Chapter 295: Examining One's Own Conscience, A Clear Conscience! Secluded Cultivation, Death

Chapter 295: Self-Reflection, Clear Conscience! Secluded Cultivation, the Isle of Dead Stars! Senior Brother Yun!

"The Fierce God, Qin Feng!"

"It is actually him! The new student brought by Master Nine-Spirit King is none other than that legendary figure!"

"No wonder... no wonder the master told us not to cultivate, but to wait in silence... so, miracles truly only require a single hour to manifest!"

The pride and confidence held by the students of the East Academy were, in this moment, shattered by the undeniable, iron-clad reality.

They stared blankly at the black-robed figure who had just emerged as a streak of light from the Imperial Tower, their eyes filled with complex, ineffable emotions.

There was shock, awe, fanaticism, and even a sliver of... terror.

Especially Di Wen; her face, usually as cold as frost, was now etched with utter despondency.

She gazed blankly at that name upon the stone tablet, then at Qin Feng, whose aura remained as calm as still water, and a tempest raged within her heart.

She had always taken pride in clearing the ninetieth level, even nurturing the ambition to venture to the Isle of Dead Stars, believing herself qualified to battle for her race.

Her three years of grueling labor were, before this man, nothing more than a casual stroll of an hour.

The ninety-first level she held so dear was, to him, merely an insignificant step toward the summit of the ninety-ninth.

So, the chasm between individuals could truly be as vast as a bottomless abyss, enough to drive one to despair.

"Ahem."

Just as the crowd remained mired in their profound shock, a light cough from the Nine-Spirit King pulled their thoughts back to reality.

Even he, at this moment, felt an inner turmoil far greater than his composed exterior suggested.

He had anticipated that Qin Feng would set an astonishing record—perhaps the ninety-ninth level, taking days or even months.

But he had never imagined that Qin Feng would require only a single hour!

This meant that Qin Feng’s strength had already far exceeded the limits defined by the category of "God-Forbidden."

The solidity of his Dao foundation and the depth of his power had likely touched the realm of the legendary "Emperors" when they were at the same stage.

"That old rascal Swallowing-Heaven has truly struck gold this time..."

The Nine-Spirit King sighed inwardly, then composed himself, his face returning to the sternness of a mentor.

His sharp gaze swept over every student present, lingering for a moment on Di Wen, before he said in a deep voice: "Di Wen, you see it now. You have not won."

Di Wen’s slender body trembled, and she lowered her head in silence.

She had lost, and she was convinced of her defeat.

Before the chasm of absolute strength, any words were pale and powerless.

She finally understood that the master was not seeking her opinion, nor was he giving her a chance; he was using the most direct and cruel method to force her to face reality.

The Nine-Spirit King’s voice suddenly rose, becoming incredibly severe, booming like thunder in the ears of every student: "Now, you have all seen it! What it means to have someone beyond someone, a heaven beyond heaven! With strength such as Qin Feng’s, with a foundation that eclipses the ages, venturing to the Isle of Dead Stars is still a journey of nine deaths and one life! And you? You still wish to go to the Isle of Dead Stars?"

"Before you go, ask yourselves this! How much resource has the human race spent to nurture you until now? How much heart’s blood has been poured into you? Is it for you to throw your lives away on the front lines out of mere hot-headedness?!"

The Nine-Spirit King’s rebuke struck like a heavy hammer against every heart.

The students lowered their heads in shame; the arrogance of the gifted had vanished, replaced by deep self-reflection and lingering fear.

They had indeed grown ignorant of the world’s dangers, coddled by the comfortable environment of the Holy Academy.

"But... but Senior Brother Yun..."

Amidst the solemn atmosphere, Di Wen suddenly raised her head, speaking with stubbornness.

Her words carried a trace of resentment and sorrow.

However, before she could finish, the Nine-Spirit King waved his hand to stop her.

"Enough!"

The Nine-Spirit King’s voice carried an unquestionable finality. "Speak no more of the Isle of Dead Stars! Now, everyone, return to the East Academy, continue to cultivate your respective secret arts, and consolidate your Dao foundations! Wait for the academy’s next training mission. Without my permission, no one is to step a foot outside the Holy Academy!"

With that, the Nine-Spirit King stopped looking at them and turned to walk toward the East Academy.

His back appeared somewhat heavy.

The forty-plus students dared not show the slightest defiance and followed him in silence.

