Chaos Heavenly Emperor Art

"Who are you?"

Yang Ning suddenly focused his gaze on "Heath," seemingly flustered, his right hand already quietly slipping inside his wide robe.

This kid, all alone, actually managed to break into the inner courtyard of the Supreme Research Institute; he certainly has some ability.

But ultimately, they were still too inexperienced.

As long as he presses the alarm, the Silent Guards stationed in the inner courtyard will arrive at his side immediately.

"Boy, you're done!"

Finally, he reached for the alarm in his pocket and pressed it hard inside his robe.

however--

no response!
He wasn't giving up, so he pressed it again!
Still no response!
"This……"

Yang Ning panicked completely, looking around frantically, "Where am I?"

Ling Feng gave a cold laugh, "Tell me in detail, how am I finished?"

"This……"

Yang Ning swallowed hard, cold sweat immediately beading on his forehead. "I...cough cough...I was just...just kidding, to lighten the mood, don't take it too seriously..."

"Hmph, you dare to play tricks in front of this sir!"

Xilan seized the opportunity to flatter Ling Feng, while glaring at Yang Ning and loudly rebuking him, "You old bastard, you'd better cooperate!"

Ling Feng smiled coldly; he had no interest in wasting time watching any "dog-eat-dog" drama.

Then, under Yang Ning's astonished and uncertain gaze, "Heath's" body swayed slightly, and a phantom figure seemed to separate from the water, slowly detaching from Heath's body.

Heath's body lost its support and collapsed limply, unconscious.

The illusory figure that had detached from Hiss's body quickly solidified in mid-air.

A drop of blood, dazzlingly crimson and containing unimaginable, immense power of vital energy, began to spin rapidly.

The blood droplets continued to grow and expand, and within a few breaths, a black-haired youth appeared in front of the two.

He was tall and handsome, yet possessed a resolute air that suggested he had weathered many storms. His eyebrows were sharp and his eyes were bright and piercing.

Dressed simply in black, he couldn't conceal the sharp aura emanating from within, a aura that seemed capable of cutting through anything.

It was Ling Feng!

"This...this is..."

Yang Ning's pupils contracted sharply, and her heart pounded wildly.

This face...

He felt vaguely familiar with them, as if he had seen them somewhere before!

Professor Xilan, who was kneeling on the ground, was terrified the moment Ling Feng revealed his true form. As if she had seen the most terrifying nightmare in the world, she screamed in a shrill voice, "You are number 27? How is this possible? Shouldn't you be completely under Lord Siyou's control? How dare you sneak into the inner courtyard of the Supreme Research Institute?"

Number 27, which was Ling Zhan's previous "codename".

After Ling Feng fell into the Judgment Council, the Council spent a lot of resources to create dozens of clones.

But in the end, only "Number 27" survived.

Subsequently, a large amount of resources were poured into No. 27, which led to his successful transformation into the Ling Zhan he is today.

Furthermore, he awakened the divine authority of the Chaos Dragon God, and his strength was almost on par with Ling Feng's original form.

"Humph!"

Ling Feng coldly glanced at the screaming Xi Lan, his gaze like a tangible ice spike, instantly choking Xi Lan's scream in her throat, leaving only a terrified "gurgle," and she curled up, wishing she could disappear into the ground.

He forced a smile, quickly shut his mouth, and then made a zipping gesture around his mouth.

The next moment, Ling Feng's gaze returned to Yang Ning, his voice calm yet carrying an unquestionable command: "Hand over the second key to the Eternal Spirit Realm!"

"The key to the Eternal Spirit Realm?"

Yang Ning turned to look at Xilan, shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Looks like you old man, you've given up on everything."

"Hand it over!"

Ling Feng frowned. "I don't have much patience!"

Yang Ning sized up Ling Feng, remained silent for a moment, and then gritted his teeth and said, "You're not Number 27, you're the original body that was rescued back then! I didn't expect you to be able to make a comeback so quickly!"

A hint of shock flashed in his eyes. He paused, then continued his analysis, "You want the key to the Eternal Spirit Realm. It seems your goal is to rescue that female descendant!"

He was referring to Yu Bingqing's true form.

Ling Feng snorted coldly, clearly having no interest in wasting any more words explaining to him.

