To become the disciple of a Hall Master was an understatement; describing it as ascending to the heavens in one step hardly did it justice. An opportunity that countless warriors of the Holy Martial Hall could only dream of had suddenly fallen into Qin Fen's lap.
“Achilles, you practice New Martial Arts. Why compete with me over this? What Qin Fen practices appears to be Ancient Martial Arts,” Ferrero’s twin golden eyebrows twitched intensely, radiating an aura that suggested a fight was imminent if words failed them.
“The Martial Way is vast as the sea; stones from other mountains can polish one's own jade. New Martial Arts can open a broader vista for Qin Fen,” Di Shitian’s face was grim, showing no weakness as he stood his ground against Ferrero, his expression carrying the same unspoken challenge: Try me if you dare.
The room, moments ago filled with amicable harmony, instantly became charged with surging undercurrents, two massive auras pressing in upon each other.
Sitting between them, Qin Fen could only manage a wry smile: “Venerable Seniors, there’s no need to be so hasty. I don't recall agreeing to become the disciple of either of you, do I?”
...
The clashing auras and the noise of the argument vanished without a trace in an instant.
Both Di Shitian and Ferrero froze, their four sharp eyes locking onto Qin Fen as they simultaneously demanded, “What did you just say?”
Qin Fen gently spread his hands: “I—I don’t seem to have agreed to become the disciple of either of you yet, do I? Therefore, Venerable Seniors, there is no need to argue and spoil the atmosphere.”
...
The small room fell silent once more, broken only by the occasional crackle and bright spark from the appliances that Di Shitian had incinerated in his anger.
The two Hall Masters, who usually detested each other, now met each other’s gaze, disbelieving their ears, searching the other’s eyes for proof that they had misheard.
For a mere Hall Master of the Holy Martial Hall to declare they were taking a disciple—who wouldn't scramble headlong to get in line? The question of who the disciple should be—did that ever need to be put to the prospective student? To many, it was an utterly foolish question to even ask.
Yet, today.
Di Shitian and Ferrero, after several seconds of silence, suddenly recalled something: this young man was exceedingly strange. Not only were his strength and talent beyond expectation, but his actions were equally unpredictable.
“Boy, what is it? You truly aren’t willing?” Ferrero asked tentatively, testing the waters. “Do you think I’m not qualified to be your master? I’ve reviewed your file. You haven't had a true Martial Way mentor. You initially practiced the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill, and your later cultivation seems very similar. You must have had some fortunate encounter, right?”
Qin Fen’s heart vibrated faintly. The metal sphere was his greatest secret; he had never told a soul. Could the Holy Martial Hall have uncovered something through surveillance cameras from that time?
“Is it that strange?” Ferrero shrugged and settled back onto the sofa. “Since the martial civilization of Atlantis was rediscovered, ruins from Atlantean branches have appeared worldwide. Occasionally, some martial arts techniques have leaked out. It wouldn't be strange if you stumbled upon some secret manual by accident.”
Di Shitian nodded vigorously in agreement. Several Martial Arts Masters within the Federation had achieved their current standing not through the Federation or the Holy Martial Hall, but through lucky, minor serendipitous encounters that they managed to build upon to become Masters.
Qin Fen’s anxious heart quieted again. The principle of ‘an innocent man being punished for possessing a treasure’ had played out countless times in human history. As long as his secret hadn't been exposed, that was what mattered.
“Boy, you probably don’t realize the benefits of becoming a Hall Master’s disciple,” Ferrero explained patiently. “If you become my disciple, I can grant you access to everything in the Pavilion of Ultimate Arts. While you won't have direct clearance, it’s practically the same as having it. Furthermore, as my disciple, you will receive an extra monthly stipend of medicinal pills.”
“Becoming my disciple offers the same benefits,” Di Shitian interjected coldly. “Any disciple of a Hall Master receives these perks.”
Qin Fen’s placid eyes suddenly lit up: “There are such benefits to becoming a Hall Master’s disciple? Then if I became the disciple of two Hall Masters simultaneously, would the benefits double?”
“What?”
Ferrero and Di Shitian exclaimed in unison, once again staring blankly at Qin Fen. This young man apparently didn't seem opposed to having multiple teachers. But the status of a Holy Martial Hall Master was incredibly noble; how could one possibly share a disciple?
