Swallowing the Stars: Only in my later years did I come to the life-spending panel.

9th place: Luo Feng, total score 356 points.

He went from 33rd place in the second round to 9th place on the overall leaderboard.

Bridge stared at the name, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

He was number one, but everyone knew that in terms of willpower, he lost to an unknown martial artist.

Luo Feng stood in the crowd, staring at his name on the screen, a surge of indescribable emotion welling up inside him. Ninth place overall. He did it!

Among the crowd, Zhou Lie's eyes were also searching the leaderboard.

When he saw Zhou Lie, ranked 98th with a total score of 301, he was stunned. 98th?

He succeeded!

His gaze continued upwards, and he quickly found another familiar name.

Luo Feng.

Zhou Lie remained silent for a moment, then looked away. He felt no jealousy towards Luo Feng, only admiration. This man deserved this ranking.

Zhou Mu stood up from the high platform, raised his hand and gestured to suppress the noise in the square, which gradually subsided.

"The top 240 will become the first cohort of trainees in the Peak Training Camp, effective immediately." His voice was calm yet authoritative. "Those who are not selected, please leave the camp on your own. The training camp will arrange your return transportation."

As soon as he finished speaking, a sigh rippled through the crowd, and the unsuccessful candidates left dejectedly.

Zhou Mu hovered in the air, standing with his hands behind his back. He waited until the team of the eliminated contestants had completely disappeared from sight before speaking again.

"Congratulations on successfully joining the Peak Training Camp! But don't be arrogant. Your opponents aren't those who left, but monsters. They won't wait for you if you become complacent!"

Just as Zhou Mu was about to wave them away, his gaze fell on Luo Feng in the crowd.

He was staring at his name on the leaderboard, a slight smile on his lips, but his eyes were calm, without pride or smugness, only contentment.

Zhou Mu's heart stirred, and he suddenly spoke.

"Luo Feng".

All eyes in the room instantly turned to them.

Luo Feng was taken aback, then stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Chief Instructor."

Zhou Mu looked at him, his gaze deep: "How long have you been a martial artist?"

Luo Feng hadn't expected to be asked this question, and answered truthfully, "Less than two years."

A gasp of surprise rose from the crowd. In less than two years, he had cultivated from an ordinary person to a mid-level warrior?

This speed is simply unbelievable.

Zhou Mu was not surprised by this and continued to ask, "On the path of cultivation, has anyone provided guidance?"

Luo Feng was silent for a moment, then shook his head: "No. I figured it all out myself, by reading manuals and then practicing in real combat."

A hint of admiration flashed in Zhou Mu's eyes. Without any guidance, he had figured things out on his own, and under such conditions, he had still managed to successfully grow into an intermediate-level warrior, and even endure for twelve minutes during the willpower test...

His talent is even more terrifying than imagined.

Zhou Mu nodded. "Very good. Keep up the good work. I have high hopes for you."

Then his gaze swept across the entire room, and he said calmly, "Disperse. Go and complete your entry procedures."

"Luo Feng".

At this moment, Zhou Mu transmitted his voice through his source energy, "After we disperse, wait for me in my office."

Luo Feng nodded subconsciously.

Seeing that Luo Feng agreed, Zhou Mu turned around and transformed into a streak of deep purple lightning, disappearing into the horizon.

......

Inside the head instructor's office.

Zhou Mu gestured for Luo Feng to sit down, and said solemnly, "I wish to take you as my disciple. Are you willing?"

This sudden invitation left Luo Feng stunned.

He looked up at Zhou Mu in front of him, his mind blank.

Apprentice?

This man, who powerfully killed the Azure Dragon of the East Sea, established the Peak Training Camp, and whose reputation was even rumored to be known as the Big Brother by the world's number one and two strongest, wanted to take him as his disciple.

"I..." Luo Feng opened his mouth, his voice trembling slightly, "Chief Instructor, I'm just a mid-level combatant, ranked only ninth, you..."

