Chapter 167: The "Whale Fall" of a Martial Artist, Storming the 61st Floor of Canaan Tower! Contribution Points

Chapter 167: The Martial Artist's "Whale Fall" – Storming Floor 61 of Canaan Tower! Contribution Value Soars!

When the four-person squad stepped into the core fortress remodeled from a cruiser wreck, their ultimate goal for this journey finally appeared.

"WAAAGH!!!"

Accompanied by a berserk roar that could shake the very foundations of the structure, a colossal figure over six meters tall rose from the throne at the heart of the fortress.

It was a true greenskin Warboss.

It wore a bloated, nightmarish suit of mega-armor cobbled together from various warship plates, power armor scraps, and massive bones.

Dozens of shootas and rocket pods were mounted externally on the armor; one arm was a hydraulic power claw belching thick smoke, while the other dragged a chainaxe larger than Qin Feng’s entire body.

From its form emanated a WAAAGH! field so dense it nearly materialized, causing the surrounding space to warp faintly.

The battle that followed was a full seven days of bloody carnage.

The Warboss’s mega-armor and WAAAGH! field were far too powerful.

The psychic attacks from Linzhou and the other two merely rippled across its surface.

Even Qin Feng’s brutal assaults could only leave shallow white scratches on the armor.

They were locked in a grueling struggle, forced to fight like the most patient hunters—circling the behemoth, constantly eliminating the bodyguards it summoned, while searching for its weaknesses.

After countless probes, they finally found a breakthrough.

"Its left knee joint uses a piece of an Imperial Knight mech wreck—the defense is flawed!"

Linzhou shouted after a suicidal close-range assault.

The tactic was instantly clear.

Qin Feng became the sturdiest "shield," holding the Warboss’s frenzied attacks head-on.

His power armor sparked and blazed, alarms screaming, but with his formidable physique and iron will, he managed to pin the monster in place.

Linzhou, Kaluo, and Yu Lin transformed into the sharpest "spears," focusing all their attacks on that single weak point at the Warboss’s left knee.

Energy beams, the rending of power claws, overbearing blade auras—thousands upon thousands of strikes, like water wearing through stone, finally shattered the joint on the evening of the sixth day.

"Oww—!"

The Warboss let out a pained roar, its massive frame losing balance as it dropped to one knee, kicking up a storm of dust.

It swung its chainaxe in a rage, trying to rise, but Qin Feng was already upon it.

Facing the descending axe—a blow that could split mountains—Qin Feng did not dodge. He rooted his feet into the ground, pouring every ounce of combat experience, every shred of will, every iota of strength from these past months into his right fist.

In his eyes, there was no enemy, no battlefield—only the Eternal Emperor seated upon the Golden Throne.

[Jinluan]!

He threw a punch, striking the massive breastplate exposed by the Warboss’s kneeling posture.

"Clang—!!!"

A sound like an ancient bronze bell tolled, echoing through the entire fortress.

Time seemed to slow in that instant.

Everyone saw that Qin Feng’s fist did not directly touch the thick armor, yet a radiance brighter than the sun burst forth.

An intangible, sovereign "force" collided at the most fundamental level with the savage, chaotic WAAAGH! field radiating from the Warboss.

"Crack… crack, crack, crack…"

The crisp sound of shattering rang out. The Warboss’s sturdy breastplate, forged from warship armor, spiderwebbed with fissures like a cracked eggshell, spreading rapidly outward.

Finally, with a dull explosion, the entire breastplate—along with the flesh and bone beneath—was crushed and pulverized inward by an indescribable power!

The Warboss’s colossal body stiffened, the ferocity in its eyes fading fast.

"WAA… AGH…"

It uttered its final, feeble roar, then its massive form crashed to the ground, silent.

The WAAAGH! field collapsed and dissipated.

The battle was over.

The fortress fell into dead silence, broken only by the soft hum of the power armor’s life support systems.

Qin Feng, Linzhou, Kaluo, and Yu Lin stood quietly beside the Warboss’s corpse, their chests heaving violently.

"Psssh…"

Four synchronized clicks—they all raised their helmet visors, revealing their faces.

Each face was etched with exhaustion and smeared with green blood, but their eyes shone with startling brightness.

They did not cheer, nor did they speak.

The four exchanged a silent glance, then, as one, raised their right arms, clenched their fists, and struck their left chests.

