The General was sent flying with a single palm strike right there on the military base. The surrounding Chinese guards watched the shocking sight as if petrified—was this young Lieutenant Colonel too audacious?

Li Mingzheng, still sitting on the ground, was equally stunned. In public, not even the Snake King would dare to lay a hand on Vice Admiral Yue Ming. He looked up furiously at Qin Fen, only to see the young man already walking away without a backward glance. His gaze then shifted to Zhao Huzi, his face a mask of questioning demand, waiting to see how this East Asian Vice Admiral would handle an assault on a superior officer.

“Old Li Jian, what’s wrong with you? Why did you suddenly trip?”

Zhao Huzi wore an expression of innocent curiosity, like a pure little white rabbit. He then looked up toward Qin Fen, who was walking ahead, and said, “Qin Fen, what is going on with you? I saw General Li about to fall, and since you reached out to stop him, why did you pull your hand back halfway? Even if your attempt was inaccurate and you didn't catch him, you should have helped him up after seeing him fall.”

“You…!”

Li Mingzheng’s eyes blazed with fury as he glared fiercely at Zhao Huzi, who appeared rough on the surface but was equally cunning underneath.

That sharp shout was heard by all the petrified soldiers nearby. It was clearly a message to these witnesses: if Li Mingzheng dared to file a complaint, they would have to testify according to Zhao Huzi’s version of events.

This was the Shengjing Military Base in Zhongzhou, and the soldiers stationed here were mostly Zhongzhou natives. When comparing the two Vice Admirals, they would obviously side with Zhao Huzi over Li Mingzheng, even though Li Mingzheng held the same rank.

Li Mingzheng once again fixed his gaze on Pei Chengjun, the Martial God of Hanzhou, who held such high status in Fuzhou. More shadows gathered between his brows. No matter how one looked at it, Li Mingzheng was the one who brought him here. Qin Fen’s behavior was equivalent to a direct slap in the face.

“Yes, General,” Qin Fen turned around, showing perfect deference, nodding lightly to Zhao Huzi while pointedly ignoring Li Mingzheng, and strode out towards the airport exit.

“Ah, it’s rare to find young people as polite as Qin Fen these days,” Zhao Huzi sighed repeatedly, shaking his head with feigned emotion, not sparing a glance at Li Mingzheng’s contorted face, and quickened his pace to catch up with Qin Fen.

The other onlookers quickly turned away, pretending to admire the scenery, causing the atmosphere on the tarmac to become instantly and profoundly bizarre.

Pei Chengjun paced up to Li Mingzheng, his eyes returning to their initial calm. Gazing faintly toward the sky above the airport, he said softly, “Put away your petty schemes. If a few words could shatter his pre-battle mentality, he would have already been crushed by my aura moments ago.”

Li Mingzheng struggled up from the ground, his cheeks burning, brushing the dust off his uniform. He had indeed intended to disrupt Qin Fen’s mindset by threatening the sister of Qin Fen’s comrade, hoping to give the Martial God of Hanzhou an easier path to victory in their upcoming duel. But he hadn't anticipated that this young man, Qin Fen, would have grown to this level in just about a year. In terms of martial arts strength and everything else, he shouldn't look like someone under twenty with a Divine Name.

“Let’s go,” Pei Chengjun strode toward the Hanzhou aircraft waiting nearby. He still had much to accomplish in his remaining seven days, such as inviting the Martial Arts Masters who were establishing sects across various regions to attend the descent of the Divine. This event, in a way, held significant importance for the future development of the New Lian Fist style.

The military headquarters in Shengjing looked exactly as it had when they left. Qin Fen looked at the Snake King behind the desk, whose eyes held no emotion, and noted that this powerful military figure, much like the Divine of the military command, seemed utterly unchanged.

“The mission was executed well,” the Snake King said, supporting his chin with crossed hands. “I already know about the matter with Pei Chengjun. Are you certain you want to fight?”

Qin Fen showed no surprise that the Snake King was aware of the situation. As a key military leader in Zhongzhou, with Shengjing being the core of his domain, if he couldn't maintain such oversight, he might as well retire immediately.

The Snake King looked at the silent Qin Fen, his crossed hands slowly moving up to obscure the lower half of his face, resembling a viper poised to strike. “Since you have chosen to fight, then don't concern yourself with anything else these next few days. Pei Chengjun has been famous for many years, and having founded the New Lian Fist style, he naturally possesses unique mastery. The true essence of the New Lian Fist is not something those disciples who aren't Martial Arts Masters can truly interpret.”

Qin Fen nodded slowly. Having been tempered by his experience in the Sahara Desert, he now understood the true might of the man whom the entire Hanzhou nation called their Martial God. Besides his vast martial prowess, Pei Chengjun carried the expectations and glory of the entire Hanzhou people.

