Cosmic Demon

Chapter 233 A Grandmaster Descends from the Sky, Furious and Ferocious!
In the open space in the front yard of the Nanhuang Martial Arts Hall, Qin Shi brought over a long bench, drinking energy liquid while instructing Zhou Ning on standing meditation.

"Stand firm, Xiao Zhou! If you can't even hold your ground, how are you going to fight in the ring? If someone attacks your lower body, you'll fall!"

Zhou Ning was covered in sweat, and his thigh muscles trembled and shook, as limp as two noodles.

He was standing on the Honglu Zhuang stance of the Nanhuang Taoist Temple, guiding his life force to his chest through three breaths from bottom to top, and then pumping it to his entire body through his heartbeat.

Every time his breath faltered and failed to resonate with the vibrations of his flesh and blood, Qin Shi would speak to remind him.

"Tighten your core, stretch your torso, imagine your breath is like flowing water, drawing external energy into your body..."

The subtle changes within Zhou Ning's body did not escape Qin Shi's keen observation.

Under the influence of his life's magnetic field, no fluctuation can escape its detection.

About fifteen minutes later, large beads of sweat dripped from Zhou Ning's forehead, and the life force that had been tightly held together finally gave way and suddenly dissipated.

"too difficult!"

Zhou Ning plopped down on the ground, completely disregarding his image.

He was soaking wet, as if he had just climbed out of a river.

"This furnace-like pillar, standing on it for even once feels like I'm half-dead. Old Qin, I heard from Teacher Ren that you can stand on it for days and nights without stopping?"

Qin Shi nodded. For him, the furnace pile was like elementary school addition and subtraction, posing no difficulty whatsoever.

"Wow, this is phenomenal! I really want to be a genius and experience these superhuman stats!"

Zhou Ning looked up at the sky and sighed, then fell backward, lying in a spread-eagle position.

"Practice hard. The Honglu stance is a compulsory course at the Nanhuang Martial Arts Academy. It helps your muscles memorize the rhythm of the three breaths. Once you get used to it, your endurance, strength, and even your power will improve significantly."

Qin Shi gulped down the last mouthful and threw the sealed jar into a bamboo basket not far away.

"My vitality level increased rapidly in my recent physical fitness test, and Lao Qian even praised me."

Zhou Ning let out a long sigh of relief, his breathing gradually becoming even.

"Maybe I can get into a second-rate university and find a high-paying job in foreign trade in the future."

Qin Shi smiled. As long as Zhou Ning maintained this steady rate of vitality development, he would definitely be able to meet the admission scores of first- or second-tier universities.

"Thank you, Lao Qin. Without your help, I wouldn't be able to step through the doors of the Nanhuang Martial Arts Academy! Even top students like Xu Mo and Zhao Yunzhu from the elite class at the new No. 1 Middle School couldn't get in through connections!"

Zhou Ning said sincerely.

"Why are you saying such polite things?"

Qin Shi got up and walked down the steps. He didn't need to deliberately put on a pose. His every move was accompanied by his aura, and a rich radiance emanated from his body, swirling around his limbs and torso.

From a distance, it looks like a bright, pure white cocoon, waiting for the moment of successful hatching.

"Old Qin, when are you planning to break through to the full-time level?"

Zhou Ning felt the vast energy surging wave after wave, like the crashing of ocean tides, and couldn't help but marvel.

It's hard to imagine that just a few months ago, Lao Qin was working a summer job with me.

In less than six months, he became the most dazzling supernova and the most famous genius in Hengzhou.

"Almost there, let me work on the progress a bit more."

Qin Shi released the life radiance within his body. At this stage, he no longer needed to deliberately adjust his muscles and tendons; the cultivation furnace of the Southern Huang Martial Arts Academy had become an instinct, firmly imprinted on his mortal body.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and looked inward. Nearly eighty nodes on his body had lit up, right at his chest, shining like rings.

The vital essence of flesh and blood refined by the cultivation furnace was continuously injected into it, and then burst forth with beams of brilliant light as thick as a thumb.

After a few minutes, Qin Shi experienced the exhilarating feeling of Zhou Ning standing in the stance until exhaustion. The "Art of War" was indeed unique in its ability to deplete the mortal body and consume accumulated energy.

Even with his numerical template that makes countless geniuses envious and jealous, he feels as if his body has been hollowed out every time he uses the radiance of life to ignite a node, and a sense of weakness arises spontaneously.

"Hoo, hoo!"

After reigniting two nodes and breaking through the number ninety, Qin Shi stopped practicing his cultivation and sat down on the ground to rest.

“Old Zhou, why don’t you work with my older sister? She’s always wanted to keep busy and is planning to start a long-haul freight company. I’m thinking, either don’t do it at all, or if you do, make it big.”

Zhou Ning asked in confusion:

How big are you planning to go?

