Chapter 567 - 333: Soul-Devouring Gray Mist: Unknown Changes

Cyan Miasma Swamp, human forward base.

A silver-white stream of light tore through the night sky, landing unerringly on the landing pad.

It was Han Feng’s Escapee Type II·Shadow Spirit Armor.

From the moment he left the Central Army Tent to his return, less than an hour had passed.

When the soldiers on guard duty saw the familiar figure, the look in their eyes changed instantly—a mixture of awe, fanaticism, and a hint of disbelief.

Every time this advisor acted alone, it heralded a storm.

Han Feng ignored their gazes and walked straight toward the brightly lit Central Army Tent.

Inside, Ye Jinghong stood before a holographic sand table, his brow deeply furrowed.

The pressure from the Profound Prison weighed on him like a great mountain. Even having just gained twenty thousand Snake Lizard People as followers, he still found no peace.

The tent flap was pushed aside, and Han Feng walked in.

"You’re back?" Ye Jinghong looked up, the tension in his brow easing slightly.

"Yeah. It’s done."

Han Feng casually pulled out a chair and sat down, as if he had just gone out for a walk.

"What’s done?" Ye Jinghong asked, confused.

"The matter of stocking up."

Han Feng drained a cup of tea in a single gulp, his tone as calm as if he were discussing a trivial matter.

"The Bone Decay Forest, two hundred li to the southeast, is yours now."

"As for that Wild God, the Rot Body Buddha—I’ve already sent it to the afterlife for you."

Ye Jinghong’s hand, holding his teacup, paused. The scalding tea sloshed in the cup, but he seemed not to notice.

This wasn’t the first time he had heard Han Feng talk of slaying a Divine being; he had already been shocked once before, when Han Feng eliminated Hiss.

But hearing it again now, the feeling was completely different.

He snapped his head up and stared intently at Han Feng’s placid face, searching for the slightest hint of exhaustion or bravado. But all he found was an unfathomable calm.

It wasn’t the result that was shocking, but the process.

"One hour... all by yourself?" Ye Jinghong asked, enunciating every word.

"Yeah."

Han Feng nodded, as if the question were redundant. "I dealt with the Main God and cleared out the elites at Tier Three and above.

That leaves about ten thousand mobile Withered Wood Walkers, just right for you as reserve followers."

"How you receive them is your business."

Ye Jinghong slowly set down his teacup, which made a soft clink. The way he looked at Han Feng had completely changed.

’What did I rely on to defeat Hiss?’

’It was the Military Soul Array formed by 5,300 soldiers, the Military Soul Battle Spirit manifested by burning the Power of Faith, the unified strike of the entire Vanguard Corps.’

’And Han Feng?’

’One man, one suit of Spirit Armor, one hour.’

’As casually as going out to buy groceries, he had just taken care of a Tier Four Middle Stage Divine being who had dominated a region.’

’He had thought that by walking the path of a Military God and wielding the power of his corps, he could already contend with these native Divine beings on equal footing.’

’But Han Feng had just proven to him that individual might could also reach an inconceivable level.’

’This guy... he couldn’t be measured by the standards of the Enlightenment Realm.’

After the shock came a deeper wariness, as well as a sincere sense of relief.

He was relieved that this monster was an ally, not an enemy.

"Excellent! Han Feng, you’ve performed another great service!"

Ye Jinghong quickly suppressed the churning emotions in his heart. His eyes blazed, all hesitation gone.

"Ten thousand followers! Enough to solidify my Divine Realm by another thirty percent! I’ve officially recorded this merit in your name!"

He immediately tapped his communicator and, with swift efficiency, began dispatching troops, preparing to send transport fleets and combat units to the Bone Decay Forest to "claim the inheritance."

He also posted a high-reward bounty on the mission system, mobilizing all Explorers to capture the "Withered Wood Walkers."

Watching his efficient arrangements, Han Feng nodded in satisfaction.

However, just as that business was concluded, Ye Jinghong’s expression grew grave once more.

He waved his hand to cut the connection and pointed to the Silent Ridge on the northwestern part of the map.

"In the time you were gone, we detected new activity."

"The Black Rock Tribe. They’re migrating en masse."

Han Feng froze for a moment, then leaned in closer.

"Migrating? Didn’t I already beat them back?

Are they so persistent that they want to try attacking from a different direction?"

"No."

Ye Jinghong shook his head. "They’re not heading for us. They’re moving toward the heart of the Silent Ridge—closing in on the Profound Prison’s main stronghold.

The entire tribe, over eight thousand Black Fierce Apes, with their young and old in tow. It’s like they’re... retreating."

Han Feng frowned.

’This makes no sense.’

’Qing Shan is Profound Prison’s top enforcer. After being seriously wounded by me, his logical response would be to call for reinforcements and retaliate.’

’So why would the entire tribe migrate back to their stronghold?’

’It’s like they’re seeking refuge. But in this whole region, who besides me could possibly threaten them?’

Just as Han Feng tried to piece the clues together, disaster struck!

Without warning, the system panel in his Sea of Consciousness erupted in a blinding, crimson flash!

A piercing alarm shrieked, threatening to tear through his Divine Soul!

[WARNING: Mass annihilation of Sword Seed hosts detected!]

[WARNING: Host of Borrowed Path Sword Seed #003, ’Thor’, has been killed! The Divine Soul imprint has been forcibly erased!]

[This investment has failed. The Sword Fruit cannot be formed!]

Han Feng’s heart sank.

’Thor! That powerhouse from the Divine Shield Federation who walked the path of the Thunder God! He was my most promising S-Level asset!’

He immediately opened the investment list for the Borrowed Path Sword Seed.

The name "Thor the God of Thunder," originally ranked first with a cultivation progress of 11.2%, was now grayed out, its progress bar completely zeroed.

Scrolling back, he saw a series of notifications indicating that the growth progress of other Sword Seeds was regressing.

What shocked him even more was that the investment list, which had originally contained over three hundred seventy names, now had just over three hundred thirty.