Chapter Fifty-Seven: Frenzied Point Allocation!

"Everyone, fall back!" Lin Xiaozhong waved his hand, ordering the hundred mighty soldiers and the Black Iron Guards to retreat from the courtyard.

"Speak, what do you want?" Once the soldiers had fully withdrawn, Lin Xiaozhong looked at Qin Feng with a grim expression and spoke in a low voice.

"I've already told you—I want your help to join Yuntian Command." Qin Feng replied calmly.

"You killed Yun Qing; it's extremely difficult for you to join Yuntian Command." Lin Xiaozhong took a deep breath and spoke in a serious tone.

"I know." Qin Feng responded. "But that's not my concern. You have two choices now: either die, or find a way for me to join Yuntian Command." His face remained impassive, unmoved by threats.

"You..." Rage surged in Lin Xiaozhong's heart, but his life was in Qin Feng's hands, leaving him full of resentment.

"Fine, I promise to help you find a way to join Yuntian Command." Faced with the threat to his life, Lin Xiaozhong ultimately chose to compromise and assist Qin Feng.

"A wise man adapts to circumstances. Commander Lin, you've made the right choice. But I still can't let you go yet—I need you to escort me down the mountain. Once we reach the foot, I'll release you. I hope you won't disappoint me, or I won't hesitate to kill you by any means necessary," Qin Feng said coldly.

"I stand by my word. Since I’ve agreed, I will do it. As for whether the Command Governor will allow you to join, that’s beyond my control," Lin Xiaozhong replied seriously.

Qin Feng forced Lin Xiaozhong down Qingyun Mountain, and after reaching the bustling city, Qin Feng vanished in a few swift leaps.

"Let's go!" Lin Xiaozhong's face was dark with fury as he watched Qin Feng leave, then led the mighty soldiers and Black Iron Guards away.

After arranging affairs in Xuanzhou City, Lin Xiaozhong led a hundred soldiers swiftly to Yuntian Command's headquarters. He was true to his word—having promised Qin Feng, he would fulfill it.

...

"He wants to join Yuntian Command?" In the Yuntian Command Governor’s mansion, Zuo Taoming stared at Lin Xiaozhong in surprise.

"My lord, that's what he said. He bears no ill will toward Yuntian Command or the court; everything he’s done was forced upon him. Had Yun Qing not attempted to seize the millennium spirit herb, he wouldn’t have killed him," Lin Xiaozhong recounted the findings from Xuanzhou City.

"He wants to join Yuntian Command—I can agree. But not yet. Yun Qing’s master, Elder Qinghe, should be arriving in Xuanzhou City soon. If Qin Feng survives this ordeal, so be it; let him join. Besides, a fifteen-year-old Commander is unprecedented. I truly wish to see how far he can go—whether he might become the legendary Human Emperor, surpass the mortal realm, rival gods and demons, and sweep aside armies of millions single-handedly," Zuo Taoming said calmly, gazing at the setting sun.

If Qin Feng truly broke through to the Human Emperor realm, it would be a tremendous blessing for the Great Chu Dynasty.

"My lord, your wisdom is unmatched," Lin Xiaozhong replied in admiration.

...

"Enter the city!" Elder Qinghe wore the simplest of garments; if not for his disciple Xue Hongwei accompanying him, others would have seen only an ordinary old man. He glanced at the three large characters atop Xuanzhou City’s gate and strode inside.

Xue Hongwei, carrying a black spear on his back, followed quickly into the city.

"Hongwei, go and investigate Qin Feng's strength," Elder Qinghe instructed his disciple as he rested in a tavern, conserving his energy.

Having weathered many storms, he was no reckless man; he did not confront Qin Feng directly but first sought to understand his opponent.

"Yes, Master!" Xue Hongwei hurried out, seeking martial artists in Xuanzhou City to gather information about Qin Feng’s strength and exploits.

"Master, I’ve found out—my junior may have died in the battle for the millennium spirit herb half a month ago. Qin Feng acquired the herb, and junior disciples as well as other commanders tried to seize it, but were killed by him. Commander Lin Xiaozhong came to investigate earlier, but for some reason didn’t charge Qin Feng—instead, he withdrew," Xue Hongwei reported back swiftly.

"So, he’s merely a martial artist at the early Commander stage! Let’s go to the Weiyuan Escort Agency. I want to take Qin Feng’s head to vent my hatred!" Elder Qinghe, now clear on Qin Feng’s abilities, strode out of the tavern, asked for directions to the Weiyuan Escort Agency, and headed there at once.

...

Inside the Weiyuan Escort Agency, only Qin Feng remained. The others had either gone to the Black Wind Fortress or were hiding in Xuanzhou City.

Qin Feng sat cross-legged in a room, practicing the Thunder Breathing Technique, rapidly refining the medicinal power within his body.

"It’s done at last!" Qin Feng’s eyes snapped open, and he exhaled a mouthful of waste air, his face filled with joy and excitement.

After consuming vast quantities of rare herbs in cultivation, he had finally tempered his bones until they radiated a white glow, breaking through to the late Guardian stage.

"I look forward to Elder Qinghe’s arrival," he murmured, a faint smile on his lips. He tapped his fingers, opening the plus sign in his right eye’s vision, revealing his personal interface.

Name: Qin Feng
Realm: Late Guardian
Strength: Sixty-seven thousand jin (+)

Qin Feng looked at his personal interface and began tapping rapidly on the plus sign beside sixty-seven thousand jin.

+1
+1
+1
+1
+1, +1, +1—the numbers kept appearing after Strength, and sixty-seven thousand was swiftly changing: 67001, 67002, 67003...

As Qin Feng felt pain in his flesh and organs, he did not stop adding points, but pressed on.

Elder Qinghe was a late-stage Commander, powerful and unfathomable. Qin Feng would have to give his all to face him.

"Cough, cough, cough..." Qin Feng kept adding points, the pain in his body intensifying, until he coughed violently, blood trickling from his lips.

He knew he had reached the limit for strengthening his body. He stopped tapping and looked at his interface:

Name: Qin Feng
Realm: Late Guardian
Strength: One hundred twenty thousand jin (+)

"Master Qin, Master Qin..." Yan Chonghu rushed in, calling out before even entering Qin Feng’s room.

"What is it?" Qin Feng, still in high spirits, did not reprimand Yan Chonghu for his intrusion.

"Master Qin, I’ve learned that two unfamiliar martial artists have arrived in Xuanzhou City and are inquiring about you. One of them matches the description of Yun Qing’s master, Elder Qinghe. I suspect he’s here!" Yan Chonghu said anxiously.

"Perfect timing," Qin Feng replied with confidence.

Having previously cultivated the Copper Corpse Body, his strength rivaled a mid-stage Commander. Now, his advancement to late Guardian had further multiplied his power. He could contend with late-stage Commanders—and in terms of raw strength, utterly surpass them.