Chapter 163: Promoted to Disciple Group, a Huge Sum of 5000 Contribution Points

Chapter 163: Promotion to Disciple Rank, a Fortune of 5000 Contribution Points

Qin Feng closed the clamorous forum, his attention returning to his own cultivation plans.

“For now, contribution points are sufficient to support the next stage of seclusion. But before I go into seclusion, there is one thing I must complete.”

His gaze fell upon the schedule reminder on his personal terminal.

A line of red text, marked by him as top priority, was flickering faintly.

【Disciple Rank Promotion Tournament, begins today.】

“This is it.”

A glimmer of anticipation flashed in Qin Feng’s eyes.

Promotion to elite disciple not only brought contribution point rewards, but more importantly, that precious qualification: “once every ten years, consult a mentor on cultivation matters.”

The personal guidance of a galaxy-level powerhouse was invaluable beyond measure.

Without a moment’s hesitation, his consciousness sank into the subspace network, deftly opening the internal system of Canaan Star Martial Arts University, and entered the private channel of his own mentor—Yu Han.

The entire private channel was designed with extreme simplicity: only a backdrop of deep, boundless starry sky, and a few floating functional options.

Qin Feng directly tapped the option that emitted a faint glow—【Disciple Rank Promotion Tournament】.

【Detected student Qin Feng, current disciple rank: Apprentice Disciple.】

【Do you wish to begin the ‘Elite Disciple’ promotion assessment?】

“Yes.”

【Confirmed. Matching your assessment opponent…】

【Matching rule: The system will automatically select an opponent of ‘medium’ strength rating from among all elite disciples under mentor ‘Yu Han’, to ensure fairness of the assessment.】

【Match successful!】

Buzz—

The starry backdrop before him instantly twisted, stretched, and transformed into countless streams of light.

When Qin Feng’s vision cleared again, he stood on a vast, boundless white jade plaza.

The sky was a pure azure, without a wisp of cloud, the air crisp and fresh.

And a hundred meters opposite him, a youth in a white martial arts uniform, holding a sheathed long blade, slowly materialized along with the coalescing light and shadow.

The youth appeared to be about thirty years old, with handsome features and a temperament as gentle as jade. A faint, amiable smile lingered on his lips, betraying no tension of an impending battle.

【Assessment Opponent: Yun He】

【Life Force Index: 570.0】

【Primary Killing Arts: 《Wind-Listening Blade Art》 (Perfection), 《Flowing Water Blade Art》 (Perfection), 《Stone-Breaking Blade Art》 (Perfection)… Total of twelve first-level killing arts (Perfection), two second-level killing arts (Grand Mastery).】

Looking at the string of astonishing data displayed on the light screen, Qin Feng’s expression could not help but turn somewhat grave.

No wonder he was an elite disciple under a galaxy-level powerhouse.

His life force index was comparable to the guardian of the thirtieth floor, but the number of perfected killing arts he mastered was several times greater.

Twelve first-level killing arts at Perfection!

This meant that his accumulation in the “Acupoint Opening Realm” had reached an extremely terrifying level.

Just then, a cold, grand voice echoed above the plaza.

【Assessment begins. Countdown: 30, 29, 28…】

Yun He, across from him, did not immediately assume a combat stance. Instead, he smiled warmly at Qin Feng and spoke first: “Junior Qin Feng, I’ve long heard of your name. Seeing you today, you truly have an extraordinary bearing.”

Qin Feng nodded slightly and replied courteously, “Senior Yun He, it’s an honor.”

“Heh, no need to be so formal.”

Yun He waved his hand. Looking at Qin Feng, his eyes held a hint of kindly advice. “I know you have extraordinary strength, Junior. This promotion tournament is merely a formality for you. So, before we start, let me, as someone who has been through it, offer you a word of caution.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng said sincerely, “Please speak, Senior. I am all ears.”

Yun He nodded, his smile fading slightly, turning serious.

