Xuanwu War Sovereign

Qin Feng sat cross-legged on the platform, occasionally taking out a cup of Seven Star Dragon Spring Water to sip.

The Seven Star Dragon Spring Water was exceptional at restoring Spiritual Power.

When he left the Seven-Star Dragon Spring, Qin Feng had deliberately opened his Blue Sea and Heaven and absorbed several hundred pounds of it.

At the time, Qing Mu had thought the drop in the Divine Pool’s water level was an illusion. In fact, that was precisely when a certain someone had opened their Blue Sea and Heaven to steal the Spirit Water.

He drank a cup of the Seven Star Dragon Spring Water, and his Spiritual Power gradually recovered.

The *Mixed Element Star Technique* recorded four steps to condensing a Lifebound Star Mark, which had to be followed in order. The first step was to sense the True Name of the Star, and the second was to condense the Void Mark.

The third step was Star Tempering Body.

’The third step is the most interesting one,’ Qin Feng mused.

Star Tempering Body was not a simple matter of guiding Star Essence Power to temper the body. It involved fusing it with Innate True Qi, integrating all of one’s Innate True Qi into the *Mixed Element Star Technique*.

The *Mixed Element Star Technique* possessed a miraculous ability: it could fuse with the Innate True Qi condensed from any other Cultivation Technique.

In other words, the *Mixed Element Star Technique* could fuse with any other cultivation technique, becoming a brand-new, divine technique that possessed the strengths of both.

This meant that although all the experts at All Stars Academy practiced the *Mixed Element Star Technique*, the version each person cultivated was unique.

The most interesting part was that if you cultivated a Martial Arts Foundation Establishment Technique of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer Heaven, after fusing it with the *Mixed Element Star Technique*, it would still be of the Ninth Layer.

If you cultivated a Superior Martial Arts Foundation Establishment Skill of the Eleventh Realm of Martial Arts, it would still be of the Eleventh Layer after fusing with the *Mixed Element Star Technique*.

...

Just as Qin Feng was contemplating the First-Layer Scripture of the *Mixed Element Star Technique*, Luan Xiaochuan, Xu Jie, and the others appeared on a flower-lined path by the lake.

The path was adorned with flowers and a small bridge over a stream. Along its edge, Luan Xiaochuan and the others had planted Spiritual Bamboo saplings, lending the area a vibrant air of vitality.

A few steps later, the three of them appeared by the lake. Gazing at the black-robed youth meditating before them, Luan Xiaochuan spoke slowly, his expression respectful.

"Cave Master, the Hidden Dragon Points Ranking has opened!"

Qin Feng opened his eyes, his gaze falling upon Luan Xiaochuan.

Luan Xiaochuan said, "Cave Master, as you instructed, we’ve been keeping a close watch on this. Registration for the Hidden Dragon Points Ranking began today!"

The expressions on Luan Xiaochuan and the others were somewhat somber.

Every time the Hidden Dragon Points Ranking began, it was an exceptionally bloody affair.

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as Qin Feng asked, "Did you register me?"

Luan Xiaochuan felt a wave of pressure and hurriedly replied, "We wouldn’t dare delay the Cave Master’s important business. We registered you at the first possible moment. The competition officially begins in one month!"

"Excellent!" Qin Feng nodded.

A peculiar glint in his eye, Qin Feng turned to look at the Pure Water Golden Lotuses blooming by Celestial Pool Lake. "Did those experts from the Star Sect in Cyan Dragon Academy register as well?"

"Your foresight is uncanny, Cave Master. Right after we registered you, they followed suit and also officially entered the Hidden Dragon Competition!"

"It seems those fellows can’t wait to cause me trouble!"

Qin Feng’s expression turned grim.

Recalling the news from the assessment day, Qin Feng still felt a wave of lingering fear. If he hadn’t broken through to the 12th Layer of the *Geng Metal Breaking Killing Sword Technique* on the very last day of the three-month period, he was certain he would have lost his position as Elder Cyan Dragon.

’Ice Glacier Celestial Maiden Lu Qingxue, Ning Heng, Zhangsun Wu Ya!’

After that assessment, it wasn’t just Qin Feng who had memorized those three names; the entire Cyan Dragon Academy had.

This was especially true for their leader, the Ice Glacier Celestial Maiden Lu Qingxue, whose strength was unfathomable. She was hailed as the number one new student in all of All Stars Academy.

