Translator: CinderTL
Early the next morning.
The aircraft rose from the open area below the hotel.
Chen Feng sat on a leather chair, watching the high-rise buildings gradually shrink below.
This wasn't the focus of his attention. Instead, it was the checkpoints along the coast, where numerous small white and gray dots could be seen.
They were all flying cars and aircraft for blockade and inspection. The outer city of Yun Port was still under full martial law.
Buzz!
His phone vibrated, and he took it out to glance at it.
[At exactly 7 PM last night, Utopian rioters launched an attack, killing our Yun Port outer city councilor representative Luo Hui, Golden General Yu Ling, and others, with a total death toll of...]
[The Provincial United Coalition has placed high importance on this matter. Council Speaker Li Yuan has been appointed as the overall commander of the investigation, stating that the perpetrators will be brought to justice within seven days, and all unstable elements within Feng Province will be thoroughly eradicated.]
The sudden news surprised Chen Feng.
He had thought the Yun Port Union would continue to suppress the information about this incident.
But upon reflection, the commotion he caused yesterday was indeed significant, coupled with the appearance of the battleship and the full-scale inspection.
Many people were likely panicked and wanted to know the truth.
"See, it was Utopia's doing."
Cao Tong said dissatisfiedly, clearly still harboring resentment over yesterday's incident with the Red Guard.
Xie Xiao and others beside him pondered thoughtfully and also spoke up, comforting Chen Feng not to overthink it.
"Heh."
Hearing their conversation, Meng Anran let out a strange laugh, exchanging a subtle glance with Chen Feng.
Without exposing anything, she became increasingly certain that this matter was related to him.
Soon, the aircraft continued to soar through the air, heading straight for the towering wall at the center.
This was Chen Feng's first time being so close to the inner city of Yun Port.
Looking through the window and the smart screen, the wall was entirely gray and black, with an unusually smooth surface.
Faintly, streaks of red fluorescence could be seen within the metal walls, resembling a crimson waterfall.
Buzz!
Just as the aircraft approached within a hundred meters.
A red light projected from within the wall, as if scanning.
Chen Feng keenly sensed a strange feeling of being coldly inspected, while Cao Tong and the others felt their skin tighten and their scalps tingle.
"This is the life scanner of the inner city wall, similar to the Sky Eye system, mainly to check if we have the qualifications to enter the inner city."
Old Gu proactively explained a few words, signaling everyone not to worry.
Soon, the aircraft continued to approach without hindrance.
The high wall had no obvious entrance or exit, but at that moment.
Click!
A crisp sound was heard, and everyone looked through the display inside the cabin.
They saw movement in the center of the metal wall, which automatically separated up, down, left, and right.
The square cracks rapidly expanded, soon forming a metal passage over ten meters in size.
Numerous turrets were aimed inside, with energy cannons and sniper cannons ready to fire at any moment.
"This..."
"Is this the central city?"
Everyone was amazed, and Chen Feng was also somewhat surprised.
He could sense a special magnetic field surrounding them, and even saw that the sides of the metal passage were made of a sturdy, transparent material like fiberglass.
Inside, many figures stood or sat, mostly wearing the combat uniforms of the Red Guard and the military, sizing up their group.
Not daring to amplify his senses, Chen Feng suspected the precision technology here could detect anomalies.
The aircraft's speed had unknowingly slowed down, and the metal wall was thicker than they imagined, possibly over a hundred meters.
Finally, before they could exit the passage, they saw a docking mechanism ahead, resembling a giant gray mechanical hand, guiding the aircraft in.
"Are we here?"
Cao Tong asked in surprise.
"Yes, the entry procedures for Yun Port's inner city are very strict."
"Although we've already passed the preliminary report and review, foreign transportation vehicles are not allowed into the inner city."
Old Gu proactively explained, and Cao Tong couldn't help but take out his phone, curiously asking, "What about phones?"
"Small communication devices are fine."
"Because..."
Old Gu chuckled, signaling him to look at his phone.
Immediately, everyone followed suit, finding themselves out of service range, with most functions unusable.
"Alright, time waits for no one. I'll explain more on the way."
Old Gu signaled his subordinates to open the aircraft's cabin door, escorting Meng Anran out.
Chen Feng and the others followed, and the world before them became clearer.
A gray metal world.
