"Oh?"
Yu Han’s eyebrow twitched slightly. "So, do you think Qin Feng can do it?"
"He can’t."
Feng Zhiyu shook his head without a moment’s hesitation. The corner of his mouth even twisted into a self-deprecating, bitter smile.
"First of all, for a Martial Artist who just reached Level 6, cultivating all the way to Level 9 in twenty years is, in itself, a near-impossible miracle."
"Second, even if he did manage a miracle and successfully advanced to Level 9, breaking into the top ten on a stage like the Starry Sky Cup, which is swarming with monsters, would require him to cultivate a massive number of slaughter techniques from different systems to the Control Realm. He would need a profound understanding of, and countermeasures for, hundreds or even thousands of different combat styles!"
"That takes real, grinding effort! It can only be achieved by piling up endless time and honing skills through countless life-or-death battles! There are no shortcuts!"
"But Shi Dang? He doesn’t need to do any of that!"
A look of deep helplessness and hatred flashed in Feng Zhiyu’s eyes.
"That bastard only needs to complete one bloody slaughter and battle after another to please the Evil God backing him, and his strength will skyrocket! His Slaughter Realm will soar under the Evil God’s blessing!"
"The difference between them is a world apart!"
"How about... we make a bet?"
The smile on Yu Han’s face deepened.
He looked at Feng Zhiyu and spoke slowly, his voice filled with endless temptation.
"We won’t bet on the top ten."
"Let’s bet on whether Qin Feng can take first place in the Level 9 division of the Starry Sky Cup within twenty years."
"What are the stakes?"
Feng Zhiyu fell silent.
He stared intently at Yu Han’s calm and nonchalant face. In those deep eyes, he couldn’t see the slightest hint that this was a joke.
"If Qin Feng succeeds..."
Yu Han’s voice took on a strange, bewitching quality.
"You, Feng Zhiyu, will follow him for the rest of your life."
"..."
"And if Qin Feng fails..."
Yu Han paused before continuing, "Then I, Yu Han, will personally apologize to you on behalf of Squad Leader Zhou Xiong. Furthermore, I will personally capture Shi Dang alive and bring him before you to deal with as you see fit. Also, I will personally use the Ten-Complete Hand to restore your brother’s foundation."
"On top of that, I will also, in my personal capacity, give you a guaranteed spot that grants you direct entry into the Ultramarines Chapter."
...
A dead silence fell over the stone pavilion once again.
Feng Zhiyu looked at Yu Han, and Yu Han looked back at him.
After a long moment, a smile suddenly broke out on Feng Zhiyu’s face as well.
It was as if something had instantly clicked into place for him. He glanced toward the bamboo forest behind the pavilion.
"Fine!"
Feng Zhiyu nodded at Yu Han.
"It’s a deal!"
"In that case, Master Yu Han, I’m delaying my graduation application for twenty years."
"Good. You may go."
Yu Han smiled in satisfaction and gave him a light wave of his hand.
The moment he finished speaking, Feng Zhiyu’s figure transformed into a streak of light and instantly vanished at the edge of the bamboo forest.
...
Tranquility returned to the stone pavilion.
Yu Han, still looking as calm and composed as ever, poured himself another cup of Spirit Tea.
Just then, a graceful figure clad in fiery red Battle Armor, with matching long, fiery red hair, emerged silently from the shadows of the bamboo forest outside the pavilion.
It was none other than fellow Canaan master, Yue Hong.
"To think you had to put on such a grand show with him, all for that troublesome junior of mine."
Yue Hong walked to the edge of the stone pavilion and looked at Yu Han, a smile on her face that was both helpless and full of gratitude. "I’ve troubled you, Yu Han."
"It was nothing."
Yu Han waved his hand dismissively and downed the cup of tea in one gulp.
"The favor I owed you before... we’re even now."
The two exchanged a smile. Everything was understood without a word.
They both knew perfectly well what was going on.
Making Feng Zhiyu follow Qin Feng was really just a way to motivate Feng Zhiyu and encourage him to build a good relationship with Qin Feng.
Building a good relationship with the "Emperor’s God-Chosen" would undoubtedly be beneficial at some point in the future.
And for the sake of this act, for this subtle piece of guidance, Yue Hong had willingly used up the favor Yu Han owed her!
A favor from a Star System-level Powerhouse—that just showed how valuable it was.
"You really do care about this junior of yours,"
Yu Han remarked.
"Feng Zhiyu’s mind works fast."
Yu Han gazed in the direction Feng Zhiyu had disappeared, the corners of his mouth turning up again. "Just now, I’m afraid he already sensed your presence."
"Mm."
Yue Hong nodded in agreement. "It’s even better if he understands my good intentions."
-----------------
Qin Feng sat cross-legged with his eyes tightly shut, his entire consciousness completely immersed in sensing the vast power within his body.
Half a day later, Qin Feng slowly opened his eyes.
An unconcealable look of mingled surprise and shock flashed in his eyes.
’Just one morning of cultivation, and my life force index actually rose by a full 11 points!’
’This speed... it’s even a little bit faster than before I broke through the first "great limit"!’
Qin Feng was once again deeply shaken by the terrifying potential he was demonstrating.
Normally, after a Martial Artist broke through a "great limit," although the upper threshold of their life force would increase dramatically, their cultivation speed would actually enter a relatively flat or even slightly declining phase for a short period. This was because their body’s capacity to contain energy had become much greater.