Chapter 193: The Shock of the Mentors, Training Killing Methods on the Trial Planet!

Chapter 193: The Mentors' Shock, Trial Planets Hone the Killing Art!

Faced with his mentor's question, Qin Feng did not conceal anything, recounting his cultivation over the past few years in detail.

On one hand, it was to prove his martial heart; on the other, having an experienced elder examine his path could help identify any issues.

"It's mainly due to the opportunities from the War Group Ranking Tournament,"

he explained. "The Canaan Starry Martial University has a special tradition called the 'War Group Ranking Tournament,' held once every seventy years, and each time it lasts for a full thirty years."

"During these thirty years, we students form war groups, completing tasks issued by the school to earn points and rankings. The key point is that all tasks completed during the tournament grant triple the usual war group reputation rewards.

I was fortunate that my war group, the 'Fearless War Group,' was exceptionally strong. During this period, I took on a massive number of tasks, from ordinary to difficult levels, and even completed a nightmare-level task."

Qin Feng's tone was calm, but the information revealed in his words sent shockwaves through the three mentors.

They could imagine that Qin Feng's rapid advancement had been forged through blood and fire.

"The massive number of tasks brought astronomical reputation points, and later there were other opportunities. A combination of factors allowed my cultivation speed to increase so rapidly, and I luckily completed the path of merging apertures within thirty years."

Qin Feng added, "Within the school of Canaan, reputation points are almost equivalent to contribution points. I could use them to exchange for almost all the heavenly treasures and spiritual medicines needed for cultivation in the war group's resource depot, except for standard-issue power armor, high-energy bolters, and other top-tier equipment controlled by the Empire."

After hearing Qin Feng's explanation, the three mentors fell silent for a moment, digesting the vast amount of information.

"Once every seventy years, lasting thirty years..."

Wu Shangfeng's eyes gleamed with sharp light. He was the first to grasp the core and couldn't help but exclaim, "So that's how it is! So that's how it is! No wonder Canaan Starry Martial University holds the sole supreme position among the super-first-class martial universities in the Canaan Galaxy. It truly has its unique merits!"

He clapped his hands in admiration, "This model is brilliant! It efficiently redistributes massive cultivation resources through the competitive organizational model of 'war groups,' rather than relying on rigid contracts or master-disciple relationships like most other martial universities.

This approach not only maximizes students' competitive spirit and sense of team honor but also ensures that those who emerge from the competition are warriors who have truly fought through blood and fire. Their killing art progress will inevitably soar with the intensity of their tasks!

What this cultivates are true warriors, not flowers in a greenhouse!"

Qin Feng wholeheartedly agreed with Wu Shangfeng's analysis.

Indeed.

At Canaan Starry Martial University, he had rarely encountered any twisted-minded, eccentric prodigal sons.

Everyone there, regardless of background, harbored a deep desire for higher martial realms and fought fiercely for their ideals and goals.

The prevailing ethos was martial valor and pragmatism—everything was decided by strength.

Oh, except for that beast Shi Dang.

At the thought of that name, Qin Feng's eyes involuntarily turned cold.

Lin Yue, the perceptive mentor, spoke with a hint of concern and worry: "You've even completed nightmare-level tasks. Xiao Qin, your experiences are far more dangerous than we imagined.

We heard about the Shi Dang corruption incident earlier, and that's precisely why we're especially worried about you."

"Please rest assured, Teacher. I understand the dangers involved. I will be more cautious in my future actions."

Qin Feng replied solemnly.

"Mm,"

Gu Yue said. "Now that you have perfected the merging of apertures and forged the most supreme 'Yuan Aperture,' the path ahead is actually very clear.

First, the cultivation of vitality index. This is a matter of steady effort—you need to break through the 'Four Great Limits' of 18,000, 36,000, 72,000, and finally 108,000 points, ultimately reaching the planetary level."

"Second, the cultivation of the killing art."

