Translator: CinderTL
"You seek death!!"
Boom!!
The earth trembled violently, and the camp structures shook.
Watching the black-robed figure hurtling through the air, Zhuo Lie's face twisted with fury. His legs, like dragon's claws, shattered the ground beneath him.
Rip!
His camouflage combat suit exploded into tatters, scattering like cotton fluff. His coiled muscles swelled like inflating balloons, expanding inch by inch.
Veins writhed like venomous serpents across his body, intertwining and pulsating. His flesh and blood transformed into impenetrable scales, as if he were clad in indestructible Black Armor.
Boom!!
The ground quaked again, and in an instant, he had transformed into a three-meter-tall black crocodilian humanoid. His face contorted into a savage snarl, his vertical pupils burning with murderous intent as he unleashed a scale-covered, lethal punch.
Buzz!!
The air vibrated violently, and a sonic boom reverberated through the camp.
Noel and the others closest to the attack felt their eardrums ache as the world seemed to warp around them.
A white shockwave erupted from the crocodilian fist, and cracks spiderwebbed across the ground in straight lines.
Without hesitation, the middle-aged Modified Human, his face a mask of shock and suspicion, immediately activated the Flying Shuttle's defensive shield and pulled Noel away.
Whoosh!!
The shockwave surged outward as the crocodilian fist fully unleashed its power, obliterating everything in its path.
The concentrated force of a Sixth-Tier Powerhouse tore through the sky, splitting the heavens with a cone-shaped white energy blast.
The black-robed youth, who had been rushing forward, seemed destined to become another victim of the fist, his protective golden light shrinking several degrees as if dimming in despair.
The world fell silent until...
Boom!!!
Flesh exploded, and the Horned Crocodile's sturdy armor shattered into fragments.
A violent gust of wind swept through the air, scouring the ground. Most onlookers' hair whipped upward, and their faces trembled like taut rubber bands.
Gulp!
Someone unconsciously swallowed hard. The crowd stared wide-eyed, their minds reeling, at the epicenter of the devastation.
The Horned Crocodile's towering, three-meter-tall body had been severed at the shoulders. Half of its torso had vanished, and it collapsed to its knees with a heavy thud.
Crimson blood dripped from the gaping hole in its chest, gradually staining the reddish-brown rocky ground and seeping into the shattered fissures.
"Where's Yang Wudi?"
Chen Feng's cold Red Nation accent cut through the air as he gazed down at the creature, his right hand gripping the still-scorching heart.
The Horned Crocodile's vertical, reptilian pupils were bloodshot with terror and rage. Zhuo Lie never imagined he could be so severely wounded in a single strike.
Had Chen Feng not held back, he would already be dead.
"Who are you talking about?" Zhuo Lie stammered, his eyes fixed on Chen Feng's gradually shifting features, which were reverting to his original, ruggedly handsome appearance.
Fear gradually welled up in Zhuo Lie's heart as he realized he had provoked someone he shouldn't have.
Buzz!
In an instant, a light screen materialized, and the Star Spirit helped Chen Feng project two blue light images into mid-air.
They were photos of Yang Wudi and Celine.
"So it was them," Zhuo Lie rasped, shaking his head weakly. "Those two barged into my territory yesterday and fought me."
"The man in the trench coat was incredibly tenacious. He left with the woman, and all I know is they headed that way."
As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward the distant horizon.
Chen Feng followed his line of sight, spotting a vast expanse of yellow sand stretching into the distance.
A chain of pale gray mountains loomed faintly on the horizon, clearly a branch of the Niduo Mountains bordering Luoyue and Niduo Country.
"The magnetic field there does seem... off," the Star Spirit murmured in Chen Feng's mind, her tone suspicious.
Chen Feng narrowed his eyes, using his Perception to confirm that Zhuo Lie wasn't lying.
Whoosh!
In that instant, as if sensing his distraction, Zhuo Lie moved. He eerily broke free from Chen Feng's grip on his heart and swiftly dissolved into the shadows on the ground.
The crowd's gazes flickered in unison, a mixture of shock and disbelief.
Then, as if from nowhere, a Blazing Sun erupted in the sky, hanging high above the camp.
The sudden surge in temperature distorted the air, and the sky was dyed crimson by the flames.
An inexplicable sensation washed over everyone present, as if the world itself had transformed, their minds trembling.
The entire camp seemed to have been transported into a magma volcano, the searing heat engulfing every inch of their bodies.
Every cell, every fiber of muscle, every nerve—even their very consciousness—began to melt rapidly, as if turning to ash.
Waves of terror surged through them, their pupils contracting in horror, frozen in place.
Until finally...
"Aaaah!!"
A piercing scream shattered the silence, and the world abruptly returned to normal.
The Roth Family's white bodyguard and Noel, standing in the distance, were both pale-faced, drenched in sweat, their clothes clinging to their skin.
Their horrified gazes were fixed on the black ash beneath Chen Feng's feet—the melted remains of Zhuo Lie's crocodile armor.
