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Ji Zhenxuan Yi stood entirely submerged in seawater up to his chest, eyes closed, expressionless, letting the ocean waves batter him. Novel αр..C compiled

The waves surged endlessly toward the shore, yet Ji Zhenxuan Yi remained unshaken, standing without channeling even a sliver of True Qi to defend against the ocean's impact.

What was the sea, truly? Ji Zhenxuan Yi listened to the sound of the waves, feeling each breaker strike his body, deliberately refusing to mobilize any True Qi within him to resist the assault.

No True Qi could be used. No punches could be thrown at the incoming waves. Ji Zhenxuan Yi faithfully executed Qin Fen’s instructions, striving to internalize the question Qin Fen had posed.

Three days prior, Qin Fen had suddenly appeared in Tianbei City, going directly to Ji Zhenxuan Yi, who had already honorably discharged himself from service and was living discreetly in Tianbei City to protect the two sisters, Yang Ruoruo and Yang Xixi.

According to Federal law, any soldier who earned military merit could apply for early retirement. During the last Recruit Competition, under Qin Fen’s leadership, all results had skyrocketed, resulting in every participant receiving a Second Class Merit.

Ji Zhenxuan Yi had also earned this merit. After Qin Fen departed for the Sacred Martial Hall, he chose retirement, settling in Tianbei City to look after the Yang sisters.

Wu Hui crawled out of the sea, picked up a clean towel to dry his body and wet hair, and plopped down beside Qin Fen, who was sunbathing, looking at him with great curiosity. “Captain, you’ve been here three days now, but I haven’t seen you practice martial arts once?”

Yu Xiao, sitting next to Qin Fen and fiddling with his firearms, occasionally looking up to ask Qin Fen for guidance, wore the same look of puzzled inquiry on his face.

Three days ago, Qin Fen arrived in Tianbei City, found Ji Zhenxuan Yi, checked in briefly with the people from the Security Detachment that day, and since then, had just been enjoying the sea breeze and taking walks by the shore.

This behavior from Qin Fen baffled everyone who knew him. The former captain of the Security Detachment was a notorious martial arts fanatic. He trained under heavy loads, sparred underwater, and frequently logged into the Sky Combat Network just to find someone to fight.

Yet, for these three days, Qin Fen had not been practicing martial arts with his usual obsessive fervor. Instead, he lived a life of utter peace and tranquility, like an elder enjoying retirement.

“I am training,” Qin Fen said, sitting up and looking out at the wet sand. “It’s just that you haven’t noticed.”

Ji Zhenxuan Yi opened his eyes and walked out of the ocean. Unable to hide his confusion, he sat down next to Qin Fen, forming a circle with the others.

“Martial practice requires adjustment too,” Qin Fen gazed at the blue expanse of the sea. “In truth, practicing martial arts is no different from eating. Food goes into the stomach; nutrients are absorbed, converting into fat or waste depending on individual constitution. If it becomes waste, it leaves the body entirely. If it becomes fat, it transforms into a kind of sediment. Through training, this sediment can be turned into solid muscle. We call the martial perception that hasn't been fully absorbed but hasn't been lost 'foundation.'”

Qin Fen patted his stomach. “Where I am now? I’m full! Eating more won't stick; the body stops even the basic function of turning things into fat. Forcing it just stretches me thin. What I need now is digestion. That’s why, even though I’m not cultivating intensely right now, the speed of my martial progress is actually faster than before.”

Those gathered around Qin Fen exchanged uneasy glances. No martial elder they had ever heard of had ever mentioned such a concept, and verifying its truth felt almost impossible.

“Don’t believe me?” Qin Fen casually pointed toward the sky far over the sea. “It doesn’t matter. Watch me fight one round, and you’ll know.”

A fight? The group followed Qin Fen’s gaze toward the sky, only to find nothing there. Why did he speak as if an opponent was imminent?

Ji Zhenxuan Yi’s ear twitched repeatedly. His eyes instantly lit up. Among the group, even though his own strength was the greatest after achieving Rebirth of True Innate through Blood Replacement, his martial sense had heightened significantly. He sensed a prickling hostility radiating from the distant sky over the sea, irritating the skin.

A black dot appeared in the sky, rapidly enlarging in their vision until the full silhouette of a helicopter materialized.

