Lin Jia'er hesitated. This revised Jade Maiden's Heart Sutra was even stronger than many advanced techniques from the [Sacred Martial Hall]. To simply ask for it like that—what conditions would Qin Fen demand?

What if the condition was something utterly repulsive? Lin Jia'er felt like a startled fawn thumping against her ribs. Her future in martial arts might depend entirely on this young man. If he were to propose an inappropriate condition, how could she possibly refuse?

Qin Fen observed the shifting expressions on Lin Jia'er’s face—worry one moment, shy pleasure the next, then a look of being unable to speak. It suddenly reminded him of watching a movie with Tian Tian during a break, where the heroine confessed her love to the hero with that exact demeanor.

Could she be trying to confess? Qin Fen scratched his head and blurted out without thinking, "You are very beautiful…"

Lin Jia'er’s heart gave a sharp lurch. The inevitable had arrived. Everything this man had done before must have been an act; he was no different from any other man. How should I refuse…

"But you’re not the right fit for me, and besides, I already have a girlfriend. I’m sure you’ll find someone much better suited to be your boyfriend."

Qin Fen spoke so quickly that Lin Jia'er had no chance to interrupt. In fact, she was so stunned by his sudden turn that she completely forgot to cut him off.

He rejected me? He actually rejected me!

Faced with the rejection, Lin Jia'er was utterly bewildered. The consoling tone at the end only stoked a rising tide of anger and defiance in her chest.

"Then, goodbye."

Qin Fen turned and walked away, mentally questioning himself: Is Song Jia my girlfriend? What would she say if she knew I used her to turn someone down? Would she be satisfied? Not satisfied? I should ask her next time.

Lin Jia'er hadn't even recovered from the shock of being rejected. She stared blankly at Qin Fen’s retreating back, her brows knitting tightly. I’ve always been the one to refuse others; today, I was rejected? Recalling the two hours she waited, the repeated shoot-downs during the aerial combat, and the incident on the beach that night, a feeling of intense unwillingness surged through Lin Jia'er.

By the time she snapped out of her daze, Qin Fen had completely vanished from her sight, having returned to the barracks to rest.

As soon as Qin Fen stepped into the barracks, he was met by dozens of eyes filled with awe, staring directly at him. Instantly, every hair on his body stood on end. This intensity was scarcely less fierce than the hateful gazes he faced in the War Net.

"Do you need something?"

For some reason, Qin Fen felt a twinge of guilt when he asked the question. People are like that; even if they've done nothing wrong, being scrutinized by so many others makes one feel uneasy. No matter how superb his Martial Sense, and despite his considerable life experience, Qin Fen was still just a young man who had recently graduated high school, and being stared at by so many people at once made him uncomfortable.

"Old Qin, you’re steel! You are absolutely steel-hard!"

It was Deng Biao who spoke, but the look of admiration on his face had now transformed into pure worship.

"Steel?" Qin Fen was still not accustomed to this description.

"Of course, steel! Such a beautiful woman, and you rejected her before she could even speak!"

"Exactly! Rejected her and left immediately, not even giving her a chance! Impressive! Truly impressive!"

In the barracks, the new recruits' voices rose in a wave, echoing far outside the room.

Lin Jia’er stood beneath a large tree, listening to the recruits praising Qin Fen. In a fit of anger, she stomped the ground hard and glared hatefully at the barracks, muttering under her breath, "That Qin fellow, you’ve got nerve! Next time I see you!"

With that, she turned and left in a huff. However, the clamor inside the barracks had not yet fully subsided.

Qin Fen was utterly exhausted from the day. He couldn't be bothered to exchange banter with his comrades. He quickly took a shower and collapsed onto the cot, letting every cell in his body relax.

Soon, Qin Fen drifted into a deep sleep.

It was the same endless starry sky. Qin Fen floated in a space of indeterminate location, awaiting the appearance of the Light Being.

"Young man, you must be very weary now?"

A figure emerged from the void, clad in Daoist robes Qin Fen had never seen before. His demeanor was relaxed yet carried a profound air of culture. His hands were clasped behind his back, displaying none of the imposing bearing expected of a martial arts master; he looked more like a scholar preparing to teach. Compared with Zeng Yicheng’s refined aura, one could easily see that the 'King of Sleaze’s' refinement was somewhat artificial; this figure before him was the true intellectual.

"Young man, please call me Master."

The newcomer’s voice carried the tone of a seasoned lecturer, akin to a teacher introducing himself before class.

"Master?" Qin Fen was slightly curious. After witnessing Zeng Yicheng’s extreme degeneracy, what kind of school did this man represent?

"I belong to the Research and Analysis School of thought," the Master stated briefly. "For example, your body currently has a high fatigue level and is not suited for further practical combat training, so we shall discuss theory instead."

Theory? Qin Fen was a little surprised. Nearly all the instructors he’d encountered these past few days emphasized experiencing things physically; they were all men of action, and none had ever explained any theory. Did even top masters discuss theory?

"Theory," the Master stated slowly, "is actually an extension of Martial Sense. Martial Sense is the immediate, split-second reaction, or even the preemptive perception in the moment. Theory, however, involves summarizing all the data from a fight afterward, identifying your advantages and disadvantages, your merits and your errors. Only by doing this can one accelerate progress. And only this way can one gain the opportunity to challenge stronger opponents across rank boundaries and secure victory."

Challenging across ranks? The moment Qin Fen heard those four words, his eyes lit up. The rookie competition might hide experts of four-star or even Meteor-level prowess. No one could guarantee otherwise. To achieve good results and secure better rewards after retirement, preparation was always worthwhile.

"I encountered an instructor whose martial arts style was entirely forged for killing. How should one deal with that?" Qin Fen lightly mimicked the Butcher’s fighting style, using both hands and feet, but this time, no internal energy was channeled into the posture; it was mere form without force.

After watching Qin Fen’s demonstration, the Master smiled faintly. "The Killing Way of the Sha Po Jun?"

"Sha Po Jun?"

"Sha Po Jun," the Master held up a single finger. "The next instructor to teach you will be from the Sha Po Jun of the Killing Martial Way."

"Killing Martial Way, Sleazy Martial Way, Fierce Martial Way, Theory Martial Way…" Qin Fen quietly repeated the names of the few mentors he had encountered.

Many people in the Federation claimed the title of 'Wu' (Martial Artist), but few dared to claim the title of 'Martial Way.' Earth’s Martial God, Song Wendong, was one such figure, and it was partly due to the deterrence provided by this mighty Martial God that the peace between the two major factions was maintained.

To be guided by someone who claimed to have walked their own Martial Way was enough to leave one dizzy with excitement. Qin Fen had now encountered four masters who claimed to have forged their own independent martial paths. He felt a mixture of excitement and profound emotion.