Translator: CinderTL
"Hurry, did you bring everything we need for the trip down the mountain?"
"Yes, yes, but what about Senior Brother? He's still in seclusion..."
"This..."
On the cobblestone path, people were hurriedly conversing.
With a creak, the courtyard gate opened.
A tall young man in a black robe stepped out slowly and stood at the entrance. The disciples who had been talking earlier were montarily stunned, then exclaid in delight.
"Senior Brother?!"
In the blink of an eye, the news of Senior Brother's ergence from seclusion spread like a whirlwind throughout the mountain courtyard.
Breakfast was delivered, and several black Feichi-brand cars arrived one after another, parking outside the sect's main gate.
Li Shi was still in charge of all these trivial matters, always arranging everything perfectly.
"Senior Brother, you've finally co out of seclusion."
Xu Tingxiao appeared near the courtyard gate with a smile, wearing a white robe with red patterns, the attire of a direct disciple.
He was still at the peak of Inner Strength, having not yet crossed the final threshold of True Intent.
Chen Feng knew this barrier was quite difficult for ordinary people to overco, so he didn't say much. Instead, he glanced at the disciple following behind Xu Tingxiao.
"Have you adjusted well?"
The young man wore a gray ancient robe, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a sowhat lean build.
It was none other than Yao Wei, the successor of the Eagle-Tiger Dojo who had followed them back to Nanjiang from Suro.
"Thanks to Senior Brother Xu and all the Martial Uncles' care, I've adjusted well."
Yao Wei replied respectfully, looking much healthier.
He had passed the Fla Tiger Sect's investigation and assessnt, becoming an official disciple.
Moreover, due to his outstanding talent, which wasn't far behind Xu Tingxiao's, the Third Elder had taken so interest in him and even considered taking him as a disciple.
"Good, as long as you've adjusted."
Chen Feng nodded, then changed into a black trench coat and averted his gaze.
The Fla Tiger Sect was now sowhat rich in talent, but it was unclear when another Grandmaster would erge.
As this thought crossed his mind, he glanced at Xu Tingxiao.
"Where's Master?"
He asked as he stepped out of the courtyard and headed toward the mountain gate, walking as he spoke.
On the cobblestone path, many disciples passed by, greeting him respectfully.
"He went down the mountain early this morning."
Xu Tingxiao, with Yao Wei in tow, followed a step behind and explained, "The Giant Elephant Grandmaster and the others arrived in Nanjiang last night. Master said we're the hosts and mustn't be discourteous."
Oh? Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, then nodded in understanding.
Nowadays, his influence was growing stronger, and whenever people ntioned the Heavenly Fla Tiger Sect, the first person they thought of was always him.
However, Master was still the sect leader.
His presence was ant to fulfill the duties of a host, showcasing the magnanimity of a major sect to avoid giving others any grounds for criticism.
"Let's go then."
Without further delay, the group walked to the redwood gate of the mountain.
A core disciple in ancient robes opened the car door, and Chen Feng silently got into the vehicle.
Amid the hum of engines, the black convoy slowly drove away from the mountain gate.
The plaque bearing the words "Heavenly Fla Tiger Sect" grew farther and farther away. Chen Feng withdrew his senses and quietly gazed out the car window.
The winding asphalt road led downward, but the green forests and hills along the way were slightly sparser than before.
At the foot of the low mountain, there used to be farmland, with many tile-roofed village houses and a few Western-style buildings.
Now, however, many of these had been demolished and relocated, gradually replaced by newly built factories and specially zoned land.
Investnt attraction, new city construction.
Nanjiang had beco much more prosperous than before, and the previously abandoned suburban land had been included in the planning and redeveloped.
"Senior Brother, I heard that a new city is going to be built in this area."
"Such a large area, is it true or not?"
Xu Tingxiao sat in the passenger seat, looking out at the vast expanse of wilderness and forest by the roadside.
The area was extrely vast, with caution tape stretched across the roadside, and blue-gray steel sheds nearby.
Workers in overalls were coming and going, and so security personnel could be seen maintaining order in the vicinity, along with representatives from housing construction agencies, as well as geologists and scholars.
"You'll find out later."
Chen Feng didn't elaborate much, just glanced at the sky.
A gust of air was stirred up as a flat, massive flying car carrying so large construction equipnt approached.
He had so impression of this place; the High-Wall Project decided at the United Coalition eting included this land.
Looking at the large construction equipnt that was gradually appearing, and thinking about the key points Lin Hao had ntioned earlier.
He felt that the construction of the high wall might proceed more quickly than he had imagined.
After all, this world already had many technological inventions to assist construction and improve efficiency.
Moreover, if the Radiant Light Secret Realm was indeed moving here, it was even more unlikely to drag on for too long, using the most ordinary thods to build for a year or two.
