Chapter 185: Ning Jing Shocked! A Body Like a Starry Sky Behemoth!

Chapter 185: Ning Jing Shaken! A Body Like a Starry Sky Giant Beast!

When Long Yu's communication request reached Qin Feng's personal terminal, he had just finished his preliminary check of his own physical condition.

That flawless "Great Sun Acupoint," coiled at the Shenzang acupoint in his chest, was slowly "pulsing" like a heart, in a rhythm profound beyond words.

With each pulse, vast amounts of pure, quintessential spiritual energy were naturally channeled to his limbs and bones, nourishing every inch of his flesh and every strand of his skeleton.

He could clearly feel that his body was at an unprecedented peak state.

Strength, speed, defense, recovery—all attributes related to the physical body had undergone a qualitative leap due to the perfection of the "Great Sun Acupoint."

"Nightmare-level mission..."

Qin Feng gazed at the blood-red mission title on the light screen, his eyes calm.

Before going into seclusion, he had thoroughly studied the mission system of Canaan Starry Sky Martial University.

The so-called "Nightmare" level had its difficulty coefficient directly benchmarked against the guardian challenges of floors ninety-one to one hundred of the Canaan Tower.

What kind of difficulty was that?

Only a top-tier martial artist who had successfully merged all three hundred and sixty acupoints, achieved a life force index of 7200 points at the "Minor Limit," and pushed all their learned killing techniques to the "Mastery Realm" would be qualified to challenge it.

"Perfectly matches."

Qin Feng silently assessed in his mind.

Not only had he reached a life force index of 7200 points, but he also bore the empire's strategic-level nurturing method, "Ten Complete Hands," making his physical foundation far more formidable than that of an ordinary "Minor Limit" martial artist.

As for killing techniques, over these sixty-plus years, he had grinded more than a dozen techniques to the "Mastery Realm."

Whether fist techniques or spear techniques, they had long been integrated and came to him effortlessly.

Moreover, he could clearly sense that deep within his soul, the strongest killing move that unified his lifelong learning was on the verge of emerging.

It was like a seed about to break through the soil, only lacking a sufficiently powerful opponent and an extreme enough pressure to serve as the nourishment for its final bloom.

This "Nightmare" mission might just be the best opportunity.

Thinking this, Qin Feng no longer hesitated.

His finger lightly tapped on the virtual light screen, accepting the team invitation sent by Long Yu.

[Confirmed joining the "Eradication of the Chaotic Cradle" mission team.]

[Team members full. Please proceed to the Fearless War Brigade Headquarters, A-3 Strategic Meeting Room within ten minutes.]

[Teleport coordinates locked...]

Qin Feng closed the light screen, and with a thought, directly activated the teleport function.

The next second, his figure was enveloped by a soft teleportation glow and vanished from the spot.

...

Fearless War Brigade Headquarters, A-3 Strategic Meeting Room.

When Qin Feng's figure materialized from virtual to real at the meeting room entrance, the three figures inside, with their imposing auras like mountains and rivers, almost simultaneously turned their gazes toward him.

Nissan was still in his carefree manner, grinning at Qin Feng with a flash of white teeth, his eyes filled with the joy of reunion after a long separation and a hint of barely perceptible amazement.

Long Yu stood up, a genuine, relieved warm smile on his face.

Only the man with a straight posture and a sharp aura like an unsheathed sword had the most direct and scrutinizing gaze.

Those sharp eyes seemed to want to see through Qin Feng completely, from the inside out.

"Qin Feng, you're finally here!"

Long Yu spoke first, quickly stepping forward. He looked Qin Feng up and down, feeling the vast and profound life force fluctuation naturally emanating from him, like a deep ocean, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Long time no see! This life force of yours... you really pulled it off, kid!"

Nissan also came over and unceremoniously punched Qin Feng in the chest, producing a dull thud.

"Not bad, Qin Beast! I thought you'd be moldering in your dorm! Five years gone, and you feel even more like a humanoid starry sky giant beast than before!"

Qin Feng felt the warmth of his two old friends, a slight smile appearing on his face as he nodded in response.

Then, Long Yu turned sideways and introduced, "Come, let me introduce you. This is another pillar of our Fearless War Brigade, Ning Jing. His life force index is also 7200 points."

He then turned to the sharp man and smiled, "Ning Jing, this is the Qin Feng I mentioned to you. His life force index is also 7200 points."

Ning Jing did not speak immediately. He just quietly looked at Qin Feng. The faint, dangerous aura emanating from Qin Feng caused the muscles on his back to unconsciously tense.

