Translator: CinderTL
"He's here!"
A sudden exclamation interrupted all ongoing conversations.
Wang Hanwen and the others instinctively looked up, as did the other martial arts practitioners, including the elderly man in a long robe.
On the opposite bank of the river, a faint black figure appeared.
Both the Whale Sect Grandmaster and the Giant Elephant Grandmaster turned their heads, as did Lu Xinglong and the others, squinting to get a better look.
A figure was walking across the river, his black shirt fluttering in the wind.
The Huai River surged relentlessly, yet beneath his feet, it seemed unusually calm.
Faint crimson specks gathered under his feet, the water vapor rising to form a thin mist.
A vivid crimson tiger, six to seven meters in size, followed his every step, treading on the river's surface as it approached indifferently.
"Oh?"
The curly-haired youth on the viewing platform raised an eyebrow, his playful expression pausing momentarily.
The Whale Sect Grandmaster and the others looked astonished, while the elderly man from the Flying Dragon Sect in the aircraft above was visibly surprised.
"Has he opened the Gate of Qi?"
"Or is it some secret technique?"
At these words, the Flying Eagle Grandmaster and the others by his side exchanged glances, while Lu Xinglong on the river surface frowned.
A Physical Grandmaster shouldn't possess such a Qi-based skill.
But it's only been seven days.
Just after breaking through the Physical Gate, has he now opened the Gate of Qi?
Everyone was puzzled as the figure on the river drew closer.
The rising mist quietly spread as Chen Feng took measured steps, one meter at a time, gauging the width of the Huai River beneath him.
His black shirt and trousers reflected in the river, while the crimson tiger approached him, radiating heat.
"Tsk, tsk, you're really going to make a splash this time."
"With so many people..."
Lin Hao's envious voice came through the earpiece, but Chen Feng remained calm, only asking one final question.
"Does the Flying Dragon Sect have any Grandmaster-level experts or above?"
These people had come from afar, so he naturally wanted to welcome them as a proper host should.
"No."
Lin Hao was in an aircraft above the ancient town. Besides Liu Bo, the cabin also held the blonde-haired Meng Anran and another Titanium-grade Cyborg.
"The rise of the Flying Dragon Sect is largely due to the support of Vice Chairman Luo."
"The fourth-level Cyborg is the highest they can reach, and it's also the final demarcation line tacitly agreed upon by all the parties in Yun Port."
Lin Hao added, glancing at Meng Anran.
She nodded at him, as if confirming the accuracy of his words.
Hearing this, Chen Feng nodded slightly and said nothing more, all his concerns dissipating in that moment.
He hadn't forgotten the humiliation of fleeing Yun Port, nor the targeted attacks he had faced from the Flying Dragon Sect.
And now, it was the best time to settle the score.
With that, he took a step, crossing hundreds of meters to reach the center of the Huai River.
Everything on the shore was clear in his perception. He saw Wang Hanwen and the others from the club, including Luo Yue, as well as Chu Shihong and the curly-haired youth on the viewing platform.
But these were not the focus.
The key was the crowd from the Yun Port martial arts world, gathered around the Flying Dragon Sect, like an army marching to war.
There were many True Intent practitioners, including Jiang Yunshan, who looked shocked.
Beyond them were several Grandmasters and Cyborgs, as well as the blue-robed middle-aged man standing on the river, blocking the path ahead.
"Did you come here alone?"
"After this is over, how will the Flame Tiger Sect collect your corpse?"
"Or do you think your two Cyborg friends can still save you?"
Lu Xinglong spoke indifferently, a flying dragon circling behind him, suppressing all his doubts and emotional fluctuations.
Whether or not the other party had opened the Gate of Qi, choosing the Huai River as the battleground was simply foolish.
He was from the Flying Dragon Sect of Tian Shui. Fighting on a river gave him the geographical advantage.
TL/N:Tianshui (天水) in Gansu Province, China, is famously associated with water bodies. The name itself translates to "Heavenly Water" (天水), reflecting its historical and geographical connection to rivers and water sources.
And his opponent's skills were all fire-based, making this location a terrible choice.
Chen Feng didn't respond. Instead, he looked up at the sky.
