"So, Rexill, you've achieved success so quickly!" a thin middle-aged man remarked, his face a mask of faint smiles.

Rexill quickly cupped his hands in return. "Just a stroke of good luck, sir."

The thin man waved a hand dismissively. "Take this young fellow inside. Kozmo was just reporting to the Lord, but it didn't go too well!" He then glanced pointedly at Chen Feng.

Meeting the man's gaze, Chen Feng instantly knew this individual was no easy customer; he was deeply calculating, completely unlike Kozmo.

Kozmo was straightforward and not unintelligent, possessing the temperament of a Zhang Fei. This thin middle-aged man, however, immediately struck Chen Feng as the type who would call you brother to your face while selling you out behind your back—certainly no benevolent soul.

"Must keep this one at arm's length," Chen Feng muttered inwardly.

"This is the Third Vice-Lord, Chris, the chief strategist and advisor of our Violet Demon Territory!" Rexill explained when he saw Chen Feng staring blankly at the middle-aged man's receding back.

After three days traveling together, Rexill’s attitude toward Chen Feng had shifted slightly. Where he had previously ignored him, he now occasionally exchanged a few words.

Chen Feng acknowledged the name and followed Rexill toward the central great hall.

Although the Violet Demon Territory was an island, it was vast, spanning hundreds of thousands of square kilometers. Rexill utilized four or five Magic Teleportation Arrays just to bring Chen Feng to the Lord’s manor.

These arrays only covered a distance of a few hundred kilometers each, yet the passcodes were exceptionally strict; passage was granted only upon correct authentication, showcasing the island's formidable defenses.

"How large is the jurisdiction of the Violet Demon Territory?"

The sheer scale of the island housing just the Lord’s residence was magnificent. How extensive must the overall territory be? Even Chen Feng, typically reserved, couldn't help but ask.

Rexill glanced at him. Since the information wasn't classified, he replied, "Beyond the seas, there are three Great Territories and Four Domains, plus Holy Hallows Island—where the Magus Guild headquarters resides. Our Violet Demon Territory oversees one of them. Each Territory is further divided into eight sub-territories. If you add up the total governed area, it should be around 30 trillion square kilometers!"

"Trillion square kilometers?" Chen Feng’s mind reeled at the number. His previous world’s China spanned only 9.6 million square kilometers. This single territory of the Violet Demon was ten million times larger than China! No wonder his flight with Kozmo, spanning hundreds of thousands of miles, hadn't reached the edge of the sea—this planet was enormous!

"The combined area of the Four Great Empires is only tens of millions of square kilometers. Compared to this Violet Demon Territory, the difference is truly staggering."

Seeing Chen Feng’s look of astonishment, Rexill allowed a faint smile to grace his lips. Since meeting this youth, he had maintained an unruffled demeanor, accepting both praise and blame with equal calm. This rare display of shock pleased him greatly.

"Each sub-territory commander in the Violet Demon Territory is a Ninth-Tier Dou Zun, and each primary territory commander is an initial or mid-stage Dou Sheng," Rexill continued.

Hearing this hierarchy, Chen Feng was even more staggered, a cold sweat breaking out on his skin. One main territory, one Dou Sheng level master, and each main territory divided into sub-territories, meaning there were 11,664 sub-territory commanders, over ten thousand Ninth-Tier Dou Zuns…

The power of the Overseas Continent was truly immense. It was no wonder that back in the Loki Empire, His Majesty coveted his flight Dou Skill but dared not act outright, fearing Chen Feng might be from the Overseas Continent, leading him to devise so many schemes against him.

He hadn't realized the Overseas Continent possessed such overwhelming might. Not even one main territory, perhaps just a sub-territory, could an individual one of the Four Great Empires possibly withstand.

While Chen Feng was deep in shock, a voice suddenly sounded beside his ear: "We have arrived!"

He looked up to find that he had, without realizing it, entered a massive palace.

This palace was no smaller in scale than the Temple of the Light God he had seen underwater. Entering the expansive hall, an almost chilling coldness permeated the air.

Bypassing the main hall, Rexill led Chen Feng toward a side chamber.

From a distance, Chen Feng spotted a group of Golden Armored Guards stationed at the chamber door. He secretly scanned them; although he couldn't discern their exact rank, he knew they were certainly no lower than Seventh-Tier Arch-Magi, possibly even Ninth-Tier Arch-Magi.

Entering the side chamber, Rexill announced clearly, "Sixth Vice-Lord Rexill pays respects to Lord!"

A middle-aged man in brocade robes turned his face, glanced at him, and then nodded upon seeing Chen Feng behind him. "Rexill, you have done well this time!"

