Assignments!!

Now, Qin Yan had even beaten him to the Middle Three Grades, reaching the Fourth Grade True Qi Realm countless warriors dreamed of!

In just a few short months, the gap between them seemed to have widened to a frightening degree.

"No!" Lu Qingfeng clenched his fists. Lu Qingfeng, you can't give up! He's only ahead for now. You have opportunities and potential of your own!

So what if he's Fourth Grade? If I train hard, I can still catch up!

He took a deep breath and pushed down his discouragement. When he looked at Qin Yan again, resolve had returned to his eyes, along with an even fiercer fighting spirit.

He made Qin Yan the goal he had to surpass, the force that would drive him forward.

Qin Yan noticed the change in Lu Qingfeng and nodded inwardly.

On the path of Martial Dao, talent and opportunity mattered, but a heart that never yielded and always strove ahead was just as essential.

With that spirit, Lu Qingfeng might yet achieve great things.

Neither spoke again. The group pressed on in silence.

They had entered the city through the south gate. Now they left through the north.

Beyond the heavy city gate, the scene changed once more.

Outside lay no barren beach, but a vast, carefully organized area.

More tents and makeshift fortifications stood here, packed closer together.

Large numbers of soldiers in uniform blue-green armor were stationed among them.

Some patrolled in formation, their steps perfectly matched, their armor clanking as they moved.

The grim tension in the air was several times stronger than inside the city.

The officer leading Qin Yan and the others paid it no mind. Without slowing, he crossed the armored soldiers' camp and headed farther out.

The farther they went, the more frequent the