At the entrance to the Military Bureau, a new challenger appeared. Tian Jing quickly put down her camera, thinking Qin Fen’s previous pose was far too ordinary—the kind of stance a five or six-year-old just starting martial arts would strike. How could the champion of the Rookie Tournament use such a generic photo?

“Gao Yan?” Tian Jing lifted the camera, looked clearly at the approaching figure, and froze. Talk of the devil, and there he was! Gao Yan, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Shengjing City, stood before the Bureau in a fiery-red martial uniform.

Is this Gao Yan? One of the Four Heavenly Kings of the younger generation in Shengjing City? Qin Fen scrutinized the man twice. The red martial uniform was slightly loose, but the material was certainly not the common fabric found on the market. It was a specialized fire-resistant material, similar to what modern firefighters wear. Not only was it highly heat-resistant and fireproof, but it was also extremely durable and possessed a certain cushioning effect.

Rich, incredibly rich, profoundly wealthy! More than just money, his family must possess considerable influence. Qin Fen instantly made a series of judgments. This kind of material couldn't just be bought with money; tailoring it into the shape of a martial uniform would require a truly masterful craftsman.

Qin Fen assessed Gao Yan, even as Gao Yan was sizing him up.

Tian Jing held her camera with excitement, her concentration no less intense than if she were fighting herself. She was poised to capture the moment Qin Fen battled, knowing that even a beautiful photo taken right before his defeat would be enough to make the papers.

“You must be Qin Fen?” Gao Yan’s eyebrows carried a hint of arrogance. Having been named one of the Four Heavenly Kings among the younger generation in Shengjing City, a natural haughtiness had taken root in his bones.

Qin Fen merely nodded, letting his posture speak for him. He stood perfectly erect, like a thousand-foot-high cliff face in Qinghai. Dealing with one of the Four Heavenly Kings was ideal; if he could put this one in the hospital, the others would surely present themselves soon enough.

“Here to challenge me? If so, you can start now.”

Gao Yan’s eyebrows gradually drew together towards his brow. Standing before Qin Fen, he felt the way he had standing at the foot of a massive mountain while traveling—it was as if he faced not a young man just over 180 centimeters tall, but a soaring, monumental peak ten thousand feet high.

Retreat? Gao Yan glanced at the two young martial artists groveling on the ground nearby. He sighed inwardly. With those two injured men as witnesses, if he backed down today, he would never be able to show his face in Shengjing again.

Gao Yan felt a pang of regret. He regretted answering Liang Tao’s call and rushing over here so aggressively to issue a challenge. The aura radiating from Qin Fen was as dense and heavy as a mountain; simply facing him induced a nearly unbearable pressure.

“Not attacking?” Qin Fen impatiently stepped forward half a pace. “Are you ready yet?”

It was just that half-step distance that caused Gao Yan’s face, otherwise fair, to instantly turn sallow. This aura was too potent. If he didn't strike now, he feared this moment would cast a shadow over his entire life, causing him to be suppressed by any opponent’s presence.

A rapid sequence of thoughts flashed through his mind. Gao Yan let out a guttural, frog-like croak. The air around his body heated rapidly; his entire face and all exposed skin immediately flushed crimson. The air surrounding his body shimmered and warped from the intense heat.

Qin Fen raised an eyelid. No wonder the man wore high-temperature resistant clothing. He was cultivating the New Martial Art, the [Magma Palm]!

[Magma Palm] and [Nine Yang Divine Art]—both supremely Yang techniques, yet completely different.

Once the [Nine Yang Divine Art] is unleashed, unless one reaches an extremely high realm, the ambient air temperature won't change noticeably. Its power is entirely focused on the moment of engagement, channeling True Qi, hot as boiling water, through the opponent’s meridians for an internal strike.

The [Magma Palm], conversely, does not require reaching an extremely high realm to show its effects. Even at the Five-Star realm, the surrounding air temperature changes significantly. During combat, the palms become like glowing embers; a blow connects, and the recipient feels the searing impact of a red-hot branding iron.

There was a famous joke circulating on the Sky Martial Arts Network regarding sparring against a martial artist practicing the [Magma Palm]: First, you must prepare two things.

One: Prepare ample clothing, as yours might turn into tattered rags halfway through the fight. Two: Be mentally prepared for public nudity, as the temperature of the [Magma Palm] might burn your attire right off you.

In the Rookie Tournament, most top young martial artists employed Ancient Martial Arts. Occasionally, someone using a New Martial Art appeared, but Qin Fen hadn't had the chance to spar against them; they had already been eliminated.

After not engaging with New Martial Arts for so long, Qin Fen felt he had almost forgotten that the world wasn't just comprised of Ancient Martial Arts; there was also a large contingent of formidable New Martial Arts practitioners.

Tian Jing’s hand trembled slightly as she held the camera. Six-Star! [Magma Palm]! Truly worthy of being one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Shengjing City. Legend held that this technique once forced Chen Mu Li into running naked. Today, she watched Qin Fen, the Rookie Tournament champion, wondering how he would break through.

“Magma Palm,” Qin Fen said dismissively. “New Martial Arts are indeed profound and extensive. It’s a pity your [Magma Palm] isn't well-cultivated.”

