Chapter 156: Khorne's Chosen! Seeing Shi Dang Again, Impacting the Rookie Cup!

Chapter 156: Khorne's Chosen! Meeting Shi Dang Again, Storming the Rookie Cup!

Dead silence.

An oppressive, deathly silence, like a leaden gray canopy, pressed heavily upon the hearts of everyone present.

The image of those dozens of young girls choosing death with such absolute resolve was like an invisible heavy hammer, striking fiercely against the souls of all who stood there.

They were the elites of the Fearless Warband, the favored children of the Canaan Starry Sky Martial Arts University; they were well-accustomed to life and death, and had brought about countless deaths with their own hands.

Yet the scene before them filled them with an unprecedented weight and helplessness that seemed to seep from the very marrow of their bones.

Qin Feng stood silently upon the earth that had just been stained fresh with blood, his gaze sweeping over the corpses of the girls whose faces still bore the faint smiles of liberation, his mind tangled in a state of extreme complexity.

Within his psychic perception, one of the youngest girls, though her vitality index was incredibly feeble, possessed a meridian resilience and cellular activity that far surpassed ordinary people.

It was an extremely rare, innate special constitution that held a supreme affinity for psychic energy.

If this girl had been born on an educational planet like the Morning Star, she would inevitably have become an object of fierce contention among the major martial high schools, a celebrated figure drawing the gaze of countless onlookers, and a genius with boundless prospects, second to none.

But here, in this borderland forgotten by the glory of the Empire, she did not even possess the right to choose her own destiny, ultimately ending her unblossomed and already withered life in such a tragic and resolute manner.

In an instant, thousands of emotions surged within Qin Feng's heart.

He thought of his own origins, of that small home which, though financially strained, was filled with warmth, and of the education system on the Morning Star which, despite its cruel competition, still maintained a clear path for advancement.

That he could walk step by step to where he was today, enjoying the support of the Human Empire's topmost resources and methodically raising his own strength—how fortunate was that?

"Evil, destruction, chaos, darkness... they have always existed, never truly vanishing."

Qin Feng murmured to himself, his voice sounding exceptionally clear in the dead silence of the camp.

"I am merely... fortunate to have been born in the Canaan Galaxy, fortunate to have been born in the heartland of the Empire, fortunate to have enjoyed the core resources of the Empire, thereby staying far removed from all this... but it has always been here."

He looked at the corpses of those girls, looked at this land soaked in sin and blood, and a thought, unprecedentedly intense to the absolute extreme, flared up fiercely in his heart like a wildfire spreading across a prairie!

"Since I have been fortunate enough to enjoy all this, then... I ought to go and change all of this!"

"Kill!"

"Kill every alien race across the universe!"

"Kill every traitor within the Empire!"

Boom! ! ! !

A monstrous, towering killing intent, even more terrifying, pure, and tangible than when he had slain the Khorne cultists earlier, violently erupted toward the sky from within his seemingly calm body!

This killing intent was so horrifying that the surrounding air itself seemed frozen.

Zou Yun, Yin Jing, Qin Lan, and the dozen or so surviving freshmen all felt a shudder originating from the deepest depths of their souls; their faces turned deathly pale, and they felt as though even breathing had become incomparably difficult!

And at this very moment, the scenery before Qin Feng's eyes shifted drastically!

He felt as though he were standing amidst a boundless, blood-colored space.

Before him stood a horrifying throne constructed from the bleeding heads of hundreds of millions of different races, vast beyond the description of words!

And upon that throne, a fearsome figure wrapped in endless fury, slaughter, and the will of war, whose exact form could not be clearly discerned, sat quietly.

That figure was encouraging him!

Applauding him!

"Slaughter! Fight!"

A grand, majestic voice filled with infinite temptation echoed directly within the depths of his soul.

"Go use the blood of your enemies, use the skeletons of alien races, use the wails of traitors to pave your path to glory!"

"Go fight! Go slaughter! Go seize that supreme, ultimate honor within the Human Empire that belongs to the victor!"

Fighting...

Honor...

Slaughter...

