Chapter 169: Canaan Rookie Cup Begins! Aiming for the Championship! Black Hole Level

Chapter 169: The Canaan Rookie Cup Begins! Aiming for the Championship! A Black Hole-Level Martial Artist Arrives to Watch!

When Qin Feng's consciousness returned from the cold torrent of data in the Imperial Arena and descended once more into his quiet dormitory, that fierce, dragon-like momentum of his spear slowly withdrew, finally settling into a profound calm.

Half a year of frantic tempering and tens of thousands of life-and-death battles had kept his spirit taut as a bowstring at all times.

But now, the bowstring relaxed, and a long-absent, heartfelt exhaustion wrapped around him like a warm tide.

He did not dive into a new round of cultivation right away; instead, he sat quietly on the sofa and emptied his mind.

His gaze involuntarily fell upon the communication terminal, focusing on the profile picture labeled "Father," which he had kept pinned to the top for forty years.

The most recent message was still from a few months ago.

A warm current welled up in his heart, accompanied by a tinge of guilt.

Over these years, in his pursuit of the pinnacle of martial arts, he had invested almost all of his time into bitter cultivation and combat, leaving his communication with his family few and far between.

He took a deep breath to calm his mind and finally pressed the call button.

The subspace signal, spanning countless galaxies, established a connection in an instant.

"Beep... Beep..."

After only two rings, the communication was picked up.

A familiar, slightly aged face appeared within the holographic projection.

It was none other than his father, Qin Dahai.

Compared to forty years ago, the frost of time had stained his father's temples, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes had deepened considerably.

Yet his eyes remained bright and gentle, his back held perfectly straight, making him look hale and hearty—even carrying a bit more of the steady aura of a leader than during his days at the factory.

"Ah Feng!"

Seeing Qin Feng's face, a brilliant smile immediately erupted on Qin Dahai's face, the heartfelt joy and longing nearly overflowing from the screen.

"Dad."

Qin Feng smiled as well, his voice unconsciously slowing and softening, "How has your health been lately?"

"Good! Doing great!"

Qin Dahai thumped his chest firmly, producing muffled "thud-thud" sounds, and spoke with a voice full of vigor, "Your old man's body right now is better than when I was young! Not a single one of the young kids at the factory can beat me!"

And so, across the vast starry sky, the father and son began the most ordinary sort of casual chat.

They did not speak of world-destroying killing techniques, nor did they touch upon the cosmic wars that routinely obliterated galaxies.

What they talked about was the new, reckless greenhorn at his father's factory, the property prices on Planet Qiming that had recently gone up again, and the trouble the neighbor's worthless son had caused once more.

These trivial, warm pieces of family gossip acted like the most effective medicine, smoothing away the hostility and coldness that had accumulated in Qin Feng's heart from years of slaughter, allowing him to feel once more that most primitive attachment called "home."

"By the way, Dad, how is your current strength coming along?"

After chatting for a while, Qin Feng still asked about his father's cultivation progress.

He knew that ever since his father had regenerated his severed arm and begun cultivating the martial path, he had been filled with enthusiasm for it.

"Sigh, don't bring it up."

Hearing this, a complex expression of slight pride mingled with a bit of helplessness appeared on Qin Dahai's face. He scratched his head and said, "Aperture opening and aperture fusion were completed long ago, thanks to all the money you sent back before, as well as the things your two cousins delivered."

"But, well, it stops right there."

He sighed, speaking with quite a bit of distress, "Didn't you tell me before that after the Level Five Aperture Fusion Realm comes the Level Six Soaring Sky Realm, where you have to start cultivating something called 'mental energy'? Oh boy, that stuff has truly stumped me. I bought several manuals on mental meditation and practiced along with them for years, but aside from feeling like I sleep sounder and my brain is clearer, it's completely useless! Mental energy interfering with reality, soaring and flying—I can't even catch a shadow of it."

Qin Feng listened quietly, though a clear understanding formed in his heart.

Because of his limited foundation back then, his father had chosen the most widely circulated Imperial standard, the "Medium Aperture Opening Method," which only required opening seventy-two apertures in total.

This path excelled in being stable, fast, and low in resource consumption, making it most suitable for older beginners.