The helicopter hovered above the beach, and a martial artist clad in a new Taekwondo uniform leaped out of the cabin door.

Thump!

From a height of a hundred meters, the martial artist in the new Taekwondo uniform landed steadily on the sand. The vertical impact sent golden grains of sand flying around his feet—an arrival as imposing as a god descending from legend.

Qin Fen looked up, sizing up the newcomer. He wore a white Xinyong Quan Dao uniform, cinched by a black belt embroidered with a golden border. His build was slender and muscularly balanced, his face carrying an air of cold arrogance. His prominent nose bridge hinted at a touch of Western features. His skin was fair, full of healthy moisture, and he appeared to be around forty years old.

The golden embroidered border on the new Taekwondo black belt represented an extremely lofty status and indicated true, formidable strength.

Throughout the entire Federation, Qin Fen knew of only two people who possessed black belts embroidered with that golden edge. One was the founder of Xinyong Quan Dao, Pei Chengjun, whom he had met at a military airport and was slated for a life-and-death duel in a few days.

Besides Pei Chengjun, only one other person in the Federation bore a black belt with that golden embroidered edge.

Zhang Tianhe, the first disciple of Pei Chengjun of Xinyong Quan Dao! He was currently the only martial artist besides Pei Chengjun himself who possessed the strength of a Martial Arts Master in Xinyong Quan Dao.

Rumor had it that after reaching the Martial Arts Master realm, Zhang Tianhe followed Pei Chengjun’s arrangement to develop in Europe, opening markets for Xinyong Quan Dao while scouting for promising martial arts talents.

Over the past few years, Xinyong Quan Dao in Europe had flourished under Zhang Tianhe’s development, his fame there nearly matching Pei Chengjun’s reputation in Asia. Instinctively, the moment Ji Zhenxuan Yi saw Zhang Tianhe, he moved instantly, stepping in front of Qin Fen, his guard raised high as he stared intently at the man who had descended like a god from the heavens.

Anyone familiar with Qin Fen’s history with Xinyong Quan Dao understood the implications. The sudden appearance of Zhang Tianhe, who had been spreading the art in Europe, prompted the police officers present to immediately draw their sidearms, aiming their weapons collectively at the uninvited guest as a warning.

Zhang Tianhe swept his gaze over the people surrounding Qin Fen, emitting a cold scoff. These firearms were no more significant to a Martial Arts Master than matchsticks.

“Get out of the way. I’m not looking for you.”

Zhang Tianhe strode forward, and the ground beneath his feet seemed to obey a shortening spell, bringing him instantly before Ji Zhenxuan Yi. Before anyone could react, Ji Zhenxuan Yi felt as if he had been struck head-on by a wall. His body, previously unmoved by the sea, finally shifted; he was sent flying backward, lifted off his feet.

Yu Xiao, the Little Gun King who had shielded Qin Fen, felt a blur before his eyes. He was instantly airborne, and the firearm in his hand, capable of easily taking a life, twisted into a piece of scrap metal, soaring up with him.

In the blink of an eye, everyone standing between Qin Fen and Zhang Tianhe was suddenly flung from the ground, clearing a path entirely unobstructed.

Zhang Tianhe tilted his chin slightly, looking down at Qin Fen seated on the sand. “Qin Fen?”

Overbearing! Even more overbearing than Pei Chengjun of Hanzhou!

Qin Fen narrowed his eyes, studying Zhang Tianhe. As a man who commanded a powerful branch of European Xinyong Quan Dao, he exuded an aura of absolute authority, of being completely uncompromising.

This scent seemed deeply rooted in Zhang Tianhe’s being.

Spreading Xinyong Quan Dao outside its birthplace was never easy. There were too many forms of Ancient Martial Arts and New Martial Arts; people had too many choices. There was no need to seek out the new system of Xinyong Quan Dao.

Overseas, there was only one effective way to attract students: you had to be able to fight!

Zhang Tianhe’s development in Europe in recent years wasn't due to brilliant business acumen; it was because his fists were truly hard! The European market for Xinyong Quan Dao had been carved out by him, time and again, through sheer fighting prowess.

