The thunderous clap of the storm in Yitian echoed across the stadium, forcing tiny trickles of blood from the ear canals of the hundreds of thousands gathered. Spectators watching remotely at their computers, wearing headphones, immediately ripped them off, clamping their hands over their ears to block out the shockwave of sound that had just struck them.

Those standing in the stadium simultaneously covered their ears while feeling the deep vibration of the entire structure beneath their feet as it shook violently, causing them to sway in an effort to keep from falling.

Chi (energy) surged across the sky, scattering like sparks. The colossal Wan Fo Chao Zong palm strike, visible to the naked eye, slammed into Qin Fen, sending him hurtling back over thirty meters before shattering with a deafening crash.

Qin Fen hovered high above, staring at the distant spot where Tathagata had vanished. He gently flexed the fingers of his right hand, his brow deeply furrowed as he contemplated the space where Tathagata disappeared. This is the strength of the Heavenly Gang realm? After entering the Human Gang in martial arts, the gap between each stage is truly like the distance between heaven and earth.

"Tathagata,"

Qin Fen took a deep, solemn breath. This fight had given him a far deeper understanding of Saturn's true strength. If Tathagata’s Chi realm had reached the Heavenly Gang, then Kṣitigarbha, the Jade Emperor, must also be at the Heavenly Gang level. Qin Guang Wang, who was always named in the same breath as Tathagata, likely possessed similar Heavenly Gang strength.

Tathagata was more powerful than anticipated.

"Old Qin." Xue Tian flew to Qin Fen's side, clutching his Iai sword and grinning. "If the Star Lords’ generals possess Heavenly Gang strength, I wonder what realm the mythical beasts are in?"

"Mythical beasts?"

Qin Fen shook his head lightly. Perhaps next time he should ask Master Song Wendong, who had fought the Qilin, about his actual realm. That might offer some prediction of the strength of other mythical beast warriors.

"Qin Fen, you killed my Dragon Subduer. In the future, I will surely kill you to avenge the Dragon Subduer,"

In the far distance of the sky, Tathagata's departing words drifted back, his strong voice echoing across the four corners of the stadium.

Qin Fen focused silently. Tathagata had clearly not used his full strength during the Wan Fo Chao Zong. The gap between Heavenly Gang and Earthly Gang was indeed as vast as the gap between Earthly Gang and Human Gang.

Tathagata departed, but Qin Fen remained. The people watching the concert through the network stared in astonishment at Qin Fen on the broadcast.

Martial Arts Masters rarely appeared in public, and even more rarely fought in front of crowds. Most legends about these Masters were mere speculation.

In the rumors, Martial Arts Masters were depicted as being over forty, often sporting flecked, white beards. Nearly everyone in the Federation had never imagined that a Martial Arts Master could be so young, nor had they conceived that battles between Masters would be invisible to the naked eye, only perceptible through their resounding impact.

"This young man is called Qin Fen?"

"The Federation has such a young Martial Arts Master?"

The people stared blankly at Qin Fen descending onto the broadcast. Yafei and Yaxin stood on the stage, which resembled a ruin, smiling as they watched him.

The music began again at that moment. The rioting crowd stopped trying to return to their seats and instead began to revel where they stood, energized by the voices of the two girls.

Without the magnificent stage or the high-efficiency sound systems, the heavy metal rock of the two girls returned to the most elemental state of music. Accompanied by the lingering atmosphere of the preceding battle, they delivered the highest-standard concert in years.

Four hours after the concert ended, all personnel associated with the Feixin faction were escorted into the military's secured zone. The death of the King of Terror would not be a setback for the fanatical terrorists; rather, it acted as a stimulant for their fervor. To ensure the safety of the two girls, the military zone was the relatively safest location.

For the terrorists to breach the military zone, they would first have to contend with Qin Fen’s squad and the other Martial Arts Masters. For a terrorist organization that had just lost what was likely all its high-ranking powerhouses, this was an insurmountable task.

