Chapter 336: Rescuing the Fierce Martial Marquis, Traces Leaked, Great Pursuit by Ten Thousand Races

Chapter 336: Rescuing Marquis Liewu, Traces Exposed, A Great Hunt by Ten Thousand Races!

Just as Qin Feng stabilized his posture, before he could even calibrate his course, his terrifying spiritual power—now evolved into a pure black quality—instantly captured a trace of anomaly.

It was not an intent to kill directed at him, but a distant yet intensely violent surge of psionic energy, like a boulder cast into a calm lake, sending clear ripples spreading across the plane of his mental perception.

"Hmm? A battle?"

His gaze sharpened, and he looked toward the source of the disturbance.

Deep in the starry sky, several astronomical units away, a fierce battle between high-level marquises was erupting.

For ordinary beings, that distance would be unreachable, but to Qin Feng’s perception, every detail of the battlefield was laid bare.

His figure vanished from where he stood; he did not use the flamboyant Black Sky Wings, but simply propelled his physical strength, executing superluminal curvature travel, silently approaching the edge of the fray.

Soon, he hid behind a massive meteorite over thousands of kilometers in diameter, like the most patient hunter, calmly observing everything before him.

In his field of vision lay a cage so magnificent it was suffocating.

It was a grand formation constructed entirely of crystal; countless diamond-shaped crystals shimmering with seven-colored light hung in the void, linked by invisible psionic veins to form a massive polyhedral barrier covering millions of miles.

Starlight passing through the barrier was refracted and twisted into hazy ribbons of light, rendering the scene within somewhat illusory. This formation was not merely a physical blockade; it distorted space at the level of laws and isolated all information, ensuring that those trapped within could neither escape nor call for help.

And in the center of that gorgeous, lethal cage, a figure was fighting in a bloodbath.

He was burly, clad in crimson armor, his body burning with a tangible, scorching fighting spirit. Every punch and every slash carried the terrifying power to incinerate mountains and boil seas.

Violent laws of fire intertwined with an unyielding will to fight, manifesting as massive blades of light capable of tearing stars apart, crashing madly against the surrounding crystal walls.

Yet, every fierce attack was absorbed and deflected by the seemingly fragile barrier in a strange manner, eventually dissipating into nothingness.

"It is Marquis Liewu!"

Qin Feng’s pupils constricted slightly as he immediately recognized the figure.

It was the high-level human marquis with the fiery temperament and soaring fighting spirit he had met on the Island of Dead Meteors.

Back on the inner island, Qin Feng had crossed paths with him once, leaving a deep impression of a man born purely for battle.

Marquis Liewu’s strength was formidable even among high-level marquises, his combat power honed to its peak.

But at this moment, this brave marquis had fallen into an unprecedented desperate situation.

His crimson armor was damaged in many places, revealing hideous wounds beneath; golden blood seeped out continuously, only to be instantly evaporated by his own scorching fighting spirit.

Though his aura remained robust, Qin Feng could clearly perceive an irrepressible decay hidden beneath that strength. With every attack, the power behind it weakened by a minute fraction.

Besieging him were three beings of bizarre form.

They lacked the facial features or limb structures of humans or humanoids; their entire bodies were composed of pure, flawless, brilliant crystal, as if they were natural creations of the universe’s laws.

Within their bodies, psionic cores like tiny stars flowed slowly.

Their movements were silent, yet they refracted dreamy, seven-colored light—beautiful and lethal.

The Crystal Race—a powerful cosmic lineage!

Moreover, the aura of these three Crystal Race marquises was no weaker than Marquis Liewu’s; all had reached the level of high-level marquises!

Qin Feng’s eyes turned cold.

This was not a battle between equals, but a meticulously planned ambush.

The coordination of the three Crystal marquises was seamless.

One stood at the core of the formation, hands constantly weaving strange seals to control the operation of the crystal prison, continuously compressing Marquis Liewu’s space while repairing the psionic ripples caused by his attacks.

The other two moved like ghosts, circling Marquis Liewu in high-speed skirmishes.

Their methods were equally bizarre.

