Volume 2: Shenzhou Academy & The Battle of Venice
Chapter 194
Summoning the Shenzhou National Team
Rumble... rumble... rumble...
The terrifying sound of a thousand-pound magical gear grinding through the desolate void echoed through the air. The three-inch-thick black marble doors of the Serene Mind Magic Chamber, located deep within the National Magic Vault, slowly parted, revealing a swirling expanse of lightning-filled void.
A wave of electrical heat carrying the scent of dry sulfur and scorched ozone rolled out into the corridor. Deep purple lightning sparks danced and crackled across the polished marble walls, leaving behind slender yet devastatingly charred scorch marks with every flash.
Amidst this destructive aura, Lin Feng strode calmly out of the chamber.
He wore a pitch-black magic cloak trimmed with silver threads, his dark hair falling loosely across his forehead. The young man still maintained his familiar tranquil composure, but deep within his pitch-black pupils, two sets of purplish-black thunder vortexes revolved turbulently, occasionally emitting sharp, cold electric arcs that seemed capable of piercing through the very fabric of space.
Deep within his vast spiritual sea, a heaven-shaking transformation had just reached completion.
The supreme-grade Lightning System Spirit Seed, “Wild Lightning Phantom Shadow,” obtained from the National Magic Vault, had been thoroughly tamed by the Archaic Dragon Talisman, fusing perfectly with the Tier 3 Intermediate Lightning System Star Nebula. The original azure lightning had completely transformed into the deep purplish-black of abyssal thunder. Every bolt of lightning generated possessed three times the destructive power of ordinary lightning, while carrying the “Phantom Shadow” trait—a propagation speed as swift as lightning, utterly invisible and formless, accompanied by meridian-sealing and absolute paralyzing effects. Under the tempering of Dragon Qi, Lin Feng’s physical body had grown even sturdier than mysterious iron, his inner aura coiled as deep as an abyss.
“Splendid! Truly worthy of being the New King nurtured by our Shenzhou Academy!”
A hearty laugh rang out, breaking Lin Feng’s train of thought. Right at the entrance of the Vault corridor, Dean Xiao Yan, clad in crimson robes, and Teacher Xiao Zhenshan of the Summoning Institute had been waiting for some time. Seeing the profound and unfathomable aura emanating from the youth, the two grandmasters’ faces brimmed with deep appreciation.
“Dean, Teacher Xiao.” Lin Feng stopped in his tracks, bowing respectfully. “This disciple has successfully completed the mission and fully integrated the Wild Lightning Phantom Shadow.”
“Good! Excellent!” Dean Xiao Yan stroked his silver beard and smiled radiantly. “To tame the most violent and rebellious Spirit Seed in the Vault within a mere three days—such talent is rare even once in a century.”
Xiao Zhenshan stepped forward and gave Lin Feng’s solid shoulder a firm pat, speaking in a deep voice:
“Lad, you’ve emerged from seclusion at precisely the right moment. The supreme mobilization decree from the Supreme Magic Council and the Shenzhou Military Command has officially been issued. The roster for the Shenzhou National Team participating in the World Magic Tournament in Venice has been fully approved. All elite members from military districts and key academies across the nation have already gathered at the Classified Arena. At this very moment, they are waiting for their leader.”
Dean Xiao Yan looked straight into the youth’s eyes, every word carrying the weight of a thousand pounds:
“Lin Feng, the hour for Shenzhou to march forth has arrived!”
The Classified Arena.
This was a top-secret magic training facility located over three hundred meters beneath the Wind-Thunder Mountain Range within the forbidden grounds of Shenzhou Academy. The vast space resembled an ancient amphitheater, enclosed by thick Black Star Steel alloy walls densely inscribed with high-tier defensive barrier runes, sturdy enough to withstand the devastating blows of peak Intermediate magic and the shockwaves of Advanced magic.
At this moment, the atmosphere inside the Classified Arena was suffocatingly heavy.
On the black granite observation platform, the three most powerful figures stood tall: Dean Xiao Yan, Vice Minister of the Magic Education Ministry Zhao Xinghua, and Major General Qin Lie of the Shenzhou Military Command. The major general bore a long scar stretching from the outer corner of his left eye down to his chin, his entire body exuding the ferocious killing intent of a veteran commander who had overseen hundreds of bloody coastal battles.
Below the central duel stage, nearly ten youthful figures stood in small groups, each radiating powerful, surging magic energy.
