To the surprise of many, perhaps only not Austin, how could these people possibly comprehend the inherent toughness of a "foreigner," a "Chinese man"?

It was with this very attitude that nothing happening to Chen Feng would strike him as unusual; even if today he displayed the strength of a Dou Zun, it wouldn't cause the slightest astonishment. Conversely, if Chen Feng were defeated by Edric today, that would be what he found truly unbelievable.

“The carriage is ready; we can leave whenever you wish,” the coachman quietly approached Chen Feng.

In reality, as the coachman spoke to Chen Feng, his heart trembled. He was utterly a nobody, a man who worried about a few copper coins every day until yesterday afternoon. Now, not only was he lodged in the VIP section of a high-class inn, but he had witnessed Imperial Princes and Princesses standing respectfully before him... the abrupt rise and fall of his life felt like a dream.

“Oh!” Chen Feng replied, then turned to Austin and Grace, “I have urgent business requiring a trip to Dragon Mountain Town, so I won't be staying here. Farewell!”

With that, Chen Feng turned and walked out without pausing for a second.

He hadn't intended to offer any explanation for his departure; he could have simply left. However, considering Austin had always acted honorably and treated him well, deeming him someone worth knowing, he offered a few extra words.

Seeing Chen Feng preparing to leave, Austin quickly said, “Lord Cao? I have discussed it with my father, the Emperor. Would you consider condescending to participate in this New Talent Competition for the Four Great Empires?”

“Participate in the competition?” Chen Feng paused, smiled slightly, and shook his head. “A competition of this level no longer piques my interest.”

Had he said this before making his move, the remaining three contestants would have certainly deemed him arrogant. But now, hearing it felt natural. It would be strange indeed if a practitioner of the Dou Shi realm found interest in fighting against those at the Dou Shi level.

Austin hadn't truly expected him to join; he had only asked casually. Seeing his decisive reply, he felt no disappointment.

However, Grace, upon hearing Chen Feng was leaving, pouted slightly, looking clearly displeased by his imminent departure so soon after arriving. Still, the girl was perceptive enough not to voice her dissatisfaction.

She knew that with Cao’s water-and-fire-immune temperament, speaking out would only waste breath and earn her a full measure of anger.

Chen Feng bid farewell to Austin and the coachman, heading toward the magic circle on the other side of Maya City.

Watching Chen Feng walk away, Grace’s nose tingled, and her expression turned deeply forlorn. Austin sighed, unsure what to say.

“I wonder when we’ll meet again…” Austin said, then stopped abruptly. “Blast it! If we never see him again, how do I explain things to the Magic Association? That agreement from before…”

The thought sent a cold sweat breaking out on Austin’s brow. Elder Rodriguez of the Magic Association had gone to such great lengths to help him precisely because he wanted a chance to meet this young man and persuade him to visit the Association. If Chen Feng left now, and the Association inquired later, Austin would surely be branded as someone who violated an agreement.

But judging by Cao’s demeanor, he must be heading to handle something critical. Dragon Mountain Town—what major event could make a "Chinese man" so rushed?

“Dragon Mountain Town, Dragon Mountain Town… Dragon Summit Mountain!” Austin’s eyes lit up. “The first time I met Cao was at Dragon Summit Mountain. Could something there be drawing him?”

“Could it be…” Austin’s heart gave a lurch. He recalled the glimpsed Royal Secret Scroll: “That tattered scroll vaguely mentioned the existence of the Dragon Domain, and seemed to allude to a great secret. No one truly knows what this secret is, but it once drove countless Dou Zun level experts to madness. Could… Cao’s objective also be to find this secret?”

The more he thought, the more it seemed right. Austin’s excitement became impossible to conceal. “Cao comes from the Dragon Domain. Whatever he seeks must be immensely precious. If I can help him unravel this secret, the gratitude he owes me would be unparalleled. At that point…”

Austin knew the secret guarded by the Dragon Clan must be extraordinary, so he didn't dare harbor any selfish intent. He only wished to help Cao so that the young man would owe him a favor.

With this resolved, Austin slapped Grace on the shoulder. “Don’t look like that. You weren’t this sad when your big brother went on long journeys. Come on!”

“Where are we going?” Grace’s bright eyes sparkled.

“We are going to find him!” Austin declared, striding outward.

Grace naturally knew who "him" referred to. The melancholy immediately vanished from her face, replaced by a smile. She hurried to keep up with him, appearing immensely excited. As she ran, she passed by Edric, lying on the ground, beaten half to death by Chen Feng, yet she didn't even spare him a glance……………………………………………………………………………………………………

The glow of the magic light wave vanished, and Chen Feng opened his eyes again.

He took a deep breath, steadying his slightly nervous emotions, and muttered a rather cliché phrase, “Dragon Mountain Town, I, Chen Feng, have returned!”

It was nearly noon. The midday sun was piercingly bright, making his eyes water. Chen Feng instinctively narrowed his eyes as he stepped out of the magic circle.

Having experienced those massive magic arrays, the one in Dragon Mountain Town now seemed utterly rudimentary. If they were to transport anything, it probably couldn’t even manage three people at once.

