Chapter 184: Successful Acupoint Combination! 7200 Vitality Index! Finally Becoming Extreme

Chapter 184: Meridian Fusion Success! 7200 Vitality Index! Ultimate Grade Yuan Meridian Achieved!

"If I were to take on this mission alone..."

Qin Feng rapidly simulated the scenario in his mind.

Without Long Yu and Nissan to hold the line, he would have to face that powerful elite believer alone, surrounded by fourteen fanatical followers.

He had the mental barrier module, allowing him to ignore the enemy's psychic assaults.

He possessed [Golden Throne], his ultimate killing move, capable of crushing any foe head-on.

But he would have to counter attacks from all directions simultaneously.

He needed to perfectly plan every move, without the slightest error.

It would be a grueling, bloody battle, with an extremely high mortality rate.

"With my current strength, if I encounter the simplest type of hell-level mission, I should be able to complete it relatively easily."

"If I face a normal one, like this time, with enemy numbers and intensity meeting the standard, I'd have to fight with my life, exhausting all my trump cards, and only then might I achieve a narrow victory."

"And if the mission difficulty were even higher, then I... might die."

This easy victory did not breed the slightest arrogance in Qin Feng; instead, it gave him a clearer, calmer understanding of his current abilities.

He was strong—among fifth-level martial artists, in terms of pure killing power, he had even surpassed most "veterans."

But he was far from the point where he could act with impunity.

Qin Feng opened his personal terminal and glanced at his updated asset status.

[Name: Qin Feng]

[Contribution Points (Remaining): 15,000]

[Fearless War Legion Reputation (Remaining): 240,000]

Before setting out, to purchase the [Mental Barrier Module], [Standard Anti-Chaos Psionic Core], and three "Purifier" high-explosive incendiary devices, he had nearly exhausted all the assets left from his previous warrior-level mission and seclusion.

Now, this generous reward had filled his pockets once more.

"Alright, since the mission is over, I should head back."

Nissan stretched lazily, his joints cracking with a series of pops, and he grinned at the group. "That so-called 'boss' was too weak to fight, no fun. See you all later!"

With that, he strode briskly toward the exit of the teleport platform, soon disappearing around the corner of the corridor.

Wen Muyun also nodded slightly at Long Yu and Qin Feng, saying coolly, "Captain, Junior Qin Feng, thank you for fighting alongside me. I need to go meditate."

She spoke little, but the recognition in her eyes was undeniable.

Clearly, Qin Feng's formidable strength and fierce style in battle had earned the respect of this proud female blade-wielder.

In the blink of an eye, only Long Yu and Qin Feng remained on the teleport platform.

"Qin Feng."

Long Yu's gentle voice rang out.

He looked at this junior, much younger than himself, yet with an aura like a dormant volcano, his eyes filled with evident admiration.

"In this mission, your performance was outstanding."

Long Yu did not stint on praise. "Your combat instincts, your use of killing moves, and that indomitable, fierce momentum—all are top-notch. In pure practical combat ability, you've already surpassed most fifth-level members of the legion."

Qin Feng replied calmly, "Thanks to the captain and Senior Nissan holding the line, otherwise it wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

Long Yu nodded approvingly upon hearing this.

He liked Qin Feng's steady, unflappable demeanor.

Many people, immersed in the martial world for a hundred or two hundred years, could not achieve such composure as Qin Feng.

The reason was simple: the joy of breaking through martial realms was too great, and many felt a sense of "I've made it, I've finally made it," naturally leading to restlessness.

But Qin Feng, after more than sixty years since enrollment, with such achievements, remained unhurried and remarkably steady—this impressed Long Yu greatly.

He looked into Qin Feng's eyes and said sincerely:

"In the future, if you still plan to take on hell-level missions to earn contribution points, feel free to contact me anytime through the legion's internal network. As long as I have time, I'd be happy to team up with you. With reliable teammates, many risks can be avoided and managed in advance."

These words were no mere courtesy; they were a formal, goodwill-filled invitation for long-term teaming!

Qin Feng's heart stirred slightly.

He fully understood the weight of this invitation.

It was not only Long Yu's recognition of his strength but also one of the Fearless War Legion's top elites extending an olive branch, willing to guide him in growth.

While this partly reflected Long Yu's public-spirited desire to nurture younger members and build core strength for the legion, the prerequisite remained that Qin Feng's own hard power had met the standard—on hell-level missions, he would not be a burden needing constant protection, but an effective combatant who could share pressure and supplement firepower.