They did not rely on pure psionic blasts, but fired thin, hair-like crystal rays.

These rays seemed weak, but they contained the laws of "assimilation" and "imprisonment." Once struck, the psionic shield on Marquis Liewu’s body would instantly crystallize and shatter.

Even the blood flowing from his wounds would solidify into tiny golden crystal particles upon contact with these rays.

"Such vicious methods."

Qin Feng analyzed from the shadows, "They do not seek a swift kill, but rather to grind down Marquis Liewu’s protective divine power and his will, bit by bit, like a slow execution, until he is completely crystallized into a lifeless trophy."

Marquis Liewu clearly understood this, his attacks becoming increasingly violent as he attempted to trade injury for injury to break the stalemate.

But the two skirmishing Crystal marquises were slippery; before his attacks could land, they would use the refraction of the crystal walls to instantly shift positions, launching a new wave of harassment.

It was an unsolvable deadlock.

The prison isolated the inside from the outside, and three peers waited at their leisure, perfectly coordinated with clear tactics.

Marquis Liewu was like a tiger trapped in a spider’s web; despite his immense power, he could only be drained in despair until death.

Hidden in the shadow of the meteorite, Qin Feng’s pure black spiritual power acted like the most precise detector, silently scanning the battlefield as a massive stream of information gathered, analyzed, and reorganized in his mind.

"Marquis Liewu... high-level marquis, formidable combat power, firm will. But under the siege of three peers, his psionic reserves can last at most half an hour. After half an hour, defeat is certain."

"The Crystal Race’s 'Seven-Colored Glazed Realm' is a combined marquis-level formation integrating imprisonment, defense, and killing. It has at least three hundred and sixty core nodes, constantly shifting positions. To break it by force from the outside, unless one possesses King-level power, it is nearly impossible."

"But no formation is perfect. In the flow of psionic energy, there must be peaks and troughs. As long as I seize that smallest gap, there is a chance."

"With my current strength, in a direct confrontation against three well-coordinated high-level marquises, my odds of winning are extremely low; at most, I can ensure I remain undefeated. Forcibly killing any one of them is difficult; if they are determined to flee, I may not be able to stop them."

"However..."

A flash of absolute confidence crossed Qin Feng’s eyes.

"My advantage does not lie in the crushing weight of power, but in the absolute crushing power of 'speed'!"

In his mind, an invisible battle had already been simulated a thousand times.

A frontal collision was inadvisable.

Feinting to the east to strike the west would not work, as the three were one in spirit and mind.

The only way to break the situation was to use speed beyond the limits of their understanding, and before they could react, strike the weakest node of the formation’s psionic flow with the strongest single-point attack, tearing open a fleeting gap to create an escape opportunity for Marquis Liewu.

"The risk is high. Once entangled, I will also fall into the siege. But to save him, I have a ninety percent certainty!"

There was no more hesitation in Qin Feng’s heart.

As comrades of the human race, and with the old acquaintance from the Island of Dead Meteors, standing by and watching him die was not his path.

A cold intent to kill rose from the depths of his heart, instantly sweeping through his entire body.

This was not a lust for slaughter, but the manifestation of a will that adjusted itself to the peak state of combat.

He emerged slowly from the shadow of the meteorite.

There was no earth-shattering eruption of aura; all his psionic energy was perfectly internalized within his "Limit Body," like a black hole, not leaking a single shred.

Hum...

With a tremor so slight it was almost negligible, a pair of huge, magnificent, and profound wings quietly unfurled behind him.

The wings were not made of flesh or psionic energy, but condensed from pure darkness, as if they were the eternal night of the universe itself, dotted with countless tiny points of light like a reflected galaxy.

It was the "Black Sky Wings"!

Immediately following, a set of dark golden armor, filled with streamlined aesthetics and a sense of power, spread like living fluid from his chest, rapidly covering his entire body—the "Limit Power Armor"!

Finally, he closed his right hand into the empty air.

A spear, pitch-black as if it could swallow all light, materialized from nothingness.

Ancient and mysterious runes flickered across its shaft, and at the tip, a subtle distortion of gravity warped the surrounding space.

