Xiao Xing, since ancient times, has been an extremely popular style of martial arts. Many people say the essence of Snake Fist lies in its unexpected lines of attack, but the Saint Martial Six Stars knew the true essence of Snake Fist was just one word: speed! A snake is usually not fast in its movements. But in that instant of attack! It is as swift as thunder and lightning!
Qin Fen’s strike pushed the essence of Snake Fist to its absolute limit. The faces of the other five members of the Saint Martial Six Stars were incredibly rigid. In sparring matches back in the day, hadn't they always sent one person out to face all challengers at once? Yet, this miracle-maker of the Saint Martial Hall had returned and brought his usual fighting style directly here.
Recalling the past and looking at today, the Saint Martial Six Stars still found it somewhat hard to believe that the exceptionally outstanding young martial artist from back then had reached this level.
If anyone had suggested such a thing would happen in the past, the Saint Martial Six Stars would have laughed, thinking the person’s brain was addled. How could such a thing possibly occur?
Bogut crashed through the large hole in the wall, landing back in the room with a grim expression. He looked at the floor beneath his feet, riddled with countless cracks and on the verge of shattering, and spoke slowly, “I didn’t expect you to become so strong. One-on-one, I am not your match. If any Star Lord still believes they can take on Qin Fen alone, please step forward.”
The other five stars of the Saint Martial Six Stars exchanged glances, each seeing the admiration and sense of inferiority in the others. Qin Fen’s strength was likely infinitely close to the Great Galaxy level, the absolute peak of the Galaxy level, just one step away from entering the realm of Divine Beast Martial Artists.
But how does one take that final step? The Saint Martial Six Stars’ eyes were still filled with doubt. There are not a few people in the world who are just one step away from reaching the Great Galaxy Divine Beast level; legends say the Jade Emperor of Saturn and Ksitigarbha are both just one step away. Which one of the Saint Martial Six Stars present isn't also just one step away?
Once martial arts reach the Galaxy level, it is an entirely different world. When one enters the Twenty-Star level and, with the continuous development of their martial path, finally masters the Heavenly Astral Qi, it can be said they have entered the very peak of the Galaxy level, merely a single step from crossing over to the Great Galaxy Divine Beast Martial Artist realm.
If they cannot take that step, no matter how much their Heavenly Astral Qi grows, they will only ever remain at the absolute pinnacle of the Galaxy level.
Normally, a Twenty-Two Star Galaxy-level Heavenly Astral Qi expert is referred to as a Peak Galaxy-Level expert. Of course, there are exceptions, such as the Jade Emperor of Saturn, Ksitigarbha, and the Saint Martial Six Stars. To Divine Beast level martial artists, they are no longer merely Twenty-Two Star top Galaxy experts, but the peak upon the peak: Twenty-Three Star Heavenly Astral Qi wielders!
To outsiders, such experts are deeply enviable. Yet, the Saint Martial Six Stars felt profound shame and helplessness over this. White Tiger from Venus, not long after reaching the Twenty-Two Star level, directly stepped into the Divine Beast Martial Artist realm in one go!
Over the years, the Saint Martial Six Stars had always believed that below the Divine Beast level, the world’s martial artists worthy of equal reverence were the six of them along with the two experts from Saturn.
That confidence was utterly shattered in that single instant by Qin Fen’s one move of Snake Fist.
In one-on-one, or even two-on-one scenarios, victory was almost impossible. Perhaps only a six-on-one situation would offer a chance to win! In an instant, the six men’s thoughts converged, and they rapidly dispersed to surround Qin Fen in the center.
Everyone possesses the will to win; it is not that the stronger the martial artist, the less they care about victory or defeat. On the contrary, the stronger one is in this world, the more obsessed they are with winning! If they lose their drive to win, where is the motivation to advance their martial arts strength?
To pursue the ultimate of the martial path? Why pursue the ultimate of the martial path? How many among them are true martial arts fanatics?