Like a thorn in the back!

This was an instinctive reaction only felt when facing a top predator of the same level or even stronger.

He believed Long Yu was not lying; the man named Qin Feng before him absolutely possessed a life force of 7200 points.

But reason made him find it unbelievable.

"Truly 7200 points?"

Ning Jing finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse, full of texture. "You... really took only thirty years to complete the entire acupoint-merging stage?"

This question had been bottled up in his heart for a long time.

He couldn't imagine it, nor understand it.

"Just lucky."

Qin Feng replied calmly.

He knew that his cultivation speed was too astonishing for any normal martial artist, and it was only natural for the other party to have such doubts.

Ning Jing gave him a deep look and did not press further.

Every strong person has their own secrets; prying into details was not his style.

He changed the subject, his expression becoming extremely serious.

"This mission is rated 'Nightmare,' with an extremely high mortality rate."

He looked directly into Qin Feng's eyes and said word by word, "So, before we set out, I need to confirm your true strength. We need to have a fight."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the meeting room instantly became somewhat subtle.

Long Yu and Nissan exchanged glances, both seeing a hint of helpless amusement in each other's eyes.

They knew Ning Jing's character too well—strict, direct, with the mission as the highest principle, never allowing any uncertain factors to exist.

Ning Jing seemed to sense the change in atmosphere and added, "Please understand. This is not a provocation, nor a doubt of your data. I just need to determine our team's comprehensive combat power in the most intuitive way, in order to assess the mission's success rate and formulate the most reasonable tactics."

He spoke openly and honestly, without any selfish motives.

"No problem."

Qin Feng nodded without hesitation, indicating his understanding.

If it were him, facing a new teammate with such an "abnormal" record, about to entrust his back to him and venture into a life-and-death "Nightmare" mission, he would also make such a request.

Letting strength speak is always the most direct, effective, and respectful way of communication among martial artists.

"Good!"

Seeing Qin Feng so straightforward, a glint of approval flashed in Ning Jing's eyes.

Without further ado, he directly began operating on his personal terminal.

The next second, Qin Feng received a battle invitation from Ning Jing.

[User "Ning Jing" invites you to enter a private battle space. Do you accept?]

"Accept."

Qin Feng confirmed with his mind.

...

Light and shadow shifted.

When Qin Feng's consciousness coalesced again, he found himself in a vast, boundless white space.

Beneath his feet was a solid floor emitting a soft glow, and all around him stretched an endless void composed of pure data.

On his body, a standard-issue light combat armor had automatically formed, and in his hand, he held an alloy long spear, also generated by the system, identical in weight and texture to the [Koi Transforms into Dragon].

And a hundred meters away, Ning Jing's figure similarly took shape.

The same light armor, but in his hand, he wielded a heavy, dark-golden whip.

"Come on!"

Ning Jing shouted in a low voice, with no intention of testing the waters.

The ground beneath his feet shook violently, and like a cannonball shot from a barrel, he instantly crossed the hundred-meter distance, charging at Qin Feng.

The heavy whip in his hand let out a piercing sonic boom in the air, like an awakened furious dragon, rolling up boundless gusts of wind, heading straight for Qin Feng's face!

Whip shadows overlapped, each containing terrifying force capable of splitting mountains and cracking rocks, along with a brutal, domineering will to attack.

Faced with this earth-shattering strike, Qin Feng's expression did not change in the slightest.

His choice was exactly the same as Ning Jing's.

Head-on collision!

Without using any subtle killing moves, it was a pure, unadorned explosion of power and speed!

The long spear, like lightning, arrived later but struck first, precisely hitting the core of the howling whip shadow.

Clang!!!

A deafening clash of metal echoed throughout the virtual space.

Visible shockwaves, centered on the point where their weapons met, spread wildly in all directions!

Ning Jing felt an unprecedented, overwhelming, terrifying force transmitted from the whip.

That power was so pure, so domineering, as if it came not from a human body, but from a prehistoric cosmic beast rampaging through space!

"What?!"

Ning Jing's pupils contracted sharply, and for the first time, a look of horror appeared on his face.

He felt that his proud strength was as fragile as a straw before this force.

The whip in his hand was almost shaken away on the spot, a tearing pain shot through his tiger's mouth, and the bones of his entire arm groaned under the unbearable strain.

His own physical potential had been rated as the top-tier "Golden Standard Human III" by the Empire's standards; otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to choose the ultimate acupoint-opening method.

Yet now, he felt that Qin Feng's strength was at least... ten times greater than his!

How was this possible?!

