The helicopter was not large, but as it descended slowly, what materialized was no mere aircraft; descending from the sky was a star battleship bristling with countless cannons, capable of easily shattering mechanized armor into cosmic dust.
Only the Song family could evoke the feeling of such a colossal presence.
Mustached Zhao quieted down, watching the descending aircraft with a furrowed brow.
The hatch hissed open slowly, and the old steward, whom he hadn't seen for days, walked out chuckling. His gait possessed an air of profound age, as if he were at the very end of his days, ready to pass at any moment. Many new recruits gazed curiously at the old man daring to trespass onto a military airfield.
Qin Fen inclined his head slightly in gratitude toward the old steward; without the master's three-palm technique, his own path in martial arts would have been significantly slower.
A slight smile played on the steward’s face; the wrinkles layered upon it deepened as he narrowed his eyes in a smile, and the restrained yet piercing sharpness in his gaze sent a chill running through the ambitious young martial artists.
“Miss,” the old steward approached Qin Feng, bowing slightly, his face wreathed in a smile full of benevolent care for his junior. “You certainly made this old man search for you.”
Song Jia hid behind Qin Fen, clutching his arm tightly, like a startled white rabbit—all traces of her usual queenly air gone, replaced by a pitiful look. “This time, I’m not going to be grounded, am I?”
“Well… hehe… of course, you are,” the old steward grinned, letting his gaze drift back to Qin Fen, nodding slowly. “Young man, not bad! You managed not to be killed by the ninth on the Blood List. But you need to be careful from now on. I hear the spot for the ninth on the Blood List is vacant, and many aspiring to join the list are actively preparing to hunt you. According to the rules of the Blood List, the assassin who kills you can temporarily take a place. Of course, those already on the list are even more eager to kill you. Because…”
A fierce, cold glint flashed through the steward’s smiling eyes. “Those on the Blood List must maintain its honor and status. If they just let you go, who would pay high prices for those on the list in the future?”
“Oh?” Lin Liqiang jumped out from the crowd with a laugh. “Old man. That doesn’t seem right. Does Grandpa Song really allow someone to undermine his authority like that? That doesn’t fit Grandpa Song’s character at all.”
“Little fellow,” the old steward suddenly raised his hand to tap Lin Liqiang’s head. “Think you’re so clever? The Master already said it: if you get killed, you deserve it.”
Lin Liqiang ducked his neck, rapidly sinking down, his whole body transforming like a jungle monkey as he swiftly darted sideways.
Slap...
The steward’s hand, seemingly dry as withered branches, struck out at a speed comparable to a tortoise, yet it landed precisely on the head of the monkey-agile Lin Liqiang.
All the new recruits froze. How did he hit him?
Many were mentally simulating the move, convinced they could have easily dodged that strike.
Lin Liqiang rubbed the spot on his forehead and chuckled twice. In all these years, he had never managed to evade the steward’s casual pat—this was a palm strike incorporating countless essences. If he had put even a fraction more force into it, his head could have been shattered instantly.
Qin Fen stared fixedly at the steward’s hand, the image of that single strike playing over and over in his mind, waves of intense concentration washing over his face.
In those brief seconds of contemplation, Qin Fen felt as if a century had passed. This palm strike hinted at profound benefits, yet unlike the techniques he had learned before, he couldn't immediately absorb and utilize it.
The arm could temporarily not twist the thigh. Song Jia didn't want her actions to anger her grandfather so much that he did something even more irrational. She gradually let go of Qin Fen’s arms and walked with a slow, turtle-like pace to the steward’s side, pouting. “Grandpa, you have to protect me when we get back, okay?”
The old steward smiled again, but this time the smile smoothed the wrinkles on his face, making him look instantly younger. His expression softened with the tender affection an elder holds for his juniors. He reached out and patted Song Jia’s head. “You, ah, one day you’ll wear this old frame right down to the ground.”
“No way,” Song Jia wrapped her arms around the steward’s arm. “Grandpa will be healthy forever.”
