System Update

Fang Yan was holding a Random Martial Skill Fragment, about to examine it, when the System's prompt sound in his mind made him freeze.

[Ding! Killed a Commander of the Profound Connection Realm, killing an enemy across a minor realm, rewarded with Experience Points, High-grade Spirit Stones x10, Random Martial Skill Fragment x1.]

[Ding! Killed an Exotic Race of the Qi Transformation Realm x1, rewarded with 1000 Experience Points, Low-grade Spirit Stones x5.]

[Ding! Killed an Exotic Race of the Qi Transformation Realm x1, rewarded with 1000 Experience Points, Low-grade Spirit Stones x5.]

After a string of prompts, Fang Yan knitted his brows.

Experience Points? he wondered. Why isn't it Blood Essence anymore? System, what's going on?

He tried to call out to the System in his mind, but received no response. The System panel, however, clearly displayed:

- Host: Fang Yan

- Realm: Martial King Second Layer (0/ Experience Points)

- Cultivation Technique: Basic Internal Cultivation (Proficiency: max)

- Martial Skills:

- Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger (Proficiency: 1000/)

- Five Finger Fist Heart Sword (Proficiency: 1500/)

- Basic Spear Technique (Proficiency: 5000/)

- Current Experience Points: Points

Looking at the numbers on the panel, Fang Yan gradually understood. The System seemed to have undergone an update, replacing the original Blood Essence rewards with Experience Points. These Experience Points could not only be used to break through realms but also to increase the proficiency of Martial Skills.

He looked at the skill requirements behind the Martial Skills, which easily reached tens of thousands, and then at the full one hundred million Experience Points needed to break through to Martial King Second Layer, and couldn't help but gasp.

Good heavens, the demand for Experience Points is too high. Fang Yan gave a wry smile. Killing one Commander of the Profound Connection Realm only gave a million, which was still a long way from breaking through.

However, he quickly became excited again. Increasing proficiency meant that the power of the Martial Skills could become stronger, which was more strategic than simply increasing Blood Essence.

He looked at the Random Martial Skill Fragment in his hand, his mind already making new calculations.

Fang Yan no longer dwelled on the System's changes, his gaze falling on the Random Martial Skill Fragment in his hand. The fragment was dark gold, with a few blurred patterns carved on it, emitting faint energy fluctuations.

He concentrated his mind and injected a trace of true qi into the fragment. Instantly, the fragment turned into a golden light and surged into his mind.

[Ding! Obtained Martial Skill Fragment: Prairie Fire Spear Technique (Incomplete). Do you wish to consume Experience Points to upgrade it to beginner level?]

Prairie Fire Spear Technique? Fang Yan's heart stirred. This was an extremely famous spear technique, known for its ferocity and explosive power. He hadn't expected to obtain it here.

He chose to upgrade without hesitation.

[Ding! Consumed Experience Points, Prairie Fire Spear Technique upgraded to beginner level (Proficiency: 0/1000).]

As Experience Points were deducted, a vast stream of information flooded Fang Yan's mind, and at the same time, his understanding of spear techniques deepened. He subconsciously picked up his spear and casually thrust out a few strikes. The spear shadows flickered, carrying a scorching aura, and the power was significantly stronger than his Basic Spear Technique.

"Good spear technique!" Zhao Hu happened to walk over and couldn't help but exclaim as he saw Fang Yan's spearplay. "Commander, has your spear technique improved again?"

Fang Yan smiled, putting away his spear. "Just learned some new techniques. How's the battlefield cleanup?"

"Reporting to Commander, it's finished. We've killed a total of 1 Commander of the Profound Connection Realm, 20 Exotic Races of the Qi Transformation Realm, and 10 Exotic Races of the Bone Refining Realm. We've confiscated several weapons like bone knives and bone hammers, as well as some Inner Cores from the Exotic Races," Zhao Hu reported.

Fang Yan nodded. "Very good. Give me all the confiscated Inner Cores. Distribute the rest to the brothers. Let's find a place to set up camp, rest for the night, and continue our exploration tomorrow."

Soon, the vanguard camp was set up on a clearing outside the canyon. Fang Yan returned to his tent and took out the Inner Cores of the Exotic Races. These Inner Cores contained pure energy. Although not as pure as Spirit Stones, they were better than nothing.

He sat down cross-legged, circulated his cultivation technique, and began to absorb the energy from the Inner Cores. At the same time, he opened the System panel, looked at the remaining Experience Points, and pondered how to allocate them.

Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger and Five Finger Fist Heart Sword are both my signature Martial Skills, I must improve them. Fang Yan made up his mind to increase each by 5000 proficiency first to test.

[Ding! Consumed Experience Points, Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger proficiency increased to 6000/.]

[Ding! Consumed Experience Points, Five Finger Fist Heart Sword proficiency increased to 6500/.]

As Experience Points were consumed, the power of the two Martial Skills quietly increased within him. The finger energy of Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger became more condensed, and the sword qi of Five Finger Fist Heart Sword became sharper.

Fang Yan felt the changes within him and nodded with satisfaction. He didn't continue to upgrade, saving the remaining Experience Points for emergencies. Breaking through to Martial King Second Layer required one hundred million Experience Points; this amount wasn't even enough to fill the gaps in his teeth.

Just then, a hurried sound of footsteps came from outside the tent.

"Commander! Commander! Something's wrong!" a soldier's voice sounded in panic.

Fang Yan's eyes snapped open, and he stood up. "What is it? Why the rush?"

The soldier rushed into the tent, his face pale. "Commander, we've discovered traces of a large number of Exotic Races, at least thousands of them. The leader appears to be very strong!"

Fang Yan's heart sank. "Thousands of Exotic Races? Take me to see!"

He followed the soldier to a high point of the camp and looked in the direction the soldier was pointing. He saw a dense mass of Exotic Races on the distant horizon, rushing towards them, kicking up dust, their momentum fierce.

Fang Yan's gaze sharpened. He could sense that within that group of Exotic Races, there were several auras that had reached the Profound Connection Realm, and there was even one aura that was stronger than the previous commander of the Profound Connection Realm, faintly reaching the mid-stage of the Profound Connection Realm.

It seems a great battle is inevitable. Fang Yan took a deep breath and said gravely, "Pass down my orders, the entire army is on high alert! Zhao Hu, lead a contingent to defend the left flank; Li Gang, lead a contingent to defend the right flank; the rest, follow me to meet the enemy head-on!"

The generals responded in unison and acted quickly.

Although the soldiers of the vanguard camp saw the vast number of Exotic Races, under Fang Yan's leadership, they showed no fear. They quickly formed their ranks, weapons in hand, ready for battle.

Fang Yan held his spear, standing at the forefront of the formation. He looked at the approaching army of Exotic Races, his eyes filled with fighting spirit rather than any trace of fear.

System, it looks like I'll have to rely on you again, he silently thought.

A battle for the survival of the vanguard camp was about to erupt.