Qin Feng also followed at the end of the line; he could keenly sense that when Di Wen mentioned "Senior Brother Yun," a trace of subtle, almost imperceptible pain hid beneath the Nine-Spirit King’s seemingly calm aura.

Upon returning to the East Academy, the Nine-Spirit King dismissed all the students, taking only Qin Feng into a refined, quiet chamber.

Inside, sandalwood smoke curled, and the atmosphere was serene.

"Senior."

Qin Feng bowed solemnly to the Nine-Spirit King, then spoke directly, "Thank you for your guidance today.

I intend to visit the Sea of Books and Mountains to study the basics of alchemy and arrays. Once I have mastered them, I will head to the Forest of Enlightenment Steles to learn and draw inspiration from various secret arts, cementing the foundation for my 'Path of Extremes.'

Once these preparations are complete, I shall depart for the Isle of Dead Stars."

His plan was clear and precise, every step carefully considered.

"Good."

The Nine-Spirit King merely nodded faintly, waving his hand to signal he understood.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—worry, expectation—but it ultimately dissolved into an inaudible sigh. He said nothing, merely adding, "Go."

Qin Feng understood. He could guess that what the Nine-Spirit King wanted to say likely concerned that "Senior Brother Yun."

That senior was, in all likelihood, the Nine-Spirit King’s own offspring.

He perhaps wanted to ask for a favor, for Qin Feng to look after him if the opportunity arose on the Isle of Dead Stars.

But the pride of a human King, and the public spirit that refused to use personal sentiment to bind another, led him to choose silence.

For such a King, a heartfelt reverence welled up within Qin Feng.

He could steel his heart to send his own child to the front lines of certain death, to fulfill the duties of a warrior with his life;

Yet he could not bear to let a top talent like Di Wen, with her purple-gold spiritual power, take an unnecessary risk.

Qin Feng could guess the reason for this as well.

It was likely because the Nine-Spirit King’s son, that Senior Brother Yun, while talented, had not reached the heights of Di Wen.

If Senior Brother Yun had also possessed purple-gold spiritual power, even if the Nine-Spirit King had agreed, the highest echelons of the human race would never have allowed him to step foot on the Isle of Dead Stars.

This was the wisdom and resolve of the human leadership: the sharpest steel must be used on the blade’s edge.

In truth, it was cruel.

But in this harsh universe, cruelty was also a form of efficiency—the way to maximize gains and minimize losses.

Qin Feng said no more, bowed deeply to the Nine-Spirit King once again, and turned to exit the chamber.

However, as he stepped out and prepared to leave the East Academy, he found the path ahead blocked by a group of people.

It was the forty-plus students of the East Academy, led by Di Wen.

"Hmm?"

Qin Feng stopped, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes.

"Senior Qin!"

Diwen was the first to speak, her expression grave, her gaze burning as she looked at Qin Feng. "Are you... truly going to the Island of Dead Meteors?"

"Yes, I am going."

Qin Feng’s reply was simple and direct, devoid of the slightest hesitation.

"Then... do you have any certainty of success?"

Another student asked urgently, his voice laced with palpable anxiety. "Our teacher said that even for you, it is a journey of nine deaths and one life..."

Hearing this, a gentle smile graced Qin Feng’s face. He swept his gaze across these still-youthful faces and countered, "How old are you all this year?"

The students were momentarily stunned, yet they reported their ages one after another.

"Three thousand seven hundred years old."

"Four thousand two hundred years old."

"I am the eldest, already five thousand one hundred years old."

...

Hearing these answers, Qin Feng could not help but feel a surge of astonishment.

To have reached the limit of the Black Hole realm at barely over five thousand years of age—

Such staggering growth could only be achieved through the "Academy style" of cultivation practiced by the Holy Institute, where resources were poured in without regard for cost.

Yet, this also meant that the vast majority of their time had been spent in tranquil meditation and theoretical study, with precious few experiences of life-or-death combat or the execution of brutal missions.

A group of "cabbages" nurtured in a greenhouse like this—let alone the ultimate meat grinder that was the Island of Dead Meteors—would likely struggle to survive even if tossed into a chaotic resource-contested zone.

Qin Feng’s smile remained, but his voice took on a profound weight: "Actually, there is no need for any of you to feel guilty or reproach yourselves."

"Ask yourselves one thing, right now."

As his words fell, a formless yet vast, cosmic-scale jet-black mental energy emanated from Qin Feng’s body.

