Chapter 160: Defeating Bayan, Winning Third Place in the Rookie Cup, Climbing Canaan

Chapter 160: Defeating Bayan, Seizing Third in the Rookie Cup, and Ascending the Canaan Hidden Dragon Rankings!

The atmosphere within the Arena of Glory was propelled to an unprecedented crescendo the exact moment the final sixty-four names were set in stone.

The gazes of tens of millions of spectators turned like substantive searchlights, focusing upon those sixty-four names that had hacked their way out from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

And among them, the most dazzling, the one that invited the most profound awe, was undoubtedly the two characters of the name Qin Feng.

He was like a comet bursting into existence out of nowhere, shattering everyone's inherent perception of what a genius could be with a completely unreasonable posture, brutally storming into this hunting ground that should have belonged exclusively to the senior students.

Every single battle that followed would be the absolute focus among focuses, a dialogue of the strong in the truest sense of the word.

Fortunately, the Goddess of Fortune seemed to look upon this indomitable challenger with exceptional favor.

In the drawings for the round of thirty-two, the round of sixteen, and the quarter-finals, Qin Feng perfectly avoided those two century-old monsters who entrenched themselves at the very top of the bracket.

His path of consecutive victories was thus permitted to endure.

And his opponents served as the most perfect touchstones, pressing out his terrifying power, which lay hidden beneath the tip of the iceberg, little by little.

The tapestry of battle unfolded with fierce and swift momentum under the watchful eyes of the multitude.

The battle of the round of thirty-two.

Qin Feng’s opponent was a heavily armored martial artist wielding a giant shield and a chain-mace, renowned for his mastery of defense and counterattacks.

His vitality index reached as high as 570 points, and his defensive capability was deemed invincible among his peers.

The instant the battle commenced, that heavily armored martial artist slammed his massive tower shield violently into the ground, his entire being like a monolithic boulder as he assumed an impeccable defensive posture.

Yet, what he faced was Qin Feng, who had already integrated the profound truths of the Control Realm into his very marrow.

"Too slow."

Qin Feng’s silhouette left behind a faint afterimage where he stood.

Self-created ultimate move—Swift Owl Shadow Chaser!

His whole body seemed to transform into a predatory bird of prey, cutting instantly into the blind spot of the opponent’s defensive posture with a bizarre, jagged trajectory that utterly defied inertia.

The long spear in his hand was no longer a mere thrust, but fused with his fist techniques, turning into the rending talons of that ferocious avian!

Riiiiip—!

The silver spear tip, carrying a piercing whistle that tore through the air, flashed precisely through the gap less than a finger wide between the shield and the armguards, right before the heavily armored martial artist’s horrified eyes!

In the next second, a cloud of blood mist erupted from his shield-bearing arm.

The meridians of his entire arm were instantly shattered by that force, condensed to the absolute limit!

The massive tower shield crashed to the ground with a resounding thud.

"Qin Feng, victorious!"

"What a monster! His understanding of martial combat methods has already surpassed our imagination!"

"A Control Realm ultimate move!"

Amidst the spectator stands, gasps and cries of exclamation rose and fell in waves.

The battle of the round of sixteen.

This time, Qin Feng encountered an exceptionally troublesome opponent.

It was a female martial artist wielding a slender rapier, who pushed speed and technique to their absolute limits; her movement technique was so swift that she pulled out a series of afterimages across the stage that were difficult for the naked eye to discern.

Every single one of her attacks was like an antelope hanging by its horns, leaving no trace to be followed, specializing in striking the weak points of Qin Feng's defense.

Faced with this tempestuous onslaught, Qin Feng chose to master movement through stillness.

He stood at the center of the arena, neither retreating nor dodging.

The long spear in his hands, however, began to move slowly, tracing a trajectory that appeared sluggish but actually contained infinite hidden variations.

Self-created ultimate move—Dragon Hidden!

That defensive perimeter composed of spear shadows was no longer a mere block, but resembled a living marshland.

Every thrust from the female martial artist felt as though it had pierced into a viscous quagmire, its momentum weakened and neutralized layer by layer.

And at the exact moment she launched a desperate assault, revealing an imperceptible flaw.

Within that marshland, a hidden venomous serpent suddenly reared its head!

The spearhead, from an inconceivable angle, snapped violently upward from below!

Clang!

It struck true against the spine of the opponent's sword!

The female martial artist felt a spiral force combining hardness and softness surge wildly along the blade; she could no longer grip her weapon, and the slender rapier soared straight into the sky.

"Qin Feng, victorious!"

"An integration of offense and defense! Within his defensive ultimate move, such a fierce counterattacking follow-up was actually hidden!"

"Terrifying, these self-created ultimate moves of Qin Feng's are so profound, he is simply a monstrous anomaly!"