It could be said that the market share for Xinyong Quan Dao in Europe was built upon the graves of several Martial Arts Masters, only then achieving its current prestige. Overseas, to establish a foothold, one had to be ruthless and dominant! If you were a gentle scholar, someone would soon come knocking under the guise of a friendly spar to challenge your turf.

Over time, Zhang Tianhe couldn't tell if his inherent nature was dominance or if it was cultivated by his surroundings. This dominating nature had seeped into his very bones, making his martial path even more fierce.

“Correct.”

Qin Fen sat cross-legged and nodded gently. His brows furrowed tightly as he looked up at the helicopter, wondering inwardly that while his whereabouts weren't exactly secret, they shouldn't have been discovered so easily. Clearly, someone had leaked his location—though he couldn't be sure if it was Lieutenant General Li Mingzheng, who had been impossible to track.

The moment Zhang Tianhe heard Qin Fen’s confirmation, the pupils of his eyes contracted rapidly. He pointed a finger sharply at Qin Fen, then dramatically hooked his hand and roared, “Get up!”

Ji Zhenxuan Yi scrambled up from the sand and shouted from a distance, “Zhang Tianhe, what are you doing? Your master and my master set a date for a formal duel, yet you show up here. Do you intend to cowardly deplete my master’s strength before the match so your master can gain an advantage?”

Gain an advantage? Zhang Tianhe snorted coldly. Ji Zhenxuan Yi felt thunder explode in his ears, immediately followed by the Martial Arts Master’s arrogant and disdainful voice: “Gain an advantage? What qualifications do you have to fight my master? There’s an old saying in Zhongzhou: Why use a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken? Today, I will end you right here and avenge my fallen junior brothers and sisters.”

As the words fell, he unleashed his True Qi! The sand beneath Zhang Tianhe’s feet scattered sideways under the force of his Qi, and his tyrannical presence seemed to mix with the sea breeze, pressing down upon Qin Fen.

Fifteen Stars! A Fifteen-Star level radiating palpable killing intent! The true strength of the Martial Arts Master realm!

Qin Fen slowly rose and waved a hand gently, signaling everyone to retreat farther away.

A confrontation between Martial Arts Masters carried immense destructive power for the environment. Even just the pressure from their palm strikes or fist winds could injure nearby observing martial artists.

Under the questioning gazes of the others, Ji Zhenxuan Yi waved his arms repeatedly, silently leading the others in a rapid withdrawal. This was not a place they should remain; a battle between Martial Arts Masters was beyond their scope to assist or influence.

Retreating three hundred meters, Ji Zhenxuan Yi, like the others, stared anxiously at Qin Fen. This was an unfair fight. If Zhang Tianhe won, it was no benefit to Qin Fen. If he lost, it was equally disadvantageous to Qin Fen.

In a few more days, Qin Fen was scheduled to face Zhang Tianhe’s master, Pei Chengjun, the Martial God of Hanzhou.

As a Martial Arts Master, even if Zhang Tianhe were defeated by Qin Fen, if he managed to exhaust a significant portion of Qin Fen’s strength during the fight, or even inflict a serious injury at the cost of his own life, how would Qin Fen fight the duel in a few days?

Conserving energy for future battles while simultaneously ensuring he remained uninjured and victorious—Ji Zhenxuan Yi understood clearly that his master, Qin Fen, faced too many considerations this time.

And in sparring with peers, the most fatal thing was having such worries before a fight even began.

Ji Zhenxuan Yi glared hatefully at Zhang Tianhe, yet he had to concede that this Martial Arts Master promoting Xinyong Quan Dao in Europe was extremely cunning! His timing for the challenge was impeccable!

However, Ji Zhenxuan Yi found it hard to label the timing as despicable. The situation between them was already one of life and death. Zhang Tianhe wasn't here for a friendly spar; he was here for revenge for his juniors and determined to kill Qin Fen.

Fighting was not like attending a banquet. If Zhang Tianhe had a way to give Qin Fen a common cold, Ji Zhenxuan Yi had no doubt he would employ it.

As for giving the others time to retreat, it wasn't because Zhang Tianhe possessed any spirit of protecting the weak or pursuing fairness. It was because he was acutely aware that the families of those gathered around Qin Fen held deep influence. If the descendants of these powers were injured or killed in the crossfire, those powers, going mad, would only make matters more complicated.