"Ranked ninth?" Zhou Mu looked him over, a smile playing on his lips. "With your intermediate-level warrior cultivation, you managed to last twelve minutes in the willpower test, far surpassing all the geniuses present. This willpower is more important than any ranking."

Zhou Mu continued, "You've been a martial artist for less than two years, and it's truly remarkable that you've achieved what you have today. Your talent as a mentalist is among the best in the world, but relying solely on your own exploration will ultimately have its limitations. If you're willing, I can teach you the knowledge of mentalists and always be there for you."

"Are you willing?"

Luo Feng clenched his fists, his whole body trembling slightly.

His biggest hidden trump card has been exposed!

The head instructor found out he was a mentalist!

In a flash, countless thoughts raced through my mind.

He recalled the battle in the wilderness, where he used his mental powers to kill the guards of Li Wei, the young master of the Bolenas family, leaving him in the wilderness and indirectly causing him to die in the jaws of monsters.

At that moment, he had no choice; if he didn't do it, he would be the one to die.

But he never expected that Li Wei's parents, the heads of the Bolenas family—the high-level war god "Vulture" Li Yao and "Scorpion" Vinina—would offer a 1000 billion bounty to avenge him.

This number is enough to tempt any warrior at the God of War level, and even to tempt some who surpass the God of War level to take risks.

He concealed his abilities as a psychic, simply to survive.

But now, Zhou Mu's words have revealed his biggest secret.

Luo Feng raised his head and looked at the imposing figure. The figure's eyes were as deep as the sea, but they held no malice; they simply gazed at him calmly.

Zhou Mu transmitted his voice again: "I know some things about your situation. You don't need to worry about the bounty on the Bolenas family's side."

Luo Feng's pupils contracted slightly.

"These are all minor matters to me," Zhou Mu said calmly and steadily. "I will become your most reliable support. You only need to answer me: are you willing?"

Luo Feng remained silent for a second.

He recalled the suspicions the Firehammer Squad members had about the exorbitant bounty after the incident, the anxiety he felt every time he entered the wilderness, and the greedy eyes that lurked in the shadows, eager to find the killer and collect the reward.

One mistake could lead to utter ruin; carrying everything alone is exhausting.

Now, someone is extending a helping hand to him.

He is also one of the strongest on Earth, capable of killing a king-level monster that has been entrenched in the East China Sea for decades, and a powerful figure who almost wiped out the royal family, who are on par with Polinus!

"I do!"

Luo Feng suddenly knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in greeting, and said in a slightly trembling voice, "Disciple Luo Feng greets Master."

A relieved smile appeared on Zhou Mu's face. He raised his hand to help Luo Feng up, and his vast spiritual power reached out to lift him up: "Get up."

Luo Feng stood up, his eyes slightly red.

Zhou Mu looked at him, his gaze gentle, his tone soft yet exuding domineering power: "From this day forward, you are my disciple, Zhou Mu's disciple. You no longer need to worry about Polinas; with me here, no one can harm you or your family."

Luo Feng nodded emphatically.

Zhou Mu took out two items from his spatial ring and used his mental power to send them to Luo Feng.

"Consider these two items your apprenticeship gift from your master."

A bottle of scarlet liquid, with a faint glow flowing around it.

"This is dragon blood, which can greatly enhance the physical attributes of warriors at the general level in a very short time. However, the absorption process is extremely painful, and the effect will be greatly reduced if one falls into a coma. But I believe that with your willpower, you will be able to maximize the effect."

A silver-white USB flash drive.

"This is the complete Ninefold Thunder Blade manual. Go back and study it carefully. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."

Luo Feng accepted the two items. He had heard a little about the value of dragon blood, and the two items in his hands were worth more than 1800 billion!

It's even higher than his bounty!

"Thank you, Master," Luo Feng bowed deeply.

Zhou Mu waved his hand, "You should get used to things with the trainees first. I've already sent you my contact number. Contact me directly if anything happens."