"Your Majesty, should we arrest him for murder during the Rookie Selection Tournament?" Stanley asked, recovering from his shock and clasping his hands in salute.

Guarding the royal family was his duty, but the occurrence of murder during such a significant selection competition, if left unaddressed, would certainly cause a major stir.

Every single person who made it into the top sixteen of the Rookie Selection Tournament was heralded as a genius. Such individuals, even if not affiliated with a major house, would undoubtedly have already been scouted by various powerful factions. Chen Feng publicly killing one of them would inevitably draw dissatisfaction from certain powers.

Suomen tapped his fingers lightly on the table before him, producing a steady tap-tap sound, his mind racing at full speed.

"Summon this man called 'Yagami Iori' to me," His Majesty Suomen commanded, his voice devoid of any emotional fluctuation, leaving one unable to decipher his thoughts.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Stanley bowed deeply and turned to descend the stairs.

He could have sent a subordinate, but Stanley wished to witness this arrogant, red-haired youth with his own eyes, so he went down himself.

……………………………………………………………………………………

After the battle concluded, Chen Feng walked back to the resting area with an imposing air. From stepping onto the stage to stepping off, the way the other competitors looked at him had drastically changed.

If initially, everyone was angered by his arrogance, now they were filled only with sheer shock and admiration.

Whether they were Rank Seven Fighters or Rank Eight Fighters, none of them managed to last a single move against him. This red-haired youth, besides being brutally savage, how deep was the foundation of his actual cultivation?

It was the first time Angelisa had witnessed Chen Feng unleash his true strength. Her surprised, delicate lips remained parted in disbelief. She glanced at Chen Feng, then at Judy, who seemed to have anticipated this outcome, and her eyes still swam with incredulity. Only now did she realize how terrifying this young man truly was. That night, she had confidently sworn to challenge him—it seemed she had vastly overestimated herself.

Chen Feng sat in his seat, his eyes remaining closed, not to rest, but to replay the recent fight in his mind.

Though arrogant and unrestrained, he was not one to engage in wanton slaughter. The 'Berserk Squad' was, in reality, a vicious and cruel group. Chen Feng had watched their preliminary matches; every opponent they faced ended up with broken legs and permanent disability.

If his own strength had been lacking just now, the result would have been precisely the same. Therefore, dealing with such ruthless opponents required a ruthless method.

To subdue violence with violence!

Recalling the recent exchange meticulously, he felt he had managed to perfectly seize the timing. When killing the first man, Fikbo, he utilized the Dream Bullet; the speed and timing of his punch completely aligned with the opponent's attack. In essence, the speed at which the opponent charged forward magnified the power of his own technique.

Using the enemy's force to eliminate the enemy was indeed the most energy-saving approach.

If one were to quantify this combat model: if killing a person required 100 units of strength, using this method could save 50 units!

However, while this was effective against those whose cultivation was below his own, it would likely fall short against someone stronger. In such a scenario, his life could be in danger. With his spirit under such intense concentration, how could he accurately calculate the optimal attack time and preferred move set of a superior opponent?

"Yagami Iori!"

The sound of scraping armor accompanied by a firm, resolute voice reached Chen Feng's ear.

Chen Feng opened his eyes to find a heavily armored warrior standing there. A quick glance gave him a definite assessment: the cultivation level of this armored warrior was definitely beyond what he could currently withstand.

"His Majesty summons you," the heavy-armored warrior, Stanley, stated calmly.

"Good!" Chen Feng did not hesitate or ask why the Emperor wished to see him. He rose and followed Stanley out.

Stanley finally understood why this red-haired youth possessed such profound cultivation at so young an age.

"It is his state of mind! This youth's expression didn't change at all upon hearing the Emperor's summons, and in holding eye contact with me for so long, he showed not a trace of timidity. Even the Seventh Prince wouldn't possess such a steadfast will!"

He mused inwardly, then led Chen Feng toward the luxurious private chamber.

……………………………………………………………………………………

Entering the room, Chen Feng came face to face with Emperor Suomen.

"Stanley, you may step down now."

"As you command, Your Majesty." Stanley saluted and exited the room.

"Sit!" Emperor Suomen, instead of chiding Chen Feng for his lack of a formal greeting, motioned for him to take a seat.

Chen Feng did not understand why an Emperor would summon him or treat him in this manner, so he remained standing and silent.

"Heh heh..." Emperor Suomen chuckled. "I investigated your origins. Your first appearance was at a smithy located near the periphery of the Icebound Demon Garden."

Hearing this, Chen Feng's eyes immediately widened in astonishment, and his fists clenched tightly. He had been transported by Qilin's inexplicable teleportation array to Old John's place; his previous history was certainly untraceable. For Emperor Suomen to discover his connection to John's smithy in such a short time frame was terrifyingly powerful.

