like Grandmaster Chen?"
"Rumor has it that Sect Leader Liu secretly fought Grandmaster Chen and was defeated near the Huai River. No wonder the Saint Sect joined the Alliance too."
Whispered conversations echoed through the pavilions on the Flame Tiger Sect's Back Mountain, where members of various Martial Arts Sects mingled.
Chen Feng, having returned, took in the scene with his Perception before withdrawing his gaze and slowly approaching the window of his courtyard residence.
Several days had passed since his agreed-upon duel with Liu Duanyun.
Although the Military had suppressed news of the battle, Liu Duanyun's severe injuries couldn't be concealed.
This, combined with the Saint Sect's recent overtures of goodwill and their decision to join the Alliance, led many to speculate that Chen Feng had defeated Liu Duanyun, solidifying his reputation as the strongest martial artist.
"This martial artist seems quite intriguing."
The Star Spirit materialized into human form within the room, her ethereal blue robes swaying in the breeze.
She also overheard the conversations within the sect and quickly floated up, occasionally blinking her large eyes as she peered outside, eavesdropping on the commotion.
Chen Feng shook his head, choosing not to elaborate on the matter.
He could guess that these discussions were likely orchestrated with Liu Duanyun's tacit approval and the Saint Sect's active promotion.
This served as both a gesture of goodwill toward him, subtly acknowledging the Martial Dao Alliance's status, and a way to downplay the recent incident involving the Roth Family.
With this understanding, he decided not to dwell on it further and instead turned his attention to the interface before him.
Although the trip to the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm had taken four days longer than expected, the rewards far exceeded his initial expectations.
In addition to the Divine Awakening Method, both of his other innate talents had made significant progress.
[Azure Armor LV8: 31/100]
[Heart of Glory LV6: 66/100]
Whether it was his decisive victory over the angel clone or the terror he instilled in the Serpentfolk Army, leading to their complete annihilation, each event had provided ample nourishment in the form of Honor and Fear Value.
In contrast, the progress of Steel Bones remained minimal.
After all, the Obsidian from the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm was no longer useful to him.
As for the Heaven's Fall, although it still contained some high-grade metal resources, he temporarily abandoned the idea of extracting its Metal Essence, considering the materials needed for repairs.
The world ark was humanity's hope and Fire Seed. If it could be restored, its value would be immense.
"It's a pity I couldn't obtain a Fragment of Divinity," Chen Feng thought, a hint of regret flashing through his mind.
This was the only disappointment of his expedition. He had hoped that killing the Lava Lord's clone might yield such a reward, but the outcome was different.
"Perhaps it's because of the Serpent God Temple and the Serpent-Folk Tribe," he mused. "They don't need Fragments of Divinity to descend into the Serpent Spirit World. Instead, they use other powers as sacrifices and costs."
Chen Feng pondered this for a moment.
After all, the Fragments of Divinity he had obtained in the Dead Crow Secret Realm and during the Nanjiang black tide were both linked to the cross-realm descents of Evil God Angels.
He glanced at his Serpent Spirit Power.
With 400 points remaining, he could initiate a second Dream Incursion into the Serpent Spirit World at any time.
But...
"There's no rush."
After calm reflection, Chen Feng realized that even if he returned to the Holy City soon, he wouldn't gain much.
The celestial barrier separating the northern and southern territories had disrupted his plan to head north.
As for the Serpent-Folk Tribes in the Southern Lands, he had already plundered most of them, and Serpent Spirit Fruits were becoming increasingly scarce.
Attempting to breach the barrier and venture north was too risky, with too many unknowns. He didn't want to waste time on such a gamble.
Meanwhile, the Holy City had gained a brief respite and had begun cooperating by providing materials to repair the Heaven's Fall.
With these thoughts in mind, Chen Feng suppressed his distractions and temporarily abandoned his plan to re-enter the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm in the near future.
Buzz!
At that moment, the screen of his phone on the table suddenly lit up.
A notification for unread messages appeared, accompanied by the Star Spirit's finger tapping the screen, seemingly manipulating electromagnetic waves.
Visible electromagnetic blue light materialized, forming tangible patterns as code materialized from thin air, being received and transmitted to infiltrate the signal network.
"It seems quite a few things have been happening recently," she remarked, noticing Chen Feng's gaze. With a flick of her wrist, she projected an electromagnetic light screen.
These were messages from her phone, along with important news she had discovered while hacking into the network.
[Red Nation Time, May 6th, 7:00 PM: A small-scale conflict erupted in the Niduo Kingdom, likely due to a dispute between the Federal Consortium and the Niduo Royal Family. Preliminary speculation suggests the conflict is related to the surveying of the Niduo Mountains.]
[Recent: The Luoyue Nation has declared a state of war readiness, restricting access to airports and border crossings while launching a full-scale manhunt for the Evil God Cult. Preliminary speculation links this to the Evil God Cult's assassination campaign, which resulted in the mysterious deaths of four high-ranking officials.]
[...]
She organized the important news items, combining them with public speculation to infer various possible causes.
Most of these events had occurred in the days since they left Earth.
Her efficiency far surpassed Chen Feng's own efforts to search for information.
After glancing through the headlines, Chen Feng quickly focused on the final entry:
[ May 6th, 10:00 AM: The Red Nation and the Platinum Federation delegation commenced their third round of negotiations. ]
The news caught his eye, accompanied by several messages.
These were reminders from Federation Chairman Li Yun, Han Chao, and other military figures.
"Those Platinum Federation bastards are truly shameless!"