Gu Yue continued, "In this regard, we saw from your time at Qiyi High that your comprehension is extraordinary. So we can't give you much specific guidance on the details of cultivation, only remind you of two crucial things."

"First, you must definitely compete in the Imperial Arena's ranked matches! Second, you must definitely participate in the 'Starry Cup' martial arts tournament!"

Gu Yue's tone became unprecedentedly serious: "Xiao Qin, you must remember that the honor of these two is far more valuable than you can imagine!

It's not just honor—it's a kind of 'qualification'!

Just like back then, if you hadn't fought tooth and nail to win the title of 'Qiming Star,' you wouldn't even have gotten the ticket to apply for Canaan Starry Martial University.

The Imperial Arena's rank and the Starry Cup's ranking are the continuation and upgraded version of that qualification!"

"After you graduate from Canaan, if you want to continue moving forward in the broader starry sky of the Empire, to reach higher circles, obtain top-tier resources, or even dare to dream of joining a Limit War Group in the distant future and becoming a Limit Warrior... then a high rank in the Imperial Arena and a high ranking in the Starry Cup are your only tickets!

Without these, no matter how talented you are, you'll be like a rootless duckweed, unable to take a single step! So you must compete, and the higher your ranking, the better!"

Gu Yue's words struck Qin Feng's heart like a great bell.

He had known these two were important, but he had never imagined their significance could be elevated by his mentor to the level of determining the future of his martial path.

"Yes! I understand! Thank you for your guidance, Teacher!"

Qin Feng replied earnestly, engraving these words deep in his heart.

Afterward, the three chatted with Qin Feng about everyday matters, asking about the details of his life in Canaan, their words full of care.

The communication light screen closed, and the quiet room returned to silence.

The care and guidance of his mentors turned into a warm current, cleansing his mind and allowing his nerves, tense from hard training, to relax for a moment.

But soon, a stronger sense of urgency surged within him.

He opened his friend channel and found short messages left beneath the avatars of Long Yu, Nissan, and Ning Jing.

Long Yu: "Junior Brother Qin Feng, your battle with Senior Qin Yonglin deeply moved me. The three of us have gone ahead to train. See you at the Starry Cup."

Nissan: "Qin Beast! I'm off to train too! You've spurred me on."

Ning Jing's message was the briefest, just two words: "Gone."

Qin Feng chuckled softly.

They were all dragons among men, true prodigies. They must have been ignited with fierce competitive fire, pushing themselves to the limit.

"That's good too. With companions chasing after me, I can't afford any slack."

Qin Feng slowly closed his eyes, systematically assessing his current strength and planning his next steps in cultivation.

"First, the killing art."

His mind sank into the depths of his consciousness. The fourth-level killing art inheritance called "Heavy Spear" was as clear as a brand.

[Killing Art: Heavy Spear (Level 4)]

[Realm: Minor Success]

[Proficiency: 112/1000]

"The battle with Qin Yonglin gave my proficiency a decent boost. Based on the intensity of my matches in the Imperial Arena this month and my daily insights, my proficiency increases by about 5 to 10 points per day. At this rate, in a year, I can accumulate around two to three thousand points, enough to push 'Heavy Spear' to the 'Major Success' realm."

"But there's still a huge gap to the ten thousand proficiency points needed for 'Perfection.' The start of the 'Starry Cup' is imminent. I must cultivate 'Heavy Spear' to 'Perfection' before the tournament begins. Only then can I have the qualification to rank high on a stage swarming with monsters."

Qin Feng's brow furrowed slightly.

"To achieve that kind of leapfrog progress, I need even more terrifying, more extreme combat pressure."

In his mind, images of two planets involuntarily surfaced—Inferno-IV and K-7.

That feeling of dancing on the edge of death, squeezing every ounce of strength and every shred of spirit to the limit, was the breeding ground for rapid advancement in the killing art.

"Perhaps it's time to head to the trial planets."

A clear thought took root in his heart.

