Translator: CinderTL
Whoosh!
The figure slicing through the sky resembled a silver-winged angel, causing the faces of the Luoyue Military personnel to shift.
As the sonic boom faded, the newcomer stood suspended in mid-air, clad in silver armor with twin wings sprouting from their back. They positioned themselves between Chen Feng and his companions, confronting the Luoyue Military forces.
"I didn't expect you to cause such a commotion again," a cold, familiar voice remarked from behind the silver mask, which resembled the head of an ancient eagle.
Yang Wudi and Celine exchanged surprised glances, while Chen Feng's brow relaxed as he recognized the speaker.
"You arrived sooner than I expected," he said, slightly surprised that Nangong Ling had arrived so quickly after he sent the location coordinates. Even with the Silver-Masked Ancient Eagle's bio-energy, it seemed impossible to cover such a distance in such a short time.
Nangong Ling didn't immediately reply. Instead, she gazed toward the distant cloud layer behind the Luoyue Military forces.
Chen Feng's gaze sharpened as he spotted over a dozen aircraft rapidly approaching, accompanied by several humanoid figures propelled by rocket-like bursts of flame, soaring through the air like living missiles.
"It's the Red Kingdom Military," Yang Wudi and Celine exclaimed in surprise, noticing the red maple leaf emblems on the aircraft. The rocket-like figures were all Flying General-class cyborgs.
The two exchanged puzzled looks, sensing something was amiss.
Chen Feng frowned in thought, gradually forming a hypothesis.
Whoosh!
A dozen minutes later, a silver Red Kingdom Military aircraft ascended into the high altitude.
Through the blast-resistant windows, a transparent space membrane could be seen hidden behind the cloud layer, appearing to mark the boundary of the Secret Realm Space.
Hum!
Finally, the aircraft pierced through the membrane without resistance, exiting the Secret Realm.
In a flash, Chen Feng and the others in the cabin were blinded by the sudden daylight, its intensity almost unbearable.
Squinting to ease the discomfort, they focused on their surroundings.
They had emerged directly into a massive, deep pit.
Above them stretched a clear blue sky, while on either side rose sheer, uneven cliffs of exposed rock and earth, towering thousands of meters high.
The underground cavern passage they had previously traversed had vanished, as if an invisible force had erased the subterranean rock layers.
The white, transparent space membrane still hovered beneath the aircraft, now vastly larger than before, stretching across the canyon like a kilometer-wide barrier.
"The terrain must have been altered," Chen Feng surmised, recalling the Star Spirit's earlier predictions.
When they first entered the Secret Realm, the space membrane had been steadily rising, like a tide engulfing the surrounding rock formations.
Now, it seemed this process had caused the underground passages to collapse, creating the massive open-air pit.
"The spatial fluctuations in this Secret Realm are extremely violent. Our satellites detected anomalies as early as midnight last night," the Star Spirit's voice echoed in Chen Feng's mind.
"In addition, the Niduo Royal Family and the Federal Consortium have recently clashed, requesting our intervention as mediators. That's why we arrived so quickly," Han Chao explained to Chen Feng, standing beside him in the cabin.
Feng Province, located in the southwestern part of the Red Nation, is closest to Niduo and neighboring countries.
Therefore, Nangong Ling was temporarily assigned to lead the mediation efforts.
Upon receiving the location coordinates mid-journey, she immediately diverted her course to the site.
"I see," Chen Feng replied, now understanding why the Military and Red Guard had arrived so swiftly.
Nangong Ling's presence, her firm stance, and her representation of the Red Nation's intervention had forced the Luoyue Military within the Secret Realm Space to reluctantly concede.
As for the conflict between the Niduo Royal Family and the Federal Consortium, Chen Feng had heard rumors about it.
News reports had covered the issue extensively when he departed for Luoyue.
After a few casual inquiries, Han Chao chuckled and explained, "Rumor has it that a legendary-grade super ancient creature capable of escaping the Secret Realm has been discovered."
"The Federal Consortium's Super Consortiums immediately seized on this, using the pretext of surveying Earth Veins to secretly dispatch armed teams into the main branches of the Niduo Mountains for investigation."
"These security personnel are led by Flying Generals, which has alarmed the Niduo Royal Family. Princess Eleanor has repeatedly attempted communication, but to no avail. Over time, the conflict escalated, growing increasingly severe."
Chen Feng thought to himself, As expected. He had long suspected that the root of these conflicts lay in the traces left behind by the Holy Shield Colossus when it broke through the space membrane.
As for the Royal Family and the Consortium...
Princess Eleanor was no Lion King. Her attitude toward the Platinum Federation was far more distant.
"Have you found anything?" Chen Feng asked, curious if they had truly discovered the Holy Shield Colossus.
