Northern Garrison Command

Lin Feng exerted force with all five fingers, using the Eagle Claw Skill to strike Leader Zhao.

A crisp crack rang out.

Leader Zhao's head drooped limply, terror and unwillingness frozen in his eyes.

A barely perceptible blood-colored aura drifted from his corpse and entered Lin Feng's body.

Successfully executed Leader Zhao. Obtained 0.1 Slaughter Points.

The system prompt rang out coldly. Lin Feng caught his breath, not daring to delay as he swiftly searched Leader Zhao's body.

Besides ten copper coins polished bright with wear, he found the Bone-Piercing Poison Needle that had nearly claimed his life.

The needle tip shimmered with a dim blue gleam, icy cold to the touch.

"Wang Teng..."

Lin Feng's heart clenched. Leader Zhao's final words bit into his heart like venomous snakes.

That wicked young master of the Wang Family had actually headed straight for his home while he was away on a mission. His target was obvious—his frail, pitiable younger sister, Lin Wan!

He had to get back immediately!

Lin Feng suppressed the churning blood and energy within him, got his bearings, and broke into a mad sprint toward the district where the Northern Garrison Command stood.

Since he was penniless, his sister Lin Wan had temporarily been placed inside the Northern Garrison Command.

The desolate outskirts where he now stood were still some distance from the Northern Garrison Command.

He raced all the way there, sustained by the newly born Ninth-Rank Internal Energy within him.

Yet the "Residual Poison Not Cleared" status still left him feeling somewhat weak and unsteady.

At last, the familiar vermilion-lacquered gates of the Northern Garrison Command, steeped in a chilling aura of slaughter, came into view.

An Imperial Brocade Guard with a saber at his waist stood on either side of the gates.

One of them was tall and powerfully built, arms folded, a mocking sneer hanging from his lips. It was none other than Zhang Kuang, the colleague who had been ordered to poison Lin Feng's tea.

His name suited his nature. A mid-stage Ninth-Rank martial artist, he was considered quite capable among the low-ranking Strongmen of the Northern Garrison Command.

When he saw Lin Feng returning with bloodstained clothes and looking somewhat bedraggled, surprise flashed through Zhang Kuang's eyes before turning into even deeper ridicule.

"Well, well? Isn't this Lieutenant Lin? You've got quite the tough life. Didn't Leader Zhao invite you for a nice little 'reunion'?"

He deliberately stressed the words "reunion," and the meaning could not have been clearer.

The other guard nearby also wore an expression of eager anticipation, waiting for a good show.

Lin Feng stopped, his gaze piercing Zhang Kuang like icy awls.

This was the man who, on Wang Teng's orders, had mixed Essence Dissipation Powder into his farewell wine, leaving him almost completely powerless when Leader Zhao hunted him down.

"Thanks to you, Leader Zhao has gone on ahead. He's waiting for his companions on the road to the Yellow Springs." Lin Feng's voice was calm, but it carried bone-chilling coldness.

Zhang Kuang's expression darkened. He had not expected Lin Feng to dare defy him like this, and he was even more suspicious that Lin Feng seemed to have dealt with Leader Zhao.

How could a poisoned piece of trash at the initial stage of Ninth Rank possibly kill Leader Zhao in return?

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

"Sharp-tongued little bastard! Looks like Leader Zhao was too soft-hearted and didn't make you suffer enough."

Zhang Kuang stepped forward, his imposing presence bearing down on Lin Feng as the fluctuations of his mid-stage Ninth-Rank Internal Energy spread faintly outward, attempting to suppress him.

"Know your place and crawl back to your doghouse to lick your wounds. Don't obstruct this lord while he's on duty!"

Executing fellow guard Zhang Kuang will yield 0.2 Slaughter Points!

The system prompt appeared again. The reward in Slaughter Points was even greater than for Leader Zhao, clearly indicating that the system judged Zhang Kuang to be a bigger threat.

0.2 Slaughter Points!

Lin Feng's thoughts stirred, but his expression remained unchanged.

He was not at his peak right now, and confronting Zhang Kuang head-on was not the wisest course.

But Zhang Kuang was blocking the entrance, and his sister's safety was unknown. He had to get inside.

"My doghouse?" Lin Feng sneered. "I'm afraid someone's master is in a hurry to become an uninvited guest there.

Zhang Kuang, even when you play the dog, you need to see the situation clearly. Be careful not to choke to death on Wang Teng's dog food!"

The words struck directly at Zhang Kuang's sore spot and secret. His face instantly flushed the color of pig liver as he flew into a rage. "You little bastard, you're courting death!"

Before his words had even faded, Zhang Kuang attacked!

He raised his right palm, fierce palm wind trailing behind it as he chopped straight at Lin Feng's face!

It was his specialty, the Pigua Palm, already at the Minor Mastery realm. It was powerful and heavy, and had always swept aside every obstacle in its path.

