The formal clash between the six top-tier martial artists did not materialize as anticipated, serving merely as a prelude due to Fang Qiquan's withdrawal.

Shangguan Chuanqi’s status soared following the words spoken by Qin Guang Wang of the Underworld; even his entire aura received a fresh elevation, subtly hinting at a momentum that might soon eclipse that of Qin Fen.

Just six months prior, Qin Fen could only barely withstand a single strike—the Tathagata’s Palm—from Li Rulai during a concert; yet, Shangguan Chuanqi now defeated Qin Guang Wang, a figure previously considered equal to Rulai, without even needing to engage in combat.

A golden projection descended once more from the heavens, signaling that the participants for the second round of the Heroes’ Assembly were to take the stage.

Qin Fen versus Kang Jinlong!

The network erupted in chaos, and the live audience in the martial arena stirred with boundless clamor.

This had surpassed the scope of mere spectators watching the spectacle while experts scrutinized the details. Kang Jinlong’s skin was now slack, his spirit far from its sharp peak; his strength likely didn't match that of a peak Five-Star Martial Arts Master, presenting a comparison between entirely different tiers when set against the now grand and sweeping momentum of Qin Fen.

Even martial artists below the Master level could clearly discern the winner of such a fight; it was a contest entirely devoid of suspense, utterly unengaging. Qin Fen might only need a single thumb to send Kang Jinlong, a once famous figure on Planet Gold, down in bitter defeat.

Many had already begun anticipating the next bout after Qin Fen’s expected quick victory, perhaps a match between established powerhouses like Lü Dongbin versus Yang Jian.

As soon as the match roster projection appeared, people noticed that Kang Jinlong was the first to move. He calmly adjusted his clothing, smoothed his already tidy blonde hair, and slowly raised a leg toward the arena.

Hades, the Little King of the Underworld, who had been exuding the killing aura of a peerless ferocious beast since his appearance, suddenly displayed a trace of tenderness in his gaze. His hand dug into the ground, and with a sudden move, he caught up to Kang Jinlong, slinging an arm over the older man's shoulder and forcefully pinning him in place.

Kang Jinlong strained twice but could not shake off Hades’ immense strength. A smile of relief touched his lips as he raised a hand to gently pat Hades’ hand resting on his shoulder, slowly turning back to speak with a gentle smile, "Young Master, let go. It is time for this old servant to fight."

Hades looked at Kang Jinlong, his blood-red eyes fixed squarely on him. He slowly shook his head, his voice, usually icy, carrying an uncharacteristic softness, "Uncle Jinlong, you are no match for him. There is no need for you to go."

Kang Jinlong’s powerful frame trembled slightly, and he offered a fatherly smile, as if looking upon his beloved son. "Young Master, do you wish to watch this old servant slowly weaken like an old dog until I die of age? As Kang Jinlong, the Star General of the White Tiger, facing the younger brother of the one who slew the White Tiger, I have no reason to retreat."

"You can—"

"I cannot," Kang Jinlong stated, looking directly at Hades. "Young Master, I have watched you grow up and have never asked a single thing of you. This time, I hope you will sit below and quietly watch your old servant seek vengeance for our former Master."

"Qin Fen!"

Hades’ face instantly chilled like ten thousand years of black ice. His arm, capable of easily shattering all things in the world, seemed momentarily suppressed by a colossal planet, slowly, inch by inch, lifting off Kang Jinlong’s shoulder.

Qin Fen stood solemnly in the center of the arena, watching Kang Jinlong ascend step by measured step. The atmosphere of the entire venue rapidly shifted.

"This is...?"

"What is he doing?"

"How could this happen?"

For a moment, both online viewers and the crowd present noticed that the tension of this fight felt deeply wrong. Kang Jinlong’s demeanor suggested not a match in the Heroes’ Assembly, but a journey toward mutual destruction! Yet, his opponent was Qin Fen! Qin Fen, whose strength far surpassed his own; even if he intended to take Qin Fen down with him, it shouldn't be this straightforward.

Facing Qin Fen, Kang Jinlong straightened his spine slightly, his eyes meticulously examining the young martial artist who had risen like a comet, and stated faintly, "I know the Young Master is not yet capable of killing you."