Across the entire Fearless War Legion, beneath the "Three Heavenly Kings"—Long Yu, Nissan, and the rarely seen Ning Jing—there was indeed no other fifth-level martial artist with such formidable combat prowess as Qin Feng.

Among those three powerhouses, Nissan was wild and preferred to go solo or team with Long Yu.

The other, Ning Jing, was elusive, hard to contact under normal circumstances.

Qin Feng did not stand on ceremony. He nodded solemnly to Long Yu and said in a deep voice:

"Thank you, Senior Long Yu. It is an honor to fight alongside you. If there is another hell-level mission next time, I am very willing to participate."

This was both gratitude and a promise.

A gentle smile appeared on Long Yu's face. He patted Qin Feng's shoulder, the arm guard of his power armor letting out a muffled thud.

"Good. Then I look forward to our next cooperation. Go on, rest well, and digest the gains from this battle. Set off again in seven days—how about it?"

"Agreed. See you then, Senior."

Qin Feng bowed slightly, then turned and walked away from the teleport platform with steady steps.

Watching his straight-backed figure, like a javelin, disappear into the corridor, Long Yu's gaze grew deep.

The calm after the bloody battle lasted only seven short days.

During those seven days, Qin Feng was almost entirely immersed in the training room.

He silently circulated the *Ten-Handed Technique*, repairing the minor hidden injuries accumulated in battle, while visualizing the *Emperor Meditation Method*, honing his ever-strengthening mental will.

Until the morning of the seventh day, Long Yu's communication invitation appeared punctually on his personal terminal.

"Qin Feng, how's your recovery?"

Long Yu's gentle voice came through the communicator. "There's a new 'hell-level' mission, coordinates at the edge of the 'Debris Belt.' The objective is to wipe out a group of gene thieves who delight in modifying alien creatures. Intelligence suggests they may have ties to followers of the 'God of Pleasure.' The difficulty is not low. Interested? Same team as last time—Nissan and Wen Muyun are both in."

"Yes."

Qin Feng's answer came without a moment's hesitation, just a single word, crisp and decisive.

"Good. Same place, meet up."

The communication ended.

Qin Feng opened his eyes, and deep within them, a sharp battle intent flickered briefly.

He rose, skillfully donned his black power armor—patched many times yet still fierce and reliable—and teleported to the Fearless Zone.

Peaceful training could not satisfy his hunger for resources; only in the blood and fire of life-and-death struggles could he seize enough resources at the fastest pace.

This mission was far more arduous than the last purge of the "Blood Blade" gang.

The lair of those gene thieves lay deep within a small planet where gravity was chaotic and magnetic fields raged.

They had forcibly fused the genes of countless alien creatures, birthing monsters that were deformed, powerful, and utterly fearless in the face of death.

The battle lasted an entire year.

In that sunless planetary underworld, through countless twisted, narrow tunnels, the four-person squad faced life-and-death crises time and again.

Nissan, shielding the others, was struck head-on by a stitched giant that combined insectoid carapace and acid-spitting abilities; half his body was corroded to bloody pulp, and he nearly perished on the spot.

Wen Muyun, during a breakout, was gravely wounded by a heretic from the Joyful Sect who wielded eerie psychic arts, nearly leading to something with Qin Feng; her mental strength was damaged, plunging her into a long coma.

In the end, Long Yu, at the cost of severe injury, forcibly slew that heretic leader, while Qin Feng, using the [Golden Throne] killing move, traded wound for wound, smashing the most powerful stitched giant's head into its chest. Only then did this brutal mission end in a "bitter victory."

When the light of teleportation flared again, and they stood on the platform of Canaan Star Martial Academy, the four supported each other, limping as they rose.

Nissan and Wen Muyun were sent to the highest-grade medical pods of the war group, while Long Yu and Qin Feng, both pale-faced and with weakened auras, after seeing the other two off, had their willpower completely collapse and fell in the hall of the medical department.

Behind the word "Hell-level" lay the true, heavy weight of death.

...

Time flowed, seasons passed.

In the days that followed, Qin Feng transformed entirely into a mission fanatic walking the edge of life and death.

Between him and Long Yu, a wordless understanding formed.

After every mission ended, after brief rest, healing, and dividing spoils, as long as their bodies allowed, a new mission invitation would arrive as scheduled.

