Translator: CinderTL
"You shouldn't go to Nanjiang now."
"The Red Nation is intensifying their pursuit of us, and the situation in Suro is volatile. Someone needs to oversee the overall situation. You should wait a bit longer."
The black car drove through the streets. The sturdy man in the back seat wore a baseball cap, a black jacket, and blue jeans.
He carried no communication devices like phones or watches, yet a serious male voice echoed in his mind.
The nagging voice continued, but he only glanced out the window and said one sentence.
"He's my only brother."
The deep voice reverberated through the communication module, reaching a distant country.
On the other end, the faint sound of explosions could be heard. He didn't give the other party a chance to say more.
Beep!
The communication was cut off. His long hair cascaded down as he silently gazed out the window.
Streets, skyscrapers.
Young couples walked hand in hand along the sidewalk, while gray-haired elders held children's hands, carrying large bags of snacks.
Traffic roared past on both sides, and new buildings rose from the ground, standing tall in the city.
The prosperity remained, as if everything had returned to normal after the previous terrorist incident.
Jin Wei paid little attention to this, his indifferent gaze fixed on a small black dot in the sky.
It looked like a bird, but...
"It seems you've already been exposed in Nanjiang."
A golden light flashed in his eyes as he detected a certain signal.
Hearing this, the two men in suits sitting in the front seat were momentarily stunned.
---
Hum!
The blue flying car sped forward. Chen Feng, sitting in the passenger seat for the first time in a while, looked somewhat surprised at the young man in the driver's seat.
He had asked the other party to keep an eye on the Myriad Tempering Sect for the Divine Martial Alliance, but this shouldn't have warranted such an enthusiastic welcome.
"Alright, stop looking at me like that."
"I had no choice, but who made it safer to be around you?"
Lin Hao smiled, as if hinting at something.
Chen Feng raised an eyebrow slightly, as if he had thought of something.
"Jin Wei is here?"
"Yes."
The smile on Lin Hao's face faded a bit as he switched the flying car to autopilot mode.
Another flying car followed behind, belonging to his personal security team.
"After discovering that Jin Wei had successfully rebooted, I communicated with the city defense department's councilors and temporarily borrowed some authority, just in case."
"But I didn't expect... we actually caught that guy."
Lin Hao spoke seriously, "It seems he knows the truth now."
Back then, when Silver Wolf died in Yun Mountain, although many traces were erased, with careful deduction, the key points could still be discovered.
Tian Hao Security would undoubtedly be the first target of his revenge.
Thus, although it was unclear why Jin Wei hadn't come after them before, his sudden appearance now left no room for doubt.
"Where is he now?"
Chen Feng asked calmly.
Lin Hao was slightly taken aback and couldn't help but glance at him.
"What?"
"Impressive, Feng. I feel like your aura is getting stronger."
"Even though he's a Titanium-grade Cyborg, you sound so confident, as if you're sure to take him down."
Chen Feng remained silent, shaking his head slightly.
It wasn't blind arrogance.
But...
[Strength: 36.1→36.11→36.12→...]
[Agility: 32.4→32.41→32.42→...]
[Constitution: 44.6→44.61→44.62→...]
[Willpower: 38.5]
His four-dimensional attributes were still improving, the heat within his body surging, the transformation ongoing.
Since consuming the Serpent Spirit Fruit in the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm, he had already gained a full twelve points in attributes, and his physical strength had long reached the Titanium-grade level.
But for now, apart from his willpower gradually stopping its growth, the improvements in other areas clearly hadn't reached their limit.
It was a rational analysis based on perception, and a strong intuition that gave him ample confidence.
He might have already crossed that threshold.
"Unfortunately, Jin Wei noticed our tracking."
"He disappeared as soon as he entered the city. I've already provided clues to the city council through other identities."
Lin Hao didn't dwell on the previous topic, speaking seriously, "Anyway, I'll be relying on you these next few days. Are Blue Demon and the others in Nanjiang?"
"Yes."
Chen Feng nodded lightly, naturally not refusing Lin Hao's request.
He owed him several favors, and Lin Hao had even offended the Flying Dragon Sect for him.
As for Jin Wei, it wasn't Tian Hao Security who had killed Silver Wolf; they had just taken the blame for him.
After a brief discussion, the flying car continued to soar through the sky.
As they passed through the Nanjiang city area, Chen Feng saw the city council building.
The floor-to-ceiling windows reflected sunlight like waves, fully repaired, no longer in the disarray of the past.
But.
Looking at the other flying cars passing by, he was somewhat surprised.
When had so many out-of-town license plates appeared?