Zhuo Lie, the warlord who had carved out a fiefdom in Luoyue's eastern region, defying even the local Military, had fallen without so much as a ripple.
Witnessing this scene, the camp's other armed subordinates trembled in fear.
The middle-aged modified human guarding Noel's pupils constricted to pinpricks as he finally recognized Chen Feng's face.
"Move!"
Whoosh!
Moving like a phantom, he grabbed Noel by the collar with one hand while two Flying Shuttles silently materialized beneath his feet.
The Energy Device instantly activated at maximum output, and the enhanced Armament Module unleashed its full power.
Boom!!
A sonic boom shattered the air, and the surrounding camp structures blurred into afterimages. The middle-aged modified human's heart pounded wildly, feeling a terror he had never experienced before.
It's him!
The Legendary-grade Martial Artist!
Even Master Velatu had lost a clone and suffered permanent damage to his Source Consciousness because of him. What chance did a mere Zhuo Lie stand?!
But why had he suddenly come to Luoyue?
Why was he here?!
A torrent of panicked thoughts flooded his mind. Noel, dragged away by the collar, his face pale with fear, shared similar thoughts.
This was a killing star, a madman who disregarded even the Roth Family's reputation.
If he discovered their identities, the consequences...
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Where do you think you're going?"
The scattered gunfire died down swiftly, and a deep voice echoed in their ears.
Noel and the middle-aged modified human stared in disbelief as the magma-spewing volcano reappeared, distorting space around them.
The searing heat erupted violently, invading every cell of their bodies.
As if they had been transported to an alien volcanic realm, their minds trembled with confusion and terror.
Before they could recover, the sky shattered, and an enormous hand descended, seizing their heads with irresistible force.
Snap.
Their bodies stiffened, and their vision blurred simultaneously.
The twilight sky reappeared, but all light was completely blocked.
The black-robed youth stood before them like a colossal being, replacing heaven and earth.
His hands clamped tightly around their heads, his bloodshot pupils darting wildly in terror.
"Spare... spare..."
Boom!!
Before the middle-aged modified human could finish his plea, his head exploded like a watermelon.
Crimson blood splattered the ground. Noel trembled beside him, feeling a warm, terrifying wetness on his face.
"I ask, you answer," Chen Feng said calmly, standing at the center of the camp. The brown earth beneath his feet was shrouded in shadow, unnaturally dark.
"Y-yes, yes..." Noel stammered, his pupils shrinking and darting as he peered up at Chen Feng through the gaps between the fingers gripping his face.
The entire camp fell into absolute silence. Corpses lay scattered across the ground, weapons broken, and blood continuously stained the earth crimson.
In the distant wasteland, yellow sand swirled upward in the wind as two black sedans slowly approached the camp.
"Looks like things went smoothly," Lin Hao murmured, watching the camp's scene on the projection light screen from inside the car. He let out a sigh of relief.
Though Chen Feng was formidable, this wasn't the Red Nation, after all.
Wang Dehai, seated beside him, had already paled. A handkerchief had materialized in his hand, which he used to wipe the sweat from his face.
That man really is the Legendary-grade Martial Artist.
Thank goodness I never slighted or offended him, remaining cautious and respectful throughout.
A wave of relief washed over him as the black sedans glided forward, arriving at the camp.
"I can help you delay Young Master Milan," Noel stammered. "If you're willing to let me go..."
Boom!!
His words froze mid-sentence as Noel's head exploded, his headless corpse collapsing to the ground.
Tendrils of Crimson Flame coiled upward, instantly vaporizing the splattered blood into gray smoke that drifted past Chen Feng.
Witnessing this, Wang Dehai, who had just stepped out of the car, trembled visibly, his awe deepening. He hurried to catch up with Lin Hao, who was already approaching the scene.
The bodies of armed soldiers lay strewn across the ground, including all the white bodyguards, each one dead.
Shattered glass from the exploded barracks littered the path, making each step a nerve-wracking ordeal.
"Mr. Chen," Wang Dehai called out cautiously, bowing slightly as he spoke respectfully.
"You don't need to worry about Zhuo Lie's retaliation anymore," Chen Feng said calmly. Wang Dehai froze for a moment, then his face lit up with relief.
Zhuo Lie had clearly been targeting the Overseas Red Nation Chamber of Commerce, including Wang Dehai and his Tonghe Corporation. With Zhuo Lie dead, that threat was naturally...
"However..." Chen Feng glanced down at the corpses of Noel and the others. "These men were from the Roth Family."
The words hung in the air, and Wang Dehai's expression stiffened. His corpulent frame swayed unsteadily; had his loyal bodyguard not caught him in time, he might have collapsed to his knees.
"Hahaha, look how scared you are!" Lin Hao chuckled from the side, clapping Wang Dehai on the shoulder as he feigned amusement at the man's forced smile, which looked more like a grimace. "Don't worry, Boss Wang. How many divisions could the Roth Family possibly have?"
His tone was somewhat reckless, at odds with his usual cautious demeanor. But Wang Dehai looked at Chen Feng, his face brightening slightly.
