The Sinking of White Deer Pond, the Shattering of Hallasan, the Duel and Demise of the Hanju Martial God, Bae Seong-jun, as Shenquan Dao Obliterates Xinqiang Kendo! The Master of the New Karate Kyokushin Ryū, Kyokushin Houtian, is Smashed to Pieces on Hallasan! Shenquan Dao, defeating two Sect Leaders in a single day, rises like a comet! The mysterious Shenquan Dao, a flash of claw and fang, swiftly crushes the two great sects.

In less than a single day, every major martial arts website across the Federation was plastered with headlines detailing the defeats of Bae Seong-jun and Kyokushin Houtian.

By evening, print newspapers in every region prominently featured this news on their front pages, with some dedicating the second and even third pages entirely to the event.

The mere demise of two Martial Gods would not normally warrant such massive coverage, but this was followed by the swift appearance of martial arts critics from all corners, offering their perspectives and analyses on the downfall of the two masters. More pressing, however, was the speculation: just what kind of sect was this suddenly emerging Shenquan Dao? And what sort of power truly lay behind this mysterious 'Shenquan Dao'?

Almost no one believed that the origins of this enigmatic 'Shenquan Dao' were simple. The prevailing theory suggested that perhaps the Lianlin Gate, seeing the rapid development of Xin Kendo and New Karate encroaching on the territory of the Earth Martial Gods, had simply dispatched one of their favored disciples, unknown to the outside world, operating under the banner of 'Shenquan Dao' to obliterate these two rising martial forces.

The name Qin Fen did not blaze across the federal newspapers as fiercely as the three characters of 'Shenquan Dao.' This was due to a regulation established by several Divine Beast Martial Artists in the Federation: if a Martial God-level fighter wished to keep their appearance, name, and identity secret, no media outlet was permitted to leak any information pertaining to them.

Qin Fen, injured after his fierce battles, returned to Tianbei City and had no direct contact with the media. The ensuing torrent of speculation provided numerous martial arts commentators with fertile ground for conjecture and flights of fancy.

In Hanju, white streamers began to appear hanging from the front doors of private residences, casting a heavy, suffocating atmosphere of sorrow and despair over the streets and the entire city.

On television screens, the footage of Hallasan Peak shattering and collapsing was replayed again and again, bringing fresh tears to the eyes of many.

The Hanju Martial God had fallen, and the peak of Hallasan had crumbled. The two great symbols of Hanju pride vanished overnight, plunging the entire province into mourning. Younger people tied white cloth strips around their foreheads and walked into the various martial arts halls and dojos in silent pilgrimage, quietly practicing the techniques of Xinlu Kendo.

Weeping could offer a simple release for their emotions, but it achieved nothing else! Only by becoming stronger in the martial path could they reclaim their nation's dignity and honor! Hanju's New Taekwondo would not perish; as long as a single Hanju person drew breath, Hanju's New Kendo would endure! The eyes of the young Hanju martial artists burned with the brightest light.

Hanju's Hapkido swelled rapidly within a single day, annexing numerous Kyokushin Ryū New Karate dojos. The remaining Kyokushin Ryū New Karate schools, meanwhile, struggled to survive under the immense pressure.

Most of the martial arts factions in the civilian sector did not know the identity of the Shenquan Dao martial artists, but within the elite circles of Martial Gods, Qin Fen's name was swirling like a tempest, quickly reaching the ears of most Martial Gods.

A young Martial God, fresh onto the scene, had slain two Martial Gods in one day, and he was less than twenty years old. Both opponents were sixteen-star Martial Gods who had achieved Level Four integration with biochemical beasts.

Qin Fen held a morning paper, repeatedly sighing for Kyokushin Houtian. Back during the battle on Hallasan, Hatoyama Kazuo had put on an act of supporting Houtian's compatriots.

Now, before Houtian’s body was even cold, Hatoyama Kazuo was already moving to seize territory and markets. Qin Fen lamented that truly, one attracted friends based on one's own character.

After a night of healing and recovery, Qin Fen, with the combined aid of medicine, his esoteric techniques, and the biochemical beasts, recovered his body at an astonishing speed.