Ferrero coughed awkwardly, sitting closer to Qin Fen with a tone of earnest sincerity: “Boy, I understand your passion for the Martial Way, but you can only choose one master.”
Di Shitian, uncharacteristically aligning with Ferrero, expressed the same thought in silence.
“Is that so?”
The brightness in Qin Fen’s eyes instantly dimmed. His dark gaze swept over the two Holy Martial Hall Masters beside him.
Silence. Silence...
The small room was engulfed in silence again. Ferrero and Di Shitian watched Qin Fen tensely, their hearts churning with complex emotions.
Normally, whichever Hall Master decided to take a disciple was free to pick slowly based purely on preference. Today, however, everything had flipped. The venerable Hall Masters of the Holy Martial Hall were being vetted by the very person who might become their disciple.
One second, two seconds... ten seconds... thirty seconds...
In that brief minute, Ferrero felt like an entire century had passed.
The two Hall Masters unconsciously glanced at each other, seeing the same thought reflected in the other’s eyes.
We’ll take him on as a joint disciple, then! It’s likely hard to find another young talent with such aptitude these days!
A bitter smile instantly flooded the eyes of both Hall Masters. Everyone’s journey and destiny were different; the achievements they reached on the Martial Path would ultimately differ.
To have reached the level of a Holy Martial Hall Master, Ferrero clearly understood that the development of his own future Martial Path had slowed considerably; it wouldn't be strange if he remained at this level his entire life.
As a martial artist, one who dedicated their entire life to the Martial Way—who wouldn't want to glimpse the true pinnacle of the Martial Path?
When they realized they could not reach it themselves, people often sought to entrust that ambition to their successors.
It was much like ordinary people living unremarkable lives yet pinning all their hopes on their children, wishing them to become dragons or phoenixes.
A Divine Beast level martial artist! The Holy Martial Hall had never cultivated a Divine Beast level martial artist! Di Shitian knew clearly that if Qin Fen maintained this momentum and managed the subsequent martial obstacles with good fortune, he might indeed become the next Divine Beast level warrior.
Cultivating a Divine Beast level martial artist was not only the goal and dream of the Holy Martial Hall, but the aspiration of every single martial artist.
“Sigh!”
Di Shitian and Ferrero sighed simultaneously. They knew that asking the other to relinquish the position of Qin Fen’s master would not be easy.
As martial artists, who wouldn't wish for their disciple to reach the Divine Beast level? Such an achievement would bring immense prestige to the master as well.
“Boy…” Ferrero leaned back against the sofa, clapping a hand weakly onto Qin Fen’s shoulder. “You win. We agree. Even if the other Hall Masters mock us, we’ll accept it! We’ll take you on together, how about it?”
“This…” Qin Fen raised his hand to scratch his head, shaking it slightly.
“What do you mean?”
Ferrero, who had just leaned back, straightened up immediately, staring at Qin Fen with a face full of confusion. “Boy, I agreed to your terms, why are you backing out now?”
“Venerable Seniors…” Qin Fen stood up, walked around the coffee table, and faced the two Hall Masters sitting on the sofa, his expression unusually solemn. “To be regarded so highly by two Seniors like yourselves is truly humbling. To be honest, I very much wish to become the disciples of both of you right now.”
Ferrero nodded repeatedly, thinking that such an aspiration was perfectly sound. So why the shake of the head?
“However, I cannot do that at the moment,” Qin Fen said quickly as the faces of the two Hall Masters changed drastically. “Because I did not come to the Holy Martial Hall alone. I have a group of friends with me. Because of me, they followed me to the Outer Holy Martial Hall Foundation Stage, giving up brighter futures they might otherwise have had.”
Ferrero broke out in a cold sweat, the muscles around his eyes twitching slightly. He thought inwardly, This kid isn’t going to make an outrageous demand, expecting Ferrero and Di Shitian to take him as a disciple and then take his entire group of friends as disciples as well, is he?
“I deeply desire to strive for a higher Martial Way, but I cannot be so selfish,” Qin Fen said, bowing slightly but not rising. “To become a disciple of a Holy Martial Hall Master is arguably the aspiration of every young person without connections in this world. My friends likely feel the same desire to become the disciples of you two Venerables. Therefore, I hope I can gain several more martial siblings.”
The small room fell silent yet again, for perhaps the umpteenth time that day.
