Chapter 172: Ten Thousand Contribution Points Reward! Qin the Beast's Name is Illustrious! School

Chapter 172: Ten Thousand Contribution Points Reward! Qin Beast’s Fame Resounds! Learning the Ten Complete Hands!

When Zhou Run’s hoarse “I concede” spread through the arena via the amplification formation, and the cold electronic voice of the referee system declared the final victor, the entire coliseum, after a brief, suffocating silence, was utterly engulfed by a tidal wave of roaring frenzy.

Qin Feng’s name, like a storm, swept through every inch of space.

The praise of “monster” resounded to the heavens.

Yet, as the very center of the storm, Qin Feng himself remained remarkably calm.

Under the gaze of millions, he nodded slightly toward Zhou Run, who was being lifted onto a stretcher by medical robots at the edge of the ring, as a gesture of acknowledgment.

This was both the victor’s respect for the vanquished and recognition of a worthy opponent.

Then, amid the billions of eyes filled with awe, worship, and shock, he turned and walked down from the final battle platform that had shone brilliantly for him alone.

No arms raised in triumph, no passionate roars, no victory laps around the arena.

When his figure reappeared in the stands, returning to the area belonging to his friends, what awaited him was an eruption of volcanic enthusiasm.

“Old Qin!”

A deafening roar, and Xiong Yanfu’s iron-tower-like body was the first to rush up, spreading his thick arms to give Qin Feng a solid bear hug that nearly crushed his bones!

“I knew it! I knew you could do it! Champion!”

Xiong Yanfu’s large hands, like giant fans, slapped Qin Feng’s back hard, producing dull thuds, revealing his unbridled, wild excitement.

“Hahaha! Brother Qin! You hid it too well! Three hundred and sixty apertures, great perfection!”

Lei Meng also squeezed in, his face flushed red, grabbing Qin Feng’s arm excitedly and shaking it vigorously.

“Well done.”

Tiemu’s words were as concise as ever.

He simply stepped forward, using his iron-hard hand to punch Qin Feng heavily on the shoulder, but his deep eyes sparkled with an incredibly sincere light.

Shi Potian stood to the side, a smile on his face, offering a word of congratulations.

He looked at Qin Feng, surrounded by the three, with no surprise in his eyes, only pure joy at the achievement of a close friend.

When Qin Feng’s gaze met his, Shi Potian simply nodded slightly, all words unspoken.

“I knew you could do it.”

Qin Feng smiled.

Yet, amid this jubilation and joy, one person stood out as incongruous.

Shi Dang.

He sat not far away, motionless, like a silent statue.

He did not cheer, did not congratulate, did not even look their way.

His gaze remained locked on the central screen, replaying over and over the battle footage of Qin Feng crushing Zhou Run with overwhelming dominance.

His expression was immensely complex.

Pale, with an unhealthy flush, the result of extreme shock and unwillingness causing spiritual energy fluctuations.

His eyes, always tinged with a hint of gloom and pride, now held only endless horror and… a trace of shock he himself was unwilling to admit.

The thunderous praises around him, the discussions of “monster,” “myth,” “forty-year great perfection,” pierced his ears like red-hot steel needles.

In his mind, an unprecedented storm was raging.

How… could he be this strong?!

Three hundred and sixty apertures, great perfection… he really did it… in just forty years…

Shi Dang’s thoughts, at this moment, raced at an unprecedented speed.

He was no longer a bystander; he placed himself into the battlefield just past.

He began to calculate frantically.

A sixth-level martial artist and a fifth-level martial artist are entirely different life forms.

Spiritual power would become a new, decisive force!

If he could break through to the sixth-level Soaring Martial Artist now, mastering the method of using spiritual power to interfere with reality, could he defeat Qin Feng?!

Yet…

When his gaze fell again on the screen, seeing Qin Feng’s black lightning-like strike, [A Point of Cold Light], piercing out and utterly shattering all of Zhou Run’s thoughts of resistance…

When he saw Qin Feng’s storm of spear shadows, suppressing Zhou Run, also a great perfection, from start to finish without any chance to fight back…

That spark of hope just kindled was instantly doused by a basin of icy, despair-laced water.

