Chapter 158: Canaan Rookie Cup! The Tournament Begins!

Chapter 158: Canaan Rookie Cup! The Tournament Begins!

This banquet, held to welcome Qin Feng, finally drew to a close with his calm yet weighty promise.

No one drank or made noise excessively, for all knew that with battle imminent, they must adjust to peak condition.

At the entrance of Taotie Residence, they exchanged simple farewells.

"Boss, see you on the field tomorrow! I'll cheer you on!"

Lei Meng pounded his chest with force, producing a dull thud.

"Old Qin, I've bet all my pocket money this month on you making the top three. Don't make me sleep on the streets!"

Xiong Yanfu still wore that grinning expression, but the trust in his eyes was unmistakable.

"Do your best, and stay safe."

Tie Mu's words were always concise, yet filled with concern.

Qin Feng nodded in response to each.

Finally, his gaze fell upon Shi Potian.

This aloof friend's eyes were now incredibly complex.

He was silent for a long time, as if he had a thousand words to say, but in the end, they condensed into just two.

"Good luck."

With that, he turned, and his tall, lean figure quickly melted into the bustling crowd of the Food God District, without any hesitation.

Today's meal had struck Shi Potian far harder than the other three.

But with his resilient nature, this impact would only transform into the most powerful motivation on his future path of cultivation.

After parting with the others, Qin Feng did not linger outside. He teleported directly back to his cold yet familiar private dormitory.

He did not immediately begin cultivation or rest. Instead, he walked to the meditation cushion in the center of the quiet room, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes.

In his mind, he did not ponder the battles awaiting him tomorrow, nor did he savor the memory of the feast filled with exotic delicacies.

A doubt, inadvertently stirred by Xiong Yanfu and Shi Potian during the meal, now rippled through his heart like a stone cast into a lake, spreading circles upon circles.

"Supreme Acupoint Opening Method... Superior Acupoint Opening Method..."

He murmured softly.

"One enrolled ninety-three years ago... the other one hundred and two years ago..."

A century.

What an immense span of time.

For a martial artist, especially during the golden period of peak vitality and greatest potential, spending a hundred years merely lingering at the "Acupoint Opening" stage—

Was it truly worth it?

He himself, thanks to the "Heaven Rewards Diligence" system, had greatly shortened this process.

But that did not change a fact—the "Great Sun Acupoint Opening Method" he practiced consumed resources and time on an astronomical scale.

He had not deeply grasped this before, simply cultivating the technique he had obtained.

Yet today, upon learning about his competitors, he began to truly and seriously contemplate this question for the first time.

What was the fundamental difference between these two grades of Acupoint Opening Methods?

How great and decisive an impact would they have on future cultivation?

Was it worth countless prodigies willingly spending such a long time honing their foundations?

This doubt, like a seed, quickly took root and sprouted in his heart.

Unless he thoroughly understood it, his thoughts would not be at ease.

"Hammer."

Qin Feng opened his eyes, his voice echoing in the empty quiet room.

"At your service, Master."

The intelligent assistant's voice was as cold and efficient as ever.

"Within my authority, search and compile all comparative information on 'Supreme Acupoint Opening Method' and 'Superior Acupoint Opening Method' from all public and authorized databases, martial arts forums, and academic thesis repositories in the Empire."

Qin Feng's instructions were clear and precise.

"Focus on the following aspects: First, the impact on cultivation speed after reaching the sixth level 'Soaring'; Second, the effect on the success rate of ultimately advancing to 'Planetary Lifeform'; Third, the fundamental differences between practitioners of the two methods after reaching the upper limit of their Vitality Index."

"Instruction received. Executing multi-thread cross-referencing and information comparison..."

As Hammer's voice faded, the light screen before Qin Feng was instantly flooded with a waterfall of data streams.

Countless posts, reports, analyses, and even recordings of some mentors' public lectures were being filtered and categorized at an astonishing speed.

While waiting for Hammer to organize the information, Qin Feng opened another communication interface.

He found a familiar and respected name—Gu Yue.

She was one of his most helpful and understanding teachers from high school.

Though they were now separated by countless star systems, the bond between teacher and student had not faded with distance.

He weighed his words and quickly composed a message with his mental energy.