Three hundred meters! The moment Zhang Tianhe saw the group retreat to that distance, his eyelids snapped shut, becoming narrow slits. A cold, flower-like smile bloomed on his lips.

Qin Fen’s eyes sharpened intensely, his skin acutely sensing the chilling killing intent hidden within the sea breeze. Even a Martial Arts Master would struggle to detect this hidden malice, but Qin Fen knew instantly: Zhang Tianhe was about to launch a sneak attack!

Before the smile on Zhang Tianhe’s lips could fully fade, his right hand, gleaming with golden light and seemingly forged from bronze, flicked with his shoulder’s movement, striking out like a golden spear aimed directly at Qin Fen's heart.

A lightning-fast, cunning strike! Zhang Tianhe’s arm ripped the air; the speed surpassed the sound barrier. Before Qin Fen could even hear the sound of that golden spear tearing the air, a cold sensation shot up from his heart.

Zhang Tianhe’s hand, moments ago fair and smooth like an infant’s, instantly transformed to look like cast bronze, honed to the sharpest point.

Xinyong Quan Dao Form: Vajra!

Zhang Tianhe had fused spear techniques into the Vajra Form, creating his own iteration. This sudden move churned the atmosphere; the spear thrust of the Vajra Form, like a twelve-foot lance, exploded with piercing wind, striking upward directly toward Qin Fen’s heart!

The promoter of European Xinyong Quan Dao, Zhang Tianhe, who had stepped into the Martial Arts Master realm, suddenly unleashed his full power in a sneak attack. The explosive burst of soul-stabbing force kicked up sand and stones. His arm, like a bronze spear, projected his True Qi outwardly like solid blades!

A frontal assault from a Martial Arts Master was earth-shattering enough, but a sneak attack amplified the lethality twofold. Zhang Tianhe, who had forged his way through countless blades and shadows promoting Xinyong Quan Dao in Europe, immediately sensed that this attack carried weight!

“A sneak attack?”

The moment Zhang Tianhe struck, Qin Fen felt only cold amusement within his heart. This sneak attack, if used against other Martial Arts Masters, might have been concealed effectively, with a decent chance of success.

To use a sneak attack against me? Qin Fen thought with a relentless internal sneer. Who am I? I was trained by professionals like Squad Leader Hao! In terms of sheer martial power, Squad Leader Hao and the others might not measure up, but in other specialized fields, that’s an entirely different concept.

A Martial Arts Master is only a master of the martial way. When it comes to new disciplines like stealth attacks, they might use their martial power to conceal themselves to a degree, but they are far inferior to true specialists.

A sniper is the ultimate professional sneak attacker! Zhang Tianhe’s display was like showing off a broadsword in front of Guan Gong.

As the golden spear technique suddenly swept through the storm-tossed scene, Qin Fen’s narrowed eyes snapped open. Facing this golden spear technique imbued with the essence of the Vajra Form, Qin Fen did not retreat an inch. Instead, he suddenly thrust his right hand outward, fingers splayed wide, then pressed his arm down across his chest. His palm, the size of a cattail fan, smashed directly toward the Vajra Form.

Qin Fen’s [Banana Fan] (Air-Splitting Palm) morphed into a close-quarters technique. True Qi wind burst out, instantly making his palm twice its normal size, and his fingers even thicker than a carrot!

Zhang Tianhe hadn't anticipated Qin Fen’s reaction to be this swift! Or perhaps he hadn’t expected his opponent to recognize the nature and trajectory of his sneak attack. A flash of sharp intensity crossed his eyes. He twisted his wrist! A gleaming blade sprang from his sleeve!

The tip of the blade sharply jabbed upward, aiming for Qin Fen's wrist, simultaneously executing a slicing motion locked onto Qin Fen’s throat.

He was absolutely confident: this stab and slice! Even if Qin Fen’s arm possessed the defense of the Vajra Battle Body, his wrist would be severely wounded, followed by a slice across his throat!

This sneak attack blade was his true ultimate weapon; no martial artist of the same rank could block it! Two Martial Arts Masters whose strength slightly surpassed his own had died by this very strike in the past! He couldn't believe the young Qin Fen, who should lack extensive combat experience, could withstand it.