It’s useless…

Even if he broke through to the sixth level, facing Qin Feng… his chances of victory were still slim.

The gap in life force index was too great.

Unless his spiritual power intensity far exceeded Qin Feng’s, and he mastered several fourth-level killing techniques—but fourth-level killing techniques, after ten years of cultivation, would only be at the entry level.

In ten years, how far could Qin Feng grow?

A deep sense of powerlessness, like a tide, flooded over Shi Dang.

He had always regarded Qin Feng as a target he must surpass, a “lucky dog” in his heart whom he never truly respected, only ahead due to certain coincidences.

He believed that as long as his own realm was higher, as long as he stepped into the fifth level, he could easily trample this so-called “close friend” underfoot.

But today, reality had dealt him the loudest, most brutal slap.

After extreme frustration and powerlessness, what surged in Shi Dang’s heart was not surrender or resignation.

But a more twisted, more blazing flame!

Shi Dang’s fists clenched tightly at his sides, nails digging deep into his palms, drawing blood, yet he felt nothing.

He must become stronger!

Stronger than Qin Feng!——

When the deafening waves of cheers, like tangible tides, surged from all directions, nearly drowning the soul, Qin Feng had already quietly withdrawn from the revelry of his friends.

He passed through the frenzied, almost delirious crowd, came to a relatively secluded corner of the stands, leaned against the cold metal wall, and slowly exhaled a breath.

The joy of victory, like mellow wine, did not intoxicate him.

Compared to the thunderous praise and worship of “monster” around him, what he cared about more was the tangible spoils that could be transformed into his own strength.

Qin Feng raised his hand, his mind stirring slightly.

A pale blue virtual screen, visible only to him, quietly unfolded before his eyes.

This was his personal subspace account terminal.

Behind the number labeled “Contribution Points Balance,” a string of crimson digits was frantically jumping and refreshing.

Finally, the number settled.

[Contribution Points: 11209]

Looking at this number, the always calm and unruffled eyes of Qin Feng finally kindled a flicker of blazing fire.

Ten thousand contribution points!

This vast sum was enough for him to purchase that long-coveted fifth-level cultivation method, the *Great Sun Acupoint Fusion Art*, which led to a higher plane of life!

Just then, in the upper right corner of his account terminal, an envelope-shaped icon began flashing a piercing red light at an extremely high frequency.

Qin Feng reached out and tapped it.

A long list of private messages instantly popped up.

At the very top were several congratulatory messages from his comrades.

[Yin Jing: Congratulations! I knew you would win! As expected of you!]

[Qin Lan: Amazing!]

[Karlo: Brother Qin Feng! What a huge improvement, you even took down Zhou Run! When are you free? Let’s grab a drink together—my treat!]

Seeing these familiar names, the lines of Qin Feng’s face, which had grown somewhat cold and hard from years of arduous cultivation, softened.

He replied to each message with a simple, friendly smiley face emoji.

After doing all this, his gaze finally fell upon the encrypted message that the system had automatically placed at the very top of all messages.

Sender—Yu Han.

Qin Feng took a deep breath and opened the message.

There was no unnecessary small talk. Instructor Yu Han’s message was, as always, concise and to the point, like a military order.

“Newcomer Cup, Level Four Division, first place.”

“Reward contribution points: 10,000. (Already issued)”

“Additional reward: One personal instruction from Lord Zhou.”

“Come immediately to the ‘Star-Gazing’ Zone, Training Platform No. 3. Lord Zhou is already waiting for you.”

At the end of the message, a real-time spatial coordinate was attached, flickering with light.

Lord Zhou…

When he saw those three words, Qin Feng’s pupils contracted sharply.

He realized in an instant that this “Lord Zhou” could only refer to that living legend, the Black Hole-level martial artist, the company commander of the Limit Warrior Legion—Zhou Xiong!

A personal instruction from him!

The value of this reward far exceeded the ten thousand contribution points themselves!

It was a true priceless treasure, something that no amount of money could ever measure!

Qin Feng’s heart skipped a beat uncontrollably.

