High Martial Arts: Liver Becomes the Master of the Universe

Chapter 164 After 12 years of seclusion, his vitality index is 1730!

[Battle begins!]

The moment the system notification sound plays.

The stone moved.

Instead of charging, he plunged the blade of his battle axe deep into the ground beneath his feet!

"Iwamori!"

He let out a deafening roar.

Centered on his body, the pure white ground instantly cracked, and countless rock elements frantically converged, condensing into an incomparably thick set of rock armor on his body surface!

This is his strongest defensive stance!
He knew that with his speed, he would have no chance of launching the first attack against Qin Feng.

The only thing to do is to maximize your defense, withstand Qin Feng's first wave of attacks, and then plan your next move!

He stared intently at Qin Feng opposite him, his muscles tense to the extreme, his mind and will highly focused, trying to capture every subtle movement of Qin Feng.

However, Qin Feng, standing opposite him, simply stood quietly.

He didn't even draw any weapon; he simply took a step forward casually.

step.

It's just this simple step.

In Shi Dang's view, Qin Feng's figure seemed to blur for a moment while still in place.

And then... no more.

Shi Dang's pupils suddenly dilated to their maximum size, and his mind went completely blank.

Because he realized that he had lost Qin Feng's target.

A hundred meters ahead, there was nothing at all.

Qin Feng simply vanished into thin air.

Where did he go?

The thought had just flashed through his mind.

An overwhelming and terrifying force, indescribable in any language, struck his back without warning.

That force was so gentle, it felt as if someone had just patted me lightly.

But that one strike instantly pierced through his prized [Rock Guardian], a skill built from his bloodline talent and killing techniques.

That incredibly thick rock armor was so fragile, like a thin sheet of paper, that it crumbled silently, inch by inch.

Immediately afterwards, that power surged into his body.

His internal organs, his limbs, and every cell in his body were completely decomposed into the most primitive energy particles in that instant.

He didn't even feel the slightest bit of pain.

In the last moment before his consciousness dissipated, it remained focused on that question.

What about people?

【fail】

Two cold, enormous red characters filled his entire field of vision.

With a flash of light and shadow, Shi Dang's figure re-formed in the pure white virtual space.

He maintained his defensive posture, but his entire body was trembling uncontrollably and violently.

His face was bloodless, his eyes were vacant, and his pupils were unfocused, like a statue that had lost its soul.

Opposite him, Qin Feng's figure had somehow returned to his previous position, as if he had never moved at all.

Instant kill.

A complete and utter defeat, so powerful that even the opponent's movement trajectory cannot be detected; a dimensional reduction attack.

Shi Dang didn't even know how he lost.

All he knew was that the battle began, and then it ended.

The entire process probably takes less than 0.001 seconds.

Is this the gap?

Shi Dang stood there, motionless.

Qin Feng glanced at him calmly, but said nothing.

He has done what he needed to do.

The rest of the journey is for Shi Dang to walk alone.

He nodded slightly to the other person as a farewell.

Then he left the battle space immediately.

When his consciousness returned to the dormitory, Qin Feng's expression remained completely calm.

For him, the battle with Shi Dang was nothing more than an insignificant interlude on his long path of cultivation.

He agreed to help out of consideration for our shared hometown, nothing more.

What will become of that former rival—whether he will fall into ruin or rise from the ashes—is none of his concern.

Everyone has to walk their own path.

Qin Feng didn't even think about it anymore; his entire focus had been refocused on the most important thing he needed to do next.

—Seclusion!
He opened the subspace network and entered the Imperial Trading Post.

A dazzling array of goods, like a vast sea of ​​stars, flashed across the screen of light.

From the most basic recovery potions to blueprints for star-destroying cannons powerful enough to arm a small fleet, almost anything can be bought here as long as you have enough contribution points.

Qin Feng's gaze immediately locked onto the high-level cultivation resource area.

His personal account shows the current balance.