The old steward looked at the young mistress, whom he had watched grow up, and shook his head repeatedly. “It’s no good, I’m getting old…”
Song Jia seemingly helped the steward walk toward the helicopter. When they were very close to the cabin door, the steward stopped, turned back to look at Qin Fen, and his expression turned serious. “Kid, because you participated in the New Recruit Competition, the Master gave the military face, so no challengers appeared. Now that the competition is over, you’re going to be busy.”
“Thank you for the reminder, Grandpa.”
Lin Liqiang watched Qin Fen perform the junior’s courtesy bow, not even using the title ‘Senior,’ and secretly rejoiced: Old Qin is quite smart, using a single phrase to bridge the gap between them.
“Heh heh,” the old steward chuckled, releasing Song Jia’s arm and returning to Qin Fen’s side, whispering close to his ear. “Seeing as you called me Grandpa, and because Little Jia Jia likes you, I’ll give you a small hint. The person who paid heavily to hire the ninth on the Blood List to kill you is still alive. They are still living comfortably; the Master hasn’t eliminated those who violate his rules. Pay close attention; that person will likely strike again.”
Qin Fen’s chin instinctively lifted, wanting to ask more about who hired the assassin, but he saw the steward’s body floating back toward the hatch, holding Lin Liqiang, who was awkwardly waving goodbye, in his hand. The Song family helicopter slowly ascended.
Could it really be the honorary leader of the Golden Triangle who was agitated? Qin Fen felt a throbbing ache in his temples. Most people living in the Golden Triangle were ruthless predators. If it were them, life would likely remain unsettled for a long time.
“Brother~” Xue Tian clapped a hand on Qin Fen’s shoulder as they boarded the plane. “Worrying about the challengers, right? Look on the bright side—who told you to find a girlfriend with a background so formidable that even the President has to give way? Alas! Among young masters of your generation, except for Shangguan Chuanqi and the Little Underworld King, the others are manageable. But your opponents aren't just them. There are those five years older than me who could easily be your enemies. Anyone under thirty…”
Xue Tian sighed again, his face filled with a sympathetic, bitter smile. “In short, you’re probably going to be even busier after the New Recruit Competition.”
A bitter smile touched Qin Fen’s lips. Sometimes he truly couldn’t understand why Song Jia liked him. Was it really as Lin Liqiang said? Love, this thing, is a completely irrational, peculiar emotion that defies normal logic.
Unable to figure it out, Qin Fen stopped pondering this incomprehensible matter and closed his eyes, replaying the steward’s seemingly ordinary palm strike from moments before.
The Great Dao is simple; the Great Dao is complex.
Qin Fen recalled the words his Master once spoke: the martial path has countless forks, and mastering any one path to its extreme could lead to becoming a peak martial artist. The method of fighting sneakily was looked down upon by many, yet wasn’t it elevated by the King of Sneakiness, Zeng Yicheng, to a level that even spirits and ghosts struggled against?
Soon, Qin Fen was immersed in his own mental world. During the days of battling crowds, the technique of ‘Dragon Hiding in the Palm’ used by Yang Lie, the Little Dragon King who also used Dragon Fist, had given him some insight, but he couldn't truly integrate it into his own movements.
A martial skill that cannot be integrated has not been truly understood! That single phrase from his Master made Qin Fen once again simulate the fighting style of ‘Dragon Hiding in the Palm.’
Dragon Hiding in the Palm, Dragon Hiding in the Palm…
Qin Fen silently recalled the private exchanges he had with the top eight young martial artists during the New Recruit Competition. This wasn't an exchange of strikes, but a discussion to swap insights.
No matter how far social technology advanced, many martial artists still preferred to keep their martial insights secret.
Recalling the reactions of exceptional young figures like the Little Dragon King Yang Lie the moment they were approached, Qin Fen almost burst out laughing.
“What? Exchange?”
“That… our martial arts are quite different; perhaps…”
“Our African war dances, if performed without the temperament of an African…”
The initial reaction of every young martial artist was just as Lin Liqiang described: secrecy.