Immediately following this commendation, a sound of disgruntled roaring erupted from the side—it was unmistakably Kozmo, clearly dissatisfied with the situation.

"Kozmo rendered great service by obtaining the Profound Heaven Illustrated Codex this time; he deserves a reward," the man in brocade robes stated, aware of their mutual resentment and understanding the principles of reward and punishment, hoping to ease the tension between them.

After dispensing the rewards, the man in brocade robes praised both of them for their swift success, only stopping when both men had turned from anger to pleasure.

Witnessing the Lord's skill in managing his subordinates, Chen Feng felt a secret surge of awe. It was clear that ruling such a vast territory required more than just profound cultivation.

After arranging for the two to rest, the man in brocade robes finally turned his attention to Chen Feng.

"One of the five ultimate elemental limit domains, the Endless Fire Domain. How about serving under me?" the man in brocade robes asked casually, his eyes fixed on an antique object in his hand.

Chen Feng hadn't expected the purpose of his capture was to recruit him into the Lord's service. Feeling puzzled and curious, he asked, "Why?"

"Hahahaha..." The man in brocade robes laughed as if he had heard a comical joke. "What an interesting fellow. Don't you think our Violet Demon Territory is powerful?"

"Powerful... but what does that have to do with me!" Chen Feng replied.

A sharp light flashed in the eyes of the man in brocade robes. He looked up and stated calmly, "If one of the five ultimate elemental domains cannot submit to me, I naturally won't allow any other power to recruit them!"

Though the voice was even, the killing intent within it was completely undisguised.

Chen Feng was surprised by the directness—one moment he was captured, the next he was being ordered to submit, with death as the alternative. At only Second-Tier Dou Zun rank, he was commonplace here; why would his submission be so vital?

Did the Five Ultimate Elemental Domains make this Lord wary?

Chen Feng was acutely aware of his own strength. His domain, merged with the Heart of Slaughter, had significantly increased its power. With his current strength, he still held a hope of killing a Fifth-Tier Dou Zun in direct combat, but without specialized tactics, facing stronger opponents would be futile.

How could someone of such low cultivation pose even the slightest threat to a late-stage Dou Sheng, making him hesitant?

Ignoring Chen Feng's internal debate, the man in brocade robes continued calmly, "However, if you follow my orders diligently, I have a method to advance you to Dou Sheng within five years!"

Advancing to Dou Sheng within five years—even knowing this was a sweet inducement, Chen Feng couldn't help but feel a strong pull.

Currently a Second-Tier Dou Zun, the gap between that and Dou Sheng was vast; they were hardly in the same league. The bottleneck at Ninth-Tier Dou Zun was especially difficult to break. Despite his confidence in his talent and the Fist Emperor techniques, breaking the Dou Zun realm without eight or ten years was unthinkable. Yet, this man dared promise advancement in five years—how could he not be tempted?

But there was no such thing as a free lunch. Chen Feng would not lose his composure because of a mere bait.

"Your terms!"

Seeing that Chen Feng remained calm even after such a tempting offer, the man in brocade robes regarded him with higher esteem. "No real terms. Just that you sincerely submit to me and work for me from now on!"

Chen Feng gave a cold laugh. "Aren't you afraid that once I reach Dou Sheng, I won't obey you?"

The man in brocade robes didn't take offense; instead, he internally praised the youth and smiled. "It is indeed troublesome if someone with a Limit Domain of the Five Elements refuses to comply after reaching Dou Sheng. However, I am no gentleman, so I will naturally require you to sign a Soul Contract now! But don't worry, the contract only serves to prevent betrayal. Otherwise, I won't restrict you; you can do whatever you wish!"

He spoke directly, without any pretense, as if negotiating a simple business deal.

If people outside knew that a mere Second-Tier Dou Zun like Chen Feng could negotiate terms with the Lord of the Violet Demon Territory, it would be a source of immense pride.

It was akin to an ordinary person negotiating with a nation; regardless of the terms, the mere fact would be cause for boasting among common folk.

Chen Feng felt no such pride. Hearing about the contract, his eyes suddenly turned cold. His temperament might not be as violent as Yahiko’s, but his arrogance remained. He would not submit to being controlled by another, contract or no contract!

You may be powerful now, but one day, I will crush you under my heel!

Forcing down the rage, he took a deep breath. The true reason he allowed himself to be captured was to find Ling Feng and rescue her. If he antagonized this man now, even with the protection of the "Light God’s Mansion" giving him confidence that his life was safe, escaping and saving Ling Feng would become exponentially more difficult.

Noticing Chen Feng’s quickened breath—a sign of internal struggle—the man in brocade robes stated calmly, "Don't rush to answer. I will give you three days to consider. You can give me your answer then!"