[Teacher Gu Yue, your student Qin Feng presumes to disturb you.]

[I have a doubt regarding the foundation of cultivation techniques. I humbly ask you, in your busy schedule, to enlighten me.]

[May I ask, Teacher, what is the fundamental difference between the 'Supreme Acupoint Opening Method' and the 'Superior Acupoint Opening Method'? Why is it worth spending a century to polish? And what decisive impact does it have on a martial artist's ultimate advancement to 'Planetary'?]

Sent.

After doing this, Qin Feng redirected his focus to the information Hammer had compiled.

In just a few seconds, Hammer had extracted from the vast sea of data the most core, most cited, and most credible conclusions, presenting them before him with a clear logical chain.

[Source: "On the Importance of Foundation—Looking at the Thousand-Year Path from the Choice of Acupoint Opening Method"]

[Poster: Wang Xuanze]

[Core Points Summary:]

[I. The Shackles of Cosmic Laws: The "Hundred Thousand Limit" of Vitality Index.]

On the light screen, this bolded line instantly seized all of Qin Feng's attention.

He read on carefully.

The post explained in simple terms: All things in the universe have their laws.

For any cosmic being, the life level of an individual has an "upper limit" set by the fundamental laws of the universe.

This limit is the "Hundred Thousand Vitality Index."

Once this value is reached, no matter how you cultivate or consume heavenly treasures, your Vitality Index will hit an invisible barrier and advance no further.

This is the shackle of the cosmos.

To ascend further, to claim a vaster longevity and a grander might, the sole path lay in sundering this shackle, achieving a fundamental leap in existence—evolving from a mundane organism into a planetary-level lifeform.

2. Divergent Paths to the Same End: The Breakthrough Methods of Different Races.

Following this, the post detailed the typical breakthrough methods of several formidable species encountered by the Human Empire during the Great Crusade.

The Greenskins:

They relied on waging endless, unceasing warfare, gathering the fanatical battle-lust of billions of boyz to form a singular psychic field known as the WAAAGH!

When this galaxy-spanning war reached its absolute zenith, the mightiest, most combat-capable Warboss would be enveloped and acknowledged by this colossal, conceptual energy; his very essence would be violently warped and elevated in an instant, tearing through the shackle of the hundred-thousand threshold to become a planetary-level entity capable of breaking starships with his bare flesh.

The Tyranids:

The Tyranid path of ascension was cold, a brutal accumulation of resources conforming to the harshest biological laws.

They devoured every shred of organic matter and energy on a planet, converting it into the purest biomass; then, the Hive Mind—the super-biological computer of their race—would pour the entirety of these massive resources into a single, genetically selected elite combat unit.

This was a process of force-feeding regardless of cost, using resources sufficient to suffocate a planet to forcibly burst an individual's genetic barriers, thereby breeding a planetary-level Tyranid warrior.

Chaos Cultists:

This was the swiftest path, yet it was also the transactional road that demanded the heaviest price.

Whether they were servants of Khorne or champions of Nurgle, they pleased their deities by offering endless slaughter, plagues, conspiracies, or corruption to the Chaos Gods within the Warp.

When the tribute sufficed, the Dark Gods would bestow their blessings, injecting a sliver of chaotic energy embedded with primordial laws into the cultist's body.

This energy would violently remake the devotee's flesh and soul, elevating them into a planetary lifeform.

Beholding these vastly different yet equally bloody and cruel methods of ascension, Qin Feng’s gaze grew immensely solemn.

This kindled a deeper curiosity within him regarding the martial path chosen by his own Human Empire.

3. The Human Answer: The Martial Path of Using the Inner Universe to Leverage the Cosmos.

The post finally arrived at the core.

Unlike other races that relied on external forces—war fields, resource inundation, or dark blessings—to shatter their shackles, human martial arts had from the very outset chosen the most arduous yet most profoundly promising path: seeking within, cultivating the inner universe.

Beginning at the fourth rank, the Aperture Awakening Realm, a martial artist opened individual acupoints within their body.

Once the number of these apertures met the requirements of their technique, they entered the fifth rank, the Aperture Fusion Realm.

Fusion, true to its name, meant using psychic intent to guide all the opened, independent apertures within the body, forcibly merging, compressing, and smelting them through a profound method to ultimately forge a stable, potent energy core within the dandyen’s sea of qi.

