Chapter 143: Monster-level Body, the Shock of Canaan Tower! (Sixth Update)

Chapter 143: Monster-Level Physique, the Shock of Canaan Tower! (Sixth Update, Monthly Ticket Bonus)

The great waves stirred up by Qin Feng slowly subsided.

From this moment on, the name "Qin Feng" no longer merely represented the "Rising Star of Enlightenment," but was completely equated with words like "monster," "prodigy," and "inhuman."

The gazes people cast upon him shifted from initial scrutiny and surprise to a complex mix of reverence and a hint of distance.

Qin Feng paid no heed to this.

He merely walked calmly back to his team, nodded slightly at the dumbfounded Tiemu and Lei Meng, and offered a gentle smile.

As if the "monster" who had just ignited the entire arena had nothing to do with him.

The more he remained so composed and indifferent, the more unfathomable he appeared to others.

After this massive upheaval, the test of physical potential quickly drew to a close.

The final statistics were promptly displayed on the light screen at the center of the square.

[Third Assessment · Physical Potential Test, Final Results as Follows:]

[Total Participants: 417,322]

[Number Passed: 417,322]

[Number Eliminated: 0]

[Potential Grade Distribution:]

[Gold Standard Human Level I: 1,156]

[Gold Standard Human Level II: 128]

[Gold Standard Human Level III: 13]

[Beyond Gold Standard Human Level III: 1 (Data Overflow, Unable to Precisely Rate)]

...

As they looked at this data, the surviving prodigies felt a mix of emotions.

On one hand, the fact that no one was eliminated in this test gave them a slight sigh of relief.

On the other hand, the clear pyramid of grades, like a mirror, laid bare the gap in talent between them, placing heavy pressure on many.

Over a thousand Gold Level I, over a hundred Gold Level II, over a dozen Gold Level III... and that one unique, unratable "monster."

These were the most elite prodigies sifted from billions of educational planets!

Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, the voice of the volunteer martial artist rang out again, devoid of emotion, announcing the start of the next test.

"Now, proceed to the fourth assessment—Climbing the Heavenly Ladder."

"This assessment aims to test your mental strength, not your mental aptitude. When you step onto the ladder, you will endure a continuously increasing mental pressure, from weak to strong."

His gaze swept across the over four hundred thousand focused faces, and his tone carried a meaningful warning.

"Please do not worry too much."

"All advanced martial arts middle schools in the Canaan Galaxy have a clear rule requiring students to persist in practicing the 'Imperial Meditation Method' personally decreed by the Imperial Royal Family. This meditation method is not only to enhance your cultivation speed; its core function is to temper and solidify your mental strength, laying the firmest foundation for your future breakthroughs to higher realms."

"Therefore, if you have never slackened in your practice of the 'Imperial Meditation Method' over the past years, this test will be as easy as walking on flat ground for you. Conversely..."

He did not finish his sentence, but the warning within was unmistakable.

"If, in your pursuit of rapid power growth, you have cleverly abandoned this most basic and crucial foundational practice, then you will most likely fail this assessment."

These words caused the expressions of many students to shift slightly.

As for Qin Feng, he understood perfectly.

It was like those students in martial high schools who only focused on martial training and completely disdained academic subjects. They always believed that as long as their fists were hard enough and their strength strong enough, they could solve everything.

Little did they know that on the true path of martial arts, any weak point could become the final straw that breaks your back one day.

Mental strength was precisely that most easily overlooked yet vital foundation.

Just then, on the black high platform, the always silent Instructor Yu Han finally made a move.

He slowly extended his hand, palm upward.

In his palm, space twisted slightly, and a white light rapidly expanded.

The next moment, a magnificent staircase, carved from an unknown white jade and radiating a soft glow, materialized out of thin air in the center of the square.

This heavenly ladder was not very tall; one could see its end at a glance. The layered white jade steps numbered exactly one hundred, no more, no less.

It floated there quietly, yet exuded a vast and majestic aura, as if from the depths of the ancient universe.

This was the Heavenly Ladder.

"The fourth assessment officially begins. All examinees, please ascend the Heavenly Ladder in an orderly manner."

At the command, over four hundred thousand prodigies moved again.

They formed lines and stepped onto the first white jade step one by one.

Qin Feng also followed the crowd and stepped onto it.

The moment he set foot on the ladder, an invisible, heavy pressure surged from all directions like a tide, pouring directly into his mental sea.

This pressure was not physical but a pure mental oppression.

