"I'm leaving, Ikuya, I'm saying goodbye to you specifically!" Long Xiaoqiang started first. "Goodbye?" Chen Feng couldn't help but ask, "You're not continuing in the competition?" Long Xiaoqiang nodded.
"My original purpose for entering the competition was to gain fame and fortune to improve my family's destitute life. Now that I have met Master, those things seem unimportant.
I will follow behind Master on the path to becoming a powerhouse! Besides, even if I entered the match now, I couldn't beat you, so it’s better to stop here!" "How do you know if you haven't tried?" Chen Feng said faintly.
Although Long Xiaoqiang possessed formidable stamina, he was still far behind compared to himself in terms of KOF techniques or anything else; they simply couldn't compare. If the two truly fought, Chen Feng was confident he could achieve complete victory within three moves.
However, retreating without a fight as a martial artist was absolutely not something a person pursuing strength should do. "No need to try.
I have absolute faith in Master's words," Long Xiaoqiang replied heartily. "Your Master?" Chen Feng was surprised.
"Did your Master watch the matches?" Long Xiaoqiang nodded. "My Master said that your willpower is firm, and your fighting skills are bizarre and powerful—I am absolutely no match for you, and it would only bring self-humiliation.
That's why I made the decision to leave!" Chen Feng hadn't expected that Long Xiaoqiang's mysterious and strange Master would hold such a high opinion of him. He was secretly astonished but showed no hint of complacency, only a sudden urge to meet this senior.
Yet, he knew that even if he sought an audience, he surely wouldn't get one; how could someone who wouldn't even let his disciple reveal his name be willing to meet people casually? Seeing Chen Feng silent and deep in thought, Long Xiaoqiang continued, "Alright, I will leave shortly.
I bid you farewell for now." Chen Feng nodded, glancing at the other man intentionally or not. His injuries were indeed no longer a major concern.
Though bewildered, he ultimately did not press the issue, stating calmly, "Farewell!" A smile spread across Long Xiaoqiang's face. He clapped Chen Feng on the shoulder.
The two shared an embrace and then turned to leave. They departed with such (grace/ease), showing not the slightest sign of reluctance.
For an ordinary person, having worked hard to reach the top four in the Rookie Selection Tournament and then forfeiting would naturally bring about some sense of attachment or regret. Yet, Long Xiaoqiang seemed to leave with complete ease, without any lingering sentiment.
"It seems that as his cultivation has risen, his state of mind and insight have also improved greatly. He is no longer that youth shouting about joining the Rookie Selection Tournament outside the city gate," Chen Feng mused inwardly.
"I wonder how he healed so completely after sustaining such heavy injuries during the day, but this youth definitely has limitless potential for the future!" Although Chen Feng had interacted with Long Xiaoqiang very little—only three times—he felt a sense of kindred spirits. Seeing him walk away now, he felt a slight, unexpected sense of loss.
However, the feeling of loss vanished in an instant. Just as he was about to head back to his lodgings, he suddenly thought, "There's nothing to do if I go back now.
I was unconscious all afternoon, so I have no sleepiness at all. I might as well practice all the Yagami techniques I have comprehended.
This will allow me to master them better!" Practicing techniques here would inevitably draw attention from many people, and Chen Feng disliked being treated like a spectacle. Thus, he activated his Sky Dancing Art and flew straight out of the 'Rookie Inn' toward the outskirts of the city where he had fought with Cliff and the others.
The gentle breeze caressed his face in the air. Looking down at the myriad lights of the city below, Chen Feng couldn't help but feel a rush of emotion.
This kind of flight was something he wouldn't have dared dream of in his previous life. Now, not only could he fly freely, but he had also gained the cultivation level of a video game character.
Strange life encounters are truly inexplicable. After flying to the outskirts, he noticed that the hunting platform where he fought Cliff previously was brightly lit from a distance, bustling with people coming and going, as if they were searching for something.
Feeling curious, Chen Feng lowered his altitude in the air, gliding slowly closer, and settled near a wall on one side. "Did you find anything?" a young man's voice rang out.
"Reporting to the Young Leader, we searched the entire hunting platform and found no trace of the Vice Leader, but..." a middle-aged mercenary hesitated. "But what?" the Young Leader asked.
