Every person carries a thorn within their heart; some thorns are so forgotten that one might never notice them unless they are carelessly touched. Others, however, whether you prod them or not, constantly prickle, ensuring you never forget.

For many, this thorn is love—pouring countless efforts into someone, only for them to fully enjoy the benefits before turning away into another's embrace. Every time you see her again, or hear someone else speak her name, the thorn digs in anew.

The thorn in Chen Feiyu’s heart was far deeper and more agonizing than mere love. It was the pillar that once supported his entire life, violently shattered by the Founding Assembly, leaving behind a landscape of wreckage that had hardened into that piercing point.

A killing intent, a rage colder than the chill in the room, settled upon Chen Feiyu as he remained silent, his eyes flashing with sharp light. “Regarding those two matters, all I can offer is an apology.” The aged voice from the central processor carried little genuine remorse.

Perhaps it was because it had lost its own body, existing now in a state that was neither human nor mere machine, or perhaps it was simply that after living for an eternity, it had witnessed so much of this sorrow that it had become utterly desensitized. “The original Founding Assembly was only tasked with observation; the actions taken were not by the original body.

Don't you find it miraculous that, given your strength at the time, you managed to escape successfully with your ailing sister?” As for your sister’s death, that was Zhang Hao’s desire to try one last, inconsequential experiment on a failed test subject. He discovered that applying any level of survival pressure on you had no effect.

Thus, he decided to test what would happen if he stripped away your final pillar of life. Such incidents are not unique to you.” The aged voice did not pause: “You should also know that Zhang Hao’s faction of the Founding Assembly is far stronger.

Even if the Observers had wished to intervene, it would have made no difference. Moreover, we, too, were curious about the outcome.

If you feel that destroying the current Founding Assembly before you will alleviate your hatred, you are free to act whenever you wish.” Qin Fen took a deep, steadying breath. If this giant brain still possessed a human form, the expression accompanying these words would likely resemble that of Serpent King Du Hen, wouldn't it?

“May I ask,” Qin Fen slowly inquired, fixing his gaze on the processor, “what is your identity?” “Me?” The aged voice carried a hint of bitter amusement: “I am the founder of the Founding Assembly. And Zhang Hao is my disciple.

He believes that scientists should cease acting as parents to humanity and instead become their rulers and leaders. What humanity requires is not indulgence, but discipline.

Strict discipline.” Qin Fen raised an eyebrow: “Why show me all of this?” “Are you thinking that I want you to overthrow my disciple?” The aged voice held a touch of mockery: “No, no. Your ability to reach this point proves you are qualified to know the truth of this matter, just as the Tathagata, the Jade Emperor, and others are qualified to know the truth.

As for what you choose to do, I will offer no advice.” “Since they are aware of the truth,” “Why then do they fight tooth and nail for the Divine Beast titles?” The brain interrupted Qin Fen once more. “First, they endorse the current Divine Beast Martial Artist system.

To become a Divine Beast, one not only needs immense martial power but also a retinue of the strongest subordinates, and must establish genuine societal influence, forming a massive conglomerate. As for the second point, the most fundamental prerequisite for becoming a Divine Beast Martial Artist is supreme martial force.

How to obtain that supreme force, I believe you understand quite clearly.” Qin Fen pondered, his expression serious. The power of a Divine Beast Martial Artist could not be attained merely by two strong individuals sitting down, engaging in philosophical discussions, experiencing life together, or sharing a meal.

Even if such power could be granted that way, a master who had never weathered the storms of slaughter, facing the naturally ferocious creatures of Pandora’s Space, would likely end up as mere sustenance for them. To attain the strength of a Divine Beast Martial Artist required dancing on the edge of the abyss between life and death—repeatedly.

This was perhaps cruel, but it was the undeniable reality. In an instant, Qin Fen also grasped the position of the Sacred Martial Hall.

While the Martial Venerables might possess the martial principles of Divine Beast level practitioners, if they too formed factions around their Divine Beast power, then in the eyes of many martial artists, there would be no truly pure and impartial martial institution left. The Sacred Martial Hall had become a holy ground for martial artists not only because of its massive collection of secret martial arts manuals and its profound martial strength, but more importantly, because of its fairness—a fairness that bordered on absolute.

This kind of equity was something even the factions of Divine Beast Martial Artists could not achieve. This fairness kept the mentality of the martial artists in a relatively stable state.

Otherwise, if two individuals served under the Azure Dragon, but one knew the other was the Azure Dragon’s granddaughter, they would inevitably wonder if the Azure Dragon was playing favorites with Song Jia? No matter how hard they strove, would the Azure Dragon ever treat them the same way he treated Song Jia?

But not at the Sacred Martial Hall! There, effort guaranteed opportunity for advancement!

For greater rewards. Ordinarily, the Sacred Martial Hall served to supply powerful martial artists to all corners of the Federation, and because everyone lived and trained together, they developed a tacit understanding and deeper camaraderie.

If war broke out, the entire Sacred Martial Hall transformed into a colossal engine of war. Its overall combat power was in no way inferior to any single Divine Beast faction; in fact, based on comprehensive strength, the Sacred Martial Hall far surpassed any individual Divine Beast contingent.

