Below Building 122, the ten martial artists who had entered the Sacred Martial Hall a year earlier were sprawled on the ground, either sitting or lying askew. Gone was the peerless aura they possessed upon arrival; every one of them looked like frost-bitten eggplants—listless and half-dead, staring at the Little Dragon King, Yang Lie. The newcomers, who had entered the Sacred Martial Hall less than a day ago, had managed to defeat nine opponents single-handedly without even using their full strength.

Huang Fengwan glanced at Morad, then at the Little Dragon King, Yang Lie. Where had these people come from? With such formidable strength, shouldn't they have been people spotlighted from their very first day, like the Little Hades, famous beyond measure!

"What powerful fists and kicks!"

A sweet, oriole-like voice suddenly broke the silence of the training grounds, and Morad’s imposing demeanor instantly sharpened as he looked toward the right, where the voice originated.

"Silly boy, where are you looking?"

Fenghua Danyu stood with her arms crossed over her chest. She emerged slowly from behind the building to Morad's left, a trace of a child’s triumphant, mischievous smile playing on her beautiful face.

The Little Dragon King, Yang Lie, stiffened violently, his pupils instantly contracting to pinpricks, a sharp light enveloping Fenghua Danyu. Just now, this woman’s aura and voice clearly came from the right, yet she appeared from the left? She had a history!

"What a fierce woman!" Xue Tian shivered by the window, shaking his head repeatedly. "The smile on this woman’s face is purer than mine, but if she ever got angry and fought, she’d probably be more ferocious than me. I can smell her aura; it’s the same as mine. It’s best to keep clear of women like this."

Qin Fen carefully studied Fenghua Danyu. The woman was stunning, but it wasn’t just her face. Her figure wasn't the kind that invited crime, yet she possessed a gracefully curved beauty. Especially her long legs, their length seemed almost exaggerated but didn't look awkward. They commanded nothing less than immediate admiration.

Huang Fengwan froze when he saw Fenghua Danyu. Did the Sacred Martial Hall actually have such a beautiful woman? He wondered if she was among the rumored Three Beauties of the Sacred Martial Hall... His shoulder insignia... Yes! That gold-threaded badge—it was the Asura!

The embroidery of the three heads and six arms, though small, was ferocious, vivid, and lifelike. It was a rare insignia embroidery in the Sacred Martial Hall, yet it simultaneously represented a well-known status and codename.

[Asura]—the Chief of the Martial Theory Division!

Every Chief of the Six Divisions of the Sacred Martial Hall possessed immense strength; no one in the Hall ever doubted this.

But among the Six Chiefs, whose strength was the greatest? This had always been a topic of endless debate. Di Shitian's Heavenly Thunder Skill was highly praised by many.

The Sacred Martial Hall named the divisional chiefs after the figures of mythical legends, making Di Shitian a leader among the Eight Devas, naturally garnering much praise.

However, no matter in the world, human thought could never be completely unified. The Asura of the Martial Theory Division also had a powerful faction supporting the idea that she was the strongest among the Six Chiefs.

Among the six divisions, the Martial Theory Division was the primary department directly managing the cultivation of martial arts, and simultaneously, it was a critical department for researching and developing martial techniques. How weak could the person appointed as the Chief of such a department possibly be?

Especially since it was rumored that the newly appointed Asura had severely injured the previous generation's Asura.

The old Asura, a contemporary equal to Di Shitian, had been critically wounded by the new Asura. This instantly won over many supporters.

Huang Fengwan did not know who was stronger, Di Shitian or the Asura, or if another divisional chief held the title of strongest in the Six Divisions, but he knew one thing: let alone the Little Dragon King Yang Lie standing before him, even Shangguan Chuanqi, the Legend of Mars, would stand no chance against the Asura, not even a one-in-ten-thousand chance. Fenghua Danyu walked through the crowd of injured individuals, lightly kicking each person’s rear. The martial artists who were unconscious or unable to move on the ground simultaneously shuddered violently, and a visible layer of white frost coated the exposed skin on their bodies.

