Translator: CinderTL
Buzz!
In the courtyard of the Flame Tiger Sect's Mountain Gate, a crimson-gold flame silently bloomed, hovering in mid-air.
The temperature in the room soared. Even without touching anything, the air crackled and popped with the sound of burning.
Upon closer inspection, the air around the flame appeared distorted, like light refracted by extreme heat or a visible manifestation of its explosive burning power.
"Divine Flame?" Chen Feng murmured, narrowing his eyes as he meticulously sensed the changes in his Force brought about by the Seed of Life.
The Life Source Liquid's effect was profound. He had successfully transformed his Divine Awakening Method.
Even more remarkably:
[Divine Awakening Method: Sixth-Tier (25%)+]
More than half of the Liquid's potency remained after the transformation, significantly accelerating the method's progress.
Within his lower abdomen's Dantian, the Sacred Flame Force transformed into a crimson-gold Divine Flame.
Its burning and explosive properties were greatly enhanced. Chen Feng suspected his Force had evolved into a unique, high-temperature flame capable of effortlessly incinerating many materials.
Eager to test his theory, he raised his hand.
A wisp of crimson-gold flame shot forth, striking the head of an Iron Puppet training dummy.
Crackling! Pop!
The distinct sound of combustion rang out as the Iron Puppet glowed red-hot, its metal twisting and melting as it rapidly shrank under the intense heat.
Molten iron dripped down, only to be instantly incinerated before it could fall.
Finally, the Iron Puppet vanished, leaving behind only a patch of scorched, blackened stains on the ground.
"Just as I thought," Chen Feng murmured, his eyes lighting up as he retracted the wisp of Force.
A crimson-gold flame swirled around his palm, revealing his newfound ability to control its burning properties. He could amplify its destructive power or suppress its radiance at will.
After a moment of familiarization, Chen Feng focused on his dimensional attributes.
The enhancement was minimal, his Physical Body already at an extraordinary level thanks to the Golden Dawn Art.
Moreover, the difference between the Sixth-Tier Divine Awakening Method and the Sacred Flame Awakening Method was negligible. Their true distinction lay in their potential for further advancement.
Lowering his gaze to his left palm, Chen Feng noticed the faint, serpentine patterns visible only to him. The abundant Serpent Spirit Power should suffice to withstand the intense rejection from the Serpent God.
His exploration of the black fog in Qinggang City and the Steel Bones upgrade had delayed him for several days.
But now...
A glint flashed in his eyes as he made his decision.
"Guard Captain Olon has brought back so many people. Finally, we'll have new warriors."
"They're all commoners who were enslaved by the Serpent-Folk Tribe. It reminds me of our past."
"Yes, we owe our survival to Lady Molly and Lord Feng Chen for leading us south back then."
The black city walls stretched across the land like a fortress, blocking the last bastion of untouched wilderness on the horizon. Warriors stood guard along the battlements, their hushed conversations drifting from the camp behind the lines.
Focusing their gaze, they noticed a large group of humans gathered in the center of the clearing, refugees who had migrated south. Most had exchanged their tattered clothes for new linen robes, and a glimmer of hope had replaced the pallor of their faces. It was the hope for a new life beyond suffering, a life filled with other sensations and emotions.
"The Serpentfolk War could erupt at any moment!"
"The Holy City's resources are limited. We can only protect you to the best of our ability!"
"The elderly, women, and children need not take up arms. But every able-bodied man must stand tall and become the final wall safeguarding their families' survival!"
The booming voice of Guard Captain Olon, clad in silver armor and standing at the front of the clearing, echoed through the air. Warriors from the Three Legions, armed with spears and swords, flanked him, either accompanying him or positioned near the camp and the assembled refugees. Together, they watched their fellow humans who had endured the long journey south.
These soldiers had risked their lives escorting the migrants through hardship, repelling numerous Serpentfolk attacks, and shedding blood and sweat. Their hope was to gain new warriors to join them in fighting the Serpentfolk and defending the Holy City, rather than see their dwindling resources wasted on those unwilling to fight.
