Chapter 53 is still not enough!

At this point, Zhang Fan's primary cultivation technique, Dragon Elephant Source Fetus Technique (Second-stage Initial), his attack hammer technique, Limit-Breaking Martial Collapse Hammer (Second-stage Initial), his movement technique, Ultimate Path Wind and Thunder Body (Second-stage Initial), and his secret technique, Dragon Elephant Eight Desolations Cinder Dragon (Second-stage Initial), had all stepped into the level of Second-stage Limit-Breaking!

Offense, defense, speed, large-scale destruction, and control—he no longer had any shortcomings! He had formed a powerful system of perfect complementarity!

"If I faced that King-level now, even if I let it swallow those ten Lord-level beasts to complete its evolution, I'm confident I could easily suppress and kill it head-on!"

In fact, if he fully activated the Dragon Elephant Source Fetus Technique, he estimated he wouldn't even die from a direct hit by that Atomic Breath.

Feeling the surging power within his body, Zhang Fan's confidence doubled.

Remaining attribute points: 2756 - 520 - 260 - 520 = 1456 points.

"Continue to improve the foundation!"

He looked at his primary cultivation technique, Dragon Elephant Source Fetus Technique (Second-stage Initial).

By investing 390 points, the cultivation realm reached perfection as naturally as water flowing into a channel! His blood was like mercury, his bone marrow like gold, and his vitality was as vigorous as a Dragon Elephant!

Investing another 780 points! Limit-Breaking!

[Dragon Elephant Source Fetus Technique (Perfection)] advanced to Third-stage Limit-Breaking, [Dragon-Elephant Source Dao Art (Initial)]!

A Third-stage Limit-Breaking technique!

It felt as if a "Dao" of power sources had opened within his body; the circulation of his blood harmonized with the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, and his vitality and recovery reached an inconceivable realm! Based on physical body alone, he already stood at the peak of the vast majority of martial artists!

Remaining attribute points: 286 points, saved for now.

"Third-stage Limit-Breaking..." Zhang Fan clenched his fist, feeling the power within his body that was as condensed as divine gold.

Super-grade Limit-Breaking had a total of three stages.

Improving each stage was extremely difficult, requiring one to constantly break the limits of the human body and allow the physical form to gradually transcend the scope of the flesh. Now, Zhang Fan had officially stepped into the third stage, truly touching the ceiling level of this phase!

"However, this is still not enough."

Zhang Fan's eyes were calm. "The Treasure Area... if I want to hold an absolute advantage in there, obtain the maximum benefits, and even... suppress all competitors so I can take it all as the sole winner, I need even more absolute strength."

He looked at the hammer technique, movement technique, and secret technique on the panel that had not yet reached the third stage.

"Before entering the Treasure Area, I want to raise the hammer technique, movement technique, and secret technique all to Third-stage Limit-Breaking! At that time, no matter the situation, I will deliver a crushing dimensional strike!"

Just as he was planning his next strengthening route, the Alliance-specific communicator on his wrist vibrated slightly.

[Contribution points have been issued. For killing a King-level Ferocious Beast and resolving the S-rank crisis of 'Catacombs Manor', as assessed by Alliance Headquarters, you are rewarded: 40,000 contribution points. The points have been deposited into your account.]

[Your current total contribution points are: 42,000 points.]

What should he exchange these contribution points for to maximize his combat power?

In Zhang Fan's mind, the battle against the King-level beast from not long ago replayed.

The advantage of long-range energy bombardment was well-demonstrated in that fight. Had it not been for the base god-sky cannon killing those ten Lord-level Ferocious Beasts in time, things might have turned out differently once that King-level beast successfully devoured its kin and its strength skyrocketed.

Zhang Fan decided to upgrade his long-range strike capability once again.

The Alliance Mall interface flowed across the light screen before him. Zhang Fan filtered directly for the energy cannon category, his gaze skipping past the base god-sky cannon and locking onto a model with even greater power.