Trial planets, with safety guarantees, allow warriors to experience the real walk between life and death, bringing immense mental pressure that drives rapid progress in the killing art.

"Next is the cultivation of the vitality index."

This is the foundation of foundations, his greatest asset for overwhelming his peers.

"In the first month of cultivation, I devoted all my mornings to training the mental strength index, while the rest of the time went to combat techniques, the Ten Complete Hands, and meditation. With this allocation, the daily vitality index can steadily increase by 10 points."

He calculated rapidly in his mind.

"Three hundred and sixty-five days in a year means 3,650 points of vitality. I currently have 7,500 points; a year from now, I can only reach 11,150 points. This pace is far, far too slow to approach the 'First Great Limit' of 18,000 points."

"No, this speed is too slow!"

Qin Feng took a deep breath, his gaze becoming utterly resolute.

The first month of cultivation was more like an adaptation and test, giving him a preliminary, precise grasp of his cultivation efficiency after advancing to the sixth level.

And now, the testing period was over. He would make optimal adjustments based on his own physical state and will.

All of this stemmed entirely from his profound understanding of martial arts, requiring no guidance from anyone.

"Starting tomorrow, I need to increase the time spent training the body, while also ramping up resource investment, making use of every second and every moment."

"Additionally, I must improve my combat technique realm, boosting efficiency by going to the trial planets."

Finally, his mind settled on the cultivation of mental strength.

[Meditation Method]

[Great Sun Visualization Method (Mastery)]

[Proficiency: 1234/10000]

[Imperial Meditation Method (Minor Mastery)]

[Proficiency: 12/1000]

"My current mental strength is 10 points, and the rate of increase is indeed very slow."

Qin Feng was not surprised by this.

The growth of mental strength was one of the most difficult tasks for a sixth-level martial artist, not something achievable overnight.

"Especially the 'Imperial Meditation Method,' whose grade is far beyond imagination."

"Once both meditation methods are cultivated to 'Perfection,' my mental strength should break through 100 points, meeting the basic requirements for breaking through to the planetary level."

"This method requires daily practice; there's no rush."

"Moreover, mental strength is not solely enhanced through meditation."

After sorting through all his cultivation directions, Qin Feng's heart no longer held any confusion.

Though the road ahead was long and the challenges formidable, every step beneath his feet was crystal clear and utterly firm.

A surge of battle intent and longing, born from the depths of his soul, rose once more.

The Starry Cup, higher martial realms...

All of this required him to strive with even more diligence and even more frenzied effort!

In the silent chamber, all sounds were hushed.

Qin Feng slowly opened his eyes. In those deep pupils, the warmth that had arisen from his earlier conversation with his mentor had completely faded, replaced by an absolute calm and focus, like an ancient frozen abyss.

The path ahead was now perfectly clear; all that remained was execution.

With a thought, he issued a command.

"Hammer."

Hum—

A faint spatial ripple, and a streak of red-and-white light coalesced out of thin air before Qin Feng.

The light dissipated, revealing a small, exquisite dragon about thirty centimeters long.

Its body was a warm, pearly white, while its back and the edges of its dragon wings were covered in fiery red, streamlined scales. Its sapphire-like electronic eyes blinked with animation as it hovered in the air, its tail gently swaying.

"I am here, Master. What are your orders?"

Hammer's voice was an optimized, neutral electronic tone designed to be most comforting, efficient and precise.

"Help me filter trial planets."

Qin Feng's command was concise.

"Objective: Maximize efficiency in raising fourth-level combat technique proficiency. Requirements: Sufficient combat pressure, with safety mechanisms in place."

"Command received. Performing multi-dimensional matching based on your 'Ultimate Acupoint' foundation and current vitality index..."

Hammer's electronic eyes flickered with vast streams of data.

"...Filtering complete. Optimal plan has been listed for you."

A massive virtual light screen unfolded before Qin Feng.

On the screen, dozens of mission options were neatly arranged, each accompanied by detailed data.