This core was known as the Primordial Aperture.

The Primordial Aperture was the prototype of the inner universe a martial artist created within themselves!

It was a self-contained engine capable of drawing stray psionic energy from the warp dimension and converting it into personal might.

Starting from the sixth rank, the Soaring Realm, they would use their own psychic intent as reins to master the wild stallion that was the Primordial Aperture.

By continuously channeling the sea-like psionic energy within the Primordial Aperture, they washed, baptized, and tempered their flesh, bones, and every single cell time and time again.

This process would endure for centuries or even longer.

It was precisely during this process that a martial artist's vitality index marched step by step from several thousand points toward the hundred-thousand threshold.

And when a martial artist endured countless hardships to finally stand before the invisible barrier of the hundred-thousand threshold, the most critical and perilous step arrived.

Core-Forging Ascension!

The martial artist needed to forcibly drive the entirety of their tempered psychic intent into the Primordial Aperture in an instant, colliding head-on with that violent, supernova-like ocean of psionic energy!

This was a process of succeed or perish.

If successful, the psychic intent would completely master the Primordial Aperture, tempering it from a mere energy core into an eternally revolving psionic core that held their own martial will and life imprint!

Once the psionic core was forged, it meant the martial artist had utterly shattered the cosmic shackles, achieving a fundamental leap in existence to formally step into the halls of the planetary level.

Henceforth, they could cross the void in the flesh, their lifespan measured in tens of thousands of years, capable of shattering planets with a casual gesture.

But if they failed...

Their psychic intent would be instantly torn to shreds by the violent energy within the Primordial Aperture, their soul scattered on the spot.

Their flesh, having lost control, would be burst by the energy of the Primordial Aperture, turning into a brilliant firework in the cosmos.

In the comment section below the post, countless high-tier students had left messages born of blood and tears.

"My mentor's senior brother had a vitality index of ninety-eight thousand. He was stuck for three hundred years, charged at the planetary level three times and failed thrice; the last time, his body and soul were utterly obliterated!"

"The difficulty of ascension depends on two things: how high the quality of your Primordial Aperture is, and how deep your physical potential runs. If the foundation is unstable, the earth will shake; this really isn't an empty phrase!"

Seeing this, an answer had already begun to form faintly in Qin Feng's heart.

Just then, a soft chime rang out.

It was a reply from Mentor Gu Yue.

Qin Feng clicked it open immediately.

The mentor's reply was even more concise and direct to the point than the forum post.

Qin Feng, it is very good that you are already considering this issue at this stage. It proves you have not been blinded by the rapid growth of your strength.

Regarding your question, I can offer you a grander perspective.

In truth, rank one to three martial artists can be viewed as a single tier, the purpose being to raise the vitality index to a level sufficient for opening apertures, which is thirty points.

Rank four to six martial artists can be viewed as another tier, the purpose being to lay the foundation for future ascension to a planetary lifeform—namely, opening and fusing apertures.

Rank six Soaring martial artists begin to cultivate psychic intent, using it to baptize themselves; once the vitality index reaches eighteen thousand, they become rank seven Mountain-Sea martial artists.

Ranks six, seven, eight, and nine can actually be seen as the same realm, all involving the cultivation of psychic intent to channel the psionic energy within the Primordial Aperture. However, these four realms possess four major thresholds: an eighteen thousand vitality index is the first major threshold, crossing it promotes one to rank seven; the second major threshold is thirty-six thousand, crossing it leads to rank eight; then comes seventy-two thousand as the third, and finally the hundred-thousand threshold.

However... to true powerhouses, ranks one through nine are merely the preschool of the martial path. The martial path truly begins at the planetary level.

Reading through Mentor Gu Yue's outline, Qin Feng felt as though a vast horizon had suddenly opened before him.

Immediately following, the mentor's second message struck like a thunderbolt, completely resolving the final doubt in his heart.

Now, let me answer your core question—why choose the supreme grade?

If you cultivate a supreme-grade aperture awakening method, after entering the sixth rank, the vitality index you gain for every year of cultivation will be several times that of peers at the same rank; a path that takes others five hundred years to finish will take you only one hundred!

