His injuries had already healed completely under the influence of the dark vortex. What exactly was this dark vortex, and why had it appeared at this precise moment? That was the first thing he pondered upon regaining consciousness. After racking his brain for a while without reaching any conclusion, he merely rubbed his aching head and stood up.

The moon was high now, its brilliant light showering the ground like a layer of silver frost, causing a slight crunching sound as he stepped on the fallen leaves paved with this frost.

Ahead lay an immense, gaping pit, the result of the explosion from the Level Eight magic, Diamond Arrow. Arseus’s corpse had long been blasted into mincemeat by the detonation and was nowhere to be found. However, Douglas’s body lay prone in the center of the pit, the Nether Feather Sword plunged into his chest, his eyes wide open, as if even in death he could not believe he had been slain.

He walked over, pulled the Nether Feather Sword from the body, and placed it in his waterskin.

“See what he has on him!” Chen Feng stood up, surveying the aftermath. To his surprise, Douglas was wearing a spatial ring. He removed it and swept his mental energy inside; the contents immediately flooded Chen Feng’s mind.

First was a stack of merchant cards. Chen Feng counted them—thirty in total. Each card held 1,000,000 gold coins. Thirty cards amounted to 30,000,000 gold!

He sucked in a sharp breath, marveling. He had always thought having one hundred thousand gold made him rich, but in the eyes of this centuries-old fiend, he was likely still not out of poverty. An ancient monster who had lived for several hundred years certainly possessed vast wealth.

Next were nearly ten thousand magic crystals, possessing a high degree of purity. While not as precious as Jade Magic Crystals, they were still rare items, likely high-grade crystals.

“People truly can’t be compared,” Chen Feng murmured, gazing at the dizzying pile of high-grade crystals.

The spatial ring also contained several dense manuals on magic cultivation and necessities for eating and drinking. Finally, there was a scroll depicting a landscape painting.

Seeing the scroll reminded Chen Feng of what Austin had told him. Slowly, he unrolled the painting. It depicted a scene of mountains and water, and judging by the brushwork… it was an ink wash painting!

Chen Feng’s heart lurched, and his face flushed scarlet. The style of this painting was unmistakably that of ancient Chinese national painting from his previous life!

Chinese painting? Had someone other than Senior Yan Long visited this place?

But upon closer inspection, that thought was dismissed. The signature at the bottom read Yan Long.

Why would Yan Long paint such a landscape? After careful examination, Chen Feng realized it wasn’t the peak from the Nine-Story Pagoda. Where was this?

He tucked the scroll into the waterskin, deciding to put the matter aside. His immediate priorities were consolidating his current cultivation and studying the KOF techniques that had suddenly appeared in his mind.

He found a spacious area and practiced every memory that had surfaced in his mind. Aside from Orochi’s black particles, he could execute almost all the moves. However, being able to execute them didn't equate to immense power. Now possessing powerful techniques like Iori Yagami’s Ya Otome, many of the other moves were insignificant, and executing them required a troublesome conversion of his internal energy form.

Chen Feng pondered for a while, choosing only Athena Asamiya’s Psychic Teleport and Ryo Sakazaki’s Haohōken to learn, neglecting the others for serious study. He dedicated more time to mastering Kyo Kusanagi’s moves and Iori Yagami’s repertoire.

He grasped all of Kyo’s moves except the Mugen (No Style), and combining them with Iori’s techniques gave him a sudden feeling of complete fluency.

The Kusanagi Clan and the Yagami Clan (descendants of the Kushinada Clan) both belonged to ancient martial arts lineages stretching back through the ages; many of their moves shared striking similarities. While some moves shared the same name and similar starting stances, there were subtle differences when executed. For example, Hyakushiki: Yae Otome, if performed using Kyo’s boxing style, differed slightly from Iori’s in both power and execution speed.

However, in terms of sheer destructive power, they were not entirely equal. With a spirit of seeking common ground while preserving differences, Chen Feng studied and practiced both sets of moves. Ultimately, he chose Iori Yagami’s techniques as his primary style, supplemented by Kyo Kusanagi’s moves.

After consolidating his cultivation and gaining a rough mastery of the techniques, half a year had already passed.

During this time, Chen Feng had traversed several thousand kilometers into the Dragon Diagram Mountains, exploring as he advanced.

He made a trip to the Nine-Story Pagoda during this period, staying inside for several days, but still failed to wake Senior Yan Long. Currently, he only possessed the Level Nine Demon Cores of Xiao Hu’s parents. If he rashly woke Yan Long, the senior might only remain conscious for a short while before falling back into a deep slumber.

Without Senior Yan Long’s guidance, he naturally couldn't access the upper levels of the Nine-Story Pagoda. Thus, he gathered many rare medicinal herbs in the canyon outside before emerging.

The grievances concerning the Dragon Diagram Mountains were settled. With Wen Shu being looked after by Austin, there was no need to return. Chen Feng’s sole focus now was cultivating diligently, striving to reach the Dou Zun realm as soon as possible.

Following the mountain range south, Chen Feng advanced while cultivating, moving at a moderate pace. Any demonic beasts he encountered along the way were mostly treated as sparring partners to practice his KOF techniques, relying on the Nether Feather Sword and the Yan Long aura emanating from him, fueled entirely by the vortex power within his body for combat.