[Mission Name: K-19 Planet Ecological Cleanup]

[Mission Difficulty: Hard]

[Target Race: Alien Insectoid · Cutter]

[Recommended Vitality Index: 8000-15000]

...

Qin Feng's gaze swept rapidly, eventually locking onto an option at the top of the list, marked with a special halo.

[War Band Exclusive Trial Plan: Trial Planet 'Grinder-III']

[Mission Mode: Long-term Stationed High-Pressure Combat Training]

[Target Race: Orcs]

[Adapted Martial Artist Level: Level 6~7 (Vitality Index below 36,000)]

[Safety Assurance: One Level 8 'Sun-Moon Realm' martial artist as guardian, full escort]

[Cost: 40,000 War Band Reputation Points/Month]

"Oh?"

Qin Feng raised an eyebrow slightly. "The War Band missions include dedicated trial planets? With a Level 8 guardian?"

This was exactly the ideal plan in his mind.

"Yes, Master."

Hammer's voice chimed in at the right moment to supplement. "This is a collaborative project between the 'Fearless War Band' and the Imperial military. 'Grinder-III' is an ecologically modified planet specifically used to deploy and raise orcs. Its ecosystem and reproduction rate are macro-controlled by a space fortress, providing martial artists with an inexhaustible, intensity-controllable combat target."

"Orcs, insectoids..."

Qin Feng tapped his fingers lightly on the light screen, lost in thought.

He was no stranger to these.

These two races, with their terrifyingly unreasonable reproduction speed, fearless combat will, and extreme environmental adaptability, were hailed as the empire's two best 'consumables' for training.

Their existence seemed solely for war and destruction, making them perfect trial subjects.

"And the price..."

His gaze fell on the fee column: "Eleven months, requiring 440,000 prestige points."

Qin Feng immediately called up his personal asset panel.

[War Legion Prestige (Remaining): 520,000 points]

"If I choose this eleven-month trial plan, I'll still have 80,000 prestige points left."

He quickly calculated in his mind, "I still have plenty of resources left over from the massive purchase I made to break through to the perfect acupoint stage. Eighty thousand prestige points as a reserve fund will be more than enough to handle any emergency."

Prestige points, if they couldn't be converted into tangible combat power, were meaningless.

When it came to "spending money," Qin Feng had never hesitated for a moment.

He pressed his finger firmly on the virtual light screen and selected "Confirm."

"Selection successful. Submitting your application..."

"...Application approved."

"...Matching a guardian for you..."

"...Match successful! Guardian information has been sent to your communication channel."

Hammer's efficiency was as high as ever.

Almost the moment its voice fell, a soft chime came from the personal terminal on Qin Feng's wrist. He tapped the screen, and an encrypted message from the legion's internal system appeared.

[Zong Yun]: Junior Qin Feng, hello. I am the guardian assigned to you for this mission, Zong Yun.

My current vitality index is 47,000, an eighth-level 'Sun-Moon Realm' martial artist. For the next eleven months of the trial period, I will be fully responsible for your safety.

But please note, according to the trial regulations, unless there is an irreversible life-threatening danger, I will not intervene in your battles in any form.

[Zong Yun]: When you're ready, please go directly to the Fearless Zone, A8 subspace teleportation platform. We can depart anytime.

After reading the message, Qin Feng calmly replied with a single word: "Good."

He stood up and walked to the storage cabinet in the corner of the meditation room.

The cabinet door opened, revealing rows of neatly stacked psionic potions glowing with a faint blue light.

These were the resources he had left over, each one valuable. Some could quickly replenish expended energy in battle, others could provide a large amount of psionic power, and still others could restore mental strength.

He thought for a moment, showing no stinginess, and transferred more than two-thirds of the potions, along with some high-energy compressed food, into his subspace storage unit.

For a hellish trial lasting eleven months, logistical support had to be foolproof.

After doing all this, he didn't linger for a second. He walked straight out of the meditation room and headed swiftly toward the A8 platform in the Fearless Zone.

...