Thinking of this, he withdrew his gaze and didn't delve deeper.
Everything would take its natural course; with his status as a mber of the United Coalition, he would have plenty of opportunities to gather more information later.
Soon, the black car drove into the city.
Skyscrapers stood tall, and the white trails left by flying cars continuously dissipated in the sky.
Holographic projections floated in the air like virtual mist, looking exceptionally lifelike.
[Recently, our city's United Coalition has decided to launch a new city construction project, located at...]
[The groundbreaking ceremony will be held in three days, with representative Chu Shihong attending to cut the ribbon]
On the huge exterior screen of a shopping mall, news was being broadcast.
As a participant, Chen Feng didn't pay attention and instead took out his phone, deliberately searching for other news.
He clicked to confirm the search, but no content appeared.
"Indeed."
Nodding slightly, Chen Feng knew that the incident a few days ago at the mall entrance, where he had clashed with the Divine Martial Alliance Leader, must have been suppressed by the Safety Bureau.
Related public opinion had been minimized, and videos and discussions shot by passersby were mostly restricted.
Moreover, browsing the news, most people's attention wasn't focused here.
Part of it was because the new city construction had a huge impact, attracting most of the attention.
Additionally, there were matters concerning the Evil God Cult in Luohe City.
The explosion at the chemical plant and the fire in the residential building had resulted in over a hundred casualties, shattering many families.
There was a photo of a little girl kneeling and crying at the scene, with a charred ruin behind her.
There was also the discovery of a body holding a baby, huddled in a corner, but ultimately both were burned to a crisp.
And there were ordinary people whose skin was burned by the explosion, innocent people who lost their arms... The negative impact was significant, and online public opinion was rampant.
Yet, the Luohe City United Coalition had not released any investigation results, with no substantial progress reported beyond related rescue efforts.
Because of this, many people began to criticize the United Coalition for its inaction.
"It seems there must have been so discoveries."
On the contrary, Chen Feng's eyes flashed, and he had so guesses.
As a mber of the United Coalition, he now had so understanding of the group's style.
Not releasing results didn't an there was no progress.
Instead, it was precisely because they had discovered key clues and didn't want to alert the enemy that they deliberately delayed.
Otherwise, if it were publicly announced that the Evil God Cult was responsible and the perpetrator was not caught, the negative impact would only be greater.
With this in mind, he put down his phone.
The black car drove smoothly, and the traffic lights at the intersection flickered.
Leaning back in the leather seat, he once again received the shared footage from the first small stone statue in Luohe City.
The stench in the sewer was overwhelming, and filthy black water flowed through the channels.
"Squeak."
A rat made a noise, hiding in a dark corner of the pipe, devouring so scavenged garbage.
Cockroaches crawled on the damp ground and walls.
Occasional faint sounds could be heard, and the dripping of water was intermittent.
The palm-sized, pale gray stone statue flew silently. Following so traces discovered at the chemical plant explosion site, it had arrived here.
Since it could survive by consuming soil and rocks, Chen Feng basically let it roam freely.
After a quick glance, Chen Feng intended to exit the footage.
But soon.
Buzz! A pair of crimson eyes suddenly appeared in the dark sewer.
The small stone statue paused in its flight, its stone wings vibrating as it hovered in mid-air.
The next mont.
Gurgle!
A strange sound was heard, and the crimson eyes drew closer.
The small stone statue dodged to the side and, upon closer inspection, saw a bat brush past it, quickly disappearing from view.
"A bat?"
Chen Feng frowned. Such creatures, in theory, shouldn't appear here.
Puzzled, he instructed the small stone statue to head to the spot where the bat had been hanging upside down.
At a fork in the sewer, it seed there was a passage leading sowhere.
Buzz! The black car arrived at Feiteng Square.
Chen Feng had already cut off the shared footage and discreetly inford the city council's combat team of his discovery.
Uncertain if it would be useful to them, he put down his phone and looked out the window.
Feiteng Square, where the Hao Feng Boxing Club, where he had once served as head coach, was located.
The broad square, paved with gray bricks, was bustling with people, and the surrounding open-air parking lot was packed.
Upon closer inspection, the first and second floors on the east side of the mall were crowded with people. The sign "Fla Tiger Martial Hall" was prominently displayed on the second-floor wall.
Inside the glass windows were rows of punching bags and fitness equipnt, with dozens of red flower baskets placed outside the entrance.
Students and disciples, dressed in martial arts uniforms or robes, greeted and saw off visitors. A flying car landed nearby, and people from local large corporations, dressed in suits, brought congratulatory flower baskets. "This scene, if you didn't know, you'd think it was a martial arts sect opening its doors."