“Once you successfully become an elite disciple, Junior, you must seize the opportunity to apply as soon as possible for that once-a-decade qualification to consult Mentor Yu Han in person. Don’t feel embarrassed or think your questions are too shallow.”

He paused, as if recalling something, then continued: “I remember clearly, there was a senior before, like you, who specialized in the long staff—ah, spear and staff share the same origin, more or less. He had extremely high talent. It took him ten years to cultivate all fifteen first-level staff arts to ‘Perfection,’ yet he could not push any of them to the ‘Mastery’ realm. That bottleneck trapped him for a full five years.”

“Later, during one consultation, Mentor Yu Han took one look at him and declared that he had no affinity with the staff, but instead had a very high compatibility with the blade.”

“That senior was half-doubtful at the time, but he followed the mentor’s advice and abandoned the staff for the blade. And guess what happened?”

A flicker of awe passed through Yun He’s eyes.

“After switching to the blade, in just one year, he pushed all three newly learned first-level blade arts to ‘Perfection’! In another two years, he comprehended all three blade arts to the ‘Mastery’ realm! The bottleneck that had plagued him for decades vanished into thin air!”

“Oh? Is that so?”

For the first time, Qin Feng’s face showed genuine astonishment.

This went beyond his previous understanding of martial cultivation.

“Yes.”

Yun He nodded emphatically and explained, “Because the power of first-, second-, and third-level killing arts relies more on the subtlety of the art itself and the complexity of spiritual energy usage. As long as your comprehension is high enough, resources are sufficient, and you are willing to work hard, theoretically, any killing art can be mastered.”

“However, fourth-level killing arts and above are completely different. They require the martial artist to deeply integrate their own spiritual power with the killing art in order to execute it!”

“Therefore, fourth-level killing arts and above come in all kinds of strange and diverse forms. To quickly master them, the path you choose must have a high degree of compatibility with your spirit, your soul, even your very nature.”

“Take the simplest example,”

Yun He looked at Qin Feng, speaking even more plainly. “Some people are naturally cautious and timid. When trouble arises, their first thought is to retreat behind others and seek safety. If you make such a martial artist cultivate a domineering killing art that charges forward without looking back, with me alone and no enemy, even if he trains for a lifetime, he will likely achieve little. Because deep in his soul, he is at odds with that kind of killing art.”

“But if you let him cultivate something like the Shadow Clan’s arts—stealth, concealment, one-hit-kill assassination techniques—then his progress might be very fast. Because such killing arts align with his nature.”

“This is the match from the depths of the soul.”

Yun He’s tone was filled with reverence. “Ordinary people cannot see this compatibility at all. Only those with profound strength and deep understanding of spiritual power can see through it at a glance. And our mentor, Lord Yu Han, happens to be such an existence.”

【Countdown: 3, 2, 1…】

After listening to Yun He’s detailed explanation, Qin Feng felt a sudden clarity. Many of the mists obscuring his future path had been dispelled.

He felt sincere gratitude toward this senior, whom he had never met before, yet who was willing to impart such knowledge.

“Thank you for your guidance, Senior. Qin Feng is deeply indebted.”

He solemnly cupped his hands and bowed.

【Begin!】

The moment the countdown ended, the gentle smile on Yun He’s face vanished abruptly, replaced by a sharp, blade-like battle intent.

His right hand gripped the hilt of his blade, and he shouted in a deep voice: “Junior Qin Feng, forgive my rudeness!”

Clang!

The long blade left its sheath, emitting a clear, resonant dragon’s roar!

A dazzling blade light, like a waterfall cascading from the ninth heaven, instantly illuminated the entire jade plaza, slashing straight toward Qin Feng’s head!

Faced with this earth-shattering strike, Qin Feng’s expression remained utterly calm.

He did not choose to meet it head-on; instead, with a flick of his wrist, the black longspear in his hand transformed into a nimble black dragon, the spear tip lightly tapping, striking with pinpoint precision against the side of the dazzling blade light.

Ding!

A crisp ring rang out, and Qin Feng’s figure borrowed the force to retreat, deftly dissipating the terrifying power contained within the blade light.