The exclusive area of the Fearless Legion was far more grand and solemn than the public zones.

The corridors were forged from cold alloy, with the legion's iron fist emblem and the names of past masters engraved on the walls. The very air seemed to carry a scent of iron and blood.

Qin Feng soon arrived at the A8 platform. It was a circular hall covering nearly a thousand square meters, its floor made of deep black crystal engraved with complex and mysterious silver patterns—the foundation of the subspace teleportation array.

At the center of the platform, a figure stood with hands clasped behind his back.

The man was tall and lean, wearing a well-fitted black combat suit, with short, neat hair. His face wasn't handsome, but it was sharply defined, and his eyes were as calm as an abyss.

Behind him, he carried a weapon wrapped in layers of black cloth. From its length and outline, it appeared to be a long blade.

He stood there silently, exuding the bearing of a grandmaster, as if merged with the entire space, an unshakable stable force field.

Qin Feng's gaze fell on him, and he understood at once.

"Senior Zong Yun."

He stepped forward and greeted him in a deep voice.

The man turned around, his eyes scanning Qin Feng. The originally calm face broke into a gentle smile. "Haha, Junior Qin Feng, I've heard a lot about you. Your reputation has stirred quite a stir among us old students."

His voice was rich and magnetic, like a spring breeze.

"You flatter me, senior."

Qin Feng's reply remained concise.

"Identity confirmed."

The terminal on Zong Yun's wrist lightly tapped against Qin Feng's, emitting a crisp confirmation sound.

He nodded, his smile fading slightly, returning to professionalism and seriousness. "Since you're ready, let's go."

With that, he turned and walked toward the center of the teleportation array.

Qin Feng followed closely.

When they both stood at the core of the array, Zong Yun activated the teleportation program.

In an instant, countless silver patterns beneath their feet lit up one by one, and vast, pure spatial energy was activated, transforming into a brilliant silver pillar of light that completely swallowed their figures.

The scenery before them was torn, stretched, and twisted into countless bizarre patches of color in an instant. An indescribable feeling of weightlessness and spatial compression hit them simultaneously.

But this sensation lasted less than a second.

The next moment, the light dissipated, and everything around them became clear and stable again.

The dazzling light of a star streamed in from a massive porthole, meeting Qin Feng's eyes.

He squinted instinctively, and after adjusting to the light, he was immediately stunned by the sight before him.

They were now standing on an enormous metal platform. Beyond the platform lay the deep, cold vacuum of space.

And at the edge of that vacuum, a planet of colossal proportions hung silently.

It was a dirty, rust-and-mud yellow-brown color, its massive continental plates covered with rugged craters and canyon fissures. Thin, toxic clouds of gray-green gas churned in its sparse atmosphere.

The entire planet exuded an aura of savagery, brutality, and death.

This was the trial planet, "Meat Grinder-III."

"So huge..."

Qin Feng's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he murmured in awe.

He recalled another trial planet he had visited with Instructor Lin Yue when he was still at Qiming First Martial Arts High School.

That experience had given him a preliminary understanding of the Empire's might.

But compared to the planet before him, that one was like a glass marble next to a basketball.

That earlier trial planet was merely a modified asteroid, mainly used for basic combat training for third-level martial artists. The green-skinned creatures there were strictly controlled, with the strongest only at the second-level peak.

But this one was a true giant rocky planet!

It was a professional "slaughterhouse" prepared for sixth- and seventh-level martial artists with vitality indices in the tens of thousands.

Its size, the complexity of its ecosystem, and the quantity and quality of the green-skinned legions dwelling on it—the difference was like heaven and earth.

What shook Qin Feng even more was the space fortress they were currently on.

It was like a steel beast crouching in the planet's orbit, so massive it defied imagination.

Countless thick cannon barrels pointed like ferocious fangs at the planet below and the surrounding cosmos. On the enormous landing pads, Imperial warships were taking off, landing, and resupplying. Countless transport ships and drop pods moved in and out like worker bees, forming a grand picture full of power and order.

