Up for a collective fight? Or one by one?

Cai Renying didn't get angry; instead, she chuckled. She had long heard that the new young martial artist in the Sacred Martial Hall possessed some strength, having secured a front-row seat during his first lecture in the Inner Sacred Martial Hall. Today, it seemed he truly thought the Sacred Martial Hall was devoid of capable people, constantly spewing arrogant words.

"Second Senior Sister, let me handle this," Jin Jishuo stepped forward slightly and murmured, "It’s an overestimation to have you dirty your hands with such an ignorant braggart."

Cai Renying gracefully retreated two steps, her gaze never leaving Qin Fen. "Go ahead."

As Cai Renying stepped back, the other martial artists watching also shuffled backward in unison, clearing a wider area for the confrontation to prevent being caught in the ensuing fight.

Everyone clearly understood that this was no longer a simple matter of a senior passing down glorious tradition to a junior; the dialogue had escalated to the honor of entire schools of martial arts. Qin Fen had defeated the personal disciples of Fei Chengjun, the founder of New Taekwondo, multiple times, significantly damaging the prestige of New Taekwondo. If this trend continued, as Qin Fen’s fame grew, people would increasingly say that New Taekwondo was inferior to Qin Fen.

When a martial duel touches upon the reputation of a school, fatal outcomes were not out of the question. The crowd retreated further and further, only stopping after establishing a distance of nearly fifty meters.

In the hundred-meter diameter open fighting ground, the two figures stood alone, a chilling aura permeating every inch of the surrounding space.

In the monitoring room, the heads of the various departments sat silently before their respective displays, watching a battle that, by their status, they shouldn't have needed to observe.

Gao Yuan secretly glanced at the varied expressions of the department heads, shaking his head with a wry smile. Qin Fen’s charisma was indeed immense. Ever since his battle with the Martial Venerable, they came to the monitoring room daily for a more detailed and profound observation of Qin Fen.

This level of attention even surpassed the situation when the Martial Maniac first entered the Sacred Martial Hall.

Qin Fen carefully sized up Jin Jishuo, the Thirteen-Star martial artist before him. He had long limbs, suggesting a fighting style that favored keeping opponents at a distance, maximizing his effective reach.

The nervous tension of the onlookers caused their breathing to slow and become cautious; all eyes were fixed on the two in the arena, guessing how long Qin Fen could hold out before defeat.

This was a battle marked by a vast difference in star-level strength. No matter how destructive Qin Fen was, what could he do against a Thirteen-Star martial artist? (Blank space, so I added a little.)

Jin Jishuo tensed on his toes, his spine undulating like a mountain range. With a slight twitch of his Achilles tendon, his body sprang like the wind, closing the distance to less than ten meters from Qin Fen.

"Good!"

The onlookers instinctively praised the movement. Taekwondo originated from Tang Soo Do, and the emergence of New Taekwondo was Fei Chengjun's recreation upon the original foundation. Rumor had it he advocated for innovation and fusion, proclaiming that all martial arts could be integrated.

The very step Jin Jishuo took contained the Dragon Form movement technique; his refinement over years at the Sacred Martial Hall had gradually developed his own unique New Taekwondo style.

Cai Renying nodded repeatedly with satisfaction. Her third junior brother had advanced his martial path another step during his two months of seclusion.

"Just now, when you leaped down from upstairs, your movement concealed the Dragon Form. I assume you aspire to be the Dragon among martial artists? But not everyone can achieve that."

Jin Jishuo placed his hands behind his back just like Qin Fen, his spine rigid as a cliff face, veins twitching—truly resembling the imposing presence of a divine dragon about to break the water's surface. His slow speech carried an air of seasoned superiority, like a senior giving a guiding lesson to a junior.

His voice was not loud, but every word struck the ground with force, crystal clear to every young martial artist present.

Jin Jishuo aimed not just to win, but to win in the most decisive manner. His seemingly calm words hid a deep sharpness intended to strike at Qin Fen’s spirit, securing the advantage before the fight even truly began.

"A dragon is no common creature. If you could become one, why would you still only possess Thirteen-Star strength at your age? Your current attainment for your age is decent in the martial world, but far from genius." Qin Fen’s eyes were slightly lowered, his long lashes lending an indescribable heroic air. His black martial uniform seemed to resonate with the formidable atmosphere of moving mountains and rivers as he stood tall.