Before he could recover from his shock, Qin Feng's second strike had already arrived.

Having gained the upper hand, Qin Feng pressed his advantage relentlessly.

He completely abandoned all defense and evasion, unleashing his grand, purely offensive fighting style to its fullest.

His figure moved like a ghost, closing in, and the spear in his hand turned into a myriad of shadows, sometimes like a furious dragon emerging from the sea, fierce and unstoppable; sometimes like a viper spitting its tongue, cunning and vicious.

Ning Jing was completely on the defensive.

His proud strength was utterly crushed, and he could only rely on his battle-hardened skills, wielding the whip to barely hold on.

But how could Qin Feng's combat skills be inferior to his?

In the fifth exchange, Ning Jing's whip was knocked aside by Qin Feng's spear, leaving him wide open.

In the seventh exchange, Qin Feng's [Golden Luan] slammed directly into Ning Jing's chest.

The light armor on Ning Jing's body shattered instantly, and he flew backward like a kite with a broken string.

In the ninth exchange, before Ning Jing could stabilize himself, Qin Feng's spear tip had already turned into a streak of light, precisely stopping at his throat.

The entire battle, from start to finish, lasted less than thirty seconds.

No more than ten exchanges.

Ning Jing, one of the top three fifth-level powerhouses of the Fearless War Group, had already been defeated.

The virtual space fell into dead silence.

Qin Feng withdrew his spear and stood quietly, looking at Ning Jing in the distance without speaking.

Ning Jing slowly rose from the ground. He looked down at the shattered armor on his chest, then up at Qin Feng, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Shock, horror, disbelief.

—

When the pure white light of the virtual space faded from before his eyes, and the familiar, solid sensation returned beneath his feet, Qin Feng and Ning Jing's consciousness had already returned to the real-world A-3 strategic meeting room.

The alloy walls around them were still cold, and the simulated starry sky above was still brilliant.

Long Yu and Ni Sang stood not far away, their faces bearing a complex expression of expected yet hard-to-conceal shock.

Clearly, they had seen the brief and one-sided duel through the spectator mode.

Ning Jing's figure swayed slightly before he fully steadied himself.

Although the virtual battle caused no harm to his real body, the impact of being crushed by pure power and the icy stillness of the spear tip at his throat still left a lingering tremor in his nerves.

He was silent for a moment, as if digesting the immense shock of that defeat.

After a long while, he raised his head, his gaze falling back on Qin Feng.

This time, all the scrutiny, doubt, and wariness in his eyes had vanished without a trace.

In their place was a heartfelt recognition and admiration for an absolute powerhouse.

"Your physical body... is too strong."

Ning Jing spoke in a low voice, his tone hoarse but full of power, each word carrying weight. "That is not a power that should belong to a human. It's like a cosmic beast in human skin. In terms of pure physical qualities—strength, endurance, speed—I believe no student of the same level at the entire Canaan Starry Sky Martial Arts University can surpass you."

He paused, as if searching for a more accurate reference.

"Perhaps... only the true prodigies and monsters in the broader universe could rival you in physical potential."

This was an extremely high compliment.

Coming from a proud, strict, and almost obsessive powerhouse like Ning Jing, its weight was self-evident.

"As for your killing techniques,"

he continued, his tone carrying a frank admission of inferiority, "they are equally formidable. Grand and sweeping, yet subtly intricate, with a highly condensed will to attack. I accept this defeat wholeheartedly."

He admitted his defeat cleanly and decisively, without any hesitation or dragging.

Yet, after acknowledging Qin Feng’s strength, a trace of solemnity crept across his face.

“However,”

He shifted his tone, his expression turning intensely serious, “A martial duel is one thing; a life-or-death mission is another. In the fight just now, neither of us engaged in mental or spiritual attacks. I’m not making excuses for my loss, but the objective of this mission is to destroy a Chaos altar and slay its guardian.”

Ning Jing’s gaze sharpened, as if sinking into some unpleasant memory.

“I once had the fortune—or perhaps misfortune—to carry out a similar mission, albeit of slightly lower difficulty. The guardians of those altars were all fanatical believers deeply blessed by the evil gods. Their combat prowess might vary, but their mental attack methods are absolutely not to be underestimated. It’s a power that can directly corrupt and twist your soul—extremely bizarre and terrifying.”

He paused here, glanced at Long Yu and Nissan, then continued, “The three of us, after years of arduous cultivation, have all reached the standard critical threshold of ‘10’ in mental strength. This level is enough to initially stir the Yuan apertures within our bodies, allowing us to break into the sixth-level Soaring Realm at any time. Coupled with the empire’s highest-spec mental protection modules, we’re confident that even against ordinary sixth-level Chaos followers, we can hold our own on the mental plane.”

