On the main combat platform of the Celestial Group's base, which had completely collapsed, odd, heart-palpitating spiritual wave fluctuations emanated, causing the air to vibrate continuously. The pupils of the many people who sensed that astonishing aura couldn't help but shrink.

"Qi Refining Sixth Layer..." Chen Fei muttered to himself as he looked at Yan Zhen, a man in his thirties wearing a black robe. A trace of amazement crept over him. It was apparent that although he had heard of the man's name and existence before, he truly hadn't expected this fellow to be not only a Qi Practitioner but one whose cultivation had reached the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. This was indeed somewhat unbelievable.

Because he was well aware of what that realm, the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, meant. Perhaps even a true Late Innate Ancient Martial Artist, an sss-Level Powerhouse, would be at a distinct disadvantage when facing such a character! They might hardly be able to put up a fight. This was the frightening chasm that lay between Ancient Martial Artists and Qi Practitioners.

After all, those were deemed the most astonishing and greatest few in the history of Ancient Huaxia!

How could it possibly be a joke?

"Truly worthy of the Forty-Nine City, it's full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons." At this thought, even Chen Fei couldn't help but sigh softly. Although the Forty-Nine City wasn't the real world of Qi Practitioners, as the capital of the Republic, it was the very heart of the nation and could not be underestimated.

Qi Refining Sixth Layer... Speaking of which, that realm seemed to be even stronger than his current state. Right now he was 'only' at the peak of the Qi Refining Fifth Layer and still a little way off from a breakthrough.

Nevertheless, he suddenly gave a strange smile, the corners of his lips curling into a smirk. So what if the man was at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer? It seemed that he, Chen Fei, wasn't exactly a pushover at the moment.

The "Scripture of Meditation," the "Three Yang Sword Manual," the Scarlet Flame Lamp secret technique... These appeared to be his capital and trump cards for fighting above his level.

Therefore, he wasn't afraid. On the contrary, he felt a strange sense of excitement building.

However, the others were unaware of the many schemes running through his mind.

Seeing Chen Fei fall silent after Yan Zhen's appearance, many people at the scene assumed he was scared. Quiet discussions immediately began to bubble up, with a few even reveling in his misfortune.

"It's actually Yan Zhen. Who would have thought that the Celestial Group would really call upon him to deal with that kid? With his current status, it shouldn't even be necessary, right?"

"I heard he just got back from that mysterious place. Who knows how terrifying his strength has become. That kid is probably in real trouble this time."

"Heh, more than just trouble. That brat is so disrespectful and doesn't know his place, daring to cause trouble on our Celestial Group's turf. He's simply asking for death! Brother Yan will definitely make him pay a painful price. He'll make that little bastard understand that the dignity and face of our Celestial Group are not to be provoked or blasphemed!"

...

Such whispers and malicious sneers gradually arose around the noisy main combat platform.

Obviously, although Chen Fei, Young Master Chen's, previous actions were assertive, they had still aroused the dissatisfaction of many, especially the members of the Celestial Group.

After all, their Celestial Group was the prestigious department ranked second among the Four Departments of Capital City. Yet now, they were being disrespected on their own turf by some twenty-something kid. Did he truly think their Celestial Group was so easy to bully?

And now, their Celestial Group's strongest young monster—Yan Zhen—had finally taken action personally! They would get to see that little bastard suffer a great loss and pay a painful price. Naturally, they felt not the slightest sympathy in their hearts. In fact, some probably wished for Chen Fei to die on the spot.

Under the crowd's varied, intense gazes, Chen Fei smiled faintly at the black-robed Yan Zhen and suddenly spoke. "Finally, someone who can pique my interest has shown up. However, your strength... I wonder, will it disappoint me?"

WHOOSH!

The crowd broke into stunned whispers. No one expected that even when faced with someone like Yan Zhen—a monster of the younger generation from over a decade ago, a ruthless character returned from that mysterious place for a second time—this kid could still be so arrogant as to wonder aloud if he would be disappointed. His audacity truly knew no bounds; he was utterly overestimating himself.

"Disappoint you?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Zhen's face involuntarily darkened, a flicker of raw anger crossing his face.

Then, with his eyes fixed on Chen Fei, he suddenly let out a cold laugh. "Do you need me to prove it to you right now?" Instantly, a spiritual wave as terrifying as a charging army surged from his body, locking tightly onto Chen Fei's position. The frightening intensity of that spiritual wave made even the many higher-ups of the Four Departments of Capital City on the distant platform feel a deep chill. Quite a few of them turned pale. It was truly terrifying.

At that moment, all eyes snapped to Chen Fei. In the depths of their gazes was a look of either fervent interest or undisguised delight in his misfortune. They could all tell that the monster, Yan Zhen, was truly angry now.