He took a step forward, instantly covering several meters, and appeared in front of Yang Ning like a ghost. With lightning speed, he grabbed Yang Ning by the neck and lifted him up.

"Uh……"

Yang Ning felt a sudden tightness in his chest, his hands instinctively gripping Ling Feng's iron-like wrists, his legs kicking weakly. His eyes, bulging from lack of oxygen, were filled with shock, anger, and pain behind his gold-rimmed glasses.

"I've said it before, my patience is limited."

Ling Feng's eyes were filled with ferocity. "Hand over the key, or die."

"Yes! Yes! That's it, kill him, hahaha!"

Hilan, standing to the side, was somewhat gloating, but only dared to mutter to herself.

"Let go... let go quickly..."

Yang Ning struggled with difficulty, his face turning red from suffocation.

During the struggle, his fingers inadvertently tugged at Ling Feng's shirt, slightly opening the black garment.

In that instant, Yang Ning's gaze caught a glimpse of a strange golden hue peeking out from below Ling Feng's neck, near his collarbone.

The gold color wasn't just a simple metallic luster; it had a texture that seemed to flow with life.

This is……

Suddenly, Yang Ning's eyelids twitched violently, causing him to temporarily forget his dangerous situation. His eyes were fixed on that golden light, and with all his might, he forced out an incredulous exclamation from his throat: "No... impossible! This is the Radiant Gold Cloth?! How... how could... the Radiant Gold Cloth be on you?!" Upon hearing this, Ling Feng's heart jolted!
How could he recognize the Shining Gold Cloth?

It can be said that since he obtained this radiant gold armor, almost no one except Hector himself knew this secret.

Even Bei Mingwu, whom he had met several times, did not recognize him!

How could someone recognize Yang Ning at a glance?

Ling Feng released his grip on Yang Ning's neck and threw him aside, his sharp gaze scrutinizing every subtle expression on Yang Ning's face: "How do you recognize the Radiant Gold Cloth?"

Yang Ning fell to the ground, clutching his neck and coughing violently, gasping for air.

But he couldn't bother to soothe the discomfort in his throat. He suddenly raised his head, his gaze still fixed on the faint golden patterns on Ling Feng's chest. His face was filled with excitement, as well as a hint of confusion and reminiscence.

"Of course I recognize it!"

Yang Ning's voice was hoarse and trembling with excitement, "The original design blueprints of the Radiant Gold Cloth... I saw them countless times when I was young! The energy flow patterns on them are a feature that can only be formed using my teacher's unique 'Active Fluid Forging Method'! It's one of a kind!"

He struggled to his feet, his eyes burning as he looked at Ling Feng, his voice urgent as he demanded, "Tell me! Where is Master Hector now?! Is he still alive? How did you end up wearing this Saint Cloth? Did you... did you take it from him?! You... did you kill him?"

"The Radiant Gold Cloth?"

Sheeran was stunned. Could it be that Ector had already completed the creation of the Radiant Gold Cloth?
In fact, the God-Slaying Weapon project originally belonged to the Inner Court.

However, because they were unable to break through and exhausted a lot of resources and manpower, they only barely reached the level of the Silver Cloth. Therefore, they were "downgraded" to the Middle Court.

This was a project that would have been almost impossible for the inner circle of the Supreme Academy to complete. Unexpectedly, Hector completed it all by himself.
That old fellow, even after all these years, is still an insurmountable mountain!

"Teacher Hector?"

Ling Feng frowned slightly and looked at Yang Ning with some surprise.

This guy is actually Hector's disciple?
That seemingly frail old watchmaker probably held a much higher position in the tribunal than he had imagined!

"Are you Hector's disciple?"

Ling Feng's voice remained cold, but the killing intent within it had lessened slightly.

After all, Hector gifted him the Shining Gold Cloth, and having received this favor, it was naturally inappropriate for him to be too cold-hearted towards his disciple.

"Yes!"

Yang Ning nodded. "Many years ago, I was just an ordinary researcher at the research institute under the Tribunal. Because I showed some talent in the fields of celestial forging and life metals, I was noticed by my teacher and taken as his disciple. I studied under him for a period of time!"

His eyes revealed a complex mix of emotions: nostalgia, guilt, and deep helplessness.