These three words, like the most powerful spiritual brands, were fiercely etched into Qin Feng's mind!

The vision before his eyes shifted once more!

He seemed to see again that grand inauguration ceremony of Captain Zhou Xiong.

Clad in heavy power armor, Captain Zhou Xiong’s chest was covered in dozens of glittering imperial medals representing illustrious military exploits! Upon his brow were three service studs representing ten thousand battles!

Behind him stood hundreds of thousands of Ultramarines, each possessing a strength that reached at least the stellar level, likewise clad in power armor!

They knelt on one knee, shouting Captain Zhou Xiong's name with voices like mountain torrents and tsunamis, filled with fanaticism and adoration!

What glory that was!

What majesty that was!

And all of this had been exchanged for, battle by bloody and tragic battle!

Kill everything!

Kill all alien races!

Kill all traitors!

Use their deaths to forge one's own glory!

Yes!

That was it!

Qin Feng's eyes turned crimson, and the killing intent exploding from his body grew increasingly dense and violent!

His body, encased in the power armor, began to expand uncontrollably!

Upon his forehead, the skin bulged high, as if something hard and horn-like was about to burst through his flesh!

His blood vessels, like red-hot branding irons, writhed and swelled frantically beneath his skin, as if boiling lava were rushing through them!

However, all of these mutations were perfectly concealed by the thick, black power armor.

The surrounding crowd only felt that terrifying killing intent, which made it impossible for them to breathe, continuing to skyrocket frantically at a geometric rate.

They did not know that at this moment, Qin Feng was walking along the edge of an abyss of ultimate damnation that led to degradation and destruction!

Just at the instant he was about to be completely consumed by that fanatical will to slaughter, about to become a fanatical follower of Khorne who knew only how to exchange blood and battle for glory—

Hum—!

A clear, cool, yet supremely majestic and sacred current of warmth suddenly flowed out from the depths of his brow bone!

It was the Nail of Favor!

This cool current of warmth, like a holy light that purified all things, instantly dispersed every single illusion filled with the temptation of slaughter and glory within his mind!

The blood-colored throne of skulls collapsed.

The grand voice filled with temptation vanished.

Captain Zhou Xiong's figure, filled with glory and majesty, also dissolved like a bubble.

Qin Feng's consciousness snapped violently back to reality.

His crimson eyes instantly regained clarity.

His body, which had been swelling wildly, deflated like a punctured balloon, rapidly returning to normal.

The towering murderous intent receded like a tide, flowing back into his body and vanishing without a trace.

“Huff… huff…”

Qin Feng gasped for air, his back already drenched in cold sweat.

He had come to his senses, but an uncontrollable wave of lingering fear surged within him!

Khorne!

That evil god of slaughter, rage, and war had just been tempting him!

It had not only used the deaths of those girls and the sins of this camp to ignite the killing intent in his heart.

It had perfectly fused that pure bloodlust with concepts as noble as “glory,” “duty,” and “protection”!

This temptation was ten thousand times more terrifying than mere, wicked seduction!

If not for his unwavering practice of the *Imperial Meditation Method*, and if not for the *Nail of Favor* embedded within him, he would have been eroded by Khorne’s will, his body mutated, and he would have fallen into a Khorne worshiper, lost in the thrill of battle and slaughter, chasing supreme glory!

“Terrifying…”

“Too terrifying…”

Qin Feng snapped back to reality, his heart trembling with fear.

“The evil gods represent not only those dark, bloody, twisted negative emotions…

They can also exploit the noblest sentiments like ‘glory,’ ‘hope,’ and ‘protection’…”

This experience gave him a deeper, more visceral understanding of the horror of beings like the “evil gods.”

“It seems I must focus more on mental cultivation from now on. The *Imperial Meditation Method* must never be neglected, not even in the slightest!”

Qin Feng silently resolved in his heart.

Just then.

“Vroom—vroom—”

The roar of engines came from the distant sky.

Several interstellar pirate shuttles, also painted with blood-red skull banners, were returning to the camp from outside.

They clearly had no idea that their lair had already become a hell on earth.