His implication was clear: I acknowledge your physical prowess, but your mental strength remains an unknown. And that, precisely, is the most fatal aspect of this mission.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Long Yu stepped forward at the right moment, explaining with a smile, “My power armor is equipped with the latest model of life-field and mental-wave detection devices. I tested Qin Feng’s mental strength five years ago, and it was already at 9 points. Now, five years later, given his cultivation speed, I believe that even if he hasn’t reached 10, he’s infinitely close.”

“Oh?”

Ning Jing’s eyes flickered with surprise at this, and then his tense expression finally relaxed completely. He nodded slowly, “That’s good.”

Invincible in physical combat, top-tier in killing techniques, and mental strength nearly up to standard.

Such a teammate could no longer be described merely as “qualified”; he was practically the ideal candidate tailor-made for this “nightmare-level” mission.

The last shred of doubt in Ning Jing’s heart dissipated like smoke.

He pondered for a moment, as if organizing his words, and finally decided to speak plainly.

“Qin Feng, there’s one last thing.”

His tone was unprecedentedly serious, “If you’re only here to earn that hefty contribution points and war group reputation, then I advise you to withdraw now. This risk isn’t worth taking. You’re a genius with more potential than us; you shouldn’t gamble on such a high casualty rate.”

“Hell-level missions offer fewer rewards, but they’re safer. With your strength, you can accumulate vast wealth over time. There’s no need to throw your life away.”

He looked at Qin Feng, speaking each word deliberately, “The reason we’re willing to risk our lives on this ‘nightmare-level’ mission is because—”

“Ning Jing!”

Long Yu suddenly barked, cutting him off.

Long Yu’s brows were tightly furrowed, a hint of displeasure in his reprimand.

In his view, Ning Jing’s words, though well-intentioned, were an outright insult to Qin Feng’s martial will.

Could a true strongman’s pursuit ever be summed up by mere resources?

The atmosphere in the meeting room grew awkward once again, thanks to Ning Jing’s blunt personality.

“It’s fine.”

But Qin Feng waved his hand, signaling Long Yu not to worry.

He calmly met Ning Jing’s probing gaze, his eyes clear and resolute.

“On this question, I have three answers.”

Qin Feng’s voice was not loud, but it reached everyone present clearly.

“First,”

His tone turned cold, carrying a deep-seated disgust, “Chaos beasts are abominations that everyone should slay. That’s the most basic stance and duty of an imperial martial artist.”

“Second,”

He shifted his tone, speaking frankly, “Since I began my cultivation, the vast majority of resources I’ve needed have come from exchanging war group reputation. The Fearless War Group has shown me kindness. Now that the group’s honor hangs in the balance, requiring these 300,000 points to secure victory, it’s my bounden duty. I must take these points, and I will.”

“Third,”

At this, a blazing, almost burning battle intent suddenly erupted in Qin Feng’s eyes, “Risk my life? The path of martial arts is itself a gamble between life and death! Without sufficiently powerful opponents, without the pressure of mortal danger, how can my killing techniques break through that final bottleneck and advance further?”

His voice was low, but it struck Ning Jing’s heart like a heavy hammer.

Responsibility, loyalty, and the purest pursuit of martial arts!

These three answers, layered one upon another, completely dispelled the last doubt in Ning Jing’s heart, and even stirred his own heart, which had been tempered as hard as stone by martial training.

“Ha… hahaha——”

Ning Jing was stunned for a moment, then burst into a heartfelt, unrestrained laugh.

“Good! Well said!”

He strode forward, no longer harboring any resentment, and punched Qin Feng heavily on the shoulder armor, his eyes full of admiration.

“Brother! I, Ning Jing, have been petty-minded! I’ve always spoken bluntly; if I offended you just now, don’t take it to heart! If we make it back alive this time, I’ll treat you to a drink! The best!” The word “brother” signified the ultimate recognition.

“Since we’re brothers, why say such things?”

A smile also appeared on Qin Feng’s face.

He enjoyed dealing with such straightforward martial artists.

“Alright, alright.”

Long Yu watched this scene of “no fight, no friendship” with a gratified smile, stepping forward to pat both their shoulders, steering the atmosphere back on track.

“Now that we’ve reached a consensus, let me briefly introduce the specifics of this mission. Afterward, everyone prepare individually—check your equipment, replenish supplies. We’ll set off on time in half an hour.”