Qin Fen nodded calmly. Never mind Hades; even Shangguan Chuanqi, whose imposing aura stemmed from an unearned victory just moments ago, stood no chance of defeating him. His presence at the Heroes’ Assembly today, aside from wanting to see his brother Qin Zhan, was to witness all the top martial arts in the world and gauge their momentum. To take the next step forward required this feeling—to be situated within an era where all the world’s top powerhouses converged, allowing him to sense and internalize it.

"You cannot defeat me," Qin Fen stated coolly. "Forfeit."

"Forfeit?" A smile that no one could quite decipher curved Kang Jinlong's lips. "You cannot defeat Rulai; would you abandon your desire for revenge when facing Rulai?"

Qin Fen’s expression remained unchanged as he shook his head. "I cannot."

"Then why advise me to do so?" Kang Jinlong jutted his chin out high. "Without White Tiger Haileith, there would be no Kang Jinlong today!"

Kang Jinlong’s expression suddenly changed. He spread his arms wide, channeling his true essence (Zhen Yuan Qi) throughout his body, manifesting as currents flowing around him, finally converging into his palms as if constantly undergoing a process of intense compression.

Fifteen Stars! Martial Arts Master! Kang Jinlong unleashed every bit of strength he possessed, slowly turned to look at Hades, who sat like a steady bell on the ground, and slowly knelt down on one knee, his head held high. "Young Master, there is something I have kept hidden from you. Today, I feel it is time to tell you."

"Does the Star General of the Golden Star not pay respects to the Young Master?"

A sound like a massive bronze bell roared from Kang Jinlong’s throat. The three Golden Star Grand Star Generals, who had maintained hostility toward Hades, simultaneously stepped forward and knelt on one knee before the Little King of the Underworld, just as Kang Jinlong had done!

This development shocked everyone beyond measure! When White Tiger Haileith fell, the four Star Generals of the Golden Star instantly fractured. Niu Jinniu and the other two immediately fought amongst themselves over the title of the White Tiger Divine Beast. Afterward, they relentlessly hunted Hades, the only son of the White Tiger, even coming close to killing him multiple times.

Yet today, these three Star Generals knelt before Hades.

The Little King of the Underworld frowned slightly, casting a questioning look toward Kang Jinlong, who stood in the center of the arena.

"Young Master, they never betrayed," Kang Jinlong stated, kneeling on one knee and looking up. "After the Master fell, the four of us... no one had the ability to nurture the Young Master into a Divine Beast Martial Artist.

"So we devised a plan: only if the Young Master could kill the four of us would he truly become a Divine Beast Martial Artist. You needed pressure, and you needed righteous fury. The pretense of betrayal by those two was specifically designed to make you hate them, making you turn your aggression toward the only one who stood by you."

Conspiracy, betrayal, pursuit—it was all a fabrication woven by the Four Star Generals..."

Hades’ expression became noticeably complex. His bloodshot eyes repeatedly scanned the three Star Generals before him.

These men had once doted on him. But after White Tiger Haileith died, they vanished, turning traitor. His entire spiritual firmament seemed to collapse in that instant.

Hades’ world henceforth was piled high with hatred. Kang Jinlong’s words delivered a monumental shock to his established spiritual reality.

Kang Jinlong slowly stood up, quietly observing the rapidly shifting expression on the Little King of the Underworld’s face. He sighed inwardly. Insect martial artists specialize in slaughter; the White Tiger specializes in slaughter; Hades specializes in slaughter. The Little King of the Underworld, who should have been innately suited for the path of slaughter martial arts, possessed a heart that lacked true murderous intent. Though he constantly walked the path of killing, he could never reach its zenith because he lacked a genuine killing heart. Even though he showed no mercy in Pandora’s Space or in his daily killings, he did not possess that inherent, true killing essence.

Anger, hatred—these were the simplest and most direct paths to transforming one’s nature toward slaughter. In order to forge Hades’ heart into a heart of slaughter perfectly suited for the path of slaughter martial arts, everything had to be risked!

"Young Master, this is the last thing this old servant can do for you."

Kang Jinlong slowly rose, murmuring silently to himself. In that instant, his pores violently expelled millions of blood threads in all directions. A massive thrust from his powerful lower body against the ground sent him forward as a streak of golden light. As his body brushed against the air, creating a sound akin to a dragon’s roar, he condensed all his power and hurtled it toward Qin Fen’s head.

