Translator: CinderTL
Whoosh!!
The sharp giant axe seemed to split the heavens and earth, moving at an incredible speed, leaving no room to dodge.
Boom!!!
The passageway shook, and the labyrinth trembled violently.
A powerful gust of wind swept through, scattering debris and sending shards flying past their scalps.
Zhou Wuren, who had been pulled back, showed a slight change in expression, beads of cold sweat appearing on his forehead.
"Thanks," he said, turning his head to look at Chen Feng, who had pulled him back, expressing his gratitude with a hint of lingering fear.
Beside him, Xie Xiao had also been stopped by Zhao Meng, who gave Chen Feng a surprised glance, seemingly astonished by his keen perception in detecting the danger beforehand.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The crisp sound of metal hitting the ground interrupted any chance for mutual flattery.
Du Shan, standing at the forefront with an advanced titanium-grade shield, had a slightly grim expression.
"Someone's ambushing us."
As he spoke, his skin subtly transformed into a dark golden hue, as if covered by a golden carapace, giving off an overwhelming sense of defense.
Looking at the shield in front of him, there were indentations, the source of the earlier crisp sound. Three specially crafted bullets lay on the ground, clearly the remnants of the ambush.
"It's Skyway Shipping."
Chen Feng narrowed his eyes, looking toward the dark end of the passageway.
A shadowy figure retreated silently. Despite the limited perception, Chen Feng could roughly make out the face of the ambusher.
It was unmistakably the same group that had provoked them at the entrance of the labyrinth.
Du Shan frowned at the words, but Zhao Meng beside him confirmed Chen Feng's suspicion.
"He's right."
"Grandmaster Chen, I didn't expect your senses to be so sharp."
Zhao Meng, with her shoulder-length hair, genuinely admired him.
She had gained her special abilities by implanting the genes of a super-ancient creature, but Chen Feng had achieved this level through his own training, which was no small feat.
Chen Feng didn't explain, content to let them believe it was due to his Martial Arts True Skill.
Du Shan didn't press further, nodding as his brows relaxed, but his tone remained low.
"It seems we'll need to be more cautious from now on."
"The super-ancient creature genes implanted by Xu Qiang and his group are quite powerful. Grandmaster Chen, we'll likely need you and Zhao Meng to step up."
He was referring to their sensory abilities, helping with early warnings.
Chen Feng didn't refuse.
Meanwhile, through Du Shan's explanation, the three of them learned about the corresponding abilities of the biological cyborgs from Skyway Shipping.
Explosive strength, hardened skin, sand manipulation, toxins, color-changing invisibility...
They could even fully activate their biological genes, combining them with bio-armor to achieve a temporary super-ancient creature state, significantly enhancing their physical abilities.
Chen Feng remained calm, but Zhou Wuren and Xie Xiao's expressions were complicated.
They had trained hard their entire lives to become grandmasters, yet others could achieve the same level by simply implanting biological genes, with even more techniques at their disposal.
The decline of martial arts was irreversible. Both of them sighed in silence, both angered by the earlier ambush and somewhat disheartened.
"Let's keep moving."
Chen Feng spoke up, not bothering to console them.
Glancing at the timer, he noted that over three hours had passed. They didn't have much time to waste.
Du Shan nodded, and the giant axe automatically rose back into place as they safely exited the passageway.
The number of corpses on the ground increased, most of them non-human creatures, with some remnants left by other second and third-tier biological cyborgs.
Buzz!
As they entered the twelfth floor, a faint light appeared ahead in the rocky passage.
Chen Feng focused, seeing that the walls on both sides of the passage were lined with yellow crystals emitting light, dispersing some of the darkness.
On the surrounding stone walls were carvings depicting various scenes.
A creature with a lion's body and a human head, a tribe of dog-headed humans, eagle-like griffins...
Humans wearing cloaks and crowns stood on a cloud platform, with rows of stairs descending, surrounded by various massive creatures bowing in reverence.
"Is this a human from the Ancient Taiduo civilization?"
Chen Feng asked curiously, his gaze lingering on the human figure receiving the bows.
The figure had three eyes on its forehead, a striking feature.
"Possibly. Similar scenes have been found in other ancient civilization ruins," Du Shan nodded. "Many archaeologists believe these are depictions from the super-ancient era, likely from the peak of the Ancient Taiduo civilization."
After a brief exchange, Chen Feng scanned the surrounding murals.
His eyes flickered as he spotted a serpentfolk with a snake's head and a human body, bowing reverently, seemingly filled with loyalty to the human empire.
Additionally, there were mermen in the murals, though they were too blurry to make out clearly.
Seeing his fascination, Du Shan and Zhao Meng didn't pay much attention, assuming he was simply intrigued by the unfamiliar ancient relics.
