The world hadn't noticed his return.
And that was exactly how Si Feng wanted it.
While the governments and elite families remained focused on the looming beast tides and internal power struggles, he moved in silence.
At night, when even wargods slept, he slipped out into the wilderness. No tracking devices. No identification chips. No one could detect him—not even satellites.
He hunted alone.
Powerful beast generals, beast lords, even a few emperor-class monsters… they all fell under his hand like paper to flame. Their corpses vanished without a trace, absorbed directly into his internal world. He harvested materials, cores, and bloodlines with surgical precision.
During the day, he sold the resources anonymously through encrypted dark channels linked to the HR Alliance.
An underground handler nicknamed "Phantom" became notorious for selling high-tier monster materials at a volume that stunned even major factions.
None knew it was Si Feng.
None suspected the high school student who sat in the back of the classroom beside Luo Feng, quietly listening to lectures he didn't need.
He played the role perfectly.
Smiling when needed. Laughing at jokes. Sharing snacks. Observing Luo Feng from the corner of his eye.
He liked the boy.
There was potential in him—a destiny that glimmered faintly beneath his skin. But it wasn't time to act yet. Si Feng would wait. Guide him subtly. Maybe even push when needed.
He had plans.
Big ones.
The Resurrection of Genius
Deep within his internal world, a secret laboratory pulsed with life.
In the very center, surrounded by cold energy conduits and chakra-sealed tanks, a figure stood—pale, serpentine, and perfectly still.
Orochimaru.
No longer bound by ethics or death. A construct built from memory, simulation data, and essence preserved in the chakra lattice. Reconstructed as a pure scientific entity. No ambitions. No schemes.
Only one directive: serve Si Feng alone.
"You will be my hand in the world of science," Si Feng said.
"Yes, my lord," Orochimaru whispered, his voice calm, focused. "With the resources of this world and my restored knowledge, I will surpass all human understanding."
Under his guidance, the lab began producing results rapidly.
Genetic modification models.
Advanced cultivation medicine.
Experimental battle suits powered by chakra-origin fusion.
He leaked some of these discoveries to the HR Alliance through anonymous channels. Each new formula caused waves in the scientific community. None traced the source.
But the HR Alliance, intrigued, began recruiting.
Orochimaru entered as a ghost scientist, registered under a false name, his loyalty hidden behind hundreds of encryption layers. They believed him a rogue genius. They gave him funding and secrecy.
He gave them miracles.
But he answered only to one man.
The Time Skip
Three years passed.
Luo Feng stood tall now, dressed in standard black training garb, the emblem of the martial hall burning bright on his chest. His eyes were calm. His movements sharp.
He had graduated.
An official martial artist.
His rise was swift but within expectation. The HR Alliance took notice. His potential was just awakening.
Si Feng watched from a rooftop across the street.
He hadn't changed much on the outside. Still lean. Still quiet. Still the same student on paper.
But inside, he had already crossed the planetary barrier long ago. His power simmered beneath a perfect mask.
He didn't need the world to know who he was yet.
Let Luo Feng enjoy the spotlight. Let him walk his destined path. Si Feng would watch over him from the shadows—for now.
But the time was approaching.
The world was growing more dangerous. Signs were appearing. Rumors of beast tides shifting unnaturally. Whispers of ancient artifacts awakening.
The era of calm was ending.
And Si Feng was almost ready.