Sometimes, the shackles on one's mind can become the greatest obstruction to progress in the Martial Way.

Therefore, letting go—those seemingly simple two words—becomes a necessary state of mind for many martial artists. It is not about forgetting what has been gained, but rather a spiritual release.

Qin Fen’s Divine Fist Way did not require this release, yet because of the incident involving Asura Fenghua Dan Yun, he still carried a burden when facing Song Jia.

A god is fearless! There is no concept of taking up or laying down. Once a burden exists, one is no longer a god, and the Divine Fist Way is no longer the Divine Fist Way.

Three stories, almost identical in content yet resulting in completely different endings, were brief, yet they acted like keys, unlocking the mental chains that had long troubled Qin Fen.

In an instant, Qin Fen looked up at the black, gauze-like celestial canopy, where stars glittered like eternal diamonds that had hung there for billions of years. His mind exploded outward, infinitely expanding, seeming to stretch along the entire vault of the cosmos, spreading rapidly in all directions, as if intending to comprehend all the cosmic mysteries that countless generations of ancestors could not fathom.

The vital energy between the mountains seemed to converge like rivers flowing into the sea, conjuring gusts of wind from thin air. The fresh green grass and trees of the mountains rustled violently, surging toward Qin Fen’s body, pouring into him through his nostrils, ear canals, and every acupoint on his frame.

Pat pat… pat pat, pat pat.

In the quiet mountain air, Qin Fen’s bone marrow shifted gently; his muscles contracted and expanded. The air formed currents resembling dragons, encircling his entire being. His clothes fluttered incessantly in the airflow, sounding as if hundreds of banners were snapping in the mountain wind.

Song Jia stood to the side, her beautiful eyes flickering with unstoppable astonishment. “Unity of Heaven and Man?”

Having originated from a martial arts family renowned for Divine Beasts, Song Jia recalled her grandfather, the Qilin Song Wendong, saying that no one in this world could achieve permanent Unity of Heaven and Man, not even Divine Beast martial artists.

The true Unity of Heaven and Man, he had said, was a special state that manifested accidentally only when various circumstances and karmic connections converged under specific conditions.

True Unity of Heaven and Man allowed one to mobilize the spiritual energy between heaven and earth, blending it with the internal True Qi, entering a profound state that defied verbal description.

Song Jia remembered her grandfather, the Qilin Song Wendong, mentioning that all true Divine Beast martial artists must have entered the realm of Unity of Heaven and Man, and more than once! Even the Constellation War Generals had attained the state of Unity of Heaven and Man!

The wind ceased in the blink of an eye… Qin Fen’s body returned to normal, and the vegetation on the mountain stood as if the strange event had never occurred, as if sunk into slumber.

The expansion was fleeting; the extension was instantaneous. The Unity of Heaven and Man left Qin Fen’s body in a flash.

Qin Fen regained his senses, a feeling he couldn't quite articulate welling up in his heart. The existence of his inner lock, along with many of his Martial Way perceptions, had been subtly buried without him noticing.

With this momentary unlocking of his mental shackles, the repressed and buried martial insights erupted and spread forth. His suddenly enlightened mind perfectly mirrored the boundless expanse of the sky.

Recalling it closely, it wasn't just his spirit that expanded boundlessly; his entire body seemed to inflate rapidly in that instant, as if about to tear open the endless heavens or merge completely with them.

Everything felt like a dream, so ephemeral. Clenching his fists, the True Gang surging within him felt profoundly shocking, a surging power that gave him the ability to smash mountains with a mere wave of his hand.

Song Jia leaned in, gazing at Qin Fen, noticing that his eyes, which surpassed the darkness of black jade stones, subtly flickered with a light slightly different from usual. His aura had shifted again from how it felt before his last unconscious battle. Standing quietly amidst the green grass, he seemed on the verge of fusing entirely with the silent, unexpressive vegetation.

His ten fingers clenched into fists; surprise mingled with six parts happiness appeared on Qin Fen’s face.