In this thrust, Zhang Tianhe poured all his True Qi and mental focus into the blade tip. The knife was now truly an extension of his body—it was his eye, and his arm! He could even clearly feel the connections of every bone in Qin Fen’s body. No matter how exquisite Qin Fen’s martial techniques were, he couldn't evade this deadly cut!

A normal martial artist practicing the blade could easily have their weapon disarmed by an expert barehanded. Zhang Tianhe was a Martial Arts Master; his strength wasn't ordinary, and coupled with the surprise element, it was exceedingly difficult for any peer to snatch his weapon away barehanded.

Qin Fen’s Air-Splitting Palm from the Banana Fan technique collided fiercely with the wave-breaking tip of the blade.

Clang! Clang!

The sharp blade spat out two bursts of light, like fireworks blooming at night—the result of the air currents generated where Qin Fen’s True Qi struck the metal.

The blade was first-rate, and the man wielding it was first-rate! Zhang Tianhe’s strike broke through the Air-Splitting Palm of the Banana Fan, allowing him to surge forward toward Qin Fen’s throat.

The momentum of the blade remained fierce and sharp! In that instant, an imperceptible smile curved Qin Fen’s lips. The right hand that had deployed the Banana Fan suddenly pressed down hard onto the blade! With a single palm strike, he pressed down onto the blade body!

The massive palm pressed onto the steel. His five fingers slid down the length of the blade toward Zhang Tianhe’s wrist. At that moment, Zhang Tianhe tried to twist the knife, but found he couldn't move it at all.

On the tiny blade, it felt as if a true mountain had been placed; Qin Fen’s five fingers were those five peaks. He felt the knife becoming heavier and heavier; all his effort to twist it was in vain.

Bang! Clang!

Qin Fen's Banana Fan suddenly vibrated intensely! The first-rate blade let out a death-rattle moan and instantly shattered into shards of scrap iron!

With a single palm strike, Zhang Tianhe’s prized assassination move was completely nullified, and even the blade, forged by a master craftsman using several precious metals, was shattered.

“Such combat prowess at such an age? That’s terrifyingly impressive!”

Zhang Tianhe’s five fingers relaxed, letting go of the hilt. His throat emitted a singular, drawn-out tone, rising into a piercing howl, as if trying to suck the entire world into his body.

With this long cry, Zhang Tianhe’s entire imposing aura shed its sinister quality. The howl that seemed to absorb all creation caused his aura to swell continuously, as if he had become the very center of the world in that moment.

Heavenly Fist! Zhang Tianhe instantly entered the Heavenly Fist realm—the foundation for cultivating the root of all creation in the heavens, the ultimate completer of all worldly things.

The Heavenly Fist realm contained the infinite magnification of heaven, integrating the judgment and agility of fist force into the boundless realm of the Heavenly Fist, transforming one into the center and origin point of all things.

In his years in Europe, he had been the sovereign of European Xinyong Quan Dao! At this moment, Zhang Tianhe felt as if he was Heaven! The fists he threw were Heaven! Under the vast sky, all living things should kneel in worship—this was the Heavenly Fist!

“Is this your strongest punch?”

Qin Fen’s five splayed fingers suddenly snapped together. Facing the continuously growing, heaven-like spirit of the Heavenly Fist, Qin Fen seemed to truly awaken from a slumber. The rock-solid composure on his face was now overlaid with a profound, surging majesty, and his brow gained a stern dignity, like a true god ascending through the firmament.

The Divine Fist, an intent mirroring that of a god! Qin Fen drove his feet deep into the yellow sand, and the surging roar of his burgeoning fist disturbed the surrounding air currents, gathering and circling them tightly around his knuckles. This vast power forcefully pushed back the incoming sea wind, even suppressing the very sound of the ocean waves at that moment.

【Divine Fist Dao: Passing the Investiture of the Gods】! The ultimate secret technique created by Qin Fen! It integrates all martial ways he has witnessed, thus becoming the Divine Path! Those named on the Investiture of the Gods cannot escape calamity. This is the intent behind throwing this punch: I declare you divinely appointed; therefore, you must report to the Investiture of the Gods! Anyone reporting there meets only death!

Having spent over a month alone in the desert, Qin Fen successfully grasped the Soul of the Sahara, causing the might of the Investiture of the Gods to undergo another profound transformation.

