Qin Fen, a name so common it was almost jarring. At some unknown point, it had become taboo within the Heavenly Gate… and because of this, among the lower and mid-level members of the organization, the simple name Qin Fen, twisted by rumors, had morphed into something akin to a demon lord.

The middle-aged man still remembered the internal Heavenly Gate gossip: Qin Fen was an exceptionally bloodthirsty villain possessing immense power. In his youth, he had consecutively beaten to death numerous renowned Martial Arts Masters, even killing the General Department’s General Zuo Dongting—who had promoted him despite his inhumanity. Particularly disturbing was his alleged fondness for killing Heavenly Gate martial artists; any member who encountered him was almost certainly doomed.

For a Heavenly Gate member to survive an encounter with Qin Fen, the rumor went, only one person had succeeded: the beauty of the Heavenly Gate, the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden.

Though the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden survived, the people of the Heavenly Gate refused to believe she remained unharmed. Many speculated that the only reason the beauty was spared was because Qin Fen had possessed her body, intending to use her existence as a method to humiliate the Heavenly Gate.

In short, in the eyes of the lower and middle echelons of the Heavenly Gate, Qin Fen had cemented his reputation as an irredeemable, murderous fiend.

Qin Fen observed the shock in the middle-aged man’s eyes, which quickly dissolved into outright terror. He found it somewhat bewildering; why such fear? He wasn't some merciless devil, so why this level of dread?

“Are you really Qin Fen?” the middle-aged man mustered the last thread of his courage, desperately hoping he had misheard everything.

“I am Qin Mu.”

Qin Fen’s level tone shattered the man's final illusion. “You… how cruelly do you intend to torture me?”

Torture? Qin Fen felt a profound sense of talking past one another. At their first meeting, why would this man immediately jump to thoughts of cruel torment?

“I only want to know why you attacked us,” Qin Fen calmly repeated his question. “To my knowledge, even Heavenly Gate members don't randomly attack people in this Natural Graveyard.”

Du Peng retracted his mechanical metal arm, granting his opponent a small measure of space. Large beads of cold sweat had broken out on the middle-aged man's forehead; he felt as if he had just walked a lap around the gates of hell.

“It’s true, we in the Heavenly Gate don't attack wantonly, but…” The middle-aged man’s expression fell into deep confusion. “But this time, for some reason, the orders we received were bizarre: ambush anyone attempting to pass through here. Regardless of their background, regardless of whether they were fully equipped or intact, every single one was to be stopped.”

Qin Fen’s mind churned with possibilities. An answer, vague but already eighty percent certain, flashed in his mind. The Heavenly Gate had likely learned of the existence of ‘New Energy’ and ‘New Metals,’ prompting this drastic decision. Usually, others would retreat when confronted by such an aggressively posturing Heavenly Gate.

“Who was leading the group that departed!”

Qin Fen’s words were sudden, his tone hardening significantly. The middle-aged man shivered instinctively and blurted out: “Lü Dongbin, along with three others from the Upper Eight Immortals, and—”

The middle-aged man abruptly realized his mistake and immediately clamped his mouth shut, watching Qin Fen’s expressionless iron mask intently.

“I could wipe out your entire family,” Qin Fen stated, his Jungle Ranger arm gently patting the man’s shoulder. “Do you believe me?”

Terror flickered in the man’s eyes. The rumors painted Qin Fen as a ruthless killer, and indeed, this man was sinister enough to threaten his opponent’s family.

Qin Fen saw the intense struggle on the man’s face. He was clearly agonizing over the possibility that if he spoke, the Heavenly Gate would retaliate by eradicating his own family. What Qin Fen could achieve easily, the Heavenly Gate could accomplish with equal effort—that was the advantage of a massive power structure.

“Tell me, and I’ll knock you out; you can gamble on surviving,” Qin Fen said mildly. “Refuse, and I kill you, and tracking down your family won’t be difficult.”

To survive? The man’s muscles felt stiff, unable to fully process if this was real. Would a Heavenly Gate executioner truly let him go? If he were merely knocked unconscious and survived the gamble, the Heavenly Gate wouldn't be able to trace him, thereby securing the lives of both himself and his family.

