Chapter 161: Chosen of the Four Gods! Starry Sky Behemoth! "Qin the Beast" Prestige

Chapter 161: The Chosen of Four Gods! Starry Sky Beast! "Qin Beast" Prestige Soars!

When the earth-shattering analysis report of the "Hidden Dragon List" spread wildly throughout the Glory Arena, Qin Feng had already calmly walked to the center of the stage.

The deafening uproar outside, stirred by him, seemed to have no effect on him at all.

His journey in the Freshman Cup could now draw a perfect conclusion.

Third place.

Three thousand contribution points.

The goal set before the competition had been achieved.

As for the upcoming finals...

Qin Feng looked up, his gaze seeming to pierce through the dome of the Glory Arena, seeing the names hanging at the very top of the match table, like two insurmountable divine mountains.

Zheng Dong, life force index 3120, enrolled for ninety-three years.

Zhou Run, life force index 3080, enrolled for one hundred and two years.

He knew very well that with his current strength, challenging these two "old monsters" who had cultivated the "Supreme Acupoint Opening Method" for nearly a century was utterly hopeless.

It was not a gap that could be bridged by mere killing technique realm or combat wisdom.

It was an absolute, crushing chasm rooted in the very essence of life itself.

Forcing a fight would only waste everyone's time and leave him severely injured again, with no meaning whatsoever.

Having realized this, a relieved smile appeared on Qin Feng's face.

He turned, facing the figure of the referee on the high platform, who represented the highest authority of this match, and spoke clearly.

"Referee."

"I voluntarily withdraw from the remaining matches."

"The upcoming finals belong to the peak showdown between Senior Zheng Dong and Senior Zhou Run."

"My strength is insufficient, so I won't waste everyone's precious viewing time here."

His words were humble, yet carried an undeniable calmness.

It was the most rational and free-spirited choice made after clearly recognizing the gap between himself and his opponents.

After a brief silence, no boos or doubts arose from the audience.

Instead, there were waves of kind, understanding, and admiring laughter, along with thunderous applause!

"Well said! This is the true demeanor of a strong man!"

"He knows himself! Neither humble nor arrogant!"

"Exactly! Rather than watching a one-sided slaughter, I'm more eager to see what earth-shattering sparks those two 'century-old monsters' can create!"

"Qin Feng! Well done! Even though you withdrew, in our hearts, you are already the uncrowned king of this Freshman Cup!"

The applause was unending.

At this moment, Qin Feng's free-spirited figure and Bayan's calm back after defeat slowly merged in everyone's minds.

Victory is certainly joyful.

But the courage to do what one knows is impossible, and the wisdom to refrain from what one knows is impossible, are equally worthy of respect.

Listening to the roaring applause around him, Qin Feng's heart remained largely unruffled.

His thoughts, at this moment, seemed to transcend the barriers of time and space, returning to eleven years ago.

Back to Qiming Star.

Back to the finals of that equally watched inter-school league.

He remembered that at that time, he was about to have the final duel with "Lei Yi."

Shi Potian, just like himself now, calmly walked to the center of the stage.

He used almost the same words to calmly announce his voluntary withdrawal, stopping at third place.

He said he wanted to leave the most brilliant stage for the most peak duel.

He said he didn't want to waste everyone's time.

Back then, Qin Feng stood under the dazzling light, the focus of everyone's attention.

And Shi Potian, amidst the applause, silently gave the stage to him.

Before Qin Feng's eyes, Shi Potian's aloof and pure figure from that year seemed to appear.

In the blink of an eye, eleven whole years had passed.

Time flows, things change.

Now he had become the one who gracefully exited amidst applause.

History always repeats itself in striking ways.

A complex curve involuntarily tugged at the corner of Qin Feng's mouth—a smile mixed with emotion, reminiscence, and boundless fighting spirit.

"But..."

His gaze once again fell on the empty finals stage, his eyes becoming profoundly deep and resolute.

"By the next edition..."

