Chapter 18: Subspace Network Pass

Chapter 18: The Subspace Network Pass

At nine o’clock the next morning, Qin Feng returned to the Seventh Junior High School on time.

Today’s campus was even more lively than on the day of the school return.

The dust of the high school entrance exams had settled, marking the end of an old era and the beginning of a new one. On every examinee’s face was written anticipation and plans for the future, and the air was filled with a light, free atmosphere.

When Qin Feng stepped into the classroom of Class Five, Grade Nine, he immediately sensed that today’s mood was utterly different from before.

Almost every gaze, the moment he entered the classroom, focused sharply on him.

In those looks, there was no longer sympathy, pity, or indifference.

Instead, there was a complex emotion mingled with shock, curiosity, awe, and even a hint of distance.

On the holographic bulletin board at the front of the classroom, a huge congratulatory poster with red background and golden characters was playing on a loop.

[Warm congratulations to Qin Feng, student of Class Five, Grade Nine, for achieving an outstanding result in the Secondary Education Streaming Examination: Vitality Index 1.23, overall ranking 67,321 on Qiming Star! Setting a new school record!]

Those glaring golden characters struck like silent slaps on the faces of every classmate who had once looked down on Qin Feng.

“I… am I seeing things? That Qin Feng, is he really our class’s Qin Feng?”

“First in the whole school? No kidding! Wasn’t he nearly expelled a month ago because his Vitality Index was too low?”

“Over sixty-seven thousand… my god, that’s a score good enough for the top seven high schools!”

Whispers rose and fell in the classroom.

Those who had once been on decent terms with Qin Feng now wanted to greet him, but felt as if an invisible wall had risen between them, hesitating to approach.

And those who had mocked him behind his back as a “sickly kid” all lowered their heads, wishing they could find a crack in the ground to hide.

Just then, the classroom door opened.

Li Weiguo walked in.

He looked somewhat haggard, with obvious red veins in his eyes, but his spirit was unusually excited.

He swept his gaze across the room, finally landing on Qin Feng, and a gentle, complex smile appeared on his face.

“Alright, everyone, quiet down.”

He walked to the podium and placed a thick stack of materials on the desk.

“Today, I’m handing out the ‘Guide to Filling in High School Application Forms’ and giving final guidance on applications. Everyone gets one copy. It has detailed introductions to all martial arts high schools on Qiming Star, their past admission rankings, and specialty features. Take it home and discuss it carefully with your parents.”

He began distributing the guides.

When he reached Qin Feng, he handed him a guide that was noticeably thicker and had a more exquisite cover.

“Qin Feng, this is the special recruitment guide for the ‘Top Seven High Schools of Qiming.’ It contains more detailed internal materials. Use it for reference.”

“Thank you, teacher.”

Qin Feng took it.

After the guides were distributed, Li Weiguo cleared his throat.

“I know everyone’s most concerned about now is how to fill in the applications. My advice is to refer to your personal rankings and aim for schools five thousand to ten thousand places higher as your reach schools. At the same time, based on your scores, choose one or two schools that match your ranking as safety options…”

He explained the techniques and precautions for filling in the applications in detail.

Half an hour later, the guidance session ended.

“Alright, that’s all I have to say. You all have the guides. The next three days are for you and your families to make decisions. I wish each of you admission to your preferred school.”

After saying this, Li Weiguo paused and added one more sentence.

“Qin Feng, please stay. I have something I’d like to discuss with you alone.”

At these words, the eyes of the entire class once again focused on Qin Feng.

The students left one by one, and the noisy classroom quickly became empty.

Finally, only Qin Feng and Li Weiguo remained.

Li Weiguo didn’t speak in the classroom but made a “please” gesture to Qin Feng.

“Let’s take a walk outside.”

The two walked out of the teaching building, one after the other, and came to the quiet grove behind the school.

The summer cicadas chirped in waves.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Li Weiguo stopped, turned around, and looked at the young man who was half a head taller than himself. “Qin Feng.”

He began, his voice tinged with hoarseness and emotion, “Teacher… first, I need to apologize to you.”

Without waiting for Qin Feng’s response, he continued on his own.

