His brows were like swords, his eyes like stars, and his handsome features could be called fair of lip and bright of tooth, radiating an indescribable elegance. Standing at one meter eighty-two, his frame was perfectly proportioned; just standing there casually, his entire demeanor—both physical and martial—conveyed an indefinable sense of perfect artistry.
That handsome appearance was strikingly similar to the Prince Charming of fairy tales. It was difficult to believe that this man represented the apex of the entire martial arts pyramid of the Holy Martial Hall—the Martial Venerable!
The Martial Venerable! Hailed as the strongest in the Holy Martial Hall, a legendary figure who single-handedly forged the sanctuary of martial arts for the entire Federation. In the public consciousness, his visage should have been that of an ethereal old immortal, with hair as white as silver snow and a long, pristine beard.
The appearance of a young martial artist in his early twenties? Di Shitian recalled the shock of his first encounter with the Martial Venerable. Although he knew that reaching higher realms allowed one to vitalize cells and maintain a youthful state, he was still taken aback by this appearance so close to ageless divinity.
“Has the Martial Venerable emerged from seclusion?” Ferrero turned his head quizzically toward the nearby Six Stars of the Holy Martial Hall. Usually, whenever the Venerable concluded his seclusion, everyone received notice. This time, there had been absolutely no word. If the camera lens hadn't captured his figure, no one would have known he was out.
The chiefs of the other departments also cast questioning glances toward the Six Stars, hoping to find the answer they sought.
“You don’t need to look at us,” the Black Demon Star continued to act as the spokesperson for the Six Stars. “We also didn’t know the Martial Venerable had finished his seclusion. I imagine he just stepped out, right?”
A fleeting image crossed Di Shitian’s mind, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he coldly barked, “Asura!”
The others subtly flinched, a flicker of realization dawning in their eyes. This guess must be correct. As the Chief of the Martial Discussion Department, Asura possessed extraordinary audacity. No one would doubt the possibility that she dared to disturb the Martial Venerable’s meditation.
Ferrero’s smile broadened. Why would the Martial Venerable, upon emerging from seclusion, head straight to the Newcomer Lecture Hall? It could only be for Qin Fen! The king of the Holy Martial Hall breaking his seclusion for a newcomer—such a thing had never occurred in the Hall’s history.
True, when the Madman of War previously entered the Holy Martial Hall, the Martial Venerable was not in seclusion. Ferrero firmly believed that even a genius as formidable as the Madman of War, entering the Hall during the Venerable’s retreat, could not have compelled the great Buddha to emerge.
Yet, today! The Martial Venerable had come out! And he had done so ahead of schedule! Ferrero trembled with excitement; the mere act of Qin Fen causing the Martial Venerable to prematurely end his seclusion proved Qin Fen’s immense worth!
The Martial Venerable? The Martial Venerable! Bai Sheng, having been in the Holy Martial Hall for years, had never seen him. He stared intently at the screen, fixed on the Deity of the Holy Martial Hall. His eyes instantly welled up with tears.
Excitement! Bai Sheng felt an urge to let out a triumphant roar to soothe the surging emotion in his heart! Inviting Qin Fen that day might have been the single best decision of his life!
Gao Yuan stared blankly at the Martial Venerable on the screen, muttering dully, “The Martial Venerable… is he really going to spar with Qin Fen?”
Di Shitian shot Gao Yuan a sidelong glance. The Martial Venerable was a man of his word. If he said he would test Qin Fen, then a test was precisely what would happen.
The young martial artists in the Lecture Hall backed away incrementally, clearing a spacious area for Qin Fen and the Martial Venerable. Only the contingent brought by Samarrent remained rooted to the spot. As practitioners of the Inner Holy Martial Hall, how could they tolerate being slighted by a basic-level practitioner from the Outer Hall and a little brat who seemed to have materialized from nowhere? That was an insult they simply could not swallow.
Samarrent watched the two combatants separated by twenty meters. He felt that only by shattering both their bones, hearing the snap and hearing their cries of pain, could he wash away the humiliation of being ignored.
