Chapter 338 – Shock

Even though the Earth Armament is merely a “simplified version” of the Earth level Mecha, its forging techniques and materials are entirely the same.

A perfect ratio of over a hundred rare metals mixed with a multitude of extraordinary substances forming a super alloy.

Theoretically, it can withstand the majority of fifth-stage attacks without any damage.

This is one of the most important values of the Earth Armament.

It is both a destructive combat weapon and an indestructible armor, shield, and fortress…

Any Earth Armament pilot holds a capital that can give fifth-stage combat powers a headache.

Because even if its combat power doesn’t reach the fifth-stage, an ordinary fifth-stage combat power can do nothing against it.

However, now, what has everyone seen?

–

The Earth Armament, known as a mobile fortress below the fifth-stage, was torn apart by bare hands into a pile of scraps!

This almost incomprehensible scene caused many minds to temporarily break down, with chills inexplicably crawling up from their hearts and spreading all over their bodies.

Brutal!

It was incredibly brutal!

The Extreme Battle Saber Mattis and the blond man from the Distant Star Federation, one had activated nine star acupoints and comprehended the power of the natal star diagram, making him a top-tier supernova.

The other was clad in Earth Armament comparable to the fifth-stage.

They each represented the pinnacle of fourth-stage combat power in their respective domains.

Yet the result of their joint attack was Mattis being knocked out cold at the first encounter, and the Earth level Mecha from the Distant Star Federation being torn to pieces…

Looking at Mattis lying unconscious on the ground and the blond man sitting amidst a pile of what looked like broken junk armor.

The onlookers felt their hair stand on end, with their scalps tingling as if someone had yanked them hard.

No one dared to meet the gaze of the three heads and six arms being anymore, and the idea of vying for the Phoenix Feather had long been forgotten.

A vast and invisible power enveloped the large battlefield, making the air within this area feel as if it had solidified.

Even the strongest, Ling Yu, felt a sense of suffocation, struggling to catch their breath.

Fortunately, the figure with three heads and six arms didn’t continue to attack them. Instead, he grabbed Mattis and the blond man from the ground and shook them.

He took several wondrous items exuding a strong legendary aura from the two of them, then quickly turned and disappeared into the forest.

He left along with the Hoopoe bird that held a golden feather in its beak.

Not until the figure completely vanished did the oppressive atmosphere in the air gradually dissipate.

The stifling tension slowly started to ease, with many people’s eyes flickering as they backed away, swiftly spreading the news.

On the side of the Yellow Bear supernova trio, Ling Yu slowly withdrew his aura, his face full of complicated emotions, but he didn’t know how to begin.

“It’s him… it really is him…”

A low murmur reached his ears, and Ling Yu turned to see Yin Muqing, still deeply shaken and looking distraught.

“Who is he?” Ling Yu asked.

Yin Muqing snapped out of her daze and replied with a bitter smile, “In the Elephant Deity Secret Realm, there was a mysterious elephant-man who defeated Xilin and took the evil deity’s treasure…

I always thought the mysterious elephant-man was an indigenous member of the Elephant Man Tribe left in the secret realm, but now I realize it was him…”

“Elephant Deity Secret Realm…”

Ling Yu’s eyes flickered at her words, and he said, “Now that you mention it, I recall. The techniques Lu Yuan used do indeed resemble the power of the evil deity from the Elephant Deity Sect. It seems… he is the ‘Demon Blade’?!”

“Very likely.”

The slightly tanned supernova youth among them said with a complicated expression, “We all misjudged this time. Who would have thought such a remarkable demon blade was hidden within the organization…?”

“Indeed.”

Ling Yu sighed, “To withstand the combined assault of two fourth-stage peak combat powers and tear apart Earth Armament with bare hands…

It’s likely Lu Yuan’s strength has already reached the fifth-stage peak?

It’s not even impossible that he’s at the sixth-stage.

How many years has it been since we heard of a ‘Hidden Star’ capable of handling the evil energy’s upper limit at the sixth-stage threshold?

Even third-stage and fourth-stage ones are rare…”

As the three discussed, news of this battle quickly spread among various organizations.

The name “Lu Yuan” also started to come into the view of certain individuals, garnering more attention.

A desolate land that resembled a living hell.

The ground was crisscrossed with countless streams of dark red magma, like the viscous blood oozing from some giant beast of the Abyss.

The air temperature was frightfully high, and the light itself seemed to distort upon entering this place.

The entire desolate area appeared to be shrouded by a mysterious and immense force field, subjecting anyone who dared to intrude to varying degrees of devastation.

The legendary aura here was more than ten times denser than outside, filled everywhere with the ancient power of the forbidden.

Yet, in this terrifying place, three groups of people were trying to venture deeper.

Their destination was clear: a raging volcano at the very center of the Forbidden Land.

Every now and then, colossal pillars of fire would erupt from it, carrying the devastating force of nature.

“Mattis got injured?”

On the scarlet ground where magma flowed, a team was taking a short break.

The leader, a handsome young man with short brown hair, looked surprised at the message just arrived on his communicator.