“A month ago, I was blind and almost ruined you. I saw you as rotten wood, not knowing you were a pillar. This mistake, I will never forget in this lifetime. Every time I think of it, it feels like thorns on my back.”

He looked at Qin Feng, his eyes utterly sincere.

“I’m not a man of great ability—just an ordinary middle school teacher. I’ve taught for half my life, and my greatest wish has been to personally nurture a true genius.”

“I thought Zhou Heyuan was that genius, but now I know I was wrong, terribly wrong. You are the only one to emerge from the Seventh Middle School in decades who has the hope of truly heading toward the stars and the sea.”

Qin Feng listened quietly, saying nothing.

Li Weiguo took out from his pocket a card the size of a palm, made of an unknown black metal.

In the center of the card was a slowly rotating silver vortex pattern composed of countless intricate runes.

“This is the ‘Subspace Network Pass.’”

Li Weiguo handed the card to Qin Feng. It felt cold and heavy in his hand.

“Martial arts cultivation isn’t just about hard training in solitude. Vision, actual combat, resources—all are indispensable. Once you enter a martial arts high school, you’ll discover that the true geniuses’ battlefield has long since transcended the real world.”

“This pass is the key to that broader battlefield.”

He pointed at the card and explained to Qin Feng.

“The Subspace Network is a special spiritual network built in the subspace dimension by the Empire, using supreme psychic technology accumulated over countless generations. It can link the spiritual will of all humans within the Empire’s territory, pulling us into a virtual world infinitely close to reality.”

“In this world, you can ignore the physical distance of billions of light-years and communicate and fight with experts from any star system. It is the foundation of the Empire’s rule over its vast territory and the cradle for nurturing the strong.”

A pained expression appeared on Li Weiguo’s face.

“I took the twenty-thousand-credit bonus the school awarded me, applied for some subsidies, and unlocked for you the three most important modules for now.”

He raised his finger and pointed in the air.

“First, the ‘Imperial Arena.’ Here, the system can simulate your real physical data 100%. You can engage in virtual combat with geniuses from across the Empire, honing your fighting skills. In the arena, death carries no penalty. You can fight to your heart’s content, challenge, and accumulate life-and-death combat experience that is hard to gain in reality.”

“Second, the ‘Subspace Teleportation Network.’ Through this network, your spiritual will can be instantaneously transmitted over ultra-long distances between transmission nodes scattered across the Empire. When you become stronger in the future, you can use it to roam the star sea.”

“Third, the ‘Imperial Trading House.’ This is an absolutely safe online trading platform operated by the Empire. From the most basic psychic potions to legendary divine weapons, as long as you have money, you can buy almost anything you want here. Selling, of course, is also possible.”

Li Weiguo let out a long breath.

“This pass, plus the cost of unlocking these three modules, totals five hundred thousand Imperial credits. Consider it a small compensation from me, your teacher, for the grievances you’ve suffered in the past.”

Five hundred thousand.

Qin Feng held the card, feeling it as heavy as a mountain.

It was almost the total annual income of an ordinary middle-class family for several years.

“Teacher, this is too valuable.”

He opened his mouth, wanting to refuse.

“Take it!” Li Weiguo’s tone became brooking no argument. “This is not a gift for you—it’s an investment! An investment in our No.7 Middle School, in the future of our Human Empire!”

He looked at Qin Feng, his eyes full of expectation.

“This is all I can do for you. The road ahead must be walked by yourself. I only hope that one day, when you become a powerhouse renowned across the starry sea, you will still remember that your path of martial arts began here, at Venus No.7 Middle School.”

“Perhaps one day, like Sun Chantang, you might occasionally return to your alma mater, give a lecture to some disheartened youths, and change their lives.”

Qin Feng fell silent.

He put away the card—a pass imbued with a teacher’s earnest expectations—and bowed deeply to Li Weiguo.

“Thank you, Teacher. I will remember your kindness.”

“Good, good.”

Li Weiguo nodded with relief, a smile of release spreading across his face.

He patted Qin Feng on the shoulder, just as he had done three years ago when he first welcomed the boy into the school.

“Go, fill out your application, and begin your era.”

“Your teacher will be here, wishing you martial fortune and a boundless future!”

(End of this chapter)