It was like an invisible hand trying to crush your will, disrupt your thoughts, and induce fear, confusion, and even the urge to give up.

"I see," Qin Feng thought to himself.

Although this pressure was strong, it was nothing to his mental strength, which had been tempered to resilience by the dual cultivation of the 'Imperial Meditation Method' and the 'Sun Contemplation Method.'

His expression did not change in the slightest. He simply took steps, unhurriedly, climbing upward.

First step, second step, third step...

With each step upward, the mental pressure multiplied.

Soon, a stark contrast appeared in the square.

Some, like Qin Feng, moved with ease, their demeanor calm, as if strolling in their own backyard.

Others, after climbing a dozen or so steps, began to struggle, their faces turning pale, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.

Their bodies trembled involuntarily, as if bearing an invisible mountain.

"Ah—!"

Finally, around the twentieth step, the first student who could not endure let out a reluctant scream.

His eyes lost their luster, his body went limp, and he tumbled directly down the steps.

A soft light caught him and slowly sent him to the elimination zone of the square.

His failure was like the first domino falling.

Immediately after, screams and muffled groans rose one after another.

One by one, students at different heights—thirty steps, forty steps, fifty steps—reached the limit of their mental strength. The invisible pressure mercilessly crushed their will, eliminating them from the test.

Like their companions who had failed in the actual combat test, their faces were etched with regret and unwillingness.

It was only at this moment that they truly understood how shortsighted and foolish their decision had been—abandoning the cultivation of the *Imperial Emperor Meditation Method* in pursuit of fleeting speed in training.

Yet there is no regret medicine in this world.

When Qin Feng stepped lightly and effortlessly onto the hundredth white jade step, gazing down at the struggling masses below, the fourth trial gradually came to an end.

The final result once again drew everyone's attention.

Of the more than 400,000 prodigies who remained, nearly a quarter were eliminated in this round!

About 100,000 examinees were turned away because their mental strength fell short of the standard!

As they trudged out of the square, as dejected as the failures before them, only the last 300,000 victors remained on the field.

The brutal selection continued.

"The fifth trial: Combat Art Assessment."

The voice of the volunteer martial artist gave the remaining candidates little time for reflection.

"Requirement: Master at least one combat art to the 'Perfection' level."

"Step forward and demonstrate your strongest combat art to the volunteer in charge of evaluation."

For the 300,000 prodigies who had fought their way through the trials to reach this point, this task posed almost no difficulty.

Combat arts are the foundation of a martial artist's existence.

If one couldn't even present a combat art at the Perfection level, they would never have passed the first two brutal practical trials.

The students stepped forward one by one, demonstrating their combat arts before the evaluating volunteers.

Blades flashed, swords clashed, fists howled through the air.

The entire square was suddenly filled with a fierce, killing aura.

Notably, when it came to Qin Feng and the nearly hundred top-tier prodigies who had displayed "Mastery-level" strength in previous battles, they all chose to keep a low profile.

Qin Feng casually performed one move from the *Fierce Bird Fist Art*—the "Savage Harrier Style"—to the Perfection level, easily passing the test.

He had no intention of revealing his trump cards on such an occasion.

The other truly clever individuals also understood the principle that "the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind," and they all chose to conceal their true abilities.

Thus, all five trials came to an end.

When the last student completed the assessment, a rare smile finally appeared on the face of the volunteer martial artist.

He turned to face the surviving 300,000 prodigies on the field, his voice resonant and full of power.

"Congratulations, you prodigies from all corners of the universe!"

"From this moment on, you are officially members of the Canaan Starry Sky Martial University!"

"May your martial fortunes flourish!"

These words struck like thunderclaps in the ears of every survivor.

The pent-up excitement, elation, and joy erupted like a volcano in that instant!

"We made it!"

"Hahaha! I'm a student of Canaan Starry Sky Martial University now!"

"Wah... it was so hard..."

Cheers, shouts, and even tears of joy echoed across the entire square.

They embraced each other tightly, sharing this hard-won, life-changing joy.

A genuine smile also appeared on Qin Feng's face.

From Qiming No.1 High School to Canaan Starry Sky Martial University.

He had finally stepped onto this broader stage.

[Ding!]

A crisp notification sound rang in his mind.

[Your personal terminal permissions have been updated.]

[Subspace network affiliation changed to: Canaan Starry Sky Martial University - Private Domain.]

[You have received a new email. Please check it.]

Qin Feng focused his mind and opened his personal terminal.

