Chapter 154: Twenty-Four Acupoints! Vitality Index 270 Points!

Chapter 154: Twenty-Four Orifices! Life Force Index 270 Points!

At Qin Feng’s command, the brief respite came to an end.

The four-man squad, a war machine honed to perfection, restarted and launched a fresh charge toward the deeper, darker core of the mineral vein zone.

The journey ahead was a protracted war.

Battle became the sole theme of their existence.

The first month.

They traversed underground corridors like giant circuit boards, with streams of emerald data flowing along the walls.

The mechanical race’s assaults were several times fiercer than in the outer zones.

They encountered a “Creator-class” mechanical lord that could “print” legions of Immortals from the metal walls behind them, and faced heavy-duty Destroyers that could fire psychic singularities to pin people in place before unleashing saturation strikes with cluster energy cannons.

The fighting grew ever more arduous, but the four’s coordination became ever more seamless.

Qin Feng’s commands were always precise and deadly; Shan Yang’s blade was the squad’s sturdiest shield; Zou Yun’s fists were the sharpest spear tearing through enemy lines; and Pang Chen’s flying knives were the net of death reaping every straggler.

In this endless combat, Qin Feng’s Dragon-Serpent Spear advanced rapidly; every move and stance at the Grand Completion level was pushed to its limit.

The second month.

They fought their way into a vast underground crystal cavern, where countless giant psychic crystal clusters hung inverted from the ground and ceiling, bathing the entire space in a dreamlike haze. But it was on this magnificent battlefield that they encountered their most fearsome foes.

“Phantom”-class assassins that could optically cloak using crystal refraction, and “Resonance”-class warlocks that could manipulate crystals to emit large-scale shockwaves.

The squad was trapped in danger multiple times; Zou Yun’s power armor chest was slashed open to the bone, and Shan Yang’s blade gained its first notch. Yet it was under this extreme pressure that Qin Feng’s understanding of spear techniques began to touch a new realm.

He no longer clung to the forms of Dragon-Serpent Spear alone but started attempting to merge the sweeping, domineering might of Thousand-Army Spear with the sinuous agility of Dragon-Serpent Spear.

In his mind, countless thoughts collided and fused.

The third month.

In a desperate, bloody battle where they were besieged by over five mechanical lords simultaneously, Qin Feng, to cover Pang Chen whose power armor energy was nearly depleted, stood alone with his spear, facing a tide of Immortals surging like a flood.

He pushed the “Cunning Serpent Emerges” move of Dragon-Serpent Spear to its extreme, his form flickering, his spear striking like lightning, yet still he could not fully stem the advance of the steel tide.

Just as an Immortal’s energy bayonet was about to pierce his chest, the thoughts he had refined over countless days and nights suddenly coalesced!

Instead of retreating, he stepped forward, abruptly retracting his spear, holding it close to his body, and spun it in a dense, impenetrable whirl, perfectly merging the absolute defense of “Thousand-Army Guard” with the coiling and deflection of Dragon-Serpent Spear!

Clang, clang, clang!

Countless energy rays and bayonets were all blocked and deflected by that seemingly fragile ring of spear shadows.

And in the instant the Immortal revealed a flaw from its missed attack, Qin Feng’s spear tip, originally used for defense, shot out like a long-hidden venomous dragon from an utterly unexpected angle!

This thrust lacked the ultimate penetration of “Vicious Hawk Chases Shadow” and the unrivaled dominance of “Thousand-Army Clears the Way.”

It was fast, precise, and ruthless, yet carried a treacherous, insidious quality hidden beneath impenetrable defense, catching one off guard.

Pfft!

The spear pierced precisely through the gap in the Immortal’s neck, instantly destroying its core hub.

“Finally mastered it!”

“This killing move—I name it—Dragon’s Concealment.”

Qin Feng murmured in his mind.

The dragon lurks in the abyss, the blade sheathed in its scabbard.

Using an impenetrable defense as a disguise, lure the enemy into a furious assault; when their attack is at its peak and their flaws are exposed, strike the fatal blow!

This was “Dragon’s Concealment”—a fearsome killing move combining ultimate defense with lethal offense!

