Chapter 190: One Month to Enter the Gate! Terrible Spiritual Power Talent! Even More

Chapter 190: One Month to Mastery! Terrifying Psychic Talent! A Farther Horizon!

After making his decision, Qin Feng did not hesitate for a moment.

He immediately accessed the internal system of the Fearless War Brigade through his personal terminal and found the rental option for "Advanced Cultivation Meditation Chamber" in the resource exchange list.

[Option: Advanced Cultivation Meditation Chamber (Void Stone Material)]

[Rental Fee: 100,000 Prestige Points/Year]

Without even blinking at the string of zeros, Qin Feng directly confirmed the payment.

[Prestige Points -100,000. Rental successful. Meditation Chamber A-73, usage permission activated for one year.]

[Prestige Balance: 500,000]

With the cold system notification, a substantial sum was deducted.

For Qin Feng, who had just earned a massive amount of prestige from the nightmare-level mission, this investment was necessary and well worth it.

Absolute darkness and silence instantly enveloped the entire space.

Qin Feng sat cross-legged, his mind quickly settling into calmness.

He did not rush to begin but first adjusted his state to be as still as an ancient well.

Then, with a thought, he summoned the *Basics of Imperial Psychic Manipulation*.

The next moment, a soft glow lit up before him, forming a complex, three-dimensional holographic projection.

Countless shimmering particles danced in the air, simulating the psychic energy within the human body and the as-yet-invisible psychic power.

Beside the projection, annotations in the Imperial Common Language flowed like a waterfall, accompanied by a steady, emotionless synthetic voice narration.

"Psychic power is an extension of the will of life, a lever to pry open higher-dimensional forces..."

"Step one: Perception. Empty your mind, sink into the deepest part of the ocean of consciousness, and seek that eternal, unchanging light of the 'true self'..."

"Step two: Touch. With your will, try to 'touch' that void, feel that faint, almost imperceptible resistance..."

Qin Feng watched with full concentration, imprinting every word and every image deep into his mind.

The holographic instruction was undoubtedly top-notch, making an extremely abstract concept as concrete as possible.

Yet, even so, Qin Feng still felt a sense of confusion.

It was like looking at a beautiful oil painting through a thick frosted glass.

He could see the general outline and colors but could not grasp the brushstrokes, texture, or spirit.

The manipulation of psychic power was profound and mysterious—it was not simple energy transfer but a transcendent art involving the essence of life and the dimension of will.

"No wonder psychic cultivation requires a mentor's guidance,"

Qin Feng realized with sudden clarity.

He instantly recalled his distant past.

In middle school, the martial arts teachers taught the basic version of the *Imperial Body Tempering Method*, simplified countless times to ensure absolute safety.

Back then, teachers would guide every movement and breath step by step, laying the most basic and crucial foundation for students.

Only when they entered high school would they encounter the true Imperial Body Tempering Method.

The same principle applied to psychic cultivation now.

This *Basics of Imperial Psychic Manipulation* was like a high school textbook; without the foundational concepts taught by middle school teachers, ordinary students would be utterly lost, possibly even led astray by misunderstandings.

Seniors Liang You and Chu Qi played the role of those "middle school teachers."

"Can you feel it? That sense of emptiness, that feeling of your thoughts extending outward but touching nothing?"

Senior Chu Qi's steady, mountain-like voice sounded in the absolute silence of the meditation chamber, clearly reaching Qin Feng's ears.

"Yeah,"

Qin Feng replied, experiencing that very sensation.

"Good, that's the first step, proving you've begun to explore the realm of the spirit."

Senior Liang You's gentle voice followed. "Now, don't think about 'control.' Forget that word. Imagine your spirit is part of your body, like your finger. Now, if you want your finger to move, you just give the thought 'move,' and it moves. It's the same with psychic power."

"Try to condense the purest, simplest thought in your ocean of consciousness. For example, 'light' or 'heat.'"

Qin Feng did as instructed. He cast aside all distractions, leaving only one pure intention in his mind—light.