However, its ceiling was also firmly locked.

A foundation of seventy-two apertures was inherently inferior to that of geniuses who practiced superior or top-grade aperture opening methods.

Furthermore, the mental meditation manuals purchased afterward were all the most common, mid-grade varieties on the market.

Add to that the fact that his father had long left the battlefield and had not experienced continuous, true life-and-death campaigns of blood and fire like he had; his will and spirit had never been tempered to their absolute limits, so it was naturally difficult for him to touch upon that mysterious threshold of "mental energy interfering with reality."

The advancement of his strength had quickly slowed down after the completion of aperture fusion, even falling into stagnation.

"Dad, it's nothing."

Qin Feng comforted him gently, "Martial arts cultivation is never something achieved overnight; it's a matter of letting things fall into place naturally. Right now you are healthy and living a stable life, which is better than anything else. As for the realm, there's no need to force it, just let nature take its course."

"Haha, you brat, now you're turning around to lecture your old man."

Qin Dahai scolded with a laugh, but the gratification in his eyes could not be hidden no matter what, "Don't worry, your dad has a great mindset! I know my own worth, and being able to have the life I have today is all thanks to my son. I was just grumbling to you, nothing more."

He paused, remembering something else, and said with a smile, "Besides, in the factory right now, I'm a figure whose word is law, who dares to mess with me? So what if cultivation is a bit slow, it's enough for my use anyway."

Hearing his father say this, Qin Feng was completely put at ease.

He then asked about his uncle and cousins.

"Your uncle is really making something of himself now!"

At the mention of his younger brother, Qin Dahai's face once again shone with a look of shared pride, "He is now a 'Level Three Power Armor Designer' who ranks among the best on our Planet Qiming! He just got his qualification certificate last year, and several big factories are fighting over him! Although we all know that there was a benefactor helping out back then who gave him the chance for advanced studies, he himself was determined, studying day and night. That drive of his is something even I admire! Right now, their days are flourishing!"

"As for your two cousins,"

Qin Dahai continued, "the two of them haven't graduated yet. The Starry Sky Martial Arts University has a long academic system, unlike back in our day. But those two boys are truly filial; they didn't forget their roots after making something of themselves. Every now and then they send things home—some newly released nutritional fluids, some potions good for the muscles and bones of the elderly—the warehouse is almost too full to hold them."

"Especially for me."

His father's tone became exceptionally solemn, "They sent the most things to me, and many items were specified by name for me. They know full well in their hearts that if you hadn't gotten into Qiming First High School back then and claimed the title of 'Qiming Rising Star,' how could we have the good life we have today? Their ability to enter the Starry Sky Martial Arts University is, at its root, all thanks to you. So they are returning the favor to me."

Qin Feng listened quietly, a warm current flowing through his heart.

He knew that what his father said was the truth.

In this Imperial society that highly revered elites, the rise of a single genius was enough to bless an entire family.

His honors back then had indeed leveraged resources and opportunities for his uncle's family that they originally could not have touched in a lifetime.

And that his two cousins knew to show gratitude made him feel very gratified.

"Once this Rookie Cup is over, I should prepare some gifts for them as well."

Qin Feng thought silently to himself.

The father and son chatted for a long time more, until the urging voice of a factory assistant came from Qin Dahai's side, prompting him to say with lingering reluctance, "Alright, alright, I won't talk to you any longer. I need to go register some report information. You brat out there, pay more attention to your own safety, you hear me?"

"I know, Dad. Take good care of your health too."

"Good, good, then I'm hanging up."

"Yeah."

The light of the holographic projection slowly faded, and the dormitory returned to silence once more.

Qin Feng leaned against the sofa and closed his eyes, a faint, placid smile on his face.

This family letter that crossed forty years of streaming light made Qin Feng's mood even more relaxed.

Leaning against the sofa, he enjoyed a moment of tranquility before reopening his subspace communication interface.

Besides his father's message, dozens of unread private messages lay quietly in his contact list.

These messages, like anchors in time, recorded the traces of those who had crossed paths with him during the long seventeen years of his seclusion.

He opened the group chat consisting of Lei Meng, Tie Mu, Shi Potian, and Xiong Yanfu.

