Master Gu Yue’s words struck Qin Feng’s heart like the resounding clang of a great bell.
He had always known these two things were important, but he had never imagined his mentor would elevate their significance to the point of determining whether his future path in the Martial Dao was even viable.
"Yes! I understand! Thank you for your guidance, Master!"
Qin Feng replied solemnly, engraving the words deep in his heart.
Afterward, the three of them chatted idly with Qin Feng for a while, asking about the details of his life in Canaan. Their words were filled with concern.
After he closed the communication screen, the quiet room returned to silence.
The care and guidance from his masters washed over him like a warm current, cleansing his mind. The nerves, taut from his arduous training, found a moment of relief.
But immediately after, an even stronger sense of urgency welled up inside him.
He opened his friends channel and found short messages left under the avatars of Dragon Jade, Nissan, and Ning Jing.
Dragon Jade: "Junior Brother Qin Feng, your battle with Senior Qin Yonglin deeply moved me. The three of us are heading off to train. We’ll meet again at the Starry Sky Cup."
Nissan: "Qin Beast! I’m off to train too! You really fired me up."
Ning Jing’s message was the shortest, just two words: "I’m gone."
Qin Feng let out a wry laugh.
’They are all dragons among men, true prodigies. A blazing fire of competition must have been lit within them, driving them to frantically push their potential to the limit.’
’This is good, too. With companions chasing after me, I can’t afford to slack off in the slightest.’
Qin Feng slowly closed his eyes and began to systematically review his current strength and plan his future training path.
’First, my killing technique.’
His consciousness sank deep into his mind, where the legacy of the Fourth-level Killing Technique, >, was as clear as a brand.
[Killing Technique: > (Fourth-level)]
[Realm: Lesser Accomplishment]
[Proficiency: 112/1000]
’The battle with Qin Yonglin gave my proficiency a decent boost. Based on the intensity of my fights in the Imperial Arena over the past month and my daily insights, my proficiency can steadily increase by about 5 to 10 points a day. At this rate, over a year, I can accumulate two or three thousand proficiency points, which is enough to push > to the ’Greater Accomplishment’ realm.’
’However, there’s still a huge gap to the Ten Thousand Points of proficiency needed for ’Perfection’. The start of the Starry Sky Cup is imminent. I must cultivate > to ’Perfection’ before the competition begins. Only then will I be qualified to rank among the top contenders on a stage filled with such monsters.’
Qin Feng’s brow furrowed slightly.
’To achieve that kind of leap in progress, I need more terrifying, more extreme combat pressure.’
The images of two planets surfaced in his mind—Purgatory-IV and K-7.
That feeling of dancing madly on the edge of death, pushing every ounce of strength and every shred of spirit to its absolute limit—that was the fertile ground for rapidly advancing one’s Slaughter Realm.
’Perhaps it’s time to head to a Trial Planet.’
A clear idea took root and sprouted in his mind.
The Trial Planet allowed a Martial Artist to experience walking the true line between life and death while still having safety measures in place. This would generate immense mental pressure, causing one’s killing technique to advance rapidly.
’Second is the cultivation of my Life Force Index.’
’This is the foundation of all foundations, my greatest advantage for crushing others at the same level.’
’In my first month of training, I spent all my mornings cultivating my Life Force Index, while the rest of the time was spent on my killing technique, the Ten-Complete Hand, and Meditation. With this schedule, my Life Force Index increased by a steady 10 points per day.’
He quickly calculated in his head.
’Three hundred and sixty-five days a year... that’s 3,650 life force points. I’m at 7,500 points now, so after a year, I’ll only reach 11,150. That speed is far, far too slow to reach the ’First Great Limit’ of eighteen thousand points.’
’No, this pace is too slow!’
Qin Feng took a deep breath, his eyes becoming incredibly resolute.
The first month of training had been more of an adaptation and testing period. It gave him an initial, precise understanding of his training efficiency after advancing to a Sixth-level Martial Artist.
But now, the testing period was over. He would make optimal adjustments based on his physical condition and his Will.
All of this stemmed entirely from his own profound understanding of the Martial Dao; he didn’t need anyone’s guidance.
’Starting tomorrow, I need to increase the time I spend training my physical body. I’ll also increase my resource investment and utilize every single second.’
’Also, to improve my Slaughter Realm, I need to be more efficient. That means going to a Trial Planet.’
Finally, his mind settled on the cultivation of his Mental Power.
[Meditation Method]
[Great Sun Visualization (Greater Accomplishment)]
[Proficiency: 1234/10000]
[Emperor Meditation Method (Lesser Accomplishment)]
[Proficiency: 12/1000]
’My current Mental Power is at 10 points. The rate of improvement is indeed very slow.’
Qin Feng wasn’t surprised by this.
The growth of Mental Power was one of the most difficult tasks for a Sixth-level Martial Artist, not something that could be achieved overnight.
’Especially the >. Its grade is far higher than I could have imagined.’
’Once I cultivate both of these meditation methods to ’Perfection’, my Mental Power should break through 100 points, meeting the basic Mental Power requirement to break through to the Planetary Grade.’
’This method just requires daily practice. It can’t be rushed.’
’Besides, Mental Power isn’t only improved through Meditation.’
After organizing all his training objectives, not a trace of confusion remained in Qin Feng’s mind.
The road ahead was long and the challenges were daunting, but every step he took was incomparably clear and firm.