Zhang Zehu roared with laughter, furious. He hadn't expected this newcomer, Luo Feng, to dare show him such utter disrespect.

"Fifty million, and not a penny less?" Zhang Zehu’s eyes flashed with vicious intent, as if ready to devour someone whole. Luo Feng, however, paid him no mind whatsoever.

He had scrolled through countless posts on ‘Limit Home’ before, understanding that the cardinal sin in any negotiation was for one side to back down first; whoever conceded was admitting inferiority! Moreover, Luo Feng was clearly in the right concerning this matter; ideally, if two parties of equal standing were involved, the fault-bearer should be the one offering apologies.

But Zhang Zehu had arrived announcing his presence loudly, clearly intending to bully Luo Feng for being a novice. Too bad...

Luo Feng wasn't falling for it. "Alright, listen to me for a moment." Wu Tong, the director of the Limit Martial Arts Hall, interjected.

"Luo Feng has the Mountain-Splitting Tiger case, both of you take a step back. How about thirty million Chinese dollars?

Zhang Zehu, this amount isn't substantial for you. Settle it with this payment, and we drop the matter.

Luo Feng, you have no objections?" Luo Feng nodded: "We'll follow Uncle Wu's suggestion." "And the Mountain-Splitting Tiger, what about you?" Wu Tong turned to Zhang Zehu. The entire conference room watched Zhang Zehu, who stood up abruptly in rage, laughing bitterly: "You want me to bow down to this little brat?

Dream on! Old Li, brothers, let's go!" "If you refuse a private settlement, then later you’ll have to be prepared to pay one hundred million to bail out your nephew," Wu Tong chuckled coolly.

"I'd rather give the state one hundred million than settle privately for thirty million!!!" Zhang Zehu sneered at Luo Feng, letting out a couple of derisive laughs. "Kid, being a martial artist isn't easy!

Once you leave the base city, you’ll understand how terrifying the monsters truly are. How sudden and perilous all sorts of situations can be.

Those monsters in the military zone are nothing compared to them; those are caged beasts, possessing the weakest savagery. I hope you don't die too soon, otherwise how will you have a chance to spar with me in the future?

Oh, and a reminder—I’m close to reaching the Warlord level. How long will it take you to reach it?

And will you even live that long?" Luo Feng smiled faintly: "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Zhang Zehu, but perhaps you should focus on preparing that hundred million for the state to keep your nephew safe." "Hmph." Zhang Zehu’s face darkened.

"We’re leaving!" "One hundred million, oh, one hundred million," Huo Pao Chen Gu deliberately squawked from the side. Zhang Zehu and his entourage left without another word.

As the group departed, the people from the Limit Martial Arts Hall erupted in chatter. "That Zhang Zehu’s temper, just as legendary—stinking and unbearable.

His nephew was clearly in the wrong, yet he refuses to yield," Wu Tong shook his head with a smile. "Willing to pay a hundred million to the state rather than settle for thirty million!" The Martial Arts Hall had contribution points, and so did the nation!

Those who contributed merits to the state were awarded contribution points based on the magnitude of their service; reaching 10,000 points made one a one-star member. 100,000 points made one a two-star member...

This mirrored the Martial Arts Hall's system. Back in the day, Dong Nanbiao, who single-handedly slew the Tiger-Headed Flood Dragon by the Yangtze River, saving hundreds of thousands of citizens before heroically sacrificing himself, was posthumously awarded the four-star Hero title.

One could donate to the Martial Arts Hall to acquire contribution points, or one could donate to the state to earn them. Ten thousand Chinese dollars yielded one contribution point.

One hundred million Chinese dollars equaled ten thousand contribution points, which meant a one-star ranking! If Zhang Zehu refused to settle with Luo Feng, the only alternative was to donate one hundred million to the state on behalf of his nephew, ensuring Zhang Haobai reached the one-star national contribution level.

As a one-star citizen, Zhang Haobai would possess certain privileges, and it would be unlikely for him to face several years of sentencing merely for a minor conflict with Luo Feng. "Even if he gives the state one hundred million and makes his nephew a one-star citizen, a one-star citizen who dares to antagonize a martial artist will still face detention for three to five months and suffer some hardship, even if no criminal sentence is passed," Huo Pao Chen Gu shook his head.

