High Martial Arts: Liver Becomes the Master of the Universe

Chapter 213 First Place: Qin Feng! Becomes a Disciple of the Devouring King! A meteoric rise to power!
Just as Qin Feng had calmed down and was preparing to begin this long cultivation journey that would last for a hundred years, an unexpected change occurred without warning.

hum-

In the center of the square, on the enormous stone tablet of inheritance, at the very bottom, in the area of ​​spiritual energy traces representing the first move of the "Devouring Heaven Fist," suddenly and without warning, a dazzling golden light burst forth!

The golden light was so dazzling that it instantly overshadowed the brilliance of the surrounding nebula, illuminating the entire square.

Immediately afterwards, amidst that dazzling golden light, one name after another emerged, flickered, and danced like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

【Fire Circle · Boat Star Zone】

【Leize·Tian Shu Star Region】

[Jinmu·Central Star Region]

【…】

……

Looking out, the golden waterfall composed of countless names almost completely covered the area of ​​the first mark.

The number of its constantly flashing, jumping golden names, roughly estimated, is at least an astonishing several million!

This means that in less than half an hour since the start of this assessment, more than a million talented martial artists have successfully comprehended the complex killing technique in the first trace of spiritual power that requires "one mind to do a thousand things" to execute!
This scene caused Qin Feng, who had just been immersed in his cultivation rhythm, to open his eyes, a hint of undisguised amazement showing in his pupils.

"So many outstanding talents."

He whispered to himself.

Although it was already expected that everyone who could come here was an exceptional individual.

But he never expected that these people would be making such a rapid pace.

"Their accumulated spiritual power is far beyond what I can compare to. What's even more terrifying is that their comprehension is equally extraordinary."

For the first time, Qin Feng had a very direct and clear understanding of the term "cosmic genius".

These people not only have a solid foundation and possess immense mental strength to support "doing a thousand things at once," but their comprehension is also far beyond what ordinary people can match.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to analyze and comprehend such an incredibly complex technique in such a short time.

However, despite his amazement, Qin Feng's state of mind remained completely unmoved.

He just smiled nonchalantly and quickly regained his composure.

"If my total mental energy has reached the standard, I estimate that I will be able to complete the comprehension within half an hour, or even faster."

He muttered to himself, his eyes filled with confidence, "After all, the so-called 'comprehension' here only represents the 'entry level,' the initial mastery of the moves."

"My comprehension is no less than anyone else's."

Just then, an uncontrollable chorus of exclamations and uproars erupted across the square.

"My God! How long has it been? Less than half an hour, right? And so many people have already succeeded?"

"Look! That guy named 'Kaneki,' I've heard of him! He's a top 100 in the Central Star Region's Star Cup!"

"Oh no, the gap is too big! I haven't even fully adapted to that mental pressure yet!"

……

Various opinions arose one after another, and many martial artists became anxious and restless because of this first wave of "screen-flooding".

However, most people remained silent.

They may have felt the pressure, but their good temperament allowed them to quickly adjust their mindset and not be overly disturbed by external factors.

The most outstanding individuals who have overcome numerous obstacles and stood out from millions of others to reach this point are those with calm minds and unwavering faith in the Dao.

Only those "second-generation martial arts practitioners" with powerful backgrounds, smooth sailing all the way, and little experience would lose their composure over such a small difference.

Qin Feng naturally belongs to the former category.

No, it should be said that his mindset was more composed than that of the vast majority of people present.

Even though he hasn't yet met the "hard requirement" for comprehending the first trace—spiritual strength—his heart remains as calm as an ancient well without ripples.

"Continue to cultivate your spiritual power."

He closed his eyes again, shutting out all the disturbances of the outside world.

His spiritual power reached out again, connecting with the first trace of spiritual power, silently enduring the overwhelming pressure that swallowed the heavens and the earth, using it as the best furnace to temper himself.

At the same time, his mind was completely immersed in the practice of the Canaan Sutra.