"They claim to be signing a cooperation agreement and promising non-aggression, but they really just want us to keep swallowing our anger."
"And the pyramid ruins! They still want to participate in the exploration? They never give up."
Inside the Sky Island Hall in the Radiant Light Secret Realm, an emergency meeting was underway.
Councilor Representatives wore furious expressions, vehemently opposing the terms proposed by the Platinum Federation.
The two nations had a long history of conflict, exacerbated by the Platinum Federation's repeated attempts to incite rebellions through various proxies.
The entire Red Nation deeply resented the Platinum Federation's domineering behavior, having etched the bitter lessons of the past into their very bones.
"Representative Xia, will Divine General He be present at this round of negotiations?" Chairman Li Yun asked quietly, his expression grave.
The previous negotiations had been suspended, and their sudden resumption suggested underlying complications.
"Rest assured, Divine General He is safe," Xia Mingyuan replied with a slight shake of his head, offering the core leadership a reassuring assurance.
As Xia Mingyuan's words fell, Chairman Li Yun and the others were taken aback for a moment before letting out a collective sigh of relief.
Since Divine General He was safe, it meant these negotiations were genuinely aimed at resolving the issues. Moreover, with her involvement, the final outcome was unlikely to be too unfavorable.
"Ah, speaking of which, we should also thank Major General Chen," Xia Mingyuan suddenly said with a smile, his usual stern demeanor softening noticeably.
Chairman Li Yun and the others looked puzzled until Xia Mingyuan explained softly, "Thanks to him and Liu Duanyun, we thwarted the Roth Family's conspiracy."
"Their actions left traces that allowed Red City to seize some initiative in these negotiations."
"As for the final result..." He smiled, gesturing toward the light screen before him, leaving the sentence unfinished.
Chairman Li Yun and the others understood his meaning immediately, their faces breaking into relieved smiles as they turned their attention to the screen.
There, they saw the clauses proposed by Red City during the third round of negotiations as reciprocal conditions, specifically those related to the Radiant Light Secret Realm and Nanjiang.
Their gazes drifted downward, settling on the final clause.
Their expressions were complex, tinged with anticipation.
It was a promise to the citizens of Nanjiang.
"The Platinum Federation has made its first concession, agreeing to consider assisting the Military in capturing Han Mingchuan."
Chen Feng narrowed his eyes as he finished reading the message from Council Speaker Li Yun.
The new round of negotiations had become even more intense. Divine General He, who had been missing for several days, finally reappeared, as if having concluded some internal conflict.
Because of this, Red City's leadership took a firm stance on the Platinum Federation's proposed terms, refusing to make any concessions.
They also demanded that Han Mingchuan, the criminal who had harmed Nanjiang, be handed over to the Red Nation.
"The Platinum Federation is truly cunning," Chen Feng remarked.
"Based on this information, Han Mingchuan must be under their protection. This so-called 'assistance with capture' is likely just a stalling tactic."
Star Spirit clicked her tongue in admiration, having also grasped the message's implications.
Before her long slumber, she had lived through countless ages and witnessed countless schemes. Naturally, she easily discerned the Platinum Federation's true intentions.
Chen Feng didn't disagree, having reached the same conclusion.
Han Mingchuan was clearly being sheltered by the Roth Family or some other powerful consortium, hidden away from justice.
The Platinum Federation's leadership could have easily resolved the matter by expelling Han Mingchuan and handing him over to the Red Nation.
Instead, they offered assistance in his capture.
"They haven't given up yet," Chen Feng murmured, shaking his head. Though he couldn't fathom the Platinum Federation's motives, he knew this matter had to reach a conclusion.
Especially when he recalled the Nanjiang black tide that had claimed the lives of countless martial artists and ordinary citizens.
The thought flashed through his mind, and he signaled Star Spirit to relay a message to Chairman Li Yun.
If negotiations proceeded smoothly, he hoped to participate in the operation, capture the culprit himself, and personally seal the scar left on Nanjiang.
"I knew I hadn't misjudged him," Star Spirit thought to herself, smiling as she sent the message.
Circling Chen Feng once, she felt the remaining distance between them melt away a little more.
She admired his sense of responsibility, believing that only someone with such courage and commitment could shoulder the burden of civilization's survival and truly lead the charge against the Black Tide's threat.
Chen Feng remained unaware of her thoughts.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he recalled his regrets from the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm and quickly steered the conversation back to crucial matters.
"Where on Earth can we find Fragments of Divinity?"
The Star Spirit paused, then her expression turned thoughtful.
Fragments of Divinity had unique uses and were connected to Divine Technology, making them powerful weapons against the Black Tide.
"Other world arks might have them."
"I'll be contacting relics in your civilization's other Secret Realms through future transactions. You can rest assured about that."
"However, relics outside your nation won't be so easy to access."
The Star Spirit's brow furrowed slightly, looking troubled.
Each world ark possessed a degree of autonomy. Though her intelligence level was high, she couldn't directly control the permissions of all arks and relics.
In fact, she couldn't even be certain whether some relics still existed, or their exact locations and current conditions. She could only investigate through direct contact.
Chen Feng frowned, finding this slow progress unsatisfactory.
As he pondered, his phone suddenly vibrated.
His Perception swept over, and the Star Spirit immediately projected the message onto a light screen.
The moment he saw the contents, Chen Feng's gaze sharpened.
It was a message from Celine.
And the crucial part:
[Chen, we think we've found a Fragment of Divinity.]
(End of the Chapter)
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