A perfect military salute of the Imperial Guard.

The salute completed, the corners of their mouths curled into genuine, radiant smiles.

—

In the air, the thick stench of blood and gunpowder lingered, mingling with the pervasive spore scent to create a nauseating odor unique to a greenskin battlefield.

The four stood still, silently regulating their heavy breaths. The power armor’s life support hummed softly, filtering the foul air.

Months of bloody combat had been a tremendous drain, even for warriors of their caliber.

After recovering, Kaluo activated a psychic flamethrower and began burning the greenskin corpses.

If left unburned, by next year a new crop of greenskin boyz would sprout here, eager for a beating.

Once the battlefield was cleared, they regrouped.

"Yuanqiao."

Qin Feng’s voice broke the silence. He looked deeper into the fortress, where the red coordinate point on his tactical HUD still flickered stubbornly.

The final battle had leveled this core area completely; finding the target should have been easy.

Yet when they followed the coordinates and cleared away layers of metal debris and greenskin remains, they found the point indicated a bottomless pit of rubble and soil.

Clearly, the fallen soaring martial artist had met his end deep underground.

Over the next few days, the four became the most efficient excavators.

Yu Lin’s overbearing blade aura cleaved through massive metal wreckage; Kaluo’s power claw precisely grabbed and cleared rubble; Linzhou used his psychic power to sense the underground structure and prevent collapses; while Qin Feng, with his brute strength, hauled away tons of scrap.

Their cooperation remained seamless, though the slaughter of battle had given way to silent labor.

Finally, when they had dug nearly a hundred meters underground, they broke through the last barrier.

A completely different world unfolded before them.

It was a vast underground cavern, and at its center, instead of the expected rock and soil, lay a forest so lush it was almost unbelievable.

The forest was not large—only a few li in circumference—but every plant grew with extraordinary vigor.

Vines thick as pythons covered the cavern walls; trees had gnarled, powerful branches whose canopies nearly obscured the entire ceiling; the ground was carpeted with a thick layer of velvet-like green moss that emitted a soft glow, bathing the whole space in a dreamlike radiance.

In the air, the filth and stench of the outside world were gone, replaced by a refreshing, rich, almost liquefied spiritual energy and the fragrance of grass and trees.

“The concentration of spiritual energy here… is too high.”

Carlo’s voice carried a hint of awe; he could feel his power armor’s energy core spontaneously and slowly absorbing the ambient free spiritual energy.

The four stepped into this dense forest that should not exist beneath a dead planet; the heavy footsteps of their power armor fell on the soft moss, making surprisingly little sound.

They soon found the source of the coordinate point at the heart of the forest.

It was a towering, verdant ancient tree, its trunk so thick it would take nearly ten people to encircle it.

And beneath the tree, a skeleton sat quietly, leaning against it.

The skeleton remained in a cross-legged posture, its head slightly bowed, as if lost in eternal slumber.

Though flesh had long dissolved with time, from its still-upright spine and steady sitting posture, one could glimpse the unyielding will and pride it possessed in life.

His body had long turned to dust; only this white skeleton, under the glow of fluorescence, emitted a warm, jade-like luster.

With him at the center, countless thick roots spread from the ground, like tender arms gently embracing him.

On the ground around him grew a multitude of spiritual plants of various shapes, shimmering faintly, each of considerable value.

And within the skeleton’s chest cavity, a “Origin Cavity” about the size of a palm, perfectly round, translucent like glass, floated silently.

It resembled a miniature star, with countless points of light slowly swirling, appearing and vanishing within, radiating a heart-stopping, surging wave of life and spiritual energy.

“This is… a whale fall.”

Linzhou looked at the scene before him, his tone tinged with complex emotion. “In the deep sea, when a whale dies, its massive body sinks to the depths, using its death to nourish a thriving oasis of life. It’s the same for powerful martial artists—even if they die from severe wounds or exhaustion, the surging spiritual energy and life force in their bodies still rejuvenate everything around them.”

“This senior used his own body as nourishment, turning this silent underground cavern into a vibrant secret realm.”

Carlo stepped forward, not touching any of the precious spiritual plants, but merely bowed slightly to the skeleton, his power armor emitting a soft friction sound.

“This forest is the best tomb this martial artist built for himself.”

He sighed.

