Martial Fist: Adding Points in Dreamland
Chapter 260: Sixth-Order Awakening Technique, Holy Flame [2.7k]

Translator: CinderTL

Buzz!!

At the highest point of the Holy City, within a dark golden stone hall.

Powerful Silver Armor Warriors stood in rows on both sides, holding long spears.

On a white-gray throne adorned with dark golden patterns sat a figure dressed in loose white robes. Despite having a youthful face, their hair was gray, exuding an aura of twilight.

Screech!!

Flying Eagle descended, landing outside the palace.

Clad in Golden Armor that reflected the sunlight, Adams, with his dark golden hair, walked with steady and powerful steps, each footfall producing a crisp, muffled sound on the stone floor.

"Adams, how did it go?"

The youth on the throne spoke, though his voice carried a sense of deep age.

"The Serpentfolk Tribes have retreated!"

Adams stopped a few meters in front of the throne.

Placing his right hand over his left chest, he bowed respectfully. Then, a strand of golden sword light flew from his hand and merged into the body of the youth on the throne.

Buzz! In an instant, the twilight aura around the youth diminished slightly, and a few more glimmers of light appeared in his eyes, including a hint of dark gold.

"That's good."

"However, this time's events seem different from before, don't they?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Adams nodded calmly, hesitating for a moment before revealing the truth.

"I see. It seems he must be an outsider."

"Can I meet him?"

The youth on the throne asked with anticipation, but Adams, clad in Golden Armor, shook his head.

"He is unwilling to enter the Holy City."

"Oh."

Disappointed, the youth pondered for a moment before asking,

"Do you think we should give him what he needs?"

"I would like to observe him for a few more days."

Adams spoke rationally, his expression as cold and unyielding as an iceberg.

"Alright, you decide."

"You know I'm not good at these things..."

The white-haired youth on the throne spoke helplessly, his tone still gentle.

Adams' gaze flickered, sensing that the youth's body had grown weaker again.

Buzz! At that moment, an unusual sound echoed.

In the empty stone hall, trees began to grow from the cracks, gradually reaching the height of an adult.

Then, the trees transformed.

A tall woman dressed in green vine armor and a white cloak appeared.

In her thirties, with long, curly brown hair.

Her face bore several strange patterns resembling trees and flowers.

"Kali, you've finally returned."

Seeing her, the youth on the throne smiled warmly.

Adams, clad in Golden Armor, narrowed his eyes, while Flying Eagle, lying outside the hall, moved its pupils, reflecting the figure and face of the newcomer.

"Forgive me, Your Highness."

"It's alright. Adams and Yan Le were here."

The youth smiled gently, but the woman who had appeared looked somewhat guilty and downcast.

"Where did you go?" Adams asked flatly.

He was displeased and well aware that if she hadn't left, leaving the stone hall unguarded, the youth's condition and the outcome of the battle would have been better.

"I was searching for the future of the Holy City."

The woman named Kali did not elaborate further, simply stepping forward to stand before the youth on the throne.

A hazy green light emanated from her palms, and the twilight aura around the white-haired youth seemed to dissipate slightly.

"Don't do that, Kali."

"It consumes your essence. I can endure."

The youth gently shook his head, and Adams, who had been about to ask more, fell silent.

"It's been a long time since I've seen the sun outside."

"May I go and take a look?"

The youth on the throne looked at the two of them and asked in a low voice.

As their eyes met, one could see a glimmer of unusually bright anticipation in his eyes.

And a hint of a plea tinged with the weariness of twilight.

For several days in a row, Chen Feng stayed in the encampment located in the open area between the black city walls and the Holy City.

Perhaps to prevent him from acting recklessly, or perhaps out of concern that the Serpentfolk tribes might reappear.

The sixth-tier Corps Commander Di Yan remained stationed at the black fortress's walls.

According to Molly, he was also known as the Mighty King by the people of the Holy City, possessing immense strength that even the other two corps commanders could not match in this regard.

Chen Feng didn't pay much attention to this. Instead, he focused on the two items on the table.

A piece of Obsidian about thirty to forty centimeters in diameter, and a half-meter-long parchment scroll documenting part of the history of the Ancient Taiduo Empire's civilization.

These were part of the Holy City's fulfilled promises, delivered three days apart.

During these days, many people came to visit, seemingly normal, but Chen Feng could sense that they were likely probing him.

There were also some covert gazes, varying in intensity.

He didn't dwell on it too much. If it were him, he wouldn't fulfill all the promises of the transaction at once either.

Shaking his head, Chen Feng reached out and touched the large black ore on the wooden table.

Flecks of black light shimmered within it, appearing quite mysterious, and its hardness was no less than that of Titanium.

Activating his Steel Bone Talent, a panel prompt soon appeared.

