The exact nature of the [God-Devil Body] remained unknown. Qin Fen decided not to dwell on discovering what it was for now. He focused his attention on the changes wrought by the primary fusion between the biochemical beast egg and his body.

Activating the fusion state completely, Qin Fen immediately felt an indescribable surge in his senses—smell, sight, and hearing. Every bodily function was amplified to a degree that words failed to capture. Even his vital energy surged, vastly more potent than when he had just ascended to the Five-Star rank.

Without needing to pressurize his Zhenqi or unleash the explosive power within his body, Qin Fen merely gave a slight shake of his shoulders. The Furious Tide no longer required his usual preparatory buildup to activate.

He executed a simple combination attack. Though he held back his full strength, the sheer force of his palm winds ripped the bedsheets and scattered the paper across the room into a chaotic mess.

Qin Fen clenched his fists tightly, the returning power within him filling his heart with an ineffable excitement and thrill.

The Furious Tide, deployed casually, was already more potent than when he used Turbo Boost previously.

What kind of devastation would the full execution of the Furious Tide unleash? Qin Fen could barely contain his exhilaration. The two weeks of isolated training on the island paled in comparison to the harvest of this single day.

"With my current strength, I shouldn't lose even against a Six-Star expert," Qin Fen pondered seriously, furrowing his brow. "Seven-Star... I'll have to fight one to know."

Qin Fen softly executed the familiar Arhat Fist movements, calming the tumultuous excitement within his core.

The leap from Four-Star to Five-Star had initially just meant crossing the Meteor-level chasm. However, breaking through to Five-Star twice had placed Qin Fen at the absolute apex of the Five-Star realm the moment he entered it. If he took time to consolidate his power, he might break through to Six-Star relatively soon.

Combined with the boost from the primary fusion with the biochemical beast, Qin Fen had effectively advanced two full star levels in a single day, plus an additional half-star's worth of progress.

For a martial artist to advance even one star level was cause for great celebration, especially for one so young to cross the threshold into the Meteor level—a feat that inspired intense jealousy.

Advancing two star levels or more in one day? Such a speed would likely drive many martial artists to shame-induced suicide.

If circumstances hadn't confined him, Qin Fen would have loved to surprise Instructor Butcher and Squad Leader Hao with this new power.

For the next three days, Du Hen did not summon Qin Fen, nor did he allow either of them to leave the room or have any contact with the outside world.

With nothing else to do, Qin Fen could only continue cultivating his Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill, diligently seeking to sense the unevenness within his meridians and strengthen his control over his Zhenqi.

On the morning of the fourth day, Qin Fen received two pieces of news from a servant.

Du Zhanpeng, having failed to be revived, was officially declared a martyr of the Federation by the authorities. The Du family would hold a memorial service for him at noon.

"If you have time, you can come to bid Du Zhanpeng farewell,"

The servant relayed Du Hen’s exact words to Qin Fen.

The second piece of news was that Du Peng had awakened at the Central Province First Military Hospital. If he wished to visit, the Du family would not stand in his way.

Stepping out of the bedroom where he had been confined for three days, Qin Fen saw Xing Wuyi, who had also been held in confinement for the same period, not far away.

Compared to Qin Fen's heightened energy, Xing Wuyi had been visibly depressed over the past three days. He did little else but practice his techniques or pore over the notes Du Zhanpeng had left behind.

Their eyes met, and both men nodded almost instinctively before leaving the Du residence together.

Standing on the street, Qin Fen suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

Zhongzhou Shengjing, the center of Asian economy, politics, and culture. He had only known its location from geography lessons; he had never truly set foot in this thousand-year-old city.

"This area is called Houhai," Xing Wuyi murmured, gazing up at the sky. "Where do you want to go?"

Houhai? Qin Fen stared blankly around. So this was the district where property prices were said to exceed gold?

"Let's go see Du Peng first. There are some things I think he needs to know," Qin Fen’s voice carried a hint of sorrow. "Then, we'll go see Zhanpeng..."

"Understood," Xing Wuyi clapped Qin Fen on the shoulder. "Then follow me. That was my plan too. There are some matters I should settle for Zhanpeng."

The Central Province First Military Hospital was not hard to find. The two men reached the North Second Ring Road, hailed a taxi, and were soon deposited before the sprawling grounds of the hospital.

Du Peng’s room was a private ward, though the cost was not borne by the Du family, but covered by the military division.

Du Peng lay on the bed, resting with his eyes closed. He opened them when he heard the door open and nodded lightly upon seeing Qin Fen.

As for Xing Wuyi, Du Peng acted as if he hadn't noticed him at all.

Shot near the heart and struck by a palm blow from Du Zhanpeng on his back, Du Peng’s body had not fully recovered; his complexion and lips were slightly pale, though his spirit seemed much improved.

Qin Fen sat by the bedside and asked quietly, "How do you feel?"

Du Peng cast a look of intense disdain toward Xing Wuyi and spoke with icy contempt, "I was lucky. I survived being ambushed."