"My star-level strength is indeed inferior to yours now, but that doesn't mean you are stronger than me. I am young; I have an infinite future! When I reach your age, your strength might look like nothing more than an insect to me."

Qin Fen let out a long sigh, yet it carried a lofty courage and confidence that commanded respect.

Jin Jishuo’s gaze suddenly turned fierce, a flash of murderous intent on his face as he prepared to speak.

Qin Fen’s sigh shifted, and his deep, earth-like voice sounded again: "You won't do. You won't inherit Fei Chengjun's New Taekwondo."

These two declarations of "You won't do" resonated like ancient prophecies, shaking the soul.

Jin Jishuo let out a cold snort, clenching his fists and saying no more. His shoulders violently trembled the instant he brought his fists together. He stepped forward with his leading leg and pulled back his trailing leg slightly, launching a direct punch.

The moment he moved, the newly repaired asphalt road instantly cracked. A powerful repulsive force traveled from his feet to his legs, and from his legs to his waist, hips, shoulders, and arms—down to his fingertips.

New Taekwondo style: [Heavenly Fist].

Heaven is the root of all creation, the foundation of self-cultivation. It is the final completer of all things under heaven. The focus of the Heavenly Fist lies in integrating the gradual nature of force and the agility of precise control within the vast, boundless concept of the Heavenly Fist.

Jin Jishuo threw his punch, channeling the full power of his body. His momentum was like the heavens themselves, and he seemed to grow taller, faintly exuding a sense of heavenly might.

A cold snort, a Heavenly Fist—the immense power of a Thirteen-Star martial artist was unleashed! The young onlookers felt a suffocating pressure on their chests from the sudden surge of aura.

Qin Fen’s eyelids twitched rapidly. Positioned within the battle zone, he sensed something others couldn't.

Killing intent! Jin Jishuo’s cold snort coupled with the appearance of the Heavenly Fist was like hailstones suddenly falling from a clear sky; the coordination between the two elements was seamless. The biting killing intent, hidden beneath the Heavenly Fist's imposing aura, locked precisely onto his chest. Within the overwhelming, fierce punch energy lay a deadly viper poised to strike!

In that instant, Qin Fen knew that Jin Jishuo, around thirty years old, was far stronger than Hades, the Little King of Hell, in their life-or-death struggle. This Heavenly Fist was not meant for sparring; it was intended to kill! The strike was sharp as a blade, forceful as a ten-foot-long spear, carrying the absolute intent to end a life with a single blow.

You came here intending to kill me? Qin Fen’s eyes narrowed to slits, cold light flickering rapidly. True Qi surged through his entire body, his blood roaring like a great river, though his physique didn't undergo the fierce transformations of before; only his skin and muscles became brighter and harder.

The readily summoned Dragon Hammer, accompanied by a dragon's roar, smashed fiercely towards Jin Jishuo’s wrist joint opposing the Heavenly Fist. The Heavenly Fist’s flawless aura was instantly shattered, turning it into a poisonous snake about to be struck on its vital spot. Jin Jishuo immediately retreated half a step backward.

Qin Fen’s point of disruption was perfectly accurate. As Jin Jishuo retreated, his entire body was pulled back. His right leg suddenly snapped out, his foot moving like a blade to chop at Qin Fen’s Dragon Hammer.

This kick was like thunder and drums, immense in sound and momentum! Before its sudden explosion, it held no discernible threat, only revealing its sharpness the moment it left the ground, like a sheathed precious blade.

New Taekwondo, derived from Taekwondo, naturally retained its mastery of leg techniques. This kick was several times more ferocious than the preceding Heavenly Fist!

Qin Fen advanced instead of retreating, simultaneously lifting his left foot and kicking down in a counter-strike, intercepting Jin Jishuo’s [Earth Taekwondo]! He spun his body, the muscles in his back cracking loudly like King Kong. The Lo-han Fist technique, [Turning Single Mountain Push], struck towards his opponent's chest like a miniature mobile armored unit, violently colliding.

"What a fine Turning Single Mountain Push! What excellent in-the-moment variation!" (This must have been said by a department head.)