“You can only gamble,” Qin Fen applied more pressure with his mechanical hand on the man’s shoulder. “Because I am far, far stronger than you.”

The middle-aged man slowly closed his eyes. Those words sounded brutal, yet they were undeniably true. The disparity in power, whether martial or comprehensive strength, was immense.

The man sighed. In past major conflicts, it was always soldier against soldier, general against general. A battle with such a vast power imbalance was virtually unheard of.

“And one other mysterious powerhouse…” The middle-aged man seemed to deflate entirely, his head bowed as he stared at the ground. “We don’t even know who he is. We’ve never seen what he looks like. We only feel this incredibly dangerous aura emanating from him. It’s like standing next to a mutated, ferocious beast—the longer you stay, the more your skin crawls.”

“Dangerous aura? A spine-chilling feeling?” Qin Fen’s brow furrowed deeper. “What is his attire?”

“I don’t know,” the man shook his head like a rattle drum. “I even suspect he’s a mutated savage beast rather than a person, because he never walks on two legs. He’s always carried by Lord Han Zhongli, inside a metal box.”

Living in a metal box? Qin Fen quickly scanned the intelligence files the military had provided on the Heavenly Gate. None of their high-level martial artists seemed to have a peculiar hobby of residing in metal containers. Had they recruited another master?

Qin Fen couldn't rule out the possibility; powers this vast meant no one could guarantee they knew every single master, much like the Founding Council, whose leadership was known only to a select few. Who knew what kind of entity led the Founding Council?

“Four Upper Eight Immortals, plus one mysterious powerhouse.”

Qin Fen calculated and asked again: “Anyone else besides them?”

“That’s it,” the man shook his head, a sudden flicker of light crossing his pupils.

Qin Fen observed the man steadily, his cold iron mask projecting an aura that suggested his inner world was just as frigid.

The middle-aged man sighed and offered a self-deprecating laugh. “I am truly foolish. Since I’ve told you so much, I might as well tell you this: before I attacked you, I also attacked another group. There were about five or six of them, also uniformly equipped in Jungle Ranger mecha. My attack was equally useless. The rocket, upon approaching one individual, seemed instantly severed by countless swift blades, shattering into scrap metal on the ground. If you had searched carefully just now, you might have found it.”

“Cutting a rocket?” Qin Fen turned to look at Du Peng. It wasn't simply about reaching a high enough martial arts realm to slice rockets apart in this world.

Powerful martial artists could crush rockets or ignore their impact, but to cut a rocket required more than just Star-level strength; it demanded a specialized martial technique.

For instance, Du Peng’s Formless Water Bird Technique was a unique cutting skill; anything that touched it would be instantly reduced to dust.

Beneath the cold iron mask, Qin Fen sensed Du Peng frowning. Magical martial arts were countless, but techniques specialized in cutting were relatively few. The king of cutting techniques was the Formless Water Bird Technique.

Du Peng guided his Jungle Ranger to the location described by the middle-aged man and stared intently at the metal fragments on the ground. Yes, this was it! Only the Formless Water Bird Technique could produce fragments like this! The person who cut this rocket understood the Formless Water Bird Technique! Furthermore…

Du Peng’s eye muscles twitched several times. Judging by the debris, the martial artist who cut the rocket possessed a mastery of the Formless Water Bird Technique superior to his own.

“This…” Du Peng wanted to protest—how was this possible? The Formless Water Bird Technique was the secret inheritance of the Du family; few in the world knew it, and he considered himself virtually the only practitioner. Yet, the debris on the ground proved someone else existed who wielded this technique with greater finesse.

Cutting a rocket warhead while piloting a Jungle Ranger mecha without dismounting? Du Peng admitted he couldn't do it. He could only manage such precision if he shed the cumbersome armor.

Du Peng piloted the Jungle Ranger quickly back to Qin Fen’s side. His cold metal mask nodded slowly, and his voice, hoarse and muffled, confirmed: “It’s the Formless Water Bird Technique.”

“Besides you…?”