"This championship will definitely be mine. Even if Senior Zheng Dong and Senior Zhou Run still linger, I will fight them!"

He made a vow to himself in his heart.

For the Supreme Acupoint Opening Method, at the fourth-level warrior stage, the average cultivation time in the empire is one hundred years.

And he, Qin Feng, aimed to walk this path that others needed a century to traverse within thirty years!

After saluting the referee and the entire audience with a standard military salute once more, Qin Feng's figure slowly faded away in the light of teleportation.

...

When he returned to the audience seats, he was greeted by the excited and proud smiling faces of his friends.

"Boss! Awesome! So awesome!"

The bald Lei Meng was the first to rush over, giving Qin Feng a bear hug, stammering with excitement, "Third place! You got third place! Damn! Although I expected it, I still feel like I'm dreaming!"

"Old Qin, I knew you could do it!"

Xiong Yanfu's face was also flushed red. He shook his personal terminal and laughed smugly, "My betting pool this time made a killing! Don't worry, your half won't be short a single point!"

Tie Mu and Yin Jing said nothing, only silently giving Qin Feng a thumbs-up, their admiration evident.

And Qin Lan looked Qin Feng up and down with a gaze like she was looking at a monster, clicking her tongue in wonder: "You guy, you keep redefining my understanding of the word 'genius.'"

"Congratulations."

Shi Potian simply uttered these two words.

But Qin Feng could read from his eyes the unspoken understanding and resonance between them.

"Ah, seriously, boss,"

After the initial excitement, Lei Meng couldn't help but feel a pang of regret for Qin Feng. "Your luck is truly abysmal. If it weren't for this year's competition coinciding with those two old monsters, Zheng Dong and Zhou Run, who've been training for nearly a hundred years, with your strength, the championship would have been a sure thing, right in your pocket!"

He grumbled indignantly, "Seriously, those who practice the 'Ultimate Enlightenment Method' should be directly assigned to the fifth-level division! Snatching spots from us fourth-level martial artists—isn't that just bullying?"

"What do you know?"

Qin Lan, standing nearby, smiled and shook her head at his words.

As a seasoned student, she had a far deeper understanding of the school's various rules.

"This is precisely the school's subtle way of supporting and encouraging those geniuses who choose to cultivate the 'Ultimate Enlightenment Method.'"

She explained, "You know how incredibly difficult it is to train in the 'Ultimate Enlightenment Method,' and the resources it demands are astronomical."

"So the school allows them to participate in the Newcomer Cup as fourth-level martial artists until they advance. The purpose is to give them a chance to earn contribution points through this method, to sustain them on this most arduous path."

Qin Feng, upon hearing this, nodded thoughtfully.

He recalled his own contribution point account, which had been reset to zero.

If not for this Newcomer Cup, he would have been worrying for a long time about how to earn contribution points.

This rule of the school was indeed filled with human-centric consideration.

Amid the fervent congratulations and discussions, the central main arena of the Glory Colosseum once again lit up with brilliant radiance.

The long-awaited final match was about to begin!

Everyone held their breath, their gazes fixed on that stage.

Qin Feng was no exception.

His expression became intensely focused, even tinged with a hint of... rapturous absorption.

When Zheng Dong and Zhou Run, those two "century-old monsters" with life force indices exceeding three thousand points, appeared on the arena stage,

Qin Feng, for the first time, truly and intuitively felt what "disparity" meant.

Those two didn't even deliberately release any aura.

They simply stood there quietly, yet the space around them seemed to warp subtly, visibly, as if unable to bear the terrifying life magnetic field they emanated.

Every breath they took seemed to resonate in harmony with the energy dome of the entire coliseum.

Once the battle began, Qin Feng was utterly captivated, his mind swayed, nearly intoxicated.

It was no longer a contest of technique.

Zheng Dong's blade was sweeping and grand!

Meanwhile, Zhou Run's sword was ethereal and agile, like a horned antelope leaving no trace behind.

What they displayed were unmistakably true "third-level killing techniques"!

