At 2:00 PM, all the students of First Year, Class Three, gathered punctually in the Martial Arts Room.
Their new school life had officially begun, marked by a tight and efficient pace.
The first class was cultural studies.
The instructor was an old man with white hair and gold-rimmed glasses. He didn't introduce himself. He simply walked to the lectern, activated the holographic projector, and began his lecture on the first chapter of *A Comprehensive History of the Empire*—"The Dark Era and the Rise of the Emperor."
The old man's voice was calm and steady as he spoke of the ten-thousand-year dark age after humanity lost its Subspace travel technology, a time when they were isolated in scattered corners of the void.
He also recounted the grand epic of how the Emperor—that eternal, sun-like powerhouse—single-handedly reunited the human Empire, built the Subspace Network, initiated the "Great Crusade" era, and laid the very foundation of the Empire that stood today.
It was an age of heroic epics, utterly captivating.
Qin Feng sat by a window in the back row, listening with rapt attention.
He carefully recorded every key date and major historical event on his data-slate.
This seemingly dry historical knowledge could one day become a crucial piece of information that meant the difference between life and death in a battle against an Alien Race or an unknown civilization.
Sometimes, a trivial gap in information was all it took to decide the life or death of a Martial Artist.
Not everyone was as focused as he was.
Not far from him, a few students were already slumped over their desks, snoring softly.
Most of them were top-ranked geniuses who poured all their energy into the Martial Dao.
In their eyes, strength was the foundation of everything. As long as they were powerful enough, so-called history and knowledge were nothing but useless adornments.
The old man paid them no mind, continuing his lecture at a slow, deliberate pace.
After the two-hour cultural studies class ended, there was a short ten-minute break.
Immediately after, their homeroom teacher, Wu Shangfeng, appeared at the front of the room again.
The Martial Dao class had begun.
"Sit up straight!"
Wu Shangfeng's voice boomed like thunder, instantly jolting a few dozing students awake.
His gaze swept across the room, and the oppressive aura of a powerful expert instantly silenced the entire Martial Arts Room.
"From this day forward, you can completely forget the *Imperial Basic Body Refining Technique* you learned in junior high."
His voice was devoid of emotion. "That was just a simplified version to build the most rudimentary foundation. Here, you will learn the true foundation of the Empire's Martial Dao."
He brought up the holographic projection, and the names and descriptions of two Cultivation Techniques materialized in mid-air.
[Imperial Body Refining Technique (Beginner)]
[Emperor Meditation Method]
"First, the *Imperial Body Refining Technique*." Wu Shangfeng pointed to the first Cultivation Technique. "The official Body Refining Technique of the Empire is divided into three levels based on the depth to which it develops human potential: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced."
"The Beginner Body Refining Technique, at its limit, can raise your vitality index from 1 to 10, which is the limit for a First-level Martial Artist. What you practiced in junior high falls into this category."
"The Intermediate Body Refining Technique can raise your vitality index from 10 to 20, corresponding to the scope of a Second Level Martial Artist."
"As for the Advanced Body Refining Method, it can raise your vitality index to 30, the limit of a Third-level Martial Artist. To go beyond that, you will need to seek out more specialized and powerful legacies."
Wu Shangfeng's gaze swept over Shi Potian and the few other students who were on the verge of breaking through to become Second Level Martial Artists.
"I know some of you are about to hit the ceiling for a First-level Martial Artist. But don't get impatient. You should still listen. You'll always gain something new."
Next, he pointed his finger toward the second Cultivation Technique.
"Then, we have the *Emperor Meditation Method*."
When he mentioned the word "Emperor," his tone carried an unconscious trace of reverence.
"In the practice of the Martial Dao, you must refine the heart as well as the body. The body is the boat, and the mind is the rudder. Without a strong Mental Power and Will to steer it, even the most powerful body is just a rampaging Beast. This *Emperor Meditation Method* is your introductory method for cultivating Mental Power."
"Its core principle is to temper your spirit and forge your Will by visualizing the eternal, undying, supreme ruler of our human Empire—the Emperor—thereby slowly increasing the strength of your Mental Power."
"Remember, 'slowly.'"
Wu Shangfeng emphasized, "The cultivation of Mental Power is more difficult and far more dangerous than tempering the physical body. There is no room for recklessness. But the rewards are also immense. Strong Mental Power will not only allow you to remain perfectly calm in battle but will also elevate your perception and control of Spiritual Energy to an entirely new level."
"Legend has it that those with exceptional talent and profound opportunities may even have a chance to receive the Emperor's blessing and attention during their visualization, leading to unexpected benefits. Of course, that's just a legend."
After speaking, Wu Shangfeng distributed the complete Heart Method mnemonics and cultivation diagrams for both Cultivation Techniques to every student's personal terminal via the classroom's data system.
