The Serpent Fist technique of the Phoenix, in Qin Fen’s hands, gained an added layer of malevolence, shifting from mere killing intent and vulgarity to something profoundly sinister. From the outset, the two young masters plunged into a battle for life and death, far exceeding a simple contest for victory. Caesar felt no significant surprise at this escalation.
Fisticuffs were never about the pleasantries of a banquet table; when opponents are evenly matched, the slightest hesitation to go all out means instant defeat, or even death. Little Pluto shot a palm strike forward, the wind like a blade aimed for the throat. As Qin Fen dodged, he countered with a strike—[Heart-Ripping from Under the Ribs]—concealing [Monkey King Plucking the Chrysanthemum].
Hades instantly slapped back, aiming to [Crane Stabbing to the Opponent’s Wrist], while Qin Fen used his [Snake Bite Sword] to counter Hades’ palm and wrist. In the flicker of lightning and stone, neither man landed a solid blow, nor did they engage in outright, forceful collisions, yet the hidden danger surpassed the fatal confrontation of the Death Omen fight. In an instant, the observers’ hearts pounded, their minds screaming internally.
As the offense and defense shifted instantaneously, Fei Yu felt goosebumps rise on his skin. He had believed that after his impending blood exchange and rebirth, he would be infinitely close to Qin Fen’s strength. Realizing that when these two truly fought, the sky didn't crack open, yet it was far more terrifying.
Xue Tian clenched his knife handle, the smile that had been on his face entirely vanished. The barely perceptible throbbing of battle intent beneath his skin made even Song Zhenting high above pause to look twice. The other youngsters instinctively shuffled away from him.
Only Lin Ling seemed completely unfazed by Xue Tian’s battle lust. Her face remained as tranquil as ever, though a flicker of emotion—one different from her usual disposition—drew across her brow: 'worry.' This differed from her usual flawless 'concerned' expression, feeling far more genuine. AOOOOO~ Little Pluto Hades, facing Qin Fen's venomous [Snake Bite], finally erupted.
A soul-shaking roar tore from his throat, his killing intent sharp, mixed with the furious bellow of a tiger. Simultaneously, the crane's beak opened, transforming into a tiger's claw. The muscles on the back of his hand convulsed again, striking downward.
The hardened nail tips, sharp and gleaming with a metallic sheen, were like a tiger extending the claws hidden within its velvet pads, aiming directly for the palm of Qin Fen’s open, snake-like maw. The swift [Crane Stabbing the Snake] mutated, turning into the mighty [Tiger Claw dominating the Forest], ready to tear and rend. The title of White Tiger was not merely for show; among the Fist Ultimates, it encompassed everything, and various Tiger Fists were integrated within its repertoire.
Hades met the move with a counter—[Tiger Rend]—which, to the observers, seemed as if he had pre-planned a defense against Qin Fen’s Snake Bite. The moment the Tiger Rend launched, the veins on Hades’ hands resembled a dense, fine mesh of iron wires. His entire palm looked terrifyingly grotesque, the wrinkled skin shimmering with an almost metallic light.
Just how hard and sharp was this [Heart-Ripping Hand] augmented by the Metal Ultimate? Hades was confident that this palm strike could pierce not only Qin Fen’s hand but a steel plate as well. “Beautiful.” Song Zhenting’s gaze lingered on Hades, a note of admiration entering his eyes.
He smiled faintly, offering praise. Such refined technique in one so young! No wonder rumors placed him at the apex of the younger generation.
How would Qin Fen counter? Could his peculiar protective divine art withstand the piercing assault of the Metal Ultimate’s Heart-Ripping Hand? Song Zhenting’s eyes flickered with expectant doubt; this was one reason he came today—to understand exactly what kind of protective cultivation technique Qin Fen possessed.
Hades’ Star-level strength was slightly higher than Qin Fen’s, yet in terms of martial instinct, Qin Fen held the upper hand. When comparing sheer physical resilience, the crowd leaned toward Qin Fen. As for combat experience, they were evenly matched.
Even Song Zhenting dared not make a premature judgment on the final victor. As Hades unleashed the Tiger Rend, Qin Fen’s eyebrows lifted, and a flash of lightning seemed to ignite in his pupils. He heard Hades’ tiger roar surge again, creating a new wave of intensity.
