The Pine Crane Sect, Expulsion [2.9k]
Translator: CinderTL
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A figure stepped out of the courtyard, walking slowly towards them.
Dressed in a white robe adorned with pine cranes, he was remarkably thin and appeared to be middle-aged.
Chen Feng squinted, and behind him, Cao Tong's expression changed, filled with surprise.
"The master of the Pine Crane Sect?"
Hadn't he claimed to be injured and gone into hiding?
Moreover, with such a rosy complexion, where was the slightest sign of injury or weakness?
"This matter ends here."
"From today onwards, my Pine Crane Sect will no longer intervene in your Dragon and Tiger conflict."
The master of the Pine Crane Sect spoke calmly, and behind him, a white radiance quietly gathered, transforming into a nearly six-meter tall True Intent of a white crane.
It was close to the limit of ordinary True Intents, not inferior to that of the previous Jiang Yunshan.
In an instant, their gazes met.
Seeing the other's calm and resolute demeanor, Chen Feng thought of something.
The outside world claimed that the elder of the Pine Crane Sect had overstepped his authority and was acting on behalf of the master, siding with the Flying Dragon Sect.
But at this moment, it was clear that the man before him was significantly stronger than the elder from earlier; how could there be any talk of usurpation?
"What if I say no?"
Understanding the crux of the matter, Chen Feng's eyes turned cold as he stepped on the head of the second elder, with the red tiger looming behind him, standing in opposition to the white crane True Intent.
The master of the Pine Crane Sect's expression darkened, his tone turning icy.
"Young one, there are some things that do not need to be taken to the extreme."
"You and I will eventually pass away; the future..."
"Oh."
Bang!!
The second elder's head exploded, blood splattering everywhere.
The ground blossomed with several eerie blood-red flowers, and the master of the Pine Crane Sect's face revealed a murderous intent as he was interrupted.
Whoosh!!!
Like a shadow, he charged forward in an instant.
The white crane True Intent seemed to wrap around him like a shell, with concentrated power coiling in his fingers, aimed directly at Chen Feng's throat.
The blood splattered on him was evaporating as Chen Feng threw a punch.
Bang!!
The stones beneath their feet shattered into dust, a shockwave erupting, causing those around them to squint their eyes.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!
His fingers pecked out in rapid succession; the master of the Pine Crane Sect had already reached the pinnacle of his True Intent and was in the prime of his life.
Each strike sent the air whistling, tearing through with white energy.
Without flinching or dodging, Chen Feng stood his ground.
His explosive punches doubled in power.
The red tiger behind him remained motionless, and his arms became mere shadows, repeatedly repelling the incoming white light.
Bang bang bang bang bang!!
The sounds of their collisions echoed continuously, the force exploding, a muffled sound reverberating.
The onlookers had instinctively pulled back, and several gray-robed disciples holding brooms had already collapsed in fear on the stone steps.
Puff!!
Finally, a strike from the white light broke through his defenses, piercing Chen Feng.
It felt like hitting steel, leaving only a faint red mark.
The master of the Pine Crane Sect's pupils constricted.
In that moment of distraction, a fist the size of a sandbag ruthlessly struck out, like a cannonball.
Thud!
Crack!
The sound of bones cracking echoed as the master of the Pine Crane Sect was sent flying, crashing into an ancient cauldron.
His face visibly paled, his chest caved in, clearly having broken a rib.
Yet, Chen Feng frowned, puzzled.
Looking over, the master of the Pine Crane Sect surprisingly sprang back to his feet like a carp.
He tapped several acupoints on his body with his right hand.
In an instant, his rapidly declining aura stabilized, even rising again, continuously restoring to its peak state.
Observing his complexion, it was once again rosy, showing no signs of injury whatsoever.
"Secret technique?"
Chen Feng recalled his master mentioning that some major sects possessed certain foundations that allowed martial artists to gain extraordinary abilities.
Whoosh!!!
Before he could gather his thoughts, the master of the Pine Crane Sect charged at him again, his eyes cold as frost.
Bang bang bang bang bang!!!
The two clashed again, and Chen Feng was struck on the eyelid by a peck of white light.
Ding!!!
A crisp sound exploded, exceeding the ordinary.
The master of the Pine Crane Sect's expression grew increasingly grim, completely unprepared for the fact that the opponent's physique had nearly surpassed that of Silver-grade.
Buzz!
In an instant, his skin turned bronze.
The recoil force surged back, and he was struck again by a punch.
Bang!!!
The courtyard wall was smashed through, and the surrounding disciples turned pale in shock.
In the next moment, a figure in black dashed out like an arrow, with the red tiger following closely, leaping into the air.
Bang!!!
Fist met palm, and the master of the Pine Crane Sect stood up again, his complexion rosy, returning to his peak.
His gaze turned colder, and Chen Feng's body was now bronze, his bones cracking as they grew.
In the blink of an eye, a towering giant two meters tall reappeared, blocking out all light, casting a shadow over the ground.
Roar!!!
The red tiger behind him roared angrily, the power coalescing in its palm exploded.
With a tiger's roar, a palm struck out, colliding with its five fingers.
