Chapter 40: The Flowing Star River

Chapter 40: The River of Stars Turns

Upon the arena, the river of stars turned.

Before beginning the match, Qin Feng first called up his personal information panel.

【ID】：Qin

【Rank】：None

【Ranked Record】：0 Wins 0 Losses

【Points】：0

【Self-Introduction】：None

【Enemy Evaluation】：None

His gaze lingered for a moment on the "Self-Introduction" field, then he reached out and tapped a few times on the virtual light screen.

A new line of text replaced the blank space.

【Self-Introduction】：Practitioner of the Thousand-Army Spear

Having made this small adjustment, he was just in time to be matched with an opponent.

【Now matching your first placement match opponent...】

【Match successful!】

A stream of data flashed before Qin Feng, quickly coalescing into the detailed information panel of his opponent.

【ID】：Long Geng Star - Alpha

【Rank】：First Rank

【Points】：85

【Record】：121 Wins 135 Losses

【Self-Introduction】：Sirius Spiral Arm, Long Geng Star Seventh Planet Defense Force, Third Spear Squad Member.

【Enemy Evaluation (10+)】：His spear technique is very standard, but that's all it is; a textbook opponent; his thrust is fast, be careful; his defensive counterattacks are good; ...

At the other end of the arena, light and shadow gathered, and a tall man in a standard-issue light combat suit slowly materialized.

In his hand, he also held a three-meter-long alloy spear.

【Please select your weapon and armor】

Before Qin Feng, the equipment selection interface appeared.

He chose the same standard-issue spear and light composite armor as his opponent.

In an absolutely fair competitive environment, the influence of external factors was minimized; what was tested was pure technique, awareness, and realm.

【5, 4, 3, 2, 1...】

【Battle, begin!】

The moment the countdown reached zero, Alpha across from him moved.

He pushed off with his feet, his body charging forward like a hunting leopard, his spear held steady and level, the tip aimed directly at Qin Feng's throat, accompanied by a faint sound of air being split.

It was a battlefield thrust so standard it could be written into a textbook.

Speed, power, angle—all were flawless.

Facing this swift strike, Qin Feng merely shifted his body slightly to the side.

He didn't even raise his spear to block, simply dodging the deadly spear tip by a hair's breadth.

At the same time, his own spear moved.

It wasn't a thrust, nor a sweep, but a deft upward "flick."

The shaft of his spear precisely struck the underside of his opponent's spear.

"Clang!"

A crisp sound of metal meeting metal.

A pure and clever force transmitted along the spear shaft.

Alpha's surefire thrust instantly lost its aim, the spear tip uncontrollably lifting upward, revealing a massive opening.

Qin Feng's movements flowed like water, without a moment's pause.

The instant he deflected the opponent's spear, he twisted his wrist, and his spear tip shot out like a venomous snake, arriving after the fact but before the opponent could react, at an almost impossible angle, aiming for Alpha's forward hand holding the spear.

Alpha had no time to react; he only felt a numbness in his wrist, a piercing pain, and his fingers instinctively loosened.

"Clatter!"

The spear in his hand fell to the ground.

The outcome was decided.

The entire process, from engagement to conclusion, lasted barely two seconds.

【Victory!】

【In actual combat, you have summarized experience in spear technique application, Thousand-Army Spear proficiency +1】

The cold system notification sounded in succession.

Alpha's figure dissolved into points of light.

Before disappearing, he gave a standard military salute in Qin Feng's direction, showing respect for the skill of a stronger fighter.

Qin Feng stood with his spear, calmly observing all this.

First match, an easy victory.

He didn't pause for a moment, directly selecting to begin the second match.

【Now matching your second placement match opponent...】

【Match successful!】

【ID】：Mad Demon Staff

【Rank】：First Rank

【Points】：152

【Record】：355 Wins 340 Losses

【Self-Introduction】：A staff sweeps a wide area, curing all kinds of disobedience.

【Enemy Evaluation (999+ excerpts)】：Eight hundred years without a win?; The pressure is too strong, no chance to breathe; Terrible manners, disgusting...

The opponent's figure materialized—a burly, muscular bald man with bulging muscles.

In his hand, he carried a metal staff as thick as a bowl, two and a half meters long, its surface carved with ferocious beast reliefs.

【Battle, begin!】

This time, Qin Feng did not wait.

The moment the countdown ended, he attacked first.

The spear in his hand transformed into a silver bolt of lightning, thrusting straight toward the opponent’s center.

Facing this thunderous strike, the burly man named “Mad Demon Staff” neither dodged nor flinched; a sinister grin even crept across his face.

He gripped his staff with both hands and slammed it downward with savage force!

“Whoosh——”

The heavy staff, carrying the weight of ten thousand jun, whipped up a gale and smashed fiercely toward Qin Feng’s spear tip.

“Clang!!!”

A far heavier and more piercing clang than before exploded across the arena.

Qin Feng felt an irresistible, terrifying force surge from the spear tip, numbing his tiger’s mouth and sending a tremor through his entire arm.

That strike, which had gathered all his strength, was so casually and directly battered aside by his opponent.

Before he could steady himself, the second blow came without pause.

The burly man twisted his wrist; the heavy staff in his hands seemed weightless, dissolving into a storm of staff shadows—an impenetrable black tempest descending upon Qin Feng’s head.

“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!”

A rapid, grating series of impacts rang out.

Qin Feng strained every sinew, pushing the defensive forms of the “Thousand Army Spear” to their utmost.

His spear whirled into a silver wheel before him, ceaselessly parrying, deflecting, and dissolving the onslaught from all sides.

Yet the opponent’s staff technique was too ferocious, too insidious.

The staff shadows swung wide and heavy with overwhelming force, then twisted with eerie agility, targeting every blind spot in his defense.

Under the storm of blows, Qin Feng’s defensive circle shrank step by step, forcing him back.

He could find no opening for a counter.

The opponent’s assault flowed without end, each strike heavier than the last, the pressure almost suffocating.

“Ha!”

The burly man bellowed, shifting his staff’s momentum.

His long staff suddenly swept sideways, a screeching tear through the air, aimed straight at Qin Feng’s lower body.

Qin Feng hastily altered his stance, dropping the spear shaft to block.

“Clang!”

Another thunderous crash.

In the instant spear and staff met, the burly man’s wrist flicked again.

The staff, as if alive, slid upward along Qin Feng’s spear shaft.

Startled, Qin Feng tried to pull back his spear and retreat, but it was too late.

The burly man grinned savagely, closed in, and thrust the staff forward.

“Thud!”

The heavy staff head struck solidly against Qin Feng’s chest.

A colossal force surged through him; Qin Feng flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the arena floor a dozen meters away.

[Defeat!]

[In this bitter defeat, you deeply comprehend the crushing dominance of the staff technique and reflect on the shortcomings of your own spear art. Thousand Army Spear proficiency +3]

The cold prompt announced the end of this one-sided battle.

Qin Feng rose from the ground; the suffocating pressure from the blow, though virtual, felt utterly real.

He looked at the bald, burly man who now shouldered his staff and made a crude gesture, then slowly exhaled.

Complete defeat.

No fluke.

The opponent had crushed him in every aspect—strength, technique, experience.

Qin Feng did not lose heart. He etched every detail of the fight firmly into his memory, then, expressionless, initiated the third match.

(End of this chapter)