On the main battle platform, which looked as if it had been eroded by lava, the Fourth Elder of the Celestial Group lay sprawled on his side. His eyes bulged like a dead fish. At some point, a hand had appeared on his back, viciously pinning his head to the ground!

"This..." HISS! The scene left everyone utterly stupefied.

The elites from the Four Departments of Capital City surrounding the platform were particularly stunned. Their eyes widened, their mouths hung open, and their fingers trembled involuntarily as cold sweat beaded on their foreheads. That was the Fourth Elder of the Celestial Group, after all! He was a peak Mid-Innate Ancient Martial Artist with an SS+ Level strength assessment! And now... this was just...

"Who is he?! Wait, that looks like..." In that instant, many people present couldn't help but cry out. The scene was simply too shocking; it felt like a dream!

After all, who among the Four Departments of Capital City hadn't heard the great name of the Fourth Elder of the Celestial Group? Who didn't know of his terrifying power?

The most well-informed among them knew why the Fourth Elder dared to be so arrogant. He had acted with such impunity even before Elder Lau Shan, an SS+ Level expert, and the many high-ranking officials from the Four Departments of Capital City. It was because he was rumored to be on the verge of taking that next step!

A Late-Innate Ancient Martial Artist, an SSS-Level expert, would be considered a leader among leaders within the Four Departments of Capital City—a true member of the top brass! Their status was beyond comparison. That was why the Fourth Elder of the Celestial Group dared to be so brazen! For a great figure like him, blessed with talent and potential, who already had one foot in that next realm... so what if he was a little presumptuous and arrogant? How could the higher-ups possibly blame him for such a "trivial matter"? That would be a joke. Impossible!

But now? That very same Fourth Elder, a great figure who had practically stepped into the SSS-Level, was being pinned to the ground like a dead dog. He had been subdued so quickly that the main battle platform had nearly collapsed. While there was an element of surprise, it revealed the terrifying, extraordinary power of his assailant.

And the one whose hand was still pressing down on the Fourth Elder's head... it was... it was... Everyone stared, wide-eyed and dumbfounded, at the young figure now facing them. The shock was simply beyond words. When they snapped back to their senses and their gazes fell upon his face, their expressions became incredibly complex.

That young figure was none other than our own Chen Fei, Young Master Chen!

WHOA!

"Him, him, him... No way!"

"Don't tell me he wasn't even using his full strength when he defeated Luo Qinghai?"

"That's impossible, right? I heard the Fourth Elder of the Celestial Group is someone who has half a foot in the SSS-Level. No matter how amazing that kid is, how could he possibly be that powerful? Look how young he is!"

"No matter what... it's no wonder the Central Guard Bureau was so confident this time. If that kid is really this terrifying, could even Yan Zhen defeat him?"

...

The entire area erupted into agitated discussion.

Not far away on the high platform, the leaders and high-ranking officials of the Four Departments of Capital City wore varied expressions: some were dumbfounded, others astonished, some filled with disbelief, and some grim. The bald Second Elder of the Celestial Group and the Fifth Elder, Yii Xiao, watched from the high platform with ashen faces, their eyelids twitching uncontrollably. They clearly never expected this kid, Chen Fei, to be so strong.

Yii Xiao, in particular, couldn't suppress the flicker of panic and unease in his eyes. After all, if Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, is really that powerful, what am I supposed to do later? Do I dare go up on that stage?

Just then, a nearby elder from the Central Guard Bureau narrowed his eyes and bellowed like thunder, "Kid, watch out!"

BOOM!

The instant the elder shouted, a horrifying surge of True Qi, potent enough to make one's skin crawl, erupted like a tidal wave from the Fourth Elder's body on the platform!

His expression turned savage. Gritting his teeth, his body twisted like a snake, and he used some bizarre technique to slip free from Chen Fei's grasp. He reappeared in front of Chen Fei, his face contorted with fury. The terrifying True Qi inside him exploded like a volcano, unleashing shocking fluctuations. The sheer rage made his aged face appear utterly twisted and malevolent.

"You little bastard, I'll tear you to shreds!" the Fourth Elder roared, his face a mask of twisted fury. That single, humiliating attack had utterly destroyed his reputation and pride. He had to kill the man before him to sate his rage.

While the previous attack, like a miniature meteor shower, had been shockingly powerful, he was, after all, a super expert who had one foot in the SSS-Level. He wouldn't be defeated so easily. He refused to believe Chen Fei was stronger than him; he was merely caught off guard.

