Master Gu Yue extended a finger and made a tapping motion in the air.
"According to the Imperial standard, Acupoint Opening Methods are roughly divided into four levels."
"Low-level methods can only open thirty-six basic acupoints."
"Middle-Level Techniques can open seventy-two."
"High-level methods can open the 108 acupoints of the celestial cycle."
"And the very best, the Top-Grade Dharma Methods... can open 360 great acupoints!"
"The reward you received in the tournament—the *Great Sun Acupoint Opening Method*—is one of the finest Top-Grade Dharma Methods. If you can cultivate it to Perfection and supplement it with visualizations from the *Great Sun Visualization Method*, you can open 360 Great Sun Acupoints within your body, each resonating with the great sun in the sky. Of course, its cultivation difficulty is also among the highest of all Acupoint Opening Methods."
"Once you have opened all 360 Great Sun Acupoints to Perfection and reached the limit of a Level 4 Martial Artist, you must begin preparing to advance to Level 5. The core of Level 5 cultivation is called ’Acupoint Fusion.’ As the name suggests, you will merge the 360 Great Sun Acupoints you worked so hard to open, condensing them into a single ’Spirit Source.’ This process uses the unimaginable pain generated during the fusion to baptize your physical body one final time, causing your life force index to take another massive leap forward."
"Once the ’Spirit Source’ has been successfully condensed, your training will consist of continuously filling it with your Mental Power. When your Spiritual Power Index reaches a minimum of 100 points, you can use the Spirit Source as your foundation, your body as a vessel, and your spirit as a sail to soar through the sky. That is Level 6—a Flying Martial Artist."
Master Gu Yue had laid out the path of cultivation from Level 4 to Level 6 with perfect clarity for Qin Feng.
Qin Feng listened, completely mesmerized. A brand new, magnificent Martial Arts World was slowly taking shape in his mind.
He greedily absorbed every word, feeling that the path of his future cultivation had never been clearer.
"Level 7 is the ’Mountain and Sea Warrior,’ and Level 8 is the ’Sun and Moon Martial Artists.’ Level 9 is known as the ’Extreme Martial Artist,’ signifying the apex of the mortal Martial Dao."
"Above Level 9 is a leap in the very hierarchy of life, progressing sequentially through Planet-level, Star-level, Galaxy-level, and finally, Black Hole-level Life Forms."
Master Gu Yue’s gaze grew distant.
"According to the Empire’s big data, a Martial Artist of outstanding talent requires, on average, a thousand years from birth to advance to a Planet-level Life Form."
"And to go from Planet-level to Black Hole-level, the average time required is one hundred thousand years."
He retracted his gaze, letting it fall back upon Qin Feng, a hint of expectation and appraisal in his eyes.
"The road ahead is very long. Your task is to practice diligently every single day—without arrogance or impatience, neither rushing nor lagging. Let every small effort accumulate into a great achievement. Do you understand what I mean?"
After hearing this, Qin Feng was silent for a moment.
He lifted his head to meet the gazes of the three mentors. His dark eyes held no fear of the vast expanse of time. Instead, they burned with an unprecedented, dazzling light.
He spoke slowly. His voice wasn’t loud, but it was firm as iron, every word resonating with power.
"One hundred thousand years is too long. I will seize the day, and seize the hour!"
The moment his voice fell, the terrace was plunged into silence.
Wu Shangfeng, Lin Yue, and Gu Yue were stunned for a brief moment. Then, as if on cue, brilliant and deeply gratified smiles blossomed on their faces.
"Good!"
"Well said!"
"Hahaha! What a ’seize the day, and seize the hour’! As expected of the student I, Wu Shangfeng, have chosen!"
The three mentors burst into laughter in unison.
Their laughter was hearty and heroic, filled with boundless admiration and approval for the boy’s soaring ambition. It echoed long under the tranquil, starry sky.
-----------------
On the terrace, the hearty laughter of the three mentors gradually subsided.
They looked at the high-spirited young man before them—the one who had declared, "One hundred thousand years is too long. I will seize the day, and seize the hour!"—their eyes filled with sincere admiration and relief.
’With a spirit like that, how could he possibly fail on his Martial Dao journey?’
"Alright, now that we’ve discussed the road ahead, it’s time to formally present you with your reward."
Master Gu Yue spoke with a smile, breaking the grand atmosphere and pulling the conversation back to the present.
With a flick of his wrist, an exquisite box appeared in his hand. It was crafted from dark-red metal and engraved with the Empire’s double-headed eagle insignia.
Wu Shangfeng took the box, his expression growing solemn.
He opened the box and presented it to Qin Feng.
A medal lay nestled inside the box.
The medal’s overall color scheme was a deep, somber crimson and black, as if woven from dried blood and endless night.
Its main design featured two sharp Battle Sabers crossed over each other. At the point where they intersected was an exquisitely carved, lifelike morning star.
This was the Empire’s Level 1 medal: the Qiming General Star Medal.
"This is the first medal of your life’s journey."
Wu Shangfeng’s voice was low and powerful, carrying the unique solemnity of a soldier.
"Kid, remember this. Any medal officially certified by the Empire, even the lowest Level 1 medal, holds immense value. It represents not just a reward, but an honor—a distinction acknowledged by the very Will of the Empire."
He seemed to feel words were too feeble and said, "Let me find the recording of Squad Leader Zhou Xiong’s promotion ceremony. You’ll understand then."
As he spoke, Wu Shangfeng opened his personal terminal and skillfully tapped a few commands.
Soon, a holographic projection unfolded before Qin Feng, forming an enormous virtual screen.