The latest message, sent a few months ago, was initiated by Xiong Yanfu.

【Xiong Yanfu】: @everyone @Qin Feng, brothers, the new rookie tournament is about to start! Old Qin, you should be out of seclusion by now, right? Let's do it the old way—gather before the match, hit up Taotie Ju! My treat!

【Lei Meng】: Your little stash of private money isn't even enough to fill a tooth gap. @Qin Feng, Old Qin, reply when you see this!

【Tie Mu】: Seconded.

【Shi Potian】: Waiting for him to come out.

These few short exchanges were filled with the tacit understanding and boldness unique to men.

Qin Feng looked at these familiar IDs and their speaking styles, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily lifted.

These brothers, who had forged a deep friendship since enrollment, remained the same even after decades.

He didn't reply immediately but continued scrolling down.

Next came messages from several esteemed mentors.

The first to catch his eye was the avatar of Mentor Lin Yue.

This gentle mentor, who had given him countless help and support back at Qiming No.1 High School, still had that photo with a faint smile as her avatar.

Her message, like her personality, was full of warmth and liveliness.

【Mentor Lin Yue】: Little monster, I've successfully advanced to the Planetary level! Sprinkle flowers~\(≧▽≦)/~! You've been off the grid all these years. How's it going? What realm have you reached in your cultivation?

Looking at this message full of playful emojis, Qin Feng couldn't help but laugh.

Even though she had become a Planetary-level powerhouse capable of crossing the star sea with her physical body, Mentor Lin's mindset was still like that of the older sister next door back then, without any hint of a strong person's airs.

He smiled, his fingers swiftly tapping on the virtual keyboard.

【Qin Feng】: Congratulations, Mentor Lin, on advancing to the Planetary level! Your student has completed the aperture opening and is preparing to break through to the Merging Aperture realm.

After replying to Mentor Lin, he opened the chat window of Wu Shangfeng.

This mentor, known for his coldness and iron-bloodedness, had messages that matched his personality—concise, direct, yet filled with profound care.

Wu Shangfeng's messages were several, scattered across different time points, mostly his own insights on martial arts cultivation and the latest intelligence about alien races and Chaos leaked from the Imperial Military.

The latest one was sent a year ago.

【Wu Shangfeng】: "Qin Feng, remember, power itself has no right or wrong, but the will that wields it has direction.

Honor, loyalty, following—these are the driving forces for a warrior's fight, but if you indulge in them and take them as the goal itself, you will lose your way and become enslaved by power.

The senior I most revered, the battle team captain who led my growth—he had brilliant achievements and was deeply loved by his subordinates, but he was too obsessed with the honor brought by battle, the following of comrades, the glory of combat... In the end, after a tragic battle, he accepted the blessing of Khorne.

The evil gods are more terrifying than any alien race.

You must always be vigilant."

A short passage, yet it struck Qin Feng's heart like a thunderbolt.

A Khorne worshiper who had fallen to corruption!

Involuntarily, his mind flashed back to the perilous scene decades ago on the planet Inferno-IV, where the fallen veteran Kelo had stirred his mind, nearly seducing him by the evil god Khorne.

If not for the [Nail of Favor] pulling him back at the last moment, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Mentor Wu Shangfeng was willing to use such a painful, even confidential incident from his own experience to warn him—this care was no small matter.

Qin Feng's expression turned extremely solemn. He pondered for a long time before slowly replying.

【Qin Feng】: Your student will keep your teachings in mind. Power is a boat, will is the rudder—I will never dare to forget.

Finally, there was the message from Mentor Gu Yue.

This mentor, who had given him the most guidance back at Qiming No.1 High School, even leading him onto the true path of martial arts, had a message that was much simpler—just one sentence.

【Mentor Gu Yue】: Qin Feng, how is your cultivation progressing? Do not slack off.

The simplest words carried the deepest expectations.

Qin Feng replied with equal solemnity.

【Qin Feng】: Mentor Gu Yue, your student has not failed your trust. I have completed the aperture opening.

After replying to all three mentors one by one, Qin Feng continued scrolling down.

The remaining messages were a mixed bag.

One of them made his gaze linger for a long time.

