Farewell Seventh Defense Line, New Official Just Wants to Grind Monsters!

Wang Tie's smile froze on his face, and Li Ming was stunned too.

"Leave? Go where?" Wang Tie grabbed Lin Feng's arm. "You just got promoted to Sergeant Major, you could swagger across the Seventh Defense Line without anyone daring to touch you, and now you're leaving?"

"Transfer order." Lin Feng handed the paper over.

Wang Tie took it, and he and Li Ming huddled together to read.

"Sixth Defense Line." Wang Tie read aloud, then sucked in a sharp breath. "That place is way more dangerous than here. D-Rank rifts erupt all year round, even a few Martial Masters have died there."

Li Ming's face was red with anxiety. "Brother Lin, you're only a Martial Artist. Going there is just asking for death, isn't it? Can't you talk to Deputy Battalion Commander Zhao and get out of it?"

"Death?" Lin Feng smiled, pulling the transfer order back from Wang Tie's hand. "For me, that place is heaven."

More aberrant beasts meant more Martial Path Points and faster leveling.

Wang Tie looked at Lin Feng's utterly carefree demeanor and fell silent.

He knew someone like Lin Feng couldn't be held back.

The Seventh Defense Line was too shallow a pond for him.

"Fine." Wang Tie sighed and gave Lin Feng's shoulder a firm pat. "When you get there, watch yourself. Don't go charging in blind just because you can fight. The Sixth Defense Line's waters run deep."

He paused, pulled a crumpled cloth pouch from his chest, and shoved it into Lin Feng's hand.

"Inside are some Magic Cores I've saved up, and two bottles of healing medicine. Take them. Prices on the Sixth Defense Line are higher than here—don't end up unable to afford medicine."

Lin Feng squeezed the pouch and didn't refuse.

"Thanks."

"Thanks my ass." Wang Tie rolled his eyes. "When you become a Martial Master, remember to come back and give your brother a hand."

Li Ming also pulled out his freshly issued pay from his pocket and tried to stuff it into Lin Feng's hand. "Brother Lin, take mine too."

Lin Feng pushed it back.

"Keep your money for yourself. Train hard, and don't let anyone push you around."

With that, he turned and went back to the barracks to pack.

There wasn't much to pack anyway—just the same luggage he'd arrived with, a Mountain Splitter blade, and that D-Rank Magic Core.

Early the next morning, Lin Feng, carrying the wooden box with his blade, said goodbye to Wang Tie and Li Ming at the camp gate.

Chen Lie also came, his lone arm crossed over his chest, still wearing that expressionless face.

"The commander of the Sixth Defense Line is Li Zhenguo. He's a veteran, hot-tempered, but a good man. When you get there, don't stir up trouble, but don't be afraid of it either."

Chen Lie paused, pulled a small metal badge from his pocket, and tossed it to Lin Feng.

"This is my soldier's badge. If you run into trouble you can't solve, take this to Li Zhenguo—he'll do me a favor."

Lin Feng caught the badge. It was engraved with the character "Lie" and felt warm in his hand.

"Thanks, Instructor."

"Get lost."

Lin Feng nodded, turned, and strode away.

Behind him, Wang Tie shouted at the top of his lungs, "Lin Feng! Come back for a drink when you have time!"

Lin Feng didn't look back, just waved a hand behind him.

The Sixth Defense Line.

It was nearly twice the size of the Seventh Defense Line, with higher walls and better weaponry mounted on them.

As soon as Lin Feng reached the gate, two guards stopped him.

After checking his transfer order and ID badge, one guard's attitude noticeably grew more respectful.

"You must be Sergeant Major Lin Feng? We've received word. Please follow me."

The guard led Lin Feng through the camp to a standalone office building.

"Officer Zhang from the reception office is waiting for you inside."

Lin Feng pushed the door open, and a young man in glasses immediately stood up, his face beaming with a warm smile.

"Sergeant Major Lin! I've heard so much about you! Please, have a seat!"

Officer Zhang poured tea and water, fussing over him with excessive eagerness.

"My name is Zhang Qian, I handle reception for newly transferred officers. I've heard all about your exploits—a Martial Artist solo-killing a D-Rank Mutant, that's a first across the entire Northern Territory! The brothers on the Sixth Defense Line have been looking forward to your arrival!"

Lin Feng took a sip of water and cut off his flattery.

"Tell me about the rift situation near the Sixth Defense Line."

Zhang Qian froze, surprised that this young Sergeant Major was so direct, skipping all the pleasantries.

He quickly pulled a map from the file cabinet and spread it on the table.

"Within the jurisdiction of our Sixth Defense Line, there are a total of twenty-three rifts. Twelve are directly under military control, nine are privately contracted, and two are undeveloped wild rifts."

He tapped a few points on the map with his finger.

"Unlike the Seventh Defense Line, the rifts on our side are generally a grade higher. The military-controlled rifts start at E-Rank at minimum, with four being D-Rank and two C-Rank. The C-Rank rifts are personally guarded by Commander Li Zhenguo."

"As for the privately contracted rifts, aside from one C-Rank rift, the rest are E and D-Rank, held by a few major Martial Artist organizations and the provincial Martial Arts Association."

Zhang Qian's throat went dry from talking. He looked up and saw Lin Feng staring blankly at a spot on the map.

"Sergeant Major Lin, look, this is the dormitory arranged for you—a standalone courtyard, the best environment we have here..."

"Where's the nearest rift?" Lin Feng cut him off, lifting his head.

"Huh?" Zhang Qian was stunned again. "The nearest one is fifteen kilometers west of the camp, an E-Rank rift."

"Alright, I've got it."

Lin Feng stood up, folded the map, and stuffed it into his pocket. He turned and walked out.

"Hey? Sergeant Major Lin, you haven't seen your dorm yet, your luggage..."

"No need."

Lin Feng didn't look back; his voice drifted in from outside the door.

Zhang Qian stood there, holding the dormitory key in his hand, frozen in place.

Just like that?

A new official taking office—not visiting his direct superior, not greeting his colleagues, not even checking his dorm, and heading straight for the rift?

What kind of move was this?

He watched Lin Feng's back disappear through the doorway, then suddenly slapped his forehead.

Damn!

He forgot to tell Lin Feng that it was a privately contracted rift—you had to pay to enter!

And the price was steeper than usual!

Zhang Qian rushed to the door, but Lin Feng's figure had already vanished around the corner of the camp.