The depth contained within such a man’s fist techniques was far greater than the pinnacle strike of Cai Renying that day. Even the Martial Maniac, a genius martial artist in the Sacred Martial Hall, his boxing contained a depth that could not compare to Pei Chengjun’s.

Pei Chengjun was a true Martial Arts Master! Qin Fen had formed this profound understanding after their brief encounter.

“If you want to go into seclusion, go. If you want to do something else, do it,” the Snake King’s emotionless voice spoke again slowly. “Alright, you may go.”

Qin Fen snapped a salute and left the room. He had been immersed in the million-year-old Sand Souls of the Sahara and hadn't had time to notify Lin Liqiang to collect the goods. Now that he had a free moment, he certainly wouldn't pass it up.

“Old Qin, I love you to death!”

Listening to Lin Liqiang’s voice on the newly bought phone, Qin Fen couldn’t help but remind him again, “Be careful. Those things are very strange and highly aggressive.”

“Got it, got it.” Lin Liqiang’s happy laughter crackled over the line. “Old Man, he showed me the pictures of your complete blood exchange, rebirth, and true Xiantian transformation. I haven't been idle this past year either.”

Qin Fen let out a dry chuckle. Lin Liqiang’s natural talent was undeniable; his martial arts skill should be quite good. It was just a pity that he had to divide his focus on biochemical beasts, missing out on many life-or-death experiences.

Without the experience of facing death, even the most talented martial artist could not reach the absolute peak. It was the same principle as the finest raw ore; without being repeatedly forged and tempered, it could never become a peerless divine weapon.

Lin Liqiang lacked the experience of life-and-death combat, like fine raw ore that hadn’t undergone the thousands of hammer blows. Given his talent and life circumstances among his peers, becoming a martial arts expert wouldn't be difficult, but standing at the very top would be too hard.

“Catch a couple of bugs for me, surely my strength is enough now?” Lin Liqiang swung his hips on the chair beneath him. “Besides, I have biochemical beasts helping me. Surely I can handle two basic bug martial artists?”

Qin Fen had to admit that even without the visual record of the blood exchange, rebirth, and true Xiantian transformation, Lin Liqiang’s talent was sufficient to easily handle the parasitic precursor of the bug martial artists.

“Then that settles it!” Lin Liqiang pushed off the swivel chair. “I’ll head to the Sahara first. You keep busy.”

Qin Fen ended the call on his new phone and looked up at the sky. Before paying a formal visit to Song Wendong’s house to propose marriage, one matter absolutely had to be settled first: housing!

Qin Fen hadn't forgotten what Song Jia’s father, Song Zhenting, had told him last time—a man who couldn't even provide a roof to shelter the woman he loved, forcing her to suffer hardship alongside him, was an incredibly selfish act.

A house. Qin Fen subconsciously patted his pocket. He had killed quite a few terrorists while working in the military and police systems recently; the bounties had long since filled his purse. Combined with his previous income and earnings since entering the Sacred Martial Hall, he figured that as long as it wasn't some luxurious villa, using up all his savings might be enough to buy a place.

Proposing marriage—if he didn't even have a house... Qin Fen felt it was inexcusable. He applied for an old model magnetic levitation vehicle at the military compound and set the automatic navigation system to take him directly to a newly opened garden community.

The real estate industry, over time, had become an ancient profession. No matter how many other industries were replaced by emerging ones, real estate always endured.

As a philosopher once said, as long as humanity exists on this earth, people will always need shelter, and real estate will persist.

Following the massive real estate bubble of the past, housing prices had now become much more rational. Qin Fen didn't need to fear being cheated by developers; if one place was too expensive, he could just check out other communities.

As he walked into the sales lobby, a saleswoman paused momentarily upon seeing Qin Fen; the military insignia on his shoulder was too striking.

In this era where refusing military service could lead to the revocation of civil rights, almost everyone had some understanding of military ranks.

Lieutenant Colonel! The number of this rank in the Federation’s military was unknown, but a soldier under twenty years old wearing the rank of Lieutenant Colonel was far rarer than precious creatures like Giant Pandas or Baiji Dolphins.

Becoming a Lieutenant Colonel so young? The saleswoman blinked, but quickly regained her professional smile and walked toward Qin Fen with energy. She clearly understood that in this Federation, the desire for a young person to bear the rank of Lieutenant Colonel meant they were likely the descendant of a major military family, probably with significant backing and connections.

“Sir, which unit size are you interested in viewing?” The saleswoman’s voice was soft and pleasant, speaking slowly with a professional smile. “Our community just recently opened for sales…”