Ferrero was gone, and so was Di Shitian Achiya; Qin Fen's room returned to silence once more.

Several young warriors, their faces etched with weariness and exhaustion, focused all their attention on Qin Fen.

A Chief Master of the Holy Martial Hall, any one of them, would be considered a founding master or even a grandmaster in the outside world.

Should they choose not to found a sect, they could secure positions as top-tier honored guests in any vast international conglomerate or influential military-political family, provided they wished it—that was a hundred percent certain.

To be accepted as a disciple by a Chief Master of the Holy Martial Hall was not merely a matter of wealth or family influence; it also depended heavily on whether the martial artist of that caliber happened to be in a good mood.

Even for those like Caesar and the others, whose family backgrounds allowed them access to esoteric internal arts, finding a master at the level of a Holy Martial Hall Chief Master remained an impossibility.

Martial artists who reached the rank of a Holy Martial Hall Chief Master carried an inherent sense of honor and pride; they would hardly deign to become mere retainers simply because of one’s secular power.

Before meeting Qin Fen, Caesar and the others had hoped to enter the Holy Martial Hall with the aspiration of catching the eye of a powerful martial artist there who might take them on as a disciple.

However, the group had never dared to imagine they could study under a master as high-ranking as a Holy Martial Hall Chief Master. To be permitted to study under a martial artist qualified to contend for the position of Chief Master would already be a great fortune.

The relationship between master and disciple was absolutely incomparable to the intimacy of a mere honored guest.

In the world of martial arts, master and disciple are as father and son!

Today, being accepted as disciples by two Chief Masters of the Holy Martial Hall was tantamount to indirectly securing two top experts for their respective families.

With just a few words, Qin Fen had gifted everyone’s family a treasure more valuable than any amount of money could buy.

A rhythmic, soft knocking on the door interrupted the group’s cascading thoughts, and all eyes shifted towards Qin Fen’s doorway.

The knock was entirely unexpected, coming without any prior indication. Even Qin Fen hadn't sensed its approach, suggesting the visitor’s strength was likely no less than that of a Chief Master.

A martial artist of such caliber would typically possess considerable privileges within the Holy Martial Hall; entering Qin Fen’s room as a newcomer would usually require no knocking, allowing for easy and free access.

The fact that a martial artist who could so easily enter and exit a room chose to knock so politely and wait patiently further piqued the curiosity of Qin Fen and the others.

“Please come in,” Qin Fen replied simply.

The door slid open to the side, and Wu Zun stepped in quietly, nodding slightly at the assembled group.

Him? A trace of surprise crossed Qin Fen’s mind. He hadn't seen this person since their previous encounter, and a sudden visit like this was surely not merely for idle chat.

Caesar nudged Brooks, clearing a space on the sofa just large enough for two bottoms for Wu Zun.

“Allow me to introduce myself: Chai Jin.”

Wu Zun slowly took a seat, resting his wrists lightly on his knees, a posture that subtly revealed his forearms were slightly longer than average, yet without giving any impression of disharmony.

On the contrary, merely by sitting down, the young warriors felt a subtle tremor in their consciousness. A quiet aura, vast as the ocean and boundless as the firmament, spread silently, as if to encompass everything.

“Qin Fen.”

“Caesar…”

The young warriors introduced themselves one by one in response. Though they couldn't ascertain the newcomer’s background, their martial intuition warned them against showing the slightest disrespect.

This man, if not a Chief Master of the Holy Martial Hall himself, must surely possess the strength required to challenge one! Caesar furrowed his brow, secretly speculating about Wu Zun’s power and identity.

“Congratulations,” Wu Zun offered with a slight clasp of his hands. “To become a Chief Master’s disciple—this is indeed a great piece of fortune.”

Qin Fen returned the gesture, taking another moment to study Wu Zun. Sitting so casually, he exuded a sense of immovable presence. The Holy Martial Hall truly was a place where true experts were hidden.

“Have you heard of the Grand Assembly of Heroes?”

Wu Zun’s voice, flat as still water, instantly ignited bright, excited gazes among the young warriors present. Even Qin Fen, who maintained a calm martial heart, felt his blood instantly heat up.

Since stepping onto the martial path, Qin Fen had not only developed his own understanding of Martial arts but had also become acquainted with various martial affairs of the Federation.

