The colossal crater left behind featured soil softer than the sands of any seaside resort. The destructive power of Martial Arts Masters ranked above the Tenth Ugly Star level was simply incomparable to that of Fourteenth Star practitioners; the difference was akin to that between a nuclear bomb and a standard bullet. This disparity was precisely why Martial Arts Masters held such esteemed positions—they were living, strategic deterrents.

Yang Duhong watched the ravaged battlefield with a grave expression. Ever since Yang Duzun ascended to the level of a Sixteenth Star martial artist, he had never witnessed him suffer such a decisive loss in combat.

Yang Duzun lay sprawled thirty meters deep in the earth, his vital energy churning within him, countless cells crying out in agony. The momentary lapse in his true qi, caused by the impact with the ground, had scattered the hurriedly condensed qi again. Before he could re-coalesce it, Qin Fen unleashed dozens of palm strikes—the Pikong Palm.

What Yang Duzun found most unbearable was that the intent behind Qin Fen’s barrage of Pikong Palms was never to kill; it was purely a warning. Had he intended true lethality, he wouldn't have bothered with the airy Pikong technique, but would have swooped down directly, striking flesh with his fists and feet.

To martial artists of lower star levels, the Pikong technique was an incredibly brilliant and flashy fighting style, one they yearned for.

Among Martial Arts Masters of the Fifteenth Star level and above, under normal combat conditions against peers, none would employ a flashy style like the Pikong Palm, which severely compromised destructive output.

The Pikong technique was a divine weapon against lower-tier martial artists. Against someone of the same rank, it generally amounted to wasting one’s true qi. Only by concentrating all its power into the fist and landing solid blows on the opponent could its full explosive potential be realized.

Qin Fen’s expenditure of the Pikong Palm in a high-altitude assault was no different from slapping Yang Duzun across the face in front of everyone. Beyond being a warning, it was arguably an absolute humiliation.

Qin Fen ceased his attack, hovering in the air, looking down at the slowly stirring earth. He felt a twinge of bitterness himself. In any other situation, why would he use the Pikong Palm? He would have chased down the opponent and followed up with a tidal wave of furious strikes, tearing the man limb from limb, shattering his heart and skull.

But this man was, after all, Yang Lie’s biological father. Despite his overbearing patriarchal attitude and the threat to annihilate everything, echoing Yang Lie’s own words, he remained Yang Lie’s father. The natural order of human relations could not be so easily overturned.

To kill his friend’s father right in front of his friend? He couldn't bring himself to do such a thing, nor would his friend simply stand by and watch his own father be beaten to death.

The loose soil writhed for a moment, then surged upward like a waterfall reversing its flow, rocketing toward the sky. Qin Fen’s protective Gang Qi blasted the dirt aside. Seeing Yang Duzun burst forth from the earth, his body twisted, and he dove down again.

Since the will to fight hadn't receded, the battle had to continue! The instant the two phantom figures collided, Yang Duzun, seemingly oblivious to the strange tenacity of Qin Fen’s grappling, thrust his arm forward like a great spear, trailing foul gusts of wind toward Qin Fen’s throat.

A thrust? Qin Fen feared no thrusting attacks. His hands overlapped and shot forward, resembling a thousand white dragons intertwining and caressing in the air. The surrounding atmosphere transformed into a visible, massive vortex, emitting deep rumbling sounds as it coiled around the enemy, targeting vital spots like the throat with the inescapable nature of the Three Non-Existences, Three Non-Stops Hand.

Yang Duzun flicked his wrist, launching his steel-spear-like attack, which immediately produced a series of sharp cracking sounds. His entire wrist snapped back and rotated to an unbelievable angle, his arm pressed flat against his forearm. His five fingers, like five living worms trailing faint, rusty-red energy, clawed towards Qin Fen’s arms.

Chilian Divine Palm! It had transformed into the Chilian Divine Fingers! Yang Duzun’s fingers spun rapidly, possessing a flexibility surpassing yoga. He brought the inescapable precision of the Three Non-Existences, Three Non-Stops Hand, which targets weak points like the throat, into play. In this bizarre stance, his five fingers pressed exactly upon those pressure points! He intended to inject venomous force into Qin Fen, making him suffer the sensation of blocked true qi and being tossed from the heavens.

