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On the top-floor terrace of Beikai Tower, a cool night breeze brushed against two figures standing in silence.
The brilliant lights of the bustling metropolis on Planet Qiming lay below them, like a reflected Star River.
"There’s only half a month left until the start of this year’s Qiming Inter-High Tournament."
Lin Yue’s voice broke the silence.
She turned her head, a hint of gratification in her eyes as she looked at the young man beside her who had been completely transformed in just one short year.
"You’re back at the perfect time. For the next two weeks, don’t do anything. Just rest. Completely release that tense killing intent and spirit from the battlefield and get yourself into peak condition. Then, go submit your application."
Her gaze seemed to pierce the night sky, looking toward a more distant future.
"Win the title of ’Qiming’s General Star,’ and then apply for graduation immediately. With the title of ’Qiming’s General Star,’ plus your terrifying strength and potential, the top Starry Sky Martial Arts Universities in the Canaan Star System will open their doors to you. Only then will your Martial Dao path truly be a smooth one."
"Yes, Teacher."
Qin Feng nodded heavily.
"Thank you. Thank you for taking care of me this past year."
He turned and gave Lin Yue a deep, solemn bow.
This bow came from the bottom of his heart.
He knew very well that without Lin Yue’s guidance and protection as his Guardian over the past year, he might have died long ago on the brutal battlefield of Purgatory-VII, let alone achieved what he had today.
Seeing this, Lin Yue waved her hand, a rare smile appearing on her face.
"Alright, none of that."
She chuckled. "I was your Guardian as part of an Empire mission, which comes with a hefty contribution point reward. When you kill greenskins, the Empire gives me contribution points, which I then convert into academic points and resources for you according to school regulations. When you look at it that way, I’m the one who profited as your teacher. So, you don’t need to thank me."
Though she said that, Qin Feng knew that Lin Yue’s care for him over the past year had long since exceeded the scope of an ordinary mission.
From holding nothing back when teaching him combat techniques to tirelessly sparring with and guiding him whenever he hit a bottleneck, he would never forget her kindness.
Some gratitude is best left unspoken.
"Alright, go on back."
Lin Yue waved her hand. "You’ve been away for a whole year. Your two roommates probably won’t even recognize you when they see you."
Qin Feng smiled at her words.
He bowed to Lin Yue once more, then turned and strode toward the dormitory.
...
Dorm 402.
As Qin Feng used his terminal to open the familiar yet strange door, a long-lost feeling washed over him.
The room was exactly as he had left it, cleaned spotless. Clearly, Qian Duoduo and Shi Potian had been maintaining this little space for him.
He walked over to the living room sofa and sat down. The soft texture brought a hint of relief to a body that had been tensed for a year on the battlefield.
He didn’t rush to contact his roommates. Instead, he opened his contacts and dialed the pinned number he knew best.
It was his father, Qin Dahai.
The call connected quickly, and a clear holographic image was projected into the center of the living room.
In the image, his father, Qin Dahai, was sitting in a spacious and bright study. Behind him was a massive bookshelf filled with various professional books on power armor design and mechanical engineering.
"Xiaofeng!"
Upon seeing Qin Feng, a surprised and loving smile immediately spread across Qin Dahai’s face.
"Dad."
Qin Feng smiled back.
"You... you’re back? Back at school?"
Qin Dahai asked, his voice full of excitement.
"Yeah, I just got back. The mission’s over."
"Good, good! It’s good that you’re back!"
His father asked a rapid-fire series of questions, his eyes full of concern.
"I’m fine. Everything’s great. I’ve bulked up quite a bit."
Qin Feng replied with a smile, "How’s everyone at home? Are you doing okay?"
"Good, everyone’s doing great!"
Qin Dahai said happily, "Don’t you worry, everything at home is fantastic! Your uncle, Wang Ming, has really made something of himself!"
Speaking of his brother-in-law, Qin Dahai’s tone was filled with a pride so strong it was as if he’d achieved it himself.
"Ever since you helped him solve his factory’s crisis, it’s like he was enlightened. He dove headfirst into studying power armor design. And I’ll tell you what, he’s actually got a real talent for it! At the end of last year, he successfully passed the exam to become a Level 1 Power Armor Designer! Now he’s working at Planet Qiming’s biggest power armor manufacturing company, the Celestial Craft Group, and he’s even leading a small team! I hear he’s making over two hundred thousand Imperial Coins a month now!"
"He’s studying for his Level 2 certification now, buried in books all day, busier and happier than ever. He keeps telling me that when he becomes a high-level designer, he’s going to personally design the strongest custom power armor just for you!"
Hearing the news about his uncle, a warm feeling spread through Qin Feng’s heart.