Yet Yun He’s assault was like an unending river—no sooner had one blade fallen than another arose.

In an instant, the entire square was filled with crisscrossing blade light and pervasive killing intent.

Yun He wielded his twelve perfected first-level blade techniques with effortless mastery, fusing them into an impenetrable net of blades that completely enveloped Qin Feng from all directions.

However, no matter how ferocious his assault or how exquisite his technique, Qin Feng, at the center of the blade net, remained like a lone boat adrift amidst raging winds and towering waves.

Seemingly perilous, on the verge of capsizing at any moment, yet always at the most critical instant, he evaded the deadliest attacks at the smallest cost.

The longspear in his hand no longer sought offense but became the sturdiest shield.

At times, like a serpent emerging from its lair, it struck cunningly at the weak points of the opponent’s blade technique; at others, like a boulder standing guard, it firmly parried heavy, powerful chops.

He was retreating.

One step, two steps, three steps…

He was defending, evading, constantly falling back.

To an outsider, he seemed completely on the defensive, suppressed by Yun He with no room to counter.

Only Yun He himself grew more alarmed with each exchange.

He felt as if he were attacking a wad of cotton—no matter how much force he exerted, it was neutralized by the opponent in an exceedingly ingenious manner.

Moreover, as the battle progressed, he realized that Qin Feng’s every retreat and every block was not random.

The opponent’s rhythm carried a strange cadence, subtly guiding the direction of his blade strokes and luring his attack tempo.

It was as if he were not chasing Qin Feng but being led by the nose by him!

“Not good!”

By the time Yun He realized this, it was already too late.

In his pursuit of ultimate suppression, he had unconsciously stepped into a most deadly trap meticulously laid by Qin Feng during one of his advances.

His old strength had just faded, and new power had yet to arise.

It was a fleeting flaw—theoretically impossible to exploit.

But for Qin Feng, who had been waiting for this moment, it was enough!

Now!

Qin Feng, who had been purely on the defensive, burst forth with a blazing light in his eyes!

His long-suppressed momentum, at this instant, erupted like a volcano compressed to its limit!

His retreating foot suddenly halted, his back arching like a dragon, and the longspear in his hand ceased all blocking and parrying. At the spear tip, a deep, abyssal dark-golden light flickered to life.

Self-created killing move—[Dragon’s Hidden]!

Hum—!

A vast and profound suction force emanated from the spear tip.

Yun He’s full-powered slash seemed caught by an invisible black hole; all its strength and momentum uncontrollably surged toward that single point of dark-golden light!

Then, in the next instant, that devoured power, mingled with Qin Feng’s own surging spiritual energy, was hurled back with even greater ferocity and condensation!

Boom!

A supremely condensed dark-golden spear beam, like a dragon whipping its tail, tore through the air and struck Yun He’s chest with a speed beyond his reaction limit.

The shock on Yun He’s face froze instantly.

His body, as if hit head-on by a battering ram, flew backward, dissolving into countless specks of light in midair before slowly fading away.

The battle ended.

The white jade square slowly dissipated, and the profound starry backdrop reappeared before Qin Feng.

A flash of light, and Yun He’s figure materialized not far away, his face bearing a lingering bitter smile and awe.

“I’ve long heard that Junior Qin Feng excels at turning defense into offense—first luring the opponent into relentless attacks, draining their spirit, then seizing that fleeting flaw to unleash a thunderous, earth-shattering blow that decides the outcome.”

He shook his head and conceded, “I thought I had guarded against this, reminding myself throughout the fight not to be rash or let you dictate the rhythm. Yet, unexpectedly, I still fell step by step into the trap you set.”

“Though I intended to be wary, my body’s combat instincts were still lured in by you…”

Yun He looked at Qin Feng, his eyes complex as he sighed, “Junior, your self-created killing move ‘Dragon’s Hidden,’ which has reached the ‘Realm of Control,’ truly lives up to its reputation—it is indeed formidable.”