The sender was Hou Yuwei, that mysterious girl he had met briefly at the Limit Martial Arts Hall and later had a short encounter with at Qiyi High School.

Her message, sent decades ago, was somewhat inexplicable, filled with a strong sense of loneliness.

Qin Feng didn't know how to reply, so he simply chose not to.

Loneliness is a pain that the strong must endure.

One can only bear it alone, gradually transforming from enduring the torment of loneliness to enjoying it.

Besides that, there were messages from some classmates he had known at Qiyi High School, like Zou Yun and Qin Lan, who had sent invitations to team up for missions.

But at that time, he was in seclusion, so naturally, he couldn't have seen them.

To these, Qin Feng simply replied with a single line: "Just came out of seclusion. Let's meet again if fate allows."

After doing all this, he turned his attention back to the group chat of Lei Meng and the others and sent his message.

【Qin Feng】: @everyone, I'm out of seclusion.

Almost the moment his message was sent, the group chat, which had been silent for months, immediately exploded.

【Lei Meng】: Holy crap! Old Qin! You finally decided to show up! I thought you were planning to stay in seclusion until the end of time!

【Xiong Yanfu】: You beast! You're finally here! Hurry up, Taotie Ju, the usual spot—I'll book a table right now! Tonight, we drink until we drop!

【Tie Mu】: Welcome back.

【Shi Potian】: Come quick.

The replies from the four were as distinct as ever.

Qin Feng looked at the messages jumping on the screen, a smile spreading across his face.

【Qin Feng】: Alright, Taotie Ju. I'll be there soon.

He stood up, stretched, and a crisp series of pops sounded from his joints.

Seventeen years of sitting still had left his body somewhat "rusty."

He took a quick shower, changed into a clean set of casual clothes, and stepped out of the dormitory.

The familiar floating shuttle, the familiar scenery.

When Qin Feng arrived at the "Food God District," the living area of Canaan Starry Sky Martial Arts University, he found it even more prosperous and lively than decades ago. Restaurants and taverns with various exotic styles lined the streets, and students bustled about, full of vitality.

He navigated with ease to the restaurant named "Taotie Ju," which was decorated in an antique style.

As soon as he stepped through the door, a resonant voice echoed from the private booth on the second floor.

"Old Qin! Over here!"

Qin Feng looked up to see Lei Meng’s signature bald head leaning over the railing, waving his hand in excitement.

Qin Feng smiled and made his way up the stairs.

Pushing open the booth door, he found Lei Meng, Tie Mu, Shi Potian, and Shi Dang already gathered around a massive round table.

The table was fully arrayed with an assortment of delicacies, most of them rare cuts harvested from powerful exotic beasts, brimming with spiritual energy.

Not having met for forty years, the changes in each of them were considerable.

Lei Meng had grown even more heavily built, his bronze skin mapped with fine scars, exuding the fierce aura of a hardened veteran of a hundred battles.

Tie Mu had grown steadier; he sat in silence like a mute mountain of iron, his internal energy restrained to the absolute limit, though the occasional gleam in his eyes kept one from overlooking his presence entirely.

Yet it was Shi Potian who had changed the most.

He remained as handsome as ever, but his temperament had undergone a earth-shattering transformation.

The sharp, unbridled edge of his youth was gone, replaced by the profound, natural poise of a grandmaster returning to simplicity. Sitting there, he seemed to blend seamlessly into his surroundings, perfectly at peace.

As for Shi Dang, he still carried a sharp, wild edge, his strength having progressed by leaps and bounds.

"Old Qin!"

"Qin Feng!"

Seeing Qin Feng enter, both Lei Meng and Tie Mu stood up, their faces radiant with the joy of reunion.

Shi Potian also offered a nod, a faint smile touching his eyes.

Shi Dang smiled too.

"Sit, sit!"

Xiong Yanfu enthusiastically pressed Qin Feng into a seat and poured him a glass of amber-colored liquor, "Come, come, to celebrate our great monster Qin emerging from seclusion after seventeen long years, let's have a toast!"

The five men raised their glasses.

Inside the booth of the Taotie Residence, the atmosphere grew lively.

The amber "Dragon's Blood Brew" swirled in the cups, releasing an intoxicating fragrance and pure spiritual energy.

