The vast, boundless ocean. Structures of strange, peculiar designs stood erected upon massive, uneven terrain. Viewed from high above, the layout resembled an amusement park as much as it did a renowned international art center.

The Holy Martial Hall! Qin Fen gazed down through the cockpit, a surge of familiarity rising rapidly within his heart, a thought flashing through his mind.

Before heading to Qilin Mountain to find Song Wendong of the Qilin Clan, he should first return to the Holy Martial Hall, meet the Martial Venerable, and see the Six Stars of the Holy Martial Hall—men he had never truly sparred against.

The aircraft carved a vast semicircle in the sky, and the Ghost Fighter ultimately chose to land at the Hawaiian Air Force Base.

A Major General’s uniform, paired with a visage radiating masculine vitality despite his youth. The ground crew immediately recognized Qin Fen!

In the current Federation, whether military or civilian, any person seeing a military officer holding the rank of Major General at such a young age could likely call out his name instantly.

That day at the Saturn Stadium event, broadcast across the Federation’s streaming platform, followed by a continuous stream of news reports, had introduced Qin Fen and his group to the entire populace.

Qin Fen snapped a salute to the Colonel of the ground crew who rushed over in a flurry. “Could you please top off my energy cell? I’ll be back to collect it shortly.”

The Colonel in charge of ground operations nodded repeatedly, utterly humbled. To have the so-called foremost young master of the era, the most anticipated candidate for the future Divine Beast Martial Artist, arrive at this small airbase—this was enough material to boast about to his colleagues for years to come.

Taking a taxi, Qin Fen returned to the very port from which he had departed for the Holy Martial Hall previously. He gazed toward the island housing the Holy Martial Hall, which remained invisible from this distance. He sat quietly on a public resting bench, waiting for the ferry scheduled for the next day.

Crossing the strait and flying directly to the island using his own strength was not a particularly difficult feat. However, for the Holy Martial Hall, the martial arts sanctum of the world, the hall where he had once cultivated, the requisite respect should not diminish just because his own power had grown.

Qin Fen let his knees hang naturally, leaning his back slightly against the chair, gazing into the distance, his inner landscape as clear as a mirror.

Power can easily cause one to lose oneself. When one is weak compared to others, they address them as “Elder Brother” or “Senior”; the moment their power matches, they treat each other as equals. These are significant shifts in the state of mind induced by power.

How can a person whose state of mind is swayed by strength be considered a true powerhouse? Qin Fen felt the peculiar glances of passersby, but only a faint smile touched his lips. If that encounter with the Light Beings hadn't forced him to re-examine himself, to realize he should truly trust himself rather than his power, perhaps he too would have already begun to subtly lose himself, controlled by his growing strength.

Sunset gave way to moonrise; the stars shifted their positions.

The ship departing from the Holy Martial Hall let out a deep, resonant horn blast. Qin Fen saw again the very freighter that had carried him to the Holy Martial Hall that first time.

It was the same old captain, and the same large vessel. Qin Fen lightly vaulted aboard, giving the stunned old captain a brief nod, then stood alone on the deck, admiring the morning seascape.

The old captain stared fixedly at Qin Fen’s retreating figure, shock etched all over his aged face. This man, the acknowledged foremost of the younger generation on Saturn, who had struck down several established veteran martial artists, the most likely candidate to achieve the Divine Beast Martial Artist realm—why was he back? And why insist on taking the boat? Wouldn't it be better for him to simply fly over?

That morning, there were no new initiates heading to the Holy Martial Hall. After the vessel was loaded with all its cargo, it pulled its heavy horn once more and set sail toward the Holy Martial Hall.

The ship docked at the Holy Martial Hall pier. Qin Fen, as an “old hand” of the institution, was long past needing to undergo the Three Trials of the Holy Martial Hall.

Entering the path leading back into the Holy Martial Hall’s testing grounds once more, the gatekeepers stared blankly at Qin Fen, instinctively clearing a path for him.

To obstruct Qin Fen? The guards felt that such an action would require a figure of the Chief Seat level, perhaps even a Six Star expert of the Holy Martial Hall. Anyone less? They truly were not enough to challenge this young man.

“Qin Fen is back!”

“Qin Fen has returned to the Holy Martial Hall!”

The news spread like a whirlwind throughout the entire Holy Martial Hall. Everywhere Qin Fen passed, martial artists gathered, eager to catch a glimpse of the man once called the miracle of the Holy Martial Hall, the super-rookie monster. “Master!”

Ma Juntie aggressively pushed through the crowd. Qin Fen turned and gave him a light wave. Under the envious and jealous gazes of countless onlookers, the young man suddenly stomped his feet into a stance identical to Qin Fen’s Dragon Cannon strike, shaking off the surrounding martial artists. Propelled by a fierce momentum—a feeling of ‘I am the true dragon, you are the insect’—he charged toward Qin Fen, his fist shattering the air with successive explosions.

Watching Ma Juntie move, Qin Fen smiled faintly. He had casually offered pointers at the dock that day, taking this boy as a disciple later on. Compared to Ji Zhen Xuanyi, this one possessed his own distinct flavor, carrying the imposing aura of a fierce tiger.

