High Martial Arts: Liver Becomes the Master of the Universe

Chapter 185 Ning Jing is shocked! A body like a giant star beast!

When Long Yu's communication invitation arrived at Qin Feng's personal terminal, he had just finished a preliminary check of his physical condition.

The flawless "Great Yuan Acupoint" residing at the Shencang acupoint in the chest, just like the heart, slowly "pulses" with a mysterious rhythm.

With each heartbeat, a massive amount of extremely pure spiritual energy is naturally transported to his limbs and bones, nourishing every inch of his flesh and every bone.

He could clearly feel that his body was in an unprecedented peak state.

Strength, speed, defense, recovery... all attributes related to the physical body underwent a qualitative leap due to the perfection of the "Great Yuan Aperture".

"Nightmare-level mission..."

Qin Feng stared calmly at the scarlet mission title on the screen.

Before going into seclusion, he had already gained an in-depth understanding of the mission system of Canaan Star Martial Arts University.

The so-called "nightmare level" difficulty level is directly comparable to the difficulty of guarding the 91st to 100th floors of the Canaan Tower.

What kind of difficulty is that?

Only top-tier martial artists who have successfully merged all 360 acupoints, reached a vitality index of 7200 points ("minor limit"), and pushed all their learned killing techniques to the "mastery level" are qualified to challenge.

"Perfect match."

Qin Feng silently assessed the situation in his mind.

He not only reached a vitality index of 7200 points, but also possessed the Imperial strategic-level cultivation method "Ten Perfect Hands". His physical foundation was far more solid than that of ordinary "minor limit" martial artists.

As for killing techniques, he has mastered more than ten killing techniques over the past sixty years, reaching the "mastery level".

Whether it's boxing or spear fighting, he has long since mastered them and can use them with ease.

He could even clearly feel that deep within his soul, the strongest killing move, which combined all the skills he had learned in his life, was about to be unleashed.

It's like a seed about to sprout, lacking only a powerful enough opponent and extreme enough pressure to nourish it for its eventual bloom.

This "nightmare" mission might just be the best opportunity.

With that thought in mind, Qin Feng no longer hesitated.

He tapped his finger lightly on the virtual screen and accepted the team invitation sent by Long Yu.

[Confirmed to join the "Eradicating the Breeding Ground of Chaos" mission team.]

[Your squad is full. Please proceed to Strategic Conference Room A-3 at the Dauntless Chapter Headquarters within ten minutes.]

[Teleportation coordinates locked...]

Qin Feng turned off the light screen and, with a thought, activated the teleportation function.

The next second, his figure was enveloped in a soft teleportation light and disappeared from the spot.

……

Fearless Chapter Headquarters, A-3 Strategic Conference Room.

When Qin Feng's figure solidified and appeared at the conference room door, the three imposing figures inside turned their gazes towards him almost simultaneously.

Nissan remained as carefree as ever. He grinned at Qin Feng, revealing a set of white teeth, his eyes filled with the joy of a long-awaited reunion and a hint of barely perceptible amazement.

Long Yu stood up, a genuine, relieved smile on his face.

Only the man with the upright posture and sharp aura like a drawn sword had the most direct and scrutinizing gaze.

Those sharp eyes seemed to see right through Qin Feng, inside and out.

"Qin Feng, you've finally arrived!"

Long Yu spoke first, quickly stepping forward. He looked Qin Feng up and down, feeling the profound and boundless life force emanating from him, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Long time no see! Your life force... you really pulled it off!"

Nissan also walked over and punched Qin Feng in the chest without any hesitation, making a dull thud.

"Not bad, Qin Beast! I thought you were going to get moldy in your dorm! Five years have passed, and you look even more like a humanoid cosmic beast than before!"

Feeling the warmth of his two old friends, Qin Feng smiled and nodded in response.

Then, Long Yu turned to the side and introduced him, "Come, let me introduce you. This is Ning Jing, another pillar of our Fearless Battle Group. His vitality index is also 7200 points."

He then turned to the imposing man and smiled, "Ning Jing, this is Qin Feng, whom I mentioned to you. His vitality index is also 7200 points."

Ning Jing didn't speak immediately. He just quietly looked at Qin Feng. The faint but dangerous aura emanating from Qin Feng made the muscles on his back tense involuntarily.

Like having thorns in your back!
This is an instinctive reaction that only occurs when facing a top predator of the same or even greater strength.

He believed that Long Yu was not lying; the man in front of him named Qin Feng definitely possessed 7200 points of vitality.

But reason found it utterly incomprehensible.

"Really 7200 points?"