The concert concluded, and the Federation's network entered an unprecedented period of frenzy. Countless video sites replayed the scene of Qin Fen's decisive battle against the King of Terror. Though the actual punches and kicks were invisible, the sound of their collisions was enough to make listeners’ blood boil with excitement!

The Sky Combat Network forums saw the largest influx of users in the history of the server that day.

Countless people discussed Qin Fen. The fall of the legendary King of Terror became the crucial stepping stone for the rise of the legend named Qin Fen.

Some well-informed individuals even dug up the records of the Hână Mountain battle, unearthing the data on Qin Fen defeating Pei Chengjun and Jizhen Haotian.

Instantly, Qin Fen's fame skyrocketed. Simultaneously, Xue Tian and Solomon also attracted a massive amount of attention: three young men—no, an entire group of young martial artists, including several who hadn't fought during the broadcast but all possessed the ability to fly—forming a new type of unit.

"Qin Fen is so fierce! Haha, I really taught my disciples well! Even if I can't become a Mythical Beast Warrior in this life, I might just manage to snag a Mythical Beast Master as a mentor."

At the Holy Martial Hall, Ferreiro leaned against a wall on the floor, watching the battle projection that others couldn't see. He nudged Di Shitian with his shoulder, grinning. "Tell me, if we fought Qin Fen now, who would win?"

Di Shitian raised an eyebrow, glanced at Ferreiro, suddenly stood up, and started walking toward the door, dropping a few words as he left the room: "I'm going to Saturn."

"Saturn? Hey, Di Shitian, don't forget that the Holy Martial Hall holds a transcendent position; we can't intervene."

"I know. I’m just going to look, then I'll be back."

"Then I'm going too!"

Saturn’s military sector experienced unprecedented activity as numerous young Saturn residents flooded the communication lines, inquiring about news.

Qin Fen rushed back to his room and took a quick shower. Just as he settled into his bedroom, he received a message.

Solomon had disappeared. Or rather, Solomon had left the military zone, and no one could trace his whereabouts.

"Disappeared?" Qin Fen looked at the flashing short message in the upper right corner of the projection screen and clicked on it. It was a message from Solomon:

"I’m taking some time off to clear my head. You handle your business. If you need anything, call me. If you bother me needlessly, I’ll cut someone."

Qin Fen closed the message and paused to think. He figured this person was likely taking a vacation among the terrorist organizations.

Usually, Martial Arts Masters rarely paid attention to terrorist matters. Although the terrorists’ minds were skewed, they seldom directly provoked such terrifying power as a Martial Arts Master. Martial Arts Masters had families to consider and generally avoided provoking terrorist organizations; both sides usually enjoyed peaceful coexistence.

But Solomon was different. Would the terrorists seek revenge against the Solomon family? Who cared? If the terrorists wanted to provoke the Fire Maiden again, the difficulty would be immense. The first step would be to infiltrate Saturn’s military sector.

"The terrorist organization is probably going to stay quiet for a while now," Qin Fen murmured to himself as he lay back on the bed, picking up the Sky Combat Network helmet that Yang Lie had ordered placed on his bedside table.

Staring at the helmet, which he hadn't touched in ages, Qin Fen smiled warmly. This source of income, once significant, hadn't been touched in so long.

The helmet connected, and the familiar login screen reappeared. Qin Fen quickly typed in the long-absent password.

"Welcome back, Thirty-Six Hours."

The familiar voice, the familiar scene. Qin Fen materialized on a street that was vaguely familiar, looking with surprise at the people moving about.

The Sky Combat Network had various functions, one of which allowed users to display their nicknames openly above their heads for everyone to see. However, this feature was rarely used; most preferred to keep their names hidden.

Today, this street looked vastly different from usual. The moving figures had all chosen to display open nicknames, and these names were rather similar. "TrueQinFen," "QinFenMyIdol," "MarryQinFen," "QinFenTrueMan," "InvincibleQinFen"...

Qin Fen stood in the virtual street of the Sky Combat Network, watching people with open nicknames walk back and forth, and was momentarily stunned.

It had only been a few hours since he left the concert and returned to the military zone, yet so many people on the Sky Combat Network were displaying these names.