His expression turned serious again, and he tapped lightly on the tactical light table.

The crimson mission brief was instantly magnified, with detailed information about the enemy clearly laid out.

“According to the latest intelligence from the Imperial Intelligence Department, we’ll be facing a group of followers of Slaanesh.”

Long Yu’s voice dropped.

“Khorne represents slaughter and war; Tzeentch represents schemes and change; Nurgle represents decay and despair. As for Slaanesh, what He represents is ‘ultimate desire.’ All desires that can lead one to depravity—whether for power, wealth, beauty, or an obsessive pursuit of art, pain, or even perfection itself—if taken to the extreme, can become a path to Him.”

“Thus, the composition of Slaanesh’s followers is the most complex and bizarre among all Chaos followers. Their killing techniques are equally varied and strange. Any attack method you can imagine—or cannot imagine—might appear. Never judge them by common sense.”

Long Yu’s gaze swept across the faces of his three teammates, his tone heavy to the extreme.

“In short, when facing Slaanesh’s followers, maintain the highest level of vigilance. Compared to Nurgle’s and Khorne’s followers, Slaanesh’s are far more troublesome…”

“Everyone, prepare well. It’s worth spending all your contribution points.”

“Understood.”

“…”

Qin Feng wasted no time, diving back into the Imperial Trading Hall’s exchange interface, his eyes locking directly onto the military-grade equipment list.

The 76,000 contribution points were his capital for the coming life-or-death struggle.

“Nightmare-level mission, enemies are Slaanesh followers; mental and spiritual offense and defense are the top priority.”

Qin Feng’s thoughts were crystal clear.

He knew well that the [Imperial Military Type III Mental Barrier Module] he had purchased earlier, though excellent in performance, might be insufficient against the intensity and strangeness of the mental corruption that enemies in a “nightmare-level” mission could unleash.

When it came to matters of life and death, he never stinted.

Qin Feng’s mind raced through the list, finally settling on a precise module that emitted a faint golden glow, shaped like a miniature sanctuary.

[Imperial Legion-Level Mental Fortress Module]

[Type: Power Armor Plugin / Active Psychic Defense Module]

[Effect: Upon activation, generates a defensive field that effectively resists, analyzes, and neutralizes all psychic shocks, soul contamination, mental distortion, and illusion-type attacks below a psychic intensity of 30 points. The module contains a built-in micro-psionic furnace capable of autonomous recharging.]

[Exchange Price: 30,000 Contribution Points.]

Thirty thousand contribution points!

“Exchange.”

With his mental confirmation, a significant chunk of the contribution points in his personal account instantly evaporated.

Then, his gaze fell upon another seemingly unremarkable piece of auxiliary equipment.

[Military Portable · Spatial Anchor Stabilization Device]

[Type: Tactical Support Item / Single-Use Consumable]

[Effect: When encountering interference from strong energy fields (such as WAAAGH! fields, Chaos Warp storms, high-complexity high-intensity psychic-psionic fields, etc.) that disrupt subspace teleportation, this device can be activated. It will instantly release a high-frequency stabilization wave, forcibly opening an absolutely stable ‘teleportation window’ lasting 0.5 seconds within the target area.]

[Exchange Price: 12,000 Contribution Points.]

A flicker of reminiscence passed through Qin Feng’s eyes.

He would never forget that year, during a mission to cleanse the Greenskins, when the omnipresent, irrational WAAAGH! field had sealed off his squad’s teleportation channel, plunging them into a hopeless dead end with depleted ammunition and supplies.

If only they had possessed this device back then—even just a moment of stability would have been enough to activate the emergency teleport beacon and retreat calmly, without waiting for Senior Sun Shantang to descend like a divine soldier to their rescue.

A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit.

In life-or-death missions, any trump card that could increase survival odds was worth any price.

“Exchange.”

He confirmed once more.

Having secured these two most vital life-saving trump cards, Qin Feng did not stop.

He spent nearly another twenty thousand contribution points, purchasing a large quantity of “Purification Bombs” specifically designed to counter Chaos energy, several combat stimulants that could instantly boost neural reaction speed, and enough military-grade physical replenishment injectors to sustain months of high-intensity combat.

When all preparations were complete, Qin Feng’s personal assets had once again shrunk significantly.

But what he had gained was a far greater sense of confidence in facing the “Nightmare-level” mission.

With a thought, the black power armor—already repaired to pristine condition by the intelligent system and fine-tuned to his latest physical data—was summoned forth.

“Hum…”

Qin Feng deftly embedded the brand-new [Imperial Legion-Class · Mental Fortress Module] into the groove on the chest plate.

