Grinding to Become the Master of the Universe

The spaceport was a cacophony of voices, with an endless stream of Martial Artists, merchants, and scholars from all corners of the Cosmos flowing ceaselessly.

A massive holographic projection hung from the spaceport’s dome, broadcasting real-time flight information and the latest news from the Empire.

Qin Feng moved through the bustling crowd. He had retracted his entire aura, becoming like a drop of water in the ocean, drawing no one’s attention.

He walked up to a self-service ticketing terminal, skillfully pulled up the star chart, and entered the coordinates for his destination.

[Destination: Pillar of Creation (Star Domain B-778)]

[Mode of Travel: Subspace Teleportation / Subspace Voyage]

Two options appeared clearly before him.

If he chose Subspace Teleportation, he could be precisely delivered near his destination in a matter of seconds.

It was the most efficient method.

But Qin Feng’s gaze fell on the "Subspace Voyage" option.

When time was not an issue, he actually preferred to take this kind of slow-moving passenger transport to witness the magnificent and majestic sights of the Starry Sky with his own eyes.

Although most of the time there was nothing but the eternal, cold, and dead vacuum outside the viewport, the occasional glimpse of a nebula, a star, or even a cosmic wonder passing by would allow his mind to find a unique sense of peace and relaxation.

Using Subspace Teleportation was certainly faster, but it meant sacrificing the scenery and insights of the journey.

He chose to board a large passenger transport vessel, the "Wanderer," which was about to depart, and booked a private cabin with the best view.

"Pillar of Creation..."

While waiting to board, Qin Feng looked up information about his destination.

"According to the Imperial Gazetteer, it is an extremely rare and highly active stellar nursery within the Cosmos.

Throughout the entire Star Realm, hundreds of millions of new stars are being conceived and born. At the same time, countless aging stars are dying out, playing out the most primitive and magnificent cycle of life and death in the Cosmos.

For the Cosmic Genius Battle to be held there... that’s quite profound."

As the boarding announcement sounded, Qin Feng put away his thoughts and followed the stream of people onto the massive vessel, which was as large as a mobile city.

With a slight tremor, the passenger ship slowly pulled away from its berth at the spaceport. It accelerated, then accelerated again, finally becoming a streak of light as it completely departed from the university where he had lived for a full hundred years.

Outside the viewport, the full view of Cannan Star Martial Arts University shrank, until even Canaan Tower became an inconspicuous speck of light in the boundless Star Sea.

’Goodbye, Canaan.’

Qin Feng said a silent farewell in his heart.

...

At the very same moment Qin Feng’s passenger ship departed from Cannan Star Martial Arts University.

「Martial Hero District.」

That tranquil place, perennially surrounded by a sea of green bamboo, was now filled with figures.

Master Yu Han stood at the very front, his hands clasped behind his back as always.

Beside him stood several other masters, their auras just as unfathomably deep.

Master Mu Lin, the sharp-eyed old man who had once presided over the Newcomer’s Cup;

Master Yue Hong, a senior instructor of the Ultramarines Chapter and Feng Zhiyu’s master;

and a dozen or so other core masters who held high positions at Cannan Star Martial Arts University and knew of Qin Feng’s identity as the "Emperor’s Chosen."

And at the very front of them all, a figure as imposing as a mountain stood silently.

Merely by standing there, the space around him seemed to be suppressed by his immense Will, growing viscous and solid.

It was none other than the company commander of the Ultramarines Chapter, the Black Hole Level Powerhouse—Zhou Xiong.

Their gazes seemed to pierce the boundless void, crossing vast distances to land precisely on the "Wanderer" as it slowly departed the Canaan Star Realm.

"Heh, this kid really doesn’t waste any time."

A master chuckled, breaking the silence. "From enrollment to graduation, exactly one hundred years, no more, no less. To leave Canaan, this springboard, just like that... his speed is truly something."

"Fast, yes, but his foundation is also incredibly solid."

Another master stroked his beard and said approvingly, "And his Will is as tough as Divine Iron. Looking back across Canaan’s 2.2-billion-year history, those who could achieve so much in a hundred years are few and far between."

"Haha, no matter how good you make it sound, it’s useless."

A master with a more playful personality laughed, a hint of schadenfreude in his tone. "The Cosmic Genius Battle is a true gathering of titans and monsters.

None of the top geniuses who fought their way out of their respective star systems are weak.

This kid just advanced to the planetary level. He probably hasn’t even begun to grasp refining methods or killing techniques. When he gets there, I’m afraid he’s going to get a sound beating from those veteran geniuses first."

"A beating is exactly what he needs."

"I just don’t know if his mentality—the kind that has let him steamroll his way through everything—can handle a real setback."

"Haha, on that point, you can all rest assured."

Zhou Xiong finally spoke, his powerful voice laced with a hint of amusement. "I can vouch for this kid’s mentality. Back during the nightmare-level mission, when faced with the illusory seduction of a Tier Six Slaanesh Demon, guess what his deepest, innermost desire, the one drawn out by the demon, was?"

He paused, leaving them in suspense.

"What was it?" The surrounding masters all looked curious.

"To slay Chaos Demons."

Zhou Xiong’s laughter grew heartier. "In the illusion, other people see money, beautiful women, power, and strength. But him? He precisely located the demon’s true body within the illusion and then one-shotted it. With a mentality like that, are you still worried that a few beatings will be enough to break him?"