Volume 4: Super-Tier Awakening & The Ancient Capital Calamity
Chapter 318
Unexpected Guests: Mu Ningxue and Tang Yue's Visit
The night in the Magic City was submerged in a dazzling sea of light. Streams of traffic hurried along beneath the tranquil night sky like winding galaxies within the sprawling modern metropolis. Inside Lin Feng’s seaside villa, a rare and peaceful ambiance prevailed in the wake of recent turbulent days. Fat Tiger was enthusiastically grilling a batch of seafood BBQ out on the balcony, while Xie Zhaoyuan sat swirling a glass of red wine, murmuring calculations regarding upcoming magic potion deals.
Right at that moment, the doorbell rang crisply, shattering the calm atmosphere.
Fat Tiger was just about to bustle over to open the door when Xie Zhaoyuan deftly grabbed his arm, raising an eyebrow with a warning smirk. “Let me. You clumsy oaf—what if our distinguished guests mistake our place for a den of bandits? That would be a complete disaster.”
Fat Tiger curled his lip, muttering under his breath, “Bandits? In this Magic City, anyone daring to come wreck the eldest brother’s villa must be utterly tired of living.”
Despite his words, Xie Zhaoyuan collected his frivolous demeanor, straightened his collar, and strode toward the main foyer. The heavy wooden door, carved with intricate magical patterns, slowly creaked open. The warm golden light from within spilled outward, illuminating two exquisite figures standing beneath the porch and instantly brightening the small courtyard, eclipsing even the silvery moonlight above.
Appearing before Xie Zhaoyuan were two renowned beauties of the Divine Continent’s magic world—two names whose mere mention would send shockwaves through the hearts of any male mage: Mu Ningxue and Tang Yue.
Today, Mu Ningxue wore a pristine white woolen coat, its high-grade soft fleece material molding seamlessly to her slender yet graceful figure. Her signature silvery-blue long hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders, each strand catching the shimmering light of the crystal chandelier. It radiated an ethereal, otherworldly aura akin to a fairy stepping down from a ten-thousand-year glacial mountain—cold, untouchable, yet leaving onlookers breathless with longing. Her flawless, delicate face bore a slight knit of her willow brows against the evening chill, and her crystal-clear skin possessed the translucent perfection of jade under the lights.
Standing right beside her, forming a provocatively striking contrast, was Tang Yue. The mature and alluring female judge wore a seductive wine-red form-fitting dress that thoroughly accentuated the voluptuous, breathtaking curves of an experienced woman. Her sharp phoenix eyes shimmered with a charming smile at the moment, and her red-painted lips curved upward into an expression that was simultaneously dangerous and lethal—resembling a gorgeous, thorn-laden rose blooming in the night.
Xie Zhaoyuan froze for a full three seconds, his throat going dry. He hurriedly averted his improper gaze and bowed respectfully. “Oh lord, what wind brought the two great young misses—ah no... two great dignitaries here! Please, come inside! Our eldest brother is waiting... uh, resting inside!”
Tang Yue covered her mouth and let out a soft giggle, her melodic voice ringing through the night like silver bells. “Tuan-gongzi’s tongue is getting sweeter by the day, isn’t it? Business with magic artifacts must be booming lately.”
Mu Ningxue merely offered a slight nod of greeting, her ice-clear eyes sweeping across the living room as her long eyelashes fluttered.
Hearing the commotion from within, Lin Feng stepped out of the living room. He wore a simple black t-shirt that still failed to conceal his tall, muscular frame and the innate, formidable aura of someone standing at the pinnacle of strength. Upon spotting the two familiar figures at the door, a warm glimmer of surprise flashed deep within Lin Feng’s dark eyes.
“Ningxue? Sister Tang Yue? What brings you both here together in the middle of the night?” Lin Feng smiled, striding forward to welcome them.
The simultaneous appearance of the two beauties instantly charged the living room’s atmosphere with an exquisite tension, rich with a lingering fragrance blending pure glacial frost with passionate rose. Fat Tiger, poking his head out from the kitchen and taking in the scene, instantly caught the drift. He slapped Xie Zhaoyuan hard on the shoulder, yanked the dazed young man back, and chuckled loudly.
