With a thunderous crash, the earthen courtyard wall collapsed. He tumbled into the courtyard of another sect, quickly vanishing from sight as he lay prone.

Water Thunder's condition was scarcely better than Fire Thunder's. Both of his arms were completely broken, and his lower abdomen was caved in. He knelt there, spitting up blood in great gulps, yet it seemed he wouldn't die just yet.

"How is this possible?"

Water Thunder had retreated from his Great Sage Fist state. He looked at Qin Fen in disbelief. Even when hypnotized, the Great Sage Fist granted him skin as tough as bronze and bones of iron, making him unafraid even of Iron Cloth Shirt practitioners. How could he be beaten by an opponent of the same level, having his arms shattered by the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Gong? Furthermore, six ribs were broken.

Qin Fen, riding the momentum of defeating two opponents single-handedly, swept his gaze across the surrounding crowd. "Who else wants a match?"

Thunder Mountain Villa was utterly silent. These villa members were at most two-star in strength, with some even at one-star. Facing a four-star warrior who fought two of them for thirty-six hours, everyone knew their limits.

Qin Fen's gaze returned to Water Thunder, whom he had deliberately left alive. "Now, can you return the plaque of the Dragon Hall to me?"

"Dragon Hall..." Water Thunder gave a bitter laugh from his kneeling position. "That signboard was sold to the Vajra Sect long ago."

"Sold?"

Qin Fen wasn't familiar with the local rules, so he turned his gaze to the strategist, Zhang Xiangyang.

"Hall Master, selling other people's signboards is very common," Zhang Xiangyang approached Qin Fen. "Once you seize a signboard, you only receive the system reward after five days. But who can guarantee the signboard won't be snatched away within those five days? That's why selling signboards exists. Seized signboards are sold at a forty or fifty percent discount to other sects confident they can hold out until the final day."

Qin Fen shook his head repeatedly. After fighting so hard, the signboard wasn't even here. "Where is the Vajra Sect?"

"Across the street, on the left," Water Thunder replied readily. Since the thirty-six hours had to keep pressing forward for the signboard, whether the Vajra Sect lost or the thirty-six hours lost, he wouldn't suffer any loss. Instead, he could gloat. How could he pass up such an opportunity?

Qin Fen nodded and turned to leave, suddenly remembering to ask Zhang Xiangyang, "Does this count as challenging their sect?"

"It does."

"Then I can take the signboard here?"

"Of course!"

"Good!" Qin Fen called out to his comrades outside the gate. "Help me take down the signboard—"

Before he could finish the word 'ru' (in rush or take down), Qin Fen's comrades rushed towards the plaque.

"Let's go to the Vajra Sect..."

"Stop right there!" An angry roar came from beyond the collapsed wall. "You destroy our wall and expect to just leave without apologizing?"

Qin Fen, anxious to retrieve the signboard, turned and casually cupped his hands toward the wall. "My apologies. Please overlook this minor transgression."

"Can one apology solve the problem? What do we need police for?" The person who spoke from beyond the wall stepped over the rubble. "This wall of mine wasn't cheap. Don't even think about leaving without paying three or five thousand."

Qin Fen looked at the newcomer—about 1.95 meters tall, wielding a large Guan Dao that advertised his brute strength.

"If you won't pay, you want to fight?" Qin Fen asked bluntly.

"Of course! If you lose, you give me the Thunder Mountain Villa signboard!"

Qin Fen smiled again. It turned out this person was coveting the value of that signboard.

"If you don't want to die, hand over the signboard quickly. You were indeed formidable defeating Water and Fire Thunder, but your energy must be nearly depleted by now. Be sensible and hand it over."

The smile in Qin Fen's eyes deepened. This person's arrogant challenge stemmed from the belief he could pick up an easy prize.

"Are you the leader over there?"

"Wang Kai, Sect Master of the Chosen Gate."

After Wang Kai announced his name, Qin Fen walked directly to Zhang Xiangyang, took the Fangtian Huaji (Heavenly Halberd) that had been seized from the Victory Gate, and walked toward Wang Kai without another word.

Wang Kai's eyes widened as Qin Fen approached. He swallowed hard, then glanced at Water Thunder, still kneeling on the ground, confirming he wasn't faking his injuries.

"You want to fight?" Wang Kai's voice lacked confidence. Water and Fire Thunder were not weak; even a one-on-one fight against a four-star opponent was difficult. A two-on-one was nearly impossible to win, and even if he did win, he would surely be spent. "Come on! Brothers, prepare to dismantle the Chosen Gate's signboard!"

Qin Fen shouted the order and rushed into his opponent's attack range. The Fangtian Huaji in his hand shot out like a fierce dragon breaking through a river. The vibration of the blade sounded like a thousand bees buzzing in the air, and the sound of the tip slicing through the air was like a little girl's shriek!

Throwing it from this far? Wang Kai was startled. The Fangtian Huaji was at least five meters away; it was impossible to strike...

The impossible instantly became possible. Qin Fen wasn't gripping the halberd in the conventional sense. His thrust, pushed to its limit, involved throwing the Fangtian Huaji like a projectile. It was just that this projectile was exceptionally large.

