Chapter 44: Emperor's Chosen

Chapter 44: The Emperor's Chosen

In the Thunder Martial Hall, on the spectator stands.

Just as the gunman with the ID "Qin" on the light screen evaded Zhou Yu's desperate counterattack with an unimaginable footwork,

At that very moment, as he twisted his body to the limit and was about to thrust his spear,

A faint, almost imperceptible dark golden light flashed like a meteor across his left brow bone.

That light was so subtle, so fleeting, that for the students fully absorbed in the fierce battle, it was merely an illusion amidst the interplay of light and shadow.

Yet for the seven or eight martial hall experts seated in the front row, this scene was like a detonating star thrown into the calm lake of their hearts!

Shua—

Almost simultaneously, seven or eight figures rose abruptly from their seats!

Each of them widened their eyes, faces etched with disbelief, staring intently at the figure on the screen who had already executed the killing blow and stood with his spear withdrawn.

The air seemed to freeze at that moment.

One of the elders, with a goatee and appearing the oldest, slowly turned his head and cast a questioning glance at a stern-faced middle-aged martial artist beside him.

The middle-aged man said nothing, only nodding slowly and heavily.

He then looked at another burly man, built like a bear.

The burly man returned a confirming gaze, his Adam's apple bobbing as if suppressing something.

Seven or eight gazes met silently in the air, each reflecting the same shock and confirmation.

They had not misseen.

Having confirmed this, they slowly sat back down, but their straight backs and clenched fists silently betrayed their inner turmoil.

They did not exchange words on the spot, but continued to watch the light screen with an unprecedented, burning, and complex gaze until the battle completely ended.

...

On the arena, victory and defeat were decided.

After Zhou Yu's figure performed a military salute, it dissolved into specks of light and vanished entirely.

Inside the virtual connection pod, Zhou Yu slowly opened her eyes.

Her face still bore the flush of an intense battle, and though her eyes held a trace of disappointment at defeat, they were more filled with the satisfaction of meeting a worthy opponent and the joy of gaining insights.

Her consciousness withdrew from the Imperial Arena, and she came before the few martial hall experts, bowing respectfully.

"The assessment... I failed."

"It's fine."

The goateed elder waved his hand, his voice much gentler. "Your performance in this battle has exceeded our expectations. Victory and defeat are common in war, especially since you encountered an opponent who should not have been at your level."

"I request a temporary rest. I want to organize the gains from this battle and watch the recordings a few more times."

Zhou Yu's voice was firm, her eyes shining with a thirst for knowledge.

"Very well."

The goateed elder agreed without hesitation. "Go ahead, contemplate well. This sudden enlightenment is worth far more to you than the outcome of an assessment."

"Thank you."

Zhou Yu bowed again, then sat cross-legged on the spot, called up the battle recording from the Imperial Arena, and immediately entered a state of focused review.

Watching her immersed figure, the several martial hall experts exchanged glances, and an invisible network of spiritual communication instantly formed among them.

"...The Nail of Favor, I didn't missee it, did I?"

The goateed elder's voice echoed in everyone's minds, tinged with a tremor.

"No, we all saw it."

The stern-faced middle-aged martial artist responded immediately. "That was indeed the Nail of Favor!"

"Damn it!" The burly man's voice was like a thunderclap. "No wonder he's so fierce! I said he hadn't studied the 'Ninefold Thunder Blade,' yet his understanding surpassed Zhou Yu's, and he caught every flaw so accurately... He must be the Emperor's Chosen, a genius handpicked."

"What about his information? Pull it up immediately! Is he a martial artist from our Thunder Legion's jurisdiction? Which martial arts school's genius?"

Another martial artist asked urgently.

"Already checked."

A tall, thin martial artist in charge of intelligence replied immediately, his voice tinged with undisguised disappointment. "He doesn't belong to us. His registration location is in the Tianma Arm, at Qiming Star. That's the territory of the 'Limit Legion.' He comes from a place called 'Qiming First Advanced Martial Arts High School,' and their martial hall seems to be called 'Stellar Martial Artist University,' which is different from our model."

"The Limit Legion..." The goateed elder stroked his beard, his expression complex. "We can't let him be buried. Seventh, you contact the Limit Legion's person in charge there and send them this 'Qin's' battle recording along with our assessment. Such a genius must receive the highest level of attention."

"Yes, Teacher, I'll do it immediately."

The middle-aged martial artist called Seventh respectfully acknowledged.

"Speaking of which, this school model of the Limit Legion does seem more effective at cultivating top geniuses."

A younger martial artist remarked. "We've long promoted the 'Emperor's Meditation Method,' but those who receive attention at the first stage are extremely rare."

"Hmph, most cultivated by the school model are greenhouse flowers, never having experienced real blood and fire—all show and no substance."

The burly man retorted disdainfully.