A golden virtual letter, bearing the emblem of Canaan Starry Sky Martial University, floated silently before him.

He reached out and opened it.

[Dear Student Qin Feng,]

[We are delighted to learn that you have passed our university's rigorous examinations with outstanding results and have officially become a student of Canaan Starry Sky Martial University. On behalf of the entire faculty and student body, we extend our warmest congratulations!]

[The universe is vast, and humanity's path is not easy. The road ahead is long and fraught with obstacles. We hope that in this sacred ground of martial arts, you will never forget your original aspirations, forge ahead with determination, cultivate your skills diligently, and mature quickly, contributing your strength to the rise and continuation of humanity!]

[May your martial fortunes flourish!]

[——Canaan Starry Sky Martial University Admissions Office]

After the brief congratulations came an attachment.

Qin Feng opened it, revealing a single thin virtual sheet of paper, inscribed with ancient script:

[Canaan Starry Sky Martial University Code of Conduct]

[Betrayal of humanity is strictly forbidden. Violators will be hunted eternally by the generations of strong warriors of Canaan Starry Sky Martial University!]

This single, simple rule carried more weight than any complex set of regulations, evoking a profound sense of gravity and reverence from the depths of the soul.

"Next, please choose your preferred mentors."

The voice of the volunteer martial artist rang out again.

"You may send a mentorship application to any faculty member through your personal terminal. Each new student has three application opportunities. If a mentor accepts your application, your personal terminal will receive guidance to enter the mentor's exclusive private domain."

"If all three applications are rejected, the system will randomly assign a mentor to you. At that point, neither the mentor nor the student has the right to refuse."

Choosing a mentor!

This was the most important step after enrollment.

Qin Feng didn't hesitate for a moment. In his mind, he recalled the extreme pressure from Teacher Wu Shangfeng at Qiming No.1 High School, the earnest teachings of Teacher Lin Yue, and the unreserved guidance of Professor Gu Yue. He deeply understood how crucial a good mentor was to his growth.

He opened the mentor list and directly entered a name in the search bar.

"Yu Han."

Then, he clicked "Send Application."

Almost the next second after he clicked, his personal terminal immediately received a reply.

[Ding!]

[Your mentorship application has been approved!]

[Mentor Yu Han has accepted you as an official disciple.]

[Transferring you to private domain...]

Such speed left even Qin Feng momentarily stunned.

Meanwhile, the others in the square were not as fortunate.

"Alas! Failed! I applied to Mentor Yue Hong and was rejected!"

"Me too! I applied to Mentor Mu Lin—instant rejection!"

Lei Meng walked over with a dejected look: "Boss Qin Feng, who did you choose? Did you get through?"

"I chose Mentor Yu Han and passed."

Qin Feng answered truthfully.

"Holy crap! Mentor Yu Han! A galaxy-level powerhouse!"

Lei Meng's eyes went wide: "I applied to Mentor Yu Han too, and got instantly rejected... Why is the gap between people so huge?"

Tie Mu, on the other hand, walked over with a hint of joy on his face: "I also passed. I applied to Mentor Lu Lan, an alumnus from our Qiangang Military Martial High School."

Some rejoiced, others lamented.

Choosing and being chosen is, after all, a two-way journey.

Just as everyone was busy selecting mentors, a magnificent shuttle, so vast it blotted out the sky, sleek and streamlined, silently hovered above the square.

"Attention, all new students!"

"Please board the shuttle 'Voyager' immediately! I will lead you to your home for the next centuries, even millennia—where you will study, train, and live—the Canaan Starry Sky Martial University!"

As the volunteer martial artist's voice faded, the shuttle's hatch slowly opened, casting down a massive light ramp.

Three hundred thousand new students, filled with boundless hope and longing for the future, boarded the shuttle in orderly pilgrimage.

The shuttle slowly started, gliding steadily toward the ancient tower that spanned the cosmos, towering several light-years high.

—

The shuttle sailed smoothly through the deep vacuum of space.

Inside, an unusual silence reigned.

The three hundred thousand chosen ones, who had emerged from brutal selection, now seemed like children leaving home for the first time, utterly captivated by the magnificent and grand spectacle beyond the porthole.

The shuttle's interior was vast, more than enough to accommodate the three hundred thousand newcomers, yet still spacious.

But now, nearly everyone crowded before the enormous panoramic window, holding their breath, gazing up at their destination.

At the edge of their vision, the legendary Canaan Starry Sky Martial University itself—the Heaven-Piercing Tower—dominated the entire starry sky with an unparalleled, overbearing presence.