Simultaneously, he heard a crack-crack-crack sound from Hades’ skin, as if his muscles and bones were lightly clashing like minor metal striking metal. Ge Bing encased himself in external metal; however, Little Pluto Hades’ Metal Ultimate seemed aimed at turning his own body into a massive metallic structure. From the very start, neither fighter held back their full strength.
Their moves, though deadly serious, were a scramble to end the fight quickly, or perhaps a test of who could truly unleash their full power first. Little Pluto Hades finally reached his peak. All his strength exploded forth at this moment.
The Tiger Rend was out, and his other arm was already moving, like a tiger’s tail, ready to sweep at any moment. The Little Pluto knew his raw power couldn't match Qin Fen’s. Judging by newspaper reports and the sight of Death Omen’s bones shattering from a single punch that night, this Qin Fen was like a human-sized steamroller, flattening anything that stood in his way.
However, he hadn't anticipated Qin Fen adopting such a fighting style today. All his preparations seemed wasted. Only when unleashing the Tiger Rend did he realize that while the execution differed slightly from his plan, the preemptive strike intended to seize the advantage was still delivered.
This specially prepared combat method of Hades’ was a painstakingly built-up strike. With the Tiger Rend unleashed, the wind in the air sliced like blades and swords. Qin Fen felt as if he were standing on an ancient, vast battlefield, surrounded by enemies raining arrows upon him.
The brief exchange was all for this single strike. Hades was certain Qin Fen would be forced to retreat. Even with the Great Momentum of a Ten-Star fighter, if he backed down, his fist momentum would shatter, and the battle would conclude quickly.
Even an Eleven-Star peak martial artist, in such a confined space, would choose to retreat. Few in the world could suddenly elevate their power in such short proximity to clash head-on with Little Pluto Hades. Retreat.
Retreat. Retreat. A sequence of 'retreat' flashed rapidly through the minds of the observers.
No retreat. Qin Fen’s spread five fingers snapped inward. He also let out a soaring roar that shook the heavens, instantly scattering the killing aura surrounding him.
The momentum of absolute control erupted from his core. Qin Fen’s fist style shifted, his inner zhenqi climbing to its limit. Hades’ skin snapped pa-pa, his muscles rippling as the Tiger Fist fully manifested.
The duration for which one could maintain full power output was a crucial measure of strength between fighters. Little Pluto Hades completed his burst first, his pupils filled with the ferocity of a beast. Those watching felt that Qin Fen was not facing a man, but a raging tiger roaring through the mountains.
The tiger moves, and the forest trembles. As Hades moved, the aura of slaughter mixed with bestial viciousness erupted completely. The air before Qin Fen surged fiercely, as if he were deep in a dense forest facing a true tiger.
Hades’ tiger roars were incessant. His claws slashed through the air, which seemed to tear like paper, leaving behind visible streaks of airflow. The explosive Metal Ultimate Tiger Claws enveloped Qin Fen’s forehead, throat, shoulders, and every vital point.
The White Tiger’s ‘Tiger King’s Chaos.’ Song Zhenting’s eyes widened. Hades, an Eleven-Star expert, could actually execute the White Tiger Chaos? This technique violently fused the swift and rapid ancient fist arts of the White Tiger into a fierce ultimate move, consuming massive spiritual energy for a short burst—a single strike capable of shattering stone and splitting metal.
Hades could not compare to the Divine Beast White Tiger, so the power of the White Tiger Chaos was significantly reduced, but among Eleven-Star martial artists, it was still formidable. The fierce claws swept toward Qin Fen’s brow. Qin Fen roared, thunder echoing between his tendons.
He raised one hand to block the tiger claw. Hades redirected the claw toward Qin Fen’s ribs; Qin Fen used the White Crane Wing, pressing down on the tiger claw. Hades’ five fingers utilized the leverage to hook toward Qin Fen’s lower abdomen, while the other tiger claw aimed for his throat.
The White Tiger Chaos, shattering stone and splitting metal, was ceaseless like the vast ocean beside them. Air exploded continuously in the blink of an eye. The scattered air currents blew the sand on the beach several meters high.