They all shivered in unison, opening their mouths to exhale a chilling current that instantly froze the surrounding heat into ice. They felt inexplicably comfortable.

Xuanming Divine Art! The internal energy of the Little Dragon King, Yang Lie, was entirely that of extremely cold ancient martial arts. It was different from the new martial art, Nitrogen Compression Freezing Demonic Path.

The new Nitrogen Compression Freezing Demonic Path involved gathering the nitrogen in the air, mixing it with the nitrogen in one’s body, and releasing it, freezing the target from the outside. It could instantly freeze a person into a block of ice and alter the surrounding environment’s temperature.

Although the true qi of the Xuanming Divine Art was extremely cold, it did not change the surrounding climate or environment, nor could it freeze the opponent's body. It would instead act like a leech clinging to bone, invading the body and completely freezing the meridians, preventing the opponent from circulating true qi, and even causing their blood to slowly freeze as the true qi infiltrated.

All nine martial artists who had been ganged up on were, without exception, frozen by the Little Dragon King’s Xuanming true qi. Having undergone the process of blood replacement and rebirth into true innate energy with Qin Fen’s help, Yang Lie’s true qi purity and quality far surpassed those of his opponents. Even using only the peak of Eight-Star true qi, he could engage in super combat without falling behind because the quality of his true qi vastly exceeded his opponents’. After a few quick exchanges, once the pure Xuanming true qi invaded, the opponents could no longer exert their strength. How could they possibly remain undefeated?

The Little Dragon King Yang Lie’s eyes held a touch more wariness and curiosity. With those few light kicks, this woman had effortlessly neutralized the true qi invading the bodies of others. Even Qin Fen, doing the same, might only achieve that level. Yet, why did it feel as though she was even stronger than Qin Fen? Was the Sacred Martial Hall truly so unfathomably deep? Could just any young woman who appeared possess strength comparable to Qin Fen’s?

"Kid, your fists and kicks, while not yet perfectly refined and still holding many flaws, are quite surprising regarding this true qi," Fenghua Danyu said, adopting an air of seniority as she nudged Ouyang Yan with her foot. "Xuanming true qi. Few people can cultivate it so skillfully at your age."

Yang Lie’s eyelids twitched. This woman's insight was sharp. Merely by kicking someone, she could discern what true qi was being used? When Qin Fen first fought him, he could only speculate about Ice True Qi or Xuanming Divine Art; he didn't possess this woman’s piercing gaze.

Fenghua Danyu looked up at Qin Fen on the sixth floor. "Young man, I assume this little fellow upstairs won't come down to fight me unless I defeat you first, right? How about we have a match?"

"Don't!"

Huang Fengwan’s shriek instantly drew everyone's attention.

Yang Lie stared doubtfully at Huang Fengwan, waiting for the reason behind his obstruction.

"She... she... she..." Huang Fengwan grit his teeth and shouted, "She is the Asura! The Chief of the Martial Theory Division of the Sacred Martial Hall! The legendary Asura, Fenghua Danyu!"

"What?"

"Seriously?"

"Asura..."

The scene immediately descended into chaos. The martial artists who had just been revived, along with the veteran martial artists from Building 122, all fixed astonished gazes on Fenghua Danyu. Every one of their voices held an indescribable shock and fear.

The number one expert of the Martial Theory Division appearing at a "welcoming ceremony" for newcomers entering the Sacred Martial Hall—this had never happened in the history of the Hall.

The Chief of the Martial Theory Division, the Asura, proactively requesting sparring with newcomers on their very first day in the Sacred Martial Hall—this had also never occurred.

Ouyang Yan’s shocked eyes quickly shifted to the Little Dragon King Yang Lie, turning into a gaze filled with jealousy.

That’s right! Being singled out by the Asura, the Chief of the Martial Theory Division, on his first day in the Sacred Martial Hall, and being asked to spar—what did that imply? Any fool would know!

Even newcomers to the Inner Sacred Martial Hall had never received such treatment. Today, it was happening to a martial artist categorized as fundamental in the Outer Sacred Martial Hall.

