The contingent from the Inner Sanctum Martial Hall departed, their initial momentum like a descending tiger replaced by the limpness of a toothless one.

In the now quiet Martial Hall, the practitioners from the Outer Sanctum exchanged glances before erupting into cheers. Who wouldn't want to sit in the front rows during a lecture, eager to observe every subtle movement of the instructor? The presence of the Inner Sanctum warriors had made that impossible. Now that they had left in such ignominy, everyone felt as if a great weight had been lifted from their chests.

Qin Fen turned and beckoned to the strange man sitting in the very last row, inviting him to sit closer. The man in the back shook his head. Qin Fen caught from his gaze that he genuinely preferred his solitude, so he ceased his gesturing and turned his attention, intrigued, to today's lecturer.

"Ahem... ahem..."

The moment Ren Tiansheng’s eyes met Qin Fen’s, he felt the young man's gaze was utterly pure. There was no arrogance from his victory, nor any inferiority from being a basic-level warrior of the Outer Sanctum. His eyes were calm and level, devoid of impatience, and deeply captivating.

Clearing his throat several times to mask his momentary fascination with Qin Fen's eyes, Ren Tiansheng puffed out his chest slightly and announced, "Today, I will be your main speaker, and the focus will primarily be on Qi Oscillation."

Hush...

A low murmur swept through the young warriors. For these young practitioners of the Outer Sanctum, who had only been in the Martial Hall for less than three months, Qi Oscillation remained a profoundly novel and vital martial technique.

Ren Tiansheng watched the excitement radiating from the young faces below, a pleased smile touching the corners of his eyes. To be this thrilled by mere Qi Oscillation... oh, the youth...

His gaze swept down from his elevated position across the hall, quickly landing on Qin Fen and his immediate circle in the front row. Ren Tiansheng's expression suddenly froze, his eyes studying Qin Fen with a peculiar intensity. This young man clearly possessed such formidable power in Qi Oscillation; why, then, did he still look as if he were earnestly studying? Could he have encountered some insurmountable difficulty with the technique, prompting him to seek instruction?

Ren Tiansheng concentrated, swiftly contemplating for a few seconds, unable to unravel the mystery. He regained his composure and began, "First, we must understand what Qi Oscillation is."

"What is Qi Oscillation?" Ren Tiansheng asked and answered himself, picking up a small cup of clear water and shaking it gently. "See that? The water is oscillating; blood can oscillate just the same, and naturally, Qi can too. However, oscillation must be achieved within a controlled boundary."

Qin Fen nodded softly. He had grasped the initial theory of Qi Oscillation through sound waves, so Ren Tiansheng's analogy with water was quite vivid.

"What are the benefits of Qi Oscillation?" Ren Tiansheng quickly settled into his role as lecturer, no longer frequently observing Qin Fen. He proceeded to lecture the youths on the execution of Qi Oscillation, the required level of control for its initiation, the requisite strength of initial control, and how to test it—what was known as the 'Control Value.'

Qin Fen listened to Ren Tiansheng’s lecture, nodding repeatedly. The Martial Hall indeed possessed its unique insights, especially in Qi Oscillation, where they had developed a remarkably meticulous classification system.

The most rudimentary Qi Oscillation—barely manageable, occasionally resulting in errors in control—was termed Level One Qi Oscillation. Level Two Qi Oscillation required performing the basic oscillation without any detrimental effects. Level Three Qi Oscillation allowed for frequency alteration. Level Four Qi Oscillation meant near-absolute control over the Qi frequency, though limited to a single meridian pathway. Level Five Qi Oscillation involved autonomous control over the main meridians. Level Six Qi Oscillation meant simultaneously controlling the Qi oscillations across all Eight Extraordinary Meridians, each at a different frequency.

"Simultaneously controlling the Qi oscillations in different parts of the body? Is that truly possible?"

"Yeah, is it really possible? Different parts of the body endure different strengths of force. To control all areas perfectly, how much control would that require? Must one be a Divine Beast Warrior to achieve it?"

Murmurs rose from the young warriors, each question loud and clear. The Martial Hall’s teaching policy always encouraged immediate inquiry.

"Well..." Ren Tiansheng shrugged. "I've heard it’s achievable without reaching the Divine Beast level."

"Heard? Can the instructor not do it?"

"What level of Qi Oscillation is the instructor currently at?"

"Me?" Ren Tiansheng straightened his chest. "I am at Level Four."

Another wave of astonishment swept through the audience. Out of a total of six levels, the instructor had already reached Level Four.

"Alright," Ren Tiansheng spread his arms. "Enough questions for me now. First, attempt to sense the degree of control within your own body using the method I described."

The noisy atmosphere instantly quieted as the young warriors focused inward, centering their energy.

