"I followed the survivors fleeing south, and half of them died on the way. By the time we reached Black Wind Camp, only seven remained."

Shadow Snake continued wiping her short blade, her movements slow and meticulous. "Now, those six are dead too. Some died during hunts, others died at the Boss's hands."

She looked at Lin Feng. "So, tomorrow's matter must succeed. If it doesn't, I'll go and kill them myself. Killing one breaks even; killing two is a profit."

Lin Feng said solemnly, "It will succeed. I promise."

Shadow Snake looked at him for a few seconds, nodded, and stood up to leave.

After finishing their food, Zhao Hu and Jian Yan climbed the low slope to start the first watch.

Lin Feng lay down, using his pack as a pillow, and gazed at the dark red night sky of the Nightmare World.

He thought of Blue Star. It should be late at night there now, right? Were his parents asleep?

Did they still do what they used to—always looking at the projection of the National Fortune Cauldron on the living room wall before bed?

The three cracks on the National Fortune Cauldron... If he truly could establish a territory, could he also add a measure of stability to that tripod?

"Don't think too far ahead," Lin Feng told himself. "Survive tomorrow first."

He closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep.

But his thoughts continued to churn.

The Skeleton Centurion, the Boss's bone-crushing greatsword, Hei Zhua's poisoned blades, the narrow tomb corridors, possible variables, the retreat route...

He rehearsed every detail repeatedly in his mind.

After an unknown amount of time, he was gently shaken awake.

It was Shadow Snake. It was time for the shift change.

Lin Feng stood up, stretched his somewhat stiff body, and climbed the low slope with Shadow Snake. Zhao Hu and Jian Yan shared a few words about the surroundings before heading down to rest.

The night wind howled as it swept across the wilderness, carrying a bone-chilling cold.

Lin Feng and Shadow Snake stood on opposite sides, alertly scanning the dark plains. The campfire had been dampened to its minimum, leaving only a faint glimmer that barely illuminated the edge of the camp.

"Lin Feng," Shadow Snake suddenly spoke, her voice almost inaudible in the wind. "Tell me, if a prosperous territory were truly established... what would it look like?"

Lin Feng was startled for a moment; he hadn't expected her to ask that.

"There would be city walls, high ones, built of stone."

He thought for a moment, describing the appearance of a territory he had studied in class. "Inside, there would be houses, warehouses, a blacksmith shop, and a clinic."

People would work during the day and gather around campfires at night to eat and chat. Children... could play safely."

Shadow Snake remained silent for a long time.

Then she said, "I want to see a place like that."

"You will," Lin Feng looked toward the west, deep into the Stone Forest, in the direction of the ancient tomb. "Once tomorrow's plan succeeds, we'll have taken the first step."

The two stopped talking and quietly kept watch.

The wilderness in the dark was not peaceful. Occasional howls of beasts echoed from the distance, and rustling crawling sounds could be heard nearby.

But the warning traps were not triggered, indicating nothing had come close.

Time trickled by.

As the first sliver of grey-white appeared on the eastern horizon, Tie Dun and Uncle Wu came up to take over the watch.

Lin Feng returned to the camp and took a short nap leaning against his pack. This time, he fell asleep quickly.

In his dream, he saw a small village. Wooden walls, fluttering flags, and wisps of cooking smoke rising.

He stood upon the wall, with Zhao Hu, Tie Dun, Jian Yan, Shadow Snake, Uncle Wu, and many more familiar and unfamiliar faces standing behind him.

When he woke up, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

Uncle Wu was heating the leftover soup from last night. Everyone got up one after another and packed their gear.

Lin Feng sat leaning against his pack, chewing on a coarse grain cake while unconsciously tracing numbers on the ground with his finger.

Reaching Level 6 would grant 1 attribute point. If he put it into Strength...

Strength would become 12.

Attack Power: 12 × 5 = 60. Adding the 25 from the Wildfire Spear, the total Attack Power would be 85!

That was 10 points higher than the Boss's 75! Defense remained unchanged.

With Agility at 10.5 versus Agility 9, the speed advantage would be obvious.

More importantly, the General's combat instincts, the fire splash effect of the Wildfire Spear...

Lin Feng's finger suddenly stopped.

He abruptly realized one thing—

If he reached Level 6 now, he would be fully capable of solo-killing the Boss!

There would be no need for such a complicated 'killing with a borrowed knife' plan, no need to let the Skeleton Centurion wear the opponent down, and no need to risk so many variables.

As long as his level increased by one more, he could defeat the Boss head-on!

This thought struck him like a bolt of lightning.

"Lin Feng?" Zhao Hu noticed his strange expression. "What's wrong?"

Lin Feng looked up, a sharp light flashing in his eyes. "Brother Zhao, we aren't going directly back to the camp today."

"What?" Tie Dun, who had just finished tying his pack, was stunned. "Not going back to camp? Then where are we going?"

"Leveling up." Lin Feng stood up and brushed the dust off his hands. "I want to reach Level 6 within today."

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

Jian Yan frowned. "Lin Feng, I know you're anxious, but leveling up isn't that easy."

"We fought so many battles from yesterday to today, and you only reached Level 5. To go up another level, it'll take at least two or three days..."

"Under normal circumstances, yes," Lin Feng interrupted him. "But what if we specifically look for a place suitable for grinding experience?"

He looked at Uncle Wu. "Old Wu, is there a location nearby with a high density of monsters, moderate levels, and suitable for rapid experience grinding?"

"Ideally, Level 5-7 social creatures in large numbers."

Uncle Wu thought for a moment, his eyes suddenly lighting up. "There is! If you go thirty li to the northeast, there's a 'Putrid Poison Swamp'."

"Large groups of 'Swamp Poison Frogs' live there. Their levels are between 4 and 6. Their attack power isn't high, but they are extremely numerous, # Nоvеlight # and..."

"And what?"

"And they are social creatures; a single puddle often gathers ten or twenty of them."

Uncle Wu said, "The downside is their strong toxicity. If you're sprayed by their venom, you'll continuously lose health. But if we have enough antidotes, it's an excellent place to grind experience."

Lin Feng immediately calculated: Swamp Poison Frogs, assuming an average level of 5, each worth 40 experience points.

Reaching Level 6 required 400 experience. He currently had 9 points, so he was short 391. He needed to kill about 10 more.

"Ten or twenty in a single puddle..." A sharp light flickered in Lin Feng's eyes. "That's enough."

"But Lin Feng," Zhao Hu said heavily, his brow furrowed. "Even if you reach Level 6 and can solo-kill the Boss, he still has two Level 8 experts, Hei Zhua and Xi She, following him at all times. On our side..."

"No, Brother Zhao," Lin Feng suddenly interrupted, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"You forgot one thing—with the 'Generals Majesty' buff, Tie Dun and Jian Yan's current strength is already comparable to Level 7 Awakened."

Everyone was stunned, then realization dawned on them.

Tie Dun felt the power surging within his body and clenched his fist hard. "Brother Lin Feng is right!"

"I feel like my strength has increased a lot; even this shield feels lighter!"

Jian Yan also nodded. "Pulling my bowstring is easier, and my aim is steadier. I indeed have the strength of a Level 7."

Lin Feng calculated quickly. "Brother Tie Dun will focus on defense, Brother Jian Yan on long-range suppression, and with Level 6 Sister Shadow Snake providing support from the periphery." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"The three of you working together can completely stall one Level 8."

"Brother Zhao, with the buff, stalling the other Level 8 won't be a problem for you."