Poor Scholars, Rich Warriors

Purchase of the secret manual successful. Next step... purchase weapons, combat suit, and so on.

I already have a weapon, bought using my father's account. This Wind Lifter is enough for Ji Yun to use all the way to the War God level.

One must understand, although the user's physical constitution limits what grade of weapon a martial artist can use, this gap continuously narrows. High-grade weapons prioritize quality over weight; weight is merely a usage requirement. So Ji Yun's strength at the Low-Level War General rank is fully sufficient to wield a War God-level long spear.

"I don't need a shield, so let's go with the combat suit."

Ji Yun clicked into the combat suit channel. Even though Ji Yun came from a wealthy family, he couldn't help but marvel at the exorbitant cost of combat suits.

"Even the D5 Series combat suit, which can withstand Mid-Level Beast Generals, with arm guards, combat boots, and the full set, costs a total of 18 million Huaxia Currency at full price, and 9 million at half price. The full price for the D6 is even 80 million Huaxia Currency."

"So expensive. Let's take a look at the D7."

"Hiss," Ji Yun sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.

"The D7 Series full combat suit actually costs 800 million." "But it's not bad; this D7 Series combat suit can defend against attacks from some Lord Rank monsters. It's more than enough for now."

Ji Yun sent the information on the D7 combat suit to his father, Ji Shan, asking him to help with the purchase.

Ji Shan had three-star contribution points within the Limit Dojo, enough to enjoy a half-price discount for items of this grade.

Check the backpack.

When surviving in the wild and fighting monsters, the backpack carried is also special equipment. First, the backpack itself must be of good quality. Second, when worn, it must not hinder the martial artist's movements during combat with monsters.

"The backpack is the cheapest, requiring only 1 contribution point, and the best ones cost just a few hundred thousand." Ji Yun clicked to place the order. Same as before, delivery within twenty-four hours.

"Combat Communication Watch, with satellite positioning, time, phone, and many other functions. The price is also acceptable, just a hundred thousand." Actually, those functions aren't worth much. A phone on the market for a few hundred bucks already includes calling, time, satellite positioning, and many features. The reason the communication watch costs a hundred thousand is the material—it's expensive!

Fighting monsters, a monster's claw might just hit the communication watch! The watch has to be sturdy enough to withstand monster attacks; how could the price be low?

Generally speaking, if you're an ordinary Junior Warrior-level martial artist, you'd usually buy the 2 Series or 3 Series. Here, 1 contribution point can be obtained by donating just ten thousand!

An ordinary Quasi-Warrior, even with good equipment, can only fight low-level Beast Soldiers and barely survive against mid-level Beast Soldiers. So there's no need for higher-grade equipment. No matter how good the equipment, given the gap in physical constitution, a monster might shatter a martial artist's internal organs with a single charge.

A combat suit can't block impact force!

Having prepared and purchased all the equipment, Ji Yun shut down the electronic device and left the Audio-Visual Hall.

"This equipment and secret manual are ridiculously expensive."

"But it's understandable. The D7-level combat suit I bought is fully sufficient for fighting high-level Beast General monsters and some low-level Lord monsters. For a High-Level War General to earn a billion Huaxia Currency isn't too difficult—killing a little over twenty mid-level Beast Generals would cover it, let alone a War God figure."

"Besides, if your contribution points are high enough, you can even pay half price. I have to say, the internal resources of the Limit Dojo are pretty good."

Ji Yun sat cross-legged on the bed, preparing for the final training procedure of the day—cultivating Genetic Origin Energy.

Today, the speed of cultivating Genetic Origin Energy was actually a bit faster than in the past month, which surprised Ji Yun slightly.

"Could it be that real combat, even if not intense, improves strength?" Ji Yun recalled his experience in Monster Town last night. "Just a hundred or so Beast Soldiers with no threat, no life-or-death tempering. Why would it increase the speed? Ji Yun was a bit puzzled."

"Forget it, whatever. It's not a bad thing that cultivation speed is increasing. It's not like this Genetic Origin Energy is going to burst me, right?"

Ji Yun stopped overthinking, closed his eyes, and began to cultivate. However, Ji Yun himself didn't notice that a faint breeze stirred slightly around him, causing the curtains to flutter just a bit—too slight to make any sound.

The next day, around noon.

At Panshan Residential District, Ji Yun's residence, a stranger arrived.

"Mr. Ji Yun, these two boxes contain the secret manual and other items you purchased. You can open them with your fingerprint."

Ji Yun took the two sealed alloy boxes handed to him. He swiped his finger across the top of one alloy box. "Beep! Fingerprint verification passed." An electronic synthesized voice sounded, and the alloy box opened, revealing a book about as thick as a textbook, along with a CD on top of it.

The secret manual was titled—Fierce Wind.

Ji Yun opened the other box. Inside was a D7 Series combat suit, along with a backpack and a series of other items.

"Mr. Ji Yun, please take a look and confirm. After that, please sign here." The delivery man smiled, but there was a trace of envy in his gaze toward Ji Yun that was hard to detect.

"Mr. Ji Yun, I trust you are aware of the taboos after purchasing a secret manual?" The delivery man smiled. "As per the rules, I'll state them once... The copyright of the secret manual belongs to its creator. The copyright holder of the Fierce Wind secret manual is Chen Qingzhi! The purchaser only has the right to learn, not the right to transmit. You must not copy, privately sell, or teach the secret manual. Anyone who violates this will be hunted down jointly by the Limit Dojo, Thunder Dojo, Underground Alliance, and the government military!"