This was one of his trump cards and deepest secrets. So far, only the Star Spirit knew its true nature—that it was not human.
"Not yet, but..." Han Chao shook his head and stood by the window, looking down at the aircraft below.
As the cabin ascended, the transparent Spatial Barrier receded into the distance.
"This Secret Realm originates from a branch of the Niduo Mountains, and its spatial resistance is minimal."
"The coincidences are too many, and the timing aligns roughly. Many speculate that the Ancient Creature came from this place and escaped the Secret Realm by chance."
As Han Chao finished speaking, a strange expression crossed Chen Feng's face.
"Hahaha, they're wrong again," the Star Spirit chuckled in his mind, knowing the truth better than anyone.
Chen Feng didn't bother correcting them, instead welcoming their misunderstanding to keep his trump card hidden.
Whoosh!
The aircraft's engines roared to life, propelling it higher and higher into the sky.
The underground rock formations on either side, resembling towering cliffs, remained uniform for over ten seconds before abruptly vanishing, revealing the true, flat earth.
Grains of yellow sand swirled in the wind, giving way to a new scene.
Whoosh!
The air surged with a resonant hum, and Chen Feng and the others' gazes sharpened.
Contrary to their expectations, the area surrounding the deep pit was now teeming with figures.
Tanks, armored vehicles, and fully armed soldiers stood guard.
In addition to the Luoyue Military's advance forces, elite warriors from the Red Nation had also arrived.
Simple tents and steel structures had sprung up across the landscape, while new aircraft, flashing red and blue lights, approached and landed nearby.
"This Secret Realm contains ancient civilization ruins of immense value," Han Chao remarked with a sigh. "Luoyue's forces alone can't secure it."
"The Red Nation has already dispatched a delegation to Red City for detailed talks with Luoyue's leaders. More troops will be sent to garrison the area."
Han Chao understood that a storm was brewing.
Luoyue undoubtedly wanted to control the Secret Realm independently, but as news of its discovery spread, dominant powers like the Platinum Federation would inevitably arrive.
Faced with such overwhelming pressure, Luoyue would be forced to abandon its ambitions of sole control and instead opt for collaborative exploration.
"Let's hope for a favorable outcome," Han Chao concluded.
Celine sighed, her expression complex.
This was the fate of small nations on the Eastern Continent, including her homeland, Moguo.
Even if a Secret Realm Space originated within their territory, they couldn't claim exclusive rights. Instead, it often triggered internal strife, inviting intervention from external powers.
"Still... cooperating with the Red Nation is a good thing," she murmured, letting go of her worries.
Compared to the domineering federation and the Super Consortiums, the Red Nation seemed far more reasonable.
At least Luoyue wouldn't have to fear being exploited and discarded.
Buzz!
The aircraft finally landed in the southeastern corner of the nearby camp.
A flat area served as a landing zone, accommodating several aircraft and armored vehicles equipped with firepower weapons.
Nearly a hundred Red Nation Military soldiers and cyborgs patrolled the perimeter, while wooden crates filled with ammunition were unloaded and stacked.
"Fengzi!"
The moment the hatch opened, a familiar shout rang out.
Chen Feng wasn't surprised. His Perception had already detected Lin Hao and the others waiting here, waving excitedly.
"How are you?"
As they met, Lin Hao led Liu Bo and the others out of their tent, his voice filled with concern as he scrutinized Chen Feng from head to toe.
"Everything's resolved," Chen Feng replied simply, gesturing to show he was unharmed.
Behind him, Yang Wudi and the other nodded to Lin Hao, their smiles conveying goodwill.
They had already heard about the situation from Chen Feng, knowing that their timely rescue was largely thanks to the guides he had arranged.
"No problem at all," Lin Hao said with a bright smile. He had always enjoyed making friends, and forging good relations with two powerful Martial Artists on this trip made it worthwhile.
Moreover, though Chen Feng hadn't explicitly stated it, Lin Hao knew the Roth Family's expedition team had likely been permanently trapped within the Secret Realm Space. This eliminated any lingering threats left behind by Zhuo Lie.
"Thank you, Mr. Chen," Wang Dehai, who had been following closely, quickly expressed his gratitude, his plump face finally relaxing with relief.
Chen Feng nodded slightly and introduced Yang Wudi and the other Martial Artist, leaving Wang Dehai visibly flattered.
The group slowly entered the camp's tents, the casual conversation blending with the increasing arrival of Military firepower weapons.
Meanwhile, in Black Harbor City, Platinum Federation:
Within a luxurious estate, suited bodyguards patrolled the grounds. Impeccably dressed servants and the butler glided through jade corridors with barely a sound, while gardeners meticulously trimmed the lawns.