Everyone in the Sacred Martial Hall knew that the new Chief of the Martial Theory Division, the Asura, had a very unpleasant yet very beneficial habit: cultivating promising young martial artists in the Western Yellow...

Furthermore, every martial artist who received her attention saw their strength advance by leaps and bounds. It was just unknown why these martial artists, who clearly benefited, were utterly unwilling to accept the special guidance of the Martial Theory Division Chief again. They preferred to cultivate painstakingly on their own rather than submit to the Chief’s instruction.

It was rumored that even the martial arts fanatic, the martial arts lunatic, could not endure the special training from this Chief of the Martial Theory Division.

Because of this, a legend gradually formed within the Sacred Martial Hall: anyone favored by the Chief of the Martial Theory Division represented immense potential, and simultaneously implied a drastic leap in their power. But alongside this surge in strength, the moment of their misery could arrive at any time. Knowing that a time of misery would come, countless martial artists still wished to be noticed by the Asura, as it had gradually become an implicit honor.

To draw out the Chief of the Martial Theory Division on his very first day in the Sacred Martial Hall, Ouyang Yan was so jealous he wanted to blast the Little Dragon King Yang Lie into smithereens with a rocket launcher.

"Asura? Chief of the Martial Theory Division?"

Yang Lie curiously activated the personnel introduction function on his insignia. A black shadow, indistinct in appearance, shot out from the insignia, followed by a pleasant female voice that slowly began the introduction: "Martial Theory Division. One of the Six Divisions of the Sacred Martial Hall. Asura, the foremost expert of the Martial Theory Division, apparent strength at the Great Star level, hidden strength cannot be ruled out. Nicknamed the 'Female Demon Trainer.' All martial artists must approach with caution; do not be deceived by her innocent appearance."

Great Star level strength? The number one expert of the Martial Theory Division? Female Demon Trainer?

Yang Lie immediately reappraised Fenghua Danyu. Such a great beauty was actually the number one expert of the Martial Theory Division? Her strength was at least Great Star level? Then what was the point of Comet-level martial artists even bothering? Even Qin Fen, the number one expert at the Comet level, wouldn't be able to win.

"What an annoying insignia," Fenghua Danyu pouted, clearly unhappy. "At the next meeting, I’m going to strongly suggest canceling the personnel introduction function. This young lady’s reputation has been ruined by this insignia! (Has it?) Are you not fighting? If you’re not fighting, I’m leaving..."

"Wait a moment!"

Yang Lie called out as Fenghua Danyu turned, unsure if she was truly leaving or just posturing. "I want to fight."

"What?"

"What did he say?"

"Is he insane?"

"He still wants to fight after hearing the introduction?"

Ouyang Yan’s jealous gaze began to shift toward admiration. After holding it in for so long, he shouted, "You have guts!"

The others nodded in agreement. To hear that your opponent was Fenghua Danyu, the Chief of the Martial Theory Division of the Sacred Martial Hall, the 'Female Demon Trainer,' and still agree to fight—if that wasn't being 'gutsy,' what was?

Yang Lie’s hands held his bright pupils, like the brightest stars in the night sky, unable to hide the excitement shooting from them. The experience gained from fighting such a master was invaluable, second only to the time Qin Fen was crippled by the White Tiger’s palm.

"Really?" Fenghua Danyu turned around with a smiling face, as delighted as a child who had successfully tricked someone. "I was actually planning to sneak attack you tonight; now that’s saved. By the way, among this group of yours, what is your rank in terms of combat power?"

Yang Lie frowned deeply, considering the question seriously for half a second, then replied heartily, "Third..."

"Nonsense!"

The young martial artists upstairs and downstairs shouted in unison. Brooks of the Sky was the first to jump from upstairs to downstairs, followed closely by Caesar and the others.

Except for Xue Tian and Qin Fen, all the other young men surrounded Yang Lie in the center, arguing loudly.

"Why are you third?"

"Exactly! Caesar is right, why are you third? I should be third!"

"Pah! Third is not your turn! Morad, you’re fourth, I’m the third!"

Ouyang Yan, Huang Fengwan, and the others were stunned by this scene. What was going on? These people who had been harmonious moments ago were now arguing as if they were about to fight over the number three spot?

