Divine-level Base

Han Leiying said, "You’ve done well, Shentu Nan! Leak this information and make sure those people find out. Then, immediately request leave, get out of the Guardian Flame, and return to Xuyang!"

Shentu Nan replied respectfully, "Yes, Young Master!"

’So you found clues this quickly. It seems I underestimated you, Shu Feng! But you’re just some kid from the Lower Class, yet you dare to bare your fangs at me? Then you’ll just have to die. Only when you’re dead will I have the chance to seize your territory and become the Patriarch of the Han Family!’

Han Leiying let out a cold laugh as he reviewed the intelligence report Shu Feng had sent back.

The Xuyang Han Family was one of the powerful Middle Third-Grade Noble Families in the Qianyuan Republic, and the clan was teeming with masters and geniuses. Although Han Leiying was one of the three elites of Shuijing High School, becoming the Patriarch of the Han Family was still an incredibly difficult task.

If Han Leiying could seize Shu Feng’s territory, he would be able to build his own faction, and his power and influence would skyrocket. Moreover, with the merit of having conquered new territory, his claim to the position of Patriarch of the Han Family would be much stronger.

「One day later.」

’Why hasn’t the Guardian Flame sent anyone? Since when did the Guardian Flame become so inefficient?’

After his morning workout with Hassina—from which he won a sweet kiss—Shu Feng returned to his dorm, and a sense of doubt began to creep in.

The Guardian Flame wasn’t like a typical bureaucracy; as soon as it discovered a Spiritualist running rampant, it would react immediately, dispatching experts to suppress the threat.

The creation of a Void Demon Gate and the wicked rituals of various cults all required time to prepare. If discovered early, many of these rituals could be easily destroyed by a single Spirit Master leading a few Spirit Warriors equipped with powerful Secret Treasures. But once a ritual was fully underway, even an expert at the Spirit Sect Realm would face certain death if caught in it.

"Shu Feng, it’s Li Xuan Yi. Your investigation into the Dark Night Church in the Leiyin Republic has been exposed. You’re in grave danger right now. Why haven’t you requested aid from the Guardian Flame? The Dark Night Church has countless hidden masters. Do you really think you can take them on by yourself?"

Shu Feng’s eyes narrowed. "I already did. I followed procedure and requested aid from Guardian Flame headquarters when I sent back the intel."

Li Xuan Yi said angrily, "I know! The intelligence you sent back was intercepted, and your request for aid was erased. These people... they’re getting more and more brazen! To think they’d dare to pull a stunt like this."

Erasing the request for aid and leaking the intelligence was a blatant act of betrayal, designed to send Shu Feng to his death. If word of this got out, the Guardian Flame’s reputation would suffer a massive blow. If the experts who conducted fieldwork for the organization found out, they would all be deeply disillusioned.

’For Han Leiying to resort to such tactics... he’s completely unhinged.’

Li Xuan Yi said, "Shu Feng, you need to run. I’ll resubmit your aid request to the Guardian Flame’s upper echelon through the proper channels. But I’m guessing it’s already too late. The Dark Night Church is bound to make their next move. If you run now, you might still have a chance to survive."

A cold glint flashed in Shu Feng’s eyes. "I understand."

’Looks like I need to prepare. Do I risk a fight, or do I just get out of here?’

After hanging up, Shu Feng became lost in thought, quietly weighing his options.

’Their trump cards are a mystery. If I try to brute force it and fail, it’ll be a disaster. The Leiyin Republic may be a small nation, but it’s still a nation. I have no idea how strong that Ah Fei Fei fellow is, either. Better to play it safe. I’ll find Teacher Cao Zhen and get out of the Leiyin Republic immediately.’

His mind made up, Shu Feng chose the safer course of action.

The Leiyin Republic was a small nation with an army of only a few thousand. For a single individual, however, it was still a behemoth.

Shu Feng would much rather follow behind the heavy hitters of the Guardian Flame and absorb the souls of the Dark Night Church experts they took down.

Suddenly, Shu Feng’s phone rang.

Shu Feng answered his phone. "Who is this?"

Manali’s voice came through the phone. "Shu Feng, it’s Manali. I need to talk to you about something. Can you come to my room so we can talk?"

Shu Feng replied, "Sorry, I’m busy cultivating. I don’t have time."

Manali’s pitiful voice came through the phone. "Please, help me! I’m so scared... Please, come help me. Come alone. Please, if you just help me this one time, I’ll do anything for you. For friendship’s sake, please help me. Come over, but don’t tell anyone, or my life will be in danger."

A strange light flashed in Shu Feng’s eyes. "Okay, just wait. I’ll be right over to help."

After he finished speaking, Shu Feng immediately took out his phone, sent two text messages, and strode outside.

"Manali, it’s me!"

Before long, Shu Feng arrived at Manali’s dorm and rang the doorbell.

The door opened to reveal Manali, looking incredibly seductive in a sheer black nightgown.

Manali said, "Come in."

Shu Feng entered the room and sat down on a sofa. "Manali, what’s wrong? Why were you in such a hurry to get me over here?"

Manali gave Shu Feng a deep, long look, an incredibly complex emotion flashing in her beautiful eyes. Then, she tore her nightgown, her eyes turned red as tears streamed out, and she let out a piercing shriek. "Help! Help me! Shu Feng... he’s trying to rape me! Help! Help me!"

Shu Feng was dumbfounded, staring in disbelief. "Manali, what in the world are you doing? When did I ever try to rape you?"

"Help! Help me!"

Trailing a cloud of perfume, Manali threw herself into Shu Feng’s arms, screaming and struggling dramatically.

BANG!

With a loud bang, Manali’s door was kicked open. Waharon, Salin, and two other students from the Leiyin Republic Royal Academy burst into the room.

Waharon’s brow shot up, his eyes flashing with rage. He bellowed with righteous fury, "Shu Feng, you’re raping Manali! You’re an animal in human skin!"

"Waharon! Shu Feng... he... he was trying to rape me!"

Manali threw herself into Waharon’s arms, weeping pitifully.

Salin’s eyes filled with rage as he yelled, "Shu Feng, we all thought you were a good friend! How could you do something so monstrous? As of today, we’re no longer friends!"

Shu Feng just smiled faintly. "Hold on. I haven’t done anything. This is all an act orchestrated by Manali herself. I have a witness!"

Waharon’s eyes narrowed. He barked, "A witness? Where is your witness?"