As the sun lifted off the horizon, Qin Fen’s body was largely restored, with only some minor, deeply embedded meridians remaining blocked.

Qin Fen had gained a general understanding of the situation and once again sat down cross-legged, beginning the process of clearing those blocked, minute meridians within his body.

Upon entering the Martial God realm, Qin Fen possessed a profound understanding of the minute pathways within his body. These seemingly insignificant channels, if left uncleaned and unblocked for long periods, would not only lead to long-term bodily harm, manifesting as hidden ailments, but would also severely impede future progress on the martial path.

The world of martial arts never lacked geniuses. Sometimes, a talent would erupt onto the scene, only to quickly vanish into obscurity and mediocrity. This wasn't necessarily due to a lack of inherent ability, but rather the accumulation of hidden injuries sustained in past battles—injuries too subtle to detect at the time, which ultimately dragged them down and halted their advancement.

Qin Fen spent four hours unblocking every single constricted minor meridian, ensuring the circulation of his true qi was perfectly smooth, before falling into deep contemplation.

Recalling the battle at White Deer Pond on Hallasan, the knot in Qin Fen’s brow deepened. Though his martial path was the Godly Way—a path of relentless advancement—it was not a path of senseless recklessness.

He replayed that moment after killing Kyokushin Houtian, his roar toward Hatoyama Kazuo, while full of heroic spirit, had been somewhat rash.

"Was it because I knew Master Di Shitian was present, giving me confidence?" Qin Fen shook his head lightly. "No, I didn't think like that at the time. I just felt the battle intent surging within me, all my true qi boiling, and I genuinely felt the urge to fight the New Hapkido faction again." Qin Fen closed his eyes and sat quietly, immersing his entire focus back into the simulated environment of the Hallasan battle. As the fight progressed, he quickly found himself facing Hatoyama Kazuo again.

In this perfect simulation, Qin Fen realized his physical condition had suffered significant depletion, yet his battle intent remained vibrant. The biochemical beast's artificial meridians, rooted deep within his cellular structure like tree roots, pulsed with exceptional vigor, more active than at any other time. They provided a powerful stimulant to his battle intent.

"This is..."

Qin Fen opened his eyes, looking at his slowly rising hands. The near-reckless fervor of battle he displayed that day finally had a source: the biochemical beasts! Those root-like artificial meridians embedded in his cells, during the fight, seemed to be directly injecting stimulants into his cells.

Qin Fen also discovered that his rate of injury recovery during that battle far exceeded his initial calculations. According to the data on Level Two integration of biochemical beasts, while they possessed a degree of regenerative healing, that ability was relatively slow. However, his Divine Demon Body accelerated his body's recovery at an astonishing pace. Though it couldn't match the regenerative capacity of a Level Four beast, it still far surpassed the published data.

It wasn't just the recovery speed; Qin Fen had to admit that the structural integrity and pressure tolerance of the artificial meridians indicated his Divine Demon Body possessed capabilities far exceeding the official metrics.

Engaging Kyokushin Houtian, Qin Fen’s initial projection was that by unleashing his full power without concern for consequences, capitalizing on terrain advantages, he could defeat Houtian at the cost of sustaining critical injuries.

"The Divine Demon Body doesn't seem to be without side effects, as Elder Lin suggested," Qin Fen mused lying on his bed. "This stimulus makes one mentally agitated, fighting with greater courage and decisiveness, but the drawback is also quite clear: the tendency to overreact, even..."

Qin Fen clenched his fists forcefully, stretching languidly. "Yesterday's final surge of ferocity, that demonic fighting posture, resembled what they call a 'demon' in the dramas. This Divine Demon Body, when clear-headed, enhances the majesty of my Shenquan Dao, but later in the fight, it reveals the 'Devil' aspect... the Devil aspect..."

Qin Fen closed his eyes again, questioning himself: "Is my martial path limited only to the Godly Way?"

"What do you think?" The Master's voice surfaced in Qin Fen's mind for the second time while he was fully conscious.

"Master?" Qin Fen sat bolt upright, focusing his senses. "Did you just say...?"