"Look, Kui Pharmaceutical Group, Tian Hao Security, oh, and Black Crystal Group, Sky Shield Heavy Industries... tsk tsk, these are all big companies."
"Didn't you see? Even the Safety Bureau is helping maintain order, practically setting up a cordon."
"Alright, stop being so sour. This is the Fla Tiger Sect, the grandmaster's domain!"
"Exactly! It's said that the Fla Tiger Grandmaster has broken through to the Pinnacle Realm. Such treatnt is well-deserved!"
Amidst the chatter, many figures from the southern Martial Arts World appeared.
The battle at Xiangshan had already made them aware of the Fla Tiger Grandmaster's imnse influence. Now, with rumors of his exploits in Suro, where he defeated a Fifth-Tier Cyborg, many martial artists were inspired.
"Speaking of which, Grandmaster Chen is truly remarkable."
"That Onit was a true fifth-tier cyborg, yet he was decisively suppressed and killed by Grandmaster Chen on the surface of the Suro River. It seems Grandmaster Chen has successfully broken through to the Pinnacle Realm," said the Giant Elephant Grandmaster with admiration, having already arrived at the entrance of the Martial Hall.
Dressed in an ancient robe, his robust physique remained unchanged, with arms thicker than an ordinary person's thighs.
Beside him, the Whale Sect Grandmaster, clad in a white and blue long robe, stroked his pale beard and nodded in agreent.
"Martial arts at the fifth tier, surpassing the Grandmaster level."
"Speaking of which, I truly envy Sect Leader Li's good fortune," he said enviously to the elderly man beside him. The Pinnacle Realm of martial arts was the true pinnacle of the martial arts world.
The Fla Tiger Sect was bound to flourish to an unprecedented extent because of this.
Facing his probing, Li Tong rely chuckled, standing between the two, his face glowing with pride but remaining silent.
He knew full well who had brought all this honor, allowing him to converse so casually with two Grandmasters.
As for whether his disciple had truly reached the Pinnacle Realm, he wasn't sure, nor did he wish to inquire further.
After a few modest words, the Whale Sect Grandmaster and the others, having received no definitive answer, could only express their admiration and praise. They then turned their attention to Grandmaster Flying Eagle, who had arrived shortly after.
"Grandmaster Pei, I truly thought you had perished in the Huai River," the Whale Sect Grandmaster teased with a laugh, likely already aware of the details of the incident.
"Let's not dwell on the past," Pei Pokong said helplessly, looking around and feeling relieved about his decision to concede and yield back then.
As they chatted and laughed, a flying car soon descended, and several council mbers personally appeared to offer their congratulations.
"Sect Leader Li, congratulations."
"Not at all, not at all."
Amid the pleasantries, Zhao ng also appeared with mbers of the Black Crystal Group.
This scene was quietly noted by many, confirming the rumored close relationship between Councilor Chen and this major corporation.
Those in the martial arts world were also secretly excited. Grandmasters were rarely seen in the past, but today, countless powerful figures had gathered.
The buzz of conversation continued until a voice finally rang out.
"He's here!!"
"Grandmaster Chen is here!!"
Amid the excitent, a black car pulled up by the roadside.
The door was respectfully opened, and under the gaze of many, a tall young man in a trench coat stepped out, his black leather shoes clicking on the ground.
"Senior Brother!"
"Grandmaster Chen!"
"Councilor Chen!!"
Various titles were called out one after another. Chen Feng could feel countless eyes lingering on him as he nodded in acknowledgnt. With Xu Tingxiao and others in tow, he strode forward toward the Martial Hall.
"Councilor Chen, may your Martial Hall prosper."
"Coach, congratulations!"
So council mbers took the initiative to speak, including Li Chengdong and Luo Yue's elders, showing Chen Feng the utmost respect.
Standing beside them were Luo Yue and Zhuang Xiaoqing, who also offered their congratulations with smiles.
"Thank you."
Chen Feng nodded in gratitude and continued forward.
As he reached the steps of the Martial Hall, the three Grandmasters clasped their hands in unison.
"Grandmaster Chen, may your martial fortune flourish."
"Thank you."
Chen Feng smiled and returned the gesture without any arrogance.
With the group following, he ascended the steps.
Lin Hao and Zhao ng stood there, both offering their blessings with smiles.
"Fengzi, maybe I should rge my club with your Martial Hall," Lin Hao said with a grin.
Chen Feng smiled faintly. With the Martial Hall opening here, it was indeed likely to have so impact on the club's operations.
However, both of them were no longer in their initial weak and fledgling states, so they treated it as a joke and didn't take it too seriously.
The group stood at the entrance of the Martial Hall, where red lanterns and decorations were being brought out, signaling the imminent ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening.
"Where is Grandmaster Zhou?"
