Martial Artist Squad

Abandoned steelworks.

After observing the area, they found that the steelworks housed one High-level Beast General Iron Horn Sheep and over twenty Beast Soldiers.

The steelworks were this Beast General's territory.

However, the abandoned steelworks were vast. After gaining a rough understanding of the activity range of those twenty-odd monsters, they decided to hide in a corner of the steelworks without alerting them.

A bright moon hung in the sky, its pale light spilling over the earth.

The Wilderness Area gradually grew quiet as well.

Only the long, distant cries of beasts could be heard, and even those were barely audible.

That would be one thing in an ordinary small city.

But in a monster-dense place like City 032, few martial artists dared provoke monsters at night. On such a silent night, if they made too much noise, the monsters would teach them what cruelty meant.

After a full day of traveling, killing monsters, and fleeing, everyone was exhausted. Once they had sorted themselves out, they simply ate some specially made rations without saying much else. After agreeing on the watch order, they began to rest.

Lin Yan and Chu Wei took the first half of the predawn watch together.

Lin Yan found a spot and sat cross-legged, beginning his Gene Energy cultivation. Over the past few days, he had been replacing sleep with cultivation and had now adapted to it. The restorative effects were even better than sleep.

His breathing was slow and deep as he used the internal breathing method of Supreme Induction. Since circumstances were inconvenient at the moment, he temporarily omitted the external movements and stances. He could not fully bring out the effects of the Guidance Technique, but it was enough for now.

Strands of energy were absorbed into his body.

Predawn.

Lin Yan's cells had reached their limit in absorbing energy. He opened his eyes and stood.

He picked up the Heavenly Gang Battle Sword and gestured for Jia Yan and Chen Lian to rest, taking over the watch with Chu Wei.

There was no longer any movement from monsters outside.

They had begun to sleep as well and were no longer wandering around. Still, they could not let down their guard. At night, feline monsters and other nocturnal creatures still prowled through the city. They were fast, perceptive, and difficult to deal with.

Chu Wei sat nearby, carefully wiping down his battle saber.

The Nine Heavens Thunder Blade truly deserved its reputation as one of humanity's two strongest offensive techniques. Over the past few days, Chu Wei had displayed formidable strength. In terms of attack power, he even surpassed Jia Yan somewhat and was roughly on par with Liu Mingxuan.

Seeing him, Lin Yan could not help thinking of his own Po Jun Sword.

I wonder when I'll be able to get started with it.

Host: Lin Yan

Identity: First-year student at National Defense University, Second Lieutenant of the Northern Military Region in Tianjing Base City, member of the Star Special Operations Squad

Realm: Beginner Warrior

Soul Power: 106

Skills: Guidance Technique: Supreme Induction (Ultimate), Sword Skill: All Things Severed (A-rank) (Sixth Layer), Thunderclap Sword (A-rank) (Sixth Layer), Thunderclap Sword (D-rank) (Fifth Layer), Sword Skill: Bright Light (D-rank) (Fourth Layer), Data Hit (E-rank)

Passive Skills: Sword Mastery (S-rank), Firearms Specialization (F-rank)

Sword Traits: Sharpness, Lightning, Blinding

Equipment: Heavenly Gang Battle Sword, M92 Sniper Rifle

He had already raised both A-rank sword skills to their highest level, consuming a massive amount of Soul Power. However, his combat strength had also improved greatly. Today, at a critical moment, he had even unleashed his full strength and severely injured a Primary Beast General. Although it had been a sneak attack, and the canine monster was not particularly known for defense.

But it had still been a Primary Beast General!

His strength had now reached the level of an Intermediate Warrior. Although his overall degree of genetic optimization was still a little short of that level, his actual power had increased considerably.

At the time, even Liu Mingxuan's unshakable calm had nearly crumbled.

This is Thunderclap Sword?

Are you kidding me?

But on closer inspection, it really was fucking Thunderclap Sword!

Tell me, isn't that infuriating?

If Lin Yan did not need to worry about exposing his swordsmanship, he truly could contend with a Primary Beast General now. But in front of the others, he had to restrain himself no matter what.

It would be great if I could get started with the Po Jun Sword. If I raise an SS-rank sword technique to the Fourth Layer, then add the boost from my traits, my combat strength should rise to another level.

While keeping watch, he pondered the contents recorded in the Po Jun Sword manual.

Though it was still unfathomably profound, he had gradually accumulated some insights through constant contemplation.

Day broke.

The group sorted out their equipment and prepared to set off directly for their target location.

Li Tao looked at the ammunition gathered from everyone's backpacks and frowned. "I've used up a lot of bullets these past two days."

A machine gun possessed tremendous firepower, which naturally meant it required a greater supply of ammunition.

They had been fighting nonstop in the Wilderness Area for days, but they had no way to resupply, so the problem of insufficient ammunition had arisen.

Liu Mingxuan asked, "How long can it last?"

Li Tao gave a bitter smile. "If we keep fighting at this rate, I'm afraid I'll lose my combat capability by the time we head back."

He was a martial artist who specialized in firearms and had achieved little with cold weapons.

Lin Yan said, "I still have plenty of M92 ammunition. Once Brother Li runs out of machine gun bullets, just use my gun."

Li Tao thought about it and could only agree.

"But my marksmanship isn't anywhere near yours."

"You're joking, Brother Li." Lin Yan knew Li Tao's marksmanship was dependable. However, without Lin Yan's data analysis ability, he could not rank threats by priority on the battlefield and make every shot strike a vital point as Lin Yan could.

Liu Mingxuan made a combat gesture with his right hand. "Move out."

The Star Special Operations Squad moved through City 032.

Every step they took was cautious. Based on the map and their analysis of the information on City 032, there should not be any King level monsters in this area, and the habitats of Lord-level monsters were some distance away.

But Lord-level monsters did not move in predictable patterns.

They possessed intelligence comparable to that of humans and had a strong sense of territory, but they did not remain in their territory at all times.

Halfway there.

Boom!

A massive Steel Rock Rampage Bear collapsed, crushing the buildings around it.

"We struck it rich, Captain!"

"Steel Rock Rampage Bears are among the finest High-level Beast Generals. This one was already close to Lord level. How much must it be worth?"

A thin middle-aged man looked at the Steel Rock Rampage Bear's corpse, his voice utterly flat. "One billion."

After saying that, he turned his head and frowned toward the distance.

The figures of the Star Special Operations Squad appeared from around the street corner.

Jia Yan said, "It's a martial artist squad."

"A Steel Rock Rampage Bear close to Lord level. This martial artist squad is very strong."

They had spotted the commotion from afar and originally had not wanted to take this route. But they eventually discovered that the other road had been occupied by a herd of Bloodthirsty Tanks, leaving them no choice but to come this way.

By the time they arrived, the other party had just finished the battle.

Liu Mingxuan nodded to them without stopping. The Star Special Operations Squad passed by the other group.

In the Wilderness Area, everyone was a stranger. No one knew the other party's character. Especially since the martial artist squad opposite them was handling its spoils, stopping to talk would only arouse suspicion.

The other party nodded in return.

Watching their departing backs, someone spoke. "They're military."

"Have they come to City 032 for a mission? That's rare."

The thin middle-aged man, who was their captain, gave their backs a long look before ordering, "Handle the Steel Rock Rampage Bear's corpse. We've been out here for a long time. We're going home!"

Cheers erupted from the martial artist squad.

"Haha, look at Old Zhou. He must be homesick!"

"What's wrong with missing my wife? You single dog!"