This energy carried no hostility, yet it bore a supreme, soul-originating pressure that instantly enveloped everyone present.

Under this terrifying mental weight, the students felt their thoughts become unprecedentedly clear; all external distractions were severed, forcing them to confront their own inner selves.

Qin Feng’s voice, like the resonance of the Great Dao, echoed in the depths of their souls:

"If, in the future, you become Marquises, Kings, or even Emperors, possessing the power to shield a territory, will you pour your heart and blood into the survival of the human race?

Will you, like your teacher, the Senior Nine-Spirit King, exhaust your wisdom and strength for the future of our people?"

Under this pressure that struck directly at the soul, no one could lie, and no one could escape.

They quieted their minds, reflecting on the question with solemnity.

After a moment of silence, one firm answer after another rang out.

"I will!"

"I will!"

"We warriors, having cultivated here, shall naturally defend this place!"

They gave their heartfelt answers.

Qin Feng slowly withdrew his mental energy, and the suffocating pressure vanished into thin air.

He looked at their resolute eyes and nodded with satisfaction.

"If you can answer that honestly to yourselves, then there is no need to obsess over the sacrifices of a single moment."

Qin Feng’s tone was calm. "If you cannot, then leave the Holy Institute of your own accord."

"It is a simple matter, is it not?"

Qin Feng’s words were like a lightning bolt, shattering the fog in their hearts.

They were instantly enlightened.

"That makes sense!"

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior!"

The group bowed to Qin Feng, their inner turmoil and guilt swept away, replaced by a firmer conviction in their path of cultivation.

This was Qin Feng’s consistent style of conduct.

A clear conscience!

"Senior!"

Just then, Diwen stepped forward again, her eyes clear and sincere, and asked the question once more: "Do you... truly have certainty?"

Qin Feng looked at her and suddenly burst into loud laughter.

"Hahahaha—"

His laughter was heroic and unrestrained, filled with unparalleled confidence and dominance, as if he intended to pierce a hole through the very heavens!

"Certainty?"

His laughter ceased, his gaze sweeping with disdain as he spoke each word clearly, his voice carrying across the entire East Academy, reaching the countless powerhouses of the other four academies, who heard this earth-shattering declaration:

"I, Qin Feng, have not yet ascended to Domain Lord, yet Domain Lords cannot touch me!"

"Once I ascend to Domain Lord, I shall be invincible beneath the rank of Marquis!"

How arrogant, how domineering these words were!

Yet, as they fell from Qin Feng’s lips, and as the surrounding experts sensed that fleeting, soul-trembling jet-black mental energy, not a single person felt he was boasting.

Because he was the Fierce God, Qin Feng!

He spoke of an undeniable truth that was about to become reality!

Once he broke into the Domain Lord realm with his supreme foundation, who beneath the rank of Marquis could possibly oppose him?

The students of the East Academy were stirred to a fever pitch by this soaring spirit, their eyes burning with fanaticism as they looked at Qin Feng.

"Senior Qin!"

Diwen took a deep breath, calming her surging emotions, and said solemnly, "If you encounter a warrior named 'Yunzhou' on the Island of Dead Meteors, if there is a chance, could you... save his life?"

"Naturally."

Qin Feng smiled, agreeing without the slightest hesitation.

Immediately following, a voice audible only to Diwen echoed in her ear:

"He is the son of the Senior Nine-Spirit King, is he not?"

Diwen’s body trembled imperceptibly, and she nodded silently, a tacit admission.

"I understand."

Qin Feng nodded slightly, saying no more.

He turned, took a step, and walked out of the East Academy.

Left behind were only the forty-odd students of the East Academy, staring blankly at his solitary, resolute back, unable to return to their senses for a long time.

Since parting ways in the East Courtyard, Qin Feng’s figure once again submerged into that vast, boundless ocean of knowledge.

The Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning, a miraculous realm constructed from infinite jade slips and torrential floods of information, revealed its unfathomable depths to him once more.

If his previous ten years of studying artifact forging were merely picking up shells on the shallows of this ocean, then the upcoming conquest of the two disciplines—array formation and pharmacology—was akin to an extreme deep-sea dive into a ten-thousand-fathom trench.

Qin Feng’s figure, like a speck of dust, vanished amidst the layered, undulating shelves that rose and fell like mountain ranges.

