The audience area fell silent once more, the crowd staring blankly at the center stage where Zhao Qian Dao Bu Jin Duan Shan He displayed his unparalleled martial sharpness. The layperson saw the breathtakingly exquisite blade technique, but the expert perceived the chilling killing intent and sheer might woven within the movements.

The anger in the American recruits' eyes had transformed into astonishment. This smiling, nonchalant man was not merely a Seven-Star Martial Artist; he possessed genuinely formidable power.

In combat between martial artists, being unarmed against an opponent wielding a weapon inherently placed one at a disadvantage. Even Song Wendong had to admit this—if a Divine Beast titled martial artist entered a fight, the one holding a weapon often gained the upper hand.

Of course, weapons bearing the Divine Beast title were no better than scrap paper in their eyes unless they were specially forged divine implements capable of countering them.

In a duel between two Seven-Star Martial Artists, mastery over one's weapon often determined the ultimate victor.

Xue Tian, with his single move Qian Dao Bu Jin Duan Shan He, left no room for doubt: this man was an absolute master of the blade. Among all Seven-Star Martial Artists, perhaps very few could surpass him in weapon skill.

"The honor of the East Asian Military Region?" Xue Tian stepped down from the arena with a faint smile. "Qin Fen isn't the only one defending it. I, Xue Tian, can guard it too."

This plain confidence, channeled through the mic, reached everyone. The audience realized that the strength of this year's East Asian rookies wasn't solely vested in Qin Fen.

Lin Ling, the woman whose true martial prowess remained obscured, had already demonstrated unimaginable strength in other competitions—she was the only warrior in this entire tournament capable of truly challenging Qin Fen head-on.

Xue Tian's blade, Qin Fen's fists, and Du Peng, who had fought valiantly but was defeated with serious injuries and a slight disadvantage—each possessed the strength to make the East Asian Military Region proud.

"Old Qin," Xue Tian said as he left the ring. "Planning to head back for more grueling cultivation so early? That life is too dull. Why not take a break?"

Qin Fen sighed wearily, a wry, defeated smile hanging at the corner of his eye. Not everyone possessed the innate genius to reach Seven-Star status simply by practicing a few times casually.

"I plan to check on Du Peng," Qin Fen stated seriously. "Today's battle... the external wounds aren't the worst of it for him. I'm worried..."

"As long as it's not grueling cultivation, anything is fine~~" Xue Tian drawled out the words. "Are you that obsessed with practicing martial arts?"

Obsessed? A joyful smile touched Qin Fen's lips. While cultivation was arduous, the tiny increments of progress felt during practice brought genuine happiness.

Obsessed? Qin Fen paused, then smiled again, nodding. Perhaps he truly was obsessed. The vast path of martial arts held an inexplicable allure.

Besides, Qin Fen looked up toward Song Jia's captivating silhouette near the exit. He had to strive harder for his beloved! Song Wendong, that Earth Martial God, had issued a mobilization order calling upon the young martial artists.

Right now, during the Rookie Tournament, the younger warriors were showing the military department courtesy by refraining from issuing challenges. But what about after the tournament ended? Qin Fen clenched his fists tightly. He could not lose! Not a single match! If he lost one match... his wife would be gone!

Xue Tian shook his head watching Qin Fen. "Old Qin, looking at how serious you are, you really seem obsessed. Heavens~ I truly cannot imagine your lifestyle. Honestly, if I had to live like you, I'd go mad in three days."

Three days? A strange expression played on Qin Fen's lips. He likely would have gone mad in less than three days living Xue Tian's life.

The group converged. Song Jia stared at Xue Tian with a peculiar gaze, studying him intently. That move, Qian Dao Bu Jin Duan Shan He, was truly astonishing.

"Beauty~ Don't look at me like that," Xue Tian scratched his head repeatedly, avoiding Song Jia's eyes. "You're already spoken for. That could easily lead to misunderstandings. Though some say a friend's wife is fair game, it depends on whose friend's wife it is. Your man is Qin Fen, and I really don't want to catch a punch from his terrifying brute strength."

Inzalohta, a man usually devoid of expression, allowed a faint smile to grace his lips. He never expected the world held two individuals with different looks but the same mannerisms as "Lin Liqiang."

After Qin Fen was ambushed previously, the others were familiar with the hospital's location. They hailed two taxis and soon arrived at the specialized hospital set up for the Rookie Tournament.

The ward was quiet, the walls stark white.

Xing Wuyi leaned against the wall, holding a fashion magazine, quietly engrossed in its pages of luxury cars and beautiful women.

Drip... Drip... Drip...

The sound of the IV drip was incredibly faint, almost inaudible to ordinary people, yet it could not escape the ears of any young martial artist in the room.

Du Peng had already awakened from his coma. He stared straight up at the clean white ceiling, seemingly oblivious to the arrival of Qin Fen and the others.

Xing Wuyi closed the magazine, placing his index finger to his lips in a "shush" gesture.