He clasped his fists in sincere admiration: “No wonder you’re the uncrowned rookie king who defeated Bayan; I lost without complaint.”

“Senior flatters me; it was merely luck.”

Qin Feng returned the bow humbly.

Both figures vanished, and Qin Feng’s consciousness settled back onto the panel of his private subspace domain.

A cold system notification sounded in Qin Feng’s ear.

[Congratulations! You have successfully defeated the assessment opponent, and your disciple rank has been promoted!]

[Your disciple rank has been promoted from ‘Registered Disciple’ to ‘Elite Disciple’!]

[Promotion Reward: Contribution Points x500, Authority Upgraded.]

[Elite Disciple Authority Unlocked: You have obtained the formal qualification to consult a mentor on cultivation matters once every ten years.]

Looking at the prompts on the panel, Qin Feng’s mood lightened.

He glanced again at his contribution point balance.

[Contribution Points: 5139.]

Over five thousand contribution points!

This fortune was enough to support a long, extravagantly luxurious seclusion.

Qin Feng pondered, his gaze falling on the newly acquired [Elite Disciple Authority].

Without hesitation, he reached out and tapped the faintly glowing button—[Apply for Mentor Consultation].

An application window popped up.

Qin Feng confirmed the submission.

[Application submitted. Awaiting reply from Mentor Yu Han. Please be patient.]

Having done this, Qin Feng’s heart settled completely.

Everything was ready; only the east wind was needed.

And that east wind was the personal guidance of a galaxy-level powerhouse.

After Mentor Yu Han’s instruction, he would enter a deep seclusion.

Once he had submitted the application, Qin Feng waited quietly in his dormitory.

He had assumed that a galaxy-level powerhouse like his mentor Yu Han, with a myriad of affairs to attend to each day, would let his application sink into oblivion, and that he might have to wait days or even months for a reply.

Yet, to his astonishment, less than three minutes had passed.

Ding!

A crisp notification tone sounded on his personal terminal.

An encrypted communication from [Mentor - Yu Han] popped up directly.

The message was concise to the extreme.

"Wuxian District, Qingya Residence, I await you."

A single line, simple yet carrying an unyielding authority.

Qin Feng's heart skipped a beat, and a surge of intense joy and anticipation flooded through him.

Without a moment's hesitation, he rose from his bed, straightened his attire, and strode out of his dormitory, heading straight for the public teleportation array within the academy.

"Wuxian District"—that name, Qin Feng had seen on the forums.

It was the most elite residential area in all of Canaan Starry Sky University, far beyond the scope of "student dormitories."

Those who lived there were none other than the academy's true giants—vice principals, deans of various colleges, and mentors like Yu Han, who possessed illustrious battle merits and terrifying strength at the galaxy level, or even the black hole level.

That place was a forbidden zone that ordinary students might never set foot in for their entire lives.

Standing on the massive subspace teleportation array, Qin Feng entered the temporary access coordinates given by Mentor Yu Han.

As the array beneath his feet blazed with brilliant light, a familiar sensation of space being stretched and folded washed over him.

The scene before him instantly dissolved into a kaleidoscopic torrent of colors.

This process lasted less than a second.

When Qin Feng's vision cleared again, he was utterly awestruck by what lay before him.

It was not the resplendent grandeur he had imagined, nor the steel forest of futuristic technology.

What greeted his eyes was a vast, boundless bamboo grove, verdant as an emerald sea.

Every bamboo stalk stood straight as a spear, piercing boldly toward the heavens. The leaves, a lush green, rippled in layers under the gentle breeze, producing a rustling sound that soothed the soul.

The air was thick with the refreshing fragrance of bamboo leaves and a dense, almost liquefied celestial energy.

Just by taking a single breath here, Qin Feng felt as though every cell in his body had been cleansed, leaving him indescribably comfortable and clear.

The sky was a pure cerulean blue, with a nameless white star radiating a soft glow hanging high above.

Deep within the bamboo grove, a path paved with white cobblestones wound its way into the distance.

This place felt more like a secluded paradise, cut off from the world.