Ning Jing finally spoke, his voice deep and hoarse, full of texture, "You... really only took thirty years to complete the entire Qi Integration stage?"

This question had been on his mind for a long time.

He couldn't imagine it, nor could he understand it.

"Just luck."

Qin Feng answered calmly.

He knew that his cultivation speed was far too astonishing for any normal martial artist, so it was perfectly normal for the other party to have such questions.

Ning Jing gave him a deep look and didn't ask any further questions.

Every strong person has their own secrets, and digging into their secrets is not their style.

He abruptly changed the subject, his expression becoming extremely serious.

"This mission is rated 'Nightmare,' with an extremely high mortality rate."

He looked directly into Qin Feng's eyes and said, word by word, "So, before we set off, I need to confirm your true strength. We need to have a fight."

These words immediately created a somewhat awkward atmosphere in the conference room.

Long Yu and Nissan exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of helpless smile in each other's eyes.

They knew Ning Jing's personality all too well: strict, direct, and with the mission as the highest principle, never allowing any uncertainty.

Ning Jing seemed to sense the change in atmosphere and added, "Please understand. This is not a provocation, nor is it questioning your data. I simply need to determine the overall combat capability of our team in the most intuitive way to assess the success rate of the mission and formulate the most reasonable tactics."

He spoke frankly and openly, without a trace of selfishness.

"no problem."

Qin Feng nodded without hesitation, indicating his understanding.

If it were him, facing a new teammate with such an "abnormal" resume, and wanting to entrust his back to him to embark on a "nightmare-level" mission with a slim chance of survival, he would also make the same request.

Speaking with strength is always the most direct, effective, and respectable way for martial artists to communicate.

"it is good!"

Seeing Qin Feng's decisiveness, Ning Jing's eyes flashed with approval.

Without saying anything more, he started operating on his personal terminal.

The next second, Qin Feng received a challenge from Ning Jing.

[User "Ningjing" invites you to enter a private battle space. Do you accept?]

"accept."

Qin Feng confirmed it with his mind.

……

Light and shadow change.

When Qin Feng's consciousness re-converged, he found himself in a vast, boundless white space.

Beneath my feet was a solid floor that radiated a soft glow, and all around me was an endless void composed of pure data.

He was already wearing a set of light combat armor that was standard with the system, and in his hand he held an alloy spear that was also generated by the system and was identical in weight and texture to the [Koi Transformation into Dragon].

A hundred meters away opposite him, Ning Jing's figure also solidified.

He wore the same light armor, but in his hand he held a heavy, dark gold whip.

"bring it on!"

Ning Jing gave a low shout, showing no intention of testing him.

The ground beneath his feet suddenly trembled, and he shot forward like a cannonball, instantly covering a distance of a hundred meters and hurtling towards Qin Feng.

The heavy whip in his hand emitted a piercing sonic boom in the air, like an awakened raging dragon, stirring up boundless winds and heading straight for Qin Feng's face!

The whips flashed in layers, each one containing terrifying power capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks, as well as a savage and domineering will to attack.

Faced with this earth-shattering attack, Qin Feng's eyes remained unchanged.

His choice was exactly the same as Ning Jing's.

Head-to-head!
There was no elaborate killing move used; it was just a pure, unadorned burst of power and speed!
The spear moved like lightning, striking first despite being launched later, and accurately struck the core of the whistling whip shadow.

Clang! ! !
A deafening clang of metal resounded throughout the virtual space.

A shockwave, visible to the naked eye, spread wildly in all directions from the point where the two weapons clashed!

Ning Jing felt an unprecedented, overwhelming, and terrifying force emanating from the whip.

That power was so pure, so domineering, as if it did not come from a human body, but from a prehistoric cosmic behemoth rampaging through space!
"what?!"

Ning Jing's pupils suddenly contracted, and for the first time, a look of horror appeared on his face.

He felt that his pride and strength were as fragile as a straw in the face of this immense force.

The whip in his hand was almost knocked away on the spot. A tearing pain came from the tiger's mouth, and the bones of his entire arm groaned as if they could not bear the weight.

His physical potential, according to the imperial standards, has been rated as the top-tier "Gold Standard Human Level III," otherwise he wouldn't have dared to choose the ultimate enlightenment method.

However, at this moment, he felt that Qin Feng's power was at least... ten times greater than his own!
How can this be? !
Before he could recover from his shock, Qin Feng's second attack had already arrived.

Having succeeded in his first strike, Qin Feng pressed his advantage relentlessly.

He completely abandoned all defense and evasion, and brought his open, aggressive, and purely offensive fighting style to its fullest extent.