"Is this the true caliber of a Control Realm genius?"

People began to feel a genuine shudder of fear at his seemingly endless, inexhaustible repertoire of self-created ultimate moves.

The battle of the quarter-finals, the clash for a seat in the final four!

In this battle, Qin Feng finally encountered a powerful foe worthy of his full exertion.

His opponent was named Xiao Beichen, a genius who had entered the academy thirty years ago and was renowned throughout Canaan for his miraculous staff techniques.

His vitality index reached as high as 570 points, and the black long staff in his hands, forged from ten-thousand-year sunken iron, weighed a staggering ten thousand catties; yet when swung, it was as light as a goose feather, possessing the absolute pinnacle of both strength and speed.

The moment the battle began, Xiao Beichen launched a ferocious assault like raging waves and a howling tempest.

His staff techniques were grand and sweeping; every time his staff slammed down, it carried the sound of wind and thunder, as if it would cleave the entire arena in two.

Faced with such a savage opponent, Qin Feng put away his long spear.

Hummmm—!

In his hands, a standard-issue alloy long staff likewise materialized.

Staff against staff!

This was the most primitive, most pure pride belonging to those who walked the path of the staff!

"Come then!"

Within Qin Feng’s eyes, the intent to battle was thoroughly ignited!

During these three years of secluded cultivation, apart from opening his acupoints, he had spent the rest of his time in the Imperial Arena, frantically tempering the Wind and Thunder Long Staff technique he had obtained from the Dauntless Warband!

Right now was the finest moment to test the fruits of his labor!

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The two figures, upon the massive arena, transformed into two intertwined whirlwinds.

Long staff against long staff, they collided frantically in the most violent, most direct manner possible.

With every clash, a deafening roar erupted, kicking up visible ripples of energy wave after wave!

From the perspective of staff technique, Xiao Beichen had already cultivated a second-grade staff art to the peak of "Perfection," just one step away from the "Realm of Mastery."

And Qin Feng's [Wind-Thunder Long Staff], after being tempered by tens of thousands of battles in the Imperial Arena, had also reached "Perfection"!

For a moment, the two were locked in a dead heat, evenly matched and inseparable!

In the audience, everyone held their breath, utterly captivated by this supremely exquisite staff duel.

"This Qin Feng... he's actually skilled in staff techniques too! And his level is terrifyingly high!"

"Spear and staff share the same roots; those who use a spear are generally not bad with a staff."

"The Wind-Thunder Staff is a rather difficult art."

On the arena platform, Xiao Beichen grew more alarmed with each exchange.

He could sense that although the opponent's staff technique was slightly inferior in the finesse of its moves to his own second-grade art, it incorporated many insights from spear and fist techniques at the Mastery level.

"I can't drag this out any longer!"

A flash of resolve gleamed in Xiao Beichen's eyes.

He abruptly retreated, putting distance between himself and Qin Feng, then raised the black long staff high above his head with both hands. A destructive aura began to gather wildly at the tip of his staff!

[Po Jun Staff: Settling the Vast Sea]!

Humm—!!!

The black staff in his hand seemed to drain all light and sound from the surroundings in an instant, transforming into a pitch-black, heaven-suppressing pillar that crashed down toward Qin Feng's head!

This strike sealed off all of Qin Feng's evasive space, its terrifying power enough to level a small hill to the ground!

Facing this earth-shattering blow, a glimmer of understanding flashed in Qin Feng's eyes.

The unprecedented, extreme pressure brought by Xiao Beichen's astonishing strike!

This pressure, like the final straw, completely shattered the invisible barrier in his mind that separated "Perfection" from "Mastery"!

In that instant, the experience and insights from a month of training in the arena, battling countless staff experts, all merged into a seamless whole!

The ferocity of [Wind-Thrust Force]!

The swiftness of [Flowing Light Shadow Chase]!

Two entirely different "intents" collided thunderously in his mind, and finally, perfectly, fused into one!

"So... that's how it is."

A smile curled at the corner of Qin Feng's mouth.

Before anyone could react, the alloy long staff in his hand thrust forward with a speed that defied visual limits!

There was no earth-shattering clamor.

Only a faint, cloth-tearing "shriek" sound.

A condensed to the extreme, barely visible stream of energy, wrapped in pale golden arcs, flashed from the tip of his staff and vanished!

Self-created killing move—[Wind-Thunder Shadow Chase]!

That stream of energy, launched later but arriving first, struck the black staff carrying the might of destruction with pinpoint precision.

Time seemed to pause at that moment.

The next second.

Boom—!!!

The black staff in Xiao Beichen's hand shattered inch by inch from the point of impact, exploding into countless fragments!