Qin Feng followed the path deeper into the bamboo grove.

His steps were light, afraid to disturb the tranquility of this place.

The further he went, the stronger the awe that gripped his heart.

He could sense that the laws of space here seemed different from the outside—more stable, more distinct.

After walking for several hundred meters, a quaint and elegant courtyard appeared before him.

The courtyard was modest, built from bamboo, with verdant vines climbing its walls. Above the gate hung a black wooden plaque, inscribed with three bold and vigorous characters—Qingya Residence.

The gate was left slightly ajar, as if awaiting a guest's arrival.

Qin Feng took a deep breath, steadied his emotions, stepped forward, and gently pushed the gate open.

Inside the courtyard, a hidden world unfolded.

A small yard paved with bluestone, with a stone table at its center and several stone stools around it.

A middle-aged man in a pure black training suit stood with his back to Qin Feng, quietly beneath an ancient pine tree in the middle of the yard, seemingly admiring the gnarled branches.

He stood there without emitting any earth-shattering aura, yet the moment Qin Feng saw his silhouette, his breath caught in his throat.

In Qin Feng's perception, this man seemed to have merged completely with the heavens and the earth.

He was not a man; he was this bamboo grove, this sky, this universe.

More terrifyingly, Qin Feng could clearly "see" that around this mentor's body, the surrounding celestial energy was forming a vast and stable tide.

It rose and fell slowly in a rhythm of profound mystery.

Each rise and fall felt like a breath of the cosmos, each exhalation and inhalation like an exchange of energy with the essence of the endless starry sea.

This level of control over energy was utterly beyond Qin Feng's comprehension.

He knew that the man before him was his mentor, the galaxy-level powerhouse he had only glimpsed once at his enrollment—Yu Han.

Qin Feng composed himself, suppressing the shock within, stepped forward, stopped behind Mentor Yu Han, and bowed respectfully, neither servile nor arrogant.

"Student Qin Feng pays respects to Mentor."

His voice was steady and firm, breaking the silence of the courtyard.

Yu Han slowly turned around.

His face was exactly as Qin Feng remembered—ordinary, resolute, yet carrying a depth that seemed to pierce through the soul.

A faint smile appeared on Yu Han's face, and the suffocating pressure dissipated like smoke.

"No need for formalities."

He gestured to the stone stool beside him, signaling Qin Feng to sit.

"Mentor, I have come to seek your guidance, to clarify the path of my future cultivation."

Once seated, Qin Feng got straight to the point.

"Hmm."

Yu Han nodded slightly, studying Qin Feng as if admiring an uncut gem.

"Company Commander Zhou Xiong has already told me about your affairs. Your performance—whether in the Freshman Cup or just now at the Canaan Tower—has exceeded my expectations. Well done."

Receiving his mentor's affirmation, joy welled up in Qin Feng's heart, though he kept his composure.

Yu Han continued, "I also understand your purpose here. However, theories on paper are ultimately shallow. To truly point you toward the most suitable path, I need to personally examine your condition."

He looked at Qin Feng, his expression turning serious.

"Next, I will use a special nurturing technique—the 'Ten Complete Hands'—to inspect your physical meridians, energy circulation, mental will, and soul origin."

"During this process, you may see or experience bizarre illusions, even revisit your deepest desires and fears. But remember my words: do not resist, do not struggle. Completely surrender your mind, as if you were having a long dream."

"When the dream ends, I will naturally tell you what weapon suits you best, what killing technique suits you best, and what nurturing method suits you best."

The moment Yu Han finished speaking, Qin Feng's pupils contracted sharply, and an undisguised astonishment spread across his face.

"Ten Complete Hands?"

He couldn't help but speak, the three words all too familiar and too shocking to him.

From the very beginning at the Limit Martial Arts Hall, where Master Sun Chantang used this supreme technique to eradicate his ailments and reshape his foundation.

Later, Company Commander Zhou Xiong of the Limit Warrior Corps used the same method to help him digest the Star Beast Type II gene serum.