“This is? Dragon Concealing the Body—you use it like this? Heh heh… it’s a bit different from mine…”
Yang Lie’s reaction was one of utter astonishment when he first heard Qin Fen voluntarily explain his views on ‘Dragon Concealing the Body.’
“My understanding of Dragon Concealing the Body is like this…”
From the initial simple discussion of shared martial arts, to gradually revealing their respective martial insights, the new recruits from all continents discovered that Qin Fen showed no reservation when explaining his views.
Faced with such spirit, continuing to withhold their own secrets would not only earn them contempt but also self-loathing. The mindset of the youth was more open, and soon a small circle of exchange formed.
On the military aircraft flying to the Americas, Yang Lie sat motionless, chest drawn back and spine straight, only his hands moving constantly in circles in front of him. This was the most basic Tai Chi Fist, yet it contained some of Qin Fen’s understanding.
One circle, another circle, another circle…
Yang Lie seriously absorbed the insights Qin Fen had explained. The surrounding American recruits looked at Yang Lie with confusion, and also at Kai Tian Brooks, the eight-star martial artist who was similarly tracing circles.
The same scene unfolded on the military planes heading to Europe and Africa, while West Asia remained silent.
No exchange!
Moradek’s stance was firm; Qin Fen had visited twice but was turned away both times. How could one share martial insights with an enemy?
Dragon Hiding in the Palm, Dragon Hiding in the Palm…
Qin Fen’s hand swayed gently, like a fish leisurely drifting in water. The Dragon Elephant Prajna Gong operated silently within his body as usual.
Xue Tian watched Qin Fen as if he were a monster. Someone had actually achieved a star-level advancement while practicing on a plane?
Nine Stars! Qin Fen’s eyes snapped open, two sword-like beams shooting out. The true Qi in his body immediately surged like a bursting river. The sound of his heartbeat at that moment could not be drowned out even by the helicopter rotors; the new recruits sitting beside him could hear the drum-like pounding of his heart.
“Broke through?” Qin Fen was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected that the accumulation from battling the masses that day, combined with the mutual exchange and learning over the past few days, would lead to such an easy breakthrough right now.
Nine Stars!
With the sudden surge in strength, Qin Fen felt pleased. This New Recruit Competition was truly not in vain; not only did he unexpectedly grasp the concept of Qi oscillation, but he also improved his star rating through mutual exchange. Without this sharing, the day of his breakthrough would likely have been postponed.
The number one young martial artist on Earth? At this moment, Qin Fen truly confirmed that he must have reached the pinnacle of Earth's young martial artists. He just wondered about the strength of Shangguan Chuanqi, the Little Underworld King, and other top young martial artists from other planets.
Qin Fen rubbed his chin and pondered secretly. They were all peaks of their respective planets; the gap between them shouldn't be too large, right?
After a brief moment of contemplation, Qin Fen closed his eyes again, immersing himself in his own spiritual world to experience the sensation of just having entered the Nine Star level.
After a breakthrough, there were still many things to process; this kind of temporal immersion often yielded twice the result with half the effort.
Xue Tian shook his head repeatedly, sighing all the while. “Heavens~ You really do love this martial path.”
After a long flight, the plane finally descended slowly onto a military airfield in Shengjing.
It was a tradition for every region’s military to gather the new recruits who participated in the competition at a specific location for commendation.
This time, the East Asian new recruits had crushed the combined forces of the other continents with a near-sweeping victory.
Although it was only a confrontation among new recruits, not a true test of top comprehensive military strength, the military establishment still felt immensely proud. After years of lackluster performance in the New Recruit Competition, they had finally achieved glorious results.
Winning? Taking the championship? That wasn't the source of pride.
What truly brought glory to the military brass was sweeping the other continents and beating them until they soiled themselves.
Therefore, the reception for this batch of new recruits was significantly higher in specification than before; they were brought directly to Shengjing for commendation.
The helicopter settled steadily, and the hatch slowly opened. Qin Fen looked up in surprise at a young man standing outside the hatch. A surge of fighting spirit rushed into the cabin the instant the door opened.
“Who is Qin Fen?”
The arrogant voice carried a strong tone of provocation.