Yulin remained silent, only thrusting the longsword from his arms into the ground, placing his right hand on his chest, and performing a standard military salute to the skeleton.

Qinfeng also felt a surge of respect.

This unknown sixth-level martial artist had fallen here thirty years ago.

For thirty years, his final life essence had not dissipated but, in another way, created such a miracle of life on this dead planet.

This itself was a form of life’s greatness and immortality.

He stepped forward, carefully reached out, and took the warm Origin Cavity from the skeleton’s chest cavity.

The moment it touched his hand, a vast, boundless spiritual energy flowed through his fingertips, causing the “Great Sun Cavity” within him to hum with excitement.

Just holding it, Qinfeng felt his cultivation increase at an imperceptible rate.

“Truly the crystallization of a sixth-level martial artist’s lifelong cultivation.”

Qinfeng marveled inwardly.

He solemnly stored the Origin Cavity into his subspace storage unit.

According to mission rules, the moment the mission was submitted, the Origin Cavity would be directly extracted from his storage unit by the subspace network and transmitted to the designated location.

The four did not touch any of the surrounding spiritual plants.

This was the final respect for the fallen senior.

They took one last look at the tranquil forest and the martial artist resting beneath the tree, then turned and left this miracle of life, returning to the cold, dead ruins above ground.

“Mission objective recovered.”

Qinfeng said in the team channel. “Submit mission, return to school.”

“Agreed.”

“Agreed.”

“Agreed.”

The three seniors replied succinctly.

Qinfeng then selected “Submit Mission” and “Request Return” on his tactical terminal.

The next moment, four brilliant white pillars of light descended from the sky, precisely enveloping the four of them.

The scenery before them began to warp and fold; the dead planet’s murky sky, rusted ruins, and drifting smoke rapidly faded and dissipated in the blinding white light.

The light flashed, and a dizzying sensation came and went.

When Qinfeng’s vision cleared again, the stench unique to the dead planet had been replaced by fresh, clean air.

The cold, stark metallic feel remained, but the surroundings had become utterly familiar.

A massive alloy dome, spotless floors, and in the distance, the quietly standing teleportation platforms.

They had returned to the dedicated teleportation hub of the “Fearless War Brigade” at Canaan Star Martial University.

Almost at the same moment they appeared, the identity wristbands of all four vibrated slightly.

Cold electronic prompts sounded in succession.

[Mission: Recover fallen martial artist’s Origin Cavity from Planet K-7 — Completed.]

[Mission Rating: Perfect.]

[Mission Reward Calculating…]

[You have received: Contribution Points 750.]

[You have received: Fearless War Brigade Reputation 3000.]

A series of prompts declared that this nearly six-month-long expedition had come to a perfect end.

“Done, finished.”

Carlo stretched, the joints of his power armor creaking, and a hint of ease showed in his eagle-like eyes.

“Pleasure working with you, Junior Qinfeng.”

Linzhou smiled and extended his hand to Qinfeng. “Your strength has truly impressed me. If you have similar missions in the future, feel free to find me.”

“And me.”

Carlo also walked over and patted Qinfeng on the shoulder. “Teaming up with you feels solid.”

The ever-silent Yulin nodded as well; though he said nothing, the recognition in his eyes was clear.

“You three seniors flatter me. I learned a lot from this mission.”

Qinfeng said sincerely.

Especially the terror of mental power interfering with reality, which made Qinfeng yearn for the higher realms of martial artists.

The four added each other as friends on the subspace network, a mark of identity recognition.

At Canaan Star Martial University, only truly worthy comrades were added to private contact lists.

“I need to go to the training room to digest the insights from this battle. I’ll head off now.”

Yu Lin was the first to speak, nodding to the group before taking heavy steps toward the training area.

"I need to go polish my 'babies'—they've been through a lot this time."

Carlo let out a whistle, referring to his pair of menacing power claws, and turned to leave as well.

"Then I'll go report to the mentor. See you later."

Linzhou also waved with a smile and quickly disappeared around the corner of the corridor.

In the blink of an eye, only Qin Feng remained on the teleportation platform.

He stood still, feeling the fleeting camaraderie that came and went so quickly.

It made him keenly aware of the vast difference between veteran students who had been at the academy for years and the newcomers.

The veterans spoke little, acted with crisp efficiency, and focused solely on their own cultivation and strength. Each team-up was based on mission needs and mutual recognition of ability; once the task was done, they dispersed immediately to plunge into the next round of training.

