While Qin Fen’s recent combat had been astonishing, Young Master Feng Zhiyu was a genuine Two-Star Top 100 master, a former two-time recipient of the God of War title; his true strength was anything but trivial.

The God of War title obtained this time by Yi Jian Jingshen was largely a matter of luck. In the arena maze battle a day prior, Young Master Feng Zhiyu had dueled a top-tier master within the Two-Star Top 100 and skipped that arena. Many other Two-Star top-tier masters had also chosen to watch Feng Zhiyu’s duel instead of participating in the God of War arena, allowing Yi Jian Jingshen to seize the title fortunately—otherwise, the current scene, with his body wreathed in blue electric light, would be hard to predict.

Gazing at the $1,136 wager, Qin Fen felt on the verge of suffocation. Winning this single match meant over a month’s living expenses!

Win! He absolutely must win!

Young Master Feng Zhiyu arched an eyebrow, looking at Qin Fen with a measure of surprise. This opponent named 'Thirty-Six Hours' had possessed an aura as calm as lake water moments ago; how could his fighting spirit suddenly soar skyward? What exactly had stimulated him?

Qin Fen’s file was pitifully sparse: aside from a few battle records, the rest was entirely spectating—a spectator who had watched nearly ten thousand matches.

In others' eyes, this kind of record suggested Thirty-Six Hours was a coward who dared not fight. But in Feng Zhiyu’s view, it suggested something else entirely. Watching nearly ten thousand battles, this person, though never entering the ring, could be considered an exceptionally seasoned martial artist, provided he possessed any genuine intent.

At this moment, the spectator stands of the fighting arena were utterly full.

The news that Feng Zhiyu, one of the Top 100 masters in the Two-Star realm, was dueling someone in the free-zone arena instantly swept across the Two-Star tier of the Sky Martial Arts Combat Net.

Unlike a nobody like Qin Fen, Feng Zhiyu enjoyed considerable fame among Two-Star martial artists; witnessing his fight was itself an incredibly exciting event.

The higher a martial artist’s rank, the fewer individuals existed in that tier; the lower the rank, the larger the corresponding population base. The Two-Star realm belonged to the higher end of the lower ranks, yet not quite the level of true masters. It possessed a massive foundational pool. Filling an arena was not an overly difficult task.

More people were frantically searching Qin Fen’s profile. What kind of person could attract the appearance and challenge of someone like Feng Zhiyu, one of the Top 100?

Three wins, zero losses? Shaolin Arhat Fist? Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill?

Seeing Qin Fen’s data, almost everyone was stunned. Could someone with this record actually fight Feng Zhiyu?

While confusion reigned, the signal for the fight's commencement echoed through the arena.

Whoosh!

The battle erupted. Feng Zhiyu’s steps tapped lightly, his body sweeping like a fierce gale, raising a biting wind. With a flash and a rush, he arrived before Qin Fen. His right foot advanced, his left foot stomped heavily, and both fists drove out from his chest, aimed at his sternum and throat.

This move, Furious Tiger Penetrates the Forest, was short-ranged with extreme burst power. One could hear the bones in Feng Zhiyu’s shoulder blades crackle, and his fists moved with unbelievable speed. The pressure from his fists was already buffeting Qin Fen’s clothes in the blink of an eye.

The light in Qin Fen’s eyes suddenly flared, ten times brighter than before! Tiger form—one must cultivate the courage of the bone; the bone is the root of courage! Valor springs from the bone; if the bone cannot support valor, then valor has no source!

The refined Feng Zhiyu, in that instant, resembled the saber-toothed tiger in a holographic training simulation. Before he even arrived, a savage aura saturated the air.

Stepping forward a half-pace, he swung his arm down like a massive, sharpened axe. The booming sound of his clothing scraping the air followed: Shaolin Arhat Fist, Tiger Taming Posture!

To counter the Tiger Form, one must naturally use the Tiger Taming Posture!

Bang!

The ground shuddered slightly. Both men retreated a half-step. A sliver of excitement crossed Yu’s eyes. He slightly bent his right knee and turned his body to the right, while his right shoulder dipped and swung forward. His left arm shot out from his shoulder, accompanied by a bear’s roar erupting from his mouth—Five Animal Frolics, Bear Pat!

Qin Fen stepped forward another half-pace, rotating his waist to power his arm. The Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill was poured entirely into it. The extended arm replicated the terrifying might of an ancient steel whip: Straight Stance Single Whip!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Seven consecutive Bear Pats slammed against the Single Whip counter-attack. Both men’s feet sank deep into the fighting stage; the momentum was ferocious and overwhelmingly fierce. The audience gasped repeatedly—they were both Two-Star fighters, but weren't these two a bit too savage?

Eighth strike! Qin Fen snatched forward a half-pace, his arm coiling slightly more, like a massive hammer smashing down onto Feng Zhiyu’s Bear Pat. Their arms collided in a flash of electric light and fire.

CRACK!

Feng Zhiyu let out a muffled groan. He could no longer remain unperturbed as he had in the previous seven exchanges. His feet shuffled backward repeatedly, retreating nearly a dozen steps before stabilizing his posture. Each footfall left a deep imprint on the ground. When he finally stopped moving entirely, he realized he was standing off the edge of the stage.

Unlike previous duels, Feng Zhiyu had chosen the stage mode—their fight took place on an ancient stone slab platform.

Feng Zhiyu looked down at the ground, then looked up and stated frankly, "I concede. Thank you."

The crowd was stunned again. Why would the loser thank the winner? Was this how masters displayed their temperament?

"This Thirty-Six Hours won me with the very first strike; the subsequent exchanges were merely for my understanding," Feng Zhiyu suddenly declared loudly, causing the crowd further surprise.

Defeating the powerhouse Two-Star Top 100 master Feng Zhiyu in a single strike? How was this possible? Even the number one Two-Star fighter on the Sky Martial Arts Combat Net couldn't defeat Yu in a single blow.

Qin Fen swiftly transferred the more than one thousand dollars into his bank account. As for the seven follow-up exchanges, they were merely to amass more material for the battle report he planned to send to the press; otherwise, ending in one strike left nothing substantial for a column piece, that was all.

"Are you very short of money?" Feng Zhiyu stepped back onto the stage and asked his question quietly.

"Yes," Qin Fen answered truthfully. Poverty was not shameful; what was truly shameful was being poor and making no effort to create wealth—that was his long-held principle.

"Then why don't you fight in the battle arenas?" Feng Zhiyu asked. "Obtaining the God of War title yields very decent items. Although they are virtual, they still sell for a good price."

"God of War?" Qin Fen only knew about the free zone; he knew nothing of the paid tiers, and had never even heard of fighting for the God of War title.

"It's an event in the paid zone; the return rate should be very high for you," Feng Zhiyu explained calmly. "Winning rewards you with substantial items."

Items—Qin Fen’s eyes lit up. These virtual items held the exact same power as real-world items. The reason these virtual items existed was to allow people to familiarize themselves with item usage within the Combat Net; otherwise, buying two Thunderclap Swords in reality and then attempting to train with them would be difficult, risking impalement during flight control practice. Such a death would make even ghosts laugh at him in the afterlife.