To duel two fourteen-star martial artists from the Sacred Martial Hall? Only by achieving victory could one officially become a disciple of the two Chief Elders.

Qin Fen had previously only known that due to his Six-Star Sacred Martial status, he was temporarily barred from becoming the official disciples of the two Chiefs. It was only today, hearing Ferrero's explanation, that he realized there was an additional condition involved.

Ferrero had deliberately kept silent until now, fearing it might affect Qin Fen’s state of mind during the special training and prevent him from completing it successfully.

“Then let’s fight,” Yang Lie and Caesar stood one on each side of Qin Fen, casually draping their arms over his shoulders, making the decision for him.

Ferrero understood this small circle around Qin Fen well. Aside from his wife, they shared very few secrets among themselves. If these two agreed, it was tantamount to making the decision on Qin Fen’s behalf.

“Fight we shall, but we still need to be cautious,” Ferrero’s two golden, sweeping eyebrows met over his brow, revealing caution and doubt. “Theoretically, a fifteen-star martial artist should never be defeated by a fourteen-star one. The Six-Star Sacred Martial practitioners possess strength above even our Chief Elders; they should understand this better, yet they still insist on this confrontation. It’s highly unusual.”

Qin Fen nodded gently. In the Sacred Martial Hall, those with Martial Venerable strength were the strongest, followed closely by the Six-Star Sacred Martial practitioners, whose power surpassed that of the Two Halls and Six Departments. Such martial artists might truly be masters of the Grandmaster level. For them to know that a fifteen-star fighter is almost guaranteed to defeat a fourteen-star fighter, yet still insist on the battle, was certainly strange.

“Oh, right. Originally, the time and location were ours to choose. But since you advanced to the fifteen-star level…” Ferrero slid his index finger across the bridge of his nose. “The Six-Star Sacred Martial Arts faction requested that they choose the location for the battle.”

“Manipulating the location?”

The eyes of several young martial artists lit up. They immediately grasped the thinking of the Six-Star Sacred Martial Arts faction.

The probability of a fourteen-star martial artist defeating a fifteen-star one was incredibly low, especially against a monstrous talent like Qin Fen. Even in evenly matched fights, few people dared claim an assured victory over Qin Fen, let alone someone a star level below him?

Battle always relied on timing, terrain, and human factors. Qin Fen’s strength far exceeded that of the fourteen-star martial artists, meaning he had already secured the timing. Therefore, the opposition could only contest the advantage in terrain; otherwise, there would be no need to even have the fight.

“The Six-Star Sacred Martial Arts faction also required that the two fourteen-star martial artists fight together,” Ferrero sighed. “You know that martial artists who reach the fourteen-star level can start learning the Sky-Dancing Technique (Wu Kong Shu). I haven’t taught it to you precisely for this reason. Until you win this engagement…”

“It doesn't matter. Once I win, won’t I have it?” Qin Fen smiled faintly. While the Sky-Dancing Technique was something only a few factions possessed, and others couldn't learn it even after meeting the strength requirements, that didn't mean Qin Fen lacked a way to learn it.

With the attainment of fifteen-star strength, the Grandmasters had already spoken to him about the Sky-Dancing Technique. The main reason Qin Fen hadn't immediately begun practicing it was that the speed of a fifteen-star martial artist flying wasn't actually faster than his own top running speed. Furthermore, the movement art of the Martial Emperor Dragon Fist (Wu Di Long Quan) was not yet fully matured. If he forcibly cultivated the Sky-Dancing Technique now, correcting the flaws in his movement art later would become significantly harder.

“That’s good then,” Ferrero nodded, greatly relieved. “Get some rest early. I scheduled the engagement with the Six-Star Sacred Martial Arts faction for tomorrow.”

Returning to his room on the 122nd floor, Qin Fen took a quick shower and settled into bed, consciously avoiding any thoughts about the Martial Way, immersing himself completely in relaxation.

In the main hall of the Invitation Department building, Xue Tian leaned against the reception counter, looking at the receptionist martial artist with an unnervingly strange gaze.