Gradually, in that eternal darkness and void, he seemed to "see" a faint, barely perceptible point of light, smaller than a speck of dust.

"Catch it, feel it. Don't try to grasp it; instead, 'become' it."

Chu Qi's voice came at the right moment, guiding his perception.

Time passed slowly through these repeated attempts.

Ning Jing, Long Yu, and Nissan did not stay long.

After casting an encouraging glance at Qin Feng, they each went to their own cultivation areas. Breaking through to Level 6 was just a beginning for them; they had much to consolidate and new knowledge to learn. Time was equally precious.

In the meditation chamber, only Qin Feng remained with the two senior mentors.

Liang You and Chu Qi were extremely patient, continuously explaining various specialized psychic terms, describing the different sensations that might arise at various stages, and correcting subtle deviations in his perception.

"...When you can clearly feel that point of light, and with a single thought, it responds accordingly, you are halfway there. That point of light is your most fundamental psychic aggregate. Next, you need to guide it."

"Remember, it's 'guide,' not 'push.' Like a sailor going with the current, not against it. If one day, in your ocean of consciousness, you can clearly feel a drop of cold, pure 'liquid,' and make that drop move as you wish, then you have truly 'learned.'"

"And when you can guide countless such drops to form even the faintest 'stream,' you have officially 'entered the gate.'"

Thus, three days passed in a flash.

For warriors immersed in cultivation, three days were but a blink of an eye.

On this day, as Qin Feng sat cross-legged, a deep tremor shook the core of his mind. After countless failed attempts, he finally clearly "touched" a drop of cold, pure liquid, as if condensed from the purest moonlight.

His thought stirred slightly.

That "drop" lightly and obediently followed his intention, tracing an elegant arc through the ocean of consciousness.

Done!

At that moment, a line of pale blue data stream silently appeared before his eyes.

[Basics of Imperial Psychic Manipulation (Not Yet Mastered)]

[Proficiency: 1/10]

Done! A wave of understanding surged in Qin Feng's heart.

This was the right path!

With the first success, the subsequent process flowed naturally.

His Heaven Rewards Diligence system began to exert its incredible effect.

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

Each successful guidance, each manipulation of the psychic droplet, transformed into pure experience, recorded, absorbed, and solidified by the system.

His control over that droplet of mental energy evolved from initial clumsiness and fragmentation into something increasingly fluid and seamless.

In the blink of an eye, a month had slipped away.

Within the quiet chamber, Qin Feng still sat cross-legged with eyes closed, but now, an aura radiated from him utterly different from a month ago.

It was an intangible yet undeniably real ripple of spirituality.

In his sea of consciousness, that first "droplet" had long vanished. In its place was a "stream" formed by the convergence of thousands upon thousands of droplets—slender yet remarkably stable.

With a mere thought from Qin Feng, this mental energy "stream" moved like an obedient silver serpent under his conscious command, weaving, spiraling, and dancing with nimble grace, as if it were an extension of his own will, perfectly attuned.

He attempted to guide this mental energy stream toward the surging ocean of spiritual energy within his body.

A wondrous scene unfolded.

The moment that silver mental energy stream touched the roaring golden spiritual energy, no repulsion occurred between them. Instead, like lovers reunited after a long separation, they instantly and spontaneously merged.

The golden spiritual energy, as if finding its backbone, coiled around the silver stream with innate obedience, following its lead as it raced through the meridians with unimaginable efficiency and precision.

[Imperial Mental Energy Manipulation Basics (Beginner)]

[Proficiency: 1/100]

It worked!

Qin Feng’s eyes snapped open, a barely perceptible glint of sharp light flashing through them.

He had succeeded. In just one month, he had crossed the initial and most arduous threshold that countless sixth-rank warriors faced.

"This is the 'Mental Energy-Spiritual Energy Aggregation Mode,'" said Senior Chu Qi, who had been standing guard all along, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

"Mental energy and spiritual energy are essentially forces of the same origin but different phases. Spiritual energy naturally entangles and aggregates with mental energy, following the same path of union. This is an objective law etched into the fabric of the universe, observed both in subspace and the material cosmos."