Ma Juntie stared blankly at this sudden development. The six strongest members of the Saint Martial Hall were simultaneously joining forces against his master. Even in his wildest dreams, he would never have dared to dream of such a thing!
“Thank you, six seniors, for fulfilling this request.” Qin Fen stood in the center, spreading his arms slightly to the sides, his face solemn, and said quietly, “Traveling this path of martial arts, looking back now, I realize how incredibly fortunate I have been. From an ordinary new recruit to reaching this point step by step. As I marvel at this, I suddenly realize one thing: I am not the only one who has been lucky? I suppose the achievements of you seniors also came with your own share of fortune?”
The members of the Saint Martial Six Stars nodded silently. The hardships on the path of martial arts are difficult for outsiders to comprehend. Without some fortunate coincidence or opportunity, standing at such a height is a formidable task.
“Since entering the Heavenly Astral Qi realm, I have constantly pondered: Is this the limit of the martial path? Is what remains only the climbing of star-level strength?” Qin Fen shook his head slightly, “No. Later I discovered that it is not so. There should be another step after the Heavenly Astral Qi! If one can take that step, it should lead to the Divine Beast Martial Artist realm, right?”
The faces of the Saint Martial Six Stars changed simultaneously. They themselves had pondered this issue for many years before finally grasping the crux of the problem. For Qin Fen to be so young, having only recently reached the Heavenly Astral level, yet instead of celebrating that achievement, he was already contemplating the next step? This boy truly lived up to his reputation as a martial arts genius who grasps the general principle from a single instance.
“What lies beyond Heavenly Astral?” Qin Fen rested his chin in his hand, appearing not to notice the readiness of the six powerful figures to attack, and spoke calmly, “I asked my heart and spirit for a long time, and suddenly I understood. Everyone’s martial sha (essence/spirit) is different, yet the foundation is the same: Blood Exchange Rebirth True Innate, the same Change of Form Nirvana Great Innate? The same Earthly Astral, Heavenly Astral? Different martial arts, different martial artists, should each possess their own unique Qi.”
“Move out!”
Bogut roared loudly, forcibly cutting off Qin Fen’s speech. He interlocked his ten fingers, pressing his Nuclear Fusion Fist together between his palms, energy climbing again geometrically.
Streams of intense Heavenly Astral Qi erupted from his body, piercing the walls of the room. Hezhou Xunxing, the female expert, moved with connected footsteps, her two arms weaving and coiling rapidly before her, a trace of extremely soft Heavenly Astral Qi launching the first attack.
The Saint Martial Six Stars were well aware that Qin Fen’s words had touched upon the loftiest heights of martial arts. Usually, even looking at each other’s martial foundations was acceptable.
But at this moment, it was not the time to understand one another’s martial foundations. Qin Fen’s words subtly suggested that he had already comprehended, or was on the verge of comprehending, that final step—the ‘Solo Essence Qi’ that they occasionally discussed with the Martial Venerable.
Human Astral, Earthly Astral, Heavenly Astral—these are the same for every martial artist, representing the true apex of the Galaxy level. To become a Divine Beast Martial Artist, one must be different, uniquely one's own!
Only by achieving a Qi that is uniquely one’s own can one truly enter the Great Galaxy; otherwise, no matter how strong their Galaxy-level power becomes, they will forever remain a Galaxy-level martial artist.
Because this realm is too profound, few martial artists in the world know about the aura of the Great Galaxy level above the Galaxy level—the Divine Beast Martial Artist’s aura. This is why the rumor persisted that the Qilin Song Wendong was merely a Galaxy-level master.
Ordinary people are unaware, but the Saint Martial Six Stars know very well that every martial artist who enters the Great Galaxy level possesses their own distinct aura. The Earth Martial God Song Wendong possesses the Qilin Sacred Qi, and the Solo Essence Qi possessed by the Saint Martial Hall’s Martial Venerable is the Heaven’s Dome Qi.