He sought out a more secluded corner, where the light seemed absorbed by the heavy weight of knowledge, rendering the space profound and silent.

Sitting cross-legged, his spirit, now refined to a "pure black quality," spread out like spilled mercury, silently probing the virtual light screen before him.

On the screen, beneath the two massive categories of [Array Formation] and [Pharmacology], lay hundreds of millions of sub-entries, their complexity far surpassing that of artifact forging.

"Let us begin."

Qin Feng steadied his mind and tapped into the foundational syllabus of [Array Formation].

In an instant, as if the universe were being born anew, an endless torrent of information surged into his sea of consciousness at a speed far exceeding light. This was no longer mere reading; it was an infusion bordering on the "Dao" itself.

The most basic array runes ceased to be two-dimensional symbols; they came alive in his mental world in three, four, and even higher dimensions.

The birth of every rune stirred the fundamental spiritual particles in space, demonstrating how they aggregated, flowed, and resonated.

Qin Feng saw how a "Spirit Gathering Rune," through its specific structure, warped the surrounding space to form a miniature spiritual energy funnel;

He saw how a "Repulsion Rune," through opposing spiritual frequencies, constructed an invisible wall of force.

This was only the beginning.

When he attempted to comprehend the combination of two basic runes, the difficulty increased exponentially.

It was not as simple as one plus one equaling two. The spiritual fields of the two runes would interfere with one another, requiring micro-adjustments to their structures to achieve a delicate balance.

It was akin to using vocabulary from two different languages to construct a brand-new sentence that was both grammatically correct and semantically clear.

And this was merely the combination of two runes.

A single, simplest "Micro Spirit Gathering Array" required the coordinated operation of at least thirty-six basic runes.

For these thirty-six runes, every position, orientation, spiritual output power, and the sequence of their spiritual flow had to be impeccable.

Should any link deviate by even one-trillionth, the array would, at best, fail, and at worst, suffer a spiritual collapse and explode on the spot.

Yet a single rune contained trillions of spiritual energy fields, and each field contained trillions of aggregation patterns!

What terrifying computational power did this require?

Qin Feng finally understood deeply why array masters held such lofty status in the universe.

Every time they set an array, it was equivalent to writing a precise "cosmic program" in the real world using spiritual energy and the laws of nature.

In artifact forging, one could still follow secret techniques like the "Guluo Hammer" and touch or refine tangible materials.

But in array formation, the introductory stage was almost entirely pure theory and deduction.

It required the learner to possess a "super-brain" capable of containing the stars and the seas.

Countless beings exhausted their entire lives only to achieve something in a single sub-field, such as "Fire-Attribute Defensive Arrays."

But what Qin Feng sought was to master the fundamental essence.

His [Primordial Singularity] Dao foundation and his Mechanical Race talent displayed unparalleled superiority here, supporting his "pure black quality" spirit as it performed high-intensity calculations.

Qin Feng’s consciousness seemed to split into billions of threads, each simultaneously deducing the possibilities of a rune combination.

If one thread failed and collapsed, a new one immediately took its place, continuing the deduction based on the former’s failure.

In his mental world, billions of attempts and failures were completed in a mere second.

Beyond immense processing power, array formation also required a profound perception of all things in the universe.

The sharpness of "Metal," the vitality of "Wood," the gentleness of "Water," the explosiveness of "Fire," and the heaviness of "Earth."

The spiritual energy of these five basic attributes exhibited vastly different characteristics within different array structures.

One had to know which rune structure maximized the explosiveness of "Fire," and which array circuit guided the spiritual energy of "Water" for the most effective healing.

Beyond this were Wind, Thunder, Light, Dark, Space, Time... each attribute was an independent, massive branch of study.

Qin Feng, like the thirstiest of students, became fully immersed.

He spent thirty years just to thoroughly research the independent characteristics of every basic rune.

Subsequently, he spent fifty years learning the spiritual changes that occurred when the five basic attributes combined with the runes.

Time drifted by; in the Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning, the passage of time seemed to lose all meaning.

When Qin Feng finally stirred from his initial study of array formation, one hundred and fifty years had passed in the outside world.

He did not pause, his consciousness immediately turning toward another, even more treacherous peak—[Pharmacology].

If array formation was precise "cosmic physics" and "cosmic programming," then pharmacology was an all-encompassing "cosmic biology" and "cosmic chemistry."

Its complexity, compared to array formation, was even greater.

