Chapter 554 - 330: Heart Sword Slaying the Ape: Founding the Path to Godhood

If it weren’t for the Sword Tomb Space—a base where I can recover indefinitely—Qing Shan’s tyrannical Divine Soul Attacks would have reduced me to a mindless wreck by now.

’And this is just the servant of Profound Prison’s servant,’

Han Feng muttered to himself.

’Qing Shan may be strong, but in the Divine hierarchy of Dragon Abyss, he’s just a mid-level figure with some pedigree.

Above him is Profound Prison, a Tier Four Peak overlord.

And above Profound Prison is the true Ancient God of the Xuanwu Tribe.’

Han Feng’s gaze grew increasingly grave.

’In just two short days, I’ve already witnessed all sorts of techniques from the Dragon Abyss Divine.

The Thousand-Eyed Demon Moth excels at Illusion Techniques, Hiss at toxins and Spiritual Contamination, and Qing Shan at Gravity and physical combat.

These Divine beings have a dizzying variety of abilities. Who knows if I’ll run into one who has mastered Divine Techniques related to Time or Space?

If that happens, all they’d need to do is delay my return to the Sword Tomb Space for a fraction of a second—even just a tenth of a second.

With the power of a Tier Four Late-Stage Divine, that’s more than enough time to pulp me.

My Cultivation is still too low.

I’m only at the Enlightenment Realm Second Layer, yet I’m constantly fighting enemies who are two entire major realms above me.

The only reasons I’m still alive are my unique advantages and sheer luck.

I can’t keep pushing my luck like this. If it runs out and I get myself killed, that would be the biggest joke of all.’

Han Feng made a decision.

From now on, he would change his strategy.

He would go after the low-hanging fruit, specifically targeting the weak Wild Gods who lacked a proper lineage.

Accumulating resources, raising his Cultivation, and ensuring steady growth was the only way to go.

Once he truly broke through to the Divine Containment Realm, or even the Celestial Human Realm...

...then it wouldn’t be too late to face these well-established Divine beings head-on.

As Han Feng was pondering his strategy, a stir from the outside world caught his attention.

The frenzied Qing Shan, caught in a tug-of-war between the searing pain in his Divine Soul and his own reason, finally calmed down.

Heaving for breath, he scanned his surroundings. That damned insect was gone again.

He tried to lock onto his opponent, but the aura seemed to have been swallowed by a separate world. No matter how he pushed his Divine Thought, he couldn’t find the source.

’This insect... I can’t kill it, I can’t catch it, and its methods get stranger each time.

I can feel it. Instead of being shattered by my attacks, his Divine Soul is actually growing more condensed and resilient with every clash.

If this keeps up, I won’t gain any advantage.

Injuries to the Divine Soul are incredibly difficult to heal. If I get hit by that bizarre Heart Sword again, I might actually fall here for good.’

"Retreat!"

Qing Shan made his decision.

Although he was warlike, he wasn’t an idiot.

Only a brute would knowingly smash his head against a steel wall.

This test had yielded a clear result.

’There’s an incredibly difficult one among these Foreigners, someone who can’t be judged by conventional standards.

I have to get this intelligence back to Master Profound Prison immediately!’

"Warriors, back to Bone Grinding Canyon!"

At Qing Shan’s command, the great army of the Black Rock Tribe retreated like a receding tide, soon vanishing beyond the edge of the dense forest.

Watching this scene unfold from within the Sword Tomb Space, Han Feng let out a long sigh of relief.

’I finally managed to persuade that walking disaster to leave.’

He had no intention of pursuing them.

’For one thing, I’ve expended a massive amount of energy. My Spiritual Essence is almost gone, and I don’t have it in me to fight another round.

If they have another ace up their sleeve, I won’t even have the resources to repair my Divine Soul.

For another, there’s no need.

I don’t have a blood feud with the Black Rock Tribe. My ultimate goal is still to negotiate with Profound Prison.

If I kill their top enforcer now, what the hell is there left to negotiate?

Besides, if I keep him alive, I can come back for more "free" Soul Tempering once I get my hands on more Spiritual Essence.

He’s the perfect sparring partner, the kind money can’t buy.

It would be a real shame to kill him.’

After confirming that the Black Rock Tribe’s army was long gone and posed no immediate threat, he knew it was time to report back.

With a thought, the Escapee Type II·Shadow Spirit Armor materialized around him.

’Wind Manipulation Technique, engage!

Vector Overclocking, engage!’

Han Feng’s figure shot out of the Sword Tomb Space, a silver flash of lightning.

The Vector Nozzles on the Spirit Armor’s back spewed pale blue flames as a variable airflow Force Field enveloped his body.

Sonic booms rippled in his wake as he became a streaking meteor, hurtling toward the human forward base in the Cyan Miasma Swamp at a terrifying speed of over Mach 5.

...

「Meanwhile, at the command center of the Cyan Miasma Swamp forward base.」

The atmosphere was suffocatingly tense.

Ye Jinghong stood before a massive sand table, his expression grim.

None of the radar or reconnaissance equipment could penetrate the Black Rock Tribe’s innate Force Field.

They were effectively blind and deaf, able to do nothing but passively await the arrival of that steel legion.

In a corner of the main tent, a hunched figure bearing a massive crab shell on its back sat bolt upright. It was none other than the Void Ghost Crab, who had hurried here from Rift Tooth Canyon.

It hardly dared to breathe, its heart pounding with anxiety.

It had staked the fate of its entire tribe on these humans.

If the Black Rock Tribe wiped out these humans in one fell swoop, it and its people would be the next to be sacrificed.

"Is the withdrawal plan ready?" Ye Jinghong asked without turning around.

"General, all non-combat personnel and Engineering Mechas have boarded the transport ships. They’re ready for takeoff at a moment’s notice," Gu Jian replied, a hint of reluctance in his voice.

He couldn’t stomach the thought of running away with his tail between his legs.

But against an enemy that could counter their entire system, a head-on fight was simply suicide.

Just then, a communications officer shot to his feet, an expression of wild joy and utter disbelief on his face.