The golden module linked perfectly with the armor’s energy core, and an invisible energy field, brimming with majesty and order, instantly enveloped his entire body.

He nodded in satisfaction, then, amidst a series of crisp mechanical clicks and airtight seals, encased himself within this cold steel fortress.

The heavy [Koi Ascending to Dragon] spear was firmly secured to his back by a magnetic matrix, its shaft snug against the spinal armor of the power armor.

On his utility belt, standard bolters, holy water purification bombs, high-explosive grenades, and spare magazines were packed to the brim, each placed within the most convenient reach.

At this moment, Qin Feng was no longer merely a martial artist.

He was a steel deity armed to the teeth, born for war and slaughter—an unadulterated, walking humanoid war machine.

“Qin Feng, ready.”

Almost simultaneously, the confirmation messages from Long Yu, Nissan, and Ning Jing lit up one after another.

“Long Yu, ready.”

“Nissan, ready.”

“Ning Jing, ready.”

Four top-tier experts, equally fully armed and radiating profound, abyssal auras, raised their heads at the same time in their respective preparation zones.

Their eyes all revealed the same thing—resolve, calm, and a thirst for the impending bloodshed.

“Invitation sent.”

Long Yu’s voice rang out in the channel.

“Target: Lost Star Domain, ‘Weeping Cradle’ outer jump point.”

“Let’s move!”

A teleportation invitation, shimmering with spatial fluctuations, appeared before each of their eyes.

Without a moment’s hesitation, they all selected “Confirm.”

The next second, dazzling, distorted radiance flared up simultaneously, then vanished in an instant.

Four powerful presences disappeared without a trace from Canaan Star Martial University.

…

At the very same moment Qin Feng and the others vanished.

In the headquarters of the Fearless War Legion, within the strategic conference room representing the highest decision-making authority.

Around the massive circular conference table, over a dozen figures sat silently.

Each of them radiated an aura as blazing and vast as a star.

These individuals were the true anchors of the Fearless War Legion—Level Nine martial artists.

At the head of the table, War Legion Commander Feng Zhiyu sat with his eyes closed, resting.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes.

“They’ve all gone?”

His voice was not loud, yet it echoed clearly in everyone’s ears.

“Yes, Commander.”

A Level Nine martial artist on his left immediately replied; a real-time tactical hologram floated before him. “We just received feedback. The squad of Long Yu, Nissan, Ning Jing, and Qin Feng has departed, with the jump target being ‘Weeping Cradle.’”

“A Nightmare-level mission, reward of three hundred thousand War Legion points.”

Another martial artist added, a hint of gravity in his tone. “Currently, on the leaderboard for the fifth stage, our gap with the second-place ‘Iron Blood War Legion’ is two hundred and ten thousand points. This mission will directly determine the ownership of this cycle’s top War Legion.”

Feng Zhiyu slowly nodded, but there was neither joy nor tension on his face.

He was more concerned about another matter.

“Have our ‘old hands’ followed up?”

He asked in a deep voice. “Don’t let our heroes bleed and weep outside.”

“Reporting, Commander. They have followed up.”

The first martial artist replied. “Three ‘old hands’ assigned for covert protection have already infiltrated the ‘Lost Star Domain’ through hidden channels. They will monitor the mission progress throughout. However, according to the highest rules of the War Legion points competition, they are not allowed to intervene in the mission in any form. If they do act, it can only be to preserve the lives of squad members, and the mission itself will be directly judged as a failure.”

“I don’t care whether the mission succeeds or fails.”

Feng Zhiyu’s tone suddenly turned stern. “You tell them: forget about those three hundred thousand points, and don’t give a damn about that so-called top War Legion honor! The people must be brought back alive! Especially Qin Feng! Understand?!”

“Understood!”

That Level Nine martial artist immediately straightened his back and responded loudly.

"Alright."

Feng Zhiyu's taut expression finally relaxed a little.

He let out a long breath, leaned back in his chair, and a hint of complex emotion flickered in his eyes.

"Back then, when we were doing internal potential assessments before the competition started, you all said that newcomer named Qin Feng was a genius making rapid progress. I argued that he hadn't been enrolled long enough, his foundation was unstable—give him thirty years, and he probably wouldn't even figure out how to merge his apertures."

He gave a self-deprecating laugh. "And then, in the blink of an eye, not only did he succeed in merging apertures, he directly became a being stronger than that battle maniac Ning Jing. Truly... unpredictable."

At these words, the faces of all the ninth-level powerhouses in the meeting room wore the same expression as Feng Zhiyu's—a mix of shock and awe.

