Clang. The two metal doors slammed shut, completely sealing off the laboratory filled with researchers.

Ferrero watched Xue Tian’s indifferent back, secretly admiring him. During these tense six months, everyone else had been frantically bolstering their cultivation, striving for one last breakthrough, cherishing every second. Yet, Xue Tian seemed utterly unconcerned with this pressure.

This was a growth in mindset. It wasn't necessarily that Xue Tian possessed a superior mentality, but it certainly indicated a very healthy one. He understood what needed to be done first and why, refusing to exhaust himself in a desperate, blind scramble solely for breakthrough attainment.

Looking at Qin Fen next, Ferrero felt an even deeper sense of solace. Recruiting these two disciples at the Saint Martial Hall had truly been the most gratifying decision of his life.

The Qin Fen of today was far more composed than when he was at the Saint Martial Hall. Even standing still or walking casually, a profound, indescribable steadiness subtly emanated from him, as if what was moving was not a person, but a towering mountain. Every gesture carried the imposing aura of one who could swallow rivers and mountains whole.

Setting aside raw strength, just this inherent momentum—the majesty that could sweep across rivers and mountains and span the Five Sacred Peaks—surpassed even the Saint Martial Six Stars when it came to the young Qin Fen. What exactly had happened to him during these past days? The Qin Fen who fought the King of Terror at the stadium concert paled in comparison to the presence he held now.

Qin Fen entered a lounge room, prepared tea for his two masters, and took a seat at the lower position. “Please, drink.”

The three hadn't spent much time together, yet a mutual understanding had formed between them. The presence of the two Saint Martial Hall masters here had only one explanation: to offer encouragement, or perhaps, to stand guard.

That battle at the stadium concert had indeed stunned the world with the exploits of the young members of the Saturn Military Sector. They had rapidly become the most watched new stars in the current Martial Void world, already considered by many to be worthy of standing alongside the Heavenly Gate and the Underworld.

However, compared to the established powerhouses, the young martial artists of the Saturn Military Sector inherently possessed shallower foundations—a flaw that was unavoidable. You could ignore its existence, but you couldn't deny the fact of it.

The Heavenly Gate and the Underworld held an ambiguous stance toward these youngsters from Saturn. No one knew when they might suddenly launch a surprise attack or employ some other means against them.

Increasing the overall strength of the Saturn Military Sector martial artists was the best solution, but the Saint Martial Hall regulations dictated that they must maintain their transcendent status, absolutely never interfering in the affairs of the Divine Beast martial artists, nor getting involved in the power struggles vying for them.

This was to send a clear message to all martial artists in the world: The Saint Martial Hall was an entity beyond entanglement. All major factions tacitly accepted this reality; even the Divine Beast martial artists showed full recognition toward the Hall. Almost periodically, a Divine Beast would appear at the Saint Martial Hall to give lectures to its practitioners.

Divine Beast martial artists instructing the practitioners of other factions! This level of privilege was enjoyed only by the Saint Martial Hall. It was precisely because of their transcendence that the Hall had become the sacred ground in the hearts of martial artists.

The Chief of the Saint Martial Hall must never involve himself in worldly affairs! This was the iron law of the Hall! Exceptions were allowed only under two conditions. The first was when human society faced a monumental crisis, when humanity’s very existence was at stake; then, every member of the Saint Martial Hall must spill their blood to resolve the crisis for mankind.

The second exception: the Chief of the Saint Martial Hall must relinquish their status! They would then depart the Hall, severing all ties with it forever!

The treatment afforded to the Chief of the Saint Martial Hall was enough to stun any martial artist into silence. But these privileges were not what truly tethered the Chiefs’ hearts. That sense of honor, entirely dedicated to the Saint Martial Hall, was the true reason its Chiefs never left.

Yet today, the presence of the two reigning Chiefs of the Saint Martial Hall, without a single superfluous word, signaled something to the outside world.

The Saint Martial Hall’s unbroken record of chiefs never voluntarily leaving the organization might soon be shattered! These two renowned leaders were willing to forsake their beloved Saint Martial Hall for the sake of their disciples.

Qin Fen could sense the message these masters’ actions sent reverberating across the world, and he knew the immense support they had bestowed upon him.

Moved? No. What surged within Qin Fen was a warmth of kinship, not some sentimental drivel about being 'touched.' Kinship doesn't evoke sentiment; sentimentality is never the domain of true family bonds! Only among kin can one experience that warmth conveyed not by words, but by a simple act.

“This place is quite good.”

Di Shitian, the least talkative of the group, set down his teacup first, breaking the warm silence in the room.

Qin Fen nodded in agreement. In front of his masters, there was no need for false modesty. The development Saturn Military Sector had achieved was indeed commendable.

A true God is neither hypocritical nor pretentious. What they are, they are; what they are not, they are not. They dare to face everything and dare to bear everything.

Unknowingly, Qin Fen’s actions were beginning to align with the 'God' aspect of the Divine Fist Way. This was no longer about artificially conforming to the principles; it was a shift starting from his very ideology.

Bang!

The door suddenly flew open. Du Peng stood frozen in the doorway, looking toward the two Saint Martial Hall chiefs with the deference of a disciple. “Two masters.”