The lingering, clinging arms suddenly burst forth with a razor edge of hardness. Yang Duzun’s forearm skin twitched violently, showing signs of metal blades about to shear through the skin. He saw that Qin Fen’s soft arms had instantly turned utterly rigid, adopting a pure slicing posture. Though their arms remained interlocked, they now resembled a massive pair of metal shears. Making contact one-on-one against this move would be disastrous; he risked instantly becoming a one-armed patriarch.

"What is this?" Yang Duzun’s eyes jumped, shouting internally, Why has the young man before me changed his fighting style again? Does he have multiple personalities?

While he was pondering, Qin Fen had vanished. That eerie movement resembled a blooming lotus flower, making Yang Duzun’s scalp prickle—that same insidious feeling in combat!

The more Yang Duhong watched, the more astonished he became. The figures in the sky collided relentlessly, instantly crashing back to the ground. Wherever they passed, buildings instantly turned into ruins, as if hundreds of mobile armors had suddenly rampaged through the city. He looked at Qin Fen; this young man’s fighting style was endlessly varied, and every shift in attack was perfectly timed, completely suppressing Yang Duzun, whose power was clearly superior.

Yang Duzun’s fighting spirit rapidly waned. He did not fear death in battle; that was the ultimate glory for a martial artist. But to be beaten into utter helplessness and then captured alive—that would be truly shameful!

Yang Duzun could feel that Qin Fen grew more agile with every exchange. Especially after unleashing those dozen or so Pikong Palms, Qin Fen had completely let go, becoming utterly willful. Even the simple, crude Luohan Fist became truly natural and effortless in his hands, mixed in with his ferocious ultimate moves.

Qin Fen was utterly lost in the fight, even forgetting that his opponent was Yang Lie’s father. Ever since witnessing the battle between the Master and Qilin, he had longed for an opponent like this—one where he could exert his full strength, completely immersed in the Way of Martial Arts. That sense of release was incomparably exhilarating.

At this moment, Qin Fen finally felt that release. No matter what counter-technique Yang Duzun threw, Qin Fen could elegantly dissolve it, and the dissolution itself was deeply satisfying. The entire world was under his command; he dictated who lived and who died.

Suddenly, Yang Duzun realized that, without knowing when, the dominance of his own martial way had somehow been integrated into Qin Fen’s—it felt like something being forcibly extracted from his very core.

"Stop!"

Yang Duzun roared out a sound filled with helplessness, standing atop the ruins of a collapsed skyscraper, gasping heavily. The exhaustion was not physical, but mental fatigue causing the continuous, labored breathing.

Qin Fen reluctantly halted, his eyes also filled with regret. He muttered inwardly, If only this man weren't Yang Lie's father! It's so hard to find such a resilient opponent.

"I never imagined you had already achieved Hua Qi Gui Yuan and reached the level of Ren Gang!" Yang Duzun’s face was etched with disbelief and despair. "No wonder Little Lie valued you so highly. Ren Gang—achieving Ren Gang with true qi at the Sixteenth Star level! Then at the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Stars, will you reach Di Gang? Even if you don't reach Di Gang, just breaking into the Eighteenth Star grants one the qualification to touch the threshold of a Star General!"

"Ren Gang?" Qin Fen looked at Yang Duzun, bewildered. During his previous unintentional loss of control during the fight with David Solomon, he had finally completed Hua Qi Gui Yuan. The quality of his true qi was completely different from before. He had been meaning to ask the Master about this—was this new quality called Ren Gang?

"Uncle Yang, I don’t know about Ren Gang, but I know one thing. Yang Lie values me not because of the Ren Gang qi you speak of, but because..." Qin Fen shrugged. "Alright, you admit defeat now, correct?"

Admit defeat? Yang Duzun merely sighed and nodded. How could an unrivaled patriarch utter such words?

"From this day forward..." Yang Duzun swept his arm, pointing at Yang Lie. "The Yang family belongs to you."

Yang Lie showed no joy. He stepped forward gently a few paces. "Father, I have no desire to take over the family affairs. I hope you continue to manage them. My only requirement is that you fully support our future campaign on Saturn and cease all contact with the Zuo family."

"You are the Patriarch; you decide what happens," Yang Duzun replied readily. Family rules could not be violated; the Patriarch’s word was an immutable command, branded into his very blood. If he loosened that grip, his martial path would be lost.

Yang Dujing shook his head repeatedly as he watched the corpse of the martial arts master, killed and taken away by his companions, "A pity, such a terrible waste. If only he had appeared later, he wouldn't have had to die."