Ren Tiansheng stepped down from the platform and approached Qin Fen. Occasionally glancing over during the lecture, he noticed Qin Fen nodding gently—not with the expression of sudden enlightenment, but one of acknowledgment.

Sparring! Ever since witnessing Qin Fen's empty-handed defeat of the enemy before class, Ren Tiansheng had been eager to spar with him, believing mutual practice would lead to mutual improvement.

Taking a disciple? Ren Tiansheng had abandoned that notion. Though Qin Fen's Star Rank might be insufficient, the depth of his foundation meant he would certainly not accept a mere fourteen-star warrior as his master.

Ren Tiansheng sat opposite Qin Fen. "Seeing you nod so frequently, I assume you understand a good deal about Qi Oscillation."

"A little," Qin Fen replied modestly. "Just the barest surface."

"The surface?" Ren Tiansheng shook his head. "Young man, modesty is good, but excessive modesty borders on falsehood."

Excessive modesty? Qin Fen could only offer a weak smile. The deeper he delved into the Martial Way, the more shallow his previous knowledge seemed. To say he knew only the surface was barely an exaggeration; it was the truth.

Intrigued, Ren Tiansheng saw Qin Fen fall silent again and pressed on. "Young man, what level of Qi Oscillation control have you achieved?"

"Level Six."

"What?" Ren Tiansheng thought he misheard. His eyes widened as he scrutinized Qin Fen back and forth. "Young man, what level did you just say you are?"

"Level Six."

Qin Fen offered a faint smile at Ren Tiansheng's slack-jawed look. While Qi Oscillation was difficult, it was exponentially simpler than Marrow Exchange Nirvana. The moment Marrow Exchange Nirvana was completed, the required level of control was at least the control needed for full meridian Qi Oscillation throughout the entire body.

It could be said that without achieving Level Six, full-body control in Qi Oscillation, Marrow Exchange Nirvana was impossible. As for the oscillation itself, the Master had not told him the complete truth back then. Beyond meridian Qi Oscillation, there was Qi Oscillation of the blood and Qi Oscillation of the bone marrow—even stronger forms of oscillation designed to enhance the physique.

"You can do Level Six oscillation? Is that true?"

Ren Tiansheng still couldn't believe it. A warrior under nineteen claiming Level Six Qi Oscillation—what had his own forty years of effort amounted to?

Qin Fen silently walked onto the platform and gently extended a finger, touching the cup filled with water...

"Just..."

Ren Tiansheng snapped upright, his eyes wide as saucers, fixed on the cup touched by Qin Fen’s finger. Calmly, eight columns of water rose up, swirling—the thickness, size, and eruption speed of these eight columns varied distinctly.

Level Six Qi Oscillation Control! This was the manifestation of the peak state of Level Six Qi Oscillation Control! He hadn't expected the casual description he'd given to inspire the youths earlier to actually manifest before his eyes!

Ren Tiansheng stared blankly as Qin Fen walked down from the platform. A bitter smile slowly spread across his rigid face. What a day this had turned into? Not long ago, he thought he'd found a prodigy, a suitable successor for his teachings, only to realize in a flash that this successor’s only deficiency was Star Rank, while his foundation was solid enough to spar with Ren Tiansheng as an equal...

"Sigh..." Ren Tiansheng sighed again, shaking his head rapidly like a rattle drum. Transforming from looking for a successor to being ready for an equal sparring partner was disheartening enough, but the young man's performance had once again exceeded all expectations—even being equals for a sparring match was no longer accurate.

Seek instruction... Yes! Ren Tiansheng looked weakly at Qin Fen. He, a fourteen-star warrior and an instructor at the Martial Hall, was now reduced to seeking guidance from a warrior under nineteen.

Ren Tiansheng sat heavily on the ground, chuckling bitterly, reflecting on how eventful this short half-day had been. From wanting to take someone as a disciple and instruct them, it rapidly devolved into preparing for an equal spar, and now, after one lecture, he was soliciting instruction from the newcomer! Instruction from a martial artist not yet twenty.

"Learning follows no strict order; the accomplished comes first, the accomplished comes first..." Ren Tiansheng repeated the maxim of the sages under his breath. His dazed gaze gradually regained focus. He sat on the ground, looking up at Qin Fen perched on the tree stump. "Young... Young..."

Ren Tiansheng suddenly realized he didn't know how to address Qin Fen. Conventionally, calling someone newly arrived at the Martial Hall 'kid' was already quite respectful, yet this newcomer possessed a foundation so profound it was staggering.

If they judged purely by martial foundation, Ren Tiansheng realized he should address Qin Fen as 'Senior.'

A fourteen-star warrior over forty addressing a youth under twenty as 'Senior'? Ren Tiansheng truly couldn't manage the words.