"We saw that many spots on the bluestone of the hunting platform were shattered, and there was a large hole in one area. It's clear a fierce battle took place.
We also saw scorch marks from fire. Although the bloodstains on the ground are faint, they are still discernible.
If this subordinate guesses correctly, Vice Leader Cliff, along with Danny and Moko, were likely killed and then incinerated!" The middle-aged mercenary analyzed smoothly. Chen Feng secretly nodded; although this person hadn't witnessed the event, his analysis was surprisingly close to the truth.
"Hmph!" the Young Leader snorted coldly. "That Cliff was utterly reckless and stupid.
Who knows, he might have sparred with some powerhouse and lost his life. It's been so many days, and the clan still doesn't know!
Damn it, investigate thoroughly and find out who killed those three. If I find out, I certainly won't let them go!" The Young Leader spoke with a soft, harsh tone, his voice filled with decisiveness.
"Go investigate," Chen Feng chuckled, taking it to heart. This Young Leader was likely Judy's older brother.
Let them investigate. What if they found him?
As long as they didn't offend him, he wouldn't bother with them. But if anyone crossed him, they would surely pay a price!
A sharp glint flashed across Chen Feng's smiling face. He flew down from the hunting platform and found a spacious area.
After adjusting the flow of the cyclone energy within him for a moment, he began practicing the techniques he remembered from his berserk state. "Boom, boom, boom, boom!" The ground continuously emitted low explosions.
The surrounding trees, scorched by the explosions and the Azure Flames, were all blackened like ink, lying scattered on the ground. "Yagami Iori's Orochi Nage might not be as powerful as Vice Hero's True Orochi Nage, but if followed up with Rika 116 Shiki: Chogar, the power increase would be nearly double!" Chen Feng thought.
"However, with the cyclone energy currently in my body, executing one Orochi Nage will completely deplete it, leaving no strength left to connect with Chogar!" After practicing for half a day, Chen Feng understood his limit: his internal cyclone energy was only enough for one Orochi Nage, a fact he was well aware of. Sometimes, even if one obtains powerful techniques, they are useless without the capacity to execute them.
Powerful moves like Orochi Oni or Orochi Nage, while capable of challenging higher-level opponents, could leave the user in a perilous situation if they couldn't finish the enemy after deployment. Forcibly using them when cultivation is insufficient only places an increased burden on one's body.
"It seems the immediate priority isn't figuring out how to master these powerful Desperation Moves, but rather... controlling the rhythm of the battle," Chen Feng mused internally.
Controlling the rhythm of battle meant achieving "anticipating the enemy's first move"—being able to predict the opponent's movements and then unleashing the most appropriate technique based on timing. The strongest move isn't always the most suitable.
Chen Feng knew this from playing games in his past life. The reason KOF masters achieve invincibility is mainly down to timing; they grasp the flow of the battle, knowing when to use which move and when to unleash a Desperation Move.
Only then can they expend the least energy to generate the greatest offensive power. However, these things sound simple, but they cannot be achieved without years of persistent practice.
Even with exceptional talent, practice is mandatory! Thus, although Chen Feng recognized this point, he still had a long road ahead before he could truly apply it in combat.
"No need to rush, I'm still young, I can take my time!" Knowing the direction finally eased his distress over passively receiving skills. Only in moments of extreme danger during combat would he suddenly comprehend a technique.
While this could alter the outcome, it also brought a strong sense of crisis into his heart. What if he couldn't grasp a technique during a fight?
Would he be killed due to a lack of offensive options? These were all considerations for Chen Feng.
But now, besides a few special skills he hadn't learned, he knew almost all of Iori Yagami's techniques. Continuous practice to integrate and master them would lead to a stable increase in strength.
And so, Chen Feng remained in this location, comprehending and practicing for a full two days. After the 42nd match, there was a day of rest.
Since Long Xiaoqiang didn't compete, Chen Feng's mercenary team naturally advanced. Chen Feng recovered his internal cyclone energy and opened his eyes just as dawn was breaking.
