Translator: Cinder Translations
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[Steel Bones LV2: 67/100]
Chen Feng glanced at the progress of his Steel Bones skill and sighed in disappointment.
As expected, after upgrading Steel Bones, the growth difficulty increased, and the effect of the Incomplete Iron Book was halved.
Without dwelling on it further, he immediately took out a map from his black bag, searching for the next branch of the Extreme Martial Hall.
To the east, inside a shopping mall, approximately ten kilometers away in a straight line.
Without hesitation, he packed up his belongings.
Leaving the martial hall, he confirmed his direction and headed straight east.
One kilometer, two kilometers, three kilometers...
Along the way, he obtained two more Limit Breaking Points and encountered two separate groups of Faceless Ones.
Bang!!
Several figures were sent flying, and the gray light clusters surged into his body.
[Perception LV3: 40/100]
"Still not fast enough."
Retracting his gaze, Chen Feng looked ahead at the rows of buildings and the winding roads.
The dream world had a time limit, and based on past experiences, he sensed that the dream was nearing its end.
Without hesitation, he activated his Azure Armor, bursting forward with speed.
Buzz!
His figure became a blur, moving faster and faster.
He abandoned some buildings on both sides, sacrificing short-term gains for a greater reward.
Finally, as he covered another third of the remaining distance—
The mist ahead suddenly dispersed. A wave of dizziness struck as the world spun.
Chen Feng opened his eyes. A familiar ceiling came into view, with a slightly dusty fluorescent light hanging above.
"I'm back."
Turning to the side, he retrieved his phone from under the pillow. The time remained unchanged—7:05 AM.
He got up, walked to the window, and pulled open the curtains.
The sky was clear and blue, with white clouds drifting lazily under the morning sun.
Shifting his gaze slightly, Chen Feng checked the other two stats on his panel.
[Limit Breaking Points: 14]
[Extreme Martial Points: 3]
After advancing Crimson Tiger Force to Steel Fire yesterday, he was left with four Limit Breaking Points.
Now, they had accumulated to fourteen in total.
"Let's try it."
Looking at the Crimson Tiger Force skill display, Chen Feng silently activated the enhancement.
Buzz!
A flood of insights surged in, and the progress increased.
[Crimson Tiger Force: Steel Fire (42%)]
"As expected."
Even advancing through the Blazing Flame stage was challenging, so Steel Fire would only be harder.
With that in mind, his gaze fell on the three Extreme Martial points.
Chen Feng hesitated for a moment but ultimately restrained himself from Decomposing them.
"Better to wait."
Decomposing was easy, but the choice was irreversible.
Keeping them gave him more options in case of emergencies.
Suppressing his scattered thoughts, Chen Feng finally left the bedroom and quickly freshened up.
After finishing a hearty breakfast—several steaming bowls of beef noodles—and grabbing a few energy bars, he stepped out of his apartment, hailed a taxi, and left the residential complex.
High-rise buildings blurred past on both sides. Pedestrians crowded the bus stops, waiting in the morning rush.
The autumn wind swept through the open car window, carrying the exhaust fumes and city noise.
Buzz!
Chen Feng closed the window, but the quiet didn't last long.
[According to reports, the City United Coalition, led by Representative Chu Shihong, has launched a second offensive against Utopia.]
[Before the operation, Representative Chu stated that Nanjiang City is a beautiful place, and such beauty should not be tarnished by terrorist organizations like Utopia.]
[We urge all citizens to trust in the Council's determination. They will surely...]
A female news anchor's voice filled the taxi's radio. Chen Feng listened in silence.
"This representative seems quite capable, much better than those other politicians."
"The city has finally been a bit more peaceful these past few days."
The taxi driver started a conversation, but Chen Feng merely responded with a brief "Mm," showing no interest in continuing the discussion.
As they neared the martial hall, the car slowed down.
A three-character signboard came into view. Chen Feng scanned the QR code to pay, then stepped out of the taxi once it stopped.
"Wow, this guy is huge... Is he a martial hall instructor?"
The driver muttered in curiosity as Chen Feng moved through the bustling street crowd with firm steps toward the martial hall.
"Senior Brother!"
"Senior Brother, good morning!"
The passing trainees greeted him respectfully, their strong voices drawing the attention of many toward the tall, imposing figure in black.
Nodding lightly, Chen Feng continued walking without stopping.
Soon, at the entrance of the martial hall, he encountered Lin Hao rushing over.
"Whew, almost late."
Lin Hao grinned, clearly in a good mood.
"Problem solved?" Chen Feng paused briefly, asking casually.
"Yeah, thanks to your friend's help."
With a grateful tone, Lin Hao briefly described yesterday's events.
Chen Feng's mind stirred—he had just learned that the person Shield Golem had killed was none other than Winged Tiger, Dong Tao.
"So that Dong Tao overestimated himself, huh? Instead of leaving Nanjiang, he actually dared to seek revenge on your friend..."
Shaking his head at the thought, Lin Hao continued,
"But seriously, your friend is insanely strong."
