Lu Chen was delighted that Wu Fengji had agreed without hesitation. "All right, then. Go say goodbye to your family."
"Okay, wait for me! I'll be right back!"
As Wu Fengji spoke, the phoenix force surged forth, and a pair of golden-red wings spread behind her. Then she flew toward the Jade Emperor's sanctuary.
Watching Wu Fengji fly away, Lu Chen nodded in satisfaction. "This trip was well worth it!"
Although Wu Fengji had only absorbed a few phoenix force fragments, and her strength was merely at the Single-Universe-level.
Lu Chen knew the Marvel Universe's story well, however, and knew where the other phoenix force fragments were scattered. As long as they found those fragments and she absorbed and refined them, Wu Fengji could definitely grow into a hyper-multiverse-level powerhouse.
It was no exaggeration to say that Lu Chen was the strongest in the entire Marvel Omniverse. Probably only beings on the level of the Ivory King, Above All OAA, and the One-Below-All could rival him.
But having Lu Chen alone be strong was not enough. The Ming Realm Dimension needed to be strong as well.
The Ming Realm Dimension's greatest problem at present was its lack of truly high-level combat power. Although it had integrated many cultivation systems and was steadily producing powerful fighters, that was not enough to sweep through Marvel's other dimensions.
Wu Fengji's appearance gave Lu Chen hope.
In the future, Wu Fengji would be a hyper-multiverse-level powerhouse at the very least!
Before long, Wu Fengji returned, riding the phoenix force.
Her eyes shone with anticipation. "Let's go! I can't wait to see the wider universe!"
"I'll take you there right now!"
Lu Chen left this universe with Wu Fengji.
Ten years later.
Two figures arrived on a dead, barren planet.
"Natasha, is the Soul Stone really hidden here?" asked the man carrying a bow and arrows on his back.
The mature woman beside him nodded, though her expression was somewhat uneasy.
These two were none other than Hawkeye and Black Widow!
They had traveled through time and space, returning to the past to find the Soul Stone, one of the Infinity Stones!
As long as they gathered the Six Infinity Stones, made a wish, and snapped their fingers, they could stop Thanos's plan to slaughter half the universe and bring everyone back to life.
Just then, space rippled, and Red Skull emerged in black robes.
"Welcome..."
The hollow voice of a dead spirit echoed.
Clang!
Hawkeye instantly drew his blade and stepped in front of Black Widow.
Black Widow also drew her custom-made pistol and aimed it at Red Skull.
Looking at the two as they braced for battle, Red Skull said slowly, "Natasha, daughter of Ivan. Clint, son of Edith. Your souls do not belong to this time and space. You seem to come from... the future?"
Hearing the black-robed figure reveal their origins, Hawkeye's pupils contracted. "Who are you?"
Red Skull floated to the edge of the cliff and gazed at the sea of gray mist below. "What you seek is close at hand. To obtain the Soul Stone, you must lose the one you love. This is an everlasting exchange. A soul for a soul..."
Red Skull said no more, simply watching Hawkeye and Black Widow in silence.
He had witnessed a scene like this long ago. A fellow named Thanos had thrown his own daughter off the cliff and obtained the Soul Stone.
Now, Hawkeye and Black Widow gazed deeply into each other's eyes.
Suddenly, Hawkeye threw Black Widow over his shoulder and pinned her to the ground. "Tell my family I love them..."
But Black Widow raised her hand and fired a shot into Hawkeye's arm, breaking free of his hold before swiftly getting to her feet.
Seeing this, Hawkeye struggled to rise.
Crackle!
Black Widow delivered another electric shock, paralyzing Hawkeye and leaving him unable to move.
Then Black Widow rushed toward the cliff.
"You're not getting away!"
Hawkeye roared, forcing himself to his feet with all his strength, then raised his hand and fired an arrow!
Boom!
With a deafening blast, the shock wave struck Black Widow and sent her rolling aside.
Hawkeye leaped off the cliff without hesitation!
Whoosh!
A sharp sound tore through the air!
A rope shot out with lightning speed and wrapped around the falling Hawkeye. Black Widow immediately pulled with all her might, flinging him into the sky.
Then Black Widow jumped straight off the cliff!
As Hawkeye was flung upward, he heard Black Widow's gentle voice by his ear. "I love you."
Then...
Thud!
A heavy impact rang out, and blood splattered!
"No!!!"
Hawkeye's eyes stretched wide with anguish. He saw Black Widow lying in a pool of blood, a gentle smile on her lips.
Hum!
The instant Black Widow died, the Soul Stone appeared, hovering before Hawkeye.
"Natasha... Natasha..."
Hawkeye lay at the edge of the cliff, pounding the ground.
"I can finally... be free."
Red Skull looked up at the gray sky and spread his arms. Then his entire body crumbled to dust.
After crying for a long time, Hawkeye stood and looked at the Soul Stone before him. "Natasha, I'll bring you back to life. I swear!"
With that, Hawkeye reached out to take the Soul Stone.
Hum!
Two figures stepped out of empty space.
Wu Fengji looked at the Soul Stone, her eyes lighting up. "Brother Lu Chen, is this the Soul Stone you told me about?"
Lu Chen nodded. "That's right."
Hawkeye braced for battle. "Who are you?!"
Lu Chen ignored him completely. He reached out and closed his hand around empty air, and the Soul Stone fell into his palm.
Seeing someone else seize the Soul Stone Black Widow had paid for with her life, Hawkeye's eyes turned bloodshot. Blade in hand, he charged at Lu Chen!
Clang!
A fierce gleam of blade light sliced through space, heading straight for Lu Chen!
Wu Fengji's pretty face turned cold. She stepped in front of Lu Chen and struck out with her palm.
Boom!
A blazing sea of fire surged forth, obliterating the blade light and instantly engulfing Hawkeye!
Hiss!
Hawkeye did not even have a chance to scream before he vanished into the sea of fire.
"Brother Lu Chen, what does this Soul Stone do?"
Lu Chen explained, "The Soul Stone is one of the Six Infinity Stones of the Multi-Universe. It's a derivative of the primordial Soul Stone of the megaverse, and it can steal, manipulate, alter, or create souls."
"The Soul Stone can control not only the souls of the living, but even the dead. That black-robed Red Skull just now was an example. This stone is also extremely dangerous, because it possesses some independent awareness, and a ravenous soul sleeps within it."
"At the same time, the Multi-Universe's Soul Stone possesses unimaginable energy. Apart from stealing and manipulating the living and the dead, its most direct means of attack is to emit immensely powerful orange shock waves!"
"The shock waves emitted by the Soul Stone can destroy an individual universe with ease!"
"Such tremendous power. It's just a shame that it's external power, not your own."
After hearing Lu Chen's explanation, Wu Fengji shook her head with some regret. She was merely astonished by the Soul Stone's power and felt no desire to possess it. Her own divine dragon force and phoenix force far surpassed this Infinity Stone of the Multi-Universe.
"I think you should be the Ming Realm's strongest Fire Armor summoner," Lu Chen said with a smile.
Wu Fengji raised her lovely eyebrows. "Hm? What do you mean?"
Lu Chen extended his hand, releasing the law of fire.
Hum!
Terrifying heat surged upward, warping space to its limits!
The next moment, five suits of fiery-red armor manifested.
They were none other than the Ming Realm's five suits of Fire Armor!