The floor and walls were all gray, exceptionally sturdy.
The fiberglass ceiling let sunlight pour in, with push mechanisms sending those leaving the inner city away.
As the distance closed, looking to the left and right.
There were many people around the docking mechanism.
Military personnel holding light sniper cannons and special firearms, wearing unique protective suits.
Standing every three to five meters, lined up on both sides, their expressions solemn.
There were also cyborgs and Cyborg fighters present, along with some other corporate groups or civilian organizations.
[Superman Group]
[Delley Pharmaceuticals]
[Sky Shipping]
Security teams from various mega-corporations, each protecting important figures.
Chen Feng's eyes subtly flickered, stepping on the gray metal floor, puzzled that Steel Bones showed no reaction.
Not metal?
Or perhaps, it was some special material that couldn't be absorbed?
"Heh, Lin Hao's hometown."
Meng Anran suddenly murmured, and Chen Feng was momentarily stunned, then suppressed his random thoughts and looked over.
Seven or eight figures in dark green combat suits had just stepped out of another aircraft, escorting a young man to hand over to military personnel, just entering the city.
Most had a green olive branch pattern on their backs, their origin immediately recognized by Chen Feng.
[Jadeite Biotech]
"What's Lin Hao's relationship with Jadeite Biotech?"
Chen Feng asked.
He had long considered Lin Hao his best friend, vaguely sensing that the other had a not-so-great past.
"His father used to be a director at Jadeite Biotech."
Meng Anran said calmly, as military personnel approached, and Old Gu quickly handled the situation.
"And then?" Chen Feng followed as they walked towards the end of the metal passage, asking casually.
"Dead."
Meng Anran replied, her tone tinged with a hint of regret.
Chen Feng paused for a moment, then caught up with the group.
He finally learned part of Lin Hao's hidden past.
Though he still had some questions, he didn't ask further.
Tap tap tap tap.
The group turned left and walked straight, slowly reaching the end of the metal passage.
A gray metal door blocked the way, with a silver instrument embedded beside it, containing a slot.
Beep!
Old Gu took out a special silver card and inserted it, causing the metal door to part like an elevator.
Instantly, everyone was startled, including Chen Feng, whose pupils contracted.
Looking through the metal door, outside was a rising open metal platform.
Further out, a desert-like world appeared before them.
Wind and sand blowing, brown soil, huge rocks.
No signs of life, but right in the center of that world.
A massive ring spanned the heavens and the earth.
Within it, a white misty light gathered, resembling a giant mirror.
Numerous inner city aircraft and battleships entered and exited, the mirror surface rippling, as if containing a special space.
Nearby, there were also large military camps stationed, and several battleships hovering mid-air, imposing dominance.
"Is this the inner city?"
Cao Tong and the others were awestruck, while Zhou Wuren and Xie Xiao were slightly better, but still somewhat amazed.
Chen Feng was somewhat entranced by the scene, but under Old Gu's reminder, they all entered the metal elevator, slowly descending.
"This is the entrance to the inner city."
Meng Anran took the initiative to explain, wearing sunglasses and applying sunscreen from her secretary.
"That ring-like portal, we call it the Star Ring."
"Only with this can the Star Ruins be stably opened, which refers to ancient civilization ruins, secret realms, star realms, etc., all the same meaning."
Xie Xiao and Zhou Wuren had different expressions, but Chen Feng frowned slightly.
"Star Ring?"
He thought of the residual memories he had obtained in the Dream World.
"What about the key?"
Was the difference between the Dream Secret Realm and ancient civilization ruins here?
But weren't the people from the Divine Martial Alliance also searching for this?
"Heh, you sure know some things."
"It must be from the Divine Martial Alliance's findings."
Meng Anran smiled, not hiding anything.
"The key is used to temporarily open secret realms, but it's not durable or stable."
"Usually, it's an item containing special substances or powers of a certain secret realm. Once the contained material is exhausted, the secret realm's portal closes."
"As for the Star Ring..."
The metal platform gradually slowed down, stopping at the ground.
Several aircraft were parked here, with fully armed individuals in combat suits from the Black Crystal Group already waiting.
"You can think of it as a more advanced and larger key, recyclable and long-lasting."
"The downside is, it consumes too much energy, often requiring the full supply of a city."
