’Did another three people die?’
’What’s going on?’
Qin Feng looked at the mission panel in confusion.
The intel section had updated again.
Target’s Latest Estimated Life Force Index: 6000.0 points.
Six thousand points!
Qin Feng clearly remembered that the last time he checked this mission, Shi Dang’s life force index was still 5400 points.
And that was just a little over two years ago!
’That means in just over two years, Shi Dang has increased his life force index by a full six hundred points!’
This set off alarm bells in Qin Feng’s mind.
This rate of progress was too fast!
It was unreasonably, suffocatingly fast!
This meant that in this short span of just over two years, Shi Dang must have once again offered the skulls and souls of numerous powerful individuals to his Master of Skulls through incessant, bloody slaughter.
Such a rapid improvement!
Even with the Ten-Complete Hand and a sea of resources, he couldn’t possibly match Shi Dang’s rate of improvement.
Qin Feng continued to read.
Known Abilities Update: The target is confirmed to have mastered multiple Fourth-level Killing Techniques, reaching the Minor Success Realm. The latest intel indicates that the target used the Blood Saber killing move, with the assistance of numerous Believers of Khorne, to successfully escape pursuit from a Level-7 Mountain and Sea Realm Martial Artist of the Empire.
’A Fourth-level Killing Technique at Minor Success... He’s even comprehended a killing move...’
Qin Feng fell silent as he read the report.
He subconsciously glanced at his own attribute panel, which only he could see.
In the "Killing Techniques" section, the *Heaven and Earth Spear*—the Third-level Spear Technique he took pride in, but had only just brought to the introductory level—seemed so insignificant.
’I’ve only just managed to cultivate a Third-level Killing Skill to the Minor Success Realm, and it’s one that doesn’t even use Mental Power.’
’Meanwhile, Shi Dang has already cultivated a Fourth-level Killing Technique—a more powerful and bizarre type that requires Mental Power—to the Minor Success Realm, and has even comprehended his own killing move!’
’And he even managed to escape from a Level-7 Mountain and Sea Realm expert!’
’Although the report did mention he had the assistance of numerous Believers of Khorne.’
’But being able to do that is enough to prove just how terrifying and troublesome Shi Dang’s current strength has become!’
’I’m still... not fast enough.’
’I have to work even harder.’
Qin Feng slowly closed the mission page.
The heavy pressure he had just suppressed once again loomed over his heart like a dark cloud.
The life-or-death race between him and his one true rival was far from a point where he could afford to relax.
...
Time is the fairest and also the most ruthless measure in the Cosmos.
It stops for no one.
Whether for a Martial Artist immersed in secluded cultivation or a Fallen One rampaging and killing throughout the Star Sea.
In a flash, another ten years passed.
...
「Cannan Star Martial Arts University, the Dauntless Warband’s exclusive Maintenance and Supply Base.」
Qin Feng appeared here once again.
He sent his Singing Dragon Model I power armor—battered and scarred from another mission, its armor plating cracked in several places—into the repair bay.
Then, just as he had countless times before, he quietly found a corner and leaned against the cold alloy wall to wait.
The past ten years had been both incredibly fulfilling and arduous for him.
Qin Feng was like a fully wound, perpetually spinning top.
He was either carrying out missions or in secluded cultivation.
He was racing against time.
In the past decade, he had successfully performed another one hundred and thirty meridian fusions.
As of now, the Great Sun Acupoints in his body had successfully fused 196 times!
And his life force index had soared accordingly, steadily reaching 5560 points!
This was a terrifying number, enough to leave any genius of the same level who cultivated a Top-grade Meridian Technique utterly dumbfounded.
But Qin Feng was not proud.
Years of slaughter in blood and fire had forged his mind to be as steady as a rock.
’Ten years ago, Shi Dang’s life force index was already 6000. He can only be stronger now.’
’My current life force index has only just caught up to his from ten years ago.’
While waiting for his power armor to be repaired, Qin Feng quietly watched the bustling, familiar scene of people coming and going in the maintenance and supply base.
He saw many unfamiliar faces, new students brimming with youthful energy.
He also saw many senior students like himself, their faces long shed of immaturity, their eyes filled with composure and resolve.
He just watched all of this quietly.
He couldn’t help but feel a surreal sense of how much time had passed.
By now, a full sixty-two years had passed since the moment he first stepped through the gates of Cannan Star Martial Arts University.
And there were only eight years left until the end of the grand, once-in-a-century Warband ranking tournament.
In the past twenty-two years, he had completed over a hundred Warrior Level team missions in total.
The Warband competition points he had accumulated had long since broken the three-thousand-point mark.
The C-Rank Custom Resource Pack, which required 100 points to redeem.
And the B-Rank Custom Resource Pack, which required 1000 points—he had obtained them both long ago.
The so-called "Custom Resource Packs" were, in reality, just cultivation resources and special equipment automatically selected and packaged by the system according to his strength and needs.