Translator: CinderTL
Hum!
The aircraft headed straight for the southern side of the vast forest.
The atmosphere inside the cabin grew inexplicably quiet, as Chen Feng and the others were somewhat surprised by Meng Anran's words.
"Entry prohibited for those above the fourth tier?"
"That's right."
Meng Anran nodded gently and explained, "Three fifth-tier cyborgs once attempted to force their way in, but they were disrupted by the magnetic field and some unknown force, leading to their immediate explosion and death. Their remains are still in the deep sea, unable to be recovered."
"What about sixth-tier cyborgs?" Chen Feng asked curiously.
He believed that Yun Port couldn't possibly lack forces of that level.
"The Royal City Flying General came once, but he shook his head and left."
Meng Anran didn't hide it from him and answered truthfully.
Chen Feng fell into thought, now realizing that above the Red General, there existed a Flying General.
"Does that mean only the three of us will be going in later?"
Zhou Wuren, who had remained silent throughout the journey, frowned and asked. However, Meng Anran shook her head.
Amidst the confusion of the group, the aircraft finally arrived at its destination, reaching a clearing in the forest.
There was a massive, several dozen-meter-wide sunken entrance, constructed with rocks and special materials, protruding from the ground.
Surrounding the entrance were aircraft and warships, maintaining vigilance over a radius of several kilometers. One could vaguely see deep craters scattered around the entrance, as if it had been bombarded by artillery.
Further away, various aircraft from different factions were already parked, including some from the military.
Temporary tents were set up in clusters, among which was the Black Crystal Group's encampment.
Hum!!
A gust of wind stirred, causing the resilient weeds on the muddy ground to sway.
The aircraft landed and came to a stop, drawing the attention of personnel from other groups and the military.
"Black Crystal Group has sent more people."
"I heard they went to invite three Martial Arts Grandmasters. Tsk tsk, how naive."
"If even the cyborgs couldn't handle it, what can Martial Arts Grandmasters do?"
Whispers of discussion quietly spread, and Chen Feng could sense some of it even from inside the cabin.
Ssss! Click!
Finally, the cabin door opened.
Fresh air rushed into their nostrils, and the reddish-brown soil had been meticulously cleared, leaving only traces of a few weeds.
Perhaps because they were in the middle of the forest, the view was mostly green, giving off an intense feeling of vitality.
Tap tap tap tap.
At that moment, footsteps echoed.
From the Black Crystal Group's encampment, a dozen or so figures approached, clearly there to welcome Meng Anran.
"Boss, you're finally here."
The speaker was a woman who appeared to be in her late twenties, with an average figure and face, shoulder-length black hair, wearing a tight combat suit, and equipped with a specially made pistol on her knee.
Beside her was a similarly leading man, dressed similarly but with a much more robust build, nearly two meters tall, with a chiseled face.
Chen Feng quietly sensed them for a moment and was surprised to find that their auras were at the peak of the fourth tier.
However, there were no traces of mechanical modifications on them.
"You've worked hard."
Meng Anran exchanged a few brief pleasantries with the newcomers before actively introducing Chen Feng and the others.
"Let me introduce you. These two are our Black Crystal Group's fourth-tier biological cyborgs."
"Zhao Meng, Du Shan."
"And these are the three Grandmasters."
After the introductions, Chen Feng felt a sense of relief.
So they were biological cyborgs, no wonder there were no mechanical traces.
He had heard from Lin Hao that biological cyborgs were far more unique than mechanical ones.
Through the implantation of blood and genes from certain creatures, they underwent forced modifications to gain corresponding special abilities.
"Pleasure to meet you."
The man named Du Shan proactively shook hands, his expression quite serious.
As if noticing Chen Feng and the others' surprise, Old Gu beside him smiled and explained, "Du Shan was once a True Intent-level martial artist. It was only after joining our Black Crystal Group that he underwent biological modification."
"I see."
Xie Xiao and the others nodded, smiling kindly and shaking hands with him.
Although their perception wasn't as sharp as Chen Feng's, they still keenly heard the whispers from the surrounding factions, clearly not holding much regard for these so-called Martial Arts Grandmasters.
In contrast, Du Shan's respect was all the more precious.
The group then slowly made their way towards the tent area, and as they looked around, they saw many figures coming and going.
Medical teams in white coats, fully armed security personnel, and hackers still operating precision instruments.
Just as they were about to reach the Black Crystal Group's encampment, someone blocked their path.
"Oh, Meng Anran, you actually went and found a few Martial Arts Grandmasters?"
The speaker was a young woman with a curvaceous figure and a charming face, her fiery red lips adorned with a small mole.