Solomon withdrew from the arguing crowd and quietly walked up to Fenghua Danyu. He didn't say a word; he simply pointed a finger at himself.

Pfft...

Qin Fen, watching from upstairs, burst out laughing and glanced at Xue Tian beside him. These martial artists, who usually looked down on everyone, had developed deep friendships after prolonged contact, and had even been infected by Xue Tian to become chattier in certain situations.

"You can't blame me for this," Xue Tian waved his hands repeatedly. "Young people, what's wrong with talking a bit more? Besides, they only gathered together because of you. If anyone is the culprit, it should be you."

"Qin Fen," Yang Lie called up from the crowd, "You be the referee. Who among us is actually third?"

The crowd instantly quieted down. The powerful young men, all possessing the strength of a true innate state after blood renewal, looked up at Qin Fen.

Fenghua Danyu showed a hint of surprise. These young men clearly possessed strong, individualistic personalities; otherwise, they wouldn't have achieved their current strength. It seemed that when facing peers who were stronger than them, most would feel unconvinced and would want to train hard to catch up and settle the score later.

Admiring martial artists of the same age? And actually accepting the words of their peer as a standard for judgment? Fenghua Danyu couldn't help but examine Qin Fen more closely. What kind of demeanor would a young martial artist who commanded such recognition possess?

Qin Fen smiled wryly. The strength of these individuals was nearly equal, and having communicated constantly, they understood each other exceptionally well. If they were to actually fight to determine a winner, luck might play a significant role.

After a brief silence, Qin Fen finally settled his gaze on Brooks. This young man had an advantage over the others; he sparred with Xue Tian frequently. Although he was always defeated by Xue Tian, he still gained more experience than the others.

"Theoretically, he’s third, based on the conditions of their sparring," Qin Fen muttered. "It would be best if you all sparred among yourselves."

"Since Qin Fen says you are the strongest," Caesar nodded, "then how about this: you act as the seeded player. After I've studied some of Qin Fen's martial techniques, we'll hold our own internal ranking tournament."

"That works," Brooks said eagerly, casting a dismissive glance at Ouyang Yan and the others. "Fighting them is boring. Let's fight amongst ourselves and determine the first through fifth spots..."

Seven days later, Caesar scanned his companions with questioning eyes and received approving nods.

"Seven days later?" Fenghua Danyu looked at Yang Lie. "Since we’re going to fight, how about we make a bet?"

A bet? Caesar and the others smiled, finding the phrasing oddly familiar. It sounded like something Old Qin always said before a fight. They hadn't expected someone in the Sacred Martial Hall to share Old Qin's personality.

Yang Lie smiled. For someone who had traveled with Qin Fen for a long time, something like a "bet" was hardly a big deal.

"What do you want to bet on?"

"I will place a cup filled with water on the back of my hand. When you attack, I will use this hand to block. If a single drop of water spills, I lose."

Fenghua Danyu considered. "Of course, since you are a Ten-Star martial artist, I will only use Ten-Star strength. If I lose, I agree to one request from you. If you lose, you cultivate with me for seven days."

Yang Lie smiled. "No bet. Qin Fen could do something like that too. Your true qi vibration power should be stronger than Qin Fen's."

"Oh?" Fenghua Danyu looked at Qin Fen with increased interest. "How about we bet on something else..."

"No need for a bet. After this fight, I will cultivate with you for seven days anyway," the Little Dragon King Yang Lie said, knitting his brows. "I also really want to know just how terrifying the so-called Female Demon Trainer truly is."

Fenghua Danyu laughed, her smile filled with genuine joy. Since the incident with the Martial Lunatic, many people in the Sacred Martial Hall lacked Yang Lie’s spirit—the heroic desire to challenge their own training methods.

Fenghua Danyu lightly raised the index finger of her right hand. "Come on."

"Good!"

Yang Lie’s expression became solemn. His loud shout seemed to forcefully suppress the aura of invincible single-finger dominance that the Asura had projected.