"The mid-tier killing techniques we commonly refer to—fourth, fifth, and sixth rank—all have their core principles rooted in this law. By using mental energy as a guide, we leverage spiritual energy, making it circulate faster, more precisely, and more efficiently, thereby unleashing greater destructive power."

Chu Qi raised a finger and continued his explanation: "The difference lies in complexity. For instance, the fourth-rank killing technique you will learn typically involves one or several fixed patterns of spiritual energy flow. A fifth-rank technique may involve over ten such patterns, requiring you to achieve 'tenfold simultaneous focus' in the heat of battle. As for sixth-rank techniques, the flow patterns can number in the hundreds, demanding 'hundredfold simultaneous focus.' The most renowned competition in this star sector, the 'Starry Cup,' tests the application of killing techniques at the sixth rank and below."

"As for the high-tier killing techniques above the sixth rank—the seventh, eighth, and ninth—they begin to transcend this fundamental law, delving into the manipulation of higher-dimensional forces. The most basic requirement is a mental energy intensity of 100, a realm only accessible after becoming a planetary-level powerhouse."

Chu Qi patted Qin Feng on the shoulder, his voice brimming with admiration: "Qin Feng, congratulations. You have successfully taken the first step. Completing it in one month is a speed that proves you possess extraordinary talent in mental energy!"

Qin Feng slowly rose and bowed deeply to both Senior Liang You and Senior Chu Qi, his gesture filled with sincerity.

"Thank you both for your meticulous guidance over this past month."

His gratitude came from the depths of his heart.

Throughout the month, the two seniors had remained by his side almost constantly, imparting their experience and insights without reservation, holding nothing back.

This debt of kindness, he would remember.

"Haha, no need to thank us—the battle group pays us!" Chu Qi laughed heartily as he helped Qin Feng to his feet.

Just then, the heavy alloy door of the training chamber was gently pushed open from outside.

The familiar figures of Long Yu, Ni Sang, and Ning Jing appeared in the doorway.

Having finished their day’s training, they had come, as usual, to check on Qin Feng’s progress.

When they saw the chamber door open and Qin Feng already standing, Ni Sang was the first to blurt out noisily.

"Haha, Qin Feng, you’re out already? It’s only been a month—don’t tell me you couldn’t sit still and needed some fresh air?"

Ning Jing’s gaze swept over Qin Feng, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curling at the corner of his mouth as he said in his characteristic flat, slightly challenging tone: "Out of seclusion after just one month?"

Long Yu smiled, a knowing look in his eyes: "I’d bet this monster has already broken through. To have figured out a killing move like [Qian Yuan], his mental energy talent can’t be weak."

"What? You mean he really broke through?!"

Ni Sang’s eyes, as big as brass bells, widened in disbelief, his face screaming "I don’t believe it."

Senior Chu Qi looked at the three of them, his smile deepening:

"Qin Feng has already broken through."

"It took him exactly one month. You’re right—Junior Qin Feng’s mental energy talent is exceptionally high!"

For a moment, the air in the chamber seemed to freeze.

The expressions on Long Yu’s, Ni Sang’s, and Ning Jing’s faces were nothing short of spectacular.

From their habitual visit, to their teasing at seeing Qin Feng emerge, to hearing Senior Chu Qi’s unequivocal "has already broken through"—their emotions had swung through a full roller coaster.

"I... I was just saying that to lighten the mood," Long Yu said, his usually warm, jade-like face showing rare bewilderment. He looked at Qin Feng, then at the confident Senior Chu Qi, and finally gave a helpless, wry smile. "I didn’t expect you to actually have broken through."

"This is too insane!"

Ni Sang’s bull-like eyes were wide open. He strode over to Qin Feng, scrutinizing him from head to toe as if trying to find something extraordinary. "One month! A whole month! It took me four months back then, and I got chewed out by Senior Chu Qi every single day. You..."

For a moment, he couldn’t find the right words to describe his feelings.