Another year passed, and Chen Feng finally broke through to the rank of Level Nine Battle Master. The vortex power could now manifest at 95% of its strength. However, he felt absolutely nothing regarding the Absolute Domain, let alone comprehending it.

The "Sensing Nature" spoken of by the Dou Zun level, using the might of heaven and earth to forge a domain, seemed too profound for him at this stage. He persisted in the forest for another half a year but felt no corresponding sensation. Only then did Chen Feng decide to leave the Dragon Diagram Mountains.

In the blink of an eye, two years had passed. Chen Feng’s body had transformed from its previous pale and thin frame into one that was burly and robust, every muscle defined, standing silently with a beauty of strength that flowed like a continuous line.

His robust physique meant his old clothes no longer fit. Fortunately, Douglas’s spatial ring contained many sets of magic robes. Chen Feng wouldn't wear such attire in the deep forest, but upon exiting the wilderness to avoid causing a shock, he donned a magic robe.

These robes were made of fine, comfortable material and bore no insignia denoting rank.

The Dragon Diagram Mountains lay at the southernmost edge of the Finlay Empire, spanning nearly ten thousand li. Emerging from the far south meant Chen Feng had left the boundaries of the Finlay Empire entirely.

Being directionally challenged, Chen Feng had no idea what this new place was called.

Approaching the edge of the Dragon Diagram Mountains, Chen Feng didn't quicken his pace, instead walking step by measured step toward the outside.

Just then, he suddenly heard the piercing roar of a demonic beast mixed with human shouts not far away.

Chen Feng leaped up, using the tree trunks to dart through the forest, landing lightly on a large branch. Through the dense foliage, he looked toward the source of the sound.

It was a group of youths, all around seventeen or eighteen years old, comprising both mages and warriors, their cultivation levels ranging from Six to Seven. The most powerful among them was an Eighth-Level Warrior.

To reach the Sixth or Seventh level at seventeen or eighteen marked one as a genius anywhere. Seeing nearly twenty such remarkably talented youths, even Chen Feng muttered in surprise.

Ahead, a Level Four Earth Bear Boar was roaring and charging toward the group of youths.

The Earth Bear Boar was over four meters long, covered in a thick hide, possessing immense brute strength. Although it could cast spells, its preferred method of attack was sheer headlong charge.

If not for the ten mages among the youths, they would have likely been rammed long ago. Even so, the group was in dire straits.

“Senior Warren, Jim is badly hurt, he’s not going to make it…” a girl cried out anxiously. This girl wore a light blue magic robe, the crest embroidered on her chest indicating her status as a Seventh-Level Mage.

The Eighth-Level Warrior at the front of the group responded, his firm brow furrowing beneath his valiant eyebrows: “Everyone form a circle, protect the injured inside. Totes, cast the Featherlight Spell on me. I’ll lure this Earth Bear Boar away. Anliya, take the rest of them and hurry to leave, get to the nearest town for help!”

Anliya frowned anxiously, “It’s too dangerous for you to face this Earth Bear Boar alone, I’ll go with you!”

“Go with you? It’ll be easier for me to flee alone!” Warren snapped. “Cast the Featherlight Spell on me, I’ll draw it off, and we’ll meet up at the Lush Mountain Tavern!”

Chen Feng watched for a while and realized that while Warren was righteous, his command abilities were not sharp. Given the strength of this group, if they had been organized properly, defeating a single Earth Bear Boar might have been possible. However, due to initial mistakes, three people were severely injured, drastically reducing their strength, leaving them with no option but retreat.

Finally, Warren leaped out to lure the Earth Bear Boar away, and the youths breathed a collective sigh of relief.

“Hurry up…” There was no joy of survival on their faces; instead, they all looked toward Warren’s direction, worry etched on their features.

Killing a Level Four demonic beast was child’s play for Chen Feng now, but he wasn't in the habit of helping others, so he didn't intervene.

Seeing the group leave, Chen Feng jumped down from the tree and followed the direction they had taken.

Since this group was heading outward, the path they took must be the most direct. As he walked, a flash of golden light flickered nearby. When he approached, he saw a crystal pendant radiating shimmering light lying on the ground.

“It must have been dropped by that group just now,” Chen Feng casually picked it up and tucked it into his clothes.

After walking for about ten minutes, he heard hurried footsteps behind him. Turning back, he saw Warren, who had attracted the Earth Bear Boar, running toward him.

At this moment, he had none of the handsome and valiant demeanor he possessed earlier. Several tears marred his clothes, blood flowed from four or five places on his body, and his left arm appeared to be broken.

He paused upon seeing Chen Feng walking slowly ahead, then said, “Why is this mage friend here? This area is very dangerous, come with me quickly!”

Saying that, he darted forward.

ps:: I spent time reading a manga today and didn't have time to write, I’m guilty… The manga is called Spring Brother Biography (Chunge Chuan), quite good. Comrades who believe in Spring Brother can check it out… Though I heard it's been censored… (To be continued. If you wish to know what happens next, please log onto qidiancomm for more chapters, support the author, and support genuine reading!)