Scenes flashed rapidly through the river of time.

On the ruins of a war-torn city on some planet, Qin Feng, wielding [Carp Transforms into Dragon], stood back-to-back with Long Yu, facing a tide of mechanical undead with soul-fire flickering in their eyes.

Spear like a dragon, blade like snow—two figures fought bloodily amidst the steel tide.

...

On a primordial planet covered with towering trees and viscous swamps, the four-person squad lay in ambush, holding their breath.

Not far away, deep in the swamp, a giant flower bud emitting an enticing faint glow slowly bloomed, guarded by a terrifying beast over a hundred meters long, clad in bone armor.

...

Inside the wreckage of a dead space station, the gravity system had failed.

Long Yu's chest armor was pierced by a strange shadow energy, his life force faint to the extreme.

Nissan's power armor was half torn; he roared, swinging a broadsword to fend off a chaotic demon of unnameable form, seemingly made of pure malice.

Qin Feng's eyes were bloodshot; he poured all his strength into a single punch, the will of [Golden Throne] more concentrated than ever, and blasted it toward the demon's core...

In the end, the mission failed. The four relied on an emergency teleport beacon to flee back to Canaan in disgrace. Long Yu lay in a medical pod for three full months before recovering.

...

In an asteroid belt strewn with rocks and dust, the four piloted an assault boat, using precise cannon fire to turn a pirate flagship into a brilliant firework.

It was a low-difficulty mission; they barely engaged in close combat and easily claimed their spoils.

...

Three years passed in a flash.

Only five years remained until the internal war group ranking points competition of the Fearless War Group ended.

In these three years, Qin Feng and Long Yu's squad had taken on and executed seven hell-level missions.

Among them, six succeeded, one failed.

They had faced cunning aliens, slaughtered fanatical cultists, and fought desperate battles against cold war machines.

The most dangerous time nearly wiped out the entire squad; the easiest felt like an outing.

Through countless battles where they entrusted their backs to each other, they forged an unbreakable bond of comradeship.

When the seventh mission ended, the four appeared again on the familiar teleport platform, each bearing a calm sharpness honed by trials.

"Shh—"

Qin Feng skillfully removed his power armor, revealing a face more chiseled than three years ago, with eyes deeper and more resolute.

He ignored the new scars on his body and immediately opened his personal terminal, his gaze falling on a dazzling string of numbers.

[Name: Qin Feng]

[Contribution Points (Remaining): 76,000]

[Fearless War Group Reputation (Remaining): 1,320,000]

Three years of life-and-death struggles had brought him a terrifying accumulation of wealth.

These contribution points and reputation were enough to exchange for any top-tier training resources and equipment for a fifth-level martial artist.

But this was not his greatest gain.

His consciousness sank into his body, feeling the power within the three hundred and sixty solar acupoints, which had undergone earth-shaking changes.

In these three years, though most time was spent on missions and healing, whenever there was a gap, he seized every moment to use the terrifying training efficiency of the [Ten Complete Hands] to frantically merge acupoints.

Intermittent hard work, accumulating little by little.

Over three years, he had forcibly completed over forty more acupoint merges!

[Current Merged Acupoints: 236]

[Current Life Force Index: 5960.0]

At the same time, his third-level killing technique [Heavenly Spear], honed through countless real battles, had been elevated to the "Mastery Realm."

He could clearly feel that after integrating the wills of all his killing techniques, deep in his soul, an even more terrifying and powerful ultimate killing move was gestating.

It seemed separated only by a thin veil, but no matter how Qin Feng tried, he could never truly pierce it and comprehend it.

"Still a bit short of the mark..."

Qin Feng understood in his heart, but he was not impatient.

He looked up at Long Yu, who was stretching his limbs, and said in a deep voice, "Senior, for the time ahead, I might not be able to continue taking missions."

"Hmm?"

Long Yu stopped moving, looking at him with some surprise, "What's wrong? Hit a bottleneck?"

"No."

Qin Feng shook his head, his gaze firm, "I plan to go into deep seclusion, striving to successfully merge all remaining acupoints before the points competition ends."

At these words, the expression on Long Yu's face instantly froze.

In his eyes, always gentle as water, there appeared for the first time a mixture of shock, disbelief, and astonishment.

"Wait... what did you say?"

Long Yu's tone changed, "How many acupoints have you merged now?"

"Two hundred and thirty-six."