Interpersonal relationships, by contrast, seemed distant and utilitarian.

This was a far cry from the atmosphere at Qiyi High School, or even when he first entered Canaan, where newcomers eagerly banded together, sharing resources and warmth.

This was the solitude of the strong, and also the unspoken understanding among them.

Qin Feng shook his head, collected his thoughts, and strode toward the logistics and maintenance center attached to the Fearless Zone.

His "Punisher I" power armor, after months of ultra-high-intensity combat, was riddled with scars.

A massive gash on the chest plate from the war leader's chain-axe, melted scorch marks on the shoulder guards from energy weapons, and dents and scratches all over silently testified to the brutality of the battles.

At the free power armor repair station, Qin Feng secured the armor onto the maintenance platform. Several flexible mechanical arms extended, beginning to scan and repair his battle-worn equipment.

[Power armor structural integrity: 67.4%]

[Left shoulder armor: melt damage, defense reduced by 42%]

[Chest plate: structural cracks detected, replacement recommended]

[Energy core overloaded, psychic output efficiency decreased by 18%]

Watching the series of red warnings on his tactical HUD, Qin Feng couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.

As he waited for the mechanical arms to perform automated repairs and replenish the psychic core, he opened his personal asset panel.

[Name]: Qin Feng

[Identity]: Canaan Star Martial University, Fearless Legion member, elite disciple of Mentor Yu Han

[Contribution Points]: 759

[Fearless Legion Reputation]: 3000

[Empire Credits]: 100,000

Looking at the data on the panel, Qin Feng's brow furrowed slightly.

Before the mission, his contribution points had been only 9.

This mission awarded 750 points, totaling 759.

As for reputation, it was 3000.

"Still not enough..."

Qin Feng calculated in his mind.

His future expenses would be astronomical.

Not to mention the exorbitantly priced "Great Sun Acupoint Fusion Technique," just replacing his current five-level warrior standard power armor, the "Defender" series, along with a matching five-level alloy weapon, would cost a mountain of contribution points.

"Seven hundred-odd contribution points might seem like a lot, but it's just a drop in the bucket."

"To earn contribution points quickly, there are only two paths."

Qin Feng's thoughts raced.

"First, keep taking these high-difficulty four-person team missions. The rewards are good, but each mission takes at least six months."

"Second, challenge the Canaan Tower."

The Canaan Tower was the core trial ground of Canaan Star Martial University and the most stable, efficient way for students to earn contribution points.

Qin Feng's eyes flickered.

"What I need most right now isn't seclusion or missions." In his mind, the scene of him unleashing the [Golden Throne] punch replayed.

It was an unprecedented ultimate killing move that unified all his strength and will.

"[Golden Throne], this fist technique I derived from merging all my current first-level mastery-level killing methods, was only initially realized on the battlefield. Many details are still rough. I need a large number of diverse real combat experiences to hone it, perfect it, and make it truly the sharpest weapon in my hands."

And the Canaan Tower was undoubtedly the best whetstone.

The enemies inside were varied, and the combat environments differed, allowing for the fullest testing and refinement of a killing technique.

"Besides, the Canaan Tower's rewards aren't bad either."

Qin Feng recalled the information he had obtained from Hammer. "From the first to the hundredth floor, the basic reward for successfully clearing each floor is 50 contribution points. If there are more battles, you can earn extra points."

With that thought, Qin Feng's mind was made up.

"It's settled."

He looked at his power armor, now fully repaired and recharged with a new psychic core, gleaming anew. His gaze became resolute.

"First, go to the Canaan Tower to fully master [Golden Throne], and see how many floors I can clear with my current strength!"

—

Emerging from the logistics center, Qin Feng didn't pause for a moment. He headed straight back to his dorm.

"Hammer, log me into the Canaan Tower. Select floor thirty-one. Start the challenge."

Qin Feng's consciousness instantly entered the subspace network.

The Canaan Tower.

It stood like a black sword piercing the heavens, silently floating amidst the nebula.

The tower's body wasn't made of any known metal or rock, but a strange substance that seemed to absorb all light, filled with depth and mystery.

The last time Qin Feng had challenged the tower was twelve years ago.

Back then, he had just made a name for himself in the Freshman Cup, with a life force index barely over 500.

