Grinding to Become the Master of the Universe

Soon, four glasses of liquor, served in special crystal containers, were brought to the table.

The liquid was dark red, like flowing lava. Within it, specks of golden energy flared into existence and died out, radiating an astonishing amount of heat.

"Cheers!"

Dragon Jade raised his glass, and the other two followed suit. Qin Feng smiled and also picked up his glass of Heart of Lava—a potent spirit even for a Ninth-level Martial Artist.

The four glasses clinked together, producing the crisp sound of striking metal.

The three of them downed the liquor in one go. A flush instantly appeared on their faces, forcing them to circulate their internal energy to counteract the drink’s violent potency.

Qin Feng also drank his glass dry. The searing liquid, hot enough to burn through ordinary alloys, slid down his throat and into his stomach, but he felt nothing at all, as if he had just drunk a glass of warm water.

His current planetary-grade body was on a level of life far beyond the ordinary. An energy-infused alcohol of this caliber couldn’t even make a single one of his cells feel the slightest bit of intoxication.

"You monster..."

Dragon Jade noticed this and shook his head with a wry smile. "It seems the gap between us is even bigger than I imagined."

"It’s just a difference in our level of life, that’s all," Qin Feng said calmly.

He hadn’t hidden his strength or his current state for this reunion.

In front of these trustworthy comrades-in-arms, honesty was the best form of respect.

The four of them began to talk freely.

They talked about their cultivation experiences over the past two-plus years, the hardships and insights from breaking through the Ninth-level bottleneck, the changing faces of the Fearless Warband as new members replaced old ones, and the upperclassmen they once knew who had now graduated and scattered across the Empire.

The conversation was filled with prospects for the future, a yearning for higher realms, and sincere astonishment and admiration for Qin Feng’s inhuman rate of progress.

During this lively conversation, they validated their own Martial Daos against one another and shared their insights. Although Qin Feng was already far ahead, he still listened intently, and his occasional pointers greatly benefited the other three.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually shifted from a joyous reunion to one of impending departure.

Finally, Nissan, who was usually the quietest of the group, raised his glass. He looked at Qin Feng with a burning gaze and said in a low voice, "Qin Feng, we all know you’re about to head to a much bigger stage. Canaan can no longer hold you."

Dragon Jade and Ning Jing also put down their glasses, their expressions turning incredibly serious.

"We’re not going to give you any platitudes about wishing you a smooth journey."

Dragon Jade took over, his fists clenching slightly under the table. "We just want to tell you that we won’t give up. You’re leagues ahead of us today, but the three of us will do everything in our power, try every method we can, to catch up to you."

"That’s right."

A blazing battle intent burned in Ning Jing’s eyes. "Maybe we’ll never catch up, but we hope that, at the very least, there will come a day when we’ll be worthy of standing by your side again, instead of just staring at your back from behind."

This was a declaration born from the pride of three top-tier geniuses.

They weren’t jealous or discouraged by the immense gap; instead, they transformed it into an unprecedented motivation to pursue him.

Listening to their words, Qin Feng raised his glass, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

"You will."

He looked at his three dear friends and said earnestly, "I’ll be waiting for you."

...

「Food God District, Taotie Residence.」

Unlike the rough and boisterous Iron Fist Tavern, Taotie Residence was one of Canaan’s most exclusive eateries.

Every dish here was meticulously prepared by a Food Master, using rare ingredients rich in pure energy. Not only was the taste exquisite, but it could also nourish the body and spirit of a Martial Artist.

In an elegant private room, Qin Feng met with Xiong Yanfu, Shi Potian, and Tiemu.

Though years had passed, the three of them hadn’t changed much in appearance. The only difference was that the immaturity in their eyes had long since faded, replaced by a steady and resolute look forged through countless trials.

"Old Qin!"

Seeing Qin Feng, Xiong Yanfu excitedly rushed forward and gave him a solid bear hug.

"You brat, you finally decided to show your face!"

Shi Potian laughed and gave Qin Feng a punch on the arm.

Tiemu, meanwhile, simply smiled as he watched from the side.

The four sat down, the atmosphere warm and friendly.

In a daze, Qin Feng could almost see Lei Meng—always grinning and rubbing his big, bald head—sitting in the empty seat.

The dishes hadn’t all arrived yet. Qin Feng looked at his three dear friends, knowing there was something he had to tell them.

His smile faded, and his expression became incredibly serious.

"Shi Dang... I’ve already killed him."

It was a simple sentence, yet it was like dropping a star into a placid lake.

The air in the private room instantly froze.

The smiles on the faces of Xiong Yanfu, Shi Potian, and Tiemu stiffened.

Qin Feng said no more. He just calmly raised a hand and pointed to the ornament hanging from his waist.

It was a hideous skull carved from some unknown red crystal, its surface gleaming with an eerie luster. It was the "Chaos Mark," which had transformed from Shi Dang’s head after Qin Feng had killed him.

The three of them stared intently at the Blood Jade Skull.

From it, they could feel a familiar yet strange evil aura that made their very souls tremble.

After a long while, Shi Potian let out a long, slow breath.

"Good!"

He only said that one word, but his voice was a bit hoarse.