Rumble!

Zhang Tianhe instantly felt the pressure emanating from Qin Fen. The 'Heaven'—which had previously appeared as a complete divine body—suddenly shattered before his eyes. His own fist felt as if it had slammed against Mount Buzhou; a colossal, overwhelming pressure hammered down.

In that instant, he finally clearly saw Qin Fen’s fist, driving down in a straight line from above.

Qin Fen’s fist was not large, no different from a normal person’s clenched fist. Its skin was smooth and tender, surpassing that of an infant, yet this seemingly childlike fist carried a terrifying power that suggested it contained the very laws of heaven and earth.

What Zhang Tianhe found most terrifying was that Qin Fen’s fist seemed to absorb and squeeze all the air from the battlefield, creating an incomplete vacuum here. It was even forcibly wrenching the air from his own lungs, plunging him into a state of oxygen deprivation.

He had never imagined that a young man under the age of twenty could unleash such a vast and powerful fist technique.

Qin Fen’s punch made Zhang Tianhe feel as if his chest were crushed by a heavy stone; the surrounding gravity seemed to warp, making any attempt to leap or dodge impossible. The only path to survival was to meet it head-on.

Aoo-ooo-ahh... Under the threat of death, Zhang Tianhe emitted a series of short, sharp howls. He crossed his hands in front of him, forming a massive, writhing cross—this was the Ten Longevities of the New Qiang Dao! It was the ultimate defense, fusing Cloud, Mountain, Water, Stone, Wood, Moon, Grass, Turtle, Crane, and Deer, staunchly blocking the path of Qin Fen’s strike.

The moment the Ten Longevities contacted the Investiture of the Gods, Zhang Tianhe felt the blood within his body instantly boil. Every hair on his body stood erect simultaneously, and his entire body began to retreat at a terrifying speed, completely beyond his control. It was as if he were on the fastest bullet train speeding backward, or perhaps strapped to a rocket booster retreating at high velocity.

The vast expanse of sand soared into the sky, and Zhang Tianhe’s vision turned blood-red. His arms lost all sensation first, followed instantly by his shoulders, chest, and then his legs. Along the trajectory of his retreat, plumes of crimson mist erupted.

To those like Ji Zhen Xuan Yi watching clearly, what sprayed into the air was not merely mist, but Zhang Tianhe’s body, utterly pulverized by a single punch, ascending into the heavens mixed with blood.

At this moment, Zhang Tianhe’s arms had already been shattered by the shockwave, and a massive, transparent hole gaped in his chest. The redness he saw was merely an illusion caused by burst blood vessels impacting his eyes.

Bang!

Zhang Tianhe flew a hundred zhang into the sea, crashing heavily into the saltwater. He opened his mouth, gurgling and spitting up blood, his eyes stretched wide as he stared at the sky.

A Martial Dao Master of the Fifteen-Star level possessed superhuman vitality; even with his internal organs completely destroyed, he had not immediately stopped breathing.

He was still alive, though his demise was now certain—even the gods couldn't save him. But in that specific moment, he was undeniably still breathing.

That final, overwhelming strike of the Investiture of the Gods flashed through his mind several times, yet he still couldn't find the slightest means of countering it. Even if he had been fully prepared, the result against that single blow would have been annihilation.

Qin Fen was already standing beside Zhang Tianhe. He needed to examine his Investiture of the Gods technique through the corpse to facilitate further refinement.

“You…” Zhang Tianhe gazed up at Qin Fen looming over him, filled with deep unwillingness: “You seemed… not to have used your full…”

“Correct,” Qin Fen nodded lightly. “You were not qualified for the Investiture of the Gods at my full power.”

Not qualified for his full power… Zhang Tianhe’s eyes widened further. This statement pierced his brain like a knife. He had come, full of ambition, to avenge his junior martial brothers and sisters, only to realize the young man before him hadn't even exerted his full strength.

“Inves… Investiture of the Gods… hehe… good… name… This punch unleashes the mandate of heaven………………”

Zhang Tianhe’s eyes bulged until the corners threatened to burst. At this moment, his pupils had completely dilated. After receiving this final, shocking blow to his pride, even his robust life force finally ebbed away, exhausting its last reserves.