Rumor had it that this young woman had already reached the apex of the Martial Arts Thirteen Realms and might soon break through to the Condensing Vein Realm.

With such a prodigy eyeing his throne with predatory intent, Qin Feng couldn’t afford to relax for a single moment.

’But that girl Ji Huang’er is pretty lucky. To think no one has their eyes on her position as Elder Vermilion Bird!’

Qin Feng shook his head at the thought.

’Ji Huang’er’s strength goes without saying. She’s no weaker than me; in fact, she might even be a sliver stronger.’

’It’s a shame about Yang Cheng and Zhao Sikong. Those two must be incredibly frustrated. The position of Elder Cyan Dragon that they worked so hard to obtain was snatched away, and they had no choice but to meekly move out of the Spirit Mountain Blessed Land.’

Thinking of Zhao Sikong and Yang Cheng’s fate, Qin Feng gained an even clearer understanding of the brutal competition at All Stars Academy.

Their fall was a cautionary tale.

Qin Feng’s face was impassive as various thoughts flashed through his mind. In hindsight, he suddenly realized that simply holding onto his position as Elder Cyan Dragon was nothing to celebrate.

’Defending it once means nothing!’

’The most important thing is how to stay in this position for the long haul.’

After a moment of consideration, Qin Feng said to Luan Xiaochuan and the others, "For the next month, Luan Xiaochuan, I want you to gather intelligence on the second-year Four Great Elders, as well as any other powerful second-year students."

After speaking, Qin Feng paused for a moment before adding, "If necessary, you can take my Points Token to Wind Trust Hall and purchase intelligence."

Wind Trust Hall was an organization under the authority of All Stars Academy that specialized in buying and selling intelligence. As long as one had enough Points or Merit Points, one could purchase information on nearly any of the academy’s talented experts.

One could even purchase intelligence regarding the locations of various Barbaric Beasts within the Barbaric Realm.

The only catch was that at Wind Trust Hall, information on more powerful experts was more expensive.

"Yes, Cave Master!" The three exchanged a look and retreated.

The three of them hurried away along the flower-lined path by the lake.

Standing on the platform, Qin Feng took a deep breath. Time was tight. He had to master the First Layer of the *Mixed Element Star Technique* within one month.

Gazing at the scattered vermilion light by Celestial Pool Lake, Qin Feng muttered to himself from the platform, ’I wonder what kind of changes will occur when my *Innate Primordial Qi* fuses with the *Mixed Element Star Technique*?’

Qin Feng regulated his breathing and meditated for an hour. Then, he practiced a set of fist techniques and stretched his limbs.

In a flash, Qin Feng reappeared on the platform.

Seated cross-legged on the platform, Qin Feng followed the True Qi circulation path of the *Mixed Element Star Technique* in his mind. The Innate True Qi in his body began to flow along an unfamiliar route, and his Innate Primordial True Qi gradually started to change its very nature.

The cultivation method for the First Layer of the *Circulation Star Technique* was not particularly difficult.

Besides, Qin Feng’s own *Innate Primordial Qi* was a form of True Qi that was neutral, balanced, and without any specific attributes.

Cultivating the *Mixed Element Star Technique* was exceptionally smooth.

Three days later, on the platform, Qin Feng opened his eyes. His pupils shone like two distant stars, and his entire aura changed, becoming primordial, vast, and profound, as if he were a great star that had existed since the Taigu Era.

The next moment, this aura vanished without a trace.

Feeling the vast, ocean-like silver-white Star True Qi within his body, a hint of a smile touched Qin Feng’s eyes. He extended a hand, and a silver-white light bloomed in his palm, instantly forming a silver-white Invisible Long Sword.

Qin Feng felt a majestic surge of Star True Qi roiling within his body. His *Innate Primordial Qi* was hailed as the first among all forms of qi, and the *Mixed Element Star Technique* was known for its sheer vastness, described as a "Boundless Star River." After the two fused, the resulting Star True Qi was truly earth-shattering.

Qin Feng’s Star True Qi, now at the level of the Martial Arts Twelve Heavens, was likely no weaker than that of some veteran Condensing Vein Realm experts.

If he were to face an expert like Wei Qinghuang now, Qin Feng was confident he could clash with him head-on without losing ground.