Slowing their pace, they gradually ascended the stairs, reaching the thirteenth floor.
Unlike before, this floor had two intersecting passageways, each leading in a different direction.
"This is it, the furthest point of our previous exploration," Du Shan said, pointing to the numerous non-human creature corpses on the ground, along with some remnants of biological cyborgs from Earth.
The blood had long dried, and the group's expressions were serious.
"We need to be wary of Skyway Shipping. I suggest we stick together and explore one direction before moving on to the other," Du Shan proposed cautiously.
Everyone agreed, including Chen Feng.
Bang!!
Suddenly, a sound came from the end of the right passageway, like gunfire or something heavy hitting the ground.
The group didn't hesitate, quickly moving cautiously toward the right.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of muffled sounds continued, accompanied by angry shouts.
"Xu Qiang, what's the meaning of this?"
"Get out! This area belongs to Skyway Shipping!"
"Dammit, let's fight!"
Chen Feng and the others could hear the commotion from afar.
Their steps instinctively quickened as they noticed more bloodstains on the ground, along with the bodies of a couple of cyborgs from the Superhuman Group, who had entered the labyrinth with them earlier.
"They're all dead."
Du Shan stepped forward, checking their breathing and even using a biological scanner to confirm.
"It seems Skyway Shipping and the Superhuman Group have clashed. I don't recall any prior animosity between them."
"Our direction might be correct. There's likely something significant here," Zhao Meng analyzed calmly, and everyone nodded.
Looking ahead, the rocky passage narrowed to just a few meters wide, winding and twisting, making it impossible to see the end at a glance.
The yellow crystals on either side emitted a faint glow, dispersing some of the darkness.
"I'll go check. Wait for my signal," Zhao Meng said, then moved to the side, pressing herself against the rock wall.
In an instant, her skin and bio-armor changed color, blending seamlessly with the surroundings.
It was akin to a chameleon's ability, making her nearly invisible to the naked eye.
Even the biological scanner showed no energy signals, as if she had vanished into thin air.
"Zhao Meng's implanted genes are from the Red Lizard, one of the super-ancient creatures discovered in the ruins," Du Shan explained confidently, signaling for everyone to stay calm.
Chen Feng remained expressionless but could still sense her faint traces as she moved, gradually disappearing from sight.
Tap, tap, tap.
At that moment, faint footsteps sounded from behind.
Chen Feng's eyes narrowed. Du Shan and the others reacted a beat slower but quickly turned, aiming their weapons toward the entrance.
"Something's wrong," Chen Feng frowned.
"What?"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The newcomers immediately opened fire without hesitation.
Du Shan raised his advanced titanium-grade shield for defense, returning fire.
"It's Skyway Shipping!"
Chen Feng had already recognized the faces of the attackers, his gaze icy but also puzzled.
Weren't they just ahead? They had heard their voices earlier. Why were they suddenly behind?
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several high-concentration, specially crafted bombs were thrown in, causing Zhou Wuren and Xie Xiao's expressions to change.
Du Shan gritted his teeth, ready to block them, but in the next second—
Whoosh!!
Chen Feng had already dashed forward, twisting his body and kicking the bombs.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The bombs flew back at an even greater speed, like arrows, piercing toward the entrance.
Boom!!
The ground shook, and the passageway trembled.
Dust and debris fell like sand from the cracks in the rocks above, freezing Du Shan and the others in place.
Before they could react—
Thud!!
Chen Feng stomped the ground, charging forward like a tiger pouncing from a mountain, heading straight for the entrance.
His black bio-armor clung tightly to his body, the clanging of bullets and sparks flying as he closed the distance of dozens of meters in an instant.
He had already sensed and seen everything outside.
Two Skyway Shipping cyborgs, one standing and one crouching, were hiding in corners, avoiding the earlier bomb explosion.
As they sensed the movement, their eyes turned murderous.
"You're asking for death!"
One of them shouted coldly, both activating their bio-armor and genetic powers simultaneously.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
One transformed into a massive elephant-like figure, nearly three meters tall, with an elephant's head and a human body, delivering a powerful punch.
The other crouched on the ground, his skin turning brown as the ground shook, summoning a whirlwind of sand.
"Grandmaster Chen, be careful!"
Du Shan roared, charging out as well.
He was anxious, thinking Chen Feng was being reckless to take on two biological cyborgs of the same tier alone.
His skin turned dark gold as he clenched his fists, charging straight ahead.
But in the next moment—
Boom!!!
Fist met fist, Chen Feng's body glowing crimson as his Explosive Fist struck.
The elephant-like cyborg's arm bones cracked, and his massive body was sent flying, crashing into the rocky wall.