Qin Shi's throat felt dry and parched, so he asked Xuanming to bring him two jars of level-four energy liquid to moisten his throat. He then said:

"More than a dozen vehicles with guns escorted the way, mainly to liaise with the inspection department and contract their projects."

We're currently in the planning stage, and we lack manpower and funds. If you're willing to invest, you'll be considered a founding member, and you'll receive a share of the profits later.

Zhou Ning shrugged and smiled:

"Old Qin, if you want to take care of your brother, just say so next time. I'm not going to stand on ceremony, and I'll be very eager to curry favor with you."

He's not stupid. Old Qin says he's planning something, but he hasn't done anything.

In reality, given his appeal and influence, recruiting people would be a piece of cake. Bringing me in as a shareholder is simply a way to give me a better future out of consideration for our past friendship.

"Okay. From now on, as long as I have food to eat, you'll have a dish to wash. How does that sound?"

Qin Shi said jokingly.

"It's quite comfortable and relaxing."

Zhou Ning answered seriously.

"In the past, the best future that the children of workers in our old factory street could imagine was to obtain permanent residency in the Tai'an metropolitan area, which was already considered a great achievement."

I originally planned to become the head of security at a factory right after graduation, but now you've made me the general manager of the transportation company. It's a real honor for the family! My dad will have to be the one to offer me a toast at every holiday dinner!"

Qin Shi's lips twitched; Xiao Zhou was as filial as ever.

"Anyway, I don't have any big goals in this life, but recently, following you, Lao Qin, has broadened my horizons. I've started to fantasize about becoming a full-time professional and having the Zhou family give me a separate page in their family tree."

Zhou Ning said with a smile.

"That's ambitious! I'll talk to Senior Brother Ren later and ask him to step up his efforts and train you properly so you can build a solid foundation and strive for a professional career!"

Qin Shi gave a thumbs-up, indicating his willingness to provide assistance.

"forgive me."

Zhou Ning, who had just sat up, suddenly fell back down and lay flat again.

After resting for a short while, Qin Shi recovered. The life force that had been depleted was regenerated from the vitality of his flesh and blood, slowly replenishing his entire body.

When the intensity of his life force had increased to half, he dusted himself off, bid farewell to Zhou Ning, and entered the backyard.

"Third Senior Sister, when will Master Zhang be back?"

Qin Shi happened to bump into Yu Weiwei, who was wearing an apron, in the covered corridor. He couldn't help but miss Lao Zhang a little. The old man was driving the Divine Machine around the starry sea without a license, which made him feel uneasy.

"How would I know? Master's trips are always lasting from six months to three or four years. Junior Brother Qin, the starry sea is vast, and the Divine Machine isn't a warship that can jump multiple times..."

Yu shook her head slightly and brought the freshly prepared nutritious meal to Qin Shi.

"Don't worry about Master. He can roam freely in most parts of the galaxy when he pilots that King-level divine machine."

…… ……

In the Black Xie Starfield, a civilian cargo ship brazenly barged into the infamous "Scorpion Corridor".

It was not equipped with powerful firepower, nor did it have any escort ships following closely behind. Such high-profile behavior was like a child carrying gold in a busy city center, leaving even the star pirates entrenched here unsure of its origins and somewhat suspicious.

"Boss, could it be a trap set by the Ninth Battle Group's elite troops?"

The fully armed raiders inside the spaceship looked at each other, waiting for their leader to give them instructions.

The Scorpion Corridor is located in the central part of the Black Xie Starfield and is a vast area covered by meteorites.

Large-scale, high-intensity battles once took place here, with the Ninth Legion and the Star God's Familiars clashing fiercely. The former used orbital strikes to bombard and pulverize several highly polluted planets.

That's how this deadly area, known as the "Scorpion Corridor," came to be.

Many people from all walks of life who could not obtain citizenship in Dongxia or had committed crimes and were deprived of their citizenship rights for life used this place as a base for raiders, who frequented the area year after year to conduct illegal transactions or sell stolen goods.

Because the large destroyers or cruisers of the Ninth Fleet cannot sail inside, the level of security is quite high.

Generally speaking, experienced merchant ships either choose to go around them or hire an escort fleet.

Of course, there is an even more direct method: pay the bandits a toll in exchange for protection.

"Let's wait and see! Be careful! What if it's some rich kid pretending to be weak while actually being strong? We don't need to take the bait!"

The leader of the raiding gang thought it over and made a conservative choice.

To survive among the stars, the wisest way to survive is to do nothing, rather than taking risks to make a fortune.

That civilian merchant ship was like swimming into a school of piranhas; in the dark, deep waters, who knows how many ferocious carnivorous creatures were lurking.

The captain and first mate were not as calm and composed as the other raiding group leaders had imagined. Their cabins were not filled with armed and well-trained troops waiting to attack.

"That was so exciting! I swear, I've never experienced anything so thrilling in my life!"