Within his sea of ​​consciousness, the three drops of silvery-white spiritual energy, under the combined effect of immense external pressure and internal cultivation techniques, spun several times faster than before.

Strands of purer and more refined spiritual energy are being continuously refined and condensed.

Fortunately, I still have a lot of contribution points left.

Qin Feng thought to himself, "Now, I can use this to exchange for those expensive potions that can quickly restore or even enhance mental strength. In this way, my mental strength cultivation will be twice as effective with half the effort!"

He quickly used the subspace network to spend hundreds of thousands of contribution points at the Imperial Trading Post to exchange for a large number of top-tier recovery potions specifically designed for the mental cultivation of planetary-level powerhouses.

The rules do not explicitly prohibit the use of recovery-related auxiliary drugs.

Because the essence of this assessment is a century-long cultivation process, rather than a simple competition.

Resources are essential for spiritual practice.

In fact, at the same time he was exchanging the potion, many wealthy and talented martial artists in the square had already taken out all kinds of rare spiritual liquids and swallowed them in order to recover their mental energy more quickly and maintain the best state of comprehension.

No one was punished or disqualified for this.

In addition, Qin Feng also began to try to activate his spiritual power and activate the supreme cultivation technique "Ten Perfect Hands" to accelerate his cultivation speed, and the effect was obvious.

Thus, Qin Feng entered a peculiar and highly efficient cultivation cycle.

While silently enduring the spiritual pressure emanating from the inheritance stone tablet, he circulated the Canaan Sutra to purify his spiritual power, and simultaneously used top-tier recovery potions to maximize his cultivation efficiency.

Within his sea of ​​consciousness, the speed at which droplets of spiritual energy condensed was astonishing.

The fourth drop...

The fifth drop...

Soon, it broke through to double digits.

The sixtieth drop...

The seventieth drop...

Time, in this tedious yet focused practice, loses its meaning.

On the stone tablet outside, golden names continue to climb upwards, and new records are created and broken one after another.

Qin Feng, however, remained immersed in his own world, unmoved.

While most of the top-tier martial artists in the square had progressed to the thirtieth or so mental energy traces, Qin Feng had only just removed his mental energy from the first trace.

It wasn't that he couldn't continue to bear it, but rather that the mental pressure brought by the first mark was already somewhat "insufficient" for his mental strength, which had grown dozens of times stronger.

After raising his mental strength to a level sufficient to support "doing a thousand things at once," he spent less than half an hour thoroughly analyzing and comprehending the first hundred moves of the fist technique.

Without pausing, he immediately probed the second trace of "Dragon Emerging from the Sea" with his spiritual power.

A more violent and agile mental pressure than before swept over in an instant.

A satisfied smile appeared on Qin Feng's lips.

He once again entered that state of "carrying a heavy burden" in his spiritual practice, continuing to feel this new pressure while continuing to circulate the Canaan Sutra, frantically refining and condensing his spiritual power.

While he was frantically increasing his mental strength, the core of his spiritual energy was also operating at an unprecedented efficiency.

The condensation of each new drop of spiritual energy triggers a small-scale "spiritual energy-psychic tide".

The immense spiritual power will, in turn, stimulate the psychic core, causing it to release even purer and more abundant life energy.

This energy, like the gentlest yet most effective medicine, will cleanse his body again and again, making every cell in his body stronger and more active!
His spiritual power and his physical body progressed in tandem during this unique cultivation, increasing at an alarming rate!

And so, Qin Feng continued upwards, layer by layer.

His goal was not to surpass others in speed of comprehension, but to make the most of the "pressure" of every trace of spiritual power.

Only when the pressure of the current trace can no longer effectively promote his spiritual cultivation will he quickly comprehend it, and then immediately move on to the next one, seeking a new and stronger "whetstone".
-
Time flows on, and nebulae change.

Fifty years is exactly halfway through a century-long assessment.

At this moment, the layout of the square has become clearly defined.