She wore a red trench coat, flanked by seven or eight security personnel, with the words "Skyway Shipping" prominently displayed.
"Let me guess, you probably tricked them into coming."
"Tsk tsk, I bet a few more lives are about to be lost."
She seemed to mockingly chuckle, casting a cold, dismissive glance at Chen Feng and the others.
Upon hearing this, Meng Anran narrowed her eyes slightly and retorted without hesitation, "A dog's mouth can't spit out ivory."
"I don't know how the wise Elder Zhong ended up letting a bitch like you become a director."
The tension was palpable, and the red-clothed woman's face visibly darkened, her eyes filled with malice.
The two women, similar in age, stood in a tense face-off, drawing the attention of many from other companies.
"What's going on here?"
"Haha, old rivals, of course. Zhong Yan has been jealous of Meng Anran for a while now."
"Enemies crossing paths."
As the discussions arose, someone from the Jadeite Group's encampment raised an eyebrow in interest.
"Young Master Xu, Meng Anran brought three Martial Arts Grandmasters here. It seems they plan to explore the underground labyrinth together."
"Why does that person look familiar?"
"That's the Flame Tiger Grandmaster from Nanjiang. He's quite close with Lin... Lin Hao."
"Oh."
"What should we do?"
"Don't bother with them. If he's planning to enter the underground labyrinth, he probably won't make it out alive."
"Understood."
The two women stood in confrontation, the atmosphere instantly turning cold.
The security personnel from Black Crystal Group and Skyway Shipping exchanged cold glances, but Chen Feng's gaze shifted to a spot a hundred meters away, towards the Jadeite Group's encampment.
The young man's back he had seen earlier in the inner city passage had disappeared once again. He faintly heard the name "Lin Hao" and detected a subtle, lingering sense of malice.
Frowning slightly, his thoughts were interrupted as the woman confronting Meng Anran suddenly snorted coldly.
"Fine, I'll see what these people you brought can do."
With a cold laugh, she left with her entourage.
Meng Anran remained expressionless and then led Chen Feng and the others towards the Black Crystal Group's encampment.
"That woman is just a bitch, but she wouldn't dare cause trouble here. Don't mind her."
She specifically explained, but the group exchanged glances, unsure how to respond.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere and to facilitate the upcoming exploration of the underground labyrinth, Meng Anran changed the subject, asking Du Shan and Zhao Meng to introduce their biological abilities.
"I have the genes of a super-ancient creature called the Golden-Horned Ant, discovered in ancient ruins. I'm particularly strong in terms of power and defense."
Du Shan explained seriously, and Chen Feng noticed that his skin had a deep, almost dark golden hue.
Before he could observe further, Zhao Meng beside him also nodded and spoke up, "My abilities mainly revolve around short-term invisibility, perception, and toxins."
Upon hearing this, Xie Xiao and Zhou Wuren's expressions varied, but they were clearly somewhat shocked.
Invisibility was no longer within the realm of ordinary humans; it could be considered a superpower.
Chen Feng, however, was unfazed, only feeling that their biological abilities were somewhat similar to his own extraordinary talents.
"What exactly are super-ancient creatures?"
Having finally made it here, he seized the opportunity to ask.
Somehow, he felt that he might already be touching upon the truth of the world.
Perhaps even the relationship between the Dream World and Earth.
"Creatures that survived in remnants of ancient civilization ruins."
Old Gu provided the explanation, also emphasizing that they were not to spread this information outside after leaving this place.
This was a requirement from the military.
"Are there still creatures alive here?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't we see any on the way?"
"Most of the Cloud Dream Forest has already been explored. The related super-ancient creatures have either been killed or driven to non-core areas to reproduce."
Seeing Chen Feng and the others full of questions, Meng Anran nodded in tacit approval, and Old Gu and the others brought out many pictures of creatures.
There was a meter-long, dark golden ant, effortlessly carrying a heavy armored vehicle.
A black eagle with a wingspan of over ten meters, larger than a fighter jet, capable of easily tearing through steel.
Even massive saber-toothed tigers and mammoths.
Some of them were even video recordings, though the backgrounds were unfamiliar.
"Every ancient civilization ruin has some super-ancient creatures. Besides that, there are also technologies far beyond our current era, including related blueprints and legacies."
"Biological modification, mechanical modification, consciousness replication... Most of these technologies originate from here."
Meng Anran added a couple of sentences, dropping a bombshell.
The cutting-edge technology of Earth was actually derived from ancient civilization ruins?
The group's breaths hitched, feeling as if their worldview had been hit with an unprecedented shock.