Yang Dujing then looked at Qin Fen with a clicking sound of his tongue. "I truly didn't expect you to have such a sniper. Tell that person to be careful; if the Fifteen Star Martial Arts Masters learn that someone can threaten them with a gun, they will never let it go."

"Then kill them all," Solomon remarked at the opportune moment, causing Yang Dujing to re-examine this only surviving descendant of David Solomon, the madman whose entire family Solomon was rumored to have wiped out. Yang Dujing secretly wondered if this child was David Solomon’s illegitimate son—why did he feel even crazier than that madman? To casually suggest killing all Fifteen Star Martial Arts Masters without a second thought for their social connections.

"Old Qin, Old Qin, Old Qin," Xue Tian emerged from his enraged slicing state, his Iai sword sliding back into its sheath. He cheerfully approached Qin Fen. "What's next? Should we exchange hostages with the Zuo family?"

"No rush. Let Morade enjoy playing the big shot over there for a couple of days and collect some interest for the beatings we took," Qin Fen said lightly, gazing toward all directions. "The team isn't complete yet; we still need one more person. Make a call and get Du Peng and Lin Ling here."

The Yang family had been conquered! The American Yang family had been taken down by this group? Zuo Lin stared blankly at Yang Duzun, who had admitted defeat, unable for a moment to accept this stark reality.

This was the Yang family! The American Yang family! Zuo Lin told himself over and over again that his grandfather had said the American Yang family was far more powerful than the Alpha, Alexander, or Solomon families—and significantly so! Furthermore, the Yang family Patriarch, Yang Duzun, was a man who respected no one but himself, whose domineering nature only made the family stronger.

Zuo Lin fell silent. The only reason this group of youngsters could conquer four families in such a short time was not only their individual strength but also the fact that the major families chose to preserve their power rather than launch a full-frontal counterattack.

So, Qin Fen commanded such forces? For the first time, Zuo Lin realized all his estimations had been wrong. The power of these young people completely overturned established martial law. How could a group of twenty-year-old Martial Arts Masters exist? Was the difficulty of Huan Xue Chong Sheng and Huan Sui Nie Pan utterly meaningless to them?

Zuo Lin secretly glanced at Qin Fen—a Sixteenth Star martial artist! How could Qin Fen be this powerful? Wouldn't his own prior arrangements to capture Qin Fen alive be extremely difficult, possibly resulting in massive casualties? His grandfather would surely be furious then.

Thank heavens! Thank heavens! This was truly a huge relief! Zuo Lin rejoiced internally. Being captured alive this time wasn't entirely a bad thing; at least he could gauge their full strength. Since Qin Fen's influence had grown to this extent, subjugating him would be incredibly difficult. Even his grandfather might not succeed in bringing him under their banner. The only option left was to eliminate him!

Qin Fen glanced at Zuo Lin, whose features still possessed that abstract quality. He found it strange that even in this situation, the man was still plotting his death. He decided that after the hostage exchange, he would simply kill him on the spot, preventing the emergence of another viper like Li Mingzheng, who constantly schemed behind the scenes.

With the Yang family’s resources, acquiring a new model of ultra-high-speed, long-range helicopter was hardly difficult.

The damaged White House and surrounding structures would be expertly handled by the Yang family. The group boarded the helicopter and sped toward the direction of Zhouzhou.

Zuo Lin, held captive at a corner of the aircraft, glared at Qin Fen’s back with increasing hatred. How could a penniless boy with no background possess such formidable star-level martial power? What made him so special that he could rally these untamed geniuses to serve him unto death? These people were supposed to be mine! Yes! They should all have belonged to me! Only I, Zuo Lin, could command such fierce, proud talents!

Rage spread rapidly through Zuo Lin’s body. Suddenly, his Tanzhong acupoint throbbed violently, followed immediately by his lower Dantian, the Dazhui point on his back, and the Mingmen point below his tailbone.

Huan Sui Nie Pan! This was the precursor to completing the Huan Sui Nie Pan! Zuo Lin was ecstatic. His emotions of anger and jealousy were unconsciously driving his true qi toward his bone marrow, actually initiating the great innate breakthrough of Huan Sui Nie Pan! Once he completed this foundational breakthrough, entering the Fifteen Star level later would be easy, making him a Martial Arts Master! He would escape the ranks of ordinary martial artists.