[Contribution points: 5139.]

This is a huge sum of money that would make most students in the Enlightenment Realm envious.

But Qin Feng knew that for him, who was practicing the "Great Sun Opening Technique," these contribution points were only enough to support one decent seclusion.

We must be careful with our money.

His brain began to work at an astonishing speed, planning how to use every bit of contribution value.

"First, reserve 500 contribution points to buy the killing technique recommended by the mentor. The remaining 4,600 points will all be invested in this training."

"As for the duration of the seclusion... the initial plan is around ten years."

Qin Feng had a vague point in time in his mind.

Ten years later, it will be the next "Canaan Newcomer Cup".

If he could catch it, he wouldn't mind experiencing it again.

However, if the time required for cultivation exceeds ten years, it doesn't matter. Qin Feng doesn't want the competition to affect his focused state during cultivation.

With a clear plan, Qin Feng's procurement became efficient and precise.

His fingers moved rapidly across the light screen.

[Exchange Item: Enhanced Type I Psionic Potion]

[Description: With energy purity and absorption efficiency far exceeding that of regular top-grade psionic potions, it is one of the top choices for martial artists in the Qi Opening Realm to engage in deep seclusion.]

Price: 20 contribution points/1 bottle

[Exchange Quantity: 150]

Total: -3000 contribution points

"Based on my previous experience in seclusion, 2.5 doses of top-grade spiritual energy potion can open one Great Sun Aperture. This enhances the effect of Type I potion by more than twice that of top-grade. Theoretically, 150 doses should be enough for me to open about 2 more Great Sun Apertures."

Qin Feng silently calculated in his mind, his fingers never stopping as he continued to select the next item.

[Redeemable Item: Enhanced Type I Deep Repair Herbal Bath Pack]

[Description: Contains highly active life energy and various rare minerals, which can greatly accelerate the physical repair and cell regeneration of martial artists after high-intensity training, increasing the repair efficiency by more than 50% compared to the ordinary version.]

Price: 10 contribution points/pack

[Redemption Quantity: 80 packs]

Total: -800 contribution points

"The bottleneck to cultivation efficiency often lies not in whether there is enough energy, but in the body's limits of endurance and recovery speed. This is essential."

[Exchange Item: Enhanced Type I Mental Strength Recovery Potion]

[Description: Quickly replenishes mental energy consumed during visualization and deduction of killing techniques, nourishes the soul, has a longer duration of effect, and fewer side effects.]

Price: 20 contribution points/piece

[Exchange Quantity: 40]

Total: -800 contribution points

After three huge expenses, Qin Feng's contribution points evaporated by 4600 points in an instant.

Looking at the remaining 539 contribution points in his account, he felt no heartache, but rather an unprecedented sense of peace.

All of these will translate into real power for him.

Immediately afterwards, he switched to the exchange area for killing techniques manuals and brought up the list that his mentor, Yu Han, had recommended to him.

"Defense isn't for me..."

Qin Feng recalled his mentor's words as his gaze swept across the list.

[Exchange for Level 1 Killing Techniques: Mountain-Crushing Fist, Jade-Shattering Hand, Monument-Splitting Hand, Thunder Sound Fist...]

Total: -200 contribution points

In one go, he exchanged all four level-one boxing techniques recommended by his mentor as the most suitable for him.

Without exception, all of these boxing techniques are extremely powerful, fierce, and relentlessly aggressive offensive techniques.

Finally, Qin Feng's gaze fell on a level-two killing technique that Instructor Yu Han had highlighted in red on the list.

[Exchange for Level 2 Killing Technique: Cold Light]

[Introduction: Gun-based killing techniques, focusing on breaking through enemy lines with a single point, pursuing ultimate penetration and explosive power; the supreme method for charging into battle and assassinating vital points.]

