Rising Two Ranks in One Day

The battle on the city wall continued.

Lin Feng tightened his grip on his long saber, staring at the two Iron-Armored Demon Wolves charging at him.

He could feel that the strength behind his last strike had been considerably greater than before.

The system's points had taken effect immediately, but even at Martial Disciple Rank 5, facing a pack of Iron-Armored Demon Wolves was still too much.

"Left!"

Wang Tie's shout came from beside him.

Lin Feng instinctively twisted aside. A demon wolf's claws scraped past his shoulder, tearing his Combat Suit.

He swung back with a slash, striking the wolf's hind leg. Blood sprayed.

The wolf cried out and fell, but the other seized the chance to lunge for Lin Feng's throat.

Lin Feng had no time to dodge. He could only raise his saber to block.

Bang!

The enormous impact sent him stumbling back several steps, until his back slammed against the city wall.

The wolf opened its bloody maw, its stench washing over him.

Just then, a long saber thrust in from the side, piercing straight through the wolf's head.

Wang Tie pulled out his saber and flicked off the blood. "What are you standing there for? Finish it off!"

Lin Feng came to his senses and slashed the wounded wolf across the neck.

[Slain F-Class Exotic Beast: Iron-Armored Demon Wolf]

[Martial Path Points gained ×1]

[Current Martial Path Points: 2]

The battle lasted a full two hours.

When the last wolf was riddled with bullets from a heavy machine gun, the city wall finally fell silent.

Lin Feng slumped to the ground, covered in blood, unable to tell whether it was his or the beasts'.

He looked around. Of the fifty people from the Recruit Camp, only thirty-seven remained.

Some of the bodies were still relatively intact. Others had been torn to pieces.

Zhao Gang sat not far away, his face deathly pale, the saber in his hand still trembling.

He'd been lucky. He'd stayed behind the veterans and killed only one demon wolf.

Li Ming had fared even worse. He was curled up in a corner, his pants soaked.

"Clear the battlefield!" Chen Lie's voice rang out. "The fallen's belongings will be burned together tomorrow, and compensation will be sent to their families. Those still alive, dig out the Magic Cores. Sell them to the military or keep them for yourselves. It's up to you."

Lin Feng struggled to his feet and walked over to the demon wolves he'd killed.

He took out his dagger and, following the method he'd seen earlier, cut open a gash in a wolf's head.

Blood and brain matter spilled out. The sight nearly made him vomit.

But he held it in and kept digging.

A few seconds later, a purple crystal the size of his thumb appeared in his hand.

This was a Magic Core.

Lin Feng wiped off the blood and put it in his pocket.

He'd killed six wolves in all and dug out six Magic Cores.

"Not bad. Six kills on your first battlefield." Wang Tie came over, carrying a cloth bag full of Magic Cores. "These things fetch a thousand each on the Black Market, but I recommend turning them over to the military. You'll only get eight hundred, but it's safe, and you won't have to worry about people targeting you."

Two hundred less per core?

For someone as poor as Lin Feng, losing two hundred was practically a death sentence!

Lin Feng thought for a moment. "Where's the Black Market?"

"You really want to go?" Wang Tie raised an eyebrow. "Fine. I'll take you sometime. But let me make this clear first: the Black Market's a den of snakes and rats. If anything happens, I won't be responsible."

Lin Feng nodded and kept digging out Magic Cores.

When he finished with the last one, the system notification sounded again.

[Current Martial Path Points: 6]

[Recommended: Increase your strength as soon as possible]

Lin Feng glanced around and, making sure no one was paying attention, focused his mind.

"Spend points. Realm."

[6 Martial Path Points consumed]

[Realm increased: Martial Disciple Rank 5 (50/50)]

[ Ding! Martial Disciple Rank 5 --> Martial Disciple Rank 6! ]

A wave of heat swept through his body again.

This time the sensation was much more intense than before. Lin Feng felt his bones crackle softly, his muscles tearing apart and knitting back together.

He clenched his teeth, forcing himself not to make a sound.

After a dozen or so seconds, the heat faded.

Lin Feng clenched his fist. His strength had clearly increased by a large margin.

He estimated that he could now easily take down the wounded demon wolf from earlier.

"Holy crap!"

Wang Tie's eyes widened. "You broke through?"

Lin Feng froze. "How did you know?"

"Obviously, your aura changed." Wang Tie circled him once. "Martial Disciple Rank 6? Weren't you Rank 5 just a moment ago? How long has it even been?"

Lin Feng said nothing.

Wang Tie sucked in a sharp breath. "A breakthrough in battle? I've heard of people breaking through in a life-or-death situation, but they were all geniuses—one in ten thousand. You..."