“Beautiful, you say Chief Ferrero isn't here?”

The female receptionist’s smile was saccharine, but beneath it lay a deep confusion. When Chief Ferrero went out before, he never specifically instructed staff on how to respond if someone came looking for him.

“Chief Ferrero said he is very busy today and probably won't have time to return. He asked you to come back another time if you have business.”

The receptionist relayed Ferrero’s message, and the confusion in her eyes deepened. Remembering the Chief’s awkward expression when he gave the instruction, she was eager to know what exactly had happened.

“Understood,” Xue Tian turned and walked towards the door in a roundabout manner. “Very well. When you see Chief Ferrero, please tell him I will return tomorrow.”

The hall returned to its initial quiet. Five minutes later, the receptionist picked up the phone. “Hello, is this the Chief Elder? Xue Tian has left. He said he will come back tomorrow.”

“Now, can I leave?”

Di Shitian looked at Ferrero with accumulating dissatisfaction. Ferrero never entered his office to add weight to his mood, yet today he suddenly appeared, saying nothing, doing nothing, just continuously sipping green tea.

“Di Shitian, I have a favor to ask?” Ferrero set down his teacup, propped his elbows on the sofa arms, and leaned forward. “How about we switch rooms?”

Switch rooms? Di Shitian’s right hand, holding the teacup, trembled violently. The calm surface of the water rippled faintly, and a strange glimmer appeared on his usually impassive face.

“You must have heard just now too, right?” Ferrero spoke with a hint of embarrassment. “I’m hiding from Xue Tian. If he hits me with any more of his remarks, I won’t be able to take it.”

A schadenfreude-filled smile played on Di Shitian’s icy face. Seeing Ferrero in this state was more satisfying than beating him up himself. “What, is he even more talented than Qin Fen?”

“That can’t be said,” Ferrero waved his hand. “Xue Tian and Qin Fen are different types. Qin Fen is the type who, after diligent effort, can generalize what he learns and transform it into his own creation. Xue Tian, however, is like a vast ocean; it seems no matter how profound something is, he can understand and absorb it in a short time, making it his own. He merely learns, firmly refusing to innovate…”

“Oh?” Di Shitian raised an eyebrow, a flicker of unexpected interest showing. “How fast?”

Ferrero’s face instantly turned the color of bitter melon. “Remember my Thirty-Six Heavenly Star Blade Sword Technique?”

“I remember. It was good,” Di Shitian lightly raised his thumb. “And the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Blade Sword Technique was also excellent.”

Ferrero sank back into the sofa cushion, raising his hands limply in a shrug. “In the last six months, he has sought me out five times. The last time, I gave him the Twin Sword Mastery manual. And yet, he came looking for me again today…”

“What?” Di Shitian’s teacup trembled so much that several drops of tea splashed out. “You mean in half a year?”

“That’s right. In six months, he learned martial arts that might take many genius martial artists decades to master,” Ferrero sighed with helplessness. “If this continues, I fear there will come a day when I truly have nothing left to teach him.”

“Is he really that amazing?” Di Shitian looked at Ferrero with a slight doubt. It wasn't that he didn't believe Ferrero’s words, but the conversation they just had sounded too incredible. Was this kind of ability in Xue Tian truly something a human could possess?

Ferrero rested his legs on the sofa armrests, adopting a sprawling posture. “You don’t believe me? Fine. I’ll just stay here and not leave. You can go and live in my quarters for a while.”

Di Shitian silently rose from his seat, glancing one last time at the obstinate Ferrero before quickening his pace out of the room.

Ferrero stretched with a grin. From his old rival’s eyes, he had just seen a look of challenge. Next, it would be time to let Xue Tian give Di Shitian’s confidence a proper beating.

New martial arts were fine, but new martial arts still required combat skills. Di Shitian’s combat skills might not be something Xue Tian couldn't learn.