The Grand Assembly of Heroes was the supreme gathering place for martial artists across the entire Federation. It was the premier martial arts event, jointly hosted by the Federal Government, several Divine Beast-level martial artists, and the major martial sects.

It was the battlefield of glory that every martial artist yearned for. Its influence had long surpassed the Olympic Games and the World Cup; even presidential elections could not compare to the Assembly—it was truly the Federation’s number one event.

From the day the Assembly was founded, every planet and major city desperately vied to host the event.

Hosting one Assembly could spur rapid economic development for a city, and the planet itself would benefit significantly. The revenue from the expensive television broadcasting rights alone could cover all the associated costs!

The presence of Divine Beast-level martial artists invariably hyped the atmosphere to its peak; even a few movements performed as demonstrations could benefit countless martial artists for a lifetime.

The Grand Assembly of Heroes was the ultimate stage for a vast number of martial artists to achieve glory! Here, one could genuinely ascend to heaven in a single step. Here, through fierce battle, one could gain immeasurable insights into the martial path, perhaps even being recognized by a Divine Beast-level master and accepted as a disciple.

The Assembly was also an indirect arena for inter-planetary rivalry, a demonstration of comprehensive martial strength!

Compared to this, the martial arts portion of the recruit competition was like a mere speck next to a mountain—a difference between the Nine Heavens and the Eighteenth Hell.

For such a brilliant and dazzling martial arts convention, what martial artist could resist its allure?

Wu Zun surveyed the excited reactions of the group and nodded slightly, maintaining his composed tone as he spoke: “Very good. It seems you are all aware of its existence. Then you must strive even harder, for the Grand Assembly of Heroes might be convened early.”

The Grand Assembly convening early? Qin Fen’s body stiffened slightly, noticing the look of astonishment on Caesar and the others’ faces; clearly, they were completely unaware of this development.

Qin Fen turned his questioning gaze back to Wu Zun. Caesar’s background was far from that of an ordinary citizen, yet they hadn't heard a whisper of this. Why was this man so certain?

“You must have heard of the death of the White Tiger on Mars,” the martial artist continued, nodding to himself. “This early convening has some connection to its sudden demise.”

Qin Fen grew even more perplexed, and Caesar and the others shared the same look of confusion. How could the Grand Assembly be linked to the death of the White Tiger?

“You could put it that way,” the martial artist said, straightening his back further, his eyes shooting out electric light. “If there are no major unforeseen circumstances, the champion of this Grand Assembly will be awarded the title of Divine Beast Martial Artist.”

The low voice drifted from Wu Zun’s lips, but in the ears of the young warriors, it exploded like a nuclear bomb in that confined space.

The champion of the Grand Assembly could potentially become a Divine Beast Martial Artist!

This news was so shocking that even Qin Fen paused for half a second before recovering from his astonishment.

What was a Divine Beast Martial Artist? Qin Fen, having personally experienced the force of one of their strikes, naturally understood the formidable power that title represented.

“The Divine Beast title…” Caesar recovered from his shock, his voice still calm as he repeated, “The Divine Beast title. Those with unusual backgrounds understand better than anyone the immense profit and power behind the title of Divine Beast Martial Artist.”

Compared to the forces commanded by a Divine Beast Martial Artist, any so-called noble or powerful family was insignificant. It represented tremendous authority and strength, spiritually and often materially commanding an entire planet.

Divine Beast Martial Artists feared none of the peculiar environments of space or the vast fleets of space warships; they were all monsters!

The Federation’s military strength could render a planet barren with its massive fleet, but killing a Divine Beast-level martial artist was exceedingly difficult.

They could easily carry out any decapitation strike; perhaps in a very short time, the Federation would be without a President, Vice President, and even high-ranking military commanders would vanish from the world.

In essence, Divine Beast Martial Artists were the equivalent of humanity’s earliest nuclear weapons; their primary function was mutual deterrence.

Brooks stared grimly at the coffee table. What the group lacked most was time! If the Assembly convened early, it might be fortunate for the older generation of martial artists, but for the younger generation, it was definitely not good news.

Time! The younger generation lacked time! If the Grand Assembly was to be held even sooner, it was deeply unfair to them.