At the very top of the first tier are five radiant names whose comprehension progress has reached an astonishing eighty-seventh level!
These five individuals were like five insurmountable mountains, leaving all other geniuses far behind.

Below them, the vast majority of martial artists are progressing between the seventieth and seventy-fiveth floors.

They seemed to have encountered an unimaginable bottleneck here, stuck for a long time, unable to make any progress.

Qin Feng's name was also prominently listed among them.

He has just advanced his progress to the seventy-second floor.

Unlike the others, who were "stuck" here.

Qin Feng had just "arrived" here!
Qin Feng is a latecomer who surpassed his predecessors!
The root cause of all this is quite simple.

Because, not long ago, after fifty years of tireless and costless arduous cultivation, the number of spiritual energy droplets in Qin Feng's sea of ​​consciousness had accumulated to a full ten thousand!

Then, following the secret method in the Canaan Sutra, he successfully condensed and compressed these ten thousand drops of brilliant, star-like spiritual energy into a crystal clear and flawless "cup"!
Qin Feng successfully broke through the second limit of the Planetary level, the "Cup and Cup" realm, when he was halfway through the assessment!
The moment the "cup" took shape, Qin Feng's most obvious feeling was that his thinking ability had once again undergone a qualitative leap.

He can now easily "do multiple things at once"!
At the same time, his immense spiritual power has become powerful enough to stir up a real storm in the real world.

Controlling weapons and manipulating objects remotely are as simple as breathing for him now.

"Finally, I have broken through to the 'cup and saucer' realm."

Qin Feng slowly opened his eyes, feeling the "cup" formed by spiritual power in his sea of ​​consciousness, and his heart was at peace.

"Next, we will continue to accumulate spiritual energy in units of 'cups' until the cups transform into lakes, breaking through the third limit and reaching the realm of 'lakes'."

"However, if you want to accumulate spiritual energy into a real 'lake,' you would need at least hundreds of millions of 'cups' to barely be enough."

The journey is still long!

Qin Feng closed his eyes again.

While continuing to comprehend the spiritual pressure brought by the seventy-second spiritual power trace and continue cultivating the Canaan Sutra, he also diverted a portion of his mind to comprehend the more complex killing techniques contained within it.
-
Time slipped away amidst the tedious process of contemplation and practice.

In the blink of an eye, another twenty-five years have passed.

At this moment, a full seventy-five years have passed since the assessment began.

The layout of the square has once again undergone a dramatic change.

At the very top of the first tier, those five peerless geniuses who had been far ahead from the very beginning, their names were firmly "nailed" to the ninetieth spiritual energy trace.

For a full twenty-five years, they made no progress, as if there was an insurmountable chasm between the ninetieth and ninety-first floors, which they could not break through no matter what.

Below them, the second tier, which was originally hovering around the seventy-something level, has, after twenty-five years of hard work, advanced to around the eighty-five level and is slowly but firmly approaching the first tier.

Qin Feng, on the other hand, occupies a very special position.

His name shone on the eighty-seventh trace of spiritual power, located precisely in the blank area between the first and second tiers.

Qin Feng was like a lone pursuer, leaving the second group behind him far behind while constantly closing in on the five seemingly unshakeable mountains ahead.

His name shines with brilliant golden light on the stone tablet.

Everyone present could clearly see Qin Feng's location.

"Who is this guy named 'Qin Feng'?"

"I don't know, I've never heard of it. But his momentum is incredible, he's already reached the eighty-seventh floor! This is definitely a prime example of a latecomer surpassing the old!"

“I remember fifty years ago, his name was still hovering around the seventy-something level. I never imagined that it would have caught up to this position now.”

"At this astonishing pace of pursuit, Qin Feng should soon reach the 90th floor and be on par with those five. I just wonder if he will also be stuck on the 90th floor like those five, unable to make any further progress."

……

Whispers filled the square.

Meanwhile, the grand occasion of this protracted small-scale assessment was being broadcast live in holographic format to various star sectors under the control of the Ultramarines Chapter.