It was simply too immense.

Measured in light-years in height!

There it stood, silent at the center of the universe, as if the sole fulcrum of this star region.

The tower's body, cast from some unknown divine metal, bore a deep, ancient dark-gold hue, etched with the mottled scars of eons.

Gorgeous, multicolored nebulae, like rainbow sashes, wrapped around its waist.

Blazing stars, before it, shrank to the size of fireflies.

Countless stars revolved slowly around it, as if offering the humblest homage to this eternal sovereign.

Qin Feng stood among the crowd, his gaze piercing the window, fixed on the colossal Heaven-Piercing Tower, his mind surging with emotion, unable to calm for a long time.

At that moment, he suddenly thought of Teacher Lin Yue.

He recalled when, at the Qiming Thunder Pool, he first saw that magnificent ocean of billions of converging thunderbolts, and the words Teacher Lin Yue had spoken to him.

"The universe is far vaster than you can imagine. Beautiful as the Thunder Pool is, it is but a speck of dust in this boundless cosmos."

At that time, Qin Feng had agreed, but he could never truly, personally grasp the real weight behind those words.

Until today.

Until he approached and closely observed this Heaven-Piercing Tower that spanned the universe, its height measured in light-years.

Only then did he finally understand how insignificant the splendor he had seen at the Thunder Pool was compared to this true cosmic wonder before him.

If the beauty of the Thunder Pool was a delicate, controllable bonsai beauty, then this Heaven-Piercing Tower before him represented the raw, vast, unstoppable, most primal and grand magnificence of the universe itself—one that made any life feel its own smallness and humility.

An indescribable surge of pride swelled in his chest.

His martial heart, in that moment, seemed infected by the Heaven-Piercing Tower, growing even more resolute.

To remain obscure, or to become renowned across the world?!

He firmly chose the latter!

Time slipped away quietly.

The shuttle "Voyager" gradually decelerated, approaching the Heaven-Piercing Tower's vast, nearly boundless base.

Finally, the shuttle came to a smooth stop before a massive docking port flashing with guiding lights.

"Hiss—"

The hatch opened, and the crowd filed out, stepping onto this legendary martial arts sacred ground.

When they steadied themselves and looked up, they were once again overwhelmed by the sight before them.

They stood in a colossal hall whose grandeur defied description.

The hall's dome soared so high its end was invisible, as if it were a real starry sky.

Countless enormous pillars, made of unknown materials, supported this temple.

And directly ahead of them was the main gate of the Canaan Starry Sky Martial University.

It was a majestic gate, ten thousand meters high, cast from pure dark-gold divine metal.

On the gate were carved ancient totems of countless races at war and stars perishing.

A heavy, majestic aura, as if baptized in eons of blood and fire, rushed forth, instilling awe in every newcomer involuntarily.

Passing through the giant gate, the view opened up.

The first thing to catch the eye was an enormous teleportation station.

Millions of massive teleportation light gates, arranged like a honeycomb, flashed dazzling light without cease.

A steady stream of students emerged from those light gates.

Some were spirited, carrying the joy and killing intent of just-completed missions.

Others, drenched in blood, were helped along or carried out on stretchers, their faces etched with exhaustion and lingering fear.

Some, in small groups, laughed loudly, discussing their recent spoils.

Others, solitary, silently wiped blood from their weapons, their eyes cold as ice.

This place was like the busiest war transit hub, brimming with vitality, danger, opportunity, and challenge, revealing the cruel yet free true face of Canaan Starry Sky Martial University to these newcomers without reservation.

Further inside, beyond the teleportation station, lay the true, boundless main campus.

Countless buildings of varied shapes floated in midair, while all kinds of aircraft shuttled along fixed routes, forming a bustling scene full of futuristic sci-fi aesthetics.

The arrival of these new students naturally drew the attention of the older students shuttling through the transfer stations.

"Hey, look, another batch of new juniors and sisters is here."

A burly man with a massive battle-axe slung over his shoulder whistled and said to his companion with a grin.

"Tsk, tsk, they're all like chicks just out of the shell, eyes full of curiosity and confusion—just like we were back in the day."

"Hey, have you heard?"

Another well-informed student sidled up mysteriously. "I heard that among this batch of new students, there's a monstrous freak. During the physical potential test, he straight-up blew the testing pod to pieces!"

"No way?! Really? What do you mean, blew it to pieces?"

The battle-axe-wielding man looked incredulous.