Qin Fen kept his right hand behind his back and gently raised his left hand in front of him, effortlessly deflecting Kang Jinlong’s punch toward the sky. The tremendous force of the blow shot straight into the clouds, without harming a single hair on Qin Fen’s head.

The ground still trembled from Kang Jinlong’s initial attack, but his body now stood motionless before Qin Fen, devoid of any sign of life.

Death! A massive golden projection appeared above Kang Jinlong’s head. Only then did people realize that Kang Jinlong was already dead.

Qin Fen slowly lowered his left hand that had supported Kang Jinlong. He could redirect the full force of his opponent's attack toward the heavens, or he could strike down his enemy. But he could not return the full force that Kang Jinlong had unleashed back into his body, allowing him to live.

Qin Fen could not do it; Divine Beast Martial Artists could not do it; even Zong Jue could not do it! Otherwise, mortals would truly become gods!

The vast arena fell into a profound silence. No one expected that this seemingly utterly unremarkable and least interesting match would lead to these events.

All those watching via the online broadcast turned their gaze back to Hades, the Little King of the Underworld. It wasn't because he was fighting next; people needed to see his reaction to Kang Jinlong’s death.

Silence. A silence as deep as the grave.

The Little King of the Underworld sat fixedly on the ground, quietly observing Kang Jinlong, who stood like a statue on the arena floor.

Killing intent, rage—these emotions slowly accumulated on Hades’ face. Even through the enormous network barrier, people could feel the bone-chilling cold emanating from the scene based on his expression.

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

The martial artists in the arena could clearly hear the sounds of bone dislocation and change coming from Hades’ body. The bones of his chest violently rose and fell, as if something were about to burst them open. The sound of his powerful heart beating resonated like an ultimate war drum, penetrating the network and shaking the soul of every spectator.

"It's my turn."

The three words spoken by the Little King of the Underworld made people experience an illusion that the very air around his lips was frozen solid by the cold statement.

"Forfeit."

Rulai, seated on the ground, lightly raised his arm. He made his choice for this bout.

Forfeit! Two forfeits in three matches, and one death! The entire network audience was stunned. The Heroes’ Assembly had always been the site of the fiercest battles; since its inception, no one had ever chosen to forfeit. Those qualified to participate always fought to the death.

Today, the grandest Heroes’ Assembly in history—the one capable of awarding the title of Divine Beast Martial Artist—had seen two forfeits in three matches, and both who forfeited were powerhouse figures highly regarded by established masters.

Rulai, Qin Guang Wang! These were arguably the most famous and strongest established martial artists, second only to the Heavenly Emperor and Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva.

Before the Assembly even began, many had speculated that these two, long held beneath the shadow of the top two masters, might generate immense motivation to make a stunning debut here, perhaps even breaking through to secure the Divine Beast Martial Artist title.

Yet, no one expected that the second most powerful figures of the Heavenly Gate and the Underworld would both opt to forfeit in the first round.

"Forfeit? Ha ha! Forfeit, all of you! You band of spineless cowards!"

Sun Jiulong’s figure flashed like lightning into the center of the arena, his arrogant aura exploding outwards as he looked at all the martial artists present with his arms wide open. "Xue Tian! Come out and face death! You killed my Sacred War members; today, I will use your severed head to inaugurate the new era of my Sacred War!"

His domineering, arrogant, and overbearing presence sent a collective chill through those watching online. If such a terrorist were to become a Divine Beast Martial Artist, what a dark era that would be!

"First, I kill Xue Tian, then Qin Fen!" Sun Jiulong drew a line with his finger toward Caesar and the others beside Qin Fen, his gaze growing sharper. "All of you must die!"

"You want to kill me?"

Xue Tian appeared silently behind Sun Jiulong, his Iai-giri blade in hand, a lazy smile playing on his lips. "You want to kill me? Do you even know me?"

"Know you?" Veins bulged violently on Sun Jiulong’s face, crisscrossing like green snakes. His entire demeanor suddenly turned sinister and terrifying. "Of course, I know! Since the gathering of terror ended, I never stopped collecting data on you. Qin Fen, Divine Fist Dao! A martial art of spirit; and you are an emotion-based martial artist—rage is the source of your Dao..."

"Who..." Xue Tian drew out the word, letting out a faint, cold laugh. "You think my Dao is an emotion-based one?"

"I feel like I'm about to fight a fierce battle against four bottles..."

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