At this moment, on countless thriving life-bearing planets, in the viewing halls of countless extreme martial arts arenas, trillions of martial artists and ordinary people are watching this ultimate showdown, which brings together the strongest forces of the entire battle group's new generation, through a giant light screen.

In the official live stream of Ultramarines, the scrolling comments were like a torrent of data, never stopping.

"As expected of the Devouring King's self-created killing technique, its difficulty is indeed ridiculously high! Just to 'get started' it would take these top geniuses of the universe a full hundred years!"
Moreover, judging from the current situation, even after a hundred years, it's uncertain whether anyone will be able to fully comprehend it.

"Nonsense! That's the Devouring King! An unparalleled being who can be listed on the 'Battlefield King Ranking of Myriad Races'!"

"Speaking of which, I remember that the 'King List' recognized by the will of the universe's origin only has a total of one hundred seats, right?"
The ranking is based on pure ability.

How many seats do we humans occupy on top of again?

"I just returned from the battlefield of ten thousand races. According to the latest 'King Ranking,' our human race occupies seventy-eight seats out of a total of one hundred King-level powerhouses! We are far ahead of all other top races!"

"Seventy-eight seats! The Emperor's might will ensure the eternal prosperity of humanity!"

……

The comments section was buzzing with discussion, which gradually shifted from the match results to the admiration for the powerful empire and the pride in the strength of the human race.

On that highly anticipated assessment plaza, Qin Feng remained oblivious to everything around him.

He continued to immerse himself in his cultivation rhythm. While comprehending the increasingly profound fist intent of the "Devouring Heaven Fist Technique," he also circulated the "Canaan Sutra," constantly accumulating his spiritual power foundation.

Another five years have passed.

The assessment has been conducted for eighty years.

hum-

With a soft hum, the area with the ninetieth spiritual energy trace on the inheritance stone tablet once again lit up with a dazzling golden light.

Qin Feng's name appeared prominently on it!

Meanwhile, over the past five years, the second tier has finally completed its final catch-up.

Dozens more prodigies successfully imprinted their names on the ninetieth mark.

At this point, the first team, which originally consisted of only five people, has officially expanded to dozens of people.

They stood together before that legendary chasm, gazing up at the scenery above.

For Qin Feng, these five years were also a period of accumulating experience and finally unleashing his potential.

The moment he successfully comprehended the 90th mark, the second crystal-clear and flawless "cup" in his sea of ​​consciousness finally took shape!
His total mental energy has doubled again!
Without pausing for a moment, Qin Feng immediately devoted his mind to comprehending the ninety-first trace of spiritual power.

boom! ! !
The moment his mental energy touched that mark, a mental pressure dozens of times more terrifying than the previous ninety marks combined, a weight as heavy as the collapse of the entire universe, slammed into his sea of ​​consciousness!

Within that oppressive force, there was no longer a simple act of devouring and destruction, but rather a higher and more complex will!
At the same time, an immense and unimaginably complex flow of information, like a bursting dam, surged into his mind.

It took Qin Feng seven days and seven nights just to digest and sort out the vast concepts and information flow displayed in the ninety-first trace of spiritual power!

"Starting from the ninety-first question, the difficulty increases dramatically..."

Qin Feng slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with a mixture of shock and emotion.

But he felt no discouragement or fear whatsoever.

On the contrary, an unprecedented desire for challenge burned fiercely in his heart.

He closed his eyes again, and his mind instantly sank into a state of "flow" where he was completely absorbed in the world around him.

While quietly comprehending the profound meaning of the fist technique, he would also occasionally enter the "Imperial Arena" to fight against powerful opponents, repeatedly honing his understanding and application of the "Heaven-Devouring Fist Technique".

"The Devouring Heaven Fist Technique..."

"The core of its boxing spirit lies in 'swallowing the heavens and earth, encompassing all things.' The lofty concept is simply inconceivable."