"I volunteer for the battlefield!" a young man roared, his fists clenched tight, veins bulging on his crimson face.
As if a flame had been ignited, similar cries erupted in quick succession:
"Count me in!"
"Let's slaughter those Serpentfolk bastards!"
"Kill them all!"
The roars persisted, echoing through the camp.
Even those who had once been enslaved refused to bend their spines. Even those who had once knelt for survival still possessed burning courage.
The unified battle cry swelled, instantly boosting morale. Soldiers from nearby camps and warriors guarding the High Wall nodded in approval, their expressions softening.
"Looks like they're about to teach them the awakening method," someone whispered near a tent entrance. Molly, standing beside them, nodded slightly.
"Lord Adams already purged the spies with the Holy Sword during the assembly. The remaining recruits should be trustworthy."
As they spoke, Olon ascended the High Platform in the open space and publicly began reciting the key principles of the Third-Tier Basic Awakening Method.
Meanwhile, other warriors brought forth various items: glowing blue crystal spheres and crimson chunks of Molten Flame.
These items were designed to help ordinary people quickly identify their elemental affinity and enter a meditative state more easily.
The thought flashed through Molly's mind as she turned her gaze to the wooden houses further within the camp.
A group of women and children stood at a distance, their eyes filled with hope.
They were the families of the newly recruited warriors, who had previously spent their days mending clothes, doing laundry, or helping cultivate rice paddies.
Though their lives might still be strenuous, they now lived with dignity.
For a moment, Molly's eyes wavered as she looked up at the sky.
"Master Feng Chen..."
If not for his escort, she would never have safely reached the Holy City.
She might have died along the way or been captured and enslaved by the Black Blade Tribe.
A strange sense of longing stirred within her—a blend of reverence for a powerful figure and immeasurable gratitude.
Meanwhile, atop the distant palace overlooking the Holy City, another figure was gazing down at the encampment.
"These warriors are truly admirable," Lord Adams, clad in golden armor, remarked as a figure slowly approached beside him.
The newcomer wore a cloak woven from green vines, with long brown hair cascading down his back and distinctive green floral patterns etched onto his face.
"To protect everything we hold dear."
"They truly deserve our respect."
Kali stood beside Adams on the edge of the massive stone pavement, both gazing out at the distant iron-blooded battle cries.
The silence lingered until the distant shouts faded, and Adams finally turned his gaze away.
"How is Her Highness?" he asked, his long golden hair framing his calm, steady eyes.
"Still asleep," Kali replied. "But there's no cause for alarm. She should awaken soon."
Adams' expression softened slightly.
But then he noticed Kali's puzzled expression.
"The Holy Sword never activates lightly without Her Highness's command," she said. "Why would it suddenly surge with such force now?"
Adams frowned, falling silent. He too was perplexed. Merely purging spies shouldn't have triggered such an abnormal reaction from the Holy Sword.
"Could it be that the Serpent Angel has returned?" Kali speculated, her voice heavy with concern. Only such a dire circumstance could possibly incite the Holy Sword's sudden surge of power.
"Let's wait until Her Highness awakens," Adams said, shaking his head. He refused to jump to conclusions.
Adams was about to leave when—
Buzz!
The Holy City trembled, and the inscriptions on the White Ash City Wall suddenly blazed with light.
Adams and Kali exchanged uneasy glances before looking up at the sky.
A surge of blue light erupted from the inscriptions, rising like a tidal wave and coalescing into a massive barrier that enveloped the entire Holy City.
The extraordinary phenomenon drew attention from afar. Even those in the distant camp noticed the disturbance and cried out in alarm.
"What's happening?!"
"What's going on?!"
"Something's moving in the sky!"
Olon, who had been teaching the awakening method, paused his demonstration. Corps Commander Di Yan, a mountain of a man, slung his shield across his back and strode out of the fortress on the city wall.
All the warriors, veterans and new recruits alike, craned their necks skyward, their faces ranging from solemn to bewildered to wary.
