This was a final show of respect for their fallen senior.
They took one last look at the tranquil forest and the Martial Artist resting peacefully beneath a tree. Then they turned, leaving the miracle of life behind and returning to the cold, silent ruins on the surface.
"Mission objective recovered," Qin Feng said over the team channel. "Time to submit and head back to the university."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
The three seniors replied concisely.
Qin Feng immediately selected "Submit Mission" and "Request Return" on his tactical terminal.
The next moment, four brilliant white pillars of light descended from the sky, precisely enveloping the four of them.
The scene before them began to distort and fold. The Death Planet’s sallow sky, its rusted ruins, and the pervasive smoke of war all faded and dissolved into the blinding white light.
A flash of light, and the dizzying sensation was gone in an instant.
When Qin Feng’s vision cleared again, the unique stench of the Death Planet had been replaced by fresh, clean air.
The cold, austere metallic ambiance remained, but the surroundings had become incredibly familiar.
A massive alloy dome, a spotless floor, and the teleportation platforms standing silently in the distance.
They had returned to Canaan Starry Sky Martial Arts University—to the Fearless Warband’s exclusive teleportation hub.
Almost at the exact moment they appeared, all four of their identity wristbands buzzed lightly.
A series of cold electronic prompts sounded.
[Mission: Recover Primordial Acupoints of fallen Martial Artist on Planet K-7. Complete.]
[Mission Rating: Perfect.]
[Calculating Mission Rewards...]
[You have obtained: 750 Contribution Points.]
[You have obtained: 3000 Fearless Warband Reputation.]
The series of notifications announced that the nearly six-month-long expedition had come to a perfect conclusion.
"Alright, job’s done."
Carlo stretched, and the joints of his power armor let out a loud GROAN. A hint of relief finally appeared in his hawk-like eyes.
"Pleasure working with you, Qin Feng."
Linzhou smiled and extended his hand to Qin Feng. "Your skill was a real eye-opener. If there are similar missions in the future, feel free to look me up."
"And me."
Carlo walked over and clapped Qin Feng on the shoulder. "It’s reassuring, teaming up with you."
The perpetually silent Yu Lin also nodded. He said nothing, but the approval in his eyes was unmistakable.
"You three are too kind. I learned a lot on this mission,"
Qin Feng said with sincerity.
Witnessing the terrifying way Mental Power could interfere with reality, in particular, made Qin Feng yearn for the higher realms of the Martial Dao.
The four of them added each other as friends on the Subspace Network, a gesture that signified mutual respect and acknowledgment.
At Canaan Starry Sky Martial Arts University, only comrades truly worth knowing were added to one’s private contact list.
"I need to hit the Martial Arts Room to digest the lessons from this battle. I’m heading out."
Yu Lin spoke first. He nodded to the others, then strode off with heavy steps toward the training area.
"I’ve gotta go clean up my ’babies.’ They took quite a beating this time."
Carlo let out a whistle, referring to his menacing pair of Power Claws, before turning to leave as well.
"I’m going to find my master and report in. See you around."
Linzhou smiled and waved as well, quickly disappearing around a bend in the corridor.
In the blink of an eye, Qin Feng was the only one left on the Teleportation Platform.
He stood silently in place, reflecting on the fleeting nature of their battlefield camaraderie.
It made him keenly aware of the vast difference between veteran students and freshmen.
The veterans were mostly men of few words, their actions decisive and efficient. They focused on their own training and the improvement of their abilities. They teamed up based on mission requirements and mutual respect for each other’s skills, and the moment a mission was over, they would immediately disperse to throw themselves into the next cycle of training.
Their social interactions, by contrast, seemed detached and efficient.
This was a stark contrast to his time at Qi Yi High School, and even when he first enrolled at Canaan, where freshmen were eager to stick together for mutual support and share what they had.
It was the loneliness of the strong, but also a tacit understanding shared among them.
Qin Feng shook his head, collected his thoughts, and strode towards the logistics and maintenance depot of the Fearless Zone.
After months of high-intensity combat, his suit of Punisher I-class power armor was already covered in scars.
The massive gash on the chestplate from the War Lord’s Chainsaw War Axe, the scorched and melted marks on the pauldrons from an Energy Weapon, and the countless dents and scratches covering the suit all spoke silently of the battle’s ferocity.
At the free power armor repair depot, Qin Feng secured the suit to a maintenance cradle. Several flexible mechanical arms extended, beginning to scan and repair his battle-hardened gear.
[...Power Armor Structural Integrity: 67.4%]
[...Melt damage to left pauldron. Defense Power decreased by 42%.]
[...Structural cracks in chestplate. Replacement recommended...]
[...Energy Core overload. Spiritual Energy output efficiency decreased by 18%...]
Looking at the series of red warnings on his Tactical HUD, Qin Feng couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.
While he waited for the mechanical arms to carry out automated repairs and replenish the Energy Core, he opened his personal asset panel.
[Name]: Qin Feng
[Identity]: Canaan Starry Sky Martial Arts University, Fearless Warband Member, Master Yu Han’s Elite Disciple.
[Contribution Points]: 759
[Fearless Warband Reputation]: 3000
[Imperial Coins]: 100,000
Qin Feng’s brow furrowed slightly as he looked at the figures on the panel.
He’d only had 9 Contribution Points before the mission began.