"Exchange for the base void-piercing cannon."

After the exchange, Zhang Fan recycled the previous base god-sky cannon.

After some operations, the original base god-sky cannon was recycled.

Soon, Alliance staff delivered a giant cannon—its deep barrel flowing with dark blue energy patterns—via a space belt, and took away the base god-sky cannon.

Zhang Fan looked at the base void-piercing cannon before him!

Its body was still within thirty meters, so Zhang Fan's space belt could store it. However, the power it contained had undergone a qualitative leap!

The ultimate power of this cannon was enough to kill a King-level Ferocious Beast in one shot! Even the Alliance's latest fighter jets flying at high speeds and high altitudes would find it hard to escape its lock-on and destructive strike.

Of course, the price for the massive increase in power was a terrifying energy consumption. Every charged shot required a massive amount of high-purity energy crystals to support it. Currently, this cannon only had two shots stored.

These crystals would either have to be found by Zhang Fan in the Treasure Area, exchanged for contribution points in the Alliance Mall, or found within the bodies of Ferocious Beasts he killed.

After exchanging for the void-piercing cannon and recouping some points from selling the Divine Veneration cannon, Zhang Fan's original 42,000 contribution points had shrunk drastically, leaving only 10,000.

With this, the long-range strike capability of his combat system had also received a huge boost.

...

Not two days later, Minister Zhu Chi's communication came through, his tone carrying a joy he couldn't hide.

"Zhang Fan, good news! The quota qualification has been approved for you! It's a special authorization from headquarters, allowing you to enter the 'Treasure Area'!"

Zhu Chi had clearly put in a lot of effort for this.

"The time is set for the 20th of this month, exactly ten days away. Prepare well and seize the opportunity!" Zhu Chi said earnestly; he truly saw great potential in this young man.

"Thank you, Minister Zhu." Zhang Fan thanked him sincerely.

In these ten days, Zhang Fan silently set a goal for himself.

To fully raise his strength to the level of Third-stage Limit-Breaking.

...

The defense of the five satellite cities, including Songjiang City and Qinggang City, had now been fully taken over by a group of elite experts from the original Huahai City, led by Wang Qiang.

Zhang Fan's title of "Deputy Commander" had not been revoked, making him the nominal direct superior of Wang Qiang and the others. However, Zhang Fan basically stepped back, leaving all specific matters to Wang Qiang.

He only needed to be able to touch the corpses.

Over the next few days, Zhang Fan's life followed a very regular rhythm.

Every day, he would make a round of the five satellite cities under the guise of "Deputy Commander inspecting defenses."

Wang Qiang and the others welcomed this immensely. Every time Zhang Fan arrived, they accompanied him personally. They not only wanted to use this to get closer to this young powerhouse but also hoped to seek his guidance.

Although Zhang Fan was young, his strength had reached Second-stage Limit-Breaking. His insights into physical cultivation and the use of blood energy were far beyond their reach. A few casual pointers from Zhang Fan were worth more than a long time of their own bitter cultivation.

Zhang Fan didn't keep his knowledge to himself. Although his strength was obtained through touching corpses and adding points, it was still genuinely at that realm. A few insights shared at random could enlighten Wang Qiang and the others, benefiting them greatly.

As a result, Wang Qiang and the others looked forward to Zhang Fan's arrival every day.

And every time Zhang Fan inspected, he would definitely go to the corpse storage warehouses of each city.

Inspecting defenses was a pretext; "touching corpses" to add points was the true purpose.

[Contacted Ferocious Beast remains, obtained attribute points +8...]

[Contacted Ferocious Beast remains, obtained attribute points +12...]

[Contacted human martial artist remains, obtained attribute points +15...]

After rotating through the five cities over three days, his attribute points steadily increased by another 800 points.

However, Zhang Fan frowned slightly.

"Not enough, it's still too slow."