Compared to it, even the starport of Qiming Star seemed small.

Just as Qin Feng's mind was surging with emotion, a warrior clad in full-coverage heavy power armor strode over with heavy steps, the hydraulic rods at the joints of the armor emitting faint "hissing" sounds.

His helmet was fully sealed, and only a slightly muffled, processed voice could be heard: "Fearless War Brigade, Zong Yun, Qin Feng. Identities verified through data link. Welcome to the 'Meat Grinder-III' orbital fortress."

Zong Yun nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

"Your exclusive martial arts room is numbered G-735. The real-time battlefield map, mission release system, weapon calibration station, and planetary surface drop pod permissions have all been integrated into the control terminal of the martial arts room."

The warrior in charge spoke concisely, clearly accustomed to this routine. "I won't say more. Go on in. Good luck."

With that, he gestured toward a wide internal corridor, turned, and left to continue his patrol.

"Let's go, junior."

Zong Yun spoke up. "The fortress is huge. It'll take a few minutes to walk from here to Zone G."

Qin Feng nodded, withdrew his stunned gaze, and followed Zong Yun into the internal corridor, which resembled the throat of a giant beast.

Inside the space fortress, the concept of "immensity" was pushed to its extreme.

The corridor was over fifty meters high and wide enough for two heavy tanks to drive side by side.

Above, bright lighting arrays, like artificial suns, illuminated the entire passage as if it were daylight.

Every few hundred meters, massive load-bearing pillars stood, with energy flowing along their surfaces, providing structural support and power to the fortress.

As they walked through, they occasionally passed teams of warriors clad in various power armors, exuding formidable auras.

Some faces bore the fatigue and satisfaction of surviving bloody battles, while others had sharp eyes and hurried steps, ready to head to the battlefield.

The air was thick with a mix of machine oil, gunpowder smoke, and a faint scent of blood, creating a unique atmosphere of war.

Qin Feng silently observed everything, committing every detail of this war fortress to memory.

A few minutes later, under Zong Yun's lead, they finally stopped before a heavy alloy door.

On the door, a number was marked in striking red font—G-735.

The alloy door slid silently open to both sides, revealing the space within.

G-735 Martial Arts Room.

It was a spacious room of about three hundred square meters, more of a highly integrated personal combat readiness center than a mere "room."

The furnishings had no superfluous decorations, everything serving ultimate practicality, exuding a cold and efficient military aesthetic.

The floor and walls were cast from the same dark gray shock-absorbing alloy, capable of withstanding a full-force strike from a planetary-level warrior without damage.

At the center of the room stood a multifunctional control hub, silently awaiting activation.

On one wall were embedded weapon calibration racks and energy replenishment units, with various interfaces fully available.

On the other side was a small rest area, with only two camp beds and the most basic life support systems.

The most striking feature was a circular hatch at the far end of the room, marked in red with the words "Planetary Surface Drop Passage."

Through here, they could enter a drop pod at any time and reach any corner of the planetary surface within three minutes.

"We're here."

Zong Yun stepped into the room, and the alloy door closed silently behind him, completely shutting out all external noise.

He looked around, a relaxed smile appearing on his face. "For the next eleven months, this will be our only supply point and shelter. The conditions are a bit spartan, but it's absolutely safe."

Qin Feng nodded, his gaze sweeping every corner of the room.

He was very satisfied with this environment, purely designed for combat, which suited his taste.

Zong Yun walked straight to the central console and lightly tapped the holographic screen with his finger.

Hum—

The room's lights dimmed slightly, and then a massive three-dimensional holographic image projected from the console, floating before them.

It was the real-time battlefield map of the "Meat Grinder-III" planet.

A huge, yellowish-brown planetary phantom slowly rotated in the air, its surface divided into hundreds of densely packed grid war zones, marked with different colors and numbers.