"Captain, you're not the only one who misjudged him; we all did,"

a seasoned ninth-level martial artist remarked with emotion. "He can no longer be described as a 'genius.' He's a true prodigy. Even in Canaan Starry Sky University, where geniuses are as common as clouds and monsters roam, he's the kind who can look down on the crowd and firmly rank first—a league of his own."

"So,"

Feng Zhiyu's gaze sharpened again, "we absolutely cannot let anything happen to him! Pass my order to those three 'old-timers': if the mission shows any uncontrollable signs of failure, immediately, right now, at any cost, step in to save him! Understood?!"

"Understood!"

More than a dozen powerful auras in the meeting room responded in unison.

They exchanged glances, each seeing the undeniable shock deep in the other's eyes.

Forty years to open apertures, thirty years to merge them.

Such speed—they, these planetary-level powerhouses who had lived for millennia and weathered countless storms, had truly never heard of or witnessed anything like it.

Most crucially, Qin Feng wasn't just improving quickly.

His strength was terrifyingly solid!

That physique, as robust as a cosmic beast's; those combat skills, honed over centuries of relentless practice; those various killing techniques, all seamlessly mastered to the "realm of control"...

Speed, power, technique, will, foundation...

No weaknesses at all!

—

Canaan Starry Sky University, Private Forum, Public Discussion Area.

At this moment, this virtual space, usually bustling with students, mentors, and even alumni, had reached a fever pitch of activity.

Countless posts were springing up like mushrooms after rain, and the most eye-catching among them was undoubtedly a discussion thread highlighted in scarlet font by the moderators—a veritable annual drama.

[Title]: [Final Prediction!] Only Four Months Left in the Battle Group Points Race! Can the Fearless Defend Their Title? Can the Ironblood Stage a Comeback? In the Ultimate Showdown, Who Will Be Crowned King?

Beneath the post, replies had already surpassed the million mark, growing at a terrifying rate.

"Sofa! Front-row seats selling snacks, drinks, nutrient paste! Also placing bets on the Ironblood Battle Group—odds one to one point two, no take-backs!"

"Get lost, profiteer! No need to predict—this year, the Ironblood Battle Group is a sure thing! The Fearless have ruled Canaan too long; it's time for a new king!"

"I wonder if the Fearless can defend their first place this time. Honestly, I still like their style—low-key, strong, and they really take care of their own."

"It's uncertain, bro. Not trying to badmouth the Fearless, but the numbers don't lie. Check the official real-time points leaderboard—according to the latest news, in the most important fifth-level segment, the gap between the Fearless and Ironblood has widened to 210,000 points! Ironblood is way ahead!"

"Whoa... 210,000 points?! That gap is huge! I remember last month it was less than 100,000—how did it blow up so much?"

"What else? Those lunatics in Ironblood. Heard last month their fifth-level chief, 'Iron Maniac,' personally led a team to complete three high-difficulty hell-level missions, maxing out the points reward. Those guys are trading their lives for points!"

"Damn, really? That intense? What about the Fearless? What are the three big shots—Long Yu, Nissan, Ning Jing—up to lately?"

"They're also grinding missions like crazy, but hell-level mission points vary wildly. Catching up that 210,000-point gap is too hard."

"Yeah, only four months left. Unless the Fearless can pull off four or five hell-level missions in a row, all high-difficulty, there's no hope of a comeback. But how is that possible? Everyone knows the danger of hell-level missions."

"Sigh, looks like Ironblood is really going to take the crown this year. Too bad for the Fearless."

"It's settled—I've bet all my imperial coins on Ironblood. Brothers, once I cash in, I'll treat everyone to a wild night at 'Drunk and Dreaming.'"

For a moment, the entire forum's sentiment was overwhelmingly in favor of Ironblood.

After all, the massive 210,000-point gap and the dwindling time—these two mountains weighed heavily on all supporters of the Fearless.

In the face of absolute, cold data, any sentiment or expectation seemed pale and powerless.

Yet, just as the chorus of doom for the Fearless reached its peak, a new reply from an anonymous user claiming to be an "insider with inside info" dropped like a depth charge, instantly detonating the discussion area.

"Breaking news! Breaking news!"

As soon as this reply appeared, it immediately caught countless eyes.

"Never mind how I saw it! Go look! The Fearless just accepted a 'nightmare-level' mission!!"

"What?!"

"Whoa?! Am I seeing this right? Nightmare-level?! Isn't that a tier higher than hell-level? I've been enrolled for years and never seen any battle group dare to take one!"