How many billions upon billions of rare herbs and treasures existed in the universe?

Each medicinal material grew in a different environment, absorbing different cosmic rays and celestial energies, its internal properties complex to the extreme.

A single confusion could turn a furnace of precious medicine into a deadly poison.

The first step of pharmacology was "Identifying Materials."

One had to recognize every material recorded in the universe, understand its growth environment, medicinal properties, associated minerals, and precautions during harvesting... the sheer volume of information was enough to burn out the processor of a supercomputer on the spot. On Qin Feng’s light screen, three-dimensional images of countless herbs flashed by at high speed.

From the cellular structure of a "Blue-Yin Grass" to how its internal chlorophyll absorbed specific wavelengths of starlight, to the impact of trace elements secreted by its roots on the soil... all this information was forcibly "devoured" by his terrifying memory and comprehension.

After identification came "Refinement."

How to extract the effective components of the herbs perfectly using the gentlest means, while simultaneously stripping away harmful impurities?

This required ultimate control over "Heat."

The "fire" here could be the "Fire of Divine Thought" condensed by spiritual power, the "Fire of Origin" converted from spiritual energy, or even external "Geothermal Fire" or "Stellar Fire."

Every flame had a different temperature and nature, corresponding to different medicinal materials.

During refinement, if the temperature was one-thousandth too high, the medicinal properties might be destroyed;

If it was one-thousandth too low, the impurities could not be fully removed.

This required not just knowledge, but an instinct and control bordering on the innate.

And the most difficult part was "Fusion."

Taking dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of refined medicinal liquids and, according to a specific formula, at a specific time, in a specific order, using specific techniques, fusing them perfectly to finally form a stable, potent medicine.

This process was filled with countless variables.

The spiritual fields of different medicinal liquids would repel one another, and the fusion process would trigger violent spiritual reactions, requiring exquisite knowledge of arrays to construct a stable "Alchemical Force Field" for containment.

At the same time, it required a profound understanding of the chemical reactions of materials, spiritual annihilation, and regeneration.

"So that is how it is..."

As he studied, Qin Feng gradually discovered the inseparable connections between the three great disciplines.

A master pharmacist is, by necessity, a master of arrays, for the most profound alchemy is itself a form of array manipulation conducted at the molecular scale.

They engrave microscopic arrays into the very molecular structure of their potions, locking in the medicinal properties and even imbuing the concoctions with the capacity for growth.

Yet, whether it be an array or a potion, both require a vessel.

The vessel for an array is the array disk or the void itself; the vessel for a potion is the vial or the body of a living being.

And how does one forge the most perfect vessel?

This leads us back to the domain of artifact refinement.

The three disciplines are, at their core, one.

Qin Feng’s study was no longer a matter of isolating individual subjects; he began to cross-reference the knowledge of all three, weaving them into a unified whole.

When studying arrays, he pondered how to apply the principle of "stabilizing array patterns" to the fusion process of potions.

When studying pharmacy, he considered whether the spiritual erosion characteristics of certain toxic herbs could be borrowed to strip away the most stubborn impurities during artifact refinement.

This method of learning was terrifyingly efficient.

His mental world was no longer a site of singular deduction.

On the left, array models composed of billions of runes flickered in and out of existence; on the right, the molecular formulas of countless herbs collided and recombined; in the center, a giant hammer forged of pure intent struck a virtual alloy embryo billions of times over.

Though the three seemed unrelated, their underlying logic and rules were gradually unified under the stewardship of Qin Feng’s "pure black quality" mental power, coalescing into a more magnificent system of knowledge.

Time, under such extreme focus, slipped away like a fleeting beam of light.

When a complete, structurally simple yet stable black-hole-level "spatial barrier array" model was successfully constructed in his mind;

When the formula for a simulated "spirit-stabilizing potion," capable of slightly repairing the soul of a black-hole-level powerhouse, was perfectly deduced;

Only then did he slowly withdraw his consciousness from that endless ocean of knowledge.

He opened his eyes, and within them, billions of stars seemed to be born and die, with countless runes flowing in their depths.

...

Qin Feng glanced at the time.

Exactly five hundred years had passed since he entered the Mountains of Books and Seas of Learning.

Five hundred years, to a mortal, is the rise and fall of several dynasties.

To a black-hole-level powerhouse, who often retreats for ten thousand years at a time, it was but a nap.

