Back at Base Camp, Lin Feng went to find Zhang Qian first.
"Help me request seven days' leave."
Zhang Qian was chewing on a steamed bun and nearly choked.
"Seven days? Where are you going?"
"Personal business."
"What should I tell Commander Li?"
"Just say I'm not feeling well and need to rest."
Zhang Qian looked him up and down.
A sharp aura, like someone who had just broken through, radiated from every inch of the man. How did he look unwell?
But Zhang Qian had already learned not to ask questions.
"All right. I'll report it."
Lin Feng returned to his tent, changed into casual clothes, and wrapped Mountain Splitter in cloth strips before slinging it over his back.
He rummaged beneath his bed for the money and Magic Cores he had saved, then did the math.
With the cash he had on hand and what he had saved earlier, he had about six or seven million left.
Enough.
He left Base Camp and headed south.
There was a Black Market near the Sixth Defense Line, and it was much larger than the one beside the Seventh Defense Line.
It opened every two days inside an abandoned underground air-raid shelter.
When Lin Feng arrived, a long line stretched from the shelter entrance.
He had his entry pass checked and went inside.
The underground space was much larger, with stall after stall under bright lights.
Weapons, elixirs, spirit materials—the goods on display were dazzling, while the constant haggling buzzed all around him.
Lin Feng had a clear goal and headed straight for the weapons section.
After circling twice, he found a stall specializing in Flying Daggers tucked away in an inconspicuous corner.
The stall owner was a one-eyed old man. Dozens of Flying Daggers of different sizes and materials lay before him.
"What do you want?" The old man didn't even look up.
"Psychic Flying Daggers. Twelve of them, B-Rank or higher."
The old man's hand stopped.
He slowly raised his head and looked Lin Feng over.
"Psychic Flying Daggers?"
"That's right."
"Kid, Psychic Flying Daggers aren't for ordinary people. Are you a Psychic Master?"
"Does it matter whether I am? Do you have any?"
The old man fell silent for two seconds, then bent down and dragged an iron case from beneath the stall.
When he opened it, twelve jet-black Flying Daggers lay neatly arranged inside.
Each was about twenty centimeters long, its blade wafer-thin and its edge so sharp it gleamed. Fine Spirit Patterns were etched into the handle.
"Dark Blade. B-Rank Psychic Flying Daggers, forged from Deep Sea Black Iron. Lightweight, with highly sensitive Spirit Patterns—especially suited to Psychic Power control. Twelve to a set. I don't sell them separately."
Lin Feng picked one up and laid it in his palm.
He poured Psychic Power into it. The Flying Dagger trembled faintly, and the Spirit Patterns on its blade lit up.
Smooth.
The transmission efficiency was excellent.
He withdrew his Psychic Power, and the Flying Dagger settled steadily into his palm.
"How much?"
"Five million for all twelve."
"Two million."
The old man rolled his eye.
"Kid, are you joking, cutting the price in half like that? These are B-Rank!"
As he spoke, he hurriedly pulled the Flying Daggers back.
Lin Feng realized he'd gone too far with his bargaining and quickly named another price.
"Three million."
"Four million. Not a penny less. I bought this batch from a retired Psychic Master down south. They're in top condition."
"Deal."
Lin Feng transferred the money and put the twelve Flying Daggers in the cloth bag he carried with him.
When he left the Black Market, he found a secluded spot and took out all twelve Flying Daggers.
His Psychic Power spread out, twelve strands of it connecting to the Spirit Patterns on the twelve blades.
Hum!
All twelve Flying Daggers rose into the air at once and slowly circled him.
Lin Feng shifted his Psychic Power, and six Flying Daggers shot toward the rock wall on his left.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.
Six holes lined up in a straight row, spaced perfectly evenly.
The remaining six changed direction together, stabbing out at different angles. Then they stopped abruptly in midair, turned around, and flew back to his side.
He could send them out and call them back with ease.
"That'll do."
Lin Feng put the Flying Daggers away, slung Mountain Splitter over his back, and headed south.
Qingzhou.
The straight-line distance from the Northern Territory to Qingzhou was more than eight hundred kilometers.
At the pace of a second-stage Martial Ancestor pushing himself to the limit, he could make it in a day and a night.
But Lin Feng wasn't in a hurry.
As he traveled, he cleared out every wild Exotic Beast he came across.
There were plenty of lone Exotic Beasts in the Wilderness, both E-Rank and D-Rank.
With every kill, Steel of the Blade rose by one level.
After two days on the road, he reached the outskirts of Qingzhou.
[Steel of the Blade: 497/500]
Two more levels to go.
Lin Feng stood on a hill outside Qingzhou, looking down over the great city in the south.
Qingzhou, a major city on the scale of a provincial capital.
Its high-rises and bustling traffic were a world apart from the desolation of the Northern Territory.
The Zhao Family's mansion stood in the eastern part of the city.
The Manor covered more than ten acres, its walls towering high. Inside stood pavilions and terraces. It was one of Qingzhou's most prestigious houses.
Lin Feng took Mountain Splitter from his back, unwound the cloth strips, and gripped it in his hand.
The Dark Gold Spirit Pattern shimmered in the setting sun.
He glanced at the System Panel.
[Host: Lin Feng] [Spirit: First-Rank Psychokinetic Master (260/1000)] [Realm: Martial Ancestor, Second Stage (0/20000)] [Technique: Heavenly Gale Body-Forging Art (4400/10000)] [Martial Techniques: Mountain-Breaking Slash (Mastered), Lost Trace Step (Mastered)] [Talent: Steel of the Blade (497/500)] [Martial Path Points: 4500]
Would it be enough to take on a Martial King?
He didn't know.
But he wasn't going to wait.
If he did, the Zhao Family would only send more people to the Northern Territory to make trouble for him.
Debt collectors, investigators, avengers—one wave after another.
He didn't like taking a beating without fighting back.
Lin Feng strode down the hill and headed for the eastern part of Qingzhou.
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