Layers of white clouds streaked across the azure sky, where a faint black speck gradually materialized.
Just as they braced themselves for a possible confrontation—
Pfft! Pfft!
A small, silver-gray stone statue suddenly launched itself from Molly's shoulder and soared skyward. Its stone wings beat steadily, propelling it higher and higher.
The unexpected sight startled everyone. Molly's eyes widened before she snapped back to reality.
"It's Master Feng Chen!" she exclaimed with certainty.
Her words rang true as the black speck in the sky grew clearer.
Whoosh!
A fierce wind tore through the clouds, scattering them and revealing the Platinum Colossus gliding down in its reduced form.
The diamond crystal on its crown refracted the sunlight, casting a golden sheen across the silent, majestic stone figure now clad in heavy golden armor.
Perched atop the Silver-Gray Colossus, the young man in black armor stood motionless, his cloak billowing in the wind. His calm, familiar face reassured the elite warriors, who had been tightly gripping their broadswords and spears, and the Fifth-Tier Commander. They all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
"It really is Lord Feng Chen," Olon murmured, lowering his broadsword as his apprehension faded.
Nearby, however, Corps Commander Di Yan of the Earth Rock Corps wore a suspicious expression, sensing something amiss.
Finally, with a whoosh, the Silver-Gray Colossus swooped down, drawing closer. Chen Feng observed the assembled refugees without surprise.
The reason for his lack of surprise soon became clear.
Flap, flap!
The White Ash Stone Statue fluttered down, chirping excitedly as it landed before him.
The Holy Shield Colossus paused, and Chen Feng extended his hand, allowing the statue to settle into his palm.
"Well done," he said.
Thanks to the statue's shared vision, he had gained a rough understanding of the situation in the Holy City, including how to successfully acquire the Divine Awakening Method.
Flap, flap!
The Small Stone Statue nuzzled his hand affectionately before fluttering back to the Holy Shield Colossus.
The two colossi and Chen Feng landed together, the gust of wind from their stone wings slowly subsiding.
Molly, who stood closest, beamed with delight and bowed respectfully.
"Master Feng Chen," she said. "You've finally arrived!"
She smiled, and Chen Feng nodded gently.
The Small Stone Statue quickly flew to her shoulder, settling comfortably.
"Little Stone suddenly released a surge of power recently," Molly explained. "It grew considerably larger."
"Would you mind taking a look at this?" Molly asked, her initial surprise quickly turning to concern as she mentioned the earlier anomaly, worried it might indicate something more serious.
"It's just a normal growth spurt," Chen Feng reassured her, understanding she was referring to the Small Stone Statue's sudden surge in power. The Holy Shield Colossus had completed its transformation, granting significant benefits to all lifeforms connected to it, which had temporarily overwhelmed their control.
Relieved by the confirmation, Molly breathed a sigh of relief. Just then, more figures began arriving in the vicinity.
"Master Feng Chen!"
"Lord Feng Chen!"
Olon and others appeared one after another, their towering forms casting long shadows. Yan Le, Corps Commander Di Yan of the Earth Rock Corps, stepped forward as well. Unlike the others, his gaze remained fixed on the Holy Shield Colossus, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Or, more precisely, he was scrutinizing the Colossus Creature, his expression conveying utter incredulity.
"This..."
As the Holy City's strongest conduit for the Earth Element, he could clearly sense the immense power contained within the Colossus Creature. It felt as if it had absorbed countless streams of Earth Vein energy—an unfathomable reservoir whose unleashed force could shake heaven and earth.
The others noticed his peculiar expression. Combined with the Holy City's sudden activation of its barrier defenses, wild speculations began to spread.
Then, it happened.
Whoosh!
The barrier above the Holy City vanished, and several colossal eagles descended rapidly from the sky. Escorted by elite warriors, the Thorn Legion Commander, draped in a green vine cloak, led the group. To everyone's shock, even this hardened commander appeared momentarily stunned and discomposed.
(End of the Chapter)
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