As for him, he was struck like a heavy hammer; the armor on his chest instantly caved in, and he spat a mouthful of blood, flying backward like a cannonball, crashing heavily into the distant protective barrier, and falling completely unconscious.

[Ding! Congratulations! In the heat of extreme combat, your 'Wind-Thunder Long Staff' killing technique realm has successfully broken through to the 'Realm of Mastery'!]

The system's prompt sounded in Qin Feng's mind.

And the referee's voice, shaken to the point of distortion, echoed throughout the arena.

"Qin Feng... wins!"

"Advancing... to the top four!"

The entire Glory Arena fell into several seconds of deathly silence.

Then came a mad roar like an avalanche, enough to lift the entire dome!

Breakthrough in the heat of battle!

Using a first-grade staff technique that had just broken into the "Realm of Mastery," he had directly shattered a powerful second-grade Perfection-level killing move!

Qin Feng once again proved to everyone what it truly meant to be a "monster"!

...

With the release of the top-four list, the atmosphere of the entire Newcomer Cup reached its peak.

Besides Qin Feng, the other three who advanced were the undisputed "century monster" of this tournament, Zheng Dong and Zhou Run, whose life force indices were both above 3,000, practicing top-tier aperture-opening methods.

The other was Bayan, who had been enrolled for forty-five years and practiced a superior aperture-opening method.

The semifinal matchups were quickly generated.

Qin Feng's opponent was none other than the elite disciple he had met once before—Bayan!

This duel instantly ignited all the betting pools and forums.

"Peak showdown! Dark horse legend Qin Feng vs. veteran prodigy Bayan! Who will break into the final?"

"Data analysis: Qin Feng, life force index 532, suspected to have mastered four first-grade killing techniques at the 'Realm of Mastery.' Bayan, life force index 570, has mastered two second-grade killing techniques at 'Perfection,' ten first-grade killing techniques at 'Perfection,' and has already touched the threshold of the 'Realm of Mastery'!"

"Qin Feng's advantage lies in his killing technique realm, with higher spiritual energy efficiency. Bayan holds the overall edge in life force index and killing technique reserves! The power of a second-grade Perfection killing technique is far beyond that of a first-grade one!"

"A difference of 40 points in life force index is no small gap."

"Betting is open! Bayan wins, odds 1:1.5! Qin Feng wins, odds 1:2.2!"

For a moment, all spectators in the arena split into two distinct factions.

One faction was Bayan's loyal supporters.

They believed that in the face of absolute hard-power disparity, any skill was futile.

570 points against 532, plus two second-grade Perfection killing techniques—this battle was a foregone conclusion.

"Senior Bayan will surely win! He is the pride of our 'Heavenly Martial Society'!"

"Though Qin Feng is strong, he is ultimately too young. Facing a battle-hardened veteran like Senior Bayan, his dark horse journey ends here."

The other faction were fervent fans completely won over by Qin Feng's series of upsets and miracle-making performances.

They firmly believed that this man was born to break the rules.

"Nonsense! 'Realm of Mastery' Qin Feng will win!"

Xiong Yanfu led a group of supporters, arguing fiercely in the stands.

The betting amounts at various pools soared at an unprecedented rate.

Interestingly, although Qin Feng had higher popularity, when it came to real money bets, more people rationally chose Bayan, who seemed to have the stronger advantage.

In the audience, Xiong Yanfu watched the constantly fluctuating odds on the board, his eyes narrowing into slits as he laughed.

"Good, good, good! Let them all bet on Bayan! The more they bet, the better! They'll be crying soon enough!"

Lei Meng and Tiemu, on the other hand, stared nervously at the arena about to begin, their palms already slick with sweat.

They knew that this would be the toughest battle Qin Feng had faced since the tournament began!

If he won, Qin Feng would enter the top three and claim a reward of 3,000 contribution points!

If he lost, well, fourth place only offered 1,000 contribution points!

Under the gaze of tens of millions.

On the central main arena of Zone A-01, the symbol of the highest glory.

Two figures slowly materialized within the glow of the teleportation.

On one side stood Qin Feng.

He still wore that black light armor, and in his hand, he had once again switched back to the fourth-grade alloy long spear he knew best.

His expression was as calm as ever, his eyes deep and still like an ancient well.

On the other side stood his opponent, Bayan.

He was tall and sturdy, with a resolute face, clad in a set of heavy battle armor. Across his back, he carried a massive horse-slaying blade of astonishing length and a thick, heavy broadsword.

Standing there, he was like an immovable mountain, exuding an overwhelming sense of power.

Unlike the clamor outside, the atmosphere on the arena was eerily calm.

Bayan looked at Qin Feng across from him, and a gentle, slightly wistful smile appeared on his resolute face.

"Junior,"

he began slowly, his voice resonant and magnetic, "we meet again."

