Chapter 469 - 306: Spirit Armor Stealth! The Time of Broken Star’s Spirit-Devouring Evolution

Dragon’s Fang Port, on the tarmac in front of the Command Tower.

The X-02 Fighter, nicknamed "Ghost," had landed automatically several minutes ago. Like a large, obedient black bird, it now rested quietly on the runway.

Just then, a streak of dark silver light shot back from the horizon, showing no sign of slowing down.

It didn’t come to a sudden halt in midair until it was less than fifty meters from the ground.

The powerful downdraft kicked up a cloud of dust, forcing Liu Zhen to raise a hand to shield his eyes.

When the dust settled, Han Feng had already retracted his faceplate, revealing a face that was almost unnervingly calm.

His [Escapee Type II·Shadow] Spirit Armor pulsed with a faint blue light, exuding an aura that was both sci-fi and menacing.

"Special Envoy Han!"

Liu Zhen rushed over with several medics.

Han Feng pointed to the fighter’s cockpit. "Get Zhao Tianlan out of there. Be gentle."

"His Spiritual Sea of Consciousness has suffered a shock. Right now, he’s as fragile as an egg with a shattered shell."

Upon hearing this, the medics quickly and carefully climbed onto the fighter, moving the unconscious Zhao Tianlan—who still wore an eerie smile—onto a stretcher.

Seeing the expression on Zhao Tianlan’s face, which seemed to suggest he was lost in a pleasant dream even while unconscious, Liu Zhen felt a chill run down his spine and couldn’t help but ask:

"Special Envoy Han, the captain... he..."

"He won’t die."

Han Feng replied casually as he checked the fighter’s various data readouts.

"Dragon’s Fang Port’s medical facilities can’t handle this level of Spiritual Contamination."

"Arrange for a high-speed airship to take him back to East Sea City immediately."

"Yes, sir! I’ll arrange it right away!"

Liu Zhen responded at once, then glanced back at Han Feng. "And you...?"

"Me? I’m not finished here."

Han Feng patted the fighter’s still-warm engine cowling and turned toward the Command Tower.

"Get me the East Sea Guard Command Headquarters. I need to speak with General Li."

...

Five minutes later, in the Dragon’s Fang Port command room.

The holographic screen flickered twice, and Li Tiecheng appeared, his face etched with exhaustion and gravity.

The background was noisy; clearly, the sudden incident had thrown the command headquarters into chaos.

"Han Feng! What’s the situation?"

Li Tiecheng asked urgently the moment he saw him.

Han Feng pulled over a chair and sat down, looking relaxed. "I just took a spin around Broken Star Reef. It’s... interesting."

Li Tiecheng’s expression turned serious. "Oh? What exactly is going on over there? Why did Jiangbei City’s fleet retreat like they’d seen a ghost?"

Han Feng didn’t beat around the bush and concisely recounted what he had observed.

"Spiritual parasitism?"

Li Tiecheng’s brow furrowed. The method sounded utterly malevolent.

"That’s right. Zhao Tianlan and those Mecha Masters from Jiangbei City all fell for it."

Han Feng explained, "Its methods are a bit like the ’Void Creatures’ worshiped by those charlatans from the Children of the Mist, but I get the feeling this thing is older, and more greedy."

Li Tiecheng was silent for a moment before asking in a low voice, "You suspect this is related to the imminent opening of the ’Dragon Abyss’?"

"It’s more than likely," Han Feng voiced his suspicion.

"What’s your plan?" Li Tiecheng pressed.

"I’m planning to go back and take another look. I didn’t make a move earlier because I was concerned for Zhao Tianlan’s safety."

"This time, I’ll go alone. That way, I can really cut loose."

Hearing this, Li Tiecheng, who was aware of Han Feng’s capabilities, didn’t try to stop him from investigating. He only offered a serious reminder, "Be careful, then. If you sense any danger, abort immediately."

"Understood."

Han Feng nodded and ended the call.

Han Feng walked out of the command room. Seeing the port bustling with the transport of the injured, he called over Liu Zhen.

"Special Envoy Han, the airship has already taken off," Liu Zhen reported.

"Good work." Han Feng patted his shoulder. "For the time being, have everyone stay put in the base. They are not to go anywhere."

Liu Zhen’s heart skipped a beat. Though he didn’t know what Han Feng was planning, he still replied loudly, "Yes, sir! We’ll hold our position to the death!"

Having given his orders, Han Feng wasted no more words.

He walked to an open area, and his faceplate slid shut again.

VMMMM—

The thrusters on the back of his Spirit Armor erupted with blue flames, launching him into the sky. After a graceful turn in midair, he once again sped off toward Broken Star Reef.

...

「Twenty minutes later.」

Above the Broken Star Reef Sea Region.

Han Feng hovered amidst the clouds, having activated both his [Spiritual Vision] and the Armor’s built-in optical camouflage.

He was like transparent air, blending perfectly with his surroundings.

The scene below was a world apart from when he had left.

The once-calm surface of the sea was now littered with splintered wooden planks, torn metal hull plates, and the tattered, colorful remnants of clothing.

The wrecks of several ships that had yet to sink completely were on fire, belching thick black smoke.

Blood had stained this patch of sea a dark red, attracting more sharks and scavenger fish to circle the area.

’Well now, what a lively scene.’

Han Feng spotted a floating plank on which he could faintly make out the emblem of "Iron Anchor City," and he couldn’t help but shake his head.

’I had barely left before this bunch of money-grubbing fools rushed in.’

This was one of the reasons he had been in such a hurry to send Zhao Tianlan away.

In the face of enormous profits, people’s intelligence often drops into the negatives. These mercenaries and privateers, who thought they could swoop in and pick up scraps, had no idea what they were up against.

’Looks like Jiangbei City’s Titan Mechas have been cleaned up, too.’

Han Feng scanned the reef.

The Titan Mechas that had previously stood there like statues were gone. All that remained on the reef were deep drag marks leading down into the water.