They were more than ten times stronger than Bayan's blade technique, which had only just entered the "Mastery Realm"!

The fight itself lasted only five minutes.

In the end, Zheng Dong narrowly prevailed, claiming the championship of this year's Newcomer Cup.

Following that, Qin Feng went on to watch the fifth-level "Meridian Fusion Realm" and even the sixth-level "Soaring Realm" matches.

When he saw those sixth-level "Soaring Realm" martial artists beginning to preliminarily merge their spiritual power with killing techniques, unleashing all sorts of incredible "fourth-level killing techniques" and those unheard-of "spiritual secret arts,"

a longing and desire for the higher realms of the martial path, unlike anything before, ignited in Qin Feng's heart.

The fourth level was only the beginning.

The path of martial arts began at the planetary level.

He clenched his fists tightly, and in his deep eyes, it seemed as if two flames were blazing fiercely.

His journey was still long!——

On the mentor's platform above the clouds, the focus of a group of stellar-level powerhouses had long since subtly shifted away from the arena where the outcome was already decided.

Their gazes, as if by unspoken agreement, once again converged, almost imperceptibly, on that figure in the corner who had remained calm and composed throughout, as if nothing concerned him.

—Yu Han.

And his disciple, Qin Feng, who had just stunned everyone by claiming third place in this year's Newcomer Cup and landing directly at the thousandth spot on the "Hidden Dragon Ranking."

If earlier, their attention on Qin Feng had stemmed merely from curiosity about Company Commander Zhou Xiong's "special care" directive,

then now, after witnessing Qin Feng's astonishing growth rate, his unheard-of four "Mastery Realm" killing techniques, and his calm, wise decision to forfeit in the face of a formidable opponent,

that curiosity had completely transformed into an intense, profound interest.

"Ahem."

The earlier Zhang senior, with his immortal-like demeanor, cleared his throat, breaking the silence.

He lifted his teacup, but his gaze drifted toward Yu Han, and he smiled meaningfully, "Junior Brother Yu Han, you've truly stumbled upon a treasure this time. That little fellow named Qin Feng has given us all a tremendous surprise."

"Indeed,"

the fiery female mentor in her crimson battle armor chimed in, her bright phoenix eyes darting between Yu Han and Qin Feng's seat below, "Breaking through on the spot, comprehending a fourth 'Mastery Realm' killing technique; then with one move, 'Dragon's Hidden,' cunningly defeating Bayan. Such insight, such resolve—tsk tsk, even in our younger days, he'd be among the very best."

"Exactly,"

another refined mentor clapped his hands in admiration, "The 'Hidden Dragon Ranking'—landing at a thousandth place! Yu Han, you make us all envious!"

For a moment, the platform was filled with various veiled praises, ringing without end.

All arrows ultimately pointed to the same core question.

While they lavishly praised Qin Feng's monstrous performance, their eyes continuously conveyed the same message to Yu Han:

—Stop pretending! Just come clean!

—If there isn't some earth-shattering secret behind such a freak, and if Company Commander Zhou Xiong personally named him just because of his talent—who would believe that?

Facing the tangible, gossip-filled gazes of his colleagues, Yu Han's eyelid twitched almost imperceptibly.

He lifted his teacup, intending to brush it off with a sip of tea as he had before.

But this time, he found it wouldn't work.

Because everyone's eyes were locked onto him, as if they wouldn't let him leave that chair unless he gave a reasonable explanation today.

Yu Han sighed helplessly in his heart.

He set down his teacup, forced a calm smile onto his face, spread his hands, and said in a tone that seemed perfectly natural:

"Heh, senior brothers and sisters, haven't you already given the answer yourselves?"

He pointed downward at Qin Feng, who was chatting cheerfully with his friends.

"You've all seen it with your own eyes—Qin Feng is a genius, an out-and-out monster."

Yu Han's smile grew even more "sincere."