Ji Yun nodded, indicating he understood.

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After the delivery man left, Ji Yun turned and entered the house.

"Ah Yun, come to the dojo for a bit." The phone rang, and it was Luo Hong's voice. After retiring, Luo Hong had nothing to do and became an instructor at the Limit Dojo. Perhaps this was the most bizarre branch of the Limit Dojo in the world. Generally, the chief instructor of a Limit Dojo branch was a War General-level martial artist, but never exceeding Mid-Level War General.

Yet this small satellite city of Kyoto Base City, Changshan City, actually had two High-Level War General-level martial artists serving as instructors.

Ji Yun was the chief instructor of the Changshan City Limit Dojo, usually busy with many miscellaneous tasks. This kept Ji Yun's future father-in-law running around for him. But as Luo Hong put it, just for: "For my future son-in-law, I'm willing."

"Alright, Uncle Luo." Ji Yun responded, then put the secret manual and equipment back in his bedroom before leaving the house.

Ji Yun drove to the Limit Hall and walked straight in.

He ran into an acquaintance right away.

"Oh, Ah Yun." It was Wei Qing, the one who had driven Ji Yun that day.

"Uncle Wei," Ji Yun greeted.

"Why haven't you been to the Wilderness Zone lately?"

"A Level 3 Beast Tide broke out in the Qilu area a couple of days ago. Several War Generals died. I almost got lost there myself." Wei Qing patted his chest, still seeming shaken.

Beast tides are truly terrifying. Even the lowest-level beast tide cannot be confronted head-on by a human War God; the only option is to flee. Only a fully organized military force can withstand them, and even then, they need to be equipped with laser weapons and heavy firepower.

"Still, after this beast tide passes, the Qilu region will be much safer. If you're entering the Wilderness Zone for the first time, you could go take a look there." Wei Qing patted Ji Yun on the shoulder. "I'm heading home. Be careful when you go to the Wilderness Zone."

"Wilderness Zone. Beast tide." Watching Wei Qing's retreating figure, Ji Yun's perception of the dangers in the Wilderness Zone rose another notch.

"Ah Yun is here." Luo Hong said with a smile.

"Mm, Uncle Luo." Ji Yun replied.

"I found a martial artist squad for you. Their strength isn't particularly outstanding, but they're absolutely the best in terms of character. That way, I can rest easy. Once you've gained some experience, you can enter the Wilderness Zone on your own."

"This time is just about accumulating experience, preparing for the future."

"Wait a moment. I've already called him. He should be here soon."

"As expected, you know me well, Brother Hong." Speak of the devil, and he appears. At that moment, a tall, broad-shouldered martial artist with a kind face walked in.

Ji Yun carefully sized up this martial artist, but couldn't discern much.

"Ah Yun, let me introduce you." Luo Hong laughed. "This is our squad's former sniper from when I was still captain, known as 'Eagle Eye' Zhang Taofang. But after I left, he became the captain, so now I should call him Captain Zhang."

"Don't let the fact that he's a thermal weapon martial artist fool you. Old Zhang is a Mid-Level War General thermal weapon martial artist, and he once pierced through two Beast General Rank monsters with a single bullet."

"Brother Hong flatters me too much. Anyone listening would think I really have the skill to take out two in one shot." Zhang Taofang chuckled. "It was just two monsters locked in a desperate fight. I picked up the scraps. Nothing worth mentioning."

Ji Yun couldn't help but feel a secret admiration. For most thermal weapon martial artists, reaching Mid-Level War General is the ceiling; everything after that is just honing technique and increasing efficiency. And judging by Zhang Taofang's aura, he clearly also had the physical fitness of a Mid-Level War General. His close-quarters combat skills were probably not weak either—at least at the Low-Level War General level. His strength was more than sufficient.

"This young brother must be Instructor Mountain Ji Shan's son, right?" Eagle Eye Zhang Taofang said.

"Brother Zhang, I'm Ji Yun."

Luo Hong glared. "You call him brother, and he calls me brother. What does that make me?"

Before the two could react, he burst into loud laughter.

Ji Yun and Zhang Taofang were completely dumbfounded. Feeling somewhat awkward, they forced a couple of chuckles as well, their expressions rather helpless.

"Ah Yun, I'll call you that too."

"I understand Instructor Ji Shan's intentions. You'll follow us into the Wilderness Zone a few times to gain experience. We'll do our best to teach you, but in the Wilderness Zone, everything ultimately depends on yourself." As he said this, Zhang Taofang's expression turned serious.

"I'll be straight with you too. I'm not the type to abandon my teammates just to save my own skin. But if we encounter an unavoidable danger, I won't sacrifice the entire squad for you alone. You need to understand that."

"I understand." Ji Yun nodded, indicating his awareness.

Martial artist squads operate on the edge of life and death. Having a burden within the squad truly has a huge impact.

"Good. Well, today is August third. We plan to head to the Wilderness Zone at the beginning of next month. We can meet at the Underground Alliance Mall then, and I'll introduce you to my squad members."

Ji Yun nodded. "Mm."

Zhang Taofang gave Ji Yun the contact information for several members of the Eagle Strike Squad. Then he left. Coming from Kyoto Base City to Chang Mountain was no short trip; even now, heading back, it would be evening by the time he arrived. He still had to go home and cook for his wife and kids. (A truly good man, indeed.)