Chapter 114: The Thief of the Ancient Flame Wind Nation

The Ancient Flame Wind Nation, Qingchong Chaos Region, outside Tianqu City's "Tianqu Mining Zone."

"Shhh."

A thread of light crossed vast emptiness, appearing in the wasteland beyond the Tianqu Mining Zone, then coalescing into a figure—Luo Feng, who had arrived from Chu Capital.

Luo Feng primarily focused on five Transformation Arts: the Milky Way Transformation Art excelled at long-range attacks, while the other four were better suited for close combat by integrating into the body. This thread piercing through empty space was the "Escape Transformation Art," famed for its ability to traverse empty space with astonishing speed. Whether for escape or close-quarters combat, the dramatic boost in movement speed proved immensely valuable.

The fact that Luo Feng chose the Escape Art as one of the five Transformation Arts proves its exceptional nature—especially after fusing "one hundred and eight trillion drops," its ability to traverse empty space underwent a qualitative leap.

"In just over an hour, I reached Qingchong Chaos Region from Chu Capital. After enhancing my life essence, the Escape Transformation Art's power has indeed improved significantly." Luo Feng was satisfied, then gazed ahead at the Tianqu Mining Zone.

"The Tianqu Mining Zone covers an enormous area—much larger than Hu Yang City." Luo Feng observed, "It's also shrouded by an array. Stealing from it will be extremely difficult."

"A thief must either be an insider within management, or possess extraordinary skill."

Luo Feng had learned the full details of this mission from Di Chu Yu, understanding its complications: "The highest administrator of the Tianqu Mining Zone—the Warden of Tianqu City—is itself a top-tier Chaos Realm existence. Even the Warden of Tianqu City couldn't uncover the thief's identity."

Because management failed to identify the thief, the Di Chu lineage ultimately issued this mission.

Ancient Divine Kings and transcendent Chaos Realm beings would never demean themselves by stealing mere Tianqu Stone Essences. Thus, Di Chu Yu believed Luo He's investigation carried little danger.

"Let's begin!"

Luo Feng already had his own solution prepared.

Standing on the wasteland beyond the Tianqu Mining Zone, countless silver streams immediately flowed into the earth, rapidly thinning until they became finer than the naked eye of any True God could perceive.

Countless threads spread swiftly, penetrating deep into the earth, encircling the entire Tianqu Mining Zone.

"The Tianqu Mining Zone has a diameter of roughly eight trillion kilometers. My Milky Way Transformation Art can still easily encircle it." Luo Feng was satisfied—he divided ten billion units of the Milky Way, their countless threads weaving freely like a celestial net, completely sealing off the entire mining zone.

As the encirclement completed, Luo Feng sensed the array's purpose.

"The array's function isn't merely to block tracking—it's primarily to channel heavenly and earthly forces, accelerating the formation of 'Tianqu Stone Essences.'" Luo Feng felt vast amounts of heavenly and earthly energy continuously drawn inward.

The Ancient Flame Wind Nation lay at the heart of the Origin Continent, naturally rich in treasures. Under the array's guidance, the Tianqu Stone Essences formed even faster.

"Hum."

Luo Feng quietly approached the Tianqu Mining Zone, then used his Transformation Art to become a wisp of wind, naturally clinging to a miner. Many miners frequently traveled between "Tianqu City" and the mining zone.

……

Deep within the mining zone, darkness was impenetrable.

"The underground 'Fengyou Seven' mining area—I heard the last team sent in all died." The miner cultivators marching forward were all tense.

"The mining zone used to be safe. But in recent eons, miners keep dying—several Eternal True Gods have perished. We True Gods can't even fight back."

"Hope we get lucky this time."

The miner cultivators comforted each other, pressing deeper.

Under the mining zone's array, they couldn't even slack off.

"We're here—Fengyou Seven Zone! Get to work." The team leader ordered.

Fengyou Seven was among the deepest regions, over three trillion kilometers below the surface. The miners activated secret techniques, and beams of light flared, illuminating ancient mine tunnels.

They began using secret artifacts to crush surrounding rock and gravel, sifting meticulously through the debris to find the tiny "Tianqu Stone Essence particles."

Tianqu Stone Essences were so minuscule that True Gods had to examine them closely to see them.

After a team labored for an entire eon, accumulating countless particles, they might refine just one or two standard "Tianqu Stone Essences."

"The mining zone's output of Tianqu Stone Essences keeps declining. Yet the higher-ups blame us for not working hard enough."

"I think the Tianqu Stone Essences have already been stolen ahead of time."

The miners chatted idly as they crushed rocks and searched again and again for the tiny particles.

At this moment, very near them.

"Chit-chit-chit~~~" A vast shadow seeped through countless rocks, slowly filtering out individual tiny particles.

Each time miners sifted, they surrendered their meager finds—too small to be worth stealing. So "it" could only laboriously steal for itself—and with its power, it stole far faster than these miners.

"Boom!" The team leader activated a secret artifact, blasting apart vast rock masses to make it easier for miners to grind and sift.