Lowering his waist and sinking his stance, Qin Fen separated his left and right hands, turning them continuously, smoothly hooking onto the arm executing the Dragon Cannon. His ankles swayed, causing his entire skeletal structure to shift slightly, directing the rotational force onto Ma Juntie’s arm, then flicking his wrist to toss him high into the air. He followed up instantly with a Dragon Form strike, kicking Ma Juntie squarely in the abdomen and sending him skidding back over ten meters with a loud Hualala, Bang!

Ma Juntie body flew sideways, crashing into a structure before finally stopping. He executed a quick (carp flip) to spring back up, rotated his joints, and clasped his fists in salute. “Thank you, Master, for the guidance.”

Looking at Ma Juntie, Qin Fen felt as if he were looking at his younger self from that time. In a flash, he realized he wasn't actually that much older than his disciple, yet his mentality had subtly changed so much.

“Follow me,” Qin Fen beckoned again. “Since you encountered me, it’s your fortune. I intend to see the Six Stars of the Holy Martial Hall and spar with them to verify my own martial path. You can come along; perhaps it will benefit you too.”

Sparring with the Six Stars of the Holy Martial Hall? A wave of astonishment rippled through the onlookers. Qin Fen’s battle at the Saturn Stadium was certainly powerful, but at that time, he hardly seemed qualified to challenge the Six Stars, did he? And now, he was seeking out the Six Stars? Was this the one who, according to legend, had broken every record in the Holy Martial Hall? Qin Fen truly had luck on his side! Rumor had it that the Lady of the Six Stars and the Martial Venerable had just returned to the Hall, and he arrived right then.

A large crowd of martial artists watched Ma Juntie with a mixture of envy and jealousy. In the crowd, Zeus Mark let out a weak sigh as he watched Qin Fen walk away with Ma Juntie. He turned and silently walked in the opposite direction, never sparing Qin Fen another glance.

Almost no one noticed Zeus Mark’s departure. All attention was fixed on Qin Fen. They failed to realize that this man, who had once been qualified to challenge Qin Fen during the rookie competition, was now not only left so far behind he couldn’t even be seen, but even Qin Fen’s disciple, Ma Juntie, had already surpassed Mark by a vast margin.

“Nine Stars Mark.” Mark gave a weak, bitter smile looking at his own strength. For martial artists his age, his current ability was certainly worthy of envy and worship. But seeing those who were once on his level now occupying the highest peaks of Federation martial arts, only he knew the depth of his disappointment.

The colossal Holy Martial Pagoda towered into the sky. Ma Juntie looked up with excitement at the structure symbolizing the highest authority of the Holy Martial Hall. Since entering the Hall, he had never been permitted access to such a core location.

Qin Fen pressed the communication button located before the tower. Although this button could be pressed by any member of the Holy Martial Hall, in normal times, no one actually dared to press it. Everyone knew it was the button used to request an audience with the Martial Venerable and the Six Stars; no one would press it without serious cause.

A projection popped up before the tower door. The Six Stars of the Holy Martial Hall watched Qin Fen calmly. “You’ve arrived?”

“Yes.” Qin Fen lightly cupped his fists, maintaining the respect due to a senior. “Qin Fen requests guidance from the Six Stars.”

“You may ascend.”

Hearing this, Qin Fen did not move, continuing to hold his salute. “I wish to bring my disciple with me. Let him see more.”

“Then you may both ascend together.”

Qin Fen’s ear twitched slightly; he recognized the voice of the Martial Venerable. He bowed slightly and led Ma Juntie into the tower.

“Master,” Ma Juntie whispered quietly while following behind Qin Fen, “When I saw you fighting the terrorists at Saturn that day, your imposing aura was quite capable of devouring the heavens. Why just now…?”

“That was fighting enemies. This is meeting seniors,” Qin Fen smiled. “The Holy Martial Hall has shown me immense grace. It was here that I truly entered the realm of a Martial Arts Master. No matter when, I will always maintain reverence for the Holy Martial Hall; it will not change because my strength has changed. Remember this one thing: a person who commands power is a strong one. When a person is commanded by power, even if they possess the strength to shatter the heavens and earth, they remain weak.”

Ma Juntie nodded as if he understood, but not quite. The words were easy to grasp, yet he found it unbelievable how one could be commanded by power.

Qin Fen offered no further explanation. Many things are known intellectually, but few can truly put them into practice. It is like the principle that if one truly studies hard and diligently, they can achieve good exam results—everyone knows this truth, yet so many still fail to do it.

Knowing is different from doing! Qin Fen felt immensely fortunate. The cold, almost lethal training imposed by the Light Beings allowed him to move from knowing to being able to do.

There was no elevator, nor were there stairs.

At the center of the tower was a vertical shaft, much like a circular well, with small gripping points along the sides. If one could not manage even these handholds, then there was no need to meet the Six Stars or the Martial Venerable.

Qin Fen revealed an appreciative smile. The Holy Martial Hall’s status as the world’s martial arts sanctum was evident in every detail, underscoring its authority; even ascending the floors was infused with the philosophy of valuing martial discipline.

“Master, do you mind if I go first?”

Ma Juntie voiced the question, then coiled his body slightly and pushed off the ground with his legs. Like a nimble ape, he used the surrounding steps and gripping points to launch himself upward in a continuous surge. He skillfully combined elements of the Monkey Form with the Dynamic Innate Pillar Stance. Qin Fen watched with admiration—he truly was his disciple. This combination technique was executed brilliantly.