Qin Feng answered truthfully.

“Two hundred and thirty-six times?!”

Long Yu gasped sharply, staring at Qin Feng as if he were some kind of monster, sizing him up from head to toe as though meeting his comrade of three years for the first time.

He quickly calculated in his mind.

Out of three hundred and sixty total meridian fusions, Qin Feng had completed two hundred and thirty-six, leaving one hundred and twenty-four.

And the time remaining until the end of the points competition was... just over five years!

“You’re going to finish the remaining one hundred and twenty-odd fusions in five years?!”

Long Yu’s voice wavered. “Qin Feng, are you sure you didn’t miscalculate? Or... are you sure you’re not joking?”

Five years, over one hundred and twenty meridian fusions!

This speed could no longer be described as “genius”—it completely defied the common sense of martial arts!

Even among the most monstrous prodigies in the history of Canaan Star Martial University, no one had ever heard of anyone achieving such terrifying cultivation speed at the meridian fusion stage!

Yet, looking into Qin Feng’s eyes—so earnest, without a trace of doubt—Long Yu’s shock slowly melted into a wry smile of understanding.

He suddenly remembered.

Right. How could he have forgotten?

This guy before him had never been someone to judge by ordinary standards.

A man who had spent nearly forty years just to open his acupoints, swept the Newcomer Cup, and set a century-long record in the tower challenge—a “Qin Beast.”

Back when they trained together, Qin Feng’s meridian fusion speed had already seemed absurdly fast, but now it appeared that wasn’t even his limit...

Thinking this, all of Long Yu’s shock dissolved into a helpless, amused sigh.

“You bastard.”

He shook his head in resignation, then broke into a genuine smile, clapping Qin Feng firmly on the shoulder, his voice brimming with anticipation.

“With your terrifyingly extreme physical constitution, plus your mental strength that’s already no less than anyone else’s... once you truly succeed in fusing all three hundred and sixty acupoints, I’m afraid even I’ll be pinned to the ground by you.”

These words were both a tease and heartfelt recognition.

Three years of bloody battles had long erased any trace of jealousy between them, leaving only the purest bond of comradeship.

“Thank you for your guidance over these years, Senior.”

Feeling the sincerity in Long Yu’s words, Qin Feng spoke solemnly.

Without Long Yu’s support and protection, he could never have accumulated such vast capital so smoothly over these three years.

“Alright, cut the formalities.”

Long Yu waved his hand generously. “Between us, there’s no need for that. Go on! Make good use of your time—don’t waste your talent! I’ll be waiting for your good news!”

“Mm!”

Qin Feng nodded heavily.

Without another word, he turned and headed toward the battle group’s equipment maintenance center, handing over his battered power armor to the intelligent system for deep repairs.

Once the maintenance was done, Qin Feng turned into a blur, swiftly returning to his dormitory.

The massive contribution points and reputation had already been clearly mapped out in his mind.

This time, he would pour all his resources into this seclusion.

His goal: to forge his Yuan Meridian in one go!

—

When Qin Feng’s figure reappeared at the dormitory door, the noise and distractions of the outside world seemed to be completely cut off by an invisible wall.

This place was his first “home” after entering Canaan Star Martial University, and also the starting point where he had grown step by step from a “grunt” doing daily tasks into a top-tier powerhouse.

Now, this small dormitory was about to become his final retreat for forging a perfect foundation and breaking through to a new realm of martial arts.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he strode inside.

The dormitory’s intelligent management system sensed its owner’s return, automatically adjusting the lights to a soft brightness, and the fresh air system slowly delivered purified air.

Qin Feng walked to the center of the room, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled.

With that breath of stale air, he seemed to expel all the fatigue, killing intent, and restlessness accumulated over three years on the edge of life and death.

His mind completely settled, he sat cross-legged and sank his consciousness into the Imperial Trade Exchange.

The massive 1.32 million battle group reputation points flickered on his personal account. This was the rich reward he had earned with three years of blood and fire, with seven hell-level missions that tested life and death.

They were not wealth, nor glory—they were merely... fuel.

The indispensable fuel for his journey to a higher realm.

His mind swept through the exchange list at lightning speed, precisely locking onto the targets he had long planned.

“Exchange for one thousand ‘Enhanced Type II Psionic Potions.’”

[Confirmation of exchange, deducting battle group reputation points: 720,000.]

