CLICK.
Accompanied by a series of synchronized mechanical sounds, over a dozen battered suits of power armor were withdrawn by their owners into their respective Subspace Storage Units.
As the heavy steel faded away, it revealed their young faces, etched with exhaustion but also the distinct relief of having survived a catastrophe.
"Qin Feng."
A cool, clear voice, laced with complex emotions, was the first to speak.
It was Qin Lan.
She walked up to Qin Feng, her sharp, phoenix-like eyes now fixed intently on him.
Her left arm was completely intact.
On the way back, she had used a precious Regeneration Potion. Under the potion’s powerful effects, her severed arm had grown back, even more perfect than before.
"You saved me again."
Qin Lan’s tone was filled with sincere gratitude.
Last time on the Mechanical Ore Star, Qin Feng had pulled her back from the brink of "death."
This time, he had forcibly dragged her out of the abyss of "death."
"I owe my life to you."
A self-deprecating, bitter smile appeared on Qin Lan’s face. "I thought that after three and a half years of seclusion, my strength would have greatly improved. My life force index broke through 180 points, so I figured this mission would be easy. I never expected... I still underestimated the cruelty of this Cosmos."
She shook her head, a flicker of lingering fear in her eyes.
"Who would have thought that the leader of that Interstellar Pirate Gang would turn out to be a Fanatic blessed by Khorne? The intel clearly stated his strength was around 150 points at most. But after receiving Khorne’s blessing... his power skyrocketed to over 200 points, completely beyond our ability to handle."
"If you hadn’t arrived in time, all of us would have likely become sacrifices to that Evil God."
"Yeah, Qin Feng, we really owe you this time."
Zou Yun, who was standing nearby, also walked over, his gratitude heartfelt. "I’m not one for empty words. In the future, if you ever need me for anything, just say the word. I won’t hesitate for a second! You saved my life!"
Yin Jing also walked silently to Qin Feng’s side. She didn’t say much, only giving him a deep look with her cool, clear eyes before stating with the utmost solemnity, "I owe you my life."
Those five simple words carried more weight than any flowery prose ever could.
Immediately after, the dozen or so rescued first-year students also crowded around him.
"Senior Qin Feng! Thank you for saving us!"
"Senior, if it weren’t for you this time, we... we really wouldn’t have made it back!"
"Senior, I... can I add you on the Subspace Network?"
Their eyes, as they looked at Qin Feng, were filled with the purest, most heartfelt admiration and gratitude.
In their moment of greatest despair, this god-like, demonic figure had descended from the heavens and, with an unrivaled display of power, instantly killed the terrifying monster that had been suffocating them!
That scene was now deeply seared into their minds, something they would likely never forget for the rest of their lives.
Faced with their enthusiasm, Qin Feng didn’t refuse. He gave a calm nod and accepted all of their friend requests.
Looking at all those young faces, full of life and gratitude, a subtle feeling stirred within him.
"Alright, alright, that’s enough crowding around."
Qin Lan waved her hand, dismissing the group of excited junior students. "All of you, go back and get some rest. This mission was a rare learning experience for you. Make sure you reflect on it so you don’t make the same mistakes next time."
Hearing this, everyone agreed, but they still kept looking back at Qin Feng every few steps, only reluctantly dispersing in the end.
Soon, only Qin Feng, Qin Lan, Zou Yun, and Yin Jing remained in this area of the teleportation hub.
"Speaking of which..."
After dealing with her team’s matters, Qin Lan turned her gaze back to Qin Feng, her eyes twinkling with an irrepressible curiosity and inquisitiveness.
"Qin Feng, just what level is your strength at now? When you... instantly killed that Believer of Khorne just now, I couldn’t even follow your movements."
This question instantly captured the attention of Zou Yun and Yin Jing as well.
They were just as curious.
After not seeing him for over three years, to what terrifying heights had Qin Feng’s power grown?
Qin Feng looked at the three of them and their inquisitive gazes. He didn’t hide anything, answering truthfully, "Life force index: 270 points."
HSSSS—!!!
The moment those words clearly reached their ears,
even Qin Lan, who had thought she was prepared, couldn’t help but suck in a sharp, cold breath.
Her pupils contracted violently from the sheer shock!
Two hundred and seventy points!
That number exploded in their minds like a high-yield Spiritual Energy bomb!
"T-Two hundred and seventy?!"
Zou Yun’s voice stuttered from the overwhelming shock. "D-Did I hear that right?! Qin Feng, you... you’re not kidding, are you?!"
He clearly remembered that three and a half years ago, during the mission on the Mechanical Ore Star, Qin Feng’s life force index had just broken past 110 points!
How long had it been since then?
Three and a half years!
In just three and a half years, his life force index had, starting from such a high base, soared by a whole 160 points!
What did that even mean?!
It was completely beyond their understanding of the word "genius"!