Only then did Wang Kai realize his opponent might not be skilled with traditional weapon handling. He hastily brought his Guan Dao up to parry the incoming halberd. The great halberd let out a crisp metallic clang as it flew up into the air. At the same moment, Wang Kai heard the whistling rush of displaced air right in front of him.

Qin Fen! He had projected himself along with the halberd. By now, Qin Fen stood directly in front of Wang Kai, his strong, powerful hands gripping the long handle of the Guan Dao.

Just as he took the Fangtian Huaji, the greatest advantage of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Gong—immense strength—was displayed to the fullest. He wrenched the saber from Wang Kai's grasp. Simultaneously, using the footwork from the Arhat Fist, he kicked, shattering the opponent's ribcage and heart.

If only I hadn't tried to take advantage of the situation... Wang Kai's final thought flashed through his mind before he vanished from Qin Fen's sight.

Qin Fen tossed the Guan Dao to Zhang Xiangyang and let out a long breath. "Let's go to the Vajra Sect."

As Qin Fen walked out of the vermilion gate of Thunder Mountain Villa, a chaotic noise emanated from a courtyard across the street, interspersed with bursts of angry, coarse cursing.

Qin Fen stepped into the middle of the street. The gate of that noisy courtyard suddenly burst open with a 'bang,' spilling out three to five dozen fierce-looking men. The four leaders were all bare-chested, their toned muscles sharply defined and supple, signaling to anyone who saw them that beneath that muscle lay terrifying strength—definitely more than mere shaping.

"Who is the thirty-six hours?"

"Which one is from the Dragon Hall?"

"Is it you?"

"Who is that cheap, money-grubbing thirty-six hours?"

These four spoke over each other, completely lacking the order and tacit understanding shown by Water and Fire Thunder of Thunder Mountain Villa. Their only shared characteristic was that they were all scanning the area for the thirty-six hours.

Qin Fen watched the four men, who clearly didn't know him, yet displayed a fighting eagerness as if they shared an irreconcilable hatred for a murdered father, their eyes blazing with fierce battle intent.

Qin Fen slowly took a step forward, calmly cupped his hands, and stated, "Dragon Hall. Thirty-six hours."

"Oh, so you've come to challenge our Vajra Sect?"

"Great! Today, we'll tear down your Dragon Hall first!"

"Eliminating a disgrace to martial artists like you will be a contribution to the Battle Network!"

"Exactly! We'll beat you to death right here on the street, not even giving you a chance to set foot in the Vajra Sect! Lest you tarnish the honor of our martial artists!"

As Qin Fen listened to the four men speak, his eyes had already drifted to another area. In a corner behind the Vajra Sect men, Qin Fen spotted a figure that wasn't exactly familiar but whom he had indeed seen moments ago.

A member of Thunder Mountain Villa! Qin Fen smiled. So the Vajra Sect had been provoked by the scheme from Thunder Mountain Villa. He cupped his hands again and declared, "I haven't come to challenge your sect. I merely heard from the people at Thunder Mountain Villa that they sold my Dragon Hall's signboard to you. Could you please return the signboard? I will certainly help if you ever need assistance in the future."

The expressions of the four Vajra Sect leaders were filled with surprise. They all turned their heads in unison to glare angrily at the messenger from Thunder Mountain Villa!

So, the claims that the thirty-six hours intended to earn money by challenging sects were all lies! Thunder Mountain Villa intended to use others to kill!

Reading expressions is an introductory course in psychology. Qin Fen, using the true knowledge gained from Squad Leader Hao, immediately extracted useful intelligence from the expressions of the four Vajra leaders.

Their resentment toward Thunder Mountain Villa indicated they didn't want a direct confrontation with him. Qin Fen smiled. Analyzing this information quickly, he cupped his hands again. "I still request the Vajra Sect Master return the Dragon Hall plaque. If there is ever a need, the thirty-six hours will certainly offer assistance."

The street became completely silent. The expressions of the four Vajra leaders shifted rapidly. They exchanged glances, gleaning opinions from each other.

In a short span, their faces changed from happiness to worry, then displayed eagerness, and within a few more seconds, shifted to looks of deep solemnity.

Seeing this, Qin Fen inwardly cursed. The longer these people discussed, the more variables arose.

The crowds lining the street gradually swelled. People from various sects had heard the commotion. Everyone looked excited. One of the happiest things in Prison City was watching someone challenge another sect.

The Vajra Sect was a relatively well-known sect on the street. Their leaders—Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Virūḍhaka, Virūpākṣa, and Vaiśravaṇa—all cultivated the Vajra Fist, their internal arts based on the Diamond Body. Moreover, the four had mastered a combined combat technique of considerable power. Few dared to provoke them normally.

Qin Fen watched the growing crowd and let out a soft sigh toward the sky. If no one had come to watch, things might have been easier.

But now...

Qin Fen stepped back, and the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Gong within his body began to intensify its pressure.

This fight was now unavoidable. If the Vajra Sect returned the signboard under the gaze of so many onlookers, it would signal fear. More challengers would come knocking in the future.