His figure approached like a ghost, his spear transforming into a sky full of spear shadows, sometimes like an angry dragon emerging from the sea, fierce and unparalleled; sometimes like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, cunning and ruthless.

Ningjing was completely put on the defensive.

His pride and joy were completely crushed, and he could only rely on his honed fighting skills, wielding his long whip to barely hold on.

But how could Qin Feng's fighting skills be inferior to his?

In the fifth round, Ning Jing's long whip was deflected by Qin Feng's spear, leaving him wide open.

In the seventh round, Qin Feng delivered a powerful strike, directly hitting Ning Jing in the chest.

Ning Jing's light armor shattered instantly, and he flew backward like a kite with a broken string.

In the ninth round, before Ning Jing could regain his footing, Qin Feng's spear tip had already transformed into a streak of light, precisely striking just before his throat.

The entire battle, from start to finish, lasted less than thirty seconds.

The fight will last no more than ten rounds.

Ning Jing, one of the three top level-five powerhouses in the Fearless Battle Group, has already been defeated.

The virtual space was deathly silent.

Qin Feng sheathed his spear and silently watched Ning Jing in the distance without saying a word.

Ning Jing slowly stood up from the ground. He looked down at the armor on his chest that had been reduced to shreds, then looked up at Qin Feng, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

There was shock, there was horror, there was disbelief.
-
As the pure white light of the virtual space faded from their sight and the familiar, solid touch returned from beneath their feet, Qin Feng and Ning Jing's consciousness had already returned to the A-3 strategic conference room in the real world.

The surrounding alloy walls remained cold, while the simulated starry sky on the dome remained dazzling.

Long Yu and Nissan were standing not far away, their faces showing a complex expression of expectation mixed with undisguised shock.

Clearly, they had seen the brief but lopsided duel clearly through the spectator mode.

Ning Jing swayed slightly before regaining his balance.

Although virtual battles do not cause any physical harm to the real body, the shock of being crushed by pure power, and the cold, deathly silence of having a bullet pointed at his throat, still left a lingering sense of dread in his nerves.

He remained silent for a moment, seemingly processing the immense shock of the defeat he had just suffered.

After a long while, he raised his head and his gaze fell back on Qin Feng.

This time, all the scrutiny, suspicion, and wariness in his eyes had vanished without a trace.

Instead, there is a heartfelt recognition and awe of the absolute strong.

"Your physical body... is too strong."

Ning Jing spoke in a deep voice, his voice hoarse yet full of power, each word resounding, "That is not the power that a human should possess, it's more like a cosmic beast in human skin. In terms of strength, endurance, speed... these pure physical qualities alone, I believe that among the students of the same level at the entire Canaan Star Martial Arts Academy, no one can surpass you."

He paused, as if searching for a more accurate point of reference.

"Perhaps... only true geniuses and prodigies in the vast universe could possibly rival you in terms of physical potential."

This is an extremely high evaluation.

Coming from the mouth of a proud, demanding, and almost obsessive strongman like Ning Jing, the weight of his words is self-evident.

"As for the method of killing,"

He continued, his tone tinged with a self-deprecating yet frank acceptance, "Equally formidable. Grand and sweeping, yet subtly intricate, their offensive intent was condensed to the extreme. I accept defeat wholeheartedly in this match."

He readily admitted his defeat without any hesitation or ambiguity.

However, after acknowledging Qin Feng's strength, a look of solemnity appeared on his face.

"but,"

He changed the subject, his expression becoming extremely serious. "Martial arts duels are one thing, life-or-death missions are another. In the battle just now, neither of us engaged in any mental warfare. It's not that I'm trying to make amends for my defeat, but the objective of this mission is to destroy a Chaos Altar and kill its guardian."

Ning Jing's gaze sharpened, as if he were lost in some unpleasant memory.

"I was fortunate, or perhaps unfortunate, to have carried out a similar, slightly less difficult mission. The guardians of those altars were all fanatical believers who had received profound blessings from the evil god. Their strength may have varied, but their mental attack methods were absolutely not to be underestimated. It was a power that could directly corrupt and distort your soul, extremely strange and extremely terrifying."

He glanced at Long Yu and Nissan, then continued, "After so many years of arduous training, the three of us have reached the critical point of '10' in terms of mental strength. This strength is enough for us to initially shake the Yuan Aperture within our bodies and to choose to break through to the sixth level of the Soaring Realm at any time. Coupled with the Empire's highest-level mental strength protection module, we are confident that even when facing ordinary sixth-level Chaos Believers, we can hold our own on the mental level."

His subtext was clear: I acknowledge your physical strength, but your mental power remains an unknown quantity. And this is precisely the most critical aspect of this mission.