The network communicator beeped incessantly. Qin Fen opened his message inbox and found that the number of messages couldn't be described in mere thousands. Since his battle during the Nine-Star event, the name 'Thirty-Six Hours' had become famous across the network. Countless people had sent challenge messages to this inbox, many offering hefty sums. Among them were numerous Nine-Star Warriors, clearly hoping that a battle between Nine-Stars would stimulate them into reaching the stage of Marrow Exchange, Rebirth, and True Innate status.

When he opened the network communicator, Zhang Xiangyang’s voice was the first to rush through: "Qin Fen? Is that you? Where are you? What brings you here? How strong are you now? I just tried using in-game currency to take a photo of you, but the system replied with two question marks."

Question marks? Qin Fen looked up at the virtual blue sky and smiled. It seemed the Federation’s Sky Combat Network couldn't measure everyone’s Star ratings. He wondered at what level it failed to test them.

"Where is the current headquarters of the Dragon Hall?"

"I knew you cared about money; you haven't changed, Old Fang."

The old place? Qin Fen turned around. That meant it wasn't far from here. "Wait for me."

The Dragon Hall was just as he remembered it. Now, as a behemoth occupying half of this virtual planet, it showed no hint of the grand splendor of its early days. Only its tranquility suggested the true might of its influence.

On this virtual planet, which was constantly beset by challengers and attacks, if any place could maintain true peace, it could only mean its power was supreme.

Zhang Xiangyang was already waiting at the entrance, accompanied by a group of people, including several former police officers from Tianbei City whom Qin Fen recognized.

In the Sky Combat Network, a world where ten-star ratings were practically unheard of, those individuals from Tianbei City, armed with the maps for Marrow Exchange and Rebirth, enhanced by the internal cultivation modifications Qin Fen gave them before leaving, and constantly training, had all become the undisputed top individual combatants on the Sky Combat Network.

Eleven stars! Even twelve stars! For Martial Arts Masters, this might not mean much, but for the general martial arts community, these people were figures to be looked up to. Moreover, they were all very young, with bright futures ahead. Fourteen stars were not impossible for them, and they weren't without a chance at the Marrow Exchange, Nirvana, and Great Prophet stages.

Zhang Xiangyang's combat power was only Nine Stars. This wasn't because he lacked the maps for Marrow Exchange and Rebirth; Qin Fen had given him a set through Inzarota. However, some people were simply not suited for cultivation. Zhang Xiangyang had spent months completing the Marrow Exchange and Rebirth process but still showed no signs of reaching the Ten-Star level.

Zhang Xiangyang gave Qin Fen a bear hug. Seeing Qin Fen's slightly pitying look, he smiled casually. "It's alright. My talents aren't in martial arts. When I become a big shot later, you can just assign me a few Martial Arts Masters as bodyguards, right?"

"Squad Leader,"

Qin Fen listened as several members, including the Little Gun King, hugged him one by one, using the police rank only used in Tianbei City. Then he looked at the unfamiliar faces standing behind Zhang Xiangyang. Zhang Xiangyang walked up to those people, pointed at Qin Fen, and announced, "Thirty-Six Hours, the true leader of our Dragon Hall.

"The Martial Arts Master who killed Pei Chengjun, the Martial God of Fuzhou, whom I mentioned before. You should all know what he just accomplished, right?"

A chorus of low gasps rose and fell. Everyone stared expectantly at Qin Fen, whose face was still obscured, wanting a closer look at the super-powerful figure they had just seen on the broadcast.

"Qin Fen," Zhang Xiangyang said, pointing to his own face.

The concealment mask disappeared, revealing the face everyone had seen in the broadcast.

These people were the core of the Dragon Hall. They had previously concealed their faces to earn more in the game, but now there was no need for it. Qin Fen naturally didn't mind removing his protection.

Amazement erupted once more from the crowd. Hearing about something was one thing; seeing it in person was entirely another. The group cautiously moved closer, scrutinizing Qin Fen. Their eyes were filled only with excitement, thrill, and pride.