In this flurry, Little Pluto Hades displayed the power of the foremost expert among the Golden Star younger generation. Every move was an attack, every grab a seizing of advantage. Golden Star Invincible, Defeating Death Again—the number one fighter among the world’s younger generation poured his entire essence and spirit into this battle.
Little Pluto Hades unleashed the strongest power of his entire career. Song Zhenting’s eyes flickered with repeated astonishment. Such a devastating attack as the White Tiger Chaos had failed to push Qin Fen back even half a step.
“This generation of young people is truly exciting,” Song Zhenting admitted, slightly moved. Hades’ murderous strikes and the myriad claw shadows captivated Qin Fen, whose fists and kicks transitioned from the initial Tai Chi softness to hard power. Achieving a balance of hard and soft is never easy.
To shift from soft to hard in an instant, Song Zhenting nodded slightly. Merely for this ability at such a young age, few could compare. Qin Fen’s mind was utterly clear.
Hades, the opponent radiating infinite killing intent, was indeed the strongest he had ever faced. The abilities of the Metal Ultimate exceeded expectations. Every clash felt like striking the hardest metal; the tough skin on his opponent’s hand was actually torn by the tiger claws, leaving streaks of blood.
Though Hades seized the initiative, Qin Fen’s internal battle spirit was not suppressed; instead, it grew wilder and more exhilarated. “Hades, you have your ancestral martial arts; I will also show you the martial arts I inherited specially.” The thought flashed through Qin Fen’s mind with lightning speed. He settled his stance, causing the golden sand beneath him to fly up over three meters high, completely enveloping the two of them.
Hades instantly felt trapped in another, strange environment. The Qin Fen before him suddenly transformed into a vast, surging ocean. Was he about to use his ultimate move?
Hades felt no fear, only excitement, raising his internal zhenqi again. His tiger roar clashed against Qin Fen’s dragon roar. The distant seawater was agitated, sending out ripples.
He thrust his five fingers upward, swooping toward Qin Fen’s head. The air whistled like tearing silk, or a funeral oboe playing its tune. Though this claw strike couldn't truly injure the air, the zhenqi mixed with the fierce wind visibly sprayed forth from his fingertips.
Normal skin would likely be cut and bleed under this finger wind. The aura of slaughter seemed intent on tearing open Qin Fen’s field of presence. Facing Hades’ [Tiger Rend], Qin Fen’s expression remained calm, like an ancient pine.
His palms turned inward then outward, spewing energy. His clothes billowed violently from the force of his zhenqi. The golden sand above had not yet settled, but more of it flew up.
The sound of rising tides roared from within the circle of gold dust. Qin Fen’s first palm struck the tiger claw. The two forces of hard power collided for the first time.
The sand beneath their feet no longer merely rose into the sky but shot out in all directions, its power no less than that from a child’s slingshot. Within the yellow sand, the two entangled figures were thrown backward for the first time, flying away from each other. Qin Fen’s sleeve was already shredded to rags by the sheer force of the air currents.
Little Pluto Hades’ lip cracked slightly; his Eleven-Star zhenqi burst forth, yet he could not withstand the sheer brute force of the Ten-Star fighter. Even with the Metal Ultimate protection, his arm throbbed as if pierced by ten thousand steel needles. Qin Fen was not faring much better.
The Metal Ultimate protection created by the White Tiger Divine Beast was inherently powerful, and facing an Eleven-Star opponent, he gained four more bloody gashes on the back of his hand from that single clash, with considerable flesh torn off by the opponent’s grasping strike. As their heels touched the ground after retreating, they charged toward each other again. The hundred-meter distance seemed nonexistent under their headlong rush.
They collided once more, and the two figures within the sandstorm did not immediately separate. [Tiger King’s Chaos] collided with [Rampant Raging Tide]. Beneath the golden sand, it seemed as if hundreds of great pythons writhed and twisted.
The younger martial artists were stunned speechless. Although they had anticipated a true battle of dragons and tigers, they hadn't expected two young men to fight with such fierce brilliance. Little Pluto Hades’ hair stood on end as if electrocuted.
A mist of sweat enveloped his body, making him appear like a bucket of bathwater that had been boiling for too long. His strength had unconsciously risen to the Twelve-Star level he had always coveted. Twelve Stars.