Meng Anran finished, as a security leader approached respectfully, calling her boss and opening the cabin door, inviting her in.
Chen Feng pondered thoughtfully, then entered the aircraft with Xie Xiao and the others.
Whoosh!!
The energy started, and the aircraft lifted off again, heading straight for the massive Star Ring.
"This Star Ring is really big."
Cao Tong subconsciously said, feeling like he had gained a lot of knowledge from this trip.
The disciples brought by Xie Xiao and Zhou Wuren had similar expressions, and Chen Feng also felt the difference of the Star Ring.
Its size was obvious, the closer they got, the more apparent it became, the circular area probably over a thousand meters.
Additionally, there was the white misty undulating mirror surface.
Like a special energy, every time a transportation vehicle passed through, it would ripple slightly.
"Can we pass without vehicle protection?"
The young man brought by Zhou Wuren asked in surprise, and everyone looked, seeing several figures in combat suits actually walking into the Star Ring.
"Of course."
Old Gu nodded in explanation. "The energy of the Star Ring is very stable, it doesn't harm people."
"We take the aircraft not for protection, but for convenience in travel."
Everyone was startled, and Chen Feng figured out some implications.
Soon, the aircraft approached the Star Ring, until it entered it.
Buzz!!
An invisible force swept over, and Chen Feng keenly sensed a subtle change in his body's center of gravity.
Including the cabin's air pressure and the surrounding gravity, there were slight increases and decreases.
The next second.
"Holy crap!!"
Cao Tong exclaimed, and the young disciple brought by Zhou Wuren said something similar.
No one dwelled on it, as Chen Feng and the others were drawn to the scene outside the window.
A new world.
A bluer sky, clear for miles, with clusters of white clouds.
Below, a vast green forest seemed endless, occupying the entire world.
Soon, their gaze moved.
Everyone quickly saw that part of the forest had been cleared, with buildings rising from the ground.
Their exteriors were gray and black, resembling the material of the inner city's high wall.
Looking left and right, military camps were stationed here.
A large area was marked off near the buildings, with various armored vehicles, tanks, aircraft, and energy weapons moving about.
Teams of figures in camouflage suits patrolled, and battleships hovered in the air, with the red maple leaf symbol particularly conspicuous.
Additionally, the crossed sword and shield emblem of the Red Guard appeared, marking a building near the military camp.
Other corporations also had similar setups, each with their own branch established here.
For a moment, Cao Tong and the others' faces were still filled with awe, but the Black Crystal Group members didn't laugh.
When they first came to this ancient civilization ruin, they had similar reactions.
"This is the ancient civilization ruin of Yun Port's inner city... Cloud Dream Forest."
Meng Anran said, sitting in the aircraft's chair, as it continued forward without stopping.
"Discovered thirty years ago, this ancient civilization ruin's coordinates were successfully opened, leading to the construction of the inner city and the maintenance of the Star Ring's operation."
"Initially, it was the military and the Red Guard who developed and explored here, until fifteen years ago, when our civilian corporate groups gained exploration rights."
As she explained, Chen Feng secretly realized why his master and others didn't know about this ruin.
Thirty years ago was precisely when the Flame Tiger Sect left Yun Port, marking the beginning of its decline.
And Yun Port's significant development also arose from this.
"This ruin's area is quite large, comparable to two Feng Provinces."
"The reason for inviting the three Grandmasters this time is to help our Black Crystal Group explore a special area."
As she spoke, Meng Anran had her subordinates take out the materials and hand them to Chen Feng and the others.
"Read them and return them. The reason we didn't give them to you earlier is due to the Red Guard and military's requirements, prohibiting the appearance of secret realm materials outside."
Meng Anran explained, and Chen Feng and the others didn't say much, carefully reading the materials in their hands.
Many pictures, the most eye-catching being an image of an underground maze.
"Underground maze, one of the ancient ruins of Cloud Dream Forest, already explored by the military and the Red Guard."
"But over a month ago, this place suddenly underwent abnormal changes, with strong magnetic fields erupting, altering the internal space and terrain."
"After multiple attempts and verifications, all parties confirmed that there is some residual power here, causing significant interference to mechanical modifications and precision instruments."
She paused, looking at Chen Feng and the others.
"Moreover, this place has a special feature."
"It prohibits entry for beings above the fourth tier."
(End of the Chapter)
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