A single small cup of such fine liquor was worth tens of thousands of Imperial Credits.

After a few rounds of drinks and several courses of food,

the conversation turned to their respective journeys over the past years. Lei Meng recounted his perilous year on a savage planet, engaging in guerrilla warfare with a pack of cunning predators;

Xiong Yanfu spoke with flying spit, boasting about how he used nothing but his silver tongue during a commercial escort mission to turn away a band of interstellar pirates without spilling a drop of blood;

Tie Mu was a man of few words, but the few remarks he offered were filled with practical survival techniques for extreme environments, dense with useful knowledge.

Qin Feng listened quietly, occasionally interjecting, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions.

These brothers, who once required his protection, had now grown into formidable figures capable of holding their own, shining brightly in their respective domains.

Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, a slightly abrupt voice cut in.

"Senior Qin Feng."

The one speaking was Shi Dang.

Holding his wine glass, he stood up and looked intently at Qin Feng, a hint of poorly concealed scrutiny and battle intent written across his sharp-featured face.

"Not having seen you for so many years, Senior's strength must have undergone an earth-shattering change once again, right?"

The moment those words were spoken, the lively warmth in the booth suddenly went still.

Xiong Yanfu and the others paused their chopsticks, turning curious eyes toward Qin Feng.

They, too, wanted to know just what terrifying heights this dear friend—whom they regarded as a "monster"—had reached after vanishing for seventeen whole years.

Qin Feng’s gaze swept across Shi Dang’s face.

He keenly perceived that deep within Shi Dang’s eyes lay a hidden, obsessive inquiry, identical to the one from their last meeting.

It was not the simple curiosity shared between friends, but rather something urgent... an eagerness to validate a certain hypothesis, to find an answer for himself.

Qin Feng's heart stirred slightly.

He recalled the warning he had given to Shi Potian and the others after their last gathering.

It seemed that the knot in Shi Dang’s heart had not truly been unraveled.

Had it been Xiong Yanfu or the others asking, Qin Feng’s nature would have led him to answer frankly.

Between friends, there was no need to hide things.

But facing the current Shi Dang, he changed his mind.

Because Shi Dang was acting far too strange.

"Hardly earth-shattering."

Qin Feng smiled, raising his glass to toast Shi Dang from across the space, his tone casual as he said, "After years of seclusion, I managed a breakthrough by a stroke of luck. Coming out this time is merely to participate in the Rookie Cup, intending to try my luck in the Tier 4 division."

Though it was not a direct answer, the information within his words was clear enough.

—He, Qin Feng, remained at the realm of a Tier 4 martial artist.

Shi Dang’s eyes visibly flickered.

An almost imperceptible gleam of relief flashed across the depths of his eyes, only to be instantly replaced by an even more intense desire for battle.

He had essentially confirmed it.

Qin Feng was still a Tier 4 martial artist.

Whereas he, Shi Dang, already stood at the peak of the Tier 5 Core-Blending Realm, on the verge of knocking on the door of the Tier 6 Soaring Realm!

As long as he broke through to the Tier 6 Soaring Realm, he would quickly surpass Qin Feng.

"So that's how it is."

Shi Dang sat back down, the expression on his face returning to calm, though that hidden fighting spirit only grew more solid.

He spoke no further, silently sipping his liquor.

The atmosphere in the booth, owing to this brief interlude, experienced a momentary freeze.

It was Xiong Yanfu who broke the silence with his usual boisterous manner.

He slapped his thigh and said with a chuckle, "Ha! Old Qin, you're competing in the Tier 4 division too? That's going to be something to see! Let me tell you, that old rascal Zhou Run registered for the Tier 4 division again this time! That guy has truly taken the spirit of gaming the system to the absolute limit, it's infuriating!"

"I just saw on the forum that he announced this will be his last time competing, aiming to secure ten thousand contribution points as his startup capital. From what I see, there’s probably no suspense about the championship for the Tier 4 division again this time."

Xiong Yanfu spoke with a face full of indignation.

"Old Qin, you'll have to put in some real effort!"

He winked at Qin Feng and said, "If we can't beat the champion, let's aim to bring back second place! That would still count as carving out a bloody path under that old monster's reign!"