Facing Qin Fen's explosive impact, like that of a mobile suit, Jin Jishuo’s expression became cautious, his pupils shrinking to needle points. He could clearly feel the wave of air Qin Fen generated with that spin—a gale like a wind wall pressing in. His eyebrows and hair swayed violently in the rushing wind, giving him the sensation of riding a motorcycle at 120 km/h without a helmet; his entire face stung with pain.

When Qin Fen’s body was still half a meter away, Jin Jishuo felt the pressure mounting continuously. The rushing force felt exactly like someone slamming a fully inflated basketball straight into his face.

He knew clearly that if his chest were hit by that blow, spitting up a couple of mouthfuls of blood wouldn't suffice; breaking his sternum was a real possibility. New Taekwondo’s defensive techniques were far less effective than its offensive ones.

Facing Qin Fen’s aggressive counter, Jin Jishuo unleashed his power again. The single leg supporting him suddenly swelled, as if an explosive bomb was buried beneath his foot, causing his body to rapidly retreat and reestablish distance.

The moment the distance was widened, Jin Jishuo’s legs spun around Qin Fen at high speed like the wind, creating three images of Jin Jishuo in the arena at once.

New Taekwondo heavily emphasizes the lower body; its leg techniques are not just for attacking but are astonishing when used for movement! His kicks seemed to launch simultaneously from different positions, each aiming at one of Qin Fen's vital points, as if three Jin Jishu’s were striking at once.

Goosebumps instantly rose on Qin Fen’s body, growing to the size of mung beans. This Jin Jishuo truly intended to kill! Every kick appeared feigned, yet any one could instantly become real. Forget hitting a person; even kicking a one-inch-thick steel plate would result in easy penetration. Yet, this time, the targets were the Adam's apple, cervical spine, Jade Pillow point, groin, and heart!

Jin Jishuo’s eyes flared with predatory intent. His initial thought was to decisively kill Qin Fen with one punch, but he hadn't expected his opponent’s real-time reaction and fighting ability to be so formidable. His movements forward and back were astonishingly precise. His Thirteen-Star strength wasn't enough for an instant victory. If this spread, it would severely damage New Taekwondo’s reputation; he had to kick Qin Fen to death!

Qin Fen let out a long roar, the bones and joints in his ten fingers cracking loudly. He lunged toward Jin Jishuo’s rapid legs like a Dragon’s Mouth Claw—specifically, the [Dragon Biting Sword] from the Dragon Fist.

This was intended as a joint-locking technique, but Qin Fen’s grab did not target the ankle; instead, he reached directly for the opponent’s (original text blank). A flicker of joy crossed Jin Jishuo’s eyes: a great opportunity! How could the power of a hand compare to the power of a leg? I'll break your arms first!

Qin Fen didn't wait for Jin Jishuo’s kick to land. His left and right feet slammed onto the ground simultaneously, two deep thuds exploding on the surface, and he had already burst through and torn apart all the air blocking his path. His left and right hands separated, unleashing the [Dragon Cannon] from the Martial Emperor Dragon Fist!

The distance between them was less than a meter. A fraction of a second when Jin Jishuo had to reduce the force in his legs caused a slight deceleration—that split second was enough for Qin Fen to surge in front of him! Even if Jin Jishuo hadn't reduced his speed, rushing to Qin Fen’s front at such close range would have presented no problem.

Qin Fen did this to show his opponent that this engagement wasn't just about overwhelming combat power; it was also about superior timing and control of engagement tactics. More importantly, it was about preventing any assistance from the person observing from afar.

His body, moving like a dragon or thunder, suddenly materialized before Jin Jishuo. Jin Jishuo felt the oppressive pressure crash down on his chest like a cannonball. Qin Fen's physique, not inherently massive, seemed to grow larger in that instant as his aura ascended, resembling a mythological Giant Spirit God descending to earth.

"No…" Cai Renying’s red lips parted, her beautiful eyes flashing with shock, and she launched herself off the ground like a cannonball toward the fray.

In that instant, not just Cai Renying, but everyone watching clearly felt Qin Fen’s killing intent—this was not a controlled sparring match, but naked, undisguised murder! The moment the words "He’s killing!" flashed through Jin Jishuo’s mind, Qin Fen’s icy gaze and the Dragon Cannon struck him simultaneously.