Divine Beast Martial Artist! Even if one hadn't achieved Divine Beast strength by winning the Assembly, gaining the recognition of existing Divine Beasts would grant immense authority to a certain degree.

Solomon looked at Wu Zun with confusion, wondering why there was such a sudden urgency to cultivate Divine Beast Martial Artists? This method of essentially forcing the emergence of Divine Beasts was vastly different from the natural cultivation process of the past.

“Forcing an emergence has its advantages,” Wu Zun replied, a faint smile playing on his lips. “When people learn that the champion of this Grand Assembly has the chance to become a Divine Beast, what do you think the martial artists will do?”

Qin Fen nodded in understanding. This was a goal, a catalyst. Its existence provided countless martial artists with a firm objective and simultaneously either destroyed or solidified those whose martial hearts were unstable.

Those destroyed would naturally fail to achieve breakthroughs, effectively eliminating themselves.

Those solidified might advance their strength further, which aligned with the initial intent of fostering Divine Beast-level martial artists.

However… Qin Fen still couldn't grasp why the other Divine Beast Martial Artists would do this. What benefit would cultivating new Divine Beasts bring them?

“Then, what is the exact date for the Grand Assembly?” Qin Fen asked the question weighing heavily on everyone’s minds. If the date was tomorrow, they might as well not bother attending.

“The exact time isn't set yet, but the early start is certain,” Wu Zun nodded affirmatively, his pupils shifting slightly, his gaze softening again. “There is one more piece of information I must convey to you.”

The group collectively startled, and Qin Fen stared at Wu Zun with heightened curiosity. Was there anything that could compare in importance to the matter of the Grand Assembly?

“Shangguan Chuanqi is not on Mars, nor is he on Earth,” Wu Zun’s gaze fixed on Qin Fen. “And he certainly won't be challenging you.”

Qin Fen wasn't overly surprised. After the announcements from Qilin Song Wendong and the challenge from Hades, the Little King of Hell, he was now somewhat famous, so others knowing his profile was not strange. However, the whereabouts of Shangguan Chuanqi were intriguing.

“Shangguan Chuanqi has likely gone to Saturn,” Wu Zun said, a hint of admiration in his tone, his starry eyes flashing with crystalline light. “Saturn does not yet have a Divine Beast; his going there clearly means he intends to contend for the title of Saturn’s Divine Beast.”

Caesar sucked in a sharp breath. With these few simple sentences, Wu Zun was telling them one thing: Shangguan Chuanqi had never considered anyone present, including Qin Fen, as a rival or a goal. His aim had always been clear: to become a Divine Beast Martial Artist.

From another perspective, it could be said that as one of the most outstanding martial artists of the younger generation, Shangguan Chuanqi was already further along the martial path than Qin Fen.

While Qin Fen was still undergoing martial training in the Holy Martial Hall, Shangguan Chuanqi had already taken the lead in embarking on the path to contest the Divine Beast title!

The Mars Legend might well become the Saturn Legend in the near future.

Solomon glanced sideways at Qin Fen, sighing inwardly. Comparing Shangguan Chuanqi and Qin Fen was somewhat unfair to the latter. They had not started under the same conditions; Shangguan Chuanqi possessed superior innate advantages, whereas Qin Fen had fought his way up from the bottom, breaking through obstacles step by step.

The martial artist gently raised his right arm from his knee and patted Qin Fen’s shoulder, his gaze holding a new layer of expectation: “If you truly wish to witness the pinnacle of martial arts, then you must strive harder.”

Wu Zun departed, vanishing outside the doorway in an instant.

The room fell silent again. The news brought by Wu Zun was even more astonishing than the preceding news of the two Chief Masters taking disciples. Shangguan Chuanqi had already begun his quest for the Divine Beast title, and the world’s premier event, the Grand Assembly of Heroes, was to be held early.

After a few seconds of silence, Caesar leaned back against the sofa, closed his eyes, and stated decisively: “Sleep.”

Before the words had fully settled, a slight snore escaped Caesar’s nostrils. The training these past days had been too exhausting and arduous. Experiencing several spiritually jarring events in Qin Fen’s room had drained his mental energy to the extreme; a slight relaxation and he fell asleep.