On the left were the familiar faces from Shenzhou Academy: Ye Lingtian, draped in a silver-blue cloak, standing with the ethereal grace of an ancient pine tree; “Ice Emperor” Han Yue, clad in a white cheongsam embroidered with silver snowflakes, her demeanor as chillingly aloof as a millennia-old snow lotus; Ye Qingwan, gentle and graceful in a jade-green dress; Gu Xiaowei, looking around with bright, curious eyes; and Xie Zhaoyuan, standing tall and immovable like a guardian tower with a golden Light System shield strapped to his back.
However, on the opposite side of the stage, the cadets hailing from the military academies and distant institutions exuded an entirely different aura.
Most prominent was a young man over two meters tall, with muscles bulging like massive boulders, clad in a gigantic snow-bear hide armor—Mu Tieshan, the premier Earth System powerhouse of the Northern Border Academy, who had once single-handedly led a squad to slaughter a pack of Frost-Spike Giant Bears in the snowy frontier. A few steps away stood Bai Che, the sharp young Wind System genius of the Northwest Military Academy holding the rank of a frontline Captain, his eyes as piercing as a hunting falcon, a faint, howling vortex of wind constantly swirling around his frame. Additionally, Nangong Ling from the Ancient Capital Magic Academy stood shrouded in a deep black cloak, her Shadow System aura flickering like a ghost.
“Clack!”
The heavy metal doors swung open, and Lin Feng slowly stepped inside alongside Dean Xiao Yan.
“Big Brother Lin Feng!” Gu Xiaowei cheered, jumping up and waving her hands excitedly. Ye Qingwan smiled gently. Ye Lingtian and Han Yue simultaneously turned their gazes over, feeling a secret shock as they sensed the profound thunder currents wrapping around Lin Feng. Meanwhile, the eyes of Mu Tieshan and Bai Che narrowed, filled with intense scrutiny.
“All personnel, assemble!”
The booming, authoritative roar imbued with majestic magic energy from Major General Qin Lie reverberated across the arena. The ten members immediately stepped forward briskly, standing at attention before the command platform.
Qin Lie swept his gaze across each youthful face:
“Today, on behalf of the Supreme Magic Council and the Shenzhou Military Command, I officially announce the ten-member roster of the Shenzhou National Team for the World Magic Tournament in Venice!”
“The World Tournament occurs once every four years and is the most prestigious and brutal arena on the planet. There, you will face geniuses from over one hundred and sixty nations, contending for secret realm resources and the supremacy of empires. The sole objective of the Shenzhou National Team this time is the world championship trophy!”
The veteran general’s words instantly set the blood in the youths’ chests boiling. Qin Lie unfurled a gold-trimmed magic scroll and read out clearly:
“Primary members for offensive and area-of-effect crowd control: Han Yue – Ice System!”
“Defensive and tactical protection members: Xie Zhaoyuan – Light System, Mu Tieshan – Earth System!”
“Mobile, reconnaissance, and harassment members: Bai Che – Wind System, Nangong Ling – Shadow System!”
“Comprehensive support and healing members: Ye Qingwan – Water and Wind Systems, Gu Xiaowei – Healing and Psychic Systems!”
“Vice-captain and primary battlefield controller: Ye Lingtian – Space and Lightning Systems!”
Reading up to this point, Qin Lie paused for a beat. The entire arena sank into absolute silence. Every eye locked onto the most crucial position. Qin Lie raised his head, his gaze locked firmly upon the youth standing at the head of the formation:
“And finally... The Supreme Captain possessing absolute tactical command on the Venice arena: LIN FENG – Quad-System Omnipotent!”
“Thud!”
Mu Tieshan took a heavy step forward. His massive boot slammed against the stone floor, producing a dull, echoing impact. He lifted his chin high, staring directly at Qin Lie and Dean Xiao Yan:
“Reporting to General Qin, reporting to Dean Xiao! This subordinate Mu Tieshan has something to say!”
Qin Lie curled his lips: “Speak.”
Mu Tieshan snapped his head toward Lin Feng, his booming voice sounding like thunder:
“I respect the century-old reputation of Shenzhou Academy, and I respect the impartiality of the Military Command. If this Captain’s seat were handed to Ye Lingtian or Lady Han Yue, I would not utter a single word of dissent! Yet Lin Feng is merely a freshman who stepped into the academy less than ten months ago! A youth like him, who has never smelled fresh blood on the snowy frontier battlelines, who has never known the price of life and death on the front lines... By what right is he placed above us? By what right does he qualify to command veterans who have bathed in blood like us on the world stage?!”