With the birth of “Dragon’s Concealment,” Qin Feng felt that the last veil over his understanding of spear techniques had finally been torn away.

[System Notification: Dragon-Serpent Spear proficiency has reached its limit. Realm upgraded!]

[Dragon-Serpent Spear has reached—Mastery Realm!]

Three months later.

When Qin Feng, with a single “Dragon’s Concealment,” pinned the last mechanical lord in the mineral vein core to a giant psychic crystal, the entire world finally fell utterly silent.

“Hum…”

Deprived of their master’s commands, the thousands of mechanical constructs around them simultaneously extinguished the green light in their eyes, becoming a heap of cold, lifeless scrap metal.

“Huff… huff…”

Shan Yang, Pang Chen, and Zou Yun almost simultaneously released their combat stances, leaning on their weapons and gasping for breath.

Their power armor was covered in dense scratches and scorch marks, looking battered, but their eyes shone with a frightening brightness.

“It’s over… the core zone, we’ve broken through.”

Zou Yun plopped down on the ground, his voice carrying a sense of relieved exhaustion.

“Strange…”

The usually taciturn Pang Chen wiped the grime from his visor, scanning the dead core zone, his tone tinged with doubt, “We’ve broken through the core zone. Logically, the squads from the other four directions should have pushed here long ago. How come… there’s not a single person in sight?”

“Yeah.”

Shan Yang frowned as well, “It’s been four months. We’ve been fighting nonstop all the way. Could the other squads have all failed? Or… are they trapped halfway?”

Zou Yun grinned at this, his tone filled with natural pride.

“What’s so strange about that? Do you think the other squads have a freak like our Brother Qin?”

He said bluntly, “This mission was supposed to be veterans leading freshmen, but our squad’s setup is nothing like theirs! We’ve got two experienced veterans, one freakishly strong monster who defies logic, and incidentally… me, a passable freshman.”

Shan Yang and Pang Chen exchanged glances and could only smile wryly, nodding.

Though the words were crude, the reasoning was sound.

“Indeed.”

Shan Yang looked at Qin Feng’s back and sighed sincerely, “Junior Qin Feng’s strength can no longer be measured by common sense. His life force index on the data panel is 110 points, but based on my observations over these three months, his terrifying physical constitution, comparable to a young star beast, makes his pure physical explosive power and speed even more fearsome than those old-timers with life force indices of 130 points!”

“Exactly.”

Pang Chen added, “Not to mention his ‘Mastery Realm’ killing techniques, which amplify his terrifying physical advantages exponentially. One spear, one mechanical lord—this decapitation efficiency is the fundamental reason we’ve been able to smash through everything.”

“The other squads don’t have this kind of setup.”

Zou Yun concluded, “They’re the standard two veterans leading two freshmen. Those freshmen are lucky if they don’t hold the team back; there’s no way they can become the squad’s assault core like Brother Qin. They’ll most likely have to choose a steady, positional advance. Against an endless mechanical sea, being slowly ground down or trapped is perfectly normal.”

Qin Feng heard their discussion and praise.

But he said nothing, silently checking the parameters of his power armor.

Three months of continuous high-intensity combat had left even him feeling a deep fatigue.

“Rest for half an hour first, replenish energy and stamina.”

Qin Feng turned and ordered the three, “In half an hour, we’ll go check the other entrances. If they’re really trapped, we’ll save them if we can.”

“Understood!”

The three replied in unison, immediately sitting down to seize the chance to rest.

Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye.

At Qin Feng’s command, the four set off on time, racing at full speed toward the northern entrance marked on the map, the closest to them.

Meanwhile.

In the northern passage area, a full fifty kilometers from the core zone.

A torrent of steel, composed of tens of thousands of scarabs and hundreds of immortals, besieged a narrow pass, leaving it impenetrable.

And at the center of that encirclement, four battered, dimly glowing power armors stood back to back, forming a precarious defensive circle.

On three of the power armors, the HUD interfaces were already flashing a harsh red light, signaling imminent energy depletion; their movements had become noticeably sluggish and feeble.

But the red power armor at the core of the formation was in an even more wretched state.