Yet, in these short five centuries, Qin Feng had forcibly pushed the two most time-consuming and complex disciplines—array study and pharmacy—from zero to the theoretical heights of the black-hole level.

This meant that, given sufficient materials and practice, he could independently construct black-hole-level arrays and refine black-hole-level potions.

If this learning speed were made known, it would cause every array master and pharmacist in the human race to fall into self-doubt.

"Genius" was no longer a sufficient descriptor; he was a "monster," an embodiment of the "Dao" itself.

Ordinary black-hole-level beings, even those demon-race masters hailed as array prodigies, often require tens or even hundreds of thousands of years of day-and-night study to barely touch the threshold of black-hole-level arrays.

Yet Qin Feng, cultivating all three paths, had reached the theoretical black-hole level in just over five hundred years.

"The theory is sufficient; what remains is practice and secret techniques."

Qin Feng stood up, and the dust accumulated from his long stillness was shaken away by an invisible aura the moment he rose.

He stretched his body, his joints emitting a series of crisp cracks like thunder rolling within him.

Qin Feng stepped out of the quiet corner, leaving the Mountains of Books and Seas of Learning behind.

As the familiar yet strange light of the outside world fell upon his face, he felt as if he had returned from another lifetime.

His next goal was clear: the Forest of Enlightenment Steles.

There, countless secret techniques of the human race and those seized from the Myriad Race Battlefield were recorded.

He needed to find the "methodology" to put his theoretical knowledge into practice.

However, as he stepped out of the magnificent hall, a familiar aura approached him.

"Haha, Daoist Qin Feng, seeing you so full of vigor with stars hidden in your eyes, I presume your five-hundred-year retreat has been quite fruitful?"

The visitor was none other than Master Sanruo.

He wore his usual cheerful expression, as if he had been waiting specifically for him.

"I have gained some insights."

Qin Feng nodded slightly, his words as concise as ever.

He held respect for this God-Forbidden powerhouse who had shown him such kindness.

Master Sanruo’s gaze was like a torch, seemingly piercing through the systematic knowledge structure within Qin Feng, and he clapped his hands in delight: "Let me guess... have you caught a glimpse of the paths of arrays, pharmacy, and your previous pursuit of artifact refinement?"

"Yes."

Qin Feng was not surprised that the other could see this.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Master Sanruo said "good" three times, his eyes filled with admiration. "Ordinary prodigies would be proud to master just one. For a Daoist to cultivate all three and lay such a solid theoretical foundation in a mere five hundred years is truly inconceivable!"

He changed the subject, asking: "Are you now preparing to head to the Forest of Enlightenment Steles to find suitable secret techniques?"

"Indeed."

"No rush, no rush."

Master Sanruo waved his hand, a mysterious smile appearing on his face. "Before you go to learn specific 'recipes,' why not first weigh how well you truly understand the 'ingredients'?"

Qin Feng raised an eyebrow, a look of inquiry on his face.

"The Holy Academy headquarters has three special trial grounds, designed specifically for those who cultivate the three auxiliary disciplines."

Master Sanruo introduced them unhurriedly. "The one for testing array mastery is called the 'Puppet Alley'; the one for pharmacy is called the 'Living Flesh'; and the one for artifact refinement is called the 'Great Sun Furnace'."

"These three places can most intuitively distinguish whether your knowledge remains at the level of 'knowing' or has reached the level of 'understanding' and 'mastery.'

They will precisely expose all the shortcomings and loopholes in your knowledge system, allowing you to improve and train in a targeted manner, filling in the gaps."

Master Sanruo looked at Qin Feng, his expression turning solemn: "Especially since you intend to learn secret techniques, you must go and test yourself.

The secret techniques in the universe are as vast as the sea. Even within artifact refinement, some focus on tempering, some on shaping, and others on inscriptions.

These three trial grounds will allow you to find, through practice, the type of secret technique most suited to your path, helping you play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses, so you do not stray onto a side path and waste your time."

"So that is how it is."

Qin Feng’s eyes brightened, and the slight confusion in his heart cleared.

He had indeed been worried about this.

With so many secret techniques, how should he choose?

Should he choose the most powerful, or the easiest to learn?

Hearing Master Sanruo’s words, he realized that the one most suited to him was the best.

And these three trial grounds would help him quickly select the secret techniques that fit him best.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master!"

Qin Feng bowed solemnly, offering a gesture of profound respect.

"No need, no need at all."

