Translator: CinderTL
Mist drifted in the air.
That night, Chen Feng stood atop a high-rise building in the danger zone, overlooking the entire city with a black backpack slung over his shoulders.
An invisible spatial barrier formed a circular dome at the edge, isolating the heavens and the earth.
"If this continues, one day we'll exhaust all explorable areas."
As he sensed the limits of the danger zone before him, a sense of urgency grew in Chen Feng's heart.
Breaking through limits was his greatest confidence.
If he failed to shatter the spatial barrier by the time he finished exploring this region, his strength would inevitably hit a bottleneck.
This wasn't something that could be overcome by talent alone.
After all, the Azure Armor, Steel Bones, and Heart of Glory all consumed his physical and mental energy to maintain.
If his own strength wasn't sufficient, even an increase in talent wouldn't sustain him for long.
"Hu!"
He took a deep breath, calming his mind and suppressing distracting thoughts.
Chen Feng knew that the only thing he could do now was to make the most of all the resources available here.
With that, he leaped down, the Azure Armor enveloping his body.
With a flap of his Blood Wings, he locked onto an Extreme Martial Hall and darted toward it.
Roar!!!
A massive creature roared, blocking his path, its fifth-tier aura exuding immense pressure.
Boom!!
A dull explosion echoed, lasting for a long time.
Finally, a beam of white light mixed with golden patterns descended from the sky, securing the final victory.
Boom!!!
A deep crater formed on the ground. The creature, resembling a cross between a crocodile and a dragon, had its head pierced and collapsed a high-rise building before its body slowly dissipated.
Chen Feng removed the Azure Armor's visor, taking a few deep breaths.
The black light around him sizzled away, and the golden sword in his hand was slowly retracted.
"This guy's defense was really strong."
Its hardness was likely close to Radiant Alloy, and its strength surpassed that of the Gray Ape King.
From this battle, Chen Feng realized that even within the fifth tier, there were differences in strength.
Shaking his head, he stopped pondering and quickly rushed into the Extreme Martial Hall, sweeping up all the loot.
Nine Limit Breaking Orbs and a fragment of an iron book.
The masked man and the Faceless One were clearly driven away and no longer present. Chen Feng glanced at the fragment of the iron book and prepared to absorb it.
[Heavenly Aura Overlord Body.]
"Huh?"
Suddenly, the words on the fragment of the iron book caught his eye.
His gaze sharpened, and Chen Feng froze in place.
His breathing inexplicably grew heavier as he quickly took out his black backpack, retrieving a black notebook to compare with the keynotes he had copied down in the past.
Piece by piece, he matched and pieced them together.
Gradually.
[Cultivation method, one of the high-level Strengthening Techniques: Heavenly Aura Overlord Body!]
[Cultivation requirement: Must master at least three beginner-level Strengthening Techniques to perfection and attain Inner Strength before beginning cultivation.]
[After mastering this Strengthening Technique, it has four layers: Mighty Arms, Aura Body, Giant Dome, and Overlord Body!]
[First layer: Mighty Arms. Cultivation key: Use Inner Strength to temper the meridians of both arms, stimulating six acupoints. Apply the secret medicine, Giant Vein Ointment, and polish the skin with gold sand day and night. Alternatively, use mid- to high-grade Essence-nourishing substances to strengthen the body and aid cultivation.]
[After successful cultivation, possess immense strength, capable of throwing stars with Mighty Arms!]
In an instant, almost in a single glance.
[Heavenly Aura Overlord Body: Unfamiliar (1%)+]
"Finally... I've got it."
A smile appeared on his face as Chen Feng exhaled deeply, calming his mind and focusing his spirit.
The Essence of Combat Diagram appeared in his mind—a scene of a meteor comet destroying the world.
Yet, there was a figure standing on the peak of a cliff, standing tall, exuding an endless will to fight.
Fight!
Extreme Combat!!
[Heavenly Aura Overlord Body: Mastered (1%)+]
With the True Intent visualized, he instantly mastered it.
But Chen Feng wasn't satisfied. He immediately used all his Extreme Martial Arts and Limit Breaking Orbs.
Buzz!
An unprecedented realization flooded his mind—the loneliness of countless days and nights spent tempering his muscles and bones, stimulating his acupoints.
One second, two seconds, three seconds...
[Heavenly Aura Overlord Body: Mastered (88%)+]
"Huh?"
Just a bit short? Does it require more Limit Breaking Orbs than the Extreme Martial Fist?
Chen Feng frowned, then looked outside the martial hall.
About two hundred meters away, a masked man with Inner Strength trembled in a corner, and the Faceless One beside him was even worse off.
His eyes lit up.
He knew that today's breakthrough was assured!
Swoosh!!
With a leap, he swiftly captured them.
The two Extreme Martial Arts didn't provide many useful memory fragments, and soon only one word echoed.
"Enhance!"