In Ashura’s room, Feng Hua Dancun stood before a row of bizarre beakers and test tubes, constantly adding various concoctions and murmuring to herself. “Divine Beast level martial artist, Asura Saint Fetus. I will certainly conceive one, and personally cultivate a Divine Beast level martial artist! No! Perhaps… in the future, he might even surpass the Divine Beast level and become an even stronger martial artist.”

In dozens of test tubes, those bizarre liquids were ceaselessly churning, the bubbling sound giving off an intensely strange sensation.

On the surface, the Sacred Martial Hall passed another day in what could hardly be called calm and peaceful cultivation.

The sun rose again. Ferrero arrived at Qin Fen’s room early, only to find it already crowded. Caesar, Yang Lie, and the others were already present, and Xue Tian was smiling faintly as he watched him.

Ferrero glimpsed the martial arts notes handwritten by Di Shitian in Xue Tian’s hand and coughed dryly to cover his awkwardness. He then stiffened slightly as Qin Fen emerged from the bedroom.

Ferrero knew that Qin Fen’s appearance wasn't ugly, nor was he exceptionally handsome. However, today Qin Fen looked somewhat different from usual. Dressed in black martial attire, his physique appeared exceptionally slender and long. His hair, which hadn't been trimmed for half a year and had grown out, was simply tied back at the nape of his neck. Paired with the heroic aura radiating from him, he seemed like a blazing source of light.

The word 'handsome' might still not fully capture the current Qin Fen, but the masculine vitality and aura he exuded held a deep attraction, making him far more appealing than a delicate, fair-faced pretty boy.

“Wow, incredibly good-looking,” Feng Hua Dancun leaned against the doorframe, examining Qin Fen up and down, a strange smile blossoming in her watery eyes.

Qin Fen couldn't decipher what was hidden in Feng Hua Dancun's smile at first, but he felt a chilling sensation rapidly sweep down his spine, as if some imminent danger was about to befall him.

Qin Fen looked towards Ferrero. “Master, can we leave now?”

“Oh?” Ferrero nodded repeatedly. “Of course, we can.”

Exiting the residential building, the young martial artists from Building 122 were already waiting below. This was Qin Fen's first battle after emerging from seclusion. Not only the young martial artists of Building 122 knew about it, but other martial artists who kept track of Qin Fen were also fully aware of the engagement. Combined with the news that the two Chief Elders were taking Qin Fen as a disciple, and aided by the well-informed people in the Invitation Department who were adept at spreading news, the information had spread to nearly every corner of the Sacred Martial Hall.

The young martial artists from Building 121 were also waiting early downstairs.

As they walked, Qin Fen noticed the crowd behind him growing larger and larger. People frequently speculated on the outcome of today’s battle: would Qin Fen sweep his opponents away as easily as cutting melons and vegetables? Simultaneously, they wondered what kind of venue the Six-Star Sacred Martial Arts faction had chosen.

Passing through various structures, a vast lake appeared before everyone. Ferrero stopped walking at that moment.

Beside the lake, the projection of the Six-Star Sacred Martial Arts faction floated silently in the air. A considerable number of Sacred Martial Hall martial artists were gathered near them.

Qin Fen immediately spotted two fourteen-star martial artists bearing long swords among the crowd; these were presumably his opponents for the day. These two fourteen-star martial artists seemed to have already begun restraining their movements, no longer showcasing the overt sharpness of eleven or twelve-star fighters. However, to Qin Fen, who had cultivated to the Subtlety Realm (Ru Wei Jing), it was clear that beneath their calm skin, the subtle edge of their fighting intent could not be completely concealed.

“Decent strength,” Qin Fen nodded lightly, his youthful face adopting the expression of a senior instructing a junior. “Continue your strenuous cultivation; you should have the potential to enter the Subtlety Realm.”

Qin Fen’s voice was not loud, but he had infused a bit of True Qi (Zhen Qi) to help it carry. In the silent standoff, the remark was loud enough to reach every person present.

The brows of the two impending fourteen-star opponents furrowed involuntarily, and the eager fighting spirit within them suddenly dampened considerably. The spectators nodded lightly, almost universally acknowledging Qin Fen’s assessment.