“Exchange for one thousand ‘Enhanced Type II Deep Repair Medicinal Baths.’”

[Confirmation of exchange, deducting battle group reputation points: 400,000.]

“Exchange for five hundred ‘Enhanced Type II Mental Recovery Potions.’”

[Confirmation of exchange, deducting battle group reputation points: 250,000.]

Three exchanges, clean and decisive.

A total of 290,000 reputation points were consumed in mere seconds.

With the completion of the transactions, rows of neatly stacked metal storage cases silently appeared in Qin Feng’s subspace storage unit.

On the cases, the Imperial Military’s gear-and-double-headed-eagle emblem, symbolizing the highest quality, was clearly visible.

“Activate highest-level seclusion mode.”

“Hum—”

With a low hum of energy resonance, the dormitory door, forged from special alloy, slowly closed.

Several visible energy beams lit up from the edges of the doorframe, interweaving into an impenetrable energy net, completely isolating the entire dormitory from the outside world.

Qin Feng returned to the center of the room and sat cross-legged again.

Before him, an “Enhanced Type II Psionic Potion” had already materialized out of thin air.

He gazed at the potion, which emitted a faint blue glow, his eyes calm and resolute.

Then, he drank it down in one gulp.

...

Time lost all meaning.

In the isolated dormitory, only the eternal, seemingly endless cycle of cultivation remained.

Boom!

Within Qin Feng's body, it was as if a miniature supernova was erupting.

Under the command of his will, his vast spiritual energy, like a bursting flood, carried an irresistible momentum and slammed fiercely into a yet-unlit, stubbornly tenacious acupoint shell.

Agony!

An indescribable pain, as if it would tear his very soul apart, instantly spread through every limb and bone.

The acupoint shell was far more solid than imagined; each impact felt like ramming flesh and blood against primordial divine iron.

His meridians wailed, his muscles trembled, and even his bones emitted a strained "creaking" sound.

But Qin Feng's will was harder than divine iron.

His face showed no expression as he mechanically, again and again, mobilized his spiritual energy to launch assaults.

After an unknown span of time, just as the effect of that spiritual energy potion was about to fade, a crisp "crack" sounded, and that stubborn acupoint shell finally showed a hairline fracture.

Now!

Qin Feng's soul suddenly shuddered, gathering the last of his spiritual energy into a sharp arrowhead, precisely piercing into that crack.

Hum—

The acupoint shell shattered, and a torrent of energy was instantly absorbed and transformed by the newborn "Great Sun Acupoint."

And Qin Feng's body, at nearly the same moment, teetered on the brink of collapse.

Without hesitation, he stepped into the prepared bathtub and poured in a dose of "Enhanced Type II Deep Repair Medicinal Bath." The dark green liquid quickly engulfed him, and a warm, comforting sensation instantly wrapped around his entire body.

He could clearly feel countless, imperceptibly fine life energies penetrating through his skin into his limbs and bones, repairing the damaged meridians and nourishing the torn muscle fibers.

An hour later, when he stepped out of the bath, the fatigue and injuries had all faded away.

He immediately sat cross-legged and began to circulate the *Ten Complete Hands*.

A gentle yet profound, strange force began to flow within his body.

This force, like a master blacksmith of the highest skill, subjected his newly repaired body to a second, more meticulous "forging."

With each cycle, his physical strength, meridian resilience, and spiritual energy activity gained a subtle but real enhancement.

The *Ten Complete Hands* was solidifying the fruits of his every breakthrough after collapse, accumulating deeper foundations for the next, more violent assault.

When the *Ten Complete Hands* cycle ended, he would take a mental energy recovery potion, close his eyes in meditation, and let his weary soul regain its fullness.

Then, he would take out the next spiritual energy potion and begin a new round of assault on the next acupoint shell.

Day after day, cycle after cycle.

In the corner of the dormitory, a small mountain of empty, energy-depleted potion bottles had piled up.

Qin Feng still sat cross-legged in place, like an eternal statue.

His aura was deeper and more restrained than three years ago, like a dormant volcano amassing boundless energy.

By now, the acupoint-merging process within him had exceeded three hundred cycles.

Each assault was harder than the last.

Each repair took longer than before.

Years of solitude and unending pain would have driven any weak-willed person to utter collapse or madness.

But Qin Feng's heart, through such tempering, grew ever more lucid and unyielding.

His will was forged like divine metal, indestructible through countless kalpas.

