The other problem was that Zou Yun’s vitality index was just too high.
Victor: Zou Yun.
The cold, robotic voice of the system mercilessly announced the outcome of the duel.
Qin Feng quickly left the arena, eliminated in the very first round.
One move.
And again, he was taken out in a single move.
His final ranking, naturally... was tied for last place.
If he wanted to compete in this event again, he’d have to wait another ten years.
...
On the way back to his dorm from the Combat Zone, Qin Feng was silent.
He didn’t feel discouraged by his failure, nor was he ashamed or angered by being defeated in a single blow.
All he felt was a sober realization.
He was still too weak.
His vitality index of 50, his so-called Control Realm spear technique, his physical potential comparable to a Starry Sky Giant Beast... None of it was worth mentioning in front of the true veterans—students who had been enrolled for several years, some for nearly a decade.
This realization was like a bucket of ice water, completely extinguishing the faint pride he’d felt after successfully opening two acupoints.
After returning to the dorm, he didn’t pause for a moment and immediately opened the Imperial Trading House.
He glanced at his balance of a mere 31 Contribution Points.
He then spent 20 points to purchase two more special-grade Spiritual Energy Potions.
According to his calculations, given his current physical strength and the difficulty of opening acupoints, these two special-grade Spiritual Energy Potions would be just enough to completely open and fill the third Great Sun Acupoint.
He left the remaining 11 Contribution Points untouched.
It was his emergency fund.
This was in case he urgently needed some essential equipment before his next mission and couldn’t afford it.
After doing all this, he once again walked into the Martial Arts Room.
His closed-door cultivation began.
...
This time, he relied purely on the special-grade Spiritual Energy Potions.
He had no Mental Power recovery potions to aid him, nor any deep-repair medicinal baths.
But Qin Feng gritted his teeth and endured.
He pushed every bit of his energy to the limit.
As four months quietly slipped by...
When those two special-grade Spiritual Energy Potions were also completely consumed...
In his inner cosmos, a third brilliant, golden "sun" was finally lit!
Haaaa—
Qin Feng sat cross-legged and let out a long, scorching white breath.
The puff of white air condensed, lingering like a white dragon. It circled once before slowly dissipating.
He could clearly feel the three Great Sun Acupoints inside him burning fiercely like stars. They continuously released a vast tide of Spiritual Energy that warmed and nourished his entire body, making his physical form stronger with every passing moment.
He opened his personal panel.
Vitality Index: 60.21
"Finally... I’ve broken the 60-point mark."
A trace of joy flashed in Qin Feng’s eyes.
He stood up, stretched his limbs, and felt the terrifying power inside him, several times stronger than it was four months ago.
Without the slightest hesitation, Qin Feng connected to the Canaan Tower’s challenge system again.
A white light flashed.
He appeared directly in the familiar arena of the twenty-second battle on the first floor.
Across from him, the battle-hardened Green-skinned Warlord that had once subjected him to immense pressure slowly rose to its feet again.
Its eyes, filled with cunning and cruelty, locked onto Qin Feng.
Its enormous Power Claw, stained with dark red blood, once again assumed a perfect stance, balanced for both offense and defense.
"ROAR!"
This time, the Warlord attacked first!
Its massive body shot forward like a cannonball, instantly closing the distance to Qin Feng.
Wielding killing arts at the Perfection Realm, its Power Claw descended toward Qin Feng’s head with mountain-shattering force!
Qin Feng, however, simply thrust his Long Spear forward.
CLANG!!!
The spear tip, with incomparable precision, struck the weak point of the Power Claw’s joint.
A monstrous force, far more terrifying and concentrated than its opponent’s, erupted from the point of impact!
The Warlord felt an irresistible force travel up its arm from the claw. Its sure-kill strike had been stopped dead and forced back!
For the first time, a trace of utter disbelief flashed in its eyes.
’So... that’s how it is?’
Everything became crystal clear to Qin Feng.
’Four months ago, I severely misjudged its strength. Now it seems its vitality index isn’t just around 60, but at least 70!’
’It’s just that my current body, thanks to the aptitude bonus from my ’Juvenile Starry Sky Giant Beast’ physique, already far surpasses this green-skin in basic attributes like pure strength, speed, and endurance.’
’But this thing’s killing arts are truly difficult to deal with. Its vitality is also extremely tenacious. Even though my strength can overwhelm it, killing it will still take some effort.’
At this thought, he no longer held anything back.
The Long Spear in his hand blurred into a flurry of afterimages, unleashing a tempestuous assault on the Warlord!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG—!
The sound of metal on metal rang incessantly throughout the arena.
After nearly a full minute of fierce battle, under Qin Feng’s relentless and frenzied assault, the Warlord finally tired, revealing a fatal opening.