Most areas flickered with red dots representing "intense combat," countless red arrows symbolizing the green-skinned tribes surging, colliding, and devouring each other, while occasional blue dots representing imperial warriors wove through and tore apart, forming a dynamic, blood-and-fire war sand table.

Zong Yun's fingers skillfully swiped across the virtual map, zooming in and switching perspectives, with torrents of data flowing like waterfalls through his pupils.

As he filtered the most suitable training zones, he asked without turning his head:

"Junior Qin Feng, to formulate the most efficient training plan for you, I need to know your most precise current strength status."

Qin Feng's answer came without hesitation, crisp and clear: "My current life force index is 7500 points. My main fourth-level killing technique, 'Heavy Spear,' is at the minor mastery level."

"Hmm, 7500 points... 'Heavy Spear' at minor mastery?"

Zong Yun's fingers, which had been moving rapidly across the map, suddenly stopped.

He looked up in surprise, his eyes filled with undisguised astonishment, re-evaluating the calm-faced junior before him. "If I remember correctly, it's only been a little over a month since you completed all three hundred and sixty acupoint fusions, right?"

"Yeah."

Qin Feng nodded calmly, as if stating a trivial matter.

"A month... and you've reached minor mastery?"

Zong Yun's voice involuntarily rose a few notches.

He knew very well how difficult it was to improve the level of a killing technique.

From entry to minor mastery, even for exceptionally gifted geniuses, it usually took at least half a year to a year of painstaking effort, with countless real battles to gain insight and accumulate experience, before one could take that step.

And Qin Feng had done it in just one month!

"What remarkable comprehension!"

Zong Yun exclaimed sincerely, his gaze toward Qin Feng completely changed.

"In one month, your life force index has steadily increased by 300 points after forging the supreme acupoints—that's expected. But to simultaneously cultivate a fourth-level spear technique to minor mastery... Junior Qin Feng, you truly are a standout figure."

"You flatter me, senior."

Faced with Zong Yun's praise, Qin Feng's expression remained neither humble nor arrogant, without a trace of pride or complacency.

To him, this was the reward for his own efforts.

"Good! Very good!"

Zong Yun's smile grew wider, and a glint of excitement sparked in his eyes. "With such a terrifying foundation and comprehension, ordinary training intensity means nothing to you. I need to put real pressure on you to maximize your potential!"

His finger pressed heavily on the holographic map, and a zone marked G12 rapidly expanded to fill the entire screen.

"Let's go with this, Zone G12."

Zong Yun's tone turned serious. Pointing at the jagged red territories on the map, he explained in detail: "This area is currently occupied by ten green-skinned tribes of various sizes. They constantly war among themselves, swallowing the weak, but when an external enemy invades, they temporarily unite. The ecology here is closest to a real battlefield."

He pulled up the biological data of the zone.

"According to the fortress's intelligence system's real-time detection, the average life force index of ordinary green-skinned 'boyz' in Zone G12 is around 7200 points, matching your current strength—perfect for practice. Among them, elite greenskins, like 'can boyz' or the 'war boss's' bodyguards, have life force indices around 10,000 points, enough to pose a threat to you."

At this, his finger landed on the largest tribal totem, glowing with a dark red light on the map.

"Most critically, this zone's 'War Lord,' the strongest green-skinned boss, has a life force index, according to the latest detection, reaching the 'First Great Limit' of 18,000 points. It is the 'king' of this region."

Zong Yun's gaze shifted from the map to meet Qin Feng's eyes, his tone becoming extremely solemn: "Junior Qin Feng, remember this: during the training, you can hunt any target you see, but once you encounter this green-skinned boss, do not hesitate—flee immediately! That is also one of the required lessons for this training."

"Flee?"

Qin Feng's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, a soft murmur escaping his lips.

In his martial arts dictionary, these two words appeared with extremely low frequency.

He was more accustomed to analyzing his opponents, seeking out weaknesses, and then crushing and destroying them with absolute force.

Meeting the enemy head-on was his style.

"Yes, flee."