"You finally noticed it?"
"I think you've been secluded for too long."
Lin Hao teased with a smile, quickly giving instructions to the AI.
"Big Head, show our secluded martial artist the latest regulations from the Nanjiang City Council."
[Yes, Master!]
Soon, the projection of the big-headed doll disappeared, replaced by a string of text.
[The Nanjiang City Council has issued new regulations: Trial implementation of separate tax incentives for newly registered enterprises in Nanjiang, effective from November 3rd.]
Chen Feng quickly skimmed the content, which essentially offered various preferential policies to large enterprises and factories newly registered in Nanjiang.
"So, some out-of-town business groups have come to invest?"
Chen Feng looked at Lin Hao.
"Yes."
"Why were these regulations suddenly issued?"
"Two reasons."
Lin Hao didn't hide anything, speaking honestly, "From what I've gathered and analyzed, one reason is that the impact of the previous Utopia incident was too severe, coupled with unemployment issues, so they want to boost the local economy and restore public confidence."
"The second... it might be related to the Suro Nation."
"Suro?" Chen Feng frowned, recalling the information he had learned from club member Li Chengdong the last time.
Suro was in the midst of a civil war.
Hmm?
His gaze shifted as he noticed that the preferential policies in this regulation were more targeted at high-tech enterprises.
Especially in the fields of cyborgs, military, and machinery.
"Nanjiang's location is special, backed by the hinterland, with Luohe bordering Suro, and also sharing a province with the coastal Yun Port."
TL/N: Hinterland: the remote areas of a country away from the coast or the banks of major rivers.
"It can act as a buffer while also stockpiling resources, ready to provide support at any time."
Chen Feng understood the implication.
His eyes flickered as he looked at Lin Hao.
"It seems you had already guessed this during the last riot?"
"Heh."
Lin Hao smiled without answering. Chen Feng, seeing this, pondered thoughtfully.
He didn't press further. This was a good thing for him.
The more Nanjiang developed, the better. Both he and the Flame Tiger Sect could rise higher with the momentum.
Whoosh!!!
Without further ado, the flying car continued to accelerate.
Finally, they left Nanjiang, heading straight for Luohe.
---
"Giant Python, we'd better leave here quickly."
In a villa living room in Luohe City.
An exquisite chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the carved windows were half-open, revealing the lawn and pool outside.
Several members of the Divine Martial Alliance, dressed in brown camouflage, were gathered here. One of them spoke seriously, speculating, "The Myriad Tempering Sect is completely empty. They must have known we were coming and deliberately hid."
"Now, with us in the open and them in the dark, and Black Crow and Red Serpent dying mysteriously, who knows what tricks they have up their sleeves."
The rational analysis garnered agreement from the others, but the burliest man among them shook his head in denial.
"Have you forgotten Master's orders?"
"The key is the cipher."
"If we return empty-handed, there won't be any divine power crystals for us next time."
The burly man's eyes were snake-like, with a hint of brown.
A brown serpent tattoo on his neck was partially covered by the collar of his camouflage uniform.
Hearing this, the group fell silent, unable to refute.
"Too bad Venom Fang was left behind in Suro. Otherwise, we could have tracked the killer and the cipher."
The man who had spoken first sighed, his face oddly triangular.
The snake scales on the back of his hand were greenish, and his build was lean.
"No matter."
The burly man, known as Giant Python, shook his head and ordered his men to spread out and stay alert, saying coldly, "If the Myriad Tempering Sect wants to hide, we'll just take our time searching."
"I don't believe such a large sect can abandon all its martial arts schools and businesses."
"As long as we kill enough people, they'll have to show up."
As he spoke, a hint of bloodlust flashed in his eyes, and his veins bulged slightly.
Outside the villa, a few children laughed and played as they passed by. He suddenly revealed a cruel smile.
"At worst, we'll capture everyone associated with them."
"They can serve as sacrifices to activate the cipher later."
The group's expressions varied, but the first speaker still had a trace of concern.
"Black Crow and Red Serpent weren't weak. That person must be quite strong, and he might have allies."
"If he really shows up..."
"Leave it to me!"
The man named Giant Python impatiently interrupted, disdainfully saying, "Luohe is just a small place. What kind of experts could there be?"
"I'm not like those useless Black Crow and Red Serpent. It's a waste of Master's training."
Whoosh!!!
Before he could finish speaking.
The sound of something moving at high speed suddenly rang out. The group was momentarily stunned, looking toward the half-open carved window.
A black shadow rushed toward the villa's iron gate from the asphalt road outside, the poplar trees on either side swaying and rustling.