Its entire left arm had been severed cleanly at the shoulder joint; at the gruesome break, countless wires and energy conduits hung exposed like torn nerves, constantly sparking with dangerous electrical discharges.

The owner of this power armor was none other than the squad leader—Qin Lan.

At this moment, she gripped a nearly depleted energy sword tightly in her remaining right hand. Her delicate face was pale from blood loss and agony, yet her eyes remained as sharp as blades.

Half a day earlier, their squad had fallen into a meticulously planned ambush.

A scorpion-shaped mechanical lord of the “Exterminator” class, wielding a massive energy scythe, had burst from underground, launching a fatal surprise attack on the weakest freshman in the squad.

To save that freshman, who stood frozen in terror, Qin Lan didn’t hesitate for a second, throwing her own body in front of him.

As a result, though she successfully rescued her teammate, the left arm of her power armor—along with her own entire left arm—was instantly severed and vaporized by that terrifying energy scythe.

Severely wounded, she could no longer lead the squad in a high-mobility breakout.

They missed the optimal window for retreat and were ultimately trapped here, surrounded by the endless mechanical army.

Exhausted to the last drop.

That was the truest portrayal of the four of them.

If this continued, within ten minutes, their only fate would be to be utterly overwhelmed and torn apart by the steel tide.

“Senior Qin, it’s all my fault!”

The rescued freshman’s voice was thick with sobs and self-reproach. “If it weren’t for me… if I hadn’t been so careless, you wouldn’t have…”

“Enough nonsense!”

Qin Lan cut him off sharply, her voice weakened by blood loss but her will as firm as steel. “Hold the formation! Hold on for one second, then another!”

Yet despite her words, a cloud named “despair” had already shrouded everyone’s hearts.

Just then!

“Boom—!”

A thunderous roar, utterly different from all the explosions on the battlefield, filled with dominance and brutality, suddenly erupted from the outer edge of the encirclement!

Immediately after, everyone witnessed a sight they would never forget.

Four black power armors, like a red-hot war blade, crashed into that impenetrable steel tide with an unstoppable momentum!

Their coordination was exquisite to the extreme!

One power armor, like a moving mountain, used its heavy longsword to block all frontal attacks;

Another, like a raging bear, tore apart any enemy that dared approach with its arc-sparking claws;

A third flickered unpredictably, countless lethal throwing knives shooting from its hands, precisely eliminating all threats from the flanks and rear.

And their spearhead—the power armor warrior wielding a black lance—was like a true ruler of the battlefield!

His figure darted and twisted through the enemy ranks, the lance moving like a dragon; with every strike, a mechanical lord hidden behind the immortal legion was precisely decapitated with a single thrust!

Decapitation!

It was a decapitation tactic so ruthless and efficient it defied reason!

The four power armors, moving as a single entity honed over millennia, advanced unwaveringly toward the besieged Qin Lan squad.

In just half a day, they had annihilated, in that devastating manner, the hundreds of mechanical lifeforms besieging Qin Lan’s squad, along with the tens of thousands of their creations!

The four members of Qin Lan’s squad were completely stunned.

They stared blankly at those four demonic black power armors, strolling leisurely across the battlefield, reaping one mechanical lord’s life after another, their hearts filled with disbelief, ecstasy, and awe.

Not until the last mechanical lord was pierced through by the lance, and the eyes of all surrounding mechanical constructs went dark, did the world fall back into dead silence.

Only then did the four black power armors cease their killing steps and slowly approach them.

At the lead was the mysterious strongman wielding the lance, who had brought them endless shock.

Under Qin Lan and the others’ grateful and reverent gazes, the four power armors, almost simultaneously, let out a “click” as they removed their helmets.

Revealing four young, resolute faces.

When Qin Lan saw the face of the leader, she was struck as if by lightning, frozen in place.

That face—she remembered it.

It was the freshman Yin Jing had pointed out to her before departure.

The one she had laughingly called a “little monster,” yet never truly taken seriously… Qin Feng!—

She had imagined countless possibilities.

That the rescuers might be reinforcements sent by Senior Qian He, or a veteran senior from another squad hiding his true strength, or even an Imperial patrol passing by.