"As expected of you, Qin Feng," Ning Jing said instead.

After the initial surprise, he was the first to regain his composure. He simply gave Qin Feng a deep, sharp look, his tone carrying a sense of matter-of-fact admiration.

As if to say, it’s only normal for such a miracle to happen to you.

After the brief shock, genuine joy and congratulations surged like a tide.

"Congratulations, Qin Feng! You’ve officially stepped into the sixth rank!" Long Yu said with heartfelt sincerity.

"Haha! Well done! From now on, our squad will have four sixth-rank warriors!" Ni Sang slapped Qin Feng hard on the shoulder, producing dull thuds.

Facing the congratulations of his close friends, Qin Feng only smiled modestly: "Just luck."

No one took that "luck" seriously.

On the path of martial arts, there is no such thing as luck.

Behind every seemingly effortless breakthrough, there must be a profound reason.

"Don’t be modest!" Ning Jing’s eyes glinted with mischief, and a rare, sly grin appeared on his usually stern face. "Come on, give it a try—see if you can fly now!"

He urged: "In theory, once you’ve successfully mastered the basics of mental energy manipulation, you’ve already met the most fundamental standard of the sixth-rank 'Soaring Realm.'"

"Right, right! Try it!" Ni Sang chimed in, his face full of anticipation.

Urged on by them, Qin Feng’s heart began to burn with excitement.

Soaring through the skies—this was a longing etched deep in humanity’s genetic code.

Ever since he set foot on the martial path, he had witnessed countless powerful figures flying through the air with mental energy, patrolling the heavens like gods. How could he not yearn for it?

He took a deep breath, and following the method he had just mastered, sank his mind into the sea of consciousness.

The silver stream, formed by countless droplets of mental energy, stirred at his will. It extended from the sea of consciousness like an invisible tentacle, winding around his own body, and naturally entangled and merged with the vast golden psychic energy within him.

An intangible yet immensely powerful force of uplift slowly came from beneath him.

Qin Feng felt his body lighten, and his feet left the cold ground made of "Void Stone."

One meter, two meters, three meters...

He had succeeded!

An unprecedented sense of freedom, breaking free from the earth's bonds, filled his mind.

He could clearly "see" the smiling faces of Long Yu and the others below, and feel the subtle flow of the surrounding air.

This was the perspective of a sixth-level martial artist!

Yet this joy did not last long.

When he rose to about seven or eight meters above the ground, the lifting force began to become extremely unstable.

His body wobbled in midair like a candle flickering in the wind, and the next moment, the lifting force formed by the "mental-psychic energy convergence" completely collapsed.

"Ah—"

Under the gloating gazes of Long Yu and the others, Qin Feng, like a kite with a broken string, let out a short cry and plummeted straight from seven or eight meters high, landing with a heavy "thud" on the hard ground.

"Ha ha ha ha ha—"

The next moment, Ning Jing's unrestrained laughter echoed throughout the cultivation chamber.

He laughed so hard he doubled over, tears almost streaming from his eyes.

Nissan and Long Yu couldn't help but laugh too, their shoulders shaking.

Qin Feng scrambled up from the ground, covered in dust, and brushed off his clothes. His physical body was strong, so the fall from this height was neither painful nor itchy.

He looked at the three who were laughing so hard they couldn't straighten up, his face a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"You guys just wanted to see me make a fool of myself, didn't you?"

"Ha ha ha... I can't take it, let me laugh a little more..."

Ning Jing finally managed to stop laughing, wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes. "Back then, every single one of us fell just like that. I had the worst fall—I hit the ceiling headfirst before dropping. Now seeing you, this freak, also falling in such a sorry state, I feel so much better!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

Nissan nodded in deep agreement. "Mental balance restored!"

"This is normal."

Long Yu explained with a smile, "To truly fly at will, there are two hard requirements. First, your mental strength must reach at least 30 points. Second, your 'Imperial Mental Manipulation Basics' must be cultivated to the 'Perfection' realm. Only then can you output mental energy stably, control force and direction precisely, and roam freely in the sky. Basically, only those who have pushed the 'Soaring Realm' to its limit and are about to touch the first 'Great Limit' can achieve that step."