This day was the day of the finals. "Seventh Prince, Alex, Joseph..." Chen Feng's lips curled into a smile, and a ball of azure flame rose in his palm.
"Today, I will show you all what a true powerhouse is!" With that, he clenched his fist, and the flame in his palm immediately burst apart with a crisp pop, scattering across the ground. When he returned to the team's rest area, only his mercenary team and the Seventh Prince's overwhelmingly popular team remained inside.
The Seventh Prince's eyes ignited with intense fighting spirit as he watched Chen Feng slowly approach the room. Chen Feng also looked at the three of them, his own fighting spirit surging.
One ignited a battle spirit merely upon seeing one person; the other observed three people, and the disparity was immediately clear. "Fu Sword, Dragon Armor, so what?
A Level Four Magical Beast, so what? I will rely only on a pair of sharp claws and a pair of fists to surpass everyone!" Chen Feng's fingertips turned pale, his face filled with unwavering resolve.
Originally, he had considered using Dragon Might to suppress the opponent's magical beast, but upon reflection, a surge of wildness ignited in his heart. Having already mastered Orochi Nage, using such a supplementary technique to win felt distasteful to him.
"Kill! Tear through their defenses with my bare claws and enjoy the look of terror and despair on their faces—that is what I desire most!" Chen Feng licked his lips, his state of mind seemingly overlapping unintentionally with that of Iori Yagami once more.
"The final showdown has finally arrived. Everyone expected the Overwhelmingly Popular Team to enter the arena, but that the Mercenary Team could also fight their way into the finals was truly beyond everyone's expectations..." the announcer's voice echoed over the competition stage.
For the Mercenary Team's advancement in the finals, the only match that truly made sense to observers was Chen Feng's battle against the Berserk Team—one match that resulted in the slaughter of three burly men. As for the subsequent two matches, they were somewhat inexplicable; no one knew what happened during the bout against Yani's Beautiful Women Team.
The Mercenary Team's inexplicable victories had already drawn much criticism, and the fact that the 42nd match ended prematurely due to Long Xiaoqiang's [+ Let this mercenary team that relies only on luck go to hell!" shouted a burly man in the stands, shaking a flag excitedly. "What mercenary team? They are simply a group that has advanced purely on continuous good fortune! How can they compare to the formidable team formed by the Seventh Prince, Alex, and Joseph!" others shouted from the crowd. "Overwhelmingly Popular Team must win! Seventh Prince must win! Alex must win! Joseph must win!" a chorus of roaring shouts erupted from the stands. The scene plunged into unprecedented fervor. "Now, let me introduce the starting lineups for both sides. The Overwhelmingly Popular Team has fielded their entire roster this time, and the Seventh Prince has even brought the legendary Dragon Armor and Fu Sword onto the field. It seems he is absolutely determined to win this match! Alex, who has garnered much attention, has also brought his magical pet—good heavens, it's a Level Four Wild Boar Demon Bear! That is a legendary Level Four High-Grade Magical Beast! Moreover, this Wild Boar Demon Bear is inherently incredibly strong; its strength and magic are often enough to fend off even those at the level of a Battle Master. It looks like the Mercenary Team is truly in for some bad luck," the announcer said, his face alight with excitement as if he had injected himself with chicken blood. "And then there is Joseph, the Empire's number one strongman! Look at his robust body and those muscle groups that make people scream—I truly doubt anything in this world could withstand his tyrannical iron fist..." After praising the Overwhelmingly Popular Team at length, the announcer turned around and said, "Now, let me introduce the combatants for the Mercenary Team... What?" The announcer's voice suddenly pitched up by eight notes, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. "The Mercenary Team has only sent one person... Iori Yagami!" "Rumble..." The entire grandstand erupted like an explosion, roaring into chaos. One person challenging the three experts making up the Overwhelmingly Popular Team? Has this red-haired youth gone mad? Yes, he must be mad, otherwise, he absolutely wouldn't do this! "Has the Mercenary Team decided to forfeit since they know they will lose?" the announcer suddenly exclaimed as if he had discovered a new continent. "Sending only one person means they aren't here to fight; they must be here to surrender! I didn't expect