Bayan's warm, reflective greeting swept through the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere on the central main arena like a gentle breeze.

Hearing this, a hint of genuine respect appeared on Qin Feng's face.

He still clearly remembered that three years ago, during the mentor's disciple group promotion, it was this very senior who had pointed him toward the path of "enriching his kill-method library."

"Senior Bayan,"

Qin Feng nodded slightly, raised his right fist to his chest, and performed a standard Imperial military salute toward Bayan.

This was the highest gesture of respect and resolve between warriors before a formal duel.

Seeing this, a glint of approval flashed in Bayan's eyes. He raised his arm in return, executing a flawless military salute.

The salute ended.

The atmosphere between them sharpened once more.

"Junior Qin Feng,"

Bayan's gaze, like a tangible scanner, slowly swept over Qin Feng. His tone was filled with undisguised admiration, "To be honest, you are the fastest-improving warrior I have ever seen—bar none."

"I still remember, three years ago, in Tutor Yu Han's private domain battle, you couldn't even withstand a casual strike from me."

He paused, a wry smile appearing on his face—a complex emotion mingling satisfaction with the helplessness of being chased by the rising tide.

"And now, only three years later, you not only stand before me but have even earned the right to contend with me on equal footing. Such talent, such speed of growth—truly unheard of."

"You flatter me, Senior,"

Qin Feng's voice remained calm. "If not for your guidance back then, I would not be where I am today."

"Haha, that was merely a small favor."

Bayan laughed heartily, and then his gentle gaze instantly turned razor-sharp, like an unsheathed peerless blade!

A heavy, mountain-like aura erupted from within him!

He slowly reached out and grasped the hilt of the massive horse-slaying blade behind him.

"But, Junior Qin Feng, let me make one thing clear."

"This time, just like last time,"

he said, each word ringing out across the entire arena.

"I will show no mercy whatsoever!"

Clang—!!!

A deafening sound of metal scraping echoed through the sky!

The enormous horse-slaying blade, over three meters long with a blade as wide as a door panel, was drawn out with a fierce motion!

Silver light flowed along the blade, and a domineering, heaven-and-earth-splitting blade intent surged skyward!

"Come!"

Bayan held the blade with one hand, its tip pointing diagonally at the ground, issuing an invitation to battle to Qin Feng.

"Let me see with my own eyes just how astonishing a level you have reached in these three years!"

Facing Bayan's tangible, surging battle intent, Qin Feng said no more.

He only slowly brought the long spear in his hand across his chest.

Hum—!

A low, dragon-like hum resonated from the spear.

An equally powerful, yet more restrained and profound aura quietly spread from within him.

If Bayan was a towering, sharp-edged snowy mountain of ten thousand peaks,

then at this moment, Qin Feng was a boundless, dark starry sky with undercurrents surging.

The battle was about to erupt!

In the audience, tens of millions of eyes were now fixed unwaveringly on the two figures on the arena.

Everyone knew that this would be the most spectacular, most intense, and most suspenseful pinnacle showdown since the start of this year's Rookie Cup!

The referee's voice rang out at the perfect moment.

"Match... begin!"

The moment the words fell!

Boom!!!

The black alloy floor beneath Bayan's feet exploded!

His mountain-like heavy body, yet with a terrifying speed completely at odds with his build, turned into a silver-white afterimage, crossing hundreds of meters in an instant!

The horse-slaying blade in his hand, with no flashy technique, simply swept upward from below toward Qin Feng with ferocious force!

[Second-Level Kill Method: Mountain-Opening Style]!

This strike, returning to simplicity, pushed the concept of "power" to its extreme!

Where the blade passed, the air was forcibly displaced, producing a piercing sonic boom. A massive, crescent-shaped silver blade aura detached from the blade, surging like a towering wave toward Qin Feng!

Faced with this earth-shattering strike, Qin Feng’s pupils contracted sharply.

So fast! So heavy!

Bayan’s vitality index was nearly forty points higher than his.

But Qin Feng’s physical constitution was on the monstrous level of an “embryonic-stage starry sky beast”!

In endurance, in recovery, in instantaneous burst, he was even stronger than Bayan!

“Well struck!”

Qin Feng did not retreat but advanced, stamping his foot fiercely, charging headlong into that overwhelming blade aura!

The long spear in his hand, in an instant, seemed to transform into a dragon emerging from the sea!

[Dragon-Snake Spear: Dragon-Snake Combined Strike]!

The spear shot forth like a dragon, its force coiling like a serpent!

A spear light, condensed to the extreme and entwined with the phantom images of dragon and snake, collided with that crescent-shaped silver blade aura with a thunderous impact!

Clang—!!!!