With a few sentences, Qin Fen had reached an almost crucial point. The Six Stars feared he might continue and utter, “My Solo Essence Qi has surpassed yours.”
If he reached that stage, the Saint Martial Six Stars would lose even the will to fight! No matter what level Qin Fen achieved, they had to engage him in a battle! Even if defeated, they could still gain some experience! But if Qin Fen exposed something, losing the will to fight, what else was there to discuss?
The six top experts attacked simultaneously, and the Saint Martial Tower instantly became riddled with holes. The Martial Venerable waved his hand, and the entire Saint Martial Tower exploded and collapsed. Protecting Ma Juntie with his body, he watched the battle with a smile.
Hezhou Xunxing’s martial path emphasized fluidity, yet her speed was by no means slow. For these experts, whether their path was hard or soft, there was no inherent difference in speed—only differences in how the martial artist utilized it.
In an instant, Xunxing seemed to teleport, twisting her body until she appeared before Qin Fen. Her arms twisted and coiled, whipping up a storm of vortexing energy that drilled straight toward Qin Fen’s throat like a winding serpent.
Qin Fen locked his fingers firmly, raising his hand in a sweeping motion toward Xunxing’s wrist. His five fingers fluttered ceaselessly, instantly creating a vision of countless claw shadows in Xunxing’s eyes. One claw faded, and another immediately followed! Endless continuity, like an unextinguishable flame passed down through generations!
“Samsara Claw!” Xunxing hastily retracted her arm, an uneasy feeling stirring in her heart. This claw, constantly shifting between life and death, never extinguished. When deployed, it seemed to have broken through the martial path of the Galaxy level, touching upon a higher realm.
“Trying to leave?” Qin Fen stood unmoving, his toes exerting slight force for a Flash Step. His five fingers grasped her wrist, and the Ten Dragons Ten Elephants of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Power erupted suddenly, directly flinging her toward Bogut.
With a single move, the attacks of the other four stars halted simultaneously. They floated stiffly in mid-air, staring blankly at Qin Fen, who made no further move.
They were all masters among masters. Qin Fen had broken their combined assault with a single move. Continuing the fight would only mean letting Qin Fen strike a few more times. At this moment, even if Qin Fen hadn't entered the Divine Beast realm, he was undoubtedly a true expert standing at the absolute pinnacle of the Galaxy level.
“Very good.” The Martial Venerable let out a soft sound of praise. He tossed Ma Juntie, whom he held, to a man from Taizhou, then gracefully passed through the encirclement of the Saint Martial Six Stars, walking toward Qin Fen.
“The one you truly came for today is me, isn’t it?”
Qin Fen lightly cupped his hands and bowed slightly, nodding, “I request Senior’s fulfillment.”
Challenging the Martial Venerable! The Saint Martial Six Stars simultaneously gasped in cold air. Qin Fen’s true purpose for coming here today was not to challenge the Saint Martial Six Stars, but the Martial Venerable! The strongest figure in the Saint Martial Hall, rumored to possess the strength of a Divine Beast Martial Artist.
“Very good. I have waited a long time for this day.” The Martial Venerable tilted his head back, unafraid of the dazzling sunlight, his eyes filled with longing. “Now that you have returned, you must also be looking for the Qilin, right? This time, before him, I shall meet you first. I estimate that old fellow will be very jealous, won’t he?”
Looking for Qilin? The Saint Martial Six Stars stared at Qin Fen with extreme strangeness. This series of shocks almost broke their concentration and caused them to fall from the sky.
“Since you came to find me today, then I shall host you properly.” The Martial Venerable’s expression suddenly changed. His peaceful and handsome face revealed an aura of supreme dominion between heaven and earth. With every movement, it seemed as if he could tear apart the firmament, and wisps of the might of heaven slowly emanated from his body: “My Solo Essence Qi, I call it the Heaven’s Dome Qi. I seize the power of the Heaven’s Dome to forge my martial body!”