"In here are three First-level Killing Techniques, twelve Second-level Killing Techniques, and five Third-level Killing Skills that are most suitable for you."
Yu Han’s voice rang out.
"These Killing Techniques all lean toward the style I just mentioned. You can choose for yourself, or you can learn them all. With these as a reference, you’ll have enough to cultivate all the way to a Sixth-Level Soaring Martial Artist without going astray."
Qin Feng looked at his Subspace Network information and saw the Killing Techniques.
Every one of these Killing Techniques seemed tailor-made for him. Their core philosophies resonated with him, making him eager and impatient to begin.
This was the guidance of a Star System-level Powerhouse!
A single sentence could decide a path thousands of miles long!
After a long moment, Qin Feng opened his eyes, stood up, and faced Yu Han. He then gave him a deep, solemn bow.
"Thank you for your guidance, Master. I am eternally grateful!"
This time, his thanks was sincere and came from the bottom of his heart.
Yu Han accepted the gesture with composure and waved his hand.
"Go on."
Qin Feng gave a firm nod, said nothing more, and turned to leave the quiet, elegant courtyard.
-----------------
Carrying the clarity from Master Yu Han’s guidance and the weighty list of Cultivation Techniques, Qin Feng used Subspace Teleportation to swiftly return to his dorm in the student area.
The dorm was spotless.
Yet now, to Qin Feng’s eyes, this familiar environment seemed slightly different.
He no longer needed to feel lost, no longer needed to rely on trial and error.
All he needed to do was one thing—walk resolutely down the path that had been illuminated for him!
’Staffs, spears, Long Sabers, broadswords, Horse-Slaying Sabers, halberds...’
’Focus on offensive efficiency, designed for large-scale battlefields...’
’Defense... it’s not for you.’
Master Yu Han’s words still rang in his ears.
Clarity filled Qin Feng’s mind.
He was so impatient he wanted to enter seclusion immediately, redeem every single Killing Technique his master had recommended, and then pour all his time and energy into cultivating them, studying them, and forging them into his own true power!
’Over five thousand Contribution Points is enough to redeem a massive amount of cultivation resources. This time, after I come out of seclusion, my strength is bound to take another qualitative leap.’
Qin Feng’s heart was filled with unprecedented confidence and anticipation.
He had already planned everything.
When he came out of seclusion, his life force index would surely break past the one-thousand mark, perhaps even higher.
By then, challenging the Stone Race Warrior on the thirty-first floor of the Canaan Tower would be a completely different story.
However, just as he was preparing to enter the seclusion pod and completely cut off all contact with the outside world, a crisp private message notification from the Subspace Network suddenly sounded.
DING-DONG.
Qin Feng frowned slightly.
’Shi Potian and Xiong Yanfu knew he was about to go into seclusion, so they wouldn’t contact him right now.’
’Who could it be?’
Puzzled, he opened the communication interface.
The next second, a familiar yet somewhat strange name caught his eye.
[Sender: Shi Dang.]
Qin Feng’s gaze sharpened.
’It was that "fellow native" from Qiming, the one who had taken the initiative to add him as a friend after the newcomer tournament.’
He opened the private message.
The message was short, but between the lines, it revealed an extremely respectful and sincere attitude. He seemed like a completely different person from the arrogant, untamable half-Stone Man Qin Feng remembered.
"Senior Qin Feng, I apologize for this presumptuous disturbance. My name is Shi Dang, from Qiming Xinghe Military High School. I know your time is precious and that I have no right to take it. But I have a hurdle in my heart I cannot overcome, a mental block I can’t unravel. It has begun to severely affect my cultivation. So, I implore you, Senior, to fight me."
"I just want to experience for myself how vast the insurmountable gap between us truly is. Only then might I be able to sever this Heart Demon and get back on my path. Regardless of victory or defeat, regardless of the outcome, I will be eternally grateful!"
Qin Feng fell silent as he read the message.
He could sense the do-or-die desperation in his words, which was almost a plea.
He recalled the figure he had seen on the Teleportation Platform, the one who had watched him from afar with a complex expression but ultimately hadn’t dared to approach.
He also remembered how he had crushed this once-invincible genius with lightning-fast power during the Qiming Newcomer King tournament.
For a genius, the greatest enemy is often not another person, but their own past pride.
This Shi Dang was clearly trapped in a cage forged by the chasm between his once-invincible past and the cruel reality of the present.
He needed an external force to shatter that cage completely.
And he, Qin Feng, was the most suitable—and perhaps the only—person to wield the hammer.
’Fine.’
Qin Feng sighed to himself.
’Since we’re both from Qiming, I might as well help him out.’
’It won’t take much time, anyway.’
He thought for a moment, then replied, "Fine."
That single word sent the other side of the chat window into a long silence.
A full minute passed before Shi Dang’s reply came through, his tone laced with incredible excitement and gratitude.
"Thank you!"
Qin Feng paid no mind to the other’s excitement and calmly continued to type, "Where? The Imperial Arena or the Canaan Private Realm?"
This was a crucial question.
The Imperial Arena, as the Empire’s official virtual battle platform, had "rank protection" and "Attribute Balance" mechanisms to ensure a degree of fairness.
In low-ranked matches, the system automatically locks both combatants’ life force indexes at a relatively similar level, making it more of a test of combat skill and Slaughter Realm.
The internal private realm of Cannan Star Martial Arts University, however, had no such restrictions.
Everything was based on a Martial Artist’s true stats.
It was a true, all-encompassing domination of the weak by the strong.
By asking this question, Qin Feng was, in effect, giving Shi Dang an out.
If he chose the Imperial Arena, their stats wouldn’t be too far apart, and he might at least save some face.
However, Shi Dang’s answer surprised him, and it made him respect the other man a little more.
"The private realm."
Shi Dang’s reply came without the slightest hesitation. "I need to feel the true gap. Please, Senior, go all out. Don’t hold anything back! I will be eternally grateful!"
"Alright."
Qin Feng said no more.
[You have invited your friend ’Shi Dang’ to a private match in the Canaan Private Realm...]
[Invitation accepted.]
[Entering battle space...]
Light and shadow shifted.
Qin Feng’s figure appeared within a pure white, boundless Virtual Space.
This was the most basic private match arena: no obstacles, no environmental factors, perfect for a pure contest of strength.
A hundred meters away from him, Shi Dang’s figure slowly coalesced into view.
He held a heavy War Axe and was bare to the waist. Dark gold Stone Race bloodline tattoos covered his body, radiating a dense and powerful aura.
His life force index was displayed as 73.4.
For a senior student in his seventh year, this number was considered lower-mid tier at best.
Clearly, just as he had said, his cultivation had hit a major bottleneck.
At this moment, Shi Dang’s face wore an expression of unprecedented solemnity and gravity.
He regarded this battle as the most important pilgrimage of his Martial Dao journey.
"Senior Qin Feng, please!"
Shi Dang gripped his War Axe with both hands and stomped heavily on the ground. His entire aura began to skyrocket.
He pushed his Stone Race bloodline talent to its absolute limit!