As they descended in altitude and saw the carnage within the camp, all the shuttles made a sharp turn, trying to flee!

“Trying to run?”

Qin Lan, who had been silent all along, flashed a cold murderous glint in her eyes.

She strode quickly to a psychic energy cannon at the camp’s edge and operated it with practiced ease.

The next second, the cannon charged, and a thick beam of energy, brimming with destructive force, shot into the sky, striking one of the fleeing shuttles with pinpoint accuracy!

Boom!!!

A violent explosion lit up the sky, like a brilliant firework of death.

The remaining shuttles, terrified by the sudden strike, fled even more frantically into the distance.

But they were already locked on, and one by one, they were shot down.

“That’s enough.”

Watching the last shuttle crash to the ground as a fireball, Qin Feng spoke slowly, “Bury them… Let’s bury them. After that, we should go back.”

The others nodded silently.

They set to work, using psychic energy and war blades to dig dozens of crude graves on the radiation-dusted Gobi.

Then, they laid the girls’ bodies inside, one by one, and erected nameless tombstones with massive stones.

When it was done, they all gathered together, not sparing another glance at this land of sin and sorrow, and chose to teleport back to Canaan Starry Sky Martial Arts University.

—

Hum—

When they opened their eyes again, the gray, radiation-soaked, bloodstained wasteland had been replaced by the familiar, reassuring vastness of the Canaan Starry Sky Martial Arts University’s central teleportation hub.

Above the dome, a simulated galaxy of brilliant stars flowed slowly, while millions of teleportation light gates stretched like an inverted sea of stars beneath their feet, extending to the horizon.

The unceasing river of steel and blood enveloped them once more.

“Ah…”

Someone let out a long sigh, breaking the silence.

That sigh seemed like a signal, pulling everyone completely out of that sorrowful, fear-laden bloody mission.

They had returned.

Alive. They had returned.

“Click.”

With a series of synchronized mechanical sounds, over a dozen battered power armors were retracted into their respective subspace storage units.

As the heavy steel fell away, their young faces, weary yet grateful for surviving the ordeal, were revealed.

“Qin Feng.”

A cool, somewhat complex voice spoke first.

It was Qin Lan.

She walked up to Qin Feng, her sharp, phoenix-like eyes fixed deeply on him.

Her left arm was fully restored.

On the way back, she had used a precious regeneration agent, and under its powerful effects, the severed limb had regrown, even more perfect than before.

“You’ve saved me again.”

Qin Lan’s tone was filled with sincere gratitude.

Last time on the mechanical mining planet, Qin Feng had pulled her back from the brink of “death.”

This time, he had dragged her out of the abyss of “death” by sheer force.

“I owe you my life.”

A self-deprecating bitter smile appeared on Qin Lan’s face. “I thought that after three and a half years of seclusion, with my strength greatly improved and my life force index breaking 180, this mission would be easy. I never expected… I still underestimated the cruelty of this universe.”

She shook her head, a trace of lingering fear in her eyes.

“Who could have imagined that the leader of that interstellar pirate group was a fanatic blessed by Khorne? The intelligence clearly stated that his maximum strength was around 150 points, but after receiving Khorne’s blessing… his power shot up to over 200 points, completely beyond our ability to handle.”

“If you hadn’t arrived in time, all of us would have become sacrifices offered to that evil god.”

“Yeah, Qin Feng, we really owe you this time.”

Zou Yun stepped forward as well, speaking from the heart. “I’m not one for empty words. From now on, if there’s ever anything you need, just say the word, and I won’t refuse! This life is yours to claim!”

Yin Jing silently walked to Qin Feng's side. She said nothing, only casting a deep, cold gaze upon him with those clear, icy eyes, before speaking with solemn gravity: "I owe you my life."

These four simple words carried more weight than any ornate rhetoric.

Immediately after, the dozen or so rescued freshman juniors and sisters crowded around.

"Senior Qin Feng! Thank you for saving us!"

"Senior, if it weren't for you this time, we... we really wouldn't have made it back!"