"No problem."

Qin Feng laughed heartily, raising his glass and draining it in a single draught.

That composure and confidence left everyone present momentarily stunned, then they all broke into knowing smiles.

They knew Qin Feng never boasted.

If he said there was no problem, then there was definitely no problem.

For the rest of the time, they stopped discussing realms of strength and instead began sharing strange tales and adventures from their missions over the years, along with invaluable combat experience and precautions.

For instance, the fatal weakness of a certain alien creature, a hidden resource point in a dead star system, or how to deal with those cunning space pirates...

To them, who carried out missions year-round, this information was more precious than gold.

The meal stretched on until the moon hung high in the sky.

Only after everyone had eaten and drunk their fill did they reluctantly part ways, returning to their dorms to rest and prepare.

They agreed to meet again in a few days at the Canaan Rookie Cup arena.

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

When the bell signaling the official start of the Canaan Rookie Cup rang out across the entire Jianan Starry Sky Martial Arts University, a wave of fervor instantly swept through every corner of this prestigious institution.

Qin Feng followed the surging crowd into the main arena of the Rookie Cup—a colossal open-air stadium magnificent enough to hold millions of spectators.

At the center of the arena were hundreds of floating combat platforms of varying sizes.

Now, each platform was enveloped in a pale blue energy shield, awaiting the contestants' entry.

The surrounding stands were already packed to capacity.

From above, the sea of dark heads looked like swarms of ants, merging into waves of noise.

Cheers, shouts, whistles, and massive holographic projections cheering on favored contestants intertwined, soaring into the sky, almost drowning out the light of the artificial sun overhead.

This was a grand carnival for the entire Jianan Starry Sky Martial Arts University.

Qin Feng casually found an inconspicuous seat in the stands and sat down, quietly soaking in the long-missed liveliness.

His gaze swept across the crowd and soon spotted many familiar faces.

Not far away, Qin Lan and Zou Yun were huddled together, animatedly discussing something.

When they saw Qin Feng, they waved and smiled in greeting.

Qin Feng nodded and smiled back.

On the other side, he saw his former teammates—Carlo, Linzhou, and Yu Lin.

They were sitting with a group of equally fierce-looking members of the Fearless War Brigade. Sensing Qin Feng's gaze, they raised their hands and saluted him with an Imperial military gesture.

He even spotted Senior Bayan.

That martial artist, who had once guided him during the elite disciple assessment, was now seated in the front row, his expression solemn, as if awaiting the arrival of some important figure.

The entire arena was a massive social stage, linking every "cog" in the vast machinery of Jianan Starry Sky Martial Arts University.

Meanwhile, the "Jianan Starry Sky Martial Arts University Private Forum" on the subspace network had already exploded.

New posts sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain, refreshing so fast they left afterimages.

[#CanaanRookieCupOpeningCeremony# Strongest lineup ever! Click to see!]

[#ChampionPrediction# Zhou Run's odds in the fourth-level division have dropped below 1.05; the bookmaker has closed the book in tears!]

[#DarkHorseTracking# Mysterious rookie appears in fifth-level division with 100% mission completion rate, poised to challenge Shidang's dominance?]

[#LiveReport# I'm here at the scene! The atmosphere is already on fire! [Video]]

...

Each post had tens of thousands of replies.

The forum's online user count hit an all-time high.

At that moment, every student's attention was fixed on this once-in-a-decade event.

This frenzy reached its peak when the central holographic screen in the arena displayed the "Guest Mentor List" for this year's Rookie Cup.

"Oh my god! Look at the mentor list!"

"Mentor Lü Lan! Mentor Yue Hong! Mentor Mu Lin! Oh my god, these are all long-renowned star-level powerhouses! They actually came!"

"Not just them! Look further down! Mentor Yu Han! Mentor Zai Jing! Those are galaxy-level beings! Are they really interested in the Rookie Cup?"

Incredulous exclamations erupted from the crowd.

On the screen, names that thundered through Jianan Starry Sky Martial Arts University scrolled by slowly.