Most martial artists in the Lecture Hall even slowed their breathing, fearful of disturbing this sudden confrontation. Ren Tiansheng anxiously watched Qin Fen and the unknown young man, constantly trying to puzzle out the identity of the newcomer.
Ignored! Ignored! Ignored! Samarrent could no longer tolerate the rage of being overlooked. He suddenly lifted his right leg and took a forward stride.
“Hm?”
The moment Samarrent’s foot landed and crossed the boundary of the engagement circle, his right leg suddenly stiffened. Even lowering it became laborious, as if an invisible force was preventing his leg from descending.
This was…? Samarrent paused in confusion for a split second—Qin Fen had moved!
Unlike the time he effortlessly destroyed Samartin Peak with a single hand, Qin Fen’s eyes narrowed to slits, and his muscles simultaneously vibrated!
The quiet Lecture Hall was suddenly filled with the sound of a slow, powerful drumbeat emanating from Qin Fen’s core. Each contraction of his heart, pumping blood, sounded like a war drum on a battlefield. The sheer imposing sound brought an indescribable pressure to everyone’s chest.
The next moment, the sound of rushing river water filled the hall. Qin Fen’s blood roared incessantly within him, and thick, dark-green tendons leaped out like vibrant snakes among weeds, intertwining across his body. His bones cracked and popped like firecrackers.
Bone drawn out, sinews stretched! In an instant, Qin Fen transformed into an ancient demon king nearly two meters twenty tall, his eyes blazing with a fierce light that would induce nightmares with a single glance!
Since undergoing Marrow Replacement Nirvana, Qin Fen had never truly unleashed his full strength even once. The primary reason was the lack of worthy opponents; in recent days, no one had presented a genuine challenge—even the Mist Bell at the Stone Gate Three Bells was lacking.
Asura was qualified, but Asura and Feng Hua Danyun had chosen not to fight.
Facing this strange young warrior now, the battle intent suppressed within Qin Fen for days erupted forth. Simultaneously, he intended to gauge exactly what level he had reached.
Ten-Star Apex! Ren Tiansheng gaped, his jaw slack. Was this truly the strength of a Ten-Star martial artist? In all his years of training, how had he never encountered a Ten-Star fighter with such might?
“This is…?” Bai Sheng was also startled. In just a few months, Qin Fen had grown overwhelmingly stronger than during the recruit competition, truly resembling a demon king crawling out of hell.
Di Shitian’s expression shifted three times in quick succession; the veins throbbing at his temples were clearly visible. Qin Fen’s sudden, full-power explosion was astonishing! Especially considering he was barely nineteen, the sight was truly shocking.
Ferrero was both astonished and delighted. If he hadn't been concerned with maintaining the composure expected of a Department Chief, he would have happily slapped the floor and laughed maniacally. His trust in his subordinate had paid off; Qin Fen’s continuous displays were immensely gratifying. He wondered what the Martial Venerable would think of such a Qin Fen?
The Martial Venerable’s star-like eyes flickered with brilliant light. He separated his hands, adopting a posture for Tai Chi's "playing the pipa," his body relaxed and seemingly devoid of strength. The power of a Ten-Star martial artist radiated openly beneath his robes.
Caesar froze upon seeing this, curiosity burning in his mind about the identity of Qin Fen’s opponent! Under Qin Fen’s current imposing aura, even he, a fellow Ten-Star practitioner, would struggle to remain so calm, let alone so relaxed, possessing a world unto himself.
Brooks nodded in admiration repeatedly. “The world is indeed much larger than we imagined. There truly are Ten-Star martial artists who can contend with Qin Fen…”
Brooks’ praise had barely started when Qin Fen fully launched into action.
Qin Fen’s movement this time carried immense momentum. The moment his left foot stamped down for the Dragon Cannon, the ground itself shook violently. The sturdy wooden piles trembled severely, and even the young martial artists farther away felt a jolt underfoot, as if struggling to maintain balance.
It was akin to suddenly stopping a treadmill while running at high speed; the body momentarily fails to adapt.
The young martial artists present were, at minimum, Seven-Star level, their stances considered rooted. To lose footing was impossible. However, this single stomp, coupled with Qin Fen’s overwhelming presence, not only vibrated the ground but also delivered a severe shock to everyone’s spiritual world—this shock was what caused the mistaken sensation of instability.