The two young challengers lying on the ground watched Qin Fen with intense curiosity. Did this man not know the meaning of fear? Facing someone who utilized Bio-beast energy, yet he spoke with the condescending tone of an elder offering guidance.

Gao Yan suddenly found he could not tolerate it any longer. Qin Fen’s comment about his cultivation being insufficient almost made him disperse his magma energy and step forward to humbly ask where he was going wrong. A martial contest is fought not just with force, but with nerve! If one’s nerve breaks, what is there left to fight with?

Hngh!

Gao Yan spat out a stream of visible, scalding steam, like boiling water from a kettle. The air around his ankles suddenly expanded violently, followed by another expansion around his knees. His body transformed into a streak of red light, engulfing an absolutely suffocating torrent of hot air as he lunged at Qin Fen.

[Rocket Leg]! Tian Jing inwardly praised. Gao Yan had truly mastered the [Rocket Leg]. The initial burst of power from his ankles resembled the first-stage booster of a rocket launch, and when that force reached his knees, it erupted again, forming the second-stage booster. This unique method of power projection often gave him a speed advantage over martial artists of the same star level.

Gao Yan’s speed was incredible. His specialized uniform seemed to glide through the air without friction; the powerful thrust generated not even the slightest sound.

Qin Fen’s eyes lit up with immense interest. That acceleration technique was intriguing. His feet moved naturally into the Crane Stance’s ‘Dragon Evasion’ maneuver. Gao Yan seemed to have missed his target, passing so close to Qin Fen that they almost brushed shoulders, covering five meters in that single charge.

Tian Jing stared blankly at Qin Fen. What was that? The Crane Stance from the Arhat Fist? I nearly wasted one of my best shots! Had Gao Yan lost his mind to be dodged by the Dragon Evasion?

Gao Yan planted his feet, twisted his waist, and shot forward again with another burst of [Rocket Leg]. A thought flashed through his mind: Dragon Evasion again?

Qin Fen had already shifted to Gao Yan’s flank, casually lifting his knee. To the onlookers, it looked as if Gao Yan had slammed with full force into Qin Fen’s knee. Only Gao Yan knew how much force Qin Fen’s kick carried. A groan of broken ribs sounded above his lower abdomen. The ferocious impact penetrated the martial uniform, sliced through his abdomen, which was as hard as ice, and hurled him high and far into the sky.

Ptooey…

Gao Yan tumbled backward through the air, spitting a mouthful of yellow bile, finally stopping his backward momentum after rolling several times on the ground.

Tian Jing stared mutely at the flying Gao Yan. The fight ended too quickly; there wasn't even a single spectacular sequence. Qin Fen hadn't even seemed to exert himself, yet the battle was over. How could it be this fast?

Fast, truly too fast… Gao Yan curled up like a shrimp, looking up at Qin Fen. Was this the true strength of the Rookie Tournament champion? He raised his True Qi in an instant, then retracted his power just as swiftly! This process of instant deployment and retraction was completed so fast that observers could barely perceive that he had just exerted Eight-Star strength!

Instant control of retraction? Beyond the agony twisting his face, Gao Yan was filled with profound admiration. Eight-Star strength was terrifying among the younger generation, but even more terrifying was the speed with which he could bring it forth and withdraw it. Even a Ten-Star martial artist might not control their True Qi to this degree.

Gao Yan couldn't stop the involuntary spasms rising from his injured abdomen. Looking up at Qin Fen walking towards him, he inwardly praised, Worthy of the Rookie Tournament champion; he truly has skill! No wonder he dares not resist Earth’s Martial God!

“I held back quite a bit of strength in that final strike,” Qin Fen said, crouching in front of Gao Yan. “If the other two ‘Heavenly Kings’ from Shengjing come looking for me, would you please give them my address?”

Gao Yan stared blankly for a moment, then nodded through the pain. It seemed the Rookie Tournament champion was skilled not only in fighting but also understood psychology; defeating the strongest one would prevent many tiresome challengers.

“Who is Qin Fen?”

Another arrogant shout rang out before the Military Bureau entrance. Qin Fen remained crouched and didn't stand up. He looked up at the new challenger, extended his right index finger, pointed at Gao Yan beside him, and asked the newcomer, “Hey, do you know him?”

“He… King Gao…” The arrogance on the young martial artist’s face suddenly froze. His eyes were wide with disbelief as he stammered, “This, this is…”

“I am the Qin Fen you’re looking for. As for him…” Qin Fen chuckled and shook his head. “He couldn’t even take a single strike from me. If you think you can beat him, feel free to walk forward and challenge me; otherwise…”

A faint, chilling smile touched Qin Fen’s lips as he glared at the other two injured men nearby. “That’s their fate: three broken ribs, internal organ damage. Even the best hospital will require them to lie down for over three months.”

The challenger’s expression shifted. After seeing Gao Yan nod through his pain, he suddenly clenched his fists and shouted, “May the green hills remain unchanged and the clear waters flow forever! I will challenge you again next time…”

Qin Fen glanced once more at Gao Yan lying on the ground. It seemed knocking down the leader first was indeed effective.