Chapter 15 Five Half-Step Lord-Level Ferocious Beasts

Undercurrents surged within Songjiang City.

The major martial arts halls and underground factions were all secretly inquiring about the Martial Artists Alliance Silver-Rank Consultant who had suddenly appeared and single-handedly turned the tide of battle.

Everyone realized that the landscape of Songjiang City was likely to change because of the appearance of this mysterious powerhouse.

...

The next day, Zhang Fan went straight to the Martial Artist Alliance Branch building.

After reporting his identity, he proceeded without any obstacles. Everyone he encountered, regardless of their rank, showed him respect and took the initiative to clear the path after seeing the 'Silver-Rank Consultant' authorization symbol on his watch.

At a specialized supply collection point, Zhang Fan received a sealed metal box.

Upon opening it, a flowing mass of silver liquid metal, shimmering with a star-like luster, lay quietly inside.

He reached out his finger to touch it.

As if it possessed a life of its own, the star-trace armor activated instantly, spreading up his finger with lightning speed. Within a breath, it had covered his entire body.

A cool, snug sensation, as comfortable as a second skin, washed over him.

With a slight thought, the armor hid beneath his civilian clothes. With another thought, the armor surfaced, displaying a smooth and high-tech silver-gray luster; the joints were incredibly flexible, not hindering his movement in the slightest.

Zhang Fan could clearly feel the astonishing defensive power contained within it, sufficient to withstand a full-force strike from a Rank Six martial artist!

"Good stuff!"

A look of satisfaction appeared in Zhang Fan's eyes. These 1,000 contribution points were well spent!

Branch Minister Chen Guodong poured a cup of hot tea for Zhang Fan. Ye Zhenxi sat by his side, her gaze toward Zhang Fan filled with admiration.

"Consultant Zhang Fan—no, I should be changing my form of address very soon."

Minister Chen's voice was sonorous as he pushed a gold-stamped document toward Zhang Fan. "By unanimous decision of the Alliance, in view of your multiple instances of turning the tide and your outstanding contributions to Songjiang City and its surrounding areas, you are now officially promoted to a Gold Medal Consultant of the Alliance!"

Zhang Fan's expression was calm as he took the document and glanced over it.

"After being promoted to Gold Medal Consultant, your permissions will be comprehensively upgraded."

Minister Chen continued to explain in a warm tone, "The acquisition rate for contribution points will increase, and the highest permissions for the exchange mall are now open. The Alliance has prepared a top-floor duplex apartment for you in 'Longyuan Pavilion' in the city center. It covers a vast area, comes with a private cultivation chamber and a panoramic rooftop, and is only a five-minute drive from the Alliance building."

"The rooftop is equipped with the latest vertical take-off and landing runic helicopter, with experienced pilots on standby twenty-four hours a day."

"This means your mobility and response speed will reach the extreme. Furthermore, you enjoy the authority to directly mobilize a standard tactical squad."

Zhang Fan nodded. "Good."

He primarily valued two things: first, the faster acquisition of contribution points, and second, the centrally located, conveniently accessible residence.

This would greatly save him time traveling to and from the battlefield. As for powers like mobilizing a squad, he didn't care much; after all, for most crises, he and his hammer were enough.

Seeing Zhang Fan agree readily, both Minister Chen and Ye Zhenxi breathed a sigh of relief, the smiles on their faces growing even brighter.

...

After Zhang Fan left, the atmosphere in the conference room became slightly more solemn.

Minister Chen walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the city that was gradually returning to life, his brow furrowing slightly. "Zhenxi, the recent situation is not optimistic."

Ye Zhenxi walked to his side with a solemn expression. "Minister, are you referring to the spatial rifts?"

"Yes."

Minister Chen sighed. "Monitoring data shows that in the past month, the frequency of spatial fluctuations city-wide has increased by more than fifty percent. Although they occasionally 'spit out' some energy-containing minerals or curios that various factions fight over, more often, it's a steady stream of ferocious beasts."

He pointed to several flashing red dots on the electronic map on the wall. "These are several key towns under our jurisdiction. Yunxi Town, Heishan Town, Qinghe Town... In the past week, they've all encountered no fewer than three waves of small to medium-sized beast tides. Our manpower is already stretched thin, running around putting out fires and exhausted from the constant movement."

"And those above are also overwhelmed."

Minister Chen rubbed his temples. "According to the headquarters' report, this situation isn't unique to Songjiang; similar phenomena have appeared in all major cities worldwide. The rifts are opening more and more frequently, and the descending ferocious beasts are getting stronger and stronger."

"Our Songjiang City... we really got lucky this time, having a pillar like Zhang Fan suddenly emerge. Otherwise, with our original strength, we would likely have seen large-scale casualties long ago."

