Qin Feng made his way back to the Qiming First High School viewing area.
"Old Qin!"
Qian Duoduo was the first to spot him. He let out a strange cry and rushed over, pulling him into a solid bear hug.
"You’re a fucking badass! The Newcomer King! HAHAHAHA! My treat tonight, the most expensive restaurant on all of Qimingxing, order whatever you want!"
Shi Potian also walked over. A genuine smile appeared on his eternally icy face as he offered a concise, "Congratulations."
Tie Lin and the other freshmen all gathered around, congratulating him one after another. Every one of them had a look of the most sincere admiration in their eyes.
"So, Qin Feng."
Sun He came over as well, with a few other second-year students. He smiled and clapped Qin Feng on the shoulder, then raised his eyebrows smugly and asked with a grin, "That kid Lei Yi’s dual-stick technique was a far cry from mine, wasn’t it!"
Qin Feng smiled and replied sincerely, "It really was. I also have to thank you for your guidance before, Senior. It let me experience the pressure of the Great Success Stick Skill in advance, which is why I could handle it so easily today without losing my composure."
Sun He was extremely pleased by these words. He roared with laughter, and the surrounding freshmen and older students all started laughing along with him.
Qin Feng’s victory was an honor for all of Qiming First High School. Every single one of them shared in the glory.
After a few moments of pleasantries, the crowd gradually dispersed to prepare for the upcoming closing ceremony.
Qin Feng sat down quietly in the stands, with only Qian Duoduo and Shi Potian left beside him.
Qian Duoduo sidled up to him, wiggling his eyebrows mysteriously. He lowered his voice and said with a sly grin, "Old Qin, aren’t you curious? What exactly is the reward for the Newcomer King this time?"
Qin Feng paused, slightly taken aback by the question.
’He hadn’t actually thought about it.’
All his previous efforts had been aimed at the 500 academic points for making the top ten. He hadn’t considered the champion’s reward at all.
"Oh? Is there a story behind it?"
Qin Feng asked curiously.
"Hehe, you’ve asked the right person!"
Qian Duoduo deliberately kept him in suspense, a smug look plastered on his face. "Let me tell you, the reward for the Newcomer King is unique every year. It’s jointly provided by the event’s top sponsor and the Imperial Ministry of Education. Although it’s different every year, one thing’s for sure—it’ll be absolutely beyond your imagination!"
He clapped Qin Feng firmly on the shoulder and continued, "I don’t know the specifics. Professor Gu Yue will probably notify you personally in a little while. Just keep an eye on your terminal’s messages."
Qin Feng nodded slightly.
He raised his wrist, looking at the wrist-mounted terminal that had transformed from his Subspace Pass. It had a simple yet high-tech design.
The functions of this new terminal were indeed powerful, far beyond what his old model could do.
A flicker of anticipation rose in Qin Feng’s heart.
’The reward for first place should be pretty good.’
-----------------
The closing ceremony for the freshman tournament began under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
In the center of the arena, officials from the Ministry of Education and Qimingxing delivered inspiring speeches, praising this year’s freshmen for their hard work and glory, and looking forward to the brilliant future of the human Empire.
Qin Feng sat quietly in the Qiming First High School viewing area, listening to the impassioned speeches while he waited in silence.
His left arm had already recovered completely, but the exhaustion from that bloody battle still lingered.
Finally, just as the closing ceremony was about to conclude and the entire stadium prepared for the Empire’s national anthem...
BZZZT—
Qin Feng’s wrist terminal let out a faint vibration.
He raised his hand, and a pale blue light screen silently popped up.
The sender was Professor Gu Yue.
Displayed on the light screen was the list of his final rewards for winning "Newcomer King."
[Reward for the Champion of the 32,175th Qimingxing Inter-School League Freshman Tournament]
[Special Guidance]: One personal instruction session from Zhou Xiong, Captain of the Seventh Company, Third Sub-Chapter, Ultramarines Chapter.
[Special Access]: One entry pass to the Qiming Thunder Pool.
[Academic Points]: 1,000 points.
[Enhancement Potion]: One Type-II Starry Sky Giant Beast Gene Enhancement Potion.
Below the reward list was a personal message from Master Gu Yue.
"Qin Feng, congratulations on successfully winning the title of Newcomer King in this year’s Qimingxing Inter-School League. Your performance has made all of Qiming First High School proud. But remember, this is only the first, insignificant step on your Martial Dao path. Remain humble and patient, and continue to strive forward. Keep training diligently with that tenacious Will of yours. I look forward to the day I see you claim the title of ’Qiming General Star’ in next year’s school league."
Before Qin Feng had time to process the message, a second one arrived immediately after.
"Come to the exclusive Martial Arts Room on the top floor of the Observation Tower. Now. Lord Zhou Xiong is already waiting for you."
Qin Feng’s pupils contracted slightly.
He immediately replied with "Received," then hurriedly got up from his seat. Under the puzzled gazes of Qian Duoduo, Shi Potian, and the others, he strode quickly toward the Observation Tower.
「On the top floor of the Observation Tower, in the exclusive Martial Arts Room.」
The room was enormous, yet its design was minimalist, consisting of nothing but a wide-open floor paved with a special alloy.
As Qin Feng walked in, the first thing he saw was a figure as massive as a mountain.
Zhou Xiong.
He was still wearing the same archaic, heavy, deep-blue power armor, but he had taken off his helmet.
He stood silently in the center of the Martial Arts Room. At over three meters tall, he looked like a tower forged from solid steel, exuding a suffocating sense of pressure.
It was an aura of blood and fire, the kind that could only be honed amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
Qin Feng’s gaze fell on Zhou Xiong’s face.
Embedded in the weathered bone of his brow were three blood-red nails. They looked like solidified droplets of blood and radiated a faint, heart-pounding light.
Seeing these three blood-red nails, Qin Feng couldn’t help but be taken aback.
He was reminded of the "Nail of Favor" within his sea of consciousness, the one that had allowed him to achieve enlightenment under extreme duress.
As if sensing Qin Feng’s gaze, Zhou Xiong spoke in a deep voice that rumbled like grinding metal, low and powerful.
"These are ’Ten Thousand Battle Nails.’"
"For every ten thousand planetary-level or higher kill missions completed, the Imperial Military Department bestows one. It is the highest honor for a soldier of the Empire, and at the same time, it uses the Evil Qi from countless slain beings to stabilize one’s own Will, preventing them from being swayed by the Evil Gods of Subspace."
Hearing this, Qin Feng was filled with solemn respect.
Three Ten Thousand Battle Nails represented at least thirty thousand planetary-level or higher kills.
The battle record and glory behind that were truly terrifying.
Zhou Xiong didn’t dwell on the topic. He retrieved a Potion from his storage space, sealed in a special container and shimmering with a brilliant, star-like light.
"One of your rewards is my personal guidance."
He looked at Qin Feng and continued, "But I can’t teach you things like killing techniques. Those are things you must comprehend for yourself, learning and honing them step by step. Rashly learning higher-level killing techniques will only lead you astray and prove counterproductive."
"Therefore, my guidance will be to help you completely absorb this Potion."
He held the Potion out to Qin Feng.