Translator: CinderTL
The sun rose high, ushering in a new dawn.
The Red Nation Embassy flag fluttered in Black Harbor City as the rhythmic clatter of leather shoes echoed across the courtyard.
"Is everything prepared?"
"Old Xu, the documents are ready."
"Excellent. These negotiations are of critical importance. Pay close attention and learn as much as you can."
The core members of the delegation descended from the small building, gathering beside the convoy parked in the open space.
Security personnel from the Military and Red Guard, equipped with goggles and communication devices, stood vigilantly on either side.
Observing this scene, Chairman Li Yun glanced at the tightly sealed embassy gates and the fully armed squad of soldiers stationed at the guard post.
He frowned slightly, then turned to the young Flying General Councilor beside him, who was engrossed in a game on his tablet.
"Where's Councilor Chen? Hasn't he returned yet?"
Chairman Li Yun had received a report the previous night that Councilor Chen had left the embassy. Due to certain circumstances, he hadn't pressed for details.
But now that the delegation was about to depart for the congress, they needed Councilor Chen's escort.
"He's back," Wang Cheng said, setting down his tablet and handing it to the assistant behind him. He looked up at the third floor of the embassy and shrugged.
Chairman Li Yun paused slightly at the words, then felt a gentle breeze sweep across the earth.
Inside a third-floor room of the embassy building, a flash of blue Thunder Light flickered and vanished.
The next instant—
Thud!
Footsteps came to a halt, a towering shadow blocking the light.
Chen Feng, clad in a black trench coat, stood before him.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Chen Feng said calmly, his expression betraying no hint of what had transpired.
After breaking through the awakening method, the crimson sun had risen, ushering in Daylight.
Using the thunder light mark's teleportation ability, he had returned to the embassy at once.
"Phew, good to have you back," Chairman Li Yun said, relieved.
The other members of the delegation remained unaware of these details; only he and Wang Cheng knew of Chen Feng's midnight departure.
Their eyes met, and Li Yun clapped Chen Feng on the shoulder.
"The Roth Family wields immense influence in the federation, and the New Covenant Faction has eyes everywhere," he said earnestly, mistakenly assuming Chen Feng had confronted the Roth Family last night. "If you truly want to take action, you can tell us."
Wang Cheng nodded in agreement, sharing the same assumption and refraining from pressing for details.
Chen Feng, rather pleased with their misunderstanding, decided not to offer any further explanation.
"Alright," he nodded, smoothly moving past the topic.
The group wasted no more time. Chairman Li Yun, seeing the situation, made arrangements, and the convoy finally began to move.
Whirr!
In an instant, the embassy's iron gates slowly swung open, and the sentries removed the road barriers.
The outside street came into view, where security vehicles had already been parked along the roadside.
Now that the group had finally emerged, the specially armored cars pulled onto the main road, leading the way.
Fully armed men in suits and accompanying security personnel boarded the vehicles one by one, and the convoy soon transformed into an even more imposing procession as it departed the embassy.
"Looks like you returned just in time," Star Spirit's voice echoed in Chen Feng's mind. She was currently operating with only a low-frequency secondary sub-body.
The majority of her computational power remained concentrated at the Great Ocean, still aboard the Windrider, managing the central system and attempting to repair various modules.
"How's the situation?" Chen Feng asked, sitting in the back seat of a black sedan with Chairman Li Yun on his left and right.
Star Spirit analyzed the fluctuations in his consciousness as electromagnetic signals and quickly replied, "Better than I expected."
"The Windrider's Energy Module is barely functional, capable only of performing basic self-repairs. The primary damage lies in the defense system, with the Armament Module also largely paralyzed."
"I have a plan. Once the repairs are complete, I intend to initiate an energy jump, using Star Ring Teleportation to bring it to the Radiant Light Secret Realm. There, your civilization can collaborate on its restoration."
The Star Spirit's plan was clear. Gata and the Mermen from across the great ocean remained, now serving as her laborers, assisting with the manual work.
The ark's repair systems were severely damaged, with many robotic arms broken. Sufficiently strong individuals were needed to help move heavy materials and equipment from the storage bays, enabling the initial repairs to begin.
"Agreed," Chen Feng said, nodding silently in approval of the Star Spirit's plan.
The Windrider had crashed within the federation's territory. Given the federation's aggressive stance, it would be nearly impossible for the Red Nation to gain access to the ark.
The best course of action was to move it elsewhere.
When Chen Feng inquired about the critical details, the Star Spirit assured him:
"Rest assured, I will use my true form, the Radiant Light, as an anchor point to establish spatial coordinates and guide the way."
"The Windrider's jump drive is barely functional. Activating the internal Star Ring requires energy buildup, which will cause extreme energy field fluctuations. I'll need your help to delay them."