In that instant, the earth around Qin Fen’s feet seemed to churn violently, as if hundreds of groundhogs were burrowing at high speed.
Earth-shattering! No one had expected that one stomp from Qin Fen would create an atmosphere truly like an earthquake.
In a flash, Qin Fen vanished from his spot!
The true Qi surge, accumulated and explosively released from concentrated power, endowed this single stomp with the might of the Ten Elephants from the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill! Having mastered this technique to its limit, Qin Fen, through countless fierce battles and several Nirvanas, finally attained the power of Ten Elephants.
How powerful is the strength of ten great elephants? Even an armored vehicle would be casually overturned before Qin Fen!
To propel Qin Fen’s body with the force of ten elephants, his speed was undoubtedly comparable to that of a cannonball. Seven-Star martial artists could not even track his movement; he appeared before the Martial Venerable as if by instantaneous teleportation.
Qin Fen’s charge was like a great river breaching its banks, his momentum towering to the heavens! The fierce wind generated by his body friction against the air lashed against the Martial Venerable’s uniform, sounding like snapping canvas, as if this charge’s sheer force threatened to blow the Venerable into the sky.
Dragon Cannon! It was a Dragon Cannon, yes, but infinitely more potent than that of the Young Dragon King, Yang Lie! This was the true Dragon Cannon!
The Martial Venerable, witnessing this surging Dragon Cannon resembling a devastating flood, his pupils gleamed with the light of eager discovery. Unhurriedly, he brought his left hand up to hook Qin Fen’s fist back, while his right palm intercepted Qin Fen’s striking face. Every muscle and bone in his body rotated simultaneously.
Crack!
A chorus of sounds erupted from the Martial Venerable’s joints, resembling over a dozen people simultaneously shuffling mahjong tiles that clattered against each other.
In that brief moment, every bone and every muscle in the Martial Venerable’s body traced circles, subtly resonating and coordinating with one another, achieving a state of supreme softness.
The instant fist and palm connected, the collision of muscle and bone still produced an explosive report!
Boom!
A deafening sound, like an artillery shell exploding at ear level. The ground where the two clashed instantly collapsed, sending up a massive cloud of dust. Everyone felt a vibration underfoot far more intense than before. The tree stumps rooted near the center of the fray could no longer withstand the clashing, intertwined forces, and they shot skyward like champagne corks being popped at a celebration feast.
Whoosh, whoosh…
Two figures shot backward out of the swirling dust cloud. Before anyone could react, both planted their feet on the ground, forcefully halting their retreat, and then lunged back into the dust cloud almost simultaneously. Thunderous explosions erupted again, but this time, it wasn't a single blast, but a chain of countless thunderclaps connecting and popping incessantly. The ground shook again, uprooting several more deeply embedded tree stumps.
Qin Fen returned into the dust cloud, saw the Martial Venerable re-engage, and with his left hand, shot out a five-fingered grab that burst the air—his fist remained the simplest straight punch, slamming toward the Martial Venerable’s head.
The Martial Venerable didn't even look at the incoming punch. He slightly tilted his neck, crossed his arms, and pressed down, blocking with a thud the Hidden Dragon Palm that Qin Fen had learned and improved upon from Yang Lie.
The Hidden Dragon transforms into a manifested dragon; the power of this palm instantly dissipated. The Martial Venerable blocked with crossed arms, then smoothly parted them sideways, wrapping around Qin Fen’s arm. His two arms coiled and rotated like massive pythons constricting a water buffalo, aiming to twist Qin Fen’s arm, thick as a leg, clean off!
A savage glint flared intensely in Qin Fen’s fierce eyes. He suddenly yanked upward with one arm! He forcibly lifted the Martial Venerable high into the air! Never mind maneuvers like the Thousand-Pound Sink or the Iron Bridge; against the power of Ten Elephants, they were meaningless!
Lifting the Martial Venerable bodily, Qin Fen swung his entire arm down toward the ground with brutal force, intent on smashing the Venerable into the earth.