"Senior, my name is Qin Fen."

Ren Tiansheng let out a long breath, his admiring gaze falling on Qin Fen. This young man not only had a profound martial foundation but was also remarkably humble and observant—a rare, top-grade talent.

Ren Tiansheng paused in thought. "Brother Qin Fen, if you don't mind, I will call you that."

"Very well, Senior."

"Don't call me Senior anymore," Ren Tiansheng waved his hand listlessly. "Hearing you call me Senior really makes my face burn. If you call me Brother, you can call me Elder Brother."

"Elder Brother Ren."

Ren Tiansheng inwardly gave a thumbs-up. This address carried no hint of affectation, disdain, or arrogance. He himself hadn't possessed such magnanimity when he was younger.

"Brother Qin..." Ren Tiansheng scratched his head. "I wanted to ask your advice on how to progress from Level Four Qi Oscillation to Level Five. I’ve been stuck at this bottleneck for years, and it’s truly distressing."

This time, it was Qin Fen who stared, stunned. He hadn't expected a fourteen-star instructor who spent his days teaching martial arts to so readily set aside his pride to ask for help.

Seeing Qin Fen's disbelief, Ren Tiansheng could only offer a wry smile. He was truly driven to this point. Although the Martial Hall provided methods for cultivating Qi Oscillation, for some unknown reason, he simply couldn't break through the bottleneck of Level Four to increase his control level.

"Brother Qin, I won't hide it from you; I'm truly at my wit's end," Ren Tiansheng confessed, clutching his dark hair anxiously. "It's been ten years. I've been stagnant at Level Four Qi Oscillation for a decade. Following the methods the Martial Hall gave me, I simply cannot succeed. Otherwise, do you think a forty-year-old man like me would swallow his pride to ask you for guidance?"

Ten years? Qin Fen looked at Ren Tiansheng with deep admiration. Ten years without progress would drive a martial artist dedicated to the Way to madness. The fact that this man maintained some composure was truly commendable.

"Then, shall we try sparring first?" Qin Fen extended his hand, adopting a Tai Chi push posture. "Let me first test where your Level Four Qi Oscillation stands, Elder Brother Ren."

"Good!" Ren Tiansheng rolled up his sleeves and chuckled. "Then I shall be clumsy. Brother Qin, be careful. Although my Qi Oscillation is lacking, my strength is considerable."

Slap...

Their wrists connected. Qin Fen felt his wrist sink sharply—the result of Ren Tiansheng's years of practicing Mount Sumeru Strength, which gave him immense power, combined with rapidly fluctuating Qi Oscillation vibrating through their contact point.

"Eh?"

Ren Tiansheng showed surprise again. He exerted nearly three thousand jin of downward pressure, yet Qin Fen seemed completely unfazed, easily lifting it as if it were nothing.

Qin Fen’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. The frequency variation was exquisitely smooth, without the slightest hesitation. This was the peak control of Level Four Qi Oscillation. Even without guidance, advancing to Level Five should have been relatively straightforward.

Thump-thump... Thump-thump... Thump-thump...

Their wrists remained joined, the colliding Qi vibrations creating a sound like a continuous waist drum being struck. Many young warriors opened their eyes, staring in astonishment at the scene before them.

A basic-level newcomer from the Outer Sanctum sparring with the instructor on Qi Oscillation? This newcomer was clearly blessed! Having caught the instructor's eye, he was surely about to be accepted as a disciple!

Envious gazes flooded toward Qin Fen. While taking disciples was common in the Martial Hall, it was an exceedingly rare occurrence involving a basic-level warrior from the Outer Sanctum. This kid was clearly destined for meteoric success.

Watching Qin Fen maintain absolute equilibrium in the Qi Oscillation confrontation while simultaneously dividing his attention to ponder problems, Ren Tiansheng suddenly felt a sharp pang of defeat. Forty years less than a warrior not even twenty—what sort of situation was this?

Qin Fen’s knitted brow slowly relaxed. With a slight tremor of his wrist, he withdrew his hand from the contact point generating the Qi Oscillation.

"This..." Ren Tiansheng stared, laughing bitterly again. When two opposing Qi Oscillations meet, it is no simple matter for either party to forcibly withdraw. Though he knew of Qin Fen’s Level Six Oscillation, witnessing him accomplish something a fourteen-star warrior couldn't—effortlessly—was still profoundly shocking.

Qin Fen covered his chin, his hand resting there as he sank back into contemplation. Ren Tiansheng felt an urge to scratch his head in frustration. His Qi Oscillation, stagnant for ten years, had met a warrior under twenty who had mastered it. He must have found some shortcut. But looking at Qin Fen's deep thought, could it be that even he had no immediate answer?