"Think about it. He cultivates the most difficult 'Ultimate Enlightenment Method,' and after only ten years in the academy, his life force index has reached five hundred and thirty-two points. Moreover, he has four 'Mastery Realm' killing techniques."

"With such talent, such a freak, being noticed by Lord Zhou Xiong and receiving his personal attention—isn't that... enough?"

He tried to use Qin Feng's already obvious, sufficiently astonishing talent to gloss over the matter.

But this time, he miscalculated.

"Not enough."

On the high platform, dozens of mentors, almost in unison, shook their heads in perfect synchrony.

Their eyes were clear and resolute, as if to say: Yu Han, don't take us for fools.

That elder brother Zhang, with his immortal aura, spoke earnestly: "Junior Brother Yu Han, the accounts are not reckoned this way."

"Admittedly, this Qin Feng is indeed a prodigy unseen in ten thousand years. His sudden arrival at rank one thousand on the Hidden Dragon List is proof enough of his potential. But..."

He shifted his tone, his gaze turning razor-sharp.

"You must understand, among the nine hundred and ninety-nine ahead of him, whose potential is any less?"

"Yet we have never heard that Lord Zhou Xiong would personally descend his will for any one of them."

Brother Zhang paused, then spoke each word deliberately, voicing what all were thinking.

"So, Yu Han, talent is merely a facade."

"What we wish to know is the deeper reason that truly moved Lord Zhou Xiong."

Yu Han's mind began to race.

His eyes swept across the faces of the mentors, each one etched with "thirst for knowledge," and finally, he gave a mysterious smile.

He let out a heavy sigh, as if finally yielding under pressure, ready to concede. He picked up his teacup, took another sip, and then, in a tone of utter helplessness, as if revealing a family scandal, lowered his voice and said:

"Alas... enough, enough."

"Since all you senior brothers and sisters are so curious, I suppose it won't hurt to speak. But I beg you, keep it secret, do not spread it abroad, lest... it affect Lord Zhou Xiong's reputation."

Seeing Yu Han in this "about to drop a bombshell" posture, all the mentors' ears perked up instantly, their eyes blazing with the fire of gossip.

On Yu Han's face appeared an expression of extreme complexity, a mix of "hard to speak of" and "only human."

Slowly, in the tone of recounting a buried past, he said:

"You all should know that Lord Zhou Xiong... spent his entire life on horseback, fighting for the empire for ten thousand years, dedicating everything to the empire and humanity."

"He has no offspring, nor has he ever had a dao companion."

The mentors nodded in unison, their faces showing admiration.

This was known throughout the empire.

Zhou Xiong was a true hero of the empire, a model for all soldiers.

"But..."

Yu Han shifted his tone, his voice growing more mysterious.

"Man is not made of wood or stone; who can be devoid of emotion? Though Lord Zhou Xiong has no direct descendants, his clan, back on the homeworld, was once a rather large lineage. Though ravaged by war and bloodline thinned, still... some distant relatives, separated by countless generations, have survived."

He paused, as if to let them digest.

Then he delivered the final "answer."

"This Qin Feng, it is said, his ancestors, tracing back tens of thousands of generations, his great-grandmother's cousin's uncle's uncle, was from the same village as one of Lord Zhou Xiong's ancestors."

"So, by that reckoning, he is... a junior of some distant relation, many times removed, with a tenuous connection to Lord Zhou Xiong."

By the end, Yu Han's face was full of "you all understand" expression. "Lord Zhou Xiong, selfless all his life, yet in the end, he cherishes a thread of blood kinship, unwilling to see a descendant of his own clan's pearl hidden in dust, so he... gave special attention."

"Alas, it's only human, only human."

With that, he picked up his teacup and drank again, as if to say, "I've said all I can; the rest is for you to ponder."

On the high platform, a strange silence fell.

All the mentors looked at each other, their expressions a riot of emotions.

First shock, then suspicion, and finally... they nodded thoughtfully.

"A descendant of a distant relative's distant relative?"

Brother Zhang mulled over this tongue-twister of a relationship, his brows furrowed.

