Grinding to Become the Master of the Universe

Upon hearing this, Master Gu Yue fell into thought.

After a moment, he spoke. "All weapons are but extensions of the fists and palms. Your spear technique is already nearing Perfection. If you wish to make progress with combat techniques, reach the Realm of Control in the future, and even create a combat technique perfectly suited to you, then learning a Punching and Palm Technique now will allow you to draw parallels and spark inspiration."

"Alright."

Qin Feng immediately agreed. "Master, do you have a fist technique you would recommend?"

"Let me see..."

Master Gu Yue pondered for a moment before his eyes lit up. "There is one combat technique that might be perfect for you."

He pulled up his terminal and sent a file to Qin Feng.

"The Fierce Bird Fist Technique."

"This fist technique was derived from a Fourth-level Body Refining Technique, the *Fierce Bird Body Refining Technique*."

Master Gu Yue explained, "It includes the accompanying Fierce Bird Breathing Technique and Fierce Bird Posture. The fist technique focuses on being fast and vicious. Its core killing move, the ’Fierce Owl Technique,’ shares a remarkably similar power-generation principle with ’Flowing Light Chasing Shadow,’ the killing move of the Thousand Army Spear technique you’ve already mastered. You can build on this connection, draw new insights, and make progress with half the effort."

Qin Feng nodded slightly, accepting the file on his terminal. It contained detailed instructional videos and diagrams for the fist technique.

"Master, why was the *Fierce Bird Fist Technique* derived from a Body Refining Technique?"

Qin Feng grasped the key point and voiced the question in his mind. "Do combat techniques originate from refining techniques?"

"Good question."

Master Gu Yue gave him an approving look. "You’re right. Combat techniques, refining techniques, and Nourishing Techniques are not entirely separate from one another. If you can make all three complement each other, you’ll naturally achieve an effect where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

"But it has its downsides."

Master Gu Yue’s tone shifted.

"For example, if you were to practice the *Fierce Bird Fist Technique* and the *Fierce Bird Body Refining Technique* simultaneously, while also using the special ’Fierce Bird Medicine Bath,’ your progress in the fist technique might far surpass other combat techniques of the same level. However, the overly specialized *Fierce Bird Body Refining Technique* is slower at increasing one’s vitality index than 90% of other Fourth-level Body Refining Techniques. That’s why no one practices the *Fierce Bird Body Refining Technique*. Instead, they only practice the *Fierce Bird Fist Technique* on its own."

"I see."

"In short, nothing is absolutely good or bad. What suits you is what’s best."

Qin Feng nodded slightly and bowed once more.

"I am grateful for your instruction."

"Alright, now hurry along to your private Martial Arts Room and get to your training."

Master Gu Yue smiled and waved his hand dismissively.

***

Leaving the resource distribution center, Qin Feng followed the map on his wrist-mounted terminal toward another area of the campus.

This was the core zone of Qiming First High School, far from the teaching areas for freshmen and sophomores. The atmosphere here was much quieter and more solemn.

Freestanding metal buildings were scattered here and there in a well-ordered layout, each one an exclusive private Martial Arts Room.

Along the way, Qin Feng saw a few other students.

Without exception, they were all wearing the uniforms of third-year students. Their expressions were calm, their auras restrained, and they carried a powerful, oppressive presence as they walked.

This was the domain of the school’s most elite geniuses.

Qin Feng soon found his own.

Private Martial Arts Room B-17.

It was situated in a quiet corner, constructed entirely from a dark gray alloy, with sleek, sharp lines.

On the Martial Arts Room’s smart lock, there wasn’t a cold string of numbers, but a small holographic projection panel.

The panel clearly displayed four large, flamboyantly written words in the Imperial common tongue: [Qin Feng - Private Use].

Below the words was his personal information, along with a slightly inexperienced-looking photo taken when he first enrolled.

Qin Feng reached out and pressed his palm against the recognition area.

"BEEP—Identity confirmed. B-rank clearance holder, Qin Feng. Welcome."

A cold electronic voice sounded as the heavy alloy door slid silently to one side, revealing the space within.

Qin Feng stepped inside.

The door slid shut behind him, completely sealing off the noise from the outside world.

The sight before him made him nod in satisfaction.

The private Martial Arts Room was more than three times the size of a public one.

The floor was laid with the latest model of energy-conducting tiles, which could minimize impact forces and assist with energy circulation.

The walls had a built-in smart environmental control system, allowing him to freely adjust the temperature, humidity, and concentration of Spiritual Energy in the air.

What caught his eye the most was the complete set of independent equipment in the corner of the room.

A brand-new Gravity Regulator, capable of simulating up to thirty times standard gravity.

A comprehensive data monitor that could track dozens of physiological metrics in real-time, such as his heart rate, energy consumption, and degree of muscle fiber damage.

There was even a small, self-contained restoration pod.

Everything here was far superior to the public Martial Arts Rooms.

The exclusive-use nature of the room meant he could train whenever he wanted, without any interruptions.

Qin Feng took off his shirt and began his training for the day.

He didn’t rush into anything. Instead, he first went through a complete set of the Intermediate Imperial Body Refining Method.

In the Spiritual Energy-rich environment, his every movement seemed exceptionally fluid, and the energy circulating within his body flowed more smoothly than usual.

By the time he finished the set, he felt his body was thoroughly warmed up.

He retrieved the box of resources Master Gu Yue had just given him from a nearby storage locker.

He opened the box. Three Potions radiating a faint blue glow lay quietly in specially made refrigerated slots.

High-Grade Spiritual Energy Potions.

Qin Feng picked one up and drank it down.

The moment the Potion entered his stomach, an icy sensation spread rapidly through him.

But just a second later, an indescribable, volcanic surge of powerful energy erupted through his limbs and torso!

The energy was pure and immense, like a surging torrent of lava, instantly washing over his every meridian and every cell.

If this had been his previous body, it would have likely been injured instantly, its meridians unable to withstand such a terrifying surge of energy.

But now, Qin Feng only felt an unprecedented sense of being "full."

His Grade II Gold-Standard Human body was like a huge, dry sponge.

This immense Spiritual Energy, which would have been enough to make an ordinary Martial Artist’s body explode, was merely a perfectly timed, nourishing rain for him.

He immediately began performing the strange postures of the Intermediate Imperial Body Refining Method.

The cells in his body erupted with astonishing activity.

Like fledgling birds crying out for food, they madly opened their "mouths," greedily devouring the massive torrent of Spiritual Energy.

The energy was rapidly converted and absorbed, integrating into his flesh, bones, and fascia.

Qin Feng could even clearly "see" the number representing his vitality index on his system panel slowly but steadily ticking upward at a visible rate.

The speed of this absorption and conversion was astonishingly fast.