Wilderness Massacre

Lin Feng vaulted over the city wall and landed without a sound.

Beneath his feet was cracked, barren earth, and in the distance came the low roars of exotic beasts.

He gripped his long blade and walked toward the direction of the sound.

The system panel flickered at the edge of his vision.

[Detected surrounding exotic beast density: High]

Lin Feng's lips curled slightly.

This was exactly what he wanted.

He hadn't gone far before the first prey appeared.

A Steel-Tooth Rat crouched behind a rock, gnawing on the corpse of its own kind.

Lin Feng held his breath and slowed his steps.

When the distance was close enough, he exploded into motion.

A flash of the blade.

The Iron-Armored Demon Wolf didn't even have a chance to react—its head flew clean off.

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

[Obtained Martial Path Points ×1]

Lin Feng dug out the Magic Core and pressed on.

For the next three hours, he moved through the Wilderness like a reaper.

Venom-Sting Lizards, Rock-Shell Beetles, Steel-Tooth Rats...

Any exotic beast that was alone was killed in a single strike.

[Killed F-Class Exotic Beast: Rock-Shell Beetle]

[Obtained Martial Path Points ×1]

[Killed F-Class Exotic Beast: Steel-Tooth Rat]

[Obtained Martial Path Points ×1]

The system notification sounds rang out without pause.

Before he knew it, Lin Feng had been grinding for half the night.

[Current Martial Path Points: 70]

Lin Feng found a hidden spot and began allocating points.

"Realm, add 70 points."

[Consumed 70 Martial Path Points]

[Realm increased: Martial Disciple Rank 7 → Martial Disciple Rank 8]

[Remaining Martial Path Points: 0]

A surge of heat flooded his body.

This time, the sensation was stronger than before. Lin Feng could feel his bones letting out faint cracking sounds.

After about a minute, the heat dissipated.

Lin Feng clenched his fist.

His strength had skyrocketed.

He estimated that now, even facing a group of F-Class exotic beasts, he could crush them with ease.

But there was a problem.

Low-tier F-Class exotic beasts gave too few Martial Path Points.

Even among F-Class exotic beasts, there were differences in strength.

If he wanted to keep improving quickly, he had to hunt the stronger ones within the F-Class.

Lin Feng took a deep breath and walked deeper into the Wilderness.

The further he went, the stronger the aura of the exotic beasts became.

After about half an hour, Lin Feng stopped.

A hundred meters ahead, a massive beast was drinking water.

It was a Steel-Bristle Fierce Rhino, its body a full size larger than an ordinary ox, covered in steel-like bristles.

This creature's aura was at least Martial Disciple Rank 9.

Lin Feng narrowed his eyes.

Martial Disciple Rank 8, paired with an F-Class Alloy War Blade—it wasn't impossible.

"Just right for a test run."

He gripped the long blade and crept closer.

When the distance was close enough, Lin Feng lunged out.

The Steel-Bristle Fierce Rhino sensed him instantly, spinning around to charge.

Lin Feng sidestepped the attack and swung his blade at its neck.

Clang!

The edge struck the bristles, sparks flying.

The Steel-Bristle Fierce Rhino roared, slamming its front hooves into the ground.

Boom!

The earth exploded, sending gravel flying.

Lin Feng retreated three steps, his arm numb.

"Hard as iron."

He changed tactics, no longer meeting force with force, but striking and circling.

The Steel-Bristle Fierce Rhino was strong, but slow.

Lin Feng circled behind it and slashed at the joint of its hind leg.

This time, the blade bit into flesh, blood spurting out.

The Steel-Bristle Fierce Rhino shrieked, its hind leg buckling, nearly collapsing.

Lin Feng seized the moment, leaped up, and drove his blade into its throat.

Pfft!

Blood gushed like a fountain.

The Steel-Bristle Fierce Rhino struggled a few times, then crashed to the ground.

[Killed F-Class Exotic Beast: Steel-Bristle Fierce Rhino]
[Obtained Martial Path Points ×3]

Lin Feng panted heavily, digging out the Magic Core.

Just as he'd thought—even among F-Class Exotic Beasts, there were strong and weak. The stronger ones gave more points from the system.

This fight was tougher than expected.

But the reward was also greater.

For the next stretch of time, Lin Feng specifically targeted Martial Disciple Rank 9 Exotic Beasts.

Every battle was perilous, but his Martial Path Points piled up much faster.

The sky began to lighten.

Lin Feng found a hollow in a cliff to take cover, sitting cross-legged against the wall to rest.

[Current Martial Path Points: 81]

He was about to allocate points when he suddenly heard footsteps in the distance.

Lin Feng opened his eyes and gripped his long blade.

The footsteps grew closer, accompanied by ragged breathing.

A figure stumbled into view.

It was a young woman, around twenty, with a pretty face. She wore a tight black combat suit, her figure curvy—she could be called a beauty.

She was covered in blood, clutching a Dark Brocade Pouch.

The woman swept a glance at Lin Feng, a flicker of calculation in her eyes.

The next second, she collapsed dramatically in front of him.

"Help! Someone's chasing me!"

Her voice was loud, as if deliberately shouting for those behind to hear.

Lin Feng's mouth twitched slightly. He instantly understood her intent.

This woman—she was trying to shift the trouble onto him.

Sure enough, two whooshes sounded from the distance.

Two black-clad Martial Artists charged over with blades drawn. Spotting Lin Feng, murder flashed in their eyes.

"Kid, hand over the goods, and we'll spare your life!"

The lead black-clad Martial Artist bellowed.

Lin Feng stood up, facing the pursuers, without a single wasted word.

First slash, throat.

Second slash, wrist.

Two bodies hit the ground.

The whole thing took less than five seconds.

Seeing this, the woman's face changed instantly.

She hadn't expected Lin Feng to be so ruthless.

Lin Feng wiped the blood off his blade and turned to look at the woman.

She had already reached for the dagger at her waist, her eyes full of terror.

"Wait! I can give you money!"

Lin Feng said nothing. The flat of his blade swept out.

Smack!

The woman was knocked out cold.

Lin Feng opened the brocade pouch.

Inside lay ten dark red pills.

[Body Tempering Pill]

The system prompt appeared.

[Detected Body Tempering Pill ×10]

[Can be used to break through to Martial Artist realm]

Lin Feng's eyes lit up.

Body Tempering Pills—essential for a Martial Artist's breakthrough, used to temper the flesh.

Market price: one hundred thousand per pill.

This pouch was worth a million.

He glanced at the woman on the ground, hesitated not a moment, and swung his blade.

No loose ends.

Meanwhile.

Deep in the Northern Territory headquarters.

Zhao Tianxiong was slamming the table with a dark face.

"The people? The goods?"

Standing before him was a gaunt middle-aged man, head bowed, not daring to speak.

"The men I sent out—all dead?"

Zhao Tianxiong's voice grew colder by the second.

"Y-yes..."

The middle-aged man stammered, "According to the Tracker, the last location was on the west side of the Wilderness."

Zhao Tianxiong shot to his feet.

That batch of Body Tempering Pills was military supplies he'd been secretly selling off.

If anyone found out, his position as Deputy Commander was as good as gone.

"Send people to investigate!"

He ground his teeth. "Whoever took the goods—they die!"

The middle-aged man nodded hastily and turned to leave.

Zhao Tianxiong sank back into his chair, a cruel glint flashing in his eyes.

In the Wilderness.

Lin Feng tucked away the brocade pouch and turned to leave.

He didn't notice the palm-sized Tracker strapped to the woman's waist.

The red dot on the Tracker was slowly moving.