"Lord Zhou Xiong has always been upright and impartial, which is precisely why he would not go to such lengths for an unrelated genius."

"But conversely, precisely because he has been selfless all his life, never considering himself, in his old age, he might cherish a spark of lineage, and for that sole surviving blood descendant, separated by countless generations, offer what help he can..."

Brother Zhang sighed.

The other mentors came to their senses and chimed in.

"So that's it!"

"No wonder."

"So he's Lord Zhou Xiong's distant relative."

The mentors' eyes gleamed.

They understood in their hearts.

For everyone knew that Lord Zhou Xiong's homeworld, in a remote star system of the empire, had been destroyed in an alien war ten thousand years ago, the entire planet annihilated.

Zhou Xiong, from the Star Field Army, through the end of his enlistment, wandering, gradually growing into a black hole-level powerhouse—this was a widely told story of growth, known to all these stellar-level experts.

Yu Han would rather fabricate such a flimsy lie than tell the truth, for a simple reason.

The truth could not be told!

To speak it would invite the gaze of the evil gods!

The Emperor's Chosen!

Qin Feng was the Emperor's Chosen!

If this secret leaked, the shockwaves would far exceed the outcome of any rookie cup.

The mentors understood in their hearts.

They tacitly agreed, asking no more.

"Alas."

Yu Han sighed.

He had not wanted to hint to these teachers, but in his mind, he saw again that day when Qin Feng, purifying the pirate camp, had drawn the attention of that filthy, brutal will in the warp.

—Khorne.

Merely by revealing boundless killing intent, he had attracted the Blood God's covetousness.

If Qin Feng did anything else in the future, that omnipresent, greedy, malevolent gaze wandering in the warp dimension would instantly, across endless star seas, focus on Qin Feng.

By then, it would not be just Khorne coming to call.

But all four great evil gods, gathered together!

The mere thought made his scalp tingle, a chill run down his spine.

If he truly became the Chosen of the Four Gods, wouldn't that be a disaster?

Wouldn't Lord Zhou Xiong beat him to death?

Yu Han felt that with his own strength alone, he might not be able to protect Qin Feng.

Thus he subtly hinted to the dozens of mentors present.

Of course, the mentors of Canaan Starry Sky Martial University were all steadfast, having served the empire for tens of thousands of years as stellar-level powerhouses, all trustworthy.

Yu Han’s hint was not mistaken.

The mentors grasped his implication and began to pay closer attention, diverting a sliver of their focus to Qin Feng.

——

With the final champion of the sixth-level “Soaring Void” division born in an earth-shattering clash of mental strength, this decade-long grand event—lasting an entire week and gripping the hearts of hundreds of millions of teachers and students at Canaan Starry Sky Martial University—finally came to a slow close.

The massive energy dome of the Glory Colosseum reverted to its simulated blue sky and white clouds.

The clamor, the fervor, the fierce battles, the shouts… all of it ebbed away like a receding tide, gradually calming.

That night.

The private forum of Canaan Starry Sky Martial University saw activity levels several times higher than during the competition itself!

The entire fourth-level martial artist section of the forum was nearly completely flooded by the name “Qin Feng.”

Looking around, among the top ten trending posts, eight were related to him.

Posts filled with shock and exaggerated tones sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain, emerging wildly at a dizzying refresh rate.

[Hot Post NO.1: Ultimate In-Depth Analysis! From 0 to 1000: How ‘The Uncrowned King’ Qin Feng Walked a Century’s Path in Ten Years and Landed on the ‘Hidden Dragon List’!]

This lengthy analytical post, personally written by the forum’s most famous “Data Emperor”—“Keyboard Martial God”—garnered over 300 million clicks within an hour of its release, with replies exceeding a million!

The post meticulously listed every trivial progress he had made in public records.

Then came a frame-by-frame slow-motion analysis of his four “Mastery Realm” killing techniques.