He had swept through all obstacles, clearing up to the thirtieth floor.

But on the thirty-first floor, he met his Waterloo.

The guardian of that floor was a "Stone Clan Champion Warrior" with a life force index as high as 610.

It was a mountain he simply couldn't climb at the time.

The Stone Clan were naturally gifted with immense strength and astonishing defense, and that champion warrior took both traits to the extreme.

Qin Feng remembered clearly: he had given it his all, unleashing every hidden ace he had, yet he could barely scratch the enemy's rock-hard skin.

A single simple heavy hammer blow from the opponent was enough to send him flying as if struck by a starship, his blood and energy churning, utterly battered.

He had challenged it over a dozen times, each ending in crushing defeat.

But today, he has returned.

The identity wristband automatically scanned, authentication passed.

Hammer's voice sounded in his ear:

[Transporting you to the thirty-first floor...]

The darkness before his eyes receded like a tide, replaced by a vast space filled with a primal and savage atmosphere.

Here was a vast rocky plain, the ground rugged and uneven, surrounded by countless jagged stalagmites and stone pillars, like the exposed skeletal frame of a giant beast.

The air was several times heavier than outside, an invisible gravitational field enveloping the entire space; if an ordinary martial artist were here, even movement would become extremely difficult.

And in the center of the plain, a tall, burly figure was slowly rising from a massive boulder.

It stood over four meters tall, its skin a granite-like gray-white, covered with naturally formed, stratum-like textures.

Muscles knotted like indestructible rocks, brimming with explosive power; in its hand, it dragged a massive warhammer, the size of a door panel, carved from a single piece of obsidian.

Stone Clan Champion Warrior.

[Enemy unit generated: Stone Clan Champion Warrior]

[Vitality Index: 610.0]

Twelve years ago, these numbers had been a boulder pressing on Qin Feng's heart, suffocating him with helplessness.

But now, looking at that familiar yet unfamiliar figure, not a single ripple stirred in Qin Feng's heart.

His vitality index was 1730.0.

This was no longer a gap, but a chasm.

"Roar——!!!"

The Stone Clan Champion Warrior's combat style was extremely ferocious.

The moment it locked onto Qin Feng, its crystal eyes erupted with fierce battle intent, letting out a deafening roar.

The entire rocky plain seemed to tremble slightly under its roar.

It took heavy steps, like an out-of-control heavy chariot, charging toward Qin Feng.

With each step, the ground cracked; it raised the huge obsidian warhammer high, bringing it down with a shriek that tore the air.

This hammer blow gathered all its strength, enough to smash a small interstellar landing craft into scrap metal.

Twelve years ago, facing this strike, Qin Feng could only dodge awkwardly.

But this time.

Qin Feng did not even move a single step.

He merely stood still, assuming a boxing stance, facing that crushing blow, slowly raised his right hand, made a fist, and then—gently pushed forward.

[Jinluan].

There was no earth-shattering energy burst, no terrifying fist wind that could split rocks.

Qin Feng's movement even seemed casual, like brushing dust off his clothes.

Yet, the moment his fist thrust forward, an invisible, supreme "force" suddenly descended with him at its center!

It was a majesty of ruling the world, a domineering power that suppressed the universe.

The Stone Clan Champion Warrior, in the midst of its furious charge, suddenly stiffened.

A trace of confusion and fear appeared in its fierce crystal eyes.

It felt as if it had crashed into an invisible, intangible, yet indestructible and insurmountable wall of sighs.

The surrounding air, the entire space, became like solidified mercury, so heavy that every cell of its body groaned.

That terrifying power from [Jinluan], like an invisible giant hand, gripped it tightly from all directions, then began to crush inward madly!

"Crack... crack..."

A crisp, teeth-grinding sound of shattering rang out.

The first to collapse was its rock-solid skin, of which it was so proud.

Fine cracks, like a spiderweb, instantly spread over its entire body.

Next came its hard bones, thick muscles, and the surging blood and qi within.

"Puff!"

It had no chance to make another sound.

The massive body of the Stone Clan Champion Warrior, less than ten meters from Qin Feng, disintegrated like a can crushed by ultra-high pressure.

It turned into countless pure specks of light, scattering and dissipating into the air.

From the moment it charged to its complete annihilation, the entire process took no more than three seconds.

Instant kill.

A thorough, no-doubt-about-it instant kill.