“Ah, suddenly I remember I haven’t flipped the squid on the balcony grill yet—if they burn to a crisp, that’s game over! Young Master Xie, come help me out back right now. Why stand around acting like a giant lightbulb and be an eyesore?”
Xie Zhaoyuan snapped out of it and nodded repeatedly. “Right, right! Grilled squid! Fresh seafood is waiting for our rescue! Eldest brother, two revered sisters, please make yourselves at home. We’ll excuse ourselves first!”
With that, the two extraordinarily tactful men scurried off toward the rear balcony, skillfully sliding the soundproof glass door shut to leave the entire luxurious living room exclusively to Lin Feng and his distinguished guests.
The indoor atmosphere suddenly grew even quieter, accompanied only by the melodious jazz tunes drifting softly from the vintage record player in the corner.
Lin Feng invited the two to sit on the high-end leather sofa facing the large floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out directly over the night sea of the Magic City. The dazzling lights from distant skyscrapers reflected through the transparent glass, weaving an illusionary, shimmering vista.
Tang Yue casually seated herself on the long sofa, her slender legs crossed seductively as her phoenix eyes glanced meaningfully at Lin Feng. From her designer handbag, she retrieved a dossier carefully sealed with the special magical insignia of the Adjudication Association and placed it on the coffee table.
“Lin Feng, your recent closed-door cultivation in Kunlun seems to have yielded quite a harvest. Your aura feels vastly heavier and deeper than before, enough to inspire involuntary caution in anyone looking at you,” Tang Yue remarked, naturally reaching out to pour herself a cup of warm tea prepared by Lin Feng’s own hands.
Lin Feng smiled as he sat down opposite her, his gaze sweeping over the dossier on the table before settling on the female judge’s pretty face. “Kunlun is treacherous, but opportunities are plentiful. Without making some progress, how could I dare face the current chaotic landscape of the magical world? It seems this document doesn’t bring very pleasant news, Sister Tang Yue?”
Tang Yue withdrew her teasing smile, her expression turning several shades more serious. She pushed the dossier toward Lin Feng, her tone dropping lower.
“Indeed. This is an intelligence report just decrypted by the Adjudication Association headquarters from our underground intelligence networks in Europe and Central Asia. Recently, the Black Vatican has exhibited extremely abnormal movement patterns. Instead of operating stealthily as before, they have begun openly gathering soul fragments and undead energy around ancient ruins. In particular, there are signs pointing to a high-ranking red cardinal targeting the vicinity of the Magic City.”
Lin Feng flipped through the pages of the document, his gaze skimming rapidly over the figures, force distribution maps, and photographs of dark magic arrays captured through optical lenses. His expression remained as calm as an unrippled lake, yet deep within his pitch-black pupils flashed razor-sharp lightning.
“The Black Vatican... it seems that after the battle of the Holy City, they still haven’t learned their lesson about poking a hornet’s nest.” Lin Feng gave a cold chuckle, his thumb tapping lightly against the wooden table. “If they want to court death in the Magic City, I don’t mind lending a hand to send a few more down to hell.”
Standing aside and maintaining her aloof silence all this while, Mu Ningxue finally stepped closer to the window. Rather than taking a seat on the sofa, she leaned lightly against the glass frame, fixing her phoenix eyes upon the boundless expanse of the night sea outside.
The cold moonlight filtered through the glass, casting an ethereal, misty halo over Mu Ningxue. Her white woolen coat accentuated her graceful, solitary, yet supremely proud demeanor. Turning her head, she locked eyes with Lin Feng, her clear yet freezing voice ringing out:
“They aren’t simply gathering undead. According to ancient records the Mu clan recently decrypted from the far northern ice plains, the movements of the Black Vatican are intimately tied to the awakening of a sealed primeval deity. If they manage to gather all seven dark keys, the seal will shatter, plunging the entire mortal realm into a glacial disaster and a bloodbath.”
Lin Feng raised his head, meeting Mu Ningxue’s gaze—fraught with deep worry yet meticulously concealed beneath her icy exterior. He understood full well that given Mu Ningxue’s temperament, if not for genuine concern for the grand picture and... for his safety, she would never have traveled all the way to the Magic City in the dead of night.