[Price: 300 Contribution Value]

Total: -300 contribution points

The moment the level 2 killing technique was successfully obtained, Qin Feng's contribution points in his personal account were completely cleared, leaving only a lonely 9 points.

At this point, all preparations are complete.

Qin Feng stood up and walked to the front of the closed-door chamber.

Instead of logging in immediately, he first pulled up his friend list and sent a very concise message to Shi Potian, Xiong Yanfu, Lei Meng, Tie Mu, Qin Lan, and others.

"I will be going into seclusion for an extended period of time. My return date is uncertain. Please do not worry about me or disturb me."

After doing all this, he took a deep breath, his eyes becoming incredibly firm and pure.

Qin Feng sat cross-legged on the futon and began to cultivate quietly.

All contact with the outside world was completely severed at this moment.

He closed his eyes, and his consciousness sank into endless darkness.

Then, he took out the first [Enhanced Type I Psionic Potion], unscrewed the cap, and drank it all in one gulp.

boom--! ! !
More violent and turbulent than ever before, like a bursting galaxy, the energy surged within his body!

……

Time, in the world of those in deep seclusion, loses its original meaning.

It is no longer sunrise and sunset, no longer the changing of the seasons.

It turned into countless vials of medicine that were consumed, the excruciating pain of the body being torn apart and reassembled time and time again, and the acupoints that were painstakingly opened up, shimmering with dark golden light.

Qin Feng's dormitory fell into a long, deathly silence.

the first year.

Qin Feng exhausted all his energy and, amidst endless pain, successfully opened ten new "Great Sun Apertures".

Every cell in his body became more resilient and stronger under the repeated scouring and tempering of this violent energy.

The third year.

Thirty "Great Sun Acupoints" shone brightly within his body. He had fully adapted to the terrifying power of the [Enhanced Type I Spiritual Energy Potion], and the speed at which he opened his acupoints began to steadily increase.

fifth year.

Inside the closed chamber, there were more than fifty empty medicine bottles piled up.

Qin Feng's total number of "Great Sun Apertures" has also successfully broken through the one hundred mark!

His body seemed to have become a bottomless black hole, and his thirst for energy reached a whole new level.

The eighth year.

He began to practice the newly acquired killing techniques.

With the support of the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] panel, he could multitask, opening up his acupoints while frantically practicing "Mountain Crashing Fist" and "Jade Shattering Hand" in the Imperial Arena during his rest time... His offensive techniques were accumulating strength at an alarming rate.

The tenth year.

He has opened up 160 "Great Sun Apertures".

His original goal of completing his seclusion in ten years had long been forgotten.

Immersed in the exhilarating feeling of his rapidly increasing strength, he had only one thought—

Keep going! Don't stop!

Until the last dose of medicine is used up!
……

Time flies, time flies.

For Canaan Star Martial Arts University, twelve years is but a blink of an eye.

Generation after generation of new students enroll, and class after class of senior students graduate.

Qin Feng, the "uncrowned new king" who once stirred up a storm, has gradually been replaced by newer and more dazzling geniuses as time goes by, and has been forgotten in the corner of people's memories.

Only occasionally, some senior students would mention that monster who once single-handedly shocked the entire school.

At this moment, in that dormitory that had been silent for twelve years.

call--

A thick, almost tangible white mist, brimming with life, wafted out as Qin Feng breathed.

He opened his eyes.

What a pair of eyes those are.

Profound and weathered, it seems to contain an endless sea of ​​stars.

Between the opening and closing of his eyes, there was even a flash of golden lightning.

Twelve years have not left any trace of time on his face. On the contrary, they have made his already angular features even more perfect, as if they were cast from divine gold.

His skin had a healthy, jade-like texture, with a faint, lustrous glow.

His long period of seclusion had caused his hair to grow to waist length, which was casually draped over his shoulders, adding to his otherworldly air.

Qin Feng looked down at his hands.

He could sense the terrifying power hidden beneath that seemingly calm skin, a power capable of shattering mountains and severing rivers.