"You don't need to worry about that."

Long Yu stepped forward at the opportune moment and explained with a smile, "My power armor is equipped with the latest model of life field and mental energy fluctuation detection device. I tested Qin Feng's mental energy strength five years ago, and at that time, it had already reached 9 points. Now, five years later, given his cultivation speed, I believe that even if it hasn't reached 10 points yet, it's already very close."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Jing's eyes flashed with surprise, but his tense expression finally relaxed completely, and he slowly nodded, "That's good."

His physical body is invincible, his killing techniques are top-notch, and his mental strength is about to reach the required level.

Such teammates cannot be described as merely "qualified"; they are practically the perfect candidates tailor-made for this "nightmare-level" mission.

The last trace of doubt in Ning Jing's heart vanished.

He hesitated for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts, before finally deciding to speak his mind.

"Qin Feng, there's just one last bit left."

His tone was more serious than ever before, “If you’re only after that huge amount of contribution points and warband reputation, then I advise you to quit now. This risk isn’t worth it. You’re a more promising genius than us, and you shouldn’t gamble with this high rate of sacrifice.”

"The rewards for hellish missions are less, but they are more reliable. With your strength, you can accumulate a huge fortune by spending more time. There's no need to risk your life."

He looked at Qin Feng and said, word by word, "The reason we're willing to risk our lives on this 'nightmare-level' mission is because..."

"Peace!"

Long Yu suddenly shouted, interrupting him.

Long Yu frowned deeply, his face showing a hint of displeasure and rebuke.

In his view, Ning Jing's words, though well-intentioned in questioning, were an outright insult to Qin Feng's martial arts will.

The pursuits of true power cannot be summarized by the mere mention of resources.

The atmosphere in the meeting room became somewhat awkward once again because of Ning Jing's straightforward personality.

"It doesn't matter."

However, Qin Feng waved his hand, indicating that Long Yu did not need to do so.

He calmly met Ning Jing's probing gaze, his eyes clear and firm.

"I have three answers to this question."

Qin Feng's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

"Firstly,"

His tone turned icy, filled with a deep-seated disgust: "This chaotic beast deserves to be killed by everyone. This is the most basic stance and responsibility of an imperial warrior."

Secondly,

He changed the subject abruptly, saying frankly, "The vast majority of the resources I've needed in my cultivation so far have come from exchanging warband reputation. The Fearless Warband has been kind to me. Now that the warband's honor hangs by a thread, and we need these 300,000 points to secure victory, I naturally have an inescapable responsibility. I want these points, and I must take them."

"Third,"

At this point, a fierce, burning fighting spirit suddenly burst forth in Qin Feng's eyes. "Fighting for my life? The path of martial arts is inherently about fighting for one's life! Without a sufficiently powerful opponent, without enough deadly pressure, how can my killing techniques break through that final bottleneck and advance further?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it struck Ning Jing's heart like a heavy hammer.

Responsibility, loyalty, and the purest pursuit of martial arts!
These three answers, one after another, completely dispelled the last trace of doubt in Ning Jing's heart, and even stirred his heart, which had been tempered by martial arts to the point of being as firm as a rock.

"Haha...hahahaha—"

Ning Jing was taken aback for a moment, then burst into a hearty, unrestrained laugh.

"Okay! Well said!"

He strode forward, no longer harboring any resentment, and slammed his fist heavily into Qin Feng's shoulder armor, his eyes filled with admiration.

"Brother! I, Ning Jing, was being petty and judging you by my own standards! I'm a straightforward person, so if I offended you in any way just now, please don't take it to heart! When we come back alive this time, I'll treat you to drinks! The best drinks!" The word "brother" represents the most complete recognition.

"We're already calling each other brothers, so why bother with all this talk?"

A smile appeared on Qin Feng's face.

He enjoys dealing with such pure martial artists.

"OK OK."

Looking at this scene of "becoming friends after a fight," Long Yu smiled with satisfaction. He stepped forward, patted the two of them on the shoulder, and brought the atmosphere back on track.

"Now that we've reached a consensus, I'll briefly introduce the specific details of this mission. After that, everyone prepare yourselves, check your equipment, replenish your supplies, and we'll depart on time in half an hour."

His expression turned serious again, and he lightly tapped his finger on the tactical light table.

The crimson mission briefing was instantly enlarged, revealing detailed information about the enemy.

"According to the latest information provided by the Imperial intelligence department, we are facing a group of 'Slaanesh' followers this time."

Long Yu's voice became low.

