Chapter 142: Chapter 140: Body Tempering Perfection! The Military Offers 5 Million, I Choose the Boundless Dao

’Winged People?’

Han Feng repeated the term in his mind.

Qin Yueyao noticed his confusion, her voice devoid of any warmth.

"’Winged People’ is the military’s internal designation for a special forces unit."

"Their mission is to use Wingsuits for high-altitude infiltration and deep penetration behind enemy lines."

Her voice paused, as if she were stating a cold, hard fact.

"Reconnaissance deep within Demon Beast-occupied territory."

"Coordinating with main forces to carry out Beheading operations."

"The Winged People are the military’s sharpest, most lethal blade."

"It’s a profession with a near-certain chance of death."

"But the rewards are equally astonishing."

Qin Yueyao’s gaze was like a knife, piercing straight into Han Feng’s heart.

"The payment for a single mission as an official Winged Person far exceeds that of same-level ground troops." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"What’s more important are the privileges."

"You can apply for rare resources unavailable on the open market through military channels."

"Even a Tier Three Spirit Awakening Potion!"

As those last words fell, a collective gasp echoed from the crowd.

Internal military channels!

Tier Three rare resources!

For a Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist, this was a ladder straight to the heavens.

"Given your Talent and your performance today,"

Qin Yueyao finally laid her cards on the table.

"I can directly apply for B Level sponsorship for you in the ’Winged People Training Program.’"

"Five million Contribution Points annually."

"After graduation, you must join the military’s Winged People unit and serve for at least five years."

Sun Rui had just left, and now the military’s recruitment offer had arrived.

The terms were even more blatant, and even more deadly.

Five million Contribution Points, plus access to rare resource channels!

This contract was enough to make any B Level Student pledge their loyalty.

Han Feng’s mind raced.

’These terms are certainly tempting.’

’The money is secondary; the military’s resource channels are the real core value.’

But he knew better than anyone that there was no such thing as a free lunch.

Once he signed, for the next five years—or even longer—he would become just another cog in the military’s war machine.

’My life would no longer be my own.’

In a world where human life was as cheap as grass, freedom and life itself were the greatest luxuries.

’The Winged People profession... it sounds like it’s forged in blood and fire. It’s too dangerous.’

’What if I end up with a terrible commanding officer and get used as cannon fodder in some deathtrap? That would be a truly pointless end.’

Besides, the expedition to the Suspended Mountain Secret Realm was just around the corner.

As long as he made it out of there alive, his strength was bound to skyrocket, and his own value would naturally rise with it.

’Signing this B Level contract now would be a huge loss.’

In an instant, Han Feng made his decision.

He looked up, meeting Qin Yueyao’s sharp gaze, his tone calm but firm.

"Thank you for the high regard, Instructor."

"I need some time to consider it."

"Could I give you my answer after the Suspended Mountain trial is over?"

Qin Yueyao’s eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly.

She hadn’t seemed to expect Han Feng to turn her down so directly.

But she didn’t get angry. She just nodded, a hint of approval appearing in her eyes instead.

"Fine."

"Your Talent merits a more cautious decision."

"I’ll be waiting for your answer."

With that, she turned and left, her movements crisp and efficient.

The moment the instructor left, Wang Meng and Gu Yun scampered over like a pair of monkeys.

"Are you crazy?! Han Feng, you’re insane!"

"The military’s B Level sponsorship! Five million a year! And you just turned it down like that?"

Wang Meng’s eyes were wide, and he slapped his thigh in distress.

"Yeah, Han Feng!"

Gu Yun also dropped his usual cringey act, his expression more serious than ever.

"That’s the military! The most secure job in the world!"

"Besides, the codename ’Winged People’ sounds so badass!"

Han Feng just smiled.

"The sponsorship is paid in installments. Spread out over each month, it’s not that much."

"My current earning potential is more than enough."

"Well..."

Wang Meng was instantly at a loss for words.

He remembered Han Feng’s inhuman money-making speed at Golden Ears Farm and realized he had a point.

Zhang Hao, standing nearby, walked over and patted Han Feng’s shoulder, his eyes full of approval.

"Han Feng did the right thing."

"Unless you’re completely desperate, there’s no need to tie yourself down so early."

He analyzed calmly.

"Your Talent was rated A+, but that’s just data on paper."

"After you come out of Suspended Mountain, your strength and potential will be truly tested for the first time."

"At that point, whether it’s the military or the financial corporations, they’ll only offer you a higher price with fewer restrictions to recruit you."

"Who knows, you might even get an A Level sponsorship directly."

An A Level sponsorship!

Ten million Contribution Points a year!

Wang Meng and Gu Yun’s mouths went dry just hearing that.

"For now, stop thinking about it."

Zhang Hao’s voice grew serious.

"Focus on preparing. Surviving the Secret Realm and getting enough benefits is more important than anything else."