A Heavenly Derivative Weapon—the Star-Swallowing Spear!

Fully armed, Qin Feng hung silently in the void like a dark god of war from ancient myth, his gaze locked onto the crystal cage millions of miles away.

He was waiting for an opening.

A fleeting, ten-thousandth-of-a-second window when the Crystal Clan’s containment field shifted its psionic flow from old to new.

On the battlefield, Marquis Liewu’s situation grew increasingly dire. A crystal ray cunningly bypassed his battle-axe and slammed into his left shoulder.

Crack!

His armor shattered instantly, revealing a bone-deep wound where the flesh began to crystallize at a visible rate.

"Hahaha! Marquis Liewu, give up! Your human reinforcements will never come!"

"To become an eternal work of art under the throne of my Lord is your ultimate glory!"

The two Crystal Clan marquises projected triumphant soul-waves, their onslaught intensifying.

Marquis Liewu roared, ignoring his wounds, and swung his weapon in a desperate sweep.

The violent, fiery blade-light forced his opponents back, but his own energy flickered and dimmed further.

A look of tragic resolve flashed in his eyes; he was prepared to burn his core Dao seal, a final act of mutual destruction.

At that very moment!

Qin Feng, who had been observing with cold precision, saw his eyes ignite with brilliance!

"Now!"

He had caught it!

The Crystal Clan marquis controlling the formation had just completed a psionic cycle, creating a gap in the flow of the Seven-Colored Glazed Realm so brief it defied calculation!

Without a second of hesitation, Qin Feng’s murderous intent detonated!

Ultimate Form, pushed to the limit!

Ultimate Power Armor, roaring with energy overload!

BOOM!

He vanished from his position, leaving no afterimage, as if he had been forcibly erased from this dimension of space-time. He transformed into a streak of pure black lightning, an absolute darkness that tore through the very concepts of space and time.

Fifteen thousand times the speed of light!

In that instant, time seemed to slow to an infinite crawl.

The minds of the three Crystal Clan marquises were still lingering in the pleasure of tormenting Marquis Liewu; their soul-waves had not yet fully dissipated.

The look of resolve in Marquis Liewu’s eyes had only just emerged, his movement to burn his life force barely begun.

Yet Qin Feng had already crossed the vast distance of millions of miles to reach the battlefield!

"Audacious!"

"Who dares ambush us!"

Almost the moment Qin Feng appeared, terrified roars erupted from the souls of the three Crystal Clan marquises.

Their combat instincts sensed a lethal threat, but their thoughts and actions were utterly unable to keep pace with the black lightning.

One marquis, closest to Qin Feng, instinctively tried to turn and defend, but its crystal body had barely shifted a fraction of an inch.

However, it was far too late.

Qin Feng’s target had never been any of the three!

His figure moved like a surgical blade, grazing the body of the nearest marquis at an impossible angle. The Star-Swallowing Spear in his hand, concentrated with the peerless might of his Ultimate Form and the destructive will of his pitch-black spiritual power, struck unerringly at the weakest and most critical psionic node of the massive containment field!

It was a diamond-shaped crystal at its lowest point of defense during the psionic transition!

"BOOM!"

A thunderous roar, capable of shattering souls, exploded in the vacuum of space!

Qin Feng did not choose to clash head-on with the full might of the formation—that would have been foolish. He chose to break the whole by striking a single point, pouring all his power into that one spot!

The collision between the spear tip and the psionic node triggered a catastrophic chain reaction!

Crack!

Crack, crack...

Centered on the struck node, pitch-black fissures spread like a spiderweb, instantly covering the crystal walls of the Seven-Colored Glazed Realm!

Violent psionic energy poured from the cracks, triggering intense spatial explosions.

"It... it is pure black-grade spiritual power!!"

"This aura... this speed... he is the top-ranked fiend on the bounty list, Qin Feng!!"

The marquis controlling the formation, suffering a soul-backlash the moment the array broke, let out a soul-piercing roar of horror and despair.

The name "Fiend" acted like the most terrifying curse, causing the other two marquises to freeze in their tracks.