The bearded captain, with a pipe dangling from his mouth, possessed a burly physique and a rough voice, clearly a seasoned veteran with extensive experience in the world.

But his two thick legs trembled slightly beneath his burly body, and his rough voice contained a tremor, as if he was about to wet himself in fear.

"The radar is full of red dots! Captain! There are at least seven or eight raiding groups lurking nearby!"

The first mate held a portable detection instrument, the display screen of which was synchronously connected to the radar.

He had a mournful face, looking utterly hopeless, as if he were planning to write his will in advance.

"Don't panic! We might be able to become the first merchant ship to pass through the Scorpion Corridor without paying any tolls!"

The bearded captain, forcing himself to stay alert, seemed to be brainwashing himself, constantly spouting inspiring words.

They left the command center and took an elevator down to the drop bay, where lifeboats were placed so that passengers could take emergency shelter should the merchant ship be attacked and unable to sail.

But as the elevator crashed to the ground, the first mate discovered that all the lifeboats had vanished, as if they had been emptied out.

The thick layer of dust on the ground also left obvious marks, as if a heavy object had been dragged, leaving streaks.

The further the bearded captain went, the stranger it seemed to the first mate became. When the hatch opened and they entered the deepest drop compartment, a massive shadow loomed over them like a mountain range, making it hard to breathe.

"Divine...mechanic!"

The first mate looked up, his face filled with utter astonishment.

Although this divine machine shrunk to its normal size and did not display the terrifying posture of looking down on gods and demons as in legends, its plain outline that seemed to be formed from flesh and blood, its eye-catching body that resembled a celestial being, and the energy particles that were emanating from it... all told the first mate that this divine machine was not of a low level.

"Captain! How come we have a secret weapon on board?"

The first mate didn't think there was any hope; on the contrary, he believed that this might be the root of the trouble.

It's important to know that the requirements for piloting a super machine are extremely high. Even within the combat unit, only the most outstanding soldiers are qualified to serve as pilots.

"Don't ask too many questions!"

The bearded captain turned around and gave the first mate a stern look, stopping him from continuing his investigation.

He took a deep breath; the temperature at the bottom of the release silo was very low, and a chill was creeping through him.

"Sir! As you requested, I followed the same route without altering it, heading directly through the Scorpion Corridor to the Ninth Legion's fourth satellite fortress..."

The bearded captain was humble, as if he were a servant facing his master.

He and the first mate did not enter the innermost maintenance room of the drop-off bay. Their tense and uneasy voices, like those of a swing, were transmitted back and forth, sounding particularly loud.

After the lingering sound faded into silence, a tall, slender figure emerged from the darkness and appeared before the two.

He was a bald man with long arms and legs, who was very thin.

The other person looked quite haggard, with deep dark circles under their eyes, as if they hadn't had a proper rest for weeks or months.

"Don't worry about those raiding groups. You are the bait. If any fools take the bait, it will be a good way to pass the time during the long voyage."

The bald man had a deep, resonant voice, like a baritone singer, which inexplicably gave people a great sense of security.

"The psychic path! It seems we really are saved!"

The first mate was overjoyed, feeling a surge of relief at surviving such a disaster.

He sensed an incredibly powerful spiritual fluctuation emanating from the bald man.

Without a doubt, the other party was the pilot of this divine machine!
"So, sir! When do you plan to deal with those offensive fellows?"

The first mate asked excitedly.

"You might have misunderstood something."

The bald man shrugged and raised his cleaning tools:
"I am neither the owner nor the pilot of this machine. I am only responsible for cleaning and routine maintenance."

The first mate was taken aback, and the bearded captain was also surprised.

The "mystery guest" he encountered from the very beginning was this bald man.

"The senior you're looking for is probably enjoying food and liquor in first class."

The bald man said helplessly.

……

……

Old Zhang finally stood up from his wheelchair, dressed in a brightly colored, loose-fitting short-sleeved shirt and baggy shorts, looking like a tourist going on vacation to a tropical region.

Holding a glass of juice, wearing flip-flops, I walked through the first-class dining room.

Boom!
The merchant ship, which had been sailing steadily, suddenly jolted and began to shake violently.

Inside the restaurant, amidst the clinking of glasses, the upper class in suits all gazed out the window. The observation deck, originally intended for admiring the cosmic scenery, was now occupied by fighter jets that resembled piranhas!

"A raiding gang!"

Someone exclaimed in surprise, causing panic and uproar.

"It took so long to get a bite! The fish these days are so clever, it's hard to recreate He Lanchan's spectacular 'Grandmaster's Descent, Furious and Ferocious' performance!"

After finishing his juice, Old Zhang slowly walked to the observation deck.

Everyone stared at the frail old man, and in the next moment, the passage opened, and the decrepit figure, wearing sandals and shorts, took a big step and actually crossed outer space with his physical body!
In just a moment, a spectacular fireworks display erupted in the dark universe!
(End of this chapter)