Master Sanruo accepted the salute with a smile, then sighed with a touch of melancholy, "The path you have chosen must be the most arduous one of all."

His gaze drifted into the distance: "This path demands the absolute pinnacle of foundation, insight, and willpower.

One cannot cultivate two laws simultaneously.

Yet, many alien prodigies born with formidable physiques are treading this same path—prodigies among prodigies, especially the Starry Sky Behemoths, the Crystal Race, and various innate holy spirits.

Your future will be fraught with difficulty; you will encounter adversaries beyond imagination.

Strive on."

"I understand."

Qin Feng nodded slightly, his expression unshaken.

To prove the Dao through sheer force.

These words sound heroic, yet only the traveler knows the thorns and abysses that lie within.

It means that every aspect of his future cultivation—be it arrays, alchemy, artifact forging, or the arts of slaughter and preservation—serves but one ultimate purpose: to transform all knowledge and rules into fuel for tempering his flesh and soul.

He cannot, like a pure array master, borrow the momentum of heaven and earth to lay down killing formations; nor can he, like an alchemist, use potions to briefly elevate his realm.

Everything must return to the self.

This path discards all external objects, seeking only the limits of one's own being.

Is there pressure? Naturally.

For those naturally powerful alien prodigies, walking the path of "proving the Dao through force" is merely following their nature, a matter of course.

But for Qin Feng, a human, to attempt such a heaven-defying feat—the difficulty is self-evident.

Yet, there was not a flicker of retreat in his heart.

The path of divinity was never meant to be easy.

What if other prodigies walk this path as well?

Throughout his journey, he had seen too many geniuses, and those geniuses, without exception, had called him a genius.

"Thank you, Master. I shall go and attempt it now."

Qin Feng bid farewell to Master Sanruo once more, then, following the guidance provided, turned toward the three sites of trial.

...

A moment later, Qin Feng arrived at the entrance of the "Puppet Alley."

It was a seemingly unremarkable passage, with a stone tablet standing at the entrance, inscribed with the rules.

Upon entering, one would face a puppet of the same cultivation level as the intruder; the only recourse was to utilize knowledge of arrays to defend, trap, or counterattack.

Qin Feng took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The scene shifted instantly, and he found himself standing upon a massive chessboard constructed of light.

Across the board, a metal puppet composed of countless intricate parts stood silently, its electronic eyes glowing with a cold, crimson light.

"Trial begins. Stage one: Construct the 'Three Talents Guardian Array' to withstand one standard spiritual energy impact."

A cold, synthesized mechanical voice echoed through the space.

"The Three Talents Guardian Array?"

In an instant, over a hundred methods and theoretical frameworks for constructing the "Three Talents Guardian Array" flooded Qin Feng's mind.

It was one of the most fundamental black-hole-level defensive arrays, renowned for its stability and ease of construction.

He extended his fingers, spiritual power and energy surging in unison, and began to trace the runes of the array into the void before him.

One, two, three...

His speed in tracing the runes was lightning-fast, each one perfectly standardized, shimmering with a faint, ethereal glow.

However, when he attempted to connect the three core runes to form a stable triangular force field, a problem arose.

Because of a microscopic fluctuation in the energy he channeled, one of the runes flickered.

That single flicker was all it took.

The red light in the puppet's eyes flared; it raised an arm, and a condensed beam of spiritual energy struck the flickering rune with pinpoint precision.

"Crack!"

A sound like shattering glass rang out, and the precarious array structure collapsed instantly, the three runes exploding into a spray of light.

The aftermath of the energy impact swept over Qin Feng, his figure blurring, and in the next second, he was teleported back to the alley entrance.

"Failure. Reason: Unstable energy output caused structural fragility in the 'Qian-Three' node. Overall assessment: Incompetent."

The cold notification echoed in his ears.

Qin Feng stood at the entrance, momentarily stunned.

He had fallen at the very first hurdle.

His pride—his seemingly perfect theoretical knowledge—appeared so pale and powerless in the face of practice.

Scattered beings entered and exited nearby, casting indifferent glances at Qin Feng as he was ejected so quickly.

A young man even offered a well-meaning comment as he passed: "Brother, new here? Knowing the theory by heart is useless; energy control is the foundation of foundations.

This stuff requires muscle memory, soul memory—it has to be instinctive. Practice makes perfect, keep at it."

Qin Feng nodded silently, offering no rebuttal.