It was a fear etched into the souls of all powerful beings—a taboo existence who, while still a Domain Lord, had slain marquises!

How could he be here?!

In that split second, Qin Feng’s calm, steady voice rang out like thunder in Marquis Liewu’s soul:

"Marquis Liewu, flee at once!"

Marquis Liewu was stunned by the sudden turn of events, but upon hearing that voice and sensing that familiar, overbearing aura, he instantly recognized his savior!

Qin Feng!

The peerless fiend who had created a myth on the Island of Dead Meteors and reversed the tide of battle single-handedly!

Despair was instantly replaced by ecstasy!

A veteran of countless battles, his combat instincts were bone-deep.

He understood immediately that this was the one and only chance for escape, created by Qin Feng at the risk of his own life!

"ROAR!"

Marquis Liewu bellowed, squeezing out every last drop of remaining power. He transformed into a brilliant streak of fire, abandoning the fight entirely and charging straight through the massive gap Qin Feng had torn open!

Having succeeded, Qin Feng did not linger.

His goal was achieved.

Just as the three Crystal Clan marquises recovered from their shock and fury, attempting to stabilize the formation and launch a counterattack, Qin Feng’s Black Sky Wings flared. He transformed back into that incomprehensible black streak of light, vanishing into the depths of the star sea in a direction opposite to Marquis Liewu, leaving no trace behind.

Fast!

He came like a gale, and left even faster!

From his initial strike to the shattering of the array, the rescue, and the final retreat, the entire sequence flowed like water, swift to the point of impossibility, as if it were nothing more than a hallucination.

Where he had stood, there remained only the fractured, slowly collapsing crystal formation and three Crystal-clan marquises, their bodies trembling, their souls roiling with a mixture of fury, terror, and a sliver of relief.

They could not lock onto Qin Feng’s aura, nor could they even discern the direction in which he had vanished.

That terrifying speed had utterly transcended the limits of their perception.

"Bastard! You bastard!"

"Qin Feng! It was actually Qin Feng!"

"Why would he appear in Sector 239781?!"

A brief, deathly silence gave way to a hysterical, soul-shaking roar.

The prey had slipped through their fingers, and a long-planned hunt had crumbled to dust; how could they not be enraged?

Yet, beneath the anger lay a deep, lingering dread.

That streak of black light—had they been the target, would any of them have stood a chance of blocking it?

The answer was... no.

They would not even have had the chance to react.

"He... he is even more formidable than the intelligence reports described!"

"Calm yourself!"

The leader of the Crystal marquises forcibly suppressed the fear in his heart, his crystalline form flickering with a dangerous light. "We cannot catch him, but his trail has been exposed!"

"Indeed!"

Another marquis realized instantly. "He has appeared in Sector 239781! This news is worth more than the life of Marquis Liewu!"

"The bounty of a Sovereign-level treasure! The highest-level wanted order issued by the peak races! Providing his exact location is a reward that could drive us to madness!"

The soul-fluctuations of the three marquises turned frantic as greed eclipsed their terror.

"Quick! Transmit the news at once!

Report that the fiend Qin Feng has appeared in Sector 239781, coordinates XXX, XXX! He wields pure black mental energy, possesses speed exceeding ten thousand times the speed of light, and is suspected to be heading toward the Tianyan Universe City!"

"Notify all our kin within the sector! Notify all allied factions! Mobilize every resource to cast a net from which there is no escape!"

"We cannot let him slip away with that Sovereign-level bounty on his head! He must have a vital objective for coming here; we cannot allow him to succeed!"

Ripples of space, laden with urgent intelligence, radiated from that point, spreading rapidly in every direction.

A massive storm, fueled by a king’s ransom in rewards, began to weave itself across the chaotic sector with astonishing speed.

At the center of this storm, Qin Feng and the successfully liberated Marquis Liewu were already hurtling through the boundless star sea, moving at transcendent speeds toward vastly different destinations.

...

Sector 239781, Tianyan Universe City.

This was the eye of the gathering storm.

Qin Feng had retracted every trace of his aura, moving like a ghost along the main thoroughfare of Tianyan Universe City, a road wide enough for starships to sail abreast.