Xing Wuyi remained silent. He only stared at the small red metallic box in his hand, seemingly deaf to Du Peng's sarcasm.

...

Qin Fen also fell silent, pondering for a few minutes before speaking, "What about your Zhenqi? Has it regressed?"

"Zhenqi?" A smug look crossed Du Peng's face. "Surviving this disaster seems to have been a blessing in disguise. For some reason, my internal Zhenqi has undergone a qualitative change. Despite severe injuries, my star level has actually increased."

Having said this, Du Peng once again shot a venomous glance at Xing Wuyi and said provocatively, "Once my body heals, it will be the time for that running dog's master to be defeated..."

Xing Wuyi slowly raised his head. There was no anger in his eyes, only profound sorrow, and the tears were visibly trembling in his lower lids, threatening to spill over at any moment.

Du Peng paused, taken aback. He had never seen Xing Wuyi display such an expression. In his mind, Xing Wuyi’s presence here was not a kindly visit but a show of dominance and a message of Du Zhanpeng’s threats.

To wound his own comrade in a competition for credit on the battlefield—if that detail ever got out, it would not benefit Du Zhanpeng in the slightest.

"What? Have you come to repent?" Du Peng laughed coldly. "Did Du Zhanpeng realize the mess he caused and send you to play the sympathy card? Don't worry. I'm not as despicable as he is; no one else will learn about the sneak attack. I will defeat him honorably..."

The tears could no longer be restrained by Xing Wuyi, pouring continuously from his eyes. He gripped the red metallic box tightly—this was the birthday gift Du Zhanpeng intended for Du Peng.

Even in death, Xing Wuyi understood that Du Zhanpeng would never allow the truth to be spoken.

"You're right. I have come to negotiate," Xing Wuyi forced a sliver of his usual arrogance onto his lips, tossing the red metal box in his hand toward Du Peng as if throwing away refuse. "Young Master Du said this is your hush money."

Du Peng pinched the red metal box between his thumb and forefinger, turning it back and forth, his eyes full of mockery. "What is this?"

"A biochemical beast," Xing Wuyi stood up, looking down at Du Peng with his characteristic condescending gaze. "If you’re afraid of dying, you don’t have to take it." ... "Afraid of dying?"

Du Peng snapped open the red metal box. A biochemical beast egg glowing with red light lay quietly inside. A flash of understanding crossed his initially confused eyes.

"Du Zhanpeng wants to get out, doesn't he?"

(For PC reading: w ww .1 6 k. cn)

(For PC reading: w w w.16k . cn）

"What?" Xing Wuyi started.

"I said, Du Zhanpeng wants out, right?" Du Peng spun the metal box. "He wants to kill me with a biochemical beast egg? He thought I wouldn't survive the fusion, so he could silence me, is that it?"

Xing Wuyi desperately maintained a cold sneer. "Yes. I even bet with Young Master Du, wagering that you wouldn't dare keep this beast egg, nor would you use it. As it turned out, Young Master Du thought the same way, so we couldn't even finish the bet."

"Get out," Du Peng waved his hand dismissively. "Go tell your master. I, Du Peng, accept this thing."

"Good, very good. I will relay your message," Xing Wuyi turned and walked toward the door. "Qin Fen, I’ll wait for you outside. Afterward, I’ll take you for a tour of Shengjing."

Silence returned to the room. Du Peng continued turning the metal box over, his eyes filled with icy derision. "Does Du Zhanpeng really take me for a fool? Sending this sort of creature to provoke me, and he thinks I'll fuse this biochemical beast egg? Silencing me? When my body recovers, I won't need a beast egg to defeat you."

He casually tossed the metal box onto the table beside the bed and turned to Qin Fen with a smile again. "You come to see me, and you don't even bring fruit?"

Qin Fen didn't respond to Du Peng's jest; he stared blankly at the biochemical beast egg that Du Peng had discarded like trash on the table.

The image of Du Zhanpeng leaving that day flashed before his eyes once more.

Brother! Even in death, he is still thinking of his younger brother.

"What’s wrong?" Du Peng noticed the sudden shift in Qin Fen's emotional state.

Qin Fen slowly looked up at Du Peng, complex emotions flickering in his eyes. After a long pause, he said slowly, "Du Zhanpeng... is dead..."

Du Peng shuddered violently. Lying half-reclined, he instantly sat bolt upright, staring blankly at Qin Fen.

"What did you say? Du Zhanpeng is dead?"

"He is dead," Qin Fen stated quietly. "He died on that mission."

"How is that possible?" Du Peng's gaze shifted to the location of the biochemical beast egg on the table. "This..."

"This must be what he intended to give you," Qin Fen nodded slowly, his tone heavy with suppressed emotion. "But this must have been prepared before he died, right?"

"What are you saying?" Du Peng couldn't believe his ears. "He would prepare a biochemical beast egg for me before his death? Does that mean he sensed the threat I posed to him and prepared to strike preemptively?"

Qin Fen simply shook his head gently. He did not answer Du Peng’s question, instead murmuring to himself, "Let me tell you a story."