the Mercenary Team, which relied on luck to reach the final, to make such a wise decision..." The announcer shouted until his throat was dry, like a man who had found a new world! "But if they forfeit, we miss an opportunity to see the Seventh Prince and the others fight at full strength. What a pity... Ahh..." Before the announcer could finish speaking, a sharp scream cut through the air, and he was instantly thrown out of the arena like a kicked football, landing heavily on the ground, unable to rise again. "Hoo..." Chen Feng let out a breath and clapped his hands. "Such an irritating nuisance!" Having been unable to tolerate the announcer's inflammatory remarks, Chen Feng used a Gale, tossing the man away. The distance from the platform to the ground below was no less than fifty meters. After such a heavy fall, even if the announcer wanted to say more, he likely wouldn't be able to. "The three of you come at me together, or one by one!" Chen Feng stood proudly on the platform, uttering a statement of unparalleled heroism. Chen Feng's words, transmitted clearly and without error across the entire arena via the magic sound transmission device, caused the stadium to explode into an uproar. "He actually wants to challenge the Seventh Prince and the other two alone? Is this red-haired guy truly insane?" "Who does he think he is? Does he think he's Commander Kanehart or someone else..." "An arrogant fool. He probably won't even know how he died later..." "Truly fearless because he is ignorant. This red-haired fellow must not have woken up properly; his arrogance is extreme..." "I know! This guy is actually just trying to look cool. He knows perfectly well that even if all three of them attack, they won't be a match for the Seventh Prince and the others. He came up alone just to become famous—challenging three masters single-handedly! Haha, he's utterly cunning!" No one had any hope for Chen Feng; everyone assumed he was posturing! In the public eye, no matter how strong one's individual power was, it was impossible to defeat the Seventh Prince, who wielded the Fu Sword and wore the Dragon Armor, let alone Alex and Joseph, the two most dazzling young talents in the empire! ………………………………………………………………………………………… "Why would he do this?" Angelisa spoke first. "Who knows what this guy is thinking?" Judy muttered, her tone full of dissatisfaction, though her eyes were filled with worry. "Perhaps he's worried about us getting hurt," Angelisa consoled herself. "This guy, he’s always like this, acting crazily all day. It drives me mad! Even if our cultivation levels aren't high, we could still help if a real fight broke out. Forget it, if he wants to steal the limelight, he can do it alone. We won't bother with him!" Judy was anxious and angry, a blush rising on her fair face. "Actually, I don't think Iori Yagami is trying to show off; it's just... his personality. He is somewhat arrogant and perhaps overly self-confident, seemingly not taking anyone in the world seriously," Angelisa said faintly, a trace of pride and yearning flickering in her eyes. "Arrogant? He's more than arrogant; he's simply insane," Judy ground her teeth, her face showing indignation and rage. "The reckless fool, challenging the Seventh Prince, who wears the Fu Sword and Dragon Armor, and Alex, who brings a Level Four Magical Beast, all by himself—isn't that madness!" "Sigh... You can never fully grasp his thoughts. He is truly a strange person," Angelisa sighed and stopped speaking, her slender, beautiful figure standing lonely in the resting chamber. "Miss Judy..." Just then, a mercenary-dressed man walked into the rest chamber. |(| "The Young Leader asked me to bring you a letter," he said, handing over an envelope. Judy frowned. "Doesn't my brother ever write to me?" As she spoke, she opened the envelope. The moment she glanced inside, she couldn't help but let out a startled cry. She turned to look at the red-haired youth standing proudly on the magic screen, her eyes wide with disbelief. "I don't believe it. I'll go back and ask him clearly myself!" Judy tucked the letter into her clothes, losing all interest in watching the match, and turned to walk out of the resting chamber. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… "You want to challenge the three of us alone?" The Seventh Prince frowned. It was impossible not to feel angry at Iori Yagami's arrogance. "Haha... Did I not make myself clear just now?" Chen Feng's arrogant words continued to echo on the stage. "Fine, I'll give you the chance!" The Seventh Prince turned angrily toward Alex and Joseph. "Let's go at him together. Although this guy is arrogant, his true strength should not be underestimated. I fear that none of us alone would be his match." "Together?" Joseph grinned widely. "A little shrimp like this deserves for the three of us to attack him together? I'm enough on my own!" "Joseph, don't be careless. I have crossed swords with this red-haired youth before. Without my Dragon Armor or Fu Sword, I was nearly no match for him in a single exchange," the Seventh Prince stated. In fact, Joseph and Alex had heard of this incident, but hearing the Seventh Prince admit it personally still caused them a wave of shock. Who was the Seventh Prince? He was a renowned genius and young master throughout the Loki Empire. For him to admit he was no match in a single exchange was astonishing. "I will cooperate fully," Alex, though the youngest of the three, understood the gravity of the situation. Someone whom the Seventh Prince regarded with such caution must possess extraordinary capabilities. The three took up their positions, with Alex standing on his magical beast's shoulder. From the beginning, all three adopted a fully aggressive posture. "Now that looks more like it!" Chen Feng sighed, and the cyclone energy within him suddenly rotated, his aura surging mightily at that moment. Seeing the posture of the Seventh Prince's trio, everyone in the stands was dumbfounded. They naturally understood the implication of their actions, but what puzzled them was: did this red-haired youth really possess the strength to challenge the three powerhouses of the Overwhelmingly Popular Team simultaneously? The Seventh Prince, clad in Dragon Armor and wielding the Fu Sword, currently drew his greatest strength not from magic, but from combat techniques, as the Fu Sword enhanced his battle qi, and the Dragon Armor acted like a turtle shell, rendering all attacks below the Battle Master level immune. Being unafraid of blows and possessing extremely powerful offense, magic seemed somewhat clumsy in this situation; instantaneous magic had weak power, while high-power magic required chanting, which was far less swift than using the Fu Sword. "Summon your magical pet as well," the Seventh Prince said. In his mind, even with Chen Feng’s powerful strength, it was impossible for him to challenge the three of them alone. Since he dared to do so, he must have a hidden ace, or perhaps a super-powerful pet. Chen Feng smiled: “No need, I’m enough by myself.” With that, he fitted the arm guards and claw attachments, transformed from the Black Gold Iron, onto his right hand. “You asked for this, so don’t blame us for not holding back,” the Seventh Prince was even more enraged seeing Chen Feng remain arrogant. With a sudden ‘Bang,’ the bluestone floor beneath his feet shattered into fragments, and he instantly lunged forward like a drawn sword. At the exact same moment, the Savage Mane Bear beneath Alex roared and charged forward, stamping the ground. This creature was tall and huge, yet its movements were anything but slow; rather, its charge made the earth tremble, radiating immense pressure. “Good timing!” Chen Feng’s eyes narrowed slightly, his muscles seeming to obey a silent command, flowing like water toward his legs, instantly condensing an overwhelming, peerless power in both limbs. “Go!” Chen Feng roared, shaking his right hand repeatedly. Two azure flames immediately appeared on the ground—his signature move, the Dark Hook Hand. The two Dark Hook Hands hissed along the ground, precisely blocking the paths of the charging Seventh Prince and Alex. Chen Feng himself instantly shot forward like a diving bird, heading straight for Joseph, the weakest of the three adversaries. When besieged by multiple opponents, the first target should not be the strongest, but the weakest. It’s like how the amount of water a barrel holds is determined not by the longest plank, but the shortest one. The weakest opponent is the vulnerability in the group; whether attacking or killing, it will undeniably inflict an indelible impact on the entire assault. Chen Feng’s initial attack clearly disrupted the three men’s battle formation and strategy. They never anticipated that Chen Feng would strike Joseph first. “Break!” The Seventh Prince brought his talisman sword down in a direct chop, aiming for the approaching flames. Just then, a bizarre thing happened: the azure flame unexpectedly curved, shifting its trajectory toward Alex, who was nearby. The flame that seemed to be coming straight at him was merely a feint! And the flame simultaneously attacking Alex also swerved, turning toward the Seventh Prince. These sudden directional changes of the two Dark Hook Hands caught them off guard, momentarily causing them to become flustered and disorganized. This was exactly what Chen Feng intended. Although his current cultivation was high, he absolutely could not withstand