"Khorne represents killing and war, Tzeentch represents intrigue and change, and Nurgle represents decay and despair. Slaanesh, on the other hand, represents 'extreme desire.' All desires that can lead people astray, whether it be power, wealth, beauty, or the obsessive pursuit of art, pain, or even perfection itself, can become the path to Him once they reach their extreme."

"Therefore, the composition of Slaanesh followers is the most complex and bizarre among all Chaos followers. Their methods of killing are equally varied and bizarre. Any attack method you can imagine or cannot imagine may appear. You absolutely cannot use common sense to speculate about them."

Long Yu's gaze swept across the faces of his three teammates one by one, his tone extremely solemn.

"In short, maintain the highest level of vigilance when dealing with Slaanesh's followers. Compared to Nurgle's and Khorne's followers, Slaanesh's followers are far more troublesome..."

"Everyone, prepare more. It's worth it even if you spend all your contribution points."

"it is good."

"..."

Without any delay, Qin Feng once again immersed himself in the exchange interface of the Imperial Trading Post, his eyes fixed on the list of military-grade equipment.

That contribution value of 76,000 points is his capital for risking his life next.

"Nightmare-level mission, the enemy is a follower of Slaanesh, so mental defense is of paramount importance."

Qin Feng's thinking was incredibly clear.

He was well aware that although the [Imperial Military Type III Mental Barrier Module] he had previously purchased had excellent performance, the intensity and strangeness of the mental pollution caused by the enemies that might appear in the "Nightmare-level" mission might exceed the module's defense limit.

He never hesitated to act on matters of life and death.

Qin Feng's thoughts swiftly swept across the list, finally settling on a sophisticated module that emitted a faint golden glow and resembled a miniature sanctuary.

[Imperial Legion-Level Mental Barrier Module]

[Type: Power Armor Module/Active Mental Defense Module]

[Effect: Upon activation, a defensive force field is generated, effectively resisting, analyzing, and neutralizing all mental shocks, soul pollution, mind distortion, and illusion attacks with a mental strength below 30 points. The module contains a miniature psionic furnace that can recharge itself.]

[Exchange Price: 12,000 Contribution Points]

30,000 contribution points!
"exchange."

As soon as he confirmed his intention, a large portion of the contribution value in his personal account evaporated instantly.

Then, his gaze fell on another seemingly inconspicuous piece of auxiliary equipment.

[Military Portable Space Anchor Stabilization Device]

[Type: Tactical Support Item / One-Time Consumable]

[Effect: This device can be activated when encountering interference from strong energy fields (such as the WAAAGH! force field, chaotic subspace storms, highly complex and intense psychic-phantom fields, etc.) that obstruct subspace teleportation. It will instantly release a high-frequency stabilizing wave, forcibly creating a stable 'teleportation window' within the target area for 0.5 seconds.]

[Exchange Price: 12,000 Contribution Points]

A hint of reminiscence flashed in Qin Feng's eyes.

He would never forget that during the mission to clear out the Greenskins, the ubiquitous and unreasonable WAAAGH! force field blocked the team's teleportation channel, ultimately leaving them in a desperate situation with no ammunition or supplies and certain death.

If they had had this device back then, even if it only stabilized them for a moment, they would have been able to activate the emergency teleportation beacon and leave calmly, without having to wait for Senior Sun Chantang to arrive like a divine soldier to rescue them.

learn from mistakes.

In life-or-death missions, any trump card that can increase the chances of survival is worth paying any price for.

"exchange."

He confirmed again.

Having secured these two crucial life-saving cards, Qin Feng didn't stop.

He spent nearly 20,000 contribution points to purchase a large number of "purification bombs" specifically designed for chaotic energy, as well as several combat stimulants that could instantly boost nerve reaction speed, and military-grade physical supplements to support him in several months of high-intensity combat.

Once all preparations were complete, Qin Feng's personal assets shrank significantly once again.

But what he gained in return was greater confidence when facing "nightmare-level" missions.

With a thought, the black power armor that had already been restored to its original state by the intelligent system and fine-tuned according to his latest physical data was summoned.

"Om..."

Qin Feng skillfully embedded the brand-new [Imperial Legion-level Mental Barrier Module] into the groove of the breastplate.

The golden module was perfectly linked to the power armor's energy core, and an invisible energy field, full of majesty and order, instantly spread throughout his body.

He nodded in satisfaction, and then, amidst a series of crisp mechanical clicks and airtight locking sounds, he enveloped himself within this cold steel barrier.

The heavy "Koi Carp Transformation into Dragon" spear was firmly fixed to his back by a magnetic matrix, with the spear shaft closely fitting the spinal armor of the power armor.