He dared not show the slightest negligence and immediately replied with two words beneath the message.

“Received.”

Then, he closed the virtual light screen, identified the direction of the coordinates, and without a moment’s hesitation, turned and strode briskly toward the exclusive exit of the spectator stands.

Then he teleported through subspace instantly.

…

The “Martial Immortal” Zone.

This was the most core and most mysterious area of the entire Canaan Starry Sky Martial University.

It was a cultivation ground exclusively for instructors at the Stellar level and above. On ordinary days, not even ordinary students—let alone elite disciples—could set foot here without a personal summons from an instructor.

The very air seemed to flow with thick, liquidized spiritual energy.

Qin Feng passed through numerous checkpoints and arrived at Training Platform No. 3, where the coordinates indicated.

What greeted his eyes was an endless expanse of lush, verdant bamboo groves.

A gentle breeze passed by, and the bamboo leaves rustled softly, like music from heaven.

Beneath his feet was a surging, pure white sea of clouds, slowly rising and falling with the air currents, drifting as if he were standing in a celestial realm above the nine heavens.

An elegant pavilion, built entirely from green bamboo and exuding an ancient charm, stood quietly by the edge of the cloud sea, perfectly blending with the surrounding scenery.

This was Instructor Yu Han’s cultivation ground.

Qin Feng had been here once before.

Instructor Yu Han was not present at the moment.

Inside the pavilion, only one figure stood there, as still as a mountain.

He wore a set of pitch-black, blue power armor that exuded a fierce, awe-inspiring beauty. Its smooth lines and heavy plating all radiated the iron-blooded, battle-hardened aura of a veteran who had fought in ten thousand wars.

His helmet was casually tucked under his arm, revealing a face that seemed ordinary at first glance yet held the depth of the entire starry sky.

It was Zhou Xiong.

He stood there silently, emitting no powerful aura, yet the very space around him seemed to freeze.

It was an absolute pressure born from the level of life itself.

Qin Feng stopped, stood outside the pavilion, and respectfully performed a standard Imperial military salute toward the figure.

“Student Qin Feng, reporting as ordered by Instructor Yu Han!”

Zhou Xiong slowly turned around. His deep eyes, which seemed capable of piercing through a person’s soul, fell upon Qin Feng.

His gaze was calm and gentle, yet carried an indescribable penetrating power, as if it could see through Qin Feng’s very soul.

Under that gaze, Qin Feng felt that all his secrets were laid bare.

“Mm.”

Zhou Xiong nodded, his voice flat.

“This additional reward is that I will personally teach you a supreme technique of the Limit Warrior Legion.”

He paused, then uttered a name that made Qin Feng’s heart stop.

“—The *Ten Complete Hands*.”

“The Ten Complete Hands?!”

Even with Qin Feng’s will, tempered over decades of solitary cultivation until it was as hard as divine steel, he could not help but widen his eyes upon hearing those three words, his face showing an expression of disbelief and shock.

The *Ten Complete Hands*!

This was no earth-shattering killing technique, but among the top-tier inheritances of the entire Empire, its fame was even greater than many legendary forbidden killing arts!

Because it was one of the signature secret arts of the Limit Warrior Legion!

It was the fundamental skill that every Limit Warrior who roamed the starry seas and survived the most brutal battlefields had to master!

“Indeed.”

Zhou Xiong slowly began to explain:

“You have now cultivated the *Great Sun Acupoint Opening Art* to its great perfection, forging the most perfect fourth-level foundation. Your life force index has also reached the peak of the ‘Minor Limit’ at 3,600 points. This foundation barely qualifies you to begin preliminary contact with the *Ten Complete Hands*.”

He looked at Qin Feng, his tone turning grave.

“The Tenfold Hand, in its essence, is neither a cultivation method nor a killing technique, but a true ‘nurturing art’ that points directly to the source of life.”

“Its core lies in the word ‘control.’ Using formidable spiritual power as a guide; employing a special psychic energy circulation route, far more complex than ordinary techniques by ten thousand times, as a framework; ultimately, fusing spiritual power and psychic energy in a specific ratio, perfectly within the body and even the depths of the soul, to construct ‘runes’ that can directly connect to and leverage the shallow energies of the Warp.”