Beside him, Bai Che crossed his arms and let out a cold, mocking chuckle, his voice chilly:
“Brother Mu speaks the truth. Venice is a gathering place for monsters: heirs of the Western Holy See, temple knights of Rome, and ruthless golden-sand sorcerers! They will rip apart anyone wet behind the ears! The Shenzhou team needs a leader powerful enough to command our heartfelt submission, not a New King pampered within the comfortable four walls of a school!”
“What are the two of you blabbering about?!” Xie Zhaoyuan roared angrily, the shield on his back vibrating violently: “Big Brother Lin Feng has slain countless evil fiends of the Nether Cult, leveled the lair of Heaven’s Isle, and defeated every single top expert on the Battle Rankings! What qualifications do you have to question him?!”
“That’s right! Big Brother Lin Feng is far stronger than both of you!” Gu Xiaowei puffed out her cheeks in fury.
Bai Che glanced at Xie Zhaoyuan with a sneer: “Defeating a few schoolmates is nothing impressive? If you want us to submit, back it up with real strength and talk!”
The atmosphere grew as taut as a stretched bowstring. On the observation platform, Vice Minister Zhao Xinghua opened his mouth to speak, but Qin Lie raised a hand to stop him: “The strong rule as kings; let the youngsters settle it themselves.”
At the epicenter of the confrontation, Lin Feng stood motionless. His gaze fixed upon Mu Tieshan and Bai Che, calm as the surface of an ancient thousand-year well. He gently raised a hand to stop Xie Zhaoyuan and Gu Xiaowei, then leisurely stepped down into the central basin of the Classified Arena.
He stopped at the center of the duel stage, smiling as he spoke:
“Brother Mu, Brother Bai, what you two say makes complete sense. The international arena is a place of life and death that decides national prestige, not a playground for family games. An incompetent commander will drag the entire collective into the abyss. If I lack the strength to earn your trust, I truly cannot sit comfortably in this Captain’s chair.”
He straightened his posture, leisurely clasping his hands behind his back, the corners of his lips curving into an arrogant arc:
“It’s very simple. Since you doubt my strength, feel free to step up. No need to take turns and waste time; the two of you can attack together.”
“What?!” Bai Che was startled: “You want a two-on-one against us?”
Mu Tieshan growled angrily: “Arrogant brat! How dare you look down on our Northern Border and Northwest?!”
Lin Feng still maintained his calm smile, but every word he uttered suddenly carried a domineering aura that overlooked the world:
“It’s not looking down; it’s saving time. The rules are very clear: if the two of you combined can force this Lin Feng to retreat even half a step, I will gladly hand over this Captain’s seat with both hands, and from this day forth in Venice, I, Lin Feng, am willing to run errands and obey your every command! Conversely, if you fail to achieve that, then from today onward within the Shenzhou National Team, my words are military orders! Anyone who dares defy them, I will personally strip them of their tournament eligibility!”
“Fine! Well said about retreating half a step!”
Bai Che let out a loud shout, all the Wind System magic within his body erupting in a frenzy!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh——!
A brilliant blue tornado surged around Bai Che. His speed was so blinding that it tore through the air, leaving behind a trail of illusory afterimages in the void. His arms danced as he connected star paths in the blink of an eye:
“Wind Orbit – Full Fall! Wind Slash – Absolute Slaughter Wind Blade!”
Hundreds of razor-sharp wind blades akin to refined alloy shrieked in an ear-piercing manner, filling the arena dome and sealing off all paths of retreat for Lin Feng from all directions!
At the same time, Mu Tieshan stomped both feet fiercely into the ground, his Earth System magic rumbling like rolling thunder:
“Rock Armor – Earth Armor War Soldier! Earth Wave – Heavenly Rock Fracture Abyss!”
Boom, boom, boom!
The alloy-stone ground instantly undulated like ocean waves. Dozens of massive, razor-sharp stone pillars erupted from the ground at terrifying speeds, sealing off all movement space beneath Lin Feng’s feet. Mu Tieshan’s colossal frame was encased in thick rock armor radiating the golden light of a Rock Crystal Spirit Seed, charging forward like a falling meteorite plummeting from the heavens, his steel fist carrying tens of thousands of pounds of force as it smashed straight ahead!
One attacked from the air, enveloping him with a thousand wind blades; the other crushed from the ground with weight capable of moving mountains and filling seas!
Yet, facing this destructive pincers movement, Lin Feng didn’t even raise his hands to trace a star map.
He lifted his right foot and lightly stepped down onto the stone floor.
“Crack.”
A faint sound, resembling a dry twig snapping in the dead of night.
Yet right after that instant——
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM ——————!!!!