The twelve gazes of the Six-Star Sacred Martial Arts faction flashed with sharp light simultaneously. Qin Fen's seemingly calm statement had infused his Martial Dao Aura (Wu Dao Qi Shi). The critique he offered not only made the onlookers feel a sense of agreement but also influenced the Dao Hearts of his opponents.

So young, yet he could command the entire situation with his opening words. Ferrero’s eyes, curved like a crescent moon, danced with pride and joy.

“Subtlety (Ru Wei) does not guarantee victory over those who have not reached it,” the Demonic Star (Mo Xing) among the Six-Star Sacred Martial Arts faction slowly spoke. “If realms determined victory, most conflicts in the world would have ceased long ago. The charm of the Martial Dao lies precisely in the fact that seemingly certain victories are not guaranteed to be achieved in the end. The ever-changing nature that no one can fully grasp—that is the true charm of the Martial Dao.”

The Demonic Star spoke those words several times slower than Qin Fen! The eyes of the surrounding martial artists instantly brightened, as if experiencing a mental epiphany.

The tightly furrowed brows of the two fourteen-star martial artists about to face Qin Fen smoothed out instantly, their faces radiating the unified brilliance of spirit and energy.

Ferrero noticed a flicker of dissatisfaction in the quiet eyes of Di Shitian nearby. While it was not wrong for Qin Fen, a participant in the upcoming battle, to speak and seize control of the scene, the Demonic Star was not fighting himself. For him to speak out and assist the fourteen-star martial artists felt somewhat like cheating.

Di Shitian sensed Ferrero looking at him and a faint smile reappeared on his lips. Ferrero instantly interpreted that smile: Di Shitian was mocking him for daring to call the Demonic Star a cheat, as Ferrero himself was the one who loved to play dirty the most.

Ferrero shrugged nonchalantly. “Since I’ve already stooped to the level of switching rooms with Di Shitian, I don't believe he can avoid playing dirty either.”

Qin Fen walked slowly forward, hands clasped behind his back. His expression showed no trace of resentment towards the Demonic Star. His opening statement was merely a test of his own ability; since it achieved the desired effect, that was sufficient.

Qin Fen raised a hand and pointed to the lake water shimmering with patches of sunlight. “Is this the battlefield?”

“On the lake?” Many people looked at the Six-Star Sacred Martial Arts faction with suspicion. Qin Fen practiced the Ancient Martial Arts (Gu Wu Xue) and seemingly did not know the Sky-Dancing Technique yet. Having him fight in the lake—did they mean underwater, or for him to fight by stepping on the water?

The Demonic Star drifted out from the ranks of the six stars and spoke slowly again. “This is the battlefield, but not the final one. It requires a little more time to form.”

Before his words had fully faded, a middle-aged martial artist dressed in silver battle attire floated down from the sky. His hair, eyebrows, and even his pupils were white. From a distance, he appeared like an elderly man entering his twilight years, but upon closer inspection, one could see his age was not much different from Di Shitian’s.

Such a uniquely distinct appearance meant there was only one person in the Sacred Martial Hall. Even those who had never seen him before knew of his existence. He was the Head of the Internal Affairs Hall of the Sacred Martial Hall, the Frost Dragon King, Yan Riguang! He practiced the New Martial Art (Xin Wu Xue): Freezing Flame Suppression Demonic Path (Bing Dong Yan Ya Mo Dao)!

Unlike Yang Lie, the Little Dragon King, whose Ancient Martial Art, the Profound Darkness Divine Art (Gu Wu Xuan Ming Shen Gong), froze the internal meridians, Yan Riguang’s Freezing Flame Suppression Demonic Path froze everything external to the body. The moment he attacked, he could gather the fiery essence in the air to form an extreme cold, reputed to be so potent that he could instantly freeze an active volcano into an artistic ice sculpture. Due to his long cultivation of the Freezing Flame Suppression Demonic Path, Yan Riguang himself had gradually become akin to a person encased in ice.