the combined assault of all three opponents simultaneously. Only by shattering their offensive formation could he seize a chance at victory. With the Seventh Prince and Alex thrown into disarray, they naturally had no time to look after Joseph—the perfect moment for Chen Feng to strike! Everything was proceeding according to Chen Feng’s calculation! Seeing Chen Feng rushing toward him, Joseph’s muscles bulged across his entire frame. Combined with his mountain-like physique, he let out a deafening roar, charging headlong at Chen Feng like a human-shaped beast of war. Joseph possessed the bloodline of the Southern Behemoths; his body was hard as tempered steel, serving as natural armor. His preferred combat style was direct collision, meeting brute force with brute force. Now, ramming forward with all his might, his entire body resembled a cannonball in full impact. Although Chen Feng had the advantage of attacking from above, a head-on collision with this brute would likely result in grievous injury. A slight smile touched Chen Feng’s lips as he activated the Sky-Soaring Art, subtly shifting his body one meter in the air! That single meter caused Joseph’s charge to miss entirely. Chen Feng slipped sideways behind Joseph and unleashed a Reverse Peel upon his back! “Splat!” Joseph’s broad back was immediately torn open by Chen Feng’s right hand, sheathed in Black Gold Iron, creating a massive gash from which blood erupted like a broken water main. No matter how hard he was, how could he withstand the attack of Black Gold Iron! However, Joseph proved formidable; in that brief instant, he managed to wrench his body back half a foot. Otherwise, Chen Feng’s strike, while perhaps not splitting him in two, would have been enough to instantly incapacitate him. Even with that half-foot retreat, Joseph’s injuries, though severe, were not debilitating enough to end the fight. Having executed the Reverse Peel, Chen Feng, still airborne, straightened his body, grabbed Joseph’s injured shoulder, and used the momentum of Joseph’s forward rush to deliver a powerful Whirlwind Strike! How could Joseph possibly fend off such a potent throw? Moreover, the force was directed along the path of his own prior momentum. He was sent flying like a massive boulder straight toward the Seventh Prince! “…” The Seventh Prince never expected Chen Feng to use Joseph as an offensive tool, leaving him momentarily stunned. His right hand, gripping the talisman sword, couldn't release in time as a massive dark shadow hurtled toward him. If it had been a rock or any other object, the Seventh Prince could have cleaved it in two with his sword. But Joseph was his teammate; hesitating on how to strike proved fatal. In that split second of indecision, Joseph slammed into him, and both crashed to the ground simultaneously. “Boom!” The bluestone paving of the competition stage fractured over a large area from the impact! After launching the Whirlwind Strike, Chen Feng landed, his muscles coiled like a drawn bow. He pushed off the ground, and the immense rebound force shot him back into the air, heading directly for Alex, who was mounted on the Savage Mane Bear. “Roar…” Alex roared, his voice echoing with a dragon’s cry. Pale green Battle Qi swirled around his fists as he punched forward. Simultaneously, the Savage Mane Bear beneath him, as if commanded, clenched its fists and relentlessly pounded its chest, opening its maw to spew forth a lightning-bolt arc. It turned out this Savage Mane Bear was an electric-attribute magical beast. Chen Feng’s body, which was ascending vertically, suddenly rose another meter, dodging the lightning arc. His face flushed deeply as the power of the Qi Vortex flowed from his abdomen to his right arm. His muscles rolled like spheres, transmitting the force in waves to his arm. With a fierce roar, he smashed his own fist directly against Alex’s! This blow possessed no subtlety; it was purely force meeting force! Alex revealed a smile upon seeing this. A Fighter with a magical beast could borrow the beast’s strength when mounted atop it—this was the primary reason why Beast Riders were so powerful. The Savage Mane Bear beneath him was renowned for its strength, by no means inferior to battle beasts of the same level. The power he was channeling through the contract for this one punch was immense, even he didn't fully comprehend its magnitude. For this 'Yagami An' to try and meet it head-on, it seemed he was truly inviting his own doom! “Break!” Alex roared, and the Savage Mane Bear beneath him suddenly increased its height by half a meter. The speed of his punch instantly accelerated to its limit, smashing directly into Chen Feng’s fist! “Crack…” A sharp sound rang out. The finger bones of