The Bai Shi mountain range, snowflakes danced, covering the entire mountain with white snow, stretching for hundreds of miles. The wind was piercing and chilling to the bone, a vast expanse of white as far as the eye could see.
On the peak of Bai Shi Mountain, Ling Feng, clad in a white robe, sat cross-legged. A celestial blue spiritual mist emanated from him, his aura ethereal. The spiritual energy he breathed in from heaven and earth was as brilliant as the stars, their light bathing him and adding a touch of mystery.
Suddenly, the true essence within Ling Feng fluctuated, bursting forth with dazzling starlight. A pillar of light shot upwards from below, piercing the heavens. The star-like matter in the mist surrounding Ling Feng flowed like water, as if he were immersed in a galaxy.
The ripples of energy caused the entire earth to tremble. The pristine snow surged like a flood, crashing down the mountainside and toppling many trees.
This celestial phenomenon persisted for over ten minutes before subsiding into calm.
"Hoo..." Ling Feng exhaled a breath of turbid air and opened his eyes, which shone like brilliant gems in the night.
"Finally, I've broken through to the fifth level," Ling Feng said in a deep voice, a hint of joy in his eyes. He had finally cultivated the Xing Ling Jue to the fifth level.
After breaking through the fourth level, the Star Power he could store within his body became as vast and boundless as the ocean, enabling him to unleash powerful sorcery.
"It's time to test this move."
Ling Feng straightened his back, his gaze fixed. His figure vanished from its position.
Above a mountain forest at the very edge of the Bai Shi Cave Heaven, Ling Feng clenched his fist in mid-air, and a golden spear materialized in his hand.
The spear was about two meters long, its shaft entirely black, with a golden dragon intricately carved upon it, as if coiled around the shaft.
A golden dragon head stood proudly at the spearhead, majestic and imposing. A rhombic tip extended from the dragon's mouth, flanked by golden, shimmering spear blades. It was incredibly sharp, resembling the Guan Hong Zhi Shuo, capable of tearing through the void.
A six-star weapon—the Zhen Ling Long Spear.
This spear was forged by Ling Feng with great effort, using six-star meteor iron, six-star dragon bones, dragon marrow, dragon souls, and other rare heavenly treasures.
Following this, a dazzling golden radiance flowed from where Ling Feng gripped the spear to other parts, as if the entire spear had been plated with liquid gold. It shone brilliantly under the night sky, exceptionally dazzling.
Xing Qiong Yi Qiang!
Ling Feng hurled the Zhen Ling Long Spear with immense force. The spear instantly transformed into a golden meteor, streaking towards the ground.
A deafening roar then reverberated through heaven and earth. A brilliant golden light spread out in a hemispherical shape, covering more than half of the forest, causing the mountains to collapse and the earth to split.
When the golden light completely dissipated, a colossal crater, a hundred miles in diameter, appeared on the ground. The surrounding hundreds of meters of land had been leveled by the shockwave.
"Such destructive power."
In terms of sheer destructive power, this single strike was greater than that of an ordinary nuclear bomb.
"However... this move cannot be used lightly," Ling Feng exhaled, realizing that this strike had completely depleted the Star Power from his opened inner universe and a significant amount of his true essence, nearly leaving him utterly drained.
Unlike the Law of Fire and Spatial Power he had comprehended, he had not comprehended Star Power. He could only rely on the Xing Ling Jue to absorb and store it. Once it was used up, he had to absorb more, unlike the Law of Fire, which he could use endlessly unless his stamina was completely exhausted.
Ling Feng extended his hand, and the Zhen Ling Long Spear flew back to him from the giant crater.
"As expected of a move designed for cultivators in the Integration or Mahayana stages. This is only because my cultivation is insufficient and my power is lacking. I've only managed to unleash about one ten-thousandth of its power."
Ling Feng shook his head. If he could unleash its full might, "shattering stars with a single spear" would likely not be an exaggeration.
The next morning, at six o'clock.
Ling Feng walked out of the bedroom, his spirit invigorated. He wore a white hoodie printed with a Pikachu cartoon, looking like an unripened youth. As the saying goes, a man is forever a boy at heart.
A faint fragrance filled the air. Zhen was already having breakfast at the dining table. Seeing Ling Feng, she smiled slightly.
"You're up. Go wash up quickly."
"Mm."
After washing up, Ling Feng returned to the dining table and sat down. Zhen had already served his breakfast.
"Where's Keqing? Did she not come back last night?" Ling Feng glanced at the clock on the wall. It was only a little past six in the morning. If Keqing were here, she should have been up by now.
"I haven't seen her. That's likely the case," Zhen replied calmly.