"His defense is perfect and flawless. Any form of attack or energy attack will be drawn in and swallowed by the invisible vortex formed by his fist intent, and will eventually be dissolved into nothingness, like a mud ox entering the sea, leaving no trace."

"And its offensive power is absolutely domineering. A single punch is like a miniature, moving black hole, engulfing everything. It seems that even light cannot escape its fist... the power of its fist is terrifying."

Qin Feng's mind was filled with insights into this supreme fist technique.

Time slipped away quietly once again.

One year later.

Just when everyone thought that those dozens of top geniuses would be trapped and die before the ninety-first mark until the end of the assessment—

hum! ! !
On the stone tablet, the area that had been silent for decades, representing the ninety-first trace of spiritual power, suddenly burst forth with an incomparably dazzling golden light without warning! A solitary name appeared on it with crystal clarity!

【Qin Feng - This Star Region】

In that instant, it was as if a supernova had been thrown into a calm lake, instantly igniting the entire arena and even the entire viewing area under the control of the Ultra Warriors!
Because, in the past year, all of the dozens of geniuses hailed as the strongest in this generation have been trapped and died before the ninety-first mark, and none of them have been able to break through successfully.

Qin Feng, who only started to exert his strength in the middle of the assessment and rose from behind all the way, actually crossed this insurmountable barrier in just one year!

From this moment on, the so-called "first tier" is now down to just him!

However, what surprised, and even horrified, everyone was yet to come.

After Qin Feng successfully comprehended the ninety-first spiritual energy trace, his momentum did not slow down at all; on the contrary, it became even more rapid and unstoppable!

Another year has passed, and the assessment has been conducted for eighty-two years.

Buzz—the ninety-second mark, gleaming with golden light!

Qin Feng's name is etched upon it!
Another year has passed, marking the eighty-third year of the assessment.

Buzz—the ninety-third mark is illuminated!

Another year has passed...

Ninety years have passed since the assessment began.

At this moment, on that colossal and unparalleled inheritance stele, at the very top, from the ninety-first to the ninety-eighth floor, only one name is imprinted—Qin Feng!
And his name, at this moment, is flashing before that last, and most difficult, ninety-ninth trace of spiritual power, gathering strength, preparing to launch the final assault!

Looking further down, the area that once gathered dozens of top geniuses, the 90th trace area, now has tens of thousands of names.

Further down, between the eightieth and ninetieth traces of spiritual energy, there are probably a million names left behind.

Between the seventieth and eightieth paths, the names of hundreds of millions of people are gathered.

As for the final echelon, their comprehension progress has already reached the sixty-fifth level.

All other martial artists remained at between the sixty-five and seventy levels, finding it difficult to advance any further.

Another five years have passed.

The assessment is in its ninety-fifth year.

The layout of the stone tablet has not changed much.

However, the names on the 90th mark had increased by tens of thousands.

But still, no one has been able to successfully comprehend the ninety-first level.

That insurmountable barrier seemed insurmountable to everyone except Qin Feng.

Another three years passed.

The assessment is in its ninety-eighth year.

Just when everyone thought that Qin Feng might need to exhaust his last bit of time to make that final, decisive move—

hum! ! !
A buzzing sound, louder and more dazzling than ever before, resounded throughout the universe!

At the highest point of that enlightenment stele, the ninety-ninth trace of spiritual power, representing the ultimate mystery of the Devouring Heaven Fist, was completely illuminated by an extremely dazzling golden light!

【Qin Feng - This Star Region】

When these five large characters were clearly imprinted on the top of the stone tablet, the entire square, and even the hundreds of millions of spectators in the entire Extreme Battle Group, erupted in uncontrollable exclamations!

Even the most resolute and unwavering top talents were startled awake from their meditation. They raised their heads and looked up at the solitary name that hung high above everyone's heads, their eyes filled with disbelief, shock, and horror!
Because the best among them have already experienced it firsthand.