In the next instant, Yang Lie bent his knees, retreated his stance into the Divine Dragon Concealing Cloud technique, and slammed both feet against the ground in unison. A deafening roar, like a high-speed car collision, erupted from the earth, and the Dragon Robe appeared once more!

At the moment he confirmed the action, Yang Lie’s internal true qi had been circulating at high speed. His great shout built his momentum to its peak. His attack was accompanied by the sound of an angry dragon's roar, creating a scene many times more intense than the previous group battle.

Ouyang Yan sucked in a sharp hiss, watching Yang Lie’s [Dragon Cannon] with immense shock. The power of this strike was enough to completely kill a person, leaving absolutely no chance of survival!

The mere imposing aura of this attack, before it even landed, was enough to make onlookers instantly lose all will to fight!

"Oh?" A brilliant light flashed in Fenghua Danyu’s eyes. This young man not only possessed outstanding power but also rich combat experience. He knew how to seize the initiative, and his movements faintly carried a scent of blood.

He had killed people with his fists and kicks! Fenghua Danyu’s beautiful eyes flickered with bright light. This young man had killed people before, and likely more than one. He wasn't foolishly practicing martial arts; he understood the ultimate goal of the martial way—which was to kill the opponent!

Having lost the initiative, Fenghua Danyu did not panic. When facing an opponent like this, whether one seized the initiative or not made no difference because...

Initiative is not everything; the overall momentum is everything! Qin Fen looked down at the battle unfolding, his eyes gleaming sharply. Fenghua Danyu's comprehension and control over the overall momentum were too high. Even if she used the exact same comprehensive strength as Yang Lie, it would be Yang Lie who lost.

What was momentum? Yang Lie understood it clearly; he had gained much insight from numerous discussions with Qin Fen, and in the last fight, he had fully grasped the concept of 'momentum.'

But at this moment, Yang Lie suddenly felt that despite his heroic bearing, he was like a trapped dragon.

Under an endless, boundless sky, the dragon howled toward the heavens but could never find its direction, flying alone, as if heaven itself would reach down and crush the dragon.

Suddenly, Fenghua Danyu's shoulder twitched, and her arm shot out fiercely. The index finger of her slender jade hand collided with the imposing Dragon Cannon.

Finger met fist solidly, causing the air to explode! The sound of bone and flesh impacting followed, then several crisp cracking sounds of bone could be heard.

"Hiss..."

Yang Lie inhaled sharply through his mouth, whistling like a kettle, his fist filled with the true qi vibration transferred from his opponent. The vibration between the true qi and blood in his fist actually mimicked the sound of a heartbeat, as if he held a powerful heart in his fist.

True Qi Vibration! A terrifying True Qi Vibration! Caesar's eyes twitched repeatedly. Truly powerful True Qi Vibration could actually cause the opponent’s blood to vibrate, forming a unique seismic source, resembling a heart squeeze, causing the martial artist's blood and qi to flow backward and impact their actual heart.

The heart is the hydraulic pump for the body's blood. If pressure is applied when pumping blood, and it is met with a counter-pressure from the returning blood, the heart could very likely burst, leading to immediate death!

Qin Fen called this the [Alien Heart].

Yang Lie’s fist throbbed with pain, but this only ignited the fighting spirit within him. Even if he were to lose, he couldn't be defeated instantly! Otherwise, how could he face his brothers in the future?

With a sudden stomp of both feet against the ground, Yang Lie’s left hand, held against his heart to guard the vital area, spun with dizzying speed like a top. His shoulder muscles abruptly swelled, and his left hand transformed into a thrust aimed directly at Feng Hua Danyun’s throat!

"Heh."

Feng Hua Danyun let out a cheerful laugh, her left index finger flicking out to tap Yang Lie’s elbow bone.

Yang Lie’s elbow instantly went numb, the sensation shooting down his entire arm. A deeply concealed nerve had been effortlessly struck. His arm thrashed uselessly, flailing without obedience. Though his control was powerful, the numbness soon gave way to pain. A film of cold sweat instantly broke out across Yang Lie’s forehead. While suppressing the assault on his heart with his right hand's [Ethereal Heart], he simultaneously had to quell the surging vital energy assault from the struck nerve, rendering him completely unable to launch a further attack.