More importantly, during the final charge toward the planetary level, the unparalleled stability and majestic life source of a supreme Primordial Aperture will become your firmest backing! It allows you a much higher margin for error during the core-forging process, making your chances of success over ten times higher than others!

Now, I will give you a set of the most authoritative average data compiled by the Imperial Ministry of Education.

Cultivators of Supreme-Grade Aperture Awakening Methods:

An average of 100 years to complete aperture opening.

An average of 200 years to complete aperture fusion.

Thereafter, an average of 200 years to reach the hundred-thousand threshold.

Finally, an average of several decades to successfully ascend to the planetary level.

Total average ascension time: approximately 400 to 600 years.

Cultivators of High-Grade Aperture Awakening Methods:

An average of 30 years to complete aperture opening.

An average of 30 years to complete aperture fusion.

Subsequently, it takes an average of 1000 years to reach the hundred-thousand-year threshold.

Ultimately, it requires an average of several centuries, amidst repeated failures and severe injuries, to painfully seek that single thread of survival and break through to the planetary grade.

Total average promotion time: approximately 1000 to 1200 years.

Practitioners of the intermediate enlightenment method:

Total average promotion time: approximately 2000 years.

The vast majority of them only succeed by a stroke of luck at the very edge of exhausting their lifespans, while far more simply turn into dust.

"Therefore, according to official imperial statistics, the average promotion age for all planetary-grade powerhouses is around 1000 years old."

"Qin Feng, do you understand now?"

"Every ounce of resources you consume now, and every second of time you give, is not a waste. You are paving a celestial path for your own future—one that is broader, smoother, and swifter than anyone else's!"

The information ended here.

Qin Feng slowly leaned against the cold wall of the quiet room, exhaling a long, long breath of turbid air.

So that was how it was.

All doubts vanished like smoke at this very moment.

He finally understood why those "century-old monsters" were willingly staying in the realm of a tier-four martial artist for so long.

This was not stagnation, but a most wise and profound investment.

Using the "slowness" of the early stage to exchange for the "absolute speed" and "higher success rate" of the later stage.

He felt a sincere sense of relief in his heart for his cultivation technique, which he had "no choice" but to take due to the "Bright Star" reward.

If not for that twist of fate, with his horizon at the time, he might truly have chosen that seemingly faster "superior" path just like Shi Potian.

"Time is indeed the most precious wealth..." Qin Feng looked at his young hands, which were filled with power, a brightness flashing in his eyes like never before.

"Using massive resources and the ultimate efficiency of 'heaven rewards diligence' to shorten this path, which takes others a century, down to ten years..."

"This bargain is my gain."

He stood up, all stray thoughts entirely dissipating, leaving his state of mind completely empty and clear, save for a pure fighting intent toward tomorrow's battle.

The Newcomer Cup, third place.

Three thousand contribution points.

He was determined to win it.

——

When the faint light of the next dawn filtered through the specialized one-way porthole of the independent dormitory, casting a pale golden coat over this cold, quiet room, Qin Feng had already concluded his night-long meditation.

His aura, which had seemed slightly deathly still due to three years of secluded cultivation, had now completely transformed into an introverted yet majestic fighting intent that soared toward the heavens.

His mind was crystal clear, and his thoughts were perfectly aligned.

He stood up and stretched his muscles and bones, causing a succession of low explosions, like muffled thunder, to echo through his limbs and joints.

Within that seemingly unexaggerated physique lay a terrifying power capable of shaking mountains.

"Hamer, teleport to the Canaan Newcomer Cup, tier-four martial artist competition zone, entrance A-32."

"Command confirmed, planning optimal teleportation route... Route locked. Teleportation will initiate in three seconds."

Accompanying the cold electronic voice, a soft white light enveloped Qin Feng's figure.

The scene before his eyes blurred for a moment, and in the next second, when his feet stepped onto solid ground again, a terrifying wave of sound—blended with the emotions of billions of living beings, capable of overturning the stars—slammed directly into his eardrums!

Even with Qin Feng's rock-solid willpower, he could not help but experience a momentary daze at this instant.

He found himself standing on a circular platform crafted from pure white alloy, suspended in mid-air.