"Die!!"
The other cyborg roared, clenching his fist as the swirling sand surrounded Chen Feng.
But—
Boom!!
A crimson force erupted like a blazing sun, scattering the sand in all directions.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
All the sand flew back like bullets, and then a black shadow flashed. Chen Feng's knee strike shattered the cyborg's bio-armor, caving in his chest, leaving a bulge on his back.
"You—"
The cyborg tried to threaten, but Chen Feng grabbed his head and slammed it into the rocky wall.
Boom!!
Blood splattered, and a muffled thud echoed, but the cyborg only suffered a few bone fractures and was still alive.
The elephant-like cyborg roared, charging like a truck to rescue his companion.
Du Shan, finally catching up, stood beside Chen Feng, transforming into a half-antman, unleashing his strength.
Boom!!!
The two clashed, their strength evenly matched.
Zhou Wuren and Xie Xiao also reacted, charging in with their swords and knives.
But—
"Be careful!"
Chen Feng shouted a warning, hurling the sand-manipulating cyborg toward them.
Whoosh!!
The wind howled as the corner of the passageway, previously empty, shimmered with light, revealing a figure.
A black titanium-grade armor-clad figure, holding a short blade, clung to the wall like a gecko, directly above Zhou Wuren and Xie Xiao.
In that instant, the sand cyborg was thrown, forcing the hidden figure to abandon his ambush and catch his companion, preparing to hide again.
"That was close!!"
Zhou Wuren and Xie Xiao's pupils contracted, realizing their mistake.
But as martial arts grandmasters, they quickly recovered, unleashing their force and True Intent, attacking from both sides with their weapons.
Clang!!!
The sound of metal clashing rang out as the hidden cyborg's expression darkened. He was forced to drop from the wall, sliding back several meters.
His armor's color shifted, but facing two grandmasters, he was clearly outmatched, seemingly planning to hide again.
But in the next second—
Whoosh!!!
A black shadow reappeared, and the True Intent Crimson Tiger roared.
Roar!!!
Chen Feng charged forward, his icy demeanor unwavering, his fist piercing through the cyborg's bio-armor and flesh.
The cyborg's defense was clearly inferior to the other two, his eyes widening as blood trickled from his mouth, staring at Chen Feng.
"You—"
He tried to speak, but his short blade slipped from his hand, clattering to the ground.
"Damn it!!"
The sand-manipulating cyborg roared in frustration, still trying to fight back.
Chen Feng twisted his body, his force and Explosive Fist amplifying his strength.
Thud!!!
With a brutal kick, he sent the cyborg crashing into the wall. The rock here was made of special material, showing little damage.
But Chen Feng took advantage, pulling his arm out of the hidden cyborg's body and delivering another punch.
Boom!!
The cyborg's skull shattered, and his bloodshot eyes rolled to Zhou Wuren and Xie Xiao's feet.
Fast!
Too fast!
Xie Xiao and Zhou Wuren's expressions changed.
As fellow grandmasters, they had held some pride, considering themselves seniors.
But now it seemed...
Whoosh!!!
Chen Feng stomped the ground again, charging toward the roaring elephant-like cyborg in front of Du Shan.
"Grandmaster Chen, I can handle—"
Boom!!!
Du Shan's words were cut short as the elephant cyborg was sent flying by an even more powerful force, crashing into the rocky wall.
Rustle, rustle, rustle.
The rocky passage trembled again, and more debris fell from the cracks above.
Du Shan opened his mouth, about to finish his earlier sentence, but—
Roar!!!
The True Intent Crimson Tiger roared, and the passageway suddenly became scorching hot, blazingly bright.
Focusing, they saw Chen Feng, in his black armor, standing calmly, a palm enveloped in Heavenly Flame striking the elephant cyborg's head.
Boom!!
A fiery explosion erupted!
The muffled sound was followed by the tearing of flesh.
Blood poured from the cyborg's seven orifices, even white fragments flowing out.
The struggling cyborg's eyes widened, his body stiffening.
All movement ceased, and his life force rapidly dissipated, his body shrinking back to a normal human form.
"What were you saying earlier?"
Chen Feng looked up at Du Shan, having been too focused on the fight to catch his words.
"Ah? Oh, nothing, nothing."
Du Shan quickly shut his mouth, his gaze toward Chen Feng subtly changing.
Was this man truly a martial arts grandmaster?
He glanced at Zhou Wuren and Xie Xiao, his mind filled with awe.
Finally, the sound of footsteps echoed again.
He tensed, quickly turning to look.
But his expression froze as he saw the figure at the entrance.
It was none other than Zhao Meng, who had gone ahead to scout and should still be in the front passage.
(End of the Chapter)
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