Ye Zhenxi deeply agreed. If not for Zhang Fan, the last beast tide attacking from the west would have been enough to tear through their defensive lines.

"Zhenxi, you are fully responsible for the liaison work with the Gold Medal Consultant. You must satisfy all of his reasonable requests."

"Yes, Minister!"

...

Over the next few days, Zhang Fan moved into the luxury apartment on the top floor of Longyuan Pavilion.

The view here was excellent, the decoration was luxurious, and the soundproofing and energy-channeling effects of the quiet room were far superior to his previous apartment.

He still went to the Corpses Collection Team to 'clock in' on time every day.

The matter of his promotion to Gold Medal Consultant was only known to the high-level members of the Alliance and had not been made public.

In the eyes of his colleagues, he was still that lucky, hardworking 'Corpses Collection Team member'.

Zhang Fan didn't give up his identity in the Corpses Collection Team either; only by continuing to keep a low profile could he 'touch' more corpses.

Over those few days, several small-scale conflicts occurred in and around Songjiang City, mostly friction between martial artists and stray ferocious beasts or factions.

Battles of this level naturally didn't require a Gold Medal Consultant like Zhang Fan to step in. However, in his capacity as a member of the Corpses Collection Team, he could openly head to the scenes.

As his fingertips touched one corpse after another that still held residual warmth, the notification sounds in his mind rang out steadily.

[Contacted human martial artist remains, obtained Attribute Points +2...]

[Contacted Rank Two ferocious beast remains, obtained Attribute Points +3...]

After a few days, without drawing any attention, he had accumulated another 20 attribute points. Combined with his previous remainder, the total reached 50 points.

Inside the apartment's quiet room, Zhang Fan sat cross-legged.

His consciousness sank into his mind, where the words [Available Attribute Points: 50] on the panel flickered slightly.

"It's time to fix the last shortcoming."

He focused his attention on the movement technique "Thunder Void Step (Perfection)." A panel prompt appeared: [Can be deduced and advanced to "Thunder Shadow Step," requires Attribute Points: 40].

"Deduce!"

40 attribute points were instantly invested.

Insights regarding speed and concealment were instantly sublimated! When Thunder Void Step was at perfection, it was about turning the body into nothingness and merging with the environment. But at this moment, a more profound artistic conception emerged—becoming a thunder shadow!

It wasn't just concealment; it was leaving behind lightning afterimages that possessed a brief existence and could confuse perception during high-speed movement! The true body and afterimages flickered alternately, making it difficult to capture.

[Thunder Void Step] advanced to [Thunder Shadow Step (Entry)]!

Zhang Fan's figure didn't move, yet several blurry shadows of him seemed to appear simultaneously in the quiet room before vanishing.

He was faster and even more unpredictable.

"For offense, I have the Dao-Shattering Hammer Method; for defense, I have the Dragon-Elephant Holy Body Technique and star-trace armor; and now for movement, I have the Thunder Shadow Step... My combat system is finally nearing completion."

His strength had increased again, and his ability to handle crises was even stronger.

...

Early this morning, the Alliance-specific watch on Zhang Fan's wrist suddenly emitted a sharp, urgent beep, and the screen instantly turned a piercing blood-red!

It was the highest-level emergency distress signal!

At the same time, Minister Chen's voice, almost trembling, came through the encrypted line: "Gold Medal Consultant! Emergency! A large-scale beast tide has broken out in Yunxi Town under Songjiang City's jurisdiction!"

"The first wave of support teams we sent just sent back word... Five half-step Lord-level Ferocious Beasts have appeared in the beast tide! The defensive line collapsed instantly, and losses are heavy! They... they need the highest level of support!"

On the holographic projection in the conference room, the final footage sent back from the Yunxi Town frontline was being displayed: five massive figures of varying forms, all with terrifying auras, were rampaging outside the town. Energy bolts and martial artist attacks landing on them were like mere tickles.

The town's energy shield was teetering on the brink of collapse.

Minister Chen, Ye Zhenxi, and all the Alliance high-levels present were pale-faced. Five half-step Lord-level! This far exceeded the limit of what the Songjiang Branch could handle!

Even if they gathered all their strength, going in would just be suicide!

"Consultant Zhang Fan... now... only you might..." Minister Chen's voice carried a hint of hope born of despair.

He remembered the shocking scene of Zhang Fan killing the Frost Giant Lizard with three hammer strikes.

On the other end of the watch, Zhang Fan felt a surge of joy.

"Send me the location. Helicopter, standby on the rooftop."

Without any extra words, the communication was cut.

In the conference room, when everyone heard Zhang Fan's words, the tense atmosphere eased slightly for some reason.