His belt was fully loaded with a standard-issue explosive pistol, holy water purification bombs, high-explosive grenades, and spare magazines, each in its most convenient position.

At this moment, Qin Feng was no longer just a simple martial artist.

He is an iron god armed to the teeth, born for war and slaughter, an absolute walking humanoid weapon of war.

"Qin Feng, all ready."

Almost simultaneously, confirmation messages for Long Yu, Nissan, and Ning Jing also lit up one after another.

"Long Yu, all preparations are complete."

"Nisan, all ready."

"Ning Jing, all preparations are complete."

The four top experts, all fully armed and exuding an aura as deep as the sea, simultaneously raised their heads in their respective preparation areas.

Their eyes all conveyed the same thing—decisiveness, calmness, and a desire for the impending bloody battle.

Invitation sent.

Long Yu's voice rang out in the channel.

"Target: Lost Starfield, outer jump point of 'Cradle of Sorrow'."

"set off!"

A teleportation invitation, emanating spatial fluctuations, popped up in front of all four of them simultaneously.

Without the slightest hesitation, they both chose to confirm.

The next second, dazzling and distorted light appeared simultaneously, only to vanish in an instant.

Four powerful auras vanished without a trace from within the Canaan Star Martial Arts Academy.

……

At the same moment that Qin Feng and the others disappeared.

In the Fearless Chapter headquarters, in the strategic conference room that represents the highest decision-making authority.

A dozen or so figures sat quietly around the huge circular conference table.

Each of them exuded an aura as intense and powerful as a star.

These people are the true pillars of the Fearless Battle Group—level nine martial artists.

Meanwhile, in the main seat, the battle group leader, Feng Zhiyu, was resting with his eyes closed.

He suddenly opened his eyes.

"They all went?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it resonated clearly in everyone's ears.

"Yes, Captain."

A level nine martial artist to his left immediately replied, a tactical screen that was being updated in real time floating in front of him: "We just received feedback that the team of Long Yu, Nisang, Ning Jing, and Qin Feng has set off, and their jump target is 'Cradle of Sorrow'."

"Nightmare-level mission, reward 300,000 Warband Points."

Another warrior added, his tone grave, "Currently, on the leaderboard for the fifth stage, we are 210,000 points behind the second-place 'Ironblood Battle Group.' This mission will directly determine who will be the number one battle group in this competition."

Feng Zhiyu nodded slowly, but his face showed no joy or nervousness.

He was more concerned with something else.

Have all our "elders" caught up?

He asked in a deep voice, "Don't let our heroes bleed and weep outside."

"Reporting to the commander, we have caught up."

The martial artist who had initially answered replied, "The three 'elders' responsible for covert protection have already infiltrated the 'Lost Starfield' through secret channels. They will monitor the mission's progress throughout. However, according to the highest rules of the Battle Group Ranking Tournament, they are not allowed to assist in the mission in any way. If they do intervene, it will only be to save the lives of the team members, and the mission itself will be automatically deemed a failure."

"I don't care whether the mission succeeds or fails."

Feng Zhiyu's tone suddenly turned stern, "Tell them to forget about those 300,000 points and don't care about that damn First Battle Group honor! They must bring him back alive! Especially Qin Feng! Understand?!"

"understand!"

The level nine martial artist immediately straightened his back and responded loudly.

"it is good."

Feng Zhiyu's tense expression finally eased a little.

He let out a long breath, leaned back in his chair, and a complex emotion flickered in his eyes.

"Back when we were assessing the internal potential before the competition started, you all said that the newcomer named Qin Feng was a genius who was making rapid progress. I even argued that he hadn't been in school long enough and his foundation wasn't solid. I said that even if he had thirty years, he probably wouldn't have figured out how to merge the energy channels."

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, "In the blink of an eye, he not only successfully merged his energy channels, but also became even stronger than Ning Jing, that battle maniac. Truly... life is unpredictable."

Upon hearing this, all the level nine experts in the conference room displayed the same expression of shock and amazement as Feng Zhiyu.

"Commander, you're not the only one who misjudged the situation; we all misjudged it."

A seasoned and composed level nine martial artist sighed, "He can no longer be described as a 'genius.' He is a true prodigy. Even in the Canaan Star Martial Arts University, where geniuses abound and monsters roam freely, he is the kind of person who can look down on all others and is firmly ranked first, a unique existence."

"so,"

Feng Zhiyu's gaze sharpened again. "We absolutely cannot let anything happen to him! Pass on my orders to those three 'old men': if the mission takes any uncontrollable turn for the worse, immediately, without regard to any cost, they must come to his rescue! Do you understand?!"