After they had comprehended the ninetieth mark, when they challenged the ninety-first mark, the difficulty increased exponentially, leaving them completely at a loss, as if they were reading a book written in the heavens.

They had deeply experienced the despair of that insurmountable barrier.

However, Qin Feng actually managed to overcome the insurmountable barrier in just over ten years, and even pushed his way through the entire boxing technique to a complete understanding!

"Freak..."

"What...what terrifying level of comprehension is this?"

"A student from Canaan Star Martial Arts University? When did such a monster emerge?"

……

Countless gazes, filled with shock, awe, and even a hint of envy, converged on the back of the square.

These gazes contained amazement, awe, disbelief, and even a hint of barely concealed envy.

There, Qin Feng sat cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed. The spiritual energy around him circulated spontaneously, like the undulating vast nebula. His spiritual will was already revealed, exuding a terrifying aura that seemed to devour the heavens and the earth.

After successfully comprehending the final move of the Devouring Heaven Fist Technique, he did not stop his cultivation.

Qin Feng didn't even open his eyes.

For him at this moment, that heritage stone tablet had lost its value as a "sharpening stone".

But this century-long assessment did not end there.

Qin Feng's mind was once again divided in two.

A portion of his mind continued to sink into his sea of ​​consciousness, using the two newly formed "cups" as a foundation, relentlessly circulating the Canaan Sutra, refining and accumulating his spiritual power.

Meanwhile, an even larger portion of their consciousness was directly channeled through the subspace network into the virtual world filled with endless battles and trials—the Imperial Arena.

In the ninth-ranked arena, a figure codenamed "Qin" began to appear frequently.

Fight, lose, review, fight again, lose again...

Qin Feng was tireless and didn't care about winning or losing.

His sole purpose was to digest and absorb the supreme fist technique he had just comprehended from the stone tablet—the "Heaven-Devouring Fist"—through one high-intensity real battle after another.

Two years passed quietly in this state of extreme focus, where one was oblivious to the world around them and devoted solely to the practice of the sages' teachings.

Just before the bell that resounded throughout the entire Pillar of Creation, signifying the imminent end of the century-long assessment, slowly rang out, Qin Feng finally awoke from his deep meditation that had lasted for ninety-nine years and eleven months, and slowly opened his eyes.

Qin Feng's eyes held a depth, tranquility, and vastness akin to the deepest reaches of space.

In these last two years, the spiritual power within his sea of ​​consciousness underwent another transformation.

The third crystal-clear, flawless "cup" has quietly taken shape, forming a more stable and powerful core structure of spiritual energy together with the first two cups.

On his personal panel, which only he could see, two new lines of data appeared clearly.

[Method of Killing:]

【The Heaven-Swallowing Fist Technique (Beginner)】

[Proficiency: 1/100]

[Cultivation Method:]

【The Perfect Hand Technique (Beginner Level)】

[Proficiency: 3/10]

Qin Feng's consciousness rapidly processed his astonishing achievements over the past century.

First, it represents a tremendous breakthrough in one's realm.

His mental strength has improved rapidly since he first entered the competition, when he was only "three drops of liquid". He has eventually transformed into "three cups of liquid".

This means that his total mental energy has reached a terrifying "30,000 droplets"!
This is not merely an accumulation of quantity, but a qualitative leap.

Each transformation of mental power brings about a geometric increase in thinking speed, learning ability, and the strength of mental interference in reality.

It can be said that his overall strength now has undergone earth-shattering changes compared to a hundred years ago.

Secondly, there is the continuous strengthening of the physical body.

Over the past century, every time he condensed a new droplet of spiritual energy and broke through to a new realm, the immense spiritual energy would, in turn, stimulate the core of spiritual energy within his body, subjecting his physical body to profound cleansing and sublimation time and time again.

Today, his physical strength, cell activity, energy limit, and other vital signs have all undergone a qualitative leap.

Furthermore, there was a significant gain in terms of killing techniques.