Qin Feng slowly withdrew his fist, quietly gazing at the now-empty plain, his heart filled with myriad emotions.

Once upon a time, this insurmountable mountain now did not even deserve a second glance from him.

Such was the change brought by strength.

Hammer's prompt tone sounded at the right moment:

[Victory in battle, Contribution Points x 1]

[Congratulations! You have successfully cleared the thirty-first floor of Jianan Tower!]

[Basic reward: Contribution Points x 50]

The space ahead twisted, and a portal to the thirty-second floor slowly materialized.

Qin Feng did not pause; he stepped into it in one stride.

A new journey had begun.

In the days that followed, Qin Feng immersed himself completely in the battles of Jianan Tower.

It became the perfect training ground for him to refine [Jinluan], his ultimate killing technique.

From the thirty-second to the fortieth floor. The enemies in this stage had vitality indices between 600 and 800, with all kinds of bizarre races.

On the thirty-third floor, he encountered a group of cunning "Shadow Clan Assassins."

These creatures could merge into shadows, move with ghostly speed, and attack silently.

When Qin Feng first used [Jinluan], he was still at the crude stage of "one punch to suppress everything," and several times, because the attack range was too large, these assassins seized gaps to get close.

After several failures, he began to try changes.

He no longer pursued the grand scene of a one-hit kill, but learned to internalize the "force" of [Jinluan].

Any Shadow Clan Assassin that stepped within Qin Feng's vicinity would feel a tremendous pressure, their speed plummeting, movements sluggish, as if trapped in a quagmire.

And Qin Feng could then calmly eliminate them one by one.

He had mastered the first transformation of 【Golden Throne】—the Guard.

From the forty-first to the fiftieth floor, the enemies at this stage had their life force index soaring to around 1,000 points, and some powerful individuals with special abilities began to appear.

On the forty-fifth floor, the gatekeeper was a pair of "Twin Spirits."

These two energy lifeforms could transform into each other, their coordination flawless.

When Qin Feng faced them for the first time, he suffered a great loss.

When he focused on attacking the physical-form Star Spirit, he would be violently assaulted by the mental-form Star Spirit, splitting his head with pain; and when he tried to resist the mental assault with his will, the physical-form Star Spirit would deal him a heavy blow.

This battle truly made him begin to ponder how to merge his martial will with his spiritual power.

Though the fight was arduous, he ultimately succeeded in slaying both Twin Star Spirits simultaneously.

On the fiftieth floor, he encountered a "Titan Beetle," with a life force index as high as 1,200 points. The hardness of its shell even surpassed the power armor worn by that War Lord from before.

None of Qin Feng's attacks could breach its defense.

This time, he chose the purest, most primal method.

The moment his fist thrust forward, heaven and earth collapsed!

"Boom—!!!"

A thunderous roar echoed as the Titan Beetle's shell, reputed to withstand the residual waves of a planet-destroying cannon, began to dent, crack, and ultimately shatter completely from its center, crushed by an irresistible force!

This punch was the strongest strike Qin Feng could deliver so far.

Thus, he had refined, familiarized, and mastered the killing move 【Golden Throne】.

From the fifty-first to the sixtieth floor, the enemies' life force index had fully surpassed 1,500 points. Each one was nearly invincible within its own rank.

Qin Feng's battles grew increasingly difficult, yet his 【Golden Throne】 was honed to greater perfection and brilliance through each life-or-death struggle.

He encountered the "Magnetic Clan," who could manipulate metal; the "Flesh Ancient Tree," capable of infinite regeneration; and the "Elite Pirates," piloting small, high-mobility combat suits.

The killing move 【Golden Throne】 had become utterly ingrained in his bones, a part of his martial arts.

He could split and combine it at will, evolving endless variations to handle any complex battle situation, and could wield it freely through spear techniques or staff techniques.

When he finally defeated the "Nurgle Devotee" on the sixtieth floor, whose life force index reached 1,650 points, and successfully cleared the stage, his face showed not a trace of fatigue, only a calm and composure that came from reaching the pinnacle of mastery.

These thirty floors of combat were a perfect transformation for him.

The sixty-first floor.

The moment Qin Feng stepped onto this floor, he sensed a completely different aura.

This was no longer any simulated natural environment, but a pure white space filled with absolute rationality and cold logic.

