"Heading to Mist Island?"
At those four words, Lin Yuan froze for a moment.
He quickly pieced together the timeline.
Wasn't this when Luo Feng was undergoing life-or-death trials on the Australian Continent, being hunted by Li Yao, and eventually stumbling upon Mist Island, kicking off this global feast?
Hong watched Lin Yuan's reaction, a hint of imperceptible approval flashing in his eyes.
A month ago, Lin Yuan had killed the high-level Beast King Phantom Cat Emperor with a single slash in the western seas of Europe. The Martial Arts Hall had kept the news under wraps, but it couldn't escape the notice of someone at Hong's level.
That slash had been clean and decisive, imbued with a power that had even impressed Hong!
This made Hong realize that his earlier guidance and delegation of authority had paid off far beyond his expectations. This young man's skill as a martial artist was truly terrifying!
And he had somehow become a spirit reader, too. It seemed he hadn't been slacking off before—he'd secretly been studying how to cultivate as a spirit reader!
Hong silently filled in the blanks.
He could now be certain that in certain respects, Lin Yuan was already qualified to go toe-to-toe with Councilor-level powerhouses!
Hong continued, his voice carrying a trace of coldness. "The various factions have already caught wind of it and are on the move. Lin Yuan, if you can kill a Beast King with a single slash, you're more than capable of handling this mission.
"I want you to lead the way and make the other factions think twice!"
Lin Yuan nodded, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "Understood. I'll leave immediately."
Hong nodded slightly, his stern expression softening. "I'll have Liu He and Iceberg head over as well. The three of you must work together to maximize the Extreme Martial Arts Hall's gains."
"Yes!" Lin Yuan replied solemnly.
As Lin Yuan ended the call, Hong stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile curling his lips.
In truth, Iceberg and Liu He, two of his personal guards, would have been more than enough to compete for the Spirits of Vegetation.
But he had specifically chosen Lin Yuan and even sent him ahead to give this peerless talent a stage. If Lin Yuan could gain something on Mist Island...
Then entering the ranks of Planetary Level warriors wouldn't be far off!
After ending the call, Lin Yuan didn't hesitate for a moment.
"Contact the intelligent fighter jet. Set the destination: Australian Continent, Mist Island coordinates!"
Boom!
Just three minutes later, a streak of black light tore across the sky above Jiangnan Base City, speeding toward the Southern Hemisphere at an astonishing Mach number.
Lin Yuan sat in the cabin, watching the clouds race past below through the window as he lightly tapped the armrest with his fingers.
About ten minutes after Lin Yuan set off,
two equally advanced Qiankun-class fighter jets rose into the sky from Extreme Martial Arts Hall headquarters.
Iceberg, one of Hong's three personal guards, and Liu He, an Invincible War God, met in midair. Then, like two swords, they shot toward Mist Island in Lin Yuan's wake!
The heart of the Australian Continent.
This was a forbidden zone for humanity and a paradise for monsters.
Deep within this continent, a mysterious island shrouded year-round in dense white mist was now the scene of a thrilling chase.
Mist swirled everywhere, and danger lurked at every turn.
"Damn it! Damn it! How can that bastard be so strong?!"
An enraged roar echoed through the jungle.
Li Yao, the Vulture, was a renowned High-level War God in the underworld, yet now he was in a wretched state.
His Black God Suit offered peerless defense, but he was covered in grime, his eyes filled with venom and disbelief.
Beside him...
were several top experts from the HR Alliance: Phantom Demon Catlan, "Giant Bear" Keita, and "Blood Shadow" Ivan.
They had been frantically harvesting the island's priceless Spirits of Vegetation and had even discovered an exceptionally rare Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Heart.
But just as they were about to get their hands on it, Luo Feng, that damn "spoilsport," had appeared!
He was as slippery as an eel, using the strange, unpredictable methods of a spirit reader and the sharpness of the Sky-Escaping Shuttle. Not only had he snatched the most precious Willow Wood Heart from right under their noses, he'd also beaten Li Yao into a sorry state!
"Catlan, can you pinpoint where he is?" Li Yao asked through gritted teeth.
Catlan's expression was dark as he shook his head. "That kid's Spiritual Force is strange, and the magnetic interference on Mist Island is too strong..."
Just as Luo Feng hid in the shadows, watching these usually lofty War Gods suffer and secretly congratulating himself, ready to strike again and press his advantage—
Boom!