Never mind vehicles or horses. It made sense why the Lefu family had to go to Kuta Town to purchase ordinary carriages capable of handling the journey and hire the Fitt mercenary group for protection. Transporting Energy Crystals through this array was simply not cost-effective!

An array that transported two people at a time likely couldn't move much in the way of Energy Crystals, and the fees were exorbitant—far more expensive than using carriages and horses.

Leaving the array and walking towards Dragon Mountain Town, Chen Feng chose to walk instead of taking a carriage, even though the array was some distance from the settlement, unlike his previous visits.

This town was the very first place he arrived after traversing worlds. It was here that his life changed; the frame-up, the lost arm, the ruined teeth—the origin of everything lay here.

The reason for avoiding the carriage was simple: since Dragon Mountain Town was controlled by the two great Magic Families and the three great Martial Families, any news of his arrival would certainly be detected by them!

That was precisely what Chen Feng wanted—to make them aware. Only then would panic creep into their hearts, making them afraid!

With his cultivation as a Third-Tier Dou Shi, bolstered by the Fist Emperor techniques and the aid of the Nether Feather Sword, he was confident he could handle the Lefu family without any issue, so he feared no assassination attempts from them.

Suppressing the urge to rush, Chen Feng walked along the broad road. His pitch-black tunic contrasted sharply with his bright red hair, and his lean, tall figure appeared strikingly solitary in the morning light.

The road was quiet; contrary to his expectations, there were no ambushes. Not a single unusual occurrence was noted, and even the carriages and horses traveling the road were sparse.

Given the Lefu family’s power, it was impossible they hadn't detected his arrival by now. He had killed Brut and Elder Aiwa, creating an irreconcilable feud with them. For the Lefu family to remain completely unconcerned upon learning he was entering Dragon Mountain Town was highly suspicious.

Chen Feng reached the gate of Dragon Mountain Town in under an hour. Stepping through the gate, he finally sensed something odd. The entire town felt significantly quieter than before. Very few people walked the main street; it was conspicuously empty. What astonished him was that the businesses and storefronts along both sides of the street—those belonging to the Three Martial Families and the Two Magic Families—were all closed, either collapsed or shuttered tight. It was immediately clear that something was terribly wrong.

“Something isn’t right. What happened in Dragon Mountain Town?” he murmured, narrowing his eyes as he surveyed the vacant street, a strange feeling rising within him.

Although he hadn't lived in Dragon Mountain Town, he possessed the clear memories absorbed from the Chen Feng Kente he had consumed, memories detailing the town’s former prosperity. Despite its remote location, Dragon Mountain Town was usually bustling because of the Dragon Summit Mountain mines; whether day or night, the streets would be thronged with people, never this desolate.

Puzzled, he walked through three or four more streets. The surroundings were identical to the first: storefronts closed, and even ordinary residents kept their doors tightly shut, hinting at profound abnormality.

“Many shops look like they’ve been attacked, but… in Dragon Mountain Town, which faction would dare simultaneously move against the Three Martial Families and the Two Magic Families?” Chen Feng’s confusion deepened.

“Tap-tap…”

Just then, the sound of crisp horses’ hooves suddenly broke the silence of the road. A group of knights galloped down from one side of the street. Not wanting to be seen, Chen Feng’s figure flashed, and he slipped into a small alleyway.

“Big Brother, are we really going to wipe out three Martial Families in one go this time?” a burly man shouted from his horse.

“Is there any doubt? The combined forces of the two Magic Families are moving fast! The Bart Family is already destroyed; looks like those two will follow soon!” the sturdy man on the lead horse replied.

Both men spoke loudly enough to be clearly heard over the clatter of the hooves, so Chen Feng caught every word.

“The Bart Family is destroyed?” Chen Feng was startled. The Bart Family was Feliya’s lineage. If they were ruined, when had this happened?

Watching the knights thunder past, Chen Feng darted out like a phantom, seizing the neck of the last rider, effortlessly pulling him down and dragging him into the alley.

The action was so swift and sudden that the galloping knights ahead noticed absolutely nothing.

ps: My body might really be failing; I caught a cold again today. I’m dripping wet and feeling absolutely miserable… Sigh, having this happen during the Golden Week when monthly tickets are doubled is really frustrating. There’s one more chapter before the 12th, consider it my apology to everyone!

There are only three hours left; after midnight, the double monthly ticket period ends. I ask everyone to try clicking the "Vote Monthly Ticket to Support the Author" button below to see if you have any tickets. Thank you all for your support!

I feel truly ashamed for asking for tickets when my updates haven't kept up, and I hope you can forgive me. The main reason I caught this cold is the immense pressure these past few days. I haven't dared tell my family I quit my job, and now that the book’s performance isn't great, I'm considering whether I need to find a new job. Coupled with writer's block, this double pressure has overwhelmed my body. But I will push through and complete today’s updates; I’m uploading 3000 words now, and I plan for at least 6000 today!

I hope you can also be understanding, after all, I am only human, not a god. Thank you again for all your support!! (To be continued. To find out what happens next, please visit www**m for more chapters, to support the author, and for genuine reading!)