“Du Hen might,” Du Peng spat out, relieving some internal pressure through clenched teeth. “And Du Yu. I know he definitely practiced the Formless Water Bird Technique.”

Du Yu? Qin Fen paused. Wasn't that Du Peng’s father? It seemed Du Peng held irreconcilable animosity toward Du Zhanpeng, and he clearly harbored no affection for the Du family. A child born due to his mother’s rape, destined from birth to be a mere furnace—how could such a person feel warmth toward his biological father?

Qin Fen sighed internally. Sometimes this world felt so tender—like Du Zhanpeng’s devotion to his brother, Du Peng. Other times, it was terrifyingly cold and cruel. Being born into a powerful family, seemingly handed a golden spoon, yet facing a fate more tragic than those born into ordinary homes.

“Could it be Du Yu?”

Qin Fen inquired, watching Du Peng nod slightly. “Highly possible. I recall Du Yu was also an all-around soldier. Perhaps—”

Du Peng considered seriously. “Perhaps he isn't as much of an all-rounder as you, but he is certainly a terrifyingly versatile soldier. Under Du Hen’s tutelage, no one is a simple soldier.”

Qin Fen nodded slowly, focusing his gaze on the spot where the warhead had been cut. It seemed the military wasn't entirely trusting of him. Du Yu might indeed have been drawn to Saturn by the immense profits of the New Energy and New Metals.

Very likely! Qin Fen turned back to the middle-aged man, his mind still analyzing the possibility of Du Yu's presence on Saturn. This other heavyweight from the military—if he wished to learn about the Saturn military situation, it shouldn’t be difficult for him at this moment. As for the future? Once everything employed Xie Wuyi’s encryption methods, the Earth military headquarters’ control over Saturn might be completely lost.

But… Qin Fen turned back toward the site of the cut warhead again. If Du Yu had arrived, he should have known Qin Fen would be here too. Why cut the warhead? To deliberately expose the Formless Water Bird Technique? Did he assume Du Peng’s strength was the weakest in the squad, leading him to believe Du Peng wouldn’t join this search party?

“Last question…” Qin Fen looked at the middle-aged man. “Where did your Heavenly Gate members, and that other squad you attacked, depart to?”

The middle-aged man cautiously raised his hand. A layer of grimness settled beneath Qin Fen’s cold iron mask. It seemed his guess was correct: the directions of the Heavenly Gate and the Jungle Ranger squad were indeed toward the location where the New Energy and New Metals were discovered.

“I’m going to knock you out now, and you had best remember one thing: when you wake up, do not casually rise to attack anyone else. If I’m not mistaken, members of the Di Fu will also be arriving.”

“What? Di Fu?” The man’s concentration wavered as a numbing electric shock coursed through his neck—high voltage from the Jungle Ranger, combined with the effect of Qin Fen’s strike. His vision went black, and he immediately fainted.

Qin Fen turned to Du Peng. At this moment, little verbal communication was needed; Du Peng understood Qin Fen was seeking his counsel.

The current situation presented two options: immediately pursue to secure the New Metals and New Energy ahead of the others, or play the hunter.

The Heavenly Gate was the mantis; the mysterious mecha squad was the oriole; and lurking behind the oriole, there might be a viper—the potential arrival of the Di Fu.

“I want to be the mantis,” Du Peng’s voice emerged from beneath his cold iron mask. “Get the New Energy as soon as possible.”

Qin Fen raised his arm and patted Du Peng’s metallic shoulder, the sound echoing with a resonant thump. He laughed, sharing the same thought! Playing the hunter and hiding in the background was a viable strategy, but if they missed the crucial shot, things would become far more complicated. Moreover, young men needed impact. If they couldn't project overwhelming force this time, the Saturn military command would continue to be suppressed by external forces.

While a burst of power would certainly draw attention, it would also breed caution, preventing others from openly sending personnel directly into the military structure as they were doing now.