Zuo Lin hastily calmed his mind, dedicating all his focus to this crucial moment of breakthrough. The world outside went completely dark, but when he closed his eyes, he perceived paths of flowing quicksilver, which were beginning to surge. If this continued, then...

In the dark, silent world, a giant hand suddenly appeared, its five fingers slowly descending. Zuo Lin snapped his eyes open in shock, seeing Qin Fen’s palm pressing down on his Tanzhong acupoint. True qi surged from the palm into the Tanzhong point, then his wrist flipped, striking his lower Dantian. Immediately, Qin Fen grabbed his shoulder, flipped him over, and drove true qi into his Dazhui point.

Qin Fen’s movements were blindingly fast; in less than a tenth of a second, he had struck Zuo Lin’s key vital points. The true qi, which had faintly begun to coalesce, instantly scattered under Qin Fen’s continuous assault...

In that instant of attack, Zuo Lin’s eyes burned with murderous intent, his teeth grinding so hard they felt like they might shatter.

The next second, Zuo Lin’s body began to tremble. He was shocked, enraged, and so full of hatred he wanted to kill! Just moments ago, at the most important juncture of his martial path, Qin Fen had struck him several times in succession, scattering the gathered true qi and utterly destroying the imminent great innate breakthrough of Huan Sui Nie Pan.

Huan Sui Nie Pan breakthrough—while not a one-time event in a person's life, many people never encounter the opportunity a second time. Even the first attempt requires tremendous destiny.

Zuo Lin had been congratulating himself moments ago for encountering such an opportunity in this desperate state. If he completed the great innate breakthrough, his martial path would be smooth sailing. Although he started later than Qin Fen, he still had a chance to catch up.

But... all that hope, in an instant! Just now, in that single moment, Qin Fen's hand, which looked almost angelic, had committed an act of malice even a demon might balk at.

Shattering the true qi, destroying the Huan Sui Nie Pan breakthrough! Zuo Lin was well-bred; he had never learned vulgar street curses. He preferred to remain aloof, using subtle sarcasm to inflict pain. But at this moment, he couldn't stop himself. What Qin Fen had done might have ruined his entire life. "Qin Fen, you son of a—"

Slap! Qin Fen struck him across the mouth, sending a bloody tooth flying. Without even looking, he slapped back with his other hand, then continued with a rapid series of over a dozen slaps, leaving Zuo Lin's lips swollen into two ridiculously thick sausages.

"You dare insult my family? I'll twist your head off," Qin Fen stated coldly, returning his gaze to the vast ocean ahead.

Huan Sui Nie Pan breakthrough? Qin Fen was intimately familiar with that sensation. The moment Zuo Lin’s body began to stir strangely, Qin Fen had sensed it immediately. He acted instantly to disperse the man’s true qi and simultaneously used heavy force to injure his bone marrow.

Zuo Lin glared hatefully at Qin Fen. In all his years, he had never met such a despicable person! To deliberately extinguish a person's lifelong martial hope!

Tears, traitorous things, streamed from the corners of Zuo Lin’s eyes. Zuo Lin, who hadn't shed a tear in years, only ever watching others cry, finally broke down and wept.

Qin Fen frowned slightly, placing his fingers lightly on Zuo Lin’s wrist. "Feel the oscillation of my true qi. I know your own innate qi oscillation had just reached Level Four, but it wasn't truly achieved yet. If you want to glimpse Huan Sui Nie Pan, relax and feel it. Follow the rhythm changes of my output."

Zuo Lin looked at Qin Fen, bewildered. Why was he being so kind to me? If he intended to help me, why did he just smash my true qi?

In his state of utter helplessness, Zuo Lin had no choice. Qin Fen’s eyes made the situation clear: refuse to comply, and he would be killed.

The oscillation of true qi beat slowly. Zuo Lin poured his entire being into feeling the rhythm of Qin Fen’s emitted true qi. Soon, he discovered with joy that Qin Fen wasn't using the oscillation to kill him, but was genuinely guiding him. Excitedly, he began controlling his true qi to grasp the frequency—the very frequency his grandfather had repeatedly refused to guide him through.

Xue Tian and the others watched Zuo Lin's absorbed expression and smiled. Zuo Dongting's grandson, it seemed, didn't realize that being guided in this manner would completely ruin his future path of martial advancement! Qin Fen had once regretted helping Bai Sheng in a similar way before, but now, using this technique completely severed Zuo Lin's martial potential. It was indeed cruel.

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