Little Pluto Hades had concentrated all his focus on Qin Fen, completely unaware of his own sublimation during the fight—he had actually advanced to the Twelve-Star stage. The impact of the Rampant Raging Tide made every bone in his body groan. Qin Fen’s fist surfaces and arms bore at least forty or fifty bloody gashes.
The reactions and tactics of both sides had reached their current peak. Little Pluto Hades profoundly felt that he was in a very strange environment; the Qin Fen before him seemed to command everything in heaven and earth. Despite his ferocious, primordial beast-like aggression, he could never break through Qin Fen’s state of absolute control.
If he failed to break the momentum, Hades would lose. Hades grasped this point, understanding that victory or defeat hung on a single instant. If either held back a true finishing move, they might never have the chance to use it again.
A roar burst from Hades’ throat once more. His tiger claws suddenly changed, his eyes flashing with fierce intent. The roar spat out a single, thunderous syllable: “Die.” As the word 'die' left his lips, the zhenqi within Little Pluto Hades surged violently.
His five fingers expanded rapidly, like the palm of a giant spirit god. This was his final, ultimate hidden skill—a specialized technique practiced for years to perfection: the [Pressing Force]. Exerting everything—double the pressing force!
The zhenqi enveloping his five fingers swelled continuously. If there had been a wooden board before him, this erupting zhenqi alone would have been enough to pierce it, without even physical contact. “Good.” At the exact same moment, Qin Fen’s fist momentum exploded once more.
Compared to Little Pluto Hades’ Twelve-Star zhenqi, the Ten-Star strength could only unleash one utterly all-out ultimate move. He could either rely on his physical stamina to drag Little Pluto Hades into exhaustion, or wait for Hades to unleash his true ultimate move to counter it. Qin Fen had been holding back, and now he no longer needed to.
Three and a half times the pressure of the Yuan Gong propelled the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art to a realm Qin Fen himself hadn't anticipated. In that instant, Qin Fen’s body, which had compressed back to normal, forcefully stretched upward by another five centimeters. Muscles swelled violently; dark green, massive tendons coiled like black dragons in a mural, wrapping around every corner of his body.
Yes, the body contracts when extreme strength swells; when the extreme limit is broken, Qin Fen’s body would expand once more. [Eighteen Divine Dragons Gather Wind and Cloud] VERSUS [Metal Ultimate Hundred Tigers Gather in the Forest Howl]. The most ferocious power against the most aggressive strike.
Their collision was like a giant lightning bolt suddenly appearing in the heavens. The booming sound drowned out their respective roars. Little Pluto Hades felt an unprecedented force tearing through his arm and surging into his body.
His eyebrows rose. Using his left foot as the pivot point, his right foot swung out in a powerful sweep toward Qin Fen’s forehead. The kick.
If he could shatter Qin Fen’s skull, this immense power could not be channeled into a more ferocious follow-up. Even if injured, he could still win this duel. With the fists colliding, Qin Fen suddenly pressed forward, the residual zhenqi blasting between his palms.
A dark light flashed from the corner of his left eye, and he immediately raised his left arm, allowing the soft Yin power of the Yin-Yang Twin Dragons to collide with the tiger-tail kick. The overwhelming force could not be completely stopped. He slipped slightly, using that momentum to crash into Hades’ embrace just as Hades’ Metal Ultimate tiger-head struck down.
The Yang Dragon delivered its punch without reservation. Bang. The golden sand erupted again.
The zhenqi from Qin Fen’s palms had not dissipated. Looking at Hades’ still battle-eager eyes and the blood gushing from his forehead, he flipped his palms—[Rampant Raging Tide]. On the beach, sounds like metal collisions continuously rang out, interspersed with the unmistakable sound of countless bones breaking.
A dazzling spray of blood blossomed in the sky. Hades was sent flying nearly thirty meters high, tracing a scarlet arc through the air before crashing heavily onto the sand. His body slid another fifteen meters, leaving a vast track interwoven with gold and blood, before finally coming to a stop.
Puff. Puff. Puff.
Little Pluto Hades uncontrollably spat mouthfuls of blood. His body convulsed rapidly. On his blood-splattered face, beneath the shock of disbelief, was a faint, proud, and happy smile.