"What about the two little ones? How are they doing?"
Qin Feng asked.
"Them? You have even less to worry about!"
Qin Dahai was grinning from ear to ear. "I don’t know if our ancestors are smiling down on us or what, but their talent for cultivation is so much greater than your uncle’s and mine back in the day! They’re only in their second year of middle school, but their life force indexes have already reached 0.8!"
"I reckon in another year, when they’re in their third year, breaking a 1.2 life force index is a sure thing! When that time comes, I’ll have them both apply to Qiming First High School! To follow in their big brother’s footsteps!"
"Good. Not bad, not bad at all."
Qin Feng nodded emphatically.
"By the way, Dad, what about you? Did you buy the Potions I told you about last time? Have you used them?"
"Of course I’m using them. Why wouldn’t I be?"
A gratified smile appeared on Qin Dahai’s face. "And I have to say, those Potions are truly effective. I feel like my body is in even better shape than when I was young. So, your old man here has started cultivating the Martial Dao again."
"I’m not looking for any slaughter or battle. I’ve had enough fighting to last a lifetime. I’m just cultivating now for a long and healthy life. I’m thinking, if I can live a few more years and stay healthy, I’ll get to personally watch you boys climb higher and fly farther."
These simple, unadorned words made Qin Feng’s eyes grow a little hot.
The father and son talked for a long while.
Finally, Qin Feng said, "Dad, tell Uncle and the others for me. In about half a month, this year’s Qiming Inter-High Tournament is going to start. I’ll be participating this time, so make sure you guys watch."
"Okay! Okay! We’ll definitely watch! I’ll have your uncle take the day off, and the whole family will cheer for you together!"
Qin Dahai said excitedly.
After a few more pleasantries, Qin Feng ended the call.
The hologram in the center of the living room vanished, and the room returned to silence.
Just then.
CLICK—
The dorm room door was pushed open from the outside.
Qian Duoduo and Shi Potian walked in, talking and laughing.
"...I’m telling you, that guy with the whip in the private domain today was a real freak. His whip technique was impossible to defend against, I..."
Qian Duoduo’s words trailed off mid-sentence.
His and Shi Potian’s gazes simultaneously fell upon the figure sitting on the living room sofa, who was slowly raising his head.
In an instant.
A terrifying, bone-chilling killing intent, as if originating from the Nine Netherworld Hell itself, crashed over them like a tangible wave!
It was a killing Will, pure to the extreme—the kind that could only be condensed after countless life-and-death struggles amidst a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood!
Qian Duoduo’s body froze!
The smile on his face instantly solidified, replaced by a deathly pallor!
The hairs on his body stood on end, and it felt as if an invisible hand had viciously squeezed his heart, nearly stopping its beat!
He felt like a rabbit being stared down by a prehistoric tyrannosaurus, unable to muster even a sliver of a thought of resistance!
And Shi Potian, beside him, had an even more intense reaction!
His perception of killing intent was far sharper than Qian Duoduo’s.
The moment he felt that killing intent, the energy in his body instinctively began to circulate wildly!
He subconsciously adopted a defensive stance, his eyes locked on the figure on the sofa, cold sweat trickling down his forehead.
He felt as if he’d been targeted by a dormant, primeval beast.
If he made the slightest move, he would be torn to shreds in the next second!
The entire dorm fell into a suffocating silence.
Until the figure on the sofa slowly blinked, and the terrifying killing intent receded like the tide.
"Ahem."
Qin Feng looked at the two of them—pale and acting as if they were facing a great enemy—and a slightly embarrassed expression appeared on his face.
"Um... it’s me."
"What... the hell!"
Only after hearing the familiar voice did Qian Duoduo seem to come back to life. His legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to the floor. Leaning against the wall, he gasped for breath, his heart still pounding as he cried out, "O-Old Qin?! You’re back?!"
"What the hell have you been doing this past year?! You didn’t actually go to a battlefield, did you?!"
Qian Duoduo pointed at Qin Feng, his voice trembling. "That stunt just now... it was like you crawled out of a pile of corpses! You can’t even hide that killing intent all over you!"
Shi Potian also slowly lowered his defensive stance and let out a long sigh of relief.
He looked at Qin Feng, nodded with a grave expression, and confirmed, "He definitely went to a battlefield. And a real one, where people actually die. It’s obvious."
He paused, then added, "For a moment there, I could clearly feel it. Old Qin... had the urge to kill us."
"Ahem."
Qin Feng’s expression grew even more awkward.
He scratched his head and explained, "Yeah... it’s a bit of a side effect. After spending so long on the battlefield, you get jumpy at any little disturbance. When you guys came through the door just now, I subconsciously saw you as enemies."