[Rally Point: Fearless Zone, Assessment Hall 7.]
[Note: Time is critical. Serious applicants only. Applying constitutes agreement to the captain’s full authority.]
This recruitment notice hit like a boulder tossed into a calm lake.
Vitality over 70, three Perfect Killing Skills!
Even within the elite-filled Fearless Warband, this requirement was enough to weed out the vast majority of members, especially new students.
An emergency rescue mission worth 100 Contribution Points held a fatal attraction for any Level 4 Martial Artist.
The instant the message was sent, Qin Feng’s communicator began to beep incessantly as several applications flooded in at once.
Qin Feng quickly opened the application list.
[Applicant: Yin Jing. Vitality Index: 72.1. Killing Skills: "Startling Swan Spear (Perfection)," "Wind Listening Step (Perfection)," "Wave Stacking Force (Perfection)."]
[Applicant: Zhou Quan. Vitality Index: 73.5. Killing Skills: "Soul-Severing Dual Sabers (Perfection)," "Thunderbolt Body Technique (Perfection)," "Shadowless Leg (Perfection)."]
[Applicant: Zou Yun. Vitality Index: 71.8. Killing Skills: "Overlord’s Fist (Perfection)," "Iron Mountain Lean (Perfection)," "Wind God Leg (Mastery)"...]
He scanned the names and stats. They were all genuine powerhouses, with Vitality Indexes even higher than his own.
However, his eyes paused when they landed on the name "Zou Yun."
Zou Yun?
He remembered that name.
Several months ago, during the Canaan Newcomer Cup—a competition that determined the initial resource allocation for countless new students—it was this very Zou Yun who had taken him out in a single move. With a Vitality Index of over 70, he had completely crushed Qin Feng in the first round.
He never expected they would meet again like this, here and now.
Without the slightest hesitation, Qin Feng tapped "Accept" on Zou Yun’s application.
He then accepted the applications from Yin Jing and Zhou Quan.
One man, one woman; one skilled with dual sabers, the other with a long spear. Both were excellent offensive fighters.
"Team formed."
Qin Feng immediately sent the first directive in the four-person temporary comms channel:
"Time is critical. Assemble at the Fearless Zone, Assessment Hall 7, immediately. I repeat, assemble immediately. We’re leaving right away."
The Fearless Zone was the Fearless Warband’s exclusive base within Cannan Star Martial Arts University.
There were no luxurious decorations here, only cold metal and a pervasive, murderous aura.
Assessment Hall 7 was a vast, circular alloy hall, lined with various types of heavy equipment for testing strength, speed, and reaction time.
Just then, four figures arrived simultaneously in the center of the hall.
The moment he saw Qin Feng’s face, Zou Yun’s pupils contracted. The arrogant, untamable expression on his face froze, replaced by a look of stunned, incredulous disbelief.
"It’s... it’s you?!"
The words tumbled out of his mouth.
’Isn’t this the new student I knocked off the stage with a single punch at the Newcomer Cup a few months ago?’
He remembered the guy’s Vitality Index was only around 50 back then.
But the requirement to accept this mission was a Vitality Index of 70.
’Which means, in just a few months, Qin Feng’s Vitality Index has jumped by 20 points!’
Zou Yun was astounded.
Qin Feng looked at Zou Yun, his voice steady. "Senior Brother Yun, long time no see."
Zou Yun exclaimed in disbelief, "Your Vitality Index... it’s already 70?! Holy shit, it’s only been a few months! You’re a monster."
Zou Yun’s outburst drew the attention of Zhou Quan and Yin Jing, who both turned to look at Qin Feng with curiosity.
They didn’t know Qin Feng, but for him to make someone like Zou Yun lose his composure was proof enough that this captain was extraordinary.
"Yin Jing. I’m skilled with the long spear."
The coolly beautiful woman spoke, cupping her fist to Qin Feng in a gesture of respect.
"Zhou Quan. I use dual sabers."
The bald young man introduced himself in a gruff voice.
Qin Feng gave a slight nod and got straight to the point. "None of us have Spiritual Weapons, but power armor is standard issue. Time is short, so let’s not waste another second. Suit up. We leave immediately."
His tone was unquestionable, carrying a sense of command.
The words that had been on the tip of Zou Yun’s tongue were forced back down by this powerful aura.
He had been about to ask about the matter of command.
In his opinion, even if Qin Feng met the Vitality Index requirement, he was still just a new student who had enrolled little more than a year ago. Taking on a high-risk mission for the first time, his experience was bound to be a blank slate.
He, on the other hand, had followed teams on several missions and was rich in experience.
If he were in command, the team’s survival rate and mission success rate would be far higher than if some rookie were calling the shots blindly!
After all, for this mission, they hadn’t followed the usual practice of recruiting senior students as "guards." If they died during the mission, they would be well and truly dead!
Therefore, Zou Yun couldn’t help but be cautious.
’Forget it. I’ll see how things go first. If his command is really incompetent, it won’t be too late for me to step up.’
Zou Yun thought to himself.
"Alright!"
Zhou Quan was the first to respond.
K-CHUNK! K-CHUNK! HISS!
With the sound of depressurizing air valves and interlocking metal components, the three of them quickly finished suiting up. Qin Feng also donned his own power armor.
The heavy power armor boots thudded against the floor.
The moment their faceplates sealed shut, a cyan HUD (Heads-Up Display) lit up before their eyes.
[Identity Confirmed: Qin Feng]
[Power Armor Status: 100%]
[Synchronizing with Subspace Teleportation Beacon...]
[Destination: ’Star Strider-7’ shuttle, coordinates (encrypted)]