The two exchanged a look. Operating their Jungle Rangers, they sped deep into the jungle. Shortly after, Caesar appeared where they had been standing, looking at the cut warhead with slight surprise. “Du Peng has been hiding his strength? Such sharp cutting! Wait! The footwork of the Jungle Ranger here is slightly different from Du Peng’s…”

Caesar manipulated his Jungle Ranger and swiftly pursued them into the depths of the forest.

Not long after, the Night Wanderer of the Di Fu arrived at the same spot, viewing the warhead fragments and footprints with a grave expression. “Cutting a rocket warhead inside a Jungle Ranger? A master!”

“Indeed a master. We must be cautious,” a deep voice rumbled from behind. It was the Sixth Hall Yama. “Soldiers favor the Jungle Ranger. But these tracks seem to indicate two separate military parties? What is happening? Has the Earth Military Headquarters sent personnel in addition to Saturn’s forces?”

The Night Wanderer looked up toward the sky following the Sixth Hall Yama’s voice—the direction pointing from Saturn toward Earth.

“Father, it seems Saturn has discovered New Energy and New Metals.”

Du Yu stood somewhat haggardly before Du Hen’s desk, reporting in a low voice.

“I know.”

“Shall we—”

“No need.” Du Hen lightly flicked a spider plant on his desk with his finger. “Qin Fen is on Saturn. Leave everything to him.”

“But Qin Fen and the others—”

“Are they unsafe? Have we lost control over them?” Du Hen scoffed without looking up. “It doesn’t matter. Isn’t this ideal? Aren’t they growing stronger and rising? That is enough. Apart from failing to cultivate a Divine Beast martial artist within the military, my other objectives remain unchanged. They are still advancing according to my plan, aren’t they?”

“But Father—”

“Stop talking about Saturn, stop talking about Qin Fen. Let everything stand as it is.” Du Hen finally looked up at Du Yu. “You exerted yourself quite a bit recently. Fortunately, I am very pleased with the outcome. However, to prevent another accident like Zhanpeng, I think you might need to take on some more hardship for a while—”

Du Yu stared blankly at Du Hen, truly a chillingly cold man! It seemed nothing in this world could stir his emotions. Could this man view even himself as a mere piece on the chessboard? If the moment came where his own sacrifice was required to fulfill his grand strategy, would he coldly eliminate even himself?

Du Hen looked up at Du Yu and nodded slowly. “I will.”

Du Yu felt a bone-deep chill. Had his thoughts truly been read?

“Everything must be oriented toward the ultimate goal,” Du Hen calmly teased the spider plant’s branches. “As long as the result is correct, why care about the process? Du Yu, remember this: when I die, the East Asian Military Region will rely on you to lead. You cannot allow personal emotion to interfere, because your emotion might lead to saving ten thousand people while sacrificing a million, or even more.”

“Father, there is one more thing I must report regarding Saturn.”

Du Hen kept his head down, continuing to play with the plant. “Speak.”

“The remnants of the Zuo family,” Du Yu stated gravely. “Xie Wuyi’s surgery was surgically clean, but the Zuo family hid some things too deeply. We didn't discover them before the operation. These remnants have reportedly entered Saturn. Among them is the personal disciple of Zuo Dongting, Chen Ni, the user of the Flowing Light Slash.”

“Chen Ni? That criminal?” Du Hen clicked his tongue twice. “He was once a genius, isn’t he forty-five now? Captured by Zuo Dongting back then, he claimed himself a great sinner and subsequently followed Zuo Dongting, mastering the Flowing Light Slash—Chen Ni? He couldn't have imagined that after remaining hidden for so long, he would emerge only to find the Zuo family already gone.”

“Yes, it’s Chen Ni,” Du Yu murmured. “You once said his Flowing Light Slash seemed to be a derivative of a secondary Water Bird Technique based on our Formless Water Bird Technique.”

“Interesting,” Du Hen sneered, still not lifting his head. “This Chen Ni, considered the Zuo family’s final trump card, has made it to Saturn. Very well, I know now. You may withdraw.”

It was past nine o’clock in the evening when I finally got back into the zone. Hmm! I will have a lot of updates tomorrow; my current state is excellent, an unprecedented sense of ease. My fingers resting on the keyboard feel as if they are typing automatically.