The Martial Venerable shocked his palms, releasing Qin Fen’s arm. Using the rebound force, he landed lightly, his waist and legs simultaneously twisting like a loach burrowing toward Qin Fen’s right side. His five fingers shaped into a crane’s beak, snatching wildly, spinning like a top as he pecked toward Qin Fen’s armpit.
Qin Fen spun his body, stepping backward with his legs, the Dragon Shroud evading the crane’s beak. His left fist changed, his four fingers meeting like knife blades slicing the air, producing a sharp whistle like steel spears piercing the void.
Vermillion Bird’s Trembling Spear Technique!
The Martial Venerable immediately recognized this attack as a Fire Star martial art, the Trembling Spear Technique created by Zhu Que. The great spear was always a long-range weapon, yet Zhu Que had somehow created a close-quarters spear technique for sudden assault. Qin Fen had learned it from Morad and modified it, reshaping it into a hand-to-hand combat version of the Trembling Spear, though the form had changed considerably, its essence remained true to Zhu Que’s original technique.
This move focused all force into the smallest possible point, best suited for breaking through soft defenses.
The Martial Venerable’s brow furrowed slightly. His waist and stance merged instantly as he sank down, using the posture of "Parting the Wild Horse’s Mane" to press down on the supposed "spear shaft," guiding the force sideways. Though this deflection didn't strike Qin Fen’s precise point of non-resistance, it successfully neutralized the sharpness of Qin Fen’s Trembling Spear Technique using soft energy. Even if the strike had hit the Martial Venerable’s body, it wouldn't have injured him, as his muscles were like rubber balls; instead, the opponent would be counter-attacked.
The power of the Trembling Spear Technique was completely nullified. Qin Fen took half a step back, and his Tiger Pounces Out from his left hand roared again with the sound of a tiger.
The Martial Venerable’s eyes were filled with smiles. This young man didn't care if he used a top-tier martial art or the most rudimentary Arhat Fist; he only cared if it was used at the most appropriate moment. Truly, he was excellent material.
Qin Fen attacked relentlessly, and the excitement in the Martial Venerable’s eyes grew. His own competitive spirit was stoked; he was determined to suppress Qin Fen using the strength of a Ten-Star master.
In the confined space, the speed of their attacks increased rapidly. Neither side was constrained by rigid dominance—neither purely hard nor purely soft—but employed a blend of both, choosing whatever technique suited the immediate battle situation.
In just a few seconds, the ground shook even more violently. Dust, stones, and broken wooden piles were all lifted from the ground. The thunderous clashes of fists and feet sounded like hundreds of lightning strikes converging into one massive explosion.
The younger martial artists outside could not see the battle within the dust cloud. Di Shitian and the others had already left the monitoring room; staring at the static screens was useless.
The department chiefs stood on the upper floors, gazing intently at the fierce fight churning within the smoke. True Qi raged, and kinetic force radiated outward. Qin Fen was fighting the fiercest battle of his career; every cell in his body roared with excitement.
Di Shitian’s expression was grimmer than before, his entire face a cold, dark iron comparable to bronze. Qin Fen’s combat ability displayed here was far superior to when he fought Mist Bell.
Strong control was terrifying, and reaching the peak of the Ten-Star level while so young was terrifying, but nothing was as terrifying as his current fighting capability. At this moment, Qin Fen seemed truly possessed by the God of War; every move he executed was at a masterly level. Even Di Shitian had to admit that Qin Fen’s fighting posture was utterly innate.
“Subtle Entry…” Ferrero, too, lost his cheerfulness, equally stunned by Qin Fen’s combat prowess. A Ten-Star martial artist was now mere inches away from achieving the true realm of Subtle Entry!
Subtle Entry? A Ten-Star martial artist on the verge of Subtle Entry? Ferrero shook his head repeatedly. Even a Fifteen-Star martial artist achieving that level of martial understanding would be called a genius. What on earth was this young man aiming for?
The Martial Venerable’s eyes glittered incessantly. Deep within the fray, he had never felt this exhilarated, nor this helpless. The battle had progressed to a point where he couldn't gain any advantage; in fact, he was subtly beginning to lose ground. This wasn't due to Qin Fen’s skill level prevailing, but rather his raw power!