With a thought, he brought up his personal panel.

[The Great Sun Awakening Method (Completion): One hundred and seventy "Great Sun Acupoints" have been successfully opened and filled (170/360)]

Vitality Index: 1730.0

One hundred and seventy great sun apertures!
1,730 points of vitality index!
After twelve years of arduous training, he successfully extracted and absorbed all the effects of the 150 doses of [Enhanced Type I Spiritual Energy Potion], not one more and not one less, and ultimately opened up 120 brand new acupoints!
Feeling the unprecedentedly powerful force surging within him like a vast ocean, Qin Feng's face revealed a genuine, satisfied smile.

"Hamer, what time is it now?"

Master, it's a pleasure to serve you again.

The voice of the intelligent assistant, Hammer, remained as respectful as ever.

It has been twelve years and three months since you last entered seclusion.

Twelve years.

A dizzying, surreal feeling washed over me, as if I were in another world.

How many twelve-year periods does one have in a lifetime?

He instinctively called out, his voice hoarse from not speaking for a long time.

"Twelve years and three months..."

"If you do the math, it's been 22 years since I enrolled."

"That seventeen-year-old boy is now 38 years old."

Qin Feng sighed.

Twelve years and three months.

Upon hearing this precise date down to the month, Qin Feng felt a complex mix of emotions that were difficult to describe.

Suddenly a world away.

He had only undergone a long period of cultivation, but to the outside world, a cycle of the Chinese zodiac had quietly passed.

He slowly got up and stretched his body.

The bones emitted a series of crisp, rapid popping sounds.

An unprecedented, powerful feeling, as if he could control everything, filled his entire body.

His vitality index of 1730 points brought about a transformative change in his body, from the inside out.

"Hamer, help me calculate the total contribution points I've consumed in cultivation resources since I enrolled."

Qin Feng calmly gave the instructions.

Okay, sir. Retrieving your spending records and calculating...

Hammer was extremely efficient; a precise number quickly appeared on the virtual screen in front of Qin Feng.

[Calculation complete. Master, since you enrolled, you have exchanged a total of 7018 contribution points at the 'Imperial Trading Post' for various cultivation resources.]

A little over seven thousand!

Upon seeing this number, even Qin Feng, with his composure, couldn't help but secretly gasp.

He recalled that his first retreat cost him a little over three hundred yuan.

After returning from the second mission, I invested over 300 points.

The third time, after the Rookie Cup, was a three-year seclusion that consumed more than 700 points.

In addition, this time, I spent a total of 4,600 points.

All in all, it comes to just over seven thousand.

"More than 7,000 contribution points have been used to open 170 'Great Sun Apertures'..."

Qin Feng's mind raced with calculations. "There are still 190 'Great Sun Apertures' left to achieve complete perfection. Based on the previous consumption ratio, it will probably require an investment of nearly seven thousand contribution points to achieve this."

This number, if it had been twelve years ago, would have been enough to make him feel despair.

But now, Qin Feng felt only peace in his heart.

Because he knew that it would be much, much easier for him to gain another 7,000 contribution points now than before.

With his current vitality index of 1730, he is qualified to take on those highly rewarding and difficult warband missions.

It's not impossible to earn thousands or even tens of thousands of contribution points from a single task.

"Based on this calculation, a martial artist who cultivates the 'Supreme Acupoint Opening Method' and fully opens all 360 acupoints, along with all the miscellaneous resources, would need approximately 14,000 contribution points in total."

Qin Feng muttered to himself, gaining a clearer understanding of the difficulties of this path of cultivation.

“Earning these contribution points, plus the long period of secluded cultivation... it would indeed take an ordinary genius nearly a hundred years to complete this path.”

"And this is under the condition that everything goes smoothly."

Qin Feng's gaze became somewhat profound.