Beyond the platform lay a magnificent and grand spectacle that rendered any language pale and powerless.

This was the main venue of the Canaan Newcomer Cup—the "Glory Coliseum."

It did not resemble a man-made building; rather, it looked like a massive satellite that had been hollowed out from within and remodeled by the mighty power of a deity.

Looking upward, the ceiling was not the sky, but a vast and boundless energy dome radiating a soft light.

The light simulated the trajectory of a star, flowing slowly, and one could even see floating clouds and passing birds simulated by spiritual energy upon it, incredibly lifelike, making it impossible to distinguish real from fake.

Peering downward, it was a bottomless, expansive space. Ring after ring, with side lengths exceeding a thousand meters and forming standard squares, floated neatly in the void like squares on a chessboard, their numbers so immense that the end could not be seen at a glance.

Every single ring was enveloped by a visible, powerful energy protective shield shimmering with a pale blue glow, with countless intricate runes flowing across the surface of the light shield, emitting heart-palpitating energy fluctuations.

Between these rings, senior students wearing the uniform referee attire of the Canaan Starry Sky Martial Arts University were like circling eagles, stepping on anti-gravity discs as they slowly patrolled their respective assigned sectors.

Their auras were condensed and steady, and their gazes were sharp; every single one of them was a powerful martial artist of at least tier seven or above.

Presumably, they had also taken on this volunteer mission.

Outside this matrix of rings, which resembled a forest of steel, were the spectator stands that encircled the entire coliseum, layered and rising continuously upward.

It was an undulating ocean of spectators composed of hundreds of millions of seats, stretching out like mountain ranges.

Every seat had undergone meticulous spatial planning to ensure it possessed the best view of the match.

Beside the armrest of each seat, a compact and sophisticated holographic viewing device was embedded.

Spectators could use it at any time to switch their perspective to any ring where a fierce battle was taking place, and could even activate professional viewing features such as energy trajectory analysis.

At this moment, this colossal grandstand, capable of accommodating tens of millions of spectators, was packed to capacity!

The voices of people, discussions, cheers, and the majestic blood vitality and mental power unconsciously emitted by countless martial artists converged into a burning, almost tangible wave of fanaticism, surging and washing repeatedly within this grand coliseum, causing everyone inside to feel their blood boil and their fighting intent surge.

This was Canaan Starry Sky Martial Arts University.

This was the once-in-a-decade grand event of the empire's top sacred martial arts ground!

Following the designated gravitational guide rail, Qin Feng quickly found his seat.

It was in the middle tier of the spectator stands, an area with an excellent view.

Xiong Yanfu, Lei Meng, Tie Mu, and Shi Potian were already waiting there.

"Boss, over here!"

Lei Meng spotted Qin Feng at a glance and waved his thick arm excitedly.

Qin Feng walked forward and sat down in the empty seat the group had reserved for him.

Just as he settled in, he felt several familiar gazes drifting over from not far away.

He turned his head to look, and saw two beautiful figures sitting a few rows behind and diagonally from him, looking at him with some pleasant surprise.

It was precisely Qin Lan and Yin Jing.

They also did not seem to expect to run into Qin Feng here. After a brief exchange of glances, the two spoke quietly to their companions beside them, and then actually stood up directly, walking over toward Qin Feng and his group.

"You don't mind us sitting here, do you?"

A bright, cheerful smile graced Qin Lan's face. Today, she wore a fiery red, tight-fitting combat suit that outlined her voluptuous figure to perfection.

As she spoke, her gaze subtly appraised Qin Feng, her bright eyes filled with curiosity and scrutiny.

"Of course we don't mind. Senior Qin Lan, Senior Yin Jing, please have a seat."

Xiong Yanfu immediately greeted them warmly, actively shifting aside with Lei Meng to make room for the two women.

Qin Lan and Yin Jing didn't stand on ceremony; after a word of thanks, they sat down next to Tiemu and Shi Potian.

Yin Jing remained her usual aloof and taciturn self, merely nodding slightly at Qin Feng as she sat, a brief acknowledgment.

Their arrival made this small group instantly more conspicuous.

Especially Qin Lan, a well-known senior beauty from the Fearless War Brigade. Her presence immediately drew the gazes of many male creatures nearby.