He did not invoke the ostentatious ten-thousand-fold light speed of his Black Sky Wings, nor did he release that signature, pure black mental energy that struck fear into the hearts of geniuses across all races.

He wore nothing more than the most ordinary black martial robes, his presence suppressed to the point of invisibility, as if he were a mere speck of dust lost in a torrent of powerful lifeforms.

Yet, his deep, fathomless eyes acted like the most precise sensors, calmly observing every detail of this war-torn metropolis. Tianyan Universe City—its name, "Tianyan," derived from the concept of "the evolution of the Heavenly Dao, encompassing all things."

On the streets, the air was thick with the volatile, intermingled scents of life.

Countless bizarre races passed by; some resembled mounds of writhing flesh, while others were simply sentient masses of psionic energy.

They were all top-tier powerhouses, drawn by the legends of the "Seven Heavens Abyss" and "Eternal Mountain."

The aura of a marquis was commonplace here; nine out of ten beings brushing past on the street had reached that level.

Occasionally, a pressure far exceeding that of a marquis—deep and abyssal—would sweep across the area. These were the arrivals of Sovereign-level powerhouses; wherever they passed, all sound died, and every creature instinctively bowed its head in reverence.

The air was heavy with an indescribable tension.

It was a high-concentration pheromone of greed, vigilance, murderous intent, and opportunity, enough to shatter the dao-heart of any wavering cultivator.

In the depths of every creature’s eyes hid the glint of a hunter; they observed others even as they were observed. A single moment of negligence could invite a fatal strike.

This was a paradise for the strong and a hell for the weak.

Qin Feng’s destination was a tavern in the south of the city called "Listening Wind Tower."

This was the meeting place he had arranged with Marquis Liewu.

After the rescue, the two had not exchanged many words, for the void had already been locked by countless divine senses, both overt and hidden; any lingering would have been perilous.

The exterior of the Listening Wind Tower was unremarkable—a three-story building constructed of gray-blue stone, lost among more magnificent structures, easily missed if one were not searching for it.

Qin Feng pushed open the door, and a wave of alcohol fermented from the fluids of various races, mingled with the rich aroma of roasted meat, rushed to meet him.

The tavern was dim and deafeningly loud.

Cultivators of different races sat around rugged stone tables, laughing and shouting in their own tongues, debating recent rumors, boasting of their battle records, or cursing some rival who had snatched their prey.

It was a gathering place for all walks of life, and the fastest conduit for intelligence.

Qin Feng’s gaze swept across the noisy hall before he headed straight for the second floor.

He had already used the information provided by Marquis Liewu to reserve a private room on the top floor.

"Heaven-tier, Room Three."

The waiter guarding the stairs was an octopus-like creature with eight arms. It took the token Qin Feng offered with one arm, while the eye-like organs on its other limbs rotated simultaneously to verify it. Finding it authentic, it bowed and stepped aside respectfully.

As he stepped onto the stairs leading to the third floor, the clamor of the outside world was completely severed by an invisible barrier, and the world fell instantly silent.

Pushing open the heavy metal door, the interior of the room came into view.

The room was small but elegantly appointed.

A square table carved from a single piece of warm jade sat in the center, already prepared with several exquisite side dishes and a pot of warm Star River vintage.

Marquis Liewu sat at the table. He had shed his blood-stained armor, damaged in the battle, for a clean, crisp cyan robe. Though his face remained pale from his previous exhaustion, his eyes were as sharp as a hawk’s.

Seeing Qin Feng enter, his tense frame relaxed, and a genuine, hearty smile broke across his face.

"Brother Qin Feng, you finally made it! Please, sit!"

He rose to pour a cup of wine for Qin Feng himself.

The liquid was a brilliant amber, within which countless miniature stars seemed to float, emitting a refreshing, intoxicating fragrance.

"Come, Brother Qin Feng, this cup—I toast you!"

Marquis Liewu held the cup with both hands, his expression solemn, devoid of any empty pleasantries. "Thank you for this! If you hadn't struck when you did, this life of mine would have been forfeit today at the hands of those three Crystal-clan bastards. I will remember this debt of life! Should you ever have need of me in the future, I will not hesitate, even unto death!"