The proud disciple of New Taekwondo founder Pei Chengjun had his sternum shatter with a sound that rose and vanished instantly. The skin on his back bulged high, spitting out shredded red flesh and pulverized bone. The spirit in his pupils vanished instantly, his aura reduced to nothingness, possessing not a trace of combat power left.

Before the bloody fragments could hit the ground, Jin Jishuo’s body hadn't even begun to fall when Cai Renying charged into the battle zone. The loose fabric of her New Taekwondo uniform shrieked as it scraped the air, sounding like two wooden clubs colliding. To save her junior brother, she had reached her absolute limit of speed!

The large crowd of young martial artists felt their vision blur; she was already above Qin Fen, five fingers spread wide in a descending claw. The grasp was fiercely direct; although it only covered Qin Fen’s head, it gave the impression of the Buddha pressing down on the Monkey King.

[Taebaek]!

The founding myth of Silla and the mythology of Han are intrinsically linked, forming the spiritual root of the Han people. Taebaek, initially the beginning of the historical tradition of the Manchu ancestors, was later distortedly passed down as the sacred mountain of the Korean Peninsula.

To cultivate [Taebaek] is to practice the historical imprint of Han. Taebaek encompasses the creation myth of heaven, earth, and man in Korean history, realizing the unity of spirit and body through striking intent.

The claw is the mountain! This descent was like the action of the Martial Venerable himself; every muscle and bone rotated simultaneously.

Crash!

All the joints in Qin Fen’s body sounded off at once, a sound more powerful than the Martial Venerable’s. It was like the sound of everyone in a mahjong parlor simultaneously shuffling tiles—the collision of tens of thousands of tiles.

In a flash, every bone and muscle in Qin Fen’s body rotated in arcs, subtly resonating with each other. The resulting tremor and burst were not the ultimate softness of the Martial Venerable, but the instantaneous transformation of ultimate softness into ultimate hardness.

His right arm, raised high above his head, sliced through the air, the friction sounding like the roar of a dozen divine dragons ascending to the heavens. Eighteen strands of True Qi intertwined and surged toward his fist surface. The explosive power already surpassed the Ten Elephant Force! Although the True Qi couldn't visibly erupt from the body, it compressed the air directly in front of the fist, forming a visible pressure wave!

"This punch... it’s the absolute peak..."

Just as Qin Fen launched the [Eighteen Divine Dragons Gathering Wind and Cloud], Di Shitian’s heart stirred, his eyes blazing with sharp light. This punch utilized Qin Fen’s flying fist intent and One-Star strength to its absolute limit.

The instant Di Shitian’s heart stirred, Qin Fen’s full-form punch struck out.

This was a world-shattering punch. Qin Fen unleashed this strike instinctively, condensing everything he had seen, touched, and learned in recent days under the mortal threat posed by Cai Renying’s Fourteen-Star power.

This was not a perfectly synthesized punch, but a blow that contained massive amounts of martial knowledge Qin Fen had absorbed and was still in the process of absorbing!

Boom, boom, boom!

A massive wave of air roared. The powerful currents shot toward the sky. Qin Fen compressed his waist, crushed down, and then violently sprang up like a dragon breaking through the sky. His fist seemed like an Ruyi Jingu Bang entwined with eighteen divine dragons, or perhaps the legendary Buzhou Mountain that once held up heaven and earth!

His fist, possessing the power of a divine artifact, smashed fiercely into the center of Cai Renying’s grasping palm!

When the fist and palm collided, a sound like iron pillars striking rang out. The sound gave the surrounding young martial artists the illusion that they were witnessing the clash of two mobile armored units in close combat, not just arms.

As the palm and fist met, the earth beneath Qin Fen’s ascending dragon-like feet shattered into countless pieces of asphalt, fragments peppering the air.

Cai Renying’s shoulder trembled violently, and she tumbled backward in the air, disbelief flickering in her eyes. She could never have imagined that her punch, infused with the historical imprint of her own nation, would be met and countered with such fierce power.

She had lost the initiative of launching an attack to save her junior brother; in fact, she felt herself forced onto the defensive.

Cai Renying found it hard to comprehend how an Eleven-Star martial artist like Qin Fen could unleash a punch with such profound intent! The purity of his True Qi was astonishing. The sheer volume combined with the compressed True Qi explosion resulted in power no less than that of a Fourteen-Star martial artist?

