Leaving the Wilderness

"You are engaged in a fierce battle with a horde of ferocious beasts. Physique slightly strengthened. 'Nine Consecutive Steps' proficiency increased. Saber technique comprehension improved."

"Your body is in a state of extreme explosive output. Physique slightly enhanced. Battle Saint Armor continues to amplify."

Battle Saint Armor: A special battle robe will cover your body. Defense +104% (originally 100%) Other attributes +42% (originally 40%)

Defense increased by four percentage points, and other attributes rose by two percentage points.

Moreover, when Jiang Yan is in a combat state, the amplification of the Battle Saint Armor can temporarily increase without upper limit.

After Jiang Yan was sent flying by several third-order ferocious beasts, he merely dusted off his clothes and charged back in without hesitation.

His body grew steadily hotter, the battle robe rustling as golden light wove through the beast horde. Amid the flashing saber strikes, second-order ferocious beasts fell one after another, and even quite a few third-order ones joined them.

"Your saber technique comprehension has slightly improved."

"Battle Saint Armor has undergone a minor evolution."

Boom!

The massive beasts before him were sent hurtling into a nearby building, smashing a huge hole into it and leaving it teetering on the verge of collapse.

Another ten days passed.

System Log updated.

"You engaged in a fierce battle with an Earth-Digging Bear."

"Your physique has slightly improved. Your saber technique comprehension has slightly improved."

"Your body has broken through its limits! Heaven Rewards Diligence activated. Congratulations, your realm has broken through to Blood Condensation Perfection."

"Hah!"

Jiang Yan's saber radiance blazed. The Blade Bearer's 20% amplification, combined with the Battle Saint Armor's 45% boost to other attributes, and the Demon's Scale funneling all attributes into power—countless forces converged at the blade's tip.

A streak of saber qi, dazzling enough to cleanse the world, cut across the sky. A hurricane swept up the dust of the wasteland, and the sky was blotted out by a torrent of saber energy. The late third-order Earth-Digging Bear, trapped within the terrifying storm, roared in futile rage and unwillingness.

Jiang Yan sheathed his saber. A broken bear carcass collapsed to the ground.

Host: Jiang Yan Talent: Battle Saint Armor (pending evolution) Realm: Blood Condensation Perfection Martial Skills: (Unranked) "Basic Saber Technique" Perfected (Yellow Grade Low Rank) "Fierce Bull Strength" Perfected (Yellow Grade High Rank) "Explosive Step" Perfected (Mysterious Grade High Rank) "Nine Consecutive Steps" Perfected Affixes: Heaven Rewards Diligence (Lifebound), Desperate Truth (Blue), Swift (Blue), Wind Rider (Blue), Blade Bearer (Purple), Moment of Truth (Orange), Demon's Scale (Purple) Special: Blade Momentum (breakthrough possible to Blade Intent)

"What exactly is Blade Intent?"

Over these days, the System Log kept reminding him that his saber technique comprehension had improved. Jiang Yan could indeed feel his saber becoming more and more effortless to wield, yet he still hadn't even touched the threshold of the legendary Blade Intent.

In fact, he was still a considerable distance away from that realm.

In less than a month, his realm had broken through from Body Tempering Mid-Stage to Blood Condensation Perfection, but he hadn't even grazed the threshold of Blade Intent. This only made Jiang Yan more curious about how mysterious the fabled Blade Intent truly was.

Jiang Yan walked out of Ruins No. 56.

During these days, he had encountered countless ferocious beasts here—from unranked wild monsters all the way up to terrifying sixth- and seventh-order ones.

He still remembered three days ago, when he had observed a Sky Devouring Cockroach from afar. Its body was as massive as a skyscraper, its vicious pupils as if they had buried countless corpses, and its oppressive aura made it hard to breathe.

Just one glance at such an existence was enough to leave an unforgettable impression.

Jiang Yan had wasted no time in swiftly leaving that area, and he hadn't set foot there since.

With his current strength, running into that Sky Devouring Cockroach would mean nothing more than becoming a snack between its teeth—there was absolutely no chance of resistance.

Fortunately, that colossal creature hadn't noticed him. Otherwise, Jiang Yan was sure that despite the Sky Devouring Cockroach's massive, lumbering frame, if it truly wanted to hunt prey, it would be an effortless task.

Shaking off those thoughts, Jiang Yan began packing up, ready to return to Linjiang City.

The signal in the Wilderness was poor. Over these days, Jiang Yan had tried several times to send Uncle Wang a message to report he was safe, but none had gone through.

With the College Entrance Exam imminent, it was time to temporarily say goodbye to the Wilderness.

He took one last look at the place where he had survived for nearly a month, then, without lingering, picked up the black bag and left.

The black bag was bulging, but it couldn't possibly hold all of Jiang Yan's spoils from these days.

He had focused on fighting ferocious beasts, only collecting rare materials when he came across them. So everything in the bag was valuable merchandise—selling it would likely net him a good number of Star Coins.

Meanwhile, in Linjiang City.

With two days left until the College Entrance Exam, senior high school students had long stopped attending classes, staying home to prepare for the exam in peace.

Wang Zhong, as the homeroom teacher, was naturally free at home. At this moment, his brows were tightly knit, the lines on his face clearly visible, his worry impossible to hide.

Staring at the chat log from ten days ago on the screen, Wang Zhong's restless heart grew even more agitated.

"You little brat, don't you dare be in any trouble..."

Wang Zhong pinched the bridge of his nose, set his phone down on the coffee table, and slumped onto the sofa in exhaustion.

"This is actually Jins Beast Hide, young man—where did you run into a Jins Beast?"

"And an Evergreen Green Plant, a treasure that can extend one's lifespan..."

Inside the Exchange, a merchant let out exclamation after exclamation, his eyes gleaming as he stared at the contents of Jiang Yan's black bag, praising them endlessly.

The goods Jiang Yan had poured out of his pocket were all top-grade, rare finds.

Quite a few people had noticed the scene and crowded around, pointing and commenting on the exotic treasures on the ground.

"The Jins Beast is a Fierce Beast known for its defense, and it's scarce to begin with—its hide is extremely rare. This kid got lucky enough to stumble across one."

"And that Evergreen Green Plant—I've heard that once dried, it can be used as medicine, with effects that extend life and repair old injuries. It coexists with a handful of Fierce Beasts and is rarely seen. This kid actually got his hands on it."

"And this too..."

A whole bag of treasures—this was Jiang Yan's haul from the past month, and with his decent luck, the things he'd obtained were truly enviable.

Jiang Yan could clearly sense that several malicious gazes in the crowd had already locked onto him.

He kept his expression unchanged. His current strength allowed him to look down on these Wilderness Hunters, who generally only ranked at the first or second tier.

Besides, he'd be heading into the city soon, so there was no need to worry about any trouble.

"Little brother, how about this—I'll give you ten million for everything together?"

The merchant put on a fawning smile.

Jiang Yan said nothing, simply staring calmly at the merchant's face.

The merchant chuckled. "Uh, well, the price is negotiable."

Hmph. Ten million? That sly merchant sure knew how to scheme—trying to snatch a whole bag of treasures for just ten million.

"Make way! Make way!"

A hurried voice came from the crowd.

A short man in a black robe pushed through the packed crowd, spotted Jiang Yan, and waved his hand, shouting:

"Don't sell! Don't you dare sell!"