With that, he tilted his head and drained the cup in one motion, a crisp, clean action without a single drop spilled, embodying the heroic spirit of a soldier.

Qin Feng smiled faintly and raised his own cup, drinking it down. A warm, surging psionic energy slid down his throat, instantly transforming into pure power that nourished his every limb and bone.

He could feel the sincerity in Marquis Liewu’s words. This marquis, whom he had met briefly on the Isle of Dead Stars, possessed a character as his title suggested—fierce, valiant, and clear in his debts of gratitude and enmity.

"Marquis Liewu, you are too kind."

Qin Feng set down his glass and spoke with calm composure, "You and I are both comrades of the human race. In this chaotic battlefield of ten thousand races, we ought to assist one another. Had you been the one in peril, I am certain you would not have stood idly by."

"Hahaha, that goes without saying!"

Marquis Liewu burst into laughter, the last vestiges of his reserve dissipating into the air.

He refilled Qin Feng’s glass before settling back into his seat, his expression gradually darkening. "However, speaking of which, I do have a question. Brother Qin Feng, what brings you to this war zone so suddenly? This place is... well, it is hardly a sanctuary."

Qin Feng picked up a piece of dried meat from an unknown exotic beast.

He did not answer immediately, instead countering with a question: "You seem well-versed in the situation here, Senior. I would like to ask first: why were you targeted by those three high-level marquises of the Crystal Race? They seemed intent on hounding you to the grave."

At the mention of this, a shadow of frustration crossed the Marquis’s face.

He let out a heavy sigh, drained his glass in one gulp, and explained, "Don't ask. It was all born of greed.

Some time ago, in the ruins of a dying galaxy, I discovered a secondary deposit of 'Void Nether Divine Crystals.' While it doesn't compare to the primary vein, it remains a top-tier material for forging King-level artifacts.

I thought I had acted in total secrecy, but it seems that ruin had long been marked by a squad from the Crystal Race."

"Naturally, a conflict erupted.

Relying on my own strength, I slew two of their junior marquises and seized the goods.

Little did I know, those wretches were the direct descendants of a King-level powerhouse of the Crystal Race. I had poked a hornet's nest.

That is what drew those three high-level marquises to hunt me for months on end."

There was a hint of self-mockery in the Marquis’s tone, but far more resignation. "That is not even the most critical part. The most critical part is that your presence here, Brother Qin Feng, is ten thousand times more dangerous than being hunted by those three! This place is a powder keg with a lit fuse!"

His voice dropped to a whisper, his eyes filled with profound anxiety, as if he could already see the terrifying predicament looming over Qin Feng.

He leaned in closer, speaking at a volume only the two of them could hear, detailing the current landscape.

"The news that the 'Seven Heavens Abyss' and the 'Eternal Mountain' have manifested is no longer a secret; it has likely reached the core of every race in the universe. Do you know what this implies?"

The Marquis’s eyes shimmered with trepidation. "It means a gluttonous feast, drawing in countless galaxies and countless powerhouses, is about to begin in this very sector!

Inside the 'Eternal Mountain' lie treasures that would make even Emperor-level monsters covet them, capable of helping them break through to higher realms.

And the 'Seven Heavens Abyss' is even more inscrutable; it is said to be a trial ground left by seven ancient gods, containing complete divine arts!

Divine arts! Things even demigods dream of!"

"So, when people say that in this war zone, marquises are as common as dogs and kings walk the streets, it is no exaggeration!

I have received confirmed intelligence that several reclusive Emperor-level monsters have already dispatched avatars of their will, or even descended in their true forms to nearby star systems. They are all waiting—waiting for those two forbidden zones to stabilize and officially open!"

At this, he stared fixedly at Qin Feng, his tone heavy as lead: "And you... Brother Qin Feng, what are you to these wolves gathering from every corner of the universe?"

"You are not merely an opportunity; you are the ultimate prize!"

"You are a thorn in the side of all races! You are a walking, breathing treasure vault!"

The Marquis grew agitated, his finger tapping heavily against the tabletop.