Solomon, following Caesar’s example, quietly closed his eyes and immediately claimed a spot on Qin Fen’s sofa for rest, not wanting to waste time walking back to his own room.

Qin Fen looked at his friends, who were imitating Caesar’s actions, with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. It seemed Xue Tian had followed the initial training plan rigidly; otherwise, they wouldn't have immediately rolled their eyes once their mental tension eased.

“Aiya…” Xue Tian stretched languidly and headed towards the door. “I hope the Grand Assembly is held tomorrow!”

“Oh?” Qin Fen looked at Xue Tian, the lazy genius, with some confusion. Why was this slacker suddenly so proactive today?

“The sooner it starts, the better,” Xue Tian turned back with a smile toward Qin Fen. “If it starts tomorrow, my strength will naturally still be insufficient. Even if I lose, my first master can’t do much to me. If they wait a few more years, I’m afraid I might accidentally become too strong. Then, I’d have to fight you for the title—and you know how heavy your fists are. I don't fear pain, but I fear you ruining my face. The Divine Beast title is yours, but pursuing girls is far more important!”

Qin Fen laughed, shaking his head repeatedly. It was truly the Xue Tian way of thinking, completely different from normal people’s logic.

“Sigh! I’d better go see Master Ferrero first,” Xue Tian said, carrying his Iai-sword out of the room, leaving his words to float into Qin Fen’s room: “To avoid having my face ruined in the future, I suppose I have no choice but to learn more.”

Wu Zun was gone, and Xue Tian had left. Qin Fen looked at his companions, who were deeply asleep, preparing for the internal ranking battles tomorrow. He shook his head, returned to his room, and resumed the massive yet crucial task of summarizing martial arts knowledge, which could elevate his own cultivation.

Building 122 returned to complete silence. Wu Zun stood quietly on the roof of another building, his deep gaze fixed on Qin Fen’s room. His tone gained a note of solemnity: “In my lifetime, I cannot become a Divine Beast. The Holy Martial Hall cannot be without Divine Beast Martial Artists. Little Madman has a chance, and you have a chance too. Do not disappoint me.”

“Inner Holy Martial Hall, Inner Holy Martial Hall.” Xue Tian adjusted the electronic map on his badge, standing in the lobby of the Invitation Department, and walked up to the female warrior at the reception desk with a grin. “Beauty, my name is Xue Tian. Are you free tonight? How about we go catch some moonlight?”

...

The female warrior looked at Xue Tian strangely. How could a basic-level warrior from the Outer Martial Hall barge in acting so familiar?

“This is the Invitation Department. How may I help you?”

“Oh!” Xue Tian patted his forehead with an expression of sudden realization. “Look at my brain; I forget my purpose the moment I see a beautiful woman. I came to see my master, Ferrero.”

“Your master? Lord Ferrero is your master?” The female warrior’s surprised lips formed an 'O' shape. “Oh! You are Xue Tian! Lord Ferrero just mentioned that one of the disciples he recently accepted is named Xue Tian!”

“Haha,” Xue Tian tilted his chin up. “Can I see him now?”

“I apologize, Lord Ferrero is currently out. You will need to wait a moment.”

“Out?”

Xue Tian looked up at the ceiling in confusion. Chief Masters rarely take disciples; a powerful position should mean they rarely take the initiative to go out. Why was he not in his room this time?

“Accepting disciples? You two are accepting the same disciple?”

In the quiet conference room, the projection of the Holy Martial Six Stars floated in the air. The demonic-looking spokesperson stared at Di Shitian Achiya with utter surprise.

That Ferrero would accept Qin Fen as a disciple was not overly shocking; the Chief of the Invitation Department had consistently supported Qin Fen since the moment he discovered him.

Di Shitian Achiya, the Chief in charge of the Law Enforcement Department—arguably the most rigid and inflexible martial artist—would also accept Qin Fen as a disciple? This was truly shocking!

Di Shitian Achiya, who always hated it when others disregarded the rules of the Holy Martial Hall, accepting a young man like Qin Fen, whose actions often seemed to resist the Hall, made the Demon Star doubt his hearing.

Qin Fen’s excellence was evident to all, but the Demon Star found Di Shitian Achiya’s attitude hard to accept.