"Senior, could I... could I add you as a friend on the subspace network?"

Their eyes, fixed on Qin Feng, brimmed with the purest, most heartfelt admiration and gratitude.

In their moment of utter despair, that figure, like a god or demon, descended from the sky, and with an unmatched demeanor, one-shot the terrifying monster that had suffocated them with dread!

That image had been seared deep into their minds, likely unforgettable for a lifetime.

Faced with the crowd's enthusiasm, Qin Feng did not refuse. He nodded calmly, accepting all friend requests.

Gazing at those youthful faces full of vitality and gratitude, a subtle feeling stirred within him.

"Alright, alright, stop crowding around."

Qin Lan waved her hand, dispersing the excited juniors. "Go back and rest properly. This mission was a rare experience for you all. Summarize the lessons learned, and don't make the same mistakes next time." The group acknowledged in unison, but still looked back at Qin Feng every few steps, finally parting reluctantly.

Soon, only Qin Feng, Qin Lan, Zou Yun, and Yin Jing remained in this area of the teleportation hub.

"Speaking of which..."

After handling team matters, Qin Lan turned her gaze back to Qin Feng, her eyes shimmering with an irrepressible curiosity and inquiry.

"Qin Feng, just what level has your strength reached now? When you... one-shot that Khorne cultist just now, I didn't even see your movements."

This question instantly captured the attention of Zou Yun and Yin Jing as well.

They were equally curious.

After more than three years apart, to what terrifying heights had Qin Feng grown?

Qin Feng looked at the three pairs of eyes brimming with a thirst for knowledge. Without hiding anything, he answered truthfully: "Vitality Index, 270 points."

Hiss—!!!

The moment those four words clearly reached their ears.

Even Qin Lan, who had mentally prepared herself, couldn't help but draw in a sharp, cold breath.

Her pupils contracted violently from sheer shock!

Two hundred and seventy points!

That number exploded like a heavy psychic bomb in their minds!

"Two... two seventy?!"

Zou Yun's voice stammered from overwhelming shock. "Did I... did I hear that right?! Qin Feng, you... you're not joking, are you?!"

He vividly remembered that three and a half years ago, during the mission on the mechanical mining planet, Qin Feng's Vitality Index had just broken through 110 points!

How much time had passed since then?

Three and a half years!

In just three and a half years, his Vitality Index had skyrocketed by a full 160 points on top of an already high base!

What did that mean?!

It completely surpassed their understanding of the word "genius"!

This was nothing short of myth! Legend!

Qin Lan stood frozen in place, unable to speak for a long time.

She herself, over these three and a half years, after losing her arm and rebuilding from the ashes, coupled with relentless day-and-night training, had only managed to raise her Vitality Index from 120 to 180 points.

That 60-point increase had filled her with immense pride and satisfaction, enough to make her stand out among her peers.

But now, compared to Qin Feng...

Her so-called progress was nothing.

Too outrageous!

As for the juniors who had just left, if they heard this number, they would likely doubt their very existence.

In the eyes of these freshmen who had only been enrolled for a year or two, breaking through 50 points in Vitality Index was already considered elite.

And 270 points—that was a realm they couldn't even imagine, an unattainable, godlike terror!

While everyone was stunned by this number, none of them noticed that behind a massive load-bearing pillar not far away, a tall youth with skin like rock was staring fixedly at them with a look as if he'd seen a ghost.

This youth was none other than Shi Dang—the genius from the Galaxy Military Affiliated High School who had once crossed paths with Qin Feng on Qiming Star, defeated Shi Potian in the "Qiming Star General" competition, and ultimately claimed victory!

He had been at Canaan for four years.

Relying on the powerful bloodline talent of the Stoneborn race and his own hard work, his Vitality Index had now reached over 70 points.

This pace, though incomparable to a monster like Qin Feng, was still above average among all freshmen, enough to preserve a sliver of pride as a genius.

But now...

When he accidentally overheard that name—both familiar and fearsome—and heard the casually uttered "270 points" from Qin Feng's mouth...

That pitiful shred of pride in his heart was instantly shattered.