"Absolutely true! A friend of mine who volunteers in the admissions office told me himself. The data showed that guy's physical potential far exceeds the Gold Standard Human III level, and the system's closest matching model was... an embryonic Starry Sky Beast!"

"Pfft—!"

The man nearly spat out his saliva, his eyes bulging like brass bells. "St... Starry Sky Beast? Are you kidding me, you bastard? A freak like that among the new students?"

"Who says it isn't so?"

The student who first spoke shook his head with a sigh. "The younger generation is getting fiercer and fiercer. The Empire's resources must be way better than what we had back then!"

The older students' chatter reached the ears of the newcomers, causing many to instinctively turn their gaze toward Qin Feng, who stood calm in the crowd, their eyes filled with awe.

Just then, the volunteer martial artist who had been leading them walked to the front of the line, clapped his hands, and drew everyone's attention.

"Quiet!"

His voice rang clearly in every ear.

"Welcome to Canaan Tower. This is where you will study and live in the future, and where everything begins."

He pointed at the vast hall beneath their feet.

"You are now standing on the base of Canaan Tower, which is also the official campus. Above your heads, that towering giant reaching into the clouds—from the first floor onward—is no longer the campus, but a challenge zone full of opportunities, belonging to each of you."

He paused, giving them time to digest, then began introducing the core rules of this sky-piercing tower in an extremely solemn tone.

"You must remember the most important point: Canaan Tower has a total of nine hundred and ninety-nine floors."

"From the first to the hundredth floor, you will face the soul projections of a vast number of fourth-level alien lifeforms from among the thousands of cosmic races recorded in the Empire's database."

"From the hundred-first to the two-hundredth floor, it's the soul projections of a large number of fifth-level lifeforms."

"And so on, up to the six-hundredth floor, which holds the soul projections of ninth-level lifeforms. These constitute the outer tower."

"From the six-hundred-first floor and above, it's the inner tower."

"Because from the six-hundred-first floor onward, you will no longer face those aliens. Instead, you will confront far more terrifying enemies—the recorded images of true peerless prodigies from our Canaan Starry Sky Martial University's two-point-two-billion-year history, who left behind their undefeated legends!"

"Their strength, their combat wisdom, is far greater and more fearsome than all the myriad race projections on the previous six hundred floors!"

"Up to the nine-hundred-ninety-ninth floor, you will challenge these legendary predecessors who stand at the pinnacle of human martial history!"

"If you succeed in the challenge, you can leave your own projection behind!"

"Oh, and each floor doesn't have just one projection—only the nine-hundred-ninety-ninth has one. The number varies on other floors; some have hundreds, some dozens."

"Canaan Tower is linked to subspace. You can enter via the subspace network, and just like in the Empire Arena, if you fail and die, it won't affect the real world."

These words sent a shiver down the spines of all the new students.

Challenge legends!

Surpass predecessors!

This was the most brutal and most glorious path of growth that Canaan Starry Sky Martial University had prepared for them!

"By clearing the tower, you can earn massive amounts of 'contribution points.'"

The volunteer martial artist's voice was full of allure. "Of course, to obtain all this, the prerequisite is that you have enough strength."

He shifted gears and began explaining some basic living information.

"As for your personal living quarters and exclusive martial training rooms, the school has already assigned them to you for free. You can log into your personal terminal and check the specific coordinates in your mentor's private domain."

"The Empire mission system and the campus mission system are also open to you. You can freely accept any mission that interests you, and upon completion, you'll earn contribution points as well. But..."

His tone turned serious again.

"I must remind you: when carrying out missions, the school provides no guarantee for your life. Life and death are your own responsibility."

"As for all the resources you need for cultivation—such as pills, heavenly treasures, high-level techniques, and so on—the school does not provide them. You must use your contribution points or Empire credits to purchase them yourself from the 'Empire Trading House' on campus."

These words laid bare the core philosophy of Canaan Starry Sky Martial University: freedom, cruelty, and absolute fairness.

This place does not raise idlers, let alone hothouse flowers.

If you want something, you must fight and earn it with your own hands!

After explaining everything, the volunteer martial artist gave an Empire military salute to the three hundred thousand new students.

"My mission ends here. I wish you all a bright future."

With that, he turned and disappeared into the bustling crowd.

The three hundred thousand new students stood still, digesting the vast amount of information they had just received.

In everyone's eyes burned an unprecedented flame named "ambition" and "desire."

Qin Feng was no exception.

(The chapter ends)