Thud thud thud!
The master of the Pine Crane Sect retreated to absorb the force, and Chen Feng sensed the opportunity, leaping forward to attack.
Flame Blast Style, Tiger Leap Style.
Fists and palms intertwined, his right arm like a cannon, his left arm like an axe.
The shockwave from his strikes was extremely powerful, and the crimson energy surged like real flames, relentlessly invading.
Bang!
In the end, another punch struck the master of the Pine Crane Sect's head.
He flew sideways, crashing through a beam, coughing amidst the dust and debris.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth and the injured head, and Chen Feng's calm footsteps approached.
"Come on, let's keep going."
Chen Feng said calmly, seemingly waiting for him to use the secret technique to recover to his peak again.
With a dazed expression, the master of the Pine Crane Sect couldn't comprehend why the opponent, who had just entered the True Intent stage, could reach such a level.
Snap!
Finally, his hair was grabbed, and his entire body was lifted up.
Pain shot through his bones, and the master of the Pine Crane Sect was too weak to struggle any longer.
Noticing his condition, Chen Feng saw his once black hair gradually turning white.
He understood that this secret technique came at a cost.
But given the earlier effect, he felt a twinge of curiosity.
"What is this secret technique?"
"Let them go, let them go."
The master of the Pine Crane Sect struggled one last time.
Their eyes met, and Chen Feng remained silent for a moment.
Crack!
Without answering, he tightened his grip, crushing the master's skull.
All aura dissipated, and he stepped out of the ruined courtyard, looking at the remaining members of the Pine Crane Sect.
A cold light shrouded the hearts of the crowd, and the red tiger behind him coalesced, sweeping through the area like a ferocious beast, leaving no trace of energy.
Blood trickled out, and the plaque of the Pine Crane Sect at the main entrance was taken down by Chen Feng.
Crack!
The plaque shattered.
"From today onwards."
"There will be no more Pine Crane Sect in this world."
A roaring fire shot into the sky, and a plume of black smoke rose from the low mountain.
The once prosperous martial arts sect seemed to be engulfed in flames, with buildings collapsing one after another.
"What's going on? How did it catch fire?"
"Wasn't this our Huai City's martial arts major sect? There are martial arts masters stationed here; how could it catch fire?"
"Who knows? I wonder if it can be saved."
Vehicles on nearby roads came to a halt, and passersby quickly took out their phones, either calling the fire department or capturing the scene.
For a moment, no one noticed.
A black sedan drove away from the roadside, slowly leaving the area.
Cao Tong in the passenger seat looked excited, glancing out the window, feeling a sense of relief.
Xu Tingxiao was driving but was somewhat distracted.
Having killed the True Intent master, destroyed the mountain gate, and incapacitated all the core members.
In the rearview mirror, his senior brother was looking down at a blue-gray book, appearing calm, but Xu Tingxiao felt the overwhelming presence of his strength once again.
Even without the Eye in the Sky covering this place, such a thunderous method would make him hesitate for a long time before carrying it out if it were him.
Chen Feng, however, paid little attention to it.
Kill when necessary, incapacitate when necessary.
Since the Pine Crane Sect dared to side with the Flying Dragon Sect and target them mercilessly, such consequences were only to be expected.
As for those ordinary disciples who couldn't even practice the basics, he looked down on the idea of attacking these weaklings who hadn't even cultivated true skills.
If they couldn't recognize reality, someone would inevitably send them to reunite.
Then, suppressing his thoughts, he looked at the book in his hand.
It was a martial arts true skill found in the secret chamber of the Pine Crane Sect's Mountain gate, and the others were mostly similar to those of the Flame Tiger Sect, but this particular true skill caught his attention.
[Crane Origin Skill]
[After reaching great success, it can consume vital energy when severely injured to stimulate acupoints, briefly returning to peak condition.]
[Realm division: Initial Origin, Heavenly Origin, Crane Origin!]
Chen Feng opened it and took a glance, roughly understanding the principle of the secret technique used by the master of the Pine Crane Sect earlier.
The human body possesses vital energy, which is the most fundamental essence of life.
By using some method to consume it and fill the acupoints throughout the body, one can briefly stimulate the body and suppress all negative states.
"Such a pity."
Shaking his head, Chen Feng had thought it was a technique that could directly restore injuries.
Its effects had many flaws; not only was it extremely difficult to cultivate, but only that master of the sect had barely reached great success.
Moreover, the consumption of vital energy was significant; the more times it was used, the heavier the burden on the body, and the subsequent stimulating effects would weaken.
This was also why the master of the Pine Crane Sect had retreated faster and faster later on, nearly unable to suppress the negative effects of his injuries.
Furthermore, recalling the master's hair turning from black to white.
Chen Feng suspected that if he used it once more, he might not even need to intervene; he would die directly.
"I'll keep it for now."
Having it was better than not having it, Chen Feng closed the true skill manuscript.
Then, pretended to look out the window, the green trees and mountains along the roadside receded continuously.
The sound of the wind whistled in his ears, and the panel before him quietly appeared.
