High Martial Arts: Gains one point of health per second, sweeping across the heavens.

[Refining the seventh martial meridian requires 150 million points of Qi and Blood. Confirm?]

"confirm!"

[Consuming 150 million points of Qi and Blood, the seventh Martial Meridian has been successfully condensed! Base Combat Power +64000 points! Current Base Combat Power: 164400 points!]

Article 8!

[Refining the eighth martial meridian requires 500 million points of Qi and Blood. Confirm?]

"confirm!"

[Consuming 500 million points of Qi and Blood, the eighth Martial Meridian has been successfully condensed! Base Combat Power +128000 points! Current Base Combat Power: 318000 points!]

The condensation of three martial meridians in succession allowed Su Jie's basic combat strength to break through the 100,000 mark, reaching a terrifying value of nearly 320,000!

This is already at the level of a third-level Battle King! And that's before the martial arts exam!

Feeling the eight martial meridians within his body roar like eight giant dragons, resonating with the ninety-nine level-ten martial acupoints, Su Jie exclaimed with boundless pride, "Hahaha! I feel like I could punch an asteroid to pieces right now!"

He looked at the remaining 3.4 million points of Qi and Blood, and stroked his chin: "The eighth martial vein will cost 5 million, the ninth will probably cost over 10 million, and the tenth will probably cost 50 million."

The remaining vital energy is simply not enough. However, the fact that I've suddenly gone from a 'Martial Aperture Stage Genius' to a 'Level Three Battle King' seems a bit too frightening...

"Forget it, it's not enough to condense the ninth martial meridian anyway. I'll save the rest of my qi and blood as a trump card. With my current strength, I can pass the martial arts exam without any problem."

Su Jie nodded in satisfaction. "The most urgent thing is to go try that barbecue rice place on the corner that I haven't been to in ages! I'm starving after cultivating for so long!"

He tidied himself up and swaggered out of the Martial Arts Association. Sure enough, as soon as he stepped outside, he sensed several subtle yet powerful auras locking onto him; they were clearly the "secret guard" sent by the Federation.

Su Jie didn't care. He put his hands in his pockets, whistled, and walked towards the commercial street.

Arriving at the small shop called "Old Wang's Secret Recipe Roasted Meat Rice," Su Jie called out familiarly, "Boss Wang, the usual, super deluxe roasted meat rice! Piled high with meat! Packed full of rice!"

Busy Boss Wang looked up and saw Su Jie. His face immediately lit up with a smile: "Oh, it's Little Su! Long time no see! I heard you're quite the celebrity in Linjiang City now! Wait here, Uncle will make you the biggest portion ever!"

Su Jie found a seat and waited happily.

Before long, Boss Wang came over carrying a large bowl that was almost as big as a washbasin. It was piled high with fragrant, glistening roasted meat, and the rice was packed tightly together.

"Xiao Su, your super deluxe version is ready!"

Su Jie took a deep breath, the rich aroma of roasted meat mixed with the steam from the rice, making him squint his eyes in satisfaction.

"Boss Wang's cooking is still the best!" He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat heartily, trying to replenish the energy he had lost during his secluded cultivation over the past few days.

Just then—

"Waaaaah—waaaah—!"

The piercing alarm shattered the afternoon tranquility of Linjiang City without warning!

This alarm was unlike any other drill; each siren was more urgent and piercing than the last, carrying a heart-pounding sense of urgency that instantly spread to every corner of the city.

The diners in the small shop and the pedestrians on the street all stopped what they were doing and looked up in astonishment.

Immediately afterwards, a heavy and urgent official announcement sounded simultaneously from the city's public address system and from the personal computers carried by everyone:

"Urgent Notice! Urgent Notice! Outposts 77 and 78 on the northern border have been hit by an extremely large beast tide! The scale is determined to be—super-large! Repeat, super-large beast tide!"

"The defensive line is under immense pressure and urgently needs reinforcements! Linjiang City is now on Level 1 combat readiness! All warriors with a combat power of 500 points or higher, please immediately assemble at the City Hall Square and proceed to the northern border to provide support!"

"Federal troops and reinforcements from surrounding cities are on their way, but the defense line is in imminent danger! The safety of Linjiang City hangs in the balance! For our homes, for our loved ones, please, all those who are able, step forward!"

The voice on the radio trembled slightly, indicating that the situation was extremely critical.

The shop was eerily silent, both inside and out.

Boss Wang, still clutching the spatula, turned deathly pale and muttered, "A massive beast tide... Good heavens, three years ago, half the martial artists in Linjiang City died in that beast tide, and that was just a large-scale beast tide..."

Su Jie's hand, holding the chopsticks, froze in mid-air.

Three years ago, that sudden, massive beast tide... The original owner's parents, whom he had never met, sacrificed themselves in that battle to defend humanity's territory, becoming martyrs.

A strange emotion, mixed with the original owner's remaining memories and sense of belonging to this world, surged into Su Jie's heart.

It wasn't fear, but a chilling murderous intent and a heavy sense of responsibility.

The scene that Yang Baichuan had shown him when he took him to the border post flashed through his mind—damaged armor, scorched earth, bloodstains that had not yet dried, and the soldiers' tired but determined eyes.

"Homeland..." Su Jie repeated the word softly. Here, there was the Federation that provided him with resources, Uncle Yang and Teacher Li who cared about him, and Boss Wang who treated him to barbecue rice... This was already his home.

"Snapped!"

He gently placed the chopsticks on the edge of the bowl, and his originally relaxed and carefree gaze instantly turned sharp as a knife, with an invisible murderous aura emanating from his body.

"Boss Wang, the money's been transferred to you." Su Jie stood up, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority. "We'll eat this meal when I get back."

Boss Wang looked at Su Jie, the child he had watched grow up, who was now the pride of Linjiang City.

His lips moved, but in the end, only a hoarse warning came out: "Xiao Su, be careful! You must come back! I'll treat you when you do!"

Su Jie nodded, said nothing more, turned around and strode out of the shop.

The streets were in complete chaos, and people's faces were filled with panic and unease.

At the same time, countless figures rushed toward the City Hall Square from all directions, like streams flowing into the sea.

There were city defense soldiers in uniform, instructors and students from various martial arts schools, ordinary-looking company employees, and even many students like Su Jie. Their faces showed tension, but even more so, a resolute determination!

A veteran with a missing arm, dressed in an old military uniform, stood at the street corner, waving a small Union flag with his only remaining arm, shouting hoarsely, "Hold on! We must hold on! Our home is behind us! Our children are behind us!"

A young mother, clutching her child tightly, cried out to her husband's retreating figure as he rushed to the front lines, "Come back alive! We're waiting for you!"

"Dad! Mom! Don't worry, I'm a martial artist now. I can protect you and Linjiang!" A martial arts student, about the same age as Su Jie, shouted to his parents on the other side of the screen with red eyes, then resolutely turned around and rushed towards the assembly point.

Tragic, resolute, protective... a variety of emotions permeated the air above Linjiang City.