A sound that seemed to shatter the entire Glory Arena, a metallic clash that pierced the skies, exploded with a roar!

A terrifying energy shockwave, centered on the point of their collision, turned into a visible white ring of air, sweeping madly in all directions!

The entire massive arena groaned under the strain, emitting a strained hum!

Stagger! Stagger! Stagger!

Qin Feng’s figure, under that violent impact, uncontrollably stumbled back three steps!

Each step left a footprint several inches deep in the hard alloy floor!

He felt a surging, mountain-toppling force rushing through the spear shaft, numbing his entire arm.

“Such immense strength!”

Qin Feng’s heart tightened.

Across from him, Bayan was equally unsettled.

Though he held the advantage in power, Qin Feng’s spear technique at the “Mastery Realm” had driven a sinister, twisting spiral force into his blade.

This force constantly eroded his own strength, giving him a stifling sensation of punching cotton.

His body also slid back several meters before he steadied himself.

“Again!”

Bayan’s battle intent blazed even fiercer!

One strike failed, so he launched another assault!

The saber in his hand became a silver storm of death, strike after strike, unbroken, like mercury seeping into every crevice, madly enveloping Qin Feng!

[Second-level Perfect Killing Art—‘Seven Waves Style’]!

Facing this tempestuous onslaught, Qin Feng’s gaze grew utterly focused.

His steps began to move and dodge in a mysterious rhythm.

The long spear in his hand turned into an impenetrable shield, now blocking, now deflecting, now striking like a serpent’s tongue from impossible angles toward Bayan’s openings.

[Thousand-Army Spear: Thousand-Army Guard]!

[Fierce Bird Fist: Fierce Owl Style]!

In an instant, the entire central arena became a deathly forge of clashing metal!

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The saber and spear collided at a terrifying frequency of dozens or even hundreds of times per second. Sparks flew like brilliant fireworks, blooming endlessly across the arena!

The two fought from the east side of the arena to the west, then from the south to the north!

Wherever they passed, the hard alloy floor was gouged with crisscrossing cuts from blade aura and spear light, leaving it a chaotic mess!

In the stands, tens of millions of spectators were already stunned and boiling with excitement!

“So… so thrilling! This is a true peak duel!”

“Senior Bayan’s saber art is overwhelmingly domineering; every strike seems to split heaven and earth! Is this the power of a second-level perfect killing art?”

“Qin Feng is no less! His spear technique is like an art! Offense and defense in one, impenetrable, even finding chances to counter in Senior Bayan’s storm-like attacks!”

“A draw! They’re actually fighting to a draw!”

Everyone could see it.

This battle had completely surpassed mere data comparison.

Though Bayan held the edge in vitality index and killing art level, Qin Feng’s four first-level killing arts at the “Mastery Realm” were not far behind.

Every counterattack from Qin Feng was cunning and vicious, aimed at vital points, forcing Bayan to defend and unable to fully unleash his offense.

This battle tested not only strength and technique.

But also endurance, will, and the ability to seize opportunities!

Time flew by in this exhilarating, fierce fight.

Ten minutes… twenty minutes…

Half an hour passed.

The two on the arena were still madly exchanging blows, as if their stamina were inexhaustible!

Both bore minor wounds.

On Bayan’s heavy armor, the spear tip had left several deep scratches, and one had even cut his cheek, leaving a shallow bloodstain.

Qin Feng’s light armor, too, had been grazed by blade aura in several places, showing damage.

But their eyes were brighter and more fervent than at the start of the battle!

Exhilarating!

This was the ultimate pleasure of meeting a worthy opponent!

Yet, in Bayan’s heart, a trace of impatience began to grow.

He realized he had been wrong.

He had thought that as time passed, Qin Feng’s stamina would be the first to run out.

But the truth was that the other’s breathing remained steady and long, each spear thrust still precise and full of power.

Instead, he himself, having maintained high-intensity second-level killing arts for so long, had already consumed nearly half of his spiritual energy!

His proud advantage in vitality index vanished before Qin Feng’s monstrous endurance!

Bayan suddenly forced Qin Feng back with a saber strike, creating a distance of tens of meters between them.

In his mind, the battle scenes of the past half hour replayed rapidly like a film.

Qin Feng’s every spear thrust, every dodge, every counterattack…

Especially, those four utterly distinct killing techniques of his opponent, each having reached the “Realm of Mastery”!

“Mastery… Mastery…”

Bayan kept chewing on those two words in his mind.

He had touched upon that threshold for a very, very long time.

Yet he was always missing that tiny bit of “enlightenment.”

He didn’t know where he fell short, like being separated by a pane of paper—able to see the scenery outside, yet unable to pierce through.

But today, in this exhilarating battle with Qin Feng, after personally experiencing the pressure of four different “Realms of Mastery,”

that pane of paper finally began to show cracks.