Zong Yun seemed to see through his thoughts, nodding with a smile, a hint of the wisdom and calm of one who had been there before in his expression.

"Junior, you must understand, whether it's Canaan Star Martial Arts University or these trial planets, they are ultimately just a relatively safe 'cradle.' When your strength is sufficient in the future, you will inevitably venture beyond the coverage of the subspace network and step onto the true 'battlefield of ten thousand races.'

There, there is no subspace network for you to teleport at will, nor guardians to protect you from behind.

Those who make it there are all prodigies who have broken through selection after selection of geniuses, but likewise, the geniuses who fall there are far more numerous than you can imagine."

His voice grew low and resonant, as if recounting a history he had personally experienced.

"On the battlefield of ten thousand races, survival is the first priority.

And to survive, 'fleeing' is the top skill you must master—there is no other.

As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood.

This saying sounds cliché, but it is a maxim bought with the lives and blood of countless predecessors."

Zong Yun's attitude was entirely different from Qin Feng's urgency, which squeezed every second to its limit.

He possessed a broader, more long-term sense of time.

"A martial artist's life has a far higher tolerance for error than you imagine. What if you didn't achieve the ideal ranking in the 'Star Cup' this year? Just aim for it again next time.

What if you're being hunted by a powerful enemy now? If you can't win, run! Spend a hundred years training, growing stronger, and a century later, come back and personally twist off his head!"

"Strive—strive for the moment, but also strive for a lifetime. A true strongman not only knows how to throw a punch but also when to pull it back and when to turn away."

These words flowed like a clear spring into the tightly strung chord of Qin Feng's heart, stretched taut by years of arduous training.

He fell silent.

He could sense that Senior Zong Yun and he were essentially the same kind of person—both 'strivers' climbing upward on the path of martial arts.

They both believed in effort and struggle, yearning to become stronger.

Only, Zong Yun's mindset was more optimistic, more open-minded.

He seemed accustomed to planning his life on a century-long scale, thus appearing composed and unhurried.

As for Qin Feng, he was more used to piling endless pressure on himself, pursuing extreme efficiency, wishing he could use one day as two.

Zong Yun's words did not shake Qin Feng's martial heart, but they seemed to open a new window in his tense world, showing him another possibility.

It was like back then—if he hadn't obtained the Qiming General Star in one year and three months, but in two years and three months, would there have been any difference?

None at all.

Back then, it seemed that being a year ahead would have a huge impact, making him unable to keep up with his peers, but in reality... for higher-level martial artists, a one-year gap no longer meant much.

"Mm."

Finally, Qin Feng nodded solemnly. "I understand. Thank you for the guidance, Senior."

"Good, as long as you take it to heart."

Zong Yun smiled in satisfaction and closed the holographic map. "Ready? If you are, let's set off."

Qin Feng did not answer immediately.

He turned and walked to the weapon rack, pondering briefly.

The brand-new sixth-grade power armor [Destroyer Type I] stood quietly displayed there, gleaming with the cold light of metal.

But he only glanced at it before looking away.

Power armor provides strong defense and strength enhancement, but in this trial aimed at honing one's own killing techniques, it was unnecessary.

What he wanted was to refine his killing methods through life-and-death struggles.

Qin Feng reached out and took a blue-black alloy long spear from the weapon rack.

[Angry Waves].

A sixth-grade standard alloy long spear.

The spear shaft was about two and a half meters long, cold and heavy in the hand.

Where the shaft connected to the sharp spearhead, it was designed with complex patterns like surging waves, as if the might of a towering tsunami had been frozen in that instant.

The spearhead itself resembled a fang spat out from the waves, gleaming with a chilling, heart-stopping light.

As Qin Feng's hand gripped the shaft, a familiar feeling of blood-bound connection arose naturally.

He gave it a slight shake, and the spearhead traced a graceful arc through the air, emitting a faint, dragon-like hum.

Killing intent and battle will began to slowly rise in his chest at that moment.

(End of chapter)