The Fallen War God, Lu Gang

Luo Feng couldn't help but smile. This world was truly fascinating. Just five months ago, he was a Martial Arts Hall trainee coming here for an assessment, and his family lived in a low-rent residential district. In the blink of an eye, he now resided in Mingyue Residential District, and acquiring tens of millions in wealth had become incredibly easy! “Uncle Wu, you handle the test,” Luo Feng said with a smile, taking a seat nearby. A server immediately brought tea and pastries. “Crazy!” a man in a training uniform, an instructor from the Extreme Martial Arts Dojo, chuckled. “I heard you've killed thousands of monsters in the past two months? And almost all of them were high-level beast soldiers? Have you already reached the 'Beginner Tier Warlord' level?” “I'd say so,” someone nearby agreed, nodding. Wu Tong also nodded. “It's impossible for a high-level Warrior to slaughter so many monsters as if cutting vegetables. Even if Luo Feng hasn't reached the Beginner Tier Warlord level, he's close. I recall Luo Feng cultivates the Ninefold Thunderblade. He must have made some significant progress with it.” Luo Feng was startled. *Indeed?* He had killed over ten thousand monsters in less than two months, with the vast majority being high-level beast soldiers. Such efficiency was truly difficult for a high-level Warrior to achieve. No wonder so many people assumed he had reached the 'Beginner Tier Warlord' strength. “The Ninefold Thunderblade must be incredibly difficult to master, and the manual is super expensive,” another Warrior commented. “It is very difficult,” Luo Feng nodded with a smile. “I've just made a minor breakthrough.” “Oh.” Everyone present, including Wu Tong, looked at Luo Feng differently. The Ninefold Thunderblade was an ultimate secret technique. Many bought the manual, but simply getting started was a hurdle many Warriors couldn't overcome. Cultivating such a technique... meant the ability to fight above one's rank! “Luo Feng!” A voice called from outside. Luo Feng turned to see Brother Chen. “Luo Feng, I heard you were back, but I didn't expect you to be here so early,” Chen Gu said, laughing as he approached. “By the way, are you planning to attend Senior Lu Gang's memorial service tomorrow?” “It's a major event, we're all going. Luo Feng, let's go together,” Dojo Master Wu Tong said. Luo Feng sighed and nodded. *Of course, he had to go.* Senior Lu Gang, who had passed away, was a War God who tragically died two days ago during a Third-tier Rat Swarm outbreak! Although Luo Feng hadn't truly experienced the Rat Swarm, he was in the Wilderness when it erupted... As the saying goes, 'when the rabbit dies, the fox grieves.' Seeing a senior fall, Luo Feng naturally felt compelled to pay his respects. During that day's Prospective Warrior assessment, Luo Feng and his group watched the tests of the young aspirants. Out of eight individuals, three passed. Among these eight, one was even known to Luo Feng—a senior trainee from the Yian District Extreme Martial Arts Dojo. However, this senior trainee did not pass. The next morning, the temperature was low. The area around the 'Heroes' Hall' funeral home in Jiangnan Base City was completely cordoned off, as many people were expected to pay their respects to Senior Lu Gang today. The five members of the Fire Hammer Squad gathered, all dressed in black. “So many people today,” Chen Gu couldn't help but exclaim. Luo Feng also looked around; the surrounding streets were packed with mourners. Most importantly, today was the first day of the memorial, reserved only for Warriors, family members, high-ranking government officials, and other special individuals. The general public would be allowed to pay their respects for seven days starting tomorrow. Even so, tens of thousands had gathered today, all prominent figures from Jiangnan Base City. There were top brass from family corporations, high-ranking government and military officials, and most significantly, a large number of Warriors. Among these Warriors, there were even War God-level powerhouses! As the saying goes, 'when the rabbit dies, the fox grieves.' It was only natural for other War Gods to come and mourn the passing of one of their own. “Even the national television station is here,” Luo Feng observed, looking at the interview vehicle. “A War God's memorial service is broadcast nationwide,” Gao Feng remarked. “How many War Gods die across the entire Huaxia Nation each year?” National television broadcast—this