Translator: CinderTL
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Two days and two nights.
A thousand miles of travel, and that too in the wilderness, constantly detouring.
The three of them had not rested for a moment, their eyes bloodshot and weary, carrying the unconscious Li Tong and Zhao Jushan as they hurried along.
The flying car's energy was nearly depleted, but then—
"Almost there."
Lin Xiaoyun gripped the steering wheel tightly, speeding into the forest, all the dust and noise quietly concealed by the green canopy.
"This is Luohe City."
"Another hundred miles, and we'll be in the outskirts of Nanjiang."
Her tired voice couldn't hide her excitement. Lin Xiaoyun couldn't help but look in the rearview mirror, where Chen Feng, now with a bit of stubble, appeared.
She knew very well that they had been able to escape so far thanks to him.
He could always sense the enemy's position in critical moments, allowing them to detour and avoid them in time.
Later, when they encountered the enemy several times, it was he who led Xu Tingxiao in decapitation actions, quickly leaving the scene.
"Turn left."
Chen Feng suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse.
Looking closely, his eyes were much dimmer, having lost much of their usual luster.
His body, wrapped in a coat, was dotted with blood, and his black long pants were in the same condition, the dried blood making them appear even darker.
All that blood was from others, splashing onto him and blooming on his body.
Apart from his perception, his other three talents had all progressed, but he had no time to examine them in detail.
Whoosh!!
The flying car sped forward, and Lin Xiaoyun turned left as ordered, weaving through the forest.
The pursuers, undetected by his perception, were gradually falling behind.
The Flying Dragon Group had pursued them all the way, but Chen Feng began to feel some doubt.
The pursuers were getting fewer.
He wasn't sure if it was because they were running out of manpower and gradually giving up the chase, or if there were other ambushes.
His mental energy was nearly depleted, and he had little energy left to think critically.
For a moment, the car was silent.
Xu Tingxiao, his body also stained with blood, stared intently at the road ahead, slapping his own face several times to stay awake.
Lin Xiaoyun fought off her fatigue and continued to press the gas pedal.
Gradually, the forest road came to a brief end, and another fifty miles were shortened.
The outskirts of Nanjiang were getting closer, and the three of them felt a sense of indescribable emotion, as if they were about to return home.
Whoosh!!
But at that very moment—
A missile streaked through the air, and Chen Feng's eyes changed slightly as he gave a warning.
Boom!!
The ground caved in, and debris flew everywhere.
The trees at the end of the forest were scorched and shattered, falling in a heap.
The flying car, narrowly avoiding the missile, was hit by the shockwave, its body twisting and deforming as it rolled several times, smashing through tree roots and green trees.
Whoosh!!
A gray spherical flying craft appeared in the sky, followed by four or five flying cars.
A cyborg, standing on a personal flying craft, hovered in the air, holding a silver briefcase and looking down at the ground with vigilance.
Several gun barrels swiveled, and someone spoke excitedly.
"These people are really stupid, letting us ambush them successfully."
"Mainly because Captain Xu deployed us well, having us wait outside Nanjiang in advance."
Excited and agitated voices continued to ring out, and the hovering cyborgs did not stop them.
After a long escape and significant consumption, the targets were like fish in a barrel.
As the captain of this pursuit squad, he would surely receive great credit and a bright future.
Click!
Finally, the dust on the ground settled.
The twisted and deformed car door was kicked open.
Glass shards scattered everywhere, and a light coughing sound could be heard.
Two men and a woman, though covered in dust, were not seriously injured.
The unconscious old man and the strong man were carried on their shoulders, and the cyborg narrowed his eyes, looking at the central, imposing young man.
Raising his hand, he waved.
Without a word, he ordered his subordinates to launch a missile, intending to end their lives.
Click!
The sound of a gun being cocked rang out, and Lin Xiaoyun couldn't help but close her eyes in despair, while Xu Tingxiao stared intently at the cyborg's face.
But Chen Feng, who was also locked onto, showed a hint of a relaxed smile.
Whoosh!!
The missile streaked through the air and hit the unguarded flying craft in mid-air.
A thunderous explosion, and a burst of flames.
The cyborgs in the air dodged clumsily, and several pieces of machinery debris fell to the ground.
"Who is it?!"
Shouting in shock and anger, everyone looked up.
The sound of footsteps rustled.
Several figures in black combat uniforms appeared, including muscular men with injected enhancers and a man in a suit with mechanical modifications, carrying a rocket launcher.
In addition, several more figures emerged.
Black, wide suits were thrown aside, and two imposing, Silver-grade level modified men coldly gazed at the flying cyborgs in the air.