“These runes are rapidly consumed, yet they can greatly accelerate the cellular activity of your physical body, enhancing your recovery speed after exhaustion by several times, even dozens of times. They can soothe your weary spirit, greatly increasing your absorption efficiency when using spiritual power potions. They can even penetrate your meridians and marrow, performing the deepest level of cleansing and healing, eradicating all hidden injuries, and purifying your life essence.”

“It can be said that any Space Marine who needs to wage long-term campaigns across the star sea must learn this method. On the battlefield, the speed of recovery is sometimes more important than the speed of killing.”

Zhou Xiong’s words, like the booming of a great bell, resounded in Qin Feng’s mind.

Qin Feng forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart and nodded heavily.

He instantly understood the strategic significance of the Tenfold Hand.

This was a supreme secret art that could comprehensively enhance ‘sustainability’!

Take his previous process of opening apertures, for example—it required vast amounts of time to wait for his body to recover from deep injuries and for his spiritual power to be replenished from exhaustion.

Even with top-tier deep repair agents and spiritual power recovery potions, this process still occupied the vast majority of his cultivation time.

And the Tenfold Hand was the super catalyst for this process!

If he circulated the Tenfold Hand while using a restorative medicinal bath, his recovery speed would achieve a terrifying boost!

If his physical strength was depleted and his spirit exhausted, and he circulated the Tenfold Hand while using recovery potions, the time needed to return to his peak state would be infinitely shortened!

Although this technique had no direct lethal capability, its value to a martial artist—especially one who needed to undergo long-term, high-intensity ascetic training—was immeasurable!

“The Tenfold Hand consists of ten forms. First cultivate the physical body, then refine the soul, from the external to the internal, from the surface to the core, ultimately achieving the unity of body and soul, the state of tenfold perfection without flaw.”

Zhou Xiong continued, his expression growing more solemn.

“The entry into this technique is extremely difficult. It demands an almost harsh level of precision in controlling spiritual power, acuity in sensing psychic energy, and mastery over one’s own physical body. Therefore, I am teaching it to you now, but I do not expect you to learn it immediately.”

“I hope that in the time ahead, you can first study it preliminarily to enhance your experiential understanding. After you successfully break through to the sixth-level Soaring Warrior realm, where your spiritual power can interfere with reality, you can then slowly begin to enter its threshold.”

“If you can truly cultivate this nurturing art to the ‘entry’ level before advancing to the planetary stage, that would be considered a very good pace.”

Having said this, Zhou Xiong stepped forward, his massive power-armored frame bringing a strong sense of pressure to Qin Feng.

“Now, activate your Warp network, start the highest-authority recording function, and record everything I demonstrate next without the slightest error.”

Qin Feng immediately complied. On his retina, a red recording icon began to blink.

Then, under Qin Feng’s intensely focused gaze, Zhou Xiong began to slowly, form by form, demonstrate the legendary Tenfold Hand.

……

After the demonstration, Zhou Xiong added Qin Feng as a personal friend through the Warp network and directly sent him an encrypted data package of astonishing size.

“Inside this is a standardized instructional video I recorded earlier. Though it cannot compare to face-to-face guidance, it contains all the detailed variations of the ten forms of the Tenfold Hand, along with thousands of accompanying breathing methods, hundreds of meditation techniques, and hundreds of thousands of methods for controlling spiritual power and psychic energy at different points, as well as meridian circulation diagrams.”

Qin Feng sank his mind into it, merely glancing roughly at the directory of the data package.

His eyelids couldn’t help but twitch violently.

As Zhou Xiong had said, the amount of information here was vast as an ocean.

Just the text-recorded combinations and principle analyses of various breathing methods, meditation techniques, and spiritual power control methods alone reached a staggering level of tens of millions of characters!

This was practically a systematic, profound, and extensive ‘discipline’!

“Alright, the material is given to you. Now it depends on you.”

Zhou Xiong waved his hand, signaling that Qin Feng could leave. “Go, study earnestly, and do not let this opportunity go to waste.”