What astonished the Holy Martial Six Stars even more was that these two Chief Masters had not only accepted Qin Fen but his entire accompanying squad as disciples as well.

Furthermore, from the context of the two Chief Masters, the reason they accepted the others was because Qin Fen had put them in a slight predicament: if they couldn't accept the others, they couldn't accept Qin Fen.

The other Chief Masters present looked at Di Shitian and Ferrero with eyes full of admiration. Mixed with their admiration was a touch of envy and jealousy. To gain a disciple like Qin Fen was worth it, even if they had to adopt a few pigs with no martial talent! Moreover, the young warriors accompanying Qin Fen were all prodigious talents.

How much the two Chief Masters stood to gain from this discipleship was clear to all the other Chiefs.

The Demon Star’s dark, black-skinned face grew darker and gloomier. Theoretically, the Holy Martial Hall should not interfere with any martial artist accepting disciples within its bounds, but this time, the ones accepting disciples were two Chief Masters, and the ones being accepted were basic-level warriors from the Outer Martial Hall.

What were Di Shitian and Ferrero planning? The Demon Star knew clearly, and the other Chiefs understood as well: they were planning to circumvent the rules of the Holy Martial Hall! If this matter were successfully executed, it would mean the younger martial artists had, indirectly, overcome the regulations of the Holy Martial Hall.

Rules must not be broken! The Holy Martial Six Stars collectively stared at the two Chief Masters. Many of the Hall’s rules were the combined effort and crystallization of the Holy Martial Six Stars and Wu Zun, and they were one of the reasons the Holy Martial Hall stood proudly in the world, revered as a sacred ground of martial arts.

“Ahem…” The Demon Star coughed a few times. “My Lords, according to the rules of the Holy Martial Hall, I shouldn't interfere with you accepting disciples. However, this situation is somewhat unique; you are simultaneously accepting the same person as a disciple—an event that has never occurred in the Holy Martial Hall. Two esteemed Chief Masters of the Holy Martial Hall taking the same disciple; surely, you must provide him with some form of trial? You can’t simply declare acceptance and be done with it? This concerns the very honor of our Holy Martial Hall, wouldn’t you agree?”

The silent meeting room saw Di Shitian and his old adversary, Ferrero, gaze at each other, sharing a smile of unprecedented understanding. That single smile nearly caused one of the Chairmen to lose his seat and topple over.

The other Chairmen and the Six Stars of the Holy Martial Assembly were equally stunned—did the sun just rise from the southwest corner today? Two archenemies who usually couldn't stand each other were suddenly on the same side, sharing a friendly look.

"We wonder how the Six Stars wish to test him?" Aziya and Ferrero asked in unison. The scene made everyone doubt if they were dreaming.

Could these long-standing rivals really be in such perfect accord? Mo Xing stared blankly at the two great Chairmen for several seconds before slowly speaking, "How else can we test him?

This is the Holy Martial Hall, so naturally, we fight..." "Find a Fifteen-Star martial artist?" Ferrero interjected, "If that’s the case, it’s simply bullying." Aziya nodded slightly. Qin Fen’s previous victory against the Fourteenth-Star female martial artist of New Taekwondo, while partly due to his own strength, had a significant element of luck involved.

If Qin Fen were to face other Fourteenth-Star martial artists, his chance of winning would still be less than ten percent. The gap in star-level strength between an Eleventh-Star and a Fourteenth-Star is immense; it’s a chasm that sheer martial foundation cannot bridge.

Qin Fen couldn't rely on such luck every time to unleash those sweeping punches and kicks that felt like the surging current of history. If he faced a Fifteen-Star martial artist—one who had already completed the Marrow Replacement Nirvana—Qin Fen’s chance of victory would be practically zero.

Ferrero spoke first precisely to muzzle the Six Stars from making an exorbitant demand. If they asked for a Fifteen-Star opponent for the test, it would clearly signal they intended for Qin Fen to fail.

Mo Xing turned back to the other five members of the Six Stars, and the projection of the Six Stars fell silent once more. Qin Fen was an anomaly, a freakish martial artist.

For an Eleventh-Star like him to engage in a ‘fair’ fight against Qin Fen would be unfair to all other Eleventh-Stars. Even a Twelfth-Star martial artist had no guaranteed way to defeat Qin Fen, a fact everyone in the meeting room understood perfectly well.