"My teacher... he was a true genius, a master who transcended his time! Whether it was mechanics, energy, or the combination of life and metal, his expertise was unfathomable. This Radiant Gold Cloth is one of the culmination of his life's work! But later... later, because my teacher was dissatisfied with the Judgment Council using his technology for certain... certain forbidden research and persecution, he had a fierce conflict with the higher-ups, and in the end... he chose to defect with the results of the Flowing Silver Cloth."

Ling Feng's gaze narrowed slightly. This statement was exactly the same as what Hector had said back then.

Yang Ning's voice lowered, tinged with pain: "Back then, I had little influence, and I was afraid of the power of the Tribunal. I didn't have the courage to leave with my teacher... I could only watch helplessly as he was wanted and hunted down... I even had to distance myself from him... I... I was truly a worthless person!"

As he spoke, he slapped himself hard several times, then raised his head and looked earnestly at Ling Feng: "Tell me, is my teacher alright? The Golden Cloth is on you, you... are you my teacher's new disciple?"

Ling Feng calmly observed Yang Ning's every expression and every change in his eyes.

With his powerful divine sense, he could clearly discern that Yang Ning's emotional fluctuations at this moment were extremely genuine. His concern for his teacher and his regret for his cowardice back then did not seem fake.

Especially when Hector was mentioned, the genuine respect and concern he showed were not feigned.

"Humph!"

Ling Feng snorted coldly and said indifferently, "Even if you are Hector's disciple, it doesn't mean I will trust you, much less spare your life."

He paused, then continued, "I am not his disciple, but I should be considered one of his... friends. This Radiant Gold Cloth is a gift he gave me. As for Master Hector himself, he faked his death and went into hiding to avoid the Inquisition's pursuit, and he is safe now."

"The teacher is still alive... The teacher is still alive!"

Yang Ning murmured repeatedly, her expression shifting from tension and worry to a relieved sense of relief, "Teacher is still alive... That's wonderful... That's really wonderful..."

He took a deep breath, and when he looked at Ling Feng again, most of the hostility and wariness in his eyes had dissipated.

Instead, a complex emotion arose, a mixture of gratitude and resolve.

"Thank you for telling me about the teacher."

As he spoke, he bowed deeply to Ling Feng, then straightened his disheveled research robe, his expression becoming serious and earnest. "Since you are someone Professor Hector trusts, and possess the Radiant Gold Cloth, then... I am willing to trust you as well. From this moment on, I am willing to assist you unconditionally! You want to rescue your companions, right? I'm willing to help you!"

Ling Feng stared at him, his gaze sharp. Of course, he wouldn't easily believe this Yang Ning.

Despite his connection with Hector, he actually knew nothing about Yang Ning.

"Thank you so much for your help, but..."

Ling Feng paused, then casually took out a pill. "Let's be honest first, then trust you. Take this and I'll believe you."

"Poison?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Yang Ning took the pill, gulped it down, and said, "Now, can you rest assured?"

"Thank you very much, Professor Yang!"

Ling Feng nodded, and the last bit of hostility he had towards Yang Ning completely dissipated.

"professor……"

Yang Ning gave a bitter laugh, his smile filled with self-mockery: "Heh... I'm just a coward trapped in a cage, afraid to even acknowledge my own teacher. All these years, I've been tormented every moment. I studied life sciences with the initial intention of healing and creation, but here, many research results have ultimately become tools for killing and control... I'm already fed up with it."

His gaze hardened: "The teacher's choice was right. I should have left with the teacher back then! Meeting you today, being able to help the person the teacher trusted, may be a chance for me to atone for my sins."

Ling Feng remained silent for a moment, then said calmly, "If Senior Hector could hear what you said, he probably wouldn't blame you. Now, Professor Yang, please take me to retrieve the second key to the Eternal Spirit Realm."

"Ah."

Yang Ning nodded, "Of course!"

Just as the atmosphere between Ling Feng and Yang Ning was subtly changing because of Hector's relationship, Professor Shilan, who was standing to the side, felt his heart sink!

Finished!

He originally hoped that after Ling Feng captured Yang Ning, he would use him and then get rid of him, so that he could not only live but also use him to kill his old rival.

But to his utter surprise, Yang Ning, through his relationship with Hector, quickly became "one of their own" with Ling Feng.

So, he's the only outsider here? (End of Chapter)