“Mattis is just half a step away from the fifth-stage and has also comprehended the power of the natal star diagram. His extreme combat power is enough to contend with a true fifth-stage.

Who is this Lu Yuan from the Xia State’s Flying Bear? His combat power is formidable, but the name sounds unfamiliar…”

A companion responded, “He’s likely one of Xia State’s talented ‘Hidden Stars,’ staying concealed until now. To defeat Mattis and a Distant Star Federation’s earth level Mecha in a combined assault, this Hidden Star’s strength is estimated to be around high fifth-stage…”

“A Hidden Star, no wonder…”

The lead young man nodded thoughtfully, then turned his gaze towards the massive volcanic crater in the distance and said, “As long as he’s not another Torr. Can we contact Haines?

Share this information about Lu Yuan with him, and ask him to see if there’s a chance to snatch the Phoenix Feather from him…”

“Alright.”

Not far from the Sleepless organization, a team belonging to the Day Keepers of the Distant Star Federation also discussed the information about “Lu Yuan.”

A man clad in moon-white armor, with two pairs of golden mechanical wings spread out behind him, was listening expressionlessly to the report from his companion.

“Ripping apart Earth Armament with bare hands? A Hidden Star from Xia State who inherited the elephant deity power?”

The man frowned slightly and said, “Why didn’t we receive any intelligence about this? A new fifth-stage combat power from Xia State emerges, and we only found out after he revealed himself?”

“He’s very young and has hidden himself exceptionally well.”

His companion smiled wryly and analyzed, “He probably revealed his ‘Hidden Star’ identity because he’s reached the limit of bearing evil energy and had to come into the light…

Now the higher-ups want you, Oresa, to take action and retrieve the Phoenix Feather from this Xia State Hidden Star. We can’t afford to lose an Earth Armament for nothing…”

The man named Oresa shook his head and said, “A target below the sixth-stage isn’t worth my effort.

Besides, the things we’ve discovered this time are far more valuable than a mere Phoenix Feather…”

The light in Oresa’s moon-white mechanical armor flickered, projecting a light blue screen before him.

The screen displayed the scene at the center of this Forbidden Land, the location of the volcanic crater.

They could only briefly capture the faint images inside the volcanic crater after each fiery eruption.

On the screen, the edge of the crater was lined with many plants bearing golden leaves.

Though their appearance was plant-like, they possessed a remarkable resistance to the searing flames, thriving with their roots deep in the scorching magma.

However, it wasn’t these extraordinary plants that truly caught Oresa’s attention. It was something else!

Dominantly white and round, it bobbed up and down in the thick crimson magma.

From its appearance, it looked remarkably like…

An egg!

“The legendary Phoenix’s egg…”

Oresa’s eyes burned with fervor, starlight rising around him and weaving upon his moon-white armor. He gazed at the light screen before him and muttered, “Obtaining this might unlock the secret of ‘immortality’… Do you think it could be worth more than many Phoenix Feathers?”

In another part of the Forbidden Land, a few supernovas from Yellow Bear were taking a short rest.

This region, ravaged by magma, was imbued with the legendary forbidden power left behind by the Phoenix. Apart from the dangerous and extreme external environment, every step they took required fighting against the omnipresent forbidden power in the void.

And it wasn’t just them.

The people from the Distant Star Federation and Javier’s organization in the other two directions were also experiencing the same struggle.

They had almost simultaneously discovered the hidden secret in the center of this Forbidden Land-a massive and immeasurable Treasure. It was the reason for the quiet rivalry and competition among the three groups.

“Lu Yuan?!”

Among the group, a few Yellow Bear supernovas looked surprised and astonished as they saw the newly received message on their communicators.

“A fifth-stage demon blade, and even Mattis along with the Earth Armament couldn’t stand against him…”

One supernova clicked his tongue in admiration and then looked up to ask a crew-cut youth with a calm demeanor, “Ding Can, did you have any prior information about this ‘demon blade’?”

The crew-cut youth shook his head and replied, “I didn’t see this name in the demon blade plan. I just checked and found out he’s someone Lord Tong values. The ‘demon blade’ identity is likely just a cover; ultimately, he’ll probably follow the same path as us…”

Transitioning from the shadows into the light, from a Hidden Star to a supernova… such occurrences weren’t uncommon.

After all, the power of the evil deity had its limits, whereas the Starry Sky martial arts was the true broad path.

Undeniably, in the early stages of cultivation, for those with the potential of “demon blade,” the power of the evil deity was an immensely useful aid.

It could form not weak combat power in a very short time, although the process of expelling the evil deity power from their bodies while transferring to martial arts was quite excruciating.

Few people possessed the unyielding will to abandon their existing formidable combat power and start over.

The feeling of suddenly becoming weak and plummeting from a peak to a valley was something very few could endure.

“Is there any way to contact him? If he joins us, having another fifth-stage combat power would greatly increase our chances of success in this operation.”

One of the Yellow Bear supernovas suggested.

Ding Can nodded and said, “I’ve already informed the base to try to contact him.”