And now, today, his galaxy-level mentor Yu Han was about to employ the same technique to guide him.

This was already the third time he had heard the name "Ten Complete Hands."

These three names each represented the most important benefactors and guides he had encountered on his martial path.

And they all, it turned out, mastered the same ultimate technique!

Yu Han seemed to have anticipated his reaction, a knowing smile spreading across his face: "It seems you've encountered it before, not just once."

"Yes, Mentor."

Qin Feng answered truthfully.

"Hmm."

Yu Han nodded and explained, "The 'Ten Complete Hands' is one of the ultimate nurturing techniques kept in the vault of our Limit Warrior Legion, never taught to non-core members. It can not only probe the bones and roots, purge hidden ailments, but when cultivated to its depths, it can also see into the soul's origin, pierce through illusions and reality—its uses are boundless."

His gaze grew deep and distant.

"In the future, if you pass the trials and successfully join the Limit Warrior Legion, you will naturally have the chance to learn this ultimate technique."

With that, Yu Han said no more. He gently beckoned to Qin Feng.

"Come here."

Without hesitation, Qin Feng rose and walked before Yu Han.

The moment he drew near, an irresistible, deep-as-the-sea drowsiness surged like a tide, instantly sweeping over his entire consciousness.

His eyelids became heavier than a thousand pounds.

The bamboo grove, the courtyard, the ancient pine—all began to blur and twist.

He felt as if he had fallen into a warm and profound vortex.

Then, Qin Feng fell asleep.

…

Qin Feng felt as though he had dreamt a very long dream.

The dream was bizarre and fragmented.

In some dreams, he was back on the bloody battlefield of "Hell-IV," spear in hand, fighting madly against endless Nurgle-corrupted corpses, blood and fire staining the entire sky red.

In others, he stood on the finals platform of the "Stellar Cup," watched by billions of races across the universe, beneath his feet countless once-dazzling prodigies.

He held high the championship trophy, the highest honor for the universe's young generation, receiving the cheers and worship of billions.

In still others, he returned to Morningstar, to that small home.

His family sat around the dining table, eating steaming hot meals, chatting about daily life, their faces beaming with happiness and contentment.

The dreams kept shifting.

Slaughter, glory, warmth…

He seemed to experience cycle after cycle, tasting everything a martial artist could pursue, and savoring all that a mortal could possess.

After an unknown span of time, when that deep drowsiness slowly receded, Qin Feng's consciousness finally returned to his body.

He slowly opened his eyes.

What greeted him was still that elegant courtyard, that sturdy old pine.

And Mentor Yu Han sat quietly on the stone bench opposite, a cup of clear tea in hand, watching him with a look full of inquiry and satisfaction.

"How do you feel?"

Yu Han set down his teacup and asked with a smile.

Qin Feng shook his still-drowsy head, trying hard to recall.

"I feel… like I had many, many dreams."

Qin Feng said somewhat blankly. "But I can't remember a single one of them—only a vague sensation remains."

"Hmm, that's right."

Yu Han's expression turned serious and solemn.

"I've basically understood your situation."

He said in a low voice: "First, weapons. Your physical potential and mental will far exceed ordinary people. In theory, you can learn any cold weapon and achieve remarkable results."

"But what you prefer—or rather, what your soul's deepest combat instinct favors—is a style that is grand and sweeping, exquisite yet weighty, weighty yet swift. Your soul places extreme emphasis on the efficiency of attack and killing, born for large-scale battlefields."

Every word from Yu Han seemed to carry a strange magic, striking Qin Feng's heart.

"Therefore, you can try staff, spear, long saber, broadsword, horse-chopping saber, halberd, greatsword, claws—these heavy, grand weapons suited for charging into battle. In choosing killing techniques, focus mainly on those for such weapons. For fist techniques, choose ones like the 'Fierce Bird Fist Art,' which are fierce and purely offensive."

At this point, Yu Han paused slightly, his gaze sharpening.

"However, defense does not suit you."

These words struck Qin Feng like a morning drum or evening bell, jolting his mind.