Suspended in the sky, Yan Riguang looked down upon the crowd like a legendary Ice God. He lightly waved his left hand, and everyone felt the air temperature plummet instantly. Many people instinctively shivered. The lake water, moments ago rippling under the bright sun, was now covered with a layer of silvery white frost.

Frozen! Yan Riguang’s first move directly froze the lake surface!

A smile appeared on the Demonic Star’s face. “Now the battlefield is complete. Today’s engagement will take place on the ice. Being knocked off the lake, falling unconscious, or admitting defeat and plunging into the water—all count as losses.”

Qin Fen let out a breath of visible hot air, leaped to the edge of the lake, and bent down to probe the frozen surface with his palm.

“This is?” Qin Fen’s brow rose slightly. This seemingly crystalline ice layer was far less thick than expected, perhaps only half an inch deep. Fighting on such a thin sheet of ice made it impossible to use excessive force for explosive thrusts. The Six-Star Sacred Martial Arts faction had clearly reviewed his past combat records to devise such a peculiar fighting venue.

Qin Fen straightened up, turned to face his two smiling opponents, and stated plainly, “Your martial art should be the New Martial Art, Magnetic Levitation Flying Sword (Ci Dong Fei Jian), correct?”

The onlookers were not overly surprised this time. On this kind of terrain, New Martial Arts held a distinct advantage, especially the Magnetic Levitation Flying Sword, which likely dominated long-range combat.

“Correct! Wu Ke, Lin Ming! New Martial Art: Magnetic Levitation Flying Sword.”

The two shouted their confirmation, walked slowly around the edge of the lake for several hundred meters, and then cautiously stepped onto the unstable ice surface.

Qin Fen nodded slightly. Given the geographical advantage, these two were still being so cautious, maintaining such a distance. “Now I understand why you were chosen.”

Qin Fen slowly took a step, planting his foot on the rather thin ice. The moment his body fully settled onto the frozen surface, the ice beneath his foot emitted a faint creak, as if protesting that his weight might crush them.

Wu Ke, the slightly taller one, spread both arms. The object on his back that looked like a sheathed sword suddenly expanded like a peacock fanning its tail, instantly forming a fan shape equipped with eight Magnetic Levitation Flying Swords.

Clang!

One of the Magnetic Levitation Flying Swords was unsheathed and flew directly beneath his foot. Before the crowd could react, this sword had lifted him ten meters into the air!

Wu Ke stood with his hands behind his back, looking down upon Qin Fen on the ice, adopting an air reminiscent of the sword-riding immortals from the Shu Mountain Sect in legends.

The Sword Riding Art (Yu Jian Shu) of the Magnetic Levitation Flying Sword! Compared to the Ancient Martial Arts, which required reaching fifteen-star mastery to learn the Sky-Dancing Technique, the New Martial Arts, aided by technology, could achieve what the Ancient Martial Arts could not much earlier, faster, and more easily.

Wu Ke looked down at Qin Fen, a confident smile curling his lips. So what if you’ve reached the fifteen-star level? Never mind if you don't know the Sky-Dancing Technique; even if you managed to cultivate it with your fifteen-star power, that speed couldn't catch up to my fourteen-star Magnetic Levitation Flying Sword Sword Riding Art!

A fourteen-star martial artist looking down upon a fifteen-star martial artist—this was absolutely impossible under normal circumstances, but it didn't mean it was impossible forever. Wu Ke occupied the tactical advantage, his smile tinged with composure. He looked down at Qin Fen, feeling the kind of triumph a legendary Shu Mountain Swordsman felt when looking down upon a mortal who could not ascend.

While stepping on and looking down on the weak felt satisfying for a strong expert, it couldn't compare to Wu Ke’s situation: enjoying assured victory while being theoretically weaker in star rank, looking down on the expert who should have defeated him.

Seven sharp flying swords, wreathed in visible blue electrical light, hovered silently around his body, their faint sword glints locking onto Qin Fen.