He paused and patted Lin Feng on the shoulder. "All right, I guess I wasn't wrong about you. From now on, we're brothers. If you need anything, just say the word."

Lin Feng nodded.

He could tell Wang Tie meant it.

In a place like the Northern Territory, having a reliable teammate was a real blessing.

Just as Lin Feng was getting ready to leave, an argument broke out nearby.

"Let go of me! That's mine!"

Lin Feng turned to see several veterans surrounding a new recruit.

The one they'd surrounded was Li Ming.

Their leader was a Scar-Faced Man, about six feet tall, with a flood dragon tattooed on his arm.

He kicked Li Ming to the ground and snatched the Magic Core from his hand. "New here and you don't know the rules? If you want to get by around here, you pay protection money."

Li Ming lay on the ground, trembling. "But... but the instructor said the Magic Cores belonged to us."

"The instructor said that?" The Scar-Faced Man burst out laughing. "The instructor can control the battlefield, but not the Base Camp. I'm in charge here."

He raised his foot and kicked Li Ming in the face again.

Li Ming cried out. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

All around them, the new recruits lowered their heads. Not one dared to speak.

Lin Feng frowned.

He'd meant to leave and stay out of it.

But the Scar-Faced Man clearly had no intention of letting him go.

"Oh, look, another dumb rookie." The Scar-Faced Man walked over and looked Lin Feng up and down. "Kid, hand over your Magic Cores, and if I'm in a good mood, I might spare your life."

Lin Feng looked at him. "Get lost."

The Scar-Faced Man froze, then burst out laughing. "Another one who isn't afraid to die? Name's Zhang Hu. I've been here three years, and I've killed more Exotic Beasts than you've seen people!"

He drew the cleaver at his waist, its blade still smeared with beast blood. "Last chance. You handing them over or not?"

Lin Feng said nothing, simply tightening his grip on his long saber.

Zhang Hu's expression darkened. "You're asking for it!"

He slashed at Lin Feng, moving incredibly fast.

Lin Feng could tell the man was at Martial Disciple Rank 6—not weak.

But Lin Feng was Martial Disciple Rank 6 now, too.

He dodged to the side and slashed back at Zhang Hu's wrist.

Clang!

The blades collided, sending sparks flying.

Zhang Hu's expression changed. "You're a Martial Disciple Rank 6, too?"

Lin Feng didn't answer. He kicked Zhang Hu in the chest.

Bang!

Zhang Hu flew backward and hit the ground hard.

Clutching his chest, he struggled back to his feet and stared at Lin Feng in disbelief. "Impossible! A new recruit can't be Martial Disciple Rank 6!"

The new recruits who came in previous years had all failed to get into a Martial Path Undergraduate program and didn't want to attend a Martial Path junior college. Most were only Martial Disciple Rank 3.

Zhang Hu hadn't expected this year's batch to include someone who'd gotten into a Martial Path Undergraduate program.

Why would anyone who'd gotten into a Martial Path Undergraduate program come to the Northern Territory?

"I'm Rank 6 now," Lin Feng said calmly.

The veterans behind Zhang Hu exchanged glances and drew their weapons.

"Get him together!"

Just as the two sides were about to clash, Chen Lie suddenly appeared.

He glanced over the scene and said coldly, "Want to fight among yourselves? Take it to the Colosseum. You're responsible for your own life or death."

Chen Lie was long used to veterans bullying new recruits.

In peacetime, he would have punished them severely, but now...

Anyone willing to go onto the battlefield and kill Exotic Beasts was a good soldier!

Zhang Hu clutched his chest and rose to his feet, glaring venomously at Lin Feng. "You've got guts, kid! See you at the Colosseum tomorrow!"

With that, he led his men away.

Li Ming climbed to his feet, trembling, and took two Magic Cores from his pocket. "Thank you. Take these."

Lin Feng glanced at him and took one. "One's enough."

Then he turned and left.

He wasn't a bad person, but he wasn't a good person, either.

One Magic Core was payment for stepping in.

Back in the barracks, Wang Tie said meaningfully, "Zhang Hu has backing. He's the Seventh Defense Line Adjutant's nephew. You've made an enemy of him, so things won't be easy for you from now on."

Lin Feng calmly wiped down his saber. "So what? In the Northern Territory, the strongest fist is the only rule."

Wang Tie laughed. "All right, I like your style. But be careful at the Colosseum tomorrow. Zhang Hu's a snake. He'll definitely try something."

Lin Feng nodded.

Night fell.

Everyone else in the barracks was asleep. Lin Feng lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

He checked the System Panel.

[Realm: Martial Disciple Rank 6 (0/60)]

[Martial Path Points: 0]

To keep getting stronger, he needed more Martial Path Points.

And the way to earn Martial Path Points was to kill Exotic Beasts.