Seven years!

Qin Feng had only enrolled three years earlier than him!

Yet the gap in their strength had become as vast as a chasm, as different as clouds and mud!

"This monster..."

Shi Dang's throat involuntarily bobbed. Staring at Qin Feng's calm profile, as if he were discussing something trivial, his heart was left with nothing but endless bitterness and shock.

"No matter where he goes... he's a monster."

Just then, as if sensing something, Qin Feng's calm gaze inadvertently swept toward the direction where Shi Dang was hiding.

Their eyes met for a fleeting moment in the air.

Shi Dang's heart leaped!

Almost instinctively, he immediately lowered his head, hiding his body deeper into the shadow of the pillar, then turned and strode away without looking back, as if afraid Qin Feng might recognize him.

Qin Feng watched the familiar, hurriedly retreating figure, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but then it faded back to calm.

He didn't chase after him or call out.

Everyone has their own path to walk.

Besides, there had never been any bond between him and Shi Dang.

At that moment, Qin Feng thought of Shi Potian, wondering how he was doing.

He hadn't checked the subspace network messages in a while.

The clamor and crowds of the central transmission hub gradually faded behind him.

After a brief farewell to Qin Lan, Zou Yun, and the others, Qin Feng did not linger in the outside world. He chose to teleport directly back to that independent dormitory, which had long become his second "home"—a space filled with cold, technological sterility.

The heavy alloy door closed silently behind him, completely sealing off all the noise and chaos of the outside world.

This was a private space entirely his own, utterly silent.

He walked to the meditation cushion at the center of the quiet room, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and rapidly replayed in his mind the thrilling rescue mission just completed, as well as the silent confrontation with the will of the evil god.

After confirming there were no overlooked details, and thoroughly suppressing and sealing away that "glorious killing intent" that had nearly dragged him into the abyss, he slowly opened his eyes and began to tally the final gains of this journey.

【Mission: Emergency Rescue Mission: Rescue stranded members of planet A12313-G1】

【Mission Status: Completed】

【Mission Evaluation: Perfect (All rescue objectives achieved, threat source eliminated)】

【Mission Rewards Settled.】

【Rewards Obtained: 500 Contribution Points, 500 Fearless War Legion Reputation.】

Looking at the two glaring numbers on the light screen, a satisfied smile finally appeared on Qin Feng's face.

He opened his personal data panel.

【Contribution Points Balance: 718】

【Fearless War Legion Reputation: 500】

This substantial sum was enough to support him in a deep, secluded cultivation session longer and more intense than any before.

"With these resources, within three years, my strength will surely undergo another qualitative leap."

A blazing fighting spirit burned in Qin Feng's eyes.

"But to break through the 500-point vitality threshold in the remaining three years... it's still a bit uncertain."

His mind raced through calculations.

From 270 to 500 points—a terrifying gap of a full 230 points.

Based on his experience cultivating the "Great Sun Acupoint Opening Technique," each successful opening and filling of a "Great Sun Acupoint" roughly increased his vitality index by 10 points.

This meant he needed to successfully open at least 23 new "Great Sun Acupoints" to achieve that goal.

And as cultivation deepened, the spiritual energy resources and time required to open each new acupoint grew exponentially, at a geometric rate.

This was undoubtedly an immensely challenging endeavor.

But in Qin Feng's dictionary, there were no words like "fear" or "retreat."

The more difficult the challenge, the more it ignited his bone-deep, unyielding will known as "Heaven rewards diligence"!

Just as he was about to open the trading market and convert this fortune into tangible cultivation resources, his gaze inadvertently swept over the long-silent private message list.

It was Shi Potian.

With a thought, Qin Feng opened the message left three years ago.

【Qin Feng, I've arrived. Canaan Starry Sky Martial Arts University is even vaster than I imagined.】

【I've successfully enrolled. If you have time, can we meet?】

Behind this message, there were a few intermittent follow-ups.

