The early morning sunlight spilled across the open ground in front of the Council Hall.

Lin Feng pushed open the door and stepped out, taking a deep breath of air that carried the faint, fresh scent of earth.

In two days, the Nightmare Tide would arrive, and after that, the final showdown with Baigui County.

Although he was fully confident, he couldn't neglect any necessary preparations.

After walking just a few steps, he spotted a familiar figure.

Liu Zhaowan stood by the stone steps outside the Council Hall, still wearing her efficient deep blue training uniform, her ponytail tied meticulously.

She was looking up at the eaves of the Council Hall, seemingly inspecting this recently constructed building.

Hearing footsteps, she turned her head. The moment she saw Lin Feng, a bright smile appeared on her face.

“Lord Lin, morning.” She walked over quickly and extended her right hand.

Lin Feng shook it and released it immediately. “Director Liu, so early. Is something the matter?”

“There is, and it's a big deal,” Liu Zhaowan said with a smile. “But it's not bad news, so don't be nervous.”

Lin Feng chuckled. “I'm not nervous.”

Liu Zhaowan nodded, put away her smile, and said seriously, “Director Chen asked me to bring you a message.”

Lin Feng's expression turned solemn.

“He already understands the full reason behind everything.” Liu Zhaowan spoke each word deliberately, her tone grave.

“Director Chen says that since Lord Lin is confident, then go ahead and do it. The Rongcheng Nightmare Affairs Bureau and the country will always be your strongest supporters.”

A warmth spread through Lin Feng's heart, and he nodded slightly. “Thank Director Chen for me. I will remember this kindness.”

Liu Zhaowan waved it off. “No need for thanks, we're on the same side.” She paused before continuing.

“Furthermore, regarding the front lines of the territorial war, Great Xia and Sakura Country have already coordinated.”

“Oh?” Lin Feng's eyebrows quirked up.

“The location is on the plains thirty-five li west of Beacon Fire Town,” Liu Zhaowan said.

“The terrain there is open and suitable for large-scale combat. The time is set for three days from now, the day after the Nightmare Tide ends.”

She looked at Lin Feng and added, “Both sides will send an Awakened of Level 30 or higher as supervisors to ensure the war is conducted fairly.

Great Xia is sending vice city lord Liu Zhenshan of Zhenyue City, a Level 39 Third-Transition Warrior with extensive experience. Sakura Country is said to be sending an expert of the same level.”

Lin Feng nodded. “I understand.”

Liu Zhaowan looked at him, her gaze carrying a hint of complexity she couldn't hide.

An eighteen-year-old youth who had only been Awakened for a little over two months had grown from a newcomer into a lord who dared to declare war on an established county-level territory. This courage, this boldness, this confidence...

She had seen many young Awakened, but Lin Feng was the first of his kind.

“Lord Lin.” Liu Zhaowan suddenly laughed, her eyes curving into crescents.

“To be honest, when I first heard the news of you declaring war on Baigui County, I was startled.

A town-level territory proactively initiating a territorial war against a county-level territory—this is a first in the history of both countries.”

She paused and continued, “But seeing you as you are now, I suddenly feel that Baigui County is likely in for a stroke of bad luck this time.”

The corner of Lin Feng's mouth curled slightly. “Director Liu has such high expectations for me?”

“It's not about expectations.” Liu Zhaowan shook her head, her gaze full of admiration.

“It's about believing in Director Chen's judgment, and believing in my own eyes. Someone who can reach this stage from being a newcomer in two months won't be a reckless person.”

She smiled and gave a thumbs up. “Lord Lin is a young hero; you will surely defeat Baigui County and become Great Xia's youngest county-level lord!”

Lin Feng looked at her and suddenly smiled.

There was no smugness or arrogance in that smile, only a confidence that was calm to the extreme.

“Director ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) Liu.” He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet every word was clear. “In three days, Baigui County will no longer exist.”