Perhaps because there were too many martial artists around, with prying eyes everywhere, Qin Lan and Yin Jing tacitly refrained from directly asking Qin Feng about his current strength.

With the competition about to begin, it was unwise to reveal one's power.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, there was still about an hour before the official start.

This time was reserved for participants to make final adjustments and familiarize themselves with the competition rules.

As if by unspoken agreement, everyone opened their personal terminals and logged into the private forum of Canaan Star Martial Arts University.

By now, the forum was completely flooded with posts about the "Freshman Cup," the buzz alarmingly high.

Qin Feng's eyes were soon drawn to several hot, pinned thread titles.

【Trial of Blood and Fire! Analysis of Top Contenders and Elite Strength in This Year's Freshman Cup Level Four Martial Artist Segment! (Continuously Updated)】

【Authoritative Data Statistics: Pyramid Model of Combat Power Distribution Among Registered Contestants in the Level Four Martial Artist Segment!】

【Must-Read! Prediction of the Top 100,000 Rankings in the Freshman Cup Level Four Segment! See if Your Name Is on the List!】

Qin Feng casually clicked on the thread titled "Prediction of the Top 100,000 Rankings."

The thread's content was a complex mathematical model built by a highly credible data analysis team on the forum, based on data from previous Freshman Cups and the publicly available registration information for this year.

The thread opened with a startling summary.

"...According to our model's projections, the competition in this year's Freshman Cup Level Four Martial Artist segment is as fierce as ever. To break out from the sea of participants and secure a spot in the top 100,000, earning the minimum guaranteed reward, a contestant's hard power must meet the following baseline criteria:"

"First, a Vitality Index of at least 500 points."

"Second, mastery of at least seven Level One Killing Techniques at the 'Perfection' realm."

Below this summary was a constantly scrolling, dense list of 100,000 names that the model deemed likely to meet the criteria.

Qin Feng's eyes swept rapidly over the list but didn't find his own name, which didn't surprise him.

After all, he had been enrolled for a short time and had spent years in seclusion, leaving almost no publicly available combat record.

His attention was more drawn to another set of official data below the thread, data that was staggering.

"Total registered contestants for this year's Canaan Freshman Cup Level Four Martial Artist segment: 22.8 million."

"Format: Full 1v1 single-elimination until the final champion is decided."

"Estimated total rounds: 24 or 25."

Seeing this number, even Qin Feng, whose mind was usually as calm as a still lake, couldn't help but be inwardly astonished.

Twenty-two million eight hundred thousand Level Four martial artists!

And only the top 100,000 were eligible for the minimum reward.

That meant an elimination rate of over 99.5%!

To emerge from this bloody meat grinder, one had to win at least eight consecutive matches!

"The competition... is this intense..."

A trace of emotion stirred in Qin Feng's heart.

"A Vitality Index of 500—I've already exceeded that. But the killing techniques..."

He frowned slightly.

To maximize his strength before the Freshman Cup, he had to make a choice, pouring all his time and resources into boosting his Vitality Index, the most fundamental attribute.

"Still, it's not a loss."

Qin Feng quickly adjusted his mindset.

"The Vitality Index is the foundation. With a solid foundation, learning killing techniques becomes twice as effective with half the effort. Once this Freshman Cup is over and I get the rewards, I'll head straight to the War Brigade's technique library to exchange for a few powerful Level Two Killing Techniques to train in."

"Of course, now that I have the Dragon-Serpent Spear at the Mastery realm and the Wind-Thunder Staff at Perfection, and I've grasped some principles of the shared origin of spear and staff, it's actually enough for now."

He murmured to himself, his plans for the future growing clearer.

Just then, his personal terminal vibrated lightly.

It was a private message from the subspace network.

The sender was Qin Lan, sitting beside him.

【Qin Feng, not bad. After three years in seclusion, your aura is so deep I can't read you anymore.】

【Come clean, what's your Vitality Index now? Do you have a shot at the top 100 in this Freshman Cup?】

Qin Feng glanced at Qin Lan, who was pretending to focus on the forum but was actually sneaking peeks at him from the corner of her eye, and couldn't help but chuckle.

He thought for a moment, then replied.

【Not bad. Should be able to compete.】

He didn't give a specific number—partly to keep his cards hidden, partly as a display of confidence.

