Danger Strikes Again

After three rounds of drinks and five courses of food, the fatty Wang Long brought up the recent situation. "Old Xu, I heard the base has started recruiting quasi-warriors from among the Martial Servants for training."

"They say it's to head outside and clear out the surrounding alien races and mutated creatures. The rewards are incredibly generous. Did you sign up?"

"No," Xu Feng shook his head. "I'm just a communicator repairman. Combat? That's not my forte. I know my own limits."

"What about you?" Xu Feng asked, looking at his new neighbor.

The man was also a quasi-warrior.

"Me? Sigh, I'm a coward too, but quite a few quasi-warriors I know have joined. They say there's a 500,000 reward, plus weapons and equipment are being issued. It makes people's hearts itch just hearing about it."

Huang Sen laughed quickly after saying this. "But I'm someone who knows my own strength—like a firefly crawling into a chrysanthemum, I know exactly how bright I shine—so I won't be joining in that excitement."

"Pfft!" Xiao Dan, who was sitting to the side, suddenly burst out laughing.

Xu Feng glanced at Huang Sen, who immediately gave a dry laugh. "I'll talk less trash from now on."

"Hahaha." The group erupted into laughter once more.

After the gathering ended and the three of them were seen off, Xu Feng threw himself back into his training.

Panel.

[Name: Xu Feng]
[Vitality: 236c]
[Age: 40]
[Skills:
Nine Star Body Refining Art [Free Version] · Proficient (310/500)
Communicator Repair · Proficient (84/100)
Secret Blade Art · Master (4713/5000)
White Wolf Blade · Proficient (160/1000)
Mind Movement · Skilled (195/200)
Pit Digging · Proficient (2645/5000)]

"The minimum vitality standard for a Warrior Grade martial artist is 250c. I'm still 14c short, which should take about half a month."

Xu Feng was naturally filled with anticipation, knowing he could step over the threshold into being a true martial artist in half a month.

The hard work he had put in during this period was clearly not in vain.

Furthermore, his Communicator Repair skill was approaching the Master level.

Xu Feng could now repair 9-series communicators with ease.

A few days ago, he had already begun studying the various operating principles and repair techniques for the previous generation's mid-to-high-end 6-series smart communicators.

Although books in this area were not easy to buy, with Lu Fei as a contact, he could still get things done by spending a little money.

When the time came, his income should also see a significant leap.

In addition, his throwing technique, the Secret Blade Art, was nearing a higher level.

It had already become his greatest trump card.

The White Wolf Blade had also finally entered the Proficient stage, undergoing a qualitative change.

If before, Xu Feng had only simply mastered some close-quarters attack methods, then now, his overall body coordination and combat literacy had improved tremendously.

Blade technique was not just about exercising a specific body part or arm.

The entire set of blade techniques trained the coordination and connection of the whole body, exercising one's entire physique and consciousness.

Although the White Wolf Blade was very basic, the manual itself was as rich as a textbook.

Beyond the blade techniques, it included footwork, combat skills, experience in encountering enemies, and some higher-level conceptual ideas.

He could fully understand why this book served as a foundational course at the Martial Arts University.

Finally, there was the mental technique, Mind Movement, which was also nearing its next stage.

Recently, as his training progressed, Xu Feng's spirit had become increasingly vibrant.

Beyond his attention being more focused, his mental endurance growing higher, his thinking becoming more active, and his perception becoming sharper, Xu Feng also discovered that his entire temperament had undergone a massive change.

It wasn't his age or appearance, but his essence, energy, and spirit.

He had originally been nothing more than a dejected, slightly chubby middle-aged man of forty.

Although he was thinner and more handsome now, none of that mattered.

What mattered was when he locked eyes with someone.

Unless they were a martial artist, ordinary people would instinctively avoid Xu Feng's gaze.

It was as if there were some sort of pressure, or an indescribable force at play.

Xu Feng called it "Mental Pressure."

He did not know if mental power had a testing standard like blood-qi values.

But if it did, his was certainly improving steadily.

Therefore, he was looking forward to seeing what new changes would emerge once he cultivated this secret technique to the mastery level.

Within two days, a convoy of armored vehicles and mountain bikes rolled out of the base with great momentum.

Xu Feng followed the crowd, watching the cleanup team depart with a sense of melancholy.

They called it special training, but it lasted less than five days in total, and although most of the team members had passed their quasi-martial artist certification, they had never experienced real combat.

Even though Martial Servants at the quasi-martial artist level were not required to participate in actual fighting—their primary role being the maintenance of battlefield equipment—if they truly encountered alien races or mutated creatures, would death distinguish between a martial artist and a quasi-martial artist?

It would not; the battlefield was fair to everyone.

Even War God Grade powerhouses, who stood high above like gods of war, could die!

"Dad, what are we doing today? It's a rare day off, I want to go out and play."

Xiao Dan shook Xu Feng's hand and looked up to ask.

Xu Feng pondered for a moment. "How about we call your friends and go for a picnic?"

"A picnic? Yay!"

Half an hour later.

In the backyard of Xu Feng's house, as wisps of smoke rose from the cooking fire, Xiao Dan looked at Xu Feng speechlessly. "Dad, isn't this 'wild' a little too close to home?"

"Either do your homework or have a picnic, take your pick."

"I choose the picnic!" Xiao Dan turned and ran off, soon bringing back three little girls to happily play house and "wilderness survival."

Xu Feng nodded in satisfaction and sat to the side to begin cultivating Mind Movement.

Soon, accompanied by a sudden clarity of mind, Xu Feng snapped his eyes open.

[Mind Movement (1/500)]

He had broken through!

He suddenly raised his hand and pinched the air.

When he withdrew his hand, a mosquito was already caught in his palm.

"My sensory perception has become so strong. I feel like I can sense the flow and changes in the surrounding air even with my eyes closed."

Xu Feng muttered to himself, feeling a surge of excitement.

Just then, someone passing by the roadside shouted loudly at Xu Feng, "Sir, do you need a loan? A three-year interest-free loan that can satisfy any of your—"

"Not interested." Xu Feng's expression darkened as he turned his head and said coldly.

The salesman froze instantly. Looking into Xu Feng's eyes, he felt a chill run through his heart, and he immediately turned and fled.

This scene left Xu Feng slightly stunned.

"That was Mental Pressure just now? Can it be used like that?"

Xu Feng felt a spark of joy; he had developed a clever use for his mental power.

If in the future—he meant in the future—he could truly cultivate his mental power, even this simple Mental Pressure could become a formidable weapon in combat.

In the critical moment of a fight, a sudden shock to the opponent, even if it only caused a momentary distraction, might be enough to decide life or death.

Although Xu Feng claimed he was not good at fighting, he was always prepared.

Because in this world of survival of the fittest, no one could completely escape conflict!

Just as Xu Feng was rejoicing over his slight improvement in mental power, evening fell.

Lu Fei brought him some bad news.

"The foreign martial artists from the Eagle Alliance have moved into District D21 of the Wumeng Mountain Region. Their base isn't far from ours, and it's very likely that we will come into contact. These foreigners don't care about the laws or logic of Great Xia, so small conflicts are bound to break out. You need to be careful and protect Xiao Dan these next few days."