In the next instant, Cai Renying shoved aside the shock and doubt in her mind. Although her previous strike failed to kill Qin Fen and reach her junior brother, in the moment of collision, she heard the sluggishness and rebounding of the blood flow within Qin Fen’s body.

Qin Fen was injured!

Cai Renying was one hundred percent certain. Qin Fen had suffered internal injuries from that single exchange, perhaps not severe, but enough to alter the entire course of the battle.

The instant her toes touched the ground, Cai Renying entered the state of [One Suchness] in New Taekwondo.

The high monk Yuan Xiao of the Silla period once said: "When existence arises, all phenomena arise; when fire arises, the skull and the body are one." "The Three Realms warned by the gods exist only in the mind, how can they be forgotten?"

One Suchness: Means the unification of body and spirit. One: Means "uniqueness," implying that points, lines, and surfaces can all merge into one. It is the perfect principle of integrating physical and mental unity through equal and balanced harmony, reaching the highest realm—the perfect realization of One Suchness.

Being at a disadvantage was insignificant. With her shock receding, Cai Renying’s confidence in beating Qin Fen to death only grew. Three personal disciples of New Taekwondo defeated by the same person was reason enough to kill him. Furthermore, watching her thirty-year-old junior brother killed by him made Qin Fen absolutely forfeit his life, and he needed to be torn into eight pieces to satisfy her hatred!

Qin Fen felt a burning heat across his chest from receiving Cai Renying’s Taebaek. All the blood in his body boiled as if cooking in a high-temperature pot, and a faint, sweet taste of blood lingered in his throat.

I can't stop! Attack! I must attack! Qin Fen’s body lunged toward Cai Renying ahead of his thoughts. Even if he hadn't killed Jin Jishuo just now, it would have been nurturing a future threat. The opponent would feel no gratitude, only shame from being defeated in public, and would surely seek revenge later.

A head-on fight wasn't terrifying; what was truly frightening was the hidden ambush! Since Jin Jishuo harbored killing intent, and considering that three martial brothers had been defeated by the same person (this part was unclear), it was highly likely he would resort to despicable means. His punches and kicks either carried overwhelming force or hid a venomous dragon within the Heavenly Fist—this alone suggested that if he lost, he might retaliate with foul tactics.

Cai Renying observed Qin Fen’s frantic, dragon-like, and tiger-like momentum. After stubbornly defending a few more moves, her confidence in killing Qin Fen increased.

Dragon Cannon, Eighteen Divine Dragons Gathering Wind and Cloud, Exterminate Family and Clan, Execute Nine Generations, Vermilion Bird Shaking Spear Technique, Golden Lion Grapple!

Qin Fen pressed the attack, unleashing a continuous stream of ultimate techniques in quick succession. In moments, he severely battered Cai Renying’s confidence. A faint trace of regret surfaced: perhaps when she was at a disadvantage, she should have pressed the attack immediately to try and seize the upper hand. How could this young man show no signs of exhaustion after so many successive moves?

Qin Fen completely dominated the pace of the battle, fully unfolding his offensive style. The martial techniques he had learned, comprehended, and even those he hadn't fully grasped but merely memorized during his time at the Sacred Martial Hall erupted in a thorough, explosive cascade.

At this moment, Qin Fen had forgotten his intention to kill this opponent, who was even more terrifying than Jin Jishi. He forgot that defeat meant being brutally beaten to death without mercy.

He even forgot the records and insights on the Dragon Fist he had studied from the Juexue Pavilion these past few days, and even more so, he forgot that his opponent was a fourteen-star quasi-master of martial arts. He forgot everything, even himself—it was pure instinct!

At this instant, Qin Fen finally erupted with the assessment Xue Tian had privately shared with everyone about him. "If I am a genius in martial arts, capable of memorizing anything I touch instantly, then Qin Fen is a God of War!" Qin Fen, lost in the moment, was like a War God descended upon the mortal realm.

Casting aside all hesitation, his state was even more imposing than when he fought the Martial Venerable that day. His fierce and violent fist techniques escalated layer upon layer.

Even Cai Renying, a fourteen-star martial artist, could only retreat again and again, desperately guarding her gates against being breached. In the blink of an eye, Qin Fen’s lunging figure suddenly surged in momentum once more, unleashing dozens of successive palm strikes.