“Yes! Your student understands!”

Qin Feng once again performed a standard Imperial military salute, burying the excitement and shock deep in his heart, and was about to turn and leave.

“Wait.”

Zhou Xiong’s voice came again from behind.

Qin Feng stopped, turned around, a hint of confusion on his face.

He saw Zhou Xiong’s deep eyes quietly gazing at him, beneath that gentle gaze hidden an emotion Qin Feng had never seen before—an immensely complex feeling.

There was expectation, admonition, and also a hint… of a profound warning from the past.

“Child, remember my words.”

Zhou Xiong’s voice was no longer as calm as before, but carried an unprecedented solemnity that reached straight to the soul.

“Our battles, our expeditions—their purpose has never been to gain personal glory, nor to have others follow or revere us, nor to establish great military achievements and make a name for ourselves.”

“Fighting is merely a means to sustain civilization, not an end.”

“If, in battle, you crave too much the glory that belongs to the victor, if you become too intoxicated with the loyalty and camaraderie forged in blood and fire… then this pure, warrior’s emotion can easily attract the gaze of the Warp’s evil gods.”

Zhou Xiong’s words, like a bolt of icy lightning, instantly pierced Qin Feng’s mind.

He immediately understood the profound meaning behind Zhou Xiong’s speech.

This was the heaviest… warning from a legendary powerhouse standing at the forefront of Imperial military might, who had witnessed countless lights and shadows!

A chill crept up Qin Feng’s spine.

He bowed deeply to Zhou Xiong.

“Your student… remembers.”

Qin Feng’s tone was incomparably firm, every word heavier than a thousand pounds.

Zhou Xiong looked at his clear and resolute eyes and revealed a faint smile.

He nodded.

“Alright, go.”

This time, Qin Feng did not linger.

He bowed once more, then turned around, carrying the profound Tenfold Hand and that weighty warning, and swiftly left the bamboo grove above the sea of clouds.

Qin Feng’s figure completely vanished into that fairyland woven from clouds and bamboo, which carried him away from the ‘Martial Immortal’ district belonging to the strong.

Qin Feng stood outside the gate, his eyes slightly closed, but within his spiritual world, a towering wave was now surging.

That profound Tenfold Hand, like a compressed, boundless nebula of information, slowly rotated in his mind.

Ten exquisitely subtle movements, thousands of arcane breathing methods, hundreds of thousands of techniques for controlling spiritual power and psychic energy… all of this was just the tip of the iceberg.

And echoing repeatedly in the depths of his soul was Zhou Xiong’s weighty warning.

“…If you crave too much the glory that belongs to the victor in battle… you will easily attract the gaze of certain evil gods in the Warp.”

This was not merely an admonition, but the most precious experience bought with countless blood and sacrifices by a legend standing at the pinnacle of Imperial martial power.

After a long while, Qin Feng slowly exhaled a turbid breath, reining in his surging emotions back into the calm, unruffled lake of his heart.

Qin Feng’s thinking was always so pragmatic, his goals clear.

His thoughts swiftly returned from the warning about the future to the present reality.

What next?

The answer was crystal clear.

Returning to the dormitory, he immediately entered the Imperial Trade Hall and used that ten thousand contribution points to purchase the key to a higher level of life—the fifth-grade cultivation method, the *Great Sun Acupoint Fusion Art*.

Then came a new round of deep seclusion, perhaps even longer and more painful.

Following the guidance of the method, he would fuse the three hundred and sixty already perfected "Great Sun Acupoints" within his body, one by one, until they merged into one, forging the legendary "Primal Acupoint."

With this thought, Qin Feng's plan of action became crystal clear.

He even began to calculate in his mind how to most efficiently exchange the remaining contribution points for various top-tier resources needed for cultivation after purchasing the *Great Sun Acupoint Fusion Art*.

Yet, a thought, like a lightning bolt tearing through the night, suddenly flashed in his mind.

Wait...

No!

Qin Feng's eyes snapped open, a sharp glint flashing and vanishing.

He suddenly realized a key detail he had overlooked.