The ward remained as silent as before, as if no one had entered. Even the air seemed to freeze at that moment.

Time crawled by slowly. The eyes of Du Peng, fixed on the ceiling, gradually bloomed with a light of self-mockery. A faint, bitter smile touched his lips, and a single tear slid silently from the corner of his eye onto the bedside.

Lost... lost so completely.

These past days, he had relentlessly sought to absorb his elder brother's wealth. The energy generated by the fusion of this immense fortune far exceeded anyone's imagination, preventing him from fully assimilating it even in the final second before the competition began.

"If..." Du Peng's voice suddenly shattered the ward's silence. "If it had been me who died, and they gave my blood and essence to big brother, with his heaven-defying talent, he should have been able to easily digest the resulting treasure, right? He could have defeated Zeus Mark with ease?"

"Yes. Very easily. He could have even taken the championship title without difficulty, soaring to the peak of the martial path and becoming a being like a Divine Beast. None of that would have been difficult for Young Master Du."

In the silent ward, Xing Wuyi’s candid reply acted like the sharpest knife, instantly piercing Du Peng’s nearly collapsing heart, churning within it, intent on tearing it to shreds.

"Yes, it should have been like that," crystalline tears welled in Du Peng's eyes. "Why is it like this? Why wasn't I the one who died? I really don't seem worthy of being your younger brother, do I? I couldn't even preserve your final honor."

"Du Peng..."

"Qin Fen, don't tell me that losing doesn't mean zero. To me..." Du Peng slowly closed his eyes, squeezing out the tears. "Losing truly equals zero."

"Then you can go die." Xing Wuyi casually tossed the magazine aside. "Carrying the burden of..."

"Die? No." Du Peng slowly shook his head. "I know why you all are here. Because I, this idiot, lost. You're worried about me."

"Heh heh..."

Du Peng let out a soft laugh, the sound causing a fit of coughing due to his injuries. In both the laughter and the coughs, there was endless self-deprecation.

"Sigh..." Du Peng slowly closed his eyes. Just as Qin Fen turned toward the door to leave, he said, "Thanks."

Qin Fen paused at the doorway, turning back to look at Du Peng, and replied calmly, "My apologies, I was wrong this time."

With that, Qin Fen left with a smile, striding out the door. Du Peng's progress had surpassed expectations. The previously extreme Du Peng, faced with such a setback, might have fallen into a mental dead end.

Today, Du Peng had lost his match, but his mindset had matured.

The heartbreaking words, the self-reproaching questions—they would all become tremendous driving forces for him to overcome obstacles and advance on the martial path.

Xue Tian left. Inzalohta left. Lin Liqiang left as well...

In the room, only Xing Wuyi remained.

Du Peng kept his eyes closed, his face serene as he spoke softly to the ceiling, "Thank you."

Xing Wuyi smiled faintly, reopening his magazine, as if he hadn't heard the thanks.

"The lost honor, I will reclaim it," Du Peng slowly opened his eyes, which now shone with brilliant light. "If my aptitude can't match big brother's, then I will cultivate even harder! I will complete the path of the Divine Beast; I absolutely will! The legend of Du Zhanpeng will be realized; I must fulfill the prophecy of Du Zhanpeng becoming a Divine Beast!"

Xing Wuyi smiled again, the words Du Zhanpeng had once spoken echoing in his ears.

"Top-tier aptitude doesn't matter; as long as there is enough persistence, miracles can be created! Du Peng absolutely can! Absolutely can! Because he is my brother, Du Zhanpeng's brother!"

"Young Master Du..." Xing Wuyi walked to the ward window, looking up at the darkening sky. "You are right; you are always right. I will watch the miracle for you, step by step creating the legend."

Qin Fen walked out of the ward without stopping. Du Peng had broken through his internal barriers. There was nothing left to worry about; he could fully return to vigorously cultivating the outward projection of True Qi. The two successful outward projections in the arena had an element of chance; he couldn't yet achieve one hundred percent success in projecting it reliably.

Against a top-tier Seven-Star Martial Artist like the Little Dragon King Yang Lie, incomplete True Qi projection would only become a flaw that the opponent could exploit to blow the counterattack horn.

The Finals? Qin Fen looked up at the heavens. He still had to fight match after match. No one could guarantee that someone wouldn't break through and enter the Eight-Star level by then.

"Sigh~~" Xue Tian put his hands on his hips, shaking his head watching Qin Fen's receding back. "That Old Qin, he really is a martial fanatic. Just looking at him, I know he's heading back to practice again."

"Let him go," Lin Liqiang glanced at Song Jia. "Old Qin is different from us. His girlfriend's parents aren't just generally stubborn. If someone solidifies an opinion, even the President would be summarily kicked out by that ill-tempered old man."

A flurry of hurried footsteps made Xue Tian turn around curiously. "Hey, pretty lady from the Air Force, is something the matter?"