Happiness! A fifteen-star Martial Arts Master, while strolling in the mountains with his beloved, had his internal entanglement and shackles broken by a few words from her. Under this inexplicable and bizarre condition, he had successfully ascended to the sixteen-star level.

After days of arduous training, continuous fierce battles, and even witnessing a super-century battle—the explosive confrontation between the Master and the Divine Beast Qilin Song Wendong—his Martial Way had failed to upgrade. Yet, because of his beloved’s stories and words, his star level advanced.

Sixteen-star! A new level that any fifteen-star Martial Arts Master dreamed of reaching! Qin Fen had assumed he would need much more time to achieve this rank, yet here he was in the blink of an eye.

Unexpected! Far too unexpected! A hint of self-mockery touched the corners of Qin Fen's lips. He had come here to propose marriage, only to witness a battle for the ages.

The profound martial knowledge, the vast experience, and the insights gained were already surprising and delightful rewards; reaching the sixteen-star level was only a matter of time. But he never imagined that because of his beloved’s words, he would reach the sixteen-star level—a stage that normally required intense cultivation—in mere moments.

“This is…” Qin Fen gently moved his hands and forearms, his eyes unable to conceal his curiosity. The feeling just now was too strange; it was clearly an instant, yet it felt as if several months had passed in that moment.

Song Jia’s cherry lips lightly kissed Qin Fen’s cheek like a dragonfly touching water. Her fair palm opened before him. “Congratulations, you just entered the state of Unity of Heaven and Man. Congratulations, congratulations, now where is the red envelope?”

“Unity of Heaven and Man?” Qin Fen raised an eyebrow. The term was not unfamiliar. When watching senior martial artists in intense combat, especially their ultimate punches, it always gave him a hazy feeling, as if witnessing the true Unity of Heaven and Man.

“Unity of Heaven and Man is something you can only encounter by chance,” Song Jia’s joyful expression surpassed her own experience of entering it, her eyes brimming with tenderness. “Grandpa said that Unity of Heaven and Man requires the convergence of many, many factors, plus a little luck and a small coincidence, before one has a chance to step into that state.”

Qin Fen took Song Jia’s hand and sat on the grass, gazing up at the black, gauze-like sky, listening as the Qilin’s daughter recounted again, “Grandpa said it’s a very strange state. Although it lasts only an instant, some people feel as if they’ve lived through months, or even years, some even decades. Grandpa said that the reason he managed to enter the Divine Beast realm was also due to Unity of Heaven and Man; that ten-millionth of a second felt like long centuries…”

Song Jia’s eyes drifted into memory, supporting her chin with one hand. “Grandpa said that martial artists rarely experience breakthroughs during combat. Immense pressure isn’t the key to suddenly boosting one’s strength; otherwise, wouldn’t those martial artists just jump off cliffs?”

Qin Fen nodded lightly, completely agreeing with Song Wendong’s words. His journey on the Martial Way had taught him much, most of it through battles between life and death.

Insights can arise from being between life and death, but insight alone cannot instantly convert into star-level strength. If it were that easy, everyone would remain perpetually on the brink of death, and their star levels would surge non-stop, right?

Could a fight between two-star martial artists, due to the pressure of death, suddenly turn into a battle between two Divine Beasts? That was impossible.

The burst of power during combat is more about the ultimate fusion of mind, technique, and body—unleashing one’s strongest single strike—rather than breaking through to a higher star level.

“However, sudden surges in star-level strength during combat are not unheard of,” Song Jia’s expression was serious. “That is the Unity of Heaven and Man. Entering that realm during a fight naturally leads to a rapid surge in strength. Grandpa said this does happen; the clearest example is the now-deceased Divine Beast, the White Tiger.”

“White Tiger?” Qin Fen recalled the domineering presence of the White Tiger descending upon the seaside battle that day. Compared to him, the Qilin Song Wendong seemed relatively gentle.

Divine Beasts! Thinking of the White Tiger and recalling Song Wendong’s demeanor, Qin Fen felt an indescribable bitterness rise in his throat. When dealing with Divine Beast martial artists, you might disapprove of their conduct, even curse them behind their backs, but that wouldn't stop their domineering ways from continuing.

