The Final Lesson, and the Streetlights of Eternal Farewell!

"Think of the Martial Realm like building a tall tower—it goes from low to high."

He Qing patiently began explaining to Lu Feng.

"The first realm mainly tempers the skin and muscles, called the Copper Skin Realm; the second realm tempers the bones and meridians, called the Iron Bone Realm. These two realms are collectively known as the martial foundation. Just like building a tall tower, if you want to build high, you must lay a solid foundation."

"When your skin, muscles, bones, and meridians are all fully tempered, you completely leave the category of ordinary people. Especially after the meridians are tempered, they can accommodate Cosmic Energy, which martial artists commonly call True Qi."

"Once a martial artist steps into the third realm, they can sense the Cosmic Energy that pervades heaven and earth, draw it into the body's meridians, and transform it for their own use. That's why this realm is called the Meridian Condensing Realm."

"When a Meridian Condensing Realm martial artist fights, they can mobilize the True Qi within their meridians, unleashing power far beyond that of a Low-level Warrior."

"You're still at Copper Skin Realm Perfection right now. Though your strength far exceeds an ordinary person's, you naturally have no power to resist against a Three Realm Martial Artist who can wield True Qi."

He Qing had no idea that his student, in the two-plus months since graduation, had already broken through to the Second Realm Seventh Level—firmly an Iron Bone Realm Peak martial artist.

Lu Feng didn't reveal the truth either, pressing on: "And what about above the third realm?"

"Above the Meridian Condensing Realm is the Innate Realm. When a martial artist reaches Meridian Condensing Realm Perfection and continues cultivating, they can form an Innate Qi Sea within the body. The Innate Qi Sea can store a vast amount of Cosmic Energy, and when output through the meridians in battle, its power is extremely formidable."

"But forming an Innate Qi Sea is very difficult—it requires absorbing a massive amount of Cosmic Energy in a short time. If you can use a 'Star Source Stone' as an aid, the chance of success increases greatly."

Saying this, he let out a light sigh: "Martial artists who can step into the Innate Realm are one-in-a-hundred geniuses."

He Qing was over thirty this year and had only just reached Meridian Condensing Realm Fifth Level—still a long way from the Innate Realm.

"And above the Innate Realm?" Lu Feng grew more eager with each question.

This was a common trait of young people—a strong curiosity about those unknown realms of the powerful.

"Above the Innate Realm is the Martial Artist Fifth Realm, a realm that commands awe. It's called the 'Martial Arts Grandmaster.'"

"Grandmaster Realm experts can achieve True Qi Projection. The force of a single palm strike is enough to easily destroy a tall building. Even... it's said they can walk freely in the vacuum of space."

"Walk in a vacuum?!" Lu Feng's eyes widened in shock.

"That's right. Grandmaster experts have such abundant True Qi within them that simply covering their bodies with it can withstand the extreme cold of a vacuum, cosmic radiation, and even impacts from small meteorites."

"So if a Grandmaster goes to fight on other planets, they wouldn't even need to wear an Alloy Mecha?"

"Of course not. The defensive power of their True Qi far surpasses an Alloy Mecha. However, breaking through to the Grandmaster Realm is as hard as reaching the heavens. It's no exaggeration to say such experts are one in ten thousand."

Master and student talked at length.

This was He Qing's last lesson for his student, and from this day on, Lu Feng developed an infinite longing for the world beyond Tianlan Star.

He yearned to one day fight on other planets like the Expeditionary Force, absorbing more energy;

He also hoped to possess powerful cultivation like the legendary Grandmaster experts, able to come and go freely in a vacuum without relying on any technological equipment.

Inside a standalone villa by Moon Gazing Lake in the center of Jinzhou City.

Zheng Tong stood before an old man, accompanied by two bodyguards with bruised and swollen faces, lodging a complaint.

"Grandpa! That guy actually dared to lay hands on our family's people."

"Oh?"

Zheng Henian looked over the two disheveled bodyguards, his expression turning cold. "Who is it that's so bold as to bully the Zheng Family?"

"It's my homeroom teacher. Last time he reported us to the Education Bureau, and we let it slide. I didn't expect him to go even further today."

"Why would he attack you for no reason?"

"I ran into him when I came out of the Beast Fighting Arena. I just said, 'Out of respect for our teacher-student bond, I won't hold this against you,' and he started hitting me. If I hadn't dodged fast, I'd probably be..."

Zheng Tong exaggerated and twisted the truth, shifting all the blame onto He Qing.

As the Vice City Lord of Jinzhou, Zheng Henian was deeply calculating and naturally wouldn't fully believe his grandson's one-sided story.

But it was a fact that their family's martial artist had been beaten.

A dismissed ordinary teacher, repeatedly opposing the Zheng Family, had crossed the line.

"Since he's so ungrateful, let's have him disappear from Jinzhou City for good."

Deep night. He Qing escorted Lu Feng to the entrance of Xiangyang Residential Area.

"Go back and rest well. Don't go to the Beast Fighting Arena anymore."

"Mm. Teacher, will we meet again?"

"That depends on fate. I don't know when I'll return from interstellar travel, but the Mother Star has an old saying: fallen leaves return to their roots. When I'm old, I'll definitely come back."

"Alright. I wish you a smooth journey, Teacher!"

After a simple farewell, Lu Feng turned and walked into the residential area.

He Qing stood by the roadside, about to hail a taxi and leave.

Suddenly, a Black Shadow shot out from the darkness.

It was a Fourth Realm Warrior, closing in on He Qing in the blink of an eye.

"Who?"

The words barely left his mouth when a Cold Light flashed in the opponent's hand—an Alloy Short Blade thrust straight at him.

He Qing instinctively tried to step back and dodge, but the opponent was too fast. Under the dim streetlight, the short blade instantly plunged into his chest.

The bone-piercing chill instantly swept through his entire body as blood gushed out.

This teacher, who had taught for over a decade, collapsed heavily to the ground, his breath already gone before he could even see his killer's face.

Lu Feng, who had just taken a few steps into the residential complex, heard the unusual commotion outside. His footsteps paused, and he immediately turned back.

When he saw He Qing lying in a pool of blood, the youngster's pupils contracted sharply.

"Teacher!"

He rushed forward like a madman, trembling as he helped He Qing up.

The body in his arms was still warm, but the glaring red on his chest and the chest that no longer rose and fell both signaled the worst outcome.

"Teacher! Wake up!"

Lu Feng's voice trembled in the night wind.

He pressed futilely on the fatal wound, warm blood quickly soaking through his fingers.

The mentor who had just been earnestly teaching him, discussing martial arts and the future, was rapidly losing life in his arms. Those eyes, always filled with warmth and hope, could never open again.

Overwhelming grief and shocking disbelief surged like a tide, instantly drowning the youngster.

The Military Region Warrior, who had been secretly protecting Lu Feng, had no choice but to reveal himself at this sudden turn of events, helping to call for an ambulance.

"It was you... you killed my teacher?"

Seeing the stranger who suddenly emerged from the darkness, Lu Feng instinctively assumed he was the murderer.

"I'll kill you!"

The youngster pulled an Alloy Dagger from his pocket, roaring as he charged forward, stabbing wildly at the other man.

This dagger... was the graduation gift He Qing had given him on the day of the college entrance exam!

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