Thirteenth-Star? Mo Xing shook his head silently.

Even a peak Thirteenth-Star facing Qin Fen might only have about a fifty percent chance of winning, and that was an optimistic projection. Winning against a Fourteenth-Star was nearly impossible; losing against a Thirteenth-Star was nearly impossible.

Either choice would fail to constitute a genuine test. Everyone in the meeting room knew that the bottom line for the two Chairmen was using a Fourteenth-Star martial artist as Qin Fen's opponent.

The problem was that even the Six Stars of the Holy Martial Assembly couldn't guarantee victory over a Fourteenth-Star opponent for Qin Fen. Who knew if he wouldn't trigger another explosive surge of power under immense pressure?

Everyone clearly understood the true purpose of this test: it was merely an excuse to formalize Qin Fen becoming the disciples of the two Chairmen, bringing the rules they were attempting to circumvent back onto the correct track. As the disciple of two Chairmen, Qin Fen would qualify for two shares of the Chairman’s Disciple subsidy, benefits that would far exceed what a single martial artist of the Inner Holy Martial Hall could receive.

For a basic-level martial artist in the Outer Holy Martial Hall, one who had little future contribution to the Assembly, the Six Stars of the Holy Martial Assembly did not believe they should freely give such immense advantages to Qin Fen just to secure his success. Mo Xing sneered unhappily.

Regarding Qin Fen's attitude, the Six Stars of the Holy Martial Assembly maintained only one stance. "I'm not your father.

Why should I debase myself by giving handouts?" "You aren't the sun. Why should our Holy Martial Hall revolve around a martial artist who refuses to sign a contract?" "The pills and money of the Holy Martial Hall aren't blown in by the wind, nor do they fall from the sky.

There's no need to fawn over a martial artist who won't sign an indenture." However, these words could not actually be spoken. The two Chairmen taking a disciple simultaneously did not violate the rules of the Holy Martial Assembly.

They could only use the excuse of both taking the same person as a disciple to introduce a test to eliminate Qin Fen. A period of silence fell over the empty meeting room again.

Mo Xing stepped forward again from the ranks of the Six Stars: "A Fourteenth-Star martial artist, two bouts. If he wins both, he passes the assessment." Aziya’s long eyebrows quivered slightly above his brow bones.

That day, Qin Fen had only barely managed to survive after defeating the Fourteenth-Star martial artist while exhausted. Now, he was expected to fight two?

"Since you specify the star level and the number of opponents, if we don't agree to this," Ferrero asked with palms spread open and a smile, "then it falls to us to set the time and place?" "Agreed!" Mo Xing immediately accepted. "Before that, he is not considered your true disciple.

Therefore..." "Rest assured," Ferrero stood up, bracing his palms on the desk. "We will not impart a single thing to him, nor offer him any help, until then." The projection of the Six Stars of the Holy Martial Assembly nodded, and once again vanished silently from the meeting room.

Time? The Six Stars didn't care when the two Chairmen chose the date.

Every martial artist’s peak power surge had a time limit. If they wanted to delay, hoping Qin Fen's strength would grow naturally, that played right into the Assembly's hands.

Star-level strength couldn't grow overnight. By the time Qin Fen was a hundred percent confident in defeating a Fourteenth-Star martial artist, his first period of peak power might have already passed.

Without the support of the Holy Martial Hall's elixirs, the Six Stars didn't believe Qin Fen could experience a sudden, explosive surge in star-level strength in a short time. Ferrero once again glanced sideways at Aziya, noticing that the corner of Chairman Di Shitian's mouth and eyes held a gleam of happy anticipation.

Only those who had truly interacted with Qin Fen knew the current state the young man was in. He possessed a martial foundation far exceeding what was expected of his age.

This formidable foundation was like a keg of gunpowder; it only needed a single spark to cause an explosion, making his star-level strength grow rapidly! The Holy Martial Hall was that spark!

Ferrero firmly believed that following the life-or-death battle against the Fourteenth-Star and the absorption/integration from his trip to the Hall of Ultimate Arts, Qin Fen's potential would be forcibly awakened, and his star-level strength would increase at a rate astonishing to others. The meeting room fell silent once more, the leaders of the various departments having already slipped away quietly.

