Translator: CinderTL
Warning: Suspected high-energy missile explosion!
Warning: Magnetic field disturbance detected. Electronic interference is severe.
...
The High Wall's defense system blared warnings as several figures immediately took to the skies, standing atop the wall to survey the distant horizon.
The vast sky should have appeared normal, but a massive void had opened in the cloud sea several kilometers away.
A cone-shaped trail seemed etched into the firmament, lingering stubbornly.
A military aircraft streaked across the sky, rushing to investigate.
"What's the situation?" Wang Cheng asked, his voice deep and resonant, the multicolored crystal on his left breast reflecting the sunlight.
He had already formed some hypotheses and detected faint traces from afar, but certainty remained elusive.
"We've confirmed it," came the reply. "The Military reports that Major General Chen was... practicing his martial arts."
The final words trembled noticeably. The Military Flying General beside him wore an expression of shock and disbelief.
If not for his intimate knowledge of the Military's iron-willed nature, he might have mistaken it for a joke.
Silence descended, the Flying Generals exchanging inscrutable glances.
A human body rivaling Legendary-grade power.
Could Grandmaster Chen truly have no limits?
Rustle!
A gale howled as Chen Feng stood high above the world.
The sea of clouds before him had dissipated for a kilometer. He slowly retracted his fist, satisfied with his recent test.
Each time he broke through another level of the Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder, he gained new insights, as if the Will of the World rewarded those who ascended the ladder.
This time, the Pinnacle of Speed not only enhanced his fundamental potential but also granted him a unique ability.
Unlike the powerful recoil resistance gained from the Myriad-Kilogram Body, this was a special application of speed.
After resonating with the World Imprint, he could achieve explosive bursts of speed, his neural reaction time increasing in tandem.
In a fleeting instant, he could unleash a full-power strike, creating a special technique akin to fused power.
"I should now surpass the Envoy Rank," Chen Feng mused.
Channeling his power back into his body and comparing his strength to that of the Holy Shield Colossus, he was certain of his current level.
He had crossed the threshold into the Lower-Ranking Angel realm.
However, there was one imperfection: he still hadn't mastered the so-called Martial Dao Momentum.
In other words, he had reached this level primarily through his monstrous physical body, relying on his superhuman strength, speed, and defense.
"You're such a freak," the Star Spirit's voice echoed in his mind. Her illusory image clicked its tongue, its expression incredulous.
"Your world is fundamentally the same as ours, primarily focused on technology. There's no supernatural awakening or reliance on self-cultivation to achieve extraordinary individual power."
"Yet you've managed to extend this so-called Martial Dao into the future, developing it to this advanced stage."
The Star Spirit suddenly felt a grudging admiration for Chen Feng.
In her past research, beyond studying Earth, she had also gathered extensive information about him.
His unexpected trajectory of growth was precisely why she had chosen to ally with him.
Chen Feng didn't bother correcting her misunderstanding.
However...
"Supernatural awakening?"
He temporarily suppressed his investigation into the Martial Dao Momentum, focusing on a critical point.
The Ancient Taiduo Civilization had once dominated many worlds in the star realm.
They must have encountered other civilizations with supernatural individuals, similar to the High Wall Alliance.
Without hesitation, the Star Spirit nodded.
"The star realm teems with countless civilizations. Some worlds develop primarily through the extraordinary power of individuals."
"We call this phenomenon 'supernatural awakening.' Others cultivate unique individual training methods, similar to your Martial Dao."
"There are also rare star realm creatures that reach Legendary-grade upon adulthood. These are all civilizations and species that possess immense individual power."
As they spoke, a Military aircraft rapidly approached.
Chen Feng saw it from afar but didn't rush to leave.
"So, you never attempted to enhance yourselves using the cultivation methods of other civilizations?"
"No," the Star Spirit replied crisply, her pride evident. "Our technological advancements are already formidable, allowing every ordinary person the chance to attain extraordinary power."
"Modifications, Mecha, gene potions, bio-essence—from the highest levels to the lowest, we have solutions for every tier. Even Legendary-grade Ancient Creatures are merely materials for our technology."
"And let's not forget our Divine Technology. We simply have no need for cultivation methods."
Chen Feng finally understood why the Ancient Taiduo Civilization had focused solely on technological development.
Having reached the pinnacle of technological advancement among Star Civilizations, they naturally had no interest in individual-level supernatural methods.
"Do you have any records of other civilizations' supernatural methods?" Chen Feng asked curiously, hoping to study them and integrate them into Martial arts.
"We might have some, but unfortunately, I don't remember them," she shrugged, her tone apologetic.
The missing data in the database was like a person losing their memory, unable to recall the relevant information.
Chen Feng felt a pang of regret but didn't press further.
The distant military aircraft finally approached, initiating a communication link.
Beep!
Chen Feng quickly answered the call and learned of the misunderstanding.
After briefly explaining the situation, he moved slowly forward under the silent gaze of the military personnel.
Hiss! Click!
The aircraft's hatch opened high in the sky, a development that didn't surprise Chen Feng.