From the swiftness of [Flowing Light Chasing Shadow], to the weight of [A Thousand Troops Guarding], to the restrained eruption of [Dragon’s Hidden], and finally, in his battle against Xiao Beichen, the breakthrough and earth-shattering [Wind Thunder Chasing Shadow]!

Every killing move was dissected in depth by “Keyboard Martial God” using the most professional terminology.

At the end of the post, the explosive “Hidden Dragon List” analysis report was interpreted word by word.

Especially regarding the potential level of “Stellar Beast,” the author cited over a hundred ancient texts on stellar beasts and public papers from the Imperial Institute of Biology, ultimately reaching a conclusion that made everyone’s scalp tingle:

“…In summary, we can draw a conclusion that, though absurd, is closest to the truth: Classmate Qin Feng does not merely possess the ‘potential’ of a stellar beast—his very life essence, from the genetic level, has infinitely approached that of a… true, pure-blooded, juvenile stellar beast! His human appearance may be nothing more than a… disguise!”

“No wonder he’s a monster.”

Below this post, the comment section had already exploded.

“Holy crap! OP is amazing! This analysis is absolutely brilliant! I hereby crown you the ‘Theory King’ of this year’s Freshman Cup!”

“A stellar beast! A real stellar beast! No wonder! No wonder he has such terrifying stamina and strength! Everything makes sense now!”

“I’m dumbfounded… So we’ve been watching a stellar beast in human skin competing in martial arts, right?”

“Reply above: Your analogy is ridiculous, but… damn, why does it feel so right!”

“I declare that from today, I am the number one fan of ‘Qin the Beast’! Anyone who dares to badmouth him, I won’t stand for it!”

“Qin the Beast! Qin the Beast! Qin the Beast!”

[Hot Post NO.2: Century Battle Replay! Mastery Realm Showdown! Qin Feng vs. Bayan: Who Had the Upper Hand in the Final Move?]

This post was collaboratively built by countless battle enthusiasts and tactical analysts.

They presented the complete recording of the semifinal between Qin Feng and Bayan in 360-degree holographic form within the post.

Viewers could pause at any time and observe every subtle movement and every flow of spiritual energy between the two from any angle.

The comment section below was in fierce debate.

“Without a doubt, Senior Bayan was stronger! His [Heart’s Will Slash] was a true ‘Mastery Realm’ killing technique, where will and power merged! If he hadn’t chosen to defend at the last moment, Qin Feng would have been one-shot!”

“Bullshit! Do you know the art of war? Qin Feng’s [Dragon’s Hidden] was a trap from the start! He used himself as bait to force Bayan into a choice! That’s absolute domination in combat intelligence!”

“Both of you above, stop arguing. In my view, neither was stronger. Bayan excelled in raw frontal power, while Qin Feng shined in his control of the battle situation and his heart that dared to gamble everything! They are both true powerhouses!”

“Agreed! This battle had no loser! Senior Bayan broke through his limits, and Qin Feng won victory and respect! This is the pinnacle duel we wanted to see!”

“Actually, Senior Bayan lost.”

“Exactly, you bunch of noobs can’t even see it clearly. If Bayan had continued his slash, Qin Feng would have been severely injured, but he would have died, so he chose to withdraw and defend. That was his correct judgment, and Qin Feng could also judge that, so Qin Feng chose to strike.”

“Yeah, if it were you noobs in that situation, you’d probably be the kind of idiot villain who thinks one slash can kill the opponent but gets instantly killed, then screams ‘How is this possible?’”

[Hot Post NO.3: Blood and Tears Complaint! Just Returned from a Mission, Missed the Freshman Cup, Feel Like I Missed a Fortune! Any Kind Soul to Explain Who This Qin Feng Is?]

Such “melon-eating help posts” also occupied a considerable portion of the forum.

Students at Canaan Starry Sky Martial University needed to earn contribution points by undertaking various missions to sustain their cultivation.

Many students, during the Freshman Cup, happened to be in some remote star system, executing long-term missions like purging alien races or escorting trade caravans.