“So… that’s how it is…”

A smile slowly curled at the corner of Bayan’s lips.

It was a smile of relief, of sudden clarity.

“I understand now.”

“I have been wrong all along.”

“What I pursued was the tyranny of the blade, the pinnacle of power, the unending flow of the ‘Seven Forms of Raging Waves,’ the relentless charge of the ‘Mountain-Splitting Form’…”

“It was I who wielded the blade, not the blade that wielded me!”

“My will is the blade’s will!”

“I use whatever killing move I want, I bring out whatever strength I choose!”

Boom—!!!

The moment he grasped this,

a brand-new aura, more powerful, more condensed, more harmonious than ever before, exploded from within him!

The air around him began to uncontrollably converge and compress toward the saber in his hand, emitting a mournful “buzz”!

The threshold of the “Realm of Mastery” he had touched for years was now trampled over in an unstoppable surge!

“Junior Qin Feng!”

Bayan’s eyes blazed with sharp light, filled with unprecedented confidence and pride.

“Thank you for helping me find my own path!”

“To express my gratitude, please receive this first ‘Mastery’ blade of mine—just newly realized!”

The moment his words fell!

He slammed the overbearing saber in his hand fiercely into the ground!

Then, with a reverse grip, he seized the heavy, mountain-like broadsword that had never been used on his back!

[Second-Level Killing Art: Heart-Guarding Form]!

He held the broadsword horizontally before his chest, assuming a purely defensive stance.

Then, the saber he had planted in the ground stirred without wind, slowly floating up before him!

[Second-Level Killing Art: Blade-Wielding Form]!

Defense as offense!

Wielding as killing!

Two perfected second-level killing arts, along with numerous first-level ones, merged seamlessly under his intent of “Mastery”!

“My Mastery—[Heartfelt Slash]!”

Buzz—!!

The saber suspended before him burst forth in an instant with a dazzling, sun-like silver radiance!

It transformed into a deathly meteor judging all in the world, carrying a terrifying will that severed fate and was utterly unstoppable, crashing down toward Qin Feng!

This slash had completely transcended the realm of technique.

It was Bayan’s ultimate strike, forging all his lifelong martial insights into one, staking everything!

Facing this earth-shattering slash, truly belonging to the “Realm of Mastery,” Qin Feng’s face finally showed an expression of utmost gravity.

But he did not dodge.

Because he knew he could not evade this slash.

And even more because…

He had been waiting for this very moment!

From the start of the battle, he had seemed evenly matched with Bayan, locked in a fierce struggle.

But in truth, he had been “concealing” all along.

He used the impenetrable defense of [Myriad Army Guard] to hide his true killing intent.

He used one seemingly passive defense after another to lure Bayan into focusing all his attention on breaking through that defense.

He was patiently waiting for an opportunity.

An opportunity when Bayan would exhaust everything and reveal his greatest flaw!

And now, that opportunity had come!

“Well struck!”

Qin Feng’s eyes also blazed with a brilliant fighting spirit!

Just as the sun-like “Heartfelt Slash” was about to strike him!

His [Myriad Army Spear: Myriad Army Guard], which had maintained its defensive stance, vanished in an instant!

In its place, a terrifying killing intent, hidden for over half an hour and seeming to devour heaven and earth, erupted!

[Self-Created Killing Move—Dragon’s Concealment]!

The “dragon” hidden for over half an hour finally bared its fierce, deadly fangs!

Roar—!!!

A dragon’s cry, as if from the primordial chaos, shaking the soul, thundered in everyone’s hearts!

The spear in Qin Feng’s hand seemed to come alive in an instant!

It transformed into a black divine dragon roaring out from the abyss, its shaft covered in pitch-black dragon scales condensed from spiritual energy, gleaming with a dark light!

The icy spear tip was the dragon’s horn, enough to pierce the stars!

This roaring black dragon did not block the descending “Heartfelt Slash.”

Instead, with a desperate resolve of mutual destruction, ignoring the attack above, it charged in a deathly assault toward Bayan’s body, which was in a defensive stance!

“What!?”

Bayan’s pupils instantly shrank to pinprick size!

The confidence and pride on his face were, in that moment, replaced by boundless shock!

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that Qin Feng's impenetrable defense was merely a disguise!

A trap, long plotted, to lure him into striking!

He had poured everything—his will and his strength—into that one, fatal blow.

At this instant, his attack was at its peak, and his defense, at its weakest!

And Qin Feng had been waiting for this very moment!

Should he press the attack, trading Qin Feng's severe injury for his own death?

Or should he abandon the assault, retreat with all his might, and save his own life?

In the blink of an eye, countless thoughts raced through Bayan's mind.