With a wave of his hand, two figures immediately appeared beside Chen Feng.

"Take him away, but treat him well!" the man in brocade robes commanded.

As Chen Feng was about to be escorted out, he asked, "I have a friend from the Phoenix Clan who was captured by Kozmo and brought here. May I see her first?"

This island was too large; searching it alone would be a monumental task. Since the Lord wished to recruit him, this request shouldn't be too excessive.

"Heh heh..." The man in brocade robes seemed to have anticipated this. A smile touched his lips. "I know you have feelings for her. If you agree to my previous proposal, I can make her your woman!"

Chen Feng was discovered by the man in brocade robes after he rescued Ling Feng and killed the two assassins targeting her, thus confirming their unusual relationship. The Lord's objective in saying this was clear: to win Chen Feng over.

The two men arriving to escort Chen Feng showed expressions of surprise when their Lord offered such a proposition.

The girl sent over by the Seventh Vice-Lord a few days ago was incredibly beautiful, possessing an ethereal grace and composure. She had been the main topic of conversation among the entire guard contingent for days. It was known that the Fourth Vice-Lord had only glanced at her once before constantly gravitating toward her quarters—a goal that was hardly a secret.

Many had speculated that the Lord’s order forbidding anyone else from approaching the girl meant he had taken an interest in her. Now, he intended to give her to this young man?

This boy was only a Second-Tier Dou Zun; there was nothing remarkable about him. Why was the Lord treating him with such favor?

Curiosity overriding their surprise, their eyes constantly tracked Chen Feng.

Chen Feng remained silent, standing firm. The man in brocade robes assumed the youth was simply shy, smiled slightly, and waved his hand. "Take him there!"

The two men bowed slightly. "Please follow us!"

Though both were Seventh-Tier Dou Zuns, seeing the Lord's deference to Chen Feng, they dared not be disrespectful, using the polite word "please."

Chen Feng's expression was wooden as he pondered how to rescue Ling Feng.

However, his subdued demeanor was interpreted by the guards as outright dismissal. To a Seventh-Tier Dou Zun, a Second-Tier Dou Zun ignoring them—even if out of respect for the Lord—was insulting. This slight bred instant displeasure.

Leaving the side chamber, the two began speaking in cold, cutting tones.

"I think many people are frogs dreaming of eating swan meat. How could that Phoenix Clan girl fancy someone whose cultivation is lower than hers?" said the one on the left.

"You’re right. I think only the Fourth Vice-Lord suits her. Didn't you see how he runs over there every day?" replied the one on the right.

"Exactly. That's why I said some people should just give up their delusions. Low cultivation isn't a fault, but aspiring to things beyond your reach when you're weak is not just foolishness, it's courting death..." the man on the left lamented.

"Don't be so harsh. Look at him—a Second-Tier Dou Zun acting like a Dou Sheng. I don't know if his brain is broken or if he has a real problem!"

"Why ask? He definitely has a problem; his mind is clearly abnormal... I could slap three guys of this cultivation level dead with one hand..."

Chen Feng heard their barbed remarks clearly. He subtly brought his state to its peak, a flash of killing intent erupting in his eyes.

Killing two Seventh-Tier Dou Zuns, even by unleashing his domain, was unlikely to be a single-strike affair. If they escaped, rescuing Ling Feng would become far more complicated.

"I must strategize," he thought.

Chen Feng's silence led the guards to believe he was afraid, so they became even more unrestrained.

After walking for some time, they arrived at a secluded courtyard, which resembled a prison structure.

"Go in. But listen up, brat, don't get any foolish ideas. Know your own rank!" said the guard on the left.

As Chen Feng stepped into the courtyard, the guard on the left remarked, "I really don't understand why the Lord is treating this kid so well. If he needs low-level lackeys, he could have countless others."

"The Lord has his reasons; we just execute orders. I don't get it either."

"Low cultivation aside, he’s a spineless coward. Look how long we’ve talked at him, and he hasn't reacted... A coward, yet he acts so arrogant..."

"I can't stand this kid either. Once he comes out, maybe we should teach him a lesson!"

"Agreed. Let's rough him up a bit so he knows who we are. The Lord won't blame us for a private scuffle anyway."

"Yes, I agree with wha—" The man stopped mid-sentence. His eyes instantly bulged wide like ox eyes, and his breath ceased abruptly.

"What's wrong..." the other guard urgently called out. Before he finished speaking, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. Looking down, he saw a hole the size of a bowl carved into his sternum.

"It was you... perhaps..." The man struggled to turn his head, seeing Chen Feng suspended silently in the air, about 20 centimeters off the ground, his eyes devoid of emotion, his index finger extended, pointing toward his own back.