"I remember he was just at the Bronze-grade not long ago, but in such a short time, he's already surpassed most Silver-grade experts..."
Chen Feng slowed his pace, quietly listening.
Through Lin Hao's words, he gathered a crucial piece of information about the modified humans.
Although implanting modification modules can strengthen a person in all aspects, this transformation is not without limitations.
Some people are naturally only capable of withstanding Bronze-grade modifications; exceeding this level would cause their consciousness to collapse, turning them into a vegetative state.
Others, however, can endure higher-quality modules, continuously pushing their potential limits.
Because of this, Lin Hao was surprised by Blue Demon's rapid growth.
"Your friend has a physique naturally suited for modifications. He might even have a chance to reach the Gold-grade."
"Really! Why don't you pass along my message and ask him and his team if they're interested in joining my security company? I'll provide all the resources—he won't have to worry about anything."
Lin Hao spoke enthusiastically, and Chen Feng remained silent for a moment upon hearing his words.
He could sense the sincerity and anticipation in Lin Hao's tone.
However...
"I'll pass the message to him, but I can't make the decision for him."
Chen Feng found an excuse, though he was indeed somewhat tempted.
Getting access to all kinds of high-grade metals for free—why not?
But the key issue was that he wasn't ready to reveal Blue Demon's identity yet.
After all, he wasn't a cyborg. His Azure Armor talent was too unique—if word got out, it would cause an uproar.
Moreover, if he joined Lin Hao's security company and interacted with him frequently, Lin Hao would eventually notice something off.
He needed to think this over carefully.
"Alright, I'll wait for your reply."
Lin Hao smiled cheerfully before heading off to the training room.
Chen Feng withdrew his gaze and went to the meditation chamber.
Suppressing stray thoughts, he took out a blue porcelain bottle.
It contained a new batch of Muscle Fortifying Tiger Bone Pills. He removed the wooden cap, poured out one pill—gray in color, round, and the size of a knuckle.
A faint fishy smell emanated from it. Chen Feng tossed it into his mouth and bit down.
Tap, tap, tap!
Footsteps echoed outside the meditation chamber as ten core trainees arrived right on time.
Before long, the sound of iron rods striking reverberated continuously, marking further progress in the Bronze Statue Technique.
At the same time—
In Nanjing City, on the road to the high-speed rail station...
An old man and a young man wore gloomy expressions.
The elder was clad in a loose crane-patterned robe, both arms in plaster casts wrapped in bandages and suspended from his neck. He sat in a wheelchair in a miserable state, being pushed forward.
The younger man had removed his bandages, but his cheeks were still slightly swollen upon close inspection. His eyes had lost their former confidence and brilliance.
"Master, how are we supposed to explain this when we go back…?"
Jiang Yuan pushed the wheelchair, glancing toward the distant high-speed rail station.
The area was sparsely populated—they had deliberately chosen a less crowded route, unwilling to suffer further humiliation.
"Explain? We'll explain everything clearly!"
"This Flame Tiger Sect is arrogant and ruthless! When we return, we must report everything truthfully to the Grand Elder!"
Qian Chang Song's tone was gloomy. "And that brat… He must have been born with natural divine strength."
"Heh, the Flame Tiger Sect has been hiding him so well. They clearly want him to make a name for himself in the upcoming martial arts conference. Our scouting mission wasn't in vain—when the time comes, others will deal with him for us and cripple that brat!"
Jiang Yuan's eyes brightened at these words.
Just as he was about to respond, he suddenly felt an inexplicable chill.
He raised his head to look at the sky—clear and cloudless.
As someone on the verge of mastering Internal Force, why did he suddenly feel cold despite his thick clothing?
Caw!
A sharp cry rang out from above. Looking carefully, he saw a pitch-black crow perched on a nearby utility pole.
Qian Chang Song frowned slightly, sensing something was off.
Looking around, he realized—
The people on the street had vanished without a trace.
The parked cars and trees on both sides cast long shadows under the sunlight, exuding an eerie chill.
Silence. Coldness.
A scent of death and decay lingered in the air.
"Not good."
Qian Chang Song's expression shifted. His instincts screamed danger.
Just as he was about to order his disciple to push him away quickly—
A figure appeared in front of them, walking toward them.
Clad in a black robe, his exposed eyes were pitch-black, surrounded by a crimson glow.
At the same time, four more figures emerged from the shadows, their powerful presence sealing off all escape routes.
"Although… I also want to kill that brat as much as you do."
"But…"
The man in the black robe strode forward as a crow descended from midair, landing on his left shoulder.
"One must start with an appetizer."
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[Bronze Statue Technique: Bronze Bones (31%)]
At noon, in the quiet training room of the martial arts hall.
Ten core disciples, drenched in sweat, left exhausted. Chen Feng glanced at the progress on his panel and nodded.
Not bad.
The Muscle Fortifying Tiger Bone Pill was quite effective, saving him a good amount of Limit-Breaking Light Orbs.
