Ecshen Beast, the pinnacle existence among the Federation's strongest martial artists today, stood, in the eyes of ordinary people, as the man at the apex of this world; anything beyond that was largely speculation and wishful thinking. Strictly speaking, even Masters or Grandmasters rarely possessed a clear understanding of the true state of a Divine Beast.

As Qilin’s butler, Hou was evidently far more knowledgeable about Divine Beasts than the average martial artist.

Qin Fen sat upright in the Zitan chair as Butler Hou slowly began, "I suppose you are already aware of the possibility of a Divine Beast emerging from the Assembly of Heroes, correct?"

Qin Fen nodded. Butler Hou showed a faint, slight smile. "Actually, this news isn't exactly classified. Consider those currently locked in a life-or-death struggle on Venus and Saturn, fighting over the Divine Beast. Everyone knows the Assembly of Heroes can produce one—so why are they still battling? In the eyes of many, this is foolishness. However..." Butler Hou lightly tapped the table beside his arm, his brow conveying a questioning attitude,

"Do you think they are foolish?" Qin Fen gently shook his head. "Although they can all potentially become Divine Beasts, the intrinsic value differs too greatly. One path involves securing the title through one's own capability; the other is a competition where the stage has already been set by others." Butler Hou nodded repeatedly, a trace of happiness in his expression. "It's not easy for a Divine Beast to emerge on the two major planets now. Everyone's power is relatively similar; no one can simply swallow the others whole. One condition for the birth of a Divine Beast martial artist is either driving off all other contenders on the planet or having them fully recognize your strength and choose submission. But as the number of viable planets decreases, with Heaven's Gate and the Underworld entrenched, who would willingly withdraw? If they left one planet, where would they go? With no alternative, they must fight to the death." Qin Fen gained further insight into Divine Beasts and subconsciously nodded slightly.

"Do you think the contenders for the Divine Beast title on Saturn and Mars can secure it before the Assembly of Heroes convenes?" Butler Hou displayed a look of dismissiveness. "The Jade Emperor of Heaven's Gate and Ksitigarbha of the Underworld are evenly matched. Neither can decisively consume the other in the short term. They are primarily maintaining a competitive tension, using the pressure of this rivalry to force their own breakthroughs and transformations. But on the path of the Martial Way, the higher one climbs, the more arduous the journey becomes. I imagine you feel this acutely." Qin Fen responded with a wry smile, fully comprehending the bitterness of his inherently disadvantaged martial path. Yet, this very path forward, which was the greatest restriction for others, paradoxically ceased to be a problem due to the presence of Masters and others.

"Ceasing the fight to prevent depletion, settling down to await the Assembly of Heroes—that shows a lack of confidence," Butler Hou remarked, his every gesture carrying the air of a seasoned hero discussing strategy over wine. "They will continue fighting, even if they cannot determine the Divine Beast victor immediately. They will fight until the day of the Assembly. During this interim, it is a period of intense pressure and ascetic training, and the true explosion will occur at the Assembly itself." "Kid, you are now able to go to Saturn. Join Heaven's Gate, or the Underworld, or even establish your own faction—go compete for the Divine Beast title." Butler Hou slowly rose, hands clasped behind his back, his aged frame swaying slightly as he walked out of the stone hut to gaze at the sky. "...My personal recommendation is that if possible, you should settle down further, break through to the Sixteenth Star level before heading to Saturn." Saturn. Divine Beast! Qin Fen silently repeated the two most crucial words from Butler Hou’s speech, falling into deep contemplation. The rapid shifts of the past two years flashed before his eyes, eliciting waves of profound feeling in his heart.

The vicissitudes of life are sometimes truly miraculous. Who could have predicted that a person on the brink of survival barely two years ago would now possess the initial capital to contend for the status of a Divine Beast?

"Better yet, establish a separate force," Butler Hou turned back at the doorway, looking at Qin Fen inside the hut. "Those young men around you are capable, but their strength is insufficient to accompany you to Saturn to compete, unless you wish for them all to perish." A light yet anxious set of footsteps sounded from outside the door. Butler Hou’s expression shifted into a playful smile. "Well, I won't be the unwelcome third wheel any longer."

Qin Fen gave a dry laugh. The footsteps contained the cheerful lightness of his younger daughter, unmistakably Song Jia’s gait.

Spreading his arms, his black robe billowed out like a great eagle in the sky. Qin Fen marveled at Butler Hou's Wukong Shu (Martial Sky Technique), thinking he too should dedicate time to mastering it and truly integrating it into his movement arts.

Song Jia appeared in Qin Fen's line of sight, dressed in a light yellow silk qipao, wearing small red cloth shoes, with a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

On the mountaintop, there was no one else. Upon spotting Qin Fen, Song Jia immediately halted her steps, lightly twisting her ten fingers before her, her hesitant demeanor a stark contrast to the usual imperious Miss Song Jia.

Qin Fen tapped the ground lightly with his toe and leaped several feet. He was now truly at the peak of the Fifteenth Star; even this seemingly effortless push-off sent him soaring a considerable distance.

On the quiet mountaintop, the two faced each other in silence. Qin Fen fidgeted for a long moment, then raised a hand to scratch the back of his head, finally saying, "Long time no see..." Song Jia's pretty face instantly clouded over, her small mouth pouting. After waiting and hoping for so long, she hadn't expected Qin Fen, after all that anticipation, to utter such a plain line.

"You've become even more beautiful..." The latter half of Qin Fen's sentence made Song Jia's slightly darkened face flush crimson. Sweetness flooded her heart. Even though her boyfriend was a blockhead, his words of affection, unlike the oily smoothness of someone like Ci Yingliu, carried undeniable conviction.