An outrageous demand! An absolutely exorbitant request! Ferrero sighed weakly. As expected of a young warrior treading a path of profound realization, his opening salvo was a demand to take the whole world.
“Boy, I admire your loyalty to your friends,” Ferrero clapped softly. “It is indeed their fortune to be able to call you a friend.”
Qin Fen, still bowing slightly, shook his head. His mind flashed back to that desperate battle on the beach. Without his friends’ willingness to sacrifice themselves, he would surely have been dead long ago.
“It is my fortune to be friends with them.”
Ferrero shrugged at Qin Fen’s reply. “Whose fortune it is doesn’t matter. What I’m trying to say is, boy! I don’t know if you are smart or foolish. Even if I were to use other means to circumvent the rules of the Holy Martial Hall, doing so just for you would require a great deal of effort, managing such a group of…”
Di Shitian, whose face had been grimly silent, now showed worry, nodding along with Ferrero’s words.
For a Hall Master of the Holy Martial Hall to bypass such a regulation required subsequent clean-up work; it wasn't something that could be done easily just by saying so.
“Is that so?” Qin Fen slowly straightened up, his expression apologetic. “Venerable Seniors, I am truly sorry. I did not realize my request would cause you such trouble.”
Ferrero felt a sudden chill looking at Qin Fen’s earnest expression, thinking to himself: This kid isn’t going to say that if they can’t take his friends, then he won’t be their disciple either, is he?
“Since they cannot be taken as disciples, then I will forgo becoming one as well. I cannot abandon my companions…”
Ferrero’s mind went blank; his worst suspicion had actually come true. He regretted meeting Qin Fen. Seeing such a remarkably gifted young man, if they missed the chance to take him as a disciple, they would likely spend the rest of their lives subconsciously comparing any future potential heir to Qin Fen, perhaps dying before finding a suitable successor.
Di Shitian’s expression was little better than Ferrero’s. They had only heard of ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ promotions before; today, Qin Fen was demanding ‘Buy One, Get Forty-Five or Sixty Free’—a sales tactic more terrifying than any department store promotion.
“Well… Qin Fen, let’s discuss this further,” Ferrero said, his eyes darting around, forcing a smile. “It’s not that we don’t want to take them. The key is that behind each of them are significant family forces. These forces might not permit them to become our disciples. You must understand, even as social technology rapidly advances, the master-disciple relationship hasn't become obsolete. On the contrary, with the rise of the Martial Way, this relationship is valued more highly now than in any previous era. You could say they are entangled with close-knit webs of mutual interest.”
Di Shitian once again cooperated by nodding vigorously with Ferrero. Using this excuse to refuse was the best approach; those young warriors’ backgrounds and statuses were completely different from Qin Fen’s, and their decision-making processes naturally wouldn't be as straightforward and decisive as his.
“Is that the case?” Qin Fen took out his badge, activated conference mode, and brought Caesar and the others into the channel. “This is Qin Fen. I have something important to discuss with everyone. Could you please come to my room immediately?”
Five seconds later, Xue Tian walked in with a grin. The moment he saw the two Hall Masters seated on the sofa, his pupils instantly contracted and then widened, before returning to normal.
Nine seconds later, Caesar appeared in Qin Fen’s room. He stared at the two great Hall Masters for several seconds before his gaze normalized. Brooks, Morad, and Solomon soon followed.
No one spoke, waiting for Qin Fen to explain.
“Here is the situation,” Qin Fen said politely, gesturing toward the two on the sofa. “These two Venerables are Ferrero, the Hall Master of the Propaganda Department, and Achilles, the Hall Master of the Penal Law Department.”
Hall Masters? Fresh astonishment flashed across the faces of the young warriors. Seeing one Hall Master in the Holy Martial Hall was a near-impossible feat; yet here were two Hall Masters sitting in Qin Fen’s room!
“These two Hall Masters wish to take me, and everyone, as disciples. But because of obstacles regarding your respective families…”
Thud... Thud...
Except for Xue Tian and Qin Fen, all the other young men dropped to one knee simultaneously, forming the posture of a disciple paying respects, and shouted loudly: “Greetings, Master!”
Qin Fen stood there with his mouth agape, staring at his companions. That swift, decisive action was completely unexpected; they had knelt to pay respects before he had even finished explaining the situation.
Ferrero stared blankly at the four young warriors. This response was completely unanticipated. According to the records from the Invitation Department, these young men’s families held influence in various sectors.