"The Holy Light Race, the Mechanical Race, the Crystal Race... as far as I know, these three top-tier powers alone have issued the highest level of bounty on your head!

The reward is a complete, authentic Emperor-level artifact!

An Emperor-level artifact, brother!

That is enough to drive any peak marquis, or even a King-level powerhouse, into a frenzy!

They will swarm here like sharks smelling blood, hunting you down at any cost!"

"Though you only struck for a moment earlier, your signature pitch-black spiritual energy and that impossible speed cannot be hidden.

I would bet that by now, the news of 'the Fierce God Qin Feng appearing in Tianyan Universe City' has spread like a cosmic plague through every channel.

At this very moment, every powerhouse in this war zone who has heard the news has likely elevated the priority of finding you to the absolute maximum!"

The more the Marquis spoke, the more frantic he became. He looked at Qin Feng almost pleadingly: "Brother Qin Feng, heed my advice. You cannot move an inch here!

This place has become a dragnet designed specifically for you.

Your best option is to immediately use the long-range teleportation array of the Universe City and return to the core of human territory to lie low!

Wait until your strength advances further before emerging. A wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall!"

He had told Qin Feng everything he knew, holding nothing back.

He did not want to watch this peerless prodigy—who had just saved his life and carried the hopes of the entire human race—fall in the heart of this storm due to a moment of carelessness.

Yet, after hearing this exhaustive and well-intentioned warning, Qin Feng’s face did not show the gravity, worry, or fear the Marquis had expected.

On the contrary, a faint, imperceptible smile curled the corners of Qin Feng’s lips.

He calmly raised his glass, drained it once more, and shook his head.

"I thank you for your kindness, Senior. I truly appreciate it."

His voice was as still as an ancient well, without a ripple of disturbance. "However, it is of no concern."

"I did not come here intending to keep a low profile."

"In fact..."

Qin Feng raised his eyes, his profound gaze locking onto the Marquis, and said word by word, "I am hoping they all come looking for me."

"Hum—"

The Marquis’s mind went completely blank the moment those words landed.

He widened his eyes, staring at Qin Feng in disbelief, as if looking at a madman.

He even instinctively dug at his ear, seriously suspecting that his soul had been damaged in the previous battle, causing him to suffer auditory hallucinations.

"Wh-what?"

The Marquis’s voice was dry and hoarse. He struggled to organize his words, each syllable a monumental effort. "Brother Qin Feng... what... what did you just say?"

You hope they all come looking for you?

What kind of insane rhetoric was this?

What was he trying to do? Fight the top powerhouses of the entire universe, all of whom were currently converging here, with his own two hands?

This was no longer a matter of courage; this was an act of suicide!

Even for a supreme prodigy in the God-Forbidden Realm, the only choice when faced with such a formation would be to retreat. No one could be foolish enough to actively provoke the greed of the entire universe!

Qin Feng watched the Marquis, who was utterly stunned, and merely smiled without repeating himself.

He did not explain his earth-shattering plan to the Marquis, for it was too insane, too inconceivable. To speak of it would only cause the man more worry, or perhaps lead him to believe that Qin Feng had become hopelessly arrogant.

But within his own heart, the clear strategic thread became ever more resolute.

'Too many enemies is, in the end, a massive nuisance.'

Qin Feng’s gaze seemed to pierce through the walls of the tavern, seeing the massive city outside churning with undercurrents, and further still, the star sector being roiled into chaos by the presence of countless powerhouses.

'From the Island of Death to the Genius Tournament, and now to the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Races... I have walked a path that has sown deadly enemies across the universe. The Holy Light Race, the Mechanical Race, the Crystal Race, the Zerg... almost every top-tier race views me as a thorn in their side.'

'This feeling of being constantly hunted is like a maggot in the bone; no matter where I go, they will swarm me like flies smelling carrion.'

'This time, it is for the [Primordial Fire] of the Furnace Village. Next time, it will be for some other opportunity.'

'As long as I live, as long as the name "Fierce God Qin Feng" remains at the top of the bounty list, such hunts and sieges will never cease.'