There were dozens of star-level mentors rarely seen by students in daily life—like Mentor Lü Lan, who appeared to be a middle-aged scholar but had once shattered a star with a single sword strike;

Mentor Yue Hong, fiery-tempered and stunningly beautiful, yet a master of the deadliest ice techniques;

And Mentor Mu Lin, who always carried a gourd of wine, eyes half-drunk, yet hailed as the "Number One Swordsman"...

What shocked everyone even more were the names in the latter half of the list—seven or eight galaxy-level mentors, each capable of suppressing an entire star system!

Qin Feng's mentor, Yu Han, was among them!

Also present was Mentor Zai Jing, renowned for his rigorous scholarship and impartiality, who presided over the academy's Discipline Hall.

Galaxy-level powerhouses were already great beings.

They were rarely seen, and any one of them could make a star system tremble with a single stomp.

Now, they had all gathered here just to watch a rookie competition?

That alone was an incredible thing.

But when the list scrolled to the end, when the final name appeared, the entire arena—millions of people—along with the tens of millions watching on the subspace forum, fell into a deathly silence in an instant.

Then, the next second, a roar like a mountain collapse and a tsunami erupted, enough to lift the arena's dome!

"Lord... Lord Zhou Xiong!!!"

"Captain of the Seventh Combat Company, the Ultramarines War Brigade!!"

"A black hole-level martial artist!!!"

"I'm not dreaming, am I! Captain Zhou Xiong is actually here in person!!!"

That name seemed to possess infinite magic.

Guest Mentor: Zhou Xiong!

The meaning behind this name transcended the category of "powerhouse."

The Ultramarines War Brigade was the most elite, core, and loyal armed force of the Human Empire!

It was the sharpest blade in the Emperor's hand!

And the captain of a combat company was the elite of the elite, a legend among legends!

A black hole-level martial artist!

That was a dimension above galaxy-level—a godlike existence!

Such a living legend had come as a "guest mentor" to watch... a rookie cup competition?!

This was more bizarre than a planet suddenly sprouting legs and running away!

Well, some planets are indeed formed when a cosmic creature, in its slumber, absorbs interstellar dust—and it’s not unheard of for them to sprout legs and run away.

But Company Commander Zhou Xiong, a true dragon who shows only his head and never his tail, would actually condescend to watch the Canaan Rookie Cup!

Let alone the Rookie Cup, even the Star Cluster Cup is like child’s play before a Black Hole-level powerhouse like him.

“Why? Why would Company Commander Zhou Xiong come?”

“Could it be… that among this year’s rookies, there’s a peerless prodigy worthy of his personal attention?”

“My god, the scale of this Rookie Cup has already reached unimaginable heights!”

Everyone went mad.

This news, like a supernova, exploded in everyone’s hearts.

The already fervent atmosphere, at this moment, was ignited completely, transforming into pure, boiling worship and awe!

And Qin Feng, sitting in a corner of the audience, looked at that familiar name, a flicker of complex, unreadable emotion passing through his eyes.

Zhou Xiong.

The powerhouse who once used the Tenfold Hand to comb his meridians and absorb the Star Beast Type II gene potion—he had actually come!

Silence lasted less than three seconds.

When the name “Zhou Xiong” was etched like a brand onto the central holographic screen, the entire arena, as if a star had been hit by an antimatter bomb, erupted with unprecedented energy.

“WAAAGH!!!”

Someone, instinctively, let out a greenskin war cry, but that cry was filled with the most extreme human fervor and worship.

Then, a tidal wave of sound burst from millions of throats, converging into a visible sonic torrent that could tear the sky, madly crashing against the energy shield above the arena, causing the pale blue light screen to ripple violently.

Fervor, pure fervor.

This news, like a level-twelve cosmic storm, instantly swept through the entire Canaan Star Martial Arts University.

Senior students who were originally not very interested in the Rookie Cup—those in seclusion, on missions, or engaged in personal research—upon hearing this news, like iron filings drawn to a magnet, all put down what they were doing without a word.

Streams of light shot up from every corner of the academy island, streaking across the sky, converging toward the main arena of the Rookie Cup.

“Hurry! To the main arena! Company Commander Zhou Xiong is here in person!”

“What? Which Zhou Xiong?”