"understand!"

Inside the conference room, more than a dozen powerful auras responded simultaneously.

They looked at each other, and in the depths of each other's eyes, they saw an undisguised shock.

It takes forty years to awaken the mind, and thirty years to close it.

Such speed was truly unheard of and unseen by these planetary-level powerhouses who had lived for thousands of years and were accustomed to all kinds of storms.

Most importantly, Qin Feng's improvement was not just rapid.

His strength is terrifyingly solid!
That massive physique, comparable to a colossal beast in the starry sky; those killing techniques, seemingly honed over hundreds of years and honed through countless trials; that perfectly coordinated and masterful array of various killing methods, all reaching the "mastery level"...

Speed, strength, skill, willpower, foundation...

Absolutely no weaknesses!
-
Canaan Starry Sky Martial Arts University: Private Forum, Public Discussion Area.

At this moment, the popularity of this virtual space, which usually gathers countless students, mentors and even alumni, has reached its peak.

Countless posts kept popping up like mushrooms after rain, but the most eye-catching one was undoubtedly the discussion post that the administrator had pinned and highlighted in scarlet font, a true spectacle of the year.

[Title]: [Final Prediction!] Only four months left in the Battlegrounds! Can the Fearless defend their title? Can the Ironblood stage a comeback? In this ultimate showdown, who will be crowned king!

The number of replies to the post has already exceeded one million and is still growing at an alarming rate.

"First! Sunflower seeds, drinks, and nutritional paste for sale in the front row! I'm also betting on the Ironblood Warband, 1.2 to 1 odds, place your bet now!"

"Get lost, you upstairs swindler! Is there even a need for prediction? The Ironblood Chapter is absolutely in for this year! The Dreadnought Chapter has ruled Canaan for far too long; it's time for a new king!"

"I wonder if the Fearless Legion can defend their number one title this time. To be honest, I really like their style of doing things. They are low-key, powerful, and they are really good to their own people."

"It's in trouble, bro. I'm not trying to be pessimistic about Fearless, but the data doesn't lie. Just look at the official real-time leaderboard. According to the latest news, in the most important Tier 5 stage, the gap between Fearless and Ironblood has widened to 210,000 points! Ironblood is far ahead!"

"Hiss... 210,000 points?! That's a huge gap! I remember when I checked last month, the difference was less than 100,000 points. How did it suddenly widen to this extent?"

"What else could it be? Those lunatics in the Ironblood Battle Group. I heard that last month, led by their Level 5 leader 'Iron Madman,' they completed three extremely difficult hellish missions in a row, maximizing their points rewards. Those guys are risking their lives for points!"

"Holy crap, is this for real? They're going all out? Hasn't the Fearless Battle Group made any moves? What have those three big shots, Long Yu, Nissan, and Ning Jing, been up to lately?"

"They're also frantically carrying out missions, but the reward points for hell-level missions fluctuate greatly. It's too difficult to catch up with that 210,000-point gap."

"Yes, there are only four months left. Unless the Dreadnoughts can complete four or five hellish missions in a row, and all of them are high-difficulty missions, there is no hope of turning the tide. But how is that possible? Those who know, know how dangerous hellish missions are."

"Sigh, it seems the Ironblood Chapter is really going to take the top spot this year. The Dreadnought Chapter, what a pity."

"It's all settled, I've staked all my Imperial Coins on the Ironblood Chapter. Brothers, once I've struck it rich, I'll treat you all to a life of 'debauchery'!"

For a time, the sentiment on the entire forum was almost unanimously in favor of Ironblood Battle Group.

After all, the huge gap of 210,000 points and the very little time left were two mountains weighing on everyone who supported the Fearless Battle Group, making it hard for them to breathe.

Faced with absolute, cold data, any sentiment or expectation seems pale and powerless.

However, just as the voices of pessimism towards the Fearless Battle Group reached their peak in the forum, a new reply posted by an anonymous user who claimed to be an "insider" was like a depth charge, instantly detonating the entire discussion area.

"Breaking news! Breaking news!"

This reply immediately attracted the attention of countless people.

"Never mind how I saw it! Go look! The Dauntless Chapter has just accepted a 'Nightmare' level mission!!"

"What?!!"

"Holy crap?! I'm not seeing things, am I? Nightmare level?! Isn't that a level above Hell level? In all my years at this school, I've never seen a single warband dare to take it on!"

"Really? OP, are you just trying to stir up trouble?"

In less than a minute, a flood of verification messages came in, completely confirming the authenticity of the message.

"Holy crap! It's true! My mentor confirmed it! The Dauntless Legion has gone mad! They really accepted the Nightmare-level mission!"

