Chapter 70: Chopping Trees!

Chapter 70: Chopping Trees!

Since the end of June, Luo Feng had been busier than ever. To claim two rewards from the Cultivation Advancement Program, he needed to push himself harder and grow stronger.

The Martial Arts Hall housed many intriguing facilities, including the Combat Simulation Chamber. This chamber could project the combat prowess of Earth's many experts at various stages, allowing users to engage in duels against these simulated opponents.

Luo Feng adored this feature. While the Elite Training Camp's Virtual Space offered similar simulations, its limited processing power meant Trial Tower could only generate hordes of beasts. For human opponents, one had to rely on Stakes Duels with fellow trainees.

What puzzled Luo Feng was that the Combat Simulation Chamber ranked a certain "unknown" handsome youth—not Hong or Lei Shen—as its top combatant.

Curious, Luo Feng selected the match. He was promptly defeated in seconds, stunned by the encounter.

—The youth's spear flicked out. A mere tremor in the spear tip deflected Luo Feng's blade, leaving his guard wide open. Following the momentum, a single Spear Thrust pierced his skull.

The entire exchange was unimaginably fast. "I couldn't even follow it!"

Undeterred, Luo Feng restarted the match. No matter how many times he tried, at equal power levels, the spear-wielding youth toyed with him mercilessly.

Luo Feng finally acknowledged his own weakness.

Logging out, he sought real combat by challenging veteran Elite Training Camp members to life-or-death Stakes Duels. After three consecutive victories, his confidence returned.

He began suspecting the youth was a fictional character created by the Traditional Martial Arts Hall's AI to torment him—or perhaps everyone.

"Just like how Communication Watches come preloaded with default apps, that spearman is probably a fabricated simulation with inflated stats, someone who couldn't exist in reality."

"How could anyone at the Warrior General Level achieve such terrifying Power Amplification?"

"And his Spear Thrusts—too fast for me to react!"

"If such a person truly existed, someone so young wouldn't remain unknown. I'd have heard of him in the Elite Training Camp."

...

Riding a giant whale, he traveled southwest, eventually landing on the Yingzhou Island mainland.

This island suffered frequent oceanic beast attacks, having fallen into ruin decades ago. Its exiled government now survived as a powerless refugee state in Western base cities.

Stepping onto the purified land, Jiang Zhe felt cheerful. He deliberately suppressed his aura to avoid frightening the island's seemingly "benign" beasts.

Slanting across Yingzhou Island, he continued southward on his whale, making landfall again on Australia Island. By August, this became the annual Limit Martial Arts Pavilion survival adventure period.

A group of young experts rivaling War God Rank prowled the continent. Those encountering Jiang Zhe naturally grew curious, but Orianna drove them all away preemptively.

Word spread among trainees: these two were beings transcending War God Rank—untouchable forces. Soon, no one dared approach.

Jiang Zhe didn't forget to revisit the Mist Island. Unfortunately, he arrived too late.

He missed the treasure contest's climax, witnessing only the island trembling violently like a leaf in wind. Endless black-purple vines, miles thick, thrashed wildly—until subdued by a man dressed entirely in black, his spear stance as sharp as his namesake.

Sensing this, Hong located the strange observer watching from afar. Despite Jiang Zhe's disheveled appearance, his unique aura betrayed his identity.

"Is that really him?" Hong wondered aloud, flying toward Jiang Zhe to chat.

But Jiang Zhe waved him off and left. Hong halted mid-air.

"Who was that?"

"Some wild hermit?"

"Daring to snub First Councilor Hong!"

Several Legislators, failing to recognize Jiang Zhe, grumbled in indignation.

The sole Mentalist War God Rank expert shook his head. "Ten years ago, he slaughtered Legislators like dogs. After disappearing a decade, you dare demand his respect? Think his Annihilation Throwing Dagger has dulled?"

Katlan's harsh words struck the Legislators like thunder, reminding them of the apprentice who once overpowered Stellar-Rank experts.

Hong ignored them, watching Jiang Zhe depart with growing solemnity. Finally, he sighed, his expression troubled.

"The gap keeps widening!"

Hong's cultivation mindset was exceptional. He recognized that Jiang Zhe had undergone profound spiritual metamorphosis—a realm Hong could only admire from afar.

Riding northward from Australasia, pausing briefly in Southeast Asia's islands, then onward to the Himalayas, Jiang Zhe reached Earth's highest peak. Carving a cave at the summit, he fell into slumber.

In his dream, he returned to his true homeland.

...

An ordinary dream lasting an extraordinary time.

One month, two months, half a year...

Even his Secondary Divine Spirit traversing the Dark Universe paused its cultivation, halting law comprehension to sleep deeply through the Dormant Dragon Technique.

Over a year passed.

September 2058: Thanks to Orianna's guidance, Luo Feng exited Site 9 Ruins sooner, his Mentalist cultivation breaking through to Stellar Level. The Skyfaring Needle and Arc-Blade Array were already in his hands.

At this point, Orianna ceased direct involvement with Luo Feng. The Cultivation Advancement Program ended.

Cargo preparations completed, awaiting a suitable moment to deliver to Babata...

Wait? Babata was already scheming? Let it handle pickup itself.

This would partially repay the karmic debt between his master and the Yunmo Star lineage.

Meditating at the cave entrance to shield against wind and snow, Orianna resumed cultivation, patiently awaiting her master's awakening.

By Chinese New Year 2059, Jiang Zhe still hadn't stirred.

Elder Jiang personally visited, watching his grandson snore peacefully at the cave. Sighing helplessly, he departed.

In truth, Jiang Zhe's Dormant Dragon Technique cultivation had hit an unusual snag.

Daytime thoughts naturally shaped nighttime dreams.

Rather than dreaming, he was trapped—or perhaps simply unwilling to wake.

Not until early 2060.

A sensitive time.

Orianna monitored the Pacific's lurking Goldhorned Beast. Now nearing Stellar Class ascension, this cunning creature would soon reveal its bloodthirsty nature once confident in its unmatched power.

January 10th.

Orianna sensed erratic breathing behind her, whirling around.

Two tears slid from Jiang Zhe's eyes.

Then he sat up, smiling faintly.

That subtle smile shook Orianna deeply—a perfect, soul-deep serenity born of inner peace.

If the Axe Creator rewound time, he'd be astonished. Jiang Zhe underwent Soul Metamorphosis, his will rapidly surpassing his current cultivation tier.

This was enlightenment through accumulated effort.

Through Dormant Dragon Technique's dream realms...

Through fulfilling past-life regrets, exploring otherworldly Earths, reliving his former life in dreams, finally releasing the past to embrace his present.

His soul ascended.

At Stellar Class Ninth Stage, his will now rivaled Domain Lord peaks.

Jiang Zhe signaled Orianna to maintain vigilance, entering his Primordial Core.

His Internal World expanded to 90 kilometers across.

The central Ancient Tree grew thicker, its vast canopy still sheltering the space.

"Tree, give generously this time."

Having obtained the coveted Doppelgänger Secret Art, Jiang Zhe spoke boldly.

He swung his axe.

Thud!

Golden light erupted, repelling the embedded blade. A golden orb burst from the wound, rolling to the ground.

His Woodcutter's Axe weight surged, flying back to the stone table.

Bending down, he touched the orb. The golden light faded, revealing its contents.

Jiang Zhe blinked twice... "Huh?"

Uncertain, he looked again!

And again...

Scratching his head, a strange itch in his brain—had he suddenly grown smarter?

"Is this... a beam of light?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end