Ferrero returned to the Invitation Department with a look of pure delight, and Xue Tian, who was waiting in the main hall, broke into an even wider grin. The Six Stars of the Holy Martial Assembly, in saving face, had only proposed a test for Qin Fen alone, leaving everyone else untouched.

It seemed today he would finally get his fill of being a Master. "Follow me," Ferrero led Xue Tian into his private room.

"Is something the matter?" Xue Tian sat down on the carpet with a bold, relaxed posture, grinning at Ferrero. "What else would I be doing?" "What do you wish to learn?" "What does Master know?" "Me?

Both blade and sword are my strongest areas in martial arts. Do you want to learn the blade?" "Since you are unparalleled in both blade and sword, then teach me both." "Blade and sword?" Ferrero chuckled, his two golden eyebrows slowly drawing apart to the sides.

"I have immersed myself in both for over a decade. If you focused on just one, perhaps.

Learning both simultaneously? I fear you won't want to leave the Holy Martial Hall for decades." Ferrero was neither joking nor being arrogant.

Among the Chairmen, his mastery of blade and sword was indeed second to none. Decades of immersion had earned him praise even from Martial Venerables.

"Oh, is that so?" Xue Tian smiled dismissively. "Then let's begin." "No rush," Ferrero pulled out a thin, hand-copied notebook from his robes.

"Take this back and study it slowly. Come find me when you have fully integrated it." "This little bit?" "Based on your foundation, I estimate this will last you half a year." "Is that so?

Can I show it to others? Say, Qin Fen?" "He probably won't have time to look at it." "True enough." Xue Tian paused, then stood up and nodded.

"Then thank you, Master, for the introduction. I will take my leave now." "Go on," Ferrero waved his hand, watching Xue Tian's departing back and murmuring softly, "I hope you do not disappoint my expectations." Time spun by in a blur of revolving stars and setting/rising suns.

Beneath a surface calm, the Holy Martial Assembly endured another day amidst hidden currents of unrest. As the dawn broke, in a secret chamber within the Martial Discourse Department of the Holy Martial Assembly, a martial artist lying on the damp flagstone floor suddenly snapped his eyes open!

His warrior uniform was tattered with countless holes, resembling a beggar's rags; his disheveled, long hair looked like that of a refugee who had suffered a disaster; and the uneven stubble on his chin made him appear dirty, even more like a vagrant. Only the eyes that suddenly opened shot forth a light that, in the darkness of the secret room, resembled a massive, silent bolt of lightning.

Crack... Crack...

Crack... The martial artist's skeletal structure shifted consecutively, emitting sounds like popping beans.

He slowly raised his chin toward the thick ceiling and let out a long roar. As this roar erupted, a martial artist meditating in the adjacent chamber shuddered violently, nodding repeatedly with surprised admiration.

He hadn't expected this trainee to recover so completely in such a short time—not only his body but his spirit as well. The roar, like that of a dragon or a serpent, signaled Yang Lie slowly rising to his feet.

The hellish training of the past few days flashed through his mind. If he hadn't released this long cry to soothe the depression in his heart, he truly feared he would have suffocated to death.

The long cry, suffused with unparalleled battle intent, lasted for nearly ten minutes before gradually subsiding. "Qin Fen!

He should be the one I challenge! Third place in the small team—that shouldn't be my rank!" Yang Lie strode toward the door, confidence rapidly swelling within his chest.

The harsh penance of the last few days had not only caused his strength to soar but had also completely restored the fighting spirit he lost when he was defeated! Pushing the door open, Yang Lie gazed at the last vestiges of darkness before the dawn.

Recalling the arduous cultivation of these past days, he felt as if he had been reborn. Previously, Yang Lie had believed his own cultivation was already demanding enough, but after the training under Ashura, which constantly kept him hovering on the edge of death, he realized that what the world called diligent hardship was utter nonsense.

Effort, he now understood, was always relative. "You seem very energetic today." A voice, slightly reminiscent of kawaii, sounded in the darkness.

Yang Lie’s body instinctively shuddered. He followed the sound and saw Ashura—this pseudo-loli with the heart of a loli and the body of an ojō-sama!

