Volume 3: Global Vanguard & The Advanced Pinnacle
Chapter 210
Fiery Quarterfinals: Shenzhou vs Germany
The magical whistle tore through the humid air of the Venice bay, triggering a deep, low rumble resembling an ancient horn resounding from the depths of the ocean.
On the white marble arcaded tiers of the Oceanus Colosseum, over a hundred thousand international spectators packed every single step. The sea of people rolled like a rising tide; Shenzhou’s five-starred red flags fluttered alongside the black-red-gold tricolor flags of the German Empire, brilliantly blazing under the Mediterranean breeze. Roars, magical war drums, and soaring signal flares intertwined, creating a suffocatingly tense atmosphere.
In the VIP box high above, shielded by three transparent layers of Light Element barriers, the most powerful figures in the global magic community had gathered in full force: Grand Senators of the International Magic Association, purple-robed High Priests of the Parthenon Temple, and leaders of the world’s top magic academies.
The life-or-death Quarterfinal opener of the Main Tournament: Team Shenzhou clashes with the German Empire National Team!
Thanks to their absolute top rank in the Wilderness Survival Elimination Round at the Dead Coral Reef, Team Shenzhou held the priority to choose the battlefield. When the massive crystal magic board in midair displayed Lin Feng’s decision, a wave of stunned commotion swept across the entire arena.
Battlefield terrain: “Toxic Sea Rock Islands”!
Under the control of the subterranean magical mechanism, the azure sea of the arena bubbled furiously. Hundreds of jagged, pitch-black basalt pillars protruded from the water surface, linking together into a desolate rocky island cluster spanning over two square kilometers.
Surrounding the black rock field was an artificial “Toxic Sea” filled with extremely corrosive poison. Waves of dark purple water slammed against the rock walls, emitting pungent white smoke and horrifying sizzles. Anyone who slipped and fell into these waters would not only suffer flesh wounds, but their protective magic energy would also be eroded at a dizzying speed.
“Is Shenzhou courting disaster?” On the international broadcasting desk, former pro player Edward slightly frowned as he analyzed the magic energy: “The Germans have long been renowned worldwide for their ironclad discipline and the sturdiest Earth Element school. Lin Feng chose a terrain full of rocks and toxic water—this is practically rolling out the red carpet for Germany’s armored tanks!”
Down on the arena floor, the five members of the German team emerged from the northern tunnel. Leading the phalanx was Franz—the captain and steel soul of the team. He possessed a colossal physique nearly two meters tall, shoulders as wide as a fortress wall, and sharp blue eyes devoid of the slightest fluctuation. Clad in the ash-gray uniform with black trims of the Berlin Magic Academy, Franz stepped forward with heavy strides; every impact on the basalt rock emitted a dull thud like solid alloy.
Glaring at the sprawling black basalt rocks ahead, the corners of Franz’s mouth curled into an arrogant smile. He glanced back at his four teammates, his deep voice filled with overwhelming authority:
“The Eastern opponents have made a fatal mistake. They think toxic water can stop the footsteps of Germans. This match, we will crush them into pieces with our steel fortress!”
On the opposite side, the five members of Team Shenzhou stood in a horizontal line atop the highest basalt ledge. Lin Feng stood at the center vanguard, the hem of his black coat edged with gold thread gently fluttering in the sulfur-scented sea breeze. Beside him, Han Yue crossed her arms, the chilling Ice Element aura surrounding her turning the splashing toxic droplets into instant purple ice crystals. Ye Qingwan gently waved her fingers, azure wind swirling around her ankles, ready to take flight. Behind them stood Ye Lingtian with a calm, profound gaze, and Xie Zhaoyuan holding a steadfast defensive stance.
“Lin Feng, they’re laughing at your terrain choice.” Ye Qingwan tilted her head, a smile flashing across her lips, yet her eyes were as sharp as a stalking falcon.
“Let them be smug for a few more seconds,” Lin Feng replied indifferently, his gaze sweeping across the enemy formation: “The Germans rely far too heavily on field discipline. They view boulders as natural fortresses, but they forgot one crucial detail: wherever there is an abundance of rocks and water, that is precisely where lightning and spatial tremors unleash their most terrifying destructive might.”