“My grandfather said,” Song Jia rested her head on Qin Fen’s shoulder, watching the boundless sky, “that the White Tiger became a Divine Beast precisely because, during a crucial battle in his life, he suddenly entered the state of Unity of Heaven and Man, causing his star level to suddenly erupt.”

Qin Fen raised his arm, drawing Song Jia into an embrace, and gently kissed her forehead, thankful to have found such a wonderful companion.

If not for Song Jia, Qin Fen strongly suspected that without the single command from Song Wendong, which turned nearly every promising young martial artist in the Federation into stepping stones on his path of martial advancement, he might not possess the strength of a Martial Arts Master today.

If not for Song Jia, Qin Fen knew he wouldn't have had the opportunity to come here to propose marriage, nor would he have had the chance to witness firsthand and experience the world-shaking battle between a Master and the Earthly Divine Beast Qilin Song Wendong.

If not for Song Jia, there would have been no unlocking of the inner shackles, and certainly no encounter with the Unity of Heaven and Man—making the transition from a fifteen-star Martial Arts Master to a sixteen-star Martial Arts Master impossible.

“You are one of the most important beings in my life,” Qin Fen gently bit Song Jia’s cherry lips, whispering in her ear, “If there truly are gods in this world, then you are the angel of my life, an angel who brings me both endless trouble and good fortune.”

Under the black, gauze-like sky, the two embraced in the grass. A moment of tranquility was soon replaced by a deep kiss.

Kissing, fondling, pushing down…

Qin Fen looked down at the enchanting Song Jia beneath him, her beautiful eyes soft and flowing like water. Her fair neck appeared even more delicate set against the backdrop of the green grass.

Looking at the alluring beauty beneath him, whom he longed to devour, a wry, unspeakable smile touched the corners of Qin Fen’s lips.

In this world, there are many detestable things, but few compare to having four people voluntarily apply to be audience members and light bulbs right when a man and woman are about to engage in intimate exchange.

Qin Fen lamented whether his good luck, gained from the recent entry into the Unity of Heaven and Man, had been entirely used up.

Otherwise, why would four Martial Arts Masters suddenly appear nearby just as he and his beloved were about to proceed to the next level of intimacy?

The four who arrived made no attempt to conceal their auras. Even from a considerable distance, Qin Fen sensed them with startling clarity. Although they weren't actively watching, given their current speed, they would soon become uninvited spectators.

Song Jia’s enchanting eyes flickered with curiosity and confusion. Why had the passionate Qin Fen suddenly looked towards his side, a touch of anger appearing between his brows?

Beneath the black, gauze-like night, the lush green meadow swayed gently as a breeze blew through. Four martial artists of varying builds slowly emerged from the dark night sky.

Three men and one woman. The man on the far left carried a metal rod. The grass beneath his feet seemed like butter, making him glide more than walk. He was thin and short, resembling a monkey.

Beside this short, thin man was a man whose physique was his complete opposite: tall and bulky, with arms nearly as thick as the short man's thighs. The weapon he carried was highly unusual—a slender, inverted triangle.

Qin Fen frowned slightly, and a term he had once heard flashed through his mind: Iron Pagoda! The slender inverted triangle was a metal-forged stupa pagoda. Roughly estimating, this weapon weighed at least three hundred jin.

That weight—Qin Fen couldn't guarantee his estimation. With the rapid advancement of science and technology, there were many methods for refining and synthesizing metals. Some hard metals might look like a large mass but weigh only ten or twenty jin. Conversely, some metals that looked small could weigh hundreds of jin. His current judgment was based only on external appearance, estimating the weight according to normal material properties.

The tall, muscular body walked with steady, powerful strides; his arms swung like those of a Vajra, yet the Iron Pagoda in his hands showed no sign of strain.