[Metal Essence +1!]

[Metal Essence +1!]

[Metal Essence +1!]

After a dozen seconds, a cracking sound echoed as fissures spread across the Obsidian, shattering it into pieces.

[Steel Bones LV4: 79/100]

The progress of his Steel Bones had increased again, but unfortunately, the quality of the Obsidian was somewhat lacking for him now, far inferior to the effects brought by Radiant Alloy.

Sensing quietly, Chen Feng noticed that some of the warriors' weapons were also made of Obsidian or had parts of it incorporated.

However, the Life Seed Method was the key he needed to obtain. Acting recklessly could worsen his relationship with the Holy City and cause him to lose this opportunity.

Moreover, the Serpentfolk war could break out again at any moment, and he didn't want to cause innocent warriors to lose their weapons or their lives because of him.

Thinking of this, he suppressed the urge to act recklessly as he had before.

After all, he still had the Blue Heart Stone from the Dead Crow Secret Realm as an option. Things hadn't reached the worst possible point yet.

Then, picking up the parchment scroll on the table, Chen Feng looked at the words recorded on it.

They resembled scribbles, something he shouldn't have been able to understand.

But just like the diary from Qinggang City and the parchment scroll he had once obtained from the Serpentfolk tribe, he once again received meaning through the power of dreams.

[The Ancient Taiduo Empire, the most powerful civilization in human history, once the ruler of the Serpent Spirit Continent.]

[It controlled many ancient rituals, and its alchemical inventions flourished for a time.]

[Thousands of years ago, it fell into civil strife, declined, and perished. The eight Serpentfolk tribes quietly emerged, and the Serpent God Temple was established, continuing its legacy.]

[According to the records, the Serpent God Temple was likely the culprit behind the destruction of the Ancient Taiduo Empire, with the eight Serpentfolk tribes also involved.]

After reading a few lines of the text, Chen Feng frowned slightly.

He had always thought that the Ancient Taiduo Empire here was the same civilization as the Ancient Taiduo civilization discovered in the ancient ruins on Earth.

But now, it seemed...

"Extinct thousands of years ago? That can't be right."

"The Ancient Taiduo civilization on Earth was from the so-called Super Ancient Era, which was at least a million years ago."

"Moreover, time flows faster here. Even if converted to Earth's time, it would only be a thousand years at most."

Chen Feng was filled with doubt as he continued to read the contents of the parchment.

[The Ancient Taiduo Empire once produced many great alchemical inventions: flying castles in the sky, puppet stone statues capable of battling Saints, and an army of steel soldiers who felt no pain or fear.]

[Unfortunately, when the empire fell, the Serpent Spirit Continent shattered, and these alchemical inventions disappeared along with the fragmented pieces of the continent. Even the human cities of that time were destroyed by the Serpent God Temple and the eight Serpentfolk tribes.]

[Perhaps due to the damage caused by that catastrophe, the world became particularly hostile to alchemy, and no similar inventions have appeared since.]

Dozens of alchemical items were listed, and Chen Feng pondered over them. Some seemed like technological inventions, while others did not.

He skimmed through the text, and within seconds, a special piece of information resonated in his mind.

[The Ancient Taiduo Empire once recorded that the world is vast, and our Serpent Spirit Continent is but a single grain within it.]

[It is a massive world, flourishing like the stars, also known as the Star Realm. Each world harbors unique life forms, not just the human race.]

[The Ancient Taiduo Empire once had a passage connecting to the Star Realm. Many outsiders from beyond the Serpent Spirit Continent could use it to enter our world, and we could also travel to the Star Realm. But alas...]

[Later, as the empire fell, the passage to the Star Realm was destroyed. Occasionally, outsiders would arrive, but they would quickly vanish, unable to help us leave.]

The Star Realm—this was the second time Chen Feng had encountered this term.

Wang Yu's diary had also mentioned it, and Adler from the Dead Crow Secret Realm had spoken of it as well.

"I wonder if the ancient civilization ruins on Earth are also part of the Star Realm?"

"And what about Earth itself, or the High Wall Alliance where Qinggang City is located—could they also belong to the Star Realm?"

He pondered for a while before finally finishing the contents of the parchment.

The Ancient Taiduo Empire, the Ancient Taiduo civilization.

His intuition told him that there must be some connection between the two.

In fact, he suspected that the Holy City might also have a strong relationship with the Ancient Taiduo Empire.

Otherwise, how could the Holy City have obtained such detailed information, especially about alchemy, so many years after the fall of the human empire?

And then there was the massive Holy City built against the mountains, its walls inscribed with special runes that could suppress Serpentfolk who had not yet completed their metamorphosis. Even the Serpent God Temple was powerless against it.

If the Holy City possessed such means, why wouldn't they use them on the walls of the Black Fortress to stop the armies of the Serpentfolk tribes?