Qin Fen's arms swept past Song Jia's sides, pulling her mature figure tightly into an embrace. The intoxicating scent of her body immediately filled his nostrils.

"I missed you," Qin Fen whispered close to her ear. "This time when I came to propose, your grandfather beat me severely. It's the first time since starting my journey that I've been beaten so badly." Song Jia gently punched Qin Fen’s chest with her small fist. "I’m very satisfied that you came, but knowing you couldn't win and still forcing the issue—that worried me. I am very dissatisfied with that point..." Before Song Jia could finish her protest, she was met by two strong pairs of lips, completely sealing her cherry mouth and plunging her into an ocean filled with love. Her pale white arms slowly wrapped around Qin Fen’s back as well.

The long kiss ended, their lips parting.

Song Jia looked at Qin Fen’s body and softly asked, "Did Grandpa hurt you badly?" Qin Fen offered a helpless, wry smile. "I passed out several times. I rolled from the mountaintop all the way to the foot. Even with true energy protecting me, it hurt like hell." Song Jia pulled him tightly into her embrace, her cheek pressed against his chest, her voice filled with happiness. "At this moment, I am the happiest person in the world." After holding each other for a long time, Song Jia pulled her head from Qin Fen’s chest, her expression somewhat strange, her cheeks burning even brighter red. "You rogue, what were you thinking?"

Qin Fen’s smile grew slightly awkward. With such a stunning beauty in his arms, his girlfriend no less, her sensual body pressed against his, certain instinctive physical responses were perfectly normal. When deeply immersed in love, who would intentionally distract themselves to forcefully suppress such physiological reactions with true energy?

According to Lin Liqiang’s knowledge, if a man and woman embrace, and the man shows no peculiar physical reaction, the woman would become far more concerned.

"...You are too beautiful," Qin Fen murmured. "Smooth talker. You’re learning bad habits from Qiangzi." Qin Fen offered a placating smile, thinking that Lin Shao wouldn't mind being used here as a negative example.

Song Jia changed the grip of her arms, wrapping them around Qin Fen’s neck, holding his strong neck high. "Since you've come all this way, I'll show you around." Song Jia turned and moved to Qin Fen's right side, wrapping her arms around his arm, entirely unconcerned that her high, elastic peaks lightly brushed against his arm.

Walking through the mountain path, Qin Fen listened as Song Jia recounted the events of the past few days, a difficult indecision stirring in his heart.

Should he mention the matter of Fenghua Danyi? Qin Fen looked at the happy Song Jia, knowing full well that the previous encounter had involved force used by Fenghua Danyi Asura, but it was still a physical intimacy.

"Buddy, don't say I didn't warn you. Some things simply cannot be said." Qin Fen recalled his consultation with Lin Liqiang. "While honesty is vital in a relationship, true honesty isn't about telling her every single thing you've done. Some things, even if true, aren't beneficial; they only harm the relationship. True sincerity lies in the realm of thought—for instance, if you truly love her, tell her. If you don't, you must also honestly convey that. Sincerity is about the mindset, not a recounting of everything you've done in the past." "Say it." That single word was advice from Yinzaluota.

"...Old Qin, whatever you do, don't listen to Old Yin! If a woman doesn't love you, telling her the truth won't matter much. But if she truly, deeply loves you, like Jiajia does, you won't just be destroying your relationship; you'll be destroying her!" "What are you thinking so hard about?" Song Jia suddenly brought her face, beautiful enough to be suffocating, close to Qin Fen’s, her curious expression causing even Qin Fen, despite his discipline, to feel momentarily choked.

Qin Fen looked at Song Jia’s breathtakingly beautiful face. Lying for a lifetime might be difficult, but it wasn't impossible. "...Let me tell you a story," Song Jia said, linking her arm through his, taking a deep breath as if making a momentous decision. "Before I finish this story, you are not allowed to interrupt me." Qin Fen gently nodded, aware that such intense hesitation could potentially conflict with the martial path of his Divine Fist Dao—the path where he pursued whatever he desired. This current hesitation directly contradicted that ideal.

"...Once upon a time, there was a girl. She was in love with a boy." Song Jia rested her cheek against Qin Fen’s strong arm. "As time passed, they loved each other more and more, missing each other even for a second apart. Just when everyone thought they would be happy forever, the girl, while walking home one night, was suddenly rushed from behind by a wicked man who drugged her into unconsciousness and then raped her. When the boy found out, he resolutely abandoned the girl, his reason being that she was no longer pure."

"Later, the girl jumped to her death, and the boy married another woman." Song Jia looked up at Qin Fen, then used her finger to gently cover his lips. "I haven't finished. Let me tell you the next story. Once upon a time, there was a girl in love with a boy who loved her. As time passed, they loved each other more and more, to the point where they missed each other even if separated for a second. Just when everyone assumed they would be happy, the girl, on her way home one night, was assaulted by a wicked man. The girl fought back desperately, resisting the drugs, until the villain finally strangled the girl to death and raped her corpse before leaving. The boy rushed to the scene and wept loudly, asking the dead girl why she hadn't temporarily submitted to that petty villain. In such a situation, resistance was impossible; she should have survived, he wouldn't have minded."

"The boy, after crying, vanished from public view. A few months later, he appeared in court, charged with murder. The person he killed was the very villain who had raped and murdered his girlfriend."

"Don't speak yet. Let me tell you the third story." Song Jia rested her cheek on Qin Fen's shoulder. "Once upon a time, there was a girl who loved a boy who loved her back. As time passed, they loved each other more and more. One night, the girl encountered a villain on her way home. At that moment, the boy appeared, chased the villain away, and they lived happily ever after. Afterward, the girl asked the boy if he would still