He had already completely mastered the "Devouring Heaven Fist Technique," a killing technique created by a powerful king and reaching the limit of a level seven killing method.

The term "beginner" here cannot be simply summarized by the "1/100" proficiency level on the panel.

It signifies that Qin Feng has fully comprehended and mastered all ninety-nine spiritual traces of this boxing style, and is able to apply them in high-intensity actual combat.

With his current skill level in boxing, even in a ninth-level duel in the Imperial Arena, he is already able to put on some quite impressive fights with this ridiculously high-grade boxing technique.

Besides all of the above, there was one major, even unexpected, gain.

That is, the Imperial Strategic Level Cultivation Method – "The Perfect Hand"!
In this assessment, without any guidance or secret manual, he actually managed to improve his proficiency in the "Ten-Complete Hand" technique by working hard on it himself, raising it from "2/10" to "3/10"!
"The fundamental method of the 'Ten Perfect Techniques' is to use spiritual power as a guide to nourish the physical body and cultivate the spirit."

"During this assessment, I cannot move freely due to the rules."

In my spare time, I tried to force myself to completely abandon physical techniques and use only my mental energy to simulate and perform the profound meaning of the "Ten Perfect Hands".

Unexpectedly, I actually grasped a deeper level of cultivation.

Qin Feng's heart was filled with emotion and joy.

Before this, he had to use both hands to massage himself, employing complex physical massage techniques while being guided by his mental energy, in order to achieve the effect of soothing his body and removing hidden injuries.

As for the part of "The Perfect Hand" concerning how to directly nourish spiritual power, he has yet to fully comprehend it.

During this century-long period of "meditation," he finally figured out this part of the mystery completely!
From now on, he will no longer need to use any physical methods.

With just a thought, one can use their vast spiritual power to directly construct within their body the profound runes, intricate inscriptions, and complex spiritual power circuits recorded in the "Ten Perfect Hands".

These "methods" constructed from pure spiritual power can not only provide more detailed and efficient conditioning and nourishment to his physical body, but also directly affect his sea of ​​consciousness, quickly restoring his depleted spiritual power!
"These past hundred years have truly yielded fruitful results!"

A genuine smile finally appeared on Qin Feng's face.

Just then, the bell that had resounded through the sky, announcing the end of the assessment, finally rang out for the last time.

Immediately afterwards, the cold yet authoritative voice of Luo Yu, the black hole-level examiner, resounded once again throughout the entire cosmic plaza.

"The B-778 small battle zone assessment of the Cosmic Genius Battle has officially concluded."

She paused for a moment, then began to announce the final rankings in an unquestionable, impartial tone.

"First place in the assessment: Qin Feng, from this star region. Final result: Comprehended the Devouring Heaven Fist Technique, level ninety-nine."

"Second place: Fire Circle... Ninety-first floor."

"Third place: Kaneki, 90th floor."

"..."

……

Luo Yu's clear, cold, and majestic voice, like a divine decree, echoed across the vast cosmic plaza.

Each name uttered represents a prodigy who has successfully stood out in this century-long, brutal selection process, reaching the pinnacle among millions of peers.

"Sixth place:..."

"Tenth place..."

After the name of the tenth place winner was announced, Luo Yu's voice stopped.

She didn't continue reading; only the top ten were entitled to have their names read aloud in public.

Her gaze, like two tangible bolts of lightning, swept across the ocean below, composed of countless geniuses, which remained seated in silence.

"These are the top ten in this small-scale assessment."

"In addition, all participants who ranked in the top one million based on their overall potential have qualified to advance to the next round of the 'Great War Zone' selection."

To indicate whether you wish to participate, please submit your consent request within 24 hours on the subspace network panel of your personal terminal.

Those who fail to submit their applications by the deadline will be deemed to have automatically forfeited their eligibility.

"All martial artists who have qualified for advancement, your rewards have been sent to your respective personal terminals. Please check your accounts."