A deep, ancient, and tragic roar—resembling the howl of an Archaic Divine Dragon awakening from an abyssal primordial realm—suddenly erupted directly within the consciousness of everyone present!
The entire Classified Arena shook violently! The space surrounding Lin Feng suddenly darkened. The blue of the wind and the earthy yellow of the magma were seemingly swallowed completely by a deep purplish-black shroud of night!
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“Lightning Domain – WILD LIGHTNING PHANTOM SHADOW!”
Swoosh! Swoosh! SWOOSH ————!!
Thousands of purplish-black lightning bolts, as thick and opaque as Chinese ink, burst forth from the earth, from the void, and from Lin Feng’s own body! Those electric arcs shifted bizarrely like ghostly death phantoms, propagating at three times the speed of ordinary lightning, far exceeding the limits of human visual reaction!
Slash, tearing apart!
Bai Che’s hundreds of wind blades, the moment they touched within a radius of three paces around Lin Feng, were instantly shredded into tiny specks of light by the purplish-black lightning, dissipating cleanly into the air!
Without stopping there, the supreme Dragon Might pressure combined with the tyrannical aura of the Wild Lightning Phantom Shadow transformed into an invisible mountain as heavy as Mount Tai, crashing down relentlessly upon Mu Tieshan and Bai Che!
Bai Che, soaring through midair, suddenly felt all the oxygen around him sucked dry, the magic energy within his nebula freezing solid. He let out a choked groan, tumbling freely from the sky and crashing down onto the arena floor with a heavy thud, pinned down by the invisible pressure to the point where he couldn’t twitch a single fingertip!
And Mu Tieshan below was in an even more miserable state!
His thousand-pound steel fist stopped dead in midair, still five feet away from Lin Feng. His proud Rock Crystal stone armor emitted horrifying cracking sounds before shattering into massive chunks under the devouring onslaught of the purplish-black current! The berserk electrical current surged along his arms straight into his meridians, carrying an absolute paralyzing effect that instantly robbed the Northern giant’s bulging muscles of all sensation.
“CRASH!”
Mu Tieshan’s massive knees buckled under the terrifying pressure, collapsing onto the alloy stone floor and gouging out two deep craters. He gnashed his teeth fiercely, pouring every ounce of life force into trying to stand, but the dragon might pressing down on his crown felt like an ancient deity placing an invisible foot upon his shoulder, forcing him to bow his head! His entire body trembled violently, sweat pouring down like rain and soaking his bear-hide armor completely.
The entire process—from the unleashing of the moves to their conclusion... took place in barely a single breath!
Lin Feng remained standing right where he was. His left foot was motionless, his right foot just planted down. He hadn’t retreated even half a step, and even the hem of his black cloak merely fluttered slightly in the shockwave before settling smoothly back into place.
Silence! A deathly hush blanketed the Classified Arena.
On the observation platform, the jade cup in Vice Minister Zhao Xinghua’s hand nearly slipped to the ground. The dignified vice minister widened his eyes in disbelief: “This is... a mutated supreme-grade Spirit Seed?! No wait... there’s also a peak Commander-tier domain pressure!”
Major General Qin Lie burst into hearty laughter, the long scar on his face twitching with sheer excitement: “Splendid! What a magnificent display of lightning might! This kid actually concealed such an astonishingly tyrannical overlord aura! Old Xiao, you lot have truly dug up a true divine dragon!”
At this moment, at the center of the stage, the purplish-black lightning rapidly receded, sinking deep back into Lin Feng’s body. The thousand-pound pressure vanished instantly without a trace.
Lin Feng strode over to Mu Tieshan and Bai Che. He leisurely bent down, extending both hands to help Mu Tieshan and Bai Che back to their feet.
“Brother Mu, Brother Bai, are either of you injured anywhere?”
Lin Feng’s warm, sincere voice acted like a spring breeze, sweeping away the coldness and shock lingering in their hearts.
Mu Tieshan stood up, his legs still trembling slightly from the lingering numbness of the paralyzing current. He stared hard at the youth before him, gazing into those deep, tranquil, arrogance-free dark eyes, as a profound sense of awe welled up within him. He knew very well that if Lin Feng had possessed even half an ounce of murderous intent just now, that bizarre purplish-black lightning could have pierced his throat or destroyed his magic nebula in a fraction of a second. That strength was absolute suppression, far surpassing the caliber of ordinary cadets!
Beside him, Bai Che swayed as he steadied himself, his pale complexion gradually regaining a trace of color, his heart full of bitter irony yet shaken to the core.