In the end, his battle-hardened instincts overcame everything.

Without hesitation, he relinquished control of the "Heart's Desire Slash," withdrawing all his focus and power back to the broadsword of defense before him!

But...

Too late.

The terror of "Dragon's Hiding" lay in its perfect fusion of the "hiding" of [Thousand Legions Guarding] and the "killing" of [Dragon and Serpent Combined Strike].

The longer the hiding, the thicker the killing intent!

That roaring black dragon, with an unmatched posture, crashed violently into the hastily erected defense of Bayan!

Crack—!!!

A crisp sound, like bones shattering, rang out across the arena!

The heavy broadsword before Bayan, under that terrifying impact, split in two from the middle and broke apart with a roar!

And the black dragon, its momentum undiminished, slammed fiercely into his chest!

Pfft—!!!!

The heavy armor on Bayan's chest instantly caved in and shattered!

He spat out a mouthful of blood, and like a kite with a broken string, flew backward, tracing a tragic parabola in the air, before finally crashing heavily onto the edge of the arena a hundred meters away.

The entire Colosseum of Glory fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was utterly stunned by this twist of fate, this thrilling final scene, robbed of the ability to think.

For a long, long time.

The referee's voice, trembling slightly with excitement, slowly rang out.

"First match of the semifinals..."

"Qin Feng... wins!"

On the central main stage, the thick dust stirred up by the ultimate collision slowly dissipated.

Qin Feng stood with his spear, his chest heaving slightly, a fine layer of sweat beading on his forehead.

This killing move, [Dragon's Hiding], was the longest-charging, most fierce and domineering strike among all his current trump cards.

He slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, suppressing the surging spiritual energy within, then took steps toward the silver figure lying a hundred meters away beside the shattered broadsword.

Bayan had now regained a trace of consciousness and was struggling to sit up, but the excruciating pain in his chest thwarted every attempt.

A steady, powerful hand gently rested on his shoulder, slowly helping him up.

"Senior, are you alright?"

Qin Feng's voice was calm yet full of concern.

Bayan looked up, meeting Qin Feng's clear, deep eyes. He couldn't help but give a bitter smile and shook his head.

"Won't die... just a few ribs, maybe broken."

Leaning on Qin Feng's support, he struggled to stand steady.

He glanced down at his silver armor, now completely caved in and covered in spiderweb-like cracks, a flicker of fear in his eyes, but more than that, an unprecedented sense of relief and understanding.

He did not look at the scattered weapon fragments, nor did he dwell on the outcome of this highly anticipated match.

Instead, he turned to face Qin Feng, and with solemnity, deeply clasped his hands in a bow.

"Junior Qin Feng,"

His voice carried a hint of weakness after injury, but more than that, a heartfelt sincerity and gratitude, "In this battle, I admit defeat, wholeheartedly."

"No, I should say, I thank you."

Bayan raised his head, his resolute eyes shining with a bright light, "If not for you, pushing me to the brink with this perfect pressure, I fear I would still be wandering for years before the threshold of the 'Realm of Control.'"

"You made me find my own path."

He was filled with emotion.

This exhilarating battle, for him, had value far beyond victory or defeat.

He had finally broken through the window that had troubled him for years, truly stepping into that domain of control.

"But, what a pity."

A regretful bitter smile appeared on Bayan's face, "After all, it's my first time stepping into this realm. My use of 'control' is still too crude, too raw. If I had comprehended this slash half a year earlier, the outcome of today's battle... would have been uncertain."

His [Heart's Desire Slash], though seemingly fierce and unmatched, was merely a forced combination of several killing techniques. The will and power within had not yet truly merged into one.

If he had enough time to polish and familiarize himself, the power of this move could have increased by at least thirty percent.

By then, Qin Feng's [Dragon's Hiding] might not have been able to win so easily with a single strike.

Hearing this, Qin Feng only nodded calmly.

"I understand."

Of course, he understood.

Because he had experienced this too many times.

He recalled when he first merged [Fierce Owl Style] with [Flowing Light Chasing Shadow] to create [Fierce Owl Chasing Shadow].

The first time he used it, compared to the tenth or hundredth time, the power, efficiency, and timing were worlds apart.

Even in the just-concluded quarterfinal, the [Wind Thunder Chasing Shadow] he had realized in the heat of battle still had great flaws and room for improvement.

The path of martial arts is endless learning.

Comprehension is only the beginning.

True strength comes from the tempering of a thousand hammers, from the exquisite control of every ounce of power.

Seeing the understanding in Qin Feng's eyes, Bayan knew that the other fully grasped his meaning.

He couldn't help but sigh again, reaching out to pat Qin Feng's shoulder firmly.

"Go on."

In his eyes were the purest blessings and hopes.