A resounding chime echoed, signaling the official outbreak of the life-or-death battle!
Without a fraction of a hesitation, the three Earth Element mages of the German team simultaneously stamped their feet hard against the ground!
“Earth Element Array — Iron Stone Chain!”
Erich and Otto—the two supporting shields standing on either side of Franz—simultaneously activated Tier-3 Intermediate magic. The basalt island region beneath their feet violently shuddered. Dozens of square stone pillars as thick as temple columns erupted from the earth at terrifying speeds, interweaving like giant interlocking gears. Brilliant ocher magic energy from their three bodies merged into one, forming a glowing magical matrix running along the rock masses.
In the blink of an eye, a semi-circular lava fortress over six meters high rose imposingly, blocking the main axis!
Inside the fortress, female mage Helga—Germany’s Lightning ranged sniper—instantly raised her magic staff. Wildly flashing blue lightning arcs flickered atop the staff, poised to strike anyone daring to enter her sights. Beside her, Lucas unleashed numerous small ash-gray tornadoes enveloping the base of the fortress wall, ready to sweep away any long-range attacks.
The renowned tactic “Impenetrable Steel Fortress” was completed in a mere four seconds! The discipline and precise coordination down to the millimeter drew enthusiastic applause from the entire grandstands.
“Ice Wind — Ice Lock Slash!”
Han Yue struck first. Her snow-white hands waved, and the surrounding temperature instantly plummeted into a sharp freefall. Dozens of blue ice silk ribbons tore through the toxic water, transforming into giant ice chains thick as thighs that roared directly toward the surface of the lava fortress!
Piercing bone-chilling cold billowed as the ice chains slammed violently against the rock walls. Layer upon layer of stark white frost clung tightly to the basalt surface, attempting to penetrate inward to freeze and fracture the earth and stone structure.
Simultaneously, Ye Qingwan soared into midair: “Wind Roll — Residual Wind Dragon Tornado!”
A gigantic tornado nearly twenty meters high roared into existence between two rock outcroppings, carrying thousands of razor-sharp wind blades that slashed mercilessly at the German matrix joints. Dust billowed blindingly, gravel flew everywhere, and the ground groaned under the combined firepower of the two Shenzhou heroines.
Yet, from within the curtain of ice mist and sandstorms, a hoarse, deeply arrogant laugh rang out:
“Useless! Before our diamond-lava matrix, your magic is nothing more than scratching an itch!”
The lava fortress wall suddenly erupted with a deep yellow shock wave. The triple-linked Earth Element magic channeled its force straight down into the deep rock foundation, effortlessly dissolving the entire pressure of the Wind Roll. At the same time, a layer of shimmering quartz crystals coated the outer surface of the wall, causing Han Yue’s ice chains to slip off and shatter into glittering fragments tumbling messily down into the toxic trench!
The fortress crown suddenly split open. A towering figure stepped onto the highest stone platform, holding a heavy, gray marble hexagonal giant shield edged in metal.
It was none other than Franz!
By now, Franz’s entire body was fully clad in massive stone armor—the superior-grade “Rock Steel Demonic Cuirass”! Layer upon layer of stone plates overlapped like ancient dragon scales, emitting a rough yet absolutely indestructible radiance. The massive shield in his hand struck the ground heavily, emitting a dull sound that shook the entire island:
“Where is Shenzhou’s so-called trump card? Could it be he only knows how to hide behind women and scratch the itch of my shield?” Franz roared, his voice echoing across the Oceanus Colosseum: “Charge! Crush them to pieces!”
The entire lava fortress did not remain fixed in one place; controlled by the three Earth Element mages, the entire stone engineering structure began sliding across the ground at astonishing speed! Franz led the charge like the drill of a heavy armored tank, giant shield held high, rushing straight toward the Shenzhou frontline with an overwhelming momentum that could split mountains and overturn seas. Any basalt ledge blocking his way was smashed to smithereens by the colossal shield!
In the stands, tens of thousands of German fans frantically screamed: “Franz! Franz! Armored God of War! Flatten everything!”
Suffocating pressure weighed heavily onto Team Shenzhou’s half of the arena. If this armored tank were allowed to close in, the entire operational range of the long-range mages would be completely shattered.