Seeing the reply, Qin Lan's beautiful phoenix eyes lit up instantly.

For Qin Feng to say "should be able to compete" meant he was extremely confident!

This monster had once again exceeded everyone's expectations!

Qin Feng didn't dwell on the private message. His attention was drawn to another type of highly popular thread on the forum.

They were all sorts of "betting threads," varied and numerous.

【Monumental Gamble! Ten Million Imperial Coins Bet on the Champion of This Level Four Segment! Officially Notarized!】

【Casual Player Pool: Predict the Top 100 List. Bets Placed, No Refunds!】

【Dark Horse Tracking! Who Will Be the Biggest Surprise of This Freshman Cup? Odds Starting at 1:1000!】

These bets used the officially issued "Imperial Coins," not the "Contribution Points" that were the hard currency among martial artists.

For these elite students of Canaan Star Martial Arts University, it was more like what Xiong Yanfu had said—pure entertainment, adding extra excitement and spectacle to the event.

"Imperial Coins..."

A flicker of thought passed through Qin Feng's eyes.

He himself had no use for them, but his father and uncle back on Qiming Star still lived in a social class where they had to hustle for Imperial Coins.

If he could win a large sum and send it directly to them, it would greatly improve his family's life.

With a thought, he checked the balance of Imperial Coins in his personal account.

【Imperial Coin Balance: 100,000】

This was part of the reward from the Empire when he received the title "Qiming Star General" years ago. He had spent some, given some to his father, and never touched it since.

One hundred thousand Imperial Coins was a huge sum for an ordinary family.

But in this gambling game where millions are at stake, it didn't even count as a ripple.

He flipped through a few popular betting markets, only to find that everyone was wagering on the already famous hotshots—no one had opened a separate market for a "nobody" like him.

"Heh heh, Old Qin, checking the odds?"

Just then, a mysterious voice whispered in his ear.

Xiong Yanfu had somehow sidled up, wearing that trademark smile of his, like a sly merchant.

"Want to play something exciting?"

He lowered his voice to a volume only the two of them could hear: "Those big markets are too deep, and the odds are fixed—boring. I privately contacted a few thousand idle rich folks on the forum, just like me, with money to burn. We set up our own pool, opened a small market, betting on who'll be the biggest dark horse in this rookie cup!"

"I didn't leak any info about your strength!"

Xiong Yanfu winked, "In everyone's eyes, you're still that ordinary new student who's been here ten years. I'm going to stake all my private savings on you winning! When we make the money, we split it fifty-fifty, how about that?"

Lei Meng, overhearing bits and pieces, couldn't help but chime in: "Fatty Xiong, you're not short on Imperial credits, why bother with all this trouble?"

"Hey, you wouldn't understand!"

Xiong Yanfu waved his hand, looking smug, "Brother isn't playing for money—it's a spiritual enjoyment of strategizing and winning from a thousand miles away! Pure fun, you battle maniacs just don't get it!"

Qin Feng, upon hearing this, nodded slightly and said calmly, "Fine."

"Haha!"

Xiong Yanfu was overjoyed, excitedly slapping Qin Feng on the shoulder, "Old Qin, I knew we were kindred spirits! A shared interest in this intellectual game!"

"No."

Qin Feng shook his head and smiled.

In his smile was a complex emotion, tinged with warmth and reminiscence, that no one had ever seen before.

"My father is a one-armed martial artist."

"When I was a child, I also suffered from a strange illness that damaged my foundation, nearly washing me out of the path of martial arts... I can say I burdened my family for many years."

Qin Feng's tone was flat, as if recounting a story that had nothing to do with him.

But his words struck like heavy hammers, pounding hard on everyone's hearts.

The simple smile on Lei Meng's face vanished.

The smugness on Xiong Yanfu's face froze.

A flicker of emotion crossed Tiemu's steady, mountain-like face.

Qin Lan and Yin Jing stared wide-eyed, their beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.

None of them had imagined that this genius, who had risen like a monster and shone so brilliantly in their eyes, carried such a heavy and bitter past behind him.

Among them, almost all were second-generation martial artists.

"So,"

"I just want to earn a bit more money to send back to them."

(End of this chapter)