The air howled, and the continuous sound of footsteps merged into a sharp, ear-piercing vibration.
"Who's there!"
The men disguised as bodyguards at the villa entrance quickly moved to intercept, raising their hands to draw their guns.
Bang!
The tightly shut iron gate was directly smashed open, a human-shaped hole revealing the rusted metal inside.
In the next moment, blood splattered, and a pistol flew into the sky.
The man in the suit was like a leaf caught in a hurricane, his body sent flying and crashing into the pool behind him.
Splash!
The pool was stained with blood.
"Damn it!"
"How dare you trespass! You're asking for death!"
Shouts of anger erupted from the Divine Martial Alliance members disguised as offcial bodyguards.
In an instant, all the guards drew their pre-prepared weapons, and the sound of gunfire erupted.
Flames spat from the barrels, bullets flying everywhere.
"These are specially made bullets. He's done for."
"Heh, I didn't expect him to show up so quickly. I'm curious to see him beg for mercy in a moment."
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of metal clashing shattered all illusions.
The black clothes were torn, scraps of fabric flying.
The exposed upper body revealed muscles of ordinary skin tone, solid and deeply etched, as if carved by an axe.
The man wearing a dark golden mask emitted sparks all over his body, as if he were not made of flesh and blood, but of titanium.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound continued.
In an instant, the mocking expressions on the faces of Giant Python and the others froze, replaced by shock and doubt.
The next second.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The men in suits were sent flying in all directions, crashing through walls and twisting iron gates.
One of them even flew to the second floor, smashing through the glass and sliding past their eyes.
Blood droplets scattered in the air. Amid the chaos, the burly Giant Python's expression changed again.
"This guy's not normal!"
"Attack together!"
He forgot all the bravado he had spouted earlier, immediately leaping down from the second floor with three companions.
Whoosh!!!
The four of them had energy flowing through their bodies, some brown, some green, some black.
True Intent serpent shadows condensed around them, surrounding Chen Feng on the lawn from all directions.
Hiss!!
The piercing sound of serpents vibrated their eardrums, a cold dread creeping into their hearts.
Shadows moved behind them, and various killing moves followed one after another.
Facing all this, Chen Feng stood in place, merely lowering his eyelids and clenching his fist indifferently.
Bang!!
White air exploded, and the True Intent serpent shadow in front of him shattered instantly.
A bloody hole appeared in one man's chest, a thick arm piercing through the camouflage uniform and flesh. Drops of blood splattered onto the green tips of the grass.
"Can you feel death approaching?"
A deep voice rang out. The man wearing the dark golden mask swept his indifferent gaze over them.
A True Intent-level companion had fallen in a single exchange. Giant Python and the others were both furious and terrified.
"Run!!"
Giant Python shouted urgently. One of his companions quickly activated a secret technique, summoning black serpents from the shadows as cover.
Bang!!
Black light exploded, and the shadows dissipated.
Another man had his chest pierced, kneeling on the ground.
"G-Grandmaster?"
Completely terrified, Giant Python was filled with dread.
In a small place like Luohe, even a True Intent was rare. When had a Grandmaster appeared?
"Go!"
His companion shouted a reminder, his eyes glowing green as serpents swarmed around him.
In an instant, countless snakes were attracted, pouncing toward Chen Feng.
Hum! Bang!
A powerful force shook the air, and blood sprayed everywhere.
Black, green, brown, and yellow scales shattered into pieces, and a rain of blood soaked the lawn.
Giant Python's face turned pale. In the next moment, he saw the figure stomp the ground and rush forward, appearing in front of his companion.
Thud!!
The ground where the man had stood moments earlier suddenly shook, a circular depression forming as the earth cracked.
A large hand gripped his companion's neck, and the deep voice spoke again.
"Why is your fear so worthless?"
Hearing this, Giant Python was momentarily stunned.
Crack!
The sound of bones breaking impatiently rang out, and his companion, who had been channeling energy, died completely.
"You!"
Terrified, Giant Python's skin rapidly turned brown, serpentine patterns covering his body.
A brown True Intent serpent shadow coiled around him, as if forming a solid rock-like defense.
But.
Bang!!
He seemed to hear a sound, and a momentary pain shot through his left chest.
Looking down, blood gushed out, soaking the torn and pierced camouflage uniform.
"You..."
The threatening words he wanted to say were forcibly cut off. The brown serpent eyes rapidly lost focus.
Thud!
Finally, the corpse fell to the ground, and strands of intangible power were drawn away.
(End of the Chapter)
---
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