He felt the depth of his own inadequacy.

Refusing to accept defeat, Qin Feng turned and walked toward the location of the "Living Flesh."

It was a vast hall, brimming with the aura of life.

In the center of the hall floated a massive lump of flesh, over a thousand meters in diameter, resembling a mountain of muscle and blood.

Its surface was covered in pulsing veins and nerves, radiating a formidable vitality.

The rules of the trial were equally simple: specific wounds would appear on the flesh, and the candidate had to use a virtual herb library to concoct the corresponding potion and heal the wound within a limited time.

Qin Feng accepted the task.

The first stage: a wound carved by a "Corrosion Blade" appeared on the surface of the flesh.

Within the wound, black spiritual energy writhed like maggots, ceaselessly devouring the surrounding cells.

Qin Feng's mind immediately filtered through seventeen potion formulas capable of neutralizing this corrosive energy and promoting cellular regeneration. He chose the most reliable one.

His consciousness entered the virtual alchemy space, where the images of countless herbs were displayed before him.

He began to select and refine them in an orderly fashion.

Relying on his powerful spiritual force, his control over the "heat" was theoretically perfect.

Each portion of the medicinal liquid was refined to absolute purity.

Yet, in the final stage of fusion, as he dripped the two core elixirs into the vessel, a momentary hesitation in his mental control—that inevitable awkwardness when theory meets practice—caused the drop to fall a thousandth of a heartbeat too late.

"Boom!"

The liquid within the vessel instantly shifted from a gentle emerald to a violent, bruised purple, as a surge of destructive spiritual energy erupted.

"Fusion failed. Reason: Incorrect timing in the synthesis of 'Star-Grass' extract and 'Moon-Flower' dew. Overall assessment: Unqualified."

Qin Feng was teleported out once again.

He stood in silence outside the Hall of Living Flesh, his expression heavy and grave.

Finally, he made his way to the Great Sun Furnace.

The trial here required the use of a spiritual furnace, its core temperature rivaling that of a star, to forge a specified metal.

The first task: to forge a piece of "Crimson Flame Essence Gold" to a purity of 99.99%.

Qin Feng stood before the furnace, feeling the terrifying wave of heat wash over him.

He drew a deep breath, extended his mental reach, coiled around a raw ore, and cast it into the furnace core. Simultaneously, he began to rehearse in his mind the secret technique he had long since acquired—the "Gulo Hammer."

A massive hammer, condensed from pure black mental energy, manifested above the furnace core.

That raw "Crimson Flame Essence Gold" ore was simply too riddled with impurities.

The material was far inferior to what Qin Feng was accustomed to, making the forging process immensely difficult.

In the end, what he "forged" was nothing more than a piece of scrap metal, covered in cracks and containing more impurities than the gold itself.

"Forging failed. Reason: Chaotic thermal energy guidance... Overall assessment: Unqualified."

When Qin Feng was teleported out for the third time and stood before the entrance of the Great Sun Furnace, he fell into a profound silence.

The Puppet Alley, the Living Flesh, the Great Sun Furnace.

Arrays, alchemy, and artifact refining.

In the three disciplines where he believed he had reached the theoretical level of a black hole, he had been utterly defeated by the most fundamental practical trials.

During this time, he had even been offered well-intentioned advice by several passersby whose cultivation levels appeared far inferior to his own.

"..."

These words did not bring Qin Feng shame; instead, they made him realize his shortcomings with crystal clarity.

He possessed the supreme Primordial Singularity and pure black mental energy, and he held a vast ocean of knowledge within his mind.

But he lacked extensive hands-on practice; he lacked the experience of applying the secret arts of arrays, alchemy, and refining!

Simply put, his proficiency was far too low.

"If there were a proficiency panel, I would probably only be at a dozen points right now."

Qin Feng exhaled a long, stale breath, his eyes burning not with discouragement, but with an even more intense flame of thirst for knowledge.

Failure only served to ignite the fighting spirit of a "martial fanatic" like him.

Qin Feng hesitated no longer; he turned around, his gaze fixed with resolve upon another core sanctuary of the Sacred Academy headquarters.

There, countless stone steles rose toward the heavens, each one bearing a powerful and profound secret art.

The Forest of Enlightenment Steles!

After these three failures, Qin Feng had found his direction; he would now continuously study secret arts and oscillate between these three trial grounds until he discovered a multitude of techniques that aligned with his philosophy.