When they dragged their exhausted bodies back to school and opened the long-unvisited forum to check the news, they were utterly baffled by the screen full of unfamiliar names.

“Qin Feng? Who’s that? Does our school have such a person? Rank 1000 on the Hidden Dragon List? Fake, right?”

“Damn, I remember before I left for my mission, the one at rank 1000 was a senior over 300 terms ahead of me! How did it change so suddenly?”

“I know Senior Bayan! He… he actually lost? Lost to a guy I’ve never even heard of?”

When these belated students, filled with confusion and shock, clicked on those match recordings—especially the thrilling duel between Qin Feng and Bayan—

They, without exception, fell into the same prolonged shock and daze as the previous viewers.

And when they snapped out of it, they unhesitatingly joined the frenzy of discussing Qin Feng, becoming new “organic promoters.”

For a time, throughout Canaan Starry Sky Martial University—whether on campus or on missions, whether senior students or freshmen—

Almost everyone, in various ways, was learning about, analyzing, and discussing this prodigy who had burst onto the scene.

The name Qin Feng, within a single day, spread like a virus, truly becoming known to all, without exception.

He had completely made a name for himself in Canaan!

As the discussion heated up, a new title quietly emerged and quickly gained recognition from the vast majority.

—【The Uncrowned King】!

“Although Qin Feng ultimately stopped at third place, everyone knows in their hearts that if it weren’t for those two unreasonable ‘century-old monsters,’ Zheng Dong and Zhou Run, who else could have been the champion of this year’s Freshman Cup’s fourth-level division?”

“Exactly! He defeated Bayan, defeated Xiao Beichen, defeated every opponent he faced! He only lost to ‘time,’ lost to ‘rules,’ but he never lost to any ‘peer’ opponent!”

“He is our generation’s true and only freshman king!”

This title was filled with affirmation and tinged with a hint of regret.

But more than that, it was a heartfelt, pure recognition and admiration for a true powerhouse.

Like a unique badge of honor, it was personally crowned upon Qin Feng by everyone.

From then on, a new legend spread through Canaan Starry Sky Martial University.

The legend told of a man who rose like a stellar beast during the Freshman Cup.

He had been enrolled for ten years, unknown and unnoticed.

But once he emerged, with the unparalleled posture of four “Mastery Realm” techniques, he swept away all the prodigies of his generation, and finally, standing on the shoulders of veteran powerhouses, ascended a throne that was not originally his.

Though he did not win the champion’s title, in everyone’s heart, he was the undisputed—Uncrowned King.

The forum buzzed with heated discussions.

In truth, the students of Canaan Star Martial Arts University all carried their own pride; posting threads was merely a way to relieve the anxiety of relentless missions and the tedium of monotonous cultivation.

No one truly worshipped any genius with fanaticism—unless they had been saved by that person.

Those who shouted about becoming "Qin Beast's" number one fan were mostly being ironic; in reality, they were measuring themselves against his strength, a fierce determination to catch up rising in their hearts.

---

As the clamor and frenzy outside fermented to a peak on the private forum, the center of the storm, Qin Feng, had long since returned to his cold, utterly silent private dormitory.

The glory of the outside world was, to him, nothing but fleeting clouds.

What mattered more were the tangible gains brought by this Rookie Cup.

He sat cross-legged on the meditation mat in the center of the quiet room, closed his eyes, and rapidly replayed the scenes of the fierce battles over the past few days in his mind.

From his first clash with Luo Cheng, to the staff duel with Xiao Beichen, and finally to the pinnacle battle with Bayan, where everything was at stake.

Every detail of each fight, every lethal move of his opponents, every application and insight from his own killing techniques—all were recorded as if by the most precise instrument, repeatedly playing, dissecting, and analyzing in his mind.

Especially the battle with Bayan, which had touched him the most.

When Bayan broke through on the spot and comprehended the "Heartfelt Slash," that sense of seamless "control" gave him immense inspiration.

As for his own "Dragon's Hide," though it won in one strike, it exposed the flaws of an overly long charge time and obvious openings.