Then, with a hideous expression, he thrust out his palm. His raging True Qi flowed forth, concentrating in his hand until it was as sharp as a scalpel. It let out a whistling sound and carried a dreadful pressure that seemed to suffocate the very air as it sliced ruthlessly toward Chen Fei's Heavenly Spirit Platform, intent on splitting his skull open.

BANG!

But just as the Fourth Elder's palm was about to shatter Chen Fei's head, the corner of Chen Fei's mouth curled into a cold smirk. His figure flashed. Before anyone could register what happened, his fist shot up like a tiger pouncing from a mountain, carrying an overwhelmingly ferocious momentum as it collided with the incoming palm.

The Fourth Elder's entire body trembled. He felt an intense pain from his fingers, nearly making them clench into a useless ball. His expression instantly froze.

"How is this possible?!" He couldn't believe Chen Fei had been able to counter his attack on such short notice.

More importantly, the counter-punch was incredibly fierce and heavy as a mountain. He felt as if the force was about to shatter the bones in his hand. A hint of horror finally appeared in his eyes!

BANG!

But before he could process his shock, the young man before him moved again.

"Xingyi Fist Eagle Form, Ripping Gold Claw!"

No one saw when Chen Fei had twisted into a peculiar stance. He was slightly crouched, one hand held behind his back. His fingers trembled as they slowly clenched together. In that instant, the image of a great eagle's cry tearing through the heavens flashed through everyone's minds. His hand shot forward like a claw, moving with the proud, majestic air of an eagle hunting its prey, a claw that could rip through solid steel.

"Wha—"

BANG!

Feeling that sharp aura sweeping toward him, an aura that felt capable of piercing metal, even a super expert like the Fourth Elder, with one foot in the SSS-Level, felt his expression change drastically. His eyes quickly filled with dread and panic.

In the next instant, a muffled bang echoed out. Chen Fei's incomparably dominant and terrifying claw tore into his chest, colliding with the True Qi he had desperately erected in a last-ditch effort. A terrifying, formless pressure exploded like a volcano, and the ground beneath both men, along with a surrounding area of at least seven or eight meters, instantly collapsed. The Fourth Elder was sent flying backward.

SPURT!

He coughed up a mouthful of blood. The crowd watched in horror as the Fourth Elder's chest visibly caved in. A bloody mist erupted from the wound as his body shot backward like a cannonball, smashing into the half-collapsed platform. He bounced high into the air before crashing down again, spitting up several more mouthfuls of blood. His face was now deathly pale.

This scene made everyone's pupils constrict violently.

HISS!

Around the main battle platform, a wave of disbelieving gasps spread like a plague and lingered in the air.

This time, even the few genuine SSS-Level powerhouses on the high platform, like the bald Second Elder of the Celestial Group, felt their pupils constrict in utter shock. If our Fourth Elder lost the first exchange because he was caught off guard, what was the excuse now? Did he have a stomach ache that kept him from using his peak strength?! This kid... he... he... how is this possible?!

Amidst the horrified stares from within the Base of the Celestial Group, Chen Fei glanced impassively at the Fourth Elder he had just sent flying, a cold glint flashing in his dark eyes.

Then, he turned to Cao Qiguo and Elder Lau from the Central Guard Bureau. "Elder Lau, please take Cao Qiguo down from the platform. Leave the rest to me."

"Ah, oh... yes." Hearing this, Elder Lau Shan found himself acting with the deference of a subordinate receiving an order, despite speaking to a kid who was wet behind the ears. This just showed how profound the shock in his heart was. As for Cao Qiguo, the thought of defying Chen Fei never even crossed his mind.

With that, the two of them left the main battle platform.

Immediately, the trembling gazes of nearly everyone present locked onto Chen Fei, who stood alone on the ruined stage. A complex mix of awe, trepidation, and anticipation rippled through their hearts and across their faces.

"Alright, let's not waste any more time," Chen Fei said, his gaze suddenly shifting to the high platform. "You, get down here. I've dutifully come to the Capital City to 'accept my punishment' as you demanded. So, what about you, old man? Don't tell me you're too scared to get on stage now."

The cold words he spoke and the person his gaze locked onto caused the crowd to shudder. Instantly, all eyes swiveled toward the man on the high platform: Yii Xiao, the current Fifth Elder of the Celestial Group.

The Fifth Elder's face immediately became exceedingly ugly. Still, a few sharp observers could spot the utter panic and deep-seated fear hidden in his eyes.

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