In the pale dawn, Ashura stood casually beneath a tree in a light cyan qipao, possessing an indescribable allure and beauty. Yang Lie had no inclination to appreciate Ashura Feng Hua Dan Yun's beauty; any normal person tortured by her for days on end would struggle to find the mood to appreciate her looks.

A rustling sound came from a nearby building, and Yang Lie saw hundreds of martial artists standing quietly not far away. Today was the day for ranking the members of Qin Fen's small team.

After several recent engagements, Qin Fen's squad had gained a certain level of popularity within the Holy Martial Assembly, and many martial artists were keenly interested in this upcoming ranking battle. "Wow?" Ashura's delicate eyebrows jumped slightly.

Her beautiful eyes pierced through the crowd, locking onto one person within it. The martial artist felt Ashura's gaze and, like Yang Lie, shuddered.

He twisted his body and retreated further into the back of the crowd. "Hehehe..." Ashura let out a string of cheerful, bell-like laughter, murmuring to herself, "The little Martial Maniac has appeared too.

He must have heard the rumors about Qin Fen, right? It seems not only will this little dragon shock people today, but the Martial Maniac will also put on an astonishing performance?" Martial Maniac?

Yang Lie's strength had increased significantly these past days, and his hearing was sharper than before. His electric gaze shot into the crowd, searching for this legendary Martial Maniac.

Throughout the relentless training, Yang Lie had heard Ashura mention Nash, the most outstanding young martial artist in the Holy Martial Assembly, the Martial Maniac, more than once. Yang Lie had not forgotten the admiration that flickered in Ashura's eyes every time she mentioned the Martial Maniac.

Apart from him, he had only seen that special light when she mentioned Qin Fen. For a martial artist to be placed by Chairman Ashura of the Martial Discourse Department on the same pedestal as Qin Fen—Yang Lie desperately wanted to see just how strong this young man, rumored to be the Holy Martial Assembly's greatest genius and the most promising contender for the Divine Beast martial artist title, truly was.

If he could fight the rumored superstar of the Holy Martial Assembly before clashing with Qin Fen—and win—he would approach the challenge against Qin Fen with even greater assurance. Yang Lie rapidly scanned the crowd but could not locate a martial artist matching Ashura's description.

"Heh heh, little Dragon Long, you don't need to search anymore." Feng Hua Dan Yun raised a hand to lightly cover her cherry lips. "That little fellow is also afraid of big sister.

You won't find him here, I’m afraid." Yang Lie secretly scrutinized Feng Hua Dan Yun from the corner of his eye, nodding inwardly repeatedly. Hearing that the Martial Maniac had survived being tortured by this woman for over half a year, he truly deserved the title of an inhuman character.

In a short while, the crowd of about a hundred people in the distance had swelled to nearly three hundred. "So many people?" Yang Lie gently slid his index finger up and down the right side of his nose.

"It seems Ashura wasn't lying to me about the rumor of Qin Fen killing the Fourteenth-Star martial artist in one battle. Otherwise, this ranking match wouldn't attract so many spectators, right?" Beep beep...

Yang Lie opened the message notification that suddenly sounded. The projections of Caesar and the others appeared in mid-air, looking spirited.

Only Xue Tian's image was missing. "Oh?" Feng Hua Dan Yun's beautiful eyes lit up again in the morning light.

"Haven't seen them for a few days, but these little guys seem to have grown quite a bit." "Yang Lie, see you on the Outer Holy Martial Hall arena." The Outer Holy Martial Hall arena? Yang Lie’s ankle suddenly exerted force, and his body was already twenty meters away.

His movement showed no trace of wavering, resembling magical teleportation. A: I am not sick, nor was I hospitalized.

I simply hit a bottleneck. These past few days, I performed 'surgery' on the outline, cutting out some plot points I found uninteresting and slimming the narrative down.

This book was initially set for about 2.4 million characters, but as I wrote, I realized it might exceed that, so I made some adjustments. Also, I genuinely lacked the feeling for writing.

I could have forced the writing in the past few days; as a professional writer, I know words written are money, but that would just be injecting water to manufacture trash. I sell stories, not water; I cannot betray the paid readers who bought the story.

I have made a major overhaul this time, and a bottleneck should no longer appear. Progress should be continuous, and the book should reach its conclusion amidst these advancements.