If facing an enemy who had seen Dragon's Hide before, they would never fall for it so easily.

"Still not refined enough."

Qin Feng made a calm assessment of himself in his heart.

Whether it was "Shadow of the Ferocious Owl," the newly grasped "Wind-Thunder Shadow," or the trump card "Dragon's Hide," they were all merely prototypes of "self-created killing moves," still a long way from true perfection.

After the review, Qin Feng slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and sharp.

With a thought, he opened the subspace network communication interface that had been silent for days.

Almost the moment he came online—

Ding!

A crisp notification sound, accompanied by a conspicuous transfer notice, popped up.

The sender was Xiong Yanfu.

[Transfer Notice: User "Blazing Xiong" has transferred to you: 52,000,000 Empire Credits.]

Then came the chubby guy's message, tinged with excitement and a hint of bragging.

[Bro Qin! Got the money, right? Hehe! I took all the profits from my betting pool, plus the earnings from your 100,000 principal—total 104 million—and we split it half-half. This is your share! Not a cent less!]

[We made a killing this time! Those who bet on Bayan—their faces were green! Hahaha, so satisfying!]

Looking at the long string of zeros on the light screen, even Qin Feng, with his composure, couldn't help but curl his lips slightly.

Fifty-two million Empire Credits.

For him now, this sum might not even buy the most basic psionic potion.

But for his family back on Proxima, it was a fortune that would ensure they never had to worry about livelihood for the rest of their lives.

He could almost see his father, Qin Dahai, receiving this money—first shocked, then with tears streaming down his aged face.

A warmth surged in Qin Feng's heart.

Without any pretense or refusal, he directly clicked "Confirm Receipt."

[Transfer received successfully. Your Empire Credit account balance is: 52,100,000.]

For Xiong Yanfu's friendship, any thanks would seem too pale.

The best repayment was to accept this kindness openly.

Sure enough, almost the next second after he confirmed the receipt, Xiong Yanfu's message came again, clearly waiting online.

But this time, the tone was no longer playful or smug; instead, it carried an... unprecedented gravity.

[Bro Qin, glad you got the money.]

[Honestly, after watching your match with Senior Bayan, I... was shaken.]

[I used to think cultivation was just about following the steps—after all, my talent isn't bad, and I'd advance sooner or later. So I spent most of my time figuring out how to make money and have fun.]

[But today, I realized how wrong I was.]

[Suddenly, I feel that my past life was too comfortable, too meaningless. Simply put, I didn't have the martial heart like you guys.]

[So, I've decided.]

[Starting tomorrow, I'm going to train like crazy.]

[I didn't even make the top 100,000 in this Rookie Cup. But next time, ten years from now, I hope I'll be worthy of standing on the arena and fighting you fair and square!]

Reading Xiong Yanfu's heartfelt words, a gratified smile appeared on Qin Feng's face.

He knew that this chubby guy, who usually seemed cynical, also burned with the pride and flame of a martial artist deep inside.

It was just that this flame had been smothered by a comfortable life.

And his own appearance was like a gust of wind, blowing away the dust, letting that flame blaze anew.

This was a good thing.

Qin Feng reached out a finger and slowly typed a reply.

[Keep it up! Mutual encouragement!]

Just two simple words, but they held the most sincere encouragement and hope.

He believed that with Xiong Yanfu's wisdom and talent, once he truly made up his mind, his future achievements would be limitless.

From the data, geniuses like Xiong Yanfu—with affluent families, ample resources, and training in "superior awakening methods"—had an average promotion time of about thirty years.

That was just the average.

If he could truly fight and strive as he said today, coupled with some good opportunities,

Perhaps within twenty years, he might have a good chance of completing the transformation from Level Four to Level Five.

The path of martial arts was long and full of variables.

No one could predict what things would be like ten years from now.

Qin Feng closed the chat window with Xiong Yanfu, feeling genuinely happy for his friend's awakening.

(End of chapter)