—

When the last spiritual energy potion was swallowed, when the last drop of repair bath was absorbed,

only one final, most solid, and most core acupoint shell remained within Qin Feng's body.

This was the last heavenly moat on the path to perfection.

He poured all the power he had accumulated, all the will he had honed over these five years, into this final strike.

There was no earth-shattering roar, no heart-rending pain.

The moment that force, condensed to its extreme, touched the last acupoint shell, everything seemed to fall into place naturally.

The acupoint shell melted like spring snow.

Hum—!!!

A "Great Sun Acupoint," unprecedented in size and magnitude, burst into being at the very center of his chest, at the mysterious "Divine Treasury" acupoint of the human body!

It was no mere superposition of previous acupoints; it was a qualitative transformation.

Like a true star, compressed billions of times, it hung there silently.

Torrential spiritual energy swirled within it, forming a perfect, self-sustaining energy vortex, ever-flowing.

Qin Feng could clearly sense that if his mental power could probe into it and gently stimulate this massive "Great Sun Acupoint," the abyss-like spiritual energy within would instantly surge forth, like a river pouring from the heavens, washing, purifying, and strengthening his body with unimaginable efficiency.

Alas…

He tried to mobilize his now-mighty mental power to touch that "Great Sun."

But the moment his mental power approached, it was blocked by the terrifying energy field naturally radiating from its outer layer, unable to budge it in the slightest.

"So this is the bottleneck…"

Qin Feng understood completely.

"Only when my mental power undergoes another transformation, and I learn a truly profound method of mental manipulation capable of interfering with reality, can I use my spirit as a 'key' to open this 'Divine Treasury' within, channel spiritual energy to wash my body, and thus break through the realm to ascend to the sixth level, Soaring Void."

The acupoint merging was complete!

Qin Feng slowly opened his eyes.

In those eyes, there was no ecstasy of breakthrough, only a deep, starry calm.

His thoughts involuntarily drifted back to a mission many years ago.

He had witnessed firsthand how the "Primordial Acupoint"—the remains of a fallen martial artist who had cultivated a supreme acupoint-opening method—had, by itself, nourished a dead underground cavern into a vibrant paradise.

That was a martial artist's "whale fall."

And now, he had reached the same realm.

The perfected "Great Sun Acupoint" within him was the ultimate "Supreme Primordial Acupoint."

If he were to fall now, his body could turn a dead land into one teeming with life.

His vitality index, with this final perfection, had reached the legendary "minor limit" of the fifth-level Primordial Acupoint realm—7200 points!

"Hammer,"

he called softly.

"I am here, Master,"

the AI assistant's voice immediately replied.

"How long has it been since I entered seclusion?"

"Reporting to Master, four years and eight months have passed."

"Four years and eight months... yes, remarkable speed."

A subtle shade of emotion rippled through Qin Feng’s voice.

Had the Venerable Master Sun not guided his hand to teach him the Art of Decalogue,

let alone five years, even if he were granted another half-century, achieving aperture fusion would have remained an absolute impossibility.

Though he had merely grasped a mere fraction of the Art of Decalogue, this single shred of insight had caused his cultivation speed to surge by far more than fivefold!

Forty years to awaken the apertures, and thirty years to fuse them!

Seventy years in total, navigating a path that other gifted martial artists could not hope to finish in several centuries.

From this moment forth, the way lay open and unblemished!

So long as his spiritual fortitude kept pace, he could glide effortlessly through the Four Great Boundless Restrictions of the Flesh, entirely spared from the agonizing bottlenecks that held other martial artists captive for eons.

Furthermore, because he had forged what was known in legends as the Transcendent Essence Aperture, the rate at which his physical form would strengthen hereafter would be—ten times greater than that of peers cultivating the Superior Essence Aperture!

What an utterly terrifying advantage.

Qin Feng rose slowly to his feet, feeling the surge of power within him, vast and tumultuous like a mountain collapse or a tidal wave, practically overflowing his frame.

Vitality Index: 7200.0

All killing doctrines masterfully commanded, leaving only a final, paper-thin barrier before the total synthesis of his ultimate strikes.

—

Deep within the headquarters of the Dauntless Warband, in a certain strategic conference room.

Three formidable figures, whose looming presence felt as deep as abysses and as unyielding as mountains, gathered around a central, circular tactical light-table, locked in an intense yet restrained argument.

