The Zhao Family Has Arrived, But the Beast Tide Waits for No One

Qing Prefecture.

The Zhao Family's grand estate.

An old man with white hair sat in a chair, a teacup in his hand. The tea had long gone cold, but he didn't seem to notice.

His name was Zhao Wannian, head of the Zhao Family.

Before him stood a middle-aged man who looked like a steward, hunched over, his voice trembling.

"Patriarch, the young master's body has been brought back. The provincial coroner's autopsy report has also arrived."

Zhao Wannian set down the teacup.

"What did it say?"

"The report states that a fissure collapsed, burying him under rubble, leading to suffocation. Uncle Fu died in the same collapse, with two puncture wounds to the chest, but the coroner believes they were caused by sharp debris piercing through during the collapse."

Zhao Wannian said nothing.

The steward added, "The frontline garrison also issued an incident report, and their conclusion matches."

Zhao Wannian slowly stood up and walked to the window.

"Uncle Fu followed me for twenty-three years. He was cautious by nature and rich in experience."

The steward lowered his head. "Yes."

"A first-rank Psychic Master, with concealment skills at the Martial Master level."

"Yes."

"Tell me—how could someone like that be crushed to death by a fissure collapse?"

The steward's forehead began to sweat.

"What's more," Zhao Wannian turned around, tapping the table twice with his fingers, "the puncture wounds on Uncle Fu's chest were two. Both wounds were on the same line, less than ten centimeters apart. Could a rubble collapse cause that kind of injury?"

The steward's voice grew quieter. "Patriarch, you mean..."

"Someone killed Fu Bo and Yuan'er. Then they staged the scene."

At these words, the room fell silent for three seconds.

The steward's back bent even lower.

"Should we send people to the front lines to investigate immediately?"

Zhao Wannian was quiet for a moment, then walked back to his armchair and sat down.

"The beast tide."

"Huh?"

"The Northern Wasteland beast tide will reach the Northern Frontier Defense Line in three days. You should have received the news too."

The steward nodded. "I did."

"The Zhao Family has three contracted fissures near the Sixth Defense Line. When the beast tide hits, the density of alien beasts inside those fissures will skyrocket. If we pull our manpower to investigate the case, who will guard the fissures?"

The steward understood.

"If the contracted fissures are lost, the Zhao Family will lose tens of millions annually from fissure revenue alone."

Zhao Wannian picked up the now-cold tea and took a sip. "Investigate after the beast tide. Yuan'er is already dead. A few more days won't matter."

His voice was terrifyingly calm.

"But I will find out who did this."

"Understood."

The steward withdrew.

Zhao Wannian's young grandson was dead.

The most talented direct-line heir of the Zhao Family, gone just like that.

Who did it?

After the beast tide, he would find out.

And then he would make that person pay a thousandfold, ten-thousandfold.

The Sixth Defense Line.

Lin Feng woke up after four hours of sleep.

Outside the tent, it was unbearably noisy—everywhere, the sound of supplies being moved and officers shouting orders at the top of their lungs.

The countdown to the beast tide had two days left.

The entire camp had already entered its most intense state of combat readiness.

Lin Feng paid it no mind.

He washed his face, wolfed down two steamed buns, grabbed Mountain Splitter, and headed out again.

"Sergeant Major Lin!" Zhang Qian caught up, panting. "Commander Li told me to inform you—there's a tactical deployment meeting before the beast tide. Two in the afternoon. You have to be there!"

"What time is it now?"

"Eight in the morning."

"Then I've got six hours."

Lin Feng walked out of the camp.

Zhang Qian stamped his foot behind him. "You're going to clear another rift again? Ancestor, take it easy—those rifts aren't going anywhere!"

"They won't run, but the beast tide will."

Lin Feng's figure vanished beyond the camp gate.

Six hours.

He headed straight for another D-rank rift.

This rift was deeper than the last one—a full eight layers.

But for Lin Feng right now.