"Really? OP, are you just stirring the pot?"

Within a minute, a flood of verification messages confirmed the truth of the news.

"Holy crap! It's true! My mentor confirmed it! The Fearless have lost their minds! They really took a nightmare-level mission!"

"The mission team members have been announced! Oh my god! It's Long Yu! Nissan! Ning Jing! And... Qin Feng?!"

This news, like a magnitude-12 earthquake, instantly overturned the forum's entire discourse.

"No way... a nightmare-level mission?! The Fearless are going all in—win or die! These guys have some serious guts!"

"Are they trying to get themselves killed?!"

"Bro above, don't get too worked up. Calm down a bit. Think about it—would the battle group really let them go to their deaths? For a mission of this level, there are bound to be 'old-timers'—those extreme martial artist seniors—following behind. If their lives are in danger, they'll step in to save them."

"Exactly, the battle group still has that much conscience. Especially the top-ranked Fearless, known for protecting their own and sticking together—they'd never let their people die in vain."

"Yeah, that's true... but once those 'old-timers' intervene, it means mission failure, and no points. It's more like an extreme trial, or the battle group's leadership showing they won't give up."

"Wait! Wait! Don't discuss that yet! I've got a blind spot! Long Yu, Nissan, Ning Jing—those three big shots being on the list, I totally get it—they're the recognized top three in the Fearless's fifth-level division. But... what's Qin Feng doing in this god-tier team?"

"Right! Who is Qin Feng? That name sounds familiar... Isn't he the 'Beast Qin' from the rookie cup back then?"

"That's him! I remember! That fourth-level martial artist who took third in the rookie cup and later broke the Canaan Tower record!"

"But wasn't he fourth-level?! And how many years has it been? Even if he's advanced to fifth-level now, a newcomer enrolled only sixty-odd years ago—how can he stand alongside Long Yu and Ning Jing to take on a nightmare-level mission? It doesn't add up!"

"No idea! Anyone have the latest on Qin Feng? That guy seems to have vanished since the battle group rankings started—no news about him on the forum at all."

"Nothing. A friend who works in the mission hall says he's been teaming up with Long Yu on missions for the past few years, but no one knows his actual strength. He's too low-key."

"A mysterious guy... but being recognized by all three of them to join a nightmare-level mission—his strength is probably far beyond what we imagine."

Just as everyone was buzzing with speculation about Qin Feng's identity and power, another bombshell was dropped.

"Breaking news! The Ironblood Battle Group... has also accepted a nightmare-level mission!"

The moment this news hit, the entire forum fell into a deathly silence.

A full ten seconds passed before it was drowned in a tidal wave of replies filled with shock and disbelief.

"Holy crap!! Crazy! This world has truly gone insane!"

"I take back what I said! The Fearless aren't the crazy ones—both battle groups are completely insane!!"

"It's a direct clash! No room to back down now! A 210,000-point gap, a nightmare-level mission rewards 300,000 points—if the Fearless succeed and Ironblood fails, the rankings will flip instantly! If it's the other way around, it's a crushing defeat!"

"My heavens, I feel like my heart can't take it anymore! This is too thrilling! This year's Battle Group Tournament is absolutely the most spectacular one ever!"

"Wait... Did the high command of the battle groups force them to go? For the sake of rankings, it shouldn't come to this, right?"

"Definitely not, what are you thinking, upstairs? Ninety-nine percent of missions of this level are voluntarily applied for by those top-tier battle maniacs. Don't forget, the internal cultivation resource library of the battle group is exchanged from the school using points, and the reputation exchange system was also established by the battle group itself. For these core members, they enjoy the most resource allocation, so naturally they are willing to fight for the honor of the battle group at critical moments."

"Well said. If any battle group really forced its core members to carry out such a suicidal mission just for rankings, then that battle group would not be far from losing cohesion and complete dissolution. Fearless and Ironblood have been able to dominate the top two spots for years precisely because of this cohesion."

"Alas, it truly commands respect. Whether it's Fearless or Ironblood, these top-tier powerhouses deserve the respect of all of us."

"Enough said, I no longer know who to support. Now, I only hope they all come back alive."

"Anticipation! Utmost anticipation! I wonder this time, who will ultimately complete this impossible mission and claim the throne that symbolizes the strongest in Canaan?"

At this moment, the entire Canaan Star Martial Arts University's gaze was fixed on these two battle groups that were simultaneously charging toward the "Nightmare."

An invisible competition, determining the ownership of the highest honor, had already begun fiercely on everyone's heartstrings.

(End of this chapter)