"There is no need to be tense; I bear no ill will," Emperor Suomen quickly reassured, sensing Chen Feng's alarm.

Emperor Suomen sighed and continued, "Commoners may be ignorant, but as the ruler of an entire nation, how could I not be aware of the existence of the Overseas Continent?"

"The Overseas Continent?" Chen Feng was taken aback by the Emperor's sudden declaration.

Emperor Suomen looked into Chen Feng’s eyes and smiled, "You don't need to hide it from me. If I hadn't been sure before your match, I became completely convinced after it. The Dou Qi techniques you displayed are entirely different from those on our continent. If you still deny coming from the Overseas Continent, I truly would have nothing more to say."

Chen Feng's heart stirred; he instantly realized the Emperor must have misunderstood something, mistaking him for a visitor from the Overseas Continent.

Yet, it was peculiar. Chen Feng had only been wrongly identified three times: first by Prince Austin of the Finlay Empire, second by a group of venerable Venerable-level elders at the Ming Yu Pavilion, and now, this Emperor Suomen. These individuals stood either at the pinnacle of worldly power or the summit of strength. However, judging by their cautious demeanor, was there truly a more formidable entity existing on this continent?

Though inwardly shocked, his outward expression remained unchanged; having encountered such situations frequently, he was now accustomed to it.

Emperor Suomen watched Chen Feng’s reaction closely. Seeing his initial surprise quickly settle into normalcy only solidified his own hypothesis. He stood up and declared, "I, Suomen, King of the Loki Empire, pledge eternal allegiance to the Overseas Continent, and dare never to harbor any disloyal intentions."

It was this statement that truly shocked Chen Feng. For the Emperor of the mighty Loki Empire to utter words of eternal submission was utterly unbelievable. Yet, seeing Suomen’s sincere devotion, Chen Feng knew it was not feigned. Though his face remained outwardly calm, Chen Feng’s mind was churning with massive, turbulent waves.

What exactly was this Overseas Continent that could instill such profound fear in the King of an Empire?

Austin had once mistakenly believed him to be from the Dragon Clan—but where was the Dragon Clan now? Was it perhaps on the Overseas Continent? And what about the legendary Magic Association? Where exactly was its location? A string of questions arose in Chen Feng's mind, but he did not utter a single one.

Asking would confirm he was an imposter. While he couldn't predict what would follow, it certainly wouldn't be pleasant. Deceiving the Emperor of an Empire was tantamount to courting death. Setting aside everything else, the heavy-armored warrior who escorted him was already far beyond his capability to handle.

Influenced by the Dark Vortex, Chen Feng was wild, but he had not lost his reason. He maintained a sense of proportion regarding when to be arrogant and when it was warranted.

"Yes, I do not wish for anyone to know about my affairs, and I will continue participating in the competition," Chen Feng said after a moment of thought, though inwardly he felt apprehension, unsure if he had successfully navigated the situation.

"Very well," Emperor Suomen responded, seemingly without any doubt, then added with some difficulty, "The Rookie Selection Tournament actually forbids killing... So, you see..."

Chen Feng finally understood why the Emperor had suspected him—it was due to his brutal performance just now. It seemed he needed to be more low-key in the future.

Low-key? Chen Feng offered a bitter smile. For some reason, that thought surfaced so readily. Affected by the power of the Dark Vortex, his spirit was fiercely restless; how could he possibly be low-key?

"Understood," Chen Feng nodded. "I will take my leave now!"

"Please," Emperor Suomen gestured. Chen Feng turned and walked out of the chamber with his head held high. Only after closing the door did he realize his back was drenched in sweat. That conversation with Emperor Suomen had left Chen Feng feeling more mentally drained than an actual battle.

It was no wonder people spoke of the Emperor's imposing aura. Emperor Suomen, after all, governed the Loki Empire, one of the four great empires. Even though his tone was plain, it exerted immense pressure, especially since what Chen Feng had said was a lie…………………………………………………………………………………………

"Ancestor, what is your assessment?" After Chen Feng departed, Emperor Suomen suddenly bowed deeply toward a corner of the private room.

A slight ripple appeared in the air in that corner, and a figure slowly materialized.

It was an old man clad in a golden-threaded dragon-patterned robe, his eyes like flashes of lightning, piercing and compelling.

"This youth is somewhat strange. His slender body contains incredibly powerful energy. If this force were fully unleashed, even I might not be his match. However, based on this alone, I cannot confirm if he is truly from the Overseas Continent," the old man stated.

"Alas," Emperor Suomen sighed. "Truthfully, I cannot be certain either, but matters have reached this point; it is better to believe it is true than risk the alternative."

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