Luo Yu's voice was as cold as ever, devoid of any emotion.

"As for the remaining million or so participants, your journey in the Battle of Cosmic Geniuses has come to an end."

You will not receive any rewards, nor will you be able to participate in any subsequent matches.

From this moment forward, you may return to your respective star sectors via warp teleportation.

These words were undoubtedly cruel to the vast majority of geniuses who failed to advance.

A century of arduous cultivation, in the end, was all for naught.

But there was also a gain: I learned the seventh-level killing technique, "Devouring Heaven Fist." Even if I only learned the basics, it was still very useful.

Finally, Luo Yu's tone suddenly became extremely serious and sharp.

"The last point, and the most important one!"

"The seventh-level killing technique, the Devouring Heaven Fist, which is taught in this assessment, is absolutely not to be taught or leaked to the outside world in any form, no matter how much you ultimately comprehend, even if it's just a single move."

If anyone is found to have leaked the information, the Devouring King will personally take action to reclaim the inheritance!

She emphasized the words "reclaim the inheritance" very heavily.

Everyone present instantly felt a chill that emanated from the depths of their souls.

They had no doubt that the "personal retrieval" by a powerful king was not simply a matter of erasing the technique from memory.

Everyone present felt a sudden chill and firmly engraved this prohibition deep in their minds.

After the verdict was announced, Luo Yu and the other two black hole-level examiners disappeared silently into the dazzling nebula, just as they had appeared.

The golden light and names on the huge, century-old heritage stele instantly dimmed, returning to its original simple and unadorned appearance, as if nothing had ever happened.

The atmosphere that had been suppressed for a century in the square was finally shattered at this moment.

Some cheered, some sighed, some remained silent, some were unwilling... a diverse range of reactions from all walks of life.

Qin Feng, on the other hand, remained oblivious to everything around him.

He sat quietly on his futon, immersing himself completely in his personal terminal.

As soon as the connection was established, a series of system notifications rang in his mind.

First, there was a system notification from "Imperial Trading Post - Divine Craft Hall".

[Dear Qin Feng customer, the planetary-level weapon 'Tianyan Weapon' that you submitted for customization a hundred years ago has been forged.]

After final inspection, the item is of perfect quality and meets all your requirements. It has been transferred to your personal subspace storage unit via the highest-level subspace portal. Please check your account.

With a thought, Qin Feng's consciousness instantly sank into his vast subspace storage unit.

In the center of that storage space, a long spear, entirely black and with an ancient design, was quietly suspended.

It emits no light outwards, yet it seems to be the center of the entire space, even distorting the light with its gravity.

That was the supreme divine weapon that was finally forged over a hundred years, with "Heavenly Evolution Alloy" as its core and "Star Devourer's infant corpse" as its main body!
Simply by sensing its presence, Qin Feng could feel that the spiritual energy core within his body began to resonate with it in a peculiar way.

Immediately following, another encrypted email, sent by the official "Cosmic Genius Battle - Organizing Committee" with the highest level of access, popped up.

Qin Feng opened the email; the content was concise and clear, consisting of only three lines.

[Congratulations, Qin Feng, for winning first place in the Extreme Battle Team Small Battle Zone assessment.]

Your champion's reward is as follows:

[1. Imperial Contribution Points: 1000 million.]

[2. Cosmic Genius Battle - Major Zone, Participant Qualification.]

[3. Qualification to become an apprentice of the 'Devouring King'.]

Ten million contribution points—this is a fortune that would drive any planetary-level powerhouse crazy.

The qualification of "contestant" in the Great War Zone also means that he can participate in the Great War Zone and compete with the top talents from the million-strong battle groups of the entire human empire.

Both rewards were within his expectations, and although they were generous, they did not cause him much of a stir in his mind.

However, when he saw the last reward, he was completely stunned.

Becoming an apprentice of... the Devouring King?!
That supreme king-level powerhouse ranked on the "Battlefield King List of Myriad Races"?!

(End of this chapter)