Blasting rock required careful planning—otherwise, underground tunnels would collapse. This task fell solely to the team leader.

"Boom." As massive rockfalls erupted, a vast shadow flickered faintly into view.

"No!"

The team leader gasped in shock; the other miners turned pale.

"Call for help!"

"Save us!" They each activated their communication talismans.

"So many tunnels everywhere, and that old bastard's pushing me to steal faster—I slipped up and got caught." The vast shadow grew impatient, unleashing a surge of power toward the miners.

The miners' faces twisted in terror as the shadow surged toward them.

"Shhh." A black-clad man appeared out of thin air before the miners. Chit-chit-chit~~~ His robes dissolved into countless streams of black liquid, which naturally seeped into the rock, instantly enveloping the vast shadow.

"Bold indeed—you've been stealing all along." Luo Feng watched the enveloped shadow.

The greatest concern during Luo Feng's mission… was that the thief might steal only occasionally—if he wasn't present now, completing the mission would be nearly impossible.

But given the difficulty of harvesting Tianqu Stone Essences—requiring long-term accumulation—the odds of catching him in the act were still high.

"A new Chaos Realm?" The vast shadow was stunned.

Whoosh.

Without a sound, the shadow vanished entirely.

"Hmm?" Countless black liquids retracted into his robes. Luo Feng frowned—his mind activated the Milky Way Transformation Art, which had already formed a celestial net, now exploding with full power to completely seal off the area.

Hum!!!

A colossal silver cage materialized, its power terrifying, sealing the entire Tianqu Mining Zone.

At this moment, waves of energy scattered in all directions, attempting to pierce through empty space—but the region was now sealed. At least, its escape ability could not break through this celestial net.

"Trying to flee?" Luo Feng stood still, countless silver threads permeating the earth, reaching toward the fleeing energy.

!

Previously, ten billion Milky Way units formed the celestial net.

Now, with no concealment, another twenty billion silver threads filled the entire net, leaving the thief nowhere to hide.

"Break it!" Waves of energy slammed against countless silver lights above, and against silver lights beneath the earth.

After comprehending the First Trial of the "Eight Trials of Life," Luo Feng's five Transformation Arts had all gained enhanced life essence, their power significantly increased. Now, the celestial net was absolute—the shadow could not escape, tear, or smash through it.

Chit-chit-chit~~~

Countless silver threads crisscrossed heaven and earth, wrapping each wave of energy—each wrapped wave instantly vanished.

Only one wave remained.

Luo Feng stepped forward, appearing in the sky, gazing at the wave trapped in silver light.

"Spare me! Spare me!" The wave transformed into a gray, furry beast, bowing deeply, "I humbly greet this Chaos Great Sage."

Luo Feng studied the beast.

It was a Chaos Realm beast—but beasts ignorant of the essence of Dao were generally far weaker than true Chaos Realm cultivators. Judging by its power… this Chaos Realm beast was merely average, easily sealed by any single stream of Luo Feng's Milky Way.

"You dare steal Tianqu Stone Essences." Luo Feng stared at it.

"Luo He Guest Minister," the beast suddenly spoke in a strange voice, "My pet has a greedy appetite—it consumed some Tianqu Stone Essences. Please forgive it."

Luo Feng's expression changed slightly.

"I'll make it leave immediately. Just pretend you never caught a thief, alright?" the strange voice said.

"I've been ordered to investigate the thief. Now that I've confirmed its identity, I must report it." Luo Feng replied.

"Will you truly make an enemy of me?" the strange voice asked.

Luo Feng was beginning to feel a headache.

This Chaos Realm beast clearly had a master—someone who sent it here to steal, using methods that bypassed the array's detection.

"Empty words, asking me to abandon my mission?" Luo Feng looked at the beast. "I'll grant you face—let you take it away. But I will still report its identity."

"I admire your courage, Luo He Guest Minister."

With a cold snort,

"No—!" The gray, furry beast screamed, vanishing soundlessly.

Luo Feng frowned at the scene.

This Chaos Realm beast had clearly been enslaved and controlled—killed in an instant by a mere thought.

"So what if the beast is dead? With its identity confirmed, Di Chu's lineage can trace it easily." Luo Feng swept his hand, collecting the beast's remains.

……

"What's happening?" The Warden of Tianqu City left the city, arriving near the Tianqu Mining Zone. He gazed at the colossal silver cage sealing the entire zone, his expression darkening.

The entire silver cage still trembled under internal impacts, warping slightly.

Soon, the silver cage dissolved entirely.

The Warden of Tianqu City saw the black-clad man hovering in midair.

"Luo He Guest Minister?" The Warden recognized him.

"Sent to investigate the thief," Luo Feng didn't hide it—his earlier actions had been recorded by the mining zone's array.

Luo Feng spoke, then stepped forward, piercing empty space and vanishing.

The Warden of Tianqu City's expression shifted.

"So Luo He Guest Minister clashed with it." The Warden thought. He already knew a Chaos Realm beast was stealing—but its ability to evade the array's detection meant its master was terrifyingly powerful.

That's why he pretended he couldn't identify the thief.

(End of Chapter)