level of treatment was reserved only for War Gods and even higher-ranked Warriors. Warrior and Warlord-level martial artists did not receive such elite recognition. Even among military generals, only a select few at the very top were granted such an honor. “Look, that's the Mayor of Jiangnan Base City. Next to him, isn't that the leader who's always on TV?” “Tsk, tsk, look at that—the patriarch of the Xu Family from Jiangnan, one of the twelve domestic families of the HR Alliance.” Hearing 'Xu Family,' Luo Feng couldn't help but look. It was a white-haired, slightly plump old man, appearing to be in his eighties or nineties. Yet, he exuded the natural aura of someone long accustomed to high office, with four subordinates trailing behind him. “Over there is War God Zhuge Shan, the elder brother of Zhuge Tao, our Extreme Martial Arts Grand Hall supervisor.” Many Warriors murmured amongst themselves. Indeed, the people gathered here today were all top-tier figures, whether from political, military, economic, or martial arts circles. “The memorial service has started up front,” Gao Feng observed, looking ahead. “But we'll have to wait our turn to go in.” “Let's wait. It's rare to see so many masters,” Chen Gu chuckled. Luo Feng and his companions stood by the roadside, waiting at the back like many other Warriors. The prominent figures up front had already begun their memorial activities. “Beep!” A sleek, dark, saucer-shaped fighter jet flew directly from the distance. The military guarding the Heroes' Hall funeral home offered no obstruction. And the War God-level powerhouses, the Mayor of Jiangnan Base City, and the high-ranking political and military officials who had gone in to mourn earlier, all came out to greet it. “A big shot has arrived!” Chen Gu's eyes lit up. “Damn, who is it?” Gao Feng was also shocked. One had to understand that the people present were practically the elite of Huaxia Nation's upper crust. War God-level powerhouses, for instance, were legends among Warriors. The Mayor of Jiangnan Base City was undoubtedly a top-tier official. After all, there were only six Base Cities in the entire Huaxia Nation, making his position far more significant than a pre-Great Nirvana governor. Yet, this entire group had come out to greet this newcomer. “Who is it?” Luo Feng watched intently. All the Warriors, including the TV crew, stared, no one daring to utter a sound. A profound silence fell. The saucer-shaped fighter jet slowly descended, its hatch opening. A lean, hawk-nosed man, dressed entirely in black, stepped down the jet's ramp. His expression was grim, his eyes subtly glistening with tears. As he stood there, he exuded an aura that made the surrounding tens of meters feel as if they had plunged into darkness; he was like a deity within that radius. “Councilor Zhu,” one of the welcoming War God-level powerhouses spoke. The hawk-nosed man sighed softly, saying nothing. He nodded to the welcoming War God-level powerhouses, the Mayor of Jiangnan Base City, the high-ranking officials from Jingdu City, and the military generals, then walked directly towards the funeral home. Everyone else followed behind him. Silence reigned. Only after this group of prominent figures had entered did murmurs gradually begin outside. “Who was that?” Luo Feng was filled with questions. This was undoubtedly one of the most supreme and powerful figures in the entire Huaxia Nation. After all, even national leaders rarely commanded such respectful waiting from several War God-level powerhouses. War Gods generally held high-ranking officials in low regard. “No idea,” Chen Gu and the others shook their heads. Gao Feng's ears twitched, and he whispered, “Someone opposite said that individual was named 'Zhu Xi.' I've heard that name before; he was once an extremely famous War God-level powerhouse. But later, I never heard anything about him, and he rarely appeared. I heard online that this Zhu Xi has already surpassed the War God level, becoming one of the most supreme beings.” “Someone who *surpassed* the War God level?” Luo Feng and the others gasped. *Good heavens.* Such an existence could be treated as an equal to an entire nation! Even the country had to appease and elevate such individuals. They were absolutely at the pinnacle of human society. No wonder the top brass from family corporations, political circles, military, and even highly esteemed War Gods had all come out to greet him. It could be said—such a person was like a 'god' among humanity.