He instinctively thought of his self-created killing move—[Dragon's Hiding].

That was his strongest survival card, and one of his most frequently used techniques in battle.

It was powerful, practical, and had saved him from danger many times.

But…

Qin Feng asked himself honestly—he didn't enjoy using it.

That feeling of passively waiting, luring the enemy to attack, then seizing the opening to counter—always left him somewhat unsatisfied.

He truly preferred pure combat, the exhilarating, thorough crushing of all enemies!

So his soul had already made its choice.

Qin Feng nodded slightly, lost in thought.

Seeing the understanding in Qin Feng's eyes, Yu Han nodded with satisfaction and continued: "Of course, what I say is relative. Specializing in one path lets you grow fastest in the early stages. But later, when you reach the ninth rank and above in the 'Imperial Arena' and want to break through further, you must return to comprehensively learn many different styles of killing techniques, absorb the strengths of a hundred schools, and fuse them into one, to advance further."

With that, Yu Han sent Qin Feng a private message through the subspace network.

It was a long list of techniques, each with detailed annotations.

"Here are three first-level killing techniques most suited to you, twelve second-level techniques, and five third-level techniques."

Yu Han's voice rang out.

"These techniques all lean toward the style I just described. You can choose freely, or learn them all. With these as references, you can cultivate all the way to the sixth-level Soaring Martial Artist without taking any detours."

Qin Feng looked at his subspace network message and saw those techniques.

Each one seemed tailor-made for him, their core concepts stirring in him a sense of eagerness and impatience.

This was the guidance of a galaxy-level powerhouse!

One word could decide a path of thousands of miles!

After a long moment, Qin Feng opened his eyes, stood up, and bowed deeply to Yu Han with solemn sincerity.

"Thank you for your guidance, Mentor. I am deeply grateful!"

This time, it was his most heartfelt, most sincere gratitude.

Yu Han accepted his bow with composure, then waved a hand.

"Go on."

Qin Feng nodded heavily, said nothing more, and turned to leave the serene courtyard.

---

Armed with the guidance from his mentor Yu Han and that weighty list of techniques, Qin Feng used subspace teleportation to swiftly return to his dormitory in the student quarters.

The dorm was spotless.

Yet now, in Qin Feng's eyes, this familiar environment seemed somehow different.

He no longer needed to wander in confusion, no longer needed to trial and error.

Only one thing remained for him to do—walk unwaveringly down the illuminated path!

"Staff, spear, longsword, broadsword, horse-slaying saber, halberd…"

"Focused on offensive efficiency, born for large-scale battlefields…"

"Defense is not for you."

Mentor Yu Han's words still echoed in his ears.

Qin Feng's heart was utterly clear.

He was even eager to enter seclusion immediately, to exchange for those killing techniques his mentor had recommended, then pour all his time and energy into cultivating them, mastering them, turning them into his true strength!

"Over five thousand contribution points are enough to exchange for a sea of cultivation resources. This time in seclusion, my strength will surely undergo another qualitative leap."

Qin Feng's heart brimmed with unprecedented confidence and anticipation.

He had already planned everything.

Once seclusion ended, his life force index would surely break through the thousand mark, perhaps even higher.

Then, when he challenged the Stone Clan warrior on the thirty-first floor of Canaan Tower, the scene might be entirely different.

Yet just as he was about to enter the seclusion pod and sever all ties with the outside world—

Dingdong.

A crisp notification sound from a subspace network private message suddenly rang out.

Qin Feng's brow furrowed slightly.

Shi Potian, Xiong Yanfu, and the others all knew he was about to go into seclusion; they wouldn't contact him at this time.

Who could it be?

With a trace of curiosity, he opened the communication interface.

The next second, a name both familiar and unfamiliar came into view.

[Sender: Shi Dang.]

Qin Feng's gaze sharpened.

It was that "hometown fellow" from Venus Star who had proactively added him as a friend after his rookie cup match.

He opened the private message.