But she never imagined that the one who, single-handedly, strolled through the myriad army, his lance like a dragon, precisely picking off one mechanical lord after another, and ultimately dragging them back from the brink of death, would be this freshman—in her eyes, merely a “talented rising star”!

This was no longer simple “strength.”

In Qin Lan’s mind, the shocking scenes from moments ago replayed uncontrollably.

That ghostly footwork, calmly weaving through a hail of bullets, treating the entire battlefield like his own backyard.

That miraculous lance technique, each strike perfectly timed, precisely aimed at the enemy’s core weak points, with not a single superfluous motion.

Most terrifying of all was that battlefield insight, as if he could see through everything!

Amidst the chaos, he could always instantly locate the mechanical lord hidden under layers of protection, then decapitate it in the simplest, most direct, most brutal way!

Such strength… such performance…

Qin Lan subconsciously compared Qin Feng to herself, and reached a cold, cruel conclusion that made her heart clench.

She was far inferior to him!

If their positions were swapped, and she had to execute that tactic of forced advance and decapitation, she asked herself—she might manage it, but never with the same ease and grace as Qin Feng, and certainly not in just half a day to completely dismantle such a massive mechanical legion!

“What level is he, really?”

Qin Lan’s heart was filled with incomprehensible confusion and shock.

She clearly remembered the key information Yin Jing had mentioned about Qin Feng before departure.

A year and a half ago, during the “Stellar Wanderer-7” mission, Qin Feng’s vitality index had been only around 70 points!

A year and a half!

For warriors of their caliber, raising the vitality index by 20 points in a year and a half was already considered extremely diligent and rapid progress.

But now?

The terrifying explosive power and speed that Qin Feng had just displayed, enough to crush a Mechanical Lord, absolutely could not belong to someone with a mere 100-point Vitality Index!

“Just how high has his Vitality Index reached?!”

Just as Qin Lan’s mind was in turmoil, Qin Feng, with his team, had already approached.

“Senior, Yin Jing, how did your squad end up like this?”

Qin Feng’s gaze swept over Qin Lan’s empty left arm and her deathly pale face, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

His voice jolted Qin Lan out of her violent inner storm, and it also drew the attention of everyone present, instinctively focusing on the young freshman who was lowering his head, his body trembling uncontrollably.

The atmosphere instantly became awkward and heavy.

Qin Lan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging blood and the countless thoughts in her mind.

She shook her head, taking the initiative to shoulder the responsibility.

“It was my fault.”

Her voice was still hoarse, but it had regained some of the composure of a squad leader. “My decision was wrong. I shouldn’t have kept pushing forward without first understanding the enemy’s situation. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have fallen into the encirclement. When we were ambushed, I lost my arm trying to save someone.”

She spoke lightly, but the freshman named “Lin Hao,” upon hearing the words “lost my arm trying to save someone,” shuddered violently. The pent-up self-blame and regret finally burst forth like a dam breaking.

“Senior Qin, I’m sorry! It’s all my fault!”

He almost cried out, his voice choked with tears. This young man, who hadn’t shed a tear during the battle, was now weeping like a child who had made a mistake.

Everyone present fell silent.

Although Qin Lan attributed all the blame to her own decision-making error, these were all veterans who had crawled through life and death for years. How could they not see the truth?

Without a doubt, it must have been this freshman named Lin Hao who acted too recklessly in battle, or made a fatal mistake out of fear. Qin Lan had paid such a heavy price to protect him, the teammate who was holding them back.

Shan Yang and Pang Chen, both seasoned seniors, felt a deep resonance. They instinctively glanced at Qin Feng beside them, a wave of relief washing over them for having survived.

If their team had not had a monstrous freshman like Qin Feng, but instead a “burden” like Lin Hao who needed protection, their fate would likely have been no better than Qin Lan’s squad. They might even have turned into a pile of cold cosmic dust by now.

“Everyone goes through this.”

Seeing Lin Hao on the verge of collapse, a flicker of pity passed through Qin Lan’s eyes. She raised her remaining arm, patted his shoulder, and said in a steady, soothing voice, “Don’t blame yourself. Everyone truly grows through the trials of blood and fire. Remember this lesson, and don’t make the same mistake again. That’s enough.”