This action puzzled everyone, and they followed his gaze, only to notice a black crow circling high above.
Its eerie cries echoed several times, as if certain that someone would die today.
Everyone's expressions varied, but all their malice was clearly perceived.
From the sky, a sense of killing intent emanated.
The curly-haired youth with soft features looked down with a playful expression, while a magnetic field quietly appeared around the Grandmaster-level Cyborg.
Chen Feng withdrew his gaze, his expression growing even colder.
"Have you all seen the scenery here?"
He asked, his gaze sweeping over Lu Xinglong and the other Grandmasters and True Intent practitioners.
None of them had recovered their composure, frowning in confusion, their expressions varied.
In the next second, Chen Feng spoke again.
"This is the burial ground I've chosen for you."
"You can head south to the sea and return to Yun Port."
Roar!!
"Enough of your empty talk, brat. Prepare to die!"
Lu Xinglong narrowed his eyes and attacked, unwilling to waste any more words.
In a life-and-death battle, he was confident that he had opened the Gate of Spirit and would carry an invincible momentum to unify the southern martial arts world, aiming for the pinnacle.
In an instant, blue Qi gathered, and the river's surface rippled.
A seven to eight-meter-long water dragon materialized in the air, carrying the force of the river as it surged forward.
The scene left everyone on the shore stunned.
But.
Roar!!!
The True Intent Crimson Tiger stepped onto the river's surface, its power not weakened by the water but instead exploding violently, evaporating everything.
Boom!!
The dragon coiled around the tiger, and the crimson tiger roared in fury.
The dragon and tiger clashed, their powerful Qi waves sweeping through everything.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!
Water columns exploded into the sky, waves churned endlessly.
The mist from the evaporating water spread across the river, the wind creating ripples, and the willow trees on the shore swayed wildly.
One had the Seed of Life enhancing him, while the other had unlocked the mysteries of the Gate of Spirit.
In an instant, the evenly matched scene caused several Grandmasters on the shore to narrow their eyes, all noticing something unusual.
"He really has opened the Gate of Qi!"
The gray-robed elderly man from the Flying Dragon Sect looked grave, and the two by his side shared similar expressions.
The Whale Sect Grandmaster and the others on the viewing platform also had varied expressions, mostly shock and awe.
"What terrifying talent."
"What an Innate Tyrant Bone."
They spoke in unison, suddenly understanding Chen Feng's confidence in accepting the challenge.
As Grandmasters who had opened both Gates, who would win was truly uncertain.
Roar!!
In an instant, two more water dragons emerged, bringing a storm of wind and rain as they charged at Chen Feng.
But soon.
Boom!!
Several bursts of Qi like fireballs struck out, evaporating the water, which fell like a heavy rain.
"You're too weak."
The Crimson Tiger Force on Chen Feng's body exploded and gathered as he looked at the shattered water dragon. The droplets falling from the sky slowly evaporated above him, unable to get close.
His tone was exceptionally cold as he looked past Lu Xinglong's figure, toward the three Grandmasters and Cyborgs in the air.
Even more so, toward the other True Intent practitioners of the Yun Port martial arts world.
"Just come at me together."
"You're courting death!!"
Lu Xinglong coldly roared, the blue light on his body suddenly erupting.
Roar!!
The shadow of the water dragon flashed, and he disappeared, reappearing in front of Chen Feng.
His light blue robe fluttered in the wind, the river's surface rippling outward.
In the next second.
The blue light, like water and thunder, gathered in his palm and struck toward Chen Feng's chest.
Boom!!!
A dull sound exploded, and a hint of bronze appeared.
The force of the impact spread out, but Lu Xinglong sneered, dispersing all the recoil and immediately raising his palm again, striking Chen Feng's chest and abdomen repeatedly.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!
The dull sounds continued to explode, and the Whale Sect Grandmaster and the others on the viewing platform all looked tense, holding their breath.
Even the True Disciples of the Flame Tiger Sect who had quietly arrived on the shore, or Luo Yue and the others from the club, clenched their fists, deeply worried.
"Why isn't Senior Brother dodging?"
"What's Coach Chen doing? Why isn't he fighting back?"
"Get out of the way!"