"Alright," Chen Feng agreed without hesitation.
Even if he hadn't already been determined not to leave the Windrider to the Platinum Federation, the gains from finding the ark alone far exceeded expectations.
His breakthrough in the Divine Awakening Method had drastically shortened the time needed for the expansion and transformation of his spiritual world.
Moreover, there was one more thing.
[ You have obtained 2 Fragments of Divinity! ]
[ Fragments of Divinity: 9 ]
The panel information hovered before his eyes, visible only to Chen Feng.
The convoy slowly rolled through the district, the vehicles gliding smoothly without a single bump. Throughout the journey, his gaze remained fixed on the scenery outside the window.
"Nine Fragments of Divinity..."
Including the fragments collected from the Windrider, he had now gathered nine Fragments of Divinity.
This was enough to activate the Heroic Spirit Hall and resurrect the first batch of Angel-class Heroic Spirits.
"Only by resurrecting them can I hope to obtain the final secrets of the Martial Arts True Skill."
"Moreover, the Fragments of Divinity required for Divine Technology are likely far more than this. Even if we keep it, it won't be of much use in the short term."
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Chen Feng remained intensely curious about Wang Yu's whereabouts and whether he could find further clues within the Heroic Spirit Hall.
All of this hinged on fully activating the Heroic Spirit Hall and resurrecting the angels.
Finally, his gaze steady, Chen Feng made his decision.
Unfortunately, it was still daylight. He would have to wait for nightfall to initiate a Dream Incursion into Qinggang City.
With his plan settled, he dismissed the interface.
Looking out the window at the streets the motorcade was passing through, he noticed the sky was gloomier than yesterday, overcast and heavy.
The vehicle's intelligence system displayed the day's weather forecast: a period of rain, linked to air currents from the Great Ocean.
In response, Chairman Li Yun suddenly remarked, his aged face etched with a sigh, "People are like the weather—never truly calm."
Chen Feng's gaze sharpened as he looked out the window, immediately sensing a difference from the previous day: a more intense malice and rejection.
At supermarket entrances, outside taverns, near shopping malls...
White and Black figures gathered on both sides of the road, their gazes toward the motorcade filled with intense hostility.
Some held banners with slogans like "Red Nation People Not Welcome," while others made obscene gestures at the passing vehicles.
"What's going on?" Chen Feng asked, raising an eyebrow. How had the federation's attitude suddenly soured so dramatically overnight?
"The local media covered up yesterday's incident at the port and released footage of our carrier group confronting them at the Great Ocean border," Chairman Li Yun explained, shaking his head. The assistant in the passenger seat handed him a tablet.
Chen Feng glanced at the screen, which displayed news footage from Black Harbor City.
The gray carrier group stood out against the horizon, the red maple flags fluttering in the wind.
Sailors on deck glared fiercely, standing with their hands clasped behind their backs, unyielding.
The entire scene was filtered through a dark, ominous lens, conveying an impression of imperial arrogance and a signal of impending aggression.
Footage of the Red Nation delegation at the port was similarly distorted by the dark filter, obscuring the truth.
The figure in the black trench coat appeared domineering, refusing to cooperate with the investigation and injuring members of the action bureau.
The concrete ground of the port had melted and cracked, and the Red Nation security personnel glared fiercely.
[ The eastern empire is arrogant and domineering, attempting to breach our federation's border defenses with their carrier group! ]
[ The empire's ambitions are laid bare! Their delegation disregards protocol and forces its way through customs! ]
[ The empire's delegation lacks sincerity, provoking our federation's principles! ]
Several glaring red headlines flashed across the screen. The deliberately edited footage was rendered in stark black and white, heavily manipulated to distort the truth.
If Chen Feng hadn't known the truth, he might have been misled into believing these fabrications.
"These are civilian media outlets controlled by mega-corporations and consortia, dominating seventy percent of the federation's media landscape," Chairman Li Yun explained, shaking his head. "They're largely aligned with the New Covenant Faction and are experts at smear campaigns. It seems they haven't accepted yesterday's outcome."
Chen Feng narrowed his eyes, understanding the underlying tactics.
While these civilian media outlets couldn't represent the federal council or be considered official channels, they were more than capable of tarnishing the Red Nation delegation's image.
Even if the delegation demanded accountability, the foreign affairs bureau could easily fabricate excuses, stage a mock investigation, and pretend to punish the culprits.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Chen Feng's gaze turned cold. Outside the black car window, the sky grew increasingly overcast.
The hostility from the federation citizens lining the streets intensified, their malice lingering in the air like a suffocating fog.
The motorcade continued its journey through the city streets, the neon arcs and holographic projections fading into the distance.
The surrounding buildings briefly emptied, revealing a magnificent structure in the distance.