"I said nothing, I said nothing," the Master's refined voice spoke a few beats faster than usual. "I can guide you on martial techniques, but the Martial Way belongs uniquely to each individual. It is slowly formed by opportunity, by temperament, by the surrounding environment. Look at that Sky-Shattering level expert; his Heaven-Defying Martial Way was only achieved after several shifts and fusions of different martial philosophies brought him above all the rest of us."

"Sky-Shattering Level? Heaven-Defying Martial Way?" Qin Fen stared blankly at the wooden floor beside his bed. "Master, you've mentioned Sky-Shattering experts many times, but why has he never appeared?"

"Simple," the Master’s refined voice carried a hint of amusement. "You are not yet worthy. You lack one crucial step: Qi Transformation into Essence."

Qin Fen paused slightly. Despite his long studies at the Sacred Martial Hall, he had never heard such an unusual term.

"Qi Transformation into Essence means converting the true qi within your body into true essence," the Master’s distinct, slow, and refined voice echoed in Qin Fen's mind again. "The Martial Way is always a change of quality and quantity. Currently, your qi can be projected externally. If you simply gather it to its limit, even without fighting, the true qi will form a visible Qi Field, protecting your body."

Qin Fen nodded gently. During the Hallasan battle, when his power peaked, his true qi did visibly surround his body—a sensation that felt like having wings attached, giving him the sense he could fly into the sky.

"Qi Transformation into Essence is divided into three steps: Gathering Qi to Condense the Field (Jù Qì Níng Gāng), Ingesting the True Field (Zhēn Gāng Rù Tǐ), and finally, Qi Transformation into Essence (Huà Qì Wéi Yuán)."

The Master continued to impart his profound knowledge. "You can already project your qi externally to form a Qi Field, but you are still some distance from Condensing the True Field. The True Field is an evolved form of true qi; its cohesion and destructive power far surpass mere qi. When you push your limits in combat, you are unconsciously converting them into True Field energy—that's a major reason you could defeat those two Martial Gods. But this instinctive conversion is only basic."

Qin Fen closed his eyes. Images of flowing true qi materialized in his mind—the processes of Jù Qì Níng Gāng that the Master was transmitting through special methods while Qin Fen was awake.

Observing the visualization of Condensing the True Field, Qin Fen recalled fragments of the previous day's battle, and his internal true qi began to flow in a new rhythm.

The Hallasan battle hadn't just given Qin Fen a leap in reputation within the martial circles; his spirit and overall comprehension had also improved significantly. The combat experience gained between Martial Gods was priceless, and surviving two consecutive duels provided far more value than a single engagement—an opportunity many Martial Gods never encountered in a lifetime.

As he struck down a fellow Martial God opponent with his Song Fist, Qin Fen could clearly feel the totality of that opponent's life experience—their bright and tragic martial journey seemed to etch a deep brand onto his mind.

Acquiring the opponent's entire experience upon their death sounded utterly preposterous. Yet, Qin Fen could only use such a ridiculous phrase to describe the sensation of grasping the entirety of another’s joys and sorrows in that singular moment of victory.

"Hmm?"

Outside Qin Fen's bedroom, in the living room, Hashimoto Fusajirō stared at the door with an expression of surprise, studying it curiously. His thick lips parted as he muttered to himself, "Strange, how can I feel that his martial arts are progressing again?"

Condensing the True Field! Qin Fen, having endured the baptism of the Sahara, followed by two successive duels against Martial Gods, capped by the Hallasan expedition, now possessed a foundation solid enough for the next step. Without the Master’s guidance, Qin Fen would have needed a period of quiet contemplation and trial-and-error. Now, with that stage skipped, after sitting for two hours, Qin Fen suddenly opened his eyes and gently waved his left hand.

Outside the room, Kyokushin Genichi looked up in astonishment toward Qin Fen’s quarters, where the sound of thunder could be heard. Genichi was confident he could also shatter the air with his true qi, producing a clap of thunder, but this sound—a peal of thunder that seemed to emerge from nothing, without any accompanying outward explosion of qi—even Hashimoto Yōjirō admitted he could not yet achieve.