"Who can blame him for refusing to back down?" "He has money; he doesn't care." The martial artists from the Limit Martial Arts Hall burst into laughter. "Luo Feng," Director Wu Tong said with a smile, "as Supervisor Zhuge instructed, we are arranging for you to join a Warlord-level martial artist squad.

This will allow you to gain more field experience outside the base city and provide greater security! I've already negotiated for you; we plan to place you in the 'Fire Hammer Squad.'" "Fire Hammer Squad?" Luo Feng nodded slightly.

That Supervisor Zhuge truly valued him, arranging for him to join a Warlord-level squad right from the start. Squads that left the base city to hunt monsters in the wilderness varied in strength.

Generally, if a small squad contained one Warlord-level martial artist, it was considered a Warlord squad. "Luo Feng," Huo Pao Chen Gu clapped Luo Feng on the shoulder nearby, laughing heartily, "I’m the vice-captain of the Fire Hammer Squad!

You’ll be under my wing from now on, I’ll look out for you. But Luo Feng, I have to lay down the ground rules first: our Fire Hammer Squad will give you opportunities to gain experience and adapt to fighting monsters, but you must also work hard and not rely solely on the help of other squad members.

If you still haven't adapted after the first mission... we’ll have no choice but to kick you out of the squad." "Brother Chen, I understand," Luo Feng replied with a smile.

Martial arts squads operated on the edge of life and death; having a liability within the team truly had a huge impact. "I’m relieved you understand.

And one more thing..." Huo Pao Chen Gu chuckled, "Have you bought your weapons and gear yet?" "Not yet. I planned to buy better quality gear, but the decent stuff is only half-price if you have one-star contribution points," Luo Feng admitted with a helpless shake of his head.

Huo Pao Chen Gu immediately burst out laughing: "That’s simple! Tell me what weapons and gear you need, and I'll buy them for you!

You don't have the contribution points, but I do! I’m not far from two-star contribution points myself.

I can buy everything at half price, and then you can just transfer the cost to my account, right?" "Mm," Director Wu Tong nodded beside him. "It’s fine for someone else to help purchase general cold weapons, firearms, and other equipment.

Of course, manuals and techniques like that cannot be bought by others." Luo Feng nodded. He knew this.

For instance, if he bought the Nine-Layered Thunder Blade, the joint information database of the Limit Martial Arts Hall, Underground Alliance, and Thunder God Martial Arts Hall would record—Luo Feng purchased the first three layers of the Nine-Layered Thunder Blade. Thus, Luo Feng could use the technique without issue.

However, if someone like Yang Wu could execute the Nine-Layered Thunder Blade without having purchased it, once discovered, he would be apprehended for the unauthorized copying and dissemination of the technique, infringing upon Thunder God’s proprietary rights over it. No purchase, no right to cultivate!

If someone else bought it on his behalf, the database would only show the purchaser’s information, not his own; he wouldn't dare practice it even if he possessed the item. But weapons, on the other hand, had no such concept of 'copyright ownership.' "Luo Feng, write down all the weapons and gear you plan to buy, and I'll purchase them for you later," Chen Gu stated.

"Understood." Luo Feng nodded and immediately went to find paper and a pen to write the list. ※※ The unified five-series equipment: the full combat suit at half price was 9 million, the Blood Shadow Battle Blade Series No.

2 at half price was 3 million, the Series 5 shield was 1.5 million, and 10 throwing knives from Series 6 totaled 1.5 million. The total came to 15 million.

Adding a backpack, communication watch, and other small gadgets, Luo Feng’s equipment was complete. In the second-floor training hall of Luo Feng's house.

Morning sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing the entire hall in brightness. Luo Feng sat cross-legged on the floor in loose practice clothes, barefoot.

The training hall, over a hundred square meters, was empty save for Luo Feng, sitting cross-legged in the center. Before him rested a manual— Nine-Layered Thunder Blade.

"I heard the Nine-Layered Thunder Blade is incredibly difficult to master. I wonder just how difficult it is," Luo Feng mused as he opened the manual to read.

— : Tomato is heading out on an errand today and probably won't have time to get online until quite late tonight. The second update for today will likely be posted after 11 PM.

Giving advance notice to everyone.