“No wonder,” Qin Fen began to understand why Song Wendong had told him that day that if he hadn't chosen the path of martial arts, he would never have obstructed Qin Fen’s love for Song Jia. Martial artists, especially the younger generation who were at their peak—the more dazzling their rise, the closer they were to death.

Contending for the Divine Beast title was perilous enough, but there was an even more terrifying factor: the Bee King! And the Emperor that the Bee King might spawn at any moment.

In peacetime, martial artists might be indifferent, but when genuine foreign invasion occurred, it was not a matter of Western powers bearing greater responsibility because they possessed greater strength; it was the inherent, almost animalistic spirit within the martial artists! Any man whose chest burned with passionate fervor, upon witnessing his compatriots being invaded by outsiders, how could he remain unmoved?

Not training in martial arts might allow one to live a little longer. Qin Fen looked at the flickering, endless screen showing the biological hordes of the Pandora World, understanding clearly that once hostilities began, all those creatures would come.

“A tragedy, isn’t it?” The voice from the brain carried a shade more mockery. Qin Fen nodded slightly.

It truly was a tragedy. Knowing that beings like the Bee King existed, yet because they could not adapt to the spatial constraints, the only viable action was to maximize the strength of the strongest individuals—the birth of a single strongest entity was far more useful than the birth of several Constellation Generals.

“Young man, I presume you are aware that the Super Nano Combat Suit has already been successfully developed?” The brain’s tone was interrogative, yet steeped in absolute confidence. “That device, when worn, allows one to enter Pandora’s Space without having their strength suppressed, even a Divine Beast Martial Artist.” Qin Fen was startled by the news and instinctively touched the garment on his body, realizing this clothing possessed such a capability.

“Are you perhaps thinking of asking why, with such suits available, we haven’t already launched an assault?” The voice from the brain now held several measures of dissatisfaction and grievance. “It’s quite ironic, really.

Because the timeline returned to normal, the Bee King’s evolution halted. Therefore, uniting all Divine Beasts and powerful martial artists, attacking en masse while wearing the Super Nano Combat Suits, offered a success probability of over seventy percent.

But—” “The White Tiger is dead! Someone, disregarding the greater good, beat the White Tiger to death!” The voice from the brain snapped, heavy with complaint.

“At such a crucial juncture, they killed the White Tiger!” “The one who killed the White Tiger…” Qin Fen probed tentatively, “Forgive me, but was it my older brother?” “I am not certain of that. I never saw the true face of that young man.

In fact, none of the other Divine Beast Martial Artists have seen his true face. It was simply that one day, that young man approached the Founding Assembly, requested entry into Pandora’s Space, and put on a magnificent show of heroic slaughter for everyone.

He then retreated back to the normal world, looking somewhat disheveled, under the pursuit of the Bee King and countless subordinates.” “Hunted by the Bee King and countless followers? Retreating somewhat disheveled?” Qin Fen doubted his hearing.

In a space like Pandora, any master’s strength was severely diminished. A Divine Beast level martial artist was no match for the currently strongest Bee King.

How could he possibly escape? And the Bee King pursued him with so many subordinates?

Surely many strong individuals were among them? What did ‘somewhat disheveled’ even imply?

“That’s right. Hunted by the Bee King and a pack of powerful creatures, yet he managed to withdraw with only minor disarray.” The voice from the brain sounded equally baffled.

“I do not understand. Even a king as mighty as the Azure Dragon suffers a drastic reduction in power upon entering Pandora’s Space.

Yet this young man, although his power also dropped, inexplicably, the portion he lost was far too small.” “It was precisely the existence of this individual that gave the other Divine Beast Martial Artists the confidence to counterattack,” the brain complained again. “But who knew this fellow would suddenly erupt in fury and directly slay the White Tiger, forcing the Divine Beast Martial Artists to advance the Assembly of Heroes.

For the counterattack, they only required the strength equivalent to that of a Divine Beast Martial Artist. Of course—” The projection screen displayed an army of Pandora creatures numbering in the tens of thousands, an endless vista.

It included not only the Spider-Women who had evolved to possess abilities resembling a six-barreled Gatling gun, but also flying creatures whose appearance and capabilities were more akin to human fighter jets. That day, the Bee King had attacked the stationed humans, and had even consumed fighter jets, yet her abdomen showed no sign of distension.

Qin Fen even speculated that if the Bee King were given enough time to devour a starship, the offspring she produced, after a period of growth, might mature into creatures as large as a Thunder Starship, possessing all the capabilities of such a vessel. This bizarre evolutionary capacity was, in a certain sense, more terrifying than the Emperors the Bee King produced.

If an immense area of connected spatial tears were opened simultaneously, and they all surged out collectively, these creatures—whose relative weakness meant they were not fully constrained by spatial forces—could completely turn the entire Federation upside down. Even the Divine Beast Martial Artists would find quelling such an outbreak an immense headache.

“Fortunately, we have the Super Nano Combat Suits. As long as we enter the holographic state,” the brain’s voice was filled with pride, “then soldiers, treading upon magnetic-drive flying swords, protected by the Super Nano Combat Suits—”