Suddenly, Giant Elephant Grandmaster asked with a hint of confusion.
He had specifically asked earlier, and Grandmaster Zhou had assured him he would co to offer his congratulations.
"He had sothing co up last minute."
Chen Feng explained briefly, as the two had exchanged a few words privately due to so intelligence from the Star Palace.
Zhou Wuren had altered his plans at the last mont, and Chen Feng had only learned of it that morning through a ssage on his phone.
"Oh?"
"Could it be because of the Saint Sect?"
Frowning slightly, Pei Pokong seed to recall sothing.
Chen Feng was sowhat surprised.
"The Saint Sect?"
Zhou Wuren hadn't elaborated, so Chen Feng hadn't pressed further.
"It seems Grandmaster Chen is still unaware."
After a mont of contemplation, Pei Pokong began to explain.
"The Saint Sect in the north has recently made so significant moves, gathering many of the northern grandmasters together."
Oh? Chen Feng was puzzled, suddenly recalling the words Chu Shihong had specifically conveyed to him a few days ago during the city council eting.
Speaker Li had ntioned that the Saint Sect was gaining montum, and Liu Duanyun had caught the attention of higher-ups, recently receiving so resource support.
Could this be related?
"The northern grandmasters are spread across various regions, and it's rare for the Saint Sect to summon them unless it's a major event."
"Grandmaster Pei, do you know what this is about?"
Giant Elephant Grandmaster asked curiously, also sensing sothing unusual.
Among them, the Golden Flying Eagle Sect, located in Yun Province, was the closest to the north, so compared to the others, the Flying Eagle Sect had a clearer understanding of the affairs in the northern Martial Arts World.
Seeing this, Pei Pokong pondered for a mont, then noticed Chen Feng's curious gaze.
He lowered his voice and shared his speculation.
"I've heard that it might be because Sect Master Liu went to the capital of the Red Nation, stayed there for several days, and only then returned to the Saint Sect."
"So say he might have forged a new path in martial arts."
As these uncertain words were spoken, Chen Feng's gaze sharpened, and the other grandmasters, along with Zhao ng, also showed signs of unease.
The capital of the Red Nation was Red City.
But a new path in martial arts… "Isn't that a bit exaggerated?"
Giant Elephant Grandmaster couldn't believe it.
He understood the weight of such a statent—it implied that the Pinnacle Realm might not be the end of martial arts.
Whale Sect Grandmaster, on the other hand, furrowed his brows and looked seriously at Pei Pokong.
The two were of the sa generation, both elderly n nearing the end of their lives.
Thus, he knew Pei Pokong well enough to understand that he wouldn't joke lightly about such matters.
"I've only heard rumors, and this information ca from an old friend in the northern Martial Arts World."
"But he didn't provide with any specifics."
Pei Pokong shook his head, and the group's expressions turned grave. Even Zhao ng fell into an unusual silence.
The decline of martial arts was due to its known limits—one could only reach the Pinnacle Realm.
At best, soone like Yang Wudi might have used so unknown thod to seemingly touch the threshold of the sixth stage.
Or, like the Divine Martial Alliance Leader, who combined a special thod with Divine Power Crystals to create an alternative path in martial arts.
But now, soone was said to be forging a new path in martial arts? The group's thoughts varied, but curiosity was piqued in all of them, and they resolved to investigate further later.
"Alright, today is the grand opening of the Martial Hall, and the ribbon-cutting is the main event."
"Let's discuss this matter later."
Pei Pokong, sensing the tense atmosphere, quickly added this to shift the topic.
The group nodded in agreent, and soon the red ribbon and decorations were brought out. Soone respectfully handed the scissors to Chen Feng.
"Master, you should do the honors."
Suppressing his distracting thoughts, Chen Feng smiled and spoke, turning slightly to look at his master, Li Tong, who was dressed in a white robe with crimson patterns.
Li Tong was montarily taken aback, about to refuse, but then he saw the seriousness in Chen Feng's eyes.
"Alright," he nodded reluctantly, his eyes filled with deep satisfaction.
He took the scissors to cut the ribbon, and everyone raised their hands, ready to applaud.
Whoosh!!! However, at that very mont.
A sharp whistling sound tore through the air, and a white contrail streaked across the sky.
Everyone looked up in confusion, seeing a figure clad in a black leather jacket, holding a briefcase, and standing on a disc-shaped single-person aircraft hovering mid-air.
A faint sense of malice reached Chen Feng's senses as he locked eyes with the figure.
"Martial arts have been in decline for many years, yet now a new Pinnacle Realm has erged."
"I, Shen, am not particularly talented, but I wonder if the Fla Tiger Grandmaster would dare to spar with , to see which path of martial arts is stronger—the ancient martial arts or the Cyborg arts?"
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