He wasn't dead. Being the first person to survive Qin Fen’s full-power attack without dying instantly, Little Pluto was in a class of his own. Half his skull was caved in—the result of his Metal Ultimate head-butt colliding with Qin Fen’s Yang Dragon Fist.
Countless bones were broken; he looked like a heap of soft, rotten flesh. Even with the White Tiger’s Metal Ultimate protection, Little Pluto Hades had lost. He knew clearly that if their positions were reversed, even with Qin Fen’s strange and powerful protective divine art, his outcome would not be much better than Hades’ current state.
Qin Fen approached Little Pluto Hades, the strongest opponent he had faced in his career, and the one with the fiercest will to fight. Qin Fen knew he could not have held back any restraint; had he done so just now, Qin Fen would be the one lying on the sand. Little Pluto Hades’ offensive efficiency would never allow for even a thousandth of an opportunity to be spared.
“Nuo... throw... hot...” Little Pluto Hades vaguely opened his mouth, his bones already shattered.
His formidable willpower forced his muscles to deliver his final words. You won. Those three simple words conveyed Little Pluto Hades’ sincere and complete admission of defeat.
A trace of regret remained in his eyes: he had failed in life to become a Divine Beast, failed to be his father’s pride, and failed to fight Shangguan Chuanqi. Hades looked at Qin Fen, then shifted his gaze to the outer coat Qin Fen had taken off the moment the fight began. The crowd held their breath, watching Qin Fen walk over, pick up Hades’ coat, and retrieve a letter from inside—a letter written on paper.
In this age of highly developed electronic media, few people still wrote letters on paper. Furthermore, if someone used paper to write a letter, it generally implied the feelings contained within were deep and profound. [For Song Jia, Read Personally] The simple four characters were written with bold, sweeping strokes, filled with killing intent, yet carrying a faint hint of tenderness.
This was Little Pluto Hades’ handwriting. Song Zhenting descended slowly onto the beach with Song Jia. Qin Fen handed the letter to Song Jia.
An ambulance appeared not far from the beach. It was supposed to be here to collect a corpse; death was common in battles between such young masters. But Hades had broken through mid-fight to reach Twelve Stars.
Supported by his tremendous strength, he had been beaten into something like rotten meat, yet he still lived. Song Jia took the letter and, after a slight hesitation, slowly opened it under Hades’ expectant gaze. “Perhaps you don’t remember.
We met once before. It was after that meeting, when I knew nothing of love, that your shadow was left imprinted on my heart. Strange, isn’t it?
I saw you once, and I fell in love with you. Yes, Song Jia, I love you.” Little Pluto Hades was carefully lifted onto a stretcher. Song Jia looked at the retreating ambulance, a faint bitterness touching the corner of her lips.
This was truly unexpected news. The reason Hades challenged the match was not for a political marriage, nor to claim the title of the foremost young expert, but genuinely for love. The quiet beach was shattered by a wild roar of excitement from Xue Tian.
The crowd finally snapped out of the intense battle, and one by one, they shouted to the sky in unrestrained joy. He won. Qin Fen had ultimately won.
Song Zhenting’s eyes swept over Qin Fen’s arms, mottled with blood, and his expression of doubt deepened. What kind of protective divine art was this? It could directly confront the Metal Ultimate and fight to a standstill?
No—Qin Fen’s protective divine art might even have a slight edge. His Star level was lower than Little Pluto Hades’; the power his protective art could summon should naturally be weaker. Qin Fen’s legs felt slightly weak, not from Song Zhenting’s stare, but because his zhenqi was indeed heavily depleted.
The intense impact had even caused his muscles to twitch slightly. In all his combat experience, he had never been so exhausted.
"And Shangguan Chuanqi."
Song Zhenting dropped those six words, then turned and ascended swiftly into the sky with Song Jia.
Ji Zhenxuan Yi curled his lip beneath his mask, full of disdain. "What if it's Shangguan Chuanqi? My master can defeat the Little Hades, Hades; naturally, he can defeat Shangguan Chuanqi."
Song Zhenting's body halted mid-air. He turned back, looking down at Ji Zhenxuan Yi as if gazing at an ant, and uttered a single, utterly flat sentence before shooting away through the void.