A terrifying wave of heat suddenly descended from the sky, instantly clearing the dense fog for hundreds of meters in every direction.
A blinding crimson beam streaked across the sky, then stopped above them, radiating an oppressive force that made it hard to breathe.
A woman in fiery red armor hovered there, her red hair whipping in the wind. Flames visibly coiled around her, as though she were a deity who commanded fire.
HR Alliance councilor, Fall!
She looked down at Luo Feng!
"A Beyond War God... a Councilor-level powerhouse!"
Luo Feng felt a bitter pang. He hadn't expected that after beating up the juniors, an elder would show up.
"Councilor Fall!"
Overjoyed to see their savior, Li Yao hurried out from behind cover with Catlan and the others and bowed respectfully.
Then Li Yao spun around and pointed at Luo Feng's hiding place, his eyes shining with malicious glee as he shouted his accusation:
"Councilor! It's that Luo Feng! He killed our people, stole the Millennium Willow Heart we'd just unearthed, and even has a lead on a Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Heart!"
"Oh?"
Fall's eyes lit up slightly.
Spirits of Vegetation were useful even to a Councilor-level powerhouse like her. Willow Hearts of the millennium and ten-thousand-year varieties, in particular, were Supreme Treasures that could boost cellular activity and prolong life!
Li Yao finished speaking, then looked at Luo Feng with a sneer.
His gaze clearly said, So what if you're fast? So what if you're talented? Before a true Councilor-level powerhouse, you're just a lamb waiting to be slaughtered!
Fall slowly descended until she was hovering ten meters above the ground. Her gaze was indifferent as she looked at Luo Feng as if he were an ant.
"Kid, hand over the Willow Heart."
Her voice was calm, but carried an overbearing force that allowed no refusal. "I'll let this go if you hand it over. You're talented, after all. Otherwise..."
She didn't finish, but the flames suddenly blazing around her made everything clear.
Luo Feng drew a deep breath and tightened his grip on the Sky-Escaping Shuttle.
Hand it over?
No way!
Luo Feng's gaze turned cold. Facing Fall's terrifying pressure, he slowly shook his head.
"Sorry, Councilor Fall."
His voice was a little tense, but unwavering. "Mist Island is unclaimed land. Whoever has the ability to obtain its treasures gets to keep them. If you want me to hand it over... I'm afraid I can't oblige."
"Bold!"
Fall's expression darkened at once when Luo Feng dared to defy her in front of everyone.
As a lofty councilor, she hadn't been defied by a mere War God in a long time.
"If you refuse to cooperate, don't blame me for throwing my weight around!"
Boom!
At Fall's cold snort, flames surged from her body, forming a massive whip of fire that seemed capable of devouring everything as it surged straight toward Luo Feng!
The air warped from the heat, and the plants turned to ash in an instant.
Luo Feng's expression changed dramatically. He was just about to activate the Sky-Escaping Shuttle and use the Mountain-Drilling Awl to force his way out—running was the best option—
when, at that critical moment—
Whoosh!
A faint yet piercing sound suddenly rang out, sharp enough to make their scalps tingle.
Then, from nowhere, a pitch-black blade light appeared without warning, seemingly capable of slicing through all light!
It moved at an unimaginable speed, carrying a bone-chilling cold.
Pfft!
The blade light struck the raging whip of fire with pinpoint accuracy.
There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a soft sound.
Fall's flames, powerful enough to melt steel, met the terrifying gale stirred up by the blade light. Like a candle struck by a hurricane, they were extinguished in an instant, vanishing without a trace!
"What?!"
The entire area fell silent.
The sneer froze on Li Yao's face. Luo Feng's eyes widened. Even Fall's pupils contracted, and she instinctively took half a step back.
Seeing her proud attack so easily dispelled, Fall's expression turned ugly. A wave of humiliation and anger welled up inside her.
She looked sharply toward the direction the blade had come from and shouted, "Who are you?! How dare you interfere in my business? Show yourself!"
Whoosh—
A gale roared, scattering the mist above.
A tall figure descended slowly from the clouds, stepping through the air with a battle blade on his back.
Lin Yuan looked at the furious Fall below him, the corner of his mouth curling in amusement. His calm voice rang across the area:
"Councilor? You think you're so damn impressive?"
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