Qin Feng raised an eyebrow but made no comment.

He was no saint. He knew well that on the battlefield, a foolish teammate was more deadly than a hundred powerful enemies.

But since Qin Lan, the one directly involved, had chosen to forgive, he naturally wouldn’t say anything more.

“That guy Lin Hao is a ‘Star General’ from a remote colonial planet in the Canaan Star System.”

Zou Yun lowered his voice, quickly explaining in Qin Feng’s ear. “Even though he earned the Star General title, the overall martial arts level on their remote planet is nowhere near that of an educational planet like Qiming. He got lucky during the entrance exam and barely passed.”

“I see.”

Qin Feng nodded slightly, understanding in his heart.

This was a classic case of a “genius from a small place” who, upon arriving at Canaan—a place teeming with monsters—had been harshly taught a lesson by cruel reality.

After a brief exchange, Qin Feng’s team helped Qin Lan’s group treat their wounds and provided spare energy blocks and recovery potions.

After a short rest, the two squads set off together toward the core area of the mine vein.

Along the way, Qin Lan remained silent, her gaze often falling on Qin Feng, her eyes filled with an indescribable complexity.

When they returned to the core area, which had been thoroughly cleared by Qin Feng’s team, they were surprised to find that the other three squads had also arrived, in twos and threes.

Their condition, though slightly better than Qin Lan’s squad, was still grim—everyone was injured, their power armor battered, and their faces etched with exhaustion and the relief of survival.

Clearly, they too had faced brutal battles on their respective fronts, relying on rich experience and tenacious will to carve a bloody path through the mechanical horde and finally reach the core area.

When they learned that the entire core area had been “monopolized” by Qin Feng’s squad, everyone’s faces showed a mix of shock and regret.

Regret aside, when their eyes fell on the four suits of power armor belonging to Qin Feng’s squad—though scarred, still exuding a terrifying aura—what they felt more was genuine admiration.

To have single-handedly carved through the entire core area in just three months—this level of strength was far beyond their imagination.

No one present was a fool.

They all understood what this meant.

After a brief exchange of intelligence and confirmation of results, everyone decided to return.

Twenty elites of the Fearless War Group, carrying exhaustion, wounds, and varied emotions, embarked on the journey back. A flash of light, and they all vanished together into the silent mine vein.

Central Teleportation Hub.

When the familiar, reassuring vast plaza reappeared before them, everyone let out a long sigh of relief.

They had made it back alive.

Senior Qian He had been waiting there. His gaze swept over the group, and when he saw Qin Lan’s empty left arm, his brow furrowed slightly, but in the end, he said nothing.

The mission settlement was handled automatically by the system.

[Mission Status: Completed]

[Mission Evaluation: Excellent (Target area cleared; no major casualties)]

[Reward Distribution Plan: Based on multi-dimensional comprehensive evaluation, including the area of the mine zone each squad ultimately cleared and controlled, the number and quality of enemy units eliminated…]

The final settlement result was beyond doubt.

Qin Feng’s squad, having taken nearly the entire core area and achieved over three-fifths of the total results, received the largest share.

Out of a total of 1,000 Contribution Points, their squad alone got 600!

And out of the 1,000 War Group Reputation Points, they also took the lion’s share—600!

After the system’s final calculation, Qin Feng received 600 War Group Reputation Points and 200 Contribution Points.

This windfall made all the members of the other squads look on with intense envy.

In the early stages, the other three squads had also advanced a considerable distance and received a small portion of the rewards.

As for Qin Lan’s squad, they could only split the remaining scraps.

With the mission over, everyone dispersed.

Shan Yang and Pang Chen, after receiving their hefty rewards, thanked Qin Feng profusely, saying that if such good opportunities arose again, they would definitely seek him out.

Zou Yun even patted his chest, vowing that from now on, whatever Qin Feng needed, he would be there without a second thought.

Qin Feng said his goodbyes and was about to leave when a voice called out.

“Junior Qin Feng, please wait.”

It was Qin Lan.