Lin Feng thought it over, then slid out of bed.

He quietly left the barracks, avoided the patrolling guards, and headed toward the city wall.

Outside the Northern Territory city, night was even more dangerous.

But it was also better for hunting.

Lin Feng climbed over the city wall and dropped onto the wasteland outside.

The Rift in the distance had already closed, but some Exotic Beasts remained.

He tightened his grip on his long saber and headed toward the source of the auras.

He hadn't gone far when he spotted his first prey.

A lone Iron-Armored Demon Wolf was gnawing on the body of one of its own.

Lin Feng held his breath and crept closer.

When he was close enough, he suddenly charged and slashed at the wolf's neck.

The wolf cried out and turned to lunge at him.

But Lin Feng was faster. He dodged to the side and struck again.

[Slain F-Class Exotic Beast: Iron-Armored Demon Wolf]

[Martial Path Points gained ×1]

Lin Feng dug out the Magic Core and kept moving.

[Slain F-Class Exotic Beast: Venom-Sting Lizard]

[Martial Path Points gained ×1]

All night long, he prowled outside the city, targeting only lone Exotic Beasts.

Iron-Armored Demon Wolves, Venom-Sting Lizards, Rock-Shell Beetles...

If he came across an F-Class Exotic Beast, he killed it.

But whenever he encountered an E-Class Exotic Beast, he didn't hesitate—he was always the first to run.

Just before dawn, the system notification sounded.

[Current Martial Path Points: 68]

Lin Feng found a secluded spot and began spending his points.

"Realm, add 60 points."

[60 Martial Path Points consumed]

[Realm increased: Martial Disciple Rank 6 --> Martial Disciple Rank 7]

[Remaining Martial Path Points: 8]

This breakthrough was even more intense than the last.

Lin Feng felt as if every bone in his body was being rearranged, while his muscles burned like they were on fire.

He clenched his teeth and endured it without making a sound.

It took about a minute for the pain to fade.

Lin Feng stood up and clenched his fist.

His strength had surged.

He estimated that he could now kill Zhang Hu with ease.

"There's still the Basic Body Tempering Art."

Lin Feng glanced at the System Panel.

[Technique: Basic Body Tempering Art (2/10)]

[Remaining Martial Path Points: 8]

After a moment's hesitation, he put his remaining two points into the technique.

[Basic Body Tempering Art (10/10)]

[Remaining Martial Path Points: 0]

A warm current surged from his dantian and coursed through his meridians, flowing throughout his body.

Lin Feng could feel his physical strength improve another notch.

He stretched his arms and legs, climbed over the city wall, and returned to the Base Camp.

It was just getting light, but people in the Base Camp were already waking up.

When Lin Feng returned to the Barracks, Wang Tie was sitting on his bed, smoking.

Seeing Lin Feng come in, he froze. "You didn't sleep all night?"

Lin Feng nodded. "Went out for a walk."

Wang Tie stared at him for a few seconds, then his eyes suddenly widened. "Holy shit! You broke through again?"

Lin Feng didn't answer.

Wang Tie sucked in a sharp breath. "Martial Disciple Rank 7? Are you a fucking monster?"

He stood up and circled Lin Feng. "Wait, you still reek of Exotic Beast blood. Did you go outside the city to farm monsters last night?"

Lin Feng nodded.

Wang Tie fell silent for a few seconds, then gave him a thumbs-up. "You're a badass."

He paused, then lowered his voice. "But you'd better not let anyone else find out. Martial Disciple Rank 7 puts you among the very best in the Recruit Camp. A tall tree catches the wind, so be careful someone doesn't set their sights on you."

Lin Feng nodded.

Just then, an uproar suddenly broke out in the Base Camp.

"The Colosseum's open!"

"Zhang Hu's going to duel that new recruit!"

"Hurry, let's go watch!"

Wang Tie glanced at Lin Feng. "Come on. Time to deal with that bastard."

Lin Feng picked up his long blade and followed Wang Tie out of the Barracks.

The Colosseum stood at the center of the Base Camp. It was a simple Arena Stage.

It was already packed with people—veterans and recruits alike—and some were even taking bets.

Chen Lie stood on a raised platform and announced the rules coldly. "A fight to the death. Once you've signed the Life-Death Contract, if you die, you die."

Zhang Hu strode onto the Arena Stage with a vicious grin, holding a brand-new F-Class Alloy War Blade.

It was a standard-issue weapon reserved for Martial Artists, worth at least a hundred thousand.

"Kid, there's still time to regret this." Zhang Hu licked his lips. "Get on your knees, kowtow three times, and call me Grandpa. I might spare your life."

Lin Feng tightened his grip on his long blade and enunciated each word.

"Go fuck your mother!"