This Seventh-Tier Arch-Mage expert couldn't comprehend how the youth he called a coward could kill them both instantly. A surprise attack across cultivation levels could succeed, yes, but a Second-Tier Dou Zun ambushing two Seventh-Tier Arch-Magi? How was it possible that neither of them detected any energy fluctuation?

But he wouldn't figure it out; in an instant, he became a corpse.

………………………………………………………………………………

Chen Feng paused briefly, then walked into the small courtyard. Inside was a small, solidly built structure made of blue bricks.

He surveyed the surroundings. There were no tall trees in the courtyard, offering no cover—it seemed he wasn't being monitored here.

Thinking that Ling Feng was inside that room, Chen Feng’s palms sweated. Rescuing her from here wouldn't be easy. However, on the way in, he had noticed a small stream behind the courtyard. If he could absorb Ling Feng into his "Light God's Mansion" and slip into the stream to escape, he might just pull it off.

Chen Feng knew this operation was no joke and dared not be careless. After a moment of calculation, he walked to the door, pushed it open, and stepped inside.

But before he could fully enter, an object whizzed toward him, aimed directly at his face.

"Get out!" a sharp shout rang out.

Chen Feng dodged aside just as he heard a sharp crash behind him—the sound of pottery shattering.

It seemed Ling Feng had mistaken him for that Fourth Vice-Lord. She threw something as soon as he entered. But Ling Feng was capable of defeating Ninth-Tier Arch-Magi; how could he sense no presence from her?

Pondering this, he looked in the direction the object had come from. The sight instantly turned his face ashen, his eyes burning with fury.

Ling Feng was restrained, her wrists and ankles shackled by two iron chains as thick as a child’s arm. Her devastatingly beautiful face was etched with exhaustion, and her aura revealed her cultivation was less than that of a mere Dou Shi.

"Ling Feng!" Seeing her in this state, Chen Feng felt a sharp pain in his chest. His fists clenched, a flame flickering in his eyes.

"I will make you pay the price..." Chen Feng ground out, his body trembling with pure rage.

No matter how high the cultivation or how vast the power, anyone who dared treat Ling Feng this way and then tried to force me into a contract—I, Chen Feng, will never let them go!

In that instant, he made his decision.

He had initially planned only to rescue Ling Feng and flee, cutting all ties with the Violet Demon Territory. Now, if he didn't exact revenge on this territory, he couldn't possibly quell his fury!

Hearing Chen Feng’s voice, light filled Ling Feng's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by anxiety and despondency. "Why were you captured too?"

Clearly, she felt immense alarm seeing Chen Feng imprisoned.

Though Ling Feng possessed a calm disposition, seeing Chen Feng captured caused her an inexplicable wave of sorrow.

They had only spent about two months sparring together, but their similar, somewhat reserved and quiet personalities created a strange connection, making her feel close to him—a feeling she couldn't quite define.

Chen Feng looked at the iron chains binding her hands, which were fastened securely to the wall. A strange magical fluctuation radiated from the chains. Though he didn't recognize the specific energy, its nature suggested it was suppressing cultivation.

By inscribing magical formations on the chains, they could effectively neutralize Ling Feng’s power and keep her confined!

Chen Feng didn't answer Ling Feng's question, his eyes blazing with purpose. He suppressed the swelling anger in his chest. If he broke the chains now, the two guards outside would certainly notice.

First, he had to eliminate the two outside!

With that thought, Chen Feng activated his Aerial Art, floating silently into the courtyard. He extended his fingers, spun the domain within his Dantian, and aimed a Black Particle blast at one of the men outside!

…………………………………………………………………………………

Having killed the two men, Chen Feng let out a breath of relief. A ball of flame materialized on his fingertip and instantly incinerated the remains of the two guards into ash.

The ground felt steady beneath him only once he was back in the room; a wave of sheer exhaustion washed over his body. The sneak attack using the dark particles was indeed an excellent method, but its cost was immense—failure meant certain death. He had only managed to unleash it twice, and the domain energy within his Dantian already felt perilously thin. He pulled out a vial of "Energy Serum," tilting the contents down his throat, just as he was about to free Lingfeng from the chains, he heard the distinct sound of footsteps approaching the small courtyard.

Lingfeng heard the sound, and the color immediately drained from her face, leaving it stark white. “Fourth Vice-Overlord!”

ps:: Chapters Two Combined. Completed the target of twelve thousand words today... Nothing more tonight... Time to rest and grab some food.... Wahahaha.... (To be continued. For future developments, please log in to wwwncomm for more chapters, support the author, and support genuine reading!) First Release

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