"Wait, this is the Flying Dragon Sect's martial art, the Nine Layers Wave. Each strike builds upon the last, growing stronger and stronger."
"Unless the attacker runs out of strength, there's no way to counter or dodge."
Other True Intent experts from different martial arts sects saw the situation and were filled with doubt.
The elderly Grandmaster of the Flying Dragon Sect and the other Cyborgs around the aircraft relaxed their brows, shaking their heads slightly.
This youngster had become a Grandmaster too smoothly, having faced few opponents along the way.
But he didn't know that this was a martial art capable of shattering even Titanium, and the longer it dragged on, the more powerful it became.
Boom!!!
The dull sound echoed like thunder across the river.
With the final strike, Chen Feng's black shirt exploded into pieces, scattering like flying catkins into the river, sinking to the bottom.
Behind him, water columns burst out one after another, reaching seven to eight meters into the air, a truly spectacular sight.
"After taking nine of my strikes, even if you're a Physical Grandmaster, so what?"
Lu Xinglong sneered mockingly, a flash of killing intent in his eyes.
Having unparalleled talent was indeed terrifying, but being arrogant and overconfident...
"So what?"
A sudden voice rang out, and the droplets in the air evaporated into wisps of mist.
Lu Xinglong's unfinished words were cut off.
Everyone's expressions changed, and Lu Xinglong himself looked uncertain, raising his head to look.
The bronze-skinned figure stood in place, the crimson color covering his body once more.
The True Intent Crimson Tiger emerged from the mist, its vertical pupils exuding an aura of authority.
"Is this all you can do after opening the Gate of Spirit?"
The bones in Chen Feng's body cracked and grew, his stature increasing as he stood firm, unmoving.
The Seed of Life and the Steel Bone Talent had already strengthened his body far beyond the level of ordinary Titanium.
Simple bursts of Qi could no longer harm him.
"I thought today's dragon-tiger battle would be thrilling."
"But it seems..."
Boom!!
A headbutt left an afterimage, striking like a cannonball.
The blue-robed figure stepped back on the river's surface, ripples spreading outward.
In an instant, Chen Feng's right arm swelled, his elbow bending, the crimson color still present, gathering explosively.
"You're just a rootless weed, weak as water."
Whoosh!!!
An explosive punch shot out like a javelin, landing squarely on Lu Xinglong's chest.
Blood vessels appeared in the other's eyes as his body bent backward, flying through the air.
Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!
The water surface rippled with each step as the True Intent Crimson Tiger leaped out, merging with Chen Feng's figure.
The flying figure was caught instantly, and the explosive punch struck again.
Boom!!
Crack!
A dull sound and the sound of bone breaking rang out one after another.
The elderly Grandmaster of the Flying Dragon Sect in the air stiffened, and the other Cyborgs and Grandmasters also frowned.
Innate Tyrant Bone?
Could one truly train their body to this level?
As these thoughts flashed through their minds, the blue-robed figure in mid-air roared, forming hand seals.
"Flying Dragon Sect's Dragon Crane Art!"
Buzz!
The Gate of Spirit extended three feet, controlling his entire body.
A sophisticated flow of Qi spread out, rapidly healing his injuries and boosting his energy.
But.
Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!
Water splashed as the river's surface was indented by footprints.
The two-meter-tall bronze-skinned youth, now shirtless, moved like a crocodile through water, his face cold with killing intent as he closed in.
The True Intent Crimson Tiger covering his body bared its fangs, its fists aimed at Lu Xinglong's head.
Facing the crisis, Lu Xinglong didn't dare to be careless.
"Flying Dragon Sect's Water Dragon's Roar!"
Roar!!
The dragon's roar echoed as his palms shot out.
The condensed blue light shifted the water, and two water dragons reappeared, following his arms to meet the incoming fists.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!
Water columns exploded into the sky, and several fish floated belly-up on the river's surface.
The droplets fell like rain, and some on the shore had their robes soaked, utterly stunned, unable to speak.
Grandmasters, the pinnacle of human strength, the peak of martial arts.
In the past, such descriptions had seemed exaggerated, like a frog looking at the moon from the bottom of a well.
But now, they understood what it meant to see the vastness of the sky.
"This is a Grandmaster."
The elderly man in the long robe was filled with awe, while Wang Hanwen was already frozen in shock.