“Nonsense! Is there a second Zhou Xiong in the Empire?! The commander of the Seventh Battle Company of the Ultramarines!”

“My god!”

For a moment, the glow of Warp teleportation flickered everywhere, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, surging toward the already bustling arena.

Many old-timers who had graduated years ago and stayed on as teaching assistants or researchers also emerged from their labs and offices, their expressions excited, rushing to the venue.

The reason was simple: Zhou Xiong had come.

For these powerhouses who had already touched the threshold of higher martial arts, the chance to see a Black Hole-level existence in person—even just a distant glance, to feel that faint, higher-dimensional aura of life—could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, perhaps helping them break through a bottleneck that had plagued them for years.

In an instant, the Canaan Star Martial Arts University Rookie Cup venue was packed to overflowing.

The already fully seated audience was now jam-packed.

Latecomers couldn’t find seats and had to hover in midair, dense as a swarm of bees, blotting out the sky above the arena.

Looking around, the audience was filled with terrifyingly powerful figures.

Those seventh-level powerhouses, famous throughout the academy, usually looking down on everyone, now could only squeeze humbly into the crowd, their expressions solemn.

Even ninth-level top experts, about to graduate, were present in large numbers.

They restrained their terrifying auras, which could warp space itself, and sat quietly like the most devout believers, their eyes burning as they stared at the empty mentor seats, awaiting the legend’s arrival.

This scene was a spectacle.

A freshman competition with only three divisions—Level 4, Level 5, and Level 6—had attracted such a massive number of top-tier powerhouses, far exceeding the competition’s level, to watch.

This was extremely rare even in the history of Canaan Star Martial Arts University.

And on the Warp-based private forum of Canaan Star Martial Arts University, discussions had already reached a fever pitch.

Posts were refreshing at lightning speed.

[Sticky Featured Post]: #Deep Analysis# What hidden meaning lies behind Company Commander Zhou Xiong’s visit to the Rookie Cup?

[OP]: Everyone, this is no simple matter! A Black Hole-level martial artist—how precious is their time? A second of thought could influence the outcome of a galaxy-level battle. He would never come to watch a freshman competition for no reason! I speculate that among this year’s rookies, there must be a peerless prodigy whose talent could shake the Empire’s highest echelons! Their potential might even have been included in the Ultramarines’ future “Seed” training program!

…

[Hot Post]: #Rational Analysis# Maybe we’re overthinking Company Commander Zhou Xiong’s attendance?

[OP]: The post above is too speculative. Everyone, calm down and think: isn’t it possible that things aren’t that complicated? Company Commander Zhou Xiong, as a pillar of the Empire, constantly fights on the most dangerous Chaos frontiers. Perhaps he’s just on rotation for rest, returning to Canaan Star Martial Arts University—one of his alma maters—for some downtime. And then, by coincidence, he happened to catch the decennial Rookie Cup opening.

As a guest mentor, showing up, making an appearance, and encouraging the juniors—isn’t that perfectly normal?

[1L]: I think this explanation is plausible! We don’t understand the world of the mighty. What might be a huge deal to us is probably as simple as taking a stroll after dinner for Company Commander Zhou Xiong.

[2L]: Agreed, I lean toward this interpretation too. After all, what kind of genius would make a Black Hole-level powerhouse personally travel here? I can’t imagine it.

[3L]: Seconded. Let’s stop guessing and just enjoy the match. Being in the same space as Company Commander Zhou Xiong, breathing the same air, is already an immense honor.

…

The forum buzzed with discussion.

Various speculative posts emerged endlessly, each attracting thousands of replies.

Conspiracy theorists and coincidence theorists argued fiercely, pushing the Rookie Cup’s popularity to an unprecedented peak.

But 99.99% of students leaned toward the second guess.

—Company Commander Zhou Xiong was probably just passing through.

After all, that explanation was the most logical.

As for Qin Feng, he didn’t think too much. If he had the chance, he’d like to thank Company Commander Zhou Xiong in person.

Of course, he probably wouldn’t get that opportunity.

So Qin Feng focused more on snatching first place in the Level 4 division from the old fleece master “Zhou Run,” and thoroughly fleece the starting funds for the Level 5 Acupoint Fusion realm.

(End of chapter)