If this were ancient times, these families would be classified as great clans or established noble houses.
Theoretically, the scions of such powerful families usually deliberate thoroughly before acting. Especially concerning something this major, they should contact their families first to seek their counsel before making a decision.
“You guys…” Di Shitian asked hesitantly, “Don’t you need to contact your families?”
“No need,” Caesar looked up and stated. “If matters of the Martial Way cannot be decided by me alone, if someone else has to arrange it for me, then why am I practicing martial arts?”
The other three simply nodded silently. Di Shitian’s hesitant gaze abruptly shifted to one of admiration.
Scions of great families usually possessed excellent education and top-tier martial arts, but because they were steeped in the logic of vested interests from childhood, they learned balance, compromise, and other soft skills. This often resulted in them becoming skilled martial artists, but perpetually incapable of reaching the apex of the Martial Way.
With their focus scattered, even possessing peerless martial arts manuals could not make them top-tier martial artists! Di Shitian was astonished that these children from established families showed absolutely none of the conditioning they had received regarding compromise, balance, or cautious deliberation.
Direct, swift, and decisive! This style of conduct was, perhaps, quite similar to Qin Fen’s.
Ferrero’s rigid expression completely melted into a wry smile. The excuse he had just manufactured had been utterly demolished by the practical actions of these kids in the blink of an eye.
Xue Tian smiled faintly, aligning himself with Qin Fen, and also knelt on one knee, shouting in unison, “Master…”
“Very well!”
The expression of bitter amusement on Ferrero’s face suddenly filled with bold spirit. He slapped the coffee table: “Every single one of you young people possesses commendable aptitude. To accept you as disciples—truthfully, I’m not losing out at all!”
Di Shitian, on the other hand, seemed to feel a wave of relief. He stood up with Ferrero and started walking toward the door.
“Wait a moment.”
Qin Fen’s voice made the two Hall Masters halt simultaneously. He walked up to them, bowed deeply, and said seriously, “Thank you, both Masters.”
Di Shitian and Ferrero paused, then a look of pleased satisfaction flickered in their eyes. It seemed this other objective of theirs had not escaped the notice of their new disciple.
With a slight smile, the two walked past Qin Fen toward the exit.
“Two Masters,” Qin Fen’s voice sounded again. Watching the two turn back, their faces etched with confusion, he said quietly, “Which one of you is going to pay for these damaged appliances?”
“Him!”
Ferrero pointed at Di Shitian and vanished instantly through the doorway, his speed at evading debt truly worthy of being called the best in the world.
Di Shitian looked at the room full of ruined electronics and sighed softly. His New Martial Arts were powerful, yes, but they did have a very inconvenient flaw: if not careful, they easily destroyed household appliances.
“Put it on my tab,” Di Shitian sighed helplessly, then turned and walked out of the room.
Caesar glanced at the sparking electronics in the room. “Qin Fen, was that what you were thanking them for?”
“No,” the look of gratitude on Qin Fen’s face had not yet faded. “I killed two of Pei Chengjun’s direct disciples that day, creating an irreconcilable feud with New Taekwondo. Even if Pei Chengjun comes looking for me to fight on behalf of his disciples, it would be considered reasonable. Even the Holy Martial Hall would find it difficult to intervene, right?”
Caesar smiled, immediately understanding. Qin Fen’s individual strength was formidable, but against a true Martial Arts Grandmaster, his Star Level strength was still insufficient. Facing a lineage-founding martial artist like Pei Chengjun, he would most likely be killed.
For Ferrero and Di Shitian to take Qin Fen as a disciple—besides teaching and guiding his martial arts—there was a more critical point: an invisible layer of protection.
Until Qin Fen had grown strong enough, if Pei Chengjun sought to kill him, Qin Fen’s master would have ample justification to step in and defend their disciple.
As a result, as long as Qin Fen avoided a direct confrontation with Pei Chengjun, Pei Chengjun would have to pass the scrutiny of two Hall Masters of the Holy Martial Hall first.
The Grand Hall Masters? Caesar was not optimistic about Pei Chengjun’s chances. Even if he was a lineage-founding Grandmaster, he likely wouldn't have the power to prevail. If one could defeat the Hall Masters, why would they bother starting their own school outside? Wouldn't it be a much better path to simply become a Hall Master within the Holy Martial Hall?