Nissan maintained his customary casual air, slouching against a comfortable alloy seat with his arms crossed over his chest, his short golden hair shimmering beneath the artificial lights, though his eyes—usually brimming with playful mockery—carried a rare trace of gravity.

Long Yu sat perfectly upright, his fingers mindlessly and gently tapping the smooth surface of the table, a helpless, bitter smile playing across his warm, jade-like countenance.

Directly across from him, a man of erect stature and razor-sharp aura paced back and forth with deliberate steps.

He wore a form-fitting black combat uniform, a coil of dark-gold long whip slung about his waist, his exposed arms bearing sharply defined muscle lines that pulsed with explosive power.

With every turn he made, an invisible weight of oppression radiated outward, as though a fierce tiger stood poised to devour its prey.

This was Ning Jing, one of the three Level Five paragons within the Dauntless Warband, standing shoulder to shoulder in renown with Long Yu and Nissan.

Unlike Long Yu’s gentleness and Nissan’s extroversion, Ning Jing’s character was like the long whip at his waist—direct, austere, and brookless of any argument.

"Long Yu, I am saying this for the absolute last time."

Ning Jing halted his steps, planting both hands upon the tactical light-table as he leaned forward slightly, his gaze piercing directly into Long Yu like a cold blade.

"The choice for the final vacancy of this mission must be decided by me. Wen Muyun, whom you recommended previously, possesses decent strength and is a promising seed, but against this particular assignment... her strength falls far too short."

His voice was low and powerful, each word descending like a hammer blow upon iron, filled with an unyielding finality.

Hearing this, Long Yu ceased the tapping of his fingers and lifted his head to meet Ning Jing’s oppressive stare, though that same gentle smile remained fixed upon his face.

"Ning Jing, I understand your anxieties. But the question remains: who do you propose to choose?"

He extended a hand to point toward the center of the light-table, where a mission briefing shimmered with an ominous, deep-crimson glow.

Mission Name: Eradication of the Chaos Hotbed

Mission Rating: Nightmare Class

Mission Objective: Penetrate the source of contamination, 'The Weeping Cradle,' deep within the Lost Sector, utterly destroy the Chaos Altar at its core, and slay its guardian.

Recommended Strength: Level Five Essence Aperture Realm (Minor Restriction) / Invincible Combat Power of Equivalent Tier

Mission Rewards: 300,000 Warband Points, 200,000 Contribution Points, 600,000 Warband Reputation Points

Long Yu spoke softly, yet his words resonated with absolute clarity throughout the conference room: "This Nightmare-class mission is valued at a staggering three hundred thousand warband points. Now, only four months remain before the conclusion of this season's point tournament. Whether our Dauntless Warband can once again defend the honor of being Canaan’s premier warband hinges entirely upon the success or failure of this single endeavor."

He paused, his tone shifting into something far more solemn: "You have seen the mission assessment—'Nightmare Class.' The difficulty coefficient provided by the system directly aligns with the standards of the ninety-first to the one-hundredth floors of the Canaan Tower. What that concept implies is something you and I know all too well. Only those monsters who have truly reached the 'Minor Restriction' of 7200 vitality points and stand invincible among their peers possess a high probability of success."

"And such figures..."

Long Yu spread his hands, offering a self-deprecating laugh, "Looking across the entirety of the Dauntless Warband, or even among the Level Five students of the whole Canaan Starry Sky Martial Arts University, I truly cannot find a single one. You, myself, and Nissan—the three of us have indeed achieved aperture fusion and reached the 'Minor Restriction,' but do you dare claim that we are 'invincible among our peers'?"

Ning Jing fell silent.

Naturally, he did not dare claim such a thing.

They were powerful, standing at the very apex of the pyramid, but they were still more than a few paces short of the word "invincible."

"I choose Yun Zhi."

Ning Jing spoke in a heavy voice, putting forward a name. "He is someone I trained personally. Though he has not yet reached the 'Minor Restriction,' his Vitality Index has already attained 6900 points. It has been over two hundred and fifty years since his enrollment; his combat experience and strength of will require no further justification. Among the hands we can currently deploy, he is the optimal choice."

"Yun Zhi..."

Long Yu pondered for a moment, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

He knew of Yun Zhi, who was indeed a powerful, battle-hardened martial artist, stronger than Wen Muyun; Ning Jing’s choice was based on reality, the most stable and yet the most helpless option available.

But it was still too weak.