Keqing still possessed her restless nature. When she had no work, she diligently practiced her cultivation. This month was already the third time she had stayed up all night in the indoor combat training room.
Ling Feng and Zhen were accustomed to this. Of course, Keqing's efforts had yielded considerable results.
Keqing's sword qi precision and control over Honkai energy had improved significantly compared to before, making her a top-tier fighter among A-rank Valkyries in Schicksal.
After breakfast, Ling Feng left for work.
As he descended the stairs, Ling Feng saw a petite figure not far away, carrying two large boxes and walking towards the Valkyrie dormitory.
Bronya was in a good mood today. Her limited edition HoYoLAB gift box had finally arrived, though it was a bit heavy.
Suddenly, she felt the weight lighten. Looking up, she saw that the topmost box was gone. Her expression immediately changed to one of anxiety. This was her limited edition, rare HoYoLAB gift box!
At this moment, she noticed someone standing beside her, holding her box in their arms.
Before she could speak, the other person spoke first.
"Bronya, your boxes are so heavy. Let me help you carry one."
The person helping was Ling Feng. Seeing Bronya struggling with two large, heavy boxes by herself, he enthusiastically stepped forward to assist.
However, Bronya's subsequent response caused Ling Feng's enthusiastic expression to falter.
"Brother Ling Feng, don't you know that it's impolite to take someone's belongings without permission?" Bronya said with a cold, indifferent tone.
This... Ling Feng was taken aback. He hadn't expected Bronya to react this way and quickly apologized.
"I'm sorry."
"Since Brother Ling Feng knows he was wrong, Bronya will forgive you. Please help Bronya carry these boxes back to the Valkyrie dormitory."
Bronya gave a sly smile and walked past Ling Feng.
Bronya's sudden shift in demeanor caught Ling Feng off guard. He immediately understood that he had been teased by Bronya. He smiled wryly and shook his head, seeing a glimpse of Rongrong in Bronya.
Quickening his pace to catch up with Bronya, Ling Feng changed the subject.
"By the way, Bronya, why don't you use your Heavy-Mecha to help you carry the boxes?"
"One cannot always rely on the Heavy-Mecha. It is a combat partner, not a tool. Moreover, if the Heavy-Mecha were to be gone someday, then Bronya would have to rely on herself," Bronya said slowly, then added.
"One cannot overly rely on a single strength. Isn't that what you, Teacher Ling Feng, always say?"
"Yes," Ling Feng said, carrying a box in one hand and gently stroking Bronya's head with the other, smiling. "But you're mistaken on one point. If the Heavy-Mecha were gone, you would still have us. We are your partners, and we will all help you, won't we?"
"Partners..." Bronya lowered her head, her expression complex, her inner thoughts a mystery.
"Bronya, if one day the Honkai were to disappear, and the world was at peace, and our lives were settled, what would you want to do when you grow up?"
Ling Feng withdrew his arm, looking at the peaceful and serene St. Freya, and suddenly asked.
"Bronya would probably make games," Bronya replied hesitantly, as the future was uncertain.
"Making games? That's a good direction. With Bronya's intelligence and talent, the games you make will surely be a huge hit. Don't forget to save one for me then. And Kiana, she loves games so much, she'll probably pester you for beta access."
"Right, in a little while, this semester will be over too. Counting the time, it's been nearly two years since I came to St. Freya."
Ling Feng felt a surge of emotions, realizing how much time had passed unknowingly.
Some more time passed, and St. Freya welcomed the end-of-semester graduation ceremony.
St. Freya Grand Auditorium
Ling Feng, Zhen, and Hong Hong sat side-by-side in the audience. Ling Feng had brought Zhen and the two of them to the annual end-of-semester graduation ceremony.
"Now... I declare the St. Freya Academy semester graduation performance officially begun!"
On stage, as Theresa's voice faded, a series of performances unfolded before everyone's eyes.
[Kiana and Mei's performance of a prince rescuing a princess.]
[Himeko, Fu Hua, and Keqing portrayed knights fighting valiantly.]
[Bronya, Sagiri, and Future's magic show.]
[...]
As each performance concluded, the graduation ceremony reached its final segment.
Keqing, Sagiri, Mei, Kiana, and the other Valkyries who had performed changed into pristine white graduation robes. Under the stage lights, they sang in unison.
"Even if one day, tears bloom♪"
"I promised you, don't say goodbye♪"
"Azure wind, silvery night♪"
"So much longing, how to forget♪"
"I really, really want to hold hands♪"
"Travel through time, and see you again♪"
"Bloom, your most beautiful smile♪"