The battle on the river was like a scene from a movie, but why did the burly figure's vague outline seem so familiar?
"How could it be?"
Han Yue in the distance wore a similar expression, staring intently at the two mythical figures battling hundreds of meters away.
"What's wrong?"
Sun Zhi, who was trying to get closer to Luo Yue and the others but was blocked by security personnel, asked in confusion. She forced a smile.
"Nothing, maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me."
It couldn't be him.
Such inhumanity was impossible, absolutely impossible.
Roar!!!
Roar!!!
The dragon's roar continued, and the tiger's roar shook the heavens.
The river's surface churned, a whirlpool forming.
Water columns exploded into the sky, and the middle-aged man in the light blue robe was sent flying again, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
The True Intent Flying Dragon in mid-air was bitten by the crimson tiger, and his energy was greatly diminished.
"Why?"
His expression was grim, and a hint of blood vessels appeared in Lu Xinglong's eyes.
He had opened the Gate of Spirit, and every move he made was stronger than other Grandmasters. He could unleash 130% of his strength with just 100% effort.
But this bronze-skinned burly figure was like an unyielding rock, not only matching him but even having strength to spare.
Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!
The river's surface splashed as the bronze figure closed in.
Knowing this wasn't the time to be distracted, Lu Xinglong formed hand seals again, trying to regain his footing.
Buzz!
The Dragon Crane Art reappeared.
His injuries healed rapidly, and the True Intent Flying Dragon in mid-air broke free from the tiger's grip.
If one strike couldn't defeat you, then ten, a hundred!
I refuse to believe you have no limits.
Boom!!!
In an instant, fists and palms collided.
The water beneath their feet exploded, and even the fish and sand at the riverbed were affected.
"Get away!!"
Lu Xinglong roared, his face red, feeling a violent force ramming into him, trying to destroy his body.
Blue and red Qi clashed, the surrounding water gathering and evaporating.
Veins bulged and tightened during the collision, and he suddenly felt all his cells become unusually active. Insights into martial arts that had eluded him before became clear.
In a flash, the blue Qi surged even higher, and a whirlpool formed in the river, as if a hidden dragon was about to emerge.
Seeing this, the Whale Sect Grandmaster and the Giant Elephant Grandmaster, who had thought there was a good chance of victory, stiffened, their expressions changing.
The curly-haired youth nearby nodded slightly, a calm smile appearing.
"It seems the outcome is decided."
"It's a pity, though. Councilor Chu's Nanjiang is about to lose a talent."
His tone was playful, and Chu Shihong frowned slightly.
Qin Xiao, who was serving as a bodyguard, quickly activated the scanning module, soon noticing that while the blue Qi on the display seemed unchanged, its energy fluctuations were abnormal, constantly rising.
The elderly Grandmaster of the Flying Dragon Sect in the air also relaxed, his previously tense brows gradually smoothing out.
"This is the Gate of Spirit."
Not just the full use of strength and flawless perfection, as ordinary people described it.
But also the keen insight into one's own martial arts, leaving no weaknesses.
In other words, the seven-day transformation had truly come to an end at this moment.
Thanks to the so-called Innate Tyrant Bone brat, it had been fully honed.
"I must really thank you."
Roar!!
Lu Xinglong laughed mockingly, the blue light on his body contracting and then exploding, causing continuous water columns to erupt from the river, forming a massive water dragon.
The True Intent Flying Dragon merged with him, its roars endless, its pressure overwhelming.
But faced with this scene, watching the water dragon charging at him.
Chen Feng's expression remained unchanged, only the crimson on his body shifting, a flickering flame appearing in the heart of the True Intent Crimson Tiger behind him.
Boom!!!
He punched.
The True Intent Water Dragon, baring its fangs and charging, exploded into pieces.
Water splashed everywhere, and the fist struck Lu Xinglong's chest, shattering bones and shaking his heart.
Tendrils of fire invaded, and explosive power lurked within.
"The weak have an illusion..."
"They think they can match me."
(End of the Chapter)
---
Read (MF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c260. [+5.3k Words]
Early Access at $5.
Translated (5) Series, (2.5K+) Chapters, (3.4M+) Words.