A young man in casual clothes slowly walked out, approaching Chen Feng.
"Rare to see you in such a state."
A teasing voice, a familiar face.
Chen Feng smiled, feeling the tension in his nerves finally relax, the fatigue in his limbs surging up.
"Leave it to me."
Their eyes met for a moment, and a complex expression flashed in them.
Lin Hao looked up at the cyborgs and the flying cars, his expression gradually calming.
"Not one of them will be left alive."
Boom!!
Explosions filled the sky, and Silver-grade strikes followed.
Xu Tingxiao was filled with surprise and doubt, suddenly feeling his body sink as he turned his head.
His reassuring senior brother had fallen asleep at some point.
No matter how intense the commotion, he simply leaned against himself, his brows relaxed, eyes closed, and breathing evenly.
For a moment, a sense of relief and guilt arose.
Xu Tingxiao and Lin Xiaoyun exchanged a glance, both knowing—
They had returned alive.
---
Two days later.
In the courtyard of the Flame Tiger Sect.
True disciples appeared one by one, some with broken arms in casts, others with bandaged heads.
Cao Tong, leaning on a cane, stood under the eaves, his face anxious and pale.
"I think we should disband the disciples."
Wei Ping, one of the three true disciples, suddenly spoke, his face at forty-something filled with worry.
At these words, several people frowned.
"Third Senior Brother, what do you mean by that!"
Lin Xiaoyun, who had rested for two days and recovered her energy, wore a red palace dress. Her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and she was somewhat angry.
Xu Tingxiao had a similar expression. Two days ago, thanks to Lin Hao and his security company, they had safely returned to Nanjiang.
But the situation of the sect was worse than they had expected.
"I don't mean it that way, Lin Junior Sister."
Wei Ping's face was filled with worry, and he smiled bitterly. He looked around at everyone, then at the closed courtyard door, and quickly explained, "A few days ago, a group of mysterious people suddenly attacked the sect and the martial arts school. The third elder was severely injured and hasn't recovered yet."
"Now, with the Flying Dragon Sect as a major enemy, they could appear at any time. The junior uncle is missing, and the sect leader is unconscious. The sect and the martial arts school can't be taken care of."
"My idea is to let the non-core ordinary disciples leave early to avoid being implicated."
His tone was filled with worry, and Lin Xiaoyun's expression eased slightly as she understood his meaning.
To preserve some seeds for the sect, so there would be a chance to rebuild.
"Third Senior Brother has a point, but—"
Wu Shuang, with a cast on her left arm, shook her head, her face pale, clearly still injured: "Our Flame Tiger Sect is in a precarious situation. If we spread the word, some people might leave."
"Then, it might be beyond our control."
Her tone was calm, but everyone could hear the concern in her words.
Sighs echoed, and finally, the second true disciple, Zhang Guiyuan, sitting on a stone bench, shook his head and spoke.
"Both Junior Brother Wei and Junior Sister Wu have valid points, but how to handle this—"
"Let's wait for Junior Brother Chen to wake up and decide."
He touched his empty left sleeve, and his black hair had a touch of gray.
Lying in the courtyard room, Chen Feng opened his eyes.
Two days of sleep.
Due to the immense consumption, he hadn't even entered a dream.
He had woken up a few minutes ago, his energy fully restored, and he had heard the conversation outside the door.
"Mysterious people—"
Thinking about what Wei Ping had mentioned, Chen Feng's mind filled with multiple speculations.
The timing of the attacks on the sect and the martial arts school coincided with their events in Yun Port, which made him think more.
And the disappearance of the junior uncle was also very strange.
Shaking his head, Chen Feng thought again about the existence of the Flying Dragon Sect.
With grandmasters sitting in, and possibly more than one.
Backed by a large corporation and closely related to the provincial council in Yun Port.
For a moment, the slight peace of returning to Nanjiang was diluted, and Chen Feng felt a certain pressure again.
The battle at the venue had already made him realize that in the struggle of dragons and tigers, only one could survive.
So, he knew that the Flying Dragon Sect would eventually come to Nanjiang and take action against them.
The thought flashed through his mind, and he looked at the panel.
[Azure Armor LV3: 85/100]
[Steel Bone LV2: 97/100]
[Heart of Glory LV2: 25/100]
The battle at the venue and the subsequent pursuit.
The dead had provided him with fear nutrients, and the cyborgs' flying weapons had further strengthened his Steel Bone.
Additionally, the Heart of Glory.
Several major battles, possibly due to the opponents being only at the True Intent level, or because of the talent upgrades.
The Glory Points obtained were not as many as he had expected.