Thoughts rose and fell in his mind until, at last, his gaze shifted to the sky.

A giant Flying Eagle cut through the air, and a squad of Silver Armor Guards emerged from the Holy City, arriving at the encampment.

Through his senses, he detected Olon and Molly stepping forward to greet them, eventually arriving outside the wooden hut where he was staying.

Amidst the commotion, the Corps Commander Di Yan also appeared, surrounded by others, standing outside the door.

Knock knock!

"Lord Feng Chen."

A deep, resonant voice called out. Chen Feng opened the door.

"Corps Commander Yan Le."

He looked at the obese man who stood two and a half meters tall, clad in dark armor, with his chestnut-colored semi-long hair tied into a ponytail.

The massive shield was not carried, perhaps deemed too heavy and inconvenient for a visit.

Molly, dressed in ironwood vine armor and a cloak, followed by his side, accompanied by a squad of Silver Armor Guards, their expressions filled with reverence.

"The awakening method that Lord Feng Chen practices must be related to fire, right?"

"This is one of the Sixth-Order Life Seed Awakening Methods of our Holy City, the Sacred Flame Awakening Method, which should be compatible with you."

He spoke in a deep voice, standing at the door like a small mountain.

The Silver Armor Guard beside him stepped forward, respectfully presenting a parchment scroll about a dozen centimeters long with both hands.

Taking it, Chen Feng was not surprised that the Holy City could discern the attribute of his awakening method.

Compared to him, they were the true experts in this field.

"Sacred Flame Awakening Method"

Looking down, the contents of the parchment scroll revealed themselves, transforming into meaningful feedback that felt like a blessing to the soul.

A Sixth-Order Awakening Method exclusive to the fire attribute, capable of refining and strengthening the seed of fire within the body, thereby tempering the Physical Body, expelling impurities, and transforming it into a body of steel.

Moreover, it could even turn the Seed of Life into a true seed of fire, capable of unleashing the power of sacred flames at any moment, incinerating the heavens and the earth, evaporating everything.

It seemed quite impressive, but... "Only half a scroll?"

Chen Feng noticed the anomaly, realizing that the key points within were only sufficient for him to cultivate up to the peak of the Fifth Order.

"The Sixth-Order Awakening Method is the foundation of our Holy City. According to tradition, only the commanders of the major corps, who have the potential to reach the Sixth Order and have made significant contributions, are allowed to practice it."

"We hope that Lord Feng Chen will honor the agreement and assist us in repelling the Serpentfolk tribe once more."

"At that time, the remaining half of the scroll will be presented to you with both hands."

Corps Commander Di Yan explained frankly, quite straightforward, without concealment.

Chen Feng remained silent for a moment, seemingly frowning in thought, but in reality, he was not disappointed.

Because this was already much better than his expected goal.

Not only did he have an awakening method that could break through to the peak of the Fifth Order, but he also learned some secrets of the Ancient Taiduo Empire and obtained a large piece of Obsidian.

Moreover, even with a complete Sixth-Order Awakening Method, he would find it difficult to make a breakthrough in a short time.

"Agreed."

After some consideration, he nodded in agreement.

The two parties discussed for a while, and after some bargaining, it was agreed that Chen Feng would need to act on behalf of the Holy City three times in the future, or help kill a Sixth-Order High Priest, to fulfill the agreement.

"Lord Feng Chen is indeed decisive. On behalf of His Highness, I thank you."

Corps Commander Di Yan clasped his fists in gratitude, as he felt the conditions were somewhat harsh and not easily achievable by ordinary people.

Chen Feng's expression remained calm. He believed that once he cultivated the awakening method to the peak of the Fifth Order, he would surely be able to sustain the Azure Armor Limit Break State for a sufficient amount of time.

At that time, with the Holy Shield Colossus, even a Sixth Order might not be impossible to kill.

Subsequently, the two parties reached an agreement.

Chen Feng returned to the wooden hut, watching as Corps Commander Di Yan led his men away.

Three actions—he was in no hurry.

The only concern was how to stay in contact with the Holy City after returning to Earth. After all, he couldn't stay here indefinitely, nor did he intend to use the Dark Dream Mark just yet.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.

He looked at the Holy Shield Colossus that had been guarding him all along.

It hadn't been long since the last time it split into small stone statues.

But he thought about the situation where his spirit had recovered and grown stronger.

In the world of the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm and the Dead Crow Secret Realm, time flows faster.

Only two nights had passed on Earth, but here, nearly half a month had gone by.

Does that mean... Whoosh!!

A hazy white light appeared, as if vitality was beginning to peel away from the ash-gray body.

Without any unnecessary words, the Holy Shield Colossus, connected through the mental link, gave an affirmative response.