Sufficient accumulation was like a powder keg; the Master’s guidance was the tiny spark that ignited it.

Reaching the stage of Jù Qì Níng Gāng in just two hours, Qin Fen began to understand an idiom he had studied for a long time but never truly grasped: Success naturally follows effort (Shuǐ Dào Qú Chéng).

"Zhēn Gāng Rù Tǐ, the True Field, is about drawing the external Qi Field into your bone marrow and body. Externally, the Qi Field will no longer be visible," the Master’s voice returned, tinged with amusement and refinement. "It’s somewhat similar to the cliché of Returning to Simplicity (Fǎn Pǔ Guī Zhēn)."

Qin Fen chuckled and shook his head. Attempting to break through two realms in one day?

He closed his eyes, observing the projection provided by the Master, and re-entered a meditative state, diligently attempting to draw the externally projected Qi Field back inside his body.

After one hour, Qin Fen opened his eyes with a wry smile. Achieving such rapid progress was clearly impossible. However, it was not a total failure; at least he had gained some experience during the attempt.

Qin Fen walked out of his room. Only Kyokushin Genichi and Hashimoto Yōjirō remained in the living room, seated on the sofa. Di Shitian had chosen to leave with his entourage once he confirmed Qin Fen’s recovery was essentially complete and he possessed adequate self-preservation capabilities. As the first head disciple of the Sacred Martial Hall, Di Shitian understood that Qin Fen needed to forge his own path now. Minimal oversight was the necessary procedure for a master to provide, but excessive protection would strip him of his personality and martial destiny.

"Kid, you..." Hashimoto Yōjirō rose, moving his stout yet surprisingly agile body toward Qin Fen. He clapped Qin Fen’s back and chest, examining him meticulously from all sides, and exclaimed in surprise, "You truly have advanced another step on the martial path."

Qin Fen grinned, scratching his head, and offered a wry smile back to the enthusiastic, straightforward, and unpretentious Hashimoto Yōjirō. "Brother Hashimoto, if you experienced two consecutive duels involving fighting above your current level, just like me, I imagine you too would see rapid advancement."

"That may be true," Hashimoto Yōjirō shook his head, his cranium twice the size of Qin Fen's. "But your rate of progress is too fast. I estimate that even with my experience, I would need a month or two, or perhaps even longer, in quiet reflection."

"Of course!" Hashimoto Yōjirō sighed again. "While I am equally devoted to the martial arts, the path of martial arts is not always about gambling. Observing from other angles can also reveal the moving aspects of the Way. Your desperate method isn't suitable for everyone; you should do it less often in the future. A person’s luck doesn't last forever, allowing them to escape peril repeatedly."

Qin Fen nodded in agreement. After the Sahara trial, he understood even better that observing martial arts from any angle would reveal different splendors. Otherwise, if the world had so many Martial Gods, and the only way to gain experience was to kill others, the world would have descended into chaos long ago.

"Heh, it seems you've already learned to observe from different angles." Hashimoto Yōjirō chuckled, shaking his massive head again. "You truly are a freak, reaching this level at such a young age. And that boy who just left, the one carrying a knife named Xue Tian, he is also a freak."

Qin Fen nodded vigorously, in complete agreement with Hashimoto Yōjirō’s assessment of Xue Tian—that boy was indeed a monster!

"Listen to me," Hashimoto Fusajirō held up a plump index finger. "Don't assume that just because I reached the Martial Master realm before you that everything I say is correct. Never stop observing, but don't abandon your own nature. Everyone's path is different. Your martial way carries the majesty of the setting sun over a long river; if you retreat in the face of a challenge, perhaps your martial progress will stagnate forever."

Looking at Hashimoto Yōjirō, Qin Fen felt profoundly lucky. Regardless of whether his words were accurate, at least this man genuinely considered him a friend.

The ringing of a telephone interrupted Qin Fen’s thoughts. He looked down to see an unfamiliar number displayed. As Qin Fen stepped fully into the ranks of Martial Gods, his reputation, strength, and the world he contacted were expanding rapidly, bringing wave after wave of new developments!