The message was short, but between the lines, it exuded an extremely respectful and sincere attitude, a far cry from the arrogant Stone-Man hybrid Qin Feng remembered.

"Senior Qin Feng, I apologize for the intrusion and hope you'll forgive me. I am Shi Dang, from Venus Star River Military Senior High. I know your time is precious, and I know I have no right to take up your time. But there is an obstacle in my heart, an unknot that I cannot untie. This knot has severely affected my cultivation. So I earnestly beg you, Senior, to spar with me."

"I only wish to personally experience just how vast the unattainable gap between us truly is. Only then might I be able to sever my inner demon and set out anew. Regardless of victory or defeat, regardless of the outcome, Shi Dang will be eternally grateful!"

Reading this message, Qin Feng fell silent.

He could feel from the other's words a desperate, all-or-nothing resolve that bordered on pleading.

He recalled the figure he had seen on the teleportation platform—the one who had watched him from afar with a complicated gaze but ultimately dared not approach.

He also remembered how, during the Venus Star Rookie King Tournament back then, he had crushed this once-arrogant genius with thunderous force.

For a genius, the greatest enemy is often not others, but the pride of one's own past.

This Shi Dang was clearly trapped in a cage formed by the gap between his invincible past and the harsh reality of the present.

He needed an external force to shatter that cage completely.

And he, Qin Feng, was the most suitable—perhaps the only suitable—hammer-wielder.

"Oh well."

Qin Feng sighed inwardly.

Since they both hailed from Venus Star, if he could lend a hand, he would.

It wouldn't take much time anyway.

After a moment's thought, he replied: "Alright."

Those two simple words plunged the other end of the dialog into a long silence.

A full minute passed before Shi Dang's reply came again, his tone brimming with an almost unbelievable excitement and gratitude.

"Thank you!"

Qin Feng paid no heed to the other's excitement. He calmly continued typing: "Where shall we fight? The Imperial Arena, or Canaan's private domain?"

This was a crucial question.

The Imperial Arena, as the empire's official virtual combat platform, had "rank protection" and "attribute balancing" mechanisms to ensure relative fairness in competition.

In low-rank matches, the system would automatically lock both parties' life force indices at a relatively close level, testing more of their combat skills and technique mastery.

But Canaan Star Martial University's internal private domain battles had no restrictions.

Everything was based on the most authentic data of the martial artists.

It was, in the truest sense, a comprehensive crushing of the weak by the strong.

By asking this question, Qin Feng was actually offering Shi Dang a way out.

If he chose the Imperial Arena, at least the data wouldn't be too far apart, and the spectacle might be more palatable.

However, Shi Dang's answer surprised him and earned his respect.

"Private domain."

Shi Dang's reply came without a moment's hesitation. "What I need to feel is the most authentic gap. I beg you, Senior, to go all out without holding back! Shi Dang is infinitely grateful!"

"Good."

Qin Feng said no more.

[You have sent a Canaan private domain friend-room battle invitation to friend 'Shi Dang'...]

[The other party has accepted the invitation.]

[Entering battle space...]

Light and shadow shifted.

Qin Feng's figure appeared in a pure white, boundless virtual space.

This was the most basic setting of the friend room, devoid of any obstacles or environmental influences, perfect for a pure contest of strength.

A hundred meters opposite him, the figure of Shi Dang slowly coalesced into form.

He gripped a heavy battle-axe, his upper body bare, the dark-gold bloodline patterns of the Stone Clan covering his entire frame, exuding a dense and formidable aura.

His life force index read 73.4.

Among students who had been enrolled for seven years, this number was only slightly below average.

Clearly, as he himself had said, his cultivation had hit a tremendous bottleneck.

At this moment, Shi Dang’s face bore an unprecedented solemnity and gravity.

He regarded this duel as the most important pilgrimage of his martial life.

“Senior Qin Feng, please!”

Shi Dang tightened his grip on the battle-axe, stomped heavily with both feet, and his entire aura began to surge wildly.

His bloodline talent, belonging to the Stone Clan, was driven to its utmost limit!

(The chapter ends)