Liu Zhaowan was stunned.

She looked at the eighteen-year-old youth before her, at the calm yet certain light in his eyes.

She suddenly felt that when he said those words, he wasn't bragging or making empty promises; he was simply stating a result that was already predestined.

This confidence was simply... dazzling.

Liu Zhaowan froze for two seconds, then laughed even more brilliantly.

“Good!” She nodded vigorously. “Then I'll be waiting to hear Lord Lin's good news!”

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Liu Zhaowan took her leave to get busy.

Managing two thousand working Awakened was not an easy task at all.

Lin Feng watched her leave, then turned to walk toward the northeast of Beacon Fire Town.

...

The military district in the northeast of Beacon Fire Town.

This area had already been designated as the territory's core zone, becoming an independent restricted military area.

Ordinary residents and working Awakened were not allowed entry; only core members could come and go.

As Lin Feng stepped into the military district, what met his eyes was a level training ground.

On the training ground, five hundred figures were arranged in a neat square formation, undergoing daily training.

At the very front were four hundred infantrymen, holding bronze halberds, wearing dark brown leather armor, leather helmets, and leather belts around their waists.

Their movements were perfectly synchronized—thrusting, retracting, parrying, and sweeping. Every movement looked as if it had been measured with a ruler, and the sound of the halberd tips cutting through the air was as uniform as if a single person were swinging.

In the rear were one hundred Crossbowmen, holding standard crossbows and carrying heavy bolts. They were conducting target practice; the crossbow strings thrummed, and a hundred arrows flew in unison, causing clusters of wood chips to explode simultaneously on targets a hundred paces away.

Five hundred people, five hundred figures, silent as iron, orderly as a forest.

Lin Feng stood at the edge of the training ground, looking at this army that belonged entirely to him, a smile slowly curling at the corner of his mouth.

After ten days of training, the five hundred Beacon Guards had finally taken shape.

Their current levels were uniformly Level 13. Combined with their battle formations, discipline, and unspoken coordination, their combat power far exceeded that of ordinary soldiers of the same level.

Lin Feng silently calculated in his heart: 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Five hundred Level 13 Beacon Guards, plus Zhao Hu and the others who were Level 19 transitioned classes, plus the rare class Shadow Snake, plus himself as a Hero Lord...

Baigui County had 1,500 Level 9 County Soldiers and 23 transitioned class holders.

When they met on the battlefield, there would be only one result.

He turned and left the military district.

On the training ground, the five hundred Beacon Guards continued their silent training, their halberd tips like a forest, their killing intent cold and stern.

Two days later, at 9:30 PM.

The West Gate of Beacon Fire Town.

The twenty-meter-high city wall stood majestically in the night. Torches were placed every ten paces along the wall, their orange light illuminating the top of the wall as bright as day.

The four blue-quality city gates shimmered with a cold luster under the firelight, and twelve Intermediate Arrow Towers stood like silent giants, guarding this young town.

Lin Feng stood in the very center of the city wall, the Wildfire Spear on his back glowing with a faint dark red light in the firelight.

He rested both hands on the battlements, his gaze sweeping over the interior of the town.

Below the city wall, four hundred Great Qin Garrison Soldiers were lined up in a neat square formation.

They were clad in dark brown leather armor disguised in the style of Wei Wu Soldiers, wearing leather helmets, holding bronze halberds, and wearing leather belts.

Under the firelight, those silent faces looked as if they were cast in iron; the halberd tips were like a forest, and not a single person moved.

On the city wall, one hundred Crossbowmen had already spread out, taking up advantageous positions.

Thirty of them had ascended the arrow towers on both sides of the gate, their crossbow strings fully drawn, the arrowheads glinting coldly, ready to fire at any moment.

The remaining seventy were spaced out along the wall, their heavy crossbows pointed diagonally toward the outside of the city, their gazes calm as they waited for the enemy's arrival.