"Not necessarily." The goateed elder spoke slowly. "As far as I know, the Limit Legion's martial high schools also have brutal practical courses, even sending students directly to border planets to fight alien races. In contrast, our martial arts school model relies too much on students' family backgrounds and personal discipline, burying countless talents from humble origins. That 'Qin,' if he were born here, might never even have had the chance to touch the threshold of the 'Thousand Army Spear.'"

"True, but... where would we get that much money?"

Someone laughed bitterly, voicing the core issue. "The Limit Legion has long been stationed in frontline star sectors, with countless experts and military merits, rolling in wealth. They can directly transform planets into military academies... Students even have guaranteed basic resources. With money, of course, they can do that. We poor legions, trying to imitate their school model, ended up with what mess, you all know. We don't even have guaranteed resources, let alone for geniuses—they have to fight for everything themselves."

These words silenced everyone.

In the end, everything came down to resources.

An experimental reform by high-level martial arts experts, or a failed interstellar war among myriad races, could directly affect the educational policies of countless educational planets for thousands of generations over the next millennia...

Qin Feng was born in a good time and a good place.

"This kid, born in a good place and a good time."

"Indeed."

"Contact the Limit Legion. Leave the rest." ...

On the other side.

Qiming First Martial High School, Public Martial Arts Room.

Qin Feng had no idea what waves his ranking match had stirred in distant star systems.

At this moment, like Zhou Yu, he was immersed in the recording of that intense battle.

He paused the image at the frame where he used the "Wandering Dragon" footwork to evade Zhou Yu's close-range strike.

He zoomed in and slowed it to the limit.

In that critical instant, on his left brow bone, a faint dark golden light flickered for less than a hundredth of a second, like a dying spark.

He paused the video, reached out, and carefully touched his brow bone.

The skin was smooth, the bone flat—nothing there.

He immediately called up his own system panel.

【Cultivation Method: Emperor’s Meditation (Beginner)】

【Effect: Nail of Favor x1: The speed of your meditation practice receives a faint boost.】

He recalled the sensation of that moment.

A cool stream of energy surged from deep within his brow, instantly flooding his entire mind, sharpening his focus like never before, his thinking speed seeming to break through its limits, every movement of his body following his will with perfect precision, plunging him into a mysterious, self-forgetting state of epiphany.

“So this is the true purpose of the ‘Nail of Favor’…”

He judged that this thing was a passive effect triggered only under extreme mental concentration, with a certain probability.

After confirming that it held no harm for him but was instead a tremendous boon, Qin Feng stopped dwelling on it and redirected his attention to reviewing the battle recording.

Once, twice, three times…

From the perspective of an observer, he calmly analyzed every move and every decision made by both himself and Zhou Yu.

His marksmanship, Zhou Yu’s blade technique, the strengths and weaknesses of both sides, the rhythm of the fight…

An hour later.

Qin Feng let out a long breath of stale air, a brilliant light shining in his eyes.

All the experience and insights from that battle had been thoroughly digested and absorbed, becoming the most solid foundation on his martial path.

He called up his personal panel.

【Killing Technique: Thousand Troops Spear (Minor Mastery)】

【Proficiency: 418/1000】

“One epiphany, and it directly added over three hundred proficiency points…”

This number surprised even himself.

It was almost equal to the total of his hard training over the past half month.

“That spear move, ‘Thousand Troops Yield,’ still isn’t perfect.”

He savored the final killing blow.

“At that moment, if my speed had been just a fraction faster, my strength a fraction more condensed, not pursuing a sweeping arc but an extreme ‘point,’ perhaps… I could have comprehended the second killing move of the ‘Thousand Troops Spear.’”

The prototype of that move had already surfaced in his mind.

“Flowing Light Chasing Shadows… just one step away.”

He dismissed the panel and exited the battle recording.

As soon as he did, the Imperial Arena’s system notification popped up.

【Respected Martial Artist “Qin,” greetings.】

【Congratulations, you have successfully completed your placement matches.】

【Your rank has been assessed as: First Grade】

【Your initial points are: 0】

【Rank Rules: At First Grade, when your points reach 300, you may unlock the Second Grade promotion match.】

【Note: Points gained for wins and lost for defeats are based on your performance in the match, not solely determined by victory or defeat.】

【May your martial fortune flourish!】

He opened his personal profile.

【ID】: Qin

【Rank】: First Grade

【Ranked Record】: 5 wins, 5 losses

【Points】: 0

【Opponent Evaluation (1 entry)】: A worthy opponent.

In the 【Opponent Evaluation】 column, a new entry had appeared.

Qin Feng guessed it was left by Zhou Yu.

He rested briefly, allowing his weary mind to recover for a moment.

Then, he stood up again, his eyes regaining their calm focus.

His touch was hot; he couldn’t waste it.

He had to seize the lingering afterglow of this epiphany, push forward in one go, and climb his points to the limit of his current strength!

Qin Feng estimated it to be around one hundred points, roughly the same as Zhou Yu.

He once again opened the ranked match mode.

(End of chapter)