His gaze lingered on this for a few seconds, and Chen Feng gradually had some ideas.
He couldn't sit and wait for disaster, nor could he watch the Flame Tiger Sect fall apart.
So—
Perhaps after some arrangements were made.
He should go out once to seek nutrients for these talents.
The thought flashed through his mind, and he got up, put on a black coat, and pushed open the door.
Creak!
The sound echoed, and the true disciples, who were in conversation, stopped and looked over.
"Senior Brother!"
Xu Tingxiao was the most excited. Perhaps even he hadn't noticed that the word "Senior Brother" had become natural to him.
Lin Xiaoyun was also pleasantly surprised. Among the people present, perhaps only she and Zhao Junior Brother could truly understand how powerful Junior Brother Chen was.
"Junior Brother Chen!"
"Junior Brother Chen, you're finally awake!"
"Junior Brother Chen, are you hungry?"
Voices rang out one after another, and Cao Tong followed Xu Tingxiao to the side, asking, while the other true disciples showed similar respect.
They had all heard from Lin Xiaoyun and Xu Tingxiao about their escape, and regardless of the details, the fact that Chen Feng was at the sect leader level was undeniable.
Just this point alone meant that as long as Chen Feng didn't destroy the Flame Tiger Sect, any orders he gave would be followed without question.
"Let's go see the Master and the others first." Chen Feng gently shook his head, responding to each of them before speaking.
Everyone was taken aback, and Xu Tingxiao quickly led the way.
Walking through the crowd, Chen Feng suddenly paused, his gaze sweeping over their injuries.
Thanks to advanced technology and secret medicines, most injuries were not severe and had a chance of complete recovery.
But—
Looking at the missing left arm of the second true disciple, Zhang Guiyuan, his eyes flickered slightly.
"It doesn't matter. I have no hope of breaking through to True Intent anyway."
Zhang Guiyuan shook his head calmly, and the surrounding true disciples had complex expressions.
There were two True Intent experts among the mysterious people. If not for that, the second senior brother wouldn't have lost his arm.
Chen Feng was silent for a moment before continuing to walk.
Following Xu Tingxiao into the adjacent courtyard, two core disciples were guarding, and the sect manager, Li Shi, in a gray robe, was busy boiling medicine.
"Senior Brother!"
" True Disciple Chen!"
Voices rang out, and Chen Feng nodded lightly as he walked in.
Three wooden beds lay there, with the Master and Zhao Jushan already changed into clean clothes.
Though their breaths were weak, their faces pale, and they were unconscious, they were in better condition than before.
In contrast, it was the third senior uncle.
In a gray robe, lying on the right bed, his limbs intact and his breath steady, but his face showed slightly black veins, as if he were poisoned.
"Third Senior Uncle, this is—"
"Not poisoned."
Li Shi said seriously, "This is the condition after the battle with the mysterious people. We initially thought it was poisoning, but using many antidotes had no effect."
"Later, we used instruments to test and took blood samples, but found no toxins. It's very strange."
Chen Feng frowned slightly upon hearing this.
Amplifying his perception, he quickly sensed something abnormal.
It wasn't so much black veins as a black gas lingering in the third senior uncle's body.
A sudden intuition, Chen Feng reached out and placed his hand on the other's forehead.
In an instant, the black gas stirred slightly, pulling out from the third senior uncle's body and merging into his palm.
His pupils contracted, and the next second—
[You have obtained a trace of the power of the dead!]
[Origin: A strand of the faith of the Messenger of the Abyssal Evil God, the Dead Crow]
[Usage: Accumulate and use in dreams]
[Effect: Can enter the dream world a second time, briefly entering the realm of the dead]
[Power of the Dead: 5/100]
The panel notification suddenly appeared, and a black crow-like pattern appeared on his left palm.
Chen Feng's heart trembled, and most of his doubts were dispelled.
The Dead Crow, the Evil God's Cult.
The false accusations by the Pine Crane Sect and the signs of the Divine Martial Alliance—
He thought again of the black crow that had maliciously spied on him before.
"Senior Brother?"
Noticing his dazed expression, Xu Tingxiao asked worriedly.
Shaking his head, Chen Feng indicated that everything was fine.
Looking at the third elder again, his face still showed black veins, but Chen Feng could sense that the life force within him was gradually recovering.
Waking up was just a matter of time.
As for the others, they clearly hadn't noticed the presence of the power of the dead.
"Let's go."
Having a rough idea, Chen Feng stepped out.
Finally, back in the courtyard.
He gathered all the true disciples and began to discuss the affairs of the sect.
(End of the Chapter)
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