The Roth Family was based in the distant Platinum Federation, beyond their reach. They couldn't easily send forces to Luoyue. Perhaps the Martial Artist before him had a plan.
"What do you intend to do?"
Lin Hao turned to Chen Feng, his expression deliberately relaxed, though a flicker of seriousness flashed in his eyes.
The Roth Family was a colossal entity far surpassing Jadeite Biotech, one of the Platinum Federation's dominant consortiums.
Chen Feng might not fear them, but he couldn't rely on their protection indefinitely.
"Their communication signals haven't been transmitted. The Roth Family remains unaware of the situation for now," Chen Feng said calmly, having already learned the full story from Noel.
The Roth Family wasn't a monolithic entity. A succession candidate named Milan, who held equal status to Ouna, was about to arrive in Luoyue.
Noel had been sent ahead as an advance scout, planning to join forces with Zhuo Lie to bypass the Niduo Royal Family and deploy forces throughout the Niduo Mountains' branches, searching for traces of a so-called legendary-grade super ancient creature.
A strange feeling stirred within Chen Feng, and a brilliant platinum light flashed through his mind.
He hadn't realized the Holy Shield Colossus's breakthrough had left such a profound impact, that some still clung to the hope of discovering it.
"Wait for your return... Where are you going?" Lin Hao asked, finally grasping the key point in Chen Feng's words.
"Yang Wudi and the others must have gone there."
Chen Feng gazed into the distance, where the rolling mountains stretched endlessly, and Gobi canyons tore through the earth.
The Niduo Mountains, a colossal range spanning the Eastern Continent, branched across several small countries.
Though he didn't know why Yang Wudi and the others had lost contact, Chen Feng instinctively felt that the answer might lie hidden there.
"I'll go with you," Lin Hao said earnestly, sensing that something was amiss. Without pressing for details, he simply wanted to help.
But Chen Feng shook his head. "Staying here is the greatest help you can offer." He glanced sideways at Wang Dehai.
Young Master Milan of the Roth Family was likely already on his way, possibly accompanied by a Legendary-grade escort. To be safe, Chen Feng needed someone reliable to keep watch. Wang Dehai was an outsider; Lin Hao, far more trustworthy, wouldn't betray them or leak information.
Lin Hao immediately understood the key point and nodded in agreement, saying no more.
Amidst their preparations, Liu Bo quickly retrieved a specially designed wrist communicator for Chen Feng, providing both location tracking and communication capabilities.
Chen Feng accepted it without hesitation and strapped it to his right wrist.
"I'm counting on you," he said, giving Lin Hao a final word of caution before his figure flashed and he strode away.
He covered a hundred meters with each stride, vanishing in mere moments.
As his figure gradually disappeared into the swirling yellow sand, leaving no trace behind, Wang Dehai's expression shifted, a complex mix of emotions playing across his face.
"Old Wang."
Tap.
A hand landed on his shoulder.
Turning toward the sudden, overly familiar greeting, Wang Dehai saw Lin Hao in a gray suit, his lips curved into a half-smile.
"Today's mission is critical."
"We can't afford to drag our feet."
"I've already destroyed all communication and recording devices in the camp, and set up several signal decoys."
"Their bio-wave detectors aren't particularly sophisticated. These measures should be enough to mimic their life signs for a short time."
Thud!
Chen Feng's boots struck the barren earth as he steadily approached the foothills of the Niduo Mountains.
The Star Spirit's voice echoed in his mind, and the ring on his hand flashed with a blue arc, transforming into a floating, ethereal girl.
"Your friend is quite clever. He should know what to do."
"As long as he maintains a safe distance and activates electromagnetic silence, the enemy will have a hard time detecting them."
Worried about Chen Feng's focus, the Star Spirit repeated her warning.
"Thanks."
Chen Feng nodded, knowing that without Star Spirit's help, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly.
After the conflict erupted in Doma City, it was Star Spirit's electromagnetic interference that bought them precious time to delay their exposure.
This applied to both the Fifth-Tier Cyborg's consciousness and the other slain enemies, effectively paralyzing Zhuo Lie and his team.
"Tch, it was nothing," Star Spirit replied proudly, crossing her arms.
As the distant mountain ranges and Gobi desert grew closer, her brow furrowed, sensing something amiss.
"The energy field fluctuations here are truly abnormal. The closer we get, the stronger the interference becomes."
"It seems your two friends might actually be nearby."
Her small face was filled with curiosity, and her eyes flickered with what seemed like raw code.
Chen Feng didn't respond, instead focusing his Perception to blanket the entire area.
Gravel and dirt, massive brown and gray-white boulders.
As far as the eye could see, only monotonous wasteland stretched out, yellow sand swirling in the wind, coating the stubbornly surviving sparse weeds with a layer of dust.
Time passed until ten minutes later.
A flicker of Perception drew Chen Feng's gaze to a three-meter-tall boulder standing upright.
His eyes narrowed as he noticed faint markings etched into its surface.
(End of the Chapter)
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