She had already taken off her damaged power armor and changed into a clean combat suit, but her empty left sleeve was glaringly conspicuous.

Her face was still pale, but her eyes had regained their calm.

“This time, thank you for saving us.”

She expressed her gratitude to Qin Feng solemnly.

“It was nothing.”

Qin Feng said calmly, "We are teammates."

Qin Lan looked at him, silent for a moment, before finally voicing the question that had lingered in her mind for so long.

"Your vitality index... what is it now?"

This question also caught the attention of Yin Jing, who had not yet left.

Qin Feng glanced at her and did not hide the truth.

"One hundred and ten points."

Though she had already braced herself, when the number was confirmed by his own words, Qin Lan's heart still gave an uncontrollable jolt.

In a year and a half, from seventy points to one hundred and ten points.

A full forty-point increase!

Such speed... it was simply astounding!

"Monster..."

Qin Lan muttered these two words bitterly in her heart.

She finally understood why Yin Jing had used "monster" to describe this newcomer.

In the face of absolute talent and strength, so-called seniority and experience seemed utterly pale and powerless.

"I understand."

Qin Lan took a deep breath, then offered Qin Feng a relieved smile.

"Thank you again for saving my life. If you ever need anything from me, Qin Lan, feel free to come find me anytime."

With that, she added Qin Feng as a friend in subspace, then turned and left with Yin Jing. Her silhouette, though somewhat forlorn due to her severed arm, still carried the indomitable spirit of a top-tier powerhouse.

A severed arm, after all, was not a serious injury.

Two hundred contribution points could restore it perfectly.

Qin Feng watched her retreating figure and thought of his father.

This time, he could spare a portion of his contribution points to allow his father's severed arm to regenerate.

—

When Qin Feng's figure reappeared in his private dormitory, the clamor and chaos of the outside world, along with the three months of bloodshed and slaughter, were completely sealed off by the thick alloy door.

He sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion in the center of the quiet room, his mind as calm as still water, and began to tally the final gains from this mission.

With a slight thought, the data screen of his personal terminal slowly unfolded before him.

[Contribution Points: 200]

[Fearless War Legion Reputation: 600]

Looking at these two numbers, Qin Feng smiled.

"According to Hammer's treatment plan, two hundred contribution points are just enough to buy two vials of [T-3 Type Gene Regeneration Fluid] for my father."

Qin Feng's gaze settled on the two hundred contribution points.

This number had once been a distant, unattainable dream when he first entered Canaan.

For it, he had set aside his pride as a prodigy, been killed time and again by the greenskins in the Canaan Tower, been eliminated in the Canaan Rookie Cup, and frantically taken on all sorts of trivial daily tasks in the mission hall like a wage worker.

And now, this goal had finally been achieved.

"Two vials of T-3 Type Gene Regeneration Fluid as the core medicinal guide, and then let my father use imperial credits to buy two vials of [Advanced Psychic Potion] and one vial of [Lesser Recovery Potion] from the local trading post. Taking these potions together will allow his severed arm to regenerate perfectly, restoring it to its peak condition."

In Qin Feng's heart, a boulder that had been pressing down on him for a long time finally settled.

His father's severed arm had always been his greatest obsession and knot.

Now, he finally had the ability to untie this knot with his own hands.

This was not only to make up for his father's regret but also to allow him to step back onto the path of martial arts, prolonging his life through the nourishment of psychic energy.

"As for my own cultivation resources, six hundred reputation points are more than enough."

Qin Feng quickly made all his plans.

Without any hesitation, he immediately opened his contact list and dialed that number.

The screen flickered, and after a brief signal connection, a weathered yet spirited face appeared in the holographic projection.

It was his father, Qin Dahai.

They had not seen each other for over three years, and his father's temples seemed to have gained a few more silver strands, but his complexion was far better than Qin Feng remembered.

His eyes were bright, his back straight, and his whole being radiated a renewed vitality.

It seemed that in recent years, his renewed practice of the Imperial Body-Tempering Method and the nourishment of psychic energy had greatly improved his body, which had been depleted by years of hard labor.

"Ah Feng!"