[Heavenly Aura Overlord Body: Mighty Arms (1%)]
Crackling sounds erupted as Chen Feng suddenly felt a tearing pain in the muscles of his arms.
It was too sudden, as if his bones and muscles were breaking and reforming, driving him to the brink of madness.
Even with iron-like willpower, he couldn't help but furrow his brows, sweat beading on his face.
Time passed, each minute excruciating.
Finally, the pain suddenly subsided.
Chen Feng used his Inner Strength to evaporate the sweat on his face and then looked at the status panel before him.
[Strength: 46.5→47.5→47.6]
[Agility: 40.8→41.6]
[Constitution: 55.3→57.6]
[Willpower: 44.8→45.7]
"This..."
It was a strangely familiar scene. All attributes except strength had increased slightly before stopping.
Only strength continued to grow, as if undergoing an infinite transformation.
Instinctively, Chen Feng clenched his fists and immediately threw a powerful punch forward.
Boom!!!
The air shook, as if a sonic boom had erupted.
White qi formed a circle in mid-air, and the street wall several meters away was struck by the shockwave, collapsing inward.
Chen Feng frowned. Although his strength had increased, it wasn't particularly noticeable.
Recalling his past experiences with physical transformations and the cultivation keynotes of the Heavenly Aura Overlord Body, he quickly identified the issue.
"It seems this is similar to a physical transformation."
"The Mighty Arms of the Heavenly Aura Overlord Body require the muscles of both arms to undergo transformation and restructuring. The keynotes also mention that this method requires a large amount of secret medicine and Essence-nourishing substances to aid the process."
"But because of the Extreme Martial Arts and Limit Breaking Orbs, I took a shortcut... The slight increase just now likely consumed my own body's Essence. Due to a protective mechanism, it stopped supplying energy after reaching a certain point."
His eyes flashed as he reached a conclusion.
His Heavenly Aura Overlord Body had indeed broken through to the Mighty Arms level.
However, due to the lack of Essence-nourishing substances or related secret medicines and nutritional supplements, it couldn't be considered a complete breakthrough.
A more accurate description would be that the Mighty Arms transformation was incomplete.
He needed to quickly replenish his nutrients to support the completion of the transformation.
With the answer in mind, Chen Feng felt reassured.
This wasn't a major problem; he could supplement it gradually later.
As his thoughts flickered, he planned to continue exploring the dreamscape.
But soon, a series of dull thuds echoed through the world.
The mist-filled world suddenly became illusory. Chen Feng frowned, and in the next moment, the world changed drastically.
"Junior Brother Chen!"
"Junior Brother Chen, something's happened!"
Cao Tong's shouts rang out outside the room, and continuous knocking woke Chen Feng.
Glancing at his phone, it was around 2 a.m.
Zooming in, he could see numerous flying cars surrounding the building outside, with several powerful auras appearing nearby.
Having a rough idea of the situation, he quickly got up, changed into black clothes, and opened the door.
"Something's happened."
"That Golden General who blocked us today is dead. I heard Luo Hui is also dead."
"The Red Guard General's people are here. They say you're a suspect and want you to cooperate with the investigation."
Cao Tong spoke urgently, and many figures began appearing in the hallway, all looking down at the lobby.
The hotel's interior was hollow, with glass panels on each floor's corridor allowing a view of the lobby.
In an instant, red and blue lights flashed as security officers rushed into the hotel.
Grandmasters Xie Xiao and Zhou Wuren, along with their disciples, all had varying expressions, frowning in confusion.
Before they could ask questions, commotion erupted from the lobby below.
"The Safety Bureau can't just act recklessly, can they?"
"Are you blind? This is Wu Chi, the Red Guard General!"
Slap! Slap!
The sound of two slaps rang out, followed by a series of rapid footsteps.
Soon, the sound of boots clacking on the staircase echoed, and the elevator also rose continuously, heading straight for their floor.
Glancing to the side, more than a dozen flying cars hovered outside the corridor windows, with a gray-black aircraft at the center. Its cannon's muzzle glowed blue, as if preparing to fire an energy cannon.
No surprises here—Chen Feng had already guessed he would be labeled a suspect.
After all, Yun Port was the only central city in Feng Province, with the Safety Bureau and Red Guard General stationed here. Their efficiency was naturally higher than in Nanjiang.
Ding!!
At that moment, the elevator arrived at their floor.
A powerful aura surged forth as three people stepped out, their expressions unreadable.
The man on the left was in his early thirties, wearing the Red Guard General's combat uniform for Golden Generals. He had a crew cut, a tall and burly frame, and although his synthetic skin concealed it, it was clear he was a Cyborg.
The woman on the far right wore a similar outfit, but her eyes contained mechanical parts. She carried a silver briefcase, exuding an aura at the peak of the Grandmaster level.
But these weren't the main focus.
Chen Feng stood in the corridor, his back to the room door. From start to finish, his gaze remained fixed on the middle-aged man in the center.
He wore a brown trench coat over a white shirt and black tie, standing about 1.9 meters tall with a slender build. His slicked-back hair gave him a refined appearance, but he always stayed half a step ahead of the two beside him.
His hands hung empty, but Chen Feng felt a faint sense of danger.
Fifth tier.
An invisible yet powerful force field surrounded him at all times, obstructing Chen Feng's perception and preventing him from immediately discerning the man's power system.
"Chen Feng."
The woman beside the man suddenly spoke, her tone cold.
"From Nanjiang City, Feng Province. Twenty-three years old. Graduated from Nanjiang Business College this July. Studied martial arts in the Heavenly Flame Tiger Sect for four months before breaking through to the Grandmaster level. Known in the martial arts world as the Innate Tyrant Bone, with unparalleled talent."
"Stopped riots in the district, hunted down members of the evil martial arts sect, the Divine Martial Alliance, assisted the Nanjiang City Joint Council in killing the Utopia's Golden Guard (Jin Wei), and challenged the Flying Dragon Sect at the Huai River, killing three Grandmasters..."
"Currently invited by the Black Crystal Group to explore ancient civilization ruins in Yun Port."
The female Golden General with long, straight black hair tied into a ponytail looked exceptionally sharp.
Her frosty tone was devoid of emotion. Xie Xiao and the others nearby looked puzzled, wondering why only three Grandmasters were mentioned as killed at the Huai River when four had died.
"After verification and investigation, you are now suspected of being connected to the four-star wanted criminal, Blue Demon, and of having close ties to an illegal Cyborg organization."
"Additionally, you are suspected of being involved in the deaths of Luo Hui, the council representative, and our Red Guard's Yu Ling."
"We hereby notify you to cooperate with the investigation and come with us immediately."
Her tone was icy as she stared directly at Chen Feng, gesturing to the side. "Please."
As soon as she finished speaking, security officers from the staircase had already surrounded the area.
The atmosphere turned frigid. Cao Tong was anxious and wanted to explain.
Chen Feng sensed everything, his expression impassive.
He shook his head slightly at Cao Tong and took a step forward.
Tap!
The crisp sound of high-heeled boots echoed as Meng Anran, wrapped in a black trench coat, appeared from the other end of the corridor, yawning.
"Red Guard General Wu."
"We are honored by your visit to the Black Crystal Group."
"But why such a grand display?"
Her tone was curious and surprised. The woman with the briefcase frowned, wanting to retort, but a glance from the male Golden General made her purse her lips.
"Miss Meng."
"You should understand the implications of this matter better than I do. Vice Councilor Luo has already issued an urgent directive to our Red Guard General, demanding a thorough investigation into the killer."
The middle-aged man in the brown trench coat finally spoke, his expression calm and his refined, slender face revealing little emotion.
"Oh?"
"Red Guard General Wu, then why has the investigation led you to our Black Crystal Group?"
"Is Grandmaster Chen the murderer?"
Meng Anran asked curiously. Red Guard General Wu nodded slightly.
"That possibility cannot be ruled out."
"Oh."
Meng Anran made a sound of acknowledgment and walked over to stand beside Chen Feng.
"In that case, Grandmaster Chen must be quite remarkable."
She exchanged a glance with Chen Feng, deliberately speaking, then turned back to the group opposite.
"A mere two-phase Grandmaster, yet capable of killing a high-level Titanium Cyborg and even defeating a skilled Cyborg like Golden General Yu."
"Red Guard General Wu, is that what you're implying?"
The atmosphere tensed. The woman with the briefcase could no longer hold back.
"Meng Anran, what do you mean by that!"
Her dark golden eyes, filled with mechanical parts, seemed ready to act.
Buzz!
A force field quietly spread as Old Gu appeared behind Meng Anran without warning.
Numerous Black Crystal Group security personnel also emerged, all dressed in black trench coats, some holding guns while others activated energy devices. The black diamond crystal emblem on their left elbows was prominent.
Most of the pressure from the Red Guard General's side was quietly defused. The two groups faced off, and the black-haired woman's face turned furious as she shouted.
"Meng Anran, is the Black Crystal Group planning a rebellion?!"
As she spoke, her briefcase rapidly transformed, covering her shoulders and arms like a cannon.
Red Guard General Wu also frowned, his gaze at Meng Anran filled with displeasure.
At this critical moment, an unusual sound appeared.
A figure riding a single-person aircraft descended from the sky, dressed in a black combat uniform with red patterns. The emblem of a red sword and shield crossed on his left chest was particularly eye-catching.
"Old Wu, your subordinates sure have a temper."
The newcomer chuckled, his body slightly plump and middle-aged.
Seeing him, Red Guard General Wu's frown deepened, his tone unfriendly.
"Yu Heng, are you interfering?"
His aura seemed to be brewing, like the calm before a volcanic eruption.
But Yu Heng just laughed, waving his hand dismissively. "Why would I interfere?"
"It's just that this matter... heh."
(End of the Chapter)
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