This drains my energy to such an extent that I cannot focus on pursuing the things that truly matter. It is like an invisible shackle, pinning me firmly in the light, making me a target for everyone’s attacks.

If that is the case...

A glint of profound, almost manic brilliance flashed deep within his eyes.

...rather than passively enduring this endless harassment, I should do the exact opposite!

I will simply use the opening of the Seven-Day Abyss and the Eternal Mountain as a catalyst to blow this matter wide open! To turn everything upside down!

I want everyone to know that I, Qin Feng, am right here! I will draw the gaze of the entire war zone upon myself! I will stoke their greed to the point of combustion!

And then...

At the most opportune moment, under the eyes of the world, I will stage a magnificent "death"!

This insane notion spiraled through Qin Feng’s mind, eventually coalescing into a clear, logically airtight plan of action.

The existence of the Twin Masks gave him the absolute confidence to execute this scheme.

As long as the mechanical avatar within his Qin Feng Universe City remained intact, he was effectively immortal.

A "death" would not truly be his end.

On the contrary, a perfect "death" would yield endless benefits.

First, the name "Fiend-God Qin Feng" would vanish entirely from the sight of the myriad races in the universe.

Those astronomical bounties would become nothing more than empty paper.

From then on, no one would waste their efforts hunting a "dead man."

He would shift from a visible target to a hunter lurking in the deepest shadows.

He could change his identity, alter his appearance, and infiltrate anywhere he pleased to seize any interest he desired, all without raising a single alarm.

He could truly and fearlessly pursue his next plans—finding the Primordial Fire, perfecting the Path of Extremity, and expanding his head start to an insurmountable degree before the Golden Age fully descended!

This was the only, and most perfect, way to break the deadlock in a world where everyone was his enemy.

Marquis Liewu naturally knew nothing of the turbulent schemes churning within Qin Feng’s mind.

He merely read in Qin Feng’s terrifyingly calm gaze a resolve he could not comprehend, yet one that made his instincts tremble.

He remained silent for a long time, searching for even a trace of jest on Qin Feng’s face, but he failed.

Qin Feng’s expression was so earnest that it made his scalp tingle.

In the end, all his shock, confusion, and worry dissolved into a long, heavy sigh.

He raised the flagon and filled the cups for himself and Qin Feng once more.

This time, he did not offer any dissuasion.

...What courage!

Marquis Liewu’s voice was hoarse, yet filled with heartfelt shock and admiration.

He lifted his cup with both hands, solemn as he faced Qin Feng.

Brother Qin Feng, you are truly worthy of the name "Fiend-God"!

He finally understood why this young man, countless years his junior, had reached a height he could only look up to.

This composure, unshaken even as Mount Tai crumbled before him, and this madness and heroism to defy the entire universe, were things he could never hope to match.

I do not know what your hidden cards are, nor do I know what you intend to do.

Marquis Liewu’s eyes became incredibly grave. But since you have made up your mind, I, Liewu, will say no more to dissuade you.

I will only say one thing.

If the situation becomes impossible, you must find a way to escape to Tianyan Universe City!

The master of that city, the Heavenly Derivation King, is my mentor!

He enunciated each word clearly, revealing a secret that would move countless powerhouses. At the same time, my master is a close friend of your master, the Heaven-Swallowing King!

As long as you can escape into that city, and as long as you remain within its walls, even if a Sovereign-level powerhouse descends in person, my master can absolutely ensure your safety!

This was the greatest assistance he could offer Qin Feng.

A promise of protection from a Sovereign-level powerhouse was of immeasurable value.

Qin Feng felt a flicker of warmth in his eyes upon hearing this.

He could sense the weight of Marquis Liewu’s promise; it was not mere courtesy, but a trust and goodwill to which he could entrust his life.

He stood up and bowed solemnly to Marquis Liewu.

Thank you for telling me, Senior, and thank you for the protection offered by the Heavenly Derivation King.

This kindness, Qin Feng will remember.

A storm was already brewing in the boundless starfields outside Tianyan Universe City.

Yet, at the heart of the storm, in this small tavern room, everything remained strangely calm.