The [Furious Tide], each palm strike resembling a monstrous tsunami, as if a city built of reinforced concrete could be instantly leveled, submerged, and devoured. Every palm was a surging wave, capable of destroying cities and ending worlds!

An artistic conception that human power could not withstand. Cai Renying’s mind remained serene; her realm had not been broken, yet her body betrayed a hint of decline amidst the continuous retreat.

Facing an attack where the intention of the fist constantly grew, it suddenly seemed as if she was no longer facing a tsunami, but Poseidon, the raging sea god of myth and legend. "It's just an illusion," Cai Renying met Qin Fen's incoming palms one by one.

Although her legs were rooted to the ground, she was still being violently shaken by the savage force, causing her thighs to tremble. Yet, her inner realm held firm, pushing back against the divine martial intent of Qin Fen's fist.

Cai Renying's spirit was powerful, especially after being defeated by the same martial artist three times in the real field, and witnessing one of her junior brothers die at the opponent's hands. Her resolute killing intent only made her spirit stronger.

Being both fourteen-star martial artists, if Gao Yuan or Ren Tiansheng had fought Qin Fen, they would certainly have been crushed and mentally collapsed by Qin Fen's divine path. Cai Renying continued to guard the final line of defense.

She was like an ark in the middle of a tempest, no matter how furiously the tsunami raged and how high the waves swelled, she could still drift upon the ocean, waiting for the Sea God to calm the fury in his heart. In the time it took to blink, Cai Renying received Qin Fen’s [Furious Tide]!

The devastating, world-ending torrent of the Furious Tide, the fist intent of the Sea God, he absorbed it all. This time, surely...

Cai Renying’s thought had not fully formed before Qin Fen’s next wave of offense erupted! A deep, long cry tore from Qin Fen’s vocal cords.

His entire presence swelled like a divine dragon breaking through the sea. This dragon-like roar vibrated the very souls of the young martial artists watching.

In an instant, everyone understood Qin Fen’s conviction! It was the ultimate pursuit of martial arts!

Amidst the soaring dragon cry of Qin Fen, his spine undulated like a massive dragon, and he unleashed another Eighteen Divine Dragons Gathering Wind and Cloud. Aided by the dragon's roar, the momentum of this punch climbed further, surpassing the limits previously defined by Di Shitian.

At this moment, Qin Fen achieved another breakthrough in his martial path. This punch was no longer merely a strike to kill an enemy; it was a punch imbued with Qin Fen’s life, a punch containing all his conviction and dedication to the martial way.

It was a punch rocketing toward the heavens! Cai Renying crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her eyes blazing with intense light, her true energy surging so that her blood and bones crackled like thunder.

She knew that if she could withstand this one punch from Qin Fen, the battle would end! This was Qin Fen’s final strike!

Bang! The fist smashed against Cai Renying’s crossed arms.

But it did not stop there. She suddenly felt her arms grow light, only to see the cross formed by her arms over her chest forcibly broken by that single punch!

This ultimate strike utterly shattered Cai Renying's defense, brutally snapping her arm, flesh and bone yielding. The ghastly white bone spurs were strikingly visible amidst the crimson blood.

The unstoppable fist hammered mercilessly into her lower abdomen... ...

(I thought it would strike her chest. She guards her abdomen, not her chest...

Strange, strange.) Bang! This second disciple of Choi Sung-joon, the direct disciple of the Korean Taekwondo Martial God from Hanzhou, a warrior possessing a tenacious spirit among the fourteen-star ranks, a martial artist with a decisive heart for slaughter—she still could not withstand Qin Fen’s punch that broke past all limits.

The punch shattered her lower abdomen, and Cai Renying’s upper body was launched airborne, (O_O) Waaah! As her lower body collapsed onto the ground, it slammed heavily onto the earth.

P.S.: I wrote for twelve hours; my pace was less than a thousand characters per hour. This is the slowest chapter I’ve ever written, yet it is a fight scene I am extremely satisfied with, both the action and the atmosphere.

Today, the word count certainly didn't explode, but the plot was explosive, and I personally loved it. I should be able to update more tomorrow.

If you felt this battle was satisfyingly thrilling, please cast your monthly pass and recommendation tickets.