After a round of playful banter, the two senior students, Chu Qi and Liang You, who had been watching with smiles, walked over.

"Alright,"

Chu Qi's voice drew everyone's attention back. "The first step in mental cultivation, the 'initiation,' is the hardest and most critical. Our duty is to guide you safely through this most difficult phase. Since Qin Feng has already begun, our initial teaching task is considered successfully completed. The path of cultivation from here on is for you to walk on your own."

"Oh, and one more thing to remind you."

Liang You added, "The annual 'Starry Cup' is about to start. If you're interested, you can sign up and give it a try."

"Starry Cup?"

Qin Feng asked, puzzled.

"This is the highest-level tournament organized by this star sector, open to all Starry Martial Arts University students."

Long Yu explained. "It's extremely prestigious."

Liang You nodded. "That's right. But signing up for the Starry Cup has two minimum requirements. First, your Imperial Arena rank must reach 'Fourth Rank.' Second, naturally, you must be a student of Starry Martial Arts University."

"To go far in the Starry Cup, or even win the championship, generally speaking, your Imperial Arena rank needs to be at least 'Ninth Rank' to have a chance."

Chu Qi's tone carried a hint of longing. "The honor of the Starry Cup is secondary; the most important thing is its rewards. The rewards are incredibly generous, even more valuable than the combined rewards of completing ten nightmare-level missions."

Ten nightmare-level missions!

This comparison made even Qin Feng's heart tremble.

He knew well how astonishing the rewards of nightmare-level missions were; ten times that would be an unimaginable astronomical figure.

"Oh, and one last thing."

Chu Qi's expression turned serious, and his sharp gaze swept over the four of them. "This matter is crucial for your upcoming cultivation."

"The Imperial Arena can perfectly simulate everything in reality, including the use of mental energy. However, it has a fatal flaw—when watching battles or reviewing recordings, you cannot clearly and intuitively see the specific flow of the opponent's mental energy. Compared to real combat, it has both advantages and disadvantages. Do you understand what I mean?"

This question plunged Long Yu and the other two into deep thought.

But in Qin Feng's mind, a flash of insight struck, and he instantly grasped the key point.

He spoke in a deep voice, "I understand. You mean... before the sixth level, the third-level and below killing techniques we learned relied more on fixed force application techniques and psychic energy nodes. As long as you fight an opponent who uses the same killing technique in the Imperial Arena, through review, you can basically find its weaknesses and countermeasures."

"But in the realm of fourth-level and above killing techniques, the core driving force becomes mental energy. If you only fight in the Imperial Arena, what we can see is still just the opponent's final move form, but we cannot glimpse its internal, most critical 'mental-psychic energy convergence pattern.' This means we cannot precisely strike and dismantle its most fundamental energy operation mode."

"Exactly!"

Chu Qi's eyes blazed with strong admiration, and he nodded emphatically.

"Completely correct! Qin Feng, you grasp it with just a hint!"

"That's the logic! For example, before, when you fought an opponent practicing the 'Ninefold Thunder Blade,' after reviewing, you could understand that you should strike at the key force-accumulating node to interrupt their rhythm. When you fought a spearman practicing 'Cold Gleam,' you knew you had to seize the initiative and not let them take the lead."

"But fourth-level killing techniques are completely different! With the same move, because the pattern, timing, and intensity of mental energy guiding psychic energy flow differ, its weaknesses and core will change. If you only fight in the Imperial Arena, you will never learn how to dismantle the opponent's 'inner core.' Therefore, I recommend that you engage in more real combat sparring within the battle group, exchanging moves with each other. Only then can you truly understand the mysteries of fourth-level killing techniques."

"Of course,"

he shifted his tone, "the Imperial Arena also has its benefits. The combat pressure that is infinitely close to life and death is unmatched by internal sparring. Under high pressure, you can better stimulate your potential and refine your combat skills. How to balance the two is up to you."