The third martial artist was a woman. Her facial features were not conventionally beautiful, merely proper. A cold aura was hidden beneath her long, slender eyebrows. Her hips, slightly raised due to long-term martial training, were subtly visible as she moved side to side. The high peaks of her chest displayed her proud assets as a woman. Dressed in a white martial uniform, her mature and sexy figure was outlined perfectly.

The last man had an ordinary build, but his face was crimson, and the skin visible outside his clothes was entirely blood-red. The hair on his head stood straight up, fiery red like burning flames, and his long, blade-like eyebrows were also red. From afar, he looked like a moving human flame.

Qin Fen’s nostrils flared several times. The wind generated by this last man’s approach carried a scorching heat, as if threatening to turn the surrounding air into charcoal. Yet, the green grass beneath his feet remained lush and green as he walked, showing no sign of being scorched.

Song Jia sat up from the ground, her pretty lips pouting slightly, her cherry mouth curved so low it could hold a bottle of soy sauce. “Uncle Situ, Uncle Lian Wuguang, Auntie Yaoguang, Uncle Chi, why are you here at this hour?”

The three men and one woman showed expressions of embarrassment upon seeing Song Jia. As elders of the Qilin Sect, they had watched Song Wendong’s only daughter grow up. She was usually their cherished pearl, enjoying the affection of all.

Interrupting the little princess’s romantic moment had made the three men and one woman feel quite flustered.

Situ Nan, short and monkey-like, stepped forward carrying his peculiar metal rod, an expression of utter helplessness on his face. “Girl, we truly didn't intend to disturb you at this time. However, this young man wants to marry you; we old folks must size him up, mustn't we? Even the Master has assessed him, but we haven’t had the chance.”

Yao Guang, her brow laced with coldness, stepped forward. “Girl, the four of us were out of town. We just received word that this boy came to propose. We watched you grow up; you are like our own child to us. A son-in-law must be chosen carefully.”

“You two, why so much nonsense?” Chi Lei’s voice, covered in crimson, was rough. “Kid, we heard you are strong, nearly unrivaled among fifteen-star Master martial artists. Even Ju Tengjue fought you for a long time without a clear victor, even destroying Qilin Peak because of it. People who saw that battle said they learned a lot. We weren't lucky enough to catch your fight. This girl has been with us since she was small. The combination of the two means we are here today to spar with you.”

Dong! Lian Wuguang, the bulky figure, stabbed his Iron Pagoda into the ground. Qin Fen felt the earth beneath his feet tremble slightly. The muffled impact suggested the heavy weapon weighed much more than three hundred jin—at least five hundred jin, judging by the sound.

Song Jia stood beside Qin Fen, hands planted on her tiny waist, pouting defiantly. “Uncle Situ, that stick isn't an ordinary one. It’s a weapon forged from rare metals from Mars and Jupiter. Not only is it incredibly hard, but it also carries a high-voltage current of nearly ten thousand volts. In combat, once the electric shock lands, victory or defeat is usually decided. The Little Yaksha Staff Technique is considered peerless among fifteen-star Martial Arts Masters!”

“And Uncle Lian Wuguang, who doesn’t talk much, wields his exquisite Iron Pagoda with apparent ease. It weighs over five hundred and seventy jin, also made of rare metal using a very special forging process. Like Uncle Situ’s weapon, it has the special ability to break through most protective True Qi shields.”

“And Uncle Chi, you see his inner martial arts—he uses the Magma Art. The heat of his True Strength nearly surpasses actual magma. His ancient martial art, the Flame Saber Technique, can slice through metal with his bare palm, no less effective than a real iron blade.”

“Auntie Yao Guang, don’t let her beautiful appearance fool you into thinking her touch is gentle. Grandpa said that among these four, she has the greatest potential for development. For that, Grandpa specially purchased the Nine Yin Manual for her and merged the Nine Yin White Bone Claw with several other gripping techniques to create the Netherworld Ghost Claw. A slight touch means death or severe injury.”

The three men and one woman exchanged wry glances. Situ Nan couldn’t help but shake his head bitterly. “Indeed, the daughter has grown up and turned her elbow outward. Before she even married this boy, she told him all our secrets.”