If it landed, with Lin Feng's initial-stage Ninth-Rank cultivation, he would be crippled even if he did not die!

The palm came with tremendous speed, its fierce wind blasting against his face!

Though Lin Feng had been prepared, the gap in their realms was simply too great. He hurriedly used the Eagle Claw Skill to parry.

Bang!

As palm and claw collided, Lin Feng felt an enormous force surge toward him. His arm shook violently, and he staggered backward.

He retreated five or six steps in a row before barely steadying himself. Sweetness rose in his throat, and he nearly spat blood.

The poison that had originally been suppressed inside him seemed to have been jolted awake, faintly showing signs of flaring up again.

"Hahaha! Trash is trash!" Having gained the advantage in one move, Zhang Kuang became utterly arrogant. "You took Essence Dissipation Powder. Even if you got lucky and recovered a bit of strength, you're still nothing but chickens and dogs before me!

Wasn't that mouth of yours pretty tough just now? Show me some more of that arrogance!"

He pressed his advantage without mercy, closing in step by step as his palm wind grew fiercer and completely engulfed Lin Feng.

Lin Feng could only barely hold on with the sharpness of the Eagle Claw Skill, but every clash sent his blood and energy churning. Danger surrounded him at every turn, and he was wholly at a disadvantage.

The air around them seemed to freeze, and the other guard watched with pounding fear.

"Game over! Die for your grandpa!"

Killing intent surged in Zhang Kuang's eyes as he saw that Lin Feng was already a spent arrow.

Internal energy roared through his body, and his right palm abruptly turned crimson as he unleashed the killing move of the Pigua Palm—Fire Cloud Split!

Before the palm even arrived, a scorching wave of air already pressed down on Lin Feng, sealing off every avenue of retreat!

This strike contained the full force of a mid-stage Ninth-Rank martial artist. Its speed and power far surpassed anything from before!

Lin Feng's pupils contracted sharply as he sensed a deadly crisis!

If he took this palm head-on, he would surely die!

At the razor's edge between life and death, a flash of inspiration struck Lin Feng's mind!

The Bone-Piercing Poison Needle he had found earlier had been kept clamped between his fingers all along!

Just as the Fire Cloud Split was about to hit him, Lin Feng raised his left hand in what looked like a frantic block, while his wrist gave an extraordinarily subtle flick!

A faint blue cold spark shot out like lightning. It was not aimed at Zhang Kuang's vital points, but precisely at the center of his most powerful palm!

"Hm?" Zhang Kuang had never imagined that Lin Feng still possessed a hidden weapon, much less that he would time it so viciously!

The Bone-Piercing Poison Needle was tiny and weak, yet it specialized in breaking palm force!

If that poisoned object pierced his palm, not only would his palm force be broken, but the deadly poison entering his body would cause even greater trouble!

Shocked and enraged, he had no choice but to forcibly withdraw his power. The scorching palm wind of Fire Cloud Split stalled, and his hand instinctively twisted aside to evade it.

Though he avoided the Bone-Piercing Poison Needle, the concentrated killing move had exposed a huge opening because of it!

Now!

Lin Feng roared inwardly, System, consume 0.1 Slaughter Points and raise the Eagle Claw Skill!

Consumed 0.1 Slaughter Points. Eagle Claw Skill raised to Minor Mastery (Progress: 1%).

In an instant, an even more violent torrent of heat exploded within him!

His understanding of the Eagle Claw Skill deepened and transformed in a heartbeat!

The method of exerting force became far more exquisite, while the power of his fingers, his speed, and his variations surged severalfold!

The clumsy stiffness of the entry-level skill was swept away, replaced by an effortless familiarity, as though it were an extension of his own arm!

Though his martial realm remained at the initial stage of Ninth Rank, his combat strength was no longer what it had been!

All of this happened in the space between sparks and flint!

Zhang Kuang had only just dodged the Bone-Piercing Poison Needle and had yet to recover from the shock when he saw the originally listless aura around Lin Feng abruptly change!

Those eyes were as sharp as a true eagle's, locking onto Zhang Kuang's chest, left wide open after he withdrew his attack!

"How is this possible?!"

Zhang Kuang's face drained of color in horror.

He sensed a sharp and dangerous aura from Lin Feng. This was absolutely not something a person who had just entered Ninth Rank and was still poisoned should possess!

Lin Feng gave him no time to think!

The Minor Mastery Eagle Claw Skill erupted with full force. His right hand curled into a claw, muscles bulging as internal energy gathered at his fingertips. With a shrill whistle that tore through the air, it shot toward Zhang Kuang's heart like lightning!

This claw was ruthless! Precise! Tyrannical!

"Urgh!"

The claw wind struck his face, and the aura of death instantly engulfed Zhang Kuang!