Lord Zhou Xiong had indeed given him guidance, imparting the supreme secret technique, the *Tenfold Hand*.

In a sense, this opportunity for "guidance" had already been used up.

But...

Qin Feng's brow furrowed slightly.

What was Lord Zhou Xiong's status? He stood at a height overlooking the entire galaxy.

The *Tenfold Hand* he had imparted was a supreme "nurturing method" that, across the entire empire, was considered a strategic-level inheritance, its value immeasurable.

Yet, regarding his most urgent need at the moment—how to safely and efficiently break through from the fourth-grade Acupoint Opening Realm to the fifth-grade Acupoint Fusion Realm, and what key points and pitfalls, not recorded in ordinary methods but known only to experienced experts, to watch out for during the fusion process—Lord Zhou Xiong had not mentioned a single word.

It wasn't that Lord Zhou Xiong had overlooked it.

Rather, given his status, there was simply no need, nor was it appropriate, for him to explain these "basic" issues.

Then... whom should he ask about these matters?

The answer was self-evident.

Mentor Yu Han!

As an elite disciple in Mentor Yu Han's private domain, he was entitled to regular mentor guidance sessions!

The reward from this Newcomer Cup was "additional" and did not conflict with the privileges he already possessed!

He was about to undergo a critical breakthrough in his life level, and this was precisely the most natural and important matter within the scope of mentor guidance!

With this thought, Qin Feng hesitated no longer.

He immediately opened his personal subspace terminal again, found Mentor Yu Han's chat window, and respectfully sent an application message.

[Your student Qin Feng humbly requests to use this mentor guidance opportunity. Your student is about to break through to the fifth-grade Acupoint Fusion Realm and has many critical cultivation questions that urgently require your clarification.]

Almost the next second after he sent it.

"Di."

A crisp notification sound rang out.

Mentor Yu Han's reply had already arrived.

The reply was still just as concise, yet it brought a warmth to Qin Feng's heart.

"Come back. Lord Zhou has already left."

With no more distractions, Qin Feng turned around and sped back toward that bamboo grove above the sea of clouds.

...

When Qin Feng's figure appeared for the second time before that ancient bamboo pavilion, the scene was completely different.

That intangible yet omnipresent iron-blooded pressure from Lord Zhou Xiong, which made even the soul tremble, had vanished without a trace.

In its place was a tranquil, far-reaching peace that blended seamlessly with heaven and earth.

Mentor Yu Han was sitting alone, quietly on the stone stool in the pavilion.

Before him was a set of antique tea utensils, a pot of clear tea bubbling and steaming, its elegant fragrance mingling with the scent of bamboo leaves, refreshing the heart.

Seeing Qin Feng return, Mentor Yu Han showed no surprise.

He merely lifted his eyelids, gave Qin Feng a faint glance, then picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip.

Before Qin Feng could bow and inquire, Mentor Yu Han had already set down the cup. His deep eyes, as if capable of seeing through everything, fixed on Qin Feng, and he got straight to the point:

"You want to ask about the cultivation of the fifth-grade Acupoint Fusion Realm and how to advance to the sixth-grade Soaring Martial Artist after that, right?"

Hit the nail on the head.

All the prepared words Qin Feng had in mind were instantly blocked.

"Yes, that is exactly why your student has come."

Qin Feng bowed respectfully, nodding heavily.

Mentor Yu Han nodded in satisfaction. Without wasting a single word, he went directly to the main topic.

"For you, the fifth-grade Acupoint Fusion Realm has only one core."

He raised one finger, his tone calm but every word a gem.

"That is to complete the acupoint fusion as quickly as possible."

"You have already forged three hundred and sixty major acupoints, completing the fourth-grade path. You only need to press forward with courage, fusing those three hundred and sixty 'Great Sun Acupoints' according to the guidance of the *Great Sun Acupoint Fusion Art* into one, forging a unique 'Primal Acupoint.'"

Mentor Yu Han picked up his teacup and took another sip, as if giving Qin Feng time to digest.