Killing was all that mattered.

Peak Martial Artist realm, A-rank battle blade, Armor Piercing talent, two high-tier martial skills.

With this combo, D-rank beasts couldn't hold up.

From the first layer to the fifth, he cleared them in an hour and a half.

[Killed D-rank beast: Crimson Flame Giant Python ×1, gained Martial Path Points ×200]

[Killed D-rank beast: Iron Wall Pangolin ×3, gained Martial Path Points ×600]

[Killed D-rank beast: Dark Gold Beetle ×5, gained Martial Path Points ×1000]

[Steel of the Blade: 268/500]

Starting from the sixth layer, high-tier D-rank beasts appeared.

A pitch-black Shadow Blade Leopard King, absurdly fast—peak Martial Artist level.

When it lunged out from the shadow of the rock wall, its claws were already in front of Lin Feng's face.

For anyone else, that claw would've been a real problem.

But Lin Feng's spiritual perception had already locked onto it.

A Psychic Master's perception range far exceeded an ordinary Martial Artist's.

He sidestepped, and Mountain Splitter swept up in a smooth arc, cutting from the leopard's jaw all the way to the base of its tail.

A line of blood split open, and its innards spilled out in a heap.

[Killed D-rank beast: Shadow Blade Leopard King ×1, gained Martial Path Points ×250]

[Steel of the Blade: 269/500]

Seventh layer.

Deeper.

The ground temperature had risen noticeably, and the air was thick with a pungent smell.

Lin Feng had just turned a corner when his steps came to an abrupt halt.

In the cave ahead, a massive beast lay sprawled.

Its body was covered in dark purple scale armor, its four legs thick and powerful, and two curved horns on its head gleamed with a metallic sheen.

A System Panel popped up with a prompt.

[Detected D-rank beast: Purple Armored Earth Dragon (D-rank peak, approaching Martial Master threshold)]

Lin Feng's pupils contracted.

D-rank peak, approaching Martial Master.

This thing's strength was on a whole other level compared to the Red Flame Earth Lizard he'd killed last time.

"Let's do it."

Lin Feng took a deep breath, pushed Lost Trace Step to its full power, and his form blurred into an afterimage as he charged at the Purple Armored Earth Dragon.

The earth dragon sensed the movement. Its dark purple vertical pupils snapped open.

Roar—

A low, rumbling roar rolled out from its throat, shaking the entire cave.

It opened its massive maw, and a cloud of purple venom mist spewed from its mouth.

Lin Feng was ready. He shifted direction with Lost Trace Step, circling around to the side of the venom mist.

Mountain Splitter rose high.

Mountain-Breaking Slash!

A golden blade wind tore from the edge, slashing into the earth dragon's left ribs.

Boom!

Purple armor shattered, blood splattered.

The earth dragon, stung by pain, swept its tail across.

Lin Feng ducked low, the tail grazing over his head, the wind it kicked up scraping his face raw.

He seized the moment to slide under the earth dragon's belly, thrusting Mountain Splitter upward.

Armor Piercing effect fully activated.

The blade pierced through the belly armor, sinking in more than halfway.

The earth dragon let out a shrill shriek, its six legs thrashing wildly as its entire body rolled to the side.

Lin Feng pulled the blade free, rolled out, rose, and struck again.

This cut sliced in from the side of the earth dragon's neck, severing half its cervical spine.

The earth dragon's massive frame crashed heavily to the ground, convulsed a few times, and went still.

[Killed D-Rank Mutant Beast: Purple Armored Earth Dragon ×1, gained Martial Path Points ×300]

[Steel of the Blade: 270/500]

Lin Feng caught his breath, then sat down on the earth dragon's corpse.

Every muscle in his body ached, but the numbers on the System Panel lifted his spirits.

[Current Martial Path Points: 8650]

Adding the 5600 he'd saved before, that made 8650 total.

Lin Feng didn't hesitate.

"Realm, add."