A flicker of surprise and astonishment crossed Di Shitian’s solemn eyes. A very peculiar aura faintly radiated from Du Peng—an aura Qin Fen himself didn't possess, and completely different from the Du Peng who had been at the Saint Martial Hall. It was as if the ferocious beast trapped within him had broken free.

With a readiness to engage gleaming in his eyes and an intense fighting spirit suffusing his entire being, Du Peng gave a slight bow. “Do the two masters have a moment?”

A spar. Since waking up, Du Peng’s temperament had changed dramatically. He was always direct, never beating around the bush, his goals crystal clear. Even those he faced could perceive this distinctly. He had truly embarked upon his own martial path.

“You want to spar? Fine!” Ferrero stood up, happily stretching his shoulders. “Kid, you might be surprised. I’m actually quite interested in you.”

The leniency a master shows a disciple can sometimes rival that of a father toward his son. Even though they had just arrived from Earth via spacecraft, and only had time for a cup of tea without even a proper reunion, Ferrero showed no hesitation in accepting Du Peng’s request for a spar.

The strength of masters determines the destructive power their clashes inflict upon surrounding structures. Typically, they choose environments with unique geography for their engagements.

Du Peng did not choose another location. Aware of the gap between his strength and that of Qin Fen and the others, he knew clearly that he could not cause environmental damage even under Ferrero’s suppression.

Di Shitian also rose, placing his arm beside Ferrero’s, his eyes fixed squarely on Du Peng.

No words were necessary. With a simple bodily movement, Di Shitian expressed that he, too, was interested in Du Peng.

Ferrero shrugged and stepped aside. “It’s rare for you to show interest in someone, so I won’t compete with you today.”

The opponent had changed, but Du Peng made no visible reaction. Since both opponents were chiefs of the Saint Martial Hall, their strength wouldn't vary drastically. The vital energy within him surged violently and repeatedly. Visible waves of air erupted from his body, immediately scattering the papers on the table and causing the tea in the cups to slosh violently.

This was the power of a peak Sixteen-Star expert! Qin Fen leaned back in his chair, calmly awaiting Du Peng’s next transformation. If this was all he had, he would truly be letting down the dedication shown by Du Zhanpeng, Lin Liqiang, and Inzarota—three super geniuses from different domains.

Transformation. It appeared in the next instant! Du Peng’s complexion began to turn faintly greenish. The muscles in his ten fingers slowly writhed, his nails becoming as sharp as grappling hooks. Scales began to sprout from the skin all over his body!

Yes! Dark black scales the size of a thumbnail! These scales covered almost every inch of his skin! Two short, sharp horns slowly began to protrude from his forehead!

Crack... crack... crack...

Sounds resonated from his spine, seemingly like a divine dragon churning and twisting in the sea, exploding with sharp reports. Even his teeth sharpened.

In that instant, Du Peng’s aura became overwhelmingly ferocious! His entire form resembled a monstrous beast!

Qin Fen’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably. He could never have predicted that Du Peng’s change would be like this! Such a transformation was utterly unexpected.

“Dragonization!”

Lin Liqiang’s voice, filled with excitement and pride, accompanied by his projection, appeared beside Qin Fen. “Old Qin, what do you think? Does it look fantastical? This is Du Peng’s New Human transformation: Dragonization!”

New Human? Qin Fen recalled that Lin Liqiang had shown one of his most enthusiastic reactions when Du Peng underwent surgery that day. During these recent days, Qin Fen hadn't noticed any changes in Du Peng, leading him to assume the development of the New Humans was subtle. He hadn't expected such a stark manifestation.

“Old Qin, you didn’t expect this, did you? Neither did I,” Lin Liqiang said, gazing at Du Peng with excitement. “We’ve theorized a lot about the research direction for New Humans lately and established certain frameworks. We also made a surprising discovery: there should be a psychic/mental energy division among New Humans as well. Subsequently, we roughly classified the New Humans into several major systems, the strongest of which we named the Dragon Lineage!”

Dragon! Since legends began, the word has been synonymous with supreme power.

“Of course, this 'Dragon' is not the one from myth and legend. How exactly should I explain it…” Lin Liqiang tapped his forehead with a troubled look. “Old Qin, you really need to brush up on some scientific knowledge when you have time. You did graduate from a reputable high school; learning shouldn't be that hard.”

Qin Fen nodded. “Once my martial path sees another breakthrough.”

“Alright, I won’t force you; everyone walks a different road,” Lin Liqiang mused. “Simply put, his external appearance has changed, but his entire body has undergone massive alterations. Maintaining the normal human form consumes less energy and releases less combat energy on a daily basis. When he activates Dragonization—oh! When he transforms somewhat like the dragon-men in mythology—his physical structure receives a huge boost, causing continuous strengthening of his meridians and a corresponding explosion in the speed of his vital energy flow.”

“In short,” Lin Liqiang concluded, “he’s incredibly formidable! At the same Sixteen-Star level, you might not even beat him. As for the rest, most of it is still in the theoretical deduction phase; I can’t tell you much more.” (To be continued)