Martial Master!

The step from Martial Artist Perfection to Martial Master is the first truly difficult threshold in the entire martial cultivation system.

Countless martial artists get stuck at this step—three years, five years, even ten years, unable to cross it.

But Lin Feng doesn't need to comprehend any laws of heaven and earth, doesn't need to grasp any true meaning of martial arts.

He only needs two words.

Add points.

"Martial Path Points, all into realm."

[Consumed Martial Path Points ×1000]

[Realm Advancement: Martial Artist Perfection → Martial Master First Stage!]

This time, the surge of heat didn't come from his dantian.

It exploded from within his marrow.

Every single bone was being reforged.

Not the patchwork reinforcement he'd felt before—this was smashing everything down and starting over. Muscle fibers tore, reknit, tore again, reknit again, over and over.

Lin Feng curled up against the rock wall, teeth grinding audibly, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth.

This kind of pain—he'd never felt it in the Northern Territory, not even when his Psychic Power had awakened.

But he didn't make a single sound.

Five minutes.

The heat receded.

Lin Feng pushed himself up against the rock wall, clenched his left fist, and squeezed lightly.

Boom.

The half-man-high boulder in front of him turned directly into powder.

Not cracked—powdered.

Martial Master.

He'd made it.

[Remaining Martial Path Points: 7650]

Lin Feng looked at the panel and didn't stop.

"Continue."

[Consumed Martial Path Points ×2000]

[Realm Advancement: Martial Master First Stage → Martial Master Second Stage!]

[Consumed Martial Path Points ×3000]

[Realm Advancement: Martial Master Second Stage → Martial Master Third Stage!]

Two breakthroughs stacked on top of each other—the pain nearly made him bite through his tongue. But he gritted his teeth and endured.

[Remaining Martial Path Points: 2650]

Lin Feng divided up the remaining points.

He maxed out Mountain-Breaking Slash and Lost Trace Step.

[Mountain-Breaking Slash Perfected! Ultimate Effect Unlocked: Gale Wind can extend up to fifty meters; on hit, blade qi tears into the marrow, unhealable for ten breaths!]

[Lost Trace Step Perfected! Ultimate Effect Unlocked: Generates three solid afterimages while moving; each afterimage can absorb one attack; movement speed increased by 300%!]

[Remaining Martial Path Points: 872]

Both major combat techniques perfected simultaneously.

Lin Feng stood in the wilderness, his entire aura a world apart from what it had been an hour ago.

Martial Master Third Stage, A-Rank War Blade, two perfected combat techniques, 270 layers of Steel of the Blade, First-Rank Psychokinetic Master.

This lineup, placed anywhere in the entire Northern Territory, counted as having some real power.

He rolled his neck, picked up Mountain Splitter, and headed back toward the camp.

When he reached the camp gate, it was exactly 1:50 PM.

Zhang Qian was crouching by the entrance. When he saw Lin Feng coming back, he jumped three feet into the air.

"Boss! Ten minutes until the meeting!"

Lin Feng followed him toward the Command Center.

On the way, they passed several officers, all of whom shot Lin Feng curious looks.

The news that a newly arrived Sergeant Major had cleared six Rifts in a single day had already spread through the camp.

Inside the Command Center sat more than twenty people, every single one holding the rank of Sergeant Major or above.

The moment Lin Feng pushed the door open, everyone's gaze swept over him.

Immediately, more than half the people's expressions shifted.

Not because they recognized him.

But because of the aura he carried.

Martial Master.

A middle-aged man with a face full of rough flesh shot to his feet, glaring at Lin Feng.

"Who the hell are you? A Martial Master? Since when did our Sixth Defense Line have a Martial Master?"

Zhang Qian quietly explained from the side, "Captain Zhao, this is Sergeant Major Lin Feng, newly transferred."

"Sergeant Major?" Captain Zhao looked Lin Feng up and down. "You're the kid who cleared six Rifts in one day?"

"Mm."

"The file clearly says Martial Artist." Captain Zhao's eyes narrowed. "In just a few days, you're a Martial Master now?"

Lin Feng found an empty chair and sat down.

"Eat a lot, grow fast."

The room went silent for two seconds.

Someone in the corner let out a snort of laughter.

Captain Zhao's face flushed red, and he was about to explode.

"Enough."

A steady voice came from the front.

Everyone immediately shut up.

The speaker was a one-eyed middle-aged man, his left eye covered by a black eyepatch, his right eye sharp as an eagle's.

He wore a military uniform with the rank insignia of a Senior Colonel.

Li Zhenguo.

Commander of the Sixth Defense Line.

He glanced at Lin Feng, said nothing more, and spoke directly.

"The Beast Tide has come early."

The entire room erupted in shock.

"According to the latest scout reports, the Beast Tide will reach the Sixth Defense Line by tomorrow dawn, a full day and a half ahead of schedule."

Li Zhenguo stood up and walked to the map.

The entire Command Center fell into dead silence.

A Beast Tide arriving early.

That meant the scale of the beast horde would be larger than expected.

Captain Zhao's face went pale in an instant.

Li Zhenguo swept his gaze across everyone, finally landing on Lin Feng.

"Lin Feng."

"Here."

"You cleared six Rifts, which means you've blocked six back doors for the defense line." Li Zhenguo paused. "So for tomorrow's Beast Tide, you'll hold the city wall's front."

Lin Feng clenched his fist.

Countless Exotic Beasts.

Countless Martial Path Points.

The corner of his mouth curled up slightly.

"No problem."