Facing the rumbling rage of earth and stone, Lin Feng stood motionless. His eyes did not look at Franz’s massive shield, but were locked tightly onto the flowing magic light paths beneath the feet of the three defenders.
He spotted the crux: the German team’s Earth Element magic formed a flawless isosceles triangle. The two support pillars Erich and Otto served as the base, continuously channeling elemental magic energy into the spine of Franz at the apex of the triangle. The reason why the giant shield and the Rock Steel Cuirass were impervious to Ice and Wind was thanks to the ability to evenly distribute the tremors across the entire three-person array and dissipate some into the subterranean rocks!
“Want to play a three-headed turtle?” The corners of Lin Feng’s mouth twitched into a sharp curve. He raised his index finger, transmitting his voice decisively via magic communication:
“Lenging, sever the left flanking pillar! Han Yue, seal off the sea retreat path!”
“Understood!”
Ye Lingtian stepped half a step forward from behind Xie Zhaoyuan. His right hand gently stroked the empty space in front of his chest. Deep within Ye Lingtian’s eyes, shimmering silver galaxies burst forth brilliantly!
<div>Space Element — Space-Rending Slash!</div>
There was no roaring sound of wind-ripping, no dazzling halo. Only a transparent ripple like an invisible blade suddenly cut across the humid air!
The spatial blade glided at a velocity exceeding the naked eye’s tracking limit, aiming straight at the gap between Franz and the left flank support Erich. That exact spot was the nodal intersection of the circulating Earth Element magic current!
“SWISH!”
A crisp sound like tearing fabric echoed midair. The steel-hard basalt ground beneath Erich’s feet suddenly spawned a deep, flat crack as if severed by a divine sword. The glowing ocher magic energy connecting him and Franz was severed instantly by the spatial force!
“What?!” Erich started, the abrupt loss of magic energy choking his chest, his steps staggering off-balance.
Almost in the exact microsecond when the German defense formation developed a crack, Han Yue moved. She lunged straight to the edge of the rock facing the toxic water behind the enemy, pressing both palms firmly against the boiling dark purple surface:
“Extreme Arctic Ice — Ice Prison Dead End!”
“CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!”
Earth-shattering freezing cold from Han Yue’s Ice Element Spirit Seed erupted violently. The salty, extremely difficult-to-crystallize toxic water was completely sealed in a split second by a thick layer of blue ice over a meter deep! Sharp, spear-like ice pillars rose straight from the seabed, turning the entire sea area behind the German formation into a frozen death zone, completely cutting off Lucas and Helga’s mobility!
The “Impenetrable Steel Fortress” formation was severed into two halves in the blink of an eye!
“Damn it! Don’t panic!” Franz roared, northern warrior ferocity surging through his veins. Even though the left-flank magic link was interrupted, he remained confident in the personal defensive power of his superior-grade Rock Steel Cuirass and the Giant God Shield.
He channeled all remaining Earth Element magic into his right arm, causing the giant shield to emit a thick terracotta-colored smoke:
“As long as we crush your Space Element mage, this array will collapse on its own! Go to hell!”
Franz shattered the rock ledge beneath his feet, his heavy armored body launching into midair like a colossal cannonball, the large shield eclipsing the sunlight, smashing straight down toward Ye Lingtian’s head!
However, the person who appeared to block his path was not Ye Lingtian.
“BOOM!”
A sharp, crisp thunderclap exploded right above everyone’s heads.
No one saw when Lin Feng set off. Only a winding black-purple lightning bolt tearing through the humid air, tracing a devilishly bizarre zigzag trajectory midair!
Flash Lightning Phantom Step!
Fast! Speed surpassing the reflex limits of Lightning sniper Helga on the wall! The German female mage had just raised her staff to cast a lightning bolt interception when that black figure had already vanished from her sights, leaving behind only a crackling, blazing lightning afterimage on the stone surface!
In the next tenth of a blink, the space directly in front of Franz suddenly distorted.
Lin Feng appeared suspended midair, directly facing the massive shield of the Armored God of War!
The sea breeze whipped through the young Shenzhou prodigy’s black hair, revealing deep eyes burning with two distinct magical flames: his left eye blazing with wild, violent purple lightning; his right eye burning with vicious, dark crimson fire!