Lin Feng stood up and walked over to Mu Ningxue’s side. The distance between them vanished entirely, close enough for him to catch the pure fragrance reminiscent of early winter snow lingering in her silvery-blue hair.
“Ningxue, are you worried about me?” Lin Feng asked softly, his low voice carrying a magical cadence that made the listener’s heart skip a beat.
Mu Ningxue started slightly, her long eyelashes fluttering violently. She turned her face away, striving to maintain an indifferent, aloof expression. “Who’s worried about you? Don’t flatter yourself. I only came to deliver the cooperative dossier between the ice clan and the Adjudication Association.”
Over by the coffee table, Tang Yue witnessed the scene and giggled softly, her eyes carrying a teasing, meaningful amusement. “My, it seems the air in here is a bit thin, making it rather suffocating, doesn’t it? Perhaps I should head to the kitchen to check on how those two boys are doing with the seafood BBQ. Staying here any longer, I might just become a high-voltage lightbulb.”
With that, Tang Yue gracefully stood up, swaying toward the kitchen area and deliberately leaving the private space to the two of them.
Once Tang Yue’s footsteps faded completely behind the kitchen door, the living room lapsed into an uncanny stillness. Only the distant sound of ocean waves lapping against the shore remained, blending with the rapid pounding of two hearts standing mere inches apart.
Lin Feng took another step closer, leaving virtually no gap between them. Reaching out, he gently tucked a stray silver lock behind her fair, porcelain cheek.
This natural, tender gesture caused Mu Ningxue’s body to stiffen for a fraction of a second. She neither dodged nor pushed him away, feeling only Lin Feng’s warm fingertips brush against her skin, sending a tingling current racing down her spine.
“Thank you, Ningxue,” Lin Feng whispered, his low voice vibrating right beside her ear. “Regardless of the reason, your coming here tonight makes me very glad.”
Mu Ningxue lowered her gaze, her thin lips pressing together as a rare, faint blush bloomed across her smooth white cheeks—a springtime hue reserved solely for the man before her. Drawing a deep breath, she forced herself to regain her usual composure and looked straight into Lin Feng’s eyes.
At that exact moment, the warm, ambiguous atmosphere just established was abruptly shattered by the supreme sensory sharpness of a grand archmage.
Mu Ningxue narrowed her eyes, her clear pupils instantly sharpening into icy blades. She retreated half a step, widening the space between them just enough as her gaze locked onto Lin Feng’s chest, where his heart beat with powerful regularity.
Her cold, pristine face overflowed with incredulous astonishment. Inhaling the chilly air, she murmured:
“Lin Feng...”
“Hm?” Lin Feng raised an eyebrow, looking at her with a smile.
Mu Ningxue stepped forward, raising her hand as if to touch his chest before freezing mid-air, her trembling voice carrying extreme bewilderment:
“Inside your body... exactly what happened during your closed-door cultivation in Kunlun?”
Lin Feng faded his smile, his gaze turning intent. “Did you discover something?”
Staring straight at him, every word Mu Ningxue uttered carried unabashed shock:
“Your breath... why does your body conceal a fluctuation of frigid energy... so familiar? It... it is nearly identical to our clan’s Ice Crystal Primordial Essence, yet it is a myriad of times more formidable and profound! Could it be...”
Before she could finish her sentence, her eyes suddenly widened.
Right at that instant, from outside the villa’s window, an invisible surge of dark radiance abruptly tore through the night sky, carrying ultimate destructive intent as it lunged straight toward the villa!
The cliffhanger struck at that very moment of extreme peril!
Outside the window, a bizarre dark figure with tattered bat wings and blood-red eyes materialized in mid-air, its mouth curling into a grotesque smile as it roared in a hair-raising voice:
“Lin Feng! Found you at last! The Black Vatican commands your execution!”
Howling gales raged, and the glass windows shattered into tens of thousands of crystal shards scattering wildly through the air!
Chapter 318 concludes here. Please proceed to Chapter 319 to follow the explosive clash between Lin Feng and the enemy from the Black Vatican!