Through the hatch, Qin Fen sized up the young man outside.
He wore a martial artist’s uniform, not the military fatigues worn by soldiers, and his eyebrows held a sharp, heroic energy, though it wasn't the unique aura of a soldier.
Not a soldier!
In an instant, Qin Fen had determined his general identity.
The young recruits inside the cabin, prompted by the young man's arrogant questioning, instinctively turned their gaze toward Qin Fen.
“Are you Qin Fen?” The young man had a narrow waist, broad shoulders, and robust, powerful arms. He looked to be less than twenty. The thick calluses on both fists told others he followed an ancient martial path like the Iron Sand Palm. “I am Li Hongtao! I’ve come to challenge you! Song Jia is not someone you are worthy of.”
A challenger? Qin Fen shook his head. He hadn’t expected the news to travel so fast—even faster than the military aircraft. Judging by the condition of this man’s skin, he must have been waiting at the airfield for some time.
“What? Scared to fight? If you’re afraid…”
Qin Fen picked up the few pieces of luggage he carried and leaped down from the hatch, looking at the opponent. A six-star martial artist coming to make noise?
Six stars, while not top-tier among the younger generation, still qualified as a favored son of heaven in ordinary small circles.
Qin Fen felt a faint sense of exhaustion in his smile. He didn't know if it was Song Jia’s charm or the title of Son-in-Law to the Earth Martial God, Song Wendong, that was so attractive. As soon as the plane landed, someone was already challenging him.
The East Asian new recruits filed out in a steady stream, forming a circle that created a unique arena for the two.
Li Hongtao looked around triumphantly. “Everyone, serve as witnesses. It saves me the trouble of denying it when I defeat this person.”
The new recruits who participated in the competition burst into laughter, the mockery unmistakable to anyone not a complete fool.
“What’s so funny?” Li Hongtao cursed in a low growl. His black and white pupils suddenly turned blood red, and his imposing aura climbed rapidly, though his actual star rank didn't increase. The smooth, mirror-like cement ground beneath his feet cracked audibly under the pressure.
Biochemical Beast!
The new recruits were startled simultaneously. This recruit possessed an expensive Biochemical Beast! No wonder he was bold enough to issue a challenge.
Level Two Fusion? Qin Fen smiled. No wonder he was so confident in challenging; his Biochemical Beast had reached Level Two Fusion.
The Biochemical Beast was a special ‘weapon’ that could assist a martial artist in fighting opponents of a higher rank. The deeper the fusion, the greater the star-level disparity a martial artist could challenge.
“Qin Fen,” Li Hongtao settled into a tiger-like stance, his low voice slowly emerging. “If you are a man, assume a proper stance and fight!”
Mustached Zhao jumped out of the cockpit and shouted loudly. “Qin Fen, hurry up! Are you going to make everyone wait for you alone?”
“Yes, General!” Qin Fen snapped a military salute, then turned to look at Li Hongtao. “Are you ready?”
Li Hongtao was momentarily taken aback. Am I ready? It was clearly you who hadn't adopted a stance yet.
“It seems you are ready,” Qin Fen muttered as if to himself. “Then I won’t hold back…”
‘Won’t hold back’—as these four words reached Li Hongtao’s ears, he saw Qin Fen launch himself with an explosive burst, appearing almost instantaneously before him. A giant foot swept clearly across his line of sight, landing squarely on his chest.
The next second, Li Hongtao felt his feet leave the ground. The surrounding scenery seemed to reverse rapidly, a violent sensation spreading through every corner of his body like a spider web.
Twenty meters away, Li Hongtao lay on the ground, staring blankly at Qin Fen in the distance. In that instant, he had no warning of combat, not even capturing the opponent’s intent to fight, and it was over already? Moreover, his internal Biochemical Beast had been kicked apart by a single stomp?
“Officer, mission complete.”
Qin Fen, still holding his luggage, strode quickly toward Mustached Zhao, acting as if that single kick was merely swatting away a discarded soda can in his path, rather than sending flying a six-star martial artist who had employed a Biochemical Beast.