Seeing Qin Feng's figure, Qin Dahai's face instantly broke into a heartfelt, brilliant smile.

It was a complex emotion mixed with pride, longing, and relief.

"Dad."

Qin Feng also smiled. Looking at his father's familiar face in the screen, he felt the taut string in his heart, strained by years of intense training, quietly relax at this moment.

"You rascal, you finally remembered to call home!"

Qin Dahai's tone carried a hint of feigned reproach. "How are things over there in Canaan? I heard the competition is fierce. Don't push yourself too hard alone over there. If you're short on money, just tell me. I can—"

"Dad, I'm doing well."

Qin Feng smiled and interrupted his father's rambling. "Don't worry. I've already found my footing in Canaan. My vitality index has reached one hundred and ten points."

"One hundred and ten points?!"

Qin Dahai's voice shot up sharply. He stared wide-eyed in disbelief, scrutinizing Qin Feng in the screen as if trying to find something extraordinary on his face. "Good! Good lad! You're truly my son! In just three years, you've... reached one hundred and ten points!"

He was so excited he stammered, his face brimming with pride and joy that seemed ready to spill out of the screen.

Qin Feng waited quietly for his father to calm down before continuing, "Dad, I contacted you this time about something important."

"What is it? Tell me."

"I bought two vials of [T-3 Type Gene Regeneration Fluid] for you on the Imperial Trading Post."

Qin Feng's tone became extremely solemn. "Later, use the savings at home to buy two vials of Advanced Psychic Potion and one vial of Lesser Recovery Potion from our local trading post on Qiming Star. I've sent the detailed instructions for taking them and precautions to your personal terminal via my AI assistant. Follow the steps and take the potions together. Your arm will grow back, and it will be restored to perfect condition."

When he finished speaking, the smile on Qin Dahai's face on the other side of the screen instantly froze.

He stared blankly at Qin Feng for a full few seconds before suddenly snapping back to reality, waving his hands repeatedly.

"No... no! Ah Feng, absolutely not! I don't need that thing! It's been so many years; I'm already used to it! You... return the potion! Keep the contribution points for yourself! You need money for everything in Canaan. I don't need it here!"

His reaction was entirely within Qin Feng's expectations.

"Dad."

Qin Feng's tone became unprecedentedly firm. "This is not up for discussion. I've already bought the potion, and I filled in our home address. It's probably already being delivered now. I can't return it."

"You... you stubborn child!"

Qin Dahai was frantic.

"You must use it."

Qin Feng's tone brooked no argument. "Once your arm recovers, you can cultivate martial arts better and live longer. Haven't you always wanted to see me become a pillar of the Empire? How can you watch if you're not well?"

"I..."

Qin Dahai was left speechless by his son's words.

He stared at the son's eyes on the holographic screen—filled with determination and unwavering resolve—and the words of refusal ultimately died in his throat.

Finally, he let out a heavy sigh, but his eyes reddened uncontrollably.

"Alright... Dad will listen to you."

The father and son exchanged a few more pleasantries, chatting about everyday matters.

Qin Feng urged his father to take care of his health and practice on schedule, while Qin Dahai repeatedly told Qin Feng to stay safe outside and not be reckless.

After ending the call, Qin Feng immediately went to the Imperial Trade Exchange, using those 200 contribution points to redeem two vials of [T-3 Gene Regeneration Fluid], and precisely set the delivery address to the familiar neighborhood coordinates on Qiming Star.

Only when he saw the order confirmation did he finally relax.

And on distant Qiming Star.

Qin Dahai sat dazed on the sofa, staring at the dimmed holographic screen, unmoving for a long time.

In the end, this steel-hardened man, who had bled on battlefields without shedding a tear, could no longer contain his emotions. He raised his remaining right hand and covered his face.

Scalding tears silently slipped through the cracks of his fingers.

T-3 Gene Regeneration Fluid!

Countless times, he had silently gazed at that alluringly radiant item on the virtual shelves of the Imperial Trade Exchange.

Countless times, he had looked at the astronomical price tag, laughed bitterly to himself, and quietly closed the page.

200 contribution points!

Having personally experienced the Imperial War, he knew better than anyone what that number represented.