"If you're a little unlucky, for example, if you miss out on the opportunity to acquire a large amount of start-up capital in the previous 'Canaan Newcomer Cup' due to insufficient strength or other reasons, then the initial accumulation will become extremely difficult, and the progress will be slowed down indefinitely."

"It might even mean the end."

He suddenly remembered his final opponents in the rookie cup, those two "century-old monsters" with a vitality index of three thousand points.

They probably wasted nearly a hundred years in the Enlightenment stage.

"However... this road is not moving at a constant speed."

Qin Feng quickly thought of another aspect.

"The acupoints at the beginning are actually the slowest to open. This is because at that stage, your strength is the weakest, and your efficiency in acquiring resources is also the lowest. But once your strength increases, the acupoints at the end will open faster and faster."

He deduced the paths of other practitioners.

An ordinary genius might need fifty years to painstakingly open up more than fifty 'Great Sun Apertures'.

This process is incredibly tedious and agonizing.

However, once fifty acupoints are opened, the vitality index can steadily exceed five hundred points.

This level of strength has reached a standard, a standard that is sufficient for independently accepting tasks that reward thousands of contribution points.

At that time, the entire rhythm of cultivation will be completely different.

They continuously perform highly difficult tasks to earn huge contribution points, then purchase top-tier resources for deep seclusion.

And so on and on.

Perhaps, in the next fifty years, they will be able to open up the remaining three hundred or so acupoints in one go.

Of course, this is still only the most ideal situation.

Qin Feng knew very well that theory was, in the end, just theory.

Not everyone can be like him, possessing the "Heaven rewards diligence" panel, and enduring the extremely tedious, extremely painful, and decades-long period of secluded cultivation.

A genius may be able to endure years of solitude.

But perhaps not, they can endure hundreds of years of solitude.

If one's will is even slightly weak and one is tempted by the allure of the outside world, one's progress in cultivation will be greatly slowed down.

Therefore, many martial artists who practice the "Supreme Awakening Method" may eventually need to spend 150 years, 200 years, or even longer to reach the end of this path.

"A century has passed, all for the sake of enlightenment..."

Qin Feng sighed softly, then quickly put those thoughts out of his mind.

Other people's paths are ultimately their own.

He has his own rhythm.

After a long period of seclusion, the first thing Qin Feng did was to immerse his consciousness into the subspace network.

This is a good habit he has cultivated over a long period of time.

After being isolated from the world, the subspace network is undoubtedly the most efficient and convenient channel to learn about what is happening in the outside world as quickly as possible.

He skillfully opened the private forum of Canaan Starry Sky Martial Arts University.

Over the course of twelve years, the forum's layout has been updated and transformed countless times, becoming more elaborate and complex.

But the noisy and bustling atmosphere remained unchanged.

Qin Feng ignored the gossip and idle chatter; he directly used the search function and entered a few keywords.

Soon, a large number of posts related to the previous "Canaan Newcomer Cup" ten years ago were filtered out.

He randomly clicked on a few of the most popular posts.

[An immortal legend! The new king, Shi Dang, reigns supreme!]

[In-depth Analysis: The Path to Kingship for a Stone-Man Hybrid! Shi Dang's physical potential, tested by authoritative institutions, is comparable to the gold standard human Level III! A promising future awaits!]

[It's him again! Zhou Run, the Old Monster, has held the top spot in the Level 4 Rookie Cup for the third consecutive year! His exploitation of the competition is outrageous!]

[A list of the top ten dark horses in this year's Rookie Cup.]

……

Looking at these impactful headlines, Qin Feng's face showed a hint of surprise.

"Oh? Shi Dang... actually won the Rookie of the Year award."

In his mind, the image of that person from twelve years ago, who was so vulnerable and fragile in front of him, yet ultimately so resolute, flashed before his eyes.

It seems that the battle not only failed to break him, but actually helped him sever his inner demons and rebuild himself from the ashes.

Qin Feng felt a slight sense of relief for this "fellow villager".