【Seeing you haven't replied, I assume you're in deep seclusion or on a long-term mission.】

【No matter. The path of martial arts is inherently a solitary journey.】

【When you're free, feel free to contact me. I'm very curious to know what heights you've reached now.】

Reading these messages, Qin Feng's mind conjured the image of that aloof yet pure figure from Qiming No.1 High School—someone who had always seen him as his only rival, a friend and foe intertwined, chasing each other.

He calculated the time.

Shi Potian had only obtained the title "Qiming Star General" three years after Qin Feng himself had won it.

He had enrolled four years later than Qin Feng.

And one year later than Shi Dang, whom he had just glimpsed at the transmission hub.

"Three years from now is the new 'Canaan Freshman Cup,' and also the deadline for the 'Mentor Group Promotion Tournament.'"

A flicker of contemplation crossed Qin Feng's eyes.

He longed to meet this old friend immediately, to see how far his strength had progressed.

But he knew better that now was not the time.

These remaining three years were a crucial sprint period for him!

He could not afford any distraction, any slack!

He must devote every minute, every second, to endless bitter training!

With that thought, he reached out a finger and slowly typed a reply beneath the message.

【Potian, I've read your message. I'm about to enter a long-term seclusion to prepare for the Freshman Cup and Promotion Tournament three years from now. Once this matter is settled, we'll meet again.】

After sending this message, he completely shut down the communication interface, focusing all his mind on the upcoming resource procurement plan.

The first thing he needed to do was convert his newly abundant contribution points into the essential "fuel" for opening Great Sun Acupoints—【Premium Spiritual Energy Potions】.

"To reach the 500-point vitality threshold, I need to open 23 more acupoints."

"The later stages consume more. On average, opening one acupoint now requires at least 2.5 premium potions."

"23 acupoints would require... about 57.5 potions."

Qin Feng looked at his balance of 718 contribution points, calculating rapidly.

"In the Imperial Trading Market, one premium potion costs 10 contribution points. 57.5 potions would be 575 points."

He pondered briefly, then gritted his teeth and made an even crazier decision!

"Might as well go all the way!"

He directly entered a staggering number on the exchange interface of the Imperial Trading Market.

【Purchase Item: Premium Spiritual Energy Potion】

【Purchase Quantity: 70】

【Total Cost: 700 Contribution Points】

Confirm!

Whoosh—!

The moment he confirmed the payment, his once-plentiful contribution balance shrank like a punctured balloon.

【Contribution Points Balance: 18】

Staring at this lonely number, Qin Feng's face showed no pain, only a mad smile filled with determination and anticipation.

Seventy premium potions!

This vast resource would allow him to open his Great Sun Acupoints all the way to over forty!

Immediately afterward, he wasted no time in opening the internal resource repository of the Fearless War Legion.

The contribution points had been spent, leaving only those precious 500 points of legion reputation.

This time, his target was the "enhanced" recovery resources that could maximize his cultivation efficiency, far surpassing the ordinary versions.

[Exchange Item: Enhanced Type I Deep Repair Medicinal Bath Pack]

[Effect: Repair efficiency increased by over 50% compared to the standard version.]

[Price: 10 reputation points per pack]

[Exchange Quantity: 24 packs]

[Exchange Item: Enhanced Type I Mental Energy Recovery Potion]

[Effect: Faster mental energy recovery, with longer duration.]

[Price: 20 reputation points per vial]

[Exchange Quantity: 13 vials]

After a frenzy of operations, his 500 points of legion reputation melted away like snow and ice, ultimately drained to zero.

[Legion Reputation: 0 points]

All resources were now in place.

What followed was a three-year-long, isolated, monotonous yet frenzied death-seclusion!

He would use these three years to transform this vast trove of resources into the surging, boundless power within his body!

To make a stunning debut at the highly anticipated "Canaan Rookie Cup"!

To successfully advance in the decennial "Mentor Group Promotion Tournament"!

To make a name for himself at Starry Sky Martial University, just three years from now!

With this soaring ambition and endless battle spirit, Qin Feng's figure once again vanished into the depths of that cold and deathly silent meditation chamber.

This time, he swore not to emerge until he had broken through the five-hundred-point threshold!

(End of this chapter)