"You now have one hour to study them on your own. If you have any questions, you may ask."
As his voice fell, the entire classroom instantly grew quiet.
All the students immediately settled their minds and began to study the two fundamental methods that would be crucial to their futures.
Qin Feng also opened his terminal, carefully committing every detail of the two Cultivation Techniques to memory.
The content of the *Imperial Body Refining Technique (Beginner)* followed the same principles as the *Basic Body Refining Technique* he had practiced before, but it was far more profound and complex.
The force-generation techniques and methods for circulating qi and blood it contained were far more advanced than the basic version.
The *Emperor Meditation Method*, on the other hand, opened the door to a whole new world for him.
Following the instructions in the Cultivation Technique, he slowly closed his eyes, regulated his breathing, and cleared his mind.
He began to try and visualize the supreme being who existed only in history and legend.
He imagined a towering figure clad in golden Battle Armor, wielding a greatsword burning with sacred flames, standing firm amidst the Star Sea.
His face was indistinct, but the supreme majesty of a sovereign who ruled the Cosmos and guarded all life seemed to pierce through the barriers of time and space, reaching him clearly.
The moment he succeeded in forming this vague image, the panel deep in his consciousness silently refreshed.
[New Cultivation Method detected...]
[Mastered Refining Methods:]
[Emperor Meditation Method (Uninitiated)]
[Proficiency: 0/10]
[Effect: Mental Power strength has been slightly increased.]
[Note: When proficiency reaches 10, you can advance to the initiate realm.]
Qin Feng opened his eyes and saw that the panel's contents were no different from how they were with the Body Refining Technique.
The hour of self-study passed quickly.
Wu Shangfeng once again walked to the lectern.
"Alright."
His voice broke everyone's concentration. "Body refining and Meditation are daily tasks you must perform from now on. Now, we'll move on to the next topic—choosing a cold weapon."
With a wave of his hand, the holographic projection switched scenes.
Rows of variously shaped cold weapons appeared on the light screen.
Sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, forks... it covered almost every standard-issue weapon that had ever appeared in human history.
"A Martial Artist develops their vitality index to strengthen their body. And the ultimate purpose of strengthening the body is to fight and kill more efficiently. In the history of the Empire's Wars, Spiritual Weapons—like the laser guns, Star-annihilating Cannons, and personal power armor you're familiar with—are all very powerful, but... they are external objects."
"While you are still in your safe developmental stage, the school will not permit you to rely too heavily on these Spiritual Weapons. Your only mission now is to temper your own bodies and master a cold weapon fighting style that will last you a lifetime."
Wu Shangfeng's gaze grew even sharper.
"A person's energy is finite. The path of cold weapons is broad and profound; if you're too greedy, you won't be able to chew what you bite off. An ordinary person, in their entire lifetime, can at most master one or two weapons to the peak of perfection. Therefore, for now, I will only allow you to choose one to be your future major."
"Of course, your choice isn't set in stone. The school will give you a one-month trial period. Within that month, if you find that the weapon you've chosen doesn't suit your personality or physical condition, you can apply to change it."
With that, he began to explain the pros and cons of the mainstream weapons on the light screen one by one.
"The saber, the 'courage of a hundred weapons.' Its momentum is fierce and its movements are grand and sweeping. It is the fastest to learn and its power is the most direct."
"The sword, the 'gentleman of a hundred weapons.' It is light and elegant, agile and versatile. It emphasizes skill and Body Technique, with endless variations and an extremely high ceiling. Its drawback is that it's easy to learn but difficult to master."
"The axe and hammer are representative of heavy weapons. 'One point of strength overcomes ten points of skill.' They pursue the ultimate in destructive power. They are immensely powerful but lack flexibility and leave large openings."
...
Wu Shangfeng's explanations were precise and detailed, clearly analyzing the characteristics of each weapon and the type of person it suited.
The students in the classroom listened with utmost seriousness.
This concerned the future direction of their Martial Dao, and no one dared to take it lightly.
Shi Potian chose the "saber" without hesitation.
Qian Duoduo, however, scratched his head, hesitating for a long time between the "hammer" and the "axe."
After explaining all the mainstream weapons, Wu Shangfeng waited for fifteen minutes before turning his gaze to the entire class.
"Have you all decided? Now, make your choice."
Qin Feng's gaze slowly swept over the dazzling array of weapons on the light screen.
Finally, his finger stopped on the long and straight spear.
'An inch longer is an inch stronger.'
The spear was one of the most practical and efficient weapons on the battlefield.
It integrated both offense and defense, capable of assassinating at mid-range and sweeping at close range.
It didn't require as much delicate Spiritual Qi as the sword, nor did it blindly pursue brute force like the saber.
What it valued was precision, stability, and the efficiency of a single, fatal strike.
"I choose the spear."
At his seat, Qin Feng confirmed his selection.