[Heart of Glory LV2: 33/100]
The progress was slow, which Chen Feng had anticipated; he no longer held much hope for the short term.
In contrast.
The true goal and harvest of this trip.
[Azure Armor LV4: 1/100]
The nutrients provided by the three True Intents, along with the fear of other Pine Crane Sect disciples around, finally allowed him to accumulate enough to upgrade the Azure Armor.
He hadn't had time to adapt to the specific effects yet, but he had already gained some insight, receiving an enlightening feedback.
There were two changes in total.
First, the Azure Armor could be summoned and retracted at will.
The sturdy shell of the unicorn beetle was no longer just a rigid covering for the entire body; it could now be controlled by thought to cover only parts of the torso.
The increase in strength and defense had also improved slightly.
Second, a unique skill.
Or rather, a skill that could only be used in the Azure Armor form.
The power still needed to be tested later, but...
"I can now fight against Grandmasters."
A powerful intuition, feedback from the Azure Armor upgrade, gave Chen Feng the confidence to set aside all worries.
Even if a Grandmaster were to come here right now, he could face them head-on after activating the Azure Armor, without losing an inch.
Buzz buzz!
Just as his thoughts flickered, his phone suddenly vibrated.
Soon, a message came through, and Chen Feng opened it, his gaze sharpening.
[Lin Xiaoyun: The Golden Flying Eagle Sect has suffered a great defeat, the Eagle Sect Grandmaster is severely injured, and has now chosen to join the Southern Martial Alliance, serving alongside the Golden Blade Sect as protectors, recognizing the Flying Dragon Sect as the leader.]
[Additionally, the Flying Dragon Sect has publicly declared that three days from now, they will head to Ze Province's Yue City to challenge the Giant Elephant Sect!]
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"Everyone has received the news, right?"
Ze Province, located on the eastern side, is adjacent to the heartland of the continent.
A mountain rose in its centre; that was the famous mountain of Ze Province, Yue Mountain.
Buildings sprawled along the mountainside and summit, and at this moment, figures were bustling inside, especially in the reception room, where numerous True Intents from different sects could be seen.
"The Eagle Master is an old-school master; how could he lose to Lu Xinglong?"
"Now the entire Golden Flying Eagle Sect has decided to bow down; they will likely come to our Ze Province next."
Some were worried, and others nodded in agreement, their expressions grim.
However, some frowned slightly and spoke up in rebuttal.
"The Flying Eagle Sect has been at the top for too long these years; they've become complacent, so their defeat was expected."
"Let's wait and see how the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect and Lion Heart Sect plan to respond."
As soon as this was said, some voiced their dissatisfaction.
"The Lion Heart Sect? They've long been trapped by the Golden Blade Sect. Besides, the Lion Heart Sect's Master doesn't have much time left, does he?"
"Rather than waiting for them, we should take the initiative!"
The atmosphere grew tense again, with various expressions among the crowd, ultimately looking towards the burly middle-aged man at the head.
Dressed in a tight outfit, adorned with a pattern of a giant elephant trampling the earth.
"Master Zhang, when will the Giant Elephant Master emerge from seclusion?"
"Today."
The burly middle-aged man with thick brows and a broad face spoke solemnly: "Additionally, the Whale Sect Master has sent word, wishing to join forces with us to deal with the Flying Dragon."
"Everyone, you have three days to prepare."
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"The Flying Eagle Sect has fallen so quickly?"
On the way back, Cao Tong received similar news, his expression somewhat unnatural.
During this time, he had learned about the past glories and grievances of the Flame Tiger Sect, but even so, the Flame Tiger Sect had never claimed first place in the martial arts tournament, always falling short compared to the Golden Flying Eagle Sect.
For a moment, his mind was in turmoil, and even upon returning to the urban area of Nanjiang, he found it hard to regain his focus.
Beside him, Xu Tingxiao felt similarly; both were worried, their expressions not quite right.
In response, Chen Feng remained silent, merely gazing out at the streets and passersby, as well as the high-rises under construction.
"Time is running out."
A thought crossed his mind; Chen Feng was well aware that the Flying Dragon Sect would not easily halt its expansion.
With the Golden Flying Eagle Sect just having fallen, they dared to continue declaring war in the short term.
This could only mean one thing: they were confident and had a strong grasp of the situation.
Likewise, it indicated another matter.
He could no longer delay.
After all, if the Flying Dragon Sect truly defeated the Giant Elephant Sect and the Sea-Swallowing Whale Sect, the Southern Martial Alliance would rise to dominate the entire southern martial arts world.
At that time, with over four or five masters coming to pressure him in Nanjiang, even with the aid of the Shield Golem, he would not stand a chance.
As for hiding, with the Eye in the Sky and the entire martial arts world on the lookout, unless he took the Flame Tiger Sect deep into the mountains for a lifetime or completely left the Red Nation, there would be nowhere to escape.
"It seems it's time to set out."
With cold light flashing in his eyes, Chen Feng looked at everything familiar outside the window.
He had initially planned to accumulate more strength, waiting until he could kill a Grandmaster before taking action.
But...
First, let's collect some interest.
That should be enough!
(End of the Chapter)
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