The Martial Venerable felt a degree of suffering. He wasn't just colliding with Qin Fen’s pure Ten-Star True Qi; the more problematic aspect was Qin Fen’s beastly strength capable of crushing an elephant with one punch.
As fellow Ten-Star practitioners, the Martial Venerable had not cultivated a brute-force internal art like the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill; thus, his physical strength was far inferior to Qin Fen’s. Once he lowered his overall attributes to match Qin Fen’s level, this deficit became rapidly apparent.
“Since you fight with everything you have, then I won’t hold back either,” the Martial Venerable decided instantly. The characteristic of hidden True Qi suddenly erupted!
“Qin Fen has lost…” Di Shitian’s words were cut off as an explosion rocked the battlefield, followed by a cascade of a hundred thunderous sounds.
The department chiefs simultaneously uttered a low gasp. Qin Fen, suddenly at a disadvantage, erupted with a tsunami-like surge of momentum, his double palms transforming into monstrous waves, executing a final counter-attack from the inferior position before retreating from the core of the engagement.
“Qin Fen has indeed lost,” Ferrero shook his head in disbelief. “But… the Martial Venerable also seems to have suffered a minor loss. Does this count as Qin Fen’s defeat?”
Outside the dust cloud, Qin Fen dissolved his demonic physique and frankly gave a thumbs-up. “Thank you. You won.”
The Martial Venerable studied Qin Fen with strange intensity. That final surge was utterly unexpected. It was definitely not a unique skill a Ten-Star martial artist could conjure, nor could even this young man’s martial foundation create it.
“What was that move called?”
“Raging Tempest,” Qin Fen shrugged. “My trump card. But I still lost.”
“Raging Tempest… A good name, a good technique,” the Martial Venerable nodded lightly. “Too bad your foundation isn't deep enough yet, and your strength insufficient. It wasn’t satisfying enough.”
“It’s fine,” Qin Fen smiled happily. “From this exchange, I learned so much. Once I digest it, we’ll do it again.”
“Very well. Strive hard. I look forward to more surprises from you.”
The Martial Venerable spoke, then turned elegantly toward the exit of the Lecture Hall. However, the martial uniform on his arms and legs did not look elegant; it was tattered and ragged, resembling a beggar’s rags.
“Among the young martial artists at the Ten-Star level, he is number one,” Di Shitian murmured, his chin involuntarily dipping slightly.
Ferrero sighed. “Honestly, could any Eleven-Star martial artist defeat him?”
The department chiefs shook their heads with bitter smiles. It was unlikely that any Eleven-Star master could beat Qin Fen; even finding such a person at the Twelve-Star level would be difficult. When one’s martial foundation becomes extraordinarily profound, even in a place filled with geniuses like the Holy Martial Hall, they can walk unimpeded.
The younger martial artists were dumbstruck, never imagining that a confrontation between two young men listening to a lecture could unleash such ferocious and terrifying destructive power.
Ren Tiansheng couldn't help but shake his head. If he fought Qin Fen personally, relying on his Fourteen-Star strength, he supposed victory was certain. But if he lowered his power to the Ten-Star level to directly clash with Qin Fen? No! Even dropping to the Eleven-Star level, he wouldn't win.
Others couldn't see the battle, but Ren Tiansheng saw it clearly: in combat, Qin Fen could transform any technique into magic, frequently using both the simplified twenty-four form Tai Chi and the Arhat Fist.
Samarrent stared, wide-eyed, at the battlefield aftermath. The earth looked as if it had been freshly tilled by heavy machinery. The scattered, overturned wooden piles made the area resemble a recent site of an aerial bombardment.
How could a young martial artist, just entering the Sacred Martial Hall, possess such overwhelming power? Samalent kept asking himself, could this truly be someone newly admitted? Was this really a basic-level outer Sacred Martial Hall practitioner? He himself possessed the strength of an Eleven-Star Martial Artist, yet facing this young man, he felt he would likely just be crushed utterly.
Qin Fen rolled his shoulders lightly, looked up toward Samalent outside the fray, and asked faintly, "Excuse me, are you looking to spar with me?"