"From the second stage onward, Legendary-grade consciousness possesses unique properties that make it exceptionally resistant to damage under normal circumstances," Mr. Amon explained. "But precisely because of this, once injured, it becomes exceedingly difficult to recover."
A sigh reached Ouna's ears. Standing in the second-floor study, she silently observed the scene unfolding in the manor below.
Sunlight streamed through the carved windows, illuminating her white gown with a radiant glow, but also casting dark shadows across the floor.
"Uncle Longjia, if that's the case," Ouna asked, a flicker of unnatural complexity in her eyes, "will Teacher Velatu never fully recover to his peak?"
Her gaze held both anger and coldness toward the martial artist, as well as deep anxiety about her own declining status.
"Theoretically, yes," Longjia replied. "Unless we can obtain advanced Virtual Consciousness Technology or spiritual treasures from the Secret Realms."
The middle-aged man in the gray suit sighed softly. Though his features were unremarkable, his amber-like brown eyes burned with an unforgettable intensity.
His words stirred Ouna's emotions, deepening her resentment toward Chen Feng.
"That damned martial artist," she muttered. If he hadn't resorted to such underhanded tactics, Teacher Velatu would never have suffered this spiritual injury. And she wouldn't have faced criticism from the clan elders, nearly losing her position.
"Uncle Longjia, has he already surpassed Teacher Velatu in strength?"
Ouna felt a flicker of worry, but the middle-aged man in gray shook his head dismissively.
"Master Velatu is a great being approaching the Third-Tier of Legendary-grade."
"His injury was merely due to the incomplete descent of his consciousness and the fact that he was using a backup body, not his true peak form."
"Had his full consciousness descended, the enemy would have had no chance to resist."
Hearing these confident and resolute words, Ouna breathed a sigh of relief.
Her swan-like face regained its cold, proud glint as she began to strategize her next moves, seeking both revenge and the restoration of her status.
Knock, knock!
A knock sounded at the door.
"Enter," Ouna commanded, her eyes flashing as she turned to look.
The door opened, and the loyal white Security Captain entered.
"Miss."
"What's Han's situation?"
"He's been confined to the villa we arranged, without leaving or contacting anyone."
"What about his subordinates?"
"The same."
During the questioning, Ouna frowned slightly, then relaxed.
"It seems he's already aware of the negotiation results and understands his predicament."
"But Han has always been ambitious. Knowing this, he certainly won't surrender quietly."
She spoke these words simply, yet they carried a weight of certainty.
This was, after all, one of the bargaining chips she had prepared. Even if its value had diminished, she intended to make the most of it and maximize her gains.
Understanding her meaning, the white security personnel who had come to report nodded vigorously.
"Rest assured, Miss. We'll increase the surveillance level to prevent him from escaping privately."
"We'll also expedite communication and cooperation with the Investigation Bureau to prevent any unforeseen incidents."
"Hmm."
Ouna nodded in satisfaction, confident in her subordinates' competence.
She then inquired about another critical matter.
"I heard Milan has enlisted Mr. Amon and taken him to Luoyue?"
Her tone was icy, fully aware of the competition within her clan.
With the succession still undecided, her rivals wouldn't give up easily.
Even those with Legendary-grade backing, like Uncle Longjia, wouldn't hesitate to challenge her.
"Yes," the white security captain replied, nodding swiftly and providing a detailed report.
Upon learning the itinerary and plan, Ouna frowned slightly and scoffed.
"Zhuo Lie is indeed his protégé."
"But he's being delusional. If that legendary creature were so easy to find, we would have heard something by now."
Ouna shook her head, her tone dismissive but her eyes betraying a hint of worry.
It's not the one in ten thousand I fear, but the one in ten thousandth chance. If the enemy truly succeeded in their plan, it would undoubtedly threaten her position.
She glanced at the middle-aged man in gray beside her, exchanging a meaningful look with Longjia.
"Amon's strength rivals mine," she said.
Longjia shook his head, understanding her temperament, and rejected the plan.
Seeing this, Ouna frowned, inwardly frustrated.
Just as she was about to reconsider their next move, the communicator on the table suddenly buzzed, projecting a holographic light screen.
"Father?" Ouna murmured, surprised as she recognized the contact.
Without dwelling on the reason, she waved for the Security Captain to withdraw.
Silence descended upon the room once more. Only then did she approach the mahogany desk and answer the call.
In an instant, the electromagnetic connection established, and a familiar figure materialized on the light screen.
Before she could offer a respectful greeting, a shocking announcement shattered the air.
"Milan is dead?"
Ouna's phoenix eyes widened, while Longjia, standing beside her, also stiffened slightly.
"And Mr. Amon... his death has been confirmed as well."
(End of the Chapter)
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