His gaze then fell on another message.

"Zhou Run... that monster with a vitality index of over three thousand points is still playing in the rookie cup in the fourth-tier region?"

Qin Feng was both amused and exasperated.

This guy is really persistent for that little bit of first place reward.

Even though they were heavily criticized on the forum, they continued to relentlessly exploit loopholes.

He continued browsing the posts, and soon he saw some familiar names on the top 100 list.

Shi Potian ranked 17th.

Qin Lan ranked 29th.

Xiong Yanfu also barely made it into the top 100 with a score of 88th.

Seeing his old friends achieve success, Qin Feng felt happy.

He closed the forum and opened his private message inbox.

Sure enough, it was filled with a lot of unread messages.

Among them, messages from Shi Potian, Xiong Yanfu, Lei Meng, Tie Mu, and others were automatically pinned to the top by the system.

Most of the news dates back to ten years ago, shortly after he went into seclusion.

The content was largely the same, consisting of words of concern and messages promising to get together after he came out of seclusion.

A warm smile appeared on Qin Feng's face.

Without hesitation, he replied to each of his friends' messages.

"I've completed my quarantine and am doing well. I'm available anytime and look forward to your messages."

However, after the message was sent, it seemed to disappear without a trace, and no one replied for the time being.

Qin Feng didn't care. He figured they were probably on a mission or in seclusion.

After doing all this, Qin Feng did not rush to challenge the Canaan Tower or accept any missions.

He had just ended a twelve-year seclusion. Although his vitality index had skyrocketed, his application of those killing techniques was still in a relatively immature stage.

Therefore, he turned his attention to another important part of the subspace network.

——【Imperial Arena】.

Compared to the PVE mode of Canaan Tower, the Imperial Arena is a pure PVP platform, a place for real-time battles against warriors from all of humanity's empires.

More importantly, in lower-ranked matches, the system will forcibly lock both sides' vitality index at a base level of 30 points.

This means that the outcome of the battle will depend entirely on the combat skills, killing techniques, and on-the-spot reactions of both sides.

For Qin Feng at this moment, this was undoubtedly the best place to hone those newly acquired, still-zero-foundation level one boxing techniques.

Without the slightest hesitation, he clicked on "Start Ranking".

……

For the next three months, Qin Feng was completely immersed in the Imperial Arena.

He seemed to have transformed into a tireless fighting machine, relentlessly engaging in battle after battle.

His opponents were all sorts of strange and unusual people.

With the vitality index completely leveled out, every battle is an ultimate test of Qin Feng's combat wisdom and understanding of killing techniques.

He began to practice the four newly learned boxing styles with great fervor.

The core essence of "Crushing Mountain Fist" lies in the word "Crushing," emphasizing that power originates from the feet, flows through the spine, and reaches the fist, with the force of a mountain collapsing and the earth splitting. In battle, he practiced the killing move "Crushing Fist," clashing head-on with his opponents time and time again, feeling the thrill of the power being transmitted layer by layer and exploding in an instant.

"Shattered Jade Hand" is a technique that focuses on attacking vital points, targeting the enemy's weak points and defenses. He practiced the killing move "Shattered Jade," his fingers becoming like poisoned daggers, each strike aimed directly at the opponent's throat, heart, and joints.

"The Monument Slayer" is all about powerful and heavy attacks, with its killer move, "Monument Slayer," using force to suppress the enemy.

Thunderclap Fist, on the other hand, focuses on fierce attacks, using punch speed and power to suppress the opponent. Its killing move, Thunderclap Fist, is also not to be underestimated...

With the support of the "Heaven Rewards Diligence" system, coupled with a massive amount of practical experience.

The proficiency in these four brand-new boxing techniques is skyrocketing at a rate visible to the naked eye.

From initial learning and practice to some initial success, then to mastery and finally perfection.

Only three months have passed.