It was a sprawling white complex at the city's heart, resembling a medieval noble's castle. The surrounding streets had been transformed into manicured lawns and a vast fountain plaza.
Several flagpoles stood tall, the golden Flying Eagle banner of the Federation fluttering proudly.
The unobstructed view allowed Chen Feng to take in the scene. Security personnel wearing sunglasses and communication devices patrolled the area, maintaining vigilant watch.
"This is the Federation's Southern Congress," Chairman Li Yun explained. "Due to certain historical reasons, the Federal Council established parliament halls in both the northern and southern regions."
Chen Feng narrowed his eyes, absorbing every detail.
The fountain plaza was now filled with figures. Members of parliament and Federation elites from the Foreign Affairs Bureau awaited them, along with a sizable media presence.
He spotted Andrei, his expression cold and distant, as if inhabiting a different body. He also recognized Federation dignitaries he had previously only seen on television news or in delegation dossiers.
In addition to the visible armed security forces, Chen Feng noticed hidden observation posts in nearby buildings and the deployment of Action Bureau and Public Security Bureau personnel.
The surrounding streets were effectively sealed off, barricades blocking the asphalt roads and allowing only the delegation's motorcade to pass.
Finally, the motorcade came to a halt at the fountain plaza outside the Congress building.
Click!
The car doors opened, and the delegation's security personnel emerged first, fanning out in a defensive perimeter.
Chen Feng and Wang Cheng followed, positioning themselves protectively beside Li Yun and the others as they greeted the welcoming party.
"Representative Li, it's a pleasure to meet you," a weathered voice spoke, the federation language automatically translated by a translator.
The speaker was an elderly Caucasian man with thinning hair and a deeply lined face. His brown eyes, though aged, were remarkably clear and profound, hinting at hidden depths of thought. He stood at the head of the group of congress members.
Beside Andrei, two other Legendary-grade powerhouses stood guard.
"Commissioner Moke," Chairman Li Yun greeted with a respectful smile, shaking hands.
During the brief exchange, the elderly man casually inquired about Xia Mingyuan's whereabouts.
"I heard Xia is currently in Radiant Light City. It's been quite some time since I last saw him."
"Representative Xia misses you dearly as well," Chairman Li Yun replied smoothly. "He's been overwhelmed with recent affairs and hasn't had a moment to spare."
"Before our departure, he asked me to convey his regards and urge you to take care of your health."
Commissioner Moke's eyes flickered slightly as he nodded slowly.
As the conversation concluded, his gaze shifted to Chen Feng.
"You must be Mr. Chen," he said, extending his hand. "My apologies for Andrei and his team's impetuousness yesterday. Their lack of proper decorum was regrettable."
Their eyes met as they shook hands.
Chen Feng gazed at the federation dignitary, a core member of the Old Covenant Faction.
His tone seemed sincere, devoid of malice.
Yet, within Chen Feng's Perception, Andrei was staring intently at him from behind, his gaze a mix of wariness and cold hostility.
Immediately, Chen Feng nodded, his expression calm, and ended the handshake without further comment.
Now was not the time for confrontation. He sensed the subtle tension among the crowd.
Andrei's energy level magnetic field had weakened slightly, indicating he had transferred to a new body.
The New Covenant Faction members under his leadership wore icy expressions, their hostility palpable.
In contrast, the Old Covenant Faction members led by Commissioner Moke maintained a restrained demeanor.
"These two factions are clearly at odds," Star Spirit's voice murmured in his mind. She had already infiltrated the local network and gathered considerable intelligence.
Chen Feng wasn't surprised. This division had been a topic of discussion within the Red Nation delegation before their arrival in the Platinum Federation.
It was precisely because the two major factions were at odds that they had decided to come to negotiate.
Their plan was to leverage the secret realm clause, cooperate with the Old Covenant Faction, and then seize Han Mingchuan from the powerful New Covenant Faction and bring him back to their homeland.
This strategy seemed to be a tacit understanding, and the high-level negotiators from both sides quickly connected.
Other high-ranking members of the Old Covenant Faction appeared, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with the delegation members.
Escorted by guards, the group advanced toward the White Jade Steps, ascending toward the castle-like congress building.
The atmosphere was temporarily cordial, but it soon soured.
"I'm looking forward to the upcoming negotiations," Andrei said suddenly, his voice dropping to a cold whisper as he leaned closer. "Including the entire New Covenant Faction."
His threatening words were overheard by many, and numerous eyes subtly turned toward him.
"This guy..." Wang Cheng frowned, his gaze turning icy.
Just as he was about to step forward, Chen Feng spoke up.
"Is that so?"
His tone was calm, but he didn't even glance at Andrei. Instead, he continued walking, brushing past him as he ascended the higher steps.
"I never imagined even the weak would have expectations."
(End of the Chapter)
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