This must be the mission’s captain—Dragon Jade.
Two Martial Artists had just finished their duel. As one of them walked out of the combat space, his face showed a hint of regret and reluctance, but he ultimately cupped his fist toward Dragon Jade with good grace.
"Senior Dragon Jade, I was outmatched. My strength isn’t sufficient for this mission. I won’t hold everyone back."
With that, he promptly chose to leave the team.
The refined young man he had called "Senior Dragon Jade" gave a slight nod and said, "Qin River, your strength is already impressive. It’s just that this mission is truly too dangerous. Once you have cultivated the Sea-Covering Saber to Perfection, we will welcome you back at any time."
The Martial Artist named Qin River nodded. Without another word, his form vanished in a flash of teleportation.
The other was a tall Female Martial Artist with a fiery figure, clad in a form-fitting, crimson combat suit.
She wore a confident smile.
Dragon Jade nodded to her and said, "Wen Muyun, welcome to the team."
"Thank you, Senior Dragon Jade."
The Female Martial Artist named Wen Muyun replied with a smile.
After handling all this, Dragon Jade’s gaze finally landed on Qin Feng, who had only just arrived.
Qin Feng spoke with a level tone, "Senior Dragon Jade, I’m Qin Feng."
"Good."
Dragon Jade returned the gesture with a gentle nod.
His gaze lingered on Qin Feng for a moment, as if in assessment.
After a moment, he finally spoke. "Qin Feng, please add me as a friend on the Subspace Network. Then, I’d like you to join me in a private combat space for a spar."
"Understood."
Qin Feng gave a slight nod.
’This is the most critical ’interview.’ I can only earn the captain’s approval by demonstrating strength worthy of a Hell-level mission in real combat.’
"Understood."
In response to Dragon Jade’s gentle yet authoritative invitation, Qin Feng’s reply was concise and firm.
He quickly accepted the friend request from Dragon Jade on his personal terminal.
Immediately after, a private invitation to a combat space from Dragon Jade popped up.
Qin Feng accepted without hesitation.
HUMMM—
In an instant, the scene before his eyes transformed.
The dark-gold teleportation hall, with its solemn and oppressive atmosphere, receded like a tide.
In its place was a vast, boundless, pure-white Virtual Space constructed from the most fundamental data streams.
This was the "private combat space" of Cannan Starry Sky Martial Arts University—the most direct and effective place to test a Martial Artist’s true strength.
A hundred meters in front of Qin Feng, Dragon Jade’s imposing, pine-straight figure had already materialized.
Neither man chose to equip heavy power armor.
A suit of form-fitting, streamlined black light armor materialized on Qin Feng.
In his hand, he held a virtual Alloy Long Spear, provided by the combat space.
Opposite him, Dragon Jade’s attire was equally simple.
A suit of light armor, an Alloy Long Saber.
"The rules are simple."
Dragon Jade’s voice rang out in the pure-white space. "Life force index is unlocked. No techniques are barred."
"I will only defend. I will not attack."
"You will use your full strength to attack me."
"Until I believe your strength is sufficient for this mission."
"Understood."
Qin Feng gave a slight nod.
"In that case..."
Dragon Jade’s eyes, as deep as an abyss, instantly grew as sharp as a blade. "Let us begin."
The instant the words left his lips,
A terrifying aura, so immense that the entire Virtual Space trembled, erupted from Dragon Jade’s deceptively gentle, jade-like body!
7200.0!
This was the terrifying life force of a ’Lesser Limit’ expert, the theoretical peak for a fifth-level practitioner of the Meridian Union Realm using a Top-grade Meridian Technique. It swept through the entire space like an invisible storm!
’Before this immense pressure, I feel like I’m facing a vast and unfathomable Star Sea.’
’Powerful. Unfathomable.’
’So this is the strength of one of the three top Fifth-level Martial Artists in the Fearless Warband!’
Yet, Qin Feng’s gaze didn’t waver in the slightest.
Far from feeling any fear, a long-dormant and incredibly fervent battle intent surged within Qin Feng!
’It’s been too long since I’ve had an opponent I could go all-out against!’
"Senior, I ask for your guidance!"
With a low cry, Qin Feng moved!
BOOM—!
The ground beneath his feet shattered!
At that moment, his life force index of 5560 was completely unleashed!
Even more terrifyingly, his physical body—already beyond the pale of common logic and comparable to a Starry Sky Giant Beast—unleashed a monstrous power that defied reason, far exceeding what his life force index suggested!
He shot forward like an electromagnetic cannonball, one capable of tearing through a starship’s armor. With terrifying, all-rending power, he crossed the hundred-meter gap in an instant and appeared before Dragon Jade!
The Long Spear in his hand became a black bolt of lightning, thrusting viciously toward Dragon Jade’s chest in the simplest, most direct manner possible!
This thrust contained no special technique.
There was only the purest, most absolute—power and speed!
Faced with this incredibly fast thrust, a flicker of surprise appeared on Dragon Jade’s gentle, jade-like face for the first time.