When Qin Feng withdrew from the final ranking match, the suffixes of the four boxing techniques on his personal panel had quietly changed.

【"Mountain Collapse Fist" (Complete)】

【The Shattered Jade Hand (Complete)】

【The Monument Opener (Complete)】

【Thunderclap Fist (Complete)】

All four level-one boxing techniques have reached perfection!
"call……"

Qin Feng let out a long breath, feeling the four fist techniques in his mind that had deeply resonated with his soul, and a satisfied expression appeared on his face.

"Cold weapons are an extension of fists and palms. With these four fist and palm techniques firmly established, I will be able to achieve twice the results with half the effort when I practice killing techniques such as spears, clubs, swords, and halberds in the future."

He opened his personal panel for the Imperial Arena, which had been dormant for twelve years.

[ID: Qin]

[Rank: 2nd Dan, 215 points]

[Personal Introduction: Practitioner of "Thousand Army Spears"]

Total wins: 11032

Total losses: 9017

[Win rate: 55.01%]

Five-figure number of matches, and a not-so-high win rate.

Below his panel, the comment section for "Enemy Evaluation" had accumulated a thick stack of "999+" messages.

[A practitioner of "Thousand Army Spears"? Tell me, what the hell is this "Fierce Owl Style"? You're not being honest, kid.]

[(Crying face) Bro, I just wanted to practice my movements, why do you have to keep poking my eyes?]

A respectable opponent! Your punches were powerful! Looking forward to our next encounter!

[A prodigy at the Control Realm has been reported!]

[It's all about wide-ranging, aggressive attacks.]

[He's a complete lunatic, treating me like a greenhorn.]

Looking at the four fist techniques on his personal panel that had quietly transformed into the "perfect" level, and the mountain of enemy evaluations below filled with various emotions, a faint smile appeared on Qin Feng's lips.

Three months of intense battles yielded even greater results than he had anticipated.

He successfully brought the four first-level boxing techniques to perfection.

These battles were merely for practicing killing techniques, not for familiarizing oneself with one's own strength or controlling the surge in power.

Thinking of this, Qin Feng suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He remembered that in some low-quality novels circulating in the lower strata of the empire and that had been modified countless times, there was an absurd claim that after a martial artist's strength increased dramatically, they would need to spend a lot of time in a so-called "adaptation period" because they could not control the power they suddenly gained.

In Qin Feng's view, this was utterly ridiculous.

The martial arts cultivation methods of the human empire are a magnificent system that has withstood the test of billions of years of war and bloodshed, and has been deduced and optimized by countless wise men and women. It is an incomparably rigorous and scientific system.

Qin Feng spent a full twelve years raising his vitality index from 532 points to 1730 points!
Over the past twelve years, he has consumed top-tier resources worth 4,600 contribution points and endured countless inhuman pains of his body being torn apart and reassembled.

Every minute, every second, he strictly and precisely followed the practice steps of the "Great Sun Awakening Method." Every breath he took, every heartbeat he made, was a struggle against and a fusion with that violent energy.

Every muscle, every bone, and every meridian in his body was painstakingly honed by his own hands, bit by bit, with sweat, willpower, and time.

This power was originally part of his body!

Why should he need to adapt?

unless……

Unless, of course, this power was not acquired through one's own arduous practice.

Instead, it was through some evil and sordid transaction, such as sacrificing one's soul to those four chaotic and evil beings deep within the warp, that one received the "blessing."

Only a force forcibly injected from outside, a power that does not belong to oneself, can cause a martial artist's strength to go out of control. Only such a force can take a long time to adapt to and digest, and may even backfire and devour the martial artist, turning them into a pathetic walking corpse without self-awareness.

Any martial artist who follows the orthodox martial arts of the empire, steadily improving step by step, will never experience a state of "being unable to control their own surging power".

They always maintain absolute and perfect control over every ounce of their power!

"Perhaps this is a way to distinguish believers in evil gods."