It wasn't a string of cold data; it was one bloody battle after another, one narrow escape after another from the scythe of Death!

It was bought with life itself!

"My son... has grown up..."

Qin Dahai's shoulders shook violently, and a suppressed, broken sob escaped his lips.

...

Having resolved his father's greatest worry, Qin Feng's mood became unprecedentedly light and clear.

He redirected all his focus back to his own cultivation plan.

He opened the internal resource library of the Fearless War Brigade and began making final preparations for his next deep seclusion.

"Now, I've successfully opened eight Solar Acupoints. Based on past experience, the further I go, the more spiritual energy is needed to open a single acupoint. It now takes about 2.3 vials of premium spiritual energy potion to barely open and fill a new one."

His mind raced like the most precise computer.

"If I pair it with a premium deep recovery medicinal bath pack and a special mental recovery potion to maximize efficiency, the cycle for opening one acupoint can stabilize at around two and a half months."

"I still have 600 prestige points."

"First, exchange for 40 vials of [Premium Spiritual Energy Potion], costing 400 prestige points total. These potions should let me open about 16 more acupoints, boosting my vitality index by at least 160 points."

"Additionally, following the optimal ratio calculated earlier, I need recovery resources worth 150 prestige points—that is, ten [Premium Deep Recovery Medicinal Bath Packs] and five [Special Mental Recovery Potions]."

"That brings the total to 550 prestige points."

"With the remaining 50 prestige points, I can find a decent staff technique from the brigade's technique library to learn. As Senior Baze said, spear and staff share the same roots; cross-referencing them can greatly enrich my 'Mastery Realm' material library."

The plan was set in an instant.

Qin Feng immediately sprang into action.

In the brigade's resource library, he deftly redeemed his massive shopping list, item by item.

Soon, a torrent of cultivation resources flowed like a stream into his empty subspace storage unit.

Having done all this, he entered that cold, familiar meditation chamber once more, embarking on a new round of long, tedious deep seclusion.

This seclusion was longer than any before.

Time lost all meaning amid the ebb and flow of spiritual energy and the repeated cycles of bodily destruction and renewal.

Qin Feng was completely immersed in the thrill of rapidly growing strength.

With ample recovery potions aiding him, his speed of opening acupoints reached an astonishing rate—almost every two and a half months, he successfully opened and filled a new "Solar Acupoint," steadily advancing his vitality index by a significant margin.

The ninth...

The tenth...

The fifteenth...

The twentieth...

...

After an unknown stretch of time.

When Qin Feng had poured the energy of the last premium spiritual energy potion into the newly opened twenty-fourth "Solar Acupoint," he finally slowly awakened from that state of self-forgetfulness in cultivation.

He opened his eyes, feeling the surging, river-like power within him—several times stronger than before his seclusion—yet there was little joy in his heart.

He immediately called up Hammer's time log.

On the screen, the flickering Imperial Standard Calendar plunged him into a long silence.

Seven full years had passed since he entered Canaan Star Martial Arts University.

And this seclusion alone had consumed a full three and a half years.

"Seven years, and only twenty-four 'Solar Acupoints' opened... it really is... a bit too slow."

Qin Feng's brows knitted tightly.

Though if this speed were made known, it would shame any genius cultivating a technique of the same level, he himself was not satisfied.

Because he knew that only three years remained until the decennial "Canaan Freshman Cup" and "Mentor Group Promotion Tournament."

"My vitality index has now reached 270 points."

"According to Senior Baze, I need to reach 500 points—meaning I have to complete another high-value mission. To open twenty-three more acupoints in three years, the resources converted to contribution points would be at least 1000+."

He glanced at his data panel and thought to himself.

"As my strength grows, ordinary premium recovery potions are starting to lag behind in restoring my body and mind. That's why the speed of opening the later acupoints has noticeably slowed."

"Once I have more contribution points, I must buy those recovery resources with better effects and higher prices. Only then can I accelerate my cultivation."

"With a vitality index of 270, I should be able to take on those high-contribution missions with richer rewards."

"Only three years until the Freshman Cup and group promotion—I need to earn contribution points fast!"

(End of chapter)