"Once the 'Primal Acupoint' is formed, immediately go to the Imperial Trade Hall and purchase the most basic *Introduction to Basic Mental Power Control*. Then, strictly follow the method's instructions, and try to use your weak mental power to guide the pure, fused spiritual energy within your 'Primal Acupoint.'"

"Using mental power as the 'guide' and spiritual energy as the 'water,' wash and baptize your limbs, bones, internal organs, and even every cell. This process can continue to raise your life force index and break through the Four Limits."

"At the same time, you must never slacken in your own meditation methods. Whether it's the *Great Sun Visualization Method* or the *Imperial Meditation Method*, you must practice them persistently. Because the strength of your mental power will directly determine when you can enter the sixth grade."

Mentor Yu Han set down his teacup, looked at Qin Feng, and gave an exceptionally clear, quantified standard.

"When your own mental power strength, through meditation, steadily increases to 30 points, you will find that your spirit can begin to interfere with the material world."

"At that point, with a single thought, you can rise into the air, your physical body soaring. That is the sixth-grade Soaring Martial Artist."

The words flowed smoothly, clear and lucid.

He had laid out the entire path from the fifth-grade Acupoint Fusion to the sixth-grade Soaring Martial Artist, all the barriers and nodes, analyzing them thoroughly and plainly for Qin Feng.

In Qin Feng's heart, the last trace of confusion and uncertainty that had arisen from facing a new realm dissipated like smoke.

Before his eyes lay a clear, straight road leading to greater strength.

"Thank you for your guidance, Mentor! Your student understands!"

Seeing Qin Feng's sincere gratitude, a faint, gratified smile appeared on Mentor Yu Han's face.

He waved his hand, signaling Qin Feng not to stand on ceremony.

"Sit."

He pointed to the stone stool opposite.

After Qin Feng sat down, Yu Han continued to smile, but this time, his words carried less rigorous instruction and more seasoned advice.

"This time, your victory in the Newcomer Cup earned you ten thousand contribution points."

Yu Han shifted the topic, speaking meaningfully:

"For someone about to step into Level Five, these contribution points are actually... not that many."

"So, once you enter Level Five, your focus must completely shift from 'competitions' to 'missions.' You can still participate in the Newcomer Cup, but the rewards from various Level Five tournaments are no longer enough to sustain your higher-level cultivation. Only by undertaking the high-difficulty, high-reward missions issued by the Empire will you obtain contribution points as your main source in the future."

"And with contribution points, the first thing you should do is not to exchange for those flashy items, but to purchase as many life-saving artifacts as possible—things that can save your life in critical moments."

Yu Han's gaze sharpened.

"Remember, in interstellar missions, surviving is more important than anything else. Sometimes, to ensure you complete the mission and return alive, it's worth spending even ninety percent of your gains, or even buying a one-time, high-power 'Planetary Orbital Cannon' bombardment authorization in advance. As long as the final settlement shows a positive contribution point gain, the deal isn't a loss."

"Because, as your own strength grows, the difficulty of the missions you can take will increase exponentially. Gradually, you'll start seeing some... special missions in the task list, marked with a bright red 'Failure Count.'"

"Failure Count?"

Qin Feng raised an eyebrow slightly, repeating the unfamiliar term.

A hint of confusion flickered in his eyes.

In all the missions he had undertaken before—whether issued by the academy or accepted from the Empire's task system—there were only two outcomes: success or failure. He had never seen a mission with such a strange attribute as "Failure Count."

"Yes."

Instructor Yu Han nodded, as if he had anticipated Qin Feng's question.

His expression grew more serious than ever before, a deep understanding of the universe's cruel laws born from countless battles.

"As your martial rank continues to rise, your access permissions in the Empire's task system will also increase accordingly. You will see a task library that is countless times larger than the current one, with more diverse missions, richer rewards, but equally, greater difficulty."

As Yu Han spoke, he raised his hand, and before him, a massive subspace network panel silently unfolded.

On that panel, countless streams of information flashed by like a waterfall, its complexity far surpassing any interface Qin Feng had ever seen.

Yu Han's fingers moved seemingly casually across the light screen, filtering through the data.