How could this kid possibly get out of this situation? But in the next instant, a statement reached their ears that left them all astonished and dumbfounded.

"Prove it? That's not a bad idea," Chen Fei said, his voice tinged with mocking humor as it spread across the training grounds. "Why don't you let me gauge your strength first?"

Let him gauge Yan Zhen's strength? The crowd stared at each other, some completely dumbfounded. Did he, of all people, have the right to say such a thing? Clearly, the sheer nerve of our Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, at this moment was far beyond anyone's expectations.

Wanting to gauge the monstrous Yan Zhen's current strength? Even the true sss-Level powerhouses of the Four Departments of Capital City would probably not dare to utter such words.

Did he truly believe he was qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as the monster Yan Zhen?

Wasn't he being a bit too arrogant?

He was a monster of the younger generation of the Forty-Nine City from over a decade ago, and a ruthless character who had returned from that mysterious place for the second time! These two titles alone were enough to make 99.999% of the people present shrink back in awe. But now...

BOOM!

In the next moment, the spiritual waves emanating from Yan Zhen suddenly became several degrees colder and more terrifying.

Following that, the black-robed Yan Zhen's eyes grew savage. He stared intently at Chen Fei with a cold and violent glare, revealing his chilling white teeth, "Boy, you dare to speak to me like that? Are you trying to die?"

"Trying to die?"

Facing the ferocious and enraged Yan Zhen, Chen Fei simply smiled faintly. "You are a member of the Celestial Group, and I am a member of the Central Guard Bureau. Why shouldn't I dare to speak to you this way?"

"Or who do you think you are?" Chen Fei's tone suddenly grew cold.

Act tough? Who can't?

Hearing Chen Fei's words, the crowd froze for a moment before their expressions turned odd. Although what Chen Fei said didn't seem wrong, could the reality of the situation really be judged so simply?

That was Yan Zhen, after all! A ruthless character who had carried the title of a monster in their Forty-Nine City for over a decade. Right now, even an ordinary sss Rank Elder might not be a match for him.

"Good, good, good..."

And so, amidst the crowd's astonished gazes, the face of the black-robed Yan Zhen had, at some point, become completely overcast with gloom.

His ferocious gaze was fixed on Chen Fei, and his voice was chilling. "Boy, it seems you're really tired of living!"

"That doesn't seem to be your concern, does it?" Chen Fei replied, his expression placid and a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"Good, very good!"

Yan Zhen finally seemed to snap at Chen Fei's attitude. Who was he, and what was his status? Never mind that he had already successfully become an Inner Sect Disciple of the War Halberd Sect in that other place; his current strength, the mighty Qi Refining Sixth Layer, was even more terrifying than that of an ordinary sss Rank expert. Who would dare, who was qualified, to be so insolent in front of him?

At this thought, the rage in his heart finally erupted, and he attacked directly. "Good, very good! In that case, try taking a punch from me!"

BOOM!

The moment his voice fell, a gray, extremely turbulent spiritual energy containing a stunningly violent aura erupted from within Yan Zhen's body like a storm, forming ripples. That violent spiritual force seemed to tear small vacuums in the air around him.

In that same instant, strands of black lines surged from his black robe, winding around his torso and fists. For a moment, he looked like an ancient general on the battlefield, charging forward relentlessly! His presence was profound, heavy, and incredibly fierce.

"This is… the Hundred Battles Spiritual Energy of the War Halberd Sect! It's said that only the 'Hundred Battles Heart Sutra,' one of their five Treasures of Mountain Suppression, can be used to cultivate such a uniquely formidable spiritual energy! Could it be that he... is already an Inner Sect Disciple of the War Halberd Sect?!" Seeing this, Liu Chudong, who was not far from the main combat platform, suddenly narrowed his eyes and exclaimed in utter shock.

Obviously, with his status and insight, he was well aware that the 'Hundred Battles Heart Sutra,' one of the War Halberd Sect's five Treasures of Mountain Suppression, was something that only the sect's Inner Sect Disciples had the qualifications to access. And what did the title of Inner Sect Disciple imply?

It meant that even I, Liu Chudong, could only look on with envy, completely unqualified to reach that level. And yet Yan Zhen... he actually...

The others present, though they didn't know the origin of Yan Zhen's Hundred Battles Spiritual Energy, still felt their faces pale the moment they saw the terrifying aura gushing from his body. A chill crept up their limbs, and cold sweat beaded on their foreheads unknowingly.

Because that level of power was indeed too terrifying, too strong!

Even on the high platform, the few SS+ Level elder powerhouses from the Four Departments of Capital City felt their expressions change drastically, a look of horror appearing on their faces.

Within that dreadful might, even they clearly sensed the stench of death.

How could they not be horrified, not be shaken to their very core?

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