"Understood."

Qin Feng, Long Yu, Nissan, and Ning Jing all nodded firmly.

Senior Chu Qi's words revealed a crucial core on the path of cultivation for sixth-level martial artists.

"Alright, that's all I have to say."

Liang You said with a smile, "The road lies at your feet. Go walk it."

With that, the two teaching seniors turned and walked out gracefully, leaving their achievements behind.

Though they had only spent a short month together, Qin Feng still bowed deeply to their retreating figures.

"Thank you, seniors."

"No need! Haha, keep it up..."

—

After seeing off the dedicated teaching seniors Liang You and Chu Qi, the vast and silent cultivation chamber was left with only Qin Feng, Long Yu, Nissan, and Ning Jing.

The atmosphere, which had been slightly restrained due to the presence of seniors, now completely relaxed.

The novelty and excitement of just entering the "Soaring Realm," along with the battle intent from a satisfying spar, still surged in their chests.

They were comrades, competitors, and more importantly, companions about to walk side by side on the new path of sixth-level martial artists.

"Alright, the two seniors have already shown us the way."

As the former captain of the team, Long Yu naturally assumed the role of organizer.

He didn't leave immediately but paced slowly in the quiet room, his expression shifting from relaxed to focused as he began to outline the upcoming cultivation plan.

"Cultivation after the sixth level is completely different from before. I believe it can be clearly divided into three main parts."

He raised three fingers, his voice steady and forceful.

"First, mental strength cultivation. Second, life force index cultivation. Third, and most importantly, killing technique cultivation."

"Among these, mental strength cultivation is a slow, painstaking process—it can't be rushed."

Long Yu's gaze swept over the group. "The seniors just made it very clear. It runs through everything we do.

Whether it's cultivating killing techniques, engaging in high-intensity combat, or deep meditation, any action that exhausts our spirit or puts pressure on us is tempering our mental strength.

Afterward, we replenish it with sufficient sleep or expensive recovery potions, achieving slow but steady improvement."

"So, this counts as a 'passive cultivation' we must do every day—no need to set aside fixed time to plan for it."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Mental strength cultivation was more like a habit to be ingrained into the marrow than a course to be conquered.

"As for the second item, life force index cultivation—"

Long Yu's expression grew more serious. "This requires us to invest large, uninterrupted blocks of time. We need to use our initially mastered mental strength to shake and baptize the 'supreme energy apertures' within our bodies, unlocking their potential to further nourish our physical forms.

This process consumes immense mental energy and is tedious. If paired with appropriate recovery potions, efficiency improves faster. But regardless, it demands our full focus and time."

"Then, the third item: killing technique cultivation."

Long Yu's tone hardened, and his eyes sharpened. "I believe this is the key factor at this stage that will widen the gap in our strength and determine our future combat power!"

"After reaching the sixth level, two martial artists both at the 'first major limit' of 18,000 life force points—one who has only mastered a fourth-level killing technique at the entry level, and another who has pushed it to 'perfection'—their strength is worlds apart!"

"The cultivation of killing techniques is divided into two main battlefields: the Imperial Arena and real-world combat."

"The seniors have already pointed out the pros and cons of the Imperial Arena. It's a great place to hone combat instincts and accumulate life-and-death experience. Everyone can fight there at their own pace. However—"

He shifted his tone. "For real-world combat, I suggest we do it every day! On the arenas of the Fearless District, we should not only spar with each other but also practice with as many members of other war bands as possible. The more types of weapons we encounter, the better; the more varied our fights, the better!"

Long Yu's plan was clear and logically rigorous, perfectly combining the seniors' guidance with their own circumstances, quickly laying out a visible path to strength for the four of them.

"I agree!"

Ning Jing expressed his concise approval, his cold face brimming with battle intent.

"Well said!"