The ground and walls were composed of countless one-meter-square cubes emitting a soft white light.

The entire space was eerily silent, not even the sound of air flowing could be heard.

At the very center of the space, countless tiny, liquid-metal-like silver particles were rapidly converging.

They coalesced and shaped themselves in a way that defied the laws of physics, ultimately forming a humanoid lifeform.

Its entire body was composed of flowing, shimmering liquid metal, slender and elegant in form, with no facial features—only a smooth, mirror-like head.

[Enemy Unit Generated: Mechanical God Clan · Sentinel-7 Type]

[Life Force Index: 1800]

Qin Feng's pupils abruptly contracted.

Before he could think further, the "Sentinel-7 Type" moved.

Its movement could not be described as "fast"; it should be called "disappearance."

One moment, it was a hundred meters away. The next, it was right before Qin Feng, a sharp blade formed of liquid metal, shimmering with high-frequency particle streams, silently thrusting toward his heart.

Qin Feng's combat instincts screamed a frantic warning!

Without a second thought, he leaned back while throwing a crushing punch imbued with the might of 【Golden Throne】.

Yet the Sentinel's reaction was faster than his instinct.

The moment Qin Feng threw his punch, the blade it had thrust instantly dissolved and transformed into a precise energy shield, just the right size to block his fist.

"Boom!"

Fist met shield, and immense power erupted.

But that energy shield merely flickered once, absorbing and neutralizing all the domineering force of 【Golden Throne】.

Then, the Sentinel's other arm transformed into a pitch-black particle cannon, aimed at Qin Feng's head, now inches away.

Crisis! An unprecedented crisis!

Qin Feng roared, twisting his body with the Dragon-Serpent Step, narrowly dodging the lethal shot.

But the particle blast grazed his helmet, shattering half of his power armor's shoulder guard.

The battle had entered a white-hot state from the very start.

Qin Feng pushed his strength to its utmost, wielding the countless variations of his killing techniques with effortless ease.

Yet no matter what lethal move he used, the Sentinel always found the fastest, most efficient, and most energy-saving way to perfectly neutralize it.

This was a complete, all-around crushing defeat.

After holding out for less than five minutes, the Sentinel seized a 0.01-second opening, severed one of Qin Feng's arms with a high-frequency particle blade, then pierced through his chest armor. His entire body turned into particles of light and was teleported out of Canaan Tower.

[Challenge Failed.]

Qin Feng was not discouraged. After a brief adjustment, he launched another challenge.

The second time, he lasted six minutes.

The third time, seven minutes.

...

On the tenth challenge, he gave his all, but only managed to leave a shallow scratch on the Sentinel's smooth body, while he was once again cleanly "killed."

Slowly stepping out of Canaan Tower's virtual challenge pod, Qin Feng's face showed no frustration, only deep contemplation.

"My strength and the essence of my killing techniques have reached the limit of my current stage."

"But my speed, reaction, and combat style are still far from sufficient."

"Against an enemy like this, pure offensive killing intent has little effect. What I need is greater speed, more efficient energy usage, and... a means to disrupt or even destroy the opponent's 'computational power'—that is, spiritual force interfering with reality."

A new direction formed in his mind.

He opened his personal terminal to check the rewards from this tower climb.

[Canaan Tower Challenge Settlement]

[Floors Successfully Cleared: 30 (Floors 31 to 60)]

[Total Contribution Points Earned: 1650]

Looking at this number, a faint smile curled at the corner of Qin Feng's mouth.

His contribution point balance had leaped from 759 to 2,409.

2409 contribution points, plus 3000 reputation.

That adds up to 5309, which is actually enough for me to go into seclusion once.

If calculated based on the resource consumption during the last seclusion...

Last time I opened 120 acupoint shells, spending a total of 4600 contribution points. The remaining contribution points were used to purchase killing techniques.

Now with 5309 contribution points, opening one hundred and twenty acupoint shells is certainly achievable.

Qin Feng calculated.

He had already opened 170 acupoint shells, and to finish opening all acupoints in one go, he would need to open another 190 acupoint shells.

The final acupoint shells become increasingly difficult to open, consuming more and more resources, so Qin Feng felt he would need to accumulate at least 8000 to manage it.

Let me do a few more tasks.

Qin Feng simply had Hamer help him filter tasks and continued to undertake perilous missions amidst blood and fire.

(End of chapter)