"The mission team members have been announced! My God! It's Long Yu! Nissan! Ning Jing! And... Qin Feng?!"

This news was like a magnitude 12 earthquake, instantly overturning the entire forum's public opinion.

"No way... a nightmare-level mission?! The Dauntless Chapter is going all in, planning a final, desperate gamble! These guys are incredibly brave!"

"Are you out of your mind?!"

"Hey bro upstairs, don't get too worked up, calm down a bit. Think about it, how could the battle group really send them to their deaths? For a mission of this level, there will definitely be 'veterans' who graduated from the battle group, those senior martial arts students. If their lives are in danger, they will definitely step in to save them."

“That’s right, the warband still has that much conscience. What’s more, the Dauntless Warband, which is known for protecting its own and for its unity, is ranked number one. They are really loyal to their own people and will never let them sacrifice in vain.”

"Yes, that's true... However, once those 'veterans' make their move, it means the mission has failed, and we can forget about getting any points. It's more like an extreme trial, or rather, the higher-ups of the warband are using this method to show that they will never give up."

"Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Don't discuss this yet! I have a blind spot! I can totally understand why Long Yu, Nissan, and Ning Jing are on the list; they are the three strongest players recognized by the Fearless Battle Group in the Level 5 region. But... what's with Qin Feng? How did he get into this god-like team?"

"That's right! Who is Qin Feng? I think I vaguely remember that name... Isn't he the 'Qin Beast' from the rookie cup back then?"

"It's him! I remember now! He's that level four martial artist who came in third place in the rookie cup and later broke the Canaan Tower record!"

"But wasn't he only at level four?! And how many years has it been? Even if he's advanced to level five now, how can a newcomer who's only been in school for a little over sixty years be ranked alongside Long Yu and Ning Jing to carry out Nightmare-level missions? This doesn't make sense!"

"I don't know! Does anyone have any latest news about Qin Feng? This guy seems to have completely disappeared since the start of the guild ranking competition. There's not a single message about him on the forum."

"No. A friend of mine who works in the mission hall said that he seems to have been teaming up with Long Yu for missions for the past few years, but nobody knows his actual strength. This guy is too low-key."

"A mysterious guy... but to be recognized by all three of them, including Long Yu, and taken to carry out a nightmare-level mission, his strength is probably far more than we imagine."

Just as everyone was discussing and speculating about Qin Feng's identity and strength, another bombshell announcement was made.

"Breaking news! The Ironblood Legion... has also accepted a Nightmare-level mission!"

As soon as this message was posted, the entire forum fell into a deathly silence.

It took more than ten seconds before I was overwhelmed by a deluge of shocked and incredulous replies.

"Holy crap!! This is insane! This world has completely gone mad!"

"I take back what I just said! The Dreadnought Chapter isn't crazy! Both of these chapters... are crazy!!"

"It's a head-on clash! There's really no way out now! A difference of 210,000 points, and the reward for a Nightmare-level mission is 300,000 points. If the Fearless Legion succeeds and the Ironblood Legion fails, the rankings will be instantly reversed! Otherwise, it'll be a crushing defeat!"

"My God, I feel like my heart is about to give way! This is so exciting! This year's team battle tournament is definitely the most exciting one ever!"

"Speaking of which... did the higher-ups in the battle group force them to go? Is it really necessary to go to such lengths for a ranking?"

"Of course not, what are you thinking upstairs? Ninety-nine percent of missions at this level are volunteered by those top combat maniacs. Don't forget, the training resource pool within the battle group was obtained by the battle group from the school using points, and the reputation point exchange system was also established by the battle group itself. For these core members, they enjoy the most resource allocation, so naturally they are willing to fight for the honor of the battle group at critical moments."

"That's right. If any battle group really forces its core members to carry out such a death mission just for the sake of rankings, then that battle group is not far from being demoralized and completely disbanded. The reason why Fearless and Ironblood have been able to occupy the top two spots for many years is because of this cohesion."

"Ah, they are truly awe-inspiring. Whether it is their fearlessness or their iron will, these top-level powerhouses deserve our utmost respect."

"I'm not going to say anything more. I don't know who to support anymore. Right now, I just hope they can all come back alive."

"Excitement! I'm incredibly excited! I wonder who will ultimately accomplish this impossible task and claim the throne that symbolizes Canaan's greatest power!"

At this moment, the entire Canaan Star Martial Arts University focused its attention on the two battle groups that were simultaneously charging towards "Nightmare".

An unseen competition that will determine the ultimate honor has already begun, tugged at the heartstrings of everyone.

(End of this chapter)