The surrounding young warriors looked confusedly at Qin Fen and Ren Tiansheng. Since the test of strength was complete, why wasn't the kid seizing the opportunity to request discipleship? Why the continued pretense of profound thought? Hurry up and bow! Hurry up and bow!

Many young warriors clenched their fists in agitation, wishing they could rush forward and physically press Qin Fen to the ground to complete the ritual of apprenticeship for him.

"Mmm~!" Qin Fen moved his hand from his chin downward by a few centimeters, his eyes still fixed on the ground. "I think... perhaps it is because of this reason."

"What reason?"

Ren Tiansheng watched Qin Fen intently. This Level Four Qi Oscillation had held him captive for years, and several of his brothers were stuck at the same point, unable to break through. "This... I cannot describe it with mere words. How about this?" Qin Fen raised his index finger. "If Elder Brother Ren trusts me, completely relax your Qi; let go of all control. I will channel my Qi into your body and set yours in motion, allowing you to feel that sensation."

Ren Tiansheng sucked in a sharp breath, drawing his lips so tightly they became dry and cracked. Injecting one's Qi into another to induce vibration—even a Level Six peak Qi Oscillation master might struggle with this, unless they could perform Blood Qi Oscillation. Such warriors existed in the Martial Hall, but they would never offer help without exchange, usually requiring rare medicinal elixirs. Deeper progress in the Martial Way demanded greater quantities of elixirs for exchange. Ren Tiansheng had saved some over the years but couldn't bring himself to trade them for outside help, always believing he would achieve Level Five the next day, yet never managing it.

"You know Blood Qi Oscillation?" Ren Tiansheng was genuinely stunned. His previously regular heartbeat now hammered at over ten beats per second. "You really know Blood Qi Oscillation?"

Qin Fen smiled but did not answer. He lightly tapped forward with one finger...

Thump-thump... Thump-thump... Thump-thump...

Ren Tiansheng's martial uniform seemed to transform into a loudspeaker playing loud music. Every surge of vibration caused the uniform to subtly tremble.

The surrounding young warriors were stunned into immobility.

What did this mean? Was the earlier exchange just the instructor testing Qin Fen? Or had Qin Fen been testing the instructor all along?

One minute. Three minutes... Ten minutes... Half an hour...

Ren Tiansheng slowly opened his eyes. An indescribably complex emotion flickered within them. He looked around at the sea of bewildered young faces, then back at Qin Fen sitting on the wooden stump, finally letting out a long, drawn-out sigh.

"Alas..." With a sigh, Ren Tiansheng drooped his head wearily, his tone laced with profound resignation. "Brother Qin, are you interested in taking on an old warrior as a disciple, one much older than you?"

Qin Fen stared at Ren Tiansheng for a long moment, then replied, "What? Elder Brother Ren, are you joking?"

"No joke."

Ren Tiansheng looked dejectedly at the ground. A forty-year-old, fourteen-star warrior of the Martial Hall asking to become the disciple of a ten-star youth under nineteen—if he hadn't experienced it himself, he would never have believed it.

But it had happened! Ren Tiansheng found the situation absurdly funny: from wanting to take the young man as a disciple, to seeking an equal spar, then requesting instruction, and finally, upon learning of the Blood Qi Oscillation capability, completely transitioning to an apprenticeship request.

A cycle! Ren Tiansheng had to admit he had completed a bizarre cycle today, yet he was utterly convinced.

"What?"

"Did I hear that right?"

Another uproar erupted among the young warriors; almost everyone looked at the scene with disbelief. Ren Tiansheng, the fourteen-star warrior sent to teach them higher-level martial arts, a fourteen-star warrior who had cultivated in the Martial Hall for many years, was petitioning to apprentice under a young warrior who had entered the Martial Hall only yesterday? This was unprecedented in the history of the Martial Hall! Bai Sheng glanced at Gao Yuan and noticed Gao Yuan was also watching him, and in his eyes flashed an expression known as 'fanaticism'!

Yes! Gao Yuan's gaze was utterly frenzied—the look of absolute obsession with martial pursuit! Those eyes clearly conveyed several words: I also want to break through the control levels of Qi Oscillation! Bai Sheng, aren't you the one who invited this young man? Introduce me! I want to become his disciple! I want to study under him!

Bai Sheng shivered uncontrollably. Gao Yuan's look was absolutely serious.

Ferrero’s face was already blooming into a wide, unrestrained smile, his hands clapping rhythmically as he declared, "Setting aside the issue of star-level might, purely judging by the foundation of his martial arts, this kid could truly serve as Tiansheng’s master."

The complexion of Di Shitian Azia, however, was as dark as if a beloved elder had just passed; his face utterly sour as he conceded with a nod, "You are correct."