The second Rift was D-Rank.
The military guards at the entrance saw Lin Feng's badge and hesitated.
"Sergeant Major Lin, D-Rank Rifts require a team of at least three to enter. It's the rules."
"Hm?"
Lin Feng snorted.
Seeing that, the guard let him through.
There was no need to pick a fight with his own superior. Rules were dead, but people were alive.
The Exotic Beasts inside the D-Rank Rift were indeed more than a full tier stronger than those in E-Rank Rifts.
He encountered three Iron-Armored Mad Rhinos on the very first level, each with the strength of a Martial Master.
In the past, Lin Feng would have had to put in quite a bit of effort.
But now?
Mountain Splitter left its sheath, and his Armor Piercing talent activated at full power.
The first rhino was still lowering its head to build up force for a charge when Lin Feng had already circled to its side.
His blade slipped between its ribs and pierced straight through its chest.
The rhino let out a mournful cry and fell, its limbs twitching twice before going still.
[Killed D-Rank Exotic Beast: Iron-Armored Mad Rhino ×1, gained Martial Path Points ×200] [Steel of the Blade: 169/500]
The second and third were even easier.
They saw their companion die and turned to flee.
As if Lin Feng would give them the chance!
Lost Trace Step burst into action at full force, his figure flashing three times in succession.
The rhinos hadn't even run five steps before a line appeared across each of their necks.
[Killed D-Rank Exotic Beast: Iron-Armored Mad Rhino ×2, gained Martial Path Points ×400] [Steel of the Blade: 171/500]
He pressed on.
Flame Lizards, Shadow Leopard Kings, Iron-Winged Bats—one wave after another came rushing out.
Lin Feng slaughtered them to his heart's content.
Mountain Splitter was almost never sheathed. Before the blood on its blade had dried, fresh blood was already splashing across it.
[Killed D-Rank Exotic Beast: Flame Lizard ×2, gained Martial Path Points ×400] [Killed D-Rank Exotic Beast: Shadow Leopard King ×2, gained Martial Path Points ×400] [Killed D-Rank Exotic Beast: Iron-Winged Bat ×4, gained Martial Path Points ×800]
Three hours.
He swept a D-Rank Rift clean, from the first floor to the fifth.
By the time Lin Feng emerged from the Rift, he was plastered from head to toe in the blood of beasts of every color.
The guard saw him and nearly failed to recognize him.
"C-Commander... Sergeant Major Lin?"
Lin Feng wiped the blood from his face. "Where's the third one?"
The guard pointed in a direction, his hand trembling.
Lin Feng turned and left.
By evening, he had cleared the third E-Rank Rift.
He skipped dinner and headed straight to the fourth.
After midnight, he finished clearing the fourth D-Rank Rift.
At three in the morning, the fifth.
At daybreak, the sixth.
A full day and night. Six Rifts, all cleared.
The numbers on the System Panel had become astonishing.
[Current Martial Path Points: 8600] [Steel of the Blade: 247/500]
Lin Feng found a rock sheltered from the wind and sat down against it. His whole body ached, but his spirits were high.
"Upgrade my realm."
[Consumed Martial Path Points ×600] [Realm increased: Martial Artist Stage Six → Martial Artist Stage Seven!] [Consumed Martial Path Points ×700] [Realm increased: Martial Artist Stage Seven → Martial Artist Stage Eight!] [Consumed Martial Path Points ×800] [Realm increased: Martial Artist Stage Eight → Martial Artist Stage Nine!] [Consumed Martial Path Points ×900] [Realm increased: Martial Artist Stage Nine → Martial Artist Perfection!]
Four waves of warmth surged through him in succession, and his bones crackled densely inside his body.
Lin Feng clenched his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead.
It hurt.
More than any breakthrough before.
But he endured it.
Three minutes later, the warmth receded.
Lin Feng rose slowly and clenched his fist.
As his fingers tightened, the air within three meters of him trembled.
Martial Artist Perfection.
He was only one step away from Martial Master.
[Remaining Martial Path Points: 5600]
After advancing three stages in a row, Lin Feng's body felt slightly uncomfortable.
He brushed the dust off himself and decided to advance again tomorrow. Then, carrying Mountain Splitter, he headed toward Base Camp.
Halfway there, he spotted Zhang Qian crouching by the camp gate in the distance, a communicator in his hand and anxiety written all over his face.
When Zhang Qian saw Lin Feng return, he jumped to his feet.
"Good heavens! You're finally back!"
"What's wrong?"
"Commander Li specifically asked to see you! You were gone for a whole day and night. He nearly sent people into the Rifts to fish you out!"
Lin Feng patted his shoulder. "Tell Commander Li I cleared six Rifts by myself. Those Rifts won't produce any more Exotic Beasts before the Beast Tide arrives."
Zhang Qian froze.
"S-Six?"
"Yeah."
"By yourself?"
"Yeah."
Zhang Qian's mouth opened and closed several times. In the end, only two words came out.
"Badass."
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