The two mutually exclusive extreme magic energies perfectly blended on his right arm. Ancient magical patterns from the Primordial Dragon Pendant on his chest pulsed with light penetrating his clothing, spreading along his steel-solid biceps, wrapping around his fist to form the shape of a roaring, furious lightning-fire dragon head!
“You’re awfully proud of this turtle shell, aren’t you?”
Lin Feng’s voice echoed in Franz’s ear, calm yet bone-chillingly cold.
Franz’s pupils constricted to the extreme. He sensed imminent danger radiating from the raised fist. Fighting instincts surged, and he folded both arms to tightly hug the giant shield, activating his strongest defensive skill:
“Rock Steel — Diamond Guardian Shield!”
The entire slab of rock on the shield’s surface instantly transformed into a shimmering silvery-gray akin to diamond, its hardness multiplying manifold, sufficient to directly withstand the attack of a Commander-level demonic beast!
“Take this strike from me!” Lin Feng shouted, his right arm unleashing an earth-shattering punch:
“LIGHTNING-FIRE ARMOR-BREAKING — VIOLENT DRAGON FORCE!”
“BOOM ——————!!!”
A earth-shattering explosion erupted right at the center of the Venice Oceanus Colosseum!
The moment Lin Feng’s fist smashed into the epicenter of the diamond shield, a colossal half-purple, half-red energy sphere suddenly blossomed midair! The blinding light fell upon the mortal realm like a second sun, dazzling all over a hundred thousand spectators in the stands!
The extreme shock wave formed a tangible pressure ring sweeping across the ground. All toxic water within a two-hundred-meter radius was blasted into the sky into a water wall dozens of meters high, instantly evaporating midair into pitch-black smoke from the scorching heat!
“Crack!”
A crisp, piercing sound rang out amidst the thunderous explosion.
On the surface of the impregnable diamond giant shield the Germans took such pride in, a deep fissure appeared right at the point of contact with Lin Feng’s fist. And then, like a chain reaction, thousands of cracks burning with fierce fire and purple lightning began spreading like a spiderweb, tearing apart every single fiber of the sturdy marble stone!
“Impossible... This force... is it magic or physical martial arts?!”
Franz’s arms behind the shield went completely numb, blood vessels under his skin bursting and sending fresh blood spilling out to drench his armor sleeves. He stared with wide eyes as the Rock Steel Cuirass on his chest began groaning and shattering under the penetrating vibrational pressure of the Violent Dragon Force!
The entire arena plunged into a suffocating silence. International commentators leaped from their seats, stunned speechless. A bare-handed blow from a Shenzhou mage could actually crack the superior shield of the German team leader?!
Yet, amidst the brink of collapse, the giant Franz suddenly roared like a cornered beast. His eyes turned a crazed, bloodshot red:
“LIN FENG! DON’T YOU DARE UNDERESTIMATE TEUTONIC WILL!”
“CLANG!”
Franz advanced instead of retreating; he proactively released the cracked half of the giant shield, his stone-armored hands aggressively grabbing Lin Feng’s wrists! Simultaneously, a archaic blood-red light erupted from his chest, flesh beneath his stone armor swelling to twice its size, turning him into a furious lava Titan giant!
In the rear, the two earth mages Erich and Otto, despite being injured, gritted their teeth and plunged their ten fingers deep into the earth, pouring their entire life force to activate the seismic forbidden art. The basalt ground beneath Lin Feng’s feet suddenly cracked open, and hundreds of sharp, poison-coated rock spears shot upward from the underground, sealing off all his dodging space!
Locked in midair by the giant, with a hellish forest of toxic spears thrusting up below, Lin Feng’s situation fell into a hair-trigger perilous predicament in a split second.
Yet, facing the Germans’ desperate counterattack, the corners of Lin Feng’s mouth curled into an indifferent, cold smile.
“Bloodline secret art? Pity, my flames... have only just begun to burn.”
On Lin Feng’s chest, the Primordial Dragon Pendant suddenly emitted a deep, majestic dragon roar echoing from ancient times. The dark crimson flame on his fist did not extinguish; instead, it abruptly transformed into a pitch-black abyss—the destructive Dark Lightning Flame began devouring the surrounding space!