At that moment, Ye Lingtian leisurely walked over, giving Bai Che’s shoulder a firm pat and laughing aloud:
“Brother Bai, I told you beforehand—this Ye has roamed Shenzhou for three years and never bowed to anyone, yet before Lin Feng, I must lower my head and admit defeat. Since you hadn’t seen him strike yet you rushed to test him out, isn’t that bringing suffering upon yourselves?”
Han Yue also stepped forward, her crystal-clear voice ringing out across the arena like a snowy chime:
“Within Shenzhou Magic Academy, Lin Feng is the only one who made all five major institutes bow. This Captain’s seat, aside from him, no one else possesses sufficient qualification and capability to shoulder it.”
The unequivocal affirmation from the two former kings of Shenzhou Academy served as the final nail driving firmly into the minds of Mu Tieshan and Bai Che.
Mu Tieshan took a deep, lingering breath, stepped back half a step, cupped his fists before his chest, and bowed deeply to Lin Feng:
“Captain Lin! Just now, this Mu Tieshan had eyes but failed to see, acting like a frog at the bottom of a well by daring to look down on the empire’s heroes! With such strength, such demeanor... I am thoroughly and willingly defeated! From today onward in Venice, Mu Tieshan’s life is entrusted to the Captain! Where you point, I shall never point the other way!”
Bai Che also stepped up, discarding his usual pride as he solemnly bowed with cupped fists:
“Bai Che will obey every single command of the Captain! I am willing to charge into battle alongside the Captain and fight to our final breath for the glory of Shenzhou!”
Nangong Ling, clad in her black cloak, also nodded faintly, gazing toward Lin Feng with silent admiration.
Lin Feng looked around at the ten most elite comrades of the empire: the unrestrained Ye Lingtian, the proud Han Yue, the gentle Ye Qingwan, the lively Gu Xiaowei, the loyal Xie Zhaoyuan, the valiant Mu Tieshan, the sharp Bai Che... Ten individuals with ten distinct personalities, yet at this very moment, all doubts had completely vanished. The scattered sparks had been forged into a blazing torch bearing the name of the Shenzhou National Team!
“Good! Excellent!”
Heavy footsteps echoed from the stairs. Major General Qin Lie, Dean Xiao Yan, and Vice Minister Zhao Xinghua slowly stepped down into the arena basin.
Qin Lie walked up to Lin Feng. In the general’s hands was an exquisite ebony wooden box inlaid with jade. He opened the lid and carefully lifted a large flag woven from magical golden silk, embroidered in the center with a five-clawed Golden Dragon treading upon thunder clouds—the National Military Flag of the Shenzhou Team!
Qin Lie placed the flag into Lin Feng’s hands, his voice resounding like thunder across the drill grounds:
“Lin Feng, and all the young warriors of Shenzhou! Four years ago, we stopped short at the top 8 amidst the regret and mockery of Western superpowers. They claimed that Eastern magic had declined, saying that Shenzhou was a thing of the past!”
Qin Lie clenched his fists, towering killing intent surging from his chest:
“Take this flag and plant it upon the highest peak of the Venice arena! Let the entire world, let the heirs of the Holy See, the temple knights, and the foreign monsters open their eyes wide and witness: Who is the true overlord of human magical civilization!”
Lin Feng reached out and grasped the gleaming alloy flagstaff tightly.
The Golden Dragon flag fluttered furiously amidst the swirling wind and thunder currents of the underground arena. His dark eyes burned brightly, reflecting the brilliant golden radiance of the sacred dragon. He raised the flag high before him, letting out a resounding roar:
“For the glory of Shenzhou!”
“FOR THE GLORY OF SHENZHOU ————!!!!”
Ten youthful voices roared in unison, merging into a wave of sound that shook the earth, piercing through the mist of the Classified Arena and soaring into the skies of the Magic Metropolis!
Rumble... rumble... rumble...
At the far end of the arena, the Black Star Steel alloy wall slowly lowered, opening a gigantic tunnel leading straight to the coast of Whale Sea.
There, the super-scale intercontinental magic airship named “Divine Dragon,” with its dragon-scale-armored hull shining brilliantly and its azure magic wings spread wide, stood ready for takeoff. The magic crystal engines roared rhythmically, exhaling thick white whirlwinds of air, poised to tear through the clouds and cross the ten-thousand-mile ocean.
Lin Feng draped the flag over his shoulder, striding ahead to lead the contingent toward the airship.
Venice—the water-bound city of the boot-shaped nation, gathering the most heaven-defying prodigies and monsters of all humanity—was waiting.
A tempest bearing the name of the Shenzhou New King... was about to descend upon the Old Continent!