The Dragon Hall! A faction belonging to true powerhouses! Everyone was glad they had made the choice to join. As the Dragon Hall expanded, core membership became increasingly exclusive; everyone felt immense pride at being part of the core.

The lofty Martial Arts Masters almost never appeared in the Sky Combat Network. Now, to see a living Martial Arts Master—and not just any Master, but someone stronger than many Masters!

"Can I touch you?"

"Can you sign an autograph for me? My son idolizes you even more."

"Can I take a picture with you? My..."

The core members of the Dragon Hall eagerly voiced their requests. The group included not only young people but also some middle-aged members.

From the beginning, Zhang Xiangyang had never intended to build the Dragon Hall into merely a brute-force organization, but a large-scale, comprehensive power.

Zhang Xiangyang didn't know why Qin Zhan had decided back then to trust that Qin Fen would become a powerhouse. But he had absolute faith in Mu Zhan's decision, just as Qin Zhan had believed Qin Fen would succeed. Zhang Xiangyang was certain that Qin Zhan's judgment would not be wrong.

To be able to build a foundation for a powerhouse was an opportunity few ever encountered. Zhang Xiangyang knew that many people possessed organizational skills no less capable than his own, but they lacked this opportunity. Since he had encountered it, he absolutely could not let it go.

In just a few short years, relying on the legends Qin Fen (Thirty-Six Hours) created on the Sky Combat Network, Zhang Xiangyang rapidly expanded the Dragon Hall.

Though it currently seemed confined to the virtual network of the Sky Combat Network, Zhang Xiangyang was 100% confident that if he gathered these people in reality, it wouldn't be an impossible feat. A massive, strong, comprehensive force could be established quickly.

"Touch away."

"Do you need a real-life autograph? Write it on a signature pad? What? It’s free?"

"Oh, we can take pictures."

Qin Fen responded one by one to these friendly members of the Dragon Hall, keeping them busy for quite some time.

During this period, many core members of the Dragon Hall received messages sent to their real-life contacts by Zhang Xiangyang via the network. They rushed into the Sky Combat Network to catch a glimpse of Qin Fen, whom they never imagined they would actually meet.

"Mr. Qin, I rushed back despite the hefty early withdrawal penalty. Pictures and autographs are all accepted!"

"Mr. Qin, my wife asks if you would take our child as a disciple when we have one? If not, a grand-disciple would suffice."

"If they are upright and act according to their conscience, yes," Qin Fen replied. "If I lack the time for personal guidance, I will find someone reliable to teach them. Any child of a core member of the Dragon Hall is welcome."

Cheers shot up toward the virtual heavens! Everyone knew how difficult it was to be accepted as a disciple by a Martial Arts Master. They understood the immense significance of Qin Fen's promise today.

Being a Martial Arts Master wasn't the most important thing; being better was. Even if they couldn't become Masters, having their children trained under Qin Fen would certainly help secure their future prospects.

Under Zhang Xiangyang’s long-term indoctrination and encouragement, the group possessed greater confidence in Qin Fen becoming a Mythical Beast Warrior than Qin Fen himself did.

After a round of excitement, the crowd gradually quieted down. A powerhouse like Qin Fen would not enter the Sky Combat Network without a serious reason. The members made way for him into the large hall connecting the two martial arts training rooms, sitting down cross-legged according to a pre-arranged order.

Qin Fen looked at the tightly packed rows of warriors and realized Zhang Xiangyang was even more capable than the rumors suggested. Such a large room was packed, and core members were constantly appearing at the doorway, trying hard to squeeze inside.

"Ahem," Zhang Xiangyang coughed twice, looking at the overcrowded hall. "It seems I need to find time to expand this hall."

Qin Fen rubbed his forehead. This situation today was entirely due to his past obsession with money, which had given Zhang Xiangyang this idea.

Recalling the past, Qin Fen revealed a happy smile. If he had to start everything over, he would still choose the lifestyle that made people perceive him as stingy! Only those who have truly suffered and known the importance of money can truly appreciate its value.