In the following days, the training became white-hot in its intensity.

The morning Wingsuit assessments grew more difficult by the day.

The number of drones and their interference patterns constantly changed, and they even added simulated Energy impacts.

But in the face of Han Feng’s five-meter-radius "Energy Perception Field," all of it was a joke.

He didn’t even need his eyes.

Within five meters, the flight path and Energy fluctuations of every single drone were as clear as the lines on his palm.

The Profound Turtle Shield on his left arm became his most faithful companion, always managing to block the most lethal attacks from the most awkward angles.

BANG!

Block, sidestep, accelerate.

His movements were as smooth as flowing water, imbued with a kind of brutal, violent aesthetic.

His scores were also frighteningly consistent.

No matter how the assessment changed, he steadily secured an "excellent" rating of 9 points every day, his total score leaving all other students in the dust.

Sun Hao had completely lost the will to compete.

From initial resentment, to indignation, and finally to numbness.

He had given up on the absurd idea of competing with Han Feng and just trained in silence, fighting with all his might not to be left behind by the main group.

In the afternoons, Han Feng completely immersed himself in the Airplane Graveyard.

Wingsuit Flying could increase his Skill Proficiency in the [Sword Control Technique], but it was too inefficient for increasing his Cultivation.

To rapidly max out his Qi Blood, he still needed a real "fighter jet Flying Sword."

ROAR—!

The engine of the "Hunting Falcon" fighter jet let out a deafening roar.

Under Han Feng’s control, it transformed into a silver bolt of lightning, dancing wildly among the clouds.

[Flew for 1 minute using Mastery Level-Sword Control Technique. Qi Blood consumed: 40 points. Body Tempering Cultivation increased by 10 points.]

He chugged a Recovery Potion, and the consumed Qi Blood was instantly replenished.

Han Feng once again pushed the fighter jet to its limits.

This was no longer flight training.

It was a form of "Krypton Gold" Cultivation, burning through money.

Time flew by in this monotonous yet efficient cycle.

「Half a month later.」

Over the Outer City’s Airplane Graveyard.

The "Hunting Falcon" executed an incredible "Pendulum Maneuver" in mid-air.

It then smoothly entered its flight path and landed lightly.

Han Feng pushed open the canopy and took off his helmet.

He didn’t rush to check his status panel.

He just sat quietly in the cockpit, feeling the Qi Blood that surged like a great river inside him.

For the past half-month, he had practically been tempering this old plane as if it were his Lifebound Flying Sword.

Every overload, every climb, had squeezed out the last ounce of his body’s potential.

His Qi Blood was as thick as mercury, and he could even hear a RUSHING sound as it coursed through his veins.

He looked at the "2000/2000" value on his status panel, which had already turned gray.

A sense of perfect, replete fullness spread from his every limb and bone.

[Cultivation: Body Tempering Tenth Layer (2000/2000) (Perfection)]

[Root Bone: Sword Bone (Transformation Progress: 68/100)]

[Skills: Sword Control Technique (Mastery: 1980/4000), Rune Construction (Entry Level: 985/1000), Sword Storage Technique (Entry Level: 850/1000)...]

[Qi Blood: 2001/2120]

’Max level.’

It was like hitting the level cap in a game.

No matter how much he flew or how many potions he chugged, the experience bar wouldn’t budge.

’I did it!’

He could clearly feel that his physical body had reached the apex of the Body Tempering Realm.

Every inch of his muscles, bones, and skin contained explosive power.

His total Qi Blood could no longer increase by even a single inch.

’Next step: complete the Sword Bone Transformation, condense Inner Qi, and break through to the Meridian Passage realm!’

When an ordinary Martial Artist breaks through to the Meridian Passage realm, they must go through three steps: "Spirit Transformation," "Strengthening," and "Opening the Qi Sea."

But thanks to his Sword Bone, he had naturally skipped the most difficult step, "Spirit Transformation."

Consuming Spirit Plants and cultivating the Sword Control Technique were, in essence, all part of the second step: "Strengthening."

Now, his physical body had been strengthened to its absolute limit.

He just had to wait for the Sword Bone Transformation to complete, and then Opening the Qi Sea would be a natural next step.

He would condense a Sword Essence far sharper and purer than ordinary Inner Qi!

’Just 32 points of progress left.’

’The Spirit Plants from Suspended Mountain should be enough.’

A fiery anticipation flickered in Han Feng’s eyes.

He closed his status panel and climbed out of the jet.

Just as he returned to the B Level Student Apartment, his terminal vibrated lightly.

An official notice from the academy popped up.

[Notice: The final assessment for the "High Level Winged Flight and Air Combat Application" intensive training course will be held tomorrow at 9 a.m. in Training Ground A-1.]

[After the assessment, point redemption will take place on-site. All students are required to attend on time.]

The final assessment.

It was finally here.