Alex’s two fists were instantly pulverized by Chen Feng’s fiercely powerful strike. Under the force of that single punch, the Savage Mane Bear was driven downward, embedding itself over half a meter into the bluestone beneath! “Roar…” With a mighty crash, the bluestone ground exploded like a bomb, revealing a large, circular pit. No one could have imagined that the scattered Battle Qi from the two colliding fists had blasted the surface to such a degree! Chen Feng somersaulted backward and landed on the ground, gazing at the three figures with a heart brimming with exhilaration! “Ha, ha, ha, ha…” He clutched his forehead and burst into manic laughter, his overwhelming pride completely unconcealed. Defeating three supreme experts in three consecutive moves, Chen Feng had proven everything with his own strength! Everyone in the entire arena was dumbfounded, the silence so profound that a needle dropping could be heard. After a long pause. “This… how is this possible…” No one dared to trust their own eyes or judgment. Although the battle had many intricate steps, in reality, from the moment Chen Feng used the Dark Hook Hand to charge Joseph until Alex’s hands were crippled, the entire sequence took less than five minutes. Yet, within those five minutes, Joseph was pinned beneath the Seventh Prince, both lying on the ground; Alex’s hands were trembling, and his mount was sunk halfway into the stone floor. Everything indicated that in the exchange just concluded, the red-haired youth had not only not lost, but had gained the absolute upper hand! How could this fail to shock everyone?……………………………………………………………………………… “He can actually fly?” In the luxurious private box, Emperor Suomen’s eyes held a look of profound astonishment and uncertainty. Chen Feng had deliberately kept his flying ability a secret, only using the Sky-Soaring Art for a very short distance. However, with Emperor Suomen’s discerning eye, he immediately saw the crucial point. The elderly man with golden silk dragon patterns seated beside him nodded: “Indeed. Although this Yagami An only used it twice, it is definitely a flight technique. How can someone whose strength hasn't reached the level of Dou Zun utilize flight? Furthermore, his flying technique seems slightly different from true flight. Could it be a specialized flying combat skill?” The old man was, as Elder Yi described, a true ancient monster; he had pinpointed the anomaly in a single statement. “A flying combat skill? A skill that allows those below the Dou Shi rank to fly?” Emperor Suomen’s eyes immediately shone with avarice. The value of such a combat skill was unparalleled in his eyes. If practitioners below the Dou Shi rank could master such a technique, wouldn't he be able to effortlessly assemble an aerial force? If he could obtain the manual for this combat skill, what did it matter if the Pterosaur Knight Corps was lost? The Loki Empire would still be incomparably powerful, perhaps even surpassing the other three empires! Thinking of this, Emperor Suomen felt a surge of burning ambition. “Don’t even think about it!” The old man with the golden silk dragon patterns stated flatly. “Yagami An is almost certainly from the Overseas Continent, and if my guess is right, he is the descendant of a powerful faction there. If you do not wish for the Loki Empire to be annihilated, you had best set aside those thoughts!” How could the Emperor’s intentions be concealed from the ancient, monstrously perceptive old man? Emperor Suomen quickly lowered his head and replied: “Thank you for your guidance, Ancestor!” Yet, a murderous glint flickered in his eyes: “I cannot take it openly, but I can do it secretly. If I kill this youth and incinerate the body to ashes, who would ever know? Moreover, I will not act now. I will wait until he travels to the Fenlai Empire for the Four Nations Rookie Selection Tournament before making my move. Who would suspect me then…” Chen Feng was completely unaware that this accidental exposure of his ability had brought a death sentence upon himself. P.S.: Three chapters combined, 9000+ words. I owed everyone a chapter last night and couldn't sleep, getting up at 4:30 AM and writing until now to finish this massive chapter! Alas, I really shouldn't owe people things; it makes me uneasy. I’ll grab some instant noodles now and sleep, then continue this afternoon. My current monthly ticket count is 276. If it can reach 290, I will deliver another luxurious 9000-word chapter tonight. If it doesn't reach that number, it will be 6000, but 6000 isn't small either. Today will still total 15,000 words… (To be continued. To find out what happens next, please log into www.wwn.com for more chapters, support the author, and support genuine reading!)