From the peak of Martial Artist to Martial Master, the first major bottleneck in the entire martial arts cultivation system, it was a difficult leap to make.
Countless Martial Artists got stuck at this stage, unable to break through for three, five, or even ten years.
But Lin Feng didn't need to comprehend the laws of heaven and earth or grasp the true meaning of martial arts.
He only needed two words.
Add points.
"Martial Path Points—dump them all into my realm."
[Martial Path Points consumed ×1000]
[Realm increased: Peak Martial Artist → Martial Master, First Stage!]
This time, the heat didn't surge from his dantian.
It exploded from his bone marrow.
Every bone in his body was reforged.
This wasn't the kind of strengthening he'd experienced before, where his body was merely repaired. This time, everything was shattered and remade. His muscle fibers tore, reformed, tore again, and reformed once more, over and over.
Lin Feng curled up beside the rock wall, his teeth grinding as blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
He had never felt pain like this in the Northern Territory—not even when his Psychic Power awakened.
But he didn't make a sound.
Five minutes later, the heat faded.
Lin Feng pushed himself up against the rock wall, clenched his left fist, and squeezed lightly.
Bang.
The waist-high boulder in front of him crumbled into powder.
It hadn't cracked. It had been reduced to dust.
Martial Master.
He'd made it.
[Remaining Martial Path Points: 7650]
Lin Feng glanced at the panel and didn't stop.
"Continue."
[Martial Path Points consumed ×2000]
[Realm increased: Martial Master, First Stage → Martial Master, Second Stage!]
[Martial Path Points consumed ×3000]
[Realm increased: Martial Master, Second Stage → Martial Master, Third Stage!]
The pain of two breakthroughs piled on top of each other, nearly making him bite through his tongue. But he bore it.
[Remaining Martial Path Points: 2650]
Lin Feng split up his remaining points.
He maxed out Mountain-Breaking Slash and Lost Trace Step.
[Mountain-Breaking Slash mastered! Ultimate effect unlocked: Gale Wind can extend up to fifty meters. On impact, blade energy twists and tears deep into the bone marrow, preventing healing for ten breaths!]
[Lost Trace Step mastered! Ultimate effect unlocked: Moving creates three solid afterimages, each able to withstand one attack. Movement speed increased by 300%!]
[Remaining Martial Path Points: 872]
Both Martial Techniques had reached mastery at the same time.
Standing in the Wilderness, Lin Feng's aura was completely different from what it had been an hour ago.
Martial Master, Third Stage; an A-Rank War Blade; two mastered Martial Techniques; 270 layers of Steel of the Blade; and a First-Rank Psychokinetic Master.
With that setup, he had a respectable amount of clout throughout the Northern Territory.
He rolled his neck, picked up the Mountain Splitter, and headed back to Base Camp.
It was exactly 1:50 p.m. when he reached the camp gates.
Zhang Qian was squatting by the entrance. When he saw Lin Feng return, he sprang three feet into the air.
"Grandpa! The meeting starts in ten minutes!"
Lin Feng followed him toward the Command Center.
On the way, they passed several officers, all of whom cast curious looks at Lin Feng.
Word had already spread through Base Camp about the new Sergeant Major who'd cleared six Rifts in a single day.
More than twenty people sat in the Command Center, all holding the rank of Sergeant Major or higher.
The moment Lin Feng pushed open the door, everyone's eyes swept over him.
Right after, the expressions on most of their faces changed.
Not because they recognized him.
Because of the aura around him.
Martial Master.
A middle-aged man with a face full of rough flesh abruptly stood up and glared at Lin Feng.
"Who the hell are you? A Martial Master? Since when did the Sixth Defense Line get a Martial Master?"
Zhang Qian leaned over and explained quietly, "Captain Zhao, this is Lin Feng, the newly transferred Sergeant Major."
"Sergeant Major?" Captain Zhao looked Lin Feng up and down. "You're the kid who cleared six Rifts in one day?"
"Yeah."
"Your file clearly says Martial Artist." Captain Zhao narrowed his eyes. "How the hell did you become a Martial Master in just a few days?"
Lin Feng found an empty chair and sat down.
"I eat a lot. I grow fast."
The entire room fell silent for two seconds.
Someone in the corner snorted with laughter.
Captain Zhao's face flushed red. He was just about to blow his top when—
"Enough."
A steady voice came from the front of the room.
Everyone immediately shut up.
The speaker was a one-eyed middle-aged man. A black eyepatch covered his left eye, while his right was as sharp as an eagle's.
He wore a military uniform, and the insignia on his shoulder marked him as a colonel.
Li Zhenguo.
Commander of the Sixth Defense Line.
He glanced at Lin Feng, said nothing more, and spoke directly.
"The Beast Tide is coming early."
The room erupted in an uproar.
"According to the latest report from our scouts, the Beast Tide will reach the Sixth Defense Line at dawn tomorrow—an entire day and a half ahead of schedule."
Li Zhenguo stood and walked to the map.
The Command Center fell deathly silent.
The Beast Tide was coming early.
That meant the beast horde would be larger than expected.
Captain Zhao's face turned deathly pale.
Li Zhenguo looked around the room, then finally fixed his gaze on Lin Feng.
"Lin Feng."
"Present."
"You cleared six Rifts, which is the same as sealing six back doors for the defense line." Li Zhenguo paused. "So tomorrow, you'll defend the front of the city wall."
Lin Feng clenched his fist.
Countless Exotic Beasts.
Countless Martial Path Points.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
"No problem."
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