Soon, from the vast sea of missions, he precisely locked onto one and enlarged it, displaying it before Qin Feng.

At just a glance, Qin Feng's pupils contracted sharply.

It was a mission marked in the deepest, almost light-absorbing dark red font.

[Empire S-Class Bounty: Feyton]

[Mission Objective: Kill the Empire's traitor, Chosen of Khorne—Feyton]

[Mission Requirements (Minimum): Galactic-level Martial Artist]

[Current Number of Martial Artists Who Have Accepted This Mission: 19,736,548,211]

[Current Failure Count: 122,273]

[Mission Details, Shared Intelligence from Various Martial Artist Teams, Latest Target Coordinate Updates, Witness Intelligence Updates as Follows: ...]

Staring at this series of shocking numbers, a storm raged in Qin Feng's heart.

A single mission, with nearly two hundred billion acceptors!

Among them were terrifying experts like Instructor Yu Han, who stood at the pinnacle of the galactic level, and even stronger black hole-level martial artists!

But what made his heart tremble even more was that glaring red number—122,273 times!

This number, cold and cruel, spoke a single truth.

At least one hundred twenty-two thousand galactic-level experts had failed in their pursuit of this traitor named "Feyton"!

And failure, in missions of this level, often meant death!

"Do you see it?"

Yu Han's voice pulled Qin Feng back to reality.

He pointed at the light screen, his tone calm yet carrying a grand, cosmic desolation.

"The most unique thing about the universe is that, on a macroscopic scale, it is vast enough to inspire awe. Countless civilizations, countless races, countless lives are born, thrive, collide, and perish in this sea of stars. Their numbers and prosperity are beyond your imagination. From this perspective, the universe is bustling and crowded."

"But..."

Yu Han shifted his tone.

"On a non-macroscopic scale, between the basic units that make up this prosperity, the universe is empty to the point of despair."

"The distance between one star and another is extremely vast. Between one galaxy and another, there is at least millions of light-years of cold, lifeless void..."

"So, this leads to a very practical problem. Those strong individuals wanted by the Empire, especially traitors and heretics whose strength has reached above the planetary level, if they are determined to hide and flee, finding them becomes an extremely difficult, time-consuming, and energy-draining task."

"They can easily hide on a barren, lifeless planet for centuries. They can disguise themselves as another identity and blend into some remote, information-isolated indigenous civilization. Some experts who have mastered special techniques can even create temporary hideouts in the chaotic currents of subspace."

"Among the nearly two hundred billion acceptors you see, ninety-nine percent of them might never actually meet Feyton even after hundreds of years."

Yu Han paused, then continued:

"And finding the target is only the first step. Martial artists who have cultivated to higher levels have far more trump cards than you imagine, and they are much more ruthless. The difficulty of the mission naturally skyrockets."

"This is like you, a Level Four martial artist, clearing out a Level Four Ork tribe. The mission would be very simple. Because you can rely on more advanced weapons and equipment, stronger physical potential, and more refined team tactics to crush those low-level Orks, whose minds are filled with nothing but 'WAAAGH!'"

"But when a galactic-level expert goes to clear out a galactic-level Ork warband, the difficulty is an entirely different concept. Because an Ork Warboss who has grown to the galactic level is itself a war monster that has emerged from billions of its kind through the bloodiest, most brutal combat! Its cunning, its madness, its battle instincts have all been honed to the extreme."

"Even if you are a prodigy who has risen from billions of humans, killing it and clearing its warband remains extremely difficult, with a very high failure rate."

After listening to Instructor Yu Han's explanation, Qin Feng fell into a long silence.

He finally deeply understood the harsh reality behind each cold "Failure Count."

"I understand."

After a long while, Qin Feng nodded slightly, his tone heavy.

Any life form that survives to a high level, whether human or alien, is no pushover.

Each one is a top predator that has crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

"Good. I'm glad you understand."

Yu Han nodded approvingly.

"So, remember my words. In the future, spend more contribution points on life-saving measures."

"Especially for those missions that have shown a 'Failure Count' on the task list, never accept them until you have at least one trump card that can forcibly extract you from a certain death situation."

(End of this chapter)