Nissan slapped his thigh excitedly. "I've heard that those prodigies who shine in the 'Starry Cup' and become famous across the empire—every single one of them has accumulated their strength through billions of real combat experiences! They've basically dismantled and fought through all the common fourth-level, fifth-level, and even sixth-level killing techniques of the empire. No matter what move you use, their minds instantly come up with seven or eight countermeasures. Those guys are all martial arts grandmasters—it's terrifying!"

"Indeed," Long Yu nodded. "Against opponents like that, any flashy technique is meaningless. Only by surpassing them in all aspects of raw strength can you win."

"So our plan from now on is... train hard!"

Qin Feng looked at his three new companions, feeling the pure and fervent atmosphere of cultivation, and a long-lost surge of passion welled up in his heart.

"Exactly! Train hard!"

Long Yu smiled, looking at the group as he proposed a concrete schedule. "I plan, starting tomorrow, to spend every morning in closed-door cultivation for the life force index. In the afternoon, head straight to the combat zone in the Fearless District for a few hours of real fighting. In the evening, go to the Imperial Arena for some excitement. Then every few days, find time for a long, deep sleep to save on mental recovery potions and conserve reputation points. How about it—want to follow this rhythm together?"

"No problem!"

Nissan was the first to respond, already raring to go.

"Agreed."

Ning Jing nodded.

Qin Feng looked at them, a gentle smile on his face, and said softly, "Back at Qiming First Advanced Martial Arts High School, I used to train like this with my two roommates. Later, one of them went to a top hundred Starry Martial Arts University, and the other... came to Canaan Starry Martial Arts University."

The other person he referred to was, naturally, Shi Potian.

This plain, slightly nostalgic remark caused the lively atmosphere to pause for a moment.

The smiles on Long Yu, Nissan, and Ning Jing's faces faded a little, replaced by a complex, empathetic envy.

"Ah..."

Nissan let out a long sigh, a trace of loneliness appearing on his rugged face. "Back in high school, I tried to drag my dorm brothers into training like this too.

Too bad—those guys were all lazy dogs. They shouted slogans loud enough, but after less than three months, they found excuses to slip away one by one.

In the end, only I was left, sticking it out alone until graduation."

He looked at Qin Feng, genuine envy in his eyes.

"I envy you, Qin Feng. Friends from high school, and now you're still classmates at the same Starry Martial Arts University."

"Yeah..."

Long Yu also sighed softly, his gaze distant, as if recalling his own past. "It's too hard, really too hard. Friends you've known since childhood—almost none of them can walk the martial path alongside you all the way."

Weren't the three of them the same?

They were geniuses, the most dazzling existences of their respective planets and eras.

On their paths of growth, they had countless friends, classmates, and companions.

But as time passed, as they gradually stood out from the competition of geniuses, those figures who once walked beside them were left far behind, one by one.

Those friends eventually became warm yet distant memories in their lives, names that only sent holiday greetings.

Only geniuses with truly equal talent and equal will could possibly stay on the same path on this cruel and long single-plank bridge of martial arts, seeing the same scenery.

So, they genuinely envied Qin Feng.

What they envied wasn't just that he had a friend he'd known since his teens, still at Canaan Starry Martial Arts University.

What they envied was that pure bond—from weakness to strength, always having someone who understood you, supported you, and progressed with you.

But without a doubt, all four of them now possessed supreme energy apertures, all starting from the sixth-level Soaring Heaven line!

The four of them might walk very, very far, together on the same road.

"Alright, enough talk!"

After a brief moment of sentiment, Nissan shook his head forcefully, casting aside that trace of melancholy. He grinned, revealing a bright smile, and rallied his spirits.

"Let's start from today! The four of us, working together!"

He thrust out his massive fist, his eyes blazing as he looked at the others.

"The 'Starry Cup' officially starts in exactly one year! Let's see how much progress the four of us can make in that year!"

"Good!"

Long Yu, Ning Jing, and Qin Feng spoke almost in unison.

They extended their fists and clashed heavily with Nissan's.

A dull thud rang out—not just the collision of fists, but the resonance and pact of four equally proud and equally resolute martial hearts at this moment.

For honor, and for the higher scenery of the distant stars!

Thus concludes this chapter.