Deep in the forest, the wind whistled bleakly.
Lin Chen's figure darted through the woods, quickly leaving the scene of the carnage behind. He found a hidden cave and only stopped after confirming no one was around.
Though the successive battles had not drained him much, slaying powerful foes one after another had only made his mind calmer.
Sitting cross‑legged, he first took out the storage pouches of the two Heavenly Fate Sect disciples and counted their contents.
Over three hundred spirit stones, three Body Tempering Pills, two mid‑grade Profound Rank techniques, and various medicinal herbs.
"Decent harvest," Lin Chen muttered calmly, storing everything into his own pouch.
At that moment, as he put away the last spirit stone, a cold, mechanical voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Detected host slaying two outer‑sect disciples of Heavenly Fate Sect: one at Middle True Martial Stage, one at Peak Body Tempering Realm!]
[Triggering kill reward mechanism… distributing rewards!]
The familiar system notification caused a glint to flash in Lin Chen's eyes.
Here it comes.
Ever since awakening the Divine Martial Sign‑In System, he had gained opportunities through daily sign‑ins—and equally rich rewards from slaying strong enemies.
[Reward 1: Cultivation Boost! Host's current realm: Early True Martial Stage → directly promoted to Middle True Martial Stage!]
[Reward 2: Martial Art Insight! Basic Fist Technique perfected to extreme; unlocking advanced skill: Mountain‑Splitting Fist!]
[Reward 3: Physique Enhancement! Gained trace of Savage Bull Bloodline; physical strength greatly increased!]
Three reward notifications appeared in succession.
Boom!
A vast warm current erupted from Lin Chen's dantian, surging through his body like a river. The barrier blocking him at Early True Martial Stage shattered instantly.
Middle True Martial Stage!
Lin Chen could clearly feel his true essence flowing smoothly, far more condensed and powerful than before, while his physical strength soared.
At the same time, profound insights into the Mountain‑Splitting Fist were imprinted directly into his mind.
Mountain‑Splitting Fist, a high‑grade Profound Rank skill, possessed ferocious momentum capable of splitting mountains—over ten times stronger than Basic Fist Technique.
Even more surprising was the Savage Bull Bloodline. Merging with his body, it filled him with endless strength and drastically boosted his defense.
Lin Chen slowly clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within, yet his expression remained calm, devoid of wild joy.
He knew full well that even Middle True Martial Stage was still far from strong.
A single core elder from Blackwind Academy or Heavenly Fate Sect could be at Late True Martial Stage or higher. Charging in recklessly would still be suicide.
"Still not strong enough."
He murmured, his gaze calm and clear‑headed.
Though he had improved, he was far from invincible. Only by remaining patient and growing stronger could he truly stand firm.
Lin Chen stood up and stretched, his bones emitting crisp cracking sounds.
He did not turn back, nor did he impulsively seek revenge on Blackwind Academy. He simply stored the grudge away.
His priority now was to master his new power at Middle True Martial Stage, find his next sign‑in location, and keep growing stronger.
In a flash, he re‑entered the vast forest, his steps steady and his purpose clear.
The road ahead remained dangerous, but he was no longer the trash that anyone could bully.
For now, he would continue to lie low.