"Congratulations, junior, on securing a spot in the top three."

"You... you're an absolute monster, through and through."

"After advancing to elite disciple in the group competition, you can find a mentor to help you pick a few killing techniques. The ones chosen by a mentor are better than those picked by an assistant, because the assistant only filters based on your physical data, while the mentor personally traces your meridians to find what suits you best."

With that, guided by the referee, he dragged his injured body, step by step, toward the area below the arena.

Though his back was somewhat disheveled, the newly broken-through, rounded aura of the "Control Realm" made him radiate a sense of rebirth, as if he had been remade.

Qin Feng watched Bayan leave, then turned his gaze to the cheering friends in the audience, offering a faint smile.

...

Beneath the central main arena, the tens of millions of seats had already erupted into a boiling sea of excitement!

"He won! Qin Feng! He actually defeated Bayan!"

"Oh my god! That final move, 'Dragon's Hidden,' was absolutely stunning! The spear was like a black dragon, and the moment it appeared, I felt my soul tremble!"

"A monster! This is no dark horse anymore! This is a complete and utter monster! Ten years after enrollment, he defeated an old-school prodigy whose life force index was nearly forty points higher and who had mastered two second-level perfected killing techniques! What does that even mean!"

"No way! I bet a million imperial coins on Senior Bayan! My heart is breaking!"

"Haha! I hit the jackpot! I've been betting on Qin Feng since the top sixteen! Tonight, Feasting Pavilion, my treat!"

The chatter, cheers, wails, and the frantic chime of funds flowing across various betting platforms merged into a fervent symphony.

Qin Feng's name, at this moment, was repeated by countless people in an almost frenzied tone.

He was no longer just a remarkable genius.

He had truly, with a victory of the highest caliber, cemented his legendary status in this year's Freshman Cup!

"Look! Look at the forum! The 'Canaan Hidden Dragon Ranking' has been updated!"

Just then, a sharp-eyed spectator let out an excited shriek.

At these words, everyone's attention was instantly captured.

Countless people eagerly opened their personal terminals.

"Canaan Hidden Dragon Ranking."

This was not an official ranking of Canaan Starry Sky Martial Arts University, but a big data model jointly established by the university's most authoritative information agencies and several intelligence departments.

This ranking did not focus on a student's immediate combat power, nor did it judge solely by wins and losses.

What it measured was "potential."

It comprehensively analyzed dozens of dimensions of a student's data—enrollment time, cultivation speed, physical aptitude, killing technique comprehension, combat performance, and even mental strength—to arrive at a relatively objective "potential ranking."

This ranking was highly credible and widely recognized by Canaan Martial Arts University students.

Those who made it onto this list were invariably geniuses among geniuses.

And now, when people clicked on the freshly updated list, marked with a "HOT" tag, a familiar name appeared in an overwhelmingly dominant manner, directly landing at a position that left everyone breathless!

[Canaan Hidden Dragon Ranking]

[1000th: Qin Feng]

"One thousandth?! Am I seeing this right? He directly landed at one thousand?"

"Crazy! This is absolutely crazy! The Hidden Dragon Ranking only includes a total of one hundred thousand students, and he's a newcomer who just emerged—how can he be ranked so high?"

"Exactly! Those ahead of him are the most outstanding prodigies from every grade, many of whom have already advanced to the sixth-level 'Soaring Sky Realm'!"

[Name: Qin Feng]

[Student ID: GX7382901]

[Analysis of Ranking Reason:]

[1. Cultivation Speed: Ten years after enrollment, his life force index reached 532.0 points.]

[2. Killing Technique Comprehension: In this Freshman Cup, the student has publicly demonstrated at least four first-level killing techniques at the 'Control Realm' (spear technique x2, fist technique x1, staff technique x1).]

[3. Physical Potential: According to data records from the student's enrollment assessment ten years ago, in the third item 'Physical Potential Test,' he caused the B-level testing chamber's data to overflow, making it immeasurable. The system's similarity model determined a potential level of: 'Starry Sky Beast Juvenile Form.']

[In summary:]

[This student possesses unprecedented killing technique comprehension, the highest physical potential in history, and a cultivation speed ranking among the top hundred of all time.]

[Combining his cultivation speed, physical potential, and killing technique comprehension, after comprehensive data model analysis, he is ranked 1000th on the 'Canaan Hidden Dragon Ranking.']

When this cold, objective, yet impactful data analysis was presented before everyone,

the entire Glory Arena fell into utter silence.

"A physical potential that broke the machine—no wonder his strength and endurance were on par with Bayan."

"Four Control Realm techniques."

At this moment, no one dared question the ranking's validity.

They even thought... that the 1000th position, for such a thoroughbred monster, might be... a bit low?

(End of chapter)