"If all else fails, we could just borrow someone from another warband, so long as it isn't the Iron-Blood Warband."

"Are they out of their minds? How would we split the points then? Besides, isn't that humiliating? I would rather take second place than resort to such measures."

"Alas..."

The others murmured in fractured discussion.

Right at that moment, however, Long Yu’s eyes suddenly kindled with light.

It was as if he had abruptly sensed something; his consciousness rapidly dived into the status roster of the warband's internal members.

When he saw a certain name, which had lain dormant for nearly five years, and noticed that the status of "In Deep Seclusion" following it had quietly vanished, a sudden, irrepressible wave of excitement and agitation erupted across his otherwise calm face.

"Wait a moment! We have it! Haha, we have it!"

Long Yu struck the table violently, the joy on his face plain for all to see, a stark departure from his usual steady demeanor.

Under the bewildered stares of Ning Jing and Nissan, his slender fingers flew across the tactical light-table with immense speed, forcibly dragging a member’s avatar and information directly into the four-person squad for that Nightmare-class mission.

Ning Jing’s brow furrowed as he cast his gaze upon the newly added avatar.

It was a resolute, youthful countenance he had never laid eyes on before.

And right beside the avatar, the basic details of this individual were clearly displayed.

Name: Qin Feng

Vitality Index: 5960.0

Time of Enrollment: Sixty-Five Years

The instant he discerned this string of numbers, Ning Jing’s pupils contracted violently, and a surge of fury flared up instantly from the depths of his heart.

"Long Yu! What kind of joke is this!"

His voice rose sharply, brimming with profound outrage. "A Vitality Index of 5960 points?! An enrollment time of a mere sixty-odd years?! You thrust such a greenhorn into a Nightmare-class mission squad? Do you wish for him to seek his death, or do you intend for all of us to accompany him to the grave?!"

This interrogation was no longer a mere debate, but closer to an outright roar.

Nissan, who had been leaning back in his chair watching the spectacle unfold, now discarded his easygoing expression, looking toward the name on the light-table with a flash of astonishment in his eyes.

“Qin Feng? He’s out of seclusion?”

Faced with Ning Jing’s thunderous rage, Long Yu unhurriedly waved his hand, the excitement on his face undiminished.

“Ning Jing, don’t rush, don’t get angry yet.”

He soothed, “Look carefully, his status info hasn’t been updated yet. This guy, finally out of seclusion! Haha, as long as he’s willing to come, I’d say this mission is at least half secured!”

“Not updated? Just out of seclusion?”

Ning Jing’s anger subsided a little, but his brows remained furrowed, the suspicion in his eyes undiminished.

He stared fixedly at Qin Feng’s data, calculating rapidly in his mind.

“I’ll trust you for now. This Qin Feng, his previous record was 5960 vitality index. To reach the ‘Minor Limit’ of 7200, he needs to merge apertures over a hundred twenty times, nearly a hundred thirty. At the speed of an ordinary genius, it would take at least seventy years. That means his actual enrollment time is at least over a hundred thirty years. Hmm, at that age, to have cultivated all killing techniques to the mastery realm, he can be considered a deeply hidden old monster genius.”

Based on his own understanding, Ning Jing arrived at a seemingly reasonable conclusion.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, he heard Long Yu’s voice, tinged with a hint of mockery yet serious.

“What enrollment of a hundred thirty years? Ning Jing, oh Ning Jing, when I said not updated, I didn’t mean that.”

Long Yu extended a finger and tapped on the light table at Qin Feng’s vitality index of ‘5960.0’.

“This data is from five years ago, before he went into seclusion.”

“What?!”

This time, Ning Jing was truly angered.

Five years ago?

Five years later... just over six thousand?

He took a deep breath, suppressing the storm in his heart, and said in an unprecedentedly serious tone, “Long Yu, this matter is of great importance. It’s not just about points; it’s about all our lives!”

His gaze swept across the faces of Long Yu and Nissan.

“A ‘Nightmare-level’ mission leaves no room for luck. The slightest carelessness, even just picking a slightly weaker teammate, could trigger a chain reaction, at least doubling the probability of all of us dying inside!”

“Hahaha, don’t be mad, don’t be mad, just teasing you.”

Long Yu laughed, “No more suspense. I just asked—five years, he has raised his vitality index to 7200, successfully merged apertures. Rest assured, it’s not what you think.”

Ning Jing: “?”

(End of this chapter)