After all, the aircraft had come both to investigate the commotion and to retrieve him.
The reason for this was Xia Mingyuan's cooperation proposal from the previous day.
Since the Roth Family intended to interfere in his duel with Liu Duanyun, he naturally couldn't remain indifferent.
Moreover, after Xia Mingyuan's subsequent explanation, Chen Feng finally understood how the Roth Family had learned of Liu Duanyun's private contact with them.
Stepping forward, he walked on empty air and smoothly entered the hatch.
One by one, fully armed military personnel saluted respectfully. In the innermost ranks, Han Chao's eyes still held traces of his earlier shock.
"Let's go," Chen Feng said softly, settling into a window seat without further formalities.
Whoosh!
Without delay, the aircraft pierced through the air.
It vanished into the cloud layer, quickly disappearing from sight due to light refraction.
Below, at the Flame Tiger Mountain Gate, the elite martial artists from various sects of the Martial Dao Alliance remained frozen in shock, gazing upward, unable to regain their composure for a long time.
Amidst the clamor of speculation, most conversations revolved around related topics.
Yet, the words "Saint Sect" remained conspicuously absent.
It was as if no one knew that a world-shaking duel was about to unfold in the Martial Arts World.
"Grandmaster Chen is keeping a low profile, not publicly announcing the event."
"It seems few know the duel's location is near the Huai River."
The silver-gray aircraft sped southward, slicing through the skies above bustling cities.
Inside the cabin, a Grandmaster with graying hair spoke in a low voice. Liu Duanyun, seated by the window, remained in his customary white ancient robe and long coat, his expression unreadable.
Throughout the journey, he maintained an unusual silence. The others assumed he was conserving his energy for the impending battle and didn't press him further.
Only Zhang Hengshan, who knew some of the underlying circumstances, sat beside him by the window and asked in a deep voice, "What are your chances of success?"
The moment the words left his lips, Zhou Wuren and the others accompanying them fell silent, holding their breath in anticipation.
Grandmaster Chen's strength, comparable to a first-stage Legendary Flying General, was universally acknowledged. No one dared underestimate him even slightly.
Though some had harbored a sliver of hope before departure, they now couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and anticipation.
"Fifty percent," Liu Duanyun replied calmly. His broad, resolute face exuded an aura of profound stability.
Fifty percent?
Upon hearing this, Zhou Wuren's gaze flickered, sensing something amiss.
But Liu Duanyun's disciples and the Grandmaster Elders reacted with shock and elation.
Sect Master Liu had a fifty percent chance of defeating Grandmaster Chen?
Did that mean he had already caught up to the strongest martial artist in the Red Nation, perhaps even on all of Earth?
"Then why should we join the Martial Dao Alliance?" the gray-haired Grandmaster who had previously opposed the alliance couldn't help but ask.
If Sect Master Liu was now on par with Grandmaster Chen, why should they submit to another's authority and live under their thumb?
There was no answer.
Liu Duanyun glanced at him, while Zhang Hengshan, standing beside him, also turned to look.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
The gray-haired Grandmaster looked puzzled, then saw Zhang Hengshan shake his head.
"Old Guan, you're a veteran of the Saint Sect, my peer," Zhang Hengshan said with a sigh, his gaze drifting out the window.
The aircraft had reached the northern outskirts of Nanjiang.
A wide river snaked through the Greenfield Mountains like a Flood Dragon, flowing southward.
Several hundred meters from the riverbank, on the left side, stood a low mountain with rocky cliffs.
"What does that mean?"
Grandmaster Old Guan frowned slightly, a flicker of unease crossing his eyes.
"It's nothing," Zhang Hengshan said, shaking his head. "Just a lament. After forty years, I still haven't fully understood you."
Grandmaster Old Guan's face stiffened.
Zhou Wuren and the others finally sensed something was amiss. Their expressions turned wary as they closed in from either side.
"Hengshan, what are you implying?" Grandmaster Old Guan demanded, his voice rising in anger as he frantically tried to defend himself, glancing repeatedly at Sect Master Liu.
But the latter merely closed his eyes, remaining silent.
Zhang Hengshan met Old Guan's gaze for a moment before raising a hand and pointing toward the landscape beyond the window.
Below the cloud layer, Dwarf Mountain rose, its slopes densely forested.
"The Utopia's former underground base was located here on White Cloud Mountain, later destroyed and abandoned," Zhang Hengshan explained. "You arranged the southern route, and this is the fastest way to the Huai River. If I were the Roth Family, I'd hide here too."
As his words landed, Grandmaster Old Guan's expression twisted in alarm.
With a furious roar, he erupted with Force, attempting to resist.
At the same moment, as if realizing their plan had been exposed, White Cloud Mountain below shuddered violently. The rocky cliffs cracked and split open, revealing glimpses of crumbling walls and a shadowy figure within.
Then, the sky darkened.
The air warped, and the earth trembled.
A blinding beam of energy erupted, instantly engulfing the aircraft!
(End of the Chapter)
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