"Did ancient humans have the capability to leave behind such a civilization?"
Cao Tong asked excitedly, and Chen Feng also looked at Meng Anran and the others.
Earth's history was similar to that of their original world. For primitive humans, mastering fire and stone tools was already a significant achievement. To create such a technological civilization seemed like a fantasy.
"Yes."
Contrary to his expectations, Meng Anran gave an affirmative answer.
Xie Xiao and Zhou Wuren frowned, filled with curiosity and surprise, and then they heard her reveal, "The ancient civilization ruins are not from the primitive ancient civilization you're familiar with."
"Instead, they're from the super-ancient era."
"Super-ancient era?" The group frowned.
"Yes, that was before the birth of primitive humans, during the super-ancient period when these super-ancient creatures emerged."
Completely different from the history known to the general public, and unlike anyone's common understanding.
Before Chen Feng could speak, the usually stoic Zhou Wuren couldn't help but ask.
"How is that proven?"
Right, how is that proven? Cao Tong and the others felt it was somewhat exaggerated.
But the next moment.
Old Gu handed them a document.
It was a special research bulletin from the military, containing pictures of other ancient civilization ruins.
Noah's Ark, floating pyramids, and some kind of special written symbols.
"The military has discovered that long before the appearance of humans on Earth, the Cloud Dream Forest had already existed."
"And our Earth was far larger than it is now, and even back then, there was an extremely powerful civilization."
"What civilization?"
"Ancient Taiduo."
The moment the words fell, Chen Feng's pupils constricted.
Ancient Taiduo?
Ancient Taiduo!!
Wasn't that the human empire that existed in the history of the Serpent Spirit Secret Realm?
Once flourishing, it later perished with the fragmentation of the Serpent Spirit Continent.
Boom!!!
Suddenly, a massive explosion erupted.
Cao Tong and the others were shocked, and Chen Feng's rapidly shifting thoughts were interrupted once again.
But peculiarly, the Black Crystal Group members seemed accustomed to such disturbances.
"Boss, it's probably another black tide eruption at the labyrinth entrance."
Old Gu whispered, and Chen Feng heard it clearly.
His mind shook, and his chaotic thoughts surged once more.
As if sensing their confusion, Meng Anran wasted no time and led them outside to look into the distance.
In the vast clearing, at the rock-constructed labyrinth entrance.
Over a dozen large military aircraft hovered to the sides.
Their mounted cannons gathered blue light, transforming into beams that erupted.
Boom boom boom!
Intense explosions rang out continuously, the ground shaking, and even from a distance, they could feel the terrifying power.
Chen Feng mused that even with his Steel Bones activated, he would likely be blasted to pieces.
"What on earth is that?!"
Cao Tong and the others were filled with shock and doubt. For the military to deploy such overwhelming firepower, the consequences must be dire.
But being too far away, they could only vaguely make out a large swath of dark shadows rushing out from the labyrinth entrance.
"It's the black tide."
Old Gu said in a low voice, as someone from the Black Crystal Group used a drone to bring footage from afar.
Hum!
A projection appeared, forming a screen.
In an instant, Cao Tong and the others' expressions changed, and Chen Feng's pupils constricted.
The dark shadows rushing out from the labyrinth entrance were peculiar creatures, some with human bodies and dog heads, others half-human and half-snake.
They were densely packed, hundreds upon thousands, their eyes blood-red, filled with malice.
Even a faint black mist lingered around their bodies, which inexplicably reminded Chen Feng of the Black Calamity creatures from the Dream World.
Boom boom boom!!
Blue energy beams swept across the area, and the creatures were instantly blasted to pieces as they emerged from the entrance.
Blood and debris scattered everywhere, and after several minutes, the commotion subsided.
Finally, military personnel began to appear, driving aircraft and armored vehicles to clean up the battlefield.
"This is the black tide of the underground labyrinth."
Old Gu stood beside Meng Anran, explaining to the still-shocked Cao Tong and the others, "Rumored to be non-human creatures from the Abyss, controlled by an evil god. There are records of them from the super-ancient era."
"Before, nothing like this had ever happened in Yun Port. Everyone thought it was just a legend. But a month ago, the underground labyrinth underwent a strange transformation, and these non-human creatures emerged from who knows where, causing chaos and killing many explorers."
"The weakest are at least first-tier, and the strongest are close to third-tier."
As he spoke, Cao Tong and the others were still reeling, their faces filled with lingering shock.
Similarly, Chen Feng, for the first time, couldn't maintain his composure, feeling as if a hurricane had stirred within him.
(End of the Chapter)
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