"..."

Qin Feng muttered to himself.

Putting these distracting thoughts aside, Qin Feng focused his attention back on the interface of the Imperial Arena.

The four level-one boxing techniques have been perfected.

Next, it's time to begin practicing that level-two killing technique that Instructor Yu Han highlighted—"Cold Light".

Level 2 killing techniques, in terms of both the complexity of using psionic energy and the skill requirements, far surpass Level 1 killing techniques.

Setting the vitality index at 30 points is no longer very meaningful.

Qin Feng thought for a moment and decided to adjust the matchmaking rules of the Imperial Arena, raising the lock limit for the Vitality Index to around 500 points.

Under greater pressure, one can achieve higher efficiency in practicing level two killing techniques.

However, just as he was about to set it up...

Ding Dong!

Ding Dong!

Ding Dong!

A series of urgent communication notifications from friends in subspace suddenly rang out one after another.

Qin Feng was slightly taken aback and opened the communication interface.

There, the familiar avatars of Shi Potian, Xiong Yanfu, Lei Meng, and Tie Mu were flashing wildly on his friend list at the same time.

He clicked on Xiong Yanfu's message box. This guy, as always, was very talkative.

"Holy crap! Feng! You're finally back from seclusion! We're all so excited to see your reply!"

"We just finished a team mission that lasted a year and a half. We're exhausted, and we've just returned from the mission planet. We're about to have a good meal!"

"There's no time like the present, let's do it now! So, Feng, are you free? Let's all get together!"

Immediately afterward, Shi Potian's message popped up, as concise as ever.

"Qin Feng, come out and let's get together."

News of Lei Meng and Tie Mu followed soon after, their words filled with the joy of a long-awaited reunion.

He smiled and replied, "Okay, the usual place?"

"That's it!"

Xiong Yanfu replied instantly, "Food God Zone, Taotie Restaurant! We'll head over there to reserve a spot, you can just come over!"

"Okay, I'll be there soon."

After ending the communication, Qin Feng closed the interface of the Imperial Arena.

Reuniting with old friends is also a joyous occasion in life.

Without the slightest delay, he immediately set off, leaving his dormitory which had been silent for twelve years, and headed straight for the public teleportation array within the academy.

……

It remains that bustling area, brimming with the aroma of everyday life and a hub for countless culinary delights from across the universe.

It was still that same antique-style, magnificent restaurant, always bustling with guests.

Taotie Residence.

When Qin Feng appeared at the entrance of the restaurant, the familiar yet unfamiliar commotion made him feel momentarily disoriented.

Twelve years have passed, and this place seems unchanged, yet everything seems to have changed.

He stepped inside and skillfully made his way to the private rooms on the second floor.

Just as I reached the top of the stairs, a loud and delighted voice came from not far away.

"Brother Feng! Over here!"

Qin Feng looked in the direction of the sound and saw several familiar figures waving excitedly at him from a large private room by the window on the second floor.

Xiong Yanfu was still as outgoing and enthusiastic as ever, bald Lei Meng smiled like a Maitreya Buddha, and even the taciturn Tie Mu had a rare smile on his face.

Among them sat a tall, aloof figure, his demeanor as cold as an iceberg. The moment he saw Qin Feng, a slight ripple appeared in his usually calm eyes.

It was Shi Potian.

Twelve years later, this former close friend has become even more profound and reserved, like a peerless divine weapon hidden in its sheath.

A genuine smile appeared on Qin Feng's face as he strode over.

However, just as he was about to enter the private room, he paused slightly.

Because he discovered that there was another person sitting in the corner of the private room.

Someone he never expected to be here.

The man was tall and imposing, with a dignified and imposing presence. His dark golden skin reflected a metallic sheen under the light.

It was that mixed-race genius of stone and human race who won the title of "Rookie of the Year" in the new Rookie Cup.

Shidang.

(End of this chapter)