"The first strike was formidable. The second one you hid looked decent, but it was still too obvious; not as good as the first," Feng Hua Danyun critiqued with a grin. Her fingers, which had initially countered Yang Lie’s Dragon Cannon strike, rapidly flexed a few times. Even engaging in a clash using the strength of a Ten-Star Martial Artist, and even cheating by employing high-level vital energy shockwaves, she still couldn't completely block that violent force. That single blow had managed to breach the defense of her index finger's first two joints, only being truly halted at the third.

Yang Lie managed a bitter smile. As expected, his Palm Concealing Dragon couldn't compare to Qin Fen's Dragon Cannon. Having suffered a loss on the first exchange, he had managed to inject some of his Profound Darkness Divine Art into her system, so at least she hadn't walked away completely unscathed.

Palm Concealing Dragon... Yang Lie shook his head wryly. It hadn't been concealed at all; it had been discovered and immediately dismantled. When matched equally, having a martial skill broken meant the technique itself had flaws. Otherwise, why did the Dragon Cannon force the Ten-Star-level Feng Hua Danyun onto the defensive, instead of allowing her to counter with the same technique?

"For your age, you are quite remarkable, better than I was back then," Feng Hua Danyun said, watching Yang Lie as he recovered his composure. "However, Earth Intent Style shouldn't be your creation. In that second attack, it seems you are the true creator."

Yang Lie flexed the five fingers of his right fist, which ached fiercely from the vital energy concussion: "You can tell that too?"

"Heh heh, of course."

Feng Hua Danyun knitted her exquisite eyebrows. She repeatedly flexed her fingers, feeling lingering pain even while cheating with vital energy shockwaves. Furthermore, that one punch from him had nearly dislocated a bone; it hurt badly.

"The Profound Darkness Divine Strike isn't bright and overwhelmingly powerful enough. To think such explosive momentum could be generated from it. If a person who followed a purely righteous, fierce, and bold path threw this punch, the power should have been even greater, right? When this person created this move, there seemed to be an aura of swallowing the heavens and earth, completely different from your martial temperament. It shouldn't be yours."

Feng Hua Danyun raised her beautiful eyes to look at Qin Fen upstairs: "Kid, was it you who created it?"

Qin Fen nodded lightly without denial. Ouyang Yan’s Adam's apple bobbed repeatedly, swallowing mouthful after mouthful of saliva. Such powerful martial intent was created by a martial artist barely nineteen years old?

"I really want to spar with you right now," Feng Hua Danyun pouted, her appearance so charming and lovely that everyone momentarily forgot she was the notorious Asura, the Chief of the Martial Lun Department.

A flash of melancholy crossed Feng Hua Danyun's gaze: "Too bad. Fighting you now would be unsatisfying. You should get a bit stronger, then we can fight."

Qin Fen sighed. He himself wanted to step down and fight, but this woman seemed to have no fighting spirit right now; a match would likely be a dull affair, diminishing the experience.

Asura departed. She and the Young Dragon King Yang Lie soon vanished from everyone’s sight.

Qin Fen rested both hands on the window frame, a delighted smile spreading across his face. Asura’s appearance had at least delivered a very useful message: the Sacred Martial Hall was absolutely not a place of mere façade; it housed true masters of the Martial Way! Excellent! His first active step onto the path of martial arts had not been a mistake! Several magnetic levitation speeders appeared before the crowd, their clear red crosses marking them as the medical vehicles of the Sacred Martial Hall.

Ouyang Yan, lying on a stretcher, looked at Qin Fen: "This time, we admit defeat. But this matter isn't over. The Sacred Martial Hall has plenty of experts. Seniors who have been here much longer than I have will come to carry out the appropriate, glorious traditions for you all."

"Experts?" Qin Fen spread his hands: "Welcome. That is also one of my primary reasons for coming to the Sacred Martial Hall."

"Is that so?" Ouyang Yan laughed coldly: "I hope that when you are lying on a stretcher, just like me, you can maintain that same attitude."