His progress wasn't slow, and Chen Feng speculated that this was likely due to his mastery of the Tiger Form Technique.
Although it was of slightly lower quality compared to hard martial arts, it was still a true martial technique.
His strengthened physique had laid a solid foundation, and in some aspects of tempering his muscles, bones, and skin, it even helped reduce the time needed for refining the Bronze Statue Technique.
Shaking his head, he suppressed his wandering thoughts.
Chen Feng stood by the window and took a look at his current reflection.
At 1.82 meters tall, with sharp, sword-like eyebrows.
A tall and imposing build with a short buzz cut.
His well-defined muscles looked as if they were carved from stone.
Simply standing there gave off an oppressive aura.
But that wasn't what concerned Chen Feng the most.
What drew his attention were his eyes.
Calm, steady.
Yet, beneath the surface, there was an invasive, predatory presence—like a tiger gazing down on its prey.
"I've grown stronger again."
Chen Feng could sense the difference.
This was a change brought about by practicing Crimson Tiger Force, but it had been manageable before.
Now, ever since Crimson Tiger Force advanced to Steel Fire, this oppressive aura had intensified.
For some reason, Chen Feng thought of his master, Li Tong, and his third martial uncle.
They had also practiced Crimson Tiger Force, so why had he never sensed this from them?
"Could it be because they've broken through to the realm of true intent?"
Chen Feng pondered, forming a hypothesis.
After a day of training, he was exhausted. Instead of dwelling on it, he pushed aside all his thoughts and left the quiet room, heading to the cafeteria with Lin Hao for lunch.
---
At the foot of Cloud Mountain, deep in the forest.
The ground was littered with corpses and shattered metal remnants.
The earth was scorched black, and a heavily armored vehicle had been destroyed. The underground base hidden within the rocky mountainside had been utterly annihilated.
Yet, that wasn't the most concerning part.
Several masked individuals, each wearing a brooch with intricate patterns, stood among the ruins. These were the core members of Utopia, and not one of them dared to breathe too loudly. Their gazes were locked onto the distance with grave expressions.
A massive crater, as if left by a meteor impact.
Inside lay two corpses, surrounded by dark gold and silver metal fragments embedded in the dirt.
Nearby, a towering figure stood silently.
With shoulder-length black hair and a broad back, he stood at an imposing two meters tall.
An aura reminiscent of a lion awakening spread outward.
Within a radius of ten meters, no one dared make a sound.
"Who did this?"
His deep voice rang out, and the core members of Utopia flinched, quickly shifting their gazes toward their leader.
"The United Coalition."
Suppressing all guesses and speculations, their leader—an imposing man with slicked-back hair, clad in a black suit—spoke decisively.
"Though the scene was severely damaged and all surveillance footage destroyed..."
"The only force in Nanjiang City capable of such destruction—and that is sworn to annihilate us—is the United Coalition."
As his words settled, the expressions of those present varied.
Some quickly voiced agreement—after all, the United Coalition had recently declared a second extermination campaign against them.
That alone was evidence enough.
Others nodded hastily, fearing that Jin Wei might lose control and send them to meet his foolish and arrogant brother.
"Is that so."
"It seems I've truly slept for too long."
His voice was low, his lion-like silhouette unmoving.
A stifling pressure spread through the air. Some frowned, deep in thought.
Crack.
Cracks spread across the ground near the crater, and the surrounding forest trembled, leaves rustling violently.
Then—
Boom!
A deafening impact shook the earth.
Many of those standing in the distance staggered, and countless trees toppled over.
Horrified, the Utopia members turned to see that the massive crater had suddenly been filled in—sealed shut in an instant by a single stomp.
"I will send him to meet you."
"My foolish brother."
As the words fell, the lion-like figure stepped forward.
Buzz!
Like an afterimage, he vanished from sight in an instant.
The entire forest trembled continuously, trees collapsing in succession, and even massive boulders were shattered in his wake.
Witnessing this unstoppable, overwhelming display of force, several core members' expressions darkened.
Then, their leader issued an order.
"Everyone, begin the operation!"
A jolt ran through the assembled members.
Immediately, the fully armed combatants boarded their hover vehicles and sped off.
Drones and modified humanoids took flight, swiftly following the retreating figure of Jin Wei.
Within mere seconds, more than half the personnel had vanished from the scene, leaving the forest eerily empty.
Seeing this, the remaining core members frowned deeply.
One of them glanced at the corpses and wreckage before cautiously approaching the leader.
Speaking in a whisper that only the two of them could hear, he voiced his suspicion.
"Silver Wolf... wasn't killed by the United Coalition, was he?"
The stolen cybernetic modules had been seized by an unknown force.
And nearby, they had discovered the corpses of Dong Tao's team.
Logically speaking, the United Coalition shouldn't be the only suspect.
